ã€ŠSPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Scholarã€‹


 Chapter 1

    I love Magic!

    Ever since I was little, I thought of nothing more than the sublime art of the supernatural.

    Isn¡¯t it amazing? With a mere invocation, one could cut down trees or cause mes to appear.

    With the mere sleight of one¡¯s hands, storms could appear and rain descend from the heavens.

    A mere illumination in the dark or the lovely melodies from charming spells were enough to make my skin tingle as I would beam excitedly in wonder and awe.

    Everytime I saw the wondrous use of magic, I had only one thought on my mind.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait¡­ I can¡¯t wait!!!¡±

    After all, once a child turns ten years old, they would be taken to the Magic Tower to undergo the ¡®Awakening¡¯.

    Once it was my turn, I would also go through that process and be a Magic-User. However, my ambition did not stop there. I was going to keep rising until I be a fully-fledged ¡®Mage¡¯ and grow to be a Grand Mage of the kingdom.

    Yes! I, Lewis Griffith would achieve great exploits in the realm of magic!

    Of course, I knew mere words and dreams would not take me to my goal, so I decided to do everything it took to guarantee my ideal future.

    Most children who were yet to ¡®Awaken¡¯ would rather spend their time goofing off and ying silly games. But nope not me, I was different from the silly ones around me.

    Ever since I was young, I knew for a fact that I was special. No one loved magic more than me, therefore no one could achieve the heights I would be able to.

    I spent most of my time in the public library, reading up on various magic theories and spell structures.

    The small vige I grew up in was a rural town mostly based on agriculture and food processing, books were rare. However, as was the policy of the kingdom, Public libraries were provided for in every town, no matter how small the town was.

    Being the only one my age who frequented the library, and one of the few within the vige who used it, everyone already knew me to be a genius.

    ¡°This is only the beginning. Soon, the whole kingdom¡­ no, the whole world will know the name of Lewis Griffith, Grand Mage of The Eastern Kingdom!¡± I often said aloud.

    Of course, most of the children couldn¡¯t associate with me, since I would rather spend my time reading books or watching the little magic users in my vige perform spells, rather than y silly games with them.

    And as a result of this, I had no friends. Not one!

    But who cares? After all, I had my love and passion for magic!

    Years went by, and before I knew it I had turned ten years old. It was finally time for me to leave my little vige and take a trip to the Kingdom¡¯s capital to undergo the ¡®Awakening¡¯.

    The people of my vige shouted out words of encouragement as I was about to leave like, ¡°Show ¡¯em who¡¯s boss, Lewis!¡±

    Of course, I would. It was only natural.

    ¡°Yeah! Even a child from out here in the boonies can be a ¡®Mage¡¯, you know? Let those noble bastards know that!¡±

    Heh, that¡¯s ¡®Grand Mage¡¯ to you. I wasn¡¯t going to settle for anything less.

    ¡°Good luck, Lewis. You were a jerk, but I hope you at least ¡®Awaken¡¯ sessfully!¡±

    What the hell? Why wouldn¡¯t I? As if there was any other choice for me other than that.

    The possibility of failure was nonexistent.

    And so, with the cheers of the vigers who saw me off, I ventured out of the vige with my parents.

    Yeah, my loving mother and rough father. Both of them supported me in my venture and pursuit of magic, allowing me to overlook the fact that none of them possessed magic.

    In fact, I kind of felt bad for them.

    It took a few days for us to reach the East Kingdom capital, Zurich. During those moments, I passed time by reading a couple of books that I borrowed from the library.

    I stared at the pages with boredom clearly disyed on my face. It had been a few years now since I exhausted every single material within our Public Library.

    I made requests to the Capital for more stocks, however, since I was the only one who desired this, not much heed was made to my plea.

    ¡°Just you wait. Once I¡¯m done Awakening, no one will be able to ignore me!¡±

    I fantasized about how the event would go, ying it over in my head many times.

    What level of talent would I have? What mana core grade would I possess?

    My body throbbed excitedly as I simply couldn¡¯t wait for the moment to arrive.

    And finally it did.

    I underwent several procedures. I was made to ce my hand on a special type of crystal ball, I was ced within a circle with special markings within it. A strand of my hair was taken for analysis, etc.

    Of course, I expected all this. After all, I had read about them a lot and even asked some of the people in the vige who went through the same process.

    Finally, we were done with the tests. All that remained were the results. My parents sat beside me in the analyst¡¯s room as we all waited for him to finish coting my result.

    The Magic analystpiled the results and wrote a few things on a sheet of paper. I stared hard at him as he evaluated everything I had done so far with a straight face.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t this the part where he exims and deres what magnificent talent I possess? Or is he still confused? Oh, great analyst¡­ you¡¯re confused, right? My talent is so shocking that you¡¯re simply at a loss for words right?¡± My mind teased as I yed around with my thoughts.

    Hehe, I knew it! There¡¯s no way that he would be-

    ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, but it appears your son, Lewis Griffith, is inept.¡±

    The words kept on ringing in my head as I took in every single syble, yet they made no sense to me.

    ¡°E-eh¡­?!¡±

 Chapter 2

    The bombshellnded, but my unprepared mind could not process what the man said.

    ¡°W-what do you mean¡­ inept¡­?!¡± I stuttered, looking at the analyst in shock.

    ¡°He is unable to form a mana core since he has no potential mana within him at all. Simply put, he can never use magic.¡±

    What the hell was this idiotic man saying? Me? Inept? No way.

    The concept of inept individuals was not umon among the people of the kingdom, even my parents didn¡¯t have any capacity to use magic. However, I was different!

    There was no way such a concept could apply to me¡­ right?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lewis. It¡¯s all our fault. We told you several times, but you wouldn¡¯t listen¡­¡± My mother said trying to console me, while I struggled to grasp the reality that was dawning on me.

    ¡°Most times, Magic Power is inherited. However, both of use from a lineage that never possessed Magic Power. We¡¯re from a line of inepts¡­ and you¡¯re our son, Lewis.¡± My father tried, in his own way, to add salt to my wounds.

    ¡°It was only natural¡­ that you wouldn¡¯t have any magic power too¡­¡±

    And so, with those words, everything I dreamed and hoped of crashed into the ground.

    Lewis Griffith, the Grand Mage, died in that room. The only thing grand about my life was the pathetic line I came from, the inescapable cage of destiny I was entrapped in.

    I was never going to be able to snap my fingers to produce mes or generate winds or even a single drop of water.

    I was inept!

    My family and I returned to the vige that very day. Throughout the journey, I dreaded going back to the town I left with pride. I would return to the very people I insulted and looked down on.

    ¡°This has to be my punishment, uh?¡± Iughed sadly at myself.

    My pathetic state would be the new object of ridicule, and my name was merely going to be used as a tool for mockery.

    But then, who could have possibly expected that it would happen?

    ¡°Oh that? yeah¡­ we kind of always knew.¡±

    What? They did? But how?!

    ¡°Your parents are both inept, same with most of us folks here. So yeah, it was a given¡±

    They all knew that the likelihood of me being unable to be a magician was guaranteed. Then why did they encourage me so much? Why did they egg me on?

    ¡°D-did you want to see me humiliated that badly?!¡± I yelled at the vigers who looked at me innocently.

    I knew I was being harsh, as usual, my conceited and arrogant nature had yet to leave me.

    ¡°Well, it was a shame you didn¡¯t end up being the genius magic user you proimed you would be¡­ but, why would we make fun of you for not achieving something we couldn¡¯t either?¡±

    Those words pierced deep within me as the wall I built for myself began to crumble.

    ¡°It would have been nice, you know? To see you be the Grand Mage you always wanted to be. That was what we all thought¡­¡±

    My heart throbbed and I felt a deep warmth permeate in my insides. Just what was this feeling?

    ¡°Lewis, at least you tried. That isn¡¯t something any one of us can fault you for. In fact, even if you did end up being inept¡­ you¡¯re still our pride and joy!¡±

    Finally, the floodgates opened. Tears that I tried to hold in burst out as I wept uncontrobly.

    The prim and proper boy who refused to disy any form of childishness finally broke down and gave in to his Immature tendencies.

    I have no idea how much I wept¡­ but by the time I was done, I opened my eyes and looked at the vigers around me.

    Their reassuring smiles and optimistic eyes filled me up with a strange new emotion.

    ¡°Lewis Griffith, now that you can no longer be a ¡®Grand Mage¡¯, don¡¯t tell me that this is the end.¡± Mr. Librarian said to me with a wide grin.

    ¡°Oi, oi, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to let all those magic spells I showed you go to waste¡± Mr. Farm irrigator added.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way, right? The name of Lewis Griffith will be made known throughout the world. That hasn¡¯t changed, right?¡±

    Hearing all these words, I finally understood the warm feeling within my heart.

    Giving a smile, I reignited my confident demeanor and smiled with pride at the vigers who surrounded me.

    ¡°Of course not!¡±

    My loud voice shook everyone. They all stared at me expectantly, waiting for the next grand dream I would utter.

    ¡°If I can not be a ¡®Grand Mage¡¯, then I will simply be something else! I won¡¯t let all I have learned go to waste!¡±

    They all nodded as I said this.

    ¡°I still love magic, and I will still devote myself to it! More and more knowledge of this art will be engraved within me, and even if I am unable to practice it, I will make sure no one knows Magic more than I do!¡±

    From that point on, my dream changed.

    ¡°Lewis Griffith will be known throughout thend¡­ as the ¡®Great Sage¡¯.¡±

    And now, several years after that statement, I have achieved everything I said I would.

    I excelled in the academic field of magic, bing a schr in the art. Eventually, no one in the kingdom could say they didn¡¯t know my name.

    I developed countless magic theories, taught various lessons, and postted immeasurable schools of thought.

    Some of my works that I deemed fit to publish were made known to the public, however, I did not give out all of my knowledge.

    The world was nowhere near ready to receive some of the ground-breaking discoveries I made, so I hid them away.

    In the likelihood that one who was worthy found them, it would change everything they knew about magic entirely.

    Even though I had achieved one of the highest level of greatness, thereby surpassing the childish dream I had, I still had a lingering regret.

    If only¡­ I could make a ball of mes appear on my fingertip, or cause a tiny drop of water to materialize. Even a soft wind would do, or a slight tremor on the earth. If I was able to do any of those things, I would have enjoyed magic even more.

    Laying on my deathbed, with members of my family, old friends, colleagues, the kings and royalty of various kingdoms, even Grand Mages which I looked up to all around me.. everyone present in the room were of the highest caliber.

    I had truly achieved greatness. Yet, I could feel the void within me. An empty feeling whichy forgotten for decades.

    I was never truly interested in greatness or fame.

    There was only one thing I truly wanted and chased after my whole life. Even now that my existence was on the verge of ending, it was still the only thing I could think of.

    Magic!

 Chapter 3

    Darkness!

    That was all I could feel. A seemingly endless void of nothingness enveloped me as I floated in it, wondering what had happened to me after I closed my eyes in death.

    ¡°Is this what death is like?¡±

    Suddenly, cutting through the darkness was an inexplicable light. The glowing illumination slowly covered everything, filling the void space with beauty.

    As I feasted my eyes on the sparkles all around me, I found myself fading away into unconsciousness, something I didn¡¯t think would be possible since I was already dead.

    ¡°W-what is¡­ happening¡­?¡±

    ¡°Push mdy!¡±

    A voice startled me, causing me to try opening my eyes. I tried, but I felt something heavy surround me, making me shut it back tightly.

    ¡°Where am I?¡±

    ¡°Uarrrrrrghhhhhh!!!¡± A muffled scream sounded, making me startled and confused still.

    Suddenly, I felt myself being pulled toward something. It seemed like a bright light at the end of a dark tunnel.

    ¡°Just what is happening to me? ¡±

    The pained screams continued as I gravitated more to the light point.

    The entire area around me felt like a tight space, warm and soft. I felt squishy liquid around me, making me ponder on what I could actually be experiencing.

    I knew I was dead just a few moments ago, so how could I be here? Could this be¡­?

    ¡°Aaaaaaarrrghhhhh!!!!¡±

    This powerful scream propelled me further to the light, and I felt something grab me and pull me even further away from the squishy room I was in.

    The light became brighter until I left the darkness entirely behind and was brought into a new world.

    ¡°A-ah!¡± I winced, due to the intensely bright surrounding. It was as though I was seeing it for the first time.

    Not only that, but my skin felt very irritable, because of the feel of the cool wind touching me when I had been used to the warmth and squishiness of my previous abode.

    One thing was sure. I wasn¡¯t dead!

    ¡°Hold on¡­ what is this? Could it be¡­?!¡±

    Now opening my eyes slowly, I looked around me to better understand the situation.

    My blurry eyes became clearer with time and I could see distorted images of a woman clothed in white, carrying me gently.

    ¡°Congrattions, it¡¯s a baby boy.¡±

    What was she talking about? I nced by my side and saw another woman d in white. She looked at me adorably, making my disoriented mind begin to draw conclusions.

    The white-clothed woman passed me on to someone whoy on a bed. I saw her weak face and tired smile as she looked at me with the greatest expression of affection I could ever remember.

    ¡°M-my baby boy¡­¡± She spoke, taking me from the previous woman.

    As I was wrapped around in her arms, covered with neatly woven fabrics which kept me warm, I finally understood.

    This woman was my mother.

    The women clothed in white were her handmaidens who helped her in her childbirth.

    And I? Well¡­ I was the child.

    That¡¯s right. Even though I never thought such a thing was possible, especially for someone like me who couldn¡¯t use magic, it appeared I had been proven wrong.

    Right here and now, in this room¡­ I have been reincarnated as a baby!

    A few days passed since I was given birth to. My mother never ceased to amaze me, always cuddling me and being by my side for as long as I was awake. Even when I slept, her handmaidens watched me.

    Even though I didn¡¯t quite understand thenguage everyone used, by observing their gestures and expressions, I got a rough idea.

    ¡®Its slightly different from what I¡¯m used to, but it¡¯s close¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    It wouldn¡¯t take me too long to fully internalize the changes made, especially with mother¡¯s sweet bedtime stories.

    I was unable to step foot outside the room I usually stayed in though. Trapped and with nothing else to do, boredom became my new friend.

    Due to myck of mobility in my immature form, I could only endure the humiliating confinement. Well, it wasn¡¯t all bad.

    My cradle looked luxurious enough. Laying on my back in therge cot, I felt veryfortable. It was different from the wooden contraption made by my previous parents.

    The room also looked elegantly designed, andrge.

    ¡®My family must be well off¡­¡¯ I thought to myself.

    My mother, who watched me with dedication, finally fell asleep, allowing me to open my eyes and cease my pretense.

    The handmaidens had left us alone as per the orders of my mother, who wanted some ¡®alone time¡¯ with her cute and adorable baby, a.k.a. Me.

    Wearing a soft cotton dress, I stared at the ceiling and thought deeply.

    What could have caused such a thing?

    I had been reborn with my memories intact. This was something I never deemed possible. If it was something that happened to others, surely it would have been discovered by now.

    After all, they would have applied their past knowledge in phenomenal ways. However, such a thing never happened.

    Despite how hard I tried, all my thoughts ended in futility, as I couldn¡¯t decipher the cause of my reincarnation.

    As an intelligent mind who pursued knowledge, I could never be satisfied with a convenient answer like ¡®coincidence¡¯, but seeing as I couldn¡¯t figure out the reason for the strange urrence, I decided to shelf the thought and focus on another important factor.

    Magic!

    ¡°In this life¡­ am I inept as well?¡±

    A small smile formed on my face as my body throbbed nervously. Whether or not I could actually practice magic and once again dedicate myself to it, I had to find out now.

    ¡°Huuu¡­¡± I heaved, closing my eyes in concentration.

    In the past, one ¡®Awakened¡¯ when they turned ten years old. I went through the same process as well.

    However, thanks to my research and contributions to the world of magic, I found a way to figure out the power hidden within an individual, even if it was a day after birth. Using a process simr to ¡®Awakening¡¯, a person could quicken thetent mana within them by injecting external mana into their body.

    Of course, it would take some time for the ¡®mana core¡¯ to form. But, if one used this procedure at an early age, by the age of five, a mana core would have been formed already. This made the effort half of what it took in the past, and I was highly praised for this discovery in the past.

    The problem was that this method only applied to those who hadtent mana within them. Inepts, such as me, were unable to use this procedure to form a mana core.

    In the end, it all depends on whether a person is born with the potential to wield magic or not.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough of that¡­ I won¡¯t know until I try.¡±

    Meditating within my cot, I tried bing one with my body, feeling every breath I made and my little movements. Slowly, I could feel something move within me.

    Blood vessels, internal organs¡­ what else?

    My pores opened up and sweat came out.

    ¡°This is harder than I thought¡­¡±

    Of course, it would be! I only postted this in theory. Since I was inept, I never used this method on myself, to begin with.

    Still, no one knew of the process more than me. I wasn¡¯t going to give in now!

    ~Gasp~

    My eyes sprang open as I breathed heavily, I tried controlling the sounds of my gasps so I wouldn¡¯t wake my mother.

    My body ached slightly, and I knew why. The method was a little painful, especially since I was performing it on myself. But, I did it!

    After undergoing the process myself, I knew the results¡­

    ¡°So that¡¯s it, uh? I am¡­¡±

 Chapter 4

    Magic¡­ the ability to bend thews of the world and perform supernatural feats. Using the energy which flows within one¡¯s body called mana, an individual could create certain things and cause amazing urrences.

    However, in this world, not everyone can use Magic.

    This is because a person needs to have a mana core to control the mana within. This mana bes activated and transformed into magic by using spells.

    Mana cores are made by condensing the little fragments of mana within a person. The more a person grows, the higher the mana bes. That is why a child had to turn ten before they could ¡®Awaken¡¯ and form their cores.

    But, what happens to those with no mana, to begin with? They can never hope to make a mana core and arebeled ¡®Inepts¡¯. I was one of those in my past life.

    But now¡­

    ¡°Ahh, it looks like that has changed¡± I mumbled to myself in my babyishnguage.

    The good news was that I was not inept in this life. I had mana, therefore I would be able to form a mana core and use magic.

    Then why wasn¡¯t I overjoyed and immensely excited by this development? Well, that was because of the not-so-good news.

    I had barely enough mana to qualify as a non-inept, or even be a potential magic-user.

    ¡°What¡¯s with this low amount? Are these actually all the mana particles I have? I know I¡¯m barely a week old, but¡­ this is just too low!¡±

    I had a low mana count and it was too low! This wouldn¡¯t even be up to a tenth of an average baby.

    ¡°Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!¡± I groaned internally.

    Since I reincarnated, wasn¡¯t I supposed to be blessed with some sort of special power or cheat ability?

    I was meant to possess nearly limitless mana, yet here I was again getting the short end of the straw.

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no useining now. At least I have some mana. With even this, practicing magic should be doable¡­¡±

    A wide smile slowly formed on my face. Even though I was a little disappointed, no, greatly disappointed in my very little talent, I was still very happy.

    ¡°I have mana now!¡±

    Yes. In my past life, I had wished for even the tiniest amount of mana to perform magic just once. It appeared my prayers were finally answered.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! Even with this, I should finally be able to do it!¡±

    I became a Great Sage that revolutionized the world of magic, yet I never used any for myself. This time, all the knowledge I stacked up and built¡­ I would finally be able to apply them myself.

    I was no longer interested in being a Grand Mage or whatever. I had enough fame and prestige tost me two lifetimes.

    What I desired at the moment, was to simply enjoy the practice of the magic I had immersed myself in.

    Perhaps this was my reward for the diligent effort I put in Magic.

    ¡°Ahh, I can¡¯t wait until I¡¯m older¡­¡±

    The night quickly fell, and the darkness crept in. Iy in my cot, directly stationed at the bedside of my mother.

    Apparently, she was the only parent at home. I had not seen my dad or even heard anyone talk about him since I was born.

    I could never escape her watchful gaze.

    While everyone was asleep, I remained awake, contemting various things excitedly

    ¡°What should I try first? This, or that¡­. Maybe that other one¡­ or could I just do that instead?¡±

    ~CREAK~

    Suddenly, I heard a creaking sound. It appears the door to our room was being opened slightly. Who could it be?

    My mom had clearly forbidden anyone from entering our private space unless she called for them.

    ¡°I have a bad feeling about this¡­¡±

    I quickly shut my eyes and pretended to be fast asleep.

    Thanks to the darkness, the intruder couldn¡¯t see my partly opened eyes, watching them as they slowly approached our location

    ¡°Crap! I can¡¯t see them well!¡± I grumbled, the effects of the darkness hindered me too.

    Suddenly, I noticed something the stranger held which made my eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

    The object had a slight glow in the darkness, reflecting on its surface with a shiny glint.

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­. a knife¡­?!¡±

    He picked up his knife, still maintaining decorum as he nearly reached my mother¡¯s bedside.

    It was well hidden, and not toorge. This person, whoever he was¡­ was a professional.

    ¡°Who is he after? My mother? Or¡­¡±

    Judging from the trajectory of his movements since he entered and the direction his face pointed in, he appeared to being toward me.

    The knife he held was also small, and from the glint it had, it was extremely sharp. It finally dawned on me that I was the target!

    ¡°Why? I was only born a few days ago! What could I have possibly done to incur the attention of a killer?¡±

    Nothing came to mind.

    Perhaps someone discovered I had reincarnated and wanted me dead. Or perhaps this was why no one who reincarnated ever appeared.

    Maybe they were killed before they had a chance to grow up.

    ¡°I have to stop with all these thoughts!¡± I quickly snapped back to reality.

    Having useless theories wouldn¡¯t solve anything at the moment. There was only the certainty that he wanted to do me in.

    Whatever reasons he had were merely secondary.

    ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to die here!¡±

    I was trapped in my cot, unable to do anything as the harmful baby I am¡­ Or so you would think.

    ¡°Huuu¡­ this will be my first time doing this, but, I suppose I have no choice!¡±

    Using one of the secret discoveries I never revealed to the rest of the world, this was the only way I could stand even the tiniest chance in this desperate situation.

    ¡°[Spellcraft]: Stage 1¡­¡±

    This was going to take quite a toll on me, but there was no other way to do this.

 Chapter 5

    [SPELLCRAFT]¡­ one of the secret discoveries I made without revealing its mechanics to people.

    Just as it would take a person¡¯s mana core to regte mana which could be manifested as magic through spells, so also this method allowed a person to cast spells, but not necessarily with a mana core.

    Humans have limited mana, and so the casting of spells as well as its quality would be heavily limited to their level of mana.

    But, what if I told you that there was another way?

    And that method is the only way I can survive this night if i pull this off!

    ¡°Stage 1¡­ Dispersal!¡±

    My skin tingled as I concentrated on dispersing the little amounts of mana floating within my body.

    It felt like countless needles poked my skin as mana leaked out of my pores, a strange new sensation I had never experienced in my past life.

    ¡®Endure it, Lewis, endure it!¡¯ I gritted my imaginary teeth.

    The pain was unbearable for my little frame, and I felt like I would pass out from the strain, but I endured it, because if I didn¡¯t¡­ I was going to die!

    My focus was no longer on the assassin, and I couldn¡¯t afford to open my eyes lest distraction befall me and I lose concentration.

    That would be fatal in this case.

    From my calctions, it will take another ten seconds before he concluded his act.

    If that was the case, I still had little time toplete the spell.

    After dispersing my frugal amount of mana outside of my body, the next stage followed.

    ¡°Stage 2¡­Attraction!¡±

    The surrounding mana slowly began to gravitate toward me. It was no easy task since the quality of my mana was very small and unrefined, but through concentration, I was able to draw a small quantity to my small frame.

    ¡°Stage 3¡­ Convergence!¡±

    The two different types of mana slowly mixed, bing one in an instant. They were very small particles, therefore invisible to the ordinary eyes.

    Even the assassin wouldn¡¯t be able to sense what was happening unless he used magic as well.

    Seeing as he brought a de, instead of using magic to conclude the job, he was avoiding its use. That made my work easier.

    ¡°From this point on, I have to hurry!¡±

    Because¡­ there were only five seconds left!

    ¡°Stage 4¡­ Transformation!¡±

    This was when the magic truly happened, and since I needed a spell to activate it, I had the perfect one to use.

    A spell that didn¡¯t use up much mana, was fast and efficient, able to incapacitate my killer in an instant and ensure my safety.

    A spell such as that¡­ would have to be customized by me.

    ¡°Imagine it, Lewis! Imagine!¡±

    My thoughts instantly produced the perfect spell to use.

    Three Seconds Left.

    I molded my mana which was mixed with that of the surrounding. Drawing all my mana particles together, they shone dimly as they became evident.

    Two Seconds Left.

    The assassin must have noticed it by now, so I couldn¡¯t give him any more time to react!

    Using the moisture of the air, I created ice, freezing it with the little mana I had dispersed while utilizing the force of the wind to serve as a propeller.

    One Second Left.

    ¡°[Mini Ice Bullet]¡±

    I opened my eyes instantly to see the killer¡¯s knife nearing my throat. Due to my magic, there was a slight glow in the room, allowing me to see the man a little more clearly. He had a hood on, preventing me from knowing his identity.

    However, I didn¡¯t need that at the moment! All that mattered was my survival!

    Aiming for the point that would deal the most damage, I pinpointed his temple andunched my highly condensed ice bullet which was strengthened with all the mana I could muster and collect from the surrounding.

    ¡°Stage 5¡­ Activate!¡±

    FWOOOOOSHHHH

    In an instant, the bullet was sent flying, rotating due to the influence of the wind as it darted straight for the man¡¯s forehead.

    I heard the squishy sound of tearing flesh and the cracking sound of a bone as the killer¡¯s forehead was pierced. Within a moment, the bullet drilled through the stranger¡¯s forehead and passed out of his head in a decisive hit.

    The knife he held so tightly fell to my side as his body staggered and iled about before copsing on the ground.

    My eyes grew tired at this point, and I could not confirm his death. If he was still miraculously alive after that attack, then I was screwed.

    After all, I had used up thest of my strength. My eyes were forcefully shut by waves of nausea and exhaustion that permeated my childish body.

    Lingering sensations of pain remained. However, even as I drifted off to unconsciousness, a bottomless feeling of happiness and fulfillment rushed through me.

    After all¡­ at that moment, I had done what I always dreamt of my whole life.

    ¡°I did it! I used Magic!

    And then everything went dark!

 Chapter 6

    Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have unlimited power?

    The endless potential a person could have if they weren¡¯t limited by their bodies¡­ I thought about it every day in my previous life.

    I was born Inept, with no aptitude for the thing I craved the most, so as a researcher, I tried looking for ways tobat the very injustice that was dealt to me.

    It was impossible though.

    Just like thew of gravity and motion, it is trite that for magic to ur, there must be mana. To use mana, one must possess a degree of it. As such, no inept person could ever use Magic, nor even activate a magic tool or artifact, since they required the injection of mana to work.

    But, I discovered the next best thing. If one had even the tiniest fraction of mana, they could achieve even far greater feats than their current limits. By using the surrounding mana through the attraction of your own mana, you could make even more powerful and efficient magic than normal.

    I dubbed this technique SPELLCRAFT, one of my most coveted and prized magic inventions.

    ¡°Urghhh¡­¡± I groaned as my eyes slowly opened.

    I felt my ears ringing loudly, and my entire body aching. I could hardly move my body, making me wonder what caused such an absurdity.

    ¡°H-he¡¯s awake, Mdy!¡± I heard someone yell.

    Their voices sounded feminine, making me even more confused. I never got married or had any women in my home¡­ plus, my mind was so sharp that I would recognize the voice if I knew the owner. Yet, I didn¡¯t know who was speaking.

    ¡®W-what¡¯s going on¡­?¡¯

    ¡°My baby¡­ ohh, my baby!!!¡± I heard another woman say.

    My eyes were still blurry, so I couldn¡¯t see her face clearly. In fact, my entire head was buzzing and foggy. It felt like I was forgetting something important, but I couldn¡¯t point it out clearly.

    I blinked and struggled to try regaining my sight and stop the loud ringing in my ears. Even though my body wasn¡¯t moving as I wanted it to, I had to focus and get a grip!

    Upon opening my eyes, I could see clearer. From my position, it appeared I was lying on a bed and the strange woman who called me her baby was looking at me with tears in her eyes. She looked awfully attractive, but her sad face nearly ached my heart.

    ¡®Why is she looking at me with those eyes¡­? Who is this beauty?¡¯ I asked myself.

    Instantly I felt a little shame wash over me. If I had married, she was young enough to be my daughter, yet what was I thinking?

    Suddenly, the woman stretched forth her hands toward me in an attempt to lift me. I felt puzzled, seeing such an action. I tried protesting, but my lips wouldn¡¯t respond, no, it felt like I was not even capable of speech yet.

    Instead of hearing my voice, I heard a baby mumbling

    ¡®Who the hell is that?¡¯

    As her hands touched my back, I felt a warm tingle on my skin, it felt good. But, the strange thing about this was that her hands seemed to touch a wide area in my back, but before I fully grasped the situation, I slowly felt myself being pulled up.

    ¡®W-what the hell?!¡¯ My mind rang.

    ¡°Ah, you¡¯re safe¡­ my beautiful baby boy!¡± The woman cried inughter as she drew me close to her bosom.

    Upon hearing those words, a sharp sensation seared through my brain, and slowly all the confusion I had vanished instantly.

    The truth sunk in, as well as the memories of the past couple of days I had spent in my new form. A smile formed on my face when I thought of the events of the previous night, as well as the absolute truth that governed my life at the moment.

    I had been reincarnated!

    A few days passed after the incident, and to be honest, my time after that was very eventful.

    Even though I realized that my family was important and rich, I didn¡¯t know to what extent, until after the deed had been done.

    Apparently, my parents are high-ranking nobles in this Empire, wherever this was¡­ making me a very important figure, even as a baby.

    The reason I hadn¡¯t yet seen my father was due to his busy life in the Capital, and it appeared he wasn¡¯t going to being home anytime soon.

    As for the most puzzling part, the assassin, it turned out had disguised himself as a servant and was able to blend in for weeks unnoticed, waiting for the household to let their guards down before making his move.

    I often wondered why the assassin didn¡¯t use magic to finish me off, but after spending the rest of my days actively investigating from my baby¡¯s cot or my mother¡¯s veryfortableps, I discovered a mechanism in the house.

    A Magic Detection Artifact!

    I hadn¡¯t noticed it when I first reincarnated, since I was upied with more important things, plus the model looked very different from the one I was used to. However, when I started my active investigation, I found it.

    Anti-Magic is only a theory, since all magices from mana and involves various forms to cast. Therefore, to protect their household from dangerous magic-users, Magic Detection Artefacts were made.

    Simply put, they allowed the user to detect the use of magic within their immediate vicinity.

    *Think of it like a fire rm*

    So, if anyone were to use magic in the vicinity, it had to be sanctioned. Unauthorized use of magic would be instantly detected and the culprit would be apprehended instantly.

    The assassin approached me with a knife to finish his job in order to avoid the detection of magic. However, the rm still rang¡­ and that was because of me!

    I remember using magic to kill that man, and while the rush and thrill remained with me even till this moment, I couldn¡¯t possibly replicate it again. Doing so recklessly would cause the rm to ring and I would be found out.

    Even now, the maids and servants look at me with peculiar and curious expressions. My mother often mentioned how it was a miracle that they found the dead body of the assassin right next to my cot and wondered what could have happened.

    I could only imagine the shock on their faces if they realized that it was a seemingly harmless, ¡®barely a week¡¯ old baby that drilled the hole they found in the corpse of the man.

    But, that would never happen. So far, I had escaped suspicion because it wasn¡¯t reasonable that I could do such a thing in the first ce. So, everyone chalked it down to an act of God.

    Plus, ever since that night I had been put under 24/7 surveince. My freedom had ended up being further restricted.

    However, that was no issue for me. Why? Because¡­ being stationary was exactly what I needed at the moment.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to begin forming my core!¡¯

 Chapter 7

    ¡°On this day, I hereby name thee Jared of the house of Leonard Alphonse Sereth.¡±

    Yep, you heard that right!

    At this moment, I¡¯m currently at the cathedral within my family¡¯s estate. The pews are well arranged, and my dearest mother, being the only parent around to witness this historic day is standing on the altar, holding me in her bosom.

    The priest was facing me directly, wearing his blindingly white robe and golden scarf. Two of his assistants, who bore an uncanny resemnce with each other stood a couple of distance behind him, while staring at the clergyman with hope and adoration in their eyes.

    As for the audience, many strangers were currently piercing me with their gaze. One would think that I would be used to attention, given the nature of my past life. However, as a baby who was just two weeks old, it was a little nerve-wracking.

    Why? Because¡­ in the presence of so many witnesses, this priest was about to perform something known as the ¡®Quickening¡¯ ceremony, where he would inject his mana into me and activate mytent mana.

    Yes, it¡¯s a method I developed in the past to help form a mana core early. It has received a lot of poprity, and even in this age, it appeared that they still used this method, though it has now be an borate event.

    Still, the reason I¡¯m so nervous is because of one crucial fact¡­

    I have already ¡®Quickened¡¯ myself!

    [Let¡¯s rewind a bit]

    I began forming my mana core 10 days after I was born, some days after the whole attempted assassination issue.

    Of course, since I was stuck and constantly watched, I had to pass the time.

    Usually, after a child receives a ¡®Quickening¡¯, it takes them a few years for their mana core to develop. This is because, though thetent mana has be active, they automatically begin to converge in a single spot to be a core within a magic user¡¯s body.

    Babies, and even little children, who have no experience in sensing their mana or directing the flow have to wait for years while things take their natural course, and after this urs, they Awaken.

    The usual time for a core to fully form is five years, though I have heard cases of geniuses who formed theirs at four, even three years old.

    How scary¡­ I envied those lucky chumps!

    ¡®Hehehehe, but now¡­ it¡¯s my turn to shine!¡¯ I grinned internally.

    You see, I had already Awakened mere days after my birth, way faster than most children, and I also possessed the ability to sense my mana and direct the flow since I had my awareness intact.

    Plus, I am crazy smart!

    Though my mana capacity seemed to barely qualify, there didn¡¯t seem to be too much of a problem. If I began guiding my mana particles to form a core myself, without waiting for them to gather on their own, that meant my speed would be way more than others.

    ¡®I might not have talent, but by using this method, I won¡¯t be left behind!¡¯

    So, at 10 days old, I began my first trial.

    Ah, it was difficult. It was hard enough sensing the little fragments of mana that dwelled within my body, but gathering them in a single spot was another thing entirely.

    For a child, whose mental strength was iparable to an adult¡¯s, it took quite a monstrous amount of concentration to gather 10 particles in an hour.

    When considering the fact that there are nearly infinite number of particles within a person¡¯s body, and it takes a minimum of a hundred thousand to form a stable core, 10 particles an hour was a far cry from what I had in mind.

    Even in this new life, it appeared that life would not be easy for me.

    Still, I persevered!

    On my first day, I managed to gather 50 particles before losing strength and drifting to sleep.

    My second day was better since I had somewhat gotten the hang of things.

    ¡¯70, uh? Not bad, not bad!¡¯ I thought to myself, smiling excitedly.

    It seemed the more I practiced gathering daily, the more I improved.

    By the third day, I was already able to gather 120 particles, nearly two times the amount of the previous day.

    ¡®At this rate¡­ maybe¡­¡¯

    However, my hopeful thoughts were dashed by the sudden realization I had after hearing the conversation my mother had with her handmaidens.

    ¡°Is everything set for tomorrow?¡±

    Tomorrow? I had no idea there was anything special going on during that time.

    ¡°Yes mdy. The guests will be arriving very early, as stated in their letters, but we are nearly done with all the preparations.¡± One of the maids answered her.

    Guests? Now I was even more confused.

    ¡®What in the zes is going on? Why doesn¡¯t anyone tell me anything? Oh, wait¡­¡¯ I grumbled internally, hoping someone would shed more light on themotion.

    ¡°Tomorrow is my baby¡¯s naming ceremony. Ah, I can¡¯t wait till I hear my sweet child¡¯s name for the first time.¡± My mother finally said, beaming with pride and excitement.

    ¡°¡­ E-eh?¡± I let out with my baby voice.

    Apparently, a baby was supposed to undergo a naming ceremony two weeks after birth. I didn¡¯t know anything of the sort prior to my mother mentioning it.

    Perhaps it was because of mymoner heritage in my past life, where no such practices were held. Noble culture differed from that of the masses, after all.

    But, if that was the case, wouldn¡¯t I have noticed it atter points in my life?

    I had many noble friends, after all. And a lot of them had children, yet I never saw anything of the sort.

    ¡®Welp, it could have been as a result of my fixation on magic that I failed to notice such details¡­¡¯ Iughed in embarrassment.

    Or, the more reasonable option would be that it was a new trend in whatever era I was reincarnated into.

    Of course, based on the slight difference in thenguage everyone spoke, plus the dates I saw around, as well as the books my mother read to me, I already deduced that quite a few hundred years had passed since my death. 528 years to be exact.

    During that time, quite a lot had changed, such as the Magic Detecting tool I saw in my parent¡¯s room. It looked more advanced than what I knew of in the past.

    Since many things weren¡¯t the same as what I knew, the naming ceremony was no exception.

    ¡®Now that I think of it¡­ I don¡¯t even have a name yet. Everyone just calls me the young master, and my mom calls me her baby¡­ it won¡¯t be bad getting a proper name¡­¡¯ I had thought to myself with a bit of anticipation.

    How could I have known things would turn out this way?

    A ¡®Quickening¡¯ Ceremony after hearing my name¡­ how was I to get out of this predicament?

 Chapter 8

    ¡°This boy shall be the pride and joy of the Duke household of Leonard Alphonse Sereth. Thus, as the child, Jared, is brought forth, I shall perform the ¡®Quickening¡¯ ceremony.¡± The priest said.

    Crap! O crap!

    My mother smiled, giggling excitedly under her breath as she took a few steps forward. As her body swerved elegantly while approaching the priest, my mind went into overdrive as I began to think of ways in which I could escape from my predicament.

    ¡®If he finds out I have already been quickened, what¡¯s going to happen then?¡¯

    Most likely, I would bebeled as a genius or something, and the news would eventually reach far and wide. As one who nearly got assassinated a while back, such attention was not something I desired at the moment.

    ¡®Until I¡¯m old enough to protect myself¡­ I can¡¯t let anyone know about my secrets!¡¯

    The priest brought his hands closer to me while giving me a happy smile. He must have had good intentions, but from my perspective, he appeared to be a personification of evil.

    ¡®No, stay away¡­ stop it!¡¯ I wailed internally.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, young Jared. It won¡¯t hurt at all.¡± The priest spoke in a soothing tone, stretching his hands towards me.

    He must have sensed my unease and thought of what to say in order to console me. This man was¡­ a Liar!

    ¡®As one who invented the technique, I know it is painful. Why would such an esteemed man of such status tell a lie? I don¡¯t trust him!¡¯

    Of course, I knew this was just my irrational mind speaking. He didn¡¯t seem in any way malevolent. Plus, my parents would never employ someone with suspicious intentions to perform such an important ceremony, especially after my attempted assassination.

    HUMMMMMM

    I felt a vibrating sensation as the priest ced his hands on my body. My skin tingled, and I could somewhat sense the faint mana on his palm.

    Gulp

    There was nothing I could do, so I merely waited while epting my fate¡­

    Suddenly, an idea sparked into my head.

    ¡®Yes! That¡¯s it!¡¯

    As the Priest began materializing his mana, preparing to insert it into my body, a small smile formed on my face. I closed my eyes and became in touch with my body, as well as the little mana particles within it.

    ¡®Once he inserts his mana, my particles will be in a state of excitement for a moment. This will allow me to absorb more particles and form my core faster!¡¯ I beamed.

    There was nothing I could do to hide the fact that I had already been ¡®Quickened¡¯, but at least I could obtain some benefits from this Priest inserting his mana into me.

    ¡°Be quickened, little one¡­ and obtain the power of mana!¡±

    ZTTTZZZZZZ!

    My body buzzed as I felt the strange mana entering my very being. As expected, my particles glowed brighter and becamerger in mass.

    ¡®Thanks for the meal!¡¯

    Instantly, I began attracting the excited particles into the spot where my core was forming. The tiny light fragments rapidly rushed toward the spot, nearly flustering me.

    ¡®Incredible! To think it would be this effective!¡¯ I beamed internally.

    I kept doing the best I could to concentrate the particles and draw all the particles into the position of my forming core.

    50 particles¡­ 70 particles¡­ 130 particles¡­ 200 particles¡­ 300¡­. 450¡­ 540¡­ 650¡­

    The particles kept rushing toward my core, all within minutes. I surpassed what I would normally be able to achieve in an entire day within mere minutes!

    As expected, the merits of meditation even during this ceremony were worth it.

    The Priest¡¯s faint glow of mana suddenly ceased, and he removed his hands from my body. I could feel his eyes looking at me with surprise, but I kept mine shut to avoid any scary gaze I would find.

    ¡®Ah, here ites¡­ I¡¯m busted!¡¯

    ¡°The Quickening¡­ is sessful!¡± The Priest suddenly remarked.

    ¡°Your child has mana. Congrattions, Mdy.¡±

    ¡®E-eh?¡¯

    I was stunned by the statement of the Priest, but before I had any chance to think this through, my head was bombarded with deafening sounds of hands pping.

    The noise was so much that I was forced to open my eyes. What I saw was amazing.

    The whole guests present were standing, pping their hands together and looking at me with wonder and pride in their eyes.

    I did see some disgruntled faces and some stoic ones, but the majority expressed genuine happiness about what had just urred.

    ¡®Is the ¡®Quickening¡¯ ceremony that special?¡¯ I asked myself.

    Sniff¡­ Sniff A sudden sound came from above me.

    ¡®No way. Is that¡­?¡¯

    I raised my head and saw my mother¡¯s face. She had tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked at me with pride. Her joy was overflowing, appearing to be boundless.

    Why was she looking so excited and happy? Wasn¡¯t this just a normal ceremony among nobles? Was there something significant in this?

    ¡®The Priest didn¡¯t even seem to notice that I had already been ¡®Quickened¡¯, so there should be nothing special about this¡­¡¯

    ¡°My child, you have magic. Finally¡­ we have a Magic-User in our household.¡± My mother smiled at me, drawing me even closer to her as she hugged me.

    I felt a light tap on my face as her tears dropped on me. Her body trembled, and I heard more sniffsing from her.

    ¡®Oh boy¡­ I wasn¡¯t expecting this!¡¯

    ¡°Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth has sessfully been ¡®Quickened¡¯, thus marks the birth of the first Magic-User of the Duke Household in over two Centuries. Truly, a star has been born.¡±

    At this point, silence filled the hall, and the priest stepped back from the stage, leaving the middle area vacant.

    My mother began walking to the center, carrying me with elegance. Since I wasn¡¯t used to the new customs of these people, I merely went with the flow as a baby should.

    Once she reached the center of the stage, my mother tightly grasped me and raised my tiny body up, showing me to everyone present.

    It felt weird, looking at everyone present from a high pedestal and being lifted by my mother¡¯s slender arms. I was a little embarrassed.

    ¡°Cheers to my beloved son, the pride and joy of the Leonard Household! Cheers to Jared Leonard!¡± She dered.

    Instantly, the audience gave a roaring response, nearly blowing my eardrums.

    ¡°CHEERS TO JARED LEONARD!!!¡±

    And so, held up in the air by my mother, watched by the guests, maids, and priest, even I became overwhelmed with emotion.

    Even though I knew it was impossible, my body moved without prior thoughts in order to render my gratitude to everyone present.

    Thank you, everyone. I¡¯m happy you came.

    Thanks, Priest. I¡¯m sorry I ever doubted you.

    Thank you, mom, for always being with me.

    Thank you, maids¡­ for making life easy for me.

    And thank you, universe¡­ for allowing me to be reborn!

    Things will definitely be different this time!

    With quivering lips, my mouth flung open, and words came out to address everyone that had moved my heart.

    ¡°Gueng Gu Guegywan!¡± (Thank You Everyone!)

    My loud baby voice echoed across the cathedral, and for a moment everyone was stunned by my unintelligible words, myself included.

    ¡®Oof¡­ what did I expect to sound like?¡¯

    My face turned red with embarrassment as I wished the earth could swallow me at that moment.

    However, the response of everyone made me feel the shame even more. Yep, that¡¯s right. They all said-

    ¡°Aw!!!¡±

 Chapter 9

    [Seven Years Later]

    ¡®I¡¯m nearly there¡­ just a little more¡­¡¯

    My body shook a little more than expected, vibrating at every turn. Sweat covered my skin as I winced and groaned while maintaining my meditative stance.

    As I absorbed and condensed thest portion of the essential particles I needed, I was already beginning to feel it¡­ I was close!

    SHWWUUU

    White colors were lifting off of me, and I began to feel a warm aura envelop me. My stomach felt hot, and my body was in an excited state¡­ ready to change forever.

    ¡°It¡¯s here!!!¡± My eyes widened as I doubled my diligent concentration on the formation that was nearlyplete.

    Five more¡­. Three more¡­ one more¡­ Finally, the final portion of energy entered the cluster of particles, and a mana core was born!

    ¡°Haaaaaaaaaa!!!¡± I finally wheezed in relief, crashing to the ground.

    My exhausted body could hardly move, but I realized that this was only temporary. After all, I had been going about this for nearly five hours nonstop. I needed to form it today!

    ¡°Hehehe¡­ hehehehe¡­ hahahahaha!!!¡±

    Myughter echoed throughout therge room where I was in. While I was lying on the ground, with nothing better to do than recover my strength, I nced across my chambers.

    It was big, too big for a seven-year-old.

    Even in my past life, I didn¡¯t use such arge space for sleeping purposes.

    Well, to be fair, I was never a materialist, since I was so devoted to my studies and passion. My acquaintances often pushed me to enjoy more of life¡­ perhaps I should have listened.

    ¡®Well, it looks like whether I like it or not, that¡¯s the reality I live in now.¡¯

    I was literally swimming in luxury.

    Since years passed, the paranoia of my mother had slowly died down. I couldn¡¯t still be found sleeping in my mother¡¯s chambers at seven, so this had to be arranged.

    Of course, this room was directly beside hers so she was fond of dropping by time and time again.

    ¡®Ah, fortunately, she¡¯s on a trip today¡­ that¡¯s why I could meditate for so long.¡¯

    My mother, Annabelle, was quite the lively woman. While I found her strange at first, I grew to ept her warmth, kindness, and overwhelming personality.

    I shall not make anyments concerning my earlier days as a baby¡­ I did some things I am not proud of.

    As for my father, I had only seen him on a few asions, nothing too special or fancy. Unlike my mother, Damien had a more intimidating aura surrounding him. Since he was a Duke, one of the only four nobles granted titles of such rank, his presence had much relevance.

    Apparently, my mother was from a Magic-User household, which was why he married her in the first ce¡­ all so he could birth an heir who possessed magic.

    How amusing. It appeared that arranged marriages based on the importance of magic and political standings had still not changed after so long had passed.

    I totally felt indifferent about him, though he showed me his undivided attention whenever he visited home, asking about my studies and affairs, I could tell that it was only because I had mana coursing through my body.

    Still, I didn¡¯t despise him for it. In such a world where magic was vastly important, it was a given that nobles possessed it.

    For a Duke Household not to have any Magic users for over two Centuries, it amazed me how they could still maintain their standing.

    ¡®Their contribution to the Empire must be indispensable. That must be why Damien doesn¡¯t stay at home often¡­ he¡¯s working quite hard.¡¯ I thought, forgiving him for neglecting his family.

    Family matters aside, there was one thing that bothered me the most¡­ it took me seven years to form a core! A whole seven years?!

    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± I whispered.

    I knew my talent in Magic was nearly zero, and my mana was one that barely qualified me to practice magic, but I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be this bad.

    An average child formed their mana core at five years old after using the quickening technique. Yet¡­

    I even started much earlier than anyone in forming my mana core, and dedicated so much time to condensing the mana particles myself¡­ this should have increased my speed by threefold at least!

    Yet¡­ to think I would be ate Awakened.

    ¡°I don¡¯t even what to think about what would have happened if I didn¡¯t personally converge my mana particles and just waited for the core to form on its own¡­¡± I muttered.

    I would already be an adult by the time I Awakened. That¡¯s how bad it was!

    It got to a point where my parents were worried about me, and rumors even went around about how my Quickening ceremony was false. People thought the Priest made an error in thinking I had mana, since my core hadn¡¯t formed. But, since the priest was very reliable, and my mother¡¯s faith in me didn¡¯t waver, the household persevered.

    My father became impatient at a point, but refused to give up faith in me, since I was his only child, though I wonder why he could t just make another one.

    ¡®Don¡¯t tell me¡­ he¡­ pfft, no way!¡¯

    ¡°N-no way¡­ Jared, you¡­. You¡¯ve formed your magic core?¡± Annabelle, my mother marveled as she watched me bring out a spark of fire from my palm.

    The surprised look on her face, coupled with the tears of joy and relief that flowed out of her eyes made everything worthwhile.

    I had been waiting for her to return, hoping to wee her with this. So, as soon as I heard the cking sounds of the horses¡¯ hooves, and the wheels of the carriage approaching the house, I rushed down to meet her.

    ¡°My, my, it seems young master Jared missed the Duchess so much¡­¡± The maids giggled as I ran past them.

    They were wrong though¡­ there were only two things on my mind¡­ one of which was to show off!

    As soon as Annabelle got down from the carriage, I greeted her with a simple fire spell, causing her to make the expression I wanted to see.

    ¡°Jared, my sweet baby boy!!!¡± She cried, lunging toward me excitedly.

    ¡®Ah, I knew this woulde!¡¯

    My mother grabbed me and hugged me tightly, caressing herrge bosoms on my chest. Well, at this point I was pretty much used to it.

    ¡°Ah, I knew it! You¡¯re our pride and joy. Mother is so happy!¡±

    ¡®Yeah, yeah! I got it! Now let¡¯s quickly move on to the next stage.¡¯ I grumbled internally.

    That¡¯s right, it was finally time for the second reason I rushed down. After finally obtaining the ability to use magic by normal standards, the next thing was only natural¡­ start practice.

    And, since I was the child of a noble family, having ess to countless books and materials, there was one thing I needed more than those things, one thing my mother promised she would give me should Ipletely form my mana core¡­ A Magic Tutor!

 Chapter 10

    Magic is a veryplicated concept. Not only is it highly vtile, but it is also progressive.

    Having been gone for over five hundred years, this concept has taken leaps and bounds from where I left off, making me stranded with only old information.

    But, this would all change in a few days. As a seven-year-old child, I wasn¡¯t granted ess to the main household Library, since I was always watched.

    Since my mother realized I loved books, she made a separate library for me, filling it with easy-to-understand books that were deemed fit for my age. Of course, I easily exhausted these and demanded more tasking materials, but my stubborn mother insisted on sticking to the childish pieces of paper she called books.

    It was thanks to this that I couldn¡¯t progress much in my study of modern-day magic. Still, I wasn¡¯t too frustrated since I had still not formed my Mana Core. However, that time is over. The deal I made with my mother was finally going to take effect.

    Books were important, however, this deal was something that would be even better than literature. A Magic-User who had experience in both practice and education, capable of imparting their knowledge into others¡­ A Magic Tutor!

    Finally, I was going to have one!

    CLACK

    CLACK

    CLACK

    I heard the sounds of horse hooves marching on the hard ground in my family¡¯spound.

    This sound distracted my reading, but awakened the curiosity I had.

    ¡®Are they finally here?¡¯ I thought to myself.

    I looked down from my study, which I intentionally requested to be close to the window, and saw a carriage making a turn at the flower garden, close to the main gate.

    A broad smile formed on my face, and I closed the book I was engrossed in just seconds ago.

    ¡°I should go wee them, no?¡±

    Jumping from my seat, I hurriedly dashed from the room and charged straight for the main door downstairs.

    I didn¡¯t need to change the attire I wore, since it was already a perfectly decent one.

    ¡®Since a few days ago, after Anabelle sent a letter, requesting for my tutor, I have been wearing presentable attires in anticipation for when they woulde!¡¯

    I saw a few maids rushing to inform my mother of the presence of whoever descended from the carriage, but I totally ignored them. In a sh, even before my Anabelle could be told of my tutor¡¯s arrival, I was already behind the door.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see who it¡¯ll be!¡±

    A grin formed on my face as I sped the doorknob.

    ¡°Wee to the Leonar-¡± I spoke while opening the door to see our dear guest.

    Suddenly, a sharp surge coursed through my body, causing it to nearly go numb.

    ¡®W-wha-¡­?! This is¡­¡¯

    My eyes bulged and every hair of my skin stood as I felt the intense pressure emanating from a single location. With all of my strength, I raised my head and looked in the direction of the person who stood before me, directly in front of the main entrance.

    ¡°Y-you are¡­?!¡± I managed to whisper, staring at the overwhelming figure.

    The man, appearing to be in histe fifties, stared at me nkly. His body was limp, and he had a somewhat skinny outlook, yet the presence he emitted was that of a well-seasoned expert.

    The pressure felt enough to crush me.

    ¡®Incredible¡­ what a dense mana signature!¡¯ I thought to myself while sweating profusely.

    ¡°Are you¡­ Jared Leonard?¡± The man suddenly spoke, causing me to stiffen in response.

    His eyes were fixated on me, narrowing them as though he was intrigued by something I wasn¡¯t aware of.

    ¡°Y-yes¡­¡± I stuttered.

    However, I wasn¡¯t done. No matter how incredible this person was, what he was currently doing was wrong. For him to carelessly release his magic pressure, what was he hoping to achieve?

    ¡°I-if you don¡¯t mind¡­ could you retract your magic pressure?¡±

    His eyes narrowed even more as I asked this, causing me to gulp. The man suddenly moved closer, one foot already past the door, and drew his face closer to me.

    ¡°Interesting¡­¡± He mumbled, stroking his short, white beard.

    ¡°Eeek¡­¡± I squeaked, feeling like an ant before him.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re Jared Leonard?¡± He asked me once again.

    I could smell his breath from our distance. It wasn¡¯t terrible, just very musty, like abination of spicy herbs and alcohol.

    This time, I didn¡¯t answer. I had had enough of this man¡¯s insolence. Perhaps I had forgotten earlier, but as the son of a Duke, and his employer, he had no right to treat me in such a manner.

    Magic Pressure was something Magic-Users used to greet each other, disying their level of power. For him to do such a thing before a seven-year-old like me, who just awakened¡­ was extremely inappropriate.

    Still, I was done with words. If hisnguage was going to be Magic Pressure, I was just going to give him the response he wanted.

    SHUUUUUUU

    I instantly opened my magic veins, causing my mana to leak out and generated my own magic pressure.

    BOOOMMMMMM

    Our distinct energies shed with each other, causing a quake across the room.

    I winced a little, noticing that my Pressure was nothingpared to his. Still, I wasn¡¯t about to give up due to this little setback.

    I pushed more of my mana out topensate, gritting my teeth as I red at him. The man didn¡¯t even seem fazed by my Pressure. From his demeanor, he wasn¡¯t even serious from what he emitted.

    ¡®Tch, don¡¯t look down on me!¡¯

    Even if I was weaker in terms of the quality of mana, it wasn¡¯t everything. The room was currently brimming with mana thanks to both of our pressures, and mine was directly shing with his, as well as touching the surrounding mana.

    The conditions were perfect for SPELLCRAFT.

    ¡°Hold it right there!¡± A voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

    My eyes bulged as I recognized who it was. I looked back and saw an annoyed re on her face.

    ¡®Anabelle?!¡¯

    The man standing before me quickly withdrew his Magic pressure for some reason, leaving mine the only one evident.

    I turned to look at him, only to be shocked by what I saw. His intimidating aura had gone, instead, his eyes were exhibiting an emotion that I had not long ago¡­ FEAR.

    What the hell was happening here?!

    ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the line this time, Alphonse!¡± Anabelle, my mother growled, moving closer.

    ¡°A-Ana, hold on, I can exin-¡±

    Before the man could finish speaking, my mother vanished from her location, appearing behind the man she called Alphonse.

    ¡®A-amazing¡­ I couldn¡¯t even see her move!¡¯ My thoughts rang as I witnessed her standing in front of me, but behind the man in our midst.

    ¡°W-wait!¡± He pleaded.

    However, before he could struggle or move, my mother interlocked her arms around his, dragging him up with her might and bent backward, crashing him into the ground.

    A mighty SUPLEX!

 Chapter 11

    BAM!

    Were my eyes deceiving me? Absolutely not!

    I had no idea how my prim and proper mother was able to achieve such a feat, even with the long gown she wore and her seemingly slender arms. She had never disyed such monstrous strength and agility the whole time I have known her.

    Dragging the stranger she called Alphonse, she bent backward and flung him to the ground in a mighty suplex, causing a loud noise to reverberate in my ears.

    ¡°W-wha-?!¡± I could only mutter, seeing as my eyes barely followed her movements.

    The man¡¯s head was nted to the ground, and his eyes had turned white while his mouth foamed. It appeared that her sudden action had sent him into a state of unconsciousness instantly.

    My mother¡­ sure is scary!

    ¡°Ah, it still hurts¡­ did you really have to go that far, Ana?¡± Alphonse grumbled while cracking his sore neck.

    After the incident, mother ordered the maids to carry the unconscious man to the guest lounge, where she told me toe as well.

    Of course, she had paused to ask how I was doing and if it hurt anywhere, but I was more concerned about her proximity to me than any other thing.

    ¡®Don¡¯t try feigning affection to me now, you brute!¡¯ My mind rang, unable to separate the current image I had of my mother at the moment.

    Still, as a master of acting, an art I had cultivated for the seven years of my life, I reverted to my childish nature and gave her a sweet and warm smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay, mum.¡±

    Of course, this did the trick as she tightly embraced me, suffocating me with her enormous chest.

    ¡®Just break all my bones, will you!¡¯

    After the maids began taking Alphonse up, mother followed behind them, while I followed behind her.

    I swear, I was gulping the whole time. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant experience.

    After we settled in the Lounge, a verandah-like area, with an open view of the garden, which was filled with lush breeze and a pleasant aura, I was unable to enjoy any of these thanks to the woman I called my mother.

    ¡°Alphonse, you can wake up now.¡± My mother spoke calmly, lightly tapping the unconscious man who was already ced on the chair.

    For a man appearing to be in his fifties, he sure looked miserable now. He should have known who he was messing with.

    ¡®Hehehe, I guess he has learned his lesson now.¡¯

    Alphonse did not budge, most likely due to being immersed in the unconscious state my mother had put him in. It hadn¡¯t been very long since her assault, so patience was a given in situations like this¡­ or so I thought.

    ¡°Oi, Alphonse! Don¡¯t keep me waiting!¡± My mother yelled, using her elbow to hit his stomach.

    ¡°Guarkkkk!!!¡± The man sprung back to life in recoil to that attack.

    ¡®A-ah!¡¯ Even though I wasn¡¯t the one that was hit, I tightly gripped my guts in reaction to the disy of violence exhibited by my mother.

    ¡®Anabelle, take it easy!¡¯

    The man groaned, mumbling some curses to himself.

    ¡°Oh, what was that?¡±

    He instantly froze the instant my mother asked, drawing her face near his. Her scary smile and chilly aura made even me tremble.

    ¡®What happened to the warm and kind mother I know and love?!¡¯

    ¡°A kid is here, Alphonse. No swearing.¡± She stared firmly.

    ¡°Alright, alright. Jeez¡­¡± He mumbled, rubbing his neck which appeared to be sore from the suplex he received.

    ¡°Sorry about that¡­¡±

    It appeared that he had just made an apology, but I was confused about who it was directed to. Me, or my mother?

    ¡°Ahem!¡± She coughed, sending him into another state of shock.

    It was amazing how my mother, who was barely even 25 years old, was able tomand the actions of a man over twice her age.

    ¡°I mean, Jared¡­ I would like to apologize for my earlier behavior¡­ that was uncalled for.¡± He smiled, finally looking in my direction.

    A small smile formed on my face since he was paying attention to me at longst.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ I¡¯m just curious as to why you did that. Magic Pressure is dangerous, sir.¡±

    I made sure to speak in a respectful tone, showing the etiquettes I had grown to learn.

    It appeared learning it in my past life as well as my new one would not be a waste, after all.

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re a fine youngd, aren¡¯t you? Polite as well¡­ are you sure you¡¯re Ana¡¯s son-?!¡±

    Before he couldplete his sentence, my mother jerked him in the gut once again, causing him to bowl over and groan while holding his stomach.

    ¡°A-ah, you never change, do you?¡±

    ¡°Shut it, Alphonse!¡±

    At this point, I was getting curious. Just what was the rtionship between my mother and this weirdo?!

    ¡°Answer the kid! I¡¯m also curious¡­¡± My mother gave a menacing smile.

    A bead of sweat fell from his forehead as he slightly coughed, pretending to clear his throat.

    ¡°W-well¡­ simply put, it was a test.¡±

    A test? Now that was somewhat unexpected, but at the same time, it started to make sense to me.

    ¡°So that¡¯s what it was. Sigh, why did I even call for you?¡± Ana groaned, shaking her head.

    It appeared my mother knew what this man¡¯s test was all about. Even I was already having a faint guess.

    ¡°Haha. Well, I had to make sure. After getting a letter from you, requesting me to be his tutor, I still had to confirm if he was worth teaching.¡± Alphonse answered.

    ¡®Ouch, that hurt¡­¡¯

    ¡°You mean, my words weren¡¯t enough for you?¡± My mother responded almost immediately.

    ¡°I am bound to my personal code, you know? Besides, he¡¯s your son. Of course, there would be bias in your words.¡± He spoke back, maintaining a gentle smile throughout.

    I could understand his perspective. I only awakened at the age of seven, way behind by normal standards. Plus, it wasn¡¯t as though I had a high aptitude, to begin with.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know what the content of Anabelle¡¯s letter stated, but she being my mother, might have somewhat embellished my capabilities¡­¡¯

    ¡°And? After your test, what do you think now?¡± My mother¡¯s voice suddenly cut into my thoughts.

    I looked at the man, Alphonse, and at my mother, who gave a somewhat knowing smile.

    ¡°Not only was he able to withstand my Magic Pressure, but he also made his own to counter it. I have never seen such an exceptional Magic-User at such a young age. I have no doubt about it now. Your letter was spot on!¡±

    Oh? I was somewhat happy to hear him say that. It appeared I wasn¡¯t as bad as I thought.

    Plus, rationally speaking, an immature Awakened couldn¡¯t learn how to create Magic Pressure instantly. But I had my years of experience and practice in mana maniption to thank for that.

    Alphonse looked at me, nodding his head in approval.

    ¡°Jared is definitely worth teaching!¡±

 Chapter 12

    ¡°Jared is definitely worth teaching!¡± Alphonse dered, smiling at me.

    I beamed in response. That was definitely a close call. If I hadn¡¯t resorted to using my Magic Pressure, I wonder what his decision would have been.

    ¡°So, let me ask you a question, Jared¡­¡±

    I looked at the old man, our eyes interlocked, and I didn¡¯t turn away. Instead I boldly stared at him.

    ¡°Why do you want to study magic? Why do you pursue it? Your mother mentioned to me in her letter that you¡¯ve always been enthusiastic about it as a kid¡­ why?¡±

    ¡®Um, Mister Tutor, those are already three questions. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to ask me one?¡¯ I thought to myself.

    Still, those three only required one answer from me. There has only ever been one reason for any endeavor in magic, ever since myst life and even now.

    It was so simple, that anyone could say it. But, to me¡­ it was reason enough.

    ¡°I love Magic. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    Silence pervaded our midst, as both Anabelle and Alphonse smiled at me. They looked at each other and nodded.

    ¡°Very well, Jared. I respect your resolve.¡±

    Alphonse stood to his feet and approached me. I wondered if I was supposed to stand in situations like this, but before I coulde to a decision, he was already before me.

    cing his hand on my shoulder, this man spoke.

    ¡°Now, I shall officially take the position of tutor, training and guiding you in the way of magic. I shall be your tutor, and you shall be my pupil. I hope you have no problem with that.¡±

    I shook my head, standing up as well.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way!¡±

    My mother who was still seated, watched the two of us. She seemed pleased by the newfound bond between me and my new tutor. Meanwhile, I was still confused about the rtionship she had with Alphonse.

    ¡°Now then, let us begin.¡±

    His voice cut through my thoughts, and my eyes bulged.

    ¡°H-hold up, you mean now?¡± I was definitely caught by surprise.

    ¡°Of course. Or would you prefer another time? Is that what all your love for magic amounts to?¡± He grinned in a teasing fashion.

    ¡®This old man¡­ he dares to look down on me and question my love for magic?¡¯ I gritted my teeth.

    From my perspective, he was my junior. The only reason I orded him with respect was due to the knowledge he possessed, as well as his ability to use magic to a degree I never could.

    Still, he was my teacher. So I would have to endure the humiliation I was going to be receiving, hoping to surpass him one day and then give him a taste of his medicine.

    ¡°Bring it on!¡± I grinned.

    ¡°What do you know about magic?¡±

    Alphonse and I were on the massive field of our manor when he asked me this question.

    Anabelle excused herself, saying she had other matters to attend to, and left me all alone with Alphonse. Of course, she whispered some words of warning to his ears before leaving.

    I couldn¡¯t hear anything she said since her tone was hushed, but from the paled expression Alphonse gave, it couldn¡¯t be good.

    The field was located in the backyard, filled with nothing but mowed grass.

    I remember there used to be quite a number of beautiful flowers, a garden for butterflies and pretty insects

    ¡®Mother must have had them removed in preparation for my training¡­¡¯

    Now, with nothing but short grass which served as warm cushions for our feet, the vast field was empty.

    ¡°Magic is the ability to cause supernatural phenomena by using thews of the world,¡± I answered.

    ¡°What fuels magic?¡± He further asked.

    ¡°Mana!¡± I responded.

    ¡°Where is mana found?¡±

    The correct answer would be ¡®everywhere¡¯. Since mana existed in everything and everyone, it could be said that the whole world was filled with mana. But, I had to restrict how I answered his questions since I wasn¡¯t a schr, but a seven-year-old.

    ¡°Mana is found in our bodies.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Alphonse let out a huge amount ofughter.

    ¡°Hahahahahaha!¡± His voice echoed through the field.

    I felt embarrassed, like the man was mocking me. It sucked being a kid, but as a patient man with the wisdom of many years stacked up, humiliation was something that I could endure.

    ¡°What a funny kid. Well, I can¡¯t fault you. You¡¯re still only a brat, after all.¡± He said, still letting out small bursts ofughter.

    ¡®Keepughing. We¡¯ll see who the brat is¡­¡¯

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re only half-right. Mana exists all around us. In the air, the waters, thends¡­ this entire world is brimming with mana.¡±

    ¡®I already knew that, genius.¡¯ My eyes rolled.

    But, I still had to act my age and give my dear teacher the respect and awe he expected.

    ¡°W-whaoh! Really?! That¡¯s amazing!!!¡±

    Alphonse made a proud expression as soon as I beamed. Bathing himself in the words of a child, Just how petty was this guy?

    ¡°Hehe, of course. Mana is all around us. However, even though it¡¯s all around us, as Magic-users, we can only use the mana that¡¯s inside of us to cast spells.¡±

    Of course, he was wrong. However, I wasn¡¯t going to expose the results of my research to him.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we have to form our mana core before we be able to use magic. Drawing power from the core, we emit mana and transform them to magic through the use of spells!¡± He exined.

    ¡°Wow! Amazing!¡± Was what I replied with.

    Everything this man was saying were already things I knew. I was impatient, wanting to be thrust into the advanced realm of magic I had no clue about.

    Still, it was unavoidable that as a kid, I would need to be taught the basics.

    ¡°Now then, it¡¯s time to tell you more about the rtionship between magic, mana, and spells. Pay attention, okay? I¡¯m only going to say this once!¡±

    My mind was already zoning out. It wasn¡¯t even up to an hour and I was bored already. My tutor¡¯s voice faded little by little, vanishing into the background.

    ¡®Ah, how much more do I have to endure? When do we get to the interesting part?¡¯

    And thus, day one of magic training with my Tutor kicked off in such a manner. My expectations were not met, at least not yet.

    Still, I had hope. It might take a while, but I wasn¡¯t giving up.

    Magic, everything there was to know about it, would be mine! And now, with my ability to use mana, I would be able to rise above anything I ever achieved in my past life.

 Chapter 13

    It has been a few months since I started my lessons with my Tutor, Alphonse¡­ and now, at longst, I will be having my first actual fight!

    It was boring for the first couple of weeks when Alphonse began teaching me the basics of magic. They were stuff I already knew, so I just had to endure and hope for a more thrilling curriculum as time passed.

    Fortunately, my expectations were met. Upon seeing that I caught on quick to his words, and my knowledge was far beyond what he taught me since I made use of my house library, Alphonse acknowledged me and decided to take things to the next level.

    He began by teaching me to cast staple spells, the basics of spells.

    While it was still a far cry from the experience I wanted, having practical sses was far better than just sitting and hearing a bunch of stuff I already knew.

    When it came to knowledge, I was certainly better than Alphonse. However, what he had that I desperately sought¡­ was the experience of using magic.

    And I finally got it.

    ¡°[Fire Ball]¡± I chanted.

    Imagining what I wanted to bring forth, as well as channeling the power from within my mana core, I emitted mana and produced the desired result in the palm of my hand¡­ a stable ball of mes.

    ¡°A-Amazing¡­ you got it on your first try!¡± Alphonse beamed.

    I was certain that from his perspective, he viewed me as a genius, however that was far from it. It was only easy for me to disy such a result since I had a very in-depth idea of how it worked.

    Plus, even before our practical magic lessons began, I had been practicing on my own while reading various books on basic magic in order to refresh the knowledge I had of them.

    Of course, things would have been a lot simpler if I used SPELLCRAFT, but I wasn¡¯t going to give away my trump card for some petty trick like a Fire Ball.

    ¡°Can we do something moreplex?¡± I asked him.

    The faster we progressed with the basics, the closer I would be to performing truly incredible spells. Although, everything that was going on¡­ was pretty exciting!

    ¡®Ahhh, fire on the palm of my hand, just like I wanted in the past! This is so wild, so amazing. I¡¯m doing magic. Hehehehe!¡¯ Iughed internally.

    As much as I wanted to do so much more, the little magic I had been able to do was enough to send me into shivers of excitement.

    Truly, learning and practicing magic are two different things.

    And so, months after our time together began, it was time to take another drastic step in my magic training. This time, it would be abination of knowledge and practice, a point where they intersected¡­ a magic battle!

    ¡°[Earth Golem Summon]¡± Alphonse chanted.

    Immediately, mana particles flowed from his body and affected the ground where we stood. It was no longer covered in little grasses, unlike when we had started. Because of all the time I practiced my magic, the ground had now be bare, having only soil as a covering.

    From the brown soil emerged rock formations that joined together rapidly. They had the faint glow of mana, clearly being affected by my tutor¡¯s spell.

    The rocks wereing and by the time they werepletely joined together, they formed a golem. The golem was humanoid in shape, though having none of our features and possessing somewhat beefed-up arms and legs. It had no face, but the small rock that signified its head dangled atop its broad shoulders.

    In size, one could say it was about my height, perfect for sparring.

    ¡®My first battle at seven years old¡­ let¡¯s see how it goes!¡¯ I beamed, as my body trembled slightly in excitement.

    My mother was also present, a small distance from the field as she watched what would happen. From the corner of my eyes, I also spotted multiple maids and servants staring excitedly as their young master fought his first opponent.

    Most of them had worried expressions though, It seemed my excited throbbing got misinterpreted to be quivers of fear.

    I wasn¡¯t scared, though. So long as I stuck to what I knew, this Golem wouldn¡¯t be a challenge.

    ¡°Are you ready, Jared?¡± Alphonse asked, ready to activate the golem to fight me.

    I stood uprightly, calming my overexcited body, and took a deep breath.

    ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    He smiled, snapping his fingers. The Golem whirred to life as the small rock on its head suddenly developed two glowing eyes to see.

    I wasn¡¯t surprised, I had seen my fair share of golems and knew how they functioned.

    Not to brag, but in my past life, I developed many golem designs as well.

    Vwoosh

    The rock contraption dashed toward me, moving its quick body very nimbly.

    I smiled, instantly opening up my palms as I focused mana on them.

    ¡°[Fire Ball]¡±

    Throwing the orb of mes at the golem, I leaped backward, preventing it from drawing too close to me.

    BOOOM! My magic exploded on the golem¡¯s body.

    Smoke emanated from its body as it continued approaching me, seemingly unharmed by my attack. Alphonse sure made it durable.

    ¡°Heh, as expected.¡± I grinned.

    I expected this much. Magic Ball was a weak spell, it wouldn¡¯t even cause much damage to a sturdy object. Its main strength was in the heat it generated, so when it came to power and impact it wascking greatly.

    ¡°[Fire Balls]¡± I chanted, creating two spheres of mes on both my hands and throwing them at my opponent.

    As they wereunched, I ensured to take constant steps backward, creating an even greater distance between us.

    BOOOM!

    BOOOM!

    The mes hit the golem at multiple angles, causing smoke to emanate from its body.

    ¡®Its body temperature should have risen to a considerable degree.¡¯ I smiled.

    The spectators weren¡¯t too convinced of my victory.

    ¡°Is he panicking?¡±

    ¡°Fire Ball won¡¯t do much good against that Golem though¡­¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t he use something else?¡±

    Hearing them whisper amongst themselves made me nearly burst out inughter.

    Of course, I could easily overpower it with a higher spell, but what would be the point in that?

    I wanted to savor and enjoy my first battle properly. Plus, there was something I wanted to try.

    ¡®It¡¯s about time to wrap things up!¡¯

 Chapter 14

    ¡®It¡¯s about time to wrap things up!¡¯ I smiled.

    I made three backflips, creating an even greater distance between myself and the steaming mechanism.

    ¡°[Water Balls]¡± I chanted.

    Instantly, blue spheres of liquid hovered on both my palms. Iunched them at the golem, excited to see the reaction.

    PSHUUUUUUUU!!! A burst of steam suddenly surged from the golem immediately the water balls came into contact with it.

    The white steam covered its immediate area, blinding the sight of the mechanism, while also shrouding it in thick smoke.

    ¡®Not only have I impeded its sight, but one of the weaknesses of rock is water. By increasing the temperature of the rock and pouring water on it, I¡¯ve allowed the steam to permeate its entire body.¡¯

    Steam is just water in gaseous form, so by allowing the water to cover its whole body, the Rock Golem will be severely weakened and will slow down.

    However, I didn¡¯t intend on stopping there.

    ¡°[Ice Ball]¡± I chanted the final time.

    As I created a single orb of freezing particles, a smile formed on my face while watching the steam that was already dissipating.

    Flinging my arms at my target, I sent the ice ball to the golem, making sure to time when my attack would explode, or rather, disperse.

    And so, as soon as it came into contact with the mist, I initiated its eruption.

    BWOOOOOSSSSHHH

    And so, in the eyes of everyone present, a surprising sight presented itself.

    ¡°H-how?!¡±

    ¡°A-Amazing!!!¡±

    ¡°Simply incredible!¡±

    I ignored the words of the maids and servants while looking in the direction of my mother.

    She had a stunned look, certainly not expecting something like this to be the conclusion of my battle with the golem.

    My tutor, Alphonse, also had a simr look on his face.

    Their reactions¡­ made all of this worth it.

    A distance from me, where the golem used to be, was a great cluster of ice, a cier that was frozen and extended to as wide as the mist covered, while also spreading around like roots.

    The golem was covered in the ice, entirely immobilized. Though I didn¡¯t destroy it, there was no way it could attack anymore. It was easily my victory.

    ¡°Heh, as expected¡­ the reactions all added up.¡±

    ¡°How did you do it?¡± Alphonse asked me.

    The look on his face told me that he was still hung up over the Golem I had defeated and the bizarre way I won. So, while we were having lunch, he finally asked the question.

    ¡°I¡¯m also curious, Jared. Won¡¯t you tell us?¡± My mother added, shing me her sweet smile.

    ¡®Hmmn, I suppose I ought to enlighten them.¡¯

    ¡°I used the various reactions of the elements to create the final result you saw,¡± I revealed.

    ¡°You¡­ did?¡± Anabelle repeated, clearly not grasping what I said.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ it¡¯s simple, really.¡±

    ¡°[Fire Ball]cks power and impact, so it can¡¯t damage a rock golem, but the heat it produces makes the golem hot. Byunching multiple fireballs at it, the Golem reached a satisfactory temperature, which made me use [Water Ball].¡± I continued.

    They were both amazed by what I did, but continued to listen in silence.

    ¡°The [Water Ball] turned into vapor uponing into contact with the extremely hot golem, and so it covered the golem in steam. As you know, water is a rock Golem¡¯s weakness. Steam is water in its gaseous form, so I allowed the water to seep into the inner recesses of the golem, while also causing it to spread around its surrounding.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ by using my final spell, the ice ball, I caused the ice to explode as soon as it touched the steam, sending the frost effect into the water that was already around the area. By freezing the moisture, it turned into a big ice structure, and the water that had seeped into the golem froze as well, making it to entirely turn into ice from the inside and also outside.¡±

    Most people do not know this, but hot water turns cold quicker than lukewarm water. Using this logic, and speeding up the process with magic, the hot steam created by the impact of my [Water Ball] with the burning Rock Golem was frozen at a fast rate.

    ¡°And so, that¡¯s how I won¡­ pretty interesting, right?¡± I grinned, taking a bite of the sd I had left unattended.

    Anabelle looked at Alphonse as they exchanged amazed expressions. The two were incredibly astonished by my resourcefulness and unorthodox methods.

    They had initially thought I was being random in my attacks, perhaps due to it being my first battle. In fact, it would have been more understandable and natural if that was the case.

    It was only natural that a person who had nobat experience would panic when faced with the unexpected and make mistakes. However, I did the exact opposite, I correctly analyzed the situation and rightlypensated.

    ¡°B-but why? Why go through such a roundabout way to defeat the Golem?¡± Alphonse suddenly asked.

    I could indeed have used a much simpler approach, yet I chose theplicated route. Well, the answer was simple.

    ¡°I just wanted to experiment. It was fun seeing such a reaction, don¡¯t you think? Rather than being straightforward with magic, it¡¯s also good to not be bound by strict spells. It¡¯s fun making your own by experimenting with various methods.¡± I said.

    This stunned my mother and tutor. They couldn¡¯t believe I would be so open-minded and broad with my perception of magic.

    And so, from that moment on, they both decided not to take the usual approach with me.

    My master stopped using the basics to teach me and went moreplex. As for my mother, she allowed me full ess to our house¡¯s library, giving me full ess to all the materials I needed to learn and grow.

    Just as I nned. I wowed the adults, and now they were pretty much under a different kind of spell. My genius spell.

    ¡®Perfect! Now my real magic training begins!¡¯

 Chapter 15

    [3 Years Later]

    ¡°Jared, there are things you need to understand.¡± My tutor, Alphonse said at the start of one of our lessons.

    Based on his tone, I knew it was serious, so I paid rapt attention. It was rare to see him so resolved.

    ¡®Maybe he wants to teach me a more advanced spell!¡¯ I beamed.

    Who wouldn¡¯t like the sound of that?

    ¡°Jared. You have a lot of potential. Truly! I¡¯ve never seen anyone advance through this amount of knowledge and practice of magic throughout my years.¡±

    ¡®Oh, don¡¯t tter me. Let¡¯s just be done with the formalities and fork over the special magic you want to teach me.¡¯ I grinned internally, eyeing my tutor greedily.

    ¡°You¡¯re smart too. So far, in the three years since I¡¯ve been your tutor, you¡¯ve surpassed my expectations. Every time, you end up using unconventional means tobine low-level spells and use them in creative ways¡­ Truly, you are exceptional!¡±

    ¡®Hehe, of course! I¡¯m a Great Sage with countless Magic Theories in my head. With the opportunity to practice Magic, of course, I would end up creating manybinations. So, old man¡­ hand ¡¯em over, my special magic! I¡¯ve earned it!¡¯

    ¡°So, Jeremy¡­ what do you think about¡­¡± Alphonse¡¯s voice trailed.

    He appeared hesitant on whether or not to tell me what was on his mind.

    ¡®Come on, old man. You can trust me!¡¯

    ¡°¡­. What do you think about bing a schr, instead of a mage?¡±

    As soon as he asked the question, it took a while before I was able toprehend his words. The bombshell was certainly unexpected.

    ¡°A¡­ Schr¡­?¡± I asked, a little shaken.

    Alphonse appeared flustered upon seeing my disappointed face. As one who had overseen my training for so long and knew of my passion for practicing magic, asking me to be a schr now was a difficult task for him.

    ¡°Jared, this is the-¡±

    ¡°Why¡­? Why do you think I should be a Schr?¡± I cut his words short with my whisper.

    After showing him so much of what I could do, training like hell, and even eating up knowledge faster than anyone my age. This old man still thought such a path suited me more than my goal?

    ¡°Jared, the thing is¡­ it¡¯s because I¡¯m your tutor that I know¡­ you have no talent in Magic.¡± Alphonse sighed.

    ¡°E-eh¡­ Ehhhhhh?!¡±

    My heart ached the moment he said that. For some reason, those words hit a core within me that I had long thought was numb.

    Why, oh why did this feel familiar to the first time I was told that I was inept?

    ¡°You managed to form a mana core at seven when others seeded at age five. However, even though you finally have a mana core, advancing beyond this stage is difficult. In a few years after training with magic, your core should have started experiencing some changes¡­¡± Alphonse exined.

    I knew what he was talking about.

    Mana Cores have various colors depending on Grade, and as a magic-user, it is one of your duties to advance your core to the highest possible grade. There are limits to how far one can go based on Talent.

    ¡®So, that¡¯s what this is all about¡­¡¯

    ¡°Jared, you¡¯re already ten years old. Even though you got ate Awakening, by now a yellow color should have begun to form in your mana core. Yet¡­ ¡± Alphonse stated, looking worried.

    ¡®Ah, I understand now.¡¯

    It appeared I was too entrapped in magic that I failed to notice the worries of my tutor. Truly, my case was something anyone would be worried about.

    Normally, at five I would have had a white Mana Core, then by my current age, I should have partially developed a Yellow core. For geniuses, it wasn¡¯t impossible to have fully advanced to the Yellow Core stage.

    Yet, I hadn¡¯t even shown the slightest sign of improvement.

    ¡°I know you¡¯ve always wanted to be a mage, utilizing magic actively, but¡­ that journey will be cut short due to the unfairness of the situation. You should have realized it yourself¡­ your mana core, your mana capacity, they¡¯re below normal standards.¡± Alphonse clenched his fist as he spoke.

    I could tell that it was hard for him to tell me these things. The expression on his face and the way his voice quivered all showed that he was truly sorry for doing this.

    ¡®To him, he¡¯s bashing the dreams and hopes of a child¡­¡¯

    I understood all his points perfectly. But¡­

    ¡°I know you might be skeptical, but the Schr profession is highly revered. It used to be discriminated against but, after Lewis Griffith, the Great Sage emerged with his countless theories that revolutionized Magic, they have be more revered and influential.¡±

    ¡®This guy¡­ he doesn¡¯t know that he¡¯s using myself as an example.¡¯

    ¡°Jared, I somehow see the Great Sage in you. It appears that both of you think alike. Do you know what you told me one time? I can¡¯t forget it, since it was exactly the line I read from one of the Great Sage¡¯s Treatises.¡±

    ¡®Crap! This guy is catching on!¡¯

    ¡°He said, ¡®Magic is more than just a set of strict Laws. It can be tweaked and altered to suit any purpose. That is the very meaning of evolution.¡¯..¡±

    GULP

    I messed up! Why did I have to say the exact words I wrote down? I was just speaking normally at that time.

    ¡°To be honest, I have always admired that great man, Jared. And for me to see him in you is something you can take as an achievement. That¡¯s why I know you can do it¡­ you¡¯ll seed greatly as a Schr!¡±

    ¡± ¡®He¡¯ is me, dumbass! I know I can seed as a Schr. I already did so in my past life!¡¯

    Still, Alphonse made a lot of sense. If I were to pursue the Schr path, there would be little need to practice Magic, but more emphasis on study, research, and discovery.

    With just my SPELLCRAFT, I would be able to change the world once again. My sess was already pretty much guaranteed. However¡­

    ¡°So, what do you say, Jared? Don¡¯t you want to-¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡± I sharply responded.

    ¡°Just think about it a little-¡±

    ¡°Nooopeeee!¡± I repeated.

    What this man was asking of me¡­ even though it was the logical thing to do, I was never going to choose that path.

    Why? Because I was already one in my past life. I had even reached the summit, the pinnacle of any Schr, and achieved the Great Sage title. Still, at the end of my life, I felt empty.

    It was the regret that made me wish for magic, and miraculously I ended up being given a second chance at it.

    There was no way I would choose to relive my past!

    ¡°Thank you, tutor, for your counsel. However, I know what I want. So, instead of trying to look for an alternative¡­¡±

    Alphonse was looking flustered, trying to decipher what I, the usually logical one, was thinking.

    A wide grin formed on my face as I stared at him with my own resolve.

    ¡°¡­ Why don¡¯t we make a bet?¡±

 Chapter 16

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we make a bet?¡± I asked, grinning at the flustered mage.

    ¡®He must be thinking that I¡¯m making a desperate attempt here, but let¡¯s see if he¡¯ll bite!¡¯

    ¡°What kind of bet?¡± He asked.

    Perfect! He took the bait.

    ¡°Set a standard. You said I¡¯m way behind my peers, correct?¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah. Your magic capacity and growth are too-¡±

    ¡°Then, set a standard. In two years, I should conclude my training with you. Tell me a spell that anyone by that age will be able to cast, and if I don¡¯t meet up to that standard when I turn 12, I¡¯ll be a Schr!¡±

    My deration stunned Alphonse. The expression he made actually hurt me a little.

    ¡®I¡¯m not crazy, old fart!¡¯ My mind rang.

    ¡°Come on, there¡¯s nothing to lose. I¡¯ll keep practicing magic, you¡¯ll keep teaching me, and I¡¯ll keep learning as much as I can. Even as a Schr, it¡¯s good to have deep roots in the knowledge of magic, as well as basic magic usage. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± I smiled, trying to convince him.

    ¡®Welp, I didn¡¯t have magic usage in the past, but I managed to reach the top. Let¡¯s hope he doesn¡¯t bring that up¡­¡¯

    ¡°But, didn¡¯t the Great Sage not have any-¡±

    ¡®Ahhh! He did!¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m not the great Sage, okay? I have mana, at least! It¡¯ll be a waste if I don¡¯t train it to an extent. Plus, we¡¯ve already started my magic training. It¡¯s been three years now. What¡¯s two more years?¡±

    Alphonse seemed to see some reason in my words, which was a good thing. If he had proved to be thick-skulled, I don¡¯t know what else I could have said in order to convince him to keep teaching a hopeless case like myself.

    ¡°Okay, so if you don¡¯t produce the result I want in two years¡­ you¡¯ll be a Schr?¡±

    ¡°Yep! And a badass one at that!¡± I grinned confidently in response.

    ¡®That won¡¯t happen though. But, let¡¯s give him hope¡­¡¯

    Alphonse smiled at my confidence, a little relieved that I hadn¡¯t broken down from having my dream shattered before me.

    ¡°Alright then. Fair enough-¡±

    ¡°Buuuut, if I win¡­ if I do manage to reach the target in two years¡­ you¡¯ll teach me a rare spell!¡± I dered, pointing at him with seriousness written all over my face.

    ¡®There¡¯s no way I¡¯m missing out on some extra goodness!¡¯

    Alphonse burst out inughter the moment I said this. Was it perhaps the amusement gained from watching an immature boy speak? This old man was looking down on me again.

    ¡°Fine, then. Deal.¡± He smiled, stretching his hand toward me.

    ¡°Heh, deal!¡± I grinned, I stretched mine too, and we shook our hands.

    A moment of silence enveloped the area, as master and pupil looked into each other¡¯s eyes, determined to win. Knowing Alphonse, he would raise the standard pretty high, but that didn¡¯t matter¡­ no matter what he threw at me, I was going to seed!

    ¡°Well, then¡­ what do I tell your mother?¡± Alphonse sighed, suddenly breaking the silence.

    ¡®I knew it! So Anabelle was an aplice too. It all made sense now!¡¯

    This traitorous tutor! So he sided with my doting mother in the end.

    ¡®No one really thinks I can pull it off, uh?¡±

    Well, they were in for a surprise. After all, tonight¡­ I would finally form my second mana core!

    Everywhere finally got darkened as night crept in, the perfect moment for a peaceful meditation.

    I remembered Alphonse¡¯s words, how concerned he was about my aptitude. What everyone around me failed to grasp was that no one was more concerned about my growth than I was.

    I already realized that no matter how many innovativebinations I made to a basic spell, even if it ended up mimicking the effects of a more powerful spell, it was still not powerful enough to rival advanced spells.

    To be truly powerful, I not only needed greatbinations, but also great power and skills to go along with it.

    Not counting my SPELLCRAFT technique, which I was saving as a Trump Card, my magic usage was really on the poor side. My mana pool was below average, and just as my tutor said, there appeared to be no growth within my core.

    However¡­ these effects weren¡¯t unforeseen, nope, they were caused by me!

    ¡°Huu, it¡¯s a lovely night. I should begin!¡±

    I took a deep breath, carefully inhaling and exhaling fresh, cool air.

    I activated the mana core within me, causing my body to faintly glow.

    ¡®Many people think that a white Mana Core is only the beginning of a magic-user¡¯s journey, and one should progress as fast as possible to the next stage.¡¯

    However¡­ they¡¯re wrong!

    The white Core stage is a foundation. As such, others are built from it. The mistake everyone makes is assuming they need to advance to the yellow stage as soon as possible.

    ¡®I thought this perception would change, but even now in the future, it remained the same.¡¯

    There was one thing everyone overlooked, and now it would be the basis for another card that I will exclusively have under my sleeve. And that is, possessing multiple Mana Cores!

    ¡°It¡¯s almost done¡­ just a few more particles¡­ and I¡¯ll be done with my second Mana Core!¡±

 Chapter 17

    It started as suspicion, then after a while, it became much more.

    Even in my past life, I often pondered on the subject. However, it seemed that my line of thought was so unconventional that no one else seemed to reason that way.

    Everyone had a set pattern, and the people I could reason with were already down that path.

    ¡®Is it possible to have more than one Magic Core?¡¯

    It was a simple question that kept ringing in my head. Unfortunately, I could not prove or test this theory since the elements needed for it to seed were non-existent. In essence, the theory was fated to fail before it even started.

    However, upon my rebirth and after forming my Mana Core, everything became perfectly clear. It was indeed possible!

    The white Core Grade is the basic foundation, and from it, other Grades are formed, as they areyered over it, like Onions. The white Core remains the innermostyer, while others flow from around it.

    As multipleyers form, concepts such as specialties begin to exist in the mana of a Magic-User.

    Magic-Users be more attuned to a particr specialty or field as they advance in their Core Grade. As a result, they¡¯re unable to practice advanced magic in other fields.

    I felt that was wrong.

    If I was to be a true Magic-User, I wanted to be able to use any and all forms of magic at my disposal, and not be bound by my own core which was a restriction.

    Then, in order to achieve this, there was only one option¡­ one path to take. Forming many Mana Cores!

    By forming multiple cores, a person would be able to have more than one specialty. The possibilities were endless!

    That was when I started researching.

    That¡¯s right! My three years of magic training weren¡¯t merely restricted to Alphonse¡¯s teachings. I conducted personal sessions and finally¡­ after so much time invested in research and personal discovery, I found it!

    ¡°With this¡­ I finally proved my theory!¡± I grinned widely.

    White Mana Core Grade is the foundation.

    Other Core Grades form theyers.

    However, as other core Grades start to form, even though power drastically increases, specialties arise.

    These three factors were immutable truths when it came to the concept of magic.

    However, a loophole existed, and I was fortunate enough to discover it after tireless efforts in research.

    ¡°If I establish my White Core Grade, then I no longer need to taint or advance it with another Grade. Instead, by leaving the foundation as it is, pure¡­ I can begin forming another Magic Core somewhere else!

    White Grade is the umtion of mana particles in the body. It is pure, without any special elements.

    As time goes on, the mana bes mixed in with other elements which results in specialties.

    By separating the two, I discovered that there was no point in tainting my first mana core with any element, since it was meant to remain a pure core while I formed others.

    The reason I was never able to seed in proving the multiple Mana Core theory in my past life was that the Magic-Users who werepetent at the time all had at least a yellow mana core, already tainted with another element.

    What I actually required was a pure white Core in order to produce another independent Mana Core.

    Since the only ones who had such cores were little children, there was no way I was ever going to seed. Because¡­ after the culmination of my research concerning this topic, one fact was absolute.

    ¡°Only white Core Grades can ensure the effective creation of another Mana Core!¡±

    Why?

    Because, mana particles in the body naturally flow toward the core and expand it, making it grow over time.

    To create another core, one has to redirect the flow. I was able to intentionally speed up my Awakening process since I knew how to direct the flow of my mana, but it would be even more difficult to do so for a second core while already possessing a first since the core would draw in the mana particles like a ma and try to expand.

    I have to admit, I reached a block when I realized this, and nearly gave up on my endeavor.

    But, in my slump, a memory returned to me¡­ an experience that had urred two weeks after my birth.

    The Priest who was in charge of my naming ceremony and Quickening ritual had sent a pure wave of mana into me which resonated with my mana particles and quickened them, allowing for a faster absorption rate at the time.

    ¡°BINGO!¡± I screamed the moment I grasped what this meant for me.

    I felt nearly foolish for letting months slip by me, yet failing to realize something so simple.

    Using my already formed core, I could quicken the mana particles in my body and use their energized state to form another core!

    While emitting mana, a core can not absorb mana at the same time. It would be like pushing and pulling simultaneously, which isn¡¯t possible.

    Therefore, by constantly releasing pure mana throughout my body, I would constantly be quickening my mana particles, while increasing the formation rate of my second Mana particle.

    The process was fast, unbelievably fast!

    I had actually made so much progress that it began to materialize. Yes! That was when I realized that it was absolutely possible.

    ¡°I can make more mana Cores. Not just one or two¡­ but as many as my body can handle!¡±

    The best part about this was that the more mana Cores I had, the easier it would be to make a new one since the quickening process would be more effective and the formation rate would in turn be faster.

    That was how I started¡­ and in barely two years¡­ I formed my second Mana Core.

    It would have taken a lot less time, but since I had to focus a lot on training, as well as keep up my study, learn noble etiquette, and take many lessons for my education, I had barely enough time for myself.

    Still, I relentlessly kept at it. And so, here we are¡­ the moment of truth.

    Two hundred more, fifty more¡­ one more¡­

    SHIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG!!!

 Chapter 18

    A warm, bright light enveloped me, simr to the sensation I felt the first time I Awakened. Ahh, I felt my entire body throb with a rush of power and pleasure.

    Unlike before, where my stomach was the point of formation, same with other magic users, I made my second Mana Core¡¯s location in my head.

    My brain, to be precise!

    The strategic use of such a position would be indispensable to my ambitions.

    ¡°Haaaaa¡­ I feel so refreshed and exhausted at the same time¡­¡± I heaved, crumbling on my bed.

    My body was covered with perspiration, and even though I was nearly naked, my entire underwear was soaked with sweat. However, I ignored such petty details.

    ¡°This is¡­ amazing,¡± I whispered.

    Feeling the two Mana Cores resonate within me gave off a different kind of vibe. It was a world apart from just having one.

    ¡°If I make more¡­ I wonder how it would feel¡­¡±

    The thought sent a smile to my face. That¡¯s right. I had seeded in the impossible, however, this was only the beginning.

    To truly rise above the mediocre and surpass all my peers, I needed to form my third Mana Core!

    ¡®I won¡¯t settle for anything less!¡¯

    Since I managed to form my second Mana Core after two years, my third wasn¡¯t going to take that long. But¡­ seeing as Alphonse was dead serious about myck of talent, it was certain that he would be spending more time training me than usual, plus my lessons in other areas were bing moreplex and time-consuming as time went on.

    In only two years¡­ would I really have enough time to make the third core?

    ¡°Hehe, sounds like a challenge!¡± I grinned to myself, looking at the ceiling of my room.

    It was a risky venture, and the next two years would be the most hectic time of all¡­ but the results were undeniably assured, and if I pulled through, no, when I pulled through¡­ I would be in an entirely different ss!

    ¡°I¡¯m no natural genius, alright. But¡­ I can make myself into one!¡±

    [Two Years Later]

    ¡°Are you ready, Jared?¡±

    A smile formed on my face. The moment of truth, after my bet with Alphonse was finally here.

    ¡°This will be ourst session together. Therefore, as was our agreement back then¡­ you will show me a feat worthy for a Magic-User your age if you want to advance further.¡± Alphonse stated, sternly looking at me.

    ¡°And if I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll be a Schr instead, yeah¡­ I know.¡± My voice sounded, echoing through the field of training designated for us.

    Somehow, a tinge of nostalgia wafted through me as I realized that we had been using this same spot for five years. Every day, continuously without fail¡­ to think this was thest day.

    ¡°Jared, it¡¯s not toote to pull out now,¡± Alphonse said.

    It felt insulting to hear that, but I understood. Alphonse most likely said that out of consideration for me. Since this would be thest training session I would be having, every member of the household was present. The servants, housekeepers, employees¡­ heck, even my mother watched from her esteemed seat.

    ¡®Father can¡¯t make it this time because of his duties, but I¡¯ll do so well that the news reaches him!¡¯

    I smiled at my tutor and nodded, giving him my usual confident look. I wasn¡¯t about to let down this man who had painstakingly taught me for so long.

    ¡°Fine. Since you¡¯re determined, Jared¡­ I¡¯ll have you engage in a magic duel. If you perform up to my expectations, I¡¯ll deem you fit to pursue the path of a Magic-User.¡± He stated.

    That sounded good to me.

    ¡°What will you be conjuring this time? A Golem? An Elemental?¡± I responded, excitement showing in my eyes.

    Alphonse shook his head while giving a mysterious, yet scheming grin.

    ¡°No, Jared. Your opponent this time, one who will end your training and cause you to graduate from your 5-Year lesson¡­ is none other than your tutor himself. Me!¡±

    My eyes bulged in shock. This was unexpected.

    ¡®I¡¯ll be facing off against Alphonse himself?¡¯

    The grin he gave made me realize that this was nned, premeditated from the time we made our bet. I was also certain that my mother was in on this since the both of them wanted to ensure I became a schr.

    ¡®Their smoldering love is too excessive!¡¯

    However, if they thought that something like this would break my spirit, they were dead wrong!

    ¡°Huu, now this is exciting! I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way!¡±

    Alphonse was stunned to see me maintain my confidence and even looked forward to it. He gave me a nod and smiled proudly.

    ¡°You¡¯ve not changed, Jared. Truly¡­ you¡¯re one interesting kid. Now then, show me what you have.¡±

    ¡°Of course, just give the signal!¡± I answered almost immediately.

    We both smiled at each other, ready to begin the duel.

    ¡®Alphonse is strong, I know that much. The mana pressure he emitted ever since we first met is still burned into my memory. However,pared to the weak boy who had just awakened his Mana Core, I have changed exponentially.¡¯

    I had been worried that I wouldn¡¯t be able to fully test my new power no matter the final test Alphonse gave me, but this was the perfect opportunity.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see how much I¡¯ve grown!¡¯

    {Current Status}

    Name: Jeremy Lewis

    Age: 12 Years Old

    Mana Core Grade: White

    Number Of Mana Cores: 3

 Chapter 19

    ¡°Begin!¡± Alphonse dered.

    Without wasting any time, I cast my spells silently,unching several fireballs at my tutor.

    ¡®Yep! Silent casting is a thing.¡¯

    A dozen balls of mes burned through the air as they approached him at a fast pace, but Alphonse was too quick for any to hit him. Enhancing his body with magic, the crazy old man glided away from all of them, swiftly avoiding them as he lunged at me.

    The fireballs exploded behind him, and in a few moments, he would reach my location. Usually, at this moment one would feel a sense of panic, since it was bad news for an opponent to close the distance on you when you¡¯re a mage.

    However, for me, it only proved to be more exciting. A wide smile formed on my face as I cast another spell.

    Instantly, I used Magic to affect the earth surrounding me, except for where I stood, creating a quicksand in an instant.

    ¡®[Sinking Ground]!¡¯

    Alphonse¡¯s legs got caught up in the sinking earth, but he didn¡¯t even appear fazed at all. This gave me a little window to create more distance between the two of us, though, so I jumped away from him, using wind magic to strengthen my leap.

    All of these were basic magic, possible for anyone who had formed a Magic Core.

    ¡°Cheh, cheeky kid.¡± Alphonse grinned, using wind magic as well to fly away from the ground andunch himself toward me.

    ¡®[Ground Spikes]¡¯

    Instantly, many earth structures came from all around me, creating sharp projections of the earth.

    Alphonse used Wind Magic, one which I suspected to be [Wind Slice] to cut down the rocks in an instant, while he chased after me.

    ¡®He¡¯s holding back, I know¡­ since he wants to simte a realistic battle. After all, if he goes all out, I won¡¯t be able to stand a chance¡­ or so he thinks!¡¯

    I decided to kick things up a notch.

    Creating about half a dozen fire Balls and half a dozen water balls simultaneously, Iunched them at Alphonse at once.

    ¡°That¡¯s pointless!¡± He stated, dodging them with ease.

    I saw from his expression that he was amazed by my actions, though. After all, an amateur couldn¡¯t create spells of different elements at the same time.

    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing I have three separate mana Cores working at the same time.¡¯

    Of course, I realized none of my spells were going to hit him, so they weren¡¯t exactly targeting him, to begin with.

    The opposing elements hit one another, causing an eruption of mist. I quickly leaped out of the area of impact since I was further from it and secured mynding while watching the oue.

    ¡°Perfect!¡± I grinned.

    Instantly, the mist cleared as Alphonse used Wind Magic to disperse everything around him.

    ¡°Did you really think your ice magic formation would be effective on me?¡± He asked, referring to the trick I had used to defeat his golem in the past.

    I had perfected it already, and was able to use it more freely since I had more Mana Cores. However, that wasn¡¯t my goal.

    ¡°Who knows¡­ maybe?¡± I smiled.

    Alphonse shook his head and sighed.

    ¡°Even now, why do you appear to be having a good time?¡±

    Well, that¡¯s because I was about to pull off something very exciting. It was only a matter of time.

    Our fight continued, with me avoiding a direct confrontation, while using basic magic to trap him for a short moment.

    ¡°Now then, let¡¯s try this!¡± I grinned.

    I created over a dozen fire Balls, and a score of water balls, ensuring the temperature of the resulting sh would be more attuned to the cold nature of water, and not heat.

    ¡°This again? I¡¯ll just dodge it and-¡±

    I instantlyunched them, not allowing Alphonse to finish his statement. However, unlike before, my aim was ced very high, sending the projectiles into the air.

    The elements crashed, creating a cloud of cold fog above our heads.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Alphonse asked, partly curious and confused by my seemingly random and pointless moves.

    However, he had been with me for five years and oversaw a lot of my magic training, so he was already aware that I didn¡¯t do anything without a n.

    Deciding that there was no use deliberating over the oue of my Spell, Alphonse appeared to have resolved to end the match before I could activate any more spells.

    Unfortunately, I had already prepared arge quicksand for him as a treat.

    While he was focused on my spectacle above, I made another [Sinking Ground] spell where he was, causing his movements to be hindered.

    ¡°W-wha-?!¡± He yelped.

    This gave me the perfect window to create my next barrage of spells.

    ¡°[Mini Ice Balls]!¡±

    Instantly, tiny portions of ice were formed in multitudes.

    Iunched them at the formation in the sky, further confusing Alphonse.

    What was my n?

    The ice particles burst upon touching the fog, turning into tiny fragments of ice. The end result was a more solidified version of the mist above us¡­ a cloud.

    ¡°This is just bizarre. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re experimenting on Magic again when we¡¯re having a duel!¡± Alphonse spoke, slightly annoyed.

    He broke out of the quicksand and lunged at me, this time with the intent to finish things entirely.

    However¡­ it was toote. Bringing my fingers together, I rubbed my thumb with my middle one, making a-

    Snap

    And then, the unbelievable happened.

    VWOOOOOHHHMMM The clouds instantly darkened, and a bright sh appeared from within it, causing Alphonse to look above him as a result of the shocking urrence.

    Grinning at another window of hesitation he disyed, I cast binding spells on my dearest tutor to slow him down.

    ¡°[Strong Bind], [Earth Bind], [Sinking Ground]¡±

    Many whips of white light wrapped themselves around him, and the earth brought forth many of its constraints to hold him. The ground began to sink beneath him once again, creating a tripleyered trap all at once.

    Alphonse was stunned by this trap, and as he tried breaking free, my little gift for him was prepared.

    ¡°Fall!¡±

 Chapter 20

    The shes of light from the darkened cloud instantly descended in a rush, lunging at Alphonse rapidly.

    KRAAAAACCCKKKKK!!!

    The lightning strike finally connected, crashing into the ground as it made deafening sounds of thunder, resulting in a massive explosion.

    BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

    Right before my eyes, the destruction spread as I stood at a safe distance. The blinding ray of light, coupled with the cackles of electricity and the sizzling sound of heat melting the earth made me smile happily.

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s a sess.¡±

    However, I didn¡¯t ount for one fatal error¡­ the explosion kept spreading!

    ¡°Jared, get out of there now!¡± I suddenly heard my mother yell at me.

    I looked at her with a stunned expression, initially not understanding what she meant.

    The servants all around, a considerably safe distance from where I was all looked in horror, and I could see the frightened expression my mother made.

    Realizing something had gone terribly wrong, I turned my face back to the center of the explosion and saw the approaching danger.

    ¡®Shit!¡¯ My mind rang.

    The burst of lightning didn¡¯t cease, as the charges kept ramming the earth, sending shockwaves and bursts of destructive light across the field. The devastating rushes began to approach me at a rapid rate.

    Seeing the explosion spread, I quickly created threeyers of protective spells to protect myself from the assault.

    ¡°[Earth Wall], [Earth Wall], [Earth Wall]¡±

    Using Earth magic was the most efficient way I could ground the lightning bursts directed at me. It was also the most useful defensive measure in this situation.

    ¡®Hopefully, the [Earth Wall] has enough capacity to absorb the electrical current!¡¯

    Apparently, they didn¡¯t!

    BOOOOOOMMMMM

    My defensive rock shields broke apart in the presence of an overwhelming might that was the lightning surge, and in only a few moments, I would be done for.

    As I watched the brilliantly destructive lightning currents near me, I instinctively knew it was the end.

    My remaining mana wasn¡¯t enough to escape, and I didn¡¯t have enough time to use Spellcraft. I could have pulled it off, probably¡­ but, at that moment my mind drew a nk.

    In essence, I was too terrified to do anything.

    ¡°Jared!!!¡± I heard my mother call out to me again!

    Her screams of concern, fear, and desperation rang in my ears. From her distance, there was no way she could reach me in time, though.

    ¡®S-Shit! Looks like¡­ this is the end¡­¡¯

    FWOOOOSHH!!!

    Suddenly I heard a whooshing sound, coupled with a blinding light. In a sh, I felt myself being pulled by a force, and taken away from the destruction that ensued.

    The lightning explosion chased us, myself and whoever was carrying me. Everything was too bright and fast for me to catch with my eyes.

    SHIIIINNNNGGGGG

    A brighter light shone beyond whoever carried me, and suddenly, I saw something magnificent.

    A barrier, shaped like a massive field of light covered the lightning explosion, containing it.

    ¡®T-this is¡­¡¯ My mind rang.

    I had only ever seen it in books, and once in my past life. It was considered to be one of the best defensive spells a mage could use.

    ¡°[Safe Haven]¡±

    SHUUUUUUUUUUU

    Finally trapped in the barrier, with no oxidizing element or air particles, the lightning sizzled, and finally ceased, leaving behind an entire field of devastation, charred grounds that emanated smoke, and burningyers of everything within a couple of acres.

    ¡°Jared, are you okay?¡± I heard a voice rouse me from my deep thoughts.

    It was the same person who had saved me, and I was still locked in his arms. Looking up at him, I saw a distressed expression in his eyes.

    ¡°Y-yes, Alphonse¡­¡± I mumbled, frankly still shaken by the whole thing.

    This was the first time¡­ the first time I had messed up in magic.

    ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± He heaved in relief, putting me on the ground.

    I nted my heels on the earth, making sure my wobbly legs remained firm in order not to appear weak.

    I looked at Alphonse. He was shrouded in a brilliant light that seemed to enhance his whole body. That must have been how he was fast enough to save me. As for the barrier¡­

    ¡°Jared!!!¡± I heard another voice call out to me.

    It was my mother!

    Raising my head to the ce my mother sat at a high estate, I saw her looking drained. Her face paled, and she seemed to be having difficulty breathing. Our servants quickly tried attending to her, but she stubbornly insisted on calling out to me and in order to verify my safety.

    She rushed toward me, even in her weakened state, nearly copsing.

    ¡®W-whats going on¡­?¡¯ I was a little startled.

    ¡°Jared, what the hell was that just now?¡± Alphonse asked suddenly, drawing my attention back to him.

    ¡°E-Erm¡­ I¡­¡±

    I didn¡¯t know how I would exin it to him. I suppose this type of magic was overkill, one a twelve-year-old wouldn¡¯t be able to perform.

    ¡®Still, I must have impressed him with this. I won!¡¯

    ¡°D-does that matter? You¡¯ve lost the bet, so-¡± I smiled, trying to wave off the suspicion that seemed to be building up concerning my abilities.

    ¡°Who cares about that¡­?¡± Alphonse¡¯s voice suddenly got deeper and more menacing.

    The look in his eyes startled me. The usual yful and cheerful demeanor was gone. He had a deep re, coupled with veins sticking out of his face as he clenched his fist. I could hear him gritting his teeth, making me feel an odd sense of unease around him.

    ¡®B-but, I showed an impressive result. Alphonse should be dazzled and amazed right now. Yet¡­ why does he look-¡±

    ¡°¡­ Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?¡± He asked in rage.

    I was right, after all. My tutor, Alphonse, was angry!

 Chapter 21

    Have you ever wondered how lightning is formed?

    Well, I have!

    It¡¯s a natural phenomenon that¡¯s caused by normal reactions in the surrounding, yet it appears so much like magic that I took an interest in it. Of course, lightning magic exists, but lightning itself is an amazing urrence that piqued my interest during my past life.

    As ice crystals within a thunderstorm cloud flow up and down in the turbulent air, they crash into each other and small negatively charged particles are knocked off some of the ice and added to another ice as they crash past each other.

    These negatively charged electric particles are drawn toward the positively charged ones on the ground, and as the opposites attract, a steppingdder is formed which results in lightning!

    I had calcted these and recreated the phenomena with magic, generating a cloud, while making countless ice particles sh with each other, as well as charging the dormant circuit in the earth.

    By snapping my fingers, I created the spark needed to spread the chain reaction, using Alphonse as the point of contact for the lightning strike.

    I thought I calcted everything. In theory, it would have worked perfectly, without spreading across the whole field or causing more mayhem as it did. However¡­ who would have expected this?

    ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?!¡± Alphonse asked me with a deep re in his eyes.

    ¡®I know I made an error. Perhaps if I have more time, I can figure out what exactly the problem is.¡¯

    ¡°I messed up. Things went a little out of control, but at least I won, didn¡¯t I-¡±

    Alphonse didn¡¯t even let me finish my statement of defense before raising his hands and giving me a hot p across the cheek.

    SWAT!

    The stinging sensation that I feltq on my skin sent a confusing jolt down my body. I was enveloped in confusion.

    ¡°E-eh¡­?!¡±

    What just happened? Alphonse hit me on my face¡­ a reaction I had not expected. Looking at him, he had a very enraged look.

    The old man¡¯s re deepened, something I didn¡¯t know was possible.

    ¡®This is the first time I¡¯ve been hit¡­ since I was reborn¡­¡¯ My mind trailed.

    ¡°W-why¡­?¡± I muttered in confusion, giving my tutor an angry look.

    ¡°Alphonse, it¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t need to me Jared. He-¡± Anabelle, my mother protested in my defense, struggling to get close to us.

    ¡®That¡¯s right¡­ I don¡¯t deserve any me for this. It was an ident, an unforeseen error. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like anyone got hurt.¡¯

    ¡°Anabelle, I won¡¯t let this slide. He needs to learn the repercussions of his actions. What he did is uneptable!¡± Alphonse spoke back to my mother.

    It was the first time I had seen him respond so daringly to her. No, it was the first time I saw him so serious at all.

    ¡®What¡¯s his deal? Even after I worked my butt off to reach this level and won our bet, even after disying such amazing magic¡­ why was he treating me like this?¡¯

    My look intensified as I red at him. He was my tutor and all, but that didn¡¯t give him the right to say such harsh words to me and my mother.

    ¡°It was only a little ident, and-¡±

    ¡°Will you shut it, boy! That ¡®little ident¡¯ has sent your mother into a state of mana shock!¡± Alphonse red at me, clenching his fists as though restraining himself from hitting me again.

    ¡°M-mana shock?!¡± I repeated, confused about what he said.

    Mana shock is a condition within a person caused by the sudden use of a vast amount of mana from one¡¯s core.

    To prevent shock, spells are needed In order to ensure smooth a transitioning of the Mana flow. However, if a person tries to bypass the spell¡¯s process or overtask themselves in a short period, they experience mana shock.

    My eyes darted to my mother. She did appear pale and weak, but I had only assumed that it was due to her worry for me. All through my years, she was always a worrywart, so I had chalked this down to the same issue.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know the consequence of that? Depending on the level of the shock, a Mana Shock could lead to Weakness and a state of unconsciousness¡­ in worse cases, death!¡±

    Of course, I knew of this. However¡­ to think my mom was going through that currently, yet she was still standing here, worrying about me. Inconceivable!

    ¡°N-no, you¡¯re wrong! Why would she even be under Mana Shock in the first ce?¡± I said with a quivering tone.

    ¡°Are you retarded? That spell just now, I don¡¯t know what you did, but if she hadn¡¯t acted quickly and used [Safe Haven] to contain it, you would have been caught up in it!¡± Alphonse said, drawing closer to me with an intimidating aura.

    ¡®Okay, I messed up more than expected.¡¯

 Chapter 22

    My mother must have quickly used the strongest defensive magic at her disposal to contain the lightning st and protect me, while being careless and undergoing such a painful recoil.

    ¡°B-but, the lightning attack wasn¡¯t too big a deal. A defensive spell of intermediate level to absorb its charge would have done the trick. You didn¡¯t need to resort to an Advanced Spell!¡± I said to my mother.

    ¡®Anabelle had certainly acted very immature in the past, but even I knew that she had a lot of skill in magic.¡¯ My mind rang.

    She must have known the basics of the elements and how to counteract an opposing element. Why did she recklessly throw away her life when there was an easier solution.

    She could have easily just-

    ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t thinking, Jared. You were in danger. I had to protect you at all cost!¡± Anabelle said, coughing in the process.

    It appeared as though she was barely hanging on. Looking at the symptoms, I already knew her condition was real.

    ¡®She won¡¯t die¡­ but she¡¯s going to be bedridden for a while.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± My mind was going nk.

    Conflicting thoughts ran through my head and I didn¡¯t know how to feel. I failed as a Magic-User and let my power get out of control. How? I thought I had everything all nned out.

    ¡°Even now you¡¯re still thinking of magic, aren¡¯t you?¡± Alphonse¡¯s loud voice woke me from my inner turmoil.

    I was already upset at myself, what did this old man want from me again?

    Raising my head to look at him, I was stunned by the expression I saw. The same Alphonse who gave me a mad, intimidating look, was in tears as he spoke.

    ¡°Look at your mother, Jared. Look around you¡­ what do you see?¡± His deep voice was filled with emotion.

    My eyes darted everywhere, and I saw them. Servants and employees were all looking at me with worry and fear written on their faces. The destruction caused was one thing. However, no one cared about the damage caused. No, their attention was on me.

    My mother, everyone around¡­ they kept looking at me with the same eyes of worry.

    ¡°Do you understand now, Jared? Do you see what you¡¯ve caused? You nearly got yourself killed, as well as your mother. Even the maids and servants could have been caught in the disaster. Yet¡­¡±

    I slowly grasped Alphonse¡¯s words, and as I did, my body quivered as I felt my foolishness.

    ¡°¡­ Yet, they¡¯re all worried about you. Your mother didn¡¯t even think and rushed in to save you. Do you not feel anything even after seeing all this? Is your mind still fixated on magic and magic alone?!¡±

    As I saw Alphonse¡¯s seething rage, I finally noticed something I had overlooked, probably because of my deep thoughts on my earlier spell.

    ¡®He¡¯s injured!¡¯ My eyes bulged, noticing the blood spreading on his shoulder.

    The crimson-colored liquid dyed his clothes red, yet the old man didn¡¯t even bother about it. His eyes were fixated on me, expecting an answer.

    I felt an ache within me. My heart pounded, and it hurt a lot. Seeing his tears, watching my mother¡¯s caring, yet weak eyes, seeing the destruction I¡¯d caused, and the expressions of all my spectators¡­ it finally dawned on me¡­ how selfish and insensitive I had been.

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±

    I don¡¯t know how it started, or how someone like me could do it, but tears dropped from my eyes. My body shook, trembling due to the weight of emotions I was feeling.

    The sting of Alphonse¡¯s p still hurt me a bit, but the thumping within my heart as well as my guilt far outweighed it.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± I cried, bursting out in tears.

    Was it because I had a child¡¯s body? Or perhaps it came from even the mature soul of a seasoned Sage. It didn¡¯t matter either way. Nothing can change the fact that I bawled out, expressing my apologies in the most embarrassing way possible.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sho shworry¡­ hc¡­¡± (I¡¯m so sorry)

    I had finallye down from my high horse and broke down right then and there.

    ¡°Without saying any more harsh words, Alphonse pulled me into his grasp and embraced me. My mother also drew closer and joined in our hug.

    Just like a family, the hug drew me in and I felt the weight of my faults slowly dissipate.

    ¡®I¡¯m such a fool, aren¡¯t I? I¡¯m making the same mistakes I made back then¡­¡¯ I smiled at myself, recollecting my past life.

    I was surrounded by good-natured people who supported me at every turn. In all fairness, I didn¡¯t deserve them. Yet, they stood up for me and believed in me.

    They helped me in many ways, and now that I think of it¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have been the Great Sage, Lewis Griffith without them!

    Even now, after being given a second chance at life, I was blinded by my pursuit of magic that I failed to truly consider the emotions of those around me.

    That was my true error!

 Chapter 23

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you¡¯ve learnt your lesson, Jared. I¡¯m so proud of you, by the way. That spell of yours¡­ it was¡­ amazing¡­¡± My mother slurred, finally giving in to her exhaustion.

    Her eyes closed and she fell asleep. My tears which had ceased, flowed once again. Somehow, what she said made me genuinely happy.

    ¡®Mother Anabelle, even though I¡¯m an old man and this makes things a little awkward for me¡­ you¡¯re such a great woman!¡¯ I wept internally.

    The servants that held unto her, made sure to support my unconscious mother¡¯s weight and carried her away from us, taking her to her chambers.

    They nodded respectfully at us, and Alphonse gave them a wave of approval, dismissing them to do the needful.

    ¡®But, he¡¯s injured too!¡¯

    ¡°A-Alphonse, your shoulder is-¡±

    He raised a finger, interrupting my protest. Shaking his head, he gave me a stern look, once again meaning business. I felt a resolute expression emanate from my tutor¡¯s demeanor.

    ¡°Jared. Indeed you surpassed my expectations today, and it¡¯s no secret to say you won the bet.¡± He began, kneeling down to meet my gaze at an even level.

    Even though I felt bad for the damage and destruction I had caused, as well as the harm I brought unto every one, Alphonse¡¯s praises felt good.

    ¡°But, as your master, I¡¯ll have to tell you this. No matter how much magic you eventually possess, or the heights you reach in the art, without anyone by your side to share it with you¡­ it¡¯s naught but a vain pursuit!¡±

    Those words hit me like a sledgehammer, resonating within my soul.

    They felt familiar. I had heard them before¡­ in my past life. Yes, from one of my old acquaintances.

    He had told me the same thing.

    ¡®How does Alphonse know about that?!¡¯

    ¡°Remember this, dear pupil! Magic is meaningless without people! That¡¯s your final lesson from me.¡±

    Alphonse grabbed my hand and gave me a warm smile, then raised his second hand and rubbed my head, giving it a light pat.

    ¡°I was also impressed by your spell today, Jared. Well done. You have impressed me, not just as a tutor¡­ but as a fellow Magic-User.¡±

    My eyes bulged in shock as I received those words.

    I somewhat understood what Alphonse had just told me, as well as the words of my friend back then.

    No matter the height I would eventually reach in magic¡­ it could neverpare to the feeling of aplishment I got from Alphonse that day.

    The warm sensation within me, and the tingly feeling welling up inside me¡­ I felt really happy.

    ¡®So this is it¡­ a true feeling of aplishment!¡¯ I beamed, returning Alphonse¡¯s smile.

    Such warm feelings of satisfaction would only be gotten from someone else. And as such, I needed others.

    ¡®What a valuablest lesson you gave me, Alphonse¡­¡¯ I smiled.

    However¡­ despite the bliss and fluffy magical bursts of joy shing around, there was no way anything or anyone could make me forget.

    ¡°But, Alphonse¡­ you haven¡¯t forgotten the deal we made, right?¡±

    Yeah, I know that he was trying to pass a message across to me, and to be honest, he was really cool. I truly learned a great deal from his words and I had the resolution to change.

    However¡­

    ¡°Alphonse, you still haven¡¯t made good on the bet, you know? My special magic spell, where is it?¡±

    ¡°What the-?!¡± The old man gave me an unbelieving look as he stared at me.

    ¡®Am I being too impatient again? It¡¯s just that he said that¡¯s myst lesson, so I have to make things clear¡­ that¡¯s not the wrong thing to do!¡¯

    ¡°You little rascal! Get the hint, will you?¡± Alphonse said, knocking my head as he spoke.

    ¡°Ow, ow¡­ Alphonse, when did you start resorting to violence?¡± I asked, wincing at the slight beating he gave my head.

    As someone whose body wasn¡¯t used to pain, it was an odd sensation. But, it wasn¡¯t like I couldin. I had caused more pain to others, after all.

    The both of us burst out inughter, filling the tense air with the friendly environment I had grown to love.

    ¡°Of course, I haven¡¯t forgotten our bet!¡± Alphonse finally said, interrupting my thoughts.

    He stood from where he knelt and looked at the devastated training field. A small smile formed on his face.

    ¡°However, looking at what just happened, I doubt there¡¯s any magic in your level that I can teach you¡­¡±

    ¡®What? Come on, man. Don¡¯t try to run away from this! Take responsibility!¡¯ My mind rang.

    I wasn¡¯t being insensitive. This was my right! It was something I had been looking forward to for so long. As much as it was nice beingmended by Alphonse and my mother, I needed something concrete as a trophy for my aplishment!

    ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t worry, though. Before the end of today, I¡¯ll make sure to make good on my word.¡±

    Upon hearing this, it finally dawned on me. Why hadn¡¯t I thought of it earlier? Alphonse had been staying with us for five years straight, not missing a single day in teaching me Magic. As per the contract, today would be hisst time here before heading back home.

    ¡°W-wow¡­ you¡¯re really leaving tomorrow¡­¡± My voice trailed.

    I now felt a tinge of regret coupled with my emotion. He was a great man and an interesting magic tutor, but did I even get to know him more than that? Even after so long had passed, I didn¡¯t really know anything about Alphonse.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make that look. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to die, or anything. Besides, since you passed, you¡¯ll soon be going to the Magic Academy, right? Our separation was inevitable.¡± The old man smiled at me.

    ¡®Shame on you, Jared. You¡¯re being reprimanded andforted by your junior.¡¯ I smiled to myself.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Thanks, Alphonse.¡±

    ¡°Now then, why don¡¯t we go inside. They should haveid Anabelle on her bed. We should check her condition.¡± Alphonse said.

    I nodded. While Ana wouldn¡¯t die, she would be in a state of weakness for some days.

    ¡°I¡¯ll offer some treatment, so she¡¯ll be able to get up before you leave for the Academy. So you don¡¯t need to worry too much.¡± Alphonse smiled, noticing my troubled expression.

    ¡®Am I so easy to read? Oh boy¡­¡¯

    And so, former master and pupil returned to the manor, after having reconciled with each other.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, what about my special-¡±

    ¡°You little-¡­ I said I haven¡¯t forgotten! You know what? Come to the courtyard after dinner, and I¡¯ll show you before you sleep!¡± Alphonse barked, already growing frustrated with my reminders.

    ¡°Haha, sorry. Thank you¡­¡± I responded.

    ¡®I think I should shut up now¡­¡¯

 Chapter 24

    Alphonse and I entered my mother¡¯s resting chambers, a veryrge and borate room. The scent-filled fragrance of roses and delicious nectar made me smile in pleasure as I walked in.

    There she was, Anabelle,id on her bed in her sleeping state. She was so beautiful, and for the first time¡­ she seemed fragile. Almost like a sleeping beauty.

    ¡°Get me some Sage, Quidan Potions, Red Lotus, Tiagong, and Fyr. They should all bebeled in the Green House.¡± Alphonse ordered the servants within the room.

    The two of them instantly nodded, rushing out to fetch the ingredients he mentioned.

    ¡°Using mana to help her won¡¯t help in this instance since mana is the problem. All we can do is feed her medicine so her body stabilizes on its own. Any insertion of foreign mana will only make things worse¡­¡± Alphonse whispered, as though speaking to himself while analyzing everything.

    I just kept looking at him the whole time, not knowing what to say. The way he took charge of the situation, plus the maturity he disyed. I could chalk everything down to experience.

    My eyes, however, suddenly darted back to the injury he had, which made me a little worried. He was also in a bad shape.

    ¡°B-but, Alphonse¡­ are you in any shape to do anything? Your shoulder is-¡± I spoke out in concern.

    Alphonse¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked at the bloodied shoulder he had. He most likely got the injury from the sharp sparks of lightning running wild after he saved me.

    ¡®So, he prioritized speed over defense in order to rescue me, leaving himself wide open¡­¡¯

    I felt even more guilty now. Perhaps it was too much to have asked him to give me my final lesson at the time.

    However, to my surprise, Alphonse didn¡¯t express any concern about his injury. He ced his hand on his shoulder, and a green light hummed around it. The spreading blood ceased and the wound he had closed instantly.

    ¡°H-healing Magic!¡± I beamed.

    How could I have forgotten¡­ Alphonse was a seasoned mage. Of course, he knew how to use it!

    ¡°I forgot about that injury for a second there, thanks for reminding me.¡± He said, shrugging it off as if the blood he shed was nothing.

    For him to have discarded such a blow as nothing, just what kind of man was Alphonse?!

    ¡°I-I see¡­¡± My lips curled awkwardly as I let out a shortugh.

    Alphonse used magic to create a bowl and grinder, using earth magic to mold the simple objects. He also prepared water, heated it with fire magic and steam began to form.

    The servants appeared and brought the ingredients, making him thank them as soon as he saw the items he requested.

    I watched from the side as he chopped down the lotus, burnt the sage, and prepared the other herbs in specialized ways. The Quidan Potion was added to the boiling water, turning everything into powder.

    ¡®A-amazing¡­ so this is modern medicine¡­¡¯ I beamed in surprise.

    Back in my day, once a person experienced Mana Shock, they were given time to rest so that their body would naturally restore itself. There was no medicine to speed up the process.

    ¡°This is incredible¡­¡± I smiled, watching Alphonse¡¯s precision inbining the ingredients.

    At this point, the medicine was ready, having the form of a thick pink liquid. The red lotus must have contributed greatly to its color.

    ¡°I suppose this is the first time you¡¯ve seen anyone make medicine, uh?¡± Alphonse said, upon noticing my smile.

    I nodded eagerly.

    ¡°Well, this is usually the job of a doctor or alchemist, but since I learned some while studying magic, I know a little about medicines in rtion to it.

    ¡°A-ah, I see¡­¡± I blurted out, utterly amazed.

    Alphonse proceeded to my mother¡¯s bed, using wind magic to carry the liquid and give her the right dosage in tiny droplets so it would be easy for her to swallow. In a few seconds, hepleted the dosage, leaving a good deal within the bowl.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you the dosage you¡¯ll constantly give to her before I leave. So, even after I¡¯m gone she¡¯ll be on this medication and In a few days, she¡¯ll be perfectly normal.¡± Alphonse said, looking at me as well as the other servants.

    ¡°T-thank you, Alphonse.¡± I beamed

    The servants also thanked him profusely bowing their heads in respect.

    ¡°That¡¯s alright then. Now that the worst has passed, you should all go and rest.¡± He smiled kindly.

    ¡°B-but our Madame is still-¡± One of the maids voiced out in protest.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. It¡¯s nothing, really. You can call in a new batch of servants to rece your post, so you can go freshen up.¡±

    Realizing that they couldn¡¯t argue with Alphonse, the two servants nodded and excused themselves.

    ¡°Jared, you should also rest. You must have exerted yourself a great deal after using that spell¡­¡± Alphonse said, looking at me with concern.

    I understood his perspective. I was only a little child with a white Mana Core. Not only had I spammed a bunch of spells with different elemental attributes, but I also created such a destructive phenomenon. It was only natural that I would be exhausted. However¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m not really tired, Alphonse¡­ I¡¯m fine. Really.¡± I replied.

    Alphonse seemed to distrust my words, so he narrowed his eyes to observe me closely. His eyes bulged in surprise, meaning he noticed that I wasn¡¯t in any poor shape.

    ¡°H-how is this¡­ wow, amazing. Once again, you¡¯ve flustered me, Jared.¡± Alphonse grinned.

    ¡®Hehe, I aim to please.¡¯

    Using three Mana Cores had its benefits, one of which is mana management. I can save up a lot of mana by using the cores to charge one another. Also, while I use a core for magic, the other core absorbs the mana particles within me. Since I can somewhat control the flow of mana in my body after years of practice, I can fill up my mana Cores easier than others.

    ¡®Also, If I had used SPELLCRAFT, mana wouldn¡¯t have even been an issue¡­¡¯

 Chapter 25

    ¡°That Lightning attack¡­ it wasn¡¯t anything a young magic-user should be able to use. Even Yellow Core users can¡¯t produce such an effect. Yet, with a white Core, you did it¡­ and you¡¯re not even exhausted¡­ fascinating¡­¡± Alphonse muttered, rubbing his chin as he spoke.

    ¡®Pfft, the old man was ying coy. Who knew there was this side to him?¡¯ I mused.

    He was speaking in circles, but I knew what Alphonse was getting to.

    ¡°Do you want to know how I did it?¡± I asked with a sly grin.

    ¡°W-what are you-?!¡± He burst out, trying to hide his curiosity by masking it with annoyance.

    He couldn¡¯t fool me, though.

    ¡®I might be a child now, but I was once an old man too. You can¡¯t use your tricks on me!¡¯

    Plus, I was a very curious fellow in my past life, and I still am, so I used many methods to extract information from people back then. Many of the means that I used were crafty strategies and acting. Compared to me, Alphonse¡¯s attempt to hide his motive was at the level of a noob.

    ¡®Never underestimate the power of shamelessness!¡¯

    ¡°I can tell you, though. It¡¯s not a big deal for me. I simply used Basic Magic Spells andbined them in a way that produced that result.¡±

    Alphonse was stunned, but heposed himself. If I was to tell him something so important, he would have to be the student. After all, he said it himself. He no longer considered me his pupil, but a fellow Magic-User.

    ¡°Please, tell me more¡­¡± Alphonse asked with a resolute face.

    ¡®Why not?¡¯

    Of course, I didn¡¯t tell him about the fact that I had three Mana Cores, or any of my well-guarded secrets.

    The only thing I did was exin the concept of lightning, and how it was achievable through the rightbinations. Though it helped that I had three Mana Cores, since I was able toplete the process much faster, anyone could recreate such a phenomenon if given enough time.

    ¡°A-Amazing!¡± Alphonse kept beaming as I spoke.

    However, the more I exined it, the more I couldn¡¯t understand the hole in my theory. It should have been perfect, yet it went out of control.

    ¡®Am I missing something?¡¯ I had thought to myself.

    Well, if that was the case, I simply had to dig deeper. There was no way I would settle for anything less than perfection!

    And so, with this resolve, I went to my room and got enough rest, preparing for the spectacr show I would be seeing this night.

    To Pass the time, I practiced a little and went over some of the things I had learned, while also writing down the process of making the Mana Shock medicine.

    ¡®It coulde in useful¡­¡¯ I thought to myself.

    Before I knew it, night fell, and it was time for my appointment with Alphonse.

    I left my room and went to the destroyed courtyard, anticipating the show.

    Apparently, Alphonse was more excited since I met him there already waiting for me.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here. Just in time.¡± Alphonse grinned upon noticing my presence.

    ¡°Good evening. It¡¯s nice to see you¡¯re keeping your promise.¡± I smiled at the wry old man.

    ¡°Look at this brat. What do you take me for?¡± Alphonseughed.

    I also joined in the merryughter, grateful that the little awkwardness of the past had vanished entirely.

    ¡°Well, since we don¡¯t have much time, we might as well get started now.¡±

    I nodded, moving close to him.

    We were standing at the center of the crater my berserk spell had caused, making me wonder what Alphonse had in mind.

    ¡°Remember what I told you this afternoon? I doubt there¡¯s any Basic magic that I can teach you at your level.¡± Alphonse began.

    ¡®I knew it woulde to this¡­¡¯ My mind trailed.

    I had far surpassed any Basic Magic regiment he could think of. Plus, he also couldn¡¯t teach me more advanced magic since I didn¡¯t have enough mana capacity to handle them. At this point, he was at an impasse.

    ¡°Your growth rate is phenomenal, so I thought of something different entirely¡­¡±

    Upon hearing this, my eyes widened as I looked at his face.

    ¡°¡­ Why don¡¯t I bypass all the levels you need to reach and go to the very pinnacle of Magic? The highest level Mage can achieve, since that is the ce you desire to stand.¡± Alphonse smiled at me.

    He must have sensed my impatience and eagerness. To havee up with something like this¡­ my ex-tutor, Alphonse, was simply amazing!

    ¡®Pinnacle of magic¡­ this is¡­¡¯

    I instantly forgot about all the worries and anxiety that enveloped me. If he was talking about what I thought he was, then I was about to see something truly amazing!

    ¡°It¡¯s too much for someone at your level, and we don¡¯t even have enough time for you to learn it. As you know, our period of training is officially over. Finally, it is something exclusive to me alone, so this isn¡¯t what anyone else can perform. However¡­¡±

    ¡®So it¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m thinking about! Perfect!¡¯ My mind rang.

    This was even more than I expected. It was the highest level of magic a mage could achieve. It signaled the maturity and growth of a Magic-User, as well as their resourcefulness. Thebination of both mana capacity and research¡­ Original Magic!

    ¡°¡­ If it¡¯s you, Jared, then surely you¡¯ll be able to learn something from my little demonstration!¡± Alphonse smiled.

    ¡®Of course. At my level, it would be impossible to make my own Original Magic, plus, I couldn¡¯t imitate his since the magic he would show me was something he had developed from scratch!¡¯

    However¡­ the point of this demonstration was something else entirely.

    ¡®To see Original Magic up close, and to learn how it is made¡­ something like that will boost my knowledge of Magic Principles even more and allow me to see how far this world has progressedpared to the past!¡¯

    ¡°Now then, let us begin¡­¡± Alphonse smiled.

    ¡°Watch and listen closely, Jared. I¡¯ll only show this to you once, so burn it into your memory. I hope it will help in your own research and the creation of your Original Magic.¡±

    ¡®You don¡¯t have to tell me twice, old man!¡¯ I stared in absolute concentration.

    My true, final lesson was about to begin!

 Chapter 26

    ¡°Take very good care of yourself and your mother, Jared,¡± Alphonse said, already in the carriage.

    It was the next day already, and Alphonse was leaving the manor. He had very few belongings, to begin with. Perhaps there was some sort of Magic Tool in his possession that allowed him to stuff many of his properties in onerge traveling bag since that was all he brought¡­ and itsted him five years.

    ¡°I will!¡± I loudly responded, smiling at the old man as he stuck his head out of the carriage window.

    He gave me a slight nod, and I nodded back, remembering the promise we made the night before.

    SHUUUUUUUUUUUUU

    The many waves of darkness that filled the area dispersed and finally, a semnce of normalcy returned.

    ¡°W-wow¡­¡± I managed to stutter after experiencing Original Magic for the first time in this life.

    Words couldn¡¯t describe the sensation that coursed through me at the sight of Alphonse¡¯s beautifully dangerous power. I was right in believing him to be strong.

    ¡°Haaa, Original Magic sure takes a lot out of me¡­¡± Alphonse huffed as beads of sweat appeared on his face.

    It was understandable since one needed an immense amount of mana pool, mana knowledge, and mana control in order to pull something like that off.

    Alphonse saw my stunned gaze and suddenly felt proud of his achievement. He was always so petty.

    ¡°So, what do you think?¡±

    I nced at the grinning face of the old man as he expected an answer from me. I didn¡¯t even know where to begin. The concept, the execution, the conclusion¡­ they were all impressive.

    ¡°I certainly learned a great deal from this. Thank you for showing me, Alphonse. I¡¯ll be sure to put what I have seen to good use.¡± I responded with a mature, good-willed smile.

    ¡°A-ah, I see. Is that so? Well, don¡¯t be too impressed. There are way better Original Magic out there, and I¡¯m yet to perfect mine too. It takes a lifetime to fully hone one¡¯s original magic, you know?¡±

    In my mind, I could tell how shameless Alphonse was being.

    ¡®For real? Just take the praise and be satisfied already.¡¯ I rolled my eyes.

    Of course, Alphonse¡¯s magic wasn¡¯t the best I had seen. In the past, I had encountered many mages and had researched their skills. I was even acquaintances with a few Grand Mages, and close friends with one in particr.

    Compared to theirs, Alphonse¡¯s was a littlecking. However¡­

    ¡®All magic is beautiful to me! I don¡¯t discriminate.¡¯

    ¡°Jared, can you promise me one thing?¡± Alphonse¡¯s voice suddenly cut into my thoughts.

    I looked at him with curiosity and became a little stunned upon seeing his serious demeanor. It reminded me of earlier this afternoon.

    ¡°W-what is it?¡±

    ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll keep yourself safe, no matter what! It doesn¡¯t matter when or what the circumstances are. It doesn¡¯t matter what needs to be forfeited. Keep yourself safe! Can you promise me that?¡± Alphonse asked sincerely.

    ¡°S-sure¡­¡± I responded a little awkwardly.

    ¡°¡­ Shouldn¡¯t you say something like ¡®protect your mother and keep her safe¡¯, though?¡±

    Upon hearing this, Alphonse burst outughing.

    I stared at him weirdly, waiting for him to finally stop and fill me in on what was so funny. The old man ced his hand on my shoulder and his smile vanished instantly. A serious, well-shaded expression formed on his face.

    ¡°Jared, your mother¡­ can take care of herself!¡±

    Suddenly, memories of the past came rushing in. I recollected all the suplexes she had given Alphonse, and the violent nature she exhibited. Instantly my body stiffened, and I nodded mechanically to the equally terrified man.

    It appeared we had both been traumatized by that mons-, I mean mother.

    There was also the fact that she was able to make the strongest Advanced barrier magic so quickly, even though it resulted in Mana Shock.

    ¡°Understood!¡± I gave him a thumbs-up, and he responded with his as well.

    Finally removing his hand from my shoulder, Alphonse smiled and nodded proudly.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be leaving for the Academy a week from now. While it¡¯s regrettable that I won¡¯t be around for your farewell party, I¡¯ll be sure to send my Gift to you before your departure.¡±

    My eyes beamed proudly at my master as I gratefully offered him my thanks. A gift from a Magic-User of his caliber, one who also served as my Magic Tutor, could only mean it was something magic-rted.

    ¡®Maybe a Magic Tool?¡¯

    Suddenly drool appeared on my face as I obsessively considered what I would receive from my master.

    ¡°Ahh, you¡¯re making that scary expression again.¡± Alphonse yelped, drawing away from me.

    ¡°Come on, master! Come and hug your cute pupil!¡± I beamed, moving closer to him with my hands spread wide.

    ¡°S-stay away from me! And that¡¯s ex-pupil to you!¡± He replied, stepping back more desperately

    Due to the power he exerted earlier in using his Original Magic, he was most likely exhausted. There was no way such an old man could fight back against the power of youth!

    ¡®Meaning¡­ I can make good use of his weakness!¡¯

    ¡°Hehe. Don¡¯t be shy, Alphonse.¡± I grinned more widely, quickening my pace.

    Before we knew it, both of us were dashing across the destroyed field in a game of tag.

    We did this until we were exhausted and finally retreated to our separate rooms to get some rest.

    The next day came in the blink of an eye, and apparently, I had slept in. By the time I ran downstairs, Alphonse¡¯s luggage was already being loaded into the carriage.

    We said our final goodbyes, and he gave me the recipe and dosage for the Mana Shock curative medicine he used for my mom.

    This made me a little surprised since he only mentioned giving us the dosage.

    ¡°You seemed interested in the medicine itself, and I was making it too fast for your eyes to take note of every single process at the time, so I wrote them down for you, instead.¡± He kindly remarked.

    I was grateful for this, happily thanking him.

    ¡°Take care of yourself, Jared. I¡¯m sure we will meet again soon.¡± He smiled, nodding knowingly.

    I did the same, waving at him as the carriage started moving and his head retracted from the window.

    ¡°Goodbye, Alphonse¡­ and thank you.¡± I smiled.

    As I watched the carriage slowly vanish from sight, the reality dawned on me that I was finally a step closer to actualizing my dreams, and while there was a lot to be taken care of before then, it was still worth celebrating.

    ¡®Now then, I should start getting ready to take care of some loose ends.¡¯

 Chapter 27

    It was a rough week for every member of the household.

    With my mother in aatose state, and my father currently absent, it was obvious that the manor was in a vulnerable state at that point.

    Realizing this, the chief Butler and head maid made sure topartmentalize information, making sure nothing was leaked to the outside world.

    More patrol duties were added to the guard¡¯s schedule, and I was guarded using an airtight formation. My room was surrounded by guards and magic barriers when I slept at night.

    It was the same for my mother. They weren¡¯t taking any chances.

    ¡®I suppose it¡¯s a good thing in its own way¡­¡¯

    The maids kept giving my mother the medicine based on the prescriptions given by Alphonse, and I made sure to supervise every step of it. One could call me a doting child, but I made sure to check up on Anabelle once in a while.

    The remaining time was spent mostly studying and meditating. There was no point in practicing magic at this point since I had a lot of burning questions that only research could solve.

    My mother regained consciousness after two days of using the medicine, and finally, after five days following the incident, my mother waspletely cured of Mana Shock.

    Of course, the first thing she did was to-

    ¡°JAREEEEEEDDDD!!!¡± Anabelle screamed my name, plunging into me as she gave me a tight hug.

    My body was enveloped in her embrace as my face became buried in her massive boobs.

    ¡®Come on, woman! I¡¯m a growing child!¡¯ My mind rang as I struggled to maintain control.

    Due to my small size, she was able to easily overpower and carry me as if I was still a baby. Well, in all honesty, even if I was grown up she would still be able to achieve that.

    ¡®After all, that time with Alphonse¡­¡¯ I smiled nervously.

    I was relieved to see her up and well though, and so we engaged in heartwarming discussions. It was more of her asking me tons of questions, including what I had been doing during the time she was out ofmission and how excited I was for the party holding soon.

    ¡®That¡¯s right! My send-off party!¡¯

    I hade of age and even passed my magic training with Alphonse. The other sses I had on etiquette and basic education had also beenpleted, so I was ready for the next step in my career.

    The Empire¡¯s Academy, ¡®Ainrk¡¯.

    In two days I would be leaving for this educational institute to start a new life and further the depths of my knowledge and experience in magic and advanced studies. I was looking forward to it.

    Still, before then, a party was due. After all, the only child of the Leonard household would be heading to the Academy. It was a thing of celebration and I was the central figure.

    ¡°When will it be held?¡± I asked my excited mother.

    ¡°Tomorrow night, before the morning when you leave for Ainrk.¡± She replied, giggling.

    ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ll be leaving so soon. This still feels so unreal¡­¡±

    My mother sensed my excitement and patted my head with a proud smile.

    ¡°You know, due to your low aptitude and talent, Alphonse and I thought you should register as a Schr in the Academy.¡± She smiled.

    Of course, I knew that. Those two were scheming behind me with good intentions to ensure I at least put my high amount of knowledge and smarts to good use. However¡­

    ¡°But, you¡¯ve proven yourself more than good enough to attend as a Magic-User. I¡¯m so proud of you, my child.¡±

    She proceeded to once again hug me, something I was already used to at this point. Surprisingly, this time, it wasn¡¯t the usual tight embrace. Anabelle¡¯s hug was light and warm. I could feel her tremble slightly and break into a silent sob.

    ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you, Jared¡­¡± She whispered.

    It made me remember my former parents. I did nothing but cause trouble for them and even looked down on them as a kid, since they had no magic.

    Yet, they always stuck by me. It was unfortunate that by the time I became a Great Sage and finally became acknowledged by the whole world, those two had already died.

    I often wondered to myself, what they would have said if they were alive to see all I had achieved.

    My heart still aches thinking about it. I loved them so much, and it was clear that they loved me more. Would they have told me they were proud of me? Would they embrace me the same way my new mother did?

    ¡°T-thank you¡­ for everything¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so happy I made you proud!¡± I burst into tears as I said those words, hugging my mom back with my shaky hands.

    I didn¡¯t know if my words were wholly directed at just Anabelle, or also my dead parents in my past life. No, they were for both of them. This warm feeling I had within me, I was never going to forget it.

    ¡®Just watch, Anabelle! I¡¯ll make sure to be the greatest mage ever before you die!¡¯ My mind rang as my hands rightly gripped her more.

    ¡®So¡­ don¡¯t die before then¡­ okay, mum?¡¯

    Before I knew it, the night of the following day had arrived. I was shocked beyond words by the sight before me.

    When I heard it was a farewell party, I had thought it would be one where my mom and the rest of the household ate and shared the night. To think it was something like this.

    ¡°Cheers to Jared Leonard, first son of the Leonard family!¡± A thunderous multitude of voices boomed across therge hall where the party was being held.

    Countless people raised their sses in cheers, many smiled andughed. The number of people were more than I could count, some faces I recognized and others I had no idea of who they were.

    Was this my farewell party? No¡­ it was a freaking-

 Chapter 28

    Strange faces, endless chatter, stifling air¡­ such were the things that permeated the environment I found myself in.

    To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

    ¡°T-this is¡­¡± I mumbled, not knowing how to address what was meant to be my party.

    ¡°Do you like it, Jared? I made sure to invite everyone from our territory, at least, those who could make it.¡± Anabelle, my diabolical mother asked me.

    I wanted to give her a crude face and question her decision, but upon meeting her excited gaze and innocent smile, I decided against it.

    ¡®This woman¡­¡¯ I gritted my teeth powerlessly.

    ¡°Of course, mom. I love it.¡± A kind, cheerful voice leaked out of my lips.

    Embarrassing as it was, I had to y the part. We had guests, after all.

    The guests we had numbered hundreds, but ourrge hall was more than enough to amodate them. It took the shape of a ball, or a standing party, where no chairs were in sight. Light meals such as cakes, sweets, and cookies were served.

    The sweet scent of their milky vor wafted in the air, coupled with the strong and bold whiff of wine. Yes, alcohol! Of course, there was no way I would be given any since I was a child, but the temptation remained in my eyes.

    ¡®How long has it been?!¡¯ I licked my lips as I enviously eyed the geezers who fully enjoyed themselves in the sweet goodness of booze.

    I loved Magic, but¡­ wine was also very close to my heart.

    ¡°Come now, Jared. We need to greet the guests.¡± My mom dragged me along with her, moving toward some exquisitely dressed personalities.

    ¡®Haa, here we go!¡¯

    Moving from one ce to another, without rest, my mother and I showed our courtesy to the very important guests at the event. Nobles from other families, important stakeholders in my family¡¯s business, merchants, and several others.

    It was mentally exhausting to do the same thing over and over again.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Sir. Whatever your name is. I¡¯m overjoyed that you could make it to this event.¡±

    My facial muscles were already tired of the false smiles and repetitive greetings I gave strangers whom I hardly knew.

    ¡°Are you tired, Jared?¡± My mother suddenly asked, snapping me out of my exhausted daze.

    Of course, I couldn¡¯t show weakness in front of her, so I stiffened up and gave her a warm smile, hurting my face even more.

    ¡°No way, I¡¯m fine mo-¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend when it¡¯s just you and me, Jared.¡± She interrupted my words.

    Her response stunned me.

    ¡°Want me to tell you a secret?¡± Anabelle asked.

    Still stunned by her response, but curious about what she wanted to say, I nodded. She smiled, beckoning me to draw closer to her as she brought her face to my ears.

    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m tired too!¡±

    Quickly retracting her face from my ears, I saw her wince and yawn, stretching her hands yfully. This made me burst into little snickers, turning intoughter in no time.

    ¡°Really? Mother too?¡±

    ¡°Yep, I¡¯d rather be in my room reading or cuddling you in my arms.¡± She pinched my cheeks as she smiled.

    ¡°If this is so exhausting why do we do it, then?¡± I asked, still chuckling while rubbing my reddened cheeks.

    ¡°It¡¯s unavoidable. Noble¡¯s etiquette and whatnot. But if you ask me, it¡¯s just an excuse for false interactions and building connections. I don¡¯t even know half of the people here.¡± Anabelle told me.

    ¡°Ah, for real?!¡±

    I was surprised by this. I was no noble in my past life, so I didn¡¯t know anything much about their internal affairs. I had many noble acquaintances, but it wasn¡¯t like I was really interested in politics or the kind of life they lived.

    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s all pretense, you know? Many of them are here to size us up, spy on us, or even try to curry our favor and build connections. It¡¯s all hypocrisy.¡± She said, sighing.

    ¡®Welp, this is news to me.¡¯

    However, for this custom to have been passed down for generations, even back when I was still alive, it meant that no Noble could avoid the shackles of pretense.

    ¡°Do you know why I¡¯m telling you all this?¡± Anabelle asked with a warm smile.

    If I had to guess, it would have had to do with the fact that I was a growing noble, and was soon going to go through something so exhausting in the future.

    ¡°It¡¯s so that you won¡¯t imitate your father and leave your wife all alone to handle things like this when you grow up!¡±

    ¡®E-eh¡­?¡¯

    I certainly wasn¡¯t expecting that.

    Looking at Anabelle¡¯s face, she appeared to be pouting. Did she miss my father? Perhaps she was upset at him. No matter what case it happened to be, it was still so very cute.

    ¡°Ah, I need some air. I think I¡¯ll be off to take a break somewhere. You should do the same. Let¡¯s meet up here in five minutes to resume the greetings.¡± Anabelle said, quickly rushing away.

    I knew she was tired, but knowing how old and mature Anabelle was, she could put up with something like this for the entire night.

    ¡®She¡¯s most likely doing this in consideration of me. How sweet of her¡­¡¯ I mused.

    I turned to the several high-standing tables and saw a couple of sses of wine seated on them.

    A grin formed on my face as I swiftly blended with my surroundings and stole myself a ss.

    ¡°Perfect!¡± I whispered.

    With no adult supervision, I was free to do what I wanted for a while.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to leave this ce for a while¡­¡¯

 Chapter 29

    Stealing away from the crowd, I was certain no one noticed my exit. In a ce with hundreds of people who had different motives, they were certain to miss a young boy holding a ss of wine, no, make that two sses of wine, leaving the hall.

    I made my way downstairs, through the auxiliary passageway that only members of the household knew of. The main passageway was crawling with annoying adults, even the stairs, and I wasn¡¯t in the mood to greet them.

    Descending the stairs and making my way to the backyard, I made sure no one followed me.

    Upon getting there, I found that my spot had already been upied by someone. She stood in a corner, also making an effort to be inconspicuous. A young-looking woman, appearing to be in her early twenties. However, that wasn¡¯t the most noticeable trait about her.

    It was the uniform she wore. She was a maid of my household, and I knew her!

    I waited a while since she appeared to be talking to herself for a few moments. I thought the wait wouldst forever.

    Finally, I couldn¡¯t wait anymore, so I decided to intentionally recreate loud footsteps in order to notify her of my presence.

    Instantly, she ceased her mumblings and stiffened as I made my appearance.

    ¡°Y-young master!¡± She remarked in surprise.

    I smiled, nodding at her, with both sses of wine held in each of my hands. She looked at my face with shock, her eyes fell to the two sses I held, then turned to me again.

    ¡°You won¡¯t tell on me, will you?¡± I grinned mischievously.

    ¡°N-no way¡­ b-but, young master¡­ I don¡¯t think Mdy will approve of you doing this. You¡¯re still underage, you know?¡± She said in her sweet and flustered tone.

    ¡®No, duh. You think I don¡¯t know that?¡¯ I rolled my eyes.

    ¡°Come on, Liliana. I¡¯m a growing man, this much is to be expected. Magic isn¡¯t my only passion, you know?¡± I responded, trying to use my smooth words to convince her.

    ¡°B-but¡­¡± She muttered, looking away, as though considering what to do.

    Liliana, or as most of the maids called her, Lily, was one of the youngest member of the servants in our household.

    Not just when it came to years, but also in terms of service. Most servants had spent at least a dozen years in the household, but she had only spent about five. She was still new and inexperiencedpared to most, which made her personality easy to manipte.

    ¡°I hope you do not think of defying this young master,¡± I said, suddenly switching my tone into something more aggressive tone.

    ¡°W-wha-?¡± She was now flustered, appearing a little scared.

    My lips curled up in an evil grin and I licked my lips, staring at her with degenerate eyes.

    ¡°Eeeek! O-of course not, young master. I-I promise not to tell anyone.¡± She squeaked powerlessly.

    ¡°Of course, you won¡¯t,¡± I said in a low tone, drawing closer to her.

    She attempted to take a step back the moment I was drawing near, but the intense gaze I gave her caused her body to tremble as she was rooted to the ground.

    ¡°Here. Have this.¡±

    Liliana looked surprised by my gesture. I gave her a cup of wine out of the two I held.

    ¡°Y-young master, I-¡±

    One extra re from my eyes shut her up as she nervously collected the ss cup and looked at it in surprise. Her body was still trembling, indicating she wasn¡¯tfortable with this.

    ¡°Now, the both of us are with ss cups. This way, you can¡¯t tell on me or I¡¯ll also tell on you. Sounds fair, no?¡± I smiled.

    Liliana widened her eyes in shock. The maid was apparently surprised by my diabolical means.

    ¡°Young master¡­ you¡¯re so mean¡­¡± She whispered, looking at the contents of the wine cup.

    ¡°Hehe, of course not. I¡¯m just ying it safe. Besides, this will also make you feel good, Liliana.¡± I winked.

    As long as she didn¡¯t tell on me, her secret was safe. Plus, she would also get to enjoy the rare wine being served to the important guests we had. Wouldn¡¯t anyone call that a win?

    ¡°Now then, Liliana. Let¡¯s drink to our little secret.¡±

    She nodded hesitantly, taking the ss of wine and sniffing it, testing it out with her tongue, swirling it around as it mixed with her tongue, and taking it down her throat in a refreshing manner.

    As I downed my ss, I curiously stared at her method of consuming the wine and smiled.

    ¡°Liliana, you sure are an expert at drinking wine. Are you sure this is your first ss?¡± I grinned.

    Upon hearing this, the young maid became even more flustered and her cheeks reddened.

    ¡°P-please, young master¡­ don¡¯t tease me so. I just¡­ heard that this was how to take wine, and I-¡±

    ¡°Pfft.¡± I let out a snicker, amused by Liliana¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°Y-young master, what¡¯s so funny?¡± She asked, innocently gazing at me.

    I keptughing, while restraining my voice from peaking since I didn¡¯t want to gather any attention.

    ¡°Ahh, it¡¯s nothing. You¡¯re just a very funny character.¡± I smiled, still chuckling a little.

    ¡°Me? Funny? Young master is so mean¡­¡± She pouted in a mock angry fashion.

    Apparently, it was a rude thing to call a woman ¡®funny¡¯, and it appeared as though I was making fun of her nervousness.

    All things considered, she was still a maid, and I was the young master of this noble family. She was certainly in the right to be nervous in our entire discourse.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m mean, Liliana. You¡¯re just too nice.¡± I smiled.

    She was surprised by me saying this, and a slight blush appeared on her face. She was such a charming youngdy. Beautiful, shy, mild, and extremely na?ve.

    Any man would want her just by her looks and personality alone, yet she worked as a maid.

    ¡°Y-young master, your praise is too much. I-I¡¯m not that nice¡­ I¡¯m just inexperienced, and-¡±

    My grin became wider as she said this.

    ¡°No, you¡¯re really nice, Liliana¡­¡± I repeated, interrupting her words.

    I stared at her with narrowed eyes, while having a dark smile on my face. The young maid looked stunned by my sudden change in expression, now looking more nervous.

    ¡± ¡­ That is¡­ when you¡¯re not trying to kill me.¡±

 Chapter 30

    ¡°W-what are you talking about¡­ young master?¡± Liliana, the maid stared at me with confusion clearly written on her face.

    This act of hers nearly made me burst out inughter but I controlled myself. Now wasn¡¯t the time to be cheery.

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re going to keep pretending, are you?¡± I asked with a sly grin.

    Her eyes broadened in fear and shock at the sudden usation I was rendering. The looks she gave could have easily won me over if I wasn¡¯t certain.

    Still, Liliana appeared determined to keep up the farce and pretend to be none the wiser. Unfortunately for the maid, no act could save her now.

    ¡°That was quite an interesting conversation you were having just now before I arrived¡­¡± I muttered.

    This caused her eyes to bulge.

    ¡°I was having a wonderful time listening in. You didn¡¯t have to stop when I walked in, you know?¡±

    I could sense a form of unease suddenly descend upon her. Even if I had identally used her of attempting to kill me, the mere mention of her earlier conversation had already set it in stone.

    ¡°Y-you heard¡­?¡± Her hushed voice sounded as she bowed her head.

    ¡°Yeah, I did¡­ your conversation with your employer. I heard it all!¡±

    [Moments Earlier]

    ~Report your progress on the mission.~ A deep voice came out of a magic crystal that Liliana held.

    The young maid ced it close to her ears so she could listen in well, and also made sure it was close to her mouth to ensure she could respond with a low tone.

    ¡°There has been a slight change in ns. Due to an event that urred five days ago, I saw an opportunity and took action.¡± Liliana responded in a hushed tone.

    ~Oh? For you to have acted without receiving an order¡­ that¡¯s very unlike of you.~ The voice responded.

    Liliana gave a dark smile.

    ¡°It was unavoidable. He surprised me, as well as everyone else who watched him on that asion. I determined that it was in our best interest to eliminate him on the spot.¡±

    ~Surprised you? In what way?~

    ¡°His magic prowess and abilities are beyond normal. If left on his own for a few more years, that child will pose a major threat to us. He grows even more powerful daily and that makes him unpredictable and dangerous.¡± Liliana said, now frowning a little.

    ~I see¡­ how far is his current growth?~

    ¡°He should currently still possess a White Mana Core Grade. However, he has cast multiple spells at once that includes different elements simultaneously.¡±

    ~That¡¯s impossible!~ The man on the other end eximed.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have believed it if I didn¡¯t see it myself. He was also able tobine his basic spells to create an intermediate level lightning magic!¡±

    ~Lightning magic? That¡¯s one of the most difficult aspects of elemental magic, and you¡¯re telling me he pulled off an intermediate-level one?~

    ¡°Yes.¡± Liliana aptly replied.

    It appeared her employer was just as bewildered as her. This gave her enough justification for her actions.

    ¡°You are right. His growth is indeed scary. I understand your actions. Still, it was a bit risky, don¡¯t you think?~

    ¡°What can I say? It was a good opportunity, and a nice excuse to kill the target. If it meantpleting the mission and making it look like an ident, then I had to take it!¡±

    For a brief moment, there was silence. Then, the crystal hummed a little and the voice of whoever was on the other end resumed his speech.

    ~And? How did it turn out? Did you seed?~

    Liliana gritted her teeth and clenched her fist a little.

    ¡°No, I did not. The pesky tutor and mother interrupted everything. It was a close call, though.¡±

    ~You fool! You took such a huge risk and didn¡¯t even get the job done?!~ The strange man¡¯s voice rose a little in annoyance.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for concern. It was dismissed as an ident, and no suspicion fell on me.¡± Liliana responded instantly.

    She was a professional. Of course, she knew the appropriate time to take action and also how to n ahead so that in an unlikely situation where her n failed, she could escape any me.

    ~I see¡­ then I won¡¯t question you any further on the matter. However, you do remember what your mission still is, don¡¯t you?~ The man¡¯s voice had calmed down now.

    ¡°Of course, I am to integrate myself very deeply into his family, carefully watch over his growth, and then assassinate the target, when the time is ripe,¡± Liliana said, as though reciting a rhyme.

    ~It appears there will need to be a change of ns, then. From your statement, I take it the target won the bet with his tutor and will now be heading to the Academy, correct?~

    ¡°Correct.¡±

    ~Tch. That can¡¯t happen. I had hoped there would be more time, but it can¡¯t be helped¡­~

    A broad smile formed on Liliana¡¯s face as she knew what woulde next from her employer¡¯s mouth.

    ~¡­Your mission has been altered. The execution date has been shortened. You are to kill the target before he leaves for the Academy¡­ use whatever means necessary!~

    Her lips curled, disying a sadistic grin. The whites of Liliana¡¯s teeth were openly shown as her eyes expressed eagerness toplete the mission.

    ¡°Understood.¡± She said, licking her lips.

    ¡°After such a long time, ying maid¡­ it¡¯s finally time to kill¡­ I¡¯ve been itching for this for so long.¡±

    ~Now then, I suppose it¡¯s time to-~

    Before her employer could conclude his statement, Liliana heard sounds of iing footsteps and quickly deactivated hermunication tool. Hiding it within her maid outfit, she looked to see who it was, feigning surprise.

    And to her genuine surprise, the one who appeared was none other than her target himself¡­ the young master Jared.

 Chapter 31

    [The Present]

    ¡°I heard it all, Liliana¡­ if that¡¯s even your real name.¡± I smiled, watching the maid¡¯s drooped head slowly rise.

    ¡°That¡¯s too bad, then¡­¡± Her voice sounded, slowly morphing from the kind and gentle tone she was using to a more twisted one.

    She lifted her head a d smiled obsessively at me, widening her eyes to make a sick expression.

    ¡°¡­ I was going to make your death as sweet and painless as possible since you have been such a nice kid. But it appears I¡¯ll have to change my ns.¡± Liliana licked her lips.

    Who was she kidding? This was probably more preferable to her since she could kill me in the most gruesome way allowed by her mission.

    ¡®I know her type¡­ and they are all crazy!¡¯

    Liliana, who was taking steps back in retreat, now slowly started advancing toward me. As she did so, I took slow steps backward too. Obviously, I didn¡¯t want her any close to me.

    ¡°You¡¯re not as nice as I thought, Jared. Sneaking up on people, overhearing them, teasing this kind maid with wine and threats¡­ and now running away from me. How mean you are, young master. I¡¯m truly hurt.¡± She said in a mocking tone.

    Her intense gaze told me otherwise though. She was clearly enjoying the thrill.

    ¡°Haha, is that so?¡± I answered, showing a little nervousness.

    ¡°You fool. You should have just kept quiet about the whole thing. If you had done that, instead of acting all cocky and running your mouth, then maybe you could live to see the night.¡±

    Okay, that was too much. I couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore!

    ¡°Pfft¡­. hehehe, hahaha!¡± I bust outughing, halting my backward movement.

    My sudden reaction to her words puzzled Liliana as she stared at me with surprise.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny, brat? You¡¯re going to die now, you know?¡± She gave a smile, most likely wondering if I had gone insane from the idea of losing my life at such a young age.

    ¡°Oh, no¡­ no, it¡¯s not that¡­ It¡¯s just, you said something funny just now¡­¡± I said, still chuckling.

    My amusement was clearly not funny to Liliana as she gave me a deep re, emitting bloodlust. I endured the murderous aura she gave off, ceasing myughter instantly.

    ¡°What are you talking about?!¡± She asked, her widened eyes staring at me condescendingly.

    My lips curled in a wide grin as I defiantly looked into the maid, now turned assassin¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s funny that you think I merely ¡®stumbled¡¯ on your conversation with that employer of yours.¡±

    Upon hearing this, Liliana froze in her approach to me and stared suspiciously.

    ¡°What the hell are you saying?¡± She asked with an intimidating tone.

    ¡°It¡¯s so simple, really. I have been watching you for some time, Liliana. Ever since the party started, no, even before then. You were always a suspect in my book.¡±

    My words were already pissing her off, I could see it. She clenched her teeth and red at me.

    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your nonsense. You¡¯re just stalling for time, so it¡¯s best you just die right now!¡±

    Making her move to rush and kill me off, Liliana strengthened her legs. Judging from the cracks that appeared on the ground, she was building up phenomenal speed that would be enough to kill me off before I could manage a reaction.

    ¡°Just d-die!¡±

    As I heard this, my already wide grin grew wider.

    FWOOOOSHHH!!!

    She dashed toward me, blending with the wind as a needle appeared on her finger to deal a fatal hit to me. Unfortunately for my assassin though¡­ it was the end of the line.

    Her body suddenly stopped moving, mere inches from me. The needle she stretched toward me was a close distance from piercing my skin. It was a good thing she had stopped.

    ¡°W-what is¡­ thisss¡­?!¡± The maid asked, suddenly feeling a strange sensation course through her.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time¡­ it appears my calctions were spot-on,¡± I muttered, moving from her front and to the side.

    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t¡­ m-move¡­.?!¡± She stuttered, even struggling to speak.

    Her eyes red hatefully at me, with both suspicion and a hint of fear.

    ¡°Of course. And that¡¯s a good thing. I would be dead otherwise.¡± I answered.

    ¡°Y-you did this¡­ what¡­ did you¡­ do¡­?!¡±

    Finally, she was asking the right question.

    ¡°Welp, now the answer to that is quite interesting. But first, let¡¯s put this away.¡± I said, taking a hold of the needle she gripped tightly. Her fingers became loose at the touch of my hand and without any resistance, I was able to obtain her killing instrument.

    ¡°I¡¯m certain you have more on you, but there¡¯s no need to strip you of any other weapon. You won¡¯t be able to use them, anyway.¡± I stated.

    ¡°Y-you¡­.¡± Liliana growled.

    ¡°The answer can be found in the wine you just consumed,¡± I answered, taking the cup she held in her second hand.

    I ced both needle and wine ss on the ground while staring at her amusedly. The expression of shock on her face was second to none.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. I already drugged it. Did you really think I would confront you without a countermeasure? The chemicals in the wine induce paralysis, though they only take effect when rapid action is taken and your muscles are in a state of excitement.¡±

    This would make the muscles tense up, causing the drugs to harden said muscles and ensure the one who consumed it bes numb.

    ¡°H-how did you get such a drug? You didn¡¯t even know I was an assassin until moments ago. There¡¯s no way to procure a paralytic drug from anywhere around here. I checked¡­¡± Liliana said, still not believing my words.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. There¡¯s no way to get a paralytic drug around. Plus, with my age and the constant supervision of everyone around, it¡¯s not like I can make shady deals to obtain a drug. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t ¡®get¡¯ it. The drug that¡¯s currently taking effect within you¡­ I made it!¡± My voice rang in her ears as I condescendingly smiled at her.

    ¡°I-impossible!¡± She spat in disdain.

    ¡°It¡¯s true though. It took some time, but the efforts were well worth it¡­¡± I grinned.

    ¡°B-but, that is¡­ you couldn¡¯t¡­¡± Liliana still failed to grasp what I was getting at.

    ¡°And there¡¯s one final thing you¡¯re wrong about¡­ your ns to assassinate me, I¡¯ve known about it for some time now. You and your employer¡­ both yed directly into my hands!¡± A dark gleam showed in my eyes.

 Chapter 32

    No matter how hard I thought of it, no matter the research I made to correct my errors, I still couldn¡¯t see how my lightning spell could have malfunctioned and caused such a disaster.

    ¡®It was only meant to be an intermediate spell. I calcted everything. The terrain, the energy consumption, the efficiency, and speed¡­ the power! It shouldn¡¯t have gone berserk like that!¡¯ My mind rang.

    I went back to the drawing board to be certain, and I still ended up with the same conclusion. And that was because I had not failed in my Lightning spell, I never had.

    For a schr like me to make such a fundamental error in something as little as an intermediate spell was absurd, to begin with.

    Therefore, if I had not made a mistake, there was only one option left. Sabotage!

    ¡°Someone interfered with the lightning spell and intentionally caused that havoc!¡± I concluded.

    But why would they do such a thing and risk my life? Well, the answer was something I was very familiar with. Whoever the culprit was, they intended to kill me.

    ¡°It looks like I was a little careless¡­ I didn¡¯t think they would make their move yet.¡± I smiled to myself.

    After I was nearly killed by an assassin at merely a few days old, I was barely saved by the little magic cast in my desperate state. Since then, I hadn¡¯t forgotten for a second, that there were some people out there who were after my life.

    My parents took active stances, and conducted a thorough investigation, evenying off some staff that they deemed ¡®suspects¡¯, and were simply grateful for the ¡®miracle¡¯ that saved their child.

    ¡®Howx!¡¯ I thought to myself, wondering why they never bothered to investigate further.

    Realizing that no one around me waspetent enough to ensure my safety, I took matters into my hands. Ever since I was a child, I analyzed the assassination attempt, the motives behind it, and tried reading into whoever the malefactor was.

    About five years ago, my mother employed a new set of staff, sinceying off so many people at once put a strain on the remaining members of our household. This was when the fun truly began!

    My parentsying off our servants must have also been part of the mastermind¡¯s n, since they would ultimately need to find new workers.

    With the matter of my assassination dying off, there was bound to be a lowered guard on the part of my parents. Of course, they only selected trustworthy individuals to work as maids, but it wasn¡¯t impossible for the enemy to blend into the new batch of servants.

    I made sure to memorize the faces, names, and identities of every new member of our household. I also took deep cognizance of their positions within the house.

    Of the several who were employed, my suspicion fell on three. One was a tutor of mine who taught me basic ethics and manners. He was way too nice and forgiving, so I assumed he had ulterior motives. Plus, he had such a sensitive role in my life.

    The proximity was frightening!

    The second was a cook. He was added to the chefs responsible for the meals to be eaten by my mother and me. That was also quite a sensitive role.

    Finally, myst suspect was Liliana. She was merely a cleaning maid. Her role was not too conspicuous, and her proximity to me and my mother was fairly average. However, that was exactly what made her suspicious.

    ¡®She doesn¡¯t stand out, she never gets into any trouble¡­ and everyone around her likes her.¡¯

    She was often flustered when I spoke to her, clumsy in duties as a result of her shy nature, and was the most subservient and sweetest servant in the house, with no ws at all.

    However, those charms couldn¡¯t fool me.

    ¡®She¡¯s merely acting flustered to cover up her inexperience in her maid duties. She acts nice and aims for perfection because she must be a professional at pretense. Her face and body are the very definitions of beauty. It¡¯s questionable how someone like her became a maid, to begin with. Men would have taken her as their wife long ago, and it wouldn¡¯t be difficult finding a suitor with her personality.

    ¡®Even if he¡¯s a lowly noble, her life would be far better than this¡­¡¯

    Of course, I showed no bias and investigated every one of my suspects to the most of my abilities.

    Whenever I wasn¡¯t training with Alphonse or engaged in my personal activities, I made sure to analyze their movements and mannerisms.

    Using the elimination game, I struck them out one at a time. My etiquette teacher left after I was done with my training, not making any move on me. This left only the Jez, the cook and Liliana, the cleaning maid.

    What made Liliana the prime suspect, and my assassin was that she gave herself away during myst match with Alphonse.

    The lightning strike incident, where almost all the servants gathered to watch¡­ the servants with exception to the personal cooks who were tasked with preparing our meals so we wouldn¡¯t be hungry after my fight with Alphonse was over.

    Jez was in the kitchen, and since I kept close tabs on him, I was certain he didn¡¯t witness my fight with Alphonse.

    The only one among my prime suspects who did¡­ was Liliana.

    ¡®She¡¯s the next assassin!¡¯ I smiled.

    However, discovering someone is a killer, and turning the tables on them are two different things entirely.

 Chapter 33

    ¡®Her record is wless, so there¡¯s no real evidence that she¡¯s an assassin. Even if I were to report her to my mum, without any evidence, it would just be dismissed.¡¯

    Anabelle would probably think I didn¡¯t like Liliana or something, and since my mother was so kind, she wouldn¡¯t throw a kind girl like her out of our household.

    ¡®Plus, I¡¯m still only a child. There¡¯s a limit to how credible I am!¡¯

    Using this rationale, I realized that I needed to take matters into my hands. However, even that posed another problem.

    ¡®Liliana is a magic-user, and judging from the fact that she was able to interfere with my spell, it means she must be a high-level one.

    During magic training with Alphonse, the magic sensors are deactivated, since magic would be used in the courtyard. All the spectating servants were in the courtyard¡¯s borders, so if one of them used magic, no rm would go off.

    It was a perfect stage.

    ¡®I have to admit, I was careless¡­ I didn¡¯t foresee them making a move back then. But, with the benefit of hindsight, it all makes sense!¡¯

    With my current magic power, directly facing a very skilled Magic-User who was intent on killing me would be very risky and suicidal. I wasn¡¯t going to take any chances.

    Fortunately, the whole disaster brought a solution to my grasp. Alphonse¡¯s use of herbs to cure my mom of her Mana Shock.

    ¡®T-that¡¯s it!¡¯ I beamed.

    Alphonse left the next day after the incident, giving me the recipe for the Mana Shock cure. I also went to the library and took several books on herbs and their uses, spending some time in our family¡¯s greenhouse, and familiarized myself with the wonders of nature.

    It took me five days, but I finally figured out the perfect concoction to use. It left no traces, was perfectly odorless, tasteless, and would get the job done.

    Of course, I tweaked the effects a little to ensure the herbs produced the results I wanted.

    ¡®They¡¯re allprised of chemicals, and ultimately, it¡¯s the chemicals that are needed toplete the job!¡±

    Using distition techniques, I separated the unnecessary parts of the herbs and relied solely on the chemical extracts to produce my end result.

    With this, there was only one thing left to do¡­ wait for the appointed time, and execute the mission!

    The party was more perfect than I could have imagined. It made everything so much easier, and I was extremely happy about Anabelle¡¯s thoughtlessness, though I showed the opposite.

    With so many people present, it posed the perfect opportunity for the deed to be done!

    Unfortunately, my mother dragged me along to greet the guests, taking away any free time I had to execute my ns. It wasn¡¯t all bad though, since by mingling, I could still keep tabs on Liliana.

    As the party furthered, I noticed that our dear maid was disying subtle, yet suspicious signs and would soon leave the party.

    There was no way I could miss this chance! I began to express exhaustion and moved sluggishly while making my facial expression appear tired.

    Of course, my mom, being who she was, noticed this in no time. Anabelle was too considerate for her own good, and there was no way she would let me keep greeting people when I was tired.

    ¡°¡­ let¡¯s meet up in five minutes to resume the greetings.¡± Anabelle smiled at me.

    I was d the n worked well, spotting that Liliana was already exiting through the secret path.

    Taking two sses of wine, which I deemed fit for the potion I made, I took my leave from the party as well.

    On my way, I drugged the appropriate wine ss and made my way to the inconspicuous part of the backyard garden where Liliana had decided tomunicate with her employer. It seemed like she was only talking to herself, but I knew better.

    A grin formed on my face as I listened in to their conversation. As I overheard them, I went over what I learned in the past week.

    Liliana only spoke to her employer once in a while. After her failed attempts at assassinating me, I knew she would try speaking to him as soon as possible.

    However, if she did so, it was sure that Liliana would be ordered to speed up the assassination and would kill me before Ipleted the drug I was in the process of making.

    Therefore, the perfect solution for that was the consequences brought about by Anabelle¡¯s mana shock.

    The entire household became busy, and patrols were held more often. With security and surveince now tighter than ever, Liliana couldn¡¯t speak to her boss at all.

    The preparations for my party were also something that consumed everyone¡¯s time. With the maids being busier than usual, Liliana hardly had a moment to herself.

    It only made sense that my Farewell Party was the perfect moment for her to sneak out and talk to whoever was in charge.

    Upon hearing enough of their conversation, I was happy that the mastermind was indeed what I predicted.

    ¡®Okay, that¡¯s enough¡­ I don¡¯t have all day.¡¯ I reasoned, feigning footsteps.

    This caught Liliana¡¯s attention, bringing us to the situation we found ourselves in now.

    *************************************

    ¡°Do you understand, now?¡± I asked, smiling yfully at the petrified youngdy.

    Her eyes bulged in shock as she absorbed everything I told her.

    ¡°You¡­ thought of all that¡­?!¡± Her lips moved slowly.

    Of course, a mere child couldn¡¯t think so far ahead and n things so meticulously. I relied on this fact in the execution of my ns.

    Even if the drug was undetectable, it wasn¡¯tpletely so. If Liliana, as an assassin was wary of me, I was certain she could be able to figure out my intentions to poison her.

    However, since I was a child, she let her guard down. She gratefully took the wine and swallowed it in such a refined way, confirming my suspicions once again that she was no mere maid.

    ¡°So, any further questions?¡± I asked, leaning close to Liliana¡¯s face.

    With her re and my grin directly opposite each other, it was Checkmate!

 Chapter 34

    ¡°You¡­ brat¡­¡± Liliana muttered, straining her voice.

    It was no use, yet the captured woman still seemed not no have given in to the situation. Suddenly, I saw her face stretch and her lips curl up in a disgusting grin. Her eyes widened as she gave me a distorted evil grin.

    ¡°W-what the-?!¡± I eximed, noticing something strange about her.

    I instantly sensed danger and leaped away from her body, suddenly feeling a great amount of pressure well up within her.

    VOOOOMMM!!!

    The tension in the atmosphere suddenly shifted and an ominous aura started leaking out of Liliana. The paralyzed body of hers slowly began moving and before I knew it, she stood upright, now flexing her hands and looking at me.

    The fierce expression on her face made me gulp, and the intense pressure she emitted caused a few beads of sweat to appear on my cheeks and forehead.

    ¡°You little shit¡­ you got too cocky!¡± She said, cracking her stiff neck.

    Somehow she had gained the ability to move, despite the drug I gave her. This situation was the worst possible oue, something that guaranteed a total disadvantage for someone like me who wanted to avoid a direct confrontation, to begin with.

    ¡°You¡¯re one hell of a smart bastard, I¡¯ll give you that. I didn¡¯t think you nned that far ahead and yed me for a fool¡­¡± She began speaking, digging her hands into her maid uniform to bring out several more needles from within it.

    ¡°¡­ However¡­ it seems you¡¯ve overlooked one simple factor. Magic!¡± Her demented grin grew wider.

    Instantly, her body became coated with mana, shining in a faint color in the darkness that surrounded us.

    ¡°Y-you¡­ why are you using magic? The rms will be sure to-¡± I said, showing nervousness.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother! No one will being to your aid and no rm will be set off!¡± Liliana stated, clearly enjoying how my eyes darted all around me.

    ¡°W-wha-?! What did you do?!¡± I burst out, ring at the devilish assassin.

    ¡°You really didn¡¯t think this through, did you? I was using magic tomunicate with my employer, yet the magic detector never picked up the mana being used to transmit our sounds.¡± She smiled.

    ¡°A-ah¡­?!¡± My eyes bulged as more sweat ran down my cheeks.

    ¡°That¡¯s right! For a few minutes, I can disable the magic detector with a counter magic tool, a jammer to be precise!¡± She replied, bringing out a tiny object from her maid outfit.

    ¡®Just how many things does she have hidden underneath that garment?!¡¯ My mind rang.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you bbed away like a fool while I slowly used my magic to cure myself of the paralytic effects of the drug you gave me, undoing its effects,¡± Liliana remarked.

    ¡°My body still feels weak, and my nerves aren¡¯t in their top form, but with enhancement magic, that poses no problem. It appears your n has failed, you lose!¡±

    Apparently, it wasn¡¯t ¡®Checkmate¡¯! Was I being in too much of a hurry? Did I rush things too much? Had I underestimated my opponent?

    Liliana began advancing slowly, filling the needles she had with magic. This caused the tiny, sharp spikes of death to glow light blue.

    ¡°You had me flustered for a second, but this is truly the end! I¡¯ll wrap things up quickly since I can¡¯t use the jammer for very long. It¡¯s a shame¡­ I really would have enjoyed making you suffer!¡±

    With this final statement, and a cruel smile clearly written on her face, Liliana lunged at me, having three needles on each hand, interlocked between her fingers. A single hit would prove fatal since she was targetingpromising spots in my body.

    ¡®I¡¯m too slow to dodge her enhanced movements. The magically strengthened needles will easily tear through my skin like butter and pierce even my most inner recesses.¡¯

    As her pace quickened and dust flew from the contact her feet made with the ground, it appeared as though I neared my death.

    I should have known that she would be able to use magic. Since Liliana was able to interfere with my Lightning magic, she had to be a skilled mage. Using healing magic and enhancements were not beyond her.

    ¡°Now die, brat!¡± She yelled excitedly.

    If only I had thought of it¡­ I would have made a countermeasure¡­ Why didn¡¯t I think of a scenario like this?

    A smile formed on my face as I closed my eyes.

    ¡®It looks like this is the end¡­¡¯

    Liliana¡¯s mana slowly faded the closer she got to me, and her enhanced body suddenly trembled, causing it to grow stiff once again. The woman¡¯s eyes bulged as she noticed the changes that were urring, and without her volition, her body came to an abrupt halt.

    I opened my eyes to find her needles once again close to my body, merely inches apart. Her body trembled and it was clear the youngdy had lost control.

    ¡°W-wha-?!¡± She suddenly lost her ability to speak, and her face depicted severe pain and shock.

    My smile grew wider and the scared, shocked, and flustered look I had feigned vanished. Instead, my expression was reced with a condescending one. With a stoic face and dead, cold eyes, I stared at the suffering woman.

    Her eyes depicted that she had tons of questions which was totally understandable.

    Anyone who witnessed the scene would be confused.

    ¡°You stalled for time by letting me waste my time exining the details of my ns to you. You healed yourself with magic and enhanced your body so it would be in an optimal state. You killed me andpleted your mission. The end¡­¡± I mumbled, walking past her while observing her frozen body.

    She seemed to be trying to say something, struggling to form words, but it was of no use.

    ¡°¡­ At least, that was how it was supposed to go. Right, Liliana? However, this sudden situation has urred, and you have no idea what has happened.¡±

    I circled the poor maid, like a shark revolving around its prey, finally arriving once again in front of her.

    ¡°You must be utterly confused right now. I should enlighten you, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±

 Chapter 35

    ¡°You must be utterly confused right now. I should enlighten you, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± I said, stroking Liliana¡¯s cheeks lightly as I watched her re stiffen, rx, and stiffen once more.

    The assassin had made two errors in her judgment. They both stemmed from the fact that once again, she underestimated me.

    Who could me her? I was but a trifling child. The events that had urred thus far were surprising enough. She was certain to think that was the limit of my capabilities.

    Unfortunately for the poor miss, she was wrong.

    ¡°You were clever, youngdy¡­ stalling for time while circting your mana throughout your body. A most impressive strategy. It¡¯s too bad, you failed to notice¡­¡± I began calmly.

    She should have suspected that it was unlike me, someone so meticulous, to reveal my ns in such details. I was being a chatterbox and conveniently bought her enough time to fully utilize magic. The reason for that was simple.

    ¡°¡­ I was stalling for time too!¡± I smiled devilishly.

    Her eyes bulged, but she couldn¡¯t make any other reactions or expressions. Her body still throbbed painfully, and I knew why.

    As for the second error in judgment she made, or rather, the oversight she assumed on my part, was concerning her use of magic. Liliana was a skilled mage to have been able to nearly kill me with my own spell at first nce.

    She must have calcted the technique and amplified it ordingly to give her the results she required. A truly frightening woman.

    Why didn¡¯t I think of the fact that she could easily use magic to free herself from my paralysis and turn the tables in moments?

    The answer was simple¡­ I did!

    ¡°Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t notice the cirction of your mana? Or did you think I didn¡¯t predict the oue where you would use magic? In fact, I counted on it!¡± I said, taking a few steps back while looking at the sky.

    I inhaled slowly, enjoying the night breeze. Now that things had progressed so far, there was no need to be tense anymore.

    ¡°Liliana, or whatever your name is¡­ do you know what is happening to you right now?¡± I asked, narrowing my gaze as I still observed the bright streaks of stars in the sky.

    Suddenly, I felt a burst of mana surge from the assassin. This made me lower my gaze, once again looking at her.

    The brilliant surge of mana covered her whole body, causing her to move once more. Her vengeful eyes were locked onto mine, full of hatred toward me for shaming her to this state.

    ¡°You¡­ how dare you! Forget the contract¡­ this is personal now. I¡¯ll make sure to rip you to shreds!!!¡± She growled, increasing the tempo of her Mana.

    Her body now had an ominous blue glow as she clenched her fist. A single blow would tear my body apart, I was well aware.

    Liliana was very strong! However¡­

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you¡­¡± I slowly remarked.

    Ignoring my words, Liliana made to move at me, but froze once again, this time it wasn¡¯t just tremblings that shook her.

    ¡°A-arghhh¡­ Gahhh¡­ Gahhhhhhh!!!¡± She screamed out in pain, stiffly moving her hands to touch her body, and then her neck.

    ¡°U-urkkhh¡­ Ahhh¡­ Arghhh!!!¡±

    Liliana¡¯s voice slowly faded and her body slowed down, but her lips moved nheless. Even with her voice gone, they disyed pain unimaginable. Her eyes bulged, nearly out of their sockets, and her body trembled violently, swerving uncontrobly.

    I watched the erratic dance Liliana disyed before me, leaping a little away from her so I could watch everything from a distance.

    ¡°This¡­ is¡­?!¡± Her voice returned, but was quickly drowned in screams of pain and faded again.

    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± I proceeded toplete her words.

    ¡°It¡¯s Mana Shock¡­ and an extreme one at that!¡±

    Her body trembled more violently as she shrieked, swerving more uncontrobly. Veins began showing on her skin, as though wanting to pop out of her body, and her formerly clear and wless skin began paling up and showing signs of emaciation.

    ¡°I-impossible¡­ how can this¡­be?!¡±

    I moved closer to her, watching as her body danced, freezing at a certain moment, then continuing its frenzied state.

    ¡°It is. I made it possible¡­ with the form Alphonse gave me!¡± I said, mercilessly gazing upon Liliana¡¯s suffering state.

    In medical treatment, there are concepts known as conflicting effects. This urs when a deadly condition in the body isbatted by another equally deadly one.

    ¡°Poisons are often cured with another type of poison. Both neutralize each other and cancel out their effects. It¡¯s the same with the Mana Shock cure¡­¡± I revealed.

    I had no idea why this hadn¡¯t been discovered yet, but by altering the dosage slightly, I extracted the chemicals found within the cure ingredients, amplifying their effects. The results were as I suspected.

    ¡°I can now induce Mana Shock¡­ and you¡¯re my first target!¡±

    Although, this was no ordinary condition. Unlike the case with my mother, Liliana suffered one even worse. By increasing the dosage to a frightening degree, I made sure that the consequences for suffering my induced Mana Shock¡­ would be death!

    ¡°The moment you decided to use magic against me, it was all over. I merely waited until the effects of the Mana Shock solution had spread across your body and seeped into your Mana Core. The more you use your magic, the moreplicated it gets for you¡­¡± I shook my head.

    ¡°¡­ So tell me, Liliana¡­ just how much magic have you used?¡±

    The answer was simple.

    ¡°Guarkkkk!!!¡± She coughed violently.

    Her eyes were turning bright red, the color of blood. Her body kept shriveling while her skin became even paler.

    ¡°P-please¡­ don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t do this¡­¡± I heard her whisper.

    At this point, the assassin was struggling to breathe. I watched her pitiful state, not flinching from where I stood.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you¡­ want to¡­ know who the mastermind¡­ is¡­? I-I can tell you¡­ so please, spare¡­ spare my life¡­!¡±

    ¡®Oh? So she¡¯s pleading for her life now.¡¯ My mind rang in a little surprise.

    Moving closer to her stiff body which was too weak to make any more movement, my face drew closer to hers, directly staring into her red and bulging eyes.

    ¡°No!¡±

 Chapter 36

    Pale skin. Trembling form. Emaciated body. Strained breaths. Bloodshot eyes. Uncontroble itching. Shriveling muscles. Unimaginable pain¡­ that was what Liliana was constantly experiencing.

    Her very cells popped and burst into tiny fireworks within her due to the uncontroble mana that was running amok inside her body.

    I estimated that within a few minutes, she would die. Yet, here she was¡­ begging for mercy.

    ¡°No!¡± I tly responded.

    The reason behind my judgment was simple. I couldn¡¯t trust her. Anyone would do whatever they could to get out of dying, she wasn¡¯t an exception.

    Besides, her employer was certainly a cautious and intelligent man. I doubt she had any valuable information about him, to begin with.

    ¡°You¡¯re merely a pawn¡­ and I¡¯m in this game for the long haul. I¡¯m not ruining the whole game because of you.¡± I said, now turning away from her.

    Her expression was hard to read since she no longer controlled a lot of her facial muscles, but Liliana was desperate to live.

    I could cure her if I wanted to. All that was necessary was for me to insert my mana and guide her rabid ones. Once I stabilized the berserk mana that was destroying her body, she would slowly recover. However, that was out of the question.

    ¡°You¡¯re a threat. Not only to me but my family.¡± I stated point-nk.

    That¡¯s right. I hadn¡¯t forgotten the part she yed in my mother¡¯s Mana Shock experience. It was due to this very reason that I chose to finish Liliana off in this very manner.

    ¡°Now you know how my mother felt¡­ after she stopped that lightning spell from hitting me. Die in painful silence.¡± I whispered, picking the evidence on the scene.

    As I did so, the most interesting thing happened. As ast resort, the dying woman decided to muster thest of her strength in a final attempt to save her life.

    ¡°H-HELPP!!! I¡¯M DYING! SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP ME!!!¡± Her hoarse voice screeched.

    After she was done with her loud cries, Liliana struggled once more as she felt millions of cells pop in tiny explosions within her.

    ¡°U-Uuu¡­ Uuu¡­.¡±

    I looked at her for a moment with unfeeling eyes. To think she would do something like that¡­ how utterly stupid.

    ¡°We have hundreds of guests¡­ the music, chatter, andmotion being generated prevent anyone from being able to hear your voice. All you¡¯ve done is nothing short of a meaningless bark of a powerless cur. You will die here, and no one wille to save you ¡±

    With my final words, I picked up my ss cup and hers, departing to where I came from.

    Ascending the stairs, my face was too tired to disy much emotion which I had pretended to have throughout the night, no, for far longer.

    In the few moments of solitude given to me, I had a stoic, cold look in my eyes as I climbed the stairs.

    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing Mana Shock is such an easy way to kill. Not only does it immobilize the target, but it also prevents them from utilizing their greatest assets, Magic!¡¯

    Even the greatest of mages were powerless without Magic. The potion also rapidly killed cells in the body and dried up the body. By the time Liliana would be found tomorrow, she was most likely going to be a husk.

    ¡®It takes too long, though. I should take that into ount¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    If I tweaked the form a little, perhaps I could make a more efficient poison superior to the Mana Shock inducer. If that was indeed the case, then it would be a revolutionary discovery on my path.

    I returned to the party and was met with the unsuspecting gazes of our guests. At this point, I had already donned my kind and innocent smile, once again navigating my way around therge hall.

    ¡°There you are, Jared. I¡¯ve been looking all over for you.¡± Anabelle, my sweet mother called out.

    I looked to my far right and spotted her. In a few moments, we were reunited and I gave her an awkward smile.

    ¡°Gee. I really can¡¯t let you out of my sight, can I? You spent way more than the agreed-upon time.¡± She said, knocking my head a little.

    ¡°Ow. Ow. Mom, that¡¯s too violent for a noble, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± I said, sulking a little.

    I gave a teasingugh which made Anabelle realize I was messing with her. However, since we were surrounded by so many witnesses, she was powerless against me.

    ¡®It¡¯s not like she¡¯ll give me a suplex in front of everyone here¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    I didn¡¯t want to push my luck though, so I didn¡¯t take the tease any further than that.

    ¡°Did you at least get some rest?¡± She asked, not failing to give me her usual motherly stare.

    ¡°Yeah. I did. I feel better than ever now.¡± I smiled broadly and energetically at Anabelle.

    She seemed relieved to hear this, and just as agreed, we decided to continue the hypocrisy of greeting our very important guests.

    As I exchanged pleasantries with the strangers, my mind analyzed the events that had just taken ce, as well as my ns for the future.

    Did I feel regret or guilt for killing Liliana? No.

    While it was unpleasant that I had to take a life at such a young age, there was no need to feel regretful about it. Ultimately, I had to make a choice.

    ¡®It was me or her!¡¯

    I chose me.

    More pleasantries were made, and I gave the same sickeningughter and smile to the boring old men and women around, failing to enjoy another ss of wine. It was exhausting, but I persisted.

    It was myst night in my household, and I wouldn¡¯t be returning for a while. Fortunately, I had taken care of our little mole before departing, and the ripples of my actions were sure to keep our family on their toes.

    As for the mastermind, whoever he was, I hadn¡¯t given up on him, not by a long shot. I would find him and kill him¡­ just as he tried to do to me.

    ¡®It¡¯s just as Alphonse made me promise¡­ no matter what happens¡­¡¯

    Laughs and cheers drowned the atmosphere. More noises that seemed like intelligible chatter continued ringing in my ears. Yet, my resolute heart remained.

    ¡®¡­ It matters not how it¡¯s done. It matters not what ends up being sacrificed¡­ I won¡¯t lose. In the end, the final victor of everything¡­ will be me!¡¯

    I was given a second chance for a reason. I wasn¡¯t going to let it end so soon. In this life, I was determined to live a wholesome, fulfilled life, alongside my family.

    I wasn¡¯t going to lose anyone close to me, and I was definitely not intent on losing my own life.

    Until I reached the very roots I sought after in my past life and be satisfied with my journey in magic, no one was allowed to kill me or anyone I loved. My mother, my tutor, my father, and the new friends I would be making soon¡­ none of them were allowed to die!

    With an outward bright smile, yet a cold and unfeeling gaze on the inside, I perceived the entire room. Despite all that had happened, only one thought kept appearing in my mind, and it was never going to disappear.

    ¡®No matter what¡­ I will survive!¡¯

 Chapter 37

    ¡°It¡¯s finally time. Jared, you¡­ I¡¯ll miss you.¡±

    As Anabelle¡¯s sweet sobs rang in my ears, I stared lovingly at my mother. Somehow, why did it feel as though I was the father and she was the daughter who didn¡¯t want me to leave or something?

    I gave her my usual charming smile, the best a 12-year-old coulde up with, and reassured my mother.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, mom. I promise. Besides, this is for the best¡­¡± My voice trailed.

    As soon as I said this, my expression stiffened a little. She had to admit this was the best alternative, not just for my growth as a Magic-User, but for my safety. To know the reason for that, one would have to backtrack to the discovery the servants made early this morning.

    After the party endedte in the night, and our guests left, I was escorted to my room in order to get enough rest for my journey the next day.

    My mother also went to her room to rx, since she had exerted herself a great deal to amodate guests. The servants took care of everything, making sure the cleaning and disposal of wastes were expertly taken care of.

    Since I was still mulling over the incidents of what happened during the party, I couldn¡¯t sleep.

    My mind was working, and I was studying various ways to alter the original poison I concocted to create a more potent dosage and reduce its cirction time.

    I could hear slight whispers across the hallway, excited sounds of servants concerning the party we just had, as well as the luxurious foods they got to enjoy as a result of the party.

    Out of all the things I overheard while in my study, something stood out.

    ¡°Who knows where Liliana is? I haven¡¯t seen her all evening!¡±

    I have a brief sigh and continued studying, realizing that the truth was bound to be revealed sooner orter.

    And as I rightly guessed, it didn¡¯t really take very long before the servants found Liliana¡¯s corpse where she died.

    It happened early in the morning while they patrolled the area to ensure no single spot was overlooked.

    It was no understatement to say that everyone in the house was roused as a result of the loud shrieks brought about by the servants when they saw Liliana¡¯s shriveled-up body.

    I was told to remain in my room when the servants revealed the situation to my mom, but after insisting on seeing it for myself, my mother allowed me to witness the scene.

    ¡°W-when we saw her¡­ she was like this. I-I don¡¯t know how it happened or what could have caused something like this, but-!¡± The servants spoke, clear emotions obvious from the tone they used.

    My body twitched when I finally saw Liliana after leaving her to die the previous night. It was just as I thought.

    Her body was dried up till the bone, and her bloodshot eyes were nearly popped from their sockets. To say she was just an empty husk of flesh and bones would still not do the terrible sight justice.

    As soon as Anabelle saw this for herself, she regretted bringing me to the scene, but as it was toote, all she could do was cover my eyes and whisperforting words to me.

    I found her words a little ironic, considering the fact that Liliana¡¯s killer was none other than her.

    After covering her body up, the servants took Liliana to the morgue after my mother cast preservation magic on the corpse and told them to add spices and preservatives to ensure the body would be in perfect condition until it was analyzed.

    While Mana Shock caused Liliana¡¯s death, no one was aware of that fact yet. They never even considered it. Why?

    Because no one thought Liliana could use Magic, to begin with. Not even my mother. The maids and servants were employed from lineages incapable of magic, i.e. Inepts.

    In the first instance, Magic-Users wouldn¡¯t be working as maids when one considered it well.

    That was why Liliana¡¯s death was bizarre. The mystery remained unsolved even as I entered the special carriage prepared for me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to investigate it thoroughly, Jared. So, don¡¯t worry about me or this household, okay? Just be safe.¡± Anabelle smiled at me.

    I could tell that hidden behind that smile was the anxiety of a worrying mother. She was most likely scared to death for my well-being since another incident of murder had urred within the Leonard Estate, something that was rarely heard of among high-ranking nobles.

    My heart ached a little for Anabelle, but this was for the best.

    ¡®The autopsy and magic investigation will ultimately reveal her death to be from mana shock as a result of the lingering traces of mana in her dead cells¡­¡¯

    Once that happened, Anabelle would slowlye to realize their ploy, and even though she won¡¯t understand why Liliana died withoutpleting her mission to kill me, she¡¯ll be extra careful.

    ¡®The next time I return home, I¡¯ll be sure to find a much more impressive state of security. This way, Anabelle will be more motivated to protect herself.¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    ¡°Ah, before I forget¡­¡± Anabelle said, her expression depicting thought suddenly appearing in her head.

    She dipped her hand into her long robe and brought out a book from within it. It was dark brown, most likely made from good leather and the parchments would also be high-quality.

    ¡°Alphonse¡¯s gift came verytest night. You were already asleep, so I decided to wait till today¡­¡± My mother said, smiling a little.

    ¡®Welp, I¡¯m pretty sure I was still awake, though¡­¡¯ I mused.

    ¡°I would have given you earlier, but this whole thing happened, and then before I knew it, the carriage was ready for your departure, and-¡±

    If I left her to herself, Anabelle was going to keep rambling and there was no way I could have that. There were better things the both of us could be doing.

    ¡°I get it mom, thanks.¡± I shed a smile, proceeding to receive the book from Anabelle.

    ¡°Well, it appears I¡¯ve kept you waiting long enough. You should go before I hog you even more for myself.¡± Anabelleughed.

    Iughed as well, and for a brief moment, we stared passionately and lovingly at each other. The bond between myself and this woman, even though it was only for 12 years, was one I would forever cherish.

    ¡°Bye Jared, my child. I love you!¡±

    Embarrassing as it was, I pursed my lips and opened them¡­ responding with the exact same words as my mom.

    ¡°I-I love you too, mom.¡±

    And I absolutely meant it!

    The carriage suddenly started moving slowly as the coachman stirred the horses into motion. Jerked by the propulsion of the vehicle, my thoughts shook a little, and a question that had been puzzling me for years suddenly appeared.

    Bonds. Love. Rtionship.

    So far, I had made so many, but the most bizarre one was still with my Magic Tutor, who was still a stranger to me.

    And so, as I slowly moved away from the loving gaze of my mother, curiosity got the best of me and I had to speak.

    ¡°M-Mom!¡± My voice called out to Anabelle.

    Her eyes lit up in surprise, wondering what else I wanted to say.

    ¡°Who exactly is Alphonse?!¡±

    The burning question within me, and one of the few mysteries I had yet to uncover in all my life was nowid bare before the one who knew the answer.

    Upon hearing my question, my mother made a spurting sound ofughter as she remained standing amusedly.

    ¡°Pfft. To think you¡¯re just asking me this now¡­¡±

    As the carriage drew further away, her voice grew fainter, reced by the sounds of turning wheels and the mping of horse hooves on the ground.

    Still, my eyes were fixated on Anabelle¡¯s face as she gave me the answer. My eyes bulged as soon as I read her lips and heard the faint whispers of the truth that was never told to me all this time.

    Alphonse was¡­

    ¡°¡­ your Grandfather, and my own father,¡± Anabelle said.

 Chapter 38

    She smiled lovingly at me, waving me goodbye. I was too stunned to reciprocate her energy, waving only in a stunned state.

    While her answer exined a lot of things, it caused even more questions. To think my own grandfather had been my tutor for so long, and I was left unaware.

    ¡°Mum calls him Alphonse¡­ I called him that too. Other than the slight disy of affection they disyed once in a while, I couldn¡¯t sense any kind of family bond¡­¡±

    Still mumbling to myself, I looked at the book she had given me before I entered the carriage. Rubbing it slightly with my hand, I calmed myself. There had to be a reason for me not knowing of it.

    After I calmed down a little, I looked out the window and caught one final glimpse of Anabelle, as well as the few members of our household that saw me off.

    The rest of them were busy taking care of the mess that Liliana¡¯s death caused as well as investigation if simr incidents had ured in other areas.

    My farewell was not as exciting or emotional as expected, however¡­ this much was enough.

    Soon, the manor began shrinking in size as I drifted further from it. Perspective made everything appear very little, and my mother vanished from sight. Smiling at myself, I retracted my head from the opening of the carriage window and gave sigh.

    ¡°Huu¡­ I¡¯ve be quite emotional, uh?¡±

    Shrugging off the sentiments welling up within me, I refrained from taking unnecessary thoughts.

    ¡°The book¡­ let¡¯s see what Alphonse¡¯s gift was¡­ or should I call him Grandfather now?¡± I whispered.

    No, that would just feel too weird.

    Opening the brown leather book, I saw a letter on the first page. The envelope had a red seal affixed on it, making me slightly curious. Only nobles and distinguished families used such seals.

    ¡®If I remember correctly, Anabelle is from a very distinguished magic based family. I suppose it¡¯s true that Alphonse is her father¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    I impatiently opened the envelope, curious about its contents. As expected, a letter was within. The parchment in my hands was made from a very exquisite material, and the texture was soft, as well as firm.

    I stretched it out so I could read the contents of the letter Alphonse sent. Looking through it, I smiled in nostalgia, reminded of my tutor.

    __________________________

    __________________________

    ~ Dear Jared, how have you been?

    I¡¯m sure by now you¡¯re on your way to the academy, since my letter will arrivete. Knowing Anabelle, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll only give you in the morning, on your way to the academy.

    Sigh, that woman¡­

    I trust you¡¯ve been well. It hasn¡¯t been very long since I left the Leonard Household, but I already miss you and your mother.

    There a few things I wish to tell you, so make sure you read attentively.

    Firstly, my gift to you is a book which contains several mixes of drugs, concoctions, and medicines. There are also poisons and harmful mixtures there, so be careful.

    You showed an interest in the form for curing your mother¡¯s Mana Shock, and knowing you, it won¡¯t stop at that. To further assist in your research, I decided to give you thisption of records that I made myself.

    I figured it would be better than just any old spell book.

    As for the second thing I have to reveal. It something Anabelle might have addressed, but in case she hasn¡¯t, I should exin in length. Jared, I am the father of your mother, as well as your grandfather.

    It wasn¡¯t as though any of us intentionally tried hiding this fact from you, but you never asked. The reason you may not have noticed this is because of our family customs. Our rtionships take on many forms, depending on achievement and circumstances.

    Anabelle once addressed me as father, and I called her daughter. However, that changed once she became a fully fledged Magic-User. and got my recognition to be a fellowrade in the art. That¡¯s why we now use our names to address each other.

    As for why I never addressed you as my grandson and didn¡¯t demand for you to treat me as a grandfather is because I was brought in as a tutor, and had to act in such a manner. After your training psed, I recognized you as a fellow Magic-User, so there¡¯s no need for us to address ourselves in such a manner.

    It¡¯s funny how our family rtionship never defined us throughout our stay together, and even after.

    If you take a good look at your name, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, my name exists there. This is because my Magic-Oriented household¡¯s name is the Alphonse Household, and my true name is Alphonse Gerald IV. We decided to hand over my daughter in marriage to your father as a result of an alliance between both households. As a symbol of our alliance, our family¡¯s name was incorporated into your family¡¯s name.

    I certainly hope this has answered some of the questions you may have concerning things. While I know all I have said may be too much for a child your age, I know you are a special child, Jared, and do not need to be treated like a normal boy.

    I certainly hope you act in a manner that makes both households you hail from proud.

    As a pupil who passed under my wing and as my beloved grandchild, I certainly hope to hear of your exploits in Ainrk.

    Take care of yourself, Jared. ~

    __________________________________

    __________________________________

    After reading everything Alphonse said, I had two thoughts. The first was that this was a darn long letter!

    ¡®He could have told me all this during one of the times we goofed off. This is a lot to take in so suddenly, damn it!¡¯ My thoughts rang.

    After taking a few moments to sort through everything I read, a smile formed on my face.

    The second thought I had after reading his letter was that of gratitude.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy for this, Alphonse. I¡¯ll be sure to do my best!¡± I grinned, a deep fire of determination burning in my eyes

 Chapter 39 [Bonus chapter] Darkness

    Chapter 39 [Bonus chapter] Darkness

    There are countless stories that were passed down from the times of old.

    Tales of mysteries that have yet to be deciphered. Legends of beings that have long since existed and defy imagination.

    Of these many tales, one of them has always been embedded into the hearts of men. The Celestial War.

    In a world of magic and swords, the natural and the supernatural, there were bound to be concepts of gods and demons.

    Where there is light, there is bound to be darkness lurking about¡­ and the existence of good births a notion of evil.

    And so, now lost to humanity and civility, far beyond thends inhabited by beings of light, exists a kingdom of eternal darkness.

    The Demon Realm!

    In this world of the vilest creatures with the most depraved natures, something spectacr was urring¡­ it was a battle, which was between two creatures of darkness.

    The stage was set, the spectators were present, and the high seat was erected. With everyone watching and the two already standing on stage, there was only one thing the denizens expected.

    A Fight!

    No signal was given before both creatures lunged at each other. Like shadows piercing through the night, their distorted bodies exchanged blows, moving fluidly ording to the tempo of battle and shing.

    This frenzied dancested for so long, yet nonended a solid blow on the other. They kept attacking and defending, and used all manners of abilities to achieve a stalemate.

    >SWISH<

    One of the fighters turned its limbs into des, and started charging at the other fighter, desperate to win. If no action was taken by thetter, it could lose its life.

    However, it appeared that the one on the other end of the de was faster than the shadow who was trying to attack first. The shadow dodged the fatal hit, and in an instant vanished, bing one with darkness.

    Puzzlement filled the eyes of the assaulter, as It tried to figure out the location of its target. However, the moment it realized what was going on, it was toote.

    Arge spike, big enough to tear anyone to pieces, while being sharp enough to rend even the toughest of materials appeared from the ground, materializing from the shadows.

    >SQUISH<

    It pierced the other dark being in the chest. The sudden force raised the wounded one high, and it was unable to do much except struggle and squirm as a result of the pain.

    The being''s powerless struggle didn''tst very long, as it turned into a shadow too, dissipating from the spike and materializing far away from danger.

    After reaching a considerable distance from the spike, it fell to its knees and clutched the wide hole that appeared in its chest.

    Grunts of pain were heard, and even though the wounded one tried its best to stifle it. It still leaked out, and from the posture they had, it was clear to everyone who watched, that the one whonded the first hit was superior.

    Like clockwork, the sessful one appeared, returning from the shadow where he had disappeared to. It walked towards the kneeling one, already assured of victory.

    After all, this match had one simple rule. In order not to waste the time of those who watched, the first tond a solid hit would be the winner.

    Following the rules of the bout, the champion had been decided.

    Now standing before the loser as the sole winner of their bout, the shadowy figure gave a very condescending look to the one beneath him.

    "I win¡­ you lose. Just as I told you before this all began."

    If the loser had any teeth, it would have definitely gritted them. Unfortunately, for beings of their race, such parts of the body didn''t exist.

    The kneeling one could only clench its fist in anger due to its powerlessness, and realizing the loss and shame he had incurred .

    "I can¡­ I can still¡­"

    The loser could notplete the statement, though. Even it was aware¡­ of its weakness, and how much more powerful the adversary was.

    "That is enough." A voice echoed from the highly esteemed seat of the most revered among those who watched.

    Seven seats were present there, indicating the highest members of the society of darkness where the beings all resided.

    The highest seat, the one in the middle was unupied. The supreme ruler of the realm of darkness was absent during such an asion. However, no one thought it to be strange.

    No one could question the Demon King, after all.

    There was one other empty seat. It was the seat to the far left, the throne which both Shadow beings currently fought for.

    As for the voice that interrupted the fight, it belonged to none other than the second inmand of the forces within the Demon Realm.

    "The result of the battle is set. The next 6th Seat has been decided!"

    A hushed silence spread across the open arena. None of the spectators could move or even utter a single word. This was a sacred moment, one that could not be tainted by the slightest bit of sound other than by the one who would make the deration.

    "Kahn. You are hereby stripped of your role as a Demon Lord. From now henceforth, the title ''Noir'' of Shadows shall be passed to the one who has bested you. He is now the new ruler of the Shadow Demon race, ''Noir'' of the Six Demon Lords!"

    Kahn, the defeated fighter, couldn''t say a single word. He had lost, and in such a cruel world, it was only natural for the weaker one to lose everything to the strong.

    But, to think that the person he lost to was none other than his previous subordinate and right-hand man.

    Kahn''s fury, bitterness, and shame knew no bounds.

    "Thus, the ceremony and rite of session shall now begin!"

    The Demon Lords who were seated rose from their thrones, and the spectators all instantly removed themselves from their seats and bowed in homage to the existing Demon Lords, and the new one who would now be crowned soon.

    The rite began, and the time finally psed. Finally¡­ it was done. At this point, Kahn was excused, cast out of the sight of everyone and the attention of the masses was on their new leader.

    "All Hail Kyron, ''Noir'' of Shadows!" The deafening cry of the leader of the Demon Lords echoed throughout the vastnds.

    In response, everyone who heard, whether spectators around the arena or denizens who were in their abode, all bowed and paid homage.

    "Hail! Hail! Hail!"

    "All Hail our Demon Lord, Noir of Shadows!"

    The voices of the Demons roared, and all of them were paying homage and reverence to the victor. At least all except Kahn, the loser.

    The former Demon lord narrowed his eyes, tightened his fist, and swore to himself on that very asion.

    Even as he heard the deafening cries and hails of his sessor, he could not ept it.

    "I swear¡­ I shall regain my position as Demon Lord¡­ no matter the cost!"

    At this point, there was no way to do that. However, no matter how long it took and what he needed to do to earn it, Kahn was ready.

    To kill, to destroy, to plunder and to wage war! If he could bring back an achievement great enough to be recognized by everyone, including his lord and master, The Demon King, then he would regain his position.

    In and full of darkness and strife, there was hardly any hope for ambition. All he had left was shame and reproach.

    To achieve his goals, Kahn''s eyes went beyond the dark ins that surrounded him and saw whaty behind the horizons.

    Light.

    If he couldn''t achieve his ambitions in and of evil and chaos, devoid of hope, he would find his answer in the very ce where hope resided.

    A ce where denizens of chaos were scorned, hated, but most especially¡­ feared!

    "I will win¡­ no matter what it takes!"

    _____________

    Wee To The Second Arc!

 Chapter 40

    40 Leaving Home

    "It''s finally time Jared¡­ I''ll miss you."

    As Anabelle''s sweet sobs rang in my ears, I stared lovingly at my mother. Why did it feel as though I was the father and she was the child who didn''t want me to leave or something?

    I gave her my usual charming smile, the best a 12-year-old coulde up with, and reassured my mother.

    "I''ll be fine, mom. I promise. Besides, this is for the best¡­" My voice trailed.

    As soon as I said this, my expression stiffened a little. She had to admit that this was the best alternative, not just for my growth as a Magic-User, but for my safety as well. To know the reason for that, one would have to backtrack to the discovery the servants made early this morning.

    After the party endedte in the night, and our guests left, I was escorted to my room in order to get enough rest for my journey the next day.

    My mother also went to her room to rx, since she had exerted herself a great deal to amodate the guests. The servants took care of everything, making sure the cleaning and disposal of wastes were expertly taken care of.

    Since I was still mulling over the incidents of what happened during the party, I couldn''t sleep.

    My brain was working overtime, and I was studying various ways to alter the original poison I concocted so that I could create a more potent dosage and reduce its cirction time.

    I could hear slight whispers across the hallway, the excited murmurings of the servants discussing the party we just had, as well as the luxurious food they got to enjoy as a result of the party.

    Out of all the things I overheard while in my study, something stood out.

    "Does anyone know where Liliana is? I haven''t seen her all evening!"

    I let out a brief sigh and continued studying, realizing that the truth was bound to be revealed sooner orter.

    And as I rightly predicted, it didn''t take very long before the servants found Liliana''s corpse.

    It happened early in the morning while they patrolled the area to ensure that no single spot was overlooked when cleaning.

    It was no understatement to say that everyone in the house was roused as a result of the loud shrieks of the servants when they saw Liliana''s shriveled-up body.

    I was told to remain in my room when the servants revealed the situation to my mom, but after insisting on seeing it for myself, my mother allowed me to witness the scene.

    "W-when we saw her¡­ she was like this. I-I don''t know how it happened or what could have caused something like this, but-!" The servants spoke, the distress clear in their voices.

    My body twitched when I finally saw Liliana after leaving her to die the previous night. It was just as I''d thought.

    Her body was dried up to the bone, and her bloodshot eyes were nearly popped from their sockets. To say she was just an empty husk of flesh and bones would still not do the terrible sight justice.

    As soon as Anabelle saw this for herself, she regretted bringing me to the scene, but as it was toote, all she could do was cover my eyes and whisperforting words to me.

    I found her words a little ironic, considering the fact that Liliana''s killer was none other than me.

    After covering up her body, the servants took Liliana to the morgue after my mother cast a preservation magic on the corpse and told them to add spices and preservatives to ensure that the body would be in perfect condition until it was analyzed.

    While it was Mana Shock that caused Liliana''s death, no one was aware of that fact yet. They never even considered it. Why?

    Because no one thought Liliana could use Magic, to begin with. Not even my mother. The maids and servants that were employed were from lineages incapable of magic, i.e. Inepts.

    In the first instance, Magic-Users don''t usually work as maids when one thinks about It.

    That was why Liliana''s death was bizarre. The mystery behind it was still unsolved even as I entered the special carriage prepared for me.

    "I''ll make sure to investigate it thoroughly, Jared. So, don''t worry about me or this household, okay? Just be safe." Anabelle smiled at me.

    I could tell that hidden behind that smile was the anxiety of a worrying mother. She was most likely scared to death for my well-being since another incident of murder had urred within the Leonard Estate, something that was rarely heard of among high-ranking nobles.

    My heart ached a little for Anabelle, but this was for the best.

    ''The autopsy and magic investigation will ultimately reveal her death to be from mana shock as a result of the lingering traces of mana in her dead cells¡­''

    Once that happened, Anabelle would slowlye to realize their ploy, and even though she won''t understand why Liliana died withoutpleting her mission to kill me, she''ll be extra careful.

    ''The next time I return home, I''ll be sure to find a more impressive state of security. This way, Anabelle will be more motivated to protect herself.'' My thoughts trailed.

    "Ah, before I forget¡­" Anabelle said, with her expression depicting that a thought had suddenly appeared in her head.

    She dipped her hand into her long robe and brought out a book from within it. It was dark brown and most likely made from quality leather, the parchment also seemed to be of high-quality.

    "Alphonse''s gift came verytest night. You were already asleep, so I decided to wait untill today¡­" My mother said, smiling a little.

    ''Welp, I''m pretty sure I was still awake, though¡­'' I mused.

    "I would have given it to you earlier, but this whole thing happened, and then before I knew it, the carriage was ready for your departure, and-"

    If I had left her alone, Anabelle would have kept on rambling and there was no way I could have that. There were better things the both of us could be doing.

    "I get it mom, thanks." I shed her a smile, and proceeded to collect the book from her hands.

    "Well, it appears I''ve kept you waiting long enough. You should go before I hog you even more to myself." Anabelleughed.

    Iughed as well, and for a brief moment, we stared passionately and lovingly at each other. The bond between me and this woman, even though it was only for 12 years, was one I would forever cherish.

    "Bye, Jared my child. I love you!"

    Embarrassing as it was, I pursed my lips and opened them¡­ responding with the exact same words as my mom.

    "I-I love you too, mom."

    And I absolutely meant it!

    The carriage then started to move slowly as the coachman stirred the horses into motion. Jerked by the sudden increase in speed of the vehicle, my thoughts shook a little, and a question that had been puzzling me for years suddenly appeared.

    Bonds. Love. Rtionship.

    So far, I had formed so many bonds, but the most bizarre one is the one I have with my Magic Tutor, who is still a stranger to me.

    And so, as I slowly moved away from the loving gaze of my mother, curiosity got the best of me and I just had to speak.

    "M-Mom!" My voice called out to Anabelle.

    Her eyes lit up in surprise, wondering what else I wanted to say.

    "Who exactly is Alphonse?!"

    The burning question within me, and one of the few mysteries I had yet to uncover in all my life was nowid bare before the one who knew the answer.

    Upon hearing my question, my mother made a choking sound ofughter as she stood there staring at me amusedly.

    "Pfft. To think that you''re just asking me this now¡­"

    As the carriage drew further away, her voice grew fainter and was reced by the sound of turning wheels and the mping of horse hooves on the ground.

    Still, my eyes were fixated on Anabelle''s face as she gave me the answer. My eyes bulged as soon as I read her lips and my brain tried to wrap itself around the truth that had been hidden from me all this time.

    Alphonse is¡­

    "¡­ your Grandfather, and my own father"

    A shocking discovery!

    Magecrafter

 Chapter 41 Alphonses Letter

    Chapter 41 Alphonse''s Letter

    "G-grandfather¡­?!" I mumbled in disbelief as the carriage took me further away from Anabelle.

    She smiled lovingly at me, as she waved. I was too stunned to reciprocate her energy, as I waved with my mind in a stunned state.

    While her answer exined a lot of things, it brought about even more questions. To think my own grandfather had been my tutor for so long, and I was left unaware.

    "Mum calls him Alphonse¡­ I called him that too. Other than the slight disy of affection they disyed once in a while, I couldn''t sense any kind of family bond¡­"

    Still mumbling to myself, I looked at the book she had given me before I left. Rubbing the cover slightly with my hand, I calmed myself. There had to be a reason for them to have hidden it from me.

    After I calmed down a little, I looked out the window and caught one final glimpse of Anabelle, as well as the few members of our household that saw me off.

    The rest of them were busy taking care of the mess that Liliana''s death caused, as well as checking for simr incidents that might have urred in other areas.

    My farewell was not as exciting or as emotional as expected, however¡­ this much was enough.

    Soon, the manor began shrinking in size as I drifted further from it. Perspective made everything appear very little, and my mother vanished from sight. Smiling at myself, I retracted my head from the opening of the carriage window and sighed.

    "Huu¡­ I''ve be quite emotional, uh?"

    Shrugging off the sentiments welling up within me, I refrained from thinking unnecessary thoughts.

    "The book¡­ let''s see what Alphonse''s gift is all about¡­ or should I call him Grandfather now?" I whispered.

    No, that would just feel too weird.

    Opening the brown leather book, I saw a letter on the first page. The envelope had a red seal affixed to it, making me slightly curious. Only nobles and distinguished families used such seals.

    ''If I remember correctly, Anabelle is from a very distinguished magic-based family. I suppose it''s true that Alphonse is her father¡­'' I reasoned.

    I impatiently opened the envelope, curious about its contents. As expected, a letter was within. The parchment in my hand was made from a very exquisite material, and the texture was soft, as well as firm.

    I unfolded it so that I could read the contents of Alphonse''s letter. Looking through it, I smiled in nostalgia, as I was reminded of my tutor.

    *******************

    ~ Dear Jared, how have you been?

    I''m sure that by now you will be on your way to the academy since my letter will arrivete. Knowing Anabelle, I''m sure she''ll only give it to you in the morning, on your way to the academy.

    Sigh, that woman¡­

    I trust that you''ve been well though. It hasn''t been very long since I left the Leonard Household, but I already miss you and your mother.

    There are a few things I wish to tell you, so make sure you read attentively.

    Firstly, my gift to you is a book which contains several mixes of drugs, concoctions, and medicines. There are also poisons and harmful mixtures there, so be careful.

    You showed an interest in the form for curing your mother''s Mana Shock, and knowing you, it won''t stop at that. To further assist you in your research, I decided to give you thisption of records that I made myself.

    I figured it would be better than just any old spellbook.

    As for the second thing I have to reveal. It is something Anabelle might have addressed, but in case she hasn''t, I should exin it in length. Jared, I am the father of your mother, as well as your grandfather.

    It wasn''t as though any of us intentionally tried to hide this fact from you, you just never asked. The reason you may not have noticed this is because of our family customs. Our rtionships take on many forms, depending on achievement and circumstances.

    Anabelle once addressed me as father, and I used to call her daughter. However, that all changed when she became a full-fledged Magic User and got my approval to be arade in the art. That''s why we now use our names to address each other.

    The reason why I never referred to you as my grandson or demanded that you treat me as your grandfather, is because I was brought in as a tutor and so I had to act in such a manner. After your training psed, I recognized you as a fellow Magic-User, so there was no need for us to address ourselves in such a manner.

    It''s funny how our family rtionship never defined us throughout our stay together, and even after.

    If you take a good look at your name, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, my name exists there. This is because my Magic-Oriented household''s name is the Alphonse Household, and my true name is Alphonse Gerald IV. We decided to hand over my daughter in marriage to your father as a result of an alliance between both households. As a symbol of our alliance, our family''s name was incorporated into your family''s name.

    I certainly hope this has answered some of the questions you may have concerning things. While I know that all I have said may be too much for a child of your age, I know that you are a special child, Jared and you do not need to be treated like a normal boy.

    I certainly hope you act in a manner that will make both households proud.

    As a pupil whom I took under my wing and as my beloved grandchild, I certainly hope to hear of your exploits in Ainrk.

    Take care of yourself, Jared. ~

    ******************

    After reading everything Alphonse said, I had only two thoughts. The first was that this was a darn long letter!

    ''He could have told me all this during one of the times we goofed off. This is a lot to take in so suddenly, damn it!'' My thoughts rang.

    After taking a few moments to sort through everything I had just read, a smile formed on my face.

    The second thought I had after reading his letter was that of gratitude.

    "I''m happy about this, Alphonse. I''ll be sure to do my best!" I grinned, with a deep fire of determination burning in my eyes.

 Chapter 42 Arrival At Ainzlark

    Chapter 42 Arrival At Ainrk

    The journey to the Ainrk academy was estimated to take five to seven days with carriage, even in good weather conditions.

    The reason for such a longpse of time was because of the distance of our home from the school''s location.

    Even though our family was a renowned noble family, a Duke''s family to be exact, our territory was quite far from the big cities in the Eastern Kingdom. How crazy was that?

    That was why my father often had to spend a great deal of time away from home, since it would be inconvenient if he keptmuting from our home to the bustling city, where his attention was mostly focused on.

    I had no idea as to the cause of such an anomaly, but since someone had to manage the vastnds far away from the Kingdom''s hub, my father''s noble lineage was ced in charge of it.

    I didn''t mind much, though. It was thanks to this that we hardly had guestse over, and even though I was already 12, I hadn''t for once left our territory.

    As a shut-in type of person, what more could I ask for.

    Well, those days were over now. The real world awaited, and though I had read enough about them in books and heard stories from Alphonse and Anabelle, going into unfamiliar territory gave me the chills.

    Using detailed maps of the Eastern Kingdom, the path we were to take was already mapped out. The inns we would be staying in had also been decided on.

    It was at times like this that I wished teleportation magic existed. Well, it did¡­ but using it would only allow the magic-user to transverse short distances. It was also a very rare type of magic andplex to boot.

    ''Ah, plus mana consumption¡­''

    Perhaps this would be solved once I grew more as a Magic-User. The thrill of solving so many problems welled up within me as I smiled to myself in glee.

    "Hehehe¡­"

    ***********************

    It''s funny how long five days can be when all you do is sit in a carriage. It was very tortuous, and my butt ached so much.

    We rested every once in a while and made stops to stretch after being cramped up in the carriage, but a greater deal of our time was spent on the road.

    To pass the time, I read the book Alphonse gifted to me. It was very interesting, and I couldn''t wait till I could apply all I was learning practically.

    Still, there was a limit to merely reading and being unable to practice what was being learned.

    The urge to practice disturbed me greatly, but I calmed myself with meditation. Since the carriage wobbled every now and then, it was very difficult to form my fourth mana Core. The process was slow as heck too, so I decided to give up on that task.

    The days moved slowly, but steadily. And finally, on the seventh day, we arrived at the city of our destination.

    "Young master, here we are¡­ the Academic City, Ainrk." My coachman said to me with excitement.

    I could tell that even he was relieved we had finally arrived at our destination. Other than myself, I felt more sorry for him, since he would be in even more pain from managing the ride.

    Well, my two escort guards were also to be considered, but they were mostly silent. It was almost as if they weren''t even with us in the carriage.

    ''They must be following orders¡­maybe¡­'' My thoughts trailed.

    Still, keeping my eyes on the beautiful city before me, I couldn''t help but be in awe as a result of its beauty.

    Our carriage was greeted by therge city walls, totally unlike anything I had seen in our territory. This was a big ce. We had passed by other cities on our way here, many of which were amazing too, but this was on another level!

    "A-Amazing!" I eximed in excitement.

    During myst life, suchrge structures were hardly seen, except in the pce, but my eyes saw several tall buildings within the city.

    The Coachman nodded. Maybe it was my imagination, but I could swear that the man heaved a sigh of relief.

    Not to act like a country bumpkin, but it was still so incredible!

    ''Sure, it''s been 528 years since I died, but to think that so many things have changed!'' I beamed.

    The security at the city''s gate looked quite troublesome, but my coachman was able to secure our entry with no difficulty at all.

    As we passed by the city''s gates, Iid my eyes on the beautifulndscape of the city. It was truly a wonderful sight for sore eyes.

    I looked out the window and saw a bustling city life. Structures such as cafes, libraries, chill spots, shops of varying kinds, and so many other new things that I have never seen back home and even in the past.

    As I took more exciting gazes around, my coachman interrupted my jumbled thoughts.

    "Shall we head straight for the Academy, Young Master?"

    Upon hearing what he said, I ceased my sightseeing and appropriatelyported myself.

    He must have noticed my interest in the city''s structure since he bothered asking. As much as I wanted a tour of the ce around, it would be selfish of me.

    ''Everyone must be tired at this point¡­''

    Thanks to my difort during the carriage ride and after requesting for so many breaks, it took us seven days to reach Ainrk when it would have taken us way less. I couldn''t impose any more on these people.

    "Yes. Let''s see where I''ll be studying." I smiled.

    The Coachman nodded. Maybe it was my imagination, but I could swear that the man heaved a sigh of relief.

    Moving at a steady pace, since we were already in the city, our carriage trailed across the main road, which was tiled with luxurious stones. The streets were clean, and the people around gawked at our grand entry.

    After turning at some routes, we headed straight down a path that led to the massive structure that I realized was the Academy. I had seen many drawings of the ce, but since it was my first time gazing upon the ce in person, I was nearly breathless.

    Even from a distance, I could tell that this was beyond doubt the best Academy in all of the Eastern Kingdom, Ainrk Academy!

 Chapter 43

    Ainrk Academy.

    When considering the epitome of power and ability, a person had to possess some form of education in whatever art or craft they possessed.

    As the institute that stands above every other in the Eastern Kingdom, where I hail from, Ainrk is the dream of anyone who aims for the top.

    And there I was, standing before the gates of such a prestigious ce.

    Having such a magnificent, shiny white surface, therge gate leading to the Academy resembled a castle on its own. The towering building seemed to touch the clouds as the white gates stayed before it.

    A flight of stairs leading to the gates was cleanly arranged, waiting for us to climb.

    My coachman halted the carriage as we approached the gate, making a turn by the side so the horses stopped moving. Since it was directly beside the stairs leading to the higher tform where the gate was, I had no difficulty getting off.

    As soon as I got down, the two guards who served as my escorts did the same and walked beside me.

    The Coachman nodded affirmatively at me and I responded to his courteous expression.

    ¡°Have a safe and productive time, Young Master¡± He said, before driving off with the carriage.

    I was certain the guards would meet up with him at a rendezvous point after escorting me as far as they could to where I would be spending the next few years.

    Upon reaching the gate, we were met by elite guards. They were three in number, two holding swords and a single one dressed in garb. From his outfit, I already deduced him to be a Mage, and a very skilled one at that.

    For only three personnel to serve as guards of such a prestigious ce, it clearly meant they weren¡¯t ordinary.

    After showing them the Deed and Seal of my noble family, as well as the Enrollment Offer letter already requested gotten the Academy, the guards gave their approval and allowed me in.

    With a sleight of hand made by the mage among the three guards, a remarkable phenomenon urred. I watched the gates open as a result of whatever magic the mage cast. A glimmer of faint light emanated from the bars, causing them to rise and granting us ess within the Academy Compound.

    ¡°You are to head directly to the Admissions Processing Department. Keep walking straight down this path, you can¡¯t miss them.¡± We were told.

    The guards nodded, not offering a single word, while I offered my thanks.

    Upon entering, we were greeted with yet another marvelous sight. A vastpound with several buildings across the area. Arge fountain stood erect at the center of everything, while several structures made the huge ce hardly vacant.

    As we walked down, following the instructions given, I couldn¡¯t get enough of the sight. Still, it was strange¡­

    While I spotted a few individuals, the Academy was not as packed as I imagined it to be.

    ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll ask them at the Admissions department¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    Just as the guards said, we were able to spot the Admissions Processing Department easily after taking a few moments to walk down the straight path.

    The building stood out well, greatly furnished from the exterior and having the signpost clearly telling whoever passed by of the business they performed.

    The interior was even more impressive, greatly decorated to appear in, yet exquisite. The room was alsorge, having only a few desks and a counter where we approached.

    ¡°Good afternoon, how may I be of service?¡± Our attendant, a middle-aged man asked with a sincere smile.

    ¡°Even their service is satisfactory¡­¡¯ I reasoned, wondering if there was any w in this educational system.

    ¡°Yes. I would like to begin my studies within this Academy. All the necessary processes have been sorted out.¡± I said, bringing out the documents I had shown the guards.

    Upon receiving what I gave him, the middle-aged man scrutinized the Seal of my household and the deed containing an introductory letter from my family. Most importantly, I also had the Academy¡¯s Enrollment Offer Letter with me.

    ¡°Hmmn, these are all valid¡­¡± He muttered, rubbing his cleanly shaven chin.

    I was a little surprised by the reason he was so flippant about the validity of the documents. Even the guards didn¡¯t take any special process in ensuring we weren¡¯t with any counterfeit.

    ¡®It¡¯s not impossible to try pulling a fast one on establishments like this¡­ why aren¡¯t they more serious about investigating if my documents are valid?¡¯ I questioned internally.

    The man attending to us must have read my expression, since the next thing he did was smile at me and nod slightly.

    ¡°If you¡¯re wondering why we aren¡¯t being a little more serious about investigating the genuineness of your documents, it¡¯s because there is no need to.¡±

    I was a little stunned by the man¡¯s words. Fortunately, he proceeded to exin himself.

    ¡°The letter sent by the academy is made from a special kind of parchment that can only be gotten here and is enchanted with a secret Spell, changed every year, with only those in the know who are aware of It. As such, no one can duplicate them. The moment I came into contact with the letter, I already knew it was valid.¡±

    ¡°A-ah¡­¡± I slightly let out, a little embarrassed that I didn¡¯t think of that.

    ¡°Plus, the seal of your noble family carries simr properties. Even if the form is replicated, the magic signature can never be. As a result, we know you are the genuine article.¡± The man smiled.

    Impressed by his words, I nodded in response.

    ¡°I see. Forgive me for doubting your security and observation skills.¡±

    ¡°No, no. It¡¯s no issue. I¡¯m d you took an interest. Most wouldn¡¯t even be bothered about it.¡± The middle-aged man said.

    Afterward, he brought out a form and told me to fill it out. Information such as my name, age, family, Mana Core, and the likes were requested.

    I filled the form quickly, making my mana print where it was indicated, and returned it to him.

    He ced his hand on it and chanted a spell silently, duplicating the form into two identical copies.

    ¡°Here, take this and hold onto it well.¡± He said, giving me one of the copies.

    ¡°Hmm? What is this for?¡± I mumbled.

 Chapter 44

    ¡°It¡¯s a means of identification. After all, this letter you received from the Academy is a mere Enrollment Offer document, it doesn¡¯t mean you have been wholly epted yet.¡± He said.

    I nodded.

    Anyone could understand that much if they studied about the Ainrk Academy. It was one thing to be offered Enrollment, and it was another to be fully enrolled in the Academy.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The entrance exams areing up, so this is for that time. As a participant, that is your means of identification. Since you¡¯ve shown me all the relevant documents, you do not need them anymore. That alone is enough.¡± He added.

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    Observing the form closely, I saw the date of the exams printed on the back. It was barely a week from now.

    ¡°You have good eyes. That¡¯s right, you still have a bit of time before the exams actually take ce. That means you¡¯ve arrived too early.¡±

    ¡®Oh? That must be why everywhere isn¡¯t as crowded as I thought.¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s good that you arrived early and got this process over with, though. Others havee before you, but most usually arrive when it¡¯s a day or so before the actual exams.¡±

    The middle-aged man made a dissatisfied expression, indicating he thought those kinds were troublesome. I didn¡¯t me him, though. The crowd and pressure were bound to increase at an unbelievable rate since so many wanted their processing done at thest minute.

    ¡°I¡¯d advise you to head over to an inn and wait things out. If you have any further business to attend to, also do so. In six days, return to the Academy to take your entrance exams. The venue has been given on the form, so there¡¯s no confusion.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, I appreciate this.¡± I smiled at the kind gentleman.

    He nodded politely.

    ¡°Now then, you may have these back.¡± The man said, returning the documents I submitted to him.

    Upon collecting them, I took a few moments to observe them and make sure nothing was tampered with. After I was done, I handed everything over to my escorts, keeping the form within my breast pocket.

    ¡°I believe our business here is concluded. Well, then¡­ you should be on your way.¡± The middle-aged man said.

    I smiled, looking at him with a.little bit of interest.

    ¡°Would you mind telling me your name?¡±

    My sudden question caused the stares of the other workers who sat at their respective positions.

    For a brief moment, silence filled the room. Even the man I addressed was a little flustered by my question. After taking a brief moment to consider, looking at my confident eyes, he gave in.

    ¡°My name is Legris Damien.¡± He said.

    ¡°Thank you. You know already, but it¡¯smon courtesy to return an introduction. I am Jared Leonard. It¡¯s a pleasure.¡±

    He bowed his head slightly and I did the same.

    ¡°Well then, excuse us as we take our leave,¡± I said, walking out of the office with my escorts.

    We left the building which was yet silent, but I was not bothered in the slightest. My guards were the same, so it was no new thing.

    ¡°Young Master, the coachman has already gone to secure the appropriate inn for you. Since it¡¯s a trustworthy ce befitting of your repute, we will be heading there now.¡± One of my guards said while we walked back to the gate.

    It was a shame I was leaving such a beautiful ce so soon, but I would be back.

    ¡°Ah, I see. Let us go, then.¡± I smiled, ncing a little in his direction.

    From the corner of my eye, I noticed the second escort looking a little peculiar, almost as though he wanted to say something.

    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± I asked with slight curiosity.

    He remained mute, slightly shaking his head. I didn¡¯t know whether he was just being shy or rigid, but it still felt weird. I already had an idea of what he wanted to say, though.

    ¡°You¡¯re curious about the reason I behaved strangely in that office just now, right? I spoke more than I should have, treated someone with a far lower status cordially, and even requested for his name. You want to know the reason why, right?¡± I asked.

    After taking a few moments of hesitation, the guard nodded his head.

    A smile formed on my face. Maybe my guards hadn¡¯t noticed it yet, but there was no way that man could fool me.

    ¡°The answer his simple¡­ that mere attendant¡­ is very strong!¡±

    A smile formed on my face as the gates were opened for us, allowing us to exit.

    ¡®Legris Damien¡­ I¡¯m not going to forget that name.¡¯

    ****************************************

    ¡°Hahahaha, what an interesting fellow!¡± The man called Legris burst outughing.

    This slightly startled the people who worked around him.

    ¡°Sir Legris,e on. Please control yourself.¡± One of the workers made a slightly upsetment.

    ¡°The reason we even allowed this farce is because you said it wouldn¡¯t disturb our work.¡± Anothermented.

    ¡°Sigh, I knew this was a bad idea.¡± One other worker pped his hand on his face.

    ¡°You guys are no fun at all!¡± Legris Damien beamed energetically.

    What was the reason for his good mood? It was none other than the young man who had just left.

    ¡°What an interesting kid¡­¡± He muttered.

    ¡°Is he really? He seemed just like any regr noble to me. His mana wasn¡¯t too impressive as well.¡± Someone made a passingment.

    Legris grinned at the one who said that.

    ¡°Oh? So that¡¯s what you think. Well, I can¡¯t say I me you. That was also what I thought as well. However, that kid¡­ not only was he curious as to our criteria for judging genuine documents, he was also wary of the Enrollment process, objectively scrutinizing his documents when they were returned to him.¡± Legris said.

    The workers looked at each other. True, those were peculiar traits, but that wasn¡¯t enough to prove the boy special.

    ¡°As much as he tried to hide it, I could also tell¡­ he was probing at my strength! Thatd is more than he seems.¡± Legris added.

    ¡°True, he even asked for your name, Sir Legris.¡±

    The middle-aged man nodded, excitedly snapping his fingers.

    ¡°Exactly! He¡¯s the first to do all that!¡±

    Legris had taken a keep interest in the child he just met, however, despite all he was just shown, there was one thing that stood out the most.

    ¡°Still, to think he¡¯s a pure white Core¡­ at this age¡­ Awakened at 7 Years¡­ and from the Leonard family that hasn¡¯t produced a Magic-User in over 200 years. Interesting¡­¡± Legris Damien muttered, still stroking his chin.

    ¡®No matter, we will meet soon again, Jared Leonard. Let¡¯s hope you pass the exams¡­¡¯

    ¡°Now I have one more thing to look forward to!¡±

 Chapter 45

    As expected, the inn had already been secured by my coachman, and the establishment was a pretty decent one. Since I didn¡¯t want to raise too high a profile, we rented two rooms. The rooms were fitted for two people, so one of my guards shared one with me, while the other was upied by my coachman and the second guard.

    It was clean, spacious, and most importantly¡­ quiet!

    ¡®The next six days should be over in a breeze.¡¯ I grinned, taking a seat by the study that was located in a corner of the room.

    It appeared the inn owner thought of everything.

    Just as expected, the days went by quickly. Fortunately, the guards were usually outside or in the other room, patrolling and keeping a safe distance from mine while respecting my privacy.

    We only slept in the same room at night, but for the rest of the time, I was granted total freedom within the little space I was given. Food was provided for me after a thorough inspection by the guards in case of poisons, but I didn¡¯t mind.

    It was for my protection, anyway. Of course, I also checked the food for poisons myself. The more I familiarized myself with the book Alphonse gave me, the more I came to respect medicines and also regard poisons.

    Using my alone time wisely, I spent it umting knowledge and circting the mana within me on a few asions.

    After most of the days passed, I decided to take a break from seriousness and enjoy myself a little, though for me research was also enjoyable in certain ways.

    ¡°I would like to take a look around the city,¡± I exined to my guards.

    With the next day being the Ainrk Entrance Examinations, this would prove the best time to explore the city of Ainrk. After all, things would get busier after I got into the Academy.

    As expected, it was an exciting ce. The Academic City Of Ainrk.

    During my studies, I came to realize that this city was the thirdrgest in all of the Eastern Kingdom. The first was the capital, and the second was the merchant city. The Academic City took third ce and stood as one of the firm grounds for the Kingdom¡¯s power.

    As such, it was easy to deduce why I was so thrilled by the experience of burning the sights of every activity around into my eyes. Of course, this wasn¡¯t the only reason. My guards maintained a considerable distance from me in order not to draw attention to myself.

    ¡®Good grief¡­¡¯ I sighed.

    Enjoying the evening breeze cooled the excitement that had built up these past couple of days since tomorrow would be the big day. I was going to savor every moment.

    However, this tranquility didn¡¯tst long.

    ¡°Tch, out of the way, plebian!¡± I heard someone say from behind me.

    Before I could even turn around to see who the stranger was referring to, he bumped into me, no, it was more like a push.

    Not caring at all about my well-being, this person used his weight and shoved me to the side while hurrying his way.

    My eyes darted behind me and I saw my guards re from a distance. With a sleight of hand, I signaled to them to stop disying their animosity.

    They obeyed, and I quicklyported myself, once again walking down the busy road.

    ¡°It¡¯s no big deal¡­ it would be childish to fret over something of this level,¡± I whispered.

    Judging from his demeanor, he was most likely one of the people Legris Damien spoke of. It was evening, yet some students like him hadn¡¯t gotten their forms for tomorrow¡¯s exams.

    With that fleeting thought, I continued my walk and soon returned to my chamber. Even with the unpleasant interruption I had, it was still an enjoyable experience.

    ¡°Now then¡­ I wonder what tomorrow will give me¡­¡±

    ***************************************

    It was outstanding, to say the least, the examination venue. A veryrge building, resembling any educational structure for learning. Yet, this was merely a single hall in the whole Academic grounds.

    The guards couldn¡¯t escort me any further, so we had to say our goodbyes by the gate. Of course, since I had made it this far, all that was left was getting into the main Academy itself.

    ¡°You should all head back home,¡± I said to them.

    After all, if I gained admission, I would immediately get lodged into the residential halls, and go through orientation, and I was most likely not going to step out of school grounds for a while.

    ¡°B-but, Young Master¡­ we should stay until the exams are over. Just in case-¡± One of the guards tried protesting.

    ¡°In case what? I fail?¡± I smiled.

    Such an inconceivable idea being even being considered by an attendant of mine¡­ It was absurd! I was shocked and flushed with embarrassment.

    ¡°N-no, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± The flustered guard muttered quickly, bowing his head.

    During the short time we spent together, I made sure to converse with my attendants as much as possible.

    ¡®They¡¯re good kids¡­ they just have poormunication skills¡­¡¯ I smiled, looking at things from my perspective.

    Both guards decided to ce their faith in their Young Master and promised to depart to the manor.

    With the Academy¡¯s security and my assured victory, there was no need for them to stick around. My eyes caught the multitude of people entering the examination hall, so I knew I couldn¡¯t be caught loitering for too long.

    ¡°Now then¡­ I should go in as well.¡±

    **************************************

    ¡°Wee, everyone!¡± A very loud and clear voice boomed.

    It filled therge hall to the point that no one could im they couldn¡¯t hear him. Even from my seat at the very top of the seats arranged in a circr format, I could hear every single word he uttered.

    ¡®Sound magic, maybe?¡¯ I reasoned.

    The hall appeared to have many stories from its exterior view, but uponing inside, it had a different interior. There was only one word that described the ce in which we all sat.

    A colosseum!

 Chapter 46

    It was a colosseum!

    The moderator, whoever he was, was standing at the center of therge stage, while everyone else watched from their seat roundabout the arena.

    ¡°A total of five thousand three hundred and fifty students obtained a form for this exam. A huge number of you are here to be admitted into this prestigious institute. However, you must understand¡­ that of so many people gathered here, not more than a hundred will ever see the inner walls of the main Academy.¡±

    This was met by a shocking response from the audience. We were never told this, not even in the texts and prospectus given out by the Academy.

    However, if one was really observant, this much was to be expected. As the best of the best, clearly, Ainrk Academy would only aim for the most talented and powerful. Still, one thing caught my attention.

    The moderator mentioned over five thousand people registering for the exam. However, from the calctions I made of the seats and their arrangements, there should only be a total of four thousand gathered here at the maximum.

    ¡®Hmmn¡­ maybe there are other batches¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    If that was the case, then why didn¡¯t they split the crowd more evenly? Four thousand people participating in the first batch and a thousand plus in the second¡­ that seemed uneven.

    Perhaps there was a special way they used to split the batches that I wasn¡¯t aware of. Well, this was Ainrk Academy, I couldn¡¯t exactly expect something normal.

    ¡°Now then, I should inform you of the requirements for this exam. Of course, there are three major stages you need to pass before you can be admitted.¡±

    Another outcry of surprise filled the air as thousands of students expressed surprise. Even I was a little surprised by this.

    ¡®I only know of two tests¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    ¡°In the past years, we implemented two stages to pass. The written tests and the magic proficiency tests. However, after a slight educational reform within the Academy, from this point on, a new test will be given which will determine not only your admission into the Academy, but also your status once you¡¯ve be a student.¡±

    My eyes bulged as I listened. This was new, but not entirely unreasonable. I had already expected some discrepancies, so it wasn¡¯t too much¡­

    ¡°The third test will be the Mana Core Grade Proficiency test!¡±

    My jaw instantly dripped and the heart that was calm moments ago nearly jumped out of my chest.

    ¡®WHATTTT?!!¡±

    Of everything the Academy would pull, I wasn¡¯t expecting this!

    ¡°Remember this aspiring students, there is no such thing as equality in this world, especially when ites to magic.¡±

    As I heard the moderator, while he didn¡¯t directly say it, I understood what he meant. The third test was the most important since it would determine one¡¯s status in the Academy. Plus, with the talk of inequality, I would be foolish to expect any leniency in this test.

    I hade into this ce with absolute confidence. However, what remained were merely shards of the guarantee within my heart.

    After all¡­ I possessed a pure White Mana Core Grade, and in a test that tested one¡¯s proficiency based on that decisive factor, it could only mean one thing for someone like me.

    ¡®I¡¯m screwed!¡¯

    ¡°Now then, without further ado, we¡¯ll begin the first phase of the test.¡± The moderator beamed, not even giving me enough time to sort through my thoughts.

    The man snapped his fingers, creating a loud clicking sound. I winced a little reacting to the sudden noise, however, my eyes suddenly caught something in front of me.

    ¡°This is¡­ a piece of paper¡­?¡± I muttered, looking at the clear white sheet in front of me.

    ¡°You should all have received pieces of paper, one page each, correct?¡± The mod announced.

    My eyes darted across the room, beside me, beneath, across the other side, and true to his words, everyone had indeed received the same piece of floating paper like me.

    ¡®With the snap of a finger¡­ impressive¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    Or so it would seem. However, it was a simple trick once you figured it out. To think the Academy resorted to such petty methods to impress students.

    ¡°You are to pick up the paper before you. Written on it is a simple question. The paper is enchanted and responds to mana. You don¡¯t need a pen to write. Use your fingers and answer the questions written on the paper before you.¡±

    Everyone mechanically obeyed his instructions, picking up the paper to read the questions. Sure enough, his words were true.

    ¡°I would desist from engaging in any form of malpractice since this ce is being monitored entirely. Also, the questions assigned for every examinee are different and the time allocated for this stage is five minutes!¡±

    The bewildered students expressed their displeasure concerning the sudden rush of information. However, the moderator wasn¡¯t even going to give anyone room to breathe.

    ¡°Your time starts now!¡±

    Everyone instantly buried their faces in the paper allocated to them and answered the questions in the way they knew best.

    I paused for a moment to analyze all that had urred. If Ainrk Academy had taught me anything, it would that I was never to expect anything simple or straightforward from them. This written test was no different.

    ¡®The flow of mana within the body is something any magic-user can sense. However, controlling that flow from one¡¯s mana core is a different story entirely. To do that, you need to be focused and calm¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    The reason why no pen was provided was to test our apt use of mana in answering the questions given. The questions weren¡¯t all that difficult for anyone who studied well.

    That meant the true test was the ability to keep one¡¯s cool while focusing on mana usage in correctly answering the question while being under the pressure of time.

    ¡®It all adds up. When you think of it that way¡­ the first stage bes very easy to ovee!¡¯ I grinned.

    Five minutes? Ha! Howughable.

    ¡°I won¡¯t even need one.¡±

 Chapter 47

    [Exam Question]

    ~ As aptly as possible, citing the appropriate authorities, give a recount of the Mana-Soul Theory.

    [Begin]

    ¡°Five minutes? Heh, what a joke! I won¡¯t even need one!¡±

    ***********************************

    ¡°Okay, time¡¯s up!¡±

    Before anyone could protest the moderator¡¯s abrupt words, the paper they all desperately wrote on vanished.

    ¡°That¡¯s the end of the first phase of the exams. I hope you were all able to answer the questions properly.¡± He said cheerfully.

    Though he appeared happy, many of the examinees weren¡¯t. Looking around, I could see many uneasy faces full of tension.

    ¡®It¡¯s none of my business¡­¡¯ I sighed.

    The fact that I was able toplete my task without any issue remained my primary concern. The only thing I had to worry about was the next phase of the exam.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be the one handling the next aspect of your exam. As such, I shall be taking my leave after introducing him to you all.¡±

    Suddenly a gust of wind began gathering in the arena, drawing the attention of everyone, even the distraught students to the vast stage before them.

    ¡°Taking charge of the second round is none other than one of the Senior Lecturers within Ainrk Academy¡­ Professor¡­¡±

    My eyes bulged as I caught the sight of the man who appeared from within the tendrils of wind on the stage. He was one other than-

    ¡°¡­ Legris Damien!¡±

    The thousands of students all burst out in surprise as they all had simr expressions of shock at the sight of their second examiner.

    ¡°Nice to meet you all.¡± Professor Legris Damien greeted, smiling at everyone with his usual cheerful grin.

    I was at a loss for words, yet I couldn¡¯t help but let out a slight grin myself. I knew he was no ordinary man¡­ but to think he was a senior lecturer. That was shocking beyond belief!

    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s more urate to say ¡®its good to see you all again,¡¯ after all, you have all met me at least once.¡± He added.

    The aspiring students now grew more ufortable, shifting in their seats. It was clear from their reactions that most of them had treated him with disrespect during their encounter.

    ¡®Huu¡­ this is why one should be careful of their conduct.¡¯ I thought to myself in relief.

    ¡°Now then, without wasting much of our time, it¡¯s time to begin the second round of the test. The requirements are quite simple, really.¡± Legris Damien said, looking at the moderator beside him, and gave a slight nod.

    The moderator nodded back, saying goodbye to everyone present. With a snap of his fingers, he vanished from our sights, leaving only Legris Damien in our presence.

    ¡°The purpose for this second round, as most of you already know, is magic casting. As students of Ainrk, it¡¯s important that you¡¯re capable of utilizing mana and at your age, a certain degree of skill is expected of you.¡± He exined.

    Everyone was absolutely silent, realizing they were in the presence of one of the most distinguished figures in the entire Academy.

    ¡°You will each step forward for a demonstration andunch your most powerful or effective spells at me. I shall judge your abilities based on the Academy¡¯s criteria. I certainly hope you do not disappoint me.¡±

    And so, taking advantage of the wave of unease affecting the voice of the students, Legris raised his hands slightly and a long scroll appeared in his grasp. The scroll stretched for quite a distance, indicating whatever was written there was quite long.

    ¡°These are the names of everyone present here. I will be calling you one after the other, so make sure youe quickly once your names are called. Since we do not have much time, you only have three minutes each to show me your worth.¡±

    Many people¡¯s eyes bulged. Three minutes was far too short for them to disy their full capabilities. However, in the presence of such an awesome figure, who couldin?

    Even though the environment was tense, I had no idea why my heart was palpitating at such a rapid rate. It wasn¡¯t anxiety but excitement. Somehow, I was looking forward to my turn.

    ¡®I can¡¯t wait¡­ to show that guy what I¡¯m capable of!¡¯ I grinned.

    Still, something bothered me. Calcting the time allocated was three minutes, we were four thousand in the hall. No matter how one looked at it, there was no way we would be done by the end of today even if we didn¡¯tpletely use up three minutes.

    ¡®What¡¯s his y?¡¯

    However, just as I was making my thought, I felt Legris¡¯ gaze shift to me. It was only for a moment, but our eyes met and he smiled at me.

    I returned his gesture, feeling a little intimidated by his strange action. It was almost like he could read my mind.

    ¡°For those wondering if there will be enough time to test you all, you do not need to worry. Time is all we have bountifully here!¡± He dered, addressing everyone.

    His voice caused some people to make peculiar faces, as though not realizing that time was not going to be enough in the first ce. As they struggled to calcte, everyone began to realize that we were too many to grade in a single day.

    ¡°This hall is enchanted with a special kind of magic. Time in here is considerably slowed down. So, you do not need to worry. You should be able to conclude the entire exams before the sun sets.¡±

    ¡°F-for real?!¡± I beamed.

    That meant they finally found a way to implement time magic as a conceptual factor. This was groundbreaking! Entirely surreal. I initially didn¡¯t believe it, thinking it was another farce. However¡­

    As unbelievable as it sounded, there was no reason for a distinguished senior lecturer to lie.

    It was true, time was slowed down here. While I didn¡¯t know the ratio, it was still an amazing feeling, nheless.

    ¡°Now then¡­ let us begin!¡± Legris Damien called us back into the realm of reality.

    ¡°The first is-¡°

 Chapter 48

    ¡°The first is Maria Helmsworth. Step out, please.¡± Legris Damien stated.

    I could see the eyes of everyone bulge in shock. Their faces moved in strange ways, making me wonder if everyone knew the person Legris was referring to.

    Their widened eyes were all focused on a girl who stood among the countless others seated. Not only were their eyes on her, watching every move she made, but the lips of people also began moving and I could hear those close to me make hushed statements.

    ¡°Hey, that¡¯s her, isn¡¯t it? She¡¯s¡­ the real deal¡­¡±

    ¡°To think they would call someone like her first.¡±

    ¡°Shit. If she goes first¡­no matter what I do, it¡¯ll be seen as trash!¡±

    ¡®Hmmn¡­ sounds like we have us a genius here.¡¯ I reasoned, deducing that much from all I heard.

    My eyes narrowed as I focused on the young girl who was already moving close to our examiner. Since she backed me, all I could see was her long flowing silver hair. Her frame was slender and tall.

    Her outfit was one befitting of the child of high nobility and I could sense an air of elegance from every step she took.

    She had to be from a Duke¡¯s family at the very least.

    With the way everyone talked about her, and the confident stride she possessed, this Maria Helmsworth girl had already entrapped my interest. I was curious about what she had.

    ¡°Now then, as already stated in the instructions, show me your most impressive feat.¡± Legris Damien said.

    His voice wasn¡¯t loud since he was only addressing the youngdy, but through the use of enhancement magic, I was able to improve my hearing and sight to a considerable degree.

    ¡®I can read their lips and listen in to their conversation.¡¯

    Now turning sideways, a distance from Legris, I caught a glimpse of her face. It was extremely beautiful. No, if there was a word that transcended that, then it would better fit the woman Iid eyes on.

    Her gleaming blue eyes entuated the clear hair she possessed. She had a ceplexion with very smooth skin, nearly like a frozen sculpture of beauty.

    I quickly shook my head, bringing myself out of the trance that I appeared to be stuck in. While she was a beauty and a rumored genius, in the end, it mattered not to me. What was more of a concern would be the magic she could disy.

    ¡°Since the time is short, I won¡¯t be able to show you my best spell. I¡¯llpensate with one that can fit into the limit set. Is that fine?¡± She asked, her voice silky smooth, yet having a serious tone of purpose.

    ¡°Of course! Your time starts now.¡± Legris Damien remarked.

    The moment he said this, the girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her lips began moving rapidly, indicating she hadmenced casting the spell. Judging by the speed of her lips, they weren¡¯t normal. She was too fast.

    ¡®She¡¯s using enhancement magic to quicken the speed of her chanting. That¡¯s impressive.¡¯ I smiled.

    Mana began surging from within Maria, and wind began swirling around the area where she stood. White light enveloped her and the winds became even fiercer, twisting and turning.

    The crowd could feel the pressure from where they sat, watching the magnificence of her spell. Before long, the wind had already be a whirlwind of considerable mass. It was nearly ten-foot, with a huge mass that encircled Maria entirely.

    ¡°[Sylph¡¯s Whisper]!¡± She dered.

    The whirlwind increased in tempo and twisted faster. Suddenly, she pushed her hands forward, sending the twister to Legris¡¯ location. The wind instantly moved from her surroundings and lunged at our examiner.

    FWOOOOOSHHHH!!!

    The powerful tornado neared Legris at a frightening pace, but he maintained his ground, not flinching for a second.

    As soon as it got into close proximity to him, the vast cluster of twisting wind instantly scattered, nullified within a moment.

    The scattered wind rushed at everyone in the audience, causing us to slightly shiver due to the chilly wind.

    Maria Helmsworth looked surprised by the ease with which Legris dispelled her spell, but quickly got over it. Of course, I was smiling the whole time. It was a foregone conclusion that none of us present could create any spell to actually harm our examiner.

    ¡°Maria Helmsworth. The second phase of your exam has been concluded. You may leave this hall and head to the door straight to your right. You will undergo the third part of your exam there.¡± Legris said, pointing to a hallway far to his left and her right.

    Sure enough, such a hallway didn¡¯t exist before. However, within an arena with a time-slowing effect, a hidden passage appearing suddenly was no surprise.

    Maria nodded slightly, not speaking another word as she departed to the hallway. While many may not have noticed, I saw her fists clenched tightly, most likely due to dissatisfaction on her part.

    ¡®Did she expect her power to have a better effect on Legris? How childish¡­¡¯ I smiled, watching her disappear into the hallway.

    Her spell, [Sylph¡¯s Whisper], was a Basic one. Of course, it belonged to the highest ss of Basic spells, and judging by her use of it, she had reached the point of near mastery over it. However,pared to that, her adversary was a senior lecturer. Judging from the impression I had of him, it was certain that the man could use Advance Magic as well

    She stood no chance, to begin with.

    ¡°Next up, we have Mattias Desmire.¡± Legris Damien dered, reading from the long scroll he had in his hands.

    And so, another candidate appeared. His appearance wasn¡¯t too shabby, and no real attention was ced on him. This meant his skills were either mediocre or underrated.

    Apparently, it was the former. Perhaps it was due to the performance given by Maria Helmsworth, but I found his spell toocking.

    Still, to my surprise, Legris didn¡¯t make any expression of disappointment. He maintained his poker face and repeated what he told Maria.

    ¡°Mattias Desmire. The second phase of your exam has been concluded. You may leave this hall and head to the door straight to your right. You will undergo the third part of your exam there.¡±

    Since the audience didn¡¯t look disappointed as well, I chalked it up to my high standards and reasoned that the boy probably also passed.

    Returning to the list he had, Legris began calling names again.

    ¡°Next, we have¡­¡±

 Chapter 49

    Legris kept calling examinees one after the other, allocating exactly three minutes for each to disy their worth.

    For those who risked it and went for spells that were very effective but took too long to cast, Legris stopped them midway.

    Surprisingly, he told none of the examinees that they had failed. He simply repeated what he had told everyone else and directed them to the hallway where they would be taking the third section of their exams.

    ¡®I guess it doesn¡¯t matter if they fail or not. The third phase will still be attempted by everyone¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    In the first ce, not everyone was bound to pass the first stage, yet we were all included in the current second phase. It was most likely that our scores would be culminated and our final results from the overall achievements we made in all stages.

    And so, time passed even though it was slowed down. I began to grow bored of the pathetic disys I witnessed one after the other. Other than Maria and one other kid called Stefan, I saw no one really worthy of note. It was a shame that I couldn¡¯t find anything entertaining, but patience was a virtue one learned as they grew older so I had lots of it.

    Instead of focusing on others, there was a matter of utmost pertinence that I had neglected since the second round began.

    ¡®What spell¡­ should I use?¡¯

    Once again, as though reading my mind or just messing with me, Legris Damien looked in my direction and smiled.

    ¡°Up next¡­ Jared Leonard.¡±

    My eyes bulged as I was weed to the center of the arena. I stood from where I sat and made my way to the center of the arena, feeling the intense gazes of everyone around. Surprisingly, they engaged in side talks and whispered about me.

    ¡®What¡¯s this? Could it be that I¡¯m actually famous around these parts?¡¯ My mind rang, inclining my ears to listen to their hushed words.

    ¡°Leonard? As in the Duke family Leonard?¡±

    ¡°They haven¡¯t produced a Magic-User in so long, and you¡¯re telling me someone from their household is here?¡±

    ¡°Pfft. They must truly be desperate. I wonder what method they had to resort to for their child to be here.¡±

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem strong. Do you think he¡¯ll be impressive at all?¡±

    ¡°Even if they miraculously produced a Magic-User, there¡¯s no way he¡¯ll be as high-end as the other families who have distinguished mages in their households.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯ll be a miracle if he could even produce an average spell!¡±

    Hearing their scathingments put a nasty taste in my mouth, causing me to scowl a little. While I usually wouldn¡¯t pay any mind to weaklings, the fact that their words affected the image of my family, no matter how small¡­ was a little unpleasant.

    ¡°We meet again, Mr. Jared Leonard.¡± Legris smiled as I appeared before him.

    Seeing his face made me temporarily forget the foolish ramblings of the seated fools. I didn¡¯t know why, but I felt an aura of ease around this examiner.

    ¡°Who would have thought, uh? Should I say it¡¯s a pleasure we get to meet again under these circumstances?¡± I asked with a grin.

    Legris shrugged.

    ¡°Maybe. Maybe not. Let¡¯s halt the small talk for now. Show me what you¡¯ve got.¡±

    Even though he tried to act disinterested, I could sense it in his eyes. This man was absolutely curious about what I would show him.

    The scroll he held in his hand vanished and he ced both hands in his pocket, looking at me with an air of confidence surrounding him.

    ¡°Are you supposed to be so rxed in front of someone who¡¯s about to shoot magic at you?¡± I asked.

    He shrugged once again.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Your spell won¡¯t have any effect on me, so don¡¯t worry. Now, you may begin. Your time starts now!¡±

    Even though the clock was ticking for my spell, I didn¡¯t make any motion for movement. A smile formed on my face as I slightly shook my head.

    ¡°You have it all wrong, senior. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to take my spell so casually. At the very least¡­ you¡¯ll lift one, no, two of those hands to stop it.¡±

    Legris appeared a little stunned as I said this. This onlysted for a moment though, as he burst intoughter soon afterward.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty amusing, you know? But, even though you seem to possess sharp wits, more than anyone your age, you¡¯re merely a White Core Grade. What could you possibly hope to achieve in such a limited time that would cause me to take you a little seriously?¡±

    His eyes narrowed at me with suspense, still stunned that I hadn¡¯t even begun casting yet.

    ¡°Your time is passing, you know?¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± I snapped back at his reminder.

    The audience stared at me impatiently, wondering what was going on. Judging from their reactions, none of them had the capability of using a simple spell for hearing enhancement in order to listen to my conversation with our examiner.

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on down there?¡±

    ¡°Did the Leonard brat give up already?¡±

    ¡°He hasn¡¯t even started doing anything and nearly a minute has psed.¡±

    ¡°Welp, what did you expect from him?

    Maybe some could have used magic to heighten their senses to pick up on my little exchange with the examiner, but didn¡¯t think of it.

    ¡®How disappointing¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    After a minute psed, I gave a short sigh, now stretching my body a little.

    ¡°Looks like your grace period is over.¡± I smiled.

    My statement appeared to surprise Legris a little.

    ¡°Grace period?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Yeah. To take this exchange seriously¡­ but it appears you won¡¯t. Well then, don¡¯t fault me for what happens next!¡±

    Feeling up the three Mana Cores within my body, I smiled, releasing the mana reserves within them through my pores.

    After practicing for some time, I had gotten quite the hang of it. My level of mastery was to the point that no one would be able to distinguish it from a normal spell.

    ¡®[Spellcraft]¡­ ¡®

 Chapter 50

    After considering all the criteria for admission into Ainrk Academy, I had already deduced that there was no need to worry about it.

    However, with the introduction of the third portion of our exams, that assurance vanished. If my guess was correct and our final score would be based on a culmination of the three areas, I needed to do extremely well in the first two.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t intend to go this far initially, but¡­ I won¡¯t be holding back for this exam¡­ at least not too much!¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    To achieve the most efficient result, I had to resort to [SPELLCRAFT].

    Releasing the mana from my three Mana Cores, I resonated them with the environment. Fortunately, our very surrounding was rich in mana since hundreds of people had already used their spells before I entered the stage. Plus, the hall itself operated on magic.

    That meant I had a nearly limitless pool to draw from!

    Synchronizing my mana with the mana present around me, I created different reactions for three of my spells.

    ¡®I have the spell and form in my head, I just don¡¯t have enough mana and speed due to my mana core grade¡­¡¯

    That meant the only thing limiting me, as well as most Magic-Users, was my Mana Core. However, using [SPELLCRAFT], that limitation was as good as gone!

    ¡°[Sylph¡¯s Whisper]. [Ifrit¡¯s Breath]. [Heavenly Spark].¡± I chanted simultaneously.

    Three Basic Spells at the same time, all at the highest caliber.

    The wind hurricane that Maria had used during her round appeared in a sh. Mine was even more powerful, as all my spectators felt the breeze blow across their seats. Such was the power of my [Sylph¡¯s Whisper]!

    [Ifrit¡¯s Breath] was a fire spell that boasted the most destructive capacity of all Basic fire Spells. It took on the shape of arge ball floating high above my head. The heat was enough to send everyone sweating. The strong wind blew the heat across the entire hall, causing the ufortable heat to spread more rapidly.

    Finally, [Heavenly Spark] was a Basic Lightning Spell, and like other spells, I cast, boasted the highest destructive capacity out of all the spells in its ss.

    Appearing with a roar above the examiner, my lightning stood still, waiting for thepletion of my spell which would cause it to immediately descend.

    With the three of the most powerful spells most people in the room hoped to achieve at my beck and call, the reactions of the examinees changed in an instant.

    ¡°W-what?!!¡±

    ¡°T-that is!!!¡±

    ¡°I-impossible!!!¡±

    ¡°H-how is he doing that?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s using three different elements at the same time?!¡±

    ¡°The spells themselves are top ss! And he¡¯s using three at the same time?! That¡¯s impossible!¡±

    Of course, this much was expected of silly kids who were extremely astonished by Maria¡¯s disy earlier. However, it was not their reactions I was looking forward to.

    ¡°A-Amazing¡­ I always knew you weren¡¯t normal. But this¡­¡± He muttered, looking at what I had conjured up for him.

    The surprise clearly written on his face and the unexinable disy of awe in his eyes gave me pleasure. A wide grin formed on my face as I replied to him.

    ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t be surprised now, examiner Sir Legris Damien. I¡¯m just getting started!¡±

    His eyes widened more in surprise as he couldn¡¯t fathom what more I could show him other than this.

    Sure, with this alone I was guaranteed a passing grade higher than any that hade before me and most likely after me. However¡­

    ¡®This isn¡¯t enough¡­¡¯ My mind rang.

    While it was impressive, three respective basic spells were still nothing in face of someone at Legris¡¯ level. I wanted him to truly regret his decision of treating me casually. Plus¡­

    ¡°It would be a waste to settle for this, anyway!¡±

    Once again focusing my mana that formed an integral part of the three spells, I sent more power into them, and slowly, connected the three spells through a mana channel.

    While invisible to the natural eyes, anyone using mana to trace the particles would be able to see it clearly.

    Just like strings tying various objects, my mana tied the three spells from their respective locations.

    ¡°Let us begin.¡±

    FWOOOOOSSSHHHHH

    I sent the roaring whirlwind toward Legris, at the same time pulling [Igris Breath]¡¯s mes to the spinning cluster of wind.

    Since both of them had been tied together and contained my resonating mana, both spells merged most fluidly.

    The transparent wind took in the bright orange-red mes and instantly turned into an intense whirlwind of mes.

    This instantly caused everyone around to scream in pain and fright, feeling the tingles on their skin.

    The fiery whirlwind increased in speed and neared Legris quickly creating burn marks on the ground in its advance.

    Legris grinned excitedly as he watched the joint spell approach him. I could hardly see him due to wind pressure and the distortion caused by the heat, but Legris was certainly smiling widely, having bulged eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not done!¡± I dered, controlling the lightning that was dormant above him.

    KRRRRUUUUIIKKKKKK!!! It crackled, drawing Legris¡¯ attention to the spell over his head.

    ¡°Fall!¡±

    The lightning instantly descended, swiftly making its way to the ground toward its target.

    Legris took this as his queue and finally removed one of his hands from his pockets and raised it to stop the spell.

    ¡®Wrong move!¡¯ My mind rang.

    Instantly pulling the lightning using the mana thread woven about it, I changed its trajectory, causing it to mix with the fiery whirlwind.

    KRRRRRRIIIIIKKAAAVWOOOOMMM

    Crackles and shes of lightning from [Heavenly Spark], roaring mes of [Ifrit¡¯s Breath], merged with the roaring winds of [Sylph¡¯s Whisper], all woven together sped across the tform and charged at the examiner with an unexpected new speed.

    Before he would descend his hand, the spell would hit. The look on his face confirmed it. He looked absolutely stunned beyond belief. However, I saw that he still had no intention of raising his second hand. Instead, he focused on the new spell, attempting to stop it with the force of his mana alone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡±

 Chapter 51

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± I grinned, activating the special trick I had prepared beforehand at that very moment.

    ZWOOOOPPPP!

    The ground melted, shifted, and quaked all at the same time.

    The sudden movement of the stage caused great astonishment for everyone, especially the target.

    This offset Legris¡¯ stance, entirely ruining his focus. His body wobbled as he fell. Nearing the ground as a result of the imbnce of the earth, he quickly pulled himself together and regained his posture, but by the time he achieved this, the terrible mix of three Basic spells, now at the Intermediate Stage was already before him.

    In less than a second¡­ it would hit!

    ¡®What are you going to do now¡­ Sir Legris?¡¯ My mind rang.

    That very instant, in the blink of an eye, just as I expected, Legris used his second hand to counter the destructive whirlwind before him. He released a mana wave of superior quality, nullifying the spell. It was most likely a powerful mana disturbance spell, since anti-magic didn¡¯t exist.

    FWOOOOOSHHHH

    In an instant, my spell slowed down and dissipated after a couple of seconds. Though he seeded in stopping my spell, as he did with the others before mine, it was clear which one gave him the most trouble.

    ¡°Good grief¡­ this kid. Just what are you?¡± Legris Damien grinned, looking at me with greater interest.

    I shrugged, asking him how long I had spent on my exam.

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s see¡­¡± He muttered, not sure himself, since he was caught up with the excitement that he forgot to count.

    However, an exam as important as this was bound to have a timer, so by using a spell, he revealed a giant ticking clock that floated midair. It wasrge enough for everyone to see, so we all raised our heads to see what it said.

    ¡°This is¡­¡± He muttered in surprise.

    Everyone in the room had the very same expression. Absolute astonishment.

    ¡°Two minutes, five seconds¡­ that¡¯s amazing!¡± Legris remarked, looking at me with amazement.

    However, my expression instantly dissuaded him from ttering me with his words. That was because the psed time was a disappointment to me.

    ¡°I wanted to be done in exactly two minutes. It appears I need more practice¡­¡± I muttered to myself.

    There was a need to analyze thebination from scratch and figure out a loophole that I could exploit to quicken the effective use of the spell.

    ¡°I¡¯d say this is plenty impressive, Jared. You cast intermediate magic at such a young age!¡± Legris interrupted my thoughts.

    He must have sensed my dissatisfaction with the results and attempted to smoothen things. His efforts were in vain, though, since I was never going to settle for less.

    ¡°I just cast three Basic Spells and merged them to give that result. It can¡¯t be qualified as intermediate magic, per se.¡± I responded.

    Legris wanted to argue with my logic, but this wasn¡¯t the appropriate ce to further discuss such matters since we had a massive audience watching.

    ¡°D-did you see that?!¡±

    ¡°This is crazy¡­ no, impossible!¡±

    ¡°How can this¡­ is he really an entrant?¡±

    Many spections coupled with loud murmurs echoed across the hall as the student who once looked down on me began to stare in amazement and awe.

    Of course, I couldn¡¯t avoid the suspicious gazes of some who simply couldn¡¯t ept the results and thought I had used some form of trick to cheat.

    Those who thought along that line were bound to be brain-dead since everyone had already been informed about the strict monitoring of our exams. Besides, no mere trick would be enough to trick someone of Legris¡¯ caliber.

    ¡®In the end, it¡¯s just in envy, eh?¡¯ I reasoned.

    Legris Damien saw how rowdy the hall had gotten due to my spectacr disy and quickly took action to restore order.

    ¡°A-ahem.¡±

    As soon as Legris cleared his throat, everyone fell silent, hearing the sound reverberate across the hall. No one dared to speak the moment a Senior Lecturer like our examiner signaled the end of the murmurs.

    Now turning to look at me, Legris smiled and told me what he had said to the others who had their turn before mine.

    ¡°Jared Leonard. The second phase of your exam has been concluded. You may leave this hall and head to the door straight to your right. You will undergo the third part of your exam there.¡±

    I nodded, bowing slightly as I left for the door that awaited me exactly as Jared dered. As I moved away from the stage, I turned back to grin at Legris.

    ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? That you couldn¡¯t handle it casually. Looks like I was right.¡±

    Legris shrugged, still giving me an amused look. He wanted to respond, but he held back for some reason. Still, it may have been petty, but I felt good impressing someone of his caliber and rubbing it in his face.

    ¡°When next we meet, I promise to show you something more interesting.¡±

    Upon saying this, I left for the door. Legris remained silent, which was a pity. I was hoping for a cooleback. Opening the door that led to what appeared to be a long hallway, I began making my way into it.

    Suddenly, I felt a sharp sensation reverberate within my head. It felt as though a strange sensation was invading my inner senses, but I couldn¡¯t do anything to stop it.

    ~I¡¯ll be looking forward to it, then.~ Legris¡¯ voice sounded in my head.

    My eyes bulged instantly. He used Mind Magic tomunicate telepathically with me, an impressive feat.

    I didn¡¯t know if what he established was a one-way channel, or whether I could respond to his message, but I still have my response within my thoughts.

    ¡®Good. Till we next meet!¡¯

    Grinning widely in anticipation and excitement, I made my way down the hallway, shutting the door behind me.

    **********************************

    As Legris Damien summoned the long scroll to call upon the next examinee, his mind still trailed back to the one he just tested.

    ¡®That boy¡­ Jared. Who is he, exactly?¡¯

 Chapter 52

    In his entire life as a Magic-User, this was a first for Legris.

    For him to be so flustered as to y directly into the hands of a child. It was so embarrassing, yet refreshing.

    ¡®He was able to cast three different spells of varying elements at the same time. No, four elements. He used that earth spell at thest minute to offset my bnce¡­¡¯ Legris thought to himself.

    Jared¡¯s quick casting, effective use of his spells, and fluidbination of multiple spells to form a different yet more powerful result were outstanding.

    The boy was exceptional in every way, which amused the examiner even more. Unfortunately, Jared was about to meet his final challenge which would prove difficult for even him.

    While he had conflicting thoughts concerning the matter, there was nothing Legris could do concerning the examining process. A question of utmost puzzlement rang in his head as he called the next entrant for testing.

    ¡®Why¡­ why does that kid have a White Core Grade?!¡¯

    ******************************

    The passage I passed through was meant to be dark, but the glowing stones affixed to the ceiling made it very bright.

    As I walked in absolute silence, only hearing the cking of my heels while moving in the empty space, I mulled over what I would do in thest stage of the exams.

    I had passed the first two wlessly, no, exceptionally. However, thisst part would prove difficult. The existence of my two extra Mana Cores wouldn¡¯t be an issue, since the only detection method avable even with modern magic was limited to the primary Mana Core which was situated in the stomach region.

    The other two, located in my brain and the base of my neck respectively, would not be noticed in the slightest.

    The problem, however, was that a White Mana Core, especially one as pure as the one I possessed meant the Magic-User was weak and untalented since they couldn¡¯t use higher levels of magic.

    ¡®Tsk!¡¯ I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

    No matter what I thought of, none of them would be effective in theing test. Realizing there was nothing I could do about it, I decided to let the thought go and simply participate in the test.

    ¡®Hopefully, my other results help.¡¯

    I could finally see an opening at the end of the deep tunnel after moving for about a minute.

    The next aspiring student must have begun his spell by now. Did that mean I would be done with the third stage before he would walk down this passage?

    There was no way to find out.

    ¡®Let¡¯s do this!¡¯ My mind rang.

    At the end of the hallway was another door, simr to the one I used to enter from the start.

    I opened the door and got myself into a white room. It was tiled all around and had a glimmering brightness that made me cringe my eyes.

    ¡°Wee, examinee 458. Pleasee closer.¡± A voice broke through my stunned state.

    I slowly opened my eyes, getting used to the sudden brightness after transversing the hallway. Taking in the sight around me mode steadily, I was finally able to see everything surrounding me.

    It was really an empty white space, save for two other things present apart from myself.

    A woman d in white stood beside a massive ck orb. Therge ball was nearly as tall as the woman and had a glimmering dark shade to it.

    ¡°U-um, okay¡­¡± I replied, my voice trailing as I drew closer to her.

    Upon closer inspection, I analyzed the woman better. She donned a whiteb coat and had sses hinged evenly on her face. Her long dark hair flowed to the back of her neck and the stern expression she gave indicated she was in no mood for any dilly-dallying.

    Now before her and adjacent to the ck orb, I gulped, locking eyes with her jet ck ones.

    ¡°Stand before the orb and ce one of your hands on it.¡± She said, holding a book and pen in both hands, most likely to record the results my test would bring.

    I nodded and obediently went to the orb. Taking a short breath, I ced my right hand on the ck orb and suddenly it started reacting to my touch.

    Feeling my whole body twitching as the mana flow within me throbbed, my stomach especially felt hot and the mana in the core within me swirled.

    SHIIIIIINNNNGGG!!!

    A sharp glow of white light spread across the dark orb and it transformed from its original state, taking on the color of my core.

    ¡°Oh? A pure white Mana Core at this age? This is the first I¡¯ve seen¡­¡± The woman muttered, writing some things in her book.

    Her words made me embarrassed. Even though I knew my decision not to advance my core grade was the correct one, having someone like her give a condescending remark about it was nothing short of mortifying.

    ¡®Welp, it¡¯s not like I can lecture her on the importance of a pure core.¡¯ I reasoned.

    ¡°You can remove your hand now. The third stage of your exams is over.¡± The woman said, not bothering to give a second nce at me.

    ¡°You may leave.¡±

    Her fingers pointed to a door at the far end of the room, opposite where I came out from. She still refused to look at me, most likely due to her disgust for myck of talent. However, I wasn¡¯t done with her.

    ¡°Er, excuse me¡­ I have a question.¡±

    The woman raised her head from the book she held and stared at me nkly.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Could you tell me more about how this third test works? Both the first and second stage examiners exined the criterion for the test, her you told me nothing.¡± I smiled, giving her a very endearing look.

    However, I was sure she could sense that beneath my sweet smile was an air of attitude caused by the displeasure I had with her reaction toward me.

    ¡°Tch, cheeky brat.¡± She whispered under her breath.

 Chapter 53

    I ignored the woman¡¯s statement and awaited her exnation.

    ¡°This orb is called the Core Grade Detector. As its name implies, it measures your Core Grade and exactly disys an image on its surface.¡± She began after sighing at the pointlessness of exerting energy in exining something like this to me.

    ¡°This test is meant to reveal the state in which your Core grade is. Usually, potential students possess arge quality of the yellow color already dwelling in their Mana core, while a few others haveplete Yellow Mana Cores.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­ I see¡­¡± I muttered, looking at the orb for the second time. The white color it donned began fading away as it regained its ck look.

    ¡®It most likely reverts to its original form after some time¡­¡¯

    I looked back at the examiner, but she had a peculiar expression, engaged in a thought of her own. Her face looked hesitant for a moment as she made a passingment.

    ¡°Though, there are rare cases of people showing up with a higher core grade¡­ like that girl. Who would have thought she had gone as far as a Blue Core Grade¡­¡±

    Of course, she whispered thatst part. Fortunately, my hearing was very good and I picked up what she said.

    My eyes bulged slightly when I heard it. To think someone at the level of examinee would achieve a Blue Mana Core Grade! It was a truly remarkable achievement indeed.

    ¡®Could it be¡­? She said it was a girl. Then that means¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    It had to be Maria Helmsworth. She seemed to be the only impressive person who had finished the second stage before me. To think she was this much of a genius!

    ¡°I see. Thank you for informing me.¡± I smiled and bowed slightly.

    Turning to the exit, I walked gracefully to leave the white room. The woman¡¯s gaze returned to her book, not bothering to give me a second nce.

    I could sense the presence of the next examinee close to the room. It appeared over three minutes has passed already.

    Opening the door in a hurry to leave, I was met with another hallway. What was with these people and hallways? Also, howrge was this hall anyway?

    As soon as I stepped into the hallway, I felt a strange sensation course through my body. I didn¡¯t recognize it at first, but as I followed the cleanly carved and brightly lit path, I realized the reason for my strange sensations.

    ¡°Time¡­ the time magic isn¡¯t as effective here.¡±

    I could feel the effectiveness of the spell reduce drastically.

    A smile formed on my face, realizing where I was headed. This hallway was quite short,pared to the other one and within a few seconds, I was out of it, arriving at an open space.

    ¡°Oh¡­?¡± A short air of awe escaped from my lips.

    My eyes picked up all the glittering lights and the exquisitely designed ce. The hallway connected to the rear of an extremelyrge hall. It was nearly as huge as the symposium. With several thousand chairs arranged in rows and columns, I met a couple hundred people already seated and waiting impatiently.

    ¡°So, this is the waiting area¡­¡± I whispered, taking a step forward.

    My eyes darted to the most convenient ce to sit, and I eyed a good position on the far end to the left. It appeared not many people were there, save for a boy and girl.

    The rest were a considerable distance from the pair and were all engaged in discussions. It was another reason why I decided it was best to pick the conveniently free space.

    ¡®It¡¯ll be bothersome to engage in conversation at this point¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    Most of the examinees prattled on the kind of spell they used, their fears of being rejected, the kind of mana core grade they had, etc. I found such talks boorish and irrelevant.

    I could have chosen to pick one of the seats at the rear, where no student had filled yet, but that would just paint me out to be a weirdo. I needed to blend in, but avoid any conversation that would needlessly wear me out.

    Looking at the many empty seats to the left uninhabited by many, except two, I made up my mind.

    ¡®I should go there, after all.¡¯

    Gliding through the rows and columns, I made my way to the spot and sat on one of the empty seats, making sure I was a few chairs apart from the other two.

    That way, we wouldn¡¯t need to engage in any form of fruitless discussion. Fortunately, the both of them appeared to be silent, so I doubted they would even bother to-

    ¡®W-wha-?!¡¯ My mind rang as I took a closer inspection at the two people I was seated beside.

    One of them was Maria Helmsworth! I hadn¡¯t seen her face clearly before seating since my mind was more upied with so many things, but to think I made such a grave error.

    I suddenly realized why many chose not to sit there. They gave the prodigy her space, and by now, though it was toote, I could sense the numerous gazes of the students converging on the girl.

    ¡®Shit! Why did I choose to sit here!¡¯

    Now, I felt even more ufortable than before. In any case, I just had to wait things out and make sure I remained inconspicuous.

    ¡®That will prove difficult, though¡­¡¯ My mind trailed.

    I could already feel them, the gazes of many piercing my small frame. I felt like their res would consume me. So many bit their lips in jealousy and made whispers, wondering what I was doing under the genius girl¡¯s radar.

    All I wanted was a short moment of silence, yet it appeared even that dream would be shattered.

    CREAAAK!

    I heard a chair rattle from someone rising from it. My eyes darted to the source and saw the boy who sat beside Maria leave his own seat by her side and draw nearer to me.

    ¡®Oh, damn¡­¡¯ I heaved in anxiety.

    I had selected this seat because I wanted to avoid a conversation, yet he was drawing closer to me with his gaze directly fixed on my seat.

    ¡®What does this guy want?¡¯

 Chapter 54

    ¡°Hey.¡± The strange boy tly addressed me.

    I had intentionally avoided his gaze, but that was difficult to do now that he was standing directly in front of me.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes had shifted from Maria and were now locked on us, I could feel it. The most convenient option for me would be to ignore him and pretend I didn¡¯t hear in hopes that he would take the hint and scram.

    However, that would be rude, and if I did that with the attention of everyone so fixated on us, it would create a terrible impression on not just me but my family. As someone who learned etiquette to the highest degree attainable for my age, I couldn¡¯t smear my family¡¯s name.

    ¡®Plus, I intend on making friends in this ce eventually. It wouldn¡¯t be good if I give a bad first impression ande off as snobbish.¡¯

    ¡°Hey.¡± I finally responded after a grueling series of internal interrogations.

    I lifted my eyes to view the boy who addressed me and locked eyes with him. He had a gentle smile stered on his face, but thed couldn¡¯t fool my eyes. For some reason, the boy was hiding a deep re underneath his nice demeanor.

    ¡°Could I ask for your name?¡± He asked.

    I was now a little skeptical about telling him my identity, especially since it seemed like he had malicious intentions. However, I had alreadye this far anyway.

    ¡°I am Jared Leonard.¡±

    My t statement seemed to provoke a surprised reaction from him and even those around me.

    ¡°From the Duke Household of Leonard Alphonse Sereth?¡± He calmly replied.

    I responded positively.

    His eyes seemed to ogle my body as if sizing me up. A wider grin appeared on his face, morphing the nice expression on his face into that of a condescending look of disgust.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± A voice leaked out of his curled lips.

    Feeling the air around us change, I decided to quickly change the topic.

    ¡°What about yours?¡±

    The boy seemed a little flustered that I was asking such an obvious question. I felt more piercing gazes and heard gasps emanating from the rest of the students.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on? Am I supposed to know this guy?¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    ¡°Oh? I see. It¡¯s understandable that someone like you may not know who I am.¡± The boy said with a mocking gaze.

    ¡°My name is Stefan, from the glorious house of Netherlore Zenith.¡±

    My eyes widened slightly as my memory picked up an image. Slowly, I came to remember his identity. During the exams, he was the only other student that performed adequately well apart from Maria.

    I wasn¡¯t really focused on his appearance since he didn¡¯t have any striking features other than the fact that he was handsome.

    To think he was the one who spoke to me. The fact that the kid was seated beside Maria proved that he was also considered a magic prodigy. After all, no one gave him scathing res for choosing where he sat.

    ¡°It seems I have jugged your memory.¡± He smiled, drawing closer to me.

    I eased my back on my seat to create even more distance between us, but it was no use since he moved even nearer.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make this nice and simple, so listen well¡­¡± He whispered, intentionally reducing the volume of his tone so only I could clearly hear him.

    What was he going to say? I had a fair idea.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to need you to leave this ce immediately¡­ you¡¯re making me and Maria over there ufortable. You understand, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Just as I thought. He was ying this card. I already assumed that everyone avoided seating anywhere around them due to respect and awe. However, it was also because of fear. They didn¡¯t want to cross the most powerful geniuses in the room.

    ¡®This guy¡­ is he really threatening me right now?¡¯

    It wasughable to the point that I leaked a chuckle, despite trying my hardest to contain my amusement.

    Stefan, as his name was, drew away from me as soon as he saw me chuckle and gave me a deep re. Apparently, I had just insulted him.

    ¡°I am being polite right now. Leave, and there will be no issue.¡± He narrowed his eyes at me.

    ¡®Pfft! Is that supposed to be scary?¡¯

    For me, it was no more than a child¡¯s tantrum. He couldn¡¯t be any older than I was, yet the air hemanded made him think of himself as superior.

    I turned my head to my right, seeing the girl that sat a couple of seats away from me. Her striking beauty was still something that impressed me. Turning back to Stefan, I asked a simple question.

    ¡°You say I am disturbing the both of you, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± His re deepened as he answered.

    I smiled and nodded, rising from my seat. The little brat appeared pleased by my actions, not suspecting my next move.

    Swiftly gliding past him, I moved to my right and approached the goddess everyone seemed to fawn over, Maria. Stefan¡¯s eyes bulged, surprised by my audacity. However, before he coulde over to me and give his reaction, I leaned closer to the girl and asked her a very simple question.

    Our faces were close, and I could see the clear sparkles in her eyes. They seemed slightly bigger than usual, perhaps because she was also surprised by my effrontery. I ignored the flustered reaction she gave, Stefan¡¯s increasing rage, and the angry stares all around me.

    ¡°Am I disturbing you?¡±

    My voice reverberated across the vast space surrounding us, and the question rang ever so deeply in everyone¡¯s head. It was the ultimate insult to the one who proposed that notion in the first ce, and he was already beside me, ready to give me a fist to my face.

    ¡®Childish¡­¡¯

    I dodged Stefan¡¯s jab and grabbed the arm he flung at me. Swiftly twisting it with absolute precision, I rattled his joints, causing him to yelp in pain.

    ¡°Arghhhh!¡±

 Chapter 55

    ¡°Arghhhh!¡± Stefan yelled, taking a few steps back in recoil.

    His eyes winced in pain as he grabbed his throbbing arm which I released as soon as he screamed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t overreact. I made sure I was gentle. Your arm is fine.¡± I said calmly to the boy who writhed due to the throbbing sensationsing from his bones.

    ¡°You bastard, how dare you-¡±

    ¡°My, my¡­ won¡¯t you mind yournguage, Sir Stefan Netherlore Zenith?¡± I entuated my tone, giving a deeper meaning to my words.

    For a noble to speak so vulgarly, surely it was frowned upon by many. Stefan became flustered by my words and gritted his teeth in annoyance. However, now the boy knew he couldn¡¯t make any careless move against me.

    Turning back to the seated girl who silently watched our little exchange, I repeated my question.

    ¡°Am I disturbing you?¡±

    Her lips were tightly shut and her eyes affixed on my gaze, but I had no intention of backing down. I kept drawing my face nearer until she was willing to answer my question. She made no attempt to stop me even when our faces were merely inches apart.

    Her eyes depicted curiosity and wonder. The true expression of a child who was witnessing something amazing for the first time. It was innocent and pure, but I also had what I wanted from the girl.

    An answer!

    ¡°N-no¡­¡± Maria finally said, looking away from me.

    Her voice, though mere whispers were enhanced by the amplification spell I had activated beforehand. This caused everyone in the room to hear her response.

    Gasps emanated from everyone the moment the prodigy¡¯s answer reverberated across the area, realizing the implication of her words. Maria herself was surprised by the volume of her melodious voice, looking at me with suspicion.

    A smile of victory formed on my face as I ignored the stare she gave and looked in Stefan¡¯s direction. He too had heard Maria¡¯s response.

    ¡°Apparently, this youngdy doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m disturbing her.¡± I grinned, moving closer to Stefan.

    ¡°Y-you¡­¡± He growled.

    Walking past him in an elegant stride, I returned to my seat and made myselffortable. The audience was beyond amazed by my audacity, but as the mobs they were, none of them made anyment other than whispers and gasping sounds.

    ¡°You¡¯ll regret this, Jared Leonard. I can promise you that!¡± Stefan said in a low, threatening tone.

    If I was a normal child, perhaps I would have been a little scared and begged for forgiveness. After all, it profited nothing to have an enemy within the Academy.

    However, if I was like that, I wouldn¡¯t have begun this venture in the first ce. A part of me was excited to see what the future held for me and Stefan. It would serve as side entertainment for my life in Ainrk.

    Closing my eyes for a moment, I ignored Stefan¡¯s scathing re and decided to rx my mind.

    Unfortunately, even that was cut short by yet another interruption. The murmurs suddenly took a spike in tempo as more hushed sounds filled the hall.

    ¡®Urgh, what now?!¡¯ I thought in irritation.

    Focusing my senses with enhancement magic, I decided to listen in on theirments.

    ¡°T-that¡¯s him! It¡¯s Jared Leonard!¡±

    ¡°Ooh! I wish I was here when the sh between him and Stefan started!¡±

    ¡°You saw it too, right? His performance in the second stage of the exams!¡±

    ¡°Stefan doesn¡¯t stand a chance!¡±

    My body twitched as soon as I heard those talks spread. The people who were instigating and spreading thements were the ones who witnessed my performance in the arena.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t it too soon? I mean, not even ten minutes have passed since I entered this hall, and yet there are so many people talking about me-¡±

    My thoughts were interrupted by the recollection of the time normalcy in this waiting room. Since time was elerated for the exams and flowed normally here, more students would be entering the room in minutes.

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡± Words escaped my lips as I sighed.

    It made better sense this way, anyway. It would be unreasonable for everyone in the waiting room to wait for several hours for the others to conclude their exams. This way, only a few hours at most would pse before we got to conclude the exams for the day.

    ¡®Plus, the results will be released today. That¡¯s why there¡¯s a waiting room in the first ce.¡¯

    We just had to wait it out.

    More importantly, it seemed the ones who were singing my praise began talking to those who red at me with annoyance for my audacity in seating close to two geniuses.

    Public opinion slowly changed as soon as people heard what I had performed. Initially, no one believed it, but with more than a few dozen witnesses saying the same thing, it was impossible to dismiss.

    ¡°He¡¯s also a genius!¡±

    ¡°No wonder he sat beside those two!¡±

    ¡°Amazing! It seems we misjudged him.¡±

    ¡°He must be on par with Sir Stefan and Miss Maria.¡±

    However, those who saw my grand spell weren¡¯t satisfied with merely cing me in the same ss as the two prodigies.

    ¡°Are you kidding? He¡¯s on an entirely different level!¡±

    ¡°I bet he could best them both in magic! That guy is too OP!¡±

    I sighed in my seat, wondering what these idiots gained from singing my praise. Weren¡¯t they the same people who mocked me moments ago? Yet, now they painted me to be a god or something.

    ¡®Welp, their image of me will be shattered once the results are out¡­¡¯

    After all, since Mana Core Grade determined one¡¯s status in Ainrk Academy, it was obvious where someone with a pure white Core would belong.

    For people who were so easily swayed by what they saw or heard, it was clear their attitudes would change the moment they discovered my Mana Core Grade.

    ¡®These guys are out of it¡­ they¡¯re not the kind ofrades I desire.¡¯ I reasoned.

    I slightly opened my eyes and saw Stefan return to his seat beside Maria, still wearing a scowl on his face. The Maria girl was slightly ncing in my direction with unwavering curiosity.

    There was no way the both of them couldn¡¯t hear what everyone was saying about me and them, but just like me, they ignored the crowd.

    While our first impressions of each other weren¡¯t the best, if it was those two, especially the Maria girl, I wouldn¡¯t mind being friends with them.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see how it goes¡­¡¯

 Chapter 56

    Just as I expected, we only had to wait for about two hours before the hall was full of all the examinees.

    The door where everyone came from vanished the moment the final student came out of it, stunning everyone.

    We all sat on our respective seats, though no one neared where I, Maria, and Stefan sat. Since there were plenty of other seats to choose from, they didn¡¯t mind taking up other positions.

    WHOOOOOSSSHHHH

    A sudden gust of wind enveloped the area in front of all seats, the central podium. The moment everyone felt the string atmosphere building up, they ceased their prattle and directed their faces to the front.

    The wind swirled around a single spot on the stage for a few seconds, and seeming to materialize from within the small hurricane was a person d in a luxurious suit.

    He was different from anyone we had seen previously which disappointed me a little. I was sort of hoping to see Legris Damien again.

    Fortunately, I didn¡¯t remain disappointed for long. As though popping out of thin air in a puff of smoke, three more figures appeared on the podium.

    Two men and a woman! They were stationed behind the first man who appeared and had somehow changed from their varying attire into full suits as well.

    ¡®Our examiners!¡¯ My mind rang as I beamed, seeing Legris among the people on stage. It was arge hall, but there was no one in the massive room who couldn¡¯t see the distinguished people who had arrived. Since the tform was elevated, we all had to raise our heads slightly, but without a doubt, we could all see them.

    ¡°A-ahem¡­¡± The man who appeared first and seemed to be in charge of this session coughed slightly.

    His voice echoed across therge room, enough so that everyone could hear him clearly.

    Following the sound of his voice was silence. Absolute silence that seemed to stretch for miles without end.

    Finally, the very same man who caused the silence broke it by gracing us with his words.

    ¡°My name is Desmond Lawcroft. I am the head of the examination board for this year. In other words, I am the one who determines those who are worthy of this Academy for this examination!¡±

    His voice carried such power and vigor that I wondered just what kind of position this man held other than the head of an examinationmittee. The man, Desmond, must have been a general whomanded troops due to the confidence and authority he exhibited with each word he spoke.

    ¡°I wee you all to Ainrk Academy. However, as you all know, none of you can be admitted into the true academic grounds until you are deemed worthy of passing with satisfactory results.¡±

    My eyes subtly nced across the hall as I noticed several of the examinees sweating and gulping. They were already anxious after hearing what he said. Just moments ago, these people were chatting energetically.

    However, it was now dawning on them that most of them weren¡¯t going to even make it to the true Academy and be admitted. About a hundred alone were going to be chosen from four thousand. That was beyond harsh!

    ¡®How certain am I that even I will¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed, slowly giving in to the disparity of the situation.

    However, I quickly snapped myself out of the dangerous thoughts I was having. There was no way I could lose aftering this far!

    ¡°Before announcing the results, there are a few things I would like to exin. It could also be useful for those who will not pass this time around¡­¡± Desmond Lawcroft began.

    ¡°Firstly, Ainrk Academy is a prestigious institute deeply rooted in Magic. However, many seem to have the misconception that Magic is all there is to this Institute.¡±

    This generated quite the confused expression from people as they stared at one another, trying to decipher the words of the man who spoke. What else would a magic academy be known for?

    ¡°There are three major departments within Ainrk Academy. The Magic Arts Department, an obvious existence. There are also the Martial Arts Department and Schr Departments.¡±

    I grinned the moment he said this. Of course, I knew this much. Alphonse wanted me to register in Ainrk as a Schr. However, I found that uneptable since it was the oath I had followed in my previous life.

    ¡°You have all applied for the Magic Art Department, and out of over 5,000 examinees, only 1,350 individuals applied for the other departments. 4,000 of you all chose the Magic Arts Department, no, even more than that number. However, the cap for examination for every department is 4,000, and so the others who appliedte had to choose other departments to gain admission rights.¡±

    As I listened, I could already guess what our dear speaker was trying to tell us.

    ¡°Only a hundred of you will be chosen today. The rest will be sent home. Many of you here have attempted this exam more than once, a good number have done this a couple of times, and yet will still fail. At this point, you should all face the harsh truth. Not everyone has what it takes to study and practice Magic!¡±

    His words were harsh and straight to the point, but he was right. It was better for those who kept trying in hopes of one day achieving sess to stop while they could. Even if by some miracle they made their way into the Academy, the school was another hell on its own where the talentless were left behind and those with superior abilities rose to the top.

    Instead of unnecessarily trying to reach what was beyond them, their energy could be better used elsewhere.

    ¡°However, do not despair. I am of the firm opinion that no one is born talentless! Everyone has a specialty in one thing or the other. Even if your affinity with magic is low, there are still two other departments to enter within Ainrk. We will wee you to the Martial Arts Department or the Schr Department, both of which are respectable fields of study!¡± Desmond Lawcroft dered.

    His words may have been too much for others, but it was easy enough for me to understand.

    Instead of staying stuck in a game you couldn¡¯t win, it was better to switchnes and achieve greater heights in a race that better suits you.

    ¡®Smart words¡­ now, then, let¡¯s see what awaits us as examinees for the Magic Arts Department!¡¯

 Chapter 57

    ¡°Now then, we shall reveal the results of this session of examinations to you all.¡± Desmond Lawcroft dered.

    We all held our breaths, knowing that a majority of us wouldn¡¯t make the cut. No semnce of the confidence I previously had appeared as a silent fear lurked within my guts.

    GULP

    ¡°I have the list of those who passed the exams here with me. But, to make it easier for everyone to understand¡­ I shall disy the results for everyone to see!¡±

    It was amazing that the Academy had alreadypiled the results so quickly and had determined the winners in the series of tests we passed through. However, when considering the fact that they could use magic to manipte the flow of time, it was no mystery as to how they arrived at a conclusion so quickly.

    Silence filled the air as we all awaited the moment of truth, watching Desmond bring forth a scroll from within his luxurious suit. The piece of parchment seemed to have been buried within a pocket within the inner recesses of his jacket, and him bringing it out meant the conclusion of the whole matter was at hand.

    Of course, none of us could see the contents disyed on the scroll due to our distance. Besides, the list was facing Desmond directly. Since we were all seated opposite him and faced him directly, there was no way we could see anything written on the scroll.

    ¡®How does he intend to reveal the results, then¡­?¡¯ I asked myself, refusing to take my eyes off the mysterious man for even a second.

    Desmond¡¯s mouth suddenly opened from the tightly shut form they had taken and he appeared to be mumbling something under his breath. From the way his lips moved, I realized the man was chanting a spell.

    Thissted for a few seconds, and then-

    SHIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGG

    Light shone suddenly as a wave of energy burst through the room.

    Everyone felt the rush of energy and was captivated by the sight that was disyed as the pressure subsided.

    Above the head of Desmond Lawcroft was arge panel that glowed brightly. it was so clear, sharp, and bright that no one could miss it.

    The panel that took the form of a long list stretched as high as the tall ceiling, revealing its contents. With our eyes all moving to the bright list caused by brilliant clusters of golden light, we marveled.

    ¡®This is¡­ light magic¡­¡¯ I beamed.

    He must have used light refraction to disy the figures and letters that appeared on the long panel. It was no mean feat, considering the details put in it.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes bulged as they saw the results as well as the meticulous details ced in them. The scores gotten from each round, and the parameters for judging the examinees were also given. Also, only the top 100 who made the cut were disyed on the long panel.

    Instinctively, my eyes darted to the very top of the list to see who had taken first ce. It was no surprise to see who it was.

    Maria Helmsworth!

    My eyes trailed to my side as I took a short, subtle nce at her. The young girl¡¯s eyes were entirely focused on the list and seemed to be scanning through it.

    ¡®She should have seen her name¡­ what is she looking for?¡¯ I thought to myself.

    Her eyes were determined, though, as though frantically looking for something but not seeming to find any semnce of what she sought.

    Looking away from Maria before I got even more curious about what could pique her interest other than the fact that she scored the highest, my eyes went back to the list.

    Reading the contents word for word, I scrutinized the parameters ced therein.

    [AINZLARK STUDENT CANDIDATES LIST]

    ~1st ce~

    Name: Maria Helmsworth

    Age: 12 Years

    1st Test Score: 91

    2nd Test Score: 95

    3rd Test Score: 100

    Total Test Score: 286

    Mana Core Grade

    Mana Core Grade Concentration: 100%

    {You Have Been epted As A Student Of Ainrk Academy}

    [.]

    It was amazing no matter how many times I thought of it. Was this what it meant to be a genius?

    Her Mana Core was Blue, and not just that, but it had a total concentration of a hundred percent. Usually, once a Magic-User advanced their Magic Core to the next grade, it took a gradual process.

    So, if a white grade core became yellow, the yellow grade would slowly saturate the core until it became a hundred percent in quality. Only when it became a hundred percent could it be possible for the Magic-User topletely utilize the full capabilities of their Core Grade and advance to the next Grade.

    Usually, people her age would still not have achieved a hundred percent concentration in the Yellow Core Grade. She was a genius beyond the normal level!

    Presently, I had a total of zero concentration of the Yellow Core Grade and was still a pure White Core. It didn¡¯t bother me, since that was what I wanted, but even with my knowledge and talent in internal mana maniption, I doubted it was possible for me to reach her level at my age.

    ¡®So terrifying!¡¯ My mind rang.

    I felt my stiff neck refuse to take a turn so I could take another nce at the prodigy. It made sense why everyone was so crazy about her.

    Quickly shaking off the thoughts about the girl, my eyes went down the list and caught yet another interesting character in second ce. Well, it was inevitable, since the two were a pair.

    If the first was Maria Helmsworth, the second had to be Stefan Netherlore!

    ~2nd ce~

    Name: Stefan Netherlore

    Age: 12 Years

    1st Test Score: 97

    2nd Test Score: 89

    3rd Test Score: 85

    Total Score: 271

    Mana Core Grade

    Mana Core Grade Concentration: 10%

    {You Have Been epted As A Student Of Ainrk Academy}

    [.]

    ¡®Oh? Not bad! I suppose his arrogance wasn¡¯t for nothing¡­¡¯ I smiled with an impressed reaction.

 Chapter 58

    It appeared Stefan was more skilled in theory, so he got higher in the first stage of our examination. In fact, I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone to score so high, but he surprised me.

    His other results were equally impressive. Not on the level of the genius girl, but remarkable nheless.

    I turned my face to take a quick nce at him, expecting a snotty and confident look but was met with surprise instead. Stefan donned a stoic and cold look, as though trying to wave off the results disyed before his eyes as no big deal.

    His eyes disyed a coldness that depicted that the results were to be expected, but I sensed something deeper within them. Was it frustration? A little bit of internal anger seemed to swirl within the icy cold shade in his retinas.

    ¡®I see¡­ did he want to get first ce?¡¯ I smiled to myself, finding his conflicting emotion a little funny.

    Turning back to the screen, I looked at the results of the one who scored third ce. It was a little underwhelming, a huge drop from the pedestal raised by the first and second.

    ~3rd ce~

    Name: Ivan Smith

    Age: 13 Years

    1st Test Score: 79

    2nd Test Score: 64

    3rd Test Score: 60

    Total Score: 203

    Mana Core Grade

    Mana Core Grade Concentration: 85%

    {You Have Been epted As A Student Of Ainrk Academy}

    [.]

    Well, I couldn¡¯tin, since those two were regarded as geniuses. It was only natural that they would be leagues above the rest of them.

    ¡®This Ivan guy must actually be a pretty impressive person¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    If he had applied in a different year when the first two weren¡¯t present, he would have achieved the top spot. It was a shame his aplishments were overshadowed by prodigies.

    A smile formed on my face as I looked at the 4th ce, having a total of 201 Points, not too far off from the third. My eyes trailed down and I noticed the 6th position downward, memorizing their names and scores while skimming through them.

    They weren¡¯t too eye-catching, and their numbers were closely tied. It felt pointless even checking, but I did so anyway. It was a good way to get to know my new ssmates.

    After finally making it to down number 99, and then 100, Ipletely exhausted the list. A wry smile formed on my face.

    Of all the names and numbers I carefully analyzed¡­ my name wasn¡¯t among any!

    Was it an error? Who knew. I was certain I carefully memorized the name and scores of everyone from the 6th position below after looking at the upper ones. I expected my name to have at least appeared in the lower regions of the list, but there was nothing.

    My amused, calm smile slowly began fading as my lips twitched. Still, I maintained a calm disposition. It wouldn¡¯t do well for me to be so flustered at such a moment.

    I could hear countless murmurs around me, and the entire hall was in an uproar as many whose dreams were dashed made sobs of anger and frustration.

    I could easily join them and cry at my failure, but I wasn¡¯t so pathetic as to do that. What was going on exactly? Certainly, out of everyone who I scanned, they were all of the Yellow Core Grade, possessing at least 30 percent concentration!

    Did I get disqualified because of my Pure White Core Grade? Was it a mistake to refuse to go by the norms and make separate cores instead?

    ¡°Tsk!¡± I clicked my tongue in dissatisfaction.

    This was truly very unpleasant¡­

    ~Why are you looking so glum?~ A voice suddenly shed into my mind.

    My eyes widened as I recalled the sounding from my mind. The sensation felt so familiar that I couldn¡¯t forget it even if I wanted to, and I could recognize the person speaking from anywhere.

    Darting straight to the tform that stood above the students, my eyes captured the one who just used Mind Magic on me!

    ¡®Legris Damien!¡¯

    His face had a calm smile written on it, a surprise to me. I had thought he would be disappointed by my failure to gain something as simple as an admission. However, he didn¡¯t seem to be fazed. Rather, he was looking at me like I was the strange one.

    ~You should check the list again~ His voice sounded in my head again.

    ¡®Again? Why?¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t fathom why he would want Mt to engage in such a fruitless venture. Was it to add more salt to my injuries? I didn¡¯t make the cut, yet he wanted me to look at the names of those who did?

    ¡®Are you mocking me Legris?¡¯ I thought to myself in slight annoyance.

    However, having nothing better to do, I humored him. My stiff neck rose as I checked the list starting from below. I couldn¡¯t turn them anywhere else, afraid to look at those around me.

    I could feel countless eyes poking me, nearly driving me to the point of madness, but I pretended not to notice. The murmurs grew more intense, but I didn¡¯t dare enhance my hearing to hear what it was about.

    If I could make a good guess, the talks about me that would be passed around were most likely mockeries and jests.

    After the impressive disy I showed in the second test and daring to seat among the geniuses, I still failed.

    ¡®Shit¡­¡¯

    I shut off my hearing, refusing to listen to thements of everyone around me that were bound to be scathing beyond recovery. Even Stefan and Maria were staring at me. I felt like I would die from nervousness, but I kept my focus on the panel above me.

    From number 100 upward, I scanned through the list, still not finding my name. It was a foolish venture, but I continued. Was it due to the false hope I had that by so e miracle I would see my name there? If so, then I was truly pathetic.

    Skimming through the names, I passed number 50 and kept ascending, feeling my hopes dwindle and die out.

    I reached the top 10 and my despair grewrger. The creeping fear of failure that had hidden itself was already rearing its ugly head, ready topletely devour me. I knew it in my heart¡­ this was the end.

    7th ce¡­ not me!

    6th ce¡­ not me!

    5th ce¡­ 5th ce¡­ 5th ce¡­

    My already tired eyes began widening in surprise as the dying hope within me began shining bright Countless thoughts invaded my mind as I struggled to understand.

    However, upon reading it over and over again, I understood. Truly, without a doubt¡­ The 5th ce¡­ was mine!

 Chapter 59

    ~5th ce~

    Name: Jared Leonard

    Age: 12 Years

    1st Test Score: 100

    2nd Test Score: 100

    3rd Test Score: 1

    Total Score: 201

    Mana Core Grade

    Mana Core Grade Concentration: 100%

    {You Have Been epted As A Student Of Ainrk Academy}

    [.]

    My jaws nearly dropped and my eyes nearly popped from their sockets the moment Iid eyes on my result. Slowly, my memory returned as I remembered skimming through the 5th position, already assuming it wouldn¡¯t belong to me.

    ¡®Why did I not even notice¡­?¡¯ I thought to myself.

    Perhaps I had been so used to my name that I had unintentionally passed it. Maybe I didn¡¯t think I would get that high in the first ce. My confidence had been stunted by what was going on around me, so I had lostposure for a moment.

    The reason I skipped it didn¡¯t matter anymore¡­ what was important was that I passed!

    A grin formed on my face as I looked in Legris Damien¡¯s direction. He gave a short smile and nodded slightly. I was relieved and happy he had told me. Though no rule prevented him from telling me directly, no one would go out of their way for a mere entrant, especially one with a core like mine.

    ¡®So, you¡¯re still looking forward to our next time, uh? Very well¡­ I won¡¯t disappoint you!¡¯ My lips curled up in a wide smile, happy to the point of tears.

    I had finally passed one of the hurdles I could never attain in my past life¡­ officially studying magic, not as a schr, but as a Magic-User.

    With my mind relieved, I loosened my ears, and floods of sounds entered. The murmurs of people which I had ignored came rushing in to the point which I couldn¡¯t ignore anymore.

    ¡°A-Amazing! He got perfect scores on both first and second tests!¡±

    ¡°I told you, you guys weren¡¯t there when he performed his spell! That guy is a beast!¡±

    ¡°But what¡¯s with his Mana Core? Why is it still white?¡±

    ¡°You think there was an error in grading him?¡±

    ¡°Ainrk wouldn¡¯t make such a silly mistake.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. How could he¡­ don¡¯t tell me¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I think so. He probably cheated. Maybe he¡¯s with a magic artifact that allowed him to pass the test or something. There¡¯s no way a White Core Grade could achieve what he did.¡±

    ¡°So, in the end, he was no big deal, uh? That¡¯s too bad.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just avoid him¡­¡±

    I sighed as I heard the public opinion of me drift from favorable to the opposite. We¡¯re these people stupid? This was the most prestigious institute for learning Magic, yet these fools had the notion that I somehow cheated.

    Were they so desperate to refute the achievement of someone with a White Core Grade? Their minds just couldn¡¯t ept it, so they went for another impossible answer instead.

    In any case, I didn¡¯t care anymore. As long as I had gotten in, that was all that mattered at this point.

    ¡°Hey, Jared Leonard.¡± I heard a voiceing from beside me.

    Recognizing the voice clearly as well as the rude tone that the owner used, I rolled my eyes as I slightly tilted my face toward Stefan¡¯s location.

    His face once again surprised me. He didn¡¯t have the usual haughty expression as before. Instead, a deeper glint of frustration was evident in his eyes. Those eyes told me one simple fact¡­ he was angry.

    ¡°How did you do it?¡±

    His voice had a slight hint of emotion attached to it. Was he curious about how I was able to get so high in the test while having a White Mana Core Grade?

    ¡°Well, what can I-¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking around right now!¡± Stefan snapped.

    It was only for a moment, but his arms twitched as he formed a fist. The boy was really beating himself up internally. He had lost overall to Maria, but he was still on top in the first test. That had provided him with enoughfort to ept his second ce.

    However, not only had I gotten a perfect score in the first stage, but I also managed to trump the girl who surpassed him in the second test. In essence, I just proved myself to be better than them in their specialties.

    That was a p on their faces.

    ¡°It¡¯s a family secret¡­¡± I smiled amusedly at the young boy.

    Stefan fidgeted the moment he heard those words and red at me slightly.

    Surely, he hadn¡¯t forgotten the implied insult he gave me once he realized I was from the Leonard family. Even though my household was a prominent noble family, in the realm of magic we wereughed at.

    I intended to change that!

    Seated beside him was Maria. She nced at me with her clear blue eyes, a contrast to the deep and cloudy ones Stefan possessed.

    Her expression was nk, rather, it was stiff. It appeared like she wanted to say something to me, but refrained from doing so.

    Even though I wasn¡¯t even ranked first, second, or even third, why was it that all eyes were on me instead of others?

    ¡®I suppose it was a given for Maria and the others since they must have been well known as prodigies and youngsters with potential¡­ unlike me.¡±

    I was a dark horse, the wild card that appeared out of nowhere and shook the expectations of everyone present.

    A White Core Grade Magic-User scoring a perfect score on the first two tests, cut short only by the score of his Core itself¡­ this was bound to bring quite a deal of attention.

    However, I wasn¡¯t averse to that. In fact, I weed it. What sort of fool would have potential and power but keep it to himself? To truly be great and achieve incredible feats, I needed equally powerful and talented allies.

    However, no powerful ally would appreciate joining forces with a weakling. Even I wouldn¡¯t.

    ¡°To attract the strong¡­ I must be strong as well!¡±

    Or, at least, appear to be.

 Chapter 60

    ¡°Now that you have all seen your results¡­ we shall now finalize this event.¡± Desmond Lawcroft said with a booming voice, interrupting the many sounds that permeated the hall.

    ¡°As for rhose who aren¡¯t among the hundred, several doors are appearing to your right and left. Please take any of those doors and leave this hall immediately.¡±

    ¡®Ouch!¡¯ Was what I thought as soon as Desmond uttered those words.

    These people were still recoiling from the shock of failing in their hopes and dreams, yet no condolences were made, not even a few moments given for the rejects to pull themselves together.

    In unadulterated words, this man was telling them to ¡®get the heck out!¡¯

    I heard chairs shifting and people rising from their positions obediently. Murmurs and whispers of saddened people became the new anthem in therge hall as they all went toward the several doors that suddenly appeared just like Damien said.

    There were about eight to the right and eight to the left. This sped up the process of leaving the hall for this who had passed.

    As I watched on, I couldn¡¯t help but feel for them slightly. I had a simr experience when my dreams were dashed the moment it was revealed that I could never use magic. Unfortunately, not everyone could reincarnate like me. Or could they? I had no idea.

    In a few minutes, the three thousand, nine hundred failures left the hall, not wanting to dy for even a second and expand their shame.

    As soon as thest one left, the doors vanished and those who passed, i.e. Me and ny-nine others, were left on the sparse seats that seemed so many now that a majority of us had left.

    The hall appeared wayrger than it was before since we were the only ones upying it. I felt ufortable and wanted Damien, or whoever would do it, to show us into Ainrk and have things over with, but no one did such a thing.

    After waiting for a few seconds, I realized it¡­ the evaluations weren¡¯t over yet! Looking at the expression of those around me, it appeared I wasn¡¯t the only one who thought that.

    A wave of unease filled the hall.

    ¡°Rx, everyone. You have all passed the exams and are eligible to be students of Ainrk Academy. That much is guaranteed.¡±

    The moment Damien said this, the unease lessened, but didn¡¯t vanish entirely. And that simply because he wasn¡¯t done yet!

    ¡°Despite you all passing, the procedure of this Academy is still at y. Do you all remember what you were told before you started your first test? Yes¡­ your scores determine your status within Ainrk, especially your Core Grade!¡±

    I sighed. I thought I hadpletely avoided that, but it seemed that this troublesome thing hade to bite me in the butt yet again.

    ¡°Tsk!¡±

    ¡°Ainrk Academy works in ordance with the ss system. There are 3 specific stages to transverse in order to be considered a full-fledged mage and be eligible for graduation. This will all be exined in your orientation. However, there is an important exnation that can¡¯t wait until then¡­ the true meaning of the ss system.¡±

    ¡®Here ites!¡¯ I gulped.

    ¡°Each Stage in Ainrk Academy is divided into three sses. The Upper ss, for the talented; The Middle ss for those with potential; and the Lower ss, for those who are neither talented nor have potential.¡±

    My eyes widened as soon as I heard this, and I heard equally shocking gasps from a few in the hall. Despite passing the exam, they still segmented students like this to clearly differentiate those who would rise higher in the realm of magic and those who were doomed to remain average.

    This method didn¡¯t exist in the past, neither was it recorded in the materials I read about the Academy. Considering the surprise of everyone else in the room, they weren¡¯t aware of it as well. That meant it was a fairly new system.

    ¡°This ss System is a new policy that the Academy has adopted, and it¡¯s highly efficient. In essence, even though a hundred of you passed, you won¡¯t be in the same ss!¡±

    That much was a given. The bigger question in everyone¡¯s mind was what I wanted an answer to. My eyes focused on Desmond¡¯s lips as he uttered the words.

    ¡°While your other test results have to do with it, the major criteria for measuring the ss you all belong to¡­ is your Mana Core Grade!¡±

    I knew it!

    No one needed to tell me the ss I belonged to¡­ it was obvious. No matter what morous score I obtained on the first and second tests, it was inconsequential. After all, my score for the Mana Core Grade test was a mere 1!

    ¡°Your sses will be announced during your orientation tomorrow. For now, you will be taken into the main Academy and shown into your dorms. You will do well to rx while you can.¡±

    As Damien told us a few other things, such as the provision of our daily necessities such as clothes, food, and other staple items, he rounded up by congratting us on passing. His eyes were mainly focused on Stefan and Maria, though. I could tell.

    He didn¡¯t even nce at me for a second, even though my seat was just a short distance from theirs.

    ¡®I guess he doesn¡¯t care for a White Core Grade.¡¯

    As soon as he was done addressing us, he vanished into thin air, using the same whirlwind spell he used earlier. I observed the spell closely and figured out its workings. A small smile appeared on my face. Soon, I would also be able to perform such magic.

    That feeling alone was enough to banish the unease and disappointment I had concerning the ss System the Academy had adopted.

    I was certain I would fall into the Lower ss, and because of that, ess to the privileges of the higher sses wouldn¡¯t be granted to me.

    It was such a shame indeed. But, I didn¡¯t give in to despair for a second. After all, it didn¡¯t matter what the Academy did to pull me down in the end.

    ¡®Sooner orter, they won¡¯t be able to ignore me!¡¯

    Once that time arrived, the Academy would have no choice but to promote me to the level I deserved.

    I just had to be patient.

 Chapter 61 - The Academic Grounds

    Legris vanished into thin air shortly after Desmond Lawcroft left.

    The remaining two staff who had judged us in both first and third tests remained, though. Apparently, they were in charge of assigning us our dorms.

    ¡°Girls,e over here.¡± The woman said.

    I smiled at her, remembering our little conversation. Her head bobbed and turned to my location. For a moment, our eyes met and a small smile appeared on her face for reasons unknown to me. She looked away sharply and began coordinating the girls who were heading toward her.

    The man, as expected, called the boys to his side.

    After we had all gathered, I sharply counted the girls in their row, estimating their numbers to be 34. As expected, there were more males than females among those who passed.

    The man, who introduced himself as us Tallman, guided us through a door and we obediently followed. From the corner of my eyes, I saw the girls being guided through another door, so I assumed we would be staying in separate dorms.

    The area the door led to shone so brilliantly that I couldn¡¯t see a thing while drawing closer to it. I sensed mana surging from the severely bright sight, so I assumed it was some sort of teleportation magic that transferred us to our dorms.

    I wasn¡¯t wrong!

    As we all entered the door and passed through the light, we vanished from the usual ne we existed. Once it was my turn, I felt my body feel lighter than a feather, as though I was being carried somewhere beyond my control.

    These feelings onlysted for a few moments, though, as before I knew it, I was somewhere entirely different. Opening my eyes, I was met with a wonderful new sight that sent shivers of excitement down my spine.

    From all around me, I could hear ¡®wows¡¯ of awe. Everyone was amazed by the sight unfolding before us.

    The Skies were so clear, that you could see the blues that were already turning orange due to the evening sun setting. The fresh wind that blew on my face made me remember my home, and the lush gardens that surrounded everywhere were equally pleasant. It seemed we appeared on grassy ins, surrounded by beautiful flowers and the likes, and from a short length, probably a little over a hundred meters, we could see the rest of the Academy. Tall buildings made from exquisite materials stood erect from a short distance, and many other facilities that seemed foreign to me could be seen all around.

    ¡°There¡¯s no time for sightseeing. You need to lodge into your dorms now.¡± us Tallman said impatiently, guiding us away from the enchanting sight that had gotten all our attention.

    Obeying immediately, we turned to our guide and he instantly snapped his fingers.

    That very moment, something appeared behind him. It looked like space was distorting as the tall structure came into sight.

    It was a tall building! Large wasn¡¯t the right word to describe this structure. It was enormous, spreading so far that we had to turn our heads to see the end of it, raising our faces to see how high it went.

    ¡°This will be your temporary dorm until the final orientation where you¡¯ll have to split into different sses based on your abilities. You¡¯ll alsoe into contact with your seniors, so this is where you¡¯ll be staying in the meantime.¡±

    We all understood what he was saying. I also didn¡¯t expect to be ced in the same living quarters as those deemed ¡®talented¡¯.

    ¡°Well, then¡­ shall I show you to your respective rooms?¡±

    ****************************************

    We were 66 boys and the building had a hundred rooms at the very least, so we were all entitled to our private space.

    As he showed us around the facilities, us exined a few things to everyone. Firstly, the building had an effect that shielded it from the perception of ordinary eyes. That was why we hadn¡¯t noticed it until he snapped his fingers.

    Secondly, we all had a schedule for the week we would be spending in orientation.

    ¡°Your rosters are ced on the beds in your respective rooms.¡± He had stated

    Our rooms didn¡¯t even need keys. Somehow, they had retrofitted it to match every single entrant.

    ¡®Does it have to do with the magic print we gave on our form?¡¯ I thought to myself.

    Unfortunately, us never addressed the issue, leaving this mystery unresolved.

    It was exhausting, but I was finally shown my ce of residence, albeit temporary.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ Haaa¡­.¡± I breathed hard, copsing on the bed the moment I entered.

    My entire body melted on the soft surface of the mattress and I could feel the exhaustion that I had been ignoring build up and begin evaporating.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never exerted myself like this before¡­¡± I mumbled.

    Of course, I didn¡¯t mean this concerning magic. It was more like mental and emotional exhaustion. Being around so many people,porting myself in a way befitting someone of my status, as well as avoiding the several gazes of people around.

    It was truly a tough task.

    Fortunately, they all avoided me and didn¡¯t say a single word as we all trailed behind us. My eyes caught Stefan giving me curious andpetitive stares and I could tell that the brat wanted to talk to me, but he restrained himself.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s a good thing he didn¡¯t¡­ I¡¯ve had enough interaction for today.,..¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    My social battery had hit rock bottom and I seriously needed a recharge.

    After closing my eyes for a few seconds to rx, I opened them and nced around my room for the first time.

    It was in, but neatly designed. Having only the most basic of furniture such as a study table and desk, a wardrobe, the bed I slept on, and a counter by my side. The bathroom door was situated toward my far right and I guessed all basic necessities had already been provided for.

    ¡®That¡¯s good¡­¡¯ I heaved in relief.

    The Academy had certainly gone through such great lengths to wee us, but after this first week, not everyone would share the same treatment.

    I had no idea where I would be going after this, but I could only brace myself for the worst.

    ¡°Ahh, enough thinking for now. Let¡¯s enjoy this while itsts!¡±

 Chapter 62 - Orientation

    One week of ¡®Orientation¡¯ was given by Ainrk Academy to make the new students properly integrated into the school system. After this one week was over, the new entrants would be indoctrinated into the school system and the academic system wouldmence in full force.

    Of course, there were other reasons the orientation took one week¡­ and that had to do with the new students.

    Having instructors assigned to them for each day, they would engage in various activities such as exploring the school grounds, learning basic school rules, visiting facilities, etc.

    In all honestly, the items on the schedules were quite a lot, but not too much to handle. If the Academy wanted to, they could have squeezed everything into a day. However, the reason for spreading it out was to leave more time for the students to have personal time for both themselves and one another.

    Bonding, interaction,petition¡­ these would go on to affect the lives of the students even after they had be fully integrated into Ainrk.

    And so, with no housemaster governing therge house, the students within were given free rein within. Whatever they did during their spare time was up to them, after all¡­ there were no rules against it!

    And so the days passed¡­ finally bringing an end to the one week of orientation.

    The scenery shifted from the building where the students stayed to a massive office situated at the tallest building in the entire Academy. It belonged to none other than the Academic Supervisor of the new batch of students, Damien Lawcroft.

    He satfortably in his chair as he rummaged through some documents. However, those were just his hands at work. In reality, all his attention was on a single man who stood in front of him.

    ¡°Yes¡­ us¡­ the orientation time frame ends today, right?¡± He asked the tall,nky man who gave his usual wide smile.

    us nodded in affirmation.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been monitoring the students with your magic, right? How have they progressed? Anything worthy of note?¡± Damien asked, narrowing his eyes.

    Though he asked generally, he was actually truly concerned about a certain individual from the boy¡¯s form which us monitored.

    After his just concluded conversation with Freya Leonhart, the woman in charge of monitoring the girls¡¯ dorm. After she gave her report, he was a little disappointed that no real incident urred among the girls.

    It was most likely due to the overwhelming presence of Maria Helmsworth.

    Usually, when people inpetition were ced in a confined space with seemingly no supervision, it was only natural for some form of conflict to arise. However, the case would be different if an insurmountable existence existed in the very same confined space.

    This existence would deter any form of conflict. Usually, this would be the supervisors or staff of Ainrk, but they had been intentionally removed from the premises to give the students freedom to do whatever they liked.

    However, this time, a single student took on the role of that existence. Maria Helmsworth.

    ¡°The girls had no incident urring in their end, but I suppose in the end they are just girls¡­ what about the boys? Any incident worth mentioning?¡± Damien asked once again, sensing a form of hesitation form on the face of the man who was reporting to him.

    ¡°Well, it was almost that way for the boys as well. While there was obviously deep tension in the air, no one acted on their emotions or behaved irrationally¡­¡± us began.

    Damien¡¯s eyes instantly fell in disappointment. He had expected more, but it appeared this year¡¯s students had no balls or knack for entertainment.

    In a way, it could be considered that they were sensible enough to considerporting themselves and not cause any trouble. But, it would be a problem if they were just weak-hearted and didn¡¯t want any trouble at all.

    What sort of mage would such a student turn out to be?!

    ¡°¡­ But, just yesterday that all changed by an incident that caused quite the scene in the form!¡± uspleted his statement.

    The moment he heard this, Damien¡¯s eyes flipped as his rxed body jumped in excitement.

    ¡°Oh? That¡¯s interesting! What happened?¡±

    ¡°Well, it started as a little argument and it turned into a form of magic duel¡­¡± us spoke with slight difort.

    He wasn¡¯t too certain if he should go on, but upon meeting the excited eyes of Damien, he realized that it was foolish to consider skimming through the details.

    His superior wanted details, and so he had to do what was expected of him.

    ¡°A magic duel, eh? Let me guess¡­¡± Damien filled in the silence with his words.

    He knew boys were more hot-blooded, so his expectations had paid off and an incident had indeed urred. He also had a hunch on who the fighters had to be.

    The ones with inferior abilities were most likely going to shrink away from any form of trouble. However, those with considerable strength wouldn¡¯t run from a challenge.

    ¡°¡­ The fighters were Stefan Netherlore and Ivan Smith. Correct?¡± Damien added.

    Those two were the ones with the highest potential on the boys¡¯ side, scoring second and third positions respectively.

    While he knew they were both dignified, the two were still kids. Plus, they had huge egos from being praised as geniuses since they were young. Not only that, but they both failed to achieve the top spot and lost to Maria, a girl.

    No doubt their frustration was building up, ready to be unleashed by a slight provocation. Those two had every reason to duke it out.

    The expression us gave to Damien¡¯s assertion, though, showed that he was wrong.

    ¡°Well, thetter was one of the parties engaged inbat¡­ but for the second party¡­¡± us said, hesitating once again.

    He really didn¡¯t like the idea of doing something as troublesome as this. Still, he brought himself toplete his sentence.

    ¡°It was Jared Leonard, the one who got 5th ce in the examinations.¡±

    This statement sent silence into the room. us was right! Judging from the air that had changed around him, Damien was certainly not pleased about what he heard. He appeared disappointed, but another emotion could be seen nting itself across his face.

    ¡°And? Who won?¡± Damien asked, temporarily ignoring the elephant in the room.

    us swallowed hard. What he was about to say would cause even more trouble for him. But, he couldn¡¯t refuse the question, could he?

    ¡°The winner of the match¡­ was Jared Leonard.¡±

    That little boy achieved an overwhelming victory!

 Chapter 63 - How It Started

    [A Day Ago]

    The residence of the boys teemed with life as usual.

    The barely teenage youngds talked with one another, exchanging stories and experiences excitedly. Whether it was about the fact that their Orientation would soon end, or what they had learned in the past couple of days, there was always something to serve as a subject of discourse.

    Of course, not everyone was engaged in conversation. Two especially were left out of the talks. One chose not to even bother interacting with the rest of the boys. Perhaps as a feeling of superiority, he intentionally isted himself from others, preferring to read the books he had borrowed from the library.

    As for the other, he was simply left out of the conversations. No one bothered involving him, neither did they acknowledge his existence. This boy also passed his time by either reading the books he got from the Library or the one his tutor had given him as a gift.

    Yep! The boy was me.

    It had been a short couple of days since we arrived, and I had not made a single friend. Everyone ignored me. I caught the gazes of some who seemed like they were interested in talking to me, but they never made any effort to try.

    In such a ce where collectivity was the best course of action, no one wanted to defy the norm and break the unspoken rule of my ostracization. The fear that they would be abandoned by others and also he cast out coursed through everyone and they all pretended I didn¡¯t exist.

    ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t really mind¡­¡± I mumbled.

    Ainrk gave us a lot of free time and only took up a few hours per day for our orientation. It felt strange to me since I was certain that we didn¡¯t need a week toplete this course.

    ¡®There¡¯s most likely another objective to this phase¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    I doubted it was the same as the other tests we had, but at the same time, wondered what the higher-ups were up to.

    After exploring every nook and cranny of the apartment, apart from the rooms of everyone else, of course, I found well-hidden magic tools all around.

    Of course, I took great caution not to get caught snooping, even in my room. Acting natural, I diligently uncovered the positions of these objects while others were having the time of their lives.

    ¡®I knew it! They¡¯re watching us!¡¯

    Well, there was nothing I could do even if they were, so I decided to keep to myself and avoid trouble. Unfortunately, trouble came looking for me.

    ¡­ And that trouble came from a particr someone.

    *******************************

    Spending my free time as usual, I read Alphonse¡¯s book and cross-referenced it with a few materials I was allowed to borrow from the library.

    Even though the Academy provided for all our material needs and we weren¡¯t permitted to bring foreign objects, special exceptions could be requested.

    I was able to retain my book, ring, and ne, all mementos from those very important to me.

    It was an interesting study, one that never seemed to end. However, after several hours of immersing myself in knowledge, I began to feel hungry.

    I initially ignored it, but there¡¯s only so much one can take. Once I reached my limit, I decided to satiate my hunger and left my room.

    Treading the sturdy flight of stairs, I descended slowly and carefully, already feeling tired from not having too much energy left.

    ¡®Why did I push myself¡­?¡¯ I groaned internally with regret.

    Upon reaching the ground floor which took the form of a lounge, I proceeded to my left side where my meal was supposed to have been ced.

    Out meals were brought at intervals; morning, afternoon, and night. They were properly packaged and special personnel brought them promptly. Since the food brought was ording to our exact number, we all had our allocated portions without any need to worry about leftovers or deficits.

    ¡°¡­ Uh¡­?¡± I muttered in surprise upon getting to therge table where all the food would have been kept.

    Nothing was there!

    ¡®Oi, oi, oi! You¡¯re kidding, right?¡¯ My mind rang.

    This was noughing matter. I was hungry to the point of copsing. I needed that meal!

    An expression of disbelief showed clearly on my face as I stood, frozen. However, as I was still trying to figure out what had urred, I heard tinyughs and Snickers from behind.

    ¡°Kekeke¡­¡±

    ¡°Pfft¡­¡±

    ¡°Hihihi¡­¡±

    Since my senses were always been sharpened by magic, I was able to pick up their unpleasant noises of amusement.

    ¡®Are theyughing at me?¡¯ An unpleasant feeling enveloped me the moment I considered a very usible answer.

    A small smile appeared on my face as I made a wild guess concerning what had happened to my food. Turning away from the table, I approached the group that sat in the lounge area.

    It was the usual squad that dominated the boys¡¯ dorm. Since Stefan wanted nothing to do with anyone and simply locked himself in his room, onlying out forpulsory activities or meals, he wasn¡¯t the ringleader of the boys.

    No, that title belonged to the one who scored third in our exams¡­ Ivan Smith!

    I made sure to keep a poker face as I approached the group who slowly stoppedughing once they noticed my advance.

    ¡°Good afternoon, or rather, evening, gentlemen.¡± I greeted, a basic form of courtesy.

    ¡°Hey, Ivan, did you hear about the Guardian Spirit of the Library?¡± Jerry, one of Ivan¡¯s mobs, quickly brought up an irrelevant topic the moment I greeted them.

    This displeased me, but I kept my cool. I wasn¡¯t so childish that I would give such an obvious excuse for a snub any reaction.

    ¡°Do any of you-¡±

    ¡°Oh? I think I heard something about that.¡± Ivan interrupted me with an energetic response, intentionally smothering my words with his.

    ¡®Ah, I see¡­ so it¡¯s them after all¡¯ My thoughts rang.

    I was so hungry that my belly bellowed at me. It was evening already, and I hadn¡¯t had anything but an early breakfast. Due to how tired I was, there was an option of simply giving up my lunch and waiting for dinner. This way, I could avoid any conflict.

    However, even in my state of weakness¡­ there was no way I was going to let this go now.

    ¡®These brats¡­ I should do something.¡¯

 Chapter 64 - Pressure

    ¡°I¡¯m trying to-¡±

    ¡°What do you think it looks like, the Spirit?¡± Yet another interruption came my way.

    At this point, I could safely assume that they were trying to thwart my efforts atmunication and most likely had something to do with my missing food since they wereughing just moments ago.

    ¡®These young¡¯uns¡­¡¯ I smiled, deciding to try something I hadn¡¯t done in a while.

    HUMMMMMNNNN

    A low hum suddenly filled that air as it became thick and heavy. The idiots who were trying to ignore me by engaging in idle chatter suddenly felt the change around them and instantly their expressions changed.

    ¡°Keukk!¡±

    ¡°Urk!¡±

    ¡°Garrghkkk!¡±

    Their pointless talks ceased, and no longer did any of them have amused expressions on their faces. Choked by the pure brunt of something they couldy eyes on, these boys writhed, looking in confusion.

    My grin widened further.

    ¡®How does it feel¡­ to be under my Mana Pressure?¡¯

    ¡°Urk¡­ w-what is¡­ this¡­??¡± Ivan, the ringleader muttered under strained breaths.

    He seemed to be the only one who could handle it to a degree, a feat that was adequate for someone who scored third. It wasn¡¯t like I was being serious either.

    If I was¡­ these boys would have lost consciousness long ago, or worse-

    ¡®There¡¯s no need to go that far. I¡¯ve achieved what I wanted.¡¯

    The boys all turned to me with both surprise and pain, their res showing suspicion. No one else could be responsible for their sudden difort, after all.

    Some made attempts to open their lips, but I increased the pressure, causing the fools to shut them instantly.

    ¡°Now that I have your attention, I¡¯d like to ask you a single question,¡± I spoke, followed by a sigh.

    My smile vanished as I moved closer to the group of about nine boys, Ivan¡¯s inner circle. Pointing my fingers toward where my food ought to have been, I gave my question.

    ¡°My food on that table¡­ what happened to it?¡±

    The pressure caused them to give their guilt away. Sweat formed on their faces and I could hear strained breaths. However, none of them confessed.

    ¡®Ah, the pressure must have been too much¡­¡¯ I suddenly realized, deciding to retract it entirely.

    WHUUUUSSHHH

    The intimidating air vanished, reced by the usual calm of the room. However, unease was still amid the lounge.

    ¡°Answer me, please.¡± I broke the silence courteously.

    The eyes of everyone turned to Ivan, their leader. He had the final say on their response, and no one wanted to go out of line to speak. In the case that they said what they weren¡¯t supposed to, it would spell doom for them.

    ¡°W-what are you talking about?¡± He found himself stuttering as he spoke.

    The effects of my pressure hadn¡¯t fully left his body.

    ¡°Why are you asking us? What¡¯s out business with you?¡± Ivan spat, trying to assert dominance.

    Not a bad move¡­ for a child, that is. The eyes of everyone had already given me my answer, so any excuse he thought of giving me was synonymous with a lie.

    I could have chosen to leave things at that and returned to my room or even force him to give me the truth with Mana Pressure. However, I was too tired and hungry for that. There was no real need to stress myself since I was already certain the culprits were them.

    ¡°Ah, I see. It¡¯s alright then¡­¡± I said, taking a few steps back as I made my way back to the stairs that led to my room.

    A look of relief appeared on everyone¡¯s face when I made my exit, causing me to smile within myself.

    As soon as I got to the foot of the stairs, I turned back to the group who kept watching me, as though impatiently hoping I vanished.

    ¡°¡­ I suppose I¡¯ll have to raise this matter to our supervisor¡­¡± I muttered, making my voice loud enough for the boys to hear me.

    Their eyes bulged the moment I said this, giving surprised stares. They nced anxiously at each other¡¯s now turning to Ivan to deal with the matter.

    I didn¡¯t bother waiting. Pushing my tired body along the stairs, I began climbing.

    ¡°Hey, why go that far? It¡¯s just lunch! The superiors shouldn¡¯t be bothered about something that trivial.¡± Ivan retorted, obviously referring to me.

    ¡®You slipped up, Ivan!¡¯ My mind rang in satisfaction as I once again turned to look back at him.

    The same person who pretended not to care now sprang up and spoke the moment I mentioned a supervisor. That was an unwise move.

    ¡®I suppose the aftereffects of experiencing a Mana Pressure is making them anxious¡­¡¯

    ¡°What do you mean? Haven¡¯t you read the rules of this apartment? Didn¡¯t you pay attention during our orientation? Stealing within this Academy warrants severe punishment.¡±

    It didn¡¯t matter if it was a piece of paper, lunch, or a magic book. No matter the property taken, what was important was the act itself. In essence, whoever took my lunch was liable for that offense and would be punished ordingly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember giving anyone permission to take my lunch, and the Academy isn¡¯t sloppy enough to give us food with one person short. That means someone took my food.¡± I continued.

    The boys looked more uneasy while sweating profusely. It was as though they were confessing their guilt by conduct alone.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame you guys didn¡¯t see the culprit. I¡¯m certain our supervisor should be able to find the perpetrator. We wouldn¡¯t want anyone else to fall victim, now would we?¡± I smiled weakly.

    I had said enough. There was no need to directly interfere with these guys. With the staff of the Academy watching, there was no telling if an act of violence would be to my demerit. On the plus side, since the supervisors could monitor us, it meant they had also seen the incident take ce.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need to bother lifting a finger¡­ the authorities will deal with this. That will be their punishment!¡¯ I sighed, still feeling the tight twist in my stomach.

    I felt so hungry¡­ so tired! Once I got to my room, I was most likely going to lie down and wait for dinner.

    ¡°Hold on!¡± Ivan¡¯s voice abruptly cut into my thoughts, but I ignored him.

    He was just going to keep rambling, after all.

    ¡°I SAID, STOP!¡± He shouted, now in a tone of aggression.

    I still didn¡¯t have any intention to listen to him, however¡­ something I felt caused me to change my mind.

    Halting instantly, I took a look behind me and saw Ivan d in his mana. He red at me aggressively, having a determined glow in his eyes. I felt an unpleasant foreboding as the very thing I tried avoiding was practically begging for my response.

    With a deep sigh, I fully turned in Ivan and his crew¡¯s direction, asking the leader a simple question;

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

 Chapter 65 - How It Ended (Pt 1)

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±

    My eyes narrowed, watching the fool manifest his mana.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to ask you.¡± He said, now straining a smile.

    ¡°You¡¯d really tattle on one of your roomies and cause them to suffer such a punishment just for lunch?¡±

    His question sounded so stupid, like a sorry excuse for justification. I sighed and shook my head. I didn¡¯t have the time or energy for this.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, is it? Since you¡¯re not the culprits. Besides, didn¡¯t you guys day you didn¡¯t care?¡±

    I made to turn away, but Ivan raised his hand and pointed it at me, ring at me in a threatening manner.

    ¡°Oi. I¡¯m trying to be polite here. It¡¯s not nice to tattle on our fellow coursemates.¡±

    ¡®Fellow Coursemates, eh? That¡¯s quite a funny way to describe a bunch of people who totally alienated me.¡¯

    I would have loved to ignore Ivan and just return to my room, but the boy drew closer to me, donning a threatening look. It appeared he wasn¡¯t going to let me return in peace as long as I intended to take the issue to the authorities.

    ¡°You should just let this one go¡­ don¡¯t you think so?¡± He smiled menacingly.

    At this point, I had no idea if this was still the effects of my Mana Pressure, or if Ivan was just in dumb. Why would he decide to choose this method?!

    ¡®Well, if he was smart, he wouldn¡¯t have chosen to take my lunch, to begin with.¡¯ I rightly reasoned.

    When dealing with such a person, maturity had to be suspended. I had to handle him as I would a child and rightly discipline him myself.

    ¡°I think I remember now¡­ that lunch¡­¡± He muttered as he drew closer, disying the mana that leaked from his body as a way to intimidate me.

    ¡°¡­ It was evening already and no one came to get it. Instead of it spoiling, I decided to do the owner a favor and eat it.¡±

    How shameless. I didn¡¯t expect him to actually confess. He must have been confident in his ability to keep my mouth shut.

    ¡°I did the right thing, didn¡¯t I? It¡¯s not good to let food waste, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    At this point, he was already at a close distance from me. Ivan ced one of his hands on my shoulder and gave a confident grin, like everything was going ording to his n since I was motionless.

    He paused, waiting for my answer to his question. Ivan most likely wanted to indirectly coerce me into giving up and losing my resolve. Also, as one ostracized by everyone, it would only prove worse for me to report someone like him of theft.

    ¡®My reputation will take another nosedive and I¡¯ll probably garner a lot of animosity¡­¡¯

    Regardless, I had nothing much to lose. It wasn¡¯t like my reputation was solid, to begin with. It appeared Ivan had overestimated my regard for such paltry things.

    ¡°Well, I think¡­ what you¡¯ve said is nothing short of bullshit!¡±

    My rude remark, coupled with the vulgar word mixed in gave everyone quite the shock, Ivan most of all.

    His face morphed from an intimidating smile to a more aggressive and annoyed expression. He revealed his teeth in a growl. However, it seemed he hadn¡¯t given up on trying to ¡®convince¡¯ me.

    ¡°Hey, little shit¡­¡± Ivan drew his face closer to mine, moving to my ears as he whispered words into them.

    ¡°¡­ If you know what¡¯s good for you, you¡¯d better y along now that I¡¯m being nice. I don¡¯t want to get rough with a fellow coursemate, after all.¡±

    I could feel his strained breath waft on my skin, it felt a little disgusting having someone this stupid so close to me.

    His arms pressed in my shoulders, trying to get a feel of my bones to make me further understand the point he was making. Apparently, threats were all he was good for.

    ¡°Would you remove your hands from my shoulder? I¡¯d like to rx in my room now.¡± I replied.

    He responded ording to my wishes, thinking I had finally conceded to his ¡®deal¡¯. Grinning energetically, he gave a short chuckle.

    ¡°Hehe, I knew you¡¯d get it.¡±

    Ivan must have misunderstood my words, so I had to correct him.

    ¡°Get what? I need to save up my strength for when I report to the supervisor that you took my lunch. Since it was a benevolent act, I¡¯m sure they would ¡®understand¡¯.¡±

    That seemed to have pushed Ivan to the limit of his primitive brain. He growled in annoyance, and increased the tempo of his mana in an instant.

    ¡°Then I guess I¡¯ll have to beat you to the point where you can¡¯t speak!¡±

    Tightening his hands into fists, he took a step back to build momentum for when he would strike me. I suspected he made himself slower on purpose since he wanted to give me room to change my mind. But, that wasn¡¯t going to happen.

    The boys behind Ivan were smirking at me, clearly hoping to enjoy a little beatdown. Well, they were going to see what they wanted, it was a shame I wasn¡¯t going to be the one on the receiving end.

    FWOOOOOSH

    Ivan¡¯s fist, enhanced by the mana coat he had on rushed at me. Judging from its trajectory, he was aiming for my cheek. Most likely going for a quick jab that would render my face swollen and a portion of my teeth shattered to the point that I would experience pain and learn not to speak a word of the perpetrator.

    ¡®In this apartment¡­ even though there are all sorts of rules¡­ there¡¯s no single one against fights!¡¯

    I found that strange, but because of this fact, people like Ivan could resort to measures like this to silence others.

    I felt tempted to smile. After all, since all the conditions had been met, there was no need to hold myself back anymore.

    WHAP!!!

 Chapter 66 - How It Ended (Pt 2)

    WHAP!!!

    A loud pping noise echoed across the ground floor, causing everyone in the lounge to drop their jaws in surprise.

    The sight was quite unbelievable, a total opposite of what they were expecting. Ivan, the one who received a backhand p from me, staggered back, feeling the sharp sting on his cheek as he winced.

    As for his blow, I dodged it easily while responding with that p. As a result, his assault didn¡¯t work at all.

    ¡®I wasn¡¯t going to resort to violence since that would be immature¡­¡¯

    Plus, we were being watched, so there was a chance that violence would attract an unknown penalty. However, I had been patient enough to ensure there were unquestionable justifications for my action.

    One, Ivan stole my lunch.

    Two, he threatened me.

    Three, he struck first.

    Using these three factors as a basis, there was no way I could be shackled by the fear of any punishment.

    In fact, I was well within my rights to attack. And attack I would!

    ¡®Brace yourself, Ivan Smith¡­¡¯

    Ivan, after recoiling from the shocking hit I gave to his now reddened cheek red at me with surprise and anger.

    ¡°You little shit! How dare you!¡± He burst out.

    ¡®Um¡­ what was I supposed to do? Let you hit me instead?¡¯

    The injured pride of Ivan began manifesting as he gave heavy breaths. His eyes bulged, nearly out of their sockets and I could tell he had most likely never gotten such treatment from anyone.

    ¡°Hey, brat! Apologize to Ivan!¡±

    ¡°What do you think you are?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just lunch!¡±

    The minions behind Ivan shouted at me, all eyeing me with animosity, totally different from the amused expressions from earlier.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make you regret this!¡± He tightened his fist.

    ¡®So he¡¯s going for another hit, uh? I should take the initiative, then.¡¯

    WHOOOOSHH

    In a sh, I vanished from where I stood and appeared before Ivan using high-speed movements.

    ¡°W-wha-?!¡±

    Before he could react in shock after seeing about appear before him, I gave another backhand p on his other cheek, causing his head to il in the opposite direction.

    WHAP!

    ¡°Gurgh!¡± He groaned in pain, staggering backward again.

    ¡®What an embarrassment¡­ he¡¯s coating himself with mana and can¡¯t even handle a normal hit from me¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    Ivan lunged at me in fury, trying to catch me off guard as I thought for a moment. The loud noise he made gave him away as I sharply looked up and dodged the powerful blow heunched.

    The vibrating air caused by this mana shook my hair as they missed. I returned the favor by pping him once again on his stinging cheeks, giving him two hits in session.

    WHAP!

    WHAP!

    I was too tired to actually fight this guy seriously. Even if I did, there was no point. He was too weak.

    My stomach was biting me seriously, but I endured. It would be over soon anyway.

    ¡°Argh!¡± He coughed, taking more staggering steps backward.

    At this point, his back rested on the wall close to the door that led to the entrance of our apartment.

    I stood a few meters from him, noticing his cheeks were already swollen to a nice degree. It made him appear to be a puffed animal, entuating his roughish face.

    ¡°Ivan,e one. Teach this little shit a lesson.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s feeling cocky already, just because you¡¯re going easy on him!¡±

    ¡°You little shit! Ivan¡¯s gonna mess you up real good!¡±

    From Ivan¡¯s conflicted expression when hearing those words, I could tell that he was already taking this fight seriously. His pride was on the line, after all.

    Suddenly, I began hearing hurried footsteps and whispersing from all across the apartment. From the sound of things, many people were on their way here.

    A broad grin nearly formed on my face, but I restricted myself. I wasn¡¯t going to reveal anything.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Ivan, and the rest of his crew to notice¡­ that everyone in their rooms had made their way to the stairs to see what was going on in the lounge.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?!¡±

    ¡°Ivan is fighting with someone?!¡±

    ¡°H-hold on, isn¡¯t that¡­ Jared Leonard?!¡±

    Hushed sounds and muffledments permeated the room as a cluster of crowds watched from the stairs and tried to get a view of what was going on.

    Since I was directly backing the stairs, none of them could really see my face, just my view from behind. As for Ivan, he had a swollen face and had already covered his body with mana.

    Things weren¡¯t looking good for him.

    ¡°Oi, oi, is Ivan actually going so far against Jared?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s even using mana! Isn¡¯t that against the rules of this ce?¡±

    ¡°What? No! Didn¡¯t you check the regtions? There¡¯s no mention of fights.¡±

    ¡°That means¡­ we¡¯ll actually get to see something interesting.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think will win?¡±

    ¡°Ivan, of course! The guy is a beast!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see Jared¡¯s performance in the second test though?¡±

    ¡°Pfft, please. That must have been cheating. He¡¯s only a white Core! Ivan is close to the peak of Yellow Core.¡±

    They kept talking and arguing among themselves, unconsciously increasing the tempo of their voices.

    ¡°Look what you¡¯ve caused, Ivan. All I wanted was my lunch.¡± I sighed, giving him a tired expression.

    He growled at me, giving a more menacing look. The boy was well aware that he was to me for all of this, but he hade too far to turn back now.

    ¡°You¡­ I¡¯ll teach you a lesson. You shouldn¡¯t have defied me.¡±

    Raising his hand, he loosened his fist. I was surprised since I expected more pointless swings and jabs from the moron.

    ¡°¡± He chanted.

    Instantly, mes began appearing in his hand. The bright amber light sparked and burst forth, birthing a dancing ball of mes on his hand, asrge as a person¡¯s head.

    Everyone gasped in surprise. Even I had to take a step back in surprise.

    ¡®He¡¯s going to use magic? Really?!¡¯

    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± His voice took a deep, darker undertone.

    The expression he gave showed a hint of danger and I could tell he had reached a point where he saw me as simply an enemy that needed to be eliminated.

    ¡°You¡¯ve brought this upon yourself, Jared¡­¡±

    H

    The mes flickered and seemed to grow bigger in size as he began advancing toward me.

    ¡°¡­Now burn!¡±

 Chapter 67 - How It Ended (Pt 3)

    ¡°Burn!¡±

    Ivan Smith dered, mes in hand¡ª clearly ready tounch it at me with full force.

    ¡®What the heck?!¡¯

    I hadn¡¯t counted on things escting to this extent. I had overestimated Ivan¡¯s intelligence since I thought he would have thought things through.

    ¡®Violence isn¡¯t prohibited, but the destruction of property is!¡¯

    Judging by the intensity of the mes, even if I evaded it, it would destroy furniture and perhaps other things. While it would be considered Ivan¡¯s attack, we would both be penalized since our fight caused it.

    ¡®Damn¡­ I don¡¯t intend on being penalized this early!¡¯

    My stomach bit me, allowing me to remember the pain within me caused byck of nutrition. This caused me to wince. Coupled with my already worried expression, I was certain I looked really pathetic.

    ¡°Looking scared already, eh? Well, it¡¯s toote now!¡± Ivan grinned, bringing the mes closer.

    I realized that he wanted to show off his power in front of everyone at this point. If he yed his card right, people would view him as one who could easily bring anyone into subjection if they defied him.

    This would increase his reputation and give him a better standing among students. Unfortunately, I had no intention of being his stepping stone.

    ¡®It feels like a waste to use this on someone like you, but¡­¡¯

    As Ivan approached with his sparking mes, the brilliant burst of fire suddenly began flickering and in a second, died out entirely.

    ¡°¡­ E-eh?!¡±

    Everyone¡¯s eyes widened as the flickering light went out, wondering what the heck happened. Still, none were as shocked as Ivan, who looked at his palm and found nothing but sizzling smoke.

    ¡°What the-?¡± I heard him whisper.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Weren¡¯t you going to burn me up?¡± I smiled, enduring the pangs of hunger within me.

    He frowned, feeling the weight of public opinion begin to shift from his side. Gritting his teeth, he attempted his spell again and a burst of fireball appeared, causing the smile had previously to return.

    ¡°Oh? Maybe he deactivated that other spell on purpose!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! is a middle-tier Basic Spell, after all. There¡¯s no way Ivan would flop it!¡±

    ¡°He must be getting serious now!¡±

    I smiled, hearing the fickle audience switch sides again. Ivan was pleased by the support of the crowd and took a bold step forward in response. However, just as he moved, his mes went out once again.

    ¡°W-wha-?!¡± His eyes widened, hearing the sizzling of dying mes in his palm.

    Having experienced this twice in a row, the thought had registered in everyone¡¯s mind that this was no fluke. And, just as expected, whispers began spreading.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Ivan can¡¯t chant a fireball spell?¡±

    ¡°No way! You saw what he used in the second round!¡±

    ¡°Then¡­ do you think it¡¯s Jared that¡¯s causing his spell to fail?¡±

    ¡°No way! is a high-ss spell!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so confused right now?¡±

    My grin grew a bit wider as I saw Ivan getting crushed by the barely audible soundsing from the audience. Of course, in his mana-enhanced state, Ivan could hear them too. Having no other option than to re at me, the older boy growled in frustration.

    ¡°You¡­ what did you do?!¡±

    A wry smile appeared on my face. Even if I told him, he wouldn¡¯t get it!

    ¡®In any case, I should end this quickly.¡¯ My thought rang as I clenched my stomach.

    Ivan desperately activated as soon as he saw that I was already making my advance toward him. This time, however, the mes only flickered for a second, not even growing behind a mere spark before dying out.

    ¡°Whu-?!¡±

    He did it again, and this time nothing but sizzling smoke emanated from his palm. Puzzled beyond belief, his eyes went to his palm, and then to me.

    ¡°W-what are you doing?!¡± He cried, gritting his teeth.

    I didn¡¯t bother responding, as I was conserving energy. My steps were slow but steady. In a few seconds, I would reach Ivan.

    His leg began shifting back and I could feel his unease¡ª the temptation to retreat was so evident in his eyes.

    However, if he did so, everyone would get a worse impression of him. Realizing this, he stood firmly in his position and pointlessly tried casting , to no effect.

    ¡®I¡¯m guessing ¡®Fire¡¯ is his major attribute since he¡¯s in the Yellow Core Stage already. Other Spells would take a considerably longer time. That¡¯s why he¡¯s stubbornly clinging to it.¡¯

    Well, even if he used other spells, I had perfect counters for them.

    Ivan began letting out shrieks as his Spell was not working at all, at least to all eyes that could see. Not even smoke came out again.

    ¡°Stop wasting your mana pointlessly¡­ it won¡¯t work,¡± I spoke nkly, a couple of inches from the taller boy.

    Ivan gritted his teeth and decided to forget his spell. At our current range, he had the appropriate reach tond a solid blow on me. With this in mind, he clenched his fist andunched a powerful blow at me.

    My body was sluggish due to the weakness enveloping me, so I didn¡¯t want to do anything as troublesome as moving my body to dodge.

    WHAM!

    Ivan¡¯s fist stopped a few inches from my face, hitting an invisible wall that was so sturdy, it generated a massive noise in response to the opponent¡¯s hit.

    In reflex, Ivan withdrew his hand in pain and let out a little grown. His hand was reddened, caused by the impact between him and my invisible defense.

    His face showed fear and confusion as I took another step closer. The boy¡¯s legs were forced to move backward, retreating as I advanced. I remained unfazed and kept moving.

    In response, his irrational self took over andunched volleys of mana-enhanced punches at me. My invisible barrier took the brunt of all his offenses and only Ivan suffered from all his attacks.

    By the time his back reached the wall and he had nowhere else to retreat to, I had already one of raised my hands, struggling to keep it steady due to my weakened state.

    An idea came to mind, so I decided to act on it.

    ¡®Using it should be enough¡­ with this, it¡¯s my win¡­¡¯

 Chapter 68 - Jareds Overwhelming Victory

    Pointing my index finger at a frightened Ivan, I moved my lips and let out little whispers.

    My words manifested and took the form of a Spell. Invisible waves flew from my pointer and were sent to Ivan in a fraction of a moment.

    ¡°GUARKKKKKK!!!¡±

    The target yelled out in pain, sending loud noise reverberating across the lounge, even the stairs.

    People felt his pain from a distance, but I couldn¡¯t care less. After a few seconds of screaming out, afflicted by something no one could see, Ivan copsed.

    THUD!

    I made way for his body to fall to the ground,pletely powerless to break the fall. Everyone could see from where they stood¡­ Ivan had fallen unconscious.

    ****************************

    After the little mishap, I gave a sharp re to Ivan¡¯s minions and went to my room. Those who upied the stairs instantly parted ways and gave me more than enough room to transverse.

    My eyes darted to Stefan. Apparently, he had been watching my fight with Ivan. Just as before, it seemed like he wanted to say something, but was hesitant about it.

    ¡®Just be quiet, Stefan¡­ I¡¯m not in the mood!¡¯ My mind snapped.

    Walking past him, I went to my room and shut the door tightly. The moment I felt the familiar ambiance of known territory and knew no one was watching¡ª except for those monitoring us, I fell to my bed and gave in to my weakness.

    Sleep couldn¡¯te, since I was so hungry. However, I was allowed to enter a drowsy state. My thoughts trailed to the just-concluded fight with Ivan, and all I had done in such an irrelevant sh.

    Firstly, from the moment Ivan decided to assault me, I activated sound amplification magic, making sure ourmotion attracted a crowd. This was the major reason all the students came to witness our fight even though they would have just been upied with Whatever activities they had nned for the day.

    Since my body was constantly strengthened thanks to my multiple cores and a well-established system within me, I could easily react to Ivan in my hungry state. I could also injure him considerably, even though I was nowhere near being serious.

    And then, the forceful deactivation of his spell was also caused by him. Of course, I couldn¡¯t directly stop with the Spell since was an Advanced Spell. But, I didn¡¯t need to go that far.

    Fire runs on oxygen to remain active. Even though Ivan¡¯s mana summoned mes, it ate at the oxygen around in order to maintain its stable state. Using SPELLCRAFT, I merged my mana with the surroundings and deprived his palm region of any oxygen. This caused his spell to malfunction partway through and fail.

    Of course, the more he tried to activate it, the less it would even work at all. That was why it reached a point where the mes didn¡¯t appear at all.

    He then proceeded to use melee attacks once again, forgetting I was superior inbat. However, my body wasn¡¯t in the best state, so I simply used SPELLCRAFT to harden the surface tension of the air, coagting space particles with my mana. This caused the invisible shields to protect me.

    I didn¡¯t have enough focus and energy topletely shield my entire body, so I used my eyes to trail his movements, predicting where he would strike. This allowed me to create little shields only in those areas.

    As for thest spell I used to render him unconscious, it was also due to the aid of SPELLCRAFT. Using osciting waves at low frequencies, I sent them in varying proportions to his ear regions.

    Some people weren¡¯t aware of this, but the ears are responsible for bnce in any human body. Picking up sounds in form of waves makes the ear maintain a state of equilibrium.

    By distorting the waves and sending various types in uneven proportions, I caused a forced state of imbnce in Ivan. The forced and sudden perception of both high and low frequencies rapidly registering in his nerves caused him to experience artificial pain, sending him into a state of unconsciousness.

    ¡®Of course, it was all hallucinatory. His physical self remains unharmed¡ª well, he did fall, so that was already enough damage on his body.¡¯

    I sighed in silence, feeling a little frustrated. Using so much effort for such small fry was stupid of me. However, if I had just relied on brute force, I may have destroyed the property of the Academy.

    ¡®I had no choice¡­¡¯

    Of course, that wasn¡¯t true¡ª but I took sce in that excuse.

    KNOCK

    KNOCK

    I heard steady bangs on my door. A feeling of annoyance welled up within me. My body was in no shape to move anywhere, yet why was I being disturbed.

    Sighing, I sluggishly stepped out of bed and moved to answer the knock¡ª just in case it was important.

    ¡°Yyess, who¡¯s the-?¡±

    My tired voice stopped midway upon realizing no one was standing at the other end. I had opened the door to no one!

    ¡®Which bastard did this?!¡¯ My inner self went wild with fury.

    Was I already so tired that I was experiencing audible hallucinations? No, there was no way. Someone had definitely knocked! They must have scurried off the moment they did this. My mind was seething in annoyance, wondering who would have the gall to do such a thing after experiencing my match with Ivan.

    The burning anger within me melted the moment my eyes fell to the ground and I saw a container with a note affixed to it. My eyes bulged instantly, recognizing the box that sat on the smooth surface of the floor.

    ¡°M-my lunch!¡±

    My voice was emotional as I nearly broke down seeing such a miraculous existence. I had never been as grateful in both my lives for seeing food. I felt an odd feeling of nirvana at that moment and slowly moved to touch the item, making sure I wasn¡¯t hallucinating.

    ¡®It¡¯s real!¡¯

 Chapter 69 - Fear

    ¡®It¡¯s real!¡¯ My eyes widened further.

    Picking up the box, I read the shabby note affixed to it. The handwriting was awful, as though it was written in a hurry.

    ~ This is your lunch. We never ate it. We are sincerely sorry for taking such a precious thing, please have mercy. We beg of you. Please don¡¯t report us to the authorities or take personal action. We¡¯ll do anything! That¡¯s a promise!~

    ¡°Pfft!¡± Augh leaked out.

    My lips curled up to make a broad grin the moment I realized who my benefactors were. If only they had done this sooner¡ª those idiots.

    Since my mood had significantly improved, I decided to let them off. Of course, this would only apply after they fulfilled their end of the offer rendered.

    ¡°¡­ They¡¯ll do anything, uh? Interesting¡­¡±

    ****************************

    Evening soon arrived and dinner was brought. Everyone strolled down to get their share¡ª including Ivan and his squad. The first to reach the food site was me, causing everyone to look at each other strangely.

    Surprised that I, who was never an earlyer, got to the food site before anyone else.

    I gave passive looks at the ufortable students as they each took their food and hurriedly left, the scene of this afternoon was still etched into their minds.

    When it was the turn of Ivan¡¯s squad, they appeared even more nervous¡ª Ivan most especially.

    Quickly deciding to act like the rest and take their food quickly, they made for their boxes. However¡­

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± I asked with an imposing tone.

    At that moment, they all looked in my direction and saw me give them an evil smile. My grin stretched so far and wide that one could mistake me for a demon, but I didn¡¯t care.

    Moving closer to them, I gave a slight huff¡ª causing the group to shiver.

    ¡°I saw your note.¡±

    The moment I said this, Ivan¡¯s minions nodded respectfully and bowed their heads to offer sincerity. The ringleader looked surprised that his mobs were acting with allegiance, but before he said anything I interrupted.

    ¡°What are you waiting for, Ivan? Do you want another round? Or do you want me to report your actions to the authorities? Choose.¡±

    It seemed that even after his beatdown, the idiot still had a great deal of pride left. Using my imposing tone, I offered his choices. If he still nned on acting stuck-up, only a cruel fate awaited him.

    Clenching his teeth in frustration, Ivan finally gave in. Bowing his head, just like the rest of the people around him, he offered an apology. Of course, it wasn¡¯t sincere.

    ¡®Forced or not, he apologized. I suppose this should for now¡­¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t a petty person who only wanted an apology, so it didn¡¯t matter if he offered his without meaning it. This was only a pretext for my actual desire.

    ¡°Your dinner. Hand ¡¯em over!¡± I stated nkly.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes bulged in shock the moment I said this. It was so forward, so crude, so imposing¡ª but there was no way to ask for their meals, now was there?

    Ivan and his mobs remained silent, looking at me with surprise. They probably didn¡¯t think of me as someone who would resort to something like this.

    ¡°What? You¡¯re not going to do it? I suppose you didn¡¯t mean what you wrote in that letter. If that¡¯s the case, then I should also-¡±

    From my tone, they knew what I was talking about. The letter told me the group was willing to do anything in exchange for mercy. If that was true, then their dinner was only a small price to pay.

    ¡°N-no, please wait!¡± They yelled the moment I was leaving.

    It was a difficult choice to make. Food was important to everyone, after all. However, if they knew what was good for them¡­

    *****************************

    Just as expected, they all gave me their dinner¡ª even Ivan who seemed like he would rather die. In the end, none of them were keen on being punished for stealing.

    Unlike them, I would receive no penalty for my actions since they gave their food to me willingly.

    ¡°Huu¡­ I have twelve dinner packs here¡­¡± I mumbled, looking at the tes before me.

    Of course, it would be impossible for me to finish everything in a single night. I had arge appetite, but¡ª just like every human, I had limits.

    Still, this much was necessary for what I would be performing tonight!

    ¡®During our stay here, I haven¡¯t meditated even once¡­¡¯

    The reason was due to the fact that we were being watched. I didn¡¯t want any eyes of suspicion to fall on me. Another pivotal reason was the limited food provided for all of us. A certain quantity of meals was given, and while they contained high nutritional value, and could be said to be enough for any student our age¡ª the food supply was limited.

    ¡®Circting the flow of mana in my body, strengthening and forming my Mana Core¡­ they take a huge amount of energy and stamina!¡¯

    Even back when I was in my house, I constantly had food being delivered to me after every session. The household was all aware of the fact that I ate huge amounts of food.

    It wasn¡¯t that I was a glutton¡ª though the food brought to me was always delicious, I needed the energy to keep going in my mana cirction. If I didn¡¯t restock, I would run out of gas and pass out.

    It was dangerous doing something like that here since food wasn¡¯t at my beck and call. However, now that I had highly nutritious meals¡­ I could pull it off!

    ¡®Let¡¯s start by strengthening my already existing Mana Cores¡­¡¯

    I didn¡¯t care for supervision at this point. Getting stronger was more important¡ª plus, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to notice what was going on within my body. If they were curious and asked, I could simplye up with an excuse and pin it on my family or something.

    ¡°Huu¡­ let¡¯s begin.¡± A whisper escaped my pursed lips.

    It would be a long night, but if I was fortunate, I would be able to make significant progress. Even if I wasn¡¯t close to making a 4th Core, increasing the potency and capacity of my other cores took priority.

    ¡®Hehehe¡­¡¯

 Chapter 70 - Bottom Of The Barrel

    ¡°T-that¡¯s unbelievable¡­¡± Damien¡¯s voice trailed the moment us finished his report.

    To think that a brat whom he had deemed worthless due to his Core would beat someone as talented as Ivan so easily. us wouldn¡¯t dare lie to him about something like that, so Damien knew it had to be urate.

    ¡°I refuse to ept that!¡± Damien banged his hand on his desk.

    The sudden sound of his clenched fist hitting the t surface of the table startled us, causing him to jump slightly.

    Damien¡¯s anger could be clearly seen, so the supervisor did nothing except swallow his saliva in difort. The reason for Damien¡¯s annoyance was something anyone who knew him was well aware of.

    Damien Lawcroft hated White Mana Core Grade, no, untalented Magic-Users. He despised them deeply. The reason for his deep-seated hatred was shrouded in mystery, though a few rumors were flying around concerning this.

    ¡®Sigh, let¡¯s just get this over with so I can leave already!¡¯ us screamed internally.

    ¡°I can¡¯t ept this. Maybe Ivan was having a bad day. It happens to Magic-Users sometimes¡­ besides, we still don¡¯t know why his fire spell malfunctioned¡­¡± Damien muttered, trying to bring up all manner of excuses.

    us just sighed silently. His superior didn¡¯t want to ept the fact that Ivan lost due to his inferiority in abilitypared to Jared. Even if he managed to dismiss the results of the duel¡ª if it could be called that, it didn¡¯t change the fact that Jared¡¯s perfect score in the first two parts of his exam was beyond amazing. If not for the newly adopted third part of the exam, he would have easily scored the top spot.

    Still, us knew better than to say this to Damien who was seething in annoyance, too drowned in his prejudice to think rationally.

    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter in the end. Even if he managed to best Ivan, there¡¯s no hope for him now¡­ after all¡­¡±

    us knew quite well what his superior meant by the words he spoke in a low undertone. The cements of everyone had already been decided, and Jared belonged to the Lower ss.

    Not only would their education be of poorer qualitypared to the rest, but they would also be shown the least preference when it came to issues of pertinence in the Academy. Even though the students there would be better than average by the time they graduated, they would be nothingpared to those in other sses.

    The prejudice against lower ced students was also something that would terribly affect their mentality and perception in society. As a staff of the great Ainrk Academy, us felt a little upset by the current system.

    The reason they had adopted this new method was because of the Supremest faction who valued talent and bloodline above all else. They were made up of nobles and high-ranking officials in the Kingdom and their goals were simply to shackle those who they considered ¡®unworthy¡¯ to rise to a position of prominence.

    Of course, Damien Lawcroft was a member of this faction¡ª and a high-ranking one at that. Exerting his influence, among others, they were finally able to make the educational reform and segregate the talented from the less adept.

    It wasn¡¯t like their idea didn¡¯t have any advantages attached. If there were no merits, Ainrk would never implement such a policy. However, the rationale behind such a n was the discrimination against the less talented¡ª that alone made the cause contaminated.

    ¡®Whatever¡­ I should just mind my business¡­¡¯ us heaved another heavy sigh.

    He did have a fleeting thought as Damien began addressing him once more, making sure the preparations were made for the students who would be making it to the Upper-ss.

    ¡®Jared Leonard seems like such a promising individual¡­ if only things were different¡­¡¯

    ******************************

    As expected, we were all called out of the apartment after having breakfast. Since it was ourst day in the ce, everyone was already prepared for what came next.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be moving you to the main auditorium now. The rest of the students would have gathered there already.¡± us Tallman spoke to us.

    As the supervisor in charge of our male group, he had personallye to gather us for the assembly.

    ¡®I haven¡¯t seen him since the first day¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed, recollecting that several other staff took charge on their respective days.

    ording to what us was saying, the true academic session began today and we were all to gather at the central auditorium. Even though we had been given a tour of the school grounds and knew our way there, it only made sense that he would escort us personally.

    ¡®I suppose this will be thest time I will be receiving such treatment.¡¯

    The Lower-ss awaited me, after all.

    Flowing us like obedientbs, our group of boys trailed behind. Before long, we met up with the female students. They were, of course, being led by their female supervisor. I wasn¡¯t aware of her name, but it was only a matter of time.

    Though most of the girls had eyes on a few boys¡ª like Ivan Smith or Stefan Netherlore, I felt a particr gaze on me. My eyes rolled as I could already guess who it was.

    ¡®I¡¯m not going to look!¡¯

    No matter how hard Maria Helmsworth stared, I decided not to pay her any attention. Focusing on the path before us, my mind trailed to my session the previous night.

    The food I received from Ivan and his group was barely enough to sustain me throughout the night. I was so hungry once breakfast arrived that I devoured my meal on the spot.

    I saw the students look at me with curious nces as I ate, especially Ivan¡¯s crew¡ª who were surprised that I could eat with such gumption after having a feast to myself the previous night.

    They weren¡¯t aware of the pains I went through, though. And it was all worth it!

    Even though I was merely a White Mana Core Grade, the amount of energy stored in my individual cores was equivalent, if not superior to any of the students around. Well, exceptions like Maria and Stefan, maybe Ivan existed. Still, to think I had three Mana Cores with equal proportion to a Yellow Core Grade¡­ individually!

    ¡®I¡¯ve be quite strong¡­¡¯

    Still, it wasn¡¯t enough. We were now heading into the lion¡¯s den. The grand assembly where all Ainrk students were gathered. I would be meeting my seniors there, plus we would all be divided into categories.

    While my fate was drawing the short end of the stick, I had no intention of remaining at the bottom.

    ¡®Bring it on! I¡¯ll show you what happens when you underestimate me!¡¯

 Chapter 71 - Grand Hall

    We all saw the grand hall from afar before venturing within. It was a tall and wide building,parable to the colosseum we had our tests. Though, I had to admit that this was smaller. Its elegance made it superior to the one we had seen previously, though.

    Brimming brightly in the sun stood the castle-like Ainrk Academy Grand Hall where the general assembly would be held.

    Hurrying in our footsteps, we made it to the hall¡¯s entrance. It was designed as a two-door entrance, and upon arriving, us and the other woman¡ª whose name I finally found out to be Isabelle, opened both sides of the door and granted us entry.

    ¡°Whoah¡­!¡± Escaped from the mouths of many.

    I maintained my poker face, but being honest, excitement welled up within me as well.

    ¡®Ohh, nicee!¡¯ My mind rang.

    The hall had a veryrge interior. Designed elegantly, the shiny white paint that covered the surface of everything made therge ce look brighter than it actually was. Several chandeliers hung on the ceiling, and from both sides of the walls we walked past¡ª gs of multiple colors were spread.

    I recognized the insignia of some of them. The Royal Family, Ainrk¡¯s Original, The Magic Society, predecessors of Ainrk who revolutionized the world¡ª some of which I knew personally. There were a few gs I didn¡¯t recognize, most likely due to my iplete knowledge of the modern world of Magic.

    My eyes finally caught something close to the end of the line of gs¡­ it felt oddly familiar and resonated with me for a second.

    Finally, my eyes bulged when my recollection caught up to me.

    ¡®T-this is!¡¯

    Looking at the elegantly sewn g that had the designs of a pair of goggles, books, and a pen, I instantly knew. The logo belonged to me!

    ¡®Ah, I see¡­ so those bastards really did as they said they would¡­¡¯ I smirked smugly.

    Before I died, the head of Ainrk was beside me¡ª among the king and other notable members of society. The younger man, considering my age back then, had told me that he would immortalize me by making sure my g was among the legends in Ainrk¡¯s history.

    ¡®Looking at it now¡­ this feels weird¡­¡¯

    I didn¡¯t have the time to revel in the past, though, since we were on a move. My eyes finally descended and I noticed the hall was already nearly full. Eight rows were arranged in an orderly fashion, and standing in their designated positions were the students.

    ¡®Looks like we¡¯rete¡­¡¯ I mused.

    The students all had uniforms on them, though of different colors. We already learned about it in our orientation. First years wore white-colored uniforms. Blue was designated for the second years while red was given to third years.

    All uniforms were exquisitely sewn, having no ws whatsoever. Since nobles and the highest members of society had children here, it was to be expected.

    Of course, we all had our uniforms on¡ª it was given to us on the first day and hung in all our wardrobes. The uniform remained there just for this moment.

    Yes, I was donning my pure white uniform, as though expressing the core I possessed. It was pretty cool since golden threads wereced around it to form designs.

    I had a cool zer on, with a waistcoat to cover the pure white shirt underneath. The golden designs on my uniform made it look beautiful, extending to many areas in lines. Even the tie worn around my cor had golden designs on it. I had a school badge on the left breast pocket of my zer, showing the same insignia as the Ainrk logo on one of the gs.

    The other uniforms had golden designs on them too, simr to one another. The only change in uniforms was the color¡ª I supposed.

    Now navigating our way around the hall, some of the eyes of our seniors nced back¡ª while others didn¡¯t seem interested. Of the eight rows lined up in an orderly fashion, counting from the left side, three had red-colored uniforms. They were followed by three with blue colored uniforms.

    Looking to the far right, I saw thest two straight lines. They were dressed in white¡ª the same as ours.

    ¡®So that must be them, uh?¡¯ My thoughts trailed and a slight smile formed on my face.

    We were already informed of the three major departments in Ainrk Academy. There were three courses one could offer at this institute.

    Magic Arts. Martial Arts. Schr Innovative Arts.

    The other two departments had fewer members than us, but were still legitimately first-year students. They held different exams from us¡ª having only a total of 30 passing from both their departments.

    ¡®Looks like things are pretty cutthroat no matter the department¡­¡¯

    In the first ce, the bulk of examinees applying to the other two departments were those who had been rejected for Magic. Thinking they had better try their luck in other departments, the fools who took the exams ended up being unsuitable for neither. In the end, only the few who actually had talent in either Martial Arts or were extremely gifted in ¡®Schrhood¡¯ would be epted.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be having some fun times with them as well¡­¡± I grinned in slight satisfaction.

    us and Isabelle directed us to the row of white-dressed students. They were separated into male and female rows¡ª unlike our seniors who were most likely lined up ording to their ss. Upper ss, Middle ss, Lower ss¡­ I knew that could be the only exnation.

    ¡®Oh well¡­ let¡¯s join the line first¡­¡¯

    With the help of the supervisors already present with the thirty white-d students and our own, we were able to orderly merge with them. Our numbers were a total of 130. We had a total of eighty-nine boys and forty-one girls¡ª a pretty funny contrast, in my opinion.

    Suddenly, the hall that was brimming with life and energy died down. In a sh everyone stood, motionless. Their faces were all directed to the elevated stage in front of us.

    Someone was entering the stage, or rather, appearing before all of us.

    I recognized the man well¡­ he was-

 Chapter 72 - Lower Class (Pt1)

    ¡°I wee all the students gathered here!¡±

    The voice that boomed out caused all the young-looking people who stood in orderly lines to straighten up their postures and don serious expressions.

    Now was no time forughs or any sign of ease. The Academic Supervisor, and a senior lecturer himself, Damien Lawcroft was standing right before them.

    On an elevated tform that looked like a wide stage, the man stood upright¡ª having a slightly dissatisfied look on his face. Looking around the students, his eyes scanned them at what seemed like lightning-fast speed.

    There were a total of eight lines, all stretching backward. The first six lines were in ordance with the ss System. They belonged to the members of the senior stages 2 and 3. As for the new entrants, they had two lines¡ª for boys and girls.

    Looking green and more nervous than the others, the first years gulped and shuddered in the presence of the overwhelming presence the man before them carried¡ª with a few exceptions, of course.

    Damien smiled softly as he saw those who maintained their cool in the senior sses, down to the new entrants. The strong-willed ones who would be the future of the magic society. Those in the high ss all had a confident air around thempared to others.

    Even among the new entrants, mixed amid those who jittered their teeth and looked around the hall to distract themselves from the unease felt down to their bones, those who weren¡¯t fazed were present.

    ¡®Stefan Netherlore, Maria Helmsworth, Ivan Smith, Trevor Kysel¡­¡¯ Damien Lawcroft¡¯s thoughts trailed as he was noticing the riding buds among the students.

    They were exemry, all donning an exuberance that depicted the very essence of Upper-ss members of Ainrk Academy.

    His eyes suddenly came to a halt when he saw another student who gave off the same atmosphere as the others he had seen¡ª no, his was far more intense. It was as though he was the very essence of confidence. No sign of hesitation, and a pure brilliant smile that made the others look like pretending fools inparison.

    ¡®¡­ Jared Leonard!¡¯

    ***********************************

    Damien looked ufortable seeing me, one could guess the reason why.

    He must have been informed of my sh with Ivan¡ª after all, we were being monitored. Even us treated me differently while on our way to the hall, looking at me more than a dozen times. It was a good thing, though. It meant I was already gaining a reputation that would inadvertently lead to my greatness.

    His scowl deepened once our eyes came into contact, and I could tell he was upset at me. Of course, I knew of the whole faction governing this school. It wasn¡¯t explicit Information, but by deducing the facts I had gathered so far¡ª it made perfect sense.

    During the orientation, I made sure to learn as much as I could about Ainrk. It was an interesting ce, but the procedures of teaching in the pastpared to the present had a dissonance. Investigating further into it, I realized that there were two warring factions¡ª I didn¡¯t know the details, but apparently one side was the one who brought about this new method of learning called the ¡®ss System¡¯.

    Damien was a member of the board, as well as the new Academic Supervisor. Certainly, he was all for this idea.

    That meant he despised the fact that I was able to gain so much merit in my exams despite being a White Core Grade¡ª even beating Ivan up. Still, he was an inevitabledder I had to cross.

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Damien¡­ I won¡¯t cause you any trouble if you stay out of my way.¡¯

    I somehow doubted that, though.

    ¡°As current students of Ainrk, I am certain you are all aware of the workings of this institute. Even the new entrants have already been informed of most of the details concerning your stay here.¡± Damien Lawcroft began.

    ¡°¡ª I will be skimming through the most important ones.¡±

    He spoke concerning the duration of our education at Ainrk Academy. Three years was the standard amount of time spent within the institute¡ª after that was an internship that took a year. At the age of 16, one became a legal adult and could pursue any path that opened up for them.

    I already had my ns, so this was not an issue.

    Damien further emphasized the ss System, bringing out a list of names. A grin of satisfaction formed on his face as he began sorting out the good eggs from the bad. The first years were called to the stage ording to our ranks and presented before everyone present.

    ¡°Joining the Upper ss, a total of twelve students.¡± Damien began happily.

    I knew the numbers would be so small, but I didn¡¯t expect them to be so few!

    ¡°Maria Helmsworth. Stefan Netherlore. Ivan Smith. Trevor Kysel. Lily Pienhart¡­¡±

    The students trailed to the elevated tform by climbing the very short flight of stairs by the side. They all presented themselves before the seniors and juniors alike¡ª just like honor students.

    I felt a little sting of envy since I had every right to be among them, but suppressed my annoyance. The start hardly mattered in a race. I simply had to save my strength and channel it toward something more productive.

    Damien¡¯s eyes went to me and he gave a disgustingly condescending re, as though telling me not to even dream of achieving any great heights.

    ¡®I wonder how he¡¯ll feel if he realizes he¡¯s dissing one of the immortalized figures in this Academy¡­¡¯ I mused.

    After he called upon them, Damien ordered the twelve to return, forming a separate line for them. Next, he called the Middle-ss Students.

    By the time he was done with the names, I calcted a total of eighty of them. That was a huge spike from the first call.

    ¡®So, the Lower ss Students are a mere 38, uh?¡¯

    Well, all things considered, it was usible. Most students would fall in the middle ss, while the ones considered dregs¡ª who barely got into Ainrk, had to be fewer.

    I was a little happy, though. Most of those in the Lower ss who hadn¡¯t been called to the stage yet were from the Martial Arts and Schr divisions.

    I didn¡¯t have to deal with the snubs of the Magic Arts Department. It was like a brand new chance to makerades.

    Tightly gripping my fist in resolution, I made up my mind to make a better impression on those who would be my future friends.

    ¡®We¡¯re all in this together, guys!¡¯

 Chapter 73 - Lower Class (Pt 2)

    The Middle-ss Students were sent down the stage and also formed their line. The boys and girls from the remnant lines were told to merge, forming the Lower ss line¡ª same as our seniors.

    I waited for our turn to rise to the stage. It would be a funny experience staring down on so many young ones as a new entrant, but I was prepared for it.

    ¡°Alright. On to the next matter at hand¡­ your Lecturers.¡±

    My eyes twitched a little.

    Damien didn¡¯t call us to the stage. Instead, he decided to skip regr procedures and dive straight into the next item on the list.

    ¡®Oi¡­ you¡¯re kidding me, right?¡¯

    Arge portion of my rationality told me to let it go, that it was no big deal. However, I couldn¡¯t overlook his intentional error. Perhaps it was due to the childish emotions within my smaller body, or a degree of pent-up anger¡ª I couldn¡¯t bottle in my increasing dissatisfaction with someone who imed to be a Lecturer in this great Academy.

    Using sound amplification magic, I cleared my throat and spoke out with absolute confidence.

    ¡°Excuse me, Sir Damien Lawcroft¡ª Great Academic Supervisor and Senior Lecturer of Ainrk Academy¡­ I believe you¡¯ve missed a line.¡± My voice echoed throughout therge hall.

    Instantly, everyone¡¯s eyes darted to me. Surprise, fear, disbelief¡ª many emotions were mixed in their facial expressions. I chose to ignore all the eyes on me, even the ones from the new entrants such as myself. There was only one person I concentrated on.

    ¡°Oh? What is this?¡± Damien Lawcroft turned in my direction and walked on the elevated tform, nearing where my line was.

    A condescending smile was on his face, a contrast to the frown that existed on mine. I red at him¡ª enough to tell him my stance on his impudence.

    ¡°The regtions state that you introduce all new entrants to the other students in the assembly. Whether or not we¡¯re Lower ss shouldn¡¯t matter. This is the most basic of basics, Sir Damien Lawcroft¡ª we were taught all of this thanks to the excellent orientation you prepared for us.¡±

    A mix of disrespect coupled with reverence could be heard in my tone. While I took a courteous stance, it was clear that my true intentions were anything but¡ª at least to Damien whose smile began to vanish the more I spoke.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± His lips pursed, showing a grim, forbidden look.

    I had crossed a line.

    However, with students numbering nearly five hundred all present in the hall¡ª teachers as well, Damien Lawcroft couldn¡¯t act rashly.

    This made my lips break from the scowl I had and turn into a soft smile. Seeing this infuriated Damien even more, but he was restricted in his actions.

    ¡®You¡¯re only our Supervisor. There¡¯s really nothing more you can do now that I¡¯ve been epted as a student. Plus, you¡¯re the one in vition of the protocols.¡¯

    With this line of thought, I awaited the man¡¯s next move. If he was only a bumbling idiot, then he would only achieve disgrace in front of everyone. However, if he had an ounce of sense, then¡ª

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­ it must have skipped my mind.¡± Damien Lawcroft responded¡ª just as I expected.

    My grin became broader.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fine sir. We all make mistakes.¡±

    A big ¡®oooh¡¯ and ¡®ahhhh¡¯ permeated the hall as everyone was surprised by my gall. The teachers, especially us¡ª whom I spotted from the corner of my eyes, all looked shocked.

    Still, Damien kept his cool. Leaving where he stood, he returned to the center of the elevated stage and returned his gaze to the long parchment in his grasp.

    ¡°I shall now mention the name of the Lower ss Students.¡±

    I nodded in satisfaction. The names of my new ssmates poured out. As the students heard their names, they climbed the stage. Whether or not they belonged to a low ss, they were still Ainrk Students deserving of respect. Every single one of them topped the thousands who failed. The least amount of reverence should be given to them¡ª that was the reason I refused to have the names of students in the Lower ss names skipped.

    ¡°¡­ Jared Leonard.¡±

    Hearing my name, I jumped a little in surprise. It still felt strange, but what of it? I climbed the stage in what I could only call a graceful manner. The piercing gazes of everyone around me would cause anyone to faint. No one wasn¡¯t paying any attention to me now.

    Though this was an entirely different way to go about it, I had gained everyone¡¯s recognition. It was only a matter of time before I earned their respect.

    Damien called more names and after he was done, he introduced us Lower ss Students¡ª sending us back after he was done.

    As I went back to my line, I heard a buzzing sound in my head. It was familiar, but the signature of this felt oddly different from the other one I experienced.

    ~Don¡¯t think you¡¯ve had your way, brat. You¡¯re all still trash!~ The gruff voice echoed in my head.

    Of course, it was from Damien Lawcroft. He told me what he didn¡¯t have the gall to say in front of all the students and staff gathered. It didn¡¯t faze me at all since I knew his words didn¡¯t ring true. Still, Damien had clearly proven he would be a stumbling block in my path. As such¡­ he had to be eliminated!

    ¡®It¡¯s just as I said in the beginning¡­ I won¡¯t cause trouble for you if you stay out of my way.¡¯

    It was a pity he has to do the opposite.

    After we returned to our lines, Damien called out the teachers who would be taking our sses.

    Like a ¡®poof¡¯ in the air, a couple of people appeared through teleportation behind Damien. It happened so fast that everyone was stunned¡ª even the seniors. These would be our Lecturers.

    I saw nine smartly dressed individuals. They looked formal and exquisite in their unique attires. Among them was Legris Damien. His eyes darted to me for a second and winked. Iughed a little at his gesture¡ª the man hadn¡¯t changed a bit.

 Chapter 74 - Lecturer

    ¡°As you all know, each ¡®ss¡¯ is assigned a Lecturer to teach them. Some additional teachers will be specialized in particr courses and electives¡ª but the general courses will be taught by your assigned lecturers.¡±

    We all paid rapt attention as Damien addressed us. I was especially concerned with the nine Lecturers who weren¡¯t exactly lined up in perfect order. For example, Legris was stationed close to our Lower ss on the elevated tform¡ª but that didn¡¯t mean he would be teaching us.

    ¡®He¡¯s a senior lecturer, after all¡­¡¯

    ¡°I will now introduce your Lecturers to you.¡±

    Mentioning their names starting from all the Upper sses, Damien began allocating the lecturers. As expected, Legris was assigned to the Upper ss of the 2nd Years. All Lecturers assigned to high-end sses had to be very high in rank.

    After he was done with the most important students, the Middle-ss lectures were allocated. I waited in patience. After he was done, only three lecturers were left. One of the three would be our teachers

    None of them looked especially impressive. As one would expect from the least qualified lecturers, they were nothingpared to the others¡ª dress-wise and the aura they emitted.

    However¡­

    My eyes darted to one of the three who appeared to be the least conspicuous. He had an air of nonchnce about him, and out of everyone else, he dressed the simplest. Having a in shirt that wasn¡¯t tucked in at all, along with ck pants with golden threads forming a straight horizontal line, his shoes were average.

    ¡®His tie looks nice, though¡­¡¯ I thought to myself, admiring the nice logo it had at the center.

    Unfortunately, his tie was loosened around his cor, making him look rougher than normal. His buttons didn¡¯t even reach the top, stopping two steps short. His sleeves were even folded up, disying a good portion of his arms¡ª they were firm and evenly toned.

    If anyone saw him, they would instantly wish he wouldn¡¯t be chosen as their lecturer. No, they would even wonder why he would be considered a lecturer in the first ce. Even students were dressed better than he was.

    However¡­ I wasn¡¯t like the others. There was no way I could make a pedestrian judgment based only on appearance. He stood out too much, which made my curiosity piqued.

    Furrowing my eyes a little, I ignored the others and focused on this man alone¡­ he¡­

    I saw his bored eyes slowly turn in my direction the moment I tried prying into him. This shocked me for a moment, but I refused to loseposure.

    A smile formed on the man¡¯s face as he took his eyes off me¡ª practically forgetting what I was about to do.

    ¡®Huu, I knew it. He¡¯s not normal.¡¯

    Damien called out the names of the Lecturers allocated to the Lower sses, and to my ssmates¡¯ dismay, the very ruffian who was nothing like a lecturer was chosen to teach us.

    I heard grumbles and dissatisfied soundsing from everyone, but amid everyone¡¯s annoyance by the choice, I felt strangely satisfied.

    Something about the man called Neron Kaelid made me grin in excitement.

    ¡®There¡¯s no way I want an average teacher! This unique guy¡­ he¡¯s perfect for our ss.¡¯

    I saw Damien frown from the corner of my eye. He had donned a satisfied grin moments ago, but after seeing that I was happy with his choice for my ss, that fulfillment in his face turned sour.

    Professor Neron Kaelid moved closer to our ss line, as the other lecturers had done for their various sses, bringing the both of us closer in distance. As though by coincidence, our eyes met and I was met with yet another amused smile from the man.

    With a smile on my face as well, I didn¡¯t look away.

    ¡®Let¡¯s get along well, Teach.¡¯

    **********************************

    We were dismissed after the assembly was over. sses started that very day, so we had to leave for our various lecture halls. ording to the Academy¡¯s ss System, the Upper ss made up of all Years had their territory¡ª the same applied to Middle and Lower sses. The Dorms were also separated that way.

    ¡®That means I¡¯ll be living among Lower ss seniors¡­ interesting¡­¡¯

    We already knew our dorms, and our dorm numbers had been given to us. Just as in the previous apartment, we didn¡¯t need keys to open them¡ª a magic signature would have to do.

    However, going to our various dorms would have to wait. At the moment, we needed to attend our first Lecture. There were multiple exits in the hall, so each ss took one of each and exited the wide building, making way to their ssrooms.

    ¡°This should be fun¡­¡± I whispered.

    [Thirty Minutes Later]

    Well, remember how I had said our first Lecture would be fun? Well¡­ at the moment I wasn¡¯t so sure anymore. Why?

    It was because we hadn¡¯t even started yet!

    Everyone was given five minutes to reach their respective sses and another five to settle down. Afterward, lectures would begin in earnest.

    As a result, those of the First Year, Lower ss, made it to our hall just in time. The first thing I thought of when entering the facility was that it was unimpressive.

    Of course, since it was still a hall within Ainrk, it wasn¡¯t run down or anything. It had the appropriate standard befitting the institute. However, that was all there was to it. Compared to the other buildings we had seen, this particr lecture hall could be considered trash.

    It only had one entrance which also served as the exit. The interior was not decorated, having a in brown color of wood that was used to furnish the ce. The wood was in good condition, but still¡­

    It was a spacious hall, though. There were more than enough seats for all the students gathered¡ª a total of 50 Seats.

    Since our numbers were only 38, there was no problem. Still, I couldn¡¯t help butpare this hall to my mental imagery of the other halls the higher ced students would be using.

    I grudgingly epted my current predicament and settled at the very front of the ss.

    ¡®I¡¯m no cker!¡¯

    However, even after our lecture was supposed to have started, no lecturer showed up. It had been twenty minutes since we were supposed to begin ss¡ª nothing came forth.

    ¡®Is this really how I¡¯ll begin my first day in school?¡¯

 Chapter 75 - Introductions

    BAM!

    The only door leading to and out of the ssroom was flung open as someone ventured in.

    The sudden sound startled everyone¡ª who had already given up on anyone showing up and were already engaged in conversation.

    From the corner of their surprised eyes, they saw the one who entered the ssroom. He had the usual causal air around him and his outfit was as radical as always. Walking in with a nonchnt stride, he walked to the center of the ssroom stage where a lectern was erected.

    A smile formed on my face as I followed the man¡¯s movements, as though my eagerness had been quelled.

    ¡®Where have you been? I¡¯ve been waiting forever, Neron Kalied!¡¯

    While others were engaged in conversation¡ª except for a few, I was bored out of my mind. It wasn¡¯t my policy to sit around doing nothing, but that was all I did for over twenty minutes.

    ¡®Next time, I¡¯ll just bring a book along with me to ss¡­¡¯

    The students slowly ceased their talks and those who were standing subtly returned to their seats. Despite the man¡¯s appearance and tardiness, he was still a lecturer. No student dared to show defiance before him.

    ¡°I apologize for beingte.¡± Neron began.

    This came as a surprise to many since Lecturers weren¡¯t known for their polite nature, especially one that looked rough like him.

    ¡°I was called by the Academic Supervisor as well as a few others concerning my outfit today¡­¡± His voice trailed.

    This nearly drove augh out of me. All things considered, he was dressed inappropriately for a Lecturer. He must have received some chewing-out by his superiors.

    ¡°Now then, let¡¯s begin!¡± His voice sparked and the air of unease seemed to drift away the moment a wide grin appeared on the man¡¯s face.

    To everyone¡¯s surprise, as I noticed by looking around, the Lecturer we had wasn¡¯t all bad. Not only had he apologized to us, but he also donned a bright and friendly smile to begin our time together.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get the troublesome stuff out of the way first. You should all introduce yourselves.¡±

    He pointed to the back of the ss, establishing the order for speaking. From the far right at the rear to the left at the forefront. Neron also mentioned what he expected us to say.

    Name

    Age

    Department

    Reason For Studying At Ainrk.

    There were no objections, so all 38 of us decided to speak.

    One after the other, I heard the students introduce themselves. None of them were of any particr interest to me. After all, the ones who sat at the back were mostly the ones I knew from the Magic entrants. They weren¡¯t really impressive¡ª plus their personalities were trash.

    As the introductions went on, I saw someone I became interested in.

    ¡°My name is Anabelle Frederick. I¡¯m 12, and¡­ um¡­ I¡¯m in the Schr Department. My reason foring to this Academy is¡­ well¡­¡±

    The few Schrs who had already introduced themselves all said the same things.

    ¡°The Grand Schr, Lewis Griffith is an inspiration. I would like to walk down the path of a Schr because of how awesome it is!¡±

    ¡°Knowledge is amazing! It¡¯s only natural I want to further my knowledge.¡±

    ¡°A schr understands the fundamentals and theories behind anything. Knowledge is power, and so I believe being a Schr is the best option for me!¡±

    All of them were bullshit!

    ¡®How stupid!¡¯ My mind rang the moment I heard their paltry excuse for a reason.

    In the first ce, most of these hypocrites would have be Magic-Users if they could. It was due to theirck of aptitude that they resorted to the next best option. Also, themon assumption of ¡®knowledge is power¡¯ was all rubbish!

    Rather than having knowledge, the raw ability to pummel any opponent was what would truly be regarded as power. Besides, only fools were of the opinion that top Magic-Users didn¡¯t have knowledge. To operate Magic properly, knowledge was required. In essence, Magic-Users had both knowledge and power. Schrs were nowhere near being the best in terms of departments.

    Thest one who said that being a Schr was the best option for him nearly cracked him up. He didn¡¯t really have an option, to begin with. They were all weak, both in mind and power.

    I wasn¡¯t condescending at all, they already disqualified themselves¡ª that was all. As a true Schr who reached the pinnacle and became a legend, I could say it with all honesty. If I had be a Magic-User in my past life¡­ I would have been able to achieve way more!

    The path of a schr is merely a glorified loser¡¯s road. No matter how grand their dreams were, as long as they existed in my shadow or used me as a standard, they were never really going to be fulfilled.

    ¡°¡­ I want to surpass the greatest Schr known in the Eastern Kingdom and be the best Grand Schr to ever exist!¡±

    I nearly coughed once she said that.

    ¡®Is this girl an idiot?!¡¯ Was the first thing that rang in my mind.

    The look on her face showed how shy the little girl was. Her cheeks were flushed as she spoke and her short frame made her look fragile. I was certain I could break her easily without resorting to magic enhancement.

    What first drew my attention to her was the fact that her name was the same as my mother¡¯s. Why did this girl, Anabelle Frederick, have to spew such fantasies? I continued to listen to her.

    ¡°¡­ People often believe Lewis Griffith is the best Schr to have existed. However, though he propounded many amazing and groundbreaking theories, I have found several holes and inconsistencies in his thesis and books. It was almost as if¡­ they were iplete¡­¡±

    Another cough nearly escaped from my lips, no, this time it did. My loud cough interrupted what Anabelle was saying, causing everyone to stare at me since I was seated at the forefront.

    ¡®Welp¡­ this is awkward¡­¡¯

 Chapter 76 - Introductions (Pt 2)

    Anabelle Frederick made a statement that caused me to loseposure and cough loudly, nearly choking on my saliva.

    ¡°¡­ It was as if his treatises were¡­ iplete!¡±

    How did she know?!

    Despite my huge achievements in the realm of magic theories and evolution, I never revealed all I had learned to the people of the time. Hiding some of my most valued documents, I had hoped someone would find them eventually. Also, if they didn¡¯t, I thought those who learned from me would build upon what I had already established and arrived at the truth sooner orter.

    That way, I wouldn¡¯t be giving them all the answers on a tter. However, to my dismay, no one had done much to further what I already established. Most thought it was already perfect, or tooplex to be improved.

    As a result, in-depth magic theories andplexities remained at a standstill till this age despite new spells and branches of magic being developed. I was disappointed to learn of this the moment I could ess better books in my household library.

    Still, to think¡­ a girl her age had figured it out. It was too shocking that I had to let out a cough.

    ¡®Welp, this is awkward¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    The girl¡¯s eyes darted toward me. It was crystal blue, a sharp contrast to the yellow hair she had. She furrowed her brow and made a slight frown.

    ¡®She must think I was making fun of her or something!¡¯

    Her frown didn¡¯t fade as she turned away, returning her gaze to our Lecturer.

    ¡°T-that is all I have to say!¡±

    Sitting down in a hurry, she remained in a terrible mood, one I had to guess was my fault.

    ¡®Oof, what have I done?¡¯

    Of course, I noticed it wasn¡¯t just me that reacted to her words. Most people around gave amused looks and even stifled their chuckles and sneers at her. In a way, all she had said brought only ridicule to her person.

    Her image was already ruined on the first day. It felt wrong to me, especially considering how the girl looked like a child due to her small stature. We were all budding teenagers, but she still had the features of a ten-year-old.

    ¡®Well, what did you expect when you just went and spewed such a grand dream in front of everyone?¡¯ I softly smiled, looking at her lonely gait.

    Still, my impression of her had changed. The fact that she mentioned the ipleteness of my legacy¡­ made her worthy to be called a Schr indeed.

    ¡®How interesting. It appears I¡¯ve found a good one already.¡¯

    The introductions went on without any incident. As Neron had stated earlier, we had no right to criticize anyone¡¯s introductions by verbally or physically assaulting them. However, mere chuckles and snickers didn¡¯t count so many made fun of others using suppressedughter and condescending facial reactions.

    ¡°My name is Edward Karl Leon. I¡¯m thirteen years old, department of Martial Arts. I only have one goal¡­ and that is to further the mastery of my de. I will sharpen my sword and perfect my skills until Sword Arts are recognized throughout the empire¡ª no, all around the world, once again!¡±

    This introduction also struck a chord within me. I looked at the one who made such a grand statement. It was a boy having brown hair with equally brown eyes. His appearance looked mature for his age, and even with his uniform covering his body, I could tell that he had a finely-toned figure.

    He had a slight scar on his left cheek that resembled a sword sh, and the way his eyebrows nted¡ª his eyes showing a deep resolve that was as firm as his posture, the boy was dead serious.

    I sighed a little. His dream was certainly not impossible, but¡­ a single person like him could never achieve it.

    One of the new changes that had urred after my death was the decline of Martial Arts and the rise of Schrhood.

    Due to my influence, Schrs became highly revered. In essence, they rode my coattails and became quite respectable.

    In contrast to this, Martial Arts like Sword Arts, Spear Arts, etc. Entered a state of decline.

    This was because Magic had evolved to a high level that no one was really interested in dedicating years and efforts to strengthening the body, sharpening the senses, and relying on one¡¯s strength to grow powerful.

    Just as I had thought when I was younger, Magic could cause miracles to ur with a single spell. However, Martial Arts were something that required hard work and dedication to produce results. Compared to Magic, it was much more difficult.

    With my theories simplifying magic and bringing forth new possibilities, no one could boast of the same in Martial Arts. As a result¡­ the people becamezy!

    Magic was revered. Schrhood became respected. Martial Arts were neglected.

    ¡°Martial Arts may be more difficult in terms of training and practice. However¡­ when ites to results, it will never betray you! Many inconsistencies may ur in magic. In the end, you can only rely on your body! I want the whole world to once again see the value, no, the superiority of Martial Arts, especially Sword Arts!¡±

    As the boy bathed in his grandeur and showed his unwavering spirit, I rolled my eyes. While I respected his goals, they were too childish. Words like those only deserved to be spoken by the strong.

    ¡®How conceited¡­¡¯

    I had several friends who were Martial Artists, the best in their fields. I was especially close with the Sword Emperor, famed to be the strongest with a Sword throughout thend. However, even he admitted that humans had a limit and that he had reached his.

    ¡°If only I had more Skill in magic¡­ I could achieve Transcendence¡­¡± Was something he often told me.

    He was right!

    ¡®This kid fails to realize it yet, but¡­ he¡¯s not entirely correct in his belief.¡¯

 Chapter 77 - Admonition

    While Martial Arts was an essential aspect of power, it couldn¡¯t best Magic in terms of efficiency.

    This didn¡¯t mean Magic was easier. Some magic spells and discoveries took years to study and perfect. Original Magic took one¡¯s entire lifetime toplete.

    However, Magic was all about bending thews of the world as a whole¡ª Martial Arts could never hope to achieve that. That was a reason why people just preferred dedication themselves to Magic.

    Still, I didn¡¯t disagree that Martial Arts needed a revival. It was extremely useful and even I wished to be very skilled at it since it covered some weaknesses of Magic.

    ¡®Well, let¡¯s see how it goes. I could educate this boy and mold him to be capable of achieving his dreams¡­¡¯ A smirk appeared on my face.

    Once again, I felt many eyes on me. The boy named Edward Karl Leon also stared at me and frowned deeply the moment my smile registered in his eyes. Once again, I had to assume that my expression was a sign of disrespect to his ideal.

    The introductions continued and no one else caught my interest. The only two I actually liked were most likely seeing me in the opposite light. One way or the other, I would need to win them over.

    ¡®They need me more than I need them anyway¡­¡¯

    Not long after, it was my turn to speak.

    The entire first row was empty on both left and right sides. There was a pathway used to walk at the center and the ssroom was designed to have elevated seats on step-like tforms.

    Since there were five seats in each section (right and left) per row, that made a total of ten. The rows numbered five, giving fifty seats in total.

    Of the tenbined seats at the forefront, I was the only one who upied any¡ª my seat was to the right. The other students sat behind me. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was due to the phobia of upying front seats, or their reverence of me. Still, it was disappointing.

    As I arose, everyone¡¯s eyes were locked on me. The unflinching gazes of the few dozen that wanted to hear what I would spout. The pressure was enough to unnerve anyone, but this much was nothing.

    ¡°My name is Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth.¡±

    I saw many people recoil from my words. Apparently, they all wondered why someone from such an Inept noble household would be studying magic.

    Since most of the people in the hall were either Schrs or Martial Artists, they weren¡¯t aware of my power yet. Some had a gnawing suspicion and a few whispers concerning me were passed around¡ª but it still came as a surprise that my family was one that hadn¡¯t birthed a Magic-User in over two centuries.

    ¡°I¡¯m 12 Years Old¡­¡±

    With a confident grin, I spoke about the reason for enrolling in the Academy. Ainrk was home to a lot of my experiences in the past. I had achieved so many victories and losses¡­ but one thing was certain¡ª this was the first ce where I was acknowledged for the brilliant mind I possessed.

    ¡°My goals are simple¡­ it¡¯s simply to learn more about Magic and grow as a Magic-User.¡±

    Everyone looked surprised, no, underwhelmed by my response. As someone who had spoken out during the assembly and made such amotion, one would expect that I had a more grandiose ambition.

    However, only fools would take what I said lightly.

    Learning more about Magic? Grow as a Magic-User? Wasn¡¯t that what everyone came to the Academy to do? However, the extent of said learning and growth was dependent on the person.

    My true intention was to stock up as much as I could during my short stay here and ess all the information avable. That would prove to be my stepping stone to the ultimate goal of bing unparalleled.

    ¡®I will rise above a Grand Mage and be the most powerful Magic-User to ever exist!¡¯ Saying such a thing would be too conceited of me at this level.

    A smile formed on my face as I sat. While I did not have the confidence to say anything of the sort at the moment, a time woulde when my actions would speak louder than any word that could be uttered.

    ¡®I¡¯ll let them see it with their own two eyes¡­ telling them now would be spoiling!¡¯

    Plus, blurting those kinds of words out would be cringe.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all¡ª I think,¡± Neron said after a few seconds of silence.

    I was thest to speak, so it was time to move on to the next topic on the agenda.

    ¡°My name is Neron Kaelid, your Lecturer for this year. You may be wondering a lot of things, but be at ease. I didn¡¯t ask for you to mention your household or mana core grade since none of it matters here. You¡¯re all known to be trash and I know this might cause a great deal of temptation to arise amongst you. Thoughts of superiority may begin to arise¡ª that even among trash, you¡¯re better. However, I will not tolerate anything of the sort.¡±

    His long speech resonated well with me. He certainly expressed the spirit of Ainrk Academy that I remembered.

    ¡°You¡¯re all new buds that need to be taken care of. I will not promise anything concerning achieving the reasons you have for enrolling here. Your growth shall be determined by your determination and efforts. However, I will say this¡­¡±

    He let out a broad grin and stretched his hands as though expecting an embrace¡ª no, it was of admonishment.

    ¡°You have all made it to this Academy through pure merit! That much is true¡­ and for that, I can only render one word to you. CONGRATULATIONS!¡±

    My eyes caught many people tearing up as a result of his words. They were certainly moved¡ª I was too. Neron was able to say the one word most had not had the privilege of hearing¡­ and he meant it wholeheartedly.

    The fact that everyone here scored enough to enter the greatest Academy in the Eastern Empire meant we were not trash!

    ¡°Now then, you should all buckle down like champs! The Lecture begins!¡±

 Chapter 78 - First Lecture

    It was simply amazing¡ª Neron¡¯s Lecture.

    I had expected him to be an average tutor and more of a powerhouse, but was excellent at the former as well.

    Aftermending us, Neron addressed the most pertinent matters first. He projected our schedule on the wall behind him, making sure it was well above his head so he wasn¡¯t obstructing his view.

    ¡®Light maniption Magic, eh? Nice mana control¡­¡¯ I mused, remembering how the entrance results were announced in the same way.

    Apparently, we had three magic lessons per day. Since this was an Academy that encapsted a whole lot, there were other courses that involved areas outside magic.¡±

    Courses like etiquettes, history, politics, etc. Were taught as electives. Main Courses were divided into two parts¡ª General and Specialized. Since we were a ssprised of three departments, a system like this had to be implemented.

    General Courses were to be taken by all Departments in our ss while Specialized courses depended on our Departments.

    Depending on the Department we were in, our Specialized Courses Differed. Magic-Users had Courses like Basic Mana Control and Basic Spell Creation while Schrs had more courses that dealt with theories. For Martial Artists, skill development and fitness courses were added. It was aplex, yet, well-distributed curriculum.

    Well, almost anyway¡­

    ¡°You can choose as many as five electives. I wouldn¡¯t overwork myself if I were you, though.¡± Neron added when handing out the forms to us.

    He used a wind spell to control the fliers, allowing them to eachnd on our tables for us to fill.

    Looking through the electives, I saw nothing especially useful among them. Electives weren¡¯tpulsory, but it was a general opinion that it was better to study them.

    While the merits were there¡ª such as extra credits and an easier grading system that gave easily earned points to add to thebined score, the disadvantages for me outweighed those paltry reasons.

    ¡°It¡¯s a waste of time¡­¡± A whisper identally leaked out of my mouth.

    I already had a lifetime¡¯s worth of knowledge concerning these Electives, and even as an affiliate Lecturer here I knew more than I could ever learn as a student. There was no need to bother myself about it.

    Besides, courses like politics, history, etiquettes¡­ even sewing¡ª that¡¯s right, it was a course, were things I could pick up in my pastime and learn by myself.

    There was no way I would spend a great deal of my time learning such things now.

    ¡®Yup! No Electives for me!¡¯

    That meant no free points or extra credit, but I didn¡¯t mind. If I did perfectly well in all my Main Courses, it wouldn¡¯t matter in the end. From the corner of my eye, I saw people biting their pens to figure out what Courses to pick but I beckoned to Neron thY I was done with my choice.

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­ interesting¡­¡± He smiled a little after picking my form and reading its content.

    I guessed he must have thought of me as one of two things¡ª a genius or an idiot.

    As others were still deciding, Neron moved on to other areas of importance. Sharing another set of flyers to each table, a piecended on mine.

    ¡°The total list of courses you will be offering, both General and Specialized as well as their time. Electives are included in the back, so if you want to choose any or have chosen already, check the time you¡¯ll be having them.

    From my list, I could see that I would be having lots of free time on my hands.

    [List Of Courses And Time]

    {General Courses}

    ~ Homeroom ¡ª 9:00 AM

    ~ Course 1 <basic magic="" knowledge=""> ¡ª 10:00 AM (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday)</basic>

    ~ Course 2 <concepts of="" significance=""> ¡ª 12:00 PM (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday)</concepts>

    ~ Course 3

    ¡ª 2:00 PM (Daily)

    [.]

    [.]

    [.]

    The list went down even to my Specialized Courses. Neron had already recognized us based on Departments and had given us the sheet ording to which categories we fell under.

    By the time I finished reading, I was grinning at the list of courses I had to offer. They were nine in total¡ª five general courses and four specialized ones.

    {General Courses}

    1. Basic Magic Knowledge. (The fundamentals of Magic. No matter the department, this course is important for everyone since magic is an essential part of the world)

    2. Concepts Of Significance (There are wonderful theories and concepts that shape the modern view on several things. Magic, Martial Arts, etc. all stem from concepts)

    3. Physical Exercise (Everyone must maintain an adequate level of fitness. Light exercises and aerobics will be performed daily)

    4. Advanced General Studies (The fundamentals have been taught at home through the aid of tutors so advanced general knowledge ofnguage, music, calctions, and other essential subjects will be learned)

    5. Recreational Activities (Field study, botany, zoology, and various other environmental knowledge will be learned)

    {Specialized Courses}

    1. Basic Mana Control (Mana is the very lifeblood of magic that exists both in the surrounding and within every Magic-User. The fundamentals of controlling the magic within one¡¯s Magic Core will be taught)

    2. Basic Spell Creation (Spells are the mechanics of magic. They areplex methods used for activation and transformation of mana into the desired forms of Magic. The very foundations for spells will be learned)

    3. Contemporary Magic Arts (Magic has advanced far beyond what it used to be. With modern magicing into the light¡ª spanning from those used for everyday activities to the moreplex and powerful ones, students will learn of these new wonders of Magic.

    4. Magic Theories (Magic is derived from concepts and theories. Learning these theories will broaden your scope of magic even further).

    Of these courses, I was most excited about the Contemporary Magic Arts since it represented the very essence of modernity, but that didn¡¯t mean the others weren¡¯t important as well.

    I heard that more difficult variations of the Courses we were offering now would surface as we advanced to a higher level and new courses such as Magic Research and Magic Philosophy would be dealt with.

    ¡®I¡¯m quite excited about the future!¡¯

 Chapter 79 - A Duel Challenge (Pt.1)

    ¡°¡­ And there¡¯s one final thing you should all know!¡±

    Neron¡¯s eyes were a little narrowed now and his expression didn¡¯t show any signs of pleasantry. Holding on to the lectern tightly, he pushed his body forward and addressed our ss with earnestness.

    ¡°Your Familiar Selection Ceremony is in a month, and the Inter-ss Exchange is in three months. In that short span of time¡­ you¡¯ve all been properly oriented and you must have also read the brochure¡ª so you realize what that means, don¡¯t you?¡±

    An air of unease wafted across the ssroom.

    ¡®It¡¯s sooner than I expected.¡¯ My mind rang.

    We were told a lot of things during orientation, but those were only general knowledge. Our curriculum and schedule waited until we got to the actual ss. From what our Lecturer was saying, we didn¡¯t have much time until the two most important events for new entrants would arrive.

    Familiar Selection Ceremony and Inter-ss Exchange.

    Still, I wasn¡¯t too bothered. It didn¡¯t change what I had to do on my end and no merit woulde from letting the short time get into my head. I just had to work ording to my own pace.

    ¡°With that in mind, I dere homeroom over! Get yourselves ready for the next Lecture.¡± Neron muttered and left the ss.

    He took with him the forms of everyone who had registered for their electives and left us to ourselves.

    My eyes gazed at the clock on the side of the wall and noticed that it was about ten minutes before our First Course would begin.

    ¡®Homeroomsts for an hour, but it¡¯s usually not more than thirty minutes. The rest of the time is spent in preparation for the actual courses¡­¡¯

    Because Neron camete, he ate through more time than usual, giving us a less than desirable amount of time for ourselves. However, since he was the Lecturer who would be taking our main Courses, the burden still fell on him¡ª after all, he would be the one going through the stress of speaking.

    As I considered how to spend the little time I had left, a shadow descended upon me.

    ¡®Uh¡­?¡¯

    I had already noticed that several eyes were on me, and they were mostly hostile. However, it was outside my expectations that someone would challenge me this soon.

    My eyes darted in the stranger¡¯s direction and I caught his appearance. That slightly bulging muscr body underneath the uniform¡ª it was so obvious who it was!

    Edward Karl Leon!

    ¡°Yes? Can I help you?¡± I took a calm, polite tone as he stopped a few meters short of my chair.

    His eyes were burning with an emotion I couldn¡¯t quite decipher. It was most probably anger, though I could swear I did nothing to incur such a state.

    ¡°Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth¡­ you should apologize!¡±

    His tone sounded serious and full of zeal, but the statement itself was too t. Confused by what I had just heard, I cocked my head to the side and stared at him curiously.

    ¡°What?¡±

    I didn¡¯t mean to say that, but it leaked out. I had been nothing short of polite since our brief meeting. In fact, he was the one being rude¡ª so this brat was meant to be the one offering an apology.

    However, as a mature individual, I allowed him to speak.

    ¡°I was watching you from my seat, noticing the way you looked down on everyone¡¯s hopes and dreams in this Academy. You evenughed at Anabelle¡¯s goals and sneered at mine. That¡¯s a rotten attitude!¡±

    I sighed the moment he said this.

    So this guy was still hung up on that? How nd. I had taken him for a more intelligent individual but it appeared he was only just a meathead.

    ¡°Y-you don¡¯t have to, Ed, I¡¯m fine!¡± A voice suddenly spoke out.

    It was soft and shrill, an epitome of childhood and a feminine disposition. Yep, the one who protested was Anabelle.

    Edward sharply turned in her direction, so mechanical that I could mistake him for an automaton.

    ¡°But, Ana, he mocked your goals¡ª no, our goals! Remember what the Lecturer said? No one should give in to the temptation of superiority, yet this guy has already started it!¡±

    Edward¡¯s teeth were clenched. I could sense a deeply rooted frustration in him. This guy was not just pissed at me, but several others. Perhaps he was venting? No¡­

    ¡®Ah, I see now¡­¡¯

    A broad grin formed on my face as I figured out the cause for his explosive attitude. Everyone in the ss, who had just been watching the incident, suddenly gasped¡ª most likely surprised by my brazen attitude even when confronted by someone on that very matter.

    Edward turned in my direction and saw my smile, once again mistaking it for an act of arrogance.

    ¡°You¡­ who do you think you are? You¡¯re the same as all of us, aren¡¯t you? Even if you have no grand hopes or ideals, you shouldn¡¯t look down on the rest of us!¡±

    I said nothing.

    ¡°I honestly thought you were a decent person when you stood up for all Lower ss Students and made that man call us to the stage¡­ but, to think you were just an arrogant and rude guy instead!¡±

    There were many things I could say or do to this person, but I doubted if any of them couldpletely change how he felt about me. What was currently affecting this boy¡¯s psyche was a syndrome known as ¡®self-righteousness.

    In essence, Edward thought he was in the right and I was in the wrong. His ideals and perception of those two concepts automatically ensured he had every justification to get mad at me. Plus¡­

    ¡®The way both he and that Anabelle girl conversed¡­ they must know each other from somewhere. Are they friends, or¡­?¡¯

    My grin grew broader and I still said nothing. That must have been enough to push Edward to the breaking point. He raised his hand high above his head as though trying to resort to violence.

    ¡®That¡¯s a bad move, kid¡­ you¡¯ll be penalized.¡¯

    ¡°Ed, no!¡± Anabelle, his friend, quickly shouted.

    It was toote. The boy¡¯s hand descended rapidly¡ª in a few seconds, a loud ¡®thud¡¯ would be heard.

 Chapter 80 - A Duel Challenge (Pt 2)

    80 A Duel Challenge (Pt 2)

    >WHOOOSH<

    Edward''s hand descended in a rush. No one tried to stop him, no, someone did. However, Anabelle was too slow and too far away to stop the motion of his quick and powerful arm.

    I didn''t move from where I sat and observed the trajectory of his arm. My lips curled up in a smile when I realized¡­ his hand was never targeted at my face¡ª or any part of my body for that matter.

    >WHAM!<

    His hand pped the desk in front of me, creating a loud sound that reverberated across the ssroom. Everyone disyed shock at the intentional miss of Edward since they were already convinced that he would assault me.

    "Smart move. I thought you would actually hit me¡­" I whispered with a smile, enough for him to make out my words.

    "I''m not stupid. I know the repercussions of that. I have no intention of facing a penalty this soon."

    He replied calmly, though I could tell that the boy was a little unhinged by my calm reaction to his table m. I didn''t try avoiding his hit or blocking. My body didn''t even show any sign of reflex, and that was because I knew he wasn''t going to hit me from the start.

    "So? Are you done?"

    "Apologize¡­" Edward''s teeth clenched together in annoyance.

    "No."

    "Apologize!" He demanded more violently, smacking his second hand on the desk.

    Which didn''t faze me as well.

    I was certain that he felt like the good guy with all that he was doing. Fighting for the feelings of everyone, especially the girl behind him. However, all of that was a mirage within his mind. In actuality, his actions so far were akin to bullying.

    If one was to neglect the smile I had on my face and my calm disposition, it would appear as though Edward was a bully who was forcefully infringing on my territory.

    I had technically done nothing wrong. Even the teacher didn''tin, but his crusader personality made him feel responsible for my supposed ''mockery'' and he was attempting to correct that. My interest in the boy was already waning.

    "If you don''t apologize, then¡­"

    cing his hand on his chest and touching the school''s crest with his index finger, Edward resorted to something no one had expected him to.

    "Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, I challenge you to a duel!"

    Everyone was stunned. ''Ahhs'' and ''Oohs'' poured out of their mouths as their interests were peaked even more. Which went to show how significant his challenge was.

    A Duel within Ainrk was what regted and permitted acts of violence between two students. It was impossible to entirely ban shes between students in a learning environment where skirmishes were inevitable.

    So, this system was made to ensure a safer, more organized, sh. In simpler terms, the two parties would select the location and time of their fight. They were also privileged to choose what kind of battle they wanted to engage in. For some, it would be swordfights or magic battles¡ª Schrs preferred quizzes and problem-solving.

    In essence, what Edward had just done was to dere his intention to ''fight'' with me legally.

    Anabelle quickly approached Edward, closing the distance in moments, then held him by the arm.

    "Stop this, Ed!"

    Her voice was shrill, with a bit of desperation in it. She clearly cared about the conceited boy and didn''t want him to create unnecessary trouble for himself. However¡­ as expected, Edward ignored her concern and clung selfishly to his ideal.

    "I have to do it! This guy won''t learn until someone puts him in his ce."

    While it was boorish to proceed any further and to allow the Martial Artist make a bigger fool of himself, I realized that this could be a good opportunity for me. My eyes darted to the clock and I realized that it was barely two minutes remaining before Neron reentered the hall.

    ''Ah, this guy wasted my time¡­''

    Dueling him would also eat up more time, but I soon weighed the merits and concluded that it would clicked his tongue while returning to his seat alongside Anabelle.

    In a situation whereby the disadvantaged one ended up achieving victory, it would only further be worth it.

    "Fine, I ept your challenge. Pick the time and ce, I''ll pick the kind of match we''ll be having."

    My response shocked most of the students. The Magic Department students looked excited since they had already witnessed a fraction of my power. As for the others, they seemed to be feeling a little confident about Edward''s victory.

    ''Well, they probably know his skills as a Martial Artist''

    It didn''t matter, though. I was never one to choose a losing battle. There was only one possible conclusion concerning the proposed match¡­ my overwhelming victory!

    "F-fine¡­" Edward was also flustered by my sudden eptance, as well as my conditions.

    It was fair and well bnced in my opinion. Allowing him to set the time and location, while I chose how we would fight was the most reasonable approach.

    Still, he may have felt that I would resort to cheap tricks by forcing him into a Duel involving magic proficiency rather than thebat he was good at. His fears were misced though¡­ I nned on ying fair¡ª no, I could even give myself a handicap.

    "Let''s do it at the back of the ssroom, by the yard! After sses end today!"

    ''Fair enough¡­'' I nodded in agreement.

    "As for the type of battle we''ll be having¡­?" Edward''s eyes narrowed at me with suspicion.

    I couldn''t care less about his perception of me at this point, but it would prove to be a waste if the uncertainty of my choice made him run away.

    "Don''t worry, it won''t be detrimental to you¡­"

    After all, the true purpose of a duel was to measure the strength of both parties and judge who was superior. That would be defeated if one was at a disadvantage instead of on equal grounds.

    ''Of course, this only applies where the disadvantaged party loses¡­'' My grin grew broader as Edward clicked his tongue while returning to his seat alongside Anabelle.

    In a situation whereby the disadvantaged one ended up achieving victory, it would only further establish their superiority.

    Overwhelming and unquestionable victory¡­ that was my goal!

    This should be fun...

 Chapter 81 - Herb Hunting

    Our Lecturer, Neron Kaelid returned to ss soon afterward and began our first course for the day¡ª Basic Magic Knowledge.

    The first ss was nothing spectacr, for some of us at the very least. This was because the privileged among us were already familiar with the topic since our Magic Tutors gave us the knowledge before we enrolled in Ainrk.

    It was trite for any well-off household to have a tutor to train their child in magic should they show an affinity for it. As such, almost all the Magic Users within the ssroom were familiar with what our tutor was exining.

    The concept of mana, spells, and ultimately magic.

    However, I could tell from Neron¡¯s teachings that he wasn¡¯t entirelyfortable with the way he taught all of us. He must have been following a curriculum and was merely dispensing what he was instructed to.

    ¡®I see¡­ the Academic system, uh?¡¯

    I was certain the higher ss students were already being taught more advanced subjects to ce them on a higher pedestal than us. The fact that they intentionally made us waste a lot of time on such fundamentals meant that the faction opposing our ss wanted us to be terribly behind the others in both knowledge and power.

    Even our libraries were different, so it was certain that the Middle and Power ss students had more advanced materials than we did.

    ¡®I only have to endure for a little while longer.¡¯

    By the time Neron was done with his lecture, nearly an hour had psed. Lectures took a maximum of one hour, and a break of at least thirty minutes was given before the start of a new one.

    When he was done the adult in the room gave a deep sigh of dissatisfaction and told us that sses were over. Though he would be returning in an hour¡¯s time to take the next Lecture, Neron already appeared exhausted for some reason.

    I stared at him curiously, a little disappointed that he chose to follow the mainstream approach dictated by the Academic board rather than take a more radical approach. There was no I could me or judge him though¡­ this was merely a job, after all.

    He left the hall, giving me an hour of free time while others had to leave the main lecture hall for their Electives.

    Electives were thirty minutes long, most of which urred in the afternoon. Still, a few were asioned in the morning. I remained seated as over half of the students left the hall to attend the Elective that would soonmence in one of the subsidiary halls in the Lower ss territory.

    The other students either talked among themselves, excused themselves to have a light snack, read for the next ss¡­ or slept. I was interested in neither of those things. I finally had ess to such rich surroundings and an hour of free time¡­ there was something that called my attention more than anything!

    ¡°I should get to it!¡±

    Beaming, I brought out a book that contained several pictures of nts and information written about them. That¡¯s right! It was Alphonse¡¯s gift to me. With the lush gardens that surrounded our vicinity and the opportunity to find several herbs I needed, I couldn¡¯t keep myself still.

    ¡°Now then¡­ time tomence the search!¡±

    ********************

    The search was extensive. To ensure I didn¡¯t miss a single detail or make an error, I carefully observed the nts and plucked them. Since this was a public garden, I was able to see so many useful herbs. There were no rules against plucking flowers and nts, so long as they didn¡¯t do any extensive damage to the garden itself. Magic was always circted around the field, ensuring the nts would grow back and maintain an optimal state.

    Since no one would miss the herbs, I took as much as I deemed necessary. Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t find any rare herbs for moreplex potions since this was a general garden. It wasn¡¯t like I expected to find any, but I had hoped a miracle could ur.

    ¡°Meh, let¡¯s go back¡­¡± I muttered, realizing it was about ten minutes to the end of our break.

    The herbs were enough for me, and I ced them all in a sac I weaved with magic. I saw a few students watching me from a distance as I returned¡ª they must have been observing me for some time.

    Paying them no heed, I dragged my robust sac into the ssroom where most of the students offering their electives had already returned to. They gave me peculiar nces, but I turned away nearly instantly as our gazes met.

    ¡®I can just put the bag near my seat. The nts already have ample magic energy in them so they¡¯ll be preserved enough until I get home¡­¡¯

    Using this line of thought, I ced the sac on the chair beside me¡ª after all, no one sat around, to begin with. Everyone still watched with surprise, but there were no rules against this either¡­ not that anyone had ever thought of taking a bunch of nts on the first day of school.

    From the school¡¯s brochure and Alphonse¡¯s words, Alchemy and Medicine Arts were Second and Third Year Elective Courses. The current students didn¡¯t have any intensive knowledge or interest in nts as of now.

    ¡°Today was a great find. Let¡¯s have better hopes for tomorrow¡±

    After all, I wasn¡¯t done exploring the nt life around the Lower-ss territory.

    **************************

    sses ended pretty early for me.

    While others rushed for their Elective sses, I remained in the hall. Some students who had noticed that I had not even bothered leaving for a single Elective wondered if I actually chose any.

    Of course, I didn¡¯t!

    With the Lecture Hall nearly empty, except for a few who would have their own courses in a little over thirty minutes time. They hung around, but I didn¡¯t have the luxury for that.

    ¡®I should be on my way to my dorms right now¡­ but I have to wait for that Edward guy for our duel¡­¡¯

 Chapter 82 - The Duel Commences

    It was a pain since I was now left with over an hour of free time. It was already 3:00 PM, standard for the end of Main Courses.

    On Mondays, we only had General courses taught to us in our Mains, so all departments used the same hall for the Lectures. However, tomorrow would be different. There were several other Halls around so we were sure to be having Specialized courses in other sses.

    ¡°Should I just begin the process here?¡± I whispered.

    No, there were too many eyes around and I rather preferred privacy when processing the herbs I collected. I also didn¡¯t dare to meditate in such a ce since I needed absolute concentration. Realizing there was nothing better to do, I decided to bring out a book and engross myself in reading to while away the time until the duel began.

    *************************

    They say time flies when you¡¯re having fun. I suppose the same can be said for reading since I wasn¡¯t even aware of how much time had passed while being engrossed in the texts I diligently studied.

    ¡®Ah, did I overdo it?¡¯ I mumbled, realizing the time clocked 5:09 PM, when all Electives ended exactly nine minutes before.

    Well, there was no problem if he waited for me just for a few minutes since he dyed me for longer.

    Closing my book, I kept it in the small bag I wore by my side. After making sure I had packed up, I carried the sack that remained beside me and made my way out of the hall¡ª it was already abandoned.

    The Hall wasn¡¯t closed until 6:00 PM, in case some preferred reading or sleeping there. I hadn¡¯t overextended my stay, so it was all good.

    Leaving the ssroom, I went outside, met with a dimly lit sky. It was evening already, and the cool weather caused more clouds to gather than usual. The surroundings weren¡¯t dark, though, since ever-glowingmps could be found in nearly every area of the campus.

    I quickly shook my head, deciding that was enough sightseeing. With steady steps, my body naturally gravitated toward the arena where I would face Edward¡ª the backyard of our Lecture Hall.

    By the time I got there, Edward was waiting. Not just him, but nearly the total number of our ssmates. I saw their eyes beam the moment I made my appearance, shing their teeth in excitement.

    ¡®Did they think I wouldn¡¯t show?¡¯ My mind trailed as I stepped forward.

    ¡°You¡¯re here, uh? I thought you weren¡¯t going toe.¡± Edward said, confirming my suspicion.

    The students formed a semi-circle and gave a lot of space at the center so we could duke it out freely. If I wasn¡¯t aware of the whole situation, the whole thing nearly looked like a gang-up.

    Needless to say, I shrugged a little and set my eyes on the young boy. He indeed looked more mature than his age. His height and build were bigger than a usual 13-year-old, and he had a passionate glow in his eyes that was unbefitting of his barely teenage status.

    From the corner of my eye, I spotted Ana, his dear friend. She watched from the forefront of the crowd, her face depicting sadness. If Edward was considerate, he would have noticed the girl¡¯s feelings and called off the match. However, men like him had big egos. I needed to make him see for himself¡­ how wrong he was!

    ¡°Since we¡¯re all here, let us begin¡­¡±

    My voice was smooth and calm, apparently surprising everyone. Edward had a thick skin, so he simply stood directly opposite.me, waiting for my condition for the duel.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be having a battle duel¡­ where we both get to choose our means of fighting. Of course, you¡¯re a martial artist who practices sword arts, so you¡¯ll be using a sword, yeah?¡± I smiled.

    He nodded, but the hesitancy in his eyes hadn¡¯t vanished. The question ringing in everyone¡¯s mind was the same¡­ what form of fighting would I adopt.

    The Magic Users already knew that my magic ability was downright frightening. My victory was guaranteed on that route.

    ¡°¡­ And you¡¯ll be using magic, yeah?¡± Edward responded with a question.

    From the look of suspicion and uncertainty in his eyes, the others might have already told him of my Magic capabilities. His wariness was proof of that¡ª that didn¡¯t make him back down, though.

    ¡°No, you¡¯re wrong¡­¡± I replied.

    Chanting silently, I caused the ground beneath me to move. The earth rose, a portion of it anyway. Sand-like particles gathered at a single point, forming an object that rose to my hand.

    In a few moments, the object¡¯s creation wasplete and I gripped it tightly with my right hand. Everyone was astounded. They let out voices of surprise, and why wouldn¡¯t they be?

    In my hand was a sword entirely made from earth. Since I didn¡¯t have a proper weapon, I had to make do with this. Why would I need a sword? One might have asked¡­

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll be using Martial Arts¡­ the same as you, Sword Art!¡±

    My statement struck a chord in Edward as he gave a very deep frown in response to my statement. His brow furrowed in agitation as his fists were clenched.

    ¡°You dare¡­ look down on me?¡±

    His tone was very grave, and the eyes he gave me indicated seething fury. This was as a result of a hurt pride!

    ¡°Am I looking down on you, though? How presumptuous of you to assume that I am not equally as skilled as you in Martial Arts, even the Sword Arts you practice.¡±

    My grin broadened while his scowl deepened. Unlike my opponent, I was never conceited¡ª neither was I immature in both mind and body.

    My decision not to use magic was based on sound judgment, and after observing him now¡­ I was certain!

    There was no way this boy could win against me in a sword fight!

    ¡°Shall we begin?¡±

 Chapter 83 - Jared vs Edward (Pt 1)

    Gawain Lenard was the greatest Sword Arts user in the whole Eastern Empire, arguably the greatest in the whole world during my time¡ª though he always disputed this and imed there was one who was greater than him.

    But, most importantly¡­ he was one of my closest friends. Unlike the many I associated with, he was a meathead, thinking with his muscles. Still, he was smart enough to realize his limits without a higher proficiency in Magic.

    Perhaps that was one thing we had inmon that brought us together¡­ we were both Inept!

    ¡°Yo, Lewis!¡± The muscr beast of a man called out to me one day.

    As usual, I was doing the most enjoyable thing one could find me engaged inte in the evening¡ª studying.

    ¡°You should really let go of your books and do a lot more!¡±

    Gawain had been pestering me for so very long on this very matter, but on this very day, he wouldn¡¯t let me off the hook no matter how much I whined about his persistence.

    ¡°You have a great body, Lewis¡­¡±

    ¡°What the heck, Gawain? Don¡¯t tell me you swing that way!¡± I quickly responded with mock disgust.

    For a moment we bothughed at my not-so-true reply. Gawain had no wife or child, but¡­ he slept with a lot of women¡ª especially when he was drunk. I had to pull him out of so many messes in the past too.

    That was the kind of man the greatest swordsman was!

    ¡°But, I¡¯m serious Lewis. You¡¯re letting your body go to waste and only exercising your mind. To be aplete person¡­ you need to strengthen both!¡±

    By the time I looked at his face, it was devoid of any tinge of unseriousness. He had the same expression as when he was about to engage in battle, absolute focus and determination!

    ¡°You¡­ what are you implying?¡±

    My voice was hoarse and slow, as though trying to dissuade myself from the conclusion I had already reached from what my dear friend was suggesting.

    ¡°Lewis¡­ why don¡¯t you learn Martial Arts? I will personally coach you¡ª even the art of the sword!¡±

    ******************************

    ¡®It has been so long after that now¡­¡¯ My mind trailed as I stared at Edward.

    Something about him reminded me of Gawain, which was perhaps why I took an interest in the youngd. A thought shed in my mind that perhaps he was one of Gawain¡¯s countless descendants caused by him spreading his seed to so many women. That would exin a lot, but it wasn¡¯t entirely usible either.

    In any case, what I needed to do hadn¡¯t changed¡­ using my skills, I would crush my foe¡ª just like Gawain taught me!

    ***************************

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    Our matchmenced the moment a member of the third party signaled it and acted as our referee. At his signal, dust wasunched from the earth as both our bodies moved from where we stood¡ª mine and Edward¡¯s.

    WHOOOOSHH

    Without hesitation in his eyes and body, Edward charged at me in a simple, straight pattern. Thanks to this, he easily transversed the gap that existed between me and him.

    SWOOOSH

    His blunt sword shed at me with remarkable speed, one so great that a normal person would not have seen iting. However, thanks to my already-peaked body state, I saw the flow quite well.

    Bending my back, I pushed my body down and dodged the clean hit while gripping my sword readily.

    My eyes caught Edward gasping with surprise, flustered by my quick motion. For someone who imed to be a Magic-User, such fluid movements betrayed such disposition.

    A smile formed on my face as I twisted the lower part of my body and sent my leg flying to his face while supporting myself with my hands on the ground.

    FWOOOSH! and BAM! My legs made contact.

    ¡°Gurkk!¡± Edward groaned, feeling the brunt of my offensive move.

    Fortunately, he had already moved his hand to block my kick, therefore mitigating its effects. His body was sent a few inches back thanks to the recoil from my blow and I used this chance to further twist my legs to give another hit while ensuring I got back to my standing pose.

    Edward, as expected, blocked the second hit and gritted his teeth once more¡ª allowing me to make a flip and return to a normal stance a couple of meters from him.

    ¡°Huu¡­¡± Nearly visible breath escaped from my lungs through my lips as I set my gaze on Edward.

    My body was already feeling excited since this would be the first time since reincarnation that I would be involved in physicalbat without the use of magic. Well, to be fair¡­ my body was already being influenced by mana in the first ce.

    Thanks to the multiple cores I had, channels had formed like veins within me. As a result of the Mana flowing constantly through those channels, as well as my constant tempering, my body¡¯s base state was far superior to a normal one.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Edward¡¯s eyes narrowed at me both in suspicion and added annoyance.

    Judging from his reaction, it was clear he never expected me to be so skilled inbat. Not only had I evaded a strike for him, but I also counterattacked and created more space between us.

    Still, merely doing this wasn¡¯t enough. After all, I hadn¡¯t even started using my sword.

    ¡°If you keep fighting in an unrefined way, you¡¯ll lose badly,¡± I spoke.

    Loud gasps filled the area as everyone apparently felt the sting of my words for some reason. They looked at each other with disbelieving faces, as though wondering how I could say such a thing.

    ¡®Eh? It¡¯s true, isn¡¯t it? What was with his form? Even a noob could predict that!¡¯

    ¡°You dare¡­ call the Martial School of Fundamental Sword Arts unrefined? Who do you think you are?¡± Edward growled in fury.

    After he said this, I fall silent. For a moment, I did not speak. While others may have thought of this as a sign of fear from Edward¡¯s rage, it was something else entirely. I was simply confused.

    ¡®Martial School of what and what now?!¡¯

 Chapter 84 - Jared Vs Edward (Pt 2)

    I was confused for a moment.

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me what you just used belonged to a Fundamental Martial School Of Swords?¡± I asked in nigh disbelief.

    ¡°It¡¯s called the Martial School of Fundamental Sword Arts!¡± Edward barked at me with annoyance.

    Well, the name didn¡¯t matter. Sword Arts differed depending on the school that postted it. While I wasn¡¯t interested in the school itself, I was mostly concerned that such basic movements could be recognized as a feature to be implemented by a school.

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡±

    In any case, I didn¡¯t have the luxury of thinking about all of this right now. Perhaps after this duel, I would consider reading up more on Martial Arts. Bnce was important, after all.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make you eat your words!¡±

    With this statement, Edward changed his stance and gave off a different vibe entirely. Everyone around us took steps back. Those who appeared to be from the Martial Arts department all looked worried, recognizing the stance he took.

    ¡°Is this from the same school?¡± I asked, not expecting anything impressive.

    The students around us shook their heads, not saying anything more. From their reactions, Edward had taken my advice and switched to another School. Hopefully, this one would be better.

    ¡°I¡¯ll finish this in one blow!¡±

    Clenching my earthen de, I braced myself for what was toe. Underestimating my opponent would only lead to carelessness. Besides, those who were in the know expressed a degree of fear concerning this particr technique of his.

    He began whispering some words to himself, so low in volume that no one could perceive¡ª well, that didn¡¯t apply to me.

    My enhanced ears picked up his words in a jiffy and I got to know the Sword Art he intended to use.

    ¡°9 Fundamental Precepts: Form 1¡­¡±

    The name sounded intense. It was most likely a basic move, but even basic Sword Arts packed quite a deal of power depending on the skill of the user and the level of mastery.

    ¡®Unlike Magic, Sword Arts are very tricky and hard to predict. Since they have so many schools, unless the particr school and form is known, it¡¯s very difficult to evade!¡¯

    I strengthened my vision a little, refraining from leaking out any mana since that would be cheating¡ª well, in my opinion anyway.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    WHOOOOOSH

    Like a gust of wind, Edward dashed from his location and charged at me with yet another simple pattern.

    My sigh intensified as I readied my de, ready to defend if necessary¡ª or strike him down if I saw an opening.

    The boy reached me in a short count, a surprising feat considering my perception made everything slower for easy navigation.

    Holding his de with both of his hands, Edward, made a horizontal strike, as though ready to lope off my head in a sh.

    ¡°¡­ REND!¡±

    With this scream, his offense arrived and I felt what appeared to be sparks of power temporarily enhance his sword.

    It glowed for a moment, and then vanished, leaving me puzzled. Unfortunately, I had gotten too carried away by the strange urrence that I didn¡¯t notice the de nearing my neck.

    It was blunt, so it wouldn¡¯t kill me. The damage would be very great for a normal person, though. I could tell from the force that was arriving that it could crack a bone¡ª at the very least.

    Since we had an infirmary, and this was a Duel, Edward wasn¡¯t crossing his bounds and I was at no risk of losing my life. Well, considering my strengthened body, I was certain his strike called ¡®REND¡¯ wouldn¡¯t cause me much damage. However¡­

    ¡®For a swordsman, the moment an opponent¡¯s de reaches your neck¡­ it¡¯s your loss!¡¯

    Those were the words Gawain beat into my head several times even though I kept telling him I wasn¡¯t even a real swordsman.

    The de came, approaching its target position at an increasing pace. But, I didn¡¯t intend to lose as a swordsman!

    SWOOOSH

    The sword missed by barely an inch as I made a quick sidestep and became one with the wind. It was fluid and beautiful, one of my favorite motion techniques in Martial Arts¡­ [The Illusory Dance]

    Like a blur, my body became light as a feather and reached Edward¡¯s side, leaving what appeared to be an afterimage of myself being struck by Edward¡¯s de.

    Now, this¡­ was Martial Arts!

    Edward¡¯s eyes bulged as soon as I appeared beside him and quickly made to redirect his sword at me with intensity. It must have taken some effort, but he twisted his arms and turned his body in my direction, straining the muscles that had used a great deal of power for that horizontal strike from earlier.

    With his de returning to me, I could have used my sidestep again, but decided against it. The battle had lost its taste for me and ending it quickly would be the best option.

    CLANG

    My sword wasunched, like an invisible de, and parried his swift de. In a sh, his weapon flew away from his hand andnded on the floor.

    Edward¡¯s face paled the moment I disarmed him so effortlessly. Fear, shock, disbelief, frustration, and a couple of other emotions I didn¡¯t care to analyze came flooding in and showed on his face as he lost all rationality and lunged at me with full strength.

    ¡®He must have figured it would be faster to attack me than run after his sword¡­ a somewhat sensible choice¡­¡¯

    However, it was a disgraceful sight, really. The boy who imed that he wanted to elevate the status of Martial Arts, the one who had trained his body and endured who-knows-what to achieve such a glorious physique, thed who caught my attention and reminded me of my deadrade¡­ how could he be so weak?!

    SWOOSH

    My dended on his legs, causing him to fall to the side thanks to the weight I put behind it. He didn¡¯t secure any fracture due to my holding back, so his body merelynded on the floor with a THUD.

    Now moving before him and pointing my de to his face, my expression showed disgust and a bit of pity as I saw Edward¡¯s defeated face.

    ¡°Who taught you Martial Arts?¡±

 Chapter 85 - Disappointment

    I was conflicted, no, confused.

    Even though Edward was in the Lower ss, I expected his Martial Arts to be on a particr level. Everyone seemed to hold him in high regard, so it was only natural that he was strong.

    ¡®He¡¯s most likely like me¡­ he failed badly in the Mana Core Grade test¡­¡¯

    Martial Artists could use Mana to further boost their abilities, so it was actually within reason that they would be tested that way. If he failed the Mana Core Grade Test and still got into Ainrk, it meant that meant he must have been exceptional in the other sections of the Martial Artist exams.

    Why then¡­?

    ¡®Why is he so weak?¡¯

    No, it wasn¡¯t that he was weak. His strength was far above what anyone of his age would normally possess. I could tell from Edward¡¯s body that he had trained very well in Martial Arts, which was why I expected more of a challenge.

    He had good strength, but his techniques were sloppy at best. He had a simplistic form and easily predictable patterns. All that brawn and speed¡ªgone to waste due to his crude style of fighting.

    I got annoyed by this!

    ¡°Who taught you Martial Arts?¡±

    My voice echoed across the area and I could see everyone who heard me shiver. Their faces paled, they trembled slightly¡ªthat is, the Martial Artists.

    Turning back to Edward, I saw a disbelieving expression y on his face. It was like something had broken inside him.

    ¡®Is he about to cry?¡¯ I thought, noticing a glint in his eyes that signaled tears.

    It was all awfully disappointing. For someone who spouted such a grand dream, if he was only at this level and made such a conceited statement¡­ Edward was beyond silly!

    ¡°Huu¡­ this is pointless. I suppose this Duel ends in my victory.¡± I sighed, undoing my Earth Magic which returned my de to dust.

    Wringing the wrist of the arm which held the sword with my other, I walked away from Edward in disappointment. At the very same time, the girl called Ana rushed to him in a jiffy.

    Our faces crossed each other as we each went our various ways. From the corner of my vision, I could see tears in the young girl¡¯s eyes. Edward was truly an idiot for making someone so dear to him cry due to his selfishness.

    My bag and sac were just around the corner so I picked them up and left without saying another word. Regret formed within me as I realized that the time I spent waiting and engaging in such a useless Duel would have been better spent on bettering myself¡ªespecially in making concoctions.

    Needless to say, I had wasted my time!

    *****************************

    ¡°E-Ed!!!¡± The feminine, childlike voice of Anabelle rang out as she ran toward her dear friend.

    The young girl¡¯s steps were hurried, but she couldn¡¯t reach him in a sh due to her short legs. As soon as she did, though, Ana copsed to the ground where Edward was lying and observed his body well.

    ¡®No major injuries, then¡ª¡¯

    Yes, she had figured it out with the small time she used to analyze her fallen friend. His physical state wasn¡¯t in a terrible condition. He hadn¡¯t sustained any grave injuries, so why¡­?

    ¡°Ed¡­¡± Her voice trailed, realizing the cause of her friend¡¯s position.

    He could have stood up. He could have continued the fight¡ªprobably. But he didn¡¯t! Edward¡¯s tenacity was something Ana deeply respected about him, even though it sometimes led him into trouble.

    Still, to think he didn¡¯t resort to stubbornness¡­

    ¡°I¡­ couldn¡¯t evennd a hit on him¡­¡± Edward¡¯s hoarse voice sounded in a whisper.

    At this point, the crowd that had gathered was already dispersing. Having no further interest in the loser, none bothered to approach Edward. Perhaps they already assumed Ana would nurse the emotional wounds of the fallen one, or they didn¡¯t want to deal with the hassle.

    It was getting prettyte, anyway. The students made their way to the dorms.

    Despite the noise caused by the mumblings and grumblings of everyone as they left, Ana didn¡¯t miss the stifled statement of her dearest friend.

    ¡°Edward, it¡¯s okay. Just calm yourself¡­¡± Anabelle didn¡¯t know what to tell him other than that.

    Edward was a warrior, she was a Schr. Brawn and brains were opposite so she couldn¡¯t directly rte to the pain he felt. But, she still felt hurt that her friend had lost pretty miserably.

    ¡°I told you¡­ not to challenge him¡­ you always do this¡­¡±

    Upon hearing these words, Edward¡¯s sunken face looked in Ana¡¯s direction and saw tears fall from her eyes.

    She was a terribly emotional person who often put up a tough front when confronted by others. Edward knew her true face though, especially during times like this.

    He gave a somewhat sad smile and pulled himself out of his pit of despair. He had lost so terribly that he felt ashamed to call himself a Swordsman. His opponent was a Magic-User, yet, he was able to depict finer swordsmanship than he ever could.

    There was no way he could find the strength in him to rise and further their match even after being easily disarmed and shown such a one-sided battle.

    ¡®So this is why he proposed a duel with swords¡­ it didn¡¯t matter to him¡­¡¯

    His sad smile broadened as he stared at Anabelle¡¯s crying face. He was an idiot who underestimated his opponent, suffered a miserable defeat, and even caused his dear friend to cry.

    ¡°¡­. You idiot!¡± Ana yelled, as though reading his mind.

    Edward rose from his low estate and sat uprightly on the ground. Ana was kneeling beside him, do they directly side-by-side.

    ¡°I now understand why he made such smiles andughs when we mentioned our goals¡­ to him they must have been too grand to consider. Someone as skilled as him merely wants to sharpen his skills¡­ perhaps I should have had a simpler goal like that too¡­¡±

 Chapter 86 - The Dorm

    Edward¡¯s words were full of pain as he spoke. His heart ached, but defeat had taught him that his pride was worthless. A loss was still a loss!

    ¡°No matter how unrealistic our dreams are, that guy has no right to criticize it! That¡¯s what I think!¡± Anabelle responded in an argument.

    There was no way she would acknowledge the sneer of someone who didn¡¯t know how hard she worked to get to where she was.

    Edward had mellowed out, but her annoyance had only increased.

    ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± Edward spoke weakly.

    He still didn¡¯t agree with Jared¡¯s actions. However, the weak could do nothing but feel awe for the strong. It was the same for Edward. Jared¡¯s swordsmanship and fluid motion with the de had left an impression on the heart of the young swordsman. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to hate the one who was once his adversary.

    A gentle smile formed on his face as he remembered Jared¡¯sst words to him.

    ¡°Who taught me Martial Arts, eh?¡±

    What could he say? He was self-taught. His father had left a legacy for him in the art of the sword and he desperately tried to live up to it. But, without a proper master¡­ his Sword Arts barely scratched the surface of the teachings contained in his inheritance.

    ¡®Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth¡­ I should be asking you the very same question¡­ who taught you Martial Arts?!¡¯

    While Edward was lost in his thoughts, Anabelle looked at him with curiosity. The tears in her eyes had dried up and her very small and cute face ogled his.

    Ever since they knew each other, she had been able to tell what he was thinking just by observing his facial muscles. Now was no different. Edward was having positive thoughts about Jared, something that directly contradicted Anabelle¡¯s disposition toward the arrogant boy who had just hurt her friend.

    Her fairlyrge eyes narrowed and her brow crinkled in displeasure.

    ¡®Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth¡­ I¡¯ll never acknowledge you!¡¯

    *********************

    My dorm was just as I expected¡ªtrash!

    The building erected before me was painted grey. It had a veryrge structure, with an even biggerpound. I was certain that if everyone within the building chose to spend time within thepound, there would still be room to spare.

    One would consider this good, but it was far from it! In the first instance, the building had an ominous feel about it. Perhaps it was due to the multiple amounts of energy I sensed within it¡ªbelonging to the students already lodged in. Still, I really didn¡¯t like this Dorm.

    That wasn¡¯t the worst of it, though.

    The handouts we students were given after leaving the temporary lodge we were in contained the location of our respective dorms and the room we would be staying in.

    Ainrk was arge Academy, so even the Lower ss Students should have had more than one dorm.

    At least, that was how it was supposed to be.

    ¡®We¡¯re all sharing one Dorm, uh?¡¯

    All the students (Juniors and Seniors) jam-packed in the same apartment¡­ what could possibly go wrong?

    Of course, I expected the amodation to be inferior to what I was used to, but I didn¡¯t expect things to be so bad. Still, just watching the building from a distance wasn¡¯t going to help my case.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go in!¡±

    The interior was worse than what I kept from the outside. It was a literal mess!

    Clothes and several properties were scattered about. Trash filled the ground and I could tell that in the short while of resumption, this ce was slowly bing a pigsty.

    ¡®What did I expect from the trash of the institute?¡¯

    Of course, I didn¡¯t mean to belittle them. However, one¡¯s identity affected the general perception and personality developed over time. If a person is constantly told he is a loser over and over again, and the environment supports that assertion, it would only be a matter of time before that person takes on the attribute of his newfound Identity.

    While we first years would not have been so affected since we were just starting out, our seniors were another matter entirely.

    Having spent so long at the bottom of the barrel, perhaps their minds had be ustomed to it.

    ¡®Oh well¡­¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t going to concern myself with trivialities such as this. I was certain they could easily clean up their messes, especially since Magic could be used. There was no point in making a fuss on my first day.

    My sac and bag were still with me as I climbed the stairs and made my way to the room assigned to me.

    I reached the third floor after a few minutes and saw several doors aligned on both sides of the hallway. Based on their distance, I could estimate that the rooms within couldn¡¯t be thatrge. It sickened me to consider where I would be spending my resting time within Ainrk, but I ignored the annoyance that had been building up and walked down the hallway.

    Fortunately, I met no one on my way to my room.

    There had to be a good set of reasons for that. For second and third years, their sses ended by 6:00 PM due to the workload. Since it was just after 5:00 PM, only the first years would be around. Since I left them back then, it would take a little while before they arrived which meant I was possibly the only one currently present.

    On the ground floor, I had seen a staff there who was most likely our Hall monitor. The youngdy pretended I didn¡¯t exist as I walked in. Thinking things through, the seniors would have lodged in here yesterday or maybe earlier considering the Assembly had all of us gathered. We first years came from our temporary residence, but the seniors must have been here all along.

    ¡®As usual, my necessities will be ced in my room as per Academy protocols¡­¡¯

    Finally reaching my door, I ced my hand on it and turned the doorknob. It responded and opened up for me. The moment it did so, dust flung outside, weing me to the ce I would be staying in for my Academy years.

    It was thick, so thick that I had to cover my eyes and block my nose. I was a moment toote, though, as my natural reaction toward such a huge wave of due acted up.

    ¡°ACHOOOO!!!¡±

 Chapter 87 - Experiment

    ¡°ACHOOOO!!!¡±

    I felt my voice echo across the empty hallway. The loud sound of my irritated reaction to the wave of dust enveloping me could be said to be anything but subtle.

    ¡°What the heck?!¡± I coughed, taking a few steps back.

    It was crazy!

    I was not really intent on pointing out how terrible unkempt the Dorm was since it didn¡¯t directly affect me. However, for my own room to be in such a state¡­ clearly, my annoyance would be peaked.

    The room was dusty, the bed dusty, everything dusty! I saw cobwebs and lots of unpleasant gathered around the furniture.

    ¡®Are you kidding me?¡¯

    Still, I couldn¡¯t just watch dumbfounded. This was without a doubt my room¡ªso I had to clean it up!

    **************************

    After what would be one of the worst thirty minutes of my new life, I was done cleaning up. Of course, as a noble, doing menial tasks such as this was something I had never done.

    If not for the experience I had in my past life as well as my adept use of magic, the state of my room would end up creating a huge dent in my stay at Ainrk.

    ¡°Whew!¡± I sighed.

    My lips curled up in a smile as I looked at the new version of the once messed-up room. Not only had the dust disappeared, but the floors and furniture were also sparkly clean.

    My bed was tidy and the cobwebs around were all gone.

    ¡°SPELLCRAFT sure is useful, uh?¡±

    I had used my mana to absorb all the dust, creating a form of ma. By gathering them all through dispersing my mana, the dirty particles became one whole sphere. I opened my window and disposed of therge sphere¡ªas big as a man¡¯s head¡ª into the yard.

    The cobwebs were taken care of using , a Spell I invented on the spot.

    Using wind magic with SPELLCRAFT as its base, I created a form of suction that took in the cobwebs and all other residual dirt in the atmosphere. The suction made sure everything went out the window and vanished into the yard as well.

    ¡®From what I saw, the yard is usually tidy, so the cleaners will take care of that¡­ that is, if the wind doesn¡¯t do their job for them.¡¯

    Fresh air was one of the stable features of the Ainrk Academy grounds. Cobwebs and dust only gathered in ces that were untouched for very long and had a stagnated atmosphere. When exposed to the fluid nature of the wind, theponents would disperse.

    I covered my window to make sure none of the particles entered my room again. Still, the cleaning work was not done yet.

    I used water magic to spread moisture on the wooden tiles that covered my room as well as the walls and used heat to dry it off, creating a cleaner and more sparkly ambiance.

    I checked my wardrobe and found¡ªas expected¡ª a good deal of clothes already stored there.

    Unlike the room, the wardrobe seemed to be in perfect condition. I had to assume that the whole thing had been transported here using Magic.

    Two sets of uniforms other than the one I wore, a bunch of casual wear which was my size. Their designs were in and simple, but the quality of the outfits was all exquisite¡ªas expected of Ainrk.

    We could also make requests for the kind of outfits we wanted and they would be delivered in a week, but I wasn¡¯t going to bother with that. Shoes were also prepared. A couple of pairs and, just like the outfits, a different kind could be requested.

    Looking around, my room was small¡ªsmaller than the one I used back at the temporary apartment and iparable to the one in my house. Still, it wasn¡¯t unbearably so.

    With my bed by the side, touching the wall, I had a study desk and chair beside it. The setting was simr to the other apartment¡ªonly smaller.

    I had my personal bathroom and toilet, something that gave me pure relief. The fear that I would have to share made me shiver on my way to this Dorm. However, when I thought of it rationally¡­ there was no way Ainrk would resort to that¡ªeven for Lower-ss students.

    ¡®I¡¯m still a noble, after all¡­ and this is a prestigious institute.¡¯

    With everything basically in order, I decided to do what I had intended to do from the start.

    ¡°My sack¡­¡± I used Wind magic to draw it closer to me as I sat on my bed.

    It was a hard and t surface¡­ but Magic could make it better.

    Opening the sack, I brought out the various nts I had plucked from the garden not too long ago and began processing them. It was a long wait, but I could finally begin practicing based on the treasure Alphonse gave me as a gift.

    ***********************

    ¡°Huu, all done!¡± I cleaned the nonexistent sweat from my forehead as I looked at the products of mybor.

    Several bottles that appeared transparent were lined up on the t surface of my bed.

    They were 12 in total, the same amount of the different types of nts I gathered. Within the transparent bottles which were just a little smaller than a fist, were liquid substances that had respective colors.

    My test tubes, as I called them all carried concentrates of the nts. Since these nts were all usefulponents in making drugs or medicines, people often used the entire thing for the process.

    However, what would truly be deemed as important were the chemicals that formed them. Just as I created the poison that killed the traitorous maid, I intended to draw out the chemicalponents of each of the nts and experiment with them.

    nts contained more than oneponent and rare nts had some simr chemicals tomon ones.

    If I could figure out which chemicals did what in the body, I could create potions that would usually require rare nts using just thebination of chemicals withinmon ones.

    It was a cheaper, more conservative approach!

 Chapter 88 - Points

    The room was cool due to the cirction caused by SPELLCRAFT using Wind Magic so I felt no difort during the tedious process.

    ¡°This takes a lot of time, but it¡¯s the best option I cane up with for now¡­ my resources are limited!¡± My whisper came out as I watched the result of my hard work, study, and dedication.

    Within this little room, I was going to bring a revolution to the concept of Alchemy and Medicine as a whole!

    ¡°Hehehe¡­ hehehe¡­¡±

    ***********************

    Night fell soon, and I could hear many soundsing from outside the room. I didn¡¯t bother leaving my littlefort zone until I was sure the coast was clear.

    The Dorm rules were already established and I had a copy as a handout.

    There were several eating spots on the Campus, so the Students could eat as much as they liked¡ªwell, not exactly.

    The ss System in Ainrk also came with a concept known as ss Points. The range was from one to a hundred.

    ss Points were extremely valuable and were one of the few things I made sure never to forget about Ainrk. Student privileges were tied to how many points they possessed. From requesting more outfits to buying more luxurious meals in the cafeteria¡ªeverything depended on how many points were in a student¡¯s possession.

    Fortunately, ss Points were not stagnant. These points could either rise or fall depending on the actions made by the student and they varied depending on individuals and not a collective.

    The bad news was that Lower ss Students all had a starting number of 30 Points. Middle-ss students were better off with 60, while Upper-ss Students had the most privileges avable to them since they had 90 Points to start with.

    An action of demerit caused these points to fall while actions of merit made them rise. This encouraged students to behave in exemry manners and work very hard. So, in theory¡­ it was possible for a student in the Loser ss to amass Points simr to those in the Upper ss.

    ¡®In theory, that is¡­¡¯

    Needless to say, I had a starting Point of 30, so there was a limited number of things I could do. I had to ensure that it didn¡¯t drop, but increase.

    ¡°I should get something to eat now¡­¡±

    Upon realizing that the hallway was empty, I opened my door and walked out of my room. The stairs were empty as well, as expected, it was 8:00 PM at night.

    Most students were either resting or studying in the library or their rooms.

    Upon reaching the ground floor, my eyes darted to a door that led to the ¡®Lounge¡¯ area of the Dorm. Based on the handbook I received, a mini cafeteria was situated there so I could get a bite to eat.

    Since it was unterally for Lower ss students, the restriction of Points was not an issue to be considered. Still, I didn¡¯t want to go there.

    ¡®I don¡¯t want to interact with any student for now¡­ my social battery is low.¡¯

    My eyes left the Lounge entrance as I made my way to the exit of the dorm.

    ¡°Haa¡­¡± My voice leaked out as I felt the fresh breeze of the outside garden wash all over me.

    Artificially making wind cirction was one thing, but experiencing the genuine article far surpassed it. My eyes squinted were wide open as I got used to the dark state of the outside world. The interior of the Dorm was brightened up by several lights produced by magic. So, seeing the night sky felt a little strange.

    The surroundings were far from dark, though. Lamps of never-ending light shone all across the school grounds and the fence surrounding our hugepound had manymps with the same function.

    There was literally no way to get lost in such a ce.

    ¡°Curfew is by 9:30 PM. I should get my meal and return quickly¡­¡±

    I wouldn¡¯t want a situation where I would be caught outside past the appointed time and be penalized. My precious points weren¡¯t going to be sacrificed today!

    ¡®I should speed things up a bit!¡¯

    In an instant, I carefully circted mana across my body, strengthening it further. It wasn¡¯t as intense as leaking it out of me, but its effects were just as much since my mana veins were far better than most people.

    Putting strength in my legs, I dashed toward the nearest cafeteria to get a bite¡ªand also some takeaway!

    ¡®I¡¯ll be needing a great deal of energy this night!¡¯

    *************************

    Unlike everything else that had happened today, the cafeteria was fairly normal.

    No food or drink was outside my Points. That meant there were no restrictions on how many meals I could pick. Food was free in Ainrk Academy, the only limit was the ability to obtain the meals through Points. Of course, there was a limit to the quantity a student could order at a particr time.

    Still, having ten packs of an adequate meal set would suffice.

    I thanked my attendant and left the cafeteria in a hurry. While I was still early, I wasn¡¯t going to risk nearing the deadline for curfew.

    In a sh, I made my way back to the Dorm and entered in relief.

    ¡®Whew! I¡¯m notte!¡¯ Looking at the time and seeing that it wasn¡¯t even 9:00 PM yet, I smiled in relief.

    However, this look of relief soon vanished from my eyes the moment I realized that the ground floor was upied by so many students¡ªall of which I had no knowledge of!

    ¡®Oh shit¡­ seniors?!¡¯

    Since I made quite a bit of a racket when entering the Dorm, swinging the door open, the seniors all turned in my direction.

    The piercing stares of everyone sent a jolt down my spine and I gulped without realizing it. I really didn¡¯t want an encounter now. I just wanted to eat, meditate, eat some more¡­ practice again¡ªand sleep!

    This had to be the worst-case scenario!

    ¡®What do I do?!¡¯

 Chapter 89 - Attention

    My body was petrified as the countless gazes rested on me.

    Well, they weren¡¯t exactly innumerable, about ten seniors, maybe twelve, were gathered in a bunch and conversing when I entered.

    ¡®I was careless!¡¯ My mind rang.

    A smile formed on the face of one of them as he approached me while the others also gave amused looks. One way or the other, I knew I wasn¡¯t getting out of this situation easily.

    My eyes unconsciously darted toward the door to my left as I saw the entrance to the lounge already opened. It creaked as it closed slowly. This caused me to register the reason these guys were suddenly loitering on the ground floor.

    ¡®They weren¡¯t loitering¡­ they were justing out of the Lounge!¡¯

    The very students I wanted to avoid by choosing a different eatery were standing before me. It felt disappointing and annoying, but there was nothing I could do at the current moment.

    ¡°You¡¯re Jared, right? Jared Leonard¡ªthe kid from back at the Assembly.¡±

    My mangled thoughts were poked by the senior who was already standing before me.

    He had auburn hair that seemed to stretch to the back of his face¡ªtied behind to form something simr to a short ponytail. His brown eyes showed sincerity and his thinly lined lips parted to form a genuine smile.

    I instinctively nodded to answer his question once I saw the expression on his face. It contained no malice.

    ¡°You¡¯re a pretty interesting kid, aren¡¯t you? You sure made a scene out there today.¡± The senior added with a wide grin and I could see the other boys behind himugh and nod their heads.

    Theirughs weren¡¯t condescending, but rather, of enjoyment.

    ¡°But, who would have expected you to be an introvert, eh?¡± His eyes darted toward the meal sets I held in both hands.

    I gulped, realizing he had figured out my intentions.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re a newbie, so I suppose we seniors might seem somewhat scary. Can¡¯t me you, we¡¯re a rowdy bunch!¡±

    I smiled wryly at this statement. He was a blunt guy, uh?

    ¡°In any case, wee to the Dorm. I hope to see more of you around¡­¡± He took a few steps back, finally seeming like he was done with me.

    I gave an internal sigh.

    ¡®He must have sensed my unease around them and chose to simply leave me be. Whew, if it was someone else, they may have taken offense¡­¡¯

    That made me certain that even among the seniors, there existed some who hadn¡¯t been affected by the oppressive hands of those above and truly became Lower-ss.

    ¡°Oh, and by the way¡­¡± The boy turned back and smiled at me.

    ¡°I¡¯m Jerry, Jerry Keller¡­ you should be careful, Jared. The higher-ups have their eyes on you.¡±

    With this final statement, the boy ascended the stairs alongside his nine otherpanions and left the Ground floor empty.

    I felt bad that I couldn¡¯t reply to his sincerity even once, but I wasn¡¯t in the right mind frame to speak. The boy I spoke to was most likely in his third year, same as the others.

    I couldn¡¯t tell since they were all wearing casual outfits, just like me.

    ¡®They¡¯re strong!¡¯ Was what registered in my head.

    All of them had powers that could rival mine, and I wasn¡¯t certain I could beat the one who seemed to be the leader¡ªJerry Keller¡ªin a fight.

    Well, that would be me without using SPELLCRAFT.

    ¡®I should get going too¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed and I made my way to my room.

    It had been a very eventful day, but it was finallying to an end. Well, not for me though¡­ I still had training to attend to.

    Just because I made it to the greatest institute in the Kingdom didn¡¯t mean I had to ck off.

    No, rather, this meant I needed to work extra hard.

    The atmosphere was rich in mana, my skills had improved drastically, and I had the right amount of food. It was only right that I strengthened my cores further.

    ***********************************

    Jerry was walking to his room, situated on the topmost floor¡ªthe fourth¡ªand had a wide grin stered on his face.

    For some reasons best known to him, he was in a terrific mood

    Hispanions had an inkling of what made him so amused, but didn¡¯t understand why he was so excited about it.

    ¡°Why are you in such high spirits, Jerry?¡± One of them finally asked.

    His curiosity had reached an uncontroble peak.

    ¡°Well, I guess you guys wouldn¡¯t have known¡­¡± Jerry¡¯s whisper was barely loud enough for them to hear him.

    ¡°Is he that interesting, that Jared?¡±

    ¡°He had guts back at the Assembly, but was it just me, or did he seem nervous when facing us?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I noticed it too. Plus, I hear he¡¯s a White Core Grade¡­ why did you take such an interest in someone like that?¡±

    Jerry¡¯s smile broadened even more.

    ¡°If you heard about his Core Grade, you must also know about the results of his first two tests. He ranked among the top five simply by gaining perfect scores on both first and second sections of their exams¡­¡±

    ¡®That boy is extraordinary,¡¯ was what Jerry was trying to say.

    ¡°Plus, you should all know that Mana Core Grade isn¡¯t everything. If you keep assessing him like that, how are you different from those stuck-up higher-ups?¡±

    The moment their leader said this, everyone gave apologetic gestures and felt a little bad for thinking in such a way.

    ¡°Y-yeah, you¡¯re right¡­ sorry.¡± The one who made the statement gave an apology.

    Jerry shrugged, though. He never really considered it a big deal.

    ¡°It¡¯s to be expected. Besides¡­¡±

    The others couldn¡¯t sense it because they had been too neutral about Jared, but for him, he could detect it just fine.

    ¡®They think he was nervous, but he wasn¡¯t¡­ he wasn¡¯t just interested.¡±

    Jerry could tell the moment he got into close proximity with the young boy. His eyes seemed to be scanning everything¡ªprobing deep into his intentions and the vicinity.

    There was no doubt that Jared was not ordinary.

    Then there was onest thing that caught his attention about the young man, something he had to tell hispanions.

    ¡°That boy¡­ is stronger than all of you.¡±

 Chapter 90 - Impossible

    ¡°That first year is stronger than all of you!¡±

    The statement dropped like a bombshell to the nine students who walked along with Jerry. The moment they heard this, everyone halted. This wasn¡¯t a light statement that could be waved off unnoticed.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Are you serious?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡±

    Various reactions leaked out of them as they all stared at Jerry with surprise written on their faces.

    He wasn¡¯t one to examine someone wrongly, but Jerry was also known for his easygoing nature and teases. It could have been that he was just teasing. However, in the unlikely situation that he wasn¡¯t¡­

    ¡°I¡¯m dead serious.¡± Jerry¡¯s words confirmed the possibility they wanted to ignore.

    The look in his brown eyes told them that he truly wasn¡¯t messing around.

    Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, as young and inexperienced as he was, was more powerful than they¡ªthird-year students.

    ¡°Welp, he¡¯s not stronger than me, though¡­¡± Jerry smiled and shrugged.

    Still, even for an exceptional student, Jared was too powerful for his age.

    ¡®He should be in the Upper ss by just measuring his talent and power alone¡­¡¯ Jerry reasoned.

    The problem was his Mana Core. The same applied to him as well. The school¡¯s system was rigged, but there was nothing he¡ªas a student¡ªcould do about it.

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you say, then it has to be true.¡±

    Jerry wasn¡¯t one to misjudge someone or lie. If he spouted something so unbelievable, then it had to be real.

    ¡°I suppose¡­ well, it hard to guess it urately without testing it out with Mana Pressure, but that should be about right. In any case, we¡¯ll be seeing him around, so that¡¯s fine.¡±

    Jerry continued his slow steps and got to the door of his room.

    ¡°You know, you guys don¡¯t have to always see me to my room. Your rooms are on the third floor, right?¡±

    The boys behind him all gave the same light shrug. As always, they stubbornly wanted to escort him to his room. It wasn¡¯t that they feltpelled to¡­ it was just a mutual understanding among them.

    Jerry was different.

    Unlike other students who had to stay in rooms located on the first to the third floor, he was residing on the fourth. Unlike the three other residential floors, the rooms on the fourth floor were way bigger. That meant there were lesser rooms. Ten student residential rooms, to be exact.

    Just ten rooms on that floor belonged to students, and for a special reason.

    ¡°Welp, goodnight, Jerry.¡± His friends waved goodbye to him as they hurried down to their various rooms.

    The boy, who was now all alone, entered his room. His head still poked out until he was certain his friends had sessfully descended the stairs before closing his door.

    ¡°Those idiots¡­¡± He whispered in a sigh.

    Though they all hung out together and hardly showed him any special treatment, this was one thing they couldn¡¯t forego. Jerry¡¯s position deserved a little reverence, so they all decided that escorting him to his room would be their little tribute to him.

    Compared to what others had to do, it was nearly nothing. Still, Jerry found it weird. It was fun weird though, since he had more time to talk to them.

    Why was Jerry so special? Why was he being treated differently?

    The answer was simple¡­ though he was still a Second Year, he had achieved something barely any student in their dorm could achieve. He was among the Elite Ten¡­ champions of the Lower ss!

    The room on the topmost floor belonged to those who had been deemed to be ranked the highest among other students in their ss. Usually, they would be upied by Third Years, since it was only natural that they would be stronger.

    However¡­ Jerry was only a second-year and he had managed to break rank. A truly amazing being.

    He didn¡¯t feel that way, though. ording to him, he barely made the cut.

    Plus, Jerry¡¯s goaly beyond just being a member of the Elite Ten¡ªthe best in his ss (Lower ss). He wanted to rise above that and break the standard that shackled everyone in the Dorm.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to obtain the title of Ranker¡­ the nine best students in the whole of Ainrk Academy!¡¯

    It was a sphemous dream¡­ something anyone in the Lower ss shouldn¡¯t imagine. However, for Larry who had broken one dogma already and became one of the few Seconds Years to have ever attained the rank of Elite Ten, he wanted to go further.

    The only way to gain acknowledgment and achieve his goal for reformation in Ainrk was to achieve the impossible.

    ¡®Jared Leonard¡­ I suppose you¡¯ve given me the push I need.¡¯

    If someone like Jared was as strong as his Third Year friends, it wasn¡¯t impossible for a Lower ss to aim for the best spot in the whole academy.

    ¡®Now then, I should begin my training¡­¡¯

    ******************************

    Walking to the Lecture Hall the next day was a little strange since it would be the first for me. I freshened up and did everything early, however, leaving my room was another thing entirely.

    The hallway was noisy, indicating the presence of many students. I didn¡¯t want to end up bumping into one of those guys, so I waited for a little while until I couldn¡¯t anymore.

    In the end, I exited the dorm by jumping out of my window. It was crazy, but I had to apud its efficiency.

    Using wind magic to lock my window after I left, I also used it to cushion my fall so I didn¡¯t suffer any injuries whilending.

    Students were in a hurry, leaving through the main gate, so no one noticed mending by the side.

    From then onward, it was a breeze. I blended in with the crowd and left for my Lecture Hall. I saw some familiar faces¡ª members of the same Year¡ªbut ignored them.

    I could tell that their eyes were on me though.

    ¡®They must still be thinking about yesterday¡­¡¯

    Rolling my eyes at the thought, I picked up my pace and swiftly ran to ss.

 Chapter 91 - Unexpected Development

    I reached the Lecture Hall about ten minutes before 9:00 AM, the designated time for homeroom tomence.

    It was, as I already expected, nearly empty. Students had already started cking off a little, and considering the fact that the lecturer was quitete yesterday, not many wanted to arrive too early.

    Still, I surmised that a majority would arrive before Homeroom started.

    ¡°Huu¡­¡± I made myselffortable in my usual seat stationed at the forefront of everyone else.

    My head fell on my desk and I closed my eyes to have a little rest. The slight exhaustion built up from yesterday still lingered, albeit barely.

    Just like yesterday, no one dared to seat anywhere remotely close to me, on either the right or left side of the seats. In a way, it was perfect. Though it meant making friends would be a lot tougher and I could be a social enigma. Still¡ª

    ¡®I could get used to this.¡¯

    Unfortunately, my thoughts didn¡¯tst for too long.

    HUMMP

    I felt a sounding from just a small distance from me. If I wasn¡¯t so perceptive, I could have ignored it. However, this sound was akin to someone having their seat, and it was so close.

    My head mechanically turned and I opened my eyes, gazing upon who decided to have their seats close to me.

    ¡®W-what the-?!¡¯ My tired eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as the person¡¯s image burned into them.

    Edward Karl Leon¡ªthat was the person who sat a few seats from me.

    I quickly contained my shock and looked away, returning my head to my desk as though I noticed nothing. Many thoughts ran through my mind, but the most prominent of them was¡­ WHY?

    I achieved an overhelming victory against him yesterday, I allegedly ndered the Martial Arts he practiced and even embarrassed him in front of so many students. He was meant to avoid me like a gue and we would simply ignore each other.

    Why, then, did he take the initiative to sit where no one else dared to and choose the right section of the two divides¡ªthe exact ce I chose?!

    ¡®Is he trying to start something again?¡¯

    Well, he did seem like a persistent person. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t epted his loss back then. I was conflicted about what to think.

    ¡®His eyes back then, though¡­ I was certain I won over his spirit¡­¡¯

    Sighing to myself, I brushed aside those thoughts and concluded that I was simply overreacting. The boy had said nothing to me so there was no need to conclude that he was specifically targeting me.

    ¡®Maybe he wants to be a model student and achieve total concentration¡­¡¯

    Giving that excuse to myself, I ignored the gnawing unease within me.

    There were other things to consider so it didn¡¯t take long for my mind to wander away from the boy beside me.

    First was the advancement of my three cores. While they were strengthened to the point of rivaling Yellow Core Grades, there was still a limit to how much growth I could achieve using a White Core.

    ¡®Should I begin advancing the other cores to Yellow now?¡¯ The thought weighed heavily on my mind.

    Of course, I would leave my base core untampered with and focus on the two others. Well, that was one way to go about it. The second would be to focus on making more cores and distributing them to other areas in my body to further strengthen it.

    There was a limit to how many I could handle, but having more cores was guaranteed to boost my abilities by several folds.

    ¡®If I advance all but my main core to Yellow, I won¡¯t be able to quickly form other cores since only the main core will bear the burden¡­¡¯

    In contrast, leaving the cores white allowed me to share the burdens with all three and quicken the process. The problem, however, was specialization.

    The reason Grade Cores changed color was due to an increase in mana and specialization. The higher one achieved in their Mana Core Grade, the more intense their specialization would be.

    As I currently was, I couldn¡¯t use anything but basic magic¡ªa jack of all trades and master of none.

    Advanced magic was out of the option without having a more solid Core Grade. That meant I couldn¡¯t remain a white Core forever¡­ at least for my other Mana Cores.

    The second issue that bothered me was rted to my duel yesterday. The poor state of Martial Arts in the world, as well as the crude movements Edward made that seemed to pass as a style ording to a particr School.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to learn more about modern Martial Arts.¡¯

    There were also issues rting to alchemy and potion manufacturing, so I needed to retrieve more nts and get new types that I didn¡¯t pluck yesterday.

    ¡®Ah, so much to do¡­¡¯

    Our Lecturer arrived in the hall and every student arose. I noticed his entry and followed suit.

    ¡°Good to see you, students. Have your seats¡­ homeroom begins.¡±

    ***************************

    After homeroom¡ªwhere Neron Kaelid emphasized the uing events and also advised us concerning the use of the Library and other school facilities¡ª our dear Lecturer took his leave and gave us enough time to prepare for the first Lecture.

    Our first course for today was a General one, which meant every student would be in attendance. After that, it would be Specialized all through the day¡­ not counting Electives.

    A thought shed in my mind as Neron left, but I decided to ignore it. Our Lecturer must have intended to tell us during his time in the first course¡ªwhere we would be having our Specialized Courses.

    There was no mention of a location on our respective brochures¡ªthe documents Neron gave us yesterday concerning our courses and the time. It made me curious as to why he hadn¡¯t mentioned it yet.

    In the meantime, I felt more ufortable the longer I spent in my seat. Why? Because I could feel a gaze always shifting to me at several intervals.

    ¡®I can¡¯t take this anymore!¡¯

 Chapter 92 - Consideration

    I gritted my teeth, enduring and enduring, but there was a limit to my patience.

    Intentionally, I had avoided staring at the one who rested his gaze on me, but it was getting too annoying.

    And so, with a swift turning of my neck, I faced the left¡ªtoward Edward¡¯s direction.

    The moment I did so, I could see him turning his head as well, trying to avoid my gaze.

    ¡®What the heck?!¡¯

    Edward had been staring at me frequently, even as we had Homeroom. I was clueless as to why.

    ¡®I¡¯m not about to y this childish game!¡¯

    First, he sat close to me. Now, he was looking at me. Was he trying to distract me or something? Was this his idea of revenge?

    It made no sense whatsoever, and I felt it was just childish. Still, considering our age, it wasn¡¯t beyond consideration.

    My eyes darted to the second row, on the left side of the Lecture Hall, and I saw Anabelle¡ªEdward¡¯s friend.

    She had some sort of frown written on her face that somehow distorted the gentle and timid image she usually had. It didn¡¯t diminish her beauty, though. Rather, the unusually angry expression nted on her face gave a certain charm that made her look cute¡ªlike she was pouting.

    ¡®Is she angry at someone¡­?¡¯

    My mind went to Edward, but it seemed unlikely. Perhaps she was upset by his decision to sit beside me and not beside her. No, even yesterday they didn¡¯t sit beside each other. That was most likely not the problem.

    As I considered this, I felt Anabelle Frederick¡¯s eyes move toward my direction, and for a split second, our eyes met.

    I could feel myself drawn to the crystal blue in her eyes, different from the brilliant golden glow in mine.

    It only happened for an instant, but the burning re I had previously noticed on her face intensified as we exchanged nces and she quickly looked away.

    It was at that moment that I became aware. Her animosity was directed at none other than me! It made me a little flustered, just thinking about it. But, just as I did for everything, I approached the matter rationally.

    ¡®What did I do to her, though?¡¯

    Was she upset by my actions against her friend? He started it, so I wasn¡¯t to be med. I barely scratched him too¡ªa benevolent act considering others would end up having injuries after a Duel.

    Then, perhaps the young girl was still hung over my little cough when she was speaking about her goals. It wasn¡¯t in my intention to be rude, but I certainly came off that way.

    Usually, I would wave it off. However, I slowly considered making an exception for her.

    ¡®I still have no friends, and being honest¡­ she¡¯s the only one who still has my attention.¡¯ I reasoned.

    It would be foolish to live a school life all alone¡ªwith no allies or anyone to call friend. If I could get on good terms with her by apologizing, then it was a small price to pay. I wasn¡¯t so overly fixated on my ego, after all.

    ¡®I suppose I¡¯ll talk to her after General sses today¡­¡¯ Considering the fact that Specialized sses started after that, it was the best solution.

    And so, after making up my mind, I brought out a book I had been studying and continued with it. Since I tried a bit of experimentst night, I had more understanding of what I had been studying for some time and now¡ªthis made reading much easier.

    **********************

    Neron returned to the ss at the appointed time and began our first course for the day. From the corner of my eyes and also as a result of my heightened senses, I could see and hear several students studiously writing down what was being taught.

    Many would consider this behavior to be schrly, but it was far from it. Simply writing down words that could easily be traced to textbooks was a waste of time and energy. It would be better to pay attention to the lecturer and critically examine all he said in case he said something interesting that would be worthy of highlighting. That would definitely be more efficient both in learning and preparing for tests and exams.

    My hands barely moved throughout the lecture as I only wrote down the things that were of utmost pertinence. This would have caused some stirs among the other students who were fond of monitoring my movements, but they were all too busy trying to diligently imprint our Lecturer¡¯s words into their sheets.

    As expected, Anabelle didn¡¯t work as hard as the others, though she still wrote quite a bit. Edward, the musclebrain kept moving his well-trained hands and wrote with vigor. I had no idea why I even bothered noticing him.

    ¡®Maybe because he¡¯s beside me¡­ sigh.¡¯

    I was grateful, though. The boy didn¡¯t have enough leeway to stare at me the way he frequently did. That alone gave me inner satisfaction.

    *************************

    ¡°Alright. That¡¯s enough for today. The lecture is over, get ready for the next one.¡± Neron said, stepping down from the lectern.

    I looked at the clock conspicuously hung on the wall. It was 10:49 AM, and get was supposed to finish by 11:00. Well, considering the fact that the Martial Arts division had a Specialized course by exactly 11:00 AM, he must have finished early because of them.

    ¡®But, he¡¯s just going to leave like that?!¡¯ I stared at Neron, puzzled.

    Wasn¡¯t he going to mention where our halls were situated for each department¡¯s distinct Specialized courses? Neron did nothing of the sort, though, and kept heading for the entrance.

    ¡°Excuse me, professor! You haven¡¯t told us where our Specialized Courses will be held! It starts shortly!¡± Edward bravely spoke up, a split moment before I decided to take action.

    Neron paused, the entire ss watched in expectation, hoping for a proper response, stemming from good guidance. No one could have expected what woulde out of our Lecturer¡¯s mouth¡­

    ¡­ Not even me!

 Chapter 93 - Bombshell

    ¡°Excuse me, professor! You haven¡¯t told us where our Specialized Courses will be held! It starts shortly!¡±

    A smile formed on my face, feeling a little proud of Edward¡¯s confidence since it seemed like no one had any intention of saying anything if our Lecturer didn¡¯t speak of the matter.

    Upon hearing Edward¡¯s question, Neron paused in his exit and made a rather awkward stance¡ªlike he was stuck in his motion for the door.

    He stood upright and gave his usuallyid-back smile. His eyes showed every hint of seriousness though, looking at everyone who sat before him¡ªwith the exception of Edward who remained ok his feet.

    ¡°Ah, I guess I forgot to tell you¡­ there is no other hall for learning Main Courses apart from this one¡­ there¡¯s also no provisional lecture for your respective Specialized Courses¡­¡±

    Nearly everyone let out ¡°WHAT?!¡± out of their mouths, but quickly cautioned themselves since they were in the presence of an esteemed professor¡ªif the young man before us could really be called that.

    ¡°W-what do you mean, sir? I don¡¯t quite understand¡­¡± Edward¡¯s voice trailed.

    His initial confidence had somehow vanished as he stuttered while speaking. A bead of sweat dripped from his face and I could sense the unease he was experiencing from my distance.

    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t me you guys. You were never told, uh?¡± Neron muttered in a sigh.

    ¡°Lower-ss students have Electives in provisional halls and are taught by assistant lecturers. However, for Main Courses, only this Lecture Hall has been provided. Also, due to the shortage of staff, I will be the only one taking the main Courses for all departments.¡±

    The more he exined, the less I understood. Everyone was equally dumbfounded, except the man who dropped this bombshell on us. What he was basically reporting to us was that our hopes of quality management and an orderly academic session were merely a fantasy.

    ¡®He¡¯ll be the one teaching all the Main Courses¡ªGeneral and Specialized. This Lecture Hall will be used for all of them. There is no other staff around and the ones who even teach us Electives are mere Assistant Lecturers¡­¡¯

    There was only one word that popped into my head after analyzing the silly excuses our Lecturer gave.

    ¡°Bullshit!¡±

    My words pierced the uneasy silence that had permeated the room and everyone stared at me instantly. Shock was written all over their faces as if I had just defiedmon sense by speaking out of turn, especially uttering a crass word to such a degree.

    I didn¡¯t care, though.

    Rising to my feet, while resting my gaze¡ªno, re¡ª on Neron Kaelid, I opened my lips to register the burning inquisition in my mind to him and everyone in the room.

    ¡°Why are we being taught this way?!¡±

    Anger was evident in my tone, and I was sure I had just acted disrespectful, but I didn¡¯t care. In the first ce, it was this Academy that disrespected me, rather, us first.

    Neron¡¯s gaze was still cold as usual, but he did turn in my direction.

    ¡°This Academy is renowned as the best of the best, yet you¡¯re telling me they are short on staff and halls meant for Lectures? What kind of excuse is that? Besides, I have been noticing your methods of teaching and the topics you border on¡­ they are too basic!¡±

    I was in an uncontroble stride, and while many students gritted their teeth and gave me astounded expressions of fear and disbelief, I kept my mouth moving.

    ¡°Frankly speaking, this is all underwhelming. If this is what Ainrk, the greatest Academy in the Kingdom is like¡­ I wonder if it truly is the best!¡±

    My sneer seemed to have lit a spark in our Lecturer¡¯s eyes, just as I wanted. He seemed a little dissatisfied, no, angry at my words and I expected it. I didn¡¯t intend to apologize, though. If this man had any sense, he wouldn¡¯t expect me to either.

    ¡®After going so far and training so hard to reach this stage¡­ why would this Academy resort to such careless and whimsical teaching standards?¡¯

    As someone who once attended this Academy and even taught within it, it was a disgrace to meet it in such a state. I already knew what the problem was, but I wanted Neron Kaelid to give me his answer!

    ¡°Why are you being taught this way, uh? I wonder¡­¡±

    Neron¡¯s voice trailed coldly as the spark in his eyes died back. This made me even more furious

    He must have already known the point I was driving at. This arrangement must have also been hard on him since he was the one who would teach all departments¡ªsomething so exhausting¡­

    Why then? Why was he being so calm and nonchnt? Despite his knowledge concerning the reason we were reduced to such a state based on our Lower-ss status. Neron showed absolutely no emotion and kept his cool.

    ¡®This guy is¡­¡¯ I gritted my teeth ad red at him.

    He returned my expression with a cool and collected face. However, the moment our eyes met, I realized that my annoyance was misced.

    ¡®Ah, I see¡­¡¯

    This man wasn¡¯t being too nonchnt. I was the one being too fired-up. Despite my criticisms of Edward, I nearly acted in the same way. There was nothing I could do in this matter, and the same probably applied to him.

    That was why he remainedposed and decided not to pointlessly fight a losing battle, at least until an opportunity arrived. For someone like me who thought of everything rationally, I had messed up on this one.

    My enraged face softened up and I loosened the tension that permeated my body.

    ¡°Huu¡­ I understand.¡±

    Returning to my seat as abruptly as I stood from it, my usual demeanor resumed and I smiled softly.

    I was being a brat¡ªan immature little kid¡ªjust now. If I was angry at the system, if I was dissatisfied with our treatment, if I wanted something better, yelling at our Lecturer wasn¡¯t going to solve it.

    ¡®I¡¯m done whining¡­¡¯

 Chapter 94 - Cause For The Decline

    There was only one path to victory as well as the freedom I sought.

    To be unparalleled and unrivaled, I needed more experience and knowledge. To get it, I needed higher qualifications which my Lower ss Status couldn¡¯t get me.

    However, if there was one thing in Ainrk that hadn¡¯t changed since its foundation, it would be the absolute factor that determined nearly everything for a student.

    This factor was even higher than the ss system that had been erected and the prejudice against the untalented. An immutable rule that had existed before I was born¡ªand the only reason I was able to rise up to great heights despite being inept.

    Merit!

    Talent was worth a lot, but in the end, what everyone looked forward to was results. Results earned by pure merit was the deciding factor of anything in this world¡­ and if I was confident about anything, it would be Merit-based results!

    ************************

    Neron gave us a couple of options¡ªthose who weren¡¯t offering the Martial Arts Specialized course.

    We could choose to sit at the back of the Lecture Hall while the Martial Arts students were taught at the front of the ss, or we could leave.

    Those who left could go to the Library, the garden, the cafeteria, or whatever. It was their free period, after all. Due to Edward¡¯s question and my little interference, only about five minutes were left before the ss began so a majority of the students poured out at once. I also stood from my front seat since it would be used by the Martial Arts students.

    ¡®I should go to the Library to read up on some stuff¡­¡¯

    While reasoning this, I made my way toward the exit. However, before Ipletely passed the door, I stopped dead in my tracks. A thought shed, causing me to reconsider my initial n.

    ¡®I should stay here¡­¡¯

    My head tilted toward the direction of the seats. Most of the students were already gone, leaving only the few Martial Arts students in the ss.

    A smile formed on my face as I returned to the seats and climbed the small steps that led to the seats behind. It was my first time doing such, so I stopped at the third row and had my seat there.

    I ensured I sat on the left side of the ssroom since the Martial Arts students sat on the right.

    ¡®They¡¯re just seven¡­¡¯ Their small numbers made me slightly cringe.

    The total number of Lower ss students was thirty-eight.

    Eleven were Magic-Users.

    Seven were Martial Artists

    Twenty were Schrs.

    It was a little surprising to see the small number of Martials in our ss, but considering the state of decline the Art was, it was understandable. The ten front rows were nearly filled up by the seven students as they sometimes made nces behind them to look at me strangely.

    Everyone who wasn¡¯t a Martial Arts student had left. Everyone except me¡­ and for due reason.

    ¡®I¡¯ve been wondering why the Martial Arts Edward performed to me was so crude, yet everyone thought it was impressive. If I listen in on this Lecture, I could gain a thing or two¡­¡¯

    A book would have done the trick, but I felt more inclined toward the teaching method given by the institute concerning Martial Arts. After this, I would research more on it in the library.

    I hated it when something festered in my mind for too long. If I was curious about something, I needed to find the answers. It was just a shame that I hadn¡¯t studied Martial Arts sooner.

    ¡®I was too focused on Magic, I guess¡­¡¯

    Neron entered the Lecture Hall after leaving for only a few minutes. His eyes initially darted at me curiously, expressing slight surprise that I was still in the ss while everyone had left. I returned his puzzlement with a knowing grin.

    The young Lecturer gave a short smile, what seemed like a smirk, and faced his students. I had to admit, one of the reasons I remained in the ss was because I was also curious as to how Neron would manage to teach Martial Arts, Magic, and Schr Courses by himself. No matter how well diversified a person was, there existed no way they could be entirely proficient in everything.

    There was no way Neron could teach Martial Arts as well as he would teach Magic!

    ***************************

    I was wrong!

    Listening to his Lecture, I felt drawn in by the eloquence with which he spoke. It was as though Neron was a different being entirely,pared to the easygoing lecture he gave in the past.

    I could see a fire burning in the eyes of the students he taught as a result of his passionate words. The topic for discussion was something I had heard during my duel with Edward.

    The Martial School of Fundamental Sword Arts!

    He exined the six basic forms that existed in this school; Footwork, Mental Resilience, Muscle Alignment, Motion Control, Sensory Perception, and Sword Techniques.

    I listened attentively, as though I was also among the students he taught. The more he spoke, the more I understood. This school, same as four other fundamental schools which he mentioned briefly, were the core lessons these young Martials would learn in their first year.

    For now, he mulled over the theories, but they wouldmence practical sessions subsequently.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± A whisper escaped from my lips.

    If I was confused before, that feeling hadpletely left me now. The reason Edward moved in such a crude manner that was regarded as Martial Arts, and thus Fundamental school, among the others¡ªI slowly reached my conclusion on the matter.

    ¡®Martial Art Techniques have really declined, uh?¡¯

    It was theplete opposite of Magic!

    Magic had improved while Martial Arts had reduced. It made me wonder about something.

    ¡°What really started this? Is it the reduction of talented and skilled martial artists that caused the decline of the Art, or was it the decline and disinterest of the Art that caused the reduction of talented and skilled Martial Artists?¡±

    It was like the chicken and egg scenario¡­ which came first?

 Chapter 95 - Spectating

    ¡°I understand now¡­¡± A smile formed on my face as I gazed upon the cluster of students who looked at Neron with zing passion, focusing on one person in particr.

    Edward Karl Leon¡­ his dream wasn¡¯t so bad, after all.

    My interest in him was rekindled.

    Judging from the fact that everyone was learning the fundamentals with such vigor¡ªthe same fundamentals Edward had shown me during our Duel¡ªit meant that it was really a big deal in the modern world.

    If Edward was skilled at Martial Arts, though restrained by the quality he was exposed to, I could help him attain even greater heights.

    ¡®As I thought¡­ it wasn¡¯t a waste to attend this lecture!¡¯

    **********************

    As soon as the ss ended, the Martial Arts students began leaving the hall. The time was exactly 11:45 AM, giving the Martial Arts coursemates enough time to leave the hall and for the next batch of students to trickle in.

    Edward looked in my direction as soon ad Neron left the Lecture Hall and gave a warm smile.

    I didn¡¯t reciprocate, even though I wanted to. t

    There were many things on my mind, and that included the young boy. The only problem was how I would approach him.

    ¡°The next ss is for the Schrs, uh? A Specialized Course for them too¡­¡± I whispered, considering whether or not to remain in the hall.

    Unlike Martial Arts, my understanding of Schrly Arts was vast. There was basically nothing being taught that would be worthy of my attention at such an elementary stage.

    Still, I was curious about how Neron would teach the Schrs. If he truly was an exceptional lecturer, I was certain this ss would be interesting.

    ¡°Alright then¡­¡± I remained in my seat and brought out a book to pass time.

    It was my journal where I stored important information. I was putting down important goals for the future concerning Edward, whom I had already written off before.

    There was another name on the page of my journal¡­ it belonged to another student. My eyes darted to the entrance as I saw her enter the room. Her blonde hair always stood out to me, and the tiny frame she had made her look odd in the multitude of more mature people.

    Anabelle¡¯s eyes darted in my direction and our gazes met once more. Mine, full of observation¡­ and hers was full of annoyance.

    I looked away first and proposed to myself that I would apologize to her the moment I got the chance to. If I didn¡¯t, my offense could evolve into something more in her heart.

    The Schrs filled up the first two rows in the hall, making me feel weird since I was seated on the third. I considered moving back, but decided not to.

    ¡®If Neron has a problem with my proximity, I¡¯ll move then¡­¡¯

    My hands and mind were busy as I stroked my pen to create a form to work out my schedule with Edward¡ªand hopefully Anabelle.

    *****************************

    The Lecture started at exactly 12:00 PM and ended by 12:47 PM. I assumed it would end sooner, but due to Anabelle¡¯s persistent questions, Neron was forced to make room for it.

    And, as for Neron¡¯s teaching¡­ it was fantastic. He did just as well as when he taught the Martial Arts student. By mapping out the theories before the students, he gave an in-depth analysis of them as well as his personal opinion.

    But, that wasn¡¯t all! He allowed everyone to speak their mind and give their opinions on the topics. The one who took the most advantage of this opportunity was Anabelle.

    She asked questions and gave radical answers, causing Neron to smile nearly every time.

    This, however, attracted negative stares from her fellow students. Due to her enthusiasm and rapid firing of opinion, the other students looked unserious. They didn¡¯t have much to contribute, unlike her, so Anabelle was making them look bad.

    It was fun hearing her tiny voice speak with such confidence, though. I controlled myself fromughing or choking in order not to cause any further misunderstanding.

    Once the ss was over, the Schrs made for the exit, and a new set of students entered.

    A grin formed on my face as I stood from the back row and made my way to the front. The students now trickling in neither belonged to the Martial Arts department nor the Schr Unit. No, they were the same as me¡ªMagic Arts Students.

    I was excited, to say the least.

    After hearing the first two lectures, it would be strange to say I wasn¡¯t psyched about this¡­ especially since I would be able to directly participate in it.

    After having my seat at the far end of the right side on the first row, I watched as other students awkwardly took their ces beside me.

    Unlike in the General sses, where one could seat wherever they wanted, the Specialized sses ensured that all students filled the first rows for bettermunication and interaction between us and the lecturer.

    Not long after we had all settled down, our lecturer, Neron, entered the hall.

    We all stood and paid our respects to him before he waved at us to have our seats.

    ¡°I would like to begin this lecture by asking a question.¡± Was the first thing that came out of his mouth.

    His lips were pursed and a refreshed smile poured all over his face. I could sense a passion in him that didn¡¯t exist in the other two courses he had taught. No matter how well-diversified one was, they still had an area of specialty.

    Or, at least, an area they loved over all others. As someone who was the same in my past life¡ªengaging in Schrhood and Martial Arts¡ªI knew of the feeling. Now that Magic had alsoe into the fray, I could be said to be diversified.

    However, if I had to pick my best¡­ it would be Magic! The same could be said for our Lecturer. He was just like me.

    ¡®He loves magic too, uh?¡¯

 Chapter 96 - The Origin Of Mana

    ¡°Where does Manae from?¡± Neron dropped the question upon the ss, causing an echo of silence to pervade everywhere.

    The students nkly stared at him.

    Yesterday, and even for the first Lecture of the day, we were only taught the most basic things that everyone was aware of before arriving at Ainrk.

    However, this question that was posed was different. It was an advanced problem that had beget many theories which remained unsolved to date.

    Yet, Neron was starting his lecture with this.

    The name of our current course was called ¡®Magic Theories¡¯, and just as the name implied, it dealt with the several theories that made up the Magic body as a whole.

    None of us had any idea why Neron had chosen to start off with this question, at least it didn¡¯t seem like we did. One thing was certain, though¡­ he was leading us to a theory.

    ¡®I see¡­ so, instead of just dumping the information upon us likest time, he wants us to think. If he gave us the topic for today, we would most likely give him an answer that jibes with that particr theory¡­¡¯

    It was a smart move. Neron was aiming for one thing by asking us for an answer. He wanted to know which theory we supported, or if we supported any theory at all. It was possible that among us existed someone who had a separate view from the already existing theories in response to the question of the origin of Mana.

    Neron started from the left and moved to the right. Based on how things were going, I would be the tenth person to speak. I wondered what I should say¡ªone of my theories?

    ¡°I believe Manaes from the heavens. It is a gift from God himself.¡± Said the first student.

    It was an ambiguous answer, not well thought-through.

    When asked a question, one had to consider a couple of things before answering. First,y out an assertion, then exin your reasoning, and then give proof. Only then would you be able to correctlyy out your opinion without leaving any room for uncertainty and confusion.

    What the boy saidcked no substance. It was like he just recited one of the theories he heard. And, this didn¡¯t just apply to him.

    One after the other, the students spoke. All of them were the same, either agreeing with each other or giving anotherme answer. It didn¡¯t take very long before my turn came to speak.

    ¡°Where does Manae from, eh?¡± I smiled, while rising to my feet.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on me, I could tell. The students, even lecturer, wanted to know what the one who got perfect scores in both theory and practical exams thought.

    ¡°Permit me to reply to your question with an inquisition¡­ do you mean the Mana that dwells within our bodies from when we are born? Or the Mana that exists in the environment?¡±

    My unique response shocked everyone. Instead of simply replying based on a textbook answer, I dug deeper into the question and asked for rification.

    ¡°Are you saying those two are different?¡± Neron responded with yet another question.

    ¡°Are they? I don¡¯t really think so. Humans are a product of their environment. As a result, the origin of the Mana that permeates the surroundings must be linked to the Mana that dwells in every Magic-User¡­¡±

    Neron¡¯s grin grew broader.

    ¡°And? What would you call that origin?¡±

    My grin grew broader as well.

    ¡°The soul!¡±

    Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, but before excitable murmurs spread, I continued.

    ¡°Humans all possess souls. They are invisible and make up our personality. That is why when people die, even if their physical bodies are restored¡ªbecause something non-physical has left it behind, it does not return to life.¡±

    My hands moved in sliding motions as I unconsciously began gesticting.

    ¡°Research has been conducted in the past where dead and living bodies of equally talented Magic-Users. It was seen that while the living Magic-Users still had mana particles flowing in them, the dead had none. Further research was made on the dead, and they realized that at the point of death, mana particles begin to disappear bit by bit. So, the fresh corpse of a Magic-User still had lingering Mana particles which die off after some time.¡±

    The students were captivated by my long exnation, but I wasn¡¯t done yet.

    ¡°Why would mana dissipate from the dead if their physical forms still exist? Some would say the heart that pumps blood also pumps mana, so if the heart stops, mana particles gradually cease. However, anatomy experts have argued against that logic. Mana is the energy of the supernatural, and physical organs can¡¯t produce it. The only answer that was able to address this dilemma was the existence of ¡®something incorporeal¡¯. In essence, a soul.¡±

    My exnation was long, but it was easily grasped. This was because the Soul-Mana Theory already existed. I postted the theory, after all.

    But, now that I had mana coursing through my veins and knew what it felt like to use magic, my position on this theory had slightly tilted, though still on the same path.

    ¡°Our souls generate mana in form of particles. The mana slowly converge and form mana Cores. Once our soul no longer exists, the mana dissipates and died off, most likely returning to the environment.¡±

    Neron smiled, pursed his lips, and finally made a statement¡ªno¡ªa question.

    ¡°So, you said manaes from the soul within humans, but that is only answering one part of the question, not so? Mana also exists in the environment. Where does the mana around use from?¡±

    A tricky question to ask someone my age. At the moment we were currently discussing advanced magic theories, yet Neron didn¡¯t seem fazed. It seemed like he had the confidence that I possessed the answer to his question.

    ¡°Professor¡­ I believe I already answered your question, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    Everyone was surprised by my response. Even Neron was! From my exnation, it didn¡¯t seem like I had answered the whole thing, but I already did.

    They just needed to use their heads a little.

 Chapter 97 - Astounding

    ¡°For the human body, manaes from the soul, right? Humans are a product of their environment, so the mana within humans, including the sou,les from the environment. However, the environment, no¡­ the world itself is one massive body on its own. Everything is connected, the ecosystem, nts, animals, weather, seasons¡­ it¡¯s like we¡¯re all living in the body of yet another being known as this world.¡±

    As I spoke, Neron began to understand where I was going. From his facial reaction, he was astounded that I thought so far.

    ¡°If, then, mana originates from the soul of humans, shouldn¡¯t the same apply to this massive world we live in? Yes, what I¡¯m simply trying to say is this; This World has a soul¡­ and that is the source of all Mana!¡±

    Silence!

    Pure silence radiated around me as I finished giving my answer. The students looked surprised and confused about what to do. Should they apud me for my immenselyplex answer, or jeer at me for saying something so out of the norm.

    Neron also didn¡¯t say anything. He just kept looking at me with a twinkle of amazement in his eyes. I felt ufortable on my feet, so I bowed my head and returned to my seat.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Was all the lecturer could mutter before looking at the final student who would speak.

    As expected, he also followed the same path as the other students, nkly asserting without any basis. By the time he finished giving his answer, the boy sat down and made an awkward look.

    Compared to the particrlypelling speech I made, his was so underwhelming. From the cold, stagnant air in the room, everyone could tell that this was an anticlimactic ending.

    ¡°Good. You¡¯ve all spoken.¡± Neron smiled as he left the lectern and moved closer to our desks.

    We were only eleven, after all.

    ¡°You¡¯ve all given what I will assume to be answers based on your personal opinion, however, this question remains one of the unsolved ones in the history and continued existence of Magic.¡±

    Now closer to us, his students, Neron¡¯s eyes could capture everyone¡¯s movements, and I could see his gaze shifting to me every once in a while.

    ¡°The one who is acimed to have gotten the closest to the answer is the Great Sage Lewis Griffith. He postted, as one of you mentioned, the Mana-Soul Theory.¡±

    I stifled a smile.

    ¡°The only reason his theory isn¡¯t epted as the finalw concerning the origin of Mana is due to the fact that Great Sage Lewis Griffith was inept, so arguments rose concerning the validity of his statement. Although his reports were urate, and he did a detailed study into the subject matter, the inability to use mana himself made it the final hurdle that his theory couldn¡¯t cross in order to be proven asw.¡±

    Despite how painful it was to ept, the truth was evident. Many of my revolutions to magic took way longer than they should have since I didn¡¯t have mana. If not for my friends and acquaintances who decided to cooperate with my experiments and lent me their aid several times, I wouldn¡¯t have discovered many groundbreaking truths.

    In the end, I owed it to them. Still, there was only so much second-hand knowledge and experience that could help a person. I intended to make the utmost use of my mana-infused body and again bring a revolution to Magic.

    But, not just magic¡­ not anymore!

    ¡°With that as a pretext, I¡¯ll be introducing today¡¯s topic to you. We¡¯ll basically be dealing with several theories and analyzing them one after the other. You will all tell me what you think, and give a supporting basis for it.¡± Neron stated

    I saw the look of difort and guilt on the faces of many students who realized that they had made that mistake in answering the question our Lecturer had thrown at the ss.

    ¡°I do not want you to just blindly follow a theory just because the proponent was revered. I do not also want you to easily ept the words I speak to you¡ªnot without opinions of your own. This will be an interactive ss, and I hope you will all cooperate.¡±

    We all responded positively, at least on the outside. But, I could tell that many students were not pleased. They most likely just wanted to be taught and didn¡¯t want to have to think for themselves.

    Magic theories, spells, mana applications¡ªmost students simply wanted to learn them without much hassle. As long as they did so, they could excel as Magic-Users. However, Neron Kaelid, our lecturer, wanted us to think outside the box and be innovative¡­ the worst thing azy person would love to hear.

    ¡®I don¡¯t really expect much from anyone in the Magic Department. I took my time to study them back at the apartment, the little I could. They have little potential, same as everyone, but just barely enough. Unlike me who had my past memories and had already built a foundation for myself using SPELLCRAFT and my multiple cores, the ones didn¡¯t have such privileges.

    They were most likely going to end up being mediocre Magic-Users once they left the Academy. I somehow understand why the academy felt the need to separate the students from each other. It was merely wed since they decided it only based on Mana core grades.

    ¡®They¡¯re not very talented, plus they don¡¯t have too great an attitude to learning. They¡¯rezy!¡¯ I made a fine assessment as I stared at them.

    The only route for non-talented students to escape the mediocrity that awaited them would be to work extra hard and also endeavor to be innovative. By being unique and applying one¡¯s knowledge in a bizarre, unprecedented way, even the underdog had a chance to make it to the top. These guys weren¡¯t for that though. Well, there were technically seven boys and three girls¡ªminus me, of course.

    Neron sure had his work cut out for him.

    ¡°Now then, let¡¯s dive into the first theory for today! It is the¡ª¡±

 Chapter 98 - Walking With The Professor

    The Lecture ended on a happy note, and just as Neron was about to leave the hall, I heard his voice.

    ¡°Jared Leonard¡­ a word?¡±

    My ears prickled the moment he said this and I faced him nearly instantly. Cocking my head to the side a little, my face showed puzzlement, genuine puzzlement. Still, what kind of student would ignore the call of his lecturer?

    I stood from my seat and left the Lecture Hall with Neron Kaelid while the others remained glued to their seats. I could see them all curiously staring at me though, all drawing conclusions in their mind.

    There were two major possibilities;

    One would be that I was out of line when I spoke. My tone could have been rude, or I may have generally overstepped the Lecturer¡¯s intentions by going further than what was fitting for the ss at that exact moment.

    The second would be that Neron Kaelid was actually impressed with my answer and wanted to further discuss it.

    I hoped it was thetter since my opinion of him would drop if it was the former. There was no way he could reprimand me if he intended for the ss to be Interactive, in the first instance. I merely spoke my mind, same as the others.

    That was fair enough.

    We moved out of the lecture hall, and Neron took me past the yard, in the direction of the staff office, basically a two-minute walk from the Lecture Hall.

    I followed him, trailing a step behind him patiently, while still making sure I was by his side, and not directly facing his back.

    ¡°That was quite the impressive theory you gave there, Jared. I was impressed.¡± Neron finally broke the silence.

    It was as though he read my mind and decided to give me a straight answer concerning which of the possibilities would y out when he called me. This put me more at ease and I smiled softly.

    ¡°Thank you, Professor Neron Kaelid.¡± I formally replied.

    ¡°Please, call me Neron. Professor Neron at most.¡± He chuckled slightly.

    ¡°Aright, Neron. I¡¯ll take you at your offer.¡±

    The Lecturer stopped dead in his tracks the moment I said this and turned to me, disying an entirely different expression from what I imagined. I also froze for a moment, daunted by his sudden reaction.

    Was it surprise? Shock? Maybe. But his awfully cold and pitch-ck eyes sent chills down my spine.

    ¡°Wow, I¡¯m surprised. I only meant that as a joke, but to think you would seriously address me like that¡­ even going for the most casual option.¡± Neron burst outughing, finally breaking apart the tension that was forming in me.

    I was already beginning to wonder if I made the wrong call by taking him up on his offer. How was I to know he was just joking.

    ¡°You¡¯re really an amusing kid, aren¡¯t you? I mean, I already knew you were strange since I first met you, but now, I know for sure.¡±

    Calling a young person like me strange¡­ how awfully rude of this man. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to cushion his words a little more? Well, of course, I wasn¡¯t really feeling that way.

    ¡°You¡¯re also very amusing yourself, Professor. For such a young person to receive such a title¡­ you must be really amazing. You¡¯re plenty strange yourself.¡± I replied with my own snarky statement.

    Surely, he too wouldn¡¯t take offense. After all, I even mixedpliments with it.

    ¡°Hahahaha!¡± He burst out in uncontrobleughter.

    ¡°Haa, as I expected. You¡¯re very amusing. Well, I¡¯m not as amazing as you think, though.¡± He grinned.

    The usually cold and stoic man, who finally disyed good teaching ethics today, and was now showing me an overly bright side I hadn¡¯t seen before¡­ how very weird. The sharp turn in his personality was puzzling, but I wasn¡¯t going to delve into it at the moment.

    Looking at him closely as heughed, I once again took ount of Neron¡¯s outfit. It was a simple white shirt, loosened by the wrist, tucked out, and a little toorge to be his size. His ck trousers went well with the casual ck sandals he wore.

    Apparently, there was no one around to reprimand him, so he got away with dressing like this to ss. His other colleagues were most likely wearing suits and specially woven cloaks. Well, it didn¡¯t bother me in the slightest. Considering the fact that no other lecturer had to teach so many departments consecutively, my respect for Neron was currently above all of them.

    ¡°I¡¯d say you¡¯re plenty impressive, though.¡± I grinned, looking at the man who would be in histe twenties at most.

    His youthful exuberance was now clearly on disy with his smile. Such a man, full of mystery and intellect. I wondered what his story was.

    ¡°Oh? You seem pretty convinced.¡± Neron replied with a sharp gaze fixated on me.

    A part of me wondered if this was really the right move to make, but I shook off my unease. After seeing the state of things, this was the best thing to do.

    ¡®From the moment I realized how messed up our Lower ss system is and what needs to be done, I told myself not to whine any longer!¡¯

    My current situation was disadvantageous for me, that much was painfully obvious. Even while waiting for my chance to strike back at the system, I needed to put some things in order.

    That was another reason I had stayed in all Neron¡¯s lectures and also made sure to bombard him with myplex theory. It was all to draw his attention toward me. And why would I need to do that?

    ¡°Oh, Professor¡­ of course I am.¡± My smile broadened as I stared straight into his eyes.

    In this world, connection was everything! Power was good. Intellect was outstanding! Results were ultimate. However, connection was just as brutal a tool.

    ¡°After all, I know you must be very special.¡±

    Neron looked puzzled again, not really understanding what I was referring to. I needed to break it down, didn¡¯t I?

    ¡°You have a White Mana Core Grade, don¡¯t you, Professor Neron?¡±

 Chapter 99 - Astounding

    Neron¡¯s eyes immediately burst wide open, nearly popping out of their sockets, in shock¡­ or so I would have loved to say.

    No, the man merely let out a broad grin in response to my simr expression. I could see a hint of curiosity in his eyes, but he remained calm even at this moment.

    ¡°Oh?¡± Was all that proceeded from his lips.

    ¡°It¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it? A white Core Grade at such an age. And you were able to be a Professor even with that kind of Mana Core¡­ you¡¯re truly special, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    My time sounded more daring, but I needed to do at least this much not to seem like a total pushover or a snotty little brat.

    ¡°Hmm. Is that what you think?¡± Neron asked, his face showing what I could only conclude to be slight disappointment.

    He wasn¡¯t satisfied with myment just now. Of course, I knew why. I had predicted all of this, so I didn¡¯t intend on stopping here.

    ¡°Hehe, of course not. That¡¯s what a normal person would say. Disqualifying a person who has a White Mana Core shouldn¡¯t be what I, someone with the very same Grade, should be resorting to.¡±

    Neron shrugged, as though trying to tell me that he knew that much. I needed to get my point through to him. My answer would decide everything.

    ¡°A Mana Core is important to every Magic-User. But, it is a mistake to decide the power of one with the Grade alone. After all, Mana is ultimately mana. Core Grade or not¡­ what matters the most is the quality and use of mana. And I know, Professor¡­ that you have a lot more mana than all the people I have seen so far!¡±

    More than Legris Damien. More than Damien Lawcroft. More than literally anyone in this Academy. This man, Neron Kaelid¡­ was a beast in disguise.

    As I said this, a wide grin formed on his face, recing the calm one he had donned after I revealed his Mana Core Grade.

    ¡°What are you trying to say, kid?¡±

    I just had toe out and say it, then.

    ¡°You only possess a White Core Grade, yet you¡¯re more powerful than most of the others here. Your teaching skills are amazing, and you have deeply piqued my interest. While I don¡¯t know how you managed to get so strong using only the base core as a foundation and nothing more, I have to say¡­ Professor Neron Kaelid¡­ I am very interested in your person.¡±

    Yes, I just had to tell him what I wanted.

    ¡°Please, take me in as your apprentice¡­ and teach me!¡±

    Silence.

    No one said anything after I made this statement. Neron and I only stared hard at each other. This ufortable decorum seemed tost forever as I wondered what his answer would be.

    An apprentice was simply one whom a senior chose to personally train. In Ainrk Academy, lecturers were allowed to take a single disciple. Of course, that meant there would be a lot ofpetition among students to attract the attention of the most prestigious Lecturer. This also applied to the lectures, as they would allpete to secure the most promising student.

    This system was implemented to improve the performance on both ends. Also, since apprenticeship was outside the normal school curriculum, Lecturers weren¡¯t allowed to show preferential treatment to their disciples within the ssroom or in any academic activities. Still, the mere privilege of having one as a mentor made the difference between those who did and those who didn¡¯t.

    I would very much prefer to be in the former.

    It certainly wasn¡¯t impossible for a Lecturer to choose me as his disciple, but the chances were slim. That was why I had to add more value to myself by drawing more attention to my abilities. Still, the issue of a White Mana Core Grade would drive almost all of them away.

    My initial goal was Legris Damien, but he was out of my reach at the moment. Even if he had an interest in me, it was too forward of me to think he would actually go as far as making me his apprentice.

    At the present moment, only one was qualified to guide me and also serve as my connection to the system¡­ Neron Kaelid!

    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing I was able to sense his Mana Core¡­¡¯ I smiled in relief.

    There would be no prejudice since we both had White Cores. After watching him teach, I had no doubt about his abilities in that area, and he seemed quite powerful based on his mana quantity and concentration alone.

    He fulfilled all my conditions, the only problem was¡­ did I fulfill all of his?!

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Neron murmured, breaking the long-held silence between me and him.

    He stroked his bald chin, looking at me with his pitch-ck eyes. I couldn¡¯t tell if he was being condescending, wary, or curious.

    ¡°I honestly wasn¡¯t expecting this¡­ it¡¯s quite early, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Neron was right. This was merely the second day of Lectures, and I was already asking to be his apprentice. There hadn¡¯t been enough time to fully grasp both our worth. Of course, I already knew he had extremely high value as both a Magic-User and teacher. The problem was with him.

    ¡®Usually, Lectures observe the students for a while and then decide on who to choose. He must be referring to that!¡¯

    The problem was uncertainty¡ªand time!

    ¡°The early bird gets the worm, no? I believe I have judged your worth to be top-tier, Lecturer. You¡¯re more than skilled enough to be my Master.¡± I smiled with a twinkle in my eyes.

    Neron sighed and patted me on my shoulder.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite the kid, I¡¯ll give you that. To be honest, I would like to say yes¡­¡±

    My expectations plummeted instantly and my expression dropped.

    ¡®But¡­?!¡¯

    ¡°But, it¡¯s too early, Jared. In fact, at the moment, I¡¯m too upied to deal with having an apprentice.¡±

 Chapter 100 - Time Flies

    I had to swallow his words and agree with him. As one who taught so many students back-to-back, it wasn¡¯t easy for him. I had just seen how he taught, not losing vigor in any of his lectures. Asking him to teach me would only be adding to his workload.

    ¡°You proffered an interesting theory, and you¡¯ve caught my attention, I¡¯ll admit that much. But, it¡¯s not enough to motivate me yet. I¡¯ll need more than that to say yes and be your master.¡±

    I clenched my teeth. Even after all I had shown, it still wasn¡¯t enough for an immediate answer. Of course, I had realized this. I just had hope that there could a sliver of a chance where he would ept my request.

    ¡°I understand. Well, then, what would be enough?¡± My eyes lit up with a new passion, unwilling to be fazed by Neron¡¯s rejection.

    The older man¡¯s eyes sparkled the moment I said this.

    I needed to prove myself as soon as possible. With so many things to do, I couldn¡¯t dy my apprenticeship. I wanted to at least reach the level of an Advanced Mage before leaving this institute after my three years here. There was no way I could dawdle.

    ¡°The Familiar Selection Ceremony¡­ no, let¡¯s not go with that¡­¡± Neron muttered, half talking to himself.

    The ceremony was in a month¡¯s time. That was bearable. I could dy my ns with Neron for that long.

    ¡°How about the Inter-ss Exchange? Yeah, that¡¯ll work!¡±

    My eyes bulged the moment he said that. The Exchange was in three months! One month was bearable, but in three months, so much would have happened. It was far too long.

    ¡°B-but, that is-¡± I tried protesting.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s my condition. If you feel you can¡¯t do it¡­ that¡¯s fine.¡± Neron smiled broadly, most likely happy to see me flustered for the first time in our short exchange.

    ¡®Tsk!¡¯ I nearly clicked my tongue in frustration.

    Neron was being unreasonable, well, to me. For other students, this would have been an even deal. But, I needed to get way stronger before the Exchange, which meant I needed his tutge. Without his guidance, it would be very difficult to achieve the state I wanted before then.

    Well, lecturers were fond of giving hurdles to students who wanted to be their apprentices, so I had to ept this one as well. However¡­

    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t argue with you. But, professor, is this really the best move?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ¡°You want me to give an eptable performance during the Exchange, right? Aren¡¯t you worried that other Lecturers will set their eyes on me and approach me? If superior lecturers make me tempting offers¡­ I may rethink bing your apprentice, you know?¡±

    Just as lecturers could only have one apprentice, apprentices could only have one Master as well. If multiple lecturers had their eyes on one student, that student had the right to choose who he wanted to go with.

    There was no way I wouldn¡¯t garner attention during the Exchange. If that happened, I could have other Lecturers who were willing to be my Master.

    ¡°Well, the possibility exists¡­¡± Neron shrugged a little, then gave me the most confident statement I had ever heard him say.

    ¡°¡­ It would be your mistake though.¡±

    He could have meant a lot with what he said, but I chose to interpret it in the most literal way. His eyes told me he wasn¡¯t bluffing, and I could feel it resonate within me.

    ¡®There¡¯s no Lecturer superior to me that will approach you!¡¯ That was what Neron Kaelid was implying.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± I returned his confidence with mine as well.

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s agreed, then.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to wait, but I hope you¡¯ll make it worth all the trouble once I be your apprentice.¡±

    ¡°This kid¡­ you¡¯re already talking like it¡¯s a guaranteed win on your part. Despite my personality, my standards are pretty high, you know?¡±

    Of course, they had to be. If they weren¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have approached him in the first ce. However, it didn¡¯t matter how high his standards were. I intended to trump everything.

    ¡°No matter how high your expectations peak, it doesn¡¯t matter. I n toe out top in the Exchange. That¡¯s more than enough!¡±

    Neron appeared a little fazed, the most flustered I had seen him so far. He quickly reverted to his usual demeanor.

    ¡°That¡¯s ambitious¡­ maybe a but conceited.¡±

    Of course, anyone would think that. A Lower ss, White Core Grade student thought he could get the first position in the Inter-ss Exchange. How absurd could that be?

    ¡°But, if you manage to get that high¡­ I promise to be your Master, no, not just that¡­ I¡¯ll fulfill any one of your requests.¡±

    I nodded, happy he hadn¡¯t entirely written off my deration. Usually, even if a student passed the hurdle set before him by the Lecturer he wished to be his master, the Lecturer could still refuse the apprenticeship. However, now that Neron had promised, he would be held bound by his word.

    There was also his promise of fulfilling one of my requests. O course, it was implied that the request had to be in his capacity, but it still was a big deal. I already knew what I would ask for.

    ¡°Sounds fair enough. I look forward to¡ª¡±

    BZZZZZRRRNNNNGGGGG

    A buzzing, ringing sound abruptly interrupted my moment with Neron. For a moment, I was dazed and frankly a little irritated by the sound, until I realized that it wasing from the man I was speaking to¡ªhis pocket to be precise.

    ¡°Ah, looks like we¡¯ve spent quite a bit of time here already. It¡¯s nearly time for your next Lecture.¡± Neron mumbled, looking at the pocket watch he pulled out of his pocket.

    Time flies when having fun, also when speaking to one¡¯s Lecturer¡­ thetter was due to experience. I didn¡¯t know we had taken so long in discourse.

    ¡®Welp, it was worth it, though!¡¯

 Chapter 101 - Planning

    ¡°Haha, we were not even able to reach my office.¡± Neron chuckled, pointing out the fact that we had been transfixed on a single location for a while now.

    I joined in hisugh.

    ¡°You should head back. I¡¯ll be right behind you.¡± He said, making shooing gestures at me.

    I nodded and made for ss.

    ¡°Hold on, Jared. Onest thing¡­ how did you know I had a White Mana Core?¡±

    I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at him with an air of mystery around me. Just as he refused my request and dyed it for ater time, I wasn¡¯t going to give him an immediate response.

    ¡°It¡¯s a secret. I¡¯ll tell you after you fulfill my request!¡±

    Upon saying this, I turned back to the direction of my ss and sped along the clear path. In a few moments, I would be seating in my usual spot.

    ***

    ¡°What an amusing kid¡­¡± Neron whispered to himself as he saw Jared run off from a distance.

    He had a bunch of emotions swirling within him, but the young man kept them on a lid. Even though his cool guy act remained, Neron couldn¡¯t help but leak out a small smile of amusement.

    The kid had said and done stuff that would make it unbelievable that he was just 12 years old. The sky grin he made, the manner run which he spoke, the craftiness he exhibited¡­ Jared was the most bizarre child of that age he had met.

    ¡°I expected him to be different since he scored so high in the exams¡­ but not to this extent.¡±

    If Neron didn¡¯t know any better, he would have thought he was speaking to an adult¡ªJared even gave such an impressive speech on magic theories. From Neron¡¯s experience, he only knew one other student who was as impressive as the one who just left him.

    Himself!

    Neron Kaelid, also known as the child of magic, a genius among geniuses. In his time, he had gotten a perfect score and was an elite among the Elite¡­ unparalleled among his mates. That didn¡¯tst forever, though.

    Neron shook off the thoughts of his past and focused on the youngd that now showed him prospects. He wondered about many things, like how the boy knew of his core¡­ and why he had a pure white Mana Core too.

    ¡°Does he know about the advantages of a white Core¡­? Does he know about that technique? No, impossible¡­ I invented it¡­¡±

    Neron shook his head slightly, realizing that more time was being expended while he stood idly, thinking about nothing but Jared Leonard. The boy had managed to captivate his attention, distracting him from the usual thoughts of magic he usually had. Still, this wasn¡¯t a bad feeling.

    He looked forward to the future that would soon present itself to him. Would Jared be able to ovee the trials ahead of him? Bing first in the Inter-ss Exchange was certainly something that would be quite enjoyable¡­ he had done it too, after all.

    ¡°I wonder¡­¡±

    With this final whisper, Neron made his way back to ss to teach a General Course.

    *****

    sses ended well, at least in my opinion. It was a little awkward looking at Neron after that little conversation we had, but I subdued any feeling of embarrassment. He had certainly rejected me now, but he would regret that choice for now.

    I was going to blow his mind, no, everyone¡¯s. With that settled, I needed to focus on my next move. Yes, that move involved two people that were of interest to me.

    With lectures over, everyone left the hall and either made their way to the library, the dorms, the cafeteria, or just loitered and talked in their already established groups.

    I easily spotted Edward and Anabelle, seeing them both discussing as they moved in the direction of the library. With my enhanced hearing, I eavesdropped¡ªsilently apologizing for intruding on their privacy.

    Apparently, Anabelle wanted to collect some materials from the library, and Edward was apanying her.

    They discussed many things, of which, as I expected, I was a part. Anabelle was upset that Edward was seating beside me. This was expected since I knew of her animosity toward me. Her voice depicted concern for Edward, but it also showed something else¡­ she was nagging him, as a mother would to a child.

    Despite her tiny frame and child-like faced, Anabelle sounded like a mature big sister. The boy she spoke to, Edward, obediently listened to her every word and looked almost helpless as her words battered him.

    The bizarre situation looked silly, really. It almost made me burst out inughter from the distance at which I observed them. As if this wasn¡¯t surprising enough, Edward gave a response that made me twitch a little in shock. The reason he had been so keen on seating beside me¡­ why he kept looking at me during lectures.

    ¡°I can¡¯t help it, Anabelle¡­ I don¡¯t know why, but I really admire him now¡­ I just wish I could have another conversation with him¡­¡± His voice was a mix of admiration, childish idolizing, and a tinge of timidity.

    My mouth nearly dropped when I heard this. I quickly picked up my pace behind the pair since their voices were getting fainter and I needed to maintain a minimum distance to hear them.

    They kept walking and talking, with Anabelle giving remarks that clearly showed her bad impressions of me. Edward tried his best to convince her to think otherwise, but his ideals were nothing but fragile pieces of paper to her iron will.

    ¡®It seems I¡¯m already seeing a path¡­¡¯ I grinned slightly, feeling satisfied for getting information on my targets.

    It was clear that Edward was as good as won over. If I offered to make him better, he would bite easily. The issue was Anabelle. During the sses we had, I had shown my intellectual abilities, so she must have had a good idea of my capabilities. Plus, the rumors about my scores in the exams must have reached her and I even beat Edward.

    There was no way Anabelle didn¡¯t know that I was amazing. It was just that her image of me was distorted. In order to win over to my side, I needed to do something¡ªsoon.

 Chapter 102 - The Library

    The Lower ss Library was exactly as I pictured it to be. It was my first time actually entering, but we were shown the libraries of each ss, albeit briefly, during our Orientation.

    The only Library in which we actually got the grand tour was the general campus library. It wasrger than the others, having severalyers and a wealth of books and other research materials.

    However, the problem with this Library was that it was only essible once a student hadpleted their first three months in Ainrk Academy. They would be given a special library card that represented their ess to the library. Of course, this card was bound by the ss Points a student had umted during the time of Library registration.

    That was why three months were given to new entrants, so they could earn as many ss points before registration.

    The Library card a student possessed determined the level of services they could employ from the general library. Plus, since Library Registration only happened once a year, students had to amass as many ss Points as they could to get a decent Library card before the registration.

    If they didn¡¯t¡­ they would miss out on a whole lot of useful materials for an entire year!

    Edward and Anabelle entered the library, so I had to tail them. I picked up the pace and ensured I entered therge buildings at nearly the same time as them.

    The pair looked surprised to see me. Edward beamed while Anabelle¡¯s face darkened. I pretended not to notice them and made my way through therge hallway.

    The Lower-ss library, while not as impressive as the others, consisted of three stories, having the ground floor mainly made up of a lounge, reading room, request counters, etc.

    The first and second floors above contained the ¡®goods¡¯. They had books, materials, research centers, and many other facilities required for a prestigious academy. This may have seemed quite magnanimous to ayman, but it was just to be expected from the best academic institute in the Eastern Kingdom, no?

    As for the third floor, it was only essible to the top students of the Lower-ss, also known as the Elite Ten. A wry grin formed on my face as I remembered my academy days.

    ¡®That name sure rings many bells¡­¡¯

    After passing the hallway in paced steps, I easily overtook the duo who were not quite over my sudden appearance. Climbing the stairs, I went to the first floor which mostly consisted of books for the first years and had a majority of the research facilities and other centers in the library¡ªwith the exception of the ground floor.

    The second floor was home to the books and study materials of the second and third years. I had no idea what was beyond there, what was done on the third floor.

    If my guess was correct, though, then it had to be¡­

    ¡°Oh well, I wonder if that has changed¡­¡±

    I shrugged the feeling off and advanced to a particr section of the first floor for my prize.

    ¡°Okay, this should be it,¡± I muttered, while reading the name of the particr library section.

    ¡®Books On History¡¯

    I entered the section, passing through what seemed like a small barricade that was used to separate this section from the others.

    Walking through the wall of shelves, I turned my face and observed the many books that hung themselves on the furniture around me.

    They were all old, outdated, and not-too-impressive.

    Of course, what would you expect from the Lower-ss library? The materials of higher quality had to be monopolized by the cream of the crop. We at the bottom would only be left with the scraps.

    Well, none of these books were really any of my concerns. I was after one book in particr. After scanning for a few moments, one of the books that seemed fairly better than the others stood out. The moment I saw the title, a grin formed on my face and I realized it was the one I was looking for.

    ¡°The History Of Magic Evolution By Lewis Griffith. Volume 4¡­¡± I smirked.

    I reached out for the book and took it off the shelf. Compared to the other dusty books on the same shelf, this one had barely a speck. Why?

    Someone must have used it recently. Of course, I already knew who it was.

    After securing the book, I had nothing left to do in the history book section, or even in the library as a whole. My work there was done.

    ¡°Now then¡­¡±

    With this whisper and the slight tilting of my head as I came out of the barricade, my eyes fell upon Anabelle and Edward who were only a couple of meters from me.

    The hand I used to hold the book loosened, and I brought it closer to my chest as I walked. Of course, I naturally ignored them and went my way, but from the corner of my eyes, I could see Anabelle looking horrified and disappointed as she watched me leave the Library¡¯s first floor.

    Her body refused to move from her position, and her intense gaze didn¡¯t leave me until I disappeared from her sight.

    From my distance, I could hear her speak to Edward after he asked her several times why she was acting strangely.

    ¡°That¡­ that¡¯s the book I wanted to borrow!¡±

    ¡®Perfect!¡¯

    I went to the ground floor and showed the book with me to one of the clerks who stood at the counter. After filling out a form¡ªadding my mana signature to it¡ªand collecting a tag, I left the counter with the book I had borrowed for two weeks, the maximum time allowed for a student to keep a library material in their possession.

    I could still feel a gaze on me, no doubt it belonged to Anabelle. She was stalking me from afar, and it wasn¡¯t too hard to guess why.

    Gliding out of the library in a confident stride, whole carefully holding my prize, I made my exit.

    ¡®Now, then, let the games begin!¡¯

 Chapter 103 - Frustration

    Anabelle was frustrated, no, even worse.

    The young girl¡¯s annoyance, coupled with the bitter sting of failure hung over her head as she watched the one she could only refer to as her enemy leave the library.

    Her cheeks were flushed so much with red that one would think she was sick. Her bloated face, caused by the big pout she was making, as well as the watery eyes clearly expressed by the young girl made it evident that she was in a lot of pain.

    ¡°My book!¡± She growled to herself, watching the object she longed for being taken away by another.

    She couldn¡¯t even scream out her emotions due to the nature of the building she was in¡ªnot unless she was ready to forfeit some of her ss Points.

    All the girl could do was sigh.

    ¡°Ah, I get it now. Jared took the book you wanted to borrow.¡± Edward blurted out, stating the obvious.

    He had been confused about Anabelle¡¯s strange behavior and was just silently following her while racking his head on what caused his dear friend to chase after Jared the moment he descended the stairs.

    Even now, her moist eyes trailed after him until Jared was no longer in sight. After thinking for so long, and remembering Jared held a book in his hand, Edward pieced all the needed data together and arrived at his conclusion.

    Anabelle didn¡¯t even know what to tell the dunce of a guy she called her friend. Her swelling emotions might have caused her to say some unsavory words, so she simply ignored his remark and carried her feet toward the counter Jared had just been to moments ago.

    Her swift legs swept across the hallway that one would usually transverse with calm, and she desperately kept her eyes fixated on the clerk who was standing, waiting for the next student to attend to.

    ¡°Excuse me, sir!¡± Anabelle called out¡ªnot too loud to bebeled as noise, but it wasn¡¯t tranquil either.

    It screamed of desperation and anxiety. She was panicking.

    ¡°Yes, student. How may I help you?¡± The man spoke dryly, waiting for the student to burden him with a task that was in line with his job.

    ¡°The student that just left now borrowed a book. I want to know how long he will have it!¡± She gasped, filling her lungs back with air.

    Why was she so upset?

    It was simply because, in the Lower ss Library, there existed no more than one copy of a book. The implications of that fact meant that the book Jared had just taken say would never be essible to her until he was done using it.

    ¡®Hopefully, he only took it for a day or two¡­¡¯ She prayed internally.

    The clerk made a puzzled nce at Anabelle for a moment, but after deciphering her intentions, he decided to answer her.

    ¡°Two weeks. He¡¯ll be in possession of it for two weeks.¡±

    The t statement of the man hit Anabelle¡¯s heart like a sledgehammer. It was disheartening, to say the least. She had hoped for the chance of returning in a few days to collect the book, but two weeks was far too long.

    ¡°N-no way¡­¡±

    The clerk rolled his eyes as Anabelle still refused to leave the counter¡ªunwilling to ept his words. There was only one thing he could do now.

    The man¡¯s eyes, tired and bored, darted to apartment in his cubicle and brought out the records that had just been filled by the student who exited¡ªJared.

    ¡®All I have to do is show her evidence¡­¡¯ His thoughts trailed.

    The man opened the book, flipped the pages, and went to the veryst one that wasn¡¯t nk. cing his finger on thest entry, he turned the book and showed Anabelle.

    ¡°See? Right there. Two weeks.¡±

    It was certain!

    Anabelle wouldn¡¯t have the book!

    ¡°B-but¡­ I need that book!¡± Her disappointed voice came out, as though trying to plead for some sort of intervention.

    ¡®I miss the part where that¡¯s my problem.¡¯ The clerk wanted to say, but he withheld his opinions and simply watched in silence.

    At this point Edward was already beside Anabelle, choosing to have slowly walked through the hallway, rather than risk it and causemotion around the hall of decorum.

    Unlike Anabelle, his body was heavy and made noise if he moved too fast.

    ¡°Sorry about the book¡­¡± Edward muttered, not knowing what else to say to his dear friend.

    On their way to the library, no, even before then, Anabelle had been telling him so much about the book she wanted to borrow from the library.

    ording to her, she had read all three volumes of the series, and was surprised to have found the fourth volume in the library. Anabelle even beamed when she told Edward about how this volume would allow her topletely grasp her theory on Lewis Griffith, and perhaps shine more light on what she had been missing concerning the holes in some of his treatises.

    She was really looking forward to it, too¡­ it was a shame Jared has whisked it away at thest minute.

    ¡°I should have just borrowed it when I saw it yesterday, but the line was too long and I had other things to do¡ªI simply skimmed through it and decided toe back to borrow it today instead¡­ what a mistake!¡±

    Wallowing in regret wouldn¡¯t solve anything, Anabelle knew that as much as the second person, but what was she to do?

    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Ed¡­¡± She mumbled in disappointment as she hung her head and began moving toward the exit of the library.

    Edward felt guilty, he really did. He knew it wasn¡¯t Jared¡¯s fault that he was also interested in such a book, but he felt it couldn¡¯t be anything short of bad timing.

    ¡®Ana really wants that book, and Jared took it instead. This could make her hatred for him increase¡­¡¯

    He really loved Ana as a friend, and respected Jared as a person. This situation would cause a serious strain on what he was hoping to be a three-way friendship.

    ¡®Damn¡­ what a mess¡­¡¯ His thoughts trailed as he moved beside Ana, ensuring he was silent around her.

    When she was like this, the onlyfort Edward could give her was silence.

 Chapter 104 - The Plan

    ¡°Puahaha!¡± I burst out triumphantly as I fell onto my bed.

    I was finally in my dorm after I concluded my activities in the outdoors, so after doing some experiments without bothering to rest, I was a little spent.

    My body felt a little tired, but it was nothingpared to the thrill that was coursing through my veins.

    Not only had I managed to find seven new nts, but two out of them also had properties synonymous with those in rare herbs. I was finally reaching a breakthrough!

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a break now¡­¡± I muttered

    My eyes darted to a book that I ced on my study desk. It caused a smile to form on my face.

    ¡°A book written by me, uh?¡±

    Of course, that wasn¡¯t what excited me about the piece of text.

    There was probably nothing inside that would prove of any worth to me at the moment. However, I had borrowed it from the library for an extensive period because of one reason alone.

    ¡°She must be freaking out by now, uh? That Anabelle girl.¡±

    While tailing Anabelle and Edward, I overheard many things, including the mentions of the book Anabelle was going to the library to retrieve. She spoke of it with so much passion and zeal that I nearly blushed, being the author of the book.

    The History Of Magic Evolution¡ªa book I wrote when I was nearing old age. It was quite a masterful piece, and quite extensive. It had five volumes, well six, to be exact. I only published five, though.

    Anabelle seemed so crazy about it when she spoke, making me think up an idea. I would borrow the book ahead of her and monopolize it for very long. Judging by how much she was looking forward to its contents, it would make her upset and impatient, and that was exactly what I wanted.

    ¡°Sooner orter, our paths will cross and she¡¯ll need the book which is in my possession. I¡¯ll use that as a good basis for conversation!¡±

    The Lower ss Library only had one copy of any book, after all. There was no other option for the young girl, except toe to me.

    ¡°Pfft¡­¡± I chuckled and stifled myughter.

    If anyone saw me now, they would think of me as childish for resorting to such tricks, but I had no choice.

    To bait a child properly, one had to think like them. There were more mature ways to handle this, but this would be the most efficient. I just had to make the most use of her emotions and childish curiosity. No doubt, Edward would step in as well since he was her friend, so I could use that to reel him in too.

    It was basically killing two birds with one stone.

    The best part of it was that there was really no evidence pointing to an ulterior motive on my end. I was innocent by all counts, so none of the two could me me. With me having the moral high ground, my options were widened.

    But, I wasn¡¯t a monster or anything.

    I nned on giving the girl the book she so desperately wanted. In fact, this whole thing was sure to benefit both Anabelle and Edward.

    ¡®Tomorrow, we¡¯ll see how it goes¡­¡¯

    For now, I still had plenty of work to do. Looking to my left where I nearly arranged a total of thirty transparent vials of extracts, I smiled a little.

    Progress was assured in that department, now all that was left was to get something to eat and continue training my Mana Cores and internal mana cirction. Oh, and my proficiency with SPELLCRAFT too.

    ¡°Ah, so much to do, so little time!¡±

    ***********************

    Homeroom ended without anything noteworthy, it was merely the third day of ss, after all.

    As I remained on my seat, I brought out the ¡®bait¡¯ I had prepared and waited for it to reel in my prey. Of course, the bait in question was the book I borrowed from the library. By conspicuously cing it on my desk and pretending to read it, I was actually drawing the attention of Anabelle and Edward.

    Anabelle leaked out so much frustration and slight hatred toward me that it was impossible not to notice. As for Edward, I saw his eyes dart in mine and Anabelle¡¯s direction at intervals.

    ¡®I just need to wait¡­ it might not be immediate, but¡ª¡¯

    I felt an abrupt shift in my surroundings and noticed, from the corner of my eye, that Edward approached me.

    I suppressed a smile and waited for him to draw closer.

    ¡°E-erm, excuse me¡­¡±

    His voice was nothing like the confident, authoritative tone he had used thest time he confronted me. It appeared he had mellowed out quite well.

    I cocked my head as I looked in his direction, slightly cing my hand over the book I read¡ªa subtle message that it was mine.

    ¡°Yes¡­ what is the matter?¡± My voice was small and calm, exactly how I had addressed him thest time.

    Considering his aggressive attitude toward me previously, and how I had one-sidedly wrecked him, it would surprise anyone why I was still maintaining a calm, non-imposing demeanor with him.

    ¡°Erm, well, see¡­¡±

    I looked at him nkly, tilting my head to the side a little to indicate confusion.

    ¡°I need to make a request of you! I¡¯ll do anything in return!¡±

    His voice sounded desperate, and the gleam in his eyes reflected sincerity. I knew his rtionship with Anabelle ran deep, but this was actually genuine love I was seeing¡ªwell, the friendly type anyway.

    ¡°Hm? A request?¡±

    Since my expression and tone didn¡¯t signify any hostility, but slight curiosity, it encouraged Edward to press on.

    The boy seemed to swallow hard, clenching his fist with resolve as he opened his mouth. From my distance, I spotted Anabelle looking at him with shock written on her face. Was she not expecting this oue¡ªthat Edward would try to make me give her the book?

    No, she probably did.

    That was why she didn¡¯t even attempt to stop him, unlikest time. That was how badly she wanted it.

    All that was left were the words I wanted to hear.

    ¡®Say it, Edward¡­ what do you want?¡¯

 Chapter 105 - Expected Outcome

    ¡°Please, can you lend me that book you¡¯re reading? Just for a day, no, three days! Please!¡±

    Edward¡¯s diligent voice echoed across the ssroom, causing all eyes to fall on both of us. I was certain it wasn¡¯t his intention to draw attention to us, but his loud and serious tone made that inevitable.

    Now everyone awaited my verdict. It would be nice of me to ept his request, but that wasn¡¯t the public opinion. Everyone in the ss, with the exception of a few who couldn¡¯t be bothered, shot Edward somewhat disgusted nces.

    Why?

    After challenging me and losing, he dared to approach me for a favor. That was the height of shamelessness, was it not? I was certain Edward knew the implications of his actions, but his firm face showed no signs of backing down. For his dear friend, he could suffer any form of persecution¡­ so long as he got what he wanted.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ why do you want the book? You don¡¯t strike me as someone who would like something like this?¡±

    My question, while being the natural thing to ask, stuck Edward like a lightning bolt.

    His resolved expression loosened, and a form of confusion permeated his face, breaking the serious look he once had. From the way his body fidgeted nervously, I could only deduce one thing.

    ¡®THIS GUY¡­ DON¡¯T TELL ME HE DIDN¡¯T THINK OF A RESPONSE TO THAT?!¡¯

    How dense could one be?

    I knew Edward didn¡¯t want to drag Anabelle into this, so he tried to appear as the one who was interested in the book. It was a noble idea and all, but the young boy couldn¡¯t escape certain things.

    He was in the Martial Arts department!

    His focus was on getting stronger in body and mind, and subjects such as the history of magic and its evolution were of no concern to him, at least not to the point of asking someone who vanquished you not so long ago.

    Hadn¡¯t he thought of an excuse to make beforeing to me? The way things were going, it would only look bad for him if he couldn¡¯t profer a correct answer.

    ¡°E-erm, well¡­ I-I¡­¡±

    Should I not have asked that question? No, it was the natural thing to do. Edward was the one who was just in stupid.

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    I had no choice but to shift this in my favor, to speed things up a little.

    ¡°¡­ Is it perhaps for your friend over there?¡± My eyes went in Anabelle¡¯s direction, and my head followed.

    Everyone turned to the young girl as well, looking with curiosity. No doubt, they all wanted to see how this would end.

    Edward immediately got flustered the moment I mentioned the possibility of Ana being the one who was interested in the book.

    ¡°N-no! Why would you say that? She has nothing to do with this!¡±

    He made another mistake on his part. I merely asked a question, and it was a calm and harmless one.

    If he had responded in a collected manner, nothing would have seemed out of the ordinary. However, his response now only warranted more suspicion.

    Before Edward made more of a mess, I had to rescue him from his foolishness.

    My eyes pierced Anabelle, who watched the entire thing y out with a powerless expression on her face.

    She looked like she wanted to help her dear friend. However, doing so would only ruin the lies that Edward had told me. But, with the way things were going, her intervention was necessary.

    Conflicted with two choices, Anabelle had to choose between keeping silent and speaking. With everyone¡¯s eyes on me, and the pressure building up on Edward, the obvious choice would be¡ª

    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I was the one who wanted to read the book. Edward realized that and went to ask you.¡±

    Her confession caused the ss to let out little ¡®oohs¡¯ and ¡®ahhs¡¯.

    Edward turned his head and looked in Anabelle¡¯s direction, apparently trying to protest her decision, but she shook her head. It was time toe clean.

    ¡°Forgive Edward¡¯s impudence, asking you for the impossible and all, let¡¯s just forget this matter.¡± Despite her looks, she made a most mature statement.

    Anabelle still had the burning desire to get her hands on the book in my possession, I was certain of it. However, she forfeited it in order to protect her friend from any further disgrace.

    Plus, she probably thought I wouldn¡¯t give Edward or her no matter how much they begged, anyway.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    My face finally broke into a smile as I looked at her. Lifting my hands from the book on my desk, I covered it and held it up. Anabelle¡¯s eyes widened as I did all this, and I could sense the whole ss holding their breaths.

    ¡°All you had to do was ask¡­¡±

    My tone was meek and kind, my eyes reflected these virtues as well. Standing from my seat, I thrust my hand which held the book forward, pointing it in Anabelle¡¯s direction.

    ¡°¡­ Three days, right? You can have it for that long.¡±

    A hint of suspicion remained on the young girl¡¯s face, but I could already feel her animosity toward me melt away. A mere act of kindness such as this was enough to make even her cold gaze soften.

    She moved from her seat.

    Hesitation was written all over her, wondering if I was actually being genuine, still¡­ she moved.

    Her desire for the book was far more than the possibility of rejection. Plus, Edward had gone so far as to ask for it from me. He was currently smiling at her proudly, happy that she was finally being offered what she so desired.

    In a short moment, she stood right in front of my outstretched arm.

    ¡°A-are you sure about this?¡± Her voice broke into a myriad of anticipation and uncertainty.

    ¡°Sure¡­ I need to digest what I¡¯ve read so far, plus¡­ ¡®Application is far more profitable than blind study¡¯, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    Anabelle¡¯s eyes bulged the moment I said this.

    ¡°That is¡­ from Lewis Griffith¡¯s 5th Treatise on Magic Construction!¡± The young girl¡¯s eyes sparkled in both surprise and admiration.

    I could see that she was already seeing me in a new light.

    My smile broadened and I was certain my n had worked. With this final word binding the two of us, Anabelle reached out her hand and took the book

 Chapter 106 - Anabelles Passion (Pt 1)

    ¡®Young ones are so impressionable¡­ it¡¯s easy to dye them in any color¡ªlike a nk canvas.¡¯

    Not only had I improved Anabelle¡¯s opinion of me, but even the whole ss now had a better image of my person. I had truly killed two birds with one stone, no?

    Opinions breed image. Image breeds reputation. Reputation breeds identity. Identity breeds position. Position breeds capacity¡­ and that capacity defines an existence.

    All I had just done was to shift something so minute, seemingly inconsequential. But, the rewards would be enormous.

    That was a guarantee!

    **************************

    [Three Days Later]

    sses ended for me, and it was alreadyte in the afternoon. Others began leaving the ss to attend their Electives courses, but such things didn¡¯t concern me.

    I had something more important to do¡­

    ¡°J-Jared Leonard¡­ here¡­¡± A soft voice called out to me.

    I had been expecting her all day, but she really held on to the book until thest minute¡ªAnabelle, that is.

    I nced in her direction and shed my usual calm smile.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re done already. That¡¯s good.¡±

    She returned my smile with hers, a sharp contrast from the re she would usually give me.

    ¡°Thank you for lending me this book. If it¡¯s not too much to ask, I¡¯d like you to tell me when you¡¯re returning it. We could go together, so I can borrow it from the library at the same time¡­¡±

    Her voice sounded shrill and tame for some reason. Over the past few days since I lent her the book, the air around us had certainly loosened. We now exchanged greetings, and Edward often made small talk with me, though not much, since I always made myself upied.

    Currently, he was attending an Elective amongst over two-thirds of the whole ss. That made the Lecture Hall nearly empty, giving Anabelle and me ample time to discuss.

    ¡°Alright, no problem. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve notpletely digested the contents in the book.¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah. Lewis Griffith¡¯s words are quite deep. I need more time to cross-reference this with other materials and draw a reasonable conclusion.¡±

    ¡®Ah, she¡¯s talking about her assertion from that time!¡¯ My thoughts rang, remembering how she dered in front of everyone that the Great Sage¡¯s materials and theories were iplete.

    ¡°I see¡­ you hold a keen interest in him, the Great Sage Lewis Griffith, uh?¡±

    Her face morphed from the somewhat nervous look she had, to a more confident one. Passion zed in her eyes and I could tell that she was excited about the topic.

    ¡°Yeah! I¡¯ve been studying him and his works ever since I was a child, after all! He inspired me to be a Schr, after all!¡±

    I could sense that this was genuine affection toward the man whose works must have lit a bright fire in the girl¡¯s heart. It just felt weird because the man in question was me, and having a very cute fangirl fawning all over my works just made things a bit awkward.

    ¡°I think every Schr sees Lewis Griffith as motivation, though. Even Magic-Users also admire him¡­¡±

    My response seemed to surprise Anabelle a little, as she looked at me in a peculiar, strange manner.

    ¡°Hm? I guess¡­ but it¡¯s not like how I feel. I somehow feel like he¡¯s my rival, you know? I mean, I¡¯m working so hard so I can catch up to him and surpass him! It¡¯s not like I worship him of anything¡­ even though he¡¯s so amazing and handso-, I mean, intelligent. Ahem!¡±

    ¡®You almost said ¡®handsome¡¯, didn¡¯t you?!¡¯

    This girl was giving me mixed signals, and I couldn¡¯t tell if her admiration for Lewis Griffith was purely academic, or if it extended into something deeper. A chill ran down my spine when the thought surfaced and I quickly buried it.

    ¡®You don¡¯t even know how I looked like back then!¡¯ I nearly screamed at her, but kept it within me.

    Well, I wasn¡¯t that bad-looking, but my facial features couldn¡¯t exactly be said to be top-tier. In fact,pared to how I looked now, my past self may have as well been trash.

    ¡®Must be due to my current noble bloodline¡­¡¯

    In any case, I took the book from Anabelle¡¯s hand, though her tight grip on it before she finally released what was mine, clearly showed how unwilling she was to part with it.

    I could have extended her time with it, but that would only bring suspicion upon me. Why would I borrow a book for two weeks and lend it to another person, when I could be using it?

    I had to act natural.

    Plus, something told me that no time I gave Anabelle would be enough to satiate her uses for the book. It would just be best if she borrowed it from the Library after I was done.

    ¡°It¡¯s Friday, already¡­st day of our first week.¡±

    I had to wrap things up with the pair of both Anabelle and Edward before more time psed.

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to see that someone feels the same as I do. I also share your opinion, Anabelle. Lewis Griffith¡­ I intend to surpass him.¡±

    My sudden statement, devoid of any lies, struck a chord within Anabelle the moment they were uttered.

    Her eyes widened in surprise as I gave her a fierce look to show I was serious. Sparkles showed in her clear blue eyes and I could see more of her excitement build up.

    ¡°Kyiiiiii!!!¡± She suddenly let out a squeal that caught me off guard.

    ¡°So, you feel the same way? I knew it! I mean, I¡¯m always watching how you read during your spare time, and how you look at the flowers in the garden, plucking quite a few. I assume those are for experiments, right? You also brilliantly answer the questions in ss and give your ideal opinion. You mix in your assertion, argument, and possible proof when offering an answer! Do you know the significant simrities in those things?¡±

    Anabelle was rambling now, she couldn¡¯t be stopped. My statement had opened a chatterbox that exceeded my control.

    ¡°I-I guess it¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªThat¡¯s right! It¡¯s what Lewis Griffith used to do back in his school days!¡± Anabelle refused to let meplete my excuse of a response and just continued speaking.

    Perhaps I didn¡¯t have everything under control as I had initially thought.

 Chapter 107 - Anabelles Passion (Pt 2)

    The girl¡ªAnabelle¡ªkept rambling for so long that I lost track of time.

    It was frankly a waste of time since the conversation was terribly one-sided, but I endured it regardless. It wasn¡¯t out of sentiment or consideration for the young girl¡¯s emotions.

    No.

    It was out of satisfaction!

    While I was certainly not benefitting much from listening to her excited talks on Lewis Griffith, it was certainly a good sign that Anabelle had warmed up to me wholly. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she was lonely and bored.

    Edward, her only friend, was currently unavable due to his Elective course. Was she just looking for another person to talk to and while away time with?

    No, she could have easily spent her time reading a book and doing more research¡­ which would pay off in the long run.

    Anabelle genuinely divulged her passion to me because she felt we were of like mind. She traced a lot of my actions to the same ones Lewis Griffith made back when he was a student, which was no wonder since I was the same person.

    ¡®Old habits die hard, uh?¡¯

    I ignored the fact that she had been mildly stalking me and observing my movements ever since I gave her the book. I mean, I picked up constant observation on me, but I just thought it was Edward¡¯s usual monitoring.

    Who would have thought Anabelle had joined the fray?

    That must have been why she grew friendlier and morefortable with me, seeing that I had a keen interest in research and not just strictly the use of mana and spells.

    After speaking and speaking, Anabelle finally showed signs of slowing down and caught her breath.

    ¡°W-wow. Since we have so much inmon, we should be friends. There¡¯s so much we can learn from each other.¡± I managed to blurt out.

    There was no resistance on her part and she wholeheartedly agreed¡­ so easily!

    I didn¡¯t even need to apologize for my actions on our first day of ss. She must have realized that it was a misunderstanding all on her own. That was a relief!

    ¡°The reason you coughed back then was probably because you were surprised, right?¡± As though she was reading my mind, Ana brought up the very same topic I was thinking about.

    She wasn¡¯t wrong, so I nodded.

    ¡°Well, since we¡¯re both rivals of Lewis Griffith, that makes us rivals too! I don¡¯t n on losing to you!¡±

    Her voice radiated childish innocence, but I could sense a tinge of strictpetition from them. She really meant it.

    ¡®I don¡¯t really wannapete or anything, but okay. If that¡¯s what will motivate you¡­¡¯

    With this, I had created amon interest that would serve to bind me with the girl.

    ¡®Since we¡¯vee this far, I might as well ask¡­¡¯

    ¡°Anabelle, if you don¡¯t mind me asking, why did you join the Schr Department?¡±

    It seemed like a foolish question now that I blurted it out, but there was a reason behind it. I understood her obsession with Lewis Griffith, I understood her unrivaled intelligence, but¡­

    ¡°Why? I thought you already knew. Lewis Griffith is my¡ª¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean that, Anabelle¡ª¡±

    ¡°Call me Ana!¡± She snapped.

    ¡°Okay, Ana¡­ what I mean to say is¡­ you have Mana Core, don¡¯t you? Enough to be a Magic-User. ¡±

    My words dropped like a bomb, and Ana looked stunned, no, beyond stunned to hear me say what I said.

    ¡°H-How did you find out?¡± She muttered, having a conflicted expression on her face.

    The air became uneasy, and I could feel the tension rise between the two of us. No one else was in the ssroom, except for one boy who carelessly slept.

    I swallowed a little while staring into Ana¡¯s curious, suspicious eyes. Perhaps I shouldn¡¯t have said anything?

    No¡­ this was certainly something I needed to know.

    ¡°I¡¯ve sort of always known. See, I can just tell of someone has a core¡­ one of my family¡¯s secret techniques.¡±

    The first part was true. The second one? Not so much.

    Her eyes lit up the moment I said this, and for a moment, the cloud of unease cleared away.

    ¡°Whoah! I¡¯ve never heard of anything like that! What kind of technique is it?¡±

    ¡°Um, it¡¯s a ¡®secret technique¡¯ for a reason, you know?¡± I tried tough it off, but my message was sharply passed across to her.

    ¡°O-oh, okay¡­ sorry¡­¡±

    The cloud returned.

    Everything seemed awkward, but I had to press on. It was clear that Anabelle was hiding something from me, and I wasn¡¯t giving up until I knew what it was.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Jared. I have a functional Magic Core¡­ it¡¯s more than enough to get me a shot at this institute, and I ¡®Awakened¡¯ ever since I was very young. But¡­ I just¡­ I¡­¡±

    It looked like a lump was in her throat, or was she just embarrassed? I couldn¡¯t tell the difference.

    ¡°Maybe you can¡ª¡±

    ¡°I just felt it would be cheating, okay?!¡± Her loud voice cut off my small attempt at a suggestion as she blurted out her reason.

    ¡®¡­ Eh?¡¯

    It didn¡¯t make me understand any better, though.

    ¡°Lewis Griffith was a Schr who rose to the position of Great Sage. But, most importantly, he was inept! For such a great man to rise out of a people known to be worth nothing, it goes to show how great he was!¡± She began her speech.

    ¡°If I am to surpass him and prove my superiority, I should be able to perform a bigger feat, while also restricting myself. If I can¡¯t do that much and take only the easy route, how can I call myself his rival?¡±

    ¡®Are you stupid?¡¯ I nearly blurted out, but restrained myself.

    ¡°And your parents are okay with this?¡± I asked with concern.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m thest child of my family, and my eleven siblings are all Magic-Users. My father said I can choose whatever path I want.¡± Ana puffed her chest out proudly.

    ¡®What the heck?!¡¯

    This was just getting more bizarre.

 Chapter 108 - Conflicted Reasoning

    ording to Ana, her family had more than enough Magic-Users, and since she was a female as well, she got away with doing anything she wanted.

    It kinda made me feel like she was abandoned, but to her, it couldn¡¯t have been any better. She was able to drown in her study and research, even being able to choose the career path she wanted.

    Her parents were rich and powerful nobles, so enrolling her into Ainrk was no big deal.

    As I already expected, the exams for Schrs greatly differed from ours. There was no Mana Core Grade exam or practical magic session.

    Other than the rigorous written portion of their exams, the Schr entrants had to solve various riddles and perform practical analyses of problems. They were also interviewed and bombarded with nerve-wracking questions which would determine their ss within the Academy.

    ¡°I intentionally scored lower so I would end up here!¡± Ana proudly said once again.

    I truly felt like spanking her head, but my self-control saved the day.

    ¡°Lewis Griffith never faced this kind of challenge during his time, so when I end up rising above everyone else despite my Lower ss Status, I¡¯ll be able to prove myself.¡±

    ¡®Something is certainly wrong with this child.¡¯ I concluded with a sigh.

    Well, even oddballs had uses. I just had to make her into the ideal image¡­ and she¡¯d be more than good enough for the task.

    ¡°Anabelle¡­ you can surpass Lewis Griffith, not by putting yourself at more of a disadvantage, but by excelling with all you have.¡±

    Anabelle fell silent the moment I said this, her face clouding up.

    ¡°Mana is a huge part of you, you can¡¯t deny that. Just because you aspire to be better than the Great Sage doesn¡¯t make you an Inept like him.¡±

    These were words she probably didn¡¯t hear from anyone else since they allowed her to live her life, but she needed to understand something very pivotal.

    ¡°Lewis Griffith was bound by his inability to use or sense mana, that was why his theories and discoveries couldn¡¯t reach the peak. If you want to do better, be better. You have the power to reach a higher summit¡­ don¡¯t waste it trying to follow his path and beat him in his own race!¡±

    My voice grew stricter and firmer as I tightened my fist. I didn¡¯t know why I was so worked up on this matter, but it ate at me the way Ana was blindly trying to prove something to the ¡®me¡¯ of the past.

    ¡®It¡¯s because I¡¯m Lewis Griffith that I know¡­¡¯

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time on the route he went through. Forge your own path and take a swifter journey through Magic. That¡¯s the only way to win!¡±

    I said this because that was what I realized. This was the principle I was living with¡ªto surpass my previous self, I was going to actively use magic.

    ¡°Discovery is born out of experiments, not so? Then¡­ why not experiment on what Lewis Griffith was never able to? Your own Magic!¡±

    Upon making this final statement, I stood from my seat. Anabelle was still petrified, listening to my blunt words.

    ¡®This may seem hypocritical of me to say, but¡­¡¯

    ¡°Don¡¯t waste your life on theories you¡¯ll never be able to apply for yourself. Magic is only fun when you¡¯re able to do it yourself¡­ remember that.¡±

    I put the books on my table into my bag and began twisting my body to jump over the desk that separated me from the forefront of the ss.

    ¡°Hup!¡± I hovered through the hurdle andnded safely away from my seat.

    Flinging my bag to my back, I took a careful stride across Ana, and walked past her. She was still a bit shaken by my unfiltered words that chastised her immature thinking¡ªat least that was what I could pick up from her slightly bulging eyes and flinching body.

    ¡°Think about what I just said and decide on what you want to do. I need to be off now¡­¡±

    With that as my final statement, I left the young girl.

    ¡®Huu, I know it¡¯s not my business, but¡­ did I go too far?¡¯

    I had certainly given her a lot to think about over the weekend. This could y out in a bunch of ways, but I hoped things turned out well¡­ for her sake and mine.

    ¡°When we see next week Monday, I¡¯ll fully begin what I have in mind. For now, though, I should gain more knowledge about the state of Martial Arts. Maybe I can learn a few¡­ hmm¡­¡±

    I made my way to the library after considering my next course of action. This weekend would certainly be very busy for me.

    *****************

    ¡°Haa, just like that, the first week of ss is over. Time flies really fast, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Edward was the one who broke the awkward silence between the two friends.

    He gazed at his partner, Anabelle, as subtly as possible. He hoped she would have worn off the awfully glum expression on her face¡­ that hope died.

    There was no change in Anabelle¡¯s face, no, her entire demeanor.

    ¡®Damn¡­ what¡¯s got her so down?¡¯ Edward wondered to himself.

    Ever since he finished his sses and met up with Anabelle, he had found her like that. She didn¡¯t utter a single word about what was bothering her and he didn¡¯t want to make her mood worse.

    With that in mind, Edward decided to leave the lecture grounds along with a sulking Anabelle and hope that her emotional state would improve as they went on.

    ¡°Hey, Ed¡­¡± Anabelle finally spoke up, causing the one she addressed to nearly freeze up.

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­?¡± The boy found himself stuttering, looking at Ana keenly.

    He couldn¡¯t mess up and say the wrong thing, or he would lose the opportunity he had. Since he had been Anabelle¡¯s friend for very long, he knew her well.

    Her next statement would be decisive.

    ¡°Do you think I should¡­ have registered as a Magic-User?¡±

 Chapter 109 - An Answer

    Edward knew most things about Anabelle, and it was vice versa.

    Their extremely straightforward rtionship allowed the young martial artist to know of Anabelle¡¯s ability to use mana, ultimately possessing the potential to perform Magic.

    No, to simply call it an ¡®ability¡¯ would not do it justice. Simply put, Anabelle was talented at Magic. With no tutor, she was able to sense mana freely and even use her Mana core which she established at an early age.

    Anabelle was a genius!

    However¡­

    ¡°I won¡¯t use Magic! It wouldn¡¯t be fair!¡±

    ¡­ Anabelle decided not to sully her rivalry with the inept man who became the famous Great Sage, Lewis Griffith. In her words, she wanted to surpass him using pure wits alone.

    Edward, who couldn¡¯t understand the refusal to use all that existed in one¡¯s arsenal to achieve greatness, tried to protest. However, after seeing the determination in Anabelle¡¯s eyes, and her pure resolve to stick to this ideal, he gave up on the thought.

    And so, years passed¡­ Anabelle didn¡¯t practice Magic.

    She registered as a Schr and, ording to what she told Edward, intentionally scored low on the tests so she could be ced in the Lower-ss.

    The final part annoyed and partly hurt Edward, since he couldn¡¯t understand why she would go so far to prove something. Unlike her, he wasn¡¯t privileged to choose the ss he wanted.

    Edward had skills with the de, an art he sharpened ever since he was little. But, he couldn¡¯t escape hisck of talent in a qualifier that existed in the Academy.

    His use of Mana!

    Perhaps it was due to the minuscule amount he possessed, or the fact that he preferred training with the de and didn¡¯t pay much heed to magic¡ªhis Mana Core Grade refused to improve beyond where its current level.

    His Core Grade was Yellow, but only barely. As a result, it was only to be expected that he would be ced in the lowest ss despite the abilities he showed in other departments.

    So, that was why he was quite upset when Anabelle revealed the intentional part she yed in ensuring her cement. Still, though, he endured.

    Edward loved Ana and would always support her. If this was the path she chose to follow¡­ who was he to stop her?

    He too¡­ had something he wanted to do!

    That was what he thought of the matter¡ªall he made himself think of it.

    Until she asked him a question he wasn¡¯t expecting.

    ¡°Do you think I should¡­ have registered as a Magic-User?¡±

    At first, Edward¡¯s mind shut down.

    Of all the questions simted in his brain, none came close to what was ying in his ears.

    Dazed and awestruck, Edward took a closer look at Ana, not even hiding the intensity of his observation.

    ¡®She¡¯s serious¡­ she¡¯s seriously asking me this?!¡¯

    Pushing down the saliva that had formed in his mouth, Edward swallowed hard and tried regaining hisposure.

    ¡°W-well, I think the decision was up to you, after all, you¡ª¡±

    ¡°No! I don¡¯t mean that!¡± Anabelle gave a sharp, desperate cry.

    Edward wasn¡¯t getting it, the true intentions behind her question.

    Of course, he couldn¡¯t understand. The boy hadn¡¯t been there when Jared had spoken to Anabelle. He couldn¡¯t feel the intensity of her burning inquisition.

    Right now, Anabelle was conflicted. Had she been wrong all along? Was it truly the best choice to try beating Lewis Griffith in his own game rather than following her oath and surpassing him in her own way.

    Jared Leonard had inspired these questions within her, and now she felt restless. She desperately sought some sort of calm¡ªmaybe reassurance.

    If her best friend, Edward would only speak¡­ perhaps she could finally have some rity.

    ¡®I wasn¡¯t wrong, right? I just wanted to be better than¡ª¡¯

    ¡°If I¡¯m to be honest, Ana¡­¡±

    Edward¡¯s solemn voice broke through her inner turmoil and bustling emotions. She looked at his face. It was hard, resolute¡­ a bit scared, though.

    Edward looked weird, but the face he made was synonymous only with one thing. He wanted to be honest with her.

    ¡°¡­ I believe a person should use everything they have to get what they want. That¡¯s the only way one can live without giving excuses for failure!¡±

    No ¡®what ifs¡¯ or ¡®If I hads¡¯ or ¡®Had I knowns¡¯¡­ one who gave their all to something felt very little regret! It was that simple.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to use your full strength than half your strength? Especially when against a powerful opponent?¡± Edward asked sincerely.

    Anabelle didn¡¯t say anything, but she knew the answer to that question.

    It was mon sense¡¯ to try one¡¯s hardest in a battle when victory wasn¡¯t certain.

    ¡°You¡¯re up against Lewis Griffith, the best of the best. Don¡¯t you think you need to give all you have at it?¡±

    These words resonated deeply in Anabelle¡¯s soul as they aligned with the seeds sown by Jared not too long ago. Her heart beat fast as she received the picture being painted by both boys.

    Her stubborn heart loosened, and she began embracing the possibilities.

    ¡°You¡¯re a Magic Genius, Ana. I¡¯ve known that since we were kids. I think it¡¯s time you owned it.¡±

    Just like that¡­ the turbulent sea that was Anabelle¡¯s inner consciousness experienced a great calm. The cloudy skies cleared up and brilliant rays of illumination burst forth.

    It was warm all over her, no, within her. Anabelle didn¡¯t even realize when she had started smiling.

    First came a smile, then came tears, then came a voice.

    ¡°Thanks, Ed¡­ I really needed to hear that.

    Edward¡ªwho had been a little surprised by his friend¡¯s tears, but quickly realized it wasn¡¯t one of sorrow¡ªsmiled at the young, child-like girl, and gave his usual confident smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re wee!¡±

    There was silence for a moment as both friends looked at each other, staring deeply into their eyes. But, Anabelle broke the decorum not long after.

    ¡°Oh, you were wrong about one thing, though.¡±

    Edward gave a slight raise of his eyebrow, not really understanding what she meant by that.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re still kids!¡± Anabelleughed.

    Edward remembered his earlier statement where he mentioned their ¡®kid¡¯ status as though it had passed. It was just like Anabelle to nitpick on such little detail.

    ¡°Pfft, yeah you¡¯re right¡­ I guess we are.¡±

    And so, with their moods raised, the pair resumed walking¡­ this time, with a different air about them. They smiled,ughed, and enjoyed each other¡¯spany.

    Unknown to them, and nearly everyone in the whole Academy¡­ these times wouldn¡¯tst very long.

    For Darkness would consume everything soon enough. After all, it had already arrived!

 Chapter 110 - The Start Of Despair (Pt 1)

    The town of Urich was an integral part of the Eastern Kingdom, albeit small.

    Being a rural area, greatly underdeveloped, its denizens were also not too many. A total of three hundred and thirty-nine dwelled there¡ªapproximately 120 adult males, 150 adult females, and the remaining were children. Many of the adults were also elderly, living up to a ripe old age before death called for them.

    Despite the small size and hardly civilized means of living, this small dot on the map was within the border of the Kingdom. Urich wasn¡¯t exempt from the obligations toward the Kingdom and the benefits that came with them.

    As a rural settlement, the people made a living using trade by Barter, exchanging one item for the other, rather than using the currency of the Kingdom.

    To them who lived at the furthest end of the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s border, facing the north, there was no better means of exchange. They mostly dealt in arables¡ªgrains and legumes when it came to agriculture. The town also had a couple of animals who were used as beasts for burdens to plow thend and transport goods.

    Livestock wasn¡¯t in fashion, though a few homes had a couple of domestic fowls that they raised. Still, it wasn¡¯t as though the entire vige practiced such a thing.

    Anymodity the towncked was supplied to them by the Merchants who came to buy from them. In exchange for high-quality grains and legumes, they would receive meat, milk, and other necessities. They sewed their own clothes from the little cotton they grew, and made their shoes from malleable wildwood and rough nt parts.

    The homes resembled thatched huts, built of straw and wood. These weren¡¯t perfect constructs, but each of their homes was made to be sturdy¡ªtheysted years without the need for repair.

    While their lives couldn¡¯t be said to befortable and ideal, they lived in harmony and unity. Their small numbers caused a deeper understanding of everyone in themunity. They were onerge family. Happiness was a luxury everyone could afford.

    This same town, at the edge of the kingdom¡¯s territory to the north¡­ was about to receive a rude awakening!

    ***************************

    Kahn was still brimming with anger, fury, no, shame¡­ his slumped shoulders drooped even further whenever he remembered the humiliation he suffered at the hands of his previous subordinate.

    It was utterly disgraceful!

    As a Demon, rank was everything. Despite being among the six Demon Lords and the ruler of his race of Shadows, he lost it all in the Session Challenge.

    ¡°Kyron¡­ that bastard¡­¡± The Shadow Demon growled with hate and rage.

    There were countless thoughts on his mind, but first, he had to keep moving.

    Keeping up his steady, slow steps, he walked in the only direction he had been moving in ever since he exiled himself from the Demon Realm.

    He was sure he hade to the human world, but wasn¡¯t sure where he was.

    So much had changed since he wasst here, after all.

    Kahn kept moving, passing mountains, deserts, rivers, forests¡­ he didn¡¯t stop. The burning passion within him gave him the strength to persevere¡­ until he finallyid eyes on the first human settlement to be encountered after so long a journey.

    ¡°This is¡­!¡± His distorted voice let out a whisper.

    The body made of shadows and pitch-ck darkness moved closer to inspect the area more, and the Demon¡¯s whitened eyes narrowed to zoom in on the targets in sight.

    With its heightened vision, everything else became a blur, and even from such a great distance¡ªnearly a mile away, atop a giant hill filled with clusters of trees and shrubs that endlessly bothered the Shadow Demon¡ª Kahn could see all that happened in the vige.

    He noticed how they jointly worked on the small farnd located at a far corner from the thatched and tattered excuse for houses that they had.

    It was evening time, so the people were rounding up all the day¡¯s work.

    He saw them rejoice while working¡ªhow they smiled and enjoyed one another¡¯spany. It was extremely infuriating.

    ¡°Those insects¡­¡±

    No, calling them that would have been an overstatement. The insects in the Demon Realm were far superior to the silly creatures who worked their fields and had fun doing it.

    For someone like Kahn who was enraged by his disgrace, he could not condone the happy expression imnted on the faces of others.

    Only the strong had the right to be happy!

    These ones were weak, so pathetically weak. He could not tolerate their sphemy.

    WHOOOOOOOSHHHH

    In a sh, the Shadow Demon vanished from the cluster of nts as though he was never there, only a trace of darkness remained.

    He rushed at the vige with such immense speed that the wind parted way for his dash. In mere moments, the Demon closed the distance between himself and the vige. And so, seeing that he was only a few more moments away from reaching the little fence they used to surround their vige, Kahn leaped high into the air and lunged at the vige settlement within the flimsy wooden barricade.

    The unsuspecting, hardworking vigers could not have expected what came next. They, who were simply enjoying their daily activities¡ªthe children having fun in their own way by chasing after one another, adults working hard, even the elderly, sewing wears, making shoes, and attending to the children¡ª were met my utter despair.

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The loud explosion caused the entire area to tremble as a gust of wind filled the vige. No one could be exempt from the effects of an unknown force crashing into the vige.

    The reverbsted for only a few moments, but everyone trembled where they were and instinctively looked in the direction of the cloud of dust that seemed to be the origin of the loud noise.

    It was located at the edge of the vige, closed off entirely by the barricade since that was neither an entrance nor exit. No one came from the edge where the dust came from¡­ it was a secluded area.

    Yet¡­ yet¡­ what was this disturbance the people felt?

    Everyone, even those who tirelessly worked on the field, left all they were doing and began moving in the same direction. Like iron being attracted by a ma, like prey drawing closer to bait¡­ these unsuspecting, hardworking vigers moved closer to their doom.

    And that doom¡ªKahn¡ª patiently waited for his prey!

 Chapter 111 - The Start Of Despair (Pt 2)

    ¡°Huu¡­¡±

    The Shadow Demon let out a short breath the moment hended. The shock from his descent was so infinitesimal that this monster hadn¡¯t felt it one bit¡ªunlike the rest of the town.

    The vigers were now rushing in his direction, some out of fear, some out of curiosity¡­ well, it didn¡¯t matter to Kahn.

    Whatever their reasons were, the end results remained the same.

    Still, he was a bit relieved that they were charging toward him. It saved him the trouble of having to look for them himself. Though it wouldn¡¯t pose that much of an issue for him, he still preferred it when the small fry gathered so he could cull them off all at once.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Kahn made a slight grumble and furrowed his non-existent brow a little.

    His body was shrouded in darkness, so only his eyes gleamed white. No expression could be seen on his face as a result of his nature, but the re he gave told of a slight displeasure that had gathered within him.

    ¡®So, they¡¯re cing all the children in a shelter while the grown-upse to investigate, uh?¡¯ Having enhanced vision, he could see through the thatched huts and other facilities blocking his path, to notice what was happening a distance from him.

    He had wanted to kill all the vigers at once, but he reasoned that things didn¡¯t always go ording to n. It would be a bit bothersome going after the children after finishing up here, but it wasn¡¯t too much to handle.

    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s hurry!¡±

    ¡°I wonder what it is!¡±

    ¡°It could be dangerous!¡±

    ¡°Get weapons!¡±

    Kahn could hear the voices of the vigers from where he stood. Though he was certain they spoke in hushed tones, it didn¡¯t matter to his heightened hearing. His ears stretched upright like that of a cat, after all. Though it wasn¡¯t anything fluffy.

    The sharp ears poked upwards like spikes, same as the broad shoulders he had. They had spikes on both ends, sharpened sideways, giving him a more majestic and intimidating figure.

    ¡°So, they chose to gather beforeing here, uh? Wise choice¡­¡±

    He could have ruined all their preparations, but why would he bother? They were going toe to him sooner orter.

    Kahn watched as the vigers armed themselves, preparing for the worst possible situation. Bringing out rakes and Rusty metal tes to serve as shields, some of the men also carried bows and a bunch of wooden arrows. Clubs and blunt weapons were also brought out, and a few axes showed themselves as well.

    Now fully prepared for whatever incursion might be upon them, the adult vigers moved in an orderly march and went towards the area where the loud rumble was generated.

    ¡°They¡¯re here!¡±

    Kahn¡¯s eyes narrowed as he spotted a total of two hundred vigers, yes, exactly that amount,ing toward him.

    ¡®The others are with the children, ah, there was one other person among them¡­¡¯ Kahn thought to himself.

    His senses indicated that he wasn¡¯t far away, so there was no way the man could escape. in any case, he just had to deal with the pesky people that were approaching him.

    The vigers who neared Kahn grew more worried as they drew closer.

    Initially, they couldn¡¯t see much from their distance. The first thing they noticed was the gaping pothole on the ground, as though something massive and heavy hadnded there.

    Their eyes darted to the fence erected there and found it to still be upheld. No signs of forceful entry too. What could have caused such a gaping scar on the earth, then?

    As they slowly approached with caution, the malefactor began to take form in their sight. They hadn¡¯t seen it before because of the Shadow Demon¡¯s passive stealth ability that prevented detection. It was a racial trait that all Shadow Demons possessed, and Kahn was no exception.

    They drew closer yet again and saw it even more clearly¡­ a dark blot amid the rubble.

    Closer, they began to notice the figure, like an illusion clearing up in their eyes. They saw its menacing gait, like a slightly slumping beast¡ªits sharp ears and tall body. Its sharpened ws and naked shadowy figure.

    They remained undaunted, thinking maybe their eyes were ying tricks as a result of the fear.

    However, the moment they reached exactly thirty meters from the monster, they halted instantly.

    The vigers finally realized that what they saw was no illusion. It was as real as anything¡ªtheir crops, their families¡­ anything!

    ¡°You¡¯re finally here¡­¡± The Shadow Demon growled, but the vigers didn¡¯t understand it.

    The only thing they could do was tremble at the intense pressure of its voice.

    Their eyes grew wide and their hardened bodies became paralyzed. In face of such a creature, their weapons meant nothing.

    Even though all the monster said was gibberish, the pressure it emitted was enough to make them lose heart.

    ¡°T-that is¡­¡±

    ¡°N-no way¡­¡±

    ¡°How can¡­ how can this be¡­?!¡¯

    The people had lived lives of peace and tranquility, founded upon hardbor. While they had never seen such a creature of darkness like this, they slowly began recollecting things they had forgotten as adults.

    They remembered the stories of such creatures of darkness. Malevolent creatures who would plunge the world to doom and chaos. Demons!

    But, the stories told of how these monsters were defeated and cast out centuries ago¡­ by the great heroes of legend. Demons hadn¡¯t been heard of or seen ever since. It had been so long ago that these tales were now brandished into fairy tales and epics sung by the bards.

    No one thought them to be real since all those who could have experienced such cmity had died. The actual thing all happened so long ago¡­ which was why no one could believe their sights.

    The Demon before them was the real deal. It spoke, it stared, and then¡­

    Kahn¡¯s nonexistent lips parted ways, and it appeared as though its lower face cracked. Sharp lines were drawn and it formed a malevolent smile. With both sides stretching to the ends of his face, and the shadowy creature¡¯s eyes narrowing even more¡­ it seems like it was enjoying something¡ªno, this was anticipation.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re all here¡­ you should die!¡±

 Chapter 112 - The Start Of Despair (Pt 3)

    Kahn initiated the bloodshed.

    The vigers were still petrified, not wanting to believe that the very being that inspired dear and chaos was standing before them. They made perfect prey for a vengeful predator.

    The Shadow Demon raised its hand toward them, causing the vigers to shrink back in fear. Their lips quivered, trying to force out the words that rang in all their hearts. But, the people were scared.

    If they said the word, it just mighte true¡­ the fact that before them stood a Demon!

    WHOOOOOOOSHHHH!!!

    In a sh, no, faster than that, the dark hand of the Shadow Demon stretched forth and retracted.

    Like rubber, stretching and returning to shape, the creature¡¯s limbs moved in like manner. If was swifter than the eyes of mere humans could follow, and the scared group fell silent, unaware of what the Demon had just done¡­

    Until¡­

    SPURT!!!

    The head of one of the vigers cleanly fell off and blood poured out of the gaping neck remained.

    Everyone¡¯s eyes caught the sight at once. The viger was one of the men who bravely led the group. He held a pitchfork and stood at the vanguard¡­ a trusty man who boasted one of the greatest physical force in the vige of Urich.

    Just like that, this man lost his life and his finely toned muscr body crashed to the ground, littering it in blood.

    THUD!

    In response to this unbing sight of carnage, the one hundred and ny-nine vigers could only think of one course of action.

    ¡°UARGHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    Pained screams. Scared screams. Disbelieving screams.

    All kinds of screams sharply peaked as the vigers let out their surging emotions of panic, fear, and sorrow.

    ¡°Hmn, I see¡­ so how they die hasn¡¯t changed¡­¡± Kahn muttered in a bit of self-note.

    The man who had just fallen, now dead, was merely a scapegoat meant to test Kahn¡¯s outdated knowledge of the humans. Last he remembered, the surefire way to kill humans was to cut off their heads or go for the heart.

    Death was instant and guaranteed using such methods.

    Of the two, he chose his favorite, and boy was he d that it turned out well.

    ¡°This much should do it.¡± Another mutter escaped his cracked smile.

    The vigers, crippled with fear, said nothing. Their bodies shook and they could only take steps back, slowly¡­ hoping to retreat without being noticed.

    ¡°Eeeek¡­¡±

    ¡°H¡­ h¡­¡±

    They were not people of violence. No monster ever came to such a remote area, and they had peaceful dealings with everyone. The Lord was kind to them too, well, he was rather loose with their way of life as long as they gave him his due percentage every harvest season.

    Since everyone had grown up in peace, experiencing only the hardship of farming and working the field, none of them could withstand the incredible mental strain of seeing someone¡¯s head loped off and fresh blood pouring out.

    It was too overwhelming.

    ¡°Where do you guys think you¡¯re going?¡± Kahn asked, seeing how the vigers began taking retreating steps backward.

    The hands they used to hold their weapons were weary.

    ¡®Hm? They¡¯re trying to escape, uh? At least insects know their ce¡­¡¯

    Kahn wasn¡¯t allowing any prey he set his sight on escape, though.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere!¡± The sharp, evil grin on this face spread out even more.

    The people couldn¡¯t understand a single word he said, but upon seeing Kahn¡¯s face morphing into a more sadistic grin, they abandoned any form of discreet retreat and simply took to their heels.

    ¡°UARGHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to die!¡±

    ¡°My children!¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no way we can win against a Demon!¡±

    ¡°S-save me!¡±

    ¡°Arghhhh!!!¡±

    Their voices all cried out, creating unsavory noise. The Shadow Demon, Kahn, watched as they all ran, like fleeing cattle, and once again mused to himself how the mere insects he knew in his world were better than the pathetic worms called humans.

    ¡°Just die already.¡±

    Joining all the fingers on his right hand together, Kahn¡¯s limp morphed into a ck de, thick and sharp.

    SWOOOOOSHHH!!!

    In one swing, the fleeing mob of nearly two hundred¡­ lost their heads!

    SPLURGEEE!!!

    Stters of blood rained down the empty, slightly grassy, field as it became dyed in a red hue.

    The heads of all the vigersnded at once, bouncing off the area where theynded. Not long after that, the bodies followed.

    It was like choreographed action, almost a work of art. Just like that, over half of the vige poption was extinguished.

    ¡°Next, I should go to that house and kill the children and whatever is left of the adults¡­¡±

    Kahn transversed the bloodied field, stepping on flesh and crunching bone without even the slightest of regard. None of the red liquid stained his body, though. It was like how mercury slid off of a ss surface.

    Kahn¡¯s eyes were only focused on the thatched hut that was located the furthest away from him.

    Considering how he arrived at the vige from the rear, the ce he was headed to was most likely close to its entrance.

    ¡°Hmn¡­ I may see more human settlements around. If I kill them all and relieve myself of this burning rage inside me, I can think of the next step forward from there¡­¡±

    Deciding on the next path to take, Kahn moved toward the entrance of the vige.

    It didn¡¯t take him very long to reach it, and from the corner of his eye, Kahn saw the house that upied the children and remaining adults in the vige, save one, who ran off.

    There was no need to worry about that one, though. the Shadow Demon had never lost sight of him. In fact, his running out of the vige was meant to be a way for Kahn to spot the nearest point of civilization other than the vige he was currently in.

    ¡°Hm, I see¡­ so, it¡¯s there uh?¡± He muttered, noticing the probe had arrived somewhere. It was bigger and more refined than the vige, so Kahn knew it was the better option.

    ¡®My time here is over¡­¡¯

    Kahn ignored the house where the kids and elderly were. They didn¡¯t matter anymore¡­ his steps now trailed for the next ce to wreak havoc on.

 Chapter 113 - Shadows Rising (Pt 1)

    Jake couldn¡¯t stop trembling.

    His body violently spasmed as his teeth were clenched and his eyes shut tight. He tried breathing as well as he could, but something choked him so much that he began finding it harder and harder to take in air.

    Jake knew what it was very well¡­ it was fear. He, just like everyone in the room, was frightened.

    While he and the other kids were having fun, as usual, enjoying the evening ambiance that radiated pure delight, a loud sound shook everywhere. The adults quickly gathered and sent the young ones, him being no exception, to thergest hut in their entiremunity.

    It was usually used for weing visitors or discussing town matters. It wasrge enough for the whole vige to fit in since group discussions were usually held there.

    The weak and elderly also stayed with them, since they would be liabilities to the strong adults. Jake knew this quite well since he was very clever for his young age of eleven.

    ¡°Please be back safe and sound, mom¡­ dad¡­¡± He had told his parents tearfully.

    They only looked at him as though he was silly and patted his head.

    ¡°It¡¯s probably nothing. Maybe a fallen sky rock.¡± They said casually.

    If it was no big deal, why were so many adults gathered? Why were the children hidden in a ce to hide, why did the ground tremble so hard?

    Whatever this disturbance was¡­ Jake knew it wasn¡¯t anything ordinary.

    Still, he chose to trust in the words of his parents. His father was one of the strongest men in the vige, having the ideal body any man would kill for. His mother was hardworking as well, almost as dexterous as most men.

    In such an equalitarian society, both men and women worked and respected each other in whatever they did. That was why the adults who were going to investigate the source of the quake and rising smoke consisted of both genders.

    Jake let them go, withdrawing into the house where everyone who couldn¡¯t fight was. He had hoped to see his parents soon. He hopefully looked at the door, patiently awaiting the moment they would show up once more.

    But, who could have expected the next sound that he and everyone else heard?

    ¡°ARGHHHHH!!!¡±

    Screams of pain and fear!

    Panic spread to everyone in the room and the children nearly flipped and gave in to their childish inclinations. The grown-ups controlled the young ones and ensured order, but even their faces showed uncertainty.

    Jake hears noises of countless footsteps. It felt like the charge of a group of people no less than the group that went out before his eyes.

    Jake wondered what was going on. Were they running because they missed the children already and simply wanted to assure them that everything was fine?

    No, this sound was different. Jake didn¡¯t know why he felt that way, he just knew it. The footsteps were so incoherent and rushed, a trait unknown to the vige. It was almost as though¡­ the people were running away from something.

    Suddenly, the sounds ceased. It was amazing!

    After a brief ¡®WHOOSH¡± that echoed to where the kids were, nothing else could be heard. Silence enveloped the area.

    At this point, Jake was curious and impatient. What was going on outside? Why were his parents taking so long? He had no idea about the ughter that had just happened.

    After waiting a few moments for some d tidings, nothing came. Jake moved close to the door of the thatched hut, expecting to be among the first to greet his parents as soon as the door was flung open.

    He couldn¡¯t hear anything that sounded like footsteps though.

    Finally, after waiting for what seemed like forever to the child, even though it was only a few seconds, Jake decided to peek through one of the thin lines that exposed fresh air and light into the room everyone was in.

    If he could ce his head on the dry wooden wall and strain his eyes, he could see the happenings of the outside world.

    Satisfied with this logic, the young eleven-year-old, ttened his face on the woodenyer and ced his eyes closer to the slit on the wooden structure.

    Jake certainly wasn¡¯t expecting what he saw next!

    He had seen their pictures in the few storybooks he was privileged to have read. He had also heard of their description from the music sung by a couple of bards who visited their vige once in a while.

    There was no way Jake wouldn¡¯t know it, the creature that came into view and seemed to eye the vige.

    ¡®A Demon!¡¯

    For a child, this was plenty overwhelming.

    Not only did he see the Demon, Jake felt an instant chill on his body that caused him to remain petrified by the monster that stood a few meters from him. With nothing but a wooden construction and a short distance separating the two of them, of course, Jake felt like he couldn¡¯t breathe.

    Everyone else in the room felt that way, though. The Demon¡¯s pressure gave them all the chills.

    Jake quickly removed his eyes as the scared boy felt he saw the monster look in his direction.

    However, to his surprise¡­ no, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the enormous pressure that seemed to crush them was lowly lifted, as though whatever angel of death passing by hadpletely walked away from them, taking the fear with it.

    Jake slowly began to revert to his original self. He found the courage to look through the hole again and found out there was no Demon there anymore. The monster he saw may have been real, but it was no longer there.

    His parents were also most likely safe, same as the other vigers.

    With the fear of Sethpletely gone, everyone in the room rxed.

    The eldest in the room, an old man of about eighty-five years, made a wry smile with his bony body.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, kids. Everything is fine.¡±

    Jake nodded his head, same as the others in the room. The worst was over. All that was calm. Relief permeated the room.

    Giving a short smile, the youngster, Jake, made a thought of encouragement, reassurance, and confidence to himself.

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be o¡ª¡±

    He never got to finish it, though.

 Chapter 114 - Shadows Rising (Pt 2)

    SHIIINNNKKKK

    SWOOOOOOOSHHHHH

    WHOOOOSSSSHHHH

    BOOOOOOMMMMM

    In a sh, faster than the young boy¡¯s thoughts could process, numerous spikes came from underneath the room¡¯s flooring and rose at remarkable speeds.

    Like des, they easily pierced the wooden tform, tore through the ceiling, and shattered the whole thing entirely.

    Now having an awkward look, the massive wooden house¡ªmore like a hall¡ªhung on the several dark spikes that poked out of it.

    A few seconds psed, and soon after, the ck spikes retracted, seeming to shrink in an instant, and returned to what could only be a shadow on the ground.

    The Shadow zoomed and raced in the direction of one who had already exited the vige and now moved to another location¡ªKahn!

    He didn¡¯t even bother taking a look back at the sight of carnage he had left in his wake and the house which he just decimated with his shadow spikes.

    As for those within the house, who had a brief moment of hope that they were saved¡­ their mangled bodies, riddled with holes from countless spikes, filled the room. Blood sttered all across the wooden structure.

    Jack, and everyone else¡­ were most certainly dead!

    *******************

    Kahn¡¯s eyes were fixated on a particr house, a considerable distance from the settlement he had just left.

    Compared to the thatched huts and rural environment, the area he looked at belonged to apletely different world. From his distance, the Shadow Demon observed the terrain well, even as he trod upon the grassy ins to get there.

    His destination had well-advanced fences that encircled the glorious area that was within. Arge mansion, tall and beautiful, stood erect within the vastpound that was lush with life and beauty.

    The vige he had just left looked nothing like this.

    Still, Kahn was unfettered. It didn¡¯t change what he had to do. He moved his shadowy body that hadn¡¯t experienced rest ever since he left his homeworld. How could he stop now?

    He was on a journey, a path to redemption¡­ searching for what could restore his honor to him. However, all he was doing had nothing to do with his quest. Being frank with himself, Kahn knew he was only acting out in a fit of rage.

    Still, he pressed on.

    Before long, he reached the entrance of therge and lovely area he had sighted from afar. Weed by a massive gate, tall walls that stretched so high he had to raise his head to see the top, as well as soldiers stationed atop the walls and in front of the gates¡ªKahn knew he would be met by more resistance.

    Still, this only meant there were more humans to kill.

    ¡°What a chore¡­¡± He grumbled.

    The guards, who were engaging in discourse, did not even notice Kahn¡¯s presence. He blended perfectly with the evening ambiance around. The armed men were busy talking amongst themselves.

    The owner of the mansion, as well as their boss, usually had no visitors during this time in the evening. Plus, no one would dare to attempt attacking the mansion of the Lord of this domain, a noble of the Kingdom.

    Sure, the lord in question didn¡¯t have as much territory as the higher-ranked nobles, and his status was at the lower level. That was why hisnd was at the edge of the kingdom. However, that didn¡¯t remove the authority he possessed.

    The vige of Urich, as well as several other bordering settlements, all paid their dues to him as the Lord in charge of thend. The man in question was not hard on his subjects, and they also gave him his dues at the appropriate time. Needless to say, the entire region was peaceful and without incident.

    This made the guards stationed around his mansion nothing but mere decorations. No harm had evere to them, and no harm ever would.

    Or so they had thought.

    SHIIINNNKKKK

    SWOOOOOSHHH

    Kahn wasted no time in his execution. Several spikes appeared from beneath, as an extension of his body, and surged forth. They cut through the guards who surrounded the mansion from atop the walls, and the few who were stationed by the gate.

    In a sh, the des of darkness cut through flesh and sent blood scattering across the walls of the noble, sullying it. The bodies fell to the ground, now nothing more than corpses.

    ¡°They¡¯re all dead. Next¡­ let¡¯s go in¡­¡±

    Kahn went into thepound, not minding the closed gate that stood before him. He simply passed through the gates by turning into a shadow. By bending his body, he could enter any location as long as openings existed.

    WHUUUSH

    Kahn returned to his original state, now inside the beautifulpound of the lord¡¯s home. He could spot lovely flowers in gardens on both sides. The walkway was nearly paved with luxurious tiles, a surprise to the Shadow Demon.

    To think such luxury could exist in the boonies.

    Kahn decided to keep walking, though. The one he had followed¡ªthe surviving viger he had intentionally let go¡ª was inside the mansion standing a distance from him, and that was where he wanted to go.

    He saw a fountain standing before him, gushing out clear water that reflected the orange light of the evening skies. Kahn ignored it.

    As it took one more step forward, he sensed a presence he hadn¡¯t perceived ever since he saw the humans.

    ¡°This¡­!!!¡±

    Quickly, Kahn leaped backward in response to the ¡®thing¡¯ that wasing.

    BOOOOOMMMM!!!

    Lightning struck the area had just been standing on. A split second wasted and he would have been struck by it.

    ¡°Hm¡­ is that¡­ Magic¡­¡± Kahn mumbled to himself, seeing the residual sparks of the blue lightning that fizzled on the ground.

    Raising his head, he looked at the elevated tform where three people stood.

    One was d in a luxurious outfit, casual and expensive¡ªthe Lord of the manor

    One was a sharp contrast to the noble and had very poor shod cloth trembling as heid eyes on the monster¡ªthe runaway viger.

    Finally, thest one was dressed in a robe, having a dark purple hue decorate it. This man was the one responsible for the lightning magic from earlier.

    And he¡­ was a Mage!

    ¡°You¡­ I¡¯ll kill you next!¡±

 Chapter 115 - Grim News

    [A Few Moments Earlier]

    Duruk was a denizen of the small settlement of Urich, and anky man.

    He ran as fast as his legs could carry him the moment he spotted the quake that caused their vige to tremble, and the smoke that ascended to the sky.

    While the others still deliberated on what it could be, this man was already suspicious of the entire thing andbeled it a threat. He was often known to be superstitious and overreacting in the vige, but this time his gut feeling wouldn¡¯t let him rest.

    ¡°Duruk, go to the Lord and report this incident to him. There¡¯s a possibility this is no small matter. Besides, whatever has descended upon us must be made known to him.¡± The vige representative told him.

    Those were the words that spurred Duruk into action and gave him the strength to race straight for the noble¡¯s abode.

    ¡°Please be safe, everyone! I¡¯ll bring backup!¡± The man prayed.

    Initially, the guards were skeptical to let him in, but after seeing his desperate eyes and the exhausted breath he gave, they were convinced of the validity of the man¡¯s words.

    They allowed him into the noble¡¯s house despite the terribly wretched appearance he had. His outfit was like an ugly stain on the beauty and sanctity of thepound¡¯s interior, Duruk himself was aware of that.

    Out of all the vigers, he was one of the few who had visited the lord¡¯s mansion more than once. As one of the delegates who usually brought the tax of the vige to the lord¡¯s manor, he had seen the interior many times before. Still, it never ceased to amaze him.

    Compared to the dirty and ugly vige he grew up in, this was heaven. How Duruk envied the guards and servants who lived in such a residence. If only he could too¡­

    Quickly shaking those thoughts from his head, the man focused on the mission entrusted to him, and, for the first time in his life¡­ he was granted ess to the inside of the Lord¡¯s mansion itself.

    It was the greatest honor!

    It was beautiful¡­ too beautiful to be described!

    The walls, the furniture, the chandeliers, the floors, everything was perfect. As he entered, the guards within directed him to the ce where he would meet the noble, and they ascended a flight of stairs to get there.

    Duruk had never climbed stairs all his life. How could he have? The vige houses were all bungalows, after all.

    He marveled at the frighteningly new experience.

    Finally, they took him to what could be called a longer area, where a bunch of sofas was neatly ced, and the Lord was speaking to another person, an individual garbed in a robe.

    ¡°My Lord. Someone is here to see you concerning an important matter.¡± One of the escort guards introduced Duruk.

    He felt honored to be in the presence of such a magnificent figure that he didn¡¯t even know when his body crumbled to the ground to greet the noble who sat before him.

    ¡°Hm?¡± A short sound came from the magnanimously dressed man.

    He was of average build, having neither plump nor lean stature. His face spoke of elegance, a sharp contrast to the hardened one of the viger.

    The moment he felt all eyes on him, Duruk realized he had failed to introduce himself to the most important man in the room.

    ¡°M-my name is Duruk. Ie bearing grim news from our vige!¡± His unrefined voice echoed throughout the room.

    The noble sighed a little and spoke.

    ¡°What vige?¡±

    d to have heard the voice of the man he so respected, Duruk instantly replied without a moment of hesitation.

    ¡°It is the settlement of Urich. From the far northern border.¡±

    Thatst part was unnecessary, he knew. As Lord, there was no way the noble before him didn¡¯t know of the details of the settlements in his own territory. Duruk knew that, yet he overspoke.

    ¡°Hm, I see¡­¡± The noble mumbled.

    Duruk¡¯s head was still bowed, but he could feel the attention of the Lord shift from him to the other important person in the room¡­ the man garbed in a robe.

    ¡°Is this what you were referring to? That some sort of cmity will befall my domain and a messenger woulde to deliver the grin news?¡± The Lord, Karl Edward Zerund, asked.

    The man in the hooded robe, though the hood was currently having behind him as a result of courtesy toward the noble, smiled in response to the words he heard.

    ¡°Maybe. I didn¡¯t expect it to happen so soon, though¡­¡±

    The Mage, Zakiel Laquis, was a man of renown, famous for the visions he had and how they always came true. Of course, these visions sometimes came in parables and riddles, but they were most certainly always fulfilled.

    He had seen a vision of chaos befalling the domain of Lord Karl, and hade to warn him if it¡ªfor a fee, of course. He had also told the guards that if any bearer of grim news appeared, they were to bring them up instantly.

    That was the reason why Duruk was granted ess to the Lord¡¯s mansion which would usually be off-limits to plebians.

    Now that all the cards had gathered and it appeared the mage¡¯s vision was upon them, there was only one thing left to do.

    ¡°Let¡¯s first hear the young man out.¡±

    The Lord sent the guards away and ensured only he, the mage, and the viger were in the room. The guards didn¡¯t hesitate to leave their Lord¡¯s side, since they knew no evil would befall him as long as the famed Magic-User was by his side.

    Duruk was told to raise his head, stand to his feet, and exin the grim news he brought. The man gulped when he saw the eyes of important people on him.

    From the way the Lord and Mage spoke, the issue seemed to be less than trivial, no, of utmost importance. Just as his gut feeling had told him, that was no mere quake.

    Though Duruk felt like the current information he had was inadequate, he was determined to embellish his story so well that he would not be ignored. If he did well, there was the possibility of a reward.

    If he could be rewarded, and be a servant to the Lord himself¡­ his longtime dream would be achieved!

    And so, Duruk spoke, exaggerating the story to the point of awe and fear. However, as he still spoke, a sharp sound was heard from outside, and what seemed like a stter of blood stained one of the ss windows in the lounge.

    Fear and anxiety gripped everyone in the room as they realized that the cmity that was befalling thend had already advanced so far!

    [IMPORTANT INFO: Please read the Chapter ¡®The Mage Of Renown¡¯ after reading this Chapter. Afterward, you can progress normally. There was a mistake in the lineup. I¡¯m sorry.]

 Chapter 116 - Shock

    Thanks to the Basic Spell¡¯s short cast time, Zakiel made it. He carried everyone on his mana tform and as soon as they were ced at a safe distance away from the Shadow Demon who merely watched, the mage boosted himself using Basic Wind Magic and flung his body into battle.

    WHOOOOSHH

    In an instant, he made a softnding directly behind Kahn, dinning a disgusted re at the Demon.

    ¡°[Intermediate Lightning Barrier]¡±

    As soon as Zakiel finished his spell, the Lord and viger were surrounded by a beaming blue dome that crackled and sparked with electricity.

    This was to protect them from any more of the spike attacks from earlier. Zakiel was strong, but everyone became weaker if they had to be distracted while protecting someone else. To be in top form, especially against an unpredictable Demon, he needed to have his absolute focus on the prize¡­ the enemy!

    The Shadow Demon¡ªKahn¡ª turned sluggishly and looked behind him. The Mage was ring at him, ready to fight. He twisted his body inhumanly, and in an instant, his back became his front.

    The perks of being a Shadow Demon.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be your opponent!¡± The man¡¯s shout filled the air.

    He now donned a brown wooden-like staff that appeared out of nowhere, same with a glimmering ne and a charmed bracelet. His robe also seemed to give off some kind of aura. These were all magic items that Zakiel equipped just now.

    There was no way he could go in blind against an unknown opponent, even if the said opponent was weak.

    ¡°Hm¡­ Magic Items¡­ humans still use those things¡­¡± Kahn made a mental assessment as he analyzed his foe.

    There wasn¡¯t much to say about him. He had Mana and used Magic, something no other human he had seen since he arrived had done.

    ¡°Hm¡­ should I use it too? Magic?¡±

    No, that was probably not the best idea. The only way to recover his Demonic mana was to take in the miasma found in the Demon Realm. There was another way, but that could only happen after he killed the Mage in front of him.

    ¡°I better make it quick then¡­¡± Kahn watched as the mage, Zakiel Laquis brandished his staff and caused all the ornaments around him to shine.

    ¡®Ideally, I would love to capture it, but¡­ it¡¯s best to just destroy it now and investigate the sourceter. There¡¯s bound to be more of them. A top-tier intermediate Spell should do it!¡¯

    Amped by the Magic tools he wore, all having different effects, Zakiel was confident. Ranging from mana boosting properties, shortening of cast time, to even additional buffs on lightning-based spells¡ªhis specialty, Zakiel¡¯s spell was going to pack a punch.

    ¡°[Double Lightning Descent]¡±

    CRRRAAACKKKLLEEE!!!

    Electricity filled the sky as sparks of blue light danced around it. The sparks were muchrger than previously, and they appeared on two spots at once.

    One look could tell anyone that this would be extremely dangerous.

    With a singlemand, the spell waspleted and the dual lightning attacks fell. Not even a Shadow Demon could evade two amped lightning attacks, one of the fastest elements avable to a Mage.

    BOOOOMMMMM!!!

    Thepound was filled with the rumblings caused by the lightning explosion. Like fireworks, except on the ground, the blue lightning sent glows dancing around as the destruction was wreaked.

    A portion of the mansion was scarred and eaten away, but it was all worth it. Zakiel himself had confirmed it¡­ the Shadow Demon could not evade the attack. It was as good as dead!

    Or so everyone thought.

    They were mistaken, of course.

    Their errory in the assumption that the foe they faced was too slow to evade two lightning strikes, no, it was beyond that. It all stemmed from the fact that these humans assumed this was a simple Shadow Demon.

    They weren¡¯t aware of the dark and sinister truth of its existence¡­

    ¡°Hmmn¡­ I thought that would hurt more, but¡­ it doesn¡¯t hurt at all¡­¡± The Shadow Demon murmured as he stepped out of the thick smoke that enveloped the area.

    The smell of burnt earth and nts filled the air, but Kahn didn¡¯t care. He simply appeared unscathed in front of those who thought he was dead.

    ¡°N-no way! H-How is that possible?!!¡± Zakiel shouted in shock.

    He was extremely surprised. Of course, he had every right to be. The attack he used was enough to kill a Shadow Demon since they especially had a vulnerability to Magic Attacks. Considering the debuff, a top-tier intermediate spell like that should have been more than enough.

    Yet¡­

    ¡°I thought your pain would make me forget the pain within me, so I decided to be patient and let you try. It appears I was wrong. Hm¡­ time to kill you now.¡±

    The Mage looked in horror, trying to calcte his next course of action. It would seem that Advanced Spells would be his only option. But, even he would need time to chant one. And time was something he didn¡¯t have at the moment!

    He only knew two Advanced Spells¡­ both of which boasted incredible power, but also took a long time to cast. Even with his magic tools, it was hopeless to imagine he could make the cut. The Demon was already brandishing its arm, turning it into a sharp w.

    ¡°Damnit! If only¡­ I could use my ¡®Familiar Magic¡¯ to fight! If only I could use ¡®Bond Magic!''¡± Whimpers escaped from the mage¡¯s mouth.

    This was his first time seeing a Demon. The only reason he hadn¡¯t freaked out was that he thought he could win. Once that illusion escaped him, only fear and despondency remained.

    If he could ess his Familiar for Magic attacks, his abilities would skyrocket, that was for sure. ¡®Bond¡¯ Magic was also a very powerful game-changer.

    However, Zakiel knew the reason he couldn¡¯t resort to any of those things.

    And now that would be what cost him his life!

    ¡°Shit! I need to¡­ I need to¡­¡±

    ****

 Chapter 117 - Tragedy

    Zakiel¡¯s Familiar, The Truth-Seeking Seer, was not an offensive one.

    It was this Familiar¡¯s magic that allowed him to see the future through visions. In essence, despite its non-aggressive nature, it was still an extremely useful Familiar to have.

    This was what gave him the name and prestige he had now. In exchange for offensive capabilities, he got the invincible power to peer into the future of others¡­ except himself!

    But now, he didn¡¯t need such power. What he needed was a brute force to decimate his target. Unfortunately, none of the said options existed.

    ¡°Die¡­ now¡­¡± The Demon muttered in itsnguage andunched its sharpened de toward Zakiel.

    ¡°[I-intermediate Lightning Barrier]¡± Zakiel chanted in reflex.

    Thanks to the special effects of his Magic Tools, this Spell¡¯s ability was enhanced. Not only did the Spell go into effect, but the automatic defensive charm he wore on his ring finger also activated, creating an extra barrier.

    It was weaker than the Intermediate Spell he had just cast, but the shield was still useful since it required no Mana to use and the cast time was zero!

    With both barriers, Zakiel was confident he could block the iing assault. He just needed to think of a solution to the crisis befalling him.

    ¡®Should I just attempt an Advanced Spell?¡¯

    With the barrier shielding him, perhaps he had a shot. His mana wasn¡¯t infinite, and frankly, he only had enough mana for one Advanced Spell.

    If he stopped midway through the chant, he would blow it and lose lots of mana. That was why he had to be sure. But, what other choice did he have?

    ¡®I have to try!¡¯ Zakiel resolved internally as he red at the iing monster¡¯s hand and prepared to begin chanting.

    However¡­

    KRAACKKKK!!!

    The doubleyered barriers of varying types shattered like fragile ss the moment Kahn¡¯s ded hands made contact. Two defensive magic fields¡­ devastated, just like that!

    Zakiel didn¡¯t even have any time to voice out a word before the hands lunged at him, entering the hole in his mouth and exiting through the end of his skull.

    Blood and what seemed to be some portion of his brains sttered out as the Mage met instant death.

    ¡°Finally dead, uh?¡± Kahn mumbled as he flung the dead body without paying any heed to the Magic-User again.

    The battle was over, if it could even be called that.

    Kahn¡¯s eyes darted over to the other two humans around. Lord Karl and the viger Duruk. The barrier covering them had vanished as a result of Zakiel¡¯s death.

    ¡°Eeeek!¡±

    ¡°Y-you monster!¡±

    The plebian and noble shrieked at the same time. Death was only a distance from them.

    Kahn¡¯s face turned back to Zakiel and narrowed his eyes. What he had been waiting for finally manifested. Out of the corpse of Zakiel came forth something divine.

    It took the form of a golden-like orb that glowed. It was called many names, but one was the most famed of all. Even the Demons were aware of this.

    ¡°The Soul¡­¡± Kahn mumbled as he stretched out his hands to touch it.

    The moment his sharpened ws drew closer to the golden light, it slowly began to flicker. Suddenly, the color started transforming. From the bright hue it had, the ¡®soul¡¯ got corrupted and turned into a more sinister ck. Purple energy oozed out of it and it became ugly and distorted.

    Most would be appalled by the transformation, but not Kahn. Rather, he was pleased by the desired oue.

    The Shadow Demon grabbed the corrupted orb that radiated darkness and did the unthinkable. It swallowed it!

    Yes!

    Opening his cracked up mouth that split like crackers, his sharpened teeth, which seemed to be one with the ck skin he had, showed. In a single gulp, Kahn took in the ¡®soul¡¯ of the dead Mage, therefore absorbing his essence.

    Of course, no one else could see what had just transpired, except Kahn¡¯s dramatic disy. The soul was invisible to the eye. Kahn could only perceive it due to his special constitution.

    Now that he had absorbed the corrupted form of a soul, he had now gained greater sustenance. Not only was his magic power restored to an extent, he felt much better physically.

    ¡°Now, then, dealing with those two¡­¡± Kahn¡¯s eyes once again returned to the humans who couldn¡¯t dare leave their current positions.

    But, before he could do anything, Kahn heard soundsing from all around him. They were sounds of humans, lots of them.

    The moment Lord Karl heard these sounds too, relief poured into his face.

    ¡®We¡¯re saved now!¡¯ His mind rang.

    He had initially thought Kahn killed all his soldiers, but for there to be so many, they could stand a chance!

    No, how foolish that idea was! In the depths of his desperation, Karl had forgotten how Kahn easily killed a powerful mage that none of the current soldiers could match up to.

    It was crazy to expect victory!

    ¡°Bothersome. Let¡¯s kill them all.¡±

    Before the soldiers who encircled Kahn took a single step forward, he activated a Spell to test out its effects on humans.

    ¡°[Dark Magic: Shadow Disks]¡±

    Shadow-like fog rose from beneath him, and just like spinning disks, bigger than the head of a human, many dark disks appeared. They were at least a hundred!

    ¡°Kill them all¡­¡±

    I¡¯m a sh, the disks went to do their job, ughtering any soldier that drew closer to Kahn¡¯s location.

    This gave Kahn the right amount of time to devote to the humans who had hoped for salvation.

    In a whoosh, Kahn closed the distance between him and then like it was nothing.

    The men shrieked, their eyes begged for mercy. Kahn looked at them kneel, watching them from grovel didn¡¯t bring him any satisfaction. He was not like one of his former colleagues, who enjoyed inflicting despair upon others and took great pride in it.

    He was no sadist.

    If he felt no need to spare a person, he would just dispose of them.

    In that line of reasoning, he pointed a sharpened w at Duruk and killed him instantly by drilling the elongated sharpened hole into his skull.

    Blood spurted out and the poor plebian died instantly, body twitching for a few seconds.

    ¡°N-no¡­ N-no¡­¡± The Noble was the only one left.

    He knew the date that awaited him as well¡­ Death!

 Chapter 118 - The Mage Of Renown

    [IMPORTANT INFO: Please read this Chapter after reading the Chapter titled ¡®Grim News. There was a mistake in the lineup. I¡¯m sorry.]

    The Mage, the Lord, the Viger¡ªall three persons in the room looked at the blood-stained window and realized that something had already begun in the garden¡­ something dark.

    Immediately, the Lord was escorted by the Mage and the viger trailed behind them. They moved to a door in the room that led to a terrace. The terrace, more like a verandah was an elevated structure that allowed those within the house to enjoy the outside air while gazing upon theirpound.

    However, this time there was no rxation or enjoyment on any of their faces. Only in curiosity and a dark foreboding.

    Usually, a noble would shrink back in fear and retreat to his room if he saw such a bloody sight on his window. However, Lord Karl was different.

    He was a veteran in sword arts and was quite capable inbat. Besides, he didn¡¯t have the ideology most pampered nobles had. This was one of the reasons why the people in his territory looked at him in awe and respect.

    He was a decent man.

    Decent enough to know that now was the time to face the problem that gued his territory. Besides, he had nothing to fear since a renowned mage was with him.

    As they stepped out of the lounge and came to the verandah, the eyes of the mage bulged, and he didn¡¯t waste any time before he began chanting.

    The Lord and viger were petrified at the sight of blood and carnage that had smeared the once-beautifulpound. Dead bodies of guards were everywhere and blood stained the marvelous grounds and flowers.

    The malefactor of this all was seen to be casually approaching the mansion. The being could be described as nothing more than a shadow, a demon of death. While the noble and viger were still pondering on the matter, utterly confused and shocked by the sudden development, the mage¡ªZakiel Laquis¡ªhad already finished chanting an intermediate spell directed at the Demon beneath them.

    Fortunately, it hadn¡¯t noticed their presence yet. Or perhaps it didn¡¯t just care?

    KRIIIKKKKK!!!

    Sparks of electricity appeared and the bolt instantly descended upon the Demon in a sh.

    BOOOOOMMMM!!!

    The shockwave resounded and the explosion caused those inexperienced in magic to be pushed back by the pressure.

    This was the intermediate spell, [Lightning Descent].

    Unfortunately, the Shadow Demon evaded it, to the surprise of everyone. Lightening was one of the fastest elements there was, and an intermediate spell was no mean feat.

    For a being, who hadn¡¯t even noticed their presence earlier, to dodge such a quick spell¡­ it was impressive!

    The Mage gave a wry smile and awkwardly stared at the Demon who muttered in its unintelligiblenguage.

    ¡°So this is the cmity, eh? Truly¡­ it is a being of chaos.¡±

    *****************

    Kahn¡¯s white eyes red at the new humans who showed up. They stood on the tform of the verandah, causing them to look down on his figure. This annoyed him greatly.

    He turned to the one who was responsible for the lightning spell he had evaded moments ago and narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you first.¡±

    The three humans, from their heights, sensed the bloodlusting from the strange monster, a Demon no one had seen for hundreds of years.

    ¡°It looks like a Shadow Demon¡­ I read about them in texts¡­¡± The more enlightened man among them retorted as he eyed the ck being.

    As a Magic-User, one who finished his course in the most prestigious academy in the Kingdom, as well as studied the arts of the arcane, it was only natural that he would be aware of a Demon¡¯s description.

    ¡°But how can this be? They were all defeated and banished to the Demon Realm? Why is one of them here?¡±

    Even though his voice rang out, Zakiel Laquis spoke only to himself.

    None of the other two humans knew much of what he referred to, but they had certainly heard of Demons before, and they couldn¡¯t believe their eyes.

    ¡°Can you¡­ defeat it?¡± Lord Karl finally blurted out, sweat covering his forehead.

    From the moment the monster dodged that lightning strike from earlier, the swordsman noble had realized he wasn¡¯t its match.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Mage Zakiel responded.

    What he was more concerned about was the source of the Demon¡¯s appearance, not the Shadow itself.

    ¡®From the research texts and books I¡¯ve read ok them, Intermediate Spells should be enough to kill a Demon. Shadows are also not very durable, so they can be killed easily.¡¯ The Mage reasoned.

    Of course, he knew this wasn¡¯t the case for all of them. For higher-ranked Demons or the Supreme Demon Lords, even Advanced Spells would not be able to take them down in a single shot.

    Still, those cadre of monsters were never alone. Asmanders, they showed up with their troops. Compared to the descriptions on them, this Shadow Demon was by its lonesome. Plus, since it had avoided the lightning strike from earlier, that meant Intermediate Spells could seriously injure, if not kill, it.

    Once again, the Shadow Demon muttered some unintelligible words, but the humans didn¡¯t hear. If they did, they would have known to be more prepared.

    Kahn had said;

    ¡°Come down!¡±

    As it always happened, dark spikes ascended from the ground, cutting through the mansion¡¯s concrete verandah like tofu. The sturdy bricks fell apart and the whole structure copsed instantly.

    The men who stood atop the verandah would have met the same fate¡ªbeing torn to shreds by the multiple dark des, but were saved by the Mage¡¯s defensive magic.

    It was a force field made of lightning!

    The cackles sparked, repelling the shadows. However, even though the men were protected, the tform they stood on wasn¡¯t. In no time, it was going to copse.

    ¡°Hang on!¡± Zakiel Laquis cried.

    Quickly using Basic Magic to create a tform using mana, he spread it like a carpet and caused it to levitate, carrying all three people away from the crumbing structure and toward a safe location on the ground.

 Chapter 119 - Foreboding

    Judging from how the cries of the humans had stopped, it meant the disks were finished with their job.

    Evident to that was their return to Kahn, all of them, still spinning¡ªlike saws that could rend anything.

    ¡°I won¡¯t kill you¡­ hmmn¡­¡± Kahn mumbled, making his decision after considering some things.

    The Lord¡¯s face nearly broke into gratitude, but was suddenly stopped once it noticed the demented and malevolent smile Kahn gave.

    ¡°You seem important. I¡¯ll torture you for information¡­ I may be able to achieve my goal faster if I use you¡­¡±

    Lord Karl Edward Zerund gasped, realizing the fate that awaited him. It was no pleasant one.

    ¡°¡­ Plus, it¡¯ll be a good way to while away time. We shall get started shortly.¡±

    And so, with the final shriek of a condemned noble, the bloodshed and carnage caused by Kahn faded from sight.

    Tragedy was wrought that very evening. However, unknown to those in the Kingdom, the true dance of despondency was just getting started!

    **************************

    The weekend went exactly as I expected. Fortunately, no disturbance whatsoever visited me.

    I stayed in my room all day, except for when I would go to buy food.

    Oh yes, there was also theundry. All the students had to do was leave theirundry in front of their doors and the staff responsible for picking them up would do so. I followed the rules and did the same on Saturday morning.

    Theundry arrived the next day, in the evening, all tidied up.

    It was a relief that I didn¡¯t have to resort to cleaning them myself. At least, Ainrk hadn¡¯t lost all sense of prestige.

    ¡°Well, I could have done a good job if I cleaned it on my own¡­¡± I smiled to myself.

    The clothes that arrived were sparkling clean, though¡ªmore than what I could currently handle. Not a minuscule amount of dirt was on them, plus, I sensed preservation magic on the pile of clothes.

    The cleaners were really thorough.

    After cing my clothes neatly in the wardrobe and preparing for sses happening the next day, I resumed my experiments and brought them to a close.

    On Friday, after my chat with Anabelle, I went to the library to borrow some books on Martial Arts and also some on herbs and spices. I was seeing far more simrities than I had thought in the nts, so I needed topare and contrast them with moremonce goods.

    The results I obtained from studying the Martial Arts materials tallied with what I learned from observing the students studying the craft.

    Martial Arts and the techniques epassing it were phenomenally weaker than at the time of my first life.

    The texts I took each addressed the five fundamental schools the Martial Arts Department would be learning in the first year. I was able to easily get ess to them since most Martial Artists would rather prefer tempering their bodies rather than exercising their brains.

    Not many who practiced martial arts had an interest in books. They only read them to get a grasp on the forms and descriptions written within¡ªnothing more.

    Plus, since Neron Kaelid would be teaching them the arts and forms, there was really no need to search for it in a book. It was their mistake, though. Self Study was extremely important, even for a Martial Artist to grow!

    The first text I studied was about ¡®The Martial School of Fundamental Sword Arts¡¯. It was the one I was most interested in since Edward showed it to me in our sh.

    I read and understood the forms that existed in this school; Footwork, Mental Resilience, Muscle Alignment, Motion Control, Sensory Perception, and Sword Techniques. It was not a big problem since I was used to more advanced techniques, and upon seeing the inferior one I read, I was easily able to understand the concept.

    ¡°Hmmn¡­ I see, it¡¯s definitely easier for Martial Artists to practice this as fundamentals rather than the ones I know of¡­ but they¡¯re just too weak by my standards.¡±

    I understood what had happened the moment I was done reading on the first of the five fundamental schools.

    The new Martial techniques were made for ease of learning. They allowed practitioners to easily grasp the concept and movements, giving them faster growth,pared to more difficult ones.

    However, the bacsh was the erosion of power in the techniques themselves. Not just power, but style and variations. These new moves had an air of predictability to them. Still, I wasn¡¯t so certain all were like that, so I decided to read on the rest. I spent a whole day grasping the techniques embedded in the books and even moving my body to mimic the illustrations and descriptions.

    They were all basically the same!

    In fact, the most difficult to learn was actually the first one I picked up to read¡ªThe Martial School Of Fundamental Sword Arts.

    How messed up was that?

    ¡°Huu, in any case¡­ I now know what to do.¡±

    With Martial Arts out of the way, I focused on my potion-making. Thebination of certain chemicals gave a brand new one, so the variations were nearly endless.

    I was working with only about 20 vials initially, but the end result led me to over a hundred more!

    And I wasn¡¯t even done yet!

    ¡°This should be enough for now¡­ I should soon start the next phase, but I better focus on other things¡­¡±

    Alchemy was good and all, but there were more pressing concerns. So far, I had neglected my Magic Training. It couldn¡¯t be helped.

    ¡°The Familiar Selection is in merely three more weeks. I need to be at a particr level for me to get what I want!¡±

    Obtaining a fourth core¡­ was it possible in my current condition? There was only one way to find out!

    **********************

    Everyone moved excitedly to ss, and I was no exception.

    Despite popr belief about school, it was actually fun. Well, maybe Neron Kaelid made it fun with his teaching methods.

    I was a littleter than usual since I sort of overslept and woke up ten minutester than usual. By the time I got to the hall, it was nearly time for Homeroom and everyone was in ss already.

    ¡®Here goes!¡¯

 Chapter 120 - Solution

    The moment I entered the Lecture Hall, my eyes darted to my seat area and I saw something I was already expecting.

    Located where I usually sat, two people upied the seats closest to mine.

    A smile formed on my face as I saw them both wave at me. I raise my hand and returned the gesture while drawing closer. It was a relief that things worked out so well.

    ¡®Looks like I¡¯ve got them, after all.¡¯

    Edward and Anabelle were seated, their eyes expectant and set aze in excitement the moment they saw me.

    ¡°Good morning, Jared.¡± They both said, almost in unison.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± I replied with a bright smile while having my seat.

    Since I was seated to the far right at thest spot avable, Edward was directly beside me and Anabelle took the seat beside him.

    I was grateful that it was Edward whom I was stuck with, not the talkative girl. Hopefully, she had reflected on all I told her.

    I looked at the expression on her face, and it was the same as always. There didn¡¯t appear to be any apparent change, but¡ª

    ¡°Hey, Jared¡­ do you mind if I talk to you about something after ss?¡± Anabelle said, changing her brightly colored eyes to a more determined one.

    I expected some sort of reaction from her, so this was good.

    ¡°Me too, Jared. There¡¯s something I have to ask!¡± Edward quickly butted in.

    ¡®Pfft, I figured.¡¯

    I nodded at both of them, still donning my usual calm look.

    ¡°I also have some things to discuss with you. Then, let¡¯s talk after sses.¡±

    The two were surprised by my words. They weren¡¯t aware of my ns with them, so it was only natural. I spotted a spark of curiosity in both their eyes and Anabelle made to ask me a question.

    Fortunately, at that exact moment, our Lecturer arrived, causing everyone to rise to their feet. I did the same, and so did Anabelle and Edward, rescuing me from her inquisition.

    ¡®You¡¯ll find outter. Just wait!¡¯

    Neron Kaelid permitted us to seat and began homeroom. Other than taking attendance, he told us vital information, one of which was the deadline and closing period for Electives registration.

    ording to the information given to us, students had two weeks to choose their Electives or even change them. This gave us the leeway to jump ship to any Electives we found to be more attractive.

    Plus, since some students could have filled in more Electives than they could handle, it was possible to remove some from one¡¯s list. It was a good school system, and I was happy it existed. Why?

    ¡®Main Courses end by 3:00 PM, Electives stretch on to 5:00 PM¡­ I can¡¯t keep wasting my time whole waiting for Anabelle and Edward since they have their respective Electives at that time.¡¯

    There were many things to do, and I sure wasn¡¯t keen on wasting my time as well as theirs. The time spent on Electives could be better used to better them. I wasn¡¯t going to let them throw away such valuable time.

    ¡®They have to quit their Electives!¡¯

    With this resolute thought in mind, I started my day, looking forward to the chat I would be having with the duo.

    ****************

    After the Main sses were over, Anabelle and Edward left for their business, leaving me behind. I took advantage of the silence in the Lecture Hall, since no one else was present, and began concentrating my Mana on the new Core I was forming.

    It was faster than normal, that much I knew. But¡­ at this pace, making a Mana Core within three weeks was impossible.

    I needed more cirction, more richness of mana!

    If only I could receive a boost like back then with the priest during my Naming ceremony¡­ but, expecting such a thing was unrealistic.

    At the current level of the students around me, none of them were skilled enough to manipte mana. They couldn¡¯t properly inject their Mana into another without hurting them.

    The Priest, on the other hand, was skilled at mana control, able to probe my body properly with his energy. Expecting such expertise and finesse from these youngsters was too much!

    The only one who could achieve such a feat around here would be Neron Kaelid, but he wasn¡¯t going to help me until I became his apprentice. That wouldn¡¯t happen unless I passed the Inter-ss Exchange in three months.

    I was looking forward to his help, but he just had to postpone it. There was no use dwelling on what couldn¡¯t be changed, though. I just had to focus on what I could do at the moment.

    ¡°Hmmn¡­¡± I unconsciously made a sound as soon as a thought shed in my head while I was still engaged in meditation.

    I was so swamped with many thoughts that my cloudy mind hadn¡¯t thought of something so obvious and basic.

    ¡°I just need to find somewhere with rich mana density¡­ it should suffice for quickening the process!¡±

    My eyes shed open and I jumped to my feet. It would still take a little over an hour before Anabelle and Edward would be done, so I had plenty of time to search for the right spot.

    Leaving the Lecture Hall, I raced across the school grounds of the Lower ss, searching for a ce.

    The mild evening breeze greeted my body as I kept racing through the area.

    My Mana sensitivity was way higher than most since I had been familiarizing myself with Mana since I was young. SPELLCRAFT and my experience in causing the flow of Mana Particles in my body aided me greatly.

    It wouldn¡¯t be too difficult finding the most saturated ce in my vicinity.

    As I concentrated more while moving about, my senses picked something and I moved to the location instantly.

    Treading upon the grass and making a path for myself with footprints, I moved and moved. I was nearing a slightly thickened cluster of trees.

    The Trees cleared as I made my way through, swatting the branches in my way as a few leaves fell in response. One look at the exotic new nts around told me I was certainly going to find many new herbs here.

    But, those could wait. For now¡­ I had to go to what called me¡­ a gathering point for Mana.

    As I got closer, my movements slowed down until I finally halted entirely.

    My eyes took in the wonderful sight and I couldn¡¯t help but throb in amazement. It was a surprise¡­ a spectacr one at that! Only one word could proceed out of my mouth the moment I registered everything around me into my head.

    ¡°WOW!¡±

 Chapter 121 - The Oasis

    Ake!

    That was the only thing that could be said about the sight before me.

    The body of water made a smooth circle, surrounded by the earth around which was covered in greens.

    Oh, how the pool glistened in theter afternoon sun. Though surrounded by shade, the reflection of light caused its charm to increase even more.

    It wasn¡¯t veryrge, and I assumed that if humans were to step into it for a swim, the pool wouldn¡¯t be able to amodate more than ten persons at once. Still, it was so clear and crystal blue that I was left breathless.

    The surrounding was exquisite as well. nts and flowers of varying colors, all looking exotic most likely due to the effects of mana density in the area.

    The colorful flora made me grateful for finding this spot, thinking about how I would use them for my benefit. The air tingled my skin, everywhere seemed to radiate with power¡ªeven the rocks around brimmed with so much energy that I wondered how long they had been soaking in all that mana.

    Still, with such a lustrous environment, I sensed no living being around. No wild insects, or small animals, none. This ce that was so full of mana was devoid of life, well, except for the nts.

    ¡®Hmm¡­ oh well.¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t mull over thoughts that wouldn¡¯t give me a solution. I needed to do what I came here for¡­ Meditation!

    Without wasting any time, I crossed my legs and made a meditative pose while rxing my buttocks on the soft grass that weed me gently. Breathing in and out slowly, I focused on my inner mana supply, observing the channels and controlling the flow to the designated direction I wanted it to go.

    Currently, my three Mana Cores were located in my stomach region, brain region, and spinal region.

    For my fourth Mana Core, I was going to make it in my heart region!

    It was a delicate procedure, which was why I always had to be careful anytime I meditated. However, there was really no time at all anymore. With the rich ambiance of mana here, I hoped to try forming my Mana Core and make it in time for the Familiar Selection Ceremony in three weeks!

    ¡°Huu¡­ now then, let us begin!¡±

    With everything now in order, I proceeded to begin collecting the mana around me, pure and unsullied.

    Using SPELLCRAFT to attract the Mana around toward me, I also increased the flow of the Mana particles in my body¡­ all converging at a single location. The moment my body began taking in the external mana, the mana in my body became quickened, and my Mana Cores went into overdrive.

    ¡®This feeling¡­ ah¡­ I remember it!¡¯

    A wave of nostalgia and pleasure enveloped me, feeling so much life pour into my body. With all the mana within my body quickened, the flow became much faster than normal.

    I was amazed by the speed¡­ it was incredible!

    ¡°Let¡¯s not rush, Jared¡­ it¡¯s quick, yes, but let¡¯s not rush!¡±

    To make a firm and sturdy Core, I needed to pour way more Mana into it than normal. My other cores were made in a rush, so even after I had made them, I was still going through the trouble of refining and strengthening each.

    But, if I made a definite foundation with this, it would be much better in terms of efficiency. I couldter focus on advancing all my cores to the Yellow Core stageter on, except my base one.

    ¡°Yes¡­ keep flowing!¡±

    I still had an hour to spare¡­ it was best I made perfect use of that time!

    ************************

    Once again, I lost track of time. Trapped in the euphoria of meditation, I exceeded the schedule I gave myself. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t by much.

    ¡°It¡¯s most likely after five¡­ are they still waiting for me?¡± I huffed, rising from the grassy ins.

    Judging the clouds that appeared in the sky, and how low the sun had gone, I was certain that sses would be over by now.

    Since that was the case, I needed to hurry back.

    ¡°Guh!¡±

    A sharp pain coursed through my body, one which I realized quite well. It was a bacsh of the meditation I had just done, something that could kill me if I wasn¡¯t careful¡­ Hunger.

    ¡°Gurrrrrrrr¡­.¡±

    My stomach made a growling sound, crying for a meal to satiate it. Unfortunately, I could not respond positively to its call. If only ignoring it could solve the problem.

    ¡°Ah, damnit¡­ I got carried away and now I¡¯m starving!¡±

    I sluggishly pushed my exhausted body and hurried back to the Lecture Hall, where I agreed to meet up with Anabelle and Edward. The temptation to run off to a cafeteria crossed my mind, but this was more important!

    I couldn¡¯t create a bad impression of myself now! Not after all I had done to get to this point.

    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±

    Fortunately, the Lecture Hall wasn¡¯t too far from the weirdke chock full of mana. In what I estimated to be barely three minutes, I arrived at the Lecture Hall. It wouldn¡¯t have taken so long if I wasn¡¯t so hungry, though.

    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting!¡± I swung open the door leading to the ssroom and gave a light smile, hoping to see my new acquaintances.

    But, what I saw¡­ was something I never expected!

    ¡°This¡­ this is¡­!!!¡±

    Edward and Anabelle turned their heads in my direction the moment they heard my voice, but they weren¡¯t the ones my eyes were on. The two of them sat at the front row of the ss, where they had made their seats¡­ and right on their desk were the things that made me widen my eyes in shock.

    ¡°Food!!!¡±

    I unconsciously leaked out my thoughts in an obsessive manner, and following this outcry, my stomach rumbled even more.

    The embarrassing disy of my hunger echoed throughout the empty ssroom, causing Edward and Anabelle to look at me with expressions that told the opposite of respect.

    ¡°Haa¡­ haha¡­ haha¡­¡±

    I could only leak an awkwardugh out of my lips, but the deed had already been done.

 Chapter 122 - Intense Preparation (Pt 1)

    ¡°Haa¡­ thank you so much. I was really starving. Haha¡­¡± Iughed awkwardly as I chomped on a burger that was wrapped around my hands.

    Caressing the smooth bread and feeling its texture, I drew it close to my mouth and took a whiff of the meaty aroma locked between theyer of bread.

    It smelled good¡­ and tasted good too!

    I took another bite, then another, and another!

    While enjoying the meal graced upon me by the duo, I could spot both of them staring at me strangely, perhaps surprised by my gumption and intense dedication to finish my meal.

    There was nothing to it, though¡­ I was just hungry.

    ¡°Yeah, we could tell.¡± Anabelle was the first to speak, making a sweet smile.

    Underneath the smile, I could sense shock. Was she disgusted by my unrefined manner of eating? What other choice was there? I couldn¡¯t help it after being baited by such a wonderful meal.

    When I arrived and saw the bunch of takeouts they had brought, my self-control was lost instantly. Of course, after hearing the humiliating growl from my belly and how I shouted ¡®Food!¡¯, the pair must have thought the right thing to do was to share their meal.

    ¡°What made you so hungry, though? Were you training?¡±

    I nodded without paying much heed to Edward¡¯s question. What I was doing could be called training, no, it was exactly that.

    And it was a good one too!

    Judging the progress I made, having a fourth Mana core was doable if I kept meditating in front of theke constantly.

    I would need to draw a schedule, as well as return there for samples of the rocks, flora, and even water that existed there. They could contain special properties that could be useful even more.

    ¡®I¡¯m not breaking any school rules, too. If the ce was off-limits, they would have told us. Plus, it was just hidden among meadows and trees, no barricade exists there whatsoever. That means it¡¯s a safe area. ¡®

    I could also take as many samples as I wanted as long as I didn¡¯t disturb the general state of the ce or cause destruction. It was a gold mine that picked my interest, and I hoped for returns.

    ¡°Wow! Amazing! What kind of training did you do?¡± Edward interrupted my thoughts while staring at me with fiery eyes of passion.

    ¡®Ah, does he think I meant Martial Arts Training?¡¯

    I swallowed my food and washed it down with the cool water that the two also provided.

    They seemed to be done eating on their end, most likely before I arrived, so I was the only one who ate¡­ it was about awkward, but that was fine too.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t Martial Arts,¡± I replied after making sure my food was properly ingested.

    Edward¡¯s face fell a little, but he also grew a bit more curious. As for Ana, since she wasn¡¯t an expert at ¡®training¡¯, she was a bit lost in the conversation.

    ¡°By the way, how did you get the food?¡± I asked, suddenly wondering why I hadn¡¯t thought of the question before now.

    ¡°Ohh, that. We finished our Electives early, so we went to the cafeteria to grab something to eat. We bought some for you, in case you were hungry too. When we arrived and saw you weren¡¯t here, we ate our portion and waited for you¡­¡± Edward replied.

    ¡°¡­ We thought you had ditched us, though. It¡¯s a relief you didn¡¯t.¡± Anabelle continued where Edward could not go beyond.

    Both their faces showed a slight fondness for me, and I was certain they still held me in high regard, despite my current pathetic state.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for keeping you waiting. I lost track of time in my training.¡±

    Now back to the topic of training, I was certain Edward would say something¡­ and he did.

    ¡°What type of training was it?¡±

    I smiled, already expecting the obvious question. However, I wasn¡¯t ready to tell them about my multiple Mana Cores. It wasn¡¯t even certain that I would ever be.

    ¡°That¡¯s not what¡¯s important currently¡­¡±

    My voice now had a more serious tone to it, allowing Edward to realize that it was best he didn¡¯t further his question.

    ¡°You all said you wanted to talk to me about something, and I also have something to tell you. Let¡¯s address that first¡­ oh, and thanks for the meal.¡±

    While thest part seemed a bit half-hearted, I actually meant it with all sincerity. Without the sumptuous treat that they blessed me with¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure I could¡ª

    ¡°Well, I should go first then¡­ I asked you first.¡± Anabelle took the lead.

    Her forward personality often contrasted with her innocent and charming young look. This time was no exception as well.

    I waited for her question.

    ¡°I thought a lot about what you said, and I realized you were right. To fully surpass our joint rival, Lewis Griffith, I need every weapon in my arsenal. That¡¯s why¡­ I want you to teach me Magic!¡±

    A smile formed on my face as I took in the determined look she had in her eyes. It was exciting to watch a young child with so much vigor concerning Magic, so much so that I nearly saw my younger self in the girl.

    ¡°Why would you ask me, though? Are you sure you want a mere White Core Grade to teach you, someone with such talent?¡±

    This was a test, obviously. I wanted to see if she spoke out of depth, curiosity, or blind desperation.

    ¡°I heard the news of how you got a perfect score on your exams in Magic. I also know you¡¯re skilled at Magic theories and have a great wealth of knowledge. Since you¡¯re basically walking down the path I wish to thread on, one of a Schr and Magic-User, there¡¯s no better person! Plus, we both dare the same rival! Let¡¯s help each other out!¡±

    I nearly cringed when she made herst statement but, since my self-control had returned, I only nodded slightly.

    ¡®That¡¯s good enough for me!¡¯

 Chapter 123 - Intense Preparation (Pt 2)

    ¡°Fair enough, but if I¡¯m to do it, you¡¯ll need to cooperate very well with me. Plus, it won¡¯t be for free. You¡¯ll be helping out in my research and experiments. I¡¯ll need more than one set of hands and head on my current project.¡±

    Anabelle beamed in delight the moment I said this.

    For a Schr, being included in experiments and research was another reward in itself. That meant there was practically no downside in our rtionship.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy you came to that conclusion, Anabelle. I look forward to being friends and close rivals with you.¡±

    ¡°Me too!¡±

    Her beam was so bright that I nearly shielded my eyes. How could one be so cute?

    ¡®Control yourself, Jared¡­ you¡¯re a dignified man. You¡¯re better than this!¡¯

    Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I turned to the boy who impatiently awaited his turn.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ what about you, Edward? What would you like to ask of me?¡±

    My question was blunt and straightforward, and I stared directly into his eyes.

    Having a knack for reading the emotions of others, I knew he was conflicted or even unsure of what he was about to say.

    However, what other choice did he have? Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t get left behind!

    ¡°Please, Jared¡­ please teach me Martial Arts!¡± Edward¡¯s voice rang loud, echoing across the room as he spoke.

    I would have been flustered had I not prepared for this much. His face was stiff and his fists tightened. Clearly, a mix of embarrassment and determination shed within the boy¡¯s soul.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ why?¡±

    It was a good question, natural for someone in my position.

    ¡°After watching you fight, I realized how superior you were in terms ofbat. The way you spoke also showed your superior knowledge in arts and techniques¡­¡±

    A very sound conclusion. But, this much was obvious already. I would need more than that if I was to be convinced that he was bright enough to be taught.

    ¡°¡­ After my loss, I observed your body for some time and noticed it¡¯s incredibly well built, though not as noticeable as me. You focused on bnce, and I can tell your physical status is high. Also¡­¡±

    ¡®Oh? Not bad. What else?¡¯

    ¡°¡­ That move you showed to me in order to evade my strike¡­ the blurry movement that made you appear beside me in a sh. It¡¯s a technique that belongs at least on the Intermediate Level of Martial Arts. Yet, you used it so casually. It¡¯s clear you¡¯re a very skilled Martial Artist on the level of an Intermediate master at the very least, no, an Advanced one!¡±

    I smiled as soon as he was done with his assessment. In all fairness, he was both right and wrong.

    [The Illusory Dance], the motion technique I used in front of him was a Martial Arts technique belonging to the Basic Level. Thanks to the fall of Martial Arts, it could be said to be on the same level as Intermediate Techniques, though.

    ¡®In my past life, I never made it past the Intermediate Level in Martial Arts. I hit a wall and couldn¡¯t reach the Advanced stage.¡¯

    That was why I thought it would be nice to learn more about Martial Arts since I had a well-tempered body and Magic on my side. The state of the devastating art had declined, though, and my Intermediate Level could basically be tranted as an Advanced stage currently.

    Yes, I was an Advanced Martial Artist based on recent standards.

    ¡®I don¡¯t intend to make the mistake of settling for that, though. I won¡¯t lie to myself¡­ I¡¯m still an Intermediate Martial Artist!¡¯

    Looking back at Edward, he was probably at the peak of Basic Martial Arts, however, if I were to use my normal standards, he was probably as good as a beginner. He had the right body, but the wrong expertise and techniques.

    He would need to be taught from scratch.

    ¡°Very well. Edward, you¡¯ve convinced me. I¡¯ll teach you as well. The motion technique I used in front of you that day¡­ I¡¯ll make sure you learn it before our Inter ss Exchange, among other techniques too!¡±

    The young boy¡¯s eyes bulged in surprise, most likely questioning if such a thing was possible. However, the moment he gazed at my confident and calm face, the worries that festered within him probably dissipated.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you two¡­¡± I now addressed Anabelle as well, drawing both their attention to me.

    ¡°¡­ You have talent, a good physique, and enough potential to reach the top among your peers. However, you allck the proper guidance.¡±

    I wasn¡¯t wrong. Whenever I looked at both of them, nostalgic memories popped up. I usually had a keen eye for people, and that special trait wasn¡¯t going to fail me now.

    ¡°For Anabelle, you have talent in Magic, but you¡¯ve not actively used it or exercised your Mana Core as others have. As a result, you arepletely behind in Mana Core development and the use of Mana. But, don¡¯t worry¡­ with your talent, you¡¯ll get the hang of it soon.¡±

    Anabelle¡¯s face budded into a relieved smile once my assurance resonated with her.

    ¡°Edward, your physique is excellent, and your will ismendable. Your determination is also admirable. The only downside with you is how untalented you are in Magic. Your Mana Core is pretty much less than average, which is why you got stuck in the Lower ss in the first ce.¡±

    The young boy bit his lip in frustration. He was most likely already aware of this fact, so I was just rubbing salt on his injuries.

    ¡°But, your Mana Core will pose no problem at all! Trust me¡­ you can be strong even with your poor talent in Mana!¡±

    Edward¡¯s eyes bulged as soon as he heard my unexpected statement. Hope and doubt sparked in his eyes as he seemed to be in conflict with deciding which one to pick.

    ¡°R-really?!¡±

    I nodded emphatically.

    ¡°Edward, take it from someone like me with a White Mana Core¡­ you can be strong!¡±

 Chapter 124 - Intense Preparation (Pt 3)

    Mana is important for both Magic-Users and Martial Artists.

    This is why it was one of the requirements for choosing the ss cements in Ainrk ording to the new system.

    Just as my old friend posited in my first life¡­ there are heights unattainable without skill in Mana.

    That was why he remained stuck in the Peak stage of Martial Arts despite his freakish talent in the sword¡­ never attaining Transcendence.

    Edward now faced a simr problem. His skill in Mana was very low, his Mana Core was despairingly underdeveloped, and he probably had difficulty manifesting his inner mana to enhance himself.

    But, unlike the time in my first life, I had a solution to this issue now!

    I could try making multiple Mana Cores within Edward, just as I did for myself. This would allow him to increase the speed and efficiency of his Mana use while also boosting the quantity of Mana he had.

    Unfortunately, that was impossible.

    The young boy¡¯s core had already been sullied by the yellow color and was no longer pure. Creating multiple Mana Cores now was out of the window.

    If it had been white, even though Edward possessed very little talent in Mana Control, I could have helped him to redirect his Mana Particles and form another Core.

    ¡®There¡¯s no use crying over spilled milk, though¡­¡¯

    The only other option would be too much of a hassle, but at this point, I just had to do it.

    ¡°I always knew I could be a great Swordsman even with my poor talent in Mana! Haha! Who even needs that!¡± Edward blurted out in excitement.

    The moment he said this, my gaze shifted to his overly joyous mood and I gave him a cold re.

    ¡°Are you crazy? Without Mana, you¡¯ll be no more than average. What do you think you are?¡±

    My harsh, cold, and blunt statement shook the two who heard me. The atmosphere suddenly shifted and became gloomy in a split second.

    ¡°B-but you said I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t quote me wrong. I know what I said.¡±

    My sharp words cut him short instantly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. Mana is everything. It makes things so much easier. Why would you ever think for even a second that you would be better off without it?¡±

    My words hammered on the boy even more, and he appeared to be on the verge of tears. It seemed like I had raised his hopes and then shattered them apart.

    It wasn¡¯t my intention to be unnecessarily harsh, but I needed him to rid himself of any toxic thoughts that told him he could be a decent fighter without needing Mana. If he held on to that logic, he would give up halfway through Mana training and settle for what he knew best, Martial Arts.

    Though Edward told me to teach him Martial Arts, I wasn¡¯t going to stop there. If he wasn¡¯t well grounded in Mana, his potential would only be stunted.

    ¡°I said you can be strong with yourck of talent in Mana, and I wasn¡¯t lying. Even though you¡¯re hopeless in it, you have me! I¡¯ll help you out!¡±

    Using the method that the Priest used for me when I was younger, as well as making sure we all trained in the secret spot I found earlier, I was going to fill this boy¡¯s body to the brim with Mana! His Core would rapidly absorb his Mana Particles and through my expert Mana Control, I would ensure he obtained a decent Core.

    ¡®The problem with that is that it¡¯ll affect my own training as well. I can only rely on this at the initial stage. He¡¯ll need to learn how to do it himself too!¡¯

    I was going so far for these kids in hopes that they would be useful to me in the future. Hopefully, I was right.

    ¡®Nothing ventured¡­ nothing gained!¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll personally ensure the sess of the both of you! That much is guaranteed.¡±

    Anabelle and Edward had stars in their eyes as they gazed upon me with so much respect.

    ¡°Is that what you wanted to tell us?¡± Ana asked, still beaming and grinning from ear to ear.

    ¡®Oh, yeah! About that¡­¡¯

    ¡°Well, pretty much. But, there¡¯s one more thing as well.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± They asked in unison, having even greater expectations surge from within them.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to quit all your current Electives so we can make time for training. Also, clear your schedules from the end of sses to about 6:00, no, 7:00 PM. We¡¯ll be doing intensive training and a lot of time and effort will be put into it.¡±

    Silence.

    The pair looked dibobted the moment my wordsnded on them. They looked at each other, looked at me, looked at each other again, then looked at me¡­ their expressions told me they weren¡¯t prepared to handle this news.

    With every actiones an equal and opposing reaction¡­ I knew that very well. And now, in response to my seemingly absurd action¡­ an opposing reaction appeared in full force.

    ¡°WHAAAAATTTTTT?!!¡±

    *******************************

    As I instructed, both Anabelle and Edward quit their electives.

    Their faces looked disheveled after returning from Neron¡¯s office for finalizing the details and they muttered words of regret.

    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you¡­ cultural studies¡­¡± Anabelle sniffed as she walked back to her seat.

    Edward said something simr, but I didn¡¯t even care enough to listen.

    The important thing was that they had taken the bold step and proven their determination. With that in mind, I could trust them a little.

    ¡®I¡¯ll take them to theke and begin their training there.¡¯

    First, they both needed to get a feel of Mana since they were both really inexperienced in it. Anabelle was sure to get it first, so I had the next thing in mind for her. She would rebuild her Mana Core and cause it to advance on her own while I only taught her the basics.

    As for Edward, I would personally inject my mana and redirect it to his core in order to increase the growth of his Core too.

    As soon as that was over, we would start the main thing.

    For Edward, training on proper Martial Arts techniques. I was thinking of beginning with Imperial Sword Arts and Haze Martial Method for him.

    [The Illusory Dance] was a basic technique belonging to the Haze Martial Method School, so having him learn it was essential.

    For Anabelle, she would learn Spell Activation, and once she got the hang of it, I could teach her more practical uses of Spells. Using the creativity of a Schr, I was certain she would be able tobine various spells and produce desirable results.

    It wouldn¡¯t be as fast as mine, since I had multiple Cores, but with her very powerful one, she would be able topensate greatly.

    I also didn¡¯t n to neglect my training and experiments. If these two seemed to be getting in the way of my activities, I would ditch them. But, for now, I didn¡¯t see that happening.

    The Familiar Selection Ceremony was in merely three weeks¡­ I was eager to see how much we would have grown by then!

    ¡®And so it begins!¡¯

 Chapter 125 - Prelude To The Selection (Pt 1)

    Weeks passed in the blink of an eye.

    During that time, I and the two who were under my wing did our hardest, achieving results that were synonymous with the efforts we put in.

    And so, after training and tempering ourselves, we found ourselves seated in our Lecture Hall.

    Neron Kaelid stood atop his stage and ced both hands on the lectern that stood erect in front of him.

    ¡°The time is here, guys. It¡¯s time to select your Familiars!¡±

    Everyone nodded, some swallowed, others looked nervous enough that sweat seemed to pour out of them. No matter how experienced or weak an individual was, they weren¡¯t ignorant of the concept of Familiars.

    Seated in my usual spot, now sandwiched between Edward, to my left and Anabelle to my right, I interlocked my fingers together and gave a somewhat excited smile.

    ¡®Huu¡­ it¡¯s finally that time, uh?

    After so long, for the first time in both my lives¡­ I would get a Familiar!

    ¡°As you all know, this is a very important step to take in the journey of everyone¡ªMagic-Users, Martial Artists, and Schrs. As a result, you all need to be undeniably sessful in this if you hope to advance further in your respective fields.¡±

    From Neron¡¯s tone and the students¡¯ expressions, one could easily deduce that this was a matter akin to life or death. This Ceremony would usually be yet another thing that separated the talented and those without potential.

    ¡®If you end up with spectacr Familiar, Lecturers begin to show interest and can take you in as an apprentice.¡¯

    Most apprentice candidates were chosen using their Familiars as yardsticks in estimating their prospective growth. Neron didn¡¯t mention anything like that, but I was certain everyone thought of it.

    ¡°Due to how important this Ceremony is, we¡¯ll be having a joint session with the students of both Middle ss and Upper ss.¡±

    My grin widened the moment I heard this.

    ¡®So, I¡¯ll get to see them again, uh? I wonder how they¡¯re doing.¡¯

    ¡°You have an excited look on your face, Jared. Did the teacher say something interesting?¡± A feminine voice appeared from my right.

    Of course, it came from none other than Anabelle. She had a somewhat inquisitive glow in her eyes that seemed to want to peer into the recesses of my soul.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­ I¡¯m just looking forward to meeting some people. They are Magic Users I got to know since the Entrance Exams.¡±

    With my statement made and my tone initiating the end of the conversation, I returned my gaze to Neron.

    ¡°We¡¯ll leave for the General Meeting Spot by Ten, so you have some time to yourselves. Also, the Familiar Selection Ceremony begins at Twelve on the spot. Prepare yourselves.¡±

    With this as his final statement, Neron took his leave.

    As we watched him exit the hall in silence, everyone¡¯s uneasy gazes shifted to each other, and carefully waited for our Lecturer topletely disappear.

    The moment he did so, an uproar reced the decorum pervading the room and chattering began. One would think these students were not aware that today was ¡®The Day¡¯ from the way they spoke.

    ¡°Are you guys nervous?¡± I calmly looked at the two who sat on both my sides.

    ¡°A little. I wonder what I¡¯ll end up with¡­ I hear the Ceremony is mostly a game of chance.¡± Edward honestly replied, making me lightlyugh in response.

    ¡®Well, he¡¯s not wrong¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    Anything could happen during the Ceremony. There were cases where individuals deemed to be talentless got to have high-grade Familiars, while the seemingly talented ones got the less desirable oues.

    These situations were rare, though. Usually, the more potential and talent one had, the better the familiar would be.

    ¡°We¡¯ve done our best. We can only hope for our efforts to be reciprocated! I¡¯m not nervous at all.¡±

    Edward and I mechanically turned out heads to face Ana and gave her an expression that told her to shut up.

    ¡®What best? What effort? This girl and her freakish talent¡­¡¯

    My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets thanks to the re I gave her, and I was sure Edward was doing the same.

    Her potential was even more than I expected. It was a good thing I had convinced her to stop wasting away her affinity for Magic. No, it was extremely fortunate that I made her into an ally¡­ though sometimes I felt like I made a mistake.

    ¡°Come on, guys. It won¡¯t be that hard. By the way, Jared¡­ these people you look forward to meeting¡­ who are they?¡±

    I rolled my eyes and tried to stare into an empty space the moment she spoke. This was the problem with Anabelle¡­ she was too inquisitive, no, clingy!

    ¡°Come on, just tell me. Are you keeping secrets from me, I mean¡­ us, now? Edward, tell Jared to spill it!¡±

    I once again ignored her words.

    ¡°Come on, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing. We should be more focused on the Familiar Selection Ceremony.¡± Edward rightly said, earning my respect.

    ¡°Tch, how useless. You can¡¯t even back me up.¡±

    I winced at those words, and Edward seemed to be struck by lightning as all the energy in his body appeared to be drained off.

    ¡°I already told you, don¡¯t worry. Be confident in your abilities! Now, support me on this!¡±

    Anabelle kept babbling and I had to shut off my hearing with magic in order to concentrate on other important things.

    I had initially found her personality to be entirely absurd and thought it was due to our shared passion regarding Lewis Griffith, but it turned out I was wrong. ording to Edward¡¯s testimony, Anabelle had always been like that¡­ even to him.

    They basically knew all there was to know about each other. Pure transparency!

    It seemed like she was trying to adopt that kind of atmosphere in my rtionship with her¡­ too bad it was impossible.

    I was a bit d that she considered me close enough to share secrets with, but I wasn¡¯t ready to divulge any of mine to anyone¡­ especially not to a 12-year-old.

 Chapter 126 - Prelude To The Selection (Pt 2)

    The thought of Anabelle knowing I was the very man she worshipped, and activelypeted with, made me throw away any idea of revealing my true identity.

    Besides, it was too risky to begin divulging such secrets.

    ¡®Haa¡­ how long do I have to put up with this, though?¡¯

    I looked at Anabelle and saw that she was still talking. She looked almost as a child would, and her cheeks were already getting red. The girl was most likely getting angry and flustered that I hadn¡¯t said anything.

    ¡®I better quickly end this¡­¡¯

    ¡°Shh¡­ that¡¯s enough. You¡¯re right.¡± I quickly interrupted her while removing my magical ear blocks at the same moment.

    Slightly raising my hand to her face, one of my fingers nted itself on her lip. With this gesture, and my words, Anabelle finally fell silent, her eyes bulging in surprise and her face growing even redder than before.

    ¡®What? She¡¯s getting more flustered? Why?¡¯

    I was an expert at reading people, especially women. During times when I wanted them to keep quiet, it was best to agree with anything they said, even if I really didn¡¯t feel that way.

    Still, doing that would make me seem like a pushover and it would encourage her to try something simr next time.

    To curb that, I asserted some dominance and made a bold step. Telling her ¡°Shhh¡± and cing my finger on her lips would allow her to know I was serious and didn¡¯t want any more words slipping out of her mouth.

    But what was this?

    Her child-like face was bright red, and her expression showed immense shock¡­ it felt like I had done something wrong.

    She made a short breath from her lips, causing the tip of my fingers to feel the heat that came from within her.

    ¡®Maybe I embarrassed her. Did I go too far?¡¯

    I removed my hand from her lip and dropped them, still intensely gazing into the extremely cute expression she currently had.

    ¡°I-I see¡­ so that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± A whisper leaked out of her mouth before she finally ced both hands atop her desk and buried her head in between them.

    ¡°Uh?¡± Was she upset or something?

    I couldn¡¯t read this girl.

    ¡°W-wow, I didn¡¯t know you had that side of you, Jared,¡± Edward mumbled, his voice quivered in a little surprise as he spoke.

    I looked in his direction and saw a somewhat uneasy smile form on his face.

    ¡°But, I support the action you took. It¡¯s a good thing you let her know now!¡±

    Was he talking about what I did and said to Anabelle? It was really nothing spectacr, though. In any case, I was d he understood the importance of making the girl shut up before she became a nuisance.

    ¡°Well, it had to be said one of these days. The sooner the better, right?¡±

    Edward coughed hard the moment I said this, like he was caught off-guard, but he quickly regained hisposure and nodded.

    ¡°Hey, are you okay? Still nervous?¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m fine¡­¡±

    With that, he smiled softly and also buried his fade underneath his arms, following Anabelle¡¯s lead.

    I had a faint feeling that I had done something more than I initially thought was necessary, but there was no need to push the issue.

    ¡®I should think about the course of action to take from here on out¡­¡¯

    After all, the concept of Familiars¡­ was one of the very few things I wasn¡¯t so knowledgeable on!

    ************************

    Familiars, also known as Bonds, are beings and creatures that contract with humans, forming a form of symbiotic rtionship.

    The origins of Familiars are diverse. They are basically souls of creatures who possess lingering attachments to the world and have egos powerful enough to allow them manifest as Familiars.

    In essence, when a being dies and had a strong attachment and powerful ego, such being bes a Familiar.

    However, just as all humans aren¡¯t equal, Familiars are the same. Power varies depending on the type of being a familiar was before death, as well as the Ego they possess.

    For this reason alone, Magic-Users often search for the more powerful Familiar to make it their Bond. Unfortunately, another issue arises from this.

    Familiars and their Hosts have symbiotic rtionships to which both must agree! No matter how desperate a Host is, if the Familiar refuses to form a contract, it is all in vain. Likewise, Hosts could also refuse to form a connection with proposing Familiars.

    Just as people had various personalities, Familiars are the same. Some are endearing, some are harsh, some are kind, and some are proud.

    However, it is usually expected that a powerful Familiar has a degree of pride due to the great level of Ego it possesses. As a result, they do not settle for just any Host.

    The power of a Familiar is indispensable, and they are often known to be life partners. This is why nearly all Magic-Users and Martial Artists possess one.

    Since a person¡¯s power is often inadequate and requires assistance, it would be best if they had a partner to assist in their endeavors. As such, Familiars have made their mark in the world.

    Now, as for why I know so little about these creatures that have gotten so widespread and the reason for me not having one in my past life¡­ it all stems from one single fact.

    Familiars were not very famous back in my day.

    **********************

    In the past, contractual magic was veryplex, so only top-tier Mages could use it. Plus, while the existence of Familiars was known to us, forming a Bond with one was something most Magic-Users couldn¡¯t do.

    Only those of the highest caliber could form contracts with Familiars, and they were revered as the pinnacle of the realm of Magic¡­ The Grand Mages.

    I once aimed for that position myself, until I found out I was inept.

    Grand Mages, and a few other exceptions possessed familiars, and they were quite powerful, while those of lower status didn¡¯t. Also, since Familiars had symbiotic rtionships with their Host, they required something in exchange for the power they would give.

    A home to reside in called the Mana Core!

 Chapter 127 - The Familiar Selection Ceremony (Pt 1)

    I was inept in my previous life.

    That made it impossible for me to even dream of having a Familiar. As wondering souls with Egos, they all needed a ce to call home. Without a Mana Core, a person was not qualified to house even the lowest of Familiars.

    That was the reality of my time back then, though.

    In modern times, even those without Mana Cores possessed Familiars. Among the Schrs registered within Ainrk, even those in my ss, some didn¡¯t have Mana Cores and were Inept.

    Thanks to my aplishments in the past, there was really no discrimination against Inept Schrs since I proved that even without the use of Mana, a person could revolutionalize Magic.

    As a result, the Academy epted Inepts in the Schr Department alone.

    ¡®The Familiar Selection Ceremony ispulsory for everyone, even the Inept Schrs¡­ that means there is a way even those without Mana can form Bond contracts.¡¯

    And I knew what the solution was.

    Artificial Mana Cores, or rather, Mana stones.

    By infusing Mana into a particr device, simr to the way Mana Particles converged within the body, a Mana Core could be formed.

    These ¡®Stones¡¯ served as an external source of Mana, allowing those who couldn¡¯t use Mana to perform Magic as long as they knew the procedure andmands already imputed within the stones.

    For the Inept students, those who didn¡¯t have Mana Cores, they would be given a Mana Stone each. This gave them an equal chance of getting Familiars for themselves.

    ¡°Huu, Magic has really advanced, uh?¡± I muttered to myself.

    ***********************

    Just as Neron said, immediately it was time to leave, he returned to our ssroom and led us to the ce where everyone would converge for the ceremony.

    My ssmates seemed excited and nervous, and I could somehow feel the same way. My focus was somewhere else, though, even as we all moved in two orderly lines of boys and girls.

    ¡®Almost¡­ there¡­¡¯ My thoughts raced as I looked inward.

    My fourth Mana Core¡­ it was still forming, though very close toplete manifestation!

    For the three weeks that I trained Edward and Anabelle, I couldn¡¯tpletely focus on my Mana Core growth.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean I neglected it, but, I was also very much upied with my pupils. While Edward needed more of my attention, even Anabelle required assistance at the beginning due to her inexperience with Mana. As a result, I ended up spending a great deal of time boosting their Mana Core development.

    At some point, I made them return the favor to me by using the same method of ¡®Excitement¡¯ that I learned from the priest. They both skillfully infused their Mana into me while I absorbed the rich mana of the surroundings, causing my speed to reach phenomenal speed.

    That was what made me arrive at the threshold, nearlypleting my Mana Core formation. If I had just one more day, I would havepleted it. Unfortunately, the next day was today!

    Being out of time, I resorted to the method of light meditation, skillfully pulling my internal mana particles to my fourth Core. Since I could not achieve total concentration, the speed was rather slow¡ªbut steady.

    I just needed to keep at it.

    ¡°We¡¯re nearly there. Pick up your pace.¡±

    With Neron¡¯s statement, I was brought back to reality and observed the surroundings. It was oddly familiar. It took me a second to realize it, but once I did, my eyes bulged in surprise.

    ¡®T-this is¡­ our destination?!¡¯

    A short distance from where I currently walked was the terrain I had been training in for three weeks. There was no way I could miss the cluster of trees, the exotic colors of the flowers nearby, and the rich density of mana emanating from the region.

    ¡®That¡¯s my Meditation spot!¡¯

    My eyes darted to Anabelle and Edward and I realized that they too were surprised by this. To think that the location for selecting our Familiars would be the very ce we had been training for the past three weeks¡­ how unbelievable was that?!

    ***********************

    ¡°Wee to the Oasis!¡± A deep voice boomed.

    I rolled my eyes slightly and contained my disgust as I watched the man who addressed all of us. He was none other than Damien Lawcroft, the idiot who was hell-bent on Mana Core Grade superiority.

    The entire first-year students were already gathered in the lush garden, the clearing at the center of the forest where the pool was situated. The grounds were big enough to contain all of us, with enough space for us to form lines separating the Upper ss, Middle ss, and Lower ss.

    Just like on our way to this location, we were divided into two lines of boys and girls, making four lines in total. Standing firmly and listening in absolute silence, we faced Damien Lawcroft, as well as the three Lecturers who stood behind him.

    Theke at the center separated us from them and the temptation to stare into the clear blue water instead of facing the Academy staff in front was sure to gnaw at everyone who stood in line.

    Damien¡¯s hardened face had not diminished and his tone was as harsh as ever. He addressed us at the Familiar Selection Ceremony, going over the rules and procedures in a precise manner.

    ¡°The pool before you is known as the ¡®Gate¡¯, and it is a massive Mana Core that is used to store Familiars of various kinds. Some of you may have already noticed the intensity of Mana that is permeating the area. It is all as a result of thiske.¡±

    I was surprised to hear that theke itself was a Mana Core. No, that wasn¡¯t urate. The most likely description would be that an artificial Mana core dwelled within it. And so, theke served as a vessel to hold it.

    ¡®I have taken samples of theke water, and even herbs from all around¡­ if this is really a spot so important, why was it left u guarded? Plus, why is it located on the academic grounds of the Lower ss?¡¯

    I had many questions, but now was the time to listen.

 Chapter 128 - The Familiar Selection Ceremony (Pt 2)

    ¡°Once the Gate is opened, Familiars will pour out and swarm the area. Do not worry, none shall harm you.¡± Damien began exining the ceremony.

    No student dared zoning out at this critical juncture.

    ¡°Special Magic has been ced around that prevents them from being hostile. Besides, they are Familiars, and all seek satisfactory hosts. None of them will attack potential candidates.¡±

    Our supervisor continued his exnation, telling us about the time frame for selecting a Familiar. The ceremony started at exactly 12:00 and a period of three hours was provided for every student to get a Familiar.

    For the Inepts, they would all be given artificial Mana Cores¡ªMana Stones, to form contracts with their Familiars.

    Since the ceremony was sacred, disturbances were not allowed, so all the staff would steer clear from the forest, though observational Magic would be used to watch us.

    Once a contract was made, the student would exit the forest and meet the Supervisor and Lectures waiting at the entrance of the forest and give his/her report.

    This allowed for registration, grading, and future assessments.

    ¡°Since this is a non-biased Ceremony, we will not interfere. The same kind of artificial Mana Cores will be given to all Inepts, and as for the rest who possess Mana Cores, it all depends on your ability and affinity with the Familiars.¡±

    Damien Lawcroft said that, but I wondered if he actually meant it.

    Even if this ceremony was meant to be fair, reality made it hard for that to be possible. Talent and skill yed a huge part in scoring a good Familiar, something we as Lower-ss studentscked a great deal.

    Very little avenue for growth was provided for us, so there was no way we would be superior to those in the higher sses. This ensured that they would obtain the better Familiars and we would be stuck with the less impressive ones.

    ¡®A Familiar is said to be one¡¯s bond for life¡­ though that is not strictly so. It is possible to sever one¡¯s bond with a Familiar, but the method is very rare and costly. I doubt Lower-ss graduates would be able to afford it even after they be fully-fledged Mages, Martial Artists, or Schrs.

    ¡®Well, the rich ones probably can¡­ but what about people like Edward?¡¯

    It would be difficult to change one¡¯s Familiar if such a person didn¡¯t have the means to. Also, it wasn¡¯t possible for an individual to have more than one Familiar at once.

    ¡®The Mana Core is the house¡­ and Familiars don¡¯t like to share¡­¡¯

    One could argue that a person could bypass the rule by contracting with many Familiars and storing them in artificial Mana Cores, but in all fairness, the Familiars who would subject themselves to such a method were very rare and also extremely weak.

    No one in their right mind would resort to such a high-cost method only to contract with weak Familiars.

    The better the core and potential talent, the better the Familiar one could score. Artificial Cores weren¡¯t that appealing.

    The only reason they were being used was to give Inepts a chance to get Familiars, though it was obvious their Familiars would be very weak.

    No one cared, though. Schrs weren¡¯t meant to fight, anyway. They belonged in the realm of studies and strategies. If a Schr was lucky and ended up with a wise Familiar to aid in his research, then that would be better for them than having powerhouses instead.

    The same rule applied to Inept Schrs, though. Even though their Mana Cores were artificial, the ¡®Bond¡¯ contract still applied to them.

    A Familiar¡¯s contract differed depending on the type of soul it had. The Host and Familiar would deliberate and agree on the terms stipted. Once they reached a consensus and the Bond was made, it was permanent!

    So, even Inepts with Artificial Cores were bound by the agreement. Breaking such a contract that was made by two souls came with extreme repercussions.

    In essence, anyone who ended up picking the wrong Familiar ran the risk of being stuck with it for the rest of their life.

    ¡°Huu¡­ thinking in this line, anyone would get nervous,¡± I whispered to myself.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ we shall leave you to rx or prepare yourselves. Those who are inept should see the Lecturers in charge of their sses and obtain their Artificial Mana Cores.¡± Damien Lawcroft spoke in finality.

    His face moved slightly as he appeared to be scanning through the students. I assumed he was looking at those he deemed to be extremely talented candidates.

    Suddenly, as he nced around and I looked at him, his eyes came to me and our line of vision connected.

    Instantly, a re formed and a look of disgust was shown.

    ¡®Immature¡¯, would be the best description for this man. I often wondered if he was an adult due to his philosophy.

    ¡®Is he still upset about what happened at the Assembly back then?¡¯

    I shook off my distracted thoughts and ignored him, focusing more on resuming the formation of my Core. If only I could concentrate more, the external mana that saturated the area would aid in my cultivation.

    But, with so many eyes around¡ªincluding professionals, I couldn¡¯t risk being noticed.

    Fortunately, I only had to be patient for a bit. Damien and the rest of the Lectures would be exiting the forest soon, giving us some time to prepare, and once it was noon, we would begin.

    ¡°Alright everyone, you may rx and move to your respective spots where you will remain for the ceremony,¡± Damien said after the Artificial Mana Cores had been provided for all the Inepts.

    Following this, all the adults left us to ourselves as the students each looked for locations in the vast grassy ins where it would be mostfortable or strategic in attracting the Familiars.

    Our straight lines broke as everyone began scouring for areas most profitable to them.

    ¡°What should we do, Jared?¡± Edward asked, drawing closer to me.

    Anabelle also came nearer, appearing happy that we had all been reunited. A glint of the conflicted expression she had back in the ssroom remained, though.

    ¡®Is she still thinking about that?¡¯

    ¡°While waiting, you can continue meditating to strengthen your Cores. Every second counts.¡± I addressed everyone, getting obedient nods in return.

 Chapter 129 - The Familiar Selection Ceremony (Pt 3)

    ¡°You can also choose to stay anywhere, it won¡¯t matter. The right Familiars will flock to you, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    ¡°Then I choose to¡ª¡±

    Before Anabelle finished her statement which I already suspected to be an attempt to stick close to me during this Ceremony, I quickly fired back.

    ¡°I would like for you not to be close to me, though, since there the Mana Density will be thinner around me. We should all stay apart from each other so we won¡¯t rob one another of the surrounding Mana.¡±

    With this smart and urate protest, I silenced Anabelle. None of my tworades had anyints about it, so I took it as eptance.

    Suddenly, I felt two familiar presences and heard their footsteps as their feet trample the juicy grass beneath.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while¡­ Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth.¡±

    A smile formed on my face. Only one person would choose to use my name at length like that. Plus, even as they had approached, I already knew it was them.

    Turning my face in the direction of the iing footsteps and voice, I looked behind me and saw the pair.

    ¡°Stefan Netherlore. Maria Helmsworth. It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    The boy and girl came into view, their contrasting features made it clear who they were.

    Stefan Netherlore, with his dark hair and deep blue eyes, handsome to a fault and always putting on a serious front around me that made it appear as though he was in a bad mood¡ªI suspected this was only to hide his true intentions.

    Maria Helmsworth, the genius among geniuses, a prodigy in her own right. Her silver hair was as elegant as always, and her gem-like blue eyes rivaled even that of Anabelle, except she had a gleam of maturity attached.

    These two came to me of their own volition¡­ something I didn¡¯t fully expect.

    ¡°Yeah. It has.¡± Maria spoke first, and then fell silent almost immediately.

    A moment of silence dwelled amid us since none of us had really spoken on favorable terms before. Still, I wasn¡¯t going to go out of my way to speak to them.

    ¡®You guys came to see me. I don¡¯t n on trying to drive this conversation.¡¯

    I felt a sudden shift in my surroundings. It came from behind me, and the proximity was scary close. Looking back at the source, my eyes met Anabelle, who seemed to be ring at the two prodigies that just approached.

    A scary look appeared on her face that I couldn¡¯tpletely decipher.

    ¡°U-uh, these are the two I was telling you about.¡± I decided to drive the conversation in a different direction by addressing my newrades.

    My initial ns were to befriend Stefan and Maria, making them myrades instead. Unfortunately, they were out of my reach so I had to make do with Edward and Anabelle.

    I had no regrets, though.

    ¡°Ohhh, I see¡­ nice to meet you two.¡± Anabelle forced a smile as her darkened expression remained.

    Clearly, she didn¡¯t mean what she was saying!

    Edward also rendered his formalities, though nervously. Since they had both been present during the Assembly, the two must have realized that Maria and Stefan belonged to the Upper ss.

    While Edward showed reverence to them and disyed his inferiority, Maria was simply oozing hostility. Why was she so upset?

    I traced the direction of her eyes and found them heading in a single direction. That had to be the cause of her annoyance!

    Quickly, I followed her gaze andid eyes on the object of her strife. It was¡­

    ¡®Maria Helmsworth? Why? Does she have any beef with her?¡¯

    My confused thoughts forced me to finally break the unbearably heavy silence among the five of us.

    ¡°Do you perchance know them from somewhere?¡± I asked Anabelle with the little smile I could muster.

    ¡°No. First time meeting them.¡± She shot Maria a dirty look.

    ¡°Likewise.¡± The silent Maria returned the favor.

    This just got me more confused.

    ¡®I don¡¯t have time for this! We should be meditating and preparing for the Familiar Ceremony!¡¯

    With that in mind, I decided to conclude this farce.

    ¡°So, why are you guys here? I don¡¯t think you¡¯d juste to say hi¡­¡± My eyes narrowed at the two Upper-ss elite geniuses.

    The moment I said this, Maria¡¯s eyes seemed to bulge and she looked away instantly.

    ¡®D-don¡¯t tell me¡­ that¡¯s all she came to do?!¡¯

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about Maria, but I came for a different reason. She decided to tag along after I told her I would be seeing you¡­¡±

    Stefan¡¯s eyes intensified as he now gave me a determined re. The boy hadn¡¯t changed since Ist saw him.

    ¡°The Inter-ss Exchange that urs in two months¡­ make sure youe prepared. I¡¯ll destroy you then!¡±

    ¡®¡­.Eh?!¡¯

    Now I was lost.

    ¡°What do you mean by that? Destroy me? Are you still upset about what happened in the waiting area? Get over it already.¡±

    ¡°What? No! Don¡¯t y dumb!¡±

    Now I was even more perturbed. I had no real business with Stefan, so why would he personally target me in the Exchange? Unless¡­

    ¡®So that¡¯s how it is. Pfft, how childish and simple.¡¯

    ¡°Fine, then. Stefan, you should also be prepared¡­ I don¡¯t n on taking it easy now that you¡¯ve dered your intentions.¡± My calm voice carried a tone of arrogance that seemed to unnerve the young elite a bit.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way! Till then!¡±

    As soon as he made his final statement, Stefan took his leave, and Maria followed beside him. I watched them for a few moments and sighed to myself.

    ¡®That Stefan guy probably thinks of me as a rival or something. His ego is bruised and he needs to fix it so he must be seeking to win against me for him to regain his confidence.¡¯

    Unfortunately for him, it wasn¡¯t going to be possible, talkless of being easy. Besides, he was too weak and young to be considered my rival.

    As for Maria Helmsworth who walked beside him, did she really just tag along to say ¡®hi¡¯? How strange she was. No, the two children were weird in their own right.

    ¡°Okay, you two. Spread out and begin meditation.¡± I said to both Edward and Anabelle¡ªwho had already regained her usual demeanor after Maria took her leave.

    ¡®Okay, this has been a strange intermission, but I¡¯m done with interruptions. It¡¯s time toplete my fourth Mana Core and then get myself a Familiar!¡¯

 Chapter 130 - The Ones Called Familiars

    ¡®Almost done¡­ just a bit more¡­¡¯

    My eyes were crinkled as I felt the tiny dots be one with a muchrger swirling orb located in my heart.

    The other three resonated well with the formingst one, and all that was needed was a little more push.

    Fortunately, with the spike in the Mana I absorbed and the energizing of the excited particles within me, the final piece was unified with my fourth core, making it fully established!

    ¡°Haa¡­ haaa¡­¡± I huffed.

    Sweat covered my face and I felt drenched all over. Fortunately, everyone maintained some level of distance from one another so no one could notice the pungent odor I emitted thanks to exercising myself in such limited time.

    The fragrance of the flowers around also helped, and theke gave off a lovely scent that overpowered any foul odor residual in the atmosphere. I was saved thanks to those factors.

    A magical clock was ced above us, allowing everyone on the Oasis grounds to see it just by lifting our heads. I did so after smiling proudly to myself and found out I had a little over thirty minutes of free time left.

    My face returned to its position and I looked at both Edward and Anabelle, both were focused on firmly establishing their core and even increasing its capacity. They had both made considerable progress ever since training started and it was fortunate that they showed no limits to their growth yet.

    I noticed the other students, some of which were looking at me strangely. The majority of students were either practicing basic spells to further improve themselves before the main show began or some simply just rxed.

    A few could be seen discussing, but other than I and my tworades, no one else was meditating.

    They didn¡¯t know, to begin with. Plus, doing something so absurd at such a critical moment seemed off. This made us there garner a bit of attention.

    I ignored the multitude and considered my next approach. Now that I had four cores, I was a step closer to my goal.

    ¡®This should be enough for my Familiar Selection Ceremony!¡¯

    With that out of the way, I stared at the pool and waited for the show to begin. Once it did, I would enact the next phase!

    *******************

    Time passed in nearly the blink of an eye, most likely since I was practicingbinations in my head while waiting.

    The moment the clock hit 12 noon, the most incredible sight emerged!

    The blueke suddenly emitted a bright white light that covered the entire watery surface. Just as how ice would permeate a river during winter, the brilliant light hardened the body of water in front of all of us, giving it a solid shape.

    Everyone seemed to marvel as I noticed from the corners of my eyes, and I also couldn¡¯t stop myself from smiling in amazement. Seeing something like this up close was truly amazing.

    Different colors began swirling within theke as sparks flew out. The whitece that covered the surface like ss maintained its form, but within it, different colored lights bloomed and formed a whirlpool.

    Red. Blue. Yellow. Green. Orange¡ªso many hues that could make the eyes of any human sparkle.

    ¡®That must be the Gate!¡¯ I reasoned.

    FWOOOOOOSSHHHH

    After a few seconds of swirling, balls of light began to pop out of the Gate. They sparkled and glowed, warbling as they made their way past the ssy white light and appeared in the environment where we all stayed.

    Those were the Familiars!

    Hundreds of them poured out and glowed, taking on various shapes and sizes.

    Some appeared to be flickering light, some had the form of ming crimson, some were simply spheres of light, and some had mushy forms that changed as their colors warbled.

    With hundreds of these seemingly alive souls pervading the environment, the students could not help but feel amazed.

    However, now wasn¡¯t the time for sightseeing! The Gate had opened, the Familiars had poured out. The only thing left for us to do¡­ was to call for them!

    The Call, a term coined by an expert on Familiars who appeared after I died, was simply done by releasing one¡¯s Mana to attract the lingering souls to the person.

    If the Familiar felt attracted to a person¡¯s Man, they would flock around the individual and offer their terms for a contract. While it was simple, it also very tricky.

    Familiars can sense a person¡¯s potential and growth from the energy being emitted since they are in the form of pure mana¡ªsouls searching for a residence.

    A weak Call would, of course, attract weak Familiars and the opposite also applied. Using this rationale, it was best to get as strong as possible to attract the best of the best.

    ¡®Now, then¡­ I should begin, shouldn¡¯t I?¡¯

    As soon as I was about to infuse my mana and generate my Call, a sharp sensation pulsated through my body, causing me to cease my attempt immediately.

    ¡®T-this is¡­?!¡¯

    The moment I realized this, my ns were altered immediately.

    The density of Mana in the atmosphere had gotten far more than before. I could sense the saturation, so thick that I could almost touch it. Compared to this vast flood of mana, the one I had been enjoying previously could be said to be no more than a trickle.

    It was too amazing, too distracting! The Mana called for me!

    ¡®So many Mana-based beings are here, and that Gate too¡­ the Mana around is overwhelmingly huge! I can¡¯t pass this up!¡¯

    I was faced with two choices at that moment. Choose a familiar with my newfound prowess¡­ or patiently cultivate and increase my capacity.

    I was obviously going to go with the second.

    ¡®I have time¡­ let¡¯s do this! With this much Mana, I should be able to do it¡­¡±

    Right there and then, the assurance was so high it was guaranteed. It was possible, after all. If I yed my cards right, I would be able to make a fifth Mana core!

    And so, while the rest of the students attracted their Bonds and began conversing with the balls of light that were gathering around them¡ªsome having a few dozen, while some having one or two, I closed my eyes and began the most exciting venture of my life!

    ¡­ Making a Mana Core in less than three hours!

 Chapter 131 - Observation

    Damien Lawcroft stood a distance from the forest and keenly watched it.

    Judging from his unmoving gait and his intense focus, one could almost mistake him for a mannequin. Well, the grumbles he made gave him away, and these grumblings didn¡¯t cease.

    The other Lecturers stood apart from him, intentionally avoiding being in his line of vision. When Damien was like this, it was best to leave him alone.

    Just like the students could see a magical indicator to disy the time, the Lecturers could also observe all that was happening with the very same medium. It was a two-way channel.

    ¡°Hmmn. It looks like it has started, uh? This is going just as I expected.¡±

    Damien¡¯s eyes ignored the trash who had a few Familiars hovering around them and focused on those he deemed worthy of his attention¡ªstudents like Stefan Netherlore and Maria Helmsworth.

    They had at least a hundred Familiars hovering around them, all brimming with intense light.

    This could only indicate that they were the cream of the crop. Damien¡¯s terrible mood began lifting as he saw the talented students he had set his eyes on disy the desired results.

    Other students, especially members of the Upper ss had many Familiars around them too, a few dozen at the very least.

    Middle-ss Students had a good number too, most of them had about twenty flickering lights around them.

    Damien didn¡¯t care for the Lower ss, but his eyes went to them after observing the rest. As supervisor, he still had to monitor the trash, even though he expected nothing from them.

    ¡°Tsk, as I predicted. Trash will always be trash.¡±

    It was a miracle to see three Familiars hovering around those in the Lower ss. Yes, it was that bad. Most had just a single drifting Familiar drawing close to them, and judging from the intensity by which they burned, Damien Lawcroft already surmised that these were weak souls.

    ¡®The Familiar are probably just desperate and looking for a ce to reside in.¡¯

    In essence, the students were fodder, not worthy of notice.

    ¡®How about that cheeky kid? Jared Leonard, was it?¡¯

    Damien¡¯s eyes scanned therge magical screen disyed in front of him and searched for the troublesome boy who got on his nerves the most. Even among the talentless, this kid had the gall to have a mere White Mana Core Grade and still apply to their institution. If not for his suspiciously perfect scores, there would be no ce left for him in the Academy.

    ¡®There he is!¡¯ Damien grinned as he watched Jared closing his eyes shut in meditation.

    Not a single Familiar hovered around him.

    ¡®That kid¡­ so not even the desperate ones want him?!¡¯

    Damien was astounded by how one could be so unfortunate. He knew Jared was a good-for-nothing, but not to this extent. It was difficult to tell due to the distance, but the supervisor wasn¡¯t even sure Jared was doing ¡®The Call¡¯ properly.

    ¡®To think someone as shameful as this got into this Academy¡­ it makes me sick!¡¯

    He had already filed an interrogatory report to the Academy¡¯s board concerning an investigation of Jared¡¯s admission. Damien was determined to thoroughly scrutinize his entry into Ainrk, and if he found as much as a loophole, he would exploit it and make sure Jared dropped out by all means necessary.

    Trash wasn¡¯t allowed in a fine ce of learning such as Ainrk, after all.

    It wasn¡¯t just Jared that had no Familiar surrounding him. Damien spotted two other students who had no light surrounding them. One had very blond hair and looked like a child while the other had auburn hair, looked incredibly built physically, and had a determined look on his face even as he closed his eyes.

    ¡®¡­ Must be a Martial Artist.¡¯

    To think that three students had severely failed in attracting any Familiars¡­ this had never happened before!

    Even the Inepts, who used Artificial Mana Cores, had at least one or two Familiars circling them.

    ¡®The Artificial Cores we provided are just at the base form of the Yellow Core Grade¡­ to think these students are worse than that. This is absurd!¡¯

    As he had always thought, Lower ss scum were not worthy to be grouped with the more talented students. They would only stunt the growth of those with more potential and hold them back. This was the whole rationale behind the ss System in the first ce.

    As Damien Lawcroft made these condescending thoughts, his eyes moved in the direction of the Lecturer in charge of all the failures, Neron Kaelid. He expected the man to disy even a slight hint of panic due to all his students failing miserably.

    However, much to his disappointment, Neron showed none of such emotion. In fact, the young-looking man disyed nothing but a stoic outlook on the whole thing.

    ¡°Tsk, he hasn¡¯t changed!¡± Damien clicked his tongue while whispering under his breath.

    The dissatisfied supervisor decided to ignore both the pathetic students and their Lecturer. Rather, he would focus on his pride and joy, observing the choice they made and greet them as they came out of the Oasis!

    Unknown to Damien, however, Neron was not feeling terrible within himself. He wasn¡¯t disappointed, he wasn¡¯t worried, he wasn¡¯t anxious. No, Neron Kaelid was brimming with pride.

    Why?

    Because he figured out what Jared and his twopanions were trying to do!

    ¡®That crazy kid! He can already control the flow of his internal Mana Particles! He¡¯s drawing in all the excess Mana and trying to advance his Core!¡¯

    Neron¡¯s eyes darted to the remaining two students who did the same and surmised that their actions were most likely influenced by Jared.

    In essence, these oddities were doing what others hadn¡¯t even considered and were doing it at a level that wasn¡¯t possible for their age.

    ¡®I¡¯m excited! Jared Leonard, Anabelle Frederick, Edward Karl¡­ show me what you¡¯ll do!¡¯

    Even though his facial expression was being controlled, his heart raced and his muscles throbbed. These students were growing to be monsters, and once as a witness, he couldn¡¯t wait to see what kind of creatures they would be as soon as they emerged from the chrysalis.

    ¡®Show me, Jared! No, show everyone! The power you wield!¡¯

 Chapter 132 - The Fifth Core

    It was so hard!

    I could feel my blood vessels pulsating. Even the tiniest bit of error could prove fatal. Absorbing such dense energy was very risky and required the utmost level of concentration. It was fortunate that I was currently in a quiet location, else there would be no way to achieve such a degree of focus.

    My little body struggled to contain the energy it received, sending it to my Mana Particles which were charged up and energized to an unfathomable degree. Quickly, I controlled the fast current of Mana Particles and guided them in the direction I wanted.

    Where would my fifth core be? It had to be one of the most critical and overlooked parts of the body.

    ¡®My back!¡¯

    Yes, that was the best spot for my newly forming Core. While offensive abilities were useful for Mages, defense was equally important. To achieve bnce in my body, having a readily avable Mana Core for defense was pertinent!

    As I forcibly directed the torrents of mana to the center of my back, surges of pulsating energy enveloped me.

    It grew more and more uncontroble, but I didn¡¯t relent. As the energy flower, I pushed it to the back.

    ¡®No¡­ it¡¯s too much!¡¯

    Realizing that the distribution of energy was slower than my absorption rate, I needed to do something to bnce things out.

    There was no way to reduce the absorption rate since the mana was too dense and thick to be contained. It was like a busted pipe or a dam that was overflowing.

    ¡®Should I cancel the whole process? No!¡¯

    I hade too far to turn back now! Time was meaningless for me since I had no idea what the clock said. My concentration was too deep to bother about my surroundings other than the mana that consumed my body.

    There had to be some other method¡­ something I could do to tame the power overwhelming me!

    Suddenly an idea arrived, and while it would be difficult to execute, it boasted the most effective solution to my dilemma!

    ¡®I didn¡¯t think an opportunity like this woulde so soon, but I guess it¡¯s time!¡¯

    I was going to advance my White Mana Cores to a higher Grade!

    Advancement required lots of Mana Particles, something I had in excess at the moment. Thanks to controlling the flow of Mana within me, I was redirecting all the particles to my forming Core. However, the energy was too much.

    ¡®If I loosen my hold on the Mana Particles, some will naturally flow towards my other Mana Cores since they serve as Mana Mas!¡¯

    Using this logic, I only controlled some aspects of my Mana Particles and allowed the others to move in the direction of my brain, heart, and spinal region¡ªthe nape of my neck.

    Of course, I prevented any from touching my primary Mana Core since I had to ensure that it remained white no matter what! It proved difficult, but I was able to redirect any Mana Particles nearing my stomach region to my back.

    ¡°Huu¡­¡± Heavy breaths leaked out of my mouth as I could feel my body wet from perspiration.

    ¡®No, focus!¡¯

    I was feeling it, the burden had lessened, now reced by tingling sensations emanating from the various spots in my body where my Mana Cores were situated.

    The Cores resonated with each other, giving me newfound strength and I could feel myself slowly limating.

    ¡®This feeling¡­ this is it! I¡¯m doing it!

    My back tingled as the swirling orb around it fully manifested, giving me a surge of excitement in return. I feltpletely overwhelmed by the power that had just unfolded within me, but I controlled myself some more.

    ¡®It¡¯s not over yet! I have to continue advancing!¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t greed, rather, it was efficiency.

    I was probably never going to get a chance like this again! I had no idea how long had passed, but it was probably still within three hours or I would have been interrupted by now. Being able to make a Mana Core within such a short time was simply incredible, no, unbelievable!

    But, it was a testament to the amount of effort and expert control over Mana that I had. I had been doing this since I was a baby, after all.

    If I had some time left, it only made sense for me to take advantage of the surrounding Mana and promote my four Cores.

    Looking at each of them through meditation, most of the Cores had reached a slight Yellow State, but it wasn¡¯t enough. I needed more! My newly formed Core was still white too!

    It would take more grueling work, but I was prepared!

    *************************

    ¡°Huu, finally¡­¡± I opened my eyes to the beautiful sight before me.

    Even though I had never left the Oasis, it felt like a strangendpared to the inner recesses of my body. It took a while for me topletely adjust to the change in environment, but I controlled my breathing and the tense spasms of my body.

    My stuff neck made a cracking sound as I raised my head to check the time.

    ¡°2:41 PM, uh? Time is almost up¡­¡± I sighed a little.

    My eyes looked around and I saw that I was the only one left in the Oasis. The balls of light that represented the Familiars had also ceased their dance and were lingering around, most likely waiting for their return to the pool.

    There was little time left, too little to call a bunch of familiars, form a contract with just one, and leave the grounds. I was certain the staff who were most likely watching the whole thing from afar had already concluded that I would fail¡­ well, Neron was probably an exception.

    A wide grin formed on my face as I made up my mind. I didn¡¯t have time to skin through the Familiars that would gather around me the moment I made a Call.

    ¡®Instead of a Call, I should do something else¡­ how about¡­¡¯

 Chapter 133 - Resonance

    It was unorthodox, I hadn¡¯t seen a single book that talked about this method. However, after carefully considering my options, it was bound to work in theory.

    I sluggishly moved my tired body and rose to my feet. Every joint and muscle within me ached severely, as I thought it would. My tummy growled in hunger, but I neglected the pangs.

    As I moved, I slowly got closer to the pool, so clear and white, like a crystal. The swirling within the clear ss surface was mesmerizing, but I maintained focus.

    ¡®As long as this white surface is here, the Familiars that havee out can not go back in until the allotted time is up¡­¡¯

    That was why a great deal of them still lingered in the area even though they appeared to be practically done with their business.

    I was the only one left, and so far no Call hade from me. They must have already given up on gaining a Host and would probably have to wait until the next year.

    However¡­

    ¡®Judging from the swirling within this pool and the glimmering colors within, there seem to be more Familiars inside¡­¡¯

    They just refused toe out.

    ¡®All the impressive Familiars would have probably been taken by the talented students, and I am not interested in leftovers.¡¯

    The ones that piqued my interest were the beings who didn¡¯t even bother to find a Host among our batch of students. I could only think of two reasons why.

    One would be that they werezy or uninterested in a Contract with a Host.

    As long as they remained in the artificial Mana core, they had a home, so they were probablyfortable with that.

    The second would be that they had a great deal of pride. For a Familiar to refuse searching for a Host and not respond to the Call of any of the students, it meant that the Ego making them up was quite huge.

    The bigger the Ego, the better the Familiar!

    A grin formed on my face as I noticed even more time had passed. Only fifteen minutes were left so I had to hurry.

    This was a risky venture with an unconfirmed sess rate.

    Deducing the fact that no one else was here, it meant they had all seeded, one way or the other, in gaining Familiars. It would be a bummer if I was the only one who failed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    I sat on the grass directly facing theke just inches from my body. A little push would make me fall into it, no doubt. Now closer to the source of the vast mana that I had exploited to better myself, I was grateful for not being so close while I absorbed it.

    ¡®At this distance, the Mana would have been too much for me to handle¡­ I would have gone into Mana Shock.¡¯

    I reached out my hand, limp and tired, stretching it toward the ssy surface of theke. I made my movements slow and calcted, watching out for any warning from the staff that I was viting some sort of rule.

    ¡®Nothing, uh?¡¯

    Damien Lawcroft also didn¡¯t mention my actions as a vition of any rule, so that meant I was well within my rights.

    My hand moved more swiftly now and I made contact with the ssy surface of theke. It felt sturdy, as I predicted. It was cold too.

    Shaking off my perception of the white barrier, I focused on my next action.

    No matter how hard I tried to ¡®Call¡¯, I was probably never going to obtain the attention of any of the Familiars within theke. Only the ones nearby would flock to me, and it would be a pain to sort them all out.

    This was why¡­ I would need to resort to this!

    ¡®Mana Resonance!¡¯

    In an instant, four of my five Mana Cores shone, resonating with one another at the very same time. Instantly, my Mana was leaked out of my body and all gathered on the hand that touched theke¡¯s barrier.

    Like shockwaves rippling through water, the Mana I released served as a probe and distorted the swirling water in theke.

    FWUUUMMMM

    I felt a shift in the atmosphere, like the very air around me vibrated. It onlysted for a few moments, and then it disappeared.

    ¡®Huu, I¡¯m done¡­ now, let¡¯s see your response!¡¯

    The technique I just used, ¡®Mana Resonance¡¯, was only possible when a person had very high proficiency in Mana Maniption.

    It was achieved by pulsing one¡¯s Core through the area to reveal one¡¯s presence and also to detect the presence of others.

    In a ce with zero visibility, Mana Resonance was useful since allies could spot one another. High-Level Resonance made telepathy between two individuals possible¡ªeven without the use of Spells!

    All I had done was to use all four of my Mana Cores to resonate my intentions into the deep. It was a hassle to deliberate on a Bond Contract between myself and a prospective Familiar.

    Instead of going back and forth with offers and counter-offers, it was best to simply give out my contract offer.

    I achieved this with Mana Resonance!

    ¡®Now, let¡¯s see which one among you will bite!¡¯

    For a moment, silence prevailed.

    I received no response.

    Five seconds passed. One minute passed. Three minutes passed. Five minutes passed¡­ not a single feedback!

    ¡®Shit! Did I make a mistake!¡¯ My eyes bulged as panic began seeping into me.

    With less than ten minutes left, I was already on myst straw. Should I have just settled for the ones avable?

    Fortunately, I was worried in vain.

    I saw four balls of light ascend from the swirling pool beneath me. They seemed so pure and unsullied, even as I viewed them from behind the ssyyer that separated us.

    Red

    Blue

    Green

    Ashen

    These creatures, no, souls, popped out of the pool and went past the white barrier.

    My eyes widened more in surprise as I witnessed their splendor. They had an appearance unlike any other.

    Their shapes resembled tiny sparkling beings made up of ming lights in their respective colors. Their shapes were humanoid, havingrger headspared to their bodies. I saw eyes too, two round indications on their faces¡­ and these four approached me closely.

    My eyes weren¡¯t deceiving me!

    There was no way I wouldn¡¯t know these creatures¡ªwhat kind of Familiars they were!

    It appeared staying behind and trying this method was worth it, after all. Before me, floated the most unique of Familiars¡ªhaving the title of the original Bond Souls.

    Wisps!

 Chapter 134 - Is That A Wisp?

    Wisps are peculiar beings, even among familiars.

    They are often referred to as the original Familiars, and that is for a single reason¡ªtheir natural state as souls!

    Unlike other Familiars who were once living beings that died and became Bond Souls, Wisps have always had the appearance of Souls. Having no physical body, to begin with, they are the real deal, authentic Familiars who never age and still have the total pieces of their memories and Egos intact.

    They do not get corroded with the passage of time¡­

    *******************

    ¡°T-these are¡­ Wisps!¡±

    Four of them floated around me, donning different colors! It was amazing to imagine that my intentions had resonated with not just one, but all four at once.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect this!¡¯

    My Resonance conveyed the Contract I intended to make, and just like a bid, I expected those who were interested to show themselves.

    One of the terms I ced was ¡®First Come, First Served¡¯. I only had room for four Familiars, after all.

    Suddenly, I felt my mind grow hazy. Like a fog slowly creeping up on me, my vision blurred and my strength was just about used up. I only had a few minutes left.

    Did I currently have what it took to contract with four Wisps?

    ¡°I¡¯m d you answered my Resonance. Unfortunately, my power is all used up. Please, lend me your strength now. I shall offer you a ce of abode¡­ the mostfortable kind!¡±

    The creatures of light drew nearer, and I could hear a humming sound emanating from them. Having studied these unique beings for some time, I knew what they were about to do.

    ¡°Human.¡±

    ¡°Do you deceive us?¡±

    ¡°Is it possible that you truly possess multiple Cores to house four of us?¡±

    ¡°Prove your worth.¡±

    As I heard their voices echo in my head, my mind grew foggier. Usually, Familiars would be more cordial, but I was dealing with proud beings here. I needed to be smart about my next move.

    ¡°You are Wisps, are you not? Why do you not resonate with me and find out?¡±

    After I managed to say this, silence prevailed. I stared at each of the floating beings tiredly, waiting for their decision.

    ZWUUUNMMMMM!!!

    I felt a vibrating frequency within me. It was like every part of my body was being thoroughly searched, and I knew why. The Wisps were confirming my assertion by resonating with my Mana Cores.

    ¡°Very well.¡±

    ¡°You appear to be speaking the truth.¡±

    ¡°Who would have thought, though¡­ a human possessing this many Mana Cores.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we decided toe and spectate out of curiosity. The others didn¡¯t believe you¡­ looks like they missed out on a rare sight.¡±

    Judging by their words, I had to deduce that the reason my Resonance was unanswered was due to doubt on the part of the Familiars. They must have thought I was merely bluffing and not worth any time. Speaking of which, time was running out, my stamina as well. I needed to hurry!

    ¡°Now that you have seen my Cores, do you believe me now? Form Contracts with me!¡±

    Silence pervaded the area once again.

    ¡°Human.¡±

    ¡°You mentioned having a suitable home.¡±

    ¡°Your Mana Core is merely at the Yellow Core Grade.¡±

    ¡°Do you believe it is worthy of us?¡±

    ¡°Do you know of our status? How dare you.¡±

    Now they were mad! What arrogant little pricks these Souls were. Wisps were strong, but not by arge margin. Many Familiars, who were once legendary beings, outstripped them in both power and Mana potential.

    The reason for their pride was due to the fact that they were Original Familiars. If I wasn¡¯t so desperate, I wouldn¡¯t need to go out of my way to cajole them. The benefits I offered went both ways.

    ¡°Do you not know, o¡¯ Wisps? Having four Mana Core Grades to house four of you, I intend to specialize them in the Magic attribute that you all possess. That makes it the most suitable home for your respective personas.¡±

    Immediately after I said this, the Familiars suddenly emitted a brighter ray of light, causing me to nearly go blind.

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°Do you mean it?¡±

    ¡°Resonance shows that you don¡¯t seem to be lying.¡±

    ¡°Why would you do that?!¡±

    While Familiars were searchers of residences to live in, some were extremely picky concerning the types of Mana Core which would house them.

    Mana Cores be specialized the higher the Grade, and while the basic use of other magic is possible, one¡¯s specific attribute would be sure to be more pronounced when using rted spells.

    For Familiars, the more attuned the attribute of a Mana Core was to their own attribute, the better the home would be. Since the proud ones preferredfort, they sought those who had simr attributes¡­ but it was extremely rare to find an individual who had exactly the same attribute as the Familiar.

    Why?

    Mages generally preferred versatility. If one had specialization in Fire Magic, it was clear that they would seek a Familiar who had aplimenting ability, probably wind, to increase the mage¡¯s power. No mage would intentionally pick a Familiar that could do the same thing he could. It would be a waste!

    That was why these Wisps were most likely surprised by my offer.

    ¡°I will make my specialty the same as your attributes. Fire. Water. Wind. Earth. Four of the basic elements. I have enough Mana Cores to do that!¡±

    My smile broadened as I stared at the glowing beings. With my strength fading, I could only put on this facade for a minute longer, but I had to remain strong. If I passed out here, the contract would never be signed and I would lose my chance.

    ¡°So, what will it be?¡±

    ¡®Please say yes! PLEASE!!!¡¯ I screamed internally.

    ¡°You intrigue me, human.¡±

    ¡°You are quite impressive.¡±

    ¡°Having a Core dedicated to me does sound appealing.¡±

    ¡°And we get to have one another as neighbors¡­¡±

    My body throbbed, muscles ached, and I knew it would only take some seconds before I cked out.

    ¡°Very well. You have won us over¡­ we will sign the contract on one additional condition.¡±

    ¡®Tch! What now?!¡¯

 Chapter 135 - Bonding

    With only a few seconds left before everything totally went nk, I eagerly expected the favorable response of the Wisps¡­ until they told me of an additional term to be included in the Contract.

    ¡®Tch! What now?!¡¯ I growled in impatience.

    ¡°What do you want?¡±

    The round eyes of the four creatures narrowed, as though they were squealing in delight.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡±

    ¡°All you have to do is promise.¡±

    ¡°Promise to never discard us.¡±

    ¡°You just never resort to a Bond Break.¡±

    I swallowed my saliva.

    They knew about Bond Breaking? Of course, they did! Unlike other Familiars who were mere vestiges of their former selves and had their memories corroded with the passage of time, Wisps lived for very long and had no such factors limiting them.

    They would not disappear without a Host, but they still sought one as a means of aplishment andfort.

    The fact that they wanted to add this factor meant that they had no intention of leaving me if we Bonded. The implications of this term meant I couldn¡¯t even resort to the forceful dissolution of our contractter on. It would be permanent in the true sense.

    In essence, I was stuck with them and they were stuck with me.

    But, I had no qualms with that!

    ¡°Hehe¡­ very well. You win. I¡¯ll agree to that. The fact that you¡¯re here means you also agree to my Contractual terms, correct?¡±

    ¡°Wise choice, human.¡±

    ¡°Your terms are reasonable.¡±

    ¡°It appears we have found a good host.¡±

    ¡°You shall not regret this decision.¡±

    ¡°Now that the terms are all agreed on¡­ let¡¯s get this show on the road!¡±

    The Wisps all charged at me and I braced myself for impact.

    SHUUUUUUUUUUUUU

    Hisses of burning energy coursed through me as I felt my Mana Cores absorb the Familiars. Like two different forms of liquidbining, they fused with my cores with such fluidity that the flow was not disrupted.

    It was my first time, so the strange sensation brought about by Bonding with four Familiars made me spasm violently. If I had enough energy, I would have screamed as a result of the overwhelming force.

    I was certain no one had ever aplished this before. Usually, a person could only Bond with one Familiar. It was trite.

    However, having five different Mana Cores, I had the option of Bonding with multiple Familiars. I chose four this time around because I hadn¡¯t found the right candidate for my Primary Core.

    I wanted something more powerful than Wisps, something more unique than anything people would possess, something that didn¡¯t have an equal.

    There was no way to find such a Familiar in the Academy¡­ which was why I had to be patient. Once I was done with my studies and got the opportunity, I would sojourn in search of my true Bond, the one who would dwell within my main Core and grant me absolute power.

    ¡®This¡­ means¡­ I seeded¡­ right?¡¯

    My mind was going nk, and I knew there was nothing more I could do to keep myself conscious. All the criteria for passing the Ceremony had been fulfilled, so I did not need to exit the forest.

    The Staff woulde to get me, and I was going to inform them of the Bonds I contracted with when I woke upter on. That meant, for now, I could rx.

    ¡°Huu¡­ this has been¡­ quite a ride¡­ uh?¡±

    And so, everything went dark!

    *********************

    ¡°Incredible. He really did it!¡± Neron beamed as he watched Jared Leonard copse on the grassy ins.

    Every single staff was surprised by the sight. If only anyone had seen their faces when the four Wisps appeared before Jared and hovered around him, they would have noticed that the Lecturers all dropped their jaws in shock.

    Even the proud Supervisor, Damien Lawcroft, was off his hinges. His eyes spasmed in surprise and he certainly didn¡¯t seem pleased by the development unfolding on the screen.

    After everyone had left the grounds, leaving only Jared, Damien was gloating in satisfaction. He even had enough momentum tough out loud and openly mock Jared, hoping to spark some sort of reaction from Neron.

    Unfortunately, Neron, being a master of his emotions, didn¡¯t give anyone the satisfaction of seeing through him.

    Damien was trembling a little. Not only had Jared gotten the attention of four Wisps, but the four seemed to have contracted with him¡­ something that would have been impossible through normal standards.

    ¡°That kid¡­ something fishy is going on here!¡±

    Neron didn¡¯t appear fazed, though. It was unclear whether he was actually excited for the child or he was simply unimpressed. However, upon closer observation of his thoughts, the answer became clear.

    ¡®I knew it! Jared, you¡­ no wonder you can perform Magic so seamlessly and you have such knowledge. Even being a White Mana Core Grade, you still outdo your peers!¡¯

    Neron had had his suspicion for some time, but with nothing definite to point at, he couldn¡¯t make them out to be more than just his thoughts.

    However, that all changed now that Jared had disyed his ability to contract with four Wisps. No individual could do just that, with the exception of one other¡­ and Neron knew who that person was.

    Himself!

    ¡®So, he has a White Core, but he can perform multiple spells at once and contracts with four Familiars, he¡¯s oddly like me. Hmm, I didn¡¯t want to jump to conclusions before, but it has to be the case!¡¯

    Just like him, Neron knew Jared held a secret concerning the use of the White Mana Core¡­ and that he possessed something no one else had.

    ¡®He has multiple Cores!¡¯

    With this thought firmly established in his mind, Neron¡¯s stoic expression broke into a pleased smile.

    There was no way he could deny it now. Even though he had told Jared that he would only take him in as a disciple if he impressed him during the Inter-ss Exchange that would take ce in two months, Neron was having a change of heart.

    ¡®No wonder he was so confident¡­ so this is it, uh? Very well, you have my attention.¡¯

    Jared was bound to be a monster that would surpass all his peers. Neron knew that much, considering the fact that he was the same.

    ¡®Show me what you¡¯ve got!¡¯

 Chapter 136 - Host and Familiars

    ¡°U-urgh¡­¡±

    My voice was hollow as I opened my eyes to see the ceiling.

    It took a few moments for me to fully grasp my current predicament, but I silently processed it. With empty eyes and strained breaths, my lips curled up in a slight smile upon realizing all I remembered was not a dream.

    ¡®I did it, uh? I got myself four Familiars!¡¯

    That wasn¡¯t the only good news. My Mana Cores, with the exception of my original, had advanced to the Yellow Core Grade, each umting enough to put the best highest Yellow Core Grade student in any ss.

    These were all things worth celebrating.

    Unfortunately, my body was in no state for festivities. Thanks to pushing myself well past the limit, and depriving my body of the appropriate nutrients after going through such a tasking procedure, this much was expected.

    Fortunately, I sustained no permanent damage, and I was most likely in an infirmary. After taking a good look around, I confirmed my assumption.

    ¡®Six Mana Cores is the limit for my body currently¡­ but that doesn¡¯t mean I should push it!¡¯

    Human beings were like rubber. Our base form was not the limit, and we could continue stretching and increasing in power. However, it would be inadvisable to keep any piece of rubber in its stretched state for too long or to push it to the point of its stic limit.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have six Cores within me, even if I can. There has to be a bnce, else I¡¯ll just be overtaking this body¡­¡¯

    That meant one thing¡ªfor now, I had reached the limits of my Mana Core growth, at least in quantity. I could still increase the quality.

    ¡°Ah, maybe I overdid it a little, though¡­¡±

    I was fully recovered, having only slight aches here and there, so it wasn¡¯t necessary to remain in bed. But, seeing that no one was around to interrupt me and that the ce was quiet, it was the best time to manifest my Familiars.

    Closing my eyes and maintaining a steady breathing pattern, I entered a meditative state and connected with my four Mana Cores that had the Wisps dancing within.

    ¡®As expected, they¡¯ve gotten ustomed to the Core¡­¡¯

    While a Mana Core may appear little to humans, once Familiars contracted with a Host and entered it, the Mana Core was basically like a whole world to it.

    The better the Core Grade, therger the world would grow. Currently, thanks to the quality of my Cores, their sizes were each as big as my family¡¯s manor back home.

    I was certain that the Familiars wouldn¡¯t be ufortable for a while. But, now wasn¡¯t the time for leisure. Now that I had contracted with them, the next step would be to begin enforcing our agreement.

    SHUUUUUU

    Infusing the Mana within my cores, I manifested the four Wisps locked within, causing mist-like energy to leave my body and appear above me.

    One after the other, the wisps took form. They used my mana as catalysts and manifested in the normal ne even if their main bodies remained in my Core.

    ¡°Well, well, well¡­¡±

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re finally awake.¡±

    ¡°Who would have thought you were that exhausted when we contracted with you?¡±

    ¡°Pfft.¡±

    The image they took on was identical to how they originally looked like, plus their voices brought back memories. Now that I had more rity, I was able to recognize the Wisps better.

    The crimson one had a rough-looking face, and judging from its attitude and tone, it was most likely the fiercest of them all.

    The blue Wisp was the one who spoke very few words.

    The green one had a yful and free-spirited charm about it.

    As for the ashen one, an earth attuned Wisp, it had a serious demeanor and spoke very bluntly.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy you were all worried about me.¡± I smiled sarcastically and the Wisps made flustered expressions in response to myment.

    ¡°W-wahh?! Who said we were worried?!¡±

    ¡°Fool.¡±

    ¡°Ehhh?¡±

    ¡°If you were that weak, we wouldn¡¯t have agreed to the contract.¡±

    Did they not notice my sarcasm, or were they just airheads?

    Either way, while it was nice and all to get along with one¡¯s familiars as well as crack jokes with them, it was also very important for a Host to assert his dominance in the rtionship.

    ¡°Well, you are now officially my Familiars. I hope you understand what that means.

    ¡°Duh.¡±

    ¡°This guy thinks we¡¯re airheads.¡±

    ¡°We know that much.¡±

    ¡°Do not underestimate us.¡±

    They all spoke, one after the other, as though they could read one another¡¯s thoughts. Maybe they could, or perhaps they had lots of spare time practicing their lines.

    Their statements seemed condescending, though, like they did not acknowledge me as the dominant figure in our rtionship. This was why I was surprised by the next thing they did.

    Each of the floating wisps bowed their brimming heads and showed respect. With joint speech and a reverent tone, they rendered their speech to me.

    ¡°Master¡­ you have proven yourself worthy of our power. We officially dere ourselves as your Familiars.¡±

    As soon as I heard this, I smiled¡ªboth in pride and also relief.

    It would have sucked if they forced me to use the Bond Contract to dominate them. I wasn¡¯t keen on keeping my trusty Familiars bound by fear.

    ¡°Very well. I ept your vows. I shall also prove myself to be an able master to you. Mark my words, you three. Soon, you shall all have more neighbors. You shall witness as I grow stronger and you shall all grow stronger with me. I shall show you things beyond your understanding, and together, we will arrive at the hidden truth¡­ The Root of Magic itself!¡±

    These emotion-filled words echoed across the room, my unwavering will remaining intact.

    As I concluded my speech, I was greeted with silence¡­ and then¡­

    ¡°Pfft!¡±

    ¡°Puahahaha!¡±

    ¡°Our Master is quite the funny man!¡±

    ¡°Do you overestimate yourself? How interesting.¡±

    Shaken by the mockery of those who had called me their master just a few moments back and swore their allegiance to me, a slight tingle of hurt permeated my heart.

    As theirughs radiated the room and they danced gleefully in the air, Iforted myself with a tiny thought.

    ¡®Damn you guys¡­ I should have dominated them, after all!¡¯

 Chapter 137 - Visitors (Pt 1)

    The Wisps kept dancing and giggling around me, like flies on a pile of dung¡­ okay, that wasn¡¯t a very good analogy.

    It was too distracting, watching them y with each other. Still, the sight was wonderfully cute that it caused a smile to form on my face.

    ¡®If I only had one core, this wouldn¡¯t be possible¡­¡¯

    They all looked so happy, being able to interact with their fellow Wisps this way. For Familiars who Bonded with their Hosts, they basically had no one else to rte with except their master. If such a host was cold-hearted and neglectful, the Familiar would suffer loneliness.

    At least I wasforted with the fact that even if I was busy, these fes would have each other.

    Suddenly, the four of them halted in their y, their brimming bodies glowing brighter than usual

    ¡°Someone¡¯sing!¡±

    ¡°Run!¡±

    ¡°Hide!¡±

    ¡°Run and hide!¡±

    Instantly, they all lunged back into my body, returning to their respective Mana Cores. It was adorably how they fled, but I wasn¡¯t surprised that they were able to sense someone¡¯s presence, something I hadn¡¯t been able to.

    ¡®Well, I suppose I haven¡¯tpletelye out of it yet¡­¡¯

    A knock interrupted my thoughts¡ªit was light and gentle. I quickly sat up, resting my back on the crown of the bed Iy on as I expected my visitor.

    CREEEEAAAAKKK

    The door opened slowly and the person in front of it entered, not even waiting for me to give permission. Upon seeing the face of my visitor, though, I acknowledged that there was no need for that.

    ¡°Professor Neron Kaelid¡­ it¡¯s a pleasure to see you.¡±

    My words may have been an act of courtesy, but my smile was genuine. Of all the people I wanted to see first, he was the first candidate.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re all better now. You got treated with a restorative potion and were ced here to recover.¡±

    Neron found a seat at the edge of the room and brought it closer to my bedside. Seating on it, the young man stared at me keenly, as though trying to see right through my smiling expression.

    ¡°A-ah, is that so? That¡¯s a relief, then. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble I caused.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s all right. You¡¯re in the Academy, after all. Your safety is our top priority.¡± His words sounded the moment I concluded mine.

    ¡°H-how did it go? And why are you here?¡± I decided to be straightforward in my approach.

    It had been risky, but I took the chance anyway. Since I had clearly disyed my ability to contract with four Familiars while the staff watched, it was very possible that the secret of my multiple Mana Cores had been exposed.

    If that was the case, then¡­

    ¡°We examined you and found out nothing is wrong with your body, we could also sense the Familiars within you, though their energy signature is all mixed up. Maybe it¡¯s due to the fact that no one has ever contracted that many Wisps at once¡­¡± Neron exined.

    ¡®Ah, I see¡­¡¯

    It appeared I was worried for nothing.

    Of course, it would be impossible for them to detect my multiple Mana Cores since no one had ever achieved it. In tandem, there was no device or appraiser that could detect something that hadn¡¯t been proven to exist yet.

    ¡®A High-ss Appraisal Mage should be able to see right through me, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll need to worry about that for now.¡¯

    ¡°Regardless, congrattions. You¡¯ve broken the record of Ainrk Academy¡¯s Familiar Ceremony.¡±

    ¡®Of course, usually, a person could only contract with one, this was absolute for students in their first years. Yet, I made four mine. It was expected that I would trump the record by far.¡¯

    ¡°The highest record before yours was three contracted Familiars. You beat it by one. That¡¯s an impressive feat.¡±

    ¡®What? Hold on¡­ someone other than me actually contracted with three Familiars? A first-year for that matter? That¡¯s absurd!¡¯

    I could no longer contain my shock, causing it to leak out of my face.

    Neron gave an amused smile, causing me to quickly regain myposure.

    ¡°You seem surprised. You¡¯re probably wondering how that is possible, uh? It¡¯s almost like you know the criteria for getting three Familiars, and how impossible it is¡­ but if that¡¯s the case, then how would you exin your situation?¡±

    I gulped.

    ¡®He got me¡­ damn!¡¯

    ¡°In any case, your situation is indeed rare, but not unprecedented. I came here to congratte you, but also to officially record your Familiars since you passed out before we could do that.¡± Neron causally trailed off the intense discussion we were having, much to my relief.

    ¡°O-oh¡­¡±

    ¡°Please manifest your Bond Souls. Once I have confirmed their identities, you may retract them.¡±

    This was standard procedure, necessary for Ainrk Academy students¡¯ records. Every student had gone through this, allowing the institute to know of their prospects. Now, it was my turn.

    Closing my eyes, I infused the Mana in my Cores, speaking to my Bonds to show themselves before my Lecturer.

    I could feel them resonate within me, all speaking and chattering at once.

    ¡°That human¡­¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s strong!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s scary!¡±

    ¡°His Familiars are¡­ how many does he¡­¡±

    Their words were all jumbled and mixed so I couldn¡¯t fullyprehend them. Still, upon soothing them with my calming Mana, they settled and agreed to the task.

    SHUUUUUUUU

    Instantly, four bright lights surged from within me, revealing the Wisps I contracted with.

    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s actually true. Seeing them up close now¡­ they¡¯re very impressive. Four Will O¡¯ Wisps, uh? And their elemental attributes are of the basic elements, how convenient.¡±

    Neron brought out a small note and a pen from within his breast pocket, writing some things down as he mumbled to himself.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s about it. I should report this now that I¡¯ve confirmed your information.¡± Neron stood from the chair and returned his stationaries to their previous position.

    I watched as he moved toward the door, ready to turn the doorknob. There was a lot I wanted to say to him, but I had to be careful with my words. It wasn¡¯t certain whether I could trust this man or not, after all.

 Chapter 138 - Visitors (Pt 2)

    ¡°Oh, and one more thing¡­¡± Neron bobbed his head as he turned in my direction.

    ¡°The only reason that person chose three Familiars that day was because he didn¡¯t find any other one worth his time¡­¡±

    Neron¡¯s smile deepened, and from the way he narrowed his eyes, I assumed he was giving me a hidden meaning to his words.

    My eyes bulged the moment I realized what it was!

    The one whose record I had surpassed, was none other than my Lecturer himself.

    ¡°I look forward to the Exchange, Jared. You grow more interesting by the day. Once you be my disciple¡­ we¡¯ll be having quite an interesting conversation.¡±

    He opened the door and gave another kind of smile.

    ¡°Looks like you have even more visitors. It¡¯s a good thing I decided to leave when I did.¡±

    I wanted to speak, but words refused toe out. So, as I watched him exit, I yed a smile on my face.

    He certainly was full of mystery, but that made the man all the more interesting. As for his final statement, that was a lot of crap.

    ¡®He must have sensed their presence before they got to the door and coordinated his actions well, timing it to the point that he would be leaving the moment they reached the entrance.¡¯

    That was just how scary my Lecturer was!

    I retracted my Familiars, who had chosen to remain silent throughout Neron¡¯s conversation with me. They ceased their usual chatter and just watched in decorum, waiting to be returned to their Cores.

    It made me wonder if they were actually reliable Bonds or just wusses.

    ¡°Jared!¡± A familiar voice called out to me, causing me to sharply turn in the direction of the door.

    Edward and Anabelle walked in, with thetter increasing her pace with a relieved smile all over her face.

    ¡°Oh, hey. It certainly is nice to see you two.¡±

    ¡°Likewise,¡± Edward said with a slight nod.

    He closed the door behind him as Ana rushed to my side, thoroughly observing my body with her hands and eyes to confirm that I was well.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t be so anxious.¡± Iughed, feeling her small hands course through my skin.

    Fortunately, they didn¡¯t go anywhere dangerous.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be the judge of that!¡±

    Still fuming energetically, she maintained her touch for a few moments until she was satisfied.

    ¡°Well, looks like you¡¯re all good!¡±

    I nearly rolled my eyes in response, but controlled myself. It was good to see them, but Anabelle¡¯s overexcited self was something I could definitely take a break from.

    ¡°You two seeded in the Familiar Selection Ceremony, right? Congrattions.¡±

    Edward and Anabelle grinned, with the former having teary eyes. One could call it the look of gratitude and debt.

    ¡°It¡¯s all because of you, Jared. Thank you!¡±

    Anabelle was more casual about it, but she also offered her thanks. As a result of the training they endured with me, those two had achieved a height they couldn¡¯t have dreamed of attaining in such little time.

    ¡°You two¡­ your Mana Cores seem different. You meditated in the Oasis when the Ceremony started, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    The both of them nodded energetically.

    ¡°We felt the surge of energy and decided to go with the flow. Of course, after seeing that you were doing it, we followed your lead.¡± Edward smiled.

    ¡°Well, the energy was a lot, so I could only take in very little and work on it. Thankfully, I was able to reach the next Core Grade!¡±

    It was amazing how fast they had grown. I was extremely impressed by the initiative they took.

    Edward, who was currently in the middle stage of the Yellow Core Grade, had already advanced to the final stages, having an estimate of about 90 percent Yellow and 10 percent White.

    Of course, I knew I wasn¡¯t being urate, but considering the fact that I felt his Mana Core being saturated with the Yellow Core energy, it only made sense.

    As for Anabelle, her growth was the most astounding. She, who hadn¡¯t even been using Mana all her life, had already reached the Blue Core Grade during our training. However, thanks to the Ceremony¡¯s bulk of energy, she was now teetering at the edge of the Grade.

    ¡®She might reach the next Grade very soon at this rate¡­ how amazing!¡¯

    I was certain she could have gone even further if she kept absorbing the Mana in the Ceremony, but Ana must have felt it too¡­

    ¡°I think I¡¯ve reached the limits of my body, for now. So, I¡¯ll focus more on Spells and Mana control.¡± She answered my thoughts on her own.

    ¡°Indeed. Edward, you¡¯ve also reached a decent stage,parable to talented students. I should focus more on your Sword Arts from now on.¡±

    He nodded in agreement.

    At this point, they had their seats. My bed was big enough for a person to sit on the side, so Anabelle took the initiative and imed the spot. Edward used the only other seat in the infirmary and made it his.

    ¡°Oh, by the way, how long was I out for?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s evening already, so I guess it has just been a few hours.¡±

    That made sense since I was restored through the aid of a potion.

    ¡®I should develop one of my own¡­ so I don¡¯t experience this kind of weakness after intense meditation!¡¯

    ¡°How about you, Jared? Were you able to breakthrough? Did you achieve a higher Core Grade?¡± With eyes sparkling like a child, Anabelle assaulted me with questions.

    ¡°No. I still have a White Mana Core Grade. I told you already, that this is intentional. I did achieve what I wanted, though.¡±

    They looked surprised by my reply, and curiosity seemed to seep in.

    ¡°It was well worth it since I got to have the ideal Familiars¡­ I¡¯m certain your Mana Core progress also helped in obtaining very useful Bonds.¡±

    Anabelle and Edward nced at each other¡¯s smiled amusedly, and then looked at me with confident and proud looks. It was as if they shared a secret I didn¡¯t know of¡­ well, they were about to reveal it to me.

    ¡°Hehehe! Edward and I got ourselves a steal!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Jared. We¡¯ll Manifest them for you to see for yourself¡±

    The massive growth the pair had undergone, coupled with the confidence they now disyed, told me I was in for a treat.

    ¡®Oh? Now I¡¯m intrigued. Show me what you caught!¡¯

 Chapter 139 - Familiar Allies

    SHIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!

    Light enveloped both Edward and Anabelle as they called upon their Bond Souls.

    ¡®What incredible mana!¡¯ My thought sparked, watching as the beings materialized from the energy bustling from the two.

    I hadn¡¯t expected the Familiars they would contract with to have a presence so strong, but I just kept on being surprised today. They manifested, and my eyes bulged in surprise and awe at the magnificent beings that appeared before me.

    ¡°T-these are¡ª!!!¡±

    Floating in front of Ana as her Familiar was a creature anyone would recognize, but the variant was so unique that I doubted any other student possessed one like it.

    Having wings that glimmered like the ocean, and a tail serving as the recement for legs, this strange cross-breed between a mermaid and a fairy, appeared majestically.

    It wore silver and blue armor, and its sapphire hair floated, as though it was being submerged in water. The skin that showed was pale, but appeared moist. Having a wless beauty that perfectly represented her, and sparkles of light floating around, this being was none other than a Naiad Fairy!

    ¡®Amazing!¡¯

    The rarer the type of being was before its death, the more powerful it was guaranteed to be. A Naiad Fairy was extremely rare! it was also ssified as an Imperial Grade Magic Beast, thereby making the familiar also of the same Grade if nurtured well!

    Generally speaking, creatures that took on the trait of multiple species had hidden characteristics and were guaranteed for evolution.

    As I was still locked in my dazed state while staring at Anabelle¡¯s Familiar which was the first to appear, Edward finally manifested his. The aura of the Bond caused me to instantly turn my head and stare in Edward¡¯s direction.

    What I saw was even more surprising than Anabelle¡¯s Familiar.

    It had a horrifying dark aura, like a thick mantle in the night. Purple shes sparked around the being, and I could sense the deep-seated malice emanating from it.

    ¡®This¡­ why is such a being Edward¡¯s Bond? This is absurd!!!¡¯

    This Familiar took on the form of an armored warrior. He was d in full dark tes, covering his body in strange metal and some fabric in loose ends. Purple linen made up the clothes that showed underneath his armor, and there were several inscriptions and designs on the raven-ck gear of the same color. One would have thought this was a dark, yet noble warrior, except for one major w.

    It had no head!

    ¡®A Duhan!¡¯ My mind instantly rang.

    The warrior¡¯s head was held by the side using one of his arms, and I could see the two crimson balls of light that served as his eyes.

    The Duhan floated, same as the fairy, but definitely had a more intimidating presence.

    The Grade of this creature was way past the Imperial Grade. It was at least a Fable Grade. How did such a soul pick Edward?!

    Duhans were creatures of horror and nightmare, personifying death itself. A Duhan dying and bing a Bond Soul was absurd enough, but for it to choose Edward as its Host?

    ¡®How¡­?!¡¯

    I had to admit, though, the power level of the Duhan wasn¡¯t as powerful as I expected from its Grade, most likely due to the fact that it must have lost most of its powers, but this was still incredible!

    ¡®It should have a mount, though¡­ I wonder where it is¡­¡¯

    Perhaps that was the reason it didn¡¯t seem like the being lived up to its identity. Was it iplete? So many questions rang in my head as I looked at both students and their Familiars.

    ¡®I thought I was lucky to have encountered Wisps, but these two have great luck too!¡¯

    ¡°These Familiars are amazing, Anabelle, Edward! This has exceeded my expectations by far!¡±

    Both of them broke into pleased grins the moment I said this, acting all smug about their achievements.

    ¡°Come on, Rhea. You should greet our friend. Go on.¡± Anabelle suddenly spoke, referring to her Familiar whom she had already named.

    What a smart girl.

    ¡°U-uh, I am¡­ my name is¡­ e-erm¡­ Nice to meetcha!!!¡±

    The fairy-mermaid squeaked in her melodious voice and seemed to be flushed with embarrassment.

    ¡®¡­ E-ehhh?!¡¯

    The Familiar fidgeted in her puny form, dancing around as she struggled to form words. All the majesty she had before had now vanished. It was a bit painful to see.

    ¡°Haha, she¡¯s a little shy, but I guess we¡¯re working on it. I named her Rhea, though. She¡¯s so cute, isn¡¯t she?¡±

    I nodded quickly, hoping it would mask the slight disappointment I felt.

    Strong Familiars were often confident about their abilities, sometimes proud to a fault. If Anabelle¡¯s Bond was this timid, it made me worried for her future.

    ¡°Your turn, Perci. Introduce yourself.¡± Edward¡¯s voice distracted me from the shameful disy of Rhea.

    ¡°Greetings, young pdin. As a fallen knight, I am not worthy to abide by the chivalric code. However, I shall exchange greetings as my master desires.¡±

    It felt awkward talking to what was supposed to be a headless evil knight, but I maintained focus. It was still a knight at heart, making it extremely loyal to Edward.

    ¡°The name I have been granted is Percival, Perci for short. As you know, I am his Familiar, bonded with him till death do us part!¡±

    His formal tone and reverent personality struck a chord within me, but I was still confused about something.

    ¡°May I ask a question?¡±

    The Knight nodded its dismembered head from where it was lodged by the side.

    ¡®How is it able to do that?¡¯ I wanted to ask, but I concluded that anything was possible with Magic.

    ¡°Why did you pick Edward? You must know what kind of kind and pure soul he is¡­ is he really the best fit for a corrupt knight as you?¡±

    I had to inquire since it made no sense to me.

    For a moment, there was silence¡­ but it quickly ended.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ it is because of my Master, Lord Edward¡¯s heart that I specifically approached him. While I may be like this, I possess lingering regrets as one who once trod the path of righteousness and chivalry. While I have no memories of my past, I am certain the longing to once again serve purity caused my soul to be transformed into a Bonded one.¡±

    From its king exnation, I began to understand. From the Familiar¡¯s exnation, it certainly made sense¡­

    ¡®I suppose it¡¯s true what they say. Opposites attract!¡¯

 Chapter 140 - Motivation

    Familiars are beings who take the form of Bond Souls, ethereal creatures made up of Mana. With the exception of Wisps, all other Familiars used to be alive in physical forms, and simply passed on¡ªleaving their Ego behind.

    As a result of this, they lose most of their memories from when they were alive, only having mere vestiges left. The major driving force of a Familiar, their core motivation, lies in their remnant attachments to the world of the living. To some, it could be a dream, to others¡ªregret.

    To each Familiar, the cause of their existence differs. However, one thing ismon and absolute about all of them¡­ they choose a Host that best qualifies for their motivation.

    Familiars choose Hosts that are the closest candidates to their ideals.

    As a course of instinct, the Souls most likely long for the fulfillment of the attachments they had before death.

    **************************

    ¡°I see¡­ I understand then.¡± I responded to Edward¡¯s Familiar, who nodded at my words.

    Yes, with his detached head!

    ¡®It¡¯s still weird¡­¡¯

    Edward, being a pure warrior, must have sparked the Duhan¡¯s interest. I had no qualms with that.

    My eyes darted toward the Naiad Fairy, Anabelle¡¯s Familiar, and saw her shrink away in fright.

    Despite her majestic appearance and the powerful aura she emitted, the being was terribly shy and nervous.

    ¡°What about you? Why did you choose Anabelle?¡±

    ¡°Eeeeekkkk!!!¡± The mermaid-fairy squeaked in shock and assumed fear.

    ¡®For real?!¡¯ I nearly rolled my eyes.

    ¡°I¡­ erm¡­ I¡­¡±

    I sighed and turned to face Anabelle, her host. If her Familiar couldn¡¯t speak, the Host should take on the role instead. With my brow raised, I questioned the young girl and demanded answers.

    ¡°W-well¡­ Rhea said¡­ I reminded her of someone she knew in the past¡­ so she wants to be with me.¡±

    Once Anabelle said this, my expectations plummeted even further.

    ¡®Just for that reason? Hmm, a Familiar whose core motivation is sentiment for another¡­ ¡®

    No matter how I thought about it, it wasn¡¯t a strong driving force! That meant the Ego of this being was little, and the room for growth wouldn¡¯t be as high as another familiar with a higher driving force.

    Still, there was nothing I could do about it. Mentioning it to Ana wouldn¡¯t change anything since she seemed to be getting along well with her Bond¡ªsame with Edward.

    ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s time to introduce you guys to mine.

    ¡°Manifest.¡±

    Just like earlier, four bursts of light came from within me and the Wisps appeared.

    ¡°Again?¡±

    ¡°This is the third time now.¡±

    ¡°Why would you call us for nothing important!¡±

    ¡°That man is gone¡­ what a relief.¡±

    They resumed their chatter, making me sigh in embarrassment. Compared to the personality of mypanions¡¯ Bonds, my Familiars weren¡¯t exactly model ones either.

    ¡°These four are my contracted Bonds. They¡¯re Wisps. I am yet to name them, though.¡±

    As I addressed Edward and Ana, I noticed the utter shock written on their faces. Terror, mixed with absolute astonishment!

    ¡®Ah, I forgot¡­ they didn¡¯t know I contracted with four Familiars¡­¡¯

    ¡°T-this is unbelievable, no, impossible!¡±

    ¡°Jared, how did you achieve this? Is this even¡­ four Familiars at once? How did you¡ª?!¡±

    I raised my hand slightly, signaling the two to calm down and contr the gushing emotions within them.

    Their responses were only natural. If I had seen such a sight in my first life, I would have certainly reacted with greater vigor.

    ¡®The answer to their inquisition is quite simple, but I do not want to reveal my multiple Cores to them, for now¡­¡¯

    I had toe up with a lie on the spot, hoping the two Familiars they summoned wouldn¡¯t rat me out.

    ¡°You all seem surprised.¡±

    ¡°Our Master is a superior human.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s very special.¡±

    ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have contracted with him otherwise!¡±

    ¡®Shit! I totally forgot about my Familiars! They could say something they aren¡¯t meant to!¡¯

    I had to shut them up one way or the other!

    ¡°My Mana Core is different from yours. That¡¯s why I decided to remain a White Mana Core Grade, it¡¯s a privilege only given to those with pure Cores.¡± I managed to speak in time, shooting the floating Wisps a dirty look.

    Edward and Anabelle looked stunned by my rushed response, having doubtful expressions on their faces.

    ¡®Please buy it, please buy it!!!¡¯ I prayed internally.

    It wasn¡¯t technically a lie since I actually needed a White Core to perform the feat of possessing multiple Familiars. I simply omitted the parts about having four other Mana Cores.

    ¡°W-wow, I didn¡¯t know the White Mana Core Grade was so powerful!¡±

    ¡°If I had known, I would have remained a White Core Grade like you.¡±

    Their voices disyed surprise and more astonishment.

    I nearly heaved a sigh of relief that they bought my lie.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. That ship has sailed. Besides, you two will be sure to get stronger than any other ssmate of ours. Don¡¯t worry about a thing.¡±

    Just like human Cores had Grades, Familiars also had categories of their own.

    The Common Grade

    The Noble Grade

    The Imperial Grade

    The Fable Grade

    The Legendary Grade

    The Transcendent Grade

    Of these categories, Edward had had a Familiar belonging to the Fable Grade, same as my Wisps.

    The Naiad Fairy was of the Imperial Grade, but would still be considered fairy powerful considering the uniqueness and versatility of her abilities.

    In my opinion, these were extremely good sets for rising to the top. Still, I wondered what kind of Familiars Stefan and Maria ended up with. They were mostly going to be extremely powerful so I couldn¡¯t ck off here.

    ¡°Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot. Jared, those two you were speaking to earlier¡­ they told us to deliver a message to you.¡± Edward suddenly spoke.

    My eyes sparkled with interest, but I noticed Anabelle¡¯s face darken the moment Maria and Stefan were mentioned. It appeared she had some bad blood going on with them.

    ¡°What did they say?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Well, it was mostly the guy, Stefan, who spoke. He said I should tell you to prepare yourself. He¡¯s going to crush you in two months.¡±

 Chapter 141 - The Way Forward

    ¡°Pfffft!¡± I nearly spurted out saliva in amusement.

    Stefan went through all that trouble only to say that? It appeared he was taking the whole ¡®rival¡¯ thing a bit too far.

    ¡°Oh? He said that? interesting¡­¡±

    As my grin intensified, I noticed the worried expressions disyed by Edward and Anabelle.

    ¡°Those guys belong to the Upper ss, right? Are you sure you should be crossing them?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I mean¡­ can we reallypete against them?¡±

    Their tone disyed worry and inferiority. I could tell from the shades in their eyes that these two had given up onpeting against the top dogs. To be fair, their disposition was justified. Normally, those who were alreadybeled as inferior couldn¡¯t rise above the superior ones.

    Plus, they had only started actively learning the use of Mana for three weeks. With so much gap in experience between them and the supposed adversaries, shrinking to safety was the natural course of action.

    However¡­

    ¡°You guys don¡¯t need to worry about a thing. We have two months, don¡¯t we? That is enough time to surpass those guys!¡±

    I intentionally omitted the fact that these two were already stronger than all Middle-ss Students, and we¡¯re already close to reaching the level of Upper-ss ones.

    They needed to work harder, and I wasn¡¯t going to settle for ¡®barely enough¡¯. The fact that I invested so much time and effort in these guys meant I expected massive returns.

    ¡°You all got amazing familiars, and your Mana Cores are in eptable states. For the next two months, we¡¯ll be mainly focusing on spells for Anabelle, and techniques for Edward!¡±

    Slowly, I saw the fog of uncertainty clear away from their eyes. My confidence seemed to be doing the trick. Since I had brought them this far¡­ they could only expect me to stick by my promise!

    ¡°Yeah, about the techniques¡­ Jared, there¡¯s something I need to tell you¡­¡±

    Edward now seemed super serious, most likely the most since I knew him.

    ¡°Ohhh, so you¡¯re finally going to say it!¡± Anabelle beamed in surprise and satisfaction.

    ¡®So she knows about this too?¡¯

    Of course, she would! Anabelle and Edward hardly kept anything from each other.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ed?¡± I smiled softly, trying to ease the grave expression on myrade¡¯s face.

    His body was twitching and his fists remained clenched. Clearly what he wanted to say wasn¡¯t so easy for him to divulge. Still, one thing about the boy before me was his unyielding spirit.

    The determination in his eyes told me that he had resolved to speak about it.

    ¡°The truth is¡­ my family has a Martial Arts technique. It¡¯s a School that has been passed down for generations, and my father passed it down to me before he died.¡±

    My eyes widened in surprise.

    ¡®A Martial Arts inheritance? Edward has such a thing?!¡¯

    ¡°I used one of its basic forms on you when we dueled¡­ The 9 Fundamental Precepts.¡±

    My memory shed to the moment when he used the first form of the technique on me ¡®REND¡¯. I had to admit that the move possessed power and speed, but it was too straightforward¡ªnot suitable to be used against someone who also had Martial Arts.

    ¡®It¡¯s most likely a subpar technique¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    But, it wasn¡¯t like I could tell Edward that his family¡¯s heirloom was inferior and undesirable to my tastes. Compared to the techniques I wanted him to learn, the modern ones just couldn¡¯tpare.

    Still, I was fascinated by the fact that he had an inheritance. Usually, only top Martial Arts families possessed such a thing, and Edward wasn¡¯t really one. He was amoner, having no parents and only his talent in Martial Arts to rely on.

    His Martial Arts inheritance must have meant a lot to him considering it took him great courage to tell me, someone he already considered a friend. There was no way I was going to trample on his pride and joy.

    ¡°That sounds interesting¡­ I would love to see these techniques.¡± I replied with a smile.

    ¡°Well, I got permission from Ainrk¡¯s authorities to be able to bring them with me to the Academy. I keep them in my room, so¡­¡±

    My head moved in a nod.

    ¡°I get it. Could you perhaps bring the 9 Fundamental Precepts Book after the weekend, no, let¡¯s meet up tomorrow¡­ and you¡¯ll show me.¡±

    Edward¡¯s unsure eyes began to light up in passion, most likely happy about my interest in his techniques.

    ¡°Certainly! Let¡¯s do that!¡±

    Anabelle, who had been left out of our conversation so far looked a little miffed by her istion and butted in.

    ¡°You know, Edward hasn¡¯t even mastered the 9 Precepts, the most basic of the Martial Arts inheritance he has.¡±

    The young warrior instantly grew flustered by herment and blushed in embarrassment.

    ¡°I-I¡­ I had no one to teach me! It¡¯s tooplex and profound for me to understand by myself!¡±

    I smiled as I watched the two of them bickering. Seated on my bed and being surrounded by two allies as we discussed the future¡­ it didn¡¯t seem too bad.

    The excitement welling up within me couldn¡¯t be denied as I allowed my thoughts to drift in the direction of my previouspanions¡ª Gawain Lenard the Sword God, Jane Urs the Mad Witch, Ford Zesshi the Grand Mage, Raphael Noel of the Thousand Songs, and The Indestructible Immortal, Dom! These were my closest allies and the ones I called friends.

    Of course, there were others, but none made an impression on me aspared to them. After all, the battle we fought so long ago still rang loudly in the heart of everyone in thend.

    The Celestial War, the sh between Heroes and Demons¡­ the battle that determined the fate of the Eastern Empire, no, the world at the time¡­ we were the ones who fought in it!

    But, that was all in the past. The threat had been vanquished and even centuries after my death there had been no sight of the great darkness that appeared all those years ago. My main concern now was right in front of me!

    ¡®I can¡¯t wait for the future!¡¯

 Chapter 142 - The Classes Converge

    [2 Months Later]

    After training for months and honing our skills, after tempering our bodies and studying ceaselessly, after pushing ourselves beyond our limits¡­ the moment had finally arrived.

    The Inter-ss Exchange!

    As the name implied, it was the convergence of the three sses of the three years. This event was to simte apetition where the respective ssespeted and tested their skills.

    From what I knew, the Exchange started as a means of allowing students topete with one another and enhance their skills. Back when there was no segregation and discrimination caused by ss, the Exchange was simply a way for all the students to determine their strengths.

    However, now it had morphed into something else entirely¡­ it was an event where the weak were crushed by the strong¡ªthat is, the Upper-ss elite totally obliterating those of the Lower-ss.

    Apetition between the Schrs, Martial Artists, and Magic-Users of the Lower ss, Middle ss, and Upper ss among the First years, Second years, and Third years!

    The ultimate in-house Academypetition that only happened once a year¡ªthat was the definition of the Inter-ss Exchange!

    And here I was¡­ about to participate in what would change my life forever.

    ************************

    ¡°Whoah!!!¡± Edward and Anabelle made extremely impressed sounds as we entered the massive hall where thepetition would take ce.

    From outside the dome, I could tell that this ce was beyond huge. Compared to our examination center back then, the hall was most likely thrice as big!

    As we went through the entrance, we saw a flight of chairs forming a circle around the stage, simr to a colosseum. It sure bought some memories, but I only smiled¡ªin contrast to the two beside me who kept beaming in awe.

    The seats, while spreading round in a close circle, were segregated.

    The first years had their seats located the furthest from the entrance, having obvious gaps that served as stairs to divide the sses.

    The Second year¡¯s seats were on the left side of the entrance, simrly divided.

    The third years took the right.

    The hall seemed disconnected from the outside world, with no windows in sight. The ceilings seemed to spread as high as the sky, and the light brimming from its expanse was glorious.

    Thanks to the magic lights, most likely continually influenced by Mana supplies, the hall was brightly lit. As for venttion, there had to be openings all around us, or maybe it was the influence of Magic. Regardless, the air was cool and the ambiance of the hall, though already chock-full of students, was pleasant.

    ¡°We should start moving¡­¡± I muttered to my two allies who were still drooling at the sight unfolding before them.

    I already noticed a bunch of students who were drawing closer to us, and it would be rude to serve as hindrances in their path.

    My worries were not needed, though, since the pathway for walking wasrge enough to contain ten people walking in a straight, horizontal line¡ªshoulder to shoulder.

    Still, it was better to keep moving in order to avoid any ¡®scenes¡¯. We were only Lower ss First years, after all. The fodder of fodder.

    Our pace was not hurried, but the excitement made us, no, the two beside me move faster than usual. I simply matched their pace.

    In no time, we got to where our seats were located, a flight of over two hundred chairs, certainly too much for only Lower ss First Years. I was certain that this hall was used for something else as well, considering it was toorge for students who were not even up to five hundred!

    ¡°Where should we sit, Jared?¡± Anabelle asked me in anticipation.

    A broad smile formed on my face. It mattered not where one sat, the sight of the event would still be evident for all to see. Still, for the best experience in an arena like this, the obvious choice was¡­

    ¡°Up! We¡¯re going to the very top!¡±

    Fortunately, myrades seemed to agree and we made our way upward using the flight of stairs.

    I felt some eyes fall on us, obviously students who knew of our identity¡ªrather, my identity.

    Despite the three months that had psed since we all resumed Ainrk, it appeared my impression of people remained. It was a good thing, but not always.

    Ignoring their stares, I walked elegantly and made my way to the edge of the row of ten seats, resting my buttocks on thest one in the row. Anabelle and Edward sat respectively beside me, though thetter appeared to be sulking.

    ¡®He probably wants a direct seat beside me¡­¡¯ I reasoned with a smile.

    However, this time I wasn¡¯t going to tolerate being in the middle. After all, next to the edge of the row where I sat were the seats of the Middle-ss students, and beyond were the Upper-ss, only segregated by the stairs.

    ¡®I want a better sight of thepetitors!¡¯

    More students trickled in, and despite therge hall, there was only one entrance.

    Multiple exits were in sight, but there were blocked at the moment.

    Once an individual got in, they wouldn¡¯t be able to leave until thepetition was over for the day. This was why Anabelle, Edward, and I took our time beforeing in.

    The opposite was also true, though. If one cameter than the expected time frame, they would be locked out of the hall until the Exchange concluded for the day.

    I noticed that a few more students trickled in, but my focus wasn¡¯t on them. The ones that caught my attention were already seated.

    Stefan and Maria sat a distance from me, both at the topmost row as well. Their eyes darted in my direction and a smile formed on my face. The look in Stefan¡¯s eyes told me he was ready, and the disconcerting expression of Maria just made me confused about what went on in her head.

    Still on their row was someone else who sat at the edge of the seats, closer to the Third years. He had a strange demeanor and I hadn¡¯t noticed him in the Academy until now.

    ¡®Who is that kid¡­?!¡¯

    I was surprised that, out of Upper-ss students, there existed one I couldn¡¯t even recognize. There were supposed to be 12 Upper-ss members, yet I was seeing thirteen in their seats.

    ¡®I knew it! That guy wasn¡¯t with us during the exams.¡¯

    But, this conclusion begged yet another question, something I tried wrapping my head around. If he didn¡¯t take the exams and was still an Upper-ss student, that meant there was something peculiar about him. I couldn¡¯tprehend it, but it appeared the Exchange was going to be more interesting than I had initially thought.

    ¡®I suppose I have one extra thing to look forward to!¡¯

 Chapter 143 - The Exchange Begins!

    ¡°Wee, students¡­ to the Inter-ss Exchange!¡± A magnanimous voice boomed from the stage.

    Instantly, the students burst forth in response. Well, most of them were the heated second years and Third years who most likely looked forward to having rematches with their fellow students after previous attempts.

    The First Years were also excited, some making glorious noises. Of course, I fell silent despite the anticipation I had.

    The man who stood on the stage was exquisitely dressed, as expected of our moderator. The arena, which took up a bulk of the hall, was so wide that I reckoned over a thousand people could fit in there. It brought certainty to me that this hall was most definitely used for something other than the Exchange.

    Looking at the speaker, it was the same as the one we had during our exams. I recognized him well¡ªus Tallman.

    ¡®So, he¡¯s the moderator this time as well¡­ I wonder why?¡¯

    ¡°As you know, this event marks the beginning of a blood-curdling rivalry between the students who are experiencing this for the first time, and the continuation of a heatedpetitive spirit among the first and second years.¡±

    The responses of the students told us point-nk that he was right.

    ¡°The Exchange will upy all seven days of the week! Yes, that¡¯s right. It will be an all-out internalpetition, so the length is very much understandable!¡±

    Neron Kaelid had already informed us of this fact, so none of us were surprised. Still, it was quite amazing that we would spend seven dayspeting.

    ¡°The first three days will be the preliminary rounds, whittling down thepetitions to five each. After that, the next three days will be the final matches of each year¡­ it will be quite heated indeed!¡±

    My heart beat faster as us kept speaking.

    ¡°As for thest day¡­ it will be the greatest treat and the ultimate battle which will round up the events of the Inter-School Exchange! Yes¡­ it¡¯s the battle among the Elite Ten of the three sses!!!¡±

    More roars and screeches spread across the hall, and I knew why.

    The Elite Ten were the most powerful and talented students in each ss. The rankings were made irrespective of the year a student belonged. So long as they could defeat another member of the Elite, they automatically gained the position. Our Lower ss had ten of such students, same as the Middle and Upper ss.

    So, for thest day of the Inter-ss Exchange, these students wouldpete for the right to be¡­ Rankers!

    ¡°Huu, this is exciting!¡± My voice leaked out as I couldn¡¯t contain myself anymore.

    Being amid students who fought with their pride and honor on the line to prove their worth¡­ was too exciting.

    Martial Artists would use their various techniques to showcase why they were the best in the Martial Arts section.

    Schrs would make use of their intellect to solve various problems in order to outwit the other for the Schrship section.

    Finally, the Magic Users would go all out to defeat their opponents using their adept maniption of mana and their deep knowledge of Spells for the Magic Section.

    These three sections made up the Inter-School Exchange, a reason why it took a total of seven days toplete.

    However, since this wasn¡¯t a strict academic program and had no effect on the scores gotten from our respective courses, it was possible for students to register for participation in any section¡­ or not to register at all!

    For the Exchange, I had Anabelle go for the Magic Section, same as me. Edward, of course, would be contesting in Martial Arts.

    It was not a team match, so it wasn¡¯t possible for Ana and me to coborate, but since we were matched against students from other sses, we wouldn¡¯t need to face ourselves at all.

    Out of everyone I had to watch out for, the Upper-ss students had the bulk of talent, naturally. People like Stefan Netherlore, Maria Helmsworth, and even Ivan Smith, had my interests.

    Of course, the new face was also on my list since I knew nothing about him. Of everything one needed to fear most, the unknown topped the list.

    ¡°Now then, without further ado¡­ I shall be Introducing your judges!!!¡±

    Pointing toward the edge of the stage, a tall tform emerged. I was certain earth magic was at work since it appeared so seamlessly. The tform was made up of sturdy tiles and began floating in the air.

    The tform in the air levitated, and three seats with desks were ced atop it. A bright light sparked, and in an instant, three people upied the judges¡¯ seats.

    A wry smile formed on my face as I noticed our academic supervisor, Damien Lawcroft at the center of the seat. Legris Damien, another familiar face sat on the left, while someone I hadn¡¯t seen before upied the left.

    ¡°These Senior Lecturers who are well-versed in the art of Magic and Martial Arts will be umting your points and judging your performance based on merit.¡±

    Silence filled the hall as a result of the huge respect we ced on the highly esteemed figures that sat on the floating block of tiles.

    ¡°The rules shall now be disyed for everyone to see. These judges willpletely adhere to the regtions whenpiling the results and aspetitors, you should too. Please note that cheating is strictly forbidden, and you will never be able to get away with it. That much I can guarantee!¡±

    The fact that he emphasized cheating meant some idiots had tried that before. It almost made meugh that someone would attempt such a thing when experts keenly watched their every move.

    The moment us finished announcing his piece,rge panels appeared on all four corners of the stage, disying the rules to everyone.

    The panels, simr to the board that disyed our results back then, were easy to read and had to have required an impable use of mana to create.

    ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s see¡­¡±

    Looking at them now, I could understand why the exam required judges. It was going to be an intense match!

 Chapter 144 - Battle Royale (Pt 1)

    [INTER-CLASS EXCHANGE REGULATIONS]

    ¡ª The Use Of Items To Aid In The Exchange Is Not epted.

    ¡ª The Use Of Familiars Is Not epted.

    ¡ª Killing Of Your Opponent Is Not epted.

    ¡ª Weapons Will Be Provided For Those Who Require Arms For Combat (Martial Artists)

    ¡ª Participants Are To Fight All-Out, Not Holding Anything Back (Intentional Attempt To Kill Is Exempted)

    ¡ª Criteria For Victory Is; The Surrender Of The Opponent, The Opponent Going Unconscious, The Incapability Of The Opponent To Fight, Or The Opponent Engaging In Malpractice

    ¡ª The Winner Is Determined By The Judges.

    ¡ª Once The Opponent Is Seen To Be Unable To Fight, Participants Are To Refrain From Further Attacks.

    ¡ª Breaking The Aforementioned Rule Can Make The Participant Liable For Disqualification If Decided So By The Judges.

    ¡ª Breaking Any Of The Other Aforementioned Rules Can Lead To Automatic Disqualification.

    ¡ªMode Of Competition And Other Information Will Be Given By The Moderator.

    [END OF INFORMATION]

    Everyone seemed to carefully read through the rules, and I was no exception. I didn¡¯t know whether to say they were to my advantage or not, but these rules ced a severe handicap on me¡ªno, a lot of people.

    ¡®We can¡¯t use familiars or any external aid! Even weapons are given by the moderators, and that only applies to the Martial Artists.¡¯

    Thest part didn¡¯t concern me very much, but if I had to fight without external aid, something I had focused on for the past two months, then I was at a major disadvantage.

    ¡°Still¡­¡±

    A smile formed on my face, undaunted by the rules that shone before me. It mattered not how thepetition would go. As long as I won, that was the most important thing!

    ¡°Now, then¡­ first off, we¡¯ll start with something known as ¡®culling¡¯.¡± The Moderator, us Tallman announced¡ª causing all of us to return our attention to him.

    A dreadful silence enveloped the arena instantly. Whatever the man meant by ¡®the culling¡¯ truly grabbed everyone by the throat.

    No longer did I see any excited expressions from our seniors who knew what the term meant. Only a grim look remained on their faces.

    ¡°The Inter-School Exchange aims to bring the best of each ss to sh in an all-outpetition. While there is no discrimination on who can or can not participate, there are standards we maintain.¡±

    I slowly began to understand what the moderator was insinuating.

    ¡°In essence, to make sure none of our time is wasted, we will be cutting off the excesses and only taking in the best of each ss! Out of those who have decided to participate in thepetition¡­ only seven from each ss will be allowed to proceed!¡±

    My eyes bulged in response to the verdict.

    ¡®Seven? Already?!¡¯

    Noises of protests came from the mouth of everyone. There was no way the students wouldn¡¯t be dissatisfied with us¡¯ words.

    Our ss alone had 38 members, and the first years were a total of 130! Yet, us was saying only 21 Students would be making it out of the culling!

    Granted, not all students would wish to participate in the Inter-ss Exchange, but as first-years who had no idea how thepetition worked, I was certain a majority of us would join.

    ¡®Wow, intense right off the bat.¡¯

    My eyes slowly moved in the direction of Edward and Anabelle, seeing how they trembled in response to the news. I had no way of knowing if it was a result of excitement or nervousness. I certainly hoped it wouldn¡¯t be thetter, though.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ as for the means of elimination, we¡¯ll be choosing the fastest way possible¡ªa Battle Royale!¡±

    Yet another protest from the crowd emerged.

    For a coordinatedpetition to resort to this meant they were truly trying to get rid of the dead weight quickly. To conserve time, this was truly the most efficient means.

    A game without rules, where a bunch of people was ced in a ring and thest man was left standing¡­ that was what we were in for!

    ¡°Out of the seven, in order to make all things even, we will be selecting five Magic-Users, one Martial Artist, and one Schr! Also, for fairness, the Battle Royale for each department will be held differently and the criteria for victory also differ.¡±

    So far, that sounded fair. I couldn¡¯t imagine a Schrpeting with a Magic-User for the top spot. Also, since Magic-Users were the majority among Ainrk Academy¡¯s students, it was certainly reasonable that they would hold the highest number of candidates for qualification.

    ¡°Now, then, for this Battle Royale, we will be starting with the Third-year students!¡± us dropped another bombshell.

    However, this time, there was silence.

    ¡°The First Years are inexperienced in theirpetition, so we would appreciate it if our Third years gave a demonstration so they know what to expect!¡±

    ¡®I see¡­ so, to introduce us to how fierce thepetition will be, they¡¯re going to be showing us Ainrk¡¯s final year students.¡¯ I smiled, nodding at the smart choice that was made.

    Of course, these third years excluded those who were members of the Elite Ten. None of the Elite students were allowed topete until the final day of the contest. This also promoted fairness.

    ¡°I shall now call upon the participants from the Third Years!¡±

    ***************************

    Despair and terror were written on the face of the students as they watched the horrid, unbelievable sight.

    I would know since I was also there to witness it!

    Students pitted against students, no holds barred. The idea that the Inter-School Exchange was a fun game instantly evaporated from my thoughts, as well as that of others. Yes, this wasn¡¯t a game, not in the slightest.

    Wounds¡ªsevere ones¡ªwere inflicted on desperate students, by other students. I had no idea why they would go so far for a contest, but they did.

    Bursts of mes and chills of eyes were seen from our seats as the number of fighting students dwindled. From a few dozen, to a score, to a dozen¡­ until, finally, seven remained.

    These seven were nearly out of breath, but their eyes remained resolute. There was no doubt about it.

    They were the champions of that round!

 Chapter 145 - Battle Royale (Pt 2)

    We witnessed our seniors duke it out, in silence.

    No one among the audience spoke, no, we were too fixated on the match that was unfolding. By the time it was over, the heavy strained breaths of everyone seemed to let loose¡ªheaves of relief spread across the hall.

    Finally, the horrid match of desperation was over.

    Unfortunately, this was only one of the several matches that would unfold¡ª

    Three sses

    Three Years

    Three Departments.

    While the nature of each Battle Royale would be different, we would have to watch, waiting our turn, as ssmates destroyed one another for the right to remain in the fold.

    Why did they try so hard? It was only apetition, after all¡­

    Of course, the answer was obvious¡ªApprenticeship.

    If they made an indelible impression on the Lecturers who were scattered about, these students would be able to be personally taught by them. It was a desperate strategy, but the returns made it all worth it.

    Even I had to impress Neron to be taken in as his disciple!

    ¡°Alright, First Years! For the Magic-Users, you should have now understood how the Battle Royale works. Next, let us invite the Third Year Lower ss Martial Arts department, for their round.¡± us Tallman boomed, driving everyone who was in shock back into reality.

    I gave a wry smile and realized that they were using the Lower ss seniors as scapegoats to start thepetition. I wasn¡¯t too surprised by this fact, yet why did I feel disgusted?

    ¡®The prejudice even trails to this contest, uh? It¡¯ll be hard to gain first ce, then¡­¡¯

    The Third Years stepped onto the stage¡ªthose who required weapons for their various fields got to pick from a shelf provided for them before they climbed the tform for battle.

    I saw numerous weapons stocked on the shelf; swords, daggers, spears, etc.

    They were all coated in a ck hue, most likely made of iron or strong wood. Still, sharply observing the tools to be used by focusing my eyes on them, I confirmed that they possessed full edges.

    I assumed it was to ensure none of the Martial Arts students received fatal injuries. After all, unlike Magic, Martial Arts were centrally focused on violence and deprivation of life.

    If proper care wasn¡¯t taken, the Battle Royale was going to turn into a bloodbath!

    ¡°Now, then, are you students ready?¡± us¡¯ voice boomed.

    I watched the resolute faces of my seniors. They nodded and wielded their weapons respectively, though one decided to use his bare fists.

    They were ten in number, a higher figurepared to the seven Martial Artists we had in our ss. I was curious to see who would emerge victorious in this round.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    Immediately us said this, he excused himself from the stage since he already stood at the edge. The students responded by rushing at each other, baring their fangs as they struggled to emerge victorious.

    Some would have most likely been friends, but none of that mattered on the battlefield. With my heightened vision, I saw the swing of the sword sh with the tip of the spear. Sparks flew upon each impact, assuring me that this wasn¡¯t wood, but metal.

    The ngs could be heard loudly thanks to the silence generated by everyone gathered.

    For some time, the ten were at a stalemate, unable topletely overpower one another. However, that all changed the moment they all began a most surprising tactic¡ª¡¯Ganging up!¡¯

    Yes, all of the ten¡ªsave one¡ª joined forces and decided to root out the most troublesome among them, the wielder of the spear.

    Having enough reach to strike enemies at a distance, enough length to defend himself from all angles, and the versatility of piercing and shing, any user of the spear was feared for the well-bnced attribute of their weapon.

    Realizing this, they caught the student in a pincer, surrounding him on all ends. Had he been a master, he would have been able to properly adapt to the situation¡ªunfortunately, the spear wielder was just a little more skilled than the others. With nine of them all focusing their attention on him, he stood no chance!

    His face screamed of shock, flustered by the betrayal of those whom he must have expected to stick to a fair fight. Still, the senior clenched his hands on his spear, refusing to give in to the pressure.

    Even though he must have known that his loss was assured, he didn¡¯t back down. Sweat dripped from his face and I followed his gaze as it traveled all around him. Somehow, I felt connected with him and vowed to see his struggle until the bitter end.

    The boy smiled, causing my heart to thump heavily. I smiled in anticipation, cheering him on silently from where I sat. Every other voice, made by the crowd, was lost to me. The battle took all of my attention.

    ¡°Rahhhhh!!!¡± The spear wielder screamed as he swung his weapon with power, blocking off two attacks on his right nk, unfortunately, this gave room for the others to advance.

    Quickly twisting his body to match their tempo, he sharply turned to deal another strike at the enemies that had advanced, but they were still too much to handle alone. Slowly, yet steadily, they closed their distance, until the reach of his weapon was rendered useless and defeat came crashing down on him.

    He lost terribly, stabbed on all ends by the full des of his former allies.

    My heart bled at the sight for some reason. In my past life, I had seen more dangerous battles and had watched better valiant men fall. Yet, even though the boy wasn¡¯t dead, neither was he half as skilled as those valiant men, I couldn¡¯t help but respect him.

    ¡°You fought well¡­¡± My voice trailed.

    I suddenly heard a sniff beside me. Turning my head in its direction, I caught Edward making teary eyes as he too watched the battle.

    ¡°That man¡­ has my respect!¡± The young Martial Artist said, more tears streaming down his cheeks.

    While I wasn¡¯t a dedicated Martial Artist, I had to agree with Edward¡¯s words. Truly, the spear master did his best!

 Chapter 146 - Battle Royale (Pt 3)

    My eyes went back to the stage and I saw yet another peculiar sight. The nine who formed a joint front to gang up against one had split yet again!

    Eight against one¡ªthey used the same tactics to root out the most troublesome in order to ensure the victory of the collective. I sighed in disappointment, realizing that this cycle was sure to repeat itself even after this round was over.

    ¡®I wonder how long this will go on¡­¡¯

    ******************

    ¡°Aaaand, we have our representative for the Martial Arts department of the Third-year Lower ss!¡± us Tallman returned to the stage, stretching his hands in the direction of thest student standing.

    ¡®Urgh, I knew it!¡¯ I rolled my eyes in disgust.

    The one who became the winner was the Martial Arts that did not use any weapon¡ªthe bare-fisted fighter.

    I had initially picked him for a brawler or monk who was more focused on strength, but surprise assailed me once the battle reached its final stages and the boy disyed an immense amount of speed and stamina instead.

    Since the students kept picking on each other one after the other until three were left, the three realized that no matter what happened, it was every man for himself.

    They decided to go on an all-out brawl since no one could be trusted anymore. The bare-fisted student survived through the use of his fast movements and immense flexibility.

    None of the others couldy a finger on him, and anytime they decided to focus on fighting among each other, he would strike! They attempted to form an alliance to take him down, but he was too nimble for their exhausted selves to catch up to, plus their poor teamwork caused their downfall.

    In the end, he utilized the weapons of the fallen challengers of the royale¡ªwhich wasn¡¯t against the rules¡ª and struck them when they least expected it.

    It was a bold, smart strategy. I had to admit that the student¡¯s wits were impressive, wing his way into victory, but I was still disappointed.

    ¡®This Battle Royale is supposed to pick out the strongest in each department and make thempete against those from the other sses. Don¡¯t they get it?¡¯

    By ganging up on the strongest and using the process of elimination, the ones who were left standing were weaker. That meant that the winner of this Battle Royale, while being smarter than the others, was much weaker than the first to lose.

    ¡®Cheap tricks won¡¯t work against the opponents of the other two sses! Don¡¯t they realize that?¡¯

    Ultimately, that Martial Artist of the Lower ss among the Third Years would lose in a fight with the others¡­ that much was guaranteed!

    They only achieved temporary victory¡ªloss was inevitable!

    ***********************

    For the Schrship match, it was the least desirable and most boring for everyone¡ªthat was certain!

    A question was posed to the Schrspeting, and each student was given a board where they had to write their answers.

    The question revolved around the formtion of a quick theory in response to a problem addressed. The one who first resolved the issue correctly would be given the mantle of victory.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t a simple thing. Since it was a race against time, the temptation of rushing would appear. A single mistake would cost thepetitor everything. Even when one decided to be slow and careful, if others were faster and managed to profer the tight theory on time, it would still end in a loss.

    Thispetition was about bncing speed with ability. My eyes observed the judges who looked at the student¡¯s board with careful precision. They were already judging based on their answers, as was I.

    Of course, for Schrs of high Caliber, or expert Magic-Users, it would be easy to spot the one with the highest probability of victory.

    And, just as I expected¡­ the victor came out victorious. The moment her name was announced, the sses-wearing girl jumped up in victory to disy her uncontroble excitement.

    ¡°That¡¯s all for the Third Year Lower ss. I certainly hope all the First Years learned a lot from their presentation, because you¡¯re up next!¡±

    ¡°WHAAAATTTTT?!¡±

    Shouts of disbelief radiated from the location of us First Years. They must have been certain that the tournament would continue with the Third Year Middle ss or something, then in the descending order, it would reach our turn. Now that the moderator had said this, certainly everyone¡¯s hearts were in a panic.

    ¡°The Third-year students only went first to serve as a demonstration for you newbies, but now that you¡¯ve seen how it goes, we¡¯ll use the normal order,¡± us exined.

    I sensed nervousness all around, but none of it affected me.

    My eyes darted to my right, transversing where the Middle-ss students were seated, and going beyond that¡ªI caught the sight of Stefan and Maria grinning in excitement. The time for the Royale was upon us atst and we would finally be able to see our respective skills.

    Stefan looked in my direction and gave an arrogant smirk. His face was calm and rxed, most likely because he knew we Lower ss students were the first to be called.

    I caught the sight behind him and Maria, noticing the stranger once again. He had a soft smile stered on his face, but I could read his emotions at all.

    The golden color of his hair shrouded a great deal of his face, even covering one of his eyes like ayer. He had a ponytail that lightly hung on his head, and the golden hair atop his head had hints of orange at the tip.

    There was no way I would have missed such a guy at our exam ceremony if he was indeed there. He had to be some sort of transfer student.

    ¡®He¡¯s smiling too, uh? I guess he¡¯s also excited. I¡¯ll be seeing him in action too, so it¡¯s fine.¡¯ My mind trailed as I retracted my attention to the stage¡ªus was about to call us down, after all.

    ¡°Now, then¡­¡± us spoke, having a hint of dark foreboding in the wide smile he gave.

    ¡°¡­ Let us begin!¡±

 Chapter 147 - Qualifying (Pt 1)

    ¡°First off, the Third Year Lower ss¡­ Magic-Users!¡± us Tallman dered.

    The hall fell silent and I saw all eyes shift in our direction. Seniors and fellow first-years alike all had their attention on our side of the colosseum, driving a lot of students around me to be on edge.

    ¡°Huu¡­ guess it¡¯s time.¡± I smiled, turning to Ana who was also staring at me.

    We both gave ourselves anticipatory nods and arose from our seats. The other Magic-Users did the same, and we made our way down to the stage.

    ********************

    Magic-Users in the Lower ss amounted to eleven students in total¡ªadding Anabelle to the mix, that made a sum of twelve.

    I looked around me and saw eleven students, excluding me. That meant everyone had decided to participate in the Exchange¡­ as expected.

    ¡°Now, as you have seen in the other fights, you just have to battle one another until only five of you are left standing.¡± us retorted.

    Everyone nodded in response.

    ¡°Okay then¡­¡± The moderator went to the edge of the stage, raising his hand to signalmencement.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    As soon as he gave the signal to start, all ten students, excluding Ana and myself huddled together and stood opposite us. The fiendish smile on their faces told me they had ulterior motives.

    ¡°Hmmm?¡±

    Each of them began infusing their Mana, all focusing their attention on us.

    ¡°Just as we said, everyone! Let¡¯s take them out first!¡± The one who appeared to be the leader said, grinning the widest.

    ¡®So this was your stupid n, after all¡­ how underwhelming.¡¯

    Our ssmates were utilizing the method they had seen our seniors use¡ªthe weak ganging up on the strong. It was disappointing how their mind worked, but I couldn¡¯t exactly me them. Still, their desperation to win was going to be their downfall.

    ¡®The matches we¡¯ll be having after the Battle Royale will most likely be one-on-one. Ganging up won¡¯t be possible. If they manage to qualify now, they¡¯ll lose miserablyter on.¡¯

    I kept my thoughts to myself and looked at Anabelle.

    She was brimming with confidence, raring to show the audience exactly what she was capable of.

    ¡°Do you want to do the honors, or me?¡± I smiled at her.

    The excitement in the young girl¡¯s eyes only seemed to ignore more upon hearing my words.

    ¡°You always get to have all the fun¡­ it¡¯s my turn now!¡±

    Once she said this, I decided to leave it to her and enjoy the show. Of course, since only five were supposed to qualify, I expected her to only take out the necessary number of students, leaving three standing so they could serve as fillers.

    With my focus diverted from the group in front of us that had nearly concluded their joint casting, I noticed sounds from the audience, specifically our side of the hall.

    ¡°H-hold on, that girl¡­ isn¡¯t she a Schr?¡±

    ¡°Why did she register for the Magic aspect of the Exchange?¡±

    ¡°She hangs out with Jared. Maybe she hopes to ride his coattails ande out of the match in one piece thanks to him!¡±

    ¡°Oh? Smart girl! That guy, Edward should have done the same. Hahaha¡±

    ¡°No way! He¡¯s too honorable. He won¡¯t do whatever it takes to win.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s watch the show and see how Jared saves the damsel in distress. Hehehehe!¡±

    Hearing theirments nearly made meugh out loud. These ignorant fools had so many things wrong in their statements.

    First of all, Anabelle certainly wasn¡¯t hoping to rely on me for anything. Secondly, Edward, while being honorable, was probably more intent on winning this Exchange than I. He would do whatever it took to emerge victorious¡­ and that was the result of his hard work. Finally, there was no damsel in distress in this situation.

    All those who underestimated Ana would soon see¡­ just how formidable a tiny little girl could be!

    ¡°[Joint Magic: Spiral me Burst]¡± The students all chanted and raised their voices in response to thepletion of their spell.

    Instantly, the intermediate-level Magic Spell appeared, circling about them in form of zing-hot mes. The circle curved and formed a spiral, now directed at us. Like a vortex ready to consume us, it spun and approached rapidly.

    Since it was an intermediate spell¡ªalbeit a low-tier one, it was bound to cause severe or even fatal injuries if we didn¡¯t have any defense activated.

    This was all of them using teamwork to decimate their foes. It was quite disappointing.

    ¡°Ana¡­¡±

    ¡°I know!¡± The girl cut me short, raising one of her hands, and chanted silently.

    ¡°[Spiral Wind Burst]¡±

    Immediately, the intermediate-level Spell, simr to the one the enemy cast manifested. However, unlike the fast-approaching tendrils of mes, the pressure of the wind was far superior. Ana had poured more Mana and elevated the spell¡¯s status above the joint effort of the opposing students.

    I could hear surprised gasps from everyone, but I contained my excitement. Ana was finally going to show everyone how awesome she was. Judging by the properties of both spells, she woulde out victorious¡ªblowing everyone in her path away.

    ¡®H-hold on¡­ blowing everyone away?¡¯ My eyes bulged as soon as I realized the implication of her actions.

    ¡°A-Ana, hold on¡ª¡±

    Before I couldplete my sentence, though, the burst of wind was released, shooting out like a vortex to sh with the mes a distance from us.

    WHIOOOOSSSHHH

    I felt every hair on my body stand as the chill made me cover my face and peek from the openings to see the oue of the battle.

    Suddenly, the cool embrace of the departing wind turned hot as the vortex approached the mes. My skin tingled in reaction to the heat, causing me to wince a bit.

    ¡°UARGHHHHHHH!!!¡± The screams of our opponents filled the air.

    I watched them try to create a defensive barrier, but none could individually produce a spell to counter two Intermediate-Level Spells shing.

    It was toote to try ¡®Joint Casting¡¯, so all they could do was scream in fear and pain as the terrifying bursts exploded.

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

 Chapter 148 - Qualifying (Pt 2)

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The st echoed across the arena, sending bursts of heat spreading at a rapid rate.

    The wind Ana conjured fanned the mes of our adversaries, causing a massive explosion to appear.

    Thanks to her exert control of Mana and the superior nature of her spell, the eruption was sent to the side of the enemy and we suffered no harm, save for the heat that seeped into our skin.

    While it was a good oue, decimating our opponents, there was one problem¡­

    ¡°Ana, you were supposed to leave three still standing!¡± I protested, seeing all the students already on the floor with several burn marks on their bodies.

    My voice became unintentionally loud since I was in a panic. It was uncertain what would happen if only two survived the Battle Royale, but I somehow had a feeling about what the verdict would be.

    Now that we were the only two left standing, Ana and I had to brace for the worst.

    ********************

    ¡°Well, well, well¡­ looks like something unprecedented has urred. Two, instead of five winners have emerged from the Lower ss Magic-Users of the First Years.¡± us remarked, smiling gleefully.

    Ana and I got off the stage and returned to our seats, hearing as us addressed our blunder.

    ¡°As a result, the judges will use their discretion in reaching a conclusion on the matter. Up to you, seniors!¡±

    The moderator now left the decision to the judges. I was still on the way to my seat when I noticed the attention ced on Ana and me¡ªit was different from the other eyes of the students that watched us with surprise.

    This particr presence came from the elevated tform of the judges. I looked at them, halting, and waited to hear what they would say.

    ¡°Well, since they have clearly shown their superior use of power in this round, it¡¯s only fair that they have enough raw ability and proficient use of skill to qualify.¡± Legris Damien remarked, smiling.

    Of course, that would be his stance.

    ¡°The problem is how to add up the three remaining students who are supposed to make up the five¡­¡± The one whose name I didn¡¯t know spoke.

    Finally, Damien Lawcroft¡¯s lips curled up in a smile and he opened his mouth to remark. I concluded that from his malevolent expression, it couldn¡¯t be anything good.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t the two of them represent their ss? They have clearly proven themselves to be good enough. So, instead of five students from the Lower ss Magic Division, those two will challenge the others. How does that sound?¡±

    The moment he said this, the whole body of students within the hall gasped. I gave Damien a dirty look which he took in stride.

    ¡®This guy¡­ he really wants to pull this move?¡¯

    The implications of his suggestion simply meant that even if five students passed from the Middle ss and Upper ss, just me and Ana would be responsible for handling all of them. We would take on the responsibilities of the three missing on our end.

    ¡°Hmm. That doesn¡¯t sound so bad. They do seem skillful enough. I ept.¡± Legris smiled in support.

    My jaw nearly dropped in surprise.

    ¡®You would betray me, Professor Legris?¡¯ I screamed internally.

    The final judge also nodded in concession, sealing the deal between the three of them.

    The moderator turned in my direction and grinned energetically. Upon hearing their verdict, it was his duty to announce it.

    ¡°The judges have made their decision! Jared Leonard and Anabelle Frederick will be representing their division in the uing matches!¡±

    ¡°Tsk¡± I clicked my tongue and resumed climbing the flight of stairs in order to reach my seat.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, Jared. It¡¯s my fault for overdoing it¡­¡± Anabelle¡¯s soft voice came to me in a whisper.

    I slowly turned to my sight and witnessed the guilty expression she wore on her face. Well, it was clearly her fault that we were now stuck in our current mess, but I had no right to me her?

    She was excited about manifesting what she had gone through so much to practice. Plus, I simply assumed that she had enoughmon sense to spare three students. From that start, I should have warned her, or saved three students with my own power.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Besides, this doesn¡¯t change anything¡­¡± I smiled at the girl, rubbing my hand on her hair.

    It was only possible since she was quite short. The look of embarrassment she had as she blushed in response to my gesture made it all worth it.

    Everyone around us witnessed what I did, giving her even greater mortification.

    ¡®Consider this your punishment!¡¯ I grinned gleefully.

    ¡°¡­ This just means we¡¯ll be fighting in more matches than we had initially nned. But, so what? We¡¯re still going to win every single one!¡±

    My tone of confidence seemed to do the trick as Ana slowly got over her guilt, and the expression on her face changed.

    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re right!¡± She nodded with a determined smile.

    With that resolved, we returned to our seats, only to see Edward rising from his. Our eyes connected, and I realized that it was his turn to go to the arena.

    ¡°Show ¡¯em what you¡¯ve got!¡± I grinned the moment our paths crossed.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll be able to handle it all.¡± He nodded and returned the gesture of a smile.

    Edward wasn¡¯t conceited or overconfident. He was simply stating facts. After tempering his body and technique, Neither I nor Ana had any doubt regarding his skills.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be rooting for you, Ed!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Watch me, guys.¡±

    With our conversation concluded, Ana and I headed to our seats while Edward descended to the stage.

    Once I sat and watched from our position, my eyes caught six Martial Artists, Edward included.

    ¡°Looks like one decided not to participate¡­ how rare.¡±

    Well, it did not matter.

    Having a de in his hand, Edward gave a fierce gaze that reeked of battle. The other five all had respective weapons¡ªfrom the spear to the staff, even stilettos.

    The battle hadn¡¯t even started, yet all the contestants already had their eyes on Edward, and not in a good way. Just as how Ana and I were targeted, it would seem he was also going to experience the same.

    Unfortunately for those who dared to challenge him, Edward was very strong.

    ¡®Only one is meant to be left standing, and that is clearly going to be him!¡¯

 Chapter 149 - The Martial God (Pt 1)

    [2 Months Ago]

    Edward and I decided to meet up after he revealed his family¡¯s Martial Arts heirloom to me.

    I was certainly curious about what his predecessors deemed worthy to be passed down, but I certainly wasn¡¯t expecting very much.

    The Martial Arts of the modern era had dwindled aspared to the past, so my knowledge¡ªthough iplete¡ªwas far better than any Martial Arts I found around.

    ¡®I don¡¯t want to let him down, especially after he opened up concerning this supposed secret¡­¡¯

    Even if it would be an underwhelming experience, I was determined to critically examine Edward¡¯s inheritance¡­ at least the basic foundation of it.

    And I did¡­

    It betrayed all my expectations!

    ¡°T-this is¡ª!!!¡± I eximed, feasting my eyes on the Martial scroll Edward handed over to me.

    Anabelle was also present, but she kept silent in matters like this because she knew nothing about Martial Arts.

    Regardless, both of them appeared stunned by my overwhelming reaction to the document I held in my hands.

    ¡°What is the matter?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you so surprised before!¡±

    Both of them asked at nearly the same time, disying concerned expressions. I was a bit too overwhelmed to speak so I returned my gaze to the scroll and read it once more.

    My heart rate increased once again and I controlled every excited muscle within my body from erupting in another shocking disy.

    ¡°Edward, what did you say your family is? What lineage do youe from?¡± I asked after finally soothing my nerves.

    Edward appeared taken aback by my question, but he must have concluded that I was dead serious considering the grave expression on my face.

    ¡°W-well, I¡¯m not sure. Wee from a long line of Martial Artists¡ªthat¡¯s all I know. Before he passed, my father told me our ancestor was a hero who was revered as the greatest in the way of the de. He also said I woulde to the realization of the truth if I reached a certain stage in the Martial Arts we practiced.¡±

    Edward seemed conflicted as he spoke. His eyes didn¡¯t even rise to look at me and he kept staring hard at the ground as though something was written there.

    ¡°I¡­ I want to prove the art of the de is superior to all others and I want to reignite my family¡¯s legacy, ensuring Martial Arts take their ce back in the world!¡±

    This time he finally raised his head and looked at me with tears in his eyes.

    The emotional disy he gave made me even more certain¡­ there was more Edward wasn¡¯t telling me. Still, I was satisfied with the little he shared. It meant a great deal to both of us.

    Moving closer to the boy who still trembled in overflowing emotion, I grabbed him by the shoulder and gave a slight, yet firm pat. The moment I did this, he raised his head once again and stared straight into my eyes.

    His brown pupils showed no sign of evil, just pure resolve. He had worked himself so hard to restore a dignity he wasn¡¯t even certain existed. The honor of a Martial Artist certainly flowed in his veins¡­ and now I knew why.

    ¡°Edward, this Foundational Martial Art you have shown me¡­ is the best I have ever seen!¡±

    The moment I said this, Anabelle and Edward both jerked in surprise, taking a few steps back as though hit by the brunt of my words.

    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Jared, what are you¡ª?!¡±

    I raised one of my fingers to stop them from saying any more. It was certain I would need to exin some things.

    ¡°There are nine forms in this ¡®9 Fundamental Precepts¡¯ technique. Each form has a peculiar kind of motion and they havebinations used. The most important is that the motion of the technique determines the result of the de once the move has been established.¡±

    All nine forms produced different results than just shing. The First Form, ¡®Rend¡¯ tore apart the target thanks to the focus on speed and a brutal strike. The other forms also had their specialties. In essence, this was a foundation that sought bnce in sword mastery!

    I had never seen anything like this before. It made me wonder what kind of techniques were embedded in the other scrolls he had. If the foundation was this good, then¡­

    ¡°Edward, it¡¯s no surprise that you couldn¡¯t master these techniques on your own. They are too profound.¡±

    The boy was struck dumb, just staring in shock at my words.

    ¡°I will be honest with you. If this technique is what qualifies as a fundamental one in your Martial Arts inheritance, then the advanced ones will be greater than My Martial Arts I know!¡±

    More surprise filled the air.

    ¡®I wonder why he even bothered learning the other mediocre arts when a treasure trove was right in front of him¡­¡¯

    Well, I couldn¡¯t me him. Edward couldn¡¯t fully grasp the techniques so he must have sought to learn from other Schools to broaden his knowledge and cover his weaknesses.

    But¡­

    ¡°Edward, from now on, I forbid you from learning and practicing any other Martial Arts but your own.¡±

    It would simply be a waste of time engaging in something subpar to his inheritance.

    ¡°J-Jared¡­ is this really true? My family¡¯s Martial Art¡­ is it that great?¡± His eyes beamed like a child¡¯s and what I sensed to be a lost glint of pride and hope began manifesting.

    ¡®Well, judging by the foundation¡­ and the limitless possibilities that exist beyond this, then¡­¡¯

    ¡°Your family¡¯s Martial Arts is the greatest I have ever seen. Edward, I will teach you the flow and use my superior knowledge to help you in mastering it. But, it will be in exchange for something.¡±

    Nothing was free in this world, and I already made it known to Edward that I was going to requirepensation for my help even before I began helping him.

 Chapter 150 - The Martial God (Pt 2)

    ¡°No problem! You can ask me whatever¡ªso long as it is in my power, I will do my best toply!¡± The boy answered with zero hesitation.

    This caused a smile to form on my face.

    Making a fist on one hand and a t palm on the other, I jammed both together and bowed to Edward. My face tightened, and all sense of yfulness left. This was a time of reverence and absolute respect.

    ¡°Edward, for you to have been bestowed this inheritance, that could only mean you are now considered the sessor of your family¡¯s legacy. As a result, I now stand before the head of this amazing Martial Arts School.¡±

    Both myrades looked dazed by my sudden action. I wasn¡¯t known for my humility, even if I was calm. A noble bowing before one considered amoner was unheard of. Plus, it was clear to everyone who the inferior one was among the both of us¡ªin all aspects! Yet, my head was hung low and my tone of reverence persisted.

    ¡°Edward, I ask¡­ what is the name of your family¡¯s legacy¡ªyour Martial Arts School?¡±

    For a moment, there was silence.

    The three of us stood, transfixed on our positions¡ªlike statues. It was ufortable, but I endured it and waited for a response.

    ¡°It is called ¡®The Martial de God School¡¯¡­¡± He finally spoke.

    The moment I heard its name, I had gotten thest piece of information I needed. A faint memory fell upon me as I remembered a word Gawain, the one known as the Sword God of the Eastern Empire, said one too many times.

    ~The real Martial God is not me¡­ but ¡®him¡¯. If you ever encounter someone from the Martial de God School, know this! They are far better than I am!~

    My grin widened even further. It was no wonder I was mesmerized by the Arts. It was the very same School that my close friend, Gawain, professed to be the strongest. With the sessor of such techniques in front of me, I wasn¡¯t going to waste this chance.

    ¡°Jared, will you stop bowing now? T-this is a little awkward¡­¡± Edward muttered in confusion, most likely feeling embarrassed by my grand gesture.

    ¡°Y-yeah, Jared. You¡¯re making us feel weird.¡± Anabelle added, even though she had nothing to do with this.

    Still, I wasn¡¯t done. There was one thing I had to do, as someone who practiced an inferior Martial Art and wanted to increase my capacity!

    ¡°I ask of you, Edward Karl Leon¡­ please ept me into your Martial School! Make me a disciple of your Martial Arts, so I can also learn. That is my request!¡±

    Yet another gasp of shock excepted the moths of both mypanions.

    Edward was the sessor of his n¡¯s Martial techniques. Certainly, he knew of the implications. He had the power to appoint disciples to pass down his techniques.

    Also, a non-disciple would not be allowed to practice his family¡¯s inheritance¡ªa treasure meant to remain within the School.

    That was why, even though I would be teaching Edward the method and patterns needed for him to master his family¡¯s arts, I couldn¡¯t learn it for myself¡­ not unless I resorted to this!

    My eyes went up and I looked at Edward, expecting his answer.

    Once I did, my eyes met a smile on his face, no, a veryrge and optimistic grin.

    ¡°You¡¯re my friend, Jared! Plus, you also acknowledged my family¡¯s greatness and you¡¯re also willing to teach me how to fully utilize these techniques well! There¡¯s no way I could refuse you!¡±

    Taking that as a ¡®yes¡¯, I raised my headpletely and broke my pose.

    Now smiling at Edward, I had mixed feelings. As much as I was grateful and incredibly joyous about the fact that I would be practicing such profound techniques, I also felt pity for the boy.

    ¡®He probably still has no idea how amazing his Martial Arts techniques are. Even if I offer to do those things for you, the value of what you¡¯re giving me is even more¡­¡¯

    There was no need to tell him that, though. Once he delved deeper into his Martial Arts School, he would see for himself.

    But, by then, it would be toote. I would have already learned all I could from it¡ªso, even if he wanted to revoke my ess to his Arts, the knowledge would already be with me.

    ¡®I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll do that, though¡­¡¯

    Now grinning happily among one another, I kept my hands on both Anabelle and Edward¡¯s shoulders.

    With the Inter-School Exchange two months away, I was going to build them into monsters among the other students. That would be my reward to them for being such sweethearts.

    [The Present]

    ¡°Begin!¡± us shouted.

    The students that had all swarmed about Edward began their crafty approach, intending topletely obliterate their foe from all areas.

    Unfortunately, they made the wrong choice!

    Edward gave a light smile and reached for the blunt, metal sword that he hung on his waist.

    Tightly gripping the weapon, he closed his eyes and focused his mana.

    ¡°Attack!!!¡±

    ¡°Break his concentration!¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t do anything against ourbined front!¡±

    With their words hammering into the air, all five charged at Edward¡¯s single figure at the center. They were toote, though.

    ¡°9 Fundamental Precepts¡ªFifth Form: BREAK!¡±

    Instantly, Edward swung his sword downward, no, he pierced it into the Arena ground, sending out a huge burst of mana mixed with an unimaginable pressure.

    BOOOOMMMMM!!!

    An explosion instantly erupted, shaking the very foundations of the stage and sending shivers down the spine of everyone who watched.

    Screams of students filled the air, the very students who charged at Edward and were assured of their guaranteed victory. The audience was a little dazed¡ªconfused about what exactly was happening.

    However, once the smoke cleared, they saw it with their eyes¡­ the state at which all the lone swordsman¡¯s enemies had been turned into.

    The students were all on the ground, their disfigured bodies made it evident to everyone who watched that they must have had a forceful restructure down to their bones.

    Even though the students were down, that wasn¡¯t the most surprising sight.

    The moderator¡ª and even the judges, all looked at the peculiar urrence and were in awe of the young boy¡¯s exemry disy.

    Throughout the Battle Royale of this season, none had achieved this great feat¡ª

    ¡ªThe Arena ground¡­ had shattered!

 Chapter 151 - Equilibrium

    Pained moans. Broken bones. Uneasy silence. Steady gasps. Shocked expressions¡­ such were the things that pervaded the hall.

    The Martial Arts contestants had all gotten their bones broken, causing fractures on numerous parts which resulted in the disfiguring of their bodies.

    That alone would have caused them immense agony. After all, the pain of one¡¯s bones breaking was one of the worst sensations a person could get.

    At the center of the writhing students was the winner of that round, Edward. His de had been dug deep into the stage, causing cracks to appear all around it, as though it shattered from the inside out.

    This was the most surprising feat, considering no one had done anything like that so far.

    Even Anabelle¡¯s wind-induced explosion only left charred marks on the ground¡ªwhich disappeared shortly after we left the stage.

    ¡®The arena has enhancement ced on it that makes it sturdy¡ªresistant to damage¡­¡¯ I reasoned, narrowing my vision on the cracks that were already closing.

    There also seemed to be recovery Magic ced on it, allowing the arena floor to repair itself. As expected of Ainrk Academy¡¯s facilities, it was impressive!

    ¡°H-how did Edward do that?¡±

    ¡°Was he always this strong?¡±

    ¡°He just one-shotted all of them and even damaged the stage!¡±

    ¡°D-does that mean all of ¡®them¡¯ are monsters?!¡±

    I heard people murmur and converse among themselves in hushed voices. Their tone contained so much anxiety that it almost made me break out a smile.

    ¡°Hehe, looks like Ed won, after all!¡± Anabelle grinned excitedly as she watched her best friend leave the stage.

    ¡®Of course, was there ever a doubt?¡¯

    I personally instructed Edward in the art of ¡®The 9 Fundamental Precepts¡¯. While he hadn¡¯t learned it to the point of mastery, his control over the first five was praiseworthy.

    The Fifth Form: Break which he used back then was an art meant to deal blunt damage to the opponent, rather than sharply cut through them.

    ¡®By using the pressure of the wind made by striking down one¡¯s edge to a t surface and the reverb created from vibrations coursing from the de, an overpowering pressure is generated that deals a blunt force to the enemy even without the de touching them directly¡¯.

    The effects could also be amplified by the expert use of Mana, thereby increasing the effects drastically.

    Edward was able to use his de to take down five students when he hadn¡¯t even achieved mastery and his use and quantity of mana were limited. It made me wonder what would happen if he achieved even greater heights.

    ¡®As sharp as an edge and as blunt as a boulder, the Martial de God School is focused on equilibrium in every way¡­¡¯ I reasoned with a smile.

    That differentiated it from other Martial techniques that either focused on speed¡ªlike the ¡®Illusory Dance¡¯ or strength like the ¡®Heaven Defying Fist Art¡¯. In the end, they all focused on one essential aspect of power, and to be well-bnced, one had to possess the knowledge and skills of several Schools.

    But, the Martial Technique in Edward¡¯s possession wasplete! After skimming through them, I found myself unable to fully decipher theplete contents locked within the scrolls. One thing was certain, though¡­

    One could be invincible inbat by just mastering the Martial de God School¡¯s techniques!

    Edward approached our seats quickly, drawing the attention of many to him. He ignored them, though, and ced all his focus on us.

    It didn¡¯t take very long for him to return, giving both Anabelle and me fist bumps and high-fives.

    ¡°Well done.¡± I calmly remarked.

    ¡°Yeah. You literally blew them all away!¡± Ana excitedly spoke, nearly screaming.

    ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you two. Haa, I feel much better now.¡± Edward smiled, taking his seat.

    He was pretty nervous before climbing the stage, wondering how it would turn out. But, as soon as he gripped his de, all the unease vanished and he became a new man.

    It was quite the sight to see, the way he used a single technique to decimate his foes.

    ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s time for our Schrs to begin their round,¡± I said, having no enthusiasm whatsoever.

    I calcted, based on what was disyed by the challenge of our seniors, what the Lower ss Schrs of our year would experience. It was sure to be nothing short of boring.

    With that in mind, my eyes unconsciously trailed to my side where I once again looked in the direction of Stefan, no, the stranger.

    Stefan was looking in my direction, or rather, at Edward. He, as well as others, must have been severely bbergasted by his excessive disy.

    ¡®He¡¯ was an exception, though. The boy that sat on the seats after Stefan and Maria, having closer proximity with our seniors in the third year.

    With one of his eyes covered, I could only really see the other. They disyed a hint of amusement, but not enough to warrant interest. It was certain that something else was on the boy¡¯s mind¡ªI just couldn¡¯t figure it out.

    From the corner of my eye, I spotted our Schrs descending to the stage, ready topete against one another. us was also prepared for supervising the match, and once everything was set¡­ it started.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    **********************

    ¡®How boring¡­¡¯ Kuzon thought to himself.

    That was the name of the golden-haired boy who sat among those revered to be the cream of the crop for the First Years.

    So far, he had been observing thepetition, match after match, and he barely saw anything worthy of note.

    The Third Years were nothing short of disappointing, as he was hoping for a better show. Granted, they were in the Lower ss, but it appeared even his minimum expectation was told high for them to fulfill.

    ¡®Oh well¡­¡¯ He dismissed flippantly.

    If he was to choose, though, thest two matches, that took ce before the Schr round going on at the moment, were the best.

    He had initially refused to have any expectation for them since they were merely Lower ss dregs, but after watching Anabelle¡¯s expert use of Mana, and the confident smile her partner¡ªJared¡ªgave, he was convinced that they weren¡¯t bad.

    Then there was Edward, the Martial Artist. He really surprised him. Judging from his movements and the ease of performance used to execute the technique, Kuzon guessed that it had to be a Basic-level Art.

    ¡®Yet it has been refined to such a level¡­ not bad¡­¡¯

    Kuzon¡¯s slight smile broadened a bit more in anticipation.

    His turn would soon arrive, and once it did, he was going to have quite a bit of fun himself. Once he qualified, he was bound to face at least one of the Lower ss students in a round.

    Perhaps they would be able to provide some sort of stimtion for him,pared to the others he had encountered.

    ¡°That could be quite satisfying¡­¡± The young boy softly whispered.

 Chapter 152 - The Ones Called Geniuses (Pt 1)

    I watched as the Schrs¡¯ match concluded¡ªthe winner being Dave, a sses-wearing boy whole I knew quite well in our ss.

    Of all the Schrs, he stood out the most, besides Ana. Of course, if he were to go up against her, there was a huge gap in their mental abilities and he would lose.

    Looking to my side and watching Ana, I noticed she was smiling slightly and had a grateful look in her eyes that she wasn¡¯t participating as a Schr.

    ¡°I prefer using Magic than just solving theories¡­ what was I thinking before now¡­¡± She muttered to herself.

    My smile widened. Of course, it was only natural that practicing a craft would be better than just studying and propounding theories. Now that Ana had enjoyed the thrill of using Magic, there was no going back for her.

    After the Schrs match, that wrapped things up for the Lower ss first years. Next up were the Middle-ss students.

    To be honest, none of them caught my eye.

    If Lower ss students were discarded as the lowest of the low, the Middle-ss ones were only seen as average. It was apparent that none of them would be exceptional.

    That was why, even while their Magic Department was called out to engage in a Battle Royale, I felt no excitement. I simply wanted to fast-forward time to the point where the Upper-ss students would perform.

    Since that was impossible in my current state, though, I had to wait.

    ****************************

    ¡°Winner of the Schrs Division, Terra!¡±

    Once us announced the victor of the final match allotted to the Middle ss, my zeal returned.

    The entirepetition between the Middle-ss students was as I had predicted, less than my standards.

    None of them could replicate or even surpass the bar we set during our round. As a result, their battles looked boring. Now that it was finally over, the moment 8 had been waiting for had arrived.

    The Battle Royale of the Upper ss!

    ¡°Now, then, I call upon the Magic Division of the Upper-ss First Years!¡± us¡¯ voice boomed, summoning the seated students.

    Out of thirteen of them who sat, only eleven stood, leaving two in their seats.

    Immediately I realized this, the thought came upon me.

    ¡®The other two are Martial Artists and Schrs¡­ it seems they won¡¯t need any Battle Royale to decide their advancement¡­¡¯

    I had at least wanted the Martial Arts division to have two or more students so Edward could see what kind of power they possessed, unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t an option anymore.

    Of the eleven students who went to the stage, I knew a few quite well; Stefan Netherlore, Maria Helmsworth, and Ivan Smith. The new student also caught my eye, so that made four students who had my full attention.

    ¡®I look forward to your performance!¡¯

    ********************

    The eleven students were scattered all across the arena, all waiting for the voice of the moderator to signal themencement of their round.

    ¡°Begin!¡± us sharply announced.

    Instantly, bursts of mana manifested on the stage, sending waves of power surging through the area. My eyes widened in anticipation as they looked at the potential winning candidates.

    ¡®Show me your power, geniuses!¡¯

    The students quickly formed bands, apparently realizing the gap in their abilitiespared to monsters like Stefan and Maria. If they could take them down, as a group, then this was the most rational strategy.

    ¡®Looks like our seniors really corrupted our hearts in this match¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed, realizing most students were simply following the lead of the initial matches we witnessed.

    However, unlike those from earlier, the Upper-ss students formed a group of five. I deduced that they nned on winning the Battle Royale as a team. It wasn¡¯t a bad strategy.

    FWOOOOSHHH

    The band of five students who had seamless teamwork rushed toward their target. Based on their trajectory, I realized that they were after the new student.

    ¡®Oh? That makes sense¡­¡¯ I smiled.

    The Upper-ss students were elites. Only those who scored the highest had any right to belong there. As a result, the Upper-ss students already knew their limits as well as those superior to them.

    It would be foolish for them to try taking on someone like Stefan first¡ªsuicide to chase after Maria. Their first course of instinct was to go after the one whom they underestimated the most¡ªthe newbie who didn¡¯t take the exams with every other person.

    As they infused their Mana to execute joint Magic, I took a good look at their opponent. I had no idea what his name was, but the young boy casually stood, having hands in his pockets. He had a calm, condescending smile as his adversaries prepared tounch everything they had on him.

    It was as though he dared them to do their worst.

    RUMBLE

    The arena shook as the ground quaked. The imbnce caused most of the students to struggle for equilibrium, yet the new guy remainedposed.

    ¡°[Joint Magic: Intermediate ming Earth Golem]¡±

    The rumbles intensified, and from the ground suddenly brought out a massive creature of horror¡ªone that humans stood no chance against.

    It was a Golem!

    However, unlike other Golems that were strictlyprised of one element, this particr one¡ªdespite being made of rock¡ªhad bursts of mes covering it.

    The mes spread across its head, flowing down its body and every crevice across it. Since it was made through Joint Magic, the mes had no adverse effects on the Earth Golem, rather, they made it stronger!

    Every step it took caused rumbles to ur, and the arena floor trembled. The height of the summon was at least seven meters, and its huge build was nothing to scoff at. This thing was a genuine weapon!

    ¡°ROOAAARRRRRR!!!¡± The monstrosity gave a loud bellow, sending echoes and reverb flying our way.

    ¡®Judging its Mana capacity and the level of strength this thing must have, this is on the High-Tier of Intermediate Level!¡¯

    The Lower ss students were only able to cast a Lower-Tier Intermediate Spell when they ganged up on Ana and me.

    Compared to the Upper-ss students who were merely five in number, the Lower ss students had more members, yet they couldn¡¯t exceed the limits of the Lower-Tier Intermediate Level.

    Given the gap between both sses, it made me realize just how much of a difference existed between the geniuses and dregs. Such a thing was possible at an early age? Amazing!

 Chapter 153 - The Ones Called Geniuses (Pt 2)

    A Golem could simply be defined as a construct made of elements and bound together by Magic.

    Since Golems weren¡¯t exactly living, they could be issuedmands by their summoner. They also possessed a Magic core that kept their bodies intact. Once such a core was destroyed, the Golems ceased to be.

    However, gaining ess to the core could be said to be nearly impossible considering the offensive capabilities of a Golem¡ªespecially one of a High-Tier Intermediate Level.

    The monstrosity roared as it seemingly red at the opponent, the casual-looking boy. Clearly pouring their strength into the Golem, the five students gave their orders to their creation.

    ¡°Crush him!¡±

    Heeding theirmand instantly, it charged, obviously causing more tremors to permeate the stage.

    The heat that emerged from its ming body caused no one to draw near as the giantunched itself¡ªreadying a me-coated fist to strike.

    ¡°How drab¡­¡± A whisper danced in my ear, causing me to jerk in surprise.

    The voice came from none other than the Golem¡¯s target.

    Thanks to the Enhancement Magic I cast on my body earlier, I could listen in to whatever conversation transpired on stage. Still, I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone to say those words¡ªespecially after seeing such a terrible creature charging with full speed.

    ¡®What will you do?!¡¯ My lips formed a grin as I gazed at the golden-haired boy in expectation.

    As though responding to my thoughts, the kid raised his hand slowly, pointing a finger in the direction of the fast-approaching Golem which was already atop him.

    From his fingers came bursts of purple lighting, thin and sharp. The sizzle of the electricity was only for a moment, buzzing before it formed a straight line and lunged toward the chest of the me-Earth Golem.

    TZZZZTTTZZZZZZTTT

    In a sh, faster than the eyes could process, the line of purple lightning surged through the Golem¡¯s body and exited from the other side.

    Shock filled everyone as they watched the fiery construct halt its motion. The mes covering its body vanished instantly and the rock that formed its body slowly crumbled.

    How it had happened was a mystery to everyone, but it was clear that the Golem¡¯s core had been destroyed.

    BOOOOMMMM

    The earthen shell shattered apart and the debris scattered across the stage. In an instant, the product of five geniuses was thoroughly eliminated through an effortless disy of another.

    The one who controlled the lightning still had his finger stretched, and yet another spark appeared.

    ¡°Surrender, or you¡¯re next.¡± He mumbled with disinterest.

    I saw the five previously determined students shrink back in fear. Their eyes were filled with terror as they witnessed the same magic that ended their Golem manifest before them.

    The electricity buzzed, signaling the end of its charge. If the boy so wished, he couldunch it at any time.

    ¡°So? What will it be?¡± The glow of the lightning increased.

    The students looked at each other¡ªthey were most likely close friends. There was no need for words to be exchanged among one another. It was already pretty clear that they stood no chance.

    ¡°W-we¡­ give up¡­¡±

    Just like that, five out of eleven dropped out of the Battle Royale¡ªall as a result of a single boy.

    As I watched him return his hand to his pocket, my body quivered in an unexinable excitement that seemed to drive me nuts.

    ¡®That tiny spark of lightning packed enough power to prate the defenses of a High-Tier Intermediate Golem¡­ amazing!¡¯

    It was no mean feat for a single boy to one-shot such a construct¡ªyet, he did such a thing effortlessly.

    This guy couldn¡¯t even bepared to the other geniuses gathered in the ring. I knew it within myself¡­ that the boy who smiled casually and had an air of ease, was most likely the strongest one among the Upper-ss students¡ªa Genius among geniuses!

    It was no wonder why he didn¡¯t need to take the exams with us. His identity remained a mystery, the same as the source of his power. However, one thing was clear to me now¡­

    ¡®I want¡­ to fight with him!¡¯

    Still, despite eliminating five students at once, six remained on stage. Apparently, one still needed to go.

    I smiled, looking at the remaining contestants; Stefan Netherlore, Maria Helmsworth, Ivan Smith, Rias Lendertale, Polly Zetsarquil, and the mysterious new student.

    Rias and Polly were the students who got fourth and sixth ce in our Entrance exams respectively.

    Since I memorized the names of all the promising students, I couldn¡¯t forget their faces. I was amazed by the sheer number of girls among the excellent students.

    Three of the contestants were girls while three were boys¡ªit was a contrast to the general belief that the male gender was more suited for Magic.

    As I, and most assuredly everyone in the hall, awaited the results of the deadlock among the six students, the unexpected urred.

    ¡°I surrender.¡± Someone¡¯s hand was raised among the contestants.

    It was Polly Zetsarquil, a bright-looking student that brought to mind amber and yellow radiance.

    It was unexpected that she would give up now, especially since it was sote in the game. However, the moderator respected her wish despite the obvious dissatisfaction of the audience and escorted her off the stage.

    ¡°I guess I can¡¯tpete with you guys¡­¡± Her voice trailed, and I sensed a hint of sadness in her tone.

    My eyes darted to Rias and I noticed sadness locked in her eyes as well. Those two were most likely friends, perhaps even rivals.

    ¡®Well, she¡¯s the weakest among everyone there¡­ it¡¯s best if she gives up than end up in a world of hurt¡ªembarrassing herself in the process.¡¯

    While others thought of giving up as cowardly, I wasn¡¯t so conceited. If a height was unattainable by a person¡¯s current capacity, it was best to stop trying at the venture. Instead, more focus should be made in an attempt to improve one¡¯s capacity so they could try at another time.

    In the same vein, Polly¡¯s choice was correct. A smile formed on my face as I watched her give a stern expression while leaving the stage. In my heart, I knew she would be much stronger the next time the Exchange took ce.

 Chapter 154 - Conclusion Of The First Day

    ¡°We have the winners of the Magic Division!¡± us climbed atop the stage to announce.

    The audience was silent, most likely because most of the students were too stunned to speak.

    Out of all the matches so far¡­ this one was the shortest¡ªand only one individual grabbed all the attention.

    ¡°We have our qualifiers. Stefan Netherlore, Maria Helmsworth, Ivan Smith, Rias Lendertale, and Kuzon Midas. You may return to your seats.¡±

    The moment I heard his name, a memory shed in my mind, but it quickly vanished. After all, there was no way that was possible¡­

    ¡®Kuzon, uh? So that¡¯s his name¡­¡¯ I smiled.

    I watched as all the students returned to their seats, having my eyes focused on the golden-haired boy in particr. As usual, his gait was casual and the air around him oozed with ease.

    It was as if he was well aware of the limits of his strength, and that it surpassed everyone else whopeted in the Exchange.

    ¡°Now, then, onto the next match,¡± us said, drawing my attention back to the stage.

    ¡°Due to the numbers of Martial Artists and Schrs in the Upper ss of the First Years, there will be no elimination round for them. That means we¡¯ll be skipping over to the Second Years now.¡±

    Even as us weed our seniors for their bout, my mind couldn¡¯t escape the boy¡ªKuzon¡ª and the peculiarity of his existence. A nasty habit I had was obsession!

    Once I didn¡¯t understand something or had an interest in someone, the feeling didn¡¯t disappear until I satiated my desires. It was something that gued me even in my past life and caused me to make so many reckless choices.

    Fortunately, with age came experience and maturity, so I was able to control it to a degree. Still¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ll have to speak with himter¡­ that boy¡­¡±

    With my resolute thought giving me strength, I returned my attention to the stage and decided to watch our seniors fight. If I was lucky, I could learn a thing or two from their round.

    *************************

    ¡°Aaaand, that concludes the matches for today. All preliminary matches have been exhausted, and we now have our champions who will be representing their respective sses in the uing events.¡± us announced.

    ording to him, we would be proceeding to the quarter-finals tomorrow, eliminating even more students from the tournament. I didn¡¯t a fast calction in my head to fully grasp his words.

    Seven students from each ss¡ªfive from the Magic Division, one from the Martial Arts Division, and one from the Schr Division¡ªthree sses in a Year, and three Years in total. That made a total of twenty-seven kinds of matches for the quarter-finals.

    ¡®That¡¯ll be quite interesting¡­¡¯

    ¡°That concludes the Inter-ss Exchange for today! The Exits will now be opened. All students may now leave the Hall.¡±

    The moment us Tallman rendered his final words, the students who served as bothpetitors and spectators rose to their feet, me included.

    The exits, ten in total, were spread about in the hall. This prevented anyone from rushing into such arge ce.

    Well, there was also the problem of deducting a student¡¯s ss Points, so everyone behaved themselves.

    I ensured to quickly descend the stairs, though. My goal wasn¡¯t to reach the exit in time, but to actually catch up to the student who caught my attention. It would be beneficial If I knew him personally¡ªnot just watching him from a distance.

    ¡°Sorry. Excuse me. Coming through.¡± I whispered, overtaking some students who were walking between me and my goal.

    ¡®Tch¡­¡¯

    After struggling against the currents of people, I finally reached the point where the Upper-ss students were, and standing among them was the guy no one bothered to stand beside¡ªKuzon Midas.

    ¡°Hey,¡± I called out to him, being only able to see his back from where I was.

    He turned slightly, revealing his face to me. Being so close to the boy felt different, like an overpowering sensation of awe had just descended upon me.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ Jared Leonard, right? I¡¯ve heard quite a bit about you.¡± He smiled, narrowing the one eye I could see in intrigue.

    His response caused me to gain more confidence in my approach, so I returned the gesture and responded.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s ttering. I haven¡¯t heard of you, though¡­ even when you¡¯re this impressive.¡±

    If he was an exception and got transferred to Ainrk Academy, I could understand why I didn¡¯t see him at the Entrance Exams, but I also didn¡¯t notice anyone of his caliber during the Familiar Selection Ceremony.

    That was absurd!

    ¡°It¡¯s only natural. But, not to worry¡­¡± He muttered, turning back to face his front.

    ¡°¡­ We¡¯ll see each other during our matches. If you manage to impress me, I wouldn¡¯t mind being your friend.¡±

    ¡®What a sharp-tongued guy!¡¯ My brain rang.

    That wasn¡¯t how to speak! Not only was he cheeky, but the aura of confidence that swelled around him could easily make anyone feel inferior. I wasn¡¯t sure if it was just elderly sentiment that made me dislike his attitude.

    ¡°Well, I n on winning, anyway. So, I look forward to your friendship.¡± I impudently fired back.

    Kuzon, who had already begun moving away from me, stopped dead in his tracks. The air around him suddenly changed, and I heard a snickere from his location.

    ¡°You had better give up on that¡­¡± A jovial tone oozed out of Kuzon as he turned to look at me, this timepletely facing my direction.

    As usual, a casual smile yed on his face and his hands remained in his pockets. His ck jacket, danced around, slightly beating the white shirt underneath.

    For the tournament, we were allowed to wear our casual clothes.

    His pale-light skinplimented the dangling hair that covered one of his eyes, while the other seemed to sneer at me.

    ¡°¡­ The winner of this Exchange will be me!¡± Kuzon dered, not showing even the slightest hint of doubt.

    This drew the attention of the nearby students¡ªI even saw Stefan look my way, though I ignored him.

    This brat had just said something I couldn¡¯t overlook!

 Chapter 155 - The Quarter-Finals (Pt 1)

    The boy¡¯s tone of confidence didn¡¯t seem to stem from underestimating me, or overestimating himself.

    No, it appeared he simply didn¡¯t see any way I could win.

    A bead of sweat formed on my face as I struggled to make the same casual smile Kuzon Midas had on his face.

    ¡°We¡¯ll see, won¡¯t we? Till then¡­¡± I managed to say, before turning my back and returning to mypanions who were most likely waiting for me at the exit closest to our seat area.

    ¡®I wonder why I couldn¡¯t confidently say I would win¡­ even though I¡¯vee this far¡­¡¯

    With those distracting thoughts ying in my mind, and anticipation for what tomorrow would bring, I decided to ignore the pangs of anxiety coiling in my heart and went my way.

    ¡®Tomorrow¡­ we begin!¡¯

    ************************

    The next day arrived in the blink of an eye!

    While I had been anticipating it all night long, it still surprised me how the clock seemed to be moving fasterpared to before. Of course, it was only my imagination, but¡­

    ¡°¡­ I should meet up with Edward and Ana before leaving for the Hall,¡± I muttered and left my bed, preparing for what the day would bring.

    [Moments Later]

    Since Edward and I were in the same dorm, it was easy for both of us to meet up.

    By the time I was done and went to the rendezvous point, I saw my dearpanion already swarmed by many guys who¡ªfor some reason¡ªwere talking to him excitedly.

    Edward, in his kindness, couldn¡¯t refuse the pile of ravens that circled him and powerlessly smiled as he talked to them.

    ¡®Hmm, they must be Martial Artists who are curious about that move of his¡­¡¯ I mused, remembering how Edward one-shotted his enemies.

    Anabelle was most likely going through something simr in her dorm, considering she was able to easily overpower all those Magic-Users despite being a mere Schr. I kind of wondered what sort of reaction she would have at the sudden attention on her.

    ¡®Well, their standing had increased¡­ that¡¯s a good thing.¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t without attention too, but no one simply dared to approach me. For some reason, I was like a repelling force that made people back off. That worked out fine for me, though.

    It would simply be bothersome if I had to cater to everyone as Edward was currently doing. Speaking of the boy, it was best if I helped him out a bit.

    ¡°Hey, Edward. What are you doing? Let¡¯s go!¡±

    The moment my voice echoed across the vast field, everyone reacted by looking in my direction. That very moment, the enthusiastic seniors and ssmates alike became mellow and had ufortable looks on their faces.

    Instantly, they backed off and began dispersing. Such was the power of my antisocial aura.

    ¡°Oh, hey, Jared!¡± Edward took his chance and, having a somewhat relieved look in his eyes that I showered up at the right time, dashed toward me.

    He reached me in a sh, and I instantly turned in the direction of the hall for the both of us to start moving.

    ¡°Good timing.¡± The young Martial Artist whispered before moving along.

    After walking for a few minutes, we were basically a couple of steps away from the Hall when we saw Ana.

    ¡®She¡¯s early¡­¡± Edward muttered.

    ¡°Or, we¡¯rete.¡±

    After I snapped at him, the silly guy realized that my words were most likely urate and picked up the pace.

    ¡°You guys, what took you so long.¡± Anabelle puffed her cheeks in slight annoyance.

    I rolled my eyes at her exaggeration.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a baby. It hasn¡¯t been that long you were here yourself.¡±

    Anabelle¡¯s eyes bulged and her honest face couldn¡¯t help but give her away.

    ¡°H-how did you know?¡± She gasped.

    It was evident that she would have also encountered the same problem as Edward. There was no way she got here on time too. The girl just happened to be fortunate to have gotten here before us¡ªmost likely a few seconds before we saw her waiting¡ªyet she decided to make it seem longer.

    ¡°I have my ways, now let¡¯s go inside.¡± I retorted halfheartedly.

    The two followed behind me, as though I had somehow be the shepherd to sheep. It was strange how the time we had spent together had changed quite a few things in our rtionship.

    Perhaps it was due to my training methods, or simply the aura of age I exhibited from time to time¡ªAnabelle and Edward hade to see me as their master.

    Of course, they still rted to me as a friend and didn¡¯t outrightly dere me as their master, but they heeded my every word, even the ones I meant as a joke, as though they werew.

    ¡®Oh, well. If it helps them in the long run, that¡¯s fine by me¡­¡¯

    And so, we entered the Hall for the Quarter-finals of the Inter-ss Exchange.

    ***************************

    ¡°Wee back, everyone. This is, as you know, the second day of the Exchange.

    Those who have qualified are seven from each ss¡ªtwenty-one from each year¡ªand a total of sixty-three participants!¡± us Tallman stated in his usual loud and awe-inspiring voice.

    The Hall was silent, receptive to his words.

    Those who qualified, myself included, were ced at a different seat area that contained a total of one hundred seats.

    That meant I sat with all the qualifiers, including Stefan, Maria, Ivan, Rias, and¡­ ¡®him¡¯.

    Seated by the edge of the row was the guy I wanted to fight the most¡ªKuzon Midas.

    ¡°The matches from now on will be One Vs One. Magic-Users, numbering a total of fifteen in a year, will have to face others from another ss. Of course, the contestants will be selected at random.¡±

    The silence intensified.

    ¡°Of course, since the numbers are in the odd figure, that means one of the contestants will have to fight twice. But, this is also a part of thepetition. Just pray your luck is good!¡±

    I wouldn¡¯t mind that. No, I was already stuck with that role.

    Ana and I had to fill in for three other people, which meant we would be having at least two matches.

 Chapter 156 - The Quarter-Finals (Pt 2)

    ¡°As for the Martial Artists and Schrs, you will also be facing off against each other. Since there exist three in each Year¡ªone from a ss¡ªeach individual will encounter two matches.¡±

    I instantly understood what us was implying.

    Assuming the three qualifiers were A, B, and C. A would have to fight B in a single match, and then proceed to fight C. The same applied to B and C too. In essence, the match was to ensure that all contestants had equal chances to fight.

    ¡°The winner will be determined if the contestant is capable of winning at least one match. Since you have two tries, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult, right?¡± us announced.

    ¡®Of course¡­ but that only worked in theory.¡¯

    No matter how it yed out, it was certain that one person would be eliminated from this round.

    Usually, it could be assumed that everyone had equal chances. But, was that truly the case?

    If A was capable of beating B, and B was capable of beating C, what chances would C have against A? At the end of the day, C would be disqualified. Of course,patibility mattered a lot in battle, and it was possible that an opponent who was able to beat someone superior to you could fall when fighting you. However, I didn¡¯t see any of that ying out here.

    In a battle of pure skill, where equipment was basically of equal value and the stage prevented any lopsided advantage, it was simply the strong that would emerge victorious!

    For the Schrs as well¡­ intelligence and knowledge were something without bias. If a person didn¡¯t know something, they couldn¡¯t possibly win. Therefore, once an individual lost a single match, it would be difficult to make aeback unless the next opponent was weaker. If that happened to be the case, then that opponent wouldn¡¯t be able to win at all.

    While considering all these factors, more excitement began surging from within me as I stared at the stage where everything would go down.

    ¡®This match¡­ will be quite interesting!¡¯

    ¡°Now, then, we shall begin in earnest!¡± us announced.

    ¡°The first rounds will be conducted among the First Years. I shall now call upon the contestants!¡±

    Tension filled the air. Silence pervaded the Hall. I could sense the overwhelming expectation of the students as they awaited the call of the moderator.

    ¡°Ivan Smith and Jared Leonard! Both students shoulde to the stage!¡±

    The moment the call was made, my eyes sparked and I turned in the direction of my opponent.

    He did the same, and we both stared at each other for a second before rising from our seats. I descended to the stage, having a small smile on my face.

    ¡®Who would have thought I¡¯d be fighting him in the first round¡­¡¯

    In no time we both stood opposite each other on the massive stage. I was certain that some of the people who watched this match would have a slight notion of what would happen.

    ¡°H-hey, this match¡­ isn¡¯t it a bit unfair? An Upper-ss against a Lower-ss right off the bat? This Exchange is going to be hardcore!¡± I noticed someone speak as I enhanced my hearing.

    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t say that. You don¡¯t know who that kid Jared Leonard is, do you?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, back when we were still in Orientation, the boy easily beat up Ivan!¡±

    ¡°Oi, oi, you¡¯re kidding, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m serious! You¡¯re a Schr, so you weren¡¯t there.¡±

    ¡°Ivan¡­ lost¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. But I think it¡¯s because he underestimated that Jared boy.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s gotten way stronger since the Orientation. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be able to win now!¡±

    I concluded that I had heard enough from the masses, so I deactivated my hearing enhancement.

    ¡®He¡¯s gotten even stronger, uh? I look forward to that!¡¯ My eyes narrowed on the target who red at me with determination.

    I could barely see any form of pride in him. It was as though the boy was resolved to fight earnestly in order to win.

    ¡®I have always thought you had potential¡­ now that you¡¯ve managed to work on yourself, why don¡¯t you show me what you can do.¡¯

    us took a couple of steps back and got to the edge of the stage.

    ¡°Begin!¡± He dered.

    CLAP!

    Instantly, Ivan brought both his hands together, silently casting something. I patiently waited to see what he would do. If I chose to be too hasty, I was most likely not going to see how much he had grown.

    Ivan separated his hands which were already crimson and steaming, pressing them on the ground as he knelt.

    Instantly, the arena ground swelled, and a form of burning light seeped into the earth, like veins. The sparkling veins swiftly began moving in my direction, closing in on our distance with frightening speed.

    ¡®T-this is¡­!¡¯

    As soon as I realized what was happening, Ivan pressed his hands deeper into the ground and caused the veins to move even faster

    In a sh, the crimson veins surrounded me, and a sharp beam of burning light sprang up from beneath¡ªsearing mes that ascended at least a dozen meters into the air.

    BOOOOMMMM!!!

    The me pir that grew from the ground sent heat waves dispersing in the area, but the concentration of mana was focused on the uptight burst of fire that could torch one¡¯s body in an instant.

    ¡®This is¡­ an Intermediate Spell¡­ around Middle-Tier¡­¡¯

    To think he would resort to this right off the bat. Ivan was certainly not messing around.

    While trapped in the pir of mes, bound to get turned into cinders, I smiled and decided to reciprocate the boy¡¯s earnest disy with a more serious action of my own.

    SNAP

    With the flick of my two fingers rubbing on each other, the burning pir dispersed, as though snuffed out by the wind.

    FWOOOOSHHH

    The mes cleared and I stepped out of the charred area,pletely unharmed.

    I could hear gasps from the audience, shocked noises that clearly told me they expected me to have suffered some severe injuries while being trapped in the burning prison.

    The most amusing of all was Ivan¡¯s shocked expression that seemed to permeate his face. He had most likely gone all-out from the start, yet I once again easily turned things around.

    ¡°You¡¯ve certainly improved, Ivan. But¡­ you¡¯re not the only one.¡± I smiled and stepped forward.

    His aura of determination seemed to dwindle as my grin grew wider.

    ¡®Allow me to show you a bit of my growth too!¡¯

 Chapter 157 - Emerging Victor

    ¡°Allow me to show you a bit of my growth too!¡± I grinned with satisfaction, drawing closer to a stunned Ivan.

    ¡°A-amazing¡­ to think you brushed that off too¡­¡± He whispered.

    With his hands still on the ground, the boy shot a look that told me he was far from being finished. This caused excitement to course through my body as I picked up my pace and approached him.

    RUMBLE

    Suddenly, the shake quaked once more and I was confronted with a massive lump of earth emanating from the ground.

    ¡®This is¡­!¡¯ My mind rang as I saw the lump take on the form of a giant hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m not just good at Fire Magic, you know! Let¡¯s see how you snuff this out!¡± He yelled, controlling the massive brown construct to form a fist¡ªnearing me at an rming rate.

    ¡°Hehe, I see! So you figured it out!¡±

    I thought he was just a dense idiot, but after suffering defeat by my hands, he must have widened up a bit. His earlier attack, while being very powerful, was something I dealt with by protecting myself with a denser wind barrier and sniffing out the oxygen around the mes.

    As soon as Ipleted this, pushing the remnant flickers away with my wind spell was a simple task. Ivan must have suspected I would do that, so he resorted to this tactic instead¡­ using a different element!

    The brown-colored blow approached me in a hurry, but I wasn¡¯t going to allow it any closer. Smiling in anticipation, a brilliant idea came to mind.

    Stretching my finger at the earthen attack, I produced a surge of lightning, sending the sharp spark to my opponent¡¯s magical attack.

    BOOOOMMMM!!!

    Instantly, the rock fist was decimated, turning into nothing but rock particles that crashed upon the ground.

    ¡°Tch!¡± I heard Ivan utter in disappointment.

    I kept approaching him the moment his attack failed, waiting to see what he would pull off next.

    ¡°Damn it! Take this!¡± He growled, sending his mana coursing through the stage again.

    Two giant earthen hands came from both my left and right. The speed and intensity by which they moved told me Ivan intended to squash me by pressing my body between the two ps.

    ¡°Not a chance.

    The moment they drew closer, a wind barrier covered me, pushing both earthen constructs back. That wasn¡¯t all, though.

    With a snap, sickles of wind appeared, cutting apart the earthen hands and rendering them into chunks as they fell.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Ivan growled in more frustration.

    My pace was increasing, and in no time, I would reach him¡ªonce that happened, it was game over! I awaited more of his futile attempts for victory, crushing him with my pressure of dominance.

    ¡°T-then¡­ how about this!¡± Ivan pped his hands together and made a strained sound.

    His voice depicted slight pain, and I could see veins protruding from his head. It was as though¡­

    ¡®¡­ He¡¯s using up a great deal of Mana for this move. Does he want to win that badly?¡¯

    As I suspected, a huge surge of energy appeared, and suddenly, from all sides, four earthen hands appeared.

    Their size was much bigger than the previous ones, and they moved so quickly that the others would be nothing inparison.

    ¡®He¡¯s able to use Earth Magic so we¡¯ll despite being having a Fire Specialty¡­ this Ivan guy is a genius!¡¯ I smiled.

    ¡°I¡¯m not done!¡± His voice ascended, nearly deafening me.

    The earthen constructs suddenly had veins emanating from them and the veins became bursts of mes.

    Yes, like molten magma on a volcano surface, the four hands erupted with me-like attributes, increasing their potential for greater damage.

    This was Ivan¡¯s trump card!

    ¡®I see¡­ so I can snuff out the mes and decimate the rocks, but what about both? That must be his rationale¡­¡¯

    Unfortunately, even with dual elements charging toward me, they would not pose an issue.

    ¡°[Grand Earthen Spikes: Intermediate]¡± I smiled.

    Instantly, all around me, the stage floor morphed into massive spikes and intercepted the ming rocks that charged at me. With frightening precision, the multiple spikes pierced all of them, causing the hands to burst and explode in a single strike.

    BOOOOOOMMMMM

    Like fireworks all around me, the fiery rocks scattered in different directions. I made sure none approached me with the wind shield protecting my body.

    I carefully observed Ivan¡¯s trembling body. He was certainly shaken beyond doubt that I was able to easily handle his ultimate move in an instant.

    ¡°Anything else?¡±

    I was already directly in front of him, looking at the boy¡¯s kneeling body from my location. I was well within striking distance, but I waited to see his next course of action.

    ¡°Heh¡­ none at all¡­ you¡¯ve utterly beaten me yet again.¡± He muttered while shaking his head.

    As expected, he didn¡¯t re up in rage. I had no idea what happened to Ivan Smith during the months we had been apart, but he was apletely different person. No, perhaps this was his true self.

    ¡°I surrender! This match is my loss.¡±

    His deration shook the audience, especially those who had underestimated me. Even though many thought he could have still kept going, even if that meant his shameful defeat, I was happy about the wise choice he made.

    ¡°You¡¯ve gotten stronger.¡± Stretching my hands to him, I gave a slight nod.

    He sighed and took my hand.

    ¡°It¡¯s not enough¡­¡±

    From the mes that sparked in his eyes, I could tell that he was somewhat viewing me the same way Stefan did¡ªas a rival. It was a shame, though.

    ¡®None of you guys can reallypete against me¡­ not as you are now¡­¡¯

    Even if they decided to be better, I was also doing the same. When would they realize that? The gap between us would only get wider no matter what.

    Still,pared to how much he would have grown if he hadn¡¯t met me, Ivan had exceeded my expectations by leaps and bounds. He was sure to be one of the most powerful mages of his generation if he kept up this pace.

    After all, throughout our match¡­ he only ever used Intermediate-Level Spells. He must have judged me to be that much of a threat.

    ¡®What a scary Mana Pool he has¡­¡¯ I mused.

    ¡°The winner of this round is¡­ Jared Leonard!¡±

 Chapter 158 - Forfeit

    I returned to my seat with a pleased smile ying on my face.

    It wasn¡¯t due to the satisfaction of crushing Ivan easily, but as a result of the shocked faces the spectators made.

    A Lower-ss dreg defeating an Upper-ss elite was something most would fail toprehend, much less believe. Still, I had so one-sidedly achieved this.

    Of course, I got many stares as a result of my performance, but who cared? I followed the rules and won fair and square. There was no problem at all!

    ¡°For the second match, we have¡­¡± us mentioned, drawing everyone¡¯s attention back to the stage.

    If the first match for the day was that splendid, how would the second one y out?

    ¡°¡­ Aaron Pufferhall versus Rias Lendertale¡±

    I noticed the people¡¯s anticipatory gazes widened more as the Middle-ss student was called to face yet another elite. My grin of amusement grew aide as I saw both boy and girl descend the stairs to the central arena where they would exchange magical blows.

    Aaron Pufferhall, a Middle-ss student, would be fighting the one who scored the fourth highest in our exams¡ªRias. It was already clear to me who would win.

    ¡®That poor guy¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    It wasn¡¯t impossible for someone of a Lower ss to win against those of higher sses. I was living proof of that. But, to do that, one had to be either very knowledgeable and skilled in their use of magic, or have someone skilled enough to guide them.

    I was the former while Anabelle and Edward were thetter. However, for Aaron, he was neither. After observing his previous match, it was certain what level of skill he had.

    Even as others cheered on for the fight, I gave a bored nce at both of them,pletely predicting the results.

    It would be a boring match.

    ***************

    ¡°Winner, Rias Lendertale!¡± The moderator dered.

    I nearly rolled my eyes at the predictability of the whole thing.

    So far, four people had fought, two of which had lost. As us had earlier stated, only eight students would be able to pass. We only needed a couple more matches to go.

    ¡°Next, we have Maria Helmsworth versus Desir Selman.¡±

    ¡®Again? Pitting a genius against another no-name?¡¯ I smirked.

    Well, the whole thing was chosen at random, so I understood how the match-ups worked. It was also a good thing Maria didn¡¯t get stuck with me or Ana.

    While it was uncertain how her fight with my dearpanion would go, there was absolutely no way she could win against me.

    It wouldn¡¯t be nice if she got disqualified this early in the game.

    ¡°Winner, Maria Helmsworth!¡± us announced while I was still buried in my thoughts.

    My head sharply sprang up as I looked in the direction of the stage. It was a terrifyingly amazing aight, what I feasted my eyes upon.

    Pillers of ice surrounded the target as the white most filled the air. The opponent, Desir, waspletely petrified with fear, shivering amid the coldyers that enveloped him¡ªthreatening to freeze up his entire body if he so much as took a single step forward.

    ¡®E-eh¡­?!¡¯ My mind rang at the sudden decisive factor of the match.

    It ended too quickly, even shorter than Kuzon¡¯s match. I watched as she returned to her seat, noticing how she briefly looked in my direction with her usual nk expression. Her clear, smooth face was as mesmerizing as ever.

    ¡°Next, we have¡­ Jared Leonard versus Stefan Netherlore!¡±

    This announcement shook me to my foundation. I wasn¡¯t expecting it!

    Instantly, Stefan rose to his feet and shot me a determined look before heading down for the match.

    I was uneasy for a second, but quickly pulled myself together and descended as well.

    ¡®Shit! I didn¡¯t want this to happen so soon¡­¡¯

    I would have preferred it if Stefan fought someone else and we met in the Semi-finals. Why did it have to now?!

    Stefan got to the battleground before me and gave me his usual confident grin as I arrivedte.

    ¡°Looks like we have to fight each other now. That¡¯s good! I was getting impatient, anyway!¡± The boy said with enthusiasm.

    To be fair, I wasn¡¯t in the mood.

    As much as I wanted to fight Stefan, I didn¡¯t want someone as skilled as him to lose in the mere quarters. It would be better if we both med it to the Semi-finals or something.

    ¡°Oh well¡­¡± I shrugged, realizing the best solution to the problem.

    us observed both of us until it seemed like we were both good to go and drew closer to the edge of the stage. That wasn¡¯t going to be necessary though.

    ¡°Begin!¡± He dered, causing both of us to spur into action.

    ¡°Prepare yourse¡ª¡±

    ¡°I surrender!¡±

    My voice seemed to cut the very air of excitement and tension that had enveloped the entire hall.

    The echo seemed to resound over and over again as I noticed the sudden turn in everyone¡¯s mood. From ¡®Yesss!!!¡¯ to ¡®What the¡ª?!¡¯.

    The moderator, us was surprised by my decision, and I could see Kuzon and Ana¡¯s faces depicting shock. Someone like me¡­ giving up so easily¡­ certainly, it was something too absurd to ept.

    Still, the one who was most affected by my decision was the boy in front of me.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this? What do you mean you give up?!¡± Stefan growled with a re as his outstretched arm¡ªwhich he had prepared for a Spell¡ªfell instantly.

    While I wasn¡¯t obligated to respond to him and exin the rationale behind my decision, my feelings of pity wouldn¡¯t let me leave without a proper answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, Stefan. As you are now¡­ if we fight¡­ you¡¯ll lose!¡±

    The moment I said this, the boy¡¯s eyes widened in utter shock and disbelief.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to lose before reaching the Semi-finals at least.¡±

    Thanks to the decision of the Judges, I had at least two rounds to fight. Even if I forfeited this, I already had one which ended in my victory. That was enough to advance!

    ¡°Once you qualify and we meet in the Quarter-finals, we¡¯ll have our final match!

 Chapter 159 - The Exchange Continues

    ¡°W-what are you¡­?!¡± Stefan gritted his teeth, apparently still not satisfied with my response.

    There was nothing I could do about that, though. My line of reasoning was for his benefit, whether he epted it or not.

    ¡°I don¡¯t agree with this! Fight me fair and square!¡± He protested, raising his voice harshly.

    For the usually collected and cool Stefan to lose hisposure in such a manner¡ªour match must have meant a lot to him. I could understand, more than most, the drive to fight someone. But, the kid also needed to learn the art of patience.

    ¡°Moderator, I¡¯m leaving the stage now,¡± I muttered, snapping us from the surprised daze he found himself in.

    ¡°A-ah, I see¡­¡± The man muttered, eyeing me in disbelief.

    ¡°I don¡¯t ept this, moderator! Call him back to stage.

    Stefan¡¯s elevated voice didn¡¯t stop my steady pace as I moved to the edge of the stage in order to leave.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do about it. He forfeited.¡± I heard us console the boy.

    ¡°The winner of this match is¡­ Stefan Netherlore!¡±

    With this deration made, the audience responded dryly. It was a victory, but nothing about it felt like one. I felt several eyes on me as I walked back to my seat. It was an action no one would expect someone of my personality to take, after all.

    Fortunately, us knew how to read the room and quickly announced the next match without dy.

    ¡°Anabelle Frederick and Zesh Derkiond. Both of you should step out!¡±

    My eyes darted at the girl who sat beside me, giving her a thumbs-up.

    Ana nodded and sprang to her feet, sharply making her way down the stairs in excitement. I was partly grateful that none of mypanions had decided to ask me the reason for giving up.

    It saved me the time and energy required for an exnation. Plus, they probably overhead me talking to Stefan by using the enhancement Magic I taught them.

    My eyes frolicked as I saw Stefan get off the stage with an air of disappointment hanging above him. He grudgingly epted his victory and returned to his seat while Ana and herpetitor climbed the tform for their duel.

    ¡®Another Middle-ss, eh? Show them hell, Ana.¡¯ I smiled in amusement.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    The moment us gave the announcement, Zesh Derkiond, Anabelle¡¯s opponent, sprang into action.

    Using enhancement magic to boost his movements, he closed in on the girl very quickly.

    ¡®Oh? So he¡¯s a closebat battle-mage type?!¡¯ I reasoned in amusement.

    It could be that, or perhaps the boy thought Anabelle was weak in closebat since the spell she used thest time was long-ranged. Magic-Users had their areas of specialty, not justprised of elemental attributes, but also the type of magic to be used.

    Some excelled at Area-Of-Effect Magic, while others were more Short-Range oriented. It was possible to have various specialties, but for a Lower-ss student, that would be expecting too much.

    FWOOOOSHHH!

    In a blur, the exemry boy was already in front of Ana, ready to pounce on her with his electrifying fist.

    BAM!

    His fists connected with something¡ªjust inches from Ana¡¯s face. The moment his highly-vtile, lightning-coated fist hit the invisible wall that separated the two of them, I smiled.

    ¡®So, she¡¯s using my Invisible Barrier tactic, eh?¡¯

    Ana didn¡¯t know of SPELLCRAFT, so she simply used her Mana to execute it, unlike me¡ªbut it was still an impressive feat.

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?!¡± Zesh cried out.

    Unfortunately for him, his reaction time wasn¡¯t as quick as Ana¡¯s, and she had already prepared an attack of her own.

    ¡°[Wind Fall: Intermediate]¡±

    Instantly, a heavy gust of wind fell and pushed Zesh¡¯s unsuspecting body to the floor.

    BOOOOMMMM!!

    The weight of the wind must have been unbearable as the boy groaned, falling t-faced unto the ground. The arena floor shook as he began screaming.

    ¡®He¡¯s forcefully trying to get up by enhancing his body!¡¯ I noticed with a smile, watching the young boy glow with blue light as he struggled to get up.

    The moment Ana noticed this, she tightened her hold on the spell and increased the force by which he was pushed down, causing him to fall helplessly to the ground again.

    ¡°Guarkk!!¡±

    At this point, he must have started to hurt all over, but if Ana increased the pressure once again, his bones wouldn¡¯t be saved from damage. The match was over.

    If the Zesh guy was sensible enough, he would¡ª

    ¡°I-I give up! I surrender!¡± He cried, just like clockwork.

    There was only enough pain a person could endure, especially at our young age. It was inevitable that he wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand much more thanks to hisck of experience in battle.

    Ana deactivated her spell the moment he surrendered and us arrived back on stage.

    ¡°The winner of this round is Anabelle Frederick!¡±

    The petite girl beamed in excitement, slightly jumping as a result of her victory.

    She began leaving the stage to return when us suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder. His eyes were on the list, yet he prevented her from going anywhere. Was there a problem?

    ¡°Don¡¯t go yet. The next match is your turn again.¡±

    A heave of relief escaped my lips and I eagerly expected who would be next.

    So far; I, Rias, Stefan, Maria, and Ana had passed. Three more were required to qualify.

    ¡°The contestants are¡­ Anabelle Frederick and¡­ Kuzon Midas!¡±

    My eyes instantly bulged in shock upon the announcement.

    ¡®What?! Shit!¡¯ My mind sparked.

    Kuzon rose from his seat¡ªlocated to my far right¡ªand gave a casual smile as he descended to the stage.

    I gulped hard as I watched Ana¡¯s tiny figure standing beside us on the stage.

    ¡®Why didn¡¯t I think of this possibility?¡¯

    Currently, I wasn¡¯t sure Anabelle could win against Kuzon, even with her remarkable talent. Besides, even if she could, I didn¡¯t want her to resort to her full power when it was just the Quarter-Finals.

    ¡®Quit, Ana! Just forfeit this match!¡¯ My intense eyes screamed as I looked at her.

    She wasn¡¯t staring at me, though. Her eyes were on the boy who approached the stage¡ªKuzon.

 Chapter 160 - Winners Of The First Years

    Kuzon and Anabelle stood opposite each other on stage, both staring at each other¡ªAna had an intense gaze, while the boy was simply donning his usual expression.

    ¡®Knowing Anabelle¡¯s personality, will she even consider quitting?!¡¯ I reasoned, taking the girl¡¯s bubbly nature into ount.

    She was academically smart, as well as a genius in the field of magic. But, in re

    al-life situations and decision-making, she was very dense¡ªan absolute idiot.

    Evidence of that was her childish logic in refusing to practice Magic in order to surpass Lewis Griffith on equal grounds.

    I just hoped she wasn¡¯t nning on going all-out when it wasn¡¯t even a match with any stakes for her.

    ¡®She could also be trying to gain information on what kind of magic he can use using this match as a basis¡­ that¡¯s not a bad rationale.¡¯

    Considering it was often important to know the specialty of your target and learn a lot from them in battle, that line of reasoning could prove advantageous if we encountered Kuzonter on in thepetition.

    But, such tricks wouldn¡¯t work on someone of his caliber.

    I was certain he wasn¡¯t nning on using all his cards in this match. So, no matter how much information Ana tried to wriggle out of him, it was of no use.

    Plus¡­ how sure was I that Anabelle was capable of drawing out Kuzon¡¯s full power?

    ¡®In any case, it¡¯s a risky venture¡­ not worth it in the slightest!¡¯

    ¡°Rx, Jared. You should believe in Ana more.¡± A voice interrupted my thoughts.

    I looked at Edward, who must have been watching me agonize over what Anabelle would do in this situation.

    ¡°Huu¡­ you¡¯re right¡­¡± I whispered and calmed myself.

    I was overthinking things, as usual. Whatever decision she made was her choice. She had already passed, so just as I was free to use up my second match as I pleased, she was also allowed to as well. What would it be, though?

    ¡°Begin!¡± us announced,mencing the match.

    ¡°I surrender.¡± Ana let out, waving her hand casually in the air.

    Kuzon had not even attempted to move or fight, almost as if he had expected this.

    us looked in Ana¡¯s direction and gave a nod in resignation.

    ¡°Winner, Kuzon Midas!¡± He dered.

    My lips curled up in a smile and I nodded in agreement with her decision. I was worrying for nothing!

    ¡°Why did you give up?¡± Kuzon¡¯s calm voice yed in my ears.

    His yful tone contrasted the power and authority he wielded. Even now, the expression he had on was as if everything was a joke to him.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Ana began.

    ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to fight you.¡±

    Her t statement caused my high expectations to mellow down. Anabelle was honest, so I had to assume that what she said was actually how she felt.

    That meant she had no real tactical reason for refusing to fight. She just didn¡¯t want to face him.

    ¡°Haha, is that so?¡± Kuzon chuckled.

    Hisugh caused the girl to flush in what I could only call embarrassment and I saw her cheeks turn red.

    ¡°W-well, the match is over. I¡¯m off.¡± She stuttered and took her leave.

    Kuzon said nothing more and simply walked off, returning to his seat as well.

    Their brief exchange, albeit awkward, was a little funny to me. I had never seen Ana act so cute in front of anyone but me.

    She came back to her seat in a jiffy, puffing her cheeks, and sat silently. Edward and I knew better than to interrupt Ana while she was sulking, so we simply looked to the stage and ignored her obvious attempt at a fit.

    ¡®Now, then, we have six winners¡­ we just need two more.¡¯

    ***********************

    The round after Anabelle vs Kuzon was me against a Middle-ss student. This represented thest round allotted to us Lower ss first years.

    Of course, I easily emerged victorious, securing a total of three slots for the Lower ss.

    The final match was between thest member of the Middle-ss and an additional person who would be randomly selected among the students. To my surprise, Ivan Smith was chosen.

    This allowed the boy who lost at my hands to have aeback. As I watched his march from my seat, I came to admire his growth even more. He was able to easily win against the Middle-ss student, properly disying his strength in Magic.

    The only reason he lost back then was because his opponent was me. Against someone from the Middle ss, his victory was guaranteed.

    With that, the champions of the First Year Magic Division were chosen.

    Three slots from the Lower ss; Two for me, one for Anabelle.

    Five slots from the Upper ss¡­ all of them passed to the Semi-finals.

    It was a bit funny how no one from the Middle-ss survived the Quarters, but this was simply reality. Against the Upper-ss Elites, average students stood no chance. Even though Anabelle and I were Lower-ss denizens, our abilities rivaled the Upper-ss members.

    ¡®This is why the ss System is stupid¡­¡¯ I reasoned.

    Thanks to the entitlement given to the Middle-ss, their growth wasn¡¯t very evident. After all, there was a ss lower than them, causing them to have a false sense of superiority and security.

    They must have beenx in their training, thinking they would at least be able to crush the Lower ss contestants with ease.

    Unfortunately for them, the end results proved otherwise.

    ¡®Hopefully, they learn from the error of their hubris.¡¯

    With the victors already determined in the Magic Division, us wasted no time dering the beginning of the next phase of the Exchange.

    ¡°We will now begin the Quarter-Finals for the Martial Arts Division!¡±

    I noticed Edward¡¯s stiff face let out a smile. He must have been fighting impatience all this while, and it was finally time for him to prove his worth yet again.

    I was certain the Middle-ss Martial Artist wouldn¡¯t really pose a problem for him, but I hadn¡¯t even seen the skills of the Upper-ss student, so I couldn¡¯t determine his strength yet.

    Still, I was confident in Edward¡¯s strength! Being the one who taught him Martial Arts, I was assured that his level of skill was the Intermediate Level of the old scaling system. That made him of the Advanced stage in the present realm of Martial Arts.

    With a smile forming on my face, I waited for us to begin the match.

    ¡°You better not lose!¡±

 Chapter 161 - The Round Of Martial Arts

    us called the three contestants for the Martial Arts Division, bringing them out to the stage.

    Edward, along with Xavier Denmark and Eben Lustriel¡ªstudents from the Middle and Upper ss respectively¡ªall climbed the tform for contesting, facing the moderator as he spoke the rules.

    ¡°You will now pick lots. Your cement in the battle will be determined by the numbers you have chosen.¡± us dered, bringing out their tags from his breast pocket.

    The students conceded and took their respective tags from us. Once each of them had gotten one, the adult amid them instructed them to open the folded piece of paper and view the contents within.

    ¡°State the number written in your tags!¡±

    The students could most likely make a guess concerning the relevance of their respective figures and obeyed without hesitation.

    ¡°A¡± Eben Lustriel said.

    ¡°B¡± Xavier Denmark muttered.

    ¡°C¡± Edward Karl Leon, myrade, finally retorted.

    ¡°Good. Edward, leave the stage for the two of them to have the first round.¡± us stated.

    The boy did as instructed, but I could see an impatient me burning in his eyes. He most likely wanted to be first, yet he had been shifted to thest to fight.

    Well, it was only a matter of time anyway. With this line of thought, I cast my gaze away from Edward who stood at the sidelines, and focused on the two who were about to fight.

    As usual, weapons were provided for them, and coincidentally¡­ both of them had swords for weapons.

    The Middle-ss student had a broadsword, well versed in its strength and cutting-edge swiftness. As for the Upper-ss elite, his katana was wielded with elegance. It was way longer than the broadsword, but its thinyer seemed so fickle that it could break upon impact with the opponent¡¯s sturdier tool.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    As soon as usmenced the exchange, both contending students became a blur and charged swiftly at each other. They both took their Martial Arts stances and moved their bodies in like-manner.

    The broad-sword wielder, focusing on strength and speed, fortified his legs and twisted his body to generate enough force that would break concrete.

    Mana leaked from his body, further enhancing his power. Pressure filled the hall and I was certain the technique packed great strength. With such a powerful striking attack as the first strike, it appeared the Xavier kid was not nning on holding anything back due to the nature of his opponent!

    As for Eben Lustriel, his nimble body sharply transversed their distance, grabbing his de with both hands. His sharp gaze was focused on Xavier, rather, on a particr spot on the boy¡¯s body.

    Mana burst out of the elite, causing the one that manifested from Xavier to look like a small pondpared to a bustling ocean. It would be enough to break a person¡¯s fighting spirit, but since the boy was already in ¡®the zone¡¯, he didn¡¯t let go of his broadsword and swung it with all his might.

    The look on his face was as of a hopeful prayer that his attack would connect.

    VWOOOOOOSSSSHHHH

    The de neared Eben at a frightening rate, enough to make anyone¡¯s heart stand in excitement. Unfortunately¡­ it missed.

    Eben lowered his height at thest minute, cleanly avoiding the strike that nearly missed his short hair, while still gripping his Katana with both hands.

    With the window of opportunity presenting itself before him thanks to the opening Xavier currently had, Eben moved even closer for the kill.

    I watched his lips move in a whisper and deciphered the words that came out of them.

    ¡°Great Swallow Fountain Strike¡­!!!¡±

    In a sh, even for me, I saw the katana¡¯s edge move in a swift diagonal line. The swiftness waspletely transient, not even making a sound as it instantly achieved its goal and caused the wielder to twist before rising at the opposite end of his opponent.

    The moment the strike concluded, that was when a sound burst forth.

    ¡°Guarkkk!!!¡± Xavier gasped, both in shock and pain, falling to the ground in defeat.

    ¡®Oh, wow¡­ a single hit, uh?¡¯ I smiled in anticipation.

    The boy, Eben Lustriel, had a very swift de technique that was also powerful enough to render someone who was coated with Mana unconscious in a single hit.

    That was one impressive de technique!

    ¡°Winner, Eben Lustriel!¡± us dered.

    The moment this announcement was made, I heard a thunderous cluster of shouts echo from all across the hall.

    The sudden noise caused me to wonder what the big fuss was, especially since the audience had been silent in other victories. Increasing my heightened perception, I began listening to the whispers around and probed for more information.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I got to see such a magnificent Technique!¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t even see it! The movements were too fast!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the famous Swallow God Fountain School for you. They¡¯re not one of the Three Great Martial Houses in the Kingdom for nothing.¡±

    Once I achieved what I wanted, I returned my hearing to normal.

    ¡®Oh? So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡¯ An amused smile spread across my face.

    So, Edward¡¯s next opponent would be someone who came from another well-established Martial family. The only difference between the both of them was thY Edward¡¯s Martial heritage waspletely unknown.

    But, if he was to sh with Eben, the chances of his techniques being recognized would soar. He could one day revive his Martial School!

    I was certain the boy would take this chance for sure.

    ¡°Next, Edward Karl Leon. Pleasee to the stage.¡±

    The staff members, who lingered around, carried the fallen student away from the stage and gave him treatment while Edward climbed the tform.

    His eyes were only focused on his opponent, Eben, as he took every step.

    Now a couple of distance from each other, both boys were caught In a staring contest, with us being the middleman.

    ¡°Ready¡­ Begin!¡±

    The moderator got off stage and went in the direction of the fallen boy, most likely to ensure he was ready before the third matchmenced.

    Whether Edward won or lost here, he would still have to fight with Xavier Denmark in the third round.

    He could choose to forfeit the match and obtain an easy victory with the Middle-ss fodder, but I knew myrade¡¯s personality more than anyone.

    He wasn¡¯t going to quit!

 Chapter 162 - Swallow God vs Blade God

    ¡°I witnessed your match. Your sword packs quite the punch¡­ but it won¡¯t do you any good against me¡­¡± Eben Lustriel spoke calmly.

    The match had already officially begun, but none of the contestants moved an inch from their positions.

    ¡°Your de is swift, I can see that¡­ and your use of Mana is exquisite. But, who¡¯s to say I can¡¯t match it?¡± Edward fired back.

    Both of the boys, having great pride in their respective Martial Techniques, red at each other as they gripped their weapons.

    Edward¡¯s sword, as usual, was a regr de. It took the form of a longsword, having an average build and quality. This was because, in the boy¡¯s Martial School, no matter the form of the de one wielded, if they mastered the technique properly¡­ the results were basically the same!

    ¡°You should forfeit and fight in the next round. You have a better chance against the other kid.¡± Eben pressed on.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you forfeit instead? You¡¯ve already won a round, so you qualify.¡±

    I smirked at Edward¡¯s smart remark.

    ¡°Surely, you jest. My de must not know defeat nor surrender.¡± The elite¡¯s response came with a chuckle, as though Edward¡¯s words were not even worth considering.

    ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing more to discuss. We¡¯ll be facing off again in the Semi-finals, so there¡¯s no need to avoid fighting you.¡±

    With this statement, both boys now began taking their battle stances, reflecting their Martial School¡¯s fundamental techniques.

    ¡°Now, then, why don¡¯t we have a warm-up session?¡±

    As soon as he made this statement, Edward pressed a foot on the ground and caused it to crack instantly. Before this was evident to others, it shattered even more, giving Edward enough force to propel himself forward.

    BOOOOMMMM!!!

    With his heightened speed, even without using Mana, he approached his opponent.

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?!¡± Eben appeared dazed by the quick pace by which he moved, quickly steeling his de so he wouldn¡¯t be caught off-guard.

    FWOOOOOOSSHHHH

    Edward swung his de, creating a sh of mana through the air. The blue-colored crescent burst of energy raced at Eben, who easily parried the strike with his Katana¡¯s edge thanks to his own Mana control.

    BOOOMMM,

    Edward¡¯s charge resumed, and in a sh, he was right in front of Eben, who was also in stance, ready to use his signature move to one-shot Edward as he had done previously.

    In a silent stroke, the brilliant katana danced, diagonally slicing through the target as in the first match.

    Edward would lose consciousness and fall t on the ground!

    ¡­ Or so it was meant to be.

    CLANG!

    The Katana was stopped from even grazing Edward, thanks to the boy¡¯s sword blocking the strike.

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?!¡± Eben gasped in astonishment.

    Such a thing had probably never happened to him before! That a peasant practicing some unknown Martial Arts would be able to block his attack.

    ¡°I asked you before¡­ who¡¯s to say I can¡¯t match your de?¡± Edward smiled.

    ¡°Y-you¡­!!!¡± Eben slightly lost hisposure, giving his opponent the right chance to strike him down.

    SKRRRIIIIIIII

    Edwardpletely parried the katana that was still on his de, sending Eben¡¯s body flying backward, giving it an opening.

    ¡°This is the end!¡±

    Instantly, the de God sessor doubled the Mana he had on his body and concentrated a huge amount on his de. The pressure that was building on the stage, while in merely the fraction of a moment, was enough to make my hair rise.

    ¡®This is a big one!¡¯ My mind rang in excitement.

    His opponent was currently open and right in range. A single ¡®Form¡¯ of the 9 Fundamental Precepts would be enough and, judging from Edward¡¯s stance, I could guess the one he was going for.

    The de ascended, covered in the deep color of highly-concentrated mana, ready to be discharged at any time.

    VWOOOOOOOOOOMM!!!

    It was truly the end!

    ¡°I-I forfeit!¡± Eben¡¯s words rang out.

    At that very moment, Edward hurriedly halted his descending de from moving any more.

    WHUUUSSHH!!!

    All the air around and behind Eben evenly parted, sending a wave of pressure dancing on the stage. I could see the elite student nearly shivering in response to the de that would have hit him if he refused to surrender.

    Sweat dripped from his face and a look of both fear and frustration burned in his eyes.

    Whether he epted it or not¡­ he had lost¡ªmiserably, at that!

    The audience was certainly not expecting this, as gasps escaped their mouths. It must have been so shocking that a no-name Martial Artist wouldpletely obliterate someone who was an elite.

    Sure, it could be argued that Eben was overconfident and severely underestimated Edward¡¯s abilities. However¡­ a loss was still a loss!

    ¡°W-winner, Edward Karl Leon!¡± us stuttered in his deration, most likely also surprised by the oue of the match.

    The moment the victor was decided, Edward withdrew his sword that hung in mid-air, inches from Eben¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°It seems your de has finally known defeat¡­¡± The winner¡¯s voice trailed as he walked away from the unmoving loser.

    I could see the satisfaction that yed on Edward¡¯s face. It was a sharp contrast to the one whose expression screamed of frustration and pure hate.

    ¡°D-don¡¯t think for a second that I have been defeated! I only forfeited the match!¡± Eben¡¯s voice rang out in a feeble attempt to justify himself.

    Edward didn¡¯t even bother looking back on the utterly disgraced contender and shrugged casually instead.

    ¡°Get off the stage. I need to fight my next opponent.¡±

    I nearly cried out in joy once I heard the extremely cool response of my pupil. It was so¡­ manly!

    Eben could no longer disgrace himself anymore, so he simply had no choice but to leave the stage with his head hung in the shame of losing, no, even worse¡ªsurrendering to his opponent.

    It was quite a funny sight!

    Thest contestant, Xavier Denmark, climbed the stage with his broadsword, looking quite unnerved as he faced Edward.

    ¡°Do you not want to surrender?¡± He asked.

    After seeing the fight that just unfolded, what sort of fool would still want to fight instead of surrender?

    Well, he was standing right on the stage!

 Chapter 163 - Disparity

    ¡°Do you not want to surrender?¡±

    This question seemed to y within the mind of the nervous new challenger. A hint of hesitation showed on the boy¡¯s face, but soon after, it disappeared entirely.

    ¡°N-no! You may be stronger than me¡­ and you are most likely going to win this match, but¡­ how can I call myself a man if I don¡¯t face you with everything I¡¯ve got!¡±

    His response seemed to strike a chord within Edward.

    ¡°I¡¯vee this far! I might as well see things through to the bitter end!¡±

    Edward smiled upon hearing the boy¡¯s statement. It was most likely a result of kindred spirits resonating due to their simar ideals.

    ¡°Very well. Come, Xavier! I shall fight you as a warrior and a man!¡±

    I rolled my eyes at the sight. Only an idiot like Edward would appreciate pointlessly fighting once loss was inevitable. I only saw it as foolishness.

    Edward¡¯s sword style wasn¡¯t something the Xavier boy could understand and even learn if they crossed des, and it would most likely be over in an instant, so what was the point of the battle?

    Pride? Ego? Chivalry? It was all inconsequential anyway. The stronger one would win, and there was nothing anyone could do to change that!

    *********************

    ¡°Winner, Edward Karl Leon!¡±

    As expected, it was a pointless match.

    Edward finished everything in a single hit, refusing to hold back. I was certain he did this out of respect for the opponent¡¯s resolve, but what was the point? The boy fell unconscious with a single hit!

    Edward moved closer to Xavier and nodded in what I could only deem to be respect. He raised his sword and made a loud deration.

    ¡°You are by far the greatest opponent I have fought since the start of this Exchange!¡±

    The crowd gave gasps of shock and his words sparked controversy among everyone who heard.

    What of Eben Lustriel whom he fought earlier? Compared to his great Sword Arts, thispetitor was merely fodder, yet he had the gall to dere him the greatest?

    The shocked and displeased spectators whispered in gossip, sending hushed noises permeating the hall.

    ¡®Gah! That idiot!¡¯ I winced, rubbing my head in embarrassment.

    Why did he have to go that far?

    Still, though, I had to appreciate his conviction to an extent. Whether his actions were right or not, the fact that he stuck by them no matter what¡­ that was what made Edward a true Martial Artist!

    Looking at him now, as he raised his de and smiled in his deration, the boy reminded me of Gawain Lenard. He was a man who loved booze more than I did, and relished in promiscuity. Yet, he never once denied his actions.

    He proudly confessed his love for wine and women, showing no shame at all. In the same vein, Edward was unting his wed way of thinking and not feeling the least bit sorry about it.

    Even if both their philosophies had dangers hidden in them, their spirit was admirable.

    ¡®That idiot¡­ oh well, this is his path, after all!¡¯

    A Martial Artist must be one with pride, as well as a practitioner of the art of shamelessness!

    Those were the words of my close friend, the Greatest Swordsman in the Eastern Kingdom¡ªSword God, Gawain.

    As I relished in my thoughts, Edward left the stage and us continued his announcement.

    ¡°We will now begin the Schrs¡¯ round!¡±

    *********************

    The Schrs¡¯ round psed and, as expected, only the Upper ss and Middle-ss students were able to qualify.

    I had no doubts on the matter since they were obviously the ones with the greater talents in the art of Schrship.

    Anabelle was an exception, a rare gem to be found in the Lower ss, but I doubted anyone would be stupid enough to falsify their skills in order to intentionally be ced in a Lower ss.

    After the Schrs¡¯ round, the Second Years took the stage.

    Their baffles were fiercer than ours for the most part.

    Since they also had a number of talented students, the Spells and skills they disyed far outstripped the performance we showed.

    I had already realized, since yesterday, that there was a wide margin between the abilities of the First Years and Second Years.

    Of course, after watching and watching, I arrived at the conclusion that I would be able to defeat any of them¡ªwhether in Martial Arts or Magic!

    Schrship was no question at all, so I didn¡¯t even botherparing myself with the noobs of the craft.

    The skill and experience of our seniors were not the only things that were different about their round and ours.

    The battle and results of their contest were incredibly one-sided! It was almost too painful to watch!

    The Magic Division, Martial Arts Division, and even the Schrship Division!

    The matches were either won by the Upper-ss students, or those of the Middle ss!

    It made me nearly feel pity for my Lower ss seniors¡ªhow they were put down despite their miserable efforts at victory.

    It was a painful reminder of the difference in status between those of higher rank, and the bottom-feeders.

    In the end, of the eight who advanced to the Semi-Finals in the Magic Division, all five of the Upper ss were present, and three Middle ss were included. Of the Martial Artists, one Middle ss, and one Upper-ss student made it through.

    The same also applied to the Schr Division.

    The only reason the Middle-ss Students were even present was because all the number of the Upper ss had been exhausted. Their spot was more of a constory prize and not the actual thing.

    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, the matches got even more brutal once it was time for the Third Years topete.

    I had never seen such a one-sided battle in Ainrk Academy¡ªsuch great disparity between talent! Even though I could sense great hard working from the side of the Lower ss and even Middle ss, the Upper ones still dominated!

    Of course, those known as the Elite Ten were not to participate in the matches until the final day, but still¡­ to think this was howrge the margin was!

    It made me extremely sick to my stomach and anger began appearing in my eyes.

    ¡®This¡­ something is fundamentally wrong about this!¡¯

 Chapter 164 - The Semi-Finals

    I left the hall that day with a bad taste remnant in my mouth.

    Of course, I had achieved victory ¡ªsame as my allies¡ªbut the sickening feeling of the current state of Ainrk couldn¡¯t let mepletely rejoice.

    Anabelle and Edward were a bit surprised by the way I was acting, I could tell by the numerous nces they stole at me and the signals they gave each other, but I chose to ignore them.

    ¡®Something needs to be done¡­¡¯

    While the segregation of the talented from the mediocre seemed efficient at first nce, in the long run, the Academy would produce poor students and release them from their gates.

    In the first ce, talented and skilled individuals would always be fewer than the collective in any society¡ªAinrk was no different.

    By separating them from the others and determining the roles of everyone, the Academy was sure to exponentially increase the power and status of the Elite, but also significantly reduce the potential of those who weren¡¯t as skilled.

    Theck of bnce, as well as the damage to be caused the longer this method remained dwelled on my mind. It had to be eradicated.

    Unfortunately, my feelings of dissatisfaction would have to remain just that¡­ at least for the time being. I wasn¡¯t stupid enough to imagine effecting real change with my current capabilities.

    ¡®I need to amass more power, more knowledge, more status¡­ and more connections!¡¯

    That was why this Inter-ss Exchange was so important! Using this tform to gain more recognition for myself and my allies would be sure to benefit me in the future!

    I wasn¡¯t willing to get anything less than first ce!

    ***********************

    The third day was even tenser than the previous one.

    Less people were seated among the contestants, and the spectators had an air of anxiety and expectation that pervaded the Hall.

    I took a good look around me, counting the number of those who qualified to this point.

    For the first years, a total of twelve¡ªsame as the other years. That left a total of thirty-six contestants!

    ¡°Wee to the Semi-Finals, everyone!¡± Our energetic moderator shouted, spurring the already-excited crowd on.

    ¡°Congrattions to those who have made it this far! For those who couldn¡¯t, there¡¯s always next year!¡±

    I rolled my eyes, wondering why us seemed to intentionally leave out the Third-years who lost and would most certainly never get another chance again when he gave his constions.

    ¡°I will now be stating how the events of the Semi-Finals will go!¡±

    This time, we all listened attentively.

    ¡°Due to the uneven distribution of members in a ss who have passed the Quarters, for the Magic Division, we¡¯ll be having a form of elimination match!¡± us dered.

    ¡®I knew it!¡¯

    It was evident that since we were having an ¡®Inter-ss Exchange, fighting against members of the same ss wasn¡¯t allowed. As a result, they probably intended on bncing out the number ofpetitors from each ss for the Magic Division.

    ¡°This elimination match will serve as a preliminary round before the main Semi-Finals. First Years Magic Division, step forward!¡±

    Taking it as our cue, Anabelle and I stood up instantly and made our way down the stairs. I saw the excited, bored, anxious, mellow, etc. looks on the faces of those I would be contesting with.

    All seven of us who passed climbed the stage, standing before us for our briefing. We were officially eight, though. I represented two people.

    ¡°Only four of you will being out of this preliminary round. Two from each ss.¡±

    Since only Upper ss and Lower ss students were present, it was a fair deal. It also meant that Ana and my participation in the Semi-Finals were more than guaranteed.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be facing automatons in this round. The one who is capable of defeating as many automatons as possible within the time limit will advance to the main match.¡±

    I smiled at the simplicity of thepetition. Still, there was a question on my mind.

    ¡°I have a question. Will we all start at the same time?¡±

    us responded with a ¡®Yes¡¯.

    ¡°But, I¡¯m currently representing two people. How would that be fair?¡±

    While I had an understanding of thepromise the moderator would have reached concerning my case, it was still a good thing to make things clear before the contest began.

    ¡°After everyone is done, you¡¯ll be given additional time to represent your second identity. Is that fair enough for you?¡±

    I nodded, turning to Ana with a wink.

    It wasn¡¯t really an important matter for me to win the second round since I had already decided that both Ana and I would be making it into the Semi-Finals.

    The problem was who would emerge victorious among the Upper-ss members. The most possible choices would be Kuzon and Maria. They were geniuses above all others. Stefan stood a chance, but I still felt like Maria was superior.

    It was a shame, though. If the boy got cut out before I got the chance to fight him¡­ that would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

    ¡®You better qualify too, Stefan! Even if you have to puke blood.¡¯

    ¡°Now, then, as per the rules¡­ you are not allowed to hurt anyone purposely during this round. You are also not allowed to attack an automaton that has already been engaged by another student. You are to focus solely on subduing as many opponents as you can. The use of anything other than Magic is strictly prohibited¡­ this is apetition to test your Magic skills, after all.¡±

    We all silently listened to us as he spelled out the regtions. They were all well within reason.

    ¡°Do you all understand?¡±

    We responded positively, and after us confirmed our understanding of the regtions, a huge timer was set above us, visible for everyone in the Hall to see. We were given a minute to subdue as many automatons as possible!

    As everyone readied themselves in their respective positions, me included, the earth beneath us rumbled and holes began appearing all over the stage. It was as though the tiles that made them up were sinking. Recing the tiles were beings that sprang up from beneath the dark hole.

    They were automatons¡ªour foes!

    ¡°Get ready¡­ Begin!¡±

 Chapter 165 - The Automatons

    Automatons are dolls made from solid materials, but can move in predetermined patterns embedded in their Magic circuits.

    Unlike Golems who possess only Cores, Automatons¡ªwhile having different shapes and sizes¡ªhave internal structures simr to humans. Their Mana Circuits work together with their Mana Core, granting them automated mobility.

    This allows them to move in pre-recorded patterns, a feat impossible for Golems. The advantage of using Automatons was the efficiency of their use.

    A Mage could employ the use of several automatons in battle or thepletion of several tasks. However, for Golems, one would manually need to control them.

    Of course, there were also downsides to these constructs. For one, they couldn¡¯t simply be created with ordinary magic, unlike Golems. Only specialized Mages could utilize spells to conjure them, so most Automatons were industrially made with normal materials and were made functional through the use of Mana Cores embedded in them.

    Another disadvantage was the cost of production. Unless a Mage was specialized in the creation of Automatons or it was being mass-produced, the average mage couldn¡¯t get ess to them.

    This was why Golems are a moremon aid for Magic-Users.

    **************************

    Ainrk Academy was a prestigious institute, so none of those downsides affected them. Not only did they have very powerful and specialized Mages, but they had the facilities and necessary know-how to make Automatons without any difficulty.

    A grin formed on my face as I saw scores of them appearing in the veryrge arena. The shape of the constructs was akin to humans¡ªhaving the same amount of limbs and other body parts.

    Of course, their color and specific appearances were nothing like regr people. Having ckplexion, most likely due to the material used to construct them, and nk faces, they seemed like wooden marites.

    ¡®That material¡­ it must be the same as the one used for the weapons throughout the Exchange¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed, observing the metallic gleam that covered their bodies.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    Once the moderator announced this, the Automatons spurred to life and began moving rapidly. Their metallic feet made barely any noise thanks to the impable design of Ainrk, impressing me even more.

    WHOOOOSHHH!!!

    My body, enhanced by magic, sharply moved across the arena as I decided to catch my first prey. I couldn¡¯t just waste my time admiring the beautiful creations, now, could I?

    I conjured multiple water balls and ice balls, aiming to stop the Automatons in their tracks.

    If they were wooden, I would have gone for the fire element, but I was certain basic Fireball spells wouldn¡¯t be enough topletely stop these artificial beings.

    ¡°Eat this!¡±Iunched dozens of water balls at several Automatons, thereafter using the cooling quality of the ice element to harden the liquid that covered them.

    This slowed down their movements considerably.

    ¡°[Ice Lance: Intermediate]¡±

    I multi-casted, creating several spears made of the freezing element. The Automatons could not evade my assault with their current speed, allowing me to urately pierce the weakest links in their bodies¡ªtheir necks.

    FWOOOOSHHH!!!

    In an instant, I defeated over thirty of them.

    ¡®Hoo, this is fun!¡¯

    Excitement began welling up within me as I saw even more of theming out of the holes that spawned them endlessly. The Automatons weren¡¯t made to be difficult, but their sheer numbers could make anyone lose heart.

    The fact that these constructs never ceased to spawn and they kept advancing in their numbers was enough to overwhelm many. But, I didn¡¯t even pay heed to any of the other contestants and focused solely on enjoying myself.

    ¡®Automatons didn¡¯t exist in my past life! It¡¯s one of the more recent innovations!¡¯ My head rang in excitement as I prepared the next sets of spells.

    This time, I would try lightning!

    Based on the difficulty of the Automatons, they were simr to High-Tier Basic Golems. Unlike Golems whose movements were unpredictable as a result of being remotely controlled, Automatons followed set patterns.

    This made their difficulty lessen.

    They also didn¡¯t use any special abilities except spit out energy sts that could easily be defended against. Once they got closer to us, the constructs would attack with hand-to-handbat, but it was best not to even let them draw near.

    ¡®This is kind of a simted lesson!¡¯

    Magic-Users, when confronted with multiple opponents, must know the right course of action to take.

    While conserving one¡¯s Mana in order to handle so many opponents at once was practical, there was an even better solution to this current predicament.

    ¡®Overpowering the enemies with extremely powerful magic to blow them all away!

    With the time limit set to one minute, that was the best option, no, the only option!

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    Quickly creating several spell circles as a result of my multiple Mana Cores, I brought out sparks of electricity from them, raising the cast point above all the Automatons that surrounded me.

    ¡°[Lightning Fall: Intermediate!]¡±

    KRRRRAAAAKKKKKK!!!

    In a sh of powerful light and a roar of explosive thunder, the brilliant whitish-blue sparks descended and tore through the metal bodies of my targets.

    The constructs danced, almost as if they were in pain. Their bodies grew stiff, and sparks flew from them as a result of the overload of energy on their circuits.

    I watched as the Automatons¡¯ joints broke apart thanks to the pressure of the lightning strike, and they began exploding one after the other.

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    By the time I was done, charred grounds surrounded me as smoke emanated from them. The shattered bodies of the Automatons littered the ground, much to my satisfaction.

    I didn¡¯t count how many I had just defeated, but it was certainly no less than fifty.

    I looked above me to check how much time was left.

    The moment I spotted the time I grinned in satisfaction. My face returned to the stage where I saw others, from the corner of my eye, fighting with their spells.

    Some were conservative, some were reckless, while some casually pummeled through the metallic army.

    A small crowd had already started forming in front of me as well¡ªAutomatons marching toward their destruction.

    ¡®Twenty more seconds, eh? Let¡¯s see what else I can do!¡¯

 Chapter 166 - The List

    ¡°Time up!¡± us dered.

    The moment his voice registered, all the students stopped whatever they were doing.

    All the Automatons around also ceased movements, hanging their heads low as though the power on them had been cut off. The hole where they spawned from also ceased to bring forth anymore.

    ¡°Hoo¡­ that was fun,¡± I whispered.

    us told all of us to gather in a row while snapping his fingers to jolt the Automatons back to life.

    Once they cocked their heads and began moving again, the constructs moved in the direction of their spawned site and fell into the hole they came from.

    I watched as thest of them disappeared from sight and, shortly after, the tiles that vanished earlier returned to their spots. It was as if the holes that were spread across the stage never existed.

    ¡°Congrattions on making it this far. The results will be announced shortly, but before that, I will rify that there was no bias in recording your scores.¡±

    From his tone, I could already guess that the list was going to be quite controversial.

    ¡°Every Automaton has an ¡®Image Capturing¡¯ Magic embedded within. This allows them to capture the identity of whoever defeats them before they are rendered unfunctional.¡±

    us further exined that each Automaton transferred the information of those who defeated them to the records before they were vanquished, leaving an urate testament to determine the winners of the round.

    ¡°Your faces, body structures, and even outfits, have been registered the moment you entered the ring. So, it is safe to say that all the information is one hundred percent urate.¡±

    I smiled in amusement, watching how us diligently exined the process in order to ensure no doubt remained on our minds.

    ¡®Even if you guys cheat us, it¡¯s not like the students have any power to change the results¡­ that is if we even find out, to begin with¡­¡¯

    Still, his efforts were admirable.

    ¡°Before the final results are disyed, I believe Jared Leonard was supposed to have two turns. Please get ready for your second¡ª¡±

    ¡°Forget about that. I concede!¡± My voice interrupted the moderator.

    us nodded immediately, fortunately choosing not to probe further into my decision.

    ¡°Now, then, the results will be disyed now¡­¡± us pointed at the screen that once showed the timer of the Automatons subjugation.

    A different panel was now disyed, showing a list of names as well as numbers beside them.

    I focused my eyes on the list topletely immerse myself in its contents.

    [AUTOMATON SUBJUGATION RANKING]

    [1st ce]

    ¡ªKuzon Midas: 300 Automatons

    [2nd ce]

    ¡ªJared Leonard: 298 Automatons

    [3rd ce]

    ¡ªAnabelle Frederick: 208 Automatons

    [4th ce]

    ¡ªStefan Netherlore: 119 Automatons

    [5th ce]

    ¡ªMaria Helmsworth: 118 Automatons

    [6th ce]

    ¡ªIvan Smith: 89 Automatons

    [7th ce]

    ¡ªRias Lendertale: 56 Automatons

    [8th ce]

    ¡ªNil

    [END OF INFORMATION]

    A frown formed on my face as I noticed who was the lead among all of us.

    ¡®He surpassed me by just 2 kills? Shit! I should have taken the subjugation more seriously!¡¯ I gritted my teeth internally.

    I had no idea why I felt so frustrated by the result¡ªmaybe I just didn¡¯t want to lose.

    Still, it was as though this match was foreboding how the Finals would go down.

    There was no way I wanted to lose to anyone!

    ¡°A-amazing!¡±

    ¡°The Lower ss guys got both second and third positions.¡±

    ¡°Stefan scored above Maria?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s with thatrge gap?¡±

    ¡°Oh, shit! This is amazing!¡±

    My hearing picked up several murmurs among the crowd. I sighed and took another look at the list, grudgingly looking past the first position.

    I didn¡¯t score too badly, and I was proud of Ana for trailing directly behind me. The most surprising aspect of the list was who got fourth ce.

    ¡®Stefan really beat Maria?¡¯

    No, I didn¡¯t believe it. Especially taking a closer look at the points they both earned. Maria scored one point lower than Stefan, and I had a feeling it wasn¡¯t just pure coincidence. If I had to guess, it would be that Maria actually¡­

    ¡°Why did you do it?¡± I suddenly heard Stefan¡¯s agitated voice.

    My eyes subtly moved in his direction as I saw a dissatisfied look on his face. He was ring at Maria who maintained her usual cool.

    ¡°You intentionally scored below me, right? Why?!¡± He hushed, clearly upset at the girl.

    ¡®Oh? So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡¯ I smiled softly.

    ¡°What proof do you have that I did that?¡± Maria finally responded, sort of giving herself away by her reply.

    ¡®Pfft.¡¯ I nearlyughed in amusement.

    ¡°Y-you¡­ you¡¯re always like this! Why do you always hold back because of me? Is it because you think I can¡¯t keep up with you, or what?¡± Stefan said again.

    A hint of pain reflected in his eyes. I could sense inferiority oozing from him, something that spurred on his anger.

    ¡°Stefan¡­ that has nothing to do with this¡­¡± Maria whispered in a very soft and gentle tone.

    Her eyes suddenly moved in my direction, stunning me a bit. Before I could remove my eyes away, she had already noticed J was watching.

    Fortunately, she didn¡¯t seem to mind at all. No, now that I thought of it well, this girl had always been strange in that way.

    Stefan seemed to follow her gaze and his line of vision reached me as well. I saw his scowl deepen, as though asking me ¡®What are you looking at?¡¯.

    It was toote for me to pretend like I wasn¡¯t observing their conversation, so I simply ignored Stefan and kept looking at them. This seemed to annoy the boy even more, though.

    ¡°You want to fight him, don¡¯t you?¡± Maria¡¯s soft voice suddenly seemed to cut through our tensed silence.

    Stefan¡¯s face sharply turned to her, as though trying to protest the matter.

    ¡°Then use this chance I¡¯ve given you to do so¡­ it won¡¯te again.¡±

    Her tone seemed to contain a bit of seriousness, especially in thest phrase, before she finally fell silent again.

    I saw as Stefan gritted his teeth and clenched his fist powerlessly, unable to argue any longer.

    ¡°F-fine¡­¡± The boy¡¯s voice weakly trailed.

    ¡°¡­ I understand¡­¡±

 Chapter 167 - Stefan Vs Jared

    ¡°Alright, now that you have all seen your results, it¡¯s time to announce the ones who will be proceeding to the Semi-Finals.¡±

    We all knew what us said was only for formality since everyone could already guess who would be advancing.

    ¡°For the Lower ss, we have Jared Leonard and Anabelle Frederick. Please step forward.¡±

    Ana and I moved from the usual row and took a few steps forward.

    ¡°For the Upper ss, we have Kuzon Midas and Stefan Netherlore. Also, step forward.¡±

    The two matched our pace and stopped exactly on the line where we were.

    ¡°The rest of you are automatically removed from the match. I want to congratte you on making it this far, and encourage you to try harder next year. You have all done well.¡±

    With a smile on his face, us dismissed everyone else, leaving only four of us who passed on the stage.

    ¡°I¡¯ll now be exining the rules of the Semi-Finals. It¡¯s quite simple.¡± He began.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be having one-on-one matches with your selected opponent. This selection will be chosen at random, and you will fight until the other party either gives up, loses consciousness, or is unable to fight any longer.¡±

    We all understood this much.

    ¡°In the situation where only the members of one ss manage to secure victory, the judges will consider the two matches and determine which of the ss member will need to step down for a member of the losing ss who is most deserving.¡± He further exined.

    ¡®I see¡­ I understand¡­¡¯ A smile formed on my face.

    Even if the Upper ss won both rounds, they would still only choose one member of the Upper ss and one from the Lower ss to face off in the finals. Since it was an Inter-ss Exchange, the matches had to be between two sses at least.

    ¡°Keeping all this in mind, it is advisable to disy the full force of your capabilities, not just holding back,¡± us concluded.

    He asked if we understood his exnation, as per protocol, and all of us responded positively.

    ¡°Good. Now, look above you for your opponents!¡±

    We trailed us¡¯ pointed finger and located the disy hanging above our heads, like the list we saw earlier.

    On it were our four names, and the names kept swapping with each other in a random process.

    Unease rested in the atmosphere as I felt the crushing weight of everyone¡¯s expectations and tension concerning whose name would be paired with whom.

    PIIIINNNNGGG

    An rming sound appeared, and the names suddenly ceased moving, showing us the final match-ups for our exams.

    Once I saw it, I was a bit happy and a little sad. My eyes trailed to Ana and I gave her aforting smile.

    ¡®Ana¡¯s paired with Kuzon, uh? The very guy she said she didn¡¯t want to fight¡­ sucks to be her.¡¯

    It was somewhat the best choice, though. After all, this meant I got to fight Stefan now, and then I would most likely meet Kuzon in the finals.

    I wasn¡¯t sure if Ana would back down at this point and just let Kuzon get the medal, but¡­ I certainly hoped she didn¡¯t.

    ¡®There¡¯s nothing more to lose at this point. Fight will all you have!¡¯ My burning eyes moved in Ana¡¯s direction.

    Fortunately, she was looking at me and our eyes connected. The petite girl nodded vehemently, obvious determination disyed on her face.

    Leaving her direction, my eyes trailed to my opponent, Stefan.

    ¡°Looks like you got what you wanted. We¡¯ll be fighting each other.¡± I grinned.

    His scowl remained unfazed.

    ¡°Yeah. You better fight with all you have!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t promise that, but Stefan didn¡¯t have to worry¡­ I nned on showing him some very interesting things.

    ¡°Alright! For the first match, we have Stefan Netherlore and Jared Leonard! The rest of you, please move off the stage.¡±

    An air of excitement rang among the audience as I and Stefan moved to our respective positions on the battleground.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the whole area to be rendered empty, having only our moderator waiting at the edge to announce the battle¡¯smencement.

    ¡°Begin!¡± His loud voice echoed in my ears.

    ¡°Prepare yourself!¡± Stefan shouted, raising his hands as they both stretched at me.

    ¡®Come to think of it¡­ this will be the first time I¡¯ll be really seeing Stefan use Magic¡­¡¯ I waited in observation.

    Purple sparks of lightning appeared, sending the whole area into vibration. In a sh, he sent multipleshes at me.

    SWOOOOSHH!!!

    I immediately realized I needed to enhance my body in order to stand a chance against the speed of his attacks, and quickly did so.

    Moving my body fluidly, I escaped theshes of lightning he sent in multiple directions, watching as they scarred the stage we stood on.

    ¡®That must be the Low-Tier Intermediate Spell: Lightning Whip.¡¯ My thoughts trailed, wondering why Stefan refused to use anything higher.

    ¡°Come on, Jared! Are you going to keep running?¡± He smiled.

    ¡®Is he baiting me? Oh well, let¡¯s see what he has in store¡­¡¯

    Proceeding cautiously, but with piqued curiosity, I charged at Stefan with full speed. I felt the wind brush in my face, causing my vision to blur in all areas except my target.

    Of course, I was still maneuvering around the lightningshes, approaching the target at a fairly high speed.

    Suddenly, I caught Stefan giving me a sly grin.

    ¡°Heh!¡±

    My eyes widened, realizing I had indeed fallen into whatever trap he set for me. My speed was currently high, and it would take a while to dull my momentum. Whatever the trap was, wherever it would be¡­ I was sure to fall into it!

    SWUUUPP!!!

    The ground I treaded suddenly became soft and unstable, and I found myself sinking, unable toe out of the seemingly muddy pool.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got you!¡± Stefan beamed, having a happy and satisfied expression on his face for tricking me.

    He pped his hands together and the earth began solidifying once again, like cement. The boy meant to trap me halfway into the ground!

 Chapter 168 - Jared Vs Stefan

    ¡°Guh!¡± I let out groaning sounds, trying to escape the cementing pool before I becamepletely stuck, but¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s toote!¡± Stefan screamed, electricity buzzing from his fingertips.

    A giant magic circle appeared above my head, covering the whole expanse of the hardening puddle that entrapped me in an instant.

    It was at least ten feet above, and the sparks of energy around it told of bad news.

    My eyes returned to Stefan who was now smiling, obviously done casting the great spell about to envelope me.

    ¡°Dark Lightning Return!¡±

    KRIIIIKKKKKKK!!!

    Sparks flew as multiple purple shes of lightning burst out of the circle, all charging straight down.

    ¡®T-this is¡­ High-Tier Intermediate!!!¡¯

    Before I couldplete those thoughts, though, the burst of electricity connected, surging through the area of impact which generated a deafening explosion.

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    Chunks of tiles from the stage flew about thanks to the sheer pressure of the attack, and remnant shes of lightning crackled.

    SHUUUUUU Smoke rose from thepletely solidified pool of cement which had cracked apart as a result of the spell¡¯s overwhelming power.

    ¡°That was an Intermediate Spell of that High-Tier. There¡¯s no way you could have dodged it in time¡­ especially since it caught you by surprise. Plus, lightning is one of the fastest elements there is. You¡¯re done for!¡± Stefan said as he approached.

    Smoke filled the area of impact and the roasting smell of burning earth tingled on the nose. Based on the destruction he caused, it was fair for Stefan to assume victory over our battle, but¡­

    ¡°¡­ The match isn¡¯t over yet, genius!¡±

    Stefan jumped in shock as he sharply turned his head behind him. The pure expression of confusion that enveloped his face was such a sight to see.

    ¡°Y-you¡­ h-how?!¡± He frantically yelled, beads of sweat appearing on his face.

    ¡°Look closely¡­.¡± I pointed directly at the wave of smoke that ascended from the point of impact Stefan had targeted.

    I saw his stiff neck slowly turn in disbelief as he captured the sight I showed him.

    His back was turned at me, so I couldn¡¯t see his expression anymore, but judging from how the young boy¡¯s body spasmed, I knew he had realized my trick.

    ¡°Y-you¡­ you dug your way into the ground!¡± Stefan returned his gaze toward me, gritting his teeth in frustration.

    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± I sharply responded.

    My body had no scratches or marks on it, making one wonder how I was able to pull off such a feat.

    Once the battle started, I coated myself with an ultra-thin barrier that a person wouldn¡¯t even be able to distinguish from my actual body. I made theyer to be sturdy, though, enough to withstand low-level Intermediate Spells.

    Still, I pretended to be overly cautious of his electric whips and fell for his trap, even though I could clearly see a gathering of Stefan¡¯s Mana on the ground before stepping on it.

    I had thought it would result in an explosion or something, instead, I was met with a cementing pool. His lightning spell also formed above me, and I realized it would be a bit too much for my current harrier to handle.

    Instead of tanking the spell, I used SPELLCRAFT to control the surplus mana around me in order to easily separate the rock beneath me, allowing me topletely sink into the ground right before impact.

    I made a tunnel and swam back aboveground, a distance from Stefan, before revealing myselfpletely unscathed.

    Of course, I wasn¡¯t going to exin any of this to Stefan, who just stood and stared at me dumbfounded.

    ¡°I suppose¡­ it¡¯s my turn now!¡± I smirked.

    Stefan was powerful and talented, I had to give him that. Which was why it would be pointless and even dangerous to try stretching out the match any longer.

    ¡°You should probably go on the defensive now,¡± I advised.

    It was up to the boy if he heeded it or not.

    ¡°[Dark Lightning Storm]¡±

    The bbergasted boy became even more shocked by the time I revealed the trick up my sleeve.

    RUMBLE!!!

    A storm cloud formed above Stefan, darkening his vision. Instantly, torrents of wind blew, bombarding him in all areas as he tried to figure out his bearing. Even if the boy tried escaping, the whirling wind surrounding him would prove that to be a difficult task.

    ¡®It¡¯s no use!¡¯

    Combining Wind Magic and Lightning Magic to form a High-Intermediate Spell, close to the peak point of that level, the storm that had formed was going to let out discharges of lightning after forcibly trapping Stefan in its range.

    I watched as he struggled, coating himself with all forms of enhancements. Unfortunately, it was nothing more than a powerless child trying to swim against the harsh currents of a raging sea.

    ¡°Guarkk!!!¡± He let out in pain.

    As a result of my generosity, I decided it was time to end things.

    ¡°Fall!¡±

    Instantly, the thick cloud gave off the glow of purple light, and rumbles of thunder came from within it. Stefan noticed this and looked above him.

    It was toote to do anything other than receive the Spell!

    BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

    Even greater destruction than the earlier spell was caused, thanks to the focus of my lightning attack on a single point.

    The ground shattered, and vibrations filled the earth. The audience seemed to recoil as a result of the brilliant sh of light and the echoes of thunder.

    Finally, once the single strike hit, I dispersed the cloud, using the remnant wind to brush away the smoke that rose from the heated point of impact.

    ¡®That Spell is enough to kill, but¡­ I intentionally dyed in the cast to give you enough time to react and defend¡­¡¯ I smiled, noticing Stefan¡¯s unconscious body on the floor.

    He had several burn marks on his body, but none were too serious. It seemed he indeed blocked a lot of the attack in time, causing most of the damage to reflect in the surrounding areas. Still, he couldn¡¯tpletely rid himself of its force.

    Even as he was in an unconscious state, I saw the look of determination still glued to the boy¡¯s face. He really tried his hardest, didn¡¯t he?

    ¡°You fought well, Stefan¡­ you fought well.¡±

 Chapter 169 - Kuzon vs Ana

    ¡°Winner, Jared Leonard!¡±

    Upon securing my victory, I heaved a sigh of relief and began walking down the stage.

    Surprisingly, I was met with the deafening roar of the crowd as they cheered in amazement. The students¡ªespecially those from the Lower ss¡ªburst out in cheers of excitement.

    A brief smile formed on my face and I relished the moment for a little while.

    A Lower ss reject had defeated one from the Upper ss¡ªand not just any kind of elite, one of the two biggest geniuses among Ainrk Academy¡¯s First Years!

    Somehow, this urrence must have given other students hope. If a Lower ss reject could beat a genius, then it certainly wasn¡¯t impossible for others to rise above their designated spots.

    I hoped this battle proved to be an inspiration to those who had lost faith in themselves and had given in to the current system.

    ¡®There¡¯s no cement that¡¯s absolute in this world! We make our own ranks!¡¯

    Once people understood, then they could soar above what they naturally deemed impossible.

    So what if one was born inept? They could still excel in academics and be a Great Sage!

    So what if a person was born poor? They could birth an innovation that would pave the way to wealth.

    So what if a person was born powerless? They could simply w their way into power¡ªdoing whatever it took to achieve their dreams.

    In essence, nothing waspletely impossible so long as a person had the will and determination! The sky allows many birds to fly, without exception. It only waited for those who dared raise their wings to take flight!

    Even a chicken could climb atop the back of an eagle¡­ and soar high into the sky!

    My eyes trailed to Stefan who was already being carried off stage in order to amodate the next contestants.

    ¡®It wouldn¡¯t hurt I¡¯d you relied on others more¡­¡¯

    With those final thoughts, I descended from the stage to return to my seat.

    On my way, I met Kuzon and Ana who were already climbing the stairs to the slightly elevated grounds.

    ¡°Give it your all, Ana.¡± I smiled at her with absolute pride.

    She nodded, and I could see the determination in her eyes. She wasn¡¯t going to quit at this juncture¡ªthat was what her convicted eyes told me!

    Suddenly, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. It jolted my body, but I quickly kept my destabilized emotions under control.

    ¡°That was a fine match. Impressive, too¡­¡± Kuzon spoke as he drew nearer to me.

    ¡°¡­ But, you took too long.¡±

    I gritted my teeth when he said that.

    While I indeed dragged the fight longer than necessary, the purpose of a match was to gather information on the target and enjoy oneself even while achieving victory¡ªespecially if victory was assured.

    From Kuzon¡¯s tone, though, he had a different philosophy.

    ¡°Watch the next match closely. If you are able to understand even the slightest bit of it, I¡¯ll consider enjoying my match with you.¡± He gave a light-hearted smile, and once I stared into his distant eyes, I suddenly got a bad feeling.

    ¡®This guy¡­¡¯

    Before I could say anything in response, us announced the names of the next contestants and they sped into the stage.

    A tinge of regret enveloped my heart and I wished I could have at least told Anabelle onest thing before she becamepletely out of reach.

    ¡°¡­ Be careful!¡± I whispered, looking in her direction.

    **************************

    I rushed to my seat so I wouldn¡¯t miss the fight that would ur.

    Fortunately, immediately after I sat and looked in the direction of the match, us Tallman dered it to have begun.

    The crowd burst out in excitement, clearly eagerly expecting how this fight would y out.

    I simply sped my fist and observantly watched thepetition very intensely¡ªjust as Kuzon had said.

    ¡®Ana is most likely going to lose against Kuzon. The only question is¡­ how long will shest?¡¯

    Anabelle instantly chanted the moment the match began, enhancing herself to the max while also preparing a High-Tier Intermediate Spell topletely decimate Kuzon.

    As I watched the fight, I nodded at the soundness of her tactics.

    Ana¡¯s current limit was a ¡®Highest-Tier Intermediate-Level Spell¡¯. But, since it took too long to cast, she must have decided to fire her current Spell¡ªmost likely to buy her enough time to cast her Trump Card.

    So far, it was going well.

    The zing blue me that Ana summoned above her could be felt, even from my distance. Beads of sweat formed on my face, and I wondered whether they were in reaction to the heat of the High-Tier Intermediate Magic, or I was just being nervous.

    FWWOOMMM!!!

    Anaunched the blue mes of destruction in Kuzon¡¯s direction. The giant ball of fire was at least as big as five humans put together. The name was ¡®[Giant Dark FireBall: Intermediate]¡¯.

    As I watched the mes rapidly approach its target, my eyes caught Kuzon doing absolutely nothing. This line of action puzzled me, almost to the point of disbelief. What was he up to?!

    Ana was already beginning to chant her next spell, the one that boasted her highest offensive capabilities.

    The ball of fire would reach Kuzon in only a few more seconds, engulfing the area that surrounded him in deep blue mes. We all watched in anticipation of the inevitable¡­ until¡­

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The blue fireball erupted whole still in mid-air, a few more seconds until impact.

    It parted, sending sparks of fire flying around and consuming the area, all except the ce directly affecting Kuzon.

    ¡°What?!¡± I eximed, losingposure for a moment.

    Even Edward was already on his feet, wondering what the hell had happened. We both gazed in shock and puzzlement at the sight of the mes prematurely exploding and the fact that none of the brilliant bursts of fire touched Kuzon even after.

    ¡®Ana¡¯s control over her spell is top-tier. That fireball wouldn¡¯t have erupted¡­ unless¡­ it made an impact with something!¡¯

    I closely observed the space where the fireball burst. There was nothing really visible, so it was most likely an invisible barrier.

    No, if it was one, I would have noticed the distortion in space, plus Kuzon would need to chant before executing one¡ªunless he used a magic item, which was prohibited in the Exchange.

    This just led me to even more confusion.

    ¡®Kuzon Midas¡­ what in the world¡­ did you do?!¡¯

 Chapter 170 - Shocker

    ¡°Watch the next match closely. If you are able to understand even the slightest bit of it, I¡¯ll consider enjoying my match with you.¡±

    I remembered Kuzon¡¯sst words to me before entering the ring.

    ¡®What did he do?!¡¯ My mind rang.

    Nothing within reason came to mind, so that meant I had to think outside the box. Unfortunately, before that happened, the boy in question made the next step.

    ¡°I should end this now¡­¡± He muttered.

    ¡°[Shock]¡±

    Suddenly, buzzes of purple electricity flowed on his hand, generating violent sparks. They danced around his fingertips and cackled ominously.

    Watching his Spell from afar, my puzzlement increased to greater heights.

    ¡®[Shock] is a closebat move, and can¡¯t be sent to far distances!¡¯

    Why was he using such a move when he was quite some meters away from Anabelle? The advantage of the [Shock] Spell was that it wasn¡¯t categorized into Tiers or levels. It was an independent-type Spell that varied based on the amount of mana poured into it.

    Still, against an opponent so far away¡­ how was it supposed to be effective?!

    BZZZTTTZZZZZ!!!

    Much to my surprise, no, to the shock of everyone who watched, the purple bolts transversed the distance that existed between Kuzon and Ana in a sh, and before I knew it¡­

    ¡°ARRRRHHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    ¡­ Ana¡¯s scream filled the air.

    The purple bolts of lightning roasted her body, causing vestiges of smoke to emanate from it.

    Purple shes lingered, clearly stinging her body as she writhed in pain. The girl uncontrobly for a few moments, already damaged beyond her limits, before falling to the ground in defeat.

    THUD

    Her bodynded on the floor and the sparks ceased. Millions of questions ran through my mind, but my first concern was Ana¡¯s warfare.

    I had defeated many people, and so had she. But, the sight of her losing so miserably and helplessly¡­ it caused me great grief and my chest tightened.

    The feeling of watching someone I cared about and nurtured be so easily overpowered by another¡­ it felt terrible. Some unsavory memories came to my head, but I quickly brushed them away before they took a hold of me.

    There were things I would rather not think about at all in this new life I had been given!

    ¡°Winner, Kuzon Midas!¡±

    My eyes unconsciously trailed to the timer set above for all to see, and I caught a glimpse of how long the marchsted.

    ¡°T-twenty seconds?!¡± Edward eximed beside me.

    His face showed shock, but I was just as surprised.

    ¡®So, this is what you meant when you said I took too long in my match¡­ Kuzon¡­¡¯ I narrowed my gaze and focused on the boy who casually left the stage the moment the victor was decided.

    Unlike before where cheers of victory sounded, the hall was at a decorum. Many were sure to have been supporting Ana, seeing as she was able to conjure a powerful spell with ease, and tried her best in her match.

    They must have also felt devastated when Ana shrieked as she was assailed by the jolts made by Kuzon¡¯s attack.

    A grave silence greeted Anabelle¡¯s loss and Kuzon¡¯s victory, and we all watched in silence as the medics rushed to take the girl off-stage.

    I had no idea how much Mana Kuzon poured into his attack, but for it to have bypassed Anabelle¡¯s enhancements and sent her into a state of unconsciousness in an instant¡­ it must have been a bizarre amount!

    For a student to have achieved that within barely a moment without experiencing Mana Shock¡­ just what kind of monster was this mysterious boy? How was he even able to transverse the distance with such a close-range spell¡ªand so quickly at that?

    My mind was in a state of panic and multiple emotions and questions flooded me. It felt like I would hyperventte as I couldn¡¯t handle all of them at once.

    ¡°¡­red! Jared! Jared!!!¡± I heard someone call for me, suddenly bringing me out of the overwhelming state I was in.

    ¡°W-what?!¡± I snapped, looking to my side at the person who was shaking me violently.

    Edward gave a look of relief the moment he realized I was fine, and finally, let go of my arms.

    ¡°Hoo, you didn¡¯t look like yourself back there, and you also weren¡¯t responding to my call. That was why I¡ª¡±

    A smile formed on my face as I saw an uncertain expression ying on Edward¡¯s face. I supposed I lost too muchposure and even worried the young boy.

    ¡°Jared¡­ I wasn¡¯t able to figure anything out during that fight. Anabelle¡¯s loss came as a shocker to me!¡±

    The moment he said hisst sentence, Edward paused, realizing something inappropriate in his words.

    ¡®Shocker, uh? Was it an unconscious attempt at word y?¡¯

    ¡°I-in any case¡­ did you figure anything out concerning what that guy did?!¡± Edward asked, still recoiling from his embarrassment.

    Once his question hit me, I slightly turned my face and looked toward the stage, seeing some scorch marks on the ground. The ckened lines gave me an inkling of something, but that was enough for me to dissuade my anxieties.

    ¡°No¡­ not yet.¡± I smiled at mypanion.

    ¡°But, don¡¯t worry¡­ I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this¡­ very soon!¡±

    Edward nodded, returning his gaze to the stage. A smile yed across his face and he gave a determined look.

    I was certain the boy was currently worried about his best friend, but he couldn¡¯t allow that to mentally destabilize him, especially since his match would being next.

    ¡°Ana gave her all, just like she wanted to. It¡¯s a shame she lost, but that only means she can learn from her mistakes and move on. Besides¡­ I know you¡¯re going to get vengeance for her!¡± Edward grinned, as though calming both himself as well me concerning the event that just transpired.

    Somehow, his words actually worked on me. While I was a bit anxious about facing Kuzon in the finals, I took a resolve upon myself to shake off any semnce of fear.

    He had utterly defeated my student! There was no way I nned on disgracing myself as a teacher.

    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re right, Edward!¡± I gave a bright smile.

    In my battle against Kuzon¡­ I was going to win no matter what!

 Chapter 171 - Rematch (Pt.1)

    ¡°We will now begin the next round. The Martial Artists who qualified, please step to the stage.¡± us dered.

    Of course, everyone knew who the moderator referred to.

    The two Martial Artists who followed the way of the de and had shed earlier in the Quarter-Finals would once again meet on the same stage.

    I watched Edward rise from his seat, donning an irremovable smile on his face.

    I nodded at him and saw him descend the stairs.

    Eben Lustriel, his opponent, had been on a seat based at a lower tform, and as such, had already arrived at the stage before Edward.

    I saw the hateful re in his eyes as he watched myrade approach steadily. It appeared us, the moderator noticed the enmity, judging his facial reactions alone¡ªthe adult man felt ufortable.

    Still, it wasn¡¯t in his ce to say anything.

    ¡®If Eben goes overboard in this match, and aims for Edward¡¯s life directly, he¡¯ll just be stopped before he can achieve that¡­ and it¡¯ll be Edward¡¯s victory!¡¯

    Still, I hoped he didn¡¯t do anything careless. As much as I wished my pupilplete victory, I wanted him to achieve it by besting his opponent, not just by default.

    ¡°Okay, then¡­ since both participants are on stage¡­ we will be beginning!¡± us stated, watching as both boys took their positions on the battleground¡ªeach wielding their respective weapons.

    As usual, he moved out of the way and got to the edge of the stag before he announced anything.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    The moment his words registered, both boys released their mana, causing what seemed to be a maelstrom to envelop the stage.

    Mana came in different shapes, size, and colors¡ªbut, it was a general rule that one¡¯s mana reflected the kind of core they had. Unless the color was affected by a particr Spell being used, the color would be the same as their core.

    Both Boyd unleashed yellow sparks of mana, shing their energies with each other, even before the sh of their weapons started.

    ¡°This won¡¯t end likest time.¡± I heard Eben speak the first word.

    There was a pause, as Edward only gazed at his opponent.

    ¡°This time¡­ I won¡¯t underestimate you, and I¡¯ll win!¡±

    ¡°So, you now admit thatst time was your loss, uh?¡± The confident boy defiantly spoke, giving an amused smirk.

    This only served as fuel to Eben¡¯s deep-seated fury, but Edward didn¡¯t seem to care.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to silence that mouth of yours! Prepare yourself!¡±

    Those words were unnecessary to someone like Edward. Even before the match started he had already been utterly prepared.

    There was nothing in his mind that would stand in the way of his victory. Just as I taught him, during battle he achieved a state of absolute focus¡ªTotal Concentration!

    WHOOOOOSHHH

    Both Martial Artists, gripping their des, dashed at each other with full force.

    The wind resulting in their fast-paced movement swept through the audience, and I felt a chill brush through my body.

    CLANG!

    Theshes of their Mana shed even more, same as their des. Sparks flew, giving off metallic sounds and reverb that caused some to wince.

    I gave my all in observing the match¡ªpartially to see the growth of my student when battling another, but also to ensure that Eben Lustriel didn¡¯t try any funny tricks with Edward.

    His annoyance and hurt ego made my suspicions valid. Plus, after what happened with Anabelle, I had somehow grown more cautious concerning myrades.

    FWOOOOSHHH

    With their des at a stalemate, both warriors took steps back and then lunged once again at each other.

    Their speed was evenly matched, almost as though they were moving in choreographed patterns. Silence enveloped the hall as everyone seemed to watch the two swordsmen in awe.

    CLANG

    SWOOOOOSHHH

    SKRIIIIII

    The des shed even more, swinging and moving like the wind. They rubbed each other and whirred in the most peculiar way.

    More wind blew across the stage, and it seemed like the match would go on forever.

    But, I wasn¡¯t worried at all.

    While I wasn¡¯t entirely certain about Eben Lustriel, I knew his opponent more than most. After observing the stroke of his de, his footwork, and every single motion he had made ever since the match began, it was clear to me.

    ¡®Edward¡­ isn¡¯t giving it his all yet!¡¯

    Both swordsmen took steps back and began taking deep, slow breaths.

    ¡°Huufff¡­ huff¡­¡±

    Eben appeared to be the more exhausted one of the two of them. His shoulders slightly dropped even as he tightly clung to his thin de. I could see his gait faltering a bit, and his arms already trembling.

    ¡®I see¡­ his swordsmanship isn¡¯t built for prolonged matches.¡¯

    Even if they kept up this pace, it was clear Edward had the upper hand in stamina.

    In the first ce, such high movements and powerful strikes that the Lustriel School was known for put a heavy strain on a person¡¯s muscles. Judging the method of execution, it was also fairly obvious that it was meant to defeat enemies in one strike¡ªor close.

    Using those moves consecutively, especially when one didn¡¯t have a body structure suited for the heavy repercussions, would only lead to premature fatigue.

    ¡°Think you can still go on?¡± Edward finally spoke, interrupting the moment of silence that ensued between the two Martials.

    ¡°Tch. Don¡¯t you¡­ underestimate me¡­¡± Eben struggled to speak.

    From his strained tone, it was clear he was close to the end of his strength.

    Even though Edward was also spent, he was far from his limits.

    Besides, I knew the boy could end things quicker if he wanted to. It was still a mystery why he chose to engage in such a drawn-out fight.

    ¡®Hmm, maybe he wants to gain as muchbat experience from his fight with Eben.¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t every day one got to fight someone from a highly esteemed Martial Arts Discipline, after all¡ªespecially one that specialized in Sword Arts.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± My lips curled in an amused smile.

    ¡®Well, then¡­ since hat¡¯s how it is, let¡¯s see how it¡¯ll end up.¡¯

    Looking back to Edward and his opponents, they seemed to be getting ready to resume their fight.

    ¡°You say I shouldn¡¯t underestimate you, but it seems you can¡¯t fight for much longer.¡± Edward taunted slightly.

    ¡°Shut up¡­¡± Eben gave a murderous re.

    The more energetic Martial Artist wasn¡¯t fazed by his opponent¡¯s slight bloodlust. Rather, he cracked his stiff bones and made preparations tounch another attack.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ I¡¯ll be ending it with this next move. This time, I¡¯ll tell you¡­ Prepare Yourself!¡±

 Chapter 172 - Rematch (Pt.2)

    ¡°Now, then¡­ enough talk. Let¡¯s fight!¡±

    With Edward¡¯s resolute words and determined eyes, he prepared his legs to move while keeping his sights on the target.

    Eben Lustriel sighed, taking deep breaths to restore his energy¡ªthe tiny vestiges that remained¡ªwhile strengthening himself with Mana.

    Had it been an ordinary swordsman who used the Swallow God Sword Techniques, he would have copsed in exhaustion by now. However, thanks to the miraculous effects of Mana and strengthening Magic, Eben could keep fighting.

    I predicted that the adversary of my pupil had more Mana reservespared to Edward, and could most likely control his Mana better. In a battle solely based on those factors, it was certain who the victor would be.

    If they kept exchanging blows at this rate, their power would be on par, and it was going to end up a battle of attrition.

    ¡®If you want to turn this around, Edward¡­ you had better get serious!¡¯

    After all, I knew more than anyone, what Edward desired the most¡ªan overwhelming, crushing victory!

    ¡°Huuuu¡­.¡± I watched as Edward gave a heavy breath, closing his eyes for a moment before shing them wide open again.

    A tinge of excitement swept through my body upon realizing what he was about to do.

    ¡°The 9 Fundamental Precepts: Form 6¡­¡±

    Immediately I saw his lips moving to form those words, a brief feeling of hesitation welled up within me.

    ¡®Form 6? You haven¡¯tpletely mastered it, Edward!¡¯

    He had gotten a good grasp on the first five, but the sixth was one that required even greater focus and concentration. Since the difficulty rose drastically after the fifth, I made sure to halt his progress any further.

    To think he would resort to such a move now¡­ what was Edward thinking?

    He took his stance, gripping his de with one hand and stretching it out to the air while using the tip of his finger on the second hand to touch the ground.

    The pose seemed bizarre, as he couched a knee slightly to ensure one hand grazed the floor while the other¡ªgripping the de¡ªwas ascended above.

    His face was on the target, and he seemed like he was ready to move at any time. The opponent, on the other hand, remained in his position.

    Judging from his current status, I surmised that Eben Lustriel was most likely trying to conserve his energy by limiting his movements. He would wait for Edward to make his move while parrying his attack and dealing his blow at the same time.

    It was an excellent strategy.

    Unfortunately, something of the sort wouldn¡¯t be effective when faced with the move Edward was about to make.

    ¡®If he has learned it well and perfected it to 30 percent, no, even 20, then¡­ such defenses won¡¯t be enough!¡¯ I grinned.

    The 9 Fundamental Precepts¡¯ Sixth Form, also known as¡­

    Edward gripped his de tighter and loosened his muscles, getting ready to march. The ground beneath him cracked as the umtion of mana on his body had reached boiling point. He finally opened his mouth and steam proceeded from it.

    ¡°¡­ FLOW!¡±

    BOOOOOMMMMMM

    The area where Edward stood erupted as chunks of tiles burst apart. Smoke and dust ascended, rising as a result of the destruction the boy left in his wake.

    As for his body, it had long left his previous location and was now charging at the target.

    WHOOOOOSHHH!!!

    Such speed as was never seen throughout the contest between the two now manifested.

    In a sh, the distance between both opponents was closed and Edward was basically within range.

    I noticed Eben¡¯s flustered face as he struggled to make a reaction.

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?!¡±

    Making a whirl, Edward¡¯s spinning form created a whirl that surpassed anything possible by normal human standards. It was almost as though someone cast a wind tornado Spell on the battlefield.

    ¡°WHOOOSSSHHHH!!!

    Eben struggled with the pressure and barely had enough time to raise his katana.

    It was toote, though, as the boy¡¯s spinning bodypletely overwhelmed him.

    The Swallow God disciple had his de flying away thanks to the sheer pressure of Edward¡¯s swing.

    The dark-metal weapon cracked and shattered apart in mid-air, leaving Eben unarmed.

    Edward was still not done, though.

    In his cyclone, he encircled Eben, swirling around him on all sides to trap the so-called prodigy of the de in a tight circle.

    SWISH

    SLASH

    SWOOSH

    From all areas, Edward¡¯s de tore through Eben¡¯s clothes¡ªeven reaching his skin until blood gushed out on so many areas in an instant.

    None of the wounds were fatal, but they seemed painful regardless. Evident to this fact was Eben¡¯s scream.

    ¡°Guarghhhhhh!!!¡± The helpless boy¡¯s agony rang true.

    I sensed not only pain in his voice, but frustration and shattered pride. After his loss against Edward, I was certain the boy had trained harder and worked on himself and his de.

    He did all that, only to be so one-sidedly defeated again! As an elite from a great family, this had to be the first time he would be experiencing shame to this degree.

    ¡°Sorry, bud¡­ this is the end!¡± I smiled.

    There was no need to feel sentiment for someone that didn¡¯t concern me.

    SWOOSSHHH!!!

    After dealing multiple damages to the enemy, Edward finished it with a decisive blow to Eben¡¯s back.

    ¡°Guarkkk!!!¡±

    Silence radiated the hall at that moment. Edward¡¯s de was outstretched, and his calm face could be seen in absolute focus that it almost appeared to be mncholic. Eben¡¯s bloodied and roughened face was the opposite of Edward¡¯s clear one.

    His mouth was opened as he made a tired screech before losing all strength and giving in to the call of unconsciousness.

    THUD!

    Eben Lustriel fell, losing the match that very moment.

    More silence filled the hall as Edward huffed, moving away from his opponent while dragging his feet on the ground. It seemed he was plenty tired too.

    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡± He breathed heavily.

    CLANG

    His sword fell to the ground and I saw his arms spasm a few times.

    ¡®He has reached his limits, uh?¡¯ I smiled in understanding.

    That¡¯s what he got for pushing himself too hard.

    ¡°W-winner¡­ Edward Karl Leon!!!¡± us dered in a flustered tone.

    I could tell that he was secretly happy that no major incident had urred.

    ¡°WOHOOOOOO!!!!¡± A deafening myriad of cheers came from the audience

 Chapter 173 - Match Of Seniors (Pt 1)

    With Edward¡¯s victory, the winds of reaction were swept to the side of the Lower ss once again.

    Now lit with hope once more, the people cheered for the victory of one deemed worthless, and the loss of an elite.

    I watched Edward leave the stage, showing exhaustion. He panted as he dragged his feet on the ground.

    Some medical experts rushed to the stage to carry Eben and treat his injuries, while others noticed Edward¡¯s awful shape and also approached him. The boy seemed reluctant to ept their help, even looking at where I sat for what my take on the matter was.

    I sighed in near annoyance and gave him a slight nod with a knowing look.

    ¡®You should take care of your body! Go with them!¡¯

    With that, Edward raised his hands slightly in surrender and followed the medical unit to a specialized exit in the Hall.

    It wasn¡¯t possible for any student who wasn¡¯t injured to gain ess to the ce¡ªand even if they were, medical experts had to escort them. If that hadn¡¯t been the case, I would probably have gone to see Ana and Edward in their sorry state.

    ¡°Hoo, I hope those two are fine¡­¡± A whisper unconsciously leaked out of my mouth.

    My eyes trailed to the stage and us was already beginning to make announcements for the Schrs to appear on stage. A slight thought wandered in my head as the two qualifiers climbed the tform tomence their contest.

    ¡®Edward defeated Eben in the Semi-Finals, leaving him as the only one left in thepetition¡­¡¯

    Even the Schrs who were about topete had the same fate. The one who won would be thest one standing. It begged the question as to what exactly their Finals would be like.

    If they had advanced so far, did that mean they didn¡¯t have any Final Matches? No, I doubted it. But, even if they had one¡­ who would their opponents be?

    My concerned eyes met the Upper-ss elite and the Middle-ss student who were about to face off. It was clear the Upper-ss one would end up victorious.

    ¡®After that, then what?¡¯

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    *************************

    The round was soon over and, as I had predetermined, the Upper-ss Student¡ªReinhardt Ciera¡ª won wlessly.

    When it came to knowledge and skills, no one could best the Upper ss who had been given more than enough to enable their quick growth¡ªin addition to their already extreme talents.

    ¡°We will now begin the round of the Second Years!¡± us dered, bringing me out of my thoughts.

    I raised my head to watch the Magic Users gather¡ªeight in number¡ªas they would begin their preliminary matches.

    ¡®Just like ours, their goal will be to defeat Automatons within the allotted time frame¡­¡¯

    I was curious to see how well they would perform, and how superior the quality of their numbers would be inparison to us First Years.

    Since only the Upper and Middle ss passed, it would be quite the fun match, wouldn¡¯t it?

    The stage shook slightly, and just as earlier, Automatons appeared from the holes that scattered across the tiled ground.

    My eyes bulged slightly upon realizing the mechanisms that appeared differed from the ones we encountered.

    They had four arms, and their shapes were thinner. A tail also stretched behind them, forming what seemed like a razor edge.

    ¡®Ah, I see¡­ so the difficulty of theirs is even higher¡ªas it should be.¡¯

    If they were to use fodder Automatons for our seniors, it would be too easy, and they would only waste resources in the venture. The best course of action was to generate constructs of superior quality to even things out.

    Judging by the shapes and sizes of these new models, I guessed they focused more on speed and reach.

    Considering they had four arms and nimbler bodies, they would be more difficult to hit. Not only that, but they even had more variations inbat so their patterns would be more difficult to determine.

    Four arms meant more damage, but that wasn¡¯t the main focus of the preliminary round¡ªat least, from what I surmised.

    ¡®A Magic-User had to be able to conjure Spells quickly and adapt to all situations properly!¡¯

    For our seniors, this would be the ultimate test to prove that.

    The Automatons began gathering, whirring to life as the us prepared to announce the start of the round.

    ¡°Begin!¡± His voice matched the sound generated by the timer that began counting.

    WHOOOOSHH!!!

    As expected, the Automatons rushed at the Magic Users on stage.

    However, considering the skill they had in the proper use of their Mana, the seniors had no problem dodging the assaults of the Automatons.

    The problem was how to deal attacks on them¡ªwhich was the main essence of the round. If one spent too much time on defense, such an individual wouldn¡¯t get enough strikes to count as kills.

    I guessed the structure of these Automatons wasn¡¯t very tough, so they could be easily dealt with if they were caught. That was a good handicap, considering their immense speed.

    A wide grin formed on my face as I forgot about the worry I had for Edward and Anabelle. My eyes were fixated on the march and I watched with great interest, somehow wishing I could be allowed into the ring.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see how you guys fare!¡±

    ***********************

    One minute psed too quickly, much to my disappointment, and the contestants were told to stop.

    us took his time to exin the grading system¡ªjust as he did with us. After our considerate moderator was done, he revealed the results on the broad screen that covered the air.

    All of us looked up and observed the rankings. Of course, I wasn¡¯t surprised by the list and even the number of kills since I had been keenly watching since the match started.

    Unlike our round, the numbers of Automatons defeated weren¡¯t as high, but that was understandable.

    Also, the ones who took top spots were all the Upper-ss elite, leaving thest three positions for the Middle-ss members.

    It was disheartening to see, but that was the reality of the Exchange.

 Chapter 174 - Match Of Seniors (Pt 2)

    The highest score belonged to a senior called David Springer. He defeated a total of 89 Automatons¡ªan impressive feat, all things considered.

    As for the Middle-ss ones, the highest among them could only manage neen.

    That was how pathetic the whole thing was!

    Compared to the number I estimated would be possible for me with my current capabilities, all of them were subpar¡ªboth the Upper-ss and Middle-ss students.

    By thoroughly calcting everything without bias, the results I arrived at were simple.

    ¡®I would have scored at least one hundred and fifty¡­ these seniors are not as impressive as I thought.¡¯

    Of course, it could be that the Upper-ss members were holding back and not taking things seriously, but it remained a fact that they could have achieved better.

    In any case, there was no use ruminating on the thought. Their Semi-Finals were about tomence.

    As per the rules, the two highest of the Upper ss were chosen and the same applied to the Middle ss.

    After splitting them into groups, those who had their matches in the second round left the stage and watched from the sidelines as the round began between an elite and an average.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    The results were to be expected, but they still shook me every time I saw them.

    Even though the Upper-ss Second Year was obviously superior to his opponent, he didn¡¯t bother ending things simply with a stronger spell. No, he dragged things out andpletely made a mess of the opponent.

    Enjoyment seemed to y on his face as he toyed with the determination of the Middle-ss Student who kept trying, even though victory was not in sight.

    Of course, I felt no pity for the one being pummeled. If he couldn¡¯t win, the best thing he could do was learn from the gap that existed between him and his opponent and surrender. There was no shame in that!

    But, for stubborn people with something to prove, they ended up wasting their time and only causing more injuries for themselves.

    ¡®Maybe he thinks he¡¯ll get the attention of a Lecturer and be an Apprentice¡­¡¯

    Unfortunately, life wasn¡¯t that simple.

    Lecturers always aimed high, looking for talented students to ept. Those who had no prospects, or were not talented¡ªno matter how much they struggled¡ªwould never gain the attention of any Lecturer.

    Besides, it wasn¡¯t as if our Lecturers had to pick Apprentices. Some would rather choose no one if they didn¡¯t excite them enough. An example of that would be Neron Kaelid.

    In any case, my dear senior was struggling for nothing. Ultimately¡­ loss was inevitable.

    ************************

    Both matches were won by the Upper-ss seniors, but as per the rules, only one would make it to the Finals.

    Since the first match wasn¡¯t as hardcore as the first, and the Middle-ss senior who fought in the first round struggled as hard as possible, he was allowed to fight in the Finals.

    As for the Upper-ss member who passed, it was the one who fought a more brutal match in the second round.

    With that, the results were clear.

    ¡®Sigh¡­ this is pathetic!¡¯

    I was certain the Middle-ss student who passed would be overjoyed with the fact that he was given another chance. But what of it? Only more suffering and pain awaited him.

    That was most certainly not something to look forward to.

    As soon as the Magic Division was done with their Exchange, it became time for the Martial Artists to sh.

    Though none of their Martial techniques were as good as the Martial de God, I still wanted to feast my eyes on the fights of more experienced fighters. The more fights a Martial Artist witnessed, the more powerful they became.

    I was not strictly a Magic-User. Using my standard of measurement, I was at the Intermediate Level of Martial Arts, and was a Sage as a Schr as well.

    In essence, I was eligible for all three Divisions of Ainrk Academy!

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    The match started, and their weapons shed.

    One of the seniors used a de, while the other was donning two daggers at top speed.

    They fought and exchanged hits, unrelenting in their endeavors.

    Of course, the one with the upper hand was the Upper-ss senior. The way hemanded the battle was as if he was merely toying with the Middle ss one.

    Even though he wielded a dagger, he was easily able to bypass the reach of the de, dealing little hits on the desperate swordsman as he whittled down the poor guy¡¯s health.

    ¡°Gahh!¡±

    ¡°Arghh!!!¡±

    ¡°Uarghhh!!!¡±

    Screams filled the air as each exchange of their weapons led to more strikes that proved detrimental to the Middle-ss senior.

    ¡°I¡¯ll finish this now¡­¡± The elite announced, not even a scratch evident on his body.

    And so, he did!

    SWISH

    SLASH

    The twin daggers crisscrossed andpletely tore through the attire of the opponent, causing blood to spurt out.

    The Middle-ss swordsman, having no energy left to continue, fell t on his face.

    The winner was clear to everyone.

    ¡°Tch¡­¡±

    Once again, the Upper ss secured victory!

    **********************

    The same applied to the Schrs¡¯ round, and even the Third Years.

    The Upper ss won every single match!

    The only blot to the supremacy of the Upper ss¡¯ undeniable victories was the fact that we First Years had a couple of Lower ss members who made it to the Finals.

    Just Edward and I¡­ we were the only ones left who had yet to taste defeat!

    ¡®Hoo¡­ if this is how the Semi-Finals are, then¡­¡¯

    ¡°That concludes the Semi-Finals, and the Inter-ss Exchange for today!¡± us announced.

    I looked at the stage with weary eyes, wondering how us was always able to maintain his bright attitude.

    ¡°There will be a break tomorrow! You should all rest and try to recover your strength for the day after!¡±

    That made sense.

    Many people were exhausted, whether physically or mentally. Having a day off to revitalize thepetitors and even the audience was a good call.

    I had so many things to do and consider, and I needed that time badly.

    ¡°We will resume the Inter-ss Exchange on Thursday! Till then¡­ rest up, and prepare yourselves!¡±

 Chapter 175 - The Finals

    The break was much needed.

    Thanks to the day we all had off, I was finally able to get my thoughts in order. Mypanions, Edward and Anabelle were released shortly after the Exchange ended for the day, allowing us to walk to our dorms together.

    The healing Magic avable to Ainrk Academy had to be impressive to pull off such speedy recovery, especially for Anabelle.

    Looking at the girl, it didn¡¯t appear as though she had been injured during her match. In any case, after the Exchange for the day, I decided it was best we all upied ourselves with personal affairs.

    I left Anabelle and Edward to themselves since I couldn¡¯t afford to be distracted by anything. The match before me was that serious.

    I felt like if I didn¡¯t give my all¡­ the one who was going to lose would be me!

    And so, during the break, I tempered my resolve and harnessed my skills. Going over all I had learned in the previous matches, I prepared myself for the worst.

    I couldn¡¯t use my Familiar or any external help. That meant all the potions and magic items I had been developing were rendered obsolete. My use of SPELLCRAFT was also limited since I had three different extremely skilled judges keeping a keen eye on my every action. As much as I wanted to win, I had to keep my focus on the big picture.

    It wasn¡¯t time to show what I was fully capable of!

    ¡°I¡¯m severely handicapped right now. Still¡­ I will win!¡± With these words of determination proceeding from my mouth, I anticipated the main rounds of the Finals.

    I was going to go first, so I needed to set a good example for everyone. I needed to show both the students and staff that even though someone was deemed to be talentless, with enough study and practice¡­ it was possible to rise to the top!

    ********************

    ¡°Wee, everyone!¡±

    I sat on the seat of the final contestants. We were so few who sat there, making it seem like the seats could be more than they actually were.

    ¡®It feels weird without Ana here¡­¡¯ I tilted my head and found her seated among the Lower-ss audience.

    A smile formed on my face as I resolved to win against the one who defeated her.

    ¡°The Finals willst for two days! Friday and Saturday!¡± us announced.

    The Hall became quiet in order to listen to our moderator¡¯s words.

    ¡°Each match willst as long as thepetitors are still willing to fight, and none have gone unconscious. Once it has been determined that a contestant is unable to fight anymore, even if they don¡¯t explicitly quit, then the match should be deemed to be over.¡±

    I felt like us said those words intentionally to prevent any excessive disy of pointless violence.

    Ultimately, this was an exchange between students. There was no need to turn it into something more gruesome.

    ¡°And now, still obeying the rules stated above, we will begin the Finals with our very first match!¡±

    I gulped slowly and prepared myself. Tension filled my heart, and despite my preparations, I still felt uneasy.

    ¡°The Magic Division of the First Years will go first¡­ let the two Final contestants step forward.¡±

    I rose from my seat and began moving to the stage.

    ¡°Kuzon Midas and Jared Leonard, please climb the stage!¡±

    From the corner of my vision, I spotted Kuzon in his usual casual outfit. His ck jacket and trousers contrasted the white outfit he wore underneath.

    He had a gold ne around his neck, mostly covered by the white top he had on and on his hand, I noticed a golden ring. No, not just a ring¡­ but also a watch.

    I felt Mana from them, causing me to furrow my brows slightly.

    ¡®Those are¡­ Magic tools!¡¯

    Using them was against the rules. Though I had never sensed him using them, it was still against the regtions of the tournament.

    I climbed the tform still eyeing the devices he had on and, out of the blue, Kuzon turned his head in my direction.

    ¡®Did he notice I was staring at him?!¡¯

    A smile yed on his face and he shrugged.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve never used them once. I don¡¯t intend on using them either¡­ so it¡¯s fine.¡±

    I masked my unease with a smile of mine.

    ¡°Oh? And I¡¯m just supposed to rely on your words?¡±

    We both climbed the stage and took our positions opposite each other.

    us was standing between the both of us, keenly observing our actions for some reason.

    ¡°Alright. You¡¯re all good!¡± Hemented.

    Was he trying to see if we brought any external aid with us?

    It wasn¡¯t beyond the realm of reason that some people would resort to using all they had in the finals, especially since they would think the wariness of the judges would be thinnest considering no one had vited the rules thus far.

    While it was good to use everything in one¡¯s arsenal to win a battle, this was merely an exchange. It was downright foolish to be caught cheating while still in the Academy. Even I, who wanted to win badly, could probably resort to some underhanded means and get away with it, but¡­ for this Exchange, I wanted to see just how far I could go with my base abilities.

    I currently possessed five Mana Cores. How much could I achieve with them?

    ¡°Excuse me, sir, but isn¡¯t the equipping of Magic items against the rules? Why is he allowed to wear them?¡± I asked us, pointing at Kuzon.

    The moderator sighed almost as soon as the issue was addressed. It seemed he had been expecting me to raise the question.

    ¡°We know all about the items, so don¡¯t worry. If we detect that he¡¯s using them, the match will end immediately. Your opponent, Kuzon Midas, has given us clear reasons why he can¡¯t unequip them. I hope you understand.¡±

    I clicked my tongue and nodded.

    Kuzon seemed to smile even more in amusement after my inquisition was shot down by the moderator.

    In essence, he was being given special treatment.

    ¡®Well, it doesn¡¯t really matter at this point. What I need to do hadn¡¯t changed! I¡¯ll win¡­ no matter what!¡¯

    us moved to the edge of the stage and prepared his signal, causing my opponent and me to lock eyes.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

 Chapter 176 - Jared Vs Kuzon (Pt 1)

    The moment the signal was given, I armed myself with all forms of enhancements.

    In a battle against a superior opponent, it was best to be at one¡¯s peak¡ªphysically.

    Using all five of my Cores to multi-cast, I was able to arm myself with several spells within the time frame of seconds.

    ¡°Are you done with your preparations?¡± Kuzon smiled as he spoke.

    ¡°Who knows? Am I?¡± I retorted.

    ¡°I see you¡¯re taking this match seriously¡­ why? It¡¯s really no big deal who wins or loses. This is just a ceremonial activity that this Academy uses to unt the superiority of the Upper-ss students.¡± Kuzon shrugged.

    Well, he wasn¡¯t wrong.

    ¡°Or, don¡¯t tell me¡­ you aim to rebel against that notion by achieving victory here. Is that it?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± I sharply responded to his insinuations.

    ¡°My goals are not as grand as that. This is just something I want to do. It¡¯s nothing personal, well, it wasn¡¯t¡­ but now¡­¡±

    ¡°Is it because I won against the female friend who always hangs around you?¡±

    I furrowed my brow slightly at his jestful remark.

    ¡°Not really. But¡­ I consider you a challenge to surpass. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    The moment I said this, Kuzon paused for a moment¡ªlooking dazed.

    His silence didn¡¯tst for long, though, as he soon burst intoughter.

    ¡°Hahahahaha! Oh my, to think you¡¯d say it like that.¡±

    His golden hair swayed as he cocked his hair to the side and supported it with his hand. With his fingers frolicking his hair and putting it into ce, he gave a wide smile.

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t consider you a challenge at all. Your skills are great, but¡­ you can¡¯t beat me.¡±

    I stared straight into the boy¡¯s eyes. It didn¡¯t seem like he was lying or even overconfident in his strength.

    What he spoke was most likely the truth!

    ¡­ But¡­

    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that!¡± I grinned excitedly.

    ¡­ Why was my heart beating so fast in anticipation the more I thought of how right the boy was? My obsessive nature was surfacing, and the desire to win rang truer than ever.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    BOOOOMMMMM!!!

    In a sh, I shattered the ground I stood on, truly breaking it into pieces as I zoomed at Kuzon.

    WHOOOOSHHH!!!

    My speed had long transcended human limits and the only reason I hadn¡¯t been torn apart by the pressure was thanks to my enhancement.

    ¡°Hahaha! Interesting!¡± Kuzonughed, doing the same.

    He lunged at me with equal speed, causing my eyes to bulge in both shock and excitement.

    I heard the loud cracking noise behind him as the tform he stood on had most likely shattered apart as well.

    There was no chance to confirm my suspicions, though, as the boy was already right in front of me.

    BOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!

    Both our arms shed in directbat, hitting each other at simr wavelengths.

    The air around seemed to part for us, as everywhere became clearer than ever. I heard the gasps of the audience¡ªmost likely due to the bizarre sight of the ground breaking, or maybe the wind that blew all over them.

    My n was simple!

    ¡®He¡¯s very adept at using Spells so, why don¡¯t we try a little enhanced Magicbat?¡¯

    I had to size him up a bit.

    WHOOOMMM!!!

    Raising my fist with quick precision, I aimed for his defenseless head, putting all my strength into the hit.

    BAM!

    To my surprise, he matched my speed and raised his unupied hand to block.

    ¡°Tch!¡±

    Twisting my body in the air, I detached both limbs from the opponent and sent two kicks flying in session.

    Both moved at frightening degrees and packed the brunt of my enhancements. Still, to my surprise, Kuzon tanked them both.

    ¡®Hmm? Let¡¯s get a bit more serious then!¡¯

    WHOOOOSHH!!!

    Increasing my flow, I rushed past Kuzon breaking the ground with every step I took as I circled around him.

    Trying many different attempts and failing, I sent my fists flying, or kicked violently, yet the boy caught every single one!

    ¡°Shit!¡± I unconsciously let out, realizing none of my blows had any effect.

    I couldn¡¯t properly use Martial Arts since that would be against the rules, but I at least thought I had the upper hand inbat.

    Realizing I was wrong, I dashed back to gather my thoughts.

    ¡°Oh, no, you don¡¯t!¡± Kuzon yelled in what I could only call excitement, charging at me as I retreated.

    ¡®Damnit!¡¯ I gritted my teeth and prepared my defenses.

    WHOOSH

    BAM

    WHOOOM

    SWOOSH

    We exchanged hits, throwing arms and legs as we matched each other¡¯s pace and countered our attacks.

    Itsted for some time and I was beginning to feel numb in my arms, but I persisted. There had to be a way to get rid of him!

    ¡®How ironic!¡¯ My mind rang.

    I intended to overwhelm the boy in closebat, but it now seemed like he was overwhelming me. No, that wasn¡¯t exactly urate.

    Seeing as closebat wasn¡¯t the right call, I wanted to use something else, but Kuzon¡¯s barrage of attacks was making things difficult.

    I had no choice.

    Increasing the flow of my Mana, I made use of one of my Cores, while using the other four to sustain my enhancements.

    BRUUUPPPP!!!

    The ground beneath Kuzon suddenly turned liquid, like wet cement, causing the boy¡¯s legs to begin to sink.

    As expected, he realized this on time and jumped away, detaching himself from the earth trap before it was toote.

    ¡°Not bad!¡± He grinned in slight amusement.

    Taking it as my chance, I altered the form of the liquid ground, turning it into several muddy arms that stretched for my target.

    BOOOOMMMM!!!

    In an instant, they erupted in mes.

    ¡®His magic is still quite impressive!¡¯

    He didn¡¯t even appear to be casting, yet thebustion effect was instantaneous. To catch up with his speed and power, I would have to constantly use all five of my Cores.

    ¡°I remember making a deal with you¡­ that if you could understand what happened with your friend back there in her match against me¡­ I would take my time with you and properly enjoy this match.¡± Kuzon said, now a distance from me.

    Of course, I remembered those words perfectly.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m about to test you now¡­ let¡¯s see if you truly learned something.¡±

 Chapter 177 - Jared Vs Kuzon (Pt 2)

    BBBRZZTZZZZZ

    Suddenly, sparks of purple electricity appeared on my opponent¡¯s fingertips, bringing back memories.

    ¡°Those again, eh?¡± I smiled nervously.

    ¡°Well, yeah¡­ I wonder how you¡¯ll avoid it.¡±

    Before I could say anymore, Kuzon snapped his fingers and the purple electricity zoomed in my direction at a frightening pace.

    Even with my current enhancements, it was barely possible for my eyes to keep up with the speed.

    In a sh, before I could dodge, the lightning caught up with me and encircled my body.

    ¡°GUARGHHHHHH!!!¡± The deathly scream of Jared Leonard filled the air.

    To those who watched, I wondered about the horror they must have experienced¡ªseeing as a student was being fried with so many jolts of electricity.

    ¡°Arghhhh!!!¡± More cries of pain echoed before they began to subside.

    Sparks ignited, appearing around the smoking body of a previously confident boy. Smoke rose and in a heavy thud, the Lower-ss champion who had made it this far¡ªJared Leonard¡ªcopsed.

    ¡°Hmm? This is disappointing¡­¡± Kuzon murmured, frowning a little.

    He made slow steps and began moving closer to the fallen figure.

    ¡°¡­ I was actually hoping you¡¯d have figured out the trick. Did I expect too much from you?¡±

    He finally paused, directly in front of my smoldering and utterly defeated body.

    ¡°Moderator, I guess this counts as¡ª¡±

    BZZZTTTZZZZZ

    Instantly, a sh of purple electricity buzzed from beneath Kuzon, covering arge area.

    ¡°Wha¡ª?!¡±

    Before the flustered boy could say any more, a brilliant detonation of pure electricity charged from underneath him, enveloping his body in pure energy.

    BOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The surrounding area shattered apart and the crowd burst forth in excitement and amazement¡ªeven fright.

    The effects of the spell ascended to as high as thirty meters high, sending vibrations across the room. The deafening roar of the shattering ground and the crackling lightning sent all into awe.

    This was a High-Tier Intermediate Level Spell pushed to its limits.

    How did it happen? When? The question must have surfaced in the minds of everyone who watched the surprising event.

    I was certain that the one who was hit by the Spell felt the same.

    ¡°H-how¡­??!¡± Kuzon let out.

    The lightning Spellsted for a few moments before being forcefully canceled¡ªdispersed by a Wind Spell activated at the center of the st.

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    Remnant cackles of electricity buzzed beforepletely disappearing.

    ¡°Hoo, not bad. You fooled me¡­ that¡¯s quite impressive¡­¡± Kuzon smiled,pletely unscathed by the Spell.

    His eyespletely ignored the figure that was at his feet¡ªa copy of myself. Instead, he looked straight ahead, as though seeing through my currently invisible self.

    ¡°What did you do?¡±

    I smiled at his question and decided that the jig was up. With a sigh, I undid my Invisibility Spell, revealing an unscathed version of myself to Kuzon as well as the rest of the crowd.

    ¡°Guess even that didn¡¯t work, eh?¡±

    Gasps radiated the hall as the audience was in awe and shock at my sudden appearance. In the very same instance, the lightning-struck body on the floor¡ªmy duplicate¡ªturned into Mana particles and vanished.

    Kuzon and I both smiled at each other, both most likely wondering about the same thing.

    ¡°How did he escape my spell?!¡±

    As for how I was able to avoid Kuzon¡¯s earlier attack, it was thanks to my multiple Mana Cores. I cast a Magic Clone and Invisibility Spell at the same time.

    ¡®Both are High-end Intermediate Spells at least. They also take a deal of time and Mana to activate.¡¯

    Taking these factors into consideration, no one in the match bothered using them.

    My prowess in Magic was iparable to that of others, making it possible for me. Before Kuzon activated his lightning Spell to fry me, I multi-cast both Spells, turning invisible and creating a clone at the same time to act in my stead.

    Fortunately, Kuzon was distracted by his spell that he failed to notice my actions. From the audience¡¯s reaction, they had also not seen iting.

    Usually, it would be impossible to cast both Spells simultaneously¡ªhowever, thanks to having five Cores, I was able to achieve it!

    ¡°I¡¯m more curious as to how you¡¯re unscathed after being hit by my Lightning Spell,¡± I spoke first, smiling at the boy who seemed a bit more on guard.

    ¡°That¡¯s a trade secret.¡± He chuckled.

    ¡®So that¡¯s how he¡¯s going to be, uh?¡¯ I reasoned, eyeing my opponent closely.

    I didn¡¯t expect Kuzon to be so difficult an opponent. He was quite a guy!

    Not only was he exceptional at closebat, but he was extremely adept at Spells too. The boy also remains unscathed after a surprise attack, a testament to his defensive measures.

    How was one supposed to beat such a guy?

    ¡°So, did you figure out my trick? The one I used against your female friend at the time?¡± Kuzon suddenly spoke.

    To be honest, I tried as much as I could to map out different theories and possibilities during the one-day break. Unfortunately, with only limited knowledge¡ªand having only seen him use that move once¡ªthere was very little information to work on.

    ¡°Not really. I figured it would be best to see for myself and arrive at conclusion.¡± I responded.

    I had a few ideas in mind before our match began, some of which were disadvantageous for me. However¡­.

    ¡°And? Have you realized it now?¡± Kuzon¡¯s smile deepened.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    My response was t, but my expression told a different story.

    ¡°Then you must have realized it by now¡­ how impossible this match is.¡± My opponent spoke with a grave tone.

    I understood perfectly. For the first time since I met Kuzon, the truth had finally be clear. I couldn¡¯t win against him, at least not with the kind of handicap shackling me.

    ¡®If he wanted to, this guy could most likely end things now. I didn¡¯t notice them earlier, but now¡­¡¯ My senses trailed across the arena. I could practically see what surrounded me¡ªthe very same constructs that floated around the stage.

    They were invisible to the normal eye, and even with enhanced vision, it was still impossible to pick up their traces. The only reason I noticed them now was because I had realized the ¡®truth¡¯ about Kuzon.

    The thinyers that enveloped the tform on all ends that werepletely under my opponent¡¯s controls¡­ were none other than threads!

    Looking at Kuzon, who was surrounded by a barrier of these threads, a bead of sweat fell from my face and I made an inquisition.

    ¡°You¡­ can use Original Magic, can¡¯t you?!¡±

 Chapter 178 - Impossible Challenge

    Original Magic, the epitome of Magic for the practitioners of the craft.

    Usually, only those who have attained a high level in both experience and Core formation would even dream ofmencing the establishment of their own unique Magic.

    Not only did it take a lot of time to develop, but it is said that perfecting one¡¯s Original Magic took a lifetime.

    Yet¡­ what was this impossibility that unfolded before me?

    All around the stage were thinyers of threads that were nearly beyond detection. This was Kyron¡¯s secret¡ªthe reason he had yet to be touched throughout the contest. And, the mere fact that he had already developed Original Magic was enough testament to the fact that I was absolutely no match for him!

    ¡°You¡¯re right. So, you did figure it out.¡± Kuzon remarked with a grin.

    He didn¡¯t even try to hide it, and his eyes showed utmost sincerity. This was a reaction only permissible to the strong.

    If I was right¡­ then this boy, Kuzon, was already beyond the level of the Third Years in this Academy. If so, what the heck was he doing here?!

    Who was he? What was his true identity?!

    ¡°Now, then¡­ as promised, I¡¯ll be taking my time with you.¡± Kuzon made a gesture that indicated he was about to resume our fight.

    I felt a sting in my heart.

    It was clear to the both of us that I stood no chance. Further engaging in this fight was meaningless. If I chose to blindly keep going, what made me different from the seniors I called idiots.

    The ones who were clearly inferior, but kept fighting despite that, I insulted them within myself. Yet, now that it was my turn¡­ I found myself making the same mistakes!

    Why?

    ¡®Even though¡­ this is¡­ a fight I¡¯ll lose¡­¡¯

    I gritted my teeth in frustration, feeling annoyed that I had to hold so much back when my entire being screamed at me to go all-out.

    If I did, I could probablye out victorious, but it was clear that Kuzon was not serious as well. Could I seriously beat him if he went all-out?

    For the first time since I entered the Academy, I was facing a student who was more superior to me in seemingly every way.

    For him to have developed his Original Magic to this degree, his talent and expert use of Mana had clearly surpassed mine.

    Hisbat Skills were top-tier, and it didn¡¯t even seem like he was going all-out yet.

    Kuzon Midas¡­ he seemed like the perfect human, so much so that it scared me!

    ¡°No, then¡­ let us¡ª¡±

    ¡°No!¡± I interrupted the boy¡¯s words, making him halt in his preparation to advance.

    Our eyes connected, and his curious gaze showed that he was questioning my words.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve lost your nerve already.¡± He smirked, seeming to taunt me.

    I brought my emotions under control, clenching my fist as I saw the thread swirling around me in every direction.

    ¡°One move. Let¡¯s end this with one move!¡± A resolute voice proceeded from my lips.

    Kuzon¡¯s eyes bulged slightly, and his condescending smile seemed to fade away.

    ¡°You serious?¡±

    I nodded at his question.

    There was no point in meaninglessly dragging things on. The wisest choice would be to give up and admit it was my loss, but¡­ since I had be an idiot, I could no longer back down now!

    ¡°Yeah! Let¡¯s settle this once and for all!¡±

    With both of us seeming to be in agreement, I bent slightly and rxed my tensed muscles.

    This would be myst shot at Kuzon, most likely a futile attempt, but¡­ I was a sore loser!

    ¡®Huu¡­ I should put on a good show at least!¡¯

    Rapidly activating all five of my Mana Cores, I caused a phenomenal amount of mana to burst forth from my body.

    BOOOOOMMMM!!!!

    The auditorium echoed as a result of the pressure I generated, and the crowd let out gasps.

    I felt the ground beneath me vibrate as the floor shattered apart.

    However, in my current state, I did not need any tform to stand on. The wind hovering around me lifted my body as I floated in mid-air.

    Other than the encircling wind, shes of lightning crackled, the shattered earth surrounding me began rising,bining with a giant bubble of water that was being generated in my front.

    zing Purple mes ignited, also maizing in the direction of the cluster of elements being formed in my front.

    Water. Earth. Fire. Air¡­ and Lightening!

    Before everyone, I multi-casted five elements at the same time.

    Usually, thebination of these opposing attributes would end in a useless blob, but, thanks to my expert control over Mana, I formed a perfect core at the center which acted as a stabilizer. The elements revolved around it¡ªforming a powerful sphere that caused everything around it to blow away.

    BZZTTTZZZZ

    WHOOOSSSHHHH

    VWUUUUMMMM

    KRKKTTTRKKTTR

    Multiple sounds emanated from the powerful cluster of Spells in an instant.

    Each of these Spells was of the High-Tier Intermediate Level. Combining all five of them caused my offensive capabilities to skip the Highest Rank of Intermediate Level and further into the territory of masters¡­ the Advanced Level!

    ¡°Take this!¡± I grinned in excitement.

    My widened eyes watched as Kuzon gave a maniacal expression of shock and anticipation. Hisrge smile told me he was impressed by the product of only a few seconds¡¯ efforts.

    That was enough for me!

    ¡°Flow!¡±

    I sent the phenomenal cluster of indescribable energy in Kuzon¡¯s direction, watching as it tore apart the whole stage.

    WHOOOOOSHHH!!!

    Everything in the orb¡¯s path was obliterated as it violently lunged at its target.

    ¡®What will you do, Kuzon!¡¯ My thoughts rang in impatience.

    The golden-haired boy stretched out both hands and seemed to call upon the threads that surrounded the arena.

    The nearly undetectable threads gathered in a sh, all forming a barrier a short distance from him while receiving my attack.

    BOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

    The earth around us shattered, and if not for my tripleyered barrier which I made right on time, the explosion would have affected me too.

    Of all the Spells I had ever executed¡­ this was by far the most destructive!

 Chapter 179 - Winner

    BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

    A massive explosion erupted, shattering the entire stage.

    The shockwave of said st was so great that even from my distance¡ªwith my magic barriers protecting me, I still felt the pressure.

    Of my barriers, onepletely shattered, and the second was on the verge of breaking apart.

    Considering I made them in a hurry, it was understandable, but still¡­ my distance from the core of the explosion was great. For my defenses to have suffered such damage, how devastating would it be for a person to be at the center?

    No, those were useless thoughts!

    I was certain that someone of Kuzon¡¯s quality would be able to take such a devastating strike. Even if he secured injuries, there was no way he would die!

    Finally, the storm of multiple elements colliding ceased, and the debris of what was previously known to be our battleground remained, as well as the rising smoke that nearly blinded one¡¯s vision.

    WHOOOOSHH

    A sudden gust of wind got rid of the ascending dust, most likely caused by our Moderator who wanted everyone in the Hall to witness the result of my Spell.

    ¡®So? What happened¡­?¡¯ I raised my hesitant head and nced in the direction of where Kuzon had been¡­ the center of the st.

    ¡°Nice one¡­¡± The boy¡¯s voice sounded as his body became visible.

    My heart fell as I watched him emerge from a cocoon made of threads,pletely unscathed.

    ¡°The ones I made earlier were no match for that Spell. You made me use more Threads to defend myself. That¡¯s very impressive.¡± He remarked.

    The color of the threads that made up the Cocoon was different from the usual transparent ones.

    ¡°Blue, eh?¡± I whispered.

    Thanks to their clear color, everyone in the Hall could see it now as the thin wires had lost their invisible properties.

    ¡°That still wasn¡¯t enough, uh?¡± I gave a weak chuckle as I watched him walk closer to me.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem tired-out. That Spell didn¡¯t take everything out of you, uh? You amaze me every second.¡±

    I watched in silence as Kuzon patronized me. Somehow that made me sick to my stomach. No matter hispliments, the fact remained that I couldn¡¯t do anything to even prate his defenses.

    ¡°Since you still have Mana left¡­ do you want to continue?¡± He asked.

    I clenched my teeth.

    He was right.

    My stockpile of Mana was just about halfway gone. Thanks to the automatic recovery of Spellcraft, Mana wasn¡¯t really a problem. The issue was my Capacity! At my current level, that was the highest firepower I could generate by myself.

    ¡®If he¡¯s able to tank that, then¡­¡¯

    No matter how hard I tried, I would never be able to win.

    ¡°No, this is the end. Like I said¡­ we¡¯ll decide this with one move.¡± I shrugged, ready to surrender.

    There was no point in going any further. Doing so would only make me a bigger fool!

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be too hard on yourself.¡± Kuzon sharply spoke, causing me to stare at his eyes.

    Something about them changed.

    Usually, they were casual and unserious. However, now that I stared deeper into them, there was something else the boy¡¯s vision disyed.

    ¡°You¡¯re strong. Trust me!¡±

    Somehow it felt like I was a kid being encouraged by an adult.

    ¡®I¡¯m the one who¡¯s supposed to be the adult here¡­¡¯

    Suddenly, a realization dawned on me. I had been acting like a child all along. Bring obsessed with winning and losing, and not actually taking careful facts into consideration.

    Once I realized the errors of my bratty ways, a sense of gratitude flowed within me as my eyes looked at Kuzon more clearly.

    ¡°Thanks. You¡¯re strong too.¡± I remarked.

    A moment of silence pervaded our immediate vicinity and time seemed to stop. Throughout my second life, I had never met anyone with more of an impression than this young boy. Whoever he was¡­ he made me want to be better.

    ¡®So, this is what rivalry is all about, eh?¡¯

    Of course, I knew I wasn¡¯t good enough to officially dere myself his rival. Was this how Stefan felt about me? Even if the one I wanted to challenge dwelled on a higher ne than me, I still wanted to catch up so desperately.

    ¡®Kuzon Midas¡­ I suppose I¡¯ll consider you my rival, after all¡­¡¯

    ¡°Pfft!¡± Suddenly, the boy burst out inughter, surprising me.

    The timing felt like he had just heard my thoughts, making me feel a bit embarrassed.

    ¡°Of course I¡¯m strong. I¡¯m the strongest student here!¡± Heughed even more.

    His sassy attitude made me feel like retracting my rivalry, but it also made me break into a smile. He had only stated the obvious.

    ¡°Well, for now, you are. Just hold on to that title, for now, Kuzon¡­ I¡¯ll be taking it from you.¡± I found the courage to speak out my intentions.

    Once my wordsnded, the seemingly invincible boy gave a dazed look for a moment before smiling sincerely.

    ¡°Well, then, I better not lose to you. This sort of makes us rivals, don¡¯t you think. Hahaha!¡± Kuzonughed even more.

    He certainly seemed to be enjoying himself.

    And, the boy had said something I didn¡¯t have the guts to utter yet.

    ¡®Rivals, uh? I guess we are¡­¡¯

    ¡°I surrender!¡± My voice echoed through the vast Hall that was already filled with tension and unrest.

    Sudden gasps and murmurs filled the room, but they had no choice but to ept it. My eyes trailed to Edward and Ana, who watched and nodded with teary eyes.

    They must have known how badly I wanted to win, and the pain it took me to intentionally stop fighting altogether.

    Thankfully, their eyes didn¡¯t show disappointment. Still, I felt bad.

    ¡®Forgive your tutor¡­ I wasn¡¯t able to win!¡¯ A sad smile yed across my face.

    Even though I had forfeited the match, I had gained much more and even lost something that would serve as dead weight for me.

    In a way, I suppose this loss was very much worth it.

 Chapter 180 - Broken Pride

    My ego had been shattered¡ªmy pride at being a step ahead of everyone else waspletely ruined.

    All I had gotten from this Exchange was the desire to grow even better¡­ as well as a Rival who would spur me on to achieve that.

    ¡°Winner, Kuzon Midas.¡± us¡¯ voice echoed across the hall as I descended the broken-down stage.

    A sting crepy upon my heart but I shook it off. For now, I would have to live with this loss¡­ and it would only make me grow stronger eventually!

    ¡°I now dere that the one who has officially scored first ce in the Magic Division for the First years is¡­ Kuzon Midas!¡±

    The crowd seemed to be a bit conflicted by the results as it took a few moments of pause before a wave of cheer burst from them. Since I had lost, there was no longer any ce for me among thepetitors. My eyes frolicked about and I saw Ana seared among the other First Year Lower ss students.

    Of course, she sat alone¡ªmost likely due to the special treatment given to the strong by those who knew they were inferior.

    Her sparkling eyes invited me in her direction as she lightly tapped a seat beside her. Nodding slightly, I smiled and proceeded to join her.

    As I took my steps, it was impossible to ignore the multitude of eyes on me. Some disyed bewilderment, some fear, some suspicion, some reverence¡­ some animosity!

    I felt a cold stare from behind me, the direction was the Judges¡¯ stand. I realized that it had to belong to none other than Damien Lawcroft, so I ignored whatever annoyed expression he had to be making.

    Even after seeing the sight I disyed, was his stubbornness too much that it blinded him from admitting to the potential a Lower ss trash had?

    I shrugged off the negative vibes he emitted andpletely ignored the positive looks from everyone around.

    If I had won the match, perhaps my reaction would be different. But, now? All I felt was a burning need to get better!

    Even as people stared, I climbed the stairs and reached for the elevated spot where Ana was waiting for me with empty seats.

    I helped myself to the seat on her left, rendering a word of thanks.

    ¡°You did good out there! It was an amazing match!¡± She spoke even before Ipletely settled in.

    Was she reading my mind? Could Ana see the guilt that was still clinging to me?

    After promising to win, I couldn¡¯t even make good on it. Instead, I even surrendered without fighting to the bitter end as others would prefer.

    ¡°Thatst spell of yours¡­ it was amazing! You have to teach me!¡± She beamed even more, not minding the fact that I didn¡¯t respond to her earlier statement.

    ¡®I see¡­ so she¡¯s trying to cheer me up, uh? How cute.¡¯

    First, it was Kuzon, now Ana. I was certain Edward would also try to make me feel better once we met again. How hrious was that?

    Still¡­ the sentiment didn¡¯t feel terrible.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ sure¡­¡± I replied, turning and looking wholeheartedly in Ana¡¯s direction for the first time.

    Once I captured the innocent and optimistic glow of the girl, the guilt within me vanished. I really didn¡¯t owe it to anyone to win. It was just something I needlessly burdened myself with.

    In the end, those superficial concepts didn¡¯t matter one bit.

    Ana never asked for me to avenge her. What she was asking now¡­ was the same as what I desired.

    We both wanted to be better!

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll teach you.¡±

    With the deal sealed, there was no need for further words between us. Our heads simultaneously turned back to the ruined stage, and for the first time, I was able to see what devastation my Spell had actually wrought.

    ¡®There¡¯s no way they can use that for the next match!¡¯ My thoughts rang.

    Did I really take things too far?

    Fortunately, Ainrk was the top Academy in the Eastern Kingdom for a reason.

    In moments, the destroyed stage was repaired by an earth mage who also served as the Lecturer of the Upper-ss First Years.

    Particles that had been fragmented beyond repair seemed to be reced thanks to the superior use of Mana, and in seconds, the tform was as good as new.

    ¡®That¡¯s some expert use of Magic right there!¡¯ I beamed in observation, already out of the slump my loss had brought me into.

    Not all Advanced Spells had to be destructive like mine. The one the Earth Mage Lecturer used was most definitely of the Advanced Level, but it simply meant a more intricate and efficient repair¡ªif not renovation¡ªof the stage.

    Usually, a Mage was expected to be capable of producing at least one Advanced Spell without difficulty. Also, they needed to be well versed in Intermediate Level Spells and Basic Magic to an expert level.

    The way the Lecturer used Advanced Magic to simply rectify the damage I had caused told me there was more up his sleeve.

    He was certainly no joke. No, Ainrk as a whole was simply too impressive!

    ¡®Well, not everything here is good¡­¡¯

    ¡°We will now resume the match!¡± us Tallman dered, causing some of the crowd who still stole nces at me to return their focus to the center of attention!

    It was finally time for the next round, belonging to none other than the Martial Arts Division! In essence, Edward¡¯s time hade!

    I noticed beside me that Anabelle¡¯s eyes were bursting with so much anticipation, and to be honest, I was too.

    Instantly forgetting my match, both eyes now observed as myrade and dear pupil picked his weapon from the rack of several tools and climbed the stage all alone.

    ¡®He already defeated Eben Lustriel in thest match. Who will he bepeting against?¡¯

    My curiosity was piqued!

    ¡°For the Martial Arts Finals, we will have our contestant¡ªEdward Karl Leon choose his opponent!¡± us suddenly boomed, causing me¡ªno, all of us who watched¡ªto drop our jaws in shock.

    The contestant himself was in a daze.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ who will it be?!¡±

 Chapter 181 - Junior Vs Senior

    The Hall was filled with surprise.

    Put Moderator had just said the unbelievable and everyone was recoiling from his words. ording to us Tallman, a lecturer in his own right, Edward could pick his contestants.

    ¡°So, I can choose you?¡± Edward broke the silence by asking the most unexpected question.

    For a moment, it seemed us didn¡¯t understand his question. When it finally dawned on him, the man gasped and took a step backward before bursting intoughter.

    ¡°No, no. Not Lecturers. Forgive me for not making things clearer.¡± I still sensed vestiges of amusement from the man¡¯s voice.

    ¡°What I mean is¡­ you, Edward, can pick a contestant from any of the students in this Hall!¡±

    My chest tightened the moment I heard that announcement, and that was because Edward¡¯s gaze instantly shifted to me.

    The way his widened eyes stared in my direction caused me to be nervous. What was on this dense boy¡¯s mind? Could he really¡­

    ¡°Oh, yeah, and that student must have registered as a participant of the Martial Arts Division, obviously,¡± us added.

    Those words saved me as I gave a sigh of relief while noticing a teary look from my pupil andpanion.

    ¡®Pfft. Did he really think of picking me?¡¯ I mused.

    Obviously, the contest wasn¡¯t going to allow Magic Users to fight Martial Artists. That waspletely imbnced.

    Still, the fact that us failed to mention a restriction in sses meant that us could indeed pick apetitor from his Lower ss¡­ maybe even challenge seniors!

    ¡®I wonder what the tournament executives are thinking by doing this¡­¡¯

    If Edward wanted to, he could simply choose an opponent that guaranteed his victory. That was the obvious choice, no?

    Giving him a nk check was tantamount to saying he could get away with an easy win if he so desired.

    But¡­

    ¡®Is winning the goal of the Martial Arts Finals, or is there something more?¡¯

    ¡­ I was curious about the oue. One thing for sure was that Edward would never even dream of challenging a weakling.

    Since I knew the boy so well, it was easier to determine who he would go for.

    The boy¡¯s eyes darted across the stage as he met with the gaze of many¡ªsome of which gave uneasy expressions as their eyes met. I followed Edward¡¯s focus, noticing as it trailed to the person I already suspected would be the obvious choice.

    ¡°You¡­ I choose you!¡± Edward pointed in the direction of someone who sat in the Lower ss area¡­ but in the Third Year angle!

    Everyone gasped, and those who couldn¡¯t really see the one Edward referred to seemed to struggle to take a better look. I, of course, already knew him well.

    The boy in question was dazed,pletely knocked out of the realm of expectations.

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?!¡± I watched his lips form.

    The boyically looked around him, most likely expecting to see Edward¡¯s finger pointing somewhere else, but from what he must have seen¡­ no one else could have been ¡®it¡¯.

    ¡°I¡¯m talking about you, spearman!¡± Edward yelled, finally hammering his point.

    A smile yed across my face as the senior was forced to rise and descend from his seat.

    Most people would not have expected this choice, no, it was certain none did. A majority of the audience was most likely unable to recognize the one who slowly approached the stage.

    But, Edward and I knew perfectly well!

    It was the senior who lost at the hands of nine other contestants during the preliminary elimination round¡ªThe Battle Royale!

    Edward and I had both passionately watched as this boy in question stood his ground and single-handedly fought back his aggressors. He didn¡¯t give in despite the overwhelming disadvantage, and kept swinging his far-reaching weapon till he lost.

    Many had forgotten already, but Edward clearly had that memory ingrained in his head. Judging the determined and respectful expression on his face, it was obvious that the boy thought very highly of the senior that didn¡¯t even make it to the Quarter-Finals.

    As soon as he got close enough to the stage, I watched Edward¡¯s contestant pick his weapon¡ªthe Spear¡ªand climb the tform where he would fight my pupil.

    The crowd was still confused, but it seemed they had grown to ept the current matchup and went with the flow. Only true Martial Artists would actually understand what was going on!

    ¡°So, this is your choice? Alright, then!¡± us spoke with finality and made his way to the end of the stage.

    ¡°Let the Finals of the Martial Arts Combat for the First Years¡­ begin!¡±

    One would expect this to be followed up by the sh of des, but a lull took over the stage once the battle had been dered tomence.

    Both boys stared passionately at each other, clearly having words they would like to render.

    ¡°Why¡­ why did you choose me?¡±

    Of course, that would be the first thing the senior would ask.

    Edward gave a proper smile and bowed slightly.

    ¡°It¡¯s because I watched your fight with those other seniors and respected your stance. You were more honorable and skilled than the others, yet you never got that chance to disy your skills¡­¡±

    The senior bit his lip slightly, most likely remembering the humiliating moment where he was cornered.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I want us to both give it our all! Let¡¯s fight¡ªus Lower-ss Martial Artists¡­ and show everyone what we can do!¡±

    Edward¡¯s voice screamed of juvenile enthusiasm, but that seemed to do the trick for the spearman senior.

    He gave a soft smile, and what happened to be sparkles of tears formed in his eyes.

    ¡°Thank you¡­ truly.¡±

    Edward nodded and bowed once again in respect.

    ¡°May I ask for your name?¡±

    Since he never made it past the Battle Royale, the senior¡¯s name was never announced.

    ¡°I¡¯m Jeffery Keener. You can call me Jeff, though.¡±

    Edward sharply nodded.

    ¡°I am Edward Karl Leon! You can call me Ed!¡±

    Both Martial Artists, as though long friends, gave each other mutual smiles and nodded. It felt like I was watching the reunion of an older and younger brother.

    ¡°Now, then, Jeff¡­¡±

    ¡°Very well, Ed¡­¡±

    The voices of both boys simultaneously sounded.

    Both gripping their weapons tightly and staring passionately at the other, they took their respective stances.

    ¡°¡­ Let us begin!¡±

 Chapter 182 - The Lower Class Champion

    WHOOOOSHH

    Both boys charged at each other at great speeds, drawing their weapons with precision and firing it toward the opponent at the same time.

    CLANG

    As the spear met the sword, both Martial Artists stood a couple of meters from each other, smiling ecstatically. They seemed thrilled by the fight that had only begun.

    FWOOOOSHHH

    Twisting his hold on the spear, the Senior¡ªJeffery Keener¡ªremoved his weapon from its position and struck forward in an attempt to steal a jab on Edward.

    Fortunately, the junior was just as fast as he quickly picked up his senior¡¯s intentions and dodged at the right moment, taking a few leaps backward to prevent further assaults.

    I smiled as I watched the whole exchange.

    ¡®The spear is a tricky weapon, especially at the hands of an experienced user¡­¡¯

    Even though Edward had superior Techniques, in the end, hecked experience. His way with the de had not be second nature to him as it was for the senior.

    Plus, Edward had yet to fight a spear-wielder with such skill, so it would prove a bit challenging.

    In any case, this was quite an interesting match to watch so I sat back and rxed. It would be presumptuous of me to dictate my knowledge of the oue, so I left it all to chance.

    ¡°Hyaaa!!!¡± Jeff made multiple jabs as Edward tried getting close, creating several afterimages of the spear.

    ¡®A Spear Art, eh?¡¯

    Infusing Mana to his strikes, these afterimages could have as well been real, as my student was assailed by a barrage of strengthened spears.

    SWOOOOOSHHH!!!

    This time, Edward refused to run, instead channeling his Mana to cover his de and counter.

    CLANG

    The strikes ended with both weapons and masters moving back in recoil.

    From their exchange just now, it was certain they were both evenly matched in Skill¡ªthough at the base level.

    Jeff had more experience, so it seemed like Edward was at a slight disadvantage. But, Ed also had more tricks up his sleeve and a considerably higher Mana Pool than his opponent. So, there had to be a reason he was holding back.

    ¡®umting experience through sparring, eh? Good job.¡¯ I smiled.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t take you for the kind to hold back in these kinds of fights. Why aren¡¯t you using your full powers?¡± Jeffrey finally asked, sounding a bit offended.

    So, the senior too had found out!

    ¡°I want to learn as I spar! There¡¯s no guarantee I will get this opportunity again. That¡¯s why I want to enjoy this round as much as I can!¡±

    Jeff seemed a bit dazed by Edward¡¯s reply, but his expression onlysted for a moment before switching to a more understanding one.

    ¡°I see¡­ very well!¡± He straightened his spear once again and pointed it toward his opponent with determination.

    ¡°I will entertain you with all I have!¡±

    Beads of sweat appeared on Edward¡¯s face as he also took his stance once again and braced himself for what was toe.

    *****************

    ¡°Winner, Edward Karl Leon!¡± us dered, returning to the stage.

    I was still shivering with excitement in my seat when he spoke, causing my already stretched-out smile to widen even more.

    Edward nearly copsed on the stage, but supported himself with his de. I saw sweat dripping from his body and the tattered, ripped clothing that clung tightly to his skin.

    His opponent was t on the ground, knocked unconscious by Edward¡¯sst move that shattered the stage to a terrifying degree. The destruction was not as high as mine, but it was obvious that it needed to be repaired and most likely reinforced for the next match.

    ¡°Haa¡­ Haaa¡­¡± The young Martial Artist gave gasps for breath as he maintained his solitary stance.

    The audience was in a frenzy,pletely dazed by the young boy¡¯s victory.

    I was certain that no Lower ss student had ever gotten this level of acknowledgment before. Even the seniors and those in higher sses had to apud and acknowledge the prowess he showed.

    ¡°I now dere that the one who has officially scored first ce in the Martial Arts Division for the First years is¡­ Edward Karl Leon!¡±

    More deafening cheers echoed from the crowd. I was certain the Martial Arts department students were very pumped after viewing the match.

    Edward had indeed brought about a revolution.

    ¡°Congrattions, Ed. You really did it!¡± I smiled in genuine pride and joy.

    Perhaps things would have been different a while back¡ªI would most likely be a little jealous of his achievement. However, I was now seeing the bigger picture.

    Edward¡¯s efforts had paid off, and he fought to the fullest. If I wasn¡¯t happy about that, then what kind ofrade would I be?

    The silly boy considered me a friend as well as a mentor, after all. I had to show the support attributed to my role.

    ¡°WOHOOOOOO!!!¡± We cheered on for him.

    I, Ana¡­ and the congregation that gathered! We all voiced our heartfelt congrattions to the star of the Lower ss, Edward Karl Leon!

    ******************

    Shortly after Edward got off the stage, the Earth Mage from earlier arrived at the scene and began repairing it once more.

    He seemed a bit disgruntled about the level of damage urring in the Finals and began adding enhancements to the stage.

    I watched asyers of strengthening Magic flowed through the blocks and tiles until theypletely merged.

    ¡®You should have done that earlier.¡¯ I smiled in a little tease.

    Edward, of course, returned to the ce where thepetitors sat, so Ana and I couldn¡¯t see him¡ªat least, not while the Exchange was still going on.

    ¡°For the next round, we have the Finals of the Schr Division of the First Years!¡±

    The sole winner who had qualified for the finals stepped on the new and improved stage. Her situation was the same as Edward¡¯s¡ªthey were the only ones left for the final round.

    ¡®Will she be picking one opponent as they did for the Martial Arts Division?¡¯ I pondered

 Chapter 183 - Bias

    ¡°For the Finals, you will be challenged by the greatest Schr in the history of the Eastern Empire¡ªLewis Griffith!¡± us announced, much to the surprise of everyone who watched¡­ including me.

    ¡®E-eh?!¡¯

    The lone Schr on stage, Reinhardt Ciera, gasped at the difficulty of the Finals. How could she, a mere student,pete with the Great Sage?

    Her eyes frolicked ufortably across the stage, but it seemed like she did her best to control her expression from leaking out the sense of nervousness she felt.

    ¡°Do not worry. Considering your level, we have notpiled the more difficult ones for you. Rather, your challenge will be to argue against one of Lewis Griffith¡¯s earlier treatises concerning the Mana Core Grade revolution and relevance, as well as the Concept of Inepts.¡±

    I sighed as soon as I heard the question.

    It was indeed one of my earlier works and, being honest, I still considered it to be childish and juvenilepared to my other advanced works.

    Admittedly, my motivation for creating that piece was due to the lingering frustration I had concerning my Inept Status.

    Since this was an outdated philosophy, and a very wed one at that, it was probably going to be a very simple matter to argue against it.

    ¡°You have thirty minutes toplete your argument. You may begin!¡± us dered, setting a timer above us to observe the events of the contest.

    The flustered girl began making her case, beginning from the introduction of my treatise and the relevance it had in the past. Afterward, she began addressing the essentialponents it contained.

    As the girl went further on in her argument, I grew more and more disappointed. Her start was excellent, but she had yet to mention one of the ws my concept had.

    The question had been fo argue against my philosophy, not exin it!

    The problem wasn¡¯t the nature of the question posed, which I considered to be quite simple, but the stage it was set in! It was no wonder the girl was finding it hard to properly perform what was expected of her.

    Firstly, it was an impromptu presentation, making Reinhardt Ciera flustered in her thoughts.

    Secondly, the timer. A Schr had to make proper use of time and ensure that every moment was not wasted. As a result, she was rushing to deliver her speech while trying to collect the jumbled thoughts in her head¡­ all at the same time.

    The third challenge was her opponent¡ªme! Many would feel reluctant to challenge more powerful and respected figures in society, especially young students who looked up to them.

    This Ciera girl must have been so conflicted when it was announced who she would be arguing against. That insurmountable wall that existed in her mind must have put a mental strain on the youngdy.

    Finally, the pressure! Usually, it would be inconsequential whether or not there was a crowd watching you¡ªespecially if it was apetition.

    However, thanks to the first three factors, our belovedpetitor must have already been worn out. Adding the expectations and critical gazes of the crowd to the mix was just too much.

    As a result, even though her start was impressive, the girl flopped midway through and spoke in gibberish.

    ¡°Time up!¡± us announced, preventing her from going any further in her pointless presentation.

    It had to be painfully obvious to the experts, at this point, that the girl performed woefully.

    us looked above him, to the area where the Judges sat, most likely awaiting their decision. I watched the brief exchange between them and saw the moderator nodding in agreement.

    ¡°The winner of this round is¡­¡±

    A moment of silence filled the room and it seemed like everyone was curious about the verdict. Of course, I already knew it would be¡ª

    ¡°Reinhardt Ciera!!!¡± us¡¯ voice boomed.

    ¡°What?!¡± I blurted out in shock as soon as I heard the verdict.

    It waspletely different from what I expected.

    ¡°E-eh¡­?¡± The Reinhardt girl even gave a gasp of surprise.

    She must have been certain that it was her loss, same as my conclusion. Why was she awarded the victory, then?

    ¡°The goal of the match was not just focused on giving the right answers, but it measured the contestant¡¯s mental prowess, the eloquence of words, and the ability to remainposed in unfavorable conditions.¡±

    ¡®What the heck is this guy talking about?¡¯ I red angrily at us.

    The man went on about how Ciera knew the historical value of Lewis Griffith¡¯s treatise, showing her wealth of knowledge. She was also able topletely use her time without breaking down, h h h!

    I got so pissed off listening to his drivel that it took a great deal of my self-control to remain silent.

    ¡®This¡­ this is bias!¡¯

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here? J-Jared, is this true? I actually thought she would lose.¡± Anabelle suddenly spoke, looking at me innocently.

    Even an airhead like Ana knew something wasn¡¯t right here, yet the judges and moderator had decided the girl was the winner.

    ¡°You were right to think she would lose,¡± I muttered in a low and grim tone.

    Ana didn¡¯t seem to get my message as she furthered her inquiry.

    ¡°Then why did she¡­ win?¡±

    I sighed and shrugged. At this point, there was no use getting angry because of these things. Obviously, they figured out a loophole to ensure that the Upper-ss student went home with the medal.

    It was only for a moment, but I somehow wished Ana had participated in the Schr Division. If she had, we would have been able to show what an actual Schr was capable of.

    ¡®Urgh! There¡¯s no use in thinking about that now¡­¡¯ I quickly chastised myself.

    Anabelle¡¯s participation in the Magic Division was something I didn¡¯t regret. We had both lost, but¡­ clearly, the Exchange was epic thanks to our matches.

    As a result of our powerless as students, Ana and I¡ªno, everyone who watched¡ªmerely had no other choice than to tolerate the gross bias disyed in favor of the Upper ss.

    ¡°I now dere that the one who has officially scored first ce in the Schr Division for the First years is¡­ Reinhardt Ciera!¡±

 Chapter 184 - Decision

    We watched in silence as the victor was dered for the First Years Schr Division.

    The girl walked to her seat, still looking confused about the whole thing, though I saw a smile y on her face. Who wouldn¡¯t be happy about winning, even if they didn¡¯t understand how?

    I shrugged off my annoyance and simply waited for the next round.

    ¡°Next, we have the Finals of the Second Years!¡± us announced with his usual cheery tone.

    I carefully stared at him, wondering how he could maintain such a straight and positive face after wrongly dering someone the winner.

    ¡®He must be used to it¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    A part of me wanted to fault him, but I couldn¡¯t do that in good conscience. He was simply following the orders of the higher-ups who, for some reason, wanted the undisputed winning streak of the Upper ss to resume.

    ¡°Haa¡­ how troublesome¡­¡± I unconsciously whispered, looking at the big ones towering above with their floating tform and elevated seats.

    Even if Damien Lawcroft resorted to this form of pettiness, and the other Senior Lecturer I didn¡¯t really know was willing to sink so low, I truly wasn¡¯t expecting thest judge to follow their decision.

    ¡®Legris Damien¡­ is this what you really want? I didn¡¯t think you were that kind of guy.¡¯

    My eyes fell back to the stage as the contestants for the Second Year Magic Division had begun climbing the stage.

    ¡®An Upper ss against a Middle ss, eh?¡¯

    Based on what I had seen so far, was there even a reason to continue watching?

    I could better spend my time practicing magic or even meditating. Plus, there was ¡®that¡¯ project I was working on.

    It would still take a little over a week to perfect, but spending some time on it now would be very helpful.

    ¡°Hoo¡­ na, let¡¯s just get this over with.¡±

    It wasn¡¯tpulsory to attend the Exchange¡ªsome students didn¡¯t show up, like all the members of the Elite Ten who were most likely preparing for their round on the final day.

    Other than them, though, virtually everyone was present. Why?

    Even though it wasn¡¯t apulsory exercise, it would be foolish of a student to miss such a spectacr event where skills were exhibited and knowledge could be received.

    And so, even if it was easy to determine the victor, the only reason I remained on my seat was to observe the matches and learn from them.

    *******************

    ¡°Winner, Jesire Gulberto!¡±

    ***********************

    ¡°Winner, Alekzi Zachiel!¡±

    *********************

    ¡°Winner, Avans Xeilong!¡±

    *****************

    The match went on and on, with victories going to none other than the Upper ss.

    ¡°That is all for today! Tomorrow¡ªSaturday¡ªwill be the conclusion of the Finals Event, featuring the third year! Afterward, we will close early and anticipate the spectacr event on Sunday!¡± us remarked, causing a roar of cheers and apuse from the audience.

    ¡®I suppose tomorrow will be the same. I¡¯m just going to skip it.¡¯

    Once the event was over, we met up with Edward and proceeded to exit the Hall.

    ¡°Congrattions on your victory!¡± Ana and I both told the big guy who seemed to nearly burst into tears thanks to the overwhelming emotion that appeared to course through him.

    He thanked me a billion times, of which I told him not to bother with.

    ********************

    ¡°To be fair¡­ I truly wanted to fight you! But, considering how you lost against Kuzon, I figured that would be a bit unfair on you¡­¡± Edward suddenly spoke.

    Our group had already walked some distance from the auditorium and now made out way toward the Dorms. Of course, that meant Ana would soon be parting with us since her living quarters was different from ours.

    However, in the meantime, we walked together.

    ¡°I see. Well, you should be d you didn¡¯t choose me. I would have transferred my frustration and given you a beatdown!¡± I dered with a chuckle.

    We allughed at my joke¡ªwell, to them that was all it amounted to. But, I knew within myself what the truth actually was.

    ¡°Tomorrow is the final day of the Finals. Do you guys have any intention of going?¡± Ana asked.

    I shrugged, and from my reaction, it was obvious what my answer was.

    ¡°Well, I think I¡¯ll go! I want to see how the Upper-ss students will fight in the Finals. Plus, it¡¯spulsory for all winners to be present for the Finals tomorrow. There¡¯ll most likely be an award given to us.¡± Edward gave a firm response, just as I expected.

    ¡°Oh, that makes sense!¡± Ana beamed.

    ¡°What about you?¡± I found myself asking the girl.

    ¡°Hmmn, I think I¡¯ll go. I feel something big might happen. Besides, someone has to cheer for Edward as he receives his prize, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    I rubbed my chin and nodded slightly. What Ana said made sense. Besides, if it was to support Edward, then¡­

    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need to concern yourself about me, Jared. I know you have a lot on your te.¡± The boy quickly added, causing me to heave a sigh of relief.

    I was happy that he didn¡¯t impose on my presence tomorrow. I had such understandingpanions, did I not?

    ¡°Well, you guys had better watch everything carefully tomorrow! I¡¯ll be expecting your report on any important scenes!¡±

    Ana and Edwardughed in response to my words. Even if I would be absent, there was no way I wanted to miss out on any of the fun.

    ¡°Sure!¡± They beamed.

    Once we had an understanding, our group continued down the path as we made our way to the dorm.

    **********************

    ¡°Oh? So that¡¯s the group, uh?¡± A feminine voice sounded from a distance, watching a bunch of Lower ss students chatter excitedly as they made their way to the Dorms.

    The girl who spoke gave a small smile and sighed. She was atop a building, able to see a great distance from her height, but her focus was on that particr group of First Years.

    ¡°This will put some ideas in ¡®his¡¯ head the moment he catches wind of what happened¡­ arh, how bothersome¡­¡±

    The wind howled and caused her dark brown hair to fly, slightly covering her blue eyes as she kept them wide open and kept staring at the group¡ªespecially the one in the center.

    ¡°Jared Leonard, uh? I wonder what¡¯s so special about him¡­¡±

    A slight smile appeared on her face the moment the image of someone else shed on her mind. ¡®That¡¯ person and the blond-haired boy who walked with hispanions had so much inmon.

    ¡®I suppose I¡¯ll see you soon¡­ during ¡®our¡¯ round.¡¯

    With that, the girl fell in silence andpletely drifted with the wind, vanishing as though she had never been there before.

 Chapter 185 - A Strange Encounter

    The next day greeted me with an unusual feeling of exhaustion.

    Unlike the previous days where I had woken up excitedly for the Exchange, this one, in particr, made me feel like staying in bed.

    I had tried hard enough the previous night, mixing lots of chemicals and trying out various effects. Wasn¡¯t I allowed one day off, just to rest and collect my thoughts?

    ¡®I think¡­ I do¡­¡¯

    Suddenly, an image shed in my head!

    The picture of a particr golden-haired boy who wore a casual smile and had an air of ease around him. Once I had this image appear in my head, I sprang out of bed!

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, Jared! Time to hustle!¡±

    In a sh, I made my way across the room and did all I had to do. Brushing, bathing, getting dressed!

    I was done in a jiffy, and the moment I was properly clothed, my legs carried me beyond my room as I raced away from the Dorm.

    Fortunately, the hallway was abandoned and I met no one currently on the premises.

    They had all most likely gone to spectate the Inter-ss Exchange! In a way, it made the usually lively area dull andpletely empty. That wasn¡¯t my concern, though.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s not like I nned on spending time in the Dorm anyway!¡¯

    Racing beyond my ssroom, which was also abandoned, I made my way to the ce where I usually conducted a private training session¡ªthe Oasis!

    I still had no idea why the area was made avable to everyone, but it was not a matter of concern to me. The important factor was that I had ess to a ce overflowing with Mana¡ªperfect for my exercise!

    WHOOOSH

    Racing across the cluster of trees, I finally got to the center and set my eyes on the clear pool of water!

    ¡°Finally, I¡¯m here!¡± I dered loudly, jumping to the clearing, just a few meters from theke.

    I finally had this ce all to myse¡ª

    My entire notion was set aze the moment I noticed the presence of another in the Sacred area dedicated to my training.

    No, it wasn¡¯t my senses, my eyes caught the one who had been in the Oasis before I arrived.

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?!¡± I found myself short of words, staring straight at the far end of the pool.

    A naked figure was immersed in the water,pletely soaked and covered from the chest below.

    Her entire body was wet, telling me she had been enjoying a bath in the water deemed to be sacred. My brain tried seeking the proper response or reaction, but I came up short.

    My widened eyes couldn¡¯t close as they kept looking at the girl who was now opening hers to look in my direction.

    ¡°Uh? Someone is here too?¡± Her voice, lustrous and sonorous, filled my ears.

    ¡°U-Uh¡­ Um¡­¡± I still couldn¡¯t speak properly.

    The girl¡¯s clear blue eyes seemed unbothered by my presence as they examined me for a moment.

    ¡°So? Are you going to keep staring?¡±

    The moment her second statement registered in my head, I came to my senses and realized that I had been staring at a naked girl all this while.

    ¡°Arh! I¡¯m so sorry about that!¡± I shrieked, instantly turning away.

    I could feel a form of embarrassment flowing through my body as my cheeks were beet red. Whoever the girl was, I certainly prayed she didn¡¯t get the wrong idea about me.

    I was simply surprised¡ªtoo stunned to move¡ªyeah! It wasn¡¯t like I was a pervert who got off staring at women.

    ¡°Sigh, you can be at ease now.¡± The girl¡¯s voice sounded, causing me to jump slightly.

    Her tone didn¡¯t show any form of annoyance, fortunately.

    ¡®She must be fully dressed now.¡¯ My thoughts trailed, though a lingering emotion told me the opposite could also be true.

    I gulped, slowly turning back to the pool. It would bepletely weird if I once again saw something I didn¡¯t want to.

    Once I finallypleted my twist, I saw that the girl was indeed alreadypletely clothed.

    ¡®Oh? She¡¯s dressed already¡­¡¯

    I wondered about my t thought, noting a sense of disappointment in my mind. Was I really looking forward to another sight?

    ¡®Jared, what are you bing?¡¯

    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re Jared Leonard, right?¡± The girl¡¯s voice brought me back to the realm of reality.

    ¡°Y-yeah!¡± I sharply looked at her, properly examining the girl in front of me for the first time.

    It was surprising how she dried off so quickly, but I found no trace of water on her body as I observed her.

    Now coveredpletely in clothes, the girl¡¯s beauty had not diminished in the slightest. Her dark brown hair flowed behind her, pping her back as the wind motioned.

    She had a mature look, clearly older than I was by a year or so. Maybe it was just my imagination.

    Her blue eyes were deep, unlike the clear ones I saw in Ana¡¯s eyes. They seemed to contain amusement as well as a further depth I couldn¡¯t possibly decipher.

    Her apparel was fancy, yet causal. Donning a blue and white attire, with ribbons on her hair, the girl ced a hand on her hip and stared curiously at me.

    ¡°¡­ H-how do you know my name?¡± I managed to break the uneasy silence that hadpletely shrouded the area.

    ¡°Meh, that¡¯s not important. By the way, shouldn¡¯t you be watching the Inter-ss Exchange? It¡¯s currently going on, isn¡¯t it?¡± The girl asked after nonchntly dismissing my question.

    Judging by her demeanor and question, there was no doubt that she was a student. But¡­

    ¡°I decided to skip it since there¡¯s nothing I can gain from it. It¡¯s better to spend my time practicing or something. What about you?¡±

    I narrowed my eyes at the older girl suspiciously.

    ¡°Oh? Me? Well, I think it¡¯s the same as you.¡± She smiled a little, still treating my questions as though they were nothing.

    How could she say she was skipping the Inter-ss Exchange because of the reason I gave, yet I caught her cooling off in theke¡ªsomething even I had never tried doing!

    Who the heck was this girl?!

 Chapter 186 - Prospects

    ¡°Well, since you disturbed my light nap, I think it¡¯s time I get going. I¡¯m done with the pool, so it¡¯s all yours.¡±

    The strange girl began moving in my direction, causing me to feel uneasy. My heart beat fast as I gulped in nervousness, or was it fear?

    ¡°I certainly hope you won¡¯t miss the Final event because of your ¡®training¡¯ as well.¡± She spoke in an amused fashion.

    ¡°Will you be there?¡± I didn¡¯t know why I asked that, but it just slipped out.

    ¡°Hmm, I wonder¡­ oh well¡­¡±

    As I stood, petrified, the girl walked past me. Shortly after, I heard the sounds of leaves moving, and thistles snapping.

    Not long after, the sound stopped. She had already left the area!

    ¡°Hoo¡­ whew!¡± I was finally able to breathe freely

    ¡®What the hell?¡¯

    Now all alone in my sanctuary, I still didn¡¯t feelpletelyfortable. As my eyes frolicked around the pool, I remembered the embarrassing scene with the girl.

    ¡°Urgh!¡± My hands subconsciously rubbed my face as I groaned in embarrassment.

    I was curious about a lot of things. The identity of the girl, for one.

    I had beening to the Oasis for so long, and I had never seen her. Yet, from her tone and level offort, it seemed like she frequented this ce as well.

    Enough so that she was actually immersed in theke at the center!

    I moved closer to the pool and hesitantly dipped a finger within it.

    ¡®Arh!¡¯

    As expected, a jolt of energy coursed through me, causing me to sharply remove my hand from the cluster of water.

    ¡°Yep! It still stings¡­¡±

    This pool had a very thick concentration of Mana, enough so that it would sting to just touch it.

    I had tried so many experiments since I beganing here and achieved various results, but even I would not dare to dip myself in the waters.

    ¡°How was she able to dip her body in it and look sofortable? I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± My lips moved in a murmur.

    Was she even human?

    The saturation of Mana within theke would be enough to send someone into Mana Shock if they couldn¡¯t possibly absorb it, or even got too exposed. How was she so fine?

    ¡®Does she have an absorption technique that makes her capable of taking in so much Mana at once? Did she reinforce her body?¡¯

    But, the girl didn¡¯t even seem to be practicing or anything. She just appeared to be enjoying a cool bath in the water. The more I thought of it, the less I understood.

    ¡®Alright! That¡¯s enough of that!¡¯

    There was no way to get to the root of the matter, so I wasn¡¯t going to bother trying. Plus, there were more important things on my mind¡ªmore pertinent issues that demanded my attention.

    ¡°It¡¯s time I began my¡­ activities¡­¡± I smiled to myself.

    The bag I brought along with me fell to the ground as I squatted to bring out its contents.

    Crushing a few juicy des of grass underneath me, I smelled the fresh scent of greens while offloading the items within the baggage lying t on the floor¡ª

    Five boxes containing a total of ten vials each.

    A pouch containing exactly twelve stones.

    A piece of parchment, simr to a card¡ªbut having several engravings on it.

    A short stick that also had inscriptions and glowed slightly.

    ¡ªThese were the tools I brought along with me.

    The vials contained the potions I was working on; the stones within the pouch were made of condensed Mana.

    After realizing the nature of the Oasis, I figured that I could simply harness the Mana saturation by storing it within objects. Unfortunately, this was no simple task.

    If an item had too much Mana¡ªmore than it could handle, it broke apart. As a First-Year Lower ss student, I had no ess to any special items, so improvisation was inevitable.

    Fortunately, my brilliant mind figured out an alternative!

    Since the entire Oasis area had been exposed to the excess Mana, that meant I could simply harness its resources to create vessels for storing Mana. It was quite an intricate task, but I seeded.

    Using Earth Magic, Ipressed the soil around theke and formed several stones with them. Each stone had the concentration of about a ton of the soil¡ªthat was how much I refined them.

    Still, due to how time-consuming the process was, I only had time to forge twelve. Thanks to how much they had been absorbing, these stones each had more than my total capacity.

    The potions I brought along were also near perfection, all thanks to the Oasis¡¯ resources. Not only did they pass as concoctions, but their effects also graduated to form Magic Potions!

    Thanks to harvesting the ingredients surrounding theke¡ªeven the Lake water itself¡ªI was able to add Mana properties to the potions and made them much more effective.

    So far, I was able to further enhance my Mana Shock Potion, as well as a Mana Restorative Potion, Health, and Stamina Restorative Potions, as well as other kinds.

    It was amazing how fast my research was going, but it didn¡¯t end at that!

    The other two items I brought out of my bag were the major things I needed to work on today.

    One was a card, and the other took the appearance of a short stick. They both had one thing inmon¡­

    ¡­ Magic Items!

    ¡°Hoo, shall we begin?¡± I cracked my fingers as I excitedly stared at all the tools set out in front of me.

    The stick was a prototype for a Magic Wand¡ªsomething that vastly increased the effectiveness of a Mage¡¯s Magic and also reduced Cast-time. I had a bit of help from Ana in sorting out the details, but thanks to the time I had¡­ it would bepleted today.

    The major challenge was the second one¡ªthe Magic Card!

    I built it with the idea of an ancient concept in mind. In simple terms, this object had the capacity to store any kind of Magic within it so I could use the Spell at any time.

    So far, it could only store up to Intermediate Level, but¡­ my goal was beyond that! As a result, it would take even more time to perfect. Fortunately, time was what I had.

    Even though my body had almost reached the limit of its growth currently, there were many other ways I could grow stronger. I simply needed to focus on those factors as my tiny body increased in capacity.

    Eventually, getting stronger enough to surpass a monster like Kuzon¡­ would be a reality!

 Chapter 187 - The One Who Aims High (Pt 1)

    Jerry Keller woke up feeling refreshed.

    Even though he had had a very eventful night, he made sure to get plenty of rest for the next day. He slept for four hours and managed to wake up right on schedulea€¡±this was way more time than what he usually spent in bed.

    ¡®Hoo, I should get up now!¡¯

    Jumping out of his firmly-built bed, he. stepped on both feet and made his way to the bathroom.

    Ainrk Academy ensured each room had its bathroom,vatory, and basically all essentials. That made it easier for Jerry tomute from his bedroom to the ce where he would have his bath.

    His room was fairlyrge for his ss cement, but given his rank, this was normal.

    Upon reaching the bathroom, he took his toothbrush and began freshening up.

    It was only five in the morning, but Jerry felt uneasy for a moment. Not only had he woken upter than usual, but this wasn¡¯t his usual schedule.

    Normally, before anything, Jerry would spend at least three hours working on practicing and improving himself as a Magic-User. That meant he needed to wake up much earlier so he would have time to freshen up and attend ss afterward.

    However, today was different!

    Unlike all other days, it was a special asion that required him to be at full strength and peak condition. He couldn¡¯t risk stressing his body too much, so Jerry decided to take a break from his usual routine.

    It was easier said than done, though, as muscle memory didn¡¯t make him feelpletely at ease with his current activity.

    After brushing, bathing, and essentially getting set for the day, Jerry Keller walked in front of the mirror and observed himself closely.

    Having auburn haira€¡±something he was born witha€¡±that seemed to stretch to the back of his head, it was tied behind to form something simr to a short ponytail. The boy¡¯s brown eyes showed great determination and brightness and his thinly lined lips parted to form a confident smile.

    ¡°Alright, Jerry! It¡¯s finally today!¡± He spoke to none other than his reflection in the mirrora€¡±in essence, himself.

    His simple attire was a dark blue jacket and a white top underneath. His ck pants were also veryckluster in design, and his sneakers had no form of elegance.

    Compared to his status in the Academy, his sense of clothing left much to be desired. It wasn¡¯t like the boy was rough or had no fashion sense, rather he wasn¡¯t particrly interested in those things.

    Only one thing interested Jerry Kellera€¡±Magic!

    Once he was done observing himself, he left the mirror and made his way to the door.

    Before he opened it, he felt a cluster of people standing at the other end, causing him to pause.

    Before he could resume his motion, a knock sounded.

    Jerry smiled and opened the door, hearing the slight creak of the luxurious wood that made up the structure.

    ¡°Oi, Jerry! You¡¯re up earlya€¡±as usual!¡± A thick and more mature voice than the owner of the room could ever dream of achieving burst forth.

    Standing in front of his door front were ten taller and more physically built individuals. A normal person would have been intimidated by their build, but not Jerry. After all¡­

    ¡°I could say the same for you guys.¡± The boy responded with an excited smile.

    ¡­ They were his friends!

    ¡°Hehe! What can we say!¡±

    The boys chuckled andughed as Jerry proceeded out of his room and closed the door behind him.

    The ten that now surrounded him were seniors, and he was only a Second Year. Usually, the gap in their ranks would make anyone feel a bit pressured and out of ce. But, the entire life of Jerry was weird.

    These seniors were his inner circle,rades he usually hung around with every time. They were strong enough to almost reach the ranks of the Elite Ten, but were not quite there yet.

    It was partially thanks to Jerry¡¯s influence on them that they had gotten so strong, but the boy told himself that their pure determination was what yielded the results.

    ¡°The Exchange won¡¯t be held for another three hours or so, where do you n on going?¡± One of the ten boys asked with a knowing grin.

    Of course, his question was unnecessary.

    There was a reason why all of them had gathered in front of Jerry¡¯s room. There was a reason why Jerry himself had woken up so early and expected his friends to be waiting for him.

    ¡°Where else?¡± A smile formed on Jerry¡¯s thinly lined lips.

    The boy¡¯s around all leaked out smiles as they began moving down the stairs from the top of the Lower ss Dorm.

    There was only one thing on Jerry¡¯s minda€¡±the single thing activity could upy him before participating in the contest that would be taking ce on the final day of the Exchange.

    It was Sunday, and most wouldn¡¯t even have been up at this time, but Jerry and his friends were.

    Why?

    ¡°¡­ We¡¯re off to the Training Area!¡±

    *********************

    ¡°Huff¡­. hufff¡­¡±

    Heavy breaths filled the hall and the stench of sweat permeated the area.

    The ten boys were the ones responsible for the strained breathing. Some had already copsed to the ground while others squatted a bit to catch their breath.

    No matter what kind of posture they had, one thing was certaina€¡±they were exhausted!

    ¡°Wow! That was a rush!¡± Jerry eximed happily.

    His voice was full of life and enthusiasm, a sharp contrast to the exhausted ones who gave him tired smiles.

    ¡°As always¡­ you¡¯re a monster, Jerry!¡±

    His bright brown eyes tuned to the boys he had been sparring witha€¡±all ten of thema€¡±and shook his head while maintaining his innocent smile.

    ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m not quite there yet.¡±

    As always, he donned his humble persona. Even though he had single-handedly handled the ten students who were strong in their own right, he didn¡¯t even show the slightest bit of pride.

    The boy¡¯s eyes showed an interest in even more strength!

    To achieve his goal, bing one of the Nine Rankers, Jerry knew has to keep evolving.

    ¡°I can still¡­ get stronger!¡±

 Chapter 188 - The One Who Aims High (Pt 2)

    A few hours passed since they began their training session¡ªwell, only a bit over two to be exact¡ªand the boys were already plenty tired.

    Everyone, except for one in particr, was on the ground, lying t and heaving heavily. Sweat popped on their skin as they struggled to keep a normalposure amid the gasps that sounded.

    ¡°Haa¡­ that was¡­ intense¡­¡± One of the boys who still had enough strength to form words let out.

    Unlike the rest, he didn¡¯t seem as best up. It could be that their opponent had gone easier on him, or¡­ he was simply better than the rest.

    The boy¡¯s eyes darted to the one who had dealt all of them such serious attacks that they were now on the ground.

    He was seated on one of the chairs at the edge of the hall, having beads of sweat on his face as he wiped it with a towel.

    ¡°Are you sure this won¡¯t affect your performance at the event?¡±

    The boy who sat¡ªJerry¡ªgave a small smile as he nced at his worried friend.

    ¡°Na. I don¡¯t think so. Besides, I don¡¯t think I would be in top form if I didn¡¯t let out some tension before the main matches.¡±

    What Jerry was trying to say in his kind and considerate tone was that the boys he fought were not challenging enough to make him go all-out and exhaust himself.

    Simply put, he needed the warm-up to be in good shape for the main fight. As insulting as that notion was, it was the truth. That was probably why Jerry resorted to a milder manner of approach to ease the fears of his friend.

    ¡°I¡­ see¡­¡±

    Of course, everyone in the room already knew what he meant by those words.

    ¡°So, should we start getting a move on?¡±

    His question demanded a response, but Jerry fell silent for a short while to contemte the implications of what answer he wanted to give.

    In all honesty, he still wasn¡¯t satisfied with the matches he had with them, and felt like he could go more. Unfortunately, hisrades were already at their limits.

    Besides, if Jerry pushed himself too much, then maybe it would indeed cause him tock enough energy during his actual round in the tournament.

    Caught between the conflicting interests that warred in his mind, the boy decided to go with the more obvious response.

    ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s head back.¡±

    The boys gave a relieved expression, happy they were done with the hellish exercise, though the one who seemed more considerate of Jerry¡¯s feelings understood the difficult choice his friend made.

    ¡®If only we were stronger¡­ we could give him more of a challenge¡­¡¯ Those thoughts often trailed within him, etched in his mind like second nature.

    Perhaps that was why he strived the hardest out of everyone else to catch up¡ªeven if it was only by a single inch¡ª with their leader.

    The boys stood atop their exhausted legs and made their way toward the exit of the room. Jerry was at the forefront, while the rest trailed after him This wasn¡¯t done intentionally. Perhaps it was just instinct¡ªthe strong leading the weak.

    After leaving the room where there had spent about two hours training vigorously, the boys hot the showers¡ªyes, literally!

    The facilities in Ainrk Academy were made to be top-notch, and the Training Area was no exception. As a matter of course, shower rooms were provided for, and the boys used them to fulfill the purpose of washing off their sweat and exhaustion.

    With the temperature set to cool off the tension that pulsated their bodies, the cool liquid dripped down their bodies and gave them a soothing feel.

    After temporarily experiencing hell, being greeted by the cooling stters of water wasn¡¯t so bad.

    The shower session didn¡¯tst very long, but it could have as well been an eternity for the boys. After they were done freshening up, they wore the initial clothing brought from their Dorms.

    Since the Training Area would inevitably cause stress among those who used it, spiking whatever outfit they had on at the time, the Academy once again intervened expertly.

    By providing good training uniforms to be used by students, it allowed them to freely use the facilities without holding back. Even if the clothes were stained, burned, soaked¡­ it didn¡¯t matter!

    Thanks to this measure, the Training Hall achieved its purpose perfectly.

    ¡°Hoo¡­ I feel much better now!¡± Jerry remarked, stepping out of therge structure¡ªhis friends trailing directly behind.

    ¡°You got that right.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I wish itsted longer, though.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious. If we take too long, we¡¯ll bete for the matches.¡±

    Jerry smiled as he heard his friends exchange words.

    Considering the time they had spent, he estimated about thirty minutes were left before the Exchange really began. Still, it wasn¡¯t his style to bete for anything¡ªa habit he passed among his allies.

    ¡°We should start heading there now¡­¡± The boy softly muttered.

    ¡°Oh? Okay, then¡­¡± They answered with nods and moved quickly.

    Even though the match left a brief feeling of dissatisfaction within Jerry, he had quickly brushed those lingering sentiments aside. After all, once the main events started, he wouldn¡¯t have the luxury of ¡®going easy¡¯ on anyone.

    It was the real deal!

    ¡®All members of the Elite Ten in each ss, uh¡­?¡¯ Images of his colleagues shed across his mind.

    He was only one out of nine others, so he knew he wouldn¡¯t be facing the enemies alone. Still, Jerry Keller had never felt so alone.

    The nine people besides him¡­ how could he describe them?

    ¡®Those cowards¡­¡¯ The boy gritted his teeth as the images of the ones professed to be the greatest among the Lower ss members shed in his mind.

    Could there be any other synonym that best encapsted how he viewed them?

    These so-called champions were nothing more than individuals who were satisfied with their positions of power and didn¡¯t dare defy those of the other ss.

    They didn¡¯t bother practicing for the Exchange or even try to win. As they had already told him, and most assuredly themselves as well¡­

    ¡°There¡¯s no point!¡±

    Within him, Jerry seethed with a rage that he couldn¡¯t fathom. He was disgusted by those who were meant to be the champions of the Lower ss.

    ¡®If¡­ if the ones professed to be the leaders don¡¯t have the will to march on¡­¡¯

    Jerry¡¯s head unconsciously turned behind him and saw the friends that trailed behind him. He didn¡¯t know why he thought of them now, but memories invaded his head the moment his eyes captured their current builds andpared them to the past.

    They had certainly grown stronger¡ªand more importantly, more purposeful.

    Jerry recoiled his head and faced his front, staring at the massive auditorium from a distance whilepleting his earlier lone of thought.

    ¡®¡­ How will those behind them follow?¡¯

 Chapter 189 - The Elite Ten

    The Hall greeted them with silence.

    Eyes darted in the direction of the ones who entered therge expanse. The decorum was deafening¡ªufortable, even.

    Jerry watched as the people who had already gathered stared. Of course, he knew the looks weren¡¯t for him or even in his direction. The eyes of everyone lunged at the same location!

    The seat of the Elites!

    Yes, even though the Hall was segmented, two additional areaspleted the circle around the colosseum. One belonged to the regr participants who had beenpeting in the Exchange for so long.

    However, the other cluster of seats were reserved for the ones known to be the highest in Status¡ªno, not the Rankers¡ªthe Elite Ten!

    Unlike the other seats which were designed to amodate more students than were actually present, the chairs arranged in rows and columns in the special area were exactly thirty!

    Thirty seats, all belonging to specific people; from the Elite 10 of the Upper ss, to the Middle, and finally the Lower ss.

    These seats had already been upied by a couple of individuals, neen to be exact.

    The Middle row was filled with the Top Ten of the Middle ss, and the rows in the ground area belonged to the Lower ss. All the members of both were present, except one¡ªJerry himself.

    As he entered the Hall from the entrance, no one paid him any heed. They didn¡¯t mean this as an act of disrespect, no, they were just too engrossed with the sight of the most exceptional students in Ainrk.

    Well, notpletely, but¡­ at least in the room, no one could rival any of the ones seated in that special area. That was the opinion of the public, but a few in the room would find that very debatable.

    Jerry, along with hispanions, silently walked across the vast space, drawing close to zero attention. If he wanted to make an entrance, he could have attempted it¡ªbut Jerry wasn¡¯t that kind of person.

    ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll see you guys around.¡± He smiled at his friends who were already breaking away from him in order to get to their respective seats.

    They knew their ce, and it was no longer to be beside their leader. Even if they were strong seniors, they could only seat among the Third Years of the Lower ss.

    For Jerry, someone who belonged among the ranks of the Elite Ten, this was the farthest anyone could escort him.

    The boys nodded at their buddy and hurriedly ascended the stairs to get to their preferred positions, leaving the auburn-haired boy by his lonesome.

    He did feel a bit mncholic, remembering thest time he was in this ce. It was during his first year, and so many memories washed through his mind¡ªsome of which the boy considered to be distractions at this point.

    ¡°Hoo, let¡¯s get this over with¡­¡± With this whisper, Jerry walked to the special area, taking an observational stare at those who had taken their seats already.

    As expected, the Middle-ss members would have been the first to get there, followed by the Lower ss.

    The neen of them seemed to bathe in the attention showered on them by the masses. That disgusted Jerry¡ªso much so that he averted his gaze and stared at the audience.

    Noticing that a few of them were not actually looking at those who could be synonymous with celebrities, Jerry took a closer look and saw someone very familiar.

    ¡®Jared Leonard, eh?¡¯ A smile yed on his face.

    The boy who made quite the impression on nearly everyone was seated amid a boy and girl, engaging in conversation with them. Well, not only the boy and girl, but also a golden-haired boy and a dark-haired one as well. Another girl with frosty silver hair seemed to chime into the conversation every now and then, but she remained silent¡ªmostly.

    Seeing his juniors rather converse very spiritedly rather than gawk at the school¡¯s heroes made Jerry give an empathic nod as he moved to his seat.

    Upon getting closer, the eyes of the audience shifted to him, and whispers began flying.

    ¡°That¡¯s him, right? The one who became an Elite Ten while only in his Second Year!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing, right? I heard only two Second Years are currently members of the Elite Ten!¡±

    ¡°Wow! That must mean he¡¯s so strong¡­ even if he dresses so ordinarily.¡±

    Jerry cringed a bit at thestment, but kept moving.

    ¡°Is he really that special, though? I mean¡­ it could just mean that the Elites of the Lower ss are just weak.¡±

    Jerry bit his lip and kept up his pace. He couldn¡¯t even mentally argue with their words.

    ¡°Yeah. I mean, the only other Second Year who got the rank of Elite Ten is in the Upper ss, right? I heard she¡¯s also the second seat of the Rankers. That¡¯s pretty impressive!¡±

    The boy clenched his teeth and felt a churn in his heart. He knew full well who they referred to, and what kind of rtionship he had with the girl.

    She was¡­

    Banishing the thought before it fully manifested in his head, Jerry took a few more hasty steps and reached the empty space left in the lowest row, seating in a hurry.

    ¡®Huu¡­¡¯ A bead of sweat fell from his brow and he gave a tensed sigh.

    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s Jerry.!¡±

    ¡°I knew you¡¯d bete.¡±

    ¡°Off training again?¡±

    ¡°Even today? Dude, don¡¯t you ever take a break?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡¯ll be of any use, though¡­¡±

    Jerry clicked his tongue as he was assailed by the joint mor of his fellow Lower ss Elite Ten.

    Made up of seven boys and three girls, the Lower ss Elite Ten was considered the weakest¡ªthis was a matter of course.

    Still, the way the members shamelessly epted this fact and nonchntly regarded their relevance sickened the boy who aimed higher.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like any extra training will do you any good, though. I mean¡­¡±

    Upon hearing one of his colleagues say that¡ªTop one of the Elite Ten for that matter¡ªJerry was about to sharply respond when gasps suddenly echoed across the hall.

    He could feel the attention of everyone instantly shift to the entrance. Instantly, Jerry knew what that meant!

    There was only one reason whymon folks would stop paying attention to celebrities. That would be in the even that¡­ a bigger celebrity showed up!

    In this case, they were the biggest celebrities in the Academy!

    ¡°WOHOOOOOO!!!!!¡± The deafening cry of the audience rang in Jerry¡¯s ears, causing him to sharply look toward the entrance himself.

    ¡°¡­ See what I mean?¡± A soft and powerlessment cane from the highest-ranked of the Lower ss Top Ten, but, at this point, Jerry had lost any interest in giving any word of reply.

    He, as well as every other member of the crowd, now looked in the direction of the emerging ten figures. They were the strongest of the students in Ainrk Academy¡ªnine of which werebeled as Rankers¡­

    ¡­ The Upper-ss Elite Ten!

 Chapter 190 - Rankers

    They were known as the pirs of Ainrk Academy¡ªthe untouchable among the ranks of students.

    Due to their immense potential and prospects, the words of these people carried weight¡ªenough to reshape the school! These extremely influential students were known as none other than¡­

    ¡­ Rankers!

    There were nine of them in total, all said to be capable of performing feats akin to fully-fledged Mages. These nine students were the cream of the crop in Ainrk Academy, so it was only expected that they would belong to the epitome of Ainrk¡¯s ss System.

    Yes, they were all Upper-ss students!

    Jerry scowled a little as he watched them enter the Hall and walk toward their highly esteemed seats.

    The audience was in a frenzy as the greatest public figures made their appearance. Some shrieked in delight while others merely cried and gasped. Murmurs spread across therge expanse¡ªnaturally¡ªand words of excitement leaked into the seated boy¡¯s ears.

    ¡°John Spencer looks elegant as always!¡±

    ¡°Devan Keith is so dark! So this is how he looks like¡­ I¡¯ve only heard the rumors!¡±

    ¡°I-isn¡¯t that¡­?!!¡±

    Jerry wished he could block off all the sounds that assailed his head, but he simply endured it. There was certainly a spell for that, but it was only a wonder why he didn¡¯t think of using it.

    As gasps and shrieks went forth, attention began converging on a particr someone.

    ¡°Wow! Look at Fabian Lestrome Indiavel! He¡¯s so charming!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! As expected of the one who leads the Rankers!¡±

    When one looked at the Elite Ten of the Upper ss, the term ¡®Rankers¡¯ came into mind. Out of all of them, only one was not a Ranker, and that was simply because he was the weakest of the bunch.

    The one who led both the Elite Ten and the Rankers, the strongest student in the Academy¡ªFabian Lestrome Indiavel¡ªalso known as the Second Prince of the Eastern Empire and the ¡®Gifted One Of Magic¡¯, was certainly at the center of attention.

    His cool smile radiated the elegance he carried.

    The boy¡¯s blond hair was cleanly cut, but was still long enough to slightly touch the tip of his shoulders. A strand, like a sharp elegant line, covered a bit of his forehead in a breathtaking style.

    Fabian had a big build, most likely due to a well-tempered body, making any who stood before him feel like they were in front of a mountain. His outfit was pure white, having gold designs to entuate the splendor.

    As a matter of course, he walked in front of everyone else that belonged to the same ¡®Elite¡¯ rank as him.

    As the prince of the Kingdom and the strongest of the students, this was only natural.

    Walking behind him, however, was someone who was not lost in his shadow. Even though he was in front of everyone, this particr figure was just a hair¡¯s breadth from his side.

    It took a second for the people to recognize her, but once they did, their eyes popped beyond what would be considered normal and their gazes shifted to a celebrity that was on par with the prince.

    ¡°I-isn¡¯t that¡­?!!!¡±

    Gasps and shrieks filled the mouths of students as they let out the girl¡¯s name.

    ¡°Ciara Epilson!!!¡±

    Yes, that was the name of the most famous Ranker, well, the second most famous Ranker in all of Ainrk Academy.

    She would have easily won first ce based on her merits alone, but it was only due to the royal heritage of the Prince that granted him an edge over her.

    This girl was said to be a phenomenal genius, a wonder in the realm of Magic¡­ the second Year who made it to the realm of Rankers, one who had never lost in a match¡­ and the current upant of the Second Seat of the Elite Ten and Rankers!

    Ciara Epilson was the epitome of a genius¡ªplus, she was a girl!

    ¡°Kyaaaaaaaa!!!¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s so amazing!!!¡±

    ¡°And she¡¯s pretty too!!!¡±

    ¡°I want to be like her!¡±

    ¡°To think a Second Year could¡­ how amazing!¡±

    More and more cries rang out, and before long, only the prince and Ciara got all the attention.

    The other Elite Ten members acted indifferent about theck of attention on them and simply kept moving, but if one took a closer nce at them, the jealousy in their eyes was clear as day.

    Gritting their teeth and clenching their fists powerlessly, they endured the humiliation of being behind their junior.

    Being overshadowed by the prince was understandable, no one would argue. However, for a junior¡ªone whose background was of amoner¡ªtopletely steal all their glory¡­ that was unforgivable.

    Still, there was nothing they could do about Ciara Epilson. Not only has she bested each and every one of the other members of the Elite Ten, except number one, but she was also undoubtedly beyond their reach.

    The only thing those of the lower ranks could do was watch powerlessly as the grill gracefully trailed behind the prince¡ªnearly by his side.

    Other than the other Elites who trailed behind Ciara, one other person was staring intensely at her. His look wasn¡¯t exactly a re, but it wasn¡¯t one of pleasantries either.

    The look came from Jerry.

    Ciara Epilson, who had apparently ignored all the other stares, looked in the direction of the seated Lower ss Elite and gave a naughty smile¡ªno, more like a mocking expression.

    Jerry gritted his teeth as their eyes met. He wanted to yell at her the way he used to, but that would be suicide now.

    Things were moreplicated now, and Ciara seemed to be enjoying herself as she looked at his powerlessness.

    Who would have thought that these two were once¡­ friends.

    The Elite Ten of the Upper ss reached their seats and began climbing their stairs to get to the zenith where they would be staying. As they all trailed upward, Jerry decided to take his eyes off the girl before his neck turned to the side.

    He had to let go of these feelings one day¡­

    ¡°Oh? So you¡¯re still here¡­ and with that intense gaze in your eyes¡­¡± Ciara whispered as she walked past him.

 Chapter 191 - The Elite Tournament Begins

    Ciara¡¯s sweet tone contained yfulness and mockery.

    He wanted to reply her! Jerry wanted to rise to his feet and dere how things would be different this time and how he would ensure he rose to the realm of the Rankers¡ªjust as they both swore back then!

    However¡­ he couldn¡¯t speak.

    ¡°Just give it up¡­ and stay where you are. You can¡¯t reach me anymore.¡±

    With those final words of hers ringing in his ears, Jerry¡¯s petrified body remained frozen as Ciara climbed to her seat.

    ¡®I¡­ I couldn¡¯t say anything¡­¡¯

    Did he still have doubts? Was that the reason he couldn¡¯t stand up to his resolve?

    There was no way of confirming that now. However, words were cheap. If he truly wanted to show his determination, all Jerry had to do was win!

    ¡°I can do this¡­¡± He whispered to himself and stared at the stage.

    It was currently vacant, but soon¡­ the chaos would begin!

    ¡®I¡¯ll win! I¡¯ll make sure I climb the ranks!¡¯

    And once Jerry did that¡­ they could both achieve what they swore¡ªhe and the Second Seat!

    ********************

    ¡°Wee, everyone, to the final day of the Inter-ss Exchange!!!¡± us Tallman dered in his usual booming voice.

    Everyone in the hall was used to his mode of speech and they were already smiling in anticipation for the Moderator to continue his words.

    ¡°The matches we¡¯ll be having now¡­ will be a bit different from the previous ones!¡±

    Of course, everyone was already aware of this fact.

    For six days, the Exchange had proceeded smoothly, advancing from the preliminary matches to the Finals.

    Having concluded the Final rounds the previous day¡ªin which the champions received prizes and public derations¡ªit was now time for the most anticipated moment.

    The Elite Tournament!

    Thirty students, one ring¡ªthe ultimate sh between the best of the best within Ainrk Academy was now upon everyone and the spectators couldn¡¯t contain their excitement.

    ¡°In the previous matches, the contestants advanced from the Preliminary Matches to the Finals, but, for the Elite Tournament, that method will not be used.¡±

    Silence filled the Hall.

    ¡°There will be no form of ¡®advancement¡¯ here¡­ only a simple exchange between representatives of each ss.¡± us further exined.

    Judging from the silence enveloping the auditorium, and the uneasy nces the students gave one another, it was clear that their Moderator would need to exin a bit more for them topletelyprehend what he meant.

    Of course, us already knew of his task¡ªand so he opened his mouth to break down the information.

    ¡°We will be having only ten rounds, in which a representative of each ss¡ªUpper, Middle, and Lower¡ª will be participating in. Since there are thirty Students, that means three will be contesting in each round.¡±

    A slight ¡®oohhh¡¯ leaked from the crowd as they slowly began to understand.

    ¡°As always, the selection will be random and the final decisions concerning the champions of each match will be left entirely up to the Judges above.¡±

    For a moment, the students looked at the floating tform where the Senior Lecturers were, and after a few moments, returned their gaze to us.

    ¡°Normally, to indicate fairness, the Elite Ten are meant to fight in ordance to their ranks¡­¡±

    That meant that the Elite Rank 10s of each ss would climb the stage to Duke it out, and the victor would emerge as the best among all three.

    This would ur for all ranks. However¡­

    ¡°¡­ To create a more ¡®unpredictable¡¯ match, we¡¯ve decided to randomize things.¡±

    us had chosen his words carefully, but the obvious intentions behind them registered in the minds of those who were attentive.

    Jerry, for one, frowned the moment he heard that. What their moderator was simply trying to say was that in a fight between Elite students of the same rank, the obvious winner would be members of the Upper ss.

    The others might as well have been fodder!

    So, by randomizing the contestants, the matches could be more interesting in the sense that a more powerful Lower ss Elite would fight lesser ranked Upper and Middle-ss students.

    If that was the case, students of the Lower ss, and even the Middle ss, had a chance against the superior members of the Upper ss.

    But, in the end, how much water did that philosophy hold?

    Ultimately, it was just another way of making the lower sses look bad. In essence, even when pitted with higher-ranked Lower ss Elites¡ªif the Upper ss still won it, would only serve as a boost to their ego¡­ and would badly damage the prestige of the Lower ss.

    The same idea applied to the Middle ss.

    Jerry was seething with rage, but he controlled himself.

    Rather than fight on equal grounds, the tournament aimed to make it appear as though they favored the weaker party, while in actuality¡­

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter! I just need to win!¡¯ Jerry shook off his annoyance and focused on the resolve he had cultivated for so long.

    ¡°Ah, it¡¯s hopeless.¡±

    ¡°Welp, time for another ass whooping.¡±

    ¡°I just hope I don¡¯t her matched up with a tough opponent.¡±

    ¡°What does it matter? I¡¯ll just surrender immediately.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no point in fighting.¡±

    ¡°True that.¡±

    The other members of the Lower ss Elite Ten exchangedments of assumed defeat among themselves¡ªso shamelessly for that matter.

    As one who sat on the same row as them, Jerry felt mortified beyond description. What was the relevance of being an Elite when one¡¯s mind was so weak?

    These people wouldn¡¯t even bother representing their ss well!

    But, he was different!

    It wasn¡¯t like Jerry was one who took pride in his abilities, neither did he think of himself as a special individual or ¡®the chosen one¡¯.

    No, he just¡­ wanted better!

    For that reason alone, the boy was going to push himself forward and achieve his wish¡­ no matter what he took.

    ¡°The randomizer will begin now. So, everyone, remain glued to your seats and keep your eyes peeled!¡±

    Arge screen appeared above the auditorium as names appeared on three rows and began changing at rapid speed.

    Whichever names appeared on the rows belonged to those who would climb the stage to begin the match. In essence, it also served as a countdown to the glorious finale of the Inter-ss Exchange.

    Jerry gulped and watched the list in anticipation and a bit of nervousness. At longst¡­ the time hade!

 Chapter 192 - Disgrace

    [First Round]

    ¡ª Zeke Klein (Upper ss)

    ¡ªRenny Sherly (Middle ss)

    ¡ª Tom Hollyberry (Lower ss)

    [Contestants Get On Stage!]

    Jerry gulped in relief, partly because he wasn¡¯t among those who would get on stage, and also because¡­ of the people on the list!

    Zeke Klein was the Sixth Seat of the Rankers¡ªthe same rank he had among the Elite Ten.

    Needless to say, he was extremely strong, and Jerry knew very well the disparity between them both.

    If he had gotten picked with him, the chances of him winning and fulfilling his goals were slim. Of course, he realized that this meant he was secretly wishing to be paired against weaker opponents, but, Jerry didn¡¯t care!

    Among the Elite Ten of the Upper ss, none could be considered weak by his standards. He would still be facing challenges no matter the opponent that came his way.

    At least, if the enemy was of a low Rank, the chances of winning were higher!

    ¡®Damn, even the Middle-ss Elite is of Rank three¡­¡¯ Jerry gave another gulp.

    As for the Lower ss Elite, he belonged to the lesser rank of their group¡ªnumber seven. It was fairly obvious how this would pan out.

    Following the name on the list, the respective students stood from their seats and walked to the stage.

    It didn¡¯t take long for therge, round, tform to upy four persons¡ªthree contestants, and the moderator.

    ¡°Are you guys ready?¡± A voice echoed.

    It was an unnecessary question, but the students all responded with nods.

    Jerry nced at each of them.

    The Upper-ss boy was famous for his specialty in lightning Magic, and could cast very quickly. Even though the Lower ss Elite had an affinity for Water¡ªand in a way, could use that to his advantage¡ª the gap in skill was too wide to allow that.

    Jerry didn¡¯t really know the ability of the Middle-ss Elite, but regardless¡­ the contest had the rank of third in his ss for a reason.

    That meant he was strong.

    ¡°Ready¡­¡± Jerry was roused from his thoughts by us¡¯ voice.

    The moderator had already totally stepped off the stage.

    That was a testament to how extreme the match would turn out.

    ¡°¡­ Begin!¡±

    Bursts of mana climbed as the pressure of a blood-curdling match filled the Hall. People cried in shock and excitement as they stared wide-eyed at the stage for the sh tomence, when suddenly¡­

    ¡­ A voice peaked.

    ¡°I surrender!¡±

    The battle-tensed atmosphere instantly receded and for a moment, the world seemed to pause.

    Someone had just given up¡­ right when the match started!

    This was the tournament of the strongest in the Academy. No weakling was among those who contested. If it was a First Years¡¯ match, no one would be surprised, but this¡­ was something concerning!

    In a match among the best of the best, there was no way anyone would be so weak-willed as to surrender without even trying¡ªor so they thought¡­

    Who could have done something so ridiculous?

    ¡°I surrender¡­ I¡¯m out.¡± The voice came again, and us had to climb the stage to stop the match¡ªat least until whoever forfeited left the stage.

    The crowd, though dazed for a moment, finally found the source of cowardice among the thee fighters. The shameless boy had already raised both hands in surrender, so it couldn¡¯t have been clearer to anyone who watched.

    Of course, it was the Lower Rank Elite¡ªTom Hollyberry¡ªwho threw in the towel.

    The boy¡¯s shameless smile seemed to show a bit of nervousness and fear, but his will toe out of the fight unscathed far outweighed any of those expressions.

    ¡°Tom Hollyberry is out of the match. Please leave the stage.¡± us spoke ndly.

    His eyes showed no energy, no excitement¡ªthis was a sharp contrast from the usual energetic boy.

    The frail Lower ss student nodded and began leaving the stage with zero hesitation. The crowd stared in silence for a moment¡­ and then the jeers came!

    ¡°Booooo!!!¡±

    ¡°What a loser!¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a Lower ss, after all¡­¡±

    The audience, clearly irritated by the boy¡¯s cowardice, slowly diverted their me to the entire Lower ss.

    ¡°Urgh!¡± Jerry felt a sting within him as he covered his face slightly, in shame.

    He, an innocent and fired-up student, had been caught up in a colleague¡¯s cowardice. Of course, Jerry had already expected this much.

    In the face of strong adversaries, the weak crumbled¡ªthe same could be said especially for those in the Lower ss who didn¡¯t even want to try!

    As Tom Hollyberry returned to his seat, he shed a relieved smile and crashed on his buttocks, gettingfortable.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ I was scared for a moment there. What if the moderator hadn¡¯t stopped the match?¡± He murmured.

    It appeared the boy was more concerned about his safety than the disgrace he had brought upon the entire Lower ss.

    ¡°Welp, you could have just run off the stage if worst came to worst.¡±

    ¡°True. I n on doing the same if a surrender doesn¡¯t work out.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just pray I don¡¯t get paired with a Martial Artist. Those guys are quick on their feet. Before I can even get the chance to surrender, they could¡­¡±

    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with Martial Artists?!¡±

    The other members of the Elite Ten simply ignored that their fellow had just disgraced them andughed it off, discussing among themselves like nothing happened.

    Jerry knew quite well how they were able to even do such a thing.

    ¡®They¡¯re all nning to throw in the towel!¡¯

    He sighed,pletely ridding himself of anger. There was nothing getting upset would do to help him.

    He had already known this much beforeing for the tournament¡ªthat there was no one he could count on to have his back among his peers¡­ no one but him!

    Even if the others gave up before trying, he wouldn¡¯t dare.

    It was thanks to the cowardice of others that the Upper-ss Elite Ten had managed to hard the title of Rankers all to themselves. But, that would soon change!

    All he needed was one win¡­ just one turnaround¡­

    ¡­ And then the winds would begin to blow in favor of the Lower ss once more!

 Chapter 193 - Vast Difference

    ¡°Winner, Zeke Klein from the Upper ss!!!¡± us dered.

    The audience roared in amazement and cheers. Of course, they did! For such a splendid match, anything less would have been an insult.

    The arena was still crackling with electricity, and charred marks filled the stage. There was no morous destruction thanks to the enhancements added to the tform beforehand, but the remnant scars on the floor proved enough of the match¡¯s intensity.

    Of course, it was inevitable that an Upper-ss Elite would win, but it was still a bit of a shock¡ªno, downright unbelievable¡ªhow poorly the Middle-ss Student fared.

    There was toorge a gap between the two that it felt like a Third Year was fighting a beginner. The way Zeke easily won against his opponent, using his destructive lightning sts to counter all areas before the Wind Mage could get any closer was impressive.

    And so, after only a few minutes since the start of the match¡­ the victor was announced.

    ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯ Jerry gulped and gave a shivering thought.

    He shuddered at the thought of actually fighting such a devastating fellow¡­ and the Zeke guy was only top six!

    What if he fought against someone who was of a higher rank? Would he stand a chance?

    It wasn¡¯t like Jerry wasn¡¯t aware of his strength, but¡­

    ¡°Next, we have¡­¡± us Tallman announced, forcing the boy¡¯s head to bob high in order to see who would be chosen next.

    To Jerry¡¯s relief¡­ it wasn¡¯t him!

    The contestants approached the stage, ready to begin the next round.

    Of course, the crowd, at this point, were in a frenzy!

    Never had they seen such brilliant disy of Magic¡ªwell, other than a few matches among some exceptional folks in the previous rounds¡ªnone came close.

    The next group of contestants consisted of two Martial Artists and a Magic-User.

    Unlike the official Exchange among students which strictly divided the matches based on departments, the Elite Tournament did not follow such protocols.

    To fully maximize the effects of an exciting match and simte what actualbat was like, they pit members of separate divisions against each other.

    Due to school policy, no Schr could be a member of the Elite Ten, unless they had specialization in Magic Combat or Martial Arts.

    That meant those who were in fact Schrs, needed to be able to fight!

    Among the Rankers, there was only one Schr, and among the thirty Elite students in Ainrk, five belonged to the Schr Department.

    That showed just how few academically driven students were among the strongest in the school!

    The fight about to unfold, however, had no Schr among the contestants.

    Jerry diligently observed as all three were about to fight.

    He could perhaps learn a thing or two from their exchange!

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    It only took a few seconds¡ªno, probably just one¡ªfor a voice to screech out.

    ¡°I give up!¡±

    As expected¡­ it came from none other than a member of the Lower ss!

    ********************

    ¡°I give up!¡±

    ********************

    ¡°I no longer wish to participate!¡±

    ********************

    ¡°I surrender!¡±

    ********************

    ¡°I forfeit!¡±

    **********************

    No matter the kind ofnguage used, those words essentially meant the same thing, and they came from the same group of people!

    That¡¯s right! The Lower ss Elite Ten!

    Out of the six matches that had urred so far, the Lower ss Elites had forfeited every single one.

    It was no longer a surprise when they raised their shameless hands to dere their intention to surrender.

    The crowd had long grown tired of booing them and had nowe to look at them with disdain. For all they cared, this was no longer a match among three sses, but among two.

    But, could it really be called a match?

    Despite the Middle ss¡¯ unyielding effort to try surpassing those of the Upper ss, none hade out victorious.

    Win after Win¡­ everything went to the Upper-ss Elite Ten!

    The current scores were like this;

    Upper ss¡ª 6 Wins 0 Losses

    Middle ss¡ª 0 Wins 6 Losses

    Lower ss¡ª 0 Wins 6 Losses

    Since forfeiting automatically meant a loss, the Lower ss took on the same position as those who had actually been fighting with all they had, but still ended up losing¡ªthe Elites of the Middle ss.

    In a way, one could say the Middle ss was no different from the Lower ss.

    They were both overwhelmingly ced at the losing end, with no sign of victory!

    Jerry sped his hands together to keep them from shaking as he saw the list surface again. Would it be his turn now? The boy¡¯s heart thumped uncontrobly, not knowing what his fate would be.

    GULP!

    Finally, the names appeared¡­ and for the first time since the lists began surfacing, Jerry did not sigh in relief. No, it was the opposite actually.

    His eyes widened in shock, perhaps a bit of fear. Sweat dripped from his face as his dry lips smacked against each other. He forced himself to swallow the nonexistent saliva in his throat as the names registered in his brain.

    [Seventh Round]

    ¡ª Ciara Epilson (Upper ss)

    ¡ªRoy Lesryio (Middle ss)

    ¡ª Jeremy Elly (Lower ss)

    [Contestants Get On Stage!]

    Jerry¡¯s name was not on the list, but the people who would now contest piques a great deal of his interest.

    The Middle ss and Lower ss contestants were surprisingly both of the first ranks respectively.

    Was it coincidence, or a glitch in the randomizer?

    How could two students who had the highest rankpete on the same stage? That was a recipe for disaster!

    Still, that wasn¡¯t Jerry¡¯s major concern.

    The one who caught all of his focus¡ªat least ny percent of it, to be exact¡ªwas the Upper-ss Elite who had already stood and was making her way to the stage¡ª

    ¡ªCiara Epilson!

    She was the one who would be fighting in the next round.

    The gasps and shrieks of the audience were so deafening that Jerry could barely hear his own thoughts.

    What was on his mind? Was it excitement as well? Was the boy looking forward to seeing how much Ciara had grown after theirst exchange?

    Perhaps¡­

    ¡­ But a stronger feeling crept up in his heart. It was fear!

    How much stronger had she gotten ever since thest time they actually interacted? Well, Jerry would soon see.

    What frightened the determined young boy, though¡­ was whether he would still have the courage to continue after experiencing it!

 Chapter 194 Unrivaled Talent

    Chapter 194 Unrivaled Talent

    "I guess it''s my turn, then¡­" Ciara whispered to herself as she stood up.

    A bright, mischievous smile was fixed on her face as her slender body moved to climb down the stairs.

    "Don''t overdo it¡­" A voice called out to her.

    It was the Rank one of her ss''s Elite Ten, Fabian Lestrome Indiavel.

    As she usually did, Ciara utterly ignored the boy who thought he had a say in her business and strolled down, while watching those beneath her also move to the stage, in response to their call by the announcer.

    For a second, her eyes drifted and caught the nce of someone she knew quite well¡ªcorrection, used to know.

    His eyes were open wide as he stared at the list, and with his hands sped together, Ciara already knew what was going on in the boy''s mind.

    ''This guy¡­ sigh¡­''

    Her eyes returned to the stage and she quickened her pace so she could get to there on time, and not keep the others waiting.

    Ciara had her favorite blue ribbons tied around her hair, and her brown hair was the very definition of elegance.

    One could say she resembled a princess, even though she was a meremoner.

    The only thing that distinguished her from the dregs was her prowess in Magic.

    She was, above all the others, an unrivaled genius!

    Not even Fabian, in all his majesty, had achieved the rank she had when he was in his Second Year. The highest he had ever gotten to then, among the Rankers was the Ninth Seat¡ªthe very bottom!

    One could have alluded this to the fact that the alumni who were Rankers then were stronger than the current set. And a bit of that could be said to be true.

    Still¡­ no one could dispute the fact that her achievement had broken the records of Ainrk, only below a certain someone''s.

    This very same girl now climbed the stage¡ªher opponents, the strongest in their respective sses.

    To be fair, anything less wouldn''t suffice!

    As always, us conducted the match and was about to initiate itsmencement.

    For a moment, Ciara nced at both opponents. While the Middle ss one looked extremely nervous, the determination in his eyes told her that he wouldn''t back down.

    As for the Lower ss pig that casually stood, it was clear he had no intention of fighting.

    His stature was actually nothing like a pig''s. On the contrary, the boy was fairly built and even had a charming face. Perhaps he didn''t want any harm to befall the smooth skin he had cultivated for god knows how long.

    But¡­

    ''Tch¡­''

    ¡­ Before Ciara, he was nothing more than a pig.

    ''I should punish him a little¡­''

    "Ready¡­." us'' voice steadied, and the Lower ss Rank 1 already cleared his throat, preparing for surrender.

    "Fight!"

    "I sur¡ª"

    Before he could say any more, the boy was assailed by an unexinable feeling coursing through his body.

    The strange chill made him unable to utter a single word as his body vibrated. He began to spasm, shaking as though afflicted by a nonexistent cold.

    "Guarghhhhhh!!!" The boy suddenly screamed.

    He gripped his head tightly and bellowed in nonexistent pain.

    No one had assaulted him, at least it didn''t appear so.

    Yet, why was the supposedly strongest student of the Lower ss crying like a frightened child? Well, the answer dwelled in the girl who was smiling at him¡ªher eyes brimmed with a blue light.

    No one could have guessed what just happened, and only those who truly knew her could understand the terrifying thing she had just done.

    ¡­ Original Magic!

    "Phantom Pain¡­ how does it feel?" Her soft voice purred as she moved closer to the screaming boy.

    "Aaaaarghhhhhh!!!"

    The Lower ss Elite was too afflicted by the sheer agony going on in his mind, that words couldn''t escape his mouth.

    He wanted to plead!

    The boy desperately wanted to beg!

    If his lips could move, he would surrender immediately.

    Unfortunately, he couldn''t!

    Only pain coursed through his body¡ª at least that was what his mind told him.

    For the onlookers who were watching, they only saw three students on the stage¡ªone who was shrieking like a madman; one who simply stood by and watched, looking equally confused; and finally, the only one who seemed perfectlyfortable with it all.

    Her steps were slow, intentionally ensuring the boy suffered as much pain as he could before she reached him. The glow in her eyes warbled, and her glossy lips curled up even more.

    ''This should be enough¡­ I don''t want to break him¡­''

    With that, her eyes stopped glowing, and the boy gave up consciousness.

    He fell to the floor of where he stood, hitting his head on the hard ground in a slump. Silence filled the Hall and the surprised onlookers could only stare at one another in confusion.

    Only a few people seemed to know what was going on¡ªabout two were from the crowd, and a couple more were from the side of the Elites.

    Even then¡­ their reactions showed that they still couldn''tpletelyprehend the depth of the girl''s abilities.

    "Erm, Moderator¡­ this one can no longer fight. Could we call someone to take him off the stage?" Ciara smiled innocently at us, who had just been staring at the scene in shock and nervousness.

    He knew exactly what she had been doing, but, as per the rules, he couldn''t interfere.

    Plus, there was that special order he had received from the Judges, so his hands were basically tied.

    Even when he heard the loud cry of a student he was supposed to cater to as a Lecturer, he powerlessly watched until Ciara had gotten her fill.

    "Y-yeah. You''re right¡­" us climbed the stage and reluctantly responded to the girl who was young enough to be his daughter ¡ªprobably.

    Responding to his call, the medics arrived and carted the unconscious boy away.

    Seeing as the Middle-ss student had yet to give up, us concluded that the match would proceed and once again exited the stage.

    Now, only Ciara and her opponent, Roy Lesryio, remained.

    ''Hmm?'' The girl''s eyes darted in the direction of someone who was staring at her with such intensity, that it felt like his eyes would burst wide open.

    The boy''s name was Jerry!

    His breath now seemed to be heavy, and his sped hands shook. Clearly, he had been shaken by Ciara''s disy, but the girl didn''t seem to mind.

    Rather, something seemed to glint in her eyes the moment she saw him.

    ''So this isn''t enough, uh¡­?''

    A smile, more twisted than the one she''d had before, formed on her face as she stared at her opponent.

    ''¡­ Maybe I should show you something a bit more special, Jerry. Once you see this¡­''

    A bit of her white teeth showed and shepletely turned to face Roy, who was already preparing his Spell.

    ''¡­ You''ll realize how foolish it is to even dream of catching up to me!''

 Chapter 195 - Mage Mode

    Tension was high, as everyone seemed to hold their breaths while watching what would unfold next.

    Surprise, confusion, and anticipation shed among the audience.

    In silence, they waited for who would make the first move among the two remaining contestants¡ªCiara Epilson or Roy Lesryio.

    As if responding to the inner thoughts of the audience, thetter sprang into action immediately.

    With the sleight of both his hands, several torrents of wind appeared, enveloping his surrounding with the raging element.

    In a sh, these torrents whirled and became twisters, higher than two adults ced atop each other. If it were only one, that would be understandable, but the whirlwinds that formed were double!

    WHOOOOOSHHH!!!

    Two fairlyrge tornados whirled and made their way toward Ciara, who stood before them¡ªclearly undaunted.

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    She stretched out one hand and cast her Spell to counter.

    Torrents of equal, no, greater proportion grew out of thin air¡ªfaster than the ones Roy had summoned¡ªand made their way toward the ones that charged at Ciara.

    Two against two, the whirlwinds shed and sent waves of chilly air flying across the stage.

    Screams of the audience rang aloud as they felt the harsh breeze blow from the far distance where the strong spells shed.

    WHUUUUMMM!!!

    After colliding for a few seconds, Ciara¡¯s spell prevailed and now charged at Roy.

    Of course, the boy, who had already seen thising, prepared an earth Spell to shield himself from the weakened twisters.

    A wall arose from the tformpletely defended against the double whirlwinds until they vanished with distant whispers.

    Once he realized his barrier had served its purpose, Roy brought it down since the wall of stone impeded his vision.

    It wasn¡¯t like a wind spell that provided a translucent barrier¡ªthis was earth, after all.

    Making the right call, Roy was a hit hesitant to bring down the wall since Ciara could have been preparing for that window of opportunity to strike, but the took the risk.

    If she shot something else at him, he had something else up his sleeves. With that in mind, the wall crumbled, revealing both students standing on stage.

    To Roy¡¯s surprise, Ciara had not moved a single inch from her location. She also didn¡¯t seem to be casting any obvious Spell. Her eyes twinkled with a bit of mischief, though, same as her lips.

    This told the nervous boy that something was amiss.

    ¡°Well, I gave you a chance to show me something interesting¡­¡± The goddess of Ainrk Academy called out to the boy with ackluster expression.

    He could only gulp in response.

    ¡°¡­ As expected, it was a waste of time.¡±

    Ciara wasn¡¯t surprised, though. This was how much the guy had been worth from the start.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be using this opportunity to make you a scapegoat¡­ to show a particr someone something beyond both your capabilities.¡±

    Roy wasn¡¯t sure what Ciara was talking about, but he had already resolved to see this fight to the end the moment he climbed the stage.

    Unlike the Lower ss cowards, those of the Middle ss valued their honor above all things.

    If one of them acted like trash now, it would only sully their name.

    ¡®Bring it!¡¯ Roy snapped within him as he also began preparing a powerful spell on his end.

    ¡®It seems she¡¯s not making a move because whatever she wants to do is big¡­ and if it¡¯s big, it¡¯ll take time!¡¯

    Using this line of reasoning, Roy thought he had time on his hands and went for one of the most destructive spells in his arsenal.

    ¡®I can do this¡­ I just need to cast faster than she can¡ª¡¯

    ¡°Mage Mode¡­¡±

    VWUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!!

    In an instant, faster than Roy could evenplete his sentence, a massive gust of energy surged from Ciara¡¯s location. It was so unreal that anyone would doubt their eyes!

    The wave of blue energy circled the girl, causing whatever was left of Roy¡¯sposure topletely vanish.

    Sparkles of light shrouded the girl on stage, and her outfit slowly changed.

    The ribbon she had on slowly turned purple, and blue earrings appeared on both ears. Her eyes glowed brighter than ever, and designs ran through her attire.

    A caped robe also appeared behind her and the most amazing thing also materialized in front.

    A book!

    No, not just any kind of book¡­ this particr object floated and was doused in blue energy. Not only did it emit faint glows of Mana, but the concentration of energy it had was enough to make anyone shriek in terror.

    This book was known as a Grimoire, and the current attire Ciara currently donned was known as a Magerobe.

    These two objects had one thing inmon¡­ they could only belong to fully-fledged Mages.

    Of course, Grimoires and robes were¡ªby nature¡ªMagic Tools, and could be used freely by those skilled enough to handle their power.

    But, one of the rules was for students not to use any form of Magic Tools inbat, so where did Ciara get these items from?

    The answer was not known to many.

    But, the few who realized what was going on gasped in utter disbelief. Not many knew she had reached a level strong enough to achieve this feat, but with what currently unfolded before everyone, the truth was made clear.

    ¡ªMage Mode!

    Just as Original Magic was hailed to be the ace of any experienced and powerful Mage, this concept was equally esteemed.

    Mage Mode was a state of enlightenment that very few Mages achieved. Those who did, however, experienced boosts in their Magic abilities that raised them at least one Level above their usual state.

    So, if an Intermediate-Level Mage used Mage Mode, they could temporarily gain the abilities of an Advanced one.

    If an Advanced Mage achieved this, they could even go higher and reach the level of¡­

    In essence, it was extremely critical, and very rare to be seen. The ability to transcend one¡¯s limits belonged only to those who had studied and trained hard enough to obtain this power.

    Yet¡­

    Yet¡­

    YET¡­ why did this girl, barely even fourteen years of age possess such abilities?!

    It was groundbreaking!

    ¡°Y-you¡­ what are you¡­. w-what is¡­ t-that..?!¡± Roy was already staggering backward, giving in to the primal instinct that assailed anyone once they couldn¡¯t understand something.

    ¡ªFEAR!

 Chapter 196 - An Elites Nightmare

    It took every ounce of courage for Roy not to raise his hands to surrender.

    Every hair on his body stood as his arms twitched. Unable to resist the urge any longer, he was about to give in to the pressure and¡ª

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it¡­ if you know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Ciara interrupted his actions.

    ¡°Eeeekkk!!!¡± Roy shrieked.

    From her piercing gaze, the boy knew she was serious. Remembering the awful state the Lower ss Elite had been after attempting to surrender, Roy lost the will the raise his hands.

    If he so much as tried¡­ would he also be assailed with the indescribable pain the previous guy experienced.

    ¡°Just stand there and be a good target. You can choose to struggle too. It makes no difference¡­¡± Ciara smiled at her foe.

    Could he even be called that at this point? All she saw when she looked at the trembling figure of Roy¡­ wasplete fodder!

    The girl, alreadypleting her transformation, now stood on her spot.

    No, she wasn¡¯t standing¡­ her feet were no longer on the ground. Ciara was now levitating, a couple of inches from the ground, but her effortless disy at it showed that if she wanted to¡­ the girl could probably go even higher.

    This was the effect of the Magerobe she had on. It had the automatic effect of granting flight to the wearer, and all her other ornaments weren¡¯t for show.

    All her senses had been enhanced and the girl¡¯s defenses were so high that nothing under her current Magic Level would leave as much as a dent on her.

    If this wasn¡¯t the very definition of overpowered, what was?!

    ¡°If you won¡¯te to me, then I guess I¡¯ll just finish things off¡­¡± She softlymented, and her fingers slightly moved.

    Instantly, with even less effort thanst time, wind began concentrating on a single location.

    Unlike before where two whirlwinds appeared, this was just one tornado¡­ yet¡­

    It was so big and wide that it nearly ascended forty meters into the air. The width was also nothing to scoff at.

    From where everyone sat, they felt the pressure.

    It was so shattering, so disturbing, that even those who weren¡¯t fighting her were clenching their teeth in fright.

    Ciara Epilson had so easily created an Advanced Spell¡ªalbeit in the Lower Tier.

    FWOOOOSHHH!!!!

    The whirlwind roared, growing evenrger by the second as it drew closer to the frightened boy.

    In front of such an unbelievable spell, the Trump Card he had seemed like child¡¯s y.

    The most Roy Lesryio could do was create an Intermediate Spell ok the Highest Tier, but that practically drained all his Mana and took too long to cast.

    He had been thinking of resorting to a weaker version of the Spell to save time, but even if he went all out, how could hepete with his opponent¡¯s power.

    The obvious choice was to retreat!

    But¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare back away Roy!¡¯

    ¡°Stand till the very end!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give up!¡±

    ¡­The voices of hisrades reached him.

    Usually, if a person heard this, they would be invigorated and more prepared to fight, but Roy only clenched his teeth.

    ¡®Those idiots!¡¯

    They weren¡¯t the ones on the stage so it was easy to wag their tongues.

    In face of such insurmountable pressure, how could he¡ªin good conscience¡ªstill hang on?

    The only reason he hadn¡¯t thrown in the towel was because of the fear of what Ciara would do to him. Her eyes were so focused on him that the boy felt like he would pass out just from fright.

    Unfortunately, his mental resistance wasn¡¯t that fickle.

    If he chose to forfeit, Ciara would inflict the same pain upon him as she did the other contestant. As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, the tornado Spell he wanted to avoid would also assail him.

    That would be double jeopardy!

    Could he really take that risk? In that case, the only option left for the boy was to brace himself and conduct himself like a man! He would lose, but as the top of his ss, he had to stand tall!

    The only option was to remain on the tform till the very end!

    ¡®In that case¡­ I better reduce the damage as much as I can!¡¯

    Roy, having made his choice, steeled his heart and poured all the mana he had into the ground.

    [Earth Fort: Full]

    The highest defensive Spell in his arsenal that barricaded him with study walls¡ªthat was the best he could resort to¡­ or was it?

    ¡°I¡¯m not done!¡±

    Even if it was little, and it came at the cost of thest ounce of Mana he could spare, Roy Lesryio created a wind wall that would also serve as protection.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ Haaa¡­¡±

    Now having heavily, the boy was satisfied that he had fought his best and waited for what would happen.

    Even if the Spell would ultimately hit Roy, these Spells would at least protect him a little bit¡­ or so he imagined

    SHWOOOOMMMM!!!

    The Wind Spell he used as a barrier broke, and the earth wall that covered him shattered apart in an instant, as if being torn to pieces.

    At first, Roy couldn¡¯t understand¡­ until he took a closer nce at the aftermath.

    Ciara¡¯s whirlwind had swallowed the rocks whole, adding them to the rapid twister that had now grown to an unfathomable degree.

    It was¡­ beyond belief!

    ¡°I-is this¡­ even a Second Year¡­??!¡± The boy asked himself.

    From what he saw, Ciara had already reached the level of a fully-fledged Mage!

    Why, then, was she in this school? Why was she fighting him? Why did she inflict him with such fear and powerlessness?

    With no answer, Roy waited to get blown away, torn to shreds, crushed, or whatever was his fate at the hands of Ciara¡¯s Spell.

    ¡°Winner, Ciara Epilson!¡± A voice sharply interrupted the march, and Ciara¡¯s whirlwind was canceled at the same time.

    Surprise filled the air as eyes darted to the center of the stage to see us Tallman already there.

    He had stopped the Spell and had also dered Ciara the victor, all in the span of seconds!

    If not¡­ well, the results could only be left to one¡¯s imagination.

 Chapter 197 - Staying Resolute

    ¡°What?¡± The girl¡ªCiara Epilson¡ªgave a slight look of irritation to the moderator who gave her a piercing gaze.

    The slight flicker in her eyes seemed to be inviting some form of trouble, as though sue dared the man who was teetering at the edge of impatience and caution.

    A second of silence was established between the both of them before the girl finally lost any will to further an argument and quickly calmed herself.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s enough, don¡¯t you think?¡± us sharply answered, though in a remotely quiet way¡ªalmost as though he whispered.

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    ¡°Whew¡­¡±

    Following their short exchange, Roy crumpled to the floor, happy to have been saved, and the crowd roared in celebration, having the outstanding match etched in their brain forever!

    Of course, it went without saying who the victor had been.

    ¡°Winner, Ciara Epilson!¡± us dered.

    That was one more win for the Upper ss, making a total of seven victories.

    More cheers rang out from the audience as Roy struggled to stand on his wobbling legs and exited the stage.

    Since us Tallman had interrupted the march, having seen that apetitor was unable to further the match, that meant the Middle ss had lost. Of course, even without the rules to serve as a guiding principle, the mere sight of the match was enough for the audience to determine who won.

    ¡°WOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!¡± The students of Ainrk cheered for their goddess.

    The winner, Ciara, remained on the tform for a little longer even though her contestant had left.

    Her eyes were locked on a particr someone among the otherpetitors that sat in the elite seat area.

    ¡®See? Can you do that?¡¯ Was what she thought as her eyes were clearly locked with Jerry¡¯s.

    With that, she casually stepped off the stage and began making her way to her seat.

    us gave a sigh of relief, finally ridding himself of the most troublesome student he had ever handled.

    A few students, even amid the cheers and deafening cries of the masses, muttered their differingments under their breath.

    ¡°I told her not to go overboard¡­¡± Fabian Lestrome Indiavel gave a re at the girl who approached without a care in the world.

    ¡°Tch¡­¡± Other members of the Upper-ss Elites expressed their displeasure purely based on the fact that the gap between Ciara and then had gotten even wider.

    ¡°¡­¡± There was one final person who had something to say, though.

    His arms trembled slightly after experiencing Ciara¡¯s power, and even when she finished, the girl had stared right at him¡ªas if to sneer at his efforts to reach an unimaginable height.

    ¡°Ciara¡­¡± He whispered.

    Surely, she possessed more power than he had given her credit for. However, seeing just how overwhelmingly strong the girl was didn¡¯t change anything for Jerry.

    After all¡­

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t n on giving up!¡±

    The boy said this the moment Ciara brushed past him.

    It was as if he was telling her with his sister ft voice, not even bothering to stare at the obviously disapproving frown of the girl.

    It was clear to Jerry what she had been trying to do, but he didn¡¯t need her caution or pity. He wasn¡¯t trying to prove anything to her, though the same couldn¡¯t be said for Ciara¡¯s intentions.

    ¡°I will¡­ I will march on!¡±

    His eyes screamed of resolve even though his body still slightly trembled due to the aftershock of Ciara¡¯s Mage Mode.

    ¡°Hmph!¡±

    With a scoff, Ciara didn¡¯t bother giving a proper response and just returned to her seat.

    Once she sat, the girl felt eyes focusing intensely from both sides beside her, but from her casual demeanor it was clear¡­ she didn¡¯t care!

    Thankfully, the tension didn¡¯tst very long as the next group of fighters was chosen.

    For the Upper ss, a Martial Artist was chosen. He was Rank 3, said to be the greatest at the art in the whole school¡ªwell, among students.

    How unlucky were the Middle and Lower ss students¡­ for them to have chosen the shortest end of the stuck¡ªas short as it could get.

    Immediately us started the match, the opponent lunged into action, brandishing his dual des and striking both targets¡ªwho were Magic-Users¡ªas if they meant nothing.

    The Lower ss fodder couldn¡¯t even surrender before his opponent¡¯s de reached him¡ªturning him into nothing but an unconscious lump in an instant.

    ¡°Winner, Gazef Raizel!¡±

    After this, there were only two matches left.

    Jerry gulped the moment he realized his fate. The only two contestants who hadn¡¯t gotten a chance to the stage were bad news, so there was no way he would be having it easy.

    As he made those worried thoughts, the list was made, and Jerry saw the contestants of the ninth match.

    The first name caught his eyes, causing him to nearly gasp¡ªbut controlled himself.

    Was it finally time? Everyone would be experiencing such a rare sight¡­ a match that would be considered equally phenomenal with Ciara¡¯s battle.

    Finally, Fabian Lestrome Indiavel would climb the stage!

    Jerry sighed in relief, happy he wasn¡¯t the unfortunate one that would be fighting.

    Upon seeing their names, each contestant stood and took their position on the stage. The second most powerful of the Middle-ss students, and the second most powerful of the Lower ss, all up against the top 1 Ranker in Ainrk Academy.

    The pressure was on, and everyone could feel it build as they waited for the moderator¡¯s signal.

    ¡°Begin!¡±

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The entire stage trembled in shock, recovering a st that caused everyone to gasp and recoil in shock.

    It took some moments for it to actually register in the eyes of many¡ªexcept those with extraordinary sharp senses¡ªwhat had urred.

    Even before the Lower ss trash got the chance to open his mouth, or the Middle-ss Martial Artist could draw his de¡­ the match ended.

    This explosion¡ªcaused by the number 1 Ranker¡ªwas a mystery, and how it had been cast was too fast for most to perceive.

    All the people knew was what they saw.

    Ending in nearly an instant, the ninth round belonged to none other than the Upper ss¡­ it was Fabian¡¯s victory!

 Chapter 198 - Jerrys Battle

    It was finally time for thest round.

    Jerry could feel sweat emanate from all his pores as he gulped silently. He didn¡¯t need any list to tell him that it would be his turn next.

    Having exhausted all other participants, who else remained.

    He also had a fair idea of who his two opponents would be.

    The Middle ss one was no issue, so the major challenge¡ªthe one that have the determined boy such a headache¡ªwas none other than the Upper-ss opponent he would be fighting.

    ¡®I can¡¯t back down now!¡¯ He steeled his face and nced at the list stationed above the audience.

    [Final Round]

    ¡ª Richard Novo (Upper ss)

    ¡ªRenner Lebrious (Middle ss)

    ¡ª Jerry Keller (Lower ss)

    [Contestants Get On Stage!]

    His tensed muscles moved as he got up, moving his legs as he descended the stage.

    The others trailed behind him, and Jerry could feel their dominating presence ¡ªthe one at the rear was the most intimidating!

    After climbing the stage and standing diagonally from one another, the three students gazed at each other.

    This was the final match of the Exchange, and while it would not be as grand as Ciara¡¯s round, or as jawbreaking as Fabian¡¯s¡­ it was still worth watching.

    The match-up wasn¡¯t bad either.

    Jerry Keller, top 3 among the Lower ss Elites

    Renner Lebrious, despite looking like a fragile girl, was ranked 4th among the Middle ss.

    Finally, Richard Novo was Rank 5 among the Upper-ss Elites, bearing the same position among Ainrk¡¯s Rankers.

    The quality was a bitcking if one examined the other blood-curdling matches experienced, but even in this match, top-notch Magic would be disyed.

    Jerry put his emotions in check, even though it would be hard for any normal guy to be calm in his situation.

    Having to fade Richard Novo was going to be extremely difficult. If he was being fair with himself, he didn¡¯t think he stood a chance.

    As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, the 4th Rank of the Middle ss was also present.

    Even though Renner was one Rank below Jerry, that was only in name.

    Once one took into ount the quality of the sses they belonged to, and vast differences in their students¡¯ talent, it would be easy to determine which was actually superior.

    But, even at that¡­ even with the overwhelming disadvantage facing him¡­ Jerry chose not to back down.

    ¡®All the Lower ss members until now have given up and lost in the most disgraceful way. If there could be ast stand, it had to now!

    ¡®I didn¡¯t expect a bed of roses, to begin with! It would be pointless if the opponent wasn¡¯t strong!¡¯

    With determination now burning like a ze of fire in his eyes, Jerry spurred himself back to life and prepared himself acutely.

    ¡°Now, then¡­¡± us Tallman muttered, readying his tone to begin the final match.

    The audience held their breath.

    Some wanted this match tost longer, so they could relish the length and get their fill of watching elites duke it out.

    Others wanted the same one-sided victory¡ªno, they even expected it!

    For a few, if they could even be called that much, they had a faint glimmer of hope that the Lower ss would be able to pull off something dramatic within thisst match.

    It seemed toote to most, but perhaps Jerry could redeem the whole Lower ss¡­ else they would live as the most scorned existences within Ainrk¡ªat least until the next Exchange in the next year.

    It was quite puzzling, really.

    The juniors¡ªFirst Years in the Lower ss¡ªhad shown such exemry performances that raised people¡¯s opinion of the section already deemed to be trash.

    However, their efforts had beenpletely overturned by the cowardice and powerlessness of the seniors who were supposedly the strongest among their ranks.

    It was absolutely pitiful, a sight for sore eyes.

    And this was why Jerry couldn¡¯t back down at this point. The entire repute of his ss was atop his shoulder.

    Loss was not an option.

    ¡°¡­ Begin!¡±

    With that, the match kickstarted.

    WHOOOOOSHHH!!!

    The sound of rushing wind was heard, and before Jerry could even make an advance toward the enemy, a massive gust pervaded the tform.

    ¡°Kyahhhh!!!¡± The scream of a girl pierced the tense Hall as Renner¡ªan Elite in her own right¡ªwas tossed by the pressure of the gale, and flew off stage in a st.

    The st seemed to be directed in her direction since her body helplessly iled in the air without any strength.

    It appeared like she was struggling, but the flow of the wind far outweighed her ability to regainposure¡ªespecially after being abruptly attacked like that.

    BOOOOOMMMM!!!

    Shended away from the stage, crashing into the ground.

    Had it not been for her enhancements, the girl would have sustained grave injuries. Fortunately, other than a few broken bones¡­ she was fine.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ Gah!¡± Her helpless voice yelped as the girl tried getting up, but it seemed like her movements had beenpletely tampered with.

    It was clear to this who watched that the Middle ss had already lost.

    Amid the unbearable silence and shock that permeated the hall, a snicker could be heard from the stage.

    This caused the eyes of everyone to shift from the injured girl to the merciless one who inflicted it. Even if it was toward an enemy, one could consider the act to be a hit too extreme.

    ¡°It¡¯s best to throw out the pesky fly and focus on the main pest.¡± The boy uttered with a sadistic grin.

    Everyone knew who he was¡­ Richard Novo, a student famous as a Ranker and also a merciless Magic-User.

    ¡°Tch¡­¡± Jerry braced himself as he red at the Magic-User who seemed to sneer at him.

    In an instant, he had gotten rid of the girl who was most likely stronger than the Lower ss Elite.

    Wasn¡¯t it possible to also make short work of him if he tried?

    If that was the case, then why didn¡¯t he? Jerry agonized on this while keeping his focus on the target.

    ¡°If you¡¯re wondering why I took out that hitch first and left you forst, it¡¯s simple¡­¡±

    The boy gulped, feeling something a bit murderous emanating from his opponent who spoke.

    ¡°The more pathetic an opponent is, the more fun it is to see them squirm as they are powerlessly subdued.¡±

    Yes, Richard was that kind of guy.

    He bathed in his superiority and made those lower than him feel the crushing weight of their inferiority.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Jerry growled, ready to make his opponent eat his words.

    Both of them stared hard at each other, resolved to end the Final Match in the most eventful way possible.

    Unknown to both, this final match¡­ would turn out way different from their expectations!

 Chapter 199 - Uneven Battle

    Both boys did not even hesitate before lunging at each other with such deafening speed, one would shiver at the sound.

    WHOOOOOSHHHH

    Jerry sharply propelled himself with Wind Magic, aiming at his opponent who had also shrouded himself with a spell of the same elemental attribute. However, unlike Jerry, who was taking the initiative to strike, Richard Novo simply ascended high above ground.

    The Upper ss elite moved in such a sharp turn, like a rocket, sending a force of great intensity radiating around him. This pressure knocked Jerry back a bit as he stuggled to maintain his bnce, while looking at the height his opponent had ascended to.

    ¡°Being on the same level as a worm like you is sickening. The view is better from here¡­¡± Richard Novo sneered.

    Currently, a wind spell taking the form of a mini twister was beneath him, circling from the boy¡¯s waist down. This was what held him up and gav him the height leverage that Jerry couldn¡¯t begin to ovee.

    Richard Novo had always had a superiorityplex, so this move was perfect for him. It allowed him to stare down at his opponents while attacking. Not only was he out of anyone¡¯s immediate reach, thanks to his wind elevation spell, but he could also attack from a safe distance. There was no means of fighting more suitable for the arrogant boy.

    As for Larry, he was a Fire Mage by nature, albeit having diverse abilities in the other elemental attributes.

    Usually, a Magic-User could use this attribute as an advantage against a Wind-based opponent, but judging from the gap in their abilities, any actions to that end would only backfire in Jerry.

    ¡®I have to do this!¡¯ Jerry¡¯s thoughts cried.

    With resolute eyes, he summoned mes. They were sharp and precise, emanating from his legs, giving the boy the right boost to lunge himself forward¡­ and higher!

    Controlling his trajectory like a speeding bullet, Jerry dived into the air, aiming for his opponent.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got a little trick, eh?¡± Richard Novo smiled, flinging his hands to create booms of winds, like torrents, to attack the fast approaching boy.

    Jerry, in full on battle mode, noticed Richard¡¯s movements and already deduced an attack wasing.

    WHOOOOSSHSHH

    In an instant, he twisted his body in midair, barely dodging the wind attack as it charged at him. The moment the spell was evaded, Jerry returned his trajectory to his opponent and charged at full speed.

    ¡°What?!¡± Richard couldn¡¯t believe his eyes, that a Lower ss scum had evaded his attack.

    Unknown to the aggravated boy, Jerry hadn¡¯t ¡®dodged¡¯ his attack per se. The boy who already knew his physical and Magic limits had honed hisbat skills to the peak and polished every aspect of his senses.

    That was how he could deduce an attack wasing and aptly avoid it before the damage would reach him. Jerry¡¯s quick wittedness was what could allow him to have even a bit of confidence in a fight he would normally have no chance of winning.

    After all, even if his opponent was stronger than him, with enough experience and practice¡­ hard work!¡­ he could one day catch up.

    Richard Novo was an entitled boy who believed in his superiority. There was no way this guy would be much of a threat to him. At least not at this rate.

    WHOOOOSSSHHHH

    More gusts of wind were sent in Jerry¡¯s way, but he dodged everything in an instant, closing the distance between the both of them.

    It didn¡¯t take very long for Jerry to close the distance between him and his opponent, causing Richard to get a little flustered.

    ¡°H-How did you dodge them?¡± He muttered in disbelief.

    For someone who believed that strength was everything, not taking into ount practice and hard work, he couldn¡¯tprehend how Jerry has been able to achieve the impossible. No, maybe he just didn¡¯t want to admit to it!

    Jerry hardened his muscles and put all the strength he could in his right arm, while coating it with intense mes. Aiming for a clean hit, heunched his fist in a sharp thrust.

    WHUUUUSSSSHHHH

    Jerry¡¯s attack would have dealt considerable damage to his foe, sending the arrogant idiot crashing to the ground. That is¡­ if it had hit!

    Unfortunately for the determined boy, his target was known to be superior to him¡­ not only in magic, but also speed!

    The moment his fiery fist nearly hit, Richard Novo controlled the wind vortex that held him up, causing it to move sharply from Jerry¡¯s blow. In essence, his speed caused him topletely evade Jerry¡¯s full powered hit in mere moments.

    Even without sharp battle instincts, his use of Spells vastly outweighed that disadvantage.

    ¡°Tch!¡± Grinding his teeth in frustration, Jerry turned his body in the direction of his opponent and made to lunge at him again.

    ¡®This time¡­ this time for sure!¡¯

    *******

    It was a battle of the air, one that seemed unreal to those who watched¡­ well, just the newbies.

    As Jerry would sharply approach, his opponent would dodge, sending wind slices that wouldpletely ce someone out ofmission. Of course, Jerry would evade and keep trying to get a clean strike. This kept on for some minutes.

    While it looked like both opponents were at a stalemate, the truth was painfully obvious to the Lower ss elite who fought bravely.

    ¡®Shit¡­ this is already dragging on for too long!¡¯

    Since the start of the match, he had been at full power to match Richard¡¯s speed as much as possible. That was how he was able to give the opponent such a hard time both in evasion and offense.

    Unfortunately, a person could not go all out forever!

    Sooner orter, they would give in to exhaustion¡­ and Jerry was already feeling it in his body. He couldn¡¯tst much longer.

    ¡®Damn, at this rate¡­¡¯ He red at his opponent who just seemed to gleefully stare back at him.

    Richard, of course, knew Jerry would soon fall from exhaustion. If he just stalled for a bit more time, the Lower ss boy would naturally lose. However¡­

    ¡®¡­ That won¡¯t be humiliating enough for him!¡¯

    With that in mind, Richard¡¯s mind brought up something sadistic and downright dangerous. His lips curled in excitement as he smiled at the pitiful target who was charging straight at him.

    ¡®Now, then¡­¡¯

 Chapter 200 - Crusing

    The match had gone in a way that none would have expected!

    A Lower ss elite, already known to be scum,peting earnestly against one of the strongest in the Academy. That was something unbelievable to the audience.

    Jerry had somehow defied the odds and kept fighting even when the others that came before him surrendered without even the slightest bit of effort¡­ or were simply one-shoted before they could even voice out their surrender.

    Seeing Jerry engaging Richard with all he had slowly morphed the opinion of those who watched. Even though they knew the boy would ultimately lose¡­ something about his persistence struck a chord in their hearts.

    So, this was what a true battle was like?

    It was due to this reason that Jerry could not give up now! So far, he had been giving his all, and was now inspiring his underssmen. If he faltered now, how would they find the courage to advance? The boy wasn¡¯t merely looking for a way to look good while fighting. No, he wanted to do battle¡­ and win!

    That was the only way he could actually turn the dogma within the Academy around.

    WHOOOOOSSSHHHH

    He charged at his opponent with that resolve, cutting through the wind as he took flight.

    This time Jerry made sure he was faster, stronger¡­ infusing so much mana into his legs and arms that he felt like they would blow up from the heat. Searing pain shot through his body, but the resoluted endured it. It was all or nothing!

    A few seconds more¡­ just a bit more time remained!

    This time¡­ he was going to ensure he got that hit!

    ¡°That¡¯s enough messing around!¡± Richard Novo stated.

    All of a sudden, Jerry couldn¡¯t exin what happened but, his body felt heavier than ever before.

    WHUUUUMMMMM

    Without any warning, the boy who glided through the air thanks to his Fire Magic, plummeted to the ground.

    ¡°Guh!¡± He groaned, trying to push himself higher, but there was no sped or momentum that could go against the weight of gravity that pushed him to the ground.

    BOOOOOOMMMM

    His bodynded on the ground in a heavy thud, fracturing his knees as they crashed upon the concrete, no, beyond concrete stage.

    ¡°Arghhh!¡± Jerry screamed, feeling his legs snap in pain.

    Unfortunately, the heavy pressure wouldn¡¯t let him bellow out, as the intensity increased even more. He fell, t-faced on the ground, unable to freely move his tensed arms and legs.

    ¡®W-what¡¯s this? What¡¯s going on?!¡¯

    Despite his inquisition, it wasn¡¯t like anyone was going to answer him, but still¡­

    Jerry lifted his heavy head, pushing with all his might as he red at the being who still floated above him. Richard Novo was smiling so confidently. Clearly he was behind the sudden phenomenon, but the question was¡­ what did he do?!

    ¡°Now this is much better. You should grovel on the ground like a rat.¡± The arrogant boy¡¯s voice rang out in amusement.

    Jerry growled, desperately trying to return to his feet, but it seemed like his efforts were pointless. The more he struggled to rise, the worse the pressure got. It was like the force of the universe kept him bound to the ground.

    ¡°It¡¯s useless! No matter how hard you try, how much you struggle, you can¡¯t defy my spell, Descending Gravity!¡±

    Jerry¡¯s eyes bulged, and at least ny percent of the audience gasped.

    This caused Richard¡¯s grin to widen more. Clearly, he was enjoying this.

    [Descending Gravity] was a High-Tier Intermediate Spell, but people often believed it was higher. The reason dwelled in its inhibitive abilities that made even more powerful opponents subject to its power. Despite the name, it wasn¡¯t a Gravity Spell, but a very elevated form of Wind Magic that pressed the opponent with such descending wind pressure, they felt like they were assailed by gravity at least tenfold.

    Of course, the effectiveness and range depended on the Skill of the caster as well as the Mana expended, but it was still a pretty amazing Spell.

    Jerry knew all this, which was why cold sweat began appearing on his face.

    Why hadn¡¯t he realized it earlier? Perhaps it was because he didn¡¯t expect Richard to have such an ace up his sleeve.

    But, it was toote already. Now that he had been caught in the spell, he was at his opponent¡¯s mercy. No matter how skilled he was at using Mana and expertly engaging inbat, his actual capabilities were too inferior to Richard Novo¡¯s that he couldn¡¯t possibly resist a Spell of this magnitude.

    ¡®I should just give u¡­¡¯

    Before hepleted the thought, Jerry¡¯s mind rang and his eyes widened like a mad man.

    ¡®NEVER!¡¯

    Grating his teeth as though he was sharpening a weapon, Jerry pumped all the strength he had into his body and pushed as hard as he could.

    ¡°AHHHHHHHH!!!!¡± His screamed filled the hall.

    ¡°It¡¯s no use. You can¡¯t¡­¡±

    Before Richard could finish his jeering remarks, his eyes widened in surprise and watched the unbelievable happen.

    ¡®N¡ªno way¡­¡¯ He wanted to say, but withheld speech from his quivering lips.

    Jerry was standing on his feet¡­ even with the pressure pushing him down!

    The boy now wore a defiant set of eyes and red at Richard from where he was. The fire of determination had not died out yet, and even though his body barely moved as a result of the overwhelming force, it was enough to agitate Richard.

    ¡®Is it because I haven¡¯tpletely mastered this Spell? Is that why he could resist?¡¯ Jerry¡¯s actions were already making Richard question the level of his skill.

    ¡®No¡­ I was simply holding back, that¡¯s why!¡¯

    A gleam of hate appeared in the entitled boy¡¯s eyes and his mouth opened wide to fully disply his dissatisfaction.

    ¡°You inferior worm!!!¡±

    BOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The pressure increased at a drastic rate, sending Jerry back to the ground while shattering his bones and ripping his muscles at the same time.

    ¡®GAHHHHHHH!!!!¡¯ The boy screamed internally, being in too much pain to trante his agony into words.

    The ground cracked!

    Yes, the enchanted surface had marks that signified that its durability had sharply declined¡­ all thanks to the sharp increase of Richard¡¯s Spell!

    At this point, it was clear to everyone that this was no longer a joke.

    If care wasn¡¯t taken, then¡­ Jerry Keller could obtain permanently impairing injuries¡­ or even die!

 Chapter 201 - Intervention

    Pain!

    Pure, unimaginable pain seared through Jerry¡¯s body as he felt crushed by an insurmountable pressure!

    He couldn¡¯t think or speak since all that registered in the poor boy¡¯s mind was the unfair agony he was experiencing.

    ¡®Make it stop! Make it stop!¡¯ His mind rang.

    No, the moment he thought this, Jerry instantly chided himself and returned to his resolute demeanor. Gritting his teeth and enduring the hardship that was already breaking the bones in his body, the Lower ss boy held on to his determination.

    ¡®I can¡¯t lose¡­ I can¡¯t give up now¡­¡¯

    If he was to go down here¡­ what inspiration would be left for those behind him? Once again the Lower ss would live in the shadow of those of higher status. There was no way he could allow that!

    Besides¡­ there was one other reason he couldn¡¯t back off now.

    The image of a girl appeared in the boy¡¯s head as he nearly cked out. Her name was Ciara Epilson¡­ someone he once called ¡®friend.¡¯ Before so much had urred, they had vowed to reach the top together. It seemed like an impossible goal for him now, especially considering how far Ciara had gone ahead of him.

    The burning pain his chest made Jerry want to scream out in anger, frustration, determination, but his opponent took that moment as an opportunity to increase the pressure that weighed down on him.

    ¡°Guarrrrrghhhh!!!¡±

    This was dangerous.

    The people who watched the match may have noticed thanks to their distance, but if one took a closer look it was very clear that Jerry would die at this rate. All the crowd saw was Jerry¡¯s unyielding spirit despite being faced with a force he couldn¡¯t resist.

    Some even wondered why he hadn¡¯t surrendered yet. Well, the truth was that Jerry couldn¡¯t even if he wanted to. That was how bad his situation was.

    Of course, the stubborn boy wasn¡¯t going to surrender, in the first ce. Still, wasn¡¯t there a way to end this match seeing that Jerry¡¯s forfeiture was less likely and he couldn¡¯t even resist if he wanted to.

    It made one wonder what the moderator was doing.

    Perhaps he chose not to interfere in order to represent the boy¡¯s wishes. No, that couldn¡¯t be it. Moderators weren¡¯t swayed by emotions like that, and the rules of the Exchange made sure he could interfere if things got too awry.

    Then why didn¡¯t he?

    ¡°Hehehehe, look at you¡­ being crushed like the insignificant insect you are. Just give up like the other losers before you. You can¡¯t win!¡± Richard mused, bathing in his superiority.

    Jerry couldn¡¯t speak, but his silence spoke plenty.

    ¡®I won¡¯t! Gahhh! I won¡¯t surrender!¡¯

    This was beyond him now¡­ it meant everything for his whole ss!

    The image of a few people shed in his mind; Hispanions, his colleagues¡­ and even one exceptional boy he had only met for a brief moment. If this could at least show them the unwavering spirit of a senior, a leader, then he wasn¡¯t budging!

    ¡°Hahahah! You must have thought you had a chance back then, didn¡¯t you? I was going easy on you then, yet you thought you could actually win? Pathetic! You think you¡¯re strong you carry the same ¡®Elite Ten¡¯ Title as me? Don¡¯t kid yourself!¡±

    That wasn¡¯t even what motivated Jerry, yet Richard used his own values to demean his opponent even more.

    ¡°You¡¯re not strong! You never were¡­!!!¡±

    Jerry was powerless as those words sank into him.

    ¡°You¡¯re WEAK!¡±

    The bombshellnded, and the strong mind Jerry had cultivated began to crumble.

    Jerry had always known he was not as powerful as he aimed to be. The truth was made even more obvious to him when Ciara¡¯s aptitude for Magic surfaced drastically. Still, he never really considered himself weak. While the boy wasn¡¯t arrogant about his strength, he didn¡¯t dwell on his weaknesses either.

    Hee only strived to get better, stronger!

    But¡­ these words broke him when he was at his lowest. He was¡­

    ¡®W-weak¡­ I am¡­ weak¡­?¡¯

    Was all he did for nothing? Had it been a fool¡¯s crusade to give up so much and train hard instead. He practically lived his life with study and training at the forefront of his schedule. Before he slept, when he woke up, after sses¡­ every day, he improved!

    Yet¡­ was this all he could amount to? In the presence of sheer talent and true power¡­ was this his limit?

    ¡®Ah¡­ I see¡­¡¯

    The tiny fragments of his mind trailed.

    Before geniuses like them¡­ perhaps he truly was¡­

    ¡°NO!¡±

    BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The floor quaked and a sudden explosion assailed the stage.

    This st sent gusts of wind to flying across every corner of the stage, and the audience was bbergasted by the presence that suddenly appeared.

    It wasn¡¯t an understatement to say that the eyes of everyone bulged, even those who had beenposed earlier on. Someone had justnded on the stage, a ce meant forpetitors. His attire was simple, a light-grey jacket and a blue inner shirt. The shorts that the boy wore suggested a casual aura. He had slippers on as well.

    It was fairly certain he was merely here on a whim, not for any serious matter.

    What surprised the audience most was not only the boy¡¯s appearance, but his identity as well. It wasn¡¯t an overstatement to say everyone sort of knew his identity, or had heard of him at the very least. Having a blond, nearly golden hair, atop his very young face, the youngd¡¯s bright eyes sharply expressed dissatisfaction and disapproval.

    His name was Jeremy Lewis, a First Year Lower ss student!

    What was someone of his standing doing in such a match?

    Jeremy, who was now facing the boy on the ground, looked with a resolute expression on his face. His pursed lips opened and words came out.

    ¡°You¡­ are not weak!¡±

    Upon hearing those wordsing from Jared¡¯s lips, Jerry didn¡¯t know why those words brought him so much relief¡­ so muchfort and strength. It was almost as if the pressure thatpletely vanished.

    Oh wait, it really had!

    Jerry could no longer feel the deathly weights that crushed him, and could now somewhat raise his head despite the throbbing pain. Once he did so, Jared¡¯s encouraging smile washed over him and a look of acknowledgement filled the boy¡¯s eyes so much that the struggling boy felt like he might cry.

    ¡°You¡¯re strong!¡±

    Those words carried more meaning than the taunts of his enemy, so Jerry¡¯s heart resonated with them. His struggles hadn¡¯t been in vain.

    ¡°Now, then¡­¡± Jared turned away from Jerry and faced us Tallman, who was very much shocked to see the young boy interfering in the match.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll take it from here!¡±

 Chapter 202 - Dilemma

    us Tallman, the moderator of the Exchange, was still dazed when Jared turned in his direction.

    The boy¡¯s eyes were full of a gleam that didn¡¯t belong to a child. With a resolute voice that made even the moderator a little nervous, the first year student spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here!¡±

    us was puzzled by the boy¡¯s statement. So much so, that it took him a moment to decipher his words despite how sharp the man normally was.

    ¡®Take over? Does he mean¡­?¡¯

    Before us couldplete his thoughts, however, an irritating sound filled the air.

    ¡°What are you doing, little brat? Have you no manners? Two seniors are fighting here, so scram!¡±

    The person who bellowed was Richard Novo. His obsessive smile shed as his narrowed eyes ogled Jared. A part of him wanted to crush the defiant boy, so he had to quickly send him out of the stage before his urges took over.

    Jared, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t even looking at Richard. His eyes were only on us Tallman, who, for some reason, dyed in his response.

    ¡°What are you talking abou-¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb, you know what I mean! But, if you want me to spell it out for you¡­ then¡­¡±

    The young boy¡¯s voice had no semnce of politeness, despite speaking to a lecturer. Even if us¡¯ position in Ainrk wasn¡¯t very high, it still surpassed Jared¡¯s. Any student withmon sense, except maybe the Rankers, would ord lecturers with at least tiny bit of respect.

    This was even more so among First Years!

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m going to take Jerry Keller¡¯s ce and duel Richard Novo. You have no problem with that, do you?¡± Jared dropped the bombshell¡­ as if it was an obvious thing to demand.

    The crowd, some of which had been paying rapt attention to the whole thing, entered an uproar the moment the young boy said what he did.

    ¡°J-Jared, you know I can¡¯t allow¡­¡±

    ¡°And why not?!¡±

    At this point, us wanted to caution Jared on his tone, but¡­ the boy¡¯s re discouraged him greatly.

    ¡°The rules state that-¡±

    ¡°You clearly don¡¯t care for the rules since you didn¡¯t stop the match even though Jerry was nearly killed. Isn¡¯t it your job to stop a fight if it gets out of hand, or if one challenger can no longer fight?¡±

    The face of the Middle ss student who fought Ciara crinkled a bit, remembering how us had stopped the massive tornado from hitting him during the match and even halted the whole fight. If he did that then¡­ why didn¡¯t the moderator do the same in Jerry¡¯s case.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fighting in Jerry¡¯s stead¡­ after all¡­ I¡¯m stronger than he is! That makes me a member of the Elite Ten, doesn¡¯t it? Then this is my rightful match.¡±

    Jared¡¯smon sense shed with the school¡¯s protocols, so us couldn¡¯t possibly condone his actions. He wasn¡¯t wrong, per se¡­ that is, if he was stronger than Jerry, but¡­

    ¡°Jared, I can¡¯t allow you to participate in this¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± Jared once again interrupted, giving a rueful smile.

    ¡°I SUPPOSE YOU¡¯RE HELL BENT ON PROTECTING THAT ENTITLED UPPER CLASS FOOL¡­¡±

    Everyone could undeniably hear Jared¡¯s elevated voice¡­ including the one whom the insult was directed at. Faces of disbelief spread among everyone who watched and they gulped in fear as well as anticipation for what the Ranker on stage would do.

    ¡°You¡­ You brat!!!!¡± Richard screamed with rage.

    He had kept his lust for sadism in check, but now he couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer. An arrogant brat like Jared had dared to insult him. How did that even work? A First Year Lower ss student, the lowest of the low, dared to challenge him?

    ¡®I¡¯m the fifth most powerful student in this Academy!¡¯ His thoughts raged.

    Where did someone, who would be considered among the weakest in the whole school, get his confidence from?!

    Well, if only Richard Novo had been present during the earlier Inter ss Exchange, or bothered to hear about what had happened there, he would have realized that Jared wasn¡¯t an ordinary Lower ss First Year. Still, though¡­ he was a Ranker!

    He was invincible!

    ¡°I need to show you your ce!¡± With those words, Richard darted from his height and lunged at Jared.

    He was moving faster than normal people would be able to perceive. Jared didn¡¯t seem to have any enhancements on his body, so he stood even less of a chance. In a moment, he would grab Jared¡¯s head and crush it!

    ¡®No, I should reach for his neck and squeeze it instead!¡¯ Richard gleefully eyed Jared who still faced us.

    He reached out his hand to capture his prize, widening his eyes and stretching his lips in anticipation. Richard was already within range and was a few inches from Jared, when¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t be impatient¡­¡±

    A wall, an invisible barrier, suddenly shielded Jared from Richard¡¯s deathly grip. The Ranker¡¯s hand could not pass through it, causing him to wonder in confusion.

    Just then, Jared turned to face him for the first time. He didn¡¯t even move his whole body. Just tilting his head until their eyes met was enough.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think us has approved of this match yet¡­ so, hold your horses.¡±

    The condescending words of Jared, as well as his nonchnt eyes, seemed to mock Richard in his position midair. It was as if time had stopped and the seemingly superior being was frozen.

    ¡®H-how did he¡­?¡¯ Richard wondered how Jared beat him in speed.

    As these two had their brief exchange, us elevated his face and looked above¡­ where the judges sat. Of course, being confused, he had to seek their inquiry. Suddenly, a sharp ringing appeared in his head and words followed

    ~Do not give your direct consent, but don¡¯t stop him either. Let¡¯s see how this ys out. Also¡­~

    us feared that this would be the verdict of the judges, but he most despised the words that woulde next.

    ~¡­ Do not stop the match no matter what happens! That Jared¡­ let him have what¡¯sing to him.~

 Chapter 203 - Calm Storm

    ~¡­ Do not stop the match no matter what happens! That Jared Leonard¡­ let him have what¡¯sing to him.~

    This was the same instruction he had received concerning Jerry¡­ all from the same Senior Lecturer! us gulped and his heart sank while looking at Jared who had already turned in his direction for an answer.

    ¡°¡­ You know¡­ I can¡¯t sanction this, but¡­ I won¡¯t stop you either.¡± The man spoke, stuttering for the first time on stage.

    Jared¡¯s face spoke of an untold maturity, so us had no doubt the boy got the hidden message behind his words.

    ¡°You¡­ understand, don¡¯t you?¡±

    A moment of silence prevailed and then Jared spoke.

    ¡°I do. This much is enough, professor. Just take Jerry off stage, so he doesn¡¯t get caught up in the conflict.¡±

    Jerry on the other hand, despite all the damage he suffered, had managed to stay conscious. He looked at Jared with a disbelieving expression. He wanted to tell him to ¡®give up¡¯, but those words could no longere out of his lips. Somehow, he too wanted to see what would happen.

    Jerry wanted to see if this would actually be the victory he craved for!

    ¡°Both of you should just stand back and watch the show!¡±

    us didn¡¯t know where the boy¡¯s confidence stemmed from. Even as the older man watched the younger boy turn his back in order to face the opponent, his heart ached. Was this truly the right thing to do?

    ¡®Be careful, Jared¡­ I can¡¯t help you¡­ you¡¯re on your own.¡¯

    Once Jerry and us were away from the stage, both watching the young boy in earnest, he took off his jacket, leaving only the shirt and shorts he wore on. Jared stole onest nce behind him, seeing us and his guilty eyes, as well as Jerry, who was seated on a chair made by us¡¯ magic. He was being healed as well.

    Jared leaked out a smile and nodded slightly, returning his focus to the front¡­ where his enemy floated.

    ¡°Keep your eyes peeled, Jerry¡­ I¡¯ll show you how a Lower ss wins!¡±

    ******

    [A Few Moments Earlier]

    Edward and Ana had been watching the match with keen interest, same as everyone else. They were surrounded by Kuzon, Stefan, Maria, and basically other students who had participated in the Semi-finals, for some reason.

    Even though the seat area was clearly meant for the Lower ss First Years, those from the Upper ss sat without reservation, all surrounding Jared Leonard and his friends. Amid chatter and sidements, they had been keenly watching this fight in particr¡­ seeing as Jerry strived with all his might.

    Then¡­ they saw the whole thing take a sharp turn and Jerry nearing death. The more intuitive students already knew that Richard was taking things too far with his Spell.

    ¡®Why isn¡¯t us Tallman stopping this¡­?¡¯ Must have been what they thought within themselves.

    ¡°That guy is going to die soon¡­¡± Kuzon hadmented nonchntly.

    From his tone, it was obvious that the boy couldn¡¯t care less about what happened to their senior. The others who hadn¡¯t noticed were surprised by Kuzon¡¯s cruel remarks, but others weren¡¯t fazed.

    Jared, Edward, and Ana had been watching from the start with their enhanced vision, and listened to every word exchanged in the match. Of course, they were aware of how dire the situation was getting.

    Kuzon tilted his head and stared curiously in the direction of one student in particr, Jared, and gave a slight smile upon seeing thepletely neutral expression on his face.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem worried. What¡¯s going on in your head?¡± The golden-haired genius asked the one who had lost to him in the Finals.

    Edward and Ana also turned to Jared, surprised that the boy wasn¡¯t even disying the slightest bit of worry or rage even after watching Jerry being pressured to death¡­ literally!

    ¡°J-Jared, I think we should stop the match somehow¡­¡± Ana mumbled with a nervous tone.

    ¡°How? You have no jurisdiction in the matter.¡± Stefan chimed in, also curiously staring at Jared for a response.

    It was unusual for his rival to be quiet in times like this.

    Ana bit her lip the moment Stefan mentioned the logical answer. In the end, they were merely spectators. Only the judges and moderator could stop a match, and the fact they hadn¡¯t done so already spoke volumes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care! I¡¯ll storm the ce if I have to!¡± The one who spoke now was Edward.

    His bulging eyes and gritted teeth showed that he was dead serious and meant every word. There was probably no one who was more agitated than him. After watching the match from the start to this point, how Jerry gave his all in the battle¡­ how honorable he had been¡­

    Those actions resonated deeply and made a deep impression on the young swordsman, making him want to stop any further unnecessary pain being inflicted on a hero¡­ even if it warranted severe consequences!

    ¡°Really? Is that what the winner of the Martial Artist Division among us First Years is supposed to say?¡± Kuzon teasingly remarked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care! This is clearly-¡±

    ¡°Kuzon is right¡­¡± Jared Leonard¡¯s voice sharply cut in, causing everyone to look in his direction.

    After so long in silence, the boy finally spoke. But, the words he uttered were not what they expected. He was so calm and collected that those around had suspected it wasn¡¯t Jared Leonard who was among them.

    ¡°B-but, Jared¡­ I can¡¯t watch as-¡±

    Jerry was suffering, nearing death by the second. This was no time to argue!

    Edward decided to put off any form of debate and simply follow his heart. Deep within him, the boy still respected his mentor and dear friend¡­ even if he was not being his usual self. Still, Edward was a champion of justice and hard work! Jerry also represented that, and seeing a fellow in need while doing nothing to help was against his policy.

    That was why¡­ even though Jared was against it¡­ he was going to plunge to the stage to stop the match.

    ¡°I have to try-¡±

    WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!

    Before he couldplete his sentence, a sharp gust of wind blew past Edward, as well as everyone on their seats¡­ and descended directly for the stage.

    Before the students could wrap their head around the phenomenon, they heard a loud BOOOM!

    Looking below, their eyes bulged as the figure who once sat beside them was now standing on the stage tform, exuding an aura that only meant one thing¡­

    ¡­ BATTLE!

 Chapter 204 - Ranker Versus Trash

    ¡°Hey, brat! Who do you think you are? Are you sure you want to do this?¡±

    The first to speak among the two was Richard Novo.

    After attacking Jared and failing in that venture, he promptly retreated to the air where he retained his position. To some, it might have seemed like Richard simply controlled himself and chose not to attack the young First Year anymore, but to those with keener eyes, it was obvious that Richard was flustered and had chosen to make a tactical retreat.

    In essence, the undisputedly superior Ranker had just run from a Lower ss noob!

    ¡°The emptiest barrels make the loudest noises.¡±

    Jared¡¯s calm words shook Richard where he was. He, who was already agitated by the fact that he couldn¡¯t get his prey the first time, was now filled with more fury.

    Richard¡¯s bloodshot eyes murderously red at Jared.

    ¡°Know your ce¡­ YOU BRAT!¡±

    The boy in the air abandoned all form of mercy andmon sense, choosing to resort to his ace from the very beginning! This was the fastest, surest way for him to assert his dominance.

    Plus, he simply wanted to watch the defiant kid scream in pain!

    ¡°[Descending Gravity]¡± Richard smiled in delight, aiming for Jared¡¯s location.

    Descending Gravity, like most Spells, could be evaded. For an Area Of Effect Spell like this, it was very difficult to dodge, especially since the effects were invisible and also instant.

    The most effective measure in dealing with the Spell was to constantly keep moving. At least, the caster, depending on speed, may not have been able to keep up with one¡¯s speed.

    Then why¡­ why wasn¡¯t Jared moving a single step from his location?

    BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM

    The earth around Jared cracked, rumbling to Richard¡¯s Spells¡­ but then a surprising sight became evident.

    The area where Jared stood was intact! Even though, everything else rumbled and broke, Jared was still unfazed¡­ same as the ground he stood on.

    ¡°W-wha-?!¡± Richard was dumbstruck.

    He had never seen anyone resist his Spell to this degree. Well, except for the current Second Chair among the Rankers.

    ¡°You little¡­¡±

    The arrogant boy didn¡¯t let any thought seep in before increasing the pressure of his attack in an instant.

    BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The heaviness of the air could crush a human and turn their bones to powder now¡­ that is if they didn¡¯t use enhancements. Even with Magic enhancements, the damage would still be considerable, yet¡­ Jared was still fine.

    ¡°Fine! You asked for this!¡± Richard, not even considering for a second that his Spell would yield the same result, chose to resort to its highest power.

    BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

    The ground shattered apart in response to the intensity, causing it to copse. In response, Jared budged from his position.

    It wasn¡¯t because he was affected, but it was hard to retain bnce with the way the tform turned to debris.

    FWOOSSHH

    Jared floated now, ascending to the air, since the ground had grown unsuitable for use.

    Gasps escaped the mouths of everyone who observed this. Why?

    Because, unlike the whirling wind spell that Richard used to maintain his position in the air, little to no wind could be seen around Jared¡­ except perhaps a gentle whisper of the surrounding elements. Yet, Jared floated so effortlessly.

    ¡°Are you done?¡± Jared¡¯s calm voice sounded.

    The smooth way he spoke caused Richard to slightly lose his nerve.

    ¡°H-how are you¡­?¡± The senior stuttered, now utterly confused and frankly a little frightened.

    He wasn¡¯t the only one taken aback by Jared¡¯s actions, though. Everyone who watched was trying to figure out the boy¡¯s trick¡­ or how in the world he could resist getting crushed to such a degree.

    ¡°Once you know the nature of such a simple spell, it¡¯s easy to protect yourself from it. As long as you reverse the air flow in my vicinity, it will neutralize the effects of your Spell. In essence, your [Descending Gravity] ispletely useless before me.¡±

    The boy¡¯s short exnation was outstanding. Though it was in a gentle tone, people wondered how they were able to listen so fluidly to his words.

    ¡°I took the liberty of using a Sound Amplification spell so everyone in this Hall can hear us. With that in mind, I would like to ask¡­¡± Jared answered the question on everyone¡¯s minds.

    ¡°¡­ Is this all you have?¡±

    To his words, Richard¡¯s heart skipped a beat.

    How was he to answer such a condescending question? He was still recoiling from the exnation Jared gave concerning counteracting his Spell.

    ¡®I-Is he¡­ really a First Year¡­?!¡¯ His thought rang as he gulped.

    ¡°You brat! Of course it¡¯s not! I¡¯m a Ranker! I¡¯m the 5th strongest in this whole Academy. You think blocking one of my Spells will be enough to give you an advantage? Don¡¯t make meugh!¡± Richard rambled on, even though he was deep in panic.

    Everyone who knew Richard well were aware of the fact that [Descending Gravity] was his Ace Move.

    He would simply crush those who opposed him, that was how he had climbed up the ranks. Of course, Richard had other great Spells, but none were even remotely as impressive as his crushing attack. If Jared could stop his greatest move¡­ how would he fare against his lesser ones?

    ¡®Calm yourself, Richard! This is just a kid! There¡¯s no way he¡¯s stronger than you¡­ yeah!¡¯

    Since Jared said he understood [Descending Gravity]¡¯s nature, that meant he couldn¡¯t be immune to the others. He would have required time topletely analyze the Spell. That meant Richard could still win if he surprised the young brat with a new move.

    ¡®Heh, your luck has run out now, kid!¡¯ With a dark gleam in his eyes, Richard¡¯s spirits were now elevated and he began considering what Spell he would use against the one who dared to defy him.

    ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you so motivated.¡± Jared remarked, now smiling in a rxed manner.

    Richard was a little taken aback by the boy¡¯s reaction to his obvious malevolence, but before he could voice aeback, Jared¡¯s voice appeared once again.

    ¡°Since you have more in store, I suppose it¡¯s time I showed you a little trick up my sleeve as well¡­¡±

    An air of unease began to radiate around the stage as both flying boys gazed at each other.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll be crushing you now. So, resist with all you have¡­ okay?¡±

    Richard couldn¡¯t understand where the boy¡¯s confidence was stemming from. He hadn¡¯t even attacked since the match began, and it wasmon knowledge that First Years couldn¡¯t achieve more than Low-Tier Intermediate Spells¡­ especially those in the Lower ss.

    ¡°Here I go¡­ Elemental Chamber.¡±

 Chapter 205 - Elemental Chamber

    VWUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHH

    It was a sight so unreal that everyone gave gasps of surprise¡­ and terror!

    The air vibrated and deafening roars pervaded the hall. The only event that could bepared to the phenomenon taking ce could only have been Ciara Epilson¡¯s match. It was like the elements themselves unified¡­ and gathered all over one person¡­

    ¡­ Jared Leonard!

    ********

    A sphere of wind covered my body, swirling and whirling so violently that it could skewer anything that attempted to pierce through. This served as both an offensive and defensive mechanism.

    This was only the beginning, though¡­

    Bursts of water appeared, swirling diagonally to my left, while zing mes diagonally stretched to my right. They crisscrossed around the sphere at the center, sending both heat and cool radiating everywhere.

    I clenched my fists andmanded the debris that littered the ground, using Earth Magic topress the shattered tforms. After forming extremely concentrated rock particles thanks to condensing them to their limits, I brought the several lumps of rock to me, making them encircle my sphere horizontally.

    With this, four elements gathered, having only me in the center.

    This was enough to attract the shouts and gasps of the audience, but I wasn¡¯t done! There was still one left to go¡­

    BZZZTTTTZZZZZ

    shes of lightning appeared and electricity buzzed. I summoned the crackles and used them to coat my elemental sphere, further empowering my already extreme shell of multiple elements.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ this should do it¡­¡± I whispered with a content look while opening my eyes for the first time to take a good look around me.

    VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!

    Floating in the air, I was surrounded by water, earth, fire, air, and lightning¡­ and so I faced my opponent with a calm re.

    There was no longer any smile disyed on my face. My calmness also began fading away slightly and all that was on my mind was¡­

    ¡®I¡¯ll crush you!¡¯

    *******

    The impossible sight caused even Kuzon to marvel in wonder.

    He had expected Jared to pull out something unexpected, but not to this extent! Simultaneously controlling five elements was no mean feat. No, it was even considered impossible! Especially for a Magic User of Jared¡¯s caliber.

    ¡°Amazing! Simply amazing! Was he holding back in our fight!¡± Kuzon marveled as he spoke.

    He was getting more and more interested in Jared¡¯s character the more he got to know him. How could someone so seemingly weak pull off something like this? Kuzon wondered if he could do the same. The answer was obvious.

    He couldn¡¯t!

    Kuzon nced to his side and watched Ana and Edward making the same surprised expression he was giving. Clearly, they too hadn¡¯t been expecting this.

    It made the golden-haired boy wonder just how much Jared Leonard was truly hiding!

    *******

    ¡®Elemental Chamber¡¯¡­ I wonder when I thought of doing something like this¡­

    After using my Multi-Elemental move against Kuzon, I realized how effective it could be if I made it more versatile.

    Then, after watching ¡®her¡¯ use Mage Mode, I had an epiphany! It was at that moment that my mind went to work and I devised this special state I was currently in.

    While it wasn¡¯t as phenomenal as Mage Mode, this state ced me in an extremely heightened state. Also,pared to Mage Mode which only those with Mana Cores of extreme quality could use, I could achieve Elemental Chamber with my current resources.

    Which was more difficult, though?

    It was without a doubt, mine!

    Compared to Mage Mode, it was practically impossible to achieve five elementalyers all at once, and even stabilize them¡­ not unless you had multiple Magic Cores.

    In essence, this was a Mode specially designed for me. My Mage Mode¡­ Elemental Chamber!

    **********

    ¡°Y-you are-!!!¡±

    Before Richard could open his filthy, entitled mouth, I lunged at him at frightening speed!

    WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH

    Lightening crackled and the elements trailed in my wake. It didn¡¯t even take a moment for me to reach him.

    ¡°W-wha-?!¡±

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!

    I used my wind sphere to hit him, causing the high-speed spiraling air that surrounded me to shave through the boy¡¯s enhancement Magic and slice off some of his skin. Lightening afflicted him as well, giving off a slight smell of something cooking.

    Blood spurted out as he screamed, but I paid him no mind¡­

    ¡®¡­ Just as you ignored Jerry¡¯s pain!¡¯

    BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

    Imanded the spiraling wind to push Richard from its agonizing hold, sending him crashing to the devastated tform beneath.

    More rocks shattered as Richard¡¯s body collided with the surface, causing him to cough out blood in recoil.

    ¡®Don¡¯t overreact¡­ that¡¯s just one element¡­ I still have more left!¡¯

    I sent a wave of water his way, allowing it to wash up on him inrge quantities so he felt like he was drowning. He powerlessly squirmed, fighting against the impossible currents as I watched from above.

    ¡®That should keep you conscious, then¡­.¡¯

    With a single thought, I sent Mana coursing through therge body of water turning into ice in an instant.

    ¡°Gahhhhhhh!!!¡± Richard screamed, feeling the frost seep into his skin and shuddered in pain. Mist proceeded from his mouth and his frozen body could not even mood even though he would have violently spasmed from that much pain.

    ¡®You seem to be in pain¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­ let me warm you up a bit¡­¡¯

    Interrupting his frozen hell, I sent zing mes to scorch him next. The fiery attack licked his entire body, and while it got rid of the ice¡­ the burns inflicted were also severe.

    ¡°Guarghhhhh!!!¡± Richard gave more screams of pain, most likely unable to think of nothing else.

    The water must have boiled him while the mes torched him at the same time. What a horrible fate that would have been. Refusing to be merciless, I offered relief and doused the suffering ¡®Ranker¡¯ with more water.

    ¡°Guburbuuu!!!¡± More drowning sounds were made, but I naturally ignored them.

    Richard must have been grateful for the water and tried offering his thanks. That was the only thing I understood from the distorted noise he made.

    ¡®In that case¡­ let us proceed.¡¯

    Next shed lightening¡­ the several crackles of electricity now manifested even more as I summoned them.

    With water currently enveloping my opponent and lightning being prepared¡­ it was left to anyone¡¯s guess what the oue would be.

 Chapter 206 - Absolute Dominance

    BZZZZZZZZ

    BZZZZTTTTZZZZZZ

    shes of electricity proceeded from my spherical fortress and charges at the drowning target.

    KRRRIIIIKKAAAAKKKKK

    The result was a surge of power that erupted the water, as well as the screaming figure of my target.

    Richard bellowed out in pain, clearly feeling the overwhelming sting of currents invading his body. I could only imagine how much they tickled¡­ no¡­ my bad. How much they hurt!

    Of course, I didn¡¯t go overboard, stopping at what would not kill him¡­ bit still leave him with enough pain that he wished things ended very quickly.

    ¡°Guarkkkkk!!!!!¡±

    Upon seeing his smoked body being assailed with so much voltage, I stopped¡­ before actually going too far. This caused his jerking body to powerlessly copse in exhaustion and unspeakable agony.

    I was sure because this was proven fact.

    At this point, steam proceeded from the ground, forming some sort of mist around us. This would make visibility poor and impair the vision of the spectators. I couldn¡¯t very well allow that to happen.

    WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH

    My wind sphere blew away all the white smoke, once again allowing the shattered stage to bepletely visible. With that, I was ready to proceed.

    Next were the rocks. My hardened,pressed rock particles that circled me like pebbles. Each one had been super condensed to be extremely strong and durable. Plus, they had been heightened with my Magic!

    ¡°Go!¡±

    In an instant, I fired several, not all, bullets at the target on the ground, assailing with so many small hails of projectiles he could not avoid. Much to my chagrin, the weakened boy raised a defensive spell as ast resort since he was too hurt to evade them.

    ¡®Guess he isn¡¯t a Ranker for nothing. But¡­¡¯

    KRIIIIKAAAHHKKK!!!

    The barrier shattered like ss and my rocks bit their target.

    BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!

    All at once, they bored holes into Richard Novo, shattering the ground even more.

    As I saw blood spurt of the agonizing boy and tears flow from his eyes, I noticed the tiny sounds of bones shattering from within him.

    Of course, I missed all vital spots so he couldn¡¯t die by my rock bullets. But, still, having suffered such a barrage, it was impossible for him to move any longer. With all options of resistance gone, I decided it was time for the main course¡­

    ¡­ Me!

    VWOOOOSSSHHHH

    BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!

    Inded directly on Richard, pressing his battered body with my sphere causing him to yell and cry bitterly. He seemed to be apologizing and begging me to stop, but we had gone beyond that!

    His lips were also moving to say something like ¡®I give up!¡¯¡­ but, of course, I wasn¡¯t going to let him finish!

    Currently, I was bound by my sphere, so I couldn¡¯t directly touch Richard. Seeing that is was in the way, Ipressed the elemental properties that surrounded me until they formedyers on my body and shrouded me instead.

    With this done, I was sitting atop Richard readying my hand to deal a strike at him.

    ¡°I-I gwib u-¡±

    Before hepleted his distorted statement, my highly powered fist, which contained the might of five elements, descended with a heavy impact.

    BAM!

    I felt his flesh squish like soft butter. It wasn¡¯t even my full power, yet I was met with no resistance.

    Still¡­ hitting his soft face felt nice¡­ more satisfying than just sending spells his way. It was so nice, in fact, that I decided to do it again.

    POW!

    And again¡­

    BOOM!

    Another round!

    KRAAKKK!

    One more time!

    SQUELCH!

    Blood and flesh now clung to my fist but I kept firing my fist at the target. As long as he still had breath¡­ as long as he still clung to life like a cockroach, I would keep hitting and hitting and hitting him until he was on the verge of death.

    And then, maybe he would¡­

    ¡°I SAID THAT¡¯S ENOUGH, JARED!¡±

    At this point, I heard a sharp, authoritative cry and someone was already tightly gripping my hand. Feeling the warm touch of a person, firm than the bloodied body I was used to hitting, I felt like a jolt coursed through me and turned to see the identity of who interrupted me.

    It was us!

    His face depicted what could only be interpreted asplete shock¡­ with a hint of deep fear. The lecturer stared at me with an aghast expression, looking at my bloodied hands and back at my face. I slowly grew irritated by his silence.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    My voice rang cold and dark, with my eyes narrowing in inquisition. I was in the middle of a match¡­ why was I being interrupted?

    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m ending this match!¡± The lecturer seemed to be trying a firm stance, but his hesitation wasn¡¯t so convincing.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t supposed to be interrupted, right? What is the meaning of this?¡±

    My words seemed to hit the mark! He fidgeted uncontrobly. He knew I was right, so why did he-?

    ¡°I¡­ I shurend-¡±

    Hearing Richard give a weak sound in an attempt to escape his due punishment, I used my unupied hand to smash his head in, making another squelching sound. Due to my aggravated state, I may have gone a tad bit far since my blow rendered my opponent unconscious.

    ¡°Tsk¡± My tongue clicked in dissatisfaction.

    This automatically meant he had lost.

    ¡°Fine¡­ it¡¯s over anyway¡­¡± I turned to us who was still looking at me with disbelieving eyes.

    ¡°I won¡­ right?¡± My lips curled into smile and I wiped off a bit of sweat on my face, smearing quite a bit of blood on my already blood-stained face.

    My eyes went away from us and I wondered what he was doing away from Jerry, whom I had left in his care.

    His expression was lit with shock, and even though fear was hidden within his eyes, they contained mostly a feeling of triumph. Watching the person who tortured him now suffer such a fate must have appealed to his darker aspect.

    My eyes trailed to the audience, most of which seemed appalled by my actions. I couldn¡¯t care less about those and faced my friends¡­ and the few acquaintances I had made in the past few days.

    They were grinning widely, pleased by my actions, and the terrible state my opponent was. Despite the overwhelming silence that filled the area, I was certain of one thing¡­ and that made me smile genuinely.

    ¡°That¡¯s one win for the Lower ss!¡±

    [A/N]

    ATTENTION TO ALL READERS!!!

    I have a new book called Rise Of Evil Santa.

    Please endeavor to check it out, read it, and add it to your library.

    I promise it¡¯ll be worth your while.

    I¡¯ll be Mass Releasing on Spellcraft once the new Novel gains 1k Collections. Don¡¯t miss out!!!

    Also¡­ this beatdown feels very satisfying.

 Chapter 207 - Unofficial Ranker

    Choking, unbearable silence filled the auditorium.

    The piercing gazes of everyone, and I mean everyone, washed upon me.

    I saw some people rushing in from the corner of my eyes. They wore white and had masks. They were four, and behind them was a cart. Instinctively, I realized who they were and what they came for.

    My eyes darted to the shattered ground, at the brutalized body of a senior, a Ranker¡­ Richard Novo.

    ¡®So they came to take him, uh?¡¯ I reasoned.

    It was probably the right call to make, but the very thought made me incredibly annoyed. If they had medical personnel on standby, why had none arrived when Jerry was in such a terrible state?

    So, the disparity between sses was even more than just academics? That had gone too far.

    My head was raised, and I shot the judges a disgusted look. Sitting up there, they hadn¡¯t interfered in the matches so far, even when someone was about to die¡­ or maybe they had.

    ¡®Telepathy is a thing¡­ so they must be rying instructions to us¡­¡¯

    In any case, my job on stage was done. I had taught a mannerless boy the true meaning of power; I had saved and fulfilled the wish of my senior¡­ and I showed everyone just what a brat from the Lower ss could do!

    Of course, there were more intricate reasons, but so far¡­ things had worked out well¡­

    I began walking off the stage, but before I took a few steps, a voice boomed across the Hall. It made me smile wryly, because I knew it wasing.

    ¡°Jared Leonard, you have vited the rules of the Exchange and interrupted the match between two Elites¡­¡±

    Of course, the person who spoke was Damien Lawcroft. I cocked my head and gave him a coldhearted smile,pletely unfazed by his announcement. The man seemed a bit shaken by my reaction, but I allowed him to finish.

    ¡°You will receive a penalty for your actions¡­ one week from now. Be prepared!¡±

    I shrugged my shoulder and casually left the stage.

    Usually, a student would be distraught¡­ perhaps even try appealing right there and then. But, I wasn¡¯t a fool who believed that would actually work.

    There was a reason neither us nor the judges gave their tacit approval for my actions, even though they basically gave the ¡®go ahead¡¯ by conduct. Of course, I was sure they expected me to lose, and on top of that, they would also grant me penalties¡­ ruining my school life!

    To their surprise, I emerged victorious. Still, it wasn¡¯t like it was possible topletely avoid the repercussions of my actions. What I did was ¡®wrong¡¯, so the authorities were well within their rights to punish me.

    ¡°Howughable¡­¡±

    With this whisper, I climbed off the stage and made my way¡­ not toward my former seat¡­ but in the direction of the exit instead.

    ¡®I¡¯m sick of this!¡¯

    ********

    Everyone watched in silence as Jared Leonard left the hall.

    The doors creaked open, and he exited without a word. People were speechless by his brazenness, the audacity by which he conducted himself. However, no one could stop him¡­ not after what they had just experienced.

    ¡°H-he beat a Ranker¡­!¡±

    ¡°That First Year¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Shit! I didn¡¯t know he was that strong!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t expressly stated, but the thoughts of everyone within the hall were fairly obvious.

    Richard was carted away in his bloodied state; the previous allure he had was totally nonexistent in his new form. As the other Rankers and Elites watched one of the strongest in such a terrible condition, they couldn¡¯t help but gulp.

    Rankers were the most powerful students in Ainrk Academy, that wasmon sense!

    However, even though they had ranks that separated each from the other, the power gaps between them were not so much that one would be renderedpletely helpless when fighting the other.

    With the exception of Fabian and Ciara, the other Rankers only had slight gaps in power from one another. That was why it was so surprising to see Richard Novo be a rag-doll in his fight with Jared Leonard!

    He was beaten so one-sidedly that even those of higher ranks couldn¡¯t help but shudder. Richard was nothing in the presence of a First Year Lower ss brat! That seemed impossible, but the evidence was burned into their eyes.

    It was at this point that it became absolutely clear to everyone that, while Jared did not have the official title yet, he was more than strong enough to be a Ranker!

    And it wasn¡¯t just as a member of the lower bench, but¡­ at least the 3rd Seat among the Rankers was rightfully his! No one knew what would happen beyond that point, but it was certain that not even the Martial Artist that upied the third ce could make short work of Richard the way Jared had done.

    And he achieved all that¡­ in the mere three months since entering Ainrk Academy. That broke even the record of Ciara Epilson! Though it wasn¡¯t official, it broke any record in the Academy!

    The eyes of the Elites slowly turned in the direction of the genius of the century who was seated among them. They took great care in ensuring no eye contact was made, but their eyes narrowed on Ciara. She had been praised to possess unrivaled talent in Magic, but even she didn¡¯t achieve this when she was a First Year.

    The moment the Elites focused on her, they came to regret it.

    Out of the girl was oozing an unpleasant feeling that chilled the bone. The way her eyes red onward made anyone who saw her to shiver in fear. Even those who sat beside her gradually gave space since the murderous aura she emitted was causing them to tremble.

    It was clear that the usually cheerful Ciara was upset¡­ but, why? Was it because Jared Leonard broke her record? Was she jealous, or green with envy?

    Those were the theories that went on in the hearts of everyone who sat close to her and watched her emotions slightly get out of control. They were all wrong, though¡­

    If only the Elites knew what caused her such displeasure¡­ perhaps they would see a different kind of monster in Ciara.

    [A/N]

    ATTENTION TO ALL READERS!!!

    I have a new book called Rise Of Evil Santa.

    Please endeavor to check it out, read it, and add it to your library.

    I promise it¡¯ll be worth your while.

    I¡¯ll be Mass Releasing on Spellcraft once the new Novel gains 1k Collections. Don¡¯t miss out!!!

    [Come on, guys¡­ please support me.]

 Chapter 208 - Rationale

    I really didn¡¯t want to intervene.

    Of course, with the maturity and level-headedness I possessed, it was an easy feat to keep my emotions under control¡­ sort of. I was even of the opinion that pointless conflict with someone stronger than you was simply a waste of time.

    But, my neutral stance slowly evolved to a swirling storm once I began watching the Elites duke it out.

    ¡°I give up!¡± One cried.

    ¡°I surrender!¡± Another proimed.

    ¡°I forfeit!¡± Yet one other dered.

    It sickened me!

    Why did those who were meant to be leaders show such pathetic side? Of course, it was clear they didn¡¯t stand a chance and would lose, but still¡­ they weren¡¯t permitted to give up so easily!

    If any other person had surrendered in such an outmatched fight, I would perfectly understand. In fact, I would even encourage such action.

    But, these were leaders! They represented a brand¡­ our brand!

    If they gave up, what did it mean for the whole ss that they represented? That was what went on in my mind as I watched. The consequences of their actions would ripple through all the years and the disgrace that followed would be too much for us to bear.

    Those who were already deemed trash would be thought of as even more than trash!

    I looked at the expressions of my fellow Lower ss Students and saw their sunken, powerless expressions. Our seniors were basically teaching us that growth and change were inevitable and we could only sumb to our fates as the worst.

    I couldn¡¯t ept that! Especially since I, Edward, and Ana did our best to change everyone¡¯s views on that during the Inter-ss Exchange.

    To an extent, I could see the stereotype slowly change among the audience¡­ until these idiots ruined all our hard work!

    Elites had more influence than a bunch of First Years, so whatever they did would have more effects on the student body as a whole. And they¡­ shamelessly retreated.

    I watched as the Lower ss Elites returned to their seats and jokingly spoke to one another even after showing such pathetic disy before their ss, no, the whole school!

    ¡®Disgusting!¡¯

    That was why I was satisfied to see Ciara inflict pain upon one of those pathetic seniors. It was a shock to see that she could both use Original Magic and Mage Mode, but I couldn¡¯t help but admire her¡­ especially since she was the same girl I met in the Oasis the other day.

    When I first saw her, I nearly screamed in surprise, but after carefully considering things, it made sense how she was able to bathe in the highly concentrated Mana Pool. And then after watching her fight end, it dawned on me that she was a talented geniusparable with Kuzon who sat close to me.

    Yes, for some reason, I had made a ton of acquaintances and they all sat surrounding me¡­ even if it was a Lower ss spot in the Hall. It didn¡¯t feel too bad, though. If not for the disgust welling up within me as I saw my seniors fight, I was having a good time¡­

    ¡­ Until Jerry¡¯s fightpletely surprised me!

    If it had just been a powerless struggle made by the weak against the strong, I wouldn¡¯t have been impressed, but I could tell from Jerry¡¯s abilities that he had painstakingly trained hard for the match. His expert use of Mana, his heightened senses, hisck of wasted movement¡­ this was what I wanted to see in an Elite!

    Of course, I knew he would lose based on how things went, but still¡­ the determination in his eyes was refreshing to see.

    And then, when he fell and began undergoing so much torture, my heart churned with frustration. I knew Jerry wouldn¡¯t give up since that was what the others had done. My respect for him deepened, same with my fear of something irreparable urring.

    ¡®What are you doing, us? Interfere!¡¯ My mind rang, but the moderator stood rigid.

    It didn¡¯t take me very long to realize the situation.

    Jerry was on his own!

    If he didn¡¯t give up¡­ he could die¡­ no, he would!

    Well, maybe he would pass out before that happened, but that was only a slim chance.

    And then noise began urring around me.

    Ana, Edward, and the other students argued on whether or not to save Jerry from his predicament. I kept quiet and began working my brain.

    Richard, the opponent, was a Ranker¡­ the fifth seat.

    Ana and Edward stood no chance against him if they wanted to forcefully stop his actions. us showed no interest in intervening and the judges were silent too¡­which could only mean that they wanted this particr scenario.

    A dark thought shed in my mind and I eyed someone who sat among the judges suspiciously. Could this be the kind of situation he wanted to create in order to force my hand? Using Damien Lawcroft¡¯s obsession with demeaning the Lower ss, this person actually simted this knowing I would intervene?

    If that was the case, I couldn¡¯t y into their hand! Not only would there be a penalty, but to stand a chance against Richard, I needed to use more power than I wanted to show¡­ at least for now.

    ¡®I need to use SPELLCRAFT to counter the [Descending Gravity] Spell, and use all five cores to activate Elemental Chamber¡­¡¯

    That was revealing a lot of my hand! Could I risk something like this, especially when thinking on the long term?

    I grinned within myself even though my outward expression still showed a stoic expression.

    Of course, I would intervene!

    I was sick of ying these games, anyway! So far, myself and ¡®that man¡¯ had been walking around in circles, none taking the next step. However, if I initiated the first move, that would leave him no choice but to act too!

    If that was the case, I needed to make a very big impression, though not more than would be necessary.

    They say the best way to catch a big fish is to use the most alluring bait!

    That was what I intended to do.

    In order topletely corner the mastermind of the whole assassination incident¡­ the one who had been responsible for a great deal of my worry¡­ it was time to strike!

    ¡®I will smoke you out¡­ and this little game will end the only way it can¡­ my victory!¡¯

    [A/N]

    ATTENTION TO ALL READERS!!!

    I have a new book called Rise Of Evil Santa.

    Please endeavor to check it out, read it, and add it to your library.

    I promise it¡¯ll be worth your while.

    I¡¯ll be Mass Releasing on Spellcraft once the new book gains 1k Collections. Don¡¯t miss out!!!

 Chapter 209 - Grim Ending

    The Inter ss Exchange ended on a grim note.

    It was a far cry from the excitement that had enveloped the hall on the first day, but no one seemed to notice the drastic change of atmosphere.

    As expected, the final match was considered to be Invalid, so the Elite Tournament ended with the results gotten from the first nine matches;

    Upper ss: 9 Wins, 0 Losses

    Middle ss: 0 Wins, 9 Losses

    Lower ss: 0 Wins, 9 Losses

    No one objected to the results since it was obvious from what they had witnessed.

    The expressions of the Elites of the Lower ss rang of relief. They seemed overjoyed that the bothersome exchange was over and they could now properly rest¡­ unshackled by any more responsibilities on their part.

    It was a wonder how none of them felt any shame or embarrassment concerning the gruesome loss they had suffered.

    For those in the Middle ss, it was clear that they were frustrated.

    Even though they had given their all in battle, all of them still encountered loss. Their results were no different from the Lower ss Elites who didn¡¯t even bother. It made them feel foolish for even trying, in the first ce.

    Fortunately, their reputation increased a slight bit in the Exchange since some of the Middle ss Elites put up a pretty decent fight. As a result, unlike the Lower ss losers, they could still hold on to a fraction of their dignity.

    This was the only merit they got in exchange for not giving up.

    As for the Upper ss Elites, the undisputed winners of the Exchange, their expressions should have been that of pride and confidence. They should have reveled in their victory! However, the sour expressions that painted their faces contrasted what would have been expected from them.

    Fear

    Anxiety

    Disappointment

    Bitterness

    Anger

    A mix of negative emotions coagted the atmosphere of the champions, enough to make a person confused as to who won and who lost.

    Even the audience was in unrest!

    After experiencing the ghastly sight of a single Lower ss student easily trumping one of the strongest Rankers in the Academy, it felt like their concept of bnce and logic hadpletely shattered.

    Still, with the events of the day concluded, and the fact that the students had their personal businesses to attend to, a conclusion had to be made concerning the bizarre event.

    Despite the uncertainties in the air, the Exchange ended, and the students were allowed to leave the hall.

    ********

    Ana and Edward exited the hall, having worried looks on their faces.

    They wondered about Jared, where he went to after he left the hall back then. At the time they wanted to follow him, but Kuzon and the others advised against it, lest they got caught up in the mess the boy had made.

    Of course, the two didn¡¯t care in the slightest, but after considering the possibility that Jared wouldn¡¯t want them to suffer for his actions, and also that the boy most likely wished to be alone, they backed off.

    Now that the Exchange was over, Ana and Edward were obviously going to look for their friend. It was only a matter of where he had run off to.

    ¡°You guys, hold up!¡± Someone called out after them.

    There was no way anyone could mistake his casual, smooth voice¡­ it was Kuzon.

    ¡°You¡¯re off to look for Jared, right? Count me in!¡± The boy shed a slight grin.

    It appeared that after his match in the finals, he had taken an interest in Jared and wanted to be in hispany. Since thetter didn¡¯t seem to mind his presence, Ana and Edward so no problems if he tagged along¡­

    ¡­ That is, if it was only him!

    ¡°Count me in too!

    ¡°You bet I¡¯ming as well¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Me too¡­¡±

    Ivan Smith, Stefan Netherlore, and Maria Helmsworth chimed in, appearing as though they had been there all this time but were just waiting for their entrance.

    While Edward and Ana felt slightly ufortable with the crowd, they didn¡¯t have the time nor energy to banter, so they agreed to everyone¡¯s offer.

    ¡°Alright! I have a pretty good idea where he might be, so let¡¯s go there first.¡± Taking the lead, Edward dered and started moving swiftly.

    The rest followed.

    *********

    CLACK

    CLACK

    CLACK

    Sounds of footsteps echoed across the bright corridor, and a girl¡¯s elegant shoes were clearly seen as her legs trotted across the passage.

    There was arge door directly in her front, just a few meters from where she was, making her steps slow and confident. There was no need to rush since the target was just within reach.

    Upon reaching the door, she opened it lightly, reflecting her clear, beautiful skin, and ventured into therge room inside.

    Within the room, though separated by thinyers of sheet that hung like curtains, were two boys. They were lying on their beds, clearly asleep.

    This was a Medic Ward, and the two boys were in some nasty conditions before they were brought in for treatment. Thanks to some high-ss Potions and very impressive Magic, their condition had stabilized, and they were currently in deep sleep thanks to a Spell cast by their medical supervisor.

    Other than the two boys, no one else was present in the room¡­ the medics were on break¡­ until one person entered.

    The girl, her blue ribbons evident in her long, brown hair, entered the room with zero caution. Her deep blue eyes currently had some sort of dark gleam radiating within, but the slight bowing posture she currently had made it nearly Impossible topletely make out the contents of her face.

    Was she smiling, or¡­?!

    Her first mode of action was to swiftly glide across the room, to the section where one of the boysy. His auburn hair hung loosely as his bodyyfortably on the bed. This boy¡¯s name was Jerry, and after fighting in the Exchange, his injuries were so severe that they were just shy from fatal.

    The intruder¡ªnow by his bedside¡ªused her delicate-looking hands to brush Jerry¡¯s face as she stared longingly at him.

    Now looking so intently¡ªno, obsessively¡ªat the boy she gently stroked, the culprit¡¯s face came into view.

    Her name was Ciara Epilson¡­ the Second Seat among the Rankers!

    [A/N]

    ATTENTION TO ALL READERS!!!

    I have a new book called Rise Of Evil Santa.

    Please endeavor to check it out, read it, and add it to your library.

    I promise it¡¯ll be worth your while.

    I¡¯ll be Mass Releasing on Spellcraft once the new book gains 1k Collections. Don¡¯t miss out!!!

 Chapter 210 - Obsession

    Ciara Epilson stood rigidly, staring at the body of a boy who was deep in sleep.

    Other than the gentle hand of hers that stroked his cheeks, and the curling up of her lustrous lips, the girl could have been mistaken for a statue.

    Her eyes fervently, without blinking even once, trailed the boy¡¯s body. She observed his even breaths, how his chest puffed and deted as air seeped into them, how he had a peaceful face¡­ the sharp opposite of the pain that dwelled there.

    ¡°You big dummy¡­¡± She finally uttered words.

    Her voice was smooth, low, and hinted affection.

    Despite the prideful and cold way she addressed Jerry in public, now that it was just the two of them¡­ well, just her¡­ she seemed awfully caring.

    Her eyes showed pity, and something else hidden within.

    ¡°¡­ You could have just given up. Though, I guess I should have seen thising¡­¡± Ciara¡¯s voice trailed.

    She sighed a bit in frustration.

    ¡°You big idiot!¡± The girl wanted to scream, but she couldn¡¯t as well disturb Jerry¡¯s sleep.

    Ever since she knew him, Jerry had always been a determined fellow!

    He had managed to seep into her icy, distrusting heart, and became her friend. Even now that they were apart, she couldn¡¯t help but smile in remembrance of their past¡­ how Jerry made her heart flutter many times. Things were different now, but¡­

    Her hands stopped frolicking his chin and went further down, massaging his chest. She felt the boy breathe, how his heart beat. It seemed like the beats matched hers.

    Just as she felt his heartbeat, Ciara began losing a grip of her self-control and her hands slowly began to sink further down, reaching his stomach, but still trailing down.

    Her cheeks were red now, and her eyes sparkled in delightful anticipation. Her fingers were aiming for something.

    ¡°Nng¡­¡± Jerry suddenly made a groan, snapping Ciara out of her slightly berserk state.

    ¡°Ah, looks like I nearly lost it again¡­¡± She whispered with a yful look on her face.

    The girl realized the implications of her attempted action, what would happen if she was caught, and she backed off. Her eyes still hungrily stared at his body, though.

    ¡°Looks like this isn¡¯t the time¡­ or ce¡­¡± Ciara¡¯s eyes slowly trailed past the boy¡¯s bed and turned in the direction of the other guy in the room.

    ¡°Before we continue¡­ I should take care of something real quick¡­¡±

    With plucky footsteps, Ciara left Jerry¡¯s side and approached the boy who was carefullyid on the second, or rather first, bed.

    ¡°The one who put Jerry in this sorry state¡­ was YOU¡­¡±

    Ciara¡¯s eyes seemed to disy something else now. Yes, her devotion to Jerry still remained, but it now warped into something more.

    ¡°I¡¯m a bit grateful to you¡­ if you didn¡¯t injure him this much, I probably wouldn¡¯t have had this chance to be with Jerry¡­ I would have had to use my usual methods and snuck into that filthy dorm of his¡­¡± Her voice was heading in a twisted direction.

    ¡°¡­ His room isn¡¯t bad, and I do enjoy our time together, but¡­ I certainly like this atmosphere better¡­¡±

    Though she said that, Ciara felt it would have been perfect if this particr person wasn¡¯t in the room. He was invading her private time with Jerry.

    ¡°¡­ But, you went too far in your fight¡­¡±

    The air in the room seemed to get heavier as her eyes were widening with a glint of passion.

    ¡°¡­ You hurt him too much. No, the fact that you hurt him at all is enough¡­¡±

    ¡®For that alone¡­ you deserve to be punished!¡¯ Her mind rang.

    A wide smile appeared on Ciara¡¯s face. Not the kind she had been disying when beside Jerry, no, this was darker. It seemed like the expression of a mad woman!

    Her bloodshot eyes screamed of rage, but it sharply contrasted her curved grin that showed something dangerous. Ciara cocked her head slightly, making her look like a doll of horror. The persona she now donned was fundamentally different from her usual self.

    She only showed this form to those who had crossed her¡­ those who hadmitted the gravest sin.

    ¡®You hurt¡­ MY Jerry!¡¯

    With that line of thought, a wave of Mana flickered from her and filled the surrounding area. She had just cast a Silence Spell, one that would prevent anyone from hearing even the loudest of noise emanating from the room.

    Once the Spell was done, her total focus was now on the boy whoy on the bed, oblivious of what would being.

    ¡®For that¡­ you should receive a little¡­ PUNISHMENT!¡¯

    With this, her eyes widened even more, and a psychic wave was sent to the body of her target

    Instantly, her target, Richard Novo, bulged open his eyes and widened his mouth to let out a deafening scream.

    ¡°ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!¡±

    The scream would have been enough to send someone into shock, but, Ciara seemed just fine hearing it. In fact, she relished every moment of the boy¡¯s pain.

    She didn¡¯t even mind that his eyes nearly popped out his sockets and blood-like tears streamed down his cheeks. Drool fell from his mouth and mucus dripped from both openings of his nostrils.

    ¡°Guarghhhhhhhhhhh!!!¡± More screams filled the air.

    ¡°You won¡¯t remember any of this since the mental strain will be too much to bear¡­.¡±

    ¡°UWAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Once this is over, you¡¯ll never be the same, though. I wonder what trauma I should give you¡­¡±

    ¡°ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Something to ensure you stay away from Jerry¡­ stay far away¡­¡±

    ¡°YAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Yes! That¡¯s perfect!¡± Ciara beamed upon deciding just what route to take in her mental punishment of the Ranker before her.

    The boy¡¯s distorted face turned uglier and uglier as he screamed even more.

    Of course, Ciara wasn¡¯t bothered about his noise. No one outside the room could hear him, and even within the enclosed area, sound was limited to her and the agonizing boy.

    Once she was meticulously done with Richard, Ciara would return to observe Jerry for as long as was permitted. She would watch him sleep, watch him dream¡­ and relish the fact that he endlessly thought of her.

    That was the true identity of the girl known as Ciara Epilson¡­

    ¡°Haa, Jerry¡­ you truly are the only one for me.¡±

    ¡­ A being afflicted with absolute obsession!

 Chapter 211 - Solitude

    I sat in silence, enjoying the sense of solitude that enveloped me.

    After being with so many people for so long, I rarely had moments like this to myself. Still, it was an enjoyable afternoon in the Oasis, a haven from outside visitors. It was the perfect spot for me!

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not worried at all.¡± A voice suddenly appeared, shaking me to my core.

    ¡°Argh!¡± I squeaked a little, showing my surprise.

    For someone to interrupt me when I was so deep in thought and rxation¡­ how brazen would they be? I couldn¡¯t even sense the perpetrator, so it was most likely someone strong.

    ¡°When you react that way, you look so cute.¡± The voice was right in front of me now, and it would be foolish of me not to have recognized who the owner was after hearing it for the second time.

    ¡°Professor Neron¡­¡± I opened my eyes to stare at the calm-looking, handsome man.

    His pitch ck hair danced with the wind as his casual shirt and trouser outfit showed no sign that this man was a professor, and someone whose powers I couldn¡¯t even fathom.

    ¡°So, you lost in the Finals, and then caused such a scene during the Elite Tournament¡­ and the only thing that came to your mind was resting in this ce?¡± Neron¡¯s voice showed a tinge of disbelief, but it mostly hinted that he was impressed.

    A smile formed on my face once I heard his statement.

    ¡°So, does that mean I pass? You know, as your Apprentice¡­¡±

    Upon asking my question, our atmosphere went into a state of decorum and we stared at each other.

    My goal was to score first ce andpletely ¡®wow¡¯ Neron. Unfortunately, things didn¡¯t go as nned and I lost to Kuzon. The silver lining was that I also beat a Ranker, a feat that exceeded merely winning first ce among First Years.

    If that was the case, I was hoping it would be enough to convince Neron to mentor me.

    ¡°Well, I never really expected you to get first ce to begin with. The initial deal was for you to catch my attention in the Exchange, and you did¡­¡± Neron muttered.

    ¡®Does that mean¡­?!¡¯

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll be your mentor, or master, or whatever. You pass.¡± He gave a calm smile.

    The relief that spread through me eased the tension that gued my heart and I copsed on the grassy ins of the Oasis grounds.

    ¡°Whew! That¡¯s a relief¡­¡± I mumbled.

    Even though I hadn¡¯t seen Neron throughout the Exchange, I knew he was watching. There had to be magic that projected the match to wherever he was at the time.

    ¡°You went a bit too far in thatst match, though. Well, I can¡¯t say the boy didn¡¯t deserve it but-¡±

    I understood what Neron Kaelid was trying to imply. Someone was intelligent and calctive as me should have been able to weigh the consequences of my actions and could have chosen the route that led to the least impactful consequences.

    However¡­

    ¡°¡­ I have my reasons¡­¡± My reply was given with a confident smile.

    Once Neron saw this, he nodded and didn¡¯t pursue the issue any further.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be training you for about five days, starting tomorrow. After that, I¡¯ll be taking a short leave of absence. It appears something hase up and my attention is needed somewhere in the Kingdom.¡±

    His words sounded a bit grave, which hinted that it had to be serious. I wondered what concerned an Ainrk Lecturer with Kingdom affairs, but after analyzing Neron¡¯s strength and his odd personality, I couldn¡¯t put anything beyond him.

    ¡°Oh? How long will that take? When will you resume my training after that?¡± I asked with a furrowed eyebrow.

    I had no concrete idea what the ¡®Penalty¡¯ given by the Academy would be, and it was simply bad timing that Neron would be absent during that period. I needed to know when he would be back.

    ¡°Well, considering the nature of what I need to do¡­ let¡¯s say three to five days. It shouldn¡¯t take very long.¡±

    Neron¡¯s voice sounded casual, but I could tell he was hiding something. Was an incident brewing in the background that I wasn¡¯t aware of? That had to be the case no matter how hard I thought of it.

    ¡°You should be worrying more about your Penalty more. It¡¯ll be decided next week, right?¡± Nero smiled and narrowed his eyes.

    ¡°I won¡¯t intervene¡­¡±

    Once I heard his voice trail, I smiled once again.

    ¡°You won¡¯t have to.¡±

    With that, it was clear that our conversation was over.

    ¡°Your friends are here already¡­ I should leave.¡± Neron gazed beyond the cluster of shrubs and trees, noticing the group of people that were fast approaching my location.

    ¡°They¡¯re not my friends¡­¡± I wanted to say, but kept it to myself.

    Neron must have noticed my answer in his eyes, making him shrug as though expected it. It was so always quite unnerving speaking to this lecturer since I felt there was so much we had inmon.

    ¡°See you tomorrow!¡±

    WHOOOSSSHHH

    With a howl of the wind, he was gone. Whether it was done by teleportation, or high-speed movement was something I hadn¡¯t figured out yet.

    ¡°Huu¡­ looks like I have to brace myself for impact¡­¡± I smiled, turning in the direction of six students who charged in my direction.

    Soon, they would enter the Oasis and engage in long conversations with me. As much as I valuedpany from time to time, nothing was more pleasant to me than the quietness that enveloped me when I was alone.

    ¡®Still, it¡¯s unavoidable, uh?¡¯

    So far, some considered me friends, others rivals¡­ but it wasn¡¯t like I could reciprocate those sentiments. There was even one among them who had feelings for me¡­ though it was most likely as a result of my slip-up.

    Back when I covered my ears, Ana had asked me if I ¡®liked¡¯ her and was trying to hide it, and without hearing her words¡­ I admitted to it.

    I thought it was only to keep her quiet, but after creating that misunderstanding¡­ it became moreplicated to overturn those ideas from her head. Fortunately, Edward told me before I stumbled too deep in the dark.

    ¡°I wish the both of you happiness!¡± He had genuinely said to me one time.

    It was silly, mere vestiges of childhood that would pass as they grew older so I only had to endure.

    With so much work to do, and many uncertainties looming¡­ no time existed to engage in frivolities. After all, to achieve my goals¡­

    ¡°JAREEEEEEDDDD!!!¡± Voices cried out as people poured out of the green clearing and charged in my direction.

    ¡°W-wha-?! You guysss!!!¡±

    ¡­ Edward, Ana, Maria, Stefan, Ivan¡­ even Kuzon¡­

    ¡­ I considered them valuable people, but not friends¡­

    ¡°So this is where you were!¡±

    ¡°I knew it!¡±

    ¡°That move you did back there was badass!¡±

    ¡°Please teach me!¡±

    ¡°d to see¡­ you¡¯re fine¡­¡±

    ¡°Looks like someone is a celebrity already.¡±

    As their voices reached out to me, I smiled and remembered my previousrades, my true friends. They were long gone now, relics of the past¡­

    ¡­ And that was why I couldn¡¯t see these little ones as my friends¡­

    ¡°You guys¡­ stop rushing¡­ argh!¡±

    *

    *

    *

    [END OF THE SECOND ARC]

 Chapter 212 - Trail Of Darkness [Pt 1]

    Somewhere within the Eastern Kingdom, in the territory of a noble far north¡­ was chaos!

    Bloodied corpses littered the ground and mes licked the devastated ground. Signs of a fierce battle pervaded the vicinity, from the settlement of themoners¡­ even to the castle ground of the noble in charge of such estate.

    The stench of blood and death, so pungent it would crinkle the nose just by a whiff, hung in the air. Walking down the path of carnage, it was easy to see a trail, so straightforward in a line. Someone had certainly been moving, ughtering any in his path.

    Finally focusing on the manor of the distinguished lord of thend, it was not a very different sight from themoners¡¯ residence. Other than the beautiful and sparse grounds that surrounded the exquisite buildings around, carnage still rang true.

    The soldiers and Mages who had died were beyond number, and the once beautiful sight had turned into a scene of pure despondency.

    Who could have done such a thing? What manner of creature could have wrought such horror? They most certainly weren¡¯t human! If anyone thought like this, they would be right.

    After all¡­ the one who perpetrated this horrific sight was a DEMON!

    Seated within the mansion and watching as thest of his prisoners died, the figure in the darkness made a slight grumble.

    It had two pointed ears that ascended upward, its body was enveloped in darkness and spikes came out of his shoulders¡­ like battle armor. He was an epitome of darkness and a personification of evil!

    This was a Shadow Demon, a specie belonging to the six tribes of the beings of darkness¡­ Demons!

    Demons dwelled in theirnds, far to the North. It was a ce filled with so much terror and eternal darkness. The miasma was said to be so intense that a mere whiff was fatal to normal beings, and contact with this demonic aura would corrupt the soul and put one in a state worse than death!

    Why was such a creature, who belonged to such a terrifying realm, be in a human settlement? The answer was known only to the Shadow Demon himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m done here¡­ I should head over to the next one¡­¡± The ck being mumbled to itself.

    Kahn, the murderous creature of carnage, was on a path of redemption and ¡®soul seeking¡¯. After being cast out of the cadres of Demon Lords, unable to directly serve his liege, the Demon set forth to redeem himself.

    Hoping to find an answer, he made it to the Eastern Empire and now wreaked chaos wherever he went. So far, he had brought down five noble territories, tasking a while to extract information concerning the Kingdom he was in¡­ and whatever else he fancied.

    As a result, he was currently up to speed with human history, but that also proved to be somewhat problematic. ording to the information he received, the humans had grown more civilized and powerful since the war against the Demons all those years ago. While the had lost their heroes from back then, they had gotten strong ones in return.

    Compared to the evolution of humans, the Demon race was¡­

    ¡°If I take this knowledge back to the Demon Realm¡­ will my Lord be pleased?¡±

    This knowledge simply meant that the Demons were at a growing disadvantage since their civilization was at a standstill and they had lost a great deal of their influence. If humans kept growing more powerful at this rate, then¡­ it was only a matter of time before his entire Species was threatened.

    That very thought aggravated Kahn!

    He ground his teeth in annoyance and a murderous aura enveloped him once again. If they could stop the humans from evolving even further, no¡­ exterminating them entirely was the only option.

    He had to report what he knew as soon as possible, but¡­

    ¡°No! This isn¡¯t enough¡­¡±

    Information without proof was as good as a lie. If he didn¡¯t provide evidence to support his ims, many would only view it as a desperate attempt to return to his seat as a Demon Lord. While the prospects of returning to his previous estate was appealing to him¡­ Kahn wanted nothing more than to serve his lord and master, the Demon King!

    ¡°I have to¡­ get something to use¡­¡±

    He knew he couldn¡¯t act recklessly anymore. So far, he had been fortunate to encounter weak humans, but if it was a strong Mage that approached him, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. With no Miasma to recover his expended energy, the only way to make do was to use the corrupted souls of the humans he yed.

    But since their souls were weak, the amount gotten from them was barely enough!

    Caught within this precarious situation, Kahn was at a dead end. He thought hard on what to do, but the answer evaded him. He wasn¡¯t the smartest of Demons, after all.

    ¡°It looks like you¡¯re a little lost¡­¡± A voice suddenly appeared from the darkness.

    Kahn¡¯s white eyes bulged the moment he heard the sound and felt the strange presence of someone in the room with him.

    Instantly, he sprang up on his feet and took an offensive stance. Whoever the person was, Kahn felt they were strong. He hadn¡¯t even sensed the person until he spoke!

    ¡°Whoah, easy there¡­ I have no intention of fighting you.¡±

    Kahn narrowed his eyes and got a glimpse of the man in the shadows. Both his hands were raised in surrender, but the Shadow Demon knew he possessed great strength.

    ¡°Who are you¡­?¡± Kahn spat, still wary of the human, yes, human that just showed up.

    ¡°Who am I? Well¡­¡±

    Kahn was a little shaken.

    Thanks to him spending quite a while in the human world, he fairly understood theirnguage. He could interpret their words with no difficulty. Still, Kahn found it a bother to speak it so he still used his Demon tongue whenever he spoke.

    Yet¡­

    ¡­ This human understood him!

    ¡®He knows ournguage?!¡¯

 Chapter 213 - Trail Of Darkness [Pt 2]

    ¡°¡­ Who I am doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s more important is who you are¡­¡± The mysterious man cut through the silence.

    Kahn wanted to speak, but his inner patience appealed to him and he listened attentively.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve been observing you for some time, the path of carnage you¡¯ve created. I have to say, it¡¯s not a wise call.¡±

    Kahn realized that now. He had drawn too much attention to himself and it was only a matter of time before strong humans came after him.

    ¡°One of this Kingdom¡¯s strongest Mages ising for you. Once he does, he¡¯ll subjugate you with no difficulty. Needless to say, you don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± The human in the shadows retorted.

    ¡°Keh, your arrogant words displease me, human! Do you think because you¡¯ve been monitoring me, you know the extent of my powers?¡± Kahn growled.

    Being looked down upon by humans annoyed him. He only had a slight bit of respect toward a few members of their race, but those were long dead by now. Unlike demons, humans had such short lifespans.

    This was another reason why Kahn deemed his race as superior.

    ¡°Believe what you want, but this guy I¡¯m referring to is even stronger than me, so¡­¡±

    Kahn couldn¡¯t help but gulp a little.

    The human in front of him was strong! So strong that Kahn had the possibility of losing in his current state. If this person spoke so highly of another, it was a bit worrisome how powerful the other guy was.

    ¡°W-who is he¡­?¡± Kahn found himself asking.

    He never thought he would have to speak to a fellow human, but¡­ sometimes curiosity could be controlling.

    ¡°His name is Neron Kaelid. He¡¯ll soon be dispatched to hunt you down¡­ and when that happens, it¡¯s only a matter of time before¡­¡±

    The man didn¡¯t say any more, but Kahn could already deduce what was implied.

    Still, Kahn could not afford to back down now, not when he was so close to redeeming himself. If he seeded in his ns, he could regain his previous position and even bring about the extermination of the human race. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose now!

    But, something rang in the Shadow Demon¡¯s mind¡­

    ¡°Why are you telling me all this?¡± The thoughts became words.

    The man in the darkness seemed to smile, shrugging a tiny bit. Kahn thought perhaps he didn¡¯t fully make his inquisition known and decided to go further.

    ¡°¡­ You saw the carnage I caused, how Iid waste to your race. If I seed in my ns, more of you will die! Why would you betray your race and tell me such important information?¡±

    For a while, there was silence.

    Kahn suspiciously eyed the being who stood a short distance from him. The Demon readied his ws, prepared forbat if it became necessary.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because I¡¯m not on the side of the humans.¡±

    This bombshell caused the resolute Kahn to be fazed.

    ¡°W-what?!¡± Nearly escaped his darkened face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not on the side of you Demons as well. Needless to say, my identity doesn¡¯t matter to you. What¡¯s important is the proposal I want to make!¡±

    Kahn¡¯s eyes ticked with slight interest, and his curiosity began growing. While there was a lot that was very fishy about the obviously human being that appeared before him, he still wanted to hear the proposal.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­ it¡¯ll benefit you. I don¡¯t know what exactly you¡¯re looking for, but I know where you can get it.¡±

    Kahn¡¯s expressionless face seemed to ask, ¡°Where?¡±

    ¡°Ainrk Academy.¡±

    Upon hearing this, the Shadow Demon recollected the name from some of those he interrogated. Some of them had children and rtives attending the institute. It was a top-notch ce that cultivated fresh talent and had no small number of powerful humans.

    But¡­

    ¡°Why would I want to go there?¡±

    It was said that the lecturers there were strong, and the head of the school was one of the most powerful mages in existence. Sure, there seemed to be quite a number of knowledge and technology he could obtain there, but the risks were too great.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re worried, but rest at ease¡­¡± The mysterious man spoke once again.

    ¡°The biggest threat in that Academy is the one after you, so he won¡¯t be there for some time. And, as for the other powerful staff there, I can handle them. It¡¯ll make the whole thing smooth sailing for you.¡±

    If that were to be the case, it would be perfect. In fact, it was too good to be true! For a human like him to casually, yet confidently speak in such a way¡­ what kind of connection did he have with Ainrk? Also¡­

    ¡°¡­ Why would you go so far? What do you hope to gain from this?

    This was something that burned within Kahn¡¯s twisted heart. All humans were inherently selfish; someone he knew several years ago, a human, had told him this! He was a schr who had studied both Demons and humans, having a great deal of magic knowledge at his disposal as well.

    It was a shame the man was inept, no, that was probably a good thing. If such a human had the ability to use Magic, Kahn could only imagine how much of a menace he would have been back then.

    ¡®That man¡­¡¯ The Shadow Demon gritted his teeth as the particr image of someone shed in his mind.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll tell you what I want¡­¡± The strange man suddenly broke Kahn away from his deep thought.

    There was a brief moment of silence, and then the Shadow Demon saw the man in front of him slightly raise his hand while gathering mana. The ck being sprang into a defensive stance, but it was unnecessary.

    ¡°Rx, will you? I just want to show you something. Or, rather¡­ someone¡­¡±

    Suddenly, a bright light appeared on the palm of the mysterious, shady man, and the image of a particr person appeared. It was like a hologram, the product of light magic, and it perfectly disyed the face of someone¡­ showing the amount of skill the conjurer had.

    Kahn narrowed his eyes and critically examined the image that popped up.

    The boy didn¡¯t appear to be too old, most likely twelve years¡­ maybe thirteen. His bright golden eyes and blond hair stood out. He had a confident smile on his face, and a form of noble aura round him.

    ¡°Who¡¯s this? Your child?¡± Kahn spoke with sarcasm, not sure why the man before him would show the image of someone totally unrted to the matter at hand.

    ¡°No¡­ quite the opposite actually. He¡¯s something of an enemy, really¡­¡± The man replied in an unfazed manner.

    Kahn was getting impatient now, but he waited to hear what his business was with the child.

    ¡°He¡¯s a student of Ainrk Academy, he¡¯s in his first year¡­¡±

    Something like a sadistic,pletely evil grin formed on the face of the man who spoke. Even though Kahn was the personification of evil, this human seemed to be an agent of malevolence.

    ¡°¡­ His name is Jared Leonard¡­ and I want you to kill him for me.¡±

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [Wee To The Third Arc Of SPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Schr]

    [The Invasion/Conspiracy Arc Begins!]

 Chapter 214

    I woke up with a bit of a headache.

    My voice let out a groan as I struggled to rise from my far fromfortable bed. It wasn¡¯t as grand as the one at home, neither was it half as preferable, but after spending three months with it, I was somehow used to my ce of rest.

    The reason for my diforty in the fact that my body itself was tired, no, it slightly ached. The reason wasn¡¯t far-fetched, though. After all¡­ I had been training for a great deal of time far into the night.

    ¡°Today¡¯s the big day, after all¡­¡± I whisper escaped my lips and I hopped out of bed.

    With a somewhat tired look on my face, bit a bright spark hidden within my eyes, I made my way to the bathroom. It was time to freshen up and prepare for an eventful day.

    ¡®I still feel very tired and drowsy¡­ my body aches too¡­¡¯

    It was no wonder; I had pushed myself a little farst night, after all.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just use a Mana Restorative Potion, then¡­¡±

    My casual statement would have rmed anyone if they were in the room with me, but since I was alone, it was no problem. After all, a Lower ss Student like me would have no way of gaining ess to something of such quality.

    Mana was very essential to society and could be considered the lifeline of any Magic User. It was to be expected that they would be quite costly; though this depended on quality.

    Still, for someone like me, even potions of the lowest quality would be a luxury¡­ at least, that was the general assumption.

    Unknown to everyone, I had cultivated my own Potions, managing to create so many solutions that would be considered very useful on my part. These innovations would draw some really helpful attention to myself, but there was a reason I hadn¡¯t made a move to reveal them.

    ¡®Not enough¡­ not yet¡­¡¯

    They weren¡¯t groundbreaking enough to distinguish me entirely!

    While I used various new ingredients, and my Potions were unique, they only offered slight to middle effects, and none were of the high grade. So far, the highest of my concoctions could only attain 60 percent of restorative effects.

    While that would be considered extremely valuable, and the form would be coveted by a lot of people, my goaly beyond that. Of course, I had my ns for my path in alchemy and potion-making, but they were only a means to an end. I had to make myself as distinguished as possible in my attempt to gather prestige in that area.

    Sixty percent wasn¡¯t enough!

    ¡®Well, it should suffice for me¡­¡¯

    The reason for my tiredness stemmed from my deficiency in Mana, after all. I had expended so muchst night on my ¡®Project¡¯ and was nearly running on empty. In my current condition, I couldn¡¯t achieve the objectives set out for me today.

    As a result, even if they were valuable, I would be using my Potions. More could always be made, after all.

    ********

    After I was done freshening up, I put on a casual outfit and stepped out of my room wearing a clear blue top and in ck trousers. Sandals reced the usual flip-flops I would have preferred wearing.

    While I had every right to be casual, being too simple would be a downright insult to the person I was going to see. Hopefully, my current appearances were satisfying enough¡­

    ¡®If I remember correctly, I enchanted some of my clothes recently¡­ I should wear some of those tomorrow!¡¯

    Permanent enchantments to prevent stains and ck were ced on the outfits, as well strengthening effects. For my favorite flip flops, speed enhancements were added, giving me advanced mobility. I used those outfits for an experiment and it was a good thing they paid of well.

    ¡®Welp, time to begin my day!¡¯

    Stepping out of my room, and now walking down the hallway, I encountered a few students in my dorm.

    The moment they saw me, all of them seemed to freeze. While I wasn¡¯t particrly paying any real attention to them, I could sense awe, fear, and unease hanging in the air. I shrugged and walking while ignoring the strong emotion pervading the area.

    After all, their sentiments were understandable.

    After my performance in the Elite Tournament yesterday, everyone was partially aware of my capabilities and hade to somewhat revere me. Of course, that meant a mix of fear and awe would be given, but that meant a slight difort and shift in their emotions whenever I made my presence known to them.

    ¡®Welp, it¡¯s fine by me¡­¡¯

    I descended the stairs, exited my dorm, and made my way to the destination mapped out for myself.

    This week was a free one for everyone; that meant the students were meant to use it as they wished. Some would dedicate it to training hard in an attempt to meet up to the strong disy of power they witnessed in the Exchange; some would use this chance to recuperate from the mental and emotional fatigue that had been built up from their participations in the Exchange, even though any physical consequence had been settled; some would simply have fun and spend their time in leisure.

    It was a matter of choice for everyone, and they would all be right.

    For my closepanions, Edward and Ana, they told me of how they would love to improve on theircking skills which was made evident after the exchange. Though I wouldn¡¯t be joining them in their diligent endeavors, appropriate measures were put in ce to ensure that they would improve drastically within a week.

    The others; Stefan, Ivan, Sofia, and Kuzon; all had their respective ns, most of which centered on getting stronger. Apparently, my surprising disy riled them up and increased theirpetitive drive.

    To be honest, none other than Kuzon made me feel even the slightest bitpetitive among the first years, but even that one boy was enough. Since I had no intentions to be left behind in any aspect; be it Magic, Martial Arts, or Schrship; I was going to work my butt off as well.

    ¡®This should be interesting!¡¯

 Chapter 215

    I made my in a direction that was not the Oasis.

    Usually, that would be my goal, but thanks to my recent achievement¡­ I was going to be training in a different ce.

    ¡®I hope I¡¯m not too early¡­¡¯ Muttering to myself, I stared at the staff¡¯s area of the Lower ss.

    The Lower ss Region, just like other sses, was separated. There were multiple structures within, and also a vast area for training, rxation and other activities. Among buildings like the ssrooms, library, training hall, and the likes, the Staff Area was a ce of relevance.

    The three Lecturers involved with each Year of the Lower ss presided over their respective offices, as well as minor staff that taught electives. The Staff room was big enough to contain all of them, since Ainrk had nock of space, but I couldn¡¯t help butpare the differences this building had with those belonging to higher sses.

    ¡®Probably the same gap as heaven and earth¡­¡¯

    With that slightly yful thought coiling in my mind, I eyed the particr area that was my target; the office of my Year¡¯s lecturer.

    Neron Kaelid was the Lecturer in charge of the Lower ss First Years. In essence, he was my Lecturer, and it wasn¡¯t strange for a student to wish to visit their Lecturer¡¯s office.

    However, with a week of break, which student would desire to see a teacher rather than hone their skills? There was a reason I approached this man and that was simply because he had agreed to be my Master!

    Since I was the man¡¯s apprentice, it was well within my right to see him anytime I desired. Plus, we had an agreement that he would teach me before he departed for a particr issue in five days. That meant I had five days to squeeze as much knowledge and skill as I could and ruminate on them before he returned.

    It was perfect, especially considering the fact that a penalty hung over my head and would be given this Sunday. The Penalty didn¡¯t bother me one bit, though. I was looking forward to my training time instead!

    ********

    ¡°Oh? Looks like you¡¯re here.¡± Neron spoke in his usual stoic voice the moment I entered, acting as if he didn¡¯t sense meing a while back.

    ¡°Yes Master. I am ready to receive your guidance.¡± I made a mock bow and smiled wryly as I approached the man.

    ¡°Oh, please. Cut that out. It looks so fake.¡± Neron nearly burst out in a snicker.

    He remainedposed, though, as one would expect the usually stoic man to be.

    ¡°Alright, Professor Neron. What will b=we be doing for today?¡± I looked around the room as I asked.

    The office wasn¡¯t exactly cramped, but it was certainly not built for Magic Training. With books carefully arranged on the shelves; a desk and two chairs outfitted at the center, this indeed looked more lika a ce for business rather thanbat.

    ¡°Have a seat.¡± He proposed, and I took him up on his offer.

    While seating, I felt the man¡¯s gaze on me. It was like that of a watchful fellow closely examining something.

    I knew Neron was curious about me, but the feeling was mutual. I could only hope that our rtionship would foster a form of trust that could prove mutually beneficial. If anything, I knew Neron wasn¡¯t an enemy.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to the point, Jared¡­ I¡¯m curious about you; your abilities and intelligence are too advanced for your age. It¡¯s clear you¡¯re like a genius, but even then, your abilities supersede any other person I know¡­ with the exception of one¡­¡±

    It was weird of him to say this, considering the fact that people like Kuzon and Ciara existed. I mean, those two were clearly more powerful than me. Yet, it appeared none had garnered his interest. I wondered why.

    ¡°Is it because of my Mana Core?¡± I asked bluntly.

    Neron smiled and nodded.

    ¡°Those with talent are born with such scary potential that their Mana Cores form on their own in such short time. They develop quickly and the color they possess can be even higher than Magic Users that practice their butt off.¡± Neron began his exnation.

    ¡°As you know, there exist nine Mana Core categories; White, Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange, Red, Purple, Silver, then finally Gold.¡±

    White was known as the weakest and Gold could be considered the strongest, however¡­

    ¡°These are merely terms of growth for a Mage, depending on how Mana matures in a person and how well they excel in a particr field. But, there is one other Grade of Mana Cores. You should know it as well¡­¡±

    I nodded, shuddering a little.

    ¡°The Special Grade.¡± We both spoke at the same time.

    Special Grade Cores, having the color of the rainbow appeared within those who were loved by Mana and possessed exceptional talent in Magic.

    It was said that this Grade manifested naturally and bypassed the usual progression of Mana Cores, and the potential of those who awakened such cores was endless.

    ¡°That boy; Kuzon, as well as the girl; Ciara¡­ they both have the Special Grade Cores. As a result, it¡¯s undisputed that they should be very strong. Their potential is limitless, after all.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know why Neron was going out of his way to exin these things, but I knew he wanted to establish a point.

    ¡°You have a White Mana Core, Jared¡­ same as me. We¡¯re different from those born geniuses. Obviously, we worked hard to get where we have gotten to. But, working hard isn¡¯t enough¡­¡±

    Neron was right. If all it took was hard work and determination, many people would have exceeded the limits and made good names for themselves. An example as Jerry! Even though it was clear that he put in scary amounts of effort, in the face of superior talent, he had no choice but to lose.

    Of course, there were things to be gained from efforts, but it couldn¡¯t bepared totent potential.

    ¡°¡­ To truly get to the zenith, one needs to work smart as well. Knowledge isn¡¯t strictly power, but it can be tranted as a means to obtain it.¡± Neron continued, further impressing me.

    ¡°And that¡¯s what makes you special, just like me¡­ you have knowledge, don¡¯t you?¡±

    I smiled, and he smiled as well.

    As we both stared at each other, it was evident what the both of us desired¡­

    ¡­ Knowledge!

 Chapter 216 - [Bonus chapter] Equal Exchange

    Silence enveloped the office.

    It wasn¡¯t the dreary and ufortable kin. No, rather, it was a calm that signified how the both of us evaluated each other. The barrier of student and teacher was thin now, almost nonexistent.

    It was as if we sat face to face, as equals.

    ¡°You want to know what I know¡­?¡± I muttered.

    ¡°The same can be said about you.¡± He fired back.

    Neron Kaelid wasn¡¯t wrong. Despite being a White Core Grade like myself, he had achieved a realm in Magic that I couldn¡¯t fathom. The amount of Mana dwelling within this man was the highest I had ever seen in my life.

    It made me wonder what would happen if he used Mage Mode.

    I wanted to know how he did it!

    How did he achieve something like that despite his Core Grade? Unless he used my method, that would be impossible! Then, did he? I found that hard to believe since I could only think in that line thanks to the knowledge I hoarded for myself. Unless he thought in that line, it would be impossible.

    It wasn¡¯t like I was proud of my advanced intellect. After all, I had spent a lifetime in search of the truth. My current duplicate Mana Cores was simply an application of my previous life¡¯s knowledge. There was no way anyone could replicate it¡­ unless they were reincarnated as well!

    ¡®Maybe, he too¡­¡¯

    I was stuck, but this was an opportunity for me to find out the truth!

    ¡°Who¡¯s going to go first?¡± I smiled a bit nervously.

    Information was vital! That was the very reason we were having this conversation.

    If Neron wanted to benefit off my knowledge, it meant his was no longer sufficient for him. After all, there would be no need for someone superior to ask for an inferior method of obtaining power. The same could be somewhat said about me.

    While I was confident in my methods, I had hit a wall and nearly reached the limits of my current state. Unless I grew a bit more, more body wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the strain of so much power. That was why I simply improved the Grade of my Core rather than creating new ones.

    If Neron could achieve such unfathomable prowess at such an age, it was clear the man was doing something that I wasn¡¯t. Since I was aware of the ability to create multiple Cores, I could somewhat decipher if a person had them. Neron didn¡¯t!

    The fact that he hadn¡¯t mentioned my multiple Cores was also because he hadn¡¯t noticed as well. He wasn¡¯t aware of my special trick, but that in itself told me he wasn¡¯t using it as well.

    ¡®What other method can a White Core Grade use to grow stronger?¡¯ The more I racked my brain, I couldn¡¯t figure it out.

    Ultimately, we could only ask!

    ¡°Naturally, you should. I¡¯m your master, right? So, tell me, disciple¡­ how did you achieve your current estate?¡± Neron smiled smugly.

    ¡®Using that card, eh? However¡­¡¯

    ¡°Since you¡¯re master, shouldn¡¯t you be the one teaching me?¡± My response was innocent and precise.

    We bothughed at the intellectual game we yed, but I knew he was just as curious as I was. To achieve my goals, I couldn¡¯t afford to miss this chance. For that, there was very little I wouldn¡¯t do to achieve my goals.

    That was why¡­

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go first.¡±

    ¡­ I needed to throw in the bait!

    ¡®There¡¯s a risk I¡¯ll be giving more than I will get in return, but I¡¯ll take that chance! Neron¡¯s power isn¡¯t fake, after all¡­¡¯

    And so¡­ I told him all about it; about my Multiple Mana Cores¡­ and how I coined it!

    ******

    Neron seemed awestruck, no, dumbfounded by my genius!

    He listened, without interruptions, as I exined my means to him, and it was as if his eyes had just opened for the first time.

    For someone who had not even considered the possibilities that existed in making multiple Cores, or that it was actually possible, Neron was simply amazed by the concept.

    ¡°Wow! Amazing! I never even thought about that!¡±

    Neron had already told me about how imprable this office was against any interference or information leaks, so I didn¡¯t withhold the details. It would be foolish to lie to someone as intelligent and powerful as him.

    Plus, he wasn¡¯t my master for nothing!

    I truly respected the man and wanted to learn from him. I may have been a Sage in the past, but in the use of Magic, I was most likely more inferior to him. I had no intention of holding on to pride and limit my learning.

    ¡°Wow, Jared! This is truly groundbreaking!¡± He eximed and we had a bit of a discussion revolving around the topic.

    Not once did Neron ask me how exactly I was able to get such knowledge, neither did he ask why I hoarded it to myself. Since his situation was probably simr to mine, he probably didn¡¯t want to me ask questions that he wouldn¡¯t be able to answer when his turn came.

    ¡®That¡¯s a relief¡­ I don¡¯t want to lie to him.¡¯

    I mean, how could I reveal myself to be an old man who reincarnated as a young Noble. How surprised would he be if he realized he was in the presence of the great Lewis Griffith?

    ¡®Pfft, I can only imagine!¡¯

    ******

    ¡°Now, then¡­ I suppose it¡¯s my turn¡­¡± Neron said in a more serious tone, and I made sure to focus all of my attention on him.

    My words would prove very useful to the Professor; that much was guaranteed!

    Unlike others, he still had a White Mana Core, so he could create other Mana Cores. His growth would increase by leaps and bounds¡­ a prospect that even scared me a little.

    Still, I had no regrets¡­ as long as I would be able to gain something worth equal value.

    ¡®It¡¯s now the moment of truth, Neron Kaelid¡­ what are you hiding?¡¯

    ¡°My method is simr to yours, but alsopletely different¡­¡± He began, causing to narrow my eyes even more.

    ¡°¡­ I create Multiple Mana Cores as well¡­ but all of them are within the same Mana Core!¡±

    My eyes bulged the moment I heard this, and a picture shed in my mind.

    ¡°Y-you mean¡­?!¡± I eximed in shock and awe.

    ¡°Yes. I only have one Mana Core¡­ but within it exists a million more!¡±

 Chapter 217 - Dual Resonance

    My entire logic was shattered apart!

    Neron¡¯s method was something I never even considered¡­ and it was extremely effective.

    Simply put, within a Mana Core, there existed Mana Pericles that had been integrated together and became a stream of Mana. The purity and power within a core depended on the concentration of Mana there, as well as the grade.

    Within Mana Cores were worlds of their own, which is why Familiars desired to live in a Mage¡¯s Mana Core. In essence, it was also possible¡­ for a Magic User to use the space within his Mana Core for whatever he desired!

    ¡°So¡­ you just created other worlds within the domain of your Mana Core?!¡± I still couldn¡¯t hide my amazement.

    Neron nodded calmly.

    His reasoning was simple, something like a childish dreampared to my extremely thought-out theory. Yet, it turned out to be true. It appeared I disqualified myself from some benefits by making the concept of Mana and Magic tooplicated.

    ¡°¡­ And you say¡­ you have a million of them¡­ inside you¡­?¡± I asked with shock.

    ¡°You can see for yourself.¡± He stretched out a hand causally.

    I knew what he wanted me to do with him; Mana Resonance!

    He wanted our Mana Cores to resonate with each other. That way, we could verify both our stories and even learn more about the structure of the unthinkable.

    I didn¡¯t hesitate to grab his hand, and by concentrating and releasing the energy stored up in my five respective Cores¡­ I achieved Resonance.

    He did the same, and our energies collided, then mixed together¡­ and for a brief moment it felt like we were one.

    I could feel his insides, the energy within him was overwhelming, too much for my mind topletely understand. However, desperate to see it with my own eyes, I dug deeper and approached his Mana Core.

    It was massive, brimming with so much energy that mine simply paled inparison. This Core was the purest I had ever seen, but it went without saying since I hadn¡¯t really achieved Resonance with anyone else.

    ¡®I should get a closer look¡­¡¯

    Wincing as the rush of mana swept upon me like a current, I dived into the sphere within the man¡­ and found the most amazing sight once within.

    ¡®T-this is¡­?!¡¯

    My eyes weren¡¯t deceiving me! I was practically sensing everything Neron could sense, just like I could do the same for my own Mana Cores. This couldn¡¯t be an illusion; we were using Resonance, after all. It was the real deal!

    Within Neron Kaleid¡¯s Mana Core were bright glimmers of light, like stars shining ever so bright. Each star had different colors, ranging from gold, to purple, to blue, to red, several that were nearly unlimited.

    This was the Mana Core of a person, yet why did it look so unreal? Like constetions of various hue dancing in the night sky, these brilliant glows captivated me. They were beautiful to behold¡­ and I was moved by the power they all had.

    It was no lesser than an actual Mana Core! In essence, these Sub-Mana Cores had the same quality as the ones I currently possessed¡­ and Neron had a million of them!

    ¡®H-how amazing¡­¡¯

    In retrospect, what I told him could notpare to what I received. With this, then maybe¡­

    ¡°Okay, time up.¡± A voice suddenly interrupted my bliss.

    Before I could protest, I felt like everything became a blur and I was forcefully ejected from everything I was experiencing.

    ¡®Ahhh¡­¡¯

    Before I knew it, I regained my normal sight and opened my physical eyes. Neron sat before me with a smile stered on his face. He seemed to understand what I just experienced and was probably feeling the same way.

    ¡°This is, no, you are amazing, Jared. To think you really made several Cores and created the appropriate channel to connect all of them so you can use them simultaneously. I understand perfectly now¡­¡± He beamed.

    I could see an excited child in his smile. It was as if the stoic Neron never existed. He was truly amazed.

    ¡°I could say the same about you, Professor Ne-¡±

    ¡°Call me Neron, Jared. Please.¡± He sharply interrupted me, giving a serious smile now.

    ¡°Okay, Neron.¡± Iplied easily.

    I didn¡¯t mind talking to him without relying on any honorifics. I was actually older, so it made sense.

    ¡°Neron¡­ your Core is amazing! I understand why you have so much power now.¡± I grinned.

    ¡°Is it? There are disadvantages, though. It¡¯s not as efficient as yours.¡±

    Neron was right.

    Since I made Cores in several locations, power was not concentrated in a single spot. It was faster to use Magic in other areas. Plus, since I also made appropriate channels to connect all my Cores, they could function simultaneously and efficiently.

    However¡­

    ¡°Your Core has more power than mine. The potential to make sub-cores is outstanding. It will definitely increase the power capable of being produced by one!¡±

    While mine was more efficient, Neron¡¯s was more powerful.

    In essence, they were somehow iplete, two separate sides of a coin. But, that also meant¡­

    ¡°We canbine our methods!¡± The both of us eximed at the same time.

    I needed more power, Neron desired more efficiency; it was perfect. Plus, the both of us were adept at Mana control and had White Mana Cores!

    ¡°Simply amazing¡­¡± Was all I could say about the idea.

    I certainly would have missed out on a lot if I hoarded all the information for myself. There was no way I would have discovered his method anytime soon. But now that I knew of it, I understood perfectly!

    ¡®This is exactly what I need to get stronger!¡¯

    ¡°Well, as much as I would love to beam on and on about how amazing these concepts her, we shouldn¡¯t lose sight of the goal¡­¡± Neron spoke, snapping me from my thrilled state.

    I smiled and agreed with a nod.

    Other than the extreme knowledge I just received from Neron, I still required something else¡­ Magic Training.

    ¡°We have five days at our disposal¡­ let¡¯s use them wisely.¡±

 Chapter 218

    Neron took me to the backyard of the Staff Area¡ªa vast in where the breeze blew over us in a calm, soothing manner.

    The outdoors seemed pleasant, a perfect day for training. I wondered if it was because of what I had just learnt from Neron, or perhaps the weather was actually so pleasant. In any case, I was excited for what woulde next.

    ¡®It¡¯s weird for an old man like me to be this pumped up, but¡­¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t help it!

    ¡°You¡¯re already pretty established in Mana Control. Your use of Spells is also very impressive, plus you have no problem using Spells of varying degrees.¡± Neron began his exnation.

    It was all correct.

    Frankly speaking, there was hardly anything Lecturers could teach me about Spells. I mean, I was interested in modern Magic, but I could figure it out on my own after some time. The reason I desired a Master specifically was because it was Neron Kaelid that would be teaching me.

    If it was him¡­ I expected something different!

    ¡°There are three things I can possibly teach you now¡­ but considering our time, you¡¯ll have to pick between them.¡± He stated.

    My eyes bulged a little, surprised that he had so many options in his approach as my personal tutor. I could feel myself getting excited.

    ¡°One, I could teach you Mage Mode. Second, Original Magic. As for the third¡­ your multiple Familiars¡­ I could teach you the optimal way to use them.¡±

    I smiled, ruminating on the options he set before me.

    ¡°Make your pick.¡±

    The wind gently whooshed, causing my hair and attire to flow in its direction. My mind sorted through the information I had as I focused on choosing the best choice. Rather, the one I really needed at this juncture.

    ¡°Mage Mode can wait; I have Elemental Chamber for now¡­¡± My thoughts tranted to words.

    ¡°Original Magic is taxing, but since you mentioned it¡­ that means it¡¯s feasible. Still¡­¡±

    I didn¡¯t want to settle for a rushed Original Magic formation. The idea of my Original Magic was far too profound to be created at this juncture. With that understanding, it wasn¡¯t even an option for me!

    The final option seemed to be the most reasonable, and I had a feeling Neron thought so as well¡­ considering he saved it forst.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go with training my multiple Familiars.¡± My resolute voice sounded.

    I watched my Lecturer¡¯s expression.

    He smiled and nodded.

    ¡°Good choice. Can I ask why you chose that, though?¡±

    I knew this wasing.

    ¡°Well, for one, it¡¯s rare for a person to have multiple Familiars. Familiars hate sharing space, especially the stronger ones; so a Mage usually has only one Familiar because they have one Mana Core.¡±

    But, Neron and I were exceptions. With my Multiple Cores and his Sun-Cores, we could have as Many Familiars as we desired. It was because of his experience in this department that he was most suited to teach me.

    ¡®I have very little knowledge and experience when ites to Familiars. Since it¡¯s a more recent concept, I can¡¯t call myself an expert¡­¡¯

    It was even worse on me because I had more than one!

    To effectively use everything in my arsenal; that included my Familiars; I needed to be inplete control! No other person could bring me up to speed as well as Neron could. I exined all this to the Lecturer who listened attentively.

    ¡°That¡¯s a very good rationale. I believe so too.¡±

    ¡®It appears we have an agreement¡­ whew! If you intended to teach me this from the start, why did you give me three options?¡¯

    ¡°By the way, how many Familiars do you think I have?¡± Neron suddenly asked.

    His question caught me off-guard a little, but since he got three in the Familiar Selection Ceremony during his days as a student I had to assume he had at least a hundred of them now.

    ¡°Five hundred, maybe.¡± I retorted, mentioning a random amount.

    ording to my calctions, that was impossible, but¡­ this was Neron I was talking about.

    ¡°Pfft. That¡¯s a funny number.¡± He seemed tough in slight amusement.

    Of course, I knew the number was absurdly high, but it just went to show how highly I ced this man.

    ¡°I have nine hundred thousand Familiars, Jared. What do you think? Pretty neat, right?

    Silence¡­

    There was absolutely no way I could leak out a sound after hearing the absurd statement that came out of Neron¡¯s mouth as if he was just counting grains of sand.

    ¡®T-that¡¯s impossible, right? T-thousand¡­? Hundred thousand¡­? Nine hundred thousand?!¡¯

    ¡°THAT¡¯S IMPOSSIBLE!¡± I shrieked, unable to take any more of Neron¡¯s bad joke.

    ¡°Oh? But it¡¯s true. I mean, why would I lie? Well, not all of them are strong, but¡­ I have a few Trump Cards¡­¡± Neron muttered, once again talking about it so casually.

    I felt like I was having a heart attack.

    The old man in me wanted to spank this youth to correct him.

    Neron barely looked twenty-five, yet he was spouting such nonsense!

    Even if he graduated from Ainrk at fifteen years of age and became a Mage at sixteen¡­ that meant he only had nine years of service in his record. There was no way it would be possible to get that many Familiars in such a short while!

    ¡®Since it¡¯s Neron, he won¡¯t even be interested in the small fries¡­¡¯

    If I used that logic, his definition of ¡®not strong¡¯ would probably be the Imperial ss¡­ and the Trump Cards would be¡­

    >GULP<

    I couldn¡¯t bear to think about his words anymore. When he put it that way, it made me feel stupid for my pride in collecting a bunch of Wisps.

    ¡°I-I see¡­ that¡¯s good for you, Neron¡­¡± I strained a calm smile.

    He seemed to be enjoying my pain as heughed casually, creating some distance between us.

    ¡°Alright, Jared. You¡¯ll be bringing out your four Wisps out now. Since I understand how you were able to contract with them, this should be easier.¡± He smiled, once again returning the mood to a serious one.

    ¡°What exactly will we be doing?¡± Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked.

    Neron made a face that told me it would be quite exciting¡­ and intense!

    ¡°I¡¯ll be teaching you ¡®Bond¡¯ Magic and ¡®Fusion Form¡¯. By the end of these five days, you should be able to use it for; not only one, but; all of your Familiars¡­ and you should be able tobine your multiple Bonds and Fusions to create an entirely new state!¡±

    His smile widened, and as it did, I grinned in response.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have the power of all your cores and all your Familiars¡­ how sweet is that?¡±

 Chapter 219

    Bond Souls, also known as Familiars,e in different shapes and sizes.

    They have various levels of power based on their capabilities, but there is one thing they all have inmon¨Cother than the desire to seek a home¨Cthe power to achieve ¡®Bond Magic¡¯.

    Mages could utilize their Familiars and use ¡®Bond Magic¡¯, which simply involved allowing the Familiar to use their attributes and form spells.

    For this reason, Familiars are considered extremely useful for Mages, since they would be able to utilize Magic that is not in their area of specialty.

    However, there is another use of Familiars. That is Fusion!

    Fusion simply means the mixing of a Mage¡¯s Mana and a Familiar¡¯s forming something new and more powerful.

    Only a few Mages could achieveplete Fusion with their Familiars, which would allow them topletely use a heightened version of Bond Magic and even strengthen their personal Magic. The best part of Fusion is the new Magic that would be birthed from mixing two different Mana¡­

    ¡­ Fusion Magic!

    *******

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡±

    ¡°This is seriously hard¡­¡±

    I fell on my back and gave more heavy breaths, feelingpletely spent. Fortunately, the soft grass beneath me was ready to receive my weight, so I didn¡¯t feel much of an impact when I fell.

    ¡°How¡­ haa¡­ do you manage so many?¡±

    My breath was strained and my eyes were heavy. I hadn¡¯t felt this exhausted in so long¨Cand considering how hectic my usual training always was, this was just too extreme.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re tired out already¡­ that¡¯s a bit disappointing.¡± Neron¡¯s voice appeared and I heard his footsteps approach me.

    I felt a bit of irritation wash over me once I heard hisments.

    The man brought his head above me and looked at my low estate with a smile on his face. It appeared he was satisfied with how much I was suffering.

    ¡°With this, I¡¯m convinced you¡¯re not a monster. If you mastered this easily, I would honestly be very freaked out.¡±

    Yep, I was right!

    ¡°Well, Ipletely suck at controlling my Familiars. You don¡¯t have to tell me¡­¡± I gave a tired groan as I struggled to rise from my back and sit on the dirt.

    ¡°No. Your level is pretty normal for your age. No, I could say you¡¯re progressing faster than normal¡­¡± Neron smiled.

    ¡°Normal isn¡¯t good enough!¡±

    While it may have seemed like I was being impatient, it was actually true that I couldn¡¯t measure my growth by normal standards. I was up against geniuses, so I had to grow at a much faster pace.

    ¡°Rx. Normally you should be growing at a faster rate, but it¡¯s difficult to do that with so many Familiars. In fact, it¡¯ll be impossible for others.¡± Neron spoke in an attempt to dissuade me from my feelings of dissatisfaction.

    I fell silent. It was dangerous to feel content with my pace, but I couldn¡¯t ignore the words of my teacher, now, could I?

    ¡°Once you get used to it, your progress will be much faster. Trust me.¡±

    My training was supposed tost for five days.

    In this span of time, I needed to be able to bond with each and every one of my Wisps¡­ and after that; I was also going to fuse with every one at once.

    So far, my training was to infuse my Mana and also that of my Familiars. Doing it with one or two at once wasn¡¯t very hard, but the difficulty drastically rose once I started trying to use three at once. Four waspletely impossible.

    I had been up to this for so many hours that Ipletely spent my Mana and Stamina. It was tempting to use a Recovery Potion. Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t bring any with me.

    ¡°Haa¡­ I¡¯m exhausted!¡±

    The moment I said this, four glimmers of light appeared.

    They looked like energy clusters, and I knew exactly what these entities were¨Cmy Familiars.

    ¡°Looks like our master is having some problems harnessing us properly.¡±

    ¡°How pathetic.¡±

    ¡°You can do it if you try.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha! This is so much fun to watch.¡±

    I nearly cringed with their words assailing me.

    ¡°Tch.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha. Your Familiars are actually really cute.¡± Neronughed along with them.

    Now, that only made me feel worse.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, you guys are having fun at my expense, right? How petty.¡± I murmured.

    Theughing didn¡¯t stop, so I simply ignored everyone who was happy with my pain. Rising to my feet, I stared at Neron and got a bit curious.

    ¡°Hey, Neron¡­ why don¡¯t you show me how it¡¯s done?¡± I smiled with a bit of mischief hidden within.

    ¡°Oh? It¡¯s about time you asked.¡± He grinned.

    ¡®Oh? He¡¯s really going to show me? Nicee!!!¡¯

    I peeled my eyes open, and even the Wisps stopped ying Around. Everyone focused on Neron, who seemed to just casually smile.

    ¡°Hmm. Which ones should I choose?¡± He murmured to himself.

    ¡°How many can you fuse with at once?¡± I asked with a curious expression.

    ¡°Well, about a thousand at a time. That¡¯s my limit.¡±

    ¡®E-EHHHHH?!¡¯

    That was an awful lot. He was basicallybining various energies that were different from each other¡­ all to form something new and powerful.

    ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡±

    Neron shrugged at my words.

    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m just going to show you a Fusion Form with five of them. You can use it as a point of reference for your training.¡±

    I nodded, ready to fully learn.

    ¡°Welp. Here goes¡­¡±

    My master sighed, and suddenly multiple forms of energy began swelling from within him. They swirled around his body¡­ and within a moment, Neron¡¯s bodypletely transformed.

    His dark hair took on a green form and began glowing and sparkling like mes. His arms had an orange color, his legs had a purple hue. He had a ming tail that shone like gold¡­ and his outfitpletely burst like white mes.

    Stuff like horns appeared from his forehead, and sparks of lightning appeared around him. The oppressive Mana he leaked out was simply overwhelming! So, this was¨C!!!

    ¡°¨CGrand Fusion Form.¡± Neron smiled, coated with so much power.

    It was amazing!

    ¡°So, this¡­ is what I need to achieve¡­?!¡±

    It seemed like a realm far beyond me. However, this lit up a me of challenge within me.

 Chapter 220 - Teacher And Apprentice

    Imagine making soup.

    Yes, I mean the one you eat!

    The perfect brew is made by adding several diverse ingredients to form a perfect blend of varying items. These opposing vorsbine as theyplement each other, forming a delicious harmony.

    The same can be said for Fusion.

    Mixing mana of varying kinds together to achieve a more powerful result¡­ wasn¡¯t that just the epitome of mastery?

    Just as it took great skill and time to achieve a desirable mix of ingredients and cook the ultimate soup, arriving at Fusion took an equal¡ªif not greater amount of ability. As a result, it was hard enough for a Mage to mix his/her Mana with a Familiar.

    Yet, this man in front of me could Fuse with a thousand¡­ and right before my eyes¡­ hebined his Mana with five separate Familiars.

    ¡®This man¡­ is most certainly the most skilled Magic User I have ever seen!¡¯

    He was stronger than my closest allies, even more skilled than the Grand Mages I knew of at the time. Judging by the quantity of his Mana, his control over it, and then the mastery of all those Familiars; no one I knew could defeat this man.

    ¡°As you can see¡­ Grand Fusion Form is the more advanced version of Fusion. It allows you tobine more than one Familiar¡¯s Mana. Naturally, your individual Magic will improve in this state, as well as the Bond Magic of every one of your Familiars. Finally, bybining the Mana of your various familiars, you can arrive at so manybinations of spells.¡± Neron lectured as I simply opened my mouth and ears in wonder.

    ¡°In my current state, I can make over a hundred Spells thanks to thebination of all my currently fused Familiars. If you calcte the nine hundred thousand Familiars in my possession, you should be looking at billions, if not trillions of spells I can ess as a result of mybination.¡±

    ¡®I-is this guy omnipotent?! With so many of them, wouldn¡¯t he be able to do anything?!¡¯

    Those would have been my thoughts if I was a na?ve individual. But I knew better.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s still not enough for you?¡± My voice leaked out as I seriously looked at Neron.

    ¡°No. Not in the slightest. For all I know, there could be a trillion more Spells I can not use. Isn¡¯t that already plenty away from perfection?¡±

    I understood his feelings because I was the exact same way. Some could call it greed or destructive obsession, but it was human nature to always desire more.

    Before my death, I thought it would be simply satisfying to be able to produce Magic, no matter how simple or little. However, now that I had gotten my dying wish, I still sought more.

    In that sense, I only thought Neron¡¯s achievements were unfathomable because of my low estate. Once I reached the summit he was standing on, I woulde to realize that there was still much to be achieved.

    ¡°My final goal¡­ is to achieve INFINITY.¡±

    The moment he said that, my eyes bulged¡­ and I smiled widely.

    ¡°Me too!¡±

    Our eyes interlocked, burning with passion for Magic.

    Alphonse, my Magic Tutor, was a great man. He would be considered very powerful in this world¡ªand his ability to use Original Magic ced him on the pedestal of Magic. However¡­

    ¡­ Compared to Neron Kaelid, my grandfather was far too weak.

    I didn¡¯t mean this with only the idea of ability in mind. Sure, Neron was most likely more powerful than Alphonse¡­ but that wasn¡¯t all I was concerned with.

    His eyes disyed the same kind as mine. We both wanted to reach the pinnacle of Magic, and we didn¡¯t let the boundaries ofmon sense define our dreams. Yes, Neron was like me and I was like him. In that sense, perhaps¡­ he would be the perfect tutor for me!

    ¡°Alright, then¡­¡± He muttered, and the energy around him faded away.

    The environment went back to normal, and slowly, I felt the surge of excitement in my heart simmer down.

    ¡°¡­ You should resume your training now. I expect good things.¡±

    His brilliant smile and confident tone spoke volumes. It was as of he was certain I could achieve this feat.

    ¡®Throughout my life, I¡¯ve always had people believe in me¡ªmy parents, my townsfolk¡­ my friends-¡ªand their encouragement gave me strength every single time.¡¯

    This time wasn¡¯t going to be an exception¡­

    ¡°Sure! You just watch!¡±

    ¡­ I was going to make sure never to betray the expectations of those I truly looked up to!

    *******

    A day passed.

    Two went by.

    And in no time¡­ five days psed.

    Evening came by, and I was still in the backyard of Neron¡¯s staff office. The moon had already begun rearing its head, but the desire to leave was far from my heart.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re still at it, uh?¡± Neron smiled,ing out of the back area of his office¡¯s interior.

    He had been sorting some things since he would be leaving the Academy in a short while. I didn¡¯t let that distract me, though. After all, I was already very close to my desired result.

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re going to be ending things now, Jared. I¡¯m heading out. Plus, this is already Friday. You should enjoy the rest of the day before it¡¯s over.¡±

    The day was practically gone already, but I understood his sentiment.

    ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s fine¡­ I suppose that¡¯s enough for today.¡±

    Neron was outfitted a bit differently this evening.

    He had a dark hooded cloak on, and his inner outfit was also raven-ck. It was as though the attire was designed to blend into the darkness. His cool expressionpletely matched his noir clothing.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re good to go.¡± I smiled at him. ¡°Not going to take any luggage with you?¡±

    The man just shrugged my question off. The fact that he was going on quite an important trip meant he couldn¡¯t just go empty-handed, right?

    ¡®Well, maybe his luggage is already at his destination¡­ or he can use space magic.¡¯

    Either way, it¡¯s not exactly a problem.

 Chapter 221 - Departure

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be off now. Jared¡­ you take care of yourself, okay?¡±

    I smiled at Neron and nodded.

    We didn¡¯t need many words to correspond to whatever we had in our respective heads.

    There was bound to be some ¡®funny business¡¯ to ur in his absence, mostly having to do with whatever penalty I would be getting from the higher-ups.

    In the few days I had gotten to know my dear teacher, it was evident to me that he was simr to me in many aspects¨Cthat included thought faculties as well. He must have also suspected a few things on his own.

    ¡°You should take care of yourself too¡­¡± I returned his words, watching as he turned his back and began leaving.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    In a sh¨Cno, faster than that-¨CNeron vanished from my sight. The evening wind howled as my outfit soaked in the chilly breeze, allowing it to tingle my tired body.

    ¡°Huu¡­ looks like he was right. I should rest up a bit¡­¡± My smile showed hints of exhaustion and I copsed to the ground.

    THUMP

    I didn¡¯t even feel the impact. My numb body simply went into a brief moment of hibernation. One could question my decision to stay out in the open¨Cunguarded. It wasn¡¯t a safe choice.

    However, it was certain I wasn¡¯t in any form of danger at the moment. I just needed a moment to catch my breath.

    ¡®He¡¯s gone¡­ in two days, no, I basically have one whole day left. I¡¯ll be getting my punishment then, uh?¡¯

    There were many ways to wiggle out of this one, so I had to y my cards well. The problem was the ¡®other party¡¯. Whoever was sent after me, most likely the mastermind himself¨Cor someone closely rted¨Cwas already in Aink. That much I was certain of.

    Everything added up, except the fact that I couldn¡¯t predict what would happen next.

    ¡®What will his move be? I can¡¯t wait to find out¡­¡¯

    He had better pray I wasn¡¯t going to survive from whatever scheme he had going since I would be nabbing him right after he yed his card.

    ¡®Huuu¡­ training, nning, and so many other things. I¡¯ve gotten quite busy, eh?¡¯

    It couldn¡¯t be helped, though.

    The breeze blew on me for much longer, and the orange sky turned darker. Once I realized that the moon had shown its full splendor, my body limply rose, and I brushed off whatever remnant of dust hung to my outfit.

    It took a few seconds for the thought to register that I didn¡¯t need to do that. My outfits were enchanted, after all.

    ¡°I should get going now.¡± My lips parted and words came out as I stared at the night sky.

    I was sure it hadn¡¯t reached curfew yet, but¡­ one can¡¯t be too sure.

    Looking at the brightly lit path before me¨Cilluminated by several magically powered streetmps-¨CI began moving calmly to my destination.

    It was time to head to my dorm.

    ¡®At this time, there should still be a bunch hanging around, but¡­¡¯

    It didn¡¯t matter to me.

    For this week, and most likely the next days toe, the path of solitude was the only clear way I could traverse. With so many uncertainties hanging above me¡­ I found myself strained across many sides.

    ¡®I just wish these days would pse quickly¡­¡¯

    More winds howled, the greens danced, the sky grew darker¡­ and I vanished amid the scenery¨Ccontemting as I walked home.

    ************

    ¡°He has left Ainrk Academy, uh? Finally¡­¡± A voice rang out in the darkness.

    It was apletely dark ce¨Clike an alternate dimension filled with nothing but ck.

    There seemed to be multiple individuals in this ne, yet only two were engaged in a conversation.

    ¡°So, should we attack now?¡± A husky, impatient voice surged forth.

    It belonged to Kahn-¨Cthe Shadow Demon that plunged a portion of the Eastern Kingdom into ruin. His eyes narrow as they could see the premises of Ainrk Academy. The screen he watched disyed thendscape like a magical mirror.

    ¡°No. Not yet¡­¡± The first voice called out.

    While Kahn was raring to go, the other man¨Cthe same one who had approached the Demon not long ago-¨Cwas exercising great caution.

    ¡°Why?¡± Kahn snapped in slight annoyance.

    The evil monstrosity red at the man who stood across from him. Even though they were temporary partners, he still didn¡¯t trust the stranger. Was he trying to go back on their deal? Kahn couldn¡¯t shake off his unease.

    ¡°Rx. I don¡¯t n on changing the n. It¡¯s just that Neron hasn¡¯tpletely left the area. We must take extra caution to ensure he has a distance of a hundred miles, at least. Only then can weunch an assault.¡±

    Kahn¡¯s re loosened a bit.

    He kept hearing about the Neron Kaelid man as though he wasn¡¯t a mere human. That alone seemed to put the Demon in a wary spot.

    ¡°Plus. Even with Neron gone, there are still a lot of strong people in the Academy¨Cmyself included. If you attack now, I¡¯ll be forced to put you down. I don¡¯t want to do that.¡±

    The man¡¯s voice sounded serious, and the darkness surrounding them twitched.

    Neron knew he was in a dangerous spot.

    Being trapped in the human¡¯s domain meant he would not have an even battle. Perhaps his ¡®partner¡¯ was waiting for a chance to im his head.

    ¡°Sheesh, I¡¯ve told you several times¡­ I don¡¯t have the intention to fight you. You have to kill someone for me, don¡¯t you?¡± The man, who sensed Kahn¡¯s slight bloodlust, quickly retorted.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you kill him yourself?¡±

    There was an ufortable pause in the monochrome room¨Cfilled with pitch ck darkness.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s not your business, now, is it? Just know that I¡¯ve tried a couple of means already¡­ he just seems to slip out of my grasp. That Jared Leonard is one tricky kid¡­¡± There seemed to be a bit of frustration in the man¡¯s voice as he spoke.

    But that onlysted for a short moment.

    ¡°In the end, though, he¡¯s still a kid. There¡¯s no way someone of his caliber should be able to beat you¡­ right?¡±

    Kahn chuckled a little. The man across from him had just told a bad joke.

    ¡°Not a chance.¡±

 Chapter 222 - Thorough Preparation

    A day passed in the blink of an eye, and a letter arrived in front of my room.

    While Saturday was filled with mostly leisurely activities, most students were busy with chores. Since they had messed up their rooms and were carried away by the break we were given, they realized that we would soon resume ss.

    That meant they had to double down.

    It was of no consequence to me, though. Using Spellcraft, I maintained the quality of my room just well. My clothes were enchanted with Magic and were in top condition. All my books and materials were neatly arranged¡­ and my ¡®research items¡¯ were safely stored away in apartment somewhere.

    With that, I spent most of my time getting a feel of what Neron and I discussed¡ªcreating a Subcore within my existing Mana Core.

    It was difficult, but I got the hang of things quickly. Since I had been able to perceive and control the microscopic Mana Particles within me a few days from my birth, it didn¡¯t take long to get a feel of the concept.

    But, as expected, it would take a lot of time toplete a single Subcore. It was mostly due to my inexperience.

    ¡®Hopefully, it gets easier with time¡­¡¯

    My eyes closed and I spent a great deal of time meditating¡ªcircting my Mana and concentrating on my only White core. It wasn¡¯t until after I decided to take a break that I felt a strange presence in front of my door.

    ¡®What¡¯s that?¡¯

    Being adept at sensory Magic, I realized a person had been standing directly at my door front. Well, there was no one there anymore¡­ but something lingered beyond the structure.

    Sighing a bit in annoyance, I jumped from my bed and opened my door. That was when I found the letter.

    It came from Ainrk¡¯s council and it was simply reminding me about my scheduled meeting with them the next day.

    ¡°So, tomorrow at noon, eh?¡± I sighed.

    The venue was stipted there, as well as strict warnings if I failed to show up. I rolled my eyes as I went over the details. One would think they were overreacting, but considering how I ruined an annual event and brutalized someone with high status, this was only natural.

    Of course, this was simply the front my attacker was utilizing against me. Whatever card he wanted to use was tied to this punishment being dished out to me.

    I still didn¡¯t know why someone would be so persistent with killing me, but I would soon find out¡ªI guessed.

    ¡®This has gone beyond some regr noble skirmishes, and it¡¯s too organized to be someone with a grudge¡­¡¯

    My adversary was formidable and very intelligent. There had to be a deeper purpose than some shallow reason. Several reasons popped into my mind, but without much to go on, I couldn¡¯t rely on any of them.

    ¡°This letter is basically your invitation, isn¡¯t it? Whatever you¡¯re trying to pull¡­ will take ce tomorrow, right? Or maybe¡­¡±

    ¡®Pfft. I¡¯m not an idiot!¡¯

    Still, it would be quite the sight to see how things would progress.

    ¡®I suppose we¡¯ll see soon¡­¡¯

    After my slight moments of contemtion, I burned the letter and resumed my meditation. Making sure not to push myself so hard, I relied on a few potions for bnce. Once it was 7:00 PM in the night, I concluded most of what I was about to do.

    In preparation for my big day, I had to sleep¡­ no?

    I rested my head on my bed and willed myself into unconsciousness.

    ¡®I¡¯ve done all I can¡­ there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll lose!¡¯ With this resolute thought in mind, everything drifted into darkness and I slept off.

    *******

    It was dark¡ªnot the kind of pitch ck that existed in an entirely isted room, no¡ªthis was brought about by nighttime.

    It waste at night in Ainrk Academy, past curfew.

    The environment was in a lull, and there was not a single soul in sight. Lamp Posts provided light all around the campus, but even they were shining dimly to reflect the atmosphere of the current atmosphere.

    The moon was covered in some strange dark clouds, but it was no bother since Ainrk hardly had to rely on the illumination of the celestial body. Besides, no one required any form of light during this period. Now was the time for rest.

    Well, for the students, anyway.

    For the staff, though¡ªthe Lecturers who taught at the Academy-¡ªthey were simply getting started.

    In a secret hall, usually inessible to students, were the men and women who served as the nurturers of students in Ainrk Academy. This hall was protected by a barrier that made itpletely undetectable from the outside. It basically isted the building from all forms of interruption.

    Since this was achieved by high-ss Space Magic, no student could hope to fumble their way into therge structure.

    Within were senior lecturers, who sat on a higher pedestal than others, as well as the intermediate and lower staff¡ªall of whom were seated like students in the hall.

    There was someone else present. He had a special seat allocated to him and took the position of Vice Head of the Academy.

    As the current highest inmand in the Academy, he had the most prestige allocated to him.

    With the room filled with Lecturers, all over-¡ªthree Senior Lecturers at an elevated point and the others behind them-¡ªall facing the Vice Head, the session was about tomence.

    ¡°As is trite, we¡¯ll be having our Academic Review.¡± The older man addressed everyone who had eyes on him.

    The Academic Review urred once every semester. During every Academic Session, there were two Semesters than ran for Spring and Fall, respectively. The Review was meant to observe the initial phase of each session and determine modes of improvement as well as other factors moving on in the Institute.

    Subjects such as tests and examination questions were also discussed in these meetings. Needless to say, it was very crucial and of utmost necessity.

    So important, that all the top yers of the institute were in the same room¡­

 Chapter 223

    ¡°We were supposed to have this meeting tomorrow, as per the norms. However, after considering the opinion of a senior lecturer, I decided to make an exception and allow it for this night.¡±

    Usually, the Academic Review urred a week after the Inter-ss Exchange, or whatever event that went on during that period before the Exchange was invented. However, this time it couldn¡¯t be done in that manner.

    After all¡­

    ¡°We will also use this as a medium to decide what Penalty to give the young student who interrupted the Exchange.¡±

    ¡­ Jared Leonard¡¯s punishment was tomorrow. One of their goals was to determine what to do with the troublesomed. As a result, the meeting had to be tonight!

    ¡°Any objections?¡±

    No one said anything.

    It would be a long session, so they probably wanted to get the troublesome bits out of the way. Besides, anyone wouldmon sense knew it was practically impossible to change the mind of their Vice Head.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame one of us, Neron Kaelid, won¡¯t be here today. It can¡¯t be helped, though¡­¡±

    -

    Everyone kept silent.

    They knew full well that their colleague had aplicated work rtionship with Ainrk Academy which allowed him to be very unconventional in most of his endeavors. Unlike others, he never properly got sanctioned by the higher-ups as well.

    Besides, everyone in the room knew¡ªto an extent¡ªthe man¡¯s identity. He wasn¡¯t to be trifled with.

    Fortunately, he had been content with teaching the Lower ss First Years. That alone made it a relief for everyone.

    ¡°Since there are no objections, we will begin the meeting.¡±

    And so, in the Hall cut off from all of Ainrk Academy, the powerhouses began their meeting¡­ unaware of what was lurking in the darkness.

    Unknown to those within the secret confines of their very important meeting¡­ a very terrible storm was brewing¡­

    ¡­ And this storm wouldpletely alter Ainrk Academy as they knew it¡ªStudents and Staff alike

    *******

    Ainrk Academy, being one of the strongholds in the Eastern Kingdom, had one of the highest amounts of security.

    The barrier protecting it containedyers of Advanced Magic. Also, the level of Mana radiating within, for various purposes, made the Academy self-sustaining. There were guards who defended the institute from intruders¡ªnot that their services were especially needed.

    No fool would dare to invade a powerhouse that contained some of the most powerful figures in the Kingdom. They would simply be signing their death certificates¡ªthis was the general view of the public, and they had every right to think that way.

    However, an establishment¡¯s security is only as good as its information management.

    Once the enemy has intel on the inner workings of a ce, it bes easier for it to fall.

    *********

    ¡°How annoying¡­¡± A voice emerged from the darkness.

    The barrier around Ainrk prevented Kahn from infiltrating the Academy from any other angle except the front gate. As a result, he had to take the long approach, entering as though he was a legitimate visitor of the ce he was invading.

    After taking in a lot of information from the humans, Kahn was well aware of guerri tactics and the intelligence of invasion. With him by his lonesome, it would be difficult to seize the Academy¡­ especially if he needed to use such a straightforward approach.

    However¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll go along well. The other Lecturers won¡¯t disturb you since we¡¯re going to be in a meeting.¡± The man who had partnered up with him had said.

    Even if Kahn didn¡¯t fully trust him, he had to invade while relying on the strange man¡¯s intelligence. If what he said was right, then all he had to do was take care of the small fry guards that blocked the major areas he needed to pass through.

    Kahn was aware that their meeting would take very long, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to as well.

    ¡°I¡¯ll end this quickly¡­¡±

    He would simply finish the job, retrieve the information and treasure he needed from Ainrk, and return to his home¡ªthe Demon Realm.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    In a blur, the Shadow Demon charged at the grand entrance of Ainrk Academy¡ªblending into the darkness.

    His movements barely made any sound. It was swift and masterful, as a shadow that traversed an area. In quickshes, before the unsuspecting guards could even react, Kahn lunged his limbs at them, impaling the guards with the sharpened ws proceeding from them.

    The guards, taken byplete surprise, seemed to scream, but their voices didn¡¯t reach even their ears. They were forcefully silenced by Kahn¡¯s Magic, and as if that wasn¡¯t enough, Kahnpletely absorbed them into his shadow, dissolving the human bodies within himself.

    Once he was done with this role, he ventured into the Academy.

    The gates were locked, but that proved no problem for someone like him.

    Looking at the smallest gaps in the gates, Kahn slipped into the Academic walls, arriving at a grandpoundprised of several buildings. It was a beautiful sight to behold, but the Demon didn¡¯t have the time to gawk. He had a mission to fulfill!

    ¡®ording to him¡­ this isn¡¯t the true Academic grounds¡­¡¯ The darkened creature reasoned, following his aplice¡¯s description to spot the actual location of the true Ainrk Academy.

    Making his way through several buildings, undetected by the guards on patrol, he charged for one that seemed to ascend high into the night sky. Within were no small amount of people, as well as defensive Magic.

    Kahn was confident in his stealth abilities, but since the defense was very thick, he realized that fighting was the only option.

    And so, he sharpened his ws and coated his body with the evil Mana of Demons¡ªMiasma. Upon enhancing himself, he charged at the guards stationed at the front of the building, butchering them before they could make a sound.

    Blood spurted in the air, staining the floor and walls. A great amount of the red liquid flew in the Demon¡¯s direction, but was quickly evaporated by Kahn¡¯s Miasma, allowing none to even touch him.

    The dark being opened the doors of the building, gaining ess within.

    He saw several other humans who had yet to notice him. It was only a matter of time, though. So, he brandished his arms, ready to resume the ughter.

    ¡°How bothersome¡­¡±

 Chapter 224

    It didn¡¯t take very long for Kahn to see a portal leading to what seemed like another dimension within the building.

    After ughtering his way inside, he finally arrived at the room he needed to use in gaining ess to the true campus.

    The distortion before him twirled and swirled, emitting a purplish-blue glow.

    Kahn felt like he would get sucked into it if he moved any closer, so he simply maintained his distance. This was it!

    Beyond this portal was Ainrk Academy!

    Whaty beyond there could either be a trap or the genuine thing.

    ¡°Shadow¡­¡±

    In a whoosh, Kahn seemed to divide, and a copy of himself tore from the main body. There now existed two Kahns, though their physique told of the difference between the two.

    This duplicate had shorter horn-like ears. No spikes protruded from its shoulders either. It had a less menacing presence, and was also shorter than the original.

    ¡°Go. Observe.¡±

    Immediately responding to his instructions, the Shadow minion lunged toward the portal and vanished within it.

    Kahn watched the distortion swallow a vestige of himself, and then used his link to that vestige to observe what was happening on the other side. He closed his eyes, and his sight was opened in another ce.

    -

    He saw whatever his minion saw. It was indeed true! Beyond the swirling portal was their goal!

    ¡®Good¡­¡¯

    With that in mind, Kahn returned to his original senses and opened his eyes to see the warbling rift in front of him.

    He wasted no time stepping forward and entering the portal, feeling as space warped around him and his senses became distorted. He didn¡¯t panic, though.

    In a moment, the Demon appeared on the vast ins within the Academy.

    ¡°Haa¡­¡± Kahn sniffed the clear air within Ainrk Academy.

    The night breeze was wonderful, and the pleasant scent of nature made even the creature of evil satisfied. He raised both arms, as though weing a hug, and grinned to himself.

    ¡°This¡­ is it, ah?¡±

    Kahn¡¯s white eyes witnessed the beauty of the ce he was about to sully. Soon, it would be coated in darkness and fear, but the Demon couldn¡¯t care less. No¡­ perhaps he felt some form of excitement¡ªsomething welling up within him.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait¡­¡±

    Slits formed on his darkened face, revealing his sharpened ck teeth as he smiled widely.

    His other minion stood behind him, but not long after, several others appeared.

    Darkness surrounded the ins, and many Kahns could be seen touching the grass. Many Shadow Demons, all led by their general. Kahn stood, having so many versions of himself ready for a siege¡ªA One-Man Army!

    ¡°Let us do this. Today¡­ we shall strike the first blow to the human race!¡±

    An image appeared in Kahn¡¯s mind¡ªno, two did.

    One was of the few humans he actually acknowledged, and the pact he made with them. But, that was so long ago. Besides, humans were already a threat to his race! He didn¡¯t care about those words any longer.

    Then the second was the boy he was after. He had ingrained his picture in his head. There was no way he would forget his prey.

    There were several ways to kill the brat, but he had to go ording to n, and that was¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ll simply make hime to me. Now¡­¡±

    His minions readied themselves, awaitingmand.

    ¡°Wreak havoc and chaos! Let the carnage begin!¡±

    WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH

    In an instant, they vanished in the darkness, headed for their respective areas. Their ck gaits could barely be illuminated by the moonlight, yet they raced like sniveling rats, hoping for their share of despair.

    Kahn watched as he also began heading in a different direction.

    ¡®I¡¯m only meant to kill one of them, but¡­ why leave the rest alive?¡¯

    They would only be nuisances in the future.

    He had several targets.

    The monument, the library, the sacred area, the dorms, etc.

    By attacking several areas at once, no one would be able to fully understand what he was after¡ªat least, not until it was toote.

    Kahn¡¯s destination was the most pivotal area¡ªone which was indispensable to the operation. It was both an area of advantage and that of weakness.

    He couldn¡¯t leave that task to anyone but himself. Besides, ording to the words of the strange human shrouded in darkness¡­ his prey was going to make his way there.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting, Jared Leonard¡­¡±

    With this, Kahn vanished into the darkness as well.

    ********

    WHOOSH

    I swiftly rose from my bed, sitting upright in an instant.

    ¡®Something isn¡¯t right¡­¡¯

    My dark room was as it should have been, and while my vision was a little impaired, none of my senses were. I had prepared for this night since I realized the n of my opponent.

    ¡°He¡¯s going to use the Penalty as a distraction for me, but in actuality, he¡¯ll strike sooner. It has to be tonight!¡±

    My eyes darted at the clock, and it was around 11:00 PM. It was the perfect time to act, at least close to it. Why wasn¡¯t anyoneing?

    I had set lots of traps across my room and even prepared my cards well. Yet¡­ what was going on? No one wasing. I couldn¡¯t even sense anyone approaching my room at all.

    It was perplexing.

    ¡°Did I read too much into their action? Is the penalty really it? No¡­¡±

    I was certain my opponent was smarter than that.

    But, maybe I was miscalcting¡­

    Maybe¡­

    ¡­

    My eyes bulged as I felt something creep up my spine.

    I had been worried that I sensed no presence earlier, but now I could feel something approaching. No, that wasn¡¯t quite an apt description. It wasn¡¯t just one. They were several¡­ and judging by their movement patterns, it didn¡¯t seem like their target was me.

    It was at this moment that my eyes widened¡ªalmost to the point of being bloodshot.

    I WAS WRONG!

    I had thought the opponent would attack me in myfort zone, trying another assassination or something close¡­ but to think they would use this tactic! It was a bold move, but considering who I was up against, I couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility!

    ¡°They¡¯re trying to force my hand¡­¡±

    This was no longer a battle on my turf! The enemy was luring me out, and I had no choice but to respond. I could feel the presence around me increase. They were dark and sinister¡­ filled with bloodlust and malevolence.

    If they were this much and this powerful, then that could only mean one thing.

    I wasn¡¯t the only one they were after!

    ¡®This dorm¡­ is surrounded! We¡¯re hostages!¡¯

 Chapter 225

    My breathing was uneven as perspiration trailed down my face.

    I shivered as I felt the menacing beings creep around the building I was in. Their movements were uncoordinated, not befitting professionals. However, the killing intent they had far surpassed any I had ever encountered in this life.

    It was almost as if they weren¡¯t human!

    ¡®Shit, what¡¯s this?!¡¯

    I made a blunder.

    I had thought the enemy sought to ambush me, but who would have expected him to prepare such an borate scheme? At this rate, the other students were going to get caught up in this mess.

    ¡°Wha¡ª!!!¡± I quickly sprang to my feet upon realizing that our dorm had been breached.

    I sensed three of the evil presences inside the building. They were still on the ground floor, but it was only a matter of time before they made it up.

    ¡®The Dorm Master¡¯s quarters should be situated downstairs¡­¡¯ I reasoned, wondering if the usuallyckadaisical man had noticed the presence of whatever evil crept below.

    I didn¡¯t have time to waste¡­ if I didn¡¯t act now, then¡­

    ncing across the room, I spotted all the necessary things I needed to take. I wasn¡¯t confident in my current abilities, and the fact that I couldn¡¯t foresee this event made me even less certain that fighting was the right choice. However, it was already toote to retreat!

    ¡°I can only move forward!¡± Gritting my teeth, I prepared myself and frantically prepared my resources.

    My traps were wasted.

    My borate ns were ruined.

    All that was left¡­ was my ability topensate.

    BOOOOOMMM!!!

    I heard arge sound emanate from the ground floor. The force of whatever impacted was enough to shake the whole building. I nearly fell as a result of the tremors¡ªbut after using my Mana effectively, I regained my perfect form and prepared desperately.

    Since my attention was divided, I couldn¡¯tpletely tell, but a fierce fight was going on downstairs. It was most likely between the group that had entered the dorm and the staff responsible for our building.

    I didn¡¯t particrly like him, but since his strength was real¡ªat the very least, up to the standard of a Mage¡ªI tolerated the man.

    Even if the enemies were strong, surely, he could buy a few minutes¡­ right?

    ¡®Shit¡­ damnit!¡¯

    My senses picked up more enemies. The ones who had swarmed the building began converging at the point where the loud sound originated from. I heard the howls of the wind and felt more evil auras emanating from beneath me.

    It all happened too fast!

    More explosions erupted, and for a few seconds, the entire dorm shook violently¡ªalmost as if it would copse.

    Finally, themotion ceased, reced by a temporary dead calm that seemed to pierce my very soul. If I was na?ve, perhaps my mind would have concluded that our Dorm Master had won. However, I still sense the strong presence of the enemies. They seemed to be increasing in power and numbers.

    ¡°Ahhhhh!!!¡±

    ¡°What the hell?!¡±

    ¡°What the heck is going on downstairs?¡±

    ¡°Should I check it out?¡±

    ¡°The Dorm Master will handle it, right?¡±

    ¡°What if something really dangerous is going on?¡±

    ¡°I actually feel something scary.¡±

    ¡°I should just stay in my rooms¡­ just in case.¡±

    I began hearing the several grumblings of the students in their respective rooms. Usually, the building walls were soundproof, so no matter what a student did within their rooms couldn¡¯t be leaked out. For me to hear sounds must have meant that they were opening their doors, most likely to sneak a peek outside.

    After feeling such a terrible quake, it was no surprise. Some of the braver students were most likely going to check it out. But¡­

    ¡®None of you should move!¡¯ I gritted my teeth as I finished my preparations.

    Bam!

    I flung open the door of my room and darted across the dark hallway.

    The dimness around me was no problem since all my senses were currently heightened. My elevated body made its way downstairs as I jumped down the stairs in a hurry. One of the figures was already in the hallway of the first floor. I had to corner it¡­ fast!

    FWOOOOSSHHHH!!!

    My lightweight body glided through the air easily, thanks to my enchanted outfit.

    Fortunately, I was fast enough to block its path, just before it could reach any door in the vast hallway. My body trembling slightly, and my eyes fixed on the opponent, I prepared myself to give it all I had no matter the identity of the enemy¡­ until it registered to me!

    The figure appearing before my eyes¡­ I couldn¡¯t believe it!

    ¡°S-shadow Demon?! How?!¡±

    However, before I could even question the existence of this creature, itunched several parts of his shadow-like body, creating multiple spears to impale me.

    My eyes bulged and I forced myself to recover from the shock. Willing my body to move, I was fast enough to evade the multiple strikes even though the Demon caught me by surprise.

    I leaped back, creating some distance between us, but the monster sharply took the initiative and dived at me, wilding both arms as though they were sharpened ws. Its face cracked to form a malevolent smile, and its darkened body blended with the darkness.

    It truly was the kind of Demon I remembered!

    Multiple questions appeared in my head, but I temporarily locked them all away. Now was not the time to dwell on the ¡®whys¡¯ and ¡®hows¡¯. I had to fight! I had to win!

    That was all that currently mattered!

    WHOOOSSHHH

    I strengthened my body once more and dived headfirst into the approaching Demon.

    It seemed to delight in my recklessness and brought forth several spikes around his body to impale me from all sides. The sharp, ck needles lunged at me with devastating speed.

    I didn¡¯t falter in my motion, though. Using Spellcraft, I created several barriers to block each and every one of the spears that were about to assail me¡ªfocusing on the enemy in my line of sight.

    ¡°Die, monster!¡±

    I extended my hand and touched it with my Mana-coated hand.

    SHIIIIINNNNGGGGG

 Chapter 226

    Bright blue light shone from within the monster, causing its body to jerk violently.

    Its sturdy, shadowlike body began to spasm and change form incessantly. I watched as the sharp spears lost their luster and simply became dull, shapeless blobs. The blobs hardened as light traveled through the Shadow Demon¡¯s body and began to leak all around the monster¡¯s body.

    The ckness of the Demon¡¯s body turned ashen and it began to crumble apart. At this point, the creature looked bloated and rigid, like an overgrown statue, ready to burst.

    BOOOOMMM!!!

    The Demon died¡ªrather, it exploded¡ªturning into particles of dust and smoke.

    I watched as the grey remains of the monster I slew fall on the ground, looking around me to see no semnce of it anywhere¡­ though I sensed the presence of two more climbing the stairs.

    CREAKKK

    Doors opened and I noticed that students were watching me with various expressions; surprise, fear, and curiosity. I didn¡¯t have the time to attend to all of them since I was about to encounter more enemies. Clicking my tongue as I prepared for the next bombardment, I red at the few I noticed poking their heads.

    ¡°SHUT YOUR DOORS AND STAY INDOORS!¡±

    My scream resembled a battle cry, and I stormed forward¡ªcharging at the two Shadow Demons who had gotten wind of my presence for sure.

    SWOOOOOSSSHHHH

    I created a de of light, ensuring I condensed it with enough light and pure manner, allowing me to slice through the several dark spears that came my way.

    SWISH

    WHOOOOSHHH

    My steps quickened as my flow became more fluid. My body gradually became ustomed to their patterns and the speed within me limated. Little beads of sweat appeared on my face, but it was due to the worrisome thoughts going on in my head, not forck of confidence.

    ¡®If it¡¯s just these¡­ I can win!¡¯

    I brandished my de of light on one hand and prepared a great deal of Mana on my second.

    The two Shadow Demons appeared flustered by my closeness and began generating several more shadow spikes. This time, they were like projectiles¡ªbullets¡ªflying my way.

    I couldn¡¯t evade them all, not with the way I currently was.

    The only way out was through!

    My brain went to work and my expert control over Mana manifested. Instantly, a powerful shield formed around me. Usually, regr barriers would do very little to stop Shadow Demons, however¡­ I infused quite a deal of Mana into it, plus the density could not bepared to regr barriers.

    As a result, it was watertight!

    CLANGANGANG

    Sounds like deflected metal echoed across the hallway/stairs as their hardened bullets failed to infiltrate my defenses.

    I raised my de and prepared my sh. With my eyes already focused on the two, and my distance closed, I went for the kill.

    The Demons, not even caring for their lives, lunged thest of their attacks¡ªtheir ws- and aimed to kill me.

    SKRRRRIIIIIIII

    Noise akin to grating metal sounded as neither attack had enough luster to reach me.

    SWOOOSHHHH

    WHUUMM

    I used my de of light to instantly cut through one of my enemies while lunging my fist at the other. The exploding light that emanated from both caused them to explode into dust, same as thest one I killed.

    ¡®That makes three!¡¯

    I had several questions and my confusion intensified, but it still wasn¡¯t time to give them any attention. I could still sense more enemies downstairs, after all.

    I would be entering a den of enemies, there was no way I could be burdened by my thoughts¡­ or worries!

    ¡°Hey!¡± I shouted, darting my vision at a student who was peeping at my battle the whole time¡ªdespite my warnings.

    ¡°Eeek!¡± He let out a weak squeak.

    I saw in his eyes the dim spark that belonged only to weaklings who had too much curiosity. People like him were bound to die easily!

    ¡°Go knock on all the doors in this hallway and give everyone my message!¡± I addressed him with an urgent tone and nearly bloodshot eyes.

    He nodded, both in terror and a form of excitement.

    ¡®He¡¯s crazy!¡¯ My mind rang.

    But that made the guy perfect for this job.

    ¡°Tell them we¡¯re under attack. Make sure to let everyone know that none of them are safe! Go to the topmost floor, the one that belongs to the Elite Ten! Stay there and keep safe.¡± I barked, making sure my focus didn¡¯t waver from the enemies that were fast approaching.

    The Elite Ten who upied the topmost floors¡­ they were cowards, but still more powerful than the other students here. If they were to go there, I could at least be at ease about their safety and focus more on the Demons that sought destruction.

    Besides, I knew Jerry¡ªone of the Elites¡ªwould do his best to protect everyone. Once I was done with the mess downstairs, I would go to check how they were faring.

    This was the best I could do¡­ given the circumstances.

    ¡°Go! Do it now!¡± I shouted at the hesitant boy.

    ¡°A-ah, okay!¡± He got out of his room and dashed toward a nearby door to knock.

    That was thest I saw of him¡ªor even thought of him¡ªbefore focusing on the ones who would preupy my entire being until they were dead.

    ¡°Rahhhh!!!¡±

    I yelled, ensuring their attention would be drawn to me, and only me.

    The Shadow Demons¡ªwho were already ascending the stairs¡ªsaw me charging at them and took defensive stances.

    Seeing as their numbers were easily over ten, I couldn¡¯t afford to even let up for even a moment. I was at a major disadvantage, my mind was rattled, they had the initiative¡­ I could go on about how unfair this was.

    The only thing I had to bnce things out was knowledge!

    Shadow Demons had high resistance to physical attacks, but were weaker to Magic. Their major weakness among the elemental attributes was light. However, pure Mana-based attacks also worked perfectly fine.

    Armed with extensive knowledge and experience, I could somehow manage against them, but¡­ I still felt something was off.

    No matter, all that mattered now was to kill my enemies¡­ before they killed me!

 Chapter 227

    Shadow Demons are one of the six tribes of the Demon race.

    They possess bodies that allow them to phase through physical matter and also increase their density to bolster defense. Using their bodies as the ultimate weapon, no other Demon tribe boasts versatility as much as they.

    They also possess resistance to physical attacks and can bypass normal defenses by exploiting the smallest gaps. As a result, even stronger opponents end up losing to them.

    Well, at least back in my days.

    The war against the Demons was a harsh one that imed many lives. We couldn¡¯t continue down that path, which is why we settled for a peace treaty.

    Of course, things weren¡¯t so simple. Humans would never allow the threat of the Demon scourge to persist, and the Demons couldn¡¯t ignore the threat humans posed to their race.

    Ultimately, the Hero Party¡ªof which I was a member¡ªmade a deal with the so-called Devils. The pact satisfied both parties, and we were ultimately satisfied with the results.

    The Demons withdrew their forces, and the humans were convinced that their race was wiped out¡ªor nearly.

    Humans didn¡¯t pay much mind to the Demons and would eventually treat them as fairy tales. As a result, the fear that fueled the war was quelled. Lewis Griffith¡ªme at the time-¡ªwas the one who proposed this treaty, seeing as there was no other way to end things without resulting in a major loss on both sides.

    It was a risky venture, especially considering that the Demons could betray them. Of course, there were countermeasures put in ce in case that happened, but¡­ the Great Sage¡ªI¡ªfelt the Demons wouldn¡¯t betray the pact.

    The results were satisfactory¡­ and the world enjoyed peace for over five hundred years.

    Even when I reincarnated, I was happy to find out that Demons were no more than fairy tales and vestiges of history. I was grateful for both sides, relieved that the n went well even after everyone¡¯s death.

    That was why I was so surprised to see a Shadow Demon!

    What are they doing here?

    What of the pact?

    Why now?

    Are my enemies the demons?

    Did they find out I reincarnated?

    But, then that would mean¡­

    What is going on?!

    My mind was in disarray as multiple thoughts surged in my mind.

    In the end, these thoughts would only hinder me in my fight, so I sealed them away.

    I was initially hesitant to y the first Shadow Demon I came across, especially since it reminded me of an old acquaintance¡ªa very troublesome one. However, considering the circumstances; the fact that many of them surrounded the dorm in a siege, they killed the Dorm Master, and leaked out such bloodlust; I had no choice but to steel my resolve and go in for the kill.

    They betrayed us first; I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.

    No, it was too soon to conclude that the entire Demon race was in on this. I only saw Shadow Demons, and a few of them for that matterpared to their actual numbers.

    It could be that a few had gone rogue; that was actually more usible.

    I could suspect a few who could pull that off¡­ like Kahn, the Demon Lord at the time. But, he was too loyal to the Demon King to betray the pact. His loyalty was what bred his hate for humans, to begin with, so I couldn¡¯t really suspect him.

    Then what was the matter? Did something happen to the Demon King? Did the humans do something first? Was this the reason Neron left Ainrk?

    So many inquisitions, no time to answer them.

    My subconscious swirled around these thoughts as I brandished my de of light and slew my opponents.

    SWOOOSHHH!!!

    Against me, the Demons were no match!

    Not only was I experienced in their moves, but I also knew their weaknesses, so it was easy to dispatch them. Fortunately, these were only clones. I didn¡¯t sense any form of intelligence from them, which was why I didn¡¯t attempt to converse while fighting.

    WHOOOOSHHHH

    I sped across the room and faced off the final opponent, impatiently cleaving through its body with an intense light-attributed stroke.

    It shrieked in pain and I plunged in for the finishing stroke.

    BOOOOOMMM!!!

    It exploded into particles of dust, causing me to resume my internal deliberation.

    Clones of this level meant that my actual opponent was a powerful Demon. Was it a Captain? I certainly hoped it wasn¡¯t a General!

    The image of my enemy shed in my head. He was a Senior Lecturer within Ainrk, and now that I began seeking a rational exnation, I was beginning to see the light.

    Was it possible that ¡®he¡¯ was a Demon in disguise? It would make sense that hemanded these Shadow Demons.

    But, going this far would mean he was risking his position in Ainrk. Was it just for me, or did he have another objective? I wasn¡¯t so conceited as to believe the former so I went with thetter.

    There was certainly something bigger in the works here.

    But, that also led me to another conundrum.

    Shadow Demons were impressive in many areas, but intelligence wasn¡¯t one of them.

    My opponent was a brilliant strategist; there was absolutely no way Shadow Demons could be responsible for that, especially if I used someone like Kahn as a standard.

    They were too dense and inflexible¡ªa sharp contrast to the nature of their bodies.

    ¡®Then what the heck is going on here? An alliance?¡± That made more sense, but more questions popped up.

    I had gotten rid of the Demons within the vicinity, but my mind wasn¡¯t set at ease. Something this grave was bound to be more borate. I suspected that things weren¡¯t over¡ªnot by a long shot.

    ¡®I¡¯m currentlycking in information¡­¡¯

    Using that as my objective, I quickly took the initiative this time.

    ¡°[Spy Automaton Creation: Basic]¡±

    A creature formed as a Magic Circle appeared in the air, just a few meters from me.

    It was like a one-eyed bat, having red eyes.

    ¡°[Concealment]¡± I cast an Intermediate stealth Spell on it, causing the construct to turn invisible.

    I nodded satisfactorily. This would do, for now. Given the situation, nothing was more optimal.

    ¡°Go. Scour the area¡­¡±

 Chapter 228

    Automatons could function without the need to control them remotely, which is why I chose one to scour the area for me.

    I watched the invisible bat fly out of one of the openings a Shadow Demon probably made when infiltrating this building.

    Of course, since my eyes¡ªno, my whole body too¡ªwere enhanced with Magic, I could make out the automaton¡¯s soaring form.

    It was made using Earth Magic, making it quite sturdy, but since it was a basic summon, I didn¡¯t expect much in the department of offense and durability.

    It was mostly for spying, after all. That was why I even cast a cloaking spell on it.

    I needed to figure out what was going on. Hopefully, my Spell and the darkness served as a good cover for my little Automaton.

    ¡®I¡¯m happy I learned that Spell¡­¡¯

    Thanks to my interest in a lot of fields, I ended up diversifying and learning lots of things in various areas. Automaton creation was one of them. The field would be considered very difficult to master, especially for someone my age¡ªand they would be right.

    Fortunately, my past knowledge gave me an edge since I had quite the knowledge and experience handling Golems and their designs.

    ¡®Automatons are simply modern upgrades to the Golems¡­¡¯

    It was still difficult, so I could only reach the Basic Level. But, this much was plenty for me. After all, there were tons of other fields that required my notice.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough of that¡­¡± I whispered, slightly chastising myself for getting carried away in my thoughts.

    I looked at the floor, a distance from me, and saw a human lying in his pool of blood. I recognized that face well. It was the Dorm Master.

    He had been impaled in many areas, bleeding out of so many openings in his body. His blood had turned dark thanks to theck of oxygen in them, and I could smell the gore from my distance.

    Many would consider the sight sickening, but I only found it sad¡ªa vestige of some memories I would very much like to forget.

    My eyes left the dead man and trailed to the flight of stairs that hung before me.

    With the immediate threat extinguished, it was best to check out how the other students were faring. It would take some time before the Automatonpleted its mission.

    It was a bother. I sincerely wished none of the students were here with me. That way, I could act more proactively, but¡­

    ¡°JAREEEDDDD!!!¡± I heard a couple of voices call after me.

    My ears prickled, and I sharply tilted my head upward to see three people rushing down the stairs. My eyes widened as I recognized them immediately.

    Edward, Jerry¡­ and that kid that was peeping through the door back then¡ªthe one I gave the mission to.

    ¡®For them to be here, that means everyone is probably safe¡­¡¯

    ¡°You guys¡­¡± I made to speak but was assailed by their torrents of questions.

    ¡°Jared, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°The tremors, what caused it?¡±

    ¡°I-Ipleted the mission!¡±

    The three boys finally finished descending the stairs and presented themselves before me, expecting my response.

    I simply sighed and cast a sidelong nce at the corner of the room where our Dorm Master drowned in his blood. The boys followed by gaze, and a few seconds after.

    ¡°Bleughh!¡±

    The weakling vomited, and soon after, Jerry and Edward both made sick expressions. The gore seemed to overwhelm them, so much so that they nced at me with surprise that I was unfazed by the sight.

    ¡°When I descended, he was like that.¡± I calmly retorted, hoping they didn¡¯t have any funny thoughts and maybe suspected me of killing the man.

    ¡°W-who¡­ what could have done this?¡±

    ¡°Urh, this is so¡­¡±

    ¡°Blueughhhhhh!!!¡±

    I grew a bit irritated by the vomit the other boy kept splurging, even more than the corpse within my line of sight.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what they are, but¡­ I will soon find out. How about everyone? How are they?¡± I asked with concern.

    ¡°A-ah, they¡¯re safely tucked upstairs. The other Elites are guarding them.¡±

    I gave a dubious look at Jerry the moment he uttered hisst statement, causing him to look a bit nervous. He soon felt like correcting himself, but I raised my hand to stop him before he could say any more.

    Anyone who watched would have been surprised if they knew who the senior one among us was. In any case, Jerry kept quiet, allowing me to give a deep sigh.

    ¡°I can¡¯t assess the situation properly currently. I sent an Automaton to check our vicinity. It should be done in a few minutes. In any case, we should prepare for the worst.¡±

    My voice sounded grave, obviously frightening the two. I was sure the little vomiter had told them what he saw when he peeped¡ªhow the enemy wasn¡¯t human. I allowed their imagination to run wild a little.

    ¡°W-what¡¯s the worst?¡± Jerry was the first to speak, clearly trying to stay calm.

    Was it his pride as a senior, or¡­ did he really feel he could handle it?

    ¡°An invasion. The whole Academy could be infested with the enemy. I killed about thirteen just now, but judging from my calctions, they should be close to a hundred.¡± I murmured.

    The duo before me appeared fazed.

    I wondered what was more surprising to them¡ªthe numbers of the foes we had to defeat, or the fact that I casually mentioned killing. There were no bodies around, though¡ªwell, other than that of a hero we died fending off the enemy¡­ probably.

    That should have at least told them our opponents weren¡¯t human.

    Besides, if they didn¡¯t believe me, they simply had to wait until my soy returned. If it didn¡¯t show up after a few minutes, I would have to assume it was destroyed; then we were going to prepare for the worst.

    It was an automaton, so it could function on its own, plus I didn¡¯t have the luxury of attaching my Mana to it. There were too many variables to consider.

    ¡°For now, let¡¯s go check on everyone. I should fill you guys in now, but I¡¯ll wait until I get to address you all.¡±

    It would be a pain exining things twice.

 Chapter 229

    After defeating the Shadow Demons and encountering a few acquaintances, I decided to climb the stairs and head for thest floor¡ªwhere everyone else took refuge.

    Upon getting to therge hallway, I was met with the gazes of several students. They were well over a hundred, and murmurs flowed among them. Of course, the volume of their disgruntled tone drastically reduced the moment they saw me.

    ¡®Sigh, let¡¯s get this over with¡­¡¯

    Now practically surrounded by curious, frightful students, I calmed their nerves and decided to exin a few things to them.

    ¡°WHAAAAAATTTT?!¡±

    To put things into summary, the students instantly flipped once I told them the identity of our assaulters.

    They simply couldn¡¯t believe that Demons¡ªthe stuff of fairy tales and legends¡ªwere actually real¡­ and that they were attacking. Many students gave me suspicious res, most likely conceiving whatever notion suited their heads best.

    I was less concerned, though.

    More important things upied my brain.

    ¡®Why are the Demons here? Howrge is the scale of their attack?¡¯

    As though answering my voiceless query, the automaton I sent returned. Since I had already programmed it to search for my Mana signature within the building, it easily found me on thest floor, pping its invisible wings.

    The crowd of Lower-ss students surrounding me didn¡¯t even notice when the Automaton arrived. Since my concealment Spell was still active on the bat-like construct, that made sense.

    ¡°Undo.¡±

    Instantly, the invisibility wore off, and the little flying thing appeared in front of everyone.

    ¡°ARHHHHHH!!!¡± Shrieks of fear rang throughout the room.

    I red at the crowd, causing them to instantly zip up their lips.

    ¡®One of the perks of being feared, I guess¡­¡¯

    It would have been a pain to try convincing them, but after seeing my performance in the Exchange, it was pretty evident that I was the strongest guy around. They must have also noticed how merciless I could be.

    Fear proved to be a good incentive to make them behave.

    ¡°This is my Automaton. I had it scour the area to better understand the situation.¡± I exined, hoping they would at least calm some of their nerves.

    ¡®This is why I don¡¯t like rting with these guys¡­ I¡¯m like a babysitter now¡­¡¯

    ¡°In any case, it has no attack or defensive function, but it is capable of far-ranged image and sound detection. There¡¯s a storagepartment within as well, so it stores all it perceives inside¡ªlike a brain or a memory cube.¡±

    I was painstakingly exining these things to them so they wouldn¡¯t question the validity of whatever they were about to see. I certainly hoped it wouldn¡¯t be much.

    I sincerely prayed I was overreacting.

    ¡°No, then, all I have to do is use Magic to extract the image and audio, use Sound and Light Magic to disy whatever the Automaton saw.¡±

    I reached out to the pping thing and poured my Magic into it. It was aplicated thing, using specialized Magic like Light and Sound, and normally it would be impossible to use two at the same time.

    My multiple cores solved that, so as soon as my Magic infusion wasplete, the eyes of the bat shone brightly, bing a projector that disyed some sort of window panel in front of everyone¡ªmyself included.

    ¡°This is it, uh? Let¡¯s see what you found out.¡±

    And so, the sound and image yed right before our eyes.

    **********

    ¡°N-no way¡­¡±

    ¡°T-that¡¯s i-impossible, right?¡±

    ¡°Demons¡­ there are actually demons!?!¡±

    ¡°What do we do? Argh! Shit!¡±

    ¡°This is bad! Are we going to die?!¡±

    Reactions sparked as the projected sight was disyed for all to see.

    I was silent throughout, but my inner self was in a panic. I didn¡¯t want to believe it, but things were very bad!

    Shadow Demons had swarmed the entire Academy!

    They not only took over all the public infrastructures like the library, ssrooms, and other important spots, but they also went after the Dorms.

    Other than this one, there were five others. Two belonged to the Middle ss and Upper-ss boys, and the remaining three were for the girls. The Demons that converged on their location were incredibly more than those that showed up here. Perhaps they judged the level of importance based on how morous or shabby each structure was.

    It could be Mana concentration as well.

    ¡°Shit, damn it¡­¡± I whispered under my breath.

    This was the worst-case scenario!

    ¡°W-where are the teachers?!¡±

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the guards be patrolling as well?¡±

    ¡°D-don¡¯t tell me¡­ all of them were killed?!¡±

    ¡°Where the hell are they? We can¡¯t fight those things!¡±

    mors continued, and I furrowed my brow.

    ¡®Good question¡­ where are the teachers?¡¯

    Of course, I had some idea what the answer to their queries was. If my suspect was truly the one behind this assault, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for him to keep the teachers upied¡ªor at least distracted¡ªwhile this tragedy urred.

    ¡®It looks like this is an alliance between the Demons and that guy. Maybe the Shadow Demons want something else¡­ which exins their uncoordinated behavior. But this chaos is very dangerous and widespread. There¡¯s no way I can ignore it.¡¯

    I was caught between a rock and a hard ce¡ªsave my life and abandon others, or try to quell this whole mess even if it meant ying into the enemy¡¯s hands.

    ¡®He¡¯s going to use this chance to kill me¡­¡¯

    It was dangerous, risky, and terribly inefficient. However¡­

    ¡®I¡¯m not abandoning you guys!¡¯ My eyes were focused on Edward and Jerry.

    There were very few people I cared about in Ainrk, and it would be terrible if they lost their lives this early. In the face of cmity¡ªespecially one as intense as this¡ªthere were bound to be casualties.

    I had to ensure it was kept to a minimum.

    ¡®These guys are the future of the Kingdom. If the Demon Race is truly behind this, we can¡¯t afford to lose the lives of promising youths.

    I didn¡¯t want to be burdened by anyone, but this was probably the best route to take.

    ¡°We¡¯re evacuating!¡± I said to everyone present.

 Chapter 230

    They all looked at me like I was crazy. No one had any intention of budging an inch from their location. At least Demons weren¡¯t here¡­ yet.

    But even that was only a matter of time.

    ¡°Those who want to remain can choose that option¡ªI don¡¯t need useless worms with me, after all¡­¡± I said, staring at everyone intensely.

    ¡°A word of warning, though. If you remain in this building¡­ you¡¯ll die!¡±

    My tone was firm, hinting finality.

    ¡°I can guarantee that,¡± I muttered, turning my back on everyone as I began moving toward the stairs.

    I felt no footsteps behind me. Only the rattling of flesh and the trembling associated with terror made their way to my ears. I sensed great unease and fear build up, but I didn¡¯t halt my movement until I reached the start of the stairs.

    ¡°So, who¡¯sing?¡±

    **********

    Everyone trailed behind me in a row of three, having straight files arranged behind one another. It was a coordinated formation, one that allowed for an orderly evacuation.

    Silence pervaded our group as we stepped out of the Dormpound, making our way to the first destination¡ªthe Middle-ss Dorms.

    The reasons for that were simple.

    Firstly, thinking based on short-term logic, it was probably smarter to remain in the Dorm. Sure, more Shadow Demons coulde our way, but I could still somehow fend them off. The problem with that, however, was that other students would suffer casualties.

    There were a few I was certain would be fine. Students like Kuzon and Ciara didn¡¯t need my worry. Others like Stefan had what it took to fight, but without the proper knowledge of their weaknesses, it would be very difficult for them toe out victorious.

    After the war with the Demons, we didn¡¯t publicize the weak points of their race. That was one of the terms we had to agree with¡­ for peace.

    Did I make the wrong choice then? No, I didn¡¯t! The fact that no incident urred for over five hundred years since my death proved that the method was effective. Something else was in the works here¡­ and I nned on figuring it out.

    In any case, the best shot we had in driving out the Demons and ensuring our collective safety was to gather as a bigger group and form a coalition. Sure, it made us easier targets, but Magic Users were more powerful when forming teams.

    Besides, if we put up enough resistance, it could disrupt whatever objective they had in mind.

    ¡®My goal is topletely eradicate these guys!¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t let them roam around this Academy! Plus, it was imperative to find the mastermind behind the chaos. Sure, Demonic Mana wasn¡¯t infinite, but if we kept defeating these mere clones, we wouldn¡¯t be able to solve the root problems.

    Fortunately, the clones were weak, so the summoner couldn¡¯t be very strong. My concern was their numbers¡­ there were too many of them!

    ¡®It makes me wonder if there is only onemander in charge here¡­¡¯

    In any case, I sent out two Automatons to scour the area before us. One would cover or front, and the other would focus on the rear. I ensured they stayed within a particr range from me, and also connected my Magic to them both.

    Two windows appeared in front of me, disying the scenery my Automaton Bats were viewing. Using them as surveince, I could determine the optimal path to take and also notice any enemy ambushing from the rear.

    Of course, I was also using detection Magic, and my enhancements were activated.

    ¡®I¡¯ll prefer avoidingbat as much as possible, but we can¡¯t be slow as well. The more time is wasted, the more lives could be lost among the students.

    No Middle-ss Student could defeat a Shadow Demon¡­ at least none that I knew of. The Elites could manage, but without knowing their weaknesses, it would be very difficult. I had to hurry!

    My eyes suddenly bulged as I saw several Shadow Demons approaching our location. They were simr to the ones I fought¡ªno, identical! That meant it wouldn¡¯t be too much of a problem.

    ¡°Keep moving!¡± Imanded the students while leaving the group to quickly intercept the enemies.

    It would be disadvantageous fighting them if I was surrounded by civilians.

    ¡°I-I can help too!¡±

    ¡°Let me join in as well!¡±

    Edward and Jerry offered with all their might, but I quickly shot them a dark re, telling them to obey my instructions.

    ¡°NO!¡±

    With my firm and slightly hostile tone, I dashed away at full speed.

    WHOOOSSSHHHH

    Some would consider my actions insensitive, but it was far from it. This wasn¡¯t training. It wasn¡¯t a game. It wasn¡¯t a contest either.

    This was a real battle!

    And they couldn¡¯t handle it¡­ at least not yet.

    ¡®Any little error will lead to a series of mistakes, and the whole thing could be ruined. I can¡¯t allow that!¡¯

    That meant I had to fight alone, at least until we secured our firstndmark.

    Mana sparked in my hands as I created a de of light.

    SWOOOOSSHHHH

    Plunging into the group, I used a vanishing stride, focusing on speed, to quickly lope off the limbs of my adversaries before they could react. They must not have expected such skill from someone like me since I heard shrieks o surprise.

    Before they could do any more, though, I tightened my muscles and tore through their dark bodies, turning them to dust.

    The moment I did so, the light sword in my hand vanished. Since it stood out so much, having the bright de active for too long would only lead to a disadvantage.

    The Lower-ss Students were cloaked with a Spell¡ªmy Spell¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t too difficult finding them. After rejoining the group, I took the lead, and we kept up our pace; moving as fast as the camouge could allow.

    I used an Intermediate Spell to hide them since an Advanced Spell would be a hassle. Intermediate Level was enough for our current enemies, plus I also had surveince around. It would suffice.

    If it came down to it, I would use SPELLCCRAFT to camouge all of us, but it was best to save that for when we needed it.

    We cleared several hurdles; I slew more enemies, and finally¡­ it came into view!

    ¡°I can see it, the Middle-ss Dorm!¡±

 Chapter 231

    Renner Lebrious heard the tremors surging from beneath the room where she slept.

    As a member of the Middle ss¡¯ Elite Ten, she was privileged to have her room on the topmost floor of the female dorm. Since there were only two girls among their ranks, they had the entire area to themselves, even though eight rooms remained untouched.

    She wasn¡¯t on good terms with her colleague, though, so they stayed at opposite sides¡ªdivided by the hallway that existed between them.

    Usually, the night would be silent. Renner loved these moments when she got her beauty sleep. That was why she was so shaken by themotion that abruptly knocked her awake.

    ¡®What could that be¡­?¡¯ Her mind trailed, and she grumbled internally.

    The girl plopped herself out of bed and sluggishly moved to the door, smacking her lips. Since she was used to enjoying her sleep every night, Renner wasn¡¯tpletely awake.

    Until¡ª

    BOOOOOOMMMM

    ¡ªThe grounds rumbled once more! The entire building trembled, and she was knocked off bnce, falling on her butt.

    ¡°O-o¡­¡± She groaned in a cute manner as she rubbed her behind.

    Tiny sobs came out as she stood, wondering who could be so cruel as to cause her to suffer such shock in the middle of the night.

    The rumble was enough to drive herpletely awake though. Now, she simply wanted to figure out what was going on.

    Renner was in her pajamas, so she had no qualms marching downstairs to reprimand whoever was responsible for her difort. Moving ording to her instincts, she put on her flip-flops and swung her door open.

    In front of her¡ªyes, directly opposite her door¡ªanother door was open. It was that of another girl, one who shared a form of rivalry with her.

    ¡°Sia¡­?¡± Renner managed to mutter, seeing the more mature-lookingdy in a negligee.

    The soft wooly fabric was lined in thince that subtly showed her body¡ªher finely entuated body¡ªthe opposite of Renner.

    Sia gave a slight scoff as she stood at the entrance of her room, ring at the in pajamas Renner donned. Compared to her sultry outfit, the sight of the nightwear was nothing short of pathetic.

    ¡°W-what are you doing out here¡­ wearing that¡­?¡± Renner added thest part as an afterthought.

    Sia¡¯s curves and ample bosoms oppressed her to the point that the Elite girl had to turn her eyes away. Sia noticed this and shed a confident grin.

    ¡°Why else, those tremors¡­ you felt them too, right?¡± Her voice was icy cold.

    ¡°As for my attire¡­ we¡¯re the only ones here, so it¡¯s fine.¡±

    As the only females in the Elite Ten, no one else was permitted to reach their floor. The vast, empty hallway was a testament to that fact.

    ¡°I-I see¡­¡± Renner mumbled.

    BOOOOMMMMM!!!

    The tremor urred again, nearly pushing both girls to the floor, but they quickly regained their stance¡ªrefusing to be caught off guard again.

    ¡°What the heck is that? I swear, which retard is doing that?!¡± Sia hissed in frustration.

    ¡®You¡¯re speaking vulgarly¡­¡¯ Renner wanted to correct her, but quickly cautioned herself, keeping those sentiments to herself.

    She couldn¡¯t say she wasn¡¯t upset, though. The annoying tremors were getting on both their nerves, and before they knew it¡­ both girls were walking side by side to check out the cause.

    They made sure to carefully tread down the stairs, picking up their pace and reducing it as they deemed necessary.

    As they descended the floors, Renner could see many slightly opened doors, and a bunch of students poking their heads out.

    ¡°R-Renner Lebrious and Sia Telmunt¡­?¡±

    ¡°W-what are they doing on this floor?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re not the ones at it downstairs?¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s not them, then who?¡±

    Thest two sentences made Renner smile wryly, allowing why her juniors would think that to sink in.

    Everyone in their Dorm¡ªno, in the entire Middle ss¡ªknew the strained rtionship she had with Sia. They were sworn enemies/rivals. Sia previously held the position of Fourth Seat among the Elite Ten before Renner yanked it off after winning in another one of their battles.

    Since then, their ranks were swapped. The current fourth-ranked knew that if she didn¡¯t stay on her toes, though, Sia would reim her title. This bad blood of theirs made the two infamous for causing a racket, both in ss and also within the confines of their Dorm.

    They had engaged in several fights in the building and causedmotion which made everyone wary of crossing their paths.

    That was why, when the other students felt the violent tremors, they thought the girls were at it again. It was a surprise to see that they weren¡¯t the culprits, though.

    The girls peeled their eyes through the little openings they had and watched the Elites walk side by side.

    Sia¡¯s appetizing body in her negligee.

    Renner¡¯s washboard body in her pajamas.

    They headed down, obviously in foul moods, ready to deal with whoever was responsible for their difort.

    The students silently cheered them on, happy to see that the girls were on the same side for once. Plus, they were going to put an end to a general menace¡ªnot constituting a menace themselves.

    The hopeful, grateful watched the descent of their champions.

    ¡®They¡¯re looking at me so intently¡­ are theyparing us? Why did Sia wear the negligee down? She could have changed to something more appropriate¡­¡¯ Renner¡¯s mind flew in multiple directions.

    She was prettier than Sia and had a higher rank, but¡­ the t-chested girl couldn¡¯t simplypete with her rival¡¯s physique.

    Perhaps there was hope for her in the far future¡­ maybe¡­

    BOOOOOOMMM!!

    This time they felt the tremor surge through their bodies as it vibrated through the air. Renner ceased pointless thoughts, and so did Sia.

    Their bodies shook violently, and they found themselves tumbling down the stairs which led to the ground floor.

    As they fell, trying to control themselves with Magic, the girls heard something shatter¡ªlike ss, but not quite.

    It was the noise of barriers breaking.

    Renner and Sia, now at the bottom of the stairs, tumbled atop themselves, looked in the direction of the usually sparse ground hall¡­ only to be met with the most unexpected sight ever!

    ¡ªHORROR!

 Chapter 232

    A sight of gore greeted the girls.

    Blood was strewn on the tiled, wooden floor. The dead body of someone they knew quite well was drowned at the epicenter of a pool of red liquid.

    The woman was one of their Dorm Masters, but now she was just a corpse¡ªone that was riddled with several holes and had been butchered in so many ces. She could hardly be called human anymore.

    ¡°G-girls! What are you doing here?! RUN!!!¡± A voice rang out, jolting the girls from their momentary shock.

    Their faces turned in the direction in the direction of another of their Dorm Masters¡ªMistress Aloe Vida.

    One of her arms was missing and blood dripped from her body. Holes also riddled some parts, miraculously none seemed to be in vital spots. She had somehow clogged her wounds with Magic so very little blood leaked out, but¡­

    ¡­ It was obvious she was already spent, on the verge of copse.

    ¡°W-what is¡­?¡± Renner tried to make out the situation.

    Were the two Dorm Masters fighting? Why would they go so far? One of them was already dead. Why? Why would they¡­?!

    ¡°GIRLS RUN!¡± The desperate cry of their usually easygoing Dorm Master rang out.

    Sia, who was underneath Renner, tried to rise in response to the older woman¡¯smand. But, the stiff girl above her failed to budge. It was as though she was now stone.

    The gore and blood petrified the two, but Sia was at least sensible enough to listen to her superior¡¯s instructions. No, it was all she could do! If she didn¡¯t shut her brain to obey, the girl feared she would give in to fright and vomit all over the bloodied floor.

    ¡°GRRRIIIIIKKK¡­¡± A hollow sound suddenly echoed through the area, causing both girls to cock their heads in the direction whence it came.

    Their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets once the unbelievable entered their line of vision.

    Inhuman creatures made up of darkness lurked. They were a lot of them, at least thirty¡­ all scattered across the room.

    They hadn¡¯t noticed before since the bright hue of blood and gore had been more noticeablepared to the darkness that shrouded the creatures that appeared. These beings could only be described in one word.

    ¡°D-D-DEMON!!!¡± Renner and Sia screamed at the top of their lungs.

    As though taking this to be their queue to strike, all the shadow beings lunged forward. Most went after the wounded Dorm Master, but a few charged in their direction.

    ¡°NOOOO!!!¡± They heard the woman¡¯s screams.

    The girls were petrified by fear.

    The bloodlust of the monsters was too much to handle. It was as if they were drowning in an endless abyss, with thousands of creepers crawling around their bodies.

    These were monsters beyond monsters, evil beings that didn¡¯t belong in the world!

    Renner and Sia were both in their third years, so they knew about the history of the Kingdom, as well as the Demon War that urred so many years in the past. Very little was known about it¡ªalmost to the point that it was treated as a myth.

    Within their study books, though, there were few descriptions and illustrations that hinted at the existence of these sinister beings. The creatures that lunged at them were one of the monstrosities mentioned.

    Shadow Demons¡ªfiends of the night!

    The girls braced themselves, realizing they could do nothing to escape their assured demise.

    The end was nigh!

    SHIIIIIINNNGGGGG!!!

    Bright light surrounded the two girls, encasing them in some form of a dome. The few Demons that charged at them backed away right as they were about to strike, granting the powerless children within the barrier more time to live.

    They were saved by a miracle!

    No, it wasn¡¯t a miracle. It was Magic. Both girls recognized this Spell well. It was one of their Dorm Master¡¯s¡ªAloe Vida¡¯s-¡ªusual ones, which she used to interrupt the both of them whenever they took their fights a bit too far.

    The dome seemed more powerful, sturdier than usual, but they couldn¡¯t mistake it. Their Dorm Master had protected them! Then that meant¡ª

    Both girls sharply turned at the woman they were grateful to, eyes lit in hope that they had a chance to survive thanks to her power. Unfortunately, despair set in.

    SQUELCHHH

    SPURT

    SPLURRGGEE

    Blood.

    An endless stream of blood burst out.

    Mistress Aloe Vida had been impaled on so many sides, pierced by the dark spears that the Demons generated. The pool of liquid that was her blood grew bigger as more fluids dripped from her near-dead body.

    The woman managed to turn her head despite her weakened state, mechanically moving with herst strength. Her tired eyes were nearly shut as she looked at the two girls who were powerlessly cowering on the floor.

    They were usually so full of energy, troublemakers in their own right. However, currently, they were nothing more than hopeless children who were filled with fright.

    ¡°R-Runn¡­ L-livee¡­¡±

    Her final voice was husky, heavy to the ears as her words trailed and she fell into eternal slumber. At that moment, Aloe Vida died.

    The girls only shuddered, even more, watching as the woman¡¯s helpless body plopped into her puddle of blood. They were too surprised, too saturated with fear to properly grieve.

    ¡°H¡­ H¡­¡±

    Sobs leaked out and tears fell. Slowly, the death of their savior registered.

    The Demons didn¡¯t give them the chance to properly mourn the woman, though. They simply turned their attention to the girls, having their ded limbs ready to impale them next.

    Renner and Sia gulped.

    Theirst vestige of hope¡ªthe barrier of light protecting them¡ªbegan to flicker, and slowly faded away. Nothing existed between the powerless two and the monsters who were going to strike.

    ¡°Griikkkk¡­¡± Their oppressors cracked sadistic smiles through the broken slits on their faces.

    The ¡®Elite¡¯ girls knew now, that it was truly over.

    Even at the very end, they were unable to move. They still disobeyed their Dorm Master, even when it was her dying wish.

    ¡°M-mistress Vida¡­ I¡¯m s-sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°H¡­ I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±

    They cried like little babes, scared but waiting for their deaths.

    VWOOOOOOSSSHHHHH

    A figure d in light suddenly swept through the building, and in a sh, he cut down several of the Demons.

    In seconds, the evil creatures who enjoyed their superiority got the tables turned on them¡ªfacing extinction as the being of light made short work of them.

    The girls couldn¡¯t even trail the being¡¯s movements. All they saw were shes of light, bright arcs, and swirls of power.

    Not long after, the whole thirty shadows had beenpletely defeated. They turned into dust and faded away.

    The being shrouded in light slowly dimmed the bright encasement that covered him and moved in the direction of both girls.

    His blond hair and stern expression registered in their minds as their memories clicked after a few moments,

    It was Jared Leonard!

 Chapter 233 - Attempting The Impossible

    I sensed the presence of several Shadow Demons in the dorm of the Middle-ss girls, causing me to infuse myself with more Mana and dash with greater vigor.

    I decided to make this my first stop for several reasons¡ªone of which was the intensity of the demonic assault.

    Normally, the Lower-ss female dormitory would have been my goal since Anabelle was of more value to me than any Middle-ss student. However, considering the horde wasn¡¯t as concentrated in that direction, I simply decided to summon several automatons and send them her way.

    A few had offensive abilities, but only for self-defense. My goal was to deliver a message to Ana-¡ªto use Light Magic and pure Mana strikes in her fight with the horde on her end.

    There was a possibility that she would copse under pressure. If that happened, I had another thing in mind. Still, I decided to put my trust in an ally and charged in the direction of the weakest link¡ªthe Middle ss.

    Picking between the Boys¡¯ dormitory and the Girls¡¯ was a matter of priority and danger, in which case, the girls had the upper hand.

    There were more Elites in the boy¡¯s dormitory than the girls¡¯, and I knew one of them could use Light Magic. Even if it was cruel of me to do so, I had to pick the option that led to the least casualty.

    Of course, I didn¡¯tpletely abandon them.

    Using a Magic Duplicate, as well as several Automatons, I sent those to support the boys while focusing my energy on the girls.

    ¡®My clone can¡¯t use Spellcraft and only has one Mana Core. In terms of power, it¡¯s basically on the same level as¡­ maybe Jerry?¡¯

    Still, I had to have faith that it would hold out until I arrived.

    My eyes lit up as I observed a dim glow surrounding the girls¡¯ dorm. It took the shape of a dome and it covered the entirepound. The barrier was set up by me, and while it had no defensive feature to prevent anything from entering, it had the opposite effect.

    ¡®Nothing gets out!¡¯

    SWOOOOOOSSSHHHH

    The air howled as I made my way into the building, refusing to hesitate as I brandished my bright de. The Demons appeared surprised by my presence, but I gave them no time to even prepare for an assault.

    One after the other, they were run through.

    SWOOOSHH

    My de danced, cleaving any form of resistance they offered.

    SWISH

    I used Light Magic to increase my body¡¯s movement, while also utilizing Spellcraft to increase the air resistance against them, making the Shadow Demons slower in their movements.

    In a sh, their dark bodies burst out.

    WHOOOMM

    I dodged their strikes, making sure my de returned the favor with just as much vigor.

    Within about ten seconds¡­ I was done with a little over thirty Shadow Demons.

    ¡°Haaa¡­¡± I heaved a bit, feeling exhaustion catch up with me.

    Once the enemies were vanquished, my eyes took in the scene, capturing the image of two dead women¡­ and two frightened girls. I walked up to the two, surprised that none were actually dead.

    No one had died!

    ¡ªwell, other than the two staff.

    ¡®I¡¯m surprised¡­ how?¡¯

    I certainly arrived as fast as I could, but I expected to see more casualties. Could it be that these women put up more resistance than expected?

    Middle-ss Dorms had two Dorm Masters, the same as the Upper ss, but I still didn¡¯t think they could put up with the Shadow Demons¡¯ attacks so well.

    ¡®Hmm¡­?¡¯

    I nced at the two corpses, noticing a difference between the two.

    One had been dead for some time, while the other seemed to have just passed away recently.

    ¡®So, she¡¯s the one who was responsible for fending them off for this long¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed, looking at the young and attractive youngdy.

    She didn¡¯t seem to be twenty yet.

    ¡®Does she know their weaknesses? Was it luck? Or maybe¡­ her Affinity of Specialization is Light Magic?¡¯

    Thetter seemed to be the most rational. If that was the case, then¡­

    WHOOOOSSHHH

    My body sharply went to her location, and my suspicions were confirmed¡­ as well as a faint glimmer of hope,

    Something sparked in my eyes, my body trembled a little and my heart wavered. The thought that was surging in my head was impossible, but I knew better than tobel it that.

    The theory existed in my head, and I had the means to carry it out. It was just¡­

    ¡®I have to try!¡¯

    I steeled my resolve and knelt beside the dead woman, not minding the pool of blood that covered my trousers. They were enchanted, so the dark red hue was of no consequence.

    ¡°Huu¡­¡± I heaved, using every single ounce of concentration I had to perform my current operation¡ªthe impossible.

    Using Five Cores at once, I allocated them properly. Using two to attract as much Mana as I could from the surroundings, I utilized two more by injecting pure Mana into her body.

    While this was under effect, I used my Final Core to strengthen myself¡ªenhancing my concentration and increasing my Mana output.

    Quickly, I brought out a small bottle from my pocket and poured its contents on the corpse which was riddled with holes.

    My Potion, a Recovery one that boosted healing to an unprecedented degree, began taking effect.

    The wounds were closing, and I could see her lost flesh getting pulled together. The blood she lost would also get restored, though at a slow pace.

    ¡®This isn¡¯t enough¡­ not yet.¡¯

    I put the Mana I injected within her to good use. The Pure Mana infiltrated the little vestiges of Mana Particles that remained in the woman¡¯s body,, quickening them.

    Her body glowed; beams of light shot out of it.

    ¡®It¡¯s working!¡¯

    By utilizing the remnants of her Mana Particles, I could trick her body into believing she was still alive, offering vitality to a corpse. Since my Mana had practically fused with hers, I could also control her Mana Particles as I pleased.

    Resonating with her body at a deep level, I connected with her nearly dissipated Mana Core and repaired it-¡ªforming a sturdy one in an instant.

    The job was nearly done¡­ but if I messed up at this point, it would all be over!

    ¡®I can do it¡­ I can revive her!¡¯

 Chapter 234 - Resurrection

    What Is a human?

    Not who, but what?

    All people are basicallyprised of the Soul and Body.

    One can not exist without the other, and without one, the other expires.

    The Soul without a body simply vanishes; the body stops all functions without the Soul and rots away.

    This process is known as DEATH.

    But, if one looked at things from this angle¡­ isn¡¯t it possible to solve either problem?

    ¡ªMaybe even both!

    These are deep waters, uncharted territories. There are many mysteries in this world, some of which elude even me.

    However, ever since I reincarnated and started utilizing Magic, a whole new world has been opened to me¡­ including several possibilities.

    What I am about to attempt is one of them.

    It is known by many names¡ªResuscitation, Restoration, Resurrection¡­ REVIVAL!

    Right here and now, I am going to achieve the impossible!

    ********

    ¡°Come on!¡± I gritted my teeth, sweating pouring out of all my pores as I spent all my concentration on the task.

    Spellcraft became ready for use, so I ignited the second phase of my n.

    ¡®Attraction!¡¯

    *********

    A Soul leaves the body once it is damaged beyond recovery. It is a defense mechanism, ast-ditch attempt to escape destruction. Once it leaves the body, it connects with the surrounding Mana and fuses with them¡ªthat is my theory!

    It¡¯s iplete, of course, but it rings true.

    All I have to do now is prove it.

    *********

    I had already repaired the body, cing it in perfect condition. There was no way the Soul would reject an optimal vessel¡ªthe perfect residence.

    However, my Theory established that a Soul would need a strong attractive force to push it back into the body.

    There were a few people capable of using Resurrection Magic, but they couldn¡¯t do so after a while passed after someone¡¯s death. Even the most skilled Mage would need to use their Magic an hour after death at thetest¡ªof which the chances of revival were slim. Anything more would render the Spell ineffective.

    A time limit meant there was a point of no return. The Soul would havepletely fused with its surrounding, and¡ªjust like the wind¡ªwould be swept away.

    However, not only did I arrive within the allotted time frame, but I also used Spellcraft to generate a barrier around the Dorm. It was dense enough to prevent the escape of Shadow Demons, there was no way Soul Fragments would escape!

    I just needed one¡ªjust a tiny piece would be enough!

    Every cell in a human body had all the gic information on them; the same applied to Souls. Just a fragment would be enough toplete the equation.

    That was where Spellcraft came in!

    I was going to flood this body with the Mana of the surrounding. Doing so would kill anyone, naturally, but I was going to channel the flow to her Mana Core, ensuring she progressed as a Mage as a result.

    Of course, it would all be pointless if no Soul Fragment made it in. Still, I had faith. I hadid the correct foundation. I just needed it to work.

    ¡®If my theory is correct¡­ it will!¡¯

    SHIIIINNNNGGGG!!!

    Mana poured into the woman, surging through her whole body. The intensity was so much that I saw her throb, though she was still lifeless. The temperature of her flesh rose at an rming rate, it felt like her blood was boiling.

    ¡®Not on my watch!¡¯ I gritted my teeth.

    I conducted the Mana flow, making sure everything went in the direction I wanted. So many particles charged in and I felt like it was nearly beyond control.

    Usually, a Core was only meant to take in the body¡¯s Mana Particles, but since those came from the Soul, there was no supply.

    The Mana Particles in her body were being charged by my Mana to enhance her body and increase its absorption rate. I couldn¡¯t spare it for anything else. Instead, I relied on the fact that since the woman¡¯s soul had fused with the surrounding Mana, it basically meant that would have to do.

    It was risky.

    The Core could reject it.

    But¡­ I saw no other way out!

    ¡®Come on¡­e on¡­¡¯ I clenched my teeth as more beads of sweat poured out.

    My whole body screamed in pain. I was at my limit, pushing all my cores and exerting my physical state to the point of straining it. But, I felt it was too close to give up now.

    My bulging eyes widened even more, and Imanded the woman¡¯s perfect body to wake up.

    Her body was fully healed.

    Her Mana Core was present.

    Her Mana Particles were active.

    All that remained was the Soul!

    SHIIIIINNNGGGG!!!

    Suddenly, a golden light shone. The moment I saw this, my face brightened and tears welled up in my eyes. This was a first for me¡­ the first time I would be seeing a Soul¡ªwell, a Soul fragment to be exact.

    It was like a tiny firefly that fluttered and converged with the healthy body I prepared.

    The body glowed golden, causing me to squint. A surge of energy rose, nearly pushing me out of sync, but I relentlessly struggled to remain in control. No surgery could be deemed sessful without the finishing touch!

    ¡®The soul is present, finally!¡¯

    With that out of the way, I had to eject my Mana before it became registered as a foreign object.

    WHUUUSSHHH

    In an instant, I expelled my energy, allowing the golden piece of the soul to gain control.

    Slowly, it repaired itself, absorbing its leftover essence in the body-¡ªthe Mana Particles.

    ¡®This is what I¡¯ve been saving you guys for. GO!¡¯

    The Mana Particles converged with the Soul and became a golden glow that filled the entire body with an invigorating light.

    It was so amazing, so unreal that I wanted to let out screams.

    Just then¡ªright as I watched¡ªthe dead woman opened her eyes, crinkled her face¡­ and-¡ª

    ¡°FUAHH!¡±

    ¡ªShe let out gasps of air.

    She let out gasps and gave confused, flustered, totally puzzled expressions.

    I could tell she was in shock, but nothing serious.

    ¡°W-what is¡­ I¡­¡±

    This would be simr to a near-death experience for her, I was certain.

    ¡®It¡¯s alright, Miss¡­¡¯ I calmed her down and ced my hand on her stomach, the other on her head.

    She was perfectly fine¡­ no side effects!

    ¡°You¡¯re safe now. It¡¯s fine.¡±

    It seemed bizarre to say such a thing when we were both in her pool of blood, but it was the only thing I could say amid my tiny streaks of tears.

    ¡°Everything is fine!¡±

 Chapter 235 - The Cost Of Revival

    My original purpose for erecting the barrier around the building wasn¡¯t for me to revive anyone.

    Frankly, the process too much time and energy. It also took a great toll on me, so even doing it once was my limit for now. Unless¡­

    I actually established the dome to prevent any dead souls from dissipating, so when the school was stable, the Academy could deploy the appropriate authorities to cast Resurrection Magic on the dead. I didn¡¯t expect to actually utilize it myself.

    Well, there was a reason for doing so. It was because of the woman¡¯s value.

    She could prove useful!

    ¡°Wee back.¡± I smiled at the bewildered youngdy.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m¡­¡± She muttered in a slight daze.

    It seemed she was slowly regaining her memories. Within moments now, she would.

    ¡°THE GIRLS!¡±

    Her shout shook me, almost to the point of screaming myself. I sauntered back in shock, wondering what possessed her to take such a drastic change in tone.

    ¡°Miss Aloe Vidaaaa!!!¡± I heard two voices colliding.

    From my line peripheral vision, I picked up two figures¡ªgirlsing our way. Turning my head more, I noticed they were the two who were cowering on the floor just moments ago.

    Tears streamed down their face as they charged at the woman who was slowly sitting up.

    ¡°G-Girls¡­?!¡± She seemed both surprised and relieved to see them.

    They copsed and dived into her embrace, wailing like babies while I simply watched from where I satpletely spent.

    ¡®I should recover¡­¡¯

    I brought out a potion from my pocket and downed its contents, recovering my energy. Its effects were both immediate and continuous, so I would keep feeling more replenished until I regained an optimal state.

    I didn¡¯t want to interrupt the touching reunion of the women, but we were short on time.

    ¡°You guys,e in.¡± I raised my voice, calling the boys I led to the premises.

    Slowly but steadily, they trailed into the girls¡¯ Dorm, looking extremely flustered. They were being babies, worrying about such a thing even in this dire situation. I watched as they observed the premises, taking note of the devastated surroundings.

    The moment their eyes took in the corpse of the second woman, they went sober.

    I ignored them and stood, drawing closer to the seated woman and her crying wards.

    ¡°Miss Aloe Vida¡­¡± I began, making use of the name the girls called her.

    She looked in my direction, appearing unsure of how she would address me.

    ¡°I was the one who just revived you. I need to ask you a question, so answer as smartly as you can.¡±

    My tone no longer resembled a student¡¯s, but carried the weight of a superior speaking to a subordinate. My hopes were that she would understand and y her part.

    ¡°Y-you did that¡­?¡± The woman¡ªAloe¡ªseemed to doubt my ims and looked at her girls.

    They responded with nods, affirming my statements. They were witnesses, after all.

    Even though none offered their thanks, I could tell that they were immensely grateful for my act. Perhaps their fear and relief drove the thought of gratitude from their minds. It wasn¡¯t like I required appreciation, though.

    I prioritized relevance.

    ¡°You¡­ can use Light Magic, can¡¯t you? Is that your natural affinity?¡±

    I narrowed my gaze, telling her I wanted an immediate answer.

    ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± She quickly responds.

    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing she¡¯s not dense.¡¯

    ¡°Good. Then, you¡¯re useful. That was the whole point of resurrecting you. I¡¯m sorry to say, Miss, especially after you just died fulfilling your duty¡­ but¡­¡±

    My eyes narrowed even more.

    ¡°¡­ Your services are still required. You need to fulfill your duty as a Staff of Ainrk. Do you understand?¡±

    I sounded rude, my tone was imposing; I was well aware. However¡­

    ¡°Those things, they¡¯re vulnerable to light¡­ right?¡±

    ¡°Correct.¡± I sharply replied.

    ¡°Which makes you indispensable to the n. Now, can you stand?¡±

    Aloe Vida nodded, and then retracted herself from the two girls and rose to her feet.

    ¡°Good. I take it you¡¯re prepared to do the needful?¡±

    She nodded.

    ¡°Good, then. I¡¯ll be counting on you.¡±

    ¡°I have one question.¡± She blurted out, seeming a bit hesitant.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Those Demons¡­ the one who killed them was¡­?¡±

    ¡°It was me. I also took the liberty of dispatching a lot of them on our way here. This campus is swarming with them. It¡¯s going to take a lot of effort and time to eradicate them all.¡±

    ¡°Those things¡­ what are they, really?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re Shadow Demons. I¡¯ll exin moreter. In the meantime, I¡¯ll need you to evacuate all the girls here. We need to leave this ce and head to the next location in a hurry.¡± I said, a bit impatient.

    ¡°O-onest question, please.¡±

    I paused and awaited her query, though it was evident what she wanted to ask. After all, her eyes had been trailing in that direction since we began our conversation.

    ¡°C-can you revive her too?¡±

    Aloe Vida was referring to her colleague, the one that was practically a lump of meat on the floor.

    ¡°No.¡± I harshly gave my response.

    She was in an impossible state. Even my Potions wouldn¡¯t restore the body to an optimal state; and without an appropriate vessel, I couldn¡¯tplete the process. Plus, even if there was a chance¡­ I didn¡¯t have the time and energy to spare on her.

    ¡°It¡¯s toote for her now.¡±

    She was a liability.

    If even one of the students died, I wouldn¡¯t bat an eye¡ªsave for a few.

    The most I could do had already been done. The dense barrier around the dorm prevented souls from leaking out. That meant if the conditions allowed it, I could prep a body for revival and simply wait for this whole event to settle before the experts used their Magic to save the ones they could.

    Even though an hour was the time limit for casting Resurrection Magic, the body in question needed to be in a perfect state.

    ¡®That¡¯s why preservation magic is often used on body minutes after death¡ªin hopes of Revival¡­¡¯

 Chapter 236 - Convergence [Pt 1]

    Even in the case of this woman, Aloe Vida, if too much time psed after her death, then¡ªeven though her Soul still remained on the premises¡ªher body would no longer be able to receive it.

    It was better their bodies were in good condition¡­ at least at my current level.

    There was a reason I could neglect the Lower ss Dorm despite my connection with Anabelle.

    Even if Ana were to die, I would stop at nothing to resurrect her.

    An Automaton I sent there was equipped with Preservation Magic in case that was necessary. I also took the liberty of sending others who could cast the dense barrier spell on the buildings so no Souls would be lost.

    At this rate¡­ even if lives were lost, I could still save as many as possible.

    Though it was certain that not everyone would survive.

    ¡°I¡­ see¡­¡± Aloe¡¯s voice trailed in disappointment and sorrow.

    Fortunately, it didn¡¯tst long.

    ¡°Alright! Then it¡¯s fine. Thank you for your help. I¡¯ll evacuate the girls. You too,e with me! Thank you for saving me!¡± shing me a smile, though forced, she urged the two girls beside her to follow as she climbed the stairs.

    ¡°T-thank you!¡± I heard the two Middle ss say, as an afterthought of some sort, and quickly followed their Dorm Master.

    It was at this moment that I realized one was wearing a negligee. My eyes trailed her body as she climbed the stairs and frantically chased the woman in the lead.

    ¡®How improper¡­¡¯

    My eyes fell on the boys who stood at a distance from me.

    They must have observed the whole resurrection process and even considered my actions to be unreal. They gave me gazes of amazement and awe. Most of them had lost the spark of fear; considering the lengths I had to go protect them, this was a given.

    ¡°We¡¯ll wait for the girls to mobilize. Afterward, we¡¯ll head to the boys¡¯ dormitory of the Middle ss.¡±

    Thoughts of the Upper ss shed in my mind, but I perished the idea.

    ¡®They can handle themselves¡­¡¯

    Rationally speaking, I was supposed to ce more emphasis on them since they were the most promising students¡ªplus, they could be of most use in the aspect of pushing back the Demon forces.

    But, just as was the case in the Lower-ss girls¡¯ Dorm, I decided to put my trust in them.

    The Girls¡¯ Dorm would be more vulnerable due to their fewer numbers, but¡­ I knew it would work out fine since Ciara was present there.

    ¡®Monsters already exist in both sses. I guess it¡¯s fine.¡¯

    With that in mind, I began structuring my mobilization strategy.

    So far, things weren¡¯t going so bad, but I couldn¡¯t get rid of the bad feeling that crawled within me. It was as if I was missing something, something major¡­ and that irked me.

    ¡®The safest choice is to find the staff and inform them. It¡¯s better than risking our lives.¡¯

    Unfortunately, I had no idea where those people were. I used an Automaton scout to search the Staff Office and even some Staff lodges, but found them empty. There were many things going on simultaneously, various affairs that required my attention.

    I couldn¡¯t rely on the school anymore.

    ¡°Huu, for now, let¡¯s just stick to the n¡­ we should head to the boy¡¯s dorm.¡±

    ********

    Once the females were done mobilizing, I kept them under the wing of Aloe Vida, splitting out teams into two.

    I took the front charge, serving as the vanguard with my group, while she watched the rear. Our progress was quick, and I didn¡¯t n on wasting any more time in our advance.

    As soon as I saw a Shadow Demon surface, I used Spellcraft to generate dense light bullets and spikes to riddle the enemies with holes before they returned the favor.

    And so, we crept through the night and finally arrived at the Middle-ss Dorms.

    I had already sent a clone ahead of me, but I couldn¡¯t sense it anymore.

    It had most likely perished already¡­ figures.

    I utilized Spellcraft to generate a dense barrier around the building, preventing any leak from within. The closer I got to the structure, the more I enhanced it until it got airtight enough to prevent the escape of even the tiniest of particles.

    ¡°Miss Vida, shall we?¡± I turned to the woman who had already merged her female students with mine at some point, and was already approaching my nk¡ªjust as nned.

    She nodded, showing a bit of nervousness.

    I had told her ahead of time that she would be assisting in the extermination of the Shadow Demons and further went to state their weaknesses. I knew it was irresponsible for me to do so¡ªespecially since there was a pact on the matter, and this woman would harbor suspicions as to how I came across such information.

    Still, the circumstances called for action without hesitation. I needed to do whatever was necessary.

    WHOOOSSSHHH!!!

    We both sped to the Middle-ss building and made our entrance.

    As expected, even more Shadow Demons lurked in the area, and I saw several people dead¡ªTwo staff, and neen children.

    ¡®Looks like the clone wasn¡¯t strong enough to stop them¡­¡¯

    Blood was strewn all over the area as the corpses painted an image of carnage. I spotted a Shadow Demon about to make short work of another kid and leaped into action, brandishing a light sword to mow through it.

    SWISH!

    In one powerful swing, I generated enough light to st away its body, securing victory. There were still any others around, though, and they started closing in on me and Aloe Vida.

    ¡°I¡¯m climbing up, take care of the ones here!¡± I shouted in a hurry.

    She nodded and prepared her Light Magic.

    Seeing as I could entrust her with the affairs downstairs, I made my way to the upper floors¡ªwhere even more Demons and corpses existed.

    With my body coated in light, my speed increased to a phenomenal degree, and all my strengthened muscles charged upward.

    From the corner of my eyes, I spotted Vida putting up a good fight and smiled to myself,

    ¡®Not bad¡­¡¯

    With that, I killed every thought of distraction and braced myself for the darkness up ahead.

 Chapter 237 - Convergence [Pt 2]

    FWIIISSHHH

    My de sharply cut through my enemies, rending them into nothingness.

    I kept killing as I ascended the floors, ensuring all my senses were being used to their limits so I wouldn¡¯t miss a single one.

    Thanks to my heightened perception, I knew where the Demons were, all that was left to do was to use my de to end them.

    Magic was only very effective thanks to diversity and possibilities. However, to achieve the quickest results in head-onbat¡ªespecially when the options of usable Spells were limited¡ªit was best to rely on Martial Arts.

    My sword served as an extension of my body and my primary tool forying waste to the opponents. I only used Magic to strengthen myself and also weaken them.

    Creating many Light Particles around the bunch caused debuff effects that granted me leverage. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of concentrating more energy to make Spikes or bullets with Spellcraft, given my number of foes and the time that passed.

    So, I simply chose the easiest, quickest option.

    FWOOOSSHSH!!!!

    Once again, I charged and killed.

    I finally made it to the topmost floor, where I saw Shadow Demons attempting to prate a Light Barrier. It was sheeted like a wall, to protect the students at the other end.

    I recognized them to be the Elite of the Middle ss, and the one responsible for the Light Barrier had an affinity with that element. It wasn¡¯t strong enough to hold off the monsters, so it seemed like the other students with him were boosting the shield¡¯s effects.

    After all, if it fell¡­ they would be going down in a sh.

    ¡®Not on my watch!¡¯

    I hurried and struck down the Demons. Since they were caught off-guard, and were only about five, I could use Spellcraft to generate a rain of light spikes to decimate them while going in for the finishing stroke.

    SWOOOOSSHHH

    My foes fell, and I secured victory.

    ¡°You can release the barrier now.¡± I spoke to the dumbfounded boy who already seemed to be hitting the limit.

    The wall of illumination vanished into particles before fading entirely, leaving nothing between us.

    ¡°Round up the other students and take them to the ground floor.¡± I spoke to my seniors.

    None of them say a peep inint, especially after I had jus mowed down the monsters they had so much trouble with. It was a bit distasteful that they cowardly hung here while their juniors were dying¡ªI was certain they thought I would judge them for that.

    But, I had no intentions to.

    Humanity was a race driven by fear and instinct, so their actions of self-preservation was the natural, correct course to undertake. It was better than throwing their lives away for nothing.

    Plus, they hadn¡¯t sworn to protect this Academy and their fellow students¡ªunlike the Ainrk staff. These students were well within their rights.

    ¡°Go. Now.¡± I barked, and they frantically rushed to do as they were told¡ªfrantically thanking me as they made their way downstairs.

    As I watched them descend, I also began taking steps down the staircase. There was still something I had to do. Something only I could do¡­

    ¡°Now, then¡­ I should get started too¡­¡±

    **********

    37 dead, 58 injured, 55 unharmed.

    That was the number of students we found in the Middle-ss boys¡¯ dormitory¡ª150 boys in total.

    I used my potions to heal those who were injured, while also restoring the bodies of the dead and preserving them with Magic. Aloe joined me, making the work faster.

    The students, though reluctant at first, carried all the corpses that were scattered around and took them to the ground floor. These actions would make it easier for Resurrection Magic to be used on themter on.

    Once the job was done, I gathered everyone together; we were now a total of 283-¡ªtoorge as a group to move together.

    Of course, I had already figured this out and was simply going to switch gears once the time arrived.

    ¡°What now?¡± Aloe Vida asked, most likely already sensing the same problem I did.

    I nced around the room and saw the faces of everyone. They were all relying on me, visibly shaken by the carnage and hoping I could offer hope.

    It was a shame to say that I couldn¡¯t guarantee their lives.

    ¡°For now, we wait¡­ and rest.¡± I said to the group.

    Edward and the others were sure to be tired¡ªif not physically, then emotionally and mentally. Since this was their first time, they needed to catch their breath.

    ¡°As for me, I¡¯ll be heading out for a bit¡­¡± I muttered to everyone.

    The moment I said this, the students entered an uproar and protested with all their might.

    ¡°P-please don¡¯t leave us!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯lle with you!¡±

    ¡°Stay. I beg you!¡±

    ¡°What will we do without you?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the only ones who can take care of those things!¡±

    Both seniors and ssmates shamelessly begged me to stick with them. While their actions were understandable, it became annoying.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± I red at them, exerting a pressure that caused them to obey my words.

    The area fell silent and my audience shivered as I spoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m currently heading to finish off more Shadow Demons and properly escort the girls of the Lower ss here. If you think you¡¯re more important than they are, then try stopping me. Or, do you want toe with me? I can¡¯t guarantee your safety, though.¡±

    The protesting crowd became mellow and none of them seemed to have any more strength to speak. As expected, they were mostly cowards who wanted to preserve their lives.

    ¡®I¡¯m sure they want me to stay and protect them instead of going out to save more people¡­¡¯

    Humans were naturally self-centered, so it was no surprise to me. But, that didn¡¯t mean I had to indulge in their selfishness.

    With that in mind, I made to exit the building, but a voice sharply stopped me in my tracks.

    ¡°W-wait! Let mee with you!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to rescue Ana, right? Count me in.¡±

    Jerry and Edward stepped forward and had determined looks in their eyes. Unlike the others, at least they had some sense of duty. However¡­

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡­ My answer remained unchanged.

    ¡°B-but¡ª!¡± Edward stubbornly tried to argue.

    ¡°You¡¯re too weak. The both of you will only be burdens on me.¡±

 Chapter 238 - Upper Class [Pt 1]

    My harsh statement seemed to rattle the two of them¡­ which was good.

    Edward bit his lip in frustration and I could see Jerry clench his teeth. They both knew their limits, especially inparison with me.

    I turned away and toward the door and prepared for my exit.

    My thoughts were focused on the road ahead, as well as Ana whom I longed to see. I hoped she was fine, but the best way to know for sure was to actually find her and the girls in her dorm.

    ¡°I¡¯m off.¡±

    In a sh, I moved from the premises and left the girl¡¯s dormitory. Usually, the barrier would have prevented me from leaving, but I temporarily disabled it to an extent, only allowing the area I was passing through to be open.

    The moment I passed through the dome, it once again resumed its airtight form.

    ¡®Huu¡­ I should hurry!¡¯

    WHOOOOSSSHHHH

    Using such speed as I hadn¡¯t disyed throughout the night, I made my way to Ana¡¯s location. Having no one to slow me down turned out to be the best. With Edward, Jerry, and Aloe holding the fort, I could focus on other pressing matters.

    ¡®The Upper-ss Students should be done on their end¡­ I wonder what they¡¯re doing¡­?¡¯

    I shrugged off the thought and decided to focus on my mission instead.

    *********

    ¡°Weak¡­¡± Muttered Kuzon.

    His eyes were focused on the Shadow Demons that made their way to the Upper ss dormitory.

    He had sensed them afar off and even took the liberty of dressing up and intercepting the group before they entered the building that was his residence.

    Unlike the Middle and Lower-ss dorms, the Upper-ss students had three buildings within their vastpound. Each belonged to the respective Years that existed in Ainrk

    The buildings were lovely, attractive, and well-designed. Compared to the others, it was the epitome of perfection.

    As a result of the buildings being segmented, the space each student had to themselves was quiterge. A regr Upper ss student had even more space than an Elite of other sses. Such was the disparity.

    Kuzon, in hisrge room, had picked up a strange vibe in the vicinity and sprang to his feet. The aura he sensed baffled him, causing a bit of unease to lurk in his heart.

    ¡°This¡­ shouldn¡¯t be¡­¡± He whispered with widened eyes.

    Perhaps it was because of the vast cluster of emotion within him¡ªa bitter memory he would rather not remember¡ªKuzon¡¯s usual easepletely dissipated.

    No longer did he don the nonchnt and casual expression. Rather, the glint in his eyes were the opposite. Kuzon, for the first time in a while, made a grave face.

    In a jiffy, he changed to his clothes and used Magic to summon the few Items he treasured most.

    His ne appeared.

    A ring manifested on one of his fingers.

    A bracelet appeared on his hand as well.

    The three heirlooms he had¡ªthe only things that connected him to his previous life, when he was¡­ someone else.

    ¡°What are ¡®they¡¯ doing here?¡± He murmured as he exited his room through the window and leaped to the vastpound beneath him.

    There was no way Kuzon could forget those distasteful beings.

    They were the ones who took everything away from him. No, that wasn¡¯t quite right. They simply allied with someone who did something of that effect. Even though his hate should have been channeled to the mastermind behind it all, the fact that he could sense even a vestige of the perpetrators was enough to make his blood boil.

    The man he was after was currently out of his reach, and Kuzon had found himself slowly giving up on actively searching for him. But, the story was different this time. They hade to him!

    ¡®Are they here for me?¡¯ The golden-haired boy wondered as hended on the grassy ins.

    The moment his feet touched the ground, his face sharply tilted to the front¡­ and then around him. He could sense them¡ªthey wereing inrge numbers.

    ¡®At least a hundred. That¡¯s too much. I can¡¯t take them on, unless¡­¡¯ His eyes squinted as the thought of his items he equipped crossed his mind.

    No, it was too soon to decide that.

    Kuzon kept a level head and decided to make the pre-emptive strike.

    WHOOOSHHH!!!

    In a sh, he ascended to the top of his building and stood atop the roof. With this, he gained a better line of sight. Since the Demons had taken the initiative of surrounding thepound, this was a vantage spot for him.

    Of course, Kuzon had been using Magic for some time now. In fact, he never turned off his Magic usage. It started as a form of training, but developed to his special form of defense.

    With enhanced eyes and heightened senses, he scoured the area and spotted multiple shadows approach thepound.

    ¡®Shadow Demons¡­?¡¯

    They weren¡¯t the kind he was familiar with. He had mistaken the miasma they exuded and their uncontroble bloodlust for the ones from back then. Still, Demons were Demons. Why were they here?

    Were they after him?!

    The closer they came, the better he was able to perceive their ranks. Kuzon could tell their level of strength¡ªthe total amount of energy in their possession.

    ¡®What¡¯s this¡­? They¡¯re weak¡­¡¯

    If they were truly after him, then the Demons who woulde were supposed to be stronger. With that out of the way, Kuzon could only conclude that the Academy had been breached somewhat.

    ¡°I always knew it would be a matter of time, but¡­ to think they decided to invade now¡­¡± Kuzon whispered.

    The Demons were already in thepound. They were one hundred and twenty-five. In terms of quantity, they were certainly notcking. However, their quality left very little to be desired.

    ¡°Something¡¯s still not right, but I won¡¯t bother with that for now¡­¡±

    With Kuzon¡¯s gaze narrowed and his eyes fixated on the bloodthirsty vestiges of darkness beneath him, he prepared for his assault.

    ¡®I should finish you guys off first.¡¯

 Chapter 239 - Upper Class [Pt 2]

    ¡®I should kill you guys off first¡­¡¯

    With that, Kuzon used his Original Magic [Marite], and in an instant, the Shadows were decimated altogether

    Like sharp strings cutting through solid matter, the multiple sturdy wires made up of pure Mana swiftly killed the enemies at once.

    Even though they had surrounded thepound, even though they weren¡¯tcking in numbers; in the face of true¨Coverwhelming¨Cmight, faster than any Demon could respond to; they all perished and dissipated into dust.

    ¡°Not even worth my time¡­¡± The golden-haired boy mumbled, looking on at the vast campus grounds.

    From his position, Kuzon could see a lot. He could see that there were more shadows lurking around. The Academy had really been invaded.

    ¡°This is bad¡­ I suppose¡­¡±

    Only one person shed in his mind the moment he wondered how many casualties would ensue if so many Demons attacked the other Dorms.

    ¡°Jared Leonard¡­ I certainly hope you¡¯re doing alright.¡±

    A sad smile yed on his face for a moment, and then he made up his mind. If Demons were invading, he simply had to drive them out.

    ¡®Don¡¯t die!¡¯ Kuzon¡¯s final thoughts rang, and then he vanished into the Upper-ss Dorm building.

    ***********

    Ciara Epilson hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet.

    Why?

    Because it was around this period that she took her asional stroll down the campus and had her scheduled meeting with a ¡®special someone¡¯.

    Most people wouldn¡¯t understand theirplicated rtionship, so Ciara didn¡¯t bother telling anyone about it. In fact, she rarely spoke to most people.

    Well, there was a girl among the First Years who recently approached her and asked for some mentorship.

    ¡®Maria Helmsworth, uh¡­¡¯

    Ciara had told the girl she would think about it, but she wasn¡¯t nning on being anyone¡¯s watchdog. Well, except for one person¡­

    ¡°Jerry should be asleep by now¡­¡± She smiled yfully at herself as she watched herself in the mirror.

    She knew the boy was fond of sleeping veryte due to his intense training¨Chow cute it was that he was so desperately trying to catch up to her. He slept for short hours too.

    Ciara wanted to scold him a bit for his unhealthy practices, but anytime she saw his determined face in bed, her anger melted away. The worry in her heart persisted, but it wasn¡¯t like Jerry would listen to her.

    His stubbornness was also one of his most charming features.

    The young brte observed herself in the mirror. She was elegant in her nightdress. Of course, this wasn¡¯t the usual pajamas normies donned when they went to bed.

    It was a dark bodysuit that she personally made by pouring tons of mana into it. Not only was it enchanted with several properties which prevented detection, made her invisible, and gave her more fluid movements¨Cthe ck suit also perfectly entuated her curves.

    She was an epitome of both beauty and power, someone no one could even dare to imagine being with. And she belonged with Jerry.

    Unfortunately, the object of her affection was too dense to notice anything.

    Fortunately, though, his dense personality caused him not to get attracted to other girls. Ciara was at least grateful for that. The young, love-struck girl had no idea what she would do if her soulmate found himself trapped in another woman clutches.

    It would probably be something¡­ unsavory.

    ¡°I should go now.¡± She gave onest beam at her reflection before gliding through her window.

    The moment Ciara Epilsonnded on the ground, though, she felt some strange figures approach her dorm.

    The outfit she had on improved her senses to a phenomenal degree. That meant she could sense things that approached scores of meters away. If she tried, she could notice a presence about two hundred meters from her.

    This feature had allowed her to evade surveince countless times and prevented any encounter with the patrol officers. Being caught would cause problems, after all.

    Fortunately, she had never been caught even once. There were close shaves though, but that made her expeditions all the more thrilling.

    Besides, if it was to see HER beloved Jerry, then the risks were worth it.

    Back to topic, Ciara felt the strange presence of several weird beings. They didn¡¯t feel human and had some sort of murky nature shrouding them.

    Ciara had never encountered these creatures before, but she deduced they were hostile based on the bloodlust they emitted. In only a few moments, they would close in on her location.

    ¡®Are they after me, or¡­?¡¯

    Either way, if she sneaked away, all attention would be ced on the girls¡¯ dorm.

    ¡®Should I just skedaddle?¡¯ A thought shed in her mind.

    She didn¡¯t want to miss her appointment with Jerry, after all.

    The only problem was that these beings seemed dangerous¨Ctoo dangerous for most of the students within the Dorm. If they really had hostile intentions, then her juniors and seniors within the buildings could probably get severely hurt.

    It wasn¡¯t really a problem to her, but it caused a fuss, they could find out that she had sneaked out. If that led to further investigations and her secret was found out, then¡­

    ¡°Arh! How annoying! I¡¯ll just take them on, then!¡±

    With that, she grouchily took to the air, ascending to great heights until she could see some shadowy figures around.

    ¡®So that¡¯s how they look like, uh? Creepy!¡¯

    With her mind already resolved on killing the clearly dangerous monsters, Ciara chose the most efficient solution.

    ¨COriginal Magic!

    ¡°[Phantom Link]¡±

    With her focus on the approaching Demons, the young girl sent invisible waves of energy flooding their area.

    Instantly, she surged through them¨Cwell, their minds to be exact¨Candpletely severed any form of neural links they possessed.

    Unknown to Ciara at the time, these were Shadow Demons and were copies of the original. As a result, they shared a neural link with one another as well as their source.

    By using [Phantom Link], Magic that interferes with the mind, Ciara cut off their connection. This caused the Shadow Demons to instantly crumble to dust and fade away.

    Just like that¡­ over a hundred of the Demons were wiped out¨Cnot that the Jerry-obsessed girl cared in the slightest.

    ¡°Since that¡¯s out of the way, I should start going¡­¡± Ciara smiled and pink hue covered her cheeks.

    With widened eyes and an obsessive grin, Ciara glided through the air and made for the dormitory of her soulmate.

    ¡°Hihihihi¡­ here Ie, Jerry!¡±

 Chapter 240 - Anabelles Plight

    Anabelle moved swiftly through the night¡ªas quickly as she could.

    Behind her were about a dozen girls, give or take. The darkness served as a good cover for the group, and with the sound elimination Spell they had going, no trouble had spotted them yet.

    Two Automatons hung above the group, leaning further and behind them to scour their surroundings. The darkness was thick, and the lights that usually radiated around the campus grounds had been destroyed¡ªmost likely by the attackers.

    Ana ignored the gnawing fear within her, giving no heed to the hard pounding within her heart. She simply followed Jared¡¯s instructions and made her way to the Middle-ss Boys Dorm.

    It all began close to an hour earlier.

    Her dorm had been assaulted by shadowy beings, giving off intense pressure and unimaginable bloodlust¡ªthe kind no one in the Dorm had ever experienced. Their Dorm aster met a cruel end at the hands of the monsters; Anabelle and the others were to follow suit not long after.

    Anabelle, thanks to her rough training from Jared, was able to somehow fend off the Shadows that came after her. While she desperately struggled in her efforts, the rest of the girls were able to safely evacuate to thest floor.

    With that, she also retreated there, and they secured a perimeter. Anabelle learned the hard way, how barriers were hardly useful against her opponents, so she focused on offense.

    After trying several attacks, she found lightning to be especially effective, so she focused on that.

    The young girl, despite the pressure and intense fear that pervaded her, was able to properly devise a means that proved effective.

    Using a portion of the abilities of her Familiar, she was able to use Wind Magic to push the Shadows back and alsobine Water with Lightning Magic to increase conductivity and damage.

    It was difficult to manage on her own, so Ana enlisted the help of others and they followed her lead.

    Unfortunately for them, most of them were petrified with fear that they couldn¡¯t move¡ªtalk less of castingplex spells.

    The few who stood up to the challenge were not as skilled with Magic as Ana, so theirbined efforts didn¡¯t even measure up to hers. It was like striking burning mes with a few sshes of water.

    Ultimately, she did all the work, and they simply assisted one way or the other.

    Still, Anabelle cold sense that she¡ªas well as several others¡ªwere at their wits¡¯ end.

    Even after struggling for so long, Ana hadn¡¯t been able to put down even one of the ten Shadows that loomed around her and the other girls. She didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the struggling young girl knew it quite well.

    It was only a matter of time before¡­

    VWOOOSSSHHH!!!

    In a sh, five flying ¡®things¡¯ entered the area, sweeping past the stairway like frisbees.

    Before Ana could make out what was urring, two of them approached her¡ªthey were shaped like bats, but something about these creatures told her they weren¡¯t alive.

    The two bat-thingies by her side hovered there, two more stood in front of her¡ªlike garrisons¡ªand the final one¡­

    ¡­ plunged into the midst of the Shadow Demons that were bewildered by the appearance of the strange flying bats.

    The moment it lodged itself at the center of the crowd of Demons, the bat-like thing exuded a vast amount of Mana¡­ and before anyone could say anything¡­

    BOOOOOMMMM!!!

    Light beams gathered, and then dispersed, creating a blinding surge that decimated the area around. It was like a brilliant disy of fireworks, but Ana could not take it in since the brightness caused her to shut her eyes¡ªon reflex, of course.

    The heat of the light didn¡¯t reach Ana, and when she realized it, the brightness of the explosion didn¡¯t seem as intense as she thought.

    That was when she realized it¡ªthe barrier that was generated in front of her.

    Yes, a seemingly translucent barrier was erected in front of her. Once she took a closer look, Ana found out that the two bat things in front of her were the ones who erected the shield.

    Now, she was certain that they weren¡¯t mere bats.

    One of them exploded as it collided with the Demons, two secured a barrier in front of her¡­ and thest two¡ª

    ¡°Ana, it¡¯s Jared.¡± A voice rang out.

    It was so familiar andforting that Ana felt relieved beyond description to hear it. She felt like breaking down and giving in to her exhaustion once she heard the sound ring in her ears.

    Finally, help hade. Jared was here!

    Ana didn¡¯t know where the voice came from, but she was happy all the same. She didn¡¯t have to fight anymore.

    A few momentster, she woulde to find out that Jared hadn¡¯t actuallye to save her. In fact, he wasn¡¯t even nearby. He simply sent the bat things¡ªautomatons¡ªto aid her.

    She was still tasked with protecting those in her charge

    Ana nearly copsed upon hearing Jared¡¯s recorded voice. How was she, who was hoping for a savior, supposed to handle the enemy all by herself? It contradicted all reason, and the task was far beyond her means.

    Jared seemed to have thought about all that, though.

    Not only did he tell Ana about the weaknesses of the Shadow Demons, the Automatons he sent also had potions with them. With those, Ana could restore her Mana and also heal her injured self¡ªas well as those who had sustained grave injuries.

    The Potions were limited, though, so not everyone got treatment. The rest had to bear with their injuries as they saved the few Potions remaining for emergencies. Since they were all deadweight, none of them couldin.

    The Shadows that Ana thought had already been killed weren¡¯tpletely vanquished; though she felt they were weaker now.

    Now within the safety of a functional barrier that was too dense for the Shadows to traverse, Ana had a fighting chance.

    ¡®I can do this¡­ everyone¡¯s counting on me!¡¯ Her thoughts rang as she prepared for impact.

 Chapter 241 - Strike Back

    Using the tactic of deactivating the barrier anytime she wanted tounch a heavy Light-Attribute Spell; recovering her Mana if she ran out, and even ensuring there was enough time to cast big guns; Ana sessfully beat the Demons.

    It sapped a lot of her physical and mental energy, but the girl managed to pull through. Without the aid of the Automatons providing defense and support, she couldn¡¯t see herself remotely winning.

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡± The girl heaved in relief.

    Everyone was happy¡ªthough secretly surprised¡ªthat Anabelle had nearly single-handedly saved them all. The seniors had no choice but to feel ashamed of themselves; the Elites realized they didn¡¯t deserve their title.

    Still, no one couldin. It was the opposite, in fact.

    The group thanked Anabelle. Miraculously no one had died, and it was all thanks to the petitedy¡¯s efforts.

    ¡°W-what now?¡± Her loyal cluster of girls asked an exasperated Ana.

    While recovering her energy, she took a while before responding. In between fighting and listening to Jared¡¯s recordings, Ana had been entrusted with the responsibility of manning her female counterparts.

    As if that wasn¡¯t worse, she now had a mission.

    Her next goal, given to her by Jared, was to make her way to the Middle-ss Boys Dorm alongside the group of deadweight girls behind her.

    And so, Ana swiftly proceeded to do so, albeit reluctantly.

    The journey was arduous, but the group pulled through.

    They had to engage a few times, but so far, they remained undetected by any major forces. Though, this was mainly due to the sacrifice of Jared¡¯s Automatons.

    Out of the initial five Automatons, only two were left. The rest performed sacrificial duties of buying time for them or distracting the Shadows near their path.

    Ana realized her forces were wearing thin, and the group of girls with her were either too frightened or too weak to do any good¡ªmaybe even both. Still¡­

    Still, her eyes gleamed with determination. She wasn¡¯t going to give up!

    Jared was fighting, trying his hardest¡ªsame with Edward! She also had to do her best.

    ¡®I can do this¡­ no, I WILL!¡¯

    With that steely resolve etched into her heart, she continued her march.

    ¡ªBut¡­ danger loomed once more¡­

    UNAVOIDABLE DANGER!

    ************

    I dashed quickly, estimating to cross paths with Anabelle within a few minutes. I used my time to calcte my next step.

    All things considered, things were going fairly easy¡ªat least, better than expected.

    It felt cruel to think that way, but it was genuine. In fact, I even stifled a sigh of relief so it wouldn¡¯t be too insensitive to those who had died.

    ¡®That doesn¡¯t change how I feel, though¡­¡¯

    Those who had seen war would understand my logic¡ªespecially one against Demons.

    In the first instance, the monsters we had been encountering were just about as strong as the average Shadow Demon. Warriors or Veterans were on apletely different level.

    Then we had Captains, Commanders, Generals, and then¡­ Demon Lords! I shuddered at the thought of thetter.

    ¡®I can probably handle a Captain as I am now¡­ a Commander would be pushing it. I¡¯m not sure I could win¡­ maybe I can buy some time¡­¡¯

    And that was a big MAYBE.

    The problem was if the opponent was a Demon Lord. There was no doubt I¡¯d lose.

    ¡®I highly doubt that, though¡­¡¯

    In the first instance, the Shadows that appeared were too weak. A Demon Lord could do way better. Also, there was the fact that the Lord of Shadows¡ªNoir Seat of the Demon Council¡ªwas Kahn.

    Kahn wasn¡¯t the kind to do such a thing. Well, he was, but¡­ I was certain he wouldn¡¯t go this far.

    ¡®Did someone else be Demon Lord in his ce?¡¯

    I also found that highly doubtful. Last I checked no one came even close to Kahn¡¯s power. Shadows¡ªno, Demons generally¡ªgot more powerful as they aged and took in more Miasma and Soul Essence. At least, ording to what I knew¡­

    ¡®¡­ And I know plenty¡­¡¯

    During the war, we killed any even remotely close to his level. Only one of hismanders was left alive, and it was the weakest one. Kahn was still in his prime thest time I saw him. He could easily live for a thousand years more before choosing to retire.

    He would have also grown stronger during that time.

    There was no way he could create Shadows as weak as this¡­ there was no way he would be leading this invasion.

    ¡®I suppose I have to settle for someone else. Maybe hismander? What was his name again?¡¯

    In any case, I needed to get to the root of things. No, it was best to get the teachers involved.

    ¡®Where are they, though?¡¯

    For now, I could only specte, but I had something in the works.

    ¡®I¡¯m close¡­ I can sense my Automatons, and¡­!!!¡¯

    My eyes bulged as I sensed a lot of Shadows converge in a certain location. It was most like Ana¡¯s since my Automatons were meant to be guarding her.

    ¡®What¡¯s with this number? There are like a hundred¡­ WHY?!¡¯

    They came from two directions and, judging from their speed, it was like they were running toward something in a hurry¡­ or fleeing!

    It couldn¡¯t be thetter, could it?

    I didn¡¯t have the luxury to even contemte the rationale of their actions. Only one thing mattered now.

    ¡®A hundred, uh? It¡¯ll be tough if I conserve resources. I guess I can¡¯t help it.¡¯

    There were lots of tricks I had up my sleeves, but revealing my hand so early in the game left a bad taste in my mouth. There was a chance the enemy was simply probing us by sending such a weak attack force.

    If I wanted to gauge someone¡¯s strength, I would also employ the same tactic. But since these were Shadow Demons, I probably didn¡¯t have much to worry about. I was probably overthinking things.

    ¡®It doesn¡¯t hurt to be careful, so I¡¯ll do it moderately¡­ Alright!¡¯

    I prepared the Mana around me ad charged at full speed, readying a Spell I had only tried in my head.

 Chapter 242 - Blitz

    VWOOOOSSSHHH!!!

    My body tingled with excitement as I practically vanished in the darkness thanks to my speed.

    At my current pace, I would reach Anabelle before she died, and probably before anyone else she had with her.

    With a wild smile on my face¡ªpleading internally that I made it in time¡ªI rushed to the rescue of arade.

    *********

    Anabelle¡¯s body grew weak as she sensed the converging figures of darkness. Her consciousness nearly gave out in fear, but willpower kept her at the very brink.

    They had spotted maybe two or three Shadows move together¡ªnever exceeding six in the same group¡ªearlier. But now, it seemed like they were at least a hundred. This concerned Ana¡­ no, it frightened her.

    Those numbers were well beyond her means. She was barely struggling to move as she was. She was fighting bravely for her life and those she led, but¡­

    Everyone had a breaking point¡ªhers was arriving, surely. No, it probably had.

    Slick sweat clung to her skin as her shaky body slowly ceased movement.

    The Shadows grew closer, as though ready to swallow her whole. Ana didn¡¯t check, but the girls behind her had also halted as a result of the intense pressure.

    Many had even passed out!

    She couldn¡¯t possibly lead anyone in their condition. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to abandon any of them either. It wasn¡¯t out of the kindness of her heart¡ªthough that may have been part¡ªbut because her bodypletely refused to listen to her.

    With what seemed to be a thousand needles piercing her body, the bloodlust was too much for her to handle. The Automatons that hovered around her had already begun converging close to her now.

    Ana wasn¡¯t certain what they nned on doing, but she was certain they wouldn¡¯t be able to keep a hundred of the terrifying beings at bay. Sweat fell, fear swelled, and the petite girl had now bepletely immobile.

    Ana was certain now¡­ only death awaited.

    ¡®I¡¯m sorry¡­ Jared, Edward, Mom, Dad¡­ Sir Lewis Griffith. I¡­ I couldn¡¯t do it in the end. I wasn¡¯t¡­ good enough¡­¡¯

    Her long-held dream shed before her eyes. The image of her friends and family appeared. And¡ªeven though she didn¡¯t exactly know what he looked like¡ªLewis Griffith appeared within her thoughts.

    ¡°¡ªna!¡± A somewhat distant thought tried to call her, but Ana was too certain of death to make out the sound.

    The Shadows converged in their legions, nearly colliding with her group.

    ¡°¡ªnabelle!!!¡± The voice called out again¡ªthis time it was closer.

    Death descended like a curtain, and a wave of malevolence shrouded what little light remained of the dim moon.

    ¡°¡ªANABELLE!!!¡±

    The moment the girl heard the voice for the third time, so many things happened all at once that only one word could describe it¡ªOVERWHELMING!

    ¡®J-Jared?!¡¯ Ana¡¯s thoughts rang, but before she couldpletely process anything, golden glimmers of light appeared all around her.

    Not even a secondter, the bright glimmers turned into bursts of energy¡ªshooting out like a beam.

    The darkness that enveloped her cleared, and before Ana realized it, she was standing within a barrier of some sort.

    It had a golden ambiance, and it seemed to be bursting with so much power that almost anyone would consider it unreal. Ana felt the intensity¡ªthe warmth of the barrier. It was constructed with light; a highly concentrated one for that matter.

    Before she couldpletely observe the gold dome that covered her and the rest of the girls, her eyes caught something¡ªno, someone¡ªjust up ahead.

    It was a young boy with yellowish-golden hair and a bright expression on his face. He was covered in an absurd amount of Mana that seemed to converge atop his fingertips which were raised to the sky.

    A highly concentrated spark of great intensity that cackled with yellow electricity and burst with light stood aloft on his index finger.

    He stood by his lonesome, unfazed by the hundred Shadows who were now baring their darkened fangs at him.

    A confident smile cracked on his face, and the moment Ana saw it, she knew the moment of salvation had arrived.

    His clothes fluttered with the wind and more Mana converged, yet his unfazed expression remained.

    ¡®J-Jared! You¡¯re here¡­!¡¯

    The look in his eyes told her ¡°Yeah, I am¡­¡±

    But that wasn¡¯t all they said. Within a mere fraction of a second, Ana could decipher one final meaning hidden within his two retinas.

    ¡°Enjoy the show!¡±

    With that, Ana¡¯s tensed muscles rxed¡­ and she did as her instincts told her¡ªshe watched from within the haven that her friend made¡ªas the Demons would get obliterated.

    ***********

    ¡®I¡¯m a bit reluctant to do this, but¡­ whatever.¡¯

    I was also quite excited to see its effects¡ªso motivated that I even quickened my pace unconsciously and arrived at the scene on time. No one had been hurt.

    Quickly using Spellcraft, I shielded Ana and the rest of her deadweight acquaintances.

    Yes! I said that!

    Once that was done, I gathered all the Mana I could muster and sent them to the tip of my index finger¡ªmaking them as concentrated as possible.

    Demons were weak against Light Magic the most, but I wasn¡¯t too adept at it that I could use Advanced Magic based off that Attribute. To do something of that scale, I had tobine it with a Spell I was very specialized in.

    Lightning!

    Combing Light Magic and Lightning wasn¡¯t difficult, making the usually blue color of electricity emit a golden¡ªnear yellowplexion.

    Lightning crackled, and illumination swelled.

    I could see the Shadow Demons shrink back in fear, but it was toote.

    ¡°This is the end¡­¡±

    I was about to use a powerful Spell¡­ one that specialized in Area-Of Effect damage.

    ¡°[Blitz]¡±

    BZZZZTTTTZZZZ!!!

    KRRRIIIIUUUUMMMM!!!

    The air itself rumbled and illumination covered the whole area.

    The little orb I had atop my finger freely flew in the direction of my adversaries with light speed, and then exploded once it reached their midst.

    The Shadow Demons were too slow to react¡ªtoo weak to resist. The spark of judgment descended upon them and turned the creatures into nothing but dust.

    BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!

    [A/N]

    ATTENTION TO ALL READERS!!!

    I have a new book called Rise Of Evil Santa.

    Please endeavor to check it out, read it, and add it to your library.

    I promise it¡¯ll be worth your while.

    I¡¯ll be Mass Releasing on Spellcraft once the new book gains 1k Collections. Don¡¯t miss out!!!

 Chapter 243 - Puzzlement

    As is trite, Spells are ssified into categories; Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Peak, and Transcendent.

    Each of these categories is divided into Tiers¡ªthe Lower up to the Highest Tier. There exist Middle Tier and High Tier levels between the two.

    However, for every general rule, there is always an exception.

    The same is true for Spells, and Magic as a whole.

    There are certain Spells that do not belong in the cadres of ranking. They can be used depending on how much Mana a user has, and their proficiency with it. As a result, these Spells are considered very versatile. It is said that many highly regarded Spells are simply offshoots of the exceptions.

    The Spell [Shock] is a good example. It¡¯s powerful enough to stun someone at the hands of an amateur, but a true monster could use it to entirely fry multiple foes at once.

    But, [Shock] has a weakness. It¡¯s the range.

    Unless there is conductivity or a medium of transfer, the discharge remains at a very limited range. To solve that, I made my version.

    Of course, by adding Light Attribute to the mix, the Spell evolved once more. It increased in speed and destruction¡ªthe ultimate Lightning Spell I have at my disposal¡­ [Blitz].

    And sure enough, against targets like Shadow Demons¡­ it¡¯s crazy effective!

    ***********

    BOOOOOOMMMM!!!

    The sparks of light and electricity created a blinding wave of illumination that would stun anyone even if they watched from a distance.

    ¡®Ah, the problem with this Spell is that it¡¯s too shy¡­¡¯

    But that also served as an advantage.

    If the Shadow Demons knew what was good for them, they wouldn¡¯t daree this way. From their rapid movements, it seemed like they were running from something¡ªso that meant they could feel fear¡­ or at least an instinctual drive simr to that emotion.

    SHUUUUUUU!!!

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s all settled¡­ whew.¡± I heaved a sigh of relief.

    The sight before me screamed of destruction.

    Remnant portions of lightning still crackled, and the ground had a big gaping hole around it. It wasn¡¯t very deep, but the smoke that proceeded from it told me plenty about how heated it would be.

    ¡®I should probably cast a chill Spell so Ana and the rest can leave their isted spot and traverse the grounds¡­ even though it¡¯s all dust and rubble now¡­¡¯

    Ana andpany were at the center of the explosion, so naturally, they would need to bypass the heated ground to reach me. I disabled the golden dome that surrounded them and the earth tform around them that remained unscathed by my assault.

    ¡®I¡¯m just d the barrier held out. It was hurriedly made, after all¡­¡¯

    With that in mind, I used a mild ice Spell to make the heat vanish and rescued the damsels in distress¡ªthough I was only really interested in one of them.

    *********

    At this point, I was exhausted.

    Not physically or mentally, even though those were already beginning to pile up. I meant emotionally.

    Ana gushed so much when I saved her, and now she was bubbling with so much excitement. It was impossible to tell that this was the same girl that was close to death mere moments ago.

    Her face was bright pink and her eyes sparkled while gazing fixedly at me. It seemed she expected a little something from me, but I had no intention of doing more than I had already done.

    A little ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re safe. Truly.¡± Was all I could cough up, but even that seemed to be enough to satisfy the girl. Fortunately, that was all it took.

    The other girls thanked me as a matter of course, and I roused those who had fainted with my Magic. I didn¡¯t me them for copsing under such pressure.

    Miasma had quite the adverse effects on regr beings¡ªthough these Shadows only had a very tiny amount.

    ¡®Since Miasma is said to be a cotion of negative energy or corruption, I suppose most living beings would reject it.¡¯

    Na?ve people like Ana were even more susceptible to the stuff. I looked at her and she stared longingly at me, genuinely relieved I was with her now. The look on her face told me that she believed I could do anything.

    I nearly gulped under all that pressure. The situation was overwhelming for me too; you know? I was just ying things by ear at this point.

    ¡®I¡¯m just d she¡¯s alright, though¡­¡¯ My smile broadened as I stared at the cute little thing more.

    ¡°Ah, I knew you were the one responsible for that light!¡± A voice suddenly sounded.

    It came from above, so I sharply raised my head to see the neer.

    Sure enough, it was Kuzon!

    ¡°Oh, h-hey! How long have you been here?¡± I replied, a bit stunned.

    I couldn¡¯t even sense him before he spoke.

    ¡°Ah, I just arrived¡­ though I saw what you did back there. I¡¯m surprised. Decimating over a hundred of those things with a single Spell¡­ that¡¯s impressive!¡± The golden-haired boy said as hended.

    I nearly scoffed at his praise.

    The fact that this guy was here meant he probably killed off the Demons invading his Dorm and decided to take a view around.

    ¡°What are you doing out here?¡± I asked him, just in case.

    ¡°Well, I was looking for you.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡±

    I was a little confused now.

    ¡°Yeah. I didn¡¯t want you to die.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­?¡±

    ¡°I thought you could use some help, since these guys are¡­ you know¡­¡±

    ¡°I-I see¡­¡±

    ¡°But, hey, it turns out they were nothing for you. That¡¯s my bad.¡±

    ¡°A-ah, I see¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡±

    The air got a bit awkward between Kuzon and me. Why wouldn¡¯t it?

    So, while I was busting my ass trying to help people, this guy was just hovering around the Academy, looking for me?

    ¡®This Kuzon character is really sketchy¡­¡¯

    But, before I could even get another word out¡ªor even finish processing my inner deliberations¡ªanother major interruption came our way.

    ¡°Heyyyyy!!!¡±

    This time it was a girl¡­ wearing some sort of ck bodysuit?!

    I stared in amazement and puzzlement as the oddly familiar figure descended close to us and recognized her immediately.

    It was Ciara Epilson!

    ¡®What the heck is she doing here?¡¯

    Now I was utterly confused.

    But, before I could ask her anything or even render my greetings, she raised her hand and gave me a bit of an ¡®extremely energetic¡¯ expression. The next words she utteredpletely shattered my sense of reason.

    ¡°Hey, where¡¯s Jerry?¡±

    [A/N]

    ATTENTION TO ALL READERS!!!

    I have a new book called Rise Of Evil Santa.

    Please endeavor to check it out, read it, and add it to your library.

    I promise it¡¯ll be worth your while.

    I¡¯ll be Mass Releasing on Spellcraft once the new book gains 1k Collections. Don¡¯t miss out!!!

 Chapter 244 - Intellectual Brilliance

    ¡®E¨Cehhh?¡¯

    I was very confused at the moment.

    Kuzon showing up out of nowhere, and now Ciara Epilson. Both had causal reactions, and thetter said something I never expected.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Jerry?¡±

    I nearly screamed, but controlled myself instead.

    Even after spotting the disaster going on in school, how could these students act this way? I knew they weren¡¯t normal, but¡­

    ¡®And what¡¯s with that outfit?¡¯ My eyes sharply stared at the enchanted clothing she had on.

    The ck bodysuit was made quite shabbily¨CI could tell an amateur was the one who designed it. However, the power it held was the real deal.

    ¡®Did she make it herself? She¡¯s quite skilled then¡­¡¯

    And the effects of the suit were good too. I could tell, seeing that I was quite interested in that field.

    ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you hear me? I said where¡¯s¨C¡±

    The girl must have either failed to notice my surprised expression, or simply didn¡¯t care. She just pressed me for an answer.

    ¡®Huu, I¡¯m done trying to figure these guys out¡­¡¯ I gave up internally, spotting Kuzon simply smiling beside me.

    ¡°I left him with the others in a secure ce. We¡¯re heading there right now. Want toe along?¡±

    ¡°Where?¡± Her reaction was sharp.

    ¡®What¡¯s with this girl and Jerry?¡¯ I eyed her suspiciously.

    Normally, I would start considering if she was an enemy, but I couldn¡¯t draw that conclusion. Firstly, I didn¡¯t sense any ill will from the girl. Plus, even if she wanted to cause us harm, why would she be interested in someone like Jerry?

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can trust you enough to divulge that.¡±

    Silence prevailed amid us, and I could somewhat sense some difort well up in the vicinity.

    Frankly, I was mildly intimidated.

    ¡°Uh? What do you mean by that?¡± Her voice contained a hint of annoyance and she seemed to be impatient.

    ¡®What¡¯s with her?¡¯

    The Ciara Epilson I met at the Oasis was so easygoing, yet this time she was acting strangely. I wondered if she was being manipted by someone since she wasn¡¯t acting like her usual self.

    It could also be that the girl in front of me was an imposter, but who could replicate the amount of pressure she was currently generating?

    Besides, I wasn¡¯t sensing any motive from her actions. Just what could be going on in her head?

    ¡°I think what Jared is trying to say is that it¡¯s pretty suspicious how you appeared out of nowhere and brought up the topic of Jerry¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Kuzon suddenly interrupted our deadlock.

    My gaze, and what I sensed to be Ciara¡¯s, tilted in his direction.

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s odd that you¡¯re out here in the first ce, and also wearing that peculiar outfit, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡®Um, it¡¯s also pretty sus that you¡¯re here too, Kuzon.¡¯ I thought to myself, but agreed with the rest of Kuzon¡¯s assessment.

    ¡°W¨Cwhat are you trying to say? There¡¯s nothing suspicious about taking a night stroll!¡± Ciara snapped, looking so flustered that hues of pink clouded her cheeks.

    ¡®Why is she acting up? Is she really hiding something? She could be the enemy!¡¯

    By asking about someone of little relevance like Jerry, Ciara could cause us to drop our guard concerning her true target. She was actually quite smart if that was the case.

    ¡®This girl¡­¡¯ My gaze intensified on her as many countermeasures began forming in my head on how to deal with the situation.

    Suddenly, I felt a warm touch on my shoulder. I turned in the direction of the hand¡¯s owner, and it was Kuzon.

    He had a meaningful smile on his face that seemed to read the words ¡°Trust me.¡±

    ¡®What is he¡­? Has he figured her out?¡¯

    Was I overreacting? Was the tension making me imagine things?

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t mean you¡¯re suspicious, Ciara. What I¡¯m trying to imply is that your actions are. You¡¯ve seen the ck creatures lurking around, right? It¡¯s reasonable to say that this campus is in a state of unrest. Your actions, your outfit, and your question make you somewhat odd, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    I was surprised by Kuzon¡¯s logic and the oratory skills he disyed to make them known.

    ¡°H¨Chey, you don¡¯t have to go that far. I was just curious, no big deal. Besides, how can you suspect a student of something like sabotage?¡± Ciara¡¯s voiceckedposure.

    Kuzon had the upper hand in the conversation now. So much so, that I was amazed.

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s past curfew and you¡¯re on your own. That¡¯s already breaking the rules of Ainrk Academy, right? Care to give a reason for that? Do you have an alibi? A valid rationale? Then why do you want to see Jerry?¡±

    His flurry of questions made Ciara¡¯s flushed cheeks take on a brighter form of red.

    ¡°W¨Cw¨Cwhaat are you shaying!?¡± Her wordscked coherence at this point.

    ¡®Aren¡¯t you the same, though, Kuzon?¡¯ My thoughts trailed as I stared at the confident young man.

    He was equally guilty of breaking the rules¨Cnot that it mattered now that there was an emergency¨Cyet he managed to twist the facts to his advantage. Ciara didn¡¯t even have any defense or counterarguments to give.

    ¡°I mean, I¡¯m guilty of the same thing. I snuck out of the Dorms too¡­¡± He added, making me wonder why he threw away his advantage.

    ¡°E¨CEXACTLY! We¡¯re equally guilty of the same thing!¡± Ciara seemed satisfied that Kuzon lost his high ground.

    But¡­

    ¡­ This made Kuzon and I smile at the same time.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. This is why I¡¯m cooperating with Jared as he evacuates these people to the base. If you did the same, there would be no issue, right?¡±

    I realized what he did!

    By abandoning his high moral ground, he stood on the same level as Ciara and appealed to her as a sympathetic figure. Since she had a stubborn personality, it was optimal for him to rely on mutual appeal and benefits.

    With this, Ciara would be bound by the concept of the collective and have no choice but to y along.

    If she failed toply, even she would realize that her actions were unreasonable.

    ¡®Such an impressive strategy¡­¡¯ I stared at Kuzon with surprise.

    I had thought he had great powers and talents in Magic, but who would have thought he was this skilled in intellect as well.

    ¡®Could he also be a¡­?!¡¯

 Chapter 245 - Alliance

    I couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility!

    Kuzon had all it took; the brawn, brain, and personality. No matter the angle at which I considered things, he was much more mature for his age.

    Sure, there were exceptional people in this world, but this was too much.

    ¡®I could simply be overreacting, but¡­ I can¡¯t rule out the possibility.¡¯

    I had been humbled by many incidents in my life¡ªboth the past and present ones¡ªand came to realize that I wasn¡¯t ¡®special¡¯. I was inept in my past life, and I never possessed a talent for Magic even after reincarnating.

    Sure, I was brilliant academically, but there were many like me.

    Ana was a prime example. She both possessed smarts and an immense talent for Magic. She was special¡­ unlike me.

    Which was why I couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility that I wasn¡¯t the only one who reincarnated. There had to be others! I refused to be conceited and think I was some ¡®Chosen One¡¯.

    ¡®I¡¯ve never been that¡­ so¡­¡¯

    The possibility became more visible as I stared at Kuzon and he returned the gaze. Something about him¡­ seemed awfully familiar. I was familiar with hisst name, though. Perhaps that had something to do with my connection with him.

    There was also the unusual interest he seemed to disy regarding me. It was a bit creepy, but¡­ maybe he also sensed something? Could it be some sort of bond between reincarnators?

    There was so much I didn¡¯t know.

    ¡®Kuzon Midas, eh? I need to do some research after this¡­¡¯

    For now, though, more pressing issues required my attention.

    ¡°F¡ªfine! Whatever!¡± Ciara gave in to the pressure, thankfully.

    With that, she decided toe with us to the Middle-ss Boys¡¯ dorms. With a sigh of relief, we resumed our journey.

    Kuzon and Ana smoldered me with their conversations and Ciara nonchntly moved to keep up with our pace. Despite the dire situation at hand, there was no sign of tension in the area.

    ¡®Am I the one who is overthinking things?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t help asking myself.

    My friends often told me that I read too much meaning to things at times. Maybe they were right, but¡­ this wasn¡¯t something I could afford to be negligent with.

    It bothered me that these top guns were casually strolling the campus. I understood they were strong, but¡­ if they left their dorms, who would protect the rest of the students?

    I asked Kuzon, and managed to ask Ciara too.

    ¡°I killed all of mine. Then, I alerted everyone and told them the situation before leaving.¡± The former retorted.

    ¡°I killed the ones in my path and went for the Lower ss Dorm to¡ªerm, never mind. I killed the ones in my way, that¡¯s all.¡±

    It exasperated me to the point ofshing out at the two of them. I was older than them both, so the urge to reprimand them for their carelessness nearly took over, but I controlled myself.

    Besides, after considering the fact that Kuzon could also be a reincarnator like me, I decided to tread carefully with him.

    ¡®I hope those Dorms are okay¡­¡¯

    Sure, other members of the Elite Ten were among the Upper-ss Dorms, but considering I could probably match up to Rank 3 among them in raw power, I didn¡¯t have much faith in them.

    ¡®Hopefully, it ends up well. For now, I should take everyone to the Middle-ss Dorm. We¡¯ll mobilize from there and decide the next step¡­¡¯

    That was all I could do at the moment.

    **********

    It was a relief to see so many students packed in the Middle-ss Boys¡¯ Dorm.

    I wasn¡¯t simply referring to the ones I left behind, but also the other students that had arrived. Initially, Kuzon and Ciara¡¯s actions made me doubt that things would go ording to n, but it seemed they were able to pull through nheless.

    ¡®Looks like I underestimated the Upper ss¡­ or maybe those two simply got rid of most of the enemies around¡­¡¯

    My strategy was to have every student converge at a single spot. By helping the Middle-ss students, I made everyone gather there. Once the Upper-ss students figured out the situation, I figured they would make a simr move and attempt to rescue the other ss Members¡ªor at least, investigate.

    Ultimately, our actions would synchronize, and we would meet at the boys¡¯ dormitory.

    Once we arrived and exchanged greetings, I personally showed Jerry to Ciara. To my surprise, Ciara didn¡¯t seem to show any interest in the boy. She gazed coldly at my respectable senior, causing even me to feel sorry for the guy.

    After a very emphasized ¡°Hmph!¡± she left us and rallied with her Upper-ssrades.

    I was left even more confused than before.

    ¡°What¡¯s her deal?¡± I asked the quite sober Jerry.

    ¡°I¡­ have no idea.¡± He mumbled.

    Apparently, he was used to this sort of treatment from her.

    Still, not taking a few discrepancies into ount, everything had worked out so far.

    It would be easier to mobilize everyone at that point. My goal wasn¡¯t to simply weather the enemy¡¯s assault, but to figure out a way out of it.

    ¡®Being together means we¡¯re a better target¡­ that works to the opponent¡¯s advantage. But this also means we¡¯re a joint front. It¡¯ll be easier to fight properly with enough hands.

    One problem existed, though. It was an issue that often sprouted when there were many people in a single location¡ªconflict of interests.

    ¡°What should we do now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry now that the Upper-ss members are here¡­¡±

    ¡°The Rankers¡­¡±

    ¡°But, those things¡­ even Sir Fabian would struggle if they came at him in multiple folds, right?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ you shouldn¡¯t say that!¡±

    The unease could be clearly felt around us, but those of us with power and capabilities ignored the pointless ramblings of the masses and held a secluded meeting of our own.

    With so many groups together¡ªall scared and anxious¡ªit was obvious we needed to figure out a way to unify the students¡­ and fast!

    As a result, our little strategy meeting was established.

    The participants consisted of the Rankers, and representatives from each ss¡­ apart from the Elites, of course.

    I represented the Lower ss.

    A boy named Roy Lesryio¡ªthe Rank 1 of his ss¡¯ Elite Ten¡ªrepresented the Middle ss.

    Kuzon represented the Upper ss.

    No one objected to this arrangement, even though both Kuzon and I were First Years.

    And so, the meeting began in earnest.

 Chapter 246

    I felt tons of stares converge on me even as I sat at the lounge amid the other students present.

    This was an emergency meeting to decide the actions we would take concerning the Demons that currently swarmed our campus. Of course, given the state of unrest among everyone, only a few were chosen to participate.

    ¡ªThe best of the best.

    Of course, the Rankers were included; as well as those who could be counted on among everyone else.

    I was unanimously chosen by everyone in my ss, so it was clear who the Lower ss Representative would be. As for the Middle ss, their strongest¡ªthe Rank one of their Elite Ten¡ªtook their ce.

    The most problematic choice was the Upper ss. Since the Rankers were all Upper-ss members, one would think they didn¡¯t require anyone else from their section, however¡­

    ¡®The Rankers are a distinct body not really bound by ¡®ss¡¯.¡¯

    Of course, this was only in theory.

    The issue of choosing a representative was resolved easily when Kuzon said he wanted it. No one argued with him.

    ¡®Why?¡¯ I wondered.

    Maybe because he took care of a lot of Shadows by himself. But, ording to him, there were no witnesses. Plus, after alerting everyone and exining the situation, he ventured out to find me.

    I didn¡¯t think he was lying since he had no real motive to, so I simply assumed something else caused everyone¡¯s refusal toment on him being chosen.

    And so, while the staff¡ªAloe Vida¡ªwhom I resurrected handled the students alongside other surviving Dorm Masters of the Upper ss, one of them decided to join our meeting as the adult.

    Of course, at this point, he was impotent in authority since he must have guessed that everyone gathered at the meeting could mop the floor with him¡ªexcept the Middle-ss Elite.

    With such pressing matters that concerned everyone, I expected people to be more focused on that¡ªnot my face.

    I received a particrly fierce re from Richard Novo¡ªthe one I one-sidedly beat during the Exchange. Whenever I looked in his direction, though, he whimpered and looked away like a scared bunny.

    ¡°I believe we should address the most important matter first.¡± Fabian broke the silence with his deep,manding tone.

    The boy¡ªFabian Lestrome¡ªhad the aura of a Prince of the Eastern Kingdom. His ambiance was cool and collected, but I understood that he was simply putting on a front.

    Still, his mask was quite impressive.

    ¡®That¡¯s a prince for you¡­¡¯

    ¡°These Shadows¡­ they¡¯re somehow simr to the Demons we know from the vague cotions of history. They¡¯ve somehow infiltrated the Academy, have spread themselves throughout the campus¡­ and no adult seems to be present.¡±

    Of course, there were a few adults, but everyone must have known what the boy meant.

    ¡®Adults that count. Adults that are strong!¡¯

    Dorm Masters were powerful in their own right, but they simply couldn¡¯t bepared with lecturers. Rankers could defeat any Dorm Master, so the fact that the number of the Elite students outstripped the staff spoke volumes of the much-needed manpower.

    Five Dorm Masters were currently present.

    Two from each Upper-ss Dorm, and Aloe whom I resurrected. Based on utility, thetter was the most important.

    Not only had I increased her Mana Core Grade to rival¡ªmost likely even surpass¡ªthe other Masters, but she could use Light Magic. That made her an asset.

    Of course, no one among those seated was aware of this yet. Rushing into the series of conversations that were urring would not be the wisest choice. I simply had to wait for an opening.

    ¡°The Staff are currently having the Academy Review. It¡¯s located somewhere on Campus, but even we don¡¯t know where. We can¡¯t ess it as well¡­¡± The Upper-ss Dorm Master exined.

    Once he told us everything he knew, it checked out as to how we weren¡¯t able to get assistance from our Lecturers and trustworthy staff.

    ¡®I see¡­ that¡¯s a smart move¡­¡¯

    Obviously, this was the work of a mole. Capitalizing on Neron¡¯s disappearance and the schedule of the meeting was a wise n. But, this only made me all the more convinced about their intentions.

    ¡°Is there no way to reach out to them?¡± Fabian asked, his voice slightly trembling for a millisecond.

    ¡°N¡ªno¡­ not that I know of.¡±

    The Dorm Master must have felt pained to be useless since he bit his lip bitterly and hung his head in a shameful manner. Being unable to help his wards definitely made him frustrated.

    ¡°Sigh¡­ so, that¡¯s how it is.¡± Fabian addressed everyone.

    From the way he spoke, he must have already had this conversation with the Dorm Master earlier. His recent actions were simply to show everyone the current predicament.

    ¡°We need toy out a good strategy, ounting for the fact that help isn¡¯ting. ording to Mister Garliad, the meeting takes up a lot of time. Also, we can¡¯t expect to be safe if we¡¯re not prepared for a way to protect ourselves from those¡­ ¡®things¡¯.¡±

    There was a short moment of silence in the room.

    ¡°Now, since we¡¯ve mentioned the problems, let¡¯s deliberate on the way forward.¡± Fabian¡¯s calm voice reached everyone with a meaningful tone.

    It was time for opinions.

    ¡°I believe we should make use of this ce as a stronghold and hold out until the lecturers are done with their meeting.¡±

    Naturally, the most ignorant and stupid one spoke first.

    ¡°Think about it¡­ we have a much better chance of sticking together. Why don¡¯t we establish a perimeter and create an absolute defense against those Shadows? T-that way¡­¡±

    This sounded like a decent n. In fact, many simpletons would love this strategy. The concept of safety in a monolith was appealing. However¡­ giving in to that temptation would be a fatal mistake.

    ¡®Especially considering the circumstances¡­¡¯

    However, as expected, many peopleuded the young man¡¯s suggestions. He belonged to the lower echelon of the Rankers, but apparently, his words were very wise.

    I sighed internally.

    ¡®This is a mistake.¡¯

 Chapter 247

    I could think of at least three reasons why that was a ridiculous n, but I maintained my calm and kept listening in patience.

    ¡°That sounds like an excellent n.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. If we take turns, we won¡¯t be exhausted.¡±

    ¡°And if they get too close, we canunch an offensive to whittle down their numbers from our strategic positions.¡±

    Many praised the n, but the more experienced Dorm Master gave an expression that seemed grave. It was clear that he knew a w or two in their reasoning.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s such a good n.¡± He finally spoke up.

    I smiled, wondering how far he would be able to convince them. My eyes also went to Kuzon, wondering why he wasn¡¯t speaking.

    ¡®Surely, he must have realized what the issues are¡­¡¯

    The boy was probably waiting for his chance¡ªlike me¡ªor he didn¡¯t care. Something told me it was thetter.

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem with the n, Mister Garliad?¡± Fabian made the mistake of exposing his ignorance.

    ¡°W-well, I really don¡¯t think a defensive strategy will work out well¡­¡±

    The man went further to exin his reasoning.

    ording to him, very few of the students actually had good defensive abilities that could halt the Demons¡­ and they couldn¡¯t maintain it for hours.

    Shadow Demons could bypass poorly made barriers¡ªand not many people had the precision to create dense barriers. The few who could achieve that would have their hands full already.

    Also, no barrier had infinite durability. It would eventually wear down. The more Shadow Demons gathered, the greater the damage. There was the suggestion of swapping out at intervals to restore strength, but one had to wonder how feasible that would be.

    To achieve that, we would need at least two batches of Magic Users¡ªat the barest minimum!

    ¡®And that¡¯s pushing it¡­¡¯

    A squad needed to cover the whole building would have to consist of about ten Magic Users of skilled caliber. Since the barrier would have to be spread out, and we would need to consider the damage dealt¡ªthe math was crazy.

    That meant we needed at least twenty highly capable Magic Users. Those in the meeting were thirteen. Counting the other four staff not present, that left a deficit of three more roles to fill.

    Of course, some top-tier people could be rmended, but even among those present, I doubted many people could use Magic as delicate and precise as the target for an extended period.

    Ultimately, we were short on hands.

    The idea of evenunching assaults on the enemy while maintaining defense wasughable.

    That would mean deactivating a portion of the difficult barrier¡ªwhich would be a hassle on its own. But, that wasn¡¯t the half of it.

    Almost anything the students could throw at the Shadow Demons would be ineffective. Pure Mana hurt them, same as how Miasma was harmful to regr folks, but many students¡ªRankers included¡ªdidn¡¯t know how to effectively use pure Mana.

    At least, not to the point of being potent enough to deal lethal damage to the enemy!

    The few who were adept at that, and could actually hurt the Demons would be required to tend to defense.

    Sure, there were a few exceptional people here, but they weren¡¯t perfect.

    Kuzon¡¯s defense was made of threads, and couldn¡¯t cover too wide a span. Plus, they wouldn¡¯t be dense enough for the Demons to keep out if he tried to widen the range.

    I could also tell that Ciara was more offense based than the opposite. It would have helped if there were Magic Users who specialized in defense like back in the day, but with no major threats happening in the Empire, people were more interested in trending Magic fields.

    Who could me them, though? They simply chose the best career paths for themselves.

    ¡®Ah, I even forgot that some of the people here are Martial Artists¡­ a barrier is out of their field of expertise.¡¯ My eyes trailed to the Third Seat of the Rankers¡ªa Martial Artist. He appeared cautious and collected, so even he must have been aware of his uselessness in the proposed n.

    ¡®We need a strategy that actually utilizes all the resources we have.¡¯

    I had one in mind, but I wasn¡¯t in the position to mention it yet. I simply had to wait for some time.

    ¡°I¡ªI see¡­¡± Fabian mumbled after the Dorm Master exined his limited prediction concerning the proposed n.

    He had a few holes, but the man was mostly on point. He hadn¡¯t stated some crucial elements¡ªreasons why we shouldn¡¯t even dream of remaining on the defensive¡ªbut he did well in establishing his points.

    ¡®We should operate with the assumption that help isn¡¯ting. Wouldn¡¯t the enemy have ensured that we wouldn¡¯t be helped until they achieve their objective?¡¯

    That wasmon sense, no?

    ¡°Any other suggestions?¡±

    Someone¡ªanother idiot¡ªrmended the n of going on the offensive and crushing them with our numbers.

    ¡®They outnumber us, though.¡¯ I wanted to snap at him, but withdrew my thoughts.

    Sure, some of us would fare well, but¡­ we wouldn¡¯t be able to ensure the safety of the weak. Those capable inbat would only attract more foes. Ultimately, the weak would be left defenseless and picked off until they perished.

    I wasn¡¯t averse to sacrifices, but they had to be meaningful. There was no point in making more people die than necessary. That was the very definition of ipetence¡ªof waste!

    Ultimately, with this general logic, that n was scraped too.

    It seemed Fabian wasn¡¯t smart enough to figure out a solution¡ªor was too shaken to think properly¡ªsince he asked for another suggestion.

    A dead calm enveloped the room. Until¡ª

    VWOOOSSHHHH

    Several flying mechanisms drew close to the Middle-ss building we were all staying at.

    Most of us-¡ªexcept the ipetent Middle-ss Elite¡ªnoticed the flying things before they entered the building. Some of us noticed before that, as I saw Kuzon smiling at me.

    ¡°W-what is that?!¡± A majority sprang up and took defensive stances.

    ¡®You mean ¡®those¡¯, blockheads.¡¯ I grinned, happy that what I was expecting had arrived.

    My golden moment was at hand, and I wasn¡¯t going to waste it.

    After all, the approaching figures were¡­

 Chapter 248

    The fast-approaching figures were, of course, my Automatons.

    They whooshed and glided through the air with ease, entering the building through the windows that were opened for venttion.

    VWUUUMMM!!

    The Rankers were already prepared for an assault, and I could see the students cowering in fear. The staff readies their Magic, and for a moment, unrest reigned.

    Only I, Kuzon, and Ciara remained seated.

    ¡°Calm yourselves. They¡¯re with me.¡± My voice interrupted the violent tone of Fabian and the others who were ready to cut down the cloaked bats that began appearing.

    They sharply turned at me in surprise. I could see disbelief lurking in their eyes as about a dozen Automatons flocked around me where I sat. I smiled, nodding my head slowly to dissuade their suspicions.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here? What are those?¡± Fabian barked, losing hisposure for a moment.

    I noticed one of his hands shaking, but he quickly brought it under control.

    ¡®So, this much is enough to frighten them, uh? How effective will they be against the Demons?¡¯

    I sighed and rose from my seat.

    I had the eyes of everyone on me, just as nned.

    Even the students and staff that weren¡¯t invited to our little meeting now gave curious stares in my direction.

    ¡°They¡¯re my Automatons. I sent them out earlier. It looks like they¡¯re back¡­¡± I exined, looking at the surprised expression of the people surrounding me.

    They must have been incredibly surprised that I could do such a thing.

    ¡°Now, then, there¡¯s no time¡­ so I¡¯ll exin something to you all.¡±

    I could feel silence permeating the room. Using this opportunity, I activated Sound Amplification Spell, making sure everyone in the building could hear me.

    ¡°Defense isn¡¯t an option in this conflict, neither is blind assault. Our best shot is coordinating our efforts to achieve the most optimal result.¡±

    At this point, I hadpletely abandoned anything that would cause my audience to view me as a child. My face was hardened with seriousness, and I ensured my eyes disyed a glint of authority. Plus, I made sure to exude a confident aura.

    If I flopped now, there was a chance they would go along with a dumb n.

    ¡°I suggest we attack the Demons in units, whittle down their forces and deal distracting blows at several coordinates. We¡¯ll bolster both defensive and offensive maneuvers, but¡­ that is only a means to an end.¡±

    Shock. Absolute shock was shown on their faces as I addressed the issue the way only a veteran would speak.

    ¡°The main objective will be to spearhead an assault to the heart of the enemy¡¯s strategy¡ªthe Lecturer¡¯s meeting hall.¡±

    The whole reason these Demons were wreaking havoc was due to the absence of ourpetent staff. Once they lost hold of that advantage, their ns were as good as dead.

    ¡°We should focus on finding their Hall and alert them of the threat, not just waiting for them to conclude their Academy Review.¡±

    Of course, this posed its own share of problems, but¡­ it was the most optimal solution.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat the hell are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Find it? Didn¡¯t you hear Mister Garliad? Even the Dorm Masters don¡¯t know the location.¡±

    ¡°How would we even be able to find something so confidential? Especially in this chaos?!¡±

    I knew they would say something like that.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I sent these Automatons earlier. They were twenty-one of them in total, but only twelve made it back, it seems.¡±

    By having some act as decoys and using the others to achieve the task I entrusted to them, this was the expected result. In essence, I expected this oue. The twelve Automatons were the only ones I needed, to begin with.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat would those things do?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say I was done¡­¡± I red at Richard Novo¡¯s flustered face and he squeaked before falling silent.

    Everyone¡ªwith the exception of a few people¡ªwas flustered and scared. In times of emergencies, being confronted with the unknown, humans were very vulnerable¡ªespecially mentally.

    I was going to capitalize on that.

    ¡°These Automatons were imbued with image-capturing Magic. I used them to survey the whole Campus while cing them under camouge. The few that didn¡¯t return served as decoys in case the other ones would be found out, and so here we are.¡±

    Gasps permeated the room. Some were of amazement, while others reeked of disbelief.

    ¡°Y¡ªyou did all that? When¡­?¡± Fabian asked, now looking shell-shocked.

    I had a good grasp of the prince¡¯s personality. He had great pride in his abilities, but he was too sheltered growing up. Experiencing this form of despair would be the first for him. And those emotions were probably too much for him to control.

    ¡®The more special you think you are, the greater the trauma you experience when met with despondency¡­¡¯ I recalled my personal experience.

    The prince still had an image to depict, though, so he was trying to pull himself and everyone together. His inquisition toward me contained a tinge of bitterness that stemmed from the fact that my actions were something he couldn¡¯t havee up with.

    ¡°A while back. On my way to rescue Ana, to be precise. I¡¯ve been preparing them for a while since it takes quite a while to produce so many Automatons at once¡­¡± I lied.

    His suspicious gaze lessened.

    ¡°I figured it would be good to get a goody of the campus grounds to understand the geography better. Plus, we would be able to pinpoint the areas that are more saturated with the Shadows¡­¡±

    ¡®¡­ And also to figure out their objective¡¯

    ¡°A¡ªah, I see¡­¡± Fabian managed to murmur.

    He couldn¡¯t hide his surprise from me. In fact, it wasn¡¯t just him. Even the staff, Garliad was amazed.

    ¡®I knew this would happen. It¡¯s why I told Aloe and the girls not to mention the fact that I used Resurrection Magic.¡¯

    There were things people wouldn¡¯t be able to understand, so unless it was necessary, I would rather contain some information.

    The only ones who were not too flustered were Kuzon and Ciara. As expected, those two were unique people¡­ for different reasons.

    ¡°As expected, you had something up your sleeves¡­¡±

    Kuzon was incredibly smart.

    ¡°So, those were the things I was sensing in the air. I figured it was the Academy¡¯s defenses.¡±

    Ciara was extremely sharp.

    These two were my ace¡­ the trump cards of Ainrk.

    And me? I was the wild card¡­

    The Joker!

 Chapter 249 - Prelude To The Counterattack [Pt 1]

    ¡°You say we should split into regiments and attack them from many angles, but wouldn¡¯t that reduce our firepower?¡± A question was thrown at me.

    ¡°No. The Shadows are incredibly sensitive to the level of threat posed to them. The only reason they haven¡¯t attacked this ce is probably because they¡¯re gathering enough forces to storm this building at once.¡±

    Once that urred, we would have no choice but to remain on the defensive.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying they want to exterminate us in one fell swoop?¡± Garliad asked.

    ¡°No. I doubt that.¡±

    Surprise permeated the room.

    ¡°While that is a good possibility, I don¡¯t believe this is the most efficient way to do it. In the first ce, many Demons are storming the Campus, but they¡¯re spread out in different areas. If their goal was to kill us all, they would have sent more forces to our Dorms and wiped us out.¡±

    The Dorm Master gulped, and then muttered, ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡±

    ¡°Their objective is simply to stall us, or kill us if necessary. They must have specified purposes located at several points in the Academy. Once you view the footage, you¡¯ll understand.¡±

    I had taken the liberty of monitoring some recordings, but I hadn¡¯t gotten the fullyout myself. Still, I could already tell the line by which things were going.

    ¡°They¡¯re attacking important ces, most likely to obtain things that can only be found in Ainrk Academy. This invasion is toorge scale to be for mere ughter, and too small scale to be war. It¡¯s in-between.¡± I retorted.

    ¡°You mean¡­ like reconnaissance?!¡± Garliad eximed.

    I nodded.

    ¡°T¡ªthen¡­ our information, technology, artifacts¡­ I see now¡­¡± The older man mumbled as he scratched his head.

    The other students didn¡¯t seem to understand his seemingly incoherent mumblings.

    ¡°What is it, Mister Garliad?¡± Fabian asked, showing both curiosity and unease.

    ¡°I¡ªIt¡¯s preparation¡­ for a war!¡±

    ¡°WHAT?!¡± Multiple students echoed out.

    ¡°They¡¯reying siege upon this ce to gather information. If I¡¯m right, they¡¯ll strike specific ces like the library, research buildings, and Forbidden Zones.¡±

    Of course, most of this was spection, but the man was right on point.

    ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it¡­ the Demons are starting something¡­¡± He murmured.

    ¡®Well, I wouldn¡¯t go as far as to say that, but¡­ it¡¯s probably best to let him think what he wants for now.¡¯ I smiled wryly.

    ¡°B¡ªbut, if they¡¯re attacking all those ces, and at this period when we¡¯re vulnerable, doesn¡¯t that mean¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes. We have a mole. It¡¯s most likely among the staff, but let¡¯s leave that forter. Our immediate priority is to get out of this situation. Of course, that means we can¡¯t let the enemyplete their objectives.¡±

    There was a stifling silence in the air, but I continued regardless.

    ¡°If they do, we don¡¯t know what it could spell for the Eastern Empire. The war of so long ago required heroes to fight, but we don¡¯t have those now. If we take ount of the consequences of letting them seed, the casualties that coulde from it could be devastating.¡±

    War was terrible!

    People died, dropping to their graves like flies. It was a horrifying sight that I would rather not experience¡ªat the very least I didn¡¯t want those I cared about to see the horrors of true battle.

    That said, peace had made these people weak. Perhaps conflict served its purpose at the time. If the humans had kept increasing their military prowess rather than pursuing other paths in Magic, this wouldn¡¯t have urred,

    Then again, if all focus had been on military technology, a lot of Modern Magic wouldn¡¯t have been developed.

    Peace and War had their results, but I would pick the former at any time.

    ¡°Even if we have to risk our lives¡­ we must prevent the enemy from achieving their aim!¡±

    This was currently about more than just me. As a result, I couldn¡¯t shoulder everything alone. I would need to use these people well!

    ¡°B¡ªbur, even if you say that¡­ we¡¯re no match for them¡­¡± Someone¡¯s voice trailed.

    It was Roy Lesyrio¡ªhead of the Elite Ten of his ss who spoke.

    He wasn¡¯t wrong, but he wasn¡¯t entirely correct either.

    ¡®In battle, the ones who emerge victorious aren¡¯t always the ones with the most powerful forces.¡¯

    If that were not the case, there would be no way Humans could have survived for so long in the war between the Demons.

    ¡°Using your strategy, you wanted to enlist only the elite among us to fight, but that isn¡¯t good enough. My n involves everyone present. We all have roles to y.¡±

    The stronger ones would strike the locations that were saturated with more Demons, while the weaker ones would fight against the fewer ones lurking around.

    Of course, I nned to provide Potions and Automatons to each group to increase efficiency and their chances of survival. Also, at least one fairly powerful member had to be present in every team¡ªpreferably someone who could use Light Magic.

    I went on to exin the weaknesses of the Demons to my audience, using my encounters with them to answer their questions as to how I knew so much.

    Since I was the one responsible for saving four out of six dormitories, no one could object to my exnations.

    ¡°The most troublesome matter is finding the Lecturers¡¯ Meeting Hall.¡± I finally addressed the biggest issue.

    While it wasn¡¯t going to be too hard to do so if I used Spellcraft¡ªin fact, I had an inkling of how to easily spot it¡ªthe problem was what awaited me after that.

    ¡°The location will b heavily guarded. There will be many forces concentrated in that location since that is the advantage they have over us, as well as their only weakness.¡± I further exined.

    Since our forces were still too limited, we probably only be able to send a few people to that area, of which I would need to be among.

    ¡®Only I can use Spellcraft to detect them¡­ but should I really have others with me?¡¯

    Most of the students would be burdens to me. The only helpful ones were going to be needed in more saturated ones.

    ¡®That means I have to go alone, then¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    This must have been what the enemy was after. It was clearly a trap¡ªsomething to reel me in for an execution.

    I had no idea how strong the enemy¡¯s forces were¡­ however¡­

    ¡®They also don¡¯t know what I¡¯m capable of.¡¯

    Ultimately, this was onerge game between me and whoever the mastermind was¡­ and all the students and demons who were fighting¡­ were merely pawns.

 Chapter 250 - Prelude To The Counterattack [Pt 2]

    Afterying out the basis of my strategy, there was an air of unease permeating everywhere.

    Those who listened attentively knew I was correct, and that my solution was the most optimal¡ªor so I would have liked to believe. Still, it appeared they simply didn¡¯t have the will to follow it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s check out the survey results then.¡±

    Hearing my offer, the Rankers and other representatives nodded and I coted my Automatons, using a Light Projection Spell to disy each angle of their survey in panels.

    As a result, twelve panels were instantly disyed before everyone, disying various angles of the Academy, and also different areas.

    Since the Automatons had captured the surroundings from the sky, their range of vision covered a wide range.

    It also helped that they had night vision installed, allowing better visibility for everyone. This technology wasmon in many magical fields, so what I had my Automatons do wasn¡¯t overly impressive.

    What amazed everyone was the fact that I thought to resort to such a thing in the first ce. Plus, making so many Automatons without being Specialized in it was quite difficult.

    The only reason I could do it was because of my Multiple Cores, my experience in the field, the training I had undergone, and also Spellcraft.

    Of course, I couldn¡¯t make overlyplicated structures, and my Automatons weren¡¯t very durable. Still, these kinds of constructs had their uses.

    Once everyone was done viewing the survey, they seemed to finally realize how grave the situation was.

    Even I was astounded by the scenes I didn¡¯t get the privilege of seeing earlier.

    The Shadow Demons had ransacked nine major areas on Campus.

    Other than the dormitories, they invaded the several libraries our Academy had, the Research structures which held experimental information and technology, and Restricted Zones that only authorized personnel could venture into.

    Not even all the staff could enter.

    There were also areas like a Mini-Museum which contained some artifacts¡­ and then the Oasis.

    The areas that were most concentrated with enemies were two of the Restricted Zones, and the General Library¡ªas expected.

    Other sites also had their share of numbers, but the initial few had staggering amounts.

    What worried me the most was their quantity. They were more than even I expected.

    ¡®Does that mean a high-level Demon is the one controlling these things? If that¡¯s the case, then¡­¡¯

    I removed the possibility of a Demon Lord being present, so I settled for a General as the worst possibility.

    If I gave it my all, then I could probably stand a chance. Probably¡­

    I knew what my role would be in the n. Coordinating our forces to deal with the Demons was a good idea, but it was still pretty evident that most students were weak.

    While I would be assisting in many ways¡ªsame as the more reliable personnel surrounding me, it would still be hard to win.

    Which was why we needed the Lecturers back. I couldn¡¯t dispute that fact.

    To get to them, I would need to spot their building using Spellcraft. Alone!

    ¡®Arge portion of their forces will be stationed there. Plus¡­ the leader might be there as well¡­ maybe¡­¡¯

    In a way, perhaps concentrating our forces in that single location would be best, but what if I was wrong in my prediction?

    It could be a feint, and by the time we realized it, the enemy would have achieved their goal.

    There was simply no time and less information to work with. We had to act on what we had.

    ¡°I believe you¡¯re all convinced now. This is the only path we can take.¡±

    No one could argue anymore.

    If we went against this, we would lose a whole lot more. The idea of Demons seeding andunching an invasion on the human world frightened the students.

    If hundreds of thousands of Demons of this caliber¡ªno, even stronger¡ªstormed humanity in waves, would we survive?

    I was certain they yed the scenes in their mind¡ªhow they and their families would suffer if they simply waited things out and allowed a leak.

    Besides, once the enemy was done with their objective, it was clear they would bare their fangs at us to eliminate the future of humanity¡ªand kill as many as they could.

    It would be a loss on both fronts.

    ¡°Understood. We¡¯ll go with Jared Leonard¡¯s n.¡± Fabian Lestrome conceded.

    As the leader of the Rankers, his word carried weight, and so no oneined.

    ¡°That¡¯s perfect. Then there¡¯s one final thing to consider.¡±

    Depending on how this yed out, I could have to take drastic steps myself.

    ¡°Who will be the leader? Someone has to be in charge of this whole operation.¡±

    The group eyed me¡ªat least most of them did. That was because it wasmon sense to leave the leadership role to Fabian.

    ¡®Unfortunately, I don¡¯t trust your flustered mind, prince.¡¯

    ¡°What are you implying? Naturally, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°I believe Jared should do it.¡± Kuzon finally spoke up, raising his hand.

    The attention of our meeting members shifted to the golden-haired boy. Fabian seemed discontent that Kuzon interrupted him, but didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Even if you say that, it doesn¡¯t mean anything. He¡¯s simply¡ª¡± Someone among the Rankers tried to interrupt.

    ¡°Simply what? A First Year? Not a Ranker? I believe those Titles mean nothing as things stand now.¡± Kuzon gave a casual smile.

    ¡°Jared saved four Dorms by himself, he took action faster than everyone present, and even prepared a n that works. Not only did he obtain information on the Shadows, but he is also strong enough to kill over a hundred of them with a single Spell.¡±

    Thatst part seemed exaggerated to everyone seated who heard and they shot him a re of disbelief, however¡ª

    ¡°T-that¡¯s true!¡±

    ¡°We all saw it!¡±

    ¡°Jared was incredible!¡±

    ¡°He blew them all away in a single swoop!¡±

    ¡°He gathered us all together!¡±

    The crowd that had slowly formed and were eavesdropping on our deliberations now began recounting their experiences with me.

    I watched Aloe Vida nod as she smiled in her corner. As agreed, she didn¡¯t speak of my actions in her resurrection, but she silently agreed with the people that raised their voices under my banner.

    Thankfully, they were able to serve as witnesses of my capabilities.

    ¡®This makes things easier. It¡¯s a good thing I acted quickly.¡¯

 Chapter 251 - Prelude To The Counterattack [Pt 3]

    Despite the obvious stance of the crowd, it seemed Fabian refused to budge on his stance.

    ¡°While I do not mean this as an act of disrespect, you haven¡¯t done half as much of what Jared contributed.¡± Kuzon¡¯s bold words forced a frown on the face of the prince.

    ¡°Still¡­ protocols still matter as long as the regtions are concerned. The Rankers are the highest authority after the Lecturers and Academic body. As the leader, I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we vote, then? This is a matter that concerns life or death. In that case, school rules don¡¯t count for much, do they?¡± I smiled at the fuming prince.

    This wasn¡¯t just about sports festivals or ceremonies. This was an actual battle. There was no way I would leave things to an ipetent brat.

    ¡°Fine¡­ let¡¯s vote,¡± Fabian said.

    He must have been confident in the fact that he had more people on his side.

    There were 9 Rankers, and all of them would most certainly side with him. However, I wondered how true that was.

    ¡®Still, let¡¯s not take our chances¡­¡¯

    ¡°Okay, then. We should let everyone in the building vote. After all, they¡¯ll be risking their lives, no?¡± I intentionally raised my voice and increased the effectiveness of my sound amplification Spell.

    No one could im they didn¡¯t hear my words.

    Fabian, as well as the Rankers who he was counting on for their support, bulged their eyes at my seemingly ridiculous statement.

    ¡°What are you saying? Aren¡¯t we the representatives? It¡¯s only right we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Jared is right. These students have their respective lives. Whoever will take charge of this raid will be responsible for the lives of everyone. They have the right to choose who they want to go with.¡± Kuzon stated.

    ¡°I agree.¡± Roy Lesyrio added.

    Though he had been ignored for some time, it didn¡¯t change the fact that the numbers of Middle-ss students were the highest in the Academy.

    As the one who stood at the top of the food chain among them, his words had weight among the majority of students gathered.

    The boy turned his head and smiled at me, a glimmer of gratitude disying in his eyes.

    ¡°Jared saved me and my friends while I was unable to do much¡­ or anything, really.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t the one with the Light barrier, but I saw how much he assisted before I came to the aid of all the Middle-ss boys.

    My impression of him wasn¡¯t bad.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t the time to pull ranks. What matters is who can get the job done.¡±

    Fabian was crumbling under the pressure.

    I understood why he wanted to take the lead. It had more to do with politics than his current identity as a student.

    If¡ªno, when¡ªwe survived, this incident would definitely reach the ears of the Royal Capital. In which case, Fabian wanted this whole incident to end with him as the savior. If that happened, it would solidify his position as an heir.

    No one wanted a weak ruler, after all. I assumed that was why he even took the mantle of First Seat among the Rankers.

    ¡®¡­ Even though I¡¯m sure Ciara should be able to win against him.¡¯

    Still, this wasn¡¯t the time to dabble in meaningless politics. What mattered most was our lives.

    It may have been short-sighted for me to think that way, but everything else came after we survived.

    ¡°Prince Fabian¡­ I have a question. If you answer honestly, I will have no qualms in leaving the leadership role to you.¡±

    The boy seemed slightly relieved that I was letting go of what he desired. But, it was clear he was nervous about what my inquisition would be.

    ¡°If the lives of these students are in your hands¡­ do you guarantee that none of them will die? If any of them should fall, if this n should fail, if the Demons end up with the victory¡­ will you im full responsibility for those things?¡±

    My question carried a lot of weight. Though I was the one who asked, all focus shifted to the one who would answer.

    Even the Rankers were now looking at Fabian, expecting his response.

    ¡°Please bear in mind that you will act in your capacity as a leader. That means you¡¯ll make the strategies and we¡¯ll follow your instructions.¡±

    ¡®I don¡¯t n on you thinking you can use me to make a foolproof strategy and then reap all the rewards on your own.¡¯ I smiled.

    With pressure on Fabian, his trembling became more pronounced, and his hands began to quiver.

    Sweat formed on his forehead, and the pent-up stress he was hiding slowly surfaced. I could tell that he was agonizing over his thoughts, but¡­ if he knew what was best for him and the students, then¡­

    ¡°F¡ªfine¡­ I understand. You can take the lead, then. But, does that mean you¡¯ll be able to do the same?¡± Fabian asked me with tired eyes.

    So far, I had exuded nothing but confidence. Right now, I challenged him to take responsibility for the life and death of the students. It was too big a burden for anyone to bear.

    However¡­

    ¡­ Would I also be able to take responsibility?

    ¡°Yes. I can promise everyone this¡­¡±

    So far, I expected casualties since no one was under my watch and things were out of my control. But now that we¡¯ve gotten to this juncture and things had reached a threshold that I could control¡­ I was confident!

    ¡°¡­ No one will die as long as they follow me!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t blind arrogance or childish confidence.

    I had seen the data; I had calcted the oues¡­ I could foresee the results!

    As long as I was in charge, I could ensure that no one under my charge would die.

    ¡°Too many have been killed already. While I know it¡¯s possible to raise the dead, we should also know that these things are not guaranteed.

    Out of all the students, only the Middle-ss boys suffered casualties.

    Still, that was a huge blow. Perhaps they could all be saved, but what about everyone else? I wouldn¡¯t be able to cast resurrection spells or barriers around the students who would die in this mission.

    That meant I had to ensure that no one would meet their end.

    ¡°I promise you this! As long as I am here¡­ as long as I formte these strategies¡­ you will all live!¡±

 Chapter 252 - The Counterattack [Pt 1]

    In the end, the multitude chose me as their representative.

    Some people, like Fabian, didn¡¯t even bother voting, so it was assumed that they forfeited their choice.

    I was honestly grateful to Kuzon, who used his skillful tongue in my favor. Even though I would have still ended up the victor, one way or the other, it was nice how well things had worked out.

    Of the Rankers, several didn¡¯t side with Fabian. They probably read the room and decided to go with the flow. That or that fact that they cared about their lives and would ultimately choose the more capable one of their options.

    Surprisingly, even Ciara went for me. I saw her eyes darting at Jerry, who was an enthusiastic supporter of my cause, and not long after her eyes trailed in his direction, she raised her hands too.

    There was definitely something fishy with the girl.

    Once the results were finalized, I gathered everyone to the hallway¡ªwhich wasrge enough for us to stand¡ªand then addressed the masses.

    ¡°We will all be risking our lives, but I don¡¯t n on sacrificing more than those who have already been killed!¡±

    To boost their morale, I encouraged the students with the assurance of Resurrection Magic being used on their fallen friends.

    They bought into that and must have also had the thought of being revived if they died as well. I let them think what they wanted, since doing so gave them more courage.

    The first order of business was to strengthen our forces.

    While we were rtively arge number, it wasn¡¯t a secret that most students in the room were mediocre¡ªat least, whenpared to the Shadow Demons.

    In order to even things out, they needed to be well equipped with knowledge, tools, and aid.

    I was going to lend them Automatons to serve as decoys, scouts, and also suicide bombers¡ªin case things went awry.

    Also, by giving a detailed exnation of the weaknesses of Shadow Demons, the students were able to realize the ineffectiveness of wasting their Mana on regr spells. Simply by conducting pure Mana on a weapon or by emitting it, they had a much better chance of causing damage.

    Forbat, the Martial Artists were the best choice since they had better experiences in fighting, and could enhance their weapons better than most.

    I made sure to divide the students into groups that ensured more Martial Artists were present in weaker squads.

    After the grouping waspleted¡ªbased on the location of relevance¡ªI decided to appoint leaders.

    For some groups, I ensured some individuals acted solo.

    Group one consisted solely of Ciara.

    Group two had only Kuzon.

    Group three had Fabian and three other Rankers¡ªas well as a few skilled students.

    The remaining five rankers were spread among five other groups¡ªmaking five.

    Thest group had Edward, Ana, and Aloe as the only members.

    I ensured the first, second, third, andst groups had the biggest load to carry.

    The surviving staff were also spread across four of the five other groups, while the squad without a Staff, Ranker, or anyone of particrly high quality, was given the minimum workload.

    Plus, they had more members of the Elite Ten among them and also had the majority of members.

    I was able to properly divide roles based on difficulty and importance, so no one could giveints

    Still, even with this, we would be hard pressed for victory, which was why¡­

    ZRRRRIIIIIIIIIHHHHH

    A drilling sound cut through the floor of the Middle-ss dormitory.

    Once again, this generated a lot of uproars. Students were frightened that our haven had been breached, and it would only take a small spark to ignite the unrest hidden in their hearts.

    ¡°Do not be rmed! This is also part of the n!¡±

    Once I said this, drawing their attention to my confident demeanor, the unrest slowly fizzled out.

    ¡°Whew!¡±

    The drilling sound persisted, but only for a few more seconds before whatever was underneath the tiled tform reared its head.

    The drilling object took the form of a Mole-like Automaton, having drills for hands, and a sturdy body for weight.

    Once it popped to the surface, several other Automatons appeared, having tube-like bodies that would be able to contain quite a lot of stuff.

    The students had surprised faces as five of these Automatons made their way to my location and I simply smiled.

    ¡°T¡ªthese are yours as well¡­?¡± Fabian managed to blurt out, and I nodded.

    ¡°Yes. I had these Automatons drill their way through the ground since flying through the air would be too risky.¡±

    Not only were they unable to fly, the load each carried would make it difficult to remain undetected even with a cloaking Spell.

    Plus, I couldn¡¯t simply take the risk. They had precious cargo, after all.

    That was why I made sure they went underground, even if it would take a rtively long time to arrive at the appointed destination.

    ¡°W-what are they for¡­?¡± Another question came forth.

    The students must have already guessed, but these Automatons weren¡¯t built forbat. The Mole-like one was adapted to drilling, while the others were simply load-bearers¡ªnothing more.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple, really. I had them transport some things for me.¡±

    I had been undertaking several experiments in my time at Ainrk¡ªno, even before then. As a result, so many fruits of mybor were currently stocked in my room.

    Due to the severity of the situation, it was clear that they would be needed, so I had them transported.

    Now wasn¡¯t the time to be selfish.

    ¡®If these will improve our chances, even by a little, then I have to distribute them properly.¡¯

    Among the items brought were Mana Potions, Health Potions, and Strengthening Concoctions. But those weren¡¯t all.

    I had tools¡ªmagic items¡ªamong my stockpile.

    Using these, I was certain that even those who were weaklings could temporarily be the slightest bit useful in our endeavor.

    I gave Edward an enchanted de that I prepared for him.

    Ana got a ne that boosted her Magic abilities as well as bracelets that increased conductivity.

    I distributed the appropriate potions to everyone present, and also have Magic Tools to those who would be deadweights otherwise.

    Most of them¡ªif not all¡ªwere prototypes in their experimental stages, and I had already recorded my observations on them, so they wouldn¡¯t be missed.

    As for the special items I gave to Ana and Edward, they were originally intended as gifts, so I felt no loss.

    The Rankers¡ªKuzon as well¡ªalready possessed their respective equipment, so I didn¡¯t bother with them.

    My goal was to ensure that even the weak could stand a chance against our adversary.

    And once that was done¡­ our little army waspleted.

    Looking at the students who had chosen to stand up for themselves and the Academy, I couldn¡¯t feel prouder.

    These were the future¡ªthe ones we had sacrificed everything for!

    They had already taken our positions outside the dormitory building, every squad armed with their resources and respective automatons.

    All that was left was themand.

    A smile leaked out of my face as I raised my voice tomence the start of our operation. Things would get extremely difficult from now on¡ªespecially for me¡ªbut¡­ this was the best shot we had!

    ¡°BEGIN!!!¡±

 Chapter 253 - ?253 The Counterattack [Pt 2]

    ¡°Haa¡­¡± Kahn gave a sigh.

    He had been waiting, lurking in the darkness for his prey.

    Just as he agreed with his human coborator, he didn¡¯t make any move himself. Instead, he remained in his location and prepared for any sign of human activity heading his way.

    ¡°None, uh? Still¡­¡± He grumbled.

    Kahn didn¡¯t understand the shady man¡¯s reasoning one bit.

    While he was aware that his current position had a lot of relevance to the whole invasion, he knew there were better ways to prevent any risks.

    The Shadow Demon, previously a Demon Lord in his own right, was stationed close to the entrance of the Hall where all the Lecturers were currently having their meeting.

    It was to prevent any interference with their invasion, since letting the powerful individuals within the building loose would spell doom for Kahn¡¯s entire operation.

    However, the Shadow Demon could figure out other ways to prevent that from happening.

    Firstly, he could directly participate in the Invasion itself and swiftly get rid of the nuisances himself.

    With him directly participating, no one would even get the chance to reach the hall¡ªnot that they even knew where it was located, in the first ce.

    The fact that no one might evene close to the ce he was guarding made Kahn grit his pitch-ck teeth in annoyance.

    ¡°What a bother¡­¡±

    He hated being useless and idle, yet he knew better than to deviate from the n. After all¡­ his partner himself had guaranteed that someone would show.

    ording to the man, the most troublesome student of all was going to attempt to call upon the aid of all the Lecturers.

    Fortunately, this was the same person Kahn was to personally kill. While Kahn would have preferred to seek out his prey himself¡ªrather than have ite to him¡ªhe decided not to push it and leave the n as it was.

    Since Shadow Demons weren¡¯t known for their intelligence, the creature assumed that there was probably some other hidden intention that he couldn¡¯t decipher.

    Still, it was annoying¡­

    Not only because he was idle, but also thanks to something he hadn¡¯t expected.

    ¡°They¡¯re putting up quite the resistance, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    He had anticipated some form of retaliation on the part of the students, especially the more talented ones, but Kahn could have never imagined that it would be to this scale.

    Since the Shadow Demon was connected to his clones, he knew¡ªto an extent¡ªof their location and status.

    The fact that so many had been defeated was a surprise. In fact, all the ones he sent to the dormitories were killed¡ªand the casualties on the human side were very lowpared to the number of his clones that died.

    Sure, he knew they were inferior copies, but still¡­

    ¡®They just keep surprising me¡­¡¯

    So much so that it worried the ck being. If they were resisting to this degree, and showed no sign of stopping, it wasn¡¯t beyond imagination that they would target the locations where he was currently breaching for information and resources.

    With the current quality of his clones, Kahn wasn¡¯t sure of his victory.

    He had been assured of victory by his coborator, but the Demon didn¡¯t trust any human.

    There was a chance that he would lose at the current pace.

    There were nine locations where his clones were raiding, and he couldn¡¯t possibly leave his position to personally ount for them. A portion of his emotions told him to leave things be.

    Mere students couldn¡¯t trump the clones he made, never mind their quality.

    Still¡­ Kahn remembered thest time he underestimated a human opponent.

    It didn¡¯t end well.

    ¡°Fine¡­ how about this, then?¡±

    SHUUUUU!!!

    The Shadow Demon¡¯s body emitted a very thick cluster of dark energy, and the most peculiar scene manifested.

    Kahn¡¯s body split into two. One of the copies was Khan¡¯s original, though it looked of less quality than he was initially.

    The second Kahn looked even more intimidating.

    Next, the duplicate version split itself once again¡ªdividing into numerous parts, until there were nine of it.

    ¡°Perfect.¡± The Demon¡¯s voice rang ominously.

    He was pleased to see portions of himself facing one another.

    This technique he used was fundamentally different from the Shadow summoning he did the previous time.

    Unlikest time when he simply made clones, these were actually portions of himself¡ªhis true self.

    In short, the figures in front of him were all Kahn.

    ¡°I only have about thirty percent of myself¡­ the rest have been split into parts.¡± He mumbled to himself.

    ¡°But, this way, no one will be able to get in my way.¡±

    ¡°True. I should eliminate all the enemies.¡±

    More Kahns spoke, all addressing the same issue.

    It was a bizarre sight¡ªcreatures of darkness speaking to one another.

    Three of these Kahns had ten percent each, while the remaining six shared forty percent.

    Still,pared to any student of the Academy, they were iparably superior.

    At least, that was what Kahn determined.

    ¡®While this is overkill, I refuse to underestimate those humans.¡¯ Kahn thought to himself.

    While he possessed the highest percentage¡ªmaking him the original¡ªhe had bled out more than even half of his power.

    Still, he wasn¡¯t threatened in the slightest. Thirty percent was already more powerful than a Demon General.

    While his partner had spoken highly of his target¡ªJared Leonard¡ªhe was still a child of twelve years.

    It didn¡¯t matter how monstrous he was, there was no way a kid could defeat a Demon General.

    Plus, Jared Leonard was bound to have exhausted arge portion of his strength to contain the invasion already. There was no way he would be in top form.

    With him having the advantage, and also superior abilities, victory was assured.

    ************

    I sped past so many buildings in a sh that it seemed like they blurred.

    There was no time to leisurely engage at a moderate pace. Using Spellcraft to augment my physical abilities, I ensured my movements were faster than ever.

    While this wasn¡¯t how I nned things to go out, it was the only way out.

    The big bad was waiting for me at the designated point, and once I spotted him¡­ it would be game over!

    I made sure to save a great deal of my strength for this, so I had no intention of losing.

    ¡®Everyone, please do your best out there. I¡¯ll do mine as well!¡¯

 Chapter 254 - 254 Kuzons Mission

    There were three major areas gued by an insufferable amount of Shadow Demons.

    One was the General Library

    The other two were Restricted Zones essible only to the Staff of Ainrk¨Cand even then, only those with the appropriate clearance were permitted within.

    Kuzon alone was assigned to the General Library on his own. Ciara was given charge over the second toughest spot, while a good amount of the Rankers handled thest saturated area.

    Many would have viewed Jared¡¯s actions to be that of a madman¨Cassigning two students individual tasks and sending them to the heart of the enemy¡¯s forces¨Cor at least close.

    However, since the people in question held noint on the matter, no one could say anything. Jared exined that his decision was fair, and that he simply gave everyone the roles he felt they could handle.

    This sent a message to everyone present; that Ciara and Kuzon as individuals were stronger than a bunch of Rankers. Usually, it would be considered insulting, if not downright conceited, however¡­ no one said anything.

    If someone as brilliant and powerful as Jared Leonard deemed it so, that was what it had to be. After all he had shown, there was no room for doubt in the hearts of most. Besides, they were also partially grateful that they weren¡¯t the ones undertaking the more difficult mission.

    With that in mind, everyone charged toward their appointed destination. Their formation was impable, their goals unchanged, and their expressions disyed a firm resolve.

    They were going to take back their Academy!

    **************

    Kuzon floated through the air, staring at his surroundings with his golden eyes. They shone brightly in the dark thanks to him pouring mana into them.

    The fact that he glided so easily in midair would tell anyone he was used to this activity, but Kuzon was simply relying on muscle memory and wasn¡¯t even paying much mind to his flight activities.

    His eyes took in everything around him while his mind ruminated on several things.

    In the quiet embrace of the night, it was the perfect time to think. Still, with all the chaos around, the golden-haired boy picked the wrong time to delve deep into thought.

    ¡°This is incredibly suspicious¡­¡±

    He considered all Jared had said in their meeting, and he could tell that the boy was withholding some information. Whether he was doing it for the greater good or not was something Kuzon didn¡¯t know yet.

    ¡®It¡¯s clear we have a mole, but¡­ it couldn¡¯t possibly be Jared, right?¡¯

    Jared had contributed the most in mitigating the cmity that befell everyone, but his actions and the information he possessed showed something beyond the reach of a twelve-year-old.

    Even Kuzon, the genius, could not have thought things so well¡­ and he knew that perfectly. Jared may have beencking in Magic, but that was only his perspective. He far surpassed most people his age¨Ceven older.

    ¡®Still¡­ it can¡¯t be Jared¡­¡¯

    The mole had to be a Staff¡­ a Lecturer most likely. However, Kuzon couldn¡¯t think beyond what he suspected due to hisck of information. It was at this point that the boy wished he had been paying more attention to the people around him.

    ¡®Well, let¡¯s take care of this incident first¡­ the rest cer¡­¡¯

    With that, Kuzon increased his pace to a phenomenal degree, and¨C

    WHOOOOSSSHHH!!!

    ¨CHe arrived at the General Library in no time.

    It was a very massive building, though it wasn¡¯t all too impressive by the young boy¡¯s standards. The ce he knew was far better than this ce. Still¡­

    ¡°I suppose¡­ they did the best they could.¡± He murmured as he began alighting from his height.

    Kuzon refused to let his feet touch the ground and remained aloft, looking at the building in front of him¨Cas well as the enemies that had already surrounded his nk and rear.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to hide.¡± The boy called out.

    There was no way they could escape his superior detection. Plus, even if they attempted to ambush him, it wouldn¡¯t work. The only reason he called out to them was because it would be a pain to kill them off one at a time.

    He would rather get things over with quickly.

    And so, in response to his call, multiple shadows began surfacing. They showed up in hundreds, revealing their malevolent auras and grotesque figures. Their white eyes eyed him, and their limbs were sharpened forbat.

    So far, ording to Jared¡¯s analysis of these creatures, they were capable of three major attacks.

    One was the ability to alter their form¨Cpreferably their limbs¨Cand use them for meleebat.

    The second was their tendency to shoot projectiles from a distance bypressing their dark forms.

    The third was the ability to generate several constructs from various parts of their bodies¨Ceven from blind spots.

    Coupled with the fact that they could turn semi-tangible, were resistant to physical assaults, and were fluid in their motion, these Shadow Demons were the perfect soldiers¨Cand the greatest enemies for most fighters.

    Still, Kuzon wasn¡¯t worried.

    Ultimately, he simply had to mow them down. His Original Magic, while not perfect yet, utilized pure Mana. As a result, it could deal direct damage to the creatures.

    At this rate, all he had to do was expend quite a sum of Mana to maintain it. That was also not a problem, though, thanks to his ne.

    ¡°Now, then¡­¡± Kuzon smiled, watching so many Shadow Demons creep up on him.

    The rest were most likely sorting through what they wanted to obtain within the Library. After he was done with the ones surrounding him, his next goal had to be the Library building itself.

    Not even a single one was to get out alive.

    ¡°Come!¡±

    VWOOOSSHHH!!!

    The Shadows charged at Kuzon. However, they all shared the same fate.

    Kuzon¡¯s fingers snapped¡­ and then¡­ an eruption of blinding lightning erupted and consumed the area.

    ¡°Shock¡­¡± He whispered.

    BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!

    While ensuring his immediate vicinity was protected, everything for arge distance was consumed by the explosive blue lightning that shed.

    The Shadow Demons were weaker to Light, but since the Lightning element was closely linked, it also served the same purpose. In essence¡­ it was their weakness as well.

    SHUUUUUUUU¡­

    Once the smoke began hissing and the cool wind of night cooled the charred surface around him, Kuzon deemed his job to be done.

    ¡®I should head to the Library, then¡­¡¯ He nonchntly shrugged.

    Once again elevating himself from his lower estate, the boy began moving in the direction of therge building. However¨C

    ¡°That was one impressive disy.¡±

    ¨CA voice called out to him.

    Instantly, Kuzon felt a chillpletely different from earlier. Instinct took over, and the casual air around him vanished. The sudden appearance of something even he hadn¡¯t sensed startled him.

    ¡®This is¡­?!¡¯

 Chapter 255 - Kuzons Identity [Pt 1]

    Standing before Kuzon was an existence that shouldn¡¯t have been in the Library Area.

    It was a creature simr to the ck things¡­ but also entirely different.

    To begin with, its appearance was bigger, and it had more menacing features thatpletely put the ones that were recently destroyed to shame. But, the most notable thing about this being was the amount of power it possessed.

    Its stifling Miasma was enough to stop Kuzon in his flight.

    ¡°Are you their leader?¡±

    It was a direct question, but Kuzon was questioning not only the monster in front of him¡­ but also himself.

    ¡°Oh? Look at this kid. You understand Demon Tongue?¡±

    Kuzon didn¡¯t respond. He simply stared at the ck creature in front of him¡ªanalyzing all he could about its power¡­ and motive.

    ¡®It canmunicate, so that makes itpletely different from the others. Plus, this amount of power is also sizable. If I¡¯m not careful¡­¡¯

    ************

    The Shadow Demon¡ªa portion of Kahn¡ªhad ten percent of his original self. In essence, he was strong.

    He could see the student before him panicking a little.

    This was only natural, considering he currently possessed enough power to pass as a Demon General. No human child could match that¡ªno matter how much they tried.

    He had used [Shadow Warp], a Spell, to appear at the Library the moment he realized that a huge portion of the Shadow Clones had been extinguished.

    He wasn¡¯t expecting a kid to be responsible¡ªa single one for that matter, but¡­ upon observing the child, it would appear that such a person really could pull it off.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised. You¡¯re the second human I¡¯ve met who understands my Language. I thought information about us was supposed to have been extinguished after the war. The humans truly are unreliable¡­¡± Kahn murmured.

    The boy before him seemed to chuckle a little¡ªno, it was more like a snicker.

    ¡°Something funny to you?¡±

    Kahn would usually have simply killed the brat in front of him, but there was no need to rush. Plus, he wanted to give his minions within Library enough time to get all the necessary information before he fought.

    After all, he wanted to let loose a little.

    ¡°I can guess that the other person who understands you is your coborator in this invasion of yours. He¡¯s a Lecturer here, correct?¡± Kuzon¡¯s voice was clear, without fear.

    ¡®He¡¯s just trying to bluff¡­¡¯ Kahn reasoned internally.

    ¡°Maybe. Maybe not.¡±

    The human boy¡¯s smile grew wider. Had he truly figured things out? No. If he had, then he wouldn¡¯t be asking.

    Kahn figured he was most likely just trying to probe him for information. While he wouldn¡¯t have minded spilling the beans since he would still be killing the young boy, the Shadow Demon despised being yed and underestimated.

    And that was exactly what the boy seemed to be doing.

    ¡°As for how I understand yournguage, I was taught. You know, I¡¯m actually fluent in most known Languages in the world¡­ some Monster Tongue as well¡­¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Shame¡­¡± Kuzon¡¯s voice yfully trailed.

    ¡®Why is he talking about unnecessary stuff? Is he trying to buy time? Does that mean I should truly end things quickly, after all?¡¯

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so apprehensive. I don¡¯t n on buying time or anything. In fact, I want to end this quickly. It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s not every day you get to see a Demon. I wanted to ask you something.¡± Kuzon murmured.

    ¡°Oh? The effrontery¡­ this human¡­¡±

    ¡°Come on. It¡¯ll be worth your while. I have valuable information too, you know? We could exchange info. After we¡¯re done, you can choose to kill me or something, right? What do you have to lose?¡±

    Kahn considered the boy¡¯s words carefully.

    Sure, he truly wanted to know about how he knew his Demon Tongue. Not just that, he needed information on the students¡ªno, humans in general.

    How many students were as powerful as this golden-haired boy? Were they being taught about Demons in this Academy? If that was so, then the situation was worse than he thought. In that case¡­

    ¡°Fine. But I will ask you my question first.¡±

    ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t mind.

    For a moment, there was silence. Kahn was deliberating what to ask the young boy before him.

    ¡°How do you know so much? How are you so strong? How many students here are as strong as you¡­ or are you just considered average here? What exactly do you know about our race? You humans n on invading us, don¡¯t you? Despite the deal. How dare you!!!¡±

    From a single question, Kahn threw a flurry of inquisitions, raising his voice as he spoke. It was obvious how agitated the Shadow Demon felt.

    ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s a load of questions.¡± Was the only thing Kuzon said, in a calm and collected manner.

    After waiting for some time, the boy continued.

    ¡°My name is Kuzon Midas. Does that ring a bell?¡±

    Kahn¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and then searched his memory for the familiar name. It wasn¡¯t the first name that intrigued him¡­ but thest!

    ¡°Midas! You belong to ¡®that ce?!''¡±

    It was no wonder the kid was so strong. Kahn understood perfectly now.

    ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t know what deal you were referring to, but the Midas Empire had nothing to do with that. As you know, we were never involved in your war.¡±

    Kahn remembered.

    The denizens of the Midas Empire didn¡¯t really consider themselves the same as the other races¡ªeven though they looked human.

    And so, even when the humans, dwarves, beastfolk, elves, and fairies joined in the war against the Demons, they never interfered.

    Usually, such a nation would get stuck in the conflict caused by war and have to pick a side, but the Midas Empire never participated in the battle¡­ and the crisis never affected them.

    They were that formidable.

    Kahn felt a little apprehensive now that a member of such a race was before him¡ªsomewhat grateful he was only encountering a kid.

    ¡°I-I see¡­¡±

    ¡°As for strength, I would say no one is stronger than me. Ciara is pretty good, but she¡¯s unrefined. Perhaps that¡¯s what makes her so formidable, though¡­¡± The boy leaked out a smirk.

    Kahn didn¡¯t speak. He only listened.

    ¡°And then there¡¯s him¡­ Jared Leonard¡­¡±

    Kahn¡¯s antenna sprang up the moment he heard that name. So, he was strong enough that a member of the Midas race deemed it fit to mention him.

    ¡®This kid, Jared¡­ what kind of existence is he?!¡¯

 Chapter 256 Kuzons Identity [Pt 2]

    ¡°¡­ Na. I mean, his intelligence surpasses mine, and he¡¯s a natural at Mana Control, I¡¯ll give him that. But¡­¡±

    Kuzon formed a wry smile, something that Kahn would have scoffed at but now dreaded.

    ¡°¡­ He¡¯s still inferior to me. Well, I guess I have my superior bloodline to thank for that.¡±

    Kahn gulped slightly. It wasn¡¯t that he was afraid, but caution was something he had learned over the years. He refused to be careless.

    ¡°So, no. I suppose I¡¯m the strongest student. Even among Lecturers, there are only quite a few I have to fear¡­¡±

    Kahn remembered the ¡®partner¡¯ he coborated with had mentioned a name to him. Perhaps this was a chance to see just how much truth dwelled in his words.

    ¡°What about the Lecturer, Neron Kalid?¡±

    ¡°Pfft. Puehehehe. Puahahahahahaha!!!¡± Kuzon burst outughing.

    It wasn¡¯t the usuallyposedughter that one would expect from someone of his personality. No, it was more like a child¡¯s.

    For the first time, it seemed like the golden-haired boy was acting like a kid.

    ¡°Oh, I do apologize¡­ hehe¡­ sorry about that¡­¡± Chuckles leaked out as the boy tried to regain hisposure.

    Usually, Kahn would haveshed out in anger, but¡­ he decided to cling to his patience.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s just, you said something funny. Youpared me to Neron Kaelid.¡±

    ¡®Does that mean this kid is superior? He¡¯s young and immature, but¡­ he¡¯s still a member of the Midas race, so¡ª¡¯

    ¡°Neron Kaelid is definitely stronger than my father¡ªno, anyone I know¡­ and not by a small margin.¡±

    This was enough for Kahn¡¯s eyes to bulge in shock.

    ¡®A fully grown Midas?!¡¯

    Kuzon was saying that a mere Lecturer was stronger than an aplished user of Magic? Surely, Kahn found that incredibly dubious.

    ¡°It may not sound like much, but you¡¯re seriously overestimating our race. Most people make that mistake.¡± The boy chuckled.

    Kahn felt like he was being called stupid, but he decided to let it slip.

    ¡°The ones who have most of the power are royalty. All royals are geniuses, possessing Special Grade Mana Cores. I suppose you could say we¡¯re the Midas of the Midas folks.¡±

    ¡®We?¡¯ Kahn was already getting some bad vibes.

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m the prince of the Midas Empire¡­ or should I say, was? Hmm¡­¡±<sub></sub>

    The Shadow Demon felt like he was being assailed by too much information¡ªmore than he could handle¡ªall at once.

    ¡°It only makes sense that I¡¯m this strong¡­ so, I suppose that answers your question. As for this Academy, I don¡¯t think they have anything to do with you guys. Humans don¡¯t really feel you guys are a threat. Many don¡¯t even know you exist, you know?¡±

    Kahn was shocked.

    What was he hearing?

    He would have taken that stance before, but there was no way humans who knew nothing of Demons would counter his Shadows so easily. Or maybe¡­

    ¡®Was it this kid that took care of all the Shadow Clones? Then that makes sense¡­¡¯

    If that was the case, and Kuzon was telling the truth, then he had been overreacting all along. He was too hasty in his judgment.

    He had been the first to break the vow between humans and Demons, and he actually dared to venture this far. Kahn realized it now.

    ¡®I should have just returned¡­¡¯

    No, he shouldn¡¯t have left the Demon Realm in the first ce!

    ¡°I suppose I¡¯ve answered your question. It¡¯s your turn now¡­¡±<sub></sub>

    Kahn grunted, not feeling very motivated to go back on his word. Other Demon Lords would have never stuck to a deal made with humans¡ªwell, except Rouge¡ªbut even then¡­

    ¡°Fine. Ask.¡±

    ¡°Do you know anyone by the name of Kido?¡±

    Kahn was surprised by the simplicity of the golden-haired boy¡¯s question. So much so that he cocked his head a bit.

    ¡°I see¡­ so that¡¯s a no, uh? Figures¡­¡±

    Kahn felt somewhat bad that he got all that information and couldn¡¯t even answer the kid¡¯s question. Still, once he realized that the boy would still die by his hands, Kahn shook off any useless emotion.

    ¡°I guess it was too optimistic to expect anything. But, I have to ask¡­ what is the current status of the White Demon tribe?¡±

    The White Demons, just as the Shadow Demons, belonged to the same Race. They were poprly known as Shapeshifters or Doppelgangers¡ªa nasty bunch in Kahn¡¯s opinion.

    Still, they were members of his Species. That afforded them some level of respect on his end.

    ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll sell out my people?¡± The Demon growled.

    ¡°Hey, I answered your questions, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°S¡ªstill¡­ ask another one. I can¡¯t reveal the internal information of my people.¡±

    The golden-haired boy sighed, most likely in exasperation. Kahn felt worse than before, but he hardened his heart. He wasn¡¯t going to betray his resolve.

    ¡°Fine. Tell me this at least¡­ in the past nine years¡­ have there been any suspicious activities on their end? I mean¡­ have they left the Demon Realm to visit the human world? Have they had contact with anyone from the outside?¡±

    ¡®What are these strange questions?¡¯ Kahn¡¯s thoughts were troubled.

    Still, he didn¡¯t intend to dodge the inquisition this time.

    ¡°No. I am not aware of anything like that. Besides, the White Tribe are not exactly the most open about their affairs. Even if they were to have snuck out, it wasn¡¯t within my jurisdiction, to begin with. I wouldn¡¯t know¡­¡±

    Demon Tribes had some level of Autonomy, and while the Demon Lords had absolute power and were respected by all, their authority could only be directly used on the members of their respective tribes.

    Only the Demon Kingmanded the absolute fealty of all Demons. He was their absolute monarch, as well as Kahn¡¯s master.

    ¡°¡­ Useless.¡±

    Kahn snapped out of his reminiscing state as he heard a disgusted sound. He nced in the Kuzon¡¯s direction, only to find him ring¡ªno, simply giving a condescending look.

    Kuzon¡¯s casual smile had turned grim, and his lips curled downward to show a disappointed frown.

    ¡°You¡¯re so useless. You simply wasted my time.¡± The boy¡¯s voice was chilly, causing Kahn to shudder.

    He emanated a different air than before. The atmosphere felt dangerous.

    ¡°Oh well¡­ there¡¯s nothing I can do about it now¡­¡±

    Suddenly, heat began to rise. It was getting hot¡ªufortably hot¡ªterribly hot.

    Kahn could feel it¡­ an intensity, unlike anything he had ever felt before.

    This wasn¡¯t natural heat!

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll just kill you and hope I¡¯m luckier next time¡­¡±

    Kahn felt terror.

    He was only ten percent, after all!

    He wasn¡¯t at full strength!

    There was no way he could handle this¡­ this power!

    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s finish this¡­ Xenia¡­¡±

 Chapter 257 Ciaras Encounter [Pt 1]

    Ciara flew in her appointed direction, but her thoughts never left the dormitory¡ªor, rather, a boy whom she hadst seen there.

    ¡®Hiyaaa!!! I¡¯m so embarrassed!¡¯ She squealed internally.

    Her ck bodysuit clung tightly to her body, and Ciara knew what she was wearing underneath¡ªnothing. While she had imagined what it would be like to have her lover see her in this wear, she didn¡¯t expect it to be so soon.

    That¡¯s right! Ciara Epilson was an obsessive pervert who couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her childhood friend. She called her overwhelming emotions love, but if any reasonable person heard of herplicated feelings, they would beg to differ.

    For one, she never showed him any outward affection. She was as cold as a block of ice in her interactions with the center of her affection¡ªJerry Keller. Things weren¡¯t always like they were, but they suddenly found themselves at this juncture.

    The second problematic thing about her disposition toward Jerry was the intense obsession she had with him. She practically loved everything he liked, and despised what he hated. That was one of the reasons she gave herself to so much training despite being a prodigy¡ªit was because he also applied himself.

    Still, though, if she felt he shouldn¡¯t love something, she would eliminate such a thing in order to prevent him from making a foolish choice. An example of that would be¡­ perhaps a girl other than herself?

    Jerry was a dense guy, so he had no idea how scary women could be. Humans in general were unreliable, which was why Ciara felt like there was no one else he could rely on but her.

    Since he couldn¡¯t figure that out on his own, the best she could do was take action on his behalf before he got hurt. She hoped that one day he would recognize her efforts, and then¡­ maybe¡­<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Kyaaa! I can¡¯t wait!¡± She squealed in delight.

    To the love-stricken girl, nothing much mattered besides Jerry. The only reason she was still in Ainrk was because of him too. That was why she was trying so hard to defend the Campus.

    ¡®I don¡¯t like how I¡¯m not in his group, though¡­¡¯ The cutie pouted.

    She wanted to fight Demons with him. No, rather, she wanted to defeat all his enemies while he helplessly watched her.

    That way, he would realize he was nothing without her and would cling even closer to her side. It seemed this logic had been what pushed Ciara and Jerry apart, in the first ce, but she didn¡¯t see it that way.

    ¡®He¡¯s trying to catch up to me! How cute. How cool!¡¯

    Just like she mulled over him every time, he was also thinking ceaselessly about her. That made Ciara happy.

    ¡®Just you wait, Jerry! Once I¡¯m done with my cleanup¡­ I¡¯ll rush to your side!¡¯<sub></sub>

    With that single thought, she rushed ahead.

    >WHOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!!<

    **********

    It barely took a minute before Ciara arrived at her designated location¡ªone of the Forbidden Zones, also known as a Restricted Area.

    There were a bunch of them around, but it was mostly due to safety reasons. Students could actually ess them with permission, so they were not under severe lockdown.

    Still, of those Restricted Areas, three were especially off-limits.

    No one had any real information on the ce, so even Ciara didn¡¯t know what to expect from the location she was sent to. But that didn¡¯t really matter. As long as she defeated her enemies¡­ she would win¡ªand then rush to Jerry¡¯s aid.

    ording to Jared¡¯s instruction, if a group was done with their assignment, they had to help out other groups close by.<sub></sub>

    Unfortunately, Jerry wasn¡¯t the closest to her location, but that didn¡¯t matter to her. He was first priority.

    Ciara¡¯s hair fluttered as she descended to the ground, facing the dome-like structure that was dubbed a Forbidden Zone. It seemed to be made of ss¡ªbut it was so dense that no one could see the interior.

    The brte wondered what could have inspired the architects to construct such a bizarre-looking building, yet they expected it to be off-limits. In a ce crawling with students, of course, people would be tempted to check the area out.

    Even Ciara felt curious at times. But, the security was too tight for her to breach, and she didn¡¯t want to risk exposing herself, so she gave up on the venture.

    Nothing good woulde out of getting expelled and being unable to see Jerry.

    But now¡­ things were different.

    ¡°I have ess to this ce! At longst! Take that, suckers!¡± Sheughed.

    Ciara had always been a rebel, and now she could fully exercise her personality. But first¡­

    ¡®I should take care of these flies¡­¡¯

    Nothing was going to stand in the way of her tour. Plus, she was also in quite a hurry so she could get to Jerry¡¯s side. Because of these two factors, thetter being more important, Ciara didn¡¯t hesitate to activate her Original Magic [Phantom Link].

    Once the wave of energy she dispersed permeated the surrounding area, the enemies she spotted were rendered powerless. Disconnected from their source, they crumbled and died.

    She didn¡¯t even need to exert much effort.

    ¡®Now, then¡­¡¯ She merrily trotted down the path before her¡ªeyes fixed on the ss dome.

    Her stride was casual, her brown hair fluttered as the wind blew against it, and she was even humming something under her breath. This certainly didn¡¯t seem like someone heading off into battle.

    More Shadow Demons were bound to be waiting for her in the building, but what did she care? She just wanted to get the chore over with.

    But¡­ before she could take a single step further, Ciara felt a change in atmosphere.

    It was something behind her¡ªsomething incredibly powerful.

    Ciara, despite her usually yful demeanor, had incredibly sharp instincts. As someone who was adept at battle and was also a natural prodigy, she swiftly responded to the bloodlust behind her and was met with the sight of an actual threat.

    If the others were worthless pebbles not worth her notice, this being before her was a boulder.

    ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re the boss?¡± Ciara blurted out.

    She noticed its incredible energy, so it had to be the mastermind behind this invasion, right? Or was she jumping the gun?

    ¡°Impressive. To think you defeated all tho¡ª¡±

    ¡°Zip it and let¡¯s fight. I want to end things quickly!¡±

    The Kahn that appeared before Ciara was taken aback by her sharp response. Not only was it incredibly rude, but it also had a ton of confidence. Plus, the fact that she was in a hurry only meant one thing¡­

    ¡®Has she realized that more versions of me have spread across the other ces?¡¯

    But, the moment Ciara gave her next statement, Kahn realized he had been overthinking things.

    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this fast! Jerry¡¯s waiting for me!¡±

 Chapter 258 Ciaras Encounter [Pt 2]

    Refusing to waste any of her valuable time, Ciara instantly resorted to her Original Magic.

    It had been very effective on the other Shadow Demons and it was basically a One-Shot ability. Once she had her aim on the target, she fired off her energy in the form of waves.

    >VWUUUSSSHHH!!!<

    **********

    ¡°W¡ªwhat?!¡± Kahn was taken by surprise.

    Who was this girl?

    Why did she just attack out of the blue?

    Were all the students on campus like her?

    Sure, he was the one who invaded the Academy, but¡­ she was being too impatient for a human. The wave she released had quite the danger lurking within, but Kahn¡¯s reaction time had been too stunted to respond to it.

    ¡®How bad could it be?¡¯ He thought to himself and decided to tank the attack.

    The wave approached him, and then hit his whole body¡ªbombarding the Shadow Demon with its power.

    Kahn felt stings all over himself as his body rejected the Mana that spread across him, and his brain fuzzed a bit. He expected something else to assail him, but¡­ that was it!<sub>.</sub>

    The wave dissipated and the attack ended.

    Nothing out of the ordinary urred.

    ¡®What the¡ª? Did I overestimate her?¡¯ Kahn thought to himself.

    Perhaps there was an effect that would take ce the moment he let his guard down. Magic was unpredictable and had numerous effects. There was no such thing as being ¡®too careful.¡¯

    However, as soon as he saw the surprised look on Ciara¡¯s face, he realized he truly had nothing to fear.

    ¡°Uh? How are you still standing?¡± Her voice sounded perplexed.

    Kahn was equally confused.

    ¡°Uh?¡± He responded in kind.

    Was that weak attack really meant to do him in? Was this girl an idiot? Did he mistake her for another? Then where was the person who took care of all those other Demons at the same time?

    Surely, it couldn¡¯t be this dunce.

    ¡°Hey, I can hear your thoughts, you know? You just thought I was a dunce, right? That¡¯s rude!¡± Her voice surprised him.<sub></sub>

    ¡°W¡ªwhat?!¡±

    Kahn was flustered. The girl in front of him had guessed right. He really did think she was an idiot¡­

    ¡°Hey!¡± Her disapproving voice shook him once more.

    ¡­ B¡ªbut his opinion on that was slowly changing. For someone to be capable of reading his mind¡­ just how skilled was she?

    ¡°That¡¯s more like it! Hehe!¡± She chuckled.

    ¡®H¡ªhold on! How can she even understand me?!¡¯

    Could she also understand Demon Tongue? Thoughts spiraled in his head as he tried to make sense of the whole thing. Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t.

    Kahn swallowed hard. He had to be careful now. He needed to think carefully¡ªno, he couldn¡¯t even think¡ªabout this!

    Finally, after trying his best to fathom the strange girl¡¯s abilities, he gave up and decided to ask her directly.

    ¡°What did you do?¡±

    *************<sub></sub>

    Ciara was baffled.

    Why hadn¡¯t her Spell worked as intended?

    [Phantom Link] was Magic that affected the mind, and the ability she used had been to sever his neural link. That would make him lose absolute control over himself.

    In the case of the other Shadows, they died instantly, but this one didn¡¯t even seem to feel it.

    That said, [Phantom Link] also connected her mind with her target¡¯s, allowing Ciara to basically hear their thoughts.

    Truth be told, she developed this technique solely for Jerry.

    Ciara wanted to get closer to him, so she used her extraordinary abilities to nurture a mind-based power. Still, the poor girl had never used it once on him. She never had the resolve!

    ¡®It will be too much for me to bear¡­ seeing just what kind of thoughts Jerry has of me!¡¯

    That was her excuse, and before long, she had another application of the technique. She would simply read the minds of those around him. If any of them turned out to be threats¡ªphysically or romantically¡ªit was her duty to eliminate them.

    Back to topic, Ciara didn¡¯t understand why her initial attack didn¡¯t work on him, but her Mind Reading ability was functioning quite well.

    Unknown to the girl, the minds of Shadow Demons were fundamentally different from humans. So, she couldn¡¯t sever the neural links of independent bodies since they had a structure that was too different from her equation.

    The previous enemies she fought only went down because she unintentionally severed their links with the original. Unlike them, each Kahn version was an Original in a sense.

    Her Mind Reading ability was a simpler¡ªmore direct Spell¡ªso it worked well. The Demon had thought of something along the lines of how she could understand hisnguage, but Ciara wasn¡¯t relying onnguage.

    She simply has ess to the frequency Kahn emitted. So, by tuning in, she could essentially read his thoughts.

    But, Ciara knew it would soon be a matter of time before she lost connection with the Demon before her. Understanding Kahn after that would be impossible.

    Before that happened, she had to conclude things.

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s no use overthinking things, right? I¡¯ll end this quickly!¡± Ciara dered.

    *********

    ¡°Keh! You can¡¯t beat me, human!¡± Kahn dered with pride.

    He was 10 percent of theplete version. That meant his power was well beyond anything these pesky humans could handle.

    ?[0)??? Unlike the clones, Kahn retained his intelligence. Not only that, but he could also use Magic. His arsenal consisted of stuff that no human girl like Ciara would be able to bear.

    He had taken his time to size up his prey. He was fully assured of victory.

    Unfortunately for him, those thoughts were being ryed to the enemy he was meant to defeat.

    He hadmitted a fatal error!

    ********

    Once she realized her disadvantage, it didn¡¯t take Ciara very long to brandish yet another one of her Trump Cards.

    So far, she had disyed her Original Magic.

    Other than that, she still had Mage Mode in her arsenal, but the transformation took too long. While fully calcifying her Mana, there was a chance she could be attacked. Since that was a ring weakness of that state, the girl had to abandon it too.

    With those two out of the way, Ciara selected her third option.

    ¡°Bond Magic.¡±

    ¡°W¡ªwha¡ª?!¡±

    A brilliant gleam of light enveloped Ciara and her vicinity. Energy coursed through her, and the silhouette of something magnificent¡ªher Familiar¡ªmanifested.

    ¡°Like I said¡­¡±

    Kahn shuddered in the presence of one of his opposing elements.

    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s end this fast!¡±

 Chapter 259 Striving For Victory [Pt 1]

    Edward, Ana, and Aloe were the only members of their group.

    As an elite, small unit, they covertly reached their target destination with some degree of ease.

    Of the nine groups that were allocated tasks, their team had the fourthrgest load. While it was notparable to the first three, it was still way higher than what the others were expected to do.

    Many would ponder how students in their first years would be able to handle such responsibility, but Jared had already put all those factors into consideration.

    ording to his exnation, they would have close to no major problems handling their mission.

    Also, since their designation was the farthest from the Middle-ss Dorm, a small team needed to undertake it.

    While it was still doubtful to many people if it was best to give First Years that role¡ªwouldn¡¯t it be better if a few Rankers were assigned instead?¡ªno one questioned their leader¡¯s rationale.

    ¡°The Rankers are needed to direct the students. For better coherence, it¡¯s best to have them serve as unit leaders rather than cing them in an entirely separate unit.¡±

    Sure, Rankers were qualified for the role, but Ana and Edward weren¡¯t qualified for the roles of the Rankers.

    They had no leadership qualities and were merely First Years.

    Very few would actually trust them and obey them as was needed. It was an emergency, but human nature couldn¡¯t be so easily changed.<sub>.</sub>

    To prevent friction, Jared simply chose the safest route.

    Besides, the three had no reason to fear. Not only had Jared given them the appropriate gear needed, but they also had three Automatons¡ªthe most out of all other teams.

    Finally, Aloe Vida was with them!

    She was a staff who was currently the most powerful of the Dorm Masters present.

    Not only was she specialized in Light Magic, but thanks to Jared¡¯s intervention in her death, she was phenomenally more powerful than before.

    Miss Aloe Vida had skipped so many Core Grades and was now in the 8th Level¡ªthe Silver Core Stage.

    She was just a step away from being a Gold Core Grade.

    If anyone had asked how this was possible, even she would be unable to respond. She was a mere Orange Core Grade before her death, after all.

    Still, that was plenty strong for someone of her age.

    For her to have reached a Silver Core Grade¡ªa realm of expert Mages who could perform Original Magic¡ªwas nothing short of a miracle.

    With this newfound power, Aloe was confident that she could be of more use in battle. She had to!

    Her life was lost, yet she was given a second chance. She intended to do her part and fight her hardest.

    There was one major issue, though.

    While Aloe Vida¡¯s Mana Core Grade had risen, her skill and knowledge hadn¡¯t.

    She couldn¡¯t use Advanced Spells at will. She could perform one, but it took too long. As a result, she relied mostly on intermediate Spells.

    Even now, with her abundance of Mana, she had no choice but to rely on her existent knowledge.

    ¡®I have one Trump Card, though¡­¡¯ Aloe smiled as they neared their destination.

    A Spell that was an exception to the ranking system.

    ¡®If I use that with the current Mana I have in stock, then I should be able to be even more useful!¡¯

    *******************

    >WHOOOSSHH!<

    They arrived close to the entrance of the facility, observing the area as they kept their guard up.

    The building in front of them was the Academy Museum.

    It contained Artefacts and objects of power. These items had Mana imbued in them and could also be called Magic Items.

    As a result, they were quite valuable.

    Still, most were used for decorative, historical, and cultural purposes, so they weren¡¯t too dangerous.

    If they had been extremely powerful, certainly more Demons would have converged in their location.

    ording to Jared¡¯s hypothesis, one of the Forbidden Zones had to contain Magic Items with incredible power, while the other Restricted Area was probably rted to Magic development and technology¡ªperhaps in the terms of alchemy, Automatons, etc.

    Then the General Library had a wealth of information.

    These three locations had been swarmed with the most Shadow Demons, so Jared theorized that they had the highest value.

    As for this location, it contained objects of both information and power.

    While not as critically important as the other areas, it was still of great importance¡ªresulting in it being swarmed with enemies as well.

    ¡°I can sense them¡­ my god,¡± Aloe mumbled, her eyes widening slightly.

    Since she had the highest sensory prowess among the three, her range allowed her to detect the number of enemies around.

    They were at least fifty of them waiting outside¡ªand more were bound to be within the museum.

    The Dorm Master gulped slightly, recalling her past trauma for an instant before shaking the useless thoughts off.

    There was only one thing she needed to do now¡­ and she sure as hell wasn¡¯t going to back away!

    ¡°There are 55 of them scattered around the entrance. If we make any careless movements, they¡¯ll attack.¡± She whispered to the young ones with her.

    They nodded, instantly telling her they understood.

    Usually, they would be sneaky about infiltrating the Museum, but there was no need to do so.

    Their opponents were vignt, and there was only one entrance. That meant they had to storm their way in.

    Of course, doing so without proper preparation would be foolish.

    As such, the team readied themselves and the invisible Automatons above them also moved in ordance with their instructions¡ªprotect Edward, Ana, and Aloe.

    That was why there were three of them.

    ¡°[Light Dome]¡± Aloe cast her Spell, causing a golden illumination to cover them.

    It was an intermediate-ranked Spell, but Aloe boosted it to the highest level with her surplus Mana, making it extra sturdy.

    The bright light was bound to draw attention in the deep darkness around them, but the squad had far passed the point of worrying about such trivialities.

    They had to strike¡ªand fast!

    >WHOOOSSHH!!!<

    In an instant, they allunched themselves toward the entrance of the Museum. Their movements were in sync and they moved at nearly the same pace¡ªhaving a triangle formation to cover for their blind spots.

    Before they got very far, however, the Shadows surfaced.

    The ck creatures of malevolence surrounded them, readying their des as they prepared to strike.

 Chapter 260 Striving For Victory [Pt 2]

    Just as Aloe had surmised, they were fifty-five Shadows stretched around them to form a circle.

    Usually, the Automatons would be the scouts, but since they had arrived at their destination, the drones switched gears to backup/sacrificial pawns.

    ¡°Looks like this is it!¡± Aloe Vida spoke, using the corner of her eyes to carefully observe the kids.

    They didn¡¯t seem to be frightful¡ªgood!

    ¡°We¡¯re ready!¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡±

    Once they replied to her, Aloe knew she had to prepare herself too. Once the enemiesunched their first attack, that would be their window.

    Just like clockwork, the Shadow Demons responded by sending their sharpened limbs at Aloe¡¯s barrier.

    >FWOOOSSHHH<

    Their ck flesh connected with the dome of light, sending sparks flying.

    It was a close call, but her protection was enough to shield everyone from the multiple blows from the Shadows.

    The moment this happened, Edward and Ana got their signal and went on the move.

    Aloe partially released her dome, allowing the students free ess to the area beyond their initial location.<sub>.</sub>

    >WHOOOSSHH!!!<

    The two picked up their pace and moved at phenomenal speeds. It was not the kind you would expect from students their age!

    Edward brandished the de Jared entrusted to him, coursing his Mana through it like it was the natural thing to do.

    >VWUUUMMM!!!<

    The de hummed whitish-blue and gave off a burst of power.

    With such a sword equipped as well as the Martial de God technique¡¯s 9 Fundamental Precepts at his disposal, Edward gained a great deal of confidence and headed for the first Shadow Demon he could find.

    ¡°REND!¡±

    >SWIIISH!!!<

    Like hot knife through butter, his de met no resistance!

    The young Martial Artist cut through the enemy as though he was slicing the air¡ªno, even the air had a certain level of tension. His flow was too natural, too fluid!

    It was all thanks to this de. Edward felt a wave of achievement course through him as he slew the Shadow Demon.

    Still, many more opponents surrounded them. He had only beaten one, so the boy made sure not to get a big head.<sub></sub>

    With his enhanced eyes sharply ncing around, he made way for his next target.

    >FWOOOOSHHH!!!<

    ************

    While Edward was hacking down enemies, Ana was killing them off with her Spells.

    She had received two Magic Items from Jared¡ªone was a ne that greatly boosted her Magic abilities and the other was two bracelets that increased the conductivity of her Mana.

    Her Spells were faster and her movements were more efficient, allowing her to be in sync with every single move she made.

    Ana was currently at the blue Mana Core Grade, but it felt she had already broken through to the Green Core. That was how helpful the items had been.

    Her attacks were concentrated mainly on Lightning Magic since she was more adept at itpared to regr Light.

    She dealt less damage than she would have if she had used pure Light, however, thanks to her Mana Output, the Demons were destroyed either way.

    As a result, she too was able to keep up with Edward¡¯s devastating speed wrought by his Martial Arts and incredible de.

    **********

    As Aloe watched the two students fight in earnest, her heart nearly melted.<sub></sub>

    They were so beautiful and precise in their movements and execution that she felt inspired. Aloe had also attended Ainrk in her student years, and she was familiar with their curriculum. She knew for a fact that these moves were not something they learned in the ssroom.

    Someone must have taught them!

    However, they were both from the Lower ss, and to the best of her knowledge, no Lecturer had taken any student as an apprentice from that ce.

    With the option of Lecturers eliminated from the equation, Aloe could only think of one other person who could groom them to this extent.

    ¡®That man¡­ Jared Leonard¡­¡¯

    That¡¯s right!

    She had no right to see him as a child, especially after all he had shown her. No matter what anyone said, she felt he was qualified enough to even be a Lecturer.

    Feelings of gratitude and awe mixed within her as she faced her opponents with the newfound power her savior bestowed upon her.

    ¡°[Shine]¡± She chanted.

    It was a Spell that didn¡¯t belong to any Tier category, but given that Aloe had an excessive amount of Mana to spare¡­ the bright orb that formed above her increased in both heat and intensity.

    All the Shadow Demons around her began crumbling, causing them to shy away from the brightness.

    As a result, none could draw near to her.

    Even if they attempted to spear her down with their limbs, it would get afflicted by the shining orb above her andpletely disintegrate before teaching her body.

    Since the Shadows could not reach her, Aloe had enough time to use her Advanced Spell¡ªthe only one she knew¡ªto finish off the ones that encircled her.

    ¡°[Light Javelins: Advanced]¡±

    Instantly, several spears appeared all around her.

    Their numbers were way more than the usual amount of Javelins used at the Intermediate Level, and they were far stronger than Light Arrows.

    This was Aloe¡¯s Trump Card!

    >WHOOOOSHHH!!!<

    With it, the Shadows around her received the spears of blinding light and vanished.

    Unlike Edward and Ana who took care of their opponents one at a time¡ªat most, perhaps a few at once¡ªAloe¡¯s single spell wiped the enemies out.

    This had been the n all along. Ana and Edward were simply meant to buy enough time for their leader to finish preparations for her Spell.

    Once that was settled, taking care of the thirty or so Demons left was no problem.

    ****************

    ?[0)??? ¡°Huu¡­ good job, everyone.¡± The team converged and Aloe Vidamended their efforts.

    She saw they were slightly exhausted, but it wasn¡¯t serious.

    They had recovery potions, but they weren¡¯t infinite.

    Unless the situation called for it, their team could go on. Besides, she knew the two students were still holding back.

    They had their Familiars, and ording to them, they had obtained some level of mastery over them.

    However, they were saving their abilities as Trump Cards.

    They had done a good job, regardless. And, Aloe Vida surmised that at the rate they were going, they would have no issues facing off the monsters hidden within the Museum.

    The creatures were bound to be more than those situated outside, but¡­ her hopes in Jared Leonard¡¯s n caused her not to have even a sliver of doubt.

    Aloe knew in her heart that things would be alright.

    Unknown to her¡ªto them¡ªthere was a darkness lurking in the shadows¡­ about to manifest.

    Once it did, the tides of battle would soon flip¡­ and the hopeful denizens of Ainrk Academy would know the true meaning of despair.

 Chapter 261 Reunion After Centuries [Pt 1]

    ¡°¡ªNot there!¡±

    I ran across the dark streets of campus, trampling the lovely flower petals that danced with the night breeze.

    ¡°Not there either!¡±

    Impatience swelled within me as I rapidly moved my eyes and became one with all my senses.

    Spellcraft was constantly turned on¡ªwithout it, this would be a fool¡¯s charade.

    My speed was phenomenal, and that was because I knew the value of time. Myrades were all fighting out there; risking their lives because they trusted my n. I needed it to be executed perfectly.

    No doubt, the tides were currently in our favor. If I joined in on the battle, perhaps our victory would be assured. However¡­

    ¡®Anything can happen! I can¡¯t render a judgment based on the current circumstances¡­¡¯

    Sure, things were going well now, but what would happen if the tables were to turn on us? Would the exhausted students be able to handle it?

    This question rang in my head as I desperately sought the only thing that could guarantee our victory and cement the eradication of the enemies¡ªthe Lecturers.

    If we could locate them, then it mattered not what the enemy threw at us. Once we secured those with authority and power, this borate charade would be finished.

    Still, the solution was easier thought of than executed.<sub>.</sub>

    In the first ce, the hall where the Lecturers were supposedly holed up prevented any external interference. It was surrounded by a barrier that practically made it appear as though they didn¡¯t exist on the campus.

    Normally, no one would be able to find them¡­ unless they were me!

    Using Spellcraft, I was basically one with the world around me. The Mana around gave me ess to the surroundings. I could extend my senses, perceiving everything beyond the normal scope.

    Now, what would happen if I were to utilize my technique where the hall was situated?

    ¡ªInterference!

    I wouldn¡¯t be able to tap into the Mana within the premises of the hall thanks to the special Magic around it. Since that was the case, all I had to do was scour the campus to detect anomalies and figure out where they would be holed up in.

    ¡®I¡¯ve narrowed down the search to some ces, so it¡¯s not a blind hunt!¡¯

    Still, it was incredibly annoying¡ªworrying about everyone else when I had my mission ahead of me.

    ¡®Jared, focus! You¡¯ll be facing the leader of the Shadows, you know?¡¯

    With my thoughts chastising me, I shrugged off distracting thoughts and dashed toward my designated spots¡­

    ¡­ Until¡­<sub></sub>

    ¡­ I found it!

    I could use Spellcraft with a range of a hundred meters currently. Though, since going so far strained me, I limited myself to seventy meters. It would be pointless if I found the enemy and was worn out when our confrontation ensued.

    ¡°FOUND YOU!¡±

    With anticipation gleaming in my eyes, caution raised high, and at an even greater speed than earlier, I dashed in the direction of the anomaly.

    ?[0)??? >BOOOOMMM!!!<

    I was sure my sudden movements caused an explosion at the point of impact, but I didn¡¯t care. My reinforced body cut through the wind and I arrived a few meters from my destination in a jiffy.

    ¡°Huuu¡­¡± A slightly heavy breath escaped my parted lips as I took a measured stance.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m here.¡±

    My eyes instinctively searched the area, but that onlysted for a moment. The moment my nerves settled; I was assailed by the greatest amount of bloodlust I had ever felt since I began this second life of mine.

    ¡®AAIEEEEE!!!¡¯ My mind rang as I felt every hair of my body rise in response to the pressure.

    Sweat¡ªuncountable beads of sweat escaped my pores as the oppressive aura permeating the surrounding area greeted me.<sub></sub>

    This power was beyond me!

    ¡°So, you¡¯re finally here¡­¡± A voice called out to me.

    It was deep, it was dark¡­ it felt disgustingly familiar.

    My body trembled as I interpreted the voice of the monster that spoke. My brain referred to the memories of my past life and tranted the words of the Demon.

    ¡®W¡ªwhat is¡­ this¡­?¡¯

    My bulging eyes trailed to the figure that materialized before me.

    Its body was dark, yet shrouded in a type of darkness that only existed in myths. This power far transcended the level of the Shadows from earlier. No, evenparing the both of them would be a terrible joke.

    ¡°T¡ªthis aura¡­¡± My quivering lips mumbled.

    All my bravado from earlier vanished. In the presence of this horrifying being, I was nothing more than an average student cowering in fear. In my trembling state, one predominant thought etched itself in my head.

    ¡®THIS POWER SURPASSES A GENERAL!¡¯

    ¡°You are Jared Leonard, correct? No, I shouldn¡¯t even be asking this¡­¡± The figure went on to speak.

    Something about it felt familiar. The manner in which it spoke, the tone of its voice, and how its ck figure looked from a close distance¡­ it felt too simr to what I knew back then.

    It was a gamble, but¡­ I had to take it.

    To sort through my thoughts and handle this unprecedented situation, I needed more time.

    ¡®THINK! How can you buy time?¡¯

    Stall¡­ I had to stall this monster!

    It was a gambit, but¡­ at the moment this was the only card I could y¡ªthe only one afforded to be yed.

    ¡°You¡­ who are you?¡±

    I used Demon Tongue, and the being in front of me had his eyes widened in response.

    ¡°So, you know it too? Just like him¡­ I wonder¡­¡± The dark creature mumbled.

    An air of unease was evident in the air and the tension around me was so thick that it felt suffocating. It may have been shameless for me¡ªas someone who had been through worse¡ªto crumble like this, but¡­ there was only so much my immature body and juvenile brain could bear.

    All the signals in my body told me to run! Adrenaline was high. My heart was racing at an rming rate. My brain pounded. I even seat some more.

    The only thing keeping me standing was my will¡­ and the Mana I used to coat myself,

    ¡°I am surprised you know mynguage, and that you are still standing despite the fact the surrounding area has been corrupted with Miasma. You are indeed worthy of praise.¡±

    Familiar. Too familiar. I knew this Demon. I could tell!

    But¡­ perhaps it was a subconscious action¡­ I couldn¡¯t ept it!

    I didn¡¯t want to imagine it!

    Because, that would mean¡­

    ¡°Very well, I will tell you my name.¡±

    ¡­ That would imply¡­

    ¡°I am Kahn.¡±

    ¡­ THAT THE DEMONS TRULY BROKE THE PACT!

 Chapter 262 Reunion After Centuries [Pt 2]

    The Celestial War!

    It was a battle that unified the races of the world.

    A call to arms against amon foe¡ªThe Demons

    Humans. Thieranthropes. Elves. Faires. Dwarves.

    These five races gathered and bore the same banner with the single goal of exterminating the Demons who were a scourge on the world. Of course, this ended on a bitter note and both sides suffered severely.

    Ultimately, a consensus was needed, and a Pact was formed.

    The Demons needed sustenance. That was the whole reason they started the war. Once that was satisfied, negotiations became possible.

    An entire patch ofnd was given to them¡ªnow dubbed the Demon Realm¡ªsituated in the North, formerly the Northern Empire. The Demons would stay there with the rest of their kind, having an abundance of Miasma to sustain them rather than taking the corrupt Souls of other races.

    In exchange for peace, the other races¡ªhumanity included¡ªsealed all the information they could about them. And then, just like a miracle, the world slowly forgot about the Demons.

    Of course, there was a condition.

    Should the pact be broken¡­ all hell would break lose again. And the already ignorant humans would be granted knowledge over the fatal ws of the Demon Race.

    This was only an auxiliary measure, though¡ªsome sort of attachment.<sub>.</sub>

    The deal was mutually beneficial to all races¡­ so no one expected any form of action. And so, centuries psed without any sort of sh.

    Yet¡­ that all changed with this invasion!

    *********

    ¡°K¡ªKahn¡­?!¡±

    I quickly controlled myself before eximing louder than I did. It seemed like the Shadow Demon in front of me had noticed my surprise, but he chose to ignore it instead.

    ¡°Now, answer me, human¡­ how do you know our tongue?¡± He narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

    My mind went into overload as he asked me¡ªno, even before¡ªthat question.

    There were a bunch of things I could say or do, but at this juncture, I was too confused and annoyed to y along any longer.

    Nothing good woulde out of wasting time.

    The Academy was under siege. Myrades were risking their lives. I needed to fulfill my mission and rescue the teachers¡ªfast! That was all that mattered.

    That was all I needed to focus on.<sub></sub>

    Why Kahn chose to betray the pact was none of my immediate concern. The fact that he was here and possessed obvious malicious intents was enough.

    In essence, he was my enemy!

    ¡°Kahn¡­ I am going to kill you!¡± I gave my deration.

    The Shadow Demon gave me a surprised look, and then, as expected¡­ he burst outughing.

    ¡°KUAHAHAHAHA!¡±

    His cracked and sharpened mouth gave out cackles of amusedughs and I simply let him enjoy his brief moment of satisfaction.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite an amusing brat. To think you would say it so bluntly. I suppose you do have a point, though¡­ we ought to fight with the intent to kill as our motivation.¡±

    The Shadow Demon went on to speak.

    ¡°I can simply collect more information on your ability to understand ournguage in this Academy¡¯s library¡­¡±

    ¡®You won¡¯t find anything there, though.¡¯ After all, I only knew this much because of my past life.

    ¡°Besides, I suppose you¡¯re in a hurry to inform your Lecturers about the Invasion. Hehe, it¡¯s just like that man said.¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡®That man, uh? He must mean the mastermind¡­¡¯

    I would have loved to interrogate Kahn some more, but¡­ I couldn¡¯t afford to risk things. Especially since the Demon in front of me didn¡¯t mind wasting any valuable time.

    We had opposing interests!

    ¡°Ah, you must also be aware, then¡­ of the various ¡®Versions¡¯ of myself that I sent to those important areas¡­ Hehehe¡­ I have to admit, I didn¡¯t think I would have to resort to that.¡±

    ¡®WHAT?!¡¯ My thoughts nearly leaked out but I managed to control them.

    This was bad!

    Very bad!

    I never expected a Demon Lord Rank Demon to show up here. Since there were only weak Shadows, and I knew Kahn wasn¡¯t the type tounch such an borate¡ªor even any¡ªinvasion, my mind ced the worst-case scenario as a confrontation with Demon General.

    This was an oversight!

    Kahn, as a Demon Lord, had an ability only he could use¡ªat least with what I knew. He could split himself into multiple copies. While his maximum number was ten, each ¡®version¡¯ would have a certain percentage of Kahn¡¯s abilities.

    I shuddered at the thought of a group encountering even five percent of this horrifying creature.

    ¡°Oh? So, you know what I mean by ¡®versions¡¯. I knew you humans couldn¡¯t be trusted. You still held on to our information¡­ even children like you know¡­¡±

    Kahn seemed to be misunderstanding something, but now wasn¡¯t the time to correct him. In fact, I couldn¡¯t afford any more conversation.

    There was only one thing that was necessary¡ªespecially now that I knew of his other selves running around Campus.

    Gritting my teeth, I poured out all the Mana at my disposal. Nothing less would suffice.

    All five Mana Cores of mine went into overdrive and I felt my body being enveloped with energy.

    Usually, I would utilize Spellcraft in this situation, but¡­ the Miasma that shrouded our vicinity hadpletely rendered that technique of mine useless.

    In essence, I was at a disadvantage.

    A Twelve-Year-Old student versus a Demon Lord! Howughable was that?

    The chances of victory were Nil.

    My opponent was too strong. I knew that myself. Plus, with his other selves running around Campus, the n was as good as screwed.

    My promise to those students ended up being a lie.

    However, now was no time to despair, or to feel the weight of the lives of all those who would die as a result of cing their trust in me.

    Now was the time for action.

    ¡°I was told to kill you by ¡®that man¡¯. Initially, I was puzzled by how he was able to sell out this ce for a single life. However, now I understand. You are indeed a very exemry being.¡±

    I didn¡¯t listen to his conceitedpliments and simply focused on my task.

    ?[0)??? ¡°But, know this¡­ human. You can not beat me.¡±

    ¡®Oh, really?¡¯

    I quite remember being told that I was unable to do many things in my past and even present life. The only difference between the two was that I betrayed all expectations in thetter.

    Why?

    It was because of Magic!

    Magic makes the impossible possible¡ªthat¡¯s the whole point!

    And so¡­ I was going to show this Demon¡ªKahn¡ªa miracle.

    How a mere child would beat a Demon Lord!

 Chapter 263 Jared Versus Kahn [Pt 1]

    My body went into overdrive as I pushed every ounce of my strength to the limit.

    Emitting energy that would be deemed suicidal at a steady pace, and refusing to take my eyes¡ªno, my entire senses¡ªfrom the target; I made the first move.

    >WHOOOSHHHH!!!<

    My body moved like lightning, coated in golden lightning¡ªa mix of both Light and Lightning! For this fight, this was the best I could do by myself.

    ¡°Heh!¡±

    Kahn moved like a blur, sharpening his body in an instant.

    Pure Magical attacks would be too ineffective on him, so I used the best means in my current reach.

    Martial Arts!

    >SHIIINNNGGG<

    Condensing a great deal of Mana in my hand, I created a de of light. It brimmed with such brilliance that anyone who gazed at it would be rendered blind instantly

    This concentrated de would easily tear through dozens of Shadows¡ªno, even more! Still, I worried that it would be inadequate for my foe.

    ¡®He doesn¡¯t have his full strength, so if I can¡¯t win now¡­ there¡¯s no hope for aeback!¡¯

    There was no room for hesitation. I simply had to follow what I knew best¡­

    ¡­ My wits!

    >FWOOOSSHHH!!!<

    My de descended with godlike speed, shing at the Demon Lord in front of me.

    >CLANG!<<sub>.</sub>

    Sparks flew as he easily parried my full strike with a single ded limb.

    Kahn didn¡¯t even seem shaken by the attack¡­ even though our surroundings suffered a great deal from our collision.

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The echoes of our devastating impact speed across the area.

    I could sense the ground breaking apart, but Kahn remained unmoved.

    Usually, Shadow Demons would be obliterated with that reinforced strike, but he took it in stride.

    ¡®He¡¯s using Miasma to coat himself! Shit!¡¯

    Just like I could reinforce myself with Magic to defend against my human weaknesses, this being was no different.

    However¡­ I expected this!

    >SWIIIISSSHHHH<

    Another condensed de formed on my other hand as I released my grip on my de.

    >SHIIINNNGGG!!!<

    Kahn blocked the next strike.

    Both my limbs and his were busy, upying each other¡¯s des.

    However¡­ for Kahn, he could have as many body parts as he desired.

    In a moment, multiple spears burst forth from him,unching themselves at me. If I took even a tiny second more time before acting, I would be riddled with holes.<sub></sub>

    Instantly, I became a blur and vanished from my position.

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Before the Shadow Demon realized what happened, I appeared behind him, brandishing yet another condensed light de.

    It was very powerful, more powerful than the previous ones I used.

    Bringing both arms down with a strong vertical stroke, I cried.

    ¡°ANNIHILATE!!!¡±

    The 9th form of the Fundamental Precepts¡­ ANNIHILATE. I used the best I knew of the Martial de God¡¯s Foundational technique with that hit.

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!!<

    Light filled the area as more debris scattered around.

    I was forced to generate a shield to defend myself from the impact that radiated around me.

    The move I employed boasted of the most destructive capabilities among all nine. Quickly maneuvering my body, I took light and quick steps in retreat.

    ¡ªHowever¡­

    ¡°Nice one!¡±

    ¡­ Kahn appeared from the thick smoke, grinning like the monster he was.

    His body was covered in ck spikes, and his size was much bigger.

    Changing his mass and rendering his form more durable¡­ the being in front of me was finally beginning to take this fight seriously.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Dodge this!¡±

    A cackle escaped Kahn¡¯s cracked mouth as heunched a dark javelin in my direction.

    >WHOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    Space tore as the long and sharp projectile homed at me.

    I was stuck in mid-air, still in my attempt at a retreat. The insane velocity Kahn¡¯s attack employed was enough to tear me to shreds¡ªeven with my enhancements!

    Fortunately, I had bought enough time.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    With that, a massive burst of energy swirled around me, and then¡ª

    >BOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªEverything around me vaporized. The dark spear was no exception.

    Floating amid the destroyed area was me¡ªin apletely different state from earlier.

    My body glimmered in various colors, shrouded by a condensed amount of energy that was too much to belong to me.

    My blond hair had already taken a fiery red state and myplexion transformed into a Cian hue.

    Red

    Ashen

    Blue

    ¡ªAnd Green bursts of energy all swirled around me.

    ¡°Grand Fusion State¡­¡± I whispered.

    I was currently utilizing the abilities of all four Wisps in my possession.

    Wind.

    Fire.

    Earth.

    Water.

    I had a vast amount of these at my disposal, and each of my Cores functioned individually and simultaneously to maximize the elemental attributes to their full potential.

    ¡°Oh? Nice trick!¡±

    The Shadow Demon shrouded himself with even more Miasma and began to levitate as well.

    He charged at me with intent to kill, enough to send shivers down my spine, but I refused to back down.

    ¡°[Quadro Storm]¡±

    Just as I used [Blitz] bybining two Elemental Attributes¡ªLight and Lightning¡ªIbined all four elements that welled up within me and sent them straight at Kahn.

    >BOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    A more powerful explosion¡ªthe most I had ever made¡ªerupted. A swirling wave of power burst through the area, sending anything in the path Kahn took to smithereens.

    ¡®That won¡¯t be enough¡­ but that¡¯s enough time bought!¡¯

    Taking advantage of the chaos, I added another technique to my current fused state.

    Elemental Chamber!

    ?[0)??? >VWUUUSHHH!!!<

    My immediate surroundings swirled with all four elemental attributes, and then I added my golden lightning to the mix.

    Now armed with five elements¡ªeach core operating them respectively¡ªI red in the direction of the st trail, only to see Kahn unscathed.

    ¡°Oh? You changed again?¡± The dark-coated monster remarked, returning from the air from whence he descended.

    ¡°Aha! This is quite interesting!¡±

    ck wings sprouted from behind him, and he developed several tentacles and spike-like limbs that spiders possessed.

    Now having so many more options andbinations for offense at his disposal, he raced at me with full speed.

    ¡°Cheh!¡±

    I refused to back down and charged at the opponent with all I had.

    Creating another elemental storm, Iunched a barrage of attributes at him, but he was able to take them all thanks to the dense Miasma that shrouded his skin.

    ¡°Tch!¡±

    He had already closed the distance between us, so I could only strengthen the air sphere that surrounded me as his multiple appendages struck.

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!<

 Chapter 264 Jared Versus Kahn [Pt 2]

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Despite my resistance, I was flung to the ground, crashing upon the earth like aet.

    The floor scattered dirt and chunks of debris got sent in multiple directions.

    Fortunately, my sphere protected me¡ªthough barely¡ªelse I would have been severely damaged.

    Still, I couldn¡¯t give in now.

    ¡°Hehe, that thing is quite durable¡­ I wonder¡­¡± Kahn spoke from above, looking at me as though speaking to an insignificant insect.

    ¡°¡­ How will you be able to handle my Magic?¡±

    My eyes widened the moment my opponent said this, and I grated my teeth in anticipation¡­

    ¡­ And fear!

    Kahn couldn¡¯t use his Original Magic since he wasn¡¯t at 100 Percent yet, but his Magic abilities were still troublesome¡ªno, downright terrifying.

    ¡°Let¡¯s begin with this¡­¡±

    ck orbs began appearing around him. They were norger than the head of a newborn child, but they multiplied at an rming rate.

    I gulped and waited¡­ not for his attack¡­ but mine!

    I had to time this perfectly, or I would die.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°¡­ This should prate that barrier, right?¡±

    The ck orbs¡ªestimated to be about a hundred as a result of my quick calction¡ªbegan taking morphing shapes¡­ and then spat out numerous needle-like projectiles.

    Yes, sharp bullets came from the dark orbs as they fired en masse.

    With a hundred of those things firing an immense amount of hardened shadow shrapnel at me, it was impossible to evade them all.

    They were also dense enough to prate my defenses after a few rounds.

    ¡°Rahhhhh!!!¡±

    My cry burst forth and I called upon one of my most destructive Spells.

    It was the same kind I used against Kuzon, but on a muchrger scale.

    ¡°[QUINTA BURST]!¡±

    With that, all five of my Mana Cores, as well as my Familiars released a surge of terrifying Mana, and I poured them all into the Spell.

    A massive charge of five elements, shimmering golden-white, burst in the direction of Kahn¡¯s bullets.

    They vaporized in an instant, and even my enemy had to hack away from the exploding path.

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡±<sub></sub>

    My heart was racing, and my body felt strained.

    I had pushed myself so hard from the start¡ªutilizing so many Spells at once¡ªjust so I could keep up with the monster in front of me,  yet¡­

    ¡°You¡¯re interesting, kid.¡± Kahn had a twisted smile and prepared for any lunge at me.

    This time, his Miasma reached high into the sky and created a massive orb of darkness.

    This orb condensed and became a giant spear.

    Unlike the hundreds and thousands of needle-like spikes, this one was far more terrifying.

    One Quinta Storm wouldn¡¯t be enough!

    ¡°Eat this¡­.¡±

    The spear became energized, whirring as though it was alive, and then Kahn¡ªfrom his distance above me¡ªsent the object of destruction my way.

    ?[0)??? If it connected, I was going to be torn to shreds, blown to smithereens!

    However¡­ I was already aware of this move. There was no way this would be the end of me.

    ¡°Haaaaaa!!!¡±

    Mustering a great deal of my strength that would have killed anyone, I created multiple Quinta Storms.<sub></sub>

    It would have been impossible, but I had a bit of help from my Potions.

    Common Knowledge assumed that Potions had to be ingested through the mouth to be rendered effective.

    However, this only applied to regr Potions that served as medication.

    Magic Potion could be absorbed through any part of the body as long as one could receive it through the pores by attracting the effects through Mana.

    I used my Mana to attract the several Potions in my possession, sending me into a state of Mana Overflow.

    I used this pressure to exert myself beyond the limit and create three of my most destructive Spell, charging it with more Mana than was usually possible.

    Three High-Tier Advanced Spells¡­ at my disposal¡­ and they all charged at the ck spear overhead.

    ¡°HAAAAAAAAA!!!¡±

    More cries that emanated from the great pain enveloping me rang out.

    >BOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!<

    I shielded myself from the immense explosion that burned through the area.

    As light and darkness collided, everything in the vicinity was rendered into dust and ash.

    Before long, I was standing within a crater, and Kahn had descended from his high estate.

    The knockback was too much for even him to bear, and while he may have seemedposed, the Shadow Demon expended a lot of energy to use that move.

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ quite good¡­¡±

    I was sure he didn¡¯t expect me to survive. Still¡­

    ¡°Guark!¡±

    ¡­ I had reached my absolute limit.

    Blood spurted out of my mouth and lots of the crimson hue dyed the ground.

    My red fluid was thick, dripping from my tired and quivering lips. I was feeling indescribable pain¡ªfor overwhelming my Mana Cores and also using Magic way beyond my means.

    This was the price I had to pay for relying on abilities beyond my current build.

    It felt like every muscle in my body was torn. Using enhancement Magic to push my physical state to its limits was also disastrous.

    The repercussions of my earlier actions had led to this¡­ leaving me with nothing but a pathetic state.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯re already used up. You barely have any Mana left, and your body is a mess.¡± Kahn grinned, assured of his victory.

    He was right.

    My body was already beyond redemption. I wasn¡¯t very adept at healing, but even that would take some time.

    I was also running on fumes as a result of my depleted Mana.

    Anyone would judge this match over and rule in favor of Kahn.

    However¡­

    ¡°You¡­¡± My quivering, bloodied lips formed a smile.

    ¡°¡­ I told you already¡­¡±

    My trembling and powerless body slowly moved as I stood atop my two feet. I staggered a little, but regained a proper posture.

    My sharp gaze never left the opponent,l even as my very being screamed in agony.

    Pain! Pain! Even more Pain!

    I was assailed with such despairing terror and pain that I was sure I could pass out at any moment. No, this was enough to kill most people.

    My eyes were moist with tears, but¡­ I held them in. Even though I was experiencing such grave horrors that made torture seem satisfying, I couldn¡¯t reveal my suffering or give in to it.

    Why¡­?

    ¡°¡ªI¡¯m going to kill you!¡±

    ¡­ Because I was going to go through even more pain from this point onward.

    But, it was all worth it!

    After all¡­

    ¡®IT¡¯S TIME!¡¯

    ¡­ Everything was going ording to n!

 Chapter 265 Raising The Stakes

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡±

    My breathing was ragged, my eyes were heavy. My parched throat craved for relief, and my entire body swelled with unimaginable pain, but I held them all in.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done well to hold on for so long. You¡¯re quite a monster. If there were more of you¡­ perhaps things might have gone differently.¡±

    Kahn¡¯s voice was calm, collected¡­ and arrogant.

    ¡®Hehe¡­¡¯

    Just as I wanted.

    ¡°You must be feeling pretty good, picking on a kid. I didn¡¯t think Demons were such despicable scum, but I guess the legends were true, after all.

    ¡°WHAT?!¡±

    Yes¡­

    ¡°YOU LITTLE RUNT!¡±

    ¡­ Just like that¡­

    ¡°TO THINK I THOUGHT OF SHOWING YOU MERCY!¡±

    ¡­ Lose control, Kahn!

    >WHUUUUSSSHHH!!!<<sub>.</sub>

    Instantly, shadow spikes began emanating from the floor, heading in my direction as they made topletely tear me apart.

    My body was too weak to do anything. Evasion was impossible, even if I tried. But¡­ at this point¡­ I didn¡¯t need to!

    >SHUUUUU!!!<

    The massive shadow spikes that came my way were instantly neutralized, turning into dust.

    ¡°Uh?¡±

    Kahn¡¯s eyes bulged wide open, but before he could act on his surprise, I made my mood.

    ¡°Spellcraft: Magic Fortress!¡±

    I gathered immense Mana from my surroundings.

    Arge quantity of Mana swirled around me,pressing to form the greatest barrier I had ever made.

    The field of concentrated Mana shielded me, emitting golden light that illuminated the dark night.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat is this? You shouldn¡¯t have any Mana left¡ªno, you shouldn¡¯t even be able to do Magic in your current state!¡±

    ¡°What state?¡± I smiled.

    Kahn¡¯s eyes bulged, and he seemed to have realized that my body had recovered to quite an extent.<sub></sub>

    ¡®I used up all my Potions, but only achieved about sixty-five percent recovery, uh?¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t certain if my current condition would be enough for what was toe, but¡­ right now, there was no longer any option.

    It was do or die!

    ¡°¡­ Spellcraft¡­¡±

    Everything for a distance of two hundred meters became illuminated by golden fragments of light all around.

    Like fireflies dancing in the dark, these light particles permeated the area, encircling the vicinity¡ªwith Kahn and me at the center.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat is this? What¡¯s going on? M¡ªmy Miasma?!¡±

    The Shadow Demon appeared frantic at this point, confounded by the disappearance of the demonic energy that once pervaded our immediate vicinity.

    ¡°It¡¯s all gone¡­¡±

    Kahn red at me with shock and confusion, but I didn¡¯t n on saying anymore.

    This was a gambit that required all my concentration¡ªmy everything. Any mistake and I was fated to die.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to activate them¡­ my Magic Stones!¡¯

    >SHIIIINNNNGGGGG!!!<<sub></sub>

    All around Kahn, forming a circle across his location, ten pirs of light sprang up. Each pir contained an intensity of Mana that was iparably greater than the total sum I had in all five Mana Cores¡­ and there were ten of them!

    ¡°W¡ªwhat is this?!¡±

    Kahn reacted by attempting to escape, but his actions were toote.

    >SHUIIIIII!!!<

    The light pirs formed a barrier around him, trapping the Shadow Demon at the center. He couldn¡¯t escape even if he tried his hardest.

    After all, it was fortified and concentrated to the limit.

    ¡°YOU BRAT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!¡±

    He lost hisposure and barked at me, ring hatefully at my grinning self. I could sense his panic. Kahn probably knew what wasing.

    My smile was short-lived, though. My face contorted into a pained expression and blood spurted out of my mouth.

    ¡°Guarggghhh!!!¡±

    More crimson liquid dyed the ground¡ªthe consequence of pushing myself so far¡ªbut I wasn¡¯t about to let up now. I had finallye so far.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to die here¡­ Kahn!¡± I growled.

    The Demon growled and barked some more, desperately trying to free itself from the barrier.

    The only way out was through defying space itself and teleporting. To prevent that possibility, I made sure to make him waste his energy in his earlier assaults. As Kahn currently stood¡ªhe didn¡¯t have enough to escape.

    The golden fragments of light that spread for over two hundred meters began converging, atop Kahn, far above him¡ªin the sky.

    Several million pieces quickly merged with the orb that began forming as it sucked Mana fragments like crazy. The orb slowly got bigger, and as it did, Ipressed it.

    My body was in overdrive, working to move the Mana particles to the orb, as well as condensing the mass of Mana that formed above.

    ¡°Kuakk!!!¡± More blood poured out, but I ignored it.

    ¡°HEY! LET ME OUT NOW! YOU KNOW I HAVE VERSIONS AROUND, DON¡¯T YOU? I¡¯LL KILL YOUR FRIENDS WHERE THEY ARE! YOU CAN¡¯T SAVE THEM ALL! RELEASE ME NOW!¡±

    ¡°Hehehe¡­ hehehe¡­¡± I made a slightugh, staring at the foolish and ignorant Demon in front of me.

    ¡°Unfortunately for you¡­ I have no friends¡­¡±

    My voice was hollow, but I made sure he heard those words.

    Kahn¡¯s eyes widened, his expression intensified, and he screamed like a mad man.

    No one wanted to die¡ªnot even a Demon.

    Too bad for him¡­

    ¡®¡­ You reap what you sow.¡¯

    The clusters of golden light had reached a crescendo, and the orb¡ªnow the size of about a curled-up adult man, brimmed with so much power that I felt my skin stand from my position.

    ¡®It¡¯s ready!¡¯

    Imanded the ten Magic Stones around Kahn to go into overdrive, increasing the destruction that was toe, as well as exploding the multiple pieces of light that still floated around.

    Like fireworks, each light fragment exploded into golden glimmers of destruction, getting sucked into the critical orb that was moments from erupting.

    Like a swirling wormhole, it took in all the excess Mana around, leaving only my barrier and the one around Kahn alone.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s like I said¡­ Kahn¡­¡±

    The Demon, who was frightfully staring at the mass above him, now sharply nced at me.

    ¡°¡­ I am going to kill you¡­¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T DO IT!!!¡± He bellowed.

    I brushed off all the memories I had of the being in front of me and focused on my goal¡ªmy duty!

    >KRAAAAAAKKKKKK!!!<

    shes of golden lightning and blinding light surged from the orb.

    ¡°¡­ Die, Demon!¡±

 Chapter 266 Grand Blitz

    It was a Spell I recently made¡­ a Spell I used to decimate over a hundred Shadows back when they assaulted Ana.

    Bybining Light and Lightning Magic, I invented a most destructive and effective Magic technique against the Shadow Demons.

    Blitz?

    No, this had already surpassed that.

    The orb I had previously made was norger than a pebble. But this? It was the size of an adult man¨Cgotten by utilizing Spellcraft andpressing Mana to the highest degree attainable.

    Right now¡­ this Spell was the epitome of Magic¡­ an essence that had reached a point only a few Mages ever reached.

    Peak Level Magic!

    ¡°ARHHHHHHHH!!!¡± I screamed.

    Even as blood poured out of my mouth.

    Even as blood leaked out of my eyes, my nose, my ears¡­ even when my body sought death.

    ¡°ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!¡±

    Desperation filled my voice, my body neared expiration. Still, even if I gave everything¡­ I wasn¡¯t going to die.

    I couldn¡¯t!

    As long as death wasn¡¯t assured, I would stop at nothing to achieve my goals.

    Kahn used hisst bit of Miasma to coat himself, most likely hoping to tank the st.

    It was an effort in futility.

    Everything! I had calcted everything!

    Even if Kahn was at fifty, no, even sixty percent¡­ I would still emerge victorious!<sub>.</sub>

    A mere thirty percent would never resist this!

    My bloodshot eyes widened and I gave one final cry, releasing thepressed energy that sought to burst.

    ¡°ARHHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    ¡°¡­ GRAND¡­ BLITZ¡­!!!¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    ***************

    Golden light filled the night sky, and the entire campus was illuminated.

    It was brighter than the sun.

    More intense than summer.

    The bright light burst through the nearby areas and all of the denizens of the city of Ainrk City and beyond witnessed the glorious disy.

    Was it the result of a festival?

    Was the cause a Magic demonstration?

    What could have generated such power?

    Even those in the mountains could see the faint glow from where they were.

    This power exceeded the level of any single human.

    No, probably a few could do it, but¡­ they existed on a level that far surpassed anything considered ordinary.

    Even theymen who witnessed the beautiful mass of light considered this the work of gods.<sub></sub>

    A blinding light hung in a distance¨CAinrk Academy¨Cand at that moment, all the humans of the city and beyond could only think of one thing.

    God.

    This was an act of God.

    And so, they bowed.

    The destruction spread. It kept growing bigger.

    The heat swelled.

    The denizens of the city felt like the light would consume them, so they prayed.

    They bowed and prayed.

    This was something that mere humans should never have seen.

    This was the epitome of Magic.

    There existed Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Magic¡­ but another cadre existed that far outstripped anything these levels had to offer.

    The Peak Level.

    That was the demonstration that was given for the world to see¡­ a st of golden light that spread¨Clike an ever-increasing dome-¨Cdestroying anything and everything in its path.

    The Grand Blitz.

    *****************

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡±

    I was all spent.<sub></sub>

    My body copsed to the ground, and I felt my consciousness fading fast.

    For a total of five hundred miles¨Can estimate based on my initial calctions¨Cthe Spell destroyed everything around.

    Fortunately, my barrier held out¡­ barely.

    Now shattered, the dome that shielded me vanished into particles, and I was on the ground.

    My Elemental Chamber was nil.

    My Grand Fusion State was expended.

    I was bottom-dry in Mana reserves.

    My Stamina was depleted.

    I was practically nothing.

    The only thing that existed was a little countermeasure I kept in ce, but I couldn¡¯t even worry about that now.

    All that filled me, from the tip of my hair to the sole of my feet, was agony!

    Intense, pure, unadulterated pain.

    I suffered, but I had no energy to cry or scream in pain.

    All I could do was lie on the ground like a vegetable.

    ¡®It¡¯s over¡­¡¯ The thought offort trailed in my head.

    At least, my pain wasn¡¯t for nothing.

    I defeated Kahn. I killed him.

    In the end. I won¡­ right?

    But, I felt like I was forgetting something important.

    No, that didn¡¯t matter now. With this victory, I could close my eyes and rest. I would wake up in the Academy¡¯s sick bay and be met with myrades who fought hand in hand.

    There would have been some casualties, but¡­ I had faith. My allies¡­ they would live.

    With Kahn gone, his Versions would slowly fade, and the threat would be extinguished. Yes, his Versions¡­ his Versions.

    NO, WAIT, HIS VERSIONS WOULD BE¡­!!!

    ¡°Haaa¡­ You little brat¡­¡±

    A dark, disgusting voice emanated from a couple of meters away.

    It was twisted, filled with malevolence. The owner of the voice, a figure of darkness, sprouted from the ground.

    My blurry vision picked up its distorted body. It looked misshapen, absolutely repulsive, It looked like the Shadowy being was attempting to pull itself together.

    ¡°¡­ That was¡­ a close one¡­¡± He muttered.

    My heart began beating rapidly.

    I knew what happened.

    Why hadn¡¯t I ounted for it? Why?

    FOOL! JARED, YOU FOOL! YOU RETARDED IDIOT!

    ¡°¡­ I thought, for sure I was going to die¡­¡±

    My face couldn¡¯t properly depict the fear and horror I felt within myself. Add that to the pain that currently permeated me, I was assailed with a myriad of negative emotions.

    Enough to break a person.

    More than enough to cripple a person mentally.

    I felt like I was going insane.

    ¡°¡­ To think I nearly lost to you. How disgraceful.¡±

    His darkened body finally morphed back, forming the creature known as Kahn. He had restored himself¡­

    ¡­ And he now approached me.

    ¡°Looks like even eighty percent barely made it out¡­ how frightening¡­¡±

    NO. NO. NO. NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

    ¡°To think¡­ even two perished¡­ how confounding.¡±

    NO WAY!

    ¡°But, now¡­ it seems like you¡¯re already out of cards. It may have been a close battle, but¡­ I win this one.¡±

    I felt so frustrated. Added to the pain and fear swirling within me, I was breaking down in all aspects. It was too much. I couldn¡¯t hold it in, but no strength remained to leak out a sob, talkless of cries.

    ¡°It looks like you were wrong, Jared Leonard¡­¡±

    I was wrong¡­

    ¡°¡­ You didn¡¯t kill me.¡±

    I failed to kill him.

    ¡°The one who¡¯s going to die¡­ is YOU.¡±

    ¡®I¡¯m going¡­ to¡­ die¡­?!¡¯

 Chapter 267 Desperate Front [Pt 1]

    [Moments Earlier]

    ¡°Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±

    Edward tightly gripped his de like his life depended on it, because he knew the awry truth¡ªit did!

    Standing beside him was Ana who readied her most powerful array of Spells and simply waited for her opportunity.

    The look on both their faces was that of tension¡­ and fear.

    Standing in front of them, in a position that showed she was protecting the two, was Aloe Vida. Her Light Attribute shield was erected, but everyone knew that her Spell would do little to nothing to stop the being that faced them.

    Emerging from the darkness, amid a fearsome aura that could make anyone pass out, was a being of sheer power and utter wickedness.

    It was a Shadow Demon. However, unlike the others they had faced, this was on apletely different level. In fact,paring the two would be considered synonymous with madness.

    It had a muchrger build, spikes on its shoulders sharper horn-like ears¡­ and a malevolent pressure, unlike anything they had ever seen.

    Edward gulped, Ana shivered, and Aloe braced herself.<sub>.</sub>

    Unlike the two kids, the Dorm Master was determined not to show any weakness.

    Not only was she responsible for them¡ªas a Staff of Ainrk¡ªbut she also owed Jared her life. These two were important to him, so the young woman had sworn to protect them.

    Plus, the emergence of this powerful entity made it certain that their current location had some semnce of value to the enemy.

    If they gave up now, the Demons would win. As a human being, Aloe couldn¡¯t allow such a scary oue.

    ¡°You kids¡­ should run. Get inside the Museum and stop the rest. I¡¯ll take care of this one.¡±

    Edward and Anabelle were stunned to hear the older woman suggest this.

    Her voice was quivering despite how she tried to control the fear swelling within her. Aloe must have known of her inevitable fate if she alone was left to fight against this monster.

    ¡®Still¡­ I can¡¯t let these ones suffer the same¡ª¡¯

    ¡°No!¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°We¡¯re not leaving!¡±

    Aloe Vida widened her eyes in shock. If not for the fact that the enemy was right in front of their group, she would have sharply turned to reprimand them.

    ¡°B-but¡ª!¡±

    ¡°We understand you¡¯re trying to protect us, Miss Vida¡­¡±

    ¡°But, we¡¯re no longer capable of turning back now. Trust us!¡±

    The two spoke in sync, as though they had been reading each other¡¯s minds.

    ¡°You can¡¯t beat him¡­ you¡¯ll die¡­¡± Aloe muttered.

    The Shadow Demon was watching them patiently, speaking in some unintelligiblenguage that they couldn¡¯t decipher. However, once it attacked, she knew they were done for.

    ¡°You can¡¯t beat it alone either!¡± Edward barked back, gripping his de tighter than usual.<sub></sub>

    The frustrated look on his face told the woman that he was probably feeling quite frustrated by his powerlessness.

    ¡°I-if we work together, isn¡¯t there a better chance to win? If that thing kills you, it¡¯lle after us next. Alone, we can¡¯t match its power¡­¡± Ana spoke in a trembling tone.

    Though her voice and body made it obvious that she was frightened, Aloe could sense that she too didn¡¯t intend to back away.

    Besides, they were both right.

    What could she do by herself? Ultimately, they were in the same boat. There was no turning back at this point.

    ¡°Fine¡­ we¡¯ll attack it together, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°Got it! I won¡¯t be holding back from this point on!¡± Edward dered, sheathing his de for some reason.

    ¡°Yeah! Let¡¯s give it all we¡¯ve got!¡±

    Aloe knew they were hiding a great deal of their power, which was why she was about to tell them to go all-out in the battle. It would seem that her worry was unnecessary.

    Both students were prepared.

    ¡°$%^&^%#%#@¡± The Shadow Demon grumbled, finally taking a step forward.

    Once they saw the monster move, the trio took a step forward.

    So far, they had only been fighting at Base strength, but¡­ it was time to switch things up a bit.

    ¡°BOND MAGIC!¡±

    Both students raised their voices and, instantly, bursts of terrifying energy poured out.

    ck and blue energy emerged from Edward and Ana respectively. Mana swirled around them¡ªan intense amount of power was forming.

    At this moment, Aloe was grateful that the students had offered to help. Unlike them, she didn¡¯t have a Familiar to Fuse with or even use Bond Magic. Right before she died, her Familiar left. Even when her Soul returned, the contracted Bond Soul was nowhere to be seen.

    That was why¡ªseeing the kids disy this level of mastery and coexistence with their Bond Souls¡ªAloe felt touched and encouraged.

    With the power they currently wielded, maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ they stood a chance.

    The darkness that swirled Edward was Mana¡ªnot Miasma. It was Dark Magic, an extreme aspect that was close to Miasma, but not quite the same. However, it was because of this essential aspect that the swordsman was confident.

    He may not have been adept at Light Magic, but there was a concept known as fighting Fire with Fire. Using the Dark Magic of his Duhan Familiar, he was ready to fight the Shadow Demon.

    The blue energy that covered Ana belonged to her Naiad-Fairy. While it would seem that the current level of mastery she had achieved was not enough to face the opponent before them, the young girl didn¡¯t give up hope.

    To be honest, her Magic Specialty wasn¡¯t rted to the major weakness of the Shadow Demon, which was why Ana decided to y the support role. Leaving the offensive measures to both Edward and Aloe while she would handle their healing and also provide defense.

    ¡°You two, I¡¯ve got you covered! Trust me and attack with all your might!¡± Ana dered to them.

    Edward nodded without hesitation.

    He trusted his best friend with his life. While Aloe didn¡¯t share the same sentiment, the woman had no other choice but to go along with the n.

    She readied the surplus Mana stored within her and prepared a barrage of Ligh Javelins.

    Edward slowly unsheathed his de, which had already turned pitch ck, with waves of purple around it.

    Ana readied her Recovery Magic, with Defensive Magic also in tow.

    The group of three readied themselves to fight the greatest opponent they had ever faced¡­

    ¡­ praying for nothing less than victory!

 Chapter 268 Desperate Front [Pt 2]

    Once they had readied themselves, the three Magic Usersunched themselves into action.

    The one at the vanguard was Edward¡ªbrandishing his de and utilizing his Martial Arts. He controlled the flow of Dark Magic around and within him to boost his body to its limit.

    ¡°FLOW!¡±

    In a sh, he propelled himself even further and devastated his surroundings. Whirling like a storm of darkness, he quickly closed the distance between himself and the enemy, bringing his de down in a sh.

    >CLANG!<

    His sword connected with one of the Shadow Demon¡¯s raised limbs.

    ¡®¡ªNng!¡¯ Edward¡¯s mind rang, feeling the impact on his body.

    He had put all his strength behind that blow, yet it was so casually blocked. Edward bit his lip, feeling frustrated, but his distracting thoughts had to wait.

    Suddenly, Kahn¡¯s body started changing¡­ as though something was about toe out. Edward picked it up quickly and sprang away.

    Fortunately, his retreat wasn¡¯t a secondter.

    >WHOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    Just as he leaped away, several dark spikes came out of Kahn. They would have impaled and killed him if he hadn¡¯t stepped away when he did.

    But, the boy didn¡¯t have the luxury to sigh in relief, as these spear-like tentacles lunged at him.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them! Just attack!¡± He heard a voice call out to him.

    Despite what his instincts told him, Edward chose to trust in his best friend and charged straight ahead. His steps quickened and he swelled more power to the tip of his de.

    He was going to reach! That thought remained on his mind as his speed reached a new level.

    The spears were moved out of the way by Ana¡¯s Magic. The blue energy that shifted the ded objects from him shed a pale glow. The attacks scattered all around Edward, but none touched him.

    Smiling at the reliability of hisrade, and thanking her from the bottom of his heart, he leaped forward and gave a mighty roar as he came crashing down.

    ¡°DEVASTATE!¡±

    >BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

    The ground ripped apart and the surrounding area was shrouded in darkness and debris. Edward felt his de sink into the monster¡¯s ck flesh, but¡­ it was too shallow to be called a wound.

    Unfortunately, his de had already sunk too deep¡ªeven though it really wasn¡¯t by much¡ªfor him to retreat as fast as he did thest time.

    To make matters worse, the spear-like things were beginning to appear from Kahn. Even Ana¡¯s Magic wouldn¡¯t be able to protect him if he was at such point-nk range.

    ¡°Shit!¡±

    Edward felt all the hairs on his skin stand.<sub></sub>

    Was this truly the end?

    Fortunately, his question was answered by another trustedrade of his¡ªAloe Vida.

    >SHIIINNNGGG!!!<

    Blinding light surged from her location in the form of spears.

    They were condensed to their limits, and several of them appeared. They numbered fifty¡ªa phenomenal amount.

    >WHOOOOSSHHH!!!<

    These javelinsunched at Kahn, making him shift his focus to Aloe. This allowed Edward to escape, and he leaped a great distance back until he was just in front of Ana.

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The javelins all charged at a single target, dealing a great amount of damage in the surrounding area thanks to their impact.

    Once the fifty wereunched, Aloe converged with the two students, and they took formation again. They kept their eyes¡ªno, all their senses peeled¡ªin the direction of their overwhelming opponent.

    ¡°@#$%%^^$#@¡±

    The Shadow Demon emerged from the st area, appearingpletely unscathed.<sub></sub>

    ¡®W¡ªwhat?!¡¯ Aloe Vida was shocked.

    She knew it was tough, but not to this extent!

    Even a barrage of attacks of that level didn¡¯t end it?

    ¡°Shit!¡± Edward cursed as he gripped his de tighter.

    He seemed to be thinking of something, but hesitation made him reconsider every single time.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think we can beat this thing at this rate¡­¡± Aloe Vida gave her honest opinion.

    ¡°We can, and we will!¡± The only boy in their midst growled.

    The dark glint in his eyes showed them that he had resolved to.

    ¡°Do you have a trick up your sleeves?¡± Aloe asked.

    There was desperation and exasperation in her tone. If they had nothing else, then this was already a failed venture.

    The Automatons around had not taken action yet because their lives were not in critical danger, but once they lost the three, that was the end.

    ¡°I do.¡± Edward gave a surprising answer.¡±

    ¡°But, it takes too much strain on me, and I won¡¯t be able to concentrate on anything else but my target and my de.¡±

    Edward¡¯s ace and final move could only be done now because he was boosting himself with Bond Magic. Still, even at that, once he exhausted the card, he would be out ofmission.

    ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll be sure to watch out for your defenses, and also heal you if you get injured.¡± Ana said.

    ¡°I¡¯ll support you as well. My Javelins can¡¯t deal a fatal blow, but they should be strong enough to constitute a nuisance!¡±

    Edward looked at the two beside him and smiled at them gratefully. He was happy they didn¡¯t try to stop him.

    The honest truth was that the boy was feeling powerless.

    Jared¡¯s words from back then still rang in his head, and the worst part was that he couldn¡¯t refute them. He was a burden to his friend!

    Edward was certain that if Jared was here, he would have been able to handle the monster before them. Unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t. These two were stuck with someone as ipetent as him.

    However, Edward did not let his weakness weigh him down too much. He knew he was weak. He knew he was pathetic. However¡­

    ¡®I¡¯ve been working hard too! I won¡¯t back down now!

    ¡­ He too wanted to show the results of his growth!

    ¡°Okay, everyone¡­ I¡¯m counting on you!¡±

    Edward raised his de and prepared his stance.

    He wasn¡¯t sure if the monster would die from this, but it was bound to suffer some damage.

    Afterward, they would use the Automatons as sacrificial assaulters tounch a barrage. Hopefully, that finished it up.

    Edward knew he was being optimistic, but¡­ he needed to cling to some form of hope that things would work out.

    If they didn¡¯t, they were all dead.

    ¡°Huuu¡­¡±

    He shook off all distracting thoughts. Focusing solely on his enemy and the de he wielded, his Mana swelled to an unprecedented degree.

    ¡°Fundamental Precepts¡­¡±

    His muscles tensed, and his strength rose.

    ¡°¡­ Self Made¡­¡±

    The enemy was right in front of him. All he had to do¡­ was strike!

    ¡°¡­ #0: Martial de God Dance!¡±

 Chapter 269 Martial Dance

    >WHUUUUSSSHHHH!!!<

    The area around Edward erupted in an explosion as immense power covered him.

    Dark whirling energy surrounded him, enough to send shock to the faces of both Aloe and Anabelle. However, before they could say anything, the boy vanished¡­

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    ¡­ Leaving a trail of debris in his wake.

    ******

    Edward steeled his resolve as he made his move toward the enemy.

    His movements made everything irrelevant, and the whole world became a blur.

    Only three things existed in Edward¡¯s current state. Himself, his de¡­ and the opponent!

    The stifling air rushed to him, but he ignored it and tightly ripped his de to perform the dance he developed himself.

    The Martial de God Technique had nine foundational forms known as the 9 Fundamental Precepts.

    However, as their name implied, they were basic moves¨Cnot meant for serious battles against powerful and seasoned opponents.

    Unfortunately, Edward had only started properly training in his family¡¯s Martial Arts, and his level of mastery couldn¡¯t allow him to advance beyond the basic stage. This feeling of powerlessness choked him to the point of frustration.

    As a result, he racked his brain to figure out an alternative¨Ca way he could use the basics he had to be even more powerful.

    Just like Jared always emphasized, he decided to be innovative and let go of his rigid mentality. And after contemting so hard, Edward finally obtained enlightenment.

    Combination!

    He wouldbine all nine moves and perform them in session until they could bepressed into one.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°HAAARHHHHHH!!!¡± The boy cried as he approached the enemy.

    It was hard.

    Going through all that training felt pointless.

    ¡®I can do it¡­ I can reach!¡¯

    He felt like giving up so many times, but how could he? After seeing Jared and Ana improve by arge margin, how could he afford to be left behind?

    The one-week break that everyone was given to rest was spent on nothing but honing his skills. However, after trying and failing many times, Edward came to the realization that it was impossible to achieve his desired result¡­ at least not with his current strength.

    However, with the aid of his Familiar, that was a different matter entirely!

    ¡®I can only do this once, because of the strain, but¡­ I can do it¡­ I MUST!¡¯

    Tightening his grip even more, while gritting his teeth, the boy closed the distance between himself and the Shadow Demon.

    From 1 to 9

    From REND to ANNIHILATE.

    He converted those moves into one dance¨Ca beautiful, uninterrupted flow that took the form of a dance.

    That was his Form #0: Martial de God Dance!

    >WHOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    ¡°$#@@@$%%!!!¡±

    >FWISH<<sub></sub>

    The harsh winds blew.

    >SWISH<

    Space warped.

    >FWOOOOSSSHHH<

    Thunderous echoes rang out.

    >BOOOOM<

    An immense surge of power burst wide.

    >SWUUUPPP!<

    A recoil of unimaginable speed was released.

    >CLANG!<

    Two equally opposing des met.

    >KRIIIIIIII!!!<

    Sparks flew.

    This exchange continued at a phenomenal rate.

    A total of nine strokes formed the Martial de God Dance, requiring the utmost concentration and precision. All focus was spent on offense, and Edward¡¯s defenses were left wide open.

    The Shadow Demon attempted to take advantage of that weakness, but Edward wasn¡¯t alone in this fight.<sub></sub>

    Hisrades¨CAna and Aloe¨Cprovided constant support, using barriers to shield his blind spots while also attacking the nk of the Shadow Demon.

    This teamwork was what allowed Edward to exchange blows with the Shadow Demon on equal¨Cno, superior¨Cgrounds.

    It was obvious to all the witnesses. Edward had the upper hand in skill and precision.

    After a few strikes, the young boy was in the lead, gaining more speed the further down he went in the dance.

    By the seventh strike, he was already suppressing the enemy, enough that it retreated.

    ¡®YOU¡¯RE NOT GETTING AWAY!¡¯

    The eighth move closed the distance in a sh and Edward once again suppressed the enemy, throwing the limbs he used to defend itself into disarray. The opponent was flustered and wide open, ring at Edward who didn¡¯t flinch and simply prepared the next blow.

    ¡°@$$#%%^^!!!¡±

    Multiple spikes proceeded from the Shadow Demon in ast-ditch attempt to impale the superior swordsman, but Ana and Aloe got in the way, pouring all their energy to ensure they created the perfect window of opportunity for Edward.

    And they did!

    Their joint efforts were enough to deflect the hurriedly made spikes¡­ giving the boy his golden chance.

    More power than what he had disyed earlier manifested. The aura he exuded increased dramatically, and it was clear that he had reached the precipice¨Cthe critical point of his attack.

    ¡®I¡­ CAN¡­ REACH!!!¡¯

    ¡°RAHHHHHHHH!!!!¡±

    His de descended.

    And¡­ as the arc formed, a st surged from the point of impact.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Everything around them was engulfed in darkness, and the pressure was enough to nearly blow Ana and Aloe off their feet.

    The wind howled, and the tempest oppressed the witnesses.

    Swirling and turning and twisting, the darkness ascended and spread apart¡­ until finally, it climaxed!

    Finally, after reaching its crescendo, everything scattered apart, nullifying the harsh pressure as though it was never there. Such was the conclusion of Edward¡¯s dance.

    It was beautifully executed, an epitome of both grace and savagery.

    However, the question that rang in everyone¡¯s mind was the same.

    ¡°WAS IT EFFECTIVE?¡±

    For a moment, a hollow silence permeated the area¡­

    ¡­ And then a dense, oppressive aura was ignited.

    ¡°Haa¡­ @#[emailprotected]</a>@! #$%^ @#$%%^ ^^&&@¡±

    Anabelle and Aloe¡¯s eyes widened as the harsh night breeze took away the smoke so they could witness the aftermath of Edward¡¯s struggle.

    ¡°N¨Cno¡­ way¡­¡± A voice leaked out.

    ¡°E¨CEd¡­¡± Another slowly came forth.

    The boy in question was on the floor,pletely spent and out of energy. He groaned, but there was no luster in his tone.

    ¡°@#$% @#%%^ @#$^& (&^%%$¡±

    No one could understand the Demon¡¯s words, but it was clear to everyone that he was gloating.

    Evident to that was the fact that he raised his sharpened limb and prepared to stab Edward¨Cresulting in instant death.

    Ana tried to help, but she was out of Mana.

    Aloe reached out, but she wouldn¡¯t have enough time to cast the Spell.

    Tears fell from Edward¡¯s eyes. He seemed to curse his powerlessness as hey on the cold, hard ground.

    This was truly the end.

    Until¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    A bright light ascended into the heavens, splitting everything apart.

    Night turned into day, and the giant dome seemed to expand with every second.

    Everyone¨Chuman and Demon¨Cturned to look in the direction of the brilliant explosion.

    And miraculously¡­

    ¡°@#$%^^^%$#@!!!¡±

    ¡­ Thanks to the golden eruption., the Demon vanished.

    No one knew why and how, but¡­ the witnesses instinctively had the assurance that they had been saved.

    They weren¡¯t going to die.

    Help hade!

    Everything would be fine!

    And so, while looking at the brilliant fireworks, a girl¡¯s voice echoed in the bright night.

    ¡°¡­ Jared¡­¡±

 Chapter 270 Jareds Brilliance

    Everyone saw it!

    It didn¡¯t matter where they were, or what they did.

    Friends and enemies alike¡ªthey all looked in the direction of the golden explosion that seemed to consume the sky itself.

    Struggling students were grateful for the timely intervention of the st, as the strong Demons that assailed them instantly vanished the moment theyid eyes on the explosion.

    How happy they were that they were able to get rid of the overwhelming adversaries that oppressed them.

    Even the Rankers found themselves in thanks to the one who rescued them from their awry situation.

    ¡°Jared finally did it, uh?¡±

    ¡°The Lecturers must be free now!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡±

    ¡°The Demons ran away!¡±

    ¡°Guhk! I thought¡­ I was going to die¡­¡±<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Wohoooo! Help hase! That crazy guy pulled it off!¡±

    ¡°I just wish¡­ this night was over¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s bright as day!¡±

    As thements rang out from various students in their respective groups, one particr group was also staring at the golden eruption of light that grew bigger with each passing moment.

    A boy and a girl were side-by-side. Thetter was supporting the former, so he could walk. It was obvious who was more beat-up out of the two.

    ¡°Haa¡­ haaa¡­ I couldn¡¯t beat it¡­¡± The boy spoke with strained breaths.

    He was Stefan Netherlore, one of the brightest in Ainrk¡ªa genius.

    Who would have expected such a prodigy to look so disheveled and dumbfounded? Disappointment and frustration swirled in his heart and he cursed his weakness. Despite how hard he trained, despite everything! He still couldn¡¯t do shit when faced with the adversary.

    ¡°¡­Jared did it, uh?¡± A voice interrupted his thoughts.

    It belonged to the girl who was supporting him.<sub></sub>

    Her silver hair was shining brightly, reflecting the light that enveloped the surroundings for miles.

    Her name was Maria Helmsworth, a genius who had even more recognition than Stefan. She was also powerless when they were confronted with the enemy, so her pride must have been bruised as well.

    Yet¡­ no single wrinkle of frustration could be seen on her face.

    Rather, what was akin to gratitude¡ªand intense admiration¡ªcoursed through her. She beamed at the bright light, and her eyes reflected the image of a single person.

    ¡°He must have seeded in his mission.¡± Another whisper escaped from her lips.

    Stefan was still caught up in his deep frustration, but he caught on to her words¡ªas well as the tone she used to speak.

    ¡°You really like that guy, uh¡­?¡± He spoke in a grumble.

    At that moment, there was silence.

    The other students around who were rejoicing and moring in delight didn¡¯t hear Stefan¡¯s question¡ªno, more like an affirmation. Still, an air of awkwardness enveloped the two.

    Maria¡¯s slightly pale face gave a faint pink glow as she blushed and smiled softly. Her memories seemed to trail back to the first time she met the boy in question¡ªhow he had approached her so abruptly and brazenly.<sub></sub>

    Even though she had just nearly died now, Maria couldn¡¯t help thinking about him now.

    Back to Stefan¡¯s question, the boy stared at her with all conviction that he was right, and then Maria¡¯s eyes moved in his direction. He seemed to be expecting an answer.

    ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡±

    Stefan was the closest thing Maria had to a friend, though they were mostly rivals. Since the two were cousins, it was clear that they would have some sort of link. Their families also seemed to bepeting to see who would be better.

    These expectations brought them together, and before they knew it, they became quite close.

    ¡°¡­ Maybe¡­¡± Maria¡¯s eyes returned to the st.

    A smile formed on her parted lips.

    It was silly, but¡­ she felt quite fuzzy inside.

    *******************

    ¡®I messed up!¡¯ Kahn¡¯s thoughts chided him.

    He had managed to survive Jared¡¯s attack¡ªthough barely.

    If he was merely ten percent short of his eighty percent form, he would have died. The st was that strong!

    Still, Kahn wondered what happened to the remaining twenty percent. He couldn¡¯t sense them at all, so he had to conclude that they were dead.

    That fact didn¡¯t surprise Kahn too much, seeing that the 12-year-old before him was capable of killing him at 70 percent.

    ¡®This kid is strong¡­ too strong!¡¯

    While he gritted his teeth in contemtion, Kahn realized that this whole invasion had been a mistake from the very start.

    He jumped the gun, and his information was too little. Plus, his wed alliance with his shady partner was what nearly got him killed.

    As a result of his near demise, his neural link to all the Clones became severed, causing them to disappear.

    They were all gone, and he was practically all that was left of the enemy¡¯s force.

    ¡®SHIT!¡¯ Kahn cursed internally as he red at Jared who was practically a vegetable.

    ¡®He got me good¡­¡¯

    Not only had he somehow reced the Miasma around with pure Mana through some strange means, but he was also capable of controlling Mana to such an extent and his ns were so perfectly executed that Kahn didn¡¯t have the faintest clue that he was falling for a trap.

    In a way¡ªeven though the Shadow Demon didn¡¯t want to admit it¡ªthe kid reminded him a lot of Lewis Griffith!

    ¡°Damn¡­ looks like the mission is a failure¡­¡± He mumbled to himself.

    Kahn had lost, and he was too weak to scour the Campus for the information and objects he desired. He was sure the students would have also been weakened and there was a chance to still obtain what he wanted, but¡­

    ¡®It¡¯s too risky. I should count my losses and just retreat¡­¡¯

    The problem was the kid in front of him.

    He was too dangerous to be left alive. The boy was a major threat. Both his intelligence and power were abnormal. If left alone for a few more years, he would be able to defeat a Demon Lord.

    Kahn was certain of it!

    ¡®I need to eliminate him here!¡¯

    Though he didn¡¯t like the fact that he was still following the bidding of his shady partner, Kahn was going to execute Jared Leonard for the sake of his people.

    ¡°You are going to die here, Jared Leonard¡­ you fought well.¡±

 Chapter 271 Final Thoughts

    My weak body could barely move and I could hardly make a sound as I watched Kahn approach me with bloodlust.

    I wanted to re at him, but my facial muscles were all spent.

    Many questions welled up in me¨Cquestions I shoved down in my fight with him. Why would someone like Kahn do something like this? He wasn¡¯t my favorite person back then, and we never saw eye to eye on anything, but¡­

    ¡®He obeyed the Demon King with absolute loyalty¡­¡¯

    Was this an order from ¡®him¡¯, then? No. He was a much more sensible person than that.

    Then why?

    The only thing I could think of was some sort of interference from some sort of third party¨Cmost likely a group to whom my killer belonged to. There was no way a single person would be enough to make Kahn¨Cno, the Demon Race¨Cbetray the Pact.

    ¡®Still¡­ why am I having these useless thoughts?¡¯

    I was going to die here.

    This time, I had no tricks up my sleeve. I waspletely powerless.

    While there was one backup n I devised, it still wasn¡¯t quite ready yet. Using it now would also put me in danger.

    ¡®No, I¡¯ll die if I resort to that.¡¯<sub>.</sub>

    Though, even if I wanted to, my body wasn¡¯t in any shape to retaliate. This was truly the end.

    ¡®Shit¡­ despite all the big talk I made¡­ the promises I made to everyone¡­¡¯

    The Shadow Demon loomed closer.

    ¡®¡­ If I die¡­ who¡¯s going to take responsibility for the casualties¨Cthe ones who followed my n with trust in their hearts?¡¯

    It brandished its de, and I could already feel my life nearing its end. Just a few seconds more, and it would all be over.

    ¡®It¡¯s all my fault¡­ it¡¯s because of me¡­¡¯

    The enemy wanted to get rid of me. If I wasn¡¯t here, none of this would have happened.

    I knew there was a possibility that harm would have fallen upon Ainrk even if I wasn¡¯t present. After all, the enemy had another agenda other than killing me.

    Even though I was able to save so many people from certain death and even managed to revive someone¡­ even though so many more would have met their ends without me¡­ even then¨C!

    I still med myself bitterly.

    At myst moment, the juncture of truth¡­ I found myself in regret again.<sub></sub>

    ¡®I finally got what I wanted more than anything, but¡­ even with Magic¡­ I¡¯m still going to die like this, uh?¡¯

    Regret. Pain. Sadness. Agony. Worry. Fury. Confusion. Frustration. More regret.

    Torrents upon torrents. Myriads upon myriads.

    I felt a mix of various things¡­ but¡­

    ¡®I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want to die¡­¡¯

    Not like this! Not here, not now!

    I knew there was no way for me to fight back. There was no miracle to pull off now. It was foolish to hope for another alternative, but¡­

    ¡®I DON¡¯T WANT TO DIE!!!¡¯

    With that single thought being myst, I covered my eyes as tears fell, awaiting my end¡­

    ¡­ But, it never came.

    ¡°You did well, Jared¡­¡±<sub></sub>

    I heard a voice.

    ¡°¡­ But, you didn¡¯t listen to what I said, did you?¡±

    My body trembled as I heard the sound.

    It was so calm and casual, yet the depth was without question.

    Without realizing it, my eyes opened by themselves, and I saw a person standing in front of me.

    ¡°I told you to take care of yourself¡­¡±

    His dark cloak fluttered with the wind, giving off a faint sound of pping wings. I saw hisrge back, dyed in the all-ck outfit he had on. The man¡¯s dark hair danced as he turned to face me.

    With a warm and gentle smile, he nced at me.

    ¡°¡­ Look at the poor state you¡¯re in. It¡¯s not good for an Apprentice to disobey their Master, you know?¡±

    In an instant, all the flurry of negative emotions that assailed me evaporated. My fatigue melted¡­ my despair was lifted.

    Reced by those was a single thought¨Cthe name of the man who stood in front of me.

    ¡®Neron Kaelid!¡¯

    ¡°I have to say, Jared¡­ you¡¯ve surprised me again.¡± Neron smiled at me.

    I wanted to warn him about the Shadow Demon.

    I wanted to tell him not to turn his back on the enemy.

    I wanted to scream.

    However¡­ I knew better than to do that.

    So far, I had been dealing with immature students who needed guidance. But now¡­ this man was here.

    There was no longer any need to do anything.

    ¡°Kid¡­ you¡¯ve made me proud. Now, just sit back¡­¡±

    ¡®Sit back? But, I¡¯m¨C¡®

    Before I couldplete my thoughts, I felt my body being soothed by something warm. I was being raised by some unknown, yet familiar energy.

    Multiple colors were radiating around me, and I could feel my strength getting restored at a phenomenal rate. I didn¡¯t feel any pain or anxiety. No¡­ in fact, I felt bliss.

    ¡°¡­ and enjoy the show.¡± Neron finished his statement, shed me a brilliant smile¡­ and turned in the direction of the enemy.

    I nced at Kahn for a second with my blurry vision.

    He hadn¡¯t taken a single step forward since Neron showed up. Was it just my imagination, or was he further away?

    ¡®Ahh, I can¡¯t tell¡­ I¡¯m losing grip¡­¡¯

    The soothing feeling that permeated my body made it easy to sumb to unconsciousness.

    ¡®N¨CNeron¡­¡¯ I looked at the broad back of the man, seeing a phenomenal, unquantifiable amount of Mana swirl around him.

    A smile formed on my face¡­ and I heaved in relief.

    Neron¡¯s hair turned white, and his body seemed to be emitting a faint glow I wasn¡¯t sure of.

    Before Ipletely lost consciousness, I heard a faint voice that sounded like my Master.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll show you my Original Magic¡­¡± Or something like that.

    But, I was already too far gone to return. Still wearing a smile on my face, I made a final thought before finally drifting away.

    ¡®¡­ Thank you¡­¡¯

    And then everything went dark.

 Chapter 272 All The Time In The World

    ¡®Who the hell is this guy?¡¯ Kahn asked himself, ring at the man who stood in his way.

    When he first appeared without warning, the first thing Kahn¡¯s instinct told him was to flee. Though it shamed him to admit it, he had leaped away on reflex¡ªonly to regain his sensester on.

    ¡®¡­ To flee from a human just like that¡­¡¯

    Still, he couldn¡¯t help but be wary. He hadn¡¯t even sensed the man until he appeared and spoke. That spoke volumes of his skill.

    ¡®Damn it¡­ if only I wasn¡¯t weakened like this¡­¡¯

    The mysterious man began talking to his prey, Jared Leonard,pletely ignoring Kahn.

    Usually, this would be enough to upset the Shadow Demon and drive him into a fit of rage, but he couldn¡¯t afford to do that now.

    He was weakened, and also wasn¡¯t certain of the skill of the young man who had shown up.

    ¡®He¡¯s showing so many openings¡­ I can attack him now¡­ I can¡ª¡¯

    Kahn didn¡¯t know why, but he felt like an invisible barrier made it so that he couldn¡¯t reach his foe.

    It wasn¡¯t a physical or magical barrier, but¡­ it existed in his head.

    Kahn¡¯s instincts¡ªno, his every being¡ªshowed arge gulf that existed between him and the man who was currently talking casually to the half-dead child.

    The child wasn¡¯t so half-dead anymore once the man snapped his fingers and brilliant sparks of different hues enveloped him.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡®I¡ªis that healing¡­? He¡¯s healing the brat? In my presence?!¡¯

    Did this man not consider him a threat at all?!

    Every human he had met¡ªwith the exception of the shady one¡ªhad been surprised and appalled by his presence.

    Was this perhaps an acquaintance of his partner? No. That couldn¡¯t be. Why would he heal the kid if they were on the same side?

    The man finally turned to Kahn, causing his dark skin to jump in apprehension.

    A smile was on his face¡ªhis expression told the Shadow Demon that he was confident.

    ¡®He¡¯s¡­ how strong is he?¡¯

    The aftereffects of Jared¡¯s magic made him quite imbnced. He couldn¡¯t get a proper read on his Mana levels, or the extent of the man¡¯s strength¡­ so he could only rely on instinct.

    And instincts told him that his opponent was dangerous.

    ¡°¡­ Jared, just this once¡­ I¡¯ll show you my Original Magic. Keep your eyes peeled, okay?¡± The man spoke, still keeping his eyes on Kahn.

    >VWUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!<

    Kahn felt like he was crushed by the pressure that was suddenly released. No, he was certainly getting ttened.<sub></sub>

    The Shadow Demon didn¡¯t know when he knelt on the floor, feeling his body tremble before the majesty of a presence that far surpassed his own.

    The man before him was shrouded in white particles¡ªlight fragments that seemed to emit such radiance¡ªenough to obliterate him. His hair also turned white¡ªsame with his pitch-ck eyes.

    Kahn shuddered upon witnessing this transformation.

    ¡°Oh, crap! He fell unconscious already! For real?¡±

    Kahn willed himself to rise. The enemy was distracted by the boy behind him, so the pressure that restrained him had loosened a little.

    The Demon red at his target hatefully, and then determined to take advantage of the man¡¯s carelessness.

    ¡®I have to strike now! I have to¡ª¡¯

    ¡°Not so fast¡­¡±

    >VWUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!<

    The immense pressure returned¡ªthis time stronger than before.

    Kahn gulped in fear.

    ¡®Shit! I¡¯m too weak¡­ if only I was at full strength!¡¯<sub></sub>

    ¡°¡­Do you know why I decided not to attack you, even though you¡¯ve been emitting such bloodlust for some time now?¡±

    The Demon didn¡¯t know.

    He had thought the man was acting strangely¡ªnot paying any mind to his enemy¡ªwhile revealing many blind spots.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s because there¡¯s no point. You¡¯re too weak.¡±

    That statement hit Kahn like a sledgehammer.

    When was thest time anyone had told him that? How low had he sunk to receive this sort of treatment from a mere human?

    ¡®Don¡¯t spout such nonsense! It¡¯s because I¡¯m weakened! If I wasn¡¯t in this sorry state, then¡ª!!!¡¯ Kahn growled internally.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯re not convinced. Then¡­¡±

    The man lifted his index finger, and atop it stood a ball of pure azure energy. It was so bright and condensed with Mana that Kahn felt like it would kill him.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try this¡­¡±

    The swirling orb made its way in Kahn¡¯s direction before the Demon could even respond.

    ¡®SHIT! I¡¯M GOING TO DI¡ª!!!¡¯

    Before hepleted his thoughts, the bright blue orb made impact, and then¡­

    >SHWUUUUSHHHH<

    ¡­ A bright explosion covered the area where Kahn stood. No, it wasn¡¯t exactly an explosion. It was simply a surge of power that surrounded everything around the scared Demon.

    ¡°W¡ªwhu¡ªt?!¡± Kahn was surprised.

    What was this that he was experiencing?

    He was still within the explosion, but he wasn¡¯t harmed. Instead, a strange sensation filled him up. It felt bizarre¡ªlike his power was returning to him, but not quite.

    ¡®I¡¯m beginning to feel¡­ the same way I felt before¡­ I feel whole¡­ what¡¯s this¡­?¡±

    Before he knew it, the azure light died out, and a new Kahn emerged from the area of impact. No, perhaps it was more urate to say the old Kahn.

    ¡®This is¡­ me¡­ before I attacked this ce¡­ what? How¡­?¡¯

    Kahn was beyond confused by what was happening. It was almost as if he had traveled through¡ª

    ¡°¡ªTime. That¡¯s the simple answer.¡± Neron interrupted the dark being¡¯s thoughts.

    Kahn was now whole¡ªat full strength¡ªyet he still felt entirely threatened by the man who casually stood.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat are you saying? Time? But that is only¡­¡±

    ¡°I reversed your time. Do you understand? Currently, you should be at a form before you ever suffered any injuries. In essence, your prime.¡±

    Kahn didn¡¯t want to admit it, but the man was right. He was overflowing with so much power that his previous¡ªor would he call it future¡ªself felt pathetic inparison.

    ¡°This is my Original Magic: [All The Time In The World].¡±

    Kahn gulped now.

    A man who could control time¡­ just what kind of monster was he?

    ¡°I made sure to patch you up to your best form. Do you know why?¡±

    The Shadow Demon was frozen. He couldn¡¯t make a single sound. In his mind, a name began surfacing. The name of someone who was supposed to be invincible.

    ¡°It¡¯s so I can inflict as much pain on you as possible. By reversing your state every time you take damage¡ªas long as you¡¯re not dead¡ªI can keep you in suffering.¡±

    Kahn shuddered, but the thought wouldn¡¯t disappear. This man¡­

    ¡°¡­ Are you¡­ Neron Kaelid¡­?¡± He croaked.

    In response to his question, the white-haired, absolutely powerful being smiled.

    ¡°Yes. And you¡­ are going to pay for what you did here.¡±

 Chapter 273 Neron Kaelid

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Kahn felt his body get torn into a million pieces.

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    It happened again.

    >BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    And again!

    The Shadow Demon was at the edge of insanity, but every time he was about to lose his mind¡ªas well as every semnce of life¡ªeverything got reversed¡­ and he was good as new.

    It was torture!

    It was horrific!

    The very concept of going through unimaginable pain over and over and over again drove Kahn to the point where he would have begged for death.

    His very atoms were dismembered and he felt even greater agony than anything he had experienced so far¡ªgreater than even Jared¡¯s final Spell.

    ¡°GUARRGHHHHHH!!!¡± Kahn screamed.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°UWAHHHHHHH!!!¡± Kahn cried.

    He prayed for it to stop, but it didn¡¯t.

    Over and over again, in repeat¡ªan endless cycle of violence.

    Neron Kaelid hadn¡¯t even moved a single spot from his location.

    All he kept doing was sending highly dense orbs of Mana to Kahn¡ªlike Mana Bombs.

    Each st decimated him and the area around.

    Of course, with every reset, the area around Kahn was also restored. This urred for times beyond count.

    It was a miracle that no time seemed to pass at all.

    ¡®How long has it been? How many times have I neared death? A million? Two million? I don¡¯t know¡­¡¯

    Why did time seem to be stuck in the same position? He seemed to have been suffering for an eternity, yet the moon still hung in the sky and his torturer didn¡¯t seem the slightest bit exhausted.

    ¡®W¡ªwhy¡ª?!¡¯<sub></sub>

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Once again, Kahn was blown to smithereens¡­ and then the process repeated itself.

    ***********

    ¡°I wonder how long he has spent there¡­?¡± Neron mumbled as he smiled at the foe before him.

    Kahn¡ªthe mighty Shadow Demon¡ªwas standing still in a purple dome. No, it was more simr to a sphere instead.

    ¡°Time loops are scary things, after all¡­¡±

    Neron removed his gaze from Kahn, already certain that the Demon was not going to be a threat.

    His eyes went to the boy who floated in a cocoon of dancing light.

    Jared Leonard was unconscious, but his injuries were healing rapidly. It was fast enough to be called a miracle¡ªeven by the standard of Magic.

    ¡®I could have simply reversed all your injuries, but¡­¡¯

    That wouldn¡¯t have been the best.<sub></sub>

    Thanks to the battle Jared had with Kahn, his body had been forced to adapt to more power. In essence, the boy grew considerably in the span of some minutes. If Neron reset everything, Jared would be returned to a state before all that.

    ¡®¡­ his efforts would have been for nothing, then.¡¯

    And so, while it seemed somewhat cruel to heal him with a slower method, Neron was certain it would be what Jared desired.

    ¡°Alright, I should also take care of everything around here¡­ it¡¯s quite the mess¡­¡±

    With that, Neron raised his index finger again, and a massive azure surge of energy burst forth.

    He pumped more power into it, and then the orb expanded, soaring high into the sky. Once it reached the required height, the orb exploded, enveloping the entire Campus of Ainrk.

    ¡°This should reverse the effects of their invasion¡­¡±

    The damaged properties would be restored, and any lost infrastructure would get fixed. It was going to be as though nothing ever happened.

    ¡®What about the kids¡­?¡¯

    Neron was conflicted. The ones who fought back would have certainly improved a great deal and learned from this experience. To reset them to a state before now would be detrimental.

    However¡­ considering there could be injured students among them, Neron wasn¡¯t sure if he should leave them in that state.

    ¡°Well, as long as they can be fixed¡­ then I have nothing to worry about.¡±

    Ultimately, he decided to ignore the students and only focus on the non-living structures around. Of course, Neron didn¡¯tpletely abandon them.

    ¡°You guys, go. Heal those who are injured, and if any enemy is still present, protect the kids. I don¡¯t sense anyone around, though¡­¡±

    With that, a few hundred glimmers of light surged from the Lecturer¡¯s body and vanished into the dark night. One could hear them mumbling many things, but their voices were so tiny that only a very perceptive individual could make out the contents.

    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that some people died¡­ and it seems there¡¯s only one person to me¡­¡± Neron eyed the Demon before him.

    He could do many things with his Original Magic, but reversing death itself was an area he hadn¡¯t yet breached.

    Neron¡¯s Original Magic, [All The Time In The World], had many functions. One was the reversal of the physical state of something¡ªeven down to the energy expended. Another was merging both past, present, and future events and tieing them to form a loop.

    ¡ªA Time Loop.

    Other applications of his Magic existed¡ªsuch as ensuring all things invading his immediate area were instantly paused, or even cing his body under a loop so he never aged.

    Even in the extremely unlikely event that he received damage, his body would rey the loop and he would bepletely restored.

    These abilities came at a price, though¡ªMana.

    Interfering with something as grand as Time was something that required an immense amount of Mana. However, this was also another reason why the power to do something like that fell into the hands of Neron.

    The amount of Mana he had was stupendously bountiful.

    ¡°It seems I used up a total of twenty thousand cores in this whole venture¡­¡±

    That would take some minutes to restore.

    Now that he was done with his chores¡ªtaking care of the Academy premises and ensuring the safety of the students, the only thing left for him to do was deciding the fate of the Demon before him.

    Neron stared at the monster who remained in stasis.

    ¡°Hoo, how bothersome¡­ what should I do with you?¡±

    There were several options¡ªone would be to capture him alive and extract information concerning his objectives and intentions.

    However, Neron was aware of the existence of a mole in Ainrk¡ªno, not just the Academy, but also the Eastern Kingdom as a whole.

    If he spared this Demon, there was a good chance that the enemy would be allowed to prevail yet again. Besides, the Lecturer had already figured out what he wanted for the most part.

    ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll just kill him.¡±

    With his index finger raised, and a bright crimson sphere now circling atop his fingertip, Neron stole hisst nce at the pitiful creature, before¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

 Chapter 274 Curtains Fall

    Kahn could feel his body dissipating.

    ¡®E¨CEh¡­?¡¯

    Was he dying? At longst?

    He had no idea how long he had spent receiving the same monotonous pain from his adversary.

    It could have been hundreds of years¨Cno, it was most likely more.

    During that period, he had tried everything he could to win. He took the first initiative, lunged at the enemy with all his power, but¡­

    He couldn¡¯t reach!

    He stopped midway, unable to continue.

    It was like his body had slowed down¡­ and then inevitably paused. Before Kahn could understand it¨C

    >BOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    ¨CHe had died again.

    At some point, he gave up and made peace with his weakness. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t get used to the pain.

    Since his body kept being repaired, it felt like a new sensation of agony every time Neron struck.

    Pain. Pain. And even more Pain. That was all Kahn knew for so long.

    He yearned for salvation. He prayed for release.<sub>.</sub>

    And finally, it wasing to him!

    Kahn no longer felt any pain. He simply felt his consciousness fading. He was dying¨Creturning to the abyss of death.

    Wasn¡¯t this relief? Wasn¡¯t this pleasure? Nay, it was both! This was bliss!

    ¡®Milord¡­ My master¡­ oh great Demon King¡­.¡¯

    Even in death, only one person came to Kahn¡¯s mind. And with the thought of that person flooded in regret.

    ¡®I made an error¡­ I do not know why I attacked these people despite our Pact¡­ I¡­ truly do not know¡­¡¯

    But how could he exin it? He simply did what he did.

    Now that it was all over, it almost seemed like a dream¨Chow Kahn ughtered all those humans despite the peace that had existed for so long.

    More regret seeped in.

    ¡®My King¡­ if I only I could return to your side. If only I could continue serving you¡­¡¯

    Deep regret formed.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t havee to the human world¡­ I should have¡­¡¯

    Kahn¡¯s thoughts went to Neron Kaelid, Jared Leonard, and the denizens of Ainrk Academy. The students put up more of a struggle than he had expected. Jared Leonard waspletely unpredictable and his abilities were extraordinary.

    But, the man called Neron Kaelid? He was impossible!<sub></sub>

    Yet, Kahn had made an enemy out of them.

    ¡®They¡¯re sure to me the Demon Race¡­¡¯

    They would strike the Demons in retaliation!

    ¡®What have I done?!¡¯

    This would be a fuse that would ignite the mes of yet another war! Was this what the shady man wanted? Did he n things to turn out this way?

    ¡®My king¡­ I have made a terrible mistake!¡¯

    Kahn pictured Neron Kaelid against the Demon King.

    ¡®He¡­ will lose¡­¡¯

    It was sphemy to think this, but¡­

    ¡®¡­ My King will lose¡­¡¯

    ¡­ Kahn knew the truth.

    His master had grown old and weak. His master despised violence. His master wasn¡¯t capable of defeating Neron.

    Yet, he had made an enemy of such a man¨Cof such a Kingdom!

    ¡®My people¡­ my race¡­ my King¡­!¡¯<sub></sub>

    They were all in danger because of this.

    If only he could warn them!

    Unfortunately, it was toote, His life had expired. His body was fading away rapidly. He was going to meet his end.

    ¨CDEATH arrived¡­

    ¡­

    ¡­ and a new LIFE sprang forth.

    A new Kahn¡­ a being without a SOUL¨Cextremely smallpared to his past self.

    The Soul knew not of his existence. It simply sought a HOST¡­ and a MASTER.

    Yes¡­ this was a BOND SOUL.

    Kahn had be a FAMILIAR.

    ***********

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Neron saw something spark from Kahn¡¯s nothingness.

    He had used a Spell to turn Kahn¡¯s docile body into nothing but char¨C[NOVA] ¨Cyet, something else was forming.

    It looked like a flickering me of ck and purple light. The energy seemed corrupted and malevolent. Neron monitored it closely.

    Once the me fully manifested, it turned to the area opposite Neron and began flying away.

    ¡°Oh, no, you don¡¯t¡­¡± Neron grinned and snapped his fingers.

    Instantly, he created an orb around the purple-ck me, containing it in an instant.

    With a single flick of his finger, Neron drew the prison of the fleeing target closer to him, until it floated directly opposite him.

    ¡°Oh? It turned into a Bond Soul. That¡¯s quite something. I wonder what desire it had¡­¡±

    When living beings had a deep emotion before death¨Cstrong enough to preserve their Soul from flickering out¨Cthey became Bond Souls.

    ¡°I should have some use for you¡­¡± Neron grabbed the orb, and then looked behind him to see Jared¡¯s sleeping form.

    ¡°¡­ Or maybe he might¡­¡±

    ***********

    Neron Kaelid, havingpleted all he set out to do, looked in the direction of the exposed Meeting Hall of the Lecturers.

    Ever since Jared¡¯s Spell was detonated, the Cloaking Magic used on the building and its surroundings were forcefully deactivated. This was one of the things Jared relied on when he used that Spell.

    He had hoped a Lecturer would hop out to confront Kahn, but he gave up, realizing that he would die before that happened.

    And he was right.

    Neron arrived before the Lecturers could mobilize themselves.

    Currently, the building was covered in amber light¨CLike a dome that surrounded the building and everything around it.

    This was yet another one of Neron¡¯s abilities.

    ¡°I should undo the

    Effect I used now¡­¡± He murmured.

    He realized that the enemy must have been within the hall, so Neron decided it was best for the other Lecturers to sit the whole thing out while he handled everything. Once he had done all he could to his satisfaction, they were going to be released.

    >SHUUUUUU!!!<

    The amber light cleared away¨Clike mist¨Cand the individuals who were within poured out.

    They had panicked looks on their faces. Many of them had entered Mage Mode, while others were preparing Spells.

    The disturbance that was strong enough to break their barrier¨Cwhat could it have been?

    ¡°N¨CNeron? What are you doing here? What is going o¨C¡°

    The Vice Head of Ainrk Academy stopped in his tracks. He had spotted something even more surprising than the presence of their Lecturer who was supposed to be on a long trip.

    Surrounding the area was a massive, circle-like hole that dug deep into the ground. Like a fissure¨Clike a chasm¨Clike something that defied logic,pletely engraved upon Ainrk soil.

    It was the after-effect of Jared¡¯s Spell, something Neron intentionally left out of the other renovations he carried out.

    ¡°¨CWhat is this¡­?¡± The older man asked, and the other lecturers followed him in marvels and gasps of shock.

    Neron simply smiled, and his eyes went to the unconscious boy who was still recuperating. With a rush of pride¨Cthough mellowed out by his usually stoic expression¨CNeron answered the curious faces before him.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±

 Chapter 275 Awake

    ¡°U¡ªurgh¡­¡±

    My body stirred as I was pulled from the realm of unconsciousness.

    It felt so surreal, like I was in a daze. My body felt sublime¡ªlike it was brand new. I didn¡¯t feel any sensation like pain.

    With this feeling of bliss, I opened my eyes to reality.

    ¡°U¡ªuh¡­?¡±

    I was currently lying down on a bed.

    ¡®Why am I here?¡¯

    I looked around, getting a good grasp of my surroundings. It looked like an infirmary, but something about it seemed more grandiose than the one I was used to.

    Curiosity got the better of me, and I unconsciously activated Spellcraft to get a feel of everything around me.

    Mana gathered and dispersed at my whim, and just as I was about to detect what was beyond the room¡­

    >BRRRRRIIIIIINNNNGGGGGGG!!!<

    A loud rm rang thatpletely disrupted my focus.

    ¡°Argh! What the¡ª?!¡±

    I turned to re at the source of the sound.<sub>.</sub>

    It was an object that was ced on the wall in a far corner from where I slept. It didn¡¯t take a second for me to realize what it was.

    ¡®A Magic Sensory Device, uh?¡¯

    More questions surged from within me. The usual Infirmary didn¡¯t have this device, so why was one here?

    >CREAK!<

    Before I could contemte the reason any further, the opened door drew my attention and my eyes darted in the direction of the only visible entrance¡ªand exit¡ªof the room.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re up already. Not even long since you awoke and you¡¯re already using Magic, uh?¡±

    My eyes widened as I saw my Lecturer¡ªNeron Kaelid.

    He was smiling gently, and his usual casual gait wasn¡¯t absent.

    ¡®Was he the one who brought me here? That exins the Magic Detection Tool¡­¡¯

    Though this only wrought more questions in my mind,

    ¡°Rx, Jared. I had to suppress your memories to stabilize your condition. You¡¯ll get them soon¡­¡±

    ¡®What is he talking about? Stabilize my condition? In the first ce, why am I in the Infirmary?¡¯

    Those questions were interrupted by a sharp sensation that coursed through my head.<sub></sub>

    It felt surreal, like I was hanging between a dream and reality. I was lucid, but also drowsy.

    Multiple fragments of memories rushed in at once, nearly overwhelming my consciousness.

    Fortunately, there was no pain¡ªat least not physically.

    However, many other emotions caused me to clutch my chest tightly as I went through all that happened¡ªall I experienced.

    Fear. Anger. Anxiety. Confusion. Resolve.

    Multiple feelings swirled in my heart as the final sequence of my memories yed¡ªNeron rescuing me as I fell unconscious.

    Thest thing I remembered was his hair turning white and his talk on ¡®Original Magic.¡¯

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡±

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve regained them¡­¡±

    Neron walked across the room to fetch a chair while I panted as sweat began popping from my pores.

    From the corner of my eyes, I spotted him taking the lone chair that was located by the corner of the room. He brought it close to my bedside and sat on it, looking at me with a smile.

    I had lots of things to say to him, but¡­

    ¡°Why are you smiling?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡­ I didn¡¯t know why I asked that question first.

    He didn¡¯t respond, but his grin got wider instead.

    Judging from the fact that I was still alive and Neron was smiling at me, the plot of Kahn and his ally was foiled. Neron arrived at a critical juncture and most likely turned things around.

    I would have joined him tough if that was the only thing that went on in my head, but¡­

    ¡°¡­ How many people died?¡±

    Neron¡¯s smile froze.

    He appeared dazed by my question.

    I looked him in the eye and repeated my question. Compared to his deep dark retinas that brimmed with life, mine was sullen and low. It was weighed by guilt.

    ¡°Seven. Five boys and two girls.¡±

    Silence reigned the moment he said that.

    ¡°¡­ I¡­ see¡­¡±

    A sharp, searing pain surged through my heart and I felt like breaking down into tears. Seven students lost their lives thanks to my ipetence. They were young and innocent.

    ¡®They didn¡¯t deserve to die¡­¡¯

    It was all my fault.

    ¡°I heard the number of casualties was over a hundred. If not for the barrier you ced around the dead ones, as well as the Automatons you enforced to protect their corpses, there would have been more deaths.¡± Neron spoke.

    From his tone, it didn¡¯t seem like he was trying tofort me. He didn¡¯t appear to be lying too. The man was just stating facts.

    ¡°Losing seven people is unfortunate, but the fact that we were able to save almost everyone thanks to your efforts¡­ is nothing short of a miracle.¡±

    Resurrection Magic wasn¡¯t omnipotent. It had ws¡ªand the sess rate wasn¡¯t a hundred percent.

    I did all I could to raise the odds to be as favorable as they could be, but¡­ it still wasn¡¯t enough.

    ¡°Shit!¡± I let out without realizing it.

    I clenched my teeth and tightened both fists in frustration and uncontroble rage. Guilt pounded in my brain, but it was easily doused by the emotion of wrath directed at the culprit.

    ¡°Jared, listen¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop!¡± I interrupted Neron.

    While I respected him to a high degree, and was also grateful to him for saving my life, I simply didn¡¯t think he couldprehend the inner turmoil I was going through.

    ¡°If you want to console me¡­ or tell me that I was beyond amazing in all I did, then don¡¯t. I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t want to be patronized right now¡­¡±

    I was nearly breaking into sobs.

    It wasn¡¯t as though I had any personal ties with most of the students in Ainrk¡ªneither did I have any idea who died and who didn¡¯t. However¡­ it still hurt like crazy.

    ¡°Jared¡­ I say this, not simply as a lecturer or your master, but as a fellow Mage¡ªno, a fellow person¡ªyou did well.¡±

    ¡®Why is he saying this? What is he talking about? This isn¡¯t what I should be hearing. I failed! I failed miserably!¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say about it. You did well.¡±

    His words were short, concise, and unfettered. One could read a dozen meanings into them.

    As I stared into his eyes, all that they showed me was sincerity. Neron meant those words from the depth of his soul.

    And¡ªeven though it was utterly selfish and conceited of me¡ªthat made me happy.

    ¡°Thank¡­ you¡­¡±

    After shouldering the burdens of everyone for the first time in so long¡­ and failing to meet their expectations, perhaps¡­ this was what I longed to hear.

    It was childish and stupid of me, but¡­

    ¡°T¡ªthank you¡­ so much.¡±

    ¡­ Neron¡¯s words made me really happy.

 Chapter 276 Choice

    Neron told me everything.

    He exined how he was able to arrive on campus despite having to investigate a massacre urring in the remote regions of the Eastern Kingdom.

    The Magic Barrier that surrounded the Academy¡¯s Secret Hall¡ªwhere all the Lecturers were holed up¡ªwas linked to him.

    The moment it got destroyed thanks to my Spell, he instantly realized something was off and made his way back. Of course, after hearing this, a sensible question popped up in my mind.

    ¡°How were you able to get here so quickly?¡±

    Much to my frustration, Neron didn¡¯t answer that inquisition.

    Was it Space Magic? Did it have something to do with Original Magic? I always knew he was fast, but¡­ how was he able to arrive so quickly? It seemed almost unreal¡ªno, it probably was.

    Back to topic, Neron told me what happened after I fell unconscious. After killing Kahn, the Lecturers came out of the Hall and he exined the Invasion to them. The incident required a long meeting, but considering the situation of the Academy¡ªthe state of the students, and also the confusion among the Lecturers¡ªthe meeting was postponed.

    Of course, a state of emergency was enacted in Ainrk, and no one was to leave their respective premises¡ªnot even the Lecturers.

    The only ones granted free ess were Neron and the Vice Head.<sub>.</sub>

    ording to Neron, Imperial Mages were being dispatched from the Capital, along with a Grand Mage, due to how serious the incident was.

    I was surprised.

    Only a total of three Grand Mages existed in the Eastern Kingdom. One was the Head of Ainrk Academy. The second was the Imperial Court Mage, and the final one was the General of the Imperial Forces.

    The current whereabouts of the Head of Ainrk Academy were a mystery, so the Vice Head ran the institute instead. It was no wonder things got messed up as a result of the abrupt change in the system.

    ¡°Until they arrive, this institute is on lockdown,¡± Neron told me.

    Those in the know must have already realized that there was a mole in Ainrk. The only way to fish them out was for the Grand Mage of the Kingdom to show up. Once they arrived, the situation would be resolved.

    I asked Neron why he couldn¡¯t just act on his own, but even I knew better than to raise the question.

    ¡°It has be a national matter, and since the Capital is involved, the matter has gone out of my hands. Besides¡­¡±

    A dark gleam appeared in Neron¡¯s eyes.<sub></sub>

    ¡°¡­ I already have a good idea who the culprit is.¡±

    ¡®Oh? So him too, uh?¡¯ My mind rang and I began to smile slowly.

    ¡°Are you sure you should be telling me this?¡±

    ¡°Oh, please¡­ I¡¯m sure you must have a good idea too. Besides, even if you don¡¯t¡­ I believe you would have figured it out by now.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t a man I respected for nothing. As expected of Neron.

    ¡°Well, there¡¯s really nothing we can do about it since the Capital has decided to handle matters with their Jurisdiction powers¡­¡±

    I understood Law to a considerable extent¡ªthough politics wasn¡¯t particrly my forte. Still, considering how deep this issue had festered, I had to let out something that ate at me.

    ¡°Can they be trusted¡­?¡±

    Neron¡¯s eyes narrowed and our intense expressions sank into the other.<sub></sub>

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t think so. Regardless, it doesn¡¯t matter at this point. Our opponent knows what he¡¯s doing. The fact that they were able to orchestrate an Invasion of this scale meant they could also foresee an oue where sess wasn¡¯t achieved.¡±

    ¡®True¡­ the mastermind must have predicted this¡­¡¯

    ¡°They must have figured out a way out of this situation. So, there¡¯s not much we can do but wait¡­¡±

    ¡°What do you think their objective is?¡± I asked Neron after hearing his take on the matter.

    It was surprising how well we conversed, despite our gap in age and status. I suppose Neron must have gotten the gist of all that happened during the Shadows¡¯ invasion¡ªhow I calmly handled everything and gave a strategy that would have been wless if not for Kahn¡¯s unprecedented presence.

    Adding the fact that I pulled off a Peak Level Spell, the highest kind that all Mages¡ªexcept maybe the Grand Mages¡ªcould pull off.

    Even Grand Mages needed a great amount of time¡ªor more than one person¡ªto achieve a realm of Magic that exceeded the Peak Level.

    Putting all those into consideration, it was obvious Neron wouldn¡¯t consider me a regr student.

    ¡°Hm¡­ the enemy, uh? If I had to say¡­ it¡¯s¡­¡±

    Neron¡¯s sharp gaze pierced me. His look was so intense that even before he opened his lips to speak I already knew what would be said.

    ¡°¡­ You. Their objective is you¡ªthough I don¡¯t know why¡­¡±

    ¡®So, he knows!¡¯

    That must have been why he didn¡¯t bother praising¡ªor consoling¡ªme. He realized the enemy was after me and surmised that I was experiencing guilt for dragging the students of Ainrk into the whole mess.

    ¡°How did you find out?¡± I gave a tired smile, not even willing to hide a thing.

    At this point, Neron felt more like a friend I could open my heart to. I wasn¡¯t sure if he felt the same, but¡­ that didn¡¯t matter for now.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t too difficult, really. Everything has been revolving around youtely. Plus, considering your capabilities and the identity of the culprit, it became even easier to connect the dots¡±

    ¡®As expected of him¡­¡¯

    ¡°I see¡­¡± My mumble faded into silence.

    Once again, no one spoke. Finally, the man seated before me asked an unexpected question.

    ¡°So, what will you do now?¡±

    My eyes widened and I looked at his curious, yet calm, expression.

    Neron had just told me about the lockdown situation, as well as the Kingdom¡¯s interference with the investigation procedures. Even if I wanted to take action, I shouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything¡­

    ¡­ Theoretically.

    Yet, he was asking. And he was serious!

    Common sense told me to be quiet about the whole thing; that it didn¡¯t concern him¡ªor anyone for that matter.

    But, I had found a ce within me to trust Neron. So¡­ I revealed it to him¡­ my objective.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to face the culprit¡­ and kill him¡­¡±

    Neron¡¯s face remained unfazed. He must have expected this much. However¡­ I wasn¡¯t finished yet!

    ¡°After that, I¡¯m going to drop out of Ainrk Academy¡­ I¡¯m leaving the Eastern Kingdom.¡±

 Chapter 277 Destination

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    We both looked at each other in silence. I wondered why he gave such a nd reaction, but didn¡¯t say anything. Was he going to¡ª

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t try to stop you¡­ I just¡­ want to know why.¡±

    Neron Kaelid was one of the smartest and strongest people I knew. If he was telling me to exin my rationale, it must have meant my decision was wed. Still, this was the only route I had to take¡­

    ¡­ To minimize losses.

    ¡®I can¡¯t tell him everything, but¡­¡¯

    ¡°Ainrk Academy is no longer safe. I thought those after my life wouldn¡¯t be able to act as rashly as they did with the invasion, but that was a mistake on my part. Plus, with what you¡¯ve said, the entire Kingdom doesn¡¯t seem to be on my side.¡±

    It was unwise to rely on them any longer.

    ¡°I understand your point. But, with me around¡­ you don¡¯t have to worry about those guys.¡± Neron further retorted.

    ¡®What is he talking about? I can¡¯t rely on him for everything.¡¯

    ¡°That¡¯s not the only reason too. After my exchange with that Shadow Demon, I¡¯vee to realize just how weak I am.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    Within this learning environment, I was quite strong, but¡­ in the outside world, would I really pass in the parameters used to identify the powerful?

    ¡°I came to Ainrk to learn more about modern Magic and its applications. It was also my intention to makerades that would be essential for me¡­ and also to have fun¡­¡±

    However, I had misced my priorities.

    Ultimately, even though the Academy had tons of knowledge on Modern Magic, it wasn¡¯t entirely geared toward making one more powerful.

    Unlike the past, this was a peaceful era.

    Technologies for war had dwindled, and many other Magic Fields were developed with the purpose of making the daily life of people much easier. With that in mind, even though I learned Modern Magic, it wasn¡¯t guaranteed to make me more powerful than those I knew in the past.

    ¡®I better build on what I know, strengthen my foundation, and then¡­¡¯

    Once I became powerful enough, I would have time to learn Modern Magic. For now, though, Ainrk Academy had little to no value.

    It wasn¡¯t safe.

    It didn¡¯t guarantee me more knowledge and power.<sub></sub>

    It was corrupt.

    The time it would take me to solve these issues would be better spent bettering myself. I wasn¡¯t supposed to be held back by circumstances like this. Rather¡­

    ¡°What about your friends? You¡¯ll just abandon them?¡± Neron interrupted my train of thought.

    Once he said that, I gave the man a wry smile. Seeing my expression, he chuckled to himself and shrugged.

    ¡°Oh, I forgot¡­ you don¡¯t have friends.¡±

    ¡°No. That¡¯s not it¡­¡±

    My response was immediate¡ªalmost cutting Neron¡¯s words short.

    ¡°Thest time we conversed, I really did feel that way. But, now, things are different.¡±

    ¡®They say times of adversity make the bond of people stronger. I suppose that¡¯s true¡­¡¯

    After fighting the Demons and protecting everyone, I realized just what kind of preference and attachments I had to certain individuals. Perhaps I was just being unnecessarily stubborn when I refused to acknowledge them as friends.<sub></sub>

    But, now¡­

    ¡®Edward. Ana. Stefan. Kuzon. Jerry. Ivan. Maria¡­ maybe even Ciara.¡¯

    ¡°¡­ I truly consider them as friends.¡±

    Neron smiled the moment he heard that, and I saw a satisfied expression permeate his face.

    ¡°I see¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving this ce to protect them. It¡¯s the same reason I left my parents¡¯ Manor. The enemy¡¯s goal seems to be me alone, so I n on using that to my benefit. As long as I¡¯m not around those I care about¡­ they won¡¯t be harmed.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that? A hostage situation could be tricky.¡±

    Once Neron mentioned that, my smile grew broader¡­ and then a dangerous expression covered my face. My eyes narrowed and a sinister look took over.

    ¡°Let them try it!¡±

    A hostage situation would be useless against someone who had witnessed the horrors wrought by it. Unless one was determined to lose a few in order to save many, they would be swayed by the circumstances.

    I prioritized efficiency.

    As much as I loved a person, the greater good would alwayse first.

    And, as for the culprit¡­ if they did take a hostage to threaten me, I would ensure I did everything in my power to destroy them and anyone rted to their existence. I was currently powerless, but that wouldn¡¯t be the case for long.

    My enemies probably understood this, and so, they never resorted to such a meaningless tactic. If they wanted my life, they woulde to get it directly. Still¡­

    ¡®¡­ I don¡¯t n on dying just yet!¡¯

    The fact that I messed up not long ago made me shiver slightly.

    Never again! Never again would I be so miserable!

    ¡°I see. It seems I can¡¯t change your mind. Very well¡­¡±

    This was what I liked about Neron. He understood things well.

    I was sure he was weighing the pros and cons in his mind, trying to understand my rationale properly. It was a relief that he saw my side of things.

    ¡°Indeed, staying in Ainrk¡¯s educational system will only stunt your growth, but¡­ it¡¯ll be different if I remain your Master.¡±

    True.

    To be honest, this was one of the reasons I didn¡¯t want to leave. I truly needed a tutor like Neron to help me in the ways of Magic. However,pared to what I needed to do personally¡­ this one could wait.

    ¡°Leaving now may raise some suspicion on you¡­ especially after this entire incident.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care. The system is rotten anyway. Besides, it¡¯ll be troublesome dealing with diplomatic activities.¡±

    The Capital would probably want to offer some Royal Reward to those who contributed the most. Most people saw that as an honor, but it would only be a leash to me.

    Besides, there was the tendency of being dragged into matters I wasn¡¯t interested in.

    My best bet was to leave everything behind and start from scratch. I already had the perfect area to begin in mind.

    ¡°Where will you be going, though?¡±

    Once again, I smiled¡ªno,ughed¡ªat Neron¡¯s question.

    He sounded almost like a doting father.

    ¡°Hm¡­ I think I¡¯ll begin with the Lost Lands¡­ to the Northwest area.¡±

    The location had be a deserted area on the modern map, but¡­ I knew something most people weren¡¯t aware of.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to start using my past knowledge properly!¡¯

 Chapter 278 Opposing Elements

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve made up your mind, and I can¡¯t stop you¡­¡± Neron¡¯s voice trailed.

    His face depicted a soft smile that seemed to have a tinge of sadness within.

    ¡®No, you can¡¯t!¡¯

    ¡°¡­ Then, to better increase your chances, I think I¡¯ll give you a present.¡±

    I was a little surprised by this, considering someone like Neron wasn¡¯t the kind of guy to go so far for a rebellious student. What manner of present was I to expect?

    Before I fully thought of an answer, something dark appeared out of nowhere and hovered atop Neron¡¯s palm.

    ¡°Here.¡±

    My eyes bulged, and a mix of emotions surged from within me. As I gazed upon the bubble¡ªno, what was within the transparent object¡ªin front of me, I had both nostalgia and leftover rage.

    ¡°KAHN!¡± I unconsciously leaked out the name.

    Neron seemed surprised to hear this, but he hid it well.

    ¡°It seems it became a Bond Soul. Its attachment to life must be strong, considering all I did to it.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    I had an inkling of what drove him to remain alive¡ªeven as a Familiar.

    ¡®So, he still has that obsessive loyalty, uh¡­?¡¯

    Then why did he break the pact? It still didn¡¯t make sense to me.

    ¡®Maybe it will¡­ soon¡­¡¯

    ¡°You¡¯re giving him to me¡­ why?¡±

    Neron shrugged and gave the most ridiculous answer.

    ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡±

    Kahn was a being who was a Demon Lord. His resistance was so high that Peak Level Magic wasn¡¯t enough topletely kill him.

    Of the beings out there, he was as strong as theye. Yet, Neron didn¡¯t care for him at all.

    ¡®As expected of this guy¡­ what a monster¡­¡¯ I smiled while shaking my head.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Besides, since this thing is a Demon, it uses negative energy instead of the positive one we use. Miasma is the opposite of Mana. As a result, it¡¯s basically impossible to use those two at the same time¡­¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong.

    ¡°¡­ I thought you would also reject it, considering this guy will be useless to any Mage.¡±

    Mana was the source of Magic for Mages. They used Familiars to better channel this energy and be stronger in the process.

    A Familiar like Kahn¡ªwho used Miasma instead¡ªwould not only interfere with a Mage¡¯s Mana, but would also attack it.

    In essence, it was dangerous!

    Which Mage would keep such a Familiar¡ªwho reeked of Miasma¡ªin their Mana Core? They would have to be crazy, suicidal, and desperate!

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Neron. However¡­ this guy¡­ will be useful.¡± I smiled at the squirming darkness within the orb.

    ¡°Oh? Looks like you have yet another technique I do not know of.¡±

    I recognized the tone Neron just used. It was the kind that showed interest.<sub></sub>

    ¡®He wants me to tell him another one of my closely guarded secrets, eh?¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. I will merge the use of Miasma and Mana to form another form of power.¡±

    Silence filled the room for a moment.

    I was sure no one was overhearing us, considering Neron guaranteed that. Still, an air of unease crept upon me thanks to the ck-haired man staring intensely at me.

    ¡°¡­ Is it really possible?¡±

    I nodded.

    ¡°¡­ How¡­?¡±

    ¡®How shameless is this guy? He wants me to tell him what I never revealed to anyone else, even in my past life.¡¯

    However, Neron was a powerful man, and he was also an ally. Giving him this information would be beneficial for me in the future.

    ¡®That said, I won¡¯t be delving too far into it. A surface-level answer will do.¡¯

    ¡°Oil and Water never mix. Yet, when one applies enough heat to make a meal, they be interwoven with other ingredients and form something different¡­ abination that is only achievable by perfect harmony.¡±

    Mana and Miasma didn¡¯t have to be entirely one entity to be useful. Even as separate sources of power, by applying them properly¡­ good results were bound to ur.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Was all Neron said to my exnation.

    ¡°So, have you tested out this theory of yours?¡±

    I was silent for a while. Not because the question took me by surprise, but because I was remembering something.

    In my past life, I had the opportunity to interact with a good deal of Demons, and also humans. Of course, this was how I came up with this theory. However, I had never tested it.

    This new life brought me an opportunity to try it out, though.

    ¡°When I fought with Kahn¡ªthis Demon¡­ I used a special technique to mix my Mana with his Miasma that covered the area.¡±

    It was Spellcraft.

    By ensuring my Mana particles and their density was higher than Kahn¡¯s, I was able to bury his within mine, further enhancing the power I packed in that final Spell.

    Kahn couldn¡¯t control his Miasma around because I had already used my Mana to coat it all over. Kind of like how a small quantity of oil was in a pot of water.

    ¡®Of course, it was easier to control since I isted the Miasma into smaller quantities and my Mana output was higher¡­¡¯

    If Kahn¡¯s Miasma was more than¡ªno, even equal to¡ªmine, then it would have been impossible for me. Thankfully, I had all those Potions and Mana Stones. The Magic Tools I equipped also helped me a great deal.

    ¡°Amazing. Simply amazing. You¡¯re an exceptional one, Jared.¡±

    I smiled tiredly.

    ¡®Not exceptional enough¡­¡¯

    ¡°So, I take it you¡¯ll be taking the Demon with you as a Familiar. Do you want to bond with it now?¡± Neron asked with an excited gleam in his eyes.

    ¡°No way! I haven¡¯t gotten to that level¡­ yet.¡±

    But, it wouldn¡¯t be very long before I did so. All I had to do was learn!

    ¡°Alright, then. There¡¯s one final thing I want to ask. If you don¡¯t give me the answer I want, then I will have to stop you from leaving.¡±

    ¡®Seriously? After all this? He¡¯s threatening me?¡¯

    Sure, I knew Neron was capable of stopping me if he wanted to, but¡­ why? Our rtionship had been built on trust. Why would he sully that now?

    ¡®Is he going to ask for another secret technique?¡¯

    ¡°The culprit¡­ how do you n on defeating him? Tell me!¡¯

 Chapter 279 Hidden Card

    If anyone else had asked me that question, I would instantly be wary of them.

    In fact, Neron had already pried into so many of my secrets that it was downright suspicious. However, I had no problem revealing any of those to him for a simple reason.

    I trusted him!

    ¡°How do I n on winning?¡±

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    A smile formed on my face.

    ¡°Do you doubt me? You don¡¯t think I can win?¡±

    ¡°Maybe. You could say that¡­¡±

    I didn¡¯t me him.

    Even though I spoke all big about killing the culprit, it was still no secret that I lost to Kahn, barely clinging onto life.

    It was safe to assume that the mastermind would be a bigger threat than the Shadow Demon.

    ¡°After you nearly died back then and I patched you up, I noticed something that had changed about you. You¡¯ve noticed it too, right? How much stronger you¡¯ve be.¡± Neron spoke calmly.<sub>.</sub>

    He was correct.

    All my Mana Cores, except the White One, had all reached the Red stage. Jumping past blue, green, and orange, I had made considerable progress. However¡­

    ¡°That still won¡¯t be enough to beat him, you know?¡±

    ¡­ I was still not on the level required to safely and conveniently use Peak-Level Magic.

    The only reason I achieved it back then was due to the surrounding circumstances, and the inferior intelligence of Kahn.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for that fact¡­ I would have died many times over.

    ¡°You¡¯ve gotten strong enough to give a lot of Lecturers a run for their money, but¡­ he¡¯s different.¡±

    I smiled and nodded.

    ¡°I know that already¡­¡±

    Which was why I was even more certain of my victory.

    Mages relied on their Mana Cores and the Spells in their arsenal to grow stronger. However, only the foolish ones solely utilized those.<sub></sub>

    In the world of Magic, there were several things one could use to augment their abilities. Familiars were an example. However, another crucial element¨Cone that could be obtained as long as a Magic User had the means and expertise¨Cwas Magic Tools.

    My body was too weak and immature to handle the strain of a great deal of power weighing down on me, so I had to resort to developing Magic Tools.

    Mana Stones.

    Enhanced Attires.

    Magic Items

    ¡­ And ¡®that¡¯ particr one¡­

    ¡°When I faced Kahn circumstances didn¡¯t allow me to utilize all I had in my arsenal.¡±

    Neron¡¯s eyes bulged in shock.

    ¡°You mean¡­ you have more tricks up your sleeve? More impressive than that Peak-Level Magic Spell you used?¡±

    I nodded.

    ¡°A¨Camazing. But, wouldn¡¯t that mean that even if you win¡­ you would be in an even worse state than before? Plus, you won¡¯t make it very far with a beat-up body.¡±<sub></sub>

    Usually, I would have no choice but to agree, After all, everything he said thus far had been correct. But, if he could think about that now¡­ wouldn¡¯t I have already considered it?

    ¡°My ace¡­ the ¡®trick up my sleeve¡¯ poses no risk to me at all. I don¡¯t need to buy any time. Neither do I need to overexert myself.¡±

    It sounded too good to be true. Even Neron seemed doubtful¡­ and more curious. But, I had entertained enough questions.

    ¡®Even an old man¡¯s patience has limits¡­¡¯

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you see for yourself? I¡¯m certain you intend to observe my actions¨Cat least until I leave this Academy. So¡­ just sit back and enjoy the show.¡±

    My confident smile seemed to win him over, because Neron¨Cdespite his doubts¨Csighed and let the matter go.

    ¡°Fine. I trust you. Even though this brings up a lot of questions¡­ I will concede for now.¡±

    Bowing slightly, I thanked him for his consideration.

    While it was nice to have people who worried about you ceaselessly, it was better to have an Individual who trusted you wholeheartedly.

    ¡®At least one person doesn¡¯t doubt my capabilities¡­¡¯

    Unlike before, I waspletely caught off-guard and had topensate. Plus, there were so many burdens and disadvantageous conditions. But, right now, I would y this second round by my rules.

    ¡°This should be fun¡­¡±

    ***********

    After discussing for a little while longer, Neron left Kahn in my care and went about his other businesses.

    Apparently, other than Ainrk and the Royal Family, no other person had ess to the information concerning the Academy¡¯s breach by Demons.

    I understood the rationale behind that decision.

    Not only would the prestige of Ainrk Academy plummet once people knew what had happened, but the invasion of Demons would drive the public into a state of confusion and unrest. So, until the matter was stabilized, most denizens in the Kingdom would be left ignorant.

    My mother, my grandfather, my household¡­ none of them would know a thing. That was probably for the best.

    My father was another matter entirely.

    As a Duke who worked closely with the king in administrative mattersst I heard¨Che was bound to find out soon.

    While I didn¡¯t know what his reaction would be, it would be good if I didn¡¯t stick around to find out.

    The day was Sunday¨Cthe day I was supposed to receive my sanction.

    It was afternoon already, and considering all that had urred, the idea of something like that was most likely obsolete.

    ¡®I wonder how everyone is doing¡­¡¯

    It pained me to do this, but I had no other choice. To be strong enough to protect myself and those I cared about¡­ it was best to leave everything behind¨Cat least for a few years.

    I needed freedom!

    ¡®To think I would be resorting to this so early¡­¡¯

    The Lost Lands would be my first goal¡­ and then, the hidden Garden¡­ and then the Towering Mountains¡­

    ¡®Ah, so much to do¡­¡¯

    I considered taking this journey earlier, but there was no sense of urgency. I thought I could take things slow in this life.

    My motive was to enjoy my brand-new life as I explored Magic. However, enjoyment was a privilege only given to the strong or the ignorant.

    Since I belonged to neither of those categories, I didn¡¯t have a right to enjoy such bliss¨Cat least not yet.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ I should start getting ready for tonight¡­¡±

 Chapter 280 Reminiscing

    After the Demon Invasion on the Academy, the students were taken to safe zones within the premises.

    Since these ¡®shelters¡¯ were made before the ss System was implemented, there weren¡¯t separate spots for those of different standing. As a result, even if it was only temporary, the students enjoyed equal treatment.

    Naturally, the boys¡¯ residence would be different from the girls¡¯, so there were tworge faculties that served the purpose of an emergency shelter.

    These shelters were underground, but they were not ufortable in most ways.

    The cooling system was fully functional, and luminous stones made it easy to see. It wasn¡¯t much different from being in a building above ground. However, despite the amenities provided for the students, there were a few things most weren¡¯t expecting.

    Four people were assigned per room, and they would also share a bathroom and toilet. This came as a shocker to a lot of nobles and rich folk who had never shared their sleeping space with anyone¨Ctalkless of a ce they bathed.

    Still, no one couldin.

    It wasn¡¯t out of fear for their lecturers or out of a sense of gratitude. No¡­ it was trauma.

    They had just been through hell.

    A few of them died, and even the many who survived had either suffered terrible injuries or even experienced death before being revived. As a result, they were shaken to their core.

    They epted their rooms withoutint.<sub>.</sub>

    The assignment was random, so even Lower-ss dregs found themselves in the same room as the Upper-ss kings.

    The only ones who were given special treatment were those that achieved phenomenal feats in the crisis.

    Kuzon, Ana, Edward, Ciara, Stefan, Maria, Jerry, Ivan, etc. Fabian and the other Rankers also had the V.I.P. treatment. While Aloe contributed a great deal,pared to the other Dorm Masters, she was busy handling staff duties.

    Though there was a decision to have her rest properly, she vehemently refused to sit idly since she was a staff. As a result, Aloe was mobilized to earn her keep.

    The exceptional students had a lounge to themselves, and also stayed in two-man rooms. They could even pick their partners.

    Coincidentally or not, Edward ended up with Kuzon, and Stefan was with Jerry. For the girls, Ciara was in the same room as Maria.

    This state would remain until the envoys from the Capital arrived. As a result, the roomies were bound to getfortable with one another.

    Many anticipated the presence of a Grand Mage and those from the Capital, while others¨Cno, maybe only Fabian¨Cdreaded it.

    He had only achieved the barest minimum¨Csame as most Rankers¨Cto enjoy special treatment.

    People like Ciara, Kuzon¨Ceven Edward¨Cwere supposedly higher in terms of contribution.<sub></sub>

    Since Jared had recorded everything with his Automatons, there was ample proof to support this. Fabian, as a Prince of the Kingdom¨Chad disgraced his family. He was sure of it.

    And he could only direct his dissatisfaction at someone¨CJared Leonard.

    Speaking of the devil, the brat was currently in a separate room from everyone else. He wasn¡¯t even in the Shelter¨Cbut another structure entirely. No one knew the details, not even the staff that attended to them.

    His achievements earned him that much.

    This pained the bitter heart of Fabian. His roommate was Richard Novo, who also had quite the beef with Jared, so they both got along swimmingly.

    While their hatred for Jared festered, concern for the same young boy was growing within the hearts of many.

    No one had seen him since they began the mission to recapture the Academy Grounds from the Demons. Tension was high, and feelings bloomed.

    ¡°How is he doing?¡±

    ¡°I hope he¡¯s safe¡­¡±

    ¡°He must have heard of those deaths¡­ is he letting it weigh him down?¡±<sub></sub>

    ¡°Jared¡­¡±

    ¡°He¡¯ll be fine¡­¡±

    ¡°You think he¡¯s the one who activated that explosion we all saw? That¡¯s insane!¡±

    ¡°He said he would take responsibility, but he¡¯s not here¡­ hmph!¡±

    ¡°¡­ Please be well¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ Jared¡­¡±

    And so, the mixed emotions of everyone in the Shelters reached out to a single soul who was oblivious of that fact.

    *************

    ¡°Alright¡­ looks like that¡¯s about it!¡±

    I smiled, looking at my reflection in the mirror.

    It was already dark, but that didn¡¯t affect me in the slightest. Usually, my room would be illuminated with Magic stones if I desired, but this wasn¡¯t my newly-given room, but the old one in my Dorm.

    I came here to retrieve some decent clothes¡­ and something extra.

    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing no one came here before me¡­¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t like they would be able to gain ess to my secret stash even if they did show up, but still¡­

    ¡°Haa¡­ I¡¯ll miss this ce¡­¡±

    Looking around the small room, I smiled and recalled the many experiences that I went through there.

    Alchemy. Research. Augmentation.

    It had only been a span of three months since I arrived here, but¡­ it had been an unforgettable experience.

    Unfortunately, there would always be an end to everything.

    My stay here was short-lived, but maybe that was for the best. Despite all I achieved here, it was iparable to the level I would have gotten to if I left earlier.

    It was just¡­ my selfishness.

    ¡°Looks like this is it¡­¡± I murmured and left the room.

    Walking down the dark hallway, and being reminded of the Shadow Demon invasion, I smiled wryly.

    It was something unexpected, but it had been handled better than expected. While I yed an integral role in the survival of everyone, it would have been impossible to do everything alone.

    ¡®I can now understand what Alphonse meant by that statement¡­¡¯

    Being alone was never the answer.

    Not in my past life nor in this one.

    To reach the heights I desired¡­ I neededrades¨Cpowerful ones!

    Which was why I left behind a legacy for my friends¡­ something that would help them in their endeavors.

    ¡®I hope that the next time we meet, you¡¯ll be strong enough for me to rely on once again¡­¡¯

    With that final thought, I vanished into the darkness¡­ leaving the premises.

 Chapter 281 Culprit

    >WHOOOOSSSHHH!<

    The gentle wind howled as a figure swiftly made its way in the dead of night.

    The figure was moving so fast that it seemed like a blur¡ªno, like the very essence of darkness itself.

    Covered in a dark hooded cloak and shrouded in a faint ck hue of Magic, it glided and traversed the surrounding area until it reached a ce¡ªsomewhere that was known only to the man hidden within the hood.

    He had bided his time, ensuring everything went smoothly, only for his attempt to fail. The target was still alive, the Academy was on high alert, the most dangerous man in the Kingdom was wary, and the Capital now had their attention on Ainrk.

    Of course, most of these were within calctions, but¡­ who would have expected his target to live? How possible was it that he managed to survive for so long and even made Neron arrive right on time?

    It was as though fate smiled upon the boy.

    No matter¡ªit wasn¡¯t a total loss.

    The second objective had been achieved, so things could still go as nned.

    Currently, the Academy was aware of the existence of a mole¡ªhim¡ªand it wouldn¡¯t take very long for the truth to be exposed.

    While no one knew for sure, he was certain that Neron suspected him. The target also seemed to have a vague idea, but he had been too subtle to have been exposed by that child¡ªor so the man thought.<sub>.</sub>

    The swirling portal in front of him was his escape ticket out of the ce.

    No one in the Academy knew of its existence except him. It was something that was shrouded with the same barrier¡ªno, a more superior one¡ªof the Academy¡¯s Lecturers¡¯ Hall.

    The security around the Academy¡¯s exit was tight, and they would probably be under the surveince of Neron as well.

    To win, he had to resort to this one.

    A body double was currently taking his ce, so suspicion wouldn¡¯t fall on him¡­ until it was toote.

    After all¡­ his ns were perfect!

    He took a step forward, and then another, nearing his goal. A smile formed on the face of the mysterious man.

    His silenced footsteps were made so by Magic, was his ability to escape surveince. It was the perfect escape.

    Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t considered one thing¡­

    ¡°You¡¯rete¡­¡± A voice rang out, causing the shady man to halt in his steps.<sub></sub>

    ¡­ And that was the depths of Jared Leonard¡¯s capabilities.

    The hooded man¡ªnow dead in his tracks¡ªturned back to look at the smiling figure of Jared Leonard.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve been expecting you¡­¡±

    His hands were in his pockets, and the casual air he emitted only told the man Jared¡¯s confidence. A smile was on both their faces now.

    The man¡¯s body hesitated.

    Should he run, or¡­?!

    ¡°¡­Don¡¯t leave now. Didn¡¯t you say you would look forward to our next meeting?¡±

    The shady man was frozen stiff now.

    ¡°Do you remember what I told you back then? That the next time we fought, I would use all I had? Who would have thought it would be this soon¡­¡±

    The man now abandoned the portal andpletely turned in the direction of the boy. He couldn¡¯t be ignored any longer.<sub></sub>

    ¡°So, you knew since then¡­?¡± His voice was calm, gentle, and very familiar.

    His eyes were fixated on the boy before him, and an amazed¡ªyet amused¡ªgrin was on his face.

    ¡°No. Not really. Everyone is a suspect in my book. Only by utilizing progressive elimination will I finally arrive at a definite answer¡­¡±

    The man smiled.

    He felt the hood was unnecessary now. There was no need to hide his identity any longer. In essence¡­ the jig was up!

    ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re so understanding and cordial, but¡­ I suppose that¡¯s how you¡¯ve always been¡­¡±

    The hood went down, and the face of a handsome and bright young man was revealed.

    ¡°¡­ Legris Damien.¡±

    ************

    How long had I suspected this man? Even I had no idea.

    Still, everything began when I first caught our housemaid¡ªLiliana¡ªin the act of speaking with her boss.

    An idea came to mind, so, even after I interrupted the call, I was able to sync with the Magical frequency of that device.

    During my conversation with Liliana¡ªif that was even her name¡ªthemunication tool emitted a faint Magical signature even though it was supposed to have been deactivated.

    With that, I knew that whoever the mastermind was, he had activated the device from his own end and was subtly listening in.

    I made sure to thoroughly reveal my ns, and how I was able to identify a perfect maid as my assassin.

    Many would consider this a foolish move since I was feeding the culprit information that would be used to determine my capabilities, but¡­ it was a brilliant act that was essential for the muchrger game.

    By giving the mastermind a glimpse of my personality and capabilities, every action they took from that moment on would be geared with that in mind.

    The target is extremely smart.

    The target is dangerous.

    The target is resourceful¡­

    By gauging my abilities, the next action they would take would be to achieve victory despite those conditions.

    My next opponent would be someone smarter, more powerful, in higher standing, more trustworthy, not a new worker, more easygoing, less suspicious, etc.

    In essence, it would be someone who would give me a direct answer as to the identity of the mastermind¡ªa direct subordinate¡ªor even the man in question himself!

    Thetter urring was an optimistic notion, but I did not doubt the former.

    Every action Legris Damien took was barely suspicious, and I even liked him quite well. But, after I began connecting the dots and narrowing it down to the three Senior Lecturers in Ainrk, the one who won was the first person I had contact with.

    Damien Lawcroft was too conspicuous.

    The other one was not suspicious at all. He had no motive or rtion with me.

    Usually, that would make him my target since that was exactly what the enemy was going for. But¡­ I was smarter than that.

    It was a form of reverse psychology, a method used by masking something by putting it in in view.

    Legris Damien was already someone I regarded with respect and familiarity¡ªalmost the same way I treated Neron now¡ªwhich was why only he could be the culprit.

    ¡®Looks like I was right¡­. again!¡¯

 Chapter 282 Reason

    ¡°I¡¯m impressed you found out¡­¡± Legris Demien smiled.

    He didn¡¯t seem bothered or worried in the slightest.

    Donning the usual optimistic demeanor, the Lecturer¨Cnow traitor¨Cseemed even more rxed than before. It could be that he had given up, or¡­

    ¡°Don¡¯t be. It¡¯s a shame I didn¡¯t find out sooner.¡±

    If I had taken action quicker, perhaps things wouldn¡¯t havee to this. But, I was done ming myself and being weighed by unnecessary shackles of guilt.

    I promised everyone I would take responsibility for their lives, so I intended to do just that.

    ¡®Killing the culprit should be enough!¡¯

    While it was selfish and self-serving, I was going to ease my conscience by ending things right here and now.

    ¡°How did you¨C¡°

    ¡°¨CFind out your identity? It¡¯s a long story¡­ too long for tonight.¡±

    Unlike the time with Liliana, there was no need to buy time, neither was there any cause to exin my rationale.

    In essence, it profited me nothing to drag on this confrontation.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to die here. Before that, though¡­ I have a question. If you answer me honestly, I just might reveal my method to you.¡± I smiled.<sub>.</sub>

    Legris grinned, having a sparkle in his eyes. It seemed he had an inking of my iing inquisition.

    ¡®No matter¡­ I just need to ask.¡¯

    ¡°Why? Why are you trying to kill me?¡±

    It had been a question guing me ever since the first assassin tried to take my life.

    Even as an innocent baby, who had nevermitted a crime, the enemy had set their sights on me.

    Initially, my paranoia told me that it could be a consequence of my reincarnation. However, after adjusting a bit, I surmised that it could be the work of some opposing faction.

    Unfortunately, even thetter didn¡¯t seem to be the case the more I delved deeper.

    Not only was our family a very powerful one, but we were also so deeply rooted in the aristocratic society that we had no enemies.

    While I didn¡¯t mean we were perfect, I just meant that no one in their right mind would attack a Leonard.

    If they were people of means, they gained more in cooperating with us, rather than resorting to petty assassination.

    Sure, there were some idiots who didn¡¯t know the way of the world and would try assassinating an heir to get rid of thepetition, but¡­ at some point, the possibility of that being the case of my opponent seemed slim.

    The enemy was too smart for that.<sub></sub>

    It didn¡¯t make any sense for them to attack out of spite or Ill will toward my household.

    It almost made me revert to my earlier assumption, but I debunked it pretty quickly. If I had reincarnated and they knew of this fact, the enemy wouldn¡¯t have sent such an assassin the first time.

    They would have considered the possibility of someone being more powerful. Their actions after that period told me that they simply didn¡¯t have any information concerning me.

    Which begged the question¡­ why?!

    ¡°Why? Hehe, I figured you¡¯d ask that¡­¡± Legris chuckled a bit.

    My eyes narrowed and my smile slowly faded away.

    This was it¨Cthe moment of truth.

    It was the reason I had painstakingly ensured they sent someone capable to kill me this time around¡­ so I could arrive closer to the truth.

    It was risky, but¡­ it was better than having no information and dealing with attacks as they came.

    I needed to know!

    ¡°¡­ Why should I tell you, though?¡±

    ¡®I knew it¡­¡¯<sub></sub>

    This was the downside to my n¨CCooperation!

    Why would the enemy divulge Intel? Who would spill info to the member of an opposing party?

    ¡°Hm. You have nothing to lose, don¡¯t you? If you kill me here and now, you can keep your secret and reason. But¡­ I simply want to know before going to my grave.¡± I smiled and gave a sarcastic reply.

    ¡°Haha, this kid¡­¡± Legrisughed.

    My eyes never left him throughout

    ¡°¡­ I could just kill you and still not say a thing. Besides, you wouldn¡¯t have approached me if you didn¡¯t have a means of killing me.¡±

    He knew me well, just as I wanted.

    ¡°I saw therge crater you made in your fight with that Shadow Demon. You know he was a Demon Lord, right? The fact that you reduced him to that state as a kid is impressive¡­ it¡¯s no wonder they are after your life.¡±

    My ears twitched the moment I heard thatst part.

    ¡°They?¡± I repeated.

    Of course, I knew Legris didn¡¯t say it by ident. He clearly wanted to get my attention.

    In essence, this was bait.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we swap Intel? Tell me how you figured out my identity and I¡¯ll tell you what you want. After the exchange, we can duke it out¡­ or whatever.¡±

    Legris Damien seemed fairly confident¨Cif notpletely assured¨Cof his victory. Unfortunately for him, I didn¡¯t n on losing this time.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you begin? Tell me the reason behind this whole game. You¡¯ve been trying this since twelve years ago. Why me?¡±

    I already knew it had nothing to do with my family.

    This guy¨Cwhoever was behind him as well¨Cwas after me as a person.

    Why?!

    ¡°I¡¯m a member of a certain organization. They want your life because you¡¯re a threat to them.¡±

    ¡®What?!¡¯

    I didn¡¯t understand a single thing.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know the details since I¡¯m a lower seat of the twelve major members, but¡­¡±

    What was he talking about?

    ¡°¡­ Apparently, you¡¯re a singrity that should be purged.¡±

    What the hell was this?

    ¡°Hey¡­ what are you talking about? You guys have been after me since I was a baby, and you think it¡¯s gonna cut it that I¡¯m a threat to you? What the hell is that? I never did anything to you people!¡±

    I was supposed to be calm, but my bottled-up frustration began surfacing a little.

    ¡°Hey, chill. As I said, I don¡¯t know the details. I¡¯m only the 9th Seat, you know? It¡¯s an incredible group.¡±

    There was a possibility that Legris was lying, but why would he spout something this ridiculous and expect me to take it as the truth?

    Wouldn¡¯t someone like Neron be more of a threat to them? Why didn¡¯t they kill him instead?

    ¡°It seems you don¡¯t believe me¡­¡± Legris interrupted my thoughts.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to trust in those words. They¡¯re too absurd.¡±

    ¡°Fine, then¡­ then, I¡¯ll tell you this¨Cmaybe you¡¯ll be able to make sense of it¨Cyou are an anomaly in this world. Something about your existence isn¡¯t supposed to be.¡±

    That struck a chord within me.

    Was this what he meant by me being a singrity? Then there was only one possible exnation for this¡­

    ¡­ My reincarnation!

 Chapter 283 Mystery

    There are still a lot of mysteries in this world.

    One of them is the subject of the soul.

    Where does ite from? The soul of the world? Where did thate from?

    Magic. Mana. Energy.

    What birthed all of this? How did theye about?

    Many ept the easy answer and dub the origin as GOD, but the true searchers of truth know there¡¯s something more.

    And so, we search for answers¡­ till we reach the end of our life.

    I was one of such people.

    I sought the truth, even until my body ran out of strength.

    Unfortunately, human life is finite¡­ and I passed away before I could arrive at the very summit of Magic¡ªthe truth of everything!

    ****************

    I reincarnated over five hundred years into the future.

    Initially, I questioned it, but gave up very soon.

    No matter how hard I tried, I simplycked information to decipher the truth. If I forced an answer, it would be wed.<sub>.</sub>

    So, I put off the issue untilter.

    But, now¡­ I was confronted with my original identity¡ªas a Reincarnator!

    ¡ªAs an anomaly!

    ¡°That seemed to resonate with you. Hehe, looks like you really are aware of your identity a bit.¡± Legris chuckled.

    I was a bit shocked, but also conflicted.

    The fact that Legris mentioned this¡­ did that mean he was aware that I reincarnated? No, maybe the upper echelon in his organization knew?

    Maybe¡­ just maybe¡­

    ¡®But it doesn¡¯t make sense!¡¯

    If they did, their actions would have beenpletely different.

    They wouldn¡¯t have been so surprised about some of my actions.

    That maid wouldn¡¯t have underestimated me. My exceptional abilities wouldn¡¯t have caught them off guard¡­ at least not to that extent.

    There had to be a more rational conclusion.

    ¡®Maybe they don¡¯t know I reincarnated, but¡­ they have a vague idea that I am an aberration in this world¡­¡¯<sub></sub>

    Yeah, that made more sense!

    ¡°I see¡­ so that¡¯s it, uh? You idiots¡­¡± I smiled andughed a bit.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    Legris Damien seemed a bit surprised by my reaction to his shocking words, but I didn¡¯t care much any longer.

    ¡°¡­ You guys made many errors. Is your leader ipetent? Are you one of the smarter ones in your group?¡±

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re quite good! Well, I don¡¯t mean to brag, but¡­ yeah! I¡¯m one of the smarter ones. Too bad it takes more than intelligence to rank higher.¡±

    Legris was sounding like a doofus right now, but he couldn¡¯t fool me.

    His words were probably the truth, but he wasn¡¯t revealing these things because he was stupid. It was most likely because he didn¡¯t really have any loyalty or strict attachment to the group.

    If that was the case, then perhaps I could glean more information from him. But, first¡­

    ¡°You wanted to know how I knew your identity, right?¡±

    ¡­ I needed to give him what he wanted.

    It wasn¡¯t my intention to drag things out, but I was closer to the truth than ever before. There was no way I would let this chance go by.

    And so, I told my enemy more about my capabilities.<sub></sub>

    I told him my rationale, the means of elimination¡­ and how I arrived at the conclusion.

    I couldn¡¯t take action because of his high standing. I also didn¡¯t want to reveal my knowledge of his Identity, so I acted in the most natural way.

    It was too bad that being too cautious cost me so much.

    It was toote for regrets, though. I simply needed to focus on the task before me. It was the only way to atone.

    ¡°Wow. Simply amazing! You¡¯re really amazing, Jared Leonard. The more I know about you, the more interested I get. Truly!¡±

    I could tell that he truly meant that.

    ¡°I initially didn¡¯t care if you lived or died before, but now¡­ for the first time, I¡¯m conflicted.¡±

    He seemed to be enjoying himself as he spoke.

    ¡°If you live, you¡¯ll end up being a major threat¡ªnot just to them, but me as well¡­¡±

    That confirmed it! This guy had his own agenda as well. The group he was currently in was simply a means to achieve that aim.

    ¡®He probably settled for being a lower member since that was adequate for his goals¡­¡¯

    I grew even warier of the man the more I conversed with him.

    ¡°¡­ But, if you live, that also means you could be a wild card. It¡¯ll be fun seeing how things develop from this point on. Ahh, it¡¯s too hard to choose!¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you think. I¡¯ll be killing you now. That¡¯s all that matters¡­¡±

    I remembered saying the exact words to Kahn, but it ended up a bust.

    This time, I certainly hoped things didn¡¯t take such an embarrassing turn.

    In any case, I gave Legris the information he required, and he was also more interested in me. The fact that he wasn¡¯t preparing forbat meant he wanted to talk some more.

    That worked in my favor.

    There was one final thing I wanted to know. Whether he told me or not didn¡¯t really matter to me since I had already made up my mind¡­

    ¡°What¡¯s the goal of your organization?¡±

    ¡­ To destroy this guy and the people he was working for!

    ¡°Ahh¡­ that¡­¡±

    ¡®What is the problem? Does he not know of it?¡¯

    He did say he was a lower seat, but an organization this advanced should have at least let the leaders know their objectives; upper seat and lower seatbined.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a simple goal¡­¡±

    So he did know it! Why was he hesitating, then?

    From his expression, he seemed more flustered and embarrassed than secretive. Was it something too absurd to say?

    ¡°Hey, Jared¡­ have you ever heard of the Arcanas?¡±

    ¡®WHAT?!¡¯

    My body instantly moved in reflex and I created some distance between myself and the enemy¡ªtaking a battle stance.

    ¡°Whoah! Easy¡­ easy!!!¡± Legris said, trying to calm me down.

    I was also a bit taken aback by my reflex action, but it wasn¡¯t surprising. After all¡­ The Arcanas were something my old friends and I¡­ also searched for!

    ¡°Judging from your reaction, it¡¯s clear that you are in the know. You¡¯re not ignorant like most people. While it¡¯s curious as to how you know so much, I suppose It¡¯s only fair if the ¡®singrity¡¯ knows of this as well¡­¡±

    Most people who heard of the Arcanas all thought the same thing¡ªa fairy tale.

    Just as how the myths of gods and alternate realities were so abstract and seemed like fiction, so was the concept of the Arcanas.

    Children and adults alike regarded them as unreal¡ªworks of art and history.

    However¡­ they were real¡­

    ¡°It seems you know just how vital they are.¡±

    ¡­ And they were powerful!

 Chapter 284 Arcana

    The Arcanas were legendary items that were forced down the notes of history as fairy tales.

    They were too powerful to be considered real!

    A total of 22 of them existed¡ªobjects that could defy the very nature of existence by their presence.

    Their origin was said to be from the founders of Magic¡ªand these items stored the Original Magic of our ancestors.

    Many believed them to be objects of fables, but I believed differently. Only a few enlightened minds truly had an inkling of their genuine existence, and even then¡­ it was easy to abandon hope of ever finding any.

    My friends and I also searched for these treasures.

    And¡­

    ¡­ We couldn¡¯tplete the mission!

    So why?

    How?

    Who?

    What made these guys dedicate themselves to search for such lost relics?

    ¡°How¡­ why are you after The Arcanas?!¡± I forced myself to speak as I red at the man in front of me.

    He gave a light shrug, but I could tell he was dead serious as well.<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°Arcanas are lost treasures from time immemorial. They contain transcendental Magic that allows a person to manipte thews of this world¡­¡±

    He was right! They were the ultimate pieces¡ªMagic that far surpassed the limits and understanding of man.

    ¡°¡­ Is there any reason an evil organization wouldn¡¯t want something so grand? Hahaha!¡±

    ¡®Tch!¡¯

    This conversation gave me a bad feeling. I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way.

    If Legris had said world domination was their goal, I would have understood¡ªsince it was a simplistic goal.

    But¡­ to think the enemy was this ambitious!

    ¡°How many have you found?¡±

    ¡°What makes you think we¡¯ve found any yet?¡±

    ¡°The Arcanas are objects of myth. You wouldn¡¯t be able to rally such a powerful organization without some sort of binding force.¡±

    ¡®You guys have been after me for twelve years now¡­ it¡¯s clear that you must have some with you, else you would have disbanded long ago¡­¡¯

    If proof of something¡¯s existence wasn¡¯t found, it was certain that arge group would give up on it.

    My friends never gave up since we found proof, but¡­<sub></sub>

    ¡­ What about these guys?

    ¡°Fair point. As I said, I don¡¯t know much since I don¡¯t belong to the top brass, but¡­ apparently, they¡¯ve gathered a few already¡ªmaybe 7?¡±

    Seven out of Twenty-two didn¡¯t seem like a huge number, but it was.

    Obtaining seven items that could control the veryws of the world¡­ that was scary.

    ¡®Even we never got¡­. damnit!¡¯

    ¡°I also heard that the top brass is allowed to wield them. The Arcanas have some sort of pulling effect on one another, so it helps with the search. That sort of thing¡­¡±

    Legris Damien was yammering on about so many things.

    It was clear that he understood more than his position allowed.

    I was already quite shaken by this development, but there was no way I would get carried away by the enemy in front of me.

    ¡®I should stop here¡­¡¯

    Any further conversation would only be a waste of time.

    At the moment, I wasn¡¯t capable of doing anything about it. Besides, Legris must have had ulterior motives for feeding me so much Intel.

    ¡®Is he trying to use the method I used when I caught Liliana? That won¡¯t work on me¡­¡¯<sub></sub>

    The only reason I told him my capabilities was that it wouldn¡¯t matter.

    He was going to die here.

    Even if he survived¡ªby some miracle¡ªI would have evolved even more the next time we met. There was more merit for me in exchanging information.

    However, that was it.

    ¡°Let¡¯s wrap this up,¡± I told the man.

    ¡°Oh, yeah. That¡¯s right. I got so carried away¡­¡±

    Our distance was considerable.

    If he wanted to, Legris could attempt going into the portal that was closer to him instead of fighting¡ªbut that didn¡¯t seem to be the case.

    ¡®It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll allow him to escape, but¡­¡¯

    He could have tried at the very least.

    ¡°¡­ I should wrap up and kill you already. I still have one more errand to run.¡±

    Once Legris said this, I found it ironic.

    ¡°I wonder why you¡¯re telling me so much about your organization when you still n on carrying out their wishes.¡±

    It made no sense, unless¡­

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say I have my reasons. It¡¯s a gamble, maybe? Anyway, I n on attacking you with all I have. If you survive, then consider it¡ª¡±

    Before hepleted his statement, a bright barrier covered the area¡ªtrapping both me and Legris in some sort of pir-like translucent field.

    ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s end this¡­¡±

    The barrier was different from the one I used against Kahn.

    It was made by using Legris Damien as its target.

    That meant anything except this man was able toe in and go out freely.

    Of course, that included me.

    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of teleporting or breaking out, it¡¯s no use.¡±

    I stepped out of the barrier and watched him look around with a smile.

    ¡°And? These kinds of barriers don¡¯tst very long. Besides, even if you trap me here, you have no way of winning. What will you do? Report me to the authorities?¡±

    That was thest thing I nned on doing.

    After speaking to Neron, I realized even more that I couldn¡¯t count on the Kingdom¡¯s System. They were toocent to the point of allowing someone like Legris to infiltrate a learning environment.

    Just how many ¡®Legrises¡¯ had been stationed in the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s system?

    The barrier grew brighter, and then the light ascended into the heavens, like a pir of illumination, piercing the clouds.

    ¡°You were curious about how I would beat you, right?¡±

    I began to remove one hand from my pocket¡­ bringing something out of it.

    ¡°T-that is¡ª?!¡± Legris Damien bellowed.

    For the first time, I saw him flustered.

    ¡°¡ªAn Arcana?!¡±

    The item I brought out of my pocket was a card. It was dyed in golden light and had vein-like patterns embedded around it.

    There was a gem-like substance at the center¡­ and the power it emitted was beyond even my perception.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s not an Arcana¡­ you could call it some sort of replica? No, more like¡­ a prototype? No¡­ ah, how to exin this¡­¡±

    In short, this was an item I made.

    It was a Trump Card, something I designed with the idea of the Arcanas in mind.

    This was an item that stored Magic!

 Chapter 285 Final Flash

    I had the opportunity of interacting with Arcanas before.

    While I didn¡¯t have any Magic back then¡ªsince I was Inept¡ªI was able to understand the fundamental structure and code associated with the items.

    Of course, it was only surface-level knowledge.

    What I researched was not the Magic in the Arcanas, but the items themselves. The ones I saw had the form of cards, and they had vein-like circuits embedded in them.

    It was a mystery how such small things could hold phenomenal powers, so I gave myself to research.

    I wasn¡¯t able toplete the project, but it was enough to figure out the fundamental rule of storing Magic in these items.

    When I started attending Ainrk, and then found the Oasis, I figured it would be good to try something like that¡ªas ast resort.

    And so, I pumped lots of Mana into the thing, reinforced it by condensing the materials used to manufacture the item, and made a gradual assimtion process.

    If I was too fast, the project would fail.

    That was why I had to be patient¡­ until it wasplete.

    Unfortunately, Kahn attacked before I was able to finalize the project, so I couldn¡¯t use it. However, now that it wasplete¡­ I could use whatever Spell I had embedded into it through the codes and circuits within.

    For this particr card, there were three codes.<sub>.</sub>

    One was the barrier that currently surrounded Legris Damien.

    ¡°To think¡­ you duplicated an Arcana¡­ you¡­¡± Legris was grinning like a maniac now.

    ¡°Now my interest has just skyrocketed! What kind of person are you? In just twelve years of life!!!¡±

    I wasn¡¯t anything special.

    If I didn¡¯t have my friends and family guiding me along the way, I wouldn¡¯t have gone very far¡ªespecially in my past life.

    The reason I so vehemently researched the Arcanas was simple. These were devices with phenomenal Magic stored within them¡ªthe Ultimate Items!

    If I could understand the concept and workings of the Arcanas, and make the Mana supply self-sufficient and independent of its user, then¡­ even an Inept would be able to use Magic!

    That was my driving force¡ªmy goal.

    Unfortunately, I never arrived at the end of it in my past life.

    Even now, without my ability to use Magic, I wouldn¡¯t havee this far. However¡­ I finally achieved this¡ªthis device in my hands.

    ¡°All the Mana and Spell circuits are already embedded within. In essence, all I have to do is activate it¡­ and then¡­ it works.¡±<sub></sub>

    In essence, even an Inept could use this!

    ¡®With this device, I have surpassed my past self¡ªin a sense!¡¯

    ¡°What kind of Magic will you use? Is it the same as what you used against Kahn? A Peak-Level Magic Spell? Hahaha! Did you think I wouldn¡¯t have prepared for something of that caliber?¡±

    As Legris Damienughed, I also smiled.

    It was true that he could have prepared for my best move against Kahn, but¡­ I didn¡¯t n on being so cheap.

    ¡°[Grand Blitz] was a technique I used because Kahn was a Shadow Demon¡­¡± I retorted.

    It was onlymon sense that I would utilize the most efficient Spell while considering my enemy.

    ¡°What I have prepared for you is a little different¡­¡±

    No matter the human¡ªno matter the power¡ªthere was a weakness we all shared¡­ our mortal bodies.

    ¡°Did you know that the human body is made up of 70 percent water? Also, tiny particles of water exist all around us. We call it moisture¡­¡±

    I knew it was best to end things quickly, but¡­ I was curious.<sub></sub>

    ¡®What kind of expression will you make?¡¯

    ¡°GUARRRKKKKK!!!¡±

    Suddenly, Legris Damien copsed on his knees and coughed out blood.

    His bloodshot eyes were confused, and his quivering body begged for answers. The man was experiencing a symptom he must have known quite well.

    ¡°M¡ªmana¡­ Shock¡­?!¡±

    I nodded.

    ¡°¡­ Hehehe¡­ H¡ªhow..?¡±

    ¡®There¡¯s no merit in telling you, but¡­¡¯

    ¡°Consider this a reward for telling me so much intel. Thest time, I used a Mana Shock Inducing solution in the form of a liquid substance. But now¡­¡±

    It was gaseous!

    The poison was all around Legris¡ªlike moisture wafting in the air.

    ¡°Sly bastard¡­ Keke¡­ so, I was yed¡­ uh¡­?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. You must have figured out a way to deal with Mana Shock already. That¡¯s not how I n on killing you. Still, it¡¯s a good way to weaken your body.¡±

    Legris Damien hadyers of magical defense on him.

    While I was sure that my Spell was very powerful, I needed to be a hundred percent certain that it wouldpletely kill him. To achieve that end, I first induced Mana Shock to get rid of all his defenses¡ªat least, until he recovered.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re down¡­ let¡¯s start phase three¡­ my Spell!¡±

    The main treat for today¡ªand a personal favorite of mine¡­

    >BRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡­ LIGHTNING!

    >RUUUUUMMMMBLLLLLLEEEEEE!!!!<

    ¡°Are you not curious as to why I made the pirs ascend to the sky? It was all for this¡­¡±

    Pure, unbridled energy!

    This was my parting gift to Legris Damien.

    This Spell had a greater destructive capabilitypared to <Grand Blitz>, though they were both in the same Peak category.

    There was no doubt that the energy output was enough to destroy the whole Academy¡ªunless perhaps Neron protected it.

    The storm clouds in the sky converged on a single spot¡­ and for a moment¡ªthe rumblings ceased.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking of a name for this Spell¡­¡±

    The final Spell within my Card activated, and a second barrier covered Legris Damien. Its scale was a bit wider than the first one, and it was also iparably stronger.

    ¡®If I used this first, he might have gotten wary concerning the Spell I was using and tried something dramatic before the Mana Shock afflicted him¡­¡¯

    With all three Spells exhausted, my card¡¯s glow died down¡­ and turned into dust.

    ¡®It¡¯s not very durable, unlike the real thing. This is another w I need to work on¡­¡¯

    With my card out of the war, I put both hands in my pocket and enjoyed the show.

    ¡°¡­ [Final sh]¡­¡±

 Chapter 286 Pillar Of Light

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Multiple colors collided with one another and made a deafening sound.

    Blue. White. Yellow. Purple.

    Varying lightning charges crashed and shed¡ªbing stronger and united in the process.

    Legris looked above him in awe and fear.

    ¡°You don¡¯t seem afraid of death. Don¡¯t tell me¡­ you think you¡¯re going to survive from this?¡±

    It could have been possible with some special Magic Techniques, but even Original Magic required immense concentration and Mana consumption from a Magic-User.

    Legris Damien could not afford that in his current state.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to die here¡­¡± He spoke with a smile forming on his face.

    If he knows, then why¡­?

    ¡°I have to admit, I was outsmarted by you this time¡­ but that won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    ¡®What is he talking about? He¡¯s going to die, but he¡¯s¡­?!¡¯

    Was he going to resort to Resurrection Magic? Did he have an Arcana with him that was capable of that?

    No, that couldn¡¯t be.

    I used Spellcraft to scour the whole campus. That was how I was able to find his portal here, and also why I waspletely assured of my victory.<sub>.</sub>

    >BRRUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!<!

    ¡°You¡¯ve won this round, Jared Leonard.¡±

    I could let my Spell descend at any moment, but¡­

    ¡®Why am I hesitating?¡¯

    ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time,¡± I replied harshly.

    I didn¡¯t forget a single thing.

    This man was the one responsible for Kahn¡¯s invasion. The true reason all those kids died was because of him.

    Just because Iughed and joked with him didn¡¯t mean I forgot about his atrocities for a second. He was a disgusting individual whom I despised with a passion. However, the true strength of a person was self-control.

    I had to be calm until achieved what I wanted.

    Once that was done, my true feelings manifested.

    As I gazed at the man before me¡ªa person worse than a demon, yet too simr to be disregarded as a human, I growled and spat out in hatred.

    ¡°Rot in hell¡­ monster!¡±

    >BBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    The multi-colored lightning descended¡­ and the entire campus was once again enveloped in light.<sub></sub>

    *********

    When Neron and I discussed earlier, I asked him how much damage I caused with [Grand Blitz].

    Since I was barely conscious after utilizing the Spell, even I didn¡¯t know the exact effects of my Magic.

    ¡°500 Meters. Everything within five hundred meters from your location was vaporized.¡±

    That was Neron¡¯s answer.

    It far exceeded the scale I had estimated¡ªand that was because I was usually a pessimist.

    My achievements ended up exceeding expectations.

    This one was no different.

    [Final sh]¡­ a Peak Level Spell aimed atplete destruction¡­

    If I was to estimate the damage it would cause, that would be this entire Academy.

    Perhaps I was being too generous, but considering my track records, it could probably achieve more than that.

    Which was why I erected a barrier around Legris and made sure the spell was homed at him.

    Using this method, all the excess energy would be condensed and only Legris would be affected. The area of effect would be smaller, but¡­ the potency was going to skyrocket beyond measure.

    Amid my thought, I had one funny idea in my head¡­<sub></sub>

    ¡®I wonder if Neron can handle it¡­¡¯

    ¡­ But quickly dismissed the notion.

    A smile formed on my face as I witnessed the radiance of my creation.

    ¡®He probably could¡­¡¯

    And so the thunderous roars burst forth even more.

    *********

    In a brilliant pir of multicolored light, the night was painted bright.

    Everyone on the surface of the Academy witnessed the brilliant illumination that descended from the heavens.

    It was followed by a violent quake.

    The earth trembled after receiving an insurmountable amount of power.

    Everyone lost their bnce, and even veterans found themselves trembling.

    Those in the shelters were filled with fright.

    Fear enveloped them¡ªtheir trauma began resurfacing.

    Was it another invasion? Had the enemye to finish the job?

    No one could call it paranoia, considering the extent of the quake that moved everyone to their bones.

    The top brass of the Academy raced to the site of the pir¡ªworried about the being who could have achieved such a feat.

    It bore no destruction¡ªbut the existence of this pir was enough to beset the confidence of those who witnessed its splendor.

    Damien Lawcroft admitted within himself that he could never achieve such brilliance.

    Even the Vice Head was conflicted on the matter.

    They rushed to the scene¡ªhurriedly moving to the edge of the Academy grounds.

    Amid the hustle and bustle, a man floated in the air and watched the bright pir from a distance.

    A smile was on his face and his dark hair fluttered with the wind. He was so high up in the sky that many would consider him a blot in the air, but this was actually Neron Kaelid.

    He had been there for some time now¡ªand he monitored the entire interaction between Jared Leonard and Legris Damien.

    His smile grew even wider once he witnessed the Spell, [Final sh].

    ¡°This kid¡­ I was wrong¡­¡±

    It was both a disappointment and a relief to Neron.

    ¡°¡­ He¡¯s not like me¡­¡±

    Ever since he was a child, Neron Kaelid had been able to see the flow of Mana. It was a gift bestowed upon him from the heavens.

    This was why so many dubbed him the Child Of Magic.

    He had infinite potential, and was a prodigy among prodigies¡ªeven without a Special Grade Mana Core.

    However, this made him think differently from most people.

    He chose to remain a White Core, and expanded his realm from within. He achieved Magic his way, and before long¡­ that title had gone stale to him. Everyone slowly began deeming him a misfit¡­ as a freak.

    Damien Lawcroft was one of his ssmates back when he was a student¡ªsomeone who always hated losing to Neron.

    Perhaps that was why he hated all White Cores and gave Jared Leonard an especially hard time.

    Neronughed as the wind beat his face. Jared was special¡­ more special than he was.

    It was a shame to see such a child go, but Neron knew better than anyone that he couldn¡¯t cage the potential of Jared.

    ¡°¡­ He¡¯s better!¡±

    With that, Jared proved to Neron something he never expected to see.

    The Lecturer thought he would have to interfere at some point, but he didn¡¯t need to. Jared was right the whole time.

    Legris Damien wasn¡¯t the only one who received a shocker.

    And this fact greatly pleased Neron Kaelid.

    ¡°See you soon, kid¡­¡±

 Chapter 287 Grand Mage

    >WHUUUUUUUSSSHHHH!!!<

    The men hurried in the strange, bright night.

    They charged toward the center of attention¨Cflying at full speed.

    Beads of sweat flew from their faces even as the wind beat them. This was an unprecedented situation. If they weren¡¯t careful, then¨C

    >VWWOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    With even greater speed, they traversed the sky¡­ until they arrived at the site of destruction.

    What they met was a single golden pir-like barrier¡­. And the luminous colors of lightning bursting from within it.

    Everyone took a step back through instinct.

    They instantly knew that if they interfered with the barrier¨Cthat is, if they were even capable of that¨Cthen the uncontroble energy within it could consume them.

    As they watched from a safe distance, pondering on what could have caused such immense concentration of Magic, three beings suddenly appeared¨Ccausing everyone to swiftly take defensive measures.

    ¡°Hold your horses.¡± A feminine voice called out to the flustered men.

    Appearing like a beam of red light in the sky, a woman¨Capanied by two otherdies behind her¨Cdescended upon them.

    She wore a Grand Mage¡¯s outfit, and her hat was seated atop her crimson hair. Her outfit was raven ck¨Cas was her hat¨Cdecorated only by tiny designs of red ribbons.<sub>.</sub>

    No one needed a prophet to tell them of the entity that had just appeared.

    Instantly, the men present¨CDamien Lawcroft, the Vice Head, and several other powerful Lecturers¨Cknelt in respect.

    This was no ordinary woman.

    ¡°We greet the Grand Mage of the Empire, Serah Crimson!¡± Their voices echoed through the night¨Cif the currently bright environment could still be called that.

    This woman¨CSerah Crimson¨Cwas one of the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s three Grand Mages, and was also the only female among them.

    However, this minority status of hers did not cause anyone to look down on her as many had done on others in the profession of Magic.

    Every Grand Mage received their title as a result of some sort of achievement. They had their areas of specialty too. This woman¡¯s specialty was offensive Magic!

    That was why everyone revered her so much.

    Compared to everyone in the Kingdom, no one was capable of as much destruction¨Cnot even Neron Kaelid!

    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± She asked, her feet cking on the hard grounds of Ainrk Academy.

    Her crimson eyes were also fixated on the brilliant pir before them all. As someone who was an expert in destructive arts, she could appraise this threat well.

    ¡°I saw this thing from a distance, so I had these two transport us here.¡± Serah pointed at her retainers behind.<sub></sub>

    ¡°A¨Cah, about that¡­¡± The Vice Head mumbled.

    How could he tell her that even the Academy staff didn¡¯t know what the heck this barrier was?!

    Usually, he was the top dog of Ainrk Academy¨Cespecially now that the Head was absent. The man reveled in his power and authority, making good use of it while itsted.

    But, in the presence of this overwhelming presence¡­ he was powerless.

    ¡°Huh? I believed I asked you lot a question.¡± Serah Crimson narrowed her eyes as she watched the men.

    ¡°EEEK!!!¡± They cowered before her even more.

    ¡®Ah, useless idiots¡­¡¯ The exasperated woman sighed and shook her head.

    Serah had been mobilized because of the Demon threat on Ainrk, so she was excited to rush in. That was why, when she saw the brilliant pir of light, she abandoned the army of Imperial Mages with her.

    Instead, she took her loyal retainers and headed straight for the affected area.

    Still, not only did she not meet an opponent, but the staff who were here cowered before her.

    ¡®Is there no one here with a spine?¡¯

    Serah was tall, for a woman. She had fiery eyes, and the beauty she had was the wild and dangerous kind.<sub></sub>

    Her bust was also extraordinarily huge¨Cjust like her Magical prowess¨Cthough no one dared to point out the former.

    Unless they wanted to die, of course¡­

    ¡°Serah, stop bullying the men with those massive things of yours.¡±

    ¡­ One man was an exception to this rule.

    ¡°They don¡¯t know anything, so there¡¯s no point!¡±

    The bold man appeared, descending from his heights as hended on the ground.

    As Serah saw him, her face twitched, and the irritated look on her face instantly morphed into¨C

    ¡°NEROOOOONNNN!!!¡±

    >BOOOOMMM!!!<

    The earth around her shattered, as she lunged at the dark-haired young man. Her speed was impossible to follow, and everyone around her covered their faces to be protected from the dust and debris that flew around.

    >WHOOOSSSHHH!!!<

    In a sh, she reached the young man, spread her two hands wide, and then¨C

    ¡°Hey, wait¡­ not here¨C!!!¡±

    >SPLAT!<

    Before she reached himpletely¨Cjust a few inches more¨CSerah was met with an invisible wall thatpletely stopped her advance.

    Because of that, she was unable to perform the act she wanted to¡­

    ¡°You mean bastard¡­ you still haven¡¯t changed, uh¡­? How cruel¡­¡± The great Serah Crimson whimpered.

    ¡­ a hug!

    ¡°Who¡¯s the cruel one, you sexual harasser? Did you want to bury me in those two melons of yours?¡±

    His reply was both harsh and disrespectful.

    It wasn¡¯t something a mere lecturer could say to a Grand Mage.

    The Vice Head, Damien Lawcroft, and the remaining extras, were shocked by this sight.

    Of course, they were! This was the first time they had seen both of them interact before.

    The retainers, on the other hand, merely sighed.

    They were used to this.

    ¡°Hey, Neron! Is this how you treat your betrothed? That¡¯s seriously harsh!¡±

    ¡°Hey, s¨Cstop that! Don¡¯t go around calling yourself that. I mean¨C¡°

    ¡°What? Isn¡¯t it true? Did you forget the promise we made when we were lit¨C¡°

    ¡°Ahhh! Stop mentioning that! We were young then. You can¡¯t keep bringing that up!¡±

    ¡°I can and I will. Hmmph!¡±

    ¡°Gah! Just stop doing this and act your age already!¡±

    ¡°Uhh? Hey, say that again!¡±

    Even the usually stoic Neron was flustered at this point.

    The respective characters of both Neron Kaelid and Serah Crimson were broken the moment they encountered each other.

    As expected of a match made in heaven¨Cor was it?

 Chapter 288 Perfect Match

    These two were the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s most unpredictable top guns¡­ and they just happened to converge in a single location.

    ¡°Hey, Neron¡­ what the hell is this? This power is enough to level this entire Academy¨Cno, it¡¯ll most likely spill over and take a chunk of the city as well.¡± Serah said with a curious gaze on the conspicuous Pr of light that stood before them.

    She then eyed Neron suspiciously.

    ¡°Hey, it wasn¡¯t me!¡±

    ¡°Who, then? I don¡¯t think anyone else here is capable of doing something like this¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re half right. The guy who did this is no longer here. He left.¡±

    ¡°And you let him?¡±

    ¡°Of course! It was his choice. Plus, it¡¯s not like he did any harm¡­¡±

    Neron and Serah were smiling at each other and talking so casually as if the subject wasn¡¯t a serious matter that could im so many lives.

    ¡°Who is he, then? An enemy?¡±

    ¡°Nah. A student!¡±

    ¡°Huh? A student?¡±

    ¡°Yep! He¡¯s my prot??g??. Hehehehe.¡±

    ¡°What? You have a prot??g???¡±

    ¡°Yep! Got one recently.¡±

    ¡°And he did this?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! He¡¯s quite something, uh? We could never do something like that when we were younger.¡±<sub>.</sub>

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe, but¡­ you wouldn¡¯t lie about this.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the truth, though. That guy is one special kid.¡±

    ¡°Oh? You never speak highly of another person.¡±

    ¡°I speak highly of your chest.¡±

    ¡°HEY!¡±

    ¡°Right, right¡­ well¡­ he¡¯s someone I owe a great deal to, after all. Thanks to his help¡­ I can get even stronger!¡±

    ¡°Ehh? Stronger? You?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You just watch!¡±

    Both man and woman smiled at each other¨Ctheir eyes now burning with rivalry.

    ¡°I won¡¯t lose, you know?¡±

    ¡°Hehehe, looking forward to it.¡±

    And then¡­ something sparked in the mind of Serah Crimson.

    ¡°What¡¯s the name of the kid?¡±

    In response, Neron¡¯s smile grew wide and he swelled in pride.

    He had never felt this way about any child before, but¡­ he was indeed happy to have been the Master of the boy.

    ¡°His name is Jared Leonard¡­¡±<sub></sub>

    Serah¡¯s eyes widened a bit. She recognized thest name.

    ¡°¡­ And you¡¯ll meet him soon enough.¡±

    They both smiled, clearly pleased by Neron¡¯s statement.

    ¡°Oh? Then I look forward to that!¡±

    The dark-haired man and thedy of crimson smiled passionately at each other. For a second, it was like the world was still and only the two of them existed.

    Their faces were so close, merely inches from each other. At this distance, it was possible¡­

    Serah¡¯s red eyes brimmed with passion and desire, and she noticed Neron¡¯s eyes had a lit me of emotion within them too.

    Was it finally time? She could sense it! This time for sure¡­.!!!

    0???.?0? ¡°Smooch!!!¡±

    Bringing her face closer to Neron¡¯s in a blur, she went for a kiss.

    No pain, no gain!

    She had waited so long, and now he was finally ready!

    They were ready for their first time!!!

    ¡°¡­ Not a chance.¡±

    >SPLAT!<

    Once again, Neron sessfully prevented physical contact by protecting himself with his Magic.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Ow¡­ how mean¡­¡± Serah sulked even more.

    If one looked closely, they could probably see a droplet of tears appearing in the corner of her eye.

    ¡°¡­ Meanie.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough of that. Let¡¯s get down to business.¡±

    Once Neron said that, Serah Crimson sighed; then¡­ her change was instant.

    A stern face reced her unserious one, and her pose was upright. The air of dominance she neglected suddenly came over her, driving out any air of ease.

    ¡°So, what do you have to report? What happened here?¡± Serah asked in her Grand Mage mode¨Cof course, not the genuine thing.

    ¡®Ah, much better¡­ I prefer her like this.¡¯ Neron gave a side thought, and then spoke.

    ¡°A First Year Student in the Lower ss¨CJared Leonard¨Cconfronted the mastermind of the Ainrk Academy Invasion incident. He used this Spell to kill him after extracting as much crucial information as he could. Once hepleted his task, he left the Academy to whereabouts unknown.¡±

    Neron¡¯s tone was official as well.

    Everyone now understood that they meant business.

    ¡°And you witnessed all this?¡±

    ¡°I did.¡±

    ¡°You fool! Why did you allow such a thing? And this Jared individual¡­ why did you let him go? We could have questioned him as well. Even the culprit¡­¡±

    ¡°I understand, and will take full responsibility for my actions.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what you always say.¡±

    ¡°I apologize, ma¡¯am¡­¡± Neron bowed slightly.

    As he did this, Serah groaned.

    She knew he was teasing her. But, they were on official grounds.

    ¡®Hold on, what if¨C?!¡¯

    A thought shed across Serah¡¯s mind, and then a smile morphed on her face.

    ¡®What if I tell him to take responsibility by k¨Ckissing me¡­.?¡¯

    Why had she never thought of this before? Since Neron was in full official mode, how would he escape this one?

    ¡®Hehehehe¡¯

    ¡°We will have aplete breakdown of your actions, as well as the full details of what urred here.¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°But, first¡­ I shall have you take full responsibility.

    ¡°Y¨Cyes¡­ ma¡¯am¡­?¡±

    Serah was blushing. Her body temperature was rising.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t want to resort to this, Neron, but¡­ we¡¯re not getting any younger, you know? It¡¯s time to make good on your promise!¡¯

    ¡°To take responsibility for your action, I order you to kiss m¨C¡°

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°B¨Cbut, you¨C¡°

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am!¡±

    ¡°B¨Cbut it¡¯s not fair!¡±

    ¡°NO, MA¡¯AM!¡±

    ¡°ARGHHH! I¡¯LL KILL YOU, NERON!¡± Serah stomped on the ground and it trembled.

    The ck-haired man took this as a sign of danger and instantlyunched himself to the sky.

    It was time to fleeeee!!!

    ¡°COME BACK HEREEEE!!!¡±

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The earth shattered as Serah Crimsonunched herself into the air as well.

    Both of them began ying tag in the sky, causing shockwaves as they dribbled each other.

    Meanwhile, the dumbfounded ones on the ground could do nothing but sigh. Serah¡¯s retainers moved toward the Vice Head and decided to discuss official business instead.

    ¡°Our entourage will arrive by dawn tomorrow, so we will need to¨C¡°

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!!<

    A loud explosion from above interrupted the conversation, and thenughs and cries filled the air.

    The retainers of the Grand Mage and the staff of Ainrk academy all sighed.

    It was going to be a long night.

 Chapter 289 Castle Of Darkness

    A ce crawling with darkness and evil¨Clurking with all forms of atrocities.

    This was a scene of pitch-ck darkness, where creatures of malevolence resided. It was a wastnd where the strong reigned supreme and the weak had no choice but to obey.

    ¨CThe Demon Realm.

    And at the summit of the strict hierarchy in this ce, there was the Demon Castle.

    It was a massive structure that had six-pronged towers on all sides, and a final massive monolith at the center.

    This was the precipice¨Cthe heights of power in the Demon Realm.

    The six towers housed the most powerful Demons¨Cthe Demon Lords¨Cand the final monolith at the center belonged to the Royal bloodline, the chosen and most powerful race of Demons¨Cthe Demon King¡¯s Manor.

    Within this Castle¨Cthe Manor to be exact¨Cwas a young-looking being.

    He had horns protruding from his head, flowing long hair, and near-ebony skin.

    He was garbed in royal attire, and a crown hung on his head.

    Within the Grand Hall¨Ca ce where the King addressed his subjects¨Che sat with some sort of satisfaction written on his face.

    Why was he so happy?

    No, it wasn¡¯t exactly joy. It was more like excited anticipation.

    His buttocks rested atop one of the most coveted objects in the Demon Realm¨Cthe Demon King¡¯s throne.

    The Grand Hall was empty, so this young one¨Cno more than a grown teenager¨Ccouldfortably rest in a seat that didn¡¯t belong to him.

    ¡­ At least not yet.<sub></sub>

    He was the Demon King¡¯s only son¨Cthe Prince of the Demon Realm.

    His father, the Demon King, was currently inactive, so he made sure to indulge in little pleasures like this every now and then. At least, pending the time he would obtain the throne.

    Well, that time was drawing ever so closer.

    ¡°You seem to be enjoying yourself.¡± A voice rang out.

    A voice? In the Grand Hall? During this period?

    The Prince would usually be wary and extremely annoyed. He would also probably be worried that someone saw him seated on a throne that wasn¡¯t his yet¨Cprobably.

    Who would disturb him during this period? Even the new Demon Lords didn¡¯t dare! After all¡­

    In any case, the Demon Prince disyed none of these emotions.

    Rather, he seemed thrilled by the voice he heard.

    ¡°I certainly am.¡± His voice responded to the intruder.

    It was a deep tone¨Cunbefitting of his looks.

    ¡°The chair is a little stiff, but¡­ I can live with it.¡± This statement was apanied by a chuckle

    The initial voice also joined theugh, and for a moment¡­ the hall was filled with the echoes of two people.

    Finally, with a gust of wind, someone appeared before the prince.

    Was it a fellow Demon?<sub></sub>

    No.

    It was¡­

    ¡°Legris Damien¡­ it¡¯s been a while, no?¡±

    ¡­ A HUMAN!

    ¡°Haha, what can I say? I¡¯ve been trying to make ends meet.¡±

    ¡°Surely you jest. A man of your means surely doesn¡¯t need to engage in such boorish activities.¡±

    The human before him had a cheerful expression¨Ca facade¨Cand had the outfit of a dark cloak with a certain emblem embedded in it.

    The emblem resembled some sort of badge. An image of an endless abyss was embedded therein.

    ¡°Welp, what can I say?¡±

    Both beingsughed once again.

    Anyone who witnessed this would find it absurd that a human and a demon were mingling like buddies.

    The honest truth was that they actually were.

    These two were friends.

    ? The Demon Prince¨Ca being who despised humans with a passion¨Cmade an exception with Legris. Why?

    ¡®Even though he looks like a human¡­ this man is an actual Demon!¡¯<sub></sub>

    Since friends helped each other, Legris proved himself to be trustworthy and reliable.

    The Prince wouldn¡¯t havee this far in his ambition without the human¡¯s help. A rtionship where both parties understood and used each other¨Cthat was their friendship.

    ¡°So, why are you here? I assume it¡¯s not just to see your friend?¡±

    For a moment, silence pervaded the hall.

    They were friends with benefits.

    Not just Legris Damien and the Prince¨Cno, it was the Demon Race and the organization Legris belonged to.

    Legris was sort of a middleman¨Can ambassador.

    It used to be a man named Kido¨Csomeone belonging to the Midas Race. However, they changed the order about nine years ago, so Legris was the new person they dealt with.

    The Prince preferred Legris.

    Not only was he weaker than Kido, but he was also easier to deal with.

    ¡°Oh, I was just dropping by to inform you of some news¡­ about a Demon Lord of yours¡­¡±

    The moment the Prince heard this, his eyes bulged slightly, and his expression changed into a more serious demeanor.

    ¡°¡­Ah, apologies. I mean, your previous Demon Lord. A Shadow Demon called Kahn.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that guy? He was thest to go among the old ones. What about him?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ he made his way to the human territories¡­ and caused quite the ruckus.¡±

    The moment Legris Damien said this, the Prince¡¯s expression changed.

    ¡°Pfft. Puehehehe¡­ PUAHAHAHAHA!¡±

    Hisughter was deafening, filling the hall.

    ¡°Oh, please. Do not joke with me. Kahn would never do that. He despises the humans, but he¡¯s still loyal to the king.¡±

    ¡°Well, believe me if you want to, but¡­ you might want to hear this part.¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°He was defeated¨Ckilled by the humans.¡±

    A screen popped up before the Prince, and an image of Kahn being destroyed appeared.

    Seeing was believing, but¡­ even this Royal was stunned by what he was seeing.

    ¡°This is¡­¡±

    ¡°It was done by a man called Neron Kaelid. Before that, Kahn attacked an Academy and was beaten by the students there. It was only when he was weakened that this man finished the job.¡±

    The Prince was even more stunned. However¡­ this surprise transformed into something else¨CRAGE!

    ¡°THOSE DISGUSTING HUMANS¡­ THOSE INFERIOR INSECTS!¡±

    His hands banged the armrest of the throne on which he sat.

    His seething rage was evident!

    While Kahn had been insignificant to his ns¨Cand was actually better off dead¨Cthe fact that humans were the ones who finished the job irked him to no end.

    How were they able to defeat a former Demon Lord?

    Children in an Academy standing up against a Demon? Inconceivable!

    ¡°Those damned humans¡­ so they truly broke the pact. I knew it! Those vermin!¡±

    The Prince was full of anger, but also had a secret satisfaction lurking deep within his heart.

    He was d that he was right.

    His father was wrong,

    The old ones were ignorant!

    That was why he reced them.

    That was why he needed to be king

    ¡­.

    THAT WAS WHY HE NEEDED TO GET RID OF THE THREAT!

    ¡°So, what will you do now, Prince Abellion?¡±

    For a moment, silence reigned in the Grand Hall.

    But, the silence was short-lived.

    Soon, the mighty voice of a tyrant rang out. It was filled with ambition and fury. It contained absolute seriousness and conviction.

    ¡°The time hase, my friend¡­¡±

    Finally¡­ the moment he had been waiting for!

 Chapter 290 Resolute Ambition

    Prince Abellion stood from the throne and allowed his majestic figure to float in the direction of the man before him.

    Once he reached his front, he stood face-to-face with Legris Damien.

    The Prince¡¯s Demonic physique was bigger¡ªmaking him taller than the grinning human before him.

    ¡°The time for what?¡±

    Legris Damien seemed to be enjoying the situation. He already knew what Abellion would say, but hearing it could provoke a different emotion.

    The Prince returned Legris¡¯ undaunted smile.

    His sharp teeth were disyed, and an almighty power enveloped him¡ªcausing the entire room to be filled with Miasma.

    Any normal person would die.

    ¡°The time for war!¡± The Prince said with a sinister undertone.

    His smile contained even more malevolence than before.

    That was because he knew what he was talking about.

    The humans were a threat! No, not just them¡­ the others as well.

    While the Demons were in seclusion, inhabiting the Northern Continent, the three otherrge patches ofnd contained the thriving races that basked in prosperity. They lived in an illusion that the Demon Race was vanquished¡ªforever exiling them to this remote part of the world.

    It was a shame Abellion could not bear.

    This, however, wasn¡¯t the main reason behind the Prince¡¯s disposition against humans¡ªno, even the other races.

    ¡®While we are in decline, they grow more powerful. While our poption remains stagnant, they be more plentiful¡­ why does no one see it?¡¯<sub></sub>

    Before long, the other races would gain an insurmountable advantage¡ªand that would mean the end of the Demon Race.

    p¡¢and a- Abellion was aware of this!

    Unfortunately, neither his father nor any of the old ones seemed to see reason behind his words.

    So, he had to get rid of them!

    Thankfully, he had support¡ªboth from his Demon brethren, and the organization Legris Damien belonged to.

    As a result, he led a strategic coup, and in no time, the older Demon Lords had all been purged¡ªreced by the ones who shared his vision.

    The King had also grown frail and weak¡ªan effect of Abellion¡¯s doing. He hadn¡¯t intended on taking such drastic measures, but after considering how far he hade, the Prince made his choice.

    For the greater good, sacrifices had to be made.

    It wasn¡¯t paranoia.

    It wasn¡¯t fear.

    It wasn¡¯t unjustified hatred.

    This was the real deal.

    ¡®Kahn¡¯s death has proved it¡­ the humans can not be trusted¡­¡¯

    If Kahn could be stopped by the students of an Academy, that meant that they were being raised with the knowledge of a Demon¡¯s weakness.

    That being the case, the humans had betrayed them!<sub></sub>

    ¡°I never expected this¡­ at least, not now¡­¡±

    Abellion gritted his teeth as he moved back and forth, circling Legris while speaking aloud.

    ¡°The Demon Realm is still under stabilization. Any reckless move on our part could result in a disadvantageous condition.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t someone who didn¡¯t use his head.

    Abellion was first concerned with his people.

    That was the reason he trod this path, to begin with.

    ¡°If the other races band together, it will be difficult to win¡ªat least, for now.¡±

    It would take some time for them to amass power. It would also be very difficult¡ªin their current state¡ªto achieve enough to properly fight back.

    This was yet another repercussion of the pact made with the other races.

    ¡°We can help you.¡± Legris Damien said with a smile.

    Once Abellion heard this, he grinned back at his friend.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯sforting to hear. What could you possibly do?¡±

    Legris seemed to be getting more amused by the second.

    ¡°How about an Arcana? It should help a great deal in your battle.¡±

    Abellion was stunned, but as a prince, he chose toport himself.<sub></sub>

    ¡°To think you had such a thing at your disposal too¡­¡±

    The Demon Realm had a few treasures of its own. One of which was the Arcana of ¡®The Devil.¡¯

    Of course, having another of those phenomenal tools would be crucial in achieving his goals. But¡­ there was no such thing as free lunch in this world¡ªespecially in the case of power.

    ¡°¡­ What do you want in return?¡±

    Legris Damien smiled.

    ¡°Nothing much. The usual supplies¡ªwe want them tripled. Also, there¡¯s a small favor to add. It¡¯s a bit personal¡­¡±

    Granting favors was also the duty of a friend, so Abellion decided to hear Legris Damien out.

    ¡°There¡¯s just someone special out there¡­ a human enemy.¡±

    Legris¡¯ smile morphed into a sadistic and utterly demonic expression.

    ¡°I want you to spare him.¡±

    ¡°Spare him? Why?¡±

    Abellion was expecting many things, but this betrayed all expectations.

    ¡°He caught my attention¡ªnothing else. That kid is quite interesting, you know?¡±

    Abellion would have implored more, but this wasn¡¯t the time to delve into another one of Legris¡¯ fetishes.

    War was imminent, and the Demonic Race was going to crush the denizens of the continent underfoot. Only then would there be true order.

    To achieve that, Abellion would use all that was necessary!

    ¡°Alright, then. What¡¯s his name?¡±

    The human male gave a satisfied smile and parted his lips.

    ¡°Jared Leonard.¡±

    ***********

    ¡°Haa¡­¡±

    I gave a deep breath as my eyes took in the vastndscape before me.

    This would be the first time I was alone in this new life. However, I knew there was no time to take in the atmosphere.

    ¡®There¡¯s no time at all!¡¯

    Thanks to Kahn¡¯s little stunt, war was bound to break out at some point.

    At my current level, there was nothing I could do to stop the enemy.

    To truly make a difference, I needed to get stronger¡ªand fast.

    ¡°With the problem of Demons and Arcanas popping up, it¡¯s finally time to visit that spot¡­¡±

    By the end of this journey of mine, I was bound to get stronger¡ªstrong enough that I wouldn¡¯t have to endure the feeling of powerlessness any longer.

    Before I lost anyone I cared about¡­ I would ensure that I became good enough to protect everything and everyone precious to me.

    After all¡­ that was all that mattered.

    ¡®Wait for me, everyone¡­!¡¯

    ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t lose!¡±

    [DO NOT READ THE NEXT CHAPTER! JUST SKIP TO THE NEXT ARC. AN ERROR WAS MADE]

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [END OF THE THIRD ARC]

    [The Fourth Arc: ¡®The Demonic Incursion Arc¡¯ Will Resume Shortly]

    *********

    THANKS FOR READING!

    ********

 Chapter 291 PLEASE JUST SKIP AND READ NEXT ARC

    The Prince¡¯s Demonic physique was bigger¨Cmaking him taller than the grinning human before him.

    ¡°The time for what?¡±

    Legris Damien seemed to be enjoying the situation. He already knew what Abellion would say, but hearing it could provoke a different emotion.

    The Prince returned Legris¡¯ undaunted smile.

    His sharp teeth were disyed, and an almighty power enveloped him¨Ccausing the entire room to be filled with Miasma.

    Any normal person would die.

    ¡°The time for war!¡± The Prince said with a sinister undertone.

    His smile contained even more malevolence than before.

    That was because he knew what he was talking about.

    The humans were a threat! No, not just them¡­ the others as well.

    While the Demons were in seclusion, inhabiting the Northern Continent, the three otherrge patches ofnd contained the thriving races that basked in prosperity. They lived in an illusion that the Demon Race was vanquished¨Cforever exiling them to this remote part of the world.

    It was a shame Abellion could not bear.

    This, however, wasn¡¯t the main reason behind the Prince¡¯s disposition against humans¨Cno, even the other races.

    ¡®While we are in decline, they grow more powerful. While our poption remains stagnant, they be more plentiful¡­ why does no one see it?¡¯

    Before long, the other races would gain an insurmountable advantage¨Cand that would mean the end of the Demon Race.<sub></sub>

    Abellion was aware of this!

    Unfortunately, neither his father nor any of the old ones seemed to see reason behind his words.

    So, he had to get rid of them!

    Thankfully, he had support¨Cboth from his Demon brethren, and the organization Legris Damien belonged to.

    As a result, he led a strategic coup, and in no time, the older Demon Lords had all been purged¨Creced by the ones who shared his vision.

    The King had also grown frail and weak¨Can effect of Abellion¡¯s doing. He hadn¡¯t intended on taking such drastic measures, but after considering how far he hade, the Prince made his choice.

    For the greater good, sacrifices had to be made.

    It wasn¡¯t paranoia.

    It wasn¡¯t fear.

    It wasn¡¯t unjustified hatred.

    This was the real deal.

    ¡®Kahn¡¯s death has proved it¡­ the humans can not be trusted¡­¡¯

    If Kahn could be stopped by the students of an Academy, that meant that they were being raised with the knowledge of a Demon¡¯s weakness.

    That being the case, the humans had betrayed them!<sub></sub>

    ¡°I never expected this¡­ at least, not now¡­¡±

    Abellion gritted his teeth as he moved back and forth, circling Legris while speaking aloud.

    ¡°The Demon Realm is still under stabilization. Any reckless move on our part could result in a disadvantageous condition.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t someone who didn¡¯t use his head.

    Abellion was first concerned with his people.

    That was the reason he trod this path, to begin with.

    ¡°If the other races band together, it will be difficult to win¨Cat least, for now.¡±

    It would take some time for them to amass power. It would also be very difficult¨Cin their current state¨Cto achieve enough to properly fight back.

    This was yet another repercussion of the pact made with the other races.

    ¡°We can help you.¡± Legris Damien said with a smile.

    Once Abellion heard this, he grinned back at his friend.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯sforting to hear. What could you possibly do?¡±

    Legris seemed to be getting more amused by the second.

    ¡°How about an Arcana? It should help a great deal in your battle.¡±<sub></sub>

    Abellion was stunned, but as a prince, he chose toport himself.

    ¡°To think you had such a thing at your disposal too¡­¡±

    The Demon Realm had a few treasures of its own. One of which was the Arcana of ¡®The Devil.¡¯

    Of course, having another of those phenomenal tools would be crucial in achieving his goals. But¡­ there was no such thing as free lunch in this world¨Cespecially in the case of power.

    ¡°¡­ What do you want in return?¡±

    Legris Damien smiled.

    ¡°Nothing much. The usual supplies¨Cwe want them tripled. Also, there¡¯s a small favor to add. It¡¯s a bit personal¡­¡±

    Granting favors was also the duty of a friend, so Abellion decided to hear Legris Damien out.

    ¡°There¡¯s just someone special out there¡­ a human enemy.¡±

    Legris¡¯ smile morphed into a sadistic and utterly demonic expression.

    ¡°I want you to spare him.¡±

    ¡°Spare him? Why?¡±

    Abellion was expecting many things, but this betrayed all expectations.

    ¡°He caught my attention¨Cnothing else. That kid is quite interesting, you know?¡±

    Abellion would have implored more, but this wasn¡¯t the time to delve into another one of Legris¡¯ fetishes.

    War was imminent, and the Demonic Race was going to crush the denizens of the continent underfoot. Only then would there be true order.

    To achieve that, Abellion would use all that was necessary!

    ¡°Alright, then. What¡¯s his name?¡±

    The human male gave a satisfied smile and parted his lips.

    ¡°Jared Leonard.¡±

    ***********

    ¡°Haa¡­¡±

    I gave a deep breath as my eyes took in the vastndscape before me.

    This would be the first time I was alone in this new life. However, I knew there was no time to take in the atmosphere.

    ¡®There¡¯s no time at all!¡¯

    Thanks to Kahn¡¯s little stunt, war was bound to break out at some point.

    At my current level, there was nothing I could do to stop the enemy.

    To truly make a difference, I needed to get stronger¨Cand fast.

    ¡°With the problem of Demons and Arcanas popping up, it¡¯s finally time to visit that spot¡­¡±

    By the end of this journey of mine, I was bound to get stronger¨Cstrong enough that I wouldn¡¯t have to endure the feeling of powerlessness any longer.

    Before I lost anyone I cared about¡­ I would ensure that I became good enough to protect everything and everyone precious to me.

    After all¡­ that was all that mattered.

    ¡®Wait for me, everyone¡­!¡¯

    ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t lose!¡±

    [DO NOT READ THE NEXT CHAPTER! JUST SKIP TO THE NEXT ARC. AN ERROR WAS MADE]

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [END OF THE THIRD ARC]

    [The Fourth Arc: ¡®The Demonic Incursion Arc¡¯ Will Resume Shortly]

    *********

    ¡¢ THANKS FOR READING!

    ********

 Chapter 292 The Calm

    [3 Years Later]

    The Eastern Kingdom was thergest human nation in the world.

    It upied the entire Eastern Continent¡ªand even though this was the smallest patch ofnd, aspared to the other continents, it solely belonged to the human race.

    After the great battle against the Demons, the entire Northern Continent was lost to them¡ªnow covered in thick, uninhabitable Miasma.

    As for the other continents; the Western Continent was home to the Elves and Fairies, while the Southern Continent housed the Therianthropes and Dwarves.

    The races lived in peace¡ªhardly rting with the other, except for the neighbors that existed on the same patch ofnd.

    There was peaceful coexistence among the previously united races, but after years went by since the great war, they had grown distant.

    Humans hardly had any rtion with the members of other races, and likewise was also the case.

    They shared certain resources, though, but that was the extent of their interaction with each other. Each nation simply focused on its denizens¡ªjust as in the past, when there was no threat to unite them.

    With the Eastern Kingdom being thergest human settlement, others inhabited inds here and there, but their territory was linked very closely with the Eastern Continent.

    There were several small nations, but they all bowed to the majesty of the most powerful settlement for and by humans.<sub></sub>

    The Eastern Kingdom had a total of 49 Regions¡ªspread all across the continent were Nobles who managed each one.

    Of the forty-nine, four were especially more renowned than the others, and so they were named Duchies. The ones who owned these estates were Dukes¡ªthe highest in the Aristocratic order, second only to the King.

    The regions usually traded with one another, interacting as noble estates should. Power wasrgely decentralized, but¡­ notpletely.

    Ultimately, at the helm of power, there existed three major forces.

    The Merchant City¡ªlocated in one of the Duchies of the Kingdom.

    The Academic City¡ªAinrk Academy.

    The Royal Capital¡ªthe central authority of the Eastern Kingdom.

    No one could oppose the first because of the wealth and economic power it employed.

    However, for the remaining two¡­ there was a simpler reason.

    ¡ªMAGIC.<sub></sub>

    The Royal Family had the most powerful forces in their charge, and Ainrk Academy basically bred new Mages by utilizing phenomenal technologies and having renown mages teach there.

    This was the system of the world¡ªthe only way the people of the east knew how to live.

    ********

    Ivan Smith yawned as he walked on his usual patrol at the borders of his assigned Region.

    His red hair fluttered with the wind, but his nonchnt gait made it clear that he didn¡¯t care for the wind¡ªnor his duties. He simply sought something more stimting.

    This Region was situated at the western borders, a ce that pointed toward the Elf Nation on the map.

    While it was every man¡¯s dream to gaze upon those beauties, they were separated by an unforgiving mass of water that made it virtually impossible to cross over.

    Of course, there were means to defeat the forces of nature, but since the Kingdom had no interaction with the Elven race, nothing could be done.

    This wasn¡¯t the cause of Ivan¡¯s disappointment, though.

    ¡°Shit¡­ I shouldn¡¯t be here¡­¡±<sub></sub>

    As he walked along the coast of the Region, he watched therge body of water from his elevated tform.

    The ocean was so vast¡ªbut peaceful.

    That was the problem!

    It had been three years since the first ¡®Demonic Disturbance¡¯ as it had now been dubbed, and ever since then, the Kingdom began taking active stances to defend the nation from another attack from the enemy.

    Ivan was merely a First Year back then¡ªno, that was an excuse. The truth was that he simply wasn¡¯t an impressive student back then.

    He was weak, unable to contribute nearly as much as the others around him.

    As a result, after the entiremotion had been resolved, he purposed within himself to be stronger.

    After a couple more years in the Academy, he graduated as one of the most elite students in his year.

    After graduating from Ainrk, a mandatory one-year internship was imposed on the students. This way, they would learn more about their career in a practical environment.

    As a result, the students who were once in a restricted learning environment were assigned to various parts of the 49 Regions.

    An exceptional few were even fortunate enough to serve in the Capital¡ªthe territory of Royals.

    Ivan didn¡¯t envy them, though. That had never been his goal.

    Ever since he tasted weakness, the young man didn¡¯t ever want to experience something like that ever again. He sought ways to better himself.

    Which was why, when he was posted to a Region at the border of the Kingdom, he was overjoyed.

    There was nowhere more dangerous than the border!

    .?O,? With the unrest urring within the Kingdom as well as the smell of war wafting in the air, Ivan wanted to be at the forefront of the action.

    Only by pushing himself past the limit would he be able to achieve even greater growth.

    ¡°But, who would have expected this? Shit!¡±

    He had been posted to the Western Border¡ªa remotely safe ce¡ªand never had to do anything except patrol and Magic training throughout the six months he had spent there.

    Ivan¡¯s frustration took a toll on his personality, and his restlessness bred negative emotions within him.

    If only he had been posted to the Northern Borders, then maybe¡­

    ¡®Sigh, let¡¯s get this over with¡­¡¯

    Ivan¡¯s eyes eyed the massive watchtower that firmly stood at a distance and smiled wryly.

    It was something the Kingdom had implemented on all borders of the Kingdom in preparation for any sudden incursion.

    It was such a shame that ity wasted there. No Demon had crossed the border in the past three years.

    The humans thought of making a preemptive attack on the Demons, but the Miasma in the Northern continent was too dense. There was no need to expend more resources than necessary.

    That was why¡­ all the Kingdom could do was prepare themselves for an assault and strengthen their forces.

    However, so far, nothing of note had urred, and that irked Ivan to no end.

    But¡­ even that was going to change very soon.

 Chapter 293 The Storm

    ¡°The Master won¡¯t be back for his seminar in a few days. You¡¯ve been tasked with handling the other recruits till he gets back.¡±

    Ivan Smith looked dissatisfied as he heard those words.

    ¡®Damn, that old geezer!¡¯

    His Master, previous Lord over the Alphonse Sereth Estate, was an Archmage who was at the level above most Mages,

    His name was Lord Alphonse¡ªand he was the Master in charge of the border they were currently managing.

    Since Ivan and a few other Ainrk graduates had been posted in his territory, it was his responsibility to train them with practical experiences.

    He did his duties well, allowing the boys to experience actualbat with a few monsters that lurked around, but¡­ Ivan wasn¡¯t satisfied.

    He used most of his free time to train personally, even after receiving instructions from Alphonse.

    He had to get stronger! Strong enough to at least be a match for ¡®him!¡¯

    ¡°Now, I have to handle everyone else? Damn it¡­¡±

    Ivan needed time for himself. Why did he have to babysit his former ssmates?

    In about six months, they would all officially be Mages.

    They needed to learn to fend for themselves already!

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re the most powerful of them. You¡¯ve also shown a lot of potential, ording to the Master. Plus, you¡¯re also the most responsible.¡±<sub></sub>

    Ivan gritted his teeth as he listened to the man who spoke.

    He was Master Alphonse¡¯s retainer¡ªa man who practiced Martial Arts, rather than Magic.

    He simply came to give Ivan the message of his superior, so the red-haired boy couldn¡¯t hold it against him. Still¡­

    ¡°Argh! Whatever!¡±

    Ivan was sixteen years old now. He was recognized as an adult by normal standards, and would soon be regarded as a Mage as well.

    Self-control was a virtue belonging to the mature, and he needed to foot the bill.

    ¡®Well, nothing ever happens here, so¡­ how bad could it be?¡¯

    The other interns¡ªthree in total¡ªwere currently taking a stroll close to the border of the Region.

    Ivan remembered the boring patrol he had done just a few hours ago. Still, since they were three, it was bound to be more fun for them.

    Once the ckers returned, he would just inform them of Master Alphonse¡¯s instructions.

    ¡®Sigh, how bothersome¡­¡¯

    ¡°So, what exactly are the¡ª¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!<<sub></sub>

    The sudden eruption caused both Ivan and the retainer¡ªCephas¡ªto sharply turn their heads in the direction of the noise.

    They were currently at the watchtower¡­ and neither of them had noticed it until it was toote.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Ivan¡¯s eyes widened as he saw a hulking figure appear from within the ocean.

    It was covered in ck scales, glimmering as the sun beat its wet body.

    It had the body of a giant alligator, but¡­ its face certainly resembled a dragon.

    >BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Fiery bombs came from itsrge mouth, devastating the areas around it.

    In merely three sts, everything around the monster was covered in mes, smoke¡­ and blood!

    ¡°T¡ªthat¡­ that is¡­¡±

    Ivan¡¯s body shook, his lips trembled, and his bulging eyes widened even further.

    This was a monstrous existence he hadn¡¯t seen since he was still a student at Ainrk Academy, a being he had never expected to witness now¡­

    The Miasma coating the evil being was enough to send shivers down Ivan¡¯s spine. The young man trembled even more as he watched the massive being rise from the ocean¡¯s depths and step onto the Region¡¯s grounds.<sub></sub>

    ¡°I¡ªIvan¡­ are you alright¡­?¡± Cephas, who had also been gawking at the malevolent creature, looked in Ivan Smith¡¯s direction.

    The boy¡¯s shaking was too unnatural.

    ¡®Is he scared? I wouldn¡¯t me him¡­¡¯ Cephas¡¯ thoughts trailed.

    How wrong the older man was!

    ¡°Finally¡­¡± Ivan¡¯s voice was low, but deep.

    His widened eyes now narrowed, and his quivering lips formed arge grin.

    This was what the young man had been waiting for!

    ¡°FINALLY!!!¡±

    With this, heunched himself out of the watchtower¡¯s window and charged outside.

    >VWUSSHHH!!!<

    mes erupted from both his hands and legs, and Ivan rushed out in a straight burst of fire. Trails of smoke and tiny embers from him could be seen as the youth charged at the target.

    It was enough to stun the middle-aged man a bit.

    He had seen many horrifying monsters in his life, yet none came close to the one that suddenly appeared.

    The fact that a youngd was able to dive into danger at the first sign of a threat spoke volumes of his character.

    ¡®That boy, Ivan¡­¡¯

    A loud bellow from the monster brought the man back to his senses, and he quickly reached for his swords¡ªturning in the direction of the stairs in order to mobilize the troops and lead them into battle.

    ¡°Wait for me!¡± Cephas mumbled under his ragged breath, also donning a determined look in his eyes.

    *********

    Ivan¡¯s speed was phenomenal.

    The wind brushed his face, but he didn¡¯t care. His eyes were wide enough to see the target, and since he was reinforced with Magic Enhancement, the youngd had nothing to worry about.

    ¡°After so long, finally!¡±

    Ivan brandished his tightened fist, and bursts of mes suddenly covered it. With his current velocity and his ming fist, Ivan charged straight for the massive Demon¡¯s head.

    >WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    The trail of amber mes shot through the sky faster than a piercingnce, and then¡ª

    ¡°Eat thissss!!!¡±

    ¡ªmaking full use of the momentum he gained, Ivan thrust his ming fist!

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The entire area was scorched in hot mes.

    The breeze sent heat radiating around the area, but since Ivan was coated with enhancements, he didn¡¯t feel any inconvenience.

    Uponnding the hit that covered the Demon in mes, the fearless young man flew back in recoil, and thennded on the ground¡ªa considerable distance from the scorched opponent.

    ¡°Haa¡­ that felt good!¡±

    Ivan had used one of his strongest attacks from the get-go¡ªa powerful hit that causedbustion, as well as an impact that would shatter most surfaces.

    However¡­ Ivan knew that it wasn¡¯t enough.

    ¡®Ahh¡­ how hard!¡¯ He looked at his throbbing fist.

    , Even with his punch¡ªan attack that felt little to no resistance whenever he used it on any target¡ªhe wasn¡¯t able to break anything!

    Just as Ivan was about to click his tongue, the monster emerged from the mes and smoke that were already fading away from its body.

    ¡°GURRUUUUUU¡­¡±

    Once Ivan took a glimpse at the massive¡ªunscathed¡ªbody of the Demon, he instinctively knew¡­

    ¡®¡­ This is going to be tough!¡¯

 Chapter 294 Ivans Travail

    The Demon was at least thirty meters tall.

    Its massive physique was also apanied by its immense aura and destructive capabilities.

    If not for its exceptionally high amount of Miasma, one would ssify this thing as a Monster¡ªand an extremely dangerous one at that.

    In this world, there were beasts that differed from regr animals. Some had intelligence, while others relied solely on instinct.

    They were known as Magic Beasts.

    Those who werebeled as dangerous beings were dubbed monsters. However, others like Dragons, Griffons, Dryads, etc. were tagged as mere Magical Beasts.

    Since their poption was abysmally smaller than the other Races in the world, there was no official title or territory attributed to each and every kind of Magic Beasts

    However, that didn¡¯t mean their strength wasn¡¯t recognized.

    As someone who had been studying Magic Beasts¡ªespecially Monsters¡ªas a means to get stronger, Ivan Smith knew that this massive creature could pass as one.

    However¡­ the aura of malevolence and despair it emitted could only belong to the despised race of the Demons.

    That was what he believed.

    ¡°So, they¡¯ve finally begun their invasion, uh? Looks like they brought a strong one to deal the first strike!¡±

    Ivan was getting pumped up.<sub></sub>

    He cracked his fingers and hatefully smiled at therge monster before him.

    Its scales glimmered in the sunlight, and Ivan knew that those would be the problem.

    ¡®He¡¯s probably resistant to adverse conditions like ¡®Burn¡¯ or ¡®Cold¡¯. In that case¡­¡¯

    While Ivan needed to test the waters, he also had to end things quickly. The longer the battle dragged on, the more devastation would spread.

    There could also be enemy forces nearby, so it was best to finish things fast.

    If his scorching mes wouldn¡¯t be enough, he simply had to resort to something sturdier¡ªstrong enough to break the tough scales of the Demon.

    This sounded like a perfect job for his Familiar!

    ¡°Wax Guardian!¡±

    Instantly, a white-like being manifested from within Ivan.

    It looked like a living candle.

    Having a ming head, its hands, body, and legs were coated in white¡ªlike a burning candlestick.

    Some would say it looked cute¡ªmaybe even weak. However¡­ Ivan was well aware of its strength!<sub></sub>

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this! BOND MAGIC!¡±

    The Demon opened its mouth to deliver another scorching blow to the area. Itsrge jaws were agape, and crimson mes began to form there.

    ¡°I WON¡¯T LET YOU!!!¡±

    In a swift motion, Ivan raised his two hands, and white constructs appeared in an instant¡ªpure white spears!

    >WHOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    The spears, made of wax, cut through the wind and chased the chin of the beast.

    >BOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    They made impact, forcibly closing the jaws of the Demon.

    The crimson mes that were being prepared by the giant blew up in its mouth, causing its hulking body to jerk slightly.

    ¡°GROOOOOUUUUU!!!¡± It staggered back while growling in annoyance.

    Ivan smiled, happy that his wax constructs worked.

    His Wax Guardian was a rare entity, belonging to a special race of Magical Beasts known as Principalities.<sub></sub>

    It was the only one of his kind¡ªand since its power was the real deal¡ªIvan chose it during the Ainrk Familiar Selection Ceremony!

    The Wax Guardian¡¯s Magic involved the use of Wax. There were two kinds¡ªSoft and Hard.

    The Soft kind was enough to restrict the movements of the enemy by sticking them to a particr location. As time passed, these Soft Waxes would turn hard, further binding the target.

    The major advantage of his Familiar was Hard Wax.

    The density and strength of the constructs made using this Magic were rtive to the amount of Mana expended, however¡­ it was extremely durable.

    With enough Mana, it could get as strong as the most durable metal he knew¡ªAdamantite.

    The problem was Mana usage.

    For smaller constructs, Ivan could make his Wax as strong as Adamantite. However, when facing a monster like this, he needed bigger Wax armaments. That meant their durability would reduce, but with enough size and numbers, it wouldpensate for quality.

    ¡°More!!!¡±

    Several dozen spears appeared¡ªall bigger than Ivan¡ªand they wereunched at the Demon who was still in recoil.

    >FWIIISSHHH!!!<

    The air hissed as they pierced the target¡ªbypassing the hard scales that defended it.

    ¡°Yes! We¡¯re doing it!¡± Ivan grinned.

    He was expending more Mana than he wanted to, but¡­ at this rate, he could kill the monster!

    Or so he thought¡­

    ¡°GURRRRUUUUAAAAAA!!!¡±

    In a burst of negative energy, Ivan¡¯s body was flung back, as well as everything else around the terrifying creature.

    ¡°Guarkkk!¡±

    The young man winced, but was able to quickly flip in midair and regain his stance.

    ¡°Shit¡­¡± He murmured, ncing at the surrounding of the Demon.

    It had been devastated.

    It was as if a massiveet fell and destroyed everything around it.

    ?o??? If Ivan hadn¡¯t been a distance away from the Demon, how much damage would he have incurred?

    However, that wasn¡¯t the worst part.

    ¡°GUUUURRRUUUUU¡­¡±

    The monster was now coated in an intense aura. Its scales seemed even tougher than earlier and all its wounds were healed.

    It had achievedplete recovery¡ªno, even worse¡­ EVOLUTION!

    ¡°Damn¡­¡± Was all Ivan could say under his ragged breath.

    He hadn¡¯t expected it to be so tough.

    Confronted with this new height, would he be able to win? Ivan knew the answer to that.

    ¡°HECK YEAH!¡±

    Without wasting any time, Ivan used one of his Trump Cards in Bond Magic. It was something that perfectly suited him who liked directbat.

    ¡°Wax Armament!¡±

    A blinding light covered the area, causing the Demon to re at the source.

    At the center of the immense surge of energy was Ivan. He was currently coated with white wax. Like full-ted armor, his body was shielded and he looked like a knight.

    Other than the high defensive and offensive capabilities of this state, Ivan was extremely agile too. Multiple enhancements were working at the same time in his body.

    He could still utilize his projectiles while engaging in a direct confrontation with the Demon.

    By coordinating his attacks efficiently and aiming for a decisive hit before the Demon could heal or use the negative burst attack again, Ivan surmised that he could take down the creature.

    Yes, in this new form, Ivan was confident of victory!

 Chapter 295 Insurmountable Height

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡±

    Ivan gave ragged breaths.

    ¡°Haa¡­ Huff¡­ huff¡­¡±

    His breathing was uneven, only matching the disheveled state he currently suffered.

    He was running low on Mana, so he avoided wasting it on healing himself unnecessarily. If it wasn¡¯t fatal, he could bear it.

    It had only been a couple of minutes¡ªten minutes tops¡ªthat he had started his battle with this beast, yet he was already in such a sorry state.

    Unlike him, the massive Demon still seemed to be eager for a fight. It kept healing despite the injuries Ivan inflicted on it. The young man was never able to deal any decisive hit.

    ¡®The moment I try to¡­ it uses that negative burst of his and pushes me away¡­¡¯

    That was why Ivan was stuck!

    ¡®Shit¡­¡¯

    He had expended too much Mana, and he couldn¡¯t maintain Bond Magic for very long too.

    At this point, the excitement of the young man had faded away and he was beginning to wonder about reinforcements.

    However, he knew the problem with that.

    ¡ªPreparation!

    It had been three years since the first Demonic attack.<sub></sub>

    Initially, there was tight security measure across the kingdom. Protocols were tight, and defense was airtight.

    However, given the fact that nothing had urred, people were bound to getcent. The soldiers stationed at the border were probablyzing around. Even the Archmage in charge of the fort had gone for a Seminar.

    No one saw thising!

    ¡°Damnit!¡±

    This was a remote area that faced thend of the Elves. Who would have thought that a Demonic assault woulde from here first?

    ¡®Are the other areas experiencing this too?¡¯ Ivan couldn¡¯t help but ask himself.

    If that was the case, then could that mean the war had begun?

    ,?-?m For someone who had beenining about his uneventful life and craved excitement, the prospect of engaging in serious warfare made him shiver.

    He didn¡¯t want this!

    ¡®Focus, Ivan!¡¯ He shook his head and focused on the hulking creature before him. It somehow seemed bigger than before, but that was probably Ivan¡¯s imagination.

    ¡®I have to buy time until they¡¯re rea¡ª¡±

    ¡°IVAN! FALL BAAAACK!!!¡± A familiar voice shouted at him.

    He recognized it well.

    ¡°Cephas!¡±<sub></sub>

    Ivan, who would have stubbornly refused to heed the man¡¯s words, found relief that help had arrived.

    He was just about to reach his limits, so this was perfect.

    ¡°Haa! Understood!¡±

    With that, Ivan sharply turned away from the Demon and began heading in the direction of the fort¡ªwith the watchtower in his view.

    ¡°GURRRURUUUUU¡­¡±

    The Demon didn¡¯t seem to agree with Ivan¡¯s tactical retreat.

    ¡°Eat this, you monsterrr!!!¡±

    Ivan used thest bit of his Mana and Bond Magic tounch several spikes at the Demon¡ªat least to buy time. However¡­

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!<

    ¡­ They were all deflected by the creature¡¯s negative burst.

    ¡°SHIIIITTTT!!!¡± Ivan picked up his pace as he ran.

    He didn¡¯t have nearly enough stamina and energy to fly with the use of his Magic. In his current state, running was the best he could do.

    ¡°GET DOWWWWWNNNN!!!¡± Ivan heard a sound, and he instantly obeyed.

    Taking a bracing position, Ivan prepared for the bombardment that was about toe.<sub></sub>

    ¡°FIIIRREEEEEE!!!¡±

    In a deafening roar, several Magic Canons spat mes and explosive ores.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!<

    The balls of mes wereunched, and they made impact with their target¡ªthough some missed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

    The shockwave was enough to push Ivan¡¯s body. If he hadn¡¯t braced for impact, it would have meant serious problems.

    ¡®Haa¡­ those things sure pack a punch!¡¯

    The Magic Canons that were spread throughout the fort to handle multiple enemies were used on a single one. While some missed since their aim couldn¡¯t urately capture a single enemy¡ªeven with its size. Still¡­

    ¡­ There was no way it could survive!

    As Ivan smiled, enjoying his brief moment of satisfaction¡ªthat they triumphed against the threat¡ªthe hulking monster emerged from the immense smoke and mes that licked its body.

    The moment Ivan heard its deafening footsteps, his smile froze, and his body became stiff.

    He was currently on the ground because of the bombardment, but he couldn¡¯t get up at the moment.

    The shock was too much.

    ¡°GURRRRUUUUUU¡­¡± The battered Demon growled.

    Its body was full of holes and wounds, but¡­ none were fatal!

    >SHUUUUUUUU!!!<

    It spread disgusting Miasma throughout its body and healed from the effects of the bombardment¡­

    ¡­ Just like that!

    It was almost like nothing had happened. No, something was different.

    More Miasma swelled from the horrifying creature, and it opened its wide jaw to produce something.

    It was a massive ball of mes!

    Mixed with the immense Miasma, the crimson cluster of destructive energy became purple, and it swirled above the mouth of the monster.

    In a few seconds¡ªno, maybe even less¡ªIvan was going to be a pile of ash.

    ¡°SHIT! RESTOCK! RELOAD! RELOOOOAAADDDD!!!¡± Cephas dered, brandishing his own dual des as he dashed in the direction of Ivan.

    The fort was a bit far from the helpless boy¡¯s location, but Cephas¡¯ Martial Arts made that meaningless.

    In a few moments, he closed the distance and reached the kid.

    Unfortunately¡­. by the time he got there, the monster had already fully prepared its st.

    ¡°SHIIIITTT!!!¡± Cephas brandished his de, probably in an attempt to stop the monster from firing.

    Martial Arts were great, but the middle-aged man should have known its limits. There was no way his meaningless struggle could amount to much.

    However, in times of desperation, people could summon power beyond their usual limits. Perhaps he was hoping for that.

    >KRRIRIIIKKKIIII<

    shes of purple energy burst forth, and a wave of despairing energy made Cephas abandon the thought.

    There was no way he couldpete against that.

    If his master was here, then something could be done, but this? This was beyond him!

    Before the Magic Canons got reloaded, the damage would already be done. He and the young boy on the floor would die.

    If the next barrage didn¡¯t end this Demon, then it would go on to extinguish the life of the defenders of the fort.

    ¡®Is this it? If only we were more vignt¡­¡¯

    >VWUUUUUMMMMMM!!!!<

    The purple spark of destructive lightning and mes wasunched.

    In a fraction of a moment, it could collide with them.

    Death was imminent!

 Chapter 296 Jareds Return

    Ivan watched the purple st of destruction approach.

    His senses didn¡¯t have enough bandwidth to react to the assault on time.

    He couldn¡¯t think. He couldn¡¯t breathe. He could only see.

    As he neared his end, regret lingered in his heart.

    Despite his pursuit of strength, he still couldn¡¯t reach it. Why did he always lose no matter how hard he tried?

    The life of a loser and failure.

    That was all that shed before his eyes at the end.

    ¡­ At least that was what he thought.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The explosion came.

    It was so deafening that Ivan felt rattled to his bones.

    The vibrations shook him at his very core, and his heart raced with the rhythm.

    However¡­ he wasn¡¯t hurt.

    ?o??? He had thought death was painful. Yet, not only did he not feel pain or heat or pressure¡­ he didn¡¯t feel anything at all!

    He heard the sound, felt the vibrations, but that was it!

    ¡®W¡ªwha¡ª?!¡¯ His mind failed toprehend what had happened, so he opened his eyes.<sub></sub>

    The sight he saw was born out of a miracle that he didn¡¯t know could happen.

    >SHIIIINNNNGGGG!!!<

    Bright, golden light shone. It encircled a particr area¡ªlike a dome.

    This brilliant field of light was not used on them¡ªrather, it was the enemy that dwelled within the barrier¡ªas well as the detonated st of destruction.

    ¡°GUAAAAAARRRRRKKKKK!!!¡± The monster bellowed as it was assailed by its own attack.

    Stuck in a space it could not escape from, it was forced to bear the muttion of its flesh.

    Screams filled the air for a moment, and then the explosion stopped.

    The monster also ceased crying¡ªmost likely realizing the futility of that action.

    Instead, it red into the air¡ªfocusing its gaze on an apparition that floated there. The growl it gave disyed hate, and the Demon trembled in fury and fear.

    Ivan, who had taken in this sight in such a short period, was dazed.

    He looked at the injured creature within the golden barrier. It was scared and angry, staring at something in the sky.

    The Demon no longer paid any attention to him nor Cephas, who was doing his best to stand tall.

    Ivan followed the Demon¡¯s gaze, wondering what the Demon¡¯s new target was¡ªor, rather, who.

    It was a figure that levitated in midair.

    Ivan couldn¡¯t make the apparition well, since it was so far up in the sky, but¡­ the figure slowly descended.<sub></sub>

    Ivan¡¯s eyes began widening as the being¡ªa person¡ªcame into view.

    He had elegant blond hair that fluttered with the wind, shining brightly like the sun above them.

    The person didn¡¯t seem any older than Ivan¡ªno, he was probably younger.

    He wore a white coat that pped as he descended, and his shirt and trousers were ck. The shoes he wore were a mix of white and gold.

    The boy had both hands in the pocket of his coat,fortably gliding in the air as he now hovered about a hundred feet in the air.

    ¡°T¡ªthat is¡­.!!!¡± Cephas¡¯ eyes widened as he stared at the figure before him.

    He had a faint memory y in his mind, but so much doubt banished it from bing a conviction.

    There was no way!

    Ivan, on the other hand, smiled as he witnessed someone he hadn¡¯t seen in 3 years appear before him now.

    ¡®You¡¯ve not changed¡­¡¯ His thoughts trailed.

    The figure in white, ck, and a tiny bit of gold, turned his face and smiled at the people on the ground.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done well¡­ Ivan.¡±

    The young man felt a surge of pride, yet frustration swelled up from within him. Still, heforted himself that he had indeed tried his hardest.

    The Demon was simply too strong¡ªas was the boy before him now.

    ¡°Jared Leonard¡­ you¡¯re back¡­¡± He said with a weak voice.<sub></sub>

    But, even though they were mere whispers, the boy a hundred feet above heard him perfectly well.

    ¡°¡­ You better¡­ kick that guy¡¯s ass!¡±

    The blond boy¡ªfifteen years of age, with mature eyes and a charming smile¡ªnodded.

    ¡°Yeah.¡±

    ¡°GRRROOOOAAAAAAA!!!!¡± The Demon roared from within the barrier.

    It pounded the golden field that imprisoned it¡ªto no avail.

    Ivan wasn¡¯t sure if it was just his imagination, but the barrier didn¡¯t even seem to budge despite the powerful strikes of the enemy.

    ¡°¡­ To think one of you escaped.¡± He heard the boy above him say.

    What did that mean?

    Ivan wasn¡¯t certain, but he decided to focus more on the Demon and witness hisst moment. Ivan was curious.

    Just how much had his longtime rival grown? What sort of Spell would he use to defeat this monstrosity?

    As he contemted, Jared Leonard sighed above.

    A tiny fragment of golden light appeared.

    It looked like one of the stars that decorated the night sky.

    If not for its golden color, and the way it danced before Jared, Ivan would not have been able to tell the difference between the two.

    ¡°You should die too¡­¡±

    >WHUSH!<

    The ¡®star¡¯ instantly vanished from Ivan¡¯s sight, and the next thing he knew, it had appeared in front of the trapped Demon.

    ¡®W¡ªwha¡ª?!¡¯

    Ivan had not even been able to follow the attack¡¯s movements, so it only seemed like it vanished. Still¡­ was the little light what Jared intended to use against the Demon?

    ¡®It has thick scales, and that aura of Miasma also fortifies it greatly¡­ not to mention that troublesome regeneration.¡¯

    Unless one was to hit it in a fatal spot¡ªwith an attack strong enough¡ªthis thing wouldn¡¯t die.

    ¡®Should I tell him?!¡¯

    They had been fighting the Demon before Jared showed up.

    It was highly possible¡ªno, it was probably the case¡ªthat Jared didn¡¯t know about the Demon¡¯s nature.

    Ivan made up his mind.

    ¡®I have to tell him! I have to warn him! He shouldn¡¯t expend his Mana for nothing!¡¯

    Taking a deep breath¡ªeven know Ivan knew that the boy above could hear even his whispers¡ªhe made to scream.

    ¡°Ja¡ª!!!¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    In a moment¡ªno, probably less¡ªeverything shone goldenly.

    And the bellows of the Demon ceased.

    At that moment, Ivan ceased speaking, but his mouth remained wide open.

    Why?

    ¡°I¡ªIt¡¯s¡­ gone¡­?¡±

    The young man¡¯s eyes looked at the golden barrier that still stood erect. It was perfectly alright. However¡­

    ¡°The Demon¡­¡±

    ¡­ There was nothing within it.

    ¡°¡­ is gone?!¡±

    Just like that, the threat that gued the Western Borders of the Empire was extinguished¡ªCOMPLETELY!

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [Wee To The Fourth Arc Of SPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Schr]

    [The Demonic Incursion Arc Begins!]

 Chapter 297 Finishing Up

    ¡°Now, then¡­¡±

    I looked beneath me and saw Ivan gawking at the sight before me.

    The older man who attempted to protect him also did the same. For someone of his age, he seemed even more flustered than Ivan.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go greet them¡­¡¯

    With that thought, I glided from my heights and descended in a swift manner. Once my focus was away from the golden barrier, it turned into shimmers of light¡ªlike fireflies¡ªand dissipated.

    The barren wastnd around it emitted vestiges of smoke to signify the emptiness caused by an absolute disintegration of the target and its surroundings.

    That no longer mattered, though.

    ¡®I¡¯m sure the owner of this patch ofnd will overlook this damage¡­ since I saved the area.¡¯

    >WHOOOOSHHH!<

    Inded on the ground and removed both hands from my coat¡¯s pockets.

    Facing the two gawking men, I smiled warmly and addressed them. It had been a while since I spoke to humans, after all.

    ¡®¡­ A long while¡­¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m d to see you¡¯re safe.¡±

    The two looked at me with both surprise and awe. It was an expected reaction, so I took it in stride.<sub></sub>

    ¡°What are the casualties?¡± I went on to ask.

    It took a while for the question to sink in, but afterward, Ivan was the first to speak.

    ¡°Three of our ssmates went to patrol near the border¡ªwhere the Demon appeared¡­ they¡¯re probably dead¡­¡±

    For a moment, there was silence in the air.

    It was an ufortable one, where the atmosphere felt heavy and was about to break into grief andment.

    ¡°I see¡­ so those were the Souls I picked along the way. That¡¯s alright, then. The numbers tally.¡±

    Once I said this, Ivan¡¯s eyes bulged and he looked in both anger and surprise.

    ¡°Alright? I said they are¡ª¡±

    ¡°I heard you clearly the first time. There¡¯s no need to be concerned. Here.¡±

    I threw a pill in Ivan¡¯s direction.

    It was of pure white color, shaped like a smooth and round stone¡ªor, more like a pellet.

    ¡°Ingest that¡­ and leave the rest to me!¡±

    Ivan still seemed shaken, but I was certain he would regain hisplete senses in a while. Before that, though¡­<sub></sub>

    ¡°Excuse me, sir.¡± I turned to the older man who was with us.

    ¡°A¡ªah¡­ yessh! I mean, yes?¡±

    ¡°Make sure he ingests the pill. Also, please retreat to the fort and prepare a meeting room where we can properly have some discussions.¡±

    The man nodded in an instant, making me smile slightly.

    ¡®So, he¡¯s not too caught up with our age gap and has no problem taking orders from someone younger. Good¡­¡¯

    ¦Ñ?n?a (n??)???? Though, if I was to be fair¡­ I was older than him by a long margin¡ªeven just counting this life alone.

    ¡°Alright, then. I need to take care of business. Once I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll arrive at the fort. Tell your soldiers to be at ease and rest up. As long as I¡¯m here, no harm will befall this region.¡±

    He nodded.

    ¡°Good.¡±

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    I flew at an extremely fast velocity, vanishing from their sights before they couldprehend it.

    Once I was high in the sky, I looked at the coastal area where the Demon Beast must have first emerged from the water. As soon as I found it, locating the whereabouts of the corpses was a cinch.

    ¡®Found ¡¯em!¡¯<sub></sub>

    With that thought, I darted in that direction.

    ¡®No one is dying on my watch!¡¯

    ***********

    ¡°W¡ªwho was that¡­?¡± Cephas murmured, looking at a shaken Ivan.

    For a moment, the red-haired young man didn¡¯t speak. He only stared emptily into the sky.

    Fortunately, this didn¡¯tst very long.

    ¡°He¡¯s one of my ssmates, a friend¡­ and I used to think of him as a rival, but¡­¡±

    After experiencing all that Jared had done within the span of a few seconds¡ªwithout even breaking a sweat¡ªcould he still think that?

    That would be too conceited of him!

    ¡°¡­ He¡¯s already surpassed that level, uh? I guess there¡¯s no point topare or even try catching up to him¡­¡±

    It only made sense that Jared kept getting stronger as Ivan also trained. The gap didn¡¯t only not change, it actually grew even more.

    Jared Leonard was in a league of his own.

    ¡°But, he said you did well. That beast was an extremely difficult one. Even I would have¡­¡±

    Cephas was an Advanced Martial Artist on the high end. If even he could not win despite his power and experience, then Ivan had really done well.

    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re right. Huu, it¡¯s stupid to try to even measure up to that monster, in the first ce!¡±

    Ivan chuckled and stood.

    He still had the white pill Jared threw at him. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he chucked it down his throat and swallowed it.

    To his surprise, the solid tablet dissolved and became like a potion once it entered his mouth. Melting into a sweet-like liquid, it permeated Ivan¡¯s body and took action.

    In an instant, the young man felt his body being invigorated. His fatigue vanished, all the pain disappeared, his wounds were no more.

    And¡­

    ¡°My Mana¡­ this is¡ª!!!¡±

    ¡­ His Mana was restored.

    This was aplete recovery!

    It was almost as if he had never fought the Demon!

    ¡°Amazing¡­ this is simply amazing!!!¡± Cephas¡¯ eyes bulged.

    He too was surprised like Ivan, maybe even more so.

    As an older¡ªmore experienced¡ªman, he knew the value of such an item. Most top-grade Potions could only restore about 60-70 Percent of a person¡¯s physical state. At most was 80.

    That was why some people purchased numerous potions for safety.

    A few top-grade Potions¡ªknown as the highest kinds¡ªcould only restore about 80 Percent.

    But, not only did the mysterious white pillpletely restore Ivan¡¯s health, it alsopletely recovered his lost Mana.

    Two effects in one¡ªCephas had never seen that kind of potion/pill before.

    ¡°T¡ªthat boy¡­ just who is he? You said he was from your Academy, right? Ainrk¡­ hold on¡­!!!¡±

    Cephas had been so caught up in awe and surprise that he too hadn¡¯t been thinking properly.

    Of those in Ivan¡¯s ss, three exceptional students left the Academy before they couldplete their course.

    One of those students was a person of interest to the Alphonse Sereth Domain. Could it be¡ª?!

    ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s Jared Leonard¡­¡±

    Cephas felt like his head would burst. This was his master¡¯s¡­ then that meant¡­

    ¡®HE¡¯S BACK?!¡¯

 Chapter 298 Gathering Of Leaders

    Cephas promptly returned to the fort and did everything as he was instructed.

    This time, it wasn¡¯t simply because the one who instructed him was a stronger being, but also due to his identity.

    He was Jared Leonard!

    Jared was the grandson and master of the retired Lord of this Region. He was also the nephew of the current Lord. Plus, Lord Alphonse was the man in charge of the fort at the border, so that made this visitor more akin to royalty.

    Cephas promptly told the servants what had been said, ordered the workers to prepare a lovely meal and decent amodation for their guest¡ªno, for family!

    Since this was a coastal region, fish and several other kinds of seafood were the major delicacies, but that didn¡¯t mean they were short on other materials.

    ¡°Make everything perfect!¡±

    Cephas wasn¡¯t certain he would go this far for even the prince of the Kingdom, but¡­ after hearing all the praises of Jared from his master, also hearing of the same boy¡¯s exploits from his kid in the Academy, and then witnessing the boy¡¯s power for himself¡­ Cephas was filled with awe.

    He had thought his Master and everyone else were slightly exaggerating, but it turned out that they were right. Jared Leonard was exceptional.

    ¡®I wonder if Master Alphonse will arrive to meet his grandson here?!¡¯<sub></sub>

    Thanks to the Demon beast¡¯s attack, they had sent a Message to the Lord of their Region¡ªAlphonse¡¯s second son¡ªusing a Magic Tool formunication. It was a message to warn the Lord and also request support.

    Of course, they also tried reaching out to Alphonse, but it seemed the old man forgot his Magic Communication Tool.

    Magic Items were very rare and expensive, but for a Fort like this, and for many other regions, they were necessary¡ªespecially Communication Tools.

    Alphonse was pretty careless, but even he must have understood the implication of not taking his Magic Tool. Did that mean he too was attacked, or¡­?

    Cephas shook off those thoughts and simply prepared a proper wee for their guest and savior¡ªJared Leonard.

    ************

    Imagine my surprise finding out that Alphonse was the leader around here!

    It was initially baffling how they revered me, but after finding out the reason¡­ things made more sense.

    I had returned to the fortter in the evening¡ªafter surveying the entire coastal region for any potential threats and doing a bit of personal investigation.<sub></sub>

    Before then, though, I resurrected the three guys who died as a result of the Demon Beast¡¯s attack. They were also surprised by my presence and profusely thanked me for saving them.

    I epted their wholesome gratitude and told the three to report back to the base.

    ¡®I made it sound official, but it was just to get them off my back.¡¯

    The members of the fort must have been shocked to see the previously dead people return unscathed, because when I arrived in the evening, they were all bowing and waiting at the entrance.

    ¡®I¡¯m not a royal, though¡­ and this isn¡¯t even my territory¡­¡¯

    I mean, sure, I was rted to the one in charge and was strong enough to demand reverence. But¡­ receiving something like this was just unnecessarily ufortable.

    Of course, since I understood their sentiments, I bore with it and didn¡¯t let it show on my calm face.

    I was taken to the meeting room¡ªarge conference hall most likely used for highly strategic conversations.

    A smile formed on my face as I noticed something¡ªAlphonse¡¯s portrait with me and my mother when I was still under his tutge.<sub></sub>

    The broad smile on our faces sent nostalgia coursing through me, but I controlled myself. I also spotted something else in the room, causing me to smile faintly.

    ¡®So, that¡¯s how it is¡­¡¯

    It wouldn¡¯t be a problem for me, so I simply snapped my fingers and then faced the group of people that stood behind me as I observed the room.

    ¡°So, the key figures of the Fort are here, then?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Everyone except Lord Alphonse.¡±

    I nodded upon hearing Cephas¡¯ reply.

    ¡°Envoys from the Lord¡¯s estate will be arriving shortly.¡±

    ¡°Did you not tell them that help was no longer necessary?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did. But, by the time I sent the message, they had dispatched their troops.¡±

    Communication devices were rare, so it wasmon sense that the mobilized army didn¡¯t have any device that could have been used to reach them.

    ¡°We have also run out of res, so¡­¡± Cephas¡¯ voice trailed as he addressed me.

    He was most likely embarrassed by the ipetence of the Fort, but I didn¡¯t hold it against him. Why would I?

    Alphonse was at the helm, so he was the one who had to be held ountable.

    ¡®It¡¯s too bad I won¡¯t be sticking around very long before he arrives.¡¯

    ¡°You may all be seated,¡± I told the distinguished men¡ªand woman¡ªshowing them the seats that were neatly arranged around the rectangr desk.

    They bowed and sat. Once they did, I proceeded to have my position at the seat of honor¡ªfacing all the older men and women who looked at me.

    None of their faces showed difort, which meant that Cephas must have emphasized my status and power to them.

    ¡®Knowing Alphonse¡¯s personality, he could have bragged about me once or twice¡­¡¯

    In any case, they understood their ce and mine, making things easier for me.

    ¡°Thanks for setting up this meeting, Cephas.¡± I turned to my side to look at the man who stood a bit behind my chair.

    He was most likely taking up his retainer/bodyguard position to raise my prestige. I appreciated the thought, but¡­ wouldn¡¯t it be better if he sat as well?

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, sir!¡± He responded quickly and firmly.

    ¡®This guy¡­¡¯

    I understood a bit about the general personality of Martial Artists, but¡­ this was not something I would tolerate now.

    Ivan was even included in the meeting since Alphonse gave him a position of leadership over the resting graduates of Ainrk whom I saved.

    ¡®And he¡¯s seated! There¡¯s no way I¡¯m allowing you to stand, Cephas!¡¯

    While it would take a bit more time to convince this man to join the others in his seat, it was necessary.

    Once that was settled, the meeting would begin in earnest.

 Chapter 299 Severe Matters

    I considered waiting for the leader of the Lord¡¯s envoys who was already nearing the fort, but I figured that it would be better if he joined the meeting once all the introductions and preliminary issues had been dealt with.

    I smiled at the people seated, and they all gave me looks indicating many things.

    Curiosity. Awe. Expectations. Hopefulness. Inferiority.

    Thest part was from Ivan, since he must have felt extremely inadequatepared to me after witnessing the whole thing with that Demon Beast.

    ¡®He has grown to an unprecedented degree, though¡­¡¯

    It was just thatparing himself to me was a fundamental error, to begin with.

    While I wasn¡¯t invincible¡ªyet¡ªI was above the league of most contemporary Magic Users.

    After a little back and forth, Cephas also took his seat.

    We were ten in the room.

    Seven squadron leaders¡ªeach specialized in a particr aspect of warfare.

    Ivan Smith¡ªleader of the Academy Interns.<sub></sub>

    The Vice Commander¡ªCephas.

    And then me.

    There was one empty seat avable, for the Envoy Leader to use once he arrived. However, since he was still absent, I used the opportunity to get rid of preliminary matters.

    First were introductions.

    After hearing from the various leaders about their roles, the details of their upation, and their response to the Demon Beast¡¯s attack.

    While doing this much seemed unnecessary, I had my reasons.

    By the time we were done, the Envoy Leader arrived.

    He was a thick man with robust muscles and a hardened face. The re-like look in his eyes was enough to intimidate anyone at first nce.

    I thought he would request the seat of honor because of his high status, but he was a lot more reasonable than I thought.

    ¡®I told those who would wee the Envoys to brief him before he entered. After hearing everything, he must also be in a state of reverence¡ªor something simr¡­¡¯<sub></sub>

    Since we were done with the preliminary meeting, and our guest was here, I decided to start in earnest.

    ¡°The Demonic being that attacked your borders is a Demon Beast¡ªa breed of Magic Beasts fused with Miasma to the point ofpatibility.¡±

    They were not only stronger, but they could achieve phenomenal heights with their newfound abilities. Of course, that was only IF they werepatible.

    ¡°On my way here, I witnessed a horde of them charging in your location, so I dealt with them ordingly. Who would have thought they had a scout ahead of them¡­¡±

    The people were stunned as they sat, staring at each other with shock and disbelief.

    ¡°H¡ªhow many were they¡­?¡± Cephas croaked.

    ¡¢ With everyone shaken by this discovery, even he was no exception.

    ¡°A few hundred¡ªperhaps three hundred or more.¡±

    Their jaws dropped even more.

    I could understand their rationale.<sub></sub>

    ¡®A single one was too much for them to properly handle. If they were more prepared¡ªor if they persevered, they would eventually take one down¡ªbut¡­ three hundred will be too much for them to win against.¡¯

    Even with the Envoys, I estimated that they could manage to kill five¡ªmaybe ten?

    In essence, without my intervention, they would have all met cruel ends.

    Ivan was even biting his lips in frustration, considering he struggled so much against one and I ended up defeating three hundred without much effort.

    ¡°I recovered the corpse of a few of them, so the Kingdom will have to take a good look at them to confirm my words and prepare countermeasures,¡± I added.

    Cephas and the others nodded while gulping. Even the leader of the envoys was already looking at me with a brighter expression.

    ¡°Now, then, the Demon Beasts were only a small number¡ªmost likely dispensable tools to probe the area or deal the first strike.¡±

    ¡°T¡ªthen, why did theye from the border facing the Elven Kingdom of the Western Continent? Could it be that they¡¯reunching simultaneous attacks?¡±

    True, it indeed made more sense for the Demons tounch an attack from the north. However, that was predictable, no?

    I was certain the Kingdom focused most of its defensive measures to guard the northern territories, but they did well not topletely leave the other borders unattended.

    However, with the looser security and the preconceived notion of the Western Continent being direct neighbors, it was the perfect means to strike.

    ¡°The Western Continent is most likely also suffering from an incursion,¡± I stated, shocking them even more.

    It was the only exnation.

    Based on the geographical locations of the continents, the Western Continent was closer to the Northern Continent. Plus, if they attacked from the ocean connecting the East and West, it meant that thetter would have already had encounters with the Demons.

    They simply had their hands full at the moment.

    ¡°The Demons probably intend to make both continents too busy dealing with the threat to be too busy for the other.¡±

    If the East needed help and sought an alliance from the West, they could perhaps join forces to drive out the Demons. However, if the borders connecting the two were breached, it would be more difficult for the possibility of a joint front.

    ¡°T¡ªthen, what can we do¡­?¡± The Envoy Leader asked with a perplexed expression.

    I sighed slightly.

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to report to the capital. I¡¯ll give you the details of what your Report will be. The corpses of the Demon Beasts should also be transported there.¡±

    They nodded and gulped again.

    I had other business to attend to, so I couldn¡¯t hold their hands through every process.

    ¡°Just in case some of you are still unsure of this, I¡¯ll tell it to you straight. The War has officially begun!¡±

    Judging by the bitter and slightly frightened expressions on the faces of everyone present, I could tell that they had been dreading that reality.

    A single Demon Beast gave them such problems, and it was merely one of several expendable pawns of the Demonic Forces.

    In essence, based on the encounter they just had, these people were already aware of the chances they had against the Demon Race.

    ¡°Then, there¡¯s something else to address¡­¡±

    I looked at Cephas in particr and furrowed my brow.

    ¡°This Fort¡ªno, the entire Eastern Kingdom¡ªispromised.¡±

    And¡­ there was a spy among us.

 Chapter 300 Spy

    ¡°C¡ªCOMPROMISED?!¡±

    The leaders were all stunned by my words, but I remained calm.

    ¡°Yeah. Even now, one of us here could be an enemy¡­¡± My eyes scoured the room and I saw the faces of everyone watching me.

    ¡°Oi¡­ are you serious?¡±

    ¡°How is that even¡­?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going a bit too far?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for¡­¡±

    h. h. h.

    They rambled on and on, and I let them.

    Ever since I entered this room, I had felt something was off.

    Of course, asking Cephas who was in charge of setting up the ce could instantly rouse the suspicion of the enemy, so I ignored it.<sub></sub>

    Instead, by allowing them all to introduce themselves, I figured out who did what and their additional assignments.

    By narrowing down the list, I had arrived at my conclusion even before the Envoy Leader arrived.

    ¡°It¡¯s you¡­¡± I smiled, focusing my gaze on anky man who was in charge of squadron three¡ªhandling auxiliary activities and maintenance of the Fort.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat?!¡± He sharply responded, looking shell-shocked.

    I had to admit, that was good acting. It even reminded me of a particr someone who was a maid.

    The rest of the leaders looked at the man with slightly confused¡ªbut suspicious eyes.

    ¡°G¡ªguys,e on¡­ it¡¯s me! Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re just going tobel me as a spy!¡± His expression appealed to their sentiment¡ªa good technique for a spy.

    ¡°Everything I said so far has been urate, and I also have the power to back up my statements. Let¡¯s not mention the fact that I am your Commander¡¯s grandson and pupil, as well as this Region Lord¡¯s nephew¡­

    The man looked even more shaken as I responded calmly. Everyone in this room was a leader, and that meant they valued facts over sentiment.

    The advantage was on my side.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Alphonse forgetting his Magic Communication Tool, the disappearance of res, and the bug ced in this room¡­ all of them point toward you was the culprit.¡±

    It was easy to me a servant for one of these, but not all. There was no way an observant veteran leader would be so careless as to allow so many discrepancies.

    ¡°Cephas specifically had his leaders mobilized because of my arrival. It makes sense that better care and observation will be put in ensuring this room was set up well. That makes the leader in charge the mostplicit.¡±

    Once I exined my rationale, everyone had to side with my logic.

    ¡°B¡ªbut¡­ I¡­¡± The man was already getting nervous, darting his eyes left and right.

    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it. Your bugs, and even the magical devices you have on you, have been rendered powerless. In essence, I forcefully deactivated them.¡±

    ¡°W¡ªwha¡ª? How is that¡ª?¡±

    ¡°No help ising. You¡¯ve been cut off already.¡±

    ¡°Eeek!¡±

    The man seemed timiderpared to Liliana¡ªwho had already shown her true colors at this point.<sub></sub>

    ¡®There¡¯s no use buying time or trying any tricks. You¡¯ve been caught.¡¯

    With the snap of my fingers, he fell unconscious and copsed on the carpeted ground.

    ¡°Leave him there. There should still be other spies¡ªmaybe one or two in the Fort and some in the Region. It might be difficult getting rid of them all, but we can prevent them from gaining ess to information.¡±

    I was nning on giving them a Magic Lie Detector Item that would allow the Kingdom to spot and eliminate the spies.

    ¡°Now that we have that out of the way¡­ let¡¯s continue the meeting.¡±

    ******************

    Our assemblysted for another thirty minutes before it was concluded.

    During that time, I gave specific instructions and handed over necessary tools to those delegated to perform properly.

    Since we had no idea when the next wave of attacks would arrive, it was better to be prepared.

    ¡®They¡¯ll most likelyunch an aerial assault next. Or, perhaps underground¡­?¡¯

    In any case, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be prepared.

    After the meeting was concluded, I was allocated a free office for the drafted document I needed them to take to the Capital before I arrived there myself.

    The situation was dire, but there were two ces I needed to stop by first before heading to the Royal Pce to enact my n.

    ¡°Huu¡­ alright!¡±

    My first day back, and I was already this busy. However, if it was only this much then it was bearable.

    After writing my message to the Royal Pce, I was going to give the people in the Fort the Demon Beasts I captured¡ªdead, of course¡ªand make my way to the next destination.

    There were many details that I didn¡¯t divulge to them, but they didn¡¯t concern these ones. The major burdeny in the Capital, so I needed to settle other matters first.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame I didn¡¯t get to see Alphonse, but that¡¯s fine too. We¡¯ll meet someday¡­ if he doesn¡¯t die or anything.¡±

    Even then¡ªas long as I could help it¡ªdeath wouldn¡¯t necessarily be the end of his life.

    My journey of three years was worth a lot more than that.

    I spent at least a century in practice, and that was only my rough estimation. I was too upied with all I did that the concept of time became nearly redundant.

    But, it was thanks to this that I was able to achieve this level of power.

    The organization that was after my life, and the looming disturbance¡ªI was confident in my ability to face them.

    The Demons had an Arcana with them¡ªThe Devil¡ªwhich made them nearly invincible in their territory. It was also thanks to this that the entire Northern Continent was shrouded in endless Miasma and they could survive without ingesting corrupted Souls.

    The organization after me also had their share of Arcanas¡ªpossibly close to ten by now.

    If they were working together with the Demons, then that made the situation even direr, but¡­ I had no ns of watching from the sidelines or choosing safety.

    Normally, I would dere this as an unwinnable sh¡ªconsidering the weak andpromised state of the Kingdom.

    . However¡­ the enemies weren¡¯t the only ones with Arcanas.

    Plus, with my current strength and possession¡­ this whole thing could turn around for the better!

 Chapter 301 The Grand Hall

    The Demon Realm.

    A ce only habitable by the denizens of chaos and darkness.

    The patch ofnd where they currently dwelled was once a prosperous nation in the Northern Continent. However, it had be a haven for the malevolent creatures of evil.

    Miasma wafted through the distorted air, and an atmosphere of tension covered thend.

    Why?

    Because the Demon King had been seeded by his son, Prince¡ªcorrection, King¡ªAbellion.

    And, not long after, he dered war on the other races of the world.

    Demons were long-lived, so many of them knew the horrors of battle. They had witnessed the events of the previous war, and many of them¡ªwhile they resented the other races¡ªdid not want to go through something like that again.

    But, as was thew of the Demon Society, only the strong could determine the oue of anything¡ªeven their very lives.

    And the strong in the Demon Realm were the Six Demon Lords, and the Demon King who presided over them.

    Over the past few years, the Demon Lords had been reced¡ªbested inbat by those of the younger generation.

    Before anyone knew it, or could piece the puzzle together, all six leaders were nowpletely different from the ones that were known for centuries.<sub></sub>

    Since might made right, the losers could not object to their loss. They could only swear allegiance to the new Lord¡ªor die!

    The weak and the strong all bowed when faced with the might of the supreme.

    And so, despite their reservations, the Demons began mobilizing for war!

    *********

    The Demon Castle was surrounded by six towering pirs and a monolith at the center.

    It rang ominously, but this was the height of power in the corrupt society of despondency.

    Within the monolith¡ªthe Demon King¡¯s Pce was highly revered.

    Also known as the Grand Hall, the Throne-Room was designed in such a way that the Absolute Seat of the Supreme Demon was elevated on a high pedestal, and the subjects could onlyy eyes on its glory from their inferior estate.

    Yes, this was the very definition of Demonic hierarchy.

    And, it was no different today.

    Six Demons were kneeling before the Throne¡ªreverently bowing their heads.<sub></sub>

    They each had different colors, and their unique traits made it clear that they belonged to the different tribes within the Demon Race.

    Other than the Royal Demons, there were six sub-races among these beings.

    The Whites. The cks. The Reds. The Green. The Blue. The Yellow.

    These tribes were represented by the most powerful members of their respective groups¡ªThe Demon Lords!

    nc

    Noir

    Rouge

    Vert

    Bleu

    Jaune

    Only the strong could im these titles, and even among the Demon Lords, there were ranks.<sub></sub>

    In a strictly hierarchical society, this was only natural.

    Each Demon Lord had their territory and maintained autonomy in them¡ªsubject only to the Demon King.

    Of course, higher-ranked Demon Lords could utilize their superiority to influence the weaker ones, but¡­ ultimately, the Demon King was the supreme being they all bowed to without question.

    It wasn¡¯t simply because of the title. No¡­ it was due to the fact that Royal Demons were on another level entirely.

    Even the current Demon King¡ªAbellion¡ªwho sat grandly on his majestic Throne¡ªhad once fought each Demon Lord and achieved wless victory.

    There were rumors that he had even surpassed the Demon Kings that came before him. He was the very definition of the height of Demons¡ªwhich was why the Lords could revere him so much.

    They were all older than him¡ªwith the exception of Rouge¡ªbut age was meaningless before strength.

    . Just as how they were able to defeat their predecessors and usurped their positions despite the age gap, the Demon King did not need such a petty factor to easily beat any opposition.

    The strong was strong.

    The weak were weak.

    ¡°ALL HAIL THE DEMON KING!¡± The Demon Lords dered in the presence of their absolute leader.

    King Abellion¡ªdespite his youthful face that did not seem to fit the title of ¡®King¡¯¡ªsimply smiled at the grand praise.

    ¡°You may raise your heads.¡±

    In response to his words, the Demons swiftly did as they were told.

    It wasn¡¯t that they were impatient or found the act of bowing to be annoying. It was the exact opposite, actually.

    A dy in obeying the words of their superior was uneptable. That was why they acted so quickly. This was yet another disy of their loyalty.

    ¡°You have done well to gather before me today¡­¡± Abellion began, cing both elbows on the armrest of the throne while interlocking his fingers and resting his chin on them.

    Silence.

    They dared not speak unless granted permission to do so.

    ¡°As you are well aware, we¡¯veunched our first strike at the Eastern and Western Continents simultaneously.¡±

    By attacking the two Continents at the borders that directly connected them to each other, it prevented any hope of an immediate alliance. At least, that was the primary goal.

    ¡°The Southern Continent is currently beyond our means, and spreading our military forces too thin will be detrimental in the battle toe.¡± Abellion continued.

    Of course, everyone understood this¡ªwell, perhaps for a single exception.

    Maybe the King was stating the obvious especially because of this individual in their midst.

    ¡°The South houses the Thieranthropes and Dwarves. They are the most formidable among our enemies¡ªespecially the former¡­¡±

    Each Race had its specialty, and it was known to everyone in the room who had the greatestbat ability and skill.

    ¡°If they were closer, perhaps dealing with them first would have been the wisest choice, but¡­¡±

    The Geographical position of the Southern Continent made it mandatory that the West and East had to be conquered first. Taking on three of them at once would be difficult, but by focusing their forces on both the East and West, they could secure victory.

    After absorbing those two, they would gain greater leverage and thenunch a three-pronged offensive on the South.

    Of course, only one problem existed in this n.

    ¡°The Eastern and Western Kingdoms may decide to seek aid from the South.¡±

    The human kingdom was closer to the Beastfolk Society while the Western Continent¡ªwhich consisted of both Fairies and Elves¡ªwere closer to the Dwarves.

    This was only a geographical statement, not based on rtions. After all¡­ neither of the respective Races had much dealings with one another outside their continent.

    ¡°Ultimately, they shall fail in their endeavors¡­ and victory will be ours!¡±

 Chapter 302 The Demon Lords [Pt 1]

    The meeting within the Grand Hallsted for some time.

    In that period, no subordinate moved a muscle unless they were told to. This was not seen as a punishment, but a sign of fervent devotion.

    The Demon King delegated roles to his generals¡ªThe Demon Lords¡ªbased on their specialty.

    ¡°Zenkiel, you will be themander-in-chief on the front lines. Any objections?¡±

    ¡¢ The one addressed, Zenkiel of Vert bowed even deeper than before.

    ¡°None, my King.¡±

    He looked like the oldest among the demons¡ªhaving green scales across his body though he had a noble¡¯s outfit.

    His body was akin to a dragon, with his horns and the bright green eyes that glimmered in satisfaction. His long tail wagged, though he tried to ce it under control.

    Zenkiel belonged to the Greens among the Demon Race. They took on animalistic features, having enough power to rival even the strongest of beastfolk. However, this wasn¡¯t the only reason behind his elevated status.

    Intelligence.<sub></sub>

    In terms of craftiness, nc probably had him beat, but no one could manage military affairs as well as he could. After all¡­ his predecessor was the previousmander-in-chief in thest war.

    By learning at his previous superior¡¯s feet, he was able to gain a vast amount of knowledge in military affairs.

    Zenkiel¡¯s heart raced the moment the role was given to him. Joy coursed through his veins as he swore not to let his King down.

    ¡°Lydia, you will be in charge of espionage. I believe nothing more needs to be said on that front?¡±

    Lydia of nc, a being who appeared like a naked mound of the female body bowed deeply.

    Her body was in and white¡ªhaving no hair, nose, mouth, etc. Not even eyes could be seen. It was just a in white being with lumps on her chest and a well-curved shape that indicated she was female.

    ¡°You are right, my King!¡± She said in a reverent tone.

    How she was able to speak or hear was known to everyone present in the room. As an heteromorphic Demon belonging to the tribe of Whites¡ªa group of Shapeshifters¡ªshe was designed that way from birth.

    No, her endowed figure was special among her other brethren. The more powerful members of the Whites were, the greater the details they had in their base form.<sub></sub>

    For her to have attained this level of detail, she indeed deserved the title of Demon Lord.

    ¡°Serci and Lubick, you¡¯ll handle our main forces.¡±

    These two¡ªSerci of Jaune and Lubick of Bleu¡ªwere beings who looked like opposites.

    For Serci, she was the very definition of a giant. Having a height of at least 12 feet, she looked more like a monster than an actually intelligent being. She had four arms, wings, five horns, four eyes, and her wild fur was colored yellow¡ªwith ck stripes.

    In contrast, Lubick looked like a typical human. If not for his blueplexion and the single horn on his forehead, he would be indistinguishable from a normal person.

    He had a nice mustache, and¡ªoh, yeah!¡ªa tail dangled behind him.

    His outfit looked the most gentlemanly among the bunch. Thanks to his simr appearance to humans, it was easy to assume he would be the weakest. However, making that assumption would be a fatal error.

    While Serci belonged to the grotesque tribe of the Demons, Lubick¡¯s tribe specialized in the use of Magic.

    They were all extremely formidable.<sub></sub>

    ¡°Your wish is ourmand, Great Demon King!¡±

    Bone-chilling reverence filled the atmosphere as both generals shouted with all their might.

    ¡°Kyron. You will handle the management of the Demon Beasts. I can leave that in your care, no?

    Kyron of Noir was a Shadow Demon¡ªthe newest member of the Demon Lords.

    He had achieved this rank after betraying and defeating his mentor. He didn¡¯t regret his actions though.

    He had always desired power, and his new master offered him just that. Instead of staying in Kahn¡¯s shadow, being a member of the highest cadre of Demons was a great start¡ªfor now.

    After all¡­ within the heart of this wicked creature dwelled an insatiable ambition.

    ¡°Yes, my King. I will work hard to meet up to your expectations.¡±

    Now, there was only one Demon Lord that hadn¡¯t been assigned yet.

    What role would befit someone like him?

    ¡°Desgarion. You are going to be on standby. You will be our trump card¡ªthe secret weapon and hidden hand of our army. Can you do that?¡±

    There was a moment of silence¡ªufortable silence.

    All attention was shifted to the Demon who knelt at the center of the row.

    Desgarion of Rouge¡ªa Crimson Demon.

    Of all the six tribes, they were known as the most violent. Having vtile tendencies and the insatiable urge for battle, they were the most dissatisfied with the peace that had befallen the world.

    While they often held diator tournaments in their region, it wasn¡¯t like the taste of real battle.

    The current Demon Lord of Rouge was the youngest to ever exist. He was also the youngest among those who were gathered before Abellion. However, that wasn¡¯t the most surprising thing about him.

    He had been a Demon Lord longer than everyone else who knelt.

    Even before Abellion began his subtle takeover, Desgarion unseated the previous Demon Lord in a battle to the death¡ªand achieved wless victory.

    ording to the Crimson one, his predecessor had requested it.

    Normally, this would have been a great portfolio. Since he had more experience than everyone else, and was probably the strongest, he should have been ced in a more strategic role of responsibility.

    But¡­

    ¡­ Desgarion was too unstable!

    The stronger a Crimson Demon was, the harder it was to control their impulses. For someone of Desgarion¡¯s age and power, it applied greatly to him. Once he had a taste of battle, he found it difficult¡ªif not impossible to stop.

    In essence, this Demon Lord had no self-control!

    In a pure battle, this could have been considered a great virtue. However, in a war where strategy was necessary, unbridled violence would bring a disadvantage to the Demon Race.

    Upon hearing Abellion¡¯s judgment¡ªthe fact that he had been ced on reserve and not on the front line¡ªeveryone knew that Desgarion was dissatisfied.

    However, the unbendablews of Demon Society were enough to restrict the impulsive demon.

    ¡°I understand¡­¡±

    After all, the only one Desgarion had ever lost to was Abellion himself.

    ¡°¡­ My King!¡±

 Chapter 303 The Demon Lords [Pt 2]

    After a few more issues to attend to, the meeting was adjourned and the Demon Lords were released to begin dispensing their duties.

    They¡ªwith the exception of Desgarion¡ªwould all be extremely busy from this point onwards.

    They bowed and left the Grand Hall in silence, refusing to defile such a sacred space with so much as a squeak.

    However, once they exited the hall and were now a good distance from the entrance, the silence was instantly broken.

    ¡°Haaa! His Majesty is as sublime as always!¡±

    The first to speak was¡ªas usual¡ªLydia!

    Despite her horrifyingly nk and nd face, the bubbly tone she used to speak disyed lots of emotion.

    ¡°Indeed. He is the epitome of greatness.¡± Lubick spoke next.

    His blue-like face was disying a satisfied smile as he twisted his mustache.

    ¡°I shall not fail to meet up to his expectations of me!¡±

    Of course, the only one who could sound so serious¡ªdespite the very casual mood¡ªwas none other than theirmander-in-chief.

    ¡°Hey, Zenkiel, do you always sound that way?¡±

    ¡°What way?!¡±

    Every statement he made contained a great degree of stress and earnestness.

    ¡°Pfft.¡±

    ¡°Kekeke¡±

    ¡°Hahaha¡±

    This made many of the Demon Lordsugh at his expense. And the best part was that he had no idea what he did that was so funny.

    ¡°You¡¯re always so nice to talk to, man.¡± Lubick chuckled, tapping the broad and tensed shoulder of hisrade.

    Zenkiel, who didn¡¯t know any better, felt good about thepliment and shed an earnest smile.

    ¡°You can count on me!¡±

    This brought about even moreughter.

    ¡°Ahh, but his Majesty, King Abellion, really is magnificent. I wonder when he will be ready to take a bride. Perhaps I could even offer myse¡ª¡±

    The Demon Lords all froze and stared at the one who spoke.

    It was Serci.

    ¡°¡ªAh, I misspoke. I was being too impatient. But, wouldn¡¯t it be rude if I made Majestye for me himself? Would it not be more appropriate for me to approach him instead? Or would that be too forward? Ahh¡­ I can¡¯t decide!¡± The monstrous Demon squealed, drowned in her fairy tale.

    It was general knowledge that Demons were grotesques, so they clearly had their definition of beauty and attractiveness in their realm.

    For example, someone like Lydia¡ªwho had a nk expression as her usual look¡ªwas praised as a beauty among the Demons.

    In fact, several envied her!

    Compared to nc, Serci of Jaune was simply monstrous.

    Sure, all the members of Serci¡¯s tribe all looked like monsters, but even among them, Serci was deemed extremely hideous.

    Among her people, that was a good thing. She had many suitors who wanted her disgustingly monstrous body. It was the rage where she came from. Perhaps that was why she could so shamelessly dream of marrying the Demon King,

    However, general opinion begged to differ.

    Still, no one tried correcting Serci¡¯s mistaken assumption. Lydia even found it amusing¡ªexcept for the desire of marrying Abellion. After all, he and she were¡­

    ¡°Pfft! Good luck dreaming!¡±

    ¡°Hahaha!¡±

    ¡°Man, you just crack me up!¡±

    Lubick, Lydia, and even the uptight Zenkiel wereughing. They simply couldn¡¯t see someone as dignified as Abellion settling for her, but no one said anything more.

    To Serci, they were simply jealous.

    ¡°If you guys have nothing better to do, then move out of the way!¡± Someone¡¯s annoyed voice rang out

    The Demon Lords kept quiet the moment they heard the irritated sound. It came from someone behind them.

    The owner was shorter than them¡ªyounger too.

    He had dark hair that swerved as he approached the clique, red skin that properly disyed his muscles, yellow eyes that red, and sharp teeth that grated as he moved.

    It was Desgarion of Rouge.

    No Demon Lord spoke to him¡ªno, they didn¡¯t dare to. When he was in this state, it was best to answer with silence.

    They all parted ways and allowed him to pass by their center before vanishing from therge corridor.

    ¡°Sheesh, what¡¯s with him¡­¡± Lydia murmured in a slightly annoyed tone.

    ¡°Shh, what if he hears?¡±

    ¡°Tch, like I care¡­¡±

    Despite saying that, their voices were hushed. Even as they openly red at him, none dared to be serious or defiant.

    ¡°Excuse me¡­¡± Another voice mumbled as he passed the middle of the other Demon Lords as well.

    It was Kyron of Noir.

    He too had remained silent during the discussions of the Demon Lords, though for a different reason.

    ¡°Moody as always, eh?¡±

    ¡°Welp, good luck with your duties.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha! Make sure to raise the livestock well!¡±

    It was because he didn¡¯t fit in with the rest.

    Was it perhaps because he joined thetest? Or was it due to the fact that he was the least ranked among them?

    Maybe it was both.

    ¡¢ However, Kyron himself didn¡¯t mind. He simply walked gently and gave an affirmative nod and sound before also disappearing down the passageway.

    ¡°Hm. Weird guy.¡± Lubick mumbled with a shrug.

    ¡°You¡¯d think he was the strongest with the way he always acts so high and mighty. Hmph! What a jerk!¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a secret that the Whites and cks had never really gotten along. Still, everyone knew the reason for Lydia¡¯s annoyance was more than tribal discrimination.

    ¡°Hm. Well, he must have a lot going on in his mind! Besides, he¡¯s diligent with his duties! As we should all be!¡±

    Yep! Once again, Zenkiel ruined the mood by being too earnest.

    ¡°Haa, I will dedicate my entire being in service of his Majesty!¡± The love-struck idiot grinned stupidly.

    As they kept conversing while walking down the hallway, one would never guess that these were ruthless beings who were heading out for war.

    They would trample upon their enemies and wreak untold tragedies without batting an eye. Such was the extent of their loyalty.

    It was all for the Demon Race¡ªall for the Demon King!

    **********

    ¡°It seems they¡¯re very motivated.¡± A voice appeared, and a man surfaced out of nowhere.

    ¡°Is that not a good thing? So, how did the first strike go?¡±

    This was the Grand Hall, and Demon King Abellion was speaking with his friend, Legris Damien.

    ¡°ording to our sources, the Elves are struggling with the surprise assault. They¡¯ve managed to contain the threat, for now. But¡­¡±

    Abellion¡¯s grin widened once he heard the good news. He was expecting even more concerning the other front.

    ¡°As for the humans¡­ the horde was stopped¡ªno,pletely obliterated.¡±

    This wasn¡¯t what Abellion was expecting to hear.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat?!¡±

 Chapter 304 Unknown Variable

    ¡°W¡ªwhat?!¡±

    Surprised didn¡¯t begin to express the emotion welling up within the young Demon King¡ªthat much so that he lost hisposure.

    ¡°How valid is your information?¡± He asked, looking in Legris¡¯ direction with a tight scowl.

    The human he spoke to shrugged casually.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re keener on believing what happened to the Elves than the situation with the humans? That sounds like bias, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    True, Abellion was acting immature at the moment¡ªrefusing to believe one side of the information he was given. However, in the Demon King¡¯s defense¡ª

    ¡°But, that¡¯s absurd! It hasn¡¯t even been a whole day yet since they would have had contact with the humans!¡±

    ¡°Well, I have merely told you the facts. What you choose to do with the information I provide is entirely up to you. After all¡­ this isn¡¯t ¡®our¡¯ war.¡±

    Legris Damien was simply implying that it was the Demon Race who was engaged in warfare. His organization was simply aiding based on their rtionship as partners.

    ording to their deal, they would procure information for the Demons. In exchange, the Demons had to fulfill their end of the deal. This had always been the nature of their rtionship¡ªnothing more, nothing less.

    ¡°Who¡­ who was it that did it?¡±

    ording to the intelligence they had received so far¡ªwhich affected the strategy they were employing¡ªno one formidable should have been active in the region they attacked at the time.

    The top guns, who were identified as Grand Mages, could most likely pull off killing so many Demon Beasts within such a limited span of time, but they were nowhere near the scene of the crime.

    ¡®There¡¯s also no way information would have gotten to them on time. So, how¡­? Who could it have¡ª¡¯

    ¡°I do not know.¡± Legris Damien¡¯s answer was t and a bit sharp.

    ¡°¡ªUh?¡±

    Abellion was surprised to hear these wordse out of his friend.

    In the entire time they spent as partners, there had never been a time when Legris Damien uttered those words. Other than his organization¡¯s informationwork, he too employed agents and was a man of means.

    If he didn¡¯t know something like this, then¡­!

    ¡°The culprit disguised himself. They probably don¡¯t want to be identified.¡±

    Once Abellion heard this, he became even more conflicted.

    ¡¢??m ¡®A new yer? Or was it someone in the Kingdom we didn¡¯t ount for?¡¯

    There were three Grand Mages in the Eastern¡ªand they were supposedly the most powerful humans around. There was also a wild card called Neron Kaelid, but other than him¡­ were there really other threats?

    ¡°I¡ªI see¡­¡± Abellion could only respond.

    The first phase of their n had already gone awry, which meant there was a risk of the follow-up operation failing. If that happened, then¡ª

    ¡®No! I¡¯m just overthinking things. Even if the humans are saved, the Elves are still in trouble.¡¯

    They would be trying their best to recover and regroup to fight his people. There was no way they would concentrate their focus on the Continent miles away from their patch ofnd.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve already decided a way forward¡­¡± Legris smiled upon seeing a glow in the eyes of the seated one.

    ¡°Hmmm. Somewhat. I would like more information on the border that got saved during the attack. Can you procure them for me? Constant surveince would be much appreciated, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can not do that.¡± Legris interrupted Abellion¡¯s request.

    Once again, the Demon King was stunned beyond words.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know how, but our informationwork has been tampered with in that region.¡±

    Abellion¡¯s eyes bulged wide.

    Legris¡¯ organization utilized irvoyance to view any part of the world. Nowhere¡ªas long as it was known to them¡ªwas hidden. How, then, was an open coastal region difficult to monitor?!

    ¡®Is that even possible? Is he trying to y me?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m being serious here. As much as we¡¯d like to help you, our irvoyance is being blocked by some sort of magic-jamming barrier around the territory. I assume this is also the work of the mysterious mage that wiped out the horde of Demon Beasts.

    Abellion clicked his tongue once he heard this.

    ¡°What of your personal connections? You have agents stationed throughout the Kingdom, right?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately, the ones stationed at that region have also beenpromised.¡±

    It was just from one bad news to another. Abellion sighed in exasperation as Legris¡¯ words sank in.

    Just who was this mysterious mage? Ever since he appeared, things that had been carefully nned were now going awry. Who the heck was he and why did he just surface now?

    ¡°Tch. I see¡­¡± Was all the grand King could utter, though.

    ¡°My apologies for not being of any further use. Are you sure this won¡¯t affect future ns, though?¡±

    The Demon King shook his head while still sighing.

    ¡°No. They were merely disposable pawns, after all. Their purpose was simply to test the waters and also block the two continents from any further alliance.¡±

    The annoying interference was unexpected, but not really fatal. It only meant that Abellion and his forces had to take more caution in dealing with the Eastern Kingdom.

    ¡°In that case, it¡¯s fine. One final thing¡­ how is the Arcana we lent to you? Are you putting it to good use?¡± Legris¡¯ devilish smile could now be seen.

    The previously irritated Demon King finally broke into a smile once he heard the question. It appeared this would be the only positive thing they would be discussing today.

    ¡°Indeed. Thanks to it, we¡¯ll be able to further enhance our forces. At this rate, we¡¯ll be invincible.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Then¡­¡±

    The human bowed out of courtesy and gave a reverent smile.

    ¡°¡­ I will be taking my leave now.¡±

    Abellion gave a nod that signified that he could make his exit.

    With that, a murky darkness surrounded him and he vanished from sight¡ªleaving the Grand Hall.

    Once Abellion confirmed that his friend had gone, he broke into a bitter statement.

    ¡°That energy of his¡­ is unpleasant.¡±

    ************

    ¡®So, you¡¯ve made your move¡­ Jared Leonard¡­?¡¯ The malevolent thought of a person leaked within a murky dark void.

    The swirling pool of perverse Mana could be detected within the blinding darkness.

    ¡°This should be interesting¡­¡±

 Chapter 305 Return Home

    Once I was done with the Fort business, I flew straight to my next destination.

    Going past the speed of light¨Cor simply teleporting to the ce¨Cwas possible, however¡­

    ¡®Enjoying this lovely weather makes it worth it!¡¯

    Besides, the enemy could be using some sort of tracking Magic on me; especially after that stunt I pulled back there.

    That was why it was best for me to limit all my actions¨Cat least for now.

    The speed of sound would do fine.

    >VWOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    My speed was phenomenal¨Cso much so that I arrived at my destination within the hour.

    It didn¡¯t even feel like a journey.

    However¡­ considering how long it had been since I experienced this¡­ it took way too long.

    With a nostalgic smile on my face, I gazed upon therge territory from my heights. Thendscape was still lovely, and I could spot the denizens with my enhanced senses.

    Still, they were only secondary.

    ¡°It¡¯s been too long¡­¡±

    My eyes were fixated on a particr manor that stood proudly at the center of therge region.

    It was huge¨Ceven from my distance. As expected of the abode of a Duke.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s good to be home.¡±

    *************

    I descended from my heights, moving in the direction of the lovely mansion that stood amid a vastpound.

    A few things had changed since I hadst been there, but none really caught my attention at the moment.

    There was only one person that mattered¨Cand she was within the building.

    As soon as I reached a certain distance from the house, I felt some sort of distortion. Of course, it didn¡¯t affect me, but¡­ I knew what it was.

    ¡®A sensory barrier. Looks like it¡¯s still working.¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t going to leave my family unprotected for a whole three years, now would I? Once Neron told me the trick behind how he was able toe to my aid after I destroyed the barrier around the Lecturers¡¯ Hall, it was much easier to create my own version.

    >FWOOOOSSSHH!<

    I ignored the distortion and swiftly secured mynding upon the lush ins of my family¡¯s garden.

    It was as lovely as ever.

    ¡°Haa¡­ even the air is nice.¡±

    Perhaps it was just nostalgia that made me have such sentiment.

    My gaze settled on therge door leading to the mansion, but before I could take a single step forward¨C

    ¡°HALT!!!¡±

    ¨CI was surrounded.

    ¡®Perfect! Looks like security is good too¡­¡¯

    -n¡¢o¡¢ve,L Guards who were armed with Magic armor and weapons made a barricade instantly¨Cshielding the mansion¡¯s door in a jiffy. Many more surrounded me, brandishing their des with caution and steely resolve.

    ¡®Hm¡­ not bad. They¡¯re pretty standard¡­¡¯

    I also had some Automatons hiding underground in case of an intrusion¨Cbut since they must have sensed my ¡®Resonance¡¯, none of them took action.

    ¡®There¡¯s a limit human guards can do, after all¡­¡¯

    While the Automatons weren¡¯t extremely powerful, they could at least buy enough time before I arrived. That much precaution was needed due to the identity of the one hidden in the house.

    ¡®As long as she¡¯s safe inside, then¨C¡®

    ¡°What¡¯s with all the racket!¡± A voice surged forth as the front door was flung wide open.

    ¡®Ahh, I should have known¡­¡¯ My lips formed a wry smile.

    Emerging from within the mansion was a lovely woman.

    Her blond hair was swayed back and forth by the rushing wind, and her eyes swallowed me whole.

    With her clear skin, lovely face, and¨Cwell, it¡¯s true¨Cvoluptuous chest; she made her entrance.

    Yes! This woman was none other than Anabelle Leonard Alphonse Sereth¨Ca Duchess of the Eastern Kingdom, as well as¡­

    ¡®¡­ Mom!¡¯

    With a warm smile on my face, I gazed at her and she looked in my direction.

    Our eyes met and¨Cfor a moment¨CI felt a deep connection, like a spark. A profound meaning was exchanged between us the moment our gaze connected.

    ¡°Y¨Cyou¡­¡± She whispered, her body trembling.

    I could tell what was going on with her.

    With her lips quivering, her hands palpitating, and her eyes disying a multitude of overwhelming emotions¡­ I understood.

    ¡°J¨CJared¡­?¡±

    My smile deepened and I nodded.

    The guards seemed to catch the hint and they loosened their guards.

    My mother was filled with emotion, making my heart race faster than normal. Despite all my training, I could never detach myself from her warmth¨Cno, I didn¡¯t dream of it.

    That was because¡­. She was¡­.

    ¡°JARREEEEEDDDD!!!¡±

    With a scream, my mom raced at me at full speed.

    I ignored the fact that the tform she stood on was shattered instantly. No, it was simply out of excitement.

    I also ignored the fact that she charged at me with unordinary speed. No, it was because she missed me so much. I understood perfectly.

    It was the same for me!

    Nevermind the fact that Mana was beginning to appear on her body, or the fact that my instincts were already telling me to flee. No, I stood my ground while staring passionately at the woman who birthed me!

    The woman who imparted in me her Mana-Compatible genes¨Cunlike my useless father.

    Yes, she was most certainly¡­

    ¡°JARRRREEEEEEDDDDD!!!¡±

    In a sh, my one and only mother reached my location. She swiftly drew close to me, sweeping me up with her lovely scent and the warmth of her breath.

    I felt her arms wrap around me in a tight embrace.

    It was a bit tighter than I expected, but it simply showed how much she missed me. I nearly leaked out a drop of tear, touched by her affection.

    ¡®M¨CMom¡­¡¯

    I raised my hands to return her embrace¨Cignoring the sting of her Mana on my skin. She was probably too excited that she let go of her control over something so dangerous.

    Still, I wasn¡¯t taking any damage, so I didn¡¯t mind.

    But, the moment I raised my arms to hug her, my body was lifted.

    It was so sudden that I was flustered and frozen in motion. The burst of Mana from my mother seemed to triple, and so did her grip strength.

    This seemed a bit excessive, so I tried to¨C

    ¡°YOOOOUUUUU¡­¡±

    I was already a couple of feet from the ground, and my body seemed to be moving without my consent.

    ¡®E¨CEh¡­?!¡¯

    It was at this moment that a distant memory came shing into my mind. It was the image I burned into my memory as a kid¨Cwhat made me fear my mom back then.

    Unfortunately, it was toote to resist now. After all¡­

    ¡°¡­ YOU JEEEERRRRRK!!!¡±

    ¡­ My head was already on its way to the ground.

    ¡®How could I forget Anabelle¡¯s special technique?¡¯ My mind trailed as I braced myself for impact.

    Yep, what came next was¡­

    ¡­ A MIGHTY SUPLEX!

 Chapter 306 Repairing Bonds [Pt 1]

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    The earth ruptured, and the ground shook at the deafening roar caused by the impact I made with the surface.

    Within the firm grasp of my mother, my head dug deep into the grand floor, breaking it apart.

    ¡®M¡ªMom¡­¡¯ I nearly broke into tears.

    Who would have thought this day woulde?

    Of course, I was in no pain¡ªneither did I suffer any damage from her actions. But, somewhere within me, my heart ached.

    ¡®¡­ Is this how you treat your child who is just returning?¡¯

    As I thought¡­ this woman¡ªAnabelle¡ªwas not normal!

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    The loud boom kept echoing, mixed in with my cries for the crazy woman to stop, as well as her tear-filled screams.

    **********************

    ¡°Oh, my lovely baby! Look how much you¡¯ve grown!¡±

    My mom¡ªthe same one whomitted domestic violence on me¡ªwas now hugging me so tightly that I felt like I would suffocate.

    She kept rubbing her voluptuous chest on me, a habit she never left ever since I was a baby.

    ¡®It¡¯s a miracle I didn¡¯t die back then¡­¡¯

    Tears streamed from her eyes as she kept hugging me and her voice cracked. It contained such profound emotions that I couldn¡¯t help but smile softly.

    Even amid therge crater caused by her actions, I hugged her and stroked her long hair.

    Even as her tears and snot fell on me, I didn¡¯t withdraw from her hold.

    ¡®It¡¯s been too long¡­¡¯

    Just how worried had she been? How did she cope with the news?

    Because of her status in society, I was sure she couldn¡¯tpletely express her emotional state before others. Dad wouldn¡¯t always be around¡ªespecially since the Shadow Demon¡¯s invasion shook the foundations of the Kingdom.

    He must have had so much to deal with, leaving my lonely mother to fend for herself. She only had servants to keep herpany, but, even then, how reliable were they?

    Especially considering the betrayal of Liliana.

    My overprotective mom must have been devastated beyond words.

    Because of that very fact, I needed to allow her to vent all the pent-up emotions she kept bottled down. It was my duty as her son¡ªas well as the primary cause of her grief.

    ¡®You¡¯ve done well holding on for this long, Anabelle!¡¯

    As her tight embrace continued, I dug deeper into her¡ªnever minding the two huge cushions that suffocated me.

    ¡®She smells nice¡­¡¯

    *********************

    After the whole emotional disy thatsted for a ridiculously long time, I was finally able to convince Anabelle to proceed indoors for further discussion and another round of a rollercoaster of emotions.

    She would hit me in annoyance and then hug me in joy.

    She would kiss me all around my face in adoration, then spank me in chastisement.

    Anabelle was the very definition of weird¡ªor could I even say absurd?

    Eventually, I decided to simply shut down my mental processes when dealing with her since intellect would get me nowhere with a doting mother.

    ¡®Still¡­ this ce¡­ it¡¯s as grand as I remember!¡¯

    My eyes looked around the house as I entered. Observing every single detail within my area of perception, I took in the warm atmosphere of wealth and family.

    It was good to be home¡ªespecially when my abode was very luxurious.

    Anabelle and I ascended the stairs, heading to a ce I knew quite well. It was an area that was secluded from public use. Only rtives could utilize it.

    It was the Family Lounge.

    Once we settled in our family lounge area, my mom copsed on one sofa with a heavy exhtion. It was clear that she was exhausted¡ªboth physically and emotionally.

    After pouring all she could at me¡ªand me epting them without resistance¡ªher energy bar had finally been depleted.

    ¡®Looks like we can converse normally now¡­¡¯

    ¡°Haa¡­ it¡¯s good to be back here.¡± I smiled, looking around the spacious area.

    There were couches arranged in a circr manner¡ªwith a table for tea, and perhaps, documents at the center.

    I sat on an opposite couch from my mom, settling into the soft furniture with a smile. The warm and pleasant fragrance of the room tickled my nose and I couldn¡¯t help feeling rxed.

    Looming threat or not¡­ I didn¡¯t n on rushing this moment of nostalgia.

    ¡°Then why did you leave?¡± My mom suddenly replied to my statement with a question.

    Her dried-up eyes looked at me with all attentiveness now.

    ¡®She¡¯s being serious.¡¯

    Anabelle had multiple sides, and one of them was when she was genuinely serious about a subject¡ªthough that hardly urred.

    ¡°Well¡­¡±

    I knew this moment woulde.

    It was to be expected, after all.

    My mom¡ªwho hadn¡¯t seen me since I left for Ainrk¡ªmust have been terribly shaken by the fact that I left so abruptly.

    She must have also been frightened by the fact that our Campus had been invaded by Shadow Demons¡ªafter the information was made more public.

    ¡®Did she think I was captured by them? Or that I was killed?¡¯

    ¡¢??m In any case, it was time for answers.

    ¡°¡­ I simply had to.¡±

    I no longer looked like the twelve-year-old that she used to know, but¡­ my Mom probably didn¡¯t see me that way.

    ¡®She still treats me like a baby, after all¡­¡¯

    Except for that suplex from earlier, everything was the same.

    ¡®I am fifteen now¡­ almost an adult, but not quite one yet.¡¯

    That meant I was still a minor.

    If she so desired, Anabelle was well within her rights to confine me in this ce and take over all decisions concerning my wellbeing.

    ¡®¡­ Which is why I can¡¯t mess this up!¡¯

    How much could I tell her? How much would she be able to handle? I had already thought of these things.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t trust Ainrk, so I left. You must have heard of the Demon Invasion on our Academy.¡±

    Anabelle nodded.

    ¡°I heard about your efforts and exploits in that ce. You really¡­ surprised me.¡±

    The look on her face as she looked at me was of wonder and curiosity.

    It was to be expected.

    I¡ªas a mere kid¡ªdid many things that even adults wouldn¡¯t be able to handle. That meant that the actions that followed also had to stem from a well of reason.

    ¡°It¡¯s as I wrote in that letter I left behind for you¡­ I simply wanted to explore the world.¡±

 Chapter 307 Repairing Bonds [Pt 2]

    Before I left Ainrk Academy, I made sure to leave behind messages for those I cared about.

    Neron was left in charge of dispensing my words to them. That way, I was assured of the message reaching those concerned.

    My mom was one of the recipients of my message.

    I exined how the current ss System of Ainrk Academy was stunting my growth, as well as the level of insecurity in the school. My leave was caused by the Invasion, and the fact that I needed to be even better.

    Of course, I gave apologies and promised my return.

    Still, it was left to her how she would interpret the message¡­ and she probably didn¡¯tpletely believe it.

    ***************

    ¡°T¡ªthat was it¡­?¡±

    Anabelle¡¯s eyes widened.

    A look of surprise was written all over her face. She most likely didn¡¯t expect my reasoning to be so simple.

    ¡°I realized my weakness after facing the Demons. If the Kingdom were to ever be in trouble, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to keep myself safe, talkless of you and everyone else I cared about.¡±

    No matter what words I spouted¡ªeven if it waspletely rational¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be enough to justify the fact that I abandoned everyone and everything.

    I was only twelve, so it was going to be difficult to ept that I left in pursuit of power.

    ,c-o-m ¡°You¡­ but you could have¡­¡± Anabelle¡¯s lips quivered as she spoke.

    ¡°¡­ You could have studied more under Alphonse. He is an Archmage, you know? You could have grown more under his tutge and¡ª¡±

    ¡°NO!¡±

    Even if it may have been somewhat rude to do so, I cut off my mom¡¯s statement before she concluded it.

    ¡°Alphonse is too weak. He might be strong by normal standard, but¡­¡±

    Compared to the heights I needed to attain, he was far off.

    ¡°¡­ I¡­ see¡­¡±

    I could sense much sadness in Anabelle¡¯s words, but, she simply needed to ept that. None of them could have aided in my growth.

    ¡°Thanks to exploring on my own, I was able to be strong¡ªmuch stronger.¡± I smiled.

    It hurt¡ªlike being pierced by a million needles¡ªto see my mom¡¯s sad and deserted face. My heart was in pain.

    ¡®So this is what power withoutpanionship is¡­¡¯

    Even if I had already attained so much, the mere gaze of my aggrieved mother made it all seem worthless. But¡­

    ¡®¡­ It¡¯s necessary!¡¯

    Even if I felt such sorrow, I didn¡¯t regret a single thing¡ªno, I couldn¡¯t!

    My actions were for myself and for everyone I loved. They may not have seen it yet¡ªor maybe ever¡ªbut I didn¡¯t care.

    If I could preserve the life and future of my mom, my friends, my family¡­ even myself¡­ then I was willing to do anything!

    That was how much I loved them all!

    ¡°What will you do now, mom?¡±

    There was every likelihood that she would attempt locking me at home. If she did, I would probably have to stay with her and coordinate my affairs from here. However, it would be more preferable if¡ª

    ¡°You still have something to do, right?¡±

    My eyes widened a bit once she said this.

    Following that was a smile. It permeated my face as I nodded.

    ¡°Yes. The Kingdom is in a precarious situation right now¡­ and I need to take action.¡±

    ¡°I figured¡­¡± Anabelle gave a sad smile and nodded.

    ¡®No. No, please¡­¡¯

    ¡°Do what you will¡­¡±

    ¡®No! I can¡¯t¡­ not without¡­¡¯

    ¡°¡­ You probably don¡¯t¡­ need me for anything any¡ª¡±

    ¡°NO!¡±

    My voice was louder than I intended, but that simply showed the intensity of my emotion.

    ¡°I need you!¡±

    It was the truth.

    After spending so long alone, it felt so maddening that I almost lost my mind. I only had a grasp of my sanity thanks to the people I had waiting for me.

    How painful it was¡­ the overbearing loneliness.

    ¡°Come to the Capital, mom!¡±

    Anabelle¡¯s face lit up a bit, showing shock and confusion.

    ¡°T¡ªthe Capital¡­ why?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be going there to take care of business. It would be nice¡ªno, reassuring¡ªif you were there waiting for me.¡±

    ¡°Waiting? Where are you going first?¡±

    ¡°Ainrk Academy. I need to do something there first. There¡¯s also someone I need to meet first.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡± My mom gave a wry smile, as well as an expression I couldn¡¯t really decipher.

    ¡°You know¡­ it¡¯s really weird how much you¡¯ve changed¡­¡±

    Her tone contained a hint of something¡­ something that warmed my heart. It was¡­

    ¡°¡­ You¡¯ve grown to be a fine man.¡±

    ¡­ PRIDE!

    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand most of your actions. And I have a lot of questions. But¡­ I am just happy you¡¯re back.¡±

    ¡®M¡ªMom¡­¡¯

    My insides throbbed as I received her words.

    ¡°No matter how much you¡¯ve changed, and how different everything is now¡­ just know how much I love you.¡±

    My lips quivered.

    ¡®Those words¡­¡¯

    My eyes brought forth hot liquid as my body trembled.

    ¡®¡­ How long have I waited to hear them?¡¯

    ¡°I heard of all you did in the Academy¡­ and even looking at you now, how strong you¡¯ve be¡­¡±

    A moment of silence was established¡ªa mere second before Ipletely broke down.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m proud of you, Jared. So proud. Thank you for being alive. I¡¯m happy you¡¯re back. I¡­ I missed you so much!¡±

    ¡°H¡­ h¡­¡±

    I didn¡¯t know when tears fell from my face and my face became flushed with emotions.

    Feelings that had been bottled up for over a hundred years of solitude came gushing out.

    ¡°MOM!¡±

    ¡°JAREEDDD!!!¡±

    I jumped the table that separated us and dived into her bosom.

    She received me wholeheartedly and hugged me tightly. This time, both of us wept together and remained that way.

    How shameless was it of me to show such emotion? It was disgraceful for a man my age to stoop this low. However¡­ I didn¡¯t care.

    I simply wanted someone¡­ and she was right in front of me.

    ¡°I¡ªI missed you too¡­¡± I said while sinking deeper into my mom¡¯s embrace.

    I rubbed my face on her breasts, not minding how they jiggled, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her perfume.

    Satisfaction and long-due rest caused me to let go of all my defenses as I uttered the most profound words a person could ever say to another.

    ¡°I LOVE YOU TOO!¡±

 Chapter 308 Repairing Bonds [Pt 2]

    308 Repairing Bonds [Pt 2]

    Before I left Ainrk Academy, I made sure to leave behind messages for those I cared about.

    Neron was left in charge of dispensing my words to them. That way, I was assured of the message reaching those concerned.

    My mom was one of the recipients of my message.

    I exined how the current ss System of Ainrk Academy was stunting my growth, as well as the level of insecurity in the school. My leave was caused by the Invasion, and the fact that I needed to be even better.

    Of course, I gave apologies and promised to return.

    Still, it was left to her how she would interpret the message¡­ and she probably didn''tpletely believe it.

    ----------------------------------------

    "T¡ªthat was it¡­?"

    Anabelle''s eyes widened.

    A look of surprise was written all over her face. She most likely didn''t expect my reasoning to be so simple.

    "I realized my weakness after facing the Demons. If the Kingdom were to ever be in trouble, I wouldn''t even be able to keep myself safe, let alone being able to protect you and everyone else I cared about."

    No matter what words I spouted¡ªeven if it waspletely rational¡ªit wouldn''t be enough to justify the fact that I abandoned everyone and everything.

    I had just been twelve years old, so it was going to be difficult to ept that I had left in pursuit of power.

    "You¡­ but you could have¡­" Anabelle''s lips quivered as she spoke.

    "¡­ You could have studied more under Alphonse. He is an Archmage, you know? You could have grown more under his tutge and¡ª"

    "NO!"

    Even if it may have been somewhat rude to do so, I cut off my mom''s statement before she could conclude it.

    "Alphonse is too weak. He might be strong by normal standards, but¡­"

    Compared to the heights I needed to attain, he was far off.

    "¡­ I¡­ see¡­"

    I could sense a lot of sadness in Anabelle''s words, but, she simply needed to ept my reality. None of them could have aided in my growth.

    "Thanks to exploring on my own, I was able to be strong¡ªmuch stronger." I smiled.

    It hurt¡ªlike being pierced by a million needles¡ªto see my mom''s sad and deste face. My heart was in pain.

    ''So this is what power withoutpanionship is¡­''

    Even if I had already attained so much, the mere gaze of my aggrieved mother made it all seem worthless. But¡­

    ''¡­ It had been necessary!''

    Even if I felt such sorrow, I didn''t regret a single thing¡ªno, I couldn''t!

    My actions were for myself and for everyone I loved. They may not see it yet¡ªor maybe ever¡ªbut I didn''t care.

    If I could preserve the life and future of my mom, my friends, my family, and even myself, then I was willing to do anything!

    That was how much I loved them all!

    "What will you do now, mom?"

    There was every likelihood that she would attempt locking me at home. If she did, I would probably have to stay with her and coordinate my affairs from here. However, it would be more preferable if¡ª

    "You still have something to do, right?"

    My eyes widened a bit once she said this.

    Following that was a smile. It filled my face as I nodded.

    "Yes. The Kingdom is in a precarious situation right now¡­ and I need to take action."

    "I figured¡­" Anabelle gave a sad smile and nodded.

    ''No. No, please¡­''

    "Do what you will¡­"

    ''No! I can''t¡­ not without¡­''

    "¡­ You probably don''t¡­ need me for anything any¡ª"

    "NO!"

    My voice was louder than I intended, but that simply showed the intensity of my emotion.

    "I need you!"

    It was the truth.

    After spending so long alone, it had felt so maddening that I almost lost my mind. I barely managed to hold on to my sanity thanks to the people I had waiting for me.

    How painful it was¡­ the overbearing loneliness.

    "Come to the Capital, mom!"

    Anabelle''s face lit up a bit, showing shock and confusion.

    "T¡ªthe Capital¡­ why?"

    "I''ll be going there to take care of business. It would be nice¡ªno, reassuring¡ªif you were there waiting for me."

    "Waiting? Where are you going to first?"

    "Ainrk Academy. I need to do something there first. There''s also someone I need to meet."

    "Ah, I see¡­" My mom gave a wry smile, as well as an expression I couldn''t really decipher.

    "You know¡­ it''s really weird how much you''ve changed¡­"

    Her tone contained a hint of something¡­ something that warmed my heart. It was¡­

    "¡­ You''ve grown to be a fine man."

    ¡­ PRIDE!

    "I still don''t understand most of your actions. And I have a lot of questions. But¡­ I am just happy you''re back."

    ''M¡ªMom¡­''

    My heart throbbed as I received her words.

    "No matter how much you''ve changed, and how different everything is now¡­ just know how much I love you."

    My lips quivered.

    ''Those words¡­''

    My eyes brought forth hot liquid as my body trembled.

    ''¡­ How long have I waited to hear them?''

    "I heard of everything you did in the Academy¡­ and even looking at you now, how strong you''ve be¡­"

    A moment of silence was established¡ªa mere second before Ipletely broke down.

    "¡­ I''m proud of you, Jared. So proud. Thank you for being alive. I''m happy you''re back. I¡­ I missed you so much!"

    "H¡­ h¡­"

    I didn''t know when tears poured from my face and my face became flushed with several emotions.

    Feelings that had been bottled up for over a hundred years of solitude came gushing out.

    "MOM!"

    "JAREEDDD!!!"

    I jumped over the table that separated us and dived into her bosom.

    She received me wholeheartedly and hugged me tightly. This time, both of us wept together and remained that way.

    How shameless was it of me to show such emotion? It was disgraceful for a man of my age to stoop this low. However¡­ I didn''t care.

    I simply wanted someone¡­ and she was right in front of me.

    "I¡ªI missed you too." I said while sinking deeper into my mom''s embrace.

    I rubbed my face on her breasts, not minding how they jiggled, and inhaling the sweet fragrance of her perfume.

    Satisfaction and an over due need for rest caused me to let go of all my defenses as I uttered the most profound words a person could ever say to another.

 Chapter 309 Departure For Ainzlark

    Once the emotional outbursts were finished, Anabelle and I began conversing normally.

    We discussed at length, talking about my adventures during the three years I was absent, as well as how she coped in my absence. I intentionally omitted certain parts of my adventure¡ªespecially my stay in the hideout I made with my friends back in the day.

    ¡®That¡¯s the most important part of my journey, but¡­ she doesn¡¯t need to know about it¡­¡¯

    Anabelle listened to my stories with amazement¡ªespecially hearing how many amazing beasts I encountered¡ªas well as a great deal of the world I explored. Based on her reactions, it was obvious that she was never able to travel the world since she was restricted by her noble status and responsibility.

    ¡®Despite her wild personality, Anabelle is actually an epitome of nobility¡­¡¯

    At least, to the public. During our conversations, though, she never filtered her speech.

    asionally, words like¡ª

    ¡°You¡¯re just like your father!¡±

    Or¡­

    ¡°I was so lonely! Is this how you¡¯ll treat your woman once you have one?¡±

    ¡ªCame up.

    Of course, I indulged the woman¡¯s wrath,ughing heartily as she spoke. This helped ease the atmosphere, and so, it didn¡¯t take us very long to return to our usual flow.

    Father spent more time in the Capital as a result of his serious duties to the Kingdom. There were only four Dukes, after all. That made his role indispensable.

    Plus, it seemed my intervention in Ainrk Academy raised his reputation by a lot¡ªadvancing our Leonard Household status even further.

    Since my mom did a bit of investigating after I vanished, and even kept close tabs on Ainrk Academy after I left, I was able to get some information from her.

    One of the things that stood out was the departure of specific students from Ainrk.

    Apparently, a while after I left¡ªin intervals¡ªtwo other students dropped out of the institute.

    Initially, I didn¡¯t think that was strange. After all, many parents would want to withdraw their wards from the school after the Demonic Disturbance was made public.

    However, Anabelle further exined that the ones who left weren¡¯t taken away by their parents. Since she was pretty high-up in nobility, her connections wouldn¡¯t lie. It was strange that two students simply left the institute¡ªand were still atrge.

    I was even more surprised once I heard their names.

    Stefan Netherlore, and¡­

    ¡­ Kuzon Midas!

    Just what could have caused those two to leave?

    ¡®I¡¯ll find out once I get to the Academy¡­¡¯

    There were a few things I wanted to learn and achieve, so this was simply going into the list.

    We furthered our conversation, had lunch, and then enjoyed a walk in the garden together.

    As we engaged in these seemingly meaningless activities, my rational side chided me. Thoughts like¡ª

    ¡®This is a waste of time!¡¯

    ¡®The situation is urgent!¡¯

    ¡®Can¡¯t you do thister?¡¯

    ¡ªAfflicted me.

    However, I didn¡¯t give in to any of them.

    This was something I didn¡¯t n on rushing.

    ¡®I¡¯ve done more than enough, and I n on doing even more. This amount of selfishness is permitted!¡¯

    Anabelle seemed surprised that I was spending so long with her, but since she didn¡¯tin, I took it that she was enjoying thepany.

    She raised the issue of Liliana, and how they discovered her identity after a magical autopsy.

    I raised the issue of Alphonse, and how his territory was under attack. Of course, the part where I saved everyone was carefully entuated.

    Weughed.

    We spoke.

    We even danced.

    I enjoyed every moment of our time together.

    Evening came, and we had a light dinner and mild tea.

    We enjoyed the fresh breeze on the verandah.

    More talks followed.

    It felt so blissful, like I was in a fantasy.

    War and carnage were going to follow soon enough, but¡­ even this wasn¡¯t too bad.

    Right?

    Every second spent with the one you love is bliss. That was something I seemed to have forgotten ever since I reincarnated.

    After all¡­ I too had people whom I cherished in my past life.

    I hadrades.

    I had a family.

    And¡­ I had that special woman who stole my heart¡­

    ¡®I wonder¡­¡¯

    Nostalgic memories rushed in as the day neared its end. It was clear that I would be spending the night in the manor. I was ecstatic about the fact.

    ¡®After so long¡­ I¡¯ll be sleeping in a proper bed, eh?¡¯

    Drunk on happiness, I couldn¡¯t wait to be shown my room¡­

    ¡­ If only things were that simple!

    **************

    ¡°SLEEP WITH ME TONIGHT!¡±

    ¡®¡­ E¡ªEh?!¡¯

    Yep, that¡¯s right!

    My mother wanted me¡ªa fifteen-year-old boy¡ªto share her bed.

    ¡®I know loneliness is terrible, but¡­ isn¡¯t there a limit to everything?!¡¯

    However, I should have known that logic wouldn¡¯t work when dealing with this woman.

    In her innocence, she was asking someone who was already over two hundred years old¡ªif I calcted all the time I spent in the world¡ªto sleep beside her¡­ on the same bed?!

    My mother was very attractive¡ªhardly looking her age¡ªfor some reason. Perhaps it was thanks to the noble cosmetics and treatment she received, or her sheltered life. She was simply fair to behold.

    And then she had those two melons on her chest.

    I had only filial thoughts toward Anabelle, but¡­ it was still very ufortable to do something like this. It almost felt like desecration.

    To cut the long story short¡­ I ended up doing as she wanted.

    To think my perfect day would be ruined by such a night.

    As I feared, she squeezed me like a body pillow when we slept¡ªprobably ensuring I wouldn¡¯t slip away when she wasn¡¯t aware. Once more, Anabelle¡¯s insane grip amazed me.

    My teenage body¡¯s hormones ran wild, but the miracles of Magic worked wonders. I was able to keep my body in check until the next day.

    Fortunately, my mantra¡ª

    ¡®Think of it as training! Think of it as training! Think of it as training! Think of it as training!¡­¡¯

    ¡ªDidn¡¯t fail me.

    ******************

    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll see you at the Capital¡­¡± My mom mumbled as she pouted.

    ¡°Y¡ªyeah¡­¡± I gave an awkward smile.

    We were both standing in the courtyard of the Manor.

    Once dawn had arrived, I quickly sprang into action and prepared for my departure.

    It seemed Anabelle wanted to spend more time with me, but¡­ I couldn¡¯t help it any longer.

    ¡®THIS WOMAN IS OUT OF CONTROL!¡¯

    It seemed she got the hint and finally decided to let me go.

    ¡°Yeah. You better make it there within three days¡­ else you might not be able to see me.¡±

    ¡°W¡ªwait, that wasn¡¯t the agreement!¡±

    Looking at my mom¡¯s flustered face was such a treat¡ªthe perfect picture before I departed.

    ¡°Lateeeerrrr!!!¡±

    With those words, I ascended to the air and flew off in a hurry.

    ¡°HEEYYYYY!!!!¡±

    Laughing amusedly and wholeheartedly, I watched her figure¡ªand the entire Manor¡ªshrink in size. The wind brushed my whole body as I moved in the direction I wanted.

    Building up Mana to increase my speed¡­

    ¡®Alright, then¡­ let¡¯s get back to business!¡¯

    ¡­ I vanished into the sky.

    >VWOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

 Chapter 310 Return To Ainzlark [Pt 1]

    The cool breeze hit my face as I flew with deafening speed.

    My body was augmented to handle the strain, and my attire had been enchanted with the best of materials and Magic form, so nothing I had on was reducing in durability.

    It normally took about 5-7 days to get to Ainrk Academy from my Household¡¯s Manor, however, it didn¡¯t even take an hour for me to see the Academy City from my heights.

    ¡°Oh? It has changed quite a bit¡­¡±

    For one, I saw heightened security stationed to encircle the territory.

    This didn¡¯te as a surprise to me since I noticed the same thing happening in every territory I hovered above before getting here. It had to be as a result of the looming Demonic threat.

    Since Ainrk was one of the three major areas of the Kingdom¡ªwhich even the Nobles revered¡ªthe level of security I encountered was warranted.

    Still¡­

    ¡®¡­ If I use conventional means to enter the city, it¡¯ll take too long..¡¯

    Why hadn¡¯t I simply requested a Letter of Introduction from my mother? If I used something like that, my identity would have been certified. Unfortunately, in my rush, I neglected such an essential factor.

    ¡®Well, I needed to get out of there as fast as possible¡­¡¯

    With that in mind, it was going to be troublesome going through the front gate.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just use teleportation, then¡­¡±

    With that whisper, I raised my left hand¡ªshrouded in a white glove¡ªhand snapped my fingers.

    Instantly, blue energy shrouded me, and I felt sparks of electrical currents envelop my immediate surrounding.

    ¡®Let¡¯s see¡­ I¡¯ll go there!¡¯

    My eyes spotted an inconspicuous alley within the city, and I used that as my goal. In an instant¡­

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    ¡­ I appeared there!

    ***************

    The city was quite lively¡ªfor a ce that was bordered with such thick security.

    ¡®The general popce doesn¡¯t know about the looming threat, after all¡­¡¯

    Only the nobility and guardians in charge of their wards within Ainrk were told of the incident. Plus, they were bound by Magic not to reveal whatever information they had received to a third party.

    As a result, themon people were without a clue about the Demons. Even if rumors were to spread, most folks believed Demons to be myths. At the most, it would serve as a good bedtime story to tell the little ones.

    ¡®A threat of such massive scale in the past has been reduced to this¡­ how pleasant¡­¡¯

    Their obliviousness was the cause of an Arcana called ¡®The Fool¡¯, which dealt with the minds of people.

    My friends and I had to use this power to rid everyone of their fear of Demons¡ªeven if they could notpletely be erased from memory.

    As time went on, the remaining vestiges that were left in the hearts of people turned into myths and legends.

    ¡®¡­ That Arcana¡­¡¯

    I had no idea where it was.

    Unlike the ones I found in our Base, ¡®The Fool¡¯ was hidden from all of us. It was necessary¡ªso that none of us would break the agreement we made, or use the Arcana to once again manipte the minds of everyone.

    ¡°Whew! That¡¯s enough sightseeing¡­¡±

    I removed my concentration from the innocent smiles¡ªand frowns¡ªof the denizens of the city, and looked at my goal.

    Arge wall and a grand gate stood at the end of the busy street.

    One nce at the luxurious construct¡ªeven without the aid of my memory¡ªtold me that it was the entrance to Ainrk Academy; at least the preliminary area.

    ¡°Now, then¡­¡±

    A smile permeated my face, and I activated the effect of my white coat.

    In an instant, my body became undetectable.

    Yes, I had achieved a state akin to invisibility¡ªno, even better. The sounds my feet made as they trod the streets were silenced. My movements made not a single peep, and my stride was smooth.

    In moments, I passed by the Academy¡¯s entrance with no resistance.

    The guards were vignt, but were no match for me.

    Even as I passed through the entrance, I felt the presence of a barrier, but the effects of my outfit made it easy to bypass¡ªor, rather, simply pass through¡ªthe defensiveyer.

    In no time at all, I was inside Ainrk territory.

    ¡®The defense is better thanst time, but¡­¡¯

    When confronting Arcanas, or items tailored with them as a base, the Academy was practically naked. Given the nature of our enemies, I had to guess that it wouldn¡¯t be impossible for them to get rid of the school if they wanted¡­

    ¡­ That is if they could get rid of one essential factor within it.

    ¡®That¡¯s most likely why this ce is still standing¡­¡¯

    ***********

    Ainrk Academy was divided into the outer area, and then the inner grounds. It went without saying that the actual school existed in the inner region, and the only way to get there was through the inter-space gateway.

    ¡®The Portal, uh¡­?¡¯

    While it was still within this space, the true Academy was shrouded in so many barriers that it would prove troublesome to bypass them all.

    That was why even Legris Damien had to employ the portal to send Kahn within the Academy.

    ¡®But¡­ I don¡¯t need to utilize the Portal, do I?¡¯

    I clearly remembered the grounds of Ainrk Academy¡ªat least theyout and general areas. With that, teleportation would prove to be no problem¡­ but only if I employed the use of an Arcana.

    My normal Teleportation Magic could still be interfered with, and even detected, if theyers of Magic in the surrounding area were dense enough. However, using an Arcana¡ªwhich warped the very essence of the world itself¡ªI could easily pull it off without any resistance.

    ¡®Out of the four that I have¡­¡¯

    - There was only one fit for the job¡­

    ¡®The Tower!¡¯

    In an instant, a card appeared before me. Of course, it remained undetected in thergepound, and the phenomenal Magic it produced remained hidden. Its blue and white light surrounded me, and I felt the very space around me warp.

    My entire body was being shifted from the current ce I stood, to another location that belonged to memory.

    The effects would be instant.

    The risks would be null.

    That was the power of an Arcana.

 Chapter 311 Return To Ainzlark [Pt 2]

    In our entire lifetime, my friends and I only found six out of the twenty-two Arcanas.

    Of the six;

    The Fool was lost to our memory.

    The Devil was given to the Demons

    And the remaining four were kept in our Base which existed in the Forgotten Lands.

    I spent thest three years¨Cwhich were extended to over a hundred¨Cwithin the Base. I learned of their nature, studied the powers they had, and made them my own.

    Of course, those weren¡¯t the only things I focused on.

    Alchemy. Core Formation. Familiar Nurturing. Magic Expansion¡­ and other phenomenal changes that urred within those years.

    I made progress by leaps and bounds.

    Still, since my attention was spread to several areas, I couldn¡¯tpletely make the Arcanas my own. In essence, to utilize the full capabilities of these miraculous items, I needed to use them directly.

    Arcanas had nigh infinite durability.

    They contained Phenomenal Magic that could change the world and its concepts.

    They contained a vast stream of energy, and could be simply refilled using the essence of their surrounding¨Cmost times, their wielder themselves.

    The full depth of these items was currently beyond my purview, and so, I had to rely on them on rare asions.

    One of those scenarios came up.

    ¡®The Tower!¡¯

    Having the ability to warp the very concept of space, the Arcana gave me ess to any location I wanted to get to¨Cso far as I knew its geographical position. Of course, it had several other abilities, but¡­ this was plenty enough.

    >VWUUUSSSHHH!<

    In a sh, I left the regr ce I stood, and found myself at my desired destination.

    The effects of my coat still made me perfectly undetectable, and the use of ¡®The Tower¡¯ gave me a smooth appearance¨Calmost as though I had always been there.

    ¡°Finally¡­¡± I whispered.

    A smile formed as my lips were curled up. I took in the fresh fragrance of the lush flowers and the serene atmosphere. It had been too long.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s good to be back!¡±

    The vastndscape of Ainrk Academy greeted me with its splendor.

    The lovely structures, towering buildings, and colorful nts, all weed my sight as I witnessed them.

    I could see students walking along the cleared paths of the Academy¨Cmost likely heading for ss.

    ¡®It¡¯s still morning, after all¡­¡¯

    My smile grew broader as I saw groups of students discussing as they went on to ss.

    It wasn¡¯t just their faces that I focused on¨Cbut their Cores as well.

    ¡°Hm¡­¡±

    Of the five who walked to ss, two had amazing Mana Cores¨Cthe Yellow Core Grade, almost at the Blue stage. Their white uniforms indicated that they were still First Years, causing me to marvel at their talent.

    The remaining three of the five had average Mana Cores, yet all five conversed normally and were heading in the same direction.

    ¡®Those two would have belonged to the Upper ss¡­ but since they are all heading toward the same ssroom, then¡­¡¯

    Anabelle was right, after all.

    ¡®¡­ The ss System has been abolished!¡¯

    That brought a smile to my face, allowing me to draw closer to the students.

    ¡®I should ask them¡­¡¯

    Undoing the ¡®Unknowable¡¯ Magic Function of my Coat, I casually approached the five of them¨Cmaking sure I had a genuine smile on my face.

    ¡°Excuse me, students.¡±

    ¡°ARHH!!!¡± They jointly yelped¨Cwith the exception of one, who still appeared shaken.

    ¡®He must have good control of his emotions¡­¡¯

    My voice seemed to have startled them, causing the five to sharply turn in my direction with apprehensive expressions.

    ¡®C¡¯mon¡­ I tried my best to be natural¡­¡¯

    They created some distance between me and huddled to form a tight circle. As I awkwardly stood from them, they began speaking in hushed whispers.

    ¡°W¨Cwho is this guy?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been training our Mana detection ability¡­ how could we not sense him?¡±

    ¡°Is he a powerful senior?¡±

    ¡°No. He¡¯s not dressed in the Uniform.¡±

    ¡°T¨Cthen, maybe he¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°No. There¡¯s no way. He looks too weak and in.¡±

    As they kept talking, mixing some clearly offensive words in their statements, I gave a wry smile.

    ¡®I can hear everything, you know¡­?¡¯

    Of course, I wasn¡¯t actually offended, but¡­ it didn¡¯t feel very pleasant for kids to actively ignore me¨Cespecially when I approached them for a purpose.

    Thankfully, before I lost my patience, their circle disbanded and the five of them looked at me. Their gazes rang with suspicion and caution.

    - ¡°W¨Cwho are you?¡± The one who seemed to be the leader spoke up.

    He was the most powerful, based on his Mana Core quality¨Cthough I knew, more than anyone, that it was dangerous to assume strength based on only that factor.

    The group of students awaited my answer, staring at me with interest.

    ¡®There¡¯s nothing really spectacr about me, though¡­¡¯

    Sure, I had a very handsome face, and my clothing was made up of only the best materials¨Cmy hair also had a regal quality to it¨Cbut, I made sure not to stand out too much.

    ¡°Ah, yeah¡­ I¡¯m an acquaintance of one of your Lecturers here. I came to visit him.¡±

    That was good enough¡­ right?

    As expected, the guards of the students dropped, and they slowly began to loosen their tense muscles¨Cat least from what I observed.

    ¡°O¨Coh! We¡¯re sorry for our rude actions.¡±

    ¡°Sorry!¡± The others chimed in after the leader spoke.

    ¡®Even though the ss System has been banned, the strongest will be recognized as superior. That hasn¡¯t changed¡­¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t necessarily bad, though. That was simply the way of the world.

    Even the previously suspecting students had a change of attitude because I mentioned my connection to someone superior to them.

    Since I must have passed theyers of security that existed before entering the Academy, and I also knew a Lecturer, they must have assumed that I wasn¡¯t a threat to them¨Cthough thetter proved I was someone deserving of respect.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist stepped foot in Ainrk Academy, so¡­ I would like to ask of his whereabouts from you.¡±

    ¡°Please tell us their name. We¡¯ll guide you ordingly!¡± They said with enthusiasm.

    ¡®Now, that¡¯s more like it!¡¯

    ¡°He goes by the name of Neron Kaelid.¡±

    Immediately after I said this, the students appeared shocked¨Cand then confused.

    ¡®Have I missed the mark? Or is Neron no longer here?¡¯

    After a short moment of hesitation, the leader finally mumbled something that shattered my expectations.

    ¡°Professor Neron Kaelid is actually¡­¡±

 Chapter 312 Unexpected Discovery

    I was dumbfounded!

    Of all the things that could happen, I wasn¡¯t expecting this¡­

    ¡°You mean¡­ Neron Kaelid is¡­?!¡±

    ¡°Yes. He is the current Headmaster of our Academy¡­¡±

    ¡®HEADMASTER? NERON?!¡¯

    It was almost unbelievable for me, but I had to control my emotions. Anabelle didn¡¯t tell me anything about this!

    ¡®What exactly happened after I left?¡¯

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Was all I could mutter at the students.

    They began looking at me oddly. It seemed their suspicion was returning, but I couldn¡¯t care at this point.

    ¡°Alright¡­ I don¡¯t suppose you could tell me where I could find him?¡±

    I knew where the Headmaster¡¯s office was, but I hadn¡¯t been there before. Plus, with all the changes that had urred here, it was possible that the office had been swapped too.

    ¡°W¡ªwell, it¡¯s at the Towering Hall, same as before.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡± I mumbled.

    ¡®Looks like it¡¯s still the same ce.¡¯

    ¡°Thanks for your help.¡±

    Making sure it was a pure one, I gave the five students a genuine smile. What they had done was nothing special, but¡­ perhaps their very existence made me happy within.

    So much so that an idea¡ªno, more like a question¡ªpopped into my head.

    ¡°Why did youe to study at Ainrk Academy? Surely you heard of the incident that urred here a few years ago.¡±

    The guardians and students had to have been told of the Demonic Disturbance as a warning and a form of indoctrination. Knowing Ainrk Academy, that much was guaranteed.

    Four of the five of them were a bit hesitant to answer¡ªmost likely because they didn¡¯t have a choice in the matter. Their parents must have still made the decision for them, so¡­ none of them could have refused, anyway.

    ¡°Because of the stories I heard!¡± The only confident one spoke.

    ¡®Oh? So, not only is he powerful¡­ he also has charisma¡­¡¯ I smiled, staring at the kid before me.

    ¡°What stories?¡±

    ¡°During the Disturbance, all the students overcame the assault with their own power. Even when the Lecturers were useless, they alone took care of the mess!¡±

    I smiled slightly.

    ¡°These students¡­ did you know them?¡±

    ¡°N¡ªno¡­ they graduated before I arrived here, but¡­¡±

    A sparkle appeared in his eyes, giving me a good idea of how much he idolized the characters in the stories he heard.

    ¡°The top contributors in that incident became the 9 Rankers and the Top Honored Graduates of Ainrk Academy! Their names are recorded in the Ainrk Hall of Remembrance!¡±

    The title of ¡®Top Honored Graduates¡¯ belonged to the ten most outstanding students recorded since the school¡¯s inception. If a student surpassed the achievement of a past student, they would be ced in the Ainrk Hall of Remembrance.

    ¡°Really? What are their names?¡±

    At this point, the other silent students burst with life. This was a topic that interested them all, so it seemed.

    ¡°Ciara Epilson. Anabelle Frederick. Edward Karl Leon. Maria Helmsworth. Jerry Keller¡­¡±

    These five names belonged to those in the generation of those who were involved in the Demonic Disturbance.

    ¡®As expected, Stefan and Kuzon aren¡¯t there¡­¡¯

    Even my name wasn¡¯t mentioned. None of us graduated, after all.

    ¡°So, who holds the top rank among the Top Honored Graduates?¡± I asked with an amused smile.

    ¡°His name is a mix of uncertain letters. It¡¯s in code¡­¡±

    ¡®Ah, that¡­ so it still hasn¡¯t changed¡­¡¯

    I was also initially curious about the name when I first enrolled in the Academy. However, I eventually realized it could only have belonged to one person.

    Neron Kaelid himself.

    ¡°What of the second?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that is still Lewis Griffith, the Great Sage!¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡±

    So, no one had upturned my achievements yet. I didn¡¯t know whether to be disappointed or relieved.

    ¡®Welp, at least my name is on the list¡­ right?¡¯

    ¡°B¡ªBut! I believe there is someone who deserves to make the list! His name wasn¡¯t just put there simply because he didn¡¯t graduate!¡±

    That was a surprising remark.

    ¡°Oh? Really? What do you mean?¡±

    The five students grew restless and their faces were brimming with excitement¡ªalmost like they were sharing a rumor with me.

    ¡°He¡¯s the unofficial Ranker of Ainrk Academy!¡±

    ¡°Yes! The hero who led the others to victory against the Demonic Disturbance!¡±

    ¡°A Magic User of unparalleled power and wisdom!¡±

    ¡°The Academy was too small for him, so he set forth to explore the world!¡±

    ¡°He should be the one taking the top spot among the Top Honored Graduates!¡±

    The way they introduced this spectacr character almost seemed like a script. Their bodies danced with excitement, and their cheeks blushed fervently. Light of worship glowed in their eyes.

    ¡°His name is¡­¡±

    They paused for an effect, and I gave a wry smile.

    ¡°¡­ JARED LEONARD, the Unofficial Top Ranker!¡±

    ¡®Ah, figures¡­¡¯

    Why wasn¡¯t I surprised? Well, Anabelle had told me about how I was popr among the students of Ainrk Academy.

    ¡®¡­ To think it was to this degree.¡¯

    ¡°Is this a sentiment shared only among the First Years?¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± I was met with a sharp response from all of them.

    ¡°I heard from the seniors that they knew some of the Top Honored Graduates! And that they would always praise Jared Leonard¡¯s efforts!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! He is the hero who saved everyone, after all!¡±

    ¡°Miss Aloe Vida even told us in a Magic ss that Jared Leonard was powerful enough to be a lecturer in his First Year!¡±

    ¡®Ah, that woman too?! What were those people thinking?¡¯

    A surge of emotion assailed me, and before I could control myself, I found myself bursting out¡­

    ¡°Pfft¡­ Puehehe¡­ Puahahahahaha!!!¡±

    ¡­ in an amused eruption ofughter.

    Once again, the students looked at me oddly.

    But, at this point, I didn¡¯t mind them.

    ¡°Hahaha! You guys¡­ thanks for the info. You should get going to ss now.¡±

    Iughed, even more, walking away from the group.

    Their gazes were still ced on my back, but after a while, they turned and went their way.

    I keptughing even as I heard their departing footsteps¡ªlooking toward the Towering Hall that stood at the center of the Academy.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re there, Neron.¡±

    It had been ages since we hadst spoken, and so much had changed. Still, I could find a vast amount of excitement and anticipation well up within me.

    There were two major things I was looking forward to in our meeting.

    One was seeing how much progress my mentor had made.

    And the second?

    ¡®Let me show you how much I¡¯ve grown too!¡¯

 Chapter 313 [Bonus chapter]Mentor And Protege [Pt 1]

    Neron Kaelid sighed as he sat behind his desk.

    His dark hair firmly sat atop his handsome, pale face.

    He had a perfect fa?ade, but the look he gave made it seem like he was on the verge of breaking down.

    Of course, this wasn¡¯t physical exhaustion. Neron¡¯s body was tailored by his Magic, making sure he was always in top state. This loop ensured that concepts like hunger, thirst, or tiredness¡ªeven pain¡ªwere foreign to him.

    The cause for his pained expression stemmed from another problem, though.

    ¡®Ah, this is boring¡­¡¯ His mind wondered as he stared nkly at thepleted paperwork in front of him.

    Even though he had made sure to take his time when handling all of them, it still didn¡¯t take him very long toplete everything. Now that he was done with his task, the man wondered what to use the rest of his time for.

    ¡°Should I take a walk again¡­?¡±

    Lately, that had been all he was doing. He was even so bored to the point of somehow desiringpany¡ªat least to enjoy himself.

    Training would have been a good way to pass away time, but he was currently undergoing internal training, yet he sought something more stimting.

    ¡°Sigh, even that troublesome woman would do right now¡­¡± Neron grumbled.

    Thedy in his thoughts was none other than Serah Crimson, his childhood ¡®friend¡¯ and supposed rival. She had some issues to attend to in the capitalst he heard¡ªso she wouldn¡¯t even have his time.

    Even though it was shameful to admit it, Neron had to spell out the truth for himself.

    ¡°I¡¯m bored¡­¡±

    No incident had urred ever since the Demonic Disturbance.

    He had suddenly been promoted to Provisional Headmaster¡ªconsidering his level of power, and his contributions to Ainrk Academy during the tragic incident.

    Such a troublesome task was put within his grasp, and he would have refused. However, upon considering the highly influential position he had been put in, Neron finally decided to concede.

    He had used his newfound connections and political power to weave himself into so many factions and even got himself the identity of several spies and suspicious personnel within their ranks.

    Taking them out would be easy, but that would simply alert the true culprit. In that case, he simply had to bid his time perfectly.

    After all, time was the one thing he had in surplus.

    ¡°Should I just take some time off?¡± The ck-haired man mumbled underneath his breath.

    Doing so would certainly prove to be something healthy for his current state. However, Neron remembered thest time he took some time away from Ainrk Academy.

    The casualties and destruction that followed were something he had to avoid at all costs.

    As Headmaster, he was responsible for the lives of everyone presently residing in the Institute. While he wouldn¡¯t make any silly errors in his administration of the school, he often fretted over his wards.

    ¡°We have highly skilled students in this generation, but¡­¡±

    Compared to the previous graduates¡ªespecially those of the previous sets and the one before them¡ªthey had a long way to go.

    Neron knew it was unfair topare their levels of growth. After all, the previous students had a critical element that these new ones didn¡¯t possess.

    The person called Jared Leonard.

    ¡®That kid¡­¡¯

    Neron gave a wry smile as he rested well on his chair. Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, his lips curled up even more. The man seemed pleased for some reason.

    An image appeared in his mind.

    ¡°I wonder how he¡¯s doing now¡­¡±

    ¡°Who are you thinking about, I wonder?¡±

    Neron¡¯s eyes popped wide open, and then his back bounced off the chair¡ªmaking him sit straight in a jiffy.

    ¡°Nice reflexes.¡± A passingment echoed across the empty room, and a being suddenly manifested.

    He had a long whiteb coat, with a ck shirt and ck pants. His shoes were whiteced with gold and ck designs¡ªand his flowing blond hair fluttered a bit.

    His golden eyes and charming smile were fully captured by Neron¡¯s ck pupils, causing the man¡¯s expression to morph as soon as his brain connected the dots.

    ¡°Y¡ªyou are¡­?!¡±

    The teenager¡¯s smile becamerger and his lips parted to bring forth words.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while¡­ Neron.¡±

    Neron, the usually stoic man, jumped to his feet and gave a surprised gasp. His boredom had finally been shattered.

    He could see a bright light of salvation standing before him. That was enough for him to break into a smile¡­ and leak out the words of his one and only prot¨¦g¨¦.

    ¡°¡­ Jared. You¡¯re back!¡±

    *************

    I made sure to use my ¡®Unknowable¡¯ while entering Neron¡¯s office, and also ¡®The Tower¡¯ Arcana to warp into his office.

    The Arcana allowed me to transport to a destination I hadn¡¯t been to before, as long as it was close by.

    Since all I had to do was bypass Neron¡¯s door, it wasn¡¯t difficult to enter his office. I watched him for a short moment, waiting for the perfect time to make my entrance.

    As expected, I picked up the perfect moment, making a perfect appearance.

    ¡®Neron looks happy. It seems he¡¯s happy to see me. Well, the feeling is mutual¡­¡¯

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m back. You look¡­ the same¡­¡± Imented, smiling at the rough-looking outfit of my previous lecturer.

    Nothing about him had changed¡ªexcept the smile nted on his face.

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I suppose.¡± He shrugged, moving away from behind the desk where he was standing.

    Before I knew it, he was slowly approaching me at a steady pace.

    The obsessive smile on his face began to unnerve me a bit.

    ¡°Er¡­ Neron¡­?¡±

    Was he mad that I just popped into his office? If so, then¡ª

    ¡°You¡¯re not an illusion, are you?¡± His voice was low, but it contained great weight.

    Neron¡¯s intense gaze told me he required a prompt answer¡ªrather, he demanded it!

    ¡°Um¡­ no. It¡¯s actually me. Ah, are you okay?¡±

    Now, I was getting slightly concerned. This wasn¡¯t how I envisioned our first meeting in years to turn out.

    ¡°Kukukukuku¡­¡± A short, deep chuckle escaped his lips.

    ¡®Eh?¡¯

    ¡°Kuahahahahahaha!!!¡±

    This had to be the first time I heard my Mentorugh so loudly.

    ¡°Ah, I feel so much better now! It really is you, Jared!¡± A big smile formed as he doused his chuckle.

    ¡°Yep. Yep.¡±

    ¡®Is this really Neron?¡¯

 Chapter 314 Mentor And Protege [Pt 2]

    Fortunately, Neron¡¯s surprising behavior didn¡¯tst very long.

    After weing me and embracing me¡ªwhich was extremely awkward¡ªhe returned to his seat as though nothing had ever happened.

    Once he sat, closed his eyes, heaved a deep sigh, and looked at me for the umpteenth time, he finally returned to normal.

    ¡®Weirdo¡­¡¯

    *************************

    ¡°How long were you standing there? I¡¯m amazed. I couldn¡¯t even detect you¡­¡± Neron remarked.

    We were both seated, demarcated by Neron¡¯srge headmaster table.

    ¡°Trade secret. Hehe. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like you were even trying.¡± I chuckled.

    ¡°Welp, fair point¡­¡±

    Knowing his personality, even if I didn¡¯t reveal myself, it wasn¡¯t like I could harm him. Any amount of carelessness on Neron¡¯s part was inconsequential.

    ¡®While we¡¯re on that topic¡­¡¯

    ¡°I see there¡¯s no form of defensive measure in your office. Why?¡±

    I thought it was strange.

    The whole Academy was saturated with protective Magic, yet Neron¡¯s domain waspletely bare.

    Why was that?

    ¡°Welp, I figured that would invite trouble. No one would want to target a very fortified ce, right? So, if I make it easily essible, I can have more trespassers.¡± He exined.

    ¡®In essence, you¡¯re just bored¡­?¡¯ I nearly rolled my eyes in amusement.

    ¡°Headmaster, uh?¡± Containing myughter, I looked around the very spacious office.

    Several medals and awards littered the ce. A mini-library upied the left corner of the room, while the right had a shelf dedicated to some pretty neat Magic Tools and special awards.

    The office was nicely furnished¡ªas expected of Ainrk Academy¡¯s top brass¡ªand it had an air of ease.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t bother with that.¡± Neron sighed, resting his back on his chair.

    ¡°It¡¯s been very boring and uneventful as the head¡­¡±

    Hisint couldn¡¯t exactly be taken at face value.

    ¡®I¡¯m certain many would argue with that logic¡­¡¯

    Neron only considered the job to be stale because of the kind of person he was. Being the Headmaster of such arge-scale area meant a great deal of responsibility and pressure.

    However, Neron was smart to a fault. His intelligence was miles ahead of his age¡ªwhich was also deceiving. His management ability and innovations were capable of keeping the administrative affairs of Ainrk Academy in order.

    His Magic skills and teaching capabilities also made him the perfect fit for the role. From the nature of his Magic, he also never experienced exhaustion and several other limiting factors.

    Since he could also employ the use of thousands of Familiars, Neron could keep a constant watch over Ainrk. No task was difficult or time-consuming for him, so he probably thought of everything as monotonous.

    ¡®I know because¡­ I would feel the same way!¡¯

    Neron was simr to me in many departments.

    Three of the greatest factors that tied us both were our thirst for knowledge, our love for magic, and the unconventional methods used in our endeavors.

    Which was why¡ªof all the people in the Kingdom¡ªthere was no one I trusted and respected more than him.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, I¡¯m sure I can relieve myself of boredom a little!¡± Neron gave a slight smile.

    I recognized the glint in his eyes. It was the same one that found expression in mine.

    ¡ªCuriosity!

    ¡°How strong have you gotten?¡±

    Our voices ovepped as we asked the same question.

    Both of us smiled the moment the question was raised.

    There was only one way to urately find out.

    ¡°RESONANCE.¡±

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH<

    Instantly, we infused our energy and connected our selves to each other.

    ¡®It¡¯s time to see for myself¡­¡¯

    I closed my eyes, and then opened them to witness a new world¡ªthe reality within Neron¡¯s inner self.

    My eyes bulged inplete shock.

    I was bbergasted beyond belief.

    It was an impossible sight!

    ¡®T¡ªthis is¡­!!!¡¯

    Before my eyes were several hundreds of thousands of Mana Cores¡ªall white and upying the vast expanse that surrounded me. That wasn¡¯t the most surprising aspect, though.

    As I watched, with the interval of some seconds, new Mana Cores were forming.

    ¡®N¡ªno¡­ this can¡¯t¡­¡¯

    They burst into life¡ªlike blooming flowers, or surging stars.

    It became meaningless to count them.

    ¡®T¡ªthen¡­ if these are the Cores¡­ how about¡­?!¡¯

    My heart felt like it couldn¡¯t handle any more, but¡­

    ¡­ I had to see!

    ¡®How many Subcores does he have in each of them?!¡¯

    **********************

    ¡®Just what kind of monster have I created?¡¯

    Within each Mana Core¡ªat least the ones I had time to explore¡ªwere at least five hundred thousand Subcores.

    They littered the Mana Core space like stars in the night sky.

    It was unbelievable!

    Compared to the Neron of the past, this being waspletely in a different league. He has attained a realm that was beyond my expectations.

    ¡®He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s¡­.!!!¡¯

    **************

    Neron was shocked¡ªnearly to the point of being frightened.

    That was the first emotion that found expression within him the moment heid eyes on Jared¡¯s internal space.

    ¡®I¡ªimpossible¡­!¡¯

    It was something that defied logic.

    Jared¡¯s Mana Cores¡ªunlike his own¡ªwere arranged in constetions.

    They had patterns, links, and awork that was so organized that it made his own inner domain seem so unkempt.

    The Mana Cores were a thousand in number, however, Neron knew that their quality and efficiency would surpass his own by far.

    Instead of quantity, Jared went for quality.

    Every single one of the thousand Mana Cores was white, and Neron had to assume that it was probably the limit of what his body could handle¡ªor at least very close to it.

    Within each Mana Core was a number of Subcores that were also arranged in an impable fashion. Jared¡¯s Subcores were a total of a thousand as well.

    A thousand Subcores within each Mana Core.

    The Corework was so intricate that Neron knew it must have taken a great deal of time and effort to achieve.

    ¡®It¡¯s perfect¡­ wless!¡¯

    If that was all he had seen, perhaps Neron¡¯s heart would have been able to bear it. However, there was one fundamental thing thatpletely shattered Neron¡¯s sense of Mana Cores and the system in which they operated.

    ¡°This¡­ can¡¯t be¡­¡±

    Neron said this, but his eyes and every sense of his astral body were experiencing the phenomenal sight of pure magnificence.

    It started from Jared¡¯s Primary Mana Core¡ªif it could be called that at this point.

    The spherical cluster of energy was cleanly divided into two parts.

    An equal half was white.

    And the other side was¡­. Completely ck!

    The energy that poured out of the ck side attracted Neron¡¯s attention, however¡­ the moment he drew closer to it¡­ he got pushed away.

    Instantly, the shocked man could feel the Resonance breaking apart.

    However, before hepletely vanished from Jared¡¯s inner domain, he could tell what manner of energy the ck substance was.

    ¡®Miasma! Jared has already¡­!!!¡¯

    Something that even he had thought to be impossible was achieved by his prot¨¦g¨¦.

    The boy¡ªJared Leonard¡ªhad finally fused Mana and Miasma to form something else¡­ something beyond his current understanding.

    ¡®A¡ªAmazing¡­¡¯

 Chapter 315 Mentor And Protege [Pt 3]

    >FWUUUUUSSHHHH<

    Neron felt himself get expelled from Jared¡¯s inner space.

    Thanks to the ck stuff¡¯s interference, their Resonance had been grossly affected, causing Neron¡¯s presence to be treated as a foreign entity that had to be removed.

    ¡®A¡ªah¡­¡¯

    Before long, everything became a blur, and he returned to his physical body.

    His eyes opened, and he gazed longingly at Jared, who was also groggily opening his own.

    Both of them stared at each other with amazement and more respect toward the other. Once again, they were of one heart and soul¡ªminds thinking alike.

    Opening their energetic mouths, theypressed the emotions and multitude of words into one simple statement.

    ¡°AMAZING!¡±

    **********************

    I had questions.

    Of course, I would!

    Neron had gotten crazily strong in such a short period. How was that possible? Plus, his body was housing way too many Mana Cores. How did he achieve that?

    ¡®I even had to dedicate a hundred years to reach this far¡­¡¯

    Was this a difference in talent? I was appalled and also very reverent at the achievement of this man. Still, I had to know!

    ¡°My Time Magic allows me to age my body in real-time, or quicken the rate by which I produce Mana Cores. Since it¡¯s an internal process, the process isn¡¯t very hard. Plus, I already had an excessive source of Mana, so creating more Cores wasn¡¯t very difficult.¡±

    That was his answer.

    As simple as it sounded, it had worked efficiently for Neron¡ªmaking him unbelievably stronger than thest time we met.

    ¡°I¡¯m honestly grateful to you. I thought I couldn¡¯t grow stronger any longer, but¡­ now I¡¯ve far surpassed my past self!¡±

    ¡®Yeah! You¡¯re a monster among monsters now!¡¯

    ¡°What about you, Jared? What was that within you? Did you finally¡ª¡±

    I smiled upon hearing him bring up the matter.

    ¡°You¡¯re talking about my joint Core formations, right?¡±

    He nodded and looked at me with absolute sincerity.

    ¡°I finally found a way to bnce the existence of Miasma and Mana. By transforming half of my Primary Mana Core into a Miasma Core, I was also able to make more Miasma Cores, connecting them in a circuit¡ªjust like I did for my Mana Cores.¡±

    ¡°H¡ªhold on¡­ you have pure Miasma Cores in you?!¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You couldn¡¯t see them because I limited my Resonance with you. If I had usedplete Resonance, maybe you could have seen them as well¡­¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Because they¡¯re formed of Miasma. They would interfere with your Mana. Since you do not have Miasma, you can¡¯t resonate with my Cores.¡±

    Neron¡¯s eyes widened a bit upon receiving this revtion.

    ¡°Ohh! No wonder I was immediately disconnected once I came into contact with the Miasma part of your Primary Mana Core¡ªor should I even call it that¡­?¡±

    He was probably referring to the fact that my Core couldn¡¯t possibly be named as a ¡®Mana¡¯ entity since it also had Miasma forming half of it.

    ¡°I call it a Fusion Core. So far, I have a thousand White Mana Cores, a thousand Miasma Cores, and five hundred Fusion Cores¡ªexcluding the primary one. They¡¯re all connected by a system of intricacy, making the flow organized.¡±

    If I didn¡¯t carefully arrange the energy flow, then the opposing energies would ultimately sh with each other.

    I also needed my Cores to be pure White, so all the previously colored Mana Cores were swallowed by White Cores, transforming them into Subcores.

    ¡°So, you can use both Miasma and Magic? That¡¯s incredible¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± I opened the palms of both my hands, generating Mana on my right, and Miasma on the left side.

    They both flickered¡ªlike mes¡ªand danced atop my palms.

    ¡°¡­ But that isn¡¯t all.¡±

    Squeezing my palms, the dark and light mes vanished.

    ¡°I created a new form of energy. Something that¡¯s neither Miasma nor Mana. The effects gave me a breakthrough that I have always wanted to have.¡± I smiled.

    Neron seemed very interested in my exnation, drawing closer with each statement I made.

    It was nice to see another Magic enthusiast like me.

    ¡°It¡¯s called An¡ª¡±

    >WHAM!<

    Before I couldplete my statement, the door to Neron¡¯s office was flung open, and a person rushed inside.

    She wore a flowingb coat¡ªpure white¡ªand the rest of her formal attire was also white.

    Having some sort of enchanted sses in her eyes, her stern face was somehow filled with worry. The blond hair that sat atop her head fluttered as she ran into the office.

    Something about her was¡­ familiar.

    She looked much younger than I was. Her t chest spoke volumes of her immature growth, and the flushed expression on her face resembled a child, talkless of her short height.

    ¡®She¡¯s cute¡­¡¯

    Her bright blue eyes sharply turned in Neron¡¯s direction, and she quickly spoke before the sudden atmosphere died out.

    ¡°Headmaster, Neron! It¡¯s about Professor Maro. He had another ident in the research center!¡±

    Once I heard the girl¡¯s voice, I was almost done piecing everything together. An image formed in my head. The girl from my memories was so simr to the youngdy before me.

    ¡®They¡¯re both small, delicate, and¡­ t. So, it¡¯s really¡ª!¡¯

    ¡°Haa, what did he do now?¡± Neron interrupted my thought with a heavy grumble.

    ¡°He tinkered with the wrong Magic Items again and caused an explosion. Lots of properties and infrastructure have been damaged¡ªand even he is heavily injured.¡±

    ¡®Ainrk has specialized staff who can use Healing Magic. Why bother reporting this so frantically to Neron?¡¯

    ¡°And you need me to reverse all the damage and the negative effects of the idents¡­ AGAIN¡­¡± Neron remarked tiredly.

    ¡®Ah, so that¡¯s it!¡¯

    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The blond-haireddy¡ªwho seemed more like a younger girl¡ªspoke with a far more mature tone than one would expect from someone like her.

    ¡°Haa¡­ I see. Got it. You guys in the Research Department are the only ones who give me a headache.¡± Neron stood from his seat.

    ¡°Apologies for that, sir! Since you alwaysin that you¡¯re bored, I thought you¡¯d want some work to do.¡±

    ¡®Pfft!¡¯

    For a child, she sure had nerve.

    Even Neron froze once she said that. He looked at me with a bashful smile and rubbed his dark hair rigorously.

    ¡®HAAHAHAAHA! How hrious!¡¯

    Even after all these years, some things never changed. My friend was the exact same.

 Chapter 316 Friendly Reunion

    ¡°By the way, sir¡­ who is that?¡± The child stared at me with eyes of curiosity.

    Since I was backing her view, she couldn¡¯tpletely see my face.

    ¡°Ah, right¡­ I totally forgot about that.¡± Neron said with a smallugh.

    ¡®Forgot, my foot. Were you just waiting for her to ask? If that¡¯s the case¡­ I can¡¯t miss my queue!¡¯

    ¡°He¡¯s an old acquaintance of yours, after all¡­¡±

    My lips curled up into a smile, and I prepared myself.

    ¡°After leaving for so long, he finally returns¡­¡±

    ¡®Not yet¡­ not yet¡­¡¯

    Holding in myughter, I began to slowly move.

    ¡°¡­ Won¡¯t you say hello to your old friend?¡±

    ¡®It¡¯s now!¡¯

    Rising from where I sat, I slowly turned to make eye contact with the girl, keeping my face low¨Cconsidering her height¨Cand smiled.

    The moment she saw my face, her expression melted, and her widened eyes greeted me.

    ¡°Y¨Cyou¡¯re¡­ J¨CJared¡­?!¡±

    My smile grew evenrger, and I was grateful to Neron for the dramatic introduction.

    ¡®This is fun¡­¡¯

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while¡­¡±

    Silence, tension, and nostalgia filled the room as I gently stared at the blond loli in front of me.

    ¡°¡­ Ana.¡±

    As we stared at each other, silence enveloped the room.

    I initially thought it was dramatic that way, but, after a while, the silence didn¡¯t disappear. That was when things got awkward.

    My eyes turned in Neron¡¯s direction, pleading for some assistance in driving a conversation. He started this, after all.

    ¡°I¡¯m off to resolve the issue. Since the both of you have some catching up to do, I¡¯ll be taking my leave.¡±

    ¡®Unbelievable! This guy actually¨C!!!¡¯

    Neron glided out of his office and whistled down the hall. The sound echoed until it became fainter and fainter¨Cthen itpletely vanished.

    Even after all that, there was still silence in the office. With no one willing to help out, I had no choice.

    ¡®Fine¡­ I¡¯ll do it myself!¡¯

    With a determined expression, I took a leap of faith and spoke to the girl who seemed too shocked to move.

    ¡°U¨Cuh¡­ Ana¡­ it¡¯s been a while¡­¡±

    My voice seemed to snap her out of her daze, and she finally budged from her position

    ¡°A¨Cah! Yeah¡­¡±

    Another awkward silence enveloped the room.

    ¡°¡­ How have you been?¡±

    It had been over a hundred years since I interacted with people normally. The only reason I was so free with Anabelle and Neron was that they were weirdos.

    ¡®I addressed the men at Alphonse¡¯s territory as their superior. This matter ispletely different¡­¡¯

    Ana seemed like she had a lot to say, but was probably stuck in the same mental ce I found myself.

    ¡®WHAT SHOULD I SAY?¡¯

    Perhaps I was overthinking it? Just as before, why couldn¡¯t I just talk casually to her?

    ¡®Yeah! Let¡¯s do that!¡¯

    ¡°You haven¡¯t changed in the slightest, Ana.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve changed quite a bit, Jared.¡±

    Our voices ovepped, and our words mixed with one another.

    ¡®Ah, looks like she was thinking the same thing.¡¯

    This was the worst. There were so many things I wanted to talk to her about, but mymunication skills had deteriorated so badly over the past years. Or was that just an excuse I was giving myself?

    ¡°Hey, do you want to¡­ take a walk¡­?¡±

    My eyes widened, and I looked at the girl who suggested it.

    A smile was on her face, and her expression was already calm and collected. The bright twinkle in her eyes returned¨Cthough hidden behind the lens she used.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°Perfect! Let¡¯s head out, then¡­¡±

    ***********************

    Surprisingly, as we started walking, it didn¡¯t take very long for us to begin conversing normally. I had been overthinking things!

    ¡°So, you¡¯re interning at the Research Facility of Ainrk Academy? That¡¯s amazing!¡±

    ¡°Well, I did score the highest in the Schrs¡¯ exam. My project also caught the eyes of the superiors that they rmended me to the Ainrk Research Institute.¡±

    I was amazed¨Cno, impressed¨Cby Ana¡¯s achievements.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good ce. I¡¯m given enough autonomy to engage in my own projects¨Cthough I¡¯m sometimes dragged into group experiments.¡±

    It was so great that she was enjoying her internship. Another look at her, though, and I finally noticed growth in her.

    ¡®She¡¯s taller by a millimeter, I think¡­¡¯

    ¡°How about the others?¡± I asked with a curious smile.

    I had intended to ask Neron this question, but we somehow delved into the subject of Magic and were lost in it.

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Ana¡¯s face clouded up a bit.

    ¡®I wonder why¡­¡¯

    ¡°Before I tell you about everyone else, there¡¯s something I need to tell you first.¡±

    She suddenly stopped walking and looked at me with a determined expression. I made sure to halt in my tracks as well, and returned her stare.

    ¡°Jared, I¡­ I had feelings for you a while back¡­¡±

    ¡®What the heck?!¡¯

    ¡°¡­ Did you know that?¡± Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me.

    There was no use in lying to her, so I had to simplye clean.

    ¡°Yeah. I did.¡±

    ¡®But why are you bringing that up now? And what¡¯s with the ¡®had feelings?¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± She mumbled.

    ¡®Did I say something wrong?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t tell at this point, so I just went with the flow.

    ¡°Well, when you disappeared, a lot changed. Of course, my feelings didn¡¯t vanish immediately, but¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡®Why does it seem like she¡¯s trying to tell me a dirty secret of hers?¡¯

    ¡°¡­ I¡­ Kuzon and I¡­¡±

    ¡®What? What is Kuzon doing in the picture?¡¯

    I was just a bit curious before, but now I was certainly interested. What happened between her and that guy? Did he do something?

    Kuzon¡¯s smug and easygoing expression appeared in my mind, and a shiver went down my spine. He was someone unpredictable!

    ¡®I didn¡¯t realize it back when I was in Ainrk, but I finally remembered¡­ the Midas Race!¡¯

    He was someone I considered a friend, but¡­ things weren¡¯t so simple now that I knew his identity.

    ¡®What did he do to Ana?¡¯

    ¡°¡­ We kissed.¡± The blond Loli finally confessed.

    ¡°¡­¡±

    My mental faculties took some time to process what I had just heard.

    Ana was blushing as I stared at her¨Cmost likely recounting the experience she had with the guy. My heart felt a huge burn, but I controlled myself.

    ¡®So¡­ they¡¯ve already¡­¡¯

    Why?

    ¡°Why are you quiet, Jared?¡±

    Why did it have to be¡­

    ¡°Say something¡­¡±

    Why¡­.?!

    ¡°You¡¯re scaring me. Just say something!¡±

    With clenched teeth, I finally let out the emotion that was swirling deep within me.

    ¡°Uneptable¡­!¡±

 Chapter 317 A Girls Thoughts

    ¡®Why is Jared acting like this?¡¯ Ana thought to herself.

    Her emotions were still a mix, and she was very unsure of how she really felt.

    The boy before her was her first love¡ªsomeone who had saved her from her childish delusions. She owed a great deal to him, and even her emotions were tied too tightly to his person.

    However, he abandoned her.

    Jared didn¡¯t know how distraught she had been once he left. His decision impacted many people who were close to him¡ªbut did any suffer as much as she did? She had feelings for him, after all.

    Though he had left behind instructions and means to carry them out, Ana didn¡¯t have any strength to do anything without him around.

    Edward wholly concentrated on making himself more powerful, and her other friends suddenly got too busy.

    She had never felt so alone amidpany.

    However¡­

    ¡­ There was one person who was always there for her.

    ¡ªKuzon!

    Kuzon didn¡¯t train all day. He was actually always free. And before she knew it, Anabelle began to converse more and more with him.

    They shared fun moments together, and the hurt emotions she had for Jared slowly transformed into something beautiful toward Kuzon.

    And then¡­ on the final day of their First Year in Ainrk Academy¡­ the both of them kissed!

    ¡®He kissed me first!¡¯

    Feelings of guilt had rushed into Ana¡¯s heart¡ªespecially since she still had vestiges of feelings for Jared. However, she couldn¡¯t deny the warmth within her once their lips connected.

    That was how they had parted ways as First Years.

    Throughout the break, Ana kept thinking of it¡ªof him!

    Even as she practiced and studied, she never stopped.

    The thought of seeing Kuzon again brought her great joy!

    She worked extra hard on her Magic, and focused on all that Kuzon had taught her during their time together. Mixing both his and Jared¡¯s teachings, she was able to make phenomenal progress.

    And so, by the time she resumed as a Second Year, Anabelle¡¯s growth could not bepared to the past.

    Unfortunately, the one she wanted to see the most¡­ was nowhere to be found.

    Kuzon dropped out!

    The heartbreak she received from that was so devastating that even now, she had the habit of rubbing her lips anytime her heart skipped a bit¡ªor simply freezepletely.

    To prevent any further distractions, Anabelle closed her heart and just focused on her research and growth as a Schr-Mage. She refused to lose sight of her goal¡ªto surpass Lewis Griffith!

    She was able toe so far because of that single goal pushing her.

    Loneliness crept in at times, but Ana remained strong.

    Unfortunately¡­ once again¡­ her defenses were shattered when Jared appeared once again.

    He had grown so much since shest saw him.

    He was much more handsome, taller, and charming.

    The intense shock made her freeze up, and her heart beat at a terribly fast rate. She didn¡¯t know what to say or do.

    It was at this point that memories of Kuzon also appeared in her head. She felt guilty for having feelings for both of them¡ªnot certain why.

    Even as they conversed, Ana couldn¡¯tpletely shake off her guilt andplicated emotions.

    Finally, after an internal debate, Ana decided to tell Jared about what she had been keeping from him.

    ¡ªThe Kiss!

    His reaction was more than she had bargained for.

    ¡°¡­ Uneptable!¡± Was what he said.

    ¡®Does that mean he¡­ is jealous¡­?¡¯

    Unsure of how to best interpret his obvious disapproval, Ana settled for that thought.

    ¡®Does that mean he likes me? Should I ask him?¡¯

    ¡®NO!¡¯ She shook her head.

    Fear of rejection, or even worse¡ªeptance¡ªsurged through her. If he turned out not to be interested, her heart would once again be broken¡ªmost likely beyond recovery.

    However, if he actually felt the same as her, then¡­ what of Kuzon? She had already kissed him and sealed their promise, right?

    Could she really betray him?

    ¡®What if Kuzon returns someday, just like Jared?¡¯

    Would she be able to live with herself if he met her in a rtionship with someone else?

    ¡®ARGH! This is too confusing!¡¯

    Her bright blue eyes stared at Jared, who was gritting his teeth in obvious frustration. She also felt bad for him, and her feelings couldn¡¯t bear to see him so hurt.

    ¡®Then¡­ maybe¡­?¡¯

    If Jared was to prove himself to be more dependable than he was in the past. If he finally took an active position and chased her, then¡­ she could consider being with him.

    ¡®YES! I¡¯ll give him another chance!¡¯

    If Kuzon appeared too, she would use the same criteria. Whoever was able to win in this game of love would have her heart.

    A smile appeared on her face and her confusion dissipated.

    Suddenly, Ana felt better than she had in years.

    ¡®I can¡¯t wait¡­ to see how this ends.¡¯

    She adored the blond boy¡¯s face one more time, waiting for his answer.

    ¡®What¡¯s your next move now, Jared?¡¯

    ********************

    ¡®I can¡¯t believe this!¡¯

    While I was busting my ass practicing and training for the greater good, this girl and even Kuzon were busy goofing off in romance?

    ¡­ That was uneptable!!!

    ¡®How dare these little ones begin kissing at such an early age?

    Did they have nomon sense?

    War was looming, and I gave them specific instructions to get stronger before I returned. Yet¡­ they were busy doing childish nonsense?

    ¡®Well, I suppose it¡¯s normal for their age¡­¡¯

    Ana was only just fifteen. Teenage romance and petty feelings were bound to pop up eventually.

    ¡®That Kuzon bastard¡­ he should have known better¡­¡¯

    The worst part about this whole thing was that Kuzon abandoned Ainrk Academy and didn¡¯t take full responsibility for his actions. Why were the Midas denizens such scumbags?

    ¡®Or was he a yer?¡¯

    I had so many thoughts of dissatisfaction¡ªalmost as a father would have when his daughter was goofing off with the wrong boy at a premature age.

    ¡®I have been nurturing this girl¡­ no one can take her until she¡¯s ready!¡¯

    Fuming as I made these thoughts, I grabbed Ana by the shoulder and drew close to her.

    ¡°Eeep!¡± I heard a sounde from her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that incident as a mistake¡­¡±

    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing Ana fessed up. At least she knows what she did was wrong!¡¯

    ¡°¡­ Please don¡¯t do it again!¡±

    Ana¡¯s face was red, most likely due to her guilt. She nodded while staring into my eyes, showing me that she had learned her lesson.

    ¡®Whew! That went well.¡¯

    With this, my little Ana would be focused on the more important things!

 Chapter 318 Progression

    ¡°So, where did everybody else go?¡±

    After the whole awkward exchange between the both of us, we delved into the topic of our ssmates and friends.

    ¡°As you know, Kuzon and Stefan dropped out. While Kuzon didn¡¯t resume his Second Year, Stefan left after the first half of the same Year.¡±

    I could never fully tell what was going on in Kuzon¡¯s head, but I knew it was only a matter of time before he left Ainrk.

    In fact, it was better if he did so.

    While the Academy was impressive in many ways, it was iparably too ill-equipped to properly groom people like Kuzon¡ªeven me.

    We were too powerful to be ced among regr students.

    Our existence would dwindle the abilities of geniuses like Stefan and Maria, and their existence would also slow us down.

    ¡°I can understand if it¡¯s Kuzon, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Still hung up on that, uh?¡± Ana said with a smirk.

    ¡®Is she talking about how I lost to him? Jeez¡­¡¯ I blushed a little, scratching my head.

    That was indeed one of my lowest points. But, considering my opponent was an integral member of the Midas Race, it was only natural that I would lose.

    ¡®His eye and hair color, alongside his phenomenal affinity for Mana¡­ Kuzon is most definitely a Royal!¡¯

    ¡°Just get over it. It¡¯s fine. You have a chance now.¡± Ana spoke with a blushing face.

    ¡®She¡¯s right! I have a chance now¡­¡¯

    I had studied and trained hard for a very long time. Surely, our next fight would turn out differently.

    ¡°Thanks, Ana. I needed that.¡±

    The girl giggled, and then nodded as we kept walking. Before long, we returned to the topic of discussion.

    ¡°Why did Stefan leave, though?¡±

    Ana shrugged slightly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It came as a surprise to all of us. And he just happened to defeat Maria the day before he disappeared¡­¡±

    ¡®Stefan beat Maria? Wow!¡¯ My eyes widened.

    Just how much did he train? No¡ªcould the gap between them have been covered by mere training?

    ¡®Hmmm¡­ strange.¡¯

    ¡°What of the others?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Well, most of us made it to the Ainrk Hall of Remembrance,¡± Ana spoke, trying to sound casual¡ªmost likely to hide her pride.

    ¡°Yeah, I heard. Good job.¡± I smiled, patting her small head.

    ¡°H¡ªhey! I¡¯m not a kid, you know? You keep patting my head!¡¯

    ¡®You look like a kid, though. So cute!¡¯ I mused, looking at the girl¡¯s pouting face.

    ¡°Y¡ªyeah, well¡­ with no one distracting me, I was able to get a spot in the Top Honored Graduates. The one who scored higher than all of us in our grade was Ed¡­¡±

    ¡®Hoh, Edward, uh? I wonder how he is now!¡¯

    ¡°What of Ciara Epilson and Jerry Keller?¡±

    ¡°Hm? Oh, them¡­¡± Ana seemed surprised that I mentioned those two.

    They were valuable assets, after all. Especially Ciara.

    ¡°Ciara got fourth ce in the Ranking. Jerry got tenth.¡±

    ¡®That¡¯s impressive! Tell me more!¡¯

    And so, she did.

    Based on what she said, the Top Honored Graduates list pretty much went like this;

    1.     NIL NAME [Neron Kaelid, obviously]

    2.     Lewis Griffith [Me]

    3.     Serah Crimson [One chick I don¡¯t know]

    4.     Ciara Epilson [The crazy genius]

    5.     Edward Karl Leon [I¡¯m so proud of this]

    6.     Anabelle Frederick [She scored directly below. Sweet!]

    7.     Maria Helmsworth [As expected]

    8.     Reed Sterling [Previous Headmaster of Ainrk]

    9.     Damien Lawcroft [Isn¡¯t this a surprise? This annoying guy is still on the list?]

    10.  Jerry Keller [He managed to squeak in. That¡¯s good.]

    It made me d that the people of the past generations had been overshadowed by new individuals. I was certain that they would be proud as well.

    ¡°It¡¯s good, Ana. You¡¯ve grown considerably since ourst encounter¡­¡±

    In just two years, this girl had already achieved a Silver Mana Core.

    Her talent was phenomenal, and since she practiced with the aid of Magic Stones and Artificial Magic Cores, her growth was that much increased.

    ¡°Where have the others scattered off to, by the way?¡±

    Ana was interning at Ainrk Academy, but everyone else had been posted to various areas within the Kingdom. I was curious.

    ¡°Maria got a position at the Capital. Last I heard, Ciara was interning at the Northern borders¡ªsame as Jerry. Ivan went to the Western Borders.¡±

    ¡®Oh, yeahh¡­ I encountered him.¡¯

    ¡°What of Edward?¡±

    Ana smiled faintly, but her gaze seemed to be distant.

    ¡°He refused internship. He said he wanted to travel on a journey of solitude¡ªand that he would return once he was satisfied with the result.¡±

    Why wasn¡¯t I surprised?

    ¡®Martial Artists never change, uh?¡¯ I grinned, remembering a certain someone¡¯s personality.

    The fact that Edward was able to surpass Gawain¡¯s record in the Academy showed just how powerful he had be. Yet, that strength wasn¡¯t nearly enough for him.

    ¡°I see¡­ it¡¯s understandable.¡±

    The Martial God Techniques in Edward¡¯s possession got extremely moreplicated and destructive in the Advanced stage. It was clear that he needed some time of solitude to master them.

    ¡®I can¡¯t wait to see how he bes once he returns!¡¯

    ¡°What about you? Did you find what you were looking for?¡± Ana asked.

    I nodded with a smile.

    ¡°Yes. At least, with this much¡­ I should be able to protect everyone I care about.¡±

    My eyes met hers, and our gazes connected for a few moments.

    ¡®Ah, that reminds me¡­ I still need to see Neron on ¡®that¡¯ matter.¡¯

    ¡°I¡­ see¡­¡± Ana whispered with a soft voice.

    ¡°We should meet up with Neron. He must have resolved the issue¡­¡±

    The girl snapped back to reality once again, seeming to realize that we had taken a lot of time discussing.

    ¡°Y¡ªyeah, you¡¯re right! Let¡¯s keep talking as we walk toward the Facility.¡±

    ¡®That sounds fair.¡¯

    ¡°Alright¡­ let¡¯s.¡±

    And so, Ana and I kept conversing as we walked side by side¡ªmoving toward our destination.

    I had to admit¡­ it was fun!

    *****************************

    Thend was covered in blood and smoke.

    Monsters that had surged from the vast ocean brought chaos to the immediate surrounding.

    The surviving denizens had been evacuated¡ªand those who remained on the wastnd were warriors.

    Ady stood from atop a cliff and watched the monsters run rampant across the vast area they had already taken over.

    The giant Demon Beasts breathed purple mes and shrouded the area in dense Miasma¡ªa substance that was poisonous to her race.

    Her pointed ears stood out, and the white hair she had danced with the wind. With her green eyes, she could only witness carnage¡ªfeeling anger and helplessness swirl within her.

    ¡®When will reinforcements arrive¡­?¡¯

    Watching and biding her time was all she could do.

    Miasma was lethal to her people, and the best her regiment could do was create an encirclement to restrict the Demon Beast. However, even that wasn¡¯t going tost very long.

    They needed assistance¡ªdesperately!

    ¡°Before it¡¯s toote¡­ pleasee and save us!¡±

 Chapter 319 Maros Office

    Ana and I continued conversing until we reached the Research Facility in question.

    Before we got there, I got the gist of what was happening, and who the guilty Professor was.

    His name was Maro, and he was a bit enthusiastic about his work. While he was known to be incredibly brilliant, and was also a source of motivation for Ana, he was a recipe for disaster ¡ªespecially thanks to his undying curiosity.

    It was thanks to his achievements and deep love for Magic technology that he was chosen to give a presentation to the students this day.

    ¡®Too bad he messed up again¡­¡¯

    Not that it would make a difference, since Neron could just reverse everything.

    We soon arrived at our destination ¡ª a tall buildingyered by several cadres of fortification Magic. I could also sense the effects of Neron¡¯s Magic as I drew closer.

    Looking at the Research Center now, it looked as good as new.

    ¡°Looks like Professor Maro¡¯s mess has been cleaned up.¡± I smiled.

    Ana chuckled slightly, and we both entered the center.

    I didn¡¯t have any clearance to proceed, but it appeared her ID was enough to allow both of us entry. Plus, once she mentioned that I was a guest of Neron, things went even smoother.

    ¡°Headmaster Neron should be on the fourth floor for Magic Engineering. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s chastizing Professor Maro as we speak.¡± Ana spoke as we ascended the stairs.

    There were Teleportation conduits ced within the structure, but the fact that Ana used this means meant that she wanted us to converse a little more.

    ¡°When will he be done?¡±

    ¡°Hm? You have business with him?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I mean¡­ this whole thing interrupted our conversation, so¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s true.¡±

    We bothughed, talking more until we reached our target floor.

    ¡°Alright. We¡¯re here.¡± Ana spoke, opening the door to the massive room.

    I was weed by the brightness that existed within the enormous ce, taking in the sight of a room filled with all sorts of innovations.

    ¡®Not bad¡­¡¯

    The area was split into severalpartments, and a good deal of Magic tools and technology could be seen. Automatons, Magic Items, Golems, etc.

    ¡°Like what you see? I¡¯ll show you mypartmentter.¡±

    My lips curled up to form a grin.

    ¡°That would be nice.¡±

    ¡°But first, let¡¯s get you to see Neron!¡±

    *************************

    ¡°Maro, you nearly died this time, you know? I can¡¯t reverse death.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡°And all for what? Why did you push yourself so hard once again?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±

    ¡°I mean, if you were the only one to get hurt, that would be fine. But¡­ you dragged others to it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry¡­¡±

    I could hear those sounds from my distance ¡ªbefore I entered the office of the Head Researcher of this area ¡ªProfessor Maro.

    ¡®Neron sounds quite serious right now. Should I just wait untilter? No¡­ there¡¯s no time left!¡¯

    I had spent more than I bargained for.

    Based on my calctions, I was supposed to be on my way to the Capital now.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I said to my partner, opening the door.

    ¡°A ¡ªah, yeah¡­¡±

    Her hesitation meant she was probably also reconsidering barging in on Neron¡¯s reprimand of Maro.

    However, at this point, it was of little importance.

    >CREAK<

    The door opened once I got close enough to it ¡ªwithout having me twist a knob. I smiled at the good engineering and stepped inside the office, meeting Neron and the guilty Maro in a conversation.

    One satfortably on a chair while the other was kneeling ¡ªhead bent downward.

    ¡®Is that Neron?¡¯

    It seemed he was a different person when dealing with others as a superior.

    As for the man ¡ªMaro ¡ªhe was a lot younger than I expected.

    ¡®He¡¯s in his early thirties, maybe¡­.¡¯

    The fact that he led a whole floor in the field of Magic Engineering was something that amazed me. Based on all Ana said, he was a brilliant person too.

    ¡®Thest administration would never have allowed this. Does that mean Neron changed the system for Ainrk¡¯s staff as well?¡¯

    I smiled and drew closer.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re the infamous Professor Maro¡­¡± I spoke, interrupting the unstopping back-and-forth between Neron and the man in question.

    I was certain they had sensed me entering, but¡­ neither even looked in my direction.

    ¡°Ah, Jared¡­ you¡¯re back from your walk, uh?¡± Neron finally turned in my direction.

    Maro followed his lead, and I finally saw his face more clearly.

    He had ragged red hair, as well as a shanty cluster of short beards all over his chin. The bags under his eyes told me very much about his level of stress.

    ¡°A-ah, and who might you be?¡± He murmured.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m ¡ª¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s my friend and honored guest, Jared Leonard.¡± Neron interrupted and spilled out my name.

    The moment he did so, Maro¡¯s eyes bulged open.

    ¡°You mean, you¡¯re¡­ the one who¡­ the Jared who was¡­¡±

    ¡®Ah, he¡¯s referring to the Demonic Disturbance, uh¡­?¡¯

    >WHOOOOSSSHHH!<

    Maro suddenly left Neron¡¯s front and rushed at me with maddening speed. If I didn¡¯t know he was harmless, I would have probably retaliated in some way.

    ¡°T-thank you very much!¡± The man bowed as he rendered gratitude to me.

    ¡®What the ¡ª?!¡¯

    Why was he thanking me? I didn¡¯t remember seeing him during my stay at Ainrk. Or, did I rescue someone of importance to him?

    ¡°I heard from Ivan just how amazing you are. I¡¯m his big brother, see¡­¡±

    ¡°Ohh, I see¡­¡±

    They looked nothing alike. Other than the same red hair they both shared, Ivan and this Maro character were pr opposites.

    ¡°Ivan told me¡­ what you did. If it wasn¡¯t for you, he would most likely be dead. He can be an annoying brother, but¡­ I¡¯m happy he survived.¡±

    ¡®Hold on, does he mean ¡ª?

    ¡°I spoke to him through our siblingmunication line, and he told me about what you did at the Western Border.¡±

    ¡®Ah, so that¡¯s what he meant.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­¡±

    ¡°What happened at the Western Border?¡± Ana was looking confused as she finally interjected.

    My gaze went to Neron, and seeing no change in his expression, I decided to use my discretion.

    ¡®She¡¯ll find out sooner orter¡­¡¯

    ¡°The Demons have begun their invasion.¡±

 Chapter 320 The Exhibition [Pt 1]

    ¡°W-whoa¡­ that¡¯s really¡­ bad news¡­¡±

    Ana sat, recoiling from shock caused by knowing the imminent threat approaching the Eastern Kingdom.

    We had all taken our seats in Maro¡¯s office¡ªeven the offender himself. I would be hesitant to discuss issues like this with a stranger like him around, but since Neron vouched for his credibility, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

    ¡°Is that tied to the reason you¡¯re here?¡± Neron asked me.

    ¡°Not entirely. I actually came to see you concerning a separate issue. Afterward, I¡¯m going to the Capital to finalize matters.¡±

    ¡°The Capital? You mean ¡ª¡± Ana eximed.

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going to see the King and his court. Arrangements have already been made, so I should be granted audience tomorrow at thetest.¡±

    Ana and Maro especially looked surprised.

    The whole purpose of giving instructions to the people at the Western fort was so they could deliver my message on time.

    I even lent them Automatons so they could be quick. I selected a few that could move quickly, based on what their human bodies could handle.

    That way, they could transport the corpses of the Demon Beasts I captured, and also deliver my message.

    ¡®Let¡¯s hope the King and his Council members aren¡¯t idiots.¡¯

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Neron mumbled, looking at me with his usual stoic expression.

    ¡°So, when are you leaving?¡±

    I shrugged a little.

    ¡°As soon as I conclude my business with you. It has to be private, though.¡±

    ¡°Well, do you have an hour to spare before then? There¡¯s a little favor I¡¯d like to ask from you.¡±

    ¡®Neron, really? After telling you how dire the situation is?¡¯ I nearly heaved in exasperation.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s supposed to be a special event today in Ainrk Academy. An exhibition, to be exact. Maro here was supposed to prepare the tools he would use to educate the general student body on Magic and its evolution, but¡­¡±

    ¡°H-Headmaster Neron¡­ w-what are you trying to do¡­?¡±

    Neron ignored Maro¡¯s question and kept addressing me.

    ¡°¡­ As punishment for his reckless behavior, I want to rece his performance with something else¡ªsomething else.¡±

    ¡®Ah, I see what he¡¯s driving at. Neron, you¡­¡¯

    ¡°B-but, wait¡­ it hasn¡¯te to that ye ¡ª¡± Maro once again offered weak resistance.

    ¡°Zip it! You messed up. Admit it.¡±

    ¡°I admit it, but isn¡¯t this going too far?¡±

    ¡°Too far? You nearly killed yourself¡­ and others!¡±

    ¡°W-well, it won¡¯t happen again¡­ I assure you!¡±

    ¡°This is the one hundred and seventy-fifth time you will spout that lie!¡±

    ¡®Jeez¡­¡¯ I winced.

    Ana chuckled at the sight as well, blessing me with her innocent demeanor. Though I could tell that worry was hidden deep in her eyes.

    ¡®The Demon Invasion must be getting to her, uh?¡¯

    ¡°In any case, Jared, I want you to organize something for the kids¡ªan exhibition of some sort. Think you can handle it?¡±

    I was well within my rights to refuse, but Neron knew I wouldn¡¯t.

    Why?

    I was curious.

    ¡®What kind of students has Ainrk Academy produced?¡¯

    With a War at hand, it was to be expected that one would assess the military strength of even students. All our assets required examination.

    ¡°When does it start?¡± I smiled.

    The sly bastard gave a grin, breaking his stoic expression.

    ¡°Ten minutes.¡±

    My grin became wider.

    ¡°Fine, then. Ana, think you can give me a tour of your section in ten minutes? I don¡¯t want to bete for the exhibition.¡± I turned to my adorably flustered friend.

    ¡°W-what? You don¡¯t need to prepare?¡±

    I tried my best to hold back any form ofughter. Ana was only asking out of innocence, so I was just going to let it slide.

    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Hahahaha! As expected of you, Jared. Well, don¡¯t let me stop you.¡± Neronughed.

    I stood up with Anabelle and began leaving the office. Before I exited, I asked a question¡ªstill facing the door.

    ¡°Is it that same hall?¡±

    For a brief moment, there was silence, and then;

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Very well. See you then.¡±

    *********************************

    As soon as Jared exited the office, Maro sighed and began grumbling.

    ¡°Are you still angry?¡± The calm man asked.

    ¡°Na. Just frustrated. I wanted to lead the exhibition¡­¡± The Professor murmured.

    Neron shrugged upon hearing the words of his friend.

    As unexpected as it would seem, Neron was actually a longtime acquaintance of Maro. In fact, they attended Ainrk together, in the past.

    Maro was Neron¡¯s junior, though.

    ¡°I have my reasons, you know? I¡¯m sure Jared realizes that as well.¡±

    Maro couldn¡¯t argue with the words of his senior and superior.

    Everything Neron did had a purpose¡ªeven back when they were still students in Ainrk Academy.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the reason?¡±

    Neron¡¯s cool expression remained unchanged.

    ¡°Our quality of students significantly reduced in recent years. Since a good number of nobles now prefer to give their children sheltered and private education, thanks to the Demonic Disturbance, we had to give out schrships and reach out to more desperate families and even made some slots avable tomon folks.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t the end of it, though.

    ¡°We had to lower our standards to allow more students to enroll here. It¡¯s affecting the quality of Magic Users, Schrs, and Martial Artists that we are producing.¡±

    Sure, Neron had reformed the system within Ainrk, and the educational methods had been greatly improved. However, what good would that be if the students were not talented or motivated enough?

    ¡°Jared started out with having a mere White Mana Core Grade¡ªeven when he enrolled in the Academy.¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah, I heard that. It¡¯s unbelievable that he has grown to such an extent¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Exactly. He had no real talent or affinity for Mana. His current state is the result of tireless practice and innovative thoughts.¡±

    That was why¡­

    ¡°The students of Ainrk Academy revere his existence as that of a powerful hero. His existence is highly influential for them. However, many forget the fact that he was once a powerless student like them. That¡¯s why¡­ I want him to show them.¡±

    ¡­ It was a role only someone like Jared could achieve.

    ¡°For their growth, it¡¯s imperative we show them just what the right application of knowledge, determination, and skill can do.¡±

 Chapter 321 The Exhibition [Pt 2]

    The General Auditorium was packed!

    Students were spread across the nearly circr array of seats. There was no bias as to where anyone could sit, except for the Year to which one belonged to.

    The excited students were impatiently waiting for the beginning of the event that was promised to them.

    In Ainrk, there existed quite a few extra-curricr activities and general participatory events that spurred its denizens.

    Ever since the Inter-ss Exchange was scrapped three years ago, other interesting programs began popping up.

    One of them was the General Exhibition Event.

    Simply put, all the students of Ainrk Academy would gather in the hall, and a highly ranked member of the staff would share some innovations with them.

    These innovations included technologies that were still in the beta phase, new Martial techniques being developed, or even phenomenal Spells that were still in the development phase.

    It involved the dispensation of knowledge through practical disys, rather than the simple method of ssroom teaching.

    Thanks to the General Exhibition Event, students would get more motivated and strive to achieve higher scores in their fields. That way, they too could achieve great results.

    Unfortunately, the opposite was what happened.

    Students began to view the event as a simple means of entertainment.

    Since they had worse talent than those of the previous generation, they subconsciously believed they couldn¡¯t achieve as much as their predecessors could.

    So, they only saw the exhibitions disyed with eyes of amazement and amusement¡ªwith only a few of them feeling inspired to work hard so they could meet up to the bar set for them.

    With their eyes lit with passion, expecting another interesting event, the students cheered for the woman who climbed the stage.

    Thedy was none other than a Magic Professor they knew quite well.

    She had only just started teaching Magic, but her exceptional talent in Light Magic, her phenomenal knowledge, and excellent application in the art, made her very popr¡ªespecially among the Magic Users.

    Adding to her poprity was the fact that she was a very beautiful and fun woman¡ªyoung too. This made the boys go crazy, and the girls slightly jealous.

    The moderator for this event was none other than Professor Aloe Vida!

    Cheers rang¡ªmostly from the boys¡ªas they witnessed their host smile at them all.

    ¡°Wee, students, to the General Exhibition Event!¡±

    More deafening voices burst out.

    Even from the stage where she stood, Aloe Vida wasughing ufortably at the wild cries of the wards she had been entrusted with.

    ¡®I¡¯ll never get used to this¡­¡¯

    Still, her job demanded this much from her. After being given a second chance at life, she wasn¡¯t going to bex in any way.

    That was why, when she received news that her savior had left something behind for her before leaving, she was so grateful and determined not to let him down.

    So far, she had done well for herself.

    Other than advancing to the Gold Mana Core Grade, she had also learned quite a number of Advanced Magic. Her ability was so great that Neron Kaelid¡ªas Headmaster¡ªmade her a professor of Magic.

    She readily epted the position, hoping she would be able to see a hidden gem like Jared Leonard among them. Unfortunately, none even came close. Still, Aloe wasn¡¯t giving up!

    ¡®It bestowed me this gift from him for a reason¡­ I won¡¯t betray his expectations!¡¯

    As the Moderator for the General Exhibition Event, she had been given the order of programs. With the prelude taken care of, she would be introducing the one who would be leading the day¡¯s exhibition.

    ¡®It¡¯s Professor Maro this time, uh? Hopefully, he motivates the students well¡­¡¯ She smiled.

    As time stood, the man had to be within the premises, so all she had to do was call for him and he would appear.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t see any materials to be used for the exhibition, though. Are they still in transit? Is he not ready yet?¡¯

    Aloe began to consider stalling for time until she was certain about the arrival andplete preparation of their lead exhibitor.

    The impatient cries of all the students convinced her otherwise.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just do my part!¡¯

    ¡°Let us wee today¡¯s Exhibitor! Get ready to get your mind blown. He is ¡ª¡±

    As she was about to call out Maro¡¯s name, a mental link became established between her and someone else.

    ~Miss Aloe, change of ns~

    Her eyes bulged. The one speaking to her through thought was none other than Neron Kaelid.

    Without wasting much time, she replied telepathically.

    <Sir, what do you mean?>

    ~I¡¯ll be attending this event, along with the Vice Head and Senior Lecturers. Announce that.~

    <Y-you will, sir?! T-that¡¯s a great honor! I¡¯m sure the students will be pleased!> Aloe¡¯s response was swift, full of shock.

    The General Exhibition Event was primarily meant for the students. Most Lecturers didn¡¯t even bother attending since they were already quite experienced in their field.

    It would be a waste of time attending an event to watch something disyed and exined when one practically knew of it beforehand.

    ¡®Does that mean what will be exhibited is something even the higher-ups are interested in?¡¯ Aloe¡¯s inner thoughts raced.

    As she began to get excited, thedy couldn¡¯t have predicted the next words that came.

    ~Also, the Exhibitor for this event has changed. It¡¯s no longer Professor Maro~

    <Oh? Who, then?>

    Aloe already knew it had to be someone of great interest since Neron and the upper cadres of Ainrk Academy were going to show up.

    ~It¡¯s Jared Leonard. Introduce him well~

    With that, the connection was cut.

    ¡®E-eh¡­?¡¯

    Aloe Vida¡¯s mind nearly broke.

    Did she hear wrongly? Was she dreaming? Did Neron Kaelid just say the name of the man she most respected?

    ¡°HEEYYYYY!!! WE¡¯RE WAITING!!!¡±

    The loud voices of all the students poured out, snapping Aloe from her myriads of thoughts.

    ¡°A-ah, my apologies¡­¡±

    Her body was already trembling at this point.

    No longer did she feel like the confident and powerful Professor, but her current state was no different from the students¡ªno, even greater.

    ¡®He¡¯s back¡­¡¯

    She was beyond excited.

    ¡®¡­ He¡¯sing!¡¯

    With eyes glimmering with unrivaled anticipation, Aloe proceeded to resume her duties.

 Chapter 322 The Hero Of Ainzlark

    ¡°WHOHOOOOOO!!!¡±

    Loud cheers and apuse emanated from the students as the honored guests arrived.

    By honored guests, they were the Headmaster, Vice Head, and three Senior Lecturers.

    They appeared on the elevated tform that hovered above the stage¡ªsimr to the position that Judges had during tournaments.

    Taking their positions; five seats on a floating surface, the guests of honor smiled at the students.

    Aloe was excited, seeing how the presence of so many dignitaries increased the morale of everyone in the hall.

    But that wasn¡¯t all.

    Suddenly, the hall became saturated with Lecturers.

    Usually, only a handful would be present ¡ªto make sure the students behaved themselves within the Hall. However, Aloe could see about ny percent of the teaching staff as well as several non-academic personnel, scattered across the Hall.

    More were stilling in too.

    ¡®They¡¯re all here to see Jared! Kyaaaa! I can¡¯t wait!¡¯ Aloe Vida squealed internally.

    The students whispered among themselves, also shocked by the presence of so many grown-ups. They didn¡¯t need a special announcement to know that this General Exhibition Event would be different from others.

    ¡°Prepare yourselves, everyone!¡±

    Aloe could no longer refer to the audience as students. Among those who looked at her were seniors and superiors. As the moderator, she had to read the room very well.

    ¡°Our Exhibitor today is someone who is known well among all the Lecturers of Ainrk Academy. Even you students know his name very well!¡±

    Everyone was quiet ¡ªalmost religiously ¡ªas they anticipated Aloe¡¯s announcement.

    ¡°He is a man who has achieved the impossible. He possesses an all-epassing ability in Magic, Martial Arts, and even Schrship. He is the epitome of perfection, someone who is worth admiration and emtion, as well as the one whom I owe my very life to¡­¡±

    It would seem the Moderator was forgetting herself a bit, disying her personal bias toward the one who was being introduced.

    ¡°He is known as the Hero of Ainrk, The Unofficial Ranker, The Best of the preceding Generation¡­¡±

    The students could already guess whom Aloe was referring to at this point, and they burst out in murmurs of disbelief, shock, and great anticipation.

    ¡°No way!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Could it be?!¡±

    Many voices leaked out, but Aloe¡¯s was louder.

    ¡°YESSSS! PLEASE LET US WELCOME¡­ JARED LEONAAAARRRDDD!!!¡±

    As the audience was about to obey their moderator¡¯s admonishment, a most astounding sight unraveled before them.

    A blue warp in space began forming beside Aloe Vida, and then someone proceeded from it.

    He had blond hair, handsome features, and a bright smile on his face.

    A mere nce at his person stole the hearts of the girls, while the boys were amazed by his incredible charisma and grand entrance.

    His lips parted as he turned his attention to the Moderator who stood, frozen in her tracks.

    ¡°Miss Vida¡­ it¡¯s been a while¡­¡±

    ¡°J-Jared! It¡¯s so good to finally see you!¡± She eximed, nearly bowing her head in his presence.

    The sight of an olderdy being so flustered and undignified before the neer made all the students realize just how much value he had.

    He was the great Jared Leonard, after all!

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m happy to see you¡¯re doing well, and¡­ how much you¡¯ve grown.¡±

    She nodded and bowed once again.

    ¡°T-this much is nothing. If not for ¡ª¡±

    ¡°AHEM!¡± Someone cleared his throat.

    The sound came from above ¡ªfrom Neron.

    Both Moderator and Exhibitor smiled sheepishly once Neron gave another cough, showing that his message had been passed conveyed perfectly.

    ¡°We¡¯ll talkter.¡±

    Upon hearing this, her heart fluttered.

    ¡°Y-yes. I will be waiting. I should take my leave now.¡±

    ¡°Cool.¡± Jared Leonard nodded at her, smiling reassuringly.

    Aloe walked off the stage, unable to contain the smile of glee that appeared on her face as she disappeared from sight.

    Stealing onest look at him, the woman¡¯s heart raced.

    ¡®What will he show us? What will he tell me? I can¡¯t wait!¡¯

    Running off, Aloe decided to quickly get a seat for herself among the audience so she could get a decent view of her savior in action.

    ************************

    ¡®This is quite interesting¡­¡¯

    My eyes scanned the room, and I observed the Mana Cores and power levels of everyone around me.

    It was surprising.

    I mean, I was also surprised when I saw Aloe had already reached the Gold Stage, but that was in a good way.

    This was quite bad.

    ¡®They¡¯re all too weak!¡¯

    At this rate, even with a good educational system, the graduates produced would not be the best.

    ¡®Just look at their faces¡­¡¯

    They all had excited gleams in their eyes. The kind one would have when they saw some fantastic disy of fireworks or maybe some rare creature.

    Only a few students had the thirst for knowledge and power disyed in their expressions.

    ¡®We¡¯ll have to change that¡­¡¯

    It would be easy to conjure up some neat spells or show some of the Magic tools I had been developing. But¡­ if they simply enjoyed the show and returned to their weak ways after, there would be no point.

    To ensure real change, I needed participation.

    ¡°Greetings, everyone. My name is Jared Leonard, and I will be your Exhibitor for today.¡±

    ¡®This sure brings back memories¡­¡¯

    I taught several lectures and seminars in my past life. While I didn¡¯t know half as much as now, nor did I have true power or confidence in my personal ability, I still managed to pull off decent lectures.

    ¡®Compared to then¡­ this should be a cinch!¡¯

    ¡°For my exhibition, I will need volunteers. If you¡¯re interested, raise your hands.¡±

    As expected, quite a number of students did.

    My lips formed a wide smile as I stared at the eager audience.

    ¡°I have to warn you, though¡­ it will be quite dangerous.¡±

    Once I said this, a good number of hands dropped. Some were immediate, while others drooped slowly.

    Eventually, only a small fraction of determined students remained. Among them was one of the students I encountered this morning.

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯

    ¡°Are you certain? It¡¯s not toote to back out now!¡±

    None of them dropped their hands.

    ¡®Hmm, let¡¯s see¡­ ten, fifteen, twenty-five, thirty-one. Thirty-one, uh? That¡¯s fair enough.¡¯

    ¡°Now, then¡­ everyone who has chosen to volunteer should prepare themselves.¡±

    I could sense some fear and anticipation mixed in their reactions.

    ¡°You¡¯ll all be fighting me.¡±

 Chapter 323 A Bit Of Motivation

    In an Academy brimming with over five hundred students, only Thirty-one students were willing to participate in my little game.

    ¡®Very well.¡¯

    With the snap of my fingers, all the kids who raised their hands were teleported to the stage.

    ¡°W-wha ¡ª?!¡± Many voices of disbelief sprang from the audience.

    Their reactions were expected.

    Teleportation/Transportation Magic had not been perfected in the world of Magic yet. Only short distances could be traveled, and it took a great deal of Mana.

    It was very rare for a person to teleport one individual somewhere ¡ªas well as downright impossible to do the same for thirty-one people.

    ¡®Well, using the Arcana¡¯s help makes this sort of like cheating¡­¡¯

    It was worth the use, though. After all, even if I didn¡¯t have the attention of some of them before¡­ my actions had drawn them all to me.

    ¡°You will all be fighting me.¡± I smiled at the students who were lined up before me, on the stage.

    Their flustered and utterly surprised reactions were priceless.

    ¡°W-we can¡¯t do that!¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t stand a chance!¡±

    ¡°Is this really an Exhibition?¡±

    ¡®And here I thought they were brave ones for choosing to raise their hands¡­ disappointing.¡¯

    ¡°I-I¡¯ll do it!¡± One person finally blurted out.

    It was the kid I saw just this morning. A smile appeared on my face the moment I saw his determined expression.

    ¡®Now that¡¯s the spirit.¡¯

    ¡°M-me too!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll fight too!¡±

    ¡°L-let¡¯s do this!¡±

    I nodded, satisfied that they were finally gaining morale.

    ¡°Alright, then. Let us begin.¡±

    **************************

    >FWOOOOOSSSSSHHHH!!!<

    The students rushed at me from all directions, coordinating themselves perfectly.

    I had given them ten minutes to prep themselves, and in that time they had devised something beautiful.

    With fluid teamwork, thirty students encircled me ¡ªcovering both nks and my rear.

    Of course, a few bombarded me in my front to serve as a distraction. A frontal assault was going to be evaded or blocked, but that was most likely what they were going for.

    ¡®Their tactics and impable use of teamwork are good. Ainrk taught them well¡­¡¯

    The problem was power.

    >SHUUUUUUUUU!<

    Before the spells ¡ªfire, earth, water, wind, etc. ¡ªhit me, they dissipated into nothing.

    ¡®Their output is too weak¡­¡¯

    No matter how hard they tried, none of them could beat me, but I already knew that. Reducing the level of my barrier to only stop low-level attacks was my handicap to them, but¡­ it seemed like that was too much.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ is this the best that Ainrk Students have to offer?¡±

    I heard some tongues click in annoyance. It seemed my words got to them.

    >FSHUUUUUU!!!<

    Suddenly, arge Magic Circle appeared underneath me. It was crimson, and based on the properties I sensed, the spell that was going to be used belonged to a lower-ss Advanced level.

    ¡®Hm¡­ so they were merely stalling for this, uh?¡¯

    The students on my nks and rear were now at a standstill, all infusing their Mana to charge the circle that was forming underneath me.

    The spell was going to erupt at any moment, and since my barrier was not built to handle it, the damage was going to reach me¡­. or not.

    ¡®Alright, I¡¯ve seen what I wanted to. Let¡¯s stop now¡­¡¯

    >VWUUUSSSHHH!<

    A burst of energy surged from my body, epassing the whole stage. Instantly, the Magic Circle dissipated, and all the Mana of the students suddenly vanished.

    ¡®E-EH?!¡¯

    They all sank to their knees instantly, shocked andpletely beaten.

    ¡°That¡¯s the end of that. You all lost.¡±

    With the snap of my fingers, they all vanished and returned to their respective seats.

    ¡®As expected, all of them were Magic Users. What about Martial Artists?¡¯

    The audience was staring at me, dumbfounded. They were anticipating an exnation.

    ¡®Sorry to disappoint, but¡­¡¯

    ¡°Anyone else wants to try? Maybe Martial Artists this time?¡¯

    No one responded.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s unfortunate. I was thinking of telling you the secret of that special stuff I used if there was anyone who would be able to at least reach me, but¡­¡±

    For a moment, the audience went uneasy and gave in toint.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that impossible?¡±

    ¡°This is meant to be an Exhibition!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! You should just show and teach us!¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he being too unreasonable?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m curious, though. What spell did he use topletely stop them?¡±

    ¡°Dumbass, we¡¯re all curious!¡±

    I smiled, watching the uncooperative students look at me with slight annoyance. It was certain that they simply wanted me to show them something amazing, and then exin everything to them.

    That was all what the ones before me had ever done.

    ¡®¡­ And that¡¯s why they¡¯re in this state.¡¯

    Since they were simply watching from afar off, there would have been very little emotional attachment to the topic. However, for those who had fought me, I was certain that none of them would be the same after this Exchange.

    ¡®I¡¯m not looking to change everyone. Only those who will take the first step¡­¡¯

    Magic wasn¡¯t for everyone. The same applied to other Arts.

    Even in the world of Magic, not everyone was interested in fighting. There were so many diverse fields of Magic. However, these were dangerous times.

    The strong would devour the weak. Perhaps it was time that these students realized that.

    ¡®And what¡¯s with saying it¡¯s impossible? They just don¡¯t want to think!¡¯

    Even though I was a kid, didn¡¯t I fight with a Demon Lord? Compared to that, wasn¡¯t this something very trivial?

    There was no risk or harm. It was an opportunity to learn, yet many shied away from it.

    ¡®With the way they are now, they won¡¯t ever match up to the previous generation¡­¡¯

    And that was something I refused to ept.

    Society was meant to be progressive. Magic, Martial Arts, Innovations; everything was supposed to improve with the passage of time.

    ¡°I see¡­ how disappointing,¡± I said, shaking my head as I watched the confused students.

    ¡°Since there are no volunteers¡­¡±

    There was onest thing I could try out.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. Consider the earlier match your exhibition.¡±

 Chapter 324 The Secrets Of Success

    ¡°WHAAAAAATTT?!¡± A deafening roar of dissatisfaction surged forth.

    My poker face told the audience that I wasn¡¯t the least bit fazed by their noise.

    ¡°You all wanted an exhibition, right? I just gave you one. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡±

    They wanted to sit back, rx, and enjoy the wonders of Magic and whatnot, rather than actively learn. That wasn¡¯t the path I would encourage.

    ¡°B-but you didn¡¯t even exin anything!¡±

    ¡°How are we supposed to understand anything from that?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t how it¡¯s supposed to go!¡±

    Their voices climaxed, making me sigh in slight annoyance.

    ¡°I told you already¡­ if you want answers¡­e and get them!¡±

    I wasn¡¯t going to tell them something so easy. If I did that, they wouldn¡¯t know its value.

    ¡°Do you know the purpose of this Exhibition? Of Ainrk Academy?¡±

    Suddenly, there was silence.

    My sharp voice snapped at them all, causing the immature individuals who remained glued to their seats to grow docile.

    ¡°You are meant to learn, yes. However¡­ it doesn¡¯t stop there.¡±

    This was something fundamental¡ªan element one could only learn on their own. It was usually brought about by inspiration. However, if that factor didn¡¯t work, there were two other critical elements that could do the same.

    ¡ª Failure¡­ and despair!

    ¡°You are meant to desire change, progression, and ultimately, surpass what has been shown. The purpose of showing you something isn¡¯t for admiration, but to spark a hunger in you. However, I do not sense any of that among you people.¡±

    It was harsh and condescending; I knew¡­

    ¡°You are all weak. That¡¯s fine. I was once like you, however¡­¡±

    I didn¡¯t know anything about these students¡­

    ¡°¡­ I didn¡¯t remain weak. It doesn¡¯t matter how small your talent is, or how minute your skill is¡­¡±

    I simply refused to believe that certain humans were exempt from sess.

    ¡°The Hall Of Remembrance shows us the list of Ainrk¡¯s Top Honored Graduates¡­¡±

    Did these students even notice, or were they too caught up with useless rumors about me?

    ¡°Of all the people who were written there, one is a person called Lewis Griffith. I am certain you all know his story quite well. He was inept, someone with no hope for the future!¡±

    Yet, such an individual¡ªwithout a precedent¡ªwas able to revolutionize Magic. Yet¡­ these sheltered ones wereining?

    ¡°If that isn¡¯t enough for you all, then you should look at yet another name on the List! His name is Jerry Keller!¡±

    That boy was someone who worked tirelessly to achieve his objectives.

    He was weaker than those whom he desired to stand with, but¡­ he desired progress. He acted upon that desire, and he was able to stand among the immortalized ones within Ainrk.

    ¡°Rather than getting caught up with the ¡®Unofficial Ranker¡¯ business, why don¡¯t you look up to someone like that as your role model? But you won¡¯t do that. Do you know why?¡±

    The answer was simple.

    ¡°You all love greatness¡­ but would do nothing to achieve it. The allure of someone who was able to be overpowered at such a young age inspires you, and you remain stagnant in a delusion that perhaps only talent determines sess.¡±

    Even if the ss System had been banished, it seemed like people didn¡¯t change so easily.

    ¡°I was a Lower-ss Student. I had a White Mana Core¡­¡±

    I knew it was unfair topare myself to these students, but¡­

    ¡°¡­ But I didn¡¯t stop thinking! I thought outside the box. I didn¡¯t follow the path carved out by many. You will never achieve distinction and progress by going mainstream! I simply chose to use all I had learned to be innovative¡­. and I still am!¡±

    Now, I was certain many would begin to resist my logic, however¡­

    ¡°Is it impossible, really?¡±

    Mass Teleportation. World Expansion. Reality Alteration. Absolute Resurrection. Immortality. Anti Magic¡­

    These were all things deemed to be impossible, based on the current point of society. However¡­

    ¡°This seems likemon sense, but¡­ it seems no one ever thinks about it. Nothing is impossible in this world.¡±

    The fact that it had been conceived in the mind meant that it had the possibility ofing to fruition.

    ¡°Magic makes the impossible a reality. Isn¡¯t that the whole point?¡±

    Something so simple had eluded so many.

    However, I wasn¡¯t going to be biased.

    ¡°For the Martial Artists and Schrs¡­ do not believe that Magic Users are superior to you in the slightest.¡±

    Those weren¡¯t empty words.

    ¡®Their eyes tell me they want proof.¡¯

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I show you something interesting?¡±

    I could see their faces brimming with anticipation.

    ¡°I will ask again¡­ does anyone want to volunteer?¡±

    ***************************

    ¡®Words have power, uh?¡¯

    Children were nk canvases, so easy to dye in any color.

    After my speech, over half of the students raised their hands. Of course, the stage was enough to amodate all of them, so I teleported all to my presence.

    This time, Martial Artists wanted to take the lead.

    ¡°I¡¯ll fight with Martial Arts this time.¡±

    Using my Spatial Magic, I brought out a sword from a storage space that existed in another dimension I created.

    It was this very ability that allowed me to transport so many Demon Beasts after I killed them. I also had several tools and treasures within.

    ¡®There are limitations, but¡­ it¡¯s quite useful.¡¯

    I had to thank ¡®The Tower¡¯ Arcana for this innovation.

    ¡°Now, then¡­¡± With my de still in its sheath, I stared at the determined students.

    ¡°¡­ COME!¡±

    ***********************

    The results were the same.

    Every single one of my attackers ended in crushing defeat¡­ all in a single strike.

    Even as they shot Spells, or used various techniques of theirs, I cut through them all in a single sh and blew them all away.

    It was an undisputed, one-sided victory.

    Once I was done with them, I teleported all the students to their seats.

    ¡°Next. Schrs!¡±

    This was a tricky part.

    The Path of Schrship wasn¡¯t something that could be easily taught or tested. So, to pass my message across¡­

    ¡°Did you know¡­?¡±

    ¡­ I resorted to one of the innovative theories I came up with.

    ¡ª Anti-Magic.

 Chapter 325 Aura Of Despair

    ¡°N¡ªNO WAY!¡±

    The Schrs began gawking.

    Of course, the theory I gave wasn¡¯t exactly functional, but the very concept of it was alluring. That was what mattered.

    ¡°Do you all realize it now? It¡¯s not strength that makes you qualified for progress. It¡¯s conscious efforts at progress that make you strong.¡±

    I was sure they were all curious about how I became this way.

    ¡°I am only fifteen, you know? Yet¡­ I doubt anyone here could beat me¡ªthat includes your Lecturers. Do you know why?¡±

    ¡®It¡¯s because I reincarnated!¡¯

    There was no way I would say that, though. Sometimes it was necessary to lie in order to spur the right kind of emotion from kids.

    ¡°It¡¯s because I thought of things differently. In essence, I was nothing like you. The same applies to everyone whose name was written in the Hall Of Remembrance. You¡¯d do well never to forget that.¡±

    While it was true that the right choice of words could transform a child, there was a limit to its power. That was why I had to show them with action. Still, even that wasn¡¯t enough.

    I needed something to create asting impression in their hearts.

    ¡®Now, then¡­ let¡¯s spur them a little¡­¡¯

    ¡°Kahn¡­¡± I whispered.

    Suddenly¡­ a chill began to form in the air.

    >VWWWUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    Before anyone could react, the aura emanating from me permeated the entire hall.

    ¡°U-U-UAAAARRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!¡± Everyone erupted in deep fear and absolute terror.

    The darkness that squirmed about caused some students to pass out, while others gave maddening screams.

    Some couldn¡¯t even speak. They simply shuddered violently. I heard chattering sounds of teeth; I smelled a faint whiff of ammonia.

    The Hall had suddenly been transformed into a ce of utter despondency.

    ¡°Aura Of Despair: Stage 5¡±

    There were nine stages. Using only the middle area was enough to drive everyone¡ªboth Lecturers and Students alike¡ªinto a useless state.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Kahn.¡±

    With that, the hellish atmosphere ceased, and sanity returned to the hall.

    ¡°Do you understand now? This is the world that awaits you.¡±

    The illusion that these students had; it was time to shatter it.

    ¡°Do not believe for a second that you have a choice. It¡¯s either you improve¡­ or you die. That¡¯s the nature of this world.¡±

    Surely, they knew about the Demonic Disturbance. Soon, the looming War would be revealed to them as well.

    There was no room for weakness.

    ¡°This world does not require more useless lumps of meat. You were privileged to attend this Academy. It¡¯s an opportunity many people will never have till they die.¡±

    They needed to understand one fundamental truth.

    ¡°To someone whom much is given¡­ much is also expected! Do not imagine, for one second, that you have a choice. You do not.¡±

    Their entitled mindset had to be shattered.

    ¡°You must all be strong. You will rise above your predecessors and attain far greater heights than they ever could.¡±

    That was the true goal of civilization.

    ¡°Is that possible? Someone could ask that question. However¡­ I am living proof of my words.¡±

    After all¡­ in all the history of this Kingdom¡­ no one was as strong as me when they were my age.

    Reincarnation or not; it remained the truth.

    ¡°That feeling you just had¡­ was the same that your predecessors had when they faced the Shadow Demons during that incident. Seventeen perished in that struggle. It was a hellish night.¡±

    Yet, these little ones spoke of the whole incident with sparks in their eyes, thinking of a hero who rescued the Academy from destruction.

    ¡°I, too, was scared. I wanted to run away. It hurt like hell. It was overwhelming. But, do you know why we all fought? Why we all won?¡±

    It was one simple fact.

    ¡°We had no choice!¡±

    And that was my lesson to these people/

    ¡°Now, then¡­ do we have any volunteer who still wants to try?¡±

    Silence.

    ¡®Of course¡­¡¯

    This was it. The lowest point.

    No sane student would raise their hand. I didn¡¯t expect any to.

    Right now, they were all supposed to reflect. They had to wallow in despair. Only by achieving failure and hitting rock bottom would they be capable of generating enough propelling force to rise.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I give it a go?¡± A voice came from above me.

    ¡®What?!¡¯

    Suddenly, someone came descending upon the stage.

    ¡®Why are you¡­?¡¯

    My body throbbed a little as I stared at the confident man who was standing before me.

    ¡°HEADMASTER NERON!¡± The students were just as surprised.

    ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± I asked, raising my brows.

    It was a bit baffling. Why would he interrupt my education process? Surely, he must have told me to ¡®exhibit¡¯ while knowing what kind of person I was. Was he offended that I took things a bit too far?

    ¡°I can¡¯t hold myself back any longer. After that aura you unleashed earlier¡­¡±

    ¡®Ah, so he¡¯s upset?¡¯

    ¡°¡­ I just can¡¯t contain my urge to fight you!¡±

    For a moment, I paused¡ªletting Neron¡¯s wordspletely sink in.

    ¡®Of course! What was I expecting?¡¯

    ¡°So, Jared¡­ what do you say? I raised my hand¡­ and you didn¡¯t specify that only students could volunteer!¡±

    Well, he wasn¡¯t wrong about that.

    ¡®Should I just take him on?¡¯

    As tempting as it was, I had to consider things carefully. I wanted to fight Neron as badly as he did, but¡­ we had to consider several factors.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will happen to ¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of holding back, then forget it. There was no point in fighting Neron when he was holding back.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ wouldn¡¯t you also be holding back?¡±

    ¡®Tch. Fair point¡­¡¯

    There were many cards I couldn¡¯t y at the moment.

    ¡®Now that I think about this¡­ our fight could be instructive for the students. Neron probably sees that too, right?¡¯

    One nce at the excited look in his eyes told me that he was simply concerned about our battle¡ªnothing more.

    ¡°Huu¡­ very well.¡±

    I had nothing to lose, and quite a few things to gain.

    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s time I showed you a little something I¡¯ve been working on.¡±

    There was a reason I had Fusion Cores¡ªa mix of Mana and Miasma. Showing it to Neron, and the rest of the audience, would be nice.

 Chapter 326 Jared Vs Neron [Pt 1]

    Silence pervaded the atmosphere, but it was hardly stale.

    Students and lecturers watched the stage fervently, with bated breaths. Their eyes were locked on the two individuals who stood opposite themselves ¡ªsmiling at each other with pure confidence.

    The Hero and Unofficial Ranker Of Ainrk¡­

    ¡­ And the Headmaster of the same institution.

    Gulps and tense breaths spread across the audience.

    Their thoughts all rang of the same thing.

    ¡®Who is going to win?¡¯

    *******************

    ¡®How ignorant¡­¡¯

    I couldn¡¯t me most of the people who were witnessing this, though. None of them had ever seen Neron at full strength, which was why they could entertain the thought that I had a chance.

    ¡®Well, maybe I could turn the tides with my Arcanas¡­¡¯

    But, I wasn¡¯t going to be using those in this match. Based on what little information I knew about Neron, he surpassed me in Mana quantity, and even bested me in overall quality ¡ªsince he had too much.

    I could close the gap with Spellcraft, but the second factor also came into y.

    ¡ªExperience!

    Neron was as shrewd as me. Even without reincarnating, he figured out so many things at such an age. The fact that he had more Familiars than I had ever seen in my entire two lifetimes proved that he had lots of experience in the Magic department.

    ¡®I bet he¡¯s older than he looks¡­¡¯

    Then there was his pesky Original Magic.

    ¡®Who knows what else he¡¯s hiding¡­¡¯

    Out of ten, I could only see myself winning once ¡ªand that was being generous. Still, since I had just preached about making the impossible possible through Magic, I intended to lead by example.

    ¡®I won¡¯t know unless I try!¡¯

    ¡°Let¡¯s set some ground rules for the match, first.¡± I retorted, smiling at the grinning man.

    How shameless could he be? Openly showing his excitement like this¡­

    ¡°Firstly, there will be no use of any Magic Items. Secondly, there will be no use of Original Magic. Thirdly, we¡¯ll limit the use of Magic to the Highest Tier for Advanced Magic. I¡¯m afraid this ce won¡¯t be able to handle anything higher.¡±

    ¡°We could use a barrier to shield the ce. That way, no one gets hurt.¡± Neron interjected.

    ¡®Tch. Sly guy!¡¯

    ¡°Very well. We can use Peak Level Magic¡­ but not Transcendental¡­¡±

    Magic Spells had cadres, and usually, the highest one could achieve as a Mage was the Peak Level. Even then, only a few ever arrived at this juncture.

    However, one realm existed above it¡­

    ¡­ The Transcendental Level!

    Spells that defied logic and even bent thews of nature were ssified under this. Neron¡¯s Original Magic could be ssified under this.

    The Arcanas were also Transcendental.

    In essence, this Realm was so dangerous that even barriers would not be enough to contain their power. I was certain Neron understood that.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine¡­¡± He murmured.

    ¡®Good. If it¡¯s like this, then I can manage¡­¡¯

    I had long given up on fighting Neron at full strength ¡ªat least, not unless I was ready to go all out.

    But, I wasn¡¯t in a position to do that just yet.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re done with setting the rules, shall we begin?¡±

    Neron and I both erected respective barriers to epass the stage. Two translucent veils covered the stage, nearly transparent in nature.

    ¡®This should work¡­¡¯

    The stage wasrge enough for even a thousand people to stand on ¡ªwith room to spare. Certainly, it would berge enough to contain us, right?

    ¡°Then¡­ let us begin¡­¡±

    Neron and I stared at each other with excited expressions.

    ¡°¡­ NOW!¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The entire tform we stood on shattered instantly.

    An explosive gust of wind spread across the stage as we sharply lunged at each other.

    My body had radically transformed ¡ªcoated in a dense amount of Mana. Several lights danced around me ¡ªall condensed forms of Mana. They served as my support, and each had enough power to rival an experienced Mage.

    In a fight with Neron, they would be next to useless, but they were better than nothing.

    ¡®I have Familiars stored in them, so they¡¯ll be in control of the respective orbs.¡¯

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    I swung a de that I manifested from a condensed quality of Mana.

    >CHING!<

    It crashed upon a dense barrier made by Neron, breaking the weapon instantly.

    ¡°Come on, Jared!¡± Neron said, lunging at me with a highly vtile punch.

    His attack pattern was simple, but I could feel the amount of force behind it.

    ¡°Tch!¡±

    >WHOOOOMMM!!!<

    I dodged his offensive maneuver, sending a bunch of orbs charging at Neron.

    They jointly cast a rain of highly destructive lightning, decimating the area.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    If the barrier hadn¡¯t existed, I was certain that the entire hall would have been blown apart.

    ¡°Hahahaha! That¡¯s more like it!¡± Neron yelled, swiftly emerging from the thick smoke and dust.

    His body had changed ¡ªshrouded in multiple colors and special features.

    ¡®He¡¯s using Grand Fusion Mode already?¡¯

    I could notice at least a thousand distinct features from Neron¡¯s body alone ¡ªand even several more Mana qualities that differed from one another.

    ¡®He¡¯s using that many, uh?¡¯

    >WHOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!<

    As I was still in thought, Neron appeared in front of me.

    ¡°Wha ¡ª¡±

    And then he was behind me.

    ¡°Tsk tsk.¡±

    Before I could respond to his taunt, a bright st of multiple mixed energies shot at me with immense speed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

    I was thrust to the ground, but quickly regainedposure and took to the sky.

    Thanks to my little spheres that automatically went into defense, I would have been in quite the pickle.

    ¡®He¡¯s faster than me now¡­¡¯

    With a grin, I decided to elevate my form, utilizing the power of a dozen Familiars ¡ªall Wisps!

    >VWUUUSHHH!<

    Energy swirled around me, and I achieved a glowing state, brimming with fiery energy and power.

    As the brilliant disy of a rainbow, I floated in the air.

    The orbs around me had increased in size and number, granting me more versatility and efficiency inbat.

    In my current Grand Fusion state, I could keep up ¡ªfor now. However¡­ this was only a prelude.

    ¡®The actual show is yet toe!¡¯

 Chapter 327 Jared Vs Neron [Pt 2]

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown, Jared. Those twelve Familiars are quite strong! They¡¯re individually stronger than the three thousand I¡¯m currently using.¡±

    ¡®This monster¡­¡¯ I nearly coughed.

    Even if I pushed myself, I couldn¡¯t use over a hundred at a time.

    Just how did Neron be this kind of person? Was he naturally inclined to Magic, or¡­?

    ¡°Here Ie!¡±

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHH!!!<

    Once again, he vanished from his position and moved to my right nk. Unlikest time, however, I could see his movements.

    ¡®A feint?¡¯

    Using pure speed, I dodged his attack and swiftly changed positions.

    He chased me nearly immediately, devastating the area even more. At this point, there was no longer anything around us that was intact.

    ¡®I would have used Teleportation, but that¡¯s against the rules¡­¡¯

    Using my 12 Wisps, I entered into Elemental Chamber, coating myself in 12 Distinct Elemental Properties.

    Other than the five basic ones I initially developed, additional attributes like metal, acid, ice, etc. Were implemented, granting me greater offensive capabilities.

    ¡®Grand Harmonious Storm!¡¯

    With a sleight of hand, I sent a mix of twelve attributes charging at Neron in a highly concentrated st.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Once again, the entire area shook.

    ¡®Now, I¡¯m beginning to feel confined¡­¡¯

    Neron easily passed through the attack ¡ªas his barrier was strong enough to protect him.

    I kept sending sts at him, and he returned the favor ¡ªcing us at a stalemate.

    ¡®Haa¡­ alright, this should be enough¡­¡¯

    Neron seemed to share my thoughts, as he stopped his flurry of attacks and created some distance between us.

    Now a couple of meters from each other, we both smiled. Neither of us was spent.

    ¡®I¡¯ve exhausted myself a bit, but this guy doesn¡¯t even seem tired at all¡­¡¯

    His body fundamentally functioned in a way that ced it in a loop, allowing him to escape negative status conditions. However, since we agreed to discard the use of his Original Magic, that was probably not in effect.

    His current state could only be attributed to the fact that he was simply that strong. Battles of this level were not enough to tire him out.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯re ready to begin for real? I want to see that new power that you have, Jared.¡± Neron retorted.

    ¡°Oh? Why are you in a rush?¡± I smiled ruefully.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m getting bored. Plus, we had better end this quickly, right?¡±

    Well, he wasn¡¯t wrong.

    There were more important matters to address, after all.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. We better end this soon¡­ for their sakes too¡­¡± I stated, looking at the ones who were watching the show.

    One nce at the audience was enough to tell me that they werepletely mesmerized and utterly broken by the brief exchange between my mentor and me.

    ¡®Just how will they react to what¡¯s toe?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll be getting a bit more serious now¡­ so, let¡¯s see what you¡¯re going to do.¡±

    Neron¡¯s tone was enough of a warning. He wasn¡¯t joking at all.

    ¡®Don¡¯t tell me¡­!¡¯

    The energy within him swelled, and I felt Neron¡¯s Mana climb to an unbelievable state.

    I gulped unconsciously, feeling my body shiver. In my current state, I was not going to stand a chance.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough¡­ you¡¯ve all done well¡­¡±

    Instantly, all my Familiars retracted their abilities, leaving me bare.

    With my pping white cloak and my enchanted attire, I felt insurmountable pressure from my opponent. It was a familiar experience¡­

    His hair turned white, and lightning-like energy danced around him. In addition to his Grand Fusion, he was adding something equally dangerous. Just how unreasonable could he be?

    ¡°Grand Fusion Mage Mode.¡±

    Something so absurd was manifesting before me.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we end it with one final move?¡± He grinned, already raising his hand to gather an unbelievable amount of energy.

    ¡°Sure¡­ let¡¯s do that.¡±

    ¡®Just as expected¡­¡¯

    Now that it hade to this, it was time to reveal my hand.

    ¡°Kahn¡­ let¡¯s do this.¡±

    My Mana Cores ¡ªstarting from my primary one ¡ªbrimmed with energy, and I was coated with a phenomenal amount of power.

    Unlike previously, the nature of the energies that were surging from me was of two conflicting natures.

    Mana¡­ and Miasma!

    ck shes of lightshed around, dancing with their white counterpart. At the center of these two opposites, I floated with absolute confidence.

    Kahn pumped out the Miasma locked within me, and I controlled the supply of my Mana, generating absolute equilibrium.

    ¡°I¡¯m not waiting for you!¡± Neron grinned, already done with his preparation.

    Sitting atop his palm was a massive ball that shone with multiple colors. It was coated with Neron¡¯s white Mana, but the multiple attributes of his numerous familiars squirmed within the huge orb.

    It was as gigantic as a thousand human headsbined ¡ªbrimming with enough power to easily destroy Ainrk Academy ¡ªand even beyond.

    ¡®This guy¡­ so that¡¯s why he was against the ban of Peak-Level Magic¡­¡¯

    Still, at this point, it was useless.

    ¡°Take my Grand Nova!¡± Neron excitedly dered, sending the massive orb of destruction my way.

    My face was unfazed as I looked at the looming st.

    I was currently not using any Magic to enhance or defend myself ¡ªI couldn¡¯t.

    While utilizing Spellcraft, Mana, and Miasma, to form something unique, I couldn¡¯t activate any Magic myself ¡ªat least not at the moment.

    Why?

    ¡°Won¡¯t you defend yourself?¡± Neron asked with a bright grin.

    I was certain that this Spell of his would consume any barrier I wanted to throw at this juncture.

    Which was why¡­ I wasn¡¯t even interested in defense.

    ¡®Neron¡­ you¡¯re curious about my newfound ability, right?¡¯

    My eyes went in the direction of my watchers for onest time; observing their confused, fearful, and overwhelmed expressions.

    ¡®I¡¯m sure they¡¯re all interested too¡­¡¯

    Well, everyone had better keep their eyes peeled. After all, this was another example of how nothing was impossible.

    If Magic made anything possible, then anything that would be considered impossible was probably in a realm against Magic.

    There was only one word to describe such a concept.

    >VWUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Instantly, the Grand Nova disappeared ¡ª turning into tiny particles of light, beforepletely vanishing.

    That wasn¡¯t all that happened.

    Neron¡¯s Mage Mode evaporated, and his Grand Fusion Form waspletely deactivated.

    All the Magic in the area ¡ªincluding the barrier that covered the ruined stage ¡ªshattered and was rendered null.

    This was something that could only be achieved by something of equal opposition to Magic.

    ¡®You look surprised, Neron. Are you satisfied now? Did my show intrigue you?¡¯ I grinned, watching Neron¡¯s eyes bulge in surprise.

    It would be my first time seeing him so surprised¡­ as well as intrigued.

    ¡®It seems you understand it now.¡¯

    The power I obtained from the sublime fusion of Mana and Miasma¡­

    ¡­ Anti-magic!

 Chapter 328 Great Expectations

    What would happen when two contrasting elements collide?

    Usually, they would simply conflict, and it would cause an imbnce¡ªfriction between the opposing parties.

    However¡­ what if one managed to find the perfect way to merge the two? If that was possible, then the product of such would be somethingpletely different from the two initial sources.

    Anti-Magic¡­ a concept that stemmed from the equal merge between Mana and Miasma.

    Joining equal properties¡ªquality and quantity¡ªof the two elements into one, would create a null effect. In essence, both would cancel each other out.

    By utilizing this properly, infusing it with my Spellcraft ability, I could spread the null effect through a wide distance,pletely eradicating the use of Magic within my vicinity.

    That was the new source of power I had developed from the union between Mana and Miasma¡­ a feat that had been deemed impossible by all.

    ********************

    ¡°Looks like I win, Neron.¡±

    My mentor gave a slight nod as we fell to the ground, having the effects of our Magic wear off.

    I could control the area of influence of Anti-magic, but on a wide scale, it was simply easier for me to affect everything in my surroundings¡ªme included.

    ¡°It would seem so¡­¡± Neron gave a calm answer, touching the ground with his feet.

    At least he wasn¡¯t a sore loser.

    ¡°My, my, look at the devastation we caused¡­¡±

    The barrier shielding the students had long perished, thanks to the corroding effect of myst move. With the veilpletely removed, the students¡¯ expressions became clearer to me.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this mess. You shouldplete your address to them.¡± Neron smiled, activating his Original Magic on the spot.

    His hair sparked white, and a surge of energy burst forth from within him. The Mana he exuded enveloped the destroyed area, and suddenly, time began to reverse¡ªat least for what had been wrecked.

    ¡®As expected¡­ I can¡¯t get used to it¡­¡¯

    The fact that he could do this much without the aid of an Arcana showed just how immensely powerful Neron was. Would I be able to get to his level someday?

    ¡®Pfft. What a useless question¡­¡¯ Iughed at myself.

    It wasn¡¯t even worth asking.

    My eyes scoured the seated audience, lecturers and teachers alike, and I addressed them with great vigor.

    ¡°Do you understand now?¡±

    There was a gap they had to fill.

    I was certain that many of them felt awfully weak andcking after watching the exchange between the both of us. They felt so overwhelmed that it was easier to convince themselves that it was an impossible feat.

    ¡ªThat they could not achieve it.

    However¡­

    ¡°Magic is meant to evolve. If you can not make it progress, then why do you study it? What¡¯s the point of walking in the footsteps of others for the rest of your lives? Original Magic teaches every Mage one thing¡­ personal identity!¡±

    Their unease reduced.

    ¡°You all have the potential to be good at something. It may not bebat, but alchemy, or even engineering. However the case may be, all of you have something you can excel in and push forward.¡±

    That was enough motivation for anyone.

    ¡°So, why don¡¯t you get to it? I want to see the names of all those who are in that hall¡­pletely erased.¡±

    New names. New people. Fresh blood.

    That was what the world needed.

    Whether in the realm of Magic, Martial Arts, or Schrship. Eventually, we were all walking toward the same goal.

    ¡°Be the best!¡±

    With that finally said, I teleported away from the stage, catching a glimpse of many students¡ªsome weeping, and some steeling their faces in resolve. I was certain that a lot of them would revert to their old state within a short while.

    But, among the ones who witnessed the show, I was assured that a few would emerge and carry on the torch of excellence.

    ¡®I look forward to that.¡¯

    >VWUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    *************************

    With Jared Leonard gone, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

    For a moment, no one said anything. They simply stared emptily at the ce where Jared had previously stood.

    The repair of the stage wasplete, and Neron now climbed the tform to address the students. The smile on his face was uncharacteristic of the usual lull Headmaster.

    ¡°I certainly hope you got something from the Exhibition. I know I did.¡±

    The students had to admit it.

    Even though his methods were unconventional, he passed his message across to everyone.

    Aloe, from her seat, trembled in delight and excitement. Even with Jared gone, she couldn¡¯t get rid of how severe the experience was for her.

    As expected of the one who saved her from death!

    The Senior Lecturers and Vice Head, who had been watching everything, were also amazed andpletely overwhelmed by Jared¡¯s entire disy.

    From his Mass Teleportation, to his Aura of Despair, and the match with Neron; it was clear that Jared had reached a height that far outssed any of them.

    In merely three years, the mere student of Ainrk had be a Magic User beyond the ArchMage Level.

    What manner of monster was he?

    Even with everyone¡¯s awe for Jared, there was one thing that lurked in their mind, soiling their image of him.

    ¡°You know¡­¡±

    A fundamental error the boy had made.

    ¡°¡­ He never exined anything to us.¡±

    Anti-Magic. Mass Teleportation. Martial Art Skills. In-depth Knowledge of Magic Theories.

    Jared Leonard never exined a single thing.

    All they gained from the Exhibition was an experience they would never forget. How a 15-year-old boy¡­ could attain the heights of masters

    ***********************

    ¡®So, this is how much you¡¯ve grown¡­¡¯ A petite girl smiled to herself as she viewed the whole incident from a screen.

    Anabelle couldn¡¯t make it to the Exhibition, but she had observed the entire event. It wasn¡¯t an understatement to say that she waspletely bewildered by the disy Jared gave everyone.

    ¡°Just when I thought I had improved greatly¡­¡±

    A saddened smile crept upon her face, but it didn¡¯tst very long. Soon after, Ana¡¯s bright demeanor returned.

    Inside the office when she sat, she smiled widely and focused her gaze on the screen.

    In the background, several automatons flew about and crept around. They were busy with several things, building something for Ana.

    She ignored them and simply focused on the boy at the center of the screen.

    ¡°I¡¯ll also be trying my best, Jared! Until I can stand by your side¡­ until I can surpass Lewis Griffith himself!¡±

    Unknown to the clueless girl¡­ her two rivals were one and the same.

 Chapter 329 Hidden Familiar

    ¡°How did you do it?¡±

    Neron was looking at me intently. The excitement in his pitch-ck eyes was nearly swallowing me whole as I stared into the endless abyss.

    We were back at his office, seated opposite each other.

    After the Exhibition, I teleported here and waited for him. Once he was done on his end, he sharply arrived as well. The moment our eyes met, that was the first question he asked.

    ¡®Well, I¡¯m d he¡¯s interested¡­¡¯

    My lips curled up in a grin and I exined the concept.

    Mana and Miasma were contradicting elements that could never bepletely fused. That was why the next best thing was to create a phenomenon by canceling them.

    By harnessing the reactions they gave off, I could control the oue to my advantage.

    By the time I was done with my exnation, Neron was dazed.

    ¡°Amazing¡­ you keep amazing me, Jared.¡±

    For Neron, who was probably the most ingenious person around¡ªexcluding me, since I reincarnated¡ªhe must have beenpletely bbergasted by how I came up with the concept.

    ¡°To be honest, I owe you greatly for it¡­¡± I told him with a smile.

    ¡°Me? What are you talking about?¡±

    I nodded.

    It was true that without Neron, I would probably not have taken this path. If he hadn¡¯t given me that gift of his¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you. Kahn¡­¡±

    The moment I said this, a swirling pool of Miasma emanated from my body, and something began manifesting.

    ¡°You mean¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    In a moment, the looming figurepletely formed, revealing a being shrouded in darkness.

    ¡°It has been a while, Neron Kaelid.¡±

    ¡°You are¡­ that Shadow Demon¡­?¡±

    I watched the exchange between the two of them with an amused smile. It wasn¡¯t the reunion I was looking forward to, but¡­

    ¡®¡­ Oh, well!¡¯

    ¡°Thanks to Kahn, I was able to cultivate Miasma alongside Mana. I made the guy my Familiar and corrupted a portion of my Mana Core to make a home for him.¡±

    Neron¡¯s face turned to me with an astonished look.

    ¡°But, wasn¡¯t that risky?¡±

    ¡°It was.¡±

    If Kahn hadpletely taken over my Mana Core, I wouldn¡¯t be able to utilize Mana as a source of energy. The best scenario would be me having to practice Magic with Miasma instead.

    Since my body was more attuned to Mana, and I was a human, proactively using Miasma as a source of power would damage me.

    Worst case scenario would mean death or losing control. If Kahn seeded in possessing me, or I lost my sense of reason, it would be terrible. Dying was also something I didn¡¯t desire.

    ¡°Which is why I was careful,¡± I replied with a smile.

    I made sure not to try the whole thing out without precautions. Fortunately, everything worked out well.

    ¡°But, how much does he remember? From the way he spoke, he recollects our encounter¡­¡± Neron asked with concern.

    ¡°I remember everything,¡± Khan replied this time.

    His dark presence seemed to swell with pride the moment he made thisment. I merely smiled once he made this disy.

    ¡°He does? But, how did you¡ª?¡±

    ¡°I intentionally returned those memories to him.¡±

    Neron recoiled with shock once I gave my answer. His eyes showed that he needed more answers. Since I was nning on telling him, I went straight to the point.

    ¡°Familiars are simply the essence of those who have died. Their leftover will¡ªa fraction of their Souls. That means they won¡¯t have the total abilities they had in their prime.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t have that!

    Khan was a Demon Lord when he was alive. It would have been a waste to keep his weakened Soul as a Familiar.

    ¡°I made sure to repair his damaged soul as I absorbed his Miasma. Even a Soul fragment has the entire memories and potential ability of that being. By culturing it properly, I returned him to full strength. His memories were also restored as a result.¡±

    ¡°Ohh, I see¡­¡±

    Neron must have understood this already. He probably did the same for his Familiars.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re concerned that he could betray me now that his memories have returned, but¡­¡±

    ¡°I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!¡± Khan made an emotional outburst.

    Neron and I looked in the floating being¡¯s direction.

    ¡°You are my master now. I owe everything to you!¡±

    I nodded and shed him an understanding smile.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Khan is extremely loyal. He won¡¯t betray me.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then, does that mean he would attack his fellows for you? Is he on the side of humanity?¡±

    For a moment, an ufortable silence spread throughout the room. Neron and Kahn were eyeing themselves, obviously disying their dissatisfaction with each other.

    ¡°He¡¯s not on humanity¡¯s side¡­¡±

    Neron¡¯s brow furrowed once I said this.

    ¡°But, he¡¯s also not on the side of the Demons. He¡¯s simply on my side. That¡¯s all there is to it.¡±

    Surely, my mentor had to understand this much. His Familiars were the same way, after all.

    ¡°I get it. Since you say so, I¡¯ll trust your words.¡± Neron shrugged slightly.

    ¡°But, the victims of that incident, and also the ones connected to the students who died¡­ they may not be so understanding.¡±

    That too, was something I had foreseen.

    Khan had imed many lives during his raid. While I couldn¡¯tpletely fault his actions now that I knew what happened, not many could handle the truth.

    I would have revealed the same to Neron, but we were short on time. There was something more important to discuss.

    ¡®In the fullness of time, these things will be revealed naturally¡­¡¯

    ¡°So, what was it that you wanted to see me for?¡± Neron took the hint and ended the conversation about Neron.

    I smiled andmanded Kahn to return. In a swift motion, the Demon Lord Familiar returned to his home, leaving only me and the man I respected and feared most alone.

    ¡°It¡¯s about this¡­¡± I whispered, digging my hand into thin air.

    Space parted, and I began poking my hand into another dimension¡ªmy special storage space.

    Neron¡¯s expression was back to normal¡ªstoic and calm.

    He must have been expecting something spectacr, so he was steeling himself.

    I began drawing my hand out of the warped space the moment I got what I wanted, bringing something from the other dimension.

    ¡°¡­ Right here.¡±

 Chapter 330 The Hermit

    A card was locked between my two fingers, and it shone with golden brilliance.

    ¡°That is¡ª!!!¡± Neron¡¯s calm outlook broke apart.

    ¡®That¡¯s right¡­¡¯ My grin grew wider.

    It was a present that I was going to give this man¡­ something only he could utilize to its full potential.

    ¡°¡ªAn Arcana?!¡±

    Not just any Arcana. It was one of the most difficult to use. It was also most instrumental in my three years of training¡­

    ¡­ The Hermit Arcana!

    ********************

    During my time at the base made by my friends and me in my past life, I was able to spend at least over a hundred years in training and research.

    It felt like time was moving so slowly that the world was still. I defied thews of nature and exceeded my limits as a result of the extensive period I was granted.

    But, that couldn¡¯tst forever.

    All Arcanas¡ªwith certain exceptions¡ªwere not self-sufficient. They required some sort of energy for them to activate.

    Without energy, they were simply cards with vast potential and dormant Magic circuits.

    The Tower Arcana in my possession required the simple charge of Mana, making it easy for me to use.

    The Devil Arcana of the Demon Race simply multiplied the surrounding Miasma it fed on, creating a self-sufficient atmosphere full of negative energy.

    Unfortunately, the Hermit Arcana consumed something that had a steep cost.

    ¡ªMana Cores!

    It consumed too many Mana Cores per use.

    While its powers were well worth it, I couldn¡¯t sustain the use of the Arcana. The hundred years I spent in the base was only possible due to the Arcana¡¯s passive ability to store Mana over the years.

    Over five hundred years of storing Mana onlysted me three years of use, and everything ran dry. I also had to support the effects of the Arcana with several artificial Mana Cores and Spellcraft.

    If I hadn¡¯t, it may not havested a year.

    Once I came to the realization of its greedy nature, the decision to give it away became much easier to make.

    In my two lifetimes, there was only one person I knew who possessed enough fee to sustain the Hermit Arcana.

    Neron Kaelid was his name.

    *****************************

    ¡°Here!¡± I said, throwing the card at the surprised man.

    He caught it thanks to reflex, but Neron¡¯s eyes never left me. However, after a few seconds of holding the Card, I could see his expression change.

    ¡°This¡­ it resonates with my Original Magic.

    Of course!

    That was the second reason I wanted Neron to have this Arcana.

    ¡°It utilizes Time Magic.¡±

    But, unlike Neron¡¯s Magic which was restricted in many ways, the Arcana interfered with the world itself. In essence, if he couldpletely control it¡­ he could once again attain a higher realm.

    ¡°Jared¡­ you¡¯re giving this to me? Why?¡± Neron¡¯s body quivered as he spoke.

    ¡°Because¡­ I¡¯m stuck.¡±

    ¡°Stuck?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I can¡¯t use that thing. So, when you figure out the kinks and everything¡­ I¡¯ll ask you to teach me how you did it.¡±

    Even I had my limits.

    I couldn¡¯t dedicate my entire time to learning something tooplex.

    ¡®Since Neron is more specialized in that field, it¡¯ll be easier if he figures it out and tells me.¡¯

    Once that happened, I could make The Hermit¡¯s Magic my own.

    ¡°Huhuhu¡­ Hehehehe¡­ Kekekeke¡­¡±

    My lips parted as I watched Neron chuckle in excitement.

    ¡°Well then, Jared, I ept this gift!¡±

    I nodded.

    ¡®That¡¯s one out of four¡­¡¯

    Only three Arcanas were left in my possession.

    The Tower

    The Sun

    And The Hanged Man.

    Well, thetter was currently at work, so¡­

    As for The Sun, I had ns for that.

    ¡°Now, I won¡¯t be bored for some time¡­ to think you¡¯d have Arcanas.¡±

    At least he was aware of their existence. As expected of someone as brilliant as Neron.

    ¡°I found them by chance¡­ among other things.¡±

    Neron¡¯s face brightened up once I mentioned yet another interesting subject. He probably wanted me to speak some more, but that was about everything I would be giving him¡­ at least alone.

    >KNOCK<

    >KNOCK<

    >KNOCK<

    The sudden sound of knocking caused both of us to turn to the entrance of Neron¡¯s office. Both of us knew who was standing at the other end of the door.

    ¡®They¡¯re finally here¡­¡¯

    ¡°Come in!¡± I called out before Neron could even say anything.

    I gave him a knowing look, revealing that their presence was required.

    >CREAK<

    The door opened slowly, weing three people to the office.

    They were individuals that were were both acquainted with, and their assistance would be indispensable in my grand objective.

    Neron and I weed them with warm smiles as they drew closer. They must have been curious and surprised when they received my message.

    It was ast-minute decision to gather these three, but, based on all that I had observed, they would be perfect for the job.

    ¡°Ana. Miss Vida¡­ and Mr. Maro¡­ wee.¡±

    ***************************

    It took a while to get everyone settled. There was a lounge in Neron¡¯s office, so we all moved there in order to amodate everyone.

    Once everyone was seated, their eyes were on me.

    I had invited each of them because of particr skills I required.

    ¡°There¡¯s a particr project I need your assistance with.¡±

    Their eyes widened with both curiosity and surprise.

    It was difficult to imagine that I would be challenged with an issue that they could solve. However, the most important factor in everything was time.

    I didn¡¯t have enough time to do everything on my own. As a result, I needed to rely on humans during a moment like this.

    ¡°There¡¯s a device that I need your help to build.¡±

    It would be instrumental in ending the conflict that was about to unfold. Before the enemy could be an even bigger threat, I had toy out all the groundwork.

    Once I was done here, I would be leaving for the Capital to finalize my ns. This was currently the most important aspect of the n¡ªespecially the endgame.

    ¡°I have the blueprint and a few core materials you will need to construct it, but¡­ it¡¯ll take a great deal of time and energy.¡±

    The fate of the Kingdom¡ªno, the whole world¡ªwas resting on the sess and failure of the construct they were to create.

    ¡°Will you help me?¡±

 Chapter 331 Instrumental Project

    ¡°What do you n to make?¡±

    Before anyone spoke, Maro raised his voice in inquisition.

    His eyes were brimming with excitement. He must have really loved innovations to that point. Or, perhaps he saw my match with Neron and figured that whatever I wanted to invent would be just as exhrating.

    ¡®Well, he¡¯s not wrong¡­¡¯

    ¡°What it entails is top secret. It must be kept under wraps, and must not escape this circle of five.¡±

    Everyone stared at one another as I said this. They all had various expressions on their faces, but they all looked cooperative.

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°I agree.¡±

    The three of them readily epted my condition, causing me to smile in relief. I had a backup n in case I couldn¡¯t use them, but things were easier this way. Besides, I did not doubt that they would ept.

    ¡®That¡¯s just how they are¡­¡¯

    ¡°Alright, then¡­¡± I mumbled, bringing out a sheet from my special storage space.

    It was wrapped in a long roll, about nine inches in height alone. This was the special paper wherein I wrote and drew the n for construction.

    ¡°I need your assistance¡­ to build this!¡±

    *******************************

    ¡°T-this is¡­!!!¡± Once again, Maro burst out first.

    His eyes bulged like a madman, and it seemed like he was drooling.

    The other two¡ªAloe Vida and Ana¡ªwere still appearing calm. For Ana, she had to have been controlling herself, but Miss Vida was probably confused.

    ¡°Erm, Jared¡­ I don¡¯t mean to insult your intelligence, but¡­ I don¡¯t understand why you called me here. I¡­ my field isn¡¯t rted to Magic Engineering¡­¡± The Lecturer finally spoke up.

    As expected, she was feeling left out.

    ¡°I chose you for your skill in Magic, as well as yourrge Mana Pool.¡±

    Aloe didn¡¯t know the details, but, after resurrecting her, it seemed I unintentionally tied her to the Mana of the surrounding area. In essence, she was constantly taking in the surrounding Magic and increasing her capacity.

    So far, she was at the Gold Core Grade, the highest a person could attain; her Mana quantity was also higher than most that I knew.

    ¡°You¡¯ll understand more once the project begins. Besides, there are aspects of Magic that are necessary for construction. Even if you aren¡¯t directly building, you can transport and easily provide the necessary materials.¡±

    Ultimately, I wanted to keep the circle small, which was why I included her in the fold. Even after all these years, she was still quite dedicated to me.

    Utilizing that emotion was the best course of action.

    ¡°Ana and Maro can¡¯t do it alone, which is why I included someone else that I trust.¡±

    Upon hearing my words¡ªespecially thest part, Aloe¡¯s cheeks turned slightly pink and she nodded.

    ¡°I understand¡­ I¡¯ll try my best!¡±

    ¡®Alright! Perfect!¡¯

    The team was perfect.

    Maro was an expert in Magic Engineering.

    Ana was a Magic Schr, someone who specialized in both Alchemy and Engineering.

    Aloe was a pure Magic User, and her skills were also useful.

    Neron would remain at Ainrk, so he could provide a space for them to engage in the project and also supervise its production.

    The only question was¡­

    ¡°When do you need it?¡± Ana blurted out.

    Her gaze behind the sses she wore pierced my eyes. As expected of a schr, she was feeling challenged and raring to go.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ two weeks.¡±

    ¡°WHAT?!¡± Maro and Aloe jointly eximed.

    ¡°That¡¯s too short!¡±

    ¡°Jared, are you sure? This is looking a bitplex and difficult¡­¡±

    Concerns from myrades rang out. They seemed pretty convinced that I was being unreasonable¡­ except one.

    ¡°Fine. Two weeks it is!¡± Ana interrupted the protest with a confident grin.

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re sounding pretty confident.¡± I smiled back.

    ¡°Well, you wouldn¡¯t set an impossible deadline, in the first ce. That means the time ispletely feasible.¡±

    ¡®That¡¯s right. As expected of you¡­¡¯

    ¡°Correct. It would be cutting it close, but if you¡¯re dedicated, it should be done in exactly two weeks. So¡­ can I count on you?¡±

    The three individuals still looked like they had some concerns¡ªespecially Maro. I expected the most resistance from him, after all.

    ¡°Jared, would you be frank with me? What exactly¡­ do you n on using this stuff for?¡±

    I expected this question.

    Unlike Aloe and Ana who wholeheartedly trusted me, Maro and I only met today. He was also insightful enough to decipher the true nature of my device.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t n on telling you that.¡±

    My eyes disyed serious resolve. If Maro was going to push further than he already had, then perhaps¡­

    ¡°Ah, I see. My bad! Well, I understand.¡±

    ¡®Good call.¡¯

    ¡°So, I¡¯ll ask again¡­ will you help me?¡± I stretched my hands and waited for an answer.

    Their positive smiles already told me all I needed to know, but hearing it would certainly make me feel more assured.

    ¡°Yes, we will.¡± They jointly said.

    **********************

    The n was perfect, but there was one major issue for concern.

    ¡°We¡¯ll need something extremely powerful to be able to charge a device thisrge and consuming¡­¡± Maro mumbled.

    I had already anticipated this, so I told them not to worry.

    ¡°When the timees, I¡¯ll give you the Coreponent. For now, simply make it ording to my specifications.¡±

    I gave Maro the blueprint, and also transported a couple of Ores to his office for safekeeping.

    Once that phase waspleted, I sent all three of them on their way.

    Of course, I told my dear friend that I would be seeing her onest time before leaving. Once I concluded my talk with Neron¡ªthat is.

    As soon as they left, Neron stood from his couch in the lounge, and then looked at me with a casual smile.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a walk.¡±

    I had an inkling of what he wanted to say, so I agreed.

    We left his office and made our way to the school grounds.

    The Academy was quiet. Most of the students were either in their hostels or in training, causing decorum to permeate the entire area.

    ¡°Jared, you¡¯ve reallye a long way¡­¡± Neron finally broke the silence between us.

    His calm demeanor remained unfazed as he stared at the distance.

    ¡°I just consider myself fortunate¡­¡± Was all I could mutter.

    ¡°I see. Somehow that statement doesn¡¯t feel false. You must really feel that way.¡±

    Of course, I did!

    This second chance at life¡­ it was something that was miraculously granted to me. Many troubles had found me, but, so far I was very lucky.

    My dying wish came to pass, after all.

    ¡°You should know what I want to say, so¡­ I¡¯ll just cut through the chase.¡±

    ¡®Here ites¡­¡¯

    ¡°Jared¡­ what do you n to do with the Demons?¡±

 Chapter 332 Conflicted Emotions

    ¡°Jared¡­ what do you n to do with the Demons?¡±

    Once Neron asked the question, I remained silent for some time. My brain was probably searching for the best way to convey my answer and the reason supporting it.

    But, no matter what I said¡­ could that really justify anything? Neron wanted me to be real with him, so¡­ I intended to do just that.

    ¡°I saw the blueprints. I¡¯m no Schr, but¡­ I know the consequences of such mechanics. Plus, the core element required is too immense¡­ what do you n on using it for?¡±

    When Maro asked a simpler version of this question, I refused. However, when it came to the man in front of me, I had to speak up.

    He could be my greatest supporter¡­ or my worst enemy¡ªdepending on the situation.

    With this in mind, I stared at his dark eyes and opened my lips. As my mouth moved, words came out. They were barely audible, but I conveyed my message perfectly.

    Neron¡¯s eyes slightly widened upon hearing my goal. The look of surprise on his face matched the weight of my decision, and I began wondering what his stance on the whole thing would be.

    ¡°That¡¯s the right choice, Jared. Don¡¯t let it weigh too heavily on you.¡±

    Had he sensed my hesitation and burdened emotions? Perhaps so. Neron was always so perceptive.

    Still, the fact that he said that made me feel slightly relieved.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be getting very busy soon. You won¡¯t see me for a while¡­ probably until the whole issue is settled.¡± I smiled.

    ¡°Hmm, I doubt that.¡± Neron shrugged.

    He was probably up to something again.

    ¡°Since you¡¯re headed for the capital, I¡¯d like to give you one word of warning.¡± He furthered.

    ¡®What warning?¡¯

    ¡°There are three Grand Mages of the Eastern Kingdom. One was the previous Headmaster of Ainrk, who is now missing. The other two are located in the Capital¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh? You want me to be wary of them?¡± I asked.

    ¡°No. Just one of them. Her name is Serah Crimson. I may or may not have bragged to her about you¡­ so¡­ just be careful around her¡­¡±

    Neron¡¯s speech contained quite a bit of dissonance when he was talking about her. His pale face was also slightly pink. It was the first time I had ever seen him act this way.

    ¡®Is she that big a deal?¡¯

    ¡°These Grand Mages¡­ are they stronger than you?¡±

    To my knowledge, Neron had no official title. It was hard topare him to the highest-ranking Mages around, even though I knew he was crazy strong.

    ¡°Hmmm¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡± He mumbled, as though still deep in thought.

    ¡®Are they that strong? If so, then¡­¡¯

    ¡°I was stronger than them thest time, but¡­ I can¡¯t say the same about now¡­¡±

    My calctions froze once I heard this.

    The previous Neron was nowhere as powerful as currently. There was no way anyone who was weaker than him then could measure up to his current estate.

    In essence¡­

    ¡®¡­ He¡¯s trying to be modest?¡¯

    I nearly burst outughing, but controlled my emotions well.

    ¡°There is an exception, though.¡± Neron¡¯s voice sounded a bit chilly and stern.

    ¡°You mean the woman you warned me about? Serah Crimson?¡±

    Now that I thought about it, there was a name like that in Ainrk¡¯s Hall Of Remembrance. She was third in ranking, directly beneath my name.

    ¡°She¡¯s as strong as you?¡± I asked, curious about the identity of a monster beyond Neron¡¯s limits.

    Was he simply joking? That could certainly be possible. Besides, he probably just wanted me to be wary of her and¡ª

    ¡°She is¡­¡±

    ¡®Eh?!¡¯ My eyes bulged the moment I heard that.

    Such a thing was possible?

    ¡°¡­ At least when ites tobat. She¡¯s highly vtile and destructive in Magic, and her use of Mana is far more efficient than mine.¡±

    This was the first time I would hear Neron speak so highly of a person.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t met in a while, so I don¡¯t know how she¡¯s faring but¡­ just be careful.¡±  Neron looked a little worried as he spoke.

    This woman¡ªSerah Crimson¡ªwas simply that dangerous!

    ¡®In that case¡­¡¯

    ¡°Compare her to me. How much stronger is she?¡±

    Neron paused and took a second to think. I watched him closely, a little nervous.

    The major reason for my confidence was because of the fact that I had gotten much strongerpared to the past.

    Alongside strength came weight. My words carried power, and I could prove myself to be capable enough to handle the important affairs of the looming war.

    But, with what Neron was inferring, was I simply a small fish in an ocean full of much wilder creatures?

    ¡°Based on what I¡¯ve seen so far, and from my estimate, I¡¯d say she¡¯s at least ten times stronger than you.¡±

    ¡®Keuk!¡¯ My heart hit a pause.

    ¡°That strong?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. That woman is also very deceptive. I just hope you never run into her¡­ she¡¯s a monster!¡± He said with a wry smile.

    Was Neron trying to scare me, or was he being dead serious?

    ¡°If by rotten luck, you do encounter her, do not believe any word she says. Trust in the words of your mentor!¡±

    Since he had gone out of his way to warn me about the biggest threat to my n, I had to take it with all seriousness.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Whew! Alright then¡­ I wish you good luck. Is there any other thing you need to take care of before leaving?¡± Neron asked with a knowing smile.

    He must have had a faint idea.

    ¡°Yes. I should see Ana about a promise we made in the past¡­¡±

    ¡°That girl has feelings for you, you know that right?¡± Neron raised his brow yfully.

    I loosened my lips and sighed at his statement. It was obvious, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°I know, but¡­¡±

    Now wasn¡¯t the time to bother about such trivialities.

    ¡°¡­ Not yet.¡±

    The man beside me simply gave a light smile as he shrugged.

    ¡°Then when?¡±

    I didn¡¯t have an answer to his question. Before I could even articte another excuse, he was already on his way forward, quickening his pace.

    Figuring that was the end of our conversation, I hurried my steps as well.

    ¡®Feelings, uh¡­¡¯

    Was the problem really with Ana¡­ or me?

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I need more reviews and interaction for this story. It¡¯s to encourage me and also get your suggestions.

    So, please, I would like to appeal to the readers to give their reviews¡­ and alsoment more.

    Thanks for reading!

 Chapter 333 Gift For A Friend

    Ana opened the door to her room in an exhausted manner.

    She immediately made for her bedroom and fell upon her spacious bed.

    It wasn¡¯t as though the furniture was extraordinarilyrge, but Ana¡¯s tiny frame made it appear so.

    As she sighed and contemted the events of the day, the young girl couldn¡¯t help but feel tired.

    ¡®I never expected so much to happen¡­¡¯

    She had a lot to think about, and, starting from tomorrow, she would be busy with Jared¡¯s project.

    It was a chance to show him just how much she had grown.

    Still¡­

    ¡®¡­ At this rate, will I ever surpass him?¡¯

    >FWUSSHH<

    As she was having this thought, a gust of wind appeared in her room, and a sh of blue light swirled.

    Space warped, and someone made an entrance.

    Ana¡ªwho was already on her guard¡ªsharply made to prepare a Spell to protect herself and destroy her enemy.

    The Automatons and Golems all around the room were also on standby.

    Whoever the intruder was¡­ they made a fatal error ining to her sanctuary!

    ¡°Ana, rx! Jeez¡­ it¡¯s me!¡± A familiar voice rang out from the looming ball of blue energy.

    The child-like girl instantly halted her actions and gave a surprised yelp at the person who appeared.

    ¡°J-Jared?!¡±

    The boy smiled and gave a light, awkward wave.

    ¡°Hi¡­ I wanted to see yo¡ª¡±

    Before he couldplete his statement, Jared¡¯s eyes traveled across the room¡ªspotting the bed, the wardrobe, spare underwear, towel, and many other things one could only find in a particr area.

    ¡°¡­ A-ah¡­¡± His voice quivered the moment he realized what he had done.

    Ana, who was also gaining awareness of the whole situation, began to blush violently. While she was still in her regr attire, thanks to how tired she was, it was still very embarrassing and ufortable to have a man suddenly barge into her room.

    Even if the man was Jared. NO! It was precisely because it was this boy that she felt even more flustered.

    ¡°W-what are you doing here!¡±

    ¡°I¡­ just came to say a few things and¡ª¡±

    ¡°In my room?!¡±

    ¡°I simply sensed you here and teleported inside. I didn¡¯t really¡­¡±

    The back and forth went on for quite some time, with both parties looking flustered and defensive.

    Finally, after a moment, their energies simmered out.

    Once that happened, both friends stared at each other with simply awkward and tired expressions.

    Huffs escaped from their lips as they have heavy breaths.

    ¡°Why¡­ are you here¡­?¡± Ana finally asked, taking a deep breath and having a seat atop her bed.

    She beat the surface of therge mattress, signaling Jared to have a spot beside her. The girl was already tired of arguing, and rest was what preupied her mind.

    Well, that wasn¡¯t all¡­

    ¡°Ah, thank you,¡± Jared said, moving swiftly to sit beside the youngdy.

    Their bodies brushed by each other as he sat atop her bed. His taller body sank a bit as his buttocks met the fluffy surface of Ana¡¯s resting space.

    As much as she was trying not to steal a nce at him, Ana noticed those little details.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for interrupting your rest. You must have had a very busy day¡­¡± Jared began by saying.

    He wasn¡¯t wrong about that fact. All she had wanted was to simply rx and let go of everything.

    That was before Jared showed up.

    With him around, her mind was in shambles, and it took every ounce of her self-control to keep from gushing out in emotion.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving Ainrk this evening¡­ in a couple of minutes, and I simply didn¡¯t want to go without saying goodbye.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Okay¡­ how long will you be gone?¡±

    ¡°Two weeks. I¡¯ll be back for the device once it¡¯splete.¡±

    Ana felt a little sting in her heart.

    Somehow she felt that he was only going toe back to see the device she would be making¡­ and not her.

    While she felt more motivated to work harder, Ana felt a void within¡ªthat Jared wasn¡¯t seeing her as she wanted him to.

    ¡°And also¡­ I came to give you these.¡±

    A sudden warp in space appeared, and from the portals came at least a dozen books, packaged in two neat piles¡ªall arranged on the bed.

    The books looked old-fashioned, but properly preserved by Magic.

    At first, Ana was puzzled by Jared¡¯s motive and intentions for bringing such old books to her.

    Did he want her to study? Despite how busy she was going to be, did he still n on giving her more work?

    What kind of guy was he?

    ¡°I can guess what you¡¯re thinking, but¡­ why don¡¯t you open one and check it out?¡±

    Ana eyed Jared as he smiled after saying this. Deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, she chose one of the books at the top of the pile.

    ¡°I swear if this is just¡ª¡±

    Before she couldplete her statement, her eyes bulged and she nearly guffawed. What her sights were feasting on¡­ were words she had never expected to see.

    Lewis Griffith¡¯s Hidden Treatise. [Vol. 1]

    ¡°L-Lewis Griffith¡¯s¡­ I haven¡¯t¡­ seen this one before¡­!!!¡±

    She began flipping the pages, desperately scouring her attention and checking out the details of the book¡¯s contents.

    ¡°This is¡­!!!¡±

    It was at this point that all the exhaustion of Ana vanished.

    She had been met with an unexpected surprise¡ªthe stockpile of Lewis Griffith¡¯s Hidden treasures!

    *************************

    ¡®I¡¯m happy she¡¯s excited about this¡­¡¯ I smiled, watching Ana pick each book from the pile, going through them like a crazed maniac.

    Those were my secret books¡­ knowledge I never shared in my past life.

    Of course, the details of Spellcraft¡ªamong a few others¡ªweren¡¯t there, but this much was plenty enough for her.

    I noticed Ana¡¯s growth had reached a precipice, and it would be unfair of me not to grant her more materials to increase her capabilities.

    For a Schr like Ana, Lewis Griffith was the biggest gift I could grant her.

 Chapter 334 Last Destination

    ¡°d to see you like them. They¡¯re books I found on my journey. I¡¯ve gone through them already, so I¡¯m lending them to you now¡­ I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be¡ª¡±

    Before I concluded my statement, Ana jumped into my arms and hugged me tightly.

    It was unexpected, and my body slightly tilted backward as she rested her weight on me.

    ¡®She¡¯s so light¡­¡¯

    I could smell a faint whiff of her. She smelled good¡ªthough a bit sweaty.

    Still¡­

    ¡°A-ah! So-sorry for being so forward¡­¡± Ana snapped after a few seconds of being locked in my embrace.

    As she began drawing away, I pulled her back and smiled.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡®It¡¯s my fault for not hugging her back¡­¡¯

    Even though we were friends, why was I being too formal?

    ¡®No more!¡¯

    If I didn¡¯t give her enough emotional support, Ana could end up kissing another guy. If this was what I needed to do for her¡­ then I wasn¡¯t going to hold back.

    I brought her close to my chest and hugged her too. Ana¡¯s head rubbed upon my shoulders, and I felt her hair tickle my face.

    ¡®Ana¡­ wait for me, okay?¡¯

    Once I was done with the Demons¡­

    ¡­ And when I hadpletely eradicated the threat my enemies posed to me¡­

    ¡®I¡¯ll finally have an answer for you¡­¡¯

    Till then, this was the best I could do.

    *******************

    Ana kept thanking me profusely, grabbing all the books excitedly.

    It was as though she was never tired.

    ¡®With this, she¡¯ll understand that Lewis Griffith¡¯s Theories areplete. With that, she¡¯ll be able to build upon it and achieve greater heights. Both in Magic¡­ and engineering!

    Then, she was also delving into Alchemy.

    Her long range of talents and skills never ceased to amaze me.

    Once all the excitement died down for a bit, I bid my farewell to her.

    She was initially hesitant to see me go. However, after we spoke for a while, and shared some words¡­ the girl finally agreed to part ways.

    ¡°When we next meet¡­ I would have grown even better than this!¡± She dered brazenly.

    My lips curled up in a smile and I nodded.

    ¡°I expect nothing less.¡±

    Rising from her bed, I gave onest farewell, and activated The Tower Arcana.

    With sparks of blue energy, and the warping of space, my body vanished from Ana¡¯s room¡­ and I departed for my journey.

    ****************************

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    My body flew in the night sky, witnessing the brilliant glow of the moon descend upon the world.

    As I traversed the clouds, my eyes witnessed thousands of houses and structures beneath me while I moved at ultra-speed.

    The cold wind of the night brushed my face, and I felt the pervaded darkness around me.

    ¡°Now¡­ one final thing¡­¡±

    The Royal Capital was myst goal.

    Once I resolved matters there, things would go much more smoothly for me.

    The problem was the woman that Neron mentioned.

    ¡®Serah Crimson, eh?¡¯

    My mother had to be close to the Capital by now, since she would be using Magic for transportation¡ªnot just a carriage.

    ording to Neron, there were a few other acquaintances that I would get to meet. One of the names had me in a bit of excitement.

    ¡®Maria Helmsworth¡­ I wonder how she has been!¡¯

    Of all the friends I made at Ainrk, she was the one I was least interactive with. Yet, the girl¡¯s talent and unique disposition had me drawn to her.

    Hopefully, she had also grown immensely.

    As I made these thoughts, an energy swirled within me.

    I sensed the disturbance and knew what it was. Now that I was flying, all alone, he had finally manifested.

    >FSUUUUUUUUU<

    A deep, dark energy emanated from me. Like a shadowy fog, it hovered beside me. This was the partial manifestation of one of my Familiars.

    ¡°Kahn¡­ what is it?¡± I smiled.

    The dark fog kept silent for a bit¡­ and then it spoke.

    ¡°My Lord¡­ about your earlier conversation with Neron Kaelid¡­¡±

    ¡®As expected.¡¯

    He was most likely referring to my private conversation with Neron while we were on a walk.

    The discussion of my ns for the Demons.

    ¡°I meant every single word.¡± My words were blunt.

    ¡°Understand, Master. But¡­¡±

    Kahn was a loyal being who acted ording to my whims.

    Even though it felt a bit weird, since I was well acquainted with him in the past, I made sure to properly establish our master/servant rtionship.

    Still¡­ it didn¡¯t mean that he would feelfortable with every decision I made.

    ¡°Do not worry, Kahn. I haven¡¯t forgotten my promise to you.¡± I gave a slight smile.

    Even though he had caused such a great tragedy at Ainrk, I knew Kahn was a being of principle.

    It was due to this knowledge that I was extremely confused by his actions. They weren¡¯t ordinary.

    Keeping this in mind, I decided to investigate.

    It wasn¡¯t until after assimting Kahn properly, and restoring him to full strength, that I realized the ugly truth.

    He had been manipted!

    Even he wasn¡¯t quite sure as to how and why he decided toy waste to the human settlement.

    Also, ording to the information he gave me concerning the current state of the Demon Realm, I could surmise that the Demon King did not betray the pact.

    This was most likely a rebellion¡ªan uprising.

    The Demon Society operated in a strict hierarchy, and it was nigh impossible to break out of it.

    That was why a rebellion was highly improbable¡­ unless they had help.

    ¡®Does this have to do with the organization Legris mentioned? I wonder¡­¡¯

    If that was the case, then I had a good idea of what they were after.

    In any case, I needed to be more careful and take many things into consideration.

    ¡°¡­ I understand. Thank you, Master.¡± Kahn¡¯s voice interrupted my thoughts.

    As soon as he spoke in relief, the ck fog dissipated, and he returned to his abode within me.

    I smiled and stared far into the horizon. With my current speed, I would arrive at the Capital in a few minutes.

    ¡®As much as I¡¯d like to see the authorities now, courtesy demands that I wait till morning. Unless¡­¡¯

    A mischievous smile appeared on my face and an idea wrapped presented itself in my head.

    ¡°That will work!¡±

    After all¡­ time was of the essence!

 Chapter 335 The Royal Capital [Pt 1]

    About a dozen guards were stationed around the main gate of the Royal Capital.

    They often took rotations and patrols in order to avoid focusing their attention solely on one spot.

    This way, efficiency and security were guaranteed.

    Even though it was inconceivable that anyone wouldunch an assault on the portion of the Eastern Kingdom where power was centralized, this level of security was trite.

    Two of the Kingdom¡¯s three Grand Mages were currently residing in the Capital, and this ce had the second highest concentration of powerful Magic Users and Martial Artists¡ªthe first being Ainrk.

    As a result, even the six guards who currently manned the main gate while theirrades went on patrol had nothing to do.

    They yawned while staring into the night sky.

    The gates were well fortified with luminousmps, causing the entire area to shine with brightness.

    All they could see before then was an empty road, no danger whatsoever.

    This was a most boring job, filled with nothing but standing and yawning until one¡¯s round was over.

    The guards were notining, though. Their fat sries and heavy paychecks made them more than happy to keep working in such a drab ce.

    This was the Royal Capital, after all.

    No risk. Lots of rewards.

    ¡°Man¡­ when will the first Patrol squad be back? I want to take a walk too¡­¡±

    They usually rotated the patrol among themselves. That way, none of them would die of boredom.

    ¡°I have no idea. I just wish we had chairs we could use to wait. Just punishing my legs for nothing¡­ tch¡­¡±

    As theyined about absolutely mundane things, the guards were unprepared for the surprise the night brought.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Like lightning descending from the heavens, a sh of bursting energy came upon the earth.

    The earth quaked and the guards all lost their footing.

    In an instant, their easygoing expressions vanished, and they allid eyes on what had appeared before them.

    Standing a few meters from the Capital¡¯s walls, just a small distance from the soldiers, was a terrifying being that defied all logic.

    It had a hulking stature of at least 15 feet, having a monstrous body and burning skin.

    It looked like a living personification of an erupting volcano. However, another distinct energy shrouded it¡­ something that mere guards had no words to describe.

    ¡ªMiasma!

    This was definitely negative energy!

    ¡°Grrruuuuuu¡­¡± Theva monster growled, shining with pure amber as it moved.

    The ground it trod on became a sea of mes and molten magma.

    Even the guards, in their expensive armor, felt the extreme heat that the monster exuded.

    No prophet was needed to tell them that the being before them was a monster of absolute destruction.

    Only one thing rang in their human mind.

    ¡®RUN!¡¯

    They had to flee.

    This being was something beyond their capabilities.

    The Royal Capital had a special barrier reinforcing it.

    In the likelihood that it was sieged, the field would activate and lock all the threats out. Then, without wasting much time, the Mages would be dispatched to handle the incursion.

    The guards were, at most, just decorative fodder that could simply be used to buy time.

    However, these men were not willing to die a vain death.

    Even if they had received huge sums of money for doing nothing.

    Even though they had spent so many yearszing around and proudly calling it their profession.

    When the time for action arrived, the guards were now petrified with fear.

    ¡®T-this isn¡¯t what we signed up for!¡¯

    ¡®Flee¡­ I need to flee!¡¯

    ¡®M-monster!¡¯

    Surely, they had heard of the looming Demon threat, but who would have expected one toe knocking on their front doors.

    While this creature resembled a Magic Beast more than the Demons described in reports, the bone-chilling and sickening aura of Miasma was something they could only attribute to creatures of darkness.

    They stood no chance!

    Hopefully, the quake had gathered the attention of the Mages within the Capital. They were meant to buy time, but no sane man would risk their life for nothing!

    ¡°RUUUUUNNNN!!!¡± The guards screamed as the ming monster approached in its terrifying form.

    The men began retreating within the Capital walls.

    They knew that their jobs were officially over. Even if they managed to survive this onught, they would forever lose their positions in society.

    They would be remembered as the failed guards who refused to man the gates.

    No one would be willing to aid anyone who would jeopardize the safety of the citizenry.

    Perhaps they would even have to move out of the Royal Capital and find another life for themselves.

    But, anything was better than dying!

    Death¡­ was it as simple as just escaping this danger? Would their lives truly be spared if they could avoid the monster?

    A thought rang in the minds of all the guards who were about to hide like cowards.

    Treason!

    If they fled now¡­ if they abandoned their duties¡­ they would be charged with the severe crime of treason.

    Death awaited them either way.

    Once these men realized this, they were left with two options.

    Die now, in the zes of honor and glory¡ªbeing remembered as the heroes who fought for the Kingdom.

    Or a public execution as dogs who were more concerned about their lives than the welfare of the Kingdom.

    Their families would be ostracized, and no one would remember them for good.

    Either way, they would die, but¡­

    ¡­ Any sensible person knew the right choice to make.

    ¡°AHH! DAMNIT!¡±

    ¡°I SHOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN THIS JOB!¡±

    ¡°DAMN IT! DAMN IT! SHIIIIT!!!¡±

    The guards who had been relishing their privilege, were now filled with resentment and regret.

    It was toote, though.

    That was why they all turned back to face the monster. The six soldiers unsheathed their des and brandished them with all diligence.

    They would rather go down in the zes of glory¡ªeven if the heat looked painfully scorching.

    ¡°GUUURRRUUU¡­¡± The monster heaved a heavy fog of hot steam, nearing them rapidly.

    They all gulped and infused their Mana, activating the effects of the Magic Armor and weapon they had on.

    As guards of the Royal Capital, their equipment was by no means shabby.

    With their abilities boosted by their armaments, all six put on false brave looks and readied their frightened bodies.

    ¡°Shit! Take formation! We¡¯re attacking!¡±

 Chapter 336 The Royal Capital [Pt 2]

    ¡°Hiyaaaaaa!!!¡± The guards all yelled, activating their respective Martial Arts.

    With a choreographed performance, the six created arge wave of blue energy.

    It was a horizontal strike, curving beautifully to form an arc.

    >SWIIISH!!!<

    The energy-infused attack neared the monster at a seemingly intense speed.

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The destructive capability of a joint Martial Arts move was by no means little¡ªespecially since veteran guards were the ones who activated them.

    With proud looks of slight relief, the guards silently rejoiced¡­ and prayed that this was enough to slow their opponent down¡ªeven a tiny bit.

    Unfortunately, they were wrong!

    ¡°Guruuu¡­¡±

    Theirbined moves hadn¡¯t as much as scratched the creature.

    ¡°EEEEEKKK!!¡± Their skins jumped, watching the monster near them even more.

    Sweat dripped from their faces as they gulped in fright. Even if they had made up their minds to sacrifice themselves rather than be punished as traitors, it wasn¡¯t as though they wanted that oue.

    Still, they had to keep going!

    They infused their Mana once again andunched yet another attack.

    Null!

    They used another specialbo.

    Futile!

    The guards tried their bestbined assault

    Not a scratch!

    Now huffing and puffing, the men realized just how weak they were. Compared to one monster, they were nothing but insects!

    Upon realizing their limits and impending doom, the guards could only heave out in exhaustion. Their hands trembled as they struggled to keep a grip on their des.

    Swallowing their saliva, they red at the approaching monster.

    They had long given up on putting up a decent fight. Only one path to salvation remained open.

    ¡®Backup! When will backupe?!¡¯

    Their thoughts were muddled, but if help arrived soon, then perhaps¡­ perhaps they could live!

    ¡°Guarrrdssss!!!¡± A loud voice boomed, causing all the men to look above them.

    Sure enough, there were a dozen Mages who were on floating boards.

    ¡®Backup is here!!!¡¯

    They all had their cloaks and special wands activated. Each Mage also had hats and special outfits thatplimented them perfectly.

    They were the Guard-Mage division, the first line of defense against any assault on the Capital.

    The reason they werete was most likely because of the time it took them to equip their gear before charging into battle.

    Since it was a bother to always water Magic tools, even these Mages cked off in their guard duties and usually left them hanging around.

    Upon seeing the threat from afar, they frantically put on their outfits and charged to the gate.

    Fortunately, nothing major had urred¡­ yet!

    ¡°This is an unidentified Magical Beast. We¡¯ll take it from you!¡± The Mages told the Guards.

    Their tone sounded awfully condescending forters, but the soldiers could notin.

    In fact, they were relieved.

    It was no secret that Martial Artists were the lowest on the food chain, and they were considered inferior to Magic Users.

    And so, even though the guards had been risking everything to keep the monster at bay, it probably wouldn¡¯t take much from the Mages to finish the thing off.

    That meant only one thing to the desperate men.

    ¡®We¡¯re¡­ we¡¯re saved!¡±

    They leaped for joy while retreating¡ªhappy that they didn¡¯t have to go through any more terrifyingbat.

    ¡®They¡¯ll handle it! The Mages will protect us!¡¯

    With this in mind, the guards were able to quickly evacuate to the Capital¡¯s interior.

    No matter what, the Capital wasn¡¯t going to fall because of a mere monster!

    **************************

    The twelve backup Mages looked at the fiery monster with caution.

    They were certified, -grounded individuals, who had fought monsters and Magic Beasts quite a number of times.

    However, none of them had seen something as peculiar and dangerous as the one in front of them.

    Its surroundings burned just by the terrible creature¡¯s presence, and the evil aura emanating from it was not something they were familiar with.

    ¡°We¡¯ll hit it withbined Advanced Magic!¡± The leader of the Mage Squad told his subordinates.

    They all agreed without hesitation, preparing a water-based Spell that was bound to be the most effective against such an evil being.

    However, before they couldplete their chant¡­

    ¡°GRUAAAAAA!!!¡±

    ¡­ The monster moved!

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH!!!<

    With such speed that defied its huge stature, the fuming creature closed its distance between the Mages in an instant, leaping high into the sky with a single thrust.

    The earth shattered apart as it lunged upward, causing all the Magic Users to shriek in shock.

    They immediately ceased their chants and shrouded themselves in defensive Magic.

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The Monster shed head-on with their defensiveyer of Mana.

    ¡°GURKK!!¡± The humans felt recoil as their barrier cracked.

    Fortunately, their opponent had not built up enough momentum, so their efforts trumped it.

    Once the beast began descending to the ground, leaving itself wide open, the Mages took the opportunity to begin their assault

    ¡°Strike!¡±

    Refusing to waste time on a joint chant, all the Mages simplyunched respective Water Magic Spells that would yield the best results in the shortest time.

    Hails and bullets of chilly liquid descended on the falling creature, causing harsh clouds of steam to rise and fill the atmosphere.

    >SHUUUUUUUUUUHHH<

    The hiss of heated water pervaded the atmosphere, causing the entire vicinity to be shrouded in white fog.

    Even if the regr vision of the Mages had been hindered, they still had their sensory abilities.

    With their eyes enhanced with Mana, and all their bodily functions equally augmented, they could perceive all that urred around them

    The Mages felt as the hideous monster crashed to the ground, creating another reverberating tremor.

    However, the moment the monster¡¯s impact was felt, another terrifying thing happened.

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<

    It bounced back up!

    This time, with an insurmountable pressure that caused the Mages to flinch in their high estate.

    ¡°Fortify the barrier!¡±

    Before they could conclude their endeavor, the monster emerged from the thick fog, shrouded in even more mes.

    >KRRRRAAAAKKKK!!!<

    With a deafening roar, it broke through their defenses, causing the seasoned experts to scatter as a result of the explosion.

    Their floating boards were destroyed, causing them to crash to the ground in an instant.

    [Perfect Flight] was a Spell that required immense concentration; which was why Mages who were morebat-oriented preferred using Floating Boards to fly.

    The disadvantage of that was the fragile nature of such a tool.

    >THUD!<

    The twelve Magesnded on the ground, each wincing as their enhanced bodies were met with the impact of the cold floor.

    Thanks to Magic, they suffered no serious injury, but¡­ that didn¡¯t bring them relief in the slightest.

    ¡°GURRUUUUUU¡­¡±

    Standing before them was the cause of their cmity¡ª

    An unstoppable monster!

 Chapter 337 The Royal Capital [Pt 3]

    A few seconds

    That was all it would take before the Mages would experience death.

    It wasn¡¯t as simple as closing one¡¯s eyes and never opening them again. No, this was something crueler.

    The sight of the booking ground, and the feeling of extreme heat, was enough to tell the defeated ones of the fate that awaited them.

    Still, they were not done!

    ¡°Rise!¡± The leader of the Mage Squad screamed, rising to his feet.

    None of his injuries had been serious, so he could cope.

    The others were the same.

    They rose, unsure of what else to do. If they tried using Advanced Magic, the monster would charge at them before they couldplete the chant.

    If they used simpler attacks, their efforts would be rendered useless.

    It was at this point that the Mages realized their error.

    ¡®We shouldn¡¯t have told the Guards to retreat!¡¯

    They could have at least served as some form of vanguard for them while they prepared their Spell.

    Ultimately, the only reason for their current state was their overconfidence.

    They thought they could handle something beyond their purview, and now¡­

    ¡®Even then¡­!!!¡¯

    The men gritted their teeth and gathered their Mana.

    They had no intention of letting the innocent ones beyond the walls suffer for their arrogance.

    Even if it cost them everything, the Mages were prepared to fight the horrifying creature.

    Their eyes brimmed with a sense of duty, and they were resolved to break through their limits.

    Even as the earth shook with each step the monster took, the Mages began preparing their Mana.

    It was now clear that they couldn¡¯t beat the thing.

    However¡­ they could at least buy time!

    ¡°Hold your ground!!!¡±

    Gritting their teeth and gripping their wands, they were prepared to risk it all¡ªeven Mana Shock¡ªas long as they couldplete their duties!

    However¡­

    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡±

    ¡­ Unexpected help arrived right on time!

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH!!!<

    Descending from the sky, like a pir of light, a being crashed upon the monster with deafening pressure.

    >BOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Everything around them broke apart!

    The Mages had to cover their eyes and brace themselves, as the impact shook them even to their foundations.

    As their eyes were glued shut, they felt the immense presence of the monster slowly dissipate.

    ¡®WHAT?!¡¯ Their minds rang.

    If they didn¡¯t know any better, the Mages would have believed that the creature was dead.

    But, that was impossible¡­ right?

    As they opened their eyes, the twelve men were made to know the extent of their foolishness.

    The burning creature had lost all its mes, and there ity on the ground¡­pletely and utterly destroyed.

    Yes, it was dead!

    Standing at the center of the molten ground and the dead creature was someone they couldn¡¯t recognize.

    Of the Archmages and Grand Mages, none of them fit the description of the person who made an appearance.

    Not only was he too young, but his calm and innocent demeanor made them doubt he was even a Mage.

    But, could they really deny what they had just seen?

    There he stood, a teenager that was not qualified to be called an adult, staring at the beaten Mages.

    The men felt a wave of humiliation, but a stronger sentiment of gratitude and relief made them swallow their broken pride.

    They had just been saved. That was all there was to it.

    >FSHUUUUUUUU<

    Steam rose as the ground began cooling, and the mysterious man approached them. His white coat fluttered with the wind as he kept moving.

    ¡°Good evening¡­ I have urgent news for the King!¡± He spoke in a refined manner.

    His voice contained both calmness and urgency. Still, something about him made them listen with rapt attention.

    Before they could open their mouths to reply him, or even thank the young one for saving their lives, he spoke again.

    ¡°¡­ The Demons have begun their invasion!¡±

    **************************

    ¡®As expected, it works!¡±

    The moment I uttered the words of Demons invading, the Mages all stiffened and disyed horrified expressions.

    Normally, they would have dismissed it as immature words from a kid, but after everything they had just seen, I doubted they would resort to that.

    A monster they all struggled to defeat was taken down by me¡­ in a single hit, for that matter.

    Their pride had been crushed, and they had no choice but to respect and listen to my words.

    The damage done was minimal, and I ensured that no one was seriously hurt.

    Some of them may have been scarred or traumatized by the monster¡¯s assault, but if they were fazed by only this much, then they would be better off quitting the security division.

    ¡®Still, to think they were so weak¡­¡¯

    Sure, they were simply the first response squad, but I expected more resistance. After all, the more of a threat I made the monster pose, the better my case would be.

    As for how the ¡®horrifying creature¡¯ spawned, it was simply a Golem I made with the Highest Tier of Advanced-Level Magic. I added Miasma to the mix, making it appear to be a Demonic entity.

    Of course, this Golem was meticulously made, so, even experts would determine it to be a living entity if they attempted a Magic Autopsy.

    My goal was to create an urgency that would give me an edge for my request.

    An audience with the king.

    ¡®So far, so good!¡¯

    *************************

    I was brought into the Capital immediately after I made my deration.

    Usually, there would have been a thorough identity check, but the situation was too urgent for that.

    After being directed to the interiors by the head Mage, I followed him to an area within the gates.

    The other Mages had to take care of investigation and other affairs. Since I was with the Superior officer, it was clear that my position had been properly established¡ªat least, to an extent.

    ¡°I need to report this matter to my Superior. Pleasee with me!¡± He said in a frantic tone.

    I could sense his difort.

    The man was struggling with how to address me, considering I was more powerful than he was, yet a younger individual.

    It didn¡¯t matter to me, so long as my goals were achieved, but Magic was meritocratic in nature.

    Age wasn¡¯t synonymous with respect¡ªpower was!

 Chapter 338 Final Option

    The Mage, whose name I eventually knew to be Derick, used a Floating board to rush toward the headquarters of the security division in order to make his report.

    He asked if I needed one, but I chose a Fight Spell instead.

    We both swiftly moved to the headquarters, and I was finally able to achieve a portion of my goals.

    Meeting the one in charge!

    ************************

    We bypassed the many buildings within the Capital, giving me a nice view of the entire ce.

    Thendscape was so beautiful¨Cneatly arranged in rows.

    The buildings were also luxuriously made. Of course, not every house was extremely pleasant to the sight, but they were all rtively better than the average construction.

    The street lights illuminated the dark streets, but no one was within sight.

    ¡°There has been a curfew imposed, ever since¡­¡± The man whispered.

    I noticed he hesitated to say any more, so I didn¡¯t push the issue.

    ¡®It must be due to the fact that the Demons have begun attacking the borders¡­¡¯

    The envoys of Alphonse¡¯s territory should have already arrived at the Royal Capital and given their reports.

    I was certain that my letter and research subject had been well received by the Royal Capital.

    While they must have been busy trying to keep everything as confidential as possible, they most likely neglected the main security of the Royal Capital itself, causing the guards to be quite weak and few in number.

    ¡®Considering the fact that the enemy will strike other territories first, it¡¯s actually wiser to dedicate their forces somewhere else¡­¡¯

    As I observed the Royal Capital from my height, I spotted the center of the marvelous city.

    A towering building stood erect¨Clike a monolith.

    Thanks to my enhanced vision, I could see it clearly.

    It was the Royal Pce¨Cmy primary destination.

    But, first, I had to gain a considerable amount of weight. Which was why I chose this route.

    Derick and I got to the headquarters in a short while,nding on the highly fortified grounds of the area.

    The Headquarters of the city¡¯s defense forces¨Ca ce that contained the bulk of the Kingdom¡¯s capable soldiers¨Chad both Martial Artists and Mages who were trained forbat.

    It was located close to the Royal Pce, near the center of the whole Capital.

    Four garrison positions were scattered at the cardinal points of the city.

    The Headquarters was simply the brain behind their operations, as well as the area where a majority of the troops were gathered.

    I saw many mobilized members of the Capital¡¯s forces¨Cmost likely prepared to deal with the monster that attacked not long ago.

    Derick had already spoken to them via a Communication Magic Tool, so they were no longer in a hurry tounch a counter at whatever was assaulting the Capital.

    ¡®They¡¯re simply on standby, uh?¡¯

    The troops greeted Derick and me with a bow. We responded and made our way to a building that seemed to stand out among the rest.

    The security personnel that guarded the building were different from the others we came across.

    From their Magic gear to the level of power they possessed, I could tell that they were in a separate ss.

    ¡°This is the office of my superior¡­¡± Derick muttered as we got even closer to therge door that was guarded by two exceptional individuals.

    ¡°The leader of the Imperial Guards?¡±

    Derick looked at me with surprise when I said that. Was I wrong?

    ¡°No way! Someone like that¡­!!!¡±

    Derick was already looking flustered, as though meeting the one I spoke of was inconceivable.

    ¡®If I can gain ess to the head of the Imperial Guards, then I can have a big backer to support my actions in the Pce.¡¯

    Especially considering adversaries like the Serah Crimson that Neron mentioned.

    ¡°My superior is the Vice Head of the City¡¯s Guards. There¡¯s no way I can meet someone so high-up.¡± Derick informed me.

    ¡®Ah, I see how it is¡­¡¯

    I had made quite the blunder.

    Of course, a mere unit leader wouldn¡¯t be able to get me the connection I required.

    It would have to pass through certain individuals before finally reaching the Head of the Imperial Guards.

    ¡®Whatever¡­¡¯ I sighed.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way now. There are a few people I know in the city. I would like to check up on them.¡±

    Derick seemed surprised by my words. Why wouldn¡¯t he be?

    I had already expressed interest in meeting his superior, but, now I wasn¡¯t so hot about the prospect.

    ¡®It¡¯ll take too long¡­¡¯

    Why did I even bother with the whole theatrics? This had been a waste of time.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just stick to the original n¡­¡¯

    ¡°Farewell. Make sure to report everything you experienced to your superior. The other guards of the city should serve as good witnesses.¡±

    Derick was still processing my words when I lifted off from the ground and flew into the night sky.

    *********************

    >VWOOOSSSHHHH!<

    The cool night breeze weed me as I scoured the city on my lonesome.

    I smiled, watching the tall and luxurious homes, the lushpounds, and the extremely detailedndmarks that filled the area.

    ¡®What now? There¡¯s only one other ce¡­¡¯

    I was avoiding this, but it seemed like I had no choice.

    My eyes didn¡¯t need to scour the city for long before I found my target.

    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s time for another reunion¡­¡¯

    With a gliding movement in the air, I dashed in the direction of a ce that should have been familiar, but waspletely foreign to me.

    ¡®I wonder if that person will recognize me.¡¯

    ************************

    On the cool night at the Capital, a figure loomed.

    Investigators and dozens of guards secured the area that was devastated by the earlier assault of a fiery creature, creating quite a stir in the outskirts of the city.

    As they were fishing for samples and discussing with eyewitnesses¨Cthe Mages¨Csomeone approached the cluster of people.

    Initially, no one paid the shadow any heed, until it was right in the midst of the crowd.

    ¡°This looks like fun. What¡¯s going on here?¡±

    The moment everyone on the scene heard this voice, their skins jumped.

    With stiff bodies, they turned in the direction of the voice.

    Sounds of gulps and shivers could be heard among the troops. Their eyes contained hints of fear and reverence.

    After all, the one who had appeared before them was none other than¡­

    ¡°We greet the Head Of The Imperial Forces!¡± Everyone saluted.

    ¡­ Serah Crimson herself.

 Chapter 339 Familiarity

    In a dimly lit room, exquisitely furnished, and immensely protected through the aid of several Magic Tools and barriers, a man was busy sorting through documents and writing in correspondence.

    The middle-aged man didn¡¯t get very long hours of rest, so, even when a majority of the Royal Capital was asleep, he was busy at work.

    He had slight bags under his eyes, but that didn¡¯t diminish his charming looks. His regal face, his blond hair, and his cleanly cut beard were all evidence of his noble heritage.

    The immense focus he gave his work was a testament to the outstanding dedication he had toward the duties bestowed upon him.

    He would have kept at this work for the next few hours before getting a brief moment of rest.

    ¡®I still need to meet the King tomorrow¡­ and then there¡¯s that discussion¡­¡¯

    There was a lot to do, so he had to be as quick and urate as possible.

    The Eastern Kingdom depended on him!

    Amid his work, a sharp knock was heard, disrupting the man¡¯s focus.

    ¡®What now?¡¯ Slightly irritated, he red at the door whence the noise came from.

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    A heavily armored man entered the exquisite room, bowing to the man who sat behind his desk.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He asked impatiently.

    ¡°Milord! We have an intruder!¡±

    This made him even more aggravated by the intrusion.

    As he had told his guards several times, they were not to interrupt his evening sessions unless it was something absolutely unavoidable.

    ¡®Couldn¡¯t they have just captured the intruder and waited till morning before reporting this?¡¯

    Still, as a Noble¡ªespecially one of high standing in society¡ªhe had learned the ability of self-control.

    Still keeping a straight face, he confronted the Guard on the matter that seemed so urgent that it couldn¡¯t wait.

    ¡°W-well¡­ the thing is¡­¡±

    The Noble waited patiently for the excuse of his Guard.

    ¡°¡­ The intruder¡­¡±

    *************************

    Once he heard who the intruder was¡ªor, at least who he imed to be¡ªthe blond man left his office in an instant.

    He rushed out of the room and swiftly made for the ce where said person was.

    His guard stuck close to him and made sure he was always ahead. This was for protection, so the noble couldn¡¯tin.

    Once they descended the stairs and reached the entrance of therge manor, the Guard opened the door and led his master outside¡ªto the vastpound.

    What met the man¡¯s sight was a formation of guards that epassed one individual.

    Their des were sheathed, and they were ready to strike if the intruder made any suspicious movements.

    Mages were also present¡ªthough they were a small distance away from the guards.

    They had their Spells¡ªboth defensive and offensive¡ªready.

    However, despite all this, the one who stood at the center remained unfazed.

    It was at this moment that the Nobleman got a good look at him.

    The intruder also stared back.

    As they looked at each other, a sense of familiarity blossomed, and both individuals instantly came to an understanding.

    ¡°Lower your weapons, everyone!¡± He ordered.

    The Guards instantly obeyed, though their expressions showed reluctance.

    The Nobleman left the safe distance he had from the intruder and began drawing nearer.

    As he stepped foot on thepound ground, the other person also began moving closer.

    No one stopped his advance.

    They simply watched in both curiosity and caution.

    Once the onlookers looked more closely, though, they noticed a resemnce. It was so uncanny that the men wondered why they hadn¡¯t noticed until now.

    Both men¡ªyoung and old¡ªnow came close to each other, about only a few inches from touching.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while¡­¡± The first to speak was, of course, the young man.

    The older fellow was still quite surprised.

    Their blond hair fluttered as the wind howled, and they stared at each other with their simrly shiny eyes.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re finally back¡­¡± The man¡¯s parted lips finally brought forth words.

    A second of silence enveloped the two of them¡­ and then they broke into smiles.

    ¡°¡­ Father.¡±

    The man¡¯s smile broadened upon hearing those words from his son.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s good to see you again, Jared.¡±

    ****************************

    Damien Leonard Alphonse Sereth, one of the Kingdom¡¯s four Dukes, and the most important man in administrative affairs¡ªsecond only to the King.

    This man was none other than my father.

    Usually, many kids would be proud and boastful of the fact that their father was someone extremely valuable to the nation, but I didn¡¯t really have such emotions.

    For one, I never really knew him.

    He was always working in the Royal Capital, so I never got much of a chance to interact with him.

    Again, a lot of kids would bear resentment toward their parent for not properly giving them attention. But, I didn¡¯t view things that way.

    His work was indispensable to the Eastern Kingdom.

    There was no way I would be selfish enough not to understand that.

    Perhaps it was because I was someone very simr in my past life¡ªso dedicated to Magic that I didn¡¯t pay much heed to much else.

    The Leonard family was only able to stay relevant because of his efforts, as well as those before him.

    But focusing more on administrative affairs, our family proved to be immensely useful to the Eastern Kingdom¡­ even if we hadn¡¯t produced a single Magic User in over two centuries.

    How could I resent such a man?

    Even at the moment, seated directly before him, I felt nothing butradeship and understanding toward him.

    ¡°I can see you¡¯ve been quite upied, father.¡± I smiled, looking in the direction of his office desk and the numerous documents he had to take care of.

    We were currently in the lounge area of the very same room, which I already surmised to be his private office.

    This Manor was the Leonard Household¡¯s stronghold within the Capital.

    While it wasn¡¯t as huge and luxurious as the one back home, it was worthy to be called a Ducal residence.

    My father was the one who spent most of his time here, but there was enough room to upy the whole family if we chose to move to this ce.

    ¡°Oh, that¡­ well, the Kingdom has been encountering quite the number of issues. And after a report came in yesterday, things got busier¡­¡± Damien Leonard said with a tired smile.

    He was most likely referring to the assault on the Western Border.

    ¡®Good thing he¡¯s up to speed. Now, then¡­ I should seize this chance!¡¯

 Chapter 340 Father And Son

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you know that I was the one who saved everyone there.¡±

    He nodded.

    ¡°The King received your letter, and the researchers are currently dissecting the Demon Beasts that you captured for us. Without exaggerating, I¡¯ll say your contributions will be very instrumental in theing crisis.¡±

    I could sense a glow of pride in his words. My father¡¯s tired eyes brimmed with satisfaction.

    Unlike my doting mother, he didn¡¯t bother bawling orining about my absence. Our mature conversation was evidence that he no longer saw me as a child.

    ¡®That makes things easier¡­¡¯

    ¡°Anabelle also contacted me through a Magic Communication Tool. You went to visit the Manor, didn¡¯t you? That was a good choice.¡±

    He probably knew how much my mom suffered thanks to my absence.

    In his way, Damien most likely tried tofort her. However, there was a limit he could do with the matters he had on his te.

    Just as he didn¡¯t criticize me for my actions, I didn¡¯t intend on doing the same for him.

    ¡°She will be arriving in a few hours, so you should be able to see her soon.¡±

    ¡®Looks like Ana will make it in time, after all¡­¡¯

    ¡°I also visited Ainrk Academy. My allies there are aiding me in something that would also prove valuable to the conflict.¡± I said, diverting from the topic of family.

    His eyes sparked with interest.

    ¡°Something I should know about?¡±

    ¡°No. At least, not yet. But¡­¡±

    This was the major reason I decided toe here.

    ¡°¡­ I need to speak to the King as soon as possible.¡±

    As expected, my father¡¯s brow furrowed slightly.

    Since he didn¡¯t frown, that meant it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. However, that didn¡¯t make it a simple matter.

    ¡°I got a hold of your letter. Since I¡¯m in charge of administration, I understand what you wrote there. The King himself would like to meet you as well, since you¡¯ve done the Kingdom a great deed already.¡±

    ¡®But¡­?¡¯ I asked internally.

    ¡°However, the Council is a different matter entirely. Many of them view your sudden appearance with suspicion, and it¡¯ll take some time before we can finalize a meeting date.¡± My father sighed.

    ¡°Even if an invasion could ur at any moment?¡±

    He nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s how bothersome aristocratic matters are. Still, it¡¯s not like we have to stick by the rules, especially since an assault just urred at our front doors.¡±

    ¡®He knows about that already? How fast is his informationwork?¡¯ My mind raced with slight surprise.

    ¡°I assume it had something to do with you? Was it an attempt to quicken the process? If so, that was a good move.¡±

    I was amazed by his deductive skills as well. He wasn¡¯t my father, and the head of administrative affairs, for nothing.

    ¡°Yes. The Council members who are hesitant for a meeting will have no choice, at this point.¡±

    Even if they were suspicious, nothing bothered a noble more than personal safety. Once they realized that danger was befalling their premises, the Council Members would have no problems hearing what I had to say.

    ¡°There are two Grand Mages in the Capital, but¡­ if a battle should ur here, there¡¯s no telling the damage that will be wrought. That¡¯s probably what they¡¯re scared of.¡±

    Members of the Council were of high nobility. They even had Royal blood.

    That was why they could seat in the Royal Pce and govern the decisions that could be made, alongside the King.

    It wasn¡¯t an absolute rule dictated by the King. However, since he still had ¡®absolute power¡¯ in a sense, he could veto their decisions.

    The problem was that the Council Members had a deeper connection to the Kingdom¡¯s Nobles.

    If the King stood against them too much, he would be picking a fight with the Nobles. For a better Kingdom and easier administration, it was better to avoid that.

    ¡®Ah, politics is soplicated¡­¡¯

    It was no wonder I never bothered about it in the past.

    I was trying my best to better understand it, but I wasn¡¯t exactly an expert in the field. Fortunately, I had a father who was pretty much a political pir.

    If I could leverage our connection, it would be the best way to get what I wanted.

    ¡°How soon can a meeting be set up?¡±

    Upon hearing my question, my father stoked his beard and looked to the ground for a few seconds.

    After that, he sharply stared at me.

    ¡°How dire is the situation?¡±

    His voice sounded grave.

    Depending on the intensity of our current predicament, he would pull out some cards that he wouldn¡¯t normally use.

    That showed a great deal of the trust he had in me.

    ¡°It¡¯s extremely unfavorable. The Demons have the upper hand in terms of information and power. If we want to turn the tables, we have to act quickly.¡±

    Damien Leonard Alphonse Sereth sighed and nodded upon hearing myment.

    ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll set up a meeting tonight!¡±

    My eyes bulged the moment he spoke.

    ¡®That soon?!¡¯

    Even with his numerous connections, I didn¡¯t expect him to have such authority.

    ¡®I should have just leveraged on him from the start!¡¯

    This was why I sucked at politics.

    ¡°It¡¯ll be hard to convince the Council, but after the earlier attack, they¡¯ll be willing to cooperate. As for the King and Queen, they¡¯ll be easier to convince, especially since we can pressure the Council.¡±

    I was liking my father more and more.

    ¡°For a proper meeting, we¡¯ll need important stakeholders, especially since that¡¯s what your letter indicated.¡±

    Correct.

    I didn¡¯t only need Nobles and Royals in attendance. While they were the decision-makers, they werepletely useless when it came to taking actual action.

    The Head of the Research Division.

    The Head of the Imperial Forces.

    The Grand Mages.

    The Head Warriors.

    I needed as many powerful individuals to be in attendance.

    That way, after the meeting, I could take action immediately.

    ¡°I have a direct connection with the Crimson Household. They¡¯re also a Ducal Family, so it¡¯ll be much faster if I employ their aid. They also owe me a big favor.¡±

    My father continued mentioning the numerous strings he could pull, making me in greater awe of his capabilities.

    By the time we were done, I realized that in only a few hours, a meeting could be set up.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what exactly you have in mind, but¡­ you are my son, Jared. I¡¯ll trust you!¡±

    Those words were concise and terribly short, but¡­

    ¡°I understand. I won¡¯t let you down!¡±

    ¡­ They meant a lot to me!

 Chapter 341 The Royal Palace

    ¡°We¡¯re finally here¡­¡± I smiled.

    Right before me was the door that led to the throne room.

    Behind the massive door were the people who would be attending the meeting¡ªall waiting for my appearance.

    I made sure to brace myself, ensuring everything was in ce one final time.

    To my left and right were the only people I could count on at the moment.

    ¡ªMy parents.

    With my mom¡¯s encouraging smile and my father¡¯s stern expression, they waited for me to make the first move.

    Two guards waited till I was ready, and then, when I nodded to them, they opened therge doors to allow me entry.

    A forerunner moves ahead of us, announcing our presence to the already waiting audience whose gazes were fixated on the open doors.

    ¡°Presenting members of the Leonard Alphonse Sereth Household: Damien Leonard Alphonse Sereth. Anabelle Leonard Alphonse Sereth. Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth.¡±

    As we were introduced, we hastened our steps and made ourselves known to the Royal Court.

    The first thought that shed into my mind as I entered the massive hall was¡­

    ¡®¡­ How elegant!¡¯

    The chandeliers, the glistening colors, luminous gems, tiled grounds¡ªeverything was the epitome of perfection.

    Even the regal carpet that weed us was only of the finest quality.

    Other than the obvious Magic Spells and enchantments that filled the whole building, it was beautiful beyondpare.

    The Kingdom¡¯s g was firmly ced behind the throne, as well as the drapes of the Great Noble houses.

    This was the centralization of power within the whole Kingdom.

    ¡°They humbly seek the audience of His Majesty, King of the Eastern Kingdom; King Albion Lestrome Indiavel.¡± Our forerunner announced, beforepletely moving out of the way.

    Bowing my head slightly, cing my hand on my chest to disy noble etiquette, and cing my foot backward, I perfectly imitated my father and gave the greeting expected of me.

    From the corner of my eye, I spotted the graceful disy of my mother¡¯s salutation as well. It was perfect.

    With our heads bowed, none of us could supposedly see the faces of anyone around. Of course, it was easily achievable with Magic, so my action was nothing more than superficial.

    I could see everyone.

    Ten of the twelve members of the Council that stood before us¡ªin their respective chairs.

    They represented the great houses of the Kingdom¡ªa majority of which were Magic Users.

    Of course, the four Ducal houses were among them.

    Other than them, there were representatives of the Imperial Forces, the Research group, and the representatives from the Western Border.

    I could even spot Ivan, Cephas, and¡­ Alphonse?

    He was standing right there! I wasn¡¯t expecting him to be around, but¡­ it was quite a pleasant surprise.

    ¡®Looks like almost everyone is here¡­¡¯

    Last, but not least, was the Royal Family.

    The King sat on his elegant throne, with the queen seated beside him.

    His three sons¡ªthe princes¡ªstood behind him, and the daughter was by her mother¡¯s side.

    Standing in a corner of the room was someone I recognized, thanks to their robe and distinguished position.

    My father had briefed me on his existence, so I couldn¡¯t be mistaken.

    ¡®The Court Mage¡­¡¯

    He was one of the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s only three Grand Mages.

    The man was adorned in quite a number of Magic Tools, and their quality was extremely high.

    As expected of someone of his level.

    Of the three Grand Mages, I could only spot him among the audience.

    The head of Ainrk Academy was still missing.

    And finally, I intentionally made sure I excluded Serah Crimson from the list of people my father pulled his strings for.

    It would be foolish of me to ignore Neron¡¯s advice.

    Of the four Ducal Households, only two were present¡ªbesides us.

    One was the Helmsworth Family, and the second was the Crimson Household. For some reason, thest family couldn¡¯t make it.

    The Imperial Forces had the Vice Head representing the group, along with someone I recognized quite well.

    Her flowing silver hair and clear blue eyes were so remarkable that I couldn¡¯t blot them out of my memories even if I tried.

    Her pale face was expressionless, but she was intensely staring at me for some reason.

    ¡®Maria Helmsworth¡­ it¡¯s been a while.¡¯ A smile formed on my face.

    ¡®Why isn¡¯t she staying with her family, though?¡¯

    ¡°Raise your heads.¡±

    Once this was said, all three of us obeyed in a seemingly choreographed stroke.

    I was simply imitating my father, but my parents were incredibly adept at this.

    ¡®Even though I took courtesy and etiquette training, it¡¯s not like I really practiced¡­¡¯

    Still, although the atmosphere in the Royal Pce was quite heavy, I was determined to remainposed at all times.

    This wasn¡¯t the time to flop.

    As we raised our heads, I finally got a good look at the one who sat on the throne and wore the crown.

    King Albion Lestrome Indiavel was a man who looked to be in his thirties, even though his actual age was supposed to be somewhere around his fifties.

    His youthful appearance was most likely due to the effects of magic and the royal pampering, plus skincare given to high members of society.

    His wife had a simr, if not younger, look. In terms of face value, the Queen was simr to my mom, even though she was meant to be way older.

    ¡®Anabelle is prettier, though¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed.

    Their four children all had nk expressions on their faces¡ªas expected of properly trained Royals¡ªthough one of them seemed awfully dissatisfied with me.

    ¡®Fabian Lestrome, uh? It¡¯s been a while.¡¯ I shot him a confident smirk.

    He was the youngest prince among the three of them, yet it seemed like his ego was the biggest.

    The princess¡ªabout my age¡ªmaintained a graceful disy. In terms of beauty, she was very appealing, but¡­ courtesy couldn¡¯t allow me to stare at her for very long.

    Still, their family¡¯s staple blond hair looked even more regal than my family¡¯s.

    ¡®Well, they are royalty, after all.¡¯

    ¡°We greet your Majesty, King Albion Lestrome Indiavel. Apologies for thiste audience with you.¡± I let my father handle the greetings, and he did so splendidly.

    ¡°Oh, please. Now is not the time for such boorish disys. I believe the situation was urgent, which was why you requested an audience. I permit you to speak.¡±

    As expected of a King. His charisma was enough to quell the unease in the massive hall.

    A smile formed on my face as I read the room even more.

    ¡®This shouldn¡¯t be too hard!¡¯

 Chapter 342 Proposed Alliance

    ¡°Jared. This is your queue.¡± My father whispered to me.

    After the King had done away with useless salutations, it was finally time to get straight to the point.

    My father gave a bit of introduction, for the sake of neers, but the members of the Royal Court already knew of my identity.

    ¡®After all, they¡¯ve already received my letter and gifts¡­¡¯

    ¡°As my father has rightly introduced me, my name is Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth. Ie bearing grave news concerning the Demons, as well as a viable solution concerning our current predicament.¡±

    As expected, hushed murmurs escaped the lips of many. However, their talks didn¡¯tst very long.

    ¡°Jared, you say. If I am not mistaken, you are the same one who resolved the Demonic Disturbance three years ago.¡± The King rightly interfered.

    I smiled and nodded, happy with his thoughtfulness.

    Once he mentioned the Disturbance, no one spoke a word.

    Seeing the satisfied grin of a few people on my side¡ªmy parents, Alphonse¡¯s faction, even Maria¡ªI gained even more confidence.

    ¡°Yes, your Majesty. After resolving the incident with the Shadow Demons, I tracked down the mastermind of the incident and also defeated him. This was well witnessed by Neron Kaelid¡ªa trustworthy teacher and Ally.¡±

    In order to have an edge in this conversation, I needed to raise my pedigree and also leverage the connections I had formed.

    Nothing was more important than that in the noble society. At least, that was what I had learned from the brief interaction with my father.

    ¡°After defeating him, I decided to leave Ainrk Academy to search for more clues on my own, as well as to be stronger. The abrupt end of my education, as well as the deration of my journey, were properly documented before my departure.¡±

    Adding that would be enough to shut the mouths of those who wanted to raise a nonexistent issue from my leave.

    ¡°Please get to the point, Jared Leonard.¡± The King said.

    His tone didn¡¯t indicate impatience, so I didn¡¯t think he was dissatisfied with me in any way. On the contrary, he was most likely guiding my speech to be more favorable in the long run.

    ¡®Since I¡¯m not very good at this, it¡¯s nice to have all the help I can get.¡¯

    ¡°The Demons have begun their invasion. As I briefed you in my letter, they have most likelyunched a simultaneous assault on both Western and Eastern Continents.¡±

    The Human settlements and Elven nation were the first on the target list.

    ¡°After defeating the hundreds of Demon Beasts that would have decimated the Western Borders, I stopped by a few other ces before arriving here¡ªfor due reasons. I certainly hope myteness is not considered rude.¡±

    The King shook his head in satisfaction. I took this as my queue to continue.

    ¡°I will now be brief with my assessment and suggestion¡­¡±

    I could sense the tension in the air. Many Nobles were dissatisfied with my sudden appearance, but they couldn¡¯t deny the merit of my existence.

    My achievements¡ªboth three years ago, and now¡ªwarranted their attention and respect.

    If I was amoner, perhaps I would have a much more difficult time. However, I was a Noble too.

    While that didn¡¯t count for much back at Ainrk Academy, I was granted a great amount of weight among those of like standing.

    Even Damien Lawcroft¡ªwho was among the members of the Royal Council, had no choice but to keep quiet and watch.

    ¡°¡­ The Eastern Kingdom is in dire need of an alliance!¡±

    Based on what I had seen so far, our Kingdom¡¯s military capabilities were not up to par. While the Eastern Kingdom had a few exceptional individuals, such as Neron, Serah, and others, the Demon Race were equally¡ªif not more equipped.

    In terms of quantity, they had the upper hand.

    Besides, if one out the Demon Lords, and their Arcana into ount, it was certain that we were on the losing end.

    Plus, Legris Damien¡¯s organization was alsoing into y. I didn¡¯t want to take any chances, so it was best to employ all the help we could get.

    ¡°An alliance, you say? You indeed mentioned that you have a n in your letter, but if it¡¯s something as obvious as an Alliance, then¡­¡±

    From the King¡¯s tone, I could tell he was somewhat disappointed.

    He probably expected a more grandiose strategy toe from my lips. After all, an alliance must have been one of the earliest ideas they considered when preparing for the looming crisis.

    There had to have been a reason why they didn¡¯t eventually go on with such a strategy.

    However¡­

    ¡°You must be referring to theck of cooperation between the members of the other Races, correct?¡±

    My terribly confident tone, and semi-formal speech caused a great deal of uproar among the members of the Court.

    However, I was done restricting myself by adhering too strictly to formalities.

    Since the King seemed like a sensible man, I expected him to also understand the cause behind my words rather than how they were uttered.

    ¡°Indeed, young one. As you are well aware, there are four other races who could be potential allies. The Elves, The Fairies, The Dwarves, and the Theiranthropes. However, none of them have responded properly to our envoys.¡±

    It must have taken a great deal of resources and nning, for the Eastern Kingdom to try reaching out to the other nations.

    For their efforts to have ended in futility¡­ it was quite a shame.

    However¡­

    ¡°Your Majesty, a proposed Alliance with the members of the other races will only be possible if certain measures are taken, and a couple of conditions are fulfilled.¡±

    ¡­ Their approach was simply wrong.

    ¡®No one knows the members of the other Races more than I do!¡¯

    After all, I hadrades belonging to them in my past life.

    Other than Gawain, the Sword King, every other close ally of mine was of separate races.

    Even the woman I loved¡­

    ¡°What conditions are you referring to?¡± King Albion asked with a curious glint in his eyes.

    I could feel curious gazes fall upon me as well. However, at this point, I was behind the point of self-consciousness.

    It was now or never.

    ¡®I¡¯ve alreadye this far. Time to push for my n!¡¯

 Chapter 343 The Perfect Plan [Pt 1]

    ¡°Now is the most advantageous time to push for an Alliance!¡±

    First, silence pervaded the room. Then, murmurs and dissatisfied grunts began swelling.

    However, I wasn¡¯t done yet.

    ¡°Of all the Five Major Races, Humans are considered the least in terms of special qualities and natural strength¡­¡±

    The others had natural affinities for particr fields, even as kids.

    For the Human Race, it was only due to our constant evolution and efforts toward growth that we had been able to stand on equal footing with the others.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s only natural that they would be reluctant to team up with us.¡±

    The values and cultures of the other Races differed. For humans, who neither shared those values nor had any dealings with them, it was only natural that their offer would be rejected.

    ¡°That brings us back to the start. As I said, an Alliance is not feasible.¡± The mighty and wise King said as he sighed.

    A smile crept up my face.

    ¡®I remember having this same conversation with that guy, back then¡­¡¯

    Why did Royalty have to be so stubborn?

    ¡°No, your Majesty. It¡¯spletely possible!¡±

    His eyes bulged at my defiant statement, and an uproar arose in the Royal Court.

    Many branded me to be mannerless for challenging the words spoken by the King. Some even went as far as pointing at me and openly disying their dissatisfaction.

    A mere child like me was granted an audience with the ruler of the Eastern Kingdom, yet I didn¡¯t know my ce.

    Upon hearing the barrage of taunts and baseless usations, I kept my cool.

    My parents looked at me with slight worry¨Cespecially my mother¨Cbut, a single look from me was enough to show them that I was fine.

    ¡®The greater the controversy¡­ the better the rewards!¡¯

    I caught Damien Lawcroft¨Cnow Head of the Lawcroft Household, and one of the 12 Council Members¨Cring at me from where he stood.

    Unlike the other aggravated nobles, he didn¡¯t say anything to damage my position.

    In fact, the man¡¯s silence was all the more confusing.

    ¡°How dare you address Royalty with such gall!?!¡± The one who spoke the loudest was, of course, Royalty himself.

    ¡®Fabian Lestrome¡­¡¯ I nearly rolled my eyes as I saw his agitated re.

    The idiot had been in a terrible mood ever since the meeting started, and I could sense his animosity toward me ever since I entered.

    ¡®He¡¯s not important, so¡­ I can overlook his words.¡¯

    More importantly, I needed to solidify my points.

    ¡°Jared Leonard, please enlighten this Court. Why would your n for an Alliance work?¡±

    With the King¡¯s words ringing throughout the hall, everyone fell silent.

    If they had dared speak on more word, it would be them that was defying his Majesty¡¯s authority.

    I was guessing none of them wanted to do that.

    ¡°Yes, your Majesty. Allow me to exin.¡±

    *************************

    Of all the four other Races, the first target had to be the Elves.

    For one, their territory was most likely being attacked at the moment.

    Unlike us, they were at a greater disadvantage since Miasma was poisonous to them.

    Also, Elves had always been primitive when it came to Magic Technology and Advanced Magical Arts.

    They stuck very close to natural Magic, and so, even their transfer of information was extremely limited.

    Considering the time, the Demons would have been attacking them for two days now, but chances of reinforcement arriving then were extremely low.

    For one, they had no Magic Communication Tool or Teleportation Magic at their disposal. Since that was the case, the emergency reports had to be handled through personal delivery.

    Considering howrge their territory was¨Cand how they were most likely concentrating a bulk of their forces at their Northern Border¨Cit would take the Elves at least five days topletely eradicate the threat of the Demon Beasts.

    Two days had already psed, so we had three more days to respond to their state of emergency.

    I would have liked to wait until they were more desperate, but to prevent more casualties and loss of properties, it was best to respond as soon as possible.

    By rescuing the Elves¨Cwho had a strict custom of repaying good deeds¨Cwe would gain their favor and have a higher ground for negotiation.

    Besides, upon realizing just how big a threat the Demons were, and how powerful we humans would be as their allies, they would readily agree to an Alliance.

    It was as simple as that!

    ******************************

    Upon hearing my words, the Royal Court fell into a deep silence.

    Many stared at me with surprise, shaken by my odd sense of rationality and intellect.

    Not only had I proffered a solution to a long-standing problem, but I was alsopletely objective about everything.

    Sentiment and emotions would cause anyone to lose theirposure and advocate for a rushed rescue of the Elves, but¡­ I was different.

    If it would increase our chances better, I was up for saving the Elves. However, to have a better advantage against our potential allies, it was best to let them experience despair for a bit.

    And then, we would swoop in at thest minute to reap the rewards.

    ¡®I could have just rescued them on my own, but¡­¡¯

    Considering my ns for the future, it was better to have an Alliance between all the races as soon as possible.

    ¡°I¨CI see¡­¡± King Albion Lestrome Indiavel murmured, stroking his beard.

    Even the loud nobles from earlier had no choice but to be silent.

    ¡°¡­ What of the other Races? Would an Alliance with the Elves be enough in our battle with the Demons?¡± His Majesty asked me with narrowed eyes.

    ¡®What a foolish question.¡¯ I smiled to myself.

    Shaking my head slightly, I looked at the King who sat on his throne and parted my lips to speak.

    ¡®Now that I¡¯ve gotten their attention with this¡­ the one holding the advantage is me!¡¯

    ¡°The Demons are far more fearsome than you think. To ensure aplete victory, it¡¯s better to form an Alliance with every single Race!¡±

    ¡®¡­ Just as it was done in the past!¡¯

    Gasps escaped the mouths of everyone¨Cwell, almost everyone¨Cin the room.

    ¡°How do you propose we go about that?¡± The King asked.

    At this point, there was no arrogance or condescending presumption in his voice.

    Hepletely understood where he stood, and that the one who held all the answers at this point¡­ was none other than me!

 Chapter 344 The Perfect Plan [Pt 2]

    I was the one who solved the Demonic Disturbance

    I was the one who defeated the Demons at the Western Border

    I was the one who captured specimens of Demon Beasts

    I was the one who gave specific details considering the situation of the Kingdom¡ªincluding the existence of spies.

    And now¡­

    ¡­ I was the one who had the answers to the most pressing problem confronting the Eastern Kingdom.

    It wasn¡¯t an overstatement to say that the members of the Royal Court now had no other choice but to listen to me!

    ¡®You should have all done that from the start, rather than letting me go through all this stress¡­¡¯

    Politics sure was annoying.

    Now that I had proven my worth, it was time to venture on into the n.

    ************************

    ¡°The Fairies are close neighbors of the Elves. They have a close rtionship with each other.¡±

    While the Fairies made it a long-standing principle not to interfere with the secr matters of the world, a Demonic War was an exception.

    Still, the Fairies had a deep skepticism toward almost everything. They were also very fickle and unpredictable.

    That was why it was better to gain the Alliance of the Elves first, and then pressure the Fairies into an Alliance.

    Of course, we would prove our worth and make it seem as though they would be the ones losing out on a deal with us.

    Just like an insect would be attracted to the sweet nectar in a flower¡­ I nned on baiting the incredibly selfish Fairies by roping them in an Alliance.

    As long as they had a substantial profit, the Fairies would join us.

    The major issues for concern were the final two Races¡ªThe Theiranthropes and Dwarves.

    They were located in the Southern Continent, and their capabilities were the most vital when considering the conditions for war.

    I definitely didn¡¯t want to engage the Demons without their support.

    The Theiranthropes, also known as Beastfolk, were known to have the strongest offensive capabilities among the Five Races.

    Even the Demon race feared their destructive and pure instinctive abilities.

    As for Dwarves, their craftsmanship was the best among all the Races.

    Weapons. Technologies. Artifacts.

    No one made these things better than the Dwarves.

    I wanted us to ally with them, not only for the War, but even for what would happen after.

    They were instrumental in my future ns.

    ¡°Do you have a way to bring them to our side?¡± King Albion asked me with a skeptical look.

    Even though I had convinced the Council that the Elves and Fairies could be won over, the same couldn¡¯t be said about the other two.

    Even for me, it would be difficult.

    However, considering the conditions, it waspletely possible!

    ¡°The Beastfolk value strength and capability above anything else. If we can prove that to them, they will see merit in joining forces with us.¡±

    They were meatheads who only respected the strong.

    At least, that was what my friend said about them. I considered it urate, considering the fact that he was also a Beastfolk.

    ¡°By allying with the Elves and Fairies, we would already have enough weight to grab their attention. They won¡¯t be able to ignore us at that point.¡±

    They were advocates for ¡®Actions rather than Words!¡¯

    So, by having two Races on our side, they would be willing to hear us out.

    ¡°T-then, they will agree to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hearing us out and agreeing to join forces are two different matters. Ultimately, no scheming or shortcut will work when dealing with them.¡±

    That¡¯s right! It all boiled down to power!

    ¡°If we¡¯re stronger than them, they¡¯ll submit!¡±

    It was a simple strategy, but also quite difficult. After all¡­

    ¡®¡­ I don¡¯t know how strong they are now.¡¯

    Still, I was willing to bet everything on an Alliance with them! That was how valuable I considered the Beastfolk Race.

    ¡°As for the Dwarves, if I¡¯m right, they should already have an Alliance with the Beastfolk. If we win one over, we get the other.¡±

    The reason why I chose to influence the Beastfolk, then the Dwarves in extension, and not the other way around was simple.

    Dwarves were quite stubborn and stiff.

    It would take too long trying to bring them over. Besides, even if we did that, it didn¡¯t change what we had to do with the Beastfolk.

    In terms of efficiency, it was simply easier to deal with the Theiranthropes first.

    This was the onus of the strategy I employed in unifying every Race. Sure, the excuse that would be used for our Alliance was the Demon Threat, however¡­

    ¡®¡­ I n on keeping everyone united even after!¡¯

    Smiling at the king and bowing slightly, maintaining the proper etiquette, I concluded my speech.

    ¡°I hope I have made myself understood.¡±

    ***************************

    ¡®W-who is this kid¡­?!¡¯ King Albion Lestrome Indiavel¡¯s mind rang in both amazement and slight fear.

    Not only had hepletely analyzed the situation, but he also had enough insight to proffer effective solutions to address them.

    While it would take some time topletely investigate his rationale and make a decision concerning all he had said, there was no doubt in Albion¡¯s mind that Jared was right.

    He gulped and controlled himself.

    If he allowed himself to look flustered, it would sully his image as King.

    ¡®I came to this meeting with curiosity and intrigue, but¡­¡¯

    He never expected Jared to be this exceptional.

    As expected of the Hero of Ainrk!

    The King spotted one of his sons who stood behind him, Fabian, and noticed the deep re he gave Jared.

    Fabian¡¯s displeasure stemmed from the fact that Jared had taken the spotlight that would have given him more of an edge in the eye of the public, during the Demonic Disturbance.

    ¡®Shouldn¡¯t he have been happy that the matter was resolved with the least amount of casualties?¡¯

    From all he had seen from the reports, King Albion highly doubted that Fabian would have beenpetent enough to handle the incident.

    Jared¡¯s skill and capabilities from such a young age had already exceeded the most talented of his sons.

    And now, after three years, he had shown more insight than the Royal Court and his Advisers.

    King Albion waspletely beaten. He knew that!

    ¡®For the sake of our survival¡­ for a better Eastern Kingdom¡­¡¯

    There was no argument on his part.

    ¡®¡­ We have to listen to Jared Leonard!¡¯

 Chapter 345 Silent Dissatisfactions

    ¡®Damien Leonard Alphonse Sereth¡­ you must be very proud of your child.¡¯ King Albion smiled at the Duke who stood before him.

    Unknown to the seated man, even the father of the outstandingd was just as surprised.

    ****************

    ¡®I-Is this really¡­ Jared¡­?!¡¯ Duke Damien Leonard questioned internally.

    During their discussion just hours ago, he had thought that his boy was very brilliant for his age.

    It was due to this reason, as well as his son¡¯s spectacr Magic prowess, that he did everything in his power to organize this meeting.

    However, he never expected Jared Leonard to have thought so far ahead.

    In terms of knowledge and strategy, Jared had even surpassed him.

    It was inconceivable, but Damien Leonard could not argue with what his eyes had seen.

    ¡®I thought the reports from Ainrk could have been blown a bit over proportion, but¡­¡¯

    Seeing was believing!

    With a smile stered on his face as he maintained his calm demeanor, Damien Leonard realized how proud of his son he was.

    All of Jared¡¯s aplishments in Ainrk, and his contributions to the Kingdom, contributed greatly to the image of the Ducal Household of Leonard.

    As a result, his father and every member of their family gained even more prestige.

    Thanks to their increased status, they were able to expand their influence. The reason Damien Leonard could have made so many calls and pulled that many strings were due to the current power of their Household.

    And it was all thanks to Jared!

    ¡®Even now¡­ he¡¯s done it again!¡¯ The Duke smiled sincerely as he stared at his son¡¯sposed face.

    Once again, as a result of his son¡¯s brilliance, the Leonard Household¡¯s status had been elevated!

    What kind of father wouldn¡¯t be proud?

    **************************

    ¡®Shit! Shit! Shit!¡¯

    Even while many people¡ªeven those who were initially against Jared¡ªwere now entrapped in admiration for the youngd, a few still had their reservations.

    Two, in particr, werepletely dissatisfied with Jared¡¯s presence and contributions.

    One was obviously the third Prince, Fabian Lestrome.

    He tried his hardest to control his reaction, but he was seething within.

    ¡®Why? Why? Whyyy?!!¡¯

    When they were at Ainrk, Jared had stolen the spotlight from him, and now¡­ it was the same!

    Fabian had tried his hardest to support their preparation for a sh with the Demons. He had done his best to assist the Eastern Kingdom, and lighten the load ced on his father.

    Even working harder than his other brothers, Fabian made sure he also trained his Magic and Martial Arts.

    ¡®Be better! Be superior! Be supreme!¡¯

    Even though he was the Third Prince, he was the most talented and skilled of his three brothers.

    As long as he maintained that image, then¡­

    Unfortunately, Jared came into the picture and ruined everything.

    His brilliant strategy was wless, and the feats he performed at the Western Border were nothing short of outstanding.

    The Research Department was more than happy to receive the carcass of the Demon Beast.

    The Imperial Forces sang praises of Jared¡¯s feat.

    Even now, his father lookedpletely mesmerized by Jared¡¯s outstanding performance.

    Even though his ego had been bruised, and he waspletely vexed with the young boy before him¡­ Fabian knew there was nothing he could do.

    ¡®It¡¯s wless¡­¡¯

    Still, if there was anyone who could turn the tables, then it had to be his biggest supporter.

    Of everyone in the Royal Court, there was only one man Fabian wholeheartedly trusted.

    He was his biggest sponsor, and the man who had told him the throne was without a doubt his.

    ¡®Damien Lawcroft¡­ do something!¡¯ The Third Prince turned his eye at the Nobleman who shared his sentiment.

    Surely, if anyone could somehow diminish Jared¡¯s light, it was him!

    ¡®I¡¯m counting on you, Damien!¡¯

    ***************************

    ¡®What the hell¡­?!¡¯

    Damien Lawcroft felt conflicted.

    ¡®¡­ It¡¯s too wless.¡¯

    His eyes were fixated on Jared Leonard.

    During the boy¡¯s speech, he had beenpletely silent. Even when the other Nobles were foolishly throwing tantrums, he kept hisposure

    It wasn¡¯t because Damien was in support of Jared. No, it was the opposite.

    ¡®How did he¡­?!¡¯

    He wanted to get a proper read on the boy.

    Ever since he was at Ainrk, Jared had always gotten on his nerves.

    Initially, it was because the boy reminded him of Neron Kaelid¡ªsomeone who has always been a sore subject for Damien.

    The more Jared aplished, the more he felt a simrity between him and Neron.

    His relief knew no bounds when the boy left Ainrk.

    Damien thought he would have peace once the boy was gone.

    Unfortunately, something worse urred.

    Neron Kaelid was made to be the Headmaster.

    The thought of being inferior to a bastard like him was something Damien Lawcroft couldn¡¯t bear.

    His deep-seated inferiority began to manifest.

    It was at this point that ¡®they¡¯ reached out to him.

    By proving himself to them, they granted him a position among their ranks.

    Not only that, but they also made it possible for him to be the head of the Lawcroft Household and be a member of the Royal Council.

    Damien was finally able to leave Ainrk Academy¡ªavoiding subservience to his arch-nemesis.

    It was all perfect!

    ording to his orders, he was supposed to be Fabian Lestrome¡¯s biggest supporter. By manipting the Young Prince, they would be able to control a portion of the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s affairs.

    Once the War with the Demons was over, Fabian would be King, cing the entire Eastern Kingdom in their grasp.

    Of course, Damien Lawcroft would be promoted as a result of this achievement.

    Not only that, but he would be the one to personally govern the nation.

    How grand was that?

    Still¡­

    ¡®They didn¡¯t tell me about this!¡¯

    ¡­ Damien never expected this oue.

    Jared¡¯s n was inplete contrast to the policy that the organization wanted him to undertake.

    It was better!

    If they used the boy¡¯s n, it would grossly affect his mission.

    However, Damien Lawcroft knew there was nothing to nitpick.

    Everything favored the Eastern Kingdom.

    If he was too rash in objecting, it would only discredit him even more.

    ¡®I can¡¯t have that¡­ especially not at this critical juncture!¡¯

    The only thing he could do was wait.

    ¡®As the 10th Seat of the Cult¡­ I have to bide my time!¡¯

 Chapter 346 Unexpected Interruption

    ¡°Hypothetically, if we are to implement your n for an Alliance¡­ what would be necessary?¡±

    My eyes gleamed with delight and my lips curled up in a smile as I heard the King¡¯s words.

    ¡®Yes! It worked!¡¯

    I had thought some of them would find something needless to nitpick, but it turned out that I was worried for nothing.

    ¡°First, we need a proper letter that fully encapstes an intention to form an Alliance addressed to each Race.¡±

    The Alliance Letter¡¯s contents would differ for each of our potential partners.

    The important details would simply need to be spelled out and¡ªfor some of them¡ªthe respective merits they would enjoy by the Alliance.

    ¡°After that, a proper envoy needs to represent the Eastern Kingdom.¡±

    A team consisting of not more than five individuals, including me, would suffice.

    Of course, a member of the Royal Family was crucial, as well as someone very strong¡ªif possible, a Grand Mage.

    That was why I asked to call for capable individuals.

    If we selected the cream of the crop, leaving enough of a framework behind for the Eastern Kingdom, the n would proceed smoothly.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± King Albion murmured as he heard my suggestions.

    To be honest, I had the people I wanted in mind. However, I didn¡¯t want to impose on the King.

    As long as he followed my guidelines and the barest minimum was fulfilled, I had no problem with the rest.

    ¡®But, based on what I¡¯ve observed so far¡­¡¯

    ¡°I understand, Jared Leonard. Then, who would you rmend?¡±

    As I expected, he wanted to hear my opinion. No, it wasn¡¯t just him.

    Everyone in the Royal Court had their eyes on me. They were waiting for my choice!

    ¡®Perfect! This is going better than expected!¡¯ O smiled, ready to begin concluding my business at the Royal Capital.

    Since we needed to leave very soon, it wouldn¡¯t take very long for everything to be finalized.

    After all the tension, the whole thing was finallying to an end!

    ¡°In my opinion, if would be¡ª¡±

    My eyes bulged wide open and I paused. Something wasing¡­ something big!

    Before I could say anything or react, the entrance doors of the Royal Court were flung open¡­

    ¡°HOLD IIITTTT!!!¡±

    ¡­ And someone unimaginably loud, as well as unruly, entered our midst.

    I turned back and red at the person who had to show up at such a critical juncture¡ªnot even minding themon courtesy that I painstakingly had to adhere to.

    The intruder was a woman!

    Her red hair and matching red eyes were the first thing that caught my attention.

    No, that was a lie.

    Her well-endowed chest drew my eyes to them first¡­ before I averted my gaze and looked at her face.

    She had an attractive look and an extremely fierce gaze. It was enough to send shivers down my spine.

    ¡®Who the hell is this?!¡¯ My mind rang as I stared in silence.

    The people gathered in the room were equally quiet.

    Judging the fact that no guard was making an attempt to halt her movement, and no one wasining about her presence, I surmised that they all knew her¡­

    ¡­ And that she was someone important.

    ¡°WHAT¡¯S ALL THIS? STARTING A MEETING WITHOUT ME?!¡±

    ¡®I¡¯m pretty sure I invited the important figures. Some were absent, but¡­ it¡¯s not like it¡¯s our fault that anyone iste¡­¡¯

    Perhaps it was because of the current progress I had made with the king, but I was feeling quite confident.

    So confident to the point of forgetting something extremely important.

    ¡°Jared¡­¡± My father drew closer to me and brought his mouth close to my ear.

    He most likely wanted to fill me in on the rude woman¡¯s identity, so I made sure topletely listen.

    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s Serah Crimson¡­¡±

    ¡®Eh?¡¯ My eyes bulged in surprise.

    ¡°¡­ Grand Mage of the Eastern Kingdom!¡±

    My mind felt like exploding once my father¡¯s wordspletely registered.

    ¡°You mean¡­ she¡¯s¡­?!¡±

    The woman that Neron warned me about.

    The same person whom he said was stronger than him.

    That Serah Crimson?!

    I gulped and stiffened up instantly. The satisfaction that had built up thanks to everything going my way was beginning to dissipate.

    My well-earned confidence was nowhere to be found.

    ¡®Shit!¡¯

    As I stared at her with both shock and fear, her crimson eyes met mine.

    ¡®Eeek!¡¯ I shivered instantly.

    The heat within her pupils was enough to swallow me whole.

    It could have just been my imagination, or the presumption built in my mind by Neron¡¯s words, but¡­ I felt like a fierce beast had locked its gaze upon me.

    ¡°Who the hell is this kid?¡± She said with a slightly surprised tone.

    ¡®Nope! She¡¯s human, after all!¡¯

    Thankfully, her eyes didn¡¯t pay me much mind. I was simply an object of passing interest.

    ¡®Neron told me he spoke to her about me, so it¡¯s best if I keep a low profile and observe, at least for the time being¡­¡¯

    ¡°Ah, That¡¯s Jared Leonard. He was the proprietor of this meeting.¡±

    My face sharply turned to the King who said those words.

    ¡®Damn! Why did you¡ª?!¡¯

    >WHUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!<

    Before I couldplete my thought, an immense force surged through my body.

    The invisible energy pierced my body and nearly overwhelmed me.

    ¡®Mana Pressure?! Keuk!!!¡¯

    ¡°Jared Leonard, eh¡­?¡±

    It felt too powerful and overpowering to be simply that, but I knew it was a simple aura emitted by the woman.

    I instantly shrouded myself in powerful Mana and responded to her greeting with mine.

    The room felt extremely heavy, and I could tell that all her attention and power were focused on me.

    Sweat dripped from my face and I gulped, feeling nearly swept up by the immense tide that she brought forth.

    If only she hadn¡¯t caught me off-guard! No, even if she had¡­

    Could I really stop this woman?!

    As I sought an answer within myself, still maintaining my counter, I saw her lips curl up to form a smile.

    It felt like the grin of a devil.

    Her red-glossed lips seemed too malevolent to be natural.

    ¡®She¡¯s dangerous!¡¯

    The fact that no one was stopping her made things even worse for me.

    They were probably too powerless to do anything. Plus, I was the only one feeling her intimidating aura.

    It felt frustrating¡ªas if I was ying in the palm of someone. I gritted my teeth and gave the crazy woman a deep re.

    There was only so much I could tolerate.

    ¡®At this rate, I might have to¡­!¡¯

 Chapter 347 The Crimson Mage [Pt 1]

    ¡°That¡¯s enough Serah!¡± Someone shouted, rushing toward the dangerous woman.

    I was too upied to notice initially, but¡­ that person was my mother!

    With a swift motion, she locked her arms around Serah and went for her signature move.

    ¡®T-the Suplex?!¡¯

    ¡°Don¡¯t be mean to my sooooonnn!!!¡± Anabelle, forgetting she was in the King¡¯s presence, went for the kill.

    My eyes bulged as I watched the disy in slow motion.

    ¡®As much as I want to see this¡­ is it alright?!¡¯

    My eyes scoured the room, but no one seemed to be attempting to stop them.

    Even my father simply sighed and buried his face in his hand¨Cmost likely in embarrassment.

    Still, it made me realize that I was the only one getting so worked up on the matter.

    ¡®Is this¡­ normal?¡¯

    ¡°Hummmphhh!!!¡± Anabelle released a struggling sound as she attempted to lift the monster from the ground.

    However¡­

    ¡°Hahaha! I¡¯ve already told you, Ana! No matter how much you try it, that won¡¯t work on me!¡± The red-haired woman grinned with pleasure.

    She probably enjoyed watching my mother struggle as she tried lifting her up.

    ¡®N-no¡­ Mom¡¯s Suplex didn¡¯t work?!¡¯

    Now, I was even more frightened of the Serah Crimson woman.

    Just how scary was she?

    Well, the Mana Pressure from her was enough to tell me that she was in an entirely different league.

    ¡°Fine. Fine. I hear you! I¡¯ll stop it.¡± Serah grumbled and finally stopped assailing me with her immense aura.

    ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡± I let out a slightly heavy breath.

    It wasn¡¯t as though I was pushed to my limits, but¡­

    ¡®How do I put it, it was different¡­¡¯ I stared at the Grand Mage, Serah Crimson, with caution and slight curiosity.

    Once again, our gazes met.

    ¡°Looks like Neron wasn¡¯t lying about you. You¡¯re plenty impressive!¡± She gave a wide smirk.

    ¡°Um, thank you¡­¡±

    What exactly did that man tell her?!

    In any case, I made sure not to get carried away by the unfolding scene that I forgot whose presence we were in.

    The Royal Court!

    I needed to remainposed at all times. Fortunately, my interaction with Serah hadn¡¯t escted into something worse.

    If it had, my ns would have been at risk¡­ I think.

    ¡°Apologies for the unsightly disy, your Majesty.¡± I decided to take the initiative by speaking up.

    ¡°O-Oh¡­ um, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± King Albion Lestrome Indiavel murmured, as though all of his royal presence had vanished into thin air.

    Even merely eyeing the nobles, none of them were speaking.

    No murmur spread across them. I had a faint feeling of the cause, and my head naturally turned in the direction of our intruder.

    ¡®Is it¡­ because of her?!¡¯

    Serah Crimson¡¯s grin had turned into a slight scowl. Her mood seemed to permeate the entire hall.

    ¡°I believe I asked a question. Why wasn¡¯t I informed of this meeting?!¡±

    Even I felt shivers from the force of her tone. It was no wonder that everyone was extremely on edge because of her appearance.

    ¡®It¡¯s all my fault! I was the one who told my father to exclude her from the meeting!¡¯

    And that had been because of what Neron told me.

    Still, even if I hadn¡¯t rmended it, it seemed Damien Leonard was already not nning on letting here.

    In fact, judging from the guilty expressions of the noble and royals present, I presumed that none of them wanted her to be present.

    ¡°Hey, Puck!¡± Serah screamed, looking in the direction of one man among the people gathered.

    He was the Vice Head of the Imperial Forces, a man that looked stern and imposing based on appearance alone.

    Yet, he had quite a funny name¡­

    ¡°Miss. Serah, please¡­ call me by my actual name here¡­¡± The man¡¯s voice was squeaky andpletely thin.

    It was like the giant monolith of a man had crumbled to the form of a child.

    Before the imposing Serah Crimson, the Vice Head of the strongest force of the Kingdom was a cowering man.

    ¡°Shut it, Puck! Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this meeting?!¡±

    Puck shivered as she asked him. I could see the man¡¯s eyes dart everywhere, probably asking for assistance from everyone, anyone, who could bail him out.

    I spotted the King and other Nobles. They turned away, refusing to take any responsibility for any action.

    ¡®Is this actually okay?¡¯ My gaze went in the direction of my father.

    To my chagrin, even my usuallyposed father looked flustered. He nced at me and shook his head, signaling that I remained uninvolved with what was urring.

    Since he knew better, I decided to stick to his words.

    ¡°W-well, it was an emergency meeting, and¡­ well¡­ you were busy, and¡­ well¡­¡±

    With every word that ¡®Puck¡¯ spoke, Serah got a step closer to him.

    Sweat poured from the man¡¯s face, and the entourage he had with him slowly left him alone.

    Maria, who was one of the people by his side, had long left him and moved closer to the Head of Research¡¯s group.

    ¡°You useless prick of an assistant!¡± Serah burst out amid the protest of the man.

    ¡°Eeek!¡±

    I saw her raise her fist, about to m it into the shivering man.

    ¡®Okay, isn¡¯t this going too far?¡¯

    At this point, all attention would turn from Serah to me.

    It was something I would like to avoid. Not only because we were short on time, but also because it was of more merit if I made an indelible impression on everyone here.

    This woman was stealing my spotlight. I couldn¡¯t have that.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Miss. Serah Crimson.¡± My voice echoed through the hall.

    Even if she was stronger and had more of an imposing presence¡­ she had no manners.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious why you weren¡¯t invited?¡±

    I knew I was probably going to get on her bad side. At the very least, she would redirect that fist in my direction. However¡­

    ¡°You¡¯ve ruined the mood of this very important meeting. Because of your actions, not only has time been wasted, but the spirits of our Kingdom¡¯s finest have been disturbed.¡±

    ¡­ If this would allow me to score points with everyone, then it was worth it!

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

 Chapter 348 The Crimson Mage [Pt 2]

    ¡°What did you just say?¡± Serah said in a murderous tone, removing her attention from Puck.

    As relieved as I expected the man to be, thanks to the fact that his superior wasn¡¯t going to punish him, he contradicted it.

    His eyes contained extreme dissatisfaction, and I could tell that he wanted me to stop.

    ¡®Is he worried about me?¡¯

    ¡°Jared, what are you doing?¡± My father whispered, looking at me with wary eyes.

    Even my mom was mouthing the words ¡°No¡± to me.

    It would appear that my actions had more consequences than I initially thought.

    ¡°This guy¡­ just because Neron thinks highly of you doesn¡¯t give you the chance to run your mouth!¡± Her re was on me now.

    ¡®Did I make a mistake?¡¯

    Perhaps I should have just kept quiet. However, I hade this far already.

    Fortunately, many eyes were back on me. The goal was to divert attention to my person. Serah was disrupting that, which made her a nuisance¡­

    ¡­ An extremely powerful one at that.

    ¡°I apologize for sounding rude. I also apologize for the fact that you weren¡¯t invited to this meeting.¡± I switched to a formal tone and slightly bowed.

    There was no way I would continue being defiant after so many gs were being raised.

    ¡®Since I¡¯ve gotten everyone¡¯s attention, it¡¯s time to resolve things amicably.¡¯

    ¡°Oh? You apologize, uh?¡± Serah¡¯s re changed to a grin.

    She left the ¡®ipetent Puck¡¯ and began approaching me.

    Anabelle and Damien Leonard, my parents, both looked extremely nervous by this.

    The heavy atmosphere hadn¡¯t vanished¡ªconsidering the fact that Serah¡¯s dissatisfaction had lessened.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    Before I could answer that question, Serah was right in front of me, with my mother still trying to pull her by the waist.

    She was simply dragged around, having no strength to stop or raise the target. It made me feel slightly bad for my mother.

    ¡°Yes. Please ept my heartfelt apology.¡± I said, trying my hardest to maintain a confident look.

    For a moment, an ufortable silence pervaded the hall, and I could feel the worried nces of everyone.

    Even Maria looked at me with pity and sadness.

    ¡®Hold on, why is everyone like thi¡ª¡¯

    ¡°Fine. I ept your apology!¡± She said with a smile, cing her hand on my shoulder.

    Since she was taller than me, it seemed like a big sister patting me.

    I thought it wasn¡¯t too bad.

    ¡°T-then¡­¡±

    ¡°But, of course¡­ you¡¯ll have to take responsibility.¡±

    My relieved smile froze midway.

    ¡®Eh?¡¯ What did she mean by that?

    ¡°Argh!¡± I felt my shoulder being crunched by the Crimson haired woman¡¯s grip.

    Even with theyers of passive protection I had on my coat, she bypassed them like a hot knife through butter.

    ¡°Since you apologized for the sake of everyone, it¡¯s only right you take full responsibility, right?¡± Her grin widened.

    ¡®Shiiiit¡­.¡¯

    Now I understood why no one had apologized to her or tried exining. They were all silent as they watched in difort.

    Yet¡­ I just had to speak up and apologize.

    ¡®What did I just get myself into?!¡¯

    But¡­ it wasn¡¯t like I could turn back now. The image I was trying to project to the important people was far too important.

    ¡°What kind of responsibility?¡± I said with a strained smile.

    My shoulders hurt, but I ignored the pain. A bit of enhancement would have gotten rid of the problem, but I decided to wave it off as no big deal.

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯ve got guts too, uh?¡± Her sharp teeth were showing at this point.

    ¡°Miss. Serah, please¡ª¡±

    One look from her was enough to silence whatever petition my father wanted to make.

    My mother also tightened her hold on Serah, but it was of no use.

    The woman didn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°Mother. Father. It¡¯s fine. I would like to get this over with. Considering the fact that we¡¯re all pressed for time, it¡¯s best to resolve this as quickly as possible.¡±

    My ns had not included so many disruptions. So, the longer we remained here, the worse it got for me.

    My father, after understanding my intentions, backed off. He still looked very hesitant and worried, but since he had decided to put his trust in me, he decided not to interfere.

    Anabelle too was surprisingly receptive to my words. She released Serah and returned to my father¡¯s side, her head hung low.

    ¡®Is she sulking or something?¡¯

    ¡°Good. Good. I like your attitude, kid! Very well. There¡¯s only one way to take responsibility!¡±

    ¡®Why do I have a feeling that she¡¯ll tell me to fight her?¡¯

    That was how people like this woman usually thought.

    ¡®But, she¡¯s a Grand Mage, right? She shouldn¡¯t pull that card!¡¯

    Would that even be allowed by the King? Multiple thoughts rang through my head. In any case, I had to prepare for an eventual sh with this woman.

    Since she was stronger than Neron, I would need to utilize Anti-Magic at the beginning phase and overpower her with my strongest Grand Fusion.

    Elemental Chamber was also a necessity. I would also be needing Mage Mode.

    ¡®Maybe even Original¡­ no, I can¡¯t go that far!¡¯

    If I banned its use, then I would avoid using it. Besides, what if she used her Original Magic in retaliation? Would I even stand a chance?

    As these thoughts shed in my mind, Serah brought her second hand and dropped it on my shoulder.

    With both her hands on me, I felt a great amount of pressure falling upon me.

    It was different from Mana pressure. This was¡­ the power of her resolve.

    She drew closer to me, drawing her face to mine.

    I felt an overwhelming force close in on me. However, that wasn¡¯t all!

    ¡®Her breasts¡­ they¡¯re too close!¡¯

    Yes, they were already pressing on me, close within reach, yet far away.

    Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t have the luxury to stare or think of them for very long.

    Her face brushed by mine, and she drew closer to my ears.

    Apparently, the vivacious woman wanted to whisper words to me.

    ¡®I can feel her breath! And her scent is¡­!!!¡¯

    It was overwhelming.

    I felt like fainting as she was so close.

    Was it simply the overwhelming power she exuded, or was this just because of her presence?

    I couldn¡¯t tell.

    ¡®Brace yourself, Jared!!!¡¯

 Chapter 349 The Crimson Mage [Pt 3]

    ¡°It¡¯s simple¡­¡± Serah Crimson¡¯s words echoed in my ears, causing my whole body to tingle.

    I felt heat rising from my inner recesses¡­ and hers as well.

    It was like Resonance!

    Her hands pressed my shoulders even more, and herrge breasts crushed me.

    >THUMP<

    >THUMP<

    >THUMP<

    I was feeling my heart racing at an unprecedented rate, and my cheeks were so red that I could pass out.

    ¡®Are these¡­ my feelings?!¡¯

    No, this was¡­!!!

    RESONANCE!

    She was resonating with me? Even without my agreement?

    The current emotions I was experiencing weren¡¯t mine, but hers. It was unnatural and strange, but¡­ I didn¡¯t resent it.

    ¡®This woman¨C!!!¡¯

    ¡°¡­ To take full responsibility, you only need to do one thing.¡±

    Somehow, I felt like I already knew what she was going to say.

    My heart thumped at the possibility, and sweat covered my face. Could I handle something like that?

    Me?!

    ¡°¡­ Neron and I¡­ make us a couple!!!¡±

    Her voice was so loud, even though it was only a whisper.

    That was how much it resonated with me.

    ¡®That¡¯s right. This woman¡­ she¡¯s in love with Neron!¡¯

    She probably used Resonance to give me a feel of her emotions.

    I couldn¡¯t doubt it. I couldn¡¯t deny it.

    Now that I knew that her request came from sincerity, there was only one thought in my head.

    ¡®Why me?!¡¯

    I was young, inexperienced, andpletely oblivious about love and the likes¡­ right?

    Why would she do this? Though, I could probably guess the answer to that.

    ¡°Neron speaks very highly of you. I can tell that he trusts you very much. So¡­ you¡¯ll be able to help me out with him.¡±

    I gulped.

    ¡®That darn guy!¡¯

    He wrapped me in his mess!

    A crazy woman like this was in love with him. Yet, he didn¡¯t take full responsibility for anything.

    ¡°I won¡¯t take no for an answer. That¡¯s the responsibility you have to shoulder. So¡­ what do you say?¡±

    ¡®You already said I don¡¯t have a choice!¡¯ I nearly screamed at the woman.

    At this point, she retracted her head and now looked at me with a very peculiar expression. Even though she was supposed to look dangerous, her eyes were pleading for assistance.

    If I didn¡¯t know any better, I would have called her a damsel in distress.

    ¡®Maybe¡­ maybe she isn¡¯t so bad.¡¯ My mind trailed.

    ¡°Gah!¡± I suddenly felt sharp pains on both my shoulders.

    My bones definitely cracked.

    ¡°Answer!¡± She pressed on.

    ¡®Nope! She¡¯s definitely the worst.¡¯

    ¡°F-fine. I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll do it¡­¡±

    Even though Neron warned me about her, there was no way I could say no when she was right in front of me. Besides, he brought this upon himself.

    ¡°Perfect!¡± Serah grinned, then abruptly turned her face to the left.

    I followed her gaze and saw that she was staring at Maria for a brief moment.

    I saw Maria hiding her face, and then Serah nodding with another kind of grin.

    ¡°Since you readily epted, I¡¯ll throw in a bonus for you!¡± Serah smiled, returning her attention to me.

    ¡°A bonus?¡± My voice leaked out before I could control it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s something good!¡±

    Once she concluded her statement, the deadly woman patted my shoulders softly and then removed her hands¨Cfinally!

    ¡°Sorry for ruining the mood here. I was just a bit upset that a Demon attacked the Royal Capital Gates not very long ago¡­¡±

    ¡®Oh? The one I made? Is she on edge because of the people¡¯s safety? That¡¯s actually very nice¡­¡¯

    ¡°¡­ By the time I arrived at the scene, the thing was already destroyed! It was so frustrating! Just when I thought I could finally fight one too¡­ a Demon¡­¡±

    I took back my thoughts in a sh.

    Still, looking at the Grand Mage, Serah Crimson, she didn¡¯t seem that bad.

    Sure, she was a bit rough, but¡­ I didn¡¯t sense any malice from her at all. In fact, she reminded me of one of my closestrades back when I was alive.

    If it was with her, then¡­ I wouldn¡¯t mind Neron settling down.

    ¡°You can resume your discussion. Don¡¯t mind me.¡± Serah waved her hand, moving in the direction of the Imperial Forces.

    ¡°N-no, how can you say that, Miss. Serah.¡± King Albion finally spoke with a slightly flustered voice.

    ¡®About time¡­¡¯ I rolled my eyes, watching his strained smile.

    Apparently, I gave the Royals too much credit. Perhaps if I amassed enough power, there would also be no need for pce etiquettes and stuff.

    ¡°You¡¯re a respectable member of the council. After all, you¡¯re the Head of our Imperial Forces¡­ and also the next head of the Crimson Ducal Household.¡±

    ¡®¡­ Eh¡­?!¡¯

    My world was once again flung upside down.

    So, she was actually the ¡®Superior¡¯ that I wanted to meet for so long.

    Thankfully, that n hadn¡¯t bore fruit. If not¡­ I would have been in deeper trouble.

    ¡®So she was also a Crimson, eh? I kinda figured, but¡­¡¯

    To think she was the next head? That was crazy.

    I looked at the spot where the Crimsons stood. They had the same position as my parents, but their prestige was simply based on Magical affinity and military strength.

    The Crimsons were the most powerful Noble force in the Kingdom¨Cat least, when it came to raw power.

    ¡°Cheh! You should have thought of that before excluding me from the meeting.¡±

    Even though Serah still seemed to harbor some resentment for not being informed about our gathering, she waved it off and returned the mood of the Royal Court to its previous state¨Ceven if only a little.

    ¡®Well, at this rate¡­ we can continue the meeting.¡¯

    ¡°If I remember correctly, you were asking me for my rmendation of Envoys to take with me to the various Kingdoms.¡± I decided to take the lead on the matter.

    Once I spoke, the King and other Nobles nodded their heads.

    Even though Serah¡¯s interruption was unprecedented, and it took a great deal of time to resolve the issue she presented, it could have been a blessing in disguise.

    Based on their expressions, both the Royals and Nobles were exhausted.

    They were also powerless in the presence of Serah. If I yed my cards right, then¡­ all of them would be more willing to do everything I said.

    ¡®Perfect! Things are actually looking good now!¡¯

 Chapter 350 The Envoys [Pt 1]

    Chapter 350 The Envoys [Pt 1]

    ¡°For the Alliance, I would rmend that an Envoy of five should be sent. Excluding myself, we¡¯ll need four other people.¡± I recounted my words, bringing the council up to speed.

    As for the people I wanted to rmend, I was going to make sure it had to be them and no one else.

    ¡®They won¡¯t be able to refuse me, anyway¡­¡¯ I grinned.

    From the scene I had seen earlier, it was clear that these people were on edge.

    They were outmatched by my intelligence and Serah¡¯s brawn.

    Using this chance, it was best to reap the best rewards from this expedition.

    ¡°For the four others, my rmendations are thus; Fabian Lestrome. A trusted personnel that can serve as his regent¡ªsomeone of his rmendation. A highly esteemed member of the Research Department. And¡­ a Grand Mage.¡±

    Gasps could be heard from everyone around me. I was asking for a hefty sum, but¡­ I wasn¡¯t done yet!

    My eyes darted in Serah¡¯s direction, and she looked at me with a bit of surprise and curiosity.

    ¡°I would personally like to have Serah Crimsone with us as an Envoy!¡±

    This time, silence pervaded the hall.

    ¡°What?¡± I heard her voice.

    The woman was surprised that I mentioned her, of all people.

    ¡°Why would you want me to go for a boring-ass Alliance journey?¡± She asked.

    True, someone with Serah¡¯s personality wasn¡¯t good at diplomacy. It would bore her out, and it also wouldn¡¯t bode well for the Eastern Kingdom if someone without etiquette was chosen as our representative.

    However¡­ that was only on the surface level.

    ¡®No one is more important among those four than her!¡¯

    Even if I had to negotiate my teeth out¡­ I wanted to have her with me.

    ¡°Miss. Serah¡­ you told me to take responsibility, right? That¡¯s what I¡¯m trying to do.¡± I smiled at the woman, giving her a wink.

    Her eyes glimmered in response.

    ¡°Besides¡­ our journey will be anything but boring. Miss. Serah, I promise you this¡­ you are going to have fun!¡±

    From what I had observed, her personality was simr to a certain someone I knew. If that was the case, then, rather than wasting away in the Kingdom, it was best she came with me.

    ¡°Is that a promise?¡± She said with widened eyes.

    ¡®Looks like I have her on board.¡¯

    ¡°Yes!¡± I dered.

    ¡°Very well. I agree!¡±

    Once she said that, I looked at the King.

    As expected, his expression was enough to tell me how powerless he was in the presence of the domineering figure of Serah.

    ¡®If I can have her as my backer, then everything should go on smoothly.¡¯

    ¡°Excuse me for interrupting, but¡­ will it really be alright to take one of our Grand Mages from the Eastern Kingdom?¡±

    I slightly flinched at those words.

    My eyes slowly went to the one who had spoken. He moved from his corner and walked close to the king.

    ¡°A Demon recently attacked the Capital. Who knows how the enemy will move yet? Is it really expedient to take one of our greatest firepowers at such a critical time?¡±

    The man was none other than the second Grand Mage of the Kingdom.

    As much as I wanted to deny it, his point was valid¡ªat least, with the evidence they had.

    I couldn¡¯t very much tell everyone that I was the one behind the Demon assault on the Capital.

    Currently, only two Grand Mages were active in the Eastern Kingdom. No one had an idea where thest one was.

    Therefore, it was expedient to reserve the remaining two for the Kingdom¡¯s use!

    ¡®As much as I like that opinion, I can¡¯t agree with it!¡¯

    That meant I had no choice but to give a rebuttal. It was getting annoying, but we would need to drag the matter once more.

    ¡°Zip it, Elrich! I¡¯m going! Have a problem with that?¡± Serah¡¯s voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

    Instantly, even the hooded Grand Mage¡ªElrich¡ªflinched.

    I watched him cower and shake his head.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think so.¡± Serah smiled.

    Like a wounded dog, the man returned to his corner.

    ¡®Amazing! She beat logic with her words alone¡­ damn!¡¯

    I was beginning to grasp the true nature of society more and more.

    As long as one had unstoppable power, they could do anything.

    Or was it just because of the kind of person Serah was?

    Not only was she of high Nobility, but she was also the head of the Imperial Forces, and then she was a Grand Mage herself.

    The Court Magician just couldn¡¯tpete with her unbridled authority.

    ¡®I¡¯m so happy I¡¯m not on her bad side!¡¯ My mind rang in relief.

    It would have sucked if I made an enemy out of such an invincible figure.

    ¡°Then¡­ may I ask a question?¡± The King, now as mellow as could be, spoke to me.

    His voice was calm and unimposing.

    ¡°Yes, your Majesty.¡± I smiled.

    ¡°I can understand why you would want a Royal, a close retainer, a Head Researcher, and even a Grand Mage, but¡­ why did you specifically choose the ones you did?¡±

    I expected this.

    ¡°For the selection of the Royal, it¡¯s simply because I have had prior interaction with the Prince, Fabian. Since we attended the same Academy, he is the most familiar to me.¡±

    I further exined how it would be easier to cooperate since we had worked together in the past.

    Of course, that was all bullshit.

    I knew Fabian didn¡¯t like me at all. But, there was a deeper reason for choosing him.

    As for a loyal guardian for him, I was certain who Fabian would choose.

    ¡®Damien Lawcroft¡­ perfect!¡¯

    I made no specific mention of who I wanted for a Head of Research since any capable person would do, but¡­ my selection of Serah was based solely on preference.

    ¡®I don¡¯t exactly need a Grand Mage, but¡­ I want her toe with me.¡¯

    The whole Grand Mage stuff was simply an excuse.

    Since I couldn¡¯t tell that to the King, I made up a flimsy reason.

    ¡°She has the presence required to convince some of our potential allies.¡±

    I wasn¡¯tpletely lying, though. Serah woulde in very handy when handling the Beastfolk.

    Once I gave a satisfactory response, the King nodded.

    ¡°So, does my son, Fabian, agree to this?¡± He looked at the Prince.

    My smile increased.

    ¡®Come on, Fabian. Let¡¯s hear what you have to say.¡¯

 Chapter 351 The Envoys [Pt 2]

    Chapter 351 The Envoys [Pt 2]

    Fabian Lestrome Indiavel was surprised¡ªno, conflicted.

    ¡®Why would he choose me?¡¯

    His eyes narrowed as he stared at Jared with suspicion.

    Was this yet another trap? Was this a ploy to take him away from the Royal Capital? To make sure he didn¡¯t achieve anything worthwhile?

    ¡®There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll ept!¡¯ Fabian clenched his teeth.

    However¡­

    ~Fabian, ept his proposal!~

    ¡­ A mental message sharply entered the prince¡¯s head.

    Instantly, Fabian recognized the voice and turned in the direction of the speaker.

    It was Damien Lawcroft!

    ¡®Why¡­? Why would he want me to do that?¡¯

    ~Don¡¯t be so shortsighted! This mission couldn¡¯t be more perfect for you!~ The transmission came again.

    Fabian struggled to understand, but he was stuck.

    ~By being the Royal who unified the Races in an Alliance, wouldn¡¯t your reputation skyrocket? Based on your performance, your position will solidify and you¡¯ll gain immense support, not only in the Eastern Kingdom, but also among the other nations!~

    Fabian¡¯s eyes widened at the logic he never saw. Because of his apprehension of Jared, he had been blinded from seeing the merits of his suggestion.

    ~Now is the chance to gain more supporters and experience. It¡¯s a foolproof n, so the Alliance strategy will most likely seed. You¡¯re at no risk!~

    Fabian had to agree with Damien¡¯s words, but¡­ he still couldn¡¯t shake off the bad feeling that crept up on him.

    ¡®B-but, Jared surely has an ulterior motive for rmending me, right? There¡¯s no way he just said it because we attended Ainrk!¡¯

    As he thought this, Fabian saw Damien smile from where he stood.

    ~Of course! But, don¡¯t worry¡­ if you choose me as your trusted personnel, then you¡¯ll bepletely fine. Everything will work out perfectly!~

    Fabian¡¯s heart was set at ease the moment he heard these words in his head.

    Truly, he had been so foolish. If it hadn¡¯t been for Damien¡¯s guidance just now, he would have missed his golden opportunity to once again outdo his siblings.

    Which was why, when he was asked by his father¡­

    ¡°So, does my son, Fabian, agree to this?¡±

    ¡­ Fabian didn¡¯t hesitate to respond.

    ¡°Yes, your Majesty. I wholeheartedly ept!¡±

    Even though Jared¡¯s pleased expression annoyed him to no end, Fabian controlled his reaction and simply smiled.

    ¡®Just you wait, Jared! I¡¯ll reap all the befits from this expedition!¡¯

    ***********************

    ¡®I have to know what he¡¯s up to!¡¯ Damien Lawcroft thought to himself as he stared at Jared.

    That was the whole reason why he would tell Fabian to take him along as they left the Empire.

    Even though his mission involved staying in the King¡¯s Court, and at the Capital, Jared had already injured most of his ns.

    To make sure he could restrategize and make countermeasures for whatever Jared was plotting, he needed to have ess to the mission itself.

    ¡®I have agents in the Capital, so they can inform me on whatever happens here while I¡¯m away¡­¡¯ Damien thought to himself.

    Besides, if it was a case of emergency, he could simply use ¡®that¡¯ to return.

    In any case, the most prudent course of action was to tail Jared and see what he was up to.

    ¡®I should also contact them¡­ just in case!¡¯ Damien thought, ring at his former ward with a subtle dissatisfied expression.

    ¡®Things won¡¯t go your way this time!¡¯

    ***************************

    I fought internally to contain a snicker.

    Of course, he would agree.

    ¡°Very well. Since Fabian has no objection, all that remains is for him to choose his Trusted Personnel, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°I choose Damien Lawcroft¡± The prince stated with full conviction.

    As expected.

    ¡°Does Damien Lawcroft agree to this?¡± His Majesty asked.

    ¡°Of course, your Majesty. I will do my utmost to ensure the prince¡¯s safety and best performance.¡± The man in question stated boldly.

    I smiled at him¡ªno, at the whole exchange¡ªand nodded with satisfaction.

    ¡°All that is left is to select a Head Representative from the Research Team¡­ correct?¡± King Albion said, looking in the direction of the schrly people in our midst.

    The Research Team had sent some people to represent them, but their head wasn¡¯t present.

    ¡°We will need some time to discuss it with our Superior before a decision can be made.¡± The man who appeared to lead everyone¡ªmost likely the deputy¡ªresponded with a bow.

    I understood the need for hierarchy, but we didn¡¯t have all the time in the world.

    Fortunately, the King read my mind and spoke up.

    ¡°Make it quick. The team will leave at the first sign of dawn. Make sure your Representative is ready by then.¡±

    They bowed once he gave his words.

    ¡°Since that¡¯s all, then¡ª¡±

    ¡°Excuse me, your Majesty¡­ but can I make an addition?¡± Another interruption surged forth.

    Normally, everyone would snap at the person, but¡­ it was Serah Crimson who spoke.

    The King and Nobles had no choice but to zip it and listen to her.

    ¡°I wish to bring one of my trusted personnel with me. I believe it would be a good education journey for her. Would that be allowed?¡±

    She had a fair point.

    Having a few Personnel follow us would indeed be to the advantage of the Eastern Kingdom.

    The people would properly understand how small they were in a vast ocean of stronger beings.

    Cultures. Technologies. Resources.

    The world was very vast, and exposing our citizens to what it had to offer wasn¡¯t a bad idea.

    However, that could wait until after the Alliance had been formed.

    Once we had secured our joint participation, deals concerning excursions and international trips could be implemented.

    For now, a small elite force was all that we needed.

    But, since it was Serah speaking, I couldn¡¯t very much object.

    Besides, I was a bit curious about who she wanted to rmend.

    ¡°O¡ªof course. Who would you be rmending?¡± King Albion, as expected, shamelessly agreed.

    I couldn¡¯t me him, though.

    I noticed that Serah was grinning at me, hiding a mischievous look in her eyes. I unconsciously gulped upon the realization.

    ¡°My rmendation is Maria Helmsworth, apprentice of the Imperial Forces.¡±

 Chapter 352 Conclusion Of Matters

    Chapter 352 Conclusion Of Matters

    ¡®Maria Helmsworth¡­?!¡¯

    I nced in the direction of the girl in question.

    She stood behind Serah, among the few representatives of the Imperial Forces. Her expression had been hard to read, as usual, and she seemed to have been staring nkly into space.

    However, once Serah rmended her, even the usual cold and stoic girl gave a surprised look.

    Her pretty eyes bulged and her wless lips parted, looking at her Superior who rmended her with utter shock.

    I watched as Serah nced at the innocently surprised girl and winked at her.

    Then, they both stared at me.

    ¡®Hold on¡­ what¡¯s going on here?¡¯

    I had a bad feeling swelling from the pit of my stomach, but quickly subdued it

    ¡®Serah, what are you up to?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t like I didn¡¯t have a fair idea, but, why was she doing it? For what reason? It didn¡¯t seem like Maria put her up to it either.

    No, in the first ce, the Helmsworth girl wasn¡¯t that kind of person.

    ¡®Haa, there¡¯s no point in overthinking things¡­¡¯

    If I lost myposure here, everything would just go down the drain.

    Even though Maria¡¯s addition was unprecedented, I simply had topromise.

    ¡®To make it a perfect equation, I¡¯ll need to add one more person, then¡­¡¯

    Looking around the hall, my eyes spotted one person that would fit the job perfectly.

    ¡°Your Majesty, may I also make another rmendation? If you add both mine and Miss. Serah¡¯s suggestions, we¡¯ll have seven members. That isn¡¯t a bad number.¡± I said with a slight bow.

    The King appeared surprised that I too was changing my initial stance, but he didn¡¯t seem to intend on refusing me either.

    ¡°Alright, Jared Leonard. Let us hear you out.¡±

    ¡°Yes, your Majesty. I would like to rmend Ivan Smith, Apprentice of the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s West Border¡¯s Fort.¡±

    ¡°Ehh?!¡± A loud noise emanated from behind me.

    The boy I had just called out made a surprised yelp, and then quickly covered his lips once he realized the error of his ways.

    ¡°Oh? Is there any specific reason for that?¡± The King asked me.

    ¡°I witnessed his battle with a Demon Beast. The young man¡¯s growth and talent are simply too good to be wasted as an apprentice on the Western Border. I wish for him to see a wider world and improve himself.¡±

    In the future, we would have many like Ivan and Maria¡ªthose who explored the world to see just howrge and diverse it truly was.

    ¡°I see. Very well¡­¡± Fortunately, the King readily agreed.

    ¡°¡­ Maria Helmsworth and Ivan Smith. You will be participating as Envoys of the Eastern Kingdom. Do you have any objections?¡±

    ¡°N-none at all, your Majesty!¡± Ivan spoke first, shouting more than necessary.

    The way he stiffly bowed caused me tough a bit.

    ¡°As you wish, your Majesty.¡± Maria gave a light bow and spoke in a calm, collected tone.

    Looking at her now, it seemed like the surprised expression she had before was only an illusion.

    As always, the girl gave a perfectly wless performance.

    ¡°Looks like the only thing we have to wait for is the decision of the Research Department.¡± King Albion stated, and then looked at me for confirmation.

    I nodded in response.

    ¡®The Alliance is what I¡¯m after. Everything else can be handled domestically, without my interference.¡¯

    Since my father, and other capable persons, were in the Kingdom, I expected some progress and a good battle strategy from them.

    So, while I would spearhead the Alliance, each Kingdom would have control over its affairs¡ªat least to an extent.

    Ultimately, everything would sort itself out.

    ¡°Very well. Then¡­ this meeting is hereby concluded!¡±

    ***********************

    As expected, the King requested my audience after the meeting.

    The reason was due to what I wrote in my letter¡­ about my intentions to speak with him on a sensitive matter.

    As we conversed, I made three pertinent issues known to him.

    One was the existence of spies within the Eastern Kingdom.

    There were likely to be quite a few among the Noble Households, and even within the Royal Court.

    Of course, I had my suspicions and candidates, but it wasn¡¯t exactly prudent to move conspicuously at this point.

    The best I could do was tell Albion Lestrome to be more careful when handling information.

    His Court Magician, one of the Grand Mages of the Eastern Kingdom, seemed like a reliable and smart person.

    So, I told the King to personally discuss the issue of spies with the man. Hopefully, he would find a more intelligent way to handle the problem.

    The second matter was the oue of the Demon War.

    I predicted that their next strike would ovep with the time I was in the Elf Kingdom.

    As a result, the Kingdom was on its own.

    I wasn¡¯tpletely worried, though.

    Since I got enough information from Kahn concerning the current position of the Demon Realm¡¯s hierarchy, I could predict their next move.

    If I was correct, then Zenkiel, the new Vert, would be in charge of the Demon Army.

    I once fought against an Army led by his Superior at the time, so none of their tactics were new to me.

    At the moment, I was working on some things on my end, but it would still take some time for everything to fall into ce.

    Before that happened, though¡­ I had no intentions of causing the Eastern Kingdom to fall behind.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be lending you some tools for this battle. I¡¯ll also tell you a few things to watch out for. That way, it¡¯ll minimize casualties.¡±

    The King could only listen to my words at this point. Even if he had questions, it wasn¡¯t my intention to answer any of them.

    We were pressed for time, after all.

    The third and final subject of discussion was¡ªof course¡ªmy reward for the services I had rendered.

    I didn¡¯t n on settling for anything just yet, but¡­ it was best to let the King know that I wasn¡¯t going so far for nothing.

    He understood my stance, and also told me that he would reward me based on my aplishments.

    ¡®Pfft.¡¯ I nearlyughed.

    If I was to calcte it¡­ the entire Eastern Kingdom wouldn¡¯t be enough to pay for everything I intended on doing.

    Still, I nned on giving them a good discount.

    ¡®Once I¡¯m done¡­ I wonder what he¡¯ll offer me in exchange.¡¯

    That would indeed be a fun sight to see.

 Chapter 353 Meeting Before Dawn

    Chapter 353 Meeting Before Dawn

    After leaving the presence of his Majesty, I found myself in the Pce courtyard.

    The breeze of early morning tingled my nostrils, and I felt the cool embrace of the vanishing darkness.

    In a few hours, it would be dawn.

    Then¡­ the real challenge would begin!

    As I enjoyed the fresh night breeze, I felt the subtle presence of someone approaching me.

    ¡°I figured you¡¯de to see me.¡± I smiled, looking behind me.

    Still wearing his cloak and multitude of Magic Items, was one of the most important figures of the Eastern Kingdom.

    ¡°Well, I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised that you expected even this.¡± He smiled.

    ¡°Well¡­ you are a Grand Mage, after all. Since you¡¯re the closest to His Majesty, I expect that you¡¯d have some concerns about me¡­ and my n.¡± I smiled.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m d you understand.¡± The man, Elrich Lendertwale spoke in a polite manner.

    I knew very little about him, but¡­ I was certain about one thing.

    ¡®He¡¯s not my enemy.¡¯

    And so, I greeted him with a warm smile.

    He finally pulled down his hood, revealing the face he had hidden underneath.

    My eyes widened in mild surprise.

    ¡°I don¡¯t usually do this when I meet people, but¡­ I¡¯ll consider you an exception.¡± A young man stood before me, speaking with a bright smile.

    He looked twenty¨Cno, even younger!

    ording to what I had heard about him, he was older than the current King of the Eastern Kingdom.

    How was it possible that he looked younger? The answer was quite obvious, though.

    ¡°You used Magic to keep your Youth?¡± I said to him in a mildly curious tone.

    His cloak was enchanted with Magic that prevented recognition. That was why many people didn¡¯t know what he looked like. I could have peered beyond the blocking Magic, but I decided not to.

    That would have brought unwarranted trouble.

    Still, who would have thought he would show his face to me?

    The man¡¯s white hair was the only thing that told me of his age.

    The rest of his pale, perfect skin, didn¡¯t show me any sign of such. He had a mole under his right eye, and was adorned with some facial jewels¡­ like a couple of earrings and even an eyebrow ring.

    They were all enchanted with Magic.

    Elrich Lendertwale looked more like an overdressed big brother, rather than a powerful Grand Mage.

    ¡°Jared Leonard, I have to discuss some things with you¡­ if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Of course, I wasn¡¯t going to refuse.

    I had some business with him too.

    Looking at the time, it would be more than enough for both of us to conclude what we wanted.

    ***************************

    After a little over an hour, Elrich finally left.

    Before going, though, he whispered something and gave me a meaningful look.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯m not the only one who has business with you.¡±

    His mischievous smile made me grin a bit as well.

    I had also noticed the presence of someone else. I thought they would leave after seeing that I was conversing with a Grand Mage, but that person remained till Elrich was about to leave.

    ¡®Why¡­?¡¯

    I probably knew the answer to that.

    Elrich Lendertwale bade me farewell and vanished from sight.

    The moment he disappeared, I looked in the direction of the corner where my other visitor was standing.

    ¡°You cane out now. I know you¡¯ve been waiting there.¡±

    The person flinched as I spoke, moving slowly to reveal herself.

    ¡®As expected, it¡¯s you¡­¡¯

    Once she made her full appearance, I was once again at a loss for words.

    ¡®¡­ Maria Helmsworth.¡¯

    Her pretty eyes and captivating body handy diminished since thest time we spoke. No, it seemed she had gotten even more attractive.

    If there was a difference between then and now, it would be the change in height; her body¡¯s structure had also morphed to a more mature look.

    The once-innocent and child-like look in her eyes had transformed as well. Now, she donned a more ferocious look.

    ¡®You¡¯ve grown, Maria¡­¡¯ I smiled, approaching her where she stood.

    From what I could sense, her Mana Core was already at the Gold Core Grade.

    How amazing was that? In simply three years, she had reached this far!

    Ana was still in the Silver Core Grade, but I understood why.

    Unlike Maria, who was mostly focused on her growth as a Mage, Ana was mainly a Schr.

    She spent a great deal of time in research and experiments, rather than actively practicing with her Mana.

    Ana had invented quite a few things as well. Plus, with the new project I left in her care, as well as the books I entrusted to her¡­ Ana was too busy to develop properly as a full-time Mage.

    In a way, reaching Silver Core Grade was already plenty impressive for her.

    Still, that didn¡¯t diminish Maria¡¯s current growth.

    ¡®Gold, uh? Just how hard did you work to achieve this?¡¯ My thoughts trailed as I finally reached her.

    The moment I was just inches from her, I stopped.

    Moving any closer would probably be ufortable for both of us.

    ¡°You were waiting for quite some time, Maria. What¡¯s the matter?¡±

    Her face, stoic and calm, didn¡¯t flinch at my question.

    ¡°I wanted to¡­ talk about the Envoy issue.¡± Her speech faltered a bit.

    It was as though she wanted to say something else, but changed her mind mid-sentence.

    ¡°You¡¯ll being with us, right? It¡¯s in a few hours. Shouldn¡¯t you be resting as much as possible?¡±

    My question seemed to have been the wrong one since Maria¡¯s eyes darkened once I finished speaking.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her tone was firm.

    ¡®O-okay¡­¡¯

    I mean, she was a Gold Core Grade Mage. I was well aware that her capabilities were well-honed, but¡­mon sense still demanded that one should rest before something so tasking.

    Well, I wasn¡¯t one toin, considering the fact that I was guilty of the same offense.

    ¡°So, what would you like to talk about?¡± I asked, staring into her icy-blue eyes.

    Compared to the brightness in Ana¡¯s iris, Maria¡¯s looked a bit darker¡­ more mature.

    Still, I sensed hesitation in her gaze. And so, I waited for her delicate lips to open, and for her smooth voice to be heard.

    ¡°Do you actually¡­ want me toe with you¡­?¡±

 Chapter 354 Marias Soliloquy

    ¡°Do you actually¡­ want me toe with you¡­?¡±

    Maria¡¯s words hit me like a sledgehammer. Well, I expected something simr, but why was she asking such a direct question?

    Her personality probably made it difficult to be more roundabout with her words.

    And so, she waited for my answer with a calm look.

    ¡®Whether shees or not probably depends on my response.¡¯

    ¡°Why are you asking? It¡¯s not like anything will change depending on my answer.¡± I spoke, coyly avoiding any direct response to her question.

    Even if I didn¡¯t want her to go with us, Serah¡¯s words were absolute.

    ¡°If it would inconvenience you, or the mission, in any way, then¡­ I¡¯ll make a petition to drop out. So, please, be honest with me¡­¡±

    Once again, her earnestness caused my heart to squeeze.

    ¡°¡­ Am I disturbing you?¡±

    The fact that she unflinchingly stared at me with her eyes was something that unnerved me a little.

    ¡®This girl¡­ doesn¡¯t she get embarrassed or flustered?!¡¯

    Even Ana wasn¡¯t this direct in our conversations! Even if she was, we were already pretty close, so I wouldn¡¯t consider it strange.

    But, Maria was almost a stranger to me.

    It was difficult talking to her when she was this forward about everything.

    Still, since she asked for the truth with such a steadfast personality, it was my duty to give it to return the favor.

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be honest with you¡­¡± I said, making sure I maintained eye contact.

    ¡®Two can y this game!¡¯

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want anyone else except the five I initially mentioned. It wasn¡¯t that I don¡¯t want you per se, but¡­ I deemed anyone more than the initial five suggestions to be pointless additions.¡±

    Once I said this, the look in her eyes darkened even more.

    It was only subtle, but I could tell that her mood had changed.

    ¡°I see. Then¡­ it¡¯s best not trouble you and¡ª¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t finished,¡± I said, interrupting her obviously downcast voice.

    Her face was currently turned away from me, most likely to avoid any embarrassing disy, but¡­ now was the time to strike!

    ¡°That was my initial position. After Serah mentioned you, I probably still felt the same way¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡ªI see¡­¡± Her voice seemed even weaker.

    ¡°But, with you before me now¡­ that position has changed somewhat.¡±

    Once I said this, she sharply looked in my direction.

    Both surprise and slight satisfaction were now disyed in her eyes.

    No matter how one tried to hide their emotions, their eyes couldn¡¯tpletely fool another person.

    Eyes were a window to the soul, after all.

    ¡°You¡¯ve grown, Maria. I didn¡¯t realize it before since I was busy, but now¡­?¡±

    I smiled, cing my hand on her shoulder. Since I was taller, it was an effortless action.

    Standing opposite each other in the dark courtyard, I felt the tense atmosphere lift.

    ¡°¡­ I want you toe with us. After all, I¡¯m interested in you now.¡±

    ¡®How much you¡¯ve grown. How powerful you¡¯ve be. What your training regiment is like. How being in the Imperial Forces has helped you.¡¯

    So many questions ran through my mind.

    Rather than simply asking, it would be nice to have her by my side to see for myself.

    ¡°I¡­ I see¡­¡± Her voice faltered even more and, once again, she looked away from me.

    ¡®Haha! So you indeed get flustered, don¡¯t you?¡¯ I mused.

    ¡°Is that all you wanted to ask?¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­¡± She murmured, and then¡­ her eyes darted to my hand which was still on her shoulder.

    ¡°O¡ªoh, sorry about that!¡± I stuttered, quickly withdrawing my hand.

    For a moment, I saw her eyes waver once I stepped away. Was it relief¡­ or disappointment?

    Either way, it was all over in a sh.

    ¡°I should go now. Like you said¡­ I should rest.¡±  Maria said, stepping back from me.

    ¡®But you said you were fine¡­¡¯ My mind trailed as I stared at her.

    To be honest, it would be nice if we could converse a bit more.

    I was curious about how she had been. Plus, I also wanted to ask about Stefan, and other Ainrk adventures while we were at it.

    But, before I could even raise any topic, the girl was already a far distance from me.

    ¡°Well, I suppose we¡¯ll meet soon,¡± I murmured, looking at her as she left.

    There wasn¡¯t much to do at the moment, but¡­ it was never toote to get busy with more training, right?

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH!!!<

    In a spark of lightning and a surge of energy, I vanished from the courtyard.

    ************************

    >THUMP<

    >THUMP<

    >THUMP<

    Maria Helmsworth¡¯s heart raced with every step she took.

    Her pale face was now flushed with bright pink as she walked away.

    It would seem as though her eyes were teary, but¡­ it was simply because of the overwhelming emotion that assailed her.

    ¡®Why am I so¡­!!!¡¯ She screamed internally.

    Being a prim and properdy was something Maria had always disyed.

    Never had she let any person see an unsightly aspect of her.

    Despite being young, her family¡ªone of the Ducal Households¡ªmade sure she was perfect in any way.

    That was partially the reason behind her usually calm and cold demeanor.

    However, everything nearly came crashing down on one fateful day.

    The day of the Ainrk Entrance Exams!

    It was the first time she had met Jared Leonard.

    Initially, it was just a passing recognition.

    ¡®He¡¯s handsome. He has a good physique. He¡¯s also articte and carries himself withposure.¡¯

    Observing her surroundings and those around her was one of the things she did to keep herself busy.

    Still, she hadn¡¯t felt like anything about him stood out.

    Then, when his argument with Stefan reached a crescendo¡­ the boy made the most shocking move.

    He approached her¡ªdrew close to her face¡ªand asked her the most absurd question.

    ¡°Am I disturbing you?¡±

    That was the first question that started everything.

    The boy was brazen enough to approach her so directly.

    While he might not have known of her status, wasn¡¯t it already clear to many people that she was someone special? Besides, there was no way he hadn¡¯t seen her Magic performance!

    Even when she didn¡¯t add those into consideration, her attractive appearance was enough to make men fall for her.

    So, why¡­?!

    How could he have been so straightforward with her?

    It wasn¡¯t untilter that Maria realized just what kind of person Jared Leonard was.

    It turned out that the special one among the two of them wasn¡¯t her¡­ but him.

 Chapter 355 Departure From The Kingdom [Pt 1]

    And so, as time progressed, the question Jared had asked her slowly turned the other way around.

    Maria began to feel it¡­ her inadequacy.

    ¡°Am I disturbing him?¡±

    That question kept bothering her.

    So many things had happened, and now¡­ she had, for the first time, asked him to his face.

    In all honesty, she expected her heart to be shattered.

    Even though she had trained very hard, Jared surprised her in the Royal Court. It was clear that he had reached another height that she couldn¡¯tprehend.

    Would someone like him really not find her bothersome?

    However, upon hearing his unexpected answer¡­ Maria was shocked, to say the least.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m interested in you¡­¡±

    Maria¡¯s cheeks reddened even more.

    ¡®How does he not get embarrassed? He really said that with a straight face!¡¯

    She couldn¡¯t deny that those words made her happy, though.

    Even if she hadn¡¯t quite measured up to his abilities, she knew that her abilities had vastly improved from the time when they were together at Ainrk.

    It had been 3 whole Years. A lot had changed now.

    For one, the girl who was always with him was nowhere to be found.

    That¡¯s right¡­ Ana was currently absent!

    This was Maria¡¯s perfect opportunity.

    ¡°I¡¯ll show you, Jared¡­¡± A whisper escaped her lips.

    Of all the men she had ever met, this was the only guy who got her so hung up on him.

    Until she proved herself and answered that question with her abilities, Maria surmised that she wouldn¡¯t be able to rest.

    ¡°I¡¯ll prove that I can be useful to him too! T-then¡­ after that¡­ will he finally¡­¡±

    A distant thought appeared in her head as she touched the shoulder on which Jared had ced his hand.

    The moment the image appeared, Maria shook off the perverted idea that popped up alongside it.

    ¡®It¡¯s too soon! Too soon!¡¯

    She wasn¡¯t even an adult yet¡­ how could Jared intend on marriage at this point?

    ¡®In a year¡¯s time, maybe¡­¡¯

    That meant she had only a year to prove that she wasn¡¯t being a bother!

    ¡®Alright! I can do this!¡¯

    Jared already said he was interested, right? That was the first step.

    Hopefully, their time together would give Maria lots of opportunities to prove to him, and herself, that she was capable enough.

    ¡®I can do this¡­¡¯

    With that repetitive thought echoing in her mind, Maria Helmsworth returned to her quarters.

    Rest was important, after all.

    ****************************

    ¡°Looks like everyone is here! Am Ite? Sorry. Hahaha! I had to take care of so many things. Forgive me, hahahahaha!¡±

    The current person speaking was none other than the representative of the Research Department.

    Well, calling him a representative was an understatement.

    ¡°Hi! My name is Bradford Levyfield. I¡¯m the current Head of the Research Department! Please take good care of me!¡±

    That¡¯s right.

    The current middle-aged, shabbily-bearded man was none other than the overall Head Of Research in the Eastern Kingdom.

    His bright personality and overly energetic exuberance made me cringe for some reason.

    At the moment, almost every member of the Envoy was gathered. We were currently at the lounge area of the Capital¡¯s Main Gate.

    It was an interior area made to house important individuals before they entered the city.

    Everyrge settlement needed to have one of these ces.

    In case the important person¡¯s visit was sudden, or it was a suspicious person, there had to be a secure ce used to keep them temporarily.

    We had been waiting here for ourst two members when our neer, Bradford Levyfield showed up.

    The man who introduced himself to all of us seemed friendly and harmless, yet why was I feeling so ufortable?

    I nced around to see the expressions of everyone else.

    I could tell that they all¡ªwith the exception of Maria, thanks to her lull face¡ªfelt the same way I did.

    Apparently, this man, Bradford Levyfield, waste because he had to delegate tasks to his subordinates so that he coulde with us.

    Was he hoping for a vacation, or¡­?

    ¡°Man, I can¡¯t wait! When I heard that we would be exploring strangends, seeing more things beyond the Kingdom, I realized that I had to go! The King readily agreed, so I¡¯m so happy right now!¡±

    The more I heard of King Albion, the more I was beginning to see him as a pushover.

    ¡®He probably didn¡¯t want to deal with this guy for very long, so the King just approved.¡¯

    Since his presence of absence wouldn¡¯t exactly affect the n, I had to ept things as they were.

    ¡°d to have you on board, Bradford Levyfield. My name is Jared Leonard, pleased to make your acquaintance.¡± I suppressed mg dissatisfaction and stretched out my hand.

    >VWOOSH!<

    In a sh, he lunged out both of his and shook mine violently.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re the great Jared Leonard, eh? You look much younger than I expected! So you¡¯ll be our team leader, right? I look forward to working with you!¡± The man kept yammering on.

    ¡®Well, he¡¯s wrong about one thing¡­¡¯

    ¡°Ahem!¡± An obvious excuse for a cough rang out.

    ¡°Oh? What is it, Fabian?¡± The oddball, Bradford, called the Prince by his regr name.

    That was an obvious sign of familiarity¡­ or disrespect.

    ¡®I didn¡¯t think Fabian would be well acquainted with this guy¡­¡¯

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you address me formally?¡± Fabian responded harshly.

    As I thought, they weren¡¯t at all acquainted.

    ¡°Oh, please. Formality isn¡¯t my thing. Besides, I even call Albion by his name, so don¡¯t take offense, ¡®kay?¡±

    ¡°Pfft!¡± I uncontrobly burst out with a mild snicker.

    I couldn¡¯t help it.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a good way to live, sir. Can I also address you informally too?¡± Iughed, shaking Bradford¡¯s hand too.

    ¡°Definitely! Call me Bradford!¡±

    Even though his beard looked too full, and his overexcited personality was a pain, I couldn¡¯t despise people like this.

    ¡°Whatever. In any case, you¡¯re wrong about the leader of this Envoy, Bradford.¡± Our dear killjoy, Prince Fabian emphasized.

    He was right, though.

    ¡°Oh? Who¡¯s the leader, then?¡±

    ¡°Who else, you dunce!¡± Damien Lawcroft burst out, apparently unable to control himself any longer.

    ¡°His Highness, the Prince is here. Of course, he will be leading the Expedition!¡±

 Chapter 356 Departure From The Kingdom [Pt 2]

    ¡°His Highness, the Prince is here. Of course, he will be leading the Expedition!¡± Damien Lawcroft dered with enthusiasm.

    Bradford looked at me for confirmation, most likely finding it hard to believe that someone as pathetic as Fabian would be taking the lead.

    However, I gave him a slight sigh and shrugged.

    After this, though, I winked at the sharp man.

    ¡°Hoho! I see!¡± He caught my signal andughed.

    ¡°My mistake, then. Let¡¯s get along then, Fabian. You too, Damien!¡±

    Both the prince and his assistant looked extremely pissed off, but any more disy of their dissatisfaction would simply sully their honor and non-existent authority.

    So, they grudgingly epted the enthusiasm of our newest member.

    Bradford went on to greet Ivan¨Cwho looked to be in awe of the man.

    His brother, Maro, was also a Researcher and Magic Engineer, so he must have mentioned Bradford to him quite a few times.

    After greeting the sheepish Ivan, Bradford went on to speak to Maria.

    Her reaction, as expected, waspletely nd and calm¨Ctheplete contrast to Bradford Levyfield.

    It was like pouring cold, icy water on heated mes.

    The sight was quite funny to see.

    ¡°Oh? Looks like everyone is here already!¡± The voice of our final participant rang out.

    Hearing her made me smile unconsciously and I nced in her direction.

    ¡°Serah! I heard you wereing! This is so sweet!¡± Bradford yelled and dashed in her direction.

    ¡®This guy¡­ even to Serah?¡¯ I asked internally, somehow looking forward to how things would turn out.

    ¡°Bradford! So you decided toe? That¡¯s so great! Hahaha!¡±

    To my surprise, or rather¡­ should I have been surprised, Serah and Bradford hugged and exchanged what I could only describe as friendship handshakes and fist bumps

    ¡®Of course! Why didn¡¯t I see thising?¡¯

    In terms of personality, they were almost the same, weren¡¯t they?

    ¡°Nice day we have today, isn¡¯t it? You are wee, Miss. Serah.¡± I smiled, moving closer to the Grand Mage.

    Everyone else bowed in her presence¨Cexcept Fabian, of course.

    ¡°Please, call me Serah, Jared. I believe we¡¯ve reached that point, as per our agreement.¡±

    ¡®What¡¯s with these people and their preference for informal speech?¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t like I had aint, though.

    This was perfect for me.

    ¡°Alright, Serah.¡± I smiled back, staring into her confident vermillion eyes.

    ¡°Well, well, well. Since we¡¯re all here, why don¡¯t we head off?¡±

    I couldn¡¯t agree more.

    And so, we all left the room.

    ***************************

    There was no Grand Parade.

    It wasn¡¯t necessary.

    Besides, since we left at the first sign of dawn, the entire city wasn¡¯t quite awake yet.

    The Envoy mission was abrupt, but also urgent.

    That was why¡­ even when we arrived at the entrance¨Cor rather, exit¨Cof the Capital, there was no crowd bidding us farewell.

    Other than the tightened security that bowed before us, no one could be seen.

    ¡®So, they already took care of this ce, uh?¡¯ I smiled, looking at the spot where my Golem had caused a ruckus just some hours ago.

    The Capital sure moved fast.

    ¡°So, how exactly do we get to the Elf Kingdom? Has anyone here been there before?¡± Serah said, looking around her.

    For the first time, someone actually asked the question. Who would have thought that the sensible one would be her?

    All eyes instantly narrowed on me.

    ¡°I indeed told the King to leave the means of transportation to me¡­¡±

    To be honest, even if we used the Kingdom¡¯s finest transit tool, we would never reach the Elf Kingdom in time.

    We had less than three days to make our debut, but merely a journey to the border would take longer than that.

    I was fast enough to get there in time. Serah was most likely the same.

    ¡®But, can the others keep up?¡¯

    I knew the answer to that.

    Which was why¡­ a simple solution was best.

    ¡°We¡¯ll teleport there.¡±

    My tone was nonchnt and calm, but everyone looked at me with shock.

    ¡°WHAT??!¡±

    Some people were surprised that I actually thought such a thing was possible.

    Some were disappointed that that was my n all along.

    And Maria simply looked stoic. It confused me on what her actual take on the matter was.

    Fortunately¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s possible! He can do it!¡±

    ¡­ Ivan came to my rescue.

    He looked at me with a bright smile and nodded.

    After experiencing my power firsthand, he had actually grown. I could tell that he was more broad-minded than before.

    Besides, I did give them some Demon Beast Corpses using Space Magic.

    He must have surmised that I was capable of teleportation as well.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯ll simply be faster if we went by teleportation. We¡¯ll arrive there in an instant.¡± I smiled at everyone with confidence.

    At least, almost all of them were in the King¡¯s Pce when I gave my speech. They must have known that my confidence wasn¡¯t without reason.

    ¡°Sigh. Very well. We¡¯ll go with Jared¡¯s n.¡± Fabian said, trying to exert his authority as our leader at thest minute.

    I found the whole thing amusing, considering the fact that no one¨Cexcept Damien Lawcroft¨Cactually considered him to be our Leader.

    Still, I let him believe in his delusions. That way, he would be happy and notpletely stand in my way.

    ¡®From what I see, he¡¯s oddly easy to manipte. No wonder he has that guy as his personal assistant. Pfft¡­¡¯

    Since everyone was prepared¨C

    Fabian Lestrome

    Damien Lawcroft

    Ivan Smith

    Maria Helmsworth

    Bradford Levyfield

    ¨CI activated a Spell Card I had in my pocket.

    It contained an Instant Teleportation Spell.

    This was simr to the Card I used against Legris Damien, so it would disappear after a single use.

    Still, I preferred using it instead of an Arcana.

    >VWUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHH<

    A bright blue light enveloped our crew, and everyone was surrounded by a massive Magic Circle.

    The Spell activated in less than a second, and we all felt our bodies warp.

    ¡°One final word, everyone¡­¡± I smiled.

    They all looked at me, wondering what I would utter when we were almost at our destination.

    ¡°¡­ We¡¯re going into enemy territory, so¡­ get ready forbat!¡±

    I could see Fabian freeze up.

    ¡°What are you¨C?!¡± He made to speak, but the teleportation was done before he could finish his statement.

    And so, we finally vanished from the Capital in a burst of blue and white radiance.

 Chapter 357 Struggle Of The Elves [Pt 1]

    Freya was conflicted.

    As she watched her hometown burn in fiery purple mes, she couldn¡¯t do anything but watch.

    Even as she was d in her silver armor, and her white hair fluttered with the wind.

    She bit her lip in anger and frustration.

    ¡°Evil Demons¡­¡± Was all she could mutter.

    The cliff she stood on was far enough that the Beasts could not hear her, and her voice wasn¡¯t loud enough to agitate anyone.

    This was simply the spite she carried within herself.

    The Elf Kingdom¡¯s Eastern Border had fallen prey to an onught of Demons.

    An approximate amount of three hundred had struck them, rendering their flimsy defenses obsolete.

    Unlike the Humans and Dwarves, Elves were not very keen on technology and Magic engineering.

    They believed in the free Gift of nature.

    And so, while they excelled well at Potions and Alchemy, they were never able to fully master the aggressive natures of Magic.

    But, even with that, their race had a higher affinity for the artspared to any othering second only to the Fairies.

    Elemental Magic was their forte, and many Elves had attained a level of utilizing Original Magic, and Mana Field.

    Yet, none could fight back against the horde of Demons for one specific reason.

    ¡ªRacial Weakness!

    Miasma was extremely harmful to the genes of the Elves.

    Being exposed to pure Mana had its advantages. Longevity and youthful exuberance was a free gift of nature, given to the Elves thanks to their direct interaction with positive Energy.

    Their high affinity for Magic was also a result of this.

    But, alongside those advantages came a critical consequence.

    The Elves were very weak against Miasma.

    Their bodies nearly gave out if they so much as got a whiff of it, and exposure to the energy for ten minutes would kill an Elf.

    No, if the Miasma was strong enough, five minutes would be plenty to live.

    That was why their efforts to defeat the Demon Beasts had been utterly crushed.

    In the end, the beings of nature could only resort to the second option¡ªcontaining the threat.

    They had erected barricades with Earth Magic, and strengthened the structures with Mana.

    It took thebined efforts of all the Elf Soldiers to achieve this result.

    Yet¡­ they were barely able to keep up the defense.

    As Miasma ate through their Mana defense, they had to keep supplying energy to maintain the barrier.

    Still, how much longer would they be able tost?

    At their current rate, not much longer!

    ¡°When will reinforcementse¡­?¡± Freya murmured, once again staring at the horde of Demon Beasts.

    They seemed to be up to something, but she didn¡¯t take their movements too much into consideration.

    No matter what they did, the barrier would hold.

    The problem was what would happen once the Elves ran out of Mana.

    As for her question on backup, Freya knew it was useless to ask.

    It would take about three days, at least, for the Elf Capita to dispatch the appropriate level of reinforcements to handle the threat facing them.

    In fact, perhaps she was being too optimistic.

    Still, hope was the only thing she could give herself in such a situation.

    Even though she had been the one managing security on the Eastern Border, Freya had failed her mission woefully.

    As a result, countless of her people suffered casualties.

    Powerlessness and frustration.

    Those two emotions could only be sated by the feeling of hope that help would soon arrive.

    However¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    In a burst of malevolent energy, all the Demon Beasts roared and poured their sts in one direction.

    The ground shook, causing Freya¡¯s eyes to bulge as she took proper note of what had happened.

    ¡°N-No¡ª!!!¡± Her voice matched the shock in her green eyes.

    The enemy forces¡­ had broken down the barricade everyone had worked so hard to erect.

    ¡®H-how could this¡­?!¡¯

    Her grinding teeth were disyed as she hatefully red at the Demon Beasts from the cliff where she stood.

    ¡°General Freya!¡± Someone called out to her from behind.

    The white-haired Elf sharply turned in the direction of the one who called for her.

    It was one of her subordinates, wearing a distinguished armor that glimmered with bronze.

    It was her deputy¡ªMaya.

    ¡°General Freya, the Demon Beasts have¡ª!¡±

    ¡°I am well aware, I saw it! Did anything happen to the ones maintaining the barrier?¡±

    ¡°Not at all. It came as a surprise to us all.¡±

    Freya was trying to understand how they were able to break free.

    Nothing was wrong with the entrapment, so what could have gone wrong?

    ¡°T-that¡ª!¡± Her green eyes bulged the instant she realized it.

    That was what they had been up to all along.

    The density of Miasma in the atmosphere had vastly increased, strengthening the Demon Beasts.

    Not only had their destructive sts gotten much stronger, but they had all focused their attacks in a single direction.

    That was thest straw.

    The spread-out barrier couldn¡¯t have handled such a bombardment and ended up falling.

    ¡°W-what do we do now?¡± Maya asked her leader.

    At this point, they had run out of options.

    ¡°Can another Barrier be erected?¡± It was a foolish question to ask, but Freya¡¯s optimism was not to be underestimated.

    ¡°N-no. Everyone is tired just from maintaining the fallen Barrier. Erecting a new one is¡­ not possible.¡±

    That was the obvious answer. Freya, as an insightful Elf¡ªas well as their leader¡ªshould have been aware of this already.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± She spoke bitterly.

    Reality is often disappointing, and so the Elves had to face the cold truth¡­

    ¡°We have to hold out until reinforcements arrive!¡±

    ¡­ And sacrifice themselves for the greater good.

    Maya knew what her leader meant by ¡®holding out.¡¯

    She realized that death¡ªan excruciating one¡ªawaited them all.

    Yet, she did not argue.

    This was the only choice at this point.

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    In a sh, Maya shrouded herself with Mana and flew at full speed, most likely assembling the troops to form an orderly brigade.

    Until they were organized enough to barricade the Demon Beasts, though, Freya knew it was her duty to buy them more time.

    ¡°Haa¡­ Wicked Demons¡­¡± She spoke, now having an angry look in her eyes.

    Death was right beneath her.

    Should she leave the cliff, only one end was certain for her.

    Still, Freya plunged into the abyss.

    ¡°FOR THE ELF KINGDOOOMMMM!!!¡±

 Chapter 358 Struggle Of The Elves [Pt 2]

    ¡°Haaaaaa!!!¡± Freya yelled as she descended from the tall cliff, plunging straight for the Demon Beasts beneath.

    Thick clouds of purple smoke filled the area, and even someone as powerful as her would fall within five minutes.

    Was this also her optimism, or¡­?

    Regardless, she refused to give in to the creeping fear that gued her.

    Being alive for over a hundred years was nothing especially spectacr to an Elf, but¡­ her life had been somewhat full, hadn¡¯t it?

    If it was for the sake of herrades, Freya knew she would dly give her life in a heartbeat.

    Still, was her sacrifice going to be in vain?

    Five minutes.

    That was all she could buy for everyone.

    It sounded like a cruel joke, but¡­ that was the unfortunate reality she had been saddled with.

    ¡°Your opponent is meeee!!!¡± Her voice got the attention of the monsters who were already nning on leaving their barricaded prison.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The barrage of mes that she sent their way was a nice wee present, causing several of them to burn thanks to the intensity of her strike.

    Now stopping their giant bodies thanks to the annoying interference of a single Elf, the beasts red in Freya¡¯s direction.

    ¡°GURRUUUUUU¡­¡±

    A mix of Monsters and Demonic influence were the beings who stood before Freya; The Demon Beasts were ruthless andplete savages.

    Unlike Elves who had more refined methods of using Magic, they simply used brute force to decimate their enemies.

    ¡°Keukk!¡± Freya could already feel the effects of the Miasma hitting her body.

    She had used Mana to protect herself, but the thick Miasma had already damaged her protectiveyer.

    ¡®I need to make it stronger¡­ so I canst longer!¡¯ Freya stiffened her expression and returned the re of her enemies.

    ¡°Come!¡± She said, summoning her Spirit de.

    A sword forged with her Mana and the environment¡¯s energy¡ªusing materials from the World Tree as a catalyst¡ªonly a few had the privilege of holding such a weapon.

    The de¡¯s power ran through Freya¡¯s body, and she felt a huge spike in her abilities.

    ¡°GURAAAAA!!!¡± The three hundred monsters lunged at her.

    ¡®If I don¡¯t deal decisive hits, they¡¯ll keep healing!¡¯

    Fatal strikes were the only things she had to achieve.

    >VWOOOSH!!!<

    She leaped into action, allowing the little Mana around her to carry her body as she glided through the air.

    Elves utilized the aid of surrounding Mana in any endeavor they did.

    With only Miasma pervading the area, Freya could only rely on her own Mana Pool¡ªmaking her unable to fight with all she had.

    Still,ints were useless in battle.

    What she had to do hadn¡¯t changed.

    ¡°Hiyaaaaaa!!!¡±

    With beautifully fluid motions, she cut down her first Demon Beast with her de, quickly lunging toward the next one.

    Wasting no movement and ensuring her goal was the immediate deaths of her enemies, Freya killed the second one, and then moved to the third.

    However¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    A dark pulse of immense power pushed her away.

    Her body was assailed by shock and the immediate invasion of Miasma.

    ¡®N¡ªno!!!¡¯

    Her Protective Layer had vanished, allowing the negative energy to seep into her body.

    It was rapid andpletely unexpected.

    Freya¡¯s green eyes bulged upon realizing that the effects of her corruption were far greater than what she had expected.

    Of course, it would be!

    Compared to the first time the Demon Beasts invaded, the Miasma density had risen to an unprecedented amount.

    ¡°Guark!¡± She coughed out darkened blood and felt her body turn against her.

    At this rate, she wouldn¡¯t be able tost three minutes.

    Even in that period, Freya waspletely powerless¡ªunable to mold any Mana to defend herself.

    Before she got a proper grasp of her bearing, her eyes spotted the hulking Demon Beasts.

    They surrounded her, outnumbering her line figure three hundred to one.

    She could see the utterly wicked gaze they gave her, as well as their malevolent grins.

    She was powerless, unable to resist.

    And then¡ª

    >POW!<

    ¡°Arrghh!¡± A kick directly to her stomach sent the Elf flying into the air.

    Her armor¡ªwhich had already been corroded by the Miasma shattered apart, leaving her bare skinpletely open to the harsh embrace of darkness.

    The time left toward her death shortened drastically.

    Still, if that was all, then perhaps Freya would have been able to die a somewhat uneventful death.

    However, the Demon Beasts were not so merciful.

    >POW!<

    Yet another hit¡ªthis time, a punch¡ªwas sent to her bare face, causing the white-haired Elf to cough out more blood and groan in agony.

    >BOOOMMM<

    She crashed upon the dark, corrupt ground.

    A ce that once bustled with life and exuberance was now withering away¡­ thanks to Miasma.

    ¡°Puak!¡± More darkened blood, spilled out.

    At this point, Freya hadpletely lost all her hope and optimism.

    She, a mere shell of her former self, was nowpletely wasted.

    Not only had she received external injuries, but the internal situation of her body was far worse.

    ¡®The poison has spread everywhere¡­¡¯

    In a few seconds, she would be dead.

    Even then¡­ the Demon Beasts would not let her be.

    Her death would be anything but peaceful. Still, they could have at least left her to rot away.

    But, no!

    The hulking figures surrounded her once more, ready to resume their barrage of hardcore punches and kicks until the Elven body was nothing more than a broken toy¡ªa useless lump of meat.

    These sadistic beings were that depraved.

    ¡®I¡¯m¡­ so sorry.. everyone¡­¡¯ Freya¡¯s thoughts trailed as she realized her fate.

    Pain!

    Unbearable agony seared through her.

    Yet, all Freya could think of were herrades¡­ and her family.

    Her mother. Her father. Her two brothers. And, she couldn¡¯t forget¡­ her annoying cousin.

    Freya¡¯s end was near¡ªno, it had already arrived.

    So, just as she was taught¡ªshe epted it wholeheartedly.

    Even if she didn¡¯t want to, the Elf realized that letting go was the only path to relief.

    Regrets assailed her, but¡­ she had done all she could do.

    ¡®Maya¡­ everyone¡­ I leave the rest¡­ to you¡­¡¯

    However, even in the depths of her despair, something crept up from within her.

    ¡ªHer unfading optimism.

    ¡®Reinforcements¡­ please¡­¡¯

    It could have been a death wish, but, Freya prayed with all her might.

    ¡®¡­ Help us.¡¯

    That was her final duty, as the First Princess of the Elf Kingdom.

 Chapter 359 Salvation [Pt 1]

    Stale silence before death would have been preferable.

    However, all that rang in Freya¡¯s ears as she lost consciousness were the arrogant squeals of the Demon Beasts.

    They raised their fists and readied their kicks, ready to assail her already beat-up body until it was nothing but useless lumps of meat.

    It wasn¡¯t exactly a dignified exit, but, at this point, nothing more could be done.

    >WHUUUUMMMM<

    Their blows descended.

    Freya¡¯s blurry vision went dark.

    And then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªAn explosive st of destruction was heard, no, felt through her entire body.

    ¡®W¡ªwha¡­?¡¯

    Suddenly, Freya felt relieved. Her body was light, and the pain that assailed her subsided.

    Was she finally dead?

    Was this how death felt like? Had she finally escaped the horrors that awaited her?

    As she felt the warmth around her, as well as the peaceful silence enveloping her, Freya smiled to herself.

    ¡°This¡­ isn¡¯t so bad¡­¡±

    ¡°¡ªThe hell is this pervert talking about?¡± A voice rang through her pointed ears.

    It was¡­ not her voice!

    ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t say something like that!¡± Another voice spoke up.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we cover her up too?¡±

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°Here, you do it. The rest of us should look away.¡±

    Freya couldn¡¯t understand what was happening.

    Who were the ones speaking?

    The answer to her question would be answered once she opened her eyes¡­ and so she did.

    ¡°A¡ªah¡­?¡±

    Rather than the darkness she had been surrounded with before death, when she opened her eyes, Freya felt the brightness of the sun tingle her eyes.

    She was forced to squint them, slowly getting ustomed to the newfound illumination that now seemed strange.

    ¡°Looks like she¡¯s awake.¡±

    ¡°She didn¡¯t hear me, did she?¡±

    She probably did¡­¡±

    ¡°Just shut up, Ivan.¡±

    Freya¡¯s eyes widened upon realizing¡­ she hadn¡¯t been dreaming.

    Actual people were talking around her.

    ¡°W¡ªwhat is¡ª?!¡±

    She sprang up, seating upright as she looked around her.

    Her eyes bulged upon seeing six people around her.

    Their appearance was simr to hers, except¡­ they didn¡¯t have long ears.

    They weren¡¯t very attractive as well, except for two. And they were both women.

    The scenery looked simr to the one she left when she was still alive. However, unlike the Miasma-infested area, Freya found her surrounding to be quite refreshing¡ªfilled with Mana.

    Just taking in a few breaths made her feel so much better.

    It wasn¡¯t ording to her expectations, neither was it urate with what the Elders had told her, but¡­ could this perhaps be¡­!

    ¡°¡­ Am I in Heaven¡­?¡±

    The people surrounding her were probably angels of some sort, right?

    ¡°The fuck¡­?¡± One rather unruly one with red hair muttered.

    >WHAP!<

    A smack was sent to his back that very instant.

    ¡°Shut up, Ivan. She¡¯s just confused.¡±

    ¡°Ow! You didn¡¯t have to hit me, though.¡±

    ¡°What did you just say?¡±

    ¡°N-nothing ma¡¯am¡­¡±

    Freya watched the weird exchange between a silver-haired girl and the impudent red-haired man.

    It was looking and sounding less and less like the Paradise she had often heard of in lore.

    ¡°Hey, girl. I wouldn¡¯t move so much if I were you.¡± One of the six people spoke up, pointing in her direction.

    It was at that moment that Freya took a good look at herself.

    Her naked body was currently covered with arge sheet of fabric.

    However, thanks to her squirming a lot, the cloth was falling off.

    ¡°Kyaaa!¡± Freya squealed in embarrassment, sharply raising the sheet to cover herself.

    Her ears and cheeks were beet red, and her eyes wavered in embarrassment.

    As an Elf, she had been taught to protect her chastity above all else.

    To think even after death, such teachings would remain ingrained in her thoughts and actions.

    ¡°Why is she acting so surprised? It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t seen it be¡ª¡±

    Another smack descended on the red-haired youth.

    Freya¡¯s face was flushed with even more embarrassment.

    Of the six people present, four were men. And the fact that they saw her naked meant¡­

    The Elf wanted to die of embarrassment.

    ¡°Oh, wait¡­ I¡¯m already dead¡­¡± She cried even more.

    To her surprise, though, the people surrounding her gave her looks as though she was crazy.

    ¡°Just so you know, Elf girl¡­ you¡¯re not dead.¡± The red-haired woman among those that surrounded her spoke.

    ¡°E-eh¡­?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re very much alive. This is your hometown. We simply saved you from dying and took care of the Demon Beasts. So¡­ you¡¯re wee.¡±

    Freya couldn¡¯t believe her ears.

    She wasn¡¯t dead? And the Demon Beasts were obliterated?

    But, how was that possible?

    ¡°D-does that mean¡­ you¡¯re backup¡­?¡± Freya murmured.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s one way of putting it¡­¡± The Red-haired woman spoke with a shrug.

    The Elf was even more confused.

    Rationally speaking, backup shouldn¡¯t have arrived anytime soon.

    Even if they did, would they have been able to wrap up the incident so swiftly?

    Besides, the people around her didn¡¯t look like Elves.

    In fact, based on their appearance and behavior, she could only fit them into one description.

    ¡ªHumans!

    But, even then¡­ why would such a Race be here?

    Many thoughts swirled in her mind, but, Freya knew that it wasn¡¯t time to be so confused and flustered¡ªespecially now that she knew she wasn¡¯t dead.

    ¡°U-um, please who are¡ª¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re Envoys from the Eastern Kingdom, Princess.¡± A voice came from behind her.

    Freya¡¯s eyes bulged as she sharply turned to the person who approached her.

    ¡°Greetings, Elf Princess.¡± A blond-haired boy bowed slightly and gave her a slight smile.

    On his hands were her Silver Armor and Spirit Sword.

    They were nearly held and handled with care, showing that he understood their relevance. Adding to the fact that he greeted her with etiquette, Freya instantly understood that he was a different breed from the others she had been conversing with.

    ¡°E-Envoys of the Eastern Kingdom, you say¡­?¡± She murmured.

    As she thought, they were humans.

    ¡°I am certain that you have many questions, but now is not the appropriate time.¡± He spoke calmly, not forgetting to address her with absolute courtesy.

    Freya could hear voices behind her saying stuff like ¡°She was a princess? I didn¡¯t know!¡± and also ¡°Damn, you ruined everything, Ivan!¡±, but shepletely ignored them.

    The boy standing before her was more important.

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ you¡¯re right.¡± The Elf Princess said with a slightly embarrassed smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Envoys from the East.¡±

    Even if she was still inappropriately attired, Freya felt the need to return his courtesy.

    ¡°My name is Freya Vindiel, First Princess of the Elf Kingdom.¡±

    The blonde nodded and smiled, once again bowing to her.

    His performance was exquisite.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Jared Leonard. May the spirits bless our meeting.¡±

 Chapter 360 Salvation [Pt 2]

    When we first arrived, all that surrounded us was darkness.

    The atmosphere was thick with Miasma, and I felt the density of malevolence wafting through the air.

    It didn¡¯t take me a moment to instantly connect to the environment using Spellcraft.

    ¡°Uuurhhh¡­¡± I heard a voice croak out weakly.

    It belonged to an Elf¡ªone who was close to death.

    Multiple monstrous figures epassed her, looking depraved as they grinned with satisfaction.

    Their builds were slightly different from the ones that invaded the Eastern Kingdom, but they shared the same features.

    That is, their monstrous appearance and the Miasma they exuded.

    We had arrived at a bad time¡ªthe Demon Beasts were already loose and a conflict had started.

    ¡®This could be a good opportunity¡­¡¯ I found myself thinking with a grin.

    The more desperate our potential allies were, the better it was for us.

    However¡­

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    In one straight thrust, one of the Envoys I was with¡ªSerah herself¡ªdecimated the Demon Beasts that had gathered around the Elf.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Just like that¡ªwith a single hit¡ªthey were all destroyed.

    I found the sightpletely ridiculous, considering the fact that she hadn¡¯t even been using Mana just a moment earlier.

    ¡®No Fusion Magic or Mage Transformation. Just raw ability¡­¡¯ I thought to myself, staring at the grinning woman.

    It seemed that I had to update my earlier evaluation of her.

    ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Sheughed, not even minding the dense Miasma around us.

    Of course, for the others, I had used Spellcraft to make sure we were unaffected. Still, with or without my assistance, I doubted she would be in any real difort.

    ¡°I decimated the enemy. What now?¡± Serah smiled, looking at me.

    ¡®Why are you asking me? Don¡¯t we have a Leader?¡¯ I nearly rolled my eyes as the thought popped up.

    Our capable Captain, Fabian was still shaken from Serah¡¯s overwhelming disy of power. The Miasma around didn¡¯t help matters either.

    I surmised that he was probably reliving the trauma he faced during the Demonic Disturbance.

    ¡°Well, for one, try to avoid coteral damage,¡± I said with a soft, meaningful smile.

    Her earlier strike had not only decimated the Demon Beasts, but would have also imed the entire body of the Elf that was stuck at the center.

    If I hadn¡¯t used Spellcraft to protect her from my distance, not even a speck from her would remain.

    ¡°Let¡¯s avoid as many sacrifices as we can, okay?¡± I smiled.

    ¡°Okay, noted.¡± The woman nodded.

    ¡®Well, that¡¯s surprising¡­ I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d listen so easily.¡¯

    I suppose, since she was a Superior officer, she understood what priority signified in a mission.

    ¡°Now, then, we should resolve matters here as soon as possible,¡± I said, turning to the remaining members of our team.

    They must have been prepared forbat, especially after what I told them before teleporting here.

    It was a shame that Serah one-shotted all the adversaries.

    ¡°I¡¯ll get rid of the surrounding Miasma and also salvage whatever stuff I can find. You people should check on the unconscious Elf.¡±

    People like Fabian and Damien looked dissatisfied with my concise orders.

    ¡°Would you like to input something?¡± I asked with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°We¡¯ll do as you have said. But, please don¡¯t forget who the actual leader of this operation is. Let¡¯s avoid any form of insubordination.¡± Damien spoke on behalf of his precious Prince.

    There were quite a bunch of things I could have said to the man right there and then, but I decided to be patient.

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    With my snappy response, I got to work.

    The clouds of Miasma that were hanging around were too raw and unrefined¡ªeven for me.

    That was why it took me some minutes topletely dissolve and absorb all the negative energy around.

    First, I gathered everything in one spot. Then, after separating the unnecessary elements, I finalized the process and collected the Miasma.

    After I was done, I turned around and found that the Elf was already awake.

    She had also healed of all her injuries thanks to the Healing Spell I cast on her with Spellcraft.

    At my current level of mastery, it wasn¡¯t difficult to use Advanced Spells at a far distance.

    She was covered in cloth to cover her nakedness, and her expression looked flustered.

    However, that wasn¡¯t what caught my attention.

    ¡®White hair? Don¡¯t tell me¡­!¡¯

    At that moment, a distant memory yed in my head and I quickly understood that the person I had just saved was Royalty.

    It was beyond my expectations, but I immediately considered such a coincidence to be a stroke of luck.

    ¡®Why don¡¯t I make her a bit more indebted to me?¡¯ My grin widened.

    While utilizing Spellcraft, I became one with my surroundings. Using Sensory Magic to expand my perception, I could detect even the slightest details around me.

    Thanks to this, it was easy for me to find fragments of one of the most important of such an Elf¡¯s personal effects¡ªnamely, her Spirit Weapon.

    I also managed to detect pieces of her Magic Armor as well and repaired both of them.

    Controlling them freely, I brought them to me and properly carried them before approaching the group.

    ¡®Hopefully, they haven¡¯t offended the Royal Elf yet¡­¡¯ I thought to myself, though still wondering why such a high-standing member of Society would be involved in such a battle.

    A faint idea popped up in my head, causing me to muse a little.

    The Royal Family probably wanted to keep her safe from harm¡¯s way, and so sent her to the most peaceful area of their Kingdom¡ªthe Eastern Border.

    They never would have predicted that the first strike woulde from there.

    It was ironic, but the opposite of their intentions hade to pass.

    ¡®Good thing we arrived¡­¡¯ I smiled, critically observing the girl.

    The image of someone ovepped with hers. I didn¡¯t even realize when I started to smile as a result of such a bittersweet memory.

    ¡®Argh, what am I thinking at this point?¡¯

    Quickly snapping myself from dwelling on the past, I heaved a sigh and tightened my resolve.

    ¡®Well, let¡¯s make a good first impression, shall we?¡¯

 Chapter 361 Diplomacy [Pt 1]

    ¡°Visitors, I once again thank you for your mighty efforts in subduing our enemies.¡±

    Freya was seated opposite me¡ªno, all of us.

    A desk separated her from us, and an empty chair was ced directly facing her. Our group stood behind the chair.

    ¡®That¡¯s for our representative, no doubt.¡¯ I observed silently.

    Behind her were six Elves who served as her guards. One, in particr, looked slightly different, having a more distinguished armor.

    ¡®She¡¯s most likely the deputy.¡¯ I thought.

    They were most likely organized in order to match our numbers. That made the members on both sides seven each¡ªa total of fourteen.

    I could sense their hesitation and skepticism despite how well they tried to hide it.

    After saving Freya from the Demon Beasts and purifying the area, her guards arrived at the site.

    They were initially wary of us, but Freya told them to back down and even treat us with absolute courtesy.

    As strangers in Elvennd, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if we were suspected or handled roughly.

    However, considering the fact that we had just saved them from definite destruction, the Elves had enoughmon sense to be polite to us.

    It wasn¡¯t just out of goodwill, but also caution¡ªmaybe a hint of fear.

    ¡®If they can defeat those monstrosities, and disperse that thick cluster of Miasma, how powerful are they?¡¯

    The Elves must have been thinking that way.

    ¡°I also apologize for the unsightly state you found me back then.¡± Freya continued.

    Her tone and expression werepletely different from back then. At this moment, she indeed looked like genuine Royalty.

    I smiled slightly and seized the initiative.

    ¡°It couldn¡¯t be helped, Princess. We also apologize for our abrupt visit.¡± A bow apanied my words.

    I saw Freya smile a bit upon seeing my gesture. Nothing gave Elves a better impression of another than their etiquette.

    Even if I was a human, my regard toward her and her people had earned me quite a high level of favorability. That much I was sure of!

    ¡°Thank you for your understanding. Apologies for my rudeness, but since this is a matter involving our two nations, I ask that your representative have a seat.¡±

    As I expected.

    My smile widened, and I didn¡¯t move a single muscle.

    ¡°That would be me, then.¡±

    Fabian stepped forward from ourposed row, and he shed his royal smile at our Elf audience.

    ¡°Hm? Forgive my mistake. I thought your representative would be¡­¡± Freya turned in my direction.

    ¡°Ngh!¡± Fabian stifled an angry groan.

    I nearly broke into augh, but I controlled myself. This was an important meeting between two sides of Royalty.

    ¡®Let¡¯s stay out of it¡­¡¯

    ¡°Apologies for the confusion. I am a member of our Kingdom¡¯s Envoy. Our representative is none other than the man before you, Fabian Lestrome Indiavel. He is a member of Royalty¡ªPrince and third son of His Majesty, King Albion Lestrome Indiavel himself.¡± Still sticking to my polite speech, I did Damien Lawcroft¡¯s job and introduced our leader.

    ¡°Hmm, I see,¡± Freya whispered, stealing a nce at Fabian.

    ¡°Indeed. As representatives of our respective Kingdoms, let us have a good discourse.¡± The idiot Prince shed yet another smile.

    The other members of our team, as well as the Elves, werepletely silent.

    We all had to give reverence to Royalty.

    ¡°Then, please have your seat.¡±

    With Freya¡¯s permission, Fabian sat down and drew Damien closer to himself¡ªsame as how Freya had her deputy close by.

    The rest of us were a considerable distance off.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ shall we begin this meeting?¡±

    *******************************

    We certainly discussed¡ªif it could be called that¡ªabout a lot of things.

    First was our motive foring to the Elf kingdom unannounced, and the fact that they had not sensed our arrival since we came using Teleportation Magic.

    Fabian did his best to answer properly, and his etiquette was considerably good.

    When it came to Eastern Kingdom standards, he was impable.

    His confidence and diplomacy weremendable. I had to admit, I was no match for his skills with words.

    Unfortunately, he made one fundamental error.

    ¡®He¡¯s speaking to Freya as a fellow delegate¡­ as an equal.¡¯

    Elf standards weren¡¯t so simple.

    For humans, who had a great deal of pride and ego, when two representatives met, both sides would try as much as possible not to appear weak.

    This is to ensure that the other side didn¡¯t look down on their Kingdom or have a condescending opinion.

    Using this logic, Fabian spoke with quite a good amount of confidence and pride.

    After all, he was a Prince speaking to a Princess.

    ¡®That¡¯s not how it should go¡­¡¯

    Elves already had their immutable opinions on humans.

    While they weren¡¯tpletely discriminatory, their racist qualities ran deep.

    Just as how humans couldn¡¯t help seeing cattle or monkeys as what they were, Elves had their strict opinion of humans.

    Of course, it wasn¡¯t as extreme asparing us to animals, but we were still pretty inferior to them¡ªin terms of culture and society.

    Fabian didn¡¯t know this, so he ran his mouth without restraint.

    ¡®He doesn¡¯t notice how rigid her ears have be, and how they twitch at some moments¡­¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t just Freya, the other Elves also showed such signs.

    That showed just how annoyed they were at Fabian.

    If I didn¡¯t step in soon, perhaps things would turn out even worse. Which was why¡­

    ¡°Princess, I truly apologize for the brazen speech of our representative, as well as hisck of consideration in the tone he used. As we are only human, I hope you forgive us for this mistake.¡±

    As expected, the mood quickly switched.

    ¡°I ept your apology, Jared Leonard. Are you truly certain that you are not the actual representative?¡±

    Her actions were rude to Fabian, a Royal in his own right, at best. But, who was I to judge?

    I also quite enjoyed his flushed face as he stared at me with a ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± look in his eyes.

    ¡°No, not at all Princess. I wouldn¡¯t be so rude as to lie to someone of your person.¡±

    ¡°Understood. Then, I will keep your words in mind as we further our conversation.¡±

 Chapter 362 Diplomacy [Pt 2]

    Afterward, we proceeded with the discussion and talked about the proposed Alliance.

    As expected, Freya was in no position to give a response, so she could only speak around the subject.

    ¡°You will need to have an audience with my mother, Queen of the Elf Kingdom. That means you will need to journey to the Elf Capital.¡±

    All of these were within expectation.

    Usually, unwee guests would never be able to go beyond the Border City of the Elf Nation, but our positions were more favorable since they were in our debt.

    ¡°While you have properly emphasized the urgency of the situation, and we also see the danger of the Demons¡ªas you have also stated¡­¡± The Princess said, staring at me for a moment.

    I smiled faintly.

    ¡°¡­ It will take some time before you are granted an audience with the Queen.¡±

    This was also expected.

    ¡°Ngh!¡± Another stifled groan came from Fabian.

    I could tell that he was nearing his limits.

    For someone who was so used to having his way, he probably wasn¡¯t very adept at being considerate.

    ¡®We saved them all, yet they¡¯re still being this stuck-up and uncooperative?!¡¯

    I was sure not only Fabian thought along those lines.

    Personally, I also felt the Elves needed to be more open-minded, but their stance was respected. We Humans also had bureaucracies involved in our cultural and political affairs.

    Why did it have to be different with the Elves?

    ¡®I remember how some Nobles also looked down on me and my idea when I was at the Royal Court. This is basically the same thing ying out¡­¡¯

    The only difference was that, this time, the humans were on the losing end¡ªsomething Fabian couldn¡¯t handle.

    I wasn¡¯t entirely unsympathetic, though. I had also experienced my fair share of the Elves¡¯ stubborn disposition toward humans.

    Still, with enough smarts, and a well-established impression, it was possible to make thempromise.

    But, that required patience.

    ¡°A backup squad will be arriving here within a few days. Once they arrive, and the entire matters pertaining to this incident have been settled, I will personally escort you to the Elf Capital myself.¡±

    That was a generous offer, to be honest.

    It may have seemed like amon course, considering just how much we had done for them. Still, things could have gotten more dragged out if an immature Elf was in charge of this discussion.

    ¡®She¡¯s one mature Elf. How old is she? A hundred? Maybe older¡­¡¯

    I was initially a bit worried about the fact that a Royal Elf was the one in charge of the Eastern Border.

    Who would have thought that it would y out even better than I thought?

    ¡°I see. Is there no way to quicken the process? We are indeed pressed for time, and the proper preparations for battle are also factors to consider.¡± Fabian spoke.

    From his tone, he was trying to find a means to shorten the time given to us. It wasn¡¯t a bad move.

    However¡­

    ¡°Ournds have been devastated, and the surviving citizens need refuge, as well as a chance of hope. Unless you have a better suggestion concerning raising the morale of the very Elves you¡¯re thing to recruit, I would advise that you ept our reasonable offer.¡±

    Technically speaking, we weren¡¯t supposed to be having an audience with the Princess, and neither were strangers permitted to venture deeper into the Elf Kingdom¡ªto the Capital for that matter.

    Freya was being very understanding of our situation, but she was already getting quite agitated with us.

    Both sides weren¡¯t wrong, but the cultural and oriental gulf between both races would inevitably lead to disagreement.

    This was a Cultural sh!

    ¡°Pardon my interruption, but I have a suggestion, Princess.¡±

    This time, everyone looked in my direction.

    Freya¡¯s annoyed expression melted upon staring at me.

    Clearly, she thought I was more reasonable and easier to deal with than our dear Prince. In fact, the reason for most of the Elf Princess¡¯ consideration toward our group was most likely because of my strong impression on her.

    ¡°Speak.¡± Her tone was concise as she attempted to hide her satisfaction with me.

    If she showed preference toward me, it could begin to send the wrong message to both sides.

    ¡°What the Princess has said is right. In consideration of the Elves, it would be best if we wait for the Backup¡­¡±

    Elves had no Communication Magic Technology. While they could use Telepathic Magic, an effective range was required for it to function.

    Therefore, they indeed had no choice but to wait for their brethren to arrive.

    However¡­

    ¡°¡­ What if we could shorten the waiting period?¡±

    Freya controlled herself, so no surprised expression was made.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°If you grant us¡ªno, just me¡ªpermission, their arrival would be much faster than you have estimated.¡±

    It sounded preposterous and downright suspicious, but I could tell that Freya was interested.

    ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°Using Magic, Princess. As you are aware, we are able to utilize Teleportation Magic, and we have ess to the technology that you do not.¡±

    Plus, they knew we were capable of defeating the Demon Beasts and purifying the city of Miasma.

    Clearly, the Elves present¡ªFreya especially¡ª were aware that our capabilities far exceeded their own.

    ¡°Why should we trust your words?¡±

    Her next question did note as a surprise to me.

    Readily offering to basically fetch their backup was altruistic, but also incredibly suspicious.

    What if we simply used the opportunity to intrude on their territory?

    Still¡­

    ¡°It would also be in both our best interests if they arrived on time. The advantages of an Alliance with the Elves far outweigh any merit gained by forcefully gaining ess to your territories.¡±

    Judging from her expression, she agreed with me. Still, doubt lingered in her eyes.

    ¡°I believe we have proved some measure of our goodwill to you bying to your aid. I ask that you put your trust in us once more. Besides, if you are still not certain of our sincerity, then, by all means, confine all the other members of my group here and let only me handle the transportation.¡±

 Chapter 363 Grudge

    ¡°What?¡±

    Even Freya had her limits. I had just said it was enough for just me to bring transport their backup.

    Even if Teleportation Magic was possible in a group, it was too difficult for her to believe that a single Magic User¡ªespecially a young one like myself.

    Still, my earlier efforts to earn her goodwill weren¡¯t in vain.

    ¡°I am also willing to have an escort from your end to apany me, so they can monitor my activities. Surely, I wouldn¡¯t do anything as foolish as going against a representative of yours in your own Kingdom.¡±

    Freya¡¯s eyes faltered. She was calmly analyzing my words, no doubt.

    ¡®Shall we wrap this up?¡¯

    ¡°For the future prosperity of our races, as well as a more efficient means of handling the current challenge that faces us, I humbly ask that you consider my suggestion.¡±

    After all, even though the Elves were trying their hardest to hide it, they also knew the truth.

    ¡®Time is of the essence!¡¯

    ***************************

    ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll go along with your suggestion, Jared Leonard.¡±

    After a great deal of silence, deliberation, and counter-deliberations, Freya finally cracked. But, even with that¡ª

    ¡°However, I shall personally apany you to monitor your activities, and just how you n on bringing them all here.¡±

    ¡ªShe still gave conditions.

    ¡°Fair enough. I understand, Princess.¡±

    Freya smiled at me, and then turned to our leader¡ªFabian the Prince¡ªto continue their conversation.

    ¡°Now, then, where were we?¡±

    Even though Freya was now looking at Fabian, he too must have known at this point. No, not just him. Everyone in the room had to have been aware.

    That, the two who were actually conversing as representatives of their respective Race were Freya¡­ and me!

    As soon as the both of us finished our discussion, there was nothing left to be said by the likes of Fabian.

    And so, even if no one officially said it, the meeting had alreadye to a close.

    *****************************

    ¡°THAT BITCH!¡± Fabian growled, seething with pure rage.

    His eyes glowed with malice, and the look on our Prince¡¯s face spoke volumes of his wounded pride.

    ¡°Who does she think she is? After we saved her from dying! After we helped with everything! She should just shut up and listen! Shit!¡±

    Now that we were alone, Fabian was finally showing his true colors¡ªrevealing his emotions to his fellow humans.

    He wasn¡¯t worried about being heard since Damien had already coated the room with interference Magic.

    That way, no one could hear what was going on in the Private Waiting Quarters they gave us.

    Since Elves didn¡¯t have Magic Technology, there was also no way the room would have been bugged.

    Because of that, the Prince ran his mouth and openly disyed his frustrations.

    It wasn¡¯t just him who was annoyed, though.

    Every member of our group had some sort of dissatisfaction written on their face. Well, except Maria.

    I could also see it in Serah¡¯s eyes that she too was a bit upset. For someone who reigned supreme, it must have been difficult to control herself when others looked down on her.

    ¡®I¡¯m surprised she controlled herself so well¡­¡¯

    ¡°And you, Jared, what were you trying to do, uh? This is a diplomatic visit! You made our Kingdom look weak by acting all subservient like that! No wonder she was able to push us around despite how much merit we incurred!¡±

    At this point, everyone looked in my direction. Not all of their eyes contained malice.

    In fact, other than Damien and Fabian, the rest probably just needed a proper exnation.

    ¡°You were warned against insubordination, yet you interrupted the Prince¡¯s efforts many times. Not only did you disgrace our group, but also the entire Kingdom. We will be seen as incoherent and docile, even though we are better in terms of power!¡± Damien Lawcroft spoke, ring at me intensely.

    The two idiots who spoke so grandly didn¡¯t even do anything worth mentioning while saving the Elves.

    Everything was due to Serah¡¯s efforts inbination with mine.

    I could have also handled everything myself, so there wasn¡¯t much difference. Yet, they ran their mouths and tried to assume roles of importance.

    The truth was that these two were merely extras. They were diplomatic symbols of the Eastern Kingdom, in and simple.

    I did have my ns going forward, but none of these two were pertinent to the mission, other than to do what they were told.

    But, I didn¡¯t have the time or energy to waste trying to make them understand. It was worth no merit to me.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just let them think what they want.¡±

    As for theirints about my actions, it was clear they only spoke out of spite. Anyone with eyes could see that the situation only improved anytime I chimed in.

    It went to show the Prince¡¯s ipetence, and that wasn¡¯t my fault.

    ¡®You can¡¯t me me for insubordination, when the leader is pathetic.¡¯

    I tried to give Fabian a chance, but he simply wasn¡¯t qualified. To make everything run smoothly, I would just have to take over at some point.

    ¡®Telling them will be a chore¡­¡¯

    So, I ignored their inquisition and addressed everyone present.

    ¡°Do not forget that I was the one who submitted this n to his Majesty, and he approved. I will not ruin a n that painstakingly made an effort to get approval for.¡±

    My eyes focused on each of them, one after the other.

    ¡°I know what I am doing. I only ask that everyone trusts me.¡±

    Serah. Ivan. Maria. Bradford.

    As long as these four had their faith in me, that was more than enough.

    ¡°You know what you¡¯re doing, eh? Fine. That¡¯s fair enough¡­¡± Sarah finally spoke, staring at me with her ruby-like eyes.

    I nodded with a faint smile.

    ¡°¡­ Then, I hope you haven¡¯t forgotten your promise to me concerning this trip.¡±

    ¡®Ah, that one¡­¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m not having fun, Jared. I¡¯m being as considerate as can be, but¡­ I have my limits.¡±

    For a moment, I got a shiver upon hearing those words.

    ¡°All the more reason to hurry up with things.¡± Iughed slightly.

    ¡°Good. We¡¯re all counting on you.¡±

 Chapter 364 The Elf Princess [Pt 1]

    Fortunately, Serah was on my side. With that in mind, I looked at the other three. They also nodded in response, shing me their looks of support.

    ¡®Alright! Looks like I still have their trust.¡¯

    ¡°Fabian Lestrome and Damien Lawcroft, I would advise that you control your dissatisfactions. Believe it or not, the Elves are also doing their best to control themselves.¡±

    Fabian instantly made to attack me with his words once more, but I raised my hand to shush him.

    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough time to rx and collect my thoughts. I¡¯ll be heading off to fetch the Elf Backup. That way, we can quicken the process of seeing the Queen.¡±

    Fabian red at me at that moment, but Damien quickly tapped the shoulder of his prince.

    Somehow, that was able to shut Fabian up, as he only kept ring and gritting his teeth at me.

    ¡°Now, then, if you¡¯ll excuse me¡­¡± I opened the door to the room and left everyone behind.

    For a moment, I got a slight headache, causing me to grab my head a bit.

    ¡®Sigh¡­¡¯

    It had been a while since I functioned in a group where I had superiors and equals serving for the same cause.

    Thest time that happened was in my past life¡ªwhen I was a member of the Heroes¡¯ Party.

    After getting reincarnated, I had established groups¡ªespecially during the Demonic Disturbance¡ªbut, I was the leader.

    No one could question my orders, and they had no choice but to follow my rationale.

    Unlike back then, things weren¡¯t so simple.

    ¡®I thought I would be able to handle it, but¡­ I¡¯m a bit rusty.¡¯

    Either way, I just had to endure for a while longer.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go find Freya¡­¡¯

    ****************************

    After walking down the corridor and turning to the right, I arrived at the lounge where I was told to stay once I was ready to depart.

    When we concluded our meeting, they decided to show us to a temporary resting area where we could rest before a better ce could be provided.

    However, I told them not to bother preparing anywhere better.

    After all, we weren¡¯t going to be spending very long here.

    Once that was settled, they took us to the area where everyone currently was. Freya told me to converse with my fellow group members, as well as gather my thoughts, before we headed to fetch the Backup that was sent.

    I would have loved to go immediately, but I understood that her advice was also in consideration for her own end of the discussion.

    She was probably also exhausted and needed time to prepare.

    With that in mind, I decided to waste precious time doing nothing but listening to Fabian¡¯s words ofint, as well as Damien¡¯s incessant support of his tantrums.

    ¡®Well, maybe there was a little advantage of being there¡­¡¯ I secretly smiled.

    Once I entered the Lounge, I found no one there, so I sat and waited for the Princess. Since Freya heeded my suggestion, we would be going together.

    Not long after, she arrived.

    ¡°I apologize for beingte. Did you wait long?¡± She shed me a smile.

    It wasn¡¯t entirely sincere, but the face behind it held no malice. That was enough for me.

    ¡°You should have been able to detect that, right? Is there any point in asking that, Princess?¡± I spoke, rising from my seat.

    My question shocked her¡ªboth my brazenness and the truth I had just stated.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± As expected, her words hardly faltered as she maintained her position.

    ¡°Please, Princess. I understand these things well enough. The Elf Race has a deep connection to their environment. Your connection to every nook and cranny of this ce is more than enough to detect even the slightest movement.¡±

    She must have been aware of how long I was waiting. That was most likely why she was already here so soon.

    But, that wasn¡¯t all¡­

    ¡°I have to apologize as well. Forgive myrades for their rude statements concerning you and your people.¡± I bowed slightly.

    I could sense it more clearly now¡ªher flustered emotion.

    ¡°So, you knew¡­?¡± Freya whispered.

    ¡°Indeed.¡±

    Since Elves had a special connection with their environment through Mana, they could easily monitor and listen in to conversations.

    Damien¡¯s Interference Magic was absolutely useless in the face of their deep connection to Mana.

    As long as this was their territory, and Mana existed all around them, they could sense everything!

    ¡°Then, why did you not try to warn them? If you had used Telepathic Magic to warn your allies, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to listen in to your conversation.¡±

    Freya knew her stuff indeed.

    That¡¯s right! The Elves were listening to every single word spoken among us. All of Fabian¡¯sints, every single inciting statement of Damien.

    They heard everything.

    ¡°You are right. I could have¡­ but didn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Why? Are you not afraid to lose our goodwill?¡± Freya narrowed her gaze.

    Sure, this was a perfect diplomatic card she could use against us. We couldn¡¯t exactly say it was wrong for them to listen in to our conversations, considering the fact that we were in their territory.

    These were factors well within my calctions.

    ¡°Not exactly. While we operated as a group, the ones who actually rescued you are Serah Crimson and me. Besides, only two members expressed dissatisfaction with you and your people.¡±

    ¡°But, one of them was your leader.¡±

    ¡°I admit he made an error in judgment, but I would like to appeal that his aggravated emotion was a severe misunderstanding on his part. I am certain your end also has some dissatisfactions with us as well.¡±

    Once I said this, Freya gave me a piercing smile.

    ¡°You have quite a way with words, don¡¯t you?¡±

    For the first time since the conversation started, I was finally seeing the Elf beyond her diplomatic mask.

    Her gaze was sharp and fearless, and her smile was brazen.

    It wasn¡¯t a bad look.

    ¡°Not at all. I just want what is best for everyone¡­¡±

    ¡°Really? And how exactly should we go about that?¡± At this point, Freya began moving closer to me.

    ¡®Welp¡­ there¡¯s no going back from this point on. I might as well go for it!¡¯

 Chapter 365 The Elf Princess [Pt 2]

    ¡°Good should be paid with good. Same as evil. One should also not go back on their word, especially one made at a diplomatic meeting¡ªas a representative of your people.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Freya drew even closer as I said this.

    ¡°Even if my people have made some errors, I would like to bring to your remembrance that you have already given your word concerning an audience with the Queen.¡±

    The Elf Princess was now barely an inch away from me. I could feel her gaze on me. I could feel her breath.

    ¡®She smells nice¡­ like flowers¡­¡¯ My thoughts shamefully added.

    Why did I have such a weakness for this Race?!

    ¡°How do you know so much about us, anyway.¡± She spoke, looking directly into my eyes.

    Her green irises prated my brownish-yellow ones.

    ¡®I can¡¯t exactly give her the details, can I?¡¯ My lips nearly broke into a smile.

    Deciding not to back off from her, I returned her gaze with full-on confidence.

    If I took a slight step forward, our bodies would sh. Even if I was avoiding that oue, we were already plenty close to each other.

    ¡°Legends and stories. Elves are quite popr among humans. We have a high opinion of you. It¡¯s a shame your kind doesn¡¯t share the same sentiment toward us.¡±

    I was being a bit loose with my speech, but Freya didn¡¯t seem to mind at this point.

    Since our conversation had be informal, bothersome formalities had long been discarded.

    If she could move closer than she already was, Freya would have done that. Her face was already a slight millimeter from touching mine.

    ¡°Why¡­¡± She whispered.

    I gulped instantly, feeling the pressure of having an Elf so close to me.

    Unlike the time with Ana or Maria, who were very youngpared to my mental standards, I was dealing with an Elf here.

    The impure thoughts I wasn¡¯t allowed to have when I was with the young girls began manifesting.

    Elves simply had that kind of charm, and this one, in particr, was very bold.

    ¡°¡­ Why can¡¯t I read you?¡± She asked, narrowing her gaze on me.

    It felt like she could eat me alive with her eyes of extreme fixation. Freya¡¯s green-colored irises were a gem to behold, but not enough to cause me to falter, especially after that question.

    ¡°I wonder¡­¡± My response was vague.

    Another advantage of being a member of Freya¡¯s blessed race was the ability to understand the surrounding Mana.

    Unlike simply listening in and observing an area thanks to the Mana, they couldpletely break down the Mana around a person.

    Using that, Elves could easily understand the intentions of anyone in close proximity to them.

    Anger. Happiness. Malice. Pride. Humility.

    Simple emotions were understood, and a facade put up by another party could easily be torn down.

    This was one of the reasons Elves didn¡¯t think too highly of humans.

    Having understood our nature and basic tendencies, they simply relegated us to a lesser standard and had very low opinions of our Race.

    Even while Fabian was conversing with Freya, she was observing him thoroughly while using this special ability.

    ¡®That¡¯s most likely why she was so pissed at him¡­¡¯

    Of course, their capabilities in this field weren¡¯t unlimited.

    Elves could only ¡®read¡¯ targets who were not as adept as them in utilizing the surrounding Mana. In essence, mostly humans.

    Even among humans, there was one exception.

    ¡ªMe!

    Not only was I an expert at Mana Maniption, but I could freely control Mana in my surroundings thanks to Spellcraft.

    My skill in Mana Maniption (Both internal and External) had far surpassed the natural advantage Elves had over humans.

    As a result, even someone as skilled as Freya couldn¡¯t get a good read on my emotions or motive.

    ¡°I could have fooled you by showing you what you want, you know? But¡­ I chose not to.¡± My tone was low, and I kept staring passionately into her eyes.

    By controlling the wavelength of my Mana, it wouldn¡¯t be too hard to produce a result that would give Freya whatever impression I wanted.

    I could have also stopped my fellow humans from slighting the Elves. I had enough power and information topletely control this situation.

    But¡­

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to manipte anything. Consider this a part of my sincerity, Princess Freya. My goal is simply to bring about an alliance between humans and Elves.¡±

    After I said this, there was silence on both ends.

    Only the sounds of our breaths could be heard. Human and Elf stood face to face, none budging or flinching.

    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll believe your words.¡± Freya said, finally stepping away from me.

    ¡®Huu¡­!¡¯ I nearly heaved in relief.

    The intensity between the Princess and me nearly brought back some awkward memories.

    ¡°I will keep observing you, though.¡±

    She meant every word. I could tell since I could read her Mana and discern her intentions.

    ¡®Unlike me, Elves haven¡¯t actively trained to mask their true intentions¡­¡¯

    Why would they¡ªespecially someone like Freya¡ªneed to do something like that?

    They were more adept at Mana than nearly every other Race, and humans could not dream of reaching their connection with nature through Mana.

    I was simply an exception.

    ¡°That is more than enough for me, Princess.¡±

    ¡°Hmph! Enough with the ¡®Princess¡¯ business. Call me Freya! I will also call you Jared. Do you object?¡±

    ¡®That¡¯s what I was hoping for. Thanks for bringing it up yourself.¡¯

    Still, who would have thought I would be able to get this close to her in such a short span?

    ¡°Then, I will do as you say¡­ Freya.¡± I smiled as I said her name.

    ¡°Urgh. That¡¯s a disgusting smile. Humans never change, do they?¡±

    ¡°Have you ever met a human before?¡±

    ¡°Uh? W-what are you suddenly talking about? Of course, I have!¡±

    ¡®Pfft! Lies. Pure lies!¡¯ I mused.

    ¡°Then, shall we get ready to depart?¡± I smiled, changing to a more pertinent subject.

    ¡°Huu. Sure. But, how exactly do you n on reaching the Envoys? Even we don¡¯t know their exact positions¡­¡± Freya asked, looking at me with curiosity.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s no problem.¡±

    After all, as soon as Freya permitted me, I had ordered a few of my Automatons on standby to scout for the Backup force.

 Chapter 366 The Elf Princess [Pt 3]

    My constructs were quite fast since they were built for scouting purposes, so it didn¡¯t take them very long to scour every possible route leading to the Eastern Border¡ªour current location.

    And so¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ve already spotted them. As you indeed estimated, it would have taken them about three days to arrive here.¡±

    ¡°E¡ªeh?! No way!¡±

    ¡­ My spies had sessfully spotted an army of a hundred thousand Elves steadily approaching the Western Border.

    ¡®That¡¯s quite a lot of them. Is it because the Princess is here?¡¯

    If there were to be a simrity between the Human and Elf Races, it would be their value for Royalty.

    Freya¡¯s importance to the Kingdom, as well as then potentially losing a Border, must have been what prompted such arge army to have been dispatched.

    ¡°Now, then, shall we go fetch them?¡±

    ¡°J-just like that? I don¡¯t understand¡­¡±

    It seemed she was losing herposure the longer she spent with me.

    As much as I would love to test down her defenses and make herpletely harmless, we were pressed for time.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± I swiftly approached her and closed our distance in a sh.

    ¡°Hold o¡ª!¡±

    Before she concluded her statement, a bright blue light enveloped both of us, and an intricate Magic Circle appeared on the ground.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    In a sh, we vanished from the Lounge.

    ***************************

    udius rode upon his Magic Beast, diligently staring ahead.

    His focus didn¡¯t waver in the slightest as he kept moving atop his loyal steed.

    His hair was pure white, and his purple eyes seemed to possess some urgency.

    The Elf¡¯s entire body quaked in anxiety, and he could not control the rising difort in his heart.

    ¡®Sister, please be safe!¡¯ Prince udius¡¯ thoughts were upied with that single thought.

    His Magic Beast, known as an Earth Dragon, belonged to the mightiest of Beats when it came to transport.

    Its strength and stamina were on another level, and it also belonged to a subspecies of the mighty Dragon Race.

    Even though they weren¡¯t particrly recognized as a Major Race in the world thanks to their abysmal poption, no one could dispute the fact that they were recognized as the strongest beings in existence

    The Earth Dragons inherited some of their traits, and were also considered the mightiest of steeds.

    Prince udius rode atop his personal Dragon¡ªDrake¡ªas he trod upon the Elf ins.

    He wasn¡¯t the only one, though.

    Behind him was an army that caused a great uproar and quake upon the ground as they marched.

    While none were on Earth Dragons¡ªsince those were rare¡ªthey all rode Warhorses and charged behind their Prince.

    Even though they were at full speed, none of the horses could even catch up to the Earth Dragon¡¯s steady pace.

    In all honesty, udius could have easily overtaken them and gotten to his destination sooner, however¡­

    ¡°I have to be patient¡­ I have to be¡­¡± udius muttered under his roughened breath.

    He tried to avoid disying his desperation, anxiety, and most of all¡­ his powerlessness!

    Despite his skill and tenacious spirit, the Prince was no fool.

    He was well aware of his limits, and the fact that he alone couldn¡¯t defeat a horde of Demon Beasts.

    That was why he made sure to keep a good pace with the rest of the Elf forces.

    Unless he wanted to die a meaningless death, udius had to be patient and deal a deathly strike to the enemies that gued their Borders.

    Plus¡­ he had promised his mother, the Queen, that he wouldn¡¯t be reckless.

    That was the condition he had to fulfill so he could be allowed to join the Backup Force.

    ¡®Freya! Just hang in there!¡¯ He gritted his teeth, even more, staring into the far distance.

    >BZZZZZTTTZZZ<

    ¡°¡­ Uh?!¡±

    >VWUUUUUMMMMM!!!<

    Before Prince udius could fullyprehend the surge of energy that had just manifested, a spatial rift appeared, and two people came out of it.

    The bright sparks of light vanished, and the warp dissolved, leaving only the two neers standing in the path.

    ¡°Who are those¡ª?!¡± The Elf Prince gritted his teeth, wondering who would be so reckless as to appear in the way of a stampeding army.

    His mind forgot about the fact that they had teleported thanks to his anxiety, and he gazed at them with ferociousness.

    ¡®Get out of the way!!!¡¯ He raged.

    After all, his mission was important! If he didn¡¯t hurry, then¡­ his sister¡ª!!!

    ¡°Hold on¡­¡± The Prince squinted his eyes at the two people a small distance from him.

    Sure enough, one of them was perfectly identical to the one he so desperately sought. She looked just like¡ª

    ¡°F-Freyaaaaa!!!¡± He screamed.

    Drake¡ªhis loyal steed¡ªinstinctively knew that his queue had arrived.

    Slowing his pace, the Earth Dragon came to a halt, making sure it stopped a couple of inches from the Elf Princess.

    ¡°Freya, i-is that really you?!¡± Prince udius jumped from the Earth Dragon and dashed toward his sister.

    This was too good to be true.

    It was actually pretty impossible, udius was well aware.

    However, at this moment¡­ nothing else mattered.

    The fact that he was looking at his sister at the moment was more than enough for him.

    Then¡ª

    ¡°Brother, you came!¡± The white-haired Elf raced toward him and buried herself in his arms.

    Her warmth was real, the palpitation of her heart couldn¡¯t have been an illusion. Her flowery scent hadn¡¯t changed.

    This was indeed his sister!

    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re safe¡­¡± udius nearly broke into a sob at this point.

    The girl, his sister Freya, nodded as she hugged him even tighter.

    The atmosphere of a brother reuniting with his sister was so deeply emotional that both parties made sure to control their overwhelming emotion.

    Family was important, so important that both members of royalty were shamelessly disying such intense affection in front of so many witnesses.

    udius didn¡¯t care, though. He was just happy to see Freya again.

    And so, before the Elf Prince knew it, the tight feeling of anxiety and fear that was guing his heart¡­ suddenly vanished.

 Chapter 367 Seething Emotions

    It was a bit¡ªno, who am I kidding? Extremely¡ªawkward.

    I simply stood there, watching as the siblings smothered themselves with love, not caring about those who watched.

    The Prince was wearing silver armor, simr to what his sister had on. The design was intricate, and I could tell that it was meant for Royalty.

    Behind the Prince, was the army my Automatons spotted.

    I could see the ufortable and impatient looks on their faces. The General¡ªa woman¡ªwas especially not very thrilled by this development.

    Her brown hair and sharply earnest looks reminded me of that deputy I saw back when our group was talking with Freya.

    Her emotion, same as that of the other Elf Soldiers, was seething.

    I could understand why.

    ¡®They¡¯re worried about what happened to the Eastern Territory.¡¯

    The fact the Princess was here meant that she either abandoned the Borders, or that it had been obliterated.

    I found it hard that someone with Freya¡¯s personality would abandon anything in her care, and I was sure the other Elves shared my sentiment.

    But, fear and anxiety could often make a person think the worst of another.

    In this case, it was more usible that Freya fled.

    At least, that would give the army some hope that there was still an Eastern Border to rescue¡­ as well as someone to direct their negative emotions to.

    ¡®Many of them should have families, friends, or acquaintances there. It¡¯s no wonder that they readily mobilized even though they would be fighting Demon Beasts¡­¡¯

    Watching both brother and sister snuggle it up must have been quite agitating for the other Elves.

    ¡®Then¡­ should I interfere?¡¯

    Fortunately, I didn¡¯t need to. The General beat me to the game.

    She approached the reunited Elven Royalty and spoke up.

    ¡°Prince udius, Princess Freya. I think it¡¯s best to ascertain what exactly has happened to the Eastern Border.¡± She bowed respectfully as she spoke.

    As expected of the poise of an Elf. It never ceased to amaze me.

    ¡°O-Oh, that¡¯s true¡­¡± The Prince, addressed as udius, finally detached himself from his sister.

    Freya too, realizing how thoughtless both their actions had been, took a few steps backward.

    For some reason, she even looked at me with an embarrassed expression.

    Like, what was my business with their family reunion?

    ¡®Don¡¯t drag me into this!¡¯ Was the stance I strictly took.

    ¡°What happened, Freya? The Demon Beasts. The danger¡­ how are you here? What about¡­ him?¡± udius shot me a nce, as though telling me he hadn¡¯t forgotten about my existence.

    As expected of Elves. This discrimination is just a bit¡­

    ¡°A-ah, yes. Don¡¯t worry, the Eastern Border issue has beenpletely resolved. In fact, that¡¯s one of the reasons we came here¡­¡± Freya said, signaling me to draw closer to her.

    ¡®Aye, aye, captain.¡¯ I thought to myself, swiftly obeying her.

    I stood a little behind her, bowing to both the Prince and the General behind him.

    ¡°May the Spirits bless our meeting.¡±

    They nodded, hiding their surprise at my etiquette.

    ¡°This man is a human from the Eastern Kingdom. He was sent alongside an Envoy to deliver a message of goodwill. They rescued our people from the Demon Beasts and even purified the entire area.¡±

    At this point, the General and udius couldn¡¯t hide their surprise.

    They both knew better than to doubt Freya, so they could only stare at me with shock and awe.

    ¡°We teleported here to inform you about this, and also to resolve some pertinent matters.¡±

    As she rushed them with a lot of information, udius changed his gaze when staring at me.

    Even the hardened General¡¯s face softened up once she realized that everything was fine.

    It was supposed some time to exin to them, but thanks to Freya¡¯s articte speech, she summarized the incident.

    The whole thing didn¡¯t evenst ten minutes.

    Of course, the Princess made sure to omit some sensitive matters that could only be heard by Royalty, or those of importance.

    Since the whole Army was present, it wasn¡¯t exactly the right time to divulge matters concerning the proposed Alliance.

    udius and the General understood this, so they didn¡¯t ask about the several holes in Freya¡¯s story.

    By the time she was done, everyone was looking at me differently.

    Their gazes, initially filled with slight skepticism and suspicion, morphed into gratitude.

    udius and the General especially thanked me, even going as far as bowing to express their gratitude.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t do that. As we are still on existing protocol, let us meet somewhere more private to have an informal conversation.¡± I smiled.

    Both were surprised by my consistent utilization of manners, granting me more prestige.

    Having no choice but to agree with me, the Prince and General decided to trust Freya¡¯s words and my judgment.

    ¡°Since Freya has demanded that the Backup Force reached the Eastern Border before any further action on your part is made, I will be ensuring you arrive there as soon as possible.¡±

    ¡°H-hold on, you still think you can teleport this many people?!¡±

    The moment Freya asked this question, I stared at her with a confident expression ying on my face.

    ¡°After spending so long with me, do you still believe any of my words are empty?¡±

    ¡°That¡­ I just¡­¡±

    She was at a loss for words.

    Common sense and even advanced logic made it tantly clear that it was impossible to achieve such Mass Teleportation.

    It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t believe me, but it was just beyond understanding; which was why I had to show her concept of what was possible and impossible was wed.

    ¡°Then¡­ show me.¡± She smiled defiantly, gazing at me with a piercing gaze.

    ¡°Prove me wrong!¡±

    A part of her appeared to be hopeful, excited even, to see what kind of miracle I would pull off.

    That part was plenty for me to work on.

    ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s do this.¡±

    The other Elves probably thought I was crazy, but they couldn¡¯t refute Freya¡¯s words and my unhindered confidence.

    So, they just fell silent and watched.

    Their eyes were fixated on me, ready to witness a miracle.

    ¡®A hundred thousand, uh? I¡¯ve never transported so many before¡­¡¯ A smile formed on my face as I nced around.

    ¡®¡­ Is that what they think?¡¯

 Chapter 368 Heading For Elf Capital

    The Elf Kingdom had an abundance of Mana, so Spellcraft was even easier to use.

    Gathering all the Mana and focusing it on a single location¡ªthat is, another Spell Card infused with the Teleportation Form of the Tower Arcana¡ªI activated the Transcendent Spell.

    >VWUUUUUSSSHHHH<

    The spectators were astonished, to say the least.

    I smiled, watching them gawk at the brilliant disy of white and blue light.

    A massive Magic Circle appeared beneath everyone, enveloping the entire area in the Spell¡¯s Area Of Effect.

    Before long, the one hundred thousand Elves were in my effective range, and all that was left¡­

    ¡°Brace yourselves.¡±

    ¡­ Was to activate the spatial warp.

    *****************************

    The matter concluded rather swiftly.

    I won my wager with Freya and got to see her speechless expressions. It was very well worth it.

    The Elf Soldiers were equally amazed.

    The General and Prince were also quite amazed. I could tell from the glints in their eyes that they wanted to have further conversations with me concerning my Spell Card and the concept behind the Teleportation Magic I used.

    It wasn¡¯t the time and ce for something like that yet, so I was able to avoid any direct confrontation.

    As for the soldiers, they were told to rest from their long journey. The impatient ones were handled by the Border¡¯s military, and were allowed to see the survivors of the demonic onught.

    Hopefully, their friends and families were among those who weren¡¯t killed.

    To my surprise, Maya¡ªFreya¡¯s deputy¡ªwas actually the General¡¯s daughter. I had spotted their resemnce, but who would have thought they had that kind of rtionship?

    ¡®They look more like sisters¡­¡¯

    But, this was simply the disadvantage of the Elves¡¯ long life.

    They all looked young and healthy. It was hard to tell who was older.

    Once the touching reunion was done, it was time for a private discourse between me and the important Elf figures.

    Freya and I agreed it was better not to involve any other member of our Envoy, so only I represented everyone.

    It was basically insubordination, but for things to run exactly ording to my wishes, I needed to be in control of certain situations. Since I couldn¡¯tpletely control Fabian¡¯s actions, this was the best course of action.

    We went to the reception, and discussed at length; Princess Freya, Prince udius, General ra, and me.

    The General¡ªwhose name I found to be ra¡ªgave me her thanks several times over before the meeting began.

    udius did the same as well.

    It turned out Freya was one of the more intense ones among the Elves. The other Elves were more receptive to me.

    Could it have been because of their initial desperation?

    ¡®No. It¡¯s probably their personalities. This isn¡¯t too bad¡­¡¯

    And so, with an amicable atmosphere, we began our conversation.

    **************************

    Fortunately, things went more smoothly this time around.

    I wasn¡¯t overly formal¡ªit wasn¡¯t necessary¡ªand we were able to resolve matters pretty quickly.

    After I was done with my piece, I was excused from the meeting since the Elves had to discuss certain matters with one another.

    I had a pretty good guess on what the subject would be.

    ¡®What will be their next step going forward?¡¯

    The Eastern Border had been severely damaged, and the Elf citizens who had survived were forced to live in harsh conditions as a result of most of the habitable houses being destroyed.

    Not only infrastructure, but also supplies, had been devastated.

    As a result, matters as simple as food began to be an issue.

    Magic could do many things, so certain Spells existed to grant nourishment and alleviate hunger. But, those were only temporary measures.

    Ultimately, food was a necessary element in the life of every living being.

    The supplies in stock wouldn¡¯tst a few days, ording to what I had observed from my scouts.

    Temptation fell on me to listen in to the conversation they were having. Hearing valuable information would allow me to gain more useful cards in bargaining with our potential allies, after all.

    But, I decided against it.

    ¡®I¡¯ll just let things flow naturally. Be patient, Jared¡­ you¡¯ve got this!¡¯

    **************************

    The decision was made unanimously.

    We would be leaving for the Elf Capital along with Freya and udius.

    General ra, and about a quarter of her backup squad would remain in the Eastern Border to protect the innocent Elves of the Border.

    They would also ensure the security of their territory.

    Though, after I offered to help transport the Elf citizens to the Capital, the initial n was altered.

    Since it was currently very dangerous in the Eastern Border, my suggestion was adopted. I was going to transport three-quarters of the Elf Soldiers, the Eastern Border citizens, our Envoy, the Prince, and also the Princess, to the Capital.

    Freya had been initially concerned about me pushing myself too hard, but her worries were all for nothing.

    With my current Mana Capacity, as well as the rich aid of the Elf Kingdom¡¯s Mana supporting my Spellcraft, using Magic had never been easier.

    Leaving some of my Automatons to watch over the Eastern Border, I bid farewell to the area and focused on my mission in the next ce we were heading to.

    Then, using yet another dispensable Spell Card, I activated the Teleportation Magic.

    **********************

    ¡°WHAT?!¡± An aggravated voice echoed in a massive tent¡¯s interior.

    The owner was a bulky being who had a scaly appearance and obviously didn¡¯t look human. He was easily the size of a giant, and the peculiar look he had belonged to the Greens of the Demon Race.

    There was most definitely no one in the Demon Army who didn¡¯t know of his identity.

    Zenkiel Of Vert!

    He was one of the Demon Lords, and his role was the most central of all of them.

    As Commander-In-Chief, Zenkiel was responsible for the entire well-being of the Army.

    Logistics. Strategy. Assault. Defense. He had to manage all of those affairs.

    Even though he was busy with many things, Zenkiel never faltered. His task was performed with immense swiftness and uracy.

    Which was why he was able to receive this new report as soon as he did.

 Chapter 369 A Demons Strategy

    ¡°H-how¡­? This is sooner than expected.¡± Zenkiel growled, staring at the report before him.

    ording to what was written there, the forces of Demon Beasts sent to the Elf Kingdom had all been vanquished.

    Not an ounce of Miasma could also be sensed in their territory.

    ¡°What¡¯s happening? This shouldn¡¯t have been resolved yet.¡±

    While the report hadn¡¯t mentioned the details concerning the incident¡ªlike how it had urred or who the perpetrators were¡ªbasic facts like the utter annihtion of their Demon Beasts, as well as the dispersal of Miasma, were mentioned.

    It was incredibly worrisome, to say the least.

    Zenkiel had also heard of how the Eastern Kingdom was also able to eliminate the Demon Beast threat sooner than expected. Both their opponents were more troublesome than expected.

    As a prime General, as well as an extremely intelligent Demon, the Lord was beginning to question his initial assertion of their opponents.

    Underestimating one¡¯s targets was a fatal move, but the same could also be said concerning overestimating them.

    ording to the information he received from nc and her agents spread across the Eastern Kingdom, it was very obvious that the humans weren¡¯t major threats to them.

    In fact, most of them were utterly mediocre.

    Appropriate countermeasures had been ced for the few who could stand up to them, so they were no problem either.

    Still, it was quite upsetting that the Elves were also betraying his expectations.

    The Whites hadn¡¯t been able to invade the Elf territories thanks to their opponent¡¯s troublesome discerning abilities.

    The intensity and purity of Mana there also prevented them from keeping a low profile while there.

    That was why the probe attack had been to determine the Elf Kingdom¡¯s level of power.

    The initial results had been satisfactory, but the sudden destruction of Demon Beasts made Zenkiel worried.

    ¡°What should I do¡­?¡± He murmured, gritting his teeth.

    He needed more information, that was for sure.

    ¡°I shouldunch another probe attack on both parties,¡± Zenkiel murmured.

    The only way to get urate reports was to experience them personally.

    While he couldn¡¯t leave his position, due to several reasons, he had several trustworthy servants who could serve as his eyes and ears.

    ¡°Yes. I should send four of my Nine Stars. If they each lead an army of one thousand Demon Beasts, andunch assaults and multiple ces at once, I¡¯ll be able to gain more intel.¡±

    Allocating two of his direct subordinates to the Eastern Kingdom, and two to the Elf Kingdom was the best step to employ.

    ¡®I¡¯ll make sure they attack separate spots so I can get more information¡­¡¯ Zenkiel¡¯s thoughts were in overdrive.

    Now, all he had to do was acquire the pawns for the task from Kyron¡ªthe Demon Lord in charge of their Beasts.

    While Demon Beasts were disposable soldiers, conscripting four thousand of them out of the blue wasn¡¯t exactly a simple matter.

    However, as Commander-In-Chief of the Demon Army, he was allowed this much leeway.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just draft an order for him¡­ or should I see him in person?¡±

    As Zenkiel pondered on his options, the image of Kyron appeared in his mind.

    If he was being frank with himself, the Vert Demon Lord didn¡¯t really like Kyron¡¯s personality. He had tried to get rid of this bias, but nothing worked.

    ¡°It always seems like he¡¯s nning something ominous¡­¡± Zenkiel murmured.

    He despised people with conniving personalities the most. They weren¡¯t loyal, and their selfish actions often destabilized the muchrger group.

    Perhaps Kyron was different and he was just being paranoid. But, Zenkiel¡¯s instincts kept telling him he was right.

    Which was why he was hesitant to visit his colleague in person.

    However, after considering it for a bit, the Commander-In-Chief decided that a direct request would be much faster.

    After all, they didn¡¯t have much time left.

    ¡°Huu¡­ I better resolve this quickly.¡±

    For the greater good of the Demon Realm, and also for his King, Abellion, Zenkiel steeled himself for his decision.

    ******************************

    The light around me shed, and everything became blurry as we all warped.

    As the scenery changed, a smile formed on my face as I swiftly reyed the expected incidents that would soon ur.

    After Kahn informed me of the current ranks of Demon Lords, and I knew Zenkiel was now among them, it became a near-certain win for me.

    I knew his Superior¡¯s methods inside and out, and Zenkiel was bound to follow the same route.

    Everything that had happened so far was exactly as I predicted, which meant the next move would also fall within expectations.

    ¡®Zenkiel must be getting worked-up from the Denise of the Demon Beasts. Knowing him, he¡¯ll want to swiftly correct his mistake.¡¯

    To do that, he would need to acquire dispensable tools to test the waters and re-determine the level of threat both the Elves and humans posed against the Demon Army.

    If I was right, he wouldunch simultaneous attacks on the Eastern and Elf Kingdoms¡ªat a much more dangerous scale than before, no doubt.

    Since I wasn¡¯t in the Eastern Kingdom currently, I was leaving the matter in capable hands.

    As for the Elves, this was simply a better opportunity to score more points with them.

    ¡®I¡¯ll make you overestimate your enemies, Zenkiel. And, when you do¡­¡¯

    A broad grin formed on my face as I remembered the younger green Demon General from my Past Life.

    ¡®¡­ You¡¯ll be ying right into my hands!¡¯

    >VWUUUUUSSSHHHH!!!<

    As soon as I concluded my thought, the bright light around me shimmered once more, and thendscape waspletely different from before.

    I now stood before a very massive gate,ying my eyes on tall walls that stretched for a.long distance. They encircled a city, and the materials seemed highly fortified, as well as beautiful.

    Behind me were the Elf Soldiers. Beside me were Elf Royalty.

    So, even though I was a mere human, my sudden appearance before the massive gate didn¡¯t instigate violence from the wary Elf Guards who manned the city¡¯s garrisons.

    I smiled, looking at the polished stones that made up the fortified City walls.

    Memories came flooding in as I looked above me¡ªwitnessing a towering structure that seemed to sink into the clouds.

    Bittersweet experiences flooded in, and I clutched my aching chest, softly whispering to myself.

    ¡°After so many centuries¡­ I¡¯m finally back.¡±

 Chapter 370 Land Of The Elves [Pt 1]

    The clear skies, glistening road, polished walls, massive gate, and the immensely powerful Mana in the atmosphere.

    This could have only been one ce.

    ¡°Wee, humans, to the Elf Capital.¡± Princess Freya and Prince udius took the lead as they addressed us with smiles.

    Our team, with Fabian at the center, all marveled at the glorious disy before us.

    The Elf Capital had tall walls of polished stone, and the gate wasrge as well. One could only guess how amazing the City would look like within.

    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the Elf denizens and our soldiers, you handle the delegates,¡± udius spoke to his sister.

    She nodded instantly and bid her brother a temporary farewell.

    ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll lead you to your guest quarters.¡± Freya urged our group.

    One look from her was enough to tell the garrisons to avert their suspicious res and open the gates of the Capital.

    Royalty was feared and respected among the Elves.

    Not only were they longer-lived thanks to their closer proximity to the Sacred Tree, but their superior genes also made them more adept at Mana.

    And so, even if the guards were wondering what mere humans were doing at the Capital, it wasn¡¯t in his ce to question Freya¡¯s authority.

    The City gates slowly opened, weing us to the glorious civilization of the Elf people.

    ¡°Alright. Shall we get going?¡±

    ******************************

    Within the City were busy roads andrge buildings.

    It was amazing that they were able to build so many intricate structures without the use of Magic Technology.

    It just went to show how very skilled the Elves were at the use of Magic.

    Many people would have the mistaken idea that our long-eared neighbors were primitive and perhaps lived in thatched huts so they could be closer to nature.

    However, their assumptions would be wed.

    Elves indeed were close to nature, and they also avoided technologies because of this very fact.

    However, that simply meant that they found alternatives that were just as good as utilizing technology.

    Mana was the very essence of the life of Elves, and unlike humans, these beings utilized it very freely.

    Magic was as easy as breathing.

    Thanks to that fact, and their immensely long youth, they were able to build a strong civilization for themselves.

    Freya led us down the streets, and we walked behind her¨Cwell almost all of us did.

    For some reason, the Elf Princess made me walk beside her and also began conversing with me about the earlier Teleportation Spell I performed.

    I didn¡¯t know if she was just ying dumb, but, several Elves were already shooting us surprised looks.

    Of course, the Princess still had the respected gaze of the people, so that meant I was exempt from the icy stares of the Elves since she was talking with me.

    I kind of felt bad about the others who were behind us.

    ¡®Sorry, guys. This is all for diplomacy!¡¯ I apologized internally and made sure to engage the Princess in whatever we were discussing.

    Even though I wasn¡¯t getting as many icy res from the Elves, I could still feel a very strong oneing behind me.

    It felt so close, and the fact that I was talking with Freya made it rude for me to avert my attention elsewhere.

    But, upon using my sensory abilities¡­ I found out it was actuallying from our diplomatic group.

    As for the person responsible, it was none other than Maria.

    ¡®A-ah, I almost forgot¡­ damn¡­¡¯

    Even though I had wanted to ask her lots of questions, it was quite difficult to approach her so I postponed the matter.

    Now that things had gotten quite busy, I no longer had any free time to talk.

    ¡®Just hold it in, Maria. This is for the greater good. You understand, right?¡¯

    I knew she was most likely jealous since Freya was snuggling me all to herself, but who would have thought the stoic Maria would have such a side to her?

    Her jealousy was unwarranted, though.

    Humans had no appeal to Elves.

    We weren¡¯t as smart, mature, or skillful as them.

    They also kept their youth even after hundreds of years, but we were quick to age.

    Of one added all the factors of being human, Elves would rather find members of their race attractive.

    I mean, sure, I was handsome. But, I was only human, right? Give me a couple of decades, and then old age would catch up.

    That was how things were.

    For an Elf like Freya, who was over a hundred years old, what good would having a fifteen-year-old boy do to her?

    ¡®She¡¯ll still live for about three hundred years, or more. Compared to that¡­¡¯

    Still, even though my analysis of the Elves was perfectly logical, there remained some weird ones among their bunch¡­

    ¡­ Just like one I used to know.

    ¡®Na. No one can be as crazy as that one!¡¯

    An Elf that would fall in love with a human. A weak-ass Inept human for that matter.

    There could be no Elf as crazy as her.

    ¡°I apologize for the rude behavior of my people.¡± Freya broke me out of my thoughts.

    I stared at the white-haired Elf with surprise written on my face.

    It was rare to see an Elf apologize to a lowly human.

    ¡°Yourrades are receiving quite the number of stares, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    Now that she brought it up, it was the perfect time to score more points.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. I understand well. Humans suddenly walking through your capital are bound to attract attention. Based on your perception of our kind, this was the inevitable oue.¡±

    I had offered to teleport us straight to our destination, but Freya told me it was better if the public knew of our arrival.

    Since we would be forming an Alliance, they had to be aware at some point.

    The sooner the better.

    ¡°Why did you single me out, though? Shouldn¡¯t it have been our leader?¡± I asked with a smile.

    Freya¡¯s green eyes glimmered a bit as she returned my grin with hers.

    I liked how she wasn¡¯t fazed at all.

    ¡°That¡¯s because I like you, Jared. You¡¯re a different case.¡±

 Chapter 371 Land Of The Elves [Pt 2]

    ¡°That¡¯s because I like you, Jared. You¡¯re a different case.¡±

    Well, I somehow had the feeling that was the case.

    ¡®Of course, ¡®like¡¯ here can be seen as the way someone adores a good dog, or admires a nice toy. It¡¯s nothing special at all¡­¡¯

    ¡°I see. Well, that¡¯s quite advantageous for me. I am happy to have found favor in the sight of the Princess.¡± I made a mock bow andughed.

    Somehow the chilly re behind me intensified, causing me to straighten up my posture in a sh.

    ¡°Hahaha. You¡¯re amazing, Jared. To think you were able to maintain yourposure even after hearing that. It¡¯s like you¡¯re not at all fazed by anything.¡±

    ¡°Well, I feel you¡¯re the same. Your confidence is incredibly off the charts.¡± I replied to her words with a genuine smile.

    I was actually enjoying this conversation. From what I sensed from Freya, it was the same for her.

    ¡°Just my confidence?¡± A sly smile formed on her lips.

    ¡®Oh, boy. What now?¡¯ Women always tried to pull this off.

    ¡°You know, I¡¯m considered extremely attractive by the people here. And I¡¯m Royalty as well. Yet, you don¡¯t seem too fazed by that fact. Even your Prince loses hisposure at some point when dealing with me, but you¡­¡±

    ¡®Oh¡­ so that¡¯s what she meant.¡¯

    ¡°Well, I have had the opportunity to deal with many beautiful women before. Royalty as well. So, it must be my experience that is helping.¡±

    ¡°Oh? You don¡¯t seem all too old, though. Just how many women could you have experienced?¡±

    It felt strange that I, as a minor, was discussing something like this with an Elf who was older than me by a hundred years.

    ¡®Well, if we strictly calcte our age, I should be older¡­¡¯

    Still, something about the direction of this conversation didn¡¯t feel right.

    ¡°I¡¯ve experienced enough¡­¡± I stole a nce behind me to look at Maria.

    Hopefully, she wasn¡¯t too irritated by my conversation with the Elf Princess.

    My actions were necessary! I simply wished everyone understood that.

    Fortunately, Maria¡¯s expression was the same as always. That gave me some peace, so I returned my focus to the Princess.

    She looked slightly annoyed.

    ¡®Ah, I forgot!¡¯

    Why did I turn my focus when I was discussing with Elf Royalty? I had gotten so carried away by our casual conversation that I had forgotten about how positions.

    ¡®Come on, Jared! Focus!¡¯

    The only thing I could do now was apologize. The Princess would understand as long as I yed my cards right.

    ¡°I¡¯m sor¡ª¡±

    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. I understand¡­¡±

    ¡®Oh? She understands already? Perfect!¡¯ I knew Elves were sensible, but not to this extent.

    It seemed Freya was far more perceptive than I imagined.

    ¡°Hey, Jared¡­ can I ask you a personal question?¡±

    ¡®Hm?¡¯ I was curious at this point.

    Just after epting my apology, she wanted to ask a question. It would be extremely rude of me to refuse, wouldn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Please do.¡± I shed my capable grin.

    ¡°Alright then. So, Jared, are you perchance in a romantic rtionship of any kind?¡±

    ¡®GUGHHH!!!¡¯ I never saw that oneing.

    I controlled my expression, but my heart beat very fast as the gears within my head turned to process the question.

    Judging from Freya¡¯s tone and expression, she was simply curious. It didn¡¯t seem like she had any ulterior motives for asking.

    However, the Mana I was sensing around her was quite¡­ disturbing.

    As confused as I was, an answer was due. Since I had told her to go ahead with her personal question, it was my responsibility to respond.

    ¡°No. I am not.¡± I told the truth.

    Honesty was the best policy, after all.

    ¡°I see. Then, that¡¯s fine.¡±

    ¡°May I ask why you asked me that question?¡±

    ¡°I have no intention of replying.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I see¡­¡±

    The Princess¡¯ personality turned more assertive all of a sudden, and I began to get bad vibes.

    Fortunately, our conversation came to an end soon enough. After all, we had arrived at our destination.

    ¡ªThe Royal Pce!

    ******************************

    The Royal Pce guards weed Freya with mild surprise and happiness.

    They must have all known about the incident on the Eastern Border, so they were quite surprised to see their Princess back so soon.

    She didn¡¯t give them any replies to their confusion since her first course of duty was to give a report to the Queen.

    And so, they could only open the gates for her, as well as us.

    The guards¡ªunlike the regr Elves¡ªdidn¡¯t seem to stare at us with discriminatory eyes.

    It intrigued me a little, but I didn¡¯t say anything. We simply entered the luxurious Pcepound and followed Freya through a side path.

    As promised, the Princess took us to our living quarters.

    It was a massive apartment that had a very massive interior, as well as multiple rooms. The designs were intricate and elegant.

    It was easy to see the beautiful craftsmanship of the Elves at work.

    Since it was located in the Royal Pce, the building was extremely luxurious. This form of hospitality wasn¡¯t something befitting of humans¡ªording to Elf standards.

    ¡°Thank you for this hospitality, Princess Freya.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± The Elfdy shot me an icy look instantly.

    ¡°Sorry, Freya. Haha, thought you wanted me to call you that since you suddenly grew stiff on me.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that? It¡¯s nothing. I was just in thought is all.¡±

    ¡®Okay¡­?¡¯ I stared at the incoherent Elf.

    Deciding to leave things as they were was the best option for me, so I let the issue slide.

    ¡°Well, you should all rest well today. I¡¯ll deliver your message to the Queen, and I¡¯ll be sure to speak in your favor too.¡±

    Everyone in the room thanked the Princess.

    ¡°The Queen will decide when to meet you, so please be prepared, starting tomorrow. For now, though, rest.¡±

    Once she was done, Freya pulled me by the right hand and went out of the room where everyone was.

    ¡°I do hope we speak once more¡­¡±

    Her left hand covered the hand that she was already holding, sandwiching my right palm between both of hers.

    Instantly, I felt a tingle.

    It was a rush of Mana, yet it felt warm. The feeling permeated my body, and then my heart.

    Instantly, I understood.

    ¡°The spirits indeed blessed our encounter. I certainly hope they continue to do so.¡±

    With that, Freya turned away and left me all alone¡ªstanding in the corridor.

    For a moment, I was frozen.

    Memories of the first time I felt the sensation came rushing in.

    I raised my right hand and looked at it, recalling the sensation I felt.

    It was Resonance.

    But, for Elves, doing something like that was synonymous with one thing.

    ¡°Freya¡­ likes me¡­?!¡±

 Chapter 372 A Slightly Magical Night [Pt 1]

    That night, I couldn¡¯t sleep.

    The sensation on my right hand kept me from falling asleep.

    The image of Freya imprinting her Mana on me kept resurfacing.

    We all had our rooms in the amodation provided, so no one could see me twist and then on the veryrge bed Iy on.

    Ultimately, I wasn¡¯t able to fall asleep.

    ¡®Should I just do some training to clear my head?¡¯

    I decided against it.

    Doing something intense would require me to leave the area temporarily. Since we were on an important mission, I couldn¡¯t very well abandon it halfway.

    ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll just take a walk¡­¡¯

    Deciding on that instead, I dressed up for a walk and walked out of my room.

    I passed by the hallway and descended the stairs.

    Before long, I arrived at the ground floor and was met with the cool embrace of the wind and the flowery scent of the abundant garden.

    Unfortunately, these only served to remind me more of Freya.

    ¡®No¡­¡¯

    I shook my head and decided to walk even further, striding along the garden and enjoying the cool atmosphere of the night.

    The best part about the walk was solitude. After being around so many people for so long, I finally had time for myself.

    It was a pleasant feeling. If not for the multiple thoughts and conflicting emotions guing me, I would have enjoyed the moment more.

    ¡®Hm? What¡¯s that?¡¯ My eyes spotted a fountain just a small distance away.

    It had been at the center of the garden, but I never noticed it until now.

    ¡®Is it enchanted?¡¯

    Deciding to check it out, I took gentle strides and approached it slowly.

    As I got closer, the silhouette of someone else became visible.

    My eyes bulged slightly as I noticed that someone had best me to the fountain. It would be very awkward for me, as well as the person, if I were to intrude on their moment of solitude.

    As someone who enjoyed his time alone, I knew how important it was.

    I wasn¡¯t so thoughtless as to invade another person¡¯s private moment.

    Even if the individual in question was¡­

    ¡®¡­ Maria Helmsworth¡­? What¡¯s she doing here?¡¯

    The silver hair of the beautiful girl reflected the moon¡¯s brilliance. I witnessed how magnificent she looked¡ªeven in a nightgown.

    For a moment, I found myselfpletely distracted from my earlier thoughts of Freya.

    Now, my mind was upied with nothing but Maria, and how stunning she looked in her mncholy.

    But, even this feeling onlysted a moment.

    ¡®Sigh, what am I doing?¡¯

    Ultimately, there was no point in staring. Looking at her from a distance made me feel like some sort of creep.

    ¡®Since she hasn¡¯t noticed me yet, I should go¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed and I turned my back on her.

    ¡°¡­ Jared¡­¡± A whisper rang in my ears.

    ¡®Shoot! Did she see me already?¡¯

    I swiftly turned around, only to find Maria still distracted by her thoughts.

    She hadn¡¯t sensed my presence, but¡­ the girl was thinking about me.

    ¡®This day keeps getting moreplicated.¡¯

    Her eyes seemed awfully distant, and even though she was usually stoic, I could sense sadness in her expression.

    It almost looked like she had been abandoned.

    Normally, I would have ignored this and gone to bed. But, Maria was also someone I considered a friend.

    It would be incredibly selfish and insensitive of me to ignore her in such a sorry state.

    ¡®Okay, let¡¯s cheer her up a little!¡¯

    ************************

    Maria¡¯s thoughts conflicted.

    At this point, she didn¡¯t even know what to believe, say, or do any longer.

    And, all her problems stemmed from the same source.

    Jared Leonard.

    ¡®Even after he told me he was interested¡­ he never even¡­ not once¡­¡¯

    Jared never gave her any attention throughout their journey together.

    Maria had hoped she would win him over as they conversed, but nothing of the sort had happened.

    She had felt abandoned.

    However, upon realizing that there was still time, Maria had braced herself. She had intended to remain strong and determined.

    But¡­ everything came crashing down when another rival appeared.

    The Elf Princess¡ªFreya Vindiel.

    The vixen had sunk her ws into Jared and didn¡¯t intend on letting him go.

    Maria had no idea when and how the two had be so close, but they currently seemed inseparable.

    For someone like Maria, who was also gunning for something special from the boy, her heart couldn¡¯t take it.

    ¡®He didn¡¯t even pay me any attention¡­¡¯

    The most frustrating event was when they were walking through the Elf Capital.

    Maria hadpletely ignored the dissatisfied gazes of the Elves around her.

    To be honest, all her attention was fixed on Jared and the annoying Elf who was always at the center of attention.

    She didn¡¯t realize when her gaze turned sharp, and some negative emotions began pouring out.

    Both of them seemed to have noticed this, but they ignored her.

    And so, she had no choice but to listen in to their conversation.

    At some point, it got too personal!

    ¡®I-is this how close they¡¯ve be already?!¡¯ Maria¡¯s thoughts were on cloud nine.

    The only good part of their conversation was when Jared turned to look at her when he was asked about his experience with attractive women.

    For a moment, Marie¡¯s negative emotions vanished and she was so close to blushing. It took all her willpower to control herself.

    Fortunately, she could also feel a re from the Elf. For that moment, Maria was assured of her victory.

    But, she didn¡¯t predict that the Princess also had a trick up her sleeve. She asked Jared something that even Maria had been curious about.

    If Jared was seeing anyone¡­

    Fortunately, he said no. Unfortunately, the reply was to Princess Freya.

    Maria could only guess how things would progress from that point on.

    Was there even a point in considering the matter any further?

    There was no doubt that Freya had won the battle, or at least, she was in the lead.

    The young girl had thought Ana was her biggest opponent, but now, she couldn¡¯t tell anymore.

    ¡°Jared¡­¡± She whispered in a sigh.

    ¡®Should I just give up?¡¯

 Chapter 373 A Slightly Magical Night [Pt 2]

    ¡®Should I just give up?¡¯ Maria thought to herself in a lonely mncholy.

    Maybe that was for the best. She knew there was only a small chance that he would choose her.

    So, perhaps it was better if she let go before she got too attached.

    ¡®But, can I really do that?¡¯

    Maria knew within herself how attached she was to the boy in question.

    Her sole motivation for growing stronger had been because of him.

    She wanted to be by his side¡ªto be his!

    Abandoning that emotion at this juncture¡­ was it even possible for her?

    No, it wasn¡¯t.

    Before realizing it, Maria had be too intertwined with Jared that it was next to impossible to pull away.

    Yes, she had reached a point of no return!

    ¡®So, what now¡­?¡¯

    Was she simply going to watch in silence and drown in frustration as Jared got pulled away by a newpetitor?

    NO WAY!

    ¡®I knew him first!¡¯

    Before Freya. Before Aloe. Even before Ana.

    She had been the first to meet him. Jared Leonard was even the one who approached her.

    That meant she had dibs.

    ¡°I won¡¯t lose to any neers!¡±

    Just as she was steeling her resolve, a shadow crept upon her.

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡±

    Maria instantly froze.

    The voice that suddenly came from above her¡­ was awfully familiar.

    Slowly, she raised her head, and her clear blue eyes met his.

    ¡°J-Jared¡­?¡±

    As her cute lips parted, and her expression disyed slight shock, the girl¡¯s inner consciousness was in turmoil.

    ¡®Ehhhhhhhh???!!!!!¡¯

    How long had he been standing there? Did he hear everything? Just how much did he see? Was she appropriately dressed for a meeting with him? What was he doing here? Why was he¡­ here?

    Myriads of thoughts rang through her mind. Maria didn¡¯t know which to pick. Her heart simply raced, and she felt overwhelmed to an indescribable extent.

    ¡°Maria, can we talk for some time? I¡­ can¡¯t sleep.¡± He smiled at her.

    His smile and gaze were too charming to be real. Maria thought she would just let go of her facade and melt before him.

    However, she couldn¡¯t do that.

    ¡®I¡¯m still mad at him for ignoring me for so long¡­ right?¡¯

    Maria wasn¡¯t even sure which card to y at the moment.

    All her anger had melted upon seeing him.

    ¡°I-I see¡­¡± She managed to croak words out of her mouth, looking at the ground.

    Jared¡¯s face didn¡¯t allow her to articte her words for some reason.

    ¡°Then, I hope you don¡¯t mind if I sit.¡±

    Before she could speak, he sat beside her, almost close in proximity.

    As they both sat on the fountain¡¯s terrace, silence enveloped the area.

    The cool night air now felt suffocating, and Maria wondered what to say to Jared.

    All through their journey, she had hoped he would approach her. Now that he was right beside her, she was nk.

    ¡°You seem a bit distracted, no, more like¡­ sad. Do you want to talk about it?¡±

    His question seemed odd.

    Had he been watching her for some time? Just how long? Maria¡¯s cheeks flushed pink a little.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± She murmured.

    ¡°Is it because of me?¡±

    Why was Jared being so direct this night? He went from 0 to 100 really fast.

    How was she supposed to handle such radical change?

    ¡°M-may-be¡­¡± Maria attempted to be cold, but failed woefully.

    ¡°I see¡­¡± His voice trailed.

    Even though Maria wasn¡¯t looking at Jared¡¯s face, she was trying as much as possible to gauge his expression based on words alone.

    But, that wasn¡¯t enough!

    She so desperately wanted to see his face! But, the fear of what would happen if she did, crept up on her.

    She could end uppletely losing her cool, after all.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maria. I didn¡¯t pay you enough attention. Even though we¡¯re friends, I neglected you and was too focused on the mission ahead of us.¡±

    Her cheeks blushed even brighter.

    Even though Jared had added the word ¡®friend¡¯ to his statement, Maria felt incredibly happy and omitted that word from her head.

    ¡°A-as long as you understand¡­¡± She replied, curious about what he would say next.

    ¡°I actually wanted to talk to you many times, but I thought I¡¯d be disturbing you. You¡¯re not exactly easy to approach. Even now, you don¡¯t seem to be into this conversation¡­¡±

    Jared¡¯s voice sounded distant.

    His tone contained a trace of sadness.

    It was now Maria¡¯s turn to feel guilty.

    ¡®No! That¡¯s not it! I just¡­ this is just how I am!¡¯ She sharply turned to look at Jared.

    Her eyes contained desperation. She didn¡¯t want him to get the wrong idea about her.

    ¡°I was just¡ª¡± She stopped midway, once again rendered speechless by Jared¡¯s charms.

    He was smiling at her, a contrast from what his tone suggested.

    ¡°I understand, Maria. That¡¯s just how you are. But, you should be more expressive of your emotions, you know? If you want something, or if you feel like talking¡­ you can talk to me.¡±

    Her heart was racing faster than before.

    ¡°I¡¯m your friend. I¡¯m here for you.¡±

    Omitting the word ¡®friend¡¯, Maria kept looking at Jared with intensifying emotions.

    ¡°I can¡¯t read your mind, you know? Though sometimes I wish I could¡­¡±

    ¡®J-Jared¡­?!¡¯ Maria¡¯s heart was going to burst at any moment.

    And then, as if all his words weren¡¯t enough¡­ Jared ced his hands on her shoulders.

    His warm hands sent sensations coursing through her body.

    ¡°Maria¡­ It¡¯s a terribly long night¡­¡±

    She fought to keep her trembling body in check.

    ¡°¡­ You wouldn¡¯t mind us keeping each otherpany¡­¡±

    She gulped, wondering how Jared could be so bold as to suggest such a thing!

    ¡®We¡¯re not¡­ old enough for that yet¡­¡¯ Maria knew she would have to refuse, but had no willpower to open her lips in resistance.

    ¡°¡­ So, should we talk for a bit?¡±

    ¡°O-Oh¡­¡± Maria¡¯s voice appeared, holding a tinge of disappointment and relief.

    Her racing emotions plummeted. It seemed she had gotten worked up for nothing.

    ¡°Sure. I could also use somepany¡­¡± She smiled, already limating to the feeling of seeing Jared¡¯s face up close.

    For a moment, silence prevailed between the two. Maria¡¯s body trembled once more as she ufortably stared into Jared¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Ah, sorry about that.¡± The boy withdrew the hands that were on her shoulder, and then¡­

    ¡°Here.¡±

    Out of thin air, he summoned a dark coat and covered Maria¡¯s body.

    ¡°You must be catching a cold. You¡¯ve been trembling for some time now.¡±

    As the silence broke, both friends smiled at each other. Slowly, they were getting used to talking.

    The awkward atmosphere slowly dissipated.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Maria ribbed the cloak and smiled.

    If had a lovely scent attached¡­ just like Jared.

    Even though the night had begun ufortably for both of them, Jared and Maria soon forgot about their troubles and became drowned in conversation.

    Before they realized it, they spent all night together¡ªtalking, and nothing more.

 Chapter 374 Chosen Delegate

    ¡°Yaaannnn!!!¡±

    I had woken up close to noon, and that was only because of a knock I heard on my door.

    ¡°Y-yeah? Who is it?¡± I murmured, scratching my head as I looked forward the door.

    ¡°E-er, it¡¯s Ivan. A representative from the Queen has arrived, and we¡¯re all gathering in the parlor. The Prince told me toe to fetch you.¡±

    ¡®Shoot!¡¯ My eyes bulged.

    I had gotten so carried awayst night that I lost track of time.

    Thanks to that, I overslept. If I wasn¡¯t careful, this tardiness would reflect very badly on my image. Everything I had worked so hard for until¡­ could be threatened!

    ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then.¡± Ivan¡¯s tone suggested he wanted to say more but decided against it.

    The boy finally went away, leaving a disheveled me seated on my bed.

    ¡®I better hurry!¡¯

    Brushing. Bathing. Dressing up.

    These three processes took hours of perfection for some people, but¡­ for a powerful Mage like myself, I only needed a minute.

    Using Magic, I cleaned up myself pretty quickly, getting rid of even the smallest trace of dirt.

    I summoned one of my potions and let it permeate my body.

    It made me feel refreshed and gave me a captivating scent.

    The potion was a perfumed product I made when I was less busy.

    To be honest, I had various models and vors. If I were to venture into the cosmetics and fragrance business, there was no doubt that I could ruin the livelihood of many honest workers.

    Fortunately for them, Magic was my calling.

    Brushing was effortless.

    I simply removed the germs in my teeth and cast freshening Magic topletely cleanse my mouth.

    My tongue received extra care, but ultimately, it was perfectly resolved.

    I summoned an attire from my special space and wore it instantly¡ªno effort expended.

    Within a minute, I waspletely done with the procedure and left my room in a hurry, ensuring I took one good look at myself before leaving.

    Even my previously bushy hair had been straightened well thanks to my beautification Magic.

    Such was the power of a previous Schr. Since I had researched various types of Magic back then, it wasn¡¯t strange that I also knew a thing or two about making someone look good through Magic.

    My theories and suggestions in that department made me quite popr among thedies.

    ¡°Welp, let¡¯s see what the Queen has to say!¡±

    **************************

    The Elf Society ran a matriarchal system.

    Women were generally more empowered than men, and they held more prestigious positions.

    There were two reasons for this obvious divide in status and prestige among these two genders.

    One was talent.

    Female Elves were generally stronger than the males. They possessed a better affinity for Mana, and were more long-lived.

    As such, they had more experience with the Arts and possessed more maturity to handle affairs far better than the males.

    The second factor was childbirth.

    Women determined the many things regarding their children during pregnancy.

    Stuff like gender, appearance, and even the length of pregnancy was determined by the mother.

    Using Magic so freely on their own bodies, they were able to make these changes that would usually be deemed impossible.

    As a result, the importance of female Elves rose to an abnormal degree.

    It was a matter long concluded¡ªthe Female Elves were superior to the Males.

    That was why¡­ instead of a King as the ruler, the Elves had a Queen.

    ¡°Greetings. I am Derius, the Queen¡¯s representative in this diplomatic affair. May the spirits bless our meeting.¡± A man wearing a spectacle smiled at us.

    He had whitish grey hair, and a twinkle of age was evident in his eyes.

    Every member of our group was seated directly opposite this Elf, separated by a center table.

    His expression was devoid of malice or skepticism. But, that didn¡¯te as a surprise to me.

    After all¡­ I knew who this Elf was.

    ¡°Greetings. I am Fabian Lestrome Indiavel, Prince of the Eastern Kingdom, as well as the head of this diplomatic envoy.¡±

    After Fabian spoke, we all took turns introducing ourselves.

    He nodded upon hearing our greetings. His eyes scoured each of us for a moment, and I knew exactly what he was up to.

    Derius¡± Original Magic: Absolute Insight.

    He couldpletely see through his targets using this technique. It was like a more advanced version of the Elven ability to read people. However, this Elf¡¯s capabilities were on another level.

    ¡®Not only is he able to read thoughts, but he can alsopletely decipher just how powerful his targets are¡­¡¯

    The greatest merit of this ability was that once he had activated it on his target, he could easily use it anytime he wanted.

    Absolute Insight was useful, not only for living things, but even items and objects.

    It was the ultimate Appraisal Magic.

    ¡°I have personallye to deliver the Queen¡¯s message to you concerning your proposed Alliance.¡± He spoke in a low tone.

    Freya and udius must have filled her in on the matters we discussed, and our letter must have been delivered promptly as well.

    While I wasn¡¯t certain who the current Elf Queen was, I had a good idea of what her response would be.

    Royal Elves were different from the regr ones.

    While they had the same stance against humans, they were more inclined to listen since they held positions of authority. Besides, since we had done a great service to the Elves¡ªsentiments aside¡ªwe would at least be heard out.

    ¡°As a result of all that has happened, the Queen has decided to grant you an audience¡­¡±

    Fabian and everyone else smiled in victory. Finally, aftering this far, we had almost achieved our goals.

    If only they listened till the end.

    ¡°¡­ However, only one of you will be allowed an audience with the Queen. She has asked me to select the most befitting of you all as your representative.¡±

    The expressions of everyone fell, but not to a despairing degree. This wasn¡¯t aplete failure, after all.

    Fabian still had his smile on his face. He was the Prince, as well as the leader of our group.

    The obvious choice would be him.

    ¡°Jared Leonard. You have been granted an audience with our Queen.¡±

    ¡®Excellent! Just as expected.¡¯

 Chapter 375 The Elf Queen [Pt 1]

    ¡°Jared Leonard. You have been granted an audience with our Queen.¡±

    ¡°Wha¡ª?!¡±

    Just as Fabian and Damien expressed shock as to why I was the one being called, I smiled and rose to my feet.

    ¡°I understand. Please, lead the way, Sir Derius.¡±

    The Prince and his attendant red at me. My response was sharp, as though I had been expecting this oue¡ªwhich I was.

    They seemed to finally realize that everything so far had been within my calctions, so I smiled and stared at the Queen¡¯s representative instead.

    ¡°H-hold on! I am the leader of our team. Am I not the right person who should be granted an audience with your Queen?¡±

    Apparently, the young man could no longer control his dissatisfaction.

    To be honest, I couldn¡¯t exactly me him.

    Being relegated to the sidelines when he had been looking forward to this moment must have greatly hurt his ego.

    I wouldn¡¯t have done this if he was capable enough, to begin with.

    Then, there was his assistant, Damien Lawcroft.

    Since he wasn¡¯t on my side, there was a good chance that he was pulling the Prince¡¯s strings. If Fabian made a critical error when addressing the Queen, then things wouldn¡¯t go as smoothly as I intended.

    To checkmate the enemy and bring forth the most urate results, this was the best route.

    ¡®You should just be quiet, Fabian. This is all for the good of the Eastern Kingdom.¡¯ I stared nkly at him.

    ¡°The Queen decides who she meets and who she doesn¡¯t. Unless you are questioning the decision of her Majesty,¡­¡±

    The atmosphere grew heavy as Derius began speaking. His gaze was now filled with danger as he red at Fabian.

    ¡°¡­ I would prefer that you be quiet.¡±

    Instantly, the Prince gulped and backed down. The danger he must have sensed in Derius¡¯ gaze must have convinced him that the Elf before him was strong.

    Elves were as powerful as how long they had lived.

    For someone like Derius, whom I knew in my first life, his level of strength was something mere humans couldn¡¯t dream of reaching¡ªwith the exception of a few.

    ¡°Please control your aura, venerable Elf¡­¡± Another monster opened her jaws as she stared at the older Elf.

    It was none other than Serah Crimson.

    She had beenposed for some time, but, just as she had warned me, there was a limit to her patience.

    ¡°¡­ Unless you want me to bring out mine as well.¡±

    Derius instantlyplied and smiled at Serah¡¯s ferocious grin. Even with his power, there were quite a few opponents who would give him a hard time.

    People like Serah would destroy him for sure. Fortunately, the experienced Elf understood this.

    ¡°Very well. Since this matter has been concluded already, I shall be taking my leave with Jared Leonard.¡±

    Derius rose to his feet and bowed slightly, biding everyone in the room farewell¡ªexcept for me.

    Once he left the door behind him, I followed behind, stealing one final nce at myrades.

    ¡°This is the best route. The Alliance must seed at all costs. I hope you understand.¡± My lips parted as I left my allies behind me.

    ************************

    Derius and I walked in silence, moving for a couple of minutes.

    It brought back memories of when I knew him in the past.

    Back then, our roles were somewhat reversed, and he was only a child.

    ¡®She¡¯ was the one who introduced us back then. To be honest, looking at him from behind¡­ made me remember certain memories that I didn¡¯t want to surface.

    Because the only things that would apany those thoughts were regret¡­ and me.

    We passed the garden, and then entered the Royal Pce building itself.

    The structure was extremely tall¡ªascending to the clouds like a tower at the very tip of the roof.

    Of course, I knew why the building was stretched upward.

    Once we entered the Pce building, Derius took me on a long walk through the intricate grounds located within.

    The Pce hallways were extremely vast, and we passed by several corners in the extremelyplex steams of corridors.

    It was like a maze, but that was only for outsiders.

    Those who were permitted ess knew the nooks and cranny of this ce like the back of their hand.

    Besides, with the amount of time Elves had to live, knowingplicated mazes and building structures wasn¡¯t very difficult.

    Eventually, we arrived at the door that led to the Queen¡¯s Throne Room.

    It was a massive door built with gold and decorated with many jewels¡ªbefitting Elven Royalty.

    ¡°Your Majesty, I have arrived with the delegate you requested.¡±

    For a moment, silence followed Derius¡¯ voice. And then¡­

    ¡°Doe in.¡±

    ¡­ I heard her voice.

    It was majestic, and the sound rang through my ears and echoed in my heart.

    It reminded me of yet another person, but I couldn¡¯t quite remember.

    Then, the giant doors were opened.

    The blinding lights from within caused me to close my eyes for a moment, then open them slowly as I limated.

    That was when I was met with a breathtaking sight.

    Therge Throne Room made the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s Pce Hall look like a joke inparison.

    Not only was itrger and exquisitely adorned with several beautiful gems, but the massive room also contained murals that depicted the core root of Elven Heritage.

    Magic Beasts and Elves were beautifully drawn on the walls, and the chandeliers brightly illuminated the luxurious hall.

    I had no time to fully observe, so my appreciation of my surroundings was slightly diminished.

    Derius walked forward, and then I followed behind him.

    ¡°I introduce to the Queen¡¯s Court¡­ delegate from the Eastern Kingdom¡­¡±

    I lowered my gaze and walked forward as Derius introduced me.

    The Elf moved out of the way and let me walk ahead of him. I obeyed and didn¡¯t stop until I was a considerable length from the foot of the stairs that led to the Throne.

    ¡°¡­ Jared Leonard!¡±

    ¡°I humbly greet the Queen, as well as the Royal Members who are before me. My name is Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, and in the name of the spirits, I seek an audience with your distinguished selves.¡±

    ¡®My manners are perfect this time, aren¡¯t they¡­?¡¯ A stray thought popped into my head.

    ¡°Raise your head, delegate.¡±

    As I heard her voice once more, my heart tightened and I obeyed.

    She was indeed the one I remembered.

    ¡®So, you¡¯re the Queen now, uh¡­?¡¯ A faint smile crept upon my face as I lifted my eyes to witness the most powerful Elf in thend.

    ¡°The Queen, Aurora Vindiel, grants you liberty of expression. May the spirits bless this discourse.¡±

 Chapter 376 The Elf Queen [Pt 2]

    The government system of the Elves slightly differed from Humans.

    Unlike our Aristocratic means of leadership, power was only concentrated on the Elf Royalty.

    All decisions were made at the central level, and the Elf Queen had nigh absolute power in thend.

    Concepts such as Nobility didn¡¯t even exist.

    The Royal Court of the Elves consisted of only members of the Royal Family¨CThe Queen, the King, the Princes, the Princess, and mature rtives.

    It was a monopoly of power.

    However, did this mean that the citizenry was displeased by this fact?

    Not at all!

    They only respected and admired the Royal Family even more. After all, they carried the weight of the entire nation on their shoulders.

    Plus, they were also in charge of the greatest heritage of the Elves.

    The murals on the walls depicted it well, and this particr existence was located in the Royal Pce.

    The Sacred Tree!

    As custodians of the most ancient of Trees, the Elven Royalty were saddled with the trust and responsibility of the whole Kingdom.

    Such was their position.

    And so, as I lifted my gaze, I saw the one who was at the helm of affairs among the Long Eared Race.

    Queen Aurora Vindiel!

    Other than the slight bags under her eyes, and the twinkle of age in her eyes, she looked just the same as I remembered her.

    ¡®No¡­ she has grown quite a bit.¡¯

    Her perfectly wed skin and beautiful features were indeed befitting of Elven Royalty. Freya looked a great deal like her¨Cthough younger and more attractive.

    To think she had lived for so long and was now Queen.

    ¡®Your sister would be very proud¡­¡¯ I smiled a little, in nostalgia.

    Other than the Queen, the King was also present. But, he simply stood at the right hand of the magnificent throne that his wife was seated on.

    udius and one other male Elf were beside their father, while I spotted Freya standing beside the Queen¨Con the left side.

    Behind the primary Royal Family¨Cboth left and right¨Cwere the other members of the Elf Royalty.

    Their white hair made it obvious.

    ¡°Derius, you should also take your ce here.¡± Her marvelous voice rang out and called for the bespectacled man behind me.

    Derius, a member of Royalty himself, bowed slightly and made for the stairs leading to the Queen¡¯s Throne.

    Once he got to the peak, Derius bowed to the Queen once again, and took his ce among everyone else.

    I simply waited in silence, holding on for the time I would be addressed.

    ¡°Firstly, I would like to render my thanks to you, and your group in extension, for the aid you have given my people,¡± Aurora spoke calmly.

    Her poise was to be expected of the leader of her race.

    She had changed so much from the loud personality I remembered her for.

    ¡°We only acted ordingly. Your thanks are wasted on us.¡±

    Formalities weren¡¯t my thing, but until the Queen herself specifically told me not to resort to it, I would continue with the unnecessary show of reverence.

    My eyes darted around the Hall and I spotted no guards.

    There was no need for them, after all.

    Royals were the most powerful members of the Elf Race. If all of them were gathered in the same room, would there be a need for any additional security?

    Only a madman would choose to be violent in the presence of such pressure.

    ¡°I see. Very well¡­¡± Aurora muttered.

    Since I was allowed to look upon the Queen, I ensured to observantly stare.

    ¡°Then, may I ask a somewhat personal question?¡±

    That reminded me of what Freya pulled just yesterday.

    ¡®Like mother like daughter, eh? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m in a position to refuse, so¡­¡¯

    ¡°Please do, your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Does this make you ufortable? Seeing an arrangement quite different from what you are used to. A Queen leading the people, theck of a concept such as Nobility, and the humility you have had to disy upon arriving here. Do any of these bring you difort?¡±

    ¡°They do not,¡± I responded honestly.

    Once I said this, I spotted a glimmer of happiness in Aurora¡¯s eyes.

    She had always been a bit too honest.

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Then, shall we get to the topic? Please, rise on your feet. Let us have a proper conversation.¡±

    I did as instructed and gave my thanks.

    ¡°Our Eastern Kingdom wishes to form an Alliance with the Elf Kingdom. The threat of the Demons is definitely greater than what either party can handle themselves. So, just as in the past, we wish to join forces once more with your people.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­ and whose idea was this? Your King?¡±

    ¡°No, your Majesty. This was a n I came up with myself.¡±

    Honesty was indeed the best policy.

    ¡°That makes sense. There was indeed a mention of an Alliance by the Eastern Kingdom three years ago, but their approach waspletely different from yours. That was why we didn¡¯t even consider it in the past.¡±

    I could only imagine what they had written in their proposals.

    ¡°Also, isn¡¯t the story of the united front against Demons nothing more than a Fairy Tale? Why bring that up now?¡±

    ¡®I see. So, that¡¯s her angle¡­¡¯

    ¡°The stories are true. I found memoirs of the Great Sage, Lewis Griffith, where he recorded details of the conflict. That was how I was able to learn a bit about your culture and the truth behind the Demon War so many centuries ago.¡±

    For humans, the conflict was something everyone believed to be a work of fiction. This was simply because of The Fool Arcana.

    However, it wasn¡¯t like the Arcana affected everyone.

    People like me still had their memories intact. The same went for the Elf Royalty.

    This was to ensure countermeasures were in ce, just in case the Demons went against our pact.

    ¡°I see. Then it all makes sense¡­¡± Aurora murmured.

    I saw her flinch when I mentioned Lewis Griffith. That meant she still remembered¡­ everything.

    ¡®It¡¯s not like she could have forgotten, in the first ce.¡¯

    After all, how could someone forget the man who was her sister¡¯s intimate lover?

 Chapter 377 The Offer

    ¡°You have convinced me as to the origins of your unconventional wisdom, as well as your knowledge of our proper etiquette,¡± Aurora spoke, staring at me with sparked interest.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, would you be willing to show me the memoir you mentioned?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is the Queen also interested in our Great Sage, Lewis Griffith?¡± I smiled, feigning innocence.

    ¡°Well¡­ something like that.¡± She responded with a strained smile.

    ¡®Yeah, right! You never really liked me.¡¯ I remained smiling.

    ¡°Then, I will ensure to bring it the next time I pay you a visit, hopefully as allies already. Hahaha.¡±

    ¡°Hahaha. We shall see, won¡¯t we?¡± Aurora replied with a strainedugh.

    ¡®Should I tease her a little more?¡¯

    ¡°There was mention of you in the Memoir, your Majesty. It seemed Lewis Griffith knew you well when he was still alive. Were you perchance close?¡±

    I could see veins appearing on her head.

    ¡°Well, you could say that¡­¡± She seemed to be struggling to keep her lips in position.

    ¡°Ahh, that exins it then. Because he mentioned how he once saw you in¡ª¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s enough! Please, just show me the Memoirter.¡± Aurora finally cracked.

    Her teeth were disyed, and an anxious look was obvious.

    I instantly bowed,ughing internally.

    Even though she hated my guts, Aurora did confide in me about a few things. We were what you would call frienemies.

    Plus, since I was her sister¡¯s lover, she was stuck with having me around.

    That led to some ¡¯embarrassing moments¡¯ between us¡­

    ¡°Then, shall we get back to the topic? About the Alliance, while it is true that we indeed owe you a great debt, we could simply return the favor bying to your aid as well. That would settle the score, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±

    That was true.

    ¡°An Alliance is already overstretching the matter. Do not get me wrong, I appreciate your efforts, but a one-time save could be repaid with another. That is fair, don¡¯t you agree?¡±

    ¡°Indeed, your Majesty.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t seen enough reason to ally the Elves with the Humans. No, perhaps Aurora already knew that it was the best course of action, but the weight of her position forced her to seek out a better deal.

    Was she hoping for something more from my end? If that was the case, then¡­

    ¡°However, Queen Aurora, I still request an Alliance with the Elves. And the basis for this isn¡¯t the help we rendered for your people back then.¡±

    ¡­ I wasn¡¯t going to disappoint her expectations!

    ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Please consider that as a mere coincidence. The real deal is something I will personally be offering. And, allow me to say¡­ it is an offer you can not refuse!¡±

    My tone was not rude, but confident.

    While I spotted a few Royals squint their eyes or squeeze their faces in disapproval, Aurora seemed intrigued instead.

    ¡°Then, please let me hear what you have to offer.¡±

    ¡®Now we¡¯re talking!¡¯ I grinned internally, looking at Freya for a moment.

    She was smiling broadly at me, also intrigued by what I was going to say.

    ¡®What could be so magnanimous that their achievements in the Eastern Border would only be considered a bonus?¡¯

    I¡¯m sure they were all thinking this.

    ¡°If you choose to form an Alliance with us, Elf Queen, I will personally revive every single Elf who died in the attack of the Demon Beasts. Not only that, but I will alsopletely restore the Eastern Border to its previous state.¡±

    Silence.

    Utter silence filled the hall.

    ¡°It will be as though the Demon Beast attack never urred.¡±

    The Queen¡¯sposure was long forgotten. Her expression contained immense surprise, and the others beside and behind her couldn¡¯t believe my words.

    ¡°That is my offer, Queen Aurora Vindiel. Now, I ask you¡­ do you ept?¡±

    *************************

    It was downright impossible.

    No, even bringing such a subject to the realm of logic was nothing short of sheer madness.

    Several thousand Elves died in the attack of the Demon Beasts.

    An entire city was destroyed¡ªturned into a wastnd¡ªthanks to the Demon Beasts¡¯ onught and the Miasma they exuded.

    It would take months to repair the damage and return the city to its former glory.

    And, even though they would eventually be able to restore the Border, the same couldn¡¯t be said about the lives that had been taken.

    Yet¡ª

    ¡°¡­ I will personally revive every single Elf who died in the attack of the Demon Beasts. Not only that, but I will alsopletely restore the Eastern Border to its previous state.¡±

    ¡ªA mere human was making such an empty promise.

    It wasughable,pletely ridiculous. But, why couldn¡¯t Aurora let the thought vanish from her heart?

    ¡°It will be as though the Demon Beast attack never urred.¡±

    It was akin to fantasy. Such a promise had to be fake¡ªa silly fairy tale.

    Queen Aurora would have dismissed it as utter nonsense. However, the look on the young man¡¯s face told her that he was absolutely serious about his words.

    Suddenly, Aurora remembered the words of her daughter.

    She recalled how Freya told her of the unbelievable feats of this Jared Leonard¡ªhow he Mass Teleported arge number of people, and even easily dispersed the thick clouds of Miasma in the Eastern Border.

    His abilities were beyond her expectations, and even the Heroes of the past would not have been able to replicate his feats so easily.

    Aurora had to admit that Jared was indeed not ordinary.

    But what he was talking about was an entirely different matter altogether.

    Still¡­ even though the Queen¡¯s logic told her not to believe the words of the young human before her¡­ somehow, Aurora wanted to trust them.

    ¡°H-how will you do it?¡± She asked, narrowing her gaze on him.

    Ever since he had arrived in the Royal Pce, Aurora wasn¡¯t able to read him. Her daughter, Freya, had said the same thing.

    Even Derius had told her his Original Magic was ineffective on the boy.

    There was no way she could discern if his words were true or not. However, Aurora wanted to have faith.

    The hope that her dead subjects could be saved¡ªthat they could be given another chance at life.

    If this human could offer such help, then¡­ an Alliance was something she would easily ept!

    ¡°Your Majesty, that is a trade secret, you know?¡± Jared Leonard smiled in response to her question.

    Even though his tone didn¡¯t control any reverence, she didn¡¯t mind at all. Her heart was beating fast in anticipation of his answer.

    ¡°But, since it¡¯s you, I don¡¯t mind revealing my means. It¡¯s simple¡­¡±

    The boy¡¯s confidence soared, causing Aurora¡¯s heart to leap a bit.

    Something about his mannerisms and impudent attitude reminded her of someone.

    Someone who was long gone.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll use my Original Magic.¡±

 Chapter 378 The Deal

    Death wasn¡¯t exactly feared by Elves.

    In fact, when their time came, they embraced it.

    Since there was no form of danger in theirnds, and they lived long¡ªfulfilling¡ªlives, they epted it when their time was over.

    After death, they would be one with the Sacred Tree and be Spirits.

    Their souls would be transported to a realm called Heaven¡ªa paradise more prosperous than the current Elf Kingdom.

    Everyone looked forward to their deaths after spending their lives to the fullest¡ªhaving no regrets

    However, this only applied to death by old age.

    If an Elf¡¯s life was cut short, they would obviously have tons of regrets.

    Elves who had barely lived beyond a hundred years, or whose time hadn¡¯t fully ripened, were clearly not going to be ready to ept death.

    Legend had it that such people would never be epted into Heaven since they weren¡¯t at rest.

    And so, every Elf made it their duty to live a full life while they were still alive. They made sure they had no regrets.

    Not only for the present¡ªbut also in consideration of the afterlife.

    This legend¡ªthough inherently false¡ªmade sure that everyone was productive in the Elf Society.

    That gave meaning to their extremely long lives. And so, with each member living a life of responsibility, the Elf Kingdom prospered greatly.

    ***********************

    ¡®Elves have perfect bodies, so they don¡¯t fall sick or die prematurely. Everyone lives their life to the fullest. That¡¯s why this is such a great tragedy for them¡­¡¯

    Thousands lost their lives in the Demon Beast attack.

    Not only would they never find rest¡ªording to the legends¡ªtheir hopes and dreams were done for.

    At least, that would have been the case. However¡­ I had an alternative.

    ¡°That is my offer, Queen Aurora Vindiel. Now, I ask you¡­ do you ept?¡±

    I yed my trump card upfront, igniting the hope in Aurora¡¯s heart.

    From her expression, after my words hit, it was already certain that she would ept my offer.

    It was only a matter of time.

    *************************

    ¡°Original Magic, uh? You mean¡­ at such an age, you have already delved into that realm? And your individual art is enough to restore everyone?¡± The Queen asked, still having a bit of doubt in her voice

    It was to be expected.

    Humans were short-lived, and we didn¡¯t have as much affinity for Mana as the Elves.

    Her way of thinking was urate, but I had spent over a hundred years training and doing stuff. If I didn¡¯t have any Original Magic at this point, then it would be pretty disturbing.

    ¡°Please, have faith in me. I have no merit in lying to you.¡±

    The Royals behind her began to look at each other with conflicted expressions as well.

    The decision ultimatelyy with the Queen. Everyone else was simply there as a show of strength. If Aurora made the choice, then it would be so.

    ¡°May I have some time to think about it?¡±

    I knew she would say that. However, there was also a limit to my understanding and patience.

    ¡°No.¡±

    My polite tone was hanging on a thread now, but sometimes this was also necessary for diplomacy.

    Since the cards were all in my court, I only needed to apply pressure to make Aurora bend to my will.

    ¡°As you already know, this isn¡¯t the time for indecisiveness. We are in a hurry to decide on an Alliance so we can prepare appropriate measures. I will ask that you make your decision here and now.¡±

    My gaze was serious, and it pierced through the defenses of the Queen in an instant.

    Despite her high-and-mighty demeanor, she was still the Aurora I knew at her core. She was prone to make rash and quick decisions without hesitation.

    As long as she knew this was the right thing to do, I was sure that the Elf would jump at it.

    ¡°Fine. I will ept, but only on the condition that you fulfill your end of the bargain.¡±

    ¡°That is only natural, your Majesty. I appreciate your consideration.¡± I smiled and bowed slightly.

    It was about time to wrap up this long diplomatic effort.

    ¡°I have the contract with me right here. You may also choose to make another separate one for the Elves.¡± A parchment materialized on my palm.

    ¡°Alright. Let us move to a more appropriate ce for that.¡±

    And so, I was escorted to the Lounge.

    Of course, permission was given to allow every other member of our team of delegates into the Lounge.

    The members of Royalty stood behind the Queen¡¯s sofa, and my team members stood behind mine.

    A desk was between both parties¡ªwho would be recognized as equal from the moment we concluded the Alliance Contract.

    It took a short while, but the Elves prepared their contract as well.

    Judging from the Mana I was sensing from the document, it was a Magic Item.

    ¡®It must have some effects in the scenario where we end up breaking the agreement set within it¡­¡¯

    I nned on thoroughly reading through the whole thing before signing it, though.

    Even though I could feel two hostile gazes directed at me from my own group, it didn¡¯t stop me from taking all the necessary actions.

    ¡®Fabian and Damien¡­ you people do not understand.¡¯

    If they had been in my shoes, it would be doubtful if they could achieve the same results I did.

    Even if an Alliance was made, it wouldn¡¯t have been finalized until the next Demon attack.

    That would waste too much time.

    ¡®I only have about 12 more days¡­¡¯

    In a short while, Zenkiel was going tounch his offensive.

    Warding him off would be one of the aids we would render to our allies.

    ¡®I¡¯ll also need their help in the matter with the Fairies¡­¡¯ I smiled.

    Ultimately, this was going to be a grand alliance.

    ¡°I, Aurora Vindiel, Queen of the Elf Kingdom, hereby dere this treaty between our two nations to be genuine and binding on both parties.¡±

    ¡°I, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, representative of the Eastern Kingdom, attest to this deration and uphold it.¡±

    Afterward, both of us jointly sealed our agreements.

    ¡°May the spirits watch over this Alliance!¡±

 Chapter 379 Path For The Future

    ¡°Whoah¡­ I can¡¯t believe we are now in an Alliance with the Elves. I definitely thought it would take longer!¡± The previously silent Bradford began running his mouth once more.

    ¡°I know, right?¡± Ivan, who had slowly gotten closer to the man responded.

    The two of them usually kept each otherpany, so I didn¡¯t have to deal with any of them.

    ¡°I just hope there¡¯s time for sightseeing. It¡¯ll be such a waste if we didn¡¯t explore this ce now that we¡¯re here!¡±

    As they were cking off and conversing, Maria was reading something in a corner.

    Our eyes met for a moment, and we smiled at each other.

    That night session we shared together made us a bit closer than before. At the very least, I could confidently call us friends now.

    Serah was not present in our guest room at the moment, since she said she had some business to attend to.

    Since she had been behaving herself, I knew she could be trusted not to make a major blunder.

    But, at the same time, I was worried exactly because of that very fact.

    ¡®I hope she doesn¡¯t erupt¡­¡¯ A bad feeling crept up on me and I shivered.

    Regardless, everyone seemed to be in some form of high spirits after the Alliance Treaty was signed without a hitch.

    We had our respective documents as proof, and I held onto the parchment belonging to our end.

    Afterward, we were told to retreat to our Guest Room to rest.

    ¡®Aurora is probably discussing with the other Royals right now. The Elf Kingdom will drastically change from this point on, but it¡¯ll be for the better¡­¡¯

    Some of the people could be skeptical about an Alliance with humans. However, after taking our contributions into consideration¡ªincluding my end of the deal¡ªtheir opinions would no doubt shift for the better.

    Healing theirnd and resurrecting their people would score major points for the Humans.

    That was the main reason why I didn¡¯t simply rely on mere rhetorics to win the hearts of the Royals.

    ¡®I could probably pull it off without the whole Resurrection deal.¡¯ A smile crept upon my face.

    Once I deciphered their personalities, it was easy to manipte my targets.

    But, there was also the matter of public opinion.

    I needed the citizenry to be satisfied with our Allied status.

    What better way was there than to save an entire lost City?

    I remembered how grateful Aloe Vida was to me when I rescued her from death. Even to this moment, she still held me in high esteem.

    If I could do the same for the Elves, then they would no doubt have good impressions of the Humans they currently looked down on.

    ¡®Well, there¡¯s also the fact that I¡¯m not a scumbag.¡¯

    If I could save people, I would.

    It was only a matter of how to implement my ideal in a way that benefited my goals. At least, with the way everything turned out, everyone was benefiting.

    ¡®That¡¯s all that matters¡­¡¯ I smiled once more.

    ¡°Hey, Jared.¡± A voice called out to me.

    I looked in its direction and found two people walking in my direction. Their scowls were so obvious, and they didn¡¯t look very pleased with me.

    But, of course!

    After all, they were the individuals who weren¡¯t too pleased with the current turn of events.

    ¡°Get up. We need to talk.¡±

    I stared nkly at Fabian after he made thatmand. Damien Lawcroft was also confidently standing beside him, in support.

    ¡®These guys¡­¡¯

    It was clear that they wanted to confront me on the matters that had gone ording to my will, and not theirs.

    The bitterness on their faces gave away their emotions, so I didn¡¯t even need to sense their Mana wavelength to tell.

    ¡®They¡¯ll probably request for the Alliance Treaty document from me¡­¡¯ I sighed, still seated on the couch.

    Perhaps it was time I put them in their ce.

    ¡°What is there to discuss?¡± I crossed my leg and intertwined my fingers.

    While properly resting my back on the couch, I crossed my legs and gave a condescending smile.

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t test my patience, Jared!¡±

    ¡°Listen to your superior!¡±

    Fabien and Damien respectively barked, but their voices didn¡¯t even faze me.

    ¡°If there are matters to be discussed, then let us talk here. I see no problems with that.¡± I smiled, looking around the room.

    Ivan, Bradford, and Maria were already looking in our direction.

    The Prince and his assistant were currently in a tough spot. But, because they hade so far, their pride wouldn¡¯t allow them to back off any longer.

    The two had probably realized the shift of power, and if they didn¡¯t address the issue soon, I would inadvertently be the leader of our group.

    ¡°Jared Leonard. Your actions are synonymous with insubordination. If you keep up this attitude, I¡¯ll be forced to dispense¡ª¡±

    ¡°You keep talking about this whole hierarchy, but I¡¯m slowly getting tired of this farce.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want to do this at all. I had avoided it for as long as possible in consideration of the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s Royal Family, but¡­

    ¡®¡­ I suppose it¡¯s time to let it out.¡¯

    ¡°Here you go.¡± I summoned a parchment from my Dimensional Space and threw it at Fabian.

    He must have thought it was the Treaty since he looked satisfied.

    I watched as he opened the scroll to confirm his contents, partially curious about his expression.

    And, as expected, he did not disappoint.

    ¡°W-what is¡­ this¡­?!¡±

    A smile formed on my face as I remained silent.

    Damien watched the Prince helplessly quiver, and quickly grabbed the parchment to read its contents as well.

    His expression afterward was moreposed, but I could tell that he too was visibly shaken.

    ¡°T-this is¡­¡± He murmured.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a decree written by His Majesty, King Albion Lestrome Indiavel himself. It even has the Kingdom¡¯s seal and everything. As you can see from what was written there, I have full authority over this expedition.¡±

    The fact that Fabian became our leader was because I allowed it.

 Chapter 380 Assertion Of Dominance

    Within the document that the King approved, he basically gave me every right to determine what happened in our little group.

    If I deemed it fit, I could even remove Fabian and Damien from my team.

    ¡°F-father really¡­ wrote this¡­?¡± Fabian was still struggling to ept his empty position.

    He never had any real authority, to begin with.

    ¡°Do you understand now? I wasn¡¯t going to say anything before now, since I wanted to be considerate of your position. If you had behaved, you would have continued to be our Leader.¡±

    I had no use for figureheads who wouldn¡¯t listen to what they were told.

    ¡°Your existence in this group was for mere decoration, Fabian. I allowed you toe because I initially thought you¡¯d be simpler to bring along, but I suppose I was wrong. You¡¯re annoying, and that makes it difficult to focus.¡±

    This was simply me bullying a young man, but he deserved to hear those words.

    In my eyes, Fabian was nothing but a child. That was shy I had been considerate for so long, but even kids had to grow up at some point.

    ¡°H-how dare you talk to the Prince that way!¡± Damien Lawcroft growled at me.

    It was a wonder how such a man was able to lord over me back when I still studied at Ainrk.

    Just as Neron told me, he indeed was a man worthy of pity.

    ¡°Be quiet. How dare you address me, the representative of the King in such a manner? That¡¯s treason, you know? Are you going to be taking responsibility for that?¡±

    That was enough to zip Damien¡¯s mouth shut. Fabian, who had expected his assistant to defend him and turn the tables was now staring at the powerless Damien with disbelief.

    ¡®It¡¯s a tragic sight, really. Fabian¡­ you shouldn¡¯t be relying on that man.¡¯

    Even though Damien had kept quiet once treason was mentioned, it wasn¡¯t as though he wasn¡¯t already guilty of that offense.

    ¡®Conspiring with that organization, Damien¡­¡¯ I smiled at him.

    The true reason I allowed Fabian toe with me was that Damien would also apany him.

    He was my true target from the get-go.

    ¡®It¡¯s better I have this traitor in sight than leaving him to run rampant in the Royal Capital.¡¯

    Besides, I would be able to glean quite some information from him.

    Considering his level of power and intelligence, though, I surmised he would be among the lowest Rank. Most likely even lower than Legris.

    ¡®¡­ And that guy didn¡¯t know much.¡¯

    Still, even the smallest bit of Intel had its uses. I just had to ensure they were urate.

    There was a chance that the enemy would try to mislead me with wrong information, so I had to be careful.

    ¡®This is quite an intricate game¡­¡¯

    But, I had no ns of losing.

    ¡°If you understand, get out of my sight. Go rest in your rooms and wait for further instructions.¡± I said to the two, still cross-legged.

    For a moment, there was an ufortable silence hanging in the air. I could sense foreboding, and an unsettling sensation lurked amid us.

    ¡°This¡­¡±

    The emotions of Fabian, in particr, were in an uncontroble torrent. Before long, it erupted.

    ¡°T-this has to be false! It¡¯s fake! I refuse to believe it!¡±

    ¡®Really? This is the best you could do?¡¯ I nearly rolled my eyes as Fabian burst out inint.

    ¡°You¡¯re lying! Father would never¨C!!!¡±

    ¡®Okay, that¡¯s enough.¡¯

    >VWUUUUUMMMMM!!!<

    Instantly, I spread my Mana Pressure around me, enveloping both Fabian and Damien in it.

    Their bodies shuddered, and their eyes nearly whitened as a result of the impact.

    I didn¡¯t go all-out, and only utilized a portion of my Mana Core, yet they were both in a state of shock¡­ and FEAR!

    Their legs gave up strength, and the two of them crumbled to the ground. I simply watched them kneel from my seated position.

    ¡°I believe I made myself clear¡­¡± My words came out softly as I stared coldly at the two pathetic excuses for Mages.

    ¡°E-eeekk¡­¡±

    With my glowing eyes, I fixed my gaze on them, causing sweat to pour out of their pores and their bodies to shake even more.

    ¡°¡­ Go to your rooms. Now.¡±

    They couldn¡¯t move because of the pure state of terror they were in, but I could tell that they understood my message.

    >SHUUUUUUUUUUUUU<

    Once I retracted the Mana Pressure, Fabian and his lovely assistant skittered away¨Cdashing straight for their respective rooms.

    ¡°That should settle things, for now,¡± I murmured, looking at the three witnesses in the room.

    ¡°Haha. Don¡¯t mind me¡­¡±

    Their gazes showed that they weren¡¯t going to ever cross my words ever again¨Cout of both respect and fear.

    ¡®Ah, this is what I was trying to avoid. Now, the mood is ruined thanks to those idiots.¡¯

    The upside was that no one would be challenging my authority anytime soon. Other than Serah, I could most likely handle everyone else present.

    ¡®Speaking of Serah, where is she¡­?¡¯

    As I made this thought, a knock sounded on our door. It was faint, and I could sense the one who was responsible for it.

    ¡®Why do I have a bad feeling about this?¡¯

    ***************************

    Freya was the one who was knocking.

    She came for two reasons.

    One was due to an incident that Serah caused. As I feared, she was indeed up to something.

    Fortunately, it didn¡¯t aggravate the Elves in the slightest.

    The crazy woman had simply challenged the strongest Elf¨Cthe Elf Queen tobat.

    As a result, we were supposed to watch the ¡®friendly spar¡¯ between two members of Allied Kingdoms.

    I shuddered at the thought.

    The second reason was a personal invitation for me.

    Apparently, the Elf Queen wanted to have a private discussion with me after her spar with Serah.

    ¡®Hmm. Is it because of the Memoir, or¡­?¡¯

    Either way, it didn¡¯t matter.

    After all, I also wanted to have a private conversation with the Queen. There was something I desperately needed to know.

    ¡°Ivan, please fetch Fabian and Damien. We¡¯ll be attending this friendly spar.¡± I grinned.

    While I had mixed feelings about watching two monsters fight, my heart was racing with excitement. That was because I knew for sure¡­

    ¡­ We were all in for a treat.

    ¡®This should be fun.¡¯

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    *

    [A/N]

    I need more reviews and interaction for this story. It¡¯s to encourage me and also get your suggestions.

    So, please, I would like to appeal to the readers to give their reviews¡­ and alsoment more.

    Thanks for reading!

 Chapter 381 A Friendly Spar [Pt 1]

    We arrived at the Grand Coliseum and observed that a few people were already present.

    The members of Elf Royalty were seated at the opposite end of the circr hall.

    It was a massive structure located within the Pce.

    The size was something that should have never been possible with the way the Royal building looked from the outside, which suggested that Magic was at work.

    We sort of faced each other, separated by the wide gulf that was the stage itself.

    Standing on the stage were the two contestants¡ªAurora and Serah.

    I wasn¡¯t the slightest bit worried about the effects of their battle. After all, the defensive array the Elves had was impressive enough to block off the effects of certain Magic on the Transcendental Level.

    This was protection given by the Sacred Tree itself, so I was guaranteed its potency.

    ¡®Besides, they¡¯re only having a Friendly Duel, so it shouldn¡¯t be a big deal¡­ right?¡¯

    I would be a fool to believe that.

    Both of these two women were scary.

    Serah was a wild savage that had been craving a fight ever since we started this expedition¡ªno, even before then.

    As for Aurora, hidden behind her gentle smile and calm demeanor, was a monster in her own right.

    She was more talented than her sister in Magic even though she was younger.

    To be honest, this Elf was a prodigy in every way. It was no wonder she had been able to live so long and was even an active Queen to her people.

    Though I was a bit curious about this fight, it was clear that Aurora had the advantage.

    This was Elf territory, and Mana was densest in the Royal Pce, thanks to the Sacred Tree.

    As a result, she had ess to the Mana locked in the environment.

    Humans didn¡¯t know how to tap into that, so in terms of Mana, certainly, Aurora was superior to Serah.

    But, why did I have an unsettling feeling as I stared at the scene? Serah¡¯s confident grin didn¡¯t stem from ignorance.

    It was as though she believed the match was going to end up in her win.

    ¡®Well, there¡¯s only one way to find out.¡¯

    *************************

    Rules for the match were established them. Among them was an obvious restriction.

    ¡°Since this is only a friendly match, we won¡¯t be utilizing Original Magic,¡± Aurora spoke with a gentle smile.

    She had a scepter in her hand. The object looked like intertwined branches of an aged tree. Atop it floated an orb that shimmered with multiple colors.

    Anyone could tell at first nce that it was an immensely powerful Magic Device.

    ¡°Ah, please don¡¯t mind this little thing. I won¡¯t be using the power within. It¡¯s just morefortable fighting with it.¡±

    ¡°I see. That¡¯s regrettable. I truly wish to fight you at full strength.¡± Serah said, a little less thrilled.

    ¡°As do I. But diplomacy calls for moderation. Perhaps at ater date, we can enjoy ourselves to the fullest.¡±

    ¡°I would very much like that!¡±

    Both women smiled at each other. Even though they were strangers who had only met a few moments ago, they felt aradeship that couldn¡¯t be exined with mere words.

    These two were known as the strongest in their respective Kingdoms. No one dared stand against them, and so they had been desirous of a greater challenge.

    Now that they stood before each other, they were d to have met.

    ¡®This time, for sure¡­¡¯ Both females thought.

    ¡­ They would have the privilege of going all-out¡ªat least, to an extent.

    Their grins were evident, and the referee¡ªDerius¡ªmade sure to keep his distance before even dreaming of starting the match.

    Once he was within the array of protection, he raised his voice so everyone in the hall could hear him.

    ¡°Let the match begin!¡±

    And thus began a match¡­ of utter CHAOS!

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Starting the ¡®friendly¡¯ sparring session, was an explosion that could have devastated a small city.

    The destructive sts of wrath as both parties shed caused those who watched to gulp in both fear and admiration.

    People like Ivan had their skins jumping in fear. Power like this was beyond anything he could ever muster.

    Watching two monsters duke it out like this reminded the boy of someone in his own grade who had also attained a realm of unimaginable power.

    It made Ivan feel inadequate, but he kept watching.

    Even though he was a weakling who was among the truly strong, Ivan steeled his resolve and decided to do all he could to keep growing.

    Spectating battles like this would help broaden his horizon¡ªor so he had thought.

    However, after watching the two women exchange a few blows, Ivan realized it was futile to watch the match.

    Their abilities were beyond what he could measure

    Their fight was too fast for his eyes to follow.

    Their powerful Magic was far above hisprehension.

    This wasn¡¯t even in the realm of what he could learn from.

    It was aplete catastrophe!

    ¡®C-can I really learn anything from this?!¡¯

    **************************

    It was an amazing battle.

    I was calcting everything as they fought. With every thrust and evasion, every defense and offense, I analyzed the actions of both parties.

    Watching strong individuals fight was a fine learning experience and I was d to be able to witness these two duke it out.

    In terms of battle prowess, Serah had the upper hand.

    Aurora mostly took to the defensive and evaded Serah¡¯s assaults. Then, she would counterattack with a powerful Spell.

    The end result was¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    This back and forth urred for some time, and the two were at a stalemate.

    Considering how the Mana of an individual was finite, I expected Serah to run out of steam in a battle of attrition.

    However, if I were topare her Mana Pool to Neron¡¯s, it would take an extremely long time before she got tired.

    In the long run, though, Aurora would win this fight since she had an almost infinite stock of Mana on her side.

    This was another advantage of being an Elf.

    With the abundance of Mana in their environment, their bodies naturally attracted the force of Mana, allowing them to strengthen their Spells and restore expended energy.

    In a way, it was simr to Spellcraft.

    ¡®That¡¯s no surprise, though¡­¡¯

    After all, it was because of this discovery of the Elves that I could invent my greatest trump card.

    *

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    *

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    *

    [A/N]

    I need more reviews and interaction for this story. It¡¯s to encourage me and also get your suggestions.

    So, please, I would like to appeal to the readers to give their reviews¡­ and alsoment more.

    Thanks for reading!

 Chapter 382 A Friendly Spar [Pt 2]

    Elves naturally attracted Mana, allowing them to retain their youthfulness and restore any expended energy with little effort.

    In a fight, they could also employ the aid of environmental Mana to assist them, thereby increasing the power of their Spells, and also recharging any lost Mana.

    That was so simr to the ability I developed¡ªSpellcraft.

    However, there was one fundamental difference between my principle and theirs.

    The Elves couldn¡¯t control environmental Mana!

    That¡¯s right.

    Even though they could attract, sense, and decipher the Mana in the environment well, they didn¡¯t actually manipte the Mana itself.

    It was just something that urred naturally, ording to their physiology and natural evolution.

    They could control the Mana once it entered their system, but no Elf could freely manipte the Mana around them.

    Perhaps they could, if they tried, but was there really a need?

    Mana always came to their aid, and it was abundant. Besides, they all believed that this energy was a free essence blessed upon them by the Spirits.

    None of them had the right to control or cover such power.

    As a result, they never achieved Spellcraft.

    Regardless, the current position of the Elves and Mana was still incredible. Which was why Aurora was able tounch so many Peak Level Spells without restraint.

    She only possessed a single Mana Core¡ªa Special Grade¡ªbut the Mana she could summon was beyond ordinary.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Yet another explosion surged forth, causing me to wince at the extent of the destruction wrought by the two women.

    ¡®Will this fight ever end?¡¯

    ************************************

    ¡°Holding back is hard, especially when you¡¯re the opponent,¡± Serah muttered, staring at Aurora withint.

    She had been restricting herself to the highest level of Peak Spells, but not one of them had reached her target.

    Serah Crimson specialized in destructive arts. That was the only type of Magic she had bothered learning; how to pummel her opponents without question.

    However, at this juncture, she was beginning to wish she had learned other craftier types of Magic.

    Her opponent was tricky, and raw strength was going to take her down¡ªat least not at her current level.

    If she could simply use Transcendental Magic, it would have been preferable. But, she was restrained because of their diplomatic condition.

    ¡®Damn it!¡¯

    ¡°I feel the same way, Serah Crimson. To be honest, I¡¯m a bit frustrated that I haven¡¯t been able to take you down yet.¡± Aurora replied.

    The Elf Queen, though she tried to hide it, was a sore loser.

    She hated losing to anyone¡ªever!

    It was one of the reasons she had many problems with Lewis Griffith in the past. He always seemed to be one step ahead, and so she hated him.

    Well, it wasn¡¯t exactly hatred, but¡­

    ¡®Why am I thinking of that annoying bastard now?!¡¯

    He was a weakling that wasn¡¯t worth her attention, yet¡­ he somehow managed to be at the center of it.

    ¡®Still, this woman is quite something.¡¯ Aurora reasoned as she stared at Serah.

    She had thought humans were inferior to Elves, at least when it came to the volume of Mana they could employ.

    But, this woman had broken that golden rule.

    Even the most powerful of Mages would show hints of exhaustion after a few Peak-Level Magic Spell, yet¡­

    ¡®She¡¯s not even tired after all that?¡¯

    Aurora could feel herself getting more and more excited.

    No one had made her want to fight this earnestly ever since her sister.

    ¡®She was always holding back, but¡­ if she took me seriously, she could have been stronger!¡¯

    The fact that Aurora had never fought a proper with the only one who could have been a challenge still stung.

    But, once the Queen remembered what would happen if she had lost, a weird calm came over her.

    Her sister was simply being thoughtful of her.

    ¡°Then, should we switch things up for a bit?¡± Serah Crimson suggested, her eyes indicating an excitement that could only be apanied by violence.

    ¡°Hmm. Fine, then. How about this¡­ one Transcendental Spell from both of us. The one who wins will be dered the victor.¡±

    The moment Serah heard this, her grin widened and she screamed in agreement.

    ¡°But, no Original Magic. That rule still stands.¡±

    ¡°Tch, fine¡­¡±

    Even without the use of Original Magic, there was still a means of utilizing Transcendental Magic.

    In simple terms, such Spells that were beyond the limits of normal people¡ªMagic that could bend the normal principles of the world.

    That was what Transcendental Magic was.

    Arcanas stood above every other Transcendental Magic that existed, but that also meant there were a few others.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be using this, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Aurora stretched out her staff and smiled at Serah.

    ¡°Fine. Do what you want.¡±

    Transcendental Magic was beyond the limits of living beings so that usually meant to use one, you would need the aid of tools.

    With the exception of a few users of Original Magic, if anyone even dreamed of attaining the Transcendent realm, they needed tools.

    Despite how powerful Aurora was, only her Original Magic was at that Level.

    If she wanted to utilize any other Spell, she would require the aid of the Staff Of Ages.

    It was the Spirit Weapon passed among the rulers of her people¡ªtaken from the very roots of the Sacred Tree.

    When Aurora became Elf Queen, she merged her personal Spirit Weapon with the Staff, just as her predecessors had done before her.

    As such, what she held was the ultimate item of the Elves.

    Transcendental Magic was possible with it.

    ¡°What about you? You¡¯re not going to utilize any item?¡±

    All eyes were on Serah now, wondering what she would do.

    It wasmon sense that people couldn¡¯t possess Transcendental Magic beyond their Original one.

    Since that was the case, why wasn¡¯t Serah budging? The answer was simple.

    ¡°Why? I don¡¯t need any tool.¡±

    Serah Crimson had transcended the realm ofmon sense.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just up my Magic to the Transcendental Level.¡±

    It was that simple.

 Chapter 383 Queens Of Destruction

    Serah Crimson¡¯s solution had always been simple.

    ¡ªDestruction!

    By raising her Magic beyond the realm within reason, Serah had ess to the most destructive Magic that couldy waste to anything.

    That was what Transcendental Magic meant to her.

    ¡°V-very well, then. Shall we begin?¡± Aurora spoke, hiding her surprise¡­

    ¡­ And anxiety.

    ¡°Yeah! Let¡¯s do this!¡±

    This fight began as a friendly spar between two friendly nations, but now¡­ it had escted beyond that.

    Though no one directly said it, everyone knew that this was a turning point of the trite belief among both the Human and Elf Race.

    A match to determine which among them was superior!

    **************************

    ¡°Oi, oi, oi!¡± The Mana I was sensing was dangerous.

    If I wasn¡¯t certain of the protection granted by the Sacred Tree¡¯s Magic, I would have definitely called this whole thing off.

    As Aurora readied her brightly colored staff, Serah steadied her posture.

    Both women were smiling like the nutjobs they were, and I could only powerlessly watch as they would decimate the area.

    I had initially thought of how this match would go, but now I really had no idea what would happen next.

    ncing at both the Elves and humans, I could tell that everyone seemed to be wondering the same thing.

    Who would win?!

    **********************

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Scarlet aura burst forth from Serah, covering her nearby vicinity with an oppressive heat that melted the very fabric of air around her.

    The heat of Mana around was strong enough to vaporize anything that came even the slightest bit close.

    The density was beyond ordinary, and this surge of energy kept swelling at an uncontroble rate.

    Rising and peaking to a phenomenal degree, it ascended far above the stage. Everyone watched the brilliant disy of her beautifully deadly Mana.

    However, this was only the beginning.

    >VWWUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHH<

    The entire energy began condensing.

    It rapidly shrunk, swirling around Serah¡¯s hand.

    Such dense Mana was already unbelievable. Topress it even further was downright impossible, yet that was exactly what was happening.

    Reality seemed to be shattering, and the atmosphere couldn¡¯t handle its power.

    If anyone was to step foot into the stage, they knew their deaths were imminent.

    The only reason the two women were fine was because of the enhancements they had on them.

    Their Mana was enough to protect them from the power exuded by Serah¡¯s concentrated energy.

    It finally settled on her fist. Like mes covering her hand, the energy had taken a different color.

    It was no longer scarlet. Instead, it took on a more malevolent color.

    ¡ªVermillion!

    ¡°Here I go!¡± Serah shouted, readying her body as she focused on the enemy.

    Aurora hadn¡¯t been cking off while Serah was preparing her attack.

    She too was focusing her energy to resonate with the Mana dwelling within the staff.

    Usually, the surrounding Mana would havee to her aid, but Serah¡¯s overwhelming energy hadpletely destroyed every trace of Mana around.

    If not for the dense protection Aurora had on her, the defensive Spell would have also been eaten away.

    ¡®This is¡­ even fiercer than Miasma!¡¯

    Demonic Energy was a corroding element that corrupted Mana slowly. But Serah¡¯s own simply burned them away.

    The effect was instantaneous, therefore it was more dangerous than Miasma.

    Aurora tightened her grip on the Spirit Weapon she wielded. It gave her the confidence needed to face the cmity head-on.

    Any wrong move would be fatal, she was aware. Mana was no longering to her aid. That meant one thing.

    ¡®Here and now¡­ I have to stop that myself!¡¯

    No, not just stop it. Aurora had to ovee the energy.

    The amount of power it would take to achieve such a frat was incalcble, so she simply poured all she had into the staff.

    >VWWWWWWUUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Instantly, the crystalization of energy manifested, and an arrow appeared.

    It looked more like a drill than an actual arrow, but this projectile was spinning Mana at an abnormal rate.

    The more it spun, the more power it emitted. The blue glow was in direct contrast with Serah¡¯s vermillion fist.

    The atmosphere swelled with the respective Mana of the two women.

    A fist versus an arrow.

    Two Transcendental cmities were about to unfold.

    ¡°VERMILLION Burst!¡±

    ¡°HARBINGER OF RUPTURE!¡±

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    As soon as Serah leaped from her position, Aurora released her hold on the arrow.

    The sound was deafening, and the Suge sent reverberating echoes across the hall.

    Everyone trembled in their seats, attesting to the two powers that neared each other.

    Faster than the regr eye could process, these two forces shed.

    And then, just as they shed¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!<

    ¡­ Everything turned white.

    ****************************

    I saw it all.

    It was tasking, but I made sure to focus my absolute attention on the battle.

    I watched everything!

    As Serah leaped from her position andunched her fist.

    As the devastating drill shed with the vermillion blow.

    Everything turned extremely bright¡ªbut I did not lose focus.

    I made sure to see beyond the blinding light and watch the oue of the match.

    Who would win?

    Their attacks both contained transcendental powers. In essence, they couldn¡¯t be measured.

    Serah¡¯s blow was supposed to decimate anything and everything.

    Aurora¡¯s arrow was meant to pierce all and devastate everything in its path

    The result of these impossible forces colliding was what I wanted to see.

    And so, I did.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ it¡¯s a shame.¡± Serah whispered, staring at her opponent.

    The entire arena¡ªwhich had been fortified with Transcendental Magic¡ªwas already destroyed.

    ¡°Indeed¡­¡± Aurora replied, looking at the former.

    The two werepletely unharmed. Their surroundings had suffered such terrible casualties, yet none of them were injured.

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s a tie.¡±

    And so, just as the battle had reached an overwhelming crescendo, the climax finally settled.

    Everyone¡¯s anxious expressions dissipated, and their questions were ultimately left unanswered.

    ¡°We should stop here for now.¡± Aurora smiled, taking a good look around her.

    ¡°I suppose. It is a friendly spar, after all.¡±

    Even though it was a bit toote to call their fight that, it seemed the two women insisted that was all it had been.

    I didn¡¯t want to imagine what an actual fight would be like for them.

    ¡®I¡¯m strong, but those two¡­¡¯

    They were on a realm higher than mine. As much as I enjoyed the match, everything I witnessed left a deep impression on me.

    To be honest, I was humbled.

    ¡°There are such monsters in this world, uh?¡± Grateful they were both my allies, I smiled bitterly.

    ¡®I still have a long way to go!¡¯

 Chapter 384 Private Audience [Pt 1]

    ¡®This woman is crazy¡­¡¯ Aurora thought to herself as she stared at the human before her.

    While the match had ended in a tie, the Elf Queen begged to differ internally.

    The attack she had used¡ª[Harbinger Of Rupture]¡ªwas the most powerful offensive Spell in her arsenal.

    The Drilling Arrow that spun could pierce through anything, and it umted more power with every rotation.

    The only restraining factor to this Spell was time.

    If given enough time to rotate, it could build enough charge that had the capacity to destroy an entire Continent¡ªno, probably the world.

    That was why it was Aurora¡¯s trump card.

    While she knew it wouldn¡¯t have been able to achieve its perfect state since Serah Crimson wouldn¡¯t let it charge for very long, the Elf still expected toe out victorious.

    However¡­ to think her attack got canceled out.

    Serah had not even utilized the aid of any weapon or Magic Item.

    It was simply her individual power.

    ¡®Yet, we tied¡­?¡¯

    Aurora Vindiel hated losing, but this feeling within her was something that felt far worse than defeat.

    It was the realization that she was inferior even though she didn¡¯t lose.

    ¡®That woman, Serah Crimson¡­ she¡¯s definitely stronger than I am.¡¯

    Of course, for the sake of her people¡ªas well as to keep her ego intact¡ªAurora didn¡¯t reveal her true thoughts.

    Since everyone had agreed it was a tie, she would let it remain that way. After all, none of them had been going all out from the start.

    It was nothing more than a friendly spar.

    ***********************

    The match ended, and both women slightly bowed to each other to show their respects.

    The look on Serah¡¯s face was ecstasy, and Aurora was matching the same look.

    ¡°I know she¡¯s sulking internally, though¡­¡¯

    This wasn¡¯t what I had in mind, but I was d that Serah was able to blow off some steam by facing Aurora.

    ¡°This should calm her down for a bit¡­¡± I whispered to myself.

    The two women exited the devastated arena, vanishing from sight.

    The entrances/exits linking to the stage were not connected to the seats of the audience, so we lost sight of them.

    ¡®Ah, hold on¡­ didn¡¯t Freya say the Queen wanted to see me?¡¯

    Just as I was having the thought, the Elf in question appeared before me.

    ¡°Come with me.¡±

    I nodded and followed her lead sheepishly.

    We took a different route from everyone else, and before I knew it, we were on a strange path.

    ¡°That was an intense match, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Freya smiled as she led the way.

    At some point, she slowed down her pace, so we were walking side by side.

    ¡°Indeed. I truly couldn¡¯t tell who would win.¡± I responded, ncing at the smiling Elf.

    For some reason, she seemed awfully pleased.

    I had thought her pride as an Elf would be hurt a little for seeing her mother draw with a human.

    ¡®She is Aurora¡¯s daughter, after all¡­¡¯ I nearly smirked.

    ¡°Well, I have to admit, it was surprising. I¡¯ve never actually seen my mother use her staff before. To think she resorted to that¡­¡±

    The Staff Of Ages was something passed among the Queens of the Elf Kingdom.

    I heard a bit about it from my lover in my previous life, but even she couldn¡¯t tell me the details.

    ¡°Well, Serah is very strong. I can only imagine what would happen if she decided to use her Familiar or Original Magic.¡±

    ¡°Familiar? Oh, you mean Bond Souls?¡±

    I nodded.

    For Elves, they operated differently from humans.

    Rather than utilizing Familiars the way we did, they made contracts with certain Magic Beasts and Bond Souls. These contracts allowed their linked partners toe to their aid at any time.

    It was also a symbiotic rtionship, so the Elves and their partners both benefited.

    However, a major difference between our method and theirs was that they utilized living Magic Creatures as their Partners.

    It was the obvious choice since Bond Souls were weaker versions of their living selves. So, rather than utilizing Bond Magic, they formed contracts with actual living Magic Beasts.

    That gave them a massive advantage.

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s why using Familiars was also restricted.¡± I smiled and Freya nodded.

    If both women had gone all out, it was a wonder what would actually happen. However, with what I had seen so far, my opinion was leaning toward Serah Crimson.

    To be honest, I wasn¡¯t expecting her to have so much raw power.

    A Transcendental Spell with enough force to match a Harbinger Of Rupture¡ªalbeit iplete¡ªwas something no human should have been able to produce.

    It made me realize just how true Neron¡¯s words were.

    ¡°Haa. Well, the results were certainly interesting¡­ I gained quite a lot. You?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Me too.¡± Freya smiled, slowing down as we approached arge door that stood right in front of us.

    ¡°The Queen is right behind this door. She says she wishes to meet you here.¡± Freya said with a slightly more appropriate tone.

    Even though we had been conversing as friends just earlier, her tone now was quite formal.

    ¡°Thank you, Freya.¡± I smiled.

    Even though it would have been more appropriate to add her Princess Title, such actions were unnecessary at this juncture.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be heading in now.¡± I quickly chimed in after seeing her slightly stunned expression.

    ¡°Y-yeah. Onest thing, though¡­¡±

    I turned back just as I was about to open the door and spotted her giving a serious gaze.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try anything stupid.¡±

    Her tone and expression were back to her causal mode, but something about her warning seemed weirdly personal and dangerous.

    ¡°O-okay¡­?¡±

    ¡°Perfect. Then, I¡¯ll see youter.¡±

    With that, Freya walked off and I entered the Elf Queen¡¯s supposed office.

    But¡­

    ¡°I aming in, your Majesty.¡±

    ¡­ It wasn¡¯t until I entered inside¡­

    ¡°Oh? You¡¯re here already? Then, doe in.¡±

    ¡­ That I truly understood the meaning behind Freya¡¯s words.

    A warm, pleasant feeling permeated my body as I opened the door.

    It was apanied by a lovely floral aroma, tickling my nose as I entered the room, and I found myself in a ce I didn¡¯t expect.

    ¡®T-this is¡­!¡¯

 Chapter 385 Private Audience [Pt 2]

    Arge curtain covered arge portion of the room, allowing only silhouettes of what was behind it to be visible.

    But, even seeing the shadow structures was enough for me to recognize what was going on.

    I was currently in the Queen¡¯s bathing area¡ªat least one of them.

    A Hot Spring.

    And, behind the thin curtain that separated me from the pool of water beyond was the Elf Queen herself.

    ¡°Wee, Jared Leonard. Please¡­ give me a moment.¡±

    ¡®Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!¡¯

    Why were Elves like this? This was something very inappropriate. Didn¡¯t they realize this?

    ¡®I¡¯m a delegate, you know? Shouldn¡¯t you have somemon sense, Freya?¡¯

    I knew that there was no way to see through the curtain, no matter how thin theyer was.

    It must have been fortified by the highest kind of Magic¡ªor at least very close.

    Even if I tried to see through it, I would have to use incredibly strong Magic.

    There was no way the Queen wouldn¡¯t be able to sense my intentions. Who knew what would happen then

    ¡®Should I risk it¡­?¡¯

    It wouldn¡¯t be my first time seeing Aurora naked, but¡­ she had advanced in age. She was muchrger now than in the past¡ªin more ways than one.

    As I contemted what to do, a certain Elf¡¯s words came ringing in my ears.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid!¡±

    ¡®Ah, so this is what she meant.¡¯ I sighed, wondering why Freya would think I was that sort of person.

    A respectable delegate like me wouldn¡¯t actually stoop so low. At the very least, I never gave off that impression.

    ¡®If anything, it¡¯s their fault. Why would they set up a meeting here?¡¯

    I rolled my eyes and began scanning the room.

    It was furnished with polished stones, and the atmosphere gave off a warm feeling that rxed my muscles.

    Seats were present, despite it being a Hot Spring, but I decided to remain standing.

    Mana Gems served as light sources, and they filled the room in their glow.

    >SPLASH<

    I heard the water stir, and watched from the curtain that a certain silhouette was emerging from therge pool beyond.

    ¡°Haaa¡­¡± The sound of the Queen came forth.

    ¡®Let¡¯s not do anything implicating.¡¯

    Even though I was seeing nothing, my deductive analysis allowed me to make much meaning from the mere sight of a shadow.

    As a result, if I kept looking, I would be doing something shameful.

    Turning my back from the curtain, I waited for the Queen to ready herself entirely.

    My heart beat fast and the heat seemed to be rising. I heard sshing footsteps, and then the curtain parted.

    A stronger floral scent overpowered my nose, and the heat that apanied it nearly made me feel dizzy.

    ¡®Urgh!¡¯ As I still recovered from the recoil, someone approached me.

    It was none other than¡­

    ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting, Jared Leonard.¡±

    ¡­ The Queen herself.

    >Drip<

    >Drip<

    >Drip<

    I heard stters of water on the ground. Her Majesty was still wet, at least that was what I surmised.

    It pained me to have shameful thoughts, but there was something about Elves that seemed provocative.

    ¡®Haa, Jared calm down.¡¯

    Since it would be rude to show my back for too long, I turned to face her.

    Aurora was covered in a lire white robe,pletely covering any seductive part of her body.

    Still, as I surmised, her face and body had water oozing from them. Her hair was wrapped in a towel, so it was absorbing the water quite well.

    ¡°I-it was no problem, my Queen.¡± I forcefully opened my mouth to utter words.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    Aurora was smiling at me with a faint smile. I recognized that look.

    ¡®What is she up to?¡¯

    ¡°Well, I need to change first. Please follow me to my room.¡±

    ¡®Ngh!¡¯ I nearly clutched my chest.

    This Elf was pushing it.

    ¡®Deep breaths, Jared.¡¯

    ¡°If that is what you wish, your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Haha, alright then.¡± Sheughed heartily, and then, after wearing her slippers, we both took another door by the side and began moving to her room.

    It was a silent walk.

    I made sure to maintain my distance and keep my gaze low.

    ¡°So, what did you think about my earlier match with Serah Crimson?¡±

    ¡®Ah, I knew you¡¯d ask this Aurora!¡¯ Which was why¡­ I had already prepared well.

    In my mind, I readied one of my powerful moves. It was a technique many knew, but not a lot could execute well.

    The Sacred art of ass-kissing.

    ¡°I believe your Majesty would have won if the match dragged out even further. Utilizing more Transcendental Level Magic would have been to your advantage since there¡¯s no way Serah would be able tounch two of those attacks at the same time.¡±

    While she was still recoiling, Aurora could simply utilize the Staff Of Ages tounch more attacks.

    ¡°Hoho, is that so?¡± The Elf Queenughed slightly.

    ¡®You¡¯re still so childish. To think hearing someone praise you would make you happy like that.¡¯ I almost rolled my eyes at the woman, but controlled myself.

    ¡°But, wouldn¡¯t you say it¡¯s unfair to use a Magic Item against someone without one? That doesn¡¯t make the match even.¡±

    ¡®Ah, she¡¯s trying to find a hole in my praise.¡¯ It was too bad for her that I was already well prepared for this oue.

    ¡°ording to what I heard, Serah Crimson doesn¡¯t utilize any Magic Tool. Perhaps her body is already enough for her. I don¡¯t know too much about the Elven heritage, but Spirit weapons could also be considered a part of an Elf. In that sense, the Queen wasn¡¯t unfair in using your staff.¡±

    ¡°Huhu, is that so? You also learned that from Lewis Griffith¡¯s Memoirs?¡± Aurora smiled.

    ¡°Indeed, your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Very well. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.¡±

    Afterward, we walked to her room.

    I insisted on waiting outside until she fully changed, and fortunately, Aurora agreed.

    Then, after a while, she appeared with a splendid gown befitting her status.

    Once again, we walked down the hallway and found ourselves in a lounge.

    It was still within the private residence of the Queen, and ording to her, it was only for the most special of guests.

    Judging by how luxurious it was, I knew it had to be true.

    In my past life, I never got to see something like this, after all.

    ¡°Do you know why I called to see you?¡± Aurora asked with a smile.

    With the snap of her fingers, teacups, cookies, and a teapot appeared.

    We sat opposite each other and helped ourselves to a cup each.

    ¡°Not at all, your Majesty. However, I too have something I want to ask you.¡±

    It had been bugging me ever since entered the Elf Kingdom, but I was always removing my mind from the thought.

    However, after seeing Aurora, there was no way I could resist the question any longer!

    ¡®What happened to your sister, Emilia?¡¯

    [A/N]

    This begins the shback into Lewis Griffith¡¯s past

    I certainly hope you enjoy the story. Many will see a different side of the MC, and I certainly hope you learn to appreciate him more.

    Don¡¯t worry¡­ it doesn¡¯t take too long.

    Let us begin!

 Chapter 386 [Bonus chapter] The Strange Elf [Pt 1]

    Emilia was an oddball.

    For an Elf, a superior Race, she often liked mypany for some reason.

    I was nothing but a dense man who was buried in research and the study for Magic back then, so I didn¡¯t notice her true intentions on time.

    Still, I never thought she was a nuisance. After all, she was the one who opened my eyes to so many things I know now.

    We first met when the Heroes Party traveled through several continents to seek the Aid and Alliance of the other Races.

    Back then, it was only me, Gawain Lenard, and Ford Zesshi who were members of the Party.

    Sent as delegates from the Eastern Kingdom, we had to address the uncontroble scourge of the Demons.

    An Alliance was the only option.

    The Elf Kingdom was our first option, and so we ventured there.

    Thanks to our stubbornness¡ªespecially Gawain¡¯s determination, my wits, and Ford¡¯s power, we were able to finally gain an audience with the Queen.

    During the meeting with the Royals, my head was faced down the whole time.

    As an Inept who couldn¡¯t sense or use Mana in the slightest, I had already gotten used to my life.

    I also had the opportunity of being among many Mages and powerful individuals. My achievements had even earned me a ce in the Hero Party.

    However, it was the first time in my life that I was encountering such overwhelming pressure.

    The Royals were all gathered in the Throne Room, and their presence was enough to diminish my existence.

    I truly felt small throughout the meeting.

    Perhaps that was why I was able to address them with the appropriate respect that allowed them to hear us out.

    Of course, the decision wasn¡¯t made in an instant, so we had to stay as guests for some time.

    Lingering while awaiting the decision of the Elves, my friends passed time doing many things.

    Gawain trained, as usual. His outdoor exercises gathered quite the attention since Elves didn¡¯t practice Martial Arts at all.

    Ford Zesshi spent his time isted, meditating and advancing his Mana Core.

    He was about to break through to Gold Stage at the time.

    For a man who hadn¡¯t even approached thirty yet, his talents in Magic were considered extraordinary back then.

    As for me, the Sage, Lewis Griffith, I did the only thing I could in such a strangend filled with new concepts of Magic.

    ¡°Please show me your Magic!¡±

    ¡°J-just a little¡­ I¡¯ll do anything!¡±

    ¡°Please,e on. Help your fellow living being here!¡±

    I shamelessly begged every Elf I could to guide me on the path of their Magic.

    A different culture meant unknown approaches to Magic, and new things to learn. I wouldn¡¯t have been able to warn my title of Sage if I simply held onto my pride and wasn¡¯t willing to utilize such an opportunity.

    From dusk till dawn, I observed the Elves. I also directly begged many to show me, teach me, or even attack me, with their Magic.

    I was that desperate.

    Unfortunately, thanks to their view on humans, many weren¡¯t exactly cooperative with me.

    Those who at least gave some consideration¡ªsince I was the Queen¡¯s guest¡ªsimply ignored my pleas.

    As a result, I was stuck as a spectator, only allowed to watch the Elves live their daily lives.

    I learned a few things, but I knew I was missing out on a lot more.

    ¡°Ahh, this sucks¡­¡± I could only wallow in my misery.

    However, everything changed one fateful day¡­ when I met her!

    ¡°You¡¯re a weird one.¡±

    Yeah. That was the first thing she ever said to me.

    ¡°Well, I get that a lot¡­¡± I had murmured, not even realizing who I was speaking with.

    It took me a moment, 2.76 seconds to be exact, to realize that I was in thend of Elves. And since only Elves were around, it meant the one who was speaking was also an Elf.

    And, this Elf in question approached me first. That meant this could have actually been my chance.

    In a sh, I swiftly turned in the direction of the being, bowed in her presence, and pleaded with all my might.

    ¡°P-please show me your Magic!!!¡±

    It was the very height of shamelessness, I knew. But, to get what I wanted, I would do whatever it took.

    That was the kind of guy I was.

    ¡°Hahahaha. You¡¯re so funny.¡±

    Sheughed at me, instead of returning.y pleas with scorn. That alone showed me she was different.

    ¡®Maybe¡­ I should increase my appeal a bit!¡¯

    And so, I prepared my puppy dog eyes and raised my face to beg even more.

    ¡®¡­ Eh¡­?¡¯

    The first thing that caught my eye was her violet eyes.

    Then, her charming smile drew me in.

    Her clear face and wless skin blew my mind away.

    She was the epitome of perfection. Her beauty was otherworldly.

    Such a perfectly lovely Elf couldn¡¯t approach me first! My mind refused to believe it.

    Just as my brain was getting fried just from looking at her, I noticed something¡ªher hair.

    ¡®White¡­? That means¡­?!!!¡¯

    So far, I had only seen the hair color on a particr kind of Elves.

    ¡ªRoyalty!

    ¡°Hahaha. You look so weird right now.¡± The otherworldly beautyughed as she stared at me.

    My body stiffened and I instantly turned into a dried fish.

    I had acted so shamelessly to a Royal. Many worried thoughts rang through my mind.

    ¡®Am I screwed? She could vaporize me in an instant. No, what of the n, the Alliance? Will my actions cause everything to go up in smoke? Ah, I¡¯m gawking too much! This is such a mess! Spare me, pretty Royal Elf Lady! Please¡­!?!¡¯

    As I still kept staring like an idiot, the white-haired Elf drew closer to me until her face was barely an inch apart from mine.

    Her smile seemed all the more dangerous at this point. Merely the sweet flora scenting from her was enough to overpower my will to resist.

    ¡°Sure¡­ I¡¯ll show you¡ªMagic, that is.¡±

    Her reply was unexpected.

    No kind of mental analysis or nning ahead could have led to this sort of development. It was so bizarre, yet¡­ I didn¡¯t find it unpleasant in any way.

    I knew I was supposed to apologize for my actions that very instant.

    She was a Royal Elf. If she so much as lodged aint, our mission would be thwarted. I couldn¡¯t afford to be rude or imposing on such an important person!

    However¡­ I didn¡¯t know what sort of madness caused me to respond the way I did.

    Rather than apologizing and running as far as my legs could carry me¡­

    ¡°R-really¡­ you will?¡±

    ¡­ I furthered our conversation.

    ¡°Sure. Why not?¡±

    In retrospect, I had to give my past self kudos for that dumb reply¡ª

    ¡°By the way, my name is Emilia. Emilia Vindiel. May the spirits bless our meeting.¡±

    ¡°A-ah, my name is Lewis Griffith.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­ I heard your introduction a while back.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh¡­ I see. Haha¡­¡±

    ¡ªAfter all, that was what set the ball rolling¡­ on a new and exciting adventure that I couldn¡¯t have dreamed of.

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This begins the Mini Arc: Sage¡¯s Past [Pt 1]

    I certainly hope you enjoy it.

 Chapter 387 The Strange Elf [Pt 2]

    ¡°And so, that¡¯s why we¡¯re able to live so long. You get it?¡±

    After a few hours with this strange Elf, I was already learning so many things.

    As I had predicted¡ªno, even better than that¡ªI was being exposed to new horizons.

    The Elf Princess, Emilia Vindiel, was answering so many questions of mine, smiling throughout as though enjoying herself.

    ¡°Whoah. That actually makes sense. That means¡­¡± I stared at her with a suspicious gaze

    After spending a few hours with her, I had finally gotten used to staring at her utterly mesmerizing face.

    ¡°Hm? What is it?¡± She asked in utter cuteness.

    However, that cuteness could fool me no longer.

    ¡°That means¡­ you¡¯re actually¡­ older than me?¡± I stated.

    ¡°Eh?¡± The Elf sounded surprised, but I wasn¡¯t going to let her get away with acting so cute.

    I knew her secret now! Even though she physically appeared to be younger than me, Emilia was probably as old as my mother¡ªno, even older.

    ¡°Just how old are you?¡± My eyes narrowed as I stared into the violet abyss of her irises.

    ¡°S-stop that. It¡¯s rude to ask ady her age, you know?¡±

    Yet, another cute side of the Elf appeared. Her pout made my heart nearly jump out, causing me to clutch my chest tightly.

    I was in my youth. It was the normal reaction for a hopeless virgin like me.

    Yes, I was a dense idiot who only pursued Magic. However, it was only when I was with Emilia that I began to feel something else lurking within me.

    Something that was beginning to grow at an rming rate.

    Emilia found a way around the subject, plus I also had so much to learn about the Elves and Magic, so we eventually forgot about the ¡®Age¡¯ issue.

    By the way, I was twenty-nine at the time.

    ***************************

    The next day, we met again.

    Then, the day after that.

    We only talked about Magic. The wonders of Elf culture, their rtionship with Mana, and the concept of Spirits.

    I had never had such a fulfilling conversation with a woman before.

    I had quite a handsome face, so oftentimes when I talked todies, they would be more interested in fields outside my area of interest.

    The rate of those useless conversations was growing at a rapid rate as I was getting older.

    Yet, with Emilia, it was different.

    I truly felt at ease with her, and I could tell she was the same.

    Unfortunately, nothing in this worldsts forever.

    Even though I was having the time of my life, the reality of the situation was that we needed the Alliance of the Elves.

    And so, after a week psed, our group was called back to have an audience with the Queen.

    The Alliance proposal¡­ was rejected!

    We weren¡¯t able to secure them as Allies. Not only did we fail our mission, but during the week we were away, the Demon onught had gotten increasingly severe.

    The Elves we were counting on as potential allies had rejected us.

    When I asked for their reasons, the Queen said this.

    ¡°I can see through you all. Do not bother our Kind with your selfish interests.¡±

    It was at that moment that I realized¡­ the error we hadmitted.

    The week given to us was a test phase.

    In essence, they observed all our actions.

    Even though we had spent so long among the Elves, none of us actually cared for them.

    Gawain was busy with training.

    Ford was busy with his personal growth.

    I was¡­ also busy with something¡ªor rather, someone.

    ¡°You humans are always the same. Ultimately, you desire only for yourselves.¡±

    The Queen wasn¡¯t wrong.

    We were inherently selfish creatures. I was the very same.

    The reason we sought an Alliance with the Elves was simply for our merit.

    Humans weren¡¯t as strong as the Demons. There was no way we could win against them. And, with the passing of each day, they were growing stronger.

    Our Kingdom, as well as our only Allies, The Northern Kingdom, were the ones suffering the brunt of the Demonic Assault.

    Both Kingdoms were predominantlyprised of humans¡ªthe self-proimed dominant Race of the world.

    But, with the assault of our nemesis, we realized just how weak and small we were.

    That was the sole reason we reached out to our other neighbors.

    We didn¡¯t want to die.

    We wanted to survive.

    Even if it meant shamelessly asking for the aid of others.

    The Elves saw right through that¡­ and so they rejected our proposal.

    ¡°You will be leaving this ce tomorrow. There is no room for negotiation.¡±

    I didn¡¯t even have the strength to argue. Every word the Queen spoke was spot-on. Trying to wiggle my way out of this would only lead to more misfortune.

    ¡®Besides¡­¡¯

    I silently nced in the direction of Emilia. She was standing beside her mother, along with her little sister¡ªAurora.

    Despite the despair and fear that coursed through my body, the expression on Emilia¡¯s face¡­ was a pure and gentle smile.

    She was looking at me. Her violet eyescked any malice. I could tell that she understood just the kind of tough spot I was in.

    I wanted to plead with her to help me¡ªhelp us. It was shameless, but that was the only path I knew to take.

    If I wanted something, I had it get it no matter the cost. Even if¡­ even if I had to use someone who had done nothing but show me goodwill.

    In the end, I couldn¡¯t do it. I couldn¡¯t ask her for assistance.

    Emilia just kept smiling at me. Her expression didn¡¯t change in the slightest. It was the innocence in her eyes that caused me to look away in self-loathing.

    ¡®This is it¡­¡¯ I resigned myself to the consequences of my selfishness.

    We paid our respects to the Queen and returned to our residence.

    The mood was heavy, but there was nothing to be done.

    We equally shared the me for our choices, so we simply had to ept what had happened¡ªhoping we had better luck with the next Kingdom we visited.

    However, the very next day¡­

    ¡°I have changed my mind after further thought.¡±

    ¡­ As we were supposed to bid the Elf Queen farewell¡­

    ¡°The matter of your Alliance has been reconsidered.¡±

    ¡­ Everythingpletely changed!¡±

    ¡°We will ally ourselves with the Eastern Kingdom.¡±

 Chapter 388 The Strange Elf [Pt 3]

    I had no idea why, but the Queen rescinded her earlier decision.

    All of a sudden, we became the Allies of the Elves.

    ¡°Leave one member of your Party here to serve as an Ambassador, while the rest may return to your Kingdom.¡±

    It was a miracle!

    ¡°Tell your King to set an appropriate meeting date, so we can directly converse.¡±

    It waspletely unprecedented.

    ¡°You may leave.¡±

    And it was all because of someone!

    My eyes darted in her direction, and I saw Emilia smile the same way she always did. However, this time¡­ the Elf gave me a conspirational wink.

    ¡®N-no way¡­ it was you? H-how did you do it? I didn¡¯t even ask¡­¡¯

    To be honest, I had thought I would never see or talk to her after that day.

    Since she never even came to visit or bid farewell, I really thought we had already broken ties.

    My idiot mind had no idea that she had been tirelessly working to ensure that our Alliance seeded.

    I had no idea how she achieved it, but¡­

    ¡°THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH!¡±

    ¡­ It meant the world to me.

    *****************************

    ¡°Lewis, you¡¯ll be the one acting as Ambassador.¡±

    As expected, I was the one left behind. The rest of myrades returned to the Eastern Kingdom that very day.

    I saw them off, watching as their Magic carriage sped away.

    Surprisingly, I wasn¡¯t the only one. Someone else was beside me.

    ¡°Looks like everything worked out well in the end!¡±

    Yes, it was none other than the strange Elf.

    ¡°Gah! You scared me. How long have you been standing there?!¡±

    ¡°Haha. Who knows. Since you can¡¯t sense Mana, you can¡¯t even detect my wavelength at all.¡±

    ¡°Ouch¡­¡±

    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±

    Just like that, the link that I thought was broken, was bound once more.

    As I stared at her fluttering white hair and her alluring face, the feelings within me grew even more.

    ¡°T-thanks, Emilia.¡±

    ¡°For what?¡±

    ¡°You know¡­ for the whole thing with the decision of the Queen.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Who says that has anything to do with me?¡±

    ¡°Come on, Emilia. Do I really look like an idiot?¡±

    ¡°Yeah. You do.¡±

    ¡°Okay. Fair enough.¡±

    The conversation was a back and forth, but she eventually admitted she had a role to y in the Queen¡¯s decision.

    ¡°W-why¡­?¡±

    I didn¡¯t know when the question popped out of my lips, but my curiosity and also the inner emotions within me forced those words out.

    ¡°Why?¡± She repeated.

    ¡°Why did you help us? The Queen was right. We only need your assistance for our selfishness¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, maybe that¡¯s true.¡± Emilia smiled at me with a hidden truth in her eyes.

    I couldn¡¯t decipher it.

    ¡°But, is it so wrong to desire to protect that which you cherish? The Elves simply have a different philosophy from Humans, so we might not adopt the same method. However¡­ I believe striving hard, no matter the cost of one¡¯s pride and ego, to reach that which is precious to them is admirable.¡±

    I had no idea at the time, but Emilia meant two things when she said that.

    One was about the general idea behind our offer for an Alliance.

    The second was about me.

    She had been watching as I shamelessly asked her fellow Elves for their help in my Magic research.

    ording to her words¡­ she became interested in me from that point on. I thought of it as silly at the time.

    However, that was because I was stupid.

    ¡°Besides, when you stared at me back then¡­ I knew you wanted my help.¡± Emilia told me as we walked.

    She was referring to how I had curtailed my desperation despite how badly I wanted to beg her for help.

    ¡°Is that why you helped?¡± I asked her.

    ¡°No. If you had begged me, I wouldn¡¯t have assisted you. But, even in that moment of desperation¡­ you didn¡¯t take advantage of my kindness.¡±

    I didn¡¯t quite understand her reasoning.

    ¡°Selfishness only bes evil or despicable when you manipte others and try to take advantage of them to satisfy yourself. It¡¯s especially disgusting when you do it to someone who cares about you.¡±

    My eyes widened as I stared at her. Ignoring the fact that she practically professed her care for me, I was more astounded by her peculiar rationale.

    ¡°You could have begged me, but didn¡¯t. That shows you¡¯re not as selfish as you think, Lewis. It¡¯s just the right amount, and there¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡±

    My heart fluttered as she stared at me with sincerity.

    ¡°In fact, I quite like that.¡± Emilia¡¯s lips parted as she drew closer to me.

    I hadn¡¯t realized, but our walk had led us to the Pce¡¯s courtyard¡­ and we were alone.

    ¡°I have to say, Lewis¡­ for a human, you¡¯re very appealing.¡±

    At this point, her hand was on my chest, and her face was close to mine.

    My back was pushed against the wall, and I waspletely helpless.

    When it came to Magic or physical abilities, Emilia had me beat. She was vastly superior, and I felt like a child being harassed by an older, more experienced woman.

    I could only watch as she licked her lips and stared at me intensely.

    ¡°I really like you, Lewis.¡±

    My eyes widened when I heard this.

    It was a confession. A literal one!

    I was frozen.

    I had gotten so many confessions in the past as well, but none shook me as this did.

    My heart was racing now as I watched her face draw closer to mine.

    ¡®This doesn¡¯t make sense! Why me? I don¡¯t get it! Is this another test? Will I be taking advantage of her? I don¡¯t¡­ understand¡­!!!¡¯

    I panicked, but I could feel desire rise within my heart, and also in between my legs.

    I was only human, after all.

    And so, as the atmosphere was alit with passion, I let myself go with the flow.

    ¡°Emilia, what are you doing?¡±

    But, everything was ruined by yet another Royal Elf.

    ¡°You should get away from that human!¡±

    I recognized the iing Elf. Her white hair flowed as she approached us. Even though she had an impudent attitude, she looked younger than Emilia¨Ccloser to a child than an adult.

    I didn¡¯t know it back then, but that was my first direct encounter with Emilia¡¯s little sister¨CAurora Vindiel.

 Chapter 389 Metamorphosis

    Emilia did the opposite of what she was told despite the impudent Elf¡¯s harsh tone.

    Drawing closer to me until her chest touched mine, and her lips were close to my ear, the Elf Princess uttered words to me.

    ¡°Looks like we were interrupted. Another time, then.¡±

    I gulped, feeling awfully excited and fearful at the same time.

    With a sigh, Emilia began to pull away. She turned in the direction of the seething midget.

    ¡°You should stop this, Emilia! Someone like him dares to¡­¡± The neer eyed me with disgust.

    I didn¡¯t even do anything wrong, yet I was the one being discriminated against.

    ¡°Please, Aurora. Your attitude is not befitting of Royalty, you know? You shouldport yourself more.¡±

    ¡°And you should stop talking to him!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Now that you¡¯re here, I might as well introduce the both of you.¡±

    ¡°I already heard his introduction before.¡±

    ¡°So you know his name?¡±

    ¡°Why would I remember the name of an insignificant human? He doesn¡¯t even have any Mana, so he¡¯s basically worse than the average one. Doesn¡¯t make him less than an insect?¡±

    Yes, the girl was very mean¡ªenough to break a grown man like me.

    ¡°Be nice, Aurora. Now, just introduce yourself. Come on¡­¡±

    Grudgingly, the white-haired Elf stood a distance from me, folded her hands, and spoke with childish authority.

    ¡°My name is Aurora Vindiel, Second Princess of this Kingdom. The spirits have nothing to do with this, but you better remember my name!¡±

    She had an extremely cute appearance. It was a shame that her imposing attitude ruined her child-like allure.

    ¡°M-my name is Lewis Griffith, and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Ah, I remember now. You were that guy who was shaking and groveling when mother first granted you audience.¡±

    ¡®Shiiiiiiiiiiit!¡¯

    ¡°Hahahaha! What a funny sight that was. I thought you were going to soil yourself. At least you were aware of our superiority, so I had no real problem with you then.¡±

    Her words were so hurtful, but I kept my shattered pride to myself.

    I had lived a life of shamelessness, so this much had to be tolerated

    ¡°A-ah, that¡¯s a relief then¡ª¡±

    ¡°But, you¡¯re overstepping your boundaries now, human! You better stay away from my sister! Hmph!¡±

    With that, she dragged¡ªor, more like she tried to¡ªdragged Emilia away.

    Her small stature made her efforts to pull her sister away meaningless.

    ¡°Well, I have to go now, Lewis. We¡¯ll meetter, right?¡± The only silver lining in the thick dark clouds looming over me gave a brilliant smile.

    It was enough to mend my broken heart and crushed spirit.

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, bye then.¡±

    ¡°Bye, Emilia. B-bye, Auro¡ª¡±

    One deadly look from the Elf Princess told me never to attempt that. Even though she was small, I could tell¡­

    ¡®She can easily kill me without batting an eye.¡¯

    ¡­ Princess Aurora was dangerous.

    *************************

    Afterward, Aurora and I kept hanging out. We grew closer and closer.

    Our rtionship evolved beyond the topic of Magic, and we truly enjoyed one another¡¯sedy.

    It was as though the genre of my life hadpletely switched. I was in a new world entirely, much like the storybooks I used to read when I was younger.

    I, the Male Lead, and Emilia, the Female Lead, were bound by fate.

    Of course, there was also the Viin¡ªor rather the Viiness¡ªof the story.

    It was none other than Princess Aurora.

    Ultimately, I deduced two things from the girl.

    The first was that she didn¡¯t like me.

    The second was that she didn¡¯t like the fact that Emilia liked me.

    I struggled to understand why she was so annoyed at me. I tried everything I could to convince her I meant well.

    It wasn¡¯t until a fateful day when I grew tired of her incessant bullying and verbal assault that I finally asked.

    ¡°I know you don¡¯t despise all humans. You just don¡¯t like me! Why?! What have I ever done to you?¡±

    My tone was rude, but I didn¡¯t care any longer. My desire to be with Emilia without getting interrupted by Aurora was too much.

    It was enough to cloud mymon sense.

    ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re talking to?¡±

    Her pressure alone forced me to kneel before her, cowering like a shivering dog.

    I could sense a cold gaze in her eyes. She truly despised me.

    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault¡­¡±

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand¡­ what did I do¡­?¡±

    ¡°Silence!¡±

    My lips were instantly shut out of fear.

    ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t you know it¡¯s because of her that your Alliance proposal was epted?¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ of course, I know that¡­¡±

    Even though Emilia had been coy about it, she eventually revealed that she had a part to y in the whole thing.

    ¡°Did you even bother asking how she was able to do it? You think it¡¯s so simple to change my mother¡¯s mind? Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡±

    ¡®E-eh¡­?¡¯

    I didn¡¯t fully understand politics, so it was difficult to grasp what Aurora was talking about.

    Apparently, the situation wasn¡¯t as easy as a child begging her mother to change her mind.

    ¡°That idiot didn¡¯t tell you, did she?¡±

    At this moment, I was confounded with various thoughts.

    Doubts and a hint of fear.

    ¡°W-what did she do¡­? How was she able to¡­?¡±

    ¡°You think I¡¯d tell you? Why don¡¯t you ask her since you¡¯re so close!¡±

    With those words ringing in my ears, Aurora left me and stormed off.

    ¡°W-what did you do¡­ Emilia¡­?¡± I muttered to myself, still kneeling on the grass.

    *********************

    I never found out what she had to pay in exchange for the Alliance.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Lewis. It¡¯s all in the past.¡±

    Even when I tried to press her on the issue.

    ¡°Stop it, Lewis. I said you should let it go.¡±

    No matter how hard I tried to let her divulge the details, she never did.

    And so, I only wondered and wondered.

    For Emilia¡¯s sake, I stopped asking about it, and so our rtionship progressed as usual.

    However, from that moment on, I decided to give more consideration to Emilia.

    Slowly, our rtionship progressed from that of mere friends¡­ to something a little bit more.

    Then, we eventually shared our first kiss.

 Chapter 390 Allies Of The Past

    ¡°Was this your intention from the start? Making me stay behind while myrades returned to the Eastern Kingdom?¡±

    Emilia and I were walking together one fateful day, so I asked.

    It had been almost two weeks since my allies left for the Eastern Kingdom, and we got news that they would be arriving today.

    That was the reason I even remembered how we separated, in the first ce.

    ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Emilia smiled, and then licked her lips in a dangerously seductive way.

    My crotch tingled, and the memory of the kiss we shared the previous night appeared in my head.

    ¡®Nngh!¡¯ I fought to regain control.

    Emilia was a great maniptor of emotions, far more skilled than me.

    I wasn¡¯t even in her league.

    We kept discussing as we awaited the arrival of ourrades, holding hands every step of the way.

    Fun, casual moments like these soon became a rarity as time went on.

    After all, thanks to being sheltered by the Elf Kingdom, I was able to escape all the horrid hardships of war.

    And so, while I was basking in love and desire¡­ Demons had advanced to a terrifying degree.

    **************************

    The King of the Eastern Empire arrived with his entourage.

    Thanks to the pride of the Elves, it couldn¡¯t have gone any other way. As a result, a diplomatic conference was held, and we sessfully formed an Alliance.

    I, as well as myrades, were present.

    After the whole Treaty was over, I took some time to catch up with my friends.

    They told me of the horrors that were urring beyond the borders of the Eastern Kingdom.

    ¡°We need to act fast.¡± Gawain even murmured with a stern face.

    I understood that the situation was deadly, but that was all the more reason why we couldn¡¯t act rashly.

    And so, I proposed a two-pronged n.

    Firstly, our joint forces with the Elves would form a resistance against the Demon Forces. But, seeing as they were growing at an uncontroble rate, it was best to increase our manpower quickly.

    Which was when my second n¨CWorld Alliance¨Ccame into y.

    We had to seek the aid of the other Races.

    Since I was the instigator of this n, I needed to execute it. And so, the time finally came to leave the Elf Kingdom.

    For the future of the world, I was to journey to the other Kingdoms and secure their aid.

    But¡­

    ¡°You¡¯re leaving, Lewis?¡±

    ¡­ I had my hesitations.

    ¡°Come with me.¡± My words were selfish, but, I had gotten too attached to the point of letting Emilia out of my sight.

    She was slowly bing my everything.

    Of course, she readily agreed.

    And so, I came up with a strategy that involved an Elf Representativeing with us. Since Emilia was the oldest and most mature, it was certain that she would be the one chosen.

    Fortunately, the n worked, and Emilia joined us¨Cmuch to the dissatisfaction of Aurora, her sister.

    Even though she never became an integral part of our Hero Party, Emilia journeyed with us as a representative of the Elves.

    ¡°You know, I¡¯ve never left the Elf Kingdom before.¡± She told me as we prepared to leave.

    ¡°Eh? Really? Why?¡±

    ¡°Well, as a Royal, you end up being confined to your duties. Most Elves also prefer to remain within the bounds of the Kingdom.¡±

    Emilia even went on to say that my group was the first set of humans she had ever seen.

    It was a new experience for her, which was why she grew curious.

    She wanted to know more about us.

    After observing the three members of the Hero Party, the one who seemed the most approachable was the man shaking in his boots¨CA.K.A. me.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been traveling for some time. So¡­ I can always show you the ropes.¡± My confident grin was a sharp contrast to the first impression the Elves had of me.

    But, humans are creatures of habit. As I slowly became ustomed to the Elves, I began to see them for who they were¡­

    ¡­ And they also slowly began to view me differently too.

    At least, they didn¡¯t hate me¨Cwell, almost all of them didn¡¯t.

    ***************************

    We traversed the Elf Kingdom and approached thend of the Fairies.

    We passed the mountains and harsh seas until we came upon the Kingdom of the Therianthropes.

    Crossing their Borders, we soon encountered the Nation of Dwarves.

    In a span of a few months, while the war ensued with the Elves and Humans forming an Alliance, our Party sessfully allied itself with the members of the other Races.

    The Fairy King had been bought over by some innovations I developed thanks to merging my knowledge of the Human and Elf Kingdom.

    It was a technology the Fairies didn¡¯t possess, so he coveted it.

    As a result, he offered his assistance in exchange for even more innovations.

    Since we would be allies anyway, I readily agreed.

    The Beastfolk valued strength above all else. As a result, Gawain had to fight with their best warrior¨CThe Leader.

    It was a pretty much even match, but Gawain was slightly on the losing end.

    In terms of raw power, the Beastfolk reigned supreme. The only reason Gawain had an advantage to even the odds was because of his Martial Arts techniques.

    As a result, it ended in a stalemate.

    As a bonus for joining our Alliance, we offered the Beastfolk ess to Martial Arts Techniques.

    The Leader, who was impressed by how a weaker Gawain was able to win thanks to Martial Arts, readily epted.

    And so, we won them over.

    As for the Dwarves, I simply offered them some blueprints of certain innovations¨Clike a special Golem, as well as a Spellcasting sensory device.

    Dwarves were obsessed with creating new technology, so they soon sumbed to the temptation of my ideas.

    I had help along the way. If not for the aid of Ford Zesshi, Jane Urs, as well as Emilia, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to figure out even a quarter of what I did.

    They helped a blind man like me to see the wonders of Mana and its mechanics.

    It was thanks to our joint efforts that we were able to achieve Alliance Treaties with every major Race.

    And so¡­ the perfect front was formed in history.

    We all rallied against the enemies that threatened our existence.

 Chapter 391 Miasma

    Gawain Lenard the Sword God.

    Jane Urs the Mad Witch.

    Ford Zesshi the Grand Mage.

    Raphael Noel of the Thousand Songs.

    The Indestructible Immortal, Dom!

    These were my allies, as well as the members of the Hero Party.

    Gawain and Ford were friends of mine from the Eastern Kingdom. We attended Ainrk Academy together as well.

    Jane Urs was a Fairy¡ªan extremely crazy one at that.

    Her specialty cut across Magic Mechanics and Soul Magic

    Still, Jane¡¯s knowledge of Mana was deep, and she sought even more knowledge to the point of obsession.

    To be honest, I felt a strong sense ofradeship with her because of our joint interests.

    It was too bad that Emilia often stared daggers at me whenever she found me talking with Jane for too long.

    Still, as friends, we certainly had fun moments.

    Raphael Noel was a member of the Dwarven Race. His nickname was due to the multiple sounds he made whenever he built something.

    >CLANG!<

    >SHIIIIIIIII<

    >KRIIIIIIIII<

    From hammering, to drilling, to sawing. His hands were extremely gifted, and his works were immensely valuable.

    I was happy to have him as an ally since he brought many of my theoretical innovations to life.

    He once brought up the issue of Automatons¡ªGolems that could function independently.

    At that point in time, it was impossible, but¡­ with the way Automatons had already be so widespread among everyone in the Eastern Kingdom, I was certain Raphael was able to achieve his goals.

    Emilia Vindiel was not a member of our team, as she soon returned to the Elf Capital once our assignments as delegates ended.

    I also had the pleasure of making three other close friends who weren¡¯t members of the Hero Party.

    If it hadn¡¯t been for them, I would not have reached the heights I did.

    That, though, would be a story for another day.

    ****************************

    The battle against the Demons was fierce.

    Even with the joint forces of all our Kingdoms, we were at a stalemate.

    And that was simply because of one critical factor.

    ¡ªMIASMA

    It was a unique kind of Mana the Demons possessed.

    Since Demons had not been very active before the war, we had very little information on them.

    Demonic Energy was a new phenomenon, so it took us some time to figure it out.

    Miasma corrupted everything that had Mana. It devastated thends, killed a good number of our allies, and it didn¡¯t stop spreading.

    It was at that point that we came to the realization¡ª

    ¡°If we don¡¯t find a way around this, it could truly mean the end.¡±

    As a result, we began pooling our heads together to figure out the solution.

    However, no matter how hard we tried, it was a tightly shut door. Even I couldn¡¯t figure the concept outpletely.

    But, was that really surprising?

    I was merely an Inept individual who was gifted with an amazing intellect and a strong interest in Magic.

    Even with Elven Magic, as well as the other kinds, I had to study them carefully and learn how they worked.

    Miasma was a different ball game altogether. There was indeed no way I could figure out its mysteries.

    And so, the problem festered.

    With every second wasted, more of our forces died.

    If nothing was done, the war would drag on for much longer¡ªcausing more despair.

    ¡®I-I have to do something!¡¯

    The thought of watching Emilia writhe in pain as Miasma consumed her body sprang up in my head.

    My parents were already dead, but I still had family in the Eastern Kingdom. I also had allies¡ªclose friends.

    We had alreadye this far. There was no way I was going to let everything go up in smoke.

    Which was why¡­ I made a bold step.

    It was one of the most reckless moves I ever made, but, desperation drove me crazy.

    So crazy, in fact, that I ventured into the heart of our misfortune.

    ¡ªThe Nation of Demons!

    There were two reasons for my decision to venture in alone.

    One was the fact that I was Inept, so exposure to Miasma had no reaction on my bodily system.

    While it gave me a terribly intense feeling of fear, I could manage it.

    The second reason was that my allies were all vulnerable to the effects of Miasma. They also wouldn¡¯t let me go on my own.

    So, I secretly stole away into the night¡­ and invaded the settlement of Demons¡ªall by myself.

    I wasn¡¯t terribly strong¡ªbut Gawain taught me some Martial Arts, and I picked a few things along the way.

    Plus, I had a few Items that I could utilize¡ªthough most would be nearly useless before Demonic Energy.

    Still, I believed that if I could get closer to the source and observe the Demons¡­ I could find the solution to everyone¡¯s problems.

    How foolish I was.

    ¡°You¡¯re a pretty dumb human, you know?¡±

    Not long after I arrived in thend infested by Demons, I was caught by a Crimson Demon.

    It was a monster above monsters, and from its grin, I could sense my end.

    I shivered in my boots. All my Martial Arts were rendered useless in an instant, and I waspletely at the monster¡¯s mercy.

    ¡°Well, I suppose having a pet like you will be somewhat fun.¡±

    ************************

    Two years.

    I spent two years with the Crimson Demon.

    Was it hell?

    Did I suffer?

    Did I regret every moment of my stay there?

    The answer was¡­ no.

    Karlia, the Crimson Demon, was a Subus.

    She belonged to the minority race of Crimson Demons, but she actually despised violence.

    It was one of the reasons why she lived on the outskirts of the Demon Settlement.

    Her ck hair and purple eyes echoed forbidden pleasure, and this Demoness was quite the seductress.

    She had a unique ability¡ªher Original Magic¡ªthat allowed her to increase the natural abilities of both herself and anyone she had sexual rtions with.

    In essence, some form of ¡®Dual Cultivation.¡¯

    She had quite a number of visitors, even though she lived away from everyone else.

    Many woulde to have their abilities enhanced by her, in exchange for a fee.

    To be honest, I felt she was ripping them off, since she was enjoying both the sex and money.

    Her abilities also increased, as a result, basically causing her to profit in more ways than one.

    I served as a caretaker under her for those two years.

    As a result¡­ I was able to learn all about Miasma.

 Chapter 392 The Succubus [Pt 1]

    ¡°Ang! Ang! Ang!¡±

    I often stayed in my room whenever these moaning sounds reached my ears.

    ¡°Harder! Faster! Deeper!¡±

    Those words weren¡¯t directed at me¡­ but the customer.

    ¡°Yessshhh. Ahhhh¡­.¡±

    Every night.

    Every morning.

    I heard the sounds of mornings and groans. That was my punishment for deciding toe to the Demon Settlement on my own.

    It was a kind of hell, especially for a virgin like me. But, that didn¡¯tst long.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I try it on you, my Original Magic?¡± Karlia, the Subus spoke on a fateful day.

    It had been a few months since I was being held captive by this Crimson Demon.

    Though I wasn¡¯t exactly treated as a prisoner, more like a housekeeper, it was a strict rule that I couldn¡¯t leave her abode.

    As such, it was clear that I was a captive.

    ¡°W-w-what??!¡± I bellowed in surprise.

    It was a natural reaction for a virgin like myself.

    ¡°Come on, aren¡¯t you curious? Whether it¡¯ll work for you or not.¡±

    I had to agree with her words.

    Karlia had been teaching me about Magic and Miasma for the few months I had been with her.

    She initially didn¡¯t say anything, but after I asked, the Subus answered my questions.

    It seemed she was also kind of lonely, due to the kind of life she lived, so Karlia always enjoyed mypany.

    As we talked about Demons and Miasma¨Calong with their connection to Miasma¨CI was making theories and also raiding various hypotheses.

    Surely, the coption between a human and a Subus had to have been one of the things I wondered about.

    ¡°You¡¯re inept, so Miasma doesn¡¯t have any negative effect on you. It¡¯s just foreign energy¨Csame as Mana. At least, strictly speaking.¡±

    I knew what she meant by that.

    It wasn¡¯t as though Miasma wasn¡¯t deadly to me.

    Since my Soul still considered Miasma as a foreign entity, it would be dangerous to expose such a core of myself to such energy.

    Still, my physical body wasn¡¯t exactly rejecting the energy since I had no Mana Particles.

    So, it stood to test, that Inept individuals could actually have rtions with Demons.

    My stay with Karlia proved that.

    The major issue was¡­ just how far could we go?

    ¡°W-we¡¯re not sure if your Magic will work on me. I¡¯m Inept, remember? There¡¯s nothing to raise there¡­¡± I used my crafty words to escape the frightening reality before me.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± She grinned.

    It wasn¡¯t that I was scared of Karlia, neither was she a non-ideal choice.

    The Crimson Subus was an extreme beauty. Her body was captivating beyond description.

    Besides her red skin, the retractable wings behind her, and the tail that dangled above her buttocks, Karlia could pass for the most attractive human I could ever see.

    He had a foxy grin and a devilish charm to her, so I doubted any man would find her repulsive.

    However¡­

    ¡®Emilia! I have Emilia!¡¯

    ¡­ I didn¡¯t want to lose my chastity to another woman besides the one I loved.

    ¡°I see. It¡¯s a shame, then.¡±

    And so, I refused her offer.

    **********************

    The hell continued after that.

    Day after day.

    Night after night.

    Sexual tension was building up within me, but I fought it with every ounce of my being. The fading image of Emilia kept my will from breaking.

    Ever since that day, Karlia never mentioned the topic of the both of us having sex again, but I couldn¡¯t stop imagining it.

    Still, I endured with all my might. I really did!

    That was probably why I was able tost eight months without doing anything.

    But, every man had a breaking point.

    I was no exception.

    ¡°K-Karlia¡­ remember that one conversation we had¡­?¡±

    My crotch was bulging, and my body fidgeted as I spoke to her.

    ¡°Hm? What conversation? We¡¯ve had many.¡±

    It was obvious that she was teasing me.

    Karlia was an expert at reading people, especially simple-minded men. When it came to the topic of arousal, she could sense it a mile away.

    The Subus knew what I wanted, yet she wanted me to spill it myself.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s for research¡­ I want to know the results¡­¡±

    It wasn¡¯tpletely a lie. Magic Research was important, and it would really help with the work I was doing inpiling all the information I could concerning the Demons.

    But, who was I kidding?

    I also wanted to have a taste¡­ of Karlia¡¯s enthralling body.

    ¡°I see. This guy, you just can¡¯t be honest, can you?¡±

    I gulped and steeled my resolve¨Cthe resolve of a virgin.

    ¡°I¡¯m also curious¡­ as to what kind of power I¡¯ll obtain after having SEX with you¡­¡±

    And so, Karlia drew close to my trembling body.

    I gulped several times.

    The image of Emilia was banished from my guilty mind.

    I had reyed the scenario in my head over and over again. My thoughts were an immoral wastnd that someone as pure as Emilia couldn¡¯t dwell in.

    ¡°Very well.¡± Karlia grinned, pulling down my pants in a sh.

    It revealed my bulging appendage underneath.

    ¡°Oh? Is this the usual size of humans?¡±

    ¡°I-I¡¯m not sure¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s quite small¡­¡±

    ¡°Ngh!¡± I definitely felt that one.

    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to restructure my body a bit.¡± Karlia smiled, touching my throbbing lump of meat with her bare hands.

    ¡°A-ahh¡­!¡±

    Subuses had a special trait that allowed them to alter the shape of their bodies to a limited extent.

    It wasn¡¯t exactly shapeshifting.

    Their technique was more akin to muscle augmentation¨Cinvolving ergement or retraction.

    That way, they were able to take in huge tools, as well as smaller sizes.

    It only took a moment for Karlia to adjust her body to the size of my equipment, and so she rubbed it even more.

    ¡°A-ang¡­!¡±

    ¡°I see. I see. Alright then. Looks like we¡¯re good to go.¡±

    At this point, I was aroused beyond any form of reason.

    ¡°Come, now, Lewis. Let¡¯s do research with our bodies!¡±

    Indeed! I wholeheartedly agreed.

    And so, I lunged at Karlia and we both crashed into the bed.

    Her body was soft andpletely captivating.

    She was gentle, guiding me every step of the way.

    It was difficult at first. The hole I was plunging into was tight¨Ctoo tight to casually insert myself into.

    And so, utilizing every ounce of force in my body¡­ I went into the forbidden cave.

    ¡°Aaaaaahhhhhhh¡­.¡±

    Once I did, I realized two things.

    One, this research was the best I had ever engaged in.

    Two, my hell had suddenly turned into absolute bliss.

    And so, I never wanted toe out of the cave.

 Chapter 393 The Succubus [Pt 2]

    The night I spent with Karlia was one of the most memorable of my life.

    It was amazing beyond description. All my pent-up tension was released, and I became a brand new man once everything was over.

    ording to her, I passed out after doing it four times.

    ¡°Is that a lot?¡± I asked her.

    ¡°No. Pretty average.¡±

    As someone who had spent so much time with many men, Karlia probably thought I wasn¡¯t anything special.

    It hurt my pride a little, but I had gotten what I wanted.

    The research ended with the results I already expected.

    Her Original Magic didn¡¯t work on me.

    She said it was the same for her.

    Neither of us became stronger thanks to the sex. With that out of the way, there was no longer any need for sexual rtions.

    The problem with memorable incidents, though, is that one often tended to think about them a lot.

    And so, barely a week after my first time with Karlia¡ªor with anyone for that matter¡ªI was back in her room.

    ¡°What is it now, Lewis?¡±

    It was shameless of me, but¡­ I was beyond redemption at that point. My thoughts and body had sunk into depravity.

    Was it love? Not really.

    It was simply uncontroble lust. This immense emotion forced me to go further into something I had initially wholeheartedly avoided.

    ¡°W-we can¡¯t be sure it¡¯s a failure!¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Your Original Magic! Let¡¯s try it again. It¡¯s too early to judge its effects.¡±

    ¡°Lewis, my Original Magic¡¯s effects are instant.¡±

    ¡°Ngh!¡±

    She wasn¡¯t wrong. However¡­ I couldn¡¯t ept that at this point.

    ¡°J-just cus it hasn¡¯t happened before doesn¡¯t make it less of a possibility!¡±

    ¡°Lewis¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m an Inept, right? An exception! Maybe it takes longer. Who knows if¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you want to fvck me, just say it straight!¡±

    I instantly fell silent.

    ¡°Jeez¡­¡± Her exasperated voice was filled with disinterest as she looked away.

    Her words surprised me, making my timid self realize just how roundabout and selfish I had been.

    No, I probably realized that a while back. I just didn¡¯t have the resolve to go beyond what was convenient for me.

    Based on her stance, Karlia wasn¡¯t going to budge unless I fulfilled her condition.

    She was right, though. I truly wanted to fvck her.

    ¡°¡­ F-fvck¡­¡±

    ¡°What was that?¡± Her voice echoed in my ears as I stuttered with my speech.

    Everything was at stake. And, even though I had thrown away my pride many times to get what I wanted, doing this was extremely difficult.

    However, no pain, no gain!

    ¡°P-please let me fvck you!!!¡±

    I was surprised by my earnest and desperate words. They were loud, and echoed throughout the room.

    Silence filled the area and I returned to my senses.

    ¡®Shit¡­ what have I¡­ what did I just say?!¡¯

    My body shivered even more as I felt the ufortable decorum reach a climax.

    However¡­

    ¡°Kekeke.¡±

    ¡­ I found out my worries were not necessary.

    ¡°Finally. You¡¯ve finally said it, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Karlia looked happy, and then she stared at me with her seductive eyes, stripping me down with every gaze.

    ¡°Very well, then. Let¡¯s do it again!¡±

    And so, we did it once more.

    ************************

    It initially started as something I would do once in a few days¡ªas a means of releasing my sexual tension.

    However, it soon became a daily routine.

    Every day, I would go into Karlia¡¯s room¡­ and we would have sex.

    Day after day, I became one of her customers. But, unlike those suckers, I was getting everything free of charge.

    Karlia taught me many things.

    Magic. Demon Culture. Miasma¡­ Sex!

    We tried various positions, and she showed me a new world I never knew existed in the realm of intercourse.

    No moment was boring, and I found myself learning new things as the times progressed.

    It didn¡¯t take long for my memories of Emilia to start eroding.

    I hadn¡¯t forgotten her entirely, but, it was simply easier to let her go.

    Maybe it was cowardice that caused me to so easily abandon the memories I had with her, or perhaps they were simply overwritten by more exciting ones with Karlia.

    Either way, it happened.

    Slowly, my feelings began aligning with Karlia¡­ until I was certain it became love. I found it a bit difficult to believe, but before I knew it, I had fallen in love with the Subus.

    A Human and a Demon¡ªwho would have thought?

    I never told her this, of course. Knowing someone of her caliber, she must have noticed it.

    Thankfully, she never mentioned anything about intimate feelings or love.

    And so, time psed, and two years went by since I first met the Subus, Karlia.

    I got used to my life there.

    And, to be honest¡­ I hadpletely given up on returning home.

    My life of Magic research and blissfulpanionship was the pinnacle of fulfillment.

    Each moment, as Karlia got new abilities from new customers, she would show me.

    We would study it together, and explore the possibilities.

    There were some days when business was slow, but I didn¡¯t mind.

    That only meant I would have Karlia all to myself.

    Many would feel ufortable with the idea of having to share the one they loved with others, but I actually didn¡¯t mind.

    I would be a hypocrite if I did.

    It was business. Besides, her interactions with other Demons brought me information concerning the ongoing War, as well as more Intel on Magic.

    Thetter was more important, as I had given up on ever returning.

    ording to what I heard¡­ the battle was still at a stalemate.

    Usually, Demons gained sustenance by feeding on the corrupted souls of other Races.

    Their habitat had grown deste with the absence of sources of food, so they turned their gazes on the other Races.

    That was what caused the war.

    Unlike them, Karlia could simply gain sustenance by having intercourse with the Demons who patronized her, so she nevercked her meals.

    Since it was necessary, I couldn¡¯t exactlyin about her rtions with other people.

 Chapter 394 The Succubus [Pt 3]

    ¡°Maybe the Demons aren¡¯t so bad, after all¡­¡± At some point, I had this thought.

    They were simply another race who were trying their hardest to survive.

    I learned the Demon culture, theirnguage, and their values.

    They were also living beings who felt and bled like all of us.

    If only there was a solution to their problems, the war wouldn¡¯t be necessary. And so, I worked towards that goal.

    I hadn¡¯t forgotten about myrades, neither did I wish them evil.

    But, as one who had seen both worlds, I couldn¡¯t take a side.

    ¡°If I solve the problem of sustenance, there will be peace. Humans can even form an Alliance with the Demon Race.¡± That was my thought.

    Karlia supported my cause, and so she diligently taught me more about what she knew.

    It was a fun and exciting moment in my life.

    Since Karlia was paid in several kinds of items¡ªlike Magic tools or rare gems, I never had any shortage of resources for my experiments.

    I developed technologies for Demons, using Miasma as a base.

    I went into further research, all amid my pleasurable times with the Subus.

    Unfortunately, fate couldn¡¯t allow such moments tost.

    Everythinges to an end sooner orter. It was the same for our rtionship.

    ***********************

    ¡°I was careless!¡± Karlia spoke to me with dismay on her face.

    I had never seen her so worried or flustered. The confident and sultry grin of the seductress was nowhere to be seen.

    ¡°They¡¯reing! The Demon Lords areing here!¡±

    Her wordsnded as a bombshell.

    Demon Lords were at the very top of the hierarchy¡ªwith the exception of the Demon King.

    What were they looking for with someone like Karlia?

    ¡°One of my customers figured out your existence thanks to his extremely high sensory abilities. He works as a direct subordinate of Kahn¡ªa Demon Lord.¡±

    I remembered the Demon she was referring to.

    His name was Kyron, and he had been especially rough on Karlia.

    He was one of the only few people I detested to see going into her room.

    Perhaps I had been too fixated on my anger that he noticed negative emotions being directed at him.

    ¡°He¡¯s a Demon General at the front lines. He must have somehow sensed your unique trait. It¡¯s bad, Lewis!¡±

    Apparently, by the time Karlia was speaking, we were already being epassed.

    The Demons would most likely kill me¡ªor use me as some form of bargaining chip.

    Either way, the end that awaited me wasn¡¯t a good one.

    ¡°C-can we talk to them? Maybe if we showed them what I have been developing, then¡ª¡±

    ¡°NO!¡±

    ¡°B-but if we¡ª¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know them as I do, Lewis! They will kill you!¡±

    That sent shivers down my body. I was forced to ept the ugly truth.

    The Demons were still enemies of humans. It would be the same if a Demon was caught in human territory.

    They would most likely be killed.

    I had been too naive.

    ¡°S-so, what now? What do we do?¡± I was ready to do as Karlia asked.

    She was far wiser and more experienced than I was with Demons, after all.

    ¡°We flee. That is the only way!¡±

    ¡°B-but, you can¡¯t survive outside the Demon World for long. How will you¡ª?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll figure that out once we leave. Besides, with your inventions, I can at least survive for a few months. If you develop a solution before those months are over, then we won¡¯t need to worry.¡±

    I was sure Karlia didn¡¯t mean to put any pressure on me, but she simply wanted to let me know our only viable means of survival.

    She was doing this out of consideration for me.

    I bit my lip upon realizing she was right, as always.

    I was already Thirty-two years old, but Karlia was far older and more experienced. The only way out was for me to trust her judgment.

    ************************

    We escaped as fast as we could.

    Karlia carried me and lunged into the darkened sky as we moved at an immensely fast pace.

    She could have gone faster, but if she did, I would die.

    Unlike a powerful Subus like her, I was simply a regr Inept human.

    As a result¡­ our enemies eventually caught up with us.

    They surrounded us with theirrge forces. I trembled at every moment, feeling the gathering of powerful people that could kill me many times over.

    But, I soon realized that my fear was unwarranted. And that was because of one hard truth.

    Karlia was overwhelmingly powerful!

    She singlehandedly defeated all the Demons that surrounded us.

    Even though she hated violence and was not very skilled in the art ofbat, she decimated her opponents with ease¡ªall while protecting me.

    All the years of her stockpiling abilities had made her into a monster above the realm of Demons.

    The only limiting factor was her consideration of me.

    ¡°Lewis¡­ it pains me to say this, but¡­ you¡¯re in the way.¡±

    She was holding back, suffering recoils and counters, thanks to me being with her.

    ¡°Escape without me. I¡¯ll catch up soon.¡±

    I bit my lip powerlessly upon hearing those words.

    It was a bitter pill to swallow, but it was the most efficient method. After all, I was weak.

    Never had I wished to be capable of using Magic in my whole life.

    ¡°Go now!¡±

    And so, I ran off, skittering away like a powerless rat.

    The enemies that tried to assault me were all blown away by Karlia¡¯s power, and she was able to sessfully guarantee my escape.

    I went further and further away from her. Looking back would only slow me down.

    It would be terrible if I wasn¡¯t fast enough to escape on my own.

    Then¡ªjust as I reached a good distance from the battle that raged on¡ªI climbed a high mountain and used a specially enchanted pair of binocrs to see the ongoing battle.

    This item could see a distance of at least a mile.

    If I had Magic, I would probably be able to see even more. Since I didn¡¯t, my limit was only the minimum distance.

    Still, it was enough for me to get a good grasp of the fight.

    Karlia was easily dominating everyone.

    She was outnumbered, hundreds of thousands to one, yet she defeated all of them.

    That was the strength of the Subus I had spent two years with.

 Chapter 395 The Sages Return

    ¡°She¡¯s crazy strong. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve met anyone more powerful!¡±

    My oldrades couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Karlia. It made me realize just how small I was, and how fortunate my life had been to have someone like her by my side.

    Then, just as I was basking in silent victory, the tide of the battlepletely changed.

    Why?

    It was because ¡®they¡¯ appeared.

    The Demon Lords!

    All six of them assembled, floating in the air as they stared down at Karlia.

    As I watched their multiple colors in a blur, my body trembled. I was shaking violently, feeling their power from the distance I was in.

    ¡®No. Run, Karlia¡­ RUN!¡¯

    I wanted to hurry back, but my actions would bepletely useless.

    As I was still contemting this, I felt the gaze of one of them shift.

    It was the one who was colored ck¨Cthe Demon Lord of Noir.

    He nced in my direction, and for a moment, I felt my insides tingle. He saw through me in an instant.

    At that moment, I knew it was over.

    However¨C

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Just as the Demon Lord was about to lunge at me, Karlia intercepted him and took the brunt of his hit.

    I saw her cough out in shock, but she still managed to push him away.

    Quickly, she turned to me. Even with our distance, I knew she could see me.

    Our eyes locked¡­ and she spoke some words to me.

    I didn¡¯t hear them, but I could read every single syble loud and clear.

    Those words made my heart ache¨Cespecially because I felt the same way.

    ¡°I¡­ I love you too.¡± My lips moved of their own ord, and I silently wished she would be able to hear me.

    Then, Karlia smiled. Her expression turned dark a moment after, and then she nodded in my direction.

    ¡°RUN¡±

    Those were her next words.

    She told me to run.

    And so, I did.

    I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

    Even when I felt the earth rumble.

    Even when I heard mountains crumble.

    Even when blinding sparks of light flew in the sky.

    I didn¡¯t stop running.

    My breath was heavy, but I made sure to keep moving.

    It was hard.

    My heart was heavy, and my lips were quivering.

    I neared exhaustion several times over¨Cespecially due to the bag behind my back.

    It contained the most valuable of my research. I couldn¡¯t abandon them after dedicating so much of my time working on them.

    Besides, they were vessels that held the memories of the time I spent with Karlia.

    They were the product of both our efforts. There was no way I would leave them behind.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!<

    And so, with utter devastation urring behind me, I sessfully escaped the Demon Nation.

    ************************

    What happened afterward was a blur.

    I had kept running despite my consciousness being hazy.

    It wasn¡¯t until I saw the clear skies and oddly familiarndscape of the Humans that I was able to peacefully pass out.

    My strength was used up, and I was probably going to die from exhaustion eventually.

    But, I didn¡¯t.

    Thankfully, some patrolling members of the Alliance¡¯s Forces saw me. I was taken to the Battle Camp, along with my luggage.

    That was how I was saved.

    And also how I reunited with the ones I never thought I¡¯d see again.

    *************************

    ¡°U-urhhhh¡­¡±

    Stirring on my bed, I opened my eyes and found myself in a different ce than Ist remembered.

    The white ceiling waspletely different from what I had been used to for two years. My surroundings felt strange.

    The energy in the air¨CMana, rather than Miasma¨Cfelt foreign.

    ¡®Hold on¡­ I can feel it?!¡¯

    How was it possible that I could feel Mana? That thought was enough to rouse me from the bed.

    ¡°A-arhh!¡± I winced when I sharply rose.

    My body was still exhausted, after all. Still, I fought to sit upright and collect my thoughts.

    It took a while, since my mind was still hazy, but¡­ I eventually realized what happened.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a dream¡­ it wasn¡¯t¡­¡± I nearly broke down, remembering thest expression Karlia made before our farewell.

    I shivered, ovee with emotion.

    But, before I could fully delve into those feelings, the white fabric that served as the door to the tent was removed¨Cand a group of people entered.

    ¡°Y-you guys¡­!!!¡± With widened eyes, I saw people I hadn¡¯tid eyes on in two yearsrades I left so abruptly.

    My close friends and members of the Hero Party.

    And so, despite my sense of loss for Karlia, a new emotion formed as I stared at the unruly bunch who were all looking at me with various expressions.

    Tears fell from my eyes a

    ¡°Lewis¡­ you bastard.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°Where have you been, you dolt?¡±

    ¡°I actually thought you were dead¡­¡±

    ¡°You reek of Miasma. You actually went there?!¡±

    ¡°Idiot! idiot! I¡¯m so d you¡¯re back, you big idiot!¡±

    Tears fell from my eyes as I watched them speak.

    ¡°You guys¡­¡±

    My aching heart raced, and then, just as I was about to calm myself, one final person entered the tent.

    ¡°Is he awake already? Let me in!¡±

    As the sound rang in my ears, a face I had long relegated popped into my head.

    ¡®N-no¡­ no way¡­¡¯

    The tent door opened, and thest person I was expecting to see appeared.

    ¡°Lewis¡­ you¡¯re awake. You¡¯re alive¡­ you¡¯re here¡­¡±

    The whimpering voice came from a white-haired Elf. Her ears shook and her face turned red.

    Uncontroble tears fell from her eyes as she stared at me.

    ¡°I¡­ E-Emi¡­¡±

    My lips couldn¡¯t utter her name.

    Even though she was looking at me with such love, devotion, and utter relief, I couldn¡¯t call out to her.

    Guilt.

    Immense guilt came over me. Then regret. Then anger. Then loathing.

    I hated myself.

    I couldn¡¯t bring myself to look at her, or any one of myrades.

    Thanks to my foolish recklessness, I left everyone on a quest to be the savior. Yet, I had returned¡­ after so long¡­ an utterly broken man.

    I was going to wallow in this abyss forever¨Cor so I thought.

    ¡°LEWIS!¡±

    My body jumped once I heard the loud voice of an Elf I loved.

    ¡°Look at me, Lewis!¡±

    Her words were met with no resistance. Hesitantly, I raised my face.

    ¡®I don¡¯t deserve to look at you. It¡¯s all my fault. I betrayed you. I¡¯m despicable. I¡¯m horrible. I¡¯m useless.¡¯ Those thoughts swirled around my heart as my weary eyes looked at her.

    But!

    The moment I stared at herpletely clear face¡­

    ¡°Lewis¡­¡±

    The very second my eyes gazed upon her¡­

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m so d¡­¡±

    Every single one of my doubts and grief dissipated.

    ¡°¡­ That you¡¯re back.¡±

    Her warmth encapsted my horrid self, and I found myself deeply wrapped in Emilia¡¯s love.

    Once again, the light within me bloomed once more.

    ¡°E-Emilia¡­¡± For the first time in years, her name came out of my lips.

    More tears fell as I stared at her. Myrades smiled. Some cried.

    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s good¡­ so good to be back.¡±

    The emotions disyed in that tent were enough tost a lifetime for me.

 Chapter 396 The Celestial War [Pt 1]

    War is a terrifying urrence.

    Sorrow and misery seep through the body and soul of those that experience it.

    Countless innocents be victims and needless sacrifices are made.

    No one desires war, but it can not simply be avoided.

    As a result of two shing interests, for the noble cause of both sides, War bes inevitable.

    Such was the nature of the conflict that drowned the entire world and destabilized all our affairs.

    Countless victims on both ends weighed on our hearts as the terrible stench of blood and corpses lingered in the air.

    It was a hellishndscape filled with nothing but broken hopes and despondency.

    However, even in such a hopeless and despairing world, something beautiful formed.

    ¡ªLove.

    And with that emotion came hope.

    It took some time for me to embrace my new reality, but I did.

    Karlia was most likely dead¡ªsacrificed in order to save me.

    That was the only conclusion I could arrive at after waiting for so long, yet seeing no signs of her return.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know them as I do. They will kill you!¡± Those words of hers rang deeply in my heart.

    Since I couldn¡¯t wallow in pain and regret forever, I decided to bury the past and move with the future.

    Still, I did not despair. Why?

    It was because I had ¡®her¡¯ by my side.

    Every step of the way, she helped me, and while I often felt pangs of guilt for what I did with Karlia, those emotions faded away with time.

    A year passed after I returned to myrades, and the war intensified beyond normal.

    The Demons were growing more desperate due to the absence of resources for sustenance.

    They pushed our Forces to their limits, and even the Demon Lords began directly engaging in battles.

    Fortunately, thanks to my research on their kind, we were able to counter their assaults with ours.

    Defensive Magic specifically geared against Miasma was developed, and several tools were created with Demonic Energy resistance in mind.

    It was especially good to have an Allianceprising various races, so we could all rely on one another.

    Magic developed a great deal during this period, and new technologies were developed tobat ourmon enemy.

    I served as the Military Advisor and Grand Strategist in battle, sessfully cornering and countering every action made by the Demons.

    Soon, it only became a matter of time before their kind was eradicated.

    However, for some reason¡­

    ¡®I can¡¯t do it!¡¯

    ¡­ I hesitated.

    It was certain that if we were willing to sacrifice a little bit more, the War would soon meet a decisive end.

    After spending a total of seven years facing the Demons, the long and weary ear was finally going toe to an end.

    We would take a major hit, but I was sure victory could be achieved.

    Despite that, I couldn¡¯t push through with my ns.

    ¡®What happened to¡­ our ns?¡¯

    Thoughts of the times I spent with Karlia would often surface.

    ¡®Was it all for nothing?¡¯

    Not all Demons were bad. No, it was probably fair to say that none were inherently evil.

    Just as humans, Elves, Fairies, and the other Races had their ws and values, the Demonic Race was no different.

    My time with Karlia had taught me that it was indeed possible for our kind to coexist.

    I had even spent two years of my life devising methods and theories to solve the problem the Demons were facing¡ªthus creating a strong basis for ending the war.

    ¡°Those moments, were they for nothing?!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t ept it.

    Karlia made the ultimate sacrifice for my sake. Certainly, it wasn¡¯t so I could utterly annihte her people.

    I couldn¡¯t, in good conscience, do that.

    There had to be another way to finish the long-held conflict between the two opposing forces.

    And so, I ventured deep into my journals and old research materials.

    ¡®The device I was developing back then¡­ it was close to perfection!¡¯

    Spending my time sourcing through the project I had abandoned, as well as cross-referencing everything with the new information I currently had, a new path opened up.

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±

    My project was dubbed the Miasma Generator.

    It was supposed to pump out and disperse Demonic Energy over a wide area, ensuring everyone under the cloud was constantly receiving a constant infusion of Miasma.

    Just as people naturally breathed air, it would work with Miasma.

    The Demons, in their allocated patch ofnd, would be able to survive as long as they were pervaded by the effects of the device.

    It was the perfect solution.

    Unfortunately, there was a major problem.

    ¡°Fuel¡­¡±

    We needed a strong power source to generate, process, and disperse the Miasma.

    However, no such thing existed.

    Or¡­ did it?

    As a result of my desperation, I resorted to thest straw that seemed like nothing but a fairy tale.

    That was the beginning of my journey¡ªno, our search¡ªfor the most powerful objects in the world.

    ¡ªArcanas.

    ********************

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Surely, you don¡¯t believe that story.¡±

    ¡°We have a chance to end things decisively. Let¡¯s do it and out a close to this terrible war.¡±

    ¡°Lewis, why are you hesitating now?¡±

    ¡°Those bastards don¡¯t deserve understanding or mercy. They just need to die.¡±

    ¡°I have to say, I¡¯m quite interested¡­¡±

    As expected, I was faced with resistance.

    None of myrades¡ªor the leaders of the respective Races¡ªwanted to give my suggestion a try.

    They had lost too much to the Demons.

    The sacrifices were too extreme.

    Even if they would have to lose even more, everyone was determined to see things through to the bitter end.

    Ultimately, the Demons would be entirely destroyed.

    ¡®¡­ I can¡¯t allow that¡­¡¯

    Only I was obstinate about this.

    After spending so many years watching both sides ughter each other, I couldn¡¯t take any more.

    Karlia¡¯s sacrifice and our moments together couldn¡¯t have been an illusion. I truly believed that.

    ¡°I will search for another way! That¡¯s the decision I have made.¡±

    As expected, many turned against me.

    But, one person never doubted the choice I made, even when my friends were hesitant about it.

    ¡°If that¡¯s what you believe¡­ then I¡¯ll trust you.¡±

    Emilia¡ªmy wife at that time¡ªsupported me with all she had.

    I was already 35 Years Old.

    During the chaos and amid the cmity, we had been bonded in matrimony.

    Even as I fought well on the front lines, Emilia supported me every step of the way.

    And even as I made my decision to honor the moments I spent with my previous lover, she sided with me as well.

    As a result, I had enough confidence and resolve to tread down that path.

    Eventually, myrades did as well.

    Together, we began our search for the Arcanas.

 Chapter 397 The Celestial War [Pt 2]

    The Alliance never stopped their efforts to end the Demons.

    However, with the Hero Party absent, both sides eventually drew a stalemate.

    As a result, it bought us enough time to traverse the world.

    How and when we discovered the Arcanas is a tale for another time, but our Party ventured into the most amazing and deadly of ces in our search for an alternate.

    As a result, after a year psed, we were able to find three.

    And, of those three¡­ I was able to obtain the perfect catalyst for my Miasma Generator.

    ¡°The Devil.¡±

    An ominous Arcana that only I could wield without being absolutely corrupted¡ªthanks to my Inept Status.

    Also, while I didn¡¯t discover it until a pivotal point in my life, Karlia¡¯s Original Magic [Dual Cultivation], actually had an effect on me.

    My body¡¯s physiology had been slowly altered thanks to coption between myself and a Demon such as her.

    We did it so many times, so the change ran deep¡ªuntil it became irreversible.

    As a result, my body became extremely resistant to Mana.

    Not only could I somewhat sense it, but the positive force was also repelled by my body.

    As a result, Magic cast using Mana, below the Advanced Level, had no effects on me whatsoever.

    Even Advanced Level Spells had only minimal effects.

    That was Karlia¡¯s final gift to me.

    It served as both a blessing and a curse.

    Most offensive Magic would leave no scratch on me¡ªconsidering the fact that most Mages could use beyond Advanced Level Spells at that time.

    I was somewhat invincible.

    The disadvantage was that Healing Magic was also rejected by my body, so unless countless Advanced Healing Spells were performed¡ªor a Peak Spell was used¡ªI couldn¡¯t magically recover from even the slightest injuries.

    Miasma-based Magic could also affect me, so it wasn¡¯t a total buff.

    Still, I was able to survive many things thanks to this ability. In addition to my Mana Rejection, I had Martial Arts, Magic technology, and unmatched intelligence.

    That allowed me not to fall behind my other powerfulrades.

    As a result, during our adventures, my inability to use Magic never bothered my friends. It was something I intentionally made sure of.

    After all¡ª

    ¡°Lewis¡­ it pains me to say this, but¡­ you¡¯re in the way.¡±

    ¡ªThose were words I never wanted to hear again.

    ************************

    ¡°Let us make a truce!¡±

    After gathering the appropriate materials to make my project a sess, we returned home¡ªto the ensuing chaos.

    Due to the current state of the war¡ªas well as the clear stance I and myrades took in opposition to further conflict, the higher-ups had no choice but to agree.

    Since we realized that they would change their minds if they knew of our possession of the other Arcanas, every member of our team swore not to mention it to anyone else.

    As a result, their existence was kept a secret.

    After settling matters with everyone on our end, the next step was to deal with our adversaries¡ªthe Demons.

    ¡­

    Somehow, we managed to do that.

    I personally sought an audience with the Demon King.

    I and myrades appeared before the noble ruler of the Demons.

    As I thought, he wasn¡¯t the viin everyone painted him to be. He was the same as any leader.

    The Demon King simply wanted the best for his people.

    Once we revealed the cards up our sleeves, including the Arcanas in our possession, and our ns to settle things peacefully, he had no choice but to ept our ns.

    ¡°I¡­ do not want to see any more of my people perish.¡±

    And so, the war came to a conclusion.

    All thanks to the resolve of one man, and the aid of many, we were able to prevent the extinction of a whole Race¡ªas well as any further sacrifices of our people.

    It truly was the happy ending I desired.

    ***********************

    Emilia and I moved to the Eastern Empire, and I nned on us spending the rest of our lives there.

    But, strictly speaking, only my life would be expended.

    I noticed something after spending much time with Emilia.

    Even though vestiges of wrinkles had slowly begun to form on my face¡ªnormal and symbols of advancing age¡ªher skin remained smooth and fair.

    She never aged in the slightest.

    Emilia would go on to live for a few hundred years, even after I died.

    It made certain dark thoughts linger in my mind. However, even before those thoughts fully manifested, our life together was interrupted by the most unexpected incident.

    ************************

    I was already 37 Year Old.

    The Celestial War was over; Emilia and I had just moved into our home.

    The affairs with the Demons hadpletely stabilized, and the machine was working perfectly.

    Myrades returned to their respective homes to spend time with their families and loved ones.

    We were happy.

    I¡­ was happy.

    Until¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    An explosion urred within the massive courtyard that surrounded therge mansion where Emilia and I resided.

    It was in the middle of the day, and I had been taking a stroll in mypound when the explosion urred right in front of me¡ªa small distance from me.

    It was as if something heavy and powerful had just descended from the sky¡ªno, that was actually what happened.

    The quaking ground forced me to fall to the ground, and I groaned as my buttocks hit the smooth surface of the floor.

    Even though the area before me was partially destroyed, whatever fell made sure to have enough consideration of me and my immediate vicinity.

    But, much to my error, it wasn¡¯t a ¡®thing¡¯ that fell.

    From the thick smoke and likes of dust that gathered around, I could decipher the form of a being within.

    It didn¡¯t look like a regr human, but it was definitely a person.

    ¡°W-who¡¯s that?!¡± My body instantly took an offensive form and I drew the sheathed sword strapped by my waist.

    I felt no bloodlust, but, certainly, an intruder who so rudely charged into my territory didn¡¯t deserve a warm wee.

    As I focused my gaze, a voice emerged from the smoke.

    ¡°Jeez, that¡¯s awfully cold, Lewis¡­¡±

    My heart nearly stopped when I heard it.

    Instantly, my eyes widened, and I shook. The voice that echoed in my ears was something I couldn¡¯t forget no matter how hard I tried.

    ¡®Could it be? N-no, that¡¯s¡­ not possible!¡¯

    Just as my mind struggled toprehend what could or could not be, the figurepletely emerged from the pirs of smoke and revealed herself to me.

    ¡°N-no¡­ it can¡¯t be¡­¡± My whisper contained so much emotion that it almost felt like I would break apart.

    The red skinned, exquisitely dressed, and inhuman-looking being smiled at me.

    Her wings pped behind her, and her tail danced in the air. The curved horns on her face and her ck hair added even more to her allure.

    Yes, this most certainly wasn¡¯t a human. However, she had touched a deep spot within me that no member of my Race had ever arrived at

    ¡°¡­ Karlia¡­?¡±

 Chapter 398 Painful Reunion

    I thought she was dead.

    Before then, I had spent months waiting¡ªhoping for even the littlest signs of her existence¡ªto no avail.

    Those were one of the most miserable moments of my life. I caused pain, not only to myself, but also to Emilia and myrades.

    They couldn¡¯t understand my obsessive fixations, but they couldn¡¯t bear it either.

    Eventually, for their sakes and mine, I had to let go¡­ and ept Karlia¡¯s fate.

    It had been years since I epted her death. So, why¡­?!

    ¡°Did you really think I died? Hahaha, you know nothing!¡±

    The Subus wasughing at me like everything was perfectly normal.

    It would have been easier to believe if I was hallucinating or having a dream, but neither seemed to be the case.

    Everything I was seeing and experienced was real.

    ¡°H-how did you¡­ they didn¡¯t kill you¡­?¡±

    ¡°When you say it like that, it almost sounds like you wish I was dead!¡±

    ¡°N-no, t-that¡¯s not¡­ I just¡ª¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you. No need to be so tense. Hahaha!¡±

    And so, Karlia narrated her ordeal to me.

    It turns out they didn¡¯t kill her. No, it was more like she was too valuable to be disposed of too easily.

    As a result, she was forcefully trapped and imprisoned using Magic.

    Using the influence of drugs and Magic, they forcefully made her have constant sexual rtions with several Demons.

    Every day, even more than the amount she had been used to, Demons flooded her room and she had to service them.

    That was how they bred soldiers for the War.

    Even Demon Beasts were forced upon her, and she was in no position to refuse¡ªboth physically and mentally.

    This continued for years¡­ until the war finally ended.

    After it was over, she was released from herpulsory mating duties, and was freed.

    Having her mind and body broken over and over again, there was only one person¡ªone reason left for her existence.

    Me!

    My lone existence was enough to bring her out of the abyss that she had been plunged into.

    And so, after recovering her mind and body, Karlia only had one ce to go¡ªone person to see.

    She left the previous Demon Settlement where she was held prisoner and journeyed to the Human world.

    ¡°B-but, your constitution! How did you get sustenance? D-don¡¯t tell me you¡ª?!¡± I had been initially worried that she was forced to take the Souls of humans as sustenance.

    However¡­

    ¡°Hey!¡± Karlia gave a cute pout, then sighed in disbelief.

    ¡°What do you take me for?¡± Those words crushed my heart.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±

    ¡°Hmph! As long as you understand!¡± Her cherry personality never broke.

    Despite the horrors she narrated to me¡ªKarlia never changed who she was.

    Unlike someone so weak-willed as me, she was a true gem who only glowed brighter under pressure.

    As for how a Demon like her was able to freely interact with me¡ªeven with Mana pervading everywhere¡ªit was the same reason behind my Mana Resistant Body.

    Our multiple sexual escapades caused a new surge of abilities that went both ways.

    As a result¡­ Karlia waspletely immune to Mana Poisoning for some reason.

    Her body waspletely halted from deteriorating. The Mana that came into contact with her instantly transformed into Miasma and was processed.

    As a result, she never reallycked sustenance and was always being fed by the surrounding Mana.

    It was absurd, but I had no choice but to believe it.

    After all, here she was, standing right in front of me.

    The one I had loved with all my heart.

    The very person I cherished so much that I chose the most difficult¡ªseemingly impossible¡ªpath, so I could save her kind.

    ¡°So¡­ here I am, Lewis. Sorry I¡¯mte, but¡­¡±

    Karlia approached me slowly. Her seductive body swayed casually as she drew closer to me.

    I knew what she wanted. That was because I wanted the same thing.

    However¡­

    ¡°Karlia, w-wait¡­¡±

    ¡­ It was already toote.

    ¡°What is it, Lewis? Are you mad at me for arriving sote? Please understand. I¡­ I had no choice. But, I¡¯m here now.¡±

    As she approached me, I moved backward. The distance between us never closed.

    ¡°L-Lewis¡­ why are you being like this? Even after¡­ after everything¡­¡±

    My heart ached beyond description. Still, I couldn¡¯t make the same mistakes. As much as I loved Karlia, it¡­ simply wasn¡¯t¡ª

    ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Lewis? I-I¡¯m here now. W-won¡¯t you even look at me? Won¡¯t you embrace me as you did in the past? Have I be so disgusting and unsightly to you? Is it because of what they did to me? Are you repulsed by that? You never had a problem with it before! Besides, I don¡¯t have to do that stuff again. As long as we¡¯re together! Remember our promise? Hey, Lewis, look at me. Lewis? LEWIS!¡±

    I bit my lip and couldn¡¯t even utter a single word.

    Why was I a coward when it counted the most?

    ¡°If you want to fvck me, just say it straight!¡±

    Weirdly enough, those words of hers popped into my head at that point.

    It gave me the resolve I needed.

    Even as she was about to break down before me. Even as she fought back tears and looked at me desperately. Even as she yearned for me.

    I determined within my heart to bepletely honest with her.

    Unfortunately, before I could say anything¡­

    ¡°Lewis, what¡¯s going on here? Are you alright?¡±

    ¡­ Yet anotherplication urred.

    Emilia glided to my side in a sh, traversing the long distance she had been previously the moment she spotted Karlia in front of me¡ªas well as the massive hole in ourpound.

    ¡°Who is this?¡± Emilia asked, readying her Magic.

    Even if we were currently at peace with the Demons, having one invade ourpound and looking at me with such emotion wasn¡¯t a good sign for my wife.

    Besides, even though I didn¡¯t notice it until she stared at my hand, I was still tightly gripping my sword.

    ¡°Who is she?¡± Emilia asked once more, staring at Karlia with hostility.

    The Crimson Subus and the Elf Princess stared at each other with both surprise and a sudden sense of enmity.

    At that point, it felt like all hell would break loose. And, the worst part was¡­

    ¡­ I was at the center of everything!

 Chapter 399 Choice [Pt 1]

    ¡°Who is she?¡±

    I was utterly speechless.

    ¡°Lewis¡­ who is this?¡± At this point, even Karlia was asking me.

    Both women sharply stared at me, demanding an exnation.

    But, what could I say?

    This was not at all what I had imagined my newly established peaceful life to turn out. Their stares turned into res, and my heart squeezed in response.

    ¡®What should I do? What do I say?!¡¯ My brain was in overdrive, wondering how to handle the situation.

    As the algorithms ran in my head, the only paths I saw in front of me were incredibly bleak.

    All routes literally led to doom.

    Fortunately¡ªor, rather, unfortunately¡ªI never got to answer that question.

    ¡°I am Lewis¡¯ wife! Who are you?¡± Emilia took the lead instead, stepping forward to challenge the equally attractive, but more seductive Subus

    I could only watch in timidity.

    ¡°What? I-is that true? It¡¯s not true, right? Right?¡± Karlia looked at me with disbelief.

    My heart nearly crumbled from her gaze. I truly wished I didn¡¯t exist as her eyes begged me to deny the truth.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s true¡­¡± I was forced to admit.

    Those words of mine seemed to break Karlia.

    For someone who had endured unimaginable pain¡ªhorrors I could not even begin to fathom¡ªand who only had me as her tether¡­

    ¡­ Hearing me affirm that I was no longer hers was something that would ruin her.

    ¡°N-no¡­ it can¡¯t be. You¡¯re lying¡­ you¡¯re lying¡­¡±

    Watching such a beautiful and perfect woman break down before me was something that only brought more sorrow to my heart.

    And so, I could only watch¡­ and endure.

    ¡°Lewis, you¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you? She¡¯s lying! You¡¯re not hers! You¡¯re mine! You said so, remember! Those moments we spent together¡­ those years¡­ I endured everything for you! You¡­ you¡­¡±

    At this point, Emilia was already casting nces at me.

    I knew I was in serious trouble, but the most important matter to deal with couldn¡¯t allow any more distractions from me.

    ¡°K-Karlia, calm yourself. The truth is¡ª¡±

    ¡°You two-timer! Cheat! Traitor! Liar! Bastard! You¡­¡±

    The atmosphere grew intense, and even Emilia was pushed back by the pressure being emitted by Karlia.

    Thepound trembled, and the surging powering from the enraged Subus only increased.

    ¡°Keuk!¡± My wife bitterly groaned as the wild energy pushed her further back.

    For some reason, I felt none of theshes caused by Karlia¡¯s outburst. Was it an intentional effort on her part?

    Or perhaps it was subconscious. Either way, everything else was devastated except for me.

    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re mine, Lewis¡­ you said so. We promised. We bonded. I love you, Lewis! You said you love me too!¡±

    Her overflowing emotions were getting too dangerous. If I didn¡¯t do anything, it was going to escte beyond my control.

    ¡°I did! I truly loved you, Karlia! B-but¡­¡± I fought with all my energy to shout, straining my voice despite the strong howling of the heavy wind.

    ¡°But what? You love me, Lewis, right? That means I¡¯m yours and you¡¯re mine! Hey, let¡¯s get out of here! Let¡¯s leave and do what we¡¯ve always done¡ªwhat we wanted to do!¡±

    Karlia began saying so many things that I had told her in the past.

    Even conversations that I hardly remembered were brought up by her.

    ¡°I never forgot any of them! We are meant for each other, Lewis! You think so too, right?¡±

    Emilia was already feeling suppressed by the level of Miasma Karlia was releasing, but none of that bothered the Subus in the slightest.

    Her attention was on me and nothing else.

    ¡°Urgh¡­ Lewis¡­ stop her¡­ she¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s out of control.¡± Emilia whispered as she fell weakly to her knees.

    Elves were extremely weak to Miasma, and Emilia was no exception.

    My wife was powerless before Karlia, and if this went on, she would most likely die.

    Perhaps that was even what my previous lover wanted.

    Still, I couldn¡¯t have that!

    It became a decisive moment in my life, and I had to choose¡ªonce and for all¡ªwhose side I was on.

    ¡°Karlia, stop it! I don¡¯t love you anymore! I love Emilia. She¡¯s my one and only wife. Stop hurting her!¡± With trembling in my voice, I raised my de and pointed it at the woman I loved with everything I had.

    No matter how much I loved Emilia, I couldn¡¯t deny the throbbing in my heart as I stared at Karlia as well.

    However, no matter how one tried, they couldn¡¯t possess everything. There was no way fate would allow me to have the two of them.

    As such, I was forced to choose.

    Rather than stretching my hand for something, it was better I kept holding onto what I already had.

    I made my choice as a result of this rationale.

    ¡°N-no¡­ Lewis. You don¡¯t mean that. You don¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°I DO!¡±

    Rushing to Emilia¡¯s side, I embraced the coughing Elf tightly, burying her in my arms. My de was still pointed at Karlia as Iforted the wife I had.

    ¡°I¡­ see¡­¡±

    The look Karlia had on her face¡­ I could never forget it.

    A cold gaze, filled with an immense pressure I couldn¡¯t fathom suddenly took over.

    ¡°¡­ So, you chose her¡­¡±

    It felt like I would die¡ªas though it was truly the end.

    ¡°¡­ You don¡¯t love me anymore.¡±

    I tightly embraced Emilia, awaiting whatever justified action Karlia would mete out on me.

    However¡­ the attack never came.

    >FWOOSH<

    The Subus¡¯ wings pped as she took to the sky.

    ¡°Farewell, Lewis¡­¡± I lifted my face to the sky as she said those final words.

    After that, she flew beyond the blue and white expanse above me, disappearing from sight.

    I never saw her again after that day.

    I never heard of her as well.

    Not until the final moments of my life¡­

    And, even if the pangs of my heart didn¡¯t cease as I watched Karlia go, my wife was the top priority.

    Her shivering stopped, but I never let her go as she crumbled into my arms.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emilia¡­ I¡¯m so sorry!¡±

    With trembling emotions, and tearful eyes, I sat there with the love of my life.

    Tightly locked in an embrace with Emilia, I never let go, even until I passed out.

 Chapter 400 Choice [Pt 2]

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emilia.¡±

    The next time I saw Emilia after that incident, I bowed my head and apologized to her.

    The guilt guing my heart finally surfaced, and I felt like shit for not telling her of Karlia¡ªand my experiences with her.

    ¡°Lewis, it¡¯s alright. I just¡­ I was just confused.¡± She said with a soft smile.

    Clearly, she wasn¡¯t entirely fine.

    She was worried. I could tell from her slightly pale face that she wasn¡¯tpletely fine.

    ¡®I owe it to her. I¡¯ll exin everything¡­¡¯

    And so, I did just that.

    I told Emilia about my rtionship with Karlia. Exining, without excluding some questionable details, I revealed how I enjoyed my time with my Subus lover.

    How we talked and enjoyed each other¡¯spany.

    How we fucked like rabbits.

    How we built Magic Items and technology together.

    I told Emilia everything.

    ¡°I¡­ that¡¯s a lot to hear. I always thought you suffered during those two years¡­¡± Apparently, she never brought it up because I was in so much pain for quite some months after my return.

    Anytime my disappearance for two years was mentioned, I always gave a pained expression or a sad smile.

    As a result, even Emilia thought it was something rather left unsaid.

    But, hearing everything now¡­ she was shell-shocked beyond measure.

    ¡°So, that¡¯s how you got your body¡¯s special constitution.¡±

    I could only nod as her violet eyes probed me.

    ¡°I need some time to think about this¡­¡±

    I knew her decision was warranted. To be honest, I had known for some time now¡­ how oddly fit together we were.

    I was growing older and older¡ªbing less attractive and less fun as I used to be¡ªbut Emilia never changed.

    The creeping fear within my heart manifested once more, and it soon turned into more self-loathing and an immense inferiorityplex.

    ¡®I don¡¯t deserve her! I don¡¯t deserve this¡­¡¯

    As a result, even the love that I had tightly clutched, slowly began loosening from my grasp.

    To distract myself from the constant pangs of my heart, I returned to the embrace of Magic¡ªburying myself into learning more about it.

    I foundfort in it, and began spending more and more time studying and writing.

    Even though I was meant to draw Emilia closer during this period, I didn¡¯t.

    She had said she wanted some time to process all I told her, but, I simply used that as an opportunity to distance myself.

    Eventually, the love we both enjoyed turned sour.

    The home was nothing but an empty shell of forlorn lovers.

    Silence filled out days.

    I studied earnestly, experimenting in my special room,pletely distanced from Emilia.

    I hardly saw her during those days.

    I couldn¡¯t even look at her.

    Then, time passed¡­ and I turned 38 years old.

    Even though I had only advanced a bit in age, the constant load of work I often had¡ªas well as the countless sleepless nights¡ªmade me look ragged and miserable.

    I was thinner than before, having a rough appearance and the very look of a destitute. Being drunk on Magic Research had morphed me into something¡­ ugly.

    I looked at myself in the mirror¡­ and hated the man I saw.

    Then, Emilia passed me just at that moment. And then, for the first time in a long time, I nced at her.

    She was still the same!

    As beautiful and lovely as ever. Not a speck of w could be seen on her.

    That was thest straw. I couldn¡¯t contain my insecurities, fear, self-loathing, inferiority¡­ and slight jealousy.

    So, I made the worst mistake of my life.

    ¡°Emilia¡­ let¡¯s go our separate ways.¡±

    As usual, she gave me her smile. It was a bit different from the previous times. It had hints of pain hidden within, but perhaps I was too absorbed in myself that I failed to notice.

    ¡°Have I¡­ be a burden to you?¡±

    My heart bled profusely.

    I knew those words were supposed to be said by me. Emilia was still beautiful, charming in every way.

    Her face was paler than usual, but it never took away her perfect form. Unlike her, I was¡­

    ¡°I just¡­ don¡¯t see this working out any longer. So, please¡­¡±

    I probably thought she would argue things with me, like how Karlia had. If she had fought till the very end, I would most likely have rescinded my decision.

    I didn¡¯t have that strong a will to reject a woman I loved twice.

    ¡°Okay, then. I understand¡­¡±

    She didn¡¯t argue.

    I was more surprised at that¡ªthe fact that she so easily let go. Somewhere in my heart, I thought she probably felt the same all these years.

    That I was only being a shackle holding her down.

    And so, with my twisted sense of love, I drove Emilia away.

    She left the very next day.

    The faint smile she had on her face remains with me to this very day. After all, that was the veryst time I saw Emilia.

    I was able to return to my Magic Research uninterrupted.

    Perhaps it was a stroke of luck. The grief I had was channeled into more productive work¡ªand it turned out to be a very good motivation.

    I started developing Spellcraft and quite a few other lovely innovations during this period.

    Wasn¡¯t this what I wanted? A deep exploration into the world of Magic!

    This was the pinnacle of my existence, right?

    I was finally living the dream, right?

    Magic was all I needed, right?

    WRONG!

    Eventually, burnout soon caught up with me and everything I did seemed so meaningless¡ªlike garbage.

    The higher one is, the harder they fall.

    My despair and misery were terribly immense once I came to myself.

    Just what had I done?!

    I wept for many nights. I felt utter misery every single time.

    For a great deal of time, I didn¡¯t do anything but mope around in my home.

    It would have probably been like that for a few more years¡ªperhaps even forever.

    But¡­

    ¡°What the heck, Lewis?!¡±

    ¡°Get up, man! Don¡¯t waste away like this!¡±

    ¡°We decide to visit you for a reunion and you end up like this? Crazy bastard!¡±

    ¡°How the mighty has fallen!¡±

    ¡°Get over yourself, retard. We need your help!¡±

    ¡­ Myrades saved me from that darkness.

    Perhaps the idea of being needed by someone once again moved my heart. And so, my useless body stirred to their words.

    ¡°What do you want?¡±

    As we sat at a round table, I stared at all of them. I hadn¡¯t seen them in so long, yet¡­ they all looked the same¡ªat least almost the same.

    Even Gawain never lost his youthful glow.

    I was the only one different. Why?

    ¡°We discovered the existence of another Arcana. But, everything is still scrambled, so we need your help in piecing together the records and discovering where it is. Think you¡¯re up to it?¡±

    Arcanas were objects of transcendental power.

    Perhaps¡­ they could hold the answer to my constant grief.

    If Arcanas could do anything¡ªalter the very principle of the world¡ªthen¡­

    Maybe one could restore my youth.

    Maybe one could permit me to travel back to the past and fix my mistakes.

    If that was possible, then¡­ I would be able to return¡­ to ¡®her.¡¯

    ¡°What do you take me for? Show me what you¡¯ve found out!¡± I grinned with determination.

    The Arcanas became my hope at that time, and my friends were my support.

    I was 39 years old at that time.

    Together, weter went on adventures to discover three more of those transcendental objects.

    For three years, we journeyed together¡­ until I turned 42.

    That was when we built our base, hiding each of our various treasures¡ªlike a time capsule¡ªand hoping the future generations who were worthy enough would find them.

    Afterward, we went our separate ways once more.

    That was the end of an adventure¡­ and the start of a new one.

    The journey where I met the two other individuals who changed my life¡ªas well as my view on Magicpletely.

    Unfortunately, I never found the Arcana I was looking for.

    I never corrected any mistake; neither could I restore my youth.

    And so¡­ I wasn¡¯t able to return to Emilia.

    ********************************

    [A/N]

    This journey gives an exposition into Jared¡¯s past.

    I¡¯m sure some would hate him, while others would learn to appreciate him more.

    For me, I just¡­ kinda felt bad for him.

    Also, you¡¯re in for a shocker as we return to the present. I hope you enjoyed the chapters.

    ********************************

    End Of The Mini Arc: Sage¡¯s Past [Pt 1]

 Chapter 401 A Strange Sight

    I looked at the Elf Queen with sincerity and honesty locked in my eyes.

    What churned in my heart was a question I needed answers to so desperately.

    ¡°What happened to your sister, Emilia?¡±

    Aurora looked slightly stunned for a moment, staring at me with a bit of puzzlement.

    ¡°A-ah, I read about her in Lewis Griffith¡¯s Memoirs, so I was curious. It seems he had some regrets about her. I also¡­ want to know how she ended. Perhaps as a form of closure¡­¡±

    I wasn¡¯t sure if Aurora bought that, but, I certainly hoped she did.

    While I had said a bunch of bullshit as excuses, it was true that I wanted to know what became of Emilia.

    Even though I never saw her ever since that day, I did hear of her. Still, it wasn¡¯t anything definite.

    The one thing I learned, though, was that the visit of myrades that very day¡­ was all because of her.

    The information on Arcanas that they supposedly deciphered was all done by her.

    She was the one who orchestrated the whole n of having my friends lift me from my slump.

    I owed everything to her. So, if only I could see her one more time and¡ª

    ¡°Emilia is dead. She died about a hundred years ago.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Uh¡­?¡±

    Something within me broke.

    ¡°H-how¡­?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, how? We Elves aren¡¯t immortal, you know? Our timees eventually. Even I¡­ will probably not live for another century.¡±

    I smiled, quickly switching gears before my sadness could be deciphered.

    ¡°Surely you jest, my Queen. You are still in optimal condition.¡±

    ¡°Huhu. Is that so? We shall see, then.¡±

    Elves knew their time more than others. Aurora was most likely right.

    ¡°H-how was her final moments? What was it like?¡±

    I knew it was severely rude and intrusive to ask something like that about the Elf Queen¡¯s dead sister, but, I couldn¡¯t help myself at this point.

    ¡°Huu¡­e with me.¡± Aurora stood from where she sat.

    I followed her lead instantly, and we walked out of the room.

    Once again, we began walking through the corridors.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what you want to know once we get to our destination.¡±

    ¡°I-I see. Where exactly are we going?¡±

    Surely it couldn¡¯t be Emilia¡¯s dead body, right?

    Royal Elves were buried with the Sacred Tree after death¡ªand their bodies would dissipate afterward.

    Was there an exception for my wife?

    ¡°I told you I have a favor I need to ask of you. No, it¡¯s more like a task. We¡¯re heading there.¡±

    ¡°Oh. I see¡­¡± I muttered, realizing it probably had nothing to do with my concerns about Emilia.

    We stepped out into the courtyard and I felt the sun hit my face and body.

    ¡°We¡¯re heading over there.¡± Aurora pointed in the direction of a huge building at the corner of the massive Pce Grounds.

    It looked like a residential building, but something about it seemed off.

    ¡°Are we going to visit someone?¡± I asked.

    ¡°Yeah. Something like that.¡± Even though I had been asking so many questions that would seem rude, Aurora didn¡¯t have a tinge of annoyance as she answered.

    We walked slowly and steadily until we got to the entrance of the building.

    Elf Guards were stationed around the luxurious building¡ªsomething akin to a mini Pce¡ªand I could senseyers of Magic enchantments flowing within and around the structure.

    Whatever was inside this ce must have been highly valuable!

    ¡°We¡¯re going in,¡± Aurora told the Guards, and they nodded instantly.

    Parting from the door and bowing respectfully, they allowed us entry.

    Even though I only stole a few nces at them, I could tell that all the guards stationed here¡­ were strong!

    ¡®They¡¯re on the same level as the Professors of Ainrk.¡¯

    Not only that, but their pieces of equipment and Spirit Weapons were of top quality as well.

    That proved these weren¡¯t mere guards. Even Royal forces weren¡¯t usually this powerful.

    ¡®They must belong to a special unit. As I thought, there¡¯s something special about this ce¡­¡¯

    We entered the door and found ourselves in a corridor.

    It was dimly illuminated, but the room was more expansive than I thought¡ªprobably thanks to Magic.

    ¡°I would like you to observe first, as I tell you what you want to know. Then, I¡¯ll exin the nature of my request to you.¡±

    It sounded fair enough, but Aurora¡¯s tone contained some emotion.

    I slightly felt uneasy as we walked down the corridor. There were a few doors to our left and right, but we kept moving onward.

    Aurora murmured something like ¡°She should be in the workshop at this time¡­,¡± so I surmised that was where we were heading to.

    I could see an expanse covered in a ss-like structure at the end of the hallway.

    Within it seemed like a vast workshop of some kind.

    Machinery that would be alien to the Elf Kingdom were openly disyed here, and I could also notice some activity within the ss-protected room.

    ¡°All sound is blocked from going on anding out, so you won¡¯t hear anything going on inside, but¡­ this much should be enough for you to see¡­¡±

    Her murmur contained slight hesitation, but I could sense her resolve.

    Aurora and I finally arrived directly in front of the ss construct that stretched for a long distance¡ªlike castle walls that barricaded the interior of apound.

    The color was transparent, so the covering didn¡¯t prevent us from seeing what went on beyond it.

    ¡®This stuff is enchanted with severalyers of Magic, though¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed in observation.

    And so, I looked in shock and awe¡ªwondering how devices of such caliber would be allowed in Elven territory.

    Magic Tech was something Elves avoided, yet this room was abundant with it.

    But, just as I was still basking in my puzzlement, I noticed a lone figure amid the pieces of technology around.

    This single being was the only living person in the room¡ªthough I could see some Automatons moving about.

    ¡®Who is that?¡¯

 Chapter 402 Unbelievable Truth

    As this figure moved to a particr area, working seriously on a project, a flying Automaton followed behind¨Chovering at shoulder-length.

    The Automaton was no bigger than the head of a child, but I could see the intricacy it possessed.

    Still, perhaps it was because the figure was too immersed in their work¨CI couldn¡¯t get a good look at them.

    The only thing I could see was the longb coat they wore, and the long, peculiar hair they had.

    ¡®ck and white¡­? Interesting color.¡¯

    Was it a Royal? Perhaps a cross-breed? No. Even if Royals took in non-Royals as their spouses, their offspring would still have white hair.

    Elf mothers could control such factors while the children were still in their wombs.

    Then, why was this one an exception?

    Fortunately, just as I began asking internal questions, the person finally turned¨Cas though looking for something¨Cand that was when I saw her face.

    My brain nearly shit down, and only a single person came to mind.

    ¡°E-Emilia¨C?!¡±

    My voice was uncharacteristically loud, but that only expressed the number of emotions bursting from within.

    ¡°E¨CEmilia? Is that really you? Emi¨CI thought she was¡­ didn¡¯t you say she was¨C?!¡± I reached out, trying to reach the girl as she frantically searched for something.

    ¡°Calm yourself, Jared. I wouldn¡¯t touch that ss wall if I were you.¡±

    Once she said this, I retracted my hand¨Cthough hesitantly.

    ¡°She can¡¯t hear you no matter how loud you shout, so there¡¯s no point to that as well¡­¡± The Queen added.

    Still, I couldn¡¯t let go of how fast my heart was thumping.

    The girl before me was definitely Emilia. Her ck and white hair made her look slightly different, but there was no way I could forget the way the love of my life looked like.

    Her eyes were¨C

    ¡®¨CUh? That¡¯s strange¡­ one of them is blue¡­¡¯

    Emilia¡¯s eyes were violet, but the Elf I was looking at had only one eye of that color. Her ck and white hair was also different.

    Still, even with those slight differences, it was definitely her¡­ right?

    ¡°That isn¡¯t Emilia, Jared Leonard. It¡¯s¡­ her daughter.¡±

    ¡®Eh¡­?!¡¯

    Emilia had a daughter? My heart felt heavy all of a sudden, but I fought to retain myposure.

    ¡°That is¡­ surprising¡­¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m sure Lewis never mentioned that in his Memoirs, did he?¡±

    Well, I didn¡¯t. That was because I had no idea!

    ¡°You asked me about how Emilia died, but¡­ you should have been more curious about how she lived.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know what to say as a response.

    ¡°Did you know that she was actually the one meant to be Queen? But¡­ for the sake of an Alliance with the humans, she threw it away so the Elves would join forces with your kind.¡±

    ¡®What?!¡¯ I had no idea what Aurora was talking about.

    Was this the deal she made with her mother?

    ¡°Emilia, my sister, came to me after my mother had rejected the humans¡¯ offer for an Alliance. She told me to help her in exchange for the throne.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t believe what I was hearing.

    ¡°I was young and naive then, and I also wanted to be the Queen, so I agreed after she convinced me for some time¡­¡± Aurora seemed quite pained at this point.

    ¡°Our mother wasn¡¯t able to resist our joint front, and so she had a private Audience with my sister.¡±

    My heart thumped with every word Aurora uttered.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what other secret deal she made with my mother, but that was how we were able to form an Alliance all those centuries ago.¡±

    I clutched my heart in pain. Just how much did Emilia throw away for our sake¨Cfor my sake?

    ¡°I guess that¡¯s probably why I never got along with Lewis Griffith. We eventually got close at some point, when I sought someone to confide in, but¡­ I couldn¡¯tpletely forgive him for the choice my sister made.¡±

    ording to Aurora, Emilia was superior to her but decided to let everything slide out of consideration.

    It made me realize just how much I didn¡¯t know about my wife.

    ¡°Ah, I digressed a bit, didn¡¯t I? As for how she lived after parting with Lewis Griffith, she was mostly buried in research when she returned¨Cstudying the mysterious existence of Arcanas.¡±

    That must have been what she gave myrades back then. Everything slowly began to make sense.

    ¡°After a while, she finally stopped locking herself up. Though she often avoided showing her face in public, she still interacted well with me and my brother.¡±

    Zerius was Aurora¡¯s older brother, but Emilia¡¯s younger sibling.

    She introduced him to me, and I got a little close to him at some point¨Cespecially during the war.

    ¡°Maybe it was because we were naive on the matter, she wasn¡¯t reserved when she yed with us.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Naive on what matter?¡±

    Aurora¡¯s face stiffened once I asked.

    ¡°Her pale face, slightly tired-looking smile, and easygoing nature¡­ they were symptoms of pregnancy.¡±

    ¡®Uh¡­? What? Wait¡­ hold on¡­!¡¯ Now I was even more confused.

    If I remembered correctly, she was indeed showing those signs back when we were still together.

    ¡®Does that mean¨C?!¡¯ My eyes bulged as I returned my gaze to the Emilia lookalike.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. My sister was pregnant¡­ with Lewis Griffith¡¯s child.¡±

    *************************

    ¡°What would you do if I get pregnant?¡±

    ¡°Hm? Why do you ask? Well¡­¡±

    Back then, we had just moved into our brand new home.

    The war was over, and we were happy.

    I hadn¡¯t really given much thought to having a child yet. After all, I wanted to enjoy my time with Emilia well.

    Besides, having another person around would be a bother¨Ca distraction to my work.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡± Was my response to that question.

    ¡°Hm? I see. A shame then. Well, when you¡¯re sure of your answer, let me know!¡±

    Monthster, I began noticing her pale face. But, that was already after the whole incident with Karlia.

    At that point, I still wasn¡¯t sure about her question.

    Perhaps that was why she never told me¡­

    ************************

    As the bombshellnded, my whole world came crashing down and was reconstructed in an instant.

    ¡®¡­ My child?!¡¯

 Chapter 403 The Half Elf [Pt 1]

    Elves could control many things during pregnancy.

    That was one of the reasons why women were superior to the men in their society.

    Various factors pertaining to the child were decided by the mother. However, that wasn¡¯t all.

    The length of pregnancy was also something they controlled.

    ¡°Over a hundred years. Emilia carried that child for over a hundred years.¡±

    I was still recoiling from one shocking discovery when I heard of another.

    ¡°What? That¡¯s possible¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but not for everyone. It¡¯s probably because Emilia was very powerful and skilled at Mana that she was able to pull it off¡­¡±

    I was even more amazed. Holding a child¡ªmy child¡ªin for so very long¡­

    ¡°¡­ Why?¡±

    I couldn¡¯tprehend it.

    ¡°She most likely didn¡¯t want to burden Lewis. Their rtionship soured over the course of time. But, that wasn¡¯t the only reason¡­¡±

    At this point, Aurora stopped looking at me and stared at the Elf girl who had already found what she was looking for¡ªa Magic Gem that shone bright blue.

    Upon finding it, she returned to her work.

    Something about her made my heart beat fast. Not only because she looked exactly like her mother, but because I realized¡­ she was my child.

    But, something was strange. I felt uneasy somewhat anytime I looked at her. It was as though there was something about her that was slightly off¡ªdifferent from the others.

    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve noticed it already,¡± Aurora said with a sad tone.

    I didn¡¯t fully understand what she meant, and the barrier between me and the girl interfered a lot with my sensory abilities.

    But, even with the little I could notice, I realized something terribly wrong.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on with her? Her body isn¡¯t normal. It¡¯s almost as if¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªShe has Miasma Poisoning¡­ right?¡±

    My eyes widened, realizing my hunch was correct.

    Aurora shed me an impressed look, though the sadness on her face clouded it.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised you were able to notice it without me having to tell you.¡±

    I was all the more surprised. Miasma Poisoning for an Elf was a terrible thing. Though the effects didn¡¯t seem to be fatal, I could tell that the poison had spread throughout her body.

    ¡°It¡¯s the second reason why my sister had that child in her womb for so long. She was incubating it, trying her hardest to contain the Miasma within her.¡±

    ¡°Miasma? I don¡¯t understand¡­¡±

    Aurora sighed, probably not knowing where to start. Unfortunately, the answer dawned on me before she even answered.

    ¡°Lewis had a special constitution. It allowed his body to strongly reject Mana. It was caused by his overexposure to Miasma when he explored the Demon World.¡±

    ¡®My genes got passed on to her, causing the special constitution of my body to be inherited!¡¯

    However, unlike me who was Inept, my daughter had Mana.

    The Miasma in her body fought with the Mana within, causing a dissonance. How was such a child even born? How did she survive for so long?

    ¡°Emilia found a way to iste the Miasma in her child¡¯s genes, using a hundred years to cultivate a stronger Mana essence to  ovee the Miasma within her.¡±

    Aurora further exined that the Mana shell made by Emilia served as a prison to hold in the recessive tendencies of my Miasma-inclined genes.

    As a result, when our child was born, she didn¡¯t have to deal with the shing effects of both Mana and Miasma.

    That was how she was able to live for four centuries without incident¡­ or so I had hoped.

    ¡°My sister died early most likely because she used the Mana meant to sustain her life force to help the child in her womb. Unfortunately, a few decades after her death, the dormant Miasma gene within the girl started manifesting.¡±

    As a result, she was slowly getting Miasma poisoning.

    Aurora and many skilled Elves had tried controlling it, trying to replicate what Emilia did, but it was toote.

    Even if they could prolong the girl¡¯s life and mitigate its effects, it was inevitable that the poison would catch up with her soon enough.

    ¡°At this rate, she¡¯ll die in a few years¡­¡± Aurora winced as she spoke those words.

    It must have pained her that her niece would die before she did, but the hard facts were difficult to escape from.

    Even I, when confronted with that news, was devastated.

    I hardly knew the Elf, but the mere thought that I would lose her soon after just meeting her nearly shattered me in my core.

    ¡°No¡­ that can¡¯t happen!¡±

    Aurora stared at me with surprise, most likely shocked that I shared her sentiment. She didn¡¯t understand that this was simply the selfish desire of a father to save his child.

    ¡°It¡¯s a shame that there¡¯s nothing to be done. It¡¯s impossible for Mana and Miasma to coexist¡ªespecially for an Elf.¡±

    Aurora wasn¡¯t wrong. It truly was impossible.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I let her do as she pleased. That girl, she has a strong interest in technology and Magic Research. I suppose she takes after her father that way¡­¡±

    I nearly burst into tears as I was filled with both pride and sadness.

    ¡°Yeah. Yeah, she does.¡±

    The Elf had the appearance of Emilia, but the vigor she showed as she worked on the project was definitely a reflection of me.

    This truly was my child!

    ¡°She has developed quite a number of innovations that have even surprised me. Though, because of her condition, I can¡¯t allow her to interact with many Elves, my children and I still enjoy herpany.¡±

    Aurora was truly a lovely woman.

    Freya indeed mentioned that she had an entric cousin who was into weird stuff. To think she was referring to my kid.

    ¡°Does she know? About her condition¡­ about everything?¡±

    Aurora nodded at my question.

    ¡°We never kept any secret from her. She knows about her origins¡ªthe true identity of her father¡­ and her identity as a Half-Elf.¡±

    ording to Aurora, she had never been bothered by her identity because she was always surrounded by the loving warmth of family.

    Besides, Emilia only died a hundred years ago, so she had lots of good memories with her mother.

    Still, there was a void that the Elves could not fill. That brought us to the favor Aurora wanted to ask of me.

    ¡°Please, Jared Leonard¡­ can you be friends with that child?¡±

 Chapter 404 The Half Elf [Pt 2]

    She was loved all her life.

    Her mother never left her, and her family always supported her.

    As a result, the Half-Elf got all the warmth she needed for a normal childhood.

    However, it still wasn¡¯t enough.

    As she grew older, the curiosity she inherited from her father drove her in search of something deeper¡ªbeyond what she knew.

    ¡°Humans! I want to know more about humans!¡±

    Apparently, the stories she had heard from her mother weren¡¯t enough for her.

    The books avable in the Elf Kingdom were also limited.

    After consuming all she could about the Race a part of her was from, the girl was filled with more curiosity.

    Unfortunately, it was never sated.

    Topensate, she was allowed to explore what no Elf ever could¡ªMagic Innovations and Technology!

    ording to the words of the child;

    ¡°Whenever I make something, it makes me feel closer to the humans¡­ and my father.¡±

    No one could deny her that right.

    As a result, she was able to delve into the wonders of Magic Technology and Theories.

    Thanks to the long life she lived¡ªabout four centuries¡ªshe was able to develop so many things despite having almost no precedent.

    Crazy as it seemed, it was clear that this was a monster on par with the Great Sage himself.

    This was the seconding of Lewis Griffith.

    Once they realized this, the Elves realized one simple truth.

    She was more human than Elf.

    ***************************

    ¡°Please, Jared Leonard¡­ can you be friends with that child?¡±

    I shouldn¡¯t have been surprised to hear those words, but my heart trembled in shock.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have long to live, so I want her to be able to fulfill her long-held wish¡­¡±

    I sensed urgency in Aurora¡¯s tone¡ªa genuine feeling of care that couldn¡¯t simply be expressed with words alone.

    ¡°If she makes a human friend before her death, then¡­ I am certain she would be able to sleep forever, with no regrets. After meeting you, Jared, I feel you will be the best candidate for that.¡±

    Sadness. Pure sadness could be seen all over Aurora¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°You bear an uncanny resemnce to that man, after all¡­¡±

    Everything that happened thus far¡ªin rtion to the newly made Elf Alliance¡ªwas thanks to my efforts.

    She must have seen my past self in the current Jared Leonard.

    The fact that I had Lewis Griffith¡¯s Memoirs was also something that would help the girl know more about her father.

    In essence, I was the optimal choice for the dying girl.

    ¡°Sure¡­ I can do that.¡± I smiled, looking at the Elf Queen.

    Her face loosened up a little once I said this, but there was still a great amount of pain left written on her face.

    ¡°But, are you sure this is what you really want?¡±

    ¡°W-what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You want me to befriend her in herst moments, so she can die peacefully. Is that what you truly desire¡­?¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s what I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stop with the bullshit!¡± My voice was raised at the most powerful entity in the Elf Kingdom, but why didn¡¯t I feel any fear?

    Aurora was in a vulnerable state¡ªtoo ovee with emotion that she couldn¡¯t even get angry about such a thing at this point.

    ¡°Is that what you truly want? That she spends a few years with a human, and after finally discovering her half heritage, she simply does without exploring it further?¡±

    I knew it was difficult, but I had to get the Queen to admit what she truly desired. It was the same as what I wanted.

    For her, it was going to be hard to say the words. She must have tried all she could, Al to no avail.

    The long-lost hope that had been abandoned¡­ I wanted it to reignite.

    ¡°O-of course not! I want her to live! I so badly want her to live a long, fulfilling life. But, that¡¯s not possible. She can¡¯t. T-that¡¯s why I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aurora¡­ what have I often told you about saying such words?¡±

    ¡°¡­.?!¡± The Elf Queen looked at my face with puzzlement.

    ¡°What did I tell you concerning that concept? Tell me?¡±

    Even if she was dead shocked by my words, the old Aurora I knew, and the new Aurora standing before me couldn¡¯t resist the response I drilled into them.

    ¡°N-nothing is impossible with Magic. But, how did you¡­?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just something else I saw in his Memoirs, and it¡¯s a personal philosophy I stick by.¡±

    I could see a faint light of hope showing in her eyes.

    That was more than enough for me.

    ¡°Then, do not despair. Rather, ask me for what is truly hidden in your heart, Queen Aurora Vindiel. What do you truly desire?¡±

    My smile was bright and confident, and I dared her to hope once more.

    ¡°I¡­ want¡­¡±

    ¡®Yes, Aurora. Tell me what you want! What we both want!¡¯

    ¡°I want my niece to live! I want her to live a long, fulfilling life. I want to die before her, and I desire that she achieves all she has set out to do. To reach the pinnacle of Magic. To see the very depths of Magic. I want her to achieve them all!¡±

    Emotion and desperation filled her voice. The light of hope shone brighter than ever.

    ¡°Excellent!¡± My lips parted, revealing my broadened sets of teeth.

    ¡°I wish the same!¡±

    I returned my gaze to the Half-Elf girl as she diligently kept working on her project.

    ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡±

    ¡°O-Oh, it¡¯s Lemi.¡±

    ¡®Gotten from both the LE in my first name and the EMI in Emilia¡¯s, eh?¡¯ I smiled in nostalgia.

    My wife always had the best ideas when it came to such things.

    ¡°Then, let¡¯s make both of our wishese true.¡±

    Drawing closer to the Elf Queen until I could reach her shoulders with my arms, I gave her the brightest look of confidence I could muster.

    ¡°I will save Lemi, no matter what!¡±

    It was my duty as both the husband of her mother, as well as her father.

    ¡®You did your best, Emilia¡­ but I¡¯m here now!¡¯

    As her father, and her potential friend, I would do everything in my power to save my daughter.

    ¡®Failure isn¡¯t an option!¡¯

 Chapter 405 A New Friend? [Pt 1]

    Lemi gave a huff as she neared thepletion of her work.

    It was an Automaton unlike any other she had ever created.

    It looked strangely humanoid¡ªother than its metallicplexion and robotic look¡ªit was more akin to the Race she had always been curious of.

    ¡°I¡¯ll call it Charlie, maybe?¡± She murmured, looking at its exposed chest.

    Embedded at its center¡ªand connected with tons of wires¡ªwas the gem she had temporarily misced.

    It served as the Automaton¡¯s power source and would energize the circuits so it could function properly.

    ¡°Hmm, just a bit more in the design department¡­ and I¡¯ll add some more functions as well¡­¡±

    Her goal was to make the perfect Human Automaton. That meant she had to ensure every single function, expression, reaction, and action of the Automaton was well synced.

    If it couldn¡¯t pass for a regr person, then there was no point in it.

    ¡®Artificial intelligence is quite a chore¡­¡¯ The Half-Elf sighed to herself, her ck and white hair swaying as she drooped her head.

    The hair had a straight line that separated both monochromes, and it looked quite strange how distinct they were.

    The same applied to the violet and blue eyes she had on the left and right side of her face respectively.

    ¡®Mom says I take after dad with the air and eyes, but¡­¡¯

    It wasn¡¯t like there was a picture of him she could use as a reference.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ this sucks.¡± She looked at the unfinished Automaton.

    In her 400 Years of life, Lemi had created many things, but most of them couldn¡¯t be perfected

    It wasn¡¯t because she wasn¡¯t brilliant, or because she gotzy mid-way, but the simple fact was that she was all alone.

    There was a limit to what a single person could aplish.

    Besides, materials concerning theories and mechanics were very limited in the Elf Kingdom, so she couldn¡¯t exactly prove her theories beyond what she already knew.

    It was frustrating, but Lemi had reached a deadlock in many things.

    It wouldn¡¯t be long until the same happened to the current project in front of her.

    ¡®Damn¡­ if only there was a human specimen I could observe¡ªor someone who could serve as my assistant¡­¡¯

    Unfortunately, none of the Elves were interested in that sort of thing¡ªnot even her cousins.

    They did their best to help, but it was mostly out of fun and notmitment.

    Lemi couldn¡¯t me them, though.

    Just as they weren¡¯t into her stuff, she too wasn¡¯t interested in a majority of the Elven culture.

    That was probably why she was still unmarried despite being over 400 years old.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t there someone? Anyone?¡¯ The Half-Elf was desperate now.

    Still, she knew her wishes were made in futility.

    How many times had she gone down this trail of thought? Lemi lost count.

    She learned the hard way that such thoughts were useless. After all¡­

    ¡®¡­ Someone like that won¡¯t simply appear out of nowhere.¡¯

    >CREAK<

    The door to her Workshop opened, and two individuals entered the vast room.

    One was someone she recognized quite well¡ªher Aunt. Seeing the woman always brought her great joy.

    ¡°Auro¡ª¡± Before she couldplete her statement, Lemi¡¯s sharp eyes wholly spotted the other individual behind her.

    His blond hair and charming features drew her notice. However, what was more important was the weird feature that made him different from every other person she had seen this far.

    ¡°Ears¡­ your ears¡­¡± Her whisper was strained, and her heart was racing faster than it ever did before.

    Lemi felt like she was hyperventting when she was overly excited, but this was even beyond that.

    ¡°Lemi, calm yourself. I brought him here from the Eastern Kingdom. He¡¯s a¡ª¡±

    Before Aurora¡¯s rushed introduction waspleted, the Half-Elf raced to meet the human with immeasurable speed¡ªording to her.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!<

    In an instant, she was right in front of the guy¡ªwho was most likely not older than 16 Years by human standards.

    Compared to an oldie like Lemi, he was no more than a child.

    ¡°Humaaaaaaaannnnnn!!!¡± She shrieked, circling him like a hungry predator observing her prey.

    Even though she was older¡ªby far¡ªno one who had the privilege to observe the situation could ever think so.

    While the human boy gave a rxed look and smiled, Lemi was busy lost in her assessment of the fine specimen who had indeed fallen from the sky.

    Her prayers were finally answered¡ªalso ording to the slightly delusional Half-Elf.

    ¡°Control yourself, Lemi. At least let me finish my introductions.¡± The Elf Queen sighed, looking at Lemi¡¯s rushed behavior with a shamed sigh.

    The older Elf was most likely mortified by her niece¡¯s childish and mannerless actions.

    ¡°A-ah, forgive me¡­¡± Lemi had enoughmon sense to see she that was overdoing it.

    But, that was only after she was stripping the human and touching his bare chest.

    ¡®A-ah, maybe I went a bit too far¡­¡¯ And so, upon realizing the error of her ways, the predator stepped away from her prey.

    ¡°Sigh, this child¡­¡± Once again, Queen Aurora looked mortified.

    The gentleman in the room didn¡¯t seem to mind, though.

    It was either because he was a simple perverted who had been enjoying how the Half-Elf massaged his chest¡­ or he simply thought it wasn¡¯t a big deal.

    One nce at the rubbery smile stered on his face would tell anyone that it was the former.

    ¡°This is Jared Leonard, a delegate from the Eastern Kingdom. And, yes, he¡¯s a human.¡±

    That was the most important part of the introduction, so the Queen indeed saved the best forst.

    ¡°For real? For real? You finally brought one for me! A Human! Finally!¡±

    The human looked charmed by how she jumped with glee. Clearly, he too was happy about the new life that awaited him with her.

    ¡°How long have I waited for this moment!¡± Lemi rushed to the human once more, observing his features with her eyes.

    He was an optimal male¡ªperfect for her uses.

    ¡°So, I can keep him, yeah?¡± She looked at Aurora, her aunt for permission.

    She had gone through the trouble of granting her long-held wish. It was only courtesy that Lemi act like the good niece she was.

    ¡°Erm, no¡­ it¡¯s not really what you think¡­¡± Aurora hesitated once the question was raised.

    Even the gentleman had a raised eyebrow.

    ¡®Hm? Weird¡­ what¡¯s going on here?¡¯

    Didn¡¯t her Aunt exin to the human already?

    ¡°But, I told you how much I wanted a human specimen. Why else would you bring him here?¡±

 Chapter 406 A New Friend? [Pt 2]

    An awkward silence hung in the air.

    Apparently, there was a misunderstanding between the Half-Elf and the Queen¨Cthe human was simply caught in the middle of it.

    Lemi and Aurora stared at each other, both having contrasting views on the current situation.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t he supposed to be my Specimen?¡±

    The face of the Queen instantly went pale, and for a second, she nced in the direction of the human boy.

    ¡°A-ah, I thought you could use a friend that was¨C¡°

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t the deal. I want a specimen, an experimental subject. That¡¯s why he¡¯s here, right? You!¡± Lemi shifted her gaze to the already shocked human.

    His expression had transformed from joy to something a bit more¡­ horrified.

    ¡°You¡¯re mine now, okay? You will do as I say, as a loyal pet. Finally, after so long, I finally have one¨Ca human pet¡­¡±

    That¡¯s right, contrary to her innocent and charming demeanor, this Half-Elf had a dark side.

    Her sadistic tendencies had been honed and left unbridled ever since she was younger.

    Thanks to Lemi¡¯s mother, as well as everyone around, spoiling the heck out of her, the Half-Elf truly developed something known as a superiorityplex.

    All her requests were answered without question. She could obtain whatever she desired.

    Unfortunately, there was one single exception.

    ¡°Human¡­ I finally have a human!¡±

    Sure, Lemi felt a connection to the Human Race. That was probably why she wanted one so badly.

    But, it wasn¡¯t to keep as a friend.

    If something was rare and difficult to get, wasn¡¯t itmon sense that she would make it into a loyal pet that would stay by her side forever?

    That was the mentality of the Half-Elf.

    And now that she was able to obtain a fairly young human, after so many years of wanting, Lemon felt a strong sense of fulfillment and joy.

    ¡°Haaa. I think I¡¯ll name him Charlie.¡± Her delusions manifested some more.

    A look of disbelief spread on the human boy¡¯s face. He had been looking at her with quite an unsavory expression for some time now.

    That wasn¡¯t the appropriate expression a Pet was supposed to make before his master.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to correct that!¡¯

    Ignoring her Aunt, Lemi dashed in the direction of the human and brought her face close to his with as much ferocity as she could.

    Her eyes were burning with uncontroble desire, but the defiant attitude of the boy before Lemi made her uneasy.

    As a result, the Half-Elf uttered the perfect word to correct that behavior.

    ¡°¡­ Sit!¡±

    For a moment, there was absolute decorum.

    Themanding voice of the Half-Elf was enough to drive the mood into a heavy atmosphere.

    Tension pervaded everywhere.

    Lemi had read several books on raising pets, and even one in particr about how humans controlled theirs.

    Surely, he would understand if she used the method. That was the rationale behind her one-wordedmand.

    Unfortunately, the human didn¡¯t understand it. Was he perhaps deaf? No, it didn¡¯t appear so.

    ¡®Then, maybe he needs to hear anothermand? This is quite the disobedient one!¡¯

    Even though her Aunt was saying some words inint and reproof, Lemi closed her ears to avoid listening.

    She always had her way, and this time was no different.

    ¡°I said you should¨C¡°

    Before she couldplete her words, something hard came crashing upon her head.

    >KOP!<

    If it hadn¡¯t been for the soft cushion her hair provided for the fist thatnded on top of her, Lemi would have been sent to the ground¨Cor so she concluded.

    That was the only way the immense pain that shot through her head would make sense.

    ¡°Ow¡­.¡± The Half-Elf backed away from the violent Human Pet and nearly cried.

    This would be the first time in her life that she had been hit like that.

    It was no exaggeration.

    ¡°Ow. Ow. Ow.¡± The stinging pain in her head didn¡¯t subside.

    Her cheeks were flushed with anger, and she instantly red at the blond human who dared to raise his hands against his master.

    ¡°You dare¨C¡°

    >KOP!<

    Another knock came crashing down.

    Once more, Lemi felt like she would faint. Her head rang in many ways, and she stumbled backward.

    How and why was she being treated like this so suddenly?

    Was her taming technique not up to par? No, that wasn¡¯t the problem. It was this human!

    It was the defiant person the had an issue.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you¨C!¡±

    >KOP!<

    This final knock was whatpletely broke the girl, causing her to sharply turn to her Aunt for help.

    ¡°Aurora, he¡¯s hitting me!¡± Now near tears, the Half-Elf sniffed while attempting to garner the attention and pity of her loving aunty.

    This human was more violent than she bargained for, but if her Aunt intervened, then¨C

    ¡°You brought it upon yourself. Why didn¡¯t you listen to me?¡±

    ¡°E-eh¡­?¡± Lemi was beyond shocked.

    Her Aunt had never refused her¨Cespecially when she used the puppy-dog eyes she was currently wielding.

    Utilizing the power of her cuteness and the principles of psychology, Lemi was able to get away with anything.

    The proof of her power was the very fact that she had a workshop and was granted the liberty to develop technology despite the strong position Elves had against such things.

    Yes, she was special!

    Anything she wanted was granted to her.

    Unfortunately, it seemed like that special privilege had suddenly been revoked.

    ¡°A-Aunt¡­?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for her rude behavior, Jared. She isn¡¯t usually like this¡­ sort of.¡±

    Instead of reproving the human, her Aunt was speaking so respectfully to him.

    Aurora was the Queen who possessed absolute power in the Elf Kingdom.

    Lemi had been able to leverage that fact to milk lots of goodies from her.

    To think there would be a person this woman would apologize to¡­ The Half-Elf was petrified with shock.

    Once more, she nced in the direction of her potential pet.

    He was smiling now.

    The kind of smile that seemed dangerous. At this point, it seemed their positions were switched.

    He was now the predator¡­ and she was prey!

 Chapter 407 A New Friend? [Pt 3]

    ¡®What the hell¡­?¡¯

    That was my reaction after seeing the true colors of the Half-Elf known as Lemi.

    I had initially thought she would take after her mother¡ªor me¡ªthanks to her genes, but I was so wrong.

    Her rotten personality resembled none of us!

    To begin with, her warped mindset was very worrying.

    When I looked at Aurora for an exnation, she sharply nced away¡ªmost likely in guilt. It was at that point that I realized something.

    ¡®They¡¯ve spoiled this girl too much!¡¯

    I wasn¡¯t against being considerate to a child based on the unfortunate incidents surrounding her birth and her identity, but¡­ these people overdid it!

    ¡°Emilia and Aurora, just how did you guys raise this girl?¡±

    I wasn¡¯t surprised that Derius and the other Royals went along with the whole thing. After all, if those two decided on something, the rest would have no choice but to obey.

    ¡®Damn, this has gone too far!¡¯ I looked at the Half-Elf throwing the tantrum.

    She was nothing like I imagined her to be. Not in the slightest.

    ¡®It¡¯s weird watching someone with Emilia¡¯s face acting like this¡­¡¯

    My wife was someone with an upright andposed demeanor¡ªat least most of the time.

    The bratty attitude shown by my daughter just ruined the honored memory I had of Emilia.

    But, that was only the beginning.

    Even though I had thought she yearned to be closer to the Human side of her origins, it turned out she only saw her distant rtives as nothing more than pets.

    That was probably the second most bothersome fact about the Half-Elf called Lemi.

    Her attitude was even worse than that of regr Elves.

    ¡®My own daughter¡­¡¯ I nearly broke down in tears.

    Still, the most shocking aspect I found out about the 400-Year-Olddy who still acted like a spoiled child was the despairing state of her capabilities.

    In simple terms, Lemi was weak.

    She had a Special Grade Mana More, but it was hardly developed.

    Her body¡¯s constitution was hardly built as well, and it was clear that she had been pampered all her life.

    ¡®Does she even know how to use Magic?¡¯ I began to grow worried.

    Now that I took a good look around me, almost everything she had built was either in an iplete state, or was terribly inefficient.

    They looked like no more than toys with ws.

    ¡®The fuck¡­?¡¯

    Just what was this girl doing for 400 Years?

    ¡°What are you looking at, jerk?¡± Lemi, my infuriating daughter shot a re at me.

    The moment I raised my fist slightly, she fled behind Aurora

    ¡°Eek!¡±

    Why did I even bother?

    I once again stared at the Elf Queen, but she ufortably looked away.

    ¡®That¡¯s right! Your conscience should prick you for deceiving me.¡¯

    During our emotional conversation back then, I had already gotten my expectations raised, but this was so disappointing.

    Sure, Elves didn¡¯t know much about Magic Technology, so they all probably revered Lemi as a genius or something.

    But, these were simply toys and scraps,pared to the real stuff.

    Well, other than the Automaton that hovered above her, most of the stuff around were in pretty weird shapes and odd conditions.

    ¡®You call this the next Lewis Griffith?¡¯ My heart sank.

    As much as I loved seeing the product of my love with Emilia, this child was just too weird.

    ¡®She has so much potential, but¡­¡¯

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave her in your care, Jared.¡± Aurora gave a strained smile, interrupting my thought.

    From her movement, I could tell that she was trying to wiggle her way out of this one. Also, when did she start calling me by just my first name?

    ¡°Please, your Majesty¡­¡± I gave a broad smile.

    As expected of the perceptive Queen, she read my intentions instantly.

    ¡°¡­ Stay for a bit, why don¡¯t you? Don¡¯t you want to watch?¡±

    ¡°Watch? You mean¡­ you¡¯re going to do it now?¡±

    ¡°Of course. Might as well get this over with.¡± I sighed, moving toward the frightened Lemi.

    ¡°S-stay away from me, you rogue!¡±

    ¡°Rx, Lemi. He¡¯s here to help you.¡±

    I sighed, not ceasing in my steady approach.

    ¡°H-help, what do you mean?¡±

    ¡°He is Jared Leonard¡­ a powerful Magic User from the Eastern Kingdom¡ªand a diplomatic Envoy sent to the Elves. Surely, you¡¯ve been informed of this.¡±

    ¡°A-ah, he¡¯s the one Freya won¡¯t shut up about. So what? It has nothing to do with me, right?¡±

    ¡°He says he can cure you.¡±

    Once Aurora said this, the Half-Elf halted her flippant demeanor and stared at me with surprise.

    For the first time since we met, Lemi mirrored Emilia. My hardened heart melted instantly.

    ¡°You¡­ you can?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Now, Lemi, I¡¯ll ask you¡­ do you want to be cured or not?¡±

    I was already in front of her, and since the Half-Elf was shorter than me, I looked down on her as she faced up.

    Her differently colored eyes looked oddly fitting for her. And, they shone with a form of childish hope.

    ¡°I-I do¡­¡± Her voice trailed.

    All forms of childishness vanished and a darkened expression took over.

    ¡°You believe I can do it?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you, but Aurora wouldn¡¯t bring this up if she didn¡¯t believe in your capabilities. Freya also ran her mouth about you yesterday, so you must be pretty good.¡±

    ¡®I guess she isn¡¯t a total idiot, after all.¡¯ I smiled.

    ¡°How will you do it?¡± Her question was direct, and the sincere look on her face was beginning to clear the initial doubts I was having about her.

    ¡°It¡¯s not very difficult. Your condition isn¡¯t the first I¡¯ve seen like this.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Even Aurora joined in surprise.

    They must have thought Lemi¡¯s case was special, and that there was no one alive who could live with Miasma and Mana in their system.

    Usually, they would be right.

    ¡°Yes. Your case is indeed special. There¡¯s only one other person besides you who has a condition simr to yours.¡±

    Lemi¡¯s eyes widened even more as she stared at me. It wasn¡¯t because she figured out the truth¡ªjust simple curiosity.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡±

    My grin broadened more, and I began to like the girl more as she asked questions.

    ¡®That¡¯s more like it!¡¯

    With that, I released a portion of the energy within me, revealing it to both Aurora and Lemi.

    ¡°It¡¯s none other than me.¡±

    Both Elf and Half Elf gasped in shock,pletely surprised by the faint glow of Mana and Miasma on my body.

    ¡°So you see, Lemi¡­¡± I said, drawing closer to the flustered Half-Elf.

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m just like you.¡±

 Chapter 408 Perfect Balance

    ¡°Just like¡­ me¡­?¡±

    Lemi was dumbstruck by my statement¡ªor at least she appeared to be.

    More than just my words, but the fact that I was emitting both Mana and Miasma from my body¡ªyet appearedpletely unfazed by it¡ªmade both Elves look at me in wonder.

    ¡°H-how is that possible?¡±

    ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be possible, right? Right?¡±

    Ignorance was a terrible foe.

    While it could be bliss at certain moments, there was no doubt that it robbed many of the right kind of perspective to achieve certain goals.

    That was why I lived by the philosophy that nothing was impossible¡ªat least when it came to Magic.

    It gave me the right kind of mindset.

    ¡®Just because it hasn¡¯t been discovered yet doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist!¡¯ That was the kind of perspective that brought me this far.

    It was such a shame that many didn¡¯t share the same line of thought as me.

    ¡°Well, it is. This right here is the perfected form of your condition, Lemi.¡±

    That¡¯s right! Her current situation was by no means an affliction.

    It was a gift.

    If I cultured it well, it would turn into an indispensable tform for growth.

    ¡®I¡¯m also curious about the results¡­¡¯

    Now drawing closer, only leaving barely an inch between us, I stared straight into Lemi¡¯s eyes with a grin.

    ¡°So¡­ do you want it? What I have?¡±

    I could feel the feeling of superiority within her dissipate.

    Herposure began wearing off one after the other, and then she sensibly gave in to the only hope before her.

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ I do. I want it.¡±

    ¡®Good girl!¡¯ My grin grew broader.

    I turned to Aurora, who simply watched in stunned silence.

    ¡°We¡¯ll begin the process now. It¡¯s best if you wait behind the ss.¡±

    The concerned Elf Queen looked hesitant to leave her precious niece with a human who was about to begin who knows what.

    ¡°W-will it be dangerous¡­?¡± Her concerns rang out.

    ¡°Yes. It will. But¡­ I promise that I won¡¯t hurt her.¡±

    It was pretty obvious that the spoilt girl didn¡¯t take to pain well. Her fragile body had barely undergone any training, and it was also degenerating as a result of the Miasma Poisoning.

    I had to be careful if I wanted to pull things off sessfully.

    ¡°Okay then. I¡¯ll trust you.¡±

    ¡°Please do.¡±

    As Aurora began moving toward the door, I looked at Lemi¡ªwho was fidgeting ufortably.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry¡­¡± I smiled, rubbing her ck and white hair with my hand.

    It felt weird doing this to a 400 Year Old Elf who was my daughter¡ªbut was technically older than me.

    She didn¡¯t seem to mind, though.

    ¡®The spoilt girl must be used to being pampered.¡¯

    ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll be gentle.¡±

    ************************

    Mana and Miasma

    Contrasting forces that are never meant to bebined.

    As they are opposite forms of energy, they repel each other and cause adverse effects on the body.

    This imbnce is known as Poisoning¡ªwhether of Mana or Miasma.

    However, just as it is possible for Mana to be corrupted by Miasma¡ªas Demons usually do¡ªit is also possible to overhelming Miasma with Mana.

    None is superior to the other, and they are simply two sides of a coin¡ªin this case, it would energy.

    However, a loophole exists.

    And that is bnce.

    In the situation where there is an even distribution of Mana and Miasma, down to the perfect decimal, there will be no resistance.

    In fact, both energies will simply cause another reaction¡ªAnti-magic.

    But, rightly apportioning both energies is very difficult.

    If one¡¯s core isn¡¯t capable of producing the two at equal quality and quantity¡ªusing the same wavelength¡ªthen an imbnce will ur.

    That is why¡­ when dealing with these two energy sources, it¡¯s always good to first understand them.

    Then, control the flow to generate a Core that contains both Energies withplete bnce.

    And then, once the Fused Core is made, just as with regr Mana Cores, it is possible to release both essences to generate its power.

    It sounds quiteplex in theory, but the principle isn¡¯t very hard.

    Once the bnce is achieved, the next step is as natural as possible.

    Then, for the challenge before me¡­ only one solution presents itself.

    ¡®I must achieve perfect bnce!¡¯

    *************************

    ¡°A-ahhh¡­¡± Lemi let out a soft moan as I ced my hands on her bare back.

    She must have felt the foreign energy of mine that prated her body and was now permeating it.

    Even though I needed direct contact with her skin to freely achieve what I desired, there was no need for her to undress.

    My palms simply burned through the clothing she wore and touched her from behind¡ªleaving everything else she wore intact.

    ¡°A-ahhh.. ahhh¡­¡± More sounds came from her lips.

    I remained silent, focusing on the task at hand.

    Distractions were unnecessary at this juncture.

    Forcefully resonating with the girl allowed me to gain ess to her body, causing me to feel the strong Miasma that had deeply rooted itself into the corners of her being.

    Her Mana Core was already shrouded with negative energy, and I could tell that the imbnce was severe.

    ¡®Okay, let¡¯s begin¡­¡¯

    What surrounded me was a big ck space of Miasma.

    Particles of Mana around¡ªlike stars¡ªwere fading away thanks to being corroded by the darkness.

    And, the biggest light of all¡ªLemi¡¯s Mana Core¡ªwas barely hanging on.

    ¡®For a girl whose insides have been devastated this extensively¡­ how can she be so energetic?¡¯

    Lemi must have been feeling immense difort and pains, yet she endured it.

    ¡®She¡¯s stronger than I gave her credit for¡­¡¯ I sighed, feeling a bit bad for knocking her so mercilessly.

    To be fair, I was holding back, but still¡­

    ¡®Jared, focus!¡¯ My senses returned to the surrounding darkness and lights.

    ¡®Huuu¡­ first things first!¡¯

    Now using my Miasma, I attracted the surrounding negative energy to myself.

    They responded instantly¡ªthanks to the influence of Spellcraft.

    Upon attracting every ounce of the Miasma particles, I was able to free the dim lights from being corrupted by the Miasma.

    With that, the rogue Miasma that was killing Lemi was now contained.

    It wouldn¡¯t have been possible without my ability to use Miasma, but, the solution was that simple.

    However, this was only a start.

    Even though the Miasma could be dispelled or absorbed by me if I desired it, I had a better idea.

    ¡®Consider this a gift from me, Lemi.¡¯ I grinned, looking at her Special Grade Mana Core.

    It was brimming brighter than ever.

    ¡®Time for phase two!¡¯

 Chapter 409 Immense Potential

    A Special Grade Mana Core stood at the very peak of all Mana Cores.

    Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t for everyone.

    Only special individuals born with a special affinity for Mana could have it¡ªand if was from birth.

    Life was unfair like that.

    While some were born as Inepts, possessing not a single fragment of Mana¡ªothers had the ultimate Magic Cheat.

    Individuals with Special Grade Mana Cores were meant to be unparalleled in Magic¡ªachieving exploits at an early age.

    Yet¡­ there existed one right in front of me that was hardly developed.

    ¡®Just what were you doing for 400 years, Lemi?¡¯ I nearly sighed in exasperation.

    Even among Elves, Special Grade Mana Cores were rare, so Lemi was immensely blessed with talent.

    Her potential was immense.

    Yet, she had hardly cultivated it.

    ¡®Haaa¡­ this girl¡­¡¯

    Still, because it was a Special Grade Mana Core, it had been able to survive against the Miasma surrounding it for so long.

    Weaker Mana Cores would have been destroyed a while ago.

    I was happy that this was the case, considering the next phase could only be possible if Lemi had a very sturdy Mana Core.

    Sure, it was possible for me to build it up to a satisfactory level myself, but since it was already at this level, there was no longer any reason to do so.

    ¡®Let us begin, shall we?¡¯

    I began pouring the Miasma that was concentrated in me into the multicolored Mana Core.

    The immense glow was strong enough to push the wave of Miasma away, but I had no intention of losing out.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH!!!<

    Activating my Miasma Cores, I increased the potency of negative energy, finally oveing the barrier that shrouded the Mana Core.

    And then¡ª

    >WHUUUUUMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªIt seeped into the Special Grade Mana Core.

    ¡°Gaahhhhhhh!!!¡±

    Lemi¡¯s scream rang out, but I ignored it.

    ¡®Bear with it. It only hurts when it¡¯s your first time¡­¡¯ With that in mind, I inserted more of the ck stuff deeper into her.

    Ignoring her screams, I kept at it, meeting less and less resistance as I furthered.

    ¡®I suppose it¡¯s also advantageous for me that her Mana Core hasn¡¯t really developed¡­¡¯

    Considering the fact that it would be harder to corrupt her Mana Core with Miasma if that was the case.

    Thanks to the vulnerable state of Lemi¡¯s internal cluster of energy, my work was easier.

    ¡®Let¡¯s go faster now!¡¯

    **************************

    It took longer than I thought for the colliding energies to stabilize.

    Perhaps it was because I was operating on someone else¡¯s Mana Core and not my own. Either way, even with the slight obstructions here and there, I finally did it.

    ¡®Huu¡­ at longst!¡¯ I smiled, staring at the transformed Core in front of me.

    No longer could it be referred to as a Mana Core.

    An equal half of it was already shrouded in darkness, and the second part was brimming with multiple colored lights.

    A perfectly Fused Core!

    I had seeded in containing Lemi¡¯s Miasma, and making it an integral portion of her being.

    ¡®With this, you¡¯ll be able to grow even stronger.¡¯

    Mana.

    Miasma.

    Magic.

    Anti-Magic.

    Lemi now had ess to these¡ªand most likely lots more.

    ¡®This is my gift to you. I¡¯m sorry it camete¡­¡¯

    And with that, I canceled the Resonance.

    **************************

    ¡°Haa¡­ haaa¡­¡±

    ¡°Haa¡­ haaa¡­¡±

    Both Lemi and I were short on breath.

    It was an intense session that sapped quite the energy from me¡ªand her.

    ¡°How was it?¡± I asked her amid my heavy breaths.

    Sweat poured out of both our bodies, and I could tell that she felt a greater deal of the pressure.

    It was her first time, after all.

    ¡°I¡­ I feel better.¡± She smiled, turning to meet my gaze.

    Her smile was genuine, and a spark was in her eyes.

    The pain from having her body constantly corrupted was now gone. Instead, a brand new refreshed sensation must have been coursing through her.

    ¡°It feels hot and weird here¡­ kind of¡­¡± Lemi touched her stomach, where her Fused Core was located.

    ¡°¡­ But, it also feels kind of good.¡±

    It would take some getting used to for Lemi to fully understand and control both elements. But, I had no doubt about her capabilities.

    After all¡­ she was my daughter!

    ¡°The energy you feel is now a part of you, Lemi. You¡¯ll be able to get even stronger now.¡± I patted her shoulder and rose to my feet.

    Once I did that, my hand pulled her up as well.

    ¡°LEMIIIII!!!¡±

    As expected, the doting Elf Queen burst through the doors and went straight for her niece.

    ¡°Are you okay? Does it still hurt? He wasn¡¯t too hard on you was he? Are you in pain? Feeling better now? You look so exhausted! Won¡¯t you rest?¡±

    ¡®What am I, chopped liver?¡¯ I thought to myself, feeling relegated despite my hard work.

    ¡®I understand Aurora¡¯s worry and care, though. Lemi was the treasure that Emilia left behind, so I can respect that¡­¡¯

    That was the reason why I specifically requested that she stayed beyond the ss walls.

    That way, she couldn¡¯t hear the intensity of Lemi¡¯s screams. Even though she could see the girl in obvious anguish, not having to hear the sound helped in relieving her worry and fear.

    Besides, now that it was all over, they could allugh about it.

    ¡°T-thank you so much, Jared Leonard! I don¡¯t know how I can ever repay you.¡± It was only after she hadpletely ensured the wellbeing of her niece that Aurora shifted her focus to me.

    ¡°Allies help each other out. I only hope that after this war is over, we continue to keep the agreement and remain Allies¡­ for the good of everyone.¡±

    The Treaty specifically implied that either party could choose to dissolve the Alliance after the war with the Demons was over, but I would prefer it if that didn¡¯t happen.

    A joint front was profitable in many ways¡ªnot just in defeating our current enemies.

    I hoped she would see that.

    ¡°I understand, Jared. You have proved not only your worth, but also that of your whole race. I understand now that it would be foolishness to dispel our Alliance with your Race.¡± Aurora smiled.

    Lemi also lowered her head and murmured a sorry excuse of thanks.

    This whole incident hadn¡¯t been in my ns, but things ended up working better than expected.

    ¡®I thought after seeing me work my miracle with Original Magic¡ªas well as stopping the looming two-pronged iing Demon attack, Aurora would be fully convinced to remain Allies with the Eastern Kingdom.

    ¡®But, looks like that¡¯s not necessary.¡¯

    I already had her trust.

    At this point, it was simply a matter of taking care of the rest on merit.

    ¡®First, we¡¯ll repair the damage done to the Elf Kingdom. Then¡­ we face off against Zenkiel¡¯s n.¡¯

    ____________________________

    [A/N]

    Hehe hehe. I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

    I certainly enjoyed the ¡®bonding.¡¯

    Hahaha

 Chapter 410 Converged Attention

    ¡°It¡¯s a lovely day, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    The Queen was seated on her throne, surrounded by the Royal Elves.

    This time, Lemi was also among the participants. Her gaze never shifted from me, making me slightly ufortable.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s not had to recieve the attention of your daughter¡­¡¯

    Even though all my lifetimesbined still didn¡¯t quite measure up to her age.

    In any case, all the Eastern Kingdom delegates¡ªI included¡ªwere bowing before the Queen as she spoke.

    ¡°Please, rise. It¡¯s a joyful asion, no?¡±

    We all did as instructed upon hearing Aurora¡¯s voice. As expected, she sounded quite thrilled.

    ¡°Our devastatednds will be repaired, and our people will be restored to us. That was the promise, right, Jared Leonard?¡±

    My allies all shot me a shocked look, most definitely caught by surprise that I said something so preposterous.

    Serah Crimson¡¯s gaze was especially fierce. I gulped, feeling the intensity of multiple gazes on me.

    ¡°Of course, your Majesty. Everyone, it is indeed a happy day.¡± I made sure to return the gazes I was receiving with my confident smile.

    ¡°You should all just sit back and enjoy the show.¡±

    Aurora nodded and her smile broadened. There no longer remained an ounce of hesitation in her eyes.

    After seeing that I was a man of my word¡ªwith Lemi being living proof right there¡ªshe was more interested in how I would be performing the next task.

    And she wasn¡¯t the only one too.

    The Royal Elves were all looking expectant. As expected, they must have heard of how I solved Lemi¡¯s condition.

    ¡®Well, it¡¯s not all bad. Raising my prestige with every Race is also one of my goals¡­¡¯

    ¡°Now then, shall we head out?¡±

    *************************

    The Elf Kingdom¡¯s Eastern Border¡ªin the time I spent away from here, it still looked devastated.

    Of course, this didn¡¯t surprise me, since I had Automatons constantly watching the area.

    Their survey was to ensure they spotted enemy forces¡ªif any showed up¡ªand also to observe the Elves that remained there.

    And so, with my return to the ce, it was almost as though I never left.

    ¡°It¡¯s even worse than I imagined¡­¡± Aurora murmured,ying eyes on the devastating sight for the first time.

    Not only did I teleport her with me, but also every member of the Royal Family, as well as my team members, came with me.

    Apparently, they all wanted to see my Magic in action.

    ¡®Isn¡¯t it a bit reckless for every Royal to ditch the Capital?¡¯ My thoughts trailed as I smiled softly.

    Well, it wasn¡¯t as though the Demons would suddenlyunch an offensive there. Plus, my Automatons would alert me if that urred, and I could instantly teleport back.

    Ultimately, their presence wouldn¡¯t be missed.

    ¡°Jared, I¡¯m expecting quite a show.¡± Serah Crimson said, smiling sharply at me.

    I still had no idea what Neron told her about me, but it seemed her expectations from ms were always soaring through the roof.

    ¡®Don¡¯tpare me to Neron!¡¯ I wanted to scream out, but I simply answered positively instead.

    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you cured Lemi¡­ just what can¡¯t you do?¡± It was Freya¡¯s turn to speak.

    To be frank, I wanted to avoid her after realizing her feelings for me. But, as long as she remained an integral member of the Elf Society, encounters like this was unavoidable.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do many things¡­¡± A wry smile formed on my face.

    Sure, I had aplished many feats that would be deemed impossible. However, there were even greater heights that I wanted to reach.

    Especially after knowing people like Neron and Serah existed, it was only fair that I kept striving for more.

    Currently, we were all on the outskirts of the Border, away from the rubble and destruction.

    Even the Elf General I met previously¡ªra¡ªweed us warmly.

    All her soldiers stationed around gathered and bowed in the presence of Royalty.

    Queen Aurora behaved in a manner befitting her status and soon exined what would be happening.

    Many stared at me with disbelief, but it was hard to refute the Queen¡¯s words.

    That was why their doubts also morphed into expectations.

    All eyes were literally on me.

    ¡°I did a total survey of the area. The damage is extensive, covering over 80 percent of the city. Residential districts have turned to Ribble, production areas as well. Only the military base is still standing since it¡¯s located on the outskirts.¡± ra gave a detailed report, showing how she hadn¡¯t been cking off during her time here.

    ¡°We¡¯ve also double-checked the city¡¯s records and observed the area. While we were unable to see any corpses, it¡¯s estimated that at least three thousand Elves died here.¡±

    The Eastern Border had a poption of a little over seven thousand.

    The number ra estimated was close to half of the total denizens. It was indeed a huge loss.

    If not for Freya¡¯s control of the situation¡ªand how they barricaded the Demon Beasts despite having no experience fighting them¡ªmany more casualties would have urred.

    Of course, I knew all of this. After all¡­

    ¡°Thanks for the report, ra. I appreciate it.¡±

    Rising from the ground, I floated using Magic. My body levitated to the destroyed town. I watched the rubbles and vestiges of an Elf civilization.

    It was a pitiful sight, but I wasn¡¯t moved.

    ¡®This was all expected¡­¡¯

    Both my allies¡ªthe Elves and Humans¡ªhad no idea about this, but¡­ I already knew things would go down this route.

    I had spotted the Demon Beasts before they invaded the Elf Kingdom.

    At that point, I was able to decipher the strategy being used by Zenkiel.

    But, I intentionally didn¡¯t stop them.

    Rather, I summoned a good number of my Automatons to observe the situation and act ordingly.

    Then, I made my way to the Eastern Kingdom.

    Truth be told, the reason I also dyed in helping the Elves¡ªspending time with friends and families rather thaning to their aid early¡ªwas for the actualization of this moment.

    It may have seemed cruel, but it was the most effective route to achieving true loyalty among the Elves.

    I simply used the enemy¡¯s assault as an opportunity, and it had finallye.

    ¡®All that¡¯s left now is to give everyone a good show.¡¯

 Chapter 411 Jareds Original Magic

    As I floated above the devastated Elf City, I noticed everyone keeping their distance and watching my lone figure.

    Their eyes contained several emotions, but the constant one was curiosity.

    ¡®Well, then, shall we begin?¡¯ I smiled, taking a deep breath.

    I could feel everything around me¡ªaround the city¡ªthanks to Spellcraft.

    The immense Mana of thend resonated with me, and I took in the sensation until it became one with my senses.

    It was now time to proceed.

    ¡°Original Magic¡­¡±

    A blinding gold light formed around me and surged at an overwhelming rate.

    Swirling all over my body was a calcified amount of Mana that condensed more and more.

    The golden Mana gathered in a single location, forming something in front of me.

    ¡ªA Book!

    The golden book looked like a Grimoire, having intricate designs embedded all over it, and its pages were unlimited.

    The cover was golden, and it was constantly shrouded with an immense amount of Mana. The power it emitted was already in the realm of transcendence.

    This book was none other than my Original Magic.

    ¡°¡­ [Great Sage¡¯s Memoir].¡±

    The moment it appeared, the surrounding Mana connected to the book¡ªall linked to it.

    Spellcraft could be easily used to achieve any goal at this point.

    In simpler words, I was one with everything around me, and everything was one with me.

    But, that wasn¡¯t the essence of my Original Magic.

    ¡°Shall we begin?¡±

    The golden book flipped its pages until it arrived at a particr page.

    Symbols and circuits were disyed there, all glowing golden as a result of the book¡¯s activation.

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!<

    Instantly, Mana brimmed from the book, and sparks of Mana Particles in the air began rising.

    Like fireflies, or glimmering stars, they all began popping from the air.

    All over the city, the little orbs of Mana manifested, causing a bizarre sight of illumination that could be described as nothing short of beautiful.

    >WHUUUUUMMMMM<

    The light particles began dispersing, merging with every structure in sight, and then the golden Mana from my book pulsated and enveloped the entire area.

    Then¡ª

    ¡°N-no way¡­¡±

    ¡°This is¡­!¡¯

    ¡°Unbelievable¡­!¡±

    That¡¯s right.

    ¡ªThe buildings and devastating structures started repairing themselves¡ªdown to the smallest rubble.

    It wasn¡¯t exactly as though they were being repaired.

    No, it was more like time reversal.

    My Original Magic allowed me to store any kind of Magic. As long as I understood the concept and had enough Mana to execute it, there was no Magic I couldn¡¯t perform.

    Not only could I execute whatever Magic I inscribed in my Original Magic, but the Great Sage¡¯s Memoir served as a form of an independent entity by itself.

    Like an automated system, it was capable of reacting to situations and acting ordingly. Like aputer, it was encoded with numerous Spells and codes as part of its protocols.

    It could instantly connect to the environment and utilize Spellcraft at will.

    It could use whatever Spell in its arsenal ording to whatever the situation demanded.

    Mana consumption would be from the environment, using Spellcraft, and also my personal Pool.

    The most important part of my Original Magic was its efficiency.

    Since I could choose to automate it at choice, there was no need for me to handle any difficult Magic every single time I wanted to cast it.

    My Memoir would handle everything, and I only had to enjoy the show.

    Other than the Mana I contributed, there was really nothing else for me to do.

    ¡®The Great Sage¡¯s Memoir is neurologically linked to me. Any and every action I could ever think of taking has been recorded in it.¡¯

    Since it was also more like an automated system, it could respond even faster and more urately than I ever could.

    Humans had their limits, after all. In contrast, my Original Magic was versatile, powerful, and independent¡ªthe perfect tool.

    It was an even better version of the Arcanas.

    That was the true essence of [The Great Sage¡¯s Memoir]!

    ¡®I¡¯m currently utilizing the Time Reversal function of The Hermit¡¯s Arcana.¡¯

    All the Arcanas I had were already recorded in the Memoir, so I could use them with or without the Cards themselves.

    For The Hermit, since its Mana Cost was too high, and the process was veryplicated, I didn¡¯t have ess to every single function.

    However, just reversing time was more than enough.

    >SHWUUUUUUUUUU<

    Like Magic¡ªwhich it was¡ªthendscape returned to its usual state.

    The glorious city of the Elves was restored, leaving no single scratch behind.

    As promised, it was as though the Demon Beasts had never invaded. Still, though¡­

    ¡®This isn¡¯t the end!¡¯

    ording to the bargain, I would be resurrecting every single Elf that died here.

    It sounded impossible, considering their numbers were over three thousand.

    But, did anyone really think I didn¡¯t know that already?

    The Automatons I sent before the Elven Massacre had captured the deaths of every single Elf that perished.

    They recorded every single detail of the situation, allowing me to know the exact estimate of the number of fallen Elves.

    ¡®Three thousand two hundred and fifty-six.¡¯

    It was a hefty number.

    Still, I didn¡¯t take action even with those figures because I knew one truth.

    Even if all of them had perished, it would still pose no problem for me.

    ¡®Time for round two!¡¯

    The book¡¯s pages flipped to another side, and it shone in activation.

    The surrounding Mana vibrated, and the several Automatons in the air descended.

    ¡®I¡¯ve been saving Mana for this moment, but, as expected, it¡¯s taking quite a lot¡­¡¯ I smiled with determination.

    There was another fact that no one knew, and that was the only reason I was confident in this n working.

    ¡®Time to summon them¡ªthe dead Elves.¡¯

    Utilizing the Arcana Circuit embedded in my Memoir, I was going to reverse the causality of life and death.

    Arcanas stood at the pinnacle of Transcendental Magic, and so they defied the normalws of the world.

    One of them was a simple fact that the dead could not return.

    Once the body and soul were not present¡ªor if even one of these elements were absent¡ªeven Resurrection Magic couldn¡¯t work.

    But, this very principle was about to be shattered.

    ¡®Good thing I have an audience to see it.¡¯

 Chapter 412 The Hanged Man

    I had four Arcanas in my possession.

    The Tower

    The Hermit

    The Sun

    The Hanged Man.

    Of these, my favorite was the first one. The reason was simple.

    ¡®It¡¯s the easiest.¡¯

    Manipting space was by no means an easy feat, but the process was simple.

    Besides, the Arcana did most of the work. All I needed was to infuse it with Mana.

    The consumption rate was also reasonable.

    However, just because I preferred [The Tower] didn¡¯t mean I couldn¡¯t utilize the others.

    Though I lent [The Hermit] to Neron, I could still use it with my Original Magic¡ªat least, to an extent.

    Then, what of the other two?

    I had some ns for [The Sun], so it was best not to bring it out now. However, [The Hanged Man] was the most important Arcana at this juncture.

    Each Arcana defied aw in the world. [The Tower] was in charge of space. [The Hermit] controlled time.

    As for [The Hanged Man]¡­ it interfered with thew of Resurrection.

    Body and Soul

    They were the two most essential parts of a human.

    If one part was absent, the human was as good as dead.

    Even if Resurrection Magic was to be used, there was a need for both elements to be present. Magic was simply supposed to act as glue to bind them together.

    However, in the current predicament, the Elves had been so mercilessly killed that their bodies were in shambles.

    Perhaps a few arms and legs would have remained after being gruesomely killed by Demon Beasts, but the Miasma would have corroded them beyond recognition.

    Their bodies were as good as non-existent.

    Fortunately, I was able to dispatch Automatons to retrieve their Souls.

    Before they dissipated and were corrupted by the Miasma, they used the mas I developed for such situations and absorbed all the souls of the fallen.

    As a result, I was in possession of the souls of all the Elves who died.

    The issue was their body.

    ¡®That¡¯s where youe in!¡¯

    The books flipped quickly, showing the Magic Circuit of [The Hanged Man] shining bright.

    Controlling the Automatons hanging in the air, I deployed the souls of the dead Elves. My Memoir automatically utilized Spellcraft to ensure that the Souls didn¡¯t dissipate into thin air.

    Since they were all present, the condition for Resurrection wasplete.

    Even though [The Hanged Man]  defied thew of Resurrection by not needing both elements to be present, it still required one aspect.

    Without any specific essence to trace the source to, it was impossible to Resurrect a being.

    If there was no base, [The Hanged Man] couldn¡¯t operate.

    But, with the Souls of the dead ones all present, and the abundance of Mana avable to conclude the ritual, I brought everything to a perfect close.

    ¡®And so¡­ it ends.¡¯

    **************************

    The bodies of every single Elf were constructed by [The Hanged Man] Magic Circuit in my Memoir.

    Using the information from their respective Souls, their exact bodies were made¡ªhaving no ws.

    It was a miracle to many shocked eyes, but this was simply the work of Magic¡ªalbeit at the Transcendental Level.

    One by one, the living Elves were made¡­ until not a single individual was left unounted for.

    And just in time too.

    My Mana Pool had almost dropped to critical condition.

    Barely hanging on to thirty percent of my Mana after this whole ordeal¡­ it took quite a toll on me, after all.

    Fortunately, everything worked out.

    ****************************

    ¡°Haaa¡­ how exhausting.¡±

    As I descended from my heights, my lips murmured those words.

    ra and her soldiers had gone to take care of the naked Elves, so only the ones I arrived with were waiting for my return.

    ¡°I did it, just as promised.¡±

    The Elf Royalty was stunned beyond words. I could see pure reverence in their eyes, a d some were emotional to the point of shedding tears.

    Derius was one of thetter. He was always an emotional one, after all.

    ¡°Y-you really did it¡­¡±

    ¡°You did the impossible.¡±

    ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°Are you even human anymore?¡±

    ¡°As expected of my Betrothed¡¯s protege.¡±

    ¡°Is this truly Magic?¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much!¡±

    Many more words filled with cheer, disbelief, praise, and concern assailed my ears at once.

    I could only smile andugh with everyone surrounding me.

    And then, before I knew it¡­ everyone was in an uproar to celebrate what would be the turning point in history.

    A single Mage who had yet to reach adulthood, raising over three thousand Elves from the dead.

    It was absurd, but true.

    Even if I decided not to venture any further, my name would forever be embedded in history.

    I had both Humans and Elves as witnesses. Surely, I had created an irrefutable legend.

    However¡­

    ¡®Not enough!¡¯

    ¡­ I still wanted more.

    Until I achieved everything I could in Magic, there was no way I could be satisfied yet.

    I had lots of limits at the moment.

    The ones who were weaker than me couldn¡¯t notice, but my abilities werecking.

    What if a hundred thousand people died next time? What if I was meant to repair an entire continent with my Magic?

    In my current state, that was impossible.

    Which was why I had to get even stronger. Strong enough to surpass the limits of Magic.

    Only then would I be satisfied.

    ¡°Let¡¯s have a feast in celebration!¡±

    In response to Aurora¡¯s bold words, everyone present raised their voices in enthusiasm.

    ¡°YESSSSSSS!!!¡±

    I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. A threat was looming, yet these people could only think about fun.

    Still, they weren¡¯t entirely wrong.

    Thousands of lives had been saved. Surely, it called for celebration.

    ¡®Well, I¡¯ll use the feast as a chance to bring up the two-pronged assault that¡¯ll being our way.¡¯ A smile formed on my face.

    From my calctions, the Demon Beasts would invade the Elves from the Northern Border and the Western Borders respectively.

    Those two were respectively the most guarded and least protected territories.

    For the Eastern Kingdom, the invasion would being from the North and East.

    By attacking the strongest and weakest strongholds, Zenkiel will be able to surmise our level of power and act ordingly.

    That was the n.

    ¡®Well, then¡­ let¡¯s see how it goes.¡¯

    ____________________________

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

    There¡¯s been so much dialogues and info dumpstely. I¡¯m sorry about that.

    We¡¯ll be switching to action soon.

 Chapter 413 The Man Dwelling In The Mountains [Pt 1]

    Bu¡¯ was a Demon General serving under the mighty Commander-In-Chief of the Demon Forces.

    He respected his leader with every single ounce of energy in his body and was devoted to bringing the best of results.

    To be honest, though it was sphemous, he idolized the Demon Lord of Vert more than the Demon King himself.

    Perhaps it was because he had never had the privilege to serve under King Abellion that he had this bias, but Bu¡¯ couldn¡¯t change the way he felt about Demon Lord Zenkiel.

    As a member of Zenkiel¡¯s Nine Stars, Bu¡¯ was a Demon General granted immense privileges and had enough power to boot.

    Yet¡­

    ¡°Why was I the one sent here¡­?¡± He murmured.

    Bu¡¯, a reptile-shaped Demon had four arms. His face was more akin to an alligator than a dragon, and his tail was uneasily dangling as he moved.

    ced acutely on his back were four distinct weapons that served as Bu¡¯s choice means of attack.

    While his physical capabilities were extremely high, he supplemented them with his mastery over weapons.

    As a result, he was known as Bu¡¯ Of The Four Armaments.

    Still, this prestigious and highly ranked Demon General was in an emotional slump. He sighed as he dragged his feet.

    The reason behind his displeasure was quite obvious when one looked around him.

    ¡®There¡¯s nothing here!¡¯

    Even though Bu¡¯ was armed with his exquisite armor and four swords¨Ceven having an army of a thousand Demon Beasts¨Cthere was no challenge to wee them.

    Just a vastndscape of ruined mountains was in view.

    These mountains had weird shapes. Their disfigured forms and unique appearances made for an interesting sight, but nothing else about them was special.

    To be frank, Bu¡¯ was a little let down by this development.

    ¡°Four of us were supposed to invade the Humans and Elves. I was assigned to the Eastern area of the Human nation, but¡­¡±

    Another emotion began growing alongside his displeasure¨Cworry!

    ¡®Was I sent here because Lord Zenkiel thinks I¡¯m not useful?¡¯

    Anxiety coursed through the Demon General¡¯s body as the worrisome thought of being relegated to such an uneventful area filled his mind.

    Sure, among hisrades in the Nine Stars, he wasn¡¯t the strongest member. But, Bu¡¯ wasn¡¯t exactly weak either.

    In the rankings ced in the Alligator-like General¡¯s head, he ced among the top five. So why was he chosen for such a mundane task?

    In his mind, Bu¡¯ had proven himself more than worthy to challenge bigger challenges. Surely his master recognized his potential, right?

    As he had these thoughts, Bu¡¯ led his army across the valley¨Csurrounded by many devastated peaks and broken-down mountains.

    Hoping he would encounter an army to prove his superiority and vent his turbulent emotions, the Demon General pressed on.

    Fortunately, he finally sensed a being in sight.

    ¡°Haaa¡­!¡± For a moment, Bu¡¯s crimson eyes widened in excitement.

    However, the feeling fizzled out almost immediately when he realized it was only one single entity that he sensed.

    ¡°¡­ Tch!¡±

    His annoyance rose to an unprecedented degree and he directed his attention in the direction of the being.

    ¡®You dare make me raise my hopes up?!¡¯

    As though he had sensed Bu¡¯s bloodlusted frustration, the being began moving.

    The Demon General thought he would flee, but the strange entity drew closer to the horde of Demon Beasts, with their leader being none other than the mighty Bu¡¯.

    ¡®Is he crazy? He¡¯sing here?¡¯

    Soon, the silhouette of the individual appeared before the surprised Demon General.

    It was a human.

    ¡®A human? What¡¯s a human doing here all alone?¡¯

    The most amazing part of the human was that he was approaching Bu¡¯ and his army without flinching for a second.

    No hesitation could be found in his steps as he fearlessly approached.

    This made the Demon General shocked beyond measure.

    ¡®Is he an idiot? Can he not see?¡¯

    The man in sight looked haggard. He was covered in a ragged outfit, walking barefoot on the rocky surface surrounding him.

    He was holding a massive sack while walking¨Cobviously showing he was a traveler of some sort.

    The rags he wore contrasted the well-made sack, but they were ultimately possessions of a destitute.

    ¡®Is he a madman?¡¯

    That was the only exnation Bu¡¯ could form in his head.

    Still, madman or not, the Demon General didn¡¯t care a single bit. His mission was to kill any human in sight and destroy everything around.

    Even though his opponent was a hopeless vagabond, that didn¡¯t change what he had to do.

    Still, killing the human before him didn¡¯t have to be performed by Bu¡¯ himself.

    He was a Demon General for crying out loud. Such meager tasks had to be done by the army he led.

    ¡°You. Go kill him.¡± Per his instructions, the Demon Beast closest to Bu¡¯ moved in the direction of the human.

    Instantly, he stopped.

    The human didn¡¯t move a single step further from his position.

    He muttered some words, but Bu¡¯ couldn¡¯t understand human speech, so the words simply went over his head.

    ¡®Why would I bother conversing with lower life forms?¡¯

    At this point, the Demon General was just waiting for his Demon Beast to finish the job so they could continue marching.

    The human dropped his heavy sack and began opening it.

    Even when the massive Demon Beast steadily approached him.

    None of his movements disyed any form of hesitation or fear. The man simply focused on the task at hand.

    Once the sack was opened, lots of des could be seen within it. They appeared unlimited, but that was simply because of their sheer number.

    However¨C

    ¡°Broken des? Why is he carrying around broken des?¡±

    Every single de that could be seen in the sack was broken¨Cshattered beyond repair.

    Bu¡¯ could not understand the logic of a madman, though he attempted to.

    After realizing it was a simple waste of time, he ordered the Demon Beast to hurry with its job.

    ¡°Just end it already!¡±

    As a result, the massive creature lunged at the human who was fishing out something from the sack.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH!!!<

    The winds parted and the air reverberated. The grounds shook with every step that the dashing monster took toward its prey.

    In a moment, the vagabond¡¯s life would be extinguished.

    However¨C

    >SWISH!<

    ¨CIn less than that moment, the Demon Beast was cleanly sliced into two pieces.

    Its enormous form vertically split into two equal parts, sending both ends crashing to the ground.

    Dark blood sttered in the direction of Bu¡¯ and the rest of his troops, oozing on the ground.

    In a sh, the Demon Beast¡¯s life was abruptly put to a close.

    ¡®E-eh¡­?¡¯

 Chapter 414 The Man Dwelling In The Mountains [Pt 2]

    Unexinable silence.

    After witnessing the sight of something impossible, Bu¡¯ was confronted with perfect decorum.

    The air became heavy, and the putrid smell of corrupted blood filled the air.

    It wasn¡¯t so much fear as it was shock.

    The Demon General was simply amazed that a human had been able to cleanly slice a monster who was at least ten times bigger than he was¡ªall in the blink of an eye.

    It was utterly confusing, but Bu¡¯ couldn¡¯t allow himself to get distracted by such emotions.

    ¡®I can easily do the same¡­¡¯ Was what he used to justify the absurdity.

    It was unfair topare himself to a single human destitute, but since the yardstick was still within his realm of understanding, Bu¡¯ was able to ovee the initial surprise.

    ¡®Okay, so he¡¯s strong. That exins why he¡¯s all alone here, and why he could confront us without fear¡­¡¯

    The man whom Bu¡¯ now actively watched was holding a de.

    This de wasn¡¯t shattered like the rest, but it was in pretty bad shape too.

    Judging from the weapon¡¯s age and the numerous chips it had, it was only a matter of time before it also joined the rest in their shattered state.

    As a weapons expert himself, Bu¡¯ understood the de¡¯s durability more than anyone.

    In a few more swings, the weapon was done for.

    ¡®Should I just send Demon Beasts in waves to make sure he exhausts the weapon¡¯s integrity? Once that¡¯s done, it¡¯ll be a simple matter to end him.¡¯

    Moving faster than he could retrieve another de, Bu¡¯ was determined to personally end the human¡¯s life.

    Carelessness was a sin! Such were the teachings of his master¡ªLord Zenkiel himself.

    Both overestimating and underestimating an opponent could lead to defeat, so Bu¡¯ was prepared to sacrifice a few Beasts to achieve his goal.

    If they ended up killing the man, that would prove that his worries were in vain.

    However, if the man prevailed, his weapon wouldn¡¯tst much longer. That would be his window to strike.

    Either way, Bu¡¯ was assured of victory!

    ¡°Attack. Kill him!¡±

    At thismand, a few dozen Demon Beasts charged at the human, who was already in a stance.

    He muttered some words, but Bu¡¯ still didn¡¯t understand any of them.

    >SWIIISH!!!<

    In a single sh as well, all the Demon Beasts were felled.

    Blood spurted out of them, and their lifeless bodies crashed on their ckish bloody pool. They, too, were defeated by the human.

    ¡®What? How is this happening? They were at least thirty of them¡­¡¯

    So far, he had lost approximately thirty-five Demon Beasts.

    Bu¡¯ still had lots more to spare, but meaninglessly sending them to die would be a waste.

    The Demon General racked his brain to figure out the best strategy to use in defeating the unflinching swordsman.

    ¡®Haa, I¡¯ve got it!¡¯

    ¡°Surround him on all sides. Cover his nks and rear!¡±

    The human was indeed very adept at fighting a straight-on battle, but he would surely lose against an overwhelming number attacking from all sides.

    Those were the thoughts of the exceedingly brilliant Bu¡¯.

    Asmanded, the Demon Beasts circled the swordsman.

    Theirrge numbers were fifty¡ªand their hulking figures made it pretty obvious who the victor of the round would be.

    Even if a human was skilled¡­ he still had limits.

    There was no way¡ª

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    An instant burst of Mana surged from the human.

    ¡°Wha¡ª?!¡±

    Before Bu¡¯ could utter another word, the Demon Beasts that hadpletely trapped the destitute in the center were eliminated.

    Their bodies were diced intorge chunks and blood sttered everywhere.

    The Mana of the swordsman was retracted as soon as the deed was done.

    Now standing atop at the center of a scene of carnage, the human stared undauntedly at Bu¡¯, waiting for yet another challenge.

    ¡°Grrrrrr¡­.¡± At this point, Bu¡¯ ground his sharp teeth with rage.

    The Demon General was no fool, so he already realized that sending in more Demon Beasts would be a waste of resources.

    Almost a hundred had been killed by this single human.

    While he would have loved to see his limits, he couldn¡¯t allow any further deaths.

    ¡®As annoying as this is¡­ I¡¯ll handle him myself.¡¯

    Bu¡¯ stepped forward, drawing one of his four weapons¡ªa longsword.

    He could wield all of them with his four arms, but doing so for a single target was a disgrace to him and his master.

    ¡®It¡¯s shameful enough that I have to even fight him directly¡­¡¯

    Any further, and Bu¡¯ wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the blow on his ego.

    ¡°Be grateful, human. You¡¯ll gain the privilege of dying by my hands.¡±

    In response to the General¡¯s obvious taunts, this human smiled¡ªno, he chuckled.

    ¡®He dares¡ª!!!¡¯

    The swordsman uttered more words on his tongue, smiling as he spoke.

    There was a limit to Bu¡¯s patience, so he took his stance and infused his de with Miasma.

    Strengthening his body with Demonic Energy, the enraged monster was ready to make his charge.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡±

    However, just as he was about to strike, the human¡¯s Mana erupted to an even greater degree from earlier.

    It was only for a moment, but even Bu¡¯ felt terrified by the sight of such an overwhelming force.

    And then¡ª

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    ¡ªSound caused lots of flesh being dissected echoed in the air.

    Bu¡¯ was still standing, but he could hear lots of bodies heavily falling to the ground.

    Blood flowing like water suddenly swept through the Demon General¡¯s feet and their gory odor invaded his nostrils.

    The ckish pool of blood wasn¡¯t his, but Bu¡¯ had a rough idea whose they were.

    Slowly turning his head, the self-proimed top five of the Nine Stars looked behind him.

    His eyes bulged as he realized his fears were true. Bu¡¯s body trembled thanks to the horrid sight he witnessed.

    Recing the Demon Beasts he had as troops was a scene of carnage and gore.

    Mangled and sliced flesh littered the ground and not a single one of the Demon Beasts was left standing.

    They were all dead¡ªkilled by the human¡¯s de.

    ¡®Over nine hundred¡­ in an instant¡­?¡¯

    Bu¡¯ looked forward, at the end of the massacre, and spotted the swordsman.

    The de in his hand had shattered, but he was looking even more menacing than before.

    The terrifying Mana he exuded vanished, and the destitute¡¯s sight now locked with Bu¡¯s.

    The Demon General gulped upon receiving the frighteningly calm gaze of his opponent. The feeling of moderate caution was slowly being reced by a stronger desire for survival.

    It was instinctive¡ªprimal!

    Before he knew it, Bu¡¯ had already unsheathed all his weapons.

    Now, the human looked at him with a more serious gaze.

    His lips parted once more, and even though Bu¡¯ couldn¡¯t understand the words, they still echoed in his ears.

    ¡°Martial de God Technique¡­ Martial State.¡±

 Chapter 415 Martial State

    ¡®Weak!¡¯

    That single thought echoed in the mind of the one who held his shattered de.

    Even after cutting down over nine hundred beasts in a sh, he had not gotten his fill of violence.

    ¡®They¡¯re all too weak!¡¯

    He had been training for nearly six months, isted in the mountains for that long.

    After spending so long tempering his body, the man had expected some sort of experience to stimte him¡ªallowing him to test the limits of his ability.

    When he sensed the Miasma approaching him from the valley, he had been excited.

    ¡®It¡¯s different from the one I felt back then, but¡­¡¯

    This destitute had definitely felt Miasma before.

    Even though he had been much younger and inexperienced, the swordsman couldn¡¯t forget the sensation that permeated him back then.

    Compared to the intensity of the Disturbance he experienced in the past, the wave of negative energy that tickled his skin was far greater.

    That was probably why he had raised his expectations.

    He halted his rest and dragged his sack containing all the des he had gathered for his training.

    All of them¡ªbut one¡ªhad all broken apart due to training.

    Their durability was simply not good enough.

    When he saw the horde, the swordsman had been ecstatic.

    Finally, he would be able to test his strength against formidable foes.

    Their bloodthirsty aura did not bother him in the slightest. Why would it?

    All he needed to do was move his body and swing his de. That was all he had been doing for so long that his mind and body were numb to almost any other feeling.

    Yet¡­

    >SWISH!<

    ¡­ Even then¡­

    >SWOOOOSH<

    ¡­ After getting all worked up¡­

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    ¡­ None of them stood a sliver of a chance.

    At this point, the swordsman stood in silence, surrounded by piles of corpses.

    His gaze was locked on thest opponent standing. It seemed to be a strong one¡ªat least more formidable than the others he had eliminated.

    And so, ignoring the carnage he had wrought, the swordsman dropped thest of his ruined des and focused his attention on the final enemy.

    The Demon was done drawing all four weapons in his possession¡ªa longsword, a battle-axe, a scythe, and a broadsword.

    Each weapon had its advantages, and if a master could utilize them in tandem, it was possible to cover the minimal weakness they possessed.

    For defense, the Demon had a very tough hide, as well as an enchanted armor that blocked damage.

    Unlike the Demon Beasts, the opponent he was facing was definitely very experienced in the art of battle.

    Upon seeing that, the swordsman didn¡¯t realize when his lips parted to form a grin.

    ¡®Maybe this one¡­ will be different¡­¡¯

    The mountains that took several strikes to break were no longer able to resist his de.

    After training in this ce for so long, the swordsman realized that there was no longer anything that could stop his strike.

    Everything in his path had been long conquered.

    But, perhaps this opponent would be different from the others!

    That was probably why he felt like going all out.

    A Technique that made Martial Artists transcend the limits of their capabilities, granting them ess to even greater power¡ªalbeit temporary.

    For Magic Users who were parallel to this, they also had a simr state. It was referred to as Mage Mode.

    However,plex principles concerning the maniption of Mana to form spells were beyond the reach and interest of those who constantly tempered their bodies and honed their skills.

    For Martial Artists, a form that exceeded their current condition also existed.

    It was known as Martial State.

    And the young man¡ªthough a hardened warrior¡ªwanted to unleash this power on his newfound target.

    ¡°Martial de God Technique¡­ Martial State!¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The mountains were not able to bear the explosive pressure, and instantly made way for the overwhelming power that was concentrated on a single human.

    He could hear the opponent utter words, but the swordsman could not understand any of them.

    He didn¡¯t understand thenguage of Demons, after all.

    At this point, even if he did, nothing the monster said would matter to him.

    All that the swordsman cared about was the fight to ensue.

    A massive chunk of the energy that was dispersing swiftly gathered and formed a de.

    It was white as snow, yet it contained an unforgiving glint that could make any shiver at its sight.

    It was a Mana de, but unlike any other.

    Any Technique performed by a warrior while in Martial State was forcefully raised beyond its limits.

    The same applied to the gleaning white de.

    ¡°Huuu¡­¡± The swordman¡¯s rags tore to pieces, unable to bear the pressure.

    Only his pants were protected from the st, revealing his bare flesh and well-toned muscles.

    The swordsman¡¯s auburn hair was now white, and his irises donned the same color.

    ¡°¡­ Here Ie.¡±

    Taking a proper stance befitting a warrior, the human prepared his strike, watching the Demon also prepare all four weapons to deal his own blow.

    ¡®The fastest one strikes first. The strongest one wins!¡¯

    The answer was that simple.

    It was a risky venture, but he had note this far to consider safety at this point. While he hadn¡¯t been expecting a Demon assault, the young swordsman was certainly thankful to the heavens for it.

    After all, he would be able to test all 12 Ultimate de Forms of his newly attained state.

    ¡®But first¡­ shall we test the waters?¡¯ Smiling, the swordsman controlled his muscles and took a step forward, ready tounch himself.

    ¡°¡­ Now!¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The environment ruptured as soon as he dashed in the direction of his foe.

    Ignoring the stinging sensation of the air, the chilly breeze of the environment, and the multitudes of emotions that assailed him, the swordsman only had one goal.

    One strike!

    And so, he went for it!

    Raising his de and swinging it to strike, the swordsman watched his opponent steady all four weapons of his in defense.

    ¡®He¡¯s going to block my assault? Very well!¡¯

    While the swordsman wasn¡¯t aware of how durable his opponent was, he assumed that the Demon would at least be able to tank one hit.

    He had all four weapons to protect him alongside the armor and thick hide. Certainly, this Demon would prove more sturdy than the devastated mountains around him.

    The swordsman smiled, deciding to pour his strength into the attack.

    Without using any of his Twelve Ultimate Arts, he went with the flow and sharply swing his de.

    Swift and precise, the attack was initiated.

    And then¡ª

    ¡°Eeeeekkkkk!!!¡±

    ¡ªan eruption followed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

 Chapter 416 Melancholy Of The Strong

    ¡®What is this? This power?!¡¯

    Bu¡¯ was in both awe and fear.

    Unlike most of hispanions, he was a Martial Artist.

    While he knew certain spells that enhanced his body, Bu¡¯ was solely focused on raising his personal ability.

    He had finally stepped into the Peak state after so much effort and several centuries of dedication.

    However, even at that, he couldn¡¯t fathom the depths of the power that confronted him.

    If he had just arrived at the peak of a hill, then there was an even bigger¡ªtaller mountain that now stood before him.

    It was so impossible that Bu¡¯ fell into despair.

    In the face of such a devastating difference, he could do nothing but cover himself with all his might.

    And so, he did.

    With all his weapons, armor, and willpower focused on defense, Bu¡¯ shrouded himself with all he had.

    ¡®I can¡¯t¡­¡¯

    He knew the despairing truth.

    ¡®¡­ I can¡¯t fight that!¡¯

    And so, the de of light came crashing down.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ******************************

    Disappointment.

    Pure, unbridled disappointment permeated the insides of Edward.

    As he stood all alone in the devastatedndscape, the Mana around him dispersed.

    Feeling mncholic and sullen, he stared at the spot where his enemy once stood.

    No trace of him could be found any longer.

    ¡°He didn¡¯tst a single move¡­¡± Were the whispers that proceeded from his mouth.

    The mountains all around him had been vaporized.

    As though a crater had fallen and pulverized the vicinity, everything around was leveled¡ªrazed to the ground.

    Every semnce of the fallen Demon Beasts or Demon General had now faded from sight.

    At the center of everything was the lone Martial Artist.

    ¡°¡­ I should have known.¡± A sigh of despondency leaked out.

    He didn¡¯t want to admit it before, but Edward now had no choice but to admit it.

    He had be too strong.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing here that can prove to be a challenge to me¡­¡±

    Still, a faint glimmer of hope remained in his heart.

    ¡®If they invaded this ce, and in such arge number, does that mean the Demons have begun their move?¡¯

    Edward had isted himself for nearly six months, so he wasn¡¯t abreast of the current affairs of the Eastern Kingdom.

    Still, he had an idea that they were preparing for war against the Demons.

    The fact that he just shed with an army of them proved that something was in the works.

    If that was the case, then surely¡­

    ¡®I¡¯ll meet someone strong!¡¯

    After pursuing the oath of the de for so long¡ªpouring every essence of himself into it¡ªthe young man¡¯s ideals had slowly changed.

    From the righteous ambition he had as a child, Edward¡¯s path was now that of the de.

    An endless quest to get stronger¡ªthat was the root teaching of the Technique passed down to him.

    ¡®I wonder¡­¡¯ A faint thought popped into Edward¡¯s head.

    A certain boy appeared in his thoughts.

    ¡®¡­ Just how strong have you be, Edward?¡¯

    To find the answer to that, he had to leave the mountains¡ªcorrection, nds.

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll return to Ainrk. Or, should I go to the nearest military base? The capital would be nice too. Hmmm¡­¡±

    ~Why not just go to Ainrk? You have friends there, right?~ A deep voice pierced his mind as he deliberated.

    The owner was none other than the Familiar of Edward¡ªa Duhan.

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s true. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen Ana, or anyone else for that matter.¡±

    Making up his mind, Edward smiled and decided to pay a visit to his longest friend.

    ~Ah, I think you¡¯re forgetting something¡­~ The deep voice reminded Edward, causing him to halt.

    ¡°Hm?¡±

    ~You don¡¯t have anything on you. Surely, you do not intend to return like this¡­ do you?~

    For the first time, Edward paid attention to himself.

    He was wearing no cloth, so his ripped muscles and perfectly toned body were in view.

    His pants were still on, but even they weren¡¯t enough to hide the marvelous body Edward had cultivated.

    ¡°I see nothing wrong with how I look, though¡­¡±

    Bing too fixated on Martial Arts had caused some of Edward¡¯s cognitive functions to deteriorate¡ªespecially when it came to the area ofmon sense.

    ~Of course, you don¡¯t¡­ sigh. You¡¯ve be quite hopeless, you know?~

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment.¡±

    ~In any case, we can¡¯t have you looking like this. Let¡¯s go to the nearest settlement and ask for something to wear.~

    ¡°Ah, well, that¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    ~Do you have any money?~

    ¡°¡­..¡±

    At this point, both Host and Familiar fell dead silent.

    After a few moments of ufortable decorum, the Familiar¡ªbeing the more sensible one among them¡ªspoke once more.

    ~Then, we¡¯ll just have to pretend we¡¯re beggars and ask for raiment.~

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just perform a task for them in exchange for clothing?¡±

    Silence prevailed once more.

    ~That¡¯s actually¡­ not a bad idea¡­~

    Finally, the young Martial Artist was using his head.

    Perhaps the thought of returning to civilization was restoring vestiges of themon sense he had lost when he relentlessly pursued the path of the de.

    ¡°Well, shall we get going then?¡±

    ~Indeed. So, a Demon Invasion, eh? Should be fun¡­~

    It wasn¡¯t just the Host who was happy about the prospects of a worthy challenge.

    ¡°You sure are excited, uh? Well, I don¡¯t me you.¡±

    After all, not only Edward felt constrained by how much power they had not yet disyed.

    Bond Abilities

    Fusion Techniques

    Martial Fusion State.

    There were yet many abilities left for Edward and his Familiar to explore and utilize, but there was no one to use them on.

    Which was why¡­

    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s hope we run into more enemies!¡±

    With that enthusiastic statement fully supported by the Duhan Familiar, the partners walked beyond the devastated area in hopes of something more stimting.

    Since war was brewing, their wishes were certainly going toe true.

    ****************************

    ¡°I-impossible¡ª!!!¡±

    Rheas, a Demon General among the Nine Stars unconsciously leaked out her thought as she witnessed one of the most horrific disys of one-sided violence.

    It was too extreme that even with her status, the Demon Lord felt utterly overwhelmed by what was happening¡ªand the one who was wreaking such havoc.

    It was a single human¡ªand she was merciless!

    Rheas had expected the Northern Border of the Eastern Kingdom to be tougher than the others, but she had never thought a single human would push them so far.

    Unbelievable as it was, that was exactly what was ying out.

    ¡°H-how can this be¡­?¡±

    The other humans were at a safe distance, observing the situation.

    A particr rash boy was also trying his hardest in the battle, but there was really no need for him to interfere.

    The girl¡¯s power was enough to decimate all her foes.

    Rheas had met many monsters in her long lifetime, but this was by far the worst.

    She was a true harbinger of destruction.

 Chapter 417 Monster In The North [Pt 1]

    A few hours earlier, Rheas had been quite confident.

    Her slithery green body and snake-like body from her waist downward made it clear she was a Lamia.

    She had flowing ck hair, and on her hand was a staff that had a crystal at the very top. The ck stone glowed malevolently as she slithered with her army in tow.

    As one of the strongest members of the Nine Stars¡ªofficially ranked third in power¡ªmost Demon Generals wouldn¡¯t even stand a chance against her.

    It was for this single reason that she was sent to the Northern Border of the Eastern Kingdom.

    It was their greatest stronghold, and so she was meant to test their security.

    If things got too dangerous, all she had to do was retreat. That was what her master¡ªLord Zenkiel¡ªtold her.

    However, Rheas knew that wouldn¡¯t be necessary.

    At the very least, she would decimate the area with Peak-Level Magic Spells until she was satisfied.

    The only reason she would ever retreat would be a result of running low on Miasma. If that happened, she would simply utilize the corrupted Souls of those she killed as nourishment.

    Zenkiel usually told his underlings never to underestimate or overestimate their foes, so Rheas wasn¡¯t acting as a result of overconfidence.

    She simply didn¡¯t believe humans were worth much.

    Her colleagues in the White Tribe told her several times how weak the humans were. Sure it was only restricted to the areas she investigated, but it had to be the same in other ces.

    Rather than Humans, their focus should have been the Elves and Fairies¡ªthen the big guns called the Beastfolk couldeter.

    But, she couldn¡¯t refuse her superior¡¯s orders. That was why she was leading an army of a thousand Demon Beast to wreak havoc on the Northern Border.

    ¡°Hehehe. Make this interesting for me.¡± She gave a toothy grin, revealing the fangs she had.

    ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll treat myself to a few male humans¡­ I wonder how they¡¯ll taste like inside me?¡¯ Her snake-like tongue licked her curled-up lips.

    Her disgusting habit of taking in her prey while they were still alive¡ªpreferably males¡ªand digesting them with her fluids, was clearly showing in the way she was eyeing the people atop the garrisons that she approached.

    Before Rheas was a very tall and sturdy fence.

    It blocked any possible routes past the vast seas that connected the Demon Realm to the Eastern Kingdom.

    Not only were the walls enchanted with Magic, but they were made with only the best materials.

    ¡®Hmm¡­ it¡¯s going to take some time to break through¡­¡¯

    Rather than simply wasting her time breaking the wall¡ªwhich could have some Magical Repair function¡ªwouldn¡¯t it be better to simply fly over it?

    ¡®Yes, I¡¯ll do just that.¡¯ Rheas grinned, looking at the obedient Demon Beasts behind her.

    Usually, it would be difficult for anyone to cast Magic on people this many, but Rheas was a Demon General, after all.

    Casting the [Flight] Spell on all the thousand numbered Demon Beasts wouldn¡¯t be too difficult.

    Once they passed the barrier of the walls, then they would begin their ughter.

    ¡®Huhuhu. I¡¯ll first begin with the men at the garrisons, then proceed to annihte every military personnel in sight.¡¯

    Her goal was topletely devastate the Northern Border.

    ¡°Then, once I¡¯m done, I¡¯m sure Lord Zenkiel will praise me himself. Hahaha, I can¡¯t wai¡ª¡±

    Before she could conclude her statement, Rheas noticed some movement among the humans who defended the top of the walls.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on there?¡¯

    As she was trying to observe the situation, a girl jumped out of the tall fence and descended with great speed.

    Just before she reached the ground beneath the monolith, lightweight Magic allowed her tond safely.

    ¡®What the¡­?¡¯ Rheas struggled to make sense of the situation.

    What was a single human doing here? The other soldiers atop the fence didn¡¯t even try to stop her.

    The looks on their faces disyed that they were scared¡ªworried even¡ªbut none of the soldiers tried to prevent the girl from meeting her doom.

    ¡®Humans¡­ do you not care about what happens to that child?¡¯

    ¡°Wait for meeeee!!!¡± Yet another voice surged from above, and another person rushed to meet the girl.

    This time, it was a boy.

    He appeared no older than the girl¡ªthese two were most likely young adults.

    Rheas couldn¡¯t understand humans¡ªand she didn¡¯t bother learning theirnguage. Still, she heard the rushed conversation between the two.

    ¡°What are you doing Jerry? Get back up!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not leaving me behind this time! I can defend myself¡ªand the base too!¡±

    ¡°Oh? You think you can keep up?¡±

    ¡°W-well, I¡¯ll do my best. I refuse to give up. I¡¯ll catch up to you soon.¡±

    ¡°Really, now? Looks like you¡¯ve gotten cocky these past few months. Just because you got your name embedded in Ainrk¡¯s records, uh?¡±

    ¡°S-shut up!¡±

    ¡°Look at you, already talking back to me. Well, I¡¯ll just have to show you the difference between us.¡±

    It was as though Rheas and her army were invisible as the two young people chattered away.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough. There¡¯s a limit to my patience when ites to impudence.¡± The Magic User Demon General growled, slithering forward.

    Her army followed behind her.

    As a result of their sudden movements, the two humans finally looked in the direction of Rheas and the Demon Beasts behind her.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this, Ciara!¡± The boy grinned, readying himself for action.

    ¡°Pfft. Please, you¡¯re not in my league. Just try not to die.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t! You be careful too.¡±

    ¡°Y-you¡­ Hmph! I don¡¯t need your worry. I can handle them myself.¡±

    ¡°Very well, then. Here I go!¡±

    The boy and girl released their Mana, causing Rheas to be surprised by the intensity.

    Still, she didn¡¯t falter.

    There was a limit to the amount of Mana that a human could summon. All she had to do was cut them down before they tried anything funny.

    Preparing her staff, the Demon General readied an Advanced Spell¡ªready to execute it.

    However¡ª

    ¡°Mage Mode.¡±

    ¡°Elemental Chamber.¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªThe quality and quantity of the humans¡¯ Mana peaked to an unprecedented degree.

    It was beyond what she had sensed earlier.

    As she looked at the two menacing people, Rheas had a sudden thought within her head.

    ¡®I¡­ I think I¡¯ll have to go all out!¡¯

 Chapter 418 Monster In The North [Pt 2]

    Both humans were shrouded in immense and highly concentrated Mana.

    For the boy, a sphere of mes covered him. His entire body was also glowing amber¡ªas though covered by a thinyer of mes, rather than skin.

    His previously brown hair now floated in the air, brimming bright red like mes.

    The ¡®Elemental Chamber¡¯ he mentioned earlier had caused him to adopt this transformation. Even from where she stood, Rheas felt the intensity of his Mana.

    It was terrifyingly hot.

    However¡­ that was nothingpared to the person beside him.

    Her entire outfit had changed and a Grimoire now appeared before her.

    The blue, ck, and white energy swirling around her matched the apparel she now wore.

    This was Mage Mode¡ªthe greatest state a Mage could achieve¡ªallowing them a massive amount of power, though temporarily.

    Why did such a young individual possess such strength?

    Compared to the boy beside her, she was far more dangerous.

    However, since they both emitted great power, it was difficult to ignore any of them. They had to be eliminated together.

    Rheas, despite looking cunning and acting sky, was quite straightforward in situations like this.

    ¡°Demon Beasts, kill them both!¡±

    All she had to do was order all the monsters to attack them at once until they grew exhausted and fell.

    Their transformations wouldn¡¯tst forever, and the reason they probably adopted them was so they could boost their power.

    ¡®That means if they¡¯re out of that state¡­ these two will stop being threats.¡¯ That was what she concluded.

    And so, using her minions as sacrifices, Rheas observed from the rear.

    ¡®Now then, let¡¯s see how long you¡ª¡¯

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    In a brilliant burst of fire and wind, several Demon Beasts met their instant end.

    ¡°E-eh¡­?¡±

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    The boy coated in mes flew high into the sky, using the intensity of the fire on his body to propel him to each target¡ªtaking down one Demon Beast at a time.

    His capabilities were beyond normal! How could a single strike of his engulf giant monsters in mes?

    At a point, he leaped high up and then descended with ferocious speed¡ªlike a meteor¡ªdecimating the fee dozen monsters around him.

    He was like a god that punished Demons¡ªpurifying their darkness with his intense mes.

    But¡­ his actions were still nothingpared to the girl.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Unlike the boy who flew up and about to defeat his prey, exerting himself beyond the limits of normal people, the girl never left her position.

    From where she now levitated, she wasunching highly destructive sts toward the Demon Beasts.

    It was crazy, but she was a literal one-man army.

    A single blow could decimate a hundred Demon Beasts in a go¡ªyet she did so effortlessly.

    It was a pitiable sight, and Rheas could feel a terrible sense of dread befall her.

    In a minute¡ªno, maybe less¡ªit was possible that her entire army would be done for.

    ¡®I haven¡¯t even¡­ done anything yet¡­!¡¯

    Her eyes were fixated on the girl who was smiling yfully as she destroyed the Demon Beasts that were meant to devastate the Northern Border with her.

    Fear coursed through Rheas¡¯ body. Still, a greater fear of disappointing her master made her unable to back down at this point.

    ¡°Y-you bitch¡­ you ruined my ns.¡± The Lamia growled, ring at the human girl.

    At this point, she too stared at the Demon General. She must have sensed her bloodlust.

    ¡°Oh? So you want to y too? Why not wait your turn?¡±

    Rheas couldn¡¯t understand the human¡¯s words, but she felt like the girl was mocking her.

    Her gaze was enough to tell the Lamia that much.

    ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Rheas raised her staff, causing the ck crystal atop it to glean even more malevolently.

    She hadn¡¯t wanted to go this far yet¡ªespecially since they hadn¡¯t invaded the great walls¡ªbut the Lamia could not contain her rage.

    She would suffer further disgrace if she didn¡¯t resort to her full strength.

    ¡ªPeak Level Magic

    ¡®I¡¯ll use that to decimate this little girl!¡¯

    Yes, that was the fastest and easiest solution.

    ¡°Jerry, take care of the rest for a bit. I¡¯m handling the boss.¡± Even as Rheas began chanting the Spell, the girl had the audacity to look away.

    ¡®How dare she? How dare she?! How dare sheeee?!!¡¯

    In a few moments, she would be consumed in a flood of Miasma-infused acid. Screaming in despair and agony, the girl would suffer endlessly.

    ¡°H-hey, don¡¯t start without me!¡± The boy called out from a distance, still fighting the couple of Demon Beasts that were left.

    ¡°Toote. Hehe.¡± The human girl was now looking in her direction.

    The expression on her face was so full of confidence that it frightened the seemingly superior Lamia.

    ¡®Why are you smiling? You¡¯ll die, you know? I¡¯ll make sure to kill you and everyone else you care about!¡¯

    ¡°What did you just think? You¡¯ll kill who I care about?¡± The air around the girl changed instantly.

    Rather than her yful smile, a serious¡ªmurderous¡ªlook was now evident on her face.

    It was frightening, so scary that Rheas didn¡¯t even ponder how the human girl was able to read her thoughts.

    Still, the Lumia was almost down with her Spell. Any moment now, and¡ª

    ¡°I wanted to take my time ying with you, but what you¡¯ve thought is unforgivable.¡±

    The human girl made a pose as if to snatch something, and then spoke words that shouldn¡¯t have been uttered by someone so young.

    ¡°[Original Magic: Phantom Link¡ªBrain Dead].¡±

    Suddenly, something broke inside Rheas.

    Her mind snapped, and she couldn¡¯t feel anything and anyone. Her vision darkened and her body helplessly fell.

    Before Rheas could even make a final thought, orplete her Spell¡ªbefore the Demon General could even realize it¡ªshe was dead.

    As her neural links and core werepletely destroyed by the human girl¡¯s Original Magic, she was now nothing more than a lump of meat.

    ¡°Nooo! You¡¯re already done?¡± The human boy sharply glided to the girl, undoing his transformation in a sh.

    ¡°Yep. I see you¡¯ve finished up too. About time.¡± The girl nced around and saw that the Demon Beasts were all decimated.

    Not a single one was left standing.

 Chapter 419 Protecting The Borders

    ¡®Not bad, Jerry. You¡¯ve really improved. I¡¯m so happy right now!¡¯

    Ciara¡¯s mind was in ecstasy, seeing the man she loved achieve such a great feat. The fruits of his endless training we¡¯re finally showing.

    Of course, someone like Ciara would never say how she truly felt out loud¡ªespecially with the boy right beside her.

    And so, she resorted to the usual way shemunicated with him.

    ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re still too weak.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. Yeah. Don¡¯t you worry, though. I¡¯ll soon catch up to you.¡±

    That optimism of his that never faded away, and his constant efforts to achieve that goal¡­ Ciara was lost inside its ecstasy.

    Even after so long, none of them had changed in the slightest.

    ¡®Yeah¡­ I look forward to that.¡¯ She smiled internally.

    Of course, she couldn¡¯t say that as well.

    ¡°You wish! Hahahaha!¡±

    And so, both of them returned to their Base, ready to be cheered for their victorious efforts on the front lines.

    ¡®This is what you wanted, right, Jerry?¡¯ Ciara smiled as she watched the boy give an exhausted round ofughter.

    Truth be told, she didn¡¯t really care about protecting the Kingdom.

    Ciara simply wanted to be with Jerry. It was his choice to spend his Apprenticeship in the Northern Border¡ªwhere the conditions were harsher and it was more perilous.

    He wanted to get stronger, as well as protect everyone in the Eastern Kingdom.

    As a result, Ciara had no choice but to tag along with him.

    Despite all his objections, they both ended up in the same toon and had to see each other every day.

    Their rooms were also beside each other, so it was easier for Ciara to sneak into his.

    Even after their Apprenticeship was over, Jerry remained in the North, insisting on protecting everyone.

    ¡®I just can¡¯t say no to him, can I?¡¯

    As a result, she too remained.

    Even now, when they were hailed as the trump cards of the Northern Border, Ciara didn¡¯t exactly feel anything. She didn¡¯t care for the praise of others.

    ¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t thank me. It was all Ciara. She did a wonderful job! I was just trying to keep up.¡±

    As Jerry¡¯s words of praise sounded in her ears, Ciara felt a wave of satisfaction course through her.

    A warm feeling spread inside her, disying itself on her face.

    ¡°Compared to her, I was¡­ I need to work harder!¡± Jerry smiled, pumping his fist in determination.

    ¡®Idiot¡­ you¡­ you¡¯ve grown so strong already.¡¯ Ciara smiled, looking at the man she loved.

    His growth was beyond expectations.

    That was purely because of his efforts.

    ¡®Even though you¡¯ll never catch up to me¡­¡¯

    Still, she wouldn¡¯t mind it if he eventually did. After all, that would mean his dream woulde true.

    Either way, as long as he was by her side, Ciara felt like nothing else mattered.

    If Jerry wanted to fight, she would fight too. If Jerry chose to side with the Demons, she would also do the same in a heartbeat.

    The ball was in his court. And so, she waited for what he would do next.

    ¡°We should probably rest, but¡­ I want to train some more. A Demon invasion of that scale means they¡¯re definitely taking this war seriously now.¡± Jerry said, turning to Ciara.

    ¡°Training, uh? Then, count me in.¡±

    ¡°O-Oh, you don¡¯t have to¡­ with me¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a wuss. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Fine. Fine. Let¡¯s. It should be fun.¡±

    And so, the two of them walked away from the crowd who smiled behind them. The people who watched the boy and girl all had the same thoughts pertaining to them.

    Ciara ignored them, though.

    ¡®Where he goes, I go. We are bound by fate, and we are in love. No one is allowed to stand in our way. As long as I have him and he has me, that¡¯s enough.¡¯ A wide smile spread across her face.

    ¡®After all, I belong to him¡­ AND HE BELONGS TO ME.¡¯

    That was all there was to it.

    It was all that mattered.

    ***************************

    ¡°Looks like they handled things well on their end.¡±

    I was just about to address the Elves who were with me, as well as myrades, when I got a report from the scout Automatons I stationed in the Eastern Kingdom.

    Apparently, both assaults had beenpletely extinguished.

    For the North, Ciara was more than enough to handle it.

    I was surprised to see Jerry Keller in action as well. His growth was beyond what I expected, but that was only natural considering whom he chose as his rival.

    ¡®Looks like he even mastered Elemental Chamber and retrofitted it to suit his Fire Attribute.¡¯

    It was impressive, to say the least.

    But, of course, the most surprising of all, was the incident at the Eastern Border.

    A single swordsman defeating a horde of Demon Beasts and a Demon General¡ªdevastating the area as a result.

    I could only expect that from one single person.

    ¡®So you¡¯ve turned into a monster too, Edward?¡¯ A slightly intimidated smile spread on my face.

    I was initially superior to him in Martial Arts, but not anymore.

    My limit was the Peak Level, but Edward was already in the Transcendent Realm¡ªat least when he used Martial State.

    ¡®Amazing. Simply amazing!¡¯

    Everyone around me was growing at a phenomenal pace.

    ¡®If I didn¡¯t train for over a hundred years back then¡­ I would have been left behind.¡¯ Once again, I was grateful to The Hermit Arcana.

    My talent,pared to others, was very small. Not only that, but I also had many fields to cover.

    My goal was not to be simply focused on one area.

    Magic. Martial Arts. Alchemy. Engineering. Knowledge. Anti-Magic.

    I needed to diversify as much as I could to see a clearer picture.

    If I didn¡¯t have enough time, it was possible that I would not be able to attain a level of mastery in any area.

    ¡®Good thing I did!¡¯

    In any case, it was finally time to wrap up the nuisance of Zenkiel¡¯s strategy.

    ¡®Let¡¯s get this over with, shall we?¡¯

 Chapter 420 Two-Pronged Attack

    ¡°As you all know, Demons have begun invading your territory.¡±

    In the conference room where I was seated with my allies¡ªHumans, and Elves¡ªI addressed the pertinent issue facing us all.

    ¡°It¡¯s an attack on two fronts. They only have one goal¡­¡±

    Aurora and the important Elves on her end, as well as myrades, looked at me as I spoke.

    ¡°¡­ To measure our capabilities.¡±

    Zenkiel, the Commander-In-Chief of the Demon Forces needed more information on the military might of the Elves and Humans before going any further in his ns to crush both ends.

    ¡°So? What should we do? I propose that we hide our strong cards and deal moderately with them.¡± Aurora spoke with caution.

    Even though she was the Queen, her experience in Military matters was limited.

    As a result, she needed the consent of those more experienced to make a proper decision.

    ¡°I agree with the Queen. If we act that way, the Demons could underestimate us, allowing us to win in the long run.¡± ra¡ªthe Elf General¡ªnodded in response.

    Freya and her brothers also supported the idea. The Elf King, after seeing everyone agree, had no choice but to also respond the same way.

    ¡°What do you think, Jared?¡± Aurora turned in my direction.

    Of course, they would seek my opinion. At this point, I had be an indispensable ally to the Elf Kingdom.

    ¡°I am not in agreement.¡±

    Surprised gasps and stares were directed at me, but I calmly focused my gaze on the Elf Queen.

    ¡°Why is that?¡±

    ¡°Firstly, your points are valid. It would indeed be much wiser to hide our true strength when subduing the Demons. Based on the surveince of my Automatons, there are only a thousand Demon Beasts each¡ªled by a Demon General.¡±

    It was a size that we would handle without going all-out. If we indeed followed the Queen¡¯s n, there would be no real casualty. It would simply take longer.

    ¡°T-then¡ª¡±

    ¡°But, that¡¯s only when you look at things on the surface.¡± I interrupted ra before she got a word in.

    ¡°Causing our opponents to underestimate us could work, but only that only depends on the type of enemy that¡¯s leading the Demon Forces.¡±

    Everyone now watched me in silence and surrender, ready to listen to my rationale.

    ¡°If it were me leading the Demon Forces, it¡¯ll be easy to see through your ruse. We don¡¯t know the level of intelligence the Commander of their Forces possesses, so it could be dangerous if we attempt to influence their decision by putting on a show.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t tell them that I knew Zenkiel, and that he wasn¡¯t the type to underestimate his enemies.

    ¡°So, what do you propose we do?¡±

    A smile formed on my face as I heard that question.

    ¡°It¡¯s simple. We do the opposite of what anyone would expect. We hit them, and we do it very hard.¡±

    By easily subduing the enemy forces, even Zenkiel would be forced to admit how powerful we were.

    Usually, people with limited strength tried their hardest to hide it so the enemy underestimated them. If we used the Queen¡¯s logic, Zenkiel would still be able to gauge our capabilities to an extent.

    However, there existed a special kind of people who didn¡¯t bother hiding their abilities. They were too strong to care.

    That was the image I wanted to portray to the Demons.

    The Eastern Kingdom had executed things on their end perfectly. Now, it was the turn of the Elves.

    ¡°We¡¯ll devastate their armies with so much firepower that not even a speck of them will be found.¡±

    By exhibiting even more power than necessary, Zenkiel would have no choice but to overestimate our capabilities.

    A simultaneous defeat on both ends¡ªand the loss of precious subordinates¡ªwould be enough to steer the Demon Lord to the path I desired.

    Once pushed to the wall, a creature¡¯s instinct to survive goes into overdrive. They would do just about anything to survive.

    ¡®That¡¯s what I¡¯m after!¡¯

    ¡°B-but, if we do that, won¡¯t they strike us with full force next time?¡± Aurora¡¯s gaze was full of concern.

    Her anxiety was understandable, but unnecessary.

    ¡°Indeed. They will strike as hard as possible in their next attack. However, having to deal with both sides with unbridled force will be hard¡ªeven for the Demon Forces.¡±

    They had limited personnel and resources, after all.

    ¡°In order not to be spread too thin, they¡¯ll focus their forces on one continent, crushing us with their sheer force one after the other.¡±

    The Elves looked even more worried, but my smile simply stretched further.

    From the corner of my eye, I observed Damien Lawcroft. He was actively paying attention to my every word.

    ¡°Since the Elves will be considered greater threats, I¡¯m certain they¡¯ll strike yournd first. Afterpletely destroying the Elf Kingdom, the Demons will focus their attacks on the Humans.¡±

    ¡°What? T-then why would you even think of instigating such a¡ª¡±

    ¡°While it¡¯s true that your people won¡¯t be able to bear the full brunt of the Demon¡¯s forces, I assure you that there¡¯s no need to worry. That¡¯s why our Kingdoms are allies.¡±

    ¡°A-ah, I see. So our forces willbine and face off against the Demons?¡±

    ¡°Exactly so.¡±

    It was the most certain way to rid ourselves of a chunk of the Demon Forces. Why wouldn¡¯t I take the chance?

    ¡°I see. Then, we will go along with your n.¡± Aurora smiled at me.

    Everyone else in the room agreed, causing me to bow my head in gratitude.

    ¡°Now that we¡¯ve settled that, it¡¯s time to split our forces and devastate the Demons.¡±

    *************************

    For the Northern Border, I decided to let Serah go¡ªalongside the other members of my team.

    ra and her forces would also be supporting them, though I didn¡¯t really see how they would need so many to subdue a mere thousand Demon Beasts.

    Still, I transported them there with my Magic, wishing them the best¡ªnot that they needed it or anything.

    As for me, I was heading to the Western Border alongside Freya¡­ and someone else.

    ¡°Are you ready?¡± I asked the girl beside me.

    Her ck and white hair fluttered with the wind as she nodded clinging to my side.

    ¡°Alright, Lemi. Don¡¯t leave me for even a single moment.¡± I smiled at the Half-Elf.

    I could sense a chilly stare from Freya, but I decided tough it off.

    ¡®I¡¯m just a father taking my daughter on a field trip. Is that so bad?¡¯

    Freya decided to stick close to me too, causing me to get sandwiched between the two girls.

    Well, this was perfect anyway. After all, I needed to use Teleportation Magic to transport myself and the girls to our destination.

    ¡°Alright. Here we go!¡±

 Chapter 421 Hugo

    >SHWUUUUUSHHH<

    In the blink of an eye, we teleported away from where we were at the Elf Capital.

    Space warped and our distance with the Western Border closed in a sh.

    Appearing out of the distortion in the air, I looked at both sides to observe the reaction of the Elven beauties.

    ¡°W-whoahhh¡­ it feels so amazing! Do it again!¡± That was, of course, Lemi¡¯s response to the wonderful effects of Space Magic.

    I felt a warmth permeate my heart.

    ¡®Is this what fathers feel when they show their kids something cool? I¡¯m so happy right now!¡¯ My warm smile didn¡¯t cease as I watched Lemi¡¯s cute face.

    The fact that she was clueless about my love was a bit hurtful, but her obliviousness had its cute side.

    ¡°Ahh, I just can¡¯t get used to this,¡± Freya murmured, looking around her.

    She seemed to be in an awfully terrible mood. While I understood that she felt threatened by Lemi¡¯s presence, or was probably jealous of the way I was focusing on her cousin, there was nothing I could do about it.

    Freya liked me, but I didn¡¯t feel the same¡ªor rather, I couldn¡¯t.

    From my experience with women, they tended not to take a sincere ¡®No, I¡¯m not interested¡¯ well.

    If I rejected her now, the results would be unpredictable¡ªbut definitely devastating. Since I still needed to be on good terms with the Elves, and Freya was a very important member of her race, I couldn¡¯t exactly push her away now.

    At the same time, I was also intent on giving any sign that I was interested. Hopefully, she would get the hint and lose interest in me quickly.

    ¡°Whoah¡­ i-is that them? They¡¯re a lot!¡± Lemi eximed, looking at thendscape beyond us.

    We were currently levitating, a good distance from the ground, and marching steadily in our direction were our enemies.

    I could see the earth tremble, and a terrible chill filled the air.

    Waves of Miasma ascended the skies, causing it to appear dark and stormy.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You guys are safe with me.¡± I pulled both girls closer.

    ¡°Eeeep!¡± Squeaky sounds leaked out of both of them, but it was probably from fear.

    ¡®As long as I¡¯m here, nothing will happen to them.¡¯ I smiled, somewhat finding it cute that my daughter was shaking in my arms.

    As for Freya, it wouldn¡¯t be good to neglect her.

    The trauma she experienced with the Demon Beasts when I first met her seemed to be manifesting as she was also shaking while in my grasp.

    She seemed to be mumbling some things, but it was probably to calm herself.

    ¡®It¡¯ll be inconvenient fighting with them by my side. So, why don¡¯t I just do this instead¡­¡¯

    Instantly, arge Magic Circle appeared on the ground directly underneath me, and I summoned something from my special storage space.

    ¡°Look closely, Lemi. You too, Freya. I¡¯ll show you guys what a Golem is useful for.¡±

    After practicing many things, there was one field of Magic that I took special care not to neglect.

    Construct Magic.

    I used it to create various models of Golems and Automatons.

    While I was fond of using Automatons quite often¡ªand even seeded in creating a masterpiece¡ªGolems were pretty fun too.

    Since I was the one giving themmands and controlling them remotely, it almost felt like a game.

    And so, before I realized it, I ended up making the Ultimate Golem.

    ¡°W-whoah! What¡¯s that thing? It¡¯s easily sixty meters high!¡±

    ¡°A-amazing!¡±

    Yes, it was very massive.

    ¡°Hugo. Activate.¡±

    Instantly, the hulking being that appeared from the Magic Circle whirred to life.

    It was colored ck and white¡ªhaving a  smooth bodily structure.

    I used only the best of minerals and ores to construct this Golem, so it had a wless body.

    Having a giant humanoid figure, a de strapped to its back, two sters locked on both hips, and several other gears located inward and outward, it was the perfect machine.

    This Golem stood at the pinnacle of Magic Engineering.

    That was Hugo for you¡ªthe ultimate Golem.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡± I tightly grabbed both girls and made my way toward the open contraption in the massive Golem¡¯s head.

    ¡°W-what?!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re inside the thing?¡±

    Both Elves shrieked in surprise, looking at the foreign area with both surprise and amazement.

    ¡°You guys should sit anywhere.¡± I smiled, loosening my grip on them.

    The control room in Hugo¡¯s head was simr to a mini house

    Having several ores inside to serve as sources of illumination, there was even a rxation center in the form of a lounge

    However, that wasn¡¯t the main spot.

    I walked ahead of the girls, and they followed after me almost as soon as I ventured forward.

    After passing through a small corridor, we arrived at the Command Center.

    There was a total of five chairs present, but two were located at the forefront.

    Before us was a screen that disyed everything that went on outside through the highly powered lens of my Golem.

    It could zoom in, zoom out, focus, target, home in, and do several other things.

    ¡®I really went all out with this thing.¡¯ I gave myself a secret thumbs up.

    I sat on the chair at the center, and both girls chose the seats that were closest to me.

    We were automatically strapped in as we sat. The belts were sturdy andfortable, so it wasn¡¯t a bother.

    ¡°Huu¡­ disy controls,¡± I said, and suddenly, a board full of tons of buttons and levers popped from underneath.

    The table was amand board that controlled the Golem from within.

    ¡®I can control Hugo without this. I don¡¯t even need to be in this room to do that¡­¡¯

    But, the reason I still chose this method was simple.

    ¡°Lemi. Freya. Want to have some fun?¡±

    I was with guests, after all.

    With these buttons, one could make Hugo do whatever they desired, but I didn¡¯t n on taking all the fun for myself.

    Both girls easily caught my drift and nodded energetically. It pleased me that they were also in the mood.

    From the screen, I spotted the bbergasted army of the Demons. Compared to Hugo, they looked awfully small.

    Their expressions also showed the kind of despair I liked the most.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ what shall we try first?¡±

 Chapter 422 A Generals Worry

    A wide array of choices were disyed before us.

    Buttons of various colors, signifying different functions were waiting to be used.

    I looked at the two girls, eager and waiting for me to tell them when and how to start.

    ¡°Okay, I guess I¡¯ll run you through what to do.¡±

    I nced and spotted the Demon General who was still staring at my huge Golem with shock and fright written on his face.

    He hade too far to back down at this point, and even if he did, there would only be a harsh consequence for failure.

    Death would be merciful inparison.

    ¡°Well, why don¡¯t I teach you the basics.¡± Seeing that my opponent couldn¡¯t run anywhere, I could take my time to tutor the girls a little on how to control such a sophisticated construct.

    ¡°This could take a while.¡±

    *************************

    How long had he been standing there? Darik had no idea.

    He was too busy shaking in his boots to count the moments he spent in fear and anxiety.

    Having a rather stout and muscr figure, Darik resembled a turtle with quite a shell and scaly appendages.

    Rather than bby arms, though, he had rather muscr ones.

    His shell also had spikes sticking out, and his green-colored skin was one of the hardest of this race.

    Despite being a powerful member of the Demon Society¡ªas well as the leader of the thousand Demon Beasts behind him¡ªDarik couldn¡¯t make a single move.

    The Demon General¡¯s gaze had been on one single location for longer than he could count¡ªthe massive Golem that was in front of him.

    ¡®J-just what is that¡­?¡¯

    Darik, unlike his colleagues among the Nine Stars, knew how weak he was.

    He was well aware of his limits in the Demon Society, and he had no intention of changing his position in the status quo.

    He was neither too strong nor too weak.

    He had managed to w his way to the rank of Demon General and had no intention of going further than that.

    For him, his rank was just a necessary measure for survival.

    Respect was awarded to the strong in his society, and since he had achieved quite a high position, he was guaranteed a good life.

    Perhaps that was why he cked off most of the time.

    ¡®I don¡¯t need anything more than this.¡¯ That was his philosophy.

    Even when they were to be deployed to invade enemynd, he had been sent to the weakest location¡ªthe Western Border of the Elf Kingdom.

    Darik had been pleased beyond words¡ªhappy to simply ck off and execute his duties with as minimal effort as possible.

    That was what he was expecting.

    ¡°B-but, what the hell is this¡­?¡± The rat-like Demon squeaked in the presence of a true giant.

    After locking gazes with the massive Golem for so long, locked in a standstill, Darik finally decided on the next course of action.

    ¡®Maybe¡­ maybe we should advance¡­?¡¯

    As he thought this, the Golem whirred to life, causing his entire body to jump in shock.

    ¡°Hiyeeeee!!!¡±

    The Golem¡¯s left leg moved, raised higher than Darok could see beyond. It seemed like the ray of the sun was blocked by that single leg raise.

    Then, a thought popped into his mind as he marveled at the 60-meter plus Golem.

    ¡®S-shit¡­ it¡¯s gonna crush us?!¡¯

    If the monstrosity before him so wished, it could crush quite a number of Demon Beasts with a single stomp.

    However¡ª

    >BOOOM<

    ¡ªIt seemed Darik¡¯s worries were for nothing.

    The left leg returned to the ground, causing the earth to shake for a bit.

    Then¡ª

    ¡°Hiyeeeee!!!¡±

    ¡ªThe right leg moved this time.

    ¡°¡­ Eh¡­?¡±

    After a few seconds, the right leg returned to its previous position.

    The next movement of the Golem was the right hand. Then, the left hand. Afterward, the head turned left and right.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯

    Repeating the process, the frightening Golem did the same thing as before.

    ¡®It¡¯s not going to attack?¡¯ Darik was now utterly confused.

    If the massive construct had made a predictable move, then perhaps he would have been able to respond ordingly. But, the movements he was seeing currently were too haphazard and abrupt.

    In all honesty, Darik thought the sight reminded him of how a child learned how to walk or move their body.

    It was that pathetic and bizarre.

    ¡®C-could it be¡­?!¡¯ Suddenly, a thought manifested in his turtle-like head.

    Could it be that the Golem was malfunctioning? Yes, that had to be the case.

    There was no way an enemy with such a weapon of mass destruction would be doing stretches for so long.

    ¡®T-then, that means this stuff is only supposed to scare us away. Yes! That has to be it!¡¯ Once he figured out the ns of the enemy, Darik regained his confidence in a heartbeat.

    His charisma returned, and his sunken face popped back up in resolve.

    He now had the appearance of a proper Demon General.

    ¡°My soldiers, keep marchi¡ª¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    An explosion erupted from behind him, decimating a huge chunk of the sea the Demons had traversed to arrive at thend of the Elves.

    Waters parted and formed a massive void at the center.

    Thick clouds ascended and a seething hiss of the devastated body of water spread.

    The tremor of the st was enough to once again petrify Darik.

    ¡®S-such firepower!¡¯

    The Golem had targeted the sea behind him, threatening Darik and his army about what would be of them if they made a single move.

    It was possible that they just missed, but there was no way an opponent as powerful as the one he was facing could be so careless.

    ¡®Would I be able to survive such a st?¡¯ Darik wasn¡¯t so sure.

    It was a 50/50 chance, but wasn¡¯t the type to take risks.

    ¡®Ngh¡­ what should I do?¡¯

    The Demon Beasts behind him would mindlessly obey hismands, so he could simply send a few of them to test the waters.

    ¡®But, I don¡¯t want to provoke it¡­¡¯ Stuck in this endless loop of deliberation, Darik finally got to the end of the tunnel.

    And so, he made his choice.

 Chapter 423 Mission Failed Successfully

    ¡®We¡¯re at war. They probably won¡¯t spare me, anyway.¡¯

    The end of the tunnel was very bleak.

    ¡®I should just give it my all and try to survive.¡¯ That was the only way Darik could escape this situation.

    For the first time in his life, he would be giving it everything he had.

    ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll be able to ovee this situation¡­¡¯

    It is said that an individual is capable of bringing out an immense amount of power when confronted with an impossible situation.

    This power surpassed their usual limits, and for a moment, they unlock an even greater ability¡ªallowing them to surpass their normal capabilities.

    Darik had previously considered that as nothing but a load of crap.

    But now, he believed in that concept with every ounce of his body. No, he had no choice but to do just that.

    ¡®I can bring out more power than I think¡­¡¯ Delving further into his delusions, the Demon General stared at the Golem which was at a current standstill for some reason.

    Now was his chance.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it! Right here and now, I¡¯ll push myself beyond anything I¡¯ve ever done.¡±

    The Demon Beasts with him were nothing more than fodder.

    If he utilized his Original Magic and condensed his defensive Magic to its very peak, then he would definitely be able to break through the Golem¡¯s defenses¡ªfurther allowing him to destroy its Core.

    Without a Core, a Golem was useless!

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got this!¡± He growled, knowing that any failure on his part would be devastating beyond repair.

    >VWUUUUUMMMMM<

    Miasma coursed through his body, condensing beyond anything he had ever tried before.

    Before long, his body became an intense Miasma Generator.

    The spikes on Darik¡¯s body grew beyond its regr size and his size increased as well. As though his bulging muscles weren¡¯trge enough, they further swelled in size.

    The greater the Miasma intensity, the more powerful he got.

    It was a simple, yet highly effective Magic Ability he possessed.

    Still, he had never focused his Miasma this much before.

    It felt somewhat exhrating¡ªbreaking through the normal bounds he had grownfortable in.

    ¡®I can still do it! Faster. Stronger. Deeper. I can concentrate the Miasma more!¡¯

    Realizing he had far more room for growth than he expected, the Demon General grinned as his power kept rising beyond his expectations.

    As a stroke of luck, the Golem was still motionless, so he had time to keep pushing himself.

    ¡°More! More!! More!!!¡±

    Yes, right there and then, Darik had only one thought coursing through his mind.

    ¡°I will¡­ surpass my¡­ limi¡ª¡±

    A missile descended upon him and his immediate surroundings with lightning speed, faster than his thoughts could process¡ªmuch less his lips couldplete the sentence he was about to make.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Instantly, everything around Darik was enveloped in white light, breaking down the surroundings into nothing but specks of dust.

    The eruption vaporized everyone and anything in its path.

    The Demon Beasts vanished within the brilliant dome of white light, disappearing into nothingness.

    And, unfortunately for the Demon General, he soon followed.

    Without being able to utter his final statement or bring it to actualization, Darik waspletely immersed in the white light that baptized everything in its destruction.

    The entire Demon Forces were obliterated in an instant.

    Just like that, the battle was over.

    ***************************

    ¡°Why did you press that button? Come on, it¡¯s the Nuke function!¡±

    At this point, I was losing my patience with these girls.

    I had nned on taking things slow by teaching them the basics of movement and stuff, and initially, things were working out splendidly.

    But¡­ Lemi just to be impulsive and activate a missile on her own.

    She saw a blinking red light and pressed it¡ªrookie mistake.

    The sea roared as it absorbed the st, so I forgave her for her indiscretions.

    Even though she was 400 Years, and wasn¡¯t supposed to be making such mistakes, I let it go.

    I even halted the Golem and decided to teach them the basics again.

    The goal was for us to have fun by toying with the Demon Forces that made the mistake of invading the Elf Kingdom.

    But that all went to smoke when Freya mistook another button¡¯s function for whatever and nuked our opponents.

    She basically ruined the game.

    ¡®What was the point of everything?¡¯ I murmured, finally realizing how much of a handful these Elves were.

    ¡°This is what happens when you let kids use adult toys¡­¡± I made the mistake of leaking out my thoughts.

    For a moment, everyone froze. Yep, even I realized it after saying it.

    ¡®Something about my statement didn¡¯t sound right¡­¡¯

    Unfortunately, before I could find out what it was, both Elves burst out in protest.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a kid!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m way older than you, show some respect!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not even an adult yet!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a bad teacher!¡±

    I learned two horrible lessons at that moment.

    One was to never refer to Elves as children. And I mean, never!

    The second was even more profound. It was a revtion that I would forever remember.

    ¡°We can evenctate already!¡±

    ¡°Yeah! Don¡¯t look down on us cus we look young, you know!¡±

    Yep, that was something I never learned from Emilia in my past life.

    Though the information was unnecessary¡­ I did appreciate new knowledge.

    ¡°Want to see?¡±

    Practical experience was more valuable as well. But¡ª

    ¡°¡­¡±

    ¡ªWatching two Elves bring out milk from their chests while watching a devastatedndscape within my sacred Golem just didn¡¯t seem right.

    ¡°I think¡­ I¡¯ll pass.¡±

    In the end, timing was everything.

    As regrettable as it was, there was no way I could indulge in research at such a point in time.

    ¡®It¡¯s a shame, though¡­¡¯

    After a brief moment of ufortable silence, I decided to take the most reasonable approach.

    There was still time to spare, and it wouldn¡¯t be nice to end things now that I summoned this big boy.

    ¡°Well, should we have another round?¡±

    Both Elves were surprised by my proposal, but quickly jumped at the opportunity and responded positively.

    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll give you both one final chance. Let¡¯s take it from the top.¡±

    ¡®Hopefully, nothing gets nuked this time¡­¡¯

 Chapter 424 Zenkiels Defeat

    After a somewhat enjoyable experience with the two Elves, we finally returned to the Elf Capital.

    As expected, thendscape didn¡¯t seem to take too well to our little experiments. Fortunately, I was able to somehow reverse the effects with my Original Magic¡ªthough it cost an ample sum of Mana.

    When I was done, I returned Hugo to my storage space and teleported myself and the girls to the Pce.

    Once I dropped them off, I also had to fetch the other group. They were also done with their end by the time I arrived.

    ording to the murmurs all around me, it seemed only Serah was enough to decimate all of them.

    However, as I instructed, everyone at least participated in the battle and they achieved an overwhelming victory.

    I was pleased to hear that.

    ¡°Now, then¡­ shall we return?¡±

    **************************

    Once again, the important leaders gathered in a conference hall and discuss matters pertaining to the just concluded strike.

    My eyes observed everyone around, and I smiled slightly when it reached a particr someone.

    ¡®So, he went and did it, eh?¡¯

    I was d that certain people were predictable in their actions.

    Usually, when a person discovers an enemy among allies, the most logical course is to flush them out.

    But, I would rather manipte said mole to perform certain actions that would prove beneficial to me.

    ¡®Damien Lawcroft is performing his role well.¡¯ I smiled, turning my gaze to others as we began our conference.

    The main topic was what we were going to do from henceforth.

    ¡°Do not worry. There¡¯s going to be quite a bit of time before the Demons are able to invade us. I estimate another week or more.¡±

    Even though it was plenty of time for me, the Elves seemed shocked by the short span they had to work with.

    For a Race that wasn¡¯t geared toward violence and wars, it was a hard pill to swallow.

    ¡°Do not worry, though. Within this short while, I also intend to be hard at work.¡±

    It was finally time to publicly announce to the Elves¡ªas well as seek their aid¡ªabout my ns going forward.

    ¡°I wish to bring the other Races into this Alliance¡ªjust as in the past.¡±

    Aurora was silent for a while, lowering her head a bit, as though considering the matter.

    ¡°Hmm. I see what you¡¯re getting at. It would indeed be easier if we have more Allies.¡±

    I was d Aurora was on the same page as I was.

    ¡°We should start with the Fairies, and then make our way to the Therianthropes.¡± I also further exined that Dwarves would best.

    Afterying out my rationale, the Elf Queen nodded in agreement.

    At this point, we needed all the help we could get. Besides, Aurora must have found out that it was useless to argue against anything I said.

    It was my efforts that brought us this far, and almost everyone in the room trusted me enough already.

    ¡°Well, then, we should begin preparations to travel to the Fairy Kingdom.¡±

    After all, time was of the essence.

    But, even as I spoke to my allies, the image of our enemies entered my mind¡ªespecially the one whom I just bested in a game of wits.

    ¡®It would be nice for me to see your facial reaction right now¡­ Zenkiel.¡¯

    *********************

    ¡°DAMMMNIIIT!!!¡± The Demon Lord growled as he cursed.

    As Commander-In-Chief, he was meant to showposure at all times, but the seething emotions within him couldn¡¯t allow him to contain his dissatisfaction.

    ¡®I observed all the battles, and¡­ what the hell is this??!¡¯ Zenkiel was fraught with inexplicable feelings.

    Anger. Frustration. Confusion. Worry. And most especially¡­ FEAR!

    ¡°Shit. I just expended four thousand Demon Beasts¡­ and what did I gain?¡±

    The truth was that Zenkiel wasn¡¯t exactly interested in the survival of the troops he sent.

    By observing them with Magic, he would be able to obtain whatever information he desired from their advancement. His goal was simple¡ªmeasuring the capabilities of the other Races.

    But, after seeing the way they had all perished, Zenkiel had a single thought.

    ¡®They¡¯re too strong!¡¯

    For the Eastern Kingdom, merely a few individuals could handle his Demon Generals and Demon Beasts.

    He had to work with the assumption that they weren¡¯t the only ones capable of such feats.

    The Elf Kingdom incidents were even worse.

    ¡®Just what was that Golem?¡¯ Zenkiel murmured, worried by how much firepower it packed.

    He was a Demon Lord, so that level of destruction wouldn¡¯t kill him. Still, he wasn¡¯t sure abouting out unscathed.

    Those who were controlling the Golem didn¡¯t even seem to take the probes as threats.

    Even after the Demon Beasts and his General were killed, the Golem kept practicing various things.

    It was as though his army had only served as fodder for them.

    Things weren¡¯t better at their Northern Border too.

    Sure, he expected more resistance since it was the most fortified stronghold of the Elves. However, Zenkiel never expected the resistance to be so great.

    With only a few individuals spamming Spells of Mass Destruction, the entire area was ttened in no time.

    It was inconceivable, but reality made the Demon Lord realize just how formidable his enemies were.

    The worst part of everything was that his army was only able to advance a small distance from their starting point. They were destroyed before going any further.

    ¡®Damnit!¡¯ At this point, he could call his probe venture a failure.

    He couldn¡¯t estimate the strength of the enemies¡ªwhich was the whole point of the four-pronged assault.

    Not only did he not catch them off-guard, but not even a single casualty came from the enemy side.

    ¡°What do I tell His Majesty, the Demon King?¡±

    The loss of some fodder was inconsequential, but Zenkiel had used up 4,000 of them. Even if there were plenty more Demon Beasts in stock¡ªeven more powerful than the ones he utilized, it was still a fact that he had just wasted a good number of pawns.

    ¡®And yet, I failed miserably¡­¡¯

    Zenkiel did learn a thing or two from the whole incident, though.

    ¡°The Humans have allied with the Elves, after all.¡±

    Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t all.

 Chapter 425 To The Land Of Fairies [Pt 1]

    ¡®There¡¯s someone brilliant among them. He saw through my ns.¡¯

    Zenkiel was now certain of it.

    Even though they had done their best to ensure the Humans and Elves were too upied with their simultaneous problems, so they didn¡¯t form an Alliance, that objective was thwarted.

    That was when things started spiraling downhill.

    After the Western Border of the Humans, and the Eastern Border of the Elves werepletely purged of their Demon Beasts, the two Races must have made contact.

    Still, Zenkiel had wanted to believe it was all coincidence.

    After the recently failed probe, though, he received his answer.

    ¡°They have a brilliant strategist. He saw through those attacks, didn¡¯t he? The problem is how exactly he was able to predict my moves?¡±

    Zenkiel hadn¡¯t also been expecting Teleportation Magic to be at work. That meant the Elves had advanced in Magic more than he previously surmised.

    ¡®King Abellion is right. If we leave these people for much longer¡­ our very existence is threatened.¡¯

    Zenkiel¡¯s major concern was the strategist of the Enemy Forces. If only he could find out what was going on on his end, he would be able to n ordingly.

    ¡®How will that be possible, though¡­¡¯

    ¡°Cmander!¡± Zenkiel¡¯s subordinate swiftly entered the tent where he was all alone in, bowing instantly.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Lakyus?¡± He asked.

    Despite the Demon¡¯s submissive personality to him, he was still a member of the Nine Stars.

    He resembled a Dragon, having a scar on his face, and several ck tattoos to match his green scales.

    The darkness in his eyes, as well as the immense Miasma swirling within him, attested to his strength.

    This Demon General¡ªLakyus¡ªwas the most powerful within Zenkiel¡¯s Nine Stars.

    ¡°W-well, a human is here¡­ in the War Camp.¡±

    ¡°E-eh¡­?¡±

    Zenkiel was surprised beyond measure. What was a human doing here?

    They were currently stationed at the border of the Northern Continent¡ªstationed closer to the Elf territory than the Human one.

    It was madness to assume that a single one had managed to cross over¡ªand even appeared amid the encampment of the Demon Forces.

    ¡°He says he¡¯s not an enemy¡ªthat he is well acquainted with Legris Damien.¡±

    Zenkiel knew Legris Damien, the human. He was a human who aided the Demons.

    If not for the support of his organization, then perhaps their ns for war would have been postponed by another few years¡ªmaybe more.

    But, it wasn¡¯t like they operated on charity. In exchange for the help the organization rendered, the Demons had to give a huge chunk of the Miasma harvested from their generator.

    It was a give-and-take rtionship.

    ¡°The human also says he¡¯s with ¡®the organization.¡¯ He says you¡¯ll understand.¡±

    ¡®So, he¡¯s with them, eh?¡¯ The very fact that the human was aware of the connection between the Demons and those people meant he was indeed in the loop.

    The question was how deeply acquainted he was.

    ¡°Did you restrain him?¡± Zenkiel asked, looking at Lakyus.

    ¡°N-no. Much to my shame, that human is stronger than I am. None of the Generals also stand a chance. We could definitely defeat him if we teamed up and brought him down with our numbers, but¡­¡±

    ¡°No. There¡¯s no need to go that far.¡±

    Zenkiel decided to trust in the man¡¯s words. Besides, if it was true that an emissary wasing had indeede from the organization, then it would be rude to treat him in such a manner.

    ¡°Did he give you his name?¡±

    Other than the human called Legris Damien, Zenkiel also knew one other member of the Organization called Kido.

    ¡°He calls himself Damien Lawcroft¡ª10th Seat of the Organization.¡±

    ¡°I see¡­¡± Zenkiel did not need to ponder on his next course of action.

    If a member came personally, that meant that it was something important.

    Legris Damien had been unavable for some time now, so this one was probably sent as a recement.

    ¡®They should inform us of these things first, though¡­¡¯ Zenkiel sighed a bit, remembering how abrupt the change between Kido and Legris had been.

    ¡°Take him to a reception area. I¡¯ll be with you shortly.¡±

    Lakyus bowed upon hearing the words of his superior, and the skittered off to carry out themand.

    ¡°Huu. Very well then. I might as well see what this is all about.¡±

    At the very least, perhaps it would serve as a distraction from the dread that was assailing him.

    ¡®The next Grand Demon Assembly is tomorrow¡­¡¯

    All the other Demon Lords would be there¡ªin the presence of King Abellion himself.

    Zenkiel gulped after considering his failure. The other Demon Lords would probably take this chance to usurp his position.

    They wererades, but that didn¡¯t mean the others wouldn¡¯t seize turn on him if given the chance.

    Everyone only had unadulterated loyalty toward their King.

    ¡®¡­ Let¡¯s hope I can get some good results before then.¡¯

    With that fleeting thought, Zenkiel decided to leave his tent and see the man who came to visit him.

    He could only wonder why.

    *********************

    ¡°Alright. Looks like everyone is set.¡±

    It was the following morning, and our little group of diplomats was prepared to begin our journey to the Fairy Kingdom.

    Of course, we wouldn¡¯t be venturing there with our Envoy team alone.

    ¡°We don¡¯t want to keep our other members waiting.¡±

    The people before me nodded with resolve and excitement.

    Serah Crimson

    Bradford Levyfield.

    Maria Helmsworth

    Damien Lawcroft

    Fabian Indiavel

    Counting myself, that made us a group of six. Ivan Smith wouldn¡¯t be following us on this mission.

    The reason came as a surprise to me too.

    ¡°Jared¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be going for the Fairy Expedition!¡± He had told me yesterday, just after we concluded the conference.

    ¡°Hm? Why?¡± My response contained hints of surprise.

    I was sure Ivan had been feeling inadequate in many ways after seeing so many crazy things. Still, I didn¡¯t expect him to simply give up on exploring the world and finding ways to improve.

    For a moment, I was nearly disappointed.

    ¡°I-I want to remain here.¡± He finally blurted out.

    And then, Ivan told me his reason.

 Chapter 426 To The Land Of Fairies [Pt 2]

    ¡°I-I want to remain here.¡± He finally blurted out.

    More surprise came over me, wondering if the Elven beauties finally got to my thick-skulled friend.

    But, after Ivan told me his reason, I realized I was the unserious one.

    Apparently, ra¡ªGeneral of the Elf Kingdom Forces¡ªhad a Bond Magic Beast who belonged to the same kind of ¡®Principality¡¯ ss as Ivan¡¯s Familiar.

    The General had noticed this when she saw him fight in theirbined assault and pointed it out.

    And so, the ra offered to help him in his quest to grow stronger.

    ¡°I want to take her up on her offer. I know I¡¯m being selfish and impudent, but¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Ivan. You¡¯ve finally found an opportunity for growth, right?¡±

    How could I, in good conscience, stand in the way of that?

    ¡°Y-yeah¡­¡± He had replied me, still feeling slightly guilty for his pursuit of power.

    It was unnecessary¡ªthough I was d that he thought his role as an Envoy was also important.

    ¡®He¡¯s a loyalrade.¡¯

    ¡°Do what you must, Ivan. But know this¡­ you must be stronger than ever when next we meet. That¡¯s the penance you must pay for ditching us.¡± My lips curved to form a smile.

    Ivan got emotional easily¡ªwas what I noticed yesterday.

    ¡°Yes! I promise to get much much stronger!¡±

    Since that was what he wanted, I allowed it.

    As a result, out group was one member short. But, I wasn¡¯t overly concerned anyway.

    Ivan¡¯s role in the group was practically vague. It was good that he found what he wanted to do amid everything.

    Besides, we were going to be getting two new members for our Expedition.

    Yep, as expected, it was Freya and Lemi.

    ¡®I want Lemi toe with me so I can teach her more about her new abilities, but what about Freya?¡¯

    As Princess, her presence was necessary¡ªor so she said.

    ¡°It¡¯s rude to wish to visit Fairy Royalty without Royalty on our end.¡± The Elf Princess added.

    What she said was a load of crap, considering the Fairies didn¡¯t care about that in the slightest.

    ¡®Let¡¯s not drag this matter on¡­¡¯ I finally conceded to her mour.

    Either way, her participation was unavoidable. As a result, our group of six increased to eight.

    ¡°Welp, let¡¯s get going, shall we?¡±

    *************************

    The journey didn¡¯t take up to five seconds, thanks to my Teleportation Magic.

    Thanks to my Automatons, who had practically surveilled the entire Western Continent at this point, I was able to easily locate and transport myrades to the borders of the Elf Kingdom in the South.

    What blocked out path was a massive wall of trees.

    Therge sea of green shrubs, undergrowth, and plump trunks made it seem like an imprable fortress.

    A closer inspection of the trees also made it appear as though they were alive.

    ¡®Creepy¡­¡¯

    Still, I was d nothing had changed from my memories.

    ¡°What now?¡± A voice came from beside me.

    My skin nearly jumped because I could sense the amount energying from the one who spoke.

    ¡°It¡¯s in the way. Should I just tear it down?¡±

    ¡®Heck no! Are you crazy?¡¯ I thought, but didn¡¯t dare to say.

    Serah Crimson was a fearsome woman, so I had to use the best choice of words when dealing with her.

    Especially after observing her fight with Aurora.

    ¡®Why are women such a handful?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here.¡± Freya smiled, stepping away from our group.

    Her steps were light and gentle, and she moved in the direction of the thick forest walls.

    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Called out Serah.

    She looked perplexed by the Elf¡¯s sudden action.

    I smiled slightly, looking at the expression of the others with me.

    Bradford was still recoiling from the fact that his closest confidant¡ªIvan¡ªwas noting with us. As for Fabian and Damien, they were uncharacteristically silent.

    After being relieved of his position as leader, Fabian had be nothing more than an extra.

    As for Damien, well¡­ his case was a little more interesting.

    Maria looked the same, though she smiled asionally when we locked eyes. I returned her smile too.

    ¡®We¡¯ve been talking a lot more, after that night¡­¡¯

    I realized Maria was more interesting than she appeared, which made me want to talk to her more.

    ¡®After this whole thing, we should host a get-together and have an extensive talk.¡¯

    Yeah, that would be for the best!

    In any case, other than Freya, it seemed only Lemi and I knew what was going on right now.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to request an audience.¡± The Elf Princess responded to Serah¡¯s earlier question.

    The barrier before us was no ordinary cluster of trees.

    It was actually made using Magic Technology. Unlike the Elves, Fairies were not averse to Magic Innovations. In fact, they embraced it.

    Evidence of this was how we were able to convince the Fairy King in the past thanks to the innovations I offered in exchange for assistance.

    For a Fairy like Jane Urs to have existed, it meant their society weed Magic Research with open arms.

    As for the cluster of trees, if was a simple automated defense system.

    While the appeared to be trees, the thick constructs before us were artificially produced.

    Using special ores and dense materials, the Fairies created thisrge forest.

    Added automated functions and Magic conductivity so they could control the trees freely, this entire area could serve several functions¡ªfrom absolute defense to utter annihtion.

    Each tree contained so much sophisticated tech and weapons of mass destruction¡ªand were also overflowing with Mana.

    If anyone were to attempt an assault, the System¡¯s danger sensory functions would kick in and counter the force of the assault with an even greater one.

    Most aggressors would end up dead as a result.

    ¡®Well, not that anyone is stupid enough to attack them head-on.¡¯ I smiled wryly.

    ¡°I am Freya Vindiel, First Princess of the Elf Kingdom. Please grant us entry into your sanctuary.¡± The girl raised her voice as she spoke.

    For a moment, nothing happened.

    However, that onlysted for a few seconds at most.

    >DING!<

    A sound rang out, and something like a board appeared in front of us.

    [System Recognition]

    <Sessfully Recognizes the Target>

    [Target: Freya Vindiel]

    ~You have been granted entry into the Sanctuary. Other guests should state their identity and wait for recognition.~

    [Thank You For Your Patience]

 Chapter 427 The Fairy Sanctuary [Pt 1]

    [System Recognition]

    <Sessfully Recognizes the Target>

    [Target: Lemi Vindiel]

    ~You have been granted entry into the Sanctuary. Other guests should state their identity and wait for recognition.~

    [Thank You For Your Patience]

    As I was still reading what was written on the System Board, slithering sounds filled the air.

    >SHWIIISSHHHHHH<

    The trees began drifting apart, likerge snakes with bloated bellies, they made a path for the recognized guest to traverse.

    ¡°I¡¯ll exin the situation to them once I get in. You should all just wait here.¡±

    ¡°I understand. Thank you, Lemi.¡±

    The Half Elf smiled, nodding positively as she ventured into the small path created for her.

    After some time, when her figure could no longer be seen, the trees closed back.

    ¡®Well, try your best for us, Lemi.¡¯ I smiled.

    This was the reason why I required the assistance of the Elves when dealing with their Fairy neighbors.

    ¡®This makes things easier¡­¡¯

    ************************

    The Fairy System is efficient, so we didn¡¯t need to wait for very long.

    Either that was the case, or Lemi had a special rtionship with the people here.

    ¡®She did say she was acquainted with the Royalty here¡­¡¯

    The trees opened up for all of us and we entered without much difficulty.

    It felt weird, passing through humongous trees that could close in and crush us at any moment, but I kept my cool.

    Maria clinged close to me, and I ensured to wrap my arms around her to calm her down. She must have sensed the density of Mana that each of the trees possessed.

    ¡®Poor girl. She must be overwhelmed¡­¡¯

    I was lucky not to have been able to sense Mana in my past life, so myrades were even more afraid than I was when we wanted an Alliance back then.

    Freya also seemed familiar with the surroundings, so she movedfortably. Everyone else treaded carefully, though.

    Lemi was the one who was most carefree among everyone. She was very much acquainted with this ce, after all.

    After helping her out with the Miasma Poisoning, I made sure to converse with the girl often¡ªmuch to Freya¡¯s dissatisfaction.

    She told me quite a few things, including the fact that she visited the Fairy Kingdom very frequently.

    ¡®That must be where she got the bright idea to dive into Research and Tech.¡¯ I smiled.

    It didn¡¯t take us very long to reach the other end of the forest. The moment we did so, the huge wall of vines returned to their clustered state.

    None of us turned back to see this happen, though.

    We were more enamoured by thendscape before us.

    ¡°W-whaohh¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before.¡±

    ¡°A-amazing!¡±

    ¡°Incredible!¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable!¡±

    ¡°H-how is this even¡­!¡±

    Cries and bellows of disbelief sprang up from everyone. It felt like I was among country bumpkins who were just arriving at the city for the first time.

    ¡®You guys are embarrassing me¡­¡¯ I nearly murmured.

    But, how could I me them? After all,pared to anything they had seen in the past, this was the most amazing metropolis anyone couldy eyes on.

    For one, there were no such things as solid ground, or even a visible sky.

    The entire city was enclosed in a very massive dome.

    But, did it feel clustered or constructive in the slightest? No way!

    Every building weid eyes on was luxuriously built, all having glimmers of Mana around them.

    They also floated in midair¡ªevery single structure.

    Floating boards served as tforms for those who didn¡¯t want to fly¡ªor couldn¡¯t.

    Though, in a nation of Fairies, such a person didn¡¯t exist¡ªso only the former utilized the boards.

    The floating boards used for transporting people or goods from one destination to the other.

    There were several floating System Windows like the one we witnessed before entering the Elf City¡ªand they disyed various things.

    Some were adverts utilized by stores, while others disyed news or entertainment.

    Designated lines existed for the floating boards, so the routes each Floating Board took were organized.

    The chances of an ident uring as a result of a crash between two boards were nonexistent.

    Brilliant lights illuminated the city with multiple colors, giving it an aesthetic glow. Everything was perfect¡ªa truly modern city.

    ¡®So much has improved since Ist came here¡­¡¯

    The Floating Boards were new, and the fact that they now utilized their System Interface to advertise or entertain passengers or workers as they went on their activities.

    The System was only used for important news and security in the past.

    The buildings now looked more modern, and there were quite a few more structures I didn¡¯t recognize.

    In short, it was a new and refreshing experience for me.

    We were in a transparent building when we entered the Fairy Kingdom, so we could see the brilliant sights around us¡ªthough we hadn¡¯t officially entered yet.

    ¡®Looks like we still have to go through an Immigration Officer¡­¡¯

    The System checked everything just fine, so there was no problem with security.

    The major reason why an Officer had to be dispatched was so guests¡ªespecially first timers like us¡ªwould get ustomed to the new ce we just arrived in without freaking out.

    The Officer would run us through the important things to note concerning the Sanctuary, as well as serve as our guide for whatever we wanted to do.

    Their existence also prevented the perpetration of illegal activities by neers.

    The Fairy Society operated in an efficient manner which ensured that the peace and tranquility of the denizens.

    It was a literal sanctuary.

    ¡°Wee to the Sanctuary, everyone¡ªalso known as the Fairy Republic.¡± A voice appeared from behind us.

    The gawking members of my groups sharply turned and saw a denizen of the City. It could be the fist time they would see one so close.

    ¡°My name is Lu. I¡¯ll be aiding you on your visit today.¡± The Fairy bowed slightly.

    Everyone awkwardly did the same, stillpletely flustered by his appearance.

    ¡®Lu, uh? I¡¯ve definitely seen him before. Wasn¡¯t he a Researcher back then? He looks different too¡­¡¯ I made sure to suppress my surprise as I bowed as well.

    As everyone raised their heads, the young-looking Fairy smiled warmly¡ªdisying a charming radiance.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all.¡±

    [A/N]

    Sorry for the errors

    Will be corrected soon

 Chapter 428 The Fairy Sanctuary [Pt 2]

    Fairies had small statures.

    The biggest among them was probably as tall as an adult man¡¯s head.

    However, ording to what I learned from Jane Urs¡ªone of my most trusted friends¡ªthey weren¡¯t always like that.

    Apparently, the Fairies were the ones who intentionally reduced their size so they could feel morefortable in the limitednd they possessed.

    With their smaller figures, it would certainly feel like their city was bigger than it really was.

    Their size was beneficial, which was why they chose to remain that way.

    However, to people seeing them for the first time¡ªlike our team of delegates¡ªthey couldn¡¯t help but stare quizzically.

    ¡°I know I have quite the small size, but it¡¯s rude to stare so much.¡± The Fairy called Lu chastised their intense gazes.

    ¡°A-ah, sorry!¡± Our group members apologized profusely.

    Well, almost all of them.

    The entity called Lu, like other fairies, had a small size, as well as wings behind that kept him afloat.

    He had a very child-like face, and his body made him seem even cuter. His attire was a well-made ck and green suit¡ªcustom wear for someone of his caliber.

    The wings behind him fluttered with a swift, yet beautiful motion, giving him a dignified look.

    ¡°Ah, it is of no consequence to me. But please keep that in mind as you venture into the city.¡± Lu warned.

    No one would like it if some strangers were staring at them too much. In fact, to the people here, we would be considered the weird ones.

    ¡°Now, then, I will run you through a few things before we enter the city.¡± Lu added.

    ¡°Is that really necessary? We¡¯re in a hurry, though.¡± The person who spoke was Lemi.

    None of us wereining, and I wasn¡¯t exactly pressed for time. The Half Elf was only saying that because she wanted to avoid going through the boring orientation.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re an exception, Lemi. You¡¯re a regr here. But, for neers, it is mandatory.¡±

    ¡°Urgh. Then can I just go ahead?¡± She smiled brilliantly at the small being before her.

    ¡°No. They were allowed in because of your rmendation. You have to remain with them.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that sucks¡­¡± The Half Elf pouted.

    I red at Lemi slightly, realizing she would have simply ditched us so that she could go have her fun.

    ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s get the orientation done with quickly, shall we?¡± Lu snapped his fingers and several System Windows appeared before us.

    Several images, as well as texts, were disyed.

    They contained rules, regtions, safety measures, a brief exnation of proper behavior, etc.

    I was quite puzzled when I saw some.of the information disyed before me.

    ¡®Hm? Something seems different from before.¡¯

    ¡°Ah, you don¡¯t need to focus on those aspects. They¡¯re mostly for our denizens, or those with intentions of staying here for a long term. Since you¡¯re visitors who came on a diplomatic visit, you need not concern yourself with that.¡±

    Apparently, my confused expressions were read by Lu.

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­¡±

    What I read had to do with the current system of governance and public order in the Fairy Sanctuary. It conflicted with how I remembered it to be.

    Sure, a few changes could have been made, but the Fairy Kingdom was still as I remembered it to be. However, the policy I just read made me realize just how much had changed.

    ¡®I may end up facing more issues than I initially expected.¡¯

    Lu put us through the norms of the strangend, but thanks to his articte expressions and sinct speech, we were done with everything before thirty minutes psed.

    ¡°Well, since you¡¯re all caught up, I will be taking you to your destination.¡± He smiled with his charming innocence.

    My allies were all enamoured by his beauty, unaware of the truth about Fairies.

    They had developed their Magic and Technology to the point of making their bodies appear however they wished.

    They called it s-gic Surgery.

    Even ugly Fairies could look however they desired without consequence.

    The only way one could really tell about a Fairy¡¯s age and level of ability was the state of their wings.

    Just as humans and Elves had Mana Cores within them¡ªas well as Grades to judge¡ªthe wings of Fairies contained their Mana Core.

    Their Grade could be deciphered by the color, and the older a Fairy was, the bigger the wings were.

    ¡®Which is why I¡¯m surprised about you, Lu¡­¡¯ He was definitely one of Jane Urs¡¯s subordinates in the department of research.

    That meant he was over five hundred years old already¡ªno, he was most definitely way older than that.

    Yet¡­

    ¡®Your wings are shorter than thest time I saw you.¡¯

    Just what was going on? ording to a popr saying in Fairy Culture, ¡°Wings don¡¯t lie,¡± it wasn¡¯t possible for Fairies to fake their Wings.

    ¡®Is he perhaps someone else who bears the same name? Maybe his child?¡¯

    Even though this Lu was very identical to the one I knew, the possibility of s-gic Surgery existed. So, perhaps I was simply mistaking the Fairy¡¯s identity for the one I knew in the past.

    ¡°Where would you be heading to first? Would you like a bit of sightseeing before heading to the Green House?¡±

    Apparently, the Royal Pce of the Fairies was now referred to as the Green House.

    Myrades stared at me, waiting for my decision. Officially and unofficially, everyone recognized me as the leader.

    They all gave me pleading stares, hoping I would allow us to take a slight tour before getting down to business.

    But, these people should have known me too well to expect such leniency.

    ¡°We would prefer heading straight for the Green House, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Lu smiled and nodded in response.

    ¡°Understood. Then, I shall summon a ring Board for everyone. Please, a moment.¡± The Fairy Officer left the room¡ªprobably already sensing the dissatisfaction that arose from myrades as a result of the decision I made.

    ¡°Come on, Jared, would it kill you if we just looked around for a little bit?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a magnificent ce. Come on!¡±

    ¡°I could show you around! They wouldn¡¯t mind, honestly.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ll show you around instead.¡±

    These silly people really thought I would change my mind. It was funny, so I chuckled slightly.

    Everyone halted their mour, and then awaited my words.

    ¡°NO!¡±

    It was as simple as that.

 Chapter 429 An Old Ally [Pt 1]

    Lu arrived not long after, having a luxurious board trailing behind him.

    The floating tform had sofas constructed on them, allowing passengers to sit while it took them to their destination.

    ¡®It¡¯s clearly for important persons¡­¡¯ I thought as I stared at the glimmering piece of Fairy Technology.

    ¡°Please, get on board.¡±

    The door that blocked us in from the waiting room was opened, allowing us entry into the Fairy Nation itself.

    Excited sounds came from a few people behind me¡ªnamely Bradford and, surprisingly, Maria.

    While she did her best to adopt a stoic facade, it was clear that she anticipated traversing the Fairy Sanctuary.

    As we stepped out of the room, we entered the floating board that was waiting for us.

    There was no ground beyond the room¡ªsince Fairies didn¡¯t need them.

    As a result, the tform we would be utilizing was our only viable means of transportation.

    ¡®Magis is permitted for residents, but visitors aren¡¯t allowed to utilize it¡­¡¯ That meant we couldn¡¯t fly.

    The boards were truly made to be the only viable means of transportation.

    ¡°W-whoah, it¡¯s sofortable!¡± Bradford eximed as he made himself at home on the floating tform.

    The seats were bigger than the bodies of Fairies, so one could surmise that it was designed with delegates of other nations in mind.

    Every member of our team was able to secure seats, and their expressions made it certain that the sofas they sat on werefy.

    ¡°I¡¯m satisfied you find our receptionfortable.¡±

    I didn¡¯t take the Fairy on his offer, deciding to stand instead. It wasn¡¯t out of anything in particr¡ªjust personal preference.

    And so, the tform began moving¡ªdetaching itself from the building we were previously in.

    >VWUUUUUUUUU<

    It initially started as a slow, smooth ride. However, as time went on, the pace picked up and the board sped.

    No one was bothered about their safety since Lu already exined howpletely secure the experience of traveling with boards was.

    Even Fairies, who could freely fly, preferred to use their Floating Boards rather than soar through the vast expanse themselves.

    A Magic barrier prevented anyone from falling out, and the wind pressure waspletely eliminated.

    This provided for a smooth andfortable ride.

    To be honest, I enjoyed the trip.

    *********************

    We eventually arrived at the location called the Green House.

    Before reaching the tall monolith that seemed to ascend to the peak of the Fairy Sanctuary¡¯s ceiling, we had passed through quite a bunch of Fairy Settlements.

    This allowed some of our members to enjoy the sights around them.

    While we didn¡¯t have the time to spend, preventing us from fully appreciating their peculiar structures, the interest of my allies seemed to have been satiated a tiny bit.

    The Floating Board came to a slow halt, connecting to the edge of our destination.

    Once it was parked properly, we were all able to step out of the vehicle.

    Lu followed after us, and then swiftly arrived at everyone¡¯s front.

    ¡°Alright, everyone. I certainly hope you enjoyed your short trip using the Floating Board. If you have anyints that warrant concern, please speak up so we can work on it.¡±

    No one could speak because the ride was perfect.

    ¡°Excellent. Then, shall we proceed?¡± Lu smiled sweetly, showing us his back as he glided through the air.

    Our group simply followed him obediently, taking good looks around us.

    ¡®It looks a bit different¡ªrenovated, maybe?¡ªstill, this is the Pce I remember.¡¯ My thoughts lingered as I observed the giant tower.

    It was so massive, yet it managed to remain suspended in the air.

    I often marveled at this sight back when I was still Lewis Griffith, but the trick behind it slowly lost its luster as time went on.

    ¡°Please,e with me,¡± Lu spoke more as an instructor than a tourist guide.

    Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he was originally a researcher¡ªnot into affairs like tourism.

    ¡®The females were the ones who did these sort of things in the past.¡¯

    However, considering the change in technology and governance, having Lu as our Supervisory Officer didn¡¯t surprise me any longer.

    There were no guards stationed at the Pce Gate, and the moment Lu approached it, a System Window popped up.

    It identified the Fairy, and then the gates were automatically opened to all of us.

    We walked down therge hallway, looking around as we strolled.

    ¡°U-um, where do you think the Throne Room is?¡± Bradford murmured, whispering to Serah Crimson.

    The red-haired woman shrugged. Apparently, she didn¡¯t care.

    I observed that the Fairy¡¯s ears pricked the moment the bushy-bearded man said this, smiling internally.

    I was also slowly understanding the situation. The situation seemed a bit strange, but I finally figured it out.

    ¡®They don¡¯t run the Royal System any longer, uh?¡¯

    It all made sense.

    This was now called the Fairy Nation. The Public Policies seemed too liberal for a monarchy, and the elective system I was seeing was a foreign concept.

    ¡®The fact that this Lu is working as an Immigration Officer rather than a female shows that that guy is no longer in power, uh?¡¯

    The Fairy Pce was now called the Green House as well.

    If I wasn¡¯t mistaken, then had the Fairies somehow adopted a republican system of rule?

    ¡®This is weird.¡¯

    ¡°Please step into this contraption.¡±  A Magic Elevator awaited us.

    Once we all stepped in, the vehicle took us above, until we got to the second highest floor.

    Our group encountered a door the moment we stepped out, and Lu bowed slightly.

    ¡°Our President will be waiting for you inside.¡±

    ¡®President, eh?¡¯ It seems I was right.

    A System Window popped up the moment we drew closer, but we were instantly recognized and the luxurious door parted for us.

    ¡°We, delegates of the Eastern Kingdom and the Elf Kingdom seek an audience with the Head of the Fairies.¡± I dered.

    ¡°Doe in.¡± A voice that resonated with my soul sounded.

    My body was fine, but my insides churned for some reason.

    ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ I thought in shock.

    However, since it was no time to dawdle about it, I decided to let the matter slide.

    We glided into the ce¡ªmeeting a finely furnished room with a strange aesthetic that was different from the Throne Room everyone was used to.

    For one, it seemed more like an office than anything else¡ªthough it was quite big.

    However, that wasn¡¯t what shocked me the most.

    >Ba-dum! Ba-dum! Ba-dum!<

    Reverberations echoed in my Soul as I stopped dead in my tracks¡ªlooking at the person who sat behind the desk.

    She also stared at me in the same way.

    The Fairy¡¯s eyes widened and her jaws nearly fell. Both our gazes met each other, and we entered into perfect sync.

    ¡°J-Jane¡­?¡±

    ¡°Lewis?!¡±

 Chapter 430 An Old Ally [Pt 2]

    Bright pink hair, like ripe peaches.

    A small, curved face¡ªsimr to an adorable child¡¯s¡ªand wide eyes filled with curiosity.

    Her irises were green, her lips were small and cute.

    The round sses she wore entuated her beauty, and her tiny physique made her absolutely adorable.

    Her outfit was a suit made up of ck and white materials, glittering regally as she sat behind her desk.

    There was no way I could forget the person who was seated before me.

    She was an old friend unlike any other.

    ***********************

    Jane Urs¡ªHead Researcher and Innovator among the Elves¡ªwas one of my closest friends in the past.

    I could say that she understood me better than most people. In some ways, she even surpassed Emilia in herpatibility with me.

    And that was because of one simple fact¡­

    ¡­ We both loved Magic to the point of obsession!

    There was a reason she was called the Mad Witch. At some point, I was also referred to as the Crazy Sage.

    The both of us formed a joint brand dubbed ¡®The Insane Duo¡¯.

    I was a Magic Theorist while Jane was a Magic Technician.

    There was no better person I could rte with in my love and pursuit for Magic more than her¡ªmuch to Emilia¡¯s dissatisfaction.

    As a result, we spent so much time together, and I was able to get very close to the Fairy¡ªenough to be the first among our group to receive something from her.

    ¡ªA Soul Brand.

    Jane Urs was a Magic expert who specialized in the Soul.

    Her Original Magic allowed her to directly interfere with the Souls of people, and she was even the one who drove me down the path of researching the true essence of a person¡¯s Soul¡ªin rtion to Magic, of course.

    A ¡®Soul Brand¡¯ was the marking only Jane could inflict on her target, allowing her to connect herself to them.

    She could sense such a person from a distance, locate them wherever they were, control them if she desired, gain ess to their memories, etc.

    Basically, she could somewhat interfere with her target¡¯s Soul.

    Why, then, would I allow her to do such a thing to me?

    It was because when executing it in my case, Jane made sure her Magic went both ways. In essence, she linked both our Souls through equal channels.

    It was more like a bond of friendship than anything else.

    As a result, we could never lie to each other. We could also tell where the other person was, or sense if they were close by.

    Our respective works were also able to work in perfect sync thanks to the ability of one person topletely understand the other.

    It was the perfect bond of friendship.

    Which was why¡­ I was surprised to get the same sensation as we drew closer to the Green House.

    It was like something sparked within me.

    As we drew closer to the office, I had felt it grow stronger.

    However, at the moment, as I was staring at the person opposite me, I knew for sure¡­

    ¡°J-Jane?¡±

    ¡­ That it wasn¡¯t a mere feeling!

    And the most amazing part was the fact that the most important Fairy seated before me was also wide-eyed, having the same sensation as me.

    I could tell from a single nce¡ª

    ¡°L-Lewis?!¡±

    ¡ªShe recognized me too!

    *********************

    ¡®Eh? What¡¯s going on right now?¡¯ The Fairy called Jane Urs was in utter shock.

    Her winds fluttered excitedly as she looked at the young human who stood before her.

    His handsome features didn¡¯t faze her in the slightest, but something about him ensured she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him.

    And that was because he had her Soul Brand within him.

    ¡®H-how is this possible¡­?¡¯

    Jane knew every single person she ever branded, and she was also able to identify them individually.

    The one standing before her bore the soup of a familiar person¡ªtoo dear to her heart to forget.

    ¡°Lewis¡­?!¡±

    But, was that even possible?

    Lewis Griffith, her best friend, died over five hundred years ago.

    She knew for sure that he indeed gave up the ghost. After all, she was there when he drew hisst breath.

    Jane knew just how much she suffered after his death¡ªhow her heart wept for the loss of her dearest friend.

    It was this very grief that drove her to develop her most phenomenal project. There was no way none of that was real.

    Yet¡­ there was the Soul of her friend right in front of her.

    And the boy? He was staring at her with the same eyes she used to look at him.

    They say the eyes are a window to the soul. And so, when Jane locked gazes with the human, she realized that the impossible was indeed true.

    ¡®He really is¡­!¡¯

    The question was how?

    Jane Urs wasn¡¯t sure, but a guess popped into her head so she decided to use that logic to guide her turbulent mind.

    ¡®What¡¯s important is that he recognizes me and I recognize him.¡¯

    Even though the link between the two of them was weak¡ªtoo frail for her to read his thoughts or manipte his Soul¡ªJane had enough evidence already.

    ¡°I believe I already told you not to stare so intensely. It¡¯s rude!¡± Lu gave a slightly irritatedment, rousing both the Human and the Fairy from their intense staring contest.

    ¡°A-ah, sorry about that!¡± The human responded rather awkwardly, causing Jane to smile a bit.

    He really looked nothing like Lewis, neither did he exactly behave like him.

    However, Souls never lied. And so, Jane Urs wasforted by the sight of her most trusted friend.

    That was enough to make the adorable Fairy¡¯s lips form a smile.

    ¡®Lewis, after so long¡­.you¡¯ve finallye back to me¡­¡¯

    ********************

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Lu. I¡¯ve got it, thanks.¡± I heard Jane¡¯s voice softly say, causing the angry Fairy to soften his expression.

    In myst life, Lu had quite a crush on Jane¡ªor so certain rumors went.

    ¡®Looks like some things never change¡­¡¯ I observed, watching him back off.

    That¡¯s right. This was the reunion of the century.

    Extras were unnecessary!

 Chapter 431 The Mad Witch [Pt 1]

    ¡°Thank you for your efforts, Lu. You may leave us be.¡±

    The Fairy seemed like he wanted to protest, but he changed his mind midway and simply nodded.

    Lu glided away from us, smiling like an idiot, most likely because he received words of praise from the woman he liked.

    ¡®I know how you feel, buddy. It¡¯s too bad she¡¯ll never look at you that way.¡¯ I almost felt bad for the dude.

    After all, I knew the one Jane Urs loved more than anything in the world.

    ¡ªMagic!

    ording to her, I came second¡ªthough the gap was too wide to be called apetition.

    Compared to such a grand cause that Jane was obsessed with ever since I had known her¡ªno, even before¡ªsomeone like Lu never stood a chance.

    I almost let out a chortle as I smiled at her and she did the same to me.

    Instantly, we understood one another. Even without speaking, our emotions were strong enough to reach each other.

    There was no need for such a concept as words between two best friends.

    Silence enveloped the room, and we once again locked eyes, ignoring everyone else around us.

    ¡®I¡¯m back, Jane. I¡¯ve missed you more than you know!¡¯

    ********************

    ¡°Jaaaaannnnneeeeeee!!!¡± Someone from our group lunged at the Fairy¡¯s desk, banging it with all her energy.

    ¡°W-whoah¡­ Lemi, is that you? You¡¯re here? Hold on, that makes sense. Wait, your body¡­ it¡¯s been healed! How is this¡­¡±

    It appeared Jane was very well acquainted with Lemi indeed. Knowing the kind of personality she had, I didn¡¯t find it hard to believe.

    Jane would have stayed close to Emilia and her family even after I was out of the picture. It made me wonder if she was aware that Emilia was pregnant before I died.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to ask her.¡¯

    ¡°Jared did it! He healed the Miasma Poisoning!¡±

    ¡°Oh? He did, uh?¡± Jane smiled in my direction.

    From her expression, I could deduce the fact that she was giggling internally. She must have realized the kind of awkward situation I was in.

    ¡®Lemi is my daughter, but¡­¡¯

    It was toote for me to take up my role with therge gap in our age. Still, I was trying my hardest, wasn¡¯t I?

    What I was actually curious about was the rtionship Lemi had with Jane.

    ¡°Jared, why did the Que¡ªI mean, President, call you Lewis? Does she mean Lewis Griffith?¡±

    I looked beside me, watching Maria¡¯s curious gaze pierce me. It felt like those eyes could see past my facade.

    Thankfully, that wasn¡¯t the case.

    ¡°No. She¡¯s probably just basking in nostalgia. She¡¯s called The Mad Witch, after all. Don¡¯t expect her to be mentally stable.¡± I partially snickered when I said this.

    ¡°Hey! I heard that!¡± Jane sharply cut in, ring in our direction.

    ¡°J-Jared, why would you annoy the President?¡±

    Maria¡¯s hushed whispers contained hints of worry and surprise.

    I was usually very courteous when addressing those in Authority. It was the only way to get what I wanted.

    Since we were delegates in a strangend, it was expected that I would act cordially. But, I had caused quite the stir.

    ¡°You¡¯re being rude to Jane, Jared. Apologize.¡± Lemi blurted out, looking at me and our group from the Fairy¡¯s desk.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be here with us? You came here as a delegate, not a friend.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Jealous much?¡± This time it was Jane that attacked me.

    Did she think I felt intimidated by her rtionship with my daughter? Well¡­ maybe I was a little bit.

    ¡®But, it¡¯s mostly because I don¡¯t want her to learn weird things from you!¡¯ I nearly blurted out, but held on to my self-control.

    Jane would be a terrible influence on Lemi, and I could already see traces of the Fairy in my daughter.

    ¡®She isn¡¯t interested in Marriage. She has no one she¡¯s currently seeing. She stays holed up in her research. She sees everyone as test subjects. Ring a bell, Jane?¡¯ I narrowed my gaze at the President of The Fairy Sanctuary.

    I never expected her to be the one, but it was a fortuitous turn of events.

    ¡°I would like to speak to your leader personally. The rest of you can go take a tour¡­ or whatever.¡±

    ¡®Your flippant attitudes to unimportant things haven¡¯t changed.¡¯ I smiled, turning to myrades.

    ¡°You guys can go take the tour you¡¯ve been asking for. I assume Lu is waiting for us beyond those doors. Just tell him where you want to go.¡±

    My group members were excited¡ªenough so that they left without batting an eye.

    ¡°Will you be alright?¡± Maria asked, though, at least having the heart to care about me.

    ¡°I will.¡±

    ¡°Okay then.¡± And then, she too vanished with the others.

    They opened the door and shut it behind them as they excitedly departed.

    Freya turned to look at me one final time before leaving, but I pretended not to notice.

    The only ones left were me, Jane, and the stubborn Lemi that refused to budge.

    ¡°You too, Lemi,¡± I spoke sternly.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Uh?¡¯

    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. Since she said that the leader should wait behind, I choose to be the leader for the Elves.¡±

    ¡°But, you¡¯re a Half-Elf, though. Besides, isn¡¯t Freya more suited for that role?¡±

    ¡°H-hey! Don¡¯t bring that up. I¡¯m older than her, you know? Age means more experience.¡±

    ¡°It sure doesn¡¯t look like it to me.¡± I sneered, almost bursting out inughter.

    ¡°Hey! What did you say?!¡±

    ¡°You heard me. Now scram!¡±

    ¡°Uwu¡­ Jane, you see what I mean? He¡¯s so mean to me.¡± The girl began pouring to the Fairy beside her.

    Jane¡¯s fairy self was still on her small seat and slightly bigger desk.

    ¡°You guys are incorrigible. It almost feels like I¡¯m watching you and Emilia argue.¡±

    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Why didn¡¯t I notice it too? Still¡­

    ¡°Emilia wasn¡¯t as ano¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, she was annoying. I keep telling you, love makes you see only what you want to see. I¡¯m sure you only have an image of a kind, gentle woman whenever you think of that bitch.¡±

    As expected, even till now, Jane hadn¡¯t changed a single bit.

 Chapter 432 The Mad Witch[Pt 2]

    ¡°H-hey¡­!!!¡±

    Yes, how could I forget? Jane and Emilia never got along well in my past life.

    I didn¡¯t know exactly why, but it probably had something to do with me¡ªas well as a conflict of interest.

    They both wanted me to dedicate an unlimited amount of time to them¡ªEmilia was my lover, and Jane was my best friend at the time.

    I cherished them both, and found the time spent with both of them rewarding, in their respective ways

    But, unlike me, they didn¡¯t seem to like the idea of sharing¡ªcausing bad blood between them.

    ¡°You still think she was purely a saint, don¡¯t you? But, she was nothing like that in reality. You didn¡¯t notice that because you¡¯re not a woman. I know these things, you know? I was the oldest among everyone back then¡­¡±

    Lemi seemed lost in our conversation¡ªhow we were talking about her mother so brazenly.

    I thought she would have protested when Jane called her mother a bitch, but Lemi didn¡¯t. It was probably due to the fact that she was simply confused about what we were saying.

    ¡°W-what¡¯s going on¡­?¡± She murmured.

    ¡®The advantage of using Fast Speech is tremendous.¡¯ I smiled.

    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough of that.¡± Jane snapped at the young girl with her business-looking expression.

    ¡°I¡¯ll y with youter, Lemi. Go hang out with your other friends.¡±

    The Half-Elf began looking dejected the moment Jane spoke those words. Her sulking face looked at both of us.

    ¡°T-they¡¯re not my friends¡­¡± She also murmured.

    ¡°Yeah. Yeah. Now go. We¡¯ll catch upter, don¡¯t worry.¡±

    As a result, Lemi dragged herself out of the room.

    >SLAM<

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you a bit hard on her?¡± I asked, watching how Jane didn¡¯t even soften her face when the girl gave one final nce behind before leaving.

    ¡°Na. She¡¯s old enough to handle toughness. Besides, that child needs to begin acknowledging people as friends. She won¡¯t properly develop that way.¡±

    ¡®Look who¡¯s talking.¡¯ I nearly rolled my eyes as I simply smiled at the words.

    ¡°H-hey, you just thought about something very rude, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you check for yourself? Oh, wait, your connection has weakened. Pfft.¡±

    ¡°Y-you¡­¡± The Fairy gritted her teeth, causing me tough even more.

    Still, I was very pleased with how she handled Lemi.

    ¡®Emilia and Aurora spoiled that child, but it seemed Jane is giving her tough love. I guess she¡¯s also sort of a good influence.¡¯

    In any case, I could already tell how close Jane and Lemi were. She was a mother figure, and also a close friend to my child.

    ¡°It appears I have yet another thing to be grateful to you for.¡±

    ¡°Pssh. Do you suddenly realize that?¡± She tilted her round sses, bncing them properly.

    Seeing someone no taller than my fist doing that simply made me snicker slightly.

    ¡°You¡­ at this point, I have nothing to say. Your daughter is a handful, but it¡¯s the least I could do for you.¡± She shrugged, floating from her chair.

    ¡°Besides, with you out of the picture, Emilia and I sort of got along a bit. I suppose I felt bad that you jilted her so hard. We girls have to stick together since rogues like you exist.¡± Jane shot me a disgusted look.

    For a moment, I felt worse than dirt.

    ¡°H-hey! Isn¡¯t that simply too much? This is our first time meeting in centuries, you know?¡±

    ¡°And? I¡¯m simply stating the truth. You haven¡¯t be allergic to that, have you?¡±

    ¡°N-no¡­¡± I murmured.

    ¡°Yeah. So, you should hear it. You were a jerk who abandoned that woman who loved you with everything. I mean, we didn¡¯t have the best rtionship, but I know she loved you dearly. The sort of love you guys had was exceptional. For a while, I too felt¡­ never mind.¡± Jane sighed, drawing closer to me.

    With every distance she covered, I felt even more aware of my guilty past. I truly made that grave mistake, didn¡¯t I?

    ¡°Bottom line is, you messed up. I had to handle your mess. Your child is brilliant¡ªso I consider her as a keepsake from you too. I have dibs, so you¡¯re toote to im her back now.¡±

    ¡°H-hey, hold on¡­ what?¡±

    Was that the bottom line? This was the point she wanted to make? Why did she make me feel like shit, then?

    ¡°Yep. I have dibs on Lemi. Of course, if you convince me¡­ we could share¡­¡± The Fairy smiled naughtily.

    ¡°You little¡ª!¡± I growled, reaching out for her swiftly.

    ¡°Hehe. Too slow.¡± She fluidly glided away from my reach.

    ¡°Tch. You¡­ just how and why have you not changed?¡±

    ¡°Hahaha! What can I say? But really, you think I haven¡¯t changed at all?¡±

    I sighed, staring at her intensely. Her mannerisms and naughty smile suggested she wanted me to notice something about her.

    ¡®Hmm. Her breasts are a bitrger, but s-gic Surgery is a trend here. I can¡¯t trust that¡­¡¯ My eyes narrowed a bit more.

    That was when I finally noticed.

    ¡°Your wings. They¡¯re a shade duller than before. The colors aren¡¯t as sharp. They¡¯re also smaller.¡±

    ¡°Bingo! Hehe!¡± She giggled, twisting in the air to show them off.

    ¡°How is that something to be proud of? It just shows how immature you are. Hold on¡­ what the¡­?¡±

    Jane let out a massive grin, staring at me with pride and secrecy.

    ¡°So, you¡¯ve finally started thinking, uh?¡±

    I noticed the same thing with Lu, but these guys had more immature wings than what I knew them for in the past.

    Age was progressive, so how were they having Wings that should have belonged to a younger version of themselves?

    I was able to give an excuse that Lu could have simply been a descendant of the one I knew¡ªbut judging from how he interacted with Jane, it was really him.

    And then, even Jane had the same bizarre set of wings.

    What the heck happened?

    ¡°Oh, my sweet Lewis! There¡¯s so much you don¡¯t know.¡±

    In the five hundred years that I wasn¡¯t present, just what had Jane been up to?

    ¡®What in zes did she do?¡¯

 Chapter 433 A Fairys Grief

    ¡°I think this is the first time¡­¡± A voice softly permeated the Fairy¡¯s ears.

    As she hovered in the air¡ªabove the clear floors, luxurious bed, and the one who wasid atop it¡ªshe could feel an overwhelming emotion overtake her.

    ¡°¡­ The first time I¡¯ve seen you cry.¡± The soft voice contained hints of sadness, but his words were intended to tease her.

    This Fairy was Jane Urs. The being who was on his deathbed at that moment was none other than Lewis Griffith¡ªher best friend.

    His grey hair, shriveled body, and wrinkled face made him look like a strangerpared to the man she knew decades ago. Still, he was one and the same.

    He had just grown old.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jane. I truly wanted to explore more with you.¡± He smiled.

    Out of everyone who was supposed toe for Lewis¡¯st moments, she was the first to arrive.

    Due to the kind of man he was, several important people would be arriving. Still, Jane wanted to have her private moment with him.

    Seeing Lewis like this, though, was too much for her little heart to bear.

    ¡°You¡­ you idiot. Then don¡¯t die! Don¡¯t die!¡± She cried even more.

    Jane was an oddball through and through, but she was also a tough cookie.

    Nothing seemed to faze her except for Magic. Even when Dom¡ªone of theirrades¡ªhad died decades ago, she wasn¡¯t particrly shaken.

    Sure, she really respected him as arade, and they were also trustworthy friends. However, she still viewed his death as part of the inevitable cycle of life.

    It couldn¡¯t be avoided.

    But¡­ why was this case different?

    Her heart felt like it would burst¡ªhurting beyond what she had the capacity to bear.

    Jane was an expert on Soul Magic, so she could clearly tell that he didn¡¯t have much longer.

    Even though Lewis was fortunate to have lived a full life¡ªeven knowing where and when he would die¡ªJane Urs couldn¡¯t ept his death.

    She just¡­ couldn¡¯t!

    ¡°I¡­ can¡¯t live past this point. You know that, Jane.¡± Lewis said with a soft smile.

    He was seeing such a delicate side of his friend. Watching the tiny fairy make cure expressions as she cried¡ªLewis felt like it was more than good enough for a farewell present.

    Though¡­ his heart was also pained. If it was only for the sake of his friend, he would have loved to live a bit longer.

    But, they both knew the truth.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have Magic. There¡¯s no way to surpass my physical limitations.¡±

    One of the things the both of them worked together on was how to lengthen the lives of the Races that didn¡¯t have long spans of life.

    Elves lived very long, the same as Fairies. In contrast, humans had short lives. The average lifespan ranged from 80-100 years.

    For Beastfolk, it was even worse.

    Dwarves lived a bit older, but ultimately, none of them could cross 150 years.

    For Lewis Griffith, a regr human, to live to the ripe age of 120 years, he had indeed reached his apex.

    There was nothing that could be done.

    Even though he and Jane had worked on this project together¡ªachieving a breakthrough¡ªthey realized that it could only apply to those who had Mana Cores.

    By utilizing one¡¯s Mana Core as a secondary heart, as well as using the Mana within to strengthen the body, it was possible to lengthen a person¡¯s lifespan.

    Lewis Griffith was Inept. Such a principle didn¡¯t apply to him.

    And so, his death approached at a fast rate.

    ¡°You know¡­ if I were to use human terms, I¡¯ve only known you for like¡­.a month?¡± Jane said, slowly trying to cheer herself up.

    Still, sobs escaped from her.

    ¡°You never did tell me your age,¡± Lewis responded with a slight smile.

    ¡°And I never will!¡±

    Fairies lived far longer than Elves did. Some lived beyond a thousand years and were referred to as Grand Fairies. I was certain Jane was among the longer-lived ones.

    She never confirmed my suspicions, though.

    ¡°Even if I¡¯ve known you for a short while¡ªconsidering how long I¡¯ve lived¡ªI¡­¡± She stopped herself from saying any more.

    Then, just as Lewis was about to tell her to proceed, the doors opened and more people entered.

    That was the end of their conversation¡ªat least, the ones that ears could hear.

    But, Lewis heard a voice within his soul. It was soft and warm. Thefortable feeling that permeated his insides made him smile softly at her.

    And she did the same.

    What were the words he heard within him? Lewis Griffith could never forget them.

    ~I¡­ liked you most of all¡ªsecond only to Magic. You mean the most to me, Lewis!~

    Even as he finally fell into eternal slumber, surrounded by those around him whom he loved and cherished more than anything else, the Great Sage never let go of those words.

    They were the sum total of his rtionship with her.

    Fortunately, just before he died, he also responded.

    ~You were my best friend. I¡¯m happy¡­ that we were the Insane Duo. Have a full life, Jane.~

    Then, death took the man.

    The Soul Brand dissipated along with Lewis Griffith¡¯s soul, and he vanished beyond what Jane could sense.

    That was their final farewell.

    BUT¡ª

    ¡°No! Not like this. Not ever again.¡±

    ¡ªThe Mad Witch didn¡¯t forget the despairing feeling that assailed her that day!

    And so, she trod a path that even dwarfed her other crazy endeavors of the past.

    This was truly the path of insanity.

    She dedicated her years to curing the source of her greatest grief. It was what every living creature desired, but none were able to achieve.

    ¡ªImmortality!

    Despite the impossibility, Jane never gave up. The voice of her bestrade was with her every step of the way.

    ¡°Magic makes the impossible possible.¡±

    Internalizing that principle, she pushed on.

    And so, after nearly a century of such a tasking endeavor, the brilliant Jane Urs finally arrived at the answer.

    Body Swapping!

    By creating an organic body through cutting-edge technology and intricate Mana, she was able to construct an exact replica of a Fairy¡¯s body.

    And then¡­ using her Soul Magic¡ªalongside what she learned from The Hanged Man Arcana, she was able to transfer her Soul to a new, younger body.

    As a result¡­ she attained immortality!

 Chapter 434 The Soul Project

    ¡°I call it the Soul Project. I was eventually able to organize it on arge scale, implementing it as a public policy when I became President.

    There were so many things I wanted to ask, but I was simply too astounded to speak.

    Jane always had a knack for surprising me with her exceptional talents and borderline supernatural wits, but this trumped everything.

    ¡°I-incredible¡­¡±

    ¡°Hehehe. Impressed by my great feats, are you? Puehehe. That¡¯s right! Just as we once promised, I changed the world with my Magic¡ªwell, at least among my people.¡±

    ording to Jane, she was able to initiate the whole process on a national scale.

    She had capable subordinates working with her, so they constructed organic bodies for the Fairies who desired the same eternal life she possessed.

    It became a public luxury, simr to how the Fairies utilized s-gic Surgery.

    Of course, there was one particr step in the procedure that required her aid¡ªthe Soul Transfer.

    By using Soul Branding on all the Fairies that consented to the procedure, Jane would surgically remove their Souls from their original bodies and ce them into their new bodies.

    That way, the Fairies could rece their old and dying bodies with new ones.

    Rinse. Repeat

    As a result, it produced a metropolis where no one had to fear death.

    ¡°But, weren¡¯t there people who resisted it? What was the reception rate?¡±

    Certainly, Fairies were open-minded, but what of the other Races? There was a reason I had never heard of this Soul Project before meeting Jane.

    Besides, even among her own people, there had to be people who didn¡¯t agree with the concept.

    ¡°A hundred percent! Everyone in this Republic has consented to the procedure. Some have even had their procedures done twice already.¡±

    ¡°Eh? Really?¡± I was a bit surprised.

    I was sure that at least a few would object.

    ¡°The only reason people ept death is because they have either fulfilled their purpose in life, or they do not have the power to change it.¡± My friend exined.

    Someone who had spent his life as a researcher could die in peace once his experiments finally bore fruit.

    They would see their life¡¯s purpose as fulfilled and would see nothing wrong with leaving the realm of the living.

    However¡­

    ¡°I designed this Republic with Policies geared toward multiple choices and career paths. The Fairies could spend an eternity and still not reach the limits of their achievements. This drives them to keep striving for more. Their desire to live burns even stronger than before.¡±

    I was taken by storm. Jane Urs basically designed a system where people could love forever without boredom orck of purpose.

    Every single Fairy was recognized by her through the Soul Brand, and she was able to ensure smooth transitions of her citizens so that all of them kept going about their businesses.

    ¡°No one wants to die, Jared. At least, not if they can help it.¡± Jane concluded with a soft smile.

    ¡°W-wow, Jane. You¡¯ve¡­ far exceeded my expectations.¡±

    ¡°Hehe! Of course!¡± She puffed out her chest.

    Jane¡¯s small size just made her posture look weird.

    ¡°Immortality, eh? Who would have thought¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not as grand as it seems. Besides, stubborn idiots like Gawain rejected the prospects.¡±

    Yep, I expected that from him.

    ording to Jane, after I died, she tried to convince Gawain not to give in to the same path.

    Since he had a Mana Core, he could strengthen himself so he could live longer¡ªpending the time she could unlock the secrets of immortality.

    But¡­

    ¡°Na. I¡¯ll live and die as a human. There¡¯s no need for anything grand like being alive forever. Living a fleeting life is what living is all about.¡±

    ¡­ Gawain rejected that prospect.

    Emilia was the same as well.

    Dom died earlier than I did, and Ford also died before Jane couldplete her experiment.

    In essence, she was thest of myrades that I had in the past.

    ¡°You know, I actually tried to conjure your Soul several times.¡±

    ¡°Eh?¡± I was surprised by this new revtion.

    ¡°Yeah. Sigh, I was stupid back then. After attaining immortality, everyone that mattered to me was dead already. I felt awfully lonely, so I decided to try calling you back.¡±

    Jane told me how she resorted to so many things to bring me back¡ªall in vain.

    ¡°Sigh, looking at you right in front of me, I have so many questions. A part of me wonders if one of those failed attempts actually triggered something.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s impossible, though.¡± I replied, rubbing my chin.

    ording to her, thest time she tried conjuring me was fifty years ago. I didn¡¯t even exist back then.

    Plus, even she admitted that it was a failure. With no strong link to my Soul, or a portion of it, trying something like that was useless.

    ¡°Then¡­ how are you here? It makes no sense. Your body, even though it has been enhanced, is purely human. How were you able to return? You look nothing like your past self too.¡±

    I smiled at the curious Fairy hovering around me as she observed every minute detail of my body.

    ¡°Your body isn¡¯t very mature too¡­ especially down there. Hmm, looks smaller thanst time.¡±

    ¡°H-hey! Boundaries!¡± I covered my groin in reflex¡ªthough doing that didn¡¯t really change anything.

    ¡°Urgh, please. Do you know how long I¡¯ve been staring at it? You think there¡¯s a point hiding it at this point?¡±

    Jane had a nasty habit of undressing anyone she met with her Magic Item¡ªthe sses she wore.

    During our first meeting, she burst out saying something like;

    ¡°Holy shit! You¡¯re big down there!¡±

    It was so embarrassing, especially since I was directly beside Emilia and the otherrades I had made at the time.

    I actually felt Emilia¡¯s gaze move downward at that point, but that was probably my imagination¡­ right?

    ¡°You still haven¡¯t changed. Come on, Jane! Grow up.¡±

    ¡°Can you me me? Everyone is so small and predictable around here. I can¡¯t resist trying to explore new things.¡± She narrowed her gaze as she giggled.

    ¡°Oh, stop that.¡± Iughed in response.

    ¡°On a serious note, though¡­ How are you here, Lewis?¡± Her face was close to mine at this point, almost touching my bare skin.

    Herrge eyes stared into mine, waiting for an answer¡ªif only I had one.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡±

 Chapter 435 The Fairys Revolution

    I told Jane everything¡ªup to thest detail.

    The first thing I remembered when I awoke from my slumber in the darkness.

    The assassin that came for my life, as well as the organization who wanted to eliminate me.

    I told her about the Invasion of Kahn¡ªeven showing her his current status as one of my Familiars.

    I exined how I returned to our base and trained there for three years¡ªor more like a hundred¡ªbefore returning to end the War.

    ¡°Ah, I did get an alert that someone entered the Base. But, since we wanted to hand it over to those belonging to the future generation, I decided to let it go.¡± Jane retorted after hearing this.

    Once I was done revealing everything, the Fairy sighed and copsed on her sofa.

    We were already in a lounge where¡ªto my relief¡ªthere were Sofas big enough to sit on.

    ¡°And? The goal of those guys after you¡­ is to gather the Arcanas, right? I¡¯m surprised they already have so many already.¡± Jane shared my sentiment.

    It meant that the organization was just that formidable.

    ¡°Seeing as how they¡¯re the ones most likely behind this War, It¡¯s best to assume that they have even more power than we canprehend,¡± I added.

    ¡°And this whole Singrity stuff, it must have something to do with your Reincarnation. Oof, I¡¯ve also never heard of it before. This is quite a peculiar case.¡±

    Regardless, that did not sully Jane¡¯s brilliant smile in the slightest.

    No, it was actually the opposite.

    ¡°Hehehe! Finally, there¡¯s something fun we can crack together!¡± She giggled.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I should be excited about this, though. I mean¡­ these guys want to kill me, you know?¡±

    ¡°Bah! You can¡¯t die, not if I can help it!¡±

    I smiled once my friend basically offered her full support.

    ¡°Thanks, Jane. I appreciate the help¡­ and this seat as well. It¡¯s quitefortable.¡± I bounced on the sofa with a burst ofughter.

    ¡°I get visits from the Dwarves, Beastfolk, and the Elves. Of course, I¡¯ll have decent seats.¡± Jane sighed in exasperation.

    I could tell she just wanted to show off her achievements again.

    Apparently, my Fairy friend had lots of connections with almost every nation. The Eastern Kingdom was simply an exception.

    The Alliance she established was merely for business transactions, so she was receiving benefits from them and vice versa.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing really beneficial in the Eastern Kingdom.¡±

    She wasn¡¯tpletely wrong.

    In terms of Technology, Dwarves were better.

    In terms of power, Beastfolk were superior.

    In terms of Magic Aptitude, Elves were better.

    Humans were not the best in any department. So, in order to be efficient in her ventures, Jane excluded them from her partnership.

    ¡°How did things even turn out this way, though? I¡¯m surprised by how much this King¡ªsorry, Republic¡ªhas changed.¡±

    ¡°Ah, that? It would have happened much earlier if not for that stupid geezer.¡±

    The geezer she was referring to was none other than The Fairy King.

    ¡°Ah, that idiotic misogynist! That self-centered bastard. That narcissistic excuse for a ruler! Urgh, just thinking about him makes me want to throw up.¡±

    The only person Jane disliked more than Emilia was the Fairy King¡ªand for good reason.

    Even I could not stop her from raining those hardly appropriate words on him.

    Beruel wasn¡¯t exactly a bad guy, but his ideals and personality left much to be desired.

    He had a close-minded personality, and his philosophy on certain things shaped the Fairy Kingdom into the way it was in the past.

    For one, he was a misogynist. He believed women should be relegated to certain roles while men had the dominant positions in the Fairy Society.

    The Escorts, Ushers, and Immigration Offers were all females¡ªmeant to woo visitors with their charms, or provide entertainment to the males.

    Positions of power belonged to males as well. Even thoughpetent people like Jane existed in the Fairy Kingdom, she was never the head of her department until muchter.

    This was all thanks to Beruel, the Fairy King.

    He was also extremely self-centered and selfish.

    The decision for an Alliance against the Demons at that time¡ªeven though it would affect his subjects greatly¡ªwas agreed upon only by Beruel once I was able to satisfy his personal desire.

    He wanted certain blueprints and models to create a specific kind of golem¡­ and I delivered.

    I provided the answers to certain nerve reactions and movement patterns.

    Once Beruel was pleased with this little gift, as well as others toe, he readily agreed to mobilize his troops for war.

    While I was happy about his consent, I was also able to see just how much of a terrible monarch he was.

    ¡°Many Fairies died in that war¡ªall participating because of that idiot¡¯s selfishness! He should have consulted us first!¡± Till date, Jane still held the death of a lot of herrades against him.

    After the war was over, Jane was able to secure certain rights for the female Fairies, so life was bearable.

    Though she kept telling me how annoying the King could be anytime we spoke, I saw that she was fighting him off in her own way.

    Even when I died¡ªthough the two were in my room as I drew myst breath¡ªthey were still at loggerheads.

    ¡°After I was done with my Soul Project, he tried to gain ess to it forcefully. That was when I had enough of his annoying antics!¡± Jane was seething as she spoke.

    ording to her, she basically caused a rebellion within the Fairy Kingdom and organized a coup.

    The Fairy King was dethroned within a week.

    Even the males whom Beruel had supported so avidly, with the exception of the few who closely stuck to him, abandoned the Fairy King at that point.

    Since he had an unstable and dissociative personality, he was banished from the Fairy Sanctuary along with his close supporters.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen or heard of him since, and I certainly don¡¯t hope to. I just hope he rots in a corner and dies off.¡± Jane concluded.

    But, I had to wonder if things could be as simple as that.

 Chapter 436 Harsh Resolve

    Considering the fact that Beruel was quite a young Fairy when I knew him, he would still have quite a while to live.

    Knowing his personality, it was unlikely that he would simply let the matter die down. It was a matter of his hurt pride, after all.

    Beruel was an absolute king who lost everything. There was no way he would just let it all go.

    That was why I was so surprised¡ªas well as slightly worried¡ªthat he had gonepletely off the grid.

    ¡°Why do you think I have an alliance with the Beastfolk? He dares not try anything with this ce!¡±

    I gulped and nodded instantly.

    Jane was right. Even an idiot like Beruel knew not to mess with those guys.

    ¡®I¡¯m probably just overthinking things again.¡¯ I smiled, shrugging his image off my mind.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done well to n so far ahead.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s anyone else who¡¯ll do the job.¡± She sighed.

    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s why you¡¯re still President, even after so long?¡±

    My Fairy Friend nodded vehemently.

    ¡°Elections are supposed to be held every century. Yet, every time the campaign holds, no one desires topete with me, so I end up being the one chosen.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t also refuse the position since it gave her enough leverage to continue her research unhindered.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure thosezy bums just want to go around their business while leaving everything to me,¡± Jane yelled in frustration.

    Despite this outburst, I could still tell that she liked her position as President.

    ¡°Well, President of the Fairy Sanctuary¡­ shall we get down to business?¡± I said, now sping my hands together and staring at Jane with a serious look.

    ¡°Oh? You mean the Demon threat? Sure, I¡¯ll help you with all my capacity, but if we¡¯re going to be involving my citizens, there¡¯ll have to be a Public Poll.¡± Jane said.

    Apparently, her people voted for certain policies and privileges. This society was run with them in mind¡ªproviding for theirfort.

    ¡°Even your help alone is much appreciated, but the truth is that¡­ I want to use this War as an excuse to unify every Nation.¡±

    And so, I began my exnation of how beneficial it would be if we had a unified Alliance between every single Nation.

    Not only would it be useful for my means, but each Kingdom or Republic could learn from each other.

    As long we were able to operate on general interests, as well as a unifying factor, it was possible to create a United Front¡ªeven for the future.

    ¡°Hmm. I see your point. So, the Demons aren¡¯t even the main issue?¡±

    I slightly smiled at her question, shaking my head slightly.

    ¡°No. They¡¯re not.¡±

    People needed a sense of danger and urgency, which was simply why I used this invasion as an excuse.

    It was true that I needed to take care of the problem arising from them, but forming an Alliance wasn¡¯t exactly the only way.

    ¡°I see. I see. In any case, you¡¯ve convinced me. You just need to convince everyone else. I¡¯m sure you can do that.¡± I nearlyughed as Jane gave me a sly look.

    ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me.¡±

    We both giggled together, drowning our unease and concerns into the fun of enjoying each other¡¯spany.

    However, just as I expected¡­ the question dropped once again.

    ¡°Lewis, what do you n on doing with the Demons?¡±

    Myughter slowly died down, reced by a somber look. From my expression, Jane should have guessed what I was going to say.

    ¡°You mean, you¡¯re¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going to be wiping out every single Demon from this world.¡±

    She looked shocked¡ªno, probably even appalled¡ªby my intentions.

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who sought another way during thest war?¡±

    ¡°Indeed. But look where that got us. No more¡­ I¡¯ve given enough mercy to them.¡±

    Besides, it was toote for their Race anyway. The Organization was using them as pawns, so their very existence was a card that my enemies could use against me.

    To properly defend myself and leave no loose ends, it was best to eliminate them.

    ¡°¡­ Completely?¡±

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m going to kill every single one of them.¡±

    Innocents would be dragged into this mess, but it was the path I had chosen.

    ¡°I¡¯ve gotten a bigger perspective from thest time. Hatred breeds hatred. Even if we spare the innocents, they will jump at the opportunity to bare their fangs on the Alliance who devastated their Nation, and killed their people.¡±

    Desperation was a dangerous emotion. It was also very unpredictable.

    ¡®If the Organization uses their desperate emotion for vengeance¡­ they could utilize them in multiple ways that would be troublesome to handle.¡¯

    ¡°The most straightforward approach is to tackle the problem head-on and annihte their people.¡±

    ¡°W-whoah¡­ you¡¯ve really¡­¡± Jane was still recoiling from shock.

    I knew she didn¡¯t exactly feel pity for the Demons. She was probably just concerned about me.

    ¡°I¡¯ve chosen to cling tightly to those I care about. I will never let them go. As for those against me¡­ I will decimate them without mercy.¡±

    So far, I was fortunate that none of them had used underhanded means to target my family. There were countermeasures put in ce, but I didn¡¯t know how powerful my enemies were.

    It was the right call to chip off much as I could from the enemy¡¯s pawns.

    ¡°What of your memory of Karlia? You¡¯d really kill her people?¡±

    For a moment, there was silence. Jane¡¯s question hung in the air, and I bit my lip, returning to memories of the past that I abandoned.

    ¡°They did all those horrible things to her¡­ all the more reason why I should decimate them all. They aren¡¯t worth my mercy.¡±

    It was very selfish and hypocritical, but I had strengthened my resolve.

    ¡°I¡¯m no longer going to second-guess. I won¡¯t hesitate too. I¡¯ll simply do what I need to do.¡±

    That was the path I had pondered on greatly before finally choosing to tread.

    ¡°I see. Well, I¡¯ll be supporting you in your endeavor, Lewis.¡±

    ¡°Of course. Do you have a choice?¡±

    ¡°H-hey!¡± Jane squealed once more, causing me tough heartily.

    She really was too cute.

 Chapter 437 The Grand Demon Assembly

    Chapter 437 The Grand Demon Assembly

    >CLACK<

    >CLACK<

    >CLACK<

    Footsteps echoed all over the vast hallway as a few individuals made their appearance.

    They all had peculiar appearances, and their features were bizarre, monstrous, and downright malevolent.

    As they walked from various locations, the six individuals gathered at a single location.

    Right before then was a massive door that led to the Throne Room.

    The six beings present knew just who sat beyond the doors, and they had reverent expressions.

    Having absolute respect, as well as unquestionable loyalty, were the traits of every member here¡ªat least, almost all of them.

    "You may all enter." A deep voice surged from within.

    Upon hearing this, they instantly proceeded into the vast hall.

    From their distance, they could make out the magnificent image of Abellion as he sat on his throne.

    The females among them were already drooling over his magnificence.

    As he elegantly watched them enter, the Demon King''s eyes seemed to burn into their very soul, causing them all to shudder.

    The moment they stepped into the appropriate distance, all six Demon Lords bowed to their absolute ruler.

    "Raise your heads..."

    They responded instantly.

    "... Zenkiel of Vert. Lydia of nc. Serci of Jaune. Lubick of Bleu. Kyron of Noir. Desgarion of Rouge."

    As he called each other their names, the respective people shook even more. They did their best to stayposed before their master.

    "You have all done well to appear before this Grand Assembly. Now, then, shall we begin?"

    They bowed deeply and agreed with Abellion.

    ************************

    Zenkiel was anxious.

    "Serci, tell me your reports. Your agents have been dispersed all over, right?"

    His King, Abellion, was asking concerning the affairs of the Invasion¡ªjust as expected.

    He had already questioned Serci, Kyron, and Lubick.

    Zenkiel knew that it would soon be his turn.

    ''What do I say? How do I say it...?''

    His n had gone up in smoke, and he sacrificed valuable resources for nothing. Though he had a way to spring back from the slump he fell into, he feared that he wouldn''t get the chance to say it.

    "My King. Indeed, my agents have infiltrated several regions of the Eastern Kingdom. Thend of the Elves is too rich in Mana, so we can''t operate there. My agents disguise as birds and simply hover above the area for observation."

    The in white woman spoke, but her body still looked as nk as possible.

    "And? What have you learned?"

    "The humans possess certain individuals who are powerful, but they''re only a few. They call them Grand Mages, and only one is currently present in the Kingdom. The second is currently away on a diplomatic mission, and thest one is currently missing."

    Lydia proceeded to exin the level of power of most humans.

    From what she described, an average Demon would find it no problem to kill average humans in their multitude.

    If Magic or Martial Arts got involved, Demons supposedly on the same level as humans would emerge as the superior ones.

    That meant the Demons were actually superior.

    "While no one really has an exact idea of how powerful the Grand Mages are, if we equate them to Demon Lords, then that should be more than enough."

    Even such an estimation seemed far-fetched, but Lydia was never one to underestimate her opponents.

    She had survived so long donning multiple identities because of this very fact.

    "Finally, one of the most concerning matters is a ce called Ainrk Academy."

    Everyone looked at each other with particrly displeased expressions.

    They were all aware of the story of Kahn''s failure there, and how mere students were able to fight back against the Demons.

    "While the students there are no threats to us whatsoever¡ªthe strong ones have graduated¡ªthe problem lies with the staff.

    There are quite a number of exceptional lecturers there. Plus, the Headmaster..."

    Lydia was worried about the one called Neron Kaelid.

    Though she had neverid eyes on him in person, the words she heard about him made her feel like he was probably as impressive as a Grand Mage¡ªespecially after he had a match with yet another bizarre existence.

    "There are too many uncertainties involved, but I stumbled across something that would definitely be used as a great card against us." As Lydia said this, she used Magic to project a blueprint of something.

    Using her sight to capture anything or anyone, nc could use Light Magic to turn them into projections.

    That way, she could show everyone what she saw.

    It took a while for the Demon Lords, and even the Demon King, topletely decipher the drawing andbeling disyed.

    "T-this is¡ª!!!" They respectively gasped the moment they grasped the meaning.

    Indeed, it was an unexpected sight, but the device drawn in the projected blueprint was something that caused even the Demon King to shake slightly in his throne.

    "A destructive weapon, uh? They probably intend to use it against us in the War." Abellion growled.

    "Yes. After investigating the staff within the Academy thoroughly¡ªespecially a particrly risky, but dexterous, man called Maro¡ªI came across the blueprint."

    Apparently, the humans were using Ainrk Academy as a cover to create a machine with enough capacity to destroy tons of Demons in one fell swoop.

    "What do you think, Lubick? Just what kind of damage could this device wreak?" For a moment, Abellion''s gaze went to the blue-skinned Demon.

    "Ah, forgive me for my ignorance, but... I do not know. But, that only means one thing..." The Demon Lord of Bleu hardened his face as he spoke.

    "... That thing has an unlimited capacity. As long as an appropriate power source is ced in, it could trante the energy into a purely destructive force."

    That meant the capabilities of the device were only equal to the power source used for it.

    "We don''t know what the humans want to utilize as its core, but such a weapon is still too dangerous," Abellion spoke.

    He would not tolerate any form of threat to his people.

    "We should storm the Academy to destroy the weapon¡ªor better yet, retrieve it."

 Chapter 438 [Bonus chapter]The Path Of War[Pt 1]

    ¡°We should storm the Academy to destroy the weapon¡ªor better yet, capture it for ourselves.¡±

    This suggestion was brought about by none other than Serci, the meathead.

    Abellion hadn¡¯t asked for her opinion, yet she impulsively spoke. This caused everyone to stare at her with annoyance.

    Once she realized her thoughtless actions, the monstrous Demon Lord profusely apologized.

    ¡°That¡¯s all right.¡± Abellion, the merciful Demon King forgave her on the spot.

    ¡°My King, if I may¡­¡± Lydia, the one who brought this report, decided to raise her hand.

    ¡°What is it? You have a suggestion?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my King. Rather than storming the Academy, I believe it would be best to act discreetly. I currently have no idea where the weapon currently is, but it¡¯s also possible that they may transport the weapon to another location while we invade.¡±

    Lydia¡¯s words were filled with sense, so all her colleagues listened with rapt attention.

    ¡°I believe I should continue my investigation¡ªone that involves me alone.¡±

    The Demon Lord of nc proposed to be allowed autonomy in order to investigate the device. Her n was impable, as usual.

    ¡°I see. So, what would happen if you eventually find it?¡±

    Ultimately, they had to decide on what they would do to the weapon.

    ¡°I believe it¡¯s best if we destroy it. A weapon made by humans can not be trusted enough to bring to the Demon Realm. Besides, they probably designed it with the concept of Mana in mind.¡±

    Since Demons utilized Miasma, such a device would be useless to them.

    There were other risks involved, so it was better to simply sabotage the device.

    ¡°We have enough forces to destroy them, so I believe we should simply cripple their attempts at resistance.¡± That way, ording to Lydia, victory was ultimately certain.

    Abellion loved her idea, and decided to implement it.

    As a Demon Lord, she had just raised herself on a higher pedestal. While her colleagues had also been trying their best, none could argue that Lydia¡¯s role had yielded the most.

    ¡°Then, operate with the utmost discretion, Lydia. Destroy the device as discreetly as possible. If possible, beyond recovery. It would be entertaining to see the look of despair on their faces when they realize that the weapon they are relying on for salvation ends up being destroyed.¡±

    As always, the Demon Lords were in awe of their great leader¡¯s words.

    ¡°Now, then, Zenkiel¡­ it¡¯s your turn.¡±

    The Demon Lord of Vert quivered a bit, clearly ufortable as he stepped forward.

    Lydia of nc had just given a wless presentation of her use to the King, but Zenkiel¡ªwho was usually so charismatic¡ªnow appeared timid.

    ¡°I approved of your two-pronged attacks on the respective enemy nations. Kyron also mentioned that you took four thousand Demon Beasts as troops. How was the yield?¡±

    Zenkiel gulped as he pictured the disappointed expression of his master once he told him of his failure.

    ¡°I-I apologize, my King. They were all wiped out easily. I was unable to gain even the littlest of Intel.¡±

    All the Demons in the great hall expressed immense surprise at what Zenkiel just uttered. Even though no Demon Lord would openly say it, they all knew that Zenkiel was the most capable of them.

    For his ns to have gone up in smoke like that¡­ was strange.

    ¡°Exin yourself, Zenkiel.¡± Abellion¡¯s voice was calm.

    It was that of a master trying to understand the failure of his subordinate. Zenkiel knew this well because he was the same to the members of his Nine Stars.

    ¡°My King, the Humans and Elves are too strong. Our original estimation of their power is too small. In fact, I currently do not have a full grasp concerning just what they are capable of.¡±

    Before any word could be spoken, Zenkiel used Magic to demonstrate his point.

    Unlike Lydia, he could not utilize Projection through Light Magic. Still, Demons also had Magic Technology and Artifacts that were discovered during the previous war.

    One of them allowed the recording and projection of certain urrences.

    Lubick and his team were able to replicate the item, making it capable of monitoring long distances.

    One end would be the transmitter and the other served as a receiver.

    Zenkiel brought four Receivers from thin air, using his Spatial Magic, and then activated them.

    He disyed the footage of the four respective scenes simultaneously. This allowed everyone in the room to watch just how the battle had gone down.

    Everyone was shocked beyond words.

    From the strange swordsman in the mountains, to the crazy duo in the North, to the bombardment of the Elves with purely destructive power¡­ and then the most bizarre.

    ¡°What the hell¡­?¡±

    ¡°Is that a Golem?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s so big!¡±

    ¡°How does such a thing¡­¡±

    The Demon Lords were initially puzzled by the size and design. However, after seeing what the construct was capable of, they fell into dead silence.

    ¡°A-as you can see¡­ their capabilities exceed our expectations. In fact, I do not have a correct estimate of their strength.¡±

    Those who had limited strength were prone to hiding it. But, the fact that their enemies had shown such unrestrained power, it meant they still had reserve strength.

    ¡°I¡­ see¡­¡± Even King Abellion was flustered.

    Still, though, as the absolute leader of the people who were before him, The Demon King maintained his supreme aura.

    ¡°So, Zenkiel, what do you propose?¡±

    ¡°As for that, I discovered something after this failure of mine. The enemies have a brilliant strategist aiding them. That is why our efforts to ensure no Alliance could be formed went up in smoke.¡±

    The mastermind had countered the move of the Demons and utilized it to his advantage.

    ¡°He can see through our ns and counter them with a more sophisticated one. It is shameful for me to say, but based on what has happened so far, he is most likely more brilliant than I am.¡±

    Another barrage of gasps filled the grand hall. Zenkiel had the most experience and maturity among all the Demon Lords.

    In terms of intelligence and strategy, he was unrivaled.

    Yet, this great individual confessed that he was inferior to another.

 Chapter 439 The Path Of War [Pt 2]

    ¡°That is why¡­ I have concluded that it is unwise to keep resorting to strategies and trickery. It would be a waste of time and effort.¡±

    That was thest thing anyone expected Zenkiel to say.

    The Demon Lord who came before him was one who believed in impable nning and wless strategy.

    Zenkiel inherited his previous master¡¯s will, allowing him to be moderately cautious but also decisive in everything.

    To have been capable of throwing aside the brilliant arts of war that his master entrusted to him was something no one sawing.

    But, the Demon Lord of Vert was no fool. His line of reasoning waspletely justified.

    ¡°We should simply crush them with our numbers. That is the only way we can swiftly ensure victory.¡±

    The reason why the Demons had chosen to resort to strategies was so they could retain a good number of their forces, even after engaging in warfare with the Humans and Elves.

    After all, the Fairies, Therianthropes, and Dwarves were still enemies to extinguish. However, with the current state of affairs, it was simply better to go all-out on the enemy.

    ¡°I realize that we do not have enough battle strength to challenge both continents¡ªespecially given their level of power¡ªwhich is why I propose dealing with one Kingdom first, then proceeding to the next.¡±

    That way, victory was guaranteed, and the Demons would also have another stronghold to utilize.

    ¡°I seem You make a fair argument. Indeed, from the fact that the humans are capable of making such a devastating weapon¡ªas Lydia said¡ªas well as the sights we have all witnessed, it¡¯s safe to say that they have been hiding their strengths.¡± Abellion spoke in a low undertone.

    What didn¡¯t make sense was why they decided to reveal their hand. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better if the Demons underestimated them?

    ¡°Apparently, the mastermind in question also foresaw that I would make this move. He made preparations to checkmate me in this affair.¡± Zenkiel stated, causing everyone to dread the existence of the person whom their respectable Demon Lord spoke of.

    ¡°Just how many steps can he think ahead? I have no idea¡­¡±

    Not many could detect it, but the likes of Lydia instantly noticed traces of admiration in Zenkiel¡¯s tone.

    He had something akin to a deep respect for the enemy who was smart enough to surpass him.

    ¡°Hmm. That puts us in a tight condition. But, how do you know this, Zenkiel?¡±

    The Demon Lord smiled in relief, happy that he hade out of the thick forest of despair. If he yed his cards right now, he could redeem himself.

    ¡°A member of the Cult is among the Delegates sent for the Alliance. In essence, he is on the same team as the mastermind.¡±

    ¡°What? Really?¡±

    ¡°Yes. He was the one who brought me the intel. Apparently, he deciphered our moves and is also nning another one to checkmate us.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the identity of that member?¡± Abellion rubbed his chin more intensity at this point.

    ¡°His name is Damien Lawcroft, Tenth Seat of the Cult. He was born and bred in the Eastern Kingdom, and he is an integral part of the Nobility there. So far, he had avoided all forms of suspicion, and also has the full support and trust of the Crown Prince.¡±

    Abellion nodded slightly, satisfied by the conditions the man fulfilled.

    ¡°I was a bit skeptical that such a mastermind wouldn¡¯t have discovered the existence of a mole on his team, but the man¡¯s portfolio protects him from suspicion.¡±

    Besides, the mastermind must have also been more focused on the threat of the Demon Invasion that he wasn¡¯tpletely searching for moles.

    ¡®It¡¯s at times like this that a person relies most onrades. I understand that he¡¯ll be more focused on the external than the internal¡­¡¯ Abellion gave a thought as he smiled wryly.

    ¡°So, this member told you of his ns, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my King. He knew we would be concentrating our Forces on a single Kingdom first. He also guessed rightly that I would choose to attack the Elves first.¡±

    The level of reasoning behind the Mastermind¡¯s logic and introspection was enough to make Zenkiel wonder if the opponent could read his mind.

    ¡°I see. While I don¡¯t like owning the Cult favors, they¡¯ve done us a great favor for this piece of Intel.¡± The Demon King murmured.

    ¡°Indeed. This turns the tables around for good. If we utilize the assumption made by their Alliance to our favor, we should be able to catch them off guard.¡±

    The other Demon Lords joined their Ruler to nod in agreement to Zenkiel¡¯s sublime words.

    ¡°We will attack the Eastern Kingdom first, then¡­ and we will decimate their continent beyond recovery.¡± Abellion smiled wickedly.

    And so, while the Allied enemies would be expecting an attack on the Elf Kingdom, concentrating their Forces on that end of the world, the Demon Horde would catch thempletely off guard.

    ¡®Perfect.¡¯ Abellion¡¯s mind sparked with excitement.

    ¡°How long will it take for our army to be mobilized for the Eastern Kingdom?¡±

    His words contained resolve, as well as a malevolent urge to tear down an entire civilization.

    ¡°I-if we consider the distance between their continent and our Army Base, it¡¯ll take longer than usual. I¡¯d say six days.¡± Zenkiel murmured.

    It had been four days since the first invasion on the respective Borders of their enemies began.

    Within Six days, if they mobilized their army and rallied for battle, it would be ten days. While it was awfully short for a war, considering thest onested for years, Abellion preferred things this way.

    ¡°We¡¯ll crush the Humans first¡­ and then we will also decimate the Elves.¡±

    ¡°I also heard that he¡¯s nning on involving the Fairies, Beastfolk, and Dwarves into the Alliance. Knowing him, it¡¯s possible that he might seed.¡±

    Abellion growled when he heard this. It would be bad if all the forces of the world were to descend upon the Demons.

 Chapter 440 The Path Of War [Pt 3]

    ¡°Damien Lawcroft, our eyes and ears there, can not make any conspicuous moves, but¡­ he¡¯ll keep us updated from time to time.¡±

    Once Abellion heard this, he was at least assured of a flow of information.

    The Mastermind was more resourceful than he expected.

    The Demons currently had the advantage when it came to the number of soldiers at their disposal.

    However, that could change depending on whether or not the Alliance seeded.

    ¡°Good. We¡¯ll be counting on him¡­¡± The Demon King spoke half-heartedly.

    Ultimately, what they had to do hadn¡¯t changed.

    ¡®We¡¯ll just destroy them before they have a chance to rally together!¡¯

    Lydia would take down their device, tearing them apart from within, and then the Demon Forces would strike en masse.

    Once they decimated the Human Kingdom, they would corrupt the whole area with Miasma, making it their second stronghold.

    There were four major continents in the world, so if the Demons gained possession of two, then it would be much easier to strike the other Nations.

    ¡®It¡¯s perfect!¡¯ Abellion could already see victory within reach.

    Still, something nudged at him.

    It could have been curiosity or slight worry, but Abellion could not let go of the impression that was upon him.

    ¡°Zenkiel, do you know the name of this Mastermind?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my King!¡± The loyal Demon Lord responded instantly.

    He had been shocked when he heard of his identity from Damien Lawcroft, so Zenkiel knew quite well that everyone would soon burst out in surprise.

    ¡°His name is Jared Leonard, a 15-Year-Old Noble from the Eastern Kingdom.¡±

    ¡°WHAT?!¡± Surprised gasps filled the massive hall.

    The Demon Lords were beyond dumbfounded that a mere child was able to outsmart their most brilliant strategist.

    It was unbelievable, but Zenkiel wouldn¡¯t dare spout lies to the Demon King. That meant he was telling the truth.

    Everyone stared at their absolute ruler, only to find his eyes bulging in shock. This expression seemed to exceed that of mere surprise. He seemed to be ovee with anger.

    ¡°T-this is¡­¡± Gritting teeth were disyed by the King, and his hands pressed on the throne quite tightly.

    Yes, he was definitely upset.

    ¡®Legris Damien, that bastard!¡¯ Abellion¡¯s thoughts snapped.

    He remembered when his human ¡®friend¡¯ told him not to harm a particr individual among the humans.

    He should have researched the person, but Abellion simply let it go.

    To think that the same human he was told to spare was the root source of their problems. Abellion also realized that Legris must have also been aware of the human¡¯s capabilities.

    ¡®So, this is how he wants to act, uh¡­?¡¯ Abellion realized that the man¡¯s actions had no bearing with the Cult they were partnered with.

    After all, Legris had asked him for the favor outside official business.

    Still, he couldn¡¯t ept the fact that his supposed ally withheld such important information from him.

    ¡®Jared Leonard¡­ just how valuable is he?¡¯ Abellion didn¡¯t want to spare him, but he realized that for such a child to be at the center of everything, there had to be some relevance orded to him.

    ¡®I will have to see for myself¡­¡¯

    If he was important to Legris, then capturing him would be the best way to handle the situation. But, considering how formidable this Jared person had proven himself to be, it was best to take care of him after they had solidified their victory over the Humans.

    ¡®He¡¯ll be at the Elf Kingdom alongside the Army of the Alliance. We¡¯ll use that opportunity to take down his home!¡¯ Abellion plotted evilly.

    By the time Jared Leonard recognized what was happening, the Eastern Continent would be shrouded in Miasma¡ªmaking it an extremely unfavorable battlefield.

    In the end, victory would belong to him.

    ¡®After this war is over, I¡¯ll have to have a long chat with Legris¡­¡¯

    For now, though, they had to be busy with several things that warranted their attention. A full invasion required time, effort, and resources.

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to¡ª¡¯

    ¡°What about me? What will be my role in this war?¡± Someone among the Demon Lords sharply interrupted.

    Everyone instantly knew who it was, and even though they were extremely displeased that he spoke in such an impudent way to the King, they couldn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Desgarion¡­ are you that impatient?¡± Abellion muttered, staring at the Crimson Demon.

    The Demon Lord of Rouge did not flinch. He simply stared back in defiance.

    Being relegated to the sidelines had made him grow more brazen in his disy of displeasure.

    Everyone in the room felt the tension rise to an rming rate. Beads of sweat and expressions of difort spread among all of them.

    However, Abellion got rid of the decorum by speaking up.

    ¡°You will remain here¡ªin the Demon Realm¡ªwhile our Army marches out.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Desgarion looked even more agitated now.

    His bloodshot eyes that sought violence were beginning to twitch. Veins appeared in his head, disying obvious displeasure.

    Once it reached a climax, there was no doubt that Desgarion was going to challenge Abellion.

    ¡°It would be unwise to leave our front doors unguarded as weunch an all-out invasion. Think about it.¡±

    Everyone agreed with Abellion¡¯s words. Zenkiel was going to bring it upter, but their King was one step ahead¡ªas always.

    ¡°And? What does that have to do with me? I should be on guard duty?¡±

    ¡°No. That¡¯s not it. If we begin invading the Eastern Kingdom, there¡¯s no way the people of the West will stay still. Even if it¡¯s just a dangerous struggle, they will do everything it takes to counter.¡±

    Thend of the Elves was closer to the Northern Continent.

    It was highly likely that they would strike the North rather than attempt to recover theirnds in the Eastern Kingdom¡ªespecially if someone as efficient as the Mastermind was the one in charge.

    Rather than relying on sentiment, intelligence would dictate that attacking the enemy¡¯s stronghold while it was defenseless would be the only way out.

    ¡°That¡¯s where youe in. Desgarion, you will be waiting behind to defeat the enemies that foolishly attempt to take down our Realm while we¡¯re away.¡±

 Chapter 441 Violent Anticipation

    Everyone could see Desgarion¡¯s anger subside.

    As always, only the Demon King was able to control the beast that was the Crimson Demon Lord among them.

    ¡°Will they be strong?¡± Desgarion asked, his eyes unwavering.

    There was no point in fighting if the enemy was weak.

    In response to this, the Almighty King Abellion smiled on his throne.

    ¡°Yes. They will be. And if you¡¯re lucky¡­ you may end up shing with the Mastermind himself.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Is he strong, though?¡±

    ¡°ording to Legris Damien, Jared Leonard is stronger than him. He also can¡¯t fathom the depths of his power.¡± Zenkiel answered Desgarion¡¯s question promptly

    ¡°Who cares about a mere Lower Seat of that Cult? I want to know if he¡¯s really strong.¡± Desgarion growled, causing Zenkiel to jack off.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it until Zenkiel said his name, but this Jared Leonard is the same person who fought against the Headmaster of Ainrk¡ªa man said to be on an equal level as a Grand Mage,¡± Lydia added, fighting to maintain herposure as she spoke.

    ¡°Oh? And who won?¡± Desgarion¡¯s curiosity was piqued.

    ¡°Jared Leonard won.¡±

    The Crimson Demon¡¯s eyes widened instantly.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM<

    An intense wave of bloodlust filled the room as the monster among Demons grinned with excitement.

    ¡°I suppose that means you¡¯ll be staying behind, then?¡±

    ¡°I will.¡± Desgarion smiled, his grin akin to a rabid beast.

    ¡°I will fight with him¡­ Jared Leonard.¡±

    While there were still objections to Desgarion¡¯s attitude, none could object or correct him.

    At least, he was able to agree with their King¡¯s order. That was the relief they all clung to.

    ¡°Alright, then. Let us make preparations¡­¡± King Abellion rose to his feet and gave a wide smile filled with charisma and authority.

    The Demon Lords instantly went on their knees in a bow of reverence.

    They awaited the words of their supreme leader inplete silence.

    ¡°¡­ We¡¯re going to war!¡±

    *******************

    We stayed in the Fairy Sanctuary for three days.

    Jane needed to settle some things before our Alliance could be solidified.

    I was in no hurry, so we patiently waited for her to finish.

    The problem with a Republican System of Government was the bureaucracy involved.

    A monarch simply needed to give an order, and it would be executed, but the Fairy Sanctuary had strict protocols that needed to be followed.

    ording to Jane, it was to ensure the absence of tyranny and abuse of power. While I understood certain aspects of the means of leadership, I found the process annoying.

    Still, since it was something everyone was content with, I had no say in the matter.

    The vote elections were held on the second day, and I had to give my public proposal through a manifesto.

    I addressed the Fairies with respect, leveraging on the knowledge I had of them in the past.

    Fortunately, I knew the faces of many of the people I spoke to¡ªconsidering the fact that they couldn¡¯t die.

    The votes were cast, and our proposal for an Alliance went through.

    It took an extra day for the process to be finalized, and both representatives of the respective nations¡ªin essence, Jane and I¡ªhad to sign an agreement and shake hands in public.

    ¡®Weird culture¡­¡¯ My thoughts trailed as I smiled wryly.

    Still, it was a refreshing experience. Since I wasn¡¯t very pressed for time, I could also allow theseid-back activities.

    After three days passed, we were ready to go to our next location.

    ¡®It¡¯s been a week since I gave Ana that project of hers. I wonder how she¡¯s doing¡­?¡¯ I smiled internally.

    There were other things in the works, but the time wasn¡¯t ripe yet.

    It would probably take a few more days before the Demons wouldplete their preparation and rally against us.

    Before then, I needed to gain the support of the Beastfolk and Dwarves.

    ¡®Can I aplish that in three days? I guess we¡¯ll have to find out.¡¯

    Our group of delegates hadn¡¯t changed, but Lemi was staying behind to hang out with Jane for a little while.

    Apparently, the Mad Witch wanted to examine the half Elf¡¯s peculiar constitution.

    Since she had never seen Miasma coexisting with Mana before, it was pretty predictable that this would happen.

    I was her initial choice, but I was currently upied with saving the world, so Jane had her sights set on the next target.

    ¡®Huu, good luck, Lemi!¡¯ I almost burst outughing as the Half-Elf innocently bid our little group farewell.

    She had no idea of the horrors that awaited her as a test subject. Well, it wasn¡¯t all bad, but¡­

    Shuddering at the thought, I left the Fairy Kingdom with my team, holding a letter from Jane herself.

    It was addressed to the King of the Therianthropes¡ªa means of formality¡ªthough we both knew it would do no good with regards to what I wanted.

    In the ce I was headed, might made right. To assert myself as someone worth attention, I would need to prove it.

    Jane¡¯s letter was just to get the bothersome exnation part over with.

    ¡°I have a business rtionship with them, so they won¡¯t treat you guys harshly. Since I can¡¯te with you guys because of my duties, this is the least I can do topensate.¡± My dear friend had said.

    It would have been nice if we could explore the world outside, the way we used to, but I was well aware of the current reality.

    ¡®Maybe some other time¡­¡¯ I consoled myself, cing the letter into my special space.

    Taking one final nce at the advanced metropolis that was the Fairy Sanctuary, I bid farewell to the ce.

    By my side were both allies and enemies, but I wasn¡¯t worried in the slightest.

    ¡®Things just got easier.¡¯

    And so, we all departed with a sh of blue and white bursts of energy as I activated my Teleportation Spell.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    In the blink of an eye, we appeared atop a very high cliff¡ªone of the many mountains surrounding us.

    It was filled with warmth and the smell of tropical nts.

    The sun burned our skin, and the warm breeze could sway a person off-bnce.

    Still, I inhaled the fresh air and looked beneath the summit we stood on.

    My grin broadened when Iid eyes on my target location.

    ¡®Found you! Alright, let¡¯s do this!¡¯

 Chapter 442 King Of Beasts

    Chapter 442 King Of Beasts

    Surrounded by several cliffs was arge settlement that wasrger in size than any city I had everid eyes on.

    It was at least three times the size of the Royal Capital, and thend was flourishing with goodness.

    Trees were in abundance, like well-watered gardens, and steams flowed across the richnd.

    I spotted twokes as well, each glistening with the beauty of nature.

    This Nation, located at the epicenter of nature, was bustling with activities... as well as denizens.

    The Beastfolk¡ªalso known as Therianthropes¡ªwere beings who appeared to be a mix of humans and animals.

    I''m simple terms, they were akin to hybrids.

    Unlike Humans, though, they possessed immense capabilities¡ªeven from birth.

    Since there were many variations among them as well, Beastfolk had a very rich and diverse set of cultures.

    Even from my heights, I observed the mix of several subraces. The way they interacted with each other¡ªgoing about their businesses¡ªwas intriguing.

    Unlike Humans, Elves, and Fairies, that lived in set habitats, Beastfolk had peculiar areas in their Nation attributed to various members of theirmunity.

    Beastfolk belonging to the cat family had their preferred habitatpared to those who had attributes of milder animals.

    In the same vein, fish species like Mermaids dwelled by thekes and had their littlemunity there.

    Bird-like Beastfolk also lived in more elevated areas, so their Nation was a mix of various peculiar kinds of sights.

    Of course, those who could interact with one another did so, so it wasn''t a disorderly society.

    Myrades and I spent a moment of silence, simply staring at the expanse beneath us.

    I watched how the little ones yed games among one another, and how an especially pretty one was being courted by several men.

    The men fought one another to assert their dominance, and the fox girl simply smiled in Glee as she watched the suitors prove themselves.

    ''Some things never change.'' I grinned to myself, focusing my gaze on a particr structure located on a precipice¡ªsome sort of hill that was elevated and conspicuous for everyone to notice.

    The hill was higher than any other, and argepound was constructed on it. A few houses were in thepound, all serving various purposes.

    However, there was one main building that gathered the respect and awe of any who wouldy eyes on it.

    While the houses of the other Beastfolk were simple¡ªthough not shabby¡ªthe massive house atop the hill was of a different breed entirely.

    This was the habitat of the one who served as the glue that held all the many races together.

    It was none other than the residence of the Beast King.

    "I wonder who it''ll be this time..." I whispered, looking at how myrades were captivated by the sight before us.

    "What now, Jared?" Serah was the first to speak.

    She was smiling widely, already noticing that I was already aware of from the start.

    "Now? We storm the Pce." I returned her excited smile.

    "Really?" Her eyes widened even further.

    "I told you before we went on this journey, didn''t I? You''re going to have fun."

    The ''fun'' I was referring to wasn''t simply the exotic view of various new ces, as well as quality time withrades.

    No, there was one thing Serah considered to be more fun than anything else.

    ¡ªCombat!

    "They''re all... so strong!" Her eyes returned to the denizens of the nation.

    That''s right, every single Beastfolk was strong beyond reason.

    Even the kids would be able to win against experienced Mages. The power bnce was unfair and absolutely ridiculous.

    Their degree of strength was what allowed them to live in such peace and stability¡ªconsidering the fact that they were at the very top of the food chain.

    Of course, the culture of Beastfolk also exploited their absurd level of power.

    Tournaments, Challenges, Fight Festivals, etc. were organized to test the capabilities of their members¡ªalso nurturing the young ones.

    The female members of this society generally picked the strongest male as her mate, and strength was valued above all else.

    Despite how crazy it all seemed, the way of the Therianthropes was the simplest to live by.

    The Strong protect the Weak.

    The Weak serve the Strong.

    As such, the irond rule of the Beastfolk was enacted.

    It was not written on any stone tablet, neither was it documented on a piece of parchment. No, thisw was engraved into the hearts of every resident of thismunity.

    The principle¡ª

    Might makes Right!

    ¡ªwas supreme.

    "We have Jane''s letter of introduction, and it''ll be troublesome to walk down the streets of their very active neighborhood, so..."

    Serah''s face showed me how much she was anticipating my words.

    "... We''re heading for the strongest man around here!"

    That was none other than the Beast King.

    "And when we get there..." I stared in the Grand Mage''s direction.

    "... You''re going to beat the shit out of him."

    ****************************

    Gerard was lying down on a mat, staring at the bright blue skyyered above him.

    He stretched out his hands to reach it, but it seemed so far out of reach. Somehow, that seemed to describe what sort of existence he was.

    "Shit..."

    As a Rareborn Beastfolk¡ªone who had ess to more than two Beast Traits¡ªhe was always at the top.

    He was even better than Mixed Breeds, and far more powerful than their advantage of possessing abilities from both sides of their parents.

    It was as though he was born to thrive at the pinnacle of everything.

    Gerard, even as a child, bested adults who were meant to be superior to him.

    It was no wonder that he had managed to be Beast King when he was still in his youth.

    ''I''m currently 39 Years Old... sigh...'' He had no words to express his emptiness and constipation regret.

    Even though he had enough power and allure to obtain as many mates as possible, Gerard only epted the best of females to bear his children.

    He needed a superior breed, after all.

    Unfortunately, none of those who were his seed had nearly as much power as he did. They were all strong in their own right, butpared to him when he was their age, all fifty-one children were weak.

    ''One is an exception, but...'' He sighed at the hopeless situation.

    That was why Gerard decided not to bother any longer.

    He had gotten past the point of caring at this point.

    "Huu... when will ''it'' happen, I wonder? Any time from now..." He mumbled more words to himself.

    Would he just stagnate this way until his death? Gerard thought about this as he closed his eyes and waited for the day toe and go¡ªsame as every other.

    However...

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

 Chapter 443 Serah Vs Gerard [Pt 1]

    Chapter 443 Serah Vs Gerard [Pt 1]

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The earth rumbled, causing Gerard to awaken from his daze in a sh.

    "Who''s the boss around here?" A loud and imposing voice called out.

    It sounded feminine, but the Beast King had no idea of any of the females who would dare cause a ruckus this unpleasant.

    From the penthouse where he was peacefully lying, he groaned while getting to his feet.

    ''Shit... who the hell...''

    Grumblingzily, he stood.

    "You on the roof! Yeah, I can sense you. You''re the strongest here, right?"

    It was impressive that she had been able to sense his level of power even though he was yet to make his appearance.

    That was what went on in Gerard''s mind as he quickened his pace to reach the edge of his penthouse so he could get a good look at the intruder.

    ''A female... being this imposing? Hmmm...'' The Beast King finally arrived at the edge of his residence''s roof, only to see a being he never expected.

    ''Human? A human woman?''

    Thedy that filled his vision had crimson hair, and her eyes were glowing violently. It was enough to faze Gerard for a moment.

    Her teeth were disyed as she grinned widely.

    "You''re the Beast King, right? I challenge you!" She suddenly spoke, pointing at him with utter disrespect.

    It had been a while since Gerard received such treatment, so he was a little slow to catch on.

    No warrior had challenged him in years, and none of those who came before were females¡ªtalkless humans.

    The human woman who stood beneath him was quite brave. He gave her full marks for that.

    ''But, she''s too naive. How can she expect me to¡ª'' Gerard thought to himself, tired of the many weaklings he had been dealing with ever since he attained recognition.

    Rather unfortunately for him¡ªor rather, everything around him¡ªthe Beast King was unable toplete his thoughts.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Thepound settling upon instantly cracked apart, shattering the summit where the woman stood.

    The house, where Gerard was so proudly watching from, turned into blocks of debris. The other buildings suffered the same fate, copsing instantly.

    The broken buildings and devastated hill caused an imbnce around them, but that was simply settled by the human woman''s next move.

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Everything ended up being consumed by her crimson energy, turning into dust.

    The luxuriouspound and homes that were specifically built with the best materials¡ªserving as the supreme residence of an absolute being¡ªwere so easily devastated beyond recognition.

    "ording to that kid, if you don''t ept my challenge, I''m meant to resort to this..." The red-haired woman was now looking at Gerard with determination.

    With no tform to stand on, she was suspended in the air¡ªthe same as Gerard.

    "You..." The Beast King growled, pping the enormous wings behind him.

    His deep frown slowly transformed into a wide grin¡ªmatching the woman who was before him.

    The bored and apathetic look in his eyes was no longer anywhere to be found. Instead, his energy swelled with power, and his muscles bulged as a result.

    "... You crazy bitch!"

    Now having the eyes of a predator ready to devour his prey, Gerard focused his gaze on the stranger.

    ''I''ll beat the shit out of you!''

    ***************************

    ''Perfect!''

    I was watching the battle from a safe distance, along with everyone else on my team.

    After Serah destroyed The Beast King''spound¡ªand supposedly with everyone inside¡ªI was certain that he would be more motivated to fight.

    ''I transported every person in the houses, though, so they''re safe...''

    The Beast King didn''t know this, though, so he wouldn''t be holding back at all.

    I had finally set the perfect stage to watch Serah engaging in unbridledbat.

    ''I''m sure you prefer it this way too, Serah. You get to show your full capabilities¡ªno rules!'' My grin broadened as I looked beneath me.

    At this point, all the denizens had halted their activities and now looked above them.

    Their focus was on the two figures that floated in the sky.

    One was none other than their Beast King, then the other was an unknown human woman.

    The people all watched, as though ready for entertainment.

    No one felt any sense of unease¡ªof course, except for my team members.

    "I-is this really alright? We just entered the territory of our potential allies and you pull this off?"

    Freya was the one speaking.

    She couldn''tprehend why I would choose the path of violence. But, there was no need for her to.

    "You''ll understand eventually. Just watch." I spotted Maria staring at me from the corner of my eyes.

    "Observe this fight too, Maria. Serah Crimson was your superior in the Imperial Forces, right?"

    "Y-yeah. What about it?" Her tone was slightly flustered.

    "Well, have you ever seen her go all-out?"

    "No. No one throughout the Kingdom is a match for her inbat, or so I''ve heard."

    I nodded, then turned in the direction of the floating beings, observing as they readied themselves forbat.

    "Well, you might get to see her do that now."

    "Is the Beast King that strong?"

    I wanted to burst outughing, but controlled myself. Maria''s question was stemming from ignorance, after all.

    "Beast King is the title given to the strongest Beastfolk around. Heredity or Lineage had nothing to do with it. Absolute strength is all that matters. An Average Beastfolk can best a Mage or Intermediate Martial Artist inbat, so just imagine what their most powerful elect would be like."

    Though that was probably the only thing going for them¡ªpower.

    Their animalistic traits, as well as their superior bloodline, gave them the perfect bodies suited for violence.

    Even the Demons feared them to an extent. The Dwarves who preferred solitude above anything else had to form ties with the Beastfolk because they recognized the power of their neighbor.

    Judging by how the War was going to turn out, this would be thest ce the Demons would siege.

    The reason wasmon sense.

    Still...

    "That''s why this fight is the best." I smiled.

    A match where absolute power would collide; even I was slightly throbbing in excitement.

    ''Now then, show me, Beast King! Show me just how powerful you are!''

 Chapter 444 Serah vs Gerard [Pt 2]

    Chapter 444 Serah vs Gerard [Pt 2]

    Powerful people exuded a certain aura that was impossible to dismiss.

    Perhaps it was because of his earlier nonchnce, but Gerard was finally noticing that about his opponent.

    In his mind, he thought, ''She''s strong!''

    The depth of her strength was unknown to him, but it was still ridiculous to consider that he might lose.

    However... Gerard was determined to see just how much she would be able to keep up with him.

    ''No need to ask for her name or give her mine. Let us see what she can do first!''

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Like a sh of lightning, the Beast King lunged from his position.

    His speed was both deafening and impossible for normal eyes to keep up with.

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    Closing his distance with Serah, in midair, he pped therge wings that had emerged from behind him and coated himself with immense energy.

    ''Let''s see if you can handle this much!''

    Brandishing his fist to form a heavy strike, Gerard threw out a punch in Serah''s direction. It was quick, precise, and extremely powerful.

    However¡ª

    "How boring."

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Before he even reached her, an immense wave of crimson energy poured out. The pulse was so heavy that the Beast King himself was swept away by its pressure.

    Despite his velocity and momentum, he was pushed back¡ªunable tond a hit on her.

    "If this is your full strength, then I''m sorely disappointed."

    Gerard felt the insult he just heard resonate deeply within him, along with the surprise that he couldn''tnd a hit.

    ''I was holding back, but still...''

    It was at this point that the Beast King realized that he had been insulting his opponent. Since she was strong, it was best to fight with optimal strength.

    "Very well. I''ll fight you with everything I have. But first, can you tell me your name?"

    "Serah." The red-haired woman shrugged at the question.

    She didn''t even bother asking for his. It was like, to her, he was nothing more than The Beast King¡ªan opponent she wanted to defeat.

    ''Well, I suppose this is how things should be!''

    "My name is Gerard, Beast King of my people. And so, with my life and pride on the line, I''ll be fighting you seriously."

    He felt like he was being too impatient, but Gerard somehow had an inclination that the woman before him could keep up.

    If she couldn''t, then that would only mean her demise.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM<

    The air vibrated as Gerard released the vast amount of Mana within him.

    It was like the atmosphere was undting as a result of the pressure, and even those who watched from beneath could only shiver in response.

    The intensity of the emerging Mana surrounded the whole Beastfolk Kingdom. The savagery was enough to drive a person mad.

    However, this was merely the start.

    "I am a Rareborn. Unlike Hybrids that can ess only two aspects of Beasts, I have the capacity to take in more qualities depending on how I cultivate my energy."

    His opponent could have taken this as a madman''s ramblings, but this was akin to ady warning that he was giving the woman.

    If she wanted to back off, now was the time. However, considering the fact that she hade to challenge him, Gerard doubted she would run.

    No, he hoped she didn''t.

    "At my current state, I have ess to ten different Beast Traits."

    From the flying birds, to the strongest ofnd beasts, to even aquatic creatures filled with special properties, Gerard had honed his body to ept and culture various traits.

    ording to the history of the Beastfolk, he was the first to have attained such a status.

    As a result, he was most likely the strongest Beast King to ever exist.

    With the attribute of ten Beast Traits, Gerard was rapidly transforming himself as his energy swelled even more.

    And now...

    "Why don''t we begin round two?"

    Sharp long ears, nine tails behind him, ming skin, six wings, seven horns, stripes, and various tattoos on his body, and a muchrger physique¡ªGerard was now in his Joint Transformation State: Phase 1.

    Bybining all ten attributes, he was able to attain a level no one could.

    The ominous Mana swirling around him, as well as the immense power he still had locked inside him, was enough to drive anyone to the edge of insanity and back.

    However, the woman did not back off.

    "This is a state I hardly show, and no one has managed to survive it. I hope this will be enough for you to be satisfied."

    The woman only grinned more widely.

    ''Is she mad?'' Gerard asked himself.

    He was currently about 9 feet tall, having attributes of various Beasts.

    Not only did he have ess to all ten, but his Mana density was also enough to devastate anything around him.

    Surely, she understood that she stood no chance in her current state.

    "No... this is fine. I''ll handle it myself." Gerard watched her murmur to herself.

    It didn''t seem like she was speaking to anyone in particr, so the Beast King wondered if she had finally gone insane.

    "Beast King... is this your peak?" Serah Crimson asked him out of the blue.

    ''Is she mad?''

    His current state was beyond frightening, and no one had ever bested him while he was in it. Even if he had another form, there was no way he would resort to that as it put a heavy strain on his body.

    This much was more than enough for him to finish any opponent that challenged him.

    "You are not worth using my peak on." He answered frankly.

    Her power was incredible, but this was a level that no one could attain¡ªat least, not a human.

    A full-powered blow of his could decimate the city beneath him. That was how strong this form was.

    "I see. Oh, well, I''ve been patient enough..." The woman called Serah murmured, finally shing both fists together.

    Her Mana spiked to another degree, but it was still inferior to his.

    Gerard didn''t see himself losing in the slightest.

    The clouds around the city had already dispersed, and tremors filled the air. The Mana that was manifesting in this area was enough to tear apart any vestige ofmon sense.

    "... I''ll just go ahead and enjoy myself."

    Something about what Serah said seemed dangerous, but Gerard ignored it.

    ''An ignorant statement from an ignorant human!''

    He prepared himself, ready to hit his opponent in a way that would minimize the damage done to his Kingdom.

    If he could take the fight elsewhere¡ªbeyond the mountains¡ªthen he would be able to disy even more of his superiority.

    "Original Magic..." Words emanated from the woman''s lips.

    >VRRROOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Gerard shivered, same as the entire atmosphere.

    He suddenly felt confined¡ªno, suppressed.

    This was the first time he had such a feeling. As his body quivered, he finally noticed the menacing smile and bloodthirsty grin of the woman before him.

    And the Mana that was manifesting¡ªclimbing at an incalcble rate?

    It was... immeasurable.

    "... [INVINCIBLE]!"

 Chapter 445 lnvincible

    Chapter 445 lnvincible

    "Original Magic... [INVINCIBLE]"

    The moment those words were uttered, reality seemed to shatter, and a newfound concept broke forth.

    Magic on a transcendental scale was implemented, and the being called Serah Crimson ascended to the very pinnacle of said Magic.

    Her body was shrouded in crimson. Her clear skin took on the color of fierce energy, and her red hair floated and flickered like mes.

    It was as though she was living energy, yet beyond the realm of understanding.

    As her body glimmered in such concentrated Mana that would be impossible to calcte, the power still kept rising at an unbelievable pace.

    With every second, the woman was growing stronger.

    Far far more powerful with the time that passed, capable of breaking any barrier, or tearing down any opponent... that was the power Serah Crimson now donned.

    "I-impossible..." Gerard murmured to himself as he stared at the being before him.

    It was no longer a woman.

    "Let''s roll! I''m going to beat the shit out of you now!"

    It was more akin... to a god!

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    Faster than his eyes could see, much less process, the god of destruction brought her fist to his stomach, giving him a blow thatpletely shattered his resistance and defenses.

    His hard, impregnable hide was rendered obsolete in the presence of true power.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Gerard felt his body fly in the direction beyond the mountains, away from his people.

    He felt relief, even though his body was assailed with unimaginable pain.

    ''The people won''t be harmed!''

    "Don''t worry about them!" Serah''s voice appeared again.

    She gave another hit, sending him crashing among several small hills.

    Everything in the area got destroyed in an instant, receiving the full brunt of the descending Beast King.

    Serah Crimson, now in her Invincible state, floated above the crash site, waiting for her opponent to rise from the debris.

    As stipted, her Original Magic: Invincible allowed her to attain a state beyond the reach of humans.

    Since her body was coated with such dense Mana, she was resistant to all attacks¡ªMagic or not.

    Nothing could even make her flinch at this point.

    She was capable of breaking down any barrier or resistance, destroying anything she desired¡ªMagic or not.

    She was truly invincible. The perfect being who excelled at absolute offense and defense.

    That was why she was revered as the strongest.

    However, using this form came at a very horrible cost for Serah Crimson. It was easy to decimate her opponents with it, but there was a reason she avoided using it.

    The price she had to pay was immense.

    "Haa, so boring... I can''t stand this!"

    Yes, that''s right. Absolute boredom was the consequence of using absolute power.

    Being Invincible meant no one could stand a chance against you. And so, Serah, who was now at the pinnacle of existence, felt an immense solitude that no one couldprehend.

    And the worst part was that she was still growing stronger with the passage of time.

    "You... guff... you''re strong..." A voice emanated from the scarredndscape.

    Amid the smoke and rubbles caused by the earlier crash, was a being who was in the process of evolution.

    "Oh? You''re still alive? Impressive." Serah smiled, happy that the side effect of using her Original Magic was beginning to dissipate.

    Perhaps she could entertain herself even further.

    "I was wrong about you. And that''s why... "

    The air undted and the thick smoke cleared instantly, revealing a new entity.

    "... I''ll use my full power on you."

    Gerard, now apletely different being from earlier, spoke with a beastly grin.

    His head was akin to a dragon, and he had ten horns on his face.

    Eight wings and a tail swerved behind him. He had six arms, each having various attributes, and his skin was burning hot¡ªseething with hot ember.

    His nine eyes and beastly jaw were menacing, and the physique he donned was akin to a giant.

    He was at least 15 meters in height.

    "This is my Joint Transformation State: Phase 2."

    No one had ever fought him in this form.

    This power was one that he designed to signal his final fight. It was unfortunate that no one had appeared who was worthy of it, but now...

    ''I can see it! This is how I die! How utterly glorious!'' Gerard thought to himself in both gratitude and glee.

    "Let us end this!" The Beast King of carnage roared, increasing the destructive pressure of his Lava-like Dragon body.

    His cataclysmic stomp devastated the area even further, causing his environment to surge in heat.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    He spared faster than ever, lunging at the smaller figure of his opponent.

    Utilizing every muscle in his body, and every ounce of energy he could muster, Gerard was determined to fight till the very end.

    "Hahaha! That''s more like it!" An insane cackle burst forth from the energy-coated woman.

    She also lunged at him, thrusting a blow to match his.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    The explosion that spread as a result of both blows colliding spread around, devastating the mountains and hills all around.

    In an instant, the slopy and rough terrain became nothing more than nds.

    Bursts of energy in multiple folds poured out as more blows were exchanged between the two.

    They moved faster and faster with every punch they threw.

    Both the beast and the goddess kept throwing punches, wreaking chains of tremors and destruction around them.

    Their surroundings shook with immense fervor, yet the two fighters paid no attention to anything around them.

    They were both simply too immersed in their sh.

    "Hahahahaha! Let''s keep going!" Serahughed, increasing her energy even more.

    "Y-you monster..." Gerard growled, still pouring everything he could to catch up to his opponent''s speed.

    At first nce, it would have seemed like they were evenly matched. However, that wasn''t the case.

    Unlike Serah who was enjoying herself while growing stronger at an rming rate, Gerard struggled to match her power and speed.

    With every ounce he threw, he grew wary.

    Not only were his full-powered offensive moves ineffective on his enemy, but she also seemed to return his hits with even greater strength.

    It was getting more difficult for him to fight.

    At the rate at which he was going, it was only a matter of time before he ran out of steam.

    ''This is it! This is how I go out! Yes! This is it! If it''s like this, then I have no regrets!''

 Chapter 446 Seeking Death

    Chapter 446 Seeking Death

    ''This is it! This is how I go out! Yes! This is it! If it''s like this, then I have no regrets!''

    Gerard''s dragon-like face smiled as his body finally ran out of strength, and he was unable to return another hit.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    His massive body was sent crashing to the ground with a kick from the ferocious woman, causing his body to spasm in agony.

    One final hit was all it would take for his life to end, even in his current state.

    "Guark!" Coughing out heated blood, he looked above him to see the vastly superior being hovering with another punch being prepared.

    It flickered with unquantifiable heat¡ªthe fist that would bring about his end.

    Gerard could not move fast enough to evade it, neither did he have the defenses or any offensive maneuver to match it¡ªnot like he desired it.

    ''This is... truly the end.'' He cracked a twisted smile on his pummeled face.

    His death was going to be grander than he had ever imagined. And so, he had noints.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    The god of destruction drew closer with her glistening body and unstoppable force.

    Serah''s blow was already nearing the Beast King, ready to render him into nothing but cinders.

    However¡ª

    "Haaa..."

    ¡ªShe suddenly stopped.

    Gerard was shocked¡ªno, disappointed¡ªby her sudden refusal to fight any longer.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Why wouldn''t this being end what she started

    "... I guess this is it. I won."

    "¡ªEh?"

    Gerard struggled to understand what was going on, but he desperately pleaded for his death. His expression told her not to let such a glorious moment go to waste and simply end him.

    There was no way he would get a better chance than this.

    This was the time when he could go down in the zes of glory! It was the precipice of his entire existence.

    "P-please kill me!" His voice was hoarse, and his bodycked enough energy tost much longer.

    Getting one final strike from her to send him off was what the Beast King now desired with all he had

    "Hm?"

    "I know it is not my right, as the loser, to make a request from you, but..."

    Winners called the shots. The strong decided the fate of the weak. Gerard knew that quite well.

    However, this was something he wanted more than anything. That was why, even though it was shameless, he begged with every ounce of his weak body.

    "... Please, kill me with your power."

    Nothing would give him greater pleasure.

    "I see. You badly want this, uh?" Serah Crimson, still in her [Invincible] state, asked the pathetic Beast King.

    "Yes." He managed to utter.

    After looking at him for some time, thedy sighed.

    >VWUUUSH<

    The energy coating herpletely vanished, and she was back to her normal form.

    "W-wha¡ª? Please wai¡ª!"

    "I would have loved to grant your request, but that''s impossible this time around. We''re here on a mission, and your existence is integral to that."

    It was like aplete switch from her bloodthirsty nature, the way Serah spoke with formality.

    "Besides, even if I could kill you, it''ll be a waste to do so..." Serah smiled at the defeated Beast King.

    Of course, she didn''t forget the fact that one kid in her group could simply resurrect him if he suffered death. But, Serah simply didn''t want to end the life of such a promising man who was in his prime.

    "You are strong. Even if it was for a while, you could match my power. Plus, you can still grow stronger than this. Why would I end your life now?"

    Upon hearing her weirdpliment, Gerard''s heart fluttered.

    But, even though he was happy to have been praised by such a woman, he couldn''t bring himself to be happy.

    A bitter smile crept up on his face.

    "I actually... can''t grow beyond this." He murmured.

    "If this is an excuse to make me kill you, I''ve said it already... I won''t do it." The redhead spoke, slightly frowning.

    "N-no, it''s not like that..." Gerard didn''t know how to phrase his words well.

    Theplicated emotions within him made it hard to form words properly, and his severe injuries impeded his words.

    How could he tell the woman before him that¡ª

    "He''s going to die very soon."

    Before Gerard could finalize his inner thoughts, a voice appeared.

    It sounded like that of a young boy¡ªa third party.

    He lifted his gaze and noticed the presence of a blond boy, watching as he descended from his heights.

    The boy had a smile on his face, and a somewhat innocent expression, but Gerard could tell that a deep andplicated power resided within him.

    "What do you mean by that? Is it because of our fight?" The woman called Serah turned in the direction of the boy, appearing panicky.

    It was the first time he had ever seen her look so flustered, so Gerard thought she was pretty cute.

    Such a strong and powerful female besting him... the Beast King could only imagine how strong their child would have been.

    ''If only she was my Mate...'' It was a shameful thought for him¡ªwho was a loser¡ªto make.

    But, he couldn''t ignore the feelings in his heart that produced such an appealing prospect.

    "No. It wasn''t because of you... though I suspect that your fight merely quickened the result. Am I correct?" The boy was now looking in Gerard''s direction.

    "How do you know about that?" The Beast King asked, staring at his unassuming face.

    The boy said nothing.

    "Fine. Yes, you''re right... I don''t have long for this world. I could have lived for some months longer, maybe even a year, but... this fight has strained me already. I''ll probably notst the next ten minutes."

    That was why he desired death so much. While he still lived, he wanted her almighty power to send him off.

    Serah stared at his body with surprise, but the boy didn''t seem fazed at all. He looked as if he already surmised that much.

    Still, Gerard was too caught up with his desperate desires that he couldn''t think of much else.

    ''I want to die at the hands of this woman!''

    Was that being too greedy?

    No! This was what every member of his race would dream of. As their King, it was also what he desired above all else.

    To die by the hands of one more powerful was the desire of every Beastfolk. That way, they would live their lives with exhtion and excitement¡ªspending theirst moments in pure exhration.

    The most pertinent reason for their desire, however, was so deeply rooted in them that everyone lived their lives desperate for such an end.

    After all...

    ... It was better than expiring as a result of the Curse.

 Chapter 447 The Beastfolk Curse

    Chapter 447 The Beastfolk Curse

    The Therianthropes were regarded as the strongest Race¡ªat least when it came to physical ability, as well as their raw power.

    The reason was because of their special physique.

    From birth¡ªno, probably before they were born¡ªBeastfolk had the natural ability to absorb Mana.

    They absorbed energy at a remarkable rate¡ªwith or without their volition. If they focused on absorbing this energy, the rate became even stronger.

    Still, this passive intake of energy made them extremely powerful, even without any real effort.

    Their Mana Cores naturally formed within a week, and they could keep absorbing Mana throughout childhood.

    By the time they grew to the age of early adolescence, most Beastfolk were already at the Red or Purple Core Grade.

    Their bodies also naturally got strengthened by taking in so much energy.

    And so, even if they did not undergo any formal training at all, Beastfolk would still turn out to be strong.

    They were the perfect Race built forbat.

    But... with such great power came a steep price.

    ¡ªLifespan.

    **************************

    "Most Beastfolk don''t get to live up to 40 years. The more powerful and talented a Beastfolk is, the younger he dies as well." I said, in response to Serah''s question.

    "W-what? For real? I don''t understand." She eximed.

    Of course, she would be surprised. I was the same when I first heard of this from Dom.

    Many Races would be jealous of the Beastfolk and envy their natural ability to absorb Mana at a rapid rate.

    Some would even wish they were Beastfolk.

    However, their line of reasoning would be wed. The same body that gave these people such power was the same that caused their greatest pain.

    "Mana Overload. That''s what happens when you take in more Mana than you can handle. The Mana Core shatters and a disastrous effect invades the body." My lips curled grimly as I said this.

    I remembered the face of arade of mine¡ªand the scene where I experienced the concept firsthand.

    "The body feels like a prison, and it feels like every internal organ is exploding at the same time."

    Suddenly, the person experiences such indescribable pain, and the power that they once controlled would run amok.

    Compared to this experience, Mana Shock was a breeze.

    "The death is instantaneous for most people who experience it since the pain is so severe and the body can''t handle the bacsh."

    Beastfolk, who absorbed Mana their whole lives, would finally reach the point where it would be impossible to grow further.

    They would reach the zenith of Mana Cores¡ªGold Core Grade.

    The Core bes full, and that person''s limit would finally be attained at that point.

    Most humans never reached this point, so it was probably hard for them to rte.

    Once the limit is reached, further meditation or Mana Absorption would be impossible.

    But, the bodies of Beastfolk naturally absorb Mana.

    That doesn''t stop, even when they reach the limit.

    That''s when the problem urs.

    "I believe the average age when it begins is the early twenties, right?"

    A point where most humans would never reach even though they spent their whole lives training, Beastfolk could achieve it in their youth¡ªThe peak of Gold Core Grade.

    Their limits would be reached, and no further energy would be required.

    But... just as how Beastfolk didn''t need to initiate their body''s natural disposition, they couldn''t stop it either.

    And so, the energy would run amok within them¡ªgrowing unstable.

    Then, it happens... Mana Overload!

    "The first time is always immense agony. The Beastfolk would wish they could die. This episode is quite an unbearable sight to see¡ªwatching them scream as their body seems to be tearing apart from the inside out."

    Normally, that would mean their deaths.

    However... their bodies would never allow them such sweet release.

    "Beastfolk have extremely high regeneration. So, as their Mana Core breaks and wreaks havoc on their body, the body responds by naturally repairing itself."

    As a result, even the Mana Core is fixed, and the violent release of energy causes the vessel to get purged of the abundant Mana.

    But, soon again, the Mana Core gets full, and another episode urs.

    Again and again.

    The process repeats in a seemingly endless cycle.

    The despair bes a way of life, and slowly the Beastfolk gets ustomed to it.

    Even with the rabid sensation guing them, they endure it and limate.

    However, this doesn''tst forever.

    As they grow older, repeating the process of regeneration and degeneration, the body begins to wear down.

    Regeneration gets slower, and the body begins to break down beyond repair.

    And so, when they finally reach a point, the Beastfolk''s body can no longer suppress the immense power within it.

    It implodes, sending the being into one final dance of agony¡ªapparently more painful than the previous ones.

    And then, the Beastfolk does.

    "That''s the tragedy behind their existence... the sad truth about Beastfolk''s Curse."

    ***********************

    Serah was stunned to hear this.

    Her body throbbed in slight difort, and then she turned in the direction of the dying Beast King.

    She could now understand why he was so desperate for his request.

    ''Should I just kill him?'' Her thoughts trailed.

    ncing in Jared''s direction, Serah could see the boy shaking his head in refusal.

    ''But, he''s going through so much pain!'' She wanted to protest, but Serah controlled herself.

    Jared never acted without a reason, so she just had to trust in his decision.

    Looking at her opponent one more time, she felt pained from the bottom of her heart. This man had so much potential, yet he would die so soon.

    ''Is this nature''s way of bncing the scales..?''

    Serah was well aware of the unfair advantage Beastfolk had from birth. If they did not have such a cruel ending, it was possible that they would evolve to be even more powerful than they were known for.

    Without the shackles of overloading, they could potentially take over the world with their might.

    Was she anxious, or was she excited about that prospect?

    Serah Crimson had no idea.

    Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done about such a deeply rooted matter... or was there?

    "Beast King, if you be my vassal, then I will cure your Curse."

 Chapter 448 Mind Games

    Chapter 448 Mind Games

    "Beast King, be my vassal. If you do, then I will cure your Curse."

    The weakened being, on the verge of death, looked at me with surprise.

    But, that expression did notst long.

    "Why do you want something like that?" His voice was hoarse, and I could tell that he was battling immense pain.

    Not only had Serah severely injured him, but the effects of his Mana Overload were beginning to manifest.

    I once saw Dom when he was going through such agony, and I knew it was more than enough to drive a person to the edge of insanity.

    Despite being hailed as a strong warrior¡ªthe strongest at the time¡ªhe too couldn''t bear the pain.

    ''I can use this...'' My thoughts trailed coldly.

    My knowledge of the Beastfolk, the Beast King''s defeat at the hands of Serah, and his current agonizing situation. Everything added up nicely.

    "You aren''t questioning my ability to do something like that?"

    "You wouldn''t want the fealty of a dead man, would you? Besides, I''m dying... there''s no merit in doubting your words."

    ''Spoken like a truly desperate creature.'' I smiled, pleased by his undying will to be free of his curse.

    I could have healed him at that moment, but I refused to do such a thing.

    Easing him of his pain would cause him to falter in his decision. I needed just the right amount of desperation.

    ''The more, the better.''

    "Beast King¡ªno, Gerard¡ªyou have the qualities I desire as a vassal. Rest assured, I will not do anything to hurt any member of your Race, neither will I make you harm them either. I simply want you, and only you."

    I said that, but it was merely a pretext. My desire was for the entirety of the Beastfolk to fall under my grasp.

    Unlike the Elves and Fairies, their kind was very vtile. I couldn''t handle them diplomatically or with levity.

    ''I will simply bring them under my mighty hand.''

    "Why would I choose to serve you? You aren''t stronger than I am, are you? I only lost to your friend there..." His gaze shifted to Serah.

    ''So, he''s attracted to her, uh? Should I use that? No... I shouldn''t bring Serah into this.''

    "I guess you''ll never get to find out." I smiled at the dying Beast King.

    "You know I''d rather die than let go of my pride. That''s how we Beastfolk are." He groaned.

    It seemed he was intent on being stubborn.

    "Even if you could live twice, thrice, or even far longer than you have already lived? You could achieve even greater heights than ever before."

    I sensed hesitation in his eyes, and then nced at Serah. She was silently observing the situation, no doubt.

    ''I guess I''ll have to use his attraction to her, after all...''

    "You speak about pride, yet a female bested you inbat. Howughable."

    "H-hey, mind what you say, kid!" Gerard growled, getting needlessly flustered.

    "Shut up." I silenced him with a single cold gaze.F

    At the moment, he was nothing more than a wounded dog who lost to a female¡ªa shameful event for a male such as himself.

    "Your pride is meaningless right now. You''re worse than the other Beast Kings who came before you. At least, they never got their asses handed over to them as you did."

    I saw the King bite his lip, unable to refuse my words.

    "Do you know why you lost to her? The answer is simple. You were too weak."

    Once I made this bombshellnd, I could feel Serah get upset at me, but I ignored her.

    ''Based on how she obeyed my orders not to kill The Beast King, it seems she respects and trusts me enough not to defy me¡ªat least not openly.''

    Besides, I had made good on my promise and showed her a good time. Whatever dissatisfactions she had would be swallowed.

    "But, you will get a chance to redeem yourself if you ept my proposal. You''ll get as much time to not only live, but get even stronger than you are. Achieving even greater heights while blotting out this shameful failure, this is a chance for both."

    The only thing stronger than Gerard''s desire to be killed by Serah would be to make her his Mate.

    To do that, he had to be stronger than she was.

    With the motivating factor I am dangling in front of him present, there was a high likelihood that he would bite.

    "Can I... really get stronger?" He murmured with doubt.

    "You can."

    My answer was immediate, and I showed unwavering conviction in my eyes.

    ''If you refuse, I''ll simply let you die. You will suffer the most excruciating death as your Mana Overload kills you. Then... I''ll revive you and let you experience the same thing over again.''

    Ultimately, Gerard would break and ept my proposal.

    It was nothing personal, but I wanted the best for both sides, while ensuring my goals were met.

    "Then... if you can keep my people out of this... if you can indeed cure me and make me stronger, then I wouldn''t mind... being your subordinate..." His murmur sounded strained.

    ''Has the pain started getting unbearable for you?'' I eyed his throbbing body.

    "Wise choice." I smiled at the man.

    Serah''s fierce gaze was on me, and I could tell she was questioning what I was trying to do, but I ignored her once more.

    ''Just be happy I let you y with him. I fulfilled my end of the agreement, so let me take things from here.'' My thoughts responded to her silent rebuke.

    "It''s good to see that I can reason with you. Though, I believe you are wrong about one thing." I continued looking at the Beastfolk as I spoke.

    "And what''s that?" He murmured.

    "Either you or Serah, it doesn''t matter. There''s no way I''d lose to any of you. Do you understand what I''m trying to say?"

    Gerard stared at me in disbelief. Even Serah''s gaze now pierced my back. Their opinions didn''t matter since it was the truth.

    "I''m stronger than you."

    A proud Beastfolk, who respected strength above all else, would clearly have second thoughts about serving someone weaker. That was why it was most effective to show him who the inferior one was.

    "Now, then, Gerard, I will fulfill my end of the deal. In exchange... you will be mine."

 Chapter 449 Unbelievable Declaration

    Chapter 449 Unbelievable Deration

    "I ept."

    Once the Beast King voluntarily epted my proposal, I was able to proceed to my next n.

    I knelt by his side and ced my hand on his throbbing body. Instantly, I felt the rabid Mana within him and activated Resonance.

    In a moment, I was connected to his body and decided to direct the flow of the overflowing Mana to myself, absorbing the excesses until his condition stabilized.

    Once I was done, his boy was rid of all the rampaging energy within him and his Naan Core was fixed.

    This was only a temporary solution, though.

    "This much should do... at least for now."

    I canceled Resonance and stood on my feet. The Beast King had returned to his regr look¡ªa bearded man with brown hair and a rough appearance.

    And¡ªof course¡ªhe was naked.

    "I-is it done?" He murmured, feeling the pain in his body vanish.

    "Not yet. I only relieved you temporarily."

    "What? Why? That wasn''t the deal." The Beastfolk appeared flustered.

    He definitely didn''t want to experience the same hell he just went through.

    "I haven''t forgotten our promise."

    Using Space Magic, I fished out something from my Special Dimension.

    "Here." I threw a pure white substance at the seated Beastfolk.

    "U-uh?" He caught the little object, no smaller than a small grain.

    The substance was a round pill, glistening with its pure and white color.

    "What''s this?" The Beast King murmured, observing the pill with a slightly disappointed gaze.

    "It''s the cure."

    What he was holding was the key to liberating the Beast Folk from their endless cycle of suffering.

    It was a solvent that expelled the stained Mana within one''s Mana Core and transformed it into a White Mana Core.

    ''He can consider it as a reset medicine that''ll return them to the start of his Mana Absorption stage.''

    In terms of the quantity of Mana, it would be no different from a White Core Grade¡ªthough it would definitely be of higher and more concentrated quality.

    But, it still meant that Gerard would be far weaker than before.

    ''Normally, I''d stop at this and call it a cure. He''ll be able to live for another 30 or so years with this.''

    By then, I would have achieved my goals. Plus, by supplying a stable supply of the medicine, I could wrap him and his people under my thumb.

    But, I wasn''t a malevolent individual.

    ''Besides, I did promise to make him stronger...''

    "Eating that Pill will cause your Mana Core to change. It''ll ascend to a higher ne, and you''ll begin to undergo different training to make sure you get stronger."

    Exining the whole process to him would be a chore, but the goal was to help the Beastfolk create multiple Mana Cores.

    That was the simple solution.

    By allocating the iing Mana to several Cores, it was possible for them to create an indefinite number of Mana Cores and Subcores.

    That was my intention for him.

    "Ah ah, not yet," I said, raising my finger to stop him from swallowing the Pill yet.

    "What now?" He grumbled.

    ''There''s that attitude again. Maybe it''s because he''s no longer in pain, and he holds the cure that he feels this way.''

    As I suspected, the best way to control a Beast like him was to break himpletely.

    ''If I can include her as well, then this should work out splendidly.''

    ncing at the woman beside me, a bright idea popped into my head.

    "Before you eat that Pill and begin anew, it''s best to make one thing clear." I also stared at Serah and gave her a knowing smile.

    ''If I can secure both of their absolute respect and reverence, then I should have two indispensable allies to use.''

    Serah still didn''tpletely trust me, and it was quite obvious who the superior one among us was.

    But, I had no intention of letting thatst forever. After all...

    "Right here and now, the both of you should fight me."

    ********************

    One of the reasons I pitted Serah against the Beast King was to determine both their capabilities.

    It was the same reason I was excited about the match between Serah and Aurora.

    While it was interesting to watch two powerful individuals sh with each other, there was another merit to it.

    ¡ªThe Great Sage''s Memoir

    My Original Magic allowed me to utilize any Magic I had deciphered, but that meant I needed to record contents within it.

    Magic Forms, Spells, Structures, and Circuits¡ªto the littlest of details¡ªhad to be analyzed.

    By using Spellcraft while closely observing a match, I could fulfill these conditions and record the Magic I witnessed in the Memoir. My fight with Neron was also to that end.

    That was why I waited before utilizing Original Magic.

    And so, after watching Serah''s match with the Beast King and obtaining the information I desired, I finally realized something.

    "She''s very strong. Her Mana is incredible too. But... it''s too simple!"

    Serah Crimson was definitely more powerful than Neron Kaelid, but he would still win if they fought.

    She was simply more powerful in a straightforward fight where the victor was determined by sheer power.

    Certainly, mere tricks wouldn''t be enough to stop someone who could keep getting stronger until they won, but there were many ways to handle it.

    ''And I can think of one right now.'' I smiled, ncing at both Serah and Gerard.

    They were both cut from the same simple cloth of destruction.

    As a result, if I could beat Serah, I could beat the Beast King as well¡ªafter all, he was even inferior.

    ''Well, it''s easier to show than tell... right?''

    *********************

    "Are you sure about this, Jared?" The Queen of Destruction asked me.

    "Of course." I smiled sweetly, ncing at the man who was still stunned by my words.

    "I don''t want any excuses." With the snap of my fingers, the white pill in his grasp disintegrated.

    "If you want your cure, you WILL fight. As for you, Serah... you shouldn''t pretend you don''t want to."

    Serah had already disyed enough emotion to let me know of her interest.

    "Aren''t you both curious? Just how much power I have to face off the two of you."

    Just like clockwork, glimmers appeared in bother their eyes.

    Naked Gerard rose to his feet, ignored by Serah''s gazepletely.

    The Grandmaster also stared at me, joining the Beast King to finally express her desire to test my capabilities.

    "Now that''s more like it. It''s high time you both realize the meaning of true power."

    Was it a bluff or a genuine fact? Could a young boy like me really rival two of the most powerful beings to ever exist?

    ''Who knows...'' I smiled at the pair.

 Chapter ?450 Uneven Odds

    Chapter ?450 Uneven Odds

    "Original Magic: Great Sage''s Memoir" My book appeared and instantly flipped to the appropriate page.

    I was linked to it, and it was linked to me. Deciphering the best course of action for the situation, my Memoir functioned on its own.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Releasing a burst of power to the surrounding, I created a Transcendental Level Barrier¡ªMagic that I copied from the Elf Arena.

    The barrier spanned a long distance, giving us enough room to fight freely.

    Though thendscape had been devastated a great deal thanks to Serah''s fight with Gerard, it was still good enough for a fight.

    With the stage set, I stared at my two opponents.

    "You better give it everything you have. Wasting too much time will simply prolong your suffering." I smiled at Gerard especially.

    His desperation to win and obtain the Miracle Pill would cause him not to hold anything back.

    "But, if I end up killing you, then¡ª"

    "Please, don''t make jokes like that, Beast King. I can''t imagine how I would be able to lose to you."

    He was indeed very strong¡ªand he possessed a sheer amount of Mana, but that was all there was to him.

    Having faced very powerful andplicated foes, someone like him didn''t scare me in the slightest.

    "You want me to go all out... despite seeing all that?" Serah said, observing me to find a motive.

    "Yes. Now, enough talk. Let''s begin."

    I raised my hand and ced it above my floating book, ready to begin the challenge.

    The atmosphere was rich in tension, and I could tell that both parties were motivated enough to fight with all their might.

    ''This will be a nice experience for me too...'' I smiled while having the thought.

    "I''m ready when you ar¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Before Ipleted my statement, both opponents charged at me at full speed.

    In terms of physical ability, they far surpassed me. I wouldn''t be able to evade their strikes on time. However¡ª

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    ¡ªIrrespective of my cognitive and physical limitations, my Original Magic operated beyond what I could achieve.

    As a result, I instantly teleported out of their reach in an instant. It was an automatic response done by the interface.

    "Slow..." I sneered.

    "Did I not say to use your full strength?"

    I could sense dissatisfaction arising from Serah and Gerard as they raised their heads to watch my floating posture.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Massive eruptions of energy burst from both of them, causing them to don dangerous states.

    Serah was most likely in Mage Mode, considering her appearance changed and she had a more sophisticated appearance.

    Having a Mage''s cloak, gloves, and a glowing red orb that floated beside her, she gave me an intense expression.

    ''So, I''m still not worth using your Original Magic on? Very well... I''ll have to teach you.''

    As for Gerard, he assumed his Transformation State: Phase 1.

    Both of them were not going all-out, but their fierce determination to win was still obvious.

    ''Are they testing the waters?''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    The ground shattered as they dashed at me with newfound speed.

    Still, my Original Magic responded and sent me from harm''s reach.

    The moment I teleported away, Serah appeared behind me¡ªin my new location¡ªand generated a fist I was well acquainted with.

    ''Vermillion Burst, eh?''

    Throughout the fight, I had been coating myself in immense Mana, but even my defenses were beginning to crumble before such a blow.

    It would definitely suck to take one head-on.

    But... I wasn''t worried.

    As soon as she thrust her fist, I instantly prepared my attack and blocked hers. Normally, my brain wouldn''t have been able to respond quickly to her strikes, but...

    "Too obvious."

    Anyone with proper insight would be able to tell that she was quite sloppy. Heightening my body to the limit, I read the direction of her punch and poured a great amount of Mana to replicate my strongest shield.

    >KRRRRRRAAAAAAA!!!<

    As a result, her hit was negated.

    "U-uh?!"

    My fist tightened and a vermillion spark shed as I thrust my hand¡ªnot waiting for Serah toplete her surprised yelp.

    "Wha¡ª??"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    I was met with strong resistance¡ªas expected of Serah Crimson.

    Her defense were so high that I wasn''t able to scratch it.

    At that very moment, Gerard sent a destructive charge of Mana at me. The intensity was focused, and I was sure it would sting. Which was why¡ª

    "Gahh!"

    ¡ªI swapped location with Gerard and had him take the hit for me.

    With my position changed, Gawain and Serah were now close to each other and I was far away.

    ''Perfect!''

    From my hand glowed a condensed orb of many colors. It contained tons of attributes, and its destructive capacity was unknown to me as of yet.

    After all, this was the [Nova] Spell that Neron used before I canceled it out with Anti-Magic.

    The massive orb went straight for the two, exploding upon impact.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    As expected, they came out of the attack unscathed.

    ''Their defenses are quite high. Impressive...''

    I didn''t have enough time to prepare the appropriate charge, and I was also being frugal with my Mana, but it was still noteworthy that they were both strong in their own right.

    "Tricks like this won''t beat me!" Serah yelled at me.

    "We''ll see about that," I responded to her barks.

    Both opponents couldn''t be defeated by me in my current state, but it wasn''t like they could reach me either.

    ''A stalemate? No... I''m going to do better.''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    Brilliant strikes of light and bursting energy filled the area as the two still desperately tried to defeat me.

    Even if they were faster and stronger, my Original Magic had already recorded their patterns based on their earlier fights¡ªespecially Serah, whom I''ve seen in battle before.

    Since the Beast King was inferior to her and had a simr pattern of fighting, handling him wasn''t too difficult either.

    In essence...

    "W-why can''t I beat you?"

    "Damn, just stay put!''

    ... None of them couldy a finger on me.

    "Weak. It''s because you''re too weak."

    The correct answer was that they were too sloppy and predictable, but I refused to tell them that.

    ''Both of them have keen battle senses and immense power. They''re learning from the fight and are trying topensate. If I tell them the problem, they''ll evolve further.''

    I couldn''t allow that until I crushed them and asserted dominance.

 Chapter 451 Unrivaled Power

    Chapter 451 Unrivaled Power

    Serah and Gerard were both strong¡ªin raw power, they exceeded even me.

    But, it was this very power they had that made them so rusty.

    ''They probably didn''t need to learn advanced Martial Arts since they''re already so strong.''

    "Haaaaaa!!!!!" A destructive beam of light shed at me, but I easily dispersed its power with Spellcraft.

    At that same instance, Gerard approached me with a terrifying punch.

    I switched ces with him and returned the favor with a storm of several Quinta-Storms.

    "[Grand Blitz]" I added another Spell to the mix, spending him crashing down with injuries.

    The explosion spread about the vast area as I watched from the sky.

    ''He''ll heal from those wounds with his body...'' While I was making this thought, Serah''s swelling energy caught my attention, and I noticed she was already getting serious.

    "I''ll admit that you''re annoying to beat. But, I refuse to believe that you''re stronger than I am." Serah spoke, her face in a re.

    "Is that so?"

    My dry response enraged her even more, making me have an even bigger idea about her personality.

    ''So, you want a strong opponent you can pummel, but you hate losing? Guess I''ll show you...''

    Considering her long-standing rtionship with Neron, I was going to be considerate, but something about this situation felt exhrating.

    >VWUUUUUMMMMM<

    She finally brought out her big gun¡ªOriginal Magic: Invincible.

    I felt the horrifying pressure of her existence, watching as she went further away from my reach.

    Her power was more than immense¡ªit was incalcble by my standards.

    ''She''s too strong!'' I smiled, still not intent on losing.

    "Don''t forget me!" Gerard growled from beneath me.

    Once again, he transformed to his full form, flying majestically in his massive gait.

    Both my right and left nks were upied by my opponents, and their unbelievable amount of power sandwiched me at the center.

    If not for the barrier I ced around myself, I would definitely be crushed under the pressure.

    "Let''s see how you evade this!"

    ''I don''t see how I can... Space isn''t warping properly any longer.'' My thoughts trailed.

    The atmosphere had be oversaturated with their respective Mana, confusing Space itself.

    I couldn''t navigate and traverse the distance as a result of that annoying interference.

    Since I wasn''t fast or strong enough to resist, this was practically a dead end.

    ''I''m being pushed to the wall, eh?''

    "I think that''s enough joking around." ncing at the two, grateful that they revealed their trump cards to me, I decided to y yet another one of mine.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Both Serah and the Beast King instantly reverted to their former state¡ªdevoid of power.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Their outbursts of shock filled the air, but I wasn''t going to let their moment of confusion go to waste.

    "[Vermillion Nova]."

    By using my Memoir tobine Serah''s Vermillion Burst with Neron''s [Nova], a new Spell manifested.

    The massive orb was now dyed in vermillion red and glowed ever so brightly¡ªlike the sun.

    "You should have a taste."

    I sent the initial shot to Serah, causing her to receive the highly vtile and destructive blow with barely any defense.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Even though I was utilizing as little Mana as possible, it was still a highly vtile strike.

    Once Serah fell with the explosion, I turned toward the naked Beast King and gave him a weaker version of the same strike.

    He too was sent crashing to the ground, leaving only me in the sky.

    "The view sure is nice from up here." I smiled, looking at the two who were badly scathed.

    They rose from the heated ground, looking hatefully in my direction. I was certain they were curious about what I did, but my Anti-Magic was best kept under wraps for now.

    ''That took up a lot, though. I''m not sure I have enough to do it any longer. It''s best I break their will thoroughly...''

    "Is that really the best you can do?" I smiled at the two sore losers beneath me.

    "H-how are you... beating me?"

    "I never knew you were this strong."

    As Serah and Gerard respectively gawked at me, Inded on the ruinedndscape and used another hidden card up my sleeve.

    ''[Aura Of Despair: Stage 10]''

    The highest point of the Spell I developed, utilizing a huge amount and an intense concentration of Miasma.

    ''Using it before would have been a waste since their immense Mana would have resisted it, but now... they were vulnerable.''

    "W-what is this... chill...?"

    "I... I don''t... urgh..."

    They both shivered under my pressure as I watched them from a distance, approaching steadily.

    ''With this, I''ve exhausted the Miasma stockpile I kept till now. I can''t use Anti-Magic any longer either.'' That was the signal that it was time to bring things to a close.

    "Both of you... stand."

    As the [Aura Of Despair]''s effects slowly started lifting, I ordered them coldly.

    Their eyes had hints of terror, but not absolute submission.

    Still, I had destabilized them enough¡ªboth mentally and physically.

    There was no way they could be threats to me now.

    With that in mind, I deactivated my Original Magic and decided to rely simply on Spellcraft and my personal ability.

    "The fight isn''t over. Come on..." I essed my special space and brought out a weapon.

    It was a Magic Sword¡ªmy favorite.

    Glistening in its white hilt, the golden de was filled to the brim with Mana.

    I had a simr one that contained Miasma, but utilizing that would currently be ill-advised.

    "... Fight." I red at the two¡ªalmost as one would view dirt.

    My condescending gaze must have done the trick as their fear and surprise became reced with anger.

    For these two¡ªwho had probably never experienced such defeat¡ªto have been owned by a mere child, it must have been beyond humiliating.

    However, I was just getting started.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    They both lunged at me, not anywhere close to their full power.

    Thanks to Anti-Magic destabilizing their power at the time, as well as the Aura Of Despair''s effects on their body, it was very difficult to use Mana.

    Even when they tried, I used Spellcraft to disperse a majority of the climbing energy, so their output was ridiculously low.

    "Sloppy..." Using my de, I took a Martial Arts stance and prepared for them toe at me.

    My senses were heightened with Spellcraft, my Mana supply was also steady, and I had enhanced myself to the limit.

    I didn''t see myself losing.

 Chapter ?452 Breaking The Strong

    Chapter ?452 Breaking The Strong

    "... Weak!"

    In one easy swing, I broke through their lousy defenses, breaking their mediocre forms.

    In another strike, I sent pangs of pain coursing through their bodies.

    "Not yet!"

    Another hit sent another painful sensation running through their bodies.

    Even as they struggled to exchange blows with me, my fluid movements were too much.

    Controlling every portion of my body, while getting rid of excess movements, made me much faster and more efficientpared to the two.

    ''Serah, you call yourself a Mage, but your Magic Attacks are too simple.''

    Being focused on destructive ability wasn''t healthy.

    Why?

    ''What makes her different from Martial Artists?''

    "You''d be mistaken for a Martial Artist... but you''re too mediocre to be recognized as an expert." I mocked Serah, swinging my de down at her feet.

    She yelped, falling to the ground.

    Seeing this, Gerard became enraged and charged at me with full force.

    ''Gerard, your Martial Arts Techniques are non-existent. We opened the eyes of your race to the advantages of Martial Arts in exchange for an Alliance, but it seems you didn''t deem it fit to learn it properly.''

    His superior ability and sheer Mana already made him invincible among his people. Obviously, Martial Arts would be considered unnecessary to him.

    However¡ª

    "I can see all your movements. Pathetic!"

    ¡ªWhen facing someone with equal or superior strength, it was possible topletely turn the tides of battle with Martial Arts.

    Even though I was weaker than the two of them, the way I handled them so easily was proof of that fact.

    "Is this all you have to offer?" I asked them once again, staring at them as they fell to the ground.

    My grip on my de was tight, and I was prepared for yet another show of resistance. However...

    ''... Looks like I broke them already, uh?''

    Serah and Gerard crumbled to the ground,pletely beaten.

    With that, my bloodcurdling battle with the two immensely powerful opponents came to a close.

    The winner was none other than me.

    ************************

    "Eat it," I told my loyal vassal.

    He obeyed my words and swallowed the white pill.

    >SHUUUUUUUUU<

    Instantly, the Mana in his core began to dilute, turning pure white instead.

    "Now, just leave the rest to me." I pressed his body and diverted all the escaping Mana to form another Mana Core.

    "T-this is¡ª?!" Gerard bulged his eyes as he felt his internal energy being diverted to another spot.

    "Do you understand now? This is the measure you''ll be taking for yourself. You should understand how it works quickly."

    Beastfolk had their bodies attuned to receiving Mana, so they were very conversant with the flow within them.

    Once I opened Gerard''s eyes to what he needed to do, it wouldn''t be long before he could do it on his own.

    ''Internal Mana Maniption is their forte, after all.'' I smiled.

    "With this, I''ve cured your curse... as agreed."

    Upon hearing my words as I finished his treatment, Gerard bowed to me in his buck-naked form.

    "I thank you so much... m-master!"

    "You don''t need to call me that. As long as you understand where you stand, that''s more than enough." I spoke to the bowing being.

    "You are still the respectable Beast King, so act like one."

    He only bowed deeply.

    ''I guess there''s no need to inform him of the Soul Brand I infused along with the White Pill.''

    Jane and I reforged the Soul Brand we once had, so I was able to learn itsposition from her.

    By simply adding the Spell properties to the Pill, I was able to ''Brand'' Gerard.

    ''He''s sincerely grateful and loyal. Good.'' As I thought, absolute strength was the best way to handle things.

    "Well, let us return. I''ve already repaired your Pce, and everyone there is safe. So, don''t worry."

    "T-thank you so much!" Gerard''s gratitude soared even higher.

    It felt weird having a Beastfolk¡ªespecially the Beast King himself¡ªas my subordinate, but it didn''t feel too bad either.

    "Also, let''s get you something to wear. You look pretty weird like this." I fished out a nice-looking kimono for the Beast King... as well as a nice pair of pants.

    "This should do for now. Get dressed quickly." With that, I turned from him and nced at the second object of my attention.

    ''So, how should I handle her?''

    Serah Crimson was standing in a corner, looking very depressed. The loss must have shaken her more than expected.

    But, wasn''t this a good thing? Just like Aloe Vida, people tended to appreciate it when someone pulled them from a deep slump.

    Besides, with this, I would be able to obtain a massive powerhouse for myself.

    ''I used up a great deal of energy earlier... but the results were worth it.''

    Even though I could approach her at the moment, it wasn''t the ripe moment yet. I had to give it time...

    ''Sink even deeper, Serah. Once you''ve gotten to the abyss... I''ll pull you back up.''

    Of course, I intended to fulfill my matchmaking promises for her as a bonus. As long as she understood who was whose superior, there was going to be no hitch in our rtionship.

    "I''m done!" The Beast King''s voice caused me to sharply turn in his direction.

    "Very good." I smiled.

    Donning a blue Kimono and ck trousers, the brown-haired bearded man looked even better than the first time I saw him.

    Both Serah and he were healed using my Magic, so they were perfectly fine.

    "Also, I think I''m getting the hang of this multiple Cores thing. I''ve made five now." He smiled at me.

    ''Already?!'' Considering how it took me so many years to get such a number, I almost bashed my head in envy.

    Curse or not, their race was too broken.

    Fortunately, I had my Soul Brand on him, so he was forever linked to me¡ªof course, in servitude.

    Obtaining the Beast King was only the beginning, though.

    ''There''s a whole lot of people here. Might as well leverage on that.''

 Chapter 453 Guests Of The King

    Chapter 453 Guests Of The King

    ''All the Mana Cores Gerard has made are all White. He''ll need to fill them up eventually. Then, it won''t be as fast as his current pace...''

    "That''s good." I smiled at the excited Beast King who was happy about the prospect of growing even stronger.

    Deep within him, though, I could sense another feeling welling up within. It was an emotion I was counting on to appear.

    "Let us return to your people. Since I beat you inbat, I have the right to make an absolutemand. You''ll be Allied with the Eastern Kingdom in the looming war."

    "Eastern Empire? War? What''s that?"

    "E-eh...?"

    Just how much did Gerard know¡ªno, the right question was how much didn''t he know.

    ************************

    I filled the ignorant Beast King on the details regarding the current state of the world as all three of us returned to the Beastfolk Kingdom.

    "W-wow... I had no idea."

    Apparently, the letter for an Alliance sent from the Royal Pce never even reached the King. No one cared for formalities without a show of power.

    "Well, now you do."

    I was in direct control of Gerard, so the Eastern Kingdom couldn''t usurp my authority. It was actually the contrary.

    ''Both sides will be needing me now.''

    "Per our agreement, I won''t affect your dealings with the people, and I don''t intend on making you control them for me. But, your loss in the earlier fight is a different matter entirely. You''ll have to obey the order for an Alliance."

    "I understand." Gerard nodded as he bowed.

    Serah was silent throughout the conversation, so I decided to adopt her decorum until we reached the Beast King''s Pce.

    As promised, his Pce and everything about it had been restored.

    The other members of our team of Delegates were waiting for us to arrive¡ªthough they were being carefully watched by the Therianthropes around.

    "Wee back." Maria and Freya were the first to speak.

    Their warm expressions soothed my heart, though I felt a little guilty considering what I had to resort to not too long ago.

    ''They''re so innocent...''

    "Stand down, everyone," Gerard spoke to the surrounding Therianthropes.

    Hearing the absolute orders of their King, everyone settled.

    "I will be having a public announcement by dawn tomorrow. Until then, every denizen should return to their homes to prepare."

    The Beast King''s voice was enough to echo throughout the massive city.

    Since those with Mana could enhance their vision and voices, even though it was a massive piece ofnd, Gerard''s voice reached everyone.

    The surrounding guards were also excused, so everyone parted ways.

    "Please, can I invite you to dine with me?" Gerard offered.

    It had been a while since I tasted their local cuisine, and I was plenty famished after that fight.

    "Sure. Will your family be joining us?"

    "N-no. How can I be so rude as to impose on you like that."

    "I don''t mind, really." I smiled with a friendly face.

    "A-alright them. First, I know you must desire to freshen up. Please, I''ll personally take you to the spring where you can enjoy yourself with the nice water that flows there."

    Gerard was trying his hardest to please me. It would be rude of me not to take him up on his offer.

    "Alright. Lead the way."

    Fabian and Damien had stupendously shocked expressions on their faces¡ªmost likely wondering how I was able to speak to such a powerful entity so freely.

    I intentionally made sure none of them could observe my fight with Gerard¡ªeven erasing any form of Observation Magic in the vicinity.

    To the best of their knowledge, they could only suspect that Serah was the one who engaged in the fight.

    "T-then... let''s go!"

    **************************

    The soothing water from the Hot Springs was enough to ease my stressed body.

    Not only was itpletelyfortable to bathe in, but it also had a simr concentration of Mana as the Oasis did back at Ainrk.

    "Haa... I now understand why Ciara was taking a bath in such a ce..."

    The feeling of having energy creep around one''s body while being washed of exhaustion was simply the best.

    ''I could get used to this...''

    I had a separate bath, and the others were grouped into groups of males and females.

    Since I was all by myself, the atmosphere was veryfortable.

    "Hey!" A sharp voice rang through my ears.

    ''What the...?!''

    Popping out of the water was a Therianthrope. I never expected to see another person here. Most of all, the person was a¡ª

    "I surprised you, didn''t I? Haha!"

    ¡ªA young kid!

    He had blue hair and the same color of eyes. The upper part of his body resembled a human''s¡ªthough his ears were web-like. The lower part was that of a glistening blue fish.

    ''He''s a Merfolk?'' I observed the boy.

    Was I too focused on enjoying the bath that I failed to notice him?

    "I''ve been training on how to be one with the elements. My limit is only thirty minutes, though. Haha!"

    ''Where did this weird kide from?''

    "You''re one of my father''s guests, right? I think you''re the first he''s ever treated this way."

    ''Hold up. He''s Gerard''s kid?

    "This is his personal bath, so I usually just practice here and wait to scare him out of nowhere. Imagine my surprise seeing you here."

    The cute kid looked nothing like his father, so I had to guess that he got most of his qualities from his mother.

    ''Sigh, my peace and quiet is gone...'' I prepared to get out of the Hot Springs

    "Hey, wait! Don''t go!" I ignored the boy''s pleas.

    "Meanie!"

    He was at most ten years old, yet his Mana Core was already at the Golden Stage. That was abnormal¡ªeven for Beastfolk.

    ''Did Gerard intentionally let me see his kid like this? What does he think I''ll do?''

    My cure wasn''t free, neither was it cheap. He should have realized that by now.

    "Tell your father that I said he knows what to do." I returned my gaze to the innocent boy who was already climbing out of the pool.

    Once he left the puddle, blue-colored legs appeared. His feet were webbed as well.

    "Hmph!" With that emphatic scoff, he ran off.

    ''Gerard works faster than expected. If it''s like this, then the family dinner should be quite an entertaining sight.''

 Chapter 454 A Pleasant Dinner

    As I suspected¡­

    ¡°Jared, let me introduce you to my daughter, Kana! She has such talent, and look at her. Isn¡¯t she a beauty?¡±

    ¡­ This Beast King called Gerard¡­

    ¡°Ah, what of her? She¡¯s pretty lovely, isn¡¯t she? Look at all my children. They¡¯re amazing, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡­ Was totally shameless!

    Before I arrived, he had already gathered every member of his family, making sure to separate the boys and the girls.

    Once I arrived, he instantly moved to my side and began making references to his children. I understood that as a father, he would want his daughters to find a strong Mate, but wasn¡¯t this overboard?

    Still, I had to admit that his daughters were all beautiful in their own rights, some having traits of Merfolk, or Cats, or Birds, or Rabbits.

    Their figures were perfectly in sync, and he was blessed to have such lovely children.

    Still, that wasn¡¯t enough to bend my will¡ªespecially because I wasn¡¯t attending the dinner alone.

    Behind me was the troublesome Elf Princess, and then there was Maria as well. Serah, Damien, and Fabien were also present.

    The two girls who already had feelings for me wouldn¡¯t take it too well if I spent the evening ogling the daughters of my vassal, would they?

    ¡®Such a waste, though¡­¡¯

    Unlike humans and Elves, Beastfolk could have multiple women as wives. Depending on power, the strong could obtain whatever he desired.

    If that was the case, it wouldn¡¯t be strange to have all of his daughters if I wanted. Not only would they not mind at all, but they would also even be happy about my choice.

    That was the kind of society I was in.

    ¡®I¡¯m currently not interested in getting involved in the concept of love, but having pretty women like these to keep mepany isn¡¯t bad¡­¡¯ I was an adult in a minor¡¯s body, after all.

    It had been a while since¡­

    ¡®Alright, Jared. Let¡¯s not dwell on that.¡¯

    Iposed myself and decided to enjoy a calm dinner with Gerard¡¯s family.

    The food was delicious, as expected of a ce well acquainted with nature¡¯s wonders. Their meat was fresh, and their vegetables were juicy.

    I enjoyed the care and attention to detail ced in the preparation of the meal. While I wasn¡¯t so particr about food, Beastfolk society made me view it as more than just a necessity for sustenance.

    Their foods were the epitome of perfection. And so, I appreciated the meals by devouring them nicely.

    Even though the girls were all looking at me, causing my body to shiver in suppressed excitement, I maintained my cool.

    ¡®Focus on the meat¡­ Meat. MEAT!¡¯

    I was currently fifteen years old. It was a dangerous age to be in¡ªwith all the hormones running amok in my body.

    However, by utilizing the art of self-control which I cultivated for an immensely long period, I was able to remain myself.

    Until¡­ ¡®it¡¯ showed up.

    ¡°CHEERS TO OUR VISITORS FROM THE EASTERN EMPIRE!¡± Gerard gave a thunderous roar, bringing put a barrel from the corner.

    I could hear the sloshing sounds of liquid within the massive container, and as Gerard opened the lid, a tingling aroma entered my nostrils.

    ¡°Guh!¡±

    The rabid sensations I was trying to suppress began to manifest, but in the form of another desire.

    ¡°Let us drink to our Alliance!¡± The Beast King cheered.

    Cups filled to the brim with the bright red liquid of the Beastfolk were set before each of us.

    Eyeing mine with keen interest, I took in the fragrance again, reminiscing of the first time I had a whiff¡ªthen, a taste.

    ¡®Dom, you madman! You got me addicted to this¡­¡¯ My thought trailed.

    I was treading a steep slope currently, and any sudden mistakes would lead to an irreversible error.

    Still, the red liquid called out to me.

    ¡°Nirvana Wine¡­¡± I murmured, ignoring the surprised expressions of the Beastfolk.

    They were taken aback by my knowledge of this drink from the gods, but their expressions did not concern me.

    Gulping, my throat suddenly became parched, and I needed to soothe the itchy feeling it gave off.

    While many reasons told me not to attempt it, I was too ovee with the allure of having a taste.

    ¡®I¡¯ve been working so hard. I deserve this¡­ right? Just this once¡­¡¯

    It was bullshit, but I raised the cup and downed the content with such precision and thirst.

    ¡°Haaa!!! This is iiiitttttt!!!¡± My voice climaxed as I raised my cup for yet another drink.

    ¡°Hohoho! You know your stuff!¡± Gerard grinned broadly at me, refilling my cup.

    ¡°Of course!¡± I gulped down the second round, feeling heat spread through my body and a sensation that could not be described using words.

    ¡°Another!¡± I yelled, ignoring the surprised expressions of the delegates who came with me.

    ¡°Hoh? You can hold your liquor quite well, can¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Hehehe. Don¡¯t underestimate me!¡± I burst out with a wide grin.

    To be frank, I was already a little drunk.

    But, not to the point of no return.

    ¡®If ites to it, I can just use Magic¡­ right?¡¯

    The night was still young, and we were at the peak of our youth.

    Enjoyment was a necessity in a life full of distress¡­ such were my drunk thoughts as I passed away the night.

    ******************

    ¡°Is that really¡­ Jared?¡± Maria mumbled to herself as she observed the blonde who wasughing and drinking like an idiot.

    It was a funny sight, especially because she had never seen him in such a state before.

    His cheeks were flushed pink, and he was in such enthusiasm that it was hard to believe that it was the same Jared Leonard.

    Maria would have giggled and enjoyed the atmosphere even more¡­ if not for one major problem.

    ¡°Hehe. Let me pour your drink for you.¡±

    ¡°Kyaaa. You¡¯re so cute.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re touching me so much. Haha.¡±

    ¡°You can keep going. Hihi.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so adorable.¡±

    Several of the Beastfolk females had already surrounded Jared and were getting too close forfort.

    Granted, he was drunk, but still¡­

    Maria could not tolerate watching something like that unfold before her.

    ¡®They¡¯re taking advantage of him. Because he¡¯s drunk¡­ they¡¯re trying to rope him in!¡¯

    While she was angry at them for what they were doing to Jared in his vulnerable state, Maria also envied the Therianthropes.

    Unlike them, she did not have the courage to try anything so forward.

    Merely showing how she felt concerning the matter was a task.

    ¡°Hey! Stop that! Get away from him!¡± Unlike her, the Elf Princess constantly chastised the Beastfolk females for going too far.

    Of course, theints fell on deaf ears.

    ¡®Jared¡­ I want to help you, but¡­¡¯ Maria red at the predators around the disillusioned boy.

    If only she had more courage, then perhaps¡­

 Chapter 455 Mana Overload

    ¡®Heck yeah!¡¯

    Pretending to be drunk turned out to be the perfect way to act in a way without arousing suspicion.

    I allowed myself to seem vulnerable, causing the Beastfolk females to swarm me in their numbers.

    Fortunately, this action didn¡¯t attract any me to me. Maria and Freya directed their anger toward Gerard¡¯s daughters, causing me to enjoy myself as much as I required.

    ¡®Hehehe¡­ hehehe¡­¡¯ I gleefully smiled, enjoying the smoldering affection of the exotic women I was surrounded with.

    It was shameful behavior, but my hormones had reached a precipice thanks to the Nirvana Wine.

    ¡®Just for a while longer¡­¡¯ I tolerated its effects.

    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte!¡± A sharp cry echoed throughout the room, causing everyone to look in the direction of the entrance.

    ¡°Uh?¡±

    The voice belonged to a kid with blue hair, eyes, and faded blue feet.

    His familiar tone and outlook caused me to recognize the boy at first nce.

    ¡®He¡¯s the one I met at the pool!¡¯

    ¡°Asa, what took you so long? Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s rude to keep the guests waiting?¡± Gerard went to speak to his tardy son.

    I pretended to ignore the conversation in my drunken state, but my focus was on the interaction between father and son.

    ¡°Is it rude, though? You never mentioned that before¡­¡± The child called Asa spoke in a disconcerting tone.

    ¡°Haa¡­ this kid.¡± The exasperated Beast King murmured.

    ¡°What took you so long, though?¡± A blue-haired girl asked her son.

    She was most likely his sister, considering he shared a lot of features with thedy.

    ¡®Where¡¯s the mother, though?¡¯ Gerard had several wives, and they were all with us in the massive room.

    However, I never spotted any Merfolk among the bunch.

    It made me consider if the young-looking girl was actually his mother, but she was too young.

    ¡®Then¡­ is his mother dead?¡¯ That was the only exnation.

    ¡°It took me some time to prepare. A-and, I guess I was feeling a little ufortable. I¡¯m fine now, though.¡± He replied quickly, trying his hardest to put up a bold front.

    Regardless¡­ I could read him like a book.

    ¡®Looks like it¡¯s already starting.¡¯

    ***********************

    Asa joined the dinner, which had already be a party at this point.

    Gerard¡¯s wives sang native songs with their melodic voices, and the children began dancing.

    The daughters especially flocked around me while the men showed more moves as they followed the rhythm with their bodies.

    It was like a festival, but smaller.

    I noticed a few of the Beastfolk males approach Maria and Freya, only for them to be tantly rejected.

    ¡®Pfft¡­¡¯ I suppressed augh, happy they got turned down for some reason.

    But, the funniest sight was spotting Gerard trying to hit on Serah with all he had. I didn¡¯t know which was more hrious; the fact that she was already into someone else, or that this was the worst time for him to make his move.

    Serah simply ignored him and began downing booze in silence.

    Once in a while, I would notice the girls ncing in my direction, but I pretended to be lost at the center of the Beastfolk cuties that swerved their bodies so seductively at me.

    ¡°Hehehehe¡­¡±

    I was not a womanizer. This was simply the effect of the Wine I ingested.

    Definitely!

    And so,  even as the night proceeded to be very wonderful¡ªat least for the majority of those present¡ªI made sure to keep my eyes on a particr individual.

    ¡®Asa isn¡¯t dancing any longer. His face is twitching. His body is slightly throbbing. He¡¯s holding it in quite well. But¡­ sooner orter¡­¡¯

    Just like clockwork, the festive atmosphere was interrupted by a sharp cry.

    ¡°ARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!¡±

    It was bloodcurdling, and the intensity instantly shook everyone present.

    Our attention sharply moved in the direction of the agonizing boy who was writhing in pain and screaming. His Body twisted and turned on the ground as he cried.

    ¡®Mana Overload at such a young age. It¡¯s both impressive and disastrous¡­¡¯

    The girls who all flocked at me immediately ran toward their sibling. Their worried expressions¡ªespecially the blue-haired one¡ªshowed how much they loved and pitied the poor kid.

    Serah nced at me, but I ignored her.

    ¡®She wants me to cure him. But, not yet¡­¡¯

    ¡°Jared Leonard! Please¡­ my son! Please cure him as well.¡± Gerard cried bitterly, looking at me for salvation.

    ¡®I expected this oue.¡¯

    Ever since my encounter with the kid at the pool, it was very obvious that he didn¡¯t have much longer to live.

    His dy in arriving at the party alerted me of a mild episode that must have urred to him before he made an appearance.

    ¡®Asa, this kid¡¯s absorption rate is too fast.¡¯

    His body was also not too built to handle the intensity of Mana Overload. That meant even more pain and a shorter lifespan.

    If left unchecked, he would probably die within five years.

    ¡®Tragic¡­¡¯ I looked in the direction of Gerard.

    Many eyes were on me at this point, and most people would havepromised as a result of the pressure.

    But, I was different!

    ¡°Did the child not deliver my message to you?¡± I asked with a cold gaze.

    I understood the pain of a father, but I wasn¡¯t an idiot either.

    ¡®He wants to garner my pity or curry my favor, so I can spare his family¡­¡¯

    Apparently, the Beast King wasn¡¯t as stupid as I picked him out to be.

    ¡°B-but, he is only a child!¡± Gerard returned my question with words.

    For a moment, there was silence pervading the room¡ªwell, except for the obvious cries of the agonizing boy.

    That wasn¡¯t silence, after all.

    Many would consider me the viin. A child was screaming in horrifying agony, yet I was doing nothing about it despite having the means.

    Even the expressions of Freya and Maria had morphed from mere surprise to slight fear and rejection.

    ¡®If this stops them from having feelings for me, then that¡¯s even better.¡¯

    My focus was on Gerard and the statement he had just made. There was only one response suitable for such an assertion.

    ¡°And?¡±

 Chapter ?456 Vassals

    Chapter ?456 VassalsMy question shook everyone.

    At this point, everyone around me must have realized that the whole drunken act of mine was only a false front.

    It was unfortunate, but the bigger picture was in sight.

    "My deal to you was as humane as possible. I offer the same to everyone who desires it. A chance to be free of the shackles that bind you to premature death, and also the opportunity to be stronger." Raising my hand, I stared straight at Gerard.

    At this point, his heart was racing rapidly.

    "All I ask in return is to be my subordinate. Is that unfair? Is that wrong? Isn''t it exactly in ordance with your rules? I''m the strongest one here, so isn''t itmon sense that you would all conform to my will?"

    Was I too kind to Gerard? It seemed as though he was taking my goodwill for granted.

    "I could have done this by force, but I gave you a choice. You knew from the start what the only option was, yet you decided on this path."

    I wasn''t the viin here.

    Gerard had enough time to prevent the hardship that his son was going through. In essence...

    "... The one who is to me is you."

    Upon seeing that I was not going to budge in my stance, Gerard finally conceded.

    Hanging his head in shame, he knelt and faced his trembling and screaming child. I could sense fatherly affection.

    Considering the fact that this Asa kid had enoughtent potential to surpass any Beastfolk in history, it must have made the Beast King very pained to lose him.

    "Asa... you can be cured. But, you will have to serve that man from now on. Do you understand? You will get to live. You will also be stronger than ever before. You will surpass your father, and everyone that came before you. Do you understand? Asa..."

    The screaming boy could not respond properly amid the pain, but the tears that gushed from his eyes were enough to tell his father that he would do anything to escape his agony.

    "We agree to your terms. Please... do it. Save my child."

    "Understood."

    In response to Gerard''s plea, I began treatment immediately¡ªwasting not a single second.

    ****************************

    That very night, every member of Gerard''s family became my subordinate.

    Their Souls had ''Brands'' linked to mine, so I had ess to their current status¡ªas well as information¡ªin real-time.

    Once the process was done, the previously joyous dinner closed abruptly.

    We were all shown to our respective quarters, and Gerard''s family retreated to their residence.

    Even though they hadn''t said much, I could tell how they were feeling. An initial assumption of being taken advantage of would swirl within their hearts.

    However, eventually, they would realize the huge favor I had done for them.

    ''All of them will be grateful.''

    With that in mind, I ignored the watchful gazes of everyone on my team and retreated to my room in silence.

    ************************

    Serah Crimson couldn''t sleep.

    It was a lovely night, and usually, the woman would never feel the urge to remain awake with the current atmosphere.

    However, for some reason, she couldn''t sleep this very night.

    Though she didn''t want to admit it, the reason for her insomnia was a Fifteen-year-old boy.

    "Jared Leonard..." She murmured and rose out of her bed.

    She looked out her window and appreciated the dark allure of the night even more. Still, even with the amazing view, her mind couldn''t let go of the image of the kid who bested her inbat.

    The only one who had ever beaten her in a fight was Neron¡ªand that was so long ago. Serah had grown much stronger since then, and she was certain that the superior one among them was her.

    It wasn''t vain pride, but a genuine one. The fact that Serah Crimson was the most powerful Mage in the Eastern Kingdom had already been established.

    "So, how...?" Her body shook a little as she remembered the humiliating defeat she experienced at the hands of a single boy.

    Even with the aid of the Beast King, who was also mercilessly beaten, Serah was unable tond a single injury on the boy¡ªtalkless of having a decisive hit.

    He was always one step ahead, and his power was enough to overwhelm her.

    The Queen of Destruction didn''t want to admit it, but... Jared Leonard was the most powerful person she had ever met.

    How would he fare against Neron? She had no idea. Normally, the woman would think that since he was able to beat her, he would beat Neron.

    But, with how her strength had been rendered obsolete before him, Serah was beginning to wonder if she was actually more powerful than Neron.

    This state of confusion left her unable to think about much else.

    "Damn it..." For the first time in years, she could feel the emotion of frustratione over her.

    Despite her natural prowess¡ªdespite the privileges she had been bestowed with since birth...

    "Why can''t I catch up? Why can''t I keep up?"

    Serah thought the answer was simply destruction and straightforward violence, but she was now beginning to reconsider her stance.

    For the first time in years, her lips quivered and her body became delicate. In a totally confused and vulnerable state, the woman spoke to herself in the solitude she had in the room.

    "What should I do now...?"

    >KOK<

    A knock roused her from her deep thoughts, and Serah nced in the direction of the door.

    "Who''s there?" Her lips moved before she realized the presence she was sensing.

    "It''s Jared."

    The voice was calm and collected¡ªand that scared Serah somewhat.

    How could someone, who had been so frightened of her when they first met, turn into someone so assertive?

    "May Ie in?" The voice came again after some moments of silence.

    "What do you want?" Serah''s voice slightly quivered as she spoke.

    "I want to talk. For some reason... I can''t sleep. I imagine it''s the same for you."

    Even though Jared was behind the door, Sesh felt that he was standing right in front of her.

    Though she was in her negligee, the material wasn''t transparent, so her apparel could hardly be considered indecent.

    After considering his words for a brief moment, Serah decided to let the boy in.

    "Fine. You may enter."

    **************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 457 Loneliness At The Summit

    Chapter 457 Loneliness At The Summit

    ''Welp, this is awkward...''

    I was seated on the same bed as Serah, who was ncing away silently.

    Her expression was deadpan, but that was simply a front. I was sure she simply didn''t want to express how curious she was concerning my visit.

    Still, the silence was unsettling, so I decided to speak first.

    "You couldn''t sleep too... why?"

    A sharp gaze came from her the very instant I asked, causing me to shiver slightly.

    "A-ah, sorry about that..." I murmured.

    Even though I managed to beat Serah that one time, it wasn''t like I was superior to her in power. It was all because of nning.

    ''I don''t think I can replicate that situation right now...''

    Besides, it wasn''t my intention to have that kind of rtionship with Serah.

    My goal was to be closer to the woman, securing for myself a dependable ally. But, to do that, I needed her to realize my worth in a way that would also diminish hers.

    ''Most times, friendships are made when two parties have something of somewhat equal value.''

    The exchange is subtle, but it exists nheless.

    But, no matter what I tried, there was seemingly nothing of value she could obtain from me. If I made it ring that I wanted an exchange, it would cease to be a friendship.

    That was why I had to resort to beating her alongside the Beast King¡ªthough there were other reasons.

    ''That was the carrot, though. Time to give the stick.''

    "Serah... are you mad at me?"

    "What? Why would I be?" The red-haired woman gave a quizzical expression.

    She wasn''t exactly mad, but she simply couldn''te to terms with her weakness. That meant Serah''s annoyance was directed at herself.

    ''That makes things easier.''

    "I don''t know. It may have to do with the fact that I was too hard on you and Gerard. I''m sure by now you must have an apprehension of me."

    The whole episode with Gerard''s family was seen by everyone. While I was being efficient in my dealing, myck of empathy towards the other party made me appear somewhat... cold.

    "You did what you had to do. I understand that perfectly. It''s fine." The woman sighed.

    I found myself grateful for having such an understanding woman. It turned out that she really held nothing against me.

    "Then why are you like this? Why can''t you sleep?"

    "Why should I tell you that?" Serah eyed me.

    Despite her free-spirited personality, it seemed she still drew a close boundary between those she considered friends and those she didn''t.

    "There really isn''t a reason. Then, if it''s alright... is it fine if I tell you why I can''t sleep?" I smiled warmly at her.

    "Hmph! Do what you want." Her gaze returned to the night being disyed through her window.

    "It''s pressure. I feel pressured, Serah..."

    My words, and the tone which I used to express them, got my target''s attention.

    "This whole expedition... it''s been taking a toll on me. Any mistake I make could cost me the future of our Race. And... if I make a single error, I could lose my life." I wasn''t lying at this point.

    While it was well within my ns to express a vulnerable side of myself to garner Serah''s attention, I wasn''t faking it.

    "It could be considered selfish, but... I don''t want to die. Everything I''ve done so far may seem like it''s for the Kingdom''s benefit, but it''s just to satisfy my selfishness."

    Serah simply watched me in silence¡ªher gaze was already showing hints of surprise and affection.

    "I''ve been getting more sleepless nights as the pressure builds. I think to myself ''Will I die today?'' or ''Is it tomorrow that I''ll draw myst breath?'' Either way... the uncertain future keeps me thinking every time."

    I returned my gaze to her and gave a tired smile.

    "It''s pathetic, right? But that''s what''s keeping me awake."

    For a moment, no one spoke. We didn''t even blink. Our gazes were simply locked for an indefinite period.

    "Well, I think I feel much better telling that to someone. I should be on my way." Rising from the bed, I made my way to the door.

    Then¡ª

    "Wait!"

    ¡ªMy target picked up the bait.

    She tightly grabbed my hand, and then softly released it in hesitation. Her gazecked focus, and I could tell that she was still conflicted about her next course of action.

    "You''re strong, Jared... why are you so worried about survival?" Her lips parted and she murmured.

    ''I think I understand more about you now, Serah.'' A thought trailed in my mind as I gave a sad expression.

    "Many believe that the powerful have nothing to concern themselves with. But, we are actually the most miserable. We suffer more than the weak."

    Neron battled boredom daily. Serah was the same.

    It was easy to get lost in one''s power that the very definition of existence became blurred. That was the dangerous aspect of absolute strength.

    "I just want to reach the furthest heights and deepest depths. But, at this point, I''m worried that once I get there, all I''ll find is solitude."

    Alphonse''s words still echoed in my heart, even now, but I wondered how long they would restrain me.

    ''Eventually... will I really be able to rely on anyone?''

    The summit that I dreamed of reaching... just how many people were capable of getting there?

    Ultimately, I would have to leave everything and everyone I cherished to attain those heights.

    "Aren''t you suffering too, Serah? Don''t you feel a void within you? You''re strong, so you understand as well. Tell me... what do you use to fill that emptiness that lurks within?"

    We locked eyes once more, but this time Serah''s expression was different. Something bright swelled within.

    "Ah, I see. I understand what you mean." She murmured looking at me with a smile.

    For the first time, it was a genuine expression of warmth.

    "The answer is simple, Jared. It''s how I cope with everything. This power I have attained, the reputation I have built... everything seems hollow without the mold that holds everything together."

    What could it be? I stared hard at Serah for an answer.

    *****************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter ?458 Serah Crimson [Pt 1]

    Chapter ?458 Serah Crimson [Pt 1]

    Somehow, I felt like I could obtain my answer from this woman.

    What could be capable of gluing absolute strength with the Identity of a person intact?

    Was it a great desire for even more? No, that would only sink the person into more despair.

    Could it be emotions such as revenge or desperation? No, once the focus of those emotions was eliminated, everything that was achieved by such feelings would be rendered meaningless.

    Then... what was the answer?

    "It''s Love."

    "....?!"

    "There is a saying that love conquers all. I don''t believe in childish fantasies, but... it''s Love that has kept me together all this time. I am strong, happy, content, excited, satisfied... stable... because of Love."

    It sounded like the ramblings of a delusional being. But, I couldn''t deny the effects of what she said.

    She truly believed what she was spouting to me.

    "I love Neron. That''s the only reason I''ve made it this far."

    ''But, that makes no sense? Love is only an emotion you feel towards a person you have a strong attachment to! Eventually... even that would be¡ª!''

    "I know it may seem silly to you because you''re young, but... eventually your desire to avoid solitude will rise even further."

    The desire... to avoid solitude?

    Those words struck a chord within me.

    "Maybe you''ll experience it sooner than you think¡ªthe desire to dedicate everything to someone."

    Everything she was saying opened the door to the locked memories within me.

    "You''ll want to go stronger, be better, strive to never lose yourself... just for that person."

    An image shed in my head¡ªno, two did!

    ''Ah, there was a time... when I really believed that too, wasn''t there?''

    Unfortunately, everything went up in smoke. It was precisely because my ambition couldn''t coexist with the concept Serah was preaching to me.

    My love for Magic and mymitment to a partner could not coexist. Unlike Serah, whose mold was thetter, I knew what attempting both had caused me in the past.

    "Does Neron feel the same way?" I asked the question out of the blue.

    My sharp inquisition surprised us both. It was enough to make Serah''s face falter for a moment.

    "I... don''t know."

    Then her words began to make less sense to me. If he didn''t feel the same, then what was the point of even having such emotions?!

    "If that''s the case, then¡ª"

    "But I won''t give up! I don''t want to give up!" Her sharp voice shook me for an instant.

    Something stirred within me, but I failed to grasp what it was.

    "It''s something I''ve had for as long as I can remember. I won''t give up now. I want to keep going. I know one day my feelings will reach. Till then, I won''t fall. That''s what has fueled me for so long."

    My heart began pounding quickly.

    ''This woman... she''s the same as I am.''

    I failed toprehend her words to me before, but I finally understood them now. The confusion clouding my heart began drifting away.

    "That feeling of desiring something... will grant you the strength to keep going¡ªno matter what!" Her smile broadened even further.

    I couldn''t help but agree wholeheartedly.

    Why?

    Because I felt the same way. After all... just as Serah was dedicated to her Love for Neron, I too had a simrmitment.

    ¡ªMagic!

    How could I have forgotten?

    In the first ce, wasn''t that what I wanted? I wanted to explore every nook and cranny of the concept.

    There was only one emotion strong enough to fuel that desire for two lifetimes.

    ''It''s love! I love Magic!''

    Serah was right, after all. Just as she loved Neron and would keep striving till she reached her goal, I too... couldn''t let up now.

    ''I won''t give up too!''

    "Thank you, Serah. I think you just opened my eyes to something I have been too distracted to see."

    The woman''s gaze rested on me with mold surprise and amusement.

    "You have someone who is the object of your dedication?"

    I nodded slowly.

    "And I''ll do anything to reach it."

    "Good. I look forward to seeing the kind of man you''ll be, Jared." She nodded.

    "Thanks for your words. And don''t worry... I haven''t forgotten about our promise. Your feelings for him have touched me so much. I''ll do everything in my power to make sure you two end up together!"

    "Really? I can''t wait!"

    We spoke like little girls, smiling stupidly as we continued conversing.

    I had a goal when I entered Serah''s room that night, but we both ended up discussing many things¡ªespecially concerning her past with Neron.

    **********************

    Apparently, she first encountered him when they were about five years old.

    She was referred to as a genius and was the strongest person her age.

    Her family hosted a party when she clocked five years old, inviting nobles from all over the Kingdom.

    Neron was the adopted son of a Viscount who lived in the boonies. They both attended the party.

    Their first meeting was nd. Unlike the many individuals who showered her with praise and affection for her amazing talent, Neron did nothing of the sort.

    He simplyzed around in the party and ate their free food and took their wine¡ªeven though he was underage.

    Serah caught him in the courtyard, all alone, simply snacking on more food and wine. He actually ditched the party and was enjoying the cool night breeze.

    Serah, who had been slightly irritated with him, finally made an outburst.

    To her surprise, Neron ignored her and said something no one had ever told her before.

    "You''re a bother."

    That was what caused thest vestige of self-control within her to vanish.

    "I''ll kill you!" She had screamed when she activated Magic.

    Serah had always been a violent child, so she impulsively attacked Neron.

    Even if she ended up injuring, or killing the boy, her family could always cover it up. Besides, they had someone who could utilize Resurrection Magic, so if she was careful they could revive him.

    Besides, even if they couldn''t, he was a mere adopted child. Amoner like him was of no consequence to the Crimson Household.

    But...

    "Is that all you can do? How boring..."

    ... Neron Kaelid waspletely unharmed.

 Chapter 459 Serah Crimson [Pt 2]

    Chapter 459 Serah Crimson [Pt 2]

    Rather than decimating the child with her barrage of Basic Spells, the boy was unharmed.

    "Disappointing." Were the words that came out of his mouth next.

    Serah had never heard those words from anyone before.

    From birth, she had a special constitution that made her regarded as a special child brought from the heavens.

    Like the Beastfolk, her body naturally absorbed Mana from her surroundings. That way, she kept growing stronger at an rming rate. Within a month, her Mana Core had already formed¡ªand it was a Special Grade Core.

    Special Grade Cores had no limit.

    Serah Crimson was bestowed the ability to keep absorbing Mana into a Core that could grow indefinitely.

    Her potential was limitless.

    But...

    "If this is all you can do, doesn''t that make you weak?"

    ... A single kid dared to talk down to her like that.

    And so, as the red-haired girl and ck-haired boy locked eyes, a strange sense of attachment was born.

    Fortunately, their parents arrived before any further damage was done.

    They were separated, and their respective family members took them away.

    What surprised Serah the most was that her father profusely apologized to the Viscount who was Neron''s adopted father.

    Her father was a Crimson. He was extremely tough and proud, yet he bowed his head to apologize to a mere Viscount.

    That made her upset beyond words.

    And so, Serah never forgot that incident. She decided to dig up all she could about the boy who had so brazenly defied her.

    "He doesn''t even have a Mana Core yet!"

    The anger raging within her turned into determination, and that fueled her training even more.

    Her father must have noticed her obsessive attitude, so he told her that Neron would be attending Ainrk in the same year as her.

    Whether what she felt was happiness or even more rage, Serah didn''t know.

    She simply worked hard every single day.

    Eventually, she would meet the brat and teach him a lesson. Then, he would have no choice but to acknowledge his inferiority.

    And so, the day finally came.

    They enrolled in Ainrk.

    The first thing she did, even before the beginning of the exams, was to approach him and dere how she intended on decimating him.

    But, his response shocked her beyond description.

    "Uh, who are you?"

    The boy whom she had spent seven years training with him in mind, had said something so unforgivable!

    "Y-you..." Serah''s cheeks felt hot at that time, and it seemed like tears woulde out at any moment.

    It was so embarrassing, and it also hurt her deeply, that he did not even remember her... the same boy who had been on her mind for so long.

    The attention of many people was on that particr scene, so they all rained harsh words at Neron for his discourtesy.

    In the same vein, they tried to pamper Serah and befriend her.

    "U-uh? What did I do, though?" The dark-haired murmured to himself, leaving the already crowded scene.

    The exams began, and Serah gave it her all. She was sure she would end up being ced first, without a doubt.

    None of the other students came close to her abilities. Even the lecturers were amazed by her raw talent and great skill.

    The results were inevitable.

    However...

    [EXAM RESULTS]

    ~First ce~

    Neron Kaelid [100/100]

    ~Second ce~

    Serah Crimson [97/100]

    [.]

    No one had ever scored a perfect score in the history of Ainrk Academy before. No... no one had even attained close to Serah''s score as well.

    They were both phenomenal monsters who broke the records of the Academy.

    However, it was clear to everyone¡ªespecially Serah herself¡ªwho the bigger monster was.

    Even after so long, she couldn''t catch up to him. She felt worse than ever on that very day.

    But... once again, the mysterious ck-haired boy appeared to her while she was sulking.

    "You''re pretty good. I didn''t think I''d see someone like you here."

    It was as though the previous words he told her vanished into thin air.

    His smile was so genuine that it made her heart race faster than ever.

    "My name is Neron. Neron Kaelid. What''s your name? Let''s be friends!"

    And thus, theirplicated friendship was initiated.

    It was during their time together that Neron told her he wanted to marry her when he grew older.

    I wonder why he said that, or if those were his exact words.

    But, Serah was so serious when she narrated the story, and it didn''t seem like she was lying. So, I had no choice but to ept those words.

    Neron had actually told me something about not believing anything she said, but... perhaps he simply wanted to hide these sides of himself.

    Continuing the story, Serah never let go of those words he said. She still clung to those words and pestered him to make good on his promises, but he always avoided the topic.

    "And, right now, I''m confused. I don''t know what to do anymore. I thought bing stronger would make him give me more attention, but... at this point, I don''t know..."

    Apparently, her defeat by my hands made her sullen because she wondered if she had still been inferior to Neron all this time.

    The one thing Serah thought she had an advantage in was finally destroyed by my actions, so she was left in despondency.

    Finally, she revealed the state of her heart¡ªjust as I wanted.

    But, to be honest, I wasn''t very concerned about my n when she did.

    At this point, I didn''t see her as a potential ally, or as the Queen Of Destruction, but... the Serah Crimson who sat beside me was no e other than a girl.

    Just a girl.

    "Neron... that bastard... why won''t he just..."

    Watching her feel this way made me realize just how unfair I was being toward the girls who had been attracted to me as well.

    Was it better to spare them heartbreak, yet cause them to suffer in uncertainty?

    No, that would be cruel.

    ''I don''t know how you feel about this woman, Neron... but...''

    It was time to take full responsibility¡ªboth for me and him.

    [A/N]

    I''m actually considering writing a separate Novel on Neron. His character and abilities just deserve a backstory (Especially with what we''ll see in the future).

    Well, once we get to that bridge, we''ll cross it.

    Also...

    I hope this exins why and how Serah Crimson is so absurdly strong.

 Chapter ?460 Conclusion Of The Alliance

    Chapter ?460 Conclusion Of The Alliance

    "Thanks for keeping mepany tonight." I smiled at the woman.

    As we both sat on her bed, my previously heavy heart was finally at rest.

    A new sense of rity came over me, and the resolve to further my ideals manifested intensely.

    "Thank you too. I never thought I would say this, but... it feels good to share stuff like this with you."

    ''Of course, knowing her personality, she won''t openly admit that we''re friends now.''

    Still, I knew Serah finally saw me as a trusted ally andrade.

    "You should also settle things with Maria while you''re at it. It''s not fair to keep a girl waiting." She smiled.

    "I will."

    Not just Maria, but also Freya, Ana, and any other girl who came my way.

    ''Magic is my only passion!''

    "Also, don''t feel bad about losing to me. You were very strong. To be honest, if you just had more skill... I''d never stand a chance."

    Serah sighed and gave a bitter smile.

    "Neron said the same thing. But, I can''t help it. Overlyplicated Spells are a bore to me, and even though I practiced Martial Arts, it''s just easier to move freely and attack."

    I understood her logic. However, just as I helped Neron advance in power, I also desired growth for thedy beside me.

    "Why don''t I help you with it? Getting stronger."

    "Really? You can?"

    "Of course."

    I didn''t know why, but I had positive feelings toward Serah. Something about her and Neron resonated with me.

    "After this war is over... I promise you."

    If everything went well, I would be able to finally put one of the most dangerous Arcanas to good use.

    "I can guarantee that you''ll truly be Invincible. When that timees... let us fight once again."

    Serah''s smile grew broader and her cheeks flushed a bit.

    "Very well, Jared. I''ll look forward to that."

    And so, we brought our meeting to a close. I returned to my room, and Serah remained in hers.

    That night, I slept better than I had in over a century.

    ********************

    At dawn, as Gerard hadmanded, every member of the Beastfolk Community was awake.

    They all gathered and waited for their King to address them.

    Gerard, the Beast King, stood atop his mighty hill and looked upon his people.

    A certain emotion swirled about his heart. it was resolve.

    Behind him were his children, spouses, and delegates from the Allied Nations. One boy, in particr, stood out.

    His smile caused Gerard to wonder if he knew what was about to happen.

    ''He most likely does...'' The Beast King said to himself.

    The previous night, he had been very upset with the human. However, after he thought about it, he had no just cause for such emotion.

    Jared had granted him and his family a brighter path to walk, and he had every right to demand their subservience.

    Once Gerard realized this, rather than feeling animosity, gratitude permeated his heart.

    He was certain his kin also felt the same.

    One nce at Asa''s smile told him that he made the right choice.

    And now, it was finally time for his entire nation to know the truth.

    "We will be going to war with the Demon Race." Gerard began without mincing words.

    The silence among the people remained. When an absolute being was talking, the weaker ones could only be quiet.

    "We will also be allied with the Eastern Kingdom, as well as the other Kingdoms in a united front against the Demons, and all other adversaries that may arise after their threat is extinguished."

    Even in silence, the people''s apprehension could be felt.

    Beastfolk were violent, but not needlessly reckless.

    They weren''t killing machines, but living beings who needed reasons for their actions.

    "The reason I have conceded to this Alliance is that I¡ªas your King¡ªlost to not just one, but two of their delegates."

    At this point, surprised gasps leaked out from the people.

    "The first match was fair, and the second was even to my advantage. Still, I lost. The reason is because I''m weaker."

    No one could imagine the Beast King losing against humans, yet here he was, openly admitting it.

    "But, I assure you... other than my defeat, there is another reason why I have decided to forever be allied to the Eastern Kingdom¡ªno, rather, to one individual." Gerard''s eyes turned in the direction of the smiling human.

    "I have an announcement to make, everyone."

    What other announcement could be more important than the deration of war? The Beastfolk could not imagine any, but the voice of their King rose to an unprecedented degree.

    Clearly, he wanted to utter something of even greater pertinence.

    "The Beast Curse... there is a cure!"

    *************************

    I was amazed by how Gerard coordinated his speech.

    His charisma was befitting the title of Beast King.

    Without uttering incoherent words, Gerard made his point to the people. He told them of how he and his family epted the deal, and the possibility of even advancing further than before.

    Gerard finally mentioned his intention of not forcing anyone to ept my deal. It was their choice, after all.

    But, after expressing his own stance on the matter... I doubted if anyone would refuse at this point.

    And so, ending his very touching speech, Gerard raised his hand in a roar.

    "We will finally be emancipated from the shackles of the curse that has pervaded our race for so long. We will be the strongest of our kind ever recorded in history. More powerful than the Beast Hero, Dom, achieving greater heights than ever before. Now, I ask you, do you wish to see such a future with me?!"

    "YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

    And so, the deal was sealed.

    My grin only broadened from that point onward.

    ''Finally... I have them in my grasp.''

    **********************

    With that, the announcement came to a close. To move forward with the n, I had to divide our team of delegates further.

    Serah and Bradford were sent to the Dwarf Kingdom as delegates, apanied by Gerard himself.

    I remained in the Beastfolk Nation to fulfill my promise to the denizens there.

    I had my work cut out for me.

    Not only did I need to cure them and teach them how to create more Mana Cores on their own, but I also needed to watch over their progress and ensure that they grasped everything I said.

    ''This will take a few days...'' I sighed to myself.

    But, I wasn''t worried in the slightest.

    ''Ana and Neron should be handling things for me over there. Things should be getting quite interesting on their end...''

 Chapter 461 Lydia Of Blanc

    Chapter 461 Lydia Of nc

    Every Demon Tribe had its specialty, ranging from Magic Abilities to Brute Force.

    However, there was a Tribe that excelled in none of those aspects.

    They were nk canvases that didn''t take on a particr specialty, but could fluidly adopt whatever qualities suited their needs at any particr moment.

    They were the Whites of the Demon Race¡ªalso known as Doppelgangers of Shapeshifters.

    Standing at the pinnacle of them was the Demon Lord, Lydia of nc.

    As the one who had contributed the most to the imminent war¡ªthanks to her unrivaled intelligence and wits¡ªLydia was undisputedly an important piece in the grand scheme of things.

    Her subordinates were spread throughout the Kingdom, all taking various forms in order to gather Intel.

    Their informationwork was also foolproof, so there was no leak or chance of suspicion on the part of their enemies.

    As the one at the helm, and also the one who was entrusted with such responsibility, Lydia''s area of assignment was none other than Ainrk Academy¡ªone of the three major pirs of the Eastern Kingdom.

    The Merchant City could only be considered important for economic reasons, and the Royal Capital was already being handled by the Organization they were partnered with.

    In order to avoid a sh with them, Lydia decided to keep her paws off the Royal Capital¡ªassigning only a few agents there for simple espionage.

    Ainrk Academy was a vast expanse and would be considered impregnable by most. But, she was Lydia of nc.

    Such a fortress was nothing to her.

    Doppelgangers had the ability to take on the form of their targets, bing exact copies of their designated prey.

    Usually, it would only be external, but if they used Magic to consume and analyze their targets, they could mimic more than just that.

    Using these special features, Lydia was able to sessfully invade Ainrk Academy as security personnel.

    It was an optimal role for her to perform.

    Not only was she granted ess to the school grounds as a patrol officer, but she could also interact with the adults and obtain valuable information in form of casual conversations.

    The man she was initially been disguised as had long digested into her system. It was thanks to this that she had been able to perfectly mimic every aspect of him.

    However, having the identity of a guard was not enough for her new mission.

    ''Find and destroy the Weapon!''

    The Humans were developing an ultimate device that could serve as a threat to their Invasion. Lydia had been given the mission to destroy said device before they began their invasion.

    As nned, they would strike the Eastern Kingdom in two days, and she had to achieve her objective before that time was reached.

    ''I can''t fail!'' The Demon Lord thought to herself as she carried out her duties diligently.

    As expected of someone of her caliber, she had the perfect clue on how to ess the location of the device.

    ''That man... Maro!''

    He was the reason she came across the blueprint of the device, in the first ce.

    Sure, he was an exceptional man in his field, but he wasn''t very bright in other aspects. Though he had tried his hardest to be cautious, Lydia had still been able to get her hands on the Blueprint in his office and duplicate it.

    Now that she was given the mission to subvert their ns, it was already a given that she would use the weak link to gain ess to the secret location of the weapon.

    And so, she struck!

    The poor human didn''t even see iting¡ªhow she attacked him in his office and so easily devoured him.

    Yes, Lydia consumed Maro¡ªabsorbing him into her nk white body.

    He couldn''t even make a sound since he was paralyzed, and all his nerves were rendered obsolete.

    In a few seconds, he had be a part of her.

    And then, Lydia transformed into Maro.

    All his memories and information were transferred to her neural storage space, and she got even more information for her allies.

    At that moment, Lydia was ecstatic.

    ''I have more than I bargained for! With this, I''ll prove my worth even more!'' Her mind erupted in glee.

    But, it was too early to celebrate!

    Her mission came first.

    Thanks to the man''s memories, she finally figured out the location of the weapon... and the fact that it was close topletion.

    If she had dyed for a single day longer, then things could have gone awry for her.

    "Now, then... shall we get going?" Lydia grinned with Maro''s face.

    It was a twisted smile that didn''t suit the man one bit, but she ignored that fact.

    Her mission was at the forefront of her mind, and Lydia finally had everything she needed to execute it.

    Once she was done, she would return to the Demon Encampment and report all she had done and learned.

    Surely, all her Intel would be highly appreciated, and she would be praised for all her efforts.

    ''Maybe... Abellion will finally...'' She blushed with her manly face.

    It caught some attention of the few students who watched her/him as she/he traversed the school grounds.

    ''No. Not now! Focus!'' Lydia chastised herself internally.

    She didn''t want to waste any more time. It wasn''t because she was being impatient, but because the project was advancing at a terribly fast pace.

    If she didn''t make her move soon, then...

    ''There''s ask the possibility that they might swap out the location and I won''t be aware.''

    Besides, ording to the memories gotten from the man, Maro, the others who were jointly working on the project were busy at the moment.

    ''The one called Aloe Vida is busy with a lecture. Neron Kaelid is handling affairs concerning a Royal Draft. Anabelle Frederick is also busy working on her personal project¡ªwhatever it is.''

    So far, Lydia had been able to gauge the level of threat everyone in Ainrk posed to her. That was why, other than Neron Kaelid, she wasn''t exactly concerned about anyone else.

    Even if they stood in her way, she would eliminate them without hesitation.

    Her window of opportunity had finally opened up, and it was time to strike.

    ''I''ll soonplete the mission!''

 Chapter ?462 Sabotage

    Chapter ?462 Sabotage

    "So this is it?"

    Lydia, still in the form of the middle-aged man, Maro, walkedfortably into the building.

    The structure had no windows, only allowing the faint illumination of the gems all around to shine their light.

    ''They certainly didn''t make it easy to find...'' She thought to herself as she strolled in.

    This secret building waspletely undetectable from the outside. Havingyers of barriers and defensive spells to protect it from any Sensory, Physical, or Magical breach, it waspletely impregnable.

    Then again, such a term was useless for someone like Lydia.

    Gaining ess was easy once she knew the Activation Spell that granted her entry. It was too convenient, but that was simply because her ability was suited for such a job.

    ''Now, then, shall we see what we have here?''

    The building''s design was akin to a warehouse¡ªhaving a very massive space within.

    It was very tall and wide, isted from anything else. Lydia had no in-depth idea how the cooling and venttion system worked, but it had to be the effects of Magic Technology.

    ''These humans and their innovations...'' Lydia spat in annoyance... and slight fear.

    The more she sorted through Maro''s memories, the more she realized just how dangerous they were in terms of advancement.

    But, that would all being to an end soon.

    >CLACK<

    >CLACK<

    >CLACK<

    Before long, Lydia reached the center of the building and observed the massive structure that stood erect.

    It had a weird design¡ªsimr to a pir, or could it be better described as a tree?

    It had a pronged head, and then its base wasrger than normal. It was rooted to the ground, having deep ws on all four edges at its stump.

    The brilliant machine warbled as it was still asleep¡ªnot yet activated.

    Lydia could tell that it was a world of art... and destruction.

    ''It matches the blueprint perfectly. This is what I''m looking for.'' Lydia grinned.

    Using the Intel she got from Maro, the Demon Lord knew just how to dismantle the object. If she wanted to make it ineffective, all she needed to do was take away a few parts.

    But, that was simply a temporary solution.

    Topletely wreck it, as were her orders, Lydia would need to take some time in dismantling the item.

    ''It would be better if I could make it appear as though I haven''t tampered with it at all...''.

    That way, even as the humans tried to depend on it in theirst moments, only despair would await them!

    ''Hehe... hehehe...hahahaha!''

    >CREAK<

    As Lydia wasughing internally, the door leading to therge warehouse opened, causing her to sharply turn her attention in that direction.

    Her internal self was full of surprise, but she made sure not to show the slightest hint.

    ''W-what is she doing here?!''

    The person appearing before her¡ªnow closing the opened door¡ªwas none other than a little girl.

    Calling her a child wouldn''t be an overstatement.

    "Uh? You''re here already? That''s good." The girl spoke in her childlike voice.

    "E-er, yeah..." Lydia had no choice but to respond in her manly voice.

    She was still full of doubts and confusion, but someone as skilled as her could always y along with a surprising turn of events.

    "Why didn''t you turn on the lights? It''s pretty dark here." The little girl pped her hands, and instantly the Magic Ores ced on the walls and ceilings burst to life.

    Bright light enveloped the Hall, causing Lydia to squint her eyes a little.

    Unlike the cks, exposure to light had no effect on her body. But, since she was currently a human, and her eyes were suddenly exposed to light, Lydia was stunned for a moment.

    "Ah, much better." The small girl smiled, exhaling with satisfaction.

    As Lydia recoiled from the shock, she was finally able to get a closer look at the intruding girl.

    ''Tch. That''s Anabelle Frederick, from his memory...''

    She was an apprentice that served under Maro¡ªand an exceptional one at that. She also possessed immense talents in Magic, Engineering, and Alchemy.

    But, that was pretty much it.

    Compared to a Demon Lord like her, Ana was no threat at all.

    ''Still, why is she here? ording to the information I got...''

    "... Shouldn''t you be buried with your research? I''m surprised to see you here." Lydia asked.

    "Oh? That..." Ana shrugged.

    It wasn''t exactly an attitude a junior should put up when being questioned by a superior, but Lydia was in no position to emphasize that.

    "Well, I just decided to check on the project. What about you? Why are you here?"

    Ana just gave a flimsy excuse, but Lydia could not nitpick on it since Maro was also not meant to be there at that particr time.

    "Same reason as you. It''s beautiful, isn''t it? I can''t get enough of looking at it.'' Lydia used one of Maro''s frequent lines when he referred to the device being built.

    Her eyes were on the weapon of destruction, and her acting was wless. Definitely, it was enough to fool the girl.

    However...

    ''Do I really need to fool her?''

    When she thought about it well, Ana was fodderpared to a Demon Lord. Even a Demon General would be able to face her and win.

    Lydia could simply eliminate her and continue her mission.

    ''Or better yet... I should capture her!''

    Ana was close friends with Jared Leonard, a thorn in the flesh for the Demons. If she took the little girl, surely that would deal a big emotional blow to their enemy.

    ''Even if it''s a little bit, it should make him falter a bit.''

    The only question was whether their target, Jared, would care enough to act the way they wanted him to.

    ''Hmmm... what should I do?'' As Lydia was still contemting what course of action to take, she spotted Anabelle looking at her with unnatural interest.

    It bothered her, especially since the girl''s piercing gaze was ufortable... and a bit unsettling.

    "What is the matter, Ana?"

    "Fascinating... you really look like him." The girl''s voice came in a soft tone.

    ''Uh??!'' Lydia''s mind sharply processed the meaning behind the human''s words, still maintaining her cool front.

    "Jared was right, after all. This is quite interesting."

 Chapter 463 Anas Evolution [Pt 1]

    Chapter 463 Ana''s Evolution [Pt 1]

    [Days Before]

    Ana was ted.

    As she jumped on her bed, she was giddy and bursting with excitement.

    Why?

    "He actually found these? Incredible!!!" She shouted with glee.

    Jared had just visited her room out of the blue and given her Lewis Griffith''s Hidden Manuscripts.

    Treatises that were never published.

    Theories that were never shown.

    Possibilities that remained unknown.

    All of those were now in her grasp.

    "I''m so excited! I''m so excited!"

    She went through the book several times, but she hadn''t started reading yet.

    ''Should I really begin tonight?!''

    After a bit of back and forth, Ana finally picked up the first volume.

    Once she finally focused her attention to read the Author''s notes, she noticed something strange about it.

    There were strange engravings, as well as what seemed like a Mana Circuit embedded on the parchment.

    Ana had been researching Magic for very long, so she recognized a Rune when she saw one.

    ''But why is this here? And it''s somewhat incoherent...'' The girl thought as she observed the strange flow of the code.

    Finally, her curiosity got the better of her, and she eventually solved the riddle.

    By infusing her Mana into the finished results, a bright blue light pervaded the room.

    Once the light settled, Ana found a letter atop her bed.

    It was unexpected, but the letter actually contained a message from Jared himself. She initially couldn''t believe it, but the whole stuff was a test to see if she could spot, or even decipher his code.

    ~If you''re reading this letter, that means you''re skilled enough to handle what I''m about to tell you.~

    Ana wanted to yell at how he underestimated her, but she kept her cool and decided to read through his message.

    That was when the oddest thing was revealed to her.

    ~A Demon Lord is most likely going to invade Ainrk Academy~

    Jared had dropped a bombshell in his letter.

    Not only did he state how and why this Demon Lord would be invading, but he also mentioned the likely scenario that would ur as a result.

    To be honest, everything he said made Anapletely bamboozled.

    ''I can''t believe this...''

    But she did trust in his every word. Not only because he spoke facts, but also because he sounded so sure.

    Jared was never one to be wrong on such important matters. It could have been her heart speaking, but Ana knew this for a fact.

    ''He''s perfectly logical and on-point that it''s almost scary...''

    Nheless, Jared was yet to conclude his surprise.

    ~Well, that''s what I have to say about it. You guys can handle the information I''ve given you any way you want.~

    ''E-eh...?''

    Ana was so sure Jared would offer a n at this point, but he simply threw the initiative on how to handle the situation into their hands.

    Ana pondered on the hidden meaning behind his message, but found nothing.

    ~To be honest, I was nning this to be like a gift for Neron. He has been telling me how bored he has been. So, you guys can create the perfect stage by using the information I''m given you.~

    Jared went on to exin the identity and ability of the intruder.

    Ana wondered how he came across such detailed Intel, but she couldn''t fathom it. Realizing that it was useless to question his sources, she simply kept reading.

    ~I''ll leave everything in your care. No matter how things turn out, it''ll still end up in victory. Her little interference won''t be consequential in the long run. Just think of it as an exercise for fun... and a reward for your hard work.~

    The boy was basically offering a Demon Lord as a reward for their efforts.

    ''Jared, that monster... only he can do something like this.'' Ana smiled once she finished reading the letter''s contents.

    The young girl fell to her bed, now drained of the motivation to delve into Lewis Griffith''s Research materials¡ªsomething Ana would never have imagined.

    She pondered on what to do with the information she had just gotten from Jared.

    As he mentioned in the letter, she was the only one who was aware of the Demon''s intrusion, and the Demon Lord''s abilities made it impossible for anyone to detect her presence.

    Now caught in a pickle, it wasmon sense that Ana would rely on Neron in handling the case. However...

    ''Huu! Finally, I have the perfect opportunity!''

    ... The young girl called Ana had something else in mind.

    ''This Lydia of nc... she''ll be perfect for the job!''

    *************************

    "Jared was right, after all. This is quite interesting."

    Three Automatons floated around her. They looked like small heads, but had three tentacles each¡ªserving the functions of limbs.

    Each Automaton had a single wide eye, but several functions could be performed despite their small frames.

    Ana always went around with them¡ªthough they were usually in stealth mode.

    The only reason the three little critters popped up at the moment was because of their automatic sensory functions.

    They perceived danger!

    "You... what are you saying...?" The middle-aged Maro asked as he narrowed his gaze.

    Ana was simply astounded.

    The more she watched the man, the more amazed she was.

    "To think you can really mimic everything about your target. It''s amazing. This world truly is vast." She beamed, sping her hands together.

    Many people didn''t know this, but Ana''s sses were made with cutting-edge Magic Technology.

    Not only could they analyze her targets, but could also scan properties and cross-reference patterns.

    Even in a fight, she could see the subtle movements of her target and predict whatever moves they would make based on several external factors¡ªsuch as breathing, muscle movement, eye movement, etc.

    Currently, she waspletely analyzing the ''Maro'' in front of her, and it was aplete match with the ''Maro'' she knew.

    "I''m guessing you also have all his memories and whatnot. That''s how you were able to find this ce, right? Amazing!" The young girl pped with genuine praise.

    At this point, Maro/Lydia was in a stunned state. Not because the Demon felt cornered, but because she didn''t understand one critical thing.

    ''Why...?!''

 Chapter 464 Anas Evolution [Pt 2]

    Chapter 464 Ana''s Evolution [Pt 2]

    ¡°So¡­ you knew? You knew, yet you allowed all this? Why¡­?¡±

    Maro¡¯s eyes narrowed as all focus was on the little child. Her behavior was not normal.

    Why would she act in such a manner despite knowing so much?

    ¡°Hmm¡­ because I was curious?¡± Ana murmured, giving a most surprising response.

    ¡°What? Do you not realize the kind of situation you¡¯re in?¡±

    Lydia knew humans were foolish at times, but not to this extent.

    ¡®I should just kill her¨Cno, I¡¯ll capture her instead¨Cand get this over with¡­¡¯

    ¡°My situation? What about it?¡±

    ¡°U-uh?¡± Lydia was unable to bear the girl¡¯s stupidity any longer.

    ¡°I believe you¡¯re misunderstanding something here¡­¡±

    Now using her fingers to tilt her sses, the girl called Ana gave a charming smile.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to die here¡­ Lydia.¡±

    That was the height of foolishness and arrogance. Lydia couldn¡¯t tolerate any more.

    ¡®I¡¯ll neutralize her, and then destroy the device!¡¯

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    In the blink of an eye, the Demon¡¯s swift body¨Cthough still in Maro¡¯s body¨Capproached Ana with the intent to render her unconscious.

    >VWUUUUUMMMMM<

    A loud hum, followed by sparks of electricity burst from the three drones that hovered around the girl, causing an instant shield to pop out of nowhere.

    >BOOOMMM!!!<

    As Lydia¡¯s blow hit the shield, she instantly knew that it was superior to her current physical capabilities.

    ¡°Tch!¡±

    The recoil effect of having hit a dome of pure energy set in, causing her to leap back¨Cjust as fast as she had approached.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be in a hurry. I know you¡¯re worried that I could be bringing backup, but don¡¯t worry.¡± The girl spoke calmly, cing both her hands in herb coat¡¯s pockets.

    ¡°Your fight is with me.¡±

    It sounded absurd¨Ca mere child against a Demon Lord! But, the girl¡¯s expressioncked any form of hesitation.

    Lydia spread her senses throughout the building, but she couldn¡¯t sense any other presence besides the girl.

    ¡®She¡¯s really alone, uh? There¡¯s the possibility that the rest could be using Magic to conceal themselves, but¡­¡¯

    Lydia had always been the cautious type, considering as many possibilities as she could before taking any action.

    However, there came times when one had to be decisive.

    Now was one of such moments.

    Further dy brought risk to her n. That meant eliminating the target as quickly as possible was the best alternative.

    ¡®I shouldn¡¯t utilize too much of my abilities, but¡­¡¯

    The shell of ¡®Maro¡¯ that she employed began disappearing, taking on an unstable form, until the true form of Lydia manifested.

    ¡°Is that what you really look like? Interesting¡­¡± The girl kept smiling, hidden within her powerful barrier.

    Lydia, in her white form, decided to use Magic to end matters swiftly.

    ¡°[Stinger]¡±

    A dense concentration of air particles converged, infused with Miasma and possessing great power.

    It formed a long arrow brimming with negative energy.

    The Demon Lord estimated that this would be enough to pierce through the annoying barrier and give the girl a slight punishment for her arrogance.

    >WHHOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Thence wasunched at deafening speed, meant to one-shot the target.

    Of course, only non-vital areas were targeted, considering the target was still useful as a hostage. Lydia simply wanted her to feel some pain.

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    To her surprise, anothernce appeared from the girl¡¯s side, almost looking like the [Stinger] she conjured.

    The Mana-Infused Lance sharply intercepted the one of Miasma, causing a neutralizing effect.

    Both Lances imploded upon impact, fading into particles of white and ck.

    ¡°W-wha¨C??¡± Lydia was dumbfounded.

    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s how Jared was able to do it. An equal proportion of Mana and Miasma will indeed cause a null effect. I wonder if I¡¯ll be able to achieve Anti-Magic if I keep exploring this¡­¡± Ana¡¯s voice once again sent the Demon Lord into a state of confusion.

    Just how was that child able to cast a Spell so quickly? Not only that, but it directly countered the [Stinger] she used.

    Though it was merely an Advanced Spell, [Stinger] belonged to the highest Tier within that category.

    Plus, its swiftness made it a deadly tool in battle.

    No matter the defense, it was guaranteed to pierce through and eliminate the target.

    ¡®So, how¡­?!¡¯

    The Demon Lord wasn¡¯t aware of this, but the three Automatons hovering around the young girl were the answer to her questions.

    They had a shared information system, yet their neural functions were independent. In essence, the three were capable of processing information and were connected by awork to share said Intel.

    Each had its function as well.

    One analyzed the Magic being used.

    Another calcted the appropriate action to be implemented

    The final one processed the Spell to be utilized.

    Finally, all three cast the Spell by utilizing the artificial Mana Core within them.

    As a result, they could operate beyond the bounds of a human¡¯s capabilities.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m happy to know that they could react in time, even if it¡¯s someone as powerful as you¡­¡± Ana smiled at the faceless Demon Lord.

    She couldn¡¯t get a read of her reaction since she looked nothing more than a white mannequin.

    Still¡­

    ¡°I guess I¡¯m boring you, right? Then, let¡¯s begin the real experiment.¡±

    The three Automatons switched gear from defensive to offensive in an instant.

    Their eyes glowed red, and Mana surged from them in a sh.

    A ball of concentrated mes gathered at the center of the three machines, focusing on the Demon Lord before them.

    In a sh, the st wasunched in her direction.

    Scorching mes surged forth, approaching the target at an unbearable speed, but she didn¡¯t seem bothered¨Cnot that her face showed any emotion.

    ¡°Annoying!¡±

    In a sh, the mes were swept away by a muchrger ball of water.

    The body of liquid consumed the intense fire until it was no more, but as a result, the entire room was flooded with water.

    It was done on purpose, though.

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry¡­ I won¡¯t kill you yet!¡¯ Lydia grinned, preparing a lightning Spell to interact well with the water.

    ¡°[Buzz]¡±

 Chapter ?465 Ana Vs Lydia [Pt 1]

    Chapter ?465 Ana Vs Lydia [Pt 1]

    "[Buzz]"

    Purplish-ck electricity shed from Lydia''s albino hand, descending upon the body of water in its violentsh.

    >BZZZZZZZZTTTTTZZZZZZ<

    Instantly rampaging the water until it began boiling and evaporating into steam, the pangs of lightning didn''t stop.

    Its destructive nature coiled about, heating it until everything dried up and became white clouds of hot vapor.

    >BZZTZZZ<

    "Now what?" The Demon Lord grinned with glee.

    The building they were in was designed to prevent any external interference. Ana''s confrontation was a big mistake since she was isted from everyone else.

    ''No one ising to help you, foolish child!'' Lydia thought to herself, expecting to see the girl''s body lying t on the ground.

    However--

    "How were you not affected by the rampaging electricity?" Ana''s voice called out in a small tone.

    "U-uh?!"

    "I didn''t see you cast any defensive Magic. Ah, I see. You must have used your shapeshifting ability to turn your body into something with no conductivity... like rubber?"

    The mist cleared, and Ana was busy rubbing her chin while murmuring to herself.

    The Spell [Buzz] was a spell that ignored defensive barriers.

    As long as it had enough conductivity with electricity, anyone and anything within reach would be under its influence.

    Even though [Buzz] wasn''t a lethal Spell, it still caused extreme pain and rendered its targets unconscious.

    Yet...

    "It''s a good thing I developed a Spell that negates my conductivity. After that experience with Kuzon, I promised myself never to fall under the influence of electricity. That stuff friggin hurts, you know?"

    Lydia was beyond astounded.

    "Ah, my apologies. I''ve been rambling on and on, haven''t I?" The girl removed her sses and used a piece of cloth to rub the surface of the lens.

    It had gotten quite misty, after the whole vapor experience.

    This left her open, so Lydia wanted to take the opportunity. However--

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Severalnces filled with Mana charged at her at breakneck speed.

    "Tch!" She negated them with her barrier, casting a Spell in response.

    Unfortunately, the Drones once again interfered.

    "Ah, much better." Ana was already done cleaning her lens.

    Her wide smile was so charming and innocent. One would never expect that her drones were currently firing tons of Spells at her foe.

    Of course, Lydia avoided every hit.

    After all, while Miasma was lethal to normal people, the opposite was also true.

    Demons were weak to Mana--especially the Whites.

    They had sensitive bodies. That was how they were so malleable--capable of changing forms as they wished.

    This served as their greatest strength and weakness.

    ''Tch. Do I really have to exert myself against this child?''

    While she had intentionally avoided using Spells that cost a lot of Miasma and had a low destructive range, Lydia had definitely been trying hard in the battle.

    ''Should I just kill her?'' The thought appeared in her head.

    The girl was very troublesome and unpredictable, so it was better to eliminate her as soon as possible.

    ''Fine. I''ll just kill her!'' Lydia''s face morphed into a grin.

    Her nk face suddenly had a slit open up, and a disgusting smile was formed from the sharp line.

    "Looks like you''re finally taking this seriously. I can now begin my experiment."

    With the snap of her fingers, something popped out of nowhere.

    It seemed like teleportation, but it had simply been the undoing of Cloaking Magic.

    ''W-wha--?! I didn''t notice something like that was here this whole time.'' Lydia''s eyes bulged in surprise as sheid eyes on the new entity that now made its entrance.

    It was behind the small girl, having a humanoid build.

    It was slightly muscr, possessing the appearance of an average adult male.

    It was, of course, dyed in a metallic color, though it shone unnaturally.

    ''Is that... a rare metal?'' Lydia wondered, observing the construct that had just appeared.

    "I present you the Ultimate Automaton, Ku-Red! Or, should I call it Ja-Zon? Uh... this is hard..."

    To be frank, Ana was yet to name the Automaton behind her. It was still in its test phase, after all.

    She had a policy not to name anything until it hadpletely been perfected.

    "Well, you get the gist, don''t you? This is the main reason I acted on my own. I wanted to test the capabilities of this stuff, and also find out where I need to work on."

    "Are you joking? Really? You''re in extreme danger, yet you want to test something?" Lydia had given up on understanding the girl''s logic.

    It was now painfully clear that she was an oddball even a Demon Lord couldn''t see through.

    "Okay, Automaton... show her a good time, okay?"

    The tall construct--at least over six feet, nodded his head and moved from behind its master.

    Though silent, it was emitting an aura that spoke of its resolve to fight. Standing in front of its master, for her protection and also to impress her on its progress, the machine prepared itself.

    "I''ve taken on this farce long enough. Just di--"

    In a sh, the Automaton lunged, swiftly closing the distance between itself and the target.

    Before anyone could react--

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    --It mmed her head upon the Magic-Enhanced Concrete.

    The ground trembled, and the area of impact shattered.

    "Guark!" Lydia let out a sharp cough, apanied by a surprised yelp.

    She hadn''t anticipated such speed and precise movement.

    Still clinging unto her head, the Automaton made to hash her head further into the concrete.

    "Let me gooo!!!" In a brilliant burst of energy, negative power emerged from the White Demon.

    The Automaton instantly knew that it had to retreat, and so it leaped backward to avoid any dangerous hits.

    "You..." Lydia rose from her disheveled state

    Her face, which had been bashed and disfigured instantly recovered.

    It was as though she was violently beaten a few moments earlier.

    If that was the only difference, then perhaps one could overlook it. But, things were now terribly more precarious.

    Lydia''s body was currently emitting a dangerously high amount of energy--negative energy.

    "... That does it! You''re dead!"

 Chapter 466 Ana Vs Lydia [Pt 2]

    Chapter 466 Ana Vs Lydia [Pt 2]

    Of all Demon Lords, Lydia was the weakest¡ªat least when it came to physical abilities.

    In Magic, she was somewhere in the middle. In essence, an average Demon Lord.

    However, her true abilities weren¡¯t tied to those things. After all¡­ for her race, they could be whatever they desired!

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Miasma swirled around the Demon as her temper rose to a point where she could no longer control her primal desire¡ª

    ¡ªDestruction!

    ¡°I¡¯ve had enough.¡±

    Instantly, several whips emerged from behind her¡ªlike tentacles.

    They were at least six, but thanks to their rapid movements, it would be hard to estimate just how many of the rubber-like protrusions appeared.

    >WHUUSHHH!!!<

    The whips made sharp sounds as they lunged at the Automaton, intending to demolish it and charge at the target behind.

    The hulking figure knew the dangers of the iing attack and acted ordingly. Boosting its body with Mana, it decided to confront the threat rather than avoid it.

    A proper evasion would have been possible, but that would only put Ana in danger. In order to bnce the scales, a frontal assault was inevitable.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Casting multiple Spells to slow down the white whips, the Automaton proceeded to generate something that was locked within his arm.

    It was a small metallic item, simr to a hilt of some sort. However, once the Automaton¡¯s Mana was poured into it, the handle brought forth a de from its edge.

    >VWUUUUUMMMMM<

    With an intense blue light emanating from the de, the Automaton lunged at the whips that still approached despite its barrage of Magic Attacks.

    >FWISH!<

    Utilizing the de fluidly while calcting the most optimal angle to strike, the Automaton twisted its body and shed the tentacles.

    The rubber-like whips were tougher than metal, while also being fluid enough to bend, retract, and lengthen at will.

    However, having gotten enough data to support itsbat potential, the Automaton¡¯s moves¡ªMartial Artsbined with Magic¡ªwere absolutely superior.

    ¡°Gah!¡± Lydia groaned, annoyed without end by the Automaton¡¯s strange movements.

    She could tell that she possessed more power than the machine, but it was capable of feats no living being could perform.

    It was precisely because the Automaton was an automated construct that was developed using an intricate System that it gave her such trouble.

    Not only was it evading her attacks at a stable pace, but it was also counterattacking.

    ¡°Tch!¡±

    Lydia increased the number of her whips, and then proceeded to utilize Magic.

    Once the numbers increased, the Automaton had his hands full, so she focused on the enemy beyond it¡ªthe girl called Ana.

    Her three Automatons still hovered around her, ready to defend if the situation called for it.

    ¡°That won¡¯t stop me!¡±

    Lydia had been conserving her Miasma since the start of the fight, but she didn¡¯t n on doing that any longer.

    Other than the stockpile she would leave for escaping and an emergency, the Demon Lord intended on using her full strength to decimate the target.

    From her shoulder emerged two extra limbs, and they pointed in Ana¡¯s direction. Another head appeared from Lydia¡¯s neck¡ªsmaller than the initial one.

    ¡°I¡¯ll simply divide my attention.¡±

    And so, while she was focused on the Automaton on one end, her other aspect would be finishing off the little girl.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH!<

    Lydia generated a Spell bordering the highest Tier of the Advanced Stage once more, readying theunch at the girl. However, that was simply a prelude.

    The second head of the Demon Lord grinned sadistically as she began processing another Spell, this time in the Peak Level.

    >BOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    As expected, the three Drones acted in tandem and blocked the initial purple zing strike.

    But, the moment this was done, the next Spell began appearing. It was a zing inferno coupled with a storm of lightning.

    Having the destructive capability that lived up to its Peak Level name, the whirling storm of mes and lightning lunged in Ana¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Ah, this could be a bit dangerous.¡± She whispered, watching the st draw nearer.

    >BIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Arge portion of the building was devastated.

    Had it not been for the defensive measures given to the building, the whole ce would have been destroyed to smithereens.

    ¡°How¡¯s that?!¡± Lydia grinned, finally getting rid of the girl that brought her so much distress.

    As for the Automaton that had proven to be quite bothersome, it was now struggling in the grasp of so many tentacles.

    Unable to move its trapped limbs, it merely fidgeted and spasmed.

    Lydia felt satisfied that she had finally defeated the girl and her annoying toy. They proved to be nuisances, but the end had been set from the start.

    ¡®She was stronger than I gave her credit for¡­¡¯ Lydia thought to herself, turning to the device behind her.

    As expected, despite the conflict, it remained unscathed. Happy to be finally returning to her initial mission, Lydia used her tentacles topletely break apart the Automaton behind her.

    Scraps and piecesnded on the hard ground as the smell of burnt flesh and devastated machinery filled the air.

    Victory was a matter long foregone.

    She approached the device, now returning to her state as Maro.

    The defensive barrier around the weapon was made to ensure nothing could pass through unless they were recognized.

    Lydia was aware that even she could not break such aplicated and powerful defensive array. To her knowledge, it was made by none other than Neron Kaelid.

    That left her no choice but to use one of the authorized personnel.

    Now taking the form of the few who were granted ess to the device, Lydia nned on destroying itpletely.

    ¡®I can¡¯t dy any further¡­¡¯ She thought to herself.

    ¡°You really want to destroy it so badly, uh?¡± A voice appeared behind her.

    ¡®Wha¡ª?!¡¯

    ¡°Command: 6754 Zeta¡ªMaro protocol.¡±

    Before Lydia could move another muscle or react to anything, her body haltedpletely. It was a forceful submission to the voice she had just heard.

    As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Lydia could feel herself falling asleep.

    Her eyes were closing, and her consciousness was fading fast.

    >CLACK<

    >CLACK<

    Sounds of gentle footsteps echoed in the wide room, and a terrible sense of foreboding crept upon the Demon Lord as she was renderedpletely defenseless and vulnerable.

    ¡°Well, looks like the results work perfectly, after all.¡± A voice emerged from behind her.

    ¡°Experiment Complete.¡±

 Chapter 467 Protocol

    Chapter 467 Protocol

    ¡°Whew. It¡¯s a good thing I used an Identical Golem¡­¡± The small voice of a girl rang out.

    Ana was smiling as she drew closer to a petrified Maro.

    Even though she was supposed to have been destroyed by the devastating storm that Lydia shot at her, Ana looked very much alive.

    And that was because the attack never reached her.

    ¡®Only an idiot would put themselves in harm¡¯s way¡ªespecially when against an unpredictable opponent!¡¯ Ana smiled to herself.

    The one who had been engaging in battle with the Demon Lord a while ago was not her, but a lookalike Golem.

    Ana had been controlling the Golem from a distanced, and her Automatons were also instructed to obey the Golem.

    It made for a convincing show¡ªwhich was what the girl was after.

    By doing so, Ana got enough information from her target, and once the time was ripe, she acted swiftly.

    ¡®Everything worked out well, I guess¡­¡¯

    Ana drew close to the Demon Lord of nc, staring at the being inquisitively.

    Even though she knew to maintain caution, the young girl couldn¡¯t help herself.

    ¡®It should be safe enough now¡­ but I can¡¯t be too careful.¡¯

    Her three Automatons were on standby, ready to react if things ever got awry.

    It was a shame that her experimental ¡®Ultimate Automaton¡¯ was thrashed, but it simply showed how powerful a Demon Lord was.

    Her experiment had been a valuable learning experience for her.

    ¡°I should get the samples I require and then finish things up¡­¡± With that, Ana took some tools from one of the Automatons who delivered the items.

    Transparent test tubes were grasped by the girl, and she began to collect samples of hair, blood, flesh, etc. from the suspended being.

    ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Ana murmured, using Magic to observe the vials she had.

    Even though the Demon Lord could take on the form of anyone, she never expected that the change would be so deep.

    Even down to the cells, the samples she acquired from Lydia¡¯s current state were exactly the same as Maro¡¯s.

    ¡®She really did be him!¡¯

    Well, Ana figured that would have been the case. Why else would the Demon Lord have responded to the protocol from earlier?

    ¡°I would also love to have samples when she¡¯s in her base form¡­¡±

    Comparing and contrasting samples were necessary for progress.

    Unfortunately, Ana doubted the Demon Lord would let her gain ess to her body so freely.

    The only reason she hade this far was because she transformed into Maro.

    ¡®But, I really need those samples!¡¯

    Exasperated, the little girl sighed, trying to find the most optimal solution to her predicament. No matter how hard she tried, there was only one way out.

    ¡®I¡¯ll have to get those samples¡­ by force!¡¯

    Lydia of nc was a troublesome foe¡ªand Ana had seen some of her capabilities. But, she would be a fool to imagine that everything she saw was all her opponent was capable of.

    ¡°Still, as long as I prepare adequately, I should be able to get what I need¡­¡±

    Another problem that popped up was the fact that her earlier trick wouldn¡¯t work again.

    The Demon Lord would also be wary of turning into Maro, since doing so wouldpromise her.

    In all likelihood, it was more logical that Ana would be the next target of Lydia. She would kill and transform into her to ess the device.

    ¡®If I had enough time, I would have also made a duplicate of myself¡­ sigh, this sucks.¡¯

    In the end, she simply had to get what she required by taking matters into her own hands.

    Was it dangerous? Yes!

    However, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

    Ana realized she was at a big risk, but, she couldn¡¯t back out now.

    ¡®As long as I can prepare properly¡­ victory should be mine!¡¯

    ************************

    ¡°U-uh¡­?!¡± Lydia stirred to life as she finally regained consciousness.

    She was still in her Maro form, but something felt a bit different.

    Her body didn¡¯t feel the same as before, but that wasn¡¯t the most important thing.

    ¡°You¡­!¡±

    The girl who was standing before her, dressed in ab coat and donning sses, was smiling as Lydia red.

    She seemed to be looking elsewhere, but her three Automatons made it clear that surprise attacks weren¡¯t going to work.

    The more Lydia thought about it, the more confused she became¡ªconcerning her situation, and the girl called Anabelle Frederick.

    ¡®How is she still alive?!¡¯ Lydia thought to herself.

    She definitely burned the girl to a crisp and destroyed herpletely.

    Even her Trump Card, the Automaton she employed, was destroyed.

    ¡®I think I got dizzy for a moment after she said some strange words, but I¡¯m alright now¡­ what really happened?¡¯

    Lydia was not in a stable mental state, but she hadn¡¯t forgotten her mission. Her eyes momentarily darted behind and she saw the structure she was meant to destroy.

    Using Maro¡¯s body would have been optimal, but it didn¡¯t seem safe any longer¡ªconsidering the girl was able to interfere with it somehow.

    ¡°What did you do, human?¡± Lydia asked, staring at the young girl, who was slowly approaching her.

    ¡°You¡¯re up already? Good. I think now is the perfect time to tell you.¡±

    ¡®Up already? How long was I out for?!¡¯ Lydia¡¯s boggled mind struggled to process the information.

    Swiftly, she returned to her original state¡ªher nk white form.

    Apparently, adopting Maro¡¯s identity was risky.

    ¡°The ¡®Maro¡¯ you consumed wasn¡¯t the real one. It was an identical clone I made. It¡¯s the same as the ¡®me¡¯ you defeated not too long ago.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Lydia couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing.

    She had been fooled this whole time!

    ¡°I imnted memories as data into the Maro specimen, but the version of me you fight was a Golem¡ªso it was being remotely controlled.¡±

    Lydia was still palpitating in shock. A Demon Lord like her was being toyed with by a mere kid?!

    ¡°The Clone you absorbed has protocols embedded in it. That¡¯s how I was able to control you when you transformed to Maro.¡±

    It sounded absurd, but Lydia couldn¡¯t deny that she had lost grip of her senses for a moment, after Ana said some strange words.

    ¡®Just how many more protocols exist?¡¯ The Demon Lord wasn¡¯t certain.

    One thing was for sure, though.

    ¡®I underestimated her. If I¡¯m toplete my mission sessfully¡­ I¡¯ll have to go all-out!¡¯

    *****************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 468 Assault Mode

    Chapter 468 Assault Mode

    ¡®I¡¯ll need to use my full power against this brat!¡¯

    As much as it pained her to make this thought, Lydia had to consider the situation carefully and act ordingly.

    ¡®I don¡¯t know how much time has psed. I¡¯m at too much of a risk right now. If I don¡¯t end things quickly, it¡¯ll mean trouble!¡¯

    And so, several tentacles emerged from the white being as she red at Ana.

    Her Miasma peaked to an unprecedented height, and her body began squirming like perturbed fluids.

    Four extra limbs emerged from Lydia, and three heads now stood atop her shoulder.

    Her build increased, and the power she exuded was on another level entirely.

    ¡®Like this, I should be three times more efficient.¡¯

    Not only would she be able to independently handle the Automatons defending Ana, but her power would also overwhelm the young girl.

    If there was anything Lydia picked up from the conversation, it was that Ana was weaker than her inbat.

    If that wasn¡¯t the case, she wouldn¡¯t have gone through such an borate method to trap her.

    Secondly, the possibility of another clone existing was very low. That meant the Ana before her was the real deal.

    In the first ce, Lydia had never heard of Clone Creation before. It had to be very difficult andplicated.

    She couldn¡¯t have made one in such a short span¡­ right?

    Lydia tried grasping more facts from the small conversation she had with the human girl, and the bottom line was that if she increased her power and changed her approach in a fight, then victory would be hers.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± With bloodshot eyes that emerged from all three heads, Lydia widened her wide mouths and prepared for her attack.

    ¡°Assault Mode.¡± She heard Ana say, before lunging at the little girl.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Before Lydia reached the girl, a bright beam descended from the ceiling, filled with concentrated Mana.

    It would have dealt a terrible strike to Lydia if she decided to take the hit, and defending would have consumed too much Miasma.

    Realizing the most optimal solution was to evade the st, Lydia swiftly dodged the shes of devastating light.

    Unfortunately for the Demon Lord, that was enough to buy Ana enough time.

    >KSHIIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!<

    The young girl had undergone a transformation.

    She was now shrouded in armor¨Call Magi-Tech.

    Lydia didn¡¯t know where the pieces of technology came from, but she understood that the girl before her was not the same as before.

    Having wings behind her, and slim¨Cbut highly dense¨Cmetal attached to her body, she was floating with majesty.

    The blue and white armor tes gleamed brightly. The center of her chest had a warbling tune and a dense concentration of power.

    Lydia assumed that was the core of her suit.

    Ana¡¯s three Automatons had also changed forms, nowrger and having several more gear present.

    Not only did they have spikes around them, their three limbs were now equipped with weapons, and the Man they exuded was immense.

    It wasn¡¯t an understatement to say that the human was ready for an all-out battle.

    ¡°Bring it on, kid!¡± Lydia growled.

    And so,unching her tentacles, she pursued the three Automatons who stubbornly evaded the numerous whips.

    Their small size and flexible motion in the air allowed them to avoid the whips that chased them¨Cthough Lydia knew it wouldn¡¯t be long until she had them all destroyed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    The Automatons rapidly shot Mana Missiles in Lydia¡¯s direction, but she had already cast a Magic Spell to protect herself from such measures.

    Currently, Lydia had three brains¨Cwhich meant three major control centers.

    One was focused on catching the Automatons and destroying them.

    The second was aimed at defending herself from any assault.

    The final one was going to handle Ana.

    Lydia would have preferred four heads, but three was her limit.

    Now handling the Automatons and the little trouble they posed, Lydia grinned menacingly at the girl in her battle suit.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    In response, Ana dashed in Lydia¡¯s direction, preparing Spells from both hands, as well as the core in her chest.

    ¡°You can¡¯t beat me!¡± Lydia spat, shooting out an immense ray of destructive Miasma.

    Ana¡¯s defenses were instantly corroded the moment they came in contact with the st. Fortunately, she had enough speed and flexibility to avoid any damage.

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    She flew up, causing Lydia to raise her head. Before she could blink, numerous fiery sts rained down on the Demon Lord.

    ¡°Useless!¡±

    The flurry of my balls was repelled by her defensive Magic.

    However, Ana was not done.

    The core located at the center of her chest hummed brightly, signaling the girl that it was ready for the next phase.

    ¡°Perfect!¡± Beaming brightly, Ana dived straight at Lydia.

    ¡®Is she crazy?!¡¯ The Demon Lord wondered why Ana wasing straight toward the storm.

    ¡°Useless!¡± As soon as Lydiaunched her st of Miasma, Ana countered by releasing an equal amount of Mana.

    The effect was, as expected, negation.

    Both Spells got canceled, causing Ana to delve even closer to Lydia.

    ¡®W-wha¨C?!¡¯ Lydia was stunned, but she was still confident about her defense.

    ¡°Analysisplete!¡± Ana yelled, stretching her hand in Lydia¡¯s direction.

    It was filled with Mana.

    ¡®She can¡¯t reach me! My barrier will¨C¡®

    Before Lydia couldplete her words, the defense she had painstakingly erected was nullified.

    The glow in Ana¡¯s chest warbled, releasing the exact amount of Mana required to stabilize the defenses she had erected.

    That was the ¡®Analysis¡¯ Ana mentioned before.

    ¡°N-no!¡± Lydia shrieked, wondering if she could erect another defensive measure before Ana¡¯s attack came¨Cthis time, changing the power she would implement.

    But, it was toote!

    Ana¡¯s hand was already on her face.

    The Mana-Infused hand tightly clutched the white head of the Demon Lord, causing her to scream.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be taking that!¡±

    Instantly, sters emerged from the wings Ana employed, causing her to fly up once again.

    Her hand never left Lydia¡¯s head, causing the Demon Lord¡¯s head to follow Ana as she ascended.

    ¡°N-no¡­ Guekk!!!¡±

    *****************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter ?469 Demise Of A Demon Lord [Pt 1]

    Chapter ?469 Demise Of A Demon Lord [Pt 1]

    Lydia''s neck stretched with the head, not letting the round white lump escape from the main body.

    Even as Ana ascended, the neck followed the head she clutched tightly.

    "Tch. So annoying. Just let go of one head. You still have two." Ana mumbled, generating a dense Mana de on her hand.

    And then¡ª

    >SWISH!<

    ¡ªLydia''s head was severed from the rest of her body in one clean slice.

    "Guarghhh!!!" The rest of her heads screamed in both pain and shock.

    "Finally, I have my sample!" Ana smiled, swiftly retreating from Lydia''s body.

    The Demon Lord of nc was still throbbing in recoil when Ana summoned yet another Automaton to store her prize within it.

    The Automaton opened apartment within itself, and Ana ced the head into the cool storage area.

    "Guek... you... you..."

    As Lydia growled and groaned, ring hatefully at Ana with utter animosity, thetter didn''t seem bothered.

    Rather, an expression of relief spread on her face.

    "Now that I''m done with what I wanted, it''s time to wrap this up, don''t you think?"

    Lydia''s body was convulsing now. Veins appeared all over her white skin and she was expanding as though she wanted to explode.

    Numerous arms and tentacles emerged from the inting white lump, and several faces began appearing all over her body¡ªno doubt the number of people she had consumed and be.

    "Original Magic..." Lydia murmured as she red at the girl before her.

    The Miasma that was covering her body was enough to disintegrate anything not shrouded in at least some form of energy as a defense.

    "... [All In One]"

    Lydia''s body increased until it became immenselyrge¡ªalmost as big as half of the massive room where she fought Ana.

    And this was simply because of her Original Magic''s effects.

    Lydia''s Original Magic, [All In One], allowed her to utilize all the abilities she got from everyone she had ever absorbed.

    Usually, this would mean that her Miasma and the Mana of some of her victims would sh.

    However, tobat that, she developed an intricate system of various veins and arteries within her currently massive body to deliver the respective power of each person she had within herself.

    Her limit was also a hundred various persons. And so, as she red at Ana with a singlerge head and multiple eyes, Lydia''s white obese body had several faces and body parts that served as various sources and types of power for her.

    Offensive Magic.

    Defensive Magic.

    Destructive Magic.

    No matter the kind, she had at least one variant of the sort at her disposal.

    It was an ultimate form that only very few, even among her peers, could stand against. The only reason Lydia avoided using it was because it made her look so ugly and repulsive.

    ''I''m even more disgusting that Cerci in this form! I didn''t want to do this... the reason is because of YOU!'' Her re intensified and her bloodshot eyes bulged as Ana became her central focus.

    The whirring Automatons that buzzed around Lydia like flies were instantly shot down.

    Their speed didn''t matter in the face of absolute power, and the remnant shards of the three pesky constructs nged on the ground.

    "It''s your turn!" Lydia prepared a barrage of assaults that would definitely decimate Ana.

    She didn''t want to remain in her form for too long, so only one hit would be enough.

    "Override Protocol. Maro 1234." Ana spoke, raising a finger in response.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Lydia''s eyes bulged, frantically trying to defend herself from whatever consequence would ur as a result of having Maro within herself.

    ''N-no, I can''t allow that!''

    Quickly controlling her intricate internal system, she expelled Maro from her body, preventing any furtherplications from the target.

    However...

    "You fell for it!"

    ... That was simply a diversion.

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    From above, a massive amount of liquid doused the Demon Lord of Noir,pletely covering her in purplish-blue glob-like fluids.

    "What is... thisss?!" Lydia murmured, using her hands to observe the texture and form of the liquid that descended on her from a vat above.

    "It''s toote for you." Ana smiled from her distance,pletely shrouding herself in a thick barrier.

    "W-what are you¡ª?!" Before she could utter another word, Lydia felt it.

    "UARRRRGHHHH!!!"

    Her body began to expand at an rming rate.

    All the orderly nerves within her began to burst, causing the controlled energy within to rampage.

    The Miasma and Mana inside her were out of control, and their conflicting nature brought about nothing but immense pain¡ªand the irregr swelling that never stopped.

    "ARGHHH!!! Make it stop! Make it stooooppp!!!" She pleaded, but the human girl didn''t even seem the least bit concerned about her.

    Ana''s expression was so bright, that it was almost like she was enjoying what was happening.

    "Oh? You''resting longer than the others. Just as I thought, a Demon Lord specimen is different!"

    The Demon Lord of Noir now understood that it would be foolish to expect mercy from her opponent.

    Ana was too immersed in her analysis, research, or experiment, to care about the pains she was going through.

    Every cell in her body was dying at an rming rate¡ªpopping as a result of Energy Overload, Energy Shock, and Energy sh.

    Pain caused tears to proceed from Lydia''s eyes. She knew that this would be her death.

    Not only was she unable toplete her mission, but she also failed the one whom she had the utmost respect and affection for.

    ''My Lord... My King... My Love...'' More tears cascaded down her bloated face.

    It was toote for wishes or regrets, but... if only she knew that this was how things would go¡ª

    ''I''m so sorry... I... I failed you...''

    ¡ªShe wouldn''t have been so foolish and haughty in her thoughts.

    This was the most shameful way she could die¡ªmore appalling than anything she had ever conceived.

    Dying in such a grotesque form... at the hands of a single human girl¡ªone who was most likely not an adult yet.

    It truly was mortifying beyond belief.

    ''This is truly...''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Her body finally erupted once it arrived at the threshold¡ªsending lumps of fat, meat, and blood in every direction.

    It was a gory sight¡ªbefitting the demise of a Demon Lord.

 Chapter ?470 Demise Of A Demon Lord [Pt 2]

    Chapter ?470 Demise Of A Demon Lord [Pt 2]

    "Urgh... it stained everywhere."

    Ana''s face was full of disgust and annoyance as she watched the white lumps¡ªparts of the deceased Demon Lord¡ªspread all over the warehouse.

    "This''ll take forever to clean. Oh, wait..." The young girl realized she could simply make her Automatons handle all the dirty work.

    There was no need to stain her hands.

    "T-that was amazing, Anabelle... you didn''t even need my power..." A tiny voice emerged from within Ana.

    Sparkling, yet appearing moist, the Naiad Fairy made her entrance.

    She was Ana''s Familiar.

    "Oh, Rhea, well... it would have sort of overkill. Besides, I can handle matters like this if I have enough prep time."

    The Naiad Fairy didn''t argue with her Host''s words. She wasn''t wrong, after all.

    "Still... it''s a shame..." She murmured, watching the gory sight all around.

    A lingering sound of regret dwelled in the Naiad Fairy''s voice. As if that wasn''t enough proof that she really wanted to get in on the action, the little thing made a point and crossed her arms.

    "Rx, Rhea. We''ll be having so much fun together, researching the specimen I retrieved. Wouldn''t that be fun?"

    The Familiar seemed to be wavering a little upon hearing about the research. It was true that she preferred stuff like that to violence.

    "Well, you have a point..." The cute Naiad Fairy finally blurted out.

    Herpensation for being a spectator in the earlier fight would be none other than research. It was a fair deal.

    "But, don''t you think it was risky? Handling things on your own. What if the Demon Lord exceeded your expectations?"

    Ana shrugged slightly upon hearing the question.

    "I would have retreated. In the first ce, this Warehouse was created to trap enemies inside."

    "That''s true. You could escape and leave the enemy here..." Rhea murmured.

    "Right? In the first ce, the Device ced here isn''t the real deal. It''s just an illusion we made with your Bond Magic." Ana grinned at the Naiad Fairy.

    "Well, anyhow... we got what we wanted, didn''t we? Will you be reporting this to Neron, Aloe, and Maro? Or do they not need to know?"

    The young girl smiled to herself and looked above her. Her eyes appeared to have spotted something since she squinted, but she didn''t lose herposure.

    "Something tells me they are already aware..."

    Even though Ana never outrightly said so, the main reason she was so confident in her victory was that herrades were on standby.

    If she was in danger, Ana was certain that Neron would swoop in to resolve the scenario.

    ''Well, that would mean I''ll get reprimanded, so I was looking forward to resolving things on my own...''

    Even though Jared had told Ana that the Demon Lord was Neron''s prize, she couldn''t help herself from being interested in the being.

    "I solved the puzzle, so it''s mine by right... don''t you think so too, Rhea?"

    "Yeah, sure."

    Both of them were of like mind, so it was already a given that they would support each other''s choices.

    "We should start cleaning things up and¡ª"

    >CREAK<

    The entrance opened and three people stepped into the room.

    "Is it over?"

    "Sheesh, this ce is a mess."

    "You just had to go on with your crazy n."

    The three individuals who had just appeared were none other than her respected colleagues and seniors.

    "Neron, Maro, Vida. You''re here already?" Anaughed awkwardly.

    "Don''t pretend like you didn''t notice we were already close by. I knew you''d pull a stunt like this." Neron sighed and shrugged, looking around him to spot the mess in the room.

    "A-ah, don''t worry, I''ll have it cleared in no¡ª"

    Raising an index finger, Neron silenced Ana before she couldplete her words.

    A brimming light danced atop his hand and then, every body part of Lydia started resonating with the energy he released.

    "I''ll clean it up for you."

    >SWOOOOSH<

    Blood. Bones. Flesh¡ªevery aspect of the Demon Lord¡ªbecame attracted to the ball of purple light that Neron released.

    Like a ck hole, it sucked everything into its abyss, leaving not a speck left of the deceased Lydia.

    "There you have it," Neron spoke calmly, returning his gaze to his colleagues.

    At this point, Aloe Vida was pulling the ears of Ana while Maro reprimanded her for her recklessness.

    It was a funny sight to see.

    ''Should I join in on the fun and pinch her cheeks too?" Neron chuckled, noting how cute his student was.

    Even with his lighthearted thoughts, he couldn''t escape the realization that dawned on him.

    The realization of how powerful Anabelle had be.

    ''Even though this one is most likely suited for espionage, rather than purebat, it doesn''t change the fact that she was a Demon Lord. Ana''s ability to defeat one of their leaders at such a young age... ismendable.''

    Had he been underestimating her capabilities all along?

    ''Looks like you won the bet, Jared...''

    ~Of course, I did. In exchange, you know what you must do.~A voice appeared in Neron''s head.

    It was none other than Jared''s.

    ''Did you really see thising? That she would win so easily?'' Neron responded, still surprised that Jared had anticipated something of this magnitude from a girl of merely fifteen years of age.

    ~Well, I gave her information beforehand, so she could n ahead. If not for her preparations, as well as the environment being in her favor, things could have gone your way.~

    Neron finally understood what happened. Even though Jared had made a bet with him concerning the Demon Lord Of Noir, he also reached out to Ana, making things easier for her.

    ''So, you gave her a fighting chance? Isn''t that cheating?''

    ~I never said I wouldn''t assist her. Besides, all I did was give her basic information. Ultimately, she came up with the strategies on her own. She''s strong. Ergo... it''s my win!~

    Neron sighed further.

    The truth was that he had been conversing with Jared via Telepathic Magic. Usually, that would be impossible with such a far distance, but Jared invented a Magic Item that made something like that achievable.

    Both mentor and protege¡ªJared and Neron¡ªhad always been in contact even after he left the Kingdom.

 Chapter ?471 Subtle Preparations

    Chapter ?471 Subtle Preparations

    It was simr to amunication device, but extremely small.

    By cing it within one''s ear, one could connect to another person who had the same device.

    Thanks to this, Neron had been up to date with the incidents going on with Jared, and vice versa.

    ''So, what''s your next move?'' The stoic man asked his protege.

    ~I''m still handling the Beastfolk, but things should be going as nned. The Royal Court Magician should be fulfilling his end of our deal, and the Demon Army should be attacking in a few days.~

    Jared continued by mentioning how Lydia''s death would aggravate the Demon Forces, but also make them extremely cautious.

    There was the possibility that they would choose to retreat and gather more forces, but the most likely choice was to invade the Humans en masse and destroy everything in their path.

    The way of violence was the heritage of the Demon Race.

    ~Damien Lawcroft has also made his move, though it''s to my benefit. I''ll be rounding things up with him soon. But, it''ll be perfect if he sees everything he has struggled for fall before his eyes.~

    ''Your devilish intellect never ceases to amaze me.'' Neron grinned.

    ~Oh, please. You''re one to talk.~ Jared seemed to be chuckling where he was.

    ''You''ll be acting on your own soon. Will you be alright? Even though they''ve sent their armies to invade the Humans, I doubt they''ll leave their home territory unguarded.''

    ~Yeah, I know. I''m counting on that. Besides, I have to go alone. There''s someone I want to see before finishing the job...~

    ''Kay.''

    ~You''ll be making your move soon, right? I look forward to seeing the mighty Neron in action. Hahahaa~

    ''You little... sigh. Well, you won the bet. I might as well finally get it over with.''

    ~You''re sounding like I am forcing you. It''ll be an enjoyable experience for you, don''t you think?~

    ''Yeah. Yeah.''

    ~To b honest, I''m surprised... to think you''ve alreadypleted the Weapon. And to think it was achieved because you used The Hermit Arcana. I''m amazed that you''ve gotten the hang of it so quickly.~

    Neron smiled to himself upon hearing the young boy''s praise.

    As the older fellow, he wasn''t supposed to be feeling this way, but Jared''spliments always made him happy.

    ''Well, I had lots of free time. I''m currently keeping it in the special storage. You''re the only one who can ess it at this point, so... whenever you''re ready.''

    ~Cool. Well, I have to go... these girls are pestering me again.~

    Neron felt a feeling surge in his chest. It could have been jealousy, considering no girls were flocking around him.

    Serah chased them all away back in the good old days.

    ''You lucky bastard...'' Neron was nearly in tears.

    ~Hahaha. Good luck, man!~

    With that, theirmunication line was cut, and Neron turned to look at hisrades.

    They were all basically waiting for him at this point.

    "Sorry. Had to take care of some matters." Neron smiled, his gaze especially focused on Ana.

    "Let''s leave, then. Oh, you can dispel the illusion now, Ana. I''ll also undo the protective barriers. This workshop doesn''t serve a purpose any longer." Aloe Vida said.

    Maro seemed to be the most impatient of all. After all, he had work to attend to.

    "I guess we all have some form of work to do. What will you be doing, Ana?" Aloe asked the young girl with a smile.

    The answer was quite obvious.

    "I want to study the specimen I recovered. It should help with my research on Anti-Magic... and something else..."

    "Alright. Please be careful. Also, you did a wonderful job. Even I am not certain I could have beaten that monster." Vida gave a genuine smile to apany her praise.

    "Please, Miss. Vida. I fought her, so I should know. You''re stronger."

    "Hahaha. Is that so?"

    Aloe Vida was a woman who didn''t believe much in her strength, but others knew quite well how powerful she was.

    Not only did she have ess to Original Magic and Mage Mode, but her Mana Capacity was also extraordinary.

    Besides, Jared gifted her a Grimoire that contained certain Spells and applications that made her more powerful.

    To be honest, if Ana had to give her opinion, Aloe Vida had to be among the strongest people in the Eastern Kingdom.

    ''Is she already Grand Mage Level?'' The young girl didn''t have an estimate.

    Still, for a woman to have achieved such a degree of power in her twenties... it made Ana desire to work even harder.

    ''I can''t be left behind, can I?''

    "Welp, I''m off to ck off in my office. Call me if you need anything."

    Neron spoke the moment he stepped out of the door of the Warehouse. Instantly, he vanished.

    "That guy..." Aloe smiled, snapping her fingers to undo the defensive Magic she had used on the Warehouse building, as well as the spot where Ana''s Illusion Magic was used to replicate the Weapon they were building.

    "Thank you all for your cooperation." Ana smiled while Rhea¡ªher Familiar¡ªdispelled the illusion.

    "It was no problem. Still can''t believe you could make a clone of me. Well, since I was allowed to remain shut in with my work while the Automaton performed my role, I have noints." Maro spoke with a grin.

    "I was simply curious. But, you exceeded my expectations, Ana. Well done."

    "Hahaha. You guys overestimate me."

    To be honest, Ana didn''t feel quite as achieved yet.

    Her Automatons were no match for the Demon Lord, and even with her Assault Mode, she couldn''tpletely defeat the opponent.

    As a Mage, she was simply too weak.

    ''Hopefully, I''ll be able to change everything with this research!''

    Her ultimate goal was to revolutionalize Magic in ways that Lewis Griffith hadn''t before.

    To do that, she had to study what he stood for, and then create a different path for herself.

    Of course, having sufficient power was indispensable to achieve her goals, but Ana knew that her true desire was to invent a different kind of power that the world hadn''t seen.

    That way, her name, Anabelle Frederick, would be the new Lewis Griffith¡ªno, even better.

    ''I have apetitor already, but... I won''t lose to you, Jared!''

    She was going to be the ultimate Magic Schr... no matter what!

    [A/N]

    I think Ana just got scarier. She''s actually more simr to Jared than the other girls.

    I wonder...

 Chapter 472 Conflict Among Allies

    Chapter 472 Conflict Among Allies

    King Abellion opened his eyes slowly.

    He had been spending so much time seated on his throne that he often slept there as well. As such, when he woke, he found himself still in the same position.

    ¡°So¡­ she¡¯s dead, uh?¡± He murmured.

    Every Demon Lord was connected to Abellion via Magic. As such, the death of Lydia came to his notice the moment she drew herst breath.

    His expression didn¡¯t change from the stoic expression he donned.

    Abellion¡¯s eyes were still a bit heavy from the short sleep he had, but they seemed a little downcast.

    ¡°Who did it¡­?¡± The Demon King whispered.

    Even though they never really went public with their feelings, the truth was that he and Lydia were lovers.

    They had loved each other for so long that the King couldn¡¯t even begin to express the sense of loss he was currently experiencing.

    ¡°W-who¡­.who did it¡­?¡± His whispers gree harsher.

    Abellion had hoped that he and Lydia would finally go public with their intentions after the war.

    Even though her mission was dangerous, she had done worse in the past¡ªlike the time with the Midas Race those years ago.

    He didn¡¯t doubt her capabilities, neither did he want her to be useless to their cause. Lydia was one of his most useful Generals, so it would have been a waste to keep her from doing her duties for the sake of protecting her.

    ¡°What a fool I am¡­¡± Abellion stifled his overflowing emotions and supported his dropping head with his hand.

    His bloodshot eyes and gritting teeth gave off a feel of anger, but really, he was still wallowing in grief.

    The pangs of his loss were so great that the King began channeling it into something else¡­

    ¡°But¡­ this just proves how right I am.¡±

    ¡­ me!

    ¡°Those humans are too dangerous! Not just Kahn, but now, even Lydia¡­¡±

    His father had been wrong!

    If only they had taken action sooner, then perhaps things wouldn¡¯t have gotten to this point.

    The only thing Abellion wasn¡¯t certain of was whether or not Lydia was able to destroy the machine that threatened their existence.

    Abellion didn¡¯t doubt his deceased lover¡¯s loyalty to him. However¡­ he couldn¡¯t count on the fulfillment of her mission.

    ¡°The humans are more of a threat than I thought. It is indeed better to take care of them first.¡±

    Fortunately, they were of the mistaken belief that the Demons would attack the Elf Kingdom first.

    That way, there would be less resistance if they struck the human Kingdom.

    Abellion already had the perfect n.

    All the Whites within the Kingdom would be called to retreat. They would gather all their forces and strike.

    ¡®I should go as well¡­¡¯ There was no way he could stand still after Lydia was killed.

    It was his duty as her superior¡­ and her lover!

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to watch them fall into despair¡­ and I¡¯ll make sure the culprit dies by my hand!¡±

    With this, his obsessive gaze rested on the looking shadow that was appearing before him.

    ¡°Legris Damien? What are you doing here?¡±

    The shadow became unveiled, and a youthful man emerged.

    ¡°Ah, I just came to offer my condolences. I heard Lydia died.¡±

    ¡°You¡­ how did you find out?¡± Abellion growled.

    ¡°I have my ways. Besides, I actually came on official business. The loan period has reached. I¡¯m here to retrieve the Arcana we lent to you.¡±

    ¡°Huu¡­ is that so? Very well. Meet Kyron. He¡¯s the one managing things in that department.¡± Abellion spoke.

    His heart was still trying to recover from the news of his beloved¡¯s death. While it was important to maintain his image as King, the Demon no longer had it in him to disy that level of charisma.

    ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be on my way. If I may, I¡¯d just like to give one warning¡­¡±

    ¡°What is it?¡± Abellion spoke rather impatiently.

    Even though he had resolved the earlier issue of Jared Leonard with Legris Damien, he was still rather annoyed at the human before him.

    ¡°There¡¯s a man in the Eastern Kingdom, Neron Kaelid, if you can help it¡­ don¡¯t fight him.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Why?¡±

    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it obvious? You¡¯d lose.¡±

    Abellion couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. His pent-up anger and frustration finally reached a precipice beyond what his self-control could handle.

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡±

    In a fit, Abellion summoned an immensely powerful de out of thin air¡ªutilizing his Original Magic from the start.

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    Faster than even Legris Damien could notice, the de impaled him in a sh.

    ¡°Guark!¡±

    Even as the human spat blood, and a pool was forming under him, he never ceased smiling.

    ¡°Y-you¡­ do you have an idea of what you¡¯ve done?¡±

    Abellion realized that attacking a member of the Organization would spell bad news for him and his people.

    His anger had caused him to make an error. However¡ª

    ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a mere human who¡¯s good with his tongue. Surely, ¡®they¡¯ will understand why I had to do this. Besides¡­ what Importance could you, a member of their lower seat, warrant? Certainly, they would much rather value their rtionship with us than keep a dog like you.¡±

    Abellion was in the mood anyway.

    ¡®I might as well unleash a bit of my frustration here¡­¡¯ The Demon King thought to himself, still gantly seated on his throne.

    ¡°Haaa¡­ is that what you really thin¡ª?¡±

    Before Legris couldplete his next statement, another huge de was lunged at his head, ripping him into two.

    It was a gory sight¡ªhow blood sprouted from his cracked skull like a fountain¡ªbut Abellion didn¡¯t seem concerned.

    ¡°Foolish human. He should have known his ce.¡± The Demon King murmured.

    Though he had known Legris Damien for quite a while, it wasn¡¯t like Abellion felt that deep a connection to him.

    He was but a mere human, after all.

    ¡°It¡¯s funny how arrogant a person bes when they get a taste of power.¡±

    ¡°U-uh?!¡±

    As Abellion heard a strange voice and uttered a sound of confusion, strange energy wafted in the air.

    It was the same unpleasant power he had always noticed around the man he just killed.

    ¡®T-this is¡ª?!¡¯

 Chapter 473 The War Begins

    Chapter 473 The War Begins

    ¡°You¡¯ve gotten quite cocky haven¡¯t you?¡±

    The voice echoing in the air made Abellion shiver.

    The Demon King¡¯s body trembled slightly as he wondered what exactly was happening.

    >SWOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH<

    Inescapable darkness began leaking from the corpse of the man he had just killed.

    ¡°U-uh?¡± Abellion was confounded, but before he could stand, he waspletely enveloped in it.

    Like a thick cloud of smoke, itpletely shrouded the King seated on his throne.

    And then¡ª

    ¡°There you are, Abellion.¡±

    ¡°Feeling alright?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you went too far?¡±

    ¡°Come on, why were you so harsh?¡±

    ¡°Were you that pained?¡±

    ¡°Did it hurt?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡±

    ¡°Hahahahahahaha!¡±

    Multiple voices swirled around him in the endless darkness he found himself in.

    Abellion tried moving, but he felt like he was tied to his chair. No¡ªrather, he felt like he was being held down¡­ by hands!

    ¡°Where am I? Who are you? Show yourself!¡± Abellion demanded in a fierce growl.

    His eyes saw nothing, but he could feel several individuals surrounding him.

    They seemed to be a multitude beyond number.

    Theyughed.

    They sneered.

    They jeered.

    They snickered.

    These individuals were one and the same¡ªyet different at the same time.

    They were also the ones who held him down. All of them had their gazes on him, causing the Demon King to feel more overwhelmed than he had ever felt in his life.

    ¡°Who am I? Ah, that¡¯s quite funny¡­¡± A voice emerged in the darkness.

    It was a single person, yet it felt like the multitude was closing in on him.

    Abellion felt like shutting his eyes and burying himself far from the unpleasant feeling he was experiencing, but there was no escape.

    He tried using Magic, but he had no ess to it.

    Abellion¡¯s Miasma seemed meaningless in this world he was trapped in. It was like such a concept did not exist.

    Finally, the figure stopped right in front of him with a wide smile.

    Even though Abellion could not see anything, he was beginning to recognize the voice. It was a bit different¡ªhaving an air of dominance and malevolence¡ªbut it belonged to none other than one individual.

    ¡°L-Legris¡­ is that you? Let me out. Let me out right no¡ª¡±

    Instantly, a hand wrapped itself around the Demon King¡¯s neck.

    It felt cold¡ªbeyond chilly!

    The hand tightened its grip, causing Abellion¡¯s face to warp in agony and a new emotion he had never shown since birth.

    ¡ªFEAR!

    ¡°Guk! W-what¡­ urgk¡­ are you doing¡­?¡±

    The Demon Lord began suffocating. His bloodshot eyes brought forth fluids and his body spasmed violently.

    Even as he tried to stop what was going on, he waspletely subdued by the numerous grips that held him down.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Abellion?¡±

    ¡°What happened to your arrogance?¡±

    ¡°Come on¡­¡±

    ¡°Keep going.¡±

    ¡°Say something.¡±

    ¡°Do something.¡±

    ¡°Anything.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you try your best.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a Demon King, right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re the mighty Abellion, right?¡±

    ¡°Come on.¡±

    ¡°Entertain me.¡±

    ¡°Keep going!¡±

    Numerous voices ovepped as they sang the same tune in Abellion¡¯s ears.

    At this point, the Demon King realized how overwhelming and powerless he truly was. His body no longer had any strength to resist, and he could feel his consciousness fade.

    ¡®Maybe¡­ this isn¡¯t so bad¡­¡¯ Was what he would have thought of if he wasn¡¯t experiencing such great fear and pain.

    The feeling of helplessness that was alone to him was being wrought by a human¡ªsomeone he often looked down on.

    It simply showed just how narrow his view had been.

    ¡°I could kill you right here and now¡­¡±

    ¡°¡­ But that¡¯ll be too boring.¡±

    ¡°Resist with all your might.¡±

    ¡°Fight with all you can.¡±

    ¡°Do everything in your power.¡±

    ¡°Give me a good show.¡±

    More chatters arose around the Demon King and he could feel the ck mist around him clear up.

    ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me, Abellion¡­¡±

    Then, just as he was suddenly thrust into the strange world, he was ejected out of it.

    ¡°A-ah¡­?!¡± The Demon King was trembling and sweating profusely the moment he realized what was going on.

    His eyes instinctively went to the floor where the corpse had been.

    Legris Damien¡¯s body had vanished, and only the demonic des remained.

    ¡®Fuck¡­¡¯ Abellion rubbed his face with his trembling hand.

    Fluids were still remnant in his eyes, and his body still hadn¡¯t forgotten the cruelty he had just experienced, but¡­

    ¡°I-I¡­ THAT B-BASTARD¡­!!!¡±

    ¡­ Everything only seemed to fuel Abellion¡¯s rage further.

    ¡°He¡­ He dares?!¡±

    Abellion realized that he had been careless by underestimating the human, but that didn¡¯t mean he admitted to his defeat.

    If he was more prepared, then Legris wouldn¡¯t have tricked him like that.

    ¡°That bastard ran off, uh? How dare he?¡± Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, Abellion was fueled by unexinable rage.

    Slowly, his heart forgot about the pain of loss that Lydia¡¯s death brought. Instead, the Demon King¡¯s ego sought rpense.

    ¡°Those humans¡­ I¡¯ll burn them to the ground.¡± He rose while speaking.

    The Miasma that gathered around him was enough to make the entire room vibrate.

    ¡°I am Abellion¡­ Demon King of this domain! No one is stronger than I am! No one!¡±

    **********************

    ¡°That idiot. Pfft.¡± Legris smiled, yfully flipping a card in his palm.

    It was an Arcana¡ª[The Lovers].

    Thanks to this Arcana, the Demons were able to produce many powerful Demon Beasts.

    Usually, by exposing Magical Beasts to the proper conditioning¡ªinvolving Miasma, of course¡ªthey would be Demon Beasts.

    However, the sess rate was low, and the resources needed were immense. Besides, the strength of the Demon Beast was proportional to the Magical Beast in question.

    However, thanks to the Arcana the Demons borrowed, that problem was solved.

    ¡°Well, I better take this back to them.¡± Legris smiled, looking at the Arcana with a slight smile.

    Most people would stare at such an item with unimaginable greed and would do anything to covet it, but not Legris.

    ¡°All these petty fights for toys like this¡­¡± He snickered, looking behind him to see the Demon Army ready tounch their assault.

    ¡°With what I¡¯ve shown Abellion, he should be feeling more determined to fight. What a fool¡­¡± Legris snickered as he began floating away.

    Ultimately, the Demons would end up being wiped out. Even the Organization knew that much. After all, that was their goal from the start.

    To be honest, Legris didn¡¯t care about incidents like this. His goals were far moreplex and grander.

    Still, that didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t nning on enjoying the little things of life.

    And so, as he stared at the inferior beings going about their daily tasks, a condescending smile formed on his face.

    ¡°Just make things entertaining for me.¡±

    [A/N]

    Legris is more frightening than you all think he is.

    Hahaha, I¡¯m d you got to see something interesting about him.

 Chapter 474 Demonic Invasion

    Chapter 474 Demonic Invasion

    [Days Later]

    ¡°It¡¯s time.¡±

    As Abellion whispered this under his breath, he looked beyond the high ground where he stood and watched the massive expanse ofnd before him.

    The Human Territory was bustling with life¡ªso much life.

    What would ur if all that life was turned into Miasma?

    Abellion looked behind him and saw his Demon Lords bowing. They now numbered four¡ªconsidering Lydia was dead and Desgarion now kept the fort.

    Since he would be leading the army, it was imperative that someone strong remained to protect their borders.

    No matter what anyone said about him, Desgarion was still the strongest Demon Lord. After all, he nearly brought loss to the Demon King¡ªAbellion himself.

    Since that was the case, the seething King could focus all his attention on ensuring the humanspletely got exterminated.

    And¡­ with the current state of his army¡­ that wouldn¡¯t be a problem!

    Five million Demon Beasts. A hundred thousand Shadow Demons, Fifty Thousand Shapeshifters. Fifty Thousand Blue Demons. A hundred thousand Green Demons. A Hundred Thousand Yellow Giant Demons. And, their trump cards, a hundred thousand Crimson Demons. That made a total of Five Hundred Thousand Demons from every Race.

    Adding that to their several summons and the enved monsters in their control, they numbered roughly two million.

    Abellion was proud to lead so many troops to decimate the filthy creatures he would soon encounter.

    He never underestimated them, but Abellion also never considered them on the same level as the Demon Race.

    For Kahn and Lydia, they must have swarmed both with extremely powerful individuals.

    Perhaps it was due to the loss of his lover, or his wounded ego after losing to Legris, Abellion wasn¡¯t exactly in a stable state.

    The only thing that put him at ease was the fact that on this very day¡­ the Humans would cease to exist.

    ¡°Kyron and Serci, you¡¯ll take the Right and Left Wings respectively.¡±

    Serci would lead the majority of the true Demons in their army, while Kahnmanded the Demon Beasts.

    ¡°Lubick, you¡¯ll take the rear and be in charge of backup and bombardments.¡±

    As a race specialized in Magic, he and his Blue Demons would support from behind. Not only were they blessed with an abundance of Miasma and the skill to use it, but their Magic Research and Technology were also groundbreaking.

    There was no better ce to ce them.

    ¡°As for you, Zenkiel, you will lead the army as my right-hand man. Everyone¡¯s actions must coordinate well with Zenkiel¡¯s orders. I will leave that to you.¡±

    Abellion wasn¡¯t interested in giving orders mid-battle, and he knew why.

    He had to focus on finding the one who killed his sweetheart, and also raze everything in his path to the ground.

    That was all!

    ¡°Damien Lawcroft has reported that the human armies have indeed gathered in the Elf Kingdom. Everyone is preparing for our assault there.¡±

    The Demon King couldn¡¯t help himself. A smile crept upon his face once he heard that lovely news.

    ¡°Perfect. Then, there¡¯s nothing stopping us, is there? Let¡¯s move out.¡±

    *********************

    The ground rumbled, quaking as the Demon Army approached.

    Everything around withered as the joint Miasma of the Demons was enough to corrupt everything around them.

    The clouds darkened, and everywhere rang of despondency and misery.

    Dark pulses permeated the vicinity, yet the massive armada did not cease in their movement.

    They did not falter in the slightest.

    As Abellion pressed on, with Zenkiel by his side, he noticed the massive reinforced wall that stood before him.

    This was the Northern Fort, made to ensure nothing got past its watch.

    Since every soldier was conscripted to fight the Demons in the Elf Kingdom, there wasn¡¯t anyone present to man the defenses.

    ¡°How foolish¡­¡± Zenkiel whispered to himself.

    They either had too much faith in that exceptional human, or overestimated the capabilities of their defensive measures.

    Sure, it was an impressive wall. However¡­

    Zenkiel nced at his Master, who was already preparing a Spell.

    ¡°Out of the way.¡±

    Appearing from a purplish portal was a massive sword¡ªck and twisted.

    The distortion in space spat out the de, instantly cutting through the air and targeted at the wall.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Instantly, the enormous structure copsed, shattering like ss.

    The debris was sent backwards, and everything crumbled before the massive sword.

    >SHUUUUUUU<

    The sword, uponpleting its task, vanished into particles of purple energy.

    Abellion smiled with satisfaction and kept on pressing forward without stopping for a second.

    Zenkiel, who was watching from a slightly adjacent angle, could not help but admire the master whim he swore his fealty to.

    King Abellion, unlike most individuals, hardly resorted to regr Magic when fighting. He preferred utilizing his Original Magic to solve everything.

    An unlimited array of Demon Swords of various shapes and sizes¡ªall contained within his special space.

    They had various effects, but amon factor among all of them was that they never missed their target¡­ and each one of them was crazy strong.

    Zenkiel shuddered at the thought of facing someone whomanded such power. His Master truly was incredible.

    ¡®Now is not the time to be in awe of his Majesty. Focus on your task, Zenkiel!¡¯ The Demon Lord chided himself as he looked beyond the damaged walls.

    The humannds were spread before them. All that was left for them to do was conquer it.

    ¡®We might encounter a few resistances, since they couldn¡¯t have moved the whole army, but¡­¡¯

    The Demon Lord was guaranteed that it would be toote for the humans.

    ¡®Even if they had their full force, there is no way they can measure up to this many troops!¡¯

    Zenkiel wasn¡¯t one to get too cocky, but the fate of mankind was already sealed. Everything was going ording to n.

    ¡°MARCH ON!¡± His deafening cry pierced the air, granting motivation to the Demons who moved with great vigor.

    For their King. To avenge one of their leaders. For bloodshed.

    Each Demon had its reason for attacking. However, that didn¡¯t matter to them as a collective.

    Only one thing was assured.

    ¡°Death to the humans!¡±

 Chapter 475 Turnaround [Pt 1]

    Chapter 475 Turnaround [Pt 1]

    ¡°Alright. They¡¯ve begun their assault already.¡± I said to everyone around me.

    They returned my gaze with slight confusion¡ªsave a few.

    The leaders of each race were with me, all waiting at the front lines.

    The Elf Queen¡ªAurora Vindiel

    The Fairy President¡ª Jane Urs

    The Beast King¡ªGerard

    The Dwarf Chief¡ªDulum

    The Human King¡ªAlbion Lestrome Indiavel

    Everyone was gathered.

    Other than the leaders, their strongest generals¡ªfor humans, that would be the Grand Mages¡ªwere also among us.

    The rest of the army stayed a distance away¡ªconsisting of the ranks and files belonging to each race.

    It truly was a united front¡ªa total number of three million.

    We were currently on the vast Elf ins, waiting for an assault from the Demons from their Northern Border.

    If an all-out attack were to ur, there was no doubt they would choose that route.

    ¡°But, I see no one appearing,¡± Gerard murmured, straining his eyes and most likely heightening his senses to detect an enemy.

    Of course, he would not sense anyone. That was because our enemies weren¡¯t going to attack the Elf Kingdom, to begin with.

    ¡°I see. So they chose to attack the humans instead.¡± Jane Urs smiled, tilting her sses.

    She just had to open her little mouth, didn¡¯t she? I wanted to be the one to reveal that part.

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?¡± The people around me exploded in surprise.

    Who could me them?

    Per my instructions, we concentrated our forces in the Elf Kingdom. The other nations, especially the Eastern one, were quite vulnerable at this point.

    ¡°B-but, that wasn¡¯t the n, right?¡± King Albion especially panicked, looking at me with widened eyes.

    It was his Kingdom at stake, after all. His dear citizens and heritage. What kind of king wouldn¡¯t be worried?

    Still¡­

    ¡°All of you should rx. There¡¯s no way Lewi¡ªI mean, Jared, didn¡¯t see thising. If he realized they¡¯ve begun their assault, then surely he predicted this turn of events.¡±

    As expected of Jane. She could always see through me¡ªwith or without the Soul Brand connecting us both.

    ¡°Jane is correct. But, there¡¯s more. I didn¡¯t just predict this oue¡­ I actually orchestrated it.¡±

    Yes, it was all ording to design.

    More surprised gasps burst from everyone around me.

    My smile widened as I looked in the direction of one interesting individual among our small ranks.

    ¡°Damien Lawcroft, do you understand now?¡±

    Among our small group¡ªconsisting of only the most important and powerful members of our army¡ªDamien Lawcroft stood directly beside his Prince, Fabian.

    His eyes were widened with shock as he gave an expression of inexplicable shock.

    ¡°W-what¡­?¡±

    ¡°I mean, you were yed all along. I¡¯m certain you thought this would be the fall of the Human Kingdom, no? I¡¯m also sure youmanded your subordinates in the Capital to finalize things for you there.¡±

    His body shuddered the more I spoke, but he did his best to hide any form of agreement with what I was saying.

    ¡°W-what are you talking about, Jared? Why would I side with the Demons? Are you crazy?¡±

    Damien Lawcroft¡¯s eyes moved in the direction of everyone present. They were all staring at him with cold and stern expressions on their faces.

    ¡°H-hey! Don¡¯t tell me you believe what this guy is saying. Why would I do something like that? H-hey,e on! Your Majesty, you believe me, right?¡±

    King Albion, as expected, didn¡¯t change his hardened expression. His re was enough to tell the man in question that he couldn¡¯t count on him.

    In essence, it was a dead end.

    ¡°Do you understand your situation now? And, don¡¯t even think for a second that everything went ording to your n. Sir. Elrich Lendertwale?¡± I turned to a man who was directly beside the King.

    He was the Royal Court Mage, and a Grand Mage in his own right. Since protecting the King was his primary task, he never left Albion¡¯s side.

    ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve rounded up every single Cult Member as per your instructions. All of them are in my custody.¡±

    ¡°W-wha¡ª?!¡± Damien seemed to identally blurt out.

    What he wasn¡¯t aware of was that after my whole presentation at the Royal Pce, I had a brief meeting with the Grand Mage, Elrich.

    Since I wouldn¡¯t be able to personally interfere with the affairs of the Royal Pce, I made someone else do it.

    By telling him of their moves, as well as giving him a gift in return for his troubles, I was able to ensure he performed the role fluidly.

    ¡°There are indeed other spyworks in the Eastern Kingdom, but Neron also handled them afterpleting his investigation, right?¡± I smiled, using Magic to amplify the sound of the Magic receiver in my ear.

    ¡°Sure. They¡¯ve all been rounded up. There could still be others lurking in the shadows, but I doubt it.¡± Neron¡¯s voice echoed across the area.

    He was still in Ainrk Academy, but he was a man of many means when it came to achieving his goals.

    The guy scared even me.

    ¡°As you can see, this whole front was just a way to ensure that everything was handled nicely,¡± I exined to the bbergasted man.

    The only one who was probably looking just as stupid, if not more so, than Damien, was Fabian.

    The Prince was shocked by everything that was going on around him. His dumbfounded expression was precious, but the serious situation didn¡¯t allow me to break into augh

    Yes, that was pretty. But, still¡­

    ¡°D-Damein¡­ is that tru¡ª?¡±

    Before Fabian Lestrome could conclude his statement, Damien Lawcroft used Magic to restrain him and instantly created a hostage situation.

    Blue energy surrounded the prince, and a Mana de was pointed at his throat. Damien stood beside the prince, eyes bloodshot and his teeth gritting.

    ¡°You must have given up on trying to exin yourself. That¡¯s a shame.¡±

    I wanted him to grovel more.

    ¡°Don¡¯te closer. If you value the life of your son, don¡¯t take a single step.¡±

    Was Damien stupid? Was the current situation too much for him to understand that his brain was fried?

 Chapter ?476 Turnaround [Pt 2]

    Chapter ?476 Turnaround [Pt 2]

    "Have you forgotten that I can use Resurrection Magic? It doesn''t matter if you kill the Prince. There''s no value in that hostage."

    It sounded cold-blooded, but that was just a simple fact.

    Jane Urs was also here¡ªan expert at Soul Magic. With both of us present, there was no way we would be bothered about something as trivial as death.

    Plus...

    "You really think your attack is faster than me?" Serah Crimson grinned, staring at the cornered man.

    Before he would kill the shivering Prince, Serah would simply take his life.

    Damien was surrounded by powerful members of each race¡ªa situation I created for the very purpose of exposing him.

    "What now?" I sneered at Damien, leaking the condescending smile I had been saving for this moment.

    Fabian was paralyzed by his assaulter''s Magic, and could only whimper like a dog. His expression morphed into betrayed surprise as his whole world came crumbling down.

    To be honest, I didn''t resent the Prince. He probably turned out the way he did because of Damien''s influence.

    "Tch!" The man in question clicked his tongue, darting his eyes around.

    ''He''s probably thinking of escaping, but simply running away won''t do. Come on, Damien. Show me...''

    In the end, there was only one thing he would be able to resort to.

    "Original Magic..." The man growled, ring at all of us as Mana burst from within him.

    Serah nced at me¡ªsame as Elrich¡ªand I smiled at them.

    For Serah, I shook my head to prevent her from acting. However, since I already knew what Elrich wanted to do, I let him make his move.

    "... [Ad Tandem]"

    >FSHUUUUU<

    Space distorted around him, and his hand held the hostage.

    I figured he would try to escape with Fabian in tow. The Prince could still make a nice bargaining chip. However¡ª

    >SNAP<

    With the snap of his fingers, the Court Mage instantly caused Fabian to appear beside him¡ªand out of Damien''s grasp.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Before he couldpletely react to the situation, his Spell was done, and the sniveling rat had no choice but to abandon the Prince and escape for his dear life.

    >FWUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    He instantly vanished from his position, leaving something behind.

    The item that reced Damien in his position was a crystal¡ªand it kept shining brighter by the second.

    ''Ah, I see...''

    Before it reached its critical point, Dulum¡ªThe Dwarf Chief¡ªapproached it in a sh.

    "Break!"

    Instantly, the Mana Crystal shattered, losing its charge.

    "Looks like Damien left a farewell present for us." I smiled, turning to everyone who were still trying to keep up with the rapid events that urred.

    The answer was simple.

    If my guess was right, then Damien had some sort of teleportation ability that let him go to his determined location.

    The thing, however, was that he always left something behind any time he did this.

    Even when he went tomunicate with the Demons about me, the Automaton that was observing him captured the very same thing.

    ''Could it be that he swaps location with items? Is that the nature of his Original Magic?''

    It was certainly interesting.

    In battle, it could prove quite troublesome.

    Imagine trying to catch someone who could swap locations with items¡ªprobably people too.

    ''Considering he didn''t use it here, there has to be a limit, though.'' I smiled.

    As for the crystal he swapped with¡ªit was a mine that would blow us up. The sly man most likely wanted to deal a fatal strike to at least one of us.

    Unfortunately for him, I was ready to defend everyone.

    It was a good thing that the Dwarf Chief was an expert on ores, and his Magic allowed him to dismantle the Mana Crystal Damien left behind for us.

    "Master Dulum! You truly are amazing. You handled it in seconds. I couldn''t even react in time!" A shriek pierced the air and someone appeared before the stubby Dwarf.

    Yep, the man screaming was none other than the Human Head Of Research¡ªBradford.

    ording to what I was told, he had now be a loyalckey of the Dwarf Chief after seeing the wonderful technology of the Dwarf City.

    He was now working hard to convince the Chief to take him as an apprentice.

    While it would certainly be entertaining to watch how things unfolded, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before our Nations unified.

    Once that happened, we would begin to share information and technology with one another. Bradford''s wish would eventually be fulfilled, so there was no need for such humiliation.

    "Hohoho! You know it, human! This is the Original Magic I''ve cultivated due to my incredible experience with Ores!" The Dwarf Chief rubbed his beard as heughed heartily.

    The Chief wore exquisite dwarven armor, and as expected of their race, he was a short dude.

    Definitely not even up to four feet in height¡ªbut his stature didn''t seem unnatural in the slightest.

    Dwarves simply looked like plump humans, but in actuality, they were ripped to the core.

    Their glistening muscles, chiseled abs, and gleaming skin only testified to the experience they had in handling their everyday tasks of developing wonderful technology and raw minerals

    Of course, when it came to Innovations, they couldn''t best the fairies. But, the Fairy Race got their materials from the Dwarves.

    The Dwarven Race also built whatever tough blueprint was sent from their Fairy neighbors, so both sides were happily in an Alliance.

    "Master! I am truly in awe!" Bradford pressed on, appearing genuinely pleased with Dulum''s disy.

    "Hahahaha! This much is nothing!"

    I smiled wryly upon witnessing the sight. It seemed Dulum had a weak spot for praise.

    Maybe he was a narcissist, or perhaps Bradford was just that good at making someone''s head swell.

    Either way, it seemed the both of them made a lovely pair.

    "Was it fine to let Damien get away?" Elrich Lendertwale asked, looking concerned.

    I nced at him and shrugged.

    "It''s better that way."

    I had already put a tracker on him, anyway. If I was fortunate, he would lead me to even bigger fish¡ªperhaps another member of the Organization he was a part of.

    Ultimately, I was still going to win.

 Chapter 477 Miracle Of The Tower

    Chapter 477 Miracle Of The Tower

    "By the way, Elrich, I have to say... I''m impressed you already figured out how to use that stuff to this extent."

    I was referring to how he rescued Fabian from Damien''s clutches.

    It wasn''t something as simple as snapping one''s fingers.

    "Ah, you mean [The Tower]? I am only capable of doing that much, I''m afraid." He smiled in humility.

    "I see. Well, keep practicing. You''ll get the hang of it."

    It seemed he wasn''t very skilled at handling that level of Space Magic yet.

    I understood his plight since it took me some time to master that Arcana as well, though the others were harder.

    ''In only two weeks, he has progressed this far. It''s not bad. He''s not a Grand Mage for nothing.''

    Other than the n concerning Damien''s spies and the future of the Eastern Kingdom, I gave Elrich Lendertwale an Arcana when we discussed.

    Of course, I had my reasons.

    "I will keep practicing." He bowed slightly.

    He was my junior, so his actions were natural, but it was going to appear strange to the audience.

    "Let''s get you out of that." I smiled at the victimized Prince, using Anti-Magic to cancel out the effects of Damien''s Magic.

    Once he was free, Fabian fell to his knees and trembled.

    His body shivered as tears fell from his eyes and he growled. I couldn''t rte to his emotions, but that didn''t mean I didn''t have a good guess.

    ''Feeling frustrated and stupid, uh? Join the club.''

    I actually didn''t like it when Legris turned out to be the culprit¡ªespecially because I was so close to trusting him.

    ''Fabian had it worse, though. Poor kid.''

    "I can''t believe he would do that. Damien Lawcroft... just why...?" King Albion murmured, now disying his shock.

    I never informed him beforehand of Damien''s betrayal, but Elrich was well aware. Until all the spies within the Capital were apprehended, the Court Mage wasn''t supposed to tell the King either.

    I imagined the man was still recoiling from shock.

    "You did well not to show any emotion when we confronted him. That certainly pushed him to a corner and forced him to reveal his true nature." I spoke, offering whatever constion I could.

    The King didn''t hesitate to believe my words when I said Damien was the viin of the whole incident, indicating how much trust he had in me.

    Such a man was well worth my time.

    "What now?" Albion slowly recovered from his shock and looked at me with expectation.

    "You said the Demons have begun their invasion, right? Shouldn''t we find a way to intercept them?" King Albion said.

    "True. I guess it''s time to begin."

    Everyone was now staring at me, waiting for what would happen next.

    The obvious answer was that I would transfer our army to the Eastern Kingdom, where the Demons were currently ravaging.

    The only issue was¡ª

    "Can you pull that off?"

    The one who asked was none other than Elrich Lendertwale.

    Despite his trust in me, it was close to impossible to imagine transporting an army of three million.

    Considering the amount of Mana that would require, a human wasn''t supposed to wield that much power.

    Neron and Serah could pull it off, though. Their Mana was simply that surplus. They were simply monsters.

    As for me...

    "I can''t do it alone, but..."

    ... I had been preparing for this scenario for some time now.

    "... I should have enough Mana in stock."

    Snapping my fingers, several flying Automatons that resembled metal spheres began appearing in the sky.

    One after the other, in their multitude, they became visible to the army that looked above them.

    "I used cloaking Magic to ensure that none of them was visible as they remained suspended in the sky for some time. They''ve been collecting a good amount of Mana."

    Aurora, the Elf Queen marveled.

    She never noticed them, no doubt.

    "S-since when...?" She murmured, staring at me.

    "When Freya permitted me to use my Automatons. I figured that wouldn''t be considered intruding on yournd, so I helped myself."

    In any case, these Automatons were brimming with a decent amount of Mana. Each probably had the same quantity as a regr Gold Core Grade¡ªand there were hundreds of them in the sky.

    ''If I use Spellcraft in addition to these guys, there shouldn''t be a problem.''

    "[Great Sage''s Memoir]." Manifesting my Original Magic, I took to the sky and positioned myself before the arranged Automatons that hovered above the marveling army beneath us.

    "Let us begin."

    The pages of my Memoir flipped until I arrived at the spot where [The Tower] was stored.

    Gathering the Mana around me, while synchronizing with the Mana in each of the Automatons, I prepared to teleport everyone.

    ''This should be fun.''

    *************************

    "Easy. Too easy!"

    Those were Abellion''s thoughts as his army marched on, decimating everything around them.

    They hadn''t arrived at a proper city yet since they were on the outskirts of the Eastern Kingdom''s civilization. Still, it was only a matter of time.

    Abellion could see a town ahead.

    He was using enhanced sight, so he could clearly see what was going on in the settlement.

    Abellion noticed the filthy vermin going about their daily activities in the town.

    The human denizens had smiles on their faces. Someughed, some seemed tired, while some weren''t exactly in a happy mood.

    Still, none of them seemed to be bothered about the impending Demon crisis.

    The Demon Army was still a distance from the nearest settlement, so, no human could detect them yet.

    Even at that...

    "Look at them, living their lives in ignorance..." Abellion''s body quivered in annoyance as his grin widened.

    He raised his hand, ready to give his army the order to devastate the first town in sight.

    His seething emotions had reached a climax.

    "I''m going to enjoy this..." He murmured under his breath.

    "ATTA¡ª!!!"

    Before he could conclude his words, a massive gust of wind enveloped the area before them, and a bright blue light dominated everything around.

 Chapter 478 The Battlefield [Pt 1]

    478 The Battlefield [Pt 1]

    The empty, vast field before Abellion¡¯s army instantly became upied with several neers.

    The Demon King couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes in shock.

    No¡­ it couldn¡¯t be!

    The blue light faded, and the shes of sizzling Mana finally stopped, leaving behind an armyrger than the Demon Forces.

    ¡°N-no way¡­.¡± Zenkiel gawked, unable toprehend the current turn of events.

    Every single soldier halted in their tracks as they spotted the enemies. Their unstoppable confidence shriveled up that very moment.

    ¡°How is this¡­ possible¡­?!¡±

    No one could understand how and why such a thing had urred.

    It was unbelievable, to say the very least.

    That¡¯s right! Standing opposite the Demon Army was a joint force of the newly formed Alliance.

    An army of three million.

    ************************

    It was perfectly timed, so our entrance achieved the best effect on our enemies.

    I watched the Demons from my heights, in their vast number, gawk as we made ourselves known. As the blue hue around died down, I made sure to observe their ranks properly.

    Fortunately, their battle formation was just as I expected.

    ¡®You didn¡¯t let me down, Zenkiel.¡¯ My smile widened.

    ¡°Now that we are here¡­ I suppose this means this will be our battlefield.¡± I looked in the direction of the leaders who were around me.

    They nodded, looking determined.

    Some tried not to show it, but I could tell that they were intimidated by the sheer size of the Demon Army.

    Sure, we outnumbered them. But it was Demons were extremely dangerous when it came tobat and Miasma usage. Plus, a majority of our soldiers came from the Human Kingdom.

    We were considerably weaker than Demons when it came to regr members of our forces.

    However¡­

    ¡°This will be a very intense battle.¡± Aurora looked at me, preparing herself.

    ¡°Indeed. That makes me quite excited.¡± Serah responded, grinning widely.

    It was expected that people would lose their lives in war, so Jane and I would also prepare to resurrect our fallen soldiers so no life was lost on our end.

    We would give it our all until we achieved victory.

    That would be the idea in everyone¡¯s head. However¡­

    ¡®I don¡¯t n on that at all¡­¡¯

    >FWUSH<

    My body instantly began returning to the ground.

    Slowly, I reached the level everyone was at.

    My Automatons remained in the sky to serve various purposes, so they simply hovered above our troops.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the n, Jared?¡±

    The question seemed stupid, as we were already in the thick of things, but I understood the intention behind Elrich Lendertwale¡¯s words.

    ¡°The enemy forces are spread out, and each wing has a Demon Lord guiding them. The main area also has two immensely powerful individuals.¡±

    I recognized one to be Zenkiel, and the other had to be the Demon King.

    ¡®As expected, it¡¯s not the one I know of. So, that¡¯s Prince Abellion, eh?¡¯

    I never met the Prince in my past life, but it would seem his hatred for the other Races was what sparked this conflict.

    It made me realize once again that the best way to handle the threat of the Demon Race was to simply exterminate them.

    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ this isn¡¯t meant to be a battle. It¡¯s a simple massacre.¡±

    The people around me looked a bit taken aback by my words, but there was no need to exin every single detail behind them.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we split up to direct each wing of our forces as well? At this rate, other areas will suffer more damage than necessary.¡± Serah Crimson posited.

    As someone who was in charge of the military, who knew the importance of strategy¡ªas well as the capabilities of the Eastern Kingdom¡¯s Army¡ªshe knew her stuff.

    However¡­

    ¡°That is not necessary. After all¡­ this isn¡¯t meant to be that kind of fight.¡±

    They all looked at me with surprise once again.

    Had it not been for what I had already achieved, they would have called my actions foolish.

    But, the only one who would be referred to as a fool at this point was someone who didn¡¯t pay believe me.

    >SHWOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH<

    Instantly, space ruptured, and an entity emerged from within the blue portal that manifested.

    It had a gleaming white body¡ªno, more like tinum.

    It was a fully armored body, having tes to cover every inch, and then the joints were well supported with softer metal fibers.

    The helmet covered the whole face, but left two gleaming areas to represent the eyes.

    It floated in the air, and four balls hovered around the being.

    I felt the tension around me rise as both the Humans and Demons looked above to spot the neer.

    The only one who wasn¡¯t surprised was me.

    ¡°Looks like they¡¯re right on time.¡± I smiled.

    The white-d armored warrior nced in my direction and moved, instantly lunging at me.

    The white balls followed without cking.

    Their speed was great, and in a sh, they were before me.

    ¡°Master Jared, I have returned.¡± The Armored being stated with a tone of reverence.

    His voice warbled and echoed, indicating that whatever it was¡­ it wasn¡¯t human.

    ¡°Well done, Gawain. How did it go?¡±

    It was an Automaton I named after my old friend¡ªThe Sword King.

    But, unlike the others I made in the past, this one was quite different.

    Why?

    ¡°Everything is ready. As expected, there was a little resistance, so I had to ¡®convince¡¯ them a little¡­ as per your instructions.¡±

    Gawain was my masterpiece.

    If Hugo was the ultimate Golem, then this being kneeling before me was the perfect Automaton.

    I designed it that way.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t even address us!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you miss us at all!¡±

    ¡°We worked hard too, you know?¡±

    ¡°Boohoo!¡±

    The four balls began echoing their thoughts too.

    Within them were Bond Souls¡ªthe very first I ever had.

    The Four Elemental Wisps.

    ¡°I was going to address you guys eventually, you know? Besides, why are you taking that form?¡±

    I had ced all four of them in their respective bodies as an experiment of mine.

    I wanted to see if a Familiar could independently act without the presence of his master as long as they still shared a Mental Link and had a capable body.

    Fortunately, that experiment bore results.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to have you guys back.¡±

 Chapter 479 The Battlefield [Pt 2]

    479 The Battlefield [Pt 2]

    The Demon Army was stagnant¡ªmost likely trying to restrategize while wrapping their heads around the new situation.

    That bought me enough time for a little chit-chat with my four Familiars.

    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you guys.¡±

    Of all the Familiars in my possession, they were still the most talkative.

    The rest simply preferred tomunicate with each other orze around unless needed. Kahn and I oftenmunicated, but that was simply business.

    ¡°We missed you too, Jared!¡±

    ¡°But we also had fun!¡±

    ¡°Yep! Exploring the world was fun.¡±

    ¡°Indeed!¡±

    Blue. Red. Green. Ashen.

    These four Wisps were my first Familiars, so of course, they would have a special spot in my heart. However¡­ now wasn¡¯t the time for sentimental nonsense.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question, though. Why are you taking a ball form?¡±

    The material I used to construct their bodies allowed them to change form by infusing it with Mana.

    In essence, their bodies could be whatever they desired.

    So¡­ why a ball? With my great intellect, I couldn¡¯t understand it.

    ¡°We thought it would look cooler if we were like, hovering around Gawain.¡±

    ¡°Couldn¡¯t Gawain just summon some balls himself?¡±

    ¡°N-no! We wanted to do it ourselves. We wanted to be the balls!¡±

    I felt like the conversation was heading in a strange direction, and I wasn¡¯t ready to enter that territory just yet.

    ¡°Huu¡­¡± With a sharp exhtion, I brought the conversation to a close.

    ¡°Did you obtain what I asked, though?¡±

    I know I had asked Gawain the same question, but they were the ones who were supervising the Automaton.

    So, of course, I would have them take responsibility.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Master, everything is ready!¡±

    ¡°Just as you wanted!¡±

    ¡°Just give the signal!¡±

    ¡°Anytime!¡±

    It pleased me to hear that they seeded.

    Sure, constantmunication was being done between them and me, but we got busy on both ends, so I hadn¡¯t spoken to them in a while.

    So many things could happen within that short period.

    ¡°You did your tasks well. I will surely reward your actions.¡± I spoke to the four hovering balls, as well as the Automaton who was still kneeling.

    ¡°Hehehehe!¡± The silly fourughed.

    But, my Automaton had a different reaction.

    ¡°I am not worthy of your praise. It is only natural I do so, for I am yours.¡±

    It felt a little weird, especially because I was sort of the one who designed Gawain that way.

    Perhaps I could change its program to be a bit more flexible? No, it was better this way.

    A perfect weapon meant that it was supposed to be good at especially one thing¡­bat!

    ¡°Rise, Gawain. You guys too. Take your positions till I give the signal.¡±

    ¡°Yes, boss!¡±

    ¡°Understood!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you all about our adventurester.¡±

    ¡°Later, then!¡±

    As the balls resumed their routine of dancing around the tinum-armored being, thetter bowed and vanished in response to my order.

    Instantly warping to the sky, it remained stationary, simply gazing at the Demon Army.

    I felt a warmth in my heart while watching his glistening figure and perfect response features.

    ¡®It took me fifty years toplete that baby. I¡¯m so proud of you¡­¡¯ I could feel tears of pride welling up in my eyes.

    ¡°Jared, what was that all about? Who, or rather, what, is that?¡±

    Serah was the first to speak, but everyone else also flooded me with questions.

    Even Neron, who was listening in rang inquisitions in my ear.

    ¡°It¡¯s my Automaton¡ªrx.¡± Was my response.

    The four Wisps inhabited Artificial Bodies, while the tinum Armored dude was a creation of mine.

    There was nothing to be worried about¡ªthough I knew worry was the least of their motivation.

    ¡°Jared Leonard, that Automaton is exquisite¡ªno, exceptional. Please, after this is all over, make me your apprentice!¡±

    ¡°M-me too!¡±

    Bradford and the Dwarf Chief both bowed as they spoke with passion.

    ¡°A-ah¡­?¡±

    The flurry of praise andments was more than I bargained for.

    As much as I liked the attention my creation garnered, it was too suffocating to answer everyone at once.

    Especially because¡ª

    ¡°HOW DARE YOUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!¡±

    ¡ªThe Demons were watching too.

    ¡°YOU DARE¡­ WHEN FACING THE MIGHTY DEMON ARMY¡­ YOU DARE TO MAKE HEARTY CONVERSATION LIKE THAT¡­¡±

    The one who spoke in a fit of rage was none other than Prince Abellion.

    ¡°I guess he¡¯s King now, right Kahn?¡±

    The lurking Shadow Demon appeared on my shoulder in a miniature misty form and nodded.

    ¡°Yeah. The Generals also seem to be here¡­ except two.¡±

    ¡°Then, that¡¯s just as nned.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, my Lord.¡±

    Kahn¡¯s misty form lingered for a while longer, and I knew why.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I haven¡¯t forgotten our agreement.¡±

    ¡°Forgive me, Master. It¡¯s just¡­ with such tension in the air¡­ I can feel my entire being pulsating.¡±

    I understood his emotions. Demons were creatures of violence, after all.

    ¡®Don¡¯t worry, Kahn. I intend to make you achieve what you desire. It will be advantageous for me too.¡¯

    With that, the Shadow Demon vanished and returned to his designated Core.

    ¡°Alright, then.¡± I returned my gaze to the Demon King who kept spouting angry words at our joint army.

    ¡°WHO IS IT THAT KILLED THE DEMON LORD, LYDIA? BRING THAT PERSON FORWARD, AND I WILL GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL ALL DIE EASY DEATHS.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know if he was simply spouting those words of his to stall for time while his army changed formation, or if he was simply mad at us for that.

    ¡®It could be both, who knows?¡¯

    Either way, it didn¡¯t matter. Ana was the one who killed Lydia, and she wasn¡¯t even present.

    I could presume that she, alongside everyone on Neron¡¯s end, was assisting in rounding up the filth within the Eastern Kingdom.

    Once this war was over, I could look forward to a safer ce to call home.

    ¡®Yeah. This war¡­ should be over.¡¯

    ¡°YOU HEARD ME, FILTHY MONGRELS!¡± Abellion¡¯s voice was loud and powerful, and it was also beginning to get annoying.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± I dered, rising to the air.

    ¡°You Demons seem to be misunderstanding two things.¡±

    Now that we were reaching the final chapter of our little game, there was no harm in revealing their mistaken notion.

 Chapter ?480 Mass Genocide [Pt 1]

    ?480 Mass Genocide [Pt 1]

    "Firstly, you lot are currently outmatched. Even with our current numbers, A war with you will end in our victory."

    I ensured everything was within calctions, and while we would suffer the loss of some lives, they weren''t beyond saving.

    In essence, this situation was already checkmate.

    However, it wasn''t good enough.

    "Secondly..." I especially smiled at Zenkiel, and then gave a condescending re at all the Demons who were spread before my eyes.

    "... This isn''t simply a war."

    A War urs between two parties who battle as a result of conflicting goals.

    This was different¡ªwhich was why I didn''t want to allow things to go the way they would supposedly have gone.

    With a hard, cold stare at my enemies, I stiffened my heart and gave Gawain my signal.

    "It''s an extermination."

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM<

    The loud hum was followed by sudden breaks in the space above everyone on my side.

    Several massive portals appeared, and the swirling pool of warbling blue began to spit out various creatures.

    From Dragons, to Griffins, to Pegasi¡ªI also saw a couple of Gargoyles.

    Several creatures of flight began emerging from the wormholes that suddenly appeared... in their multitude.

    ''Not yet... that''s not all!''

    Emerging from the ground were also creatures of various sizes and differing races. Manticores, Chimeras, Hydras, Kobolds, Orcs, and several other minority groups among the world''s vast races started to appear.

    Earth Dragons, among several other offshoot species of the mighty Dragon race, also emerged.

    Also, the Giants didn''t neglect to make their entrance as well.

    The portals spat them out endlessly, and they kept appearing with their ferocious nature in tow.

    These were what could be ssified as Magic Beasts¡ªa minority race in the world that didn''t have a definite patch ofnd as their territory.

    They were supposedly more powerful than most members of the majority, but their small number andck of definite territory made it difficult for them to emerge as a superior group.

    Ultimately, they were either uninterested in starting disputes or were too few to go against an entire nation.

    However, with a joint front emerging from the spacial gates, the several groups were now an army of their own.

    A total of one million in total.

    "W-what is... this...??"

    "I-impossible! I can''t... I don''t understand..."

    "This is just..."

    I heard voices of confusion and awe¡ªeven from my allies¡ªas these beings finally stopped pouring out of the portals.

    "J-Jared, what is this? What''s going on here?" Serah shouted at the top of her lungs as she looked above to meet my gaze.

    She, like everyone else, wanted to understand the situation.

    My allies were overwhelmed by the sheer number of disastrous beings that could be considered immense threats¡ªbut so were my enemies.

    "It''s simple, Serah. This is the n." I smiled confidently at everyone.

    This was why we didn''t need any tactical formation or a battle strategy.

    It was because this fight wasn''t meant to be a battle.

    We didn''t need to resort toplicated ns when it came down to concluding the task before us.

    There was only one thing expected when it came to Mass Genocide, and that was a one-sided ughter of the other party.

    "We simply kill them all. That''s all there is to it."

    Our current numbers of four million would suffice for that¡ªor would it?

    ''I would have used the Automatons and Golems I have in store, but I guess there''s no need for that.''

    There was such a thing as overkill, after all.

    "Do you understand now, Abellion? Demons?" I returned my gaze to the flustered Demon Race.

    No matter what they did at this point, it was pointless. They could only struggle for their dear lives.

    "You''re all going to die here, today. Consider this the penance for your sins."

    The attack on Ainrk Academy... the lives that were lost as a result... I hadn''t forgotten.

    I knew that these guys were simply pawns, but that didn''t change the fact that they had to be done away with.

    ''To prevent any further tragedies in the future, I will have you all sacrifice your lives.''

    "Now, then..." I smiled, looking around at the forces on my side.

    At this point, Gawain and the Wisps were beside me¡ªawaiting instruction.

    The Magic Beasts who witnessed this instantly knew who was truly in charge, since they were used to the authority of my Automaton.

    And so, with everyone behind me waiting for my instruction, I raised my hand and gave a devilish grin at the objects of elimination.

    "... Let us begin!"

    ***************************

    Abellion could not describe it in words.

    His body actually shuddered for a second when he saw the miraculous sight appearing before him.

    He could feel emotions that reminded him of that time with Legris¡ªin the pitch-ck room.

    But, there was no way he could back out now.

    Death lingered in the air, and he knew his army was inferior to that of the enemies.

    Abellion wasn''t stupid.

    From the corner of his eyes, he could spot his subordinate, Demon Lord Zenkiel.

    The Demon King knew that the Commander-In-Chief also felt the same¡ªthat the situation was hopeless.

    They had walked right into a trap.

    Abellion had no idea where things went wrong, and he had no time to actually consider those thoughts.

    The only thing facing him now was the battle ahead.

    "Huu... I have never felt so humiliated in my whole life."

    The scenario with Legris Damien was something he suffered alone. But now, his entire Race faced the immense force of their enemies.

    "I was right, after all..."

    The Humans were threats.

    If only they had acted sooner, then things wouldn''t have gotten to this point.

    ''Father, you didn''t listen...'' Abellion gritted his teeth and pulled himself together.

    The annoyance he felt toward his father seemed to give him the strength to move forward.

    "My King, we will follow your orders. No matter what!" Abellion heard voices resonate within him.

    Those were the Demon Lords.

    Despite the despairing situation, their positions hadn''t changed.

    Even the Demon troops still had their faith and utmost loyalty in their King.

    None had lost any trust in their absolute ruler. How could he let them down at this point?

    "Very well..." Abellion growled within.

    Retreat wasn''t an option anyway. If they were going to fight, it had to be for nothing less than victory.

    "... LET''S GO!"

 Chapter 481 Mass Genocide [Pt 2]

    481 Mass Genocide [Pt 2]

    "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

    Deafening roars of a multitude rang in the air.

    The devastating battlefield rumbled as millions of footsteps trod the earth.

    The graphic disy of violence and intense emotion wafted in the atmosphere, and this blood-curdling passion kept rising at a never-ending tempo.

    The first sh was between the Magic Beasts and the Demon Army.

    Everyone forgot about positions and strategy and simply fought with all they had.

    The wingsbined and began a desperate struggle for survival.

    It was no longer a war, but a one-sided Subjugation.

    Dragons poured out breaths of burning mes or hardened frost. These breaths were in terrifying degrees that they decimated dozens¡ªif not more¡ªper second.

    Harsh winds and mes as of purgatory were brought forth by the Griffins and several other powerful Beasts.

    Destructive sts raged, tearing apart the outnumbered victims of the massacre.

    Thend Magic Beasts did not spare the Demons as well.

    They raged, using their superior numbers and extremely sharpened skills to turn the tides.

    As they poured out in their multitudes, the Magic Beasts tore apart their foes.

    Of course, they also suffered damage.

    However, none were fatal.

    Automatons in stealth pervaded the battlefield, healing the Allies who suffered damage.

    They also buffed them with various spells, ensuring they had the strength to continue battle.

    At no particr juncture, thebined army decided to join the murder fest.

    It could have been because they were now bored of watching the Magic Beasts for all the work, or maybe their fear waspletely eliminated and they simply wanted to have a piece of the action.

    Before long, everyone was now participating.

    They knew their superior numbers would cause some of them not to have a single kill.

    Four million versus two.

    Clearly, even if the numbers were to be equally divided, half of their troops would not see a single prey to vanquish.

    Still, they charged into battle, hoping they could at least engage in the exercise.

    "I won''t fail this time!"

    "Yeah! Let''s show what we learned!"

    Using the Magic Card given to them by Jared, the two Elves¡ªLemi and Freya¡ªsummoned Hugo.

    The Ultimate Golem''s size instantly stood out among the denizens of the battlefield.

    Even the Giants were not as tall as the hulking Mecha warrior.

    "We''ll do it right, this time!"

    "Yeah. I remember the controls well!"

    Both Elves entered the massive structure and took full control.

    Thanks to Jared''s expert teachings, they had finally gotten the hang of things. That was why they were confident about using Hugo''s features in such a saturated area.

    Any little mistake from their end would cause a friendly fire.

    "Let''s goooo!!!"

    These cousins weren''t the only ones having fun, though.

    At specific points on the battlefield, some rather interesting battles were urring.

    For example, Serah Crimson was currently fighting Zenkiel¡ªLeader of the Demon Lords.

    On another end was Serci, who was engaged inbat with Gerard.

    Lubick tried to handle the entire battlefield, but found himself overwhelmed¡ªespecially because of the bombardments caused by Hugo.

    His goal was to stop it, but even he met resistance.

    Ivan Smith, as well as the other notable Elves, fought against Demon Generals.

    It truly wasn''t worthy of being called a fight.

    It was a full-on massacre.

    **************************

    "It''s all your fault..." Someone murmured heavily.

    It was none other than the Demon King himself.

    He found himself all alone¡ªdeste, as his people were cut down one after the other.

    His right-hand man, Zenkiel had tried to protect him from a crazy red-haired woman, and they were now duking it out somewhere.

    The few Magic Beasts that tried fighting him wound up dead, and the witnesses had enough sense to back off.

    Everyone avoided him, and he ignored them. That was because his sights were set on only one person in the entire battlefield.

    "Jared Leonard... it''s all your fault!"

    How a single child was able topletely turn the tides on the Demons was something Abellion could not fathom.

    It wasn''t that he was in any way unintelligent, but it was due to this very fact that the Demon King could notprehend being bested by a mere human child.

    No matter the amount of credit he gave to their Race, there was a limit to everything.

    Yet, with the way the blond boy was smiling while in the air, watching the bloodshed from his elevated position, Abellion knew everything was all because of him.

    Jared Leonard bested Zenkiel, his greatest strategist, in wits. He alsomanded an army this immense.

    Somehow, Abellion''s pride was hurt. But, even worse was his rage.

    ''He must be responsible for Lydia''s death!''

    No, it even went beyond that.

    The ughter of his people could also be attributed to the pesky boy''s interference. Everything was his fault.

    "You bastard!" Abellion felt his body surge with uncontroble emotions¡ªand with those emotions came insurmountable power.

    "Die!"

    A purple portal appeared above him, and a dark, ominous sword was lunged in a sh.

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    Moving faster than eyes could process, the de was sent to sever Jared''s head from his body, causing the thing to plop onto the ground.

    The sword was capable of achieving this, and it went straight for the target.

    However¡ª

    >CLANG!<

    ¡ªIt met resistance.

    "Master, it seems the Demon King is after your head." A warbling tune came from the one who instantly parried the de with a sword that it summoned at thest minute.

    The tinum Armored entity so easily deflected the sword, causing it to swerve away in the air.

    ''H-he... blocked it?!''

    Abellion was impressed and also dazed by the Armored one''s immense ability.

    He could have sworn that neither of them had been paying attention to him before¡ªand even the blond boy was yet to even look in his direction.

    What kind of reaction speed would have been able to fluidly parry an attack you didn''t previously seeing?

    "I see..." The blond boy, Jared Leonard, murmured as he finally stared in the direction of a dumbstruck Abellion.

    "You handle him, Gawain. I''ve found what I''m looking for."

 Chapter 482 A Demons Desire

    482 A Demon''s Desire

    I was initially on the lookout for someone, but I ended up simply watching thendscape¡ªhow it changed due to the effects of war.

    The conflicting crowd was so lively that they took my attention in no time.

    There was no joy to be found in war, but extermination had a certain feel to it. It was difficult to resist enjoying it when you were the one on the winning side.

    As I watched the Demons get utterly squashed, a feeling of satisfaction permeated my heart.

    ''I shouldn''t like this, but...''

    If I had to dirty my hands, the best way to do it would be to at least take pride in it. It would be incredibly heavy on any person if they couldn''t at least enjoy whatever task they undertook.

    I was no different.

    As I watched the battle, a de wasunched at me from below.

    It came from a bloodlusted individual who had been ring at me for some time.

    Using Spellcraft inbination with Sensory Magic, I was well aware of my surroundings. His attack couldn''t catch me by surprise.

    ''I wanted to ignore you if you stayed put, but...''

    Fortunately, Gawain was by my side, so it simply took care of the strike for me.

    "Master, it seems the Demon King is after your head."

    Hearing the noble sound of my Automaton always brought me joy¡ªeven though he was literally stating that someone was after my life.

    It was at that moment that my eyes caught the person I was searching for.

    As expected, he was on the run.

    At that moment, I lost interest in whatever else and decided to give chase¡ªif it could be called that.

    "You handle him, Gawain. I''ve found what I''m looking for."

    In a sh, I teleported away from the ce and moved for my target.

    Perhaps if I wasn''t so pressed for time, I would have fought with the Demon King a bit. But, I found the whole thing pointless.

    After all, I wasn''t meant to be his rightful opponent.

    ''I wonder...''

    With a smirk, I made my appearance as space distorted.

    With me right in front of the escaping target, he could do nothing but halt in both shock and desperation.

    That only served to make things more interesting for me.

    "It''s been a while... Kyron."

    ********************

    [Moments Earlier]

    ''I have to get away! I have to get away!''

    A certain Shadow Demon was fleeing for his dear life.

    If it was a simple soldier, one might have dismissed his fear and understood the cause of his retreat.

    However, this wasn''t a simple Shadow Demon. He wasn''t even a Captain or General.

    The fleeing ck being was a Demon Lord!

    The dark clouds of Miasma at the rear provided Kyron enough cover to slither through the ground like the shadow he was.

    Using his semi-tangible form to deflect any attention that came his way, he sped across the battlefield with haste.

    ''We can''t win! It''s over! I have to flee!''

    Kyron could not understand why Abellion had chosen not to retreat¡ªnot that there was any avenue for that in the first ce.

    In his opinion, it wasn''t cowardly to run. Kyron would do whatever it took to win¡ªto survive!

    That was what he stood for.

    ''This wasn''t how it was meant to go! Shit! Shit! Shiiittt!!!''

    His ambitions. His grand goal of ruling as an absolute dictator. Everything was going down the drain.

    For his n, he intended the Demon Conquest to go ording to Abellion''s wishes.

    Once they conquered everything, it would only be fair that each Demon Lord would be awarded their respective territories.

    With his own patch ofnd assured, Kyron intended to raise an army¡ªusing what he had learned from rearing Demon Beasts, as well as his sly intelligence¡ªbuilding enough power to take over the other regions.

    Slowly, but certainly, he would finally attain absolute power and be the Demon King.

    He knew it was possible, which was why he made sure he dedicated every waking moment to this cause.

    But...

    "Why did this have to happen? Damn it!"

    Everything had gone down the drain.

    The Demons were going to be killed here, no doubt.

    If Kyron stayed, he would encounter the same fate. That much was obvious. That was why he ran with all his strength.

    The only thing keeping him going was the tiny glimmer of hope that still failed to leave him. His darkened mind clung to the inextinguishable desire within him, and Kyron''s head began generating scenarios where his grand ambition could still be usible.

    ''I have to live! They can''t follow us to the Demon Continent. The Miasma there is... yes... they won''t be able to stand it!''

    If he hurried, he could survive and build his strength.

    He could formte a lie that Abellion left the future of the Demon Race in his care.

    No one would suspect a thing since the Demon King would most likely die in the conflict.

    ''The problem is Desgarion. There''s no way he''ll let that fly!''

    Whether he liked it or not, Kyron knew Desgarion was much stronger than he was. In a direct conflict, he would lose badly against the Crimson Demon Lord.

    In fact, which Demon Lord wouldn''t?

    ''I can always handle it by drugging him with that special form... yes. The one Legris sold to me in exchange for an extra portion of Miasma...''

    That was how he had been able to insure his victory against Kahn¡ªhis previous subordinate.

    In a fair match, it was doubtful if he would win.

    What most people didn''t understand was that a fight didn''t have to be fair for a victor to be decided.

    ''If I eliminate Desgarion, I''ll be the most powerful Demon around. I''ll rebuild the Demon Realm. We''ll be much stronger than before, and then one day...''

    The other Races may have gotten a temporary victory at the moment, but Kyron didn''t intend on letting thatst forever.

    ''... I''ll lead the Demon Race and take over the world!''

    That was Kyron''s grand dream¡ªhis everything.

 Chapter 483 A Demons Revenge

    483 A Demon''s Revenge

    Kyron finally escaped the violent roars and bloody entrails of battle.

    Now reaching a supposedly safe area, Kyron grinned in satisfaction.

    His victory was assured. Until¡ª

    >VWUUUHSHHH<

    Space distorted before him, and a being emerged from the blue portal that was generated.

    The entity¡ªa blond human boy¡ªwas smirking while staring hard at the Shadow Demon Lord.

    There was no way Kyron wouldn''t recognize the individual before him.

    It was¡ª

    "It''s been a while, Kyron."

    ¡ªJared Leonard himself!

    *********************

    ''What is he doing here?'' or ''How did he notice my escape?''

    Perhaps even ''Why is he after me?''

    There were many things I could detect from the way Kyron''s eyes widened while he halted.

    "Y-you..." His deep voice trembled a bit.

    I smiled, staring at the Shadow Demon before me.

    While I currently didn''t have any personal business with him, memories of my past life came rushing in.

    This was certainly the bastard.

    Shadow Demons looked identical¡ªbut that was only to people who hadn''t properly interacted with them before.

    I wasn''t an expert myself, but there were certain things I couldn''t forget¡ªlike the Demon''snky and thin shape, as well as the sound of his voice.

    This truly was the scumbag Shadow Demon I remembered.

    "Quick question before we begin," I spoke, raising a finger.

    I didn''t have the time to waste on someone like this.

    "Do you know anyone by the name of Karlia?"

    The Shadow Demon''s eyes slightly trembled. That told me the answer I required.

    "If I tell you about her... will you let me go?" His voice was husky and calcting.

    ''Does he n on using a cheap trick on me? Me?''

    "I might consider it. But, first, I need to know... is she alive?"

    The night before the day I died, Karlia showed herself to me. The Subus hadn''t aged a day.

    There was a possibility that she was still alive. If that were the case, it would be best to steer away from her. Nothing good woulde out of engaging in another entanglement.

    ''Though, now that I think about it...'' My thoughts trailed.

    "Y-yes, she is. I can tell you all about her. If you can guarantee my safety." Kyron spoke with feigned confidence.

    How he was able to lie so easily made me amused. Then again, he had always been a power-hungry fool.

    ''I suppose it''s time we put an end to this little charade. I have somewhere else to be.''

    "It''s unfortunate, but I can''t guarantee your safety. Don''t worry. I''ll obtain my information from you either way."

    "Wha¡ª?!"

    Snapping my fingers, I manifested a spacial distortion, and a massive lump of ck metal came out of it.

    "This is it, Kahn. You cane out now."

    "W-what? Kahn?!"

    Ignoring the flustered Demon Lord''s blubber, I summoned Kahn from my Core, and then...

    "Thank you, master!"

    ... The Shadow Demon''s Bond Soul dived into the metal lump I just summoned.

    >BRUUUUPPPP<

    Upon entering the metal, it became a blobby substance and began taking shape. I watched in amusement, wondering the form Kahn would choose.

    As for Kyron¡ª

    >FWOOOOSSSHHHH<

    ¡ªHe attempted to use that window of opportunity to flee.

    "That''s not a good idea."

    As he swiftly moved in his shadow form, a barrier of light spread all across the area, forcing him to stop before getting burned.

    "Be patient, Kyron. What''s the rush?" Iughed.

    We were currently standing on the ins, a bit far away from the current conflict urring. A bit further and we would reach snowy mountains and a harshndscape¡ªthen the Demon Realm would be the next destination after crossing the border.

    "Tch!" The Demon Lord clicked his tongue as he red at me.

    "I am done, Master." A deep voice appeared beside me, and I nced at the gleaming person who was speaking.

    "How is the new body?"

    Kahn began moving his fingers, looking at them with interest. I could tell that he felt a bit strange controlling a body after being a Soul for a long time.

    The current form Kahn had was simr to how he was in the past.

    The materials I used to construct the metal lump were simr to the ones the Wisps got. The only difference was that this one reacted to Miasma, and was made to be more durable.

    In terms of quality, it was as good as Gawain''s structural build.

    Still, my Ultimate Automaton had the win when it came to overall effectiveness.

    Kahn must have retrofitted the material to suit his tastes, donning his form when he was still alive.

    Still, I wondered if it was ufortable.

    "It''s perfect. This body is perfect, master." He spoke, and then his face turned in the direction of Kyron.

    "Looks like you''ve only grown more pathetic, Kyron," Kahn said, staring hard at his previous subordinate.

    "How can you be...?!" Kyron probably couldn''t hide his shock any longer.

    "You''re working with a human? No... that''s not right! How did you make Kahn your familiar? This shouldn''t even be! This is all wrong!"

    It seemed someone was having a hard time keeping a grasp on reality.

    "Well, Kahn, as per our agreement, you get to have your revenge on Kyron. I also haven''t forgotten about that other thing."

    "I am immensely grateful, master."

    Both of us simply ignored Kyron''s tantrums¡ªa dead man''s words meant nothing, anyway.

    "I''ll be leaving you to your business, then. Ah, one more thing..." I smiled, looking at the cornered enemy that Kahn was going to tear apart.

    "Make him suffer as much as possible."

    "Eeeek!"

    "Understood, master! I will try my best."

    Kahn''s response satisfied me, so I took my leave.

    "Later, then. Have fun."

    With that, my body once again ascended into the sky, and I vanished from sight.

    ******************

    "Are you wondering where he is headed in such a hurry?" Kahn spoke to Kyron, who was still bewildered by Jared''s exit.

    "W-why...?"

    "He''s going to the Demon Realm. It''s finally time..."

    "Why are you serving a human?"

    Kyron seemed to forget his situation for a moment and had the gall to ask a question.

    "... The end of the Demon Race is right around the corner."

    Kahn''s eyes held admiration for a moment, and then once his gaze rested on the despicable vermin before him, they returned to a hateful re.

    "Now, then... shall I begin?"

    "K-Kahn, wait! Let''s discuss this properly."

    >SHING!<

    The Shadow Demon''s right hand transformed into a terribly long de, and several shadows danced around him as he approached with bloodlust.

    It was already certain that Kahn was beyond reason.

    Only one thing was on his mind at that point in time.

    ¡ªREVENGE!

 Chapter 484 Demon Coast

    484 Demon Coast

    In a brilliant gust of blue, I warped above my destination.

    I heard sshes of water, smelled the troubled sea, and witnessed how the tides crashed upon the coast.

    The darkened sky, as well as the chilly nature of the environment, caused me to smile while slowly approaching.

    The rocky area was merely the beginning, and the deeper one went, the thicker the negative energy would be.

    Dark skies and a dark ce.

    I was looking at nothing but the Demon Realm.

    ¡°Looks like I can¡¯t teleport any further because of the Miasma.¡±

    To traverse the area, I would need to rely on my other abilities.

    Mana was practically nonexistent in this ce¡ªthanks to the Miasma Generator which was powered by [The Devil].

    Thanks to that, it was best for me to utilize Miasma in my time here.

    It wasn¡¯t as though I could not utilize the Mana within me¡ªbut it would simply be easier and better to use Miasma.

    >WHUUSHHH<

    Coating my body with the dark energy, I enhanced my bodily functions and took flight into the continent.

    Previously the Northern Continent, this Demon Realm was by far thergest patch ofnd of the four.

    That was also the reason why the Demons attacked it first in their conquest when I was still Lewis Griffith.

    It spread for miles, and the terrain was mostly rocky.

    While in the past, this was a country known for the cold, and then several minerals, it was nothing more than a pitch-ck world that swelled with Miasma.

    Despite all we did for them, all thepromises we made, they still had the gall to wage war against us.

    That waspletely unforgivable.

    ¡®It¡¯s not our fault that they never advanced. We have them a good piece ofnd, we gave them an Arcana, a Miasma Generator. We offered peace, even when they would have ultimately lost the war¡­¡¯

    The more I thought of it, and let anger well up within me, the easier things became.

    In the Demon Realm, not everyone were warriors.

    Using Spellcraft¡ªthe Miasma version¡ªin addition to my sensory prowess, I could sense several territories that had thousands of Demons within them.

    They were the simple citizens of the Demon Realm.

    Sure, a lot of them had been drafted into the army, but the elderly and children were still present.

    Not everyone could fight in a war¡­ and not everyone wanted to.

    Some could probably not even be aware of the War that was going on¡ªthough I doubted that, due to the nature of Demon society.

    ¡®I can sense a strong presence there¡­¡¯ My mind wandered to the Eastern Border of the Demon Realm.

    That had to be where thest Demon Lord was waiting for a strike from the enemy¡ªthat is, us.

    ¡®Should I just ignore him?¡¯

    By shrouding myself in Cloaking Magic, I could avoid detection¡ªplus, my outfit basically allowed me to be both intangible and invisible.

    Even Neron would have a problem sensing me if he was caught unawares.

    ¡®I can just do what I want, and then leave. But¡­¡¯

    One could call it curiosity.

    ¡®¡­ Let me indulge a little.¡¯

    *******************

    Desgarion was getting impatient.

    He had been waiting for how long now, and no enemy hade his way.

    His entire being was expectant, and the image of what kind of battle he would have kept ravaging his mind.

    His body sought violence, and his muscles ached for battle.

    ¡®Was I tricked? Are there no enemies?¡¯ At some point, the Crimson Demon began wondering to himself.

    All he wanted was a strong opponent to give him exhration.

    He wanted to get even stronger by oveing travails.

    That was why he wanted to y an active role in the war¡ªyet he was relegated to this role.

    Desgarion still had noint, if he was going to fight a strong opponent. But, he slowly began to wonder if there was even an enemy to fight.

    ¡®They¡¯ll regret lying to my face!¡¯ His anger rose slowly.

    Veins appeared on his red face, and the fiery Miasma leaking from his body was enough to distort the atmosphere.

    Waiting impatiently had its limits, as such, the Crimson Demon Lord was reaching a precipice.

    Fortunately¡­

    ¡°Looks like you grew tired of waiting.¡±

    ¡­ Someone finally appeared.

    Desgarion jumped to his feet, instantly putting all his focus in the direction of the voice.

    His muscles tightened and his battle senses were wide awake.

    After all, until the person spoke, even Desgarion hadn¡¯t sensed anyone.

    ¡°You¡­¡± The Crimson Demon¡¯s eyes widened a bit as the image of the person before him finally registered.

    A young, blond boy was standing before him.

    His white coat fluttered as a result of the harsh coastal wind, and he donned a smile.

    ¡°You are Jared Leonard, aren¡¯t you?¡± He spoke, readying himself for a fight.

    While the Demon Lord was surprised that he came alone, that was simply a testament to the young boy¡¯s strength.

    It would have been fun to decimate an army, but the Jared Leonard figure must have thought of anyone else as fodder.

    ¡®Fodder that would just get in the way of our brawl!¡¯ Desgarion grinned devilishly as he stared at Jared Leonard.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised. You aren¡¯t looking down on me because I¡¯m a child.¡± The blond human spoke, not exactly looking shocked.

    Still, it wasn¡¯t like a battle-frenzied being like Desgarion cared much for expressions.

    ¡°Age doesn¡¯t matter. Power does. You made all those other guys quake in their boots thanks to your intelligence, and I heard you best Neron Kaelid in a fight.¡±

    The human¡¯s smile broadened further. There was no denial.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I will fight you right here and now. Make it enjoyable for me!¡± Desgarion grinned widely now.

    His body gleamed brightly, and then ck armor began forming all around his red skin.

    ¡°I¡¯ll use everything I have from the start. Let¡¯s not be boring about this.¡±

    The ck armor had glowing red veins all around it, and the thingpletely shrouded him.

    Desgarion, now encased in ck and red armor, released a phenomenal amount of Miasma that burned everything around.

    His body was steaming hot, and the pressure he exuded was simply devastating.

    Even Jared, who was watching had to give kudos to the magnifying energy he was witnessing

    In terms of power, Jared found the being before him to be even more impressive than the Demon King Abellion.

    It was possible that the Crimson Demon Lord before him was actually the most powerful one around.

    ¡°Then that¡¯s perfect.¡± He whispered under his breath.

    The earth rumbled, and everything around shattered as Desgarion rose from the ground.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

 Chapter 485 Jared Versus Desgarion

    485 Jared Versus Desgarion

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    In a brilliant detonation, the armor-covered Crimson Demon lunged at Jared Leonard.

    His face was hidden underneath his ck armor, so the human couldn¡¯t see his obsessive grin.

    Raising his hand to deliver the first strike, Desgarion poured a ton of energy into it, hoping Jared would at least be able to handle the blow.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Surprisingly, as the fist wasunched, creating torrents of wind flying around, Jared was able to deflect the strike by shifting his hand, right before the hit connected.

    This changed the trajectory of his punch.

    >BWUUUUUSSSSHHHH<

    The waters parted instantly, unable to contain the pressure that surged through them.

    ¡°U-uh?¡± Desgarion was dazed by the fact that Jared had so easily deflected his strike, especially considering it was ast-second move.

    Gnashing his teeth andunching his second fist without wasting any moment, Desgarion put even more power into the second hit.

    However, the result was the same.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    Echoes of destruction rang in the air as the second hand was also deflected, making the Crimson Demon open to a strike.

    The human¡ªJared¡ªdid not falter in making good use of this opportunity.

    >FWOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Using a powerful elbow jab that was filled with power, he dug his attack into Desgarion¡¯s armored body, causing the hard casing to break.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Desgarion flew away instantly. His body helplessly crashed far from the opponent, unable to bear the brunt of his strength.

    ¡°Gurk!¡± Desgarion let out a pained groan as a result of the damage he suffered.

    ¡°Hmm, not bad. But, you¡¯re not as strong as I am.¡± Jared murmured as he drew closer to the fallen Demon.

    Everywhere was devastated, and it had only been a few seconds since the battle began.

    ¡°Keke¡­ so you¡¯re this powerful. Perfect!¡± Desgarion grinned, rising from the debris around him.

    The ck armor with red veins was slowly reconstructed, and the shattered parts were restored.

    ¡°Let me have another taste!¡±

    Once again lunging at Jared Leonard, the Demon Lord now set himself aze with crimson energy and charged with ferocity.

    This time, it waspletely different from earlier.

    However, the human didn¡¯t seem fazed in the slightest.

    With a simple thrust of the hand, an unstoppable pulse was generated.

    Before Desgarion reached his target, the pulse generated a ¡®push¡¯ effect, repelling him with irresistible pressure.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Once again, he failed tond a hit.

    Even as he crashed upon the ground, the Crimson Demon did not feel any sense of disappointment.

    The pain coursing through his body did not trante to fear.

    The rabid sensations he was feeling simply drove him further into the battle.

    ¡°MOREEEE!!!¡±

    Desgarion craved more power, and Jared delivered every single time.

    >BOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    A Crimson Demon¡¯s regenerative factor was very high, and Desgarion¡¯s capability in that department was borderline scary.

    Still, with the current tide of the battle, it was very obvious who would emerge victorious.

    After all¡­

    ¡°This is quite a letdown.¡±

    ¡­ The human known as Jared Leonard didn¡¯t even seem to be trying.

    ¡®Just how much power does he have?¡¯ Desgarion wondered within himself.

    Most of his armor hadpletely shattered thanks to thest strike Jared poured at him, so Desgarion¡¯s face was currently evident.

    ¡°If this is it, then there¡¯s nothing to learn¡­¡± Jared mumbled.

    Desgarion didn¡¯t like the human¡¯s disconcerted tone. It proved that he wasn¡¯t enjoying the battle.

    ¡®Maybe it¡¯s time to kick things up a notch.¡¯ Desgarion thought to himself.

    His current abilities were not enough to cause Jared Leonard to use his full capabilities.

    Even though he had activated [Martial State], nothing much had changed.

    Jared was simply too skilled in Martial Arts and Magic to be beaten by that alone.

    There was a time when Martial Arts were all Desgarion could utilize. However, after suffering defeat at the hands of Abellion, he realized his limitations.

    Determined to grow even stronger, the Crimson Demon Lord finally immersed himself in Magic.

    He didn¡¯t bother practicing mundane ormon Magic¡ªno, there was only one thing he was interested in.

    Only one power guaranteed him undisputed victory.

    ¡°Original Magic¡­¡± Desgarion whispered, grinning at Jared Leonard with bloodshot eyes.

    The human didn¡¯t show any change in emotion, but it was only a matter of time.

    ¡°¡­ [LIMIT BREAKER]¡±

    Power unlike ever before instantly emerged from the Crimson Demon¡¯s body.

    Even Desgarion was amazed by how much energy he had.

    His muscles grewrger in size, and his ck armor increased in bulk and quality.

    The Miasma Desgarion currently possessed was by far the most he had seen.

    Even the human before him, who was surprisingly using Miasma, didn¡¯t have as much as him at this point.

    And the reason for that was simple.

    Desgarion¡¯s Original Magic: Limit Breaker

    It had the ability to record the experiences of Desgarion whenever he fought a stronger foe.

    His body would also analyze the damage dealt to him but the power of his opponent.

    As a result, this Magic enabled him to transcend the level of his opponent¡ªat least with what they disyed.

    His body would evolve beyond the damage he had taken.

    His energy would rise above that of his enemy.

    Every capability he had would skyrocket to match¡ªno, even surpass¡ªwhoever he faced.

    That was the nature of his Original Magic.

    ¡°You¡¯re strange, you know? A human using Miasma¡­ and having this kind of strength. It¡¯s simply perfect!¡± Desgarion grinned, having newfound power that made him desire more.

    ¡°I wonder just how much further I can grow!¡±

    The energy he had was enough to blow everything away, and the very earth was scorching, boiling, melting, as a result of the power he disyed.

    Desgarion was very pleased.

    In every area, he had evolved once more.

    ¡°Wow. I¡¯m impressed. This is simply amazing.¡± Even the human, Jared Leonard, was astounded by the Crimson Demon¡¯s development.

    ¡°Hahahahahaha! You still do not fear. That means you have more power in store. Show me, then. Show me more!¡±

    No matter what was thrown at him, Desgarion was determined to climb higher until he was beyond the peak of everyone.

    The pursuit of strength, and the path of violence. That was all he had ever known.

    ¡°I see¡­ alright then.¡±

    The human was now smiling, gleaming with something too twisted to be called simple excitement.

    ¡°This is a good opportunity. I always wanted to try this one Spell out.¡±

 Chapter ?486 Vermillion Rupture [Pt 1]

    ?486 Vermillion Rupture [Pt 1]

    Desgarion felt alive, more so than ever before.

    He gazed upon his opponent, who also looked equally entertained.

    There was nothing better than duking it out with an opponent when both parties were immersed in the thrill of fighting.

    Even though he knew the final victory would be his, Desgarion desired to enjoy the savor of battle as much as he wanted.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Increasing his speed and building a nonstop momentum, Desgarion sped through the vast expanseid out before him and lunged at Jared, who already took to the space above.

    He prepared a st using both his hands, making it swirl as it gotpressed to form more destructive power.

    "Haaaaaa!!!" Desgarion released the ray of pure crimson destruction.

    It far surpassed anything Jared had thrown at him in the past, and if the human didn''t raise his defenses, he would be¡ª

    "Nice move." Jared''s voice came from behind.

    "Uh?!"

    Once again, the human was one step ahead, and a very strong punchnded on Desgarion''s face before he could fully process what had urred.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Descending like lightning, the Crimson Demon crashed upon the earth to form a crater.

    Despite his newly obtained power, the hit still stung.

    ''He increased his power too...?" Desgarion smiled, groaning as he rose from the rubble.

    "But it''s no use. I''ll simply outgrow this too."

    Desgarion''s body glowed, and then once again, he limated to the hit that Jared gave him.

    "Interesting..." Jared''s voice echoed as he observed the Demon Lord heal and get stronger.

    Desgarion didn''t understand whether the human understood what was happening, or if he thought it was simple Magic Enhancement.

    ''If he knows, then why does he keep attacking? I''ll just keep growing stronger.'' That brought him to the conclusion that Jared did not know the nature of his Original Magic¡ªat least, not wholly.

    Desgarion''s body raged with more energy and a purple glow now emerged from his fist. It contained a strange power that he hadn''t disyed before.

    "HAAAAAA!!!"

    He lunged the blow before reaching Jared, and an overpowering pulse charged at the human with unreasonable speed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Arge cloud of destruction hung in the air thanks to the impact. And then¡ª

    >VWUUUUMMMM!!!<

    Multiple orbs that contained many colors began manifesting.

    "[Grand Harmonious Storm]"

    With that voice in tow, a bunch of immensely powerful elemental Magic rained upon Desgarion.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM<

    The earth sizzled, and it was pretty much a sea of molten magma at this point.

    Heat rose in all directions, and destruction could be seen for miles. But Desgarion was still standing.

    His body healed once more, and his armor was in the process of being fixed.

    He had wounds, but with his cheat-like Original Magic, they would be recovered in no time.

    "Hahahahaha! I can feel it... this power!" The rush of energy and increased physical prowess made Desgarion so happy that he nearly went insane.

    He would keep evolving until he stood at the pinnacle.

    At the moment, no one¡ªnot even the Demon King¡ªwas stronger than him. The only exception was the human before him.

    But, he too would soon fall.

    "Alright, I''ve seen what I wanted. Let''s end this, shall we?"

    A golden book appeared before the human, and the pages began flipping.

    An unbelievable amount of energy manifested... but it wasn''t the Miasma that Desgarion was used to.

    This was¡ª

    ''MANA!''

    ¡ªSomething a bit more dangerous.

    As a Demon, his body naturally had resistance to Miasma.

    But, Mana was different. He hadn''t built up his defenses against the conflicting energy yet, and if he wasn''t careful, he would be consumed before his Original Magic allowed him to limate.

    ''I''ll bolster my defenses, then. If it''s on the same level as¡ªor even slightly higher than¡ªthest one, I can handle it.''

    The Crimson Demon watched something form in the sky.

    It looked like a swirling pool of red. Unlike his crimson color, this had a more gem-like luster. It also spoke of an unspeakable evil.

    It was a swirling pool of vermillion... and the immense energy began condensing to form something else.

    ¡ªA drilling arrow.

    The vermillion arrow whirred as it spun, growing more powerful with every rotation it took.

    On and on, it did so in a never-ending cycle, taking in more vermillion Mana as the spin grew faster as well.

    ''That''s dangerous!'' Desgarion thought to himself and took to action.

    He surmised that as long as he stopped the spin, he would be able to cancel the increasing danger of the Spell.

    And the best way to do that was to assault the human casting it.

    Desgarion didn''t hesitate to generate his most powerful blow as he charged at Jared Leonard with the aim of killing him.

    However¡ª

    >VWUSH<

    ¡ªThe human teleported just as the hit was about to hit.

    The Vermillion arrow kept growing.

    It was peaking beyond belief, enough to make Desgarion wary.

    ''Tch!'' Maybe I''ll target the Spell this time?''

    Condensing his energy and releasing it in a straight thrust, Desgarion aimed his power at the Spell being generated above him.

    Hopefully, the two would offset each other¡ªsince they belonged to contrasting elements.

    However¡ª

    >SHUUUUUUUUU<

    Before the st reached the swirling pool, it broke downpletely.

    That was when Desgarion noticed it, the fact that the surrounding Miasma had been broken down, and the problem kept spreading beyond their battlefield.

    The usually thick cloud of Miasma that provided an overflowing rate of negative energy had vanished from the area.

    ''W-what is this Spell...?!''

    Desgarion could feel his senses alert him of the danger.

    ''I have to stop this!''

    Despite that, no matter how hard he tried to attack the Spellcaster or the Spell, it wasn''t effective enough.

    And then¡ª

    "I''ve still not gotten the hang of things... and I was multitasking, so it took more time than expected." The human''s voice echoed in Desgarion''s ears.

    "But, it''s finally ready. I''ve reproduced the Spells those two used at that point, andbined them. Vermillion Burst and Harbinger Of Rupture... they make a goodbination."

 Chapter ?487 Vermillion Rupture [Pt 2]

    ?487 Vermillion Rupture [Pt 2]

    Desgarion realized that it was toote to stop the self-sufficient arrow of energy.

    The surrounding Miasma wasn''t dense enough tobat the raging power of the Spell. His best hope was none other than retreat.

    ''I have to get away!''

    He wasn''t conceited enough to attempt risking it all by tanking such an attack.

    Sure, he loved violence, but Desgarion was averse to recklessness.

    He had a long way to go, and a peak to attain. Certainly, he wasn''t nning on killing himself.

    "What are you thinking?" The human''s voice caused Desgarion to flinch a bit.

    He was floating above, but Desgarion felt like their distance was further than what normal sight could perceive.

    Which was why he had to live and be stronger.

    "I already set a barrier around this ce while calcting the area of impact. You can''t escape."

    Desgarion heard those words but did not pay them any heed.

    If there was truly a barrier, he would shatter it and make his escape.

    His speed rose as his survival instincts kicked in, and Desgarion shot through the sky in flight speed.

    "You don''t get it, do you?"

    >SNAP<

    With the snap of his fingers, Jared warped space and caused a portal to swallow the fleeing Demon, returning him to the location he previously was.

    "U-uh?!"

    "You can''t escape. Simply ept it and hope you survive."

    Desgarion''s surprised eyes watched as the spinning arrow aimed at his location.

    ''N-no!''

    "[Vermillion Rupture]"

    Beyond the speed he could conceive, the arrow shot to the earth, rending even the air in its path.

    Everything burned, and that included the residues of the Demon Lord''s Miasma.

    And then, as soon as it reached Desgarion¡ª

    ''I have to... I have to take it!''

    ¡ªThe Spell gloriously erupted.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Even though Desgarion coated himself withyers uponyers of Miasma, he could feel all of them fade away.

    The arrow drilled through everything, and the heat it brought burned them into nothingness.

    The dense ck armor was no exception.

    Soon, he found himselfpletely naked, having only his dense body as a source of protection.

    But, even that couldn''t resist the power that assailed him.

    "GUARK!"

    To survive, Desgarion kept activating his Original Magic, causing him to evolve the more the energy kept damaging him.

    As he limated, his body was destroyed further.

    The process was painful, but he gritted his teeth and endured the agony, and focused on survival.

    Degeneration and Regeneration urred at a fast rate as the Vermillion Rupture''s explosion scarred everything in the coastal region.

    "It''s even more amazing than I thought. What a guy." Jared muttered, watching the scene from above.

    "But, as expected... it won''t be long now."

    Desgarion couldn''t hear or see anything beyond the redness that surrounded him. Even with his power, his strength, he found himself struggling against a higher one.

    He hadn''t felt this overwhelmed in his life, even when he fought Abellion.

    That time, he had lost due to the difference in skill.

    Magic was the deciding factor.

    However, this round was different.

    If they possessed power at a simr range, then it would have been a foregone conclusion that Desgarion would win.

    But, that wasn''t what happened.

    His opponent was simply in a realm beyond his grasp.

    It was his mistake for underestimating his foe. But¡ª

    ''I can do this! I can survive!''

    His body was already slowly getting used to the pain of beingpletely rendered into nothing. He was slowly transcending the point of death.

    If he endured for a little while longer, then perhaps he would be able to make it out of the vermillion hell he was stuck in.

    ''Just a little mor¡ª!''

    Suddenly, the unexpected¡ªor rather, undesirable¡ªhappened.

    Desgarion... ran out of Miasma.

    "E-eh...?"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The moment that happened, his death was already a foregone conclusion.

    The Crimson Demon Lord''s demise was quick, and his whole body was turned to fine dust¡ªand then burned beyond recovery.

    ***********************

    "I wonder what would have happened if he didn''t run out."

    As I witnessed the devastated ground, I pondered on the potential fate of the opponent I just defeated.

    He wasn''t a bad challenger, and his Original Magic was definitely going to be a pain in the long run.

    I dragged the fight out to learn the structure of his Original Magic. Once the scan wasplete, I ended things quickly.

    ''To think he resisted that long...'' I was in luck that he ran out of Miasma.

    If he didn''t... If he had survived that...

    "I would have had to resort to Anti-Magic.''"

    Fortunately, the threat was extinguished, and I got to learn something new.

    There was also the option of sting him to smithereens with a far more powerful Spell, so the situation wasn''t extremely dire.

    "Alright, then. Let''s return to business."

    *************************

    I utilized my Magic Coat''s [Unknowable] function, allowing me to be undetectable, while traversing thend of the Demons.

    My goal was therge castle that stood magnificently erect, at the center of the continent¡ªsurrounded by six pirs.

    It was the Demon Castle.

    My goal was to meet up with someone, and also to obtain something.

    Whether I was able to achieve either, neither, or both, were probable. Still, it was in my best interest to act ordingly.

    In some moments, I arrived at the Castle, meeting it deste¡ªas expected.

    Other than a few Demon Captains and some fodder that patrolled the area, the ce was practically empty.

    I invited myself into the Pce and walked down the empty hallway.

    I bypassed the security functions since I could not be detected anyway.

    Arriving at the Throne room, memories flooded my head, and I strained a smile.

    It was just as I remembered it. The Demons never even thought of renovating it or anything.

    Other than myself, there was one other presence within the room.

    Despite my expectations¡ªorck thereof¡ªI met someone seated on therge, ck throne.

    His hair was grey, and his horn was twisted. He had a wrinkled face and a shriveled body.

    He was d in ceremonial garb, and the dignity he exuded would make anyone know of the Royal bloodline in his veins.

    The grey-colored Demon tiredly looked at me as I dispelled the [Unknowable] Spell and approached the throne.

    "Demon King Aries... it''s been a while."

 Chapter ?488 The Demon King

    ?488 The Demon King

    Aries¡ªthe former Demon King¡ªsighed as he felt the weight of both guilt and worry assail his heart.

    That was the sole reason he left his chambers and stayed in the Throne Room for some time.

    He donned his ceremonial robe and held us scepter, watching an empty room from his elevated tform.

    Everything felt so empty and meaningless.

    "The War..." He murmured, remembering thest battle that urred in the past, and how it had ended.

    The Demon Race was lucky to get a fresh start, a new beginning.

    Aries understood that they were blessed. Not only did they have a definite territory, but they had the perfect environment for living.

    He had thought his citizens would have the same thought as him, but it was the opposite.

    They somehow thought the Demon Race was on the losing end in the deal that was made.

    His son, Abellion, especially thought that the Demons were being relegated and looked down upon due to their reclusive territory.

    He believed that someday, the Races would band together and extinguish thempletely.

    "If they wanted to do that, they would have done so all those years ago..." Aries mumbled to himself.

    He still remembered the leader of the Delegates¡ªhow the man had proffered a solution that seemed too good to be true.

    Aries wasn''t averse to violence, but he preferredmon sense.

    So, once he realized the n was possible, he readily agreed.

    Till now, he didn''t regret that choice.

    "Why can''t they see it? Why don''t they understand?"

    It wasn''t even until about over a decade ago that the grievances against the other Races reached an unstoppable degree after being dormant for very long.

    Abellion, his son, managed to seize control over his people¡ªand little by little, there was no power left for him.

    Aries was now old, and so Abellion was already more powerful.

    It was to be expected that he became the next Demon King, but the old one still didn''t like what it caused.

    His loyal Demon Lords were eliminated as a result of Abellion''s thirst for power, leaving Aries without any support.

    All he had left was his life, and his frail body.

    "The Demon Race... will lose..." Aries was certain about that oue.

    Why?

    "That man said it. He said that if we broke the pact... we would be eliminated."

    Usually, a Demon would hold the words of humans with contempt, but this particr one was different.

    Lewis Griffith was a human unlike any other.

    He had tried warning and stopping his foolish son and his supporters, to no avail.

    All he could do was sit on his throne for thest time and wait for the horrible news of defeat to reach his ears.

    It was at that moment Aries felt a presence manifesting in the room.

    Surprise rang within him, but his body was too tired to urately disy his gushing emotion.

    ''Who is that? A human...?''

    Aries was stunned that a human could make it to the Demon Pce, a ce with an immense concentration of Miasma that even Inepts wouldn''t be able to bear.

    He could also sense Manaing from the person... as well as Miasma!

    Aries was stunned as to how a human could achieve something of the sort, but he remained seated and watched the exceptional boy approach.

    "It''s been a while, Demon King Aries." His voice wasn''t entirely immature, but it didn''t belong to an adult either.

    Aries also didn''t understand how such a child was able to address him with such levity, even addressing him as though they had met before.

    No longer able to control his curiosity and unease, the seated Demon King, at least as he was in the past, finally opened his lips and spoke.

    "Who are you?"

    The man before him gave a shortugh and kept approaching.

    "I can''t say that. But, you should be well aware of our promise. Or did you forget what I said?"

    "Uh?" Demon King Aries didn''tpletely grasp the situation, but so many things were being hinted at.

    ''C-could he be¡ª?!''

    "Let''s not get into unimportant details, old man. You should know what is happening outside, right? The War."

    Aries was still locked in an internal deliberation, but he still managed to nod his head in response.

    "You were warned, Aries. You should have taught your son better, controlled your people more."

    Aries could not argue or excuse himself from the usations being rained on him. Despite his old and feeble frame, he was still Abellion''s father.

    He was still a Demon King.

    If only he had done more to steer his people in the right direction, then maybe this wouldn''t have happened.

    "Have youe here to kill me?" Aries spoke hazily.

    "No. I only came to say goodbye. Also, I''vee to retrieve the Arcana that was given to you. It seems your Race has forgotten who found your source of nourishment."

    Aries'' heart was pained. As much as he knew who the rightful owner of the Arcana was, and that the Demon Race didn''t deserve to be in possession of it after breaking their pact, he couldn''t agree to the human''s wish.

    "I-If you are who I think you are, then you have to understand. Without it, my people will not survive." Desperation was evident in his plea, and he knew he was being shameless, but Aries had to appeal for his people.

    Even though the ones foolish enough to go to battle already had their fates sealed, the innocents could still be spared.

    "I don''t see what the problem is. Your people won''t be needing it anymore."

    "W-wha...?

    The human''s face slowly turned dead cold, and his hand was outstretched.

    Aries knew his statement could only mean one thing. It was bad for his heart, but the old Demon started panicking within himself.

    "Yes. If us as you think. This very day, I will be wiping out the Demon Race from this world. The dead have no need for a means of sustenance, do they?"

    Aries was beyond grieved to hear these words. He knew their sins deserved punishment, but this was too extreme.

    "Now, I ask again... where is my Arcana?"

 Chapter 489 Final Act

    489 Final Act

    "No!"

    The old Demon King knew the implication of his words, but he didn''t have any choice at this point.

    It was an ungrateful, conceited approach, but he was left with no other option.

    "What did you just say?"

    "No. I won''t let you... I can''t let you."

    The human furrowed his brow and sighed. He stretched out his hand and gave a serious look that made Aries shiver a little.

    "The Arcana."

    "N-no. I won''t give you."

    The death of his entire Race, Aries would never stand for that.

    His son''s foolishness would bring about many deaths... there couldn''t be more added to the pile.

    "You haven''t changed, uh? Doing whatever it takes for your people." The blonde spoke.

    Aries knew who the human was, and while he wondered how it was possible, he didn''t know what to say.

    ''I failed in our agreement...'' The old one thought.

    The first War started because he needed to aid his people. He caused such great tragedy, and now his son trod the same path.

    Even at that... even then...

    ''I can''t¡ªno, I won''t¡ªgive up on my people!'' With this thought clinging to his head, Aries stared hard at Jared Leonard¡ªthe one he knew as Lewis Griffith.

    A wave of unease filled the hall as both parties looked at each other. The one who was ufortable by the other''s straight face was the former Demon King.

    One would think the tension would be forever.

    "Whatever. I''ll just look for it myself." The human shrugged and began exiting the Pce.

    For a moment, Aries was relieved by what he heard. However, he wasn''t out of the woods yet.

    "W-wait. Are you serious about this? You''ll really kill all my people?"

    "Yes."

    "Is there no other way?"

    "I remember what happened thest time I sought another way. So... no. This is the end of the line."

    Aries didn''t want things to reach this point. However...

    "I-I can''t allow that."

    Rising from his throne while raising his body through Magic, the old Demon took to the air.

    His body was shrouded in incredibly dense Miasma, and the power kept climbing.

    "What are you doing?" Lewis Griffith''s reincarnation asked with a somewhat annoyed expression.

    "I won''t allow you to destroy my people."

    The human shook his head and gave an exasperated sigh in response.

    "You are too weak to stop me, you know? Your level of power is nothingpared to back then, but even if you were at full strength, that wouldn''t mean anything to me."

    "Heh. Old age does something to you. I may be weaker, but I don''t intend to lose." Aries smiled devilishly, summoning a dark de from nowhere.

    It was his Demon Edge, a de that had the natural ability to absorb Miasma. Since Aries hadn''t used it in ages, the level of negative energy it had was phenomenal.

    "Old age has nothing to do with this. This weakness of yours isn''t normal. You must have been poisoned or something."

    "W-what?!"The words of the human shocked Aries.

    "Do you understand now? The very Demons you chose to protect poisoned you so that you would grow too weak to rule. Abellion took that as his chance to rise to power."

    The old Demon was fraught with disbelief at this point. Despair began to slowly seep in too.

    "This whole time, you probably thought your weakness and inabilities were the reasons for things turning out this way, but that''s notpletely true."

    "T-they betrayed me...?" Aries mumbled, his body trembling a bit.

    "Of course. Though it''s not their fault as well. They were being manipted as well. This entire situation really isn''t your fault, but your race is still at the center of everything. To protect my people, I must decimate yours."

    "I... I see..."

    Aries understood Lewis''s point of view.

    Both of them desperately wanted to protect their own. Since that was the case, there was no way he could not respect the man''s choice.

    Nevertheless¡ª

    "I will still raise my de to stop you." Aries drew his sword.

    "As expected, you won''t change, uh? Well, that makes me a little happy."

    Aries found the human smiling, and then a wave of nostalgia permeated his heart.

    This was the Lewis he remembered indeed.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    A ripple appeared in space, and Lewis brought out a de from its depths.

    It was simr to Aries'' weapon, filled with immense Miasma.

    "Since you want to do this the hard way, let''s get this over with."

    With both parties drawing their des and giving each other fierce smiles, they readied their stance and poured their energy into their whole bodies.

    Even though they were shing as enemies, both sides knew fully well what the other wanted¡ªand they understood their stances perfectly.

    Life had just dealt them this situation, and things could only be resolved with one sidepletely exterminated.

    "Let''s do this Aries!"

    "I''ming, Lewis!"

    Energy shed, and the two opposing forces smiled whole crossing des.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM<

    Only one would emerge as the winner.

    *******************

    "Two minutes, five seconds. That''s awfully short." I mumbled while exiting the decimated Demon Castle.

    It was basically nothing but rubble at this point.

    "He really has weakened by a lot. Those bastards just had to take things this far..."

    Aries and I weren''t really friends, but we understood each other¡ªeven in the past.

    That was one of the reasons we got along so well¡ªit was also because of this that Kahn couldn''t exactly despise me.

    After all, that Shadow Demon Lord idolized the King with everything.

    ''I''m surprised he didn''t ask to see Aries before I killed him...''

    Kahn had a selfish request, which was to kill Kyron¡ªthe one who betrayed him¡ªby himself.

    I granted the request, and also promised him something else.

    But, to think he never addressed meeting the Demon King for thest time.

    ''I guess he now sees me as his master.''

    In any case, things went as expected. Aries was stubborn to the very end, so that meant no one else knew the location of the Miasma Generator and The Devil Arcana.

    >VWOOSH<

    Taking to the sky, I departed from the ruined Demon Castle¡ªa smile on my face.

    "Perfect. Then, let''s get down to business."

    It was now time for the final act.

 Chapter ?490 Ivans Breakthrough

    490 Ivan''s Breakthrough

    "Haa... haa..." Ivan Smith huffed and puffed.

    He was currently standing before a formidable opponent, but he refused to back down.

    "You''re quite strong for a human. You were able tost this long against me." The voice of Ivan''s opponent tickled his ears.

    It was none other than a Demon General¡ªLakyus, leader of the Nine Stars.

    "I am the second most powerful Demon General, you know? The first belongs to the Crimson Demon Race, so it''s nopetition. Still, you''ll find that among the Demons, I''m pretty high-end."

    For a moment, Lakyus looked at the chaos and carnage depicted around them.

    He watched how his brethren were in one after the other.

    Still, he did not seem fazed in the slightest.

    "We''re most likely going to lose this battle. This day will be the one where I die. However, I know my death won''t be by your hands."

    Ivan didn''t respond to the opponent''s words. He simply clung to his Wax de, and began repairing his Wax Armor.

    He was currently using his Bond Magic for defense while utilizing his Fire Magic for offense.

    Still, it hadn''t left a scratch on his opponent.

    That was due to the nature of Lakyus, known as the Demonic Dragon.

    This Demon General resembled a Dragon, having a scar on his face, and several ck tattoos to match his green scales.

    The darkness in his eyes, as well as the immense Miasma swirling within him, attested to his strength.

    Ivan could tell that his opponent bested him in power.

    "Your mes will never pass through my defenses, and my attacks are too ferocious for you not to utilize the entirety of your wax for defense."

    Ivan knew the Demon spoke the truth.

    It was ''Check.''

    However...

    ''No! I can''t let it end this way. I won''t!''

    He hadn''t been ying around throughout the waiting time for the War.

    While Jared and everyone else explored other strangends, he had been training vigorously, doing his best to hone his skills.

    His teacher, General ra of the Elves, had given her best to properly train him. She gave her utmost effort to achieve the best results in a short while.

    There was no way he could shame her... or lose sight of his goal beyond that.

    If he couldn''t break past the wall before him, there was no way he would be able to achieve even greater heights.

    "I must... get even stronger."

    Ivan had long realized that he couldn''t surpass Jared Leonard. He didn''t have enough talent or technique to do so.

    However, what he could do was to be strong enough to ovee his challenges and best his opponents.

    He didn''t want to be a burden.

    ''I might not be the savior... but I won''t be among the saved.''

    He was done being a victim. For the first time, Ivan wanted to have a taste of triumphing over a stronger opponent.

    "This battle... I will win!"

    "What did I just say? You can''t." Lakyus murmured, now brandishing his ws.

    The Demon''s body was covered in Miasma, and his offensive weapons were the ten ws he currently readied.

    Lakyus had no specialty. He was good at both Martial Arts and Magic, and he was very adaptable inbat.

    Best of all, he knew how to gauge an opponent''s strength.

    That way, he never underestimated or overestimated them.

    This made him the overall best Demon General¡ªexactly why he was certain that Ivan would be the loser in their exchange.

    "Let''s take this past the breaking point, then. I don''t n on losing!"

    With a ferocious roar, Ivan released a great amount of heat, causing even Lakyus to take a step back as a result.

    "If you do that, you''ll burn out your Mana much faster." The Demon General mumbled as he watched Ivan raise the intensity of his mes.

    "We''re taking this past boiling point!"

    Instantly, the earth itself started to melt, and then something started pouring out of the ground.

    The entire surface became liquid¡ªno, semi-liquid.

    But, that wasn''t all.

    "Not yet..." Ivan growled, increasing his mes even further as he pressed his body into the earth, filling it with more heat.

    The bubbly ground was now nothing but whitish liquid.

    If one looked closer, there could only be one description for it.

    "W-wax?!" Lakyus noticed theposition of the very liquid that surrounded him.

    It was melted wax!

    How was there melted wax surrounding them?

    Worst of all, the heat that passed through the wax made it dangerous¡ªas it passed even the regr heat Lakyus was used to.

    ''I better fly.''

    Flexing his wings, Lakyus made to ascend to the clouds. However, there was no way the human would have epted that.

    "Oh no, you don''t!"

    Instantly, a wave of flowing wax crashed upon Lakyus¡ªlike a massive wave¡ªcausing him to crash back into the puddle of heated wax.

    "Harden!"

    Instantly, the boiling stopped, and the liquid wax sharply returned to its solid state.

    Ivan tightened his fist and concentrated on removing all forms of heat from the Wax that held down his target.

    The result?

    "U-uh? W-what is... this??" Lakyus was petrified¡ªliterally.

    His body waspletely submerged in solid wax, causing him to be trapped within the dense structure.

    "You..."

    "I''m not done!" Ivan roared, once again summoning all his strength and pouring it into the waxpartment that Lakyus was stuck inside.

    "You won''t escape this prison!"

    By making the interior harden while turning the insides to jelly-like heated wax, he could guarantee that his opponent would be trapped within his Wax Prison.

    Lakyus would burn, drown, and suffocate all at once.

    His body would be burned both inside and out thanks to the immense heat of the wax, and once it reaches a precipice, Ivan would harden all the Wax that was in and out of the Demon General.

    "I can control theposition of Wax, and fluidly bend it to my heat."

    His Individual Magic¡ªFire¡ªand his Bond Magic¡ªWax.

    Combining those two was what he learned while he was with ra. As a result, a new Magic emerged from within the young man.

    "Fusion Magic... [Burning Wax Emperor]!"

 Chapter ?491 Demon Lord Lubick

    ?491 Demon Lord Lubick

    The match ended in an unexpected turn of events¡ªIvan''s victory.

    As the Demon General coughed hisst, having his insidespletely filled with burning Wax, Ivan screamed with delight and satisfaction.

    His body throbbed thanks to exerting himself so much, but he didn''t stop screaming.

    "HAAAAAAAAA!!! I DID IIIIITTTTT!!!"

    Tears dropped from his eyes as he made this shout of victory.

    Compared to Jared Leonard who was most likely facing the final boss, or the others who were also pulling unbelievable feats, his achievements might not have been. considerably impressive.

    However, it was a giant leap for Ivan.

    After all the grueling training ra put him through, he finally did it¡ªconverting his Wax to liquid.

    ''I haven''t perfected it yet. I can''tpletely control the boiling point, or control the fluid movements yet. It also takes me too long to alter the structure...''

    There was still more he could do¡ªlots of room for growth.

    ''I can do this! I can keep growing stronger!''

    With that in mind, Ivan copsed on the soft wax flooring he made for himself, grinning as he passed out.

    Mission Aplished.

    *******************

    Lubick was the Demon Lord Of Bleu¡ªthe most powerful when it came to Spells and Magic Technology.

    His gentlemanly demeanor and near-human look didn''t make him less of a monster than any other Demon.

    No, in fact, he was far worse.

    Conducting experiments gave him his greatest satisfaction.

    He loved using poor things for finding out new things¡ªeven members of the Demon Race were asionally sacrificed for the greater good of discovery.

    As long as it was for the Demon Realm, there was no length he wouldn''t go through¡ªno depths he would not reach.

    However¡ª

    ''MADNESS!''

    ¡ªSeeing the battlefield so one-sided, the Blue Demon could not contain the displeasure that sprang up within him.

    The main problem was not the fact that the enemy outnumbered them¡ªthough that would also prove to be a challenge.

    The issue that assailed the Demon Army was the massive Golem on the side of the opponents.

    The Golem¡ªwhatever its name was¡ªwas beyond what Lubick had ever seen. It wasrger, more sophisticated, and more terrifying than any of his creations.

    Perhaps that was the reason whyplicated emotions began warping within the Demon Lord.

    As much as he despised being one-sidedly massacred by the opposing faction, Lubick hated it more when his inferiority was shoved down his throat.

    "That Golem..." The Demon gritted his teeth in anger.

    He was currently armed with several Magic Items that boosted his power, and he could also summon Golems to aid him.

    He had Automatons as well.

    With the items at his disposal, Lubick reckoned that he would be able to take down the massive Golem¡ªno, he had to do it at any cost.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    In a st of wind, Lubick lunged in the direction of the hulking construct, ready to tear it apart.

    But¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    ¡ªHe was shot down.

    "Gark!" Lubick coughed.

    Sure, he had released some of his defensive enhancements so that he could move faster, but he hadn''t expected a hit that heavy.

    The explosion was filled with an element that contradicted his specialty.

    Lubick devilishly red in the direction of the explosion, growling as the pain permeating his body was healed.

    And then¡ªin an instant¡ªhe spotted the young girl who was responsible.

    It was a human!

    "You...!"

    Any other Demon would have actively chased the child and killed her mercilessly, but Lubick was highly intelligent.

    He had his priority set straight.

    ''I need to get to the Golem and¡ª''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Yet another volley destabilized the Demon Lord''s thoughts, causing him deeply re at the girl.

    She shot him an equally serious expression, obviously not intending on letting him get away.

    "Fine. I''ll kill you first." Lubick seethed, descending from his glorious heights in a sh.

    >VWOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The winds parted, and the youngdy rapidly made way for his descent on the free battlefield around them.

    The terrifying creature known as Lubick made his appearance, smiling like none other than the devil.

    His evil gaze was on the human girl who chose to defy him.

    She had silver hair and blue eyes. A certain frosty innocence that seemed to entuate her beauty.

    "You... you''re shaking...?" Lubick asked, staring at the human with unfettered focus.

    She, the one who defied him, was depicting evidence of fear.

    Shouldn''t she have thought things through before defying him? Now that he had appeared, she was cowering in his presence.

    ''Is it because of the sheer magnitude of my Miasma? Or my presence itself? Well, it doesn''t matter. I''ll just deal with her and be on my way.''

    And so, he prepared his Spell, ready to blitz her in a single stroke.

    *********************

    ''I''m scared.''

    Maria''s thoughts were a mess at the moment.

    Her body wouldn''t stop trembling in the presence of one of the Demon Lords. Even though her resolve was strong, her heart remained weak.

    She knew who he was before shooting him down, but once he approached, her body naturally gave in to the chill.

    Still...

    ''I won''t let this stop me!''

    Strengthening herself with Magic, Maria Helmsworth made her defenses stronger, her body lighter, and also created a Mana Field around her.

    A Mana Field basically meant one''s surrounding was chock-full of positive energy. When fighting Demons who were expert Miasma users, it was best to always saturate one''s environment with Mana.

    Maria made the necessary preparations while refusing to take her gaze off the Demon Lord.

    "Die." The blue Demon Lord muttered, releasing a ray of highly destructive energy.

    Maria knew she was too slow to avoid the ray of ck light, and her defenses couldn''t shield her from its destruction.

    Still, she maintained her stance and readied her Magic.

    ''I''ll do it! I''ll make sure I defeat this one!''

    Even though she was nowhere near Jared''s level, Maria had been training like crazy.

    She was even fortunate enough to be recognized by Serah Crimson, who taught her privately and allowed her to bring forth more of hertent potential.

    ''Mage Mode, Fusion Magic, even...'' Maria had an array of cards to utilize.

    She was prepared to win, and everything started from taking care of the ray that was directed at her.

 Chapter ?492 Grand Mage Of The Royal Court

    ?492 Grand Mage Of The Royal Court

    "[Refle¡ª]"

    >ZVUUUUUUUSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Before Maria''s Spell could be concluded, a looping warp appeared between her and the iing st.

    >VWUUUMMM<

    Instantly, the ray was swallowed by the spacial rupture¡ªdown to itsst spark¡ªleaving behind the devastated path it traversed.

    Lubick was surprised by the event, ring at the spatial hole that manifested, and then at the girl behind it.

    ''What is this? She can use Space Magic? At that age?!''

    Lubick remembered that there was a human around her age who had brought them into this mess.

    He thought he was the only one, but who would have thought there were other exceptional kids who could pose problems?

    ''If that''s the case, why was she shaking? Was she trying to let me get my guard down?''

    As Lubick hardened his re at the young girl, he noticed something about her.

    ''She''s surprised too?''

    He hadn''t noticed earlier because of how doll-like her face was¡ªhardly depicting emotion.

    However, the widening of her eyes and the slight parting of her lips told the expert Demon Lord that she was indeed shocked by the portal.

    ''She didn''t do it? Then, who di¡ª''

    "Apologies for myteness." A voice appeared, and out of the blue, a man appeared out of thin air.

    He was garbed in a luxurious mage apparel, had an ancient staff in his hand, with an open Grimoire floating before him.

    Several gem-like crystals were on his body¡ªeither as nes, earrings, bracelets, or even eyebrow rings.

    He had a few orbs floating around him too.

    The human appeared beside the human girl, causing thetter to raise her head slightly to lock eyes with him.

    "C-Court Mage!" Maria managed to blurt out in her flustered tone.

    That''s right! It was none other than Elrich Lendertwale, the Court Mage of the Eastern Kingdom, who appeared in the nick of time.

    "I saw this scene and decided to intervene. I certainly hope I wasn''t toote." He gave a youthful smile.

    Even though he was using Magic to maintain his youthful self, the man was a genuine old fogey underneath.

    Of course, he could have fooled anyone with his current appearance.

    "Tch. Another unnecessary bug..." Lubick gave an exasperated groan.

    This caused both humans to grant their gaze upon the Demon Lord before them.

    "So, both of you want to team up against me, or what? This is getting annoying."

    For a moment, there was silence in the air. Not one person moved or spoke. The two sides simply stared at the other.

    "I think you''re mistaken here," Elrich spoke, exuding confidence.

    He nced at the human girl, and she nodded too.

    ''So she understands...'' The Grand Mage smiled internally.

    "I saw your fight and thought to intervene. In as much as she is extremely skilled, she is still an interning Imperial Mage. You are a Demon Lord. It''s not a fair matchup, don''t you think?" Elrich once again nced at Maria, noticing her expression had not changed.

    Even with that, the Royal Court Mage could not shake off a weird feeling permeating his insides.

    "I-in any case, I''ll be the one fighting you. Don''t worry, Maria... I''ve got this one." He gave a thumbs up at the girl while still keeping his gaze locked on Lubick.

    For a brief moment, there was no response from his ally, Maria. One would think she was deaf, dumb... maybe both.

    However, just as the two parties looked in her direction for an answer, she nodded slightly and began taking her leave.

    Both her hands were pressed tightly to make a fist as she stiffly went away. Still, as she went, a whisper escaped her lips.

    "... Shameless old man..."

    With that, the girl flew away, leaving the two extremely powerful ones to duke it out.

    "What was all that about?"

    "I know right? She''s a bit weird..."

    Both enemies returned their res once they realized that they had unconsciously entered a cordial conversation.

    Once again, artificial hate returned to their eyes as they prepared to do battle.

    "I''ll be done with you soon. Once it''s over, I''ll simply destroy that Golem and turn this whole thing in our favor." The Demon Lord sneered.

    For a moment, Elrich Lendertwale was dumbstruck by the statement. It wasn''t because he was afraid of such a thing urring.

    Rather, it was the opposite.

    "You really think you can turn this around? It''s toote, you know? You''ve already lost."

    "Shut it. What do you know? You think our ruler is like you? He certainly has a n for this as well. All I have to do is perform my role well and everything will fall into ce."

    Anyone withmon sense would be able to see that Lubick was no longer functioning on pure logic, but rather, blind loyalty.

    Elrich somewhat pitied the blue Demon Lord, but an iota of admiration was evident as well.

    ''I wish I believed so much in the crown as much as this guy does...''

    Elrich had been around even before the current King took his crown, so he had a fair knowledge of how things worked in the Kingdom.

    It wasn''t because the King was absolute that he chose to remain loyal as the Royal Court Mage. Rather, it was to steer the crown on the right path.

    That was his entire purpose in the Pce.

    As long as he was present, Elrich was certain that the people in authority wouldn''t make an unwise decision.

    The voice of reason¡ªthat was his role beside the King.

    "You won''t be winning this fight, talkless of the war," Elrich spoke, getting himself prepared for the fight.

    "Oh? You are cocky, aren''t you?" The Demon Lord responded, doing the same.

    "I''ve heard of you, Royal Court Mage. They say you''re an expert in Magic Technology, and you mostly utilize items in your battles. You''re also one of the three most skilled in Magic in your Kingdom."

    "Oh, stop it." Elrich smiled at the words being rained on him.

    "In those regards, we can be said to be the same." Lubick smiled devilishly, activating his own Magic Items.

    "Oh?"

    The Royal Court Mage was slightly cautious, but mostly excited. It was an ideal match for him, after all.

    "Now, then, let us see which of us is superior!"

 Chapter ?493 Demon Lord Versus Grand Mage [Pt 1]

    493 Demon Lord Versus Grand Mage [Pt 1]

    "[Grand Miasma Missiles]"

    Starting with a flurry of Advanced-Level Spells, Lubickunched the purple mines in Elrich''s direction.

    Each Miasma Missile was packed with enough power to explode and devastate a considerably wide radius.

    Having so many of them rain down on his target was overkill, but Lubick didn''t care.

    With widened eyes like one on the verge of insanity, he awaited Elrich''s response.

    "Not good enough."

    In that instant, a barrage of Mana Missiles of the same quality appeared and shed with the Miasma Missiles.

    >SHUUUUUUUUU<

    As a result of the impact between the two, an implosion urred. The Mana and Miasma elements dissipated.

    "I''ll let you know now that you can''t win if you keep throwing Spells like that around." Elrich smiled.

    He pointed his staff at Lubick, and then a st of purple electricity burst out of it.

    "Tch!"

    Using a severing Spell, Lubick split the iing energy apart, so none of its destructive charges touched him.

    "Very well." The Demon Lord was pressed for time.

    The way he fought was as a Mage, so he always avoided direct confrontations. That didn''t mean he was terrible at it, Lubick just figured there were more efficient ways to do battle.

    "[Golem Max Summoning]."

    Instantly, arge Magic Circle appeared, and it began pouring out highly powerful Golems.

    Unexpectedly, though...

    >SHIIINNNGGG<

    ... The same was urring on Elrich''s end of the battlefield.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Lubick wanted to burst out with a surprised yelp, but he stopped himself midway.

    A simr Magic Circle had formed in front of Elrich Lendertwale, and it spat out the same quality of Golems.

    The Golems on both ends charged and shed¡ªdealing equal damage until they expired.

    ''How is he doing this? Original Magic, maybe?''

    Not once, but twice now, Elrich had been able topletely offer equal resistance to Lubick''s Magic.

    It didn''t make any sense that they would know the same kinds of Spells, and even if they did, how could the Grand Mage control the output to be exactly the same as him?

    ''It has to be Original Magic. So he''s using that at the get-go...'' Lubick cautiously smiled.

    It was quite tricky, but wasn''t this a good thing?

    ''He has shown his cards while mine remain hidden. With this, I''ll be able to emerge victorious!''

    Lubick''s wicked grin caused the Grand Mage of the Royal Court to look a bit puzzled, and then words finally emerged.

    "Do you want to know a secret?" Elrich Lendertwale smiled.

    "What?"

    "Well, it''s not exactly a secret, but not many people know of this fact..."

    ''What the hell is he talking about?'' Lubick wondered if the Grand Mage was trying to buy time by engaging in a useless conversation.

    ''Using his Original Magic so much has exhausted him, no doubt. I can take this chance to¡ª''

    "I don''t have Original Magic. I mean, I never cultivated one."

    "U-uh?!"

    Lubick was beyond surprised by the Grand Mage''s words.

    There was the possibility that what he just said was a lie, but the man''s straight face made that seem far-fetched.

    "You think I''m countering your attacks with Original Magic, right? I''m not. It''s the effect of a Magic Item¡ªthis Grimoire in front of me." Elrich pointed at the floating book in front of him.

    "Original Magic takes too much time and effort to master. It''s also too lopsided¡ªfocusing on one particr field. I prefer something more widespread."

    Apparently, the Grand Mage preferred being a jack of all trades, so he refused to concentrate his efforts on developing Original Magic¡ªan admirable effort on his end.

    The results?

    "These items you see on me aren''t mere essories, you know? Each of them is packed with certain special effects, and their unique abilities help me out in battle."

    From offensive measures to defense, perception, traps, summoning, etc. Elrich Lendertwale''s specialty was in all those fields thanks to the time he spent on making items rather than building his Original Magic.

    "I''ve lived for quite some time. Not as long as you, but enough in human time to develop many things. So, there''s your answer."

    As long as Lubick wasn''t creative in his attacks, he would never be able to bring down Elrich.

    No matter the situation that would go down, the Grand Mage had prepared for it. His tools were geared toward responding to each situation as they saw fit.

    If one could refer to that as his own Original Magic, they would be partly right.

    Elrich grinned to himself, waiting for the next thing the Demon Lord would show him.

    His Grimoire had the [Analyze] effect, while his staff had the [Link] and [Activation] effects.

    That meant that while the Grimoire recorded the Spells of his targets¡ªtranting them to a contingency he could cast¡ªhis Staff would implement the information and cast the Spell.

    Of course, he would supply the Mana, but Elrich had equipped several Mana Boosters, so he wasn''t worried about the volume of his energy.

    "It''s been a while since I fought, so this quite exciting."

    Lubick''s face disyed veins at this point. He was pissed beyond words, and Elrich''s snarkyments weren''t making things any better.

    "Fine, then. You know what? I''m done. I''ll just end this now."

    A spark of purple light and ominous red mist converged on Lubick''s palm. The sparks grewrger, and the mist kept propagating.

    "[Original Magic: The Demon Realm]"

    Instantly, the entire area was enveloped in purplish ck fog, and the clouds above crackled with purple lightning.

    The darkness around, along with the red-like smoke that wafted in the air, was akin to a particr ce in the world where only Demons were allowed to live in.

    "T-this is...?!" Elrich murmured in surprise.

    His environment was being protected by a Mana Field, but the surrounding Miasma was eating into the haven like a virus.

    It was only a matter of time before the defensive field waspletely taken down.

    "That''s right. I made my version of our territory. It''s the nature of my Original Magic."

    In simple terms, Lubick had just transformed the territory into home turf. Not only were his powers much more than normal, but his opponent also suffered a constant debuff.

    It was the ultimate Original Magic to utilize against non-Demons.

    "Let''s see how you escape this time."

 Chapter ?494 Demon Lord Versus Grand Mage [Pt 2]

    ?494 Demon Lord Versus Grand Mage [Pt 2]

    "I see... so you''ve trapped me in a miniature Demon Realm," Elrich murmured, looking around him.

    Fortunately, he was within a safe area thanks to his Magic Tool responding on time, but that was only a temporary measure.

    Being surrounded by so much Miasma meant that his barrier wouldn''t be able to remain active for long.

    "It''s not as simple as a Miniature Demon Realm. I can alter the environment however I please. I could increase the intensity of the Miasma, or use any of the surrounding Miasma for a Spell--like so."

    With a snap of his fingers, a dense spike appeared out of nowhere, nearly piercing Elrich.

    >BOOOOOMMMMM<

    His Mana Field suffered a hit, causing Elrich to recoil as a result. The effects were not fatal, but the shield''s integrity had been reduced for sure.

    "Why can''t your Grimoire offer a solution to this one? Or is it restricted to regr Spells and not Original Magic? Maybe it can''t deal with an Area Of Effect Spell like this. Oh, there are so many limitations I would love to extrapte from that power you have." Lubick grinned devilishly.

    He currently held all the cards, and that made the Demon Lord bask in his superiority.

    "Well, you''re notpletely wrong about that. When ites to Original Magic and certain kinds of Spells, it''s tricky to win."

    Lubick''s smile grew wider upon hearing the Grand Mage admitting defeat.

    His pride had been bruised more than once since the start of this war, but he was finally regaining his confidence.

    At the very least, Lubick was certain he could beat the man before him.

    "I could wait... but we should end this quickly. Besides, I don''t know how long it''ll take for the [Analyze] effect to bepleted. This Field may break down before then."

    ''Uh?!'' Lubick thought he heard something weird from the human.

    "I suppose I''ll be using my Trump Card now."

    "W-wha--?!"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH<

    Something akin to a vacuum appeared above theyers of Miasma.

    It resembled a portal, but due to its unstable and chaotic nature--as well as its darkened swirl--one could refer to it as a ck Hole instead.

    "I haven''tpletely mastered that Item, but... if I make a mistake and mess up the calcted directions, the portal bes a Vortex instead."

    Lubick could only hear gibberish from the Grand Mage, but what was happening warranted concern.

    The swirling singrity above began sucking in the clouds and mists of Miasma.

    The pulling force it hadpletely outweighed Lubick''s control over the surrounding field.

    "No! No! What are you doing?! This can''t be happening!"

    The never-satisfied ck Hole kept sucking the purplish-ck clouds and red mist... until the Miasma around was so thin that it couldn''t be registered as a threat any longer.

    >SWUUUUSSSSHHHHH<

    The ck Hole kept sucking in things despitepleting its job, causing Elrich himself to give a very worried expression.

    "Oof! I''ll have to forcefully deactivate it."

    cing his hand in his pocket and bringing out a card--disying the symbol of a Tower on it--Elrich used his Mana to shut down the bright blue glow emanating from the object.

    And then--

    >SHUUUUUUUUU<

    The dark blot in the sky slowly closed, and then space returned to normal.

    "Haaa, that was a close one. If it went a bit more out of control..." Elrich spoke, heaving a sigh of relief.

    "W-what is that? What did you just do?" Lubick growled.

    Not only had his Original Magic beenbatted, but his opponent was holding something so immensely powerful that even the Demon Lord slowly began to rethink his earlier stance.

    "Ah, this? It''s an Arcana. You Demons have your Arcana, right? [The Devil], if I''m not mistaken. Jared told me about that."

    Lubick was stunned beyond words.

    [The Devil] was a National Heritage--the most important thing in the Demon Realm, that ensured their survival.

    It was an Arcana, yes, one of the most powerful Items in the world.

    Still... for a mere human to also be wielding an Arcana--one that was capable of such a feat--while professing hisck of control... it made Lubick utterly concerned.

    ''C-can I even win?''

    The Demon Lord had once imagined himself being in possession of [The Devil] Arcana, and how much power he would be able to control.

    The possibilities were endless.

    Now that he was facing someone who had another equally powerful Arcana.

    ''N-no way...''

    "Ah! What do you know? [Analysis] isplete." Elrich Lendertwale interrupted Lubick''s inner conflict.

    "Uh?"

    "Let''s try it out. [Mana Realm], I guess."

    Instantly, the environment was filled with Mana--a dense supply of it--rather than Miasma.

    Unlike a Mana Field that spammed just the Caster''s immediate surroundings, the effects of [Mana Realm] covered arge area, just like Lubick''s Original Magic.

    And, as a result...

    "Guark!" The Demon Lord fell to his knees, coughing violently.

    His blue body shuddered, feeling the invasive force of the toxic Mana that surrounded him.

    "N-no way... H-how...?!"

    Lubick was now shaking violently, unable to defend himself from the Mana-saturated ce he was trapped in.

    "It takes some time, but even Original Magic can be analyzed. There are exceptions like Neron Kaelid''s and Serah Crimson''s. Those two are monsters, and my Grimoire wouldn''t be able to keep up..."

    Lubick was slowly losing control of his sense. He fought to stay alive, but even an extra second was too painful.

    "Yours took a bit over five minutes. I expected it to be longer. Maybe because the concept is simr to Mana Field. If it was moreplicated, then that would have been disastrous."

    Lubick felt insulted, but he couldn''t even raise any objection at this point.

    "You weren''t a bad opponent. To be honest, I was unsure of who would win. But, then again, isn''t that what a battle is supposed to be about?" The white-haired man smiled at the blue-skinned Demon.

    The Demon Lord''s body was already rotting, and in a few seconds, he would die from Mana Poisoning.

    "Y-you..." Was all Lubick could say as he faded from existence.

    "I suppose there''s a lesson to be learned here. Just because you have Original Magic doesn''t make you superior." Elrich Lendertwale raised his hand and smiled.

    Of course, that was only because he was armed to the teeth with several Magic Tools. Even with all that help, he wasn''t guaranteed to win.

    Everything was due to skill and a bit of luck.

    "Huu, looks like I win. That sure was one tough fight."

 Chapter ?495 Archangel Drive [Pt 1]

    ?495 Archangel Drive [Pt 1]

    "That shameless old man..."

    Maria didn''t show how she felt internally, but if anyone could look within the girl, they would find out she was very frustrated.

    Her reasons were also quite valid.

    ''I wanted to fight him. That Demon Lord... I caught him!''

    Elrich Lendertwale just had to swoop in like a false knight and stole Maria''s prey from her. It was not only embarrassing, but the girl was disappointed by it.

    ''I missed my chance to do anything...'' She sighed, moving amid the horrific battlefield.

    Her protective barrier was on, and her senses were still sharp, so she was in no danger at all. That was why she was able to walk in mncholy while drowning her frustrated thoughts.

    ''I wanted to achieve something... I wanted to at least show him how useful I can be. How much I''ve grown...''

    Sure, fighting a Demon Lord seemed a bit over the top, but Maria felt like she could achieve it if she yed her cards right¡ªnot that the opportunity would ever present itself again.

    And so, the pure and innocent girl kept traversing the battlefield. Until¡ª

    "Hey, you!"

    ¡ªSomeone called out to her.

    Maria''s body halted, and her head slowly turned in the direction of the voice.

    From where she stood, the girl could feel the bloodlust... the evil energy swirling around the person who stood a good distance from her.

    "Are you strong?"

    The one who spoke took on the appearance of a devil.

    His red skin, horned forehead, and dangling tail made him appear even more menacing. No doubt, he was a Crimson Demon.

    "I asked... are you strong?"

    This time, the Crimson Demon stood from the pile of corpses where he previously sat on.

    Mangled, burned corpses were strewn all around, but most of them had formed a pile where this Crimson Demon stood.

    "Disgusting." Maria voiced her thoughts upon taking in the truly grotesque sight.

    Still, despite how scary it was, the girl did not run. She simply did not move from her position. Her eyes were still locked with the Crimson Demon.

    "Hahahaha! That''s the spirit. So, you''re strong! That''s good."

    In a small leap, the shirtless, muscr Demon descended to the ground, grinning with his sharpened teeth.

    His height and build would make most bodybuilders shrink in fear and inferiority. The sheer amount of energy that burst from within him would also make most Mages shrivel up.

    But, Maria did no such thing.

    She simply watched as he drew closer to her.

    "My name is Lucien. I''m the highest ranked Demon General, second only to the authority of the Demon Lords and the Supreme Lord over the Demons¡ªThe Demon King."

    Maria wanted to point out how his statement made no sense considering his hierarchy was third ce, not simply ''second only'', but she decided against it.

    Her stoic expression simply met the menacing grin of her adversary.

    Still, a spark of interest lit up within her.

    ''Highest ranked among the Demon Generals? That should be enough as a constion prize...''

    It was made painfully clear that she wouldn''t be getting the chance to fight a Demon Lord. Maria thought it was wise to go for the next best thing¡ªespecially if they came to her on their own ord.

    "Alright. Let''s begin, then." She softly smiled, readying herself for battle.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    A blow surged from Lucien, making its way to Maria with breakneck speed.

    The Demon General grinned, wondering if all it would take was one hit from his blow to turn the little girl into another one of the corpses around.

    Sure, a few Automatons woulde around, but the little buzzers were no match for him too.

    The girl before him would also be one of the many dead chunks around him. Lucien felt pleased and increased his speed topletely wreck her.

    However¡ª

    >VWUUSHH<

    ¡ªHis wrist was grabbed just as the girl before him exuded some energy in a sh.

    Her body glittered white, and glistening apparel covered her¡ªpure white armor, white feathered wings, and a white crown.

    Her light-armored hand was able to grab his wrist, preventing his fist from reaching her face.

    "Archangel Drive... this is good enough."

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Before Lucien could utter another word, a vtile fist made its way to his face.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    The Crimson Demon heard something snap as his body was sent flying a great distance. There was no resistance as his crimson flesh traversed the battlefield andnded on the ground like a stray meteor.

    The earth shattered upon impact, and a crater was formed upon his crash.

    "Guark!" Blood spurted out of his mouth, and his deformed face looked in horror as the white-d being approached him at top speed.

    "W-what... what the hell?!"

    Before he could move his damaged body, she had reached him, readying another fist.

    "N-no!" Lucien blocked his face, but the next thing he felt was her hard blow shattering his ribs as they dug into his stomach.

    "Urghhh!" He wanted to throw up, but her grip sped his face shut, causing whatever woulde out to stay trapped within.

    Another blow sent his jaw cracking as he flew into the sky above him.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Lucien was in too much pain¡ªan unfamiliar emotion for someone as powerful as him.

    His body burned with every strike, causing him no temporarily go numb.

    It was as though the energy shing with his was designed to bypass all his defenses and deal the greatest amount of pain to him.

    The girl''s brute strength also didn''t help matters. Sure, he was a Demon... but she was the true monster.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Maria had already ascended to his location at this point, still donning her pure Angel look. Her deadpan expression, coupled with the way she gruesomely hit the Demon would make anyone wonder what kind of entity she was.

    So bright, yet unbelievably dark.

    "Hey, you..." Maria grabbed the Crimson Demon''s throat, ring at his mangled face.

    "... Are you certain that you''re the strongest of the Demon Generals?"

 Chapter 496 Archangel Drive [Pt 2]

    ?496 Archangel Drive [Pt 2]

    Maria''s eyes showed contempt, disappointment swirling in her heart.

    Her opponent whom she expected to be strong enough to pose a challenge was already shivering in her grasp.

    Surely, the real deal would have shown more resistance than this pathetic excuse before her.

    ''He hasn''t even struck one blow yet...'' Her thoughts trailed.

    Maria wasn''t particrly looking for a fight where she would struggle, but wasn''t itmon sense that a truly powerful enemy would at least make her push everything she had to the limits?

    ''Archangel Drive is my Fusion Mode in addition to Mage Mode...'' Her thoughts trailed.

    Was that truly enough to defeat the upper echelon of the Demon Army?

    "I should finish what I started, though..." Maria murmured to herself, already losing interest in the red lump of meat in her grasp.

    Unfortunately or fortunately for her, the Crimson Demon she held had a differing opinion.

    "Y-you... you''ve humiliated me to this extent..."

    Maria was surprised that the one called Lucien could still speak despite his swollen lips and bloodied face.

    "You call me weak... you treat me this way... no more!"

    Maria could feel the negative energy within and outside him growing stronger than ever. It was peaking to a point that even Maria had to let go of the opponent.

    "You..."

    The Crimson Demon began growing in bulk. His muscr figure grew even buffer.

    Lucien darkened inplexion, and a fiery aura enveloped him. His dark hair turned amber, and his eyes glowed as well.

    His injured body slowly had a makeover, and signs of damage slowly faded away.

    "I don''t know what you did to hamper my regeneration... my power... but no more." His sharpened teeth let out steam as he spoke.

    In his current state, even as they both floated in the sky, he was much bigger than her.

    ''About twelve meters? Maybe thirteen...'' Maria thought as she analyzed her predicament.

    Of course, her expression was as stoic as always.

    "Looking down on me, uh? You little bitch! I''ll make sure to tear you apart!" He roared like a battle-hungry maniac.

    Currently, the Crimson Demon had adopted a form known as Martial State.

    As one who relied on only brute force and Martial Arts to fight, he didn''t know any Magic. Still, he was strong enough to be the most powerful among the Demon Generals.

    The reason for his edge over everyone was the special abilities he developed in his Martial State.

    For one, he attained instant recovery¡ªthough, for some reason, it had slowed down thanks to the girl''s troublesome ability.

    Secondly, he grew more and more powerful depending on how enraged he was. His energy would keep climbing until it reached a threshold.

    No one had been able to beat him in this Martial State, as he would decimate every one of his opponents.

    "You... I''ll make sure to kill you and everyone you love!" Lucien growled, now baring his fangs at the angelic girl before him¡ªhis eyes bloodshot.

    "What did you just say?"

    "What?"

    "You just said something.... killing me and everyone I love... something like that."

    "Y-yeah! What about it!"

    Lucien was conflicted about how to feel about the girl he was about to rip to shreds. Anyone who saw this form of his would instantly realize the power gap and at least show some level of fear.

    They would flee, or at least show a degree of despair.

    But, this one was not like that at all.

    Her expression seemed to turn even colder as she stared at him icily.

    "You? Don''t make meugh. You''re not worthy."

    Veins appeared all over the Crimson Demon''s face as his bloodshot eyes bulged.

    He hated being looked down on the most¡ªespecially when it was an inferior human scum that was responsible.

    "I''ll rip you apart!"

    >WHISH<

    A white de sharply interrupted Lucien''s lunge at Maria¡ªpiercing the right side of his chest.

    "U-uh??"

    It had moved faster than he could process.

    The sinking white de burned Lucien from his insides, causing him to roar in pain as he tried pulling it out.

    However¡ª

    >SWOOOSH<

    >SWISH<

    Two more pierced both arms, causing him to shout in greater pain.

    His body felt like it was burning from the inside out. The amount of agony he suffered was indescribable.

    "My Familiar is an Archangel Seraph. I imbue Holy Magic to all my Spells in this form. I suppose Demons are quite vulnerable to that energy..." Maria spoke as she stared at the Demon condescendingly.

    She slowly ascended as the Demon began raising his head to view her Majesty. His body throbbed in pain, and his heart began racing in fear, yet Lucien could not take his gaze off his opponent.

    "Someone like you can''t threaten to hurt Jared. You''re nothing."

    As she made this statement, over a dozen more des appeared in the sky, surrounding her as they brimmed with power.

    "Die."

    The des took that as the go-ahead and wereunched simultaneously¡ªeach piercing respective parts of Lucien''s body.

    "Guar¡ª"

    Even his mouth was impaled by a white de, and the sheet force caused his body to plummet to the earth.

    Maria turned her gaze from the Crimson Demon General and snapped her fingers.

    As Lucien made crashed upon the ground, the des began glowing brighter and brighter, making ominous hums as their power swelled beyond control.

    "O-Ohhhh..." Was the only sound the Crimson Demon could make before his end arrived.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    The area of impact was shrouded in white light, consuming everything around¡ªincluding the rotting dead bodies of Lucien''s victims.

    "Rest in peace... that is, until Jared resurrects you."

    After all, everything that had happened so far was a part of his grand scheme.

    Even though she couldn''t see Jared on the battlefield, and she was unsure whether or not he was watching her exploits in the fight, Maria still felt relieved that when push came to shove, she didn''t disappoint herself.

    ''All those times I spent with Serah really paid off...''

    With a smile on her face, Maria flew off¡ªmost likely to find a better opponent.

    ***************

    [A/N]

    Who do you think is winning in a fight between Maria and Ana?

 Chapter 497 Monster

    497 Monster

    The battle had reached a crescendo¡ªand that was because the surviving Demon Lords fought with all they had to ensure there was no loss.

    Demon Lord of Vert¡ªZenkiel¡ªas well as the Demon Lord of Jaune¡ªSerci¡ªremained undefeated...

    ... Though it was only a matter of time.

    ******************

    "Guark!"

    Serci, the giant Demon¡ªa monster in every right¡ªfond herself spurting blood.

    Her enormous body throbbed in pain as her grave injuries slowly healed.

    The enemy that rendered put in this state was none other than the champion of the Beastfolk Race¡ªGerard.

    "You... are quite strong." Once again, she coughed blood as she spoke.

    The corrosive fluid burned the earth as it fell, but none of the opponents took that to mind.

    "Oh, me? I''m actually not that strong..." Gerard mumbled.

    His light shrug and distant smile showed that he meant every word. The Beast King was being honest about his weakness.

    "What?"

    "I mean it... really."

    After suffering defeat at the hands of Serah Crimson, and then Jared Leonard, he knew his ce in the world.

    Of course, he was determined to keep growing more powerful until he could consider himself a strong person.

    However, at the moment, Gerard knew he was yet to achieve that.

    "I am weak... and you are simply weaker." He stared at her with a bit of disappointment.

    "Oh? I see..." The monstrous Demon Lord smiled with her beastly face as she stood from the spot where she fell.

    Even though she was easily over 12 feet in height, her body slumped a little.

    She tightened the muscles on her four arms, strengthened her wings, and readied her four eyes on the target.

    Her yellow fur, with ck stripes, was now dirty thanks to being mercilessly beaten by Gerard.

    Even her five horns remained two, as the other three were broken in the conflict.

    In simple terms, she was in a terrible state, but Serci was not one to give up¡ªnot in love, or in battle.

    ''I''ll make sure his Majesty, King Abellion, notices me in this battle. We''ll survive, and get married! We''ll have children, and we will live happily ever after!''

    Oh yes, she was also very delusional.

    "Let''s end this, shall we? I refused to do this earlier because I go berserk, but..."

    Even a monster like Serci had a trump card.

    >VWUUUUUMMMMM<

    Immense energy began swelling from within the Demon Lord, causing steam to emanate from her damaged body.

    Gerard braced himself, watching the horrifying creature slowly morph into something more terrifying.

    "... Apex Form: MONSTER"

    The already beastly form of the Demon Lord adopted a brand new form.

    She grew in mass, shooting to sixty meters in height.

    The new Serci''s giant wings pped, causing the entire area to shake as the wind blew past everyone.

    The monster took to the sky, having a mass that seemed impossible. Her four hands became at least a hundred¡ªall pushing out of the yellow body that now looked slimy and repulsive.

    Eyes appeared in every area, and several horns protruded out of nowhere.

    A massive slit appeared on the monster''s face, and arge mouth opened from there.

    The spiraling sharp teeth it has within were more like blenders, and the amount the monster had was unbelievable.

    In short, Serci had be a terrifying being that was both incredibly monstrous and even more difficult to kill.

    "ROAAAAARRRRRRR!!!" The monsterized Demon Lord gave a loud bellow, causing the earth to tremble.

    Herrge mouth was open, causing bits of her saliva to pour into the battlefield.

    At this point, no one could ignore the yellow monster that floated above the battlefield.

    The Demons who saw this instantly knew that they had to flee¡ªas they too would get caught in Serci''s attacks.

    Their Demon Lord in this form was nigh invincible. The only problem was the loss of her senses.

    While Serci couldn''t know it at the time, since she had lost every ounce of reason, all herrades were actually rooting for her.

    They were happy¡ªexcited to see the tides of battle change.

    ******************

    Zenkiel, who had been subdued by Serah, looked at the monster and gave a satisfied smile.

    "You won''t be able to beat that one..." He groaned as he spoke, looking at the one who beat him spitefully.

    Serah Crimson, not even having a scratch on her body, looked at the floating monster and grinned.

    "I won''t need to."

    After saying that, she returned to beating the crap out of her victim¡ªor rather, her opponent.

    *******************

    "ROAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"

    Serci''s loud roar echoed in Gerard''s ears, but he was hardly intimidated.

    Instead, he decided it was time to once again assume his apex form.

    In the past, doing this would put a strain on his body. But, thanks to Jared''s Cure, he could utilize it at will.

    "Joint Transformation State: Phase 2!"

    Instantly, Gerard manifested and fully integrated all forms he could attain. Building every part to its peak, he was now a beast among beasts¡ªan absolute monster.

    Hisva-like Dragon body soared to the sky as he lunged at the target.

    Though Gerard wasn''t asrge as Serci, he could feel the intensity of his energy to be more superior to hers.

    Her power was spread out and running amok in her bulky body, but Gerard''s energy was more concentrated. Plus, he had his sanity.

    ''This is it! With this, I''ll be able to once again surpass my limits!''

    Gerard''s speed increased and he prepared for impact when¡ª

    "Uh??!"

    ¡ªSomething weird entered the gaping mouth of the yellow monster.

    It looked like a long cylinder, but it had an abnormal amount of energy stocked within. Gerard looked at the trail of smoke and noticed that the weird rocket-thingy emanated from the massive Golem in a distance.

    But, as soon as he was about to process what was urring, the Beast King noticed something else.

    "BWUUUUUUUU!!!"

    The hulking body of the flying monster began to swell at an rming rate.

    Since he was near it, Gerard could see it more clearly¡ªhow its flesh erged, and the energy that seemed to be rising every second.

    "Oh, shi¡ª!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM<

 Chapter ?498 King Abellion [Pt 1]

    ?498 King Abellion [Pt 1]

    "Wha¡ª?!"

    Everyone was shocked beyond words as the monstrosity above them suddenly erged... and then ruptured.

    Its body became nothing but many fragments of flesh and blood, dropping upon the battlefield as rain.

    As the dead Demon Lord''s entrails were strewn all over the field, her master was in shock.

    Demon King Abellion couldn''t keep his mouth closed as he watched his dear subordinate be nothing but dead meat and blood.

    "H-how...?"

    Once his eyes spotted a trail of smoke from where Serci''s massive mouth used to be, Abellion saw something standing on the other end.

    "It''s that thing!"

    Therge Golem, the same one that decimated the small army back when Zenkielunched his Two-Pronged attack, was the same one responsible for Serci''s death.

    It had also imed the lives of many Demons on the battlefield.

    Unfortunately, no one had been able to stop it yet.

    Thanks to standing at the far end of the battle, if one wanted to attack the Golem, they would need to go past therge army arrayed before it.

    It was due to this reason that Abellion surmised that no one had yet seeded in the task.

    "Damnit!"

    Since he was linked to his Demon Lords, Abellion knew just how many were left¡ªa meager number of one.

    ''Zenkiel is the only one who is alive right now...'' He nced in the direction of his Commander-In-Chief, who was being nothing but a punching bag for the human woman who fought him.

    Not only was Zenkiel unable to retaliate thanks to the flurry of attacks he received, but the woman didn''t even seem to be taking the fight seriously.

    It was as though the Demon Lord was nothing but a toy she could use.

    ''Damnit!'' Abellion gritted his teeth, now taking a good look around him.

    The battle that had once been at a climax was sizzling out.

    Over ny percent of his forces had been killed, and the rest were just about on the verge of dying.

    His Demon Lords were all dead as well.

    Zenkiel seemed to be holding on well, but it was no secret that he was simply overwhelmed.

    If thedy hitting him wanted him dead, Abellion imagined how possible that would be.

    "And you..." The Demon King now focused his gaze on the opponent before him.

    "Are you ready to resume?" A warbling voice answered him.

    It wasn''t human, but wasn''t a Demon''s either.

    "Howe you survived my attacks for so long? I still don''t understand..."

    Abellion was currently facing the Automaton Jared Leonard left behind as he went to take care of other business.

    Abellion had initially thought he would decimate the construct and quickly give chase to Jared, but things didn''t turn out to be so simple.

    It turned out to be very difficult to evennd a hit on the tinum-armored being.

    ''It''s like he was built for that purpose. It keeps evading my attacks, and then destroying my des whenever they get too close...''

    The Automaton hadn''t dealt a decisive attack on him yet, so Abellion was certain that itsbat potential was lower than his.

    ''The only thing you''re good at is speed! Your evasive maneuvers may be tricky, but they''re not impossible.''

    At the very least, Abellion was determined to kill the Automaton before him, and thene to Zenkiel''s aid.

    Once he defeated the Automaton and the human woman who assailed his most loyal subordinate, he would then go after the Golem that killed Serci.

    As the Demon King, his responsibilities demanded that he avenged hisrades¡ªeven if it was a losing battle.

    Abellion had long forgottenmon sense and the tactical need for retreat.

    "Right here and now... we''ll settle things!" King Abellion growled, instantly summoning several purplish-ck portals behind him.

    In response, the Automaton simply shrugged. This did nothing but tick the Demon King off even more.

    "Die!"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Several ck des surged forth, darting in the Automaton''s direction beyond the speed of light.

    The immense concentration of Miasma within the des would mean nothing but death if they so much as grazed anyone with Mana.

    Yet, so many of them targeted the shiny Automaton and chased it with dangerous precision.

    "I''ll have to defend myself." Came its warbling tone, and instantly, a long de appeared in the Automaton''s grasp.

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    In one strong swing, the several des were turned into nothing but cinders... and we''re purified in white light.

    "What?!" Abellion couldn''t believe his eyes.

    ''Those des were constructed with a calcified amount of Miasma, meant to be strong enough to take it down...''

    Abellion had also calcted the Automaton''s speed and sent weapons that would definitely kill it.

    ''So why...?''

    Not only had the Automaton grown faster, but its power had also risen to the point where the attack he rendered became obsolete.

    "How dare you... you weren''t using your fill power, were you?"

    In a fit of both rage and embarrassment, Abellion summoned more purple holes¡ªmaking them surround his target instead.

    "Fine. But I have a good idea of what to use now. You won''t survive this next round."

    The portals around the Automaton made it impossible for it to flee. Abellion intended on using overwhelming the opponent with quick-fire, ensuring his victory.

    "Begin." With a snap of his fingers, the rain of dark des on multiple ends began.

    >FWOOOSH<

    >SWOOOOSH<

    >VWUUUSHHH<

    In their hundreds, they poured out and charged at the target.

    Each de was strong enough to take down therge wall that he devastated back when the Demons began their attack on the humans.

    With hundreds of weapons with the same quality relentless raining on a single target, there was no way it could survive.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Everything enclosed within the array of portals was devasted, and smoke rose from the location.

    Abellion deactivated his portals and looked at the pile of rubble, hoping to see the destroyed body of his adversaries.

    However¡ª

    "It seems you were wrong about that, Demon King Abellion..."

    ¡ªThe tinum Armored Automaton simply flew out of the pile of smoke and rubble,pletely unharmed.

    "... I survived."

 Chapter 499 King Abellion [Pt 2]

    499 King Abellion [Pt 2]

    Abellion''s Original Magic, [Gates Of Hell], allowed him to create spatial ruptures anywhere he desired, and then summon des from within them.

    The thing most people didn''t know about this ability was that the des were a manifestation of Abellion''s will.

    In essence, they were as strong as Abellion''s desire¡ªand the quality of his Miasma.

    As such, he could choose the kind of weapons he wanted to summon, as well as the effects he desired from them.

    It was an ultimate power that employed ultimate violence.

    As long as Abellion''s imagination was unhinged, he could make his des into anything... possessing whatever quality he desired.

    Of course, the only limiting factor was Miasma.

    **********************

    "How are you still alive?"

    The recent bombardment contained enough power to level a city to the ground, and everything was focused on a single target.

    Yet, why was it still standing?

    "Who knows? Your attacks were strong, so I barely managed to deflect them."

    "You deflected... all of them?"

    At this point, the Demon King was dazed. The Automaton also seemed to be a bit worked up, as it scratched its head a little.

    "E-er, no, I didn''t deflect all of them. I''m not that strong. I was simply able to heal of the injuries that some of those des gave me."

    "They all have anti-healing properties. Yet you healed from their damage?"

    The Automaton appeared even more flustered.

    "W-well... okay, you were right the first time. I deflected all of them. Whew, I am not good at this."

    Abellion had a feeling that he was being mocked, but it was hard to prove that with the opponent''sck of a facial expression as well as its somewhat official outlook.

    ''I don''t understand... what''s going on here?''

    Even though it was very obvious that Abellion had the upper hand in the fight, he still felt like he was being yed.

    ''Or am I imagining things?''

    The opponent was weaker than him. That was why Abellion hadn''t gone all-out and decimated the entire area they were in.

    He still intended to conserve power so he could assist hisrades.

    While a lot of time was flying by thanks to the opponent''s evasive measures and sudden burst in power, Abellion still couldn''t imagine resorting to his full power when fighting a much opponent.

    ''I''ll kick things up a notch to get it this time...'' The Demon King smiled.

    *****************

    Upon observing the Demon Lord for a moment, the Automaton heaved a sigh of relief¡ªor at least acted as though it did.

    It was built with the whole warrior getup as its natural look, so it didn''t have any respiratory organs, to begin with.

    The reason for Gawain''s relief was that the truth about it was yet to be found out.

    ''Master told me to upy the Demon King, but I''m not allowed to use excessive force...''

    As such, Gawain had been restricting most of its functions so he could simply fulfill that role.

    It made sure to prevent any damage that would be inflicted on him¡ªsince that was a core defensive property it possessed¡ªbut other than defense and light offense, the Automaton resorted to nothing else.

    ''My goal is to stall for time and ensure the Demon King doesn''t overexert himself when fighting me...''

    After all, Gawain wasn''t his opponent.

    ''This is a bit difficult, though. I wasn''t designed to hold back to this extent, and my adversary is already figuring things out a little...''

    If they continued like this, it wouldn''t be long before Abellion realized he had simply been leading him by the nose.

    That didn''t mean it would stop trying its hardest to hold back.

    With that in mind, Gawain prepared itself for the next barrage of des that rained upon it.

    They came from every direction¡ªeven beneath and above it.

    ''I can think of a few dozen ways to handle this... but the only means I can utilize is to evade and cut down the des one after the other.''

    Gawain took flight and began moving faster than the homing des could get to him, cutting them with the de it had on hand.

    The chase was swift¡ªbut only to onlookers. The Automaton felt as though time was slowed, but it had to endure this much.

    It was its master''s orders, after all.

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    As it kept dodging and dribbling the locked-on des, Gawain had a single thought while scanning the area for miles.

    ''He''ste!''

    *********************

    ''Unbelievable!'' Abellion was amazed at how the Automaton was able to fluidly evade his torrents of des.

    ''Could it be that it has a learning function? Had it been studying my patterns? If it evolves as time passes, then it would be best to simply overpower it with a decisive blow.''

    As much as Abellion despised using too much power on an inferior target, he was pressed for time.

    As someone whom everyone depended on, he couldn''t betray their trust.

    "I''ll finish things with this."

    A single portal appeared above Abellion''s left shoulder. It seemed even more deadly than the others, and red lightning sparked from within it.

    Emerging from the void-like portal was a weirdly shaped de.

    Its twisted edges warbled as it brimmed with immense Miasma.

    ''The manifestation of my twisted desires. One of the most powerful in my reserves.''

    More crimson lightning shed, and the atmosphere undted as the immense force seemed to rear whatever was around it¡ªincluding space.

    "Let''s see how you handle this." The twisted de was already preparing for take-off, having its whole body coated in red energy.

    Abellion''s eyes widened in expectation, hoping to see how the Automaton would be ripped to shreds by the twisted nature of his weapon.

    Suddenly, the Automaton raised its hand in a bid to make something known.

    "Apologies, but can we end this fight? You see... my role has been fulfilled."

    "Uh?"

    Abellion couldn''t understand what the tinum Armored being was saying.

    "I mean, my task isplete. I was meant to keep you upied¡ªas in, a warm-up¡ªbefore your opponent arrived."

    What did the Automaton mean by that? What opponent was it referring to?

    Demon King Abellion didn''t understand ¡ªat least... not yet.

 Chapter ?500 Arrival [Pt 1]

    ?500 Arrival [Pt 1]

    The Demon King still couldn''t grasp what was going on. Perhaps he simply didn''t want to.

    "Just die. You can''t call it quits now!" With an obsessive grin, he sent the twisted de lunging at Gawain.

    >WHOOOSHHH<

    The de was beyond lightning-fast. The deadly thrust of the weapon caused everything in its path to rip apart as it made its way toward the lone Automaton.

    The end had already been reached¡ªat least, ording to Abellion.

    "Okay, that''s enough." Someone snapped.

    It was a strange voice¡ªbelonging to a third party.

    Instantly, the fast-approaching de came to a stop. It remained suspended in the air, as though frozen in time.

    "The guy told you already, didn''t he? He''s out."

    Abellion was both astounded by the fact that one of his most powerful weapons was simply standing still, as well as wary of the new person that made his entrance.

    The stranger was standing right in front of the twisted de, pocketing and looking unfazed by the thing that was simply inches away from him.

    "Who... are you?"

    His eyes narrowed as a re reced his previously bulging expression.

    Abellion could feel his heart skip a beat. He didn''t know if it was due to caution... or a more intense emotion.

    All he knew was that his de came to a sudden halt once the neers made his appearance.

    "Me? Wow, this is a bit awkward... I thought the Demon Army would have known about my identity at the very least." The mysterious man spoke so casually¡ªso carefree.

    His ck hair fluttered with the wind as he turned away from Abellion and looked at the Automaton behind.

    "Or am I being narcissistic? Shouldn''t I expect that they know me?"

    In response to the question, the Automaton raised his hands and shoulders, as though saying he didn''t know what to say.

    "I don''t know, man. All I can say is that you''rete. How can someone who professes to have all the time in the world have such a behavior."

    The Automaton''s warbling tone was followed by a loudugh from the strange man.

    "Hahahaha! You''re right, at least to an extent."

    "H-hey...!" Abellion''s words were ignored as the human kept talking to the Automaton.

    "You say I shouldn''t bete because of my abilities, right? Well, I beg to differ a little."

    Now turning to the Demon King, who was getting impatient at this point, the man in question grinned broadly.

    "If because I have all the time in the world that I can be aste as I want.

    Abellion''s eyes bulged as he heard those words. They felt somewhat... familiar.

    "Now, then, Demon King Abellion, I suppose introductions are in order."

    Stroking one hand through his dark hair, the young-looking human gave a confident, cool smile.

    "My name is Ne¡ª"

    "NEROOOOOOONNNNNN!!!" Another voice sharply interrupted, and the owner came lunging in the man''s direction.

    The man, Neron, instantly jumped as a result of the sudden halt in his introduction, as well as the one who caused it.

    "Oh, crap... she''s here already."

    The woman who was lunging at Neron with unquantifiable speed and a wide smile on her face was none other than Serah Crimson.

    Her bright smile and blushing face were in clear contrast to the beast she had been, prior to Neron''s arrival.

    "One sec." He raised his hand to Abellion, and then prepared himself for what woulde next.

    Serah approached rapidly, and Neron readied himself for their usual greeting.

    "SMOOOOCHHHH" The woman shamelessly puckered her lips and prepared for an embrace with the love of her life.

    Of course, this would always be returned by a violent halt thanks to Neron''s time barrier. Still, Serah had made it a habit that she couldn''t stop¡ªeven though she knew the consequences.

    And so, she charged at him.

    >WHOOOOOSH<

    To her surprise, she wasn''t stopped.

    Instead, a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her, and she was lifted into the sky¡ªfar above the reach of the dying battle.

    "Eh?"

    As she ascended with the one whose arms were caressing her body, Serah''s face turned red. She was close¡ªtoo close to the one who half her tightly.

    "N-Neron...?"

    "Shhhh..." The ck-haired man smiled charmingly.

    Serah''s red hair flowed, touching the young man''s face as he didn''t waver in his intense gaze.

    Her heart pounded, yet she too couldn''t look away from his entrapping eyes.

    "I..."

    Before she could conclude her statement, Neron''s face descended, and then, in a surprising yet romantic turn of events, his lips met hers.

    Right there and then, as they floated in the clouds, Neron and Serah were locked in a passionate kiss while being in each other''s embrace.

    As if the mood wasn''t enough, fireworks ascended to the sky, painting it in multiple colors.

    The fireworks sparked red, purple, and blue, making the couple continue to smooch while enjoying the feel of the moment.

    Their eyes were open, though barely, as they kept kissing.

    And, after what seemed like an infinite amount of time doing the deed, the two finally stopped.

    "W-what... I don''t..."

    Serah was still flustered. The current state of things, and how fast things had progressed, put her in a state of shock.

    She stammered, unable to make words as her eyes felt drawn into Neron''s pitch-ck irises.

    "You don''t need to understand. Just ept it, Serah. I''m sorry I took so long." Neron drew her close and kisses the flustered woman on her forehead.

    "You... you..."

    Unable to hold back any longer, the woman''s floodgates finally opened and tears proceeded from her eyes.

    She tightened her embrace with Neron and bawled her eyes out.

    The fireworks ceased, and nothing could be felt from a distance. It was simply Neron and Serah who were left in the whole world.

    Slowly, they descended from the far reaches of the cloud.

    Both of them were too focused on each other to care for the frozen individuals all over the battlefield.

    All of them were unmoving¡ªstuck in time.

    And, in this timeless world that spoke of eternity, Neron Kaelid finally opened his lips and uttered the words that the woman before him had been longing to hear all along.

    A statement that resonated deeply within her.

    "Serah... I love you too."

 Chapter ?501 Arrival [Pt 2]

    ?501 Arrival [Pt 2]

    Serah''s heart raced uncontrobly.

    Her expression must have looked incredibly silly at this point, but she could no longer control herself.

    With flushed cheeks and increased desire, she simply locked gaze with Neron, drawn to him more than ever before.

    ''H-he feels the same...''

    Both of them, alone in the frozen world, finally touched ground, descending from the sky while still in each other''s embrace.

    "I''m sorry I didn''t tell you sooner. I''ll make no excuse. But, now... I guess I''ve decided not to worry any longer."

    Serah felt like she was in a dream. Perhaps this was an illusion?

    She hadn''t expected those words from Neron, at least not until Jared fulfilled his end of the deal.

    ''Or has he done so already? Did he have something to do with this? But how? It''s so soon!''

    Serah decided to shake the thoughts away from her head.

    Neron finally confessed his feelings. That was enough for her.

    Once again, Serah drew him closer and kissed him one final time. Once their lips detached, she fell on his shoulders and adorably used it as a cushion.

    Neron didn''t resist.

    He simply stroked her hair while giving a gentle smile.

    Serah couldn''t see his current expression, but Neron''s eyes appeared a bit distant while embracing her.

    His smile was genuine, though.

    ''As agreed, I have fulfilled my end, Jared. Hope you''re happy about this...'' Neron''s mind trailed.

    His eyes fell on Serah, especially her adorable long hair. The woman kept snuggling her face all over his shoulder as if trying to leave her scent on him.

    ''I indeed have feelings of love for you, Serah, but...'' His smile grew a bit grim.

    A sudden memory yed in Neron''s head. It was dark and gory, but there was no way he could mistake what he saw there.

    In the little sh of fragmented memories, Serah was covered in her blood, and Neron was at the center of so much destruction.

    He could see himself roaring in pain as the loss of the one he loved was etched in his soul.

    ''... Haaa...''

    Neron awoke from this trance and gave another nce at the healthy Serah in front of him.

    Perhaps he was wrong, after all.

    ''I listened to Jared''s conversation with Serah. No, more like he made me listen. After their talk... we spoke...''

    That was when Jared told him to make a choice, and then be transparent with Serah about it.

    Perhaps it was due to the bond he had with Jared, or his ever-increasing boredom, Neron divulged his true feelings for Serah to the young boy.

    ''I truly love Serah...''

    Although he did not make mention of the dark memory he had, and the awfully tragic image of Serah''s demise, Neron told him how he was hesitant to start something with the Crimson Grand Mage.

    That was when their bet came into y.

    Using Ana''s encounter with Lydia of nc as a base, Jared offered another secret of Magic to Neron as bait if thetter won.

    On the flip side, if Neron lost, he would have to confess his true feelings to Serah... and in a grand way, for that matter.

    ''You won, Jared. So, I guess this is how we''ll be doing things.''

    Maybe a life like this wouldn''t be so bad, after all.

    "Serah, I think that''s enough. You''ve been at this for too long." Neron could already feel his body growing numb as a result of Serah''s tight embrace and snuggling.

    "A-ah, sorry about that." Jumping a little, Serah stepped back and gave an awkwardugh.

    ''Isn''t she the cutest, just looking at her this way.''

    Neron couldn''t deny his feelings, but he couldn''t let go of his fears. However, the die had been cast.

    ''... Let''s see where this leads.''

    "It''s fine. Don''t worry about it. We have all the time in the world, after all." Neronughed.

    "But, stopping time at this scale, isn''t it burning through your Mana too much?"

    "Well, I have a little something for that." Neron winked, maintaining his aura of mystery.

    "I could never seed in freezing the whole world in time with my Original Magic. Even now, that prospect is pretty dim. So, another solution came to mind."

    Jared had told Neron that he could tell her about [The Hermit] Arcana, so he went on to exin.

    "I simply isted myself from the bounds of time. I call it the [Timeless Zone]. Everything around me stops, and only I can move."

    It wasn''t exactly stopping the whole world, but rather transcending time itself.

    Neron''s Original Magic initially functioned when he interacted with his environment through his Mana. Whatever his Mana touched came under the influence of his Time Magic.

    As a result of that, there were limits to what he could and couldn''t do.

    However, thanks to the Hermit, he could basically perceive the flow of time in the world, and not just the artificial one he constructed through Magic.

    He was capable of resonating his Time Magic with the World''s Time, allowing him to create this result.

    "Of course, anyone or anything I interact with will also be unfrozen in time¡ªor rather, they will join me in the Timeless Zone." Neron went on.

    That was why Serah was able to remain unfrozen despite everyone being stuck in time.

    "So, you''re saying we''re in a ce that transcends time. The world is operating normally, but we''re just in a realm beyond that?"

    Neron smiled once Serah tried simplifying his exnation.

    "You''re getting it. It''s a bitplicated, but I can''t interfere with anyone while in the Timeless Zone. If I do, they also be a part of it.,"

    He now stared passionately at Serah, drawing her close with one hand.

    "I want to make this a ce for just you and me. No one else should be allowed to interfere."

    With his face once again close to Serah''s, her body throbbed a bit, and she found herself nodding.

    "I-I''d like that a lot."

    "d to hear that." He released his grip, and then looked away¡ªstaring at someone else in a distance.

    The one who met Neron''s gaze was frozen in time, just like everyone else. It was the Demon King, Abellion himself.

    "Well, it''s time to take care of business. There''s something else I want to try out."

 Chapter 502 Neron Versus Abellion [Pt 1]

    "We''ll continue this,ter. For now, I better earn my keep." Neron said to the redhead.

    She pouted upon hearing his words, making her look even cuter than normal.

    It was bad for Neron''s cold, cold heart, so he winced at the cuteness disyed by the usually stern and wild Serah Crimson.

    "Don''t be jealous. Haha, it won''t take too long." Patting her head, as though she was a pet, Neron smiled.

    "Yeah? Okay then. I''ll just watch, then."

    "What of the Demon Lord you were messing around with?"

    "I killed him the moment I saw you. What of it?"

    "A-ah, I see. Nothing, then. Okay, you can watch."

    Though Neron was certain of his feelings for the woman before him, and he knew she felt the same, he couldn''t help but get a bit anxious when it came to Serah... and what their future together would turn out to be like.

    "Hehehehe." The red-haired woman just kept giggling, overwhelmed by the giddy emotions swarming her.

    And so, both of them decided to cut their little romance short so Neron could handle business.

    *******************

    "Alright. I''m ready now."

    Abellion was confused for the umpteenth time.

    The man before him¡ªthe one called Neron by the strange red-haired woman¡ªhad asked for a bit of time because of the earlier situation.

    Of course, Abellion didn''t intend to ept it. However, before he could even do anything, Neron appeared to be ready for their fight.

    Not only had Serah stopped her sharp dash toward Neron, but she was also in a different location from earlier.

    The woman simply watched what was going on, and the Automaton that was previously engaged with Abellion also backed off.

    "Now that you''re here, I''ll be returning to my master." It had said.

    "Will you be telling Jared of myteness?" Neron answered with a question that seemed to stem from a yful point.

    "There''s no need. He already knows." With that, the tinum Armored Automaton flew off in a sh¡ªeven faster than Abellion could keep up with.

    It made the Demon King wonder why it hadn''t moved that way during their fight.

    ''Maybe...?!''

    "There''s no need to be concerned about your fight with that guy. He was just meant to buy time until I arrived." Abellion''s inner conflict was sharply interrupted by Neron''s voice.

    "You''re Neron... right? The Head of Ainrk Academy, and one stated to be on par with the Eastern Kingdom''s Grand Mages." Abellion spoke in a low tone.

    The ck-haired man shrugged and said nothing.

    "Then, I ask you... were you the one who killed one of my Demon Lords, Lydia of nc?"

    For a moment, there was silence. Tense and unsettling, the empty void of words pervaded their vicinity.

    Until¡ª

    "I wish. Na, it wasn''t me. One of my students did. She''s a smart girl. Your Demon Lord didn''t stand a chance."

    "I see..." Abellion controlled the rage swirling within him.

    There was the possibility that Neron was lying, but he didn''t see any reason why the man would do that.

    "Then, where is this girl now?"

    Neron raised a brow once this question was asked.

    "Why? You want to bypass me and¡ª?"<sub> </sub>

    "No. I want to know where I need to go after killing you. Your student, whoever she is... must die!"

    "O-Oh, I see. Jeez... what''s got you so worked up? Well, yeah, she''s still in Ainrk. But, I have to say¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Before Neron could conclude his speech, a deafening rupture filled the air.

    Several twisted des were instantlyunched from Abellion''s ckish-purple portal, all aimed at killing Neron.

    However, just about five inches from Neron''s body, all the weapons were paused in time. They simply remained suspended, just like the previous one Abellionunched.

    "At least let me finish." Neron sighed, scratching his head a bit.

    "H-How are you doing that?" The Demon King found himself at a loss for words.

    "Didn''t your minions tell you anything? Or wait, they didn''t know? Man, this is confusing. I don''t like exining my abilities every time." Upon saying this, a burst of power erupted from Neron¡ªcausing his hair to change color as white sparks of light danced around him.

    "If this is all you''ve got, you won''t be able to touch me, you know?" The transformed man spoke with undiluted confidence.

    "Tch. I''ve had enough of this. First that Automaton, and now you... pesky pests just getting in my way!"

    The white-haired human rolled his eyes slightly upon hearing this.

    He knew Gawain could have beaten Abellion, but the reason he held back was so Neron could fight with the Demon King.

    ''He''s a bit of a disappointment, but he should still be useful as an experimental subject.''

    "Die!" Abellion growled, now summoning one massive purple hole above him.

    Emerging from within it was a very long, thin de.

    It looked more like a javelin than a sword, and the demonic energy it packed was something else.

    "Look here, I control time. That won''t wor¡ª"

    Before Neron could finish, the javelin de wasunched, tearing through space as it did its best to deal a fatal hit to the target.

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    "This guy just likes interrupting me..." Neron watched the javelin reach his time barrier... and then...

    ''Uh?''

    The javelin didn''t stop moving.

    It passed the five-inch limit and kept approaching Neron¡ªthough it was moving much slower than normal.

    "This is..." A look of intrigue was all over Neron''s face as he stretched his hand toward the immensely powerful Javelin-de.

    >SQUISH<

    Blood spurted out of Neron''s outstretched palm, caused by the weapon impaling him.

    "Ah, I see. So it defies time causality. The desire to hit your target really birthed something like this? Interesting..."

    Even though Neron realized that a weapon like this made his Time Barrier obsolete, he didn''t even flinch or show any fear.

    "Y-you caught that?!" The Demon King looked shocked.

    He had expected that to be the end of his opponent, yet Neron looked very much alive.

    "Hmm, this is a bit unexpected," Neron smirked, the injury on his handpletely gone¡ªas though nothing ever happened.

    "Maybe this could be worthwhile."

 Chapter 503 Neron Versus Abellion [Pt 2]

    ''I mean, I suppose my Time Barrier was toox. Maybe if I had poured more Mana into it, then it could probably stop itpletely...'' The white-haired man thought to himself.

    Abellion was stunned beyond speech. He was certain that would kill his opponent, yet... YET!

    "Oh, well. It''s been a while since I even received an injury. I''ll have to change my assessment of you. Turns out you''re not that disappointing."

    Other chuckles, other than Neron''s, could be heard from all around.

    ''This...?!'' The Demon King finally noticed when he looked around him.

    Every single member of the Demon Army was dead.

    The victorious army had now surrounded the Demon King in a very wide circle¡ªall observing the showdown going on between him and Neron.

    From all they had seen, it was enough for a few tough.

    ''They''reughing... at ME?! Those inferior drivels?!'' His eyes twitched as they widened in rage¡ªbloodshot with fury and sheer determination.

    "Hey, don''t mind them. You actually did very¡ª"

    "S-SHUT UP AND DIE!!!" Abellion roared, creating even more of the Javelin-des that affected Neron.

    Surely, if he bombarded him with more of them, Neron would suffer fatal damage.

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH<

    The environment trembled as the air undted.

    This was caused by the sheer pressure brought about by the immensely powerful des that lunged at their human target.

    The surrounding soldiers and Magic Beasts, though a good distance away, could feel their bodies shaking as a result of the magnitude of Demonic energy that the des emanated.

    "Nice move." Neron smiled, watching the Javelin-des slow down once they got close enough.

    ''I increased my Mana output, and the weapons have also slowed down more than before. But, is it because of the numbers? If it was just that one from earlier, then it would havepletely stopped.''

    Neron enjoyed thrills like this. It allowed him to enjoy the battle more.

    >SQUISH<

    >SPLURGE!<

    Blood flowed from Neron''s body as both his shoulders, legs, his chest, and even stomach were pierced by the weapons.

    "Hmmm..."

    Within a moment, none of those injuries existed. Thanks to the time loop function of his body, he was restored to his optimal state in a sh.

    "W-WHAT?!" At this point, Abellion was exasperated.

    Even though his weapons dealt sufficient damage, they simply vanished and Neron was back to normal.

    It was as though he never suffered any damage at all!

    ''How? Why?!'' The Demon King could only think of one thing.

    Original Magic! It had to do with Original Magic!

    ''If I create des that can cancel out Original Magic, then that should solve it! It''ll take too much Miasma, but I can do it! I should be able to!''

    Abellion was certain that this next volley would be the end of Neron Kaelid.

    "As much as I would like to continue this match with you, I promised someone it wouldn''t take long." Neron''s nonchnt voice interrupted Abellion''s scheme.

    "So, I''ll just try out what I want. You can continue doing whatever."

    >CLICK<

    Neron snapped his fingers, causing a low, reverberating hum to spread across the area. He smiled, staring at the Demon King with expectation.

    ''He''s looking down on me! He thinks he''ll win? Just watch, human. This will end you!''

    Dozens of purplish-ck portals appeared all around Neron, trapping him in a dome of malevolent energy.

    "You can''t escape this one!" Abellion grinned manically.

    shes of purple light emanated from the portals as they whirred into action.

    The Demon King''s eyes bulged, even more, expecting his des to fly out, impale the target, and kill him.<sub> </sub>

    However¡ª

    >ZZZZZZRRRRRZZZZ<

    All the Portals vanished after making a reverse-whirring sound. It was as though they died out.

    "U-uh?!"

    What had just happened? Abellion was caught in even more confusion.

    He wasn''t the only one, though.

    Therge audience also looked at the scene in puzzlement. No exnation could be given for the urrence that just urred.

    One possibility came to mind, and it was¡ª

    "It''s not Anti-Magic. It''s Magic."

    Interference Magic could indeed affect Spells and forcibly disable them through analysis and usurping control, but it was useless when Original Magic was concerned.

    Interfering with a Spell meant a person understood its very structure, down to the tiniest detail.

    Such a thing was not possible against Original Magic.

    And so, questions sparked.

    If it wasn''t Anti-Magic, or Interference Magic, then what the heck just happened?

    "It''s just a fluke! There''s no way he canceled my Spell!" Abellion shouted, burning through more of his Miasma to create at least a hundred portals with the same intent of decimating Neron.

    "It''s no use." Neron smiled.

    And, he was right!

    Just as before, the Portals dissipated as suddenly as they appeared.

    "None of your Spells will work." The white-haired man emphasized, now walking closer to the Demon King.

    While he didn''t feel like exining why, what Neron did was quite simple.

    ''I used Time Magic to return his Spells to the point before they were cast. As a result, even if he casts a Spell, they''ll return to a state before they can exist.''

    Of course, he couldn''t affect Magic which had more energy than he poured, but Neron''s Mana quality and quantity far surpassed Abellion''s.

    As a result, directly reversing his Spells before they could manifest wasn''t too difficult.

    "Y-you¡ª!!!" Abellion roared in both shame and anger, summoning a de to grasp.

    ''I''ll allow that.'' Neron smiled, causing the Demon King to wield ab obsidian ck sword.

    "I''ll kill you with this!" Fuming, the Demon King took his stance, ready to strike Neron down with his most powerful de yet.

    Not only could it interfere with Neron''s Time Magic, but it could prevent him from reversing his injuries.

    A fatal hit from that would kill the human, no doubt!

    With these thoughts running through Abellion''s mind, he readied himself to strike.

    "You took too long." Neron''s voice suddenly pierced Abellion''s ears.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    The voice came behind the Demon King. His opponent was no longer standing in front of him.

    As if that wasn''t enough, Abellion felt a stinging sensation on his neck. He couldn''t speak, and he couldn''t feel his body.

    It was almost as if...

    >THUD<

    ... His head was no longer attached to the rest of his body.

    ********************

    [A/N]

    I guess we all saw thising. Lol.

 Chapter 504 The Big Bang

    Before Abellion could react, he felt his head helplessly plop to the ground.

    Blood gushed out of his body, and he watched as the fountain sted from his decapitated neck.

    "U-uh?!"

    Abellion was in more shock than pain. The hand gripping his de loosened, and his body soon copsed.

    "I... how...?"

    His eyes couldn''t stop bulging as his head was drowning in his pool of blood.

    "Looks like decapitating you doesn''t do the trick. That''s cool."

    Abellion shivered the moment the voice rang in his ears.

    It was a cool, calm tone, yet the Demon King could not stop shivering.

    ''M-monster!'' His mind echoed.

    There were many who would consider Abellion to be a monster¡ªand a darn scary one at that. However, upon meeting Neron, he was certain.

    ''He''s a true monster!''

    Suddenly, the panicking Demon King felt a strong grip on his head, and he was slowly raised by the very monster he feared.

    "If you''re wondering why you''re not regenerating, I''m cing that on hold. Hope you don''t mind."

    At this point, Abellion could only dumbfoundedly watch Neron. He no longer had it in him to argue or struggle.

    "Of course, that means you won''t be dying yet, but still..."

    Neron''s voice was drowned with the cheers ringing from everyone. He watched them p and throw cheers.

    The white-haired human returned to his usual state, and then raised the Demon King''s head as some form of a trophy as he smiled.

    "Here is the Demon King!"

    Laughs and more cheers rang from the people as they watched Neron swing the head like a pendulum.

    Abellion felt humiliation like never before, being mocked by the Race he looked down on¡ªno, by literally everyone.

    The Elves, Humans, Dwarves, Therianthropes, Fairies, and even Magic Beasts.

    They were all mocking him.

    Even death would have been preferable, but Neron had specifically mentioned how he couldn''t regenerate or die.

    He was currently stuck as a head¡ªa disgraced one.

    >BZZZZTTTTTZZZZZ<

    Suddenly, a loud buzzing sound appeared in the sky, and then something like arge panel appeared for everyone on the battlefield to see.

    There was static for a few seconds, but the image and sound stabilized, revealing the one responsible for therge panelid out the sky.

    ~Hey, everyone. It''s Jared. I certainly hope you had fun killing all those Demons. Oh, hey! Isn''t that the Demon King? Why is he just a head? Hahahaha!~

    As his voice echoed throughout the battlefield, everyone once again burst outughing.

    Abellion could only lower his eyes and squeeze his face in frustration.

    "Just kill me..." He whispered, feeling shame like never before.

    ~Oh, this should be good. It''s a shame we don''t have many Demons who will serve as an audience for what I''m about to do. Well, this much should suffice. And we even have our decapitated Demon King to serve as a special guest for the shoe~

    More shots ofughter erupted.

    "I could resurrect them if you want an audience." Jane Urs chimed in, smiling smugly at the screen.

    Jared was utilizing the Special Magic he learned from the Fairy Sanctuary¡ªtheir disy technique.

    "I could reverse their deaths as well," Neron added.

    ~There''s no need for that. Haha! That would be overkill. Abellion alone would be enough.~

    Both Neron and Jane appeared disappointed that Jared was refusing their assistance, but they decided to let it go.

    Everyone was more curious about what the surprise was.<sub> </sub>

    ~Alright, everyone. I''d like you to look in the direction of the Demon Territory.~

    Everyone followed the trail that the Demon Army left in their wake when they marched into the ins. It was easy to get their bearings right, so every single person was now looking in that direction.

    ~Get ready to see some fireworks. Ah, by the way, Abellion, your father sends his regards.~

    The Demon King''s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing the mention of his father.

    However, before he could even give much thought to it, he witnessed the most peculiar sight.

    Not only him¡ªeveryone standing on the ins¡ªsaw the bizarre urrence that etched itself in the sky.

    ~It didn''t have toe to this, Abellion. Witness the consequences of your choice.~

    >BZZZTTTTZZZZZ<

    The holographic panel vanished, leaving only despair etched on Abellion''s face as his widened eyes watched the massive beam of light moving in a straight line above him.

    The path of light, like a flood of pure energy, flowed from the southeast, swiftly moving to the North at inconceivable speed.

    Before Abellion could object, the white beam passed overhead the battlefield and went straight for its destination.

    Afterward, there was silence.

    Stifling silence.

    Everyone paused¡ªas though in a trance, or they were stuck in time.

    The white light was heading somewhere. Those who were sensible had a good idea where. They simply waited for its effects.

    ''You''re finally going to do it, uh, Jared?'' Neron smiled to himself.

    ''That energy... I''ve never felt anything like it.'' Serah realized that even she could notpete with its power.

    ''Lewis...'' Jane wondered if Jared could live with his decision¡ªwhat he was about to do.

    Everyone had their thoughts and expectations.

    They simply waited for the results.

    And then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªThe eruption lit up the sky.

    Everyone was silent, and only the loud sound of an entire continent exploding¡ªturning into cinders¡ªcould be heard.

    Even though the Demon Realm was miles away from the battlefield¡ªeven though it was so far away¡ªeveryone felt the pressure and loud sound of its destruction.

    The bright light emanating from the explosion brightened up the sky.

    It wasn''t pure white.

    No.

    Its amber essence dwarfed the sun, as it was even brighter than the ball of light that usually gave its free rays during the day.

    It was so bright, so powerful, so destructive.

    They all witnessed its Majesty, as it painted the skies in a distance.

    Even though they could not witness the destruction itself, the scale of the st could be deduced by everyone.

    They all understood.

    "The Demons... have been extinguished."

    *****************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 505 Conclusion Of The War

    Though some found it to be an extreme measure, it was the most appropriate course of action.

    No one could me Jared Leonard for his actions¡ªconsidering he had enough power to do it.

    Still, even though their eyes disyed wonder, they couldn''t get rid of the fear that was creeping into their hearts.

    After all...

    ... Not only was the st of destruction a beacon of hope, but it was also a warning.

    If anyone dared to cross humanity¡ªno, Jared Leonard¡ªthey would be next.

    That was enough for everyone to maintain a somber silence and watch the demise of the only Race that was foolish enough to defy the young boy.

    "H-he... no... n-no way..." Abellion began to mutter, his head shivering in disbelief... and an indescribable feeling of loss.

    His people, hisnd, his pride.

    Everything he loved.

    Everyone he cherished.

    They were all gone in a sh of amber-yellow light.

    "You don''t get to sound pitiful, man. You brought this on yourself." Abellion heard a prickly toneing from the man who held him up to see what happened.

    "Y-you... how dare you? How dare you say that? There were innocents there! Children! Innocent Demons! You killed them all!" Abellion roared in pain as tears burst from his eyes.

    "I was right all along! Father never believed me! I was right! You all are threats! You all would bring an end to our Race! I knew it! Look what happened! If only we took action sooner! You lot are the true monsters! My people... YOU KILLED THEM ALL!!!"

    After a moment of silence, Neron''s voice finally shattered the Demon King''s self-serving rant.

    "Weren''t you going to the same to everyone else? Hypocrite."

    Hearing those words, Abellion could do nothing but keep his widened eyes open as more tears streamed down.

    "This is all your fault. The least you could do as a leader is to admit that."

    It was clear to everyone at this point. The way they all looked at him with disgust.

    The Demon King had simply been in denial all along.

    He refused to ept that he was the architect of his people''s destruction. Because of his blind belief, he led his people into war, hoping to eradicate every other Race.

    But, when the tables were turned and it was his people that got the short end of the stick, he could do nothing but wail like a baby.

    "You disgust me." With those words permeating his head, Abellion''s cracked voice leaked out as his eyes became too heavy.

    ''Was I wrong? Me? How could I have been?''

    The people who followed him¡ªthose who believed in his philosophy¡ªwould that make them fools for trusting in his erroneous judgment?

    He had instigated a coup, killed his brethren, rose to power, and forged connections with his only Allies, just to achieve his goal.

    All he wanted to do was protect his people.

    ''The humans are a threat... ''

    Was it so wrong for a leader to desire fully assured peace for his people?

    ''Everyone else is a threat...''

    It couldn''t have been erroneous to desire an expansion of his species beyond the continent they were confined to¡ªforced to live out their lives under a cloud of Miasma.

    No, they deserved better!

    "I wasn''t wrong..." Abellion muttered as his life shed before his eyes.

    He did everything for his people. He did everything for the glory of the Demon Race. There was no way he would turn back on his ideals now.<sub> </sub>

    Too many had died believing in him. Innocents were ughtered, and those who fought by his side had all been extinguished.

    As thest person carrying the amber of his ambition, Abellion refused to give in.

    "I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wro¡ª"

    >SQUISH!<

    Before he could say any more, his head was crushed by Neron''s grip,pletely destroying it in the process.

    Blood spurted from every opening, and his misshapen head lifelessly fell to the ground in a sshy thud.

    Abellion felt his consciousness fading fast. It was truly the end.

    ''I guess he was right... I shouldn''t... have fought Neron Kaelid...''

    With that single repentance echoing in his head, Abellion finally died.

    "Urgh. Guess I used too much strength. His voice was just too annoying." Neron murmured, using Magic to remove the blood that stained his body.

    Usually, none of it would have had gotten on with him, but because he had physical contact with Abellion when he died, the blood wasn''t registered as someone Neron wanted to avoid.

    As a result, it wasn''t automatically blocked out.

    "Tch."

    It didn''t take a moment for Neron to remove the slimy blood on his body, but the look of disgust never left his face.

    "What a fool. He was arrogant until the end..."

    Neron didn''t despise the Demon King''s stubbornness, though.

    His final act simply reminded him of another memory that shed on his end.

    Those words;

    "... I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong. I''m not wrong..."

    Neron had definitely heard them before... from himself.

    The very thought unsettled him, which was why he unintentionally made short work of the Demon King.

    ''Oh, well, no need to get worked up about it.'' Neron decided to let it go.

    There was no need to get bothered by someone as pathetic as Abellion anyway.

    "We won the war. That''s all that matters."

    Once he made this statement, the ck-haired man smiled and nced at the woman who was already drawing close to him.

    "You said it wouldn''t take long."

    "Welp. What can I say? I vividly remember you watching as I got stabbed, though. Couldn''t you have helped... or even shown concern? It hurt, you know?" Neron quickly changed the topic once Serah began drawing too close to him.

    A bead of sweat formed on his face and he gulped a little. Even fighting the big bad never made him so anxious.

    ''This could get a bit dangerous...''

    *****************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 506 Aftermath [Pt 1]

    "W-well, I figured you had some masochistic tendencies since you decided not to avoid any of the des."

    At this point, Serah''s massive breasts were pressing on his chest, and she was wrapping her arm around him.

    Neron felt so many eyes on him¡ªit felt extremely awkward.

    "H-hold on, Sera¡ª"

    Before he could speak, or even activate his [Timeless World], the woman gave him a deep kiss, and he lost himself in the act.

    Gasps of surprise and epic cheers resounded in the air as the two made a public deration of their love.

    Neron was blushing heavily¡ªmaybe because of how embarrassing everything was¡ª and Serah''s wicked grin made it obvious she nned this.

    "You little..."

    "Well, now that everyone knows... you can''t back out anymore." She ced her finger on his lips and winked.

    Neron had to admit, it was hot the way she was acting¡ªso forward and seductive.

    "It''s hard..." Neron suddenly  Serah on her shoulders.

    "You better take responsibility for this." He whispered, now smiling wickedly.

    "A-ah, sure... maybete¡ª"

    "Come on, don''t be shy..."

    "Kyaaa! You brute. Let go of me!" Serah sessfully broke free from his grasp and took to the sky.

    "You can''t escape. Take responsibility!!!" He chased her with determination.

    And, once again, both of them began their dance in the amber sky, one pursuing the other as theyughed and shouted.

    The audience didn''t know what to think at this point.

    "The war... is over, I guess?" Jane was the first to speak.

    "Yeah, I guess so." Aurora seconded.

    "Shouldn''t we do like a victory shout or something?" Gerard murmured

    "Eh? Is that really necessary?" Albion voiced his thoughts.

    "I just want to go home..." Jane sighed

    "What a couple. I''m jealous." Maria whispered, happy that her mentor finally seeded at love.

    "What now?" Ivan was exhausted, but he still wanted to know what woulde next.

    "Let''s wait for Jared. He should being back soon. In the meantime, though..." Court Mage Elrich smiled.

    "Yep. We have to painfully watch those two lovebirds." Freya murmured, now outside the Golem, with Lemi trailing behind her.

    And so, everyone rxed their bodies and enjoyed the two dancing lights in the sky, as they awaited the appearance of the young boy who made all of this possible.

    ''I wonder where he is now...''

    *******************

    I was currently looking at the Demon Realm, watching everything on it reduce to nothing but rubble and smoke.

    It was like a permanent scar on thend, and the Miasma Clouds that once covered the area hadpletely dispersed.

    Of course, I made sure not to damage thend itself, since it was still useful, but everyone living there was most likely dead.

    ''This is the result of that machine... it''s just as powerful as I envisioned.''

    Before I left Ainrk, I gave Maro, Ana, Aloe, and Neron the task of building something important for me.

    The machine was ready in time, and that was what made this whole thing possible.

    Of course, no machine could function without fuel, so the device I wanted built also needed a strong core to carry out its purpose.

    I was initially thinking of making an artificial core that gathered Mana from the surroundings, but even that wouldn''t be enough for the level of destruction I wanted to achieve.

    That was why I could only rely on yet another one of my Arcanas.

    ''[The Sun]''

    In terms of raw power, it was probably the most dangerous.<sub> </sub>

    The Sun was basically an endless pool of self-sustaining energy.

    It had nigh limitless power within, and the best part was that the energy within it reproduced at an abnormal rate, so it never ran out.

    Even I didn''tpletely understand it, but the power within [The Sun] was not Mana. It also wasn''t Miasma. It was... just energy.

    A great amount of it.

    In terms of destruction, The Sun dealt extensive damage¡ªburning everything down to the very atoms.

    ''It can burn through Magic too... and maybe even concepts.''

    I was yet to try thatst part out, and that was because of the dangers that came from using it.

    [The Sun] was an uncontroble, vtile source of power.

    Only those with the highest degree of Mana Control could even dream of siphoning its power without suffering the repercussions.

    One mistake in the absorption ratio could lead to an explosion that could decimate the area.

    In essence, it wasn''t safe.

    ''Energy that can burn through Magic, or any form of resistance... scary stuff.''

    But, it was this very thing that I needed to destroy the Demons.

    I essentially designed my machine to take ount of every little detail, so the energy absorption rate would be moderate.

    Neron hid it in a special space by using a Spell Card I gave him, so¡ªby using a simr Spell Card, I could ess the device.

    I made sure to activate it deep in the mountains¡ªin an uninhabited ce¡ªjust to be safe.

    As expected, it worked perfectly.

    Once I infused the Arcana within the device, it whirred to life, and then I imputed the appropriate coordinates.

    I could have blown the whole continent to smithereens, but I was looking for my Miasma Generator¡ªplus, I also had ns for the continent itself.

    So, I let the explosion ur a little higher.

    Of course, that still meant the death of everyone in the ce.

    Adults and children¡ªevery single member of the Demon Race died, most likely screaming in unimaginable pain as they burned.

    ''Well, the amount of energy would be enough to kill most of them in a second. I''m sure they didn''t feel much pain.''

    Using that tofort myself, I decided to move on to the next phase.

    "I better hurry..." I looked around the devastated area and spotted the location of the Miasma Generator.

    Since that was the only ce where Miasma flowed from, it had to be my target.

    ''Bingo! I''ll just wrap up here.''

    Using a Spell Card to ess my special space, I summoned an Automaton.

    Unlike the others, this one was extremely bulky¡ªlike a stout metal container with arms and legs.

    Rather than functioning on Mana, this one used Miasma.

    "You know what to do."

    The Automaton nodded with its cubby head in subservience.

    "Well, I''m off."

    Flying off to my destination, I left ''The Collector'' to carry out its task.

    *****************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 507 Aftermath [Pt 2]

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    In moments, I arrived at my target location, watching the ruinedndscape even more.

    Fortunately, there were no bodies left behind, or else it would have been quite creepy. I wasn''t feeling very ecstatic about murdering hundreds of thousands of people, but I would do it again if given the same stakes.

    ''Let''s just focus on the job and get out of here. Everyone must be waiting for me...''

    ************

    I found the Miasma Chamber pretty easily. It was buried underground--as I suspected.

    Usually, it would have been buried under piles of rubble, but thanks to the disintegrating effects of my device, the stuff was out in the open for me to see.

    The Miasma Generator itself was within arge metal-like chamber.

    It was asrge as a mansion--or an extremelyrge hall--with lots of space within.

    Of course, the metal used to make the walls, and even the gears that turned in all the sections of the building were materials thY were immune to the effects of Miasma--even Miasma of the highest quality.

    I found some samples when I was with Karlia back then, and advised the Demons to use the metal to construct their chamber.

    I was not privy to the location of the Generator or the chamber, though. This was because of security reasons, and I was also in agreement.

    Who would have known that it would be such a pain in the ass now?

    Looking at the gleaming dark metal that made up the surrounding area, I desired every single ounce.

    ''I need this stuff too... for reasons.'' With a somewhat sly smile, I kept walking within the chamber.

    Gears turned around me, and I observed various capacitors and structures actively ying their role in ensuring Miasma was dispersed efficiently.

    They were all connected to the main Generator through pipes and wires, and their functions were just as important as the pumping machine itself.

    The several auxiliary parts, and even the main Generator seemed to be in overdrive thanks to the current state of the Demon Realm.

    ''The Miasma around has been cleared u

    out, so the Generator is trying to restore the negative energy as quickly as possible. I see...''

    It was a function I added at thest minute, considering unforeseen circumstances could arise where the Demon Realm had their Miasma thinned out.

    ''Well, I better shut this thing down now.''  My thoughts trailed as I moved close to the main machine.

    However--

    >WHIIRRRrrrrrrrrrrr<

    Before I reached it, the device shut down by itself.

    ''No, this isn''t how it should shut down. This almost seems like... someone pulled the plug?''

    Usually, the Miasma Generator would make a different sound when it powered down, and something akin to hissing would be heard--alongside vibration.

    But, now, it just seemed like someone removed the power supply of the whole thing, causing it to forcefully stop working.

    ''The turbines have stopped spinning, and everything has slowly halted. This can only be caused by--!'' My eyes bulged as the only possible scenario came to mind.

    The Arcana responsible had been disconnected from the Generator''s Power supply!

    ''T-that means--!!!''

    >SHIIIIIIIIIII<

    Before I could conclude my statement, I heard a lock suddenly open up, and then a hissing sound escaping from the Generator itself.

    The door leading to its engine, where the Arcana was located--it was moving.

    The very rigid door opened slowly, and I could see someoneing out of it.

    It was just as I feared.

    ''Someone else is here?!''

    >CREAK<<sub> </sub>

    And so, the silhouette of the culprit manifested.

    His movements were slow, but all my senses were on high alert as he came out of the generator and closed the door at the same moment.

    My eyes widened further as his appearance registered in my head. It was too familiar that I couldn''t forget it even if I wanted to.

    ''He is.... how is this even...?''

    The person in front of me was supposed to be dead. I knew that because I killed him, and I was sure the deed wasplete.

    ''How the hell are you still alive, Legris Damien?!''

    "Oh? It''s Jared. You''re here already? Oof, I was really hoping I could get away before you arrived." The man before me gave a silly smile as he raised his hand to show something locked in his fingertips.

    "[The Devil]. You took it, after all." I spoke, controlling myself as I tried to process the situation as calmly as possible.

    "Yeah. Orders from the higher-ups. You know how it is."

    Everything was slowly making sense.

    ''I was tricked! They wanted me to obliterate the Demons so they could get their hands on this Arcana!''

    "It seems you''ve figured it out. As expected of you, Jared. You''ve grown, by the way. You''re looking like a man already."

    "Well, you haven''t changed at all. Though I expected you to look a little... dead?"

    "Haha! Feisty! Well yed. I knew this would surprise you." He chuckled.

    I wasn''t amused in the slightest, so I kept my deadpan expression--trying my hardest not to seem panicky as I looked for the best solution to the current situation.

    "You know, I''m even more amazed that you don''t seem very surprised that I''m alive. I expected a better reaction."

    "Magic makes the impossible possible. There''s no need to be surprised when that is involved." My response was sharp and cold, my eyes narrowing on the target.

    "Well, fair point."

    After he said this, silence pervaded the area for a moment. As I put my brain to work, Legris simply smiled at me. I couldn''t see past his mask.

    "I should get going now. I''ve already dyed long enough." He finally spoke, heaving slightly as he began walking in my direction.

    The dark-cloaked man walked past me, humming jovially as he walked. It was almost as if he was baiting me.

    At this point, I had no choice but to respond.

    "Do you really think I''ll let you leave?" I turned my head, ring obviously at him.

    Once I said this, Legris stopped in his tracks. He didn''t bother looking at me, though. The man simply spoke from where he stood.

    "You know, I like you, Jared. You''re smart, powerful, and very unpredictable. That''s why I''ve been very amodating to you..." His voice slowly began to carry a very dangerous vibe.

    It made me shiver a little.

    "... But, there''s a limit to everything." At this point, he looked at me.

    A dark smile was nted on his face, and all I could see was pure malevolence.

    Unbelievable pressure came upon me, cussing perspiration to spread all over my skin.

    However, this onlysted a moment. Legris once again assumed his cheerful persona and smiled.

    "Don''t be a sore loser, Jared. I win this round."

    *****************

    [A/N]

    Special Discount next month.

    Up to 50% Discount will be given for the highest Tier Privilege Chapters, and other Discounts will be granted to lower Tiers.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 508 Losing The Game

    I thought I had prepared for every contingency.

    I made sure everything went ording to n, and even made sure to manipte several ends to achieve the results I desired. But...

    ... I didn''t expect Legris Damien to still be alive.

    Even though Magic made the impossible possible, I wasn''t counting on it this time.

    At his time of death, Legris couldn''t use Magic. I made sure of that.

    Though, with Jane''s Soul Project being known to me, I realized that there could have been other ways he could have used to cheat death. Still, wouldn''t that still require the soul?

    I was sure that his soul died alongside his body.

    It made no sense that he was currently standing behind me, smiling cheerily.

    "Don''t be a sore loser, Jared. You lost this round." His words pierced my heart.

    Why?

    Because he was right.

    I didn''t want to ept it, but the fact that he was standing right here¡ªholding [The Devil] Arcana¡ªmeant my n was already in shambles.

    I could try to forcefully retrieve it, but there was no way Legris wouldn''t see thating. Unlike the one I knew and killed, this Legris seemed leagues different.

    He had an unexinable aura around him that I found utterly repulsive... and scary.

    I had no prep time, neither did I know the full extent of his capabilities. I was the one with the short end of the stick this time.

    I was cornered!

    "You impressed me, though. I''ve been watching from the sidelines, and this borate scheme of yours is simply superb. If not for my interference, you would have pulled an outstanding victory."

    He said that, but it didn''t change the fact that he could have interfered sooner. If he did so, I would have lost the war too.

    ''Legris is very intelligent. Surely, he saw through a great deal of my ns. If he had helped the Demons, things could have gone differently...''

    The question was why?

    Perhaps it was because I would have noticed something was wrong and changed my ns to a new, subtler one.

    He predicted that and decided to stay out of it until it was time to reap the rewards.

    He was truly the winner this time around.

    "Can you at least tell me one thing? Why does your organization want to get rid of the Demons?"

    Legris scratched his head once my question reached him. He looked harmless, truly, but I knew everything was an act.

    "Well, my mission is simply to obtain this Arcana. The best way to do that, while also covering our tracks is to create a conflict between the Demon Faction and everyone else."

    I was slowly grasping the situation, but there was still so much I didn''t know.

    "Of course, we didn''t expect you to have gone as far as forming an Alliance. I''ll admit, that was genius. We also didn''t expect you to involve the Magic Beasts and achieve such an overwhelming victory. Finally, we didn''t expect you topletely wipe out the Demons... that was overkill."<sub> </sub>

    I exceeded their expectations, but Legris didn''t seem affected by that at all. In fact, it was like he relished everything I had aplished.

    "Still, we achieved our goals. You see, we would have had to subdue the Demons ourselves if we wanted to obtain the Arcana. Not only would that be a waste of time, but it would also alert everyone else of our existence." Legris continued.

    So, the most efficient way to handle the situation was to make someone else do the work while they reaped the benefit.

    I had no idea why Legris was sofortable sharing so much information with me. Perhaps he was simply trying to misdirect me. There had to be more to everything than what he was telling me.

    ''No way! Could it be¡ª!'' I struggled to keep my expression intact, staring at Legris with more caution than earlier.

    Even though all that Legris mentioned were valid reasons for pitting the Demons against us, that couldn''t be all there was to it.

    If I was correct, then...

    ''... Just how many Arcanas do they have in their possession now?''

    I wanted to ask Legris, but he would catch on to the fact that I already knew their other objective.

    ''They used the War as a distraction. His Organization probably moved more freely during this period and got their hands on more Arcanas.''

    It pissed me off that I had ignored that possibility and simply focused on what was in front of me.

    I had been short-sighted this whole time¡ªupied with a game they designed to keep me busy.

    The worst part was that I ultimately lost the game.

    Sure, our side won the war, but these guys were one step ahead. Once again, I failed to grasp the full extent of their capabilities... as well as the scope of their ns.

    ''Asking Legris any more questions will be disadvantageous for me. I should stop now.''

    "It seems you''ve gotten what you wanted. You should also realize by now that your Magic or Anti-Magic won''t work on me. I''m fully prepared, so you can''t stop me this time. You''re wee to try, though." My opponent goaded me more, but I refused to be moved.

    "I see. That''s a shame. By the way..." He raised his index finger and pointed at himself.

    "... You put a Tracking Automaton on me, didn''t you? No, not just one... three? That''s impressive!"

    ''He noticed!'' My eyes widened as I stared at the smiling man.

    "And here I thought you had given up. Jared, you sly boy."

    He figured it out. Legris Damien was a truly frightening individual. I had done the same for Damien Lawcroft, but he didn''t notice anything in the slightest.

    It just went to show the difference in their abilities.

    "You n on tracking me back to the Organization... probably listen in to get more Intel as well. Wow, color me impressed."

    No, I was more impressed.

    ''Those Automatons are too small to be noticed naturally, and they have the [Unknowable] effect on them. It''s more surprising that he saw through them.''

    Compared to mepared to all I had done so far...

    ... Legris Damien was the true monster.

 Chapter 509 Ground Zero

    "Well, nice try. But, as I said... don''t be a sore loser."

    A slight surge of power emanated from Legris, frying my Automatons until they popped like little fireworks.

    "That should do it." He dusted his body to get rid of the microscopic particles on his body.

    I couldn''t do anything but watch as he exited through the entrance.

    "I''m going to get promoted for this achievement, by the way. I guess we''ll meet sooner orter. Until then, Jared."

    Once Legris'' words wereplete, he vanished from sight--most likely returning to whoever sent him to retrieve the Arcana.

    Clenching my fist as I was left alone in the powerless Miasma Chamber, I gritted my teeth and looked at the hard ground.

    Disappointment coursed through my body and I could feel the heat within me rise at a terrifying rate.

    ''I failed! He got me! Shit!''

    With Legris gone, the negative emotions I locked away had full reign.

    I was deluded into thinking I had full control, but I was ying someone else''s game.

    Just as I outwitted Legris back at Ainrk, he paid me back in full--this time at a muchrger scale.

    "Damnit..." I whispered.

    There was no second-guessing it.

    "... I lost."

    **************

    [One Week Later]

    Within the fairlyrge seminar hall, there was a round table.

    It appeared more oval shaped than circr, and seated around it were the most important people among the newly-established Alliance.

    There was;

    The Elf Queen--Aurora.

    The Fairy Representative--Jane

    The Beast King--Gerard

    The Dwarf Chief--Dulum

    The Human King--Albion

    The Head Of The Newly Established Magic Beast Beast Council--The Mighty Dragon King Z''ark

    Behind the seated ones stood one of their most trusted representatives.

    They all looked at each other, discussing the path to the future.

    For example, Jane began making conversation with Albion concerning what value the Eastern Kingdom could give her in exchange for fair rtions.

    The one who seemed the most out of his Element was the Dragon King. He simply observed everyone in his miniaturized form, looking more like a puppy than a ferocious creature.

    Everyone kept conversing, some making light humor or references, keeping the room lively as they expected one more person to join them.

    While they were nearlyplete, there was still a seat that was yet to be taken--the one at the front of the round table.

    The seat left for the person truly in charge.

    >CREAK<

    Finally, the doors leading to the room opened, and the man of the hour arrived.

    His face was bright as always, and he had an unperturbed expression as he walked across the room.

    Everyone''s eyes were on him, and they ceased their talks in an instant.

    "Sorry I''mte. I had to handle the conclusion of a certain matter."<sub> </sub>

    The blond boy nced in the direction of Jane, the Fairy Representative, who gave him an inquisitive eyebrow raise.

    It seemed they were passing a signal to each other.

    The boy nodded, and the Fairy smiled with satisfaction.

    "Alright, then. Since we''re all here, let''s begin the meeting."

    His name was none other than Jared Leonard--the savior of everyone present in the room, as well as their people.

    *****************

    ''Alright. This is it...'' I steeled myself as I had my seat.

    There were lots of matters to discuss, so I had to get to the main point as quickly as possible.

    "First of all, I would like to appreciate the Fairy Leader for granting us the use of her facility to organize this meeting.

    As we all know, this is our very first proper meeting as an Alliance, after the Demonic Incursion."

    My words were met with nods, and since salutations were out of the way, it was time for business.

    "Firstly, as per my deal with the Magic Beasts when I employed their help, they will be moving into the Northern Continent--previously known as the Demon Realm."

    One of the major issues the Magic Beasts had was theck of a definite territory.

    This caused them to be fragmented--living in tribes of a few dozen at most. As a result, they often shed with each other for food and other essential resources.

    This also made their strength dwindle.

    But, with the Magic Beasts now united under a single banner, and also the Alliance, they required a definite territory.

    Since I had decided to eradicate the Demons, it was in everyone''s best interest to grant their territory to the Magic Beasts.

    "The repairs are already done, so your people will be transported very soon. Have you done what I asked?" I looked at the small Dragon King.

    Z''ark was an expert on Matter Maniption, so he could shrink his body. It was a convenient ability to have.

    "Yes. We''ve conducted a continent-wide survey of the newnd. It suits our needs. We''ve also conducted a census and brokered territorial rights amongst ourselves."

    I nodded in satisfaction, d we could proceed with the next matter on our list.

    "As we all know, the Demon threat has vanished."I paused, looking at everyone to gauge their reaction.

    Of course, it was nothing short of pleasant. After all, the battle had zero casualties on our end.

    Everyone who died on our side waspletely revived--though they weren''t many, to begin with.

    Injuries were treated mid-battle too, so there wasn''t any loss on our end.

    The only ones who suffered a one-sided crushing defeat were the Demons.

    ''And, speaking of Demons...'' I smiled.

    I had ''The Collector'', one of my highly specialized Automatons, gather all their Souls before they dissipated.

    In consideration for Kahn, and also for personal reasons, I absorbed all the Demon Souls and made every single one my Familiar.

    Of course, that included the other Demon Lords--even Abellion.

    The only Demon I spared was Aries. It was about time he rested in peace, so I left his soul to dissipate.

    Everyone else was currently within me, in their Sub Miasma Cores.

    ''They''re not exactly alive, but they''re notpletely dead either.''

    At least, using this method, they wouldn''t be manipted... and they could prove useful to me.

    Of course, that simply made my body a hive of an entire species, but the results were worth it.

    ''I''ve gotten stronger, after all.''

 Chapter 510 Silver Lining [Pt 1]

    "There''s no need to worry about them being revived and organizing a counterattack. They''re gone for good now." I smiled.

    "Pfft." Jane Urs suddenly burst outughing, but quickly controlled herself.

    Since she was connected to me through the Soul Brand, she knew everything concerning the Demons.

    It was probably hrious to her.

    "Okay... moving on."

    There was an elephant in the room that everyone wasn''t willing to address, so I decided to take the reins on that one.

    "As for the weapon of mass destruction that I used to destroy the Demons, it remains in my possession."

    Everyone''s face stiffened at my mention of the device.

    There was no doubt that there would be controversies on whether a single individual could wield so much power.

    However, I couldn''t let go of potential leverage.

    "We will all sign an agreement that will make me unable to use the device on you. I will also be giving you all the blueprints, so you can build yours if you wish."

    Everyone here was currently bound by a Magic Agreement that made us unable to betray the other.

    It wasn''t like the Agreement restricted our action, but if any of us was to break the pact, that person would suffer serious damage to their Soul, and everyone else would be alerted of their actions.

    A single subversive thought wouldn''t hurt the host, but it would still alert us of their animosity.

    That way, we could maintain certain levels of trust, transparency, and ountability among one another.

    "Is that eptable?"

    Everyone nodded, but Jane still raised her hand for an objection.

    "What of the power source you used for your Machine? Is it possible to replicate that? Considering the Device''s power is only as good as the Core it is infused with, wouldn''t the agreement be redundant if our Machines are not as effective as yours?"

    My face was calm, but within me, I was grinning.

    Why?

    It was a pre-nned question.

    What sort of gathering among leaders wouldn''t have controversy? I had prepared some counters beforehand, so I wouldn''t be the only one taking the lead in the meeting.

    "You''re right. The Core is what defines the output the Machine can deliver. However, there can only be one of such an item."

    I exined how rare the core I used was, so everyone could understand that I wasn''t hoarding it.

    "Besides, this leads me to my next point. If we all work together, we''ll be able to get items simr to that Core. By distributing them amongst ourselves, it should even out the bnce."

    Even in times of peace, it was better to have all parties satisfied with their personal security and resources.

    I didn''t want anyone to feel like they were missing out on anything.<sub> </sub>

    That way, we would have a more sustainable monolith, rather than a group of disgruntled leaders.

    ''Now, shall we move on to the main matter...''

    "There''s something you should all know."

    This would be the first time I was telling this to anyone other than Jane and Neron, but I was currently pressed for time¡ªand I needed all hands on deck.

    "The War we had with the Demons was invited by a third party. They are an Organization shrouded in mystery, and they are certainly very smart and powerful¡ªcapable of being hidden for so long, yet affecting the world in many ways..."

    I had gained the trust of everyone here, so they didn''t doubt my words when I exined more about the Organization.

    "Damien Lawcroft. Legris Damien. The Eastern Kingdom Spies. Their members are widely spread. It''s a good thing we''ve thinned out their connections to the Eastern Kingdom. We''ll be doing thorough sweeps on the other Nations, just to be sure their influence doesn''t sink too deep into our new era."

    Fortunately, my audience agreed.

    "You''re probably wondering how this rtes to the subject of the Core I mentioned earlier. Well, that is tied to the objectives of the Organization."

    Though it was most likely a means to an end, they were still gathering Arcanas. I couldn''t allow them to seed.

    "Their objective during the war was to obtain the treasure of the Demons, an Arcana known as [The Devil]."

    Once I observed the expressions of everyone present, I realized they were finding it hard to grasp the whole logic behind transcendental power being in form of Cards.

    "May I ask a question? These Arcanas, what is the proof of their existence?" Jane, once again, took her queue and asked the question I needed to prompt my next move.

    "That''s because I have a few in my possession. The Core used for the Device is one of them. I lent three out to certain people I trust¡ªone of which is in this room." I looked in the direction of Elrich Lendertwale, who nodded.

    He brought out his Arcana, showing everyone the patterned Card.

    ''I gave [The Sun] to Serah as per my promise to make her stronger. She was also whining about how it was unfair that Neron already got one... that woman...'' I smiled, shaking my head slightly.

    I nned on giving Jane [The Hanged Man] since it was connected to the project we were currently working on.

    I just concluded Phase 1, which was why I was a bitte to the meeting.

    If everything went well¡ªas soon as possible¡ªwe would have countermeasures for the impending tragedy toe.

    "So, that''s how it is." After exining for a bit, everyone understood and finally epted the concept of Arcanas.

    "There are 22 Arcanas in total, and we only have four in our possession."

    If I counted the ones I knew of, the number would rise by two¡ªconsidering my interactions with [The Fool] and [The Devil].

    Still, those were currently abstract.

    "I have no idea how many Arcanas the enemies have been able to gather, but I can surmise they haven''tpleted the whole set."

    And I was certain of that because of one reason.

    ''If they have retrieved everything... we would be their next targets.''

 Chapter 511 Silver Lining [Pt 2]

    I had ensured that all Arcanas in my possession were used at least once in the battle against the Demons.

    This was because I wanted to bait the enemy by showing the cards I had up my sleeve.

    Of course, they couldn''t be so sure that the four I disyed were all I had in hand, so that meant they would being for me sooner orter.

    It was now certain to me that the enemy had a certain Magic Ability that allowed them to observe our actions to an extent. Perhaps that too was the work of an Arcana.

    ''No. I can''t restrict myself to think that. It could be Original Magic, or maybe a Magic Item.''

    Either way, they must have seen the Arcanas in action.

    If they were done finding the others, we would be next for sure.

    ''If they also reach a deadlock, or are almost done with their pieces, they''ll probably think we have the rest...''

    At this point, I knew I was ying with fire--considering how they had managed to pull one over from under me thest time.

    But, I wasn''t going to back down.

    ''I''ll just be smarter and stronger next time.'' Clenching my fist, an image of Legris appeared in my head.

    We would meet one day.

    ''When that timees, Legris...'' My eyebrows furrowed in determination.

    ''... I won''t lose!''

    "Subtracting the four in our possession, there are eighteen Arcanas left."

    Legris had told me that they gathered seven already, back when we had a showdown at Ainrk.

    I didn''t think he was trying to misdirect me then, but there was no way to be absolutely sure.

    Counting [The Devil] Arcana, as well as a few others that they could have probably picked while we were distracted, it was most likely that they had already gotten at least ten.

    ''Ten Arcanas... that''s scary!''

    I wondered why such a group chose to hide in the shadows despite how powerful they were.

    No one would be able to stand a chance against 10 Arcanas.

    I wasn''t sure about Neron, but everyone else would lose badly.

    ''Or are they avoiding something? Is that why they''ve been in the background for so long?'' I was in a dilemma.

    It would be in my best interest to find out more, but we were pressed for time in the other departments.

    "That means there are about 8 Arcanas left to discover. If we hurry and gather those before the Organization can, then we can gain the upper hand and thwart their ns."

    Since they weren''t going to reveal themselves, all we had to do was smoke them out.

    As for their members....if I used Legris Damien as a standard for all twelve seats, then we were in quite a pickle.

    ''But, since Damien Lawcroft was a member, probably at least a lower seat member--after all, he was in charge of the Royal Capital--that meant all their members weren''t as scary as Legris.''<sub> </sub>

    I just wished I had more information.

    "The enemy holds most of the cards now--both literally and figuratively. We can''t afford to be sloppy, but we must also tread with caution."

    This time, Aurora raised her hand for a question.

    Was it expected?

    ''Well, of course!''

    "How do you n on going about finding the Arcanas?"

    I smiled, nodding in a cool manner.

    "The truth is that I''ve been doing some background work before now. During the war, I made contact with two members--Legris and Damien Lawcroft..."

    I sessfully ced trackers on both sides, allowing me to get a good idea of their locations and any conversation going on around them.

    "Legris found my trackers right away and destroyed them... but that was simply a misdirection. I knew he was smart and powerful enough to prepare for that too, so I simply used that as an extra."

    The true tracker was embedded in the Arcana he had with him.

    ''If there''s an Arcana I''m most familiar with, it''s definitely [The Devil]. In my past life, I had done extensive research on the thing so I could sessfully develop the Miasma Generator.''

    Plus, thanks to my special constitution, I was the only one who could get very close to the thing and study it for very long.

    Thanks to that, I understood the structure and pattern well. It was one of the reasons I was able to get the hang of making my Miasma Cores self-sustaining.

    "I embedded a monitoring code in the Arcana. So, it''ll lead us directly to the Organization, give us enough information to kickstart our new objective, and we''ll be able to finally have a headstart for once."

    As for Damien Lawcroft, it seemed he was finally making his first move after a week had gone by.

    ''He''s heading East. Is there anything there? Maybe their headquarters... or maybe the hideout of another member of the Organization that he''s acquainted with?'' Either way, I was going to wait it out until I was ready to harvest my rewards.

    "Once again, we need to team up tobat this new shadow that is descending upon us. I ask for everyone''s help and their unconditional cooperation."

    An Organization that was malevolent enough to intentionally sacrifice an entire race for their objectives... that was gathering Arcanas so steadily...

    ''... They''re going to be tough. Tougher than anything I''ve faced until now.''

    Fortunately, I had many capable allies now.

    ''Currently, I''ve told Neron, Aurora, and Jane my true identity. Serah doesn''t need to know for her toplete her tasks effectively, and in due time, I''ll reveal it to more people as I see fit.''

    It was also time to consider evolving the current concept of Magic that everyone was practicing.

    This wasn''t a time to be hoarding knowledge, but I had to ensure that the enemy didn''t get their hands on the techniques and information I had, else they would be even more dangerous.

    ''Even Neron kept his technique secret for a simr reason.''

    Still...

    Since I had shared my Arcanas and secret identity with my trusted allies, I was supposed to have more faith in them and entrust more into their hands.

 Chapter 512 Tough Call [Pt 1]

    In the just-concluded war, many people exceeded my expectations and were prime for an upgrade.

    ''Maria, Ana, Edward, Ciara, Jerry, even Ivan.'' They had all done exceptionally well.

    I also needed to teach Lemi more about her current abilities.

    ''So much to do, so little time...''

    And, yes, there was one other important thing I had to attend to.

    Considering the challenges ahead, it was better to rip the band-aid off as soon as possible... for their sakes and mine.

    ''It''s time I reject the girls!''

    This was going to be one of my toughest ventures yet.

    "Pfffttt!!!" Janeughed once again, most likely because of my girl problems.

    "Tch."

    Everyone else looked confused about her outburst and my re. It was none of their business, anyway, so I decided to conclude the meeting.

    "Thank you all foring. Hopefully, we meet again in more favorable conditions."

    Though we had a good time together, it was finally time to return to our homnd.

    Of course, long-distancemunication would be a necessity, so this wasn''t necessarily goodbye.

    "This meeting is hereby adjourned."

    *******************

    I would have asked Jane for some girl advice, but she was a weirdo.

    I''d really just be shooting myself in the leg if I dared to enlist her help.

    For one, I doubted she had feelings for someone. Secondly, she was obsessed with Magic. Lastly, she could be very blunt and inconsiderate.

    The girls I was nning on talking to were Freya, Maria, and Ana. I didn''t know how the number got to three, but I had to nip it in the bud before it became a bigger problem.

    And, because of that... I decided to go for Freya first.

    ''I''ve known her the shortest. She''s also an Elf, so I hope she doesn''t take this too badly...''

    We met in the Royal Garden, and the atmosphere betrayed my intentions.

    The lush flowers, the pleasant aroma, and the gentle breeze that wafted around us. Surely, this was a location meant for confessions and not rejection.

    Still, I had prepared myself before now. There was no way I could turn back.

    "Freya, I..."

    As she was tending to the flowers, caressing them as one would do to a pet, she looked at me with an eager smile.

    "Yes? Go on."

    My heart was pricked by her statement, but this was the time to stand my ground. It was for the best!

    "I''ll be leaving for my Kingdom tomorrow, and... I just wanted to say... about what you told me that time..."

    "Okay...?" Her voice trailed as she left what she was doing and looked squarely at my face.

    One of her eyebrows was raised, and the tension instantly skyrocketed to an unimaginable degree.

    "W-well, I don''t feel the same... I''m sorry..." In my own roundabout way, I was done with the rejection.

    All that was left was for Freya to perhaps p my face and cry off, or break down in front of me.<sub> </sub>

    No matter the oue, I was bound to feel terrible.

    ''I''m sorry. This is the only wa¡ª''

    "Uh? What the heck are you talking about?"

    Freya''s voice sharply returned my mind to reality, and even I was a bit surprised by that response.

    "Eh?"

    "I mean, what are you talking about? Is it what I said about liking you? Why can''t you just say that? Jeez, are you really that much of a wuss? Looks like I misjudged you."

    ''O-ouch...!!!'' Freya''s words cut through me like a knife.

    Now that I thought of it, she was Aurora''s daughter.

    Back in the good ol'' days, her mother used to pick on me too. Why did I even get involved with the daughter?

    "I-I see..." Were the only words I could say after recoiling from the emotional damage.

    I couldn''t even meet her gaze because she was currently staring at me condescendingly¡ªalmost as though I was dirt.

    ''Why did I even decide to be considerate with her? Crazy girl! It feels like I''m the one being rejected!''

    Welp, either way, it seemed like everything still worked out. I just had to take the win and call it ''Mission Complete.''

    "W-well, then, I guess this is it. I''ll see you around." Sharply turning from the girl, I quickened my pace and decided to vanish from her sight.

    "W-wait! Who did you choose, then? Lemi?"

    "WHAT THE HECK!?!" I didn''t know when I shouted, once again facing Freya.

    What gave the impression that I was even trying to get romantically entangled with my own daughter? What sort of disgusting pervert would I be to even do something like that?

    "So, that''s a no? That''s a relief."

    What was that for? Did she really have leftover feelings, and would be jealous if I picked her cousin over her?

    "Thank goodness, she doesn''t have to be with a wuss like you. Honestly, despite your valiant acts in the war, you''re pathetic as a man."

    More emotional damage coursed through me as I stared at the smiling Elf with a hurt expression.

    ''W-why? Why do you feel the need to do this?'' I couldn''tprehend it.

    "Then, maybe Maria? Or someone else you have back home?" She continued, looking at me with a curious gaze.

    Women were hard to read when it came to stuff like this, and while my instincts were telling me she still had feelings for me, I wasn''t arrogant enough to believe them.

    ''She has moved on. That''s good.'' I smiled, recovering from the battering words she had given earlier.

    "None of them, Freya." I smiled slowly, looking at the young Elf beauty.

    ''To be honest, if I was to choose at this moment, it would be you...''

    From a logical point of view, she was the best choice.

    Not only were the others too young, but they didn''t have too deep a connection to my past life.

    Not only were the Elves close to the Fairies¡ªby that, I meant Jane¡ªFreya was also cousins with Lemi, my daughter.

    Aurora and I had a history as well, and the Elf Kingdom was a way more conducive environment for me.

    She was a perfect candidate.

 Chapter 513 Tough Call [Pt 2]

    ''I even saved her life, so she''s bound to have a deep connection with me...''

    However, that was simply based on my logical deductions.

    Emotionally speaking, it was a different ball game entirely.

    There was no way Aurora would let me get close to her daughter, considering what I did to Emilia in the past.

    I couldn''t even attempt something like that in good conscience.

    ''I don''t want to hurt those I care about anymore...''

    Maybe I had a thing for Elves, but there was a limit to my foolishness.

    Since I couldn''t guarantee any progress in a rtionship, it was better to steer away fromplicated romantic affairs.

    "I see. Well, then... I guess I''ll see you tomorrow. When you''re leaving." She smiled.

    It was somewhat distant, but I was in no position to point that out.

    "Alright. Thank you." Upon saying that, I took my leave, refusing to turn back another time.

    ''Bye... Freya...''

    ******************

    "He''s gone already, Lemi. You cane out now." Freya sighed.

    Slowly, a Half-Elf popped out of the bushes, scattering leaves all around as she emerged.

    Some of the green, pink, and yellow flora remained on her hair and she had to shake it vehemently to get rid of them all.

    "Well, I guess our bet is null. None of us could get him in the end." Lemi murmured, drawing close to her cousin.

    Both girls seemed to be doing well for a moment, even smiling at each other with passionate expressions.

    However, a secondter, their expressions told something else.

    "FREYAAAAAAA!!!"

    "LEMIIIIII!!!"

    Both girls jumped at each other in a tight embrace as they cried.

    It was the first time they had been rejected. Considering their looks and status, no male Elf would dare reject their feelings.

    Perhaps it was worse for Lemi, because this would be the first time she felt so invested in a man. Just when she thought of giving love a try, her heart was shattered into a million pieces.

    "And I''ll be having training with him for a while. How am I supposed to look at him?!" Lemi wept, rolling on the floor at this point.

    "You think it''s easy for me too? Mom is going to letting me handle a lot of delegate functions, which means I''ll be seeing him often too. Ah, this sucks!!!"

    The girls cried, even more, letting their pent-up frustration out.

    It was a truly sad moment for the two lovely girls... and one could only hope that they found a genuine lover in the future.

    At the very least, someone who wasn''t scum... like Jared Leonard.

    *****************

    ''I sensed Lemi hiding in the bushes back then. Was she listening to our conversation?''

    The thought of the Half-Elf actually having feelings for me crossed my mind, but I instantly blew it away.

    ''NO WAY! DON''T THINK ABOUT IT!''

    Lemi''s face was exactly the same as myte wife, Emilia''s.

    Anytime I looked at her, I was reminded of the woman I loved. It felt as though Emilia was watching me.

    ''How can I think of something like that?!''

    It was not only cringe, it was dangerous for me.

    Merely having a thought of the both of us together... made me run mad internally.<sub> </sub>

    ''Another girl... my daughter, with my wife''s face...'' I shuddered.

    I just couldn''t imagine something like that.

    NO WAY!

    While there were lingering regrets concerning how I handled the situation with Freya, I could do nothing but move forward.

    After all, the deed was done already.

    ''All that''s left is Maria... and Ana.''

    These two were the most difficult, but if I was to pick, I''d go for telling Maria first.

    Maybe it was because she was close by, and it was best if I settled things before we got to the Eastern Empire.

    ''To be honest, I wish I could just send a rejection letter...'' But that would be very rude of me.

    Besides, unlike Freya who was very upfront about it, Maria never said anything about having feelings for me.

    It was the same for Ana too.

    ''That means I''ll have to reject them in a roundabout way... maybe tell the girls about my intended celibacy.''

    With that in mind, I searched for Maria.

    ''Since I''m on a roll, I shouldn''t waste this momentum!''

    ****************

    ''How did ite to this?!''

    I was currently in Maria''s room. Yes, the room of the girl I was about to reject.

    This was even a worse location,pared to the garden.

    "You can sit there." She pointed to her bed, and I did so obediently.

    ''I''ll be hurting her feelings. The least I could do is this...''

    With that, I waited on her bed as she sat beside me.

    It became afortable atmosphere once I adjusted to it, and the bed was quite nice too. The only problem was the watchful gaze of Maria on me.

    It felt like she was staring widely at me, but I couldn''t turn my head to meet her gaze.

    Was it guilt, or...?

    ''Why is my heart beating so fast? This Maria...'' I sighed internally,posing my thoughts as I slightly looked at her.

    "So, what''s the matter?" Her calm voice cascaded on me, causing steam to rise from my heated face.

    ''Stay calm, Jared! Look, the girl is calm!''

    Maria was always calm. Her expression remained cool and collected at every moment.

    Perhaps that was why I thought it would be easier to talk to her.

    But, having those cool eyes look at me so causally when we were on her bed... it just gave me an unsettling feeling.

    "I... have something to tell you." Having taken the first step, I decided to proceed without holding back.

    ''I''ve hurt enough women. I can''t let my weakness get the better of me!'' As that resolve coursed through me, my lips parted and words surged forth.

    "T-the thing, is, Maria... I¡ª"

    "Hold on. I have something to say too... can I go first?"

    As her words tickled my ears, I looked at her with surprise.

    ''Eh?''

 Chapter 514 Marias Forwardness [Pt 1]

    My eyes widened as I, for the first time, fully looked at Maria''s face.

    It looked sort of the same, but her cheeks were slightly flushed and her eyes were full of determination.

    For some reason, due to the darkened ambiance of the room, she was looking far more mature than I initially thought.

    ''I guess she wants to confess.''

    Was this good or bad? I wasn''t sure.

    But, if she was to confess at this moment, wouldn''t it be easier for me to reject her? I mean, she was only sending signals before. It wasn''t concrete enough to warrant a ''No''.

    But now? If she expressed her feelings, I could just tell her the truth about mine.

    ''Alright. I''ll let her go first.''

    "Maria, you can¡ª"

    Before I finished, her hands slightlynded on my cheeks, caressing them slowly.

    "You''re hot..."

    ''Eh?'' I initially didn''t understand what she meant by that¡ªor why she was touching me so intimately.

    ''Her hands are cold... and she''s shivering a bit. Is she alright?''

    I raised my hands to hold hers, definitely to remove them from my body before it was toote.

    However¡ª

    "Your cheeks are so hot..." Maria moved closer to me.

    "... Are you alright?"

    Her face was too close, causing me to turn away, sharply causing her hands to fly away from me.

    ''Oh crap! Why does she have to go this far? Does she not realize what she''s doing? As the adult here, I should put an end to this.''

    "Actually, Maria, I¡ª"

    As gently as the breeze, yet as swift as lightning, Maria''s lipsnded on mine. It was too fast, and truly... I couldn''t exin how I was unable to react to someone slower than me by every standard.

    ''W-wha¡ª?!''

    Maria kissed me, returning her hands to my cheeks as she pulled closer.

    ''N-no... I can''t. This is wrong. I can''t!''

    My body was weakened for some reason, and I slowly throbbed as I raised my hand to push her away.

    But, Maria must have seen thising since the next thing she did was push me backward, causing my stiffened body to fall on the bed.

    ''N-no!''

    Even though our lips detached, I felt in even more danger because of my new position. My eyes widened once they witnessed what came after my descent.

    Swiftly, Maria positioned herself atop me and looked at me from her higher angle.

    To be honest, she looked so attractive, and I could feel something rise from within and beneath me, but I focused squarely on what I had to do.

    ''You''re terrible, Jared. What''s wrong with you!''

    "The truth is..." Her whisper was cool, and her wide eyes watched me without blinking even once.

    "... I''m sixteen now. My birthday was a few days ago."

    >THUMP!<

    >THUMP!<

    >THUMP!<

    "That means I''m a legal adult..."

    >THUMP!<

    >THUMP!<

    >THUMP!<<sub> </sub>

    "So, even though going any further with you would be considered a sexual assault on my part, I..."

    >THUMP!<

    >THUMP!<

    >THUMP!<

    She drew her face closer and kissed me once more. At this point, my body didn''t even offer any resistance, and I closed my eyes.

    Her lips were warm, unlike her hands, and it would be the first intimate kiss I had in this new body.

    Oh wait, my mom stole my first kiss. And second. And third.

    That woman really went overboard.

    But, when considering things romantically... Maria was my first.

    "I like you, Jared," Maria whispered, detaching her lips from me, but she was still atop me on the bed.

    "I know you don''t feel the same about me now, but that''s okay." She smiled, causing my heart to ache.

    So, she knew! She knew about it, so why was she doing this?

    "I don''t n on letting that stop me."

    What was this? The look in her eyes was dangerous. I gulped and felt perspiration slowly surface on my glowing skin.

    "I won''t give up, Jared. I want us to be together... a-and w-we can get mari¡ªI mean, together. So we can get together." It seemed like she stuttered at some point, but her confident expression told me she wasn''t feeling the least bit anxious.

    ''But this... isn''t it going too far?''

    I was sweating at this point, and so was Maria.

    Things were getting too steamy, but, for some reason... I didn''t hate it.

    "I won''t force you to ept my feelings now, Jared. But, I''ll be waiting. At least, when youplete what you have to do... I''ll get your answer then."

    Once again she smiled, and I felt her body rest on me.

    "So, please... just remember this..."

    Her face returned to a calm expression, making my heart beat faster, considering she could have such a reaction despite the situation.

    "I have dibs."

    Dibs? What? I didn''t understand half of it, but it still made my body tingle.

    "Understand?" Her soft voice danced in my ears.

    I truly did not know when I nodded in response.

    "Great." She finally let me go, returning to her side of the bed.

    "Haaa... haaa..." My breathing was coarse, and I thought my mind would be driven to the edge of insanity.

    ''Crazy... Maria is crazy!'' As I remainedid on the bed, those were the only thoughts that manifested in my mind.

    "You said you wanted to say something. What''s the matter, Jared?"

    My body jumped when I heard her voice. Slowly ncing in her direction, I found her looking stoic, staring at me nkly.

    It was almost as if nothing ever happened. If not for the sweat trickling down her body and mine, one would think we were just waiting in awkward silence.

    "I... uh... I''ll tell you next time."

    "Oh, okay."

    Logically speaking, I was supposed to outrightly reject her now.

    But, after she had gone so far to express her feelings... there was no way I could do anything at this point.

    Maybe it was bias, or simple nostalgia. After all, Emilia was the same with her forward approach.

    I had a weakness for that sort of thing, and it didn''t help matters that Maria was now a legal adult.

 Chapter 515 Marias Forwardness [Pt 2]

    Thest strand of reason had snapped.

    The gentle and calm girl I pictured turned out to be more aggressive than I expected.

    There was no way a passive individual like me, at least when it came to romance, could win against her.

    ''I guess I''ll just wait it out, then...''

    Hopefully, by the time she realized how focused I was on Magic, she would let me go.

    ''Or, once the time is ripe, I''ll tell her the same answer as I wanted to say today.''

    It was cruel to let her wait for so long, but this was what she wanted.

    ''Still, what is this unsettling feeling I''m having? It''s almost as if... I''ll change my mindter on?''

    Nah! That couldn''t be it.

    Magic had to be the only path I could dedicate myself to. There was no second-guessing it this time around.

    "Ah, look at me, all sweaty. You''re sweaty too..." Maria''s voice rang in the air, bringing me back to reality.

    "Y-yeah. I guess you''re right."

    "I have the perfect solution for this." She grabbed my hands and looked at me with the same stoic face that gave me shivers.

    ''No. No. No. Not again!''

    "We should shower together."

    "I''m sorry, I should get going now!" Before I could even consider the allure of that invitation, I rose to my feet and made my way to the door.

    "I was just joking, Jared. Did you really consider it? Did you picture it in your head?"

    ''No! Stop it!'' I mean, I did picture it... a little bit, but still.

    I nced at Maria, and her sweaty body suddenly had a certain attraction to it. It caused me to shut my eyes instantly.

    "N-no way. I''m going now. Get ready for tomorrow."

    "Sure. Take care of yourself."

    Once she said that, I rushed out of the building and ran off.

    ''I can just teleport. Why am I running?!'' My thoughts were jumbled, but once I came to myself I used Magic to leave the area faster.

    It made me wonder why I didn''t just teleport earlier when things were getting dangerous.

    Could it be... that I actually wanted something to happen?

    My brain shut down and I was just ovee by instinct? Me?

    ''Curse you, sweet adolescence!!!''

    With thatst thought, I vanished.

    ********************

    "D-did it work...?" Maria murmured to herself, looking a bit worried.

    The truth was that, despite her very forward front, the girl was panicking inside.

    Her heart was beating extremely fast, and throughout everything she put Jared through, her internal self was in a frenzy.

    The reason for that was simple.

    "I did as you said, Miss. Serah... but I''m not sure if it worked..."

    Maria was advised to take this route by Serah Crimson herself.

    Not only was the woman her mentor when it came to Magic, but the young girl currently looked up to her in love as well.

    After Serah and Neron made a public disy of affection on the battlefield, Maria had grown to respect her even more.

    In her desperation, she had asked her mentor to show her the way.

    Serah was overjoyed to teach the innocent girl, especially after she realized that Maria had nowe of age.

    "Don''t worry, girl! I''ve got you covered!"

    And so, the Grand Mage scripted the entire scenario for her protege.

    That''s right! Everything Maria did was not of her own free will.

    She only acted in that manner because Serah had promised the guaranteed effects.

    ''I... Jared... what if he thinks I''m dirty, or lewd?''<sub> </sub>

    Initially, Maria was against the n, considering the role she had to y as the seductress.

    But, once again, Serah encouraged her.

    "Strong men love straightforward women. Jared is too dense to take these kinds of bold steps. It''s up to you to do it! Believe in your mentor''s words"

    Maria had decided to trust Serah, so she went along with the n.

    Well, it wasn''t all bad.

    "His lips..." Maria rubbed her lips as she remembered how it felt to kiss Jared.

    The entire moment was burned into Maria''s head, and she reyed every scenario in her mind.

    Maria couldn''t help but feel so flushed with embarrassment.

    "What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?"

    What if Jared got freaked out and decided to distance himself from her?

    It would be crazy.

    ''No, calm yourself, Maria.''

    Why was she doubting the advice of her mentor?

    Neron Kaelid and Jared Leonard had a lot inmon, so the truck Serah used would also work on Jared... right?

    Maria gulped and tightened her fist. Her expression disyed the resolve not to back down any longer.

    ''I was his first! I have dibs!''

    Besides, this whole venture was so she could mark her territory on Jared.

    Maria had ensured that she mixed her sweat with his as they rubbed bodies.

    She also kissed him and breathed on his skin¡ªall ording to Serah''s specifications.

    ''I''ve marked him as mine!''

    Surely, Jared and every girl he would encounter after this event, would understand.

    "I should shower now... I wonder if I smelled..." Maria didn''t think she did, but how was she so certain of Jared''s opinion?

    The young girl rose from her bed and looked at the part where Jared had slept on. A portion of his sweat remained there.

    After staring at it for some time, Maria made her decision.

    ''I''m taking this sheet back with me!''

    She then went to freshen up in the bath. Reying the scenes that just urred in her mind, Maria licked her lips and submerged herself in the water.

    ***************

    "I can''t get it out of my head!"

    I was currently with Jane, in her office.

    Aurora and Neron were present as well¡ªbeing the only ones who knew of my identity as Lewis Griffith.

    "Thinking about another girl this time? Jeez, how the mighty has fallen." Jane Urs murmured, obviously dissatisfied with my behavior.

    But, how could I help it? I was only human, after all.

    "Okay, let''s get back to topic," Neron said, his voicemanding enough presence to bring us back to thest discussion we would be having before parting.

    "Yes. We''ve said many things already, but there''s one thing I have to mention... and it''s an alert I received not too long ago."

    Everyone''s eyes were on me, and to be honest, I was surprised by the current situation myself.

    I knew it would happen eventually, but this was too soon.

    "Damien Lawcroft is dead."

    *******************

    [A/N]

    The Fourth Arc ising to a close. A couple more chapters, and we''re done.

    Also, I have a present for everyone at the end of the Arc.

    Thanks for reading.

 Chapter 516 New Player

    "Really? That''s a surprise. Wasn''t he supposed to be our beacon... or at least a clue to the rest of the Organization?"

    The first to speak out of us four in the room was Aurora.

    Perhaps because she was the most naive, or Elven innocence still clouded her thoughts.

    "It wasn''t guaranteed that he would bring concrete results, in the first ce."

    Damien Lawcroft was most likely a low-ranked member, and ording to the hierarchy, he probably wasn''t privy to a lot of information.

    That made his value lessen in my eyes.

    However, it was a different matter if Damien could lead me to another member of the Cult.

    "If we could rope in more than one member, that would have been epic."

    That was why I was very disappointed to notice his death.

    "How did it happen?" Neron calmly asked.

    "Well, I initially lost the visual and auditory functions of the tracking Magic I kept on him. Not long after, the Magic registered him as dead."

    Whoever the culprit was, they were able to disable certain functions of the tracker, but they didn''tpletely nullify it.

    Was it that they couldn''t, or they simply chose not to?

    I was overwhelmed with curiosity.

    "Well, hisst-recorded location is in the far Southeast¡ªclose to the edge."

    I had sent a few Automatons there to confirm the status of Damien Lawcroft, and they were already on the scene.

    >VWUSH<

    Arge window appeared before all four of us, disying the footage that the Automaton captured, with Magic.

    "This is..."

    "Incredible..."

    "Hmmm..."

    As I stared hard at the sight on the screen, I couldn''t help but feel an unsettling emotion, as well as a strong sense of foreboding.

    Whoever the culprit was, it wasn''t anyone I was keeping tabs on.

    Was it the work of the Nether Cult? Maybe they wanted to silence Damien? I had thought that before seeing this footage.

    However, I had no idea what to think at this point.

    "Three corpses... and the attacker doesn''t seem to be any of them," Neron murmured.

    He wasn''t wrong.

    There were definite footsteps of the culprit leaving the scene, leaving the three dead people in his wake.

    Damien Lawcroft was among the three mutted corpses; alongside someone resembling a Fairy, and a Crimson Demon¡ªsurprisingly.

    Of the three, Damien''s body seemed the freshest. The other three appeared to have been dead for longer.

    "The charred marks on the floor... they died by electric charges. That one, in particr, was scorched to death..." Neron pointed at the Crimson Demon.

    I was surprised. None of these were within my expectations.

    "Is it safe to assume that everyone in this footage has a connection to the Organization?"

    "Most likely. But, we''ll have to investigate the building thoroughly."

    "If they''re all a part of the organization, though, it begs a lot of questions."

    "Yeah... for example, why is there a Fairy among them? or a Demon?" It was like Jane read my mind when she spoke.

    We had previously assumed that the Organization wasprised of humans¡ªsince Damien and Legris were the members we had ever seen.

    However, with this in sight, our whole logic about their group changed drastically.

    "I''d recognize those wings anywhere, even if it''s just fragments..." Jane continued, narrowing her eyes as she murmured.

    Her wavering gaze told me she didn''t want to say any more, so I didn''t press the issue. It wasn''t the most important matter at the moment, anyway.<sub> </sub>

    Besides, I could read her thoughts whenever.

    "A Crimson Demon, uh? Demons are also members? If that''s the case, why would they agree to the n of using their entire race as bait?"

    The whole reason why the Demons were vanquished was because of the Organization. If a member of that Race was affiliated with them, it meant he was alsoplicit in the n.

    "He must not have had any attachments to his people."

    It was the same with Damien Lawcroft¡ªhow he was satisfied with selling out the Eastern Kingdom for more power and authority.

    "Damien''s death was unprecedented, but it wasn''t a total loss."

    At least, this way, we understood more of what we were dealing with. The enemies were more diverse than I initially thought.

    Still, this new yer troubled me even more. Who was the mystery person, and what were their intentions?

    "Are they hunting the Organization Members? Or maybe they''re a rogue member. Either way, the individual must have some degree of power, considering three powerful beings have been killed so one-sidedly." Neron spoke, narrowing his gaze.

    Though we couldn''t be certain that the person in question didn''t receive any injuries, the bodies of the corpses showed they were merciless in their methods of killing the Organization Members.

    It simply showed the kind of brutality the stranger possessed.

    "I''ll do some investigation on my end. Bottom line is, we should all be careful."

    My instincts were telling me that things were going to get very dangerous from this point onward, and I didn''t like the feeling that there was a powerful yer somewhere that was not within my knowledge.

    "At this point, the Organization is our primary target... but they might not be our only enemy," I said, and everyone nodded.

    To be safe, and also to achieveplete victory, it was best to return to the drawing board and perfect my strategy.

    Myst encounter with Legris had shown me just how far behind I was.

    ''Ick too much information. That means I''m at a disadvantage...''

    But, if things went ording to n, the tables would soon change.

    "Ah, I forgot to ask because of the surprising situation, but Jane..." I stared at my Fairy friend.

    "How''s the progress concerning Soul Project: Omega?"

    She shrugged at my question, so that meant it was moving steadily.

    "It will take some months before we reach optimal performance, but it''s going smoothly for now. It would help if we worked on this side by side."

    As much as I would love that, many other things demanded my attention.

    "Maybe another time."

    >VWUUUSHHH<

    Creating a portal that linked me to the scene of carnage, I prepared to depart from everyone in the room.

    "I guess I''ll see everyone in the Kingdom. Till then."

    *

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    *

    *

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    [A/N]

    Two more chapters to go.

    At the end of this Arc, you''ll be seeing ten original Character designs of different characters.

    Your favorite characters, like Neron, Maria, Serah, Jared, Kuzon, etc.

    Ten of them have been illustrated, and you''ll see them soon.

    I hope you enjoy them since... they cost quite some money to procure, as well as time (for the ones I did myself).

    Thanks for reading.

 Chapter 517 The Castaway

    [Hours Earlier]

    "Haa... this is so frustrating!" Damien Lawcroft growled as he walked through the dry forest.

    It had been a week since his humiliating defeat at the hands of Jared Leonard, and he was still not over the loss.

    Still, he was smart enough to know when to retreat and when to retaliate.

    At this point, it was time for the former.

    "I better stay low-key..."

    It was for this very reason that Damien had not made any noticeable move all week. He no longer had any influence, and hiswork had been cut off thanks to Jared''s n.

    The man had no idea what his enemies were nning, so he trod carefully.

    ''I had a feeling they would have found my base, so I decided to teleport to my auxiliary safe zone.'' White fog escaped his nose and mouth as he exhaled the cold air.

    It was quite cold in the SouthEastern edge of the world, but not unbearably so.

    Damien''s Original Magic worked like a switcheroo. He could exchange positions with any object he had marked.

    Of course, depending on the distance needed to be covered, it took a great deal of Mana.

    Still, when it came to escape or evenbat, it was a very handy ability to have.

    That was the only reason he was able to escape, after all.

    "I can see it. It''s in view." Damien smiled, finally emerging from the thickets and dried branches that surrounded him.

    He had finally reached his destination¡ªThe Base assigned to him by the Organization.

    "I waited a week beforeing here, waiting for the heat to die down..." However, from the looks of things, they never found out about the existence of this ce.

    That was perfect.

    Every member of the Twelve Seats had territories assigned to them, as well as their Base.

    Not only could the Bases connect to one another, but they also had camouge functions, Magic defenses, and several assault functions.

    It was a state-of-the-art structure that was said to be designed by one of the members of their Organization.

    His name was Beruel¡ªan Upper Seat, or so Damien heard.

    ''Let''s get this over with.''

    He needed to contact a colleague as soon as possible.

    Now that he waspromised, he needed to report the details of what he knew to the Organization.

    Surely, the information in his possession still guaranteed his value to them.

    Damien had no idea what happened to the Demons since he had been isted for a week, but they were most likely vanquished.

    With their demise, it was clear that the Organization needed more allies¡ªespecially someone who had a close encounter with the enemy that caused the Demon side to lose.

    Damien smiled, intending to leverage on this to once again solidify his position among their ranks.

    ''They can''t kick me out! I won''t allow it!''

    Since his position in the Eastern Kingdom was practically nonexistent, the Organization was all he had.

    ''I''ve been trying to reach that bastard, Legris, but he''s not responding!'' Damien gritted his teeth.

    For a moment, he considered the fact that the Organization had turned its back on him, but after approaching the Base and realizing that he was still recognized as a member, Damien''s worries dissipated.

    The Base in question looked like a cabin from the exterior¡ªbut it had a much bigger space within.

    Usually, no one would be able to spot it¡ªor even get close to the thing. However, since it was Damien''s Base, his Magic resonated with the building, allowing him entry.

    The cabin door creaked open and he gently made his way inside.

    Damien did not bother to look around for caution, considering that he was assured of the Base''s functions.

    Once inside, Damien took in the warm atmosphere surrounding him.

    He first appeared in the reception area, and then he could spot the stairs leading to the bedroom from where he stood.

    ''Haa... this is much better.''<sub> </sub>

    His backup structure was nothing this grandiose.

    The interior of the base was impably tidy and beautiful.

    Thecquer walls seemed fresh¡ªforever preserved so by Magic. The Carpets appeared brand new, the same as every furniture around.

    Damien would have loved to rest or take in the sight even more, but there was something more urgent that warranted his attention.

    "I had better contact someone."

    Since Legris was the 9th Seat, and he was the 10th, it was protocol that Damien contacted him first.

    However, Legris had somehow blocked off all contact with him, making that route impossible.

    ''I''ll just jump straight to the 8th Seat, then!'' With this in mind, Damien moved to the center of the room and pressed his hand on the floor.

    Arge Magic Circle manifested, glowing purple as if warbled with ominous intensity.

    >BZZZTTTTZZZZZ<

    Suddenly, the Circle crackled and buzzed, deactivating soon after.

    "W-wha¡ª?! Why didn''t it work?"

    Damien had never experienced this issue, so he was somewhat surprised by what was going on.

    ''Did they really cut me off...?'' Sweat began to appear on the middle-aged man''s face.

    "I should try agai¡ª"

    "Don''t bother." A voice echoed in Damien''s ear, causing him to jump in shock.

    >VWUUUSHHH<

    Transforming into his Mage Mode while Fusing with his Familiar, Damien took on a dark blue glow and donned a Mage outfit while holding a crooked wand.

    He pointed his sole weapon in the direction of the voice, wary of the stranger that invaded his haven.

    "I''ve been waiting for you for a while now. Say, a week? It''s a good thing you''re here now..." The voice was calm, and the cking of a person''s shoes echoed.

    Damien could feel his body shaking despite being in a powerful state.

    ''I can''t do this! I''ll just run!'' Instinct caused the prideful man to activate his Original Magic, aiming to flee.

    However¡ª

    "I don''t think so."

    >BZZZZTTTTTZZZZZ<

    Instantly, the effects of whatever Magic Damien wanted to cast became null. No, it was more like the man didn''t have ess to it any longer.

    "W-what did you...? Who are you?!"

    As Damien was still wondering who the mysterious person was, two bodies plopped on the ground.

    They looked familiar, yet the devastated state of their bodies caused Damien to fake a few moments before recognizing them.

    ''12th Seat and 11th Seat?!!''

    What could this mean? They were both dead¡ªbrutally so at that.

    "Who the hell are you?!" Damien Lawcroft raised his voice once again.

    "You''re so noisy. Be quiet."

    Just as the voice sounded, the flustered man realized he couldn''t utter a single word.

    His lips couldn''t move, causing his eyes to widen in shock.

    "Mmph!" Taking a sudden step backward, Damien identally tripped, forcing him to get a closer view of the corpses of his previous colleagues.

    That was when the emotion he had been trying to push down finally erupted.

    FEAR!

    "MMMMPPHHHHH!!!"

 Chapter 518 Golden Emergence

    The cking of shoes sounded, and an individual finally appeared from the shadows.

    He had a wide smile on his face, and the cool demeanor he exuded was befitting of someone of his caliber.

    Even the aura that oozed out of him made Damien realize that he was special.

    "You know, it makes sense that you''re one of them..." His voice was calm.

    Even though his golden eyes stared coldly at Damien''s pathetic form, the person''s smile didn''t fade.

    The young man''s golden hair swayed, a portion of his face covered by it.

    His outfit resembled a traveler, but they were all extremely well-made Magic Items¡ªbefitting of royalty.

    "... I never liked you very much back then too."

    ''Y-you¡ª!!!'' Damien''s eyes seemed to ring out as he looked upon the face of a boy he recognized.

    The most exceptional student he had ever seen in his Instructing days at Ainrk... Kuzon Midas!

    "Well, now that you''ve performed your role well, there''s no further reason to keep you alive."

    "MMMMPHH!!!" Damien struggled to speak, realizing that his life woulde to an end if he didn''t say anything.

    "Looks like you want to say something. Alright then, speak."

    "Puah! T-thank you very much for¡ª"

    "Speak."

    The young man''s eyes narrowed further. It was condescending beyond description, but Damien didn''t have the luxury ofining.

    "A-ah, why don''t you spare me? You''re after the Organization, right? I-I can help you. They betrayed me too. They used and threw me away. I have no loyalty to them. I help you. So... what do you say?"

    It was a ssic betrayer move, but Damien had run out of choices.

    His Original Magic didn''t work, and, for some reason, his entire body couldn''t move. His only chance of survival was for¡ª

    "Pfft. You''re so pathetic, it''s hrious."

    Damien had expected some resistance, but not this.

    "I don''t know which is funnier. Your desperate desire to live, or how ignorant you are."

    Damien''s fear was temporarily disabled by an entitled rage that he felt anytime he was looked down upon.

    "You didn''t realize this, but someone put a tracker on you¡ªmost likely to trace your location. If I have to guess, I''ll say it''s Jared''s work. It could also be Neron''s, but I''d still go for the former."

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Damien''s rage waspletely submerged in an ocean of shock.

    "Look at your face. You''re so stupid, aren''t you?"

    Damien didn''t understand how anyone could have ced a tracker on him without his knowledge.

    ''H-how...?''

    "Don''t worry, though. I disabled it. There''s no need to get those people involved in my business."

    Damien was still trying toprehend how he had been hoodwinked when a hand suddenly tapped his shoulder.

    It was Kuzon''s.

    The young man was squatting, cing a hand on his shoulder which brought about a greater degree of pressure.

    A portion of Kuzon''s face was covered by his golden hair, so only one of his eyes could be seen by Damien.

    It was... so cold and condescending.

    "You''re wrong about so many things. My intentions, and your worth."

    There was something Kuzon hadn''t told anyone.

    His true motives, the reason he had killed two members of the Organization, and was about to kill another¡ªwithout any shred of remorse.

    It was all because of a certain man¡ªa member of the Cult that he had been after since forever.

    Of course, he wasn''t going to tell Damien the details. Still...

    "Let me ask you this. If you answer well, I could let you live."

    Damien gulped. Despite the fear squirming within him, he wasn''t going to miss this opportunity he had to live.

    "Do you know anyone by the name of Kido?"

    ''Uh?'' Damien Lawcroft was clueless.

    Was he supposed to know the individual? He had thought his assaulter would ask him a question about the Organization, but he simply asked about a person.

    "I see... you don''t know him, uh? Figures. You''re just a 10th Seat."

    >BZZTZZZ<

    shes of golden lightning began manifesting all over Kuzon¡ªand then they started extending to his hand.

    "N-no... please no! I can help you! I can find him for you if you want. Please, just don''t¡ª!!!" Damien began pleading desperately, feeling the absurd concentration of Mana in the shes of lightning coating Kuzon''s body.<sub> </sub>

    "Find him for me? Heh..." The golden lightning finally reached the hand that held Damien''s shoulder.

    "... I''ve been doing that for 12 years now."

    >ZZZZZZTTTTZZZZZZZ<

    "GUARRRHHHHH!!!"

    Lightning sizzled, burning through Damien''s body in an instant.

    Thigh death came nearly instantly, the pain Damien felt before death was the most agonizing type he had ever experienced.

    It was like every cell in his body ruptured¡ªexploding like tiny fireworks.

    And then¡ª

    >THUD<

    ¡ªDamien Lawcroft met his end.

    "Weak. He didn''t evenst five seconds..." Despite the man''s enhancements that came with using Mage Mode and Fusion Mode, he was still powerless before absolute power.

    "He''s dead now. I might as well leave for the next location. I should at least thank him for showing me the coordinates."

    Kuzon rose to his feet, his golden hair fluttering as he coldly walked past the corpse.

    He had killed three members thus far, but it was nowhere close to his desired estimate.

    "If this is how powerful a 10th Seat is, then Kido has to have one of their highest ranks¡ªif not the highest..."

    That was how powerful his prey was.

    "Well, it seems Jared will being here to investigate soon.  For some reason, he''s also after their Organization, uh?"

    Kuzon didn''t care enough to question Jared''s reasons, so he simply shrugged and generated another sh of lightning.

    "The whole war with the Demons and the Nether Cult moving in the shadows, I''ve had enough of it..." With a sigh, the st of lightning grewrger, enveloping Kuzon''s immediate surroundings.

    >VWUUUUUSHHHHH<

    With a final statement echoing in the room...

    "As long as he doesn''t get in my way... it''s all good."

    ... Kuzon vanished.

    ________________

    [ORIGINAL CHARACTER DESIGNS AND ILLUSTRATIONS]

    1. Jared Leonard (12 Years)

    2. Jared Leonard (15 Years)

    3. Neron Kaelid

    4. Serah Crimson

    5. Anabelle Frederick (Ana)

    6. Edward Karl Leon

    7. Kuzon Midas

    8. Maria Helmsworth

    9. Lewis Griffith and Emilia Vindiel

    10. Legris Damien

    [Hope you enjoyed the art. More Artworks are posted on the Discord server, so make sure you join.

    I won''t create an Auxiliary Chapter for these pictures. Consider it a reward for making it this far.

    You can make art requests and interact with me on the Discord Server. There''s an Auxiliary chapter for that.

    Thanks for reading, and I certainly hope you enjoyed this Arc.]

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [End of The Fourth Arc]

    [Fifth Arc: Emergence Of The Nether Cult, will resume shortly. ]

    Cheers!

 Chapter 519 The Cults Assembly [Pt 1]

    "It''s been a while, hasn''t it?"

    The voice that echoed in the air was friendly and jovial¡ªalmost yful, even.

    However, the dreary silence that pervaded the room was unchanging.

    The massive room was not as one would expect the headquarters of a cult to be. It was exquisitely designed, having chandeliers, and a lovely white design.

    Murals and runes were drawn all over the wall, ceilings, and floors, granting it a very distinguished aura.

    In thisrge hall¡ªan expanse that couldn''t naturally be measured by normal means since it was configured with Magic¡ªarge table was set.

    The table had six chairs on the right and left sides respectively and then at the forefront was a more prestigious seat belonging to someone else¡ªsomeone greater.

    Not all the seats were upied, but a majority were taken.

    The right end had all their members intact, but only two members upied the six seats that wereid out before the table.

    And, of course, each seat wasbeled.

    That was because this organization was strictly hierarchical. Even though it might have seemed like they valued equality¡ªdue to their arrangement¡ªit was far from it.

    Those at the right end were known as the Upper Seat Members, while the ones at the left were the Lower Seats.

    Even then, their ranks were divided into twelve¡ªthe first six belonging to the former while the lower ones had thetter title.

    All in all, the right and left-end members all had this knowledge, and so those who were superior relished that fact.

    Then, what about the one who sat at the forefront? The man who upied what seemed like a throne?

    What sort of rank did he have?

    "Indeed. I wee you all." The leader''s voice permeated the room.

    His tone, while young, carried enough power to drive the room into perfect decorum.

    Unlike the others on respective sides, he sat at the middle front, and while he looked younger than the rest of them¡ªwith the exception of one¡ªhis power and immense knowledgemanded the respect of everyone who listened to him.

    Standing directly beside him was a beautiful maiden. She looked pure, and was garbed in silk white.

    Thedy had a constant smile on, and looked like a woman in the flower of her youth.

    In any meeting they had with the Leader, he always had thisdy apany him, and while she seemed quite harmless, no one could dispute the chills she gave off.

    Her power was probably in another realm as well.

    "I have called you here, ten days after concluding the Demon Incursion n, for a few matters that warrant discussion."

    "As you are well aware, we''ve gathered 10 of the Arcanas. Thanks to the War, we were able to secure a few, and now we know of the locations of yet five others. Our goals are now within sight."

    Everyone nodded.

    It wasmon knowledge that they had orchestrated things behind the scenes to achieve the best result.

    Thanks to their inconspicuous efforts, things had worked out perfectly.

    "Due to the achievements of one of our members in the events, who executed the task with absolute perfection, I have decided to promote him."

    Even though no one spoke, they knew who was being referred to.

    "Legris Damien, you may rise."

    At that moment, one of the only two people who was seated on the left side was called forth.

    He had dark brown hair and a smile stered on his face.

    "I believe no one needs to be told the endless list of his achievements. From initiating the War, to retrieving The Devil Arcana. We''ve benefitted a lot from this venture, so it''s only appropriate to reward him for his efforts." With that said, the leader beckoned Legris to step forward.

    Thenky man obeyed and moved away from his seat, drawing close to the young one. Once Legris got a few inches further from him, he finally stopped.<sub> </sub>

    "The Arcana." The Leader stretched forth his hands.

    His ck hair and dangerously gleaming reddish purple eyes rang of danger and malevolence.

    Even though he looked unassuming, everyone in their right mind knew not to underestimate his authority.

    "Here it is." Legris smiled, bringing forth the card he retrieved ten days ago.

    "[The Devil]... yet another piece." The young man smiled, looking at the card glimmer in Legris'' grasp.

    "The Magician. The Lovers. The Star. The Empress. Death. The Papess. The Chariot. Justice. Temperance..."

    Those were the ones that had been secured already. Adding The Devil to the mix, that made a total of ten Arcanas in their grasp.

    "The time is near¡ª" The moment he reached out to touch the item, the Leader paused his statement.

    His body shook a bit, and then he regained hisposure.

    "Legris... what happened to the Arcana before you recovered it? Was there prior contact?"

    "No. I took it from the source."

    "Hmmm... this is a problem."

    Everyone looked at the leader to see what the problem was. He was never one to overreact, so that meant a serious issue had surfaced.

    "I can clearly sense someone''s Mana clinging to that Arcana. It has been altered in some way."

    "Mana? What in the¡ª?!" At this point, even Legris was stunned.

    "Do it." The leader turned to the woman beside him, and she bowed upon hearing his orders.

    >VWUUUSHHH<

    Covering the Arcana in a surge of light, she seemed to havepletely purified the Card of any effects that caused the leader displeasure.

    "It looks alright now." With that, the exchange went on seamlessly.

    Legris handed over the Arcana, apologizing profusely for his mistake.

    "It appears someone has been listening in to our conversation through the Magic nted on the retrieved Arcana. You''ve made a blunder, Legris."

    "I apologize. Please punish me as is deemed fit." The older man bowed.

    Though he appeared extremely nervous on the surface, Legris Damien''s heart was racing at an abnormal rate due to some other emotion.

    ''Jared Leonard... you got me!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If you enjoy this book, I know another one you''d love just as much.

    It''s my newest book titled ''Ascension Of The Failed Mage.''

    You can check it out and add it to your library. I promise it''ll be worth every /book/ascension-of-the-failed-mage_24898011105190405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 520 The Cults Assembly [Pt 2]

    Legris couldn''t help but shake in excitement.

    He had thought he pulled one over Jared Leonard, yet the boy managed to surprise him yet again.

    ''He really pulled it off... he tricked me again.''

    That was what made the kid so interesting... but also dangerous.

    "This was the work of the Singrity, no? Why did you not kill him back when you had the chance?"

    At this point, the Cult Leader was ring at Neron.

    Everyone knew that Singrities were extremely dangerous to the Cult, regarded as threats that had to be purged.

    Of course, lower members like Legris didn''t know very much, but the upper echelons had a better idea why.

    For him to have had Jared Leonard in his grasp, yet did nothing to kill him... it was highly irresponsible and suspicious.

    "I couldn''t kill him. He''d just teleport away. Besides, any further time I wasted deliberating the matter would be disadvantageous for me. For all I know, he could have been contacting Neron Kaelid."

    What Legris said made sense. If it came to that, then he was justified not tounch any assault.

    Still, though...

    "Very well. I''ll ept your excuse. I am disappointed, though. Despite your great achievements, you''ve made a blunder that has cost us some leaks in information."

    Jared Leonard had heard a portion of their conversation, making him privy to confidential Intel.

    The very existence of the Cult¡ªas well as its location¡ªwas in jeopardy.

    "We could use this to our advantage, so I won''t be punishing you. I''ll be limiting your promotion, though."

    "Thank you for showing mercy." Legris bowed emphatically.

    "It''s fine. Let''s get this over with."

    The leader looked at the seven people who were seated before him¡ªsix from the upper cadre, and one from the lower one.

    Since he sought to promote Legris, who was the 9th Chair, it only made sense that he made it meaningful enough.

    "I will be promoting Legris Damien to the Sixth Seat."

    "Wha¡ª?!" A silent shriek leaked out, but was instantly quelled.

    It belonged to none other than the upier of the Sixth Seat himself.

    "You know what to do, Reed Sterling."

    An old man, Reed Sterling himself, rose from his seat and shamefully left the right side of the table.

    It was obvious what would happen once someone else took his rank. He would be demoted to one seat below him.

    As such, the old man was now the Seventh Seat.

    "There''s no need to return your Arcana. Since we have a sufficient amount, every member will wield one of them." The Leader turned to Legris and permitted him to return to his seat.

    Legris, now an Upper Seat member, moved to his new position in a gentle stride.

    He gave a sly smile to the previous upant of his seat, and then nced slightly at the young boy who upied the seat higher than his.

    It was a familiar face that wasn''t going to wear out anytime soon.

    "Now, then, to another issue that warrants our discussion... it concerns your nephew, Kido."

    This time, all the focus was ced on the golden-haired man in the room.

    He had a carefree aura around him, and his yful smile matched the youthful glow he exuded.

    Even though a few were inclined to be serious during meetings, his disposition never changed in the slightest.<sub> </sub>

    But, almost no one could caution him. After all, he was...

    "I apologize about that. He''s probably still looking for me after all these years."

    ... The Second Seat Of The Cult.

    "He must miss me so much." Kido''s golden earrings dangled as he shook his head while sighing.

    His sarcasm was met with silence, and then shortly after, the leader continued.

    "Your nephew killed four of our members. I would think that it has escted beyond your little family feud."

    "It''s not my fault they were easy to kill off. They''re weak, you know?"

    "I agree to thetter, but not the former. They were weak, but it''s your responsibility to take care of family... isn''t it?"

    "Sigh, you''re right..."

    "Great. Then, nip him in the bud as soon as possible. Of course, that''s when you have free time. You''ll be required for a new assignment soon."

    With that, the leader closed the chapter and decided to move on to the next matter for discussion.

    "Forgive me for saying this, but is that really okay? Four of our members are gone because of his irresponsibility, and we''re just going to let it slide?" Another Upper Seat member spoke.

    If not for his pronged ears, he would have been recognized as a human. But, how could he be an Elf when he had beautiful wings glimmering behind him?

    Yes, this was none other than the Fourth Seat Member of the Cult¡ªFairy King Beruel.

    "Hm? What''s the matter for concern? They can be reced, can''t they?" Kido responded with a nonchnt tone.

    "You... one of the people killed was my right-hand man! Sure, he was only the 12th Seat, but he deserved the protection of this Organization!" Beruel banged his hand on the table.

    He was fuming as his long, silver hair flowed behind him.

    "Welp. Sorry about that, but... he ded! Hahaha!"  Kidoughed, once again insensitive to the pain he caused the Fairy King¡ªno, to the Cult as a whole.

    "You basta¡ª"

    "That''s enough. You men just keep arguing. I''m sick of it. Can we just proceed to the meeting? I was in the middle of some research." The member at the center sharply spoke, already reaching her limit as the one clustered between the two warring parties

    "Oh, sorry about that Karlia. Didn''t mean to disturb you. If I stop, will you promise to¡ª?" Kido sharply turned his gaze to the crimson Subus beside him.

    Her sultry attire was captivating, and her figure was enthralling¡ªto say the least.

    She was none other than the Third Seat Of The Cult¡ªKarlia The Demon Subus.

    "Nope. Never ask me that again." She scoffed, pouting as she folded her arms with resolve.

    No matter how anyone sliced it, she still looked cute despite feigning annoyance.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If you enjoy this book, I know another one you''d love just as much.

    It''s my newest book titled ''Ascension Of The Failed Mage.''

    You can check it out and add it to your library. I promise it''ll be worth every /book/ascension-of-the-failed-mage_24898011105190405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 521 The Cults Assembly [Pt 3]

    Kido Midas was a man who always got what he wanted.

    However, there was someone he wanted above anything else¡ªor at least, the power she offered.

    "Just once. Please?"

    "Nope. I told you, I don''t do that anymore."

    "Come on, just once. We''ll both benefit as a result of your Original Magic!"

    "Nah!"

    "Just the tip?"

    >POW!<

    Every time, he troubled Karlia on having sexual intercourse with him. Of course, this was partially because he lusted after her body, but there was a much deeper reason.

    Kido wanted more power¡ªand Karlia was guaranteed to give it.

    "Sigh, whatever. You''lle around eventually..."

    "No, I won''t. Now, we can continue with the meeting... right?" Her eyes especially red at Beruel.

    The Fairy King, who believed in absolute patriarchy was someone who would never be on good terms with a strong female like Karlia¡ªespecially considering how she was higher than him in rank.

    He would have returned her defiance with violence, if he could. However, not only had he lost his authority as King, but he was also weaker than she was.

    There was nothing he could do but sit down in silence.

    Though Beruel felt an extreme loss for the death of his closest subordinate, there was nothing he could do at the moment.

    Still, he swore to have his revenge¡ªnot only on the perpetrator, but also on those who dared look down on him.

    "Now, then... since you''re done with your little chattering, let us proceed with the meeting." The Cult Leader spoke.

    "Now that our identity has been revealed, it''s clear that the other party will begin to make their move."

    Though it would have been preferable if they remained in the shadows, it was inevitable that they would eventually have to rise to the surface.

    "We will be acting somewhat discreetly, but the time of our emergence hase."

    As such, they would be taking more active steps to obtain their prizes. If they dawdled any further, the other side could take the initiative.

    "For our goals, we can not afford to be sloppy."

    Even though the members did not agree on much, this was something they were all strongly tied to.

    Why else would they be an organized group?

    "I''m especially thankful for two of our members who have shared so much information concerning the major threat that we are currently facing¡ªthe Eastern Kingdom."

    No one would have expected that humans would offer so much resistance, but this was because of certain domino effects that went out of hand.

    To outmaneuver them, while maintaining secrecy, the Organization had three members who were integral members of the Kingdom.

    Damien Lawcroft was one of them, but he was now deceased, leaving only two left.

    One of them was currently murmuring within himself as he grudgingly upied the Seventh Seat.

    Reed Serling, the man who was the previous Headmaster of Ainrk Academy¡ªas well as the third Grand Mage of the Eastern Kingdom.

    Though he once belonged to the Upper Seat, he had been suffering demotion due to his stagnating power and limited use.

    The second integral member of the Eastern Kingdom was not Legris Damien.

    Sure, Legris had connections and a widework, but his roots in the Human Kingdom were not as deep as the member in question.

    "You''ll be going against your people this time around. Hope you don''t mind..." The Leader''s eyes moved in the direction of the Fifth Seat.

    Seated on it was a young boy who looked to be in his teenage years¡ªnot even an adult yet.

    His ck hair and deep blue irises were unmistakably pure, but there was no innocence left in those eyes.

    His expression did not even waver once his previous home was called into question. He simply shrugged while speaking.

    "I don''t mind."

    "Whoah! You''ve gotten so cold." Legris Damienmented with awe.

    Even he was a rank lower than the boy who was snobbishly staring into nk space.

    "You''ve changed from the boy I knew back in Ainrk."

    Once again, the boy ignored Legris Damien''s prattling.

    "I wonder what your cousin would think if she saw you like this. Hahaha, you''ve gotten so cool, haven''t you?"

    "That''s enough, Legris. Let''s just conclude the meeting. I have training."

    "Sure, you do. Mr. Genius; Stefan Netherlore."

    "Would you stop calling me that?"

    "Nope."

    "Then, whatever."

    "Pfft. So cool!"

    "Just cut it out."

    "Nope. Hahaha!"

    This funny exchange between a former Lecturer and former Student climbed until it reached an unbearable point for a certain someone.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM<

    Once everyone fell under this pressure, they ceased their easygoing attitude and turned in the direction of the one who released the aura.

    It wasn''t the Leader. No, he was too liberal to do something like this, unless absolutely necessary.

    The one who acted¡ªreleasing a wave of pure energy that dominated every Seat Member in the room¡ªwas none other than the First Seat himself.

    With a short sigh breaking the silence, he looked in the direction of the Cult Leader and bowed slightly.

    "It''s fine. Let us proceed." The young boy responded, raising his hand slightly to show that he did not take offense.<sub> </sub>

    "You''ll all be acting independently, as always. We''re a bit understaffed, but that shouldn''t prove to be a problem at this point."

    Normally, the Cult Leader would have e preferred being steady about their conquest, but they ran the risk of their enemies gaining the upper hand if they didn''t move quickly.

    "There are Seven Arcanas left to be discovered. Every member, with the exception of the First Seat, will be dispatched to search for them."

    Unlike before, there was no need for subtlety. This was simply a scramble for what would be a treasure hunt.

    "The First Seat will remain here. Considering the fact that the enemy now knows the location of our base, it''s imperative we have a strong defensive measure."

    And, what monolith could be more powerful than the almighty First Seat himself?

    "May I make a selfish request?" The very man raised his hand.

    No one dared blink as he spoke for the first time in a very long.

    He was one who believed that the need for words was not necessary when both sides had the skills to do the talking for them.

    "It should take some time for them to prepare an appropriate number of forces to assault this ce, even if they n on doing it soon..."

    What he said was right.

    Thanks to the scramble for the remaining Arcanas, it was certain that the opposing forces would be diverting a great deal of energy to finding the legendary items.

    It was doubtful if they would have enough leeway tounch a full-scale assault on the Cult.

    "I would like permission to survey an area that caught my attention before the war began. I sensed a strong surge of energy there and I would like to see if I can find what I''m looking for there."

    Abandoning one''s duty would be considered very bad behavior for someone who stood at the pinnacle of the Seats.

    However, everyone knew better than to argue with his request.

    "Very well. Do as you please. How long will it take?"

    "Nothing more than a day."

    "That''s reasonable. Return in a day''s time."

    The First Seat bowed.

    His hilt shook as his back bent, and the kimono he wore slightly shook.

    His show of humility was a testament to how much character he possessed, and he was the only person who did not bear any resentment toward any other member, neither was he an object of anger for those gathered.

    Everyone either respected him, or felt neutral about his existence.

    "I wonder what will happen to the unfortunate soul who will suffer at the hands of your Martial Arts."

    Everyone in the room chuckled.

    But, they knew very well that their Leader was serious in hisment.

    The First Seat was a Martial Artist¡ªa Swordsman that had gone beyond transcendence.

    "Well, then, I''ll make sure to watch out for the disy of your power one more time... Legendary de God."

    Once again, the swordsman bowed.

    His shaded auburn hair fluttered with the stale wind in the room as he continued his practice of silence.

    "Alright. We''ve dyed enough. Let''s finalize our discussions on our ns for the future..."

    Every member smiled and nodded in approval.

    First Seat: The Legendary de God

    Second Seat: Kido Of Midas

    Third Seat: Karlia The Subus

    Fourth Seat: Fairy King Beruel

    Fifth Seat: Stefan Netherlore

    Sixth Seat: Legris Damien

    Seventh Seat:  Reed Sterling

    Eight Seat: Vaizer

    Ninth¡ªTwelfth Seat: Unupied

    "... Our goals are right in front of us."

    And so, with the agreement of every member in the room, a new dawn of chaos was born.

    For the Arcanas that they sought in order to achieve their respective goals, the overwhelmingly powerful beings decided to rise from the shadows.

    It was time for the Nether Cult to emerge.

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [The Fifth Arc: Emergence Of The Nether Cult, Begins]

    This will contain a lot of twists, a lot of mysteries, a lot of unraveled secrets.

    I certainly hope you enjoy this Arc as much as I enjoy writing.

    Get pumped, and get ready.

    It should be the best Arc thus far.

    Thanks to everyone for reaching this point in the story.

    Let us journey to the end together!!!

 Chapter 522 [Bonus Chapter]Research

    "This is serious..."

    My eyes were fixated on the two in front of me.

    What I had heard was surprising¡ªso much so that it took a significant amount of brainpower to process it.

    As my eyes frolicked about, their gazes were on me, expecting an answer.

    "I never expected this... not this soon..."

    Was it my fault? Did I cause this too? No... I couldn''t me myself for something like this. It was somewhat inevitable, considering the circumstances.

    I just didn''t think it would be like this.

    "So, you''re saying..." I raised my eyes and stared at Neron and Serah¡ªthe two people seated in front of me.

    "... You want to get married?"

    "Yeah!" Of course, the first person to voice her opinion was Serah Crimson.

    Hearing her affirm those words just made me shiver once more.

    "But... why?"

    Not that I was against their happiness or anything, but the timing couldn''t have been any worse.

    It was not only crazy, but very irrational. I looked at Neron for support, however¡ª

    "I also agree with Serah."

    ¡ªHe gave the same answer.

    "Hehehe!" The crimsondy grinned in victory.

    The Neron I knew wouldn''t make such a decision without a valid reason.

    I needed to find out the truth, so I decided to use Telepathic Magic to speak to him.

    ~Did she force you to do this? Are you being held hostage?~

    He slightly shook his head and sighed.

    ~No. It''s what I want. Life is short, you know?~

    What the heck was this man talking about? He literally had all the time in the world, yet he chose to seal the deal now?

    I mean sure, I was the one that pushed him on this path, but weren''t things going way too fast?

    ''It has to be the work of Serah! She''s too excited about this.''

    "Hey! Are you guysmunicating through Telepathic Magic? That''s rude!"

    Inasmuch as I would have loved to defend myself, she was right.

    The only thing Neron and I could do was apologize.

    "It''s not like we''re having it anytime soon, you know? It''s in, like three months. If we hurry with this whole Cult issue, we should be able to be ready by then." The crimson mage added with an emphatic sigh.

    Did this woman really know what she was saying?

    An organization that took years of their time gathering Arcanas in secret, having members powerful enough to topple the world, yet she was giving a deadline of three months?<sub> </sub>

    I knew it! Serah Crimson was batshit crazy.

    "How is research going on your end? It''s been two days since you eavesdropped on their conversation and they figured it out... any progress?" Neron smartly changed gears, most likely noticing my expression.

    "No dice. Finding out about these guys is just impossible. The density of power there was crazy, so I could even barely hear them¡ªtalkless of seeing how they looked like."

    The tracker worked, though, so I knew the location of the enemy''s headquarters.

    Still, storming it was another matter entirely. For all I knew, it could be a trap. Since they would now be expecting a strike, it was risky to go all-out against them¡ªespecially since Arcanas were the priority.

    "I sent some Automatons to survey the area, but they were all shot down before they could report anything. Thest thing they saw was just an endless sea, though."

    The enemy was located at the epicenter of the world. Exactly in the middle¡ªsurrounded by the four continents.

    Still, why hadn''t we noticed such a ce before? Even I didn''t know what to expect from the ce at this point.

    "They probably have a very powerful cloaking field. As for your Automatons, maybe an automatic defense mechanism... or someone is guarding the ce vigntly." Neron calmly said.

    All the Automatons I dispatched were the best at stealth. They had [Unknowable] active, but it seemed that wasn''t enough to escape the enemy''s surveince.

    "Why did they choose that location, though? There has to be a significance. It could have to do with the fact that they''re gathering Arcanas..."

    It probably wasn''t world domination ¡ªconsidering they would probably seed at that with the amount of Arcanas already in their possession.

    Then what?

    "I''ve been researching Arcanas long before now, so I know a few things. Still... there''s a lot I haven''t figured out."

    At this point, it was back to the drawing board. In a race against time, such as our current predicament, mistakes weren''t allowed. If I was to win this time around, I had to be smarter.

    "They have their ways of locating Arcanas, but there are conditions for every Arcana one collects. That''s also one of the reasons they slowly collect them."

    It was somewhat like a game, where the supposed maker of the Arcana set a few traps and a roundaboutyout to ensure that it wasn''t easy to obtain the Arcana piece.

    My friends and I almost died thanks to a couple of the more troublesome games we had to y.

    Ultimately, we seeded in obtaining all our prizes... well, almost all of them.

    ''I wonder if I''ll be able to do it now... that one we couldn''t get.''

    It had bugged me a lot in the past, and I had postponed it even in my current life. Considering the difficulty, it was understandable.

    However, I needed to get it sooner orter.

    ''I might as well start from there.''

    "You mind if I join you on your research for the Arcana''s location?" Neron offered.

    Not that I didn''t appreciate the help, but wasn''t he too busy being buried in Serah''s boobs to care about the fate of the world?

    "Don''t look at me like that, Jared. You... you don''t know how they feel. You wouldn''t get it." His response caused my heart to bleed, but I tolerated it.

    ''Joke''s on him. In my past life, I had my share of fun!'' Of course, I was still a virgin in this one, but I could still relive my past glory.

    "Well, if you want to help, it''s always appreciated." I smiled, looking at Neron''s excited face.

    "Alright! I''m pumped up!"

 Chapter 523 Happy Reunion

    "Ed!!!" Ana''s small body jumped on the very muscr person in front of her.

    His tan skin and hulking body made him appear to be way older than his age, but he was only fifteen years old.

    "It''s been a while, Ana."

    Edward, even with his hardened look, gave a soft smile as he returned the embrace of his dear friend.

    Though, since her body was so small in his grasp, and she seemed so fragile that he could snap her like a twig, Edward maintained caution.

    "I''ve missed you! You missed out on a lot of action!"

    It was currently twelve days since the end of the war, and a lot had happened since then. It was crazy how Edward wasn''t present in any of them.

    "I had a little errand to run for Jared. Is he around?"

    Both of them were currently within Ainrk Academy''s grounds.

    While Ana was wearing her usualb coat, shirt, and skirt, Edward donned a simple traveler''s cloak.

    He had nice trousers, and his boots looked sturdy too.

    However, he was bare-chested, causing his skin to glimmer in the morning sun.

    "Yeah. We''ve been expecting you. Everyone is waiting." Ana smiled.

    Edward smiled and nodded.

    His eyes scoured the massivepound, and he couldn''t help but feel a wave of nostalgia. It had been a while, after all.

    "Let''s go!"

    Ana did the most amusing thing--climbing on Edward''s broad shoulders while holding his head and pointing far into the horizon.

    ''Eh?'' It had been a while, so Edward had almost forgotten about this habit of hers.

    Even as a kid, he did it often. It was probably why he was able to develop such a strong back.

    "Yeah, yeah." Now feeling a bit self-conscious thanks to the stares of students and staff around him, Edward kept his head low and began moving.

    "Faster," Ana yelled, causing him to quicken his pace.

    This continued until he was practically running.

    ****************

    "Edward, my man!" Jerry Keller hugged the buff guy.

    He too seemed small in his embrace, but it didn''t matter at this point. Despite their respective height or size, they were still friends.

    "Still hugging people at your age? Hmph!" A dissatisfied voice rang beside him.

    It belonged to the brte called Ciara, and she was certainly not pleased by Edward''s closeness to Jerry.

    She acted like she didn''t care, but if anyone looked at Ciara closely, they would see that the girl was observing the two''s closeness and gnashing her teeth.

    Jealousy was such a mysterious thing.

    "Hey, Maria... how have you been?" Ciara finally found a way to distract herself as she went to the youngdy.

    "Edward, look how much you''ve grown." Ivan guffawed as well, feeling quite intimidated as he approached.

    The young man had been working out to increase his muscle mass, but he was nowhere close to the beast in front of him.

    "Are you sure you''re fifteen?" He spoke his thoughts aloud.

    Edward could onlyugh awkwardly.

    Perhaps he overdid it a bit, but all he did was adhere to his training regiment whole eating a lot of monster meat.

    He hadn''t noticed just how big he had gotten until he met fellow humans.<sub> </sub>

    "Haha..."

    The room everyone was currently in was a lounge reserved for honored guests at Ainrk.

    Currently, it was something like an alumni meeting--but only for the small circle that Jared invited.

    "Where''s he, though?" Edward looked around him.

    Currently, the people present were; Ana, Ciara, Jerry, Edward, Ivan, and Maria.

    They weren''t expecting anyone else except the host of the meeting. And, as always... he was fashionablyte.

    >VWOOOOOMMMMM<

    The wide door, serving as both entrance and exit, was flung open.

    The man of the hour appeared, apanied by a good number of familiar faces.

    And, among them was a beauty unlike any other.

    Edward found his heart fluttering as his gaze was cast on her.

    He lost himself in the sight... and for a moment, the only thing that upied his mind was the girl beside Jared.

    ''W-who is that...?''

    ****************

    "Sorry I''mte, everyone."  I walked into the very room where my friends were waiting for me.

    I didn''te alone, of course. Neron, Serah, Maro, Aloe Vida, and Lemi were apanying me.

    Knowing how my daughter was, I made sure she was sticking close to me. That way, she wouldn''t cause too much trouble.

    "This isn''t exactly a reunion call, but... it''s nice to see everyone after so long." I smiled.

    One way or the other, I had made independent contact with them.

    I even assigned Edward a task in secret, and for everyone else, I had given them something to do--one way or the other.

    "Whoah, Edward... seeing you in person really hits it home." I smiled, looking at my buff friend.

    He was even taller than Neron, at this point.

    His gaze was on someone else, though. The moment I saw his distracted eyes and charmed expression, I looked beside me and noticed that Lemi was also staring at him--or rather, his body.

    My brain went into overdrive and put two and two together, faster than the speed of light.

    ''Edward and Lemi? What the heck! How?!''

    It didn''t help that my daughter had my wife''s expression, so seeing her gawk over Edward''s body made me feel weird.

    "Ahem, as I said, it''s nice to meet everyone. However, I''m here concerning a serious matter, so... let''s all have our seats."

    Fortunately, Edward finally took his eyes off Lemi and gave me a guilty look after I red at him for some time.

    Maybe I sent the wrong message to him--and it looked like I was hoarding the girl to myself--but that wasn''t the case at all.

    I wasn''t interested in Lemi that way, but... imagining someone else with her--especially my very good friend, Edward--was tough.

    I wasn''t the only one ring, though.

    ''Shit... I haven''t told Ana yet!'' My mind rang, noticing her dissatisfied expression.

    Feeling ufortable, I slightly nced in Maria''s direction, but I was met with a nonchnt demeanor.

    No--she didn''t even seem to pay me any heed. She was busy discussing with Ciara.

    ''Well, that''s good... I guess.''

 Chapter 524 The Winning Team

    In any case, this was an official meeting. The sooner it started, the better.

    With that in mind, I implored everyone to have their seats, and after organizing an introductory session, I finally dered my reason for bringing everyone together.

    "I gathered all of us here for one major reason... and that is because of a new threat that has emerged."

    The whole act of the Demons was a mere prelude to the emerging darkness.

    At the very least, I wanted to protect my own. But, more than that, it was within my rights to squash the enemy''s side.

    The problem was that they were a group, and so another group was necessary tobat them.

    In essence, to stop the Cult, I needed to work with a team.

    "Everyone, I need your help."

    Neron, Serah, Lemi, Maro, Aloe, Edward, Ana, Jerry, Ciara, Maria, and Ivan.

    With me in the mix, we made twelve individuals¡ªenough for the kind of effective group I intended on managing.

    ''Looking at their abilities, there are better candidates I could have employed...''

    People like Ivan and Lemi weren''t even very strong. However, they made considerable progress daily.

    If this would help them in their advancement, I was fine with having them on board.

    "So, what do you all say?"

    ***************

    ''Well, this is good.''

    I was currently on a wide expanse, watching my dearest friendsy out before me.

    The good news was that they all epted the request, but the not-so-good issue was that a majority of them were still considerablycking in many ways.

    That meant I had to set them straight one way or the other.

    "I teleported us to this vast field for a reason." I was sure many of them would recognize this ce.

    It was the same spot where we battled the Demons not too long ago.

    Since it was located on the outskirts of the Eastern Empire, it was perfect for the kind of activity I had in mind.

    "Out of everyone here, I''m exempting only Neron, Maro, and Serah from this exercise."

    Well, I was nning on simting a sparring experience, and adding those three would have been too unfair.

    For one, Neron and Sarah were too strong. As for Maro, he was more into engineering thanbat.

    It wouldn''t do any good by making him actively deviate from his area of expertise.

    The remaining eight; Ivan, Maria, Ana, Edward, Lemi, Ciara, Jerry, and Aloe were going to be my primary focus.

    "We''re here to train. Or rather, I want to test your capabilities."

    During the war, I had the chance of observing some of them, but none were pushed to the point of disying their limits.

    If we were to go up against monsters on par with Legris Damien, I needed to be certain that my team could keep up.

    "You''ll all be facing a single opponent. I want to see how you''ll fare."

    I wasn''t trying to insult them by putting all nine against one target, but this was simply the way I knew to bnce things.

    "H-hold on, I''m fighting too?" Lemi interrupted me with an entitled yelp.

    ''Ah, yes... I forgot.''

    This girl didn''t have anybat experience.

    ''Well, she''s gotta learn sooner orter.''

    I smiled sweetly and my daughter and gave an emphatic nod.

    "Your Aunt ced me in charge of you. We''re friends, you know?"

    "B-but, this isn''t friendship! You''re just¡ª!"

    "It''s friendship. I''m doing this for your own good. Isn''t that what friends do for each other?"

    "W-well, it''s not exactly like¡ª"

    I could spot Edward smiling like an idiot as he watched Lemi throw a fit. Something about his face glowing pink made things feel terribly wrong.<sub> </sub>

    "Alright, enough dawdling. Let''s get down to business." Ignoring Lemi''s pouting, I floated to midair.

    "Who will we be fighting, though? You?" The statement came from Ana.

    Her re still hadn''t vanished¡ªmost likely because of the just-concluded exchange between me and Lemi.

    ? "Really? We''ll be fighting Jared?!" Edward''s eyes lit up in excitement.

    The boy had grown even more to be a battle maniac. He resembled Gawain now more than ever.

    ''Martial Art idiots...'' I smiled at my muscle-brained friend.

    "Isn''t that too unfair? It''s eight against one, but still..." Ivan looked hesitant.

    He probably didn''t want to fight me.

    "I don''t see what the big deal is. I''ll knock him down myself." Ciara made a defiant tone.

    ''What''s with the attitude? It''s not like I forced her here...''

    After Jerry agreed to join the team, she did the same. To be honest, I wasn''t very close to the girl, but I realized her potential.

    It was a shame that she didn''t seem the least bit interested in being friends with me, but for some strange reason, she was always involved in my affairs.

    ''Is it because of Jerry? Hmmm...'' To think of it, back in the Academy, she was also quite fixated on him.

    The best course of action would be to ask Jerry all about their rtionshipter on. For now, though...

    "Don''t say that, Ciara. You don''t know how powerful Jared is."

    "Yeah... he''s simply amazing."

    "Aloe, don''t patronize him too much. You sound like a fangirl."

    "What''s got you so prickly today, Ana?"

    "Alright, I''m pumped up!"

    "I''ve never fought before, though..."

    "Don''t worry, I''ll protect you!"

    "....."

    After watching them all converse for a few, I pped my hands and regained their attention.

    "You won''t be fighting me."

    It seemed they were misunderstanding many things.

    But, that was also fine.

    "Your opponent is one of my constructs." At this point, I could make out many disappointed gazes assailing me.

    Those with a lot of pride would have even felt insulted.

    "It''s my best Automaton. If you guys manage to defeat it, I''ll fight you myself."

    Before they couldin, I snapped my fingers, and the tinum-armored being appeared.

    "Everyone, meet Gawain¡ªthe Ultimate Automaton." I smiled sweetly.

    The being beside me was floating too, and his majestic form took in the gazes of everyone. Thankfully, a few more of them were now interested in fighting the thing.

    "Alright then. You may begin on my count."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Some people have asked, so here we go.

    [Discord Link to my Server]

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 525 Automaton Vs Humans [Pt 1]

    "He''s mine!"

    The first to make his move was Edward.

    Immediately Jared dered the match to have started, the hulking being sharply dashed in the direction of his foe.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM<

    Perhaps it was to impress the girl he hadid his eyes on, or maybe he was simply in a hurry to test out his strength on this new opponent.

    Instantly creating a de from the Mana he exuded, Edward smiled as he wildly dashed.

    However¡ª

    "Too slow."

    ¡ªEven Edward couldn''t react to what came next.

    The Automaton''s hand was already close to Edward''s face before the boy could say a peep, and its metallic blow was nted on his face faster than he could process.

    >BOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Edward jerked backward,pletely stunned by the Automaton''s initial attack.

    And then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Another kick from the tinum armored being sent the boy''s hulking body flying away until it crashed into the ground beyond the remaining seven.

    His descent caused a crater, devastating the area around him in an instant.

    "Who''s next?" Gawain, the Ultimate Automaton, folded his hands as he waited for the next challenger.

    "T-two hits... he got rid of Edward in just two hits?"

    There was always the possibility that Edward was simply weak, but no one doubted the bulky boy''s strength.

    The fact that he was able to move faster than everyone else showed just how capable he was.

    Yet, the Automaton was faster.

    "We better take this serious, everyone." Aloe sighed, now coated inplete light.

    Golden orbs glimmered around her, and a witch''s hat sat atop her head.

    Her dress was pure gold, and her skin radiated energy. The woman had wasted no time before entering Mage Mode.

    "I''m not done." She murmured.

    "[Original Magic: Aurora Vidalis]."

    Instantly, ruptures in space appeared, and darkness began to spread.

    No¡ªit wasn''t that everywhere was getting darker... it was somethingpletely different.

    Right in front of Aloe, a sphere was forming. Within it were beautiful glimmers of light, like stars. They kept getting brighter as everything in the vicinity dulled.

    "What are you doing?" Ciara asked, looking agitated.

    "You don''t need to know." She sharply responded with a smile.

    No one knew the true nature of her Original Magic, but what she was doing was absorbing all the light around her¡ªusing the orb before her as a ma.

    This made everything around her slow down, and her speed greatly increased.

    Of course, this affected everyone around her equally, so her allies and the enemy would still be on equally bnced terms when it came to speed.

    Other than mere swiftness, Aloe had collected enough power to transcend her limits. The orb in front of her served as a second Mana Core¡ªone that mimicked the effects of a Special Grade.

    In essence, it had no limits.

    Having dual Mana Cores¡ªone being Gold Grade, while the second being Special Grade¡ªmade Aloe''s power skyrocket beyond any normal degree.

    In both speed and power, she had reached a transcended height.

    Still...

    "Not yet!"

    ... She wasn''t satisfied with this.

    "Fusion Mode."

    Aloe called upon her familiar¡ªa Golden Wisp that danced atop her head¡ªand the two fused together.

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!<

    It all happened so fast, but the results were dazzling.

    Aloe now took on the appearance of a goddess¡ªsimr to a blinding sculpture of golden brilliance.

    This was the result of using Mage Mode, Original Magic, and her Fusion Mode.<sub> </sub>

    The Sphere that served as a second Mana Core floated above her shoulder, and her body was bursting with power.

    With everything around her slowed down, and her own capabilities reaching new heights, Aloe Vida was confident in her victory.

    "[Grand Blitzing Ray]." Rather than dispersing energy in a wide sphere of explosion, Aloe concentrated everything in a single direction and sent in charging at Gawain.

    ''My current speed far exceeds the speed of light, and he should currently be slowed down.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH<

    The ray decimated everything in its path, turning the ground itself into char and molten magma as it raced to devour the target.

    However¡ª

    "Not a chance."

    ¡ªGawain''s hand stretched out and absorbed the st directed at him.

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU<

    Every single ounce of golden energy¡ªthat was supposed to decimate the Automaton¡ªwas instead taken in without even the slightest resistance.

    "W-wha¡ª?! How?"

    "You don''t need to know."

    Gawain sharply moved, closing his distance with Aloe in a sh.

    Its body now radiated a golden aura, adapting Aloe''s Light Magic as his own.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    Despite being flustered, Aloe easily evaded Gawain''s attack by virtue of being faster. She rained down more Spells on the Automaton, causing it to dash around as it evaded every strike.

    Whirring in retaliation, it summoned several des andunched them in Aloe Vida''s direction.

    >VWUUSHH<

    Unfortunately for the Automaton, the woman was fast enough to deflect each and every de with her Magic.

    "You''re good," Gawainmented, now emitting greater power than before.

    Aloe felt her opponent''s energy rise, but she was determined not to lose her focus.

    ''You can do this, Vida! He''s watching you!''

    With that, the young woman calmed herself and steadied her Magic power, ready to return whatever resistance her opponent would give.

    Still, no matter what it was, Aloe was determined to emerge victorious.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Gawain''s form changed¡ªhe too entered a state only Mages could adapt.

    "T-this is¡ª!!?" Aloe''s eyes bulged at the urrence unfolding before her.

    As if it wasn''t surprising enough that Gawain could move so fast even with her Original Magic''s effects, it was now adopting a mode powerful state.

    "Mage Mode?!"

    >BOOOOOMMMMM<

    With its newfound strength, Gawain summoned several more des and added multiple volleys of Magic Missiles and projectiles to the mix.

    These means of attack littered the sky where Vida was currently floating, surrounding her on all ends.

    "There''s no escape, and your defense''s integrity has its limits."

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Without wasting time, every single de and projectile wasunched at Aloe. Of course, she erected a strong defensive barrier, but sooner orter, it would break.

    "Shit!" She gritted her teeth as she red at the Automaton who also eyed her with a strange sense of animosity.

    "Of everyone I''ve fought... you''re the strongest." Gawain''s voice warbled as it spoke.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Some people have asked, so here we go.

    [Discord Link to my Server]

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 526 Automaton Vs Humans [Pt 2]

    No one could have known this, except it and its creator, but if not for the power of Spellcraft, Gawain wouldn''t have been able to move so freely.

    That was how dangerous Aloe Vida''s Original Magic was.

    Even with its speed, Gawain was unable to catch up to the woman.

    The only thing it could do was surround her with enough threats, so she could be still for a moment.

    ''You''re too cautious.'' Gawain had been assessing his opponent since the start of their fight, and this was his conclusion.

    If only Aloe Vida was more proactive and brutal in her assault, he would have been far more pressured.

    "Youck enough violence."

    With those words, he increased the level of projectiles he sent, and also their numbers.

    "Tch!" Aloe Vida clicked her tongue as she was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers that seemed to push her to her limits.

    Her barrier''s integrity plummeted, and Gawain sharply moved to deal the finishing blow.

    "Damnit!" Aloe managed to dodge his strike, even while being incapacitated in midair, but she could not have predicted what came next.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    A sharp st wasunched from behind her, enveloping the youngdy in bright golden light¡ªthe same kind she had sent to Gawain not too long ago.

    "Gahhhhhh!!!" She screamed in both surprise and pain, plummeting to the ground after suffering her loss.

    Gawain heaved an imaginary sigh as he stared at her defeated body.

    ''I had to wear out her defenses and then use Spellcraft to catch her off guard. Thisdy is strong...''

    Her problem was simply theck of enoughbat experience.

    Not only was she sloppy and overly cautious in battle, but her Original Magic was also far fromplete.

    There was a lot to work on.

    Gawain imagined how much potential she would have if she had the same sort of battle intelligence as its master.

    "That would be frightening..." Gawainughed, now looking in the direction of his remaining foes.

    "Ah, I guess you guys were still around." The Automaton''s voice warbled with every statement it made.

    "It makes no difference. Come at me at once." Now flexing its hand and gesturing them to move closer, Gawain seemed to be provoking the remaining targets.

    Unfortunately for them... it worked perfectly!

    *************

    "Haaa... haa..."

    All of them were down for the count.

    Only the Automaton stood victorious, and not even damaged in the slightest.

    As it watched everyone grovel on the floor, the being decided that it hadpleted its task and was about to return to its master.

    But...

    "We''re not done!"

    ... A voice stopped him.

    "Oh? I guess you''re up now." Gawain nced in the direction of the rising challenger.

    "I guess it''s about time you woke, considering you charged in first... Edward."

    The auburn-haired buff was currently frowning.

    Someone was in his arms¡ªher ck and white hair trailing as the wind blew.

    "You... hurt her, didn''t you?" Edward red.

    Energy seemed to burst from within him as he didn''t let go of the unconscious Half-Elf.

    "Not really. She fainted due to shock. I didn''t even touch her."

    "O-oh... I see."

    Things just got awkward, since Edward was about to fight on behalf of the girl and justice. But, now that it hade to this...

    "T-that doesn''t matter. You caused her distress. Besides... not to make an excuse, but I wasn''t in full form them. Let''s fight with no holds barred."<sub> </sub>

    Edward donned a wild smile and released his energy, finally.

    "I''ll be needing you for this, Perci!"

    ~Understood~ Edward''s Duhan Familiar responded.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    The sudden outburst of energy caused the air to undte and several pieces of debris to fly.

    Purple shes mixed in with white light, and the contradicting energy swirled around Edward''s body.

    >FWUUUUUSSSHHHH<

    Instantly, the boy was shrouded in dark armor¡ªsimr to the Automaton''s look, and his frame was exuding power.

    His white hair partially leaked out of the helmet he wore, and both light and dark energy radiated around him.

    "Fusion Mode, Martial State" Edward mumbled.

    He hadbined two immensely powerful forms, and now his power had reached a precipice.

    "So... you want us to fight with no limiters, uh?" Gawain murmured, looking at the foe he was going up against.

    "Very well"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM<

    Space seemed to break as Gawain also let out the fierce energy that was within it.

    Pure shire power surged from its armored body.

    A white de appeared on its hand, and several white orbs danced around it.

    The climbing energy it had dominated the atmosphere, and it stared at Edward with resolve.

    "Martial State. Plus Mage Mode. And then, Fusion Mode."

    "Uh?!!"

    "I have ess to all three forms... so I suppose we have revealed our cards now," Gawain spoke, brandishing the de it wielded as it approached Edward.

    The Martial Artist was stunned that the Automaton he was fighting had attained Martial State despite being so proficient in Magic.

    Mage Mode and Martial State at once... how was that even possible?

    Plus, since it could use Fusion Mode, that meant it had a Familiar as well.

    Edward couldn''t believe the absurdity of the situation, but he calmed himself.

    No matter who his opponent was, it wasn''t like he would lose his nerve.

    Besides...

    "Isn''t this what you wanted? An opponent to stimte you!" The boy smiled underneath his armor.

    Also brandishing his purplish-white de, Edward readied himself for the action toe.

    ~There''s something you should know, Edward.~ His familiar chimed in.

    "What is it, Perci?"

    ~...~ For a moment, there was silence in Edward''s inner realm, but it onlysted for a brief moment.

    Afterward, the deep voice of his Familiar returned.

    ~If you fight that guy... you''ll lose.~

    Edward''s smile did not cease despite hearing that. No, he smiled even wider.

    "It doesn''t matter. I want to fight him!"

    Unlike the time with the Demon General here he achieved such an easy victory, this was a fight where he had to exert himself to the max.

    Even if victory wasn''t in sight he would push himself to the limits and evolve further.

    That was how Martial Artists grew!

    "HAAAAAAAAA!!!" With a surge of power exploding within and without, Edward roared and dashed in Gawain''s direction.

    ''I''ll fight to keep getting stronger. Until...!!!''

 Chapter 527 Constructive Criticisms

    "Looks like it''s my win."

    "Yeah..."

    Edward and the Automaton stared at each other. A moment of silence emanated between the two immensely powerful individuals.

    The environment could testify to their strength, as it waspletely wrecked.

    "In the end... I couldn''tnd a single hit..." Edwardughed, looking at the armored being floating before him.

    Unlike thetter, the former''s armor was as good as gone, and blood covered a great deal of his body.

    He had definitely been through a lot, and he tried his hardest, but...

    "I didn''t know the gap in power would be so vast."

    ... Ultimately, even Edward couldn''t win.

    ******************

    "Do you all understand now?"

    My defeated friends were now seated before me,pletely mellow after suffering absolute defeat at the hands of Gawain.

    Neron would have reversed time to make it as though their wounds never existed, but it was better to just heal them.

    They grew a great deal from this exercise, after all¡ªwell, almost all of them.

    ''Lemi, that girl... she''s the oldest among them, yet she acted like a baby on the battlefield.''

    While I couldn''t me her, I definitely wasn''t satisfied with what I saw.

    ''I''ll need to drive some sense into her.''

    What was it called again? Tough love? Yeah, it was best to be even stricter with her.

    And, let''s not forget the stunt Edward pulled in the battle¡ªhow he carried MY daughter like some princess and brought her so close to his chest.

    It could have been my imagination, but I was sure she was smiling when that happened. They were supposed to be training, yet...

    ''No, Jared. Not now. Focus on what you have to do...''

    "Compared to a single Automaton, you couldn''t win."

    "You''re talking as if this isn''t the state-of-the-art weapon of mass destruction..." Ana chimed in, rolling her eyes.

    ''What''s with the attitude?'' I wondered.

    Was she still mad about the whole Lemi stuff? Well, I nned on telling her about myck of interest soon anyway.

    ''Just be patient till then, Ana.''

    Returning my gaze to everyone before me, I gave the analytics of the match.

    "Edward, you were too impatient." If he had just stayed more-level headed, he wouldn''t have been knocked out so quickly

    Even Lemisted longer than him initially.

    "Aloe, you were too conservative."

    If she had been a bit more reckless and violent in her assault, she could have achieved more results.

    Not only did she have the advantage in speed, but her destructive powers were also a very big deal.

    I was sure she would be able tond a couple of hits on Gawain.

    The only problem was that he superior to her in durability.

    "Ciara, you were stuck for some reason."

    "H-hey, what could I have done? Original Magic doesn''t work!"

    It seemed Ciara was used to handling many enemies with her Original Magic, so this time she was unsure of what to do.

    ''I''m sure she''s at least on Edward''s level when ites to power, though...''

    Why did she lose, then?

    "Jerry, you became flustered after Ciara lost, and you went down soon after."

    After he lost, he plummeted on Ciara''s body and remained there for most of the match.

    "Hmm?" I noticed Jerry''s face turning a bit pink.

    ''Eh? What''s going on?'' Ciara was smiling as she stared at the flustered young man, and I felt like she was sending him a message via Telepathic Magic.

    ''I can''t deal with this right now...''

    I turned in Ana''s direction and also criticized herck of active battle ability.

    Her excuse was theck of appropriate tools, and it seemed she heavily relied on preparation when it came to fights.

    "While I can understand the need to utilize tools and an active battle strategy to win, certain situations don''t allow that. You should be able to think on the spot and transform a situation to your advantage."

    Of course, she only murmured and argued further.

    ''She''s really upset today...''

    My gaze turned to Ivan, whom I gave a simple criticism to.

    "You''recking in power. That''s the only thing I see. You have extremely good battle senses, and you make very good use of the Magic at your disposal. But, you''re too weak." It sounded blunt, but it was the truth.

    "I see..." Ivan was frustrated, no doubt.

    It wasn''t fair, the fact that he was working so hard but his limited potential made him behind everyone else.

    There was a limit to what he could achieve in a lifetime.

    He would probably never reach the level of certain monsters.

    ''Which is why I won''t ignore things this time.''

    "Maria was very good with everything, except skill and tact. Your fights are simr to Serah Crimson, especially how you use absolute power to crush your opponents."

    While that was all well and good when it came to battling weaker enemies, in a battle between equally matched individuals, the one who emerged as the winner was the person with more skill.

    In essence, just as I was able to beat Serah, it was possible for a weaker person with better strategy and skill to win against Maria.

    Thankfully, she took her criticism well¡ªI think. An emotionless face and a light nod was all the reaction I got from the girl.

    ''Cool, I guess...''

    "Lemi... I have no particrment for you. You were awful, through and through."

    "You''re so mean..." She pretended to break down, even staring at Edward for some reason.

    "Ah... erm..." Good thing my good friend, Edward, knew better than to take her side.

    Sure, Edward was a muscle-brained person, but I was d he still had more loyalty toward his friends than a random girl he just met.

    "All in all, you were all standard¡ªno, even above average in your fights..." Of course, when I said that, I wasn''t including Lemi.

    She wasn''t even on any ying field.

    "But, that''s just whenpared to regr people. You might all be powerful out there, but this is the big league. You are all less than average in here."

    With monsters like Neron and Serah in existence, there was no telling what cards our enemies had to y.

    Besides, they even had Arcanas¡ªnearly making them invincible.

    Our current team stood no chance.

    ''It''s risky, but I have no choice. I better start with this small circle...''

    The only way to win was to increase our chances of victory.

    ''Time to teach them something new.''

 Chapter 528 Preparation And Surprise

    If I was to judge the strength of our group, and give a proper ranking on our members, then...

    ''First would obviously be Neron. Then, we have Serah. Ie in after that, and after we have...'' I looked at the rest of our members.

    In terms of pure ability, Aloe Vida seemed to be the most powerful.

    It was a tough pick, but I would still ce Ciara over Edward.

    Not only did she seem distracted during the sparring lesson, but Gawain was an Automaton, so her mind-based Original Magic had no effect.

    If she was to fight with Edward, I could only imagine the damage.

    After Ciara and Edward, the next was Maria. Her power was more than I bargained for¡ªalmost simr to Serah.

    For someone who looked so gentle, I never expected her brute force to be so immense. Still, though...

    ''Brute force isn''t enough...''

    I could tell that, due to the circumstances, some of our members couldn''t exhibit their full capabilities.

    For example, Ana didn''t have her aids with her, Ciara couldn''t rely on her Original Magic, and Maria seemed to be holding back on using her Original Magic.

    ''Serah already told me she has one, so why didn''t she use it?''

    I decided to let it go, probably because it wouldn''t have made a difference, anyway.

    After Maria, the next would be Jerry.

    He had improved considerably, especially since thest I saw him.

    ''He''s proof that constant practice works wonders...''

    Takingst ce were Ivan and Lemi. Based on potential alone, my daughter should have ranked a lot higher, but she was just too green.

    ''And, she did faint when the moment of truth arrived...''

    Ivan ranked the lowest when it came tobat potential, and he had no worth in other departments as well.

    Bluntly speaking, he was the least capable member.

    As for Maro, his value didn''t lie in Magic Combat, so he wasn''t even a part of the ranking.

    Normally, I would have relegated Lemi to that role as well, but she was capable of so much more.

    There was no way I would let her waste her potential in ab.

    ''Ah, am I being too overbearing?''

    There was the tendency of being too hard on her since she was my daughter. But, it was simply because I cared.

    "Well, this is all I can say for now," I spoke to my audience, breaking down my observations.

    I noticed Ivan''s face clouding up again, but I wasn''t going to stop because of that.

    Everyone had shorings¡ªeven me.

    I recently lost to the enemy because I wasn''t prepared enough. I was just as hard on myself as I was on my teammates.

    "Despite all I''ve said, though... I still need everyone''s help."

    I realized it already¡ªthat I couldn''t win by myself.

    "But, not like this. We still have a lot of work to do. There''s a lot of room to grow."

    That''s right! It was time to evolve once more.

    "I''ve been doing some thinking, and I would like to help everyone achieve the next step of advancement."

    After observing them¡ªboth individually and as a collective, many ws came to my notice.

    It was time to rectify that.

    "We have limited time. I want to wrap this up before the wedding in three months... oh wait, my bad."

    Widened eyes and surprised gasps escaped everyone as they stared at me, and then traced their attention to the only people amid us who could be considered prime suspects.

    "Jared!" Serah yelled, and I profusely apologized.

    Neron said nothing, but his silence was received loud and clear.

    ''He''s giving that dangerous smile... I''m in so much trouble.''

    Me and my big mouth!

    "A-anyway, we have limited time, and the enemy will definitely not be waiting for us to get stronger before making their move."

    That was why we needed to hurry. There was no time for practice or training.

    Inasmuch as it didn''t sound ideal, the best course of action was a method that guaranteed quick growth.

    There were a few things that came to mind¡ªone of which was the use of Magic Items.

    Other than that, though... something else surged in my thoughts.

    ''I should teach them how to increase the power of their Familiars as well.''

    Usually, a Bond Soul only had a fraction of the power they possessed when they were still alive.

    What I did to Kahn¡ªand even my other Familiars¡ªwas to restore the lost parts of their Souls and make them whole.

    That way, they had the same abilities as in their prime.

    ''If I show them this, and also give them Magic Items, their powers are sure to rise...''

    But, that wasn''t enough for me.

    ''It''s time I revealed this to them... the concept of multiple Mana Cores.''

    For people like Ciara and Serah, whose Mana Cores had limitless potential, such knowledge would be useless.

    However...

    ''This is a chance, Ivan... you can ovee your limits and grow stronger this way.'' I smiled at the young man.

    Jerry would also be able to push past his limits, and the others were guaranteed exponential growth.

    ''As for Spellcraft... it''s not time yet.''

    Inasmuch as I wanted my allies to be a force to be reckoned with, carelessness was a deadly foe.

    ''I trust them, but...''

    They weren''t skilled enough to hide the Spellcraft technique, unlike me. Anyone who was skillful in sensing Mana would be able to perceive the use of Spellcraft.

    It was only after years of practice that I could mask it, but they didn''t have that luxury at this point.

    In short... they weren''t ready for it.

    "Edward, you have what I asked you to get, right?"

    "Yeah. I kept it where you asked me to."

    "Perfect. That''s the edge we''ll have over our opponents." I grinned happily.

    Some confused stared greeted me.

    "What''s in the book?"

    "Well, let''s just say it''s¡ª"  I was still speaking when I was assailed by an unexpected sensation...

    ... PAIN!

    "¡ªGuark!!!"

    My body suddenly felt a strong sensation, and I clutched my chest tightly.

    It felt like my insides would burst, so I went to my knees instantly, fighting indescribable agony.

    "ARRGHHH!!!"

 Chapter 529 Grim Shock

    "Heuk!"

    My body throbbed, and I couldn''t speak until I was done absorbing the shock that seemed to tear me apart from the inside out.

    I could hear panicky voices around me, and their surprised faces came into my blurred view.

    "Do something, Neron." Serah''s voice rang out.

    "I can''t. It''s affecting his Soul... there''s nothing I can do about that."

    That''s right. I understood that much, which was why I knew I just had to wait out the storm.

    ''But, it hurts! This bacsh is too much! Arhhhh!!!''

    My eyes were tightly shut and I gritted my teeth as my Soul suffered continuous shock. Making sure my breathing was steady, and my internal flow was unhinged, I endured the pain.

    ''H-how... how could this happen...?!''

    ******************

    "Haaa... haa... I think I''m all better now." I smiled weakly, looking at the crowd that had formed around me.

    Some people looked more worried than others¡ªeven Ana, with all her initial pouting, looked very devastated.

    In contrast, Ciara merely stared at me coldly¡ªalmost as though I was a spectacle, or maybe an interesting lump of meat.

    I already knew she didn''t really care about me, but still...

    "What just happened, Jared?" Serah was the first to speak, as the others were still recoiling from surprise.

    I was plunged into sudden pain, and this would probably be the first time any of them had seen me struggle so much.

    I sighed, rising to my feet.

    The pain had vanished, now reced by a vast emptiness that would take time for me to adjust to.

    "It was a Soul Shock, right? Something happened to your inner self... but how? We''re you resonating with something? No, it shouldn''t have been that severe, unless..."

    As expected of Neron, he deciphered what was going on with me in an instant.

    ''Just how good are his sensory abilities?'' I looked at his stoic face.

    "Well, something a bit more severe than that..." I murmured.

    I was currently downcast, overwhelmed by a multitude of emotions. However, for me to fully make sense of what had urred, and also for everyone to understand, it was better for me to go somewhere first.

    "Let''s put a hold on this meeting, for now. There''s something I need to see."

    "We''reing with you!" Maria''s voice almost ovepped with mine as she stared with resolve.

    "Hey, speak for yourself." Of course, Ciara just had to speak up.

    Her objection was met with a light jab from Jerry, causing her to yelp.

    "H-hey!"

    Seeing them interact like this made me feel better¡ªif only a little. However, the heaviness in my heart couldn''t be alleviated by something so simple.

    "You guys should alle with me. I''m sure you''ll find what you''re about to see... quite disturbing."

    With that, I brought out a Spell Card and activated the Teleportation Magic stored within.

    ''It''s best I don''t use much Magic for a while... just to stabilize my condition.''

    There were probably not going to be any problems, but I didn''t want to leave anything to chance.

    Not anymore.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    We vanished, and in a spark of blue, appeared in apletely different location.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    It was... at the center of a crater.

    "W-what is this ce?" Someone behind me murmured, but I ignored their question.

    Bending down, I felt the heat of the ground with my hand.

    ''It''s still warm... this just happened...''

    The scene looked like a meteor fell from the sky, and the crater was asrge as a massive city¡ªbigger than even the capital.

    "Thisndscape... those mountains... isn''t this ce¡ª?!" Serah spoke, her voice climbing as she looked around her.

    "So, you recognize this ce." I smiled sadly.

    The mountains around were already broken down, and the lush vegetation that once added life to the area was now gone.

    It was just an empty, vast wastnd.

    "What happened here? Isn''t this the Beast Kingdom?"

    My sadness grew deeper.

    "What do you think?" A dark glint glowed in my eyes.

    Maria and the others who followed me here during thest expedition all had heavy expressions on their faces.

    "T-this ce...?"

    "H-how?!"

    "No way..."

    No one would believe it at first nce too, but I was certain.

    "What exactly happened Jared? Is this what caused your Soul Shock?"

    I nodded, answering Neron''s question.

    "I made a contract with the Beastfolk, as you know. When they died, the Soul Brand I ced on all of them was forcefully severed."

    The problem was that it happened all at once, causing the ''Shock'' to be too great to handle.

    "Ah, I see... so their Souls were destroyed at once."

    When Neron put it that way, it suddenly made me realize just how terrible such a thing was.

    "Souls dissipate after death, but... there are certain attacks that are directed at the Souls. That seems to be what happened here." He stepped forward, analyzing the situation.

    "Yeah, you''re right. But, who could have done something like this? Could it be the work of an Arcana?" I asked, still conflicted.

    The poption of the Beastfolk was not small. They were in the thousands, and they had numerous species under one banner.

    It was difficult for me to imagine a person doing something like that without an Arcana.

    "It doesn''t necessarily have to be an Arcana. I can probably achieve something of this scale, but in a different way..."

    Usually, Neron''s Magic only affected physical matter, and the Soul was incorporeal. His Time Magic had no effect.

    That was why, even though he reversed the state of a person''s body, their memories didn''t revert.

    It was the same way he could ce himself in a Time Loop, yet, he wasn''t experiencing everything in that same vein.

    "If I reverse a person to a point of non-existence, it would probably have the same effect as killing a soul," Neron murmured.

    "How much Mana would that take?" I looked at him.

    "For one person? It depends on how long they''ve lived. Beastfolk have an approximate age of thirty-forty years, right? It should take a few hundred Cores for one..."

    For a poption like this, though... just how much power would Neron have to expend?

 Chapter 530 Immersion

    "It would probably take about fifty to sixty percent of my stockpile..."

    ''That''s an awful lot!''

    To others, sixty percent might have seemed like a reasonable amount of power--perhaps not even plenty enough--to wreak this level of havoc, but...

    ''Neron has the highest pool of Mana I''ve ever seen! It far exceeds anything in the level ofmon sense.''

    For someone to deal the same level of damage as what would require sixty percent... I was honestly frightened.

    "Of course, that''s because the process isplicated. If it''s just blowing stuff into buts, then it shouldn''t take that long. The problem is..." Neron gazed all around him.

    "... This ce seemed to have been blown to bits, so it''s most likely the work of an explosion."

    But, an explosion that could get rid of the Souls and Bodies of the target--especially on this scale--had to take a vast amount of energy.

    "The device you built, Jared... I checked the specs. It could have been capable of something like this, right?"

    "Ah, yes."

    I made sure not to use that function, though. It would have been a waste to let all the Demon souls perish, rather than just absorbing them.

    "But, that''s only because of The Sun Arcana. That''s why I think it has to be the work of one."

    "Not necessarily. Arcanas didn''te from the gods, you know? They were made by people. If people made them, it also goes without saying that they are capable of performing something to that effect."

    Neron''s reply shook me, but I had to admit that he was correct.

    "We shouldn''t make any assumptions. That''ll only cause us to arrive at the wrong conclusions. I understand that you''re agitated and shaken currently, Jared. I''ll be your voice of reason here."

    "T-thanks..."

    Neron closed his eyes and inhaled, taking in the atmosphere--or probably extending his sensory function.

    "There''s a survivor."

    "What?" His sudden voice shocked me.

    "Over there. There''s a survivor." Neron pointed in a particr direction.

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    Serah raced there, and in an instant, she returned with someone in her hands.

    "Y-you are--?!" I was surprised to see the boy.

    It was Asa, the son of Beast King Gerard.

    "Y-you guys... you came... you came...?" The boy sobbed, staring at us with his wide blue eyes.

    His blue hair fluttered slightly, and his body didn''t stop trembling.

    ''He''s the kid I healed of Mana Burst.'' I watched as he kept crying.

    How could I not have sensed him? No, wait, I couldn''t sense him that time in the bath too.

    ''Bing one with the elements... that''s what he said, right? Is that how he survived?''

    "Tell me what happened here, Asa!" I swiftly approached the boy, desperate to know the truth.

    "That''s enough, Jared." Neron sighed.

    "The boy just went through a traumatic experience. Everyone and everything he knows has vanished, and they''re probably nevering back. This level of extensive damage--that killed both body and soul--is probably too much for my Time Magic to restore."

    I stopped and reasoned with Neron''s words.

    "Even your Hanged Man requires at least one element--body or soul--so there''s no way to revive them now."

    I understood what he was saying.

    "It''s best we leave him be. Maybe have him rest... he looks exhausted." Neron sighed.

    "I-I did my best... I hid like you wanted, father... I--I... I did good, right? I did...."<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "Yeah, you did well." Serah soothed him with her hands as she carried him.

    The boy cried some more as he hugged the Grand Mage. To be honest, my heart bled for him... for his people.

    But, that made me all the more determined to know what the heck happened.

    ''It''s the Nether Cult. It has to be! They struck again... I wasn''t expecting it to be this fast!''

    "... Hic... hic... B-but... even though I hid. Even though I became one with the Elements... he still... he still found me! That man still found me!"

    ''What man?!''

    Asa was dropping clues, and I couldn''t let this chance go to waste.

    "What man are you talking about, Asa?" I asked, my eyes widened.

    I could feel many disapproving stares greeting me, but I didn''t care.

    Everything was counting on me, so I had to know more to handle the situation. Thest time, I lost because of theck of enough information.

    There was no way I could lose again! Not to Legris Damien or anyone!

    ''I thought that, yet... they got me again.'' The frustration I was feeling, added to the need for more knowledge, caused me to ask with ferocity.

    "I... I... I couldn''t see it clearly. I just... h... h..."

    Asa broke down further, making the situation grow from bad to worse.

    "Just go to sleep. Rest now." Serah ced her hand on Asa''s head, causing him to cease his cries.

    His eyes slowly closed, and before long he had drifted off to sleep.

    "...."

    There was silence for a whole, and we all stared hard at each other, alone in the vast wastnd and trapped in a mystery that couldn''t be solved.

    "You realize that even if he wakes, there''s a chance that he won''t be able to urately answer your question," Neron said calmly.

    I shook my head, refusing to believe that our only hint would be useless.

    "She could use her Magic to probe into his head." I  looked in Ciara''s direction.

    "H-hey, it doesn''t work that way!" Ciara was most likely making excuses again.

    "There''s a limit a child of that age can retain in his memory. Besides, the mind naturally rejects pain, so he may unconsciously forget a lot of the details." Neron added.

    Everyone around me was making sense. I knew that much. But, why didn''t they understand...

    ''We can''t fight what we don''t understand. If we do... we''ll lose!''

    "There''s also the possibility he won''t be able to help, even though he saw the man. What do you expect him to say? That he saw the man use ''this'' or ''that'' kind of Magic? He''s still a kid. His perception is probably going to differ from what you''d construe as useful." Neron touched my shoulder and gave me a soft smile.

    "We should just do what we can do on our end. Don''t despair, Jared... I''ve got this."

    "Uh?" I looked at Neron with a dumbfounded expression.

    "The energy I''m feeling here is different from what I''m used to, so that''s why I was a bit hesitant at first... but I want to try something."

    ''Try something? What is he talking about?''

    "You know about my [Timeless World], right? Well, I''vebined that with [Reversal]. I''ve created a new Spell."

    My eye widened slowly, finally grasping what Neron was implying.

    "I''ll be inserting myself into the stream of time and I''ll see what exactly happened here in the past."

    "W-what--?!"

    When did Neron achieve that level? If he could do something like this, then it was possible to...

    "I call it [Time Immersion]"

 Chapter 531 The Mysterious Swordsman [Pt 1]

    A man walked on the fine grassy ins.

    His long auburn hair flowed like an endless stream in the wind, and the blue kimono he wore danced as the breeze beat it.

    He had a de strapped on his waist¡ªnothing too fancy.

    As he kept walking, heid eyes on a faraway ce.

    It was arge city located at the center of massive mountains. That was his destination, yet his movements were calm and precise.

    He enjoyed the walk as he slowly, yet steadily approached.

    Anticipation built up over time, and this Swordsman didn''t want to rush things.

    Finally, after a while, he arrived at the settlement.

    His unsheathed de was now in his grasp, and his gaze was locked on the most important building in the entire settlement.

    It belonged to none other than the Beast King.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Instantly, blue particles of power burst forth from his body and passed through his de as a conduit.

    This happened so seamlessly and naturally, yet the power caused everything around the man to tremble.

    "#01: Rend."

    A single swing.

    All it took was a single casual swing... and the building came crashing down¡ªno, the entirepound was sliced cleanly.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    The swordsman watched the destruction from afar, satisfied that he had given his greeting.

    The next thing he did was to seat atop high ground and await the retaliation that the nation would offer him.

    Thankfully, he didn''t have to wait for long.

    Like a meteor, the current Beast King known as Gerard came crashing down a distance from the swordsman''s position.

    The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and a surge of rage-filled emotions was stirred within the Beast King.

    "Who the hell are you? How dare you strike at us? What the heck do you want?"

    Upon hearing the question, the swordsman finally stood on his feet and faced Gerard. Usually, he would havemunicated with violence, but it would be rude to do that out of the blue.

    Courtesy demanded that introductions were made. Besides...

    "I am known by many as the Martial de God. Upon sensing a great distortion here nearly three weeks past, Ie to seek a strong opponent."

    The swordsman looked no older than thirty, if not thirty-five, but the way he spoke connoted maturity.

    His de was in its sheath, and he waspletely defenseless. Other than the fine clothing he wore, the man had nothing else going for him.

    Gerard''s re didn''t disappear, though.

    "My family nearly died because of that attack. If you wanted to say this, why couldn''t you just have knocked?" The Beast King''s teeth were now grating as his hateful frown deepened.

    "But... that was a greeting. I was certain I used the weakest of my techniques. Besides, isn''t your kind motivated by dying at the hands of a stronger opponent? Besides... such an attack is nothing to you, right? The kind of energy I sensed back then... that sh and distortion was the strongest I had perceived in a long time."

    The swordsman began unsheathing his de and used his right hand to grip it tightly.

    "Now, then, I''ve said enough..." He didn''t have any particr form.

    His stance was simply upright. A step slightly back, and his body bnced by his ded hand being forward.

    "... Let us exchange words with our des."

    Gerard didn''t waste any time. He quickly assumed his most powerful form and roared with unimaginable power.

    "I don''t care who you are! You''re dead!"<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    Compared to the time with Jared and Serah, Gerard was now stronger.

    He had mastered the use of his abilities better, and he was more determined to win than ever before.

    "I''ll rip you apart!"

    With that, Gerard brought his mighty hand swooping down.

    However¡ª

    "Hmm..."

    It was stopped before even reaching the swordsman.

    "... Are you underestimating me? I should have you know... I''m quite strong. It wouldn''t do you any good to hold back."

    Gerard looked at the dead serious expression of his enemy and realized he was being honest. The Beast King needed to take the fight more seriously.

    There was one problem with that though...

    ''I''m already in top form! How is this even¡ª''

    "Maybe I should start first?" The swordsman pointed his de in Gerard''s direction, thetter still being stuck with his earlier attack.

    A sharp blue light sparked, and before Gerard could even interpret its power, the energy burst and consumed Gerard''s body.

    "GUAAARRRRGHHHH!!!"

    With a pained scream, Gerard found himself being consumed by the blue energy.

    Quickly, he leaped backward, using everything in his power to douse the power that ravaged him.

    ''Mana isn''t effective? What''s going on? My healing... can''t keep up?!'' Gerard''s body was throbbing with pain and fear.

    ¡ªThe FEAR OF DEATH!

    Who would have thought that a Beastfolk who once sought after death would grow to despise it?

    Now that he had found a purpose, and also the ability to grow stronger, Gerard did not want to lose his life.

    Not now, and certainly not for a while.

    "No... I can''t die yet. Not until I at least..." The image of Serah Crimson shed in Gerard''s head and he gritted his teeth, pumping every power he had to the limits.

    "WUUUAHHHHH"

    Finally, the blue energy dispersed, causing Gerard''s charred body to start healing.

    "Hmmm... what''s going on with you? I''m even talking more than necessary. Our abilities shouldmunicate. A fight is like a conversation, and it''s like you''re not responding to my messages. Frankly, it''s a bit hurtful."

    Gerard was nearly out of breath, yet this man had barely even started.

    His gaze was calm, and he didn''t look the slightest bit disturbed.

    ''What kind of person... what kind of power...??!'' Gerard tried to understand, but he couldn''t.

    "Maybe you need to have an incentive. All life is life anyway. I might as well resort to this..." The swordsman suddenly turned his back on Gerard and faced the Beast Kingdom.

    Its widendscape was captivating, and the cultures of various species mixed in made it very unique.

    "... Please forgive my selfishness."

    **********

    [A/N]

    We''ve finallye to this part.

    I''ll be honest with you, this guy is one of my favorite characters, if not my favorite, in this Novel.

    You''ll understand more as you keep reading.

 Chapter 532 The Mysterious Swordsman [Pt 2]

    The swordsman raises his de, once again summoning the blue energy that danced around him.

    Gerard''s eyes bulged, but his body was still healing from the attacks given by the overwhelming individual.

    It was a different form of power¡ªsomething the Beast King had never felt from anyone.

    "#90: Heaven''s Descent."

    In a heavy swing, the swordsman brought his de down, cutting through seemingly everything as ifnded.

    And then¡ª

    "W-wha... what is that...?!" Gerard gazed at the sky, watching as a brilliant blue sh of light descended.

    It looked like a heavy sh of energy, but bursting with so much power, and so massive that it seemed like the fall of the sky itself.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM<

    Right before Gerard''s eyes, the massive light consumed the Beast Kingdom... turning everything to dust.

    Every single thing was vaporized, right before his very eyes.

    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" He cried, both out of pain and rage.

    His bulging eyes brought out tears as everything and everyone he loved was devastated right before his eyes.

    The swordsman turned to look at him with a cold, nonchnt attitude.

    "So, is that enough motivation for you? Why don''t you try harder and maybe¡ª"

    >VWOOOOOMMMMM<

    Gerard''s body moved on its own as he lunged at the swordsman, baring his fangs at the monster who would kill so many people so seamlessly.

    "No..."

    With a light flex of his hand, Gerard found himself being pushed back, crashing into one mountain and destroying it in an instant.

    However¡ª

    "GUROOOAAHHHHH!!!" His rage and uncontroble sorrow did not let him remain down.

    Once again, Gerard pushed himself toward the enemy, aiming to do nothing else than tear him apart.

    His speed had reached a new pinnacle, same as his strength.

    Gawain was bursting with so much power that he put his past self to shame.

    Yet¡ª

    "No..."

    He was flung to another mountain.

    And then another.

    Also... another one.

    It mattered not how many times Gerard stood to fight, it still wasn''t enough.

    After a series of one-sided battery, Gerard was finally down for the count,pletely exhausted.

    "It seems I mistook you for the perpetrator of that incident. Since this is your territory, and you''re the Beast King, I assumed..." The swordsman sheathed his de and sighed.

    Gerard could barely move, so he could only throb as uncontroble pain assailed his body.

    He felt like dying, but there was no way he could be able to reunite with his family without killing the man before him.

    "Why... why are you doing... this...?!" Gerard asked in a wheezing tone.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "Well, let''s just say you wouldn''t understand. You''re not a Martial Artist, after all." The swordsman looked in the direction of the devastated Beast Kingdom, and his eyes flickered a bit as he noticed something.

    "It seems someone survived that attack. Perhaps that''s the one I am looking for."

    "N-no! He''s not! They''re not here! The true perpetrators are not here!"

    "Hmm... you don''t appear to be lying. Still, it''s curious. I''ll be heading to check it out."

    The swordsman made to leave, but there was no way Gerard could allow the man to make contact with the only survivor of his people.

    Most especially, the survivor was none other than Gerard''s son.

    "ASAAAAAA!!! HIDE AS BEST AS YOU CAN!!!" With that final scream, Gerardunched himself toward his enemy, aiming to buy as much time as possible.

    Even if it was five, or ten¡ªmaybe more¡ªseconds, then he would have at least fulfilled his role as the father of a brilliant child.

    Unfortunately for him¡ª

    "I said I was done with you. But, if it is death you seek..."

    ¡ªThe swordsman didn''t even turn to look in his direction, or even flinch.

    Blue energy surged forth and consumed Gerard, turning him to dust.

    "You are not worthy to die by my de." With that statement, the swordsman sharply moved to the point where he sensed the survivor.

    It was instant, almost like teleportation.

    "So... you''re the survivor? This is intriguing." He spoke to the air¡ªafter all, it appeared as though no one was present where he was looking at.

    "No need to look so scared. I won''t hurt you. I find your ability interesting, but you''ll most likely not be a match for me at this point..."

    The swordsman could see a child crying and trembling.

    "You must have survived because you became one with your environment. That is a good move. I can''t even touch you as you are now, unless..."

    Suddenly, the man''s hand turned incorporeal, and he ced it gently on the shaking boy''s blue hair.

    "You''re injured. It must be because you''ve not perfected it yet. Still, this is good. You have potential."

    A bright blue light shone from the Martial Artist, consuming the young boy with its power.

    However, rather than destroying the kid, the boy''s scathed body became restored.

    "You should rest. Help will soone. I can already sense distortions..."

    The boy still couldn''t help trembling as the man stroked his hair.

    "By the way, I killed your father and everyone else here. There won''t be a chance for revival too, since I utterly broke down their souls. They''re noting back..."

    The boy''s eyes widened and tears streamed down. Even though he was experiencing such sorrow and pain, the man didn''t stop stroking his hair.

    "You have to grow stronger to avenge them, don''t you? Grow very strong. The thing is, I''m quite powerful, so you need to be even more powerful. Enough to beat me someday... for your family."

    Asa, the blue-haired boy couldn''t exin his emotions. He was supposed to utterly despise the man in front of him, but he couldn''t help but agree with him.

    The boy wasn''t sure why, but he simply couldn''t hate the man in front of him.

    Was it perhaps his gentle smile, or the calmness he exuded?

    But, the swordsman was right... he had to grow stronger. For his family... for himself.

    Having that thought, even though Asa still trembled in fear, his eyes showed a different emotion¡ªif only just for a moment.

    Upon seeing that, the swordsman smiled. Once again, he had managed to secure another potential opponent.

 Chapter 533 Nerons Assessment

    "That''s good. Good boy. I''ll be taking my leave now." The swordsman retracted his hand, and it returned to normal.

    "Tillter..." The Swordsman looked in another direction and gave an amused smile.

    "How curious... someone has been watching everything this entire time."

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    In a gust of blue energy, the swordsman vanished, and a distortion appeared immediately after.

    Within the distortion came a group of people who sought after the truth... only to meet the Beast Kingdom in ruins.

    ****************

    "Amazing... simply, unbelievably amazing," Neron murmured, watching in his Timeless State.

    He, who had witnessed every single thing that happened, had no better word to use in describing what he saw.

    "That power..."

    Neron couldn''t interact with his surroundings during [Time Immersion], so he wasn''t able to use his senses.

    However, he understood how Mana and Miasma functioned, and the energy being used by the swordsman was neither.

    "... Just what is it?"

    Neron found his heart racing after experiencing everything. What got his excitement peaked was when he was noticed by the swordsman.

    He and the swordsman actually made eye contact.

    Whoever the mysterious man was, he knew Neron had been watching everything all along. It was a mystery, yet...

    "I''m getting excited."

    ... Neron couldn''t help himself from trembling slightly.

    It would seem that he found an object of interest. Still, the young man was bothered about something... something darker.

    His expression turned grim, and he gazed high into the sky.

    "Is it going to happen soon? Had it happened already? I have no idea..."

    He was referring to something only he could understand.

    With a sigh, Neron ced his hand in his pocket while using the other to scratch his ck hair. There really was no use in asking questions that got him nowhere.

    "I should be returning now."

    With that, he vanished from the past and imed his ce in the present.

    ***************

    "What?!"

    After Neron told us what he saw, I found myself thrown into a sea of questions.

    We were all astounded by the strangeness of the situation, and the man who just appeared to destroy the Beast Kingdom.

    "At this point, we can''t even be sure he''s a part of the Organization, since his goal didn''t seem to align with theirs..."

    Of course, there was also the possibility of that all being an act.

    He knew Neron was watching him, after all.

    "....Crazy..." Someone behind me murmured.

    I recognized that sound well.

    Out of everyone here, he was probably the most surprised by Neron''s sudden revtion and our current predicament.

    "This is crazy... another swordsman practicing the Martial de God Technique..." Edward couldn''t stop mumbling to himself.

    Edward had thought he was the only one left who inherited the Martial School, yet he was now hearing of some other existence.

    Not only was he slightly frightened, considering there seemed to be a gap in their abilities, but Edward also felt a strong sense of curiosity.

    He truly wanted to meet this person.

    "Neron, be honest with me here, based on all you''ve seen..." I asked, looking at the empty expanse around us, as well as the devastated area beyond the massive crater.

    "... Who''s stronger? You or him?"

    Neron''s expression was stoic, and calm. Despite the fact that I had known so many people, none were even close to this man in terms of power.

    I was also far behind as well.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    His abilities were simply too powerful, and he was growing stronger rapidly.

    The obvious answer to my question would be¡ª

    "I don''t know..." Neron''s response caught me off guard.

    "Eh...?"

    "... To be honest, I don''t know."

    This was the first time I had seen Neron unsure about anything. Was the swordsman that powerful?

    "He used a different kind of energy... almost simr to the Arcana in Serah''s possession."

    "Ah... so you think he''s using an Arcana too?"

    "No. It didn''t seem like the work of an Arcana. I couldn''t sense anything, since I was only a spectator in the stream of time. But, I could watch how it was manifested. It looked like it came from him.

    "I see."

    Someone with a unique energy... this was bing more than I bargained for.

    Still, some good news came out of Neron''s shared experience, and that was Asa''s special ability.

    If we could all learn how he achieved that, then we had a better chance at withstanding the enemy''s assault.

    "Is this truly the end, though... the end of the Beastfolk Civilization?" Serah Crimson murmured.

    I knew she had aplicated rtionship with Gerard, the Beast King¡ªwell, it wasn''t soplicated.

    Still, our group had stayed here for a few days back when we were preparing for the war.

    It was only natural that she would grow attached.

    I nced at Neron after Serah asked her question, and he simply shrugged.

    "Haa, I guess I should show you guys." With another teleportation Magic, I teleported everyone to another location.

    A few of my Automatons were left behind for reconnaissance and surveys. Of course, all of them had the [Unknowable] Spell on them.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    In a sh, we appeared in a white hall, surrounded by nk walls, tiles, and ceilings.

    The smell of disinfectant swirled in the air, and I could feel my body being cleansed by Magic and science.

    ''It''s probably the same for the others...''

    "Where are we?" Ana asked first, observing the nitty gritty of her surroundings.

    "It''s a disinfecting room. I could have teleported directly to the main area, but this is simply protocol."

    "Main area? Where are we going exactly?"

    "Just be patient. You''ll soon see for yourself." I sighed.

    My reasoning was getting calmer now that more time had psed since the Soul Shock.

    ''It''s just as Neron said. I just needed to calm myself a little.''

    The agitation and impatience I was feeling were most certainly still present¡ªand they weren''t manifested due to the Soul Shock.

    However, I usually kept my emotions in check and acted as the situation demanded. For me to lose a grip at that crucial moment... it was prettyme.

    >DDDRRRIINNNGGG<

    [NOTICE!]

    ~Disinfection Done~

    [You May Proceed]

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Happy Mass Release, everyone!!!

 Chapter 534 Soul Project: Omega [Pt 1]

    [NOTICE!]

    ~Disinfection Done~

    [You May Proceed]

    >SHUUUUUU<

    A white door opened by the side, inviting us to leave the white room and pass through it.

    Everyone moved, and before long, we were out of the nk room.

    Now in a tube-like contraption, a different ping sounded, and the construct began to move.

    It took us below, moving at enough speed to keep everyonefortable.

    The journey took only a few seconds, and then after we arrived at our destination, the tube opened and another door was shown in front of us.

    "A white door again?" At this point, Ana was exasperated.

    However, after everyone shot her dirty looks, the girl decided to shut it.

    "Now, then, let''s all be cool about what we''re about to see, okay? No freaking out."

    My audience nodded.

    Though Neron was already aware of this ce, everyone else would be seeing it for the first time.

    In fact, only two people knew about what was going on down here. The only reason I was bringing in this many was to clear a misunderstanding... and also because they were people I had grown to trust.

    ''Well, I trust a few others, but these ones will be with me henceforth. I can monitor them, at least.''

    With that in mind, I passed through the door in front of us, followed by Neron, then Serah.

    Finally, the rest awkwardly moved behind us.

    Upon arriving at the vast room, I smiled. It had progressed even more thanst time, and it seemed everyone was hard at work.

    I nced behind me, looking at the neers.

    ''Let''s see what kinds of expressions they''ll make.''

    *****************

    It was a vast white auditorium, having no windows or exposure to the outside world.

    Lighting was brought by glowing gems, and the coolness of the atmosphere was maintained by Magic.

    However, these weren''t the impressive aspects of the massive room.

    Within the room, there were several pods¡ªnumbering thousands.

    They were ced in cadres and floors, and each had name tags on them.

    The pods were being maintained by Automatons, and while at least one Automaton was assigned to each pod, a few others were running about, floating in the air as they did one activity or the other.

    The room wasn''t rowdy, though. Far from it!

    Every action that was being taken was organized, and each pod was provided with adequate care.

    System Panels were atop each pod, disying the condition of whatever was inside.

    The Automaton''s interfaced with a system of their own, and they interacted with several buttons at inhuman speed.

    Arge System Window was also erected at the top, close to the ceiling. It disyed several algorithms, and conditions of the facility.

    All in all, it was a world beyond the realm of imagination.

    "W-what in the world...?" Ana''s voice croaked as she took in the brilliance manifesting before her eyes.

    Lemi''s eyes glowed as well.

    Compared to her Workshop, this was nothing. It had only the best technology, and the Automatons were working together, in absolute sync.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    "My god..." Maro was rendered speechless.

    This far transcended what he thought was achievable in his generation.

    Just how far had the world progressed?

    He had heard that the Fairy Republic had a great deal of technological advancements, but the specs he was seeing far surpassed the stories he had been told.

    Those who knew nothing about Magic Technology, though unable to gawk at the advancement of technology before them, still had surprised looks on their faces.

    They never knew such a ce could exist.

    "What are you guys doing here?" A feminine voice came from above, and a sh of light zoomed in.

    "Ah, I should have informed you beforehand," I said with an awkward smile, addressing the fairy before me.

    She didn''t seem especially angry, but I knew Jane more than anyone. Thedy was certainly not pleased with having strangers invading her workce.

    "You think? I knew you two would be arriving soon... you just didn''t tell me you wereing with guests."  Her gaze met mine and Neron''s.

    "Well, stuff happened... it was a kind of like ast-minute decision.

    I nced at Neron to back me up, but he swiftly looked away.

    "It was Jared''s idea. He didn''t even tell me before doing this. I''m just as surprised as you." Neron said.

    ''Traitor!'' My eyes widened at the man''s shamelessness.

    So much for a friend''s support

    "Is that so? Looks like you have some exining to do, Lewis."

    Jane still called me Lewis, and not Jared. She probably felt morefortable with that, and I had no problem with that. Well, there was one issue.

    "Jane, not in front of the kids..." I smiled awkwardly.

    ''Ah, I slipped.'' Realizing my mistake, I turned to see some suspicious gazes on me.

    Things were getting a bit out of control, so it was better to clear the air up fast.

    "Alright, let''s just get down to business, Jane. I imagine you have a lot of work to do."

    "You have no idea. There''s more work now that they got killed. I thought you said we had more time."

    "Yeah, I miscalcted. I didn''t think they would attack that soon... or it could even be a third party."

    "Hmmm, sounds convenient. In any case, you''re right. I am busy. So, what is the matter?"

    ''I''m d that she''s too busy to get mad at me. Whew!''

    With a nervous smile, I decided that it was time for introductions.

    "Everyone, meet Jane Urs. She''s the leader of the Fairies, and also a notable friend and partner of Lewis Griffith."

    Everyone¡ªwell, except for those who had met her before¡ªwas surprised, and I could see Ana especially shrieking with delight.

    It seemed she was going to burst and start something that would get me into more trouble, so I had to quickly nip it in the bud.

    "Since there''s no time, I''ll just exin what is going on here," I said, signaling Ana to control herself.

    "This ce is called The Soul Haven, where Neron, Jane, and myself are working on something that will change your concept of life and death as you know it."

    Jane initiated it for her people, but I took it to another level. Neron helped with achieving the mechanics, thanks to his Magic abilities.

    Thanks to that...

    "We call it Soul Project: Omega."

    ... There was a second chance at life, even after death.

 Chapter 535 Soul Project: Omega [Pt 2]

    "S-soul Project?" Anabelle leaked out her voice, but sharply zipped her lips when I nced at her.

    This wasn''t the time for questions.

    Everyone would understand once I was done exining.

    "By infusing the soul with an artificial body, you can ensure the continuity of life."

    I decided to go further and break it down for everyone.

    Jane never forbade me from telling it to anyone, considering we still needed her expertise¡ªor mine¡ªto make the project work.

    Besides, this was my trusted circle of friends.

    "Now, how does this rte to the Beastfolk incident? I''ll exin."

    **************

    It all happened weeks ago, when I realized just how much of a threat the Beastfolk would be to my enemies.

    Considering they were a valuable military asset, I couldn''t bear to lose them in an unforeseen situation.

    Also, I had made them my vassals, and as such, was responsible for their safety. That was when I decided on the groundwork for the current Soul Project.

    Still, transferring consciousness from one body to another was not exactly the same as dying anding back to life in a different body.

    These were factors I put into consideration when thinking of the n.

    After discussing with Jane, we arrived at a consensus.

    I would need to use two Arcanas for this venture. ''The Hermit'' and ''The Hanged Man''.

    The Hanged Man was supposed to utilize the information gotten from the soul to make a body, just as I did when resurrecting the Fairies.

    The Hermit was meant to quicken the process with time maniption.

    Since I estimated the enemy to strike at us after a few months¡ªafter they had exhausted the means to obtain any other Arcana aside from the ones we possessed¡ªthe project had to bepleted as soon as possible.

    I decided to bring Neron into things, since he was more adept at manipting time than I was... plus he had arger pool of Mana.

    Together, the three of us initiated the project.

    My Automatons were used to rece actual workers, and they were efficient in their work.

    Neron''s Magic pervaded the entire building, causing the achievement of so much work in very little time.

    Just as I was able to train for a century when only three years passed, Neron also replicated the effects on this ce.

    I could only imagine the amount of Mana he was burning every moment, yet he didn''t seem troubled.

    ording to him, he could create Mana Cores every second¡ªthat was simply insane.

    In any case, our work was perfect. There was only one thing to consider...

    ... How to obtain the Souls of our targets.

    Souls reside in the body, and unless a person died, their Souls would remain there.

    Now, how would we obtain the Souls of our targets to prepare a body for when they died?

    The answer was simple.

    ¡ªSoul Brand.

    Every Beastfolk had a Soul Brand which connected them to me.

    As a result, I was able to siphon a small quantity of their Soul Essence and store them in various pods, tagging them ording to the name of the Beastfolk.

    Souls were like cells, and even the smallest piece had the full information of an entire being.

    As a result, we simply had to cultivate the newly isted Soul, until it reached maturity, and then create the body from scratch.

    That was the n¡ªfor when our allies died.

    Fortunately, we had already started this project a short while back, so the deaths of the Beastfolk weren''t the end.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    While it was painful and tragic, it wasn''t over. They had a backup supply right here.

    *************

    "When will it bepleted?" I asked Jane.

    "I already told you, about three months."

    "Can''t we speed up the time ratio? That will make the work faster."

    "No way! There''s a limit to how much an entity can live in warped time, especially adjusting to the new time rate."

    "I did it, though." My voice interrupted Jane''sint.

    "Well, the time ratio of your Arcana wore out slowly, but we can''t achieve that here. Besides, this is a delicate project. I know you need it as fast as you can, but there''s no need to rush."

    "You''re right."

    "Of course, I always am."

    Despite the temptation, I couldn''t exactly argue with that.

    "You know what would be fun? Making a replica of you, Lewis! That way, I could have a partner for myself."

    "H-hey! You''re not doing that, are you?"

    Jane was connected to me with a Soul Brand. Since she was an expert in that Soul Magic, it wasn''t exactly impossible for her to achieve something like that.

    She was even in possession of ''The Hanged Man'' Arcana, so she could replicate my body.

    "Hahaha! Maybe. You''ll never know for sure."

    I was panicking a bit, ncing at Neron for a little assistance.

    Once again, he nced away in betrayal.

    "Well, now that you''ve shown them what they want to see..." Jane''s smile was already wearing out.

    I already knew what that meant.

    "... GET OUT OF MY LAB!"

    "YES MA''AM!" Neron and I spoke in tandem, and we ran out of the room.

    Teleportation was forbidden inside the Soul Haven, considering it warped space, and an already sped-up time was already in effect.

    If I used ''The Tower'' while within the Soul Haven, a singrity could ur, and that would be bad.

    Because of that, everyone returned to the tube that brought us to the location.

    Once we arrived at the Disinfecting Room, I activated my Teleportation Spell, and we all went our merry way.

    ''I sure hope Jane was joking...''

    **************

    "I was kidding. Did he really believe I would do that?" The Fairy smiled, now flying to her office.

    There was no way she could use Jared''s current Soul to create a person. If she did, it wouldn''t be the Lewis she wanted.

    Not only had Jared changed a great deal from the Lewis she knew, but he also wasn''t as close to her as before.

    Now that he was surrounded by so many friends and people of interest, she only had the role of a supporting character in his life.

    There was no way she could wish for such a partner.

    *************

    [A/N]

    Am I the only one who feels for Jane?

 Chapter 536 Gaining The Upper Hand

    Within Jane''s office, several things could be seen.

    As she went inside, she smiled sadly, remembering her earlier conversation with Jared.

    "I''ll never be number one in his life, will I?" Sheughed slightly.

    A tinge of pain reflected in her eyes as sheughed, but the Fairy maintained herposure.

    "But you... you''re different, aren''t you?" Jane nced at a warbling orb within a tube.

    It was on her desk, and the orb glowed ever so brightly.

    It had a partly purple and partly golden ambiance, and it kept dancing in the contraption that kept it stable.

    "Well, I have all I need now. Putting the current time we have, I can start working on this side project." Jane smiled as she sat on her desk and longingly stared at the orb in front of her.

    "It won''t be long now, Lewis..." Her smile was a bit sad and nostalgic, but her eyes were now brimming with determination.

    "... I''ll definitely bring you back."

    ******************

    We returned to the Eastern Kingdom¡ªspecifically our training area.

    Thanks to the events that had urred thus far, we were interrupted. However, now that a good number of it was resolved, it was time to return to the main issue.

    "Serah, we should probably exin things to Asa when he wakes up. He''ll stay with the Elves pending the time we work things on our end." I nced at the Grand Mage, and the child she carried.

    ''Though, it would be nice if I figured out how he was able to be one with nature... that sort of thing.''

    With a soft smile, and a downcast eye, I apologized to everyone for being forward back at the ruined Beast Nation.

    Perhaps it was due to my unsettled heart, or the impatience that losing to Legris did to me. In any case, I had to control myself more.

    "Let''s get straight to the point... I was wrong. Rather, I miscalcted. It seems the Cult is moving faster than expected."

    After they realized that I was listening to their conversation, they must have taken drastic measures.

    I understood that much, but still... finding Arcanas wasn''t easy!

    ''The only other person who can pull that off, except me, is Jane. But, she''s busy on her end, and we even share a Soul Brand...'' I couldn''t doubt her.

    Perhaps there were brilliant people within the ranks of the Cult, so I had to let go of my bias. Still...

    ''Even after the Hero Party disbanded, I still continued my search¡ªalone. The only person I made contact with was Jane, thanks to our bond...''

    As I thought of the good days, I realized how much I had relegated my closest friend to the sidelines.

    It was because the situation called for it, but wasn''t I being too selfish by leaving her all alone to handle so much work¡ªwhere she would spend a very long and elerated time?

    ''Jane enjoyed research, but she likes it better when she has a partner...''

    I really wished I was there with her, but I was needed on the field.

    ''I guess I''ll make it up to herter on...'' With that thought, I sighed.

    Now wasn''t the time for frivolities.

    "Alright, here goes."

    Space instantly warped, and I summoned a particr box that manifested in midair.

    The ck box remained suspended in the air, coated by my Mana.

    "This is the only edge we have against our opponents," I said to everyone, noticing how they looked at the box.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    I touched it, and after infusing enough Magic in key areas, like solving a puzzle, the box began to open, like a safe.

    Eventually, the work wasplete, and the ck contraption finally granted me ess to the contents inside.

    "This..." I dipped my hand inside the box and brought out a book.

    It looked a bit rugged, but it was quiterge, with several notes sticking out of various positions.

    It has a dark brown hardcover, and each leaflet was made to be extra sturdy. Anyone who saw this would realize that it didn''te from the modern era.

    ''Yeah, that''s right. It''s something I had in myst life...''

    "I had Edward get this for me in a particr location," I said, addressing my audience''s curious face.

    ''... My Memoir!''

    ********************

    When I was 42 Years Old, our Hero Party split up.

    This was because of the death of one of us¡ªDom, the Indestructible Immortal.

    After we parted ways, I couldn''t return to the Eastern Empire.

    Not only was it full of bittersweet memories, but my heart wasn''t at rest.

    I still sought after the Arcanas, probably to right the wrong I had wrought in the past.

    It was absolute foolishness on my part, but I had already gone so far.

    There was no way I could stop at my current point.

    And so, I resumed my journey¡ªalone.

    Maybe it was because of guilt, but I didn''t tell anyone. I just went on my own path.

    It was at this point that I started to write my Memoir.

    I documented my adventures with the heroes, who were my friends, and also the adventures we had.

    But, most importantly, I wrote down every single result of my research on the Arcanas. Clues, texts, anything I could find that pointed me in any direction.

    I did extensive research on the Arcanas, but without Magic, there was no way I could have solved the mystery myself.

    That was also when I sought after the knowledge of more Magic.

    And that was when I met another friend... someone who changed my life forever¡ªat least in the brief moment we met.

    *******************

    "So, you''re saying you somehow found clues that led you to believe that Lewis Griffith''s Memoirs were in a particr location. That''s why you sent Edward to retrieve it... is that right?" Ana spoke with a suspicious eyebrow raised.

    "Y-yeah. That''s right." I smiled.

    Now that I heard Ana say it, my excuse was quite silly.

    ''But, it''s toote to turn back now.''

    "In any case, this is something that ces us at an advantage."

    ''There''s no need to start researching the Arcanas from scratch.''

    With the knowledge in this book, and my current capabilities¡ªas well as the aid of my friends¡ªwe would be able to gain the upper hand.

 Chapter 537 Labyrinth Of Despair [Pt 1]

    [One Week Later]

    "Despite saying we were pressed for time, and that we had to hurry... this much had to be done." I smiled at myrades.

    They were all outfitted in different clothes and Magic Items.

    Not only that, but their level of power had drastically risen¡ªthanks to the one-week intensive training we did.

    They looked like strangers,pared to their past selves¡ªwell, some looked just the same.

    In any case, I was proud of how much had been achieved so far.

    ''While they were training, I waspiling all my research and developing a route. I''m still not done, but it''s time we begin.''

    I had no idea how long the enemy would take in finding out the positions of all the Arcanas, but for it to take me this long when I was simply building upon existing information, they couldn''t have been able to get very far.

    "We''ll be going on our very first mission. Legend has it that the Heroes of the past actually challenged this one and they failed." I said.

    In the past, a few of them would have made troubled expressions, but none of myrades seemed the least bit shaken.

    "The true nature of the Arcana is unknown, but one must ovee trials and tribtions in the process of obtaining it."

    It wasn''t easy on them, or me, but we had made it this far.

    It was time we began our journey for real.

    As we all readied our hearts, I felt a surge within my heart. Watching them all, I realized¡ª

    Neron Kaelid

    Serah Crimson

    Lemi Vindiel

    Maro Smith

    Aloe Vida

    Edward Karl Leon

    Anabelle Frederick

    Jerry Keller

    Ciara Epilson

    Maria Helmsworth

    Ivan Smith

    And finally...

    ... Asa.

    ¡ªThis was my team.

    ''If I add myself, we''re thirteen. That''s more than the Hero Party''s numbers... and we''re definitely surpassing them!''

    "Let''s get this show on the road."

    ******************

    >VWWUUUUUSSHHH<

    The blue warbling portal shed, and then disappeared after bringing us to our destination.

    The environment looked like the thick of a jungle, and several tall trees filled the area, nearly blocking out the sun from view.

    The vines and dried branches on the ground were trampled upon by the soles of our feet, and the entire environment gave off an eerie vibe.

    Thin fog pervaded the area, and there was a massive Mana disturbance everywhere.

    If not for my heightened degree of Mana control, I would have been disoriented.

    I observed mypanions, and I found that they were all fine as well.

    ''They''ve all erected a Mana Field... good.'' I looked around once more.

    This ce wasn''t very strange to me, and that was because I hade here within the past week to scout.

    However, even before that, this was the one ce that the Hero Party gave up on in the search for the Arcanas.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    It bugged me every time, but I knew we couldn''t clear it.

    In simple terms, we weren''t strong enough.

    "Well, we''re here everyone....wee to the Labyrinth of Despair."

    Using his Mana, Neron cleared off the fog that surrounded us, creating a massive Mana Field that encapsted all of ours.

    As a result, our vision was restored.

    Right in front of us was a very massive monument.

    It resembled the stone face of a Dragon, and it had beads around its neck.

    However, the neck and head were the only parts visible, as the remaining parts seemed to be buried in the ground.

    "There..." I pointed at the gaping mouth of the sculptured Dragon.

    It was the entrance to the ce we were heading to.

    ''Here goes...''

    "Should I use [Time Immersion]?" Neron asked, looking in my direction.

    True, if he utilized his very convenient Magic, it would make the work easy for us.

    All Neron would have to do was survey the area and show us the right path.

    Once that was settled, we would reach our destination in no time.

    However...

    "No, you can''t."

    ... That method was forbidden.

    "You can''t use Magic. None of you can... at least, not while we''re in there."

    "E-EHHH?!" Therades that I had previously praised for being calm and collected were now sounding panicky.

    It wasn''t like I couldn''t understand their logic, though.

    ''They''ve been training their Magic and several abilities in preparation for this day. To say they can''t use any of that is... well...''

    "The purpose of your training isn''t for this Labyrinth, but for the others," I said calmly.

    There was a reason this one was a different case, and why even our team couldn''t resolve it.

    "The Labyrinth Of Despair changes with respect to the challenger. It observes those whoe into it and offers a challenge that is impossible for their level of strength."

    If a challenger was at the Intermediate Level, it offered a challenge at the Advanced Level. If one was at the Advanced Level, it brought up obstacles that were at the Peak Level.

    That was how annoying this ce was.

    "If Neron uses his Magic, there''s no telling how the Labyrinth will respond. That''s why none of you are also allowed to use Magic. If you do, the difficulty of this ce will exponentially increase." I exined, making sure everyone grasped the implications of their actions.

    "So, how do we handle it? If we go in without utilizing Magic, we''ll be safe, right?"

    ''If only that was the case...'' I smiled wryly.

    "No. It''s still plenty difficult. Even without using Magic, the Labyrinth is impossible to beat."

    That was why it was called The Labyrinth Of Despair. No matter what we tried, nothing seemed to work.

    "How do you expect us to win, then? If it just gives us challenges that are impossible to ovee, we''ll never win." Ana chimed in, now looking annoyed by the whole thing.

    "Rx. I didn''t say we can''t win."

    "But isn''t that what you''re implying?"

    Well, maybe I put things too much in a pessimistic view.

    ''I must have been reliving the past frustrations I had with this ce...''

    "There is actually a way to ovee this ce. That''s why I had us challenge it first."

    It seemed like the most difficult ce, but, if my n was correct, then...

    "This could potentially be the easiest one yet."

 Chapter 538 Labyrinth Of Despair [Pt 2]

    "Listen closely, everyone."

    A smile spread across my face as I addressed my somewhat concerned audience.

    A surge of excitement surged through my palpitating heart. After so many centuries, I would finally be clearing this ce with my friends.

    It was a shame that Jane wasn''t here, but I would simply have to regale her with the tale of how we seededter on.

    ''Everyone, please watch over me!'' With that merry feeling in my heart, I went on to exin what we would be doing.

    "The Arcana is most likely at the center of this  underground structure¡ªand it''s also responsible for creating anything and everything we encounter inside."

    Well, it was possible that the Mage who designed this ce had set a few trap Magic in ce, but unless a Spell was connected to a source of energy, then it would die out.

    "We should be prepared to see an artificial Mana Core, or perhaps it''s the Arcana itself that''s responsible. In any case, since it''s an intricate system, I pick thetter."

    My friends nodded as I continued.

    "The Labyrinth Of Despair is as the name sounds. It''s a maze, and the goal is to reach the center and im our prize. The true problem is the obstacles that will be in our way."

    However, I had a way to ovee that part as well.

    "The solution is simple... to utilize as little Magic as you can, and focus on using your Magic Items instead."

    "U-uh? I don''t understand. You mean...?" Lemi was the first to break the chain of silence.

    She looked confused, but I could see a spark of excitement in her eyes.

    "Yeah. You can use Magic Items. That''s the point of this Labyrinth."

    After testing several things out, I realized that it was meaningless, no matter how powerful a person was, to reach the center.

    The difficulty was simply ridiculous.

    However, since the Labyrinth only took a person''s power into ount, it was possible to boost one''s capabilities with tools.

    In that vein, if we decided to keep our power levels on a low level and concentrate wholly on Magic Tools, we would be able to win.

    "Alright! It''s about time!" Ana yelled with excitement.

    She hugged Lemi, and both of them shrieked excitedly.

    During our short time together, these two girls somehow managed to be quite close.

    Maro was also fuming with exhration¡ªmost likely because he also shared their sentiments.

    ''Well, out of everyone, these three still modified the Magic Items I gave them, so that makes sense...''

    In any case, it was about time we went in.

    "Let''s do our best."

    ''If everything goes well, this can simply be like a field trip...''

    *********************

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    With lightning-fast speed, we tore through the Labyrinth''s defenses and began advancing deeper into the ce.

    The Labyrinth Of Despair had a very massive interior, and its wide space was almost enough to house an entire civilization.

    The power surging from everywhere was also incredible¡ªenough to cause anyone to sumb to unconsciousness.

    Fortunately, everyone had their Mana Field on, so there was no danger of that urring.

    "Now then..."

    As I watched everyone hack down the monsters spawned by the Labyrinth, I raised my head and closed my eyes.

    ''....Is it because I didn''t have Spellcraft in my past life? I can clearly feel the path.''<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    The energy''s flow, I couldpletely read it, and it was directing me in a particr direction.

    ''Ah, so that''s the center.'' I smiled, realizing that our journey would be much easier than I initially thought.

    "Such good news." With that in my mind, and a grin on my face, I beckoned everyone to take the right path.

    "ROAAAARRRRR!!!"

    Not far down the line, a massive monster stood in our path, and it was once again time to do battle.

    "I''ll leave this to you." With my arms folded, I watched Ana and Maria, donning their respective Magic Outfit,unch themselves into the air.

    Their bodies elegantly surfed the vast expanse above, and a constant stream of Mana surged through them.

    For Ana, she was apanied by her three drones, as well as a protective bracelet and Mana Boosting ne.

    Maria, on the other hand, had enough power for offensive measures, so I focused on giving her defensive and supportive features.

    Ultimately, both girls were able to kill the beast effortlessly.

    "Guark!!!" With a heavy thud, the massive furry beast fell to the floor and died.

    "GRRRRRRRRRR..." Two others took its ce, growling at us uninvited guests.

    They looked stronger than the fallen one¡ªwho had turned into Particles by now.

    "Hey, who used Mana there?" I looked at everyone with a slight re.

    "A-ah, sorry." Lemiughed, pulling her finger down.

    Apparently, she was goofing off, ying with the Mana and Miasma at her fingertips.

    ''This girl...'' I nearly sighed, moving in her direction.

    "Hey, I said I''m sorry." She shrieked, stepping away as I walked closer.

    "Rx, I''m not going to do anything..."

    "No! I don''t trust you."

    "Wait."

    "Noooo!!!"

    Lemi fled instantly, giving me both a headache and heartache.

    I brought her with me, and taught her personally, just so we could deepen our bond a bit.

    But, it seemed I was too hard on her. After all I did, she now avoided me anytime I wanted to get the slightest bit close.

    ''Was I too strict?''

    Everything was for her benefit, though. After all...

    "Fine. I won''t get any closer. In exchange, defeat those two." I pointed at the dark brown furries.

    "Fine. I will." She warily nced in my direction, and then gave the monsters a determined re.

    It broke my heart that Lemi didn''t trust me enough, but even worse... that she preferred dealing with monsters to spending time with her own father.

    ''Did you experience something simr, Emilia?''

    Making our daughter have the same face as her was cheating. I doubted Lemi could have treated Emilia harshly, considering they looked the same.

    Then again, it could have been my bias.

    I looked at the two monsters and watched as they were each taken down, one by another, by Lemi.

 Chapter 539 Labyrinth Of Despair [Pt 3]

    Lemi held a gleaming white wand and used it to draw specialized Spell Patterns in the air, causing them to manifest.

    ''Just like my Magic Cards, I designed Lemi''s Wand to store Mana. But, unlike the former, she has to chant the spell herself.''

    By drawing a pattern in the air, she could manifest whatever Spell she wanted¡ªas long as the wand had enough power left.

    The good thing was that she could charge the item with Mana, but since I forbade the use of that, unless where necessary, she had no choice but to rely on the stored power.

    ''She also has the Miasma version of the wand...'' I smiled, looking and the holster on her hip.

    The purpose behind the tools was to help Lemi understand how to use Magic faster, and also to control her output.

    "Thankfully, it''s going well."

    ***************

    We decimated the enemies in our way and made it to the center of the Labyrinth without much to do.

    ''It''s somehow meaningless to call this a Labyrinth Of Despair, at this point...'' It simply felt like we were cheating our way through the journey.

    It was almost ridiculously funny that my friends and I struggled so much to take this ce down.

    ''Well, there was no way we could have made so many advanced Magic Tech back then...''

    At the moment, with the existence of Spell Cards, there was no need for a person to even use Mana or Cast Spells.

    ''Inepts will be capable of using Magic, and even those with low affinity can use high-grade Spells...''

    I was getting closer to my goals, but something still gnawed at me. The whole concept of Inepts... seemed inconsistent with my most recent discoveries.

    ''Not now, Jared. You''re at the final hurdle...'' I pulled myself back to reality and looked at the structure before me.

    Everyone was around me, and we were finally at the center of the maze¡ªdirectly before the Labyrinth''s source of power.

    ''My friends and I never got this far in my past life.'' I smiled with satisfaction, though a tinge of sadness lingered.

    "There." Lemi beamed, pointing in the direction of a glowing card that warbled in the air.

    It was slowly spinning, emitting energy that was hard to describe.

    The power surrounding it felt like a culmination of multiple types of energy, and it was so fluid and malleable¡ªlike water.

    I felt the energy density, quality, property, and several other elements shift as I observed it. The more I watched, the less I understood.

    "Should we grab it?" Edward grinned with excitement, stepping forward.

    "H-hey!" Jerry protested, hugging the big man by his muscr stomach.

    I sensed a harsh re from Ciara for some reason, and I also noticed Maria ncing in my direction.

    Her expression remained nk, but she had been doing the same thing for a long time now, and I was beginning to feel... ufortable?

    No, it was more like being self-conscious.

    ''Ah, I don''t like this...''

    Maria and I hadn''t really spoken since that incident in her room, and I didn''t want that. She was a fun girl to be with, and I truly enjoyed herpany.

    But now... it seemed like she didn''t want to talk to me at all.

    ''Neron is always with Serah, Ana is with Lemi, Jerry and Edward have guy talks all the time. Ciara is either stuck with Jerry or talking with Maria. Asa is an overactive kid that can get into any of the social circles and blend well. Maro would rather work than talk...''

    I almost didn''t have anyone to talk to. But, it wasn''t like I was totally friendless, though. After all...

    "It looks beautiful, doesn''t it?" A feminine voice rang in my ears.<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    ... I had Aloe Vida.

    Her beautiful blond hair swayed as she looked above her with a lovely smile.

    She pushed her hair slightly backward with her hand, causing me to notice her brilliant earrings and dazzling ne. Her lovely skin entuated their glow, and I was happy they suited her well.

    "You should stop looking at me so intensely... even I get embarrassed, you know?" She responded, ncing in my direction.

    "Haha, sorry about that." Iughed slightly.

    Aloe Vida and I had been talking a lottely, mostly about our experiences and what happened at Ainrk while I was gone.

    On a few asions, I told her a bit more about Magic, but we mostly discussed personal affairs.

    It made me feel closer to the youngdy. And, one thing I noticed about her was...

    "Maria is still staring. She likes you, doesn''t she?"

    "Ah, you figured that out too?"

    ... Aloe was very perceptive.

    "Has she confessed yet? She has, hasn''t she?"

    "How do you know so much? Do you maybe have a mind-reading ability I don''t know about?" I asked, taking a step back in an attempt to entuate my point.

    "Haha, of course not." Aloe burst outughing.

    It made me happy that sheughed at my silly attempt at a joke.

    Truthfully speaking, I was feeling a little left out in terms of social engagements. Since I was the leader and teacher, it seemed like I was not wee in everyone''s social circle.

    In a way, they somewhat isted me¡ªor did I do this to myself?

    Thanks to Aloe, though, things were different. I had a cheerful person to keep mepany, and while she was very enthusiastic about certain topics, I found it refreshing.

    ''Sometimes it''s nice to just listen, rather than speak.''

    "I don''t have any ability like that. It''s just... I know how it feels to like someone, confess, and get rejected."

    "Eh? You do? You never told me about that."

    "Well, it''s an embarrassing story."

    "Come on, spill it. Who was it?" It didn''t feel strange at all that I was a fifteen-year-old, teasing someone in her twenties.

    We were both just verypatible at conversing.

    "Well..." Her eyes moved in a particr direction.

    My jaws dropped in shock and my eyes bulged. This was a shocking revtion I never expected.

    "No way... Neron?!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Remember, everyone! Privilege Chapters will be 90 Percent Off from next month! Make sure to take advantage of this limited chance. There''ll also be a Mass Release then, so look forward to it.

 Chapter 540 Truth About Jared

    "N-no way... Neron?!"

    "Shhh! Not so loud!" She quickly ced her hand on my mouth, drawing closer to me in the process.

    I felt her chest touch mine slightly and she was so close that her hair danced around my body.

    "A-ah, sorry about that." She quickly slipped away, blushing very hard.

    Well, she wasn''t the only one.

    I felt some stares, but chose to ignore them.

    ''We should probably continue speaking through telepathy.'' I connected my thoughts to Aloe, and she nodded.

    ''Still, I never expected you to actually like Neron.''

    For the record, I didn''t forget about the Arcana before me.

    I was still analyzing it with my Original Magic and Spellcraft.

    There was a likelihood that it had traps, or that it was a fake, so it was better we understood what it was before retrieving it.

    My perception was also widely ranged, so I was aware of my surroundings to a terrifying degree.

    That didn''t mean I had to pause my conversation with Aloe, though.

    I could simply multitask.

    ~Well, it was something I had since I was a student at Ainrk. Neron was a part-time instructor before he became a Senior Lecturer. He taught an Elective that I offered, so I found myself falling for him.~

    This was news to me.

    I knew Neron was a stud, but I wasn''t aware it was to this degree.

    ~It wasn''t just me, though. Many girls in our ss liked him. We were young then, so we would often talk about it... our forbidden feelings for our teacher.~

    I gulped upon hearing that, feeling surprisingly more intrigued. I wondered why the topic interested me so much.

    ~Well, at that point, I was going through a delusional phase, and I believed so much in destiny and romance, so I confessed to him.~

    "Oof..." I unconsciously leaked out my thoughts.

    ~Yeeaahhh... it didn''t go very well.~

    Aloe went on to tell me how Neron was worried about how and why she liked him, and how many people felt the same way.

    He warned them to kill their emotions for him... and that it was for their own safety.

    ''It must be because of Serah. Hahaha!'' Iughed after hearing the whole thing.

    ~Yeah. Haha, that''s true.~

    I nced at Neron and remembered our first meeting.

    ''He must have started dressing so shabbily to avoid any romance too... what a ssic guy.''

    Conversing with Aloe just made me realize there was a lot I didn''t know--about people and their feelings especially.

    I was too buried in the serious aspects of life that I always forgot to take people into ount.

    ''Maybe even Maria... has so many things that I don''t know about...'' I nced at the girl and our eyes met.

    She instantly looked away, but I kept looking at her for some time.

    ''I keep forgetting the fact that I currently look like a young boy... and that she''s a legal adult.''

    It was natural for people our age to engage in romance.

    ''But, she knows my answer to that...'' I turned away.

    ~You also have feelings for Maria, don''t you?~ Aloe''s voice interrupted my thoughts.

    "What? No way!" I unconsciously spoke out loud.

    I felt my cheeks redden a bit, but I quickly subdued the feeling.

    ''What the heck...?''<novelnext>  </novelnext>

    ~I can tell, you know? You might think you don''t, but your body says otherwise.~

    ''Ah, stupid teenager body... I should have known.''

    I couldn''t deny it any longer. It was true that since the first day I saw Maria, back when we were taking our Ainrk Academy Enrollment Exam, she had caught my eye.

    Since then, her image would always appear in my head for some reason, and I found her to be very attractive.

    It was stupid and weird, but I knew I couldn''t change a young boy''s impression of a fellow young girl.

    Still, I had managed to keep those emotions far from my rational self.

    ~Well, I won''t inquire further, but... there''s a chance that you could end up regretting not saying anything. She told you her feelings, but you can''t say yours... it almost makes you look cowardly.~

    Aloe''s words stung for some reason.

    ~You know... I''ve idolized you for some time. Especially after you saved my life, I really felt a strong attachment to you that I couldn''t exin. If I''m being honest, those feelings are yet to disappear. But, the more we talk, the more I realize... you''re just an ordinary boy in the end.~

    ''Me? Ordinary?''

    Many people would argue against that logic. Nothing I did was ordinary, and I was certainly not your average teenager with memories of a past life.

    What was Aloe referring to?

    "Not there..." She used a finger to tap my head, and then, brought her hand lower, until it touched another spot on my body.

    "... I mean, right here."

    My eyes widened and I trembled slightly.

    Her finger was now on my chest, and I felt my heart beat ever so quickly.

    "Your heart beats just like the rest of us. You''re very special Jared, but... in the end... your human too."

    I felt like I was grasping what she was talking about. Had I been denying it all this time?

    "No one likes being alone. We all want to love, and be loved back."

    ''Ah...''

    Come to think of it, how did I feel when no one interacted with me, except Aloe? I didn''t get it then, but...

    "Deep down, you also seek that form of emotional intimacy."

    Was that why I was been trying so hard to get close to Lemi? Trying to force the whole father logic?

    ''Is that why...''

    I nced in Neron''s direction.

    He was currently making out with Serah in a corner of the Labyrinth.

    Neron must have used Concealment and Sound dispelling Magic, but since we were connected through a Magic device, I could hear every moan that Serah leaked out as they kept kissing--if that was all they did.

    As weird as that had been, it made me feel somewhat jealous.

    That''s right...

    ... I was jealous of Neron.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Merry Christmas, everyone. If you''re Jewish, Happy Hanukkah. Seasons greetings to my dear fans and readers. I cherish and love you all.

    Remember, next month there''s a 90 Percent Privilege Discount. Think of it as my happy new year present.

    Do have a lovely time.

 Chapter 541 Arcana Of Power

    Neron seemed to have it all.

    Power, looks, talent... the list went on.

    Sure, I was more innovative in many ways, but even without me, Neron seemed to be able to do whatever he desired.

    Most of all, even though I had faltered many times, he never seemed to make a mistake. He was always calm, unassuming, andpletely dependable.

    In addition to his power and love for Magic, Neron was able to bnce a life of romance... and he was soon going to get married too.

    It made me realize...

    ... Just how empty I was.

    Watching Neron also got me thinking.

    ''If he could bnce all of this alongside having a partner... shouldn''t I be able to do the same?''

    But, I knew the sad truth, and the difference between me and him.

    ''Neron has no limits. He can do anything. He can achieve both Magic and Love...''

    Only one of the above could be mine. Wasn''t that the truth?

    ****************

    "You also want what he has, Jared. That''s the truth."

    Maybe Aloe was right. She did seem more experienced in that field than I was.

    Plus, she had told me about many of her escapades. Since she was pretty, many guys hade after her.

    That was why I could take her word for it.

    "Even amid so many people, you are lonely... isn''t that right, Jared?"

    ''I... I''m lonely?''

    I wasn''t sure, but... I did feel empty.

    Even with the adventures and discoveries I was having, it all felt meaningless when no one was willing to interact with me.

    If it hadn''t been for Aloe''spany, then, what would I be doing?

    The words of Alphonse and Serah echoed in my heart, and it hurt slightly.

    But, I couldn''t deny it any longer.

    "Yeah, you''re right..." I smiled sadly.

    Aloe Vida was right, and she knew that. Her smile calmed me, and I was grateful we had this conversation.

    "... I truly am lonely."

    *********************

    Aloe and I finally stopped conversing after I was done analyzing the Arcana before us.

    It was the genuine thing. That brought relief to my heart, in more ways than one.

    ''Myrades and I didn''t try our hardest in vain.'' A tear nearly dropped from my eyes.

    I had also analyzed the energy around the Arcana, and while even I couldn''tpletely decipher it, I knew it wasn''t harmful.

    "Time to im our prize."

    Now floating in midair, I made my way to the floating card and felt a strange energy envelop me as I drew closer.

    Something was unraveling the closer I got to the card, and as I stretched my hand to retrieve it, I could feel my vision getting nk.

    Still...

    ''I''m so close.''

    ... I kept pushing.

    Finally, my hand came into contact with the Arcana, and I was suddenly thrust into a brand new world¡ªat least my mind was.<novelnext></novelnext>

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU<

    I felt myself ascend to another in, feeling lightheaded and somewhat disoriented. My vision was somewhat blurry, but I was in a room of white.

    No one was present in the veryrge expanse except one person.

    He stared at me with a somewhat concerned expression, though I couldn''t make out his face well.

    ''W-who''s that?!'' My thoughts peaked as I felt unfamiliar energy around me.

    It didn''t feel bad, though. No, it was the opposite, in fact.

    Everything around me felt so pleasant.

    "You... you''re a Singrity, aren''t you?" A voice called out to me.

    ''A Singrity? What''s that? Who was this man, and what did he know?''

    The conversation I had with Legris suddenly popped into my head and I remembered that the Organization also referred to me as that.

    ''Is he from the Organization? Did they attack? What''s going on?''

    "I see. You can''t speak well or interact freely here. Your connection to Aether must be very limited. Your soul is in a peculiar shape too. What''s this? It''s so different... interesting."

    ''Who is this guy? He''s saying stuff I don''t understand.''

    "Ah, apologies for the dy. My name is Merlin. I''m the leader of the 21 Apostles of Aether. You could also call us the creators of the Arcanas."

    ''Creator of the Arcanas? I was standing in front of someone like that right now?'' Never before had I desired to speak as badly as this moment.

    So many questions flooded my mind, but I couldn''t speak.

    "The one in your possession is the Arcana Of Power, also known as [Strength].

    I made it myself as a symbol to define what true power is, and the challenge you encountered is proof that the road to achieving power is impossible and unending."

    If he knew it was impossible, why did he create such an borate scheme?

    "But, I''m d you were able to reach this point. Neither the weak nor the powerful are worthy to obtain ''Strength''.

    Only those who refuse to give up will eventually receive what they seek."

    Merlin''s smile broadened a bit, and now I sawpassion on his face.

    "As much as I would like to stay and speak more, time is up. I left a fraction of my soul behind to speak to you, and the message is almost concluded."

    ''Wait! I have so many questions!!!'' My eyes pleaded as I watched the man with flowing hair slowly vanish.

    "Use the Arcana wisely... and moderately. Onest thing, though, as both a warning and a request."

    Merlin''s voice suddenly became stern, and I saw a serious look on his face as it vanished.

    "Please... stop Ciel. Whatever you do, make sure the Nether doesn''t return. If not..."

    I watched him return to particles, but his enduring voice lingered, resonating with my heart.

    "... This world will perish."

    Instantly, a bright light shone and I found myself sinking back to the ground, utterly confounded by the revtion I received.

    ''This world... perish...? Nether? Ciel? What is... going on...?''

    I closed my eyes and heard my name mentioned a dozen times¡ªit could have been more.

    However, as I felt so exhausted that I lost consciousness, Merlin''s words still resonated in my heart.

    *************

    [A/N]

    A new mystery appears. Also...

    Remember, everyone! Privilege Chapters will be 90 Percent Off from next month! Make sure to take advantage of this limited chance. There''ll also be a Mass Release then, so look forward to it.

 Chapter 542 Outside The Labyrinth

    "U-urhhh..."

    I slurred, regaining consciousness slowly.

    ''I can''t remember thest time I felt so lightheaded and drowsy.'' My mind wandered as the blurry images of everything around me started getting clearer.

    "... Uh?" My eyes finally regained sight, and I realized that we were no longer in the Labyrinth¡ªor at least, I wasn''t.

    ''Wait, this ce is...''

    "You''re finally up." Someone murmured beside me.

    Silver hair flowed with the breeze, causing me to nce in the direction of the owner of the voice.

    "M-Maria...?"

    The girl''s eyes wandered elsewhere, as though intentionally avoiding eye contact with me.

    ''Come on...''

    "How are you feeling?" She muttered once more.

    I couldn''t tell whether she was upset, shy, or worried. Her expression looked nk, and her blue eyes looked distracted.

    "Y-yeah, I''m good. I feel much better now. Where are the others?"

    Now rising from my previouslyid state, I looked around. Maria and I were definitely in the Green Forest where the Arcana''s monument was located.

    But why were we outside, and where were the others?

    "E-er, they wanted to explore more of the Labyrinth, but then you fainted. So..." Maria didn''t look in my direction as she spoke.

    The girl''s gaze was on the floor¡ªand her cheeks were flushed pink.

    "... They decided that someone should watch after you, outside, while they went on to see what else we could find in the Labyrinth."

    "I see..." I murmured, rubbing my chin.

    I doubted there was anything else we could find in the Labyrinth, though.

    ''Still, it''s not impossible. Since the owner is a Mage, with knowledge and stuff we''ve not seen before... maybe he left them behind?''

    Suddenly, an image of the man I spoke to appeared in my head.

    What did he say his name was again? Merlin? Just who was he?

    "E-erm..." Maria''s voice became a bit more erratic, and it seemed I was missing something.

    "What is it?"

    "Could you... put on some clothes...?"

    "... Eh?"

    Why did I only notice after Maria told me?

    "What? Why am I naked??!"

    "W-well, after you grabbed the Arcana, everything you had on you was torn apart. We tried to outfit you with something else, but as long as that Arcana was in your grasp, nothing worked." Maria exined.

    "A-ah..."

    I noticed the Arcana in my right hand, glowing and warbling.

    The card''s multicolored glow drew me in, and I found myself marveling at its beauty. The image ingrained in it was that of a maiden and a lion interacting¡ªwhich further reminded me of Merlin and the words he told me.

    "Every cloth we tried either bounced off, or was consumed. We decided to just carry you out and leave you until you regained consciousness. But, since someone had to watch over you... I was chosen."

    "I see... but why you, though? Ivan or Jerry would have been more suitable. They''re guys, after all." At this point, I had used Magic to create a barricade between myself and Maria, so she wouldn''t see me naked.

    The next thing I did was to reach out to my special subspace to find the right attire to don.

    "Well, they all wanted to explore more of the Labyrinth. No one wanted a role as boring as keeping youpany."

    "Not even Edward?!"<novelnext></novelnext>

    My goodness! I didn''t know I had traitors for friends. Who would have thought that they would give Maria the responsibility of watching over a naked me?

    "Ah, Edward wanted to volunteer... but... in the end, he was more than happy to go along with that Half-Elf you''re always with."

    "What?"

    My eyes widened instantly and I realized what happened.

    ''Those bastards...!!!''

    Without my supervision, they decided to let loose, didn''t they? How could I have let them out of my sight!?!

    "I was thest choice, so it was decided that I would watch over you. Of course, I didn''t do anything weird to you, or anything. I also... didn''t see anything."

    Somehow, I found that hard to believe.

    There were a lot of holes in Maria''s story, and I noticed her tone felt inconsistent.

    ''Guess I''ll have to ask Neron or Aloe... what exactly happened.''

    "Thank you."

    I brought down the earthen barrier that separated us, leaving nothing between the two of us.

    At this point, we unintentionally made eye contact, and I found myself being drawn into her eyes again.

    "... For what?" As her lips parted, I felt oddly excited.

    Memories of our kiss reyed in my mind, and something else began to rise.

    ''No. Not now!!!''

    "W-well, for watching over me. You could have had fun like everyone else."

    "Well, you''re right. It''s not every time you get to explore a Labyrinth as vast as this one. Plus, it did seem like a lot of fun."

    ''Urgh! Now she''s making me guilty.''

    "Haha, I see. I''ll make it up to you, then."

    "Yeah, you better. I was scarred by watching over your naked body too... do you know how much I''ve suffered?"

    ''Hold on, what''s with this switch in tone?''

    "Wait, didn''t you say you didn''t see anything?"

    "That''s beside the point..."

    What the heck? How was that besides the point? Did she really see something?

    ''I''ve been sensitive of my... stuff... ever since Janemented on it. Did she really see it? Oh crap!''

    To be fair, it was a young teenager''s junk, and she was practically an adult at this point. If anything, she should have been the one guilty of sexual indecency, not me.

    ''I''m the minor, after all...'' Using that excuse to justify myself and quell the embarrassment within me, I sighed.

    "You have to take responsibility, you know?"

    "Uh?" I nced at Maria, and her expressionless face was staring directly at me.

    It seemed so creepy and overwhelming that she was staring so intensely at me. I didn''t hate the feeling, but... I was beginning to get worried.

    "Jared..." Maria began to move closer.

    ''Wait. Wait. Wait.''

    "... Remember ourst conversation?"

    My skin tingled as I recollected the incident.

    ''Is that... is that what''s going to happen again?!''

 Chapter 543 Hostile Interruption

    How could I forget that experience? Maria basically forced me on the bed and¡ª!!!

    ''Don''t tell me we''re going to do that again?!''

    I didn''t want to admit it, but the thought of that got me excited. Still...

    ''Not here! If anyone sees us¡ª!!!''

    Unfortunately, it was toote. I wasn''t fast enough. My legs were too weak too. It wasn''t my fault that I couldn''t resist.

    I just... wanted it over with quickly.

    "Then, if you remember... then can you make your decision more in my favor? Just consider it. That''s how you can take responsibility." Maria''s hand brushed my cheek as she spoke.

    My eyes widened as I felt her sincere smile wash over me. It felt...pletely different, and my heart began racing at an unbelievable speed.

    ''N-no way...!''

    She was so close to me.

    "Just think of me a little more... that''s all."

    "I un¡ª"

    "Shhh..." Her finger was on my lips at this point, and I found myself unable to move.

    "Do you understand, Jared? Not Aloe Vida. Not Ana. Not Lemi. Not Ciara. Think about me..."

    I understood why she would say that about the others, but why did Maria even mention thest name?

    "I''m just being thorough." As if she read my mind, she answered.

    "You''re pretty cute when you''re flustered, you know?"

    "A-ah...!"

    I didn''t know Maria was so good at flirting. If I was being honest, she was far better than Emilia.

    ''So thatst time wasn''t a fluke. But, this is too... how did she be so intense?!''

    It is said that everyone had dual sides to them. Was this the part of herself that Maria had been hiding from everyone else?

    Rather than the prim and proper youngdy, this teasing girl was almost a total stranger.

    Still...

    ... I didn''t dislike it.

    "Thank you?" I managed to leak my voice out in a squeak.

    "You''re wee!"

    With that, Maria backed off a little, giving me a little breathing room.

    ''That was... intense!''

    >BRRRMMMMMMM<

    The Arcana in my grasp suddenly resonated with me, causing me to look at it for a moment.

    "What is this...?"

    My eyes shed at it as it kept warbling and beeping incessantly.

    "Why is it doing that?" Maria drew closer once again, also curious¡ªmost likely.

    As we got closer, I felt an intense surge of emotions... and something else.

    "H-hold on¡ª!"

    But, it was toote at that point.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ******************

    Suddenly, light descended upon both the boy and girl, immersing them with its terrifying might.

    As the heated wave cascaded over them, razing the entire area in the process, someone hovered in the air with a satisfied smile stered on his face.

    His pointed ears perked out of the long silver hair he possessed, and the beautiful multicolored wings behind him disyed his splendor.

    "Sickening..." He whispered, condescendingly ring at the crater he had formed thanks to his attack.<novelnext></novelnext>

    This entity was none other than Beruel, The Fairy King.

    "They got their guards down, so I could easily strike. Just who are those idiots..?"

    Frankly speaking, Beruel had been watching them the blond and silver-haired humans for some time now.

    He could have struck at any moment, but he thought they could at least give him some information before ending their lives.

    After listening in for some time, he discovered that the human boy was indeed in the possession of a newly discovered Arcana, and that the other members of theirpany were not preset.

    Wasn''t it the best moment to strike?

    But, the humans started acting indecently, causing the Fairy King to hesitate.

    It had been a while since he witnessed such a sight, so that was probably why he didn''t attack immediately.

    However, there was a limit to everything. Soon, Beruel got sick of the humans¡ªperhaps even himself, for watching their obscene disy of affection from a distance.

    How low the Fairy King had fallen.

    "Now that I''ve taken care of the scrubs, I should go down for my prize... though this is secondary..." Beruel murmured, but soon after he said that, he noticed something peculiar.

    "Oh? They''re still alive?"

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    The thick cloud of smoke cleared suddenly, disying the boy and girl at the center,pletely unharmed.

    "Oh? Is that the Arcana''s doing? Didn''t I catch them off-guard?"

    Beruel had several questions, but they could wait.

    Since his initial attempt to eliminate the two didn''t work, he could try his next approach.

    "Greetings, humans..."

    Beruel''s voice echoed across the vast area as he stared beneath him.

    A sizeable portion of the Green Forest had been engulfed in his Light Magic, leaving the couple standing on a barren crater.

    "... I certainly hope you enjoyed my warm address." The Fairy King spoke in his usual grandiose way, referring to the st of Magic he had sent their way.

    "... Uh?!" The male human''s voice burst out, and he seemed quite surprised.

    ''Heh. Is this the first time this one is seeing a Fairy? Well, even if he met one, he hasn''t seen one of this size before, I guess. Plus, unlike the others, I am most elegant...'' Beruel pped his Fairy Wings with pride as he condescendingly gazed upon the human scum.

    "Now then, know your ce and¡ª"

    "Aren''t you Beruel? What the heck?!" The human''s voice burst forth, disying both confusion and a bit of annoyance.

    "Wha¡ª?! He knows my name?" Beruel was genuinely shocked.

    "Hey! What the heck, man? You can''t just go around sting people! What in the world? What if we had gotten hurt?"

    Beruel felt strange.

    The inferior human was shouting at him in such a manner, yet he spoke in an overly familiar way.

    Beruel couldn''t remember thest time anyone conversed with him like that¡ªwell, except the members of the Nether Cult.

    "Shut up, plebian! You insignificant insect! I can do whatever I like to you since you''re a worm! Now be quiet and tell me how you know my name!"

    "How can I be silent and answer your question, genius? You''re a lot dumber than you look!"

    That was thest straw.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Happy new month, everyone! Special thanks to to my dear fans and readers. I cherish and love you all.

    Remember, this month there''s a 90 Percent Privilege Discount. Think of it as my happy new year present.

    Do have a lovely time.

 Chapter 544 Fairy King Beruel [Pt 1]

    Beruel waspletely flustered at this point. He had lost in a battle of words¡ªan exchange of insults, for that matter.

    The most humiliating aspect was that it was a human who brought him such shame.

    Beruel was zing with internal fury. There was no way he could let them live now¡ªnot that he was nning on doing so from the start.

    "That''s it!" Bright white light shot out of his body as he red at the offenders.

    "Hold on, man! Let''s talk fir¡ª"

    "DIEEEEEEE!!!"

    A surge of brilliant light burst from Beruel, lunging at the targets at light speed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Once again, the surroundings suffered damage. Heat emanated from the ground, producing hissing sounds.

    However¡ª

    "Sheesh, so impatient..."

    ¡ªthe two humans were unharmed.

    "I guess this is to be expected... since you have that Arcana." Beruel sighed, ashamed of himself for losing his anger.

    "Arcana, uh? So you''re indeed a part of their group. I see..." The blond human murmured, his tone slightly changing.

    "Alright, human. Fine... I suppose I''ll listen to you for a little whi¡ª"

    >VWOOOOOMMMMM<

    Before Beruel concluded his speech, the boy was already in front of him, baring his fist at the King''s face.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!<

    ? An explosion erupted mid-air, and both parties were sent flying in opposite directions.

    Both were unharmed, but they were certainly not as casual as before.

    "You dare?! I have you a chance to speak, yet you abuse that privilege!"

    "Sorry, man. There''s no need to talk anymore. You''re a part of their Organization, which means you''re after the Arcana I hold... and also..."

    The boy summoned two des¡ªone glowing with darkness, and the other glowing with bright light.

    "... You''re the ones responsible for the tragedy of the Demon Incident."

    >WHOOOSHHH!!!<

    The boy darted at the Fairy King, brandishing both des as he began striking.

    He was a natural at aerialbat, expertly twisting his body as he sent every powerful strike at the Fairy King with absolute vigor.

    However,pared to Beruel... the boy was too sloppy!

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    All of his strikes were nullified by Beruel''s light shield.

    "You''re not bad, but you''re not strong enough. I don''t know how much you know about the Nether Cult, but I''m the Fourth Seat, you know? I''m not that easy to beat!"

    The human boy''s eyes widened when he heard that.

    "You''re... the Fourth Seat?"

    "Yeah, I know, right? I should be ranked higher, but what can I say? That bitch just keeps getting in my wa¡ª"

    "Then... why are you so weak? I thought the Upper Seats would be far stronger than this, but..."

    Beruel''s eyes bulged, and veins began appearing all over his face.

    "Human... you...."

    "... I''m sorry, but you''re just too weak. This is so underwhelming."

    "You bastaaaarrrrddd!!!" Beruel''s face was currently the epitome of rage as more brilliant light pervaded the area.

    He rushed at the blonde and gave more devastating strikes, but the boy evaded every single one of them.

    "DIEEEE!!!" Several orbs of destruction were sent at the human, but he deflected some with his light de while nullifying the others with his dark one.

    Ultimately, their battle was at a stalemate, though intense to the youngdy who observed from the ground.

    "You''re better than Aloe, by far. You''re the strongest Light User I''ve faced, but... I expected more." The human kept taunting, until the Fairy King couldn''t take it any longer.

    "I''ll show you then... my Original Magic!!!"<novelnext></novelnext>

    The blond human smiled, ready to ept the challenge.

    "But first... I''ll need to rify something."

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<

    In a sudden sh of teleportation, Beruel disappeared from the sky and captured the human girl on the ground.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    "Hahaha! Now that I have a hostage, will you cooperate!" He grinned,pletely shrouding the girl in his Magic so that she was unable to move.

    "What... what do you want?" The human asked, now visibly shaken by the sudden turn of events.

    "Hahaha! Now that''s more like it! Now, then, answer my question, and I''ll release the girl before killing both of you with my Original Magic!"

    "Tch."

    "Tell me... where is the location of Kido''s nephew? The one who has been hunting down our members!"

    "Uh?" At this point, the human looked dumbfounded.

    "Don''t y dumb!"

    "Kido? Who is that?"

    "Argh! You might not know him, but I''m asking about his nephew!"

    "If I don''t know someone, how am I supposed to know he has a nephew? How dumb are you?"

    "Hey!" Beruel growled, tightening his hold on the hostage he had.

    The human got the message and was reminded of his position. His expression turned mellow, but no answer was given.

    "I... I don''t know any Kido."

    "Tch... useless. Ah, I can''t remember his name. Oh wait, theirst name... that''s right!"

    The Fairy King seemed all over the ce, but his grin showed that he finally arrived at the perfect question to ask.

    "Midas! Yes, Midas! Do you know the location of that Midas boy that went to your Academy?"

    Fairy King Beruel was terrible with names¡ªespecially when they didn''t interest him.

    He forgot so many things easily¡ªperhaps it was because of his old age.

    Though he looked youthful outwardly, Beruel was quite ancient.

    "Midas... Kuzon?"

    "Yes! That one! Where is he?!"

    "Why would you even ask that? Of all things...? Wait, Kuzon has been hunting you guys down? He''s the one behind those deaths? He killed Damien Lawcroft? Him? Now I''m even more confused..."

    "Answer my question already!"

    "I don''t know where he is, dude. I''m even more surprised than you are. What''s going on exactly."

    "Urgh! Useless! Humans are so useless. To think I wasted my time."

    "So... can I get the hostage back? Or do you have any other questions?"

    "There''s no need for the farce. I know this is just a fake. I don''t know who taught you Magic Engineering, but you''re good. For a human, that is."

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    The human''s face disyed surprise. He wasn''t expecting this.

    ''He knew?!'' Jared''s mind rang.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Happy new month, everyone! Special thanks to to my dear fans and readers. I cherish and love you all.

    Remember, this month there''s a 90 Percent Privilege Discount. Think of it as my happy new year present.

    Do have a lovely time.

 Chapter 545 Fairy King Beruel [Pt 2]

    "What? You knew?!"

    The truth was that the girl in Beruel''s grasp was none other than an Automaton that resembled a human female.

    Beruel had noticed this from the moment he made contact with it, but he still went on with the act in order to get his information.

    ''Is he being dishonest? I don''t think so... my Magic Tool isn''t acting up.'' The Fairy King thought to himself.

    ''Why would he go along with the whole act, though? Was he trying to glean information from me through this situation?''

    The Fairy sighed, discarding the hostage he had in his grasp. He hadpletely lost interest in the situation.

    "This is pointless. I don''t even feel like fighting any longer." The Fairy King stared at the human boy, who still looked flustered.

    "You can''t fool someone like me with such an imitation. I also know you''re holding back quite a bit. You were baiting me to disy my full power, weren''t you? Such basic tactics..."

    The previous image of a hot-tempered and shortsighted Fairy King began to crumble as Beruel gave another deep sigh.

    At this point, he was done ying games.

    "There''s no point for any further conflict. You''re Jared Leonard, right?"

    "You know my name?"

    "I... just remembered. You''re the one giving the Cult trouble, aren''t you?"

    "Yeah..."

    Beruel nodded slightly and then shrugged.

    "Well, I don''t care what you do to the others, but I''ll still oppose you. You see, we all have our reasons for being there, but they all revolve around the Arcanas."

    The human, Jared, looked a bit surprised. Perhaps he didn''t expect such sincerity from the proud Fairy King.

    "I also need the Arcanas, so our interests conflict."

    "I guess so. What will you do now, though? Will you try to take it from me by force?"

    "There''s no need for that. At least, not now. Even if I wanted to..." He nced at the human boy.

    "I only came to ask my questions. The Arcanas were a bonus, I suppose."

    "Why are you looking for Kuzon, though?"

    "Let''s just say it''s for revenge. I desire to kill him."

    The human''s face tightened a bit.

    "What''s wrong? Will you stand in my way?"

    "Well, judging from what I''ve heard... he seems capable of taking care of himself."

    Both Human and Fairy stared hard at each other in silence.

    Finally, the Fairy King broke it.

    "We''ll see about that. Onest thing... the way you interact with me, it''s almost like we have met before. Who are you, really?"

    "Well, that''s a secret. Maybe I''ll tell you some other time." Jared smiled slyly.

    An aura of yfulness, rather than tension, seemed to envelop the area.

    "I''m not so sure about that. You see, this area isn''t my allocated territory. That''s why I can''t really act. You might end up dead before our next meeting."

    Beruel''s face showed sincerity, so Jared couldn''t doubt it.

    "Is that so? Well, I''ll take my chances."

    "Looks like yourrade are already approaching. I should take my leave. Hmm..."

    "Well, then, till we next meet." Jared gave a warm-hearted smile, causing the Fairy King to shudder in difort.

    He certainly found the human to be... strange.

    "About that¡ª"

    Before either party could say any more, or even react, a golden sh of light descended from the sky.<novelnext></novelnext>

    >BRRRRTRRTTZZZZZZZZZZ!!!<

    Instantly, it crashed upon the fairy King, sending volts of lightning and bursts of energy into his body.

    >VWWOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The Fairy King crashed in a sh of lightning, causing a wave of destruction around the area of impact.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    As he turned into nothing but cinders¡ªthanks to the immense power that was destroying him¡ªthe decimated Fairy King smiled at the one who was responsible for his death.

    "You... I finally found you... Kido''s nephew."

    The golden-haired boy said nothing, and simply proceeded to finish off the Fairy King.

    "Wait! Don''t do it!"

    However, not heeding Jared''s voice, the young Midas concluded the act, rendering the opponent into electrocuted dust.

    "K-Kuzon!" Jared roared in both anger and surprise as he dashed in the boy''s direction.

    As the boy on the ground locked gazes with the one above, an air of recollection pervaded the air.

    Both boys remembered their time together at Ainrk¡ªtheir fights as allies and opponents.

    Looking at each other now, so much had changed.

    Jared looked rage-filled, and Kuzon appeared oddly cold.

    "You look angry... that doesn''t suit you."

    Jared ignored Kuzon''sment and still darted in the boy''s direction.

    However, a distance away, he suddenly halted.

    "Tch, those pesky threads of yours."

    Upon muttering that, Jared calmly descended to the ground, but his re remained.

    "You can see them clearly now. That''s progress..."

    "Why did you kill him?" Jared was annoyed.

    "What do you mean ''him''? That wasn''t the real one. It was just an identical version¡ªmost likely a Golem that is remotely controlled... or an Automaton?"

    Jared''s re persisted.

    "Surely, you realized that, didn''t you?"

    "Of course, I did! That''s why I put a tracker on him. He was going to lead me to the original one. After all my acting, you had to ruin everything!"

    Jared was fuming at this point.

    If his cards were yed right, he would have already gotten one member of the Nether Cult nabbed.

    Unfortunately, or rather, Surprisingly, an unexpected person¡ªKuzon¡ªhad to ruin things.

    "I doubt it. You realize he was already preparing to self-destruct, right? If I was able to figure out the one you kept on Damien, you think he wouldn''t have noticed?"

    "Ah..." Jared was now at a loss for words.

    "The self-destruct st might not have hurt you, but I couldn''t afford to let him get away like that."

    "Well, didn''t you basically do the same by killing him?"

    "I wonder about that..." Kuzon gave a cold smile, but his eyes wandered from Jared as he stared at the entrance of the cave¡ªshaped like the mouth of a bodiless dragon.

    "We havepany... your allies, I presume. Hmm?"

    ************

    [A/N]

    Looks like Kuzon is back.

 Chapter 546 Kuzons Return

    Footsteps emanated from the cave''s entrance, and Jared''s allies came into view.

    Neron, Serah, Ivan, Edward, etc. All of them appeared, looking at the destruction around them.

    Of all of them though, Kuzon''s eyes only met one.

    And that single person...

    ... also reciprocated his gaze.

    They stared at each other for a while, and Kuzon was the first to move. The other person, in her small frame, shivered in both disbelief and stifled emotion.

    She couldn''t believe her eyes.

    The person before her was far taller and more handsome than how she remembered him, but there was no way she could mistake his looks.

    His golden eyes that greeted her, and the smile on his face...

    "K-Kuzon...?" Ana whispered as she saw him.

    There were also surprised gasps around her, but Ana couldn''t hear any other voice or see any other face except the one in front of her.

    Her heart raced like crazy, and while she felt guilty for feeling like this despite Jared watching from a distance, Ana was too petrified to do anything about it.

    "Ana... it''s been a while..." Kuzon appeared before her smoothly, almost like teleportation.

    He suddenly held her in his arms, using one hand to support her face, while the other was on herp.

    ''Heeeuuuuu!!!'' Ana felt her face turn red as her skin tingled as a result of Kuzon''s heated skin.

    It was all happening too fast, and she was too delirious to take control¡ªor make sense of what was happening.

    "K-Kuzon, you¡ª"

    Before she could say anything else, his lips crashed upon hers, and a kiss was made.

    "HMMMMMM?!!!"

    Ana lost all control at that moment, and her fragile frame became locked in an embrace with the young man.

    They both shared a passionate kiss, enough to send shocked expressions ying on the faces of everyone around them.

    It was a single moment of ecstasy¡ªalbeit a very strange and confusing one.

    It had been over two years since theyst saw each other, yet...

    ... The young Midas''s greeting to Ana was a kiss.

    ''Kuzon...'' The girl''s mind wandered as she lost herself in the pleasure¡ªnot minding anyone or anything else around her.

    ****************

    ''This is¡ª!!!''

    Hearing about it was one thing, but seeing it in person was another ball game entirely.

    Everyone was at a standstill, watching the event with either surprise or bashfulness, and for some reason, Lemi seemed to be excited about it.

    ''What did Ana tell Lemi about Kuzon? Hold on, in the first ce...''

    The entire scenario was urring too fast, but it was dragging on for too long as well.

    ''I have to put an end to this.''

    "Alright, you guys. Break it u¡ª"

    Kuzon''s hand instantly pointed in my direction, as his palm indicated that I waited.

    ''Wait? For you to finish? This bastard...''

    The dude began counting the seconds on his hand, and after all five of his fingers were down, he released Ana from his grasp.

    She seemed so overwhelmed that her entire face was red, and even after he put her down, she was still woozy.

    ''If I wasn''t certain before, I know it now. Ana clearly likes Kuzon. But, the thing I''m most concerned about is...''<novelnext></novelnext>

    I red at Kuzon, and his eyes moved in my direction for a brief moment before turning away.

    ''... Does Kuzon feel the same? Sending a very strong signal, like a kiss, is something very dangerous.''

    I knew it was somewhat hypocritical of me to say, but at least I never took any active steps in rting with Ana and the other girls.

    "Don''t you think you went too far, Kuzon?" I sharply spoke out.

    While Ana was being supported by Lemi and being fanned by Asa, I had to address the matter.

    If I didn''t, and Ana got attached to him because of the misunderstood kiss, she could wound up breaking her heart.

    "What do you mean?"

    "Yeah, what do you mean, Jared? All I saw were two young ones passionately sharing a kiss. Also, where''s Maria?"

    I groaned upon hearing Serah''s interruption. It seemed she was more of an advocate for love than she preferred taking my side.

    ''They''re all staring at me like I''m a buzz kill, but no one understands...'' I resumed my re on Kuzon.

    It was all his fault, anyway.

    "If you won''t say anything, I will." I sighed, moving forward.

    While it was nice to let young ones dream about romance, this wasn''t the right time. Ana didn''t need Kuzon''s crazy influence at this time, considering we didn''t know how much he had changed.

    "That kiss he gave Ana... is none other than a Midas Customary Greeting and Farewell."

    "UHHHH?!" Everyone looked surprised¡ªeveryone but Kuzon.

    "Kuzon belongs to the Midas Race, the Midas Empire."

    "For real?"

    "Those guys?"

    "No one has really seen them in centuries."

    "Hold on... why would he be here if they¡ª!!!"

    Neron didn''t appear surprised, and neither did Serah, but everyone else waspletely bewildered.

    "So, you knew?" I turned to Neron.

    "Of course. I was the one that rmended Ainrk Academy to him. I spoke to Serah about it, so we both sponsored him to attend. That''s why he got in through a special rmendation examination." The stoic man shrugged.

    "Ah, the back entrance, uh?"

    "Don''t look at me that way, Jared. If I let him take the Exams like everyone else, he could have overdone it."

    I couldn''t argue with that logic. Still... why was I just learning about all this now?

    "Why would a Midas be here, though? The Midas Empire doesn''t involve itself with the affairs of other nations, right?"

    I had many questions¡ªnot just about Kuzon, but about their nation itself.

    After recovering my memory about the Midas Race¡ªat least, some of them¡ªIunched a search. Unfortunately, I didn''t get any news at all.

    I also tried looking, but I couldn''t find them anywhere.

    I knew they were good at hiding themselves from the outside world, but still... it seemed like they didn''t exist at all.

    "Well, about that..." Neron nced in Kuzon''s direction.

    Something about the tension in the air made me realize just how grim the situation was.

    ***********

    [A/N]

    Well, the Kuzon ¡Á Ana Ship has begun to sail. However, we do not know where it will lead us.

    Stay tuned to find out more.

 Chapter 547 Conflict Of Interest [Pt 1]

    I turned my focus on Kuzon, but at this point, he simply looked uninterested.

    The question of what happened to his race, his nation, did not faze the boy in the slightest.

    "That''s because the Midas Empire no longer exists. It was destroyed twelve years ago." There was a dead calm in his eyes as he spoke about it.

    "W-what¡ª? How did that even¡ª?!"

    "That''s enough talk. I''ve gotten what I wanted, and I also gave my customary greeting to Ana. I''m leaving."

    Kuzon took a step back, and golden lightning formed on his body.

    "Wait."

    Once again, he didn''t listen to me. Apparently, he simply wanted to abandon everyone again¡ªeven Ana, whom he just kissed.

    "I said wait!"

    Instantly utilizing my Anti-Magic, I disabled the golden lightning that danced around his body.

    "Hmm?" Kuzon looked surprised for a moment, and then a slight spark of interest appeared in his eyes.

    "What did you do?" His voice still sounded cold, a sharp contrast from the young boy I remembered in Ainrk.

    ''Just how much has he changed? Or was he always like this... and I never noticed?''

    Could I even call myself Kuzon''s friend after everything I was discovering? No one knew anything about him, and he was basically detached from everyone at this point.

    "I''ll tell you once we''re done with this conversation. Why are you in such a hurry? Where are you going?" I narrowed my eyes.

    I began putting my brain to work. Kuzon''s appearance was a surprise and all, but it wasn''t entirely bad.

    ''He''s strong, and he has experience hunting down those Cult members. If I bring him to my side, then...''

    The prospect of that n was good. The only issue was how to tie him down and ensure cooperation.

    "My next target. If you''re not telling me what I want to know, that''s fine too. Just don''t get in my way." With that, Kuzon began walking away.

    ''He can''t activate Magic since I used Anti-Magic, so he''ll just walk? Just how uncooperative can this guy be?''

    Still, I wasn''t going to give up!

    Kuzon was a Midas, and his race boasted of having a superior overall constitution¡ªeven better than the Beastfolk.

    Other than Neron and myself, and Serah too; I expected Kuzon to be stronger than every member of our team.

    He was indispensable at this point.

    "Why don''t we share Intel? Tell us what you know, and we''ll tell you what we know. That way, everyone gets what they want."

    Kuzon stopped dead in his tracks.

    He nced in my direction, half of his face disyed thanks to his golden hair covering the other part.

    "Fine. Start first."

    His hands were in his pocket, and his cloak danced with the wind.

    Despite our long time apart, and how much the boy had changed in both behavior and looks, some things remained the same.

    For one, the three Magic Items he donned as a ne, ring, and bracelet.

    He also had a luxurious outfit, purple shirt, and dark pants, with gold linings entuating their prestige.

    His shoes were also unique, and everything he donned had special Magic properties.

    ''Did he make them himself, or...?'' There were many questions in my mind, but I decided to leave them for when I finished bringing the young Midas to our team.

    "Fine. I''ll begin."

    ******************<novelnext></novelnext>

    Before starting the information exchange, I brought Maria out of the subspace I hid her in when Beruel attacked.

    She was initially flustered, but seeing everyone''s faces calmed her down quickly. Serah took it upon herself to fill her in on what happened, so I could focus on my conversation with Kuzon.

    On one end was our group, and on the other was Kuzon.

    He looked dead calm, and there was no trace of a smile on his face.

    ''Jeez... when did he get so edgy?''

    Since I was the one starting, I had to make my information appealing. If not, I doubted Kuzon would stick around.

    ''I don''t know how much Kuzon knows about the Cult''s involvement in the just-concluded war, of their goal of collecting Arcanas...''

    To be safe, I mentioned all of them.

    "The Nether Cult currently has ten Arcanas. "The Magician. The Lovers. The Star. Death. The Papess. The Chariot. Justice. Temperance. The Empress¡ª"

    "The Empress??!" Kuzon''s eyes widened and he broke out of his cool character the moment I mentioned the Empress Arcana.

    "Yeah. Finally, the Devil. They are also searching for others... like this one we just got " I showed him the [Strength] Arcana, but Kuzon didn''t seem the least bit interested in it.

    Frankly, that was a bit unsettling.

    "Do you know which members have which Arcanas? Like The Empress?" He asked with genuine interest.

    "No, we don''t. But, only the upper echelon members of their Organization are allowed to wield Arcanas, so it has to be a member of the top brass."

    "Of course. That much is obvious. Anything else?" He tapped his finger on his folded arm impatiently.

    ''This looks like he can''t wait to get out of here. What the...?!''

    I thought he would find some of the information I shared with him to be useful, but was I just wasting his time?

    ''Well, I have a trump card...'' A smile formed on my face as I was ready to knock Kuzon''s condescending gaze off his face.

    "I know where their base is located."

    Once again, the boy''s eyes lit with interest, causing me to smile within myself.

    ''Heh! He took the bait!''

    "I see. Alright then. Of everything you''ve told me, I suppose the one thing I still haven''t figured out is the location of their base." Kuzon sighed, returning his hands to his pockets.

    "I''ll tell you what I know, and then you''ll tell me the name of the base. Once that''s over with, we can go our separate ways."

    ''This guy...'' Was he intentionally trying to avoid being indebted to our group?

    "Well, that''s fine. It depends on the information you bring to the table, though."

    At this point, I had already set a bar for the level of information I desired. It would take quite the information to trump that.

    "Well, hear for yourself."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Happy new month, everyone! Special thanks to to my dear fans and readers. I cherish and love you all.

    Remember, this month there''s a 90 Percent Privilege Discount. Think of it as my happy new year present.

    Do have a lovely time.

 Chapter 548 Conflict Of Interest [Pt 2]

    ''W-what in the world?!''

    I was amazed by the amount of information Kuzon had on the Nether Cult.

    Not only had he deciphered the identity of some members, but he had also killed a total of four of them.

    "While you were engaging in your silly war, I tracked down their sites and killed them. Damien Lawcroft was my third target, and afterward, I went further to eliminate the 8th Seat at the time."

    ording to Kuzon, there were eight more members in the Cult''s Seats, and he also told us about some of them.

    "Vaizar is a Dragon Beastfolk. Then we have Beruel, the one who is an expert Magic Engineer. He has a knack for evading me, since I can''t find the real body. Other than those two, I know there''s another Demon in their ranks. A neer joined them about two years back... and apparently, he''s made it to the a high-ranking position."

    Asa was surprised to hear the name, Vaizer.

    "T-that''s the Beast King before my father!"

    I had no idea why a Beastfolk, especially one who belonged to the very rare and powerful Dragon specie, would join the Nether Cult.

    ''Considering he''s still alive, then maybe they gave him a cure as well?''

    That made sense, since Gerard also rolled over when I offered the same thing.

    I was surprised that another Demon would be in the Nether Cult''s Ranks, considering their ns involved sacrificing the entire Demon Race.

    ''Kuzon already killed a Crimson Demon, so that means there were two members of the Demon Race before then. This is... disturbing.''

    However, despite all I was learning, I was not ready for the next shocking piece of information Kuzon dropped on me.

    "Reed Sterling, thest Grand Mage of the Eastern Kingdom is also a member of their group."

    At this, even Neron and Serah¡ªwho had been silent since Kuzon began speaking¡ªdisyed surprise.

    Serah''s eyes widened and Neron gave a disappointed sigh while shaking his head.

    "T-that geezer actually did that?"

    "Well, this is an interesting turn of events. Makes sense, though. So that''s what he has been up to."

    Kuzon gave us other details, like the location of the bases he had explored, and how they had advanced technology at their disposal.

    Once he was done, I was certain he shared more than I did.

    ''He knows so much... amazing.''

    While I isted myself to get stronger, Kuzon explored the world and actively investigated the Nether Cult.

    It wasn''t until recently that he started killing its members.

    The notion was both impressive and scary.

    "I''ve fulfilled my end of the bargain. Now, tell me the location of their headquarters."

    I was hesitant to share my final piece of information, but... Kuzon already said more than enough to earn it.

    "Why are you after the Nether Cult, though? So far, it doesn''t seem like you care about the Arcanas or Demons. You also seem particrly interested in the members. Is there someone, in particr, you''re looking for?"

    A moment of tense silence enveloped our sphere, and I stared hard at Kuzon, hoping for an answer.

    "That''s not your business."

    "You might be right, but consider it the question of a worried friend. It''s not just Ana who cares about you... I do as well."

    While I was just trying to appeal to Kuzon to share his motive, my statement wasn''t a total lie.

    ''You shouldn''t throw your life away. Join our team!''

    "Oh? Is that so? Then... as a friend as well, will you tell me the true reason the Nether Cult is after you, Mr. Singrity?"

    "¡ªUh??" Surprise almost leaked out, but I struggled to maintain my poker face.

    "You''re wondering how I know so much, don''t you? Well, when you torture multiple members of the Cult and extract information from them, connecting the dots isn''t so difficult."

    "You''re much more capable than I took you for."

    "So, will you tell me?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Well, that''s a personal matter..." I nced around and realized that curious gazes were now on me.

    ''Kuzon, this sly bastard. He shifted everyone''s attention to me!''

    "Mine is a personal matter as well. I would prefer it if you didn''t interfere. Now, tell me the location."

    At this point, I had to give the victory to Kuzon. He was always so witty in terms of driving a conversation¡ªeven back at Ainrk.

    But, the more I was impressed by his abilities, the more I didn''t want to let him go.

    "Isn''t it dangerous to go to their headquarters alone? I''ll tell you the ce, but you should join us."

    "What?"

    "We share the same enemies¡ªthe Nether Cult. If we work together, we''ll surely take them down. You... you don''t have to carry all that burden by yourself."

    "..."

    For a moment, there was silence.

    I couldn''t tell whether my words worked or not, but Kuzon appeared a bit dazed for some time.

    ''Did I get him?!''

    Unfortunately for me...

    "Pffffttt!!!"

    ... I wasn''t even close.

    "Hahaha! When did you get so corny, Jared? The heck is that?"

    I felt a bit embarrassed, but I remained silent.

    "I don''t have to carry all that burden by myself? That''s why I should team up with you? Normally your statement would be a lot more credible, except for one critical factor."

    At this point, Kuzon was smiling. However, it wasn''t a warm one. His grin was more condescending than I''d ever seen.

    "To me, you people are the burden. In a way, I suppose you''re right... I shouldn''t carry burdens."

    Okay, that was too far.

    "Really? We''re burdens?"

    "Yeah. You are."

    My frown deepened, but I couldn''t afford to let his words get to me.

    "Even me?" I smiled ruefully.

    "Perhaps I didn''t make myself clear. Other than Neron, I don''t see anyone here who could help me out. Ah, Serah Crimson could prove useful too... but three is a crowd."

    It had been forever since I was referred to as dead weight.

    I could understand why Kuzon felt the others weren''t up to his standards, but it felt oddly annoying that I was lumped into the same boat.

    Kuzon moved closer until he was right in front of me.

    He looked down on me and bent a little to repeat his words in my ear.

    "In essence, you''re a burden too, Jared."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Remember, everyone! Privilege Chapters will be 90 Percent Off from next month! Make sure to take advantage of this limited chance. There''ll also be a Mass Release then, so look forward to it.

 Chapter 549 An Overdue Rematch

    I remembered the time when the Demons invades Ainrk Academy.

    Edward and Jerry wanted to apany me on my mission to save the Girls'' Dormitory.

    They were earnest, and they were both more powerful and dependable than anyone around.

    However...

    "You''ll only slow me down."

    ... I refused their aid.

    It wasn''t pride or overconfidence. It was the truth.

    Although I needed help, having those two with me would only hamper my movements and risk putting my task in jeopardy.

    As a result, I left them behind and went on my own.

    ***************

    "You''re dead weight, Jared."

    Those words wounded my heart. It was the first time Kuzon was this close to me, and I felt the difference in our height.

    Still, there was no way I could ept his words¡ªespecially in terms of power.

    "Why don''t we test that out." I gave an annoyed smirk at the condescending boy.

    "I have nothing to prove. Just give me my information, and I''ll leave."

    "If you want your information, you''ll listen to what I have to say."

    It was a dishonorable thing to do, and in retrospect, I was bound to regret my decision. However, at the moment, I was too desperate and annoyed to care less.

    ''Is this what they call a man''s pride? I don''t like it, but..''

    "I understand your ego has been bruised. But, isn''t that just shameless of you to withhold my rightfully earned information?" Kuzon''s words didn''t make things any better.

    "He has a point, you know?" Neron decided to add more salt to my injury.

    "Yeah, just give him what he wants so he can be on his way." Serah sighed.

    The expression of everyone else also told me that they were taking Kuzon''s side.

    ''Can''t anyone see what he''s trying to do? Also...''

    "Are you cool with that too, Ana?" I asked the only person who gave an uncertain expression.

    Apparently, she had already recovered from the kiss she shared with Kuzon.

    "I don''t particrly care." Her voice sounded tired.

    "Well, that''s a bit hurtful, Ana," Kuzon spoke with a broader smile.

    "Well, you called me a burden, didn''t you? Plus, that kiss wasn''t genuine. Just a greeting? Urgh, so typical..."

    Kuzon''s smile vanished and he suddenly gave me a slightly irritated look.

    ''What''s up with that? What did I do?''

    "This is pointless. Fine, let''s y your game." The golden-haired boy shrugged, finally creating some distance between me and him.

    "Perfect!"

    I had no idea why Kuzon decided to ept. If he refused, I would still have no choice but to tell him what he wanted to know.

    ''He should know that, yet...'' I nced at Ana and noticed her pouting.

    Was it because of Ana''s influence? Did Kuzon actually have feelings for her?

    ''I guess I''ll find out after he joins us.''

    "Why don''t we restart the match we never got to finish at the Inter ss Exchange? Me versus you." I dered with a broad grin.

    "I see. So that''s it? Alright, what are the stakes?"

    ''I know Kuzon has grown very powerful, and I don''t want to underestimate him. But... he doesn''t realize how powerful I''ve gotten as well.''

    "If I win, you''ll join our team. That way, I would have proven that we won''t be a burden to you."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "And if you lose?"

    "You can have whatever you want. I don''t care, since you won''t be winning anyway." I smiled at the cocky Midas.

    "After the match, no matter the oue, I''ll tell you the location of their headquarters."

    Upon adding this, I nced at Neron and he gave me a thumbs up. I didn''t know if it was out of goodwill or something else, but he didn''t say any more.

    "Since I want this fight to be over and done with, let''s not restrict our abilities. No limits, anything goes... right?" Kuzon gave a brazen smile.

    ''This guy... if I use Original Magic and Anti-Magic, in addition to Spellcraft, this match is as good as mine.''

    I wasn''t one to underestimate my opponents, but no matter how powerful Kuzon was, he remained below the level of Neron.

    Since he acknowledged Serah, that meant he wasn''t as strong as she was¡ªor maybe they were on the same level.

    ''I have more Miasma than I did in the past, so I should be able to nullify most of his attacks. Spellcraft will grant me the environmental advantage, and I''ll have the chance to adapt his techniques through my Original Magic.''

    This was an opportunity, and I wasn''t nning on missing out on it.

    "If you''re done grinning, can we get started?" Kuzon interrupted my thoughts, his hands in his pockets.

    The breeze gently blew his golden hair as he maintained a cool gaze.

    "Sure. Neron, would you please help us erect a barrier?"

    As part of my countermeasures, I decided not to show my hand.

    ''If he sees I''m very good at defense, he might switch his strategy. It''s better if my opponent has no idea what I''m capable of, especially since it''s Kuzon.''

    Misdirection was a strategy that was too risky when I had no concrete n or long-term goal.

    ''I''ll be ying things by ear... but I''ll make sure I win.''

    So far, there were three major factors about Kuzon I couldn''t ignore.

    One was his Original Magic¡ªthe annoying strings that he controlled. I had no idea how much they had evolved, but if I could see them, then it would be fine to maintain my distance and figure out a solution.

    ''I could also disable it with Anti-Magic...''

    The second factor was his vast amount of Mana, and his wide array of Magic.

    This could also be resolved using Anti-Magic. Plus, I had quite the arsenal of Magic myself, not to mention Spellcraft.

    Finally, hisbat skills.

    Kuzon was superior to me in Martial Arts thest time we fought, and even I had to admit that he was too strong.

    Unfortunately for him, I had the Arcanas at my beck and call.

    Using my Great Sage''s Memoir to coordinate my attacks and movements, not even someone as skilled as Kuzon could keep up.

    ''I still have no idea what his Familiar is, but it should be fine...''

    I had thousands at mymand, so I still had the upper hand in that department.

    ''His Familiar should be Mana-Based. If I overwhelm it with Miasma, it should be my win.''

    After analyzing the situation properly, it was nigh impossible for me to win.

    Of course, I would keep my guard up against any uncertainty, but so far... I wasn''t going to lose confidence in my victory.

    **********

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Remember, everyone! Privilege Chapters will be 90 Percent Off from next month! Make sure to take advantage of this limited chance. There''ll also be a Mass Release then, so look forward to it.

    Also...

    Fight! Fight!! Fight!!!

 Chapter 550 The Emperor [Pt 1]

    "Are you done nning? Let''s begin already." Kuzon appeared bored already.

    His smile had faded, and he looked more like Neron at this point¡ªso unassuming and nd.

    "Fine. Let''s do this."

    We didn''t need a referee to tell us when to begin, so I decided to take the initiative andunch my first attack.

    "Gawain..."

    >WHOOOOSSHHHH!<

    My Automaton instantly appeared and rushed in the direction of the adversary.

    With the full energy it packed, and the speed it undertook, not a single member of my team would be able to react so quickly.

    ''Of course, I know you''re different, Kuzon...''

    Which was why I decided to test the waters first.

    With a smile on my face, I watched to see how Kuzon would fare¡ªand how long he wouldst against Gawain.

    ''I''ll collect as much data as I can and¡ª''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Before I realized what happened, Gawain was on the ground,pletely crushed apart like debris.

    ''¡ªUh?!''

    I couldn''t even see what happened or how it was done, but my Automaton¡ªThe Ultimate Automaton¡ªwas on the ground.

    Its body was crushed, and several parts flew around, like broken rocks.

    In one shot, Gawain was down.

    "You''d really send this one after me first? I know you''ve changed a lot, Jared, but I didn''t think it was to this extent..."

    I was roused by Kuzon''s voice and I watched his lips curl down disapprovingly.

    "When did you lose your balls?"

    ''Is he trying to trigger me? In a fight? That''s not going to work!''

    "It doesn''t matter how many of those small fries you throw at me... the results will still be the same."

    ''Gawain... is small fry...?''

    As I looked at my badly damaged Automaton, I found out that its body wasn''t healing for some reason.

    I kept a special Magic effect on it that allowed for restoration after taking damage, but it wasn''t working.

    ''Why isn''t it working?''

    "Come at me yourself... anything less than that is just a waste of time.''"

    I stared at Kuzon for a bit and tried to get a read on his stoic face.

    ''Is he baiting me? He has been emphasizing a direct fight between me and him... why?''

    Was it possible that the power Kuzon used on Gawain was merely a show?

    Maybe he couldn''t use it consecutively, or even often.

    There was a possibility that the pulverizing effect was the work of one of his Magic Items. But, using a blow that powerful should have had its limits.

    ''So, he doesn''t want to overexert himself by fighting more of my subordinates? Or...?''

    "I know what''s going on in your mind. You''re thinking of strategies to counter whatever n you think I''ve cooked up..." Kuzon sighed, now leaving his location as he approached.

    In a cool stride, his hands still in his pockets, Kuzon moved slowly.

    His eyes never left me for a moment.

    "... But you''re wrong, Jared. There''s no n or trick at work here. This is just pure power. You''re going to be dominated by total power. That''s all there is to it."

    Everything he was saying could have been a bluff, but why did I feel like they were true?

    Thest time we fought, something simr happened.

    ''Is it so hard to imagine myself losing?''

    For someone like Neron, I knew I stood no chance. As for Serah, in certain conditions, she would also emerge victorious.

    However, Kuzon was different.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I felt like, no matter how powerful he had be, I should be stronger.

    It was pride, after all.

    "Well, looks like I''ll have to go in anyway..." I smiled.

    But, why would I ever do that?!

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Instantly, several Automatons appeared from my special space, and they dashed in his direction.

    All of them were coated in immense Mana, making them as durable as Gawain in his base form.

    However¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    ¡ªThe results were the same.

    They weren''t even five meters from Kuzon, yet they all got pulverized by a strange force.

    "This is a waste of time." Suddenly, bright glimmers of golden light appeared around Kuzon, and they wrapped around him like wires.

    ''Those threads... his Original Magic!''

    The golden threads suddenly took form, turning into several sharp des.

    "Let''s start with this."

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    In a sh of light¡ªno, probably even faster¡ªthe des lunged in my direction.

    Any moment now, they would pierce me, and they were honestly faster than I could cast Magic.

    I was careless... or was I?

    >SHUUUUUU<

    Instantly, the golden des got dissolved by my Anti Magic wave.

    The harmonious sh of Mana and Miasma within me burst forth, neutralizing the effects of Kuzon''s assault.

    "Oh, yeah... that interference. So it works on Original Magic too..." Kuzon murmured.

    ''What now?'' I smiled at the boy.

    "Xenia."

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A pressure, unlike anything I''ve ever felt before, suddenly made its appearance.

    ''What is... this...?!'' My mind rang as I saw the unparalleled energy gather around Kuzon.

    It looked majestic¡ªa mix of blue and golden, like mes.

    I did my best to stay undaunted, watching what was forming within the mes.

    "I guess I never introduced you to her. Jared, everyone... meet my Familiar."

    ''T-that... that is a Familiar?!'' My eyes bulged as I watched ady emerge from the mes.

    She was as small as a fairy, the fiery blue and gold energy shrouding her body. While she had no wings, thedy hovered in the air, directly over Kuzon''s shoulders.

    I was still in awe when thedy''s lips curled up in a smile and she spoke.

    "Well, which unfortunate soul is it this time?" Her voice contained so much pleasure, even though she was merely snickering.

    "Xenia... Fusion Mode."

    "Urgh, you only call me out for work. You never let me meet your friends."

    "Not now. I''m in the middle of a match."

    "Not now? Kuzon, what are you saying to me?"

    Suddenly, the pressure I felt intensified, and I could feel an indescribable energy climbing.

    ''Just what kind of conversation... what kind of rtionship do they have?!''

 Chapter 551 The Emperor [Pt 2]

    "O-okay, calm down. Please?"

    "You know the only thing that I listen to, Kuzon." The intensity all around me rose again.

    A brief moment of tense silence pervaded the air, and even I found myself gulping in suspense.

    "Um... ah, this is embarrassing..." Kuzon rubbed his hand on his face and sighed.

    For some reason, it felt like he was reporting to his mother, or a superior.

    That was the vibe I was getting from the boy''s interaction with the Familiar.

    ''This is crazy!''

    "Pweety Pwease?"

    "Eh?"

    Did Kuzon just make a cute sound, or was it only me that heard it?

    I looked behind me, to see my team, and they were allughing. Ana was blushing for some reason, though.

    ''Does she find that hot? What a weirdo.''

    "Hahaha! Now that''s what I like to see. Kuzon, you''ve sure grown, but you can never outgrow me! Hehehe." The Familiarughed.

    ''I shouldn''t waste this chance.''

    While Kuzon was still in a flustered state, and his Familiar was conversing so casually, I had to take my shot.

    ''Original Magic... The Tower... and then Vermillion Nova!''

    [Vermillion Rupture] would have been better, but that took too long to prepare.

    Since I was simply exploiting a window of opportunity, I had to make do with the time I had.

    >WHUUUUSSHHHHH<

    My body was shrouded in Mana, and my Memoir appeared, right on time.

    Flipping its pages in a sh, I felt the space around me warp. The destructive Mana of my Spell began converging, and I prepared to devastate the targets.

    "Oh? What''s this? Mana?" The mingdy nced in my direction.

    ''Uh?!'' Did she notice what I was doing?

    I was using [The Tower] Arcana to conceal the immense Mana I was gathering.

    By teleporting the Spell to their location so it would explode at point-nk, I would ensureplete uracy.

    However¡ª

    ''How did she figure it out?

    ¡ªThe mingdy''s eyes were sharply on me.

    "You interrupted our conversation. That''s quite rude, you know? You want me to handle this guy for you, Kuzon?"

    "No. There''s no need for you to do it. I just need a bit of your power."

    "Hmmm? Okay then."

    For some reason, the Familiar didn''t bother with the Spell I was preparing. Was it really going to be powerless before the might of both Kuzon and the mingdy?

    [Vermillion Nova] was one of my most destructive Spells, and since I could use it quickly, it was simple.

    ''So far, I''ve not gotten nearly enough information to record in my Great Sage''s Memoir...''

    I couldn''t get very close, so feeling things out was the best I could do.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    The mingdy merged with Kuzon, and I saw his body glow for a moment until it returned to normal.

    ''Nothing happened? No, wait... he feels different from before.''

    I couldn''t describe it, but the Mana I felt around and on Kuzon had vanished. At this point, I could only feel energy.

    And it was intense.

    "Let''s try this again, shall we?"

    Several more of his golden des appeared, formed by his threads weaved together.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Once again, theyunched at me with blinding speed.

    I didn''t need to react to the golden blurs, so I once again went for my Anti Magic option. However¡ª

    ''Uh?! It didn''t wor¡ª''

    The des were already close to piercing my body and impaling me on all ends.

    Fortunately, I got teleported to a different location thanks to my Original Magic''s response.

    ''A-ahh... Haa...?!''

    I was now looking around in utter confusion.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Why didn''t Anti-Magic work?''

    It was working earlier, but suddenly...

    ''It must be due to that Familiar''s interference. But, what did she do?''

    More questions sprang up in my head, so I decided to observe a little more.

    "Now that I know it works, I''ll be finishing this quickly."

    >SWUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Kuzon''s golden threads swirled around, and several Magic Beasts were formed with nothing but his thin wires.

    The creatures all looked like genuine beasts, having distinct features.

    Not only were they humongous, but they appeared feral, and the concentration of energy on them was immense.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    The golden beasts lunged at me, and I teleported every time they got close.

    ''Running away is getting annoying!'' I snapped in annoyance, ready to retaliate.

    ''[Vermillion Nova]''

    I manifested the vermillion orb that was filled with condensed energy.

    Its power was enough to clear the entire area, and Iunched it at the center of the creatures.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    "That packs quite the punch," Kuzon murmured.

    As the smoke cleared, I noticed he was unharmed.

    ''Then, what of the constructs...?'' My eyes bulged as I noticed that they too... were unharmed.

    The entire area had suffered damage, yet the golden creatures werepletely fine?

    ''How is this?!''

    One of them jumped at me, but I instantly made to switch positions with it, making its attacks futile.

    But...

    ''It''s not working?!''

    ... Nothing was effective!

    ''Does Kuzon have Anti-Magic too?''

    I found myself hung up on so many questions. This wasn''t a battle any longer. I was simply trying to unravel a mystery.

    ''I''ll have to use Spellcraft!''

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Using Grand Fusion Mode, Mage Mode, and Elemental Chamber all at once, I felt my body swell with power.

    It was time to take this fight seriously.

    With several elements, like particles of light, dancing around me, I hovered in the air within an indestructible orb of Mana.

    My body glowed brightly, a culmination of several Familiars¡ªhalf bright, and half dark.

    ''I''ll be using Mana and Miasma in tandem, alongside Anti Magic...''

    If I utilized Spellcraft, the attacks would be even more lethal.

    My Original Magic would also respond to any situation I couldn''t foresee.

    Kuzon was giving me more trouble than I expected¡ªand he seemed to be holding back¡ªbut I was sick of ying defense.

    ''I should wrap this up quickly... and make him join our group!''

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    I darted in Kuzon''s direction, fully aware of the threads that always danced around him.

    The concentration of energy grew denser the closer I approached, but I could use Spellcraft to turn everything in my favor!

    ''U-uh...?!'' I noticed something as soon as I got closer to Kuzon.

    My eyes widened, and I saw a smile form on his face.

    At that moment, I knew... that something was awfully wrong with the situation.

    "What''s wrong with your face, Jared?" Kuzon''s smile grew more intense as he stood still and watched.

    He seemed to be enjoying the show.

    "Teleporting around, testing the waters, critically examining me... it makes no difference." Taking one step forward, Kuzon sent shivers down my spine.

    "In the end, no one beats the Emperor."

 Chapter 552 The Inevitable Loser

    My Automatons and Golems were pulverized.

    Anti Magic was ineffective.

    Original Magic was barely hanging on.

    I thought I could turn the tide by using more power and forcing the situation back in my favor.

    Using my powerful transformations in addition to my ultimate weapon, Spellcraft.

    However, I realized something when I drew closer to Kuzon.

    I understood why all my Automatons were pulverized, even before his Familiar made an appearance.

    ''T-this is¡ª?!''

    Spellcraft wasn''t working!!!''

    "You get it now, don''t you?" Golden lightning manifested on the boy''s body as he smiled at me.

    Several golden threads converged in various locations and formed arsenals of weapons around me.

    Without Spellcraft, and the viability of Anti Magic, I had nothing to defend myself from the barrage of attacks he was sending.

    I had many abilities at my disposal, but the quality of Kuzon''s Magic was superior.

    ''I have to retreat. I''ll use my Original Magic to¡ª!''

    To my shock, even my Original Magic dissolved.

    "What?!"

    My transformation became undone, and I was stripped of all the power I umted in an instant.

    ''What is going on here?!''

    I didn''t understand anything. It happened so quickly, and in such a strange way, that I couldn''tprehend the slightest bit of it.

    "This should finish things."

    Now willing his suspended des to move, Kuzon aimed all of them at my defenseless body.

    ''I can''t use all the Spells in my Original Magic anymore. That meant I can''t teleport away, use any of my other Arcanas or summon shields for myself.''

    Spellcraft was also useless, and using a Spell from scratch seemed to be the only alternative.

    ''I''ll defend myself and¡ª''

    The moment I activated a Spell, it was deactivated.

    "Shit!" I watched the des move slightly.

    They were going tounch at any moment.

    ''It seems whatever Mana or Magic that leaves my body loses effect.''

    Since I understood the effects of Anti Magic¡ªKuzon had to be using something simr¡ªI decided to use the loophole.

    ''I''ll just enhance myself and escape!'' With that in mind, I used Mana to strengthen myself from within.

    I would just resort to physical abilities.

    Once I got out of his range, I would summon my de and other Magic Items.

    It was best to use those rather than raw power.

    ''Martial Arts should do the trick, considering he still isn''t superior in that aspect.''

    If I used [The Hermit] to quicken my body, and [The Sun] to strengthen myself further, I could guarantee victory.

    It was risky to use thetter, but I was going to be careful. In the end, I just had to win!

    ''U-uh...?!'' I realized something after thinking about what to do next.

    ''I... can''t move...?!''

    So many weird and unexpected things had happened, but I didn''t expect things to reach this degree.

    ''Is he binding me with his threads? No, I don''t think so...''

    Still, I felt something holding me down.

    I couldn''t move. I simply stood still, seemingly under the control of some higher power.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Just as gravity kept every person down, it felt as natural as that. As though I was naturally bound by thews of whatever was holding me in my position.

    "You have some Arcanas in your possession, Jared. Didn''t you ever think for a second that I would have one too?" Kuzon interrupted my thoughts with his usual smile.

    Of course, I factored that into my calctions. But, without knowing the Arcana he possessed, I couldn''t prepare countermeasures.

    Besides, it wasn''t like I knew the abilities of every single Arcana. The most I could do was make guesses based on inference.

    In essence, Kuzon had the element of surprise.

    ''But, I figured I had an advantage considering I have four... hold on!'' My eyes bulged the moment I realized there was one more Arcana I had yet to take into ount.

    [Strength].

    "This is your loss, Jared."

    With that, the golden des came crashing down.

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    An instant gust of power erupted from my position, destroying the des that nearly got me.

    "Haa... that was a close one." I smiled, emerging from the center of the st.

    The energy around me shone in multiple colors¡ªand it was still very unstable¡ªbut it felt simr to the kind of power I felt from Kuzon.

    "You saved me, Merlin." I smiled at the glowing Arcana with relief.

    I was desperate back when Kuzon was about to end things, so I resonated with the Arcana in my pocket.

    Fortunately, it responded to my call and created a wave of energy.

    If it hadn''t been for its interference, I would have been done for.

    "So you had a card up your sleeves? [Strength], uh? That''s an interesting pick. Do you even know what it does?"

    ''Just how much does Kuzon know? He knows of this Arcana''s effects?''

    I gritted my teeth and readied my stance, bracing for the next attack.

    ''I can move!'' Upon realizing this, I hurriedly escaped from Kuzon''s reach before it was toote.

    However¡ª

    >SWUUUSHHH<

    ¡ªKuzon suddenly appeared before me in a golden sh of lightning.

    "Where do you think you''re going?"

    Before I could say or do anything else, he grabbed me by my throat, sending an immeasurable amount of his golden electricity.

    As I felt the currents course through me, I found myself unable to do anything¡ªnot even resonate with the Arcana in my grasp.

    The pain alone could drive any person insane, and the only reason I could hold on to my sanity was because of my immense fortitude.

    Plus, I was protecting myself internally. That was the best I could do with the current situation.

    "GAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Kuzon mercilessly kept his attack up, refusing to stop.

    I thought it was going tost forever, when¡ª

    "I should stop now."

    ¡ªHe suddenly released me of his own volition.

    Falling to the ground with a thud, I let out a relieved gasp.

    Sparks of lightning danced around my body, causing me to spasm in agony.

    "Sorry, Jared. I went too far. I forgot... that I wasn''t trying to kill you."

    The look in his eyes showed he genuinely meant what he said¡ªboth the apology and the intent to kill.

    I shuddered instantly.

    "With this, it looks like I''m the victor... right?"

 Chapter 553 Parting Ways

    "Do you disagree? Would you like to go on?" Kuzon stared at me.

    His smile was condescending, but I realized that he had every right to look at me in that way.

    We had bothe a long way since our Ainrk days, but some things never truly changed.

    ''I lost... and overwhelmingly so at that.''

    This had to be the first time I would suffer such defeat in battle ever since I was a kid.

    It felt really shitty.

    "So, Jared, my information."

    "Y-your... wha¡ª?!"

    "My information. The location of the Nether Cult."

    ''Ah, that...'' For a moment, I had forgotten the reason why we started fighting in the first ce.

    "One... sec..."

    Now capable of using my Magic, I used Healing Magic on myself and also used a potion from my Special Storage.

    Fortunately, none of my internal organs were affected, so it wasn''t fatal.

    I healed up in no time.

    "A-ah, much better..." Rising from my position, I looked in Neron''s direction and signaled him to bring down the barrier.

    Once he did so, the members of our team slowly began moving in our direction.

    "Jared, the location," Kuzon said impatiently.

    ''He''s leaving already, uh?''

    I tried my best to make him stay, but I wasn''t strong enough.

    The reason he agreed to our match was probably because he knew the oue already.

    I had thought I was in the big leagues thanks to the whole Demon saga, but was I really just at the starting point?

    "It''s located at the very center of the world, between the four continents." I sighed, ncing at Kuzon''s stoic face.

    "There''s nothing there''s though."

    "That''s what they want us to think. I tracked one of their members there."

    "And you think they didn''t notice?"

    "They did mid-meeting, but it was already toote by then. I had gotten my information."

    "I see... It''s just highly doubtful that they wouldn''t have sensed something I was able to."

    "Well, I used a different method."

    Our conversation was so fluid that I almost didn''t believe we were fighting just moments earlier.

    "Alright then. I believe you." Kuzon said, smiling at me differently.

    "What?"

    It felt weird that he wasn''t giving his usual cold expression or mocking gaze.

    "I just thought you didn''t do very bad, Jared. You performed better than expected. We were just a poor match." He shrugged.

    "Tch. Whatever. Now that you''ve gotten what you want, you can leave."

    Neron and the others arrived right in time, and the first to speak was¡ªof course¡ªLemi.

    "Hahaha! Serves you right, Jared! This is the first time I''ve seen you get beaten like this. It feels strangely satisfying."

    "S-stop that..." I murmured, not even having enough strength to resist her teasing.

    It felt horrible, though.

    ''My own daughter...'' I almost wept in shame and disappointment.

    "Not so fast, Jared. You said I could have whatever I wanted if I won. I''ve still not done that." Kuzon smiled ruefully.

    His expression now looked more like the snobby dude I knew him to be.

    "Urgh, alright. What do you want? And don''t say my Arcanas, cus I''m not giving."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "What? Arcanas? Hmm, that could work, but that won''t be necessary. I already have one, so it''s fine..." Kuzon shrugged.

    "So, what do you want?"

    I could feel some gazes on me, while others were on Kuzon. It was really embarrassing that I lost to him when everyone was watching, but there was nothing to do about it now.

    ''I''ll just grant his request so he can leave. We have a lot to cover in our search, after all.''

    "I think I''ll need one member of your group to help me with something... a mission."

    "What?"

    "That''s what I want. You''re not going to deny me that right after I beat you up so much, right?"

    I had no right to refuse, but what was this guy saying now?

    "Didn''t you say all of us were dead weight?"

    "Not all of you. Also, I apologize for calling you dead weight. You''re far more capable than I gave you credit for."

    ''Yet I still lost. Just how capable did he think I was before now?'' This thought troubled me but I simply decided to listen to what he had to say.

    "So, who do you have in mind? Me?"

    For a moment, silence pervaded our vicinity. Kuzon nkly stared at me, and I also nkly looked around me.

    "I would like to have your expertise, but I''m not cruel enough to stand in the way of your mission. I''ll take a member that won''t affect the productivity of your team¡ªat least, not too much."

    ''Who could that be? Is there someone here who''s not dead weight and is also not too essential to our search for the Arcanas?''

    Kuzon''s eyes darted in a particr direction, and before I could turn to look, he had already vanished and grabbed the person to his side.

    "Hiyaaakkk!!" The girl''s thin voice pierced the air as she was both flustered and confused.

    "I''ll be taking you." He carried her like a sack by his side¡ªthat was how small the person of his choice was.

    "W-what are you doing? Let me go!" Ana yelled, trying her best to break free, but failing nheless.

    "A deal is a deal. Isn''t that right, Jared?" Kuzon smiled, looking at me for confirmation.

    "Well..." I met Ana''s gaze.

    Though she wasining, I could tell that she was enjoying this. It also seemed like she liked Kuzon a lot.

    As for him... I wasn''t sure yet.

    Still, I didn''t want to stand in the way of whatever was going on between them. Plus, we had a deal.

    "Will she be safe with you?"

    "I''m not sure. But it''s not like she''ll be any safer by your side."

    That stung a bit, but I epted Kuzon''s words anyway.

    He wasn''t wrong, after all.

    "Fine. A deal is a deal."

    "JAREEED?!" Ana yelled at me with disbelief in her eyes.

    "What are you doing, Jared? You''re letting that dude take Ana!" Lemi yelled at me in disbelief.

    "Well, I better take my leave now. I don''t want to get into this conflict. Also, it seems you''ve be more popr with thedies, Jared... must be tough making a choice."

    "Wha¡ª?! You bastar¡ª"

    Before I said anything more, Kuzon vanished in a sh of lightning.

    "That guy..."

    I found myself conflicted about what to think of the young Midas.

    Truth be told, my memories of what I knew of the Midas Empire were a blur. But, I still had some fraction of it.

    ''Are they all powerful monsters like him... those Royals?'' I smiled to myself.

    In the end, I never gained any special Magic or additional knowledge from Kuzon.

    It felt like a total waste of time... well, almost.

 Chapter 554 Awkward Realization

    After Kuzon left with Ana, and our team lost one member, awkward silence took control...

    ... But only for a few seconds.

    "Why did you let him take her? Why does Ana have to pay for your defeat?"

    The person speaking was, of course, Lemi.

    I sighed at the girl, not knowing if she would understand the reason behind what I did. Perhaps not even Ana would appreciate it at the moment.

    ''There''s no point exining it...'' I nced at Maria, and her expressionless face spoke volumes.

    A nce at Aloe Vida gave me the assurance that at least she was on my side.

    "Let''s all calm ourselves." Neron stepped up.

    It was probably a good choice, considering I was tired at the moment.

    "It''s been a long day, so why don''t we return to our base and rx?"

    "Yeah, good call..." Lemi murmured, finally leaving me alone.

    I could tell that she was still angry, though. Considering the fact that Ana was the closest person to her at the moment, I made a big blunder by separating the two.

    ''I should apologizeter... maybe.''

    "Are you feeling okay?" A voice echoed beside me.

    It belonged to Edward.

    We hadn''t had the opportunity to talk very often due to how upied he was with training... or gawking at my Half-Elf daughter.

    "Not really."

    "Why? Because of Ana, or the fight?"

    "I think both..." I sighed.

    Despite everything, I felt Edward was still a reliable person I could count on¡ªlike a sturdy pir or an unbreakable wall.

    "Yeah, that wasn''t a pretty sight to see¡ªyou getting beat up like that. At least now you know how we feel all the time."

    "Hm? What do you mean?" I looked at the buff guy with surprise.

    "That feeling of inadequacy you have when you''re pummeled... it drives you to be better, and the restlessness thates with it makes you push on to ovee your limits."

    "I feel inadequate all the time. I never proimed to be the strongest person around."

    "Well, maybe you''re right. But, at least you have one more reason. Besides... I don''t think seeing you lose was a bad thing." Edward''s lips curled up to form a smile.

    "I was beginning to wonder if someone could sucker punch you one day¡ªconsidering I''ve never seen you lose in a fight."

    "Hahaha, really?"

    Edward nodded.

    "Yeah. Inadequacy should have a bnce. Your position as a sturdy and powerful leader is excellent, but unless you show some vulnerability, your followers will only feel more inadequate."

    I was surprised to hear such profound words from Edward.

    "I see... I guess you aren''t such a meathead, after all."

    "Y-yeah, I guess you could say that." Edward''s gaze shifted in a particr direction, but I decided to simply take that as him being flustered.

    Unless...

    "Hold on, did someone put you up to this?"

    "W-what are you talking about?" Edward looked even more flustered.

    "I knew it! You were probably just repeating after them as they telepathically gave you the message. Who''s the person?" I sharply nced in the direction where Edward looked before and found Maria quickly walking away.

    ''It came from her?''

    "Edward... whyy...?" I gave my friend a tap on the shoulder and shook my head.<novelnext></novelnext>

    His teary eyes made him look like a baby, and I could see the guilt on his face.

    "She... she made me do it."

    "Why did you lie? What did she offer in exchange?"

    The boy shyly looked to the ground. For a man who looked so powerful, he seemed so fragile in face of that question.

    "W-well... she said... she would help me out..."

    "Really? Let me guess, with Lemi?"

    "Shhhh! Keep your voice down, man." Edward looked panicky and jumpy.

    ''This dude...'' I nearly sighed.

    To think even Edward had fallen this deep. Initially, I was a little upset that my friend was so interested in my daughter.

    However, at the moment, my rtionship with Lemi was so strained that I couldn''t even consider us family.

    ''I am not Lewis Griffith, after all...'' With that in mind, I put my hands on Edward''s shoulders and smiled.

    "You can do it. Just be confident. Maybe it''s just me, but I have a feeling she likes you too."

    "R-really?!"

    "Yeah. She''s always ogling you with her eyes."

    ''Well, there''s a possibility she wants to use you as herb specimen, but...'' I decided not to add that bit.

    Edward beamed brightly. He must have been overjoyed with the possibility that his feelings weren''t one-sided.

    ''Ah, the joy of youth...'' I truly could not rte.

    Still... Maria, eh?

    A smile spread across my face and I decided to do some thinking.

    ****************

    Looking to my right, I observed Neron and Serah. To my left, there were Ciara and Jerry. Edward was already speaking to Lemi, and Asa was being catered for by Aloe Vida.

    To be honest, everyone was so busy forming bonds, but it felt like I simply couldn''t.

    ''Even Ana and Kuzon...'' It almost sounded like a dream.

    A lot of things had changed, and so many things were still changing.

    ''I can''tpromise now, though...''

    There was a serious conflict ahead, and romance wasn''t going to fix it.

    Still, despite understanding that, why was everyone still giving themselves to their hearts?

    ''The logical thing to do is to forego emotional attachments and focus on the challenge ahead... right?''

    However, my memories returned to the Celestial War¡ªback when I was still Lewis Griffith.

    Upon remembering the special moments I shared with Emilia despite the rising conflict, and how our love was born from war, I realized...

    ''... I''m just giving excuses.''

    The problem wasn''t the situation, but me.

    I was simply afraid of something, or maybe I didn''t want romance, but it was unfair of me.to pin it on the war with Demons, or the current Nether Cult issue.

    ''There''s always going to be something...''

    In the end, I was just being a hypocrite, wasn''t I?

    With a smile on my face, I looked to the sky. Somehow, realizing that about myself made me happier.

    ''Thank you, Maria.''

 Chapter 555 Big News

    As Neron suggested, we rested well for that day.

    The next morning, however, I called for a meeting, and everyone attended.

    Lemi showed upst, and her attitude pretty much reeked of rebellion and defiance.

    ''I''ll just ignore her...'' With that in mind, I didn''t address her silent protest and initiated the meeting properly.

    We were in a vast field, the campsite we were using to coordinate our activities.

    As the fresh morning breeze weed us, I organized my thoughts andmenced my speech.

    "First of all, I want to tell everyone how happy I am about our sess in the first mission. We got our first Arcana." I disyed the [Strength] Card to everyone, and even let them pass it along to each other.

    "This is only the beginning, though. We have a couple more to go¡ªsix, to be exact." I smiled.

    Using Magic, I retrieved the [Strength] Arcana from thest person to observe it and regained possession.

    "Since Kuzon has an Arcana in his possession, that rules out one of our targets, hence, the number six remaining."

    "Do you have an inkling about the Arcana in his possession?" Neron''s voice softly rang in my ears.

    "Yeah, I do. He most likely possesses [The Emperor] Arcana, and¡ª"

    "Oh? Why do you say so?" Lemi''s nagging voice interrupted.

    At this point, she seemed to be looking for attention.

    ''Is this her way of protesting Ana''s sudden removal from the team?'' Ignoring her once more, I continued.

    "He seemed oddly interested in [The Empress] Arcana. Considering he''s of Midas descent as well, I find that they''re linked."

    Plus, he did tell me that ''No one beats the Emperor,'' or something simr to that.

    So, I suppose we had to cross that off his list. Considering his ability to manipte so many things in the space around him, [The Emperor]''s abilities really seemed like a feasible exnation.

    "The Arcanas that are yet to be found are; The Fool. The Pope. Wheel Of Fortune. The Moon. Judgment. Finally, The World."

    I hadpiled so much data on several mentions of these Arcanas, but there was nothing at all that pointed me in the direction of thetter¡ªwell, except the name [The World].

    Since there were 22 Arcanas, and adding it as thest piecepleted the number, I found it eptable to add [The World] to the list of items we were searching for.

    As for clues or descriptions, I had no information on it.

    "Now, for the most important aspect of this meeting..."

    There were two major things I wanted to discuss.

    First was my conversation with Merlin.

    I exined everything in detail, making sure I emphasized the terms I wasn''t familiar with.

    "So, we''re to stop someone called Ciel, and ensure the Nether doesn''t return? Who are these Apostles Of Aether?"

    Everyone was equally as confused as I was. Even Neron... uh...?

    "Neron, are you okay?" I asked, noticing he looked dazed for a moment.

    "Y-yeah, what''s the matter?" Snapping out of it, he returned to normal.

    His eyes regained their dark shades, and his expression was stoic¡ªas always.

    Still, I felt like something was off.

    ? "You looked out of it for a moment there. Do you perchance know about what that Merlin character was talking about?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    A brief moment of silence ensured as Neron rubbed his chin for a while.

    My heart leaped for a moment, hoping to get another clue, or at least some new information that would allow me to make sense of the many confusions wrapped in my head.

    "No. No, I have no idea." He finally retorted.

    "Ah, I see. That''s too bad."

    Neron still appeared to be in thought, but I knew there was no way he would hide something this important from me.

    "Alright then, I guess that''s something we have to keep in mind. Now, as for the second matter for discussion, which is actually the crux of this meeting..."

    Everyone had shifty gazes, and I paused for a few moments beforending.

    "I''m dissolving the team."

    "WHAT?!!"

    Their loud reactions nearly blew me away. Every hair on my skin stood as I felt everyone''s re greet me.

    "Rx. Rx. It''s not what you think! Let me exin!"

    Their res intensified, but I could see one or two faces that still stared suspiciously at me.

    ''Ah, I guess I said it in the wrong way.''

    "It''s more like I''m splitting the team into fractions¡ªfive groups, to be precise."

    "OHHHHHH..." Their eyes widened in surprise, and the realization of my true intentions began to seep in.

    ''I should really work on my conversation skills. I get misunderstood a lot.''

    "But why are we being split up?" Edward asked.

    Well, that was a wonderful question.

    I expected Lemi to ask, but maybe Edward knew that and decided to take the lead.

    Such an idiot.

    "There''s hardly any time left, and I would like us to be as efficient as possible. Besides, this was my intention from the start. It''s why I didn''t ce too much emphasis on organized teamwork in our training."

    I only boosted their individual abilities and split them into simple groups when there wasbat training.

    It was all for this moment.

    ''Kuzon also has the right idea. Having too many people would just be dead weight. It''s best if we function separately, while coordinating our movements...''

    "But, isn''t that dangerous? There''s safety in numbers, after all." Aloe Vida asked.

    Her worried expression was most likely directed at people like Asa, or the other members of the team, rather than herself.

    Just what did I expect from the good-natured Aloe?

    "Well, it could be. But, this mission itself entails danger. If we want to y it safe and end up giving the enemy a chance to obtain more Arcanas, then we''ve lost."

    Aloe nodded, albeit still looking worried.

    "I understand how you feel. Don''t worry, I''ll provide Teleportation Spell Cards for everyone. That way, you can retreat.

    Also, I''ll ensure to track everyone. If anything happens, I''lle running to your aid immediately."

 Chapter 556 Splitting Up

    It seemed my response was satisfactory, as Aloe was beginning to grow calmer.

    "Just to be safe, I''d like to have you all carry my ''Soul Brand'' with you. Of course, this is simply optional. You can choose not to have one."

    After exining the relevance of a Soul Brand, and how incredibly useful it would be in coordination, my audience was more adept at it.

    Of course, the kind of Soul Brand I was going to establish would not have any coercing element.

    It would be as equals¡ªsort of like how Jane and I did in the past.

    "No."

    "I''ll have to refuse."

    Two people vehemently disagreed, which was fine too.

    After exining the importance, if they weren''t willing to go through with it, there was nothing that could be done.

    "Since Lemi and Ciara have decided against it, I''ll just do it with everyone else."

    Of course, I toned down the function of the Soul Brand, so we couldn''t randomly hear each other''s thoughts or anything.

    The purpose of the Brand was to track their whereabouts and directly contact them even if there was Interference Magic involved.

    My current Magic Tools that allowed long-rangemunication would be rendered obsolete if someone interfered with it using Magic.

    The only way out of that predicament was to use a Soul Brand.

    "For those who have chosen to go along with it, I''ll be sure to remove the Brand once we''re done with this mission.

    Fortunately, they all understood.

    ******************

    Once we were done, it was finally time to split our team into five distinct groups.

    To be honest, it was a somewhat tricky choice, considering we were a total of twelve, now that Ana wasn''t present.

    However, after taking everyone''s strengths and weaknesses into ount, I created the perfect team.

    ***************

    [TEAM 1]

    Neron Kaelid

    Serah Crimson

    [TEAM 2]

    Edward Karl Leon

    Lemi Vindiel

    Ivan Smith

    [TEAM 3]

    Maro Smith

    Aloe Vida

    Asa

    [TEAM 4]

    Jerry Keller

    Ciara Epilson

    And finally...

    [TEAM 5]

    Jared Leonard

    Maria Helmsworth

    *****************

    Maria''s eyes widened as I mentioned how we would be splitting our teams.

    She must have been surprised that I ced her on the same team as me. I had to admit, that was a bit of bias on my part.

    But...

    ... I felt it was necessary.

    ''Maybe I should try spending time with her. No harm in that.''

    It could have just been a reason I gave myself to ease my guilt, or perhaps I wanted to explore what feelings I had for Maria, and what feelings she had for me.

    In any case, I made sure every other team was bnced.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Does anyone have anyints about the team arrangements?"

    I scanned the audience, but there seemed to be no problem.

    Ciara was even beaming at me, giving me a thumbs-up for some reason. It had to be because I ced her on the same team as Jerry.

    With no one else in their group, she was free to keep fraternizing with the boy... or whatever it was that they were doing.

    Even I didn''t understand their rtionship, at this point.

    "I''ll be using today to learn more about this Arcana. You can all focus on training while we spend the day. You can choose to prepare for tomorrow as well."

    There was so much to learn about the [Strength] Arcana, considering it was the first one in my possession that I never interacted with in my past life.

    "Well, that''s it for the meeting."

    After concluding the meeting, everyone slowly dispersed.

    "Lemi, a word?"

    "What?" The girl''s response was cold.

    It broke my heart to see her look at me with such eyes.

    I never for one thought about acting as her recement Dad, considering I had no right to.

    What I could do was teach her and guide her in the best way I could. Of course, if it was friendship she desired, I was going to try my hardest.

    Unfortunately, things didn''t work out well. Lemi didn''t trust me, and it seemed anything I tried to do only made things worse.

    ''Maybe I just suck at rtionships...'' I bit my lip to hold back any emotion that disyed weakness.

    I couldn''t afford anything of that sort at the moment.

    "Nothing. Never mind." I smiled, turning away from the girl.

    My sensory perception kicked in and I noticed that she stood still for a few moments, before finally leaving for whatever she wanted to do.

    ''You suck, Jared. You really suck.''

    I teleported away from my position and decided to dedicate the entire day as a shut-in.

    Distracting myself from the pain I felt by wholeheartedly focusing on a task was the best way I knew to cope.

    *******************

    "You were right, Miss Serah! It worked!"

    Maria was currently happy beyond description.

    Right in front of her was Serah Crimson, Grand Mage of the Eastern Empire, as well as the sweetheart of Neron Kaelid.

    She was Maria''s mentor in both Magic and Love, and her advice on how to handle Jared had finally begun to show results.

    "I thought our rtionship got worse, but I think we''re moving in the right direction."

    "I told you, Maria. You only needed to trust me."

    "I''m so sorry I doubted you in the past." Maria looked earnest as she tightened both hands and prepared herself to keep working hard.

    Thest advance she made on Jared, watching over him when he was naked and flirting with him afterward... everything came from Serah''s counsel.

    Her mentor was always right in these matters, as Maria hade to learn.

    ''Jared finally made a conscious effort to put the both of us in the same team.'' Maria smiled, her cheeks turning pink.

    "But, you can''t rx now, Maria. This is where the true battle begins." Serah smiled at the pure and innocent girl¡ªready to dye Maria once again in her color.

    "Oh? What''s the next step? What should I do next?"

    Maria''s eyes shone like diamonds as she readily waited to hear the wise words of her teacher and mentor.

    Serah Crimson smiled proudly, happy to have such a diligent girl as a protege.

    Just as Neron took Jared in, she decided to raise one as well.

    Initially, she merely picked Maria because she showed promise and talent.

    Their rtionship didn''t extend to much, but as time went on, the woman found herself growing attached to the girl, and vice versa.

    Before long, their bonds deepened, and Serah became more of a mentor.

    "Alright! Listen well, Maria!"

    "Yes ma''am!!!"

    Both women were d to have each other in their endeavors.

    Serah was determined to help her protege win over the one she loved... no matter what!

 Chapter 557 Nightmare

    A world full of darkness.

    All around there is only destruction and chaos.

    A trail of dead bodies, mangled flesh, fresh blood, and an air of unending despondency. This could be hell.

    "N-no..." A voice leaks out into this abyss.

    It is of a young man.

    He has dark hair, and his bangs cover his pure ck eyes as he kneels. There is a woman on hisp, and he emptily stares at her while repeating his earlier words.

    "No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.No. No. No. No. No. No. NO. NO! NO!! NOOO!!!"

    The crimson-haired woman is dyed in blood, left for dead.

    The ck-haired man seems to have fallen into despairpletely.

    "I''m sorry. I''m so sorry... I¡ª"

    A hulking figure moves in the distance. It is the very epitome of chaos, and it brings the world to ruin.

    The being ignores the man, and the man ignores it as well.

    While one grievously mourns, the other relishes in the destruction it has wrought.

    "It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault!!!"

    Repeating those words so much that one might think he is insane, this man keeps making this statement.

    His heart churns, and he feels an unexinable loss. Everything and everyone he loves... they don''t exist anymore.

    However¡ª

    "You''re a sight for sore eyes, Neron."

    "It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my¡ª"

    The ck-haired man stops his mantra and looks forward. His head is raised and his shoulders slump.

    There is another being standing right in front of him.

    The being looks human, but the grieving soul knows that his true self is far from it.

    "You..."

    "Don''t look at me that way. Isn''t this a result of our efforts?"

    "This... this isn''t what I wanted! You lied to me! You... I thought we were friends!"

    "Hahaha, well... I guess that''s one way of putting it."

    "You bastard! You and Ciel tricked me! You... why...?!''"

    "It was unavoidable. I don''t really care either way, but apparently, she''s the one who wanted this oue."

    "W-why...?"

    "Well, the work is done. Sooner orter, I''ll get what I want. It''s a shame, though. This world is doomed..."

    "N-no..."

    "Yes. The Nether is here, after all. It''s only a matter of time."

    The man called Neron can only shudder and wither away as he feels even more despair.

    He curses himself, regretting everything he has ever done.

    But, it''s just as the other being says.

    Everything will end.

    The world. Existence. Himself.

    "I..."

    Neron raises his head and his jet ck eyes slowly show a glimmer of light.

    "... I won''t allow it!"

    Suddenly, the entire area is enveloped in white light, and the shock is enough to send ripples of distortions flying around every corner of the world.

    Enough to finally...<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Uargh!"

    ... Wake up the dreamer.

    *******************

    Neron''s body was covered in cold sweat, but that was only for a moment.

    His body reset, and he felt perfectly normal afterward.

    Still, his mind couldn''t help but focus on the nightmare he just had.

    "That dream... what the hell?"

    Truthfully, Neron had been having certain memory shes and sudden thoughts, but this was the first time he had dreamt so vividly about it.

    "What happened?"

    Neron couldn''t make sense of the matter.

    It had been a while since he felt this way¡ªso confused and lost.

    Now sitting up on his wide bed, he looked beside him and spotted Serah sleeping peacefully.

    While she was overactive during the day, the woman was quite a deep sleeper.

    Neron liked how she looked so cute and peaceful as she slept. He made to caress her cheek, smiling to himself.

    However¡ª

    ''I''m... so sorry.''

    ¡ªAnother sh of memories stopped him.

    In his head, Serah was killed, and while they shared their final moments together, it was too painful.

    "Keuk!" Neron clutched his heart in pain, looking at his lover with conflicted eyes.

    "What exactly happened? Are these memories of the past... or the future?"

    At this point, he had to imagine if this was an effect of the Hermit Arcana, or perhaps a new aspect of the power he needed to explore.

    ''They''re getting more vivid... especially after Jared spoke about Merlin and¡ª''

    Neron recollected the words the boy said¡ªabout Ciel... and the Nether.

    ''Do I know them?''

    Neron was worried. In the advent that the shes he was seeing in his memories were real, then that meant chaos.

    ''I should tell Jared...'' Neron thought to himself.

    However, after thinking it through, the man decided not to.

    ''He has a lot on his te, and unverified information like mine will simply put him on more edge.''

    Deciding to reveal the matter once the time was ripe and he had more to go on, Neron sighed to himself and looked at Serah one more time.

    "I don''t know if all those memories are real, but..." He caressed the cheeks of his lover and smiled lovingly at her.

    "... I will never let anything happen to you."

    He didn''t know about the ''Neron'' that existed in his dreams and memory shes, but the ck-haired man resolutely decided never to lose his own Serah.

    ''I''ve been having memory shes since I was a kid, haven''t I? It''s just been more of intuitions and guidance... never has it been so intense.''

    Neron went back to bed, hugging Serah close to him.

    Thetter moaned slightly, whispering Neron''s name as they both fell asleep in each other''s embrace.

    With a satisfied smile offort and love, Neron returned to paradise.

    ***************

    [A/N]

    Well, this sets the pace for quite a conflicting and interesting set of events.

    Also, I''m so jealous of this dude.

 Chapter 558 Anas Disposition

    "Looks like everyone had a lovely night." I smiled at everyone.

    They seemed raring to go, each armed with their respective tools and clustered in their allocated groups.

    It was early in the morning, and the sun was yet topletely rise, but every team was ready for their respective journey

    "Well, let''s all be careful, but also give it your best."

    I didn''t want a situation where they would be overly cautious and let an opportunity slip past them.

    They were allowed to be reckless as long as they fulfilled their mission.

    ''Of course, I won''t be allowing all of you to die.''

    "If you encounter the swordsman from Neron''s description, flee immediately. As for other members of the Cult, act based on your discretion."

    To be honest, the version of Beruel I fought was stronger than most of the people on the mission.

    "Beruel is the Fourth Seat, and a mere machine from him is strong enough to give a lot of you trouble. If you meet the real one, or any of the higher Seat Members, I''ll advice you to flee."

    At least, that would preserve their lives. In the advent that their Souls could be destroyed, it would take even more time and resources to get them back.

    "I have no definite idea what the enemy is capable of. But, since I have ways of tracking everyone, I''lle to the aid of anyone who is in danger."

    If there was anything I refused to happen, it would be the death of my allies.

    "Let''s get those Arcanas and win."

    My speech was apanied by cheers, and I happily split up the teams.

    Granting each team an Automaton as a guard, I teleported them to the areas where I suspected the Arcanas to be.

    Of course, retrieving them waspletely left to them.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    "Are you ready?" I appeared out of the blue portal, meeting only Maria in the vast field.

    Now that everyone else had gone, it was only me and her that was left.

    "Yeah."

    "Alright then... let''s get this show on the road." Patting her shoulders, I created a spatial distortion and moved us to the ce where we would be having some time alone... together.

    ''Hopefully this kills two birds with one stone.''

    The portal swallowed the both of us, and I could feel everything shifting to our new location.

    Before I finally arrived at the designated ne, a thought resonated in my head, and I smiled a little.

    ''I wonder what Ana is doing now?''

    *****************

    Tense silence permeated the room as two people shared the vast space.

    There was quite a distance separating the two of them, but a certain person''s reaction made it seem as though there wasn''t nearly enough space apart.

    Her frown was evident, and her gaze was cold.

    She was fiddling with a tool,pletely ignoring the man who watched her at certain intervals.

    "Are you really going to keep ignoring me?" His voice was calm.

    The boy''s golden hair glowed, in the finely luxurious hall.

    The short blond girl he was talking to didn''t even stare in his direction. She was busy in thought, and the whole things she was doing with the tool was to calm her nerves.

    In actuality...

    ''Urgh, I hate this.''

    ... She was very dissatisfied.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Damn that Jared. Even you, Kuzon. I don''t need any of you, after all.''

    Not only did Kuzon call her dead weight, he also said her absence wouldn''t negatively impact the team.

    Jared, whom she thought would argue on her behalf, actually sold her away because of his own loss.

    It was annoying, to say the least.

    ''I feel so stupid. Why was I deluded into thinking they had feelings for me?''

    However, worse than that, she felt even more foolish for having feelings for them both¡ªespecially Jared.

    ''He''s the worst...'' Gritting her teeth, she kept fiddling with the robotic construct¡ªutterly ignoring Kuzon''s stare.

    Ana and Kuzon were currently in a vast house made by Kuzon.

    It was created from Magic Threads¡ªKuzon''s Original Magic.

    Not only was the exterior incredibly dense, in case of an assault, the interior was veryfortable.

    It has a warm, golden ambiance that made it seem no different from a finely furbished home¡ªno, it was most likely even better.

    Ana and Kuzon had been seated in the parlor for hours now, and the former was beginning to wonder what would happen next.

    Ever since Kuzon took her from the rest of the team the previous day, she had not seen him do anything in particr.

    He simply told her to rest and make herself at home. They had not left the house, and despite saying he was busy, Kuzon was idle.

    It was probably because of this that Ana felt his gaze strongly concentrated on her.

    "Urgh! Will you stop staring?" She couldn''t take it any longer.

    "Hm? Did I do something wrong?"

    "Yeah! It''s difficult to concentrate when you keep looking at me!"

    "Well, why didn''t you go to your room then? That way, you won''t feel my stare or anything..."

    Ana bit her lip.

    Kuzon raised a valid point. Why didn''t she thought of that before now?

    "Alright then. I''m off."

    "Wait."

    Ana paused and stared at the golden haired boy.

    For some reason, his expression didn''t seem as cold as it was back when he was conversing with Jared and everyone else. There was something in his eyes that sucked her in, but Ana fought any form of feelings she had toward him.

    "You don''t... have to go." He spoke calmly.

    "What was that?" Her voice was raised, and despite being of a much smaller build, Ana seemed domineering at this point.

    "I said, you can stay if you want." Kuzon sighed, resting back on the sofa he made.

    "And why would I do that?"

    "Because I asked?"

    One raised brow from Ana told Kuzon that his assertion wasn''t even nearly enough to make her stay.

    "Fine. I won''t stare again. You can do what you like."

    Ana stared at him with suspicion, and after a brief moment of internal debate, she decided to remain in the parlor.

    "Hmph!" Now returning to her fiddling, Ana''s pout remained on her face.

    "At least you''re not ignoring me anymore..." With that whisper, Kuzon closed his eyes and decided to simply use his perception to observe the girl.

    ''... How cute.''

 Chapter 559 Kuzon And Ana [Pt 1]

    "Are you just going to keepzing around there?"

    At this point, Ana couldn''t take it anymore.

    She was bored with fiddling with her tool, and while there were a bunch of other things she could do, the Loli found it hard to ignore the boy in front of her.

    "I''m notzing around," Kuzon replied, now gazing at her.

    "S-sure, you aren''t..." She found herself stuttering, unable to keep up with his handsome features.

    Upon seeing this, Kuzon smiled.

    "What''s that grin on your face for?".

    "Nothing."

    "You sure?"

    "Yeah..."

    "Hmmm..." Ana felt weird vibes from Kuzon.

    To be honest, he wasn''t much different from the guy she knew.

    They hung out and talked a lot, just like this. Of course, Kuzon never really talked much about himself and Ana carried most of the conversation.

    Still, why did he seem so much like the Kuzon of the past now than he did during their first meeting?

    "Alright, spill." Ana sighed, deciding to finally have a conversation with the boy.

    ''He might be a jerk, but I''m not.''

    She was used to having male friends, like Edward, who would try to hide things from her. She could tell from Kuzon''s face that he was hiding a great deal.

    The golden haired boy gave a slightly surprised expression at her statement.

    "I''ve not forgiven you for leaving me yet, but..." Her eyes met with his¡ªclear blue with golden¡ªand she heaved a sigh.

    "... I guess I''ll listen to you for a moment."

    Kuzon broke into a smile instantly.

    "You really haven''t changed at all."

    "H-hey! I''ve grown in a lot of ways, you know?"

    "Yeah, I know." He narrowed his eyes and widened his smile.

    This caused Ana to shiver since it almost felt like Kuzon was ogling her body.

    ? "J-just say something already! This is a limited edition coupon. It won''tst forever, you know?"

    "Ah, really now?"

    Ana closed her eyes and nodded with a false sense of superiority.

    "Yup! I''m just taking a break."

    "Interesting..."

    "What''s interesting about that?"

    "Nothing."

    "Urgh! You really..."  Ana''s re was slowly returning.

    She began to reconsider talking to Kuzon. It wasn''t a very good idea, to begin with.

    "I guess I''ll just return to¡ª"

    "How have you been?" Kuzon''s voice gently came forth.

    His eyes showed sincerity, and a warm smile permeated his face.

    Ana found herself melting as she witnessed this.

    "W-wha¡ª?"

    "After I left... how have you been? You''ve grown into a fine young woman. A lot must have happened, right? You even killed a Demon Lord, and I''ve been hearing good stuff about your work. So... how are you?"

    To be frank, Ana never expected that question... especially from Kuzon.

    But, his gaze didn''t seem to have any hidden intentions behind them. It was the opposite, actually.

    It was almost like he truly, genuinely cared about how she felt.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''I won''t get deceived by you a second time!'' Ana shut her heart and hardened her face.

    "I was... fine." Her response was short.

    "Hmm, I see." Kuzon''s response was sullen, his face disying slight disappointment.

    "And you? How have you been since you left?" Ana returned the question to him.

    To be fair, she knew nothing about him. As much as she didn''t like Kuzon¡ªor tried not to¡ªit was difficult trying to eliminate her curiosity.

    "Busy. I was busy."

    "Yeah? You don''t seem so busy now. We''ve been waiting here without doing anything tangible." Ana gave Kuzon a suspicious eye.

    "Well, that''s because I was waiting for something."

    "And what''s that?"

    "For you to talk to me."

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Ana''s face turned pink instantly, and she was unable to hide her flustered, jumbled feelings.

    The fact that Kuzon''s expression was calm made Ana feel much worse.

    "It would be too boring if were to journey together, and there''s nothing to talk about."

    "Is that so?" Her face instantly fell.

    "Yeah."

    Silence pervaded the area, and both of them engaged in a brief staring contest.

    The first to look away was, of course, Ana.

    "And? Now that I''m talking to you... are you satisfied?"

    "Not really. You seem upset at me for some reason. What did I do to you?"

    "You mean, other than abandoning me for such a long time without maintaining contact?"

    "Y-yeah... other than that..." Kuzon''s face slightly scrunched up.

    For the first time, he appeared flustered as well.

    "Well, let''s see..." Ana began listing his offenses.

    "You called me dead weight. You sent the wrong signals by giving me a mere customary greeting in form of a kiss. Worst of all, you act all innocent and make it very difficult to dislike you!"

    "Wait, how is thest one a bad thing? I''m just being myself."

    "Well, yourself sucks!"

    "Wow, you''re really mean."

    "See what I''m talking about? How am I the bad guy here? You''re the one who kissed a girl and left for that long period without saying anything, then you show up and kiss that same girl again. You whisk her away to your lovely home and suddenly expect that she bes your chatting buddy."

    Kuzon was silent throughout Ana''s venting. Patiently listening to her, his gaze never left for a single moment.

    He didn''t even blink.

    "... And that''s why I''m mad at you." Ana took in a deep breath after she was doneining.

    She deted on the golden sofa and sighed.

    "I see. Can I ask something first before answering yourints?"

    "What is it?"

    "Are you mad at Jared too? Or, rather... what do you think about him?"

    "What does that matter to you?"

    "It''s just a harmless question." Kuzon strained a smile.

    Just how much did Ana not trust him?

    "Yeah, I''m mad at Jared... probably even more than I am at you. I initially thought he was just a dense idiot, but it turns out... well, it doesn''t matter now."

    This wasn''t just childish rage. Ana''s face disyed absolute seriousness.

    Both men had wronged her, and she was sick of it.

 Chapter 560 Kuzon And Ana [Pt 2]

    "He found it easy to give me away, probably because he felt it would be easier to have me fall for you than for him to muster the courage to tell me the truth... that he doesn''t have feelings for me."

    Kuzon''s eyes widened slightly upon hearing thatst part.

    "Ah..."

    "I mean, that''s just pathetic, isn''t it? For someone who has done an outstanding job so far, he''s just such a letdown!"

    "... I see."

    "Yeah. Despite my dissatisfactions, though, I have to admit... he is truly something else. I know you''re strong Kuzon, and I know you beat him, but... Jared has done so much¡ªand is still doing so much for the world."

    From the event of Ainrk Academy, to the War, and now the Nether Cult, Jared''s acts were for the world as a whole.

    Kuzon understood this very much.

    Unlike him, who was simply acting on his own selfish impulses, Jared''s ns were far more epassing.

    "And for that, I respect him... even though he still pisses me off!" Ana gritted her teeth once more.

    "You''re a kind girl."

    "Where is thating from?" Ana barked, ring at Kuzon.

    "Rx. That''s meant to be apliment, right?"

    "Yeah? Well, it doesn''t feel much like one,ing from you."

    "I figured..." Kuzon murmured.

    Another moment of silence greeted the two and Kuzon decided to stand from his sofa.

    He walked toward Ana and squatted so they could at least be on the same level in terms of height.

    This embarrassed the girl slightly, causing her face to turn beet red once more.

    ''I didn''t ask to be like this, you know?'' She covered her reddened as those thoughts swirled in her head.

    "I''m sorry."

    Upon hearing those words, Ana''s hand slowly dropped her face, revealing a surprised expression from the girl.

    "E-eh?"

    "I said... I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have left you abruptly. I also shouldn''t have called you dead weight. As for the kiss... it''s not what you think."

    "What?"

    "It''s true that the kiss is something simr to a farewell or greeting¡ªused especially when you won''t be meeting in a long while..." Kuzon''s face softened a bit while speaking.

    "... But it''s exchanged between close friends and family. I obviously considered you special when I kissed you."

    Ana''s memory shed to both events when their lips touched, and her cheeks turned red once again.

    "I didn''t mean to give the wrong impression, though. That was my bad."

    "So, which is it?"

    "Hm? What do you mean?"

    "Which do you consider me as? Friend or family?"

    For the first time, Kuzon''s cheeks, especially his ears, turned pink. It was hardly noticeable, though, and it only appeared for a moment.

    "A friend, obviously. I consider you my friend, Ana."

    "I see. Thank you for being honest with me, at the very least." Ana smiled at the golden haired boy.

    "Well, thanks for being honest with me too." Their smiles greeted each other, and for a moment, all either of them could notice was the other''s face.

    "So, am I forgiven?"

    "Nope."

    "Dang it."

    Both of them instantly burst intoughter, and they found their hearts leaping. It was a strange feeling for Ana, seeing as she hadn''t felt this way in a while.

    For Kuzon, it was a pleasant emotion that he could only feel around Ana.

    ''This is why I need you by my side...'' He keptughing with the girl.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He adored her tiny frame and found himself unable to look away.

    Her t chest, her tint body, her adorable sses, everything about her made him happy for some reason.

    Most of all, her expressions.

    Unlike him, she couldn''t keep herposure and would often move from being annoyed, to bashful, to happy.

    These fluctuations in emotions and expressions¡ªAna''s reactions¡ªalways amazed him.

    ''I like this girl.'' He smiled.

    Kuzon gulped slightly and found his hands moving on their own.

    Before he could stop himself, his hand reached the top of Ana''s hair and he stroked them.

    ''I''ve always wanted to do this!'' With his missionplete, Kuzonughed even more.

    Unfortunately, he found out it was only his voice that echoed across the vast room.

    "What are you doing?" A voice rang out.

    Kuzon''s body shivered a bit, but, of course, he maintained hisposure.

    "This is another custom among my people..."

    It was a lie, of course.

    Kuzon couldn''t simply tell Ana he had a thing for short girls like her¡ªespecially patting their heads.

    That would be... weird.

    "Is that so...?" Ana''s voice didn''t indicate any form of understanding.

    In fact, she was actually giving a very deep re that made Kuzon immediately retract his hand.

    ''I got carried away!'' He thought to himself in worry.

    What had he done? If he offended Ana, she wouldn''t talk to him again.

    Inasmuch as watching her sulk was a pleasure all on its own, Kuzon liked it more when they talked.

    That way, he had ess to way more reactions.

    "... I see you have chosen death."

    Kuzon found it funny that Ana was threatening him with something like that, but he was yet to realize... that there was a lot more to the concept than he realized.

    "A-arh!"

    A kick to his groin was enough for that reality to set in.

    His body swayed backward, recoiling from the shock of having his milkshake maker squashed by a girl''s legs.

    Pain and pleasure courses through his body¡ªmostly pain though.

    "Haa... haaa..." He made small sounds as he fell to the ground.

    "Don''t you ever pat my head. I''m not a child, you know? I''m. Not. A. Child!"

    "D-duly... noted..." Kuzon managed to leak out as his body shuddered.

    "Hmph!"

    The young Midas once again got to see another of Annabelle''s expression, for which he was plenty grateful.

    Unfortunately for him, his body was still limating to the sensation he was feeling.

    ''This girl...'' He smiled as Ana''s face magnified in his blurry vision.

    However, before he couldplete his thought, Kuzon felt something approach the Magic House¡ªsomething very dangerous.

    "Ana, look out!"

    His words were a little toote, though.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!<

 Chapter 561 Beruels Assault

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Devastation spread across the area, tearing down the monolith Kuzon had made.

    As the house was engulfed in a sea of bright energy, the only two inhabitants of the house were locked in an embrace.

    Kuzon held Ana rightly to his chest, feeling her little body cling to his.

    "What are you doing?" Ana asked.

    Her face was red again.

    She was embarrassed, to say the least, about being handled like a little kid.

    ''I can''t count how many times he has carried me so easily. Not fair...''

    But, it wasn''t time to be concerned about that, was it? An enemy attack just came in, so Ana had to save the matter for another moment.

    "Looks like he finally came..." Kuzon smiled, releasing his dense golden Mana.

    >FWOOOOSSHHH<

    The smoke and destruction that ravaged the environment cleared instantly, leaving only trails of the explosion.

    With everyone in their line of sight gone, the enemy''s appearance was right in front of them.

    "Who is that?" Ana asked with slight surprise, still wondering when Kuzon was going to put her down.

    Fortunately, the young Midas wasn''t dense, so he did so without wasting too much time.

    "He''s a Fairy. One of the higher-ranked members of the Cult..." Kuzon smiled, staring at the enraged face of the Fairy King hovering above him.

    "....Well, his clone, that is."

    Kuzon had enough experience to tell that the opponent before him was simply another Automaton or remotely controlled Golem.

    The only problem was that he couldn''t hack into the signal that the owner was emitting to control it.

    ''Then I guess it''s an Automaton... hmmm...'' Kuzon nced at Ana and saw that she was fine.

    Was he being too doting? Should he not overdo things? The boy''s thoughts wandered, but it soon converged at a single conclusion.

    ''Beruel came at the wrong time. Ana and I were talking...''

    Though a smile was on his face, Kuzon was actually quite angry at the Fairy King.

    But, unlike the young Midas''s slight dissatisfaction, the opponent was raging in fury.

    "You... you killed my subordinate!" His wings glimmered with multiple colors as his regal outfit swayed with the wind.

    A staff hovered in the air, and he seemed ready for business.

    "Ah, which one was it? The Fairy that was the weakest out of your little group? What can I say?"

    "This bastard... you''ll die in the most miserable way."

    "That guy''s death wasn''t satisfying in the very least. It was just boring. Want to know why?" Kuzon stepped forward, and as he did so, golden strings swirled around him.

    "It''s because he was weak. Let''s hope you don''t fall short of my expectations."

    The Fairy King didn''t waste any more time as he instantly lunged for Kuzon.

    His speed was insane, and the fact that he oozed bloodlust would make anyone''s skin shiver.

    However¡ª

    "Predictable..." Kuzon murmured.

    Instantly, his strings formed the appropriate model to handle the iing Fairy.

    Like threads weaving into one another, his strings could form whatever Kuzon desired¡ªas long as he knew their concepts or structure.

    Their durability also depended on the Mana he poured into them.

    Of course, as a Royal, Kuzon did not like exerting more force than necessary. By reading his opponent, he knew just what level of power to use.

    Which was why he didn''t bother to utilize [The Emperor] or Xenia, his familiar.

    He looked at his ring and bracelet. They were both treasures that housed different abilities, but he wasn''t really using them at the moment.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "DIEEEEEEE!!!" Beruel used hisnce to pierce through Kuzon''s threads and kept his charge.

    "No, thanks."

    The golden strings instantly weaved back to existence, and several of them charged at Beruel.

    "Out of my way!" Instantly, another st burst from the Fairy King.

    It devastated the environment, sending shockwaves for miles.

    Once the golden threads were utterly decimated, Kuzon now seemed in sight and Beruel went for the kill.

    However¡ª

    "U-uh...?!''

    ¡ªHe was stopped mid-air.

    "Everyone always falls for the same trick. You get so carried away with the threads you can see that you forget the ones you can''t."

    With his hands in his pocket, Kuzon floated until he reached Beruel''s location in midair.

    "You know... my Original Magic is called [Marite] for a reason."

    Yes, Kuzon could use threads for most of hisbat, and he could even coat himself in it for enhancements.

    However, his strings had other uses.

    "I can easily control your body however I like, like a puppet through a string."

    All he had to do was to link his Mana with his opponents, using the strings as a conduit.

    Once that happened, he would force Resonance and allow himself to take charge of the opponent''s body.

    "Keukk!"

    "Do you get it? I''m currently in control of this body..."

    The boy''s grin widened as he whispered into the Fairy King''s ear.

    "... Just like I was in control of your subordinate. You know, it was fun seeing him peel out his own wings and killing himself in the most gruesome way possible."

    There was no form of remorse in Kuzon''s voice... just pure sadism.

    "You bastaaaarrrrddd!!!" Despite everything, the Fairy King did not move.

    Rather, he couldn''t.

    But¡ª

    "Kuzon, watch out!"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    ¡ªThe forgottennce that Beruel wielded came out of nowhere and pierced Kuzon from behind.

    >SPLOOOOSHH<

    Instantly, blood poured out of the young Midas, causing him to open his mouth in shock.

    "KUZOOOONNNN!!!" Ana screamed, but suddenly felt someone tap her on her shoulder.

    "Rx. That''s not me."

    Beside her emerged Kuzon, the real one¡ªor was it?

    "K-Kuzon? But... wait a sec..." Ana closely observed the one that was hit, but it turned out to be another one of Kuzon''s constructs.

    "Bastard!" Fairy King Beruel growled.

    "Well, ytime is over. I''ll being to visit you soon." The golden haired boy shrugged, ready to end things.

    "You think you''ll ever reach me? You''re strong, I admit... but you won''t be able to crack through everything and reach my location."

    In response to that statement, the boy remained silent.

    Beruel was right, after all.

 Chapter 562 Kuzons Plan

    "Haha, so you realized, didn''t you?" Kuzon finally spoke, after a few seconds of silence.

    "What kind of fool do you take me for?"

    "...."

    The young man snickered, not saying anything more.

    "You won''t find me! Not in a thousand years! I''ll keep haunting and hunting you until you pay for what you did."

    "By sending those weaklings? Keep joking."

    "Tch. If not for my responsibilities to the Cult..." Beruel growled.

    "Excuses."

    "Yeah? Well why don''t we see about that when I''m done!"

    "I don''t need to wait that long."

    The Fairy King, though suspended in midair, sneered at Kuzon and Ana, as though forgetting who the person tied up was.

    "You won''t be able to do it."

    "Yeah... I know I can''t. I''ve tried, and with my skillset, it''s impossible. But..." Kuzon nced beside him and spotted Anabelle''s innocent expression.

    Quickly carrying and raising her, Kuzon presented his trump card to the Fairy King.

    "I have someone who can."

    "W-what are you doing? P-put me down!!!" Ana screamed, struggling to break free from Kuzon''s hold.

    She wanted to cry of embarrassment as she struggled in his grip.

    "Together, we''re going to beat you!"

    "I see... so you too are a couple." Beruel''s voice was low, containing a different kind of menacing feel.

    "Yeah, sure. Got a problem with that?" At this point, Kuzon put Ana down and smiled coolly at the obviously agreived Fairy King.

    "You idiot! Idiot! Don''t carry me like that next time!" Ana beat Kuzon with both her hands, but her assault did nil damage.

    In fact, the young Midas was simply intrigued by Ana''s struggles that he was tempted to tease her even more.

    "Couples... all couples must dieeeeee!!!" Beruel''s voice peaked, and his body began shimmering.

    "Ah, he''s going to self-destruct."

    "Eh?" Ana looked at the glowing Fairy King''s body.

    "I-is that alright?"

    "Yeah. It''s fine. My strings already invaded his body, and I got what I wanted." In a sh of golden lightning, a device appeared in front of Kuzon.

    It looked like a mechanical construct, norger than a thumb.

    "What of the explo¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM<

    Once again, with even greater fervor and destruction, Fairy King Beruel altered thendscape.

    ********************

    "Are you okay?" At this point, Kuzon drew closer to the girl who was seated on one of his constructs.

    It hadn''t taken long for Kuzon to rebuild therge mansion that was destroyed, and even when he did so, his eyes remained on Ana.

    Once it wasplete, the boy returned to his dear friend.

    "What did you mean when you told Beruel we would defeat him together?"

    "Ah, down to business already?"

    Ana red at Kuzon, causing thetter to apologize immediately.

    "Okay, so... where do I begin?" Kuzon copsed on the sofa, directly beside Ana.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "W-why don''t you find somewhere else to seat?"

    "Really? Why? Are you ufortable?"

    "No... it''s not that..." Ana fidgeted on her seat.

    ''So cute!'' Kuzon grinned internally enjoying every moment of the tease.

    "Then I''m staying here." Spreading his hand all across the sofa, he made himselffortable.

    "D-do what you like! Like I care! Just tell me what you were talking about back then."

    "Ah, well remember when you said I have been doing nothing ever since we''ve been together?"

    "Yeah. Cus that is the truth."

    "Well, I was actually cracking this code from Beruel''s Clone¡ªthe one he sent after your group." Kuzon brought out a chip.

    It looked simr to the other thing hr brought out of the clone that attacked then not too long ago.

    "Can I see?"

    Kuzon gave the chip to Ana and continued exining.

    "I''m good at many things, but not mechanics. I tried using Magic to do it, using all the Spells I could, but none are working.."

    His goal was to use the chip to backtrack it''s location until he arrived at the source¡ªFairy King Beruel himself.

    "If the thing had self-destructed when Jared was with it, the chip would have also been obliterated. That''s why I intervened and got it in time, destroying the rest of his body."

    "I see..." Ana was distracted by the chip, though she still listened to Kuzon attentively.

    "So, as I struggled to backtrack the chip, I knew Beruel would make another move. It was only a matter of time, so I decided to wait until he did so."

    "Hold on... I thought you said you were waiting for me to speak to you before making a move."

    "Well, there''s that factor too. As much as I like yourpany, I wouldn''t have brought you with me if you''re not going to be useful.

    "Hey!" At this point, Ana''s re was evident.

    If Kuzon didn''t vindicate himself fast, then...

    "Come on, don''t look at me like that. Shouldn''t you be happy? I don''t consider you a burden, after all."

    "Uh?" Ana looked at him with a changed expression of surprise.

    "I actually need your help. That''s what I mean. Now that I''ve gotten another chip from the enemy, that makes two parts. With this, the chances of sess should increase."

    "Hold on, what exactly do you want me to do?" Ana stared at the smiling boy.

    "Help me find Beruel... the real one."

    For a moment, no one spoke.

    They both looked at each other¡ªKuzon smiling, and Ana dazed.

    As much as she disliked being used by people, Ana couldn''t help but feel some degree of pride and inexplicable joy rising from her small chest.

    It was almost like the time when Jared told her to work on the Demon-Obliterating device with Maro, Aloe, and Neron.

    However, this time it was different.

    "Are you sure you need only me? You''ll have better chances with a group." Ana said in a low tone.

    ? "I''m sure. No other genius could have defeated Lydia of nc, and definitely not with half-assed tech."

    Ana blushed a little.

    "I''ve also been observing your clothes... down to your underwear."

    A wave of shock enveloped the room, and Ana''s face gree red the moment she realized what the big had just said.

    "KUZOOOONNNN!!!"

 Chapter 563 The Cult Moves

    "Kuzon!" Ana covered herself with her hands while gaping in shock.

    "Don''t worry, I didn''t go beyond that. I promise. Besides, you know hiding your body with another part of your body is pointless, right? I can just choose to see through everything." The boy''s eyes glowed golden as he grinned widely.

    "You pervert!" Ana once again hit him desperately with her hands.

    ''Nailed it!'' The boy thought to himself.

    "But, on a serious note... I''ve observed your outfit, and J know you designed them yourself. They''re brimming with technology and pin-point uracy."

    Ana stopped her pointless hitting and sighed while nodding.

    It seemed Kuzon was right.

    "I don''t know about other things, but I don''t think anyone is more fit for handling such delicate technology. Besides, I trust you, Ana." Kuzon drew closer to the girl''s face.

    A bead of sweat formed on her face, but Ana could feel her heart beat in exhration.

    She was currently breaking into new grounds in her secret research, but this was the kind of opportunity she was waiting for.

    The kind of recognition she desired.

    Ana didn''t know how to feel about Kuzon, but he was certainly sincere about needing her help.

    It made her happy for some reason.

    "Let''s work together to defeat this guy." He gave a thumbs up with determination swirling in his eyes.

    Ana could not help but feel the same.

    "Y-yeah! Let''s do it!"

    ********************

    "Looks like they''ve gotten one of the Arcanas already." A female voice sounded in the dark room.

    Within it, there were only two people.

    One was the supreme leader of the Nether Cult, and his right hand woman.

    Though they were the only ones physically present, the other members were connected through Magic Communication.

    In essence, it was virtual.

    "I''m sorry about that. I guess they got it right under my nose." The person who spoke was none other than the current 7th Seat, Reed Sterling.

    Jared and his team caught him unawares and retrieved an Arcana before he could. This could be considered an epic failure in the eyes of the Cult.

    "Rectify your errors." The Cult Leader spoke, causing his influence to resonate deep into Sterling''s heart.

    "G-got it!"

    "So? Has anyone had any luck on their ends?" The Cult Leader spoke to everybody else.

    "No."

    "Nope."

    "Not here too."

    "Not at all."

    "I''m afraid not."

    "No, sorry."

    "Negative."

    Their unsatisfactory responses.csused the usually calm Cult Leader to give into impatience.

    His fingers cked in the table in front of him, and he didn''t seem all too pleased.

    "It''s not our fault, though. Wouldn''t you use your irvoyance to help make the search easier? It''s not exactly a piece of cake to find Dungeons." Kido''s voice rang out.

    It sounded rude, but no doubt it was what everyone was also thinking.

    "Yeah. Kido has a point. We usually operate with your irvoyance guiding us."

    "Ohh? Karlia, you finally agree with something I say? I''m ttered. Does that mean you''ve changed your mind about... that?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Shut up." Karlia''s voice snapped.

    "That''s enough." The Cult Leader sighed.

    As hemanded, there was decorum in the meeting.

    For a few moments, nothing but silence echoed throughout. One would think their host had gone off to sleep.

    However, as suddenly as he fell silent, he finally spoke.

    "We can''t rely irvoyance currently. There are several distortions in the world currently. It makes it hard for irvoyance to work in certain ces..."

    "Distortions? But your irvoyance is absolute. What distortion could¡ª"

    "It''s most likely the work of Jared Leonard, the Singrity. We should have killed him when we had the chance..." The tone of the Cult Leader was directed toward one person¡ªat least, that was implied.

    "Yeah, it''s my bad. Once again, I apologize. Haha." Legris Damien''s voice rang out.

    "In any case, he''s most likely using technology to distort the environment, making it difficult to use irvoyance. Usually, even Magic wouldn''t be enough to stop me, but it seems he''s using something else..."

    That was indeed a very worrisome predicament.

    "Couldn''t we consider that the ces that have been distorted are where the Arcanas are located?" A voice rang out.

    It belonged to Stefan Netherlore, the youngest in the group.

    "No. That can''t be. It''s most likely a trap... a misdirection." The Cult Leader''s voice echoed.

    "Besides, there are over a hundred distorted locations. I''m sure he''d rather we waste our time thoroughly searching them than looking for the actual ces."

    "No, wait a minute. I agree with Stefan''s logic." Legris Damien spoke up.

    A wave of silence greeted his interruption.

    Everyone knew the Cult Leader was always right.

    He had never been wrong about anything, and that was what made the organization function so seamlessly.

    For the 6th Seat to challenge that, then...

    "What do you mean, Legris?" The Nether Cult Leader asked calmly.

    "Well, Jared has been known to evade us multiple times because he usually does the unexpected. From misdirection to surprising innovations, he manages to surprise us because he doesn''t operate in the way you''d expect." Legris began.

    As someone who had the most experience dealing with Jared, Legris'' words carried weight.

    After all, even he had lost to the kid.

    "So, you''re implying that since it''s illogical that the Arcanas would actually be in those distorted ces, then we should check them to be sure?"

    "Exactly. I believe Stefan brought that up because he knows Jared well too."

    "I see... you make good points. Apologies for shooting down your suggestion, Stefan."

    "A-ah, it''s nothing." Stefan''s voice sounded slightly flustered, but the boy did not break hisposure.

    "Alright. I''ll share the locations of the distorted areas with some of our members. Vaizer. Legris. Stefan. Reed. The four of you will be in charge of investigating those areas."

    The members who were called out all responded affirmatively.

    "The rest of you, keep looking. Kido. Karlia. Beruel. I''m counting on you. Also be avable at any given time. You could be assigned to the distorted zones if they turn out to be genuine."

    Once again, affirmative responses rang out.

    "Very well, then. This concludes the meeting."

    **********

    [A/N]

    Apologies for the many errors recently.

    I haven''t had much time to edit them since I''m busy with a lot of things at the moment.

    Thanks for understanding.

 Chapter 564 The Dark Desert

    "Where are we?"

    I looked beside me and watched as Ana looked all around us.

    There was nothing to be seen for miles except sand.

    The sand, however, was ck. ck grains of sand were trampled upon by our feet, and the spread out for miles.

    "This is the Dark Desert. It''s a vast body filled with nothing but ck sand. It is said that this entire ce used to be the territory of a nation before they gave themselves to Dark Magic and became ruined as a result." I smiled.

    Looking at how there was nothing to be seen but darkness, the story seemed even more usible.

    The sun was hardly shining, and dark clouds spread for miles.

    It appeared to be early evening despite me being certain that were in in the daytime.

    "Oh? I''ve never heard of that story before." Maria''s voice sounded beside me.

    I nced in her direction and spotted a confused expression.

    ''Well, Maria was taught so many things about the Eastern Kingdom. If there is such a story marking a historical monument, she is expected to know about it. But, I''m not surprised that she isn''t aware of this ce...''

    "Well, were currently not in the Eastern Kingdom. This is the Southern Continent, you know?"

    "A-ah, the South?" She seemed even more surprised.

    "Yeah. Arcanas aren''t concentrated in the Eastern Kingdom, you know? They''re all over the world. I''m pretty sure one of the groups will have to go underwater to get an Arcana."

    "What? For real?".

    "Yeah. I don''t know their exact locations, but afterpiling all my life''s research and also using Automatons to scour the areas, I''ve reached a reasonable conclusion."

    Even if I couldn''t get the exact ce, I could map out the surroundings. Afterward, all we had to do was find the ce.

    ording to this particr Arcana, several stories and tales have spoken about it. How;

    ''In the darkest of days and ckest of nights, the sands of time possess no light. Thick clouds block the way, and it appears to be and of the depraved.''

    Cross-referencing several other stories that indicated an absence of lofe and a sea of darkness, I managed to link everything together and arrived at the Dark Desert.

    "It matches all the descriptions, although some of them were exaggerated..." I sighed.

    Stories, though considered silly, were the hallmark of realities.

    It wasn''t easy sorting through everything, but since I was dedicated to finding out more, I looked for the everything¡ªeven the seemingly irrelevant ones.

    ''Looks like it paid off.''

    Still, though...

    "... Where exactly do we start from?"

    There was only one way to find out.

    "I''m going up." With that, I floated above and began getting a better view of the Desert.

    It was truly arge expanse of nothing but ck sand.

    I could see no semnce of life, and the entire ce simply looked eerie

    ''Where could the Arcana be?''

    I doubted it would be so easy to get aw-bending artifact, but I was truly hoping to easily get one.

    "I guess we have to try this one out." I brought out a card from my pocket.

    It was, of course, the [Strength] Arcana.

    ''I''ve still not mastered its use, but its also resonating with this ce... I must be in the right area.

    The [Strength] card glowed golden, and it started beeping.

    I couldn''t initially understand it until a slow realization dawned on me.

    I sharply descended, rendezvousing with Maria, who was waiting patiently.

    "Sorry for taking too long."

    "It''s fine." Her voice was calm, as usual.

    Her expression didn''t also show that she harbored any offense¡ªthough I had already learned it a long time ago not to trust what kind of reaction Maria made.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "So, did you get any clues?"

    In response to her question, I nearly shoved the [Strength] Arcana in her face.

    "This one is resonating with the Arcana that is here. If I can resonate with it, I should be able to find out where the new Arcana is."

    "Ohh..." In response to my words, Maria nodded, ready for what woulde.

    "Here I go!"

    Closing my eyes, I Resonated my Primary Core¡ªwhich had be a Fused Core¡ªand connected with the Card.

    I got a faint trace, but it wasn''t enough... not nearly!

    ''I need more.... more.'' Twitching my eyes, I began connecting more of my Cores¡ªboth Mana and Miasma.

    Fortunately, the [Strength] Arcana did not refuse either.

    The more Cores I resonated, the more I was able to get a clear image.

    ''A-h...?!''

    In my head, I saw brightness.

    It was a sharp contrast to the desert I was currently in, and I found myself enveloped with absolute light.

    ''... This is¡ª?!''

    I remembered at that moment... that there were to sides to the story if the Arcana.

    While an aspect talked about the darkness surrounding the object, another side referred to another essential factor.

    ''At the end of the darkness, there is light. Journey to the very depths of despondency and see hope. Walk through the valley of shadows and fear no evil. The good that purges evil. The purity of everything... search and find it.''

    I could finally understand why.

    Right before my mind''s eye, I could see just what the story meant.

    ''I-it''s so beautiful...''

    With a smile in my face and an inexplicable feeling in my heart, I found the ce.

    And then¡ª

    "Haa... haa..."

    ¡ªThe Resonance was cut off.

    "... That sure took a lot out of me." I murmured, feeling very drained.

    The [Strength] Arcana required synchronizing with its user to function, but it took a lot of my energy, if I was being honest.

    Still, it was worth it!

    "Did you find it?" Maria''s question snapped me away from my momentary delirious state.

    "Y-yeah. I''ve not exactly found it, but I know where it is..."

    "Where?"

    "You''ll see." I smiled.

    My mind wondered what Maria would think once we got there.

    "So... how do we reach the ce?"

    I was sure she¡ªno, pretty much anyone¡ªwould find it hard to believe what I was about to say.

    However, it was the truth.

    "It''s located underground, deeper than you can imagine."

    "Eh?" I heard her voice squeak.

    "Yeah..." Pumping my Mana, I readied myself to begin work.

    "... Let''s dig!"

 Chapter 565 The Cathedral [Pt 1]

    >BOOOOMMM!!!<

    A wave of ck sand burst in several directions as I unleashed my Mana.

    The ground shrunk, heaps of the sooty material scattering across the area. Still, I saw nothing but more sand underneath.

    "Guess we''ll keep digging... and quickly." I smiled at Maria.

    My partner nodded at me with determined eyes, even though her face remained stoic.

    She undted her Mana too, sending a different feel into the air.

    The both of us began using our respective energies to st away the sand until we created a massive crater in the middle of the desert.

    It took us very long to reach the very bottom.

    At this point, a sheer amount of sand had already covered us from the top, but thanks to Maria''s Mana field, we weren''t buried by their overwhelming quantity.

    ''I''ve lost count of how long we''ve been digging... and how deep we are.'' My mind echoed as we were surrounded darkness.

    It was enough to make me doubt whether I truly had the right idea of where I was going. However, the moment I had those thoghts, I realized that we were most likely on our way to the exact location.

    With Maria''s Mana Field providing illumination, and our constant st of Mana sparking in the ckened ground, we kept pushing.

    Until... finally...!!!

    "T-this is¡ª!"

    As we dug further, a bright light¡ªlike a precious gem¡ªglowed and nearly blinded me.

    The sound Maria gave told me it was most likely the same for her.

    "We''re probably there already! Let''s push forward!" I told Maria, and she nodded.

    With one final push, me and her burst through the remaining ck sand in our path.

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<

    More of the gleaming white light greeted us, and it was almost as though we were shrouded in diamonds.

    "A-ah, so this is what they mean...'' I reached out my hand for the light, and I spotted my partner do the same thing.

    ''... When they say there''s light at the end of the tunnel.'' With  broad smile, I felt the warmness of the light, and for a moment, my entire body was consumed by it.

    Everything went nk afterwards.

    **************

    "¡ªred!"

    I turned, a bit drowsy for some reason.

    "Ja¡ª!"

    Someone kept shouting something in the background, but it really wasn''t my concern. I simply wanted to rx.

    "Jared!!!" Apanying the voice was a stinging sensation to my face.

    "A-ah!?!" I sharply rose from whatever position I was in, invigorated by the p on my cheek.

    My eyes scoured the area for the culprit, and I could only find one person.

    "M-Maria...?" My eyes widened as I looked at her.

    She was standing right in front of me, looking rather nervous or ufortable.

    Her skin was as lovely as usual, and their pale glow was especially entuated in the glow of the surroundings.

    However, what made her stand out the most was...

    "What are you wearing?"

    ... The unique outfit she had on.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Maria was currently in a pure white gown, having a very loveable design and it also stretched back for a long distance.

    There was an unveiiled fabric handing on her face, and a crown was locked in her hair.

    She wore lovely jewelries and looked magnificent, but... I couldn''t exin why I felt ufortable.

    "I don''t know. I woke up like this a few moments ago. Besides, you''re dressed a bit strangely too."

    "Eh?" I looked at my outfit and realized that I was in some form of tuxedo.

    The suit was exquisitely made, no doubt, but it was too fancy for me. Plus, the design on my outfit matched the one Maria had on.

    Instinctively, I looked around, and J was met with yet another shocker.

    ''What... is this...?''

    It appeared we were in apletely different ce than I expected.

    I could see a veryrge hall in front of me, with pews nearly arranged in two sides¡ªright and left respectively, with a broad walkway separating them at the center.

    The red carpet was amazing, and I looked at the beautiful floor designs as well.

    The ceiling and walls were pure white, as though made of marbles, and I saw strange murals all over them.

    The windows and everything were all luxurious.

    It was an amazing sight.

    ''But where is this ce? Why are we dressed like this? Also... what''s with this setting?''

    Maria and I were currently on the altar of the hall, and I had no idea why she was hoding flowers as well.

    ''Hold on, were those flowers there a few seconds ago?'' As my mind wondered, I felt a presence suddenly appear in the room.

    Maria''s facial expression also changed, telling me I wasn''t the only one who felt it.

    "We gather here to witness and celebrate the union between Jared Leonard and Maria Helmsworth."

    The voice came from in front of us, so I instantly nced in the direction.

    In front of us was a man, exquisitely dressed.

    He was covered in white linen, having gold jeweleries all over him, as well as certain designs of rubies and precious stones around him.

    He had an aged look, but a youthful smile remained stered on his face.

    "Shall we begin with the vows?" He added, his eyes closed behind his sses as his lips parted.

    ''Who is this person? I didn''t sense him before. Where did hee from?''

    As if that wasn''t enough, I felt seevral presences suddenly pop up all around the room.

    ''What is this?!'' My mind rang as I looked all around.

    The pews were filled to the brim with people. They were all seated, and the glows in their eyes¡ªsmiles on their faces too¡ªshowed they were excited to witness this scene.

    ''What? These are¡ª!''

    I could see several people that I knew... both from my past life and current reality.

    People who were meant to be dead, and those who were still alive.

    I saw Karlia, Emilia, Gerard, Ford, Dom, Ralphael...

    ... And then¡ª

    ''They''re here too?!''

    ¡ªI saw two people seated at the back.

 Chapter 566 The Cathedral [Pt 2]

    I saw two people from my past that shaped my life in the most bizarre and peculiar way.

    ? ''Lilith... Solomon...'' They were seated at the very back, but seeing them smiling in anticipation made me feel... so emotional.

    I looked at the front pews and saw Neron, Serah, and a few other friends and allies.

    There were some faces I didn''t recognize, but once I nced in Maria''s direction, I realized they probably belonged to her memories.

    My brain immediately went to work so I could figure out what exactly was happening.

    ''Why are we here again, Jared? Remember!''

    *****************

    "Do you, Maria, take this man to be yourwfully wedded husband?" The man in front of us asked.

    On his hand was a scepter, and he was holding arge book in the other.

    His warm smile made me feel ufortable, but most especially so was his question.

    ''Husband? What?'' I nced at Maria, failing to understand what was going on.

    Was this a wedding?

    ''Ah, he did mention a union earlier...''

    Truthfully, I had been trying to figure out what the heck was going on that I totally forgot what was going on for a while.

    ''So, ording to what I''ve deciphered, this is a cathedral. And that man... is a Pope...?" I observed him more critically before making my conclusions.

    There were several stories in this world, and a Pope often appeared in the fictional ones. Apparently, he led an organization known as a ''Church'' and served a concept called ''God''.

    A Church had its customs, and one of those was how they organized their weddings.

    ''They''re making us get married here? Why?''

    I clearly remembered we came here to get an Arcana.

    ''Why are they simting this scenario?'' They even managed to project the people from our memories and ced them as an audience.

    I truly did not know how much longer I could take it, considering...

    ''Emilia and Karlia are both watching, and they expect me to get married like this? What the heck?!''

    I knew those two weren''t real, but it still felt awkward as heck.

    Was it because I still had lingering feelings for the two of them? Maybe...

    ''Will we obtain the Arcana if we get through the vows?'' I asked myself.

    Maria was looking at me, probably waiting for my decision on the matter.

    ''For now, let''s y it safe.'' I thought to myself and nodded to my partner.

    "I d-do."

    The pope widened his smile.

    "And do you, Jared Leonard, take this woman to be yourwfully wedded wife?"

    I gave another nce at Maria.

    She truly was stunningly beautiful. I was captivated beyond words, and her unsure expression made my heart race faster than normal.

    My eyes nced in the direction of the pews z and I watched those whom I had... rtionships with.

    ''They''re all smiling. Karlia, Emilia... Lilith.'' I looked in the direction of the pale-skinned woman at the very back.

    ''They''re just memory fragments or something, Jared. Don''t get distracted.''

    I returned my gaze to Maria and took a deep breath.

    It wasn''t like this marriage was real anyway. I had to get this over with quickly so we could retrieve our prize.

    ''That''s all that matters now.''

    "I do."<novelnext></novelnext>

    The Pope''s smile grew even wider.

    "Then, is there any among the audience who is against the union of this beautiful couple? Speak now or forever hold your peace."

    I rolled my eyes at this point.

    Everyone was smiling and happy for us¡ªat least, that was the setting. Who would pop up now and say they were against the¡ª

    "I''m against this!"

    "Me too!"

    "There''s no way I can allow this!"

    "M-me too!"

    ....!!!

    Several people rose to their feet and protested against the union of the wedding.

    ''E-eh...?!''

    Maria looked as dazed as I was as we looked at the people who rose.

    "I want Maria as my bride. There''s no way I can support Jared''s union with her, even if he is my protege!" Neron dered.

    ''What the... what kind of messed up simtion is this?!''

    "But you have Serah already!" I identally yelled out in annoyance.

    "I want to have two wives. Is there anything wrong with that?"

    "Serah, are you cool with that?!" I nced in the direction of the red-haired woman beside him.

    "I love Neron with all my heart. If that''s what he chooses, I will support him no matter what. That is why I am also against this union!" The dumb version of Serah rose to her feet and dered.

    I felt like pulling my hair out, but I controlled myself.

    There were so many other people who were refusing the marriage.

    I expected my previous lovers to protest, but none of them did.

    Rather, the most bizarre people were the ones who spoke up.

    "Lewis is mine and mine alone!!!" Jane Urs yelled.

    ''Not my best friend too!'' I wailed internally

    "No! He''s mine. I want to cut up his body parts and use them for my research!" Lemi grinned manically.

    ''My own daughter!'' My tears intensified.

    "Ever since the moment I lost to him, I''ve never stopped thinking about him. I love you, Jared." Legris Damien puckered his lips as he spoke.

    Okay, now this was out of control.

    ''My nemesis too? What is this?! It''s going too far!''

    People like my mother, Liliana the maid, and crazy enough, Ciara Epilson¡ªwho wanted Maria, by the way¡ªall sprang up to protest.

    There were a few faces I didn''t know, but they most likely belonged to Maria''s side.

    "Uncle!" I heard her shout¡ªindicating a member of her family was also causing trouble.

    Speaking of family...

    "I-I''m in love with Maria!" Stefan shouted. "There''s no way I will allow her to be taken away from me!"

    ''Stefan? You too?!''

    He looked like he did when he was in Ainrk Academy, so it was a bit funny matching him up with Maria¡ªwho had grown to some degree.

    ''At this point, I don''t think this stuff makes sense any longer.''

 Chapter 567 A Little Game

    "I don''t get this anymore...''

    Giving up internally, I looked at the pope. He was probably going to call off the marriage, or at least put it on hold because of this big mess.

    "What the fu¡ª" When I saw the look on the man''s face, I realized that he was relishing the situation.

    So many people were against our union, and it seemed even more were expressing their displeasure as time passed.

    ''I don''t know what this situation is based on, but it makes no sense at all! I don''t even understand how this will lead us to get the Arcana.''

    I followed logic and rational thought in my thinking process, but everything was so random¡ªalmost as though an idiot came up with the script.

    ''ording to Merlin, he made the Labyrinth Of Despair to challenge people who would be worthy to obtain [Strength]... so that means whoever made this ce is also an Apostle of Aether...''

    Why he would generate a simtion like this was something I couldn''t figure out.

    "Very well. Since there are so many opposed to the marriage, there is only one option."

    ''Will we have to fight? Maybe silence the opposition? What could it be?'' I thought anxiously as I watched the Pope widen his smile.

    The audience also fell silent, strangely enough.

    Their discord became harmonious, and it seemed they also agreed with the Pope''s deration.

    ''These guys... they''re all in this together.'' I suspiciously red at the audience and the Pope.

    It was a terribly made scenario, if I was being honest.

    But, it was better to follow it to get what I wanted.

    "The only way to prove the strength of your bond and silence your opposition is by going through the trials of the Pope."

    I gulped.

    Were we going to fight him?

    I began sizing the Pope up. He didn''t look particrly strong, but... I couldn''t take any chances.

    It was weak-looking folks like him that ended up wielding great power.

    "You will confess in the trial, and your confession shall be your justification."

    ''Wait, confess? As in a confession? I don''t get it. Is this going to be a¡ª"

    "That''s right,dies and gentlemen! Let''s get ready for a lovely game ooooofffff...." The Pope suddenly changed his tone, and before I knew it, my position and Maria''s were altered.

    We were suddenly seated on respective chairs, facing the audience. We were also strapped to our seats, and I couldn''t break free.

    ''What the hell?''

    Everyone who watched from the pews looked excited. Their faces were flushed with anticipation as the Pope seemed to drag on his sentence for a more powerful effect.

    "... Truth or Share!!!"

    "WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!" The congregation smiled and cheered as soon as the Pope said that.

    "... Eh?"

    "It''s a simple game, really. You either tell the truth when a question is answered... or you share a deep, dark secret with your partner."

    ''What in the¡ª?!''

    "The rules will be disyed right in front of you. Make sure you read them well. You have one minute to prepare, and the game begins in earnest."

    I nced in Maria''s direction, worried and surprised. She also gave the same look, but before either of us couldmunicate, arge panel appeared before us.

    Seeing that we had limited time, we both decided to read the rules first.

    [Truth or Share: Rules Of The Game]

    [We have two young people who want to be wed in Holy Matrimony.

    But, being bound for life can be very hard and unsatisfying if you don''t know enough about your partner.

    Plus, so many people are against your union.

    Prove them all wrong and show the power of your bond!<novelnext></novelnext>

    Let true love prevail!]

    <RULES>

    1. You must not speak to your partner throughout the game.

    2. You will take turns asking your questions, and the other party will have to choose between telling the truth or sharing a secret.

    3. Honesty is the best policy. You should never tell a lie, or else...

    4. Do not ask silly questions or tell silly secrets. The questions and answers must be strong enough to convince the audience of the depth of your love.

    5. Telling a lie or failing to meet the criteria of these rules will mean immediate disqualification. You won''t be allowed to step foot in this cathedral any longer.

    [If you do well and prove your faith, the Pope himself will bless you with his Gift.]

    [Enjoy The Game]

    I was appalled by the conditions.

    Initially thinking we could just get away with asking silly questions, my reality was shattered upon discovering that things weren''t as simple as I had hoped.

    ''I can''t evenmunicate with Maria? Shit!''

    I wondered what would have happened if I decided toe alone.

    Would the trial have been different? Or would the Cathedral not have allowed me to enter at all?

    I was confounded, but I still had no choice but to y the game.

    After all... the note at the end of the rules mentioned being given a ''gift'' by the Pope.

    It was most likely going to be an Arcana.

    ''Let''s just get this over with...'' I sighed and nced at Maria.

    She also had a determined look on her face, so we decided to give it our best shot.

    "Alright folks, looks like we''re ready to begin!" The Pope appeared again.

    He seemed too different from the calm man from earlier.

    Now, he just seemed like a wild game moderator, trying to fire everyone up for the game he created.

    ''This guy...''

    "Our audience is ready, and our young couple are also ready. Now then... shall we start?"

    My heart thumped hard and fast for some odd reason.

    This was a simple trial for getting my prize, but for some reason, it felt more than that. Having to be open to someone... being so vulnerable... it felt strange.

    Too strange.

    "As the saying goes, ''Ladies first.''" The Pope announced, giving Maria the first go.

    I gulped, turning the gears in my head so I could provide the most optimal answer.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If you enjoy this book, I know another one you''d love just as much.

    It''s my newest book titled ''Ascension Of The Failed Mage.''

    You can check it out and add it to your library. I promise it''ll be worth every /book/ascension-of-the-failed-mage_24898011105190405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 568 Exposing Secrets [Pt 1]

    ''Since Maria is the one asking the questions, it''ll probably be about love and stuff. Haa, if she asks me how I feel about her, how am I supposed to respond now?''

    I was certainly attracted to her, but to what extent?

    Talking about my feelings in such a weird situation, being observed by so many eyes... I wasn''t going to enjoy this at all.

    Maria''s lips parted and I felt a few beads of sweat pop out from my skin.

    In any case, things were about to get really awkward.

    "Jared... how do you know so much about Magic?"

    ***************

    Maria''s mind had been swirling with so many thoughts.

    Nothing was going ording to how she expected at all.

    After herst conversation with Serah, she was given the next card to y with Jared.

    "Do nothing romantic. Don''t take the lead this time." Was what her mentor told her.

    Maria had been a bit confused when she was told this, but Serah went on to exin.

    "Jared has to take action too. The fact that he asked you toe with him means he is probably going to make moves. So, you should sit back and rx. Let him make all the moves, and see how much you''ve progressed."

    So as not to seem too pushy, it was best to let the other person take action as well.

    Maria didn''t think this, but Serah''s advice was something even Serah didn''t quote adhere to.

    She chased after Neron unterally for so long, yet she dared advice her junior to exercise patience.

    It was a bit hypocritical, but considering the fact that Serah had matured since getting together with Neron, it was possible she didn''t want the young girl to make the same mistake she did.

    Maybe....

    ''I shouldn''t ask him anything rted to romance. I should ask him something neutral, but also very deep. Hmm, maybe in the line of his interest?''

    It was with this mindset that Maria asked the forbidden question.

    A question that not even Jared could have expected.

    ***************

    ''Oh, shit!''

    More sweat poured out of my body.

    I was in serious trouble now, wasn''t I? Maria had to ask the one question I couldn''t be honest about.

    ''There''s no way I can tell her about my past. How would I even bring it up in this situation?''

    Would I say "Hey, I''m actually an old.man from the past. Remember Lewis Griffith, the Great Sage? Yep, that''s me!"

    ''Hell no!''

    I didn''t want Maria to see me as an oldie. Things would definitely break down between us if she found out.

    But, then again...

    ''If she loses her feelings because of this, shouldn''t that be more of a reason to go along with it? I don''t want to lead her on, right...?''

    No! No! No!

    I had to think of this from another angle.

    If I exposed my identity as Lewis Griffith, it would simply be weird. I would be causing too much damage.

    "We need a response from you, Mr. Groom. It''s a simple question, right?" The Pope suddenly got close to my face, startling me for a brief moment.

    "So... answer it!" He snapped.

    The audience also gave me fervent stares, and I could feel Maria''s wide eyes looking at me diligently.

    ''It looks like I have no choice...''

    "I.. I..."

    With my eyes closed, I blurted out something I had been hiding for so long.

    "... I have actually felt attracted to you ever since we first met at the Ainrk Exams. Your cute face and aloof expression... I like them a lot!!!"

    I had to choose Share.

    "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" I heard the audience give a loud cooing sound as they smiled in exhration.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Stupid bastards. Why would they be happy about hearing another person''s secrets.'' I thought in embarrassment, ncing in Maria''s direction.

    Her face was flushed with so much pink that I worried for her.

    Her eyes looked watery, and she looked away the moment our gazes met.

    ''Ah, I forgot! We aren''t supposed tomunicate with each other outside the game.''

    It seemed what I said was too much for her to bear.

    ''Damn it... what have I done?''

    Now that I had said this, there was definitely no way I could tell Maria I was Lewis Griffith. If I did, she would be so disgusted at me.

    I mean, who wouldn''t be?

    An old man having feelings for a young girl? For real?!

    ''But, I can''t help my body...''

    The only advantage my answer provided was that it set the pace for a topic of romance. Now that the mood was established, Maria''s next question would definitely fall under that category.

    ''Now that it''s my turn, I guess it''s time to push it...''

    "What''s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?" I asked with a smile.

    ''Now these are the questions you''re supposed to be asking!'' I thought to myself with a smile.

    Maria''s face turned even redder, making me realize I made a mistake.

    "I-I''ll choose Share..." Maria murmured.

    ''Eh? Is it that embarrassing?''

    Somehow I grew more interested in what she was hiding.

    "I actually... had slight feelings for Stefan when we were kids..."

    "HOLYYYYYYY SHIIIIIIIT!!!" The congregation burst out in response.

    "A-ah..." My jaw nearly dropped in surprise, but I made sure to pull myself together.

    I never expected this bombshell.

    ''Is that why Stefan was against the marriage? Was the feeling mutual? Just how old.was she when...''

    My mind was swirling in thoughts, and before I knew it, it was Maria''s turn to ask.

    "H-How do you know so much about Magic?"

    ''What? The same question again?''

    I thought she was going to ask something about romance. Why did shee back to a question I obviously didn''t want to answer?

    "Pope, isn''t that¡ª?"

    "It''s not against the rules to re-ask a question that hasn''t been answered yet."

    ''Ah, what?!'' Things were getting awry, for real.

    Could it be that she already suspected something?

    ''If so, then how much does she know?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If you enjoy this book, I know another one you''d love just as much.

    It''s my newest book titled ''Ascension Of The Failed Mage.''

    You can check it out and add it to your library. I promise it''ll be worth every /book/ascension-of-the-failed-mage_24898011105190405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 569 Exposing Secrets [Pt 2]

    Did I slip up somewhere?

    Could it be because of the several oddballs among the audience that definitely belonged to my memories?

    ''Ah, looks like I''ll have to go for Share again.''

    "I actually thought you and Stefan were betrothed. Because of how close you were, I thought you were in a rtionship, and while I pretended not to care, I did... a little bit." Sweat poured from my skin.

    How long would I need to keep this up?

    There was no way I could reveal my deepest secrets. ''Truth'' was also not an option.

    Once more, Maria''s face flushed pink as she gazed elsewhere. She was clearly affected by what I was saying, but I couldn''t help it.

    The loosest secrets I could divulge were those of emotions.

    ? ''Ah, things will be so awkward for us after this experience...''

    Soon enough, it was my turn.

    ''I asked about the embarrassing stuff, but she chose Share instead...'' A smile formed on my face.

    Since she chose to repeat the same question for me, wasn''t it right I did the same for her as well?

    "What''s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?"

    Yet another look of hesitance appeared in her eyes, causing them to glimmer like a bright blue sea.

    I was mesmerized for a moment, but waited for my answer.

    ''I don''t even know where this is going any longer. As long as we get through this...''

    "I''ll go for Share. I..." Maria nced in my direction for a few moments, and turned away.

    "...I-I don''t feelfortable when you talk to other girls too much. It makes me mad that you talk to someone else about something you could just discuss with me."

    ''Ah, what the¡ª?!''

    To be frank, I understood why she would feel that way.

    I wasn''t paying her enough attention, truly. And then, after the whole incident of her confession, it had been somewhat difficult for me to stare her squarely in the eye.

    ''Okay, Jared... why don''t we go all out now? Since this is already a game¡ªa tform for exposing Secrets and bonding¡ªI can use this to my advantage.''

    If things worked out well, Maria and I would grow closer as a result of our bonding experience here.

    ''Maybe I can get answers to some of my doubts...'' A small smile formed on my face.

    "Who do you have feelings for?"

    The question hit me as a surprise this time, and I stared sharply at the one who sent it in my direction.

    Maria quickly stared away, hiding her face from me.

    I couldn''t get the right angle since I was strapped to a seat, so it was a shame. It would have been so cute, seeing her get flustered over the question again...

    ... Especially since the answer to her question was quite obvious at this point.

    "You. I have feelings for you." My answer was truthful.

    ''Feelings do not equate to love. As much as I like Maria, and I''m attracted to her, can I call it love? Are my emotions as intense as the time with Emilia or Karlia?''

    Even though I genuinely loved those women in the past, I ended up hurting them.

    How sure was I that it wouldn''t happen again? Those thoughts floated in my head.

    ''I guess it''s my turn to ask the questions...''

    I pursed my lips and let out a deep breath in preparation for the question I was to blurt out.

    ''This is practically giving my identity away, but...'' I had to know!

    "Would you still have feelings for me if I end up being an old man in a child''s body? Just saying..."

    No matter how anyone sliced it, I was giving a hint as to the possibility of my reincarnation. Plus, based on what I had shown so far, it was possible to believe I wasn''t a normal kid.

    "A-ah, I..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    I awaited her response.

    If it was in the positive, then maybe... maybe I would be okay with furthering things. It would be wrong for me to get into a rtionship with her and take advantage of her ignorance that I was an old man.

    Also, if her response was negative, I would have to find a way to end the feelings that we had for each other.

    "... I don''t know."

    ''That''s a ''No'', isn''t it?'' I smiled within myself.

    There were certain answers that one wouldn''t expressly give, but they were valid responses nheless.

    ''Wait, this is a game...''

    So, if she said she didn''t know, wouldn''t she have been knocked out already?

    That meant she was being honest with me. She genuinely didn''t know.

    "I guess it''s my turn..." Maria took a deep breath.

    At this point, I braced myself for Maria''s question. She had been unpredictable throughout this game.

    But, even though I prepared myself... I wasn''t expecting the next thing she asked.

    "Jared, are you Lewis Griffith... the Great Sage?"

    "E-eh...?"

    ''How did she know? I mean, I gave her a tiny hint not too long ago, but that was nowhere near concrete enough to be substantial grounds for suspicion...''

    Besides, there were many times when one of two lovers would ask the other certain weird questions. Like;

    "If I was blind, would you still love me?"

    Using that reasoning, there was no way Maria could have deduced my identity.

    "S-so, how did¡ª"

    "Remember, speaking to the other person is against the rules. You don''t want to be disqualified, do you?"

    I instantly shut my mouth the moment the Pope made this statement, and my brain went into overdrive.

    ''What should I say? What should I do? I''ll just choose Share again...''

    But, somehow, I didn''t want to avoid the question.

    I wanted to address it head-on.

    ''I want to know what she thinks...''

    Perhaps I had already lost most of my logical abilities at this point, and was relying solely on emotions, but my heart wouldn''t let me think properly.

    To tell the truth, or to share a secret instead... the ball was in my court.

    Unfortunately for me, if I didn''t want to answer such a simple question, I was already admitting the truth.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If you enjoy this book, I know another one you''d love just as much.

    It''s my newest book titled ''Ascension Of The Failed Mage.''

    You can check it out and add it to your library. I promise it''ll be worth every /book/ascension-of-the-failed-mage_24898011105190405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 570 Exposing Secrets [Pt 3]

    My chest kept pounding, and as I thought of what to say, I couldn''t find anything else to do other than respond in honestly.

    "Yes. I am Lewis Griffith." A gulp escaped my mouth the moment I tightly shut my eyes the moment I was done.

    ''Shit. What am I doing?!''

    The atmosphere was awkward as heck, and I had never been so anxious in my life as Jared Leonard.

    ''Telling Maria how I feel is one thing... but also telling her I''m an old man, that''s crazy!''

    I had ultimately done the one thing I was trying to avoid.

    ''Shit! Shit! Shit!''

    As I was cursing within myself, my turn came. The moment it came, I already knew what I was going to ask.

    "How did you find out, that I''m Lewis Griffith?"

    My mind was swarming with possibilities, but it was better to ask the source herself, wasn''t it?

    So, I waited in anxiety and suspense, Maria parted her lips and spoke.

    "I wasn''t actually the one who found out. It was... Ana..."

    ''Uh?! Ana? How in the world did she¡ª?!''

    "She has been suspecting it for some time. How you had ess to Lewis Griffith''s secrets, how you found his treasure trove by chance, how you''re close to Jane Urs¡ªone of Lewis Griffith''s closest friends¡ªand how the Mad Witch herself calls you Lewis."

    The more Maria spoke, the more I realized that I had been dripping clues for a long time now, but I underestimated their intelligence¡ªespecially Ana''s¡ªto pick up those subtle hints.

    "She still isn''t certain, though, but she''s closer than ever in her suspicion."

    Maria went further to tell me how Ana observed my interaction with Lemi.

    When she got closer to her, the girl figured out the connection between Lewis Griffith and Lemi... thereby establishing a connection to me¡ªsince I was always doting on her.

    The nature of my Original Magic, and how I was so knowledgeable about the Arcanas¡ªeven Magic, generally.

    Once Maria broke it down, I was impressed how Ana was able to arrive at such a conclusion¡ªusing even the subtlest of hints as reference.

    "She only spoke to me about it since she wanted me to keep a close eye on you. I don''t know if she said anything to Lemi, though..."

    ''Oh no!''

    If Lemi knew, it would exin why she had been so rash toward metely.

    Well, there were a couple of reasons for that, but it sort of made sense that she realized I was her father and began putting up an attitude... especially because I was still keeping it secret.

    ''Just how many things have been going on in everyone''s head that I know nothing about?''

    People wereplex creatures, and maybe I had forgotten that.

    ''Everyone has various things going on in their mind... even Neron.''

    My thoughts shed to Jane, and I felt an ache within me for some reason.

    Ultimately, I was too self-engrossed to see it, but... I had really neglected the emotions of everyone.

    ''That''s probably why they neglected me.''

    "I-I see..." I murmured, quickly silencing myself before the Pope put me in trouble.

    "Last question from the guy, then we call it a wrap!" His voice boomed, causing my eyes to bulge slightly.

    ''This... is the final question?!''

    There were so many new things I wanted to ask Maria¡ªso many questions popped into my head.

    At least, using this game, I could guarantee the correct answer.

    In the end,

    "D-do you..." I struggled to form the right words.

    My eyes hesitantly nced at her, and while her expression was nk and stoic, I felt she was probably mulling over everything that my identity represented.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I''m too anxious to know what she thinks about it... I can''t ask her that!''

    Thinking about the question, on and on again, nothing fruituitus came through.

    Ultimately, I had to settle for the most basic question.

    "Why... do you like me?"

    There was a chance that Maria no longer had any feelings for me.

    At this point, I wouldn''t be surprised if that was the case.

    I was way older than I represented myself to be. I lied to everyone, making them believe I was a special kid instead of an old sage.

    There were so many things wrong in so many levels.

    ''But, the ball is in your court, Maria...'' I stared at her.

    Whether or not she still had feelings for me, I was certain things would be a mess after the game.

    "I... I like you because you''re special. I can''t out my hands on it, but there''s something about you that''s not like everyone else. It might seem selfish, but that''s the reason I like you... and why I want you."

    Maria''s eyes sparkled with interest¡ªin fact, more so than ever.

    "You''re one of a kind... and I want you for myself."

    My cheeks were instantly flushed with pink, and I looked at Maria with tensed surprise.

    She was blushing as well, but her calm face made her appear more confident and sure of herself than I was.

    ''I can''t believe this...''

    Maria, despite knowing everything, still professed to have feelings for me... and she still even wanted me?

    I couldn''tprehend it entirely.

    ''Maybe... maybe this is¡ª''

    "That''s thest question for the game, everyone! I''m almost too sad to see it end." The Pope smiled as he charged forward, interrupting my thought.

    Now standing between Maria and I, so I could hardly see her beautiful face, the tall man smiled and began talking.

    "Now that we have concluded the round, it is time for the most important factor of this game..."

    The audience was carried along by the man, and they all appeared to know what he would be saying.

    "It''s time for the judging phase."

    A bead of sweat fell from my face and I fought to maintain myposure.

    "Did they prove their love for each other? Will true love prevail, despite the challenges? I wonder..." He smiled beaming to the false projections of people in front of him.

    The moment of truth was now upon us.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If you enjoy this book, I know another one you''d love just as much.

    It''s my newest book titled ''Ascension Of The Failed Mage.''

    You can check it out and add it to your library. I promise it''ll be worth every /book/ascension-of-the-failed-mage_24898011105190405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 571 The Popes Verdict

    "Send your votes through the polls now!" Suddenly, two options popped before every single member of the congregation that sat in the pews.

    The options were in the form of panels disyed right in front of them, and they were meant to pick either ''Pass'' or ''Fail''.

    I had thought it would be something more magical, but this ended up being nothing more than a glorifies survey.

    ''But, what''s the purpose of using a fame congregation toe to a decision?''

    They were simply projections of my and Maria''s thoughts.

    "Looks like the results are in!!!" The Pope dered, drawing my eyes toward therge panel they spread across the air above me.

    I waited patiently to see how we had fared. After all, this was the whole reason I went through this.

    Though my eyes nced at Maria for a moment, and I quickly looked away. I could also feel a gaze on me, but decided not to look.

    ''Let''s just get this over with. We can always discuss everything that happened,ter...''

    The Pope''s grin widened, and he announced the results squarely.

    "Jared Leonard... and Anabelle Frederick... you''ve passed!"

    I nearly jumped in joy, because that meant my reward was not for nothing.

    ''Finally you''ll give us our reward, right?

    "Since the opposition has been silenced, we can continue with the Marriage that was our oh hold before."

    ''E-eh?''

    "Hold on a sec... weren''t we promised a blessing? A Gift?" I tried to raise the issue.

    The Pope nced in my direction and nodded.

    "Indeed. My Gift to you is the blessings you need for a good marriage."

    ''Ahh...!!!'' I wanted to scream.

    How long was the process before obtaining the Arcana? If I wasn''t certain about the reliability ofpleting certain tasks in a Dungeon, I would have just burned everything to the ground in a bid to find what I was after.

    ''Fine...'' I stared at the smiling Pope, seeing as the chair and ropes and bounds me began disappearing me.

    ''... Let''s y along, for now.''

    ****************

    "I hereby dere you, man and wife."

    There was an awkward silence in the air, and I could feel several gazes on us.

    "You may kiss the bride."

    Now, that was just ridiculous. It made me consider what would have happened if I came here alone.

    Still... I did what I had to do.

    Maria and I looked at each other. Passion could be seen in her eyes, and I was pretty sure she could see some sparks in mine.

    ''It''s not like this is the first time... right?'' I reassured myself as our faces drew closer to each other.

    In less than a second more, our lips would collide, and I slowly began to anticipate it myself.

    However, once again¡ª

    "Okay, guys... that''s enough. Break it up!"

    ''Huh?''

    ¡ªThe unexpected happened.

    Right before our eyes, the cathedral began to lose its luster.

    The pews vanished, the alter turned to dust, and the congregation vaded away.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I looked around me in confusion, and so did Maria. We saw everything turn to mist¡ªas though they were never there. Even our wedding attires... disintegrated.

    Ultimately, everything ''fake'' was gone, and we were now standing in apletely empty room.

    "I suppose I should apologize for taking my little roley a bit too far."

    Even though everything in the room vanished, one person remained.

    He was adorned in his ceremonial garb, and a smile hadn''t left his face.

    His staff was clutched tightly on his left hand, and on his right hand was a book.

    "You''re a Singrity, aren''t you? I sense Aether on you... and Merlin''s Mana? I see. So you spoke to our leader."

    Once again, I was confused.

    But, unlike before, I didn''t feel any form of restriction.

    "Maria, can you see thi¡ª?" I paused mid-sentence, upon noticing that even Maria wasn''t present.

    "Where is she?" I looked around me, noticing nothing but utter darkness, with the Pope being the only thing that shine brightly.

    "The other one can''t be present. She doesn''t have a connection to Aether. It seems the only reason you canmunicate somewhat freely is because Merlin''s power still clings to you."

    ''Ah, did he mean the Arcana of [Strength]?'' I shook off my hesitation instantly and decided to get answers to the question I had.

    The Pope before me had grey colored hair, but his youthful face and round sses made him look very young.

    He was somewhat tall, and his calm appearance put me at ease. I wondered what kind of person he would have been if he was still alive, and how he was able to manifest his Soul so freely even though a lot of time must have passed since his demise.

    ''The story of the Arcanas started centuries before I was even born. These people... must have been really skilled at Magic to have made such a projection...''

    Modern Mages couldn''tpare to them in the slightest.

    I mean, no one''s Magic had surpassed any Arcana till date. Neron was close, but even he admitted that [The Hermit] greatly assisted him in furthering his Magic.

    I was certain the title of ''Great Sage'' rightfully belonged to them, since their inventions and knowledge were potentially greater than mine.

    And here I was, standing right in front of one of them.

    "You must have a lot of questions, but there''s really no time. I spent too much energy putting on that borate show. You know... I''ve always been into roley, and I always wanted to do this when I was alive."

    For someone who imed not to have too much time, he sure took his time talking about things that didn''t seem urgent.

    "I was a virgin till I died... which is why it is greatly fitting I became a clergyman, one who has taken an eternal vow of celibacy." He smiled, as if that was something to be proud of.

    ''To each man, their own... I guess.'' A smile spread across my face.

    I couldn''tprehend how he felt, but that didn''t matter at this point.

    What was most important at this moment... was answers.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If you enjoy this book, I know another one you''d love just as much.

    It''s my newest book titled ''Ascension Of The Failed Mage.''

    You can check it out and add it to your library. I promise it''ll be worth every /book/ascension-of-the-failed-mage_24898011105190405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 572 Abrupt Encounter

    Even though I was called ''The Great Sage'', I had my fair share of experiences with women.

    There was Emilia, then Karlia... and then Lilith.

    As a result, I couldn''t empathize with the Pope who spoke.

    I only wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery that gnawed at me.

    "Can we get to the point, please? You''re starting to dissipate." Imented, noticing the Pope''s body slowly turning into light.

    "A-ah, that''s true. I guess I got a little carried away. Haha!"

    ''A little...?'' I found his statement questionable, but let him go on.

    "My name is Morgan, a member of the Apostles of Aether."

    Finally, I was getting answers.

    "In our time, a great darkness emerged... and my friends and I had to stop it."

    "The Nether?"

    Morgan nodded with a smile when I said this.

    "Looks like Merlin already told you. The Nether is a threat that will consume this world, and will go further to wreak more havoc."

    "Further? Wreak more havoc? I don''t understand..." I suspected he was leaning at something, but I couldn''t believe what was appearing in my heart.

    "Nether isn''t after the branch, that is our world... he is after the stem itself, all the way to the root."

    "What?"

    "Nether seeks to consume Aether. Those two were never meant to coexist. Just as existence and non-existence, or matter and non matter should, never converge."

    I was confounded, but it slowly made some sense... just a bit if sense.

    "So you''re saying... our world is a branch? A branch of what? What is this root? What exactly is Nether? What is Aether?" I needed a breakdown of everything.

    "Ah, I''m not good at exnations. This is why Merlin should have been the one to do this. Haa, this is... oh no, it''s toote. I''m disappearing already." Morgan spoke in a deted tone.

    Something about the whole thing made me suspect that the guy never intended on giving me too many details.

    And so, as I watched him tone into nothing but white smoke and glimmering light, he made a final statement.

    "Be wary of Ciel."

    And then, he vanished.

    As the particles of light that danced before me, I grew confounded once more.

    ''Who is this Ciel...?'' Rather than having the answers I sought, I now had more questions.

    The Apostles of Aether, and the Ciel person must have been in conflict since ages past. To understand, perhaps I had to look through other myths and stories... tales that went far beyond just the Arcanas.

    ''Haa... this is bothersome.''

    The darkness around me began to crack, indicating I was going to be let out of the area pretty soon.

    I would be reuniting with Maria... which was a different problem on its own.

    "This is gonna be awkward."

    External light seeped in from the cracks appearing around me, and slowly, the confined space I was in broke apart.

    As though I was wrapped in a dark sphere, the veil slowly lofted, and I could see an empty room around me.

    No pews. No cathedral. No altar. Just an empty room.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "J-Jared... you''re back!"

    A shaky, yet relieved tone rang out, causing me to sharply nce in the direction.

    Not only did I hear Maria''s panicky voice call out for me, but I was also sensing the energy of another.

    >WHOOOSHHH<

    In a sh, I appeared in front of Maria, blocking her from the hooded enemy that stood a small distance from her.

    He had a long ck hooded coat, and I could feel a dangerous aura from him.

    ''This energy... it''s not Mana!'' The hooded man was emitting almost the same kind of power as someone I knew and despised.

    "Legris Damien?!" A whisper escaped my lips as I watched him with caution stered on my face.

    The moment I said that, he smiled.

    "Jared... that''s a disappointing thing to say." The person chuckled slightly.

    ''A-ah...?!''

    The closer I looked¡ªbeyond the energy he emitted, the stranger looked no older than me.

    Sure, he was tall, and had dangerous features, but in the end, he was a young man¡ªbarely an adult yet.

    ''Who is he? What''s he doing here? Someone like this is also a part of the Nether Cult?''

    "J-Jared... that is... Stefa¡ª"

    "I''m Stefan Netherlore. Surely you remember me now?" The boy removed his hood, revealing his pitch ck hair and deep blue eyes.

    His handsome features were now more mature than I remembered, but the moment I saw the face, I recollected the boy I knew back at Ainrk.

    "Stefan? What in the world¡ª?!"

    "Don''t look so surprised. That expression doesn''t suit you."

    My surprise slowly morphed into anger as I red at him.

    "What are you doing with the Nether Cult, Stefan?!"

    Usually, I would be happy to see an old friend again, but he was currently with the enemy. I hadn''t seen him in so long, so there was no way I could let my guard down now.

    Why and how he became a member of such an organization... I had to know!

    "That''s none of your business. It seems I was a bitte, though. You retrieved the Arcana. Looks like my hunch, and Legris'' theory was correct."

    My eyes bulged the moment he mentioned Legris Damien.

    ''Just how close are the two of them? If I capture Stefan here, will I be able to get my hands on more information? He feels almost the same as Legris. That means they''re connected, right?''

    I observed him with my gaze, and he didn''t seem extremely powerful. Besides...

    ''Stefan falls under Maria in terms of talent. Even if he trained his ass off, there''s no way he could be as strong as Kuzon or me.''

    I wasn''t going to assume, and I was going to be careful, but it would be foolish to let him out of my grasp.

    The possibilities of using him against the organization was endless.

    Plus¡ª

    ''I''ll be saving him from the Nether Cult!''

    ¡ªI wasn''t one to waste an opportunity.

 Chapter 573 Netherlore

    Casting [Unknowable] on a Spell of mine, Iunched it in Stefan''s direction using Spellcraft.

    As a result, the mass of energy lunged from behind him, enough to cause sufficient damage.

    "Hm?" Stefan looked behind him, most likely noticing the Spell.

    ''He can see it?! Well, this is my chance!''

    Since he was distracted by the Spell, I augmented myself with multiple Spells and summoned a blunt de to use against him inbat.

    ''Stefan is a Mage, so I''ll use Martial Arts to be certain of quick victory!''

    Of course, I was still going to be on guard in case my opponent was a skilled fighter, but it would be a waste of time to prepare a contingency for everything.

    >WHOOOSSHH<

    With Manapletely shrouding my body, I darted at him with determination.

    I spotted his gaze shift in my direction, but his body was motionless.

    ''Am I too fast for his body to react to? Or is he simply waiting?'' It was hard to decide, but as my Spell closed in on him, I was also nearing Stefan at remarkable speed.

    He could only evade one!

    "I didn''te here to fight."

    >DUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, I felt a pressure unlike any other. My body became too heavy, and before I knew it... my body was on the ground.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    The exploding Spell copsed, and I could feel an unexinable heaviness envelop me.

    Hardly able to move my body, my eyes reached Stefan as I disyed shock.

    ''What? How? An Arcana?!''

    "So you''re an Upper Member?!" I blurted out bitterly.

    ording to the information I had, only the top brass of the Nether Cult could use Arcanas.

    ced on Stefan''s fingertips was a spinning card. It warbled as the boy smiled at me.

    "We''re only down to eight Seat members, so every one of us has an Arcana."

    ''A-ah, that must have happened because of the Arcana Search. Why didn''t I think about that?''

    Was Stefan just a Lower Seat who was graced with an Arcana? The heaviness J was feeling, and theck of mobility... it had to be caused by gravity maniption.

    ''He''s using an Arcana that controls gravity?!''

    "You''ve given us a bit of trouble, Jared. cing all those disrupters to mess with our search for Arcanas... it''s a smart move."

    ''Yeah... but for Stefan to be here, they figured it out.''

    "It must suck that two people who know how you think are in the Cult. You''ll have to be smarter next time." He smiled, his hands in his coat pockets.

    "Duly noted." I spoke, finally breaking free from his gravity maniption by using one of [The Tower]''s abilities to teleport back to my previous position.

    "Nice. Nice. You have Arcanas too."

    The simple teleportation was done without having to resort to a Spell Card or my Original Magic.

    Since I had been studying the use of Arcanas without a need for aids, I could perform simple Spells like this without using the Arcanas themselves.

    ''So, he controls gravity, eh? This will be tricky.'' I nced in Maria''s direction to make sure she was safe.

    Her eyes looked very frightful, and the fact the young woman wasn''t speaking made me realize the situation was indeed very dire.

    "Like I said, I didn''te here to fight. I''ll just be leaving with the information I''ve retrieved here. There''s no need to engage."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Don''t you want the Arcana?" I eyed him suspiciously.

    "Not really. It really doesn''t matter what you do, we''ll still win. Why do you think the Leader hasn''t moved yet, despite your constant annoyance?"

    I remained silent, thinking of ways to stop him.

    ''Anti-Magic doesn''t work on Arcanas, so that one is out of it...''

    For some reason, the energy around Stefan made it difficult for me to use Spellcraft in his immediate vicinity, and even if I could, it would be thwarted by his Gravity maniption.

    The only say to win was to overpower him with my sheer number of Arcanas and skills. Things would get a bit destructive, but I was going to win.

    ''What should I do to¡ª''

    As I readied myself to strike, I noticed Stefan''s gaze shift to Maria. A wider smile formed on his face, and suddenly¡ª

    "Kyaaaahhhh!!!"

    ¡ªMaria suddenly lunged in his direction.

    ''Wha¡ª?!''

    As if she was being pulled by an invisible force, she sharply moved toward Stefan, and the smile I saw on his face told me he meant business.

    ''Shit!'' Quickly using another function of [The Tower], I switched positions with Maria and decided to take this as another moment to strike.

    ''Grand Fusion Mo¡ª''

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    The ''Pull'' effect suddenly became a ''Push'' one, and my body was sent flying away in a mighty blow.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    Crashing on the wall far from Stefan, I coughed out in pain, struggling to regain myposure before any harm befell Maria.

    "Argh!"

    It hurt!

    The blow from my front, and the crash on the shattered wall.

    My vision was blurry, but I quickly teleported Maria to my side¡ªjust to be safe.

    ''Did I go easy on him because he was my friend? Did I underestimate him?''

    I wondered why I wasn''t ying as many Cards as I usually would.

    "I had to resort to that since it didn''t seem like you were going to let me go just like that." I heard Stefan, watching as he ascended beyond my reach, flying to the ceiling.

    "Why are you in the Nether Cult? Don''t you know all they''ve done? What their motive is?"

    "I don''t care." Stefan replied with a shrug.

    I was surprised to see how much he had changed.

    From the way he condescendingly gazed at me and Maria, he seemed to relish the moment of our weakness.

    "Ah, and one more thing, Jared..." Stefan narrowed his gaze.

    "I''m the Fifth Seat of the Nether Cult... so I guess you''re wrong about that too."

    My eyes bulged the moment I heard the absurd statement.

    "We''ll see eventually. I''ll simply tell the Leader that you got away with the Arcana using another trick of yours. Legris always uses that as an excuse."

    Before I could say more, Stefan vanished as he went through the ceiling, leaving me confused and petrified.

    ''What is going on here?!''

 Chapter 574 Seeking The Truth [Pt 1]

    Maria and I passed through the ceiling too¡ªsince it served as an Exit, and we found ourselves at the surface of the Dark Desert.

    I looked around and saw the vast expanse gleaming with darkness¡ªjust as we left it. Perhaps I was hoping to see some sign of Stefan, but he was long gone already.

    ''Damnit...''

    There were many questions I wanted answers to, but first I needed to take care of Maria.

    ''She''s really shivering. This expression she''s making... it''s like she had a never-ending nightmare. Is it trauma?''

    Using [The Tower], I briskly teleported myself and Maria away from the Dark Desert and we arrived at a morefortable ce.

    >VWOOOSHHH<

    The blue portal closed behind me as I brought  Maria into therge, well-lit room.

    The ambiance was warm and nice, and as I took in the familiar scent permeating the room, I felt nostalgia.

    ''Why did I first think of this ce? I guess this really is home for me...''

    Iid Maria on therge bed within the room, and fetched a Potion from my Subspace. It glowed bright white, and it was supposed to grant relief to whatever psychological distress she was suffering.

    ''Spells like [Calm] and [Stability] have been imbued within it...''

    Even if one wasn''t in a traumatized state, it was still a good Potion to take for meditation and rxation.

    At the moment, though, it seemed Maria really needed something to calm her down.

    ''She won''t stop trembling...'' My thoughts trailed as I tried force-feeding her the Potion.

    Her eyes appeared nk, and I knew she was barely holding on to her string of consciousness.

    "I don''t want to be rough, Maria. Just a bit more, and¡ª"

    >WHAM!<

    The door behind me suddenly opened, and someone appeared from outside it.

    "What in the world?!"

    I sharply nced back, donning a guilty look as I made eye contact with the matriarch of the property I was on.

    "M-mom, rx. I can exin."

    "What was I hearing from behind the door? You don''t want to be rough? What are you doing to that young girl?"

    ''A-ah...''

    Now that I looked at things, my position appeared verypromising.

    Maria was incapacitated. She was currently lying down on my bed, and a sweet-smelling Potion was in my hand. Not only did the situation appearpletely suspicious, but my Mom was a very very big exaggerator.

    ''How do I get out of this mess?''

    I instantly med myself.

    I just had to choose the one ce where Anabelle Leonard would be.

    "You have to calm yourself mother." I could already see her hyperventting as she looked at me with worry and disappointment.

    "I''m not trying anything shady! Trust me, Mom!" I yelled

    "What have you be, Jared." Tears fell from her eyes as she covered her mouth while sobbing.

    "This woman¡ª"

    My attention sharply fell back on Maria, and I saw her tremble once more.

    "I don''t have time for this!" Sharply moving in a fluid motion, I made sure to pour the Potion at just the right angle.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "J-Jared wait¡ª!"

    Ignoring my mother, I treated my friend. It didn''t matter what kind of image she had developed in her.

    Once everything was done, I just needed to exin things to her.

    "Haaa..." My eyes beamed as I saw Maria''s tensed body rx.

    The sweat on her body stopped flowing, and her condition stabilized.

    "You better have a good exnation for this, Jared..." My Mom drew closer, now gaining a better perspective of the situation.

    "... Wait, isn''t this the daughter of the Helmsworth household? Hold on, why are you even here, to begin with? Ah, so many questions."

    I still had no idea why I teleported here in my desperate state. However, deciding to ce my trust in my mother... I decided to spill a little bit.

    "Can we talk?"

    ***********

    Anabelle, my mother, ordered the servants to take care of Maria.

    They were to bathe for her and freshen her up as gently as possible. Since she was soaked in her sweat and was also recovering from trauma, it was best to handle her with care.

    As for me, I decided to leave thedies to their business.

    Lingering around the room would only make me appear more suspicious... and I couldn''t have that, could I?

    After she was done directing the maids, my Mom entered our private lounge¡ªwhere I was patiently waiting for her.

    She gave a gentle sigh, and then smiled at me.

    "She''ll be fine. Just let the servants do their thing."

    She was quite perceptive, considering I did my best to hide my worry. Perhaps because she was my mother?

    "That''s a relief to hear." My response was that of relief.

    A lot of unprecedented things happened in our quest for [The Pope] Arcana, and while I was worried about the others, Maria''s condition worried me.

    ''If Stefan appeared on our end, the others could also be in danger...''

    However, so far, I had gotten no response from them. Even though Ciara and Lemi didn''t agree with the Soul Brand idea, their partners had them.

    That meant I could still monitor everyone''s safety.

    ''So far, they don''t appear to be in any trouble. If they were, they can also use the Spell Cards I have them...''

    With that in mind, I decided to dedicate my brain power to the current situation at hand.

    "So... exin yourself, Jared. What''s going on?"

    To be frank, I was under no obligation to tell my Mom about the things that were urring. There was also the question of how much to divulge.

    However, at the moment, I needed someone to talk to. The shock of Stefan''s new identity, and my deep-seated worry about Maria''s shaken state...

    ''... I don''t like this feeling.''

    Which was why I decided to confide in my mother.

    "Mom... how did you fall in love with Dad?"

    I could spot my mom''s eyebrow being raised, and I knew that wasn''t where I ought to have begun my inquiry. However... the question just came out.

    A smile formed on her face, and I realized that she was having another one of her weird thoughts.

    ''Haa... what am I doing?''

 Chapter 575 Seeking The Truth [Pt 2]

    "It was an arranged marriage, Jared. There was no love involved."

    My mom''s initial statement jerked me back to reality. I mean, I should have known of that, yet I had to ask.

    "There''s hardly any Noble Marriage that follows the concept of love, you know? Most unions are arranged¡ªbased on well-analyzed profit and whatnot."

    I remained silent, watching as my mother exined.

    "It was the same case for your father. Our family needed the Leonard''s influence, and the Leonard family needed to produce a Mage.

    Other families would rather not take the risk of sullying their bloodline of Mages, but our household was ready to take the chance..."

    I slowly began to understand my mother''s position.

    "I had to produce an heir that could use Magic. The results weren''t guaranteed, but I did my best."

    Fortunately, I came along.

    ''I''ve often wondered what would happen to this family if I hadn''t reincarnated...''

    With this body''s poor talent and extremely low Mana Particles, I doubted the ''original'' Jared Leonard would have gone very far in Magic.

    Sometimes I even felt a little guilty for possessing the body of the child of two innocent Nobles, but I realized it was probably for the best.

    "So, you don''t love father?" I asked her with a straight face.

    "My sweet Jared... I don''t know how to answer that question. What do you think love is?"

    Wasn''t that a simple question? Wasn''t love the feeling a person had when they possessed deep romantic interests in another party?

    "Love takes time to blossom, Jared. Feelings can morph into Love, but it takes time regardless."

    "A-ah...?"

    "The truth is, I hardly know your father. He''s busy with work, and I don''t me him. I have grown to respect him a lot, and I like certain things about him. But..." Her face grew sterner as she spoke.

    "... You can''t love someone you hardly know."

    Somehow, I felt those words resonate with me. Something within me shook, and I remembered my past.

    ''I guess it''s no wonder I have been so hesitant with Maria...'' A soft smile yed on my face.

    Compared to Emilia, Karlia... even Lilith... I hardly knew the young Helmsworth.

    ''So, I have feelings for her. But it''s not love, at least not yet.''

    But what about her? Maria seemed genuinely into me. Did she simply love what she knew about me? Perhaps our feelings for each other were just as shallow...

    "But, can I tell you a secret?" My mother suddenly intruded on my thoughts, causing me to look at her once more.

    "Y-yeah."

    "Love is... like a seed. It starts out small. And then it grows. It''s possible to feel a strong sense of affinity for someone. Give it time, and it could blossom into something."

    "A-ah, even if you hardly know the person?"

    "It''s possible for someone to fall in love with someone they don''t really know. But, that would mean that they simply have a wrong knowledge of their object of interest."

    ''Ah, I get it now...'' My thoughts trailed as my eyes widened.

    "If you''re not careful, you may end up loving someone who doesn''t exist. That''s the most tricky aspect of the concept of love."

    ''If I''m not careful...'' A smile formed on my face and I nodded.

    My mother was right, after all.

    "Thank you, Mom." A genuine smile formed on my face as I took in the proud expression of my lovely mother.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Yeah, anytime! Come to me for more counsel."

    I doubted I would do that anytime soon, but...

    "Sure, I''ll think about it."

    "Now, it''s my turn to ask the questions." A scary smile suddenly appeared on her face, causing me to tremble slightly.

    ''What is this bad feeling?'' The hairs on my skin rose.

    "Why don''t you fill me in on your adventures, Jared...? What''s your rtionship with that Helmsworth girl?"

    My mother''s smile was broad, but dark. I could tell that she was in no yful mood.

    She cracked her wrists and winded her arms, sending a message of what would happen if I didn''tply.

    ''Shit!'' My mind trembled in defeat.

    I knew the inevitable truth. It was either I answered her question with unfettered honesty... or get a mighty suplex.

    ***********

    "Ah! Hmmm..." Anabelle rubbed her chin as she seriously analyzed the situation.

    When she had first caught her son in his room, trying to force a girl to do something she was obviously not into, Anabelle was appalled beyond words.

    Her only child, and the Hero of the Eastern Kingdom, was into something like that? Her mind could notprehend it.

    Fortunately, he cleared up that misunderstanding, giving her heart some measure of rest.

    Then, when Jared asked about ''Love'', she was caught off-guard once again, but her maternal instincts instantly took over and she managed to say some words from her heart.

    ''I might have said nonsense, but...'' Anabelle tearily smiled to herself.

    After she was done answering his question, the Noble Lady had some of her own.

    Her child, Jared, would be an adult in some months, so she couldn''t supervise his actions for much longer¡ªnot that she was doing much of that these days.

    While she missed him a great deal, Anabelle understood perfectly. He was just like his father¡ªboth were busy men.

    The moment Jared asked about love, though, Anabelle connected the dots and had inquisitions of her own.

    For one¡ª

    ''Does Jared love anyone?''

    The image of the Helmsworth girl shed in her mind, and Anabelle could not help but feel even more giddy and interested in the whole thing.

    As a result, she decided to find out... no matter the cost.

    And so she did.

    "Jared, you..." Anabelle''s voice was trembling at this point.

    After her son was done exining the situation to her, she could not believe how hopelessly dense he had been.

    "... You''re truly hopeless."

    A deep-seated respect began forming in Anabelle''s heart for Maria, and she silently supported the young girl''s endeavor.

    It would be nice if Jared married someone he loved, and who loved him.

    Unfortunately, the boy didn''t even know what love was.

 Chapter 576 A Shoulder To Lean On

    "You''re a genius when ites to Magic, but..." Anabelle shook her head at her son''s ignorance.

    Of course, she knew he would eventually grow into the knowledge of love, but her patience was already waning.

    ''No matter the cost, I''ll make sure you don''t turn out like your father!''

    "So, what should I do?" The boy posed a question.

    Anabelle had forgotten thest time Jared has asked a genuine question for something he did not understand.

    He always seemed to know so much.

    At this moment, she felt triumphant, for some reason.

    "Don''t you worry, Jared..."

    Finally, she would take the lead!

    "... Just follow my instructions."

    **************

    "U-urhh..." Maria slurred as she woke from her deep slumber.

    She had never felt sofortable waking up. It was like her entire body had gone through a restructuring, because it felt too good.

    As she yawned, her body stretched in the most pleasant way, and she was happy to be awake.

    ''Haaa...'' She didn''t yet know where she was, but she was already enjoying her stay there.

    Slowly, though, her memory returned, and she remembered what actually ured.

    Her eyes widened instantly, and the pleasant emotions she felt slowly started to fade.

    Still, she felt a strange calm wash over her. It calmed her nerves, but it didn''t change the fact that she was freaking out.

    "Haa... Haaa..." Sweat started forming on her body again, and it seemed like fear would consume her once more.

    However¡ª

    "Maria, calm yourself."

    The young girl''s eyes sharpy moved in the direction of the voice, and she noticed Jared appearing from nowhere.

    He had a certain charm to him at this point, but Maria''s fear was skyrocketing due to the ever-increasing return of her memories.

    "Rx... I''m here."

    Before her emotions could peak even further, Jared swiftly embraced her.

    "A-ah..." Maria was stunned, but not repulsed.

    At that moment, a hug was probably what she needed the most¡ªespecially since it wasing from someone like Jared.

    "It''s fine, Maria. Calm down. I''m here." The youngdy tightened her grip on Jared as she heard those words.

    For the first time in a really long time, tears broke forth, and she began shaking. However, this time it wasn''t fear.

    No, it was more of relief.

    Yes¡ªshe was relieved.

    "T-thank you..." Maria whispered.

    As she remained locked in his arms, the fear and anxiety she felt slowly disintegrated¡ªovershadowed by a higher emotion.

    "... Thank you, Jared."

    ***********

    It took some time for Maria to calm down, but I waited patiently.<novelnext></novelnext>

    We embraced for so long that I forgot how much time had passed.

    At some point, I felt she was already past her fears, but she kept hugging me. It almost felt like a baby who didn''t want to let go of a grown adult''s body.

    She just ''stuck'' to me.

    I was tempted to speak up, but considering what she had just gone through, it was only fair I humored her.

    As expected, after a while, she let go of me. Her moist eyes had dried up, and she was looking much better.

    A smile formed on her frosty face as she thanked me and sat up on her bed.

    "You''re wee." I smiled.

    I had never seen this side of Maria. Experiencing it made me feel a certain kind of emotion that I couldn''t quite out into words.

    The major issue of concern was the reason why she acted in that way. Of course, I understood she was still recoiling from shock, but it would do a lot of good if I knew the problem.

    ''Let''s not rush things, though. She should rest first. I can always askter...'' With that in mind, I asked some simple questions about her body and how she was feeling.

    She replied positively, of course. But, as expected, she had a few questions of her own.

    "Where are we?"

    "Ah, well... this is my home. You''re currently in my room." I didn''t realize the implication of my words until after they were uttered.

    ''Stupid!''

    "A-ah... r-really?" I noticed Maria suddenly developed an interest in her surroundings.

    Her eyes scoured everywhere, taking in the details as I spoke to her nervously.

    "I brought you here without thinking. Forgive me..."

    Logical reasoning told me that I would have simply taken her to one of the numerous Guest Rooms we had in our Manor.

    Why did it have to be here? No, more importantly... why didn''t Mum say anything about it?

    ''That sly woman...''

    So much for teaching me about Love.

    "I-it''s fine, really. So this is where you grew up... it''s less fancy than I thought."

    "Haha... yes." Iughed.

    There was no way I could tell her that while this was my personal room, I spent most of my night hours with my mother.

    She didn''t like sleeping alone, and to be honest... neither did I¡ªespecially after the stunts my Mom pulled over the years.

    My body was simply ustomed to having a partner while sleeping.

    ''I still prefer being alone than sharing an awkward moment in bed, though.'' I instantly shook my head and tried to return to topic.

    "When you were in traumatic shock, I brought you here so you could feelfortable and rxed. So, don''t worry about anything and make yourself at home."

    While there really wasn''t enough time, I didn''t want to put Maria in a position where she would have no choice but to relive whatever caused her that trauma.

    "I-I think I''m ready to talk, Jared. It''s better to get it off my chest as soon as possible..." She murmured.

    ''Ah? She''s saying it of her own volition?''

    "I know you''re being considerate by not asking me about what actually happened. But... I don''t want to slow you down, Jared. Even if, at this point, I can''t catch up to you... I would rather not be a burden as well."

    Maria''s eyes glowed with determination. How could I refuse her offer?

    "Very well. So, tell me. What happened?"

 Chapter 577 Dark History

    It all happened when Maria was a little girl.

    She was barely four years old, and her Mana training had officially begun.

    Since she was a genius, she had Awakened much earlier than others¡ªat the age of three years old.

    As a result, while others were still trying their hardest to go past the threshold, she was already learning the concepts of Magic.

    If there was one word to use to describe the elegant young girl, it would be ''Genius!''

    Maria was the genius of the Helmsworth family¡ªone of the great 4 Nobles.

    The Crimsons, the Leonards, the Netherlores, and the Helmsworths.

    Their families were as old as the Eastern Kingdom itself, so her family had ess to numerous resources.

    Still, ording to what she was told, she was a bright star in their family¡ªone whose talent was unmatched.

    Maria, at that point, felt d.

    While it was not something she chose for herself, she relished the fact that she was special.

    The only downside was when theypared her to her cousin¡ªStefan.

    The Helmsworth family and the Netherlores used to be one household¡ªuntil a portion defected and made the Netherlore faction.

    As a result, she and Stefan were distant rtives¡ªcousins to be precise.

    It was unavoidable that they would meet¡ªand every time, she would see the gaze Stefan used anytime their eyes met.

    ''He doesn''t like me much...'' She often thought to herself.

    It was only expected, though.

    Childish jealousy was something that young humans were capable of. Besides, Stefan must have also received a lot of pressure from his family.

    Naturally, his inclination toward his more talentedpetitor would be sour.

    Maria decided to talk to him¡ªpatch things up eventually.

    Magic didn''t determine their rtionship as family... or as friends.

    Unfortunately, the next day, the most ghastly thing ured.

    ****************

    "RUUUUUNNNNN!!!"

    "We can''t beat that thing!"

    "What is this monster?!"

    "Evacuate the youngdy! Guark!!!"

    While training in the field¡ªtrying her hardest to perfect the simple Spell her tutor made her practice alone¡ªa horrendous monster appeared.

    It fell from the sky¡ªlike a meteorite.

    The ground shattered, like ss, and it was only a miracle that Maria didn''t get badly hurt¡ªor worse¡ªduring the incident.

    An invasion of the Helmsworth estate was never going to be taken lightly, so of course several Mages and Knights appeared to get rid of the monster.

    However, no matter how many of them arrived at the scene, they all horribly failed.

    ''W-what is that?!'' Maria asked herself as she sat on the ground, too petrified to move.

    Her body had given up all the energy they had, so she couldn''t even stand.

    The monster¡ªlike a murky dark sludge¡ªwas so repulsive that Maria would have vomited several times over if she could move her body in the slightest.

    The smell of ammonia tingled her nose as she realized she had soiled herself while staring at the pure ck slime monster.<novelnext></novelnext>

    It was over ten feet tall, and its several tentacles, coupled with it''s extremely flexible and durable physique, made it an impossible monster to kill.

    Also, for some reason...

    "Magic isn''t working!"

    "What kind of Magic Beast is this?"

    "This energy I''m sensing... is this even Magic?!"

    All her protectors could do nothing in the presence of such absolute power.

    They all dropped like flies¡ªdying one after the other.

    Even the ones who avoidedbat and simply tried to evacuate her met the same fate.

    Maria watched as blood and gore littered the field where she usually had her training. The monster showed nopassion as it ughtered everyone in its path.

    Maria waited for her turn... though it never came.

    Finally, after wreaking enough destruction and carnage, the monster vanished¡ªor more like it imploded.

    Maria, who had patiently waited for her death while being drenched in sweat and pee, didn''t stop trembling even after the monster disappeared.

    Whether it had died, or was simply waiting for the right time to kill her, she didn''t know.

    And so, she could do nothing but shiver and rey the deaths of the brave men and women who sacrificed themselves for her¡ªthe true genius if the Helmsworth household.

    By the time her parents¡ªwho were in an important meeting at the Royal Pce¡ªalong with several important figures in the Helmsworth household, arrived, the damage had been done.

    The monster was gone... and the genius of the Helmsworth family was scarred forever.

    ************

    "It took me weeks to stop shaking after that incident. Even after, I found it hard to properly express my emotions, so I was taught to numb them."

    ''Ah, I see. That''s why she''s usually nk.''

    "I went through Magic Therapy, and it took me a lot of time to recover. But, even while going through the process, I heard that the day after that attack... Stefan Awakened."

    "Really?"

    I still had no idea what connected the monster in her childhood to Stefan, or why she was suddenly reminded of that childhood experience when Stefan showed up after so many years.

    "I often wondered at the coincidence, but since I wanted to forget that incident, I let everything go..." Her eyes were now looking very dark as she spoke.

    It was like a burning anger was swelling within her.

    "The reason why I brought up my past, and how it connects to Stefan is..." As she locked eyes with me, I could sense certainty.

    "... Stefan''s felt exactly the same as that monster all those years ago."

    ''Huh?!'' My eyes widened slightly.

    ''What is she talking about?''

    "You felt it too, didn''t you? That power surrounding Stefan. It wasn''t Mana, was it? It feltpletely different... repulsive! Its exactly the same as that monster from my childhood!"

    "But you were young then. There''s no way you can vividly remember precisely how the energy¡ª"

    "Yes, I can! I''ve been able to distinguish certain Spells and Mana attributes from one another ever since I was a kid. I know what I''m talking about."

    My eyes widened as she responded. Maria truly was a genius.

    Still, about what she said... I had to believe Maria at this point. Everything seemed too intense to be a lie.

    ''If she''s right, though... then we''re in a bigger mess than I thought.''

 Chapter 578 Getting Closer

    "Stefan Netherlore and that monster... they share a connection."

    My eyes widened and my brain began calcting the possibilities.

    ''A monster that is immune to Magic. It appeared and disappeared mysteriously, killing the many Helmsworth Mages and Knights that challenged it...''

    Stefan also got Awakened the next day, and the whole incident seemed as though it never happened.

    "The Helmsworth family is one of the major powers of the Kingdom. There''s no way their security is weak..."

    That meant the monster had to be unimaginably powerful. Shouldn''t such a beast have left some sort of trace?

    "We never got any whiff of it, Jared. It was like... it never even existed, to begin with." Maria muttered.

    The more I learned, the more conflicted I became.

    ''They would have employed anything in their power to solve this mess. It bothers me that they haven''t done so yet.

    Besides... what is Stefan''s connection to all this?''

    I was still unsure of the definite conclusion, but even I felt a strange energy around Stefan. Or rather, I couldn''t feel it at all.

    It was just... like a darkness I couldn''tprehend.

    "We''ll need to investigate this further."

    "H-how?" Maria looked at me with an unsure expression.

    ''A-ah, right! This all happened over ten years ago. How would we even start...?''

    Unfortunately for me, I was now obsessed with this subject. When that happened, I needed to reach the bottom¡ªno matter the subject.

    "We''ll pay the Netherlores a visit."

    "R-really? I don''t know, Jared... I don''t think I''m up for it."

    "Why not?"

    "If what I sensed is right, the Netherlores must have a connection to that monster... and to Stefan. You didn''t see the thing, Jared. It''s impossible..."

    Somehow, her words wounded my pride.

    "Maria... do you think I''m incapable of protecting you?"

    "I didn''t say that. It would just be better if you went on your own. I wouldn''t want to be dead weight or anything..."

    ''What''s up with her?'' I asked myself.

    It was understandable if she was scared, or I''d her trauma couldn''t allow her to face any possibility that could lead her to the monster she described.

    But... this feltpletely different.

    "Well, suit yourself," I murmured with a shrug.

    I tried understanding things from her perspective, so it was better to leave her be.

    ''No use in forcing anything.'' I nodded gently.

    "B-by the way... when will we talk about... ''that''." Maria''s voice was low now, and her eyes sharply observed me.

    "What do you mean? That?" My brain was already saturated with multiple thoughts that I didn''tpletely get what she meant.

    "The fact that you''re Lewis Griffith in tha¡ª"

    "OHHHHHHH!!!!!" I sharply interrupted Maria with a howl, staggering back as I covered my face with my hand.

    ''Ah, shoot! Why did you tell her, Jared?''

    It felt like how a sober man would regret the decisions he made while in a drunken state. The game we yed¡ªTruth or Share¡ªhad made me too much on my heart. That caused me to make such a fatal mistake.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Shit! Oh, great! This is going to be awkward...'' Nervousness set in, but I didn''t let any of it show.

    "What''s there to talk abou¡ª?"

    "Are you kidding? I want to know everything! It sounds so crazy! Well, it sort of makes sense, considering everything we''ve been through... still..."

    "Hmmmmmmm... I don''t know..." I rubbed my chin, pretending to give the entire thing a thought.

    ''I need to find [The Fool] Arcana quickly. That way...''

    "Don''t even think of erasing my memories. I like that I know! Hold on, how many people know already?"

    "Including you, I''d say five."

    "Yesss! Looks like I''m a part of your inner circle now." Maria gave a surprising smile.

    The whites of her teeth showed, and I could sense excitement bursting through her face.

    ''Is she a Lewis Griffith fanatic, like Ana?'' If that was the case, then I was in danger.

    "W-well, the truth is I''ve notpletely figured out why I got reincarnated into this body. It''s still a work in progress."

    "Still... I have lots of questions to ask."

    "That means you''ll have toe with me. I''m leaving to investigate the Netherlores. Time is of the essence."

    We would be facing Stefan sooner orter, and I really wanted to understand the strange power he now wielded¡ªespecially how he was able to reach such a rank in the Cult.

    ''There''s no way everything is just a coincidence.''

    "F-fine, I''lle. But you have to tell me everything!" Maria beamed.

    ''Everything? Why would I do that?"

    "You seem more excited than usual." I pointed out.

    Usually, Maria never showed such extreme emotions. Usually...

    "Well, I just feel like we now know each other''s past¡ªour respective secrets.

    Of course, they are not by any meansparable, but... it''s just that, after this exchange, I feel we''ve gotten a bit closer."

    "A-ah, I see. You''re right." I indeed felt more invested in Maria after learning more about Maria.

    If it was the same for her¡ªdespite the awkward truth¡ªthat meant my Mom was right.

    ''Knowing people more deepens that bond of love¡ªor, er... feelings...''

    "Are you sure you have no problem with me being an old man?" I awkwardly raised the question.

    "How old are you, Jared?"

    "You mean my cumtive age, or¡ª"

    Suddenly, I felt Maria''s hand pressing on my chest. She had moved so quickly that her body was now pressing against mine, and I could feel her warmth once more.

    "I mean ''how old are you''?"

    Feeling her body so close to me caused a reaction in my body, and I swiftly stepped away before the symptoms grew worse.

    "See? That exins everything, doesn''t it?" She watched me blush, and I felt like she was teasing me.

    ''This girl...'' Even after realizing who I was, it didn''t seem to faze her a bit.

    "Weren''t you the one that proposed an unverified theory in one of your Treatises... about the Soul''s age? "

    ''A-ah? She knew that?!'' My eyes widened in surprise.

 Chapter 579 Investigating The Netherlores

    "You literally said that it''s possible that our Souls are thousands of years old, that maybe we''re all connected to the Soul of this world, and that we return to it once we die."

    "H-how do you even¡ª? That was a limited, older edition. I wasn''t sure anyone would be crazy enough to read or remember the contents."

    Except fanatics like Ana, of course.

    "Well, I studied Lewis Griffith too, okay? Just because I wasn''t a loudmouth about it doesn''t mean I didn''t appreciate his works."

    ''A-ah, I see...''

    Maria was basically using my unverified theory to justify my soul being old, yet my body being young.

    "You just happen to have your memories intact, different from the rest of us. Or maybe..." Maria''s eyes widened slightly, as though another idea popped into her head.

    "What do you think happened to the Soul of the original Jared Leonard?"

    "I don''t know. This isn''t the time to think about that, though. There''s no point fishing for answers if there isn''t sufficient information... or time. Why do you think I haven''t explored further into my Reincarnation?"

    Maria nodded slightly, sighing as she returned to her position on the bed.

    "In any case, we should be heading out now..." I cast a nce at Maria''s fixated expression.

    Unlike before, where her expression was nk, the only thing I saw her do now was smile.

    ''Stop staring at her, Jared!'' Now feeling self conscious, I cleared my throat and prepared a teleportation Spell Card.

    "We''ll use Magic Tools and the [Unknowable] Spell to sneak into the Netherlore Residence. That way, we''ll get what we want faster."

    The issue was whether or not the Spell would work, considering the fact that even Stefan was immune to its traceless function.

    "We could put on disguises too. That would make it easier for us to escape liability if we''re caught."

    "Nice thinking!" I beamed at Maria.

    The disguise had to be without the use of Magic¡ªconsidering we didn''t know what to expect there.

    She blushed upon hearing my words, and seeing her make such a face also made me blush. It was crazy!

    ''I guess telling her wasn''t so bad, after all...'' A smile formed on my face as I free closer to the bed.

    "You''re telling me everything, remember! I haven''t forgotten!"

    "Y-yeah... I know." I awkwardlyughed, taking back my earlier thoughts.

    ****************

    ''Shit! Shit Shiiiitttt!!!''

    A man was rapidly trying to clear a vast amount of resources from a shelf and his desk.

    There were also several workers who did the same outside his office.

    In the vast room, they all hurriedly began packing every material that was linked to what they were researching¡ªin essence, everything in sight.

    "Shit! This is so sudden! How are we supposed to get all of this done?!" Hemented as he kept doing his work.

    The man¡ªalongside the other personnel who worked as hard as they could¡ªwere all within the Netherlore Estate.

    This was a secret facility, and ording to the Intel they got, it was about to getpromised.

    ''We have to clear everything before he arrives? Shit!''

    That meant it could be anytime from now.

    The angry, but worried man¡ªProfessor Ladvel¡ªwas a brilliant mind within the Eastern Kingdom.

    Many praised him of an intellect on par with Lewis Griffith himself. But, since that wasn''t enough for him, he decided to prove himself as superior.

    Comparing someone of his caliber to an outdated schr was nothing short of an insult.

    The Netherlore family contacted him many years ago, and he had been working for them in a groundbreaking project ever since.

    That was probably why he was so frustrated that he had to evacuate his life''s work within the short amount of time he had.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''They would have had me destroy these precious notes of research instead? Those barbarians!'' Ladvel growled, quickening his pace.

    The grey streaks on his full ck hair fluttered as he moved in a hurry. He was already balding at his scalp, and several of his hairs were falling out, but he ignored them.

    ''Using Magic would have been so much easier...'' He nced at the remaining documents he had to pack within hisrge bag.

    He understood why he couldn''t dare use something like that here, so he decided not to be hung up on the subject.

    "Almost done. Almost done! Almost¡ª!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    A st rang out from outside Ladvel''s office, making him groan in utter annoyance and frustration.

    As he feared, they were toote in evacuating.

    ''Shit!'' He quickly packed the rest of his items, hoping his staff would hold the enemies back until he was done.

    Just some seconds more, and that would be it!

    "So this is the ce? It does look shady... like ab." He could hear the voice of a boy ringing out loud.

    ''So, he''s finally here, uh?''

    The one who just entered the room was  none other than Jared Leonard. There was no way Ladvel wouldn''t recognize his voice.

    "Shit!!!" The man knew he could only pray for his subordinates.

    ''I have to hurry!''

    **************

    Okay, so we teleported to the Netherlore Residence using [The Tower].

    I gave Maria one of my [Unknowable] cloaks, so we were both immune to sensory abilities and Magic detection.

    As expected of a Noble Household, it was very vast.

    It wasn''t asrge as the Leonard Residence¡ªprobably because we lived in the rural area. That meant morend for us.

    ''Okay, let''s begin!'' I telepathicalymunicated to Maria, who was beside me.

    ~Sure!~

    Thanks go ''Resonance'', we were both able to sense our respective locations andmunicate effectively.

    As a result, bypassing the guards was not too difficult.

    ~Where exactly are we going?~

    ''Beneath us.'' I answered Maria''s inquisition.

    Since I could use Spellcraft to sense everything around for miles¡ªas long as there was Mana involved¡ªit made sense that I would be able to locate where everything and everyone was.

    But, even though I should have had ess to every nook and cranny of the ce¡ªafter all, Mana was everywhere¡ªI couldn''t sense anything at all in a particr point underneath.

    It was like a dark blot in the entire space.

    No Mana at all!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Happy Mass Release, everyone!!!

 Chapter 580 Strange Elements [Pt 1]

    We made our way down, using the intangibility function of our cloaks.

    As we passed through the walls, like ghosts, Maria and I descended the stairs and have hidden passages that should have kept strangers away.

    The building was structured in such a way that it had so many levels¡ªeven underground.

    Mana Gems provided illumination, and the structure seemed to be built using a rather strong alloy as the base material.

    The walls had a metallic gleam to it, but I chose not to focus on those for too long.

    I sensed some activity in every floor, making me curious as to what exactly the Netherlores were doing in such secret underground structure.

    ''Time to find out!''

    Fortunately, I came prepared.

    Summoning my Automatons¡ªall of which had the [Unknowable] effect on them¡ªI sent them to the various locations we bypassed.

    ''That final spot underground... that''s the goal!''

    I spotted so many Magic Traps and defences.l as we ventured deeper. Unfortunately for the Netherlores, none of them were going to be of any help.

    They couldn''t sense Maria''s presence or mine. Besides, even if they could, we would simply pass through them.

    ''It''s perfect!''

    My heart somehow raced in both excitement and dread as we got close to the blot in space.

    What I was sensing from there almost felt... forbidden.

    ''Could this be it? The big Netherlore secret?'' My thoughts rang.

    Soon, we arrived close to the point where Mana was basically nonexistent. Maria and I halted, now standing before a door.

    ''I don''t know what exists beyond this door. It could be dangerous. If you want, I could teleport you away and take care of this myse¡ª''

    One re from Maria made me realize I had said something unnecessary.

    ~We''ve alreadye this far together. Let''s end this the same way.~

    I couldn''t agree any more.

    As we both nodded while grinning ear to ear¡ªat least, it felt like that was the expression she made.

    ''Alright. Why don''t we pass through this¡ª''

    As I touched therge metallic wall, my body felt hard and stiff.

    "U-uh?"

    I wasn''t intangible¡ªor invisible¡ªany longer.

    ''What in the...?!''

    It was unexpected, but the [Unknowable] effect on my hand had gone.

    Realizing this, I quickly removed it from the metallic wall¡ªcausing another strange phenomena to ur.

    ''It returned to its invisible state...?''

    Why? What was happening?

    ''Could it be Anti-Magic?''

    No¡ªmy [Unknowable] was a product of the Tower Arcana. I extrapted one of it''s space-bending functions to allow myself be intangible and non-visible.

    Kind of like I was at a particr ce, and also not there at the same time.

    Anti-Magic couldn''t interfere with Laws thatplicated. It simply offset the effects of Magic made from Mana and Miasma.

    Besides... this didn''t feel like Anti-Magic.

    There was no trace of Mana or Miasma behind the door.

    There was no trace of anything!

    "We''ll have to destroy this door. There''s a possibility we''ve already beenpromised. To get what we want, we''re going to have to love quickly."

    Magic perhaps wouldn''t work, even if I attempted to destroy the door with it.

    ''Let''s find out.''<novelnext></novelnext>

    ********

    >SHUUUUUUUU<

    The moment my Mana or Miasma attack touched the surface.of the door, it dissipated. There was no resistance at all. The Spell simply melted away into nothingness.

    ''This is serious. So it doesn''t just offset the Spell or disrupt the process... this stuff simply kills it.''

    As I observed the door, I wondered what kind of element it was.

    If only I could use Magic on it, things would be much easier, but it just looked like a pitch-ck metal door.

    ~What should we do now? Give up?~ Maria''s thoughts echoed in my head.

    Give up? Me?

    It appeared Maria Helmsworth did not know me very well.

    When confronted with impossible tasks like this, I found it very hard to detach myself from exploring all the possibilities.

    Unless every single route was cut off, I wouldn''t stop! This obsession was a great strength of mine, but also a w.

    As I pondered on what next to do, a sudden thought sparked in my mind.

    ''Hm... why don''t I try this?''

    I reached out for my Subspace and brought out a card. It was, of course, an Arcana¡ªone of the two that I had currently had in my possession.

    ''[Strength].'' I smiled at the glowing card.

    It gleamed with its usual malleable energy¡ªtaking fluid-like form and several colors whole warbling.

    I somehow had the inclination that this would work. And so...

    ''What Spell should I try with this? Maybe a Fireball?''

    >VWUUUUUSSSHHHH<

    Before I evenpleted my thought, the Arcana''s took the form of glowing ember, and mes suddenly manifested in front of me.

    The intensity was unlike anything I had ever felt, though it was in minimal form.

    ''It... read my mind and generated the Spell?''

    I hadn''t fully deciphered the capabilities of [Strength], but at this point I was understanding even more.

    ''The energy I''m sensing from it isn''t Mana or Miasma. It''s something else entirely...''

    However,pared to what was behind the door, the power of [Strength] felt better... more familiar.

    ? ''I can''t exin it, but... it feels so different, yet so familiar.''

    Two new different forms of power were currently evident before me. And I had no idea what to call them!

    ''What matters now is that I don''t think the door can resist this fireball. I''ll think about the restter. For now... let''s get what we want!''

    ~Agreed.~

    The fireball spun as I directed it at the door.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The door was instantly destroyed¡ªburned to nothing.

    ''A-ah!''

    That wasn''t all!

    The zing trail kept burning through everything, until it finally died out.

    I was amazed by the destructive capability of a single ball of mes¡ªsomething that would qualify as Basic Magic by normal standard.

    Sure, I knew it was denser and more powerful than a normal fireball, but not to this extent!

    As I watched the simmering hot smoke and glowing embers left behind by the me''s attack, I was beyond shocked.

    ''E-everything in its path... got destroyed!''

 Chapter 581 Strange Elements [Pt 2]

    "What is this ce?" I murmured as I stepped into the devastated room.

    It was dark.

    No Mana Stone glowed, and the the atmosphere seemed dreary.

    My [Unknowable] effect ceased the moment I stepped in, same as Maria''s. There was no longer any need for speaking through thoughts, so I abandoned that approach.

    If not for the glowing card that floated in front of me, we might have as well been in pitch ck darkness.

    "Are you okay, Maria?" I nced to my side, observing Maria''s trembling body.

    "I-it''s the same... the same energy. Don''t you feel it, Jared? The same as that time... the same one Stefan had. This feeling..."

    It was true that the ambience felt dreadfully tense, and I could feel a strange darkness creep upon me, but I wasn''t affected at all.

    ''Is it because I''m wielding the [Strength] Arcana?'' My eyes watched the warbling card.

    Maria was without protection in this oddly mysterious atmosphere while I had the warm power of [Strength] keeping me safe.

    ''That''s not right. Hold on...''

    I essed my Subspace and brought out the second Arcana in my possession.

    "Here. Take this." Taking Maria''s shivering hand, I ced the [Pope] Arcana in her grasp.

    Suddenly, a white glow manifested and the light intensified all around Maria.

    I could also feel it from where I stood¡ªa warm power that seemed to ward away the darkness enveloping us.

    "A-ah... I feel much better. This is... amazing!"

    It was no surprise that Maria felt the same. Both [Strength] and [The Pope] gave off a different energy from anything we had ever experienced.

    ''Could the other Arcanas be the same way? I never felt this kind of power when I used them, though...''

    Perhaps it was because I approached the use of the Arcanas with Mana, so they responded to me in kind.

    ''That means... each of the Arcanas has this new power within them?!''

    Just what had I missed out on!

    It was possible that the Apostles of Aether discovered a new source of energy¡ªsomething different from Mana and Miasma.

    ''I''ve been so close-minded all this time. This warm energy around me, and this vile power pervading this room... they''re in different realms from what I understand.''

    Mana and Miasms were currently obsolete. The Magic I had pursued my whole life was non-functional in this new territory.

    I was nothing more than ay man.

    ''Lay man...y man? Someone told me that. Lay man... S-Solomon?!''

    My eyes widened as a spark of memories appeared in my mind.

    "A-argh!" Grabbing my head in both difort and confusion, I made a shout of pain.

    "Jared, are you okay?" I heard Maria''s voice, but I was too overwhelmed to speak.

    ''Solomon said that... Solomon! What is... this...??!''

    "Jared! Jared!! Jared!!!" Maria''s voice seemed more distant as I could feel something wash upon me.

    It didn''te from my head, but from something deeper.

    My Soul!

    As if that wasn''t enough, I heard footsteps approach us. They sounded hurried, as the echoes of their boots hitting the ground caused me even more difort.

    "Gahhhh!" My eyes tightened and more agonizing groans leaked out.

    The footsteps got closer, and before I knew it, silhouettes of people emerged.

    ''Where did theye from? Is there some other door? Gahhh!'' I clutched my chest and my head tight.

    "J-Jared, hang in there!" Maria''s voice was trembling now, and my blurry vision couldn''t make out her face.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Was she crying? I had no idea. My mind was a blur, and new shes of memories appeared.

    "Intruders!"

    "They appear weakened now!"

    "Let''s end them quickly!"

    I could hear voices manifest around me. The silhouettes brought out weapons resembling staffs.

    The staffs had an obsidian glow, and they seemed like even more concentrated forms of the murky darkness surrounding us.

    ''No... you can''t hurt me. You can''t hurt Maria too...''

    "KILL THEM!"

    They fired shots of dark mes at us. My mind was too disoriented for a counterattack, but I pleaded within myself... I pleaded to [Strength] for help.

    >VWUUUUUSSSHHHH!!!<

    Instantly, a wave of even stronger mes appeared from the Arcana as it warbled more intensely.

    ''T-thank you...'' I smiled, now feeling my body growing numb.

    My vision was getting darker, and my Soul was unraveling.

    It felt like distant memories that were bottled inside slowly started taking form.

    ''Haa... Solomon, you bastard...'' My thoughts trailed as the image of a golden-haired man shed in my mind.

    He was adorned in several jewels, and a floating crown hovered above his head.

    An eternal smile was locked on his face, and his pure white attire was captivating beyond measure.

    ''... What the hell did you do to me?''

    "JAREEEEDDD!!!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    After that, everything went nk.

    **********

    ''Jared! What''s wrong with him? Jared!'' Maria''s heart was racing as she watched the young boy fall unconscious.

    He seemed to be in great distress, but she was powerless to help him.

    She tried healing Magic, but Mana didn''t avail her.

    [The Pope] Arcana glowed brightly as she held it, but she didn''t know how to use it. The power around her was growing, and it seemed to beckon on her to take action.

    But... what could she do?

    ''More footsteps? More people areing?!'' Maria''s eyes widened as she nced at the far end of the dark room they were in.

    Another door seemed to open in a corner, and people were pouring out.

    The bright light in her grasp granted her enough vision to see the people who were desperately charging at her and the unconscious Jared.

    ''They''re esteemed citizens of the Kingdom. I recognize some of them!''

    Some were brilliant researchers, while others were powerful Mages. They had all imed neutrality, so Maria wasn''t expecting them to be in cohorts with the Netherlores.

    Now totally confused¡ªtorn between caring for Jared or protecting the both of them¡ªMaria felt her mind copsing.

    The white light around her glowed brighter.

    Amid the despair and creeping darkness¡ªthe seemingly overwhelming situation¡ªpure energy surged even more.

    And so, as they pointed their obsidian staffs at her, Maria felt the embrace of power whispering to her.

    "Have faith..."

 Chapter 582 Ray Of Hope

    >WHOOOOOOSSSHHHHH<

    Suddenly, in a burst of white light, Maria ascended into the air.

    Her body was doused in an unquestionably radiant light. It covered her, like a sphere, developing her immediate surroundings as well.

    Jared''s unconscious body also got bathed in its warmth, and the creeping darkness all around began to dissipate.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    "H-how is she¡ª?!"

    "T-that''s now possible!"

    "She''s using Magic?!"

    "I-it''s not¡ª!!!"

    The mysterious men d in ck were beyond shocked when they observed the power Mariamanded.

    It was enough to make them shudder in despair, and their hands nervously trembled even as they gripped their staffs.

    "K-kill her! Hurry!!!"

    Heeding themand of the one who seemed to be their leader, everyone gained some measure of theirposure and powered-up their dark rods.

    "DIEEEEE!!!"

    The darkness in the rods swelled, seemingly corroding everything in its path.

    Certainly, their joint attack of corruption would be more than enough to get rid of the girl. Having these thoughts, they widened their eyes and curled their lips as the devastating st neared the target.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM<

    "U-uh?!"

    The dark surge of power never reached their designated target.

    Rather, it shed with the barrier of light around her, causing the former to instantly get crushed.

    "N-no... she... but how?!" Everyone was about to go mad with confusion.

    The ultimate power that surpassed even the concept of Mana... was easily destroyed by a mere child?

    The scientists were beyond appalled. They were mad with confusion and rage.

    "No way! No way! No way!"

    The group desperately tried again and again, but their efforts all ended in futility. The darkness kept growing thinner and thinner, and the bright light kept expanding.

    The men watched as their obsidian staffs slowly lost their color, poeelessly seeing the source of their power fading.

    Their years of dedicated research.

    Their quest for transcendent power.

    Their sacrifices for absolute strength.

    Everything went down the drain in that single moment.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    The light swept through them, filling them with such overpowering energy that they screamed.

    Their bodies overflowed with the foreign surge, and they felt something leave their system.

    Everything went nk, and the ferocious individuals became docile beings¡ªas though they were marites whose strings had been cut.

    >THUD!<

    "They''re all unconscious now. They won''t hurt anyone again..." A soft whisper escaped the lips of the perpetrator.

    Her eyes gently looked around her, seeing everyst ounce of the disgusting darkness already gone.

    >SHUUUUUUUU<

    Slowly, the swelling light began to reduce. It dimmed¡ªshrinking in size and power¡ªas it let Maria down from her height.

    Before long, the bright sparks faded, and the remnant energy returned to the card the youngdy held in her grasp.

    "Haa... haa..." Her body shuddered as she hugged it tightly.

    Never before had she felt the sensation she had just experienced.<novelnext></novelnext>

    It was like she was one with everything¡ªa state of absolute control... of purity and transcendence!

    Maria''s breathing stabilized, but her legs were too weak, so she fell on her butt while yelping slightly.

    "T-that was... amazing..." Her eyes moved in Jared''s direction, watching as he still remained unconscious.

    "Ha... Jared." Maria was a small distance from the young boy, so she began drawing close to him in her drained state.

    Her eyes were brimming with hope and passion. It felt like if she would touch him, then everything would be alright.

    The way the boy peacefully slept almost.made him appear dead, but Maria did not allow such thoughts to cross her mind

    She simply wanted to remain by his side.

    "Jare¡ª"

    "Fools! Fools!! Fools!!! All of you are fools!!!" A voice suddenly bellowed.

    An ominous energy suddenly took over the room, and the darkness that had vanished instantly returned.

    "A-ah?!" Maria''s eyes widened as she looked behind her.

    A man stood there, d in a dark suit and a researcher''s attire.

    He had sses on, and his roughened dark hair made him appear a madman.

    His slumped stance added to that aesthetic¡ªsame as the way he mumbled unintelligible words and seemed increasingly irritated.

    "You fools! You worthless fools! You could not use the power well! Fools! You insult the power! Fools! Why can''t you do anything right? Fools!!!"

    His screech was beyond annoying. It peaked until it reached a frightening degree.

    Suddenly¡ª

    >SQUELCH!<

    ¡ªHe stomped his boots on the head of one of the unconscious people, killing him instantly.

    "Worthless!"

    >SPLOOSH!<

    Blood sttered all over him and the area as he crushed another one.

    "Fools!"

    Another died in the same way.

    "You''re all!"

    Yet one more head easily caged in as the man''s weight burst the brain and shattered the skull.

    "WORTHLESS!!!"

    At this point, upon seeing such carnage being wrought before her, Maria was petrified with fear.

    It wasn''t simply because of the mayhem, but also because of the despairing darkness around her.

    Her body shivered endlessly, and the flow of sweat did not cease.

    Her gaze shifted to Jared, and she watched him remain motionless.

    Even if they were simply a short distance away, it suddenly felt like they were miles apart.

    That frightened her beyond belief!

    "ARGGHH!!!" Her maddening scream pierced the air, drawing the attention of the mysterious murderer.

    His head mechanically tilted in her direction, and his bloodshot eyes disyed a murderous gleam.

    "YOU..." A deep, vengeful voice followed.

    The man''s tone was as unpleasant as metal scraping metal.

    "This is all your fault. It''s your fault. Yours!" Now focusing all his killing intent on Maria, the insane researcher only had one expression disyed.

    He resembled the personification of pure, unbridled terror!

    "L-lord Stefan told me... he warned me you would show! But it was toote! You were too early. Not enough time to research. Not enough time to run. No. Flee. Run. Stay. Kill. Arghhhhh!!!" The man was now itching his head in agonizing conflict.

    "Should I kill you? No... I should not. No, I should. Young Helmsworthdy. Feeling superior to our Master. The one who is mostpatible. The child of darkness. The one who is one with the abyss. Netherlore is his name!!!"

 Chapter 583 A Step Closer To The Truth

    The man abandoned his sses and approached Maria, exuding the very darkness that made the poor girl shiver endlessly.

    At this point, she was closing her eyes tightly, curled up in a ball as she struggled to stay afloat.

    Any little resistance, and Maria felt like she would sink into despair.

    "Y-you... you would darepete with Master Stefan?! You think you''re better?! You know nothing. Ignorant nonentity!"

    His steps were slow and haggard, almost as if he was on the brink of death. Still, he had enough oppressive presence to make the entire area tremble.

    "E-eek... e-eek..." Hot tears flowed down Maria''s cheeks as she sobbed.

    She didn''t understand the man''s words. His mere presence, and the grating sound of his voice simply drove her insane.

    She prayed for salvation, but even her Arcana no longer responded.

    "You bitch! You cur! You sow! You in¡ª!"

    >SWOOOOOOSSHHH!!!<

    Suddenly, in a white blur, something sharply moved.

    The grating voice stopped, and the oppressive aura vanished. It was as though there was now a dead calm in the raging sea.

    "Haaa... so noisy." A familiar voice rang in Maria''s ears, causing her to open her eyes.

    The first ce she turned to look was Jared''s position. He wasn''t there!

    "A-ah...?!" More tears streamed down her eyes as her face moved in the direction of the approaching man.

    "Y-you''re awake..." Maria''s whisper contained relief and gratitude.

    Jared was currently standing right in front of the insane researcher¡ªholding a de that ran through his opponent''s body.

    "Y-you... you bastard!" The researcher coughed blood¡ªdark, corrosive blood.

    "You should shut up." Jared''s voice wasmanding and cold.

    His eyes showed pure disgust, and a deep-seated hatred could be found just far within them.

    "I would have made you suffer the same kind of pain you put her through, but I don''t have the luxury of time."

    "M-master Stefan told me you''de... Jared. You aren''t good enough... but he considers you a rival. You inferior... your Mana... your Magic. inferior... In the end..." The man''s murmur was strained, but he spoke anyway.

    "I don''t care."

    >SWISH!<

    In a quick sh, his body was rend into two, and then Jared burned everything to a crisp with a busting glow of white energy.

    "You''re the true fool..."

    Maria watched as Jared''s eyes slowly transformed into that of pity and pain. There was a profound wisdom locked within that she couldn''t fathom.

    It was almost like he was a different person.

    "... You dedicated yourself to a lie." Jared''s lips finally closed, and he turned back to look at Maria.

    A delicate smile was nted on his face. It showed how happy, yet sorry he was.

    The young girl who watched him knew something was different. The person standing in front of her was Jared, but... he wasn''t the same person she knew.

    There was something about him that was different.

    "J-Jared...?"

    "Yes. It''s me... but I understand why you''re confused." As he began moving closer to her, the de in his grasp vanished in a blue spark.

    "W-who... what are you now? I don''t understand..."

    Maria didn''t know how to feel.

    Her body was trembling as he drew closer to her. It wasn''t out of fear, but a different feeling. It was an overpowering feeling of reverence.

    Jared currently didn''t feel human¡ªthe same way Maria felt when she wielded the power of [The Pope].

    "It''s still me, Maria. I''m just borrowing some power from [Strength]."

    Suddenly, the aura around Jared dissipated, and he felt the same way as before. Still, though...<novelnext></novelnext>

    "There''s still something different." Maria murmured, noticing a glow in his eyes that weren''t present before.

    The young girl didn''t have the words to describe it, but¡ª

    "You really are very perceptive, Maria."

    ¡ªJared had changed.

    "What happened to you? Why did you fall unconscious? Why are you different now?" She asked, and then Jared drew even closer to her.

    Before she could say or do anything else, he draw her closer to himself, and both of them were locked in an embrace.

    Maria felt sweaty and dirty, but she could not resist the urge to wrap herself around him. Her shivering body slowly calmed, and she felt much better then before.

    After they hugged for a minute¡ªmaybe two¡ªJared withdrew himself and locked eyes with her instead.

    ''S-so close...''

    Having the face of the boy she had feelings for so close to her made Maria feel like drawing much closer, but she controlled herself.

    ''N-no! I can''t be certain it''s really¡ª"

    "Don''t worry, Maria. It''s still me." Jared suddenly answered her worries with a smile.

    Maria froze. She was too captivated by his charming smile that she forgot to do much else.

    All the despair that assailed her in the past were drown in.the vast sea of forgetfulness. At the moment, it was just her and Jared that existed.

    "I just... had something returned to me." Jared''s voice was soft and calm.

    His eyes narrowed, and his smile grew broader.

    "I finally understand what''s going on."

    "Eh?"

    "I''ll exin everything soon, Maria. First, though, we have to act quickly."

    Maria was still confused, but she decided to listen to Jared.

    "The Netherlores have ess to something very dangerous. Even I can''tprehend how it got into their grasp, but its not supposed to exist here."

    "O-okay..."

    "We need to destroy it. I''m afraid you were right, Maria. Stefan is already affected¡ªmaybe more than I canprehend."

    "Affected by what? Is this also rted to the monster that attacked our Estate?"

    Jared nodded, causing Maria''s eyes to widen.

    "I didn''t think too much about it initially, but... the name ''Netherlore'' bears a keen resemnce to ''it''. Why didn''t I notice sooner?"

    "Jared, what are you talking about? I don''t understand."

    At this point, Maria was exasperated. She hated being left out, especially when she wanted to help.

    Grabbing the boy by both arms and drawing close to him so he could see her eager eyes, Maria asked with all seriousness.

    "What exactly is going on?!"

    Jared sighed, instantly raising his hand to acknowledge defeat. Once he did this, she loosened her grip and stepped back a little.

    "It''s about the Netherlore family. They''re involved in something that shouldn''t exist in this world."

    Maria''s eyes widened, awaiting more from Jared.

    "They have ess to Nether."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Happy Mass Release, everyone!!!

 Chapter 584 Discovery Of The Forbidden

    I observed Maria''s expression after giving her my assertion.

    "N-Nether...? Isn''t that what you said Merlin warned you about?" She mumbled thoughtfully.

    "Indeed. I wouldn''t have thought that the danger itself was in the Eastern Kingdom¡ªespecially a Noble household."

    Was the Nether Cult also in possession of the same element?  If that was the case, then it could be a war on two ends.

    ''First things first, though...'' I had to get rid of whatever abyss they found to ess Nether.

    ording to both Merlin and the Pope, the world would be destroyed if I allowed Nether¡ªan energy not meant to exist on this ne¡ªto thrive.

    "We have to act fast, Maria!"

    Things could have progressed past the point of no return, so it was best if we moved as quickly as possible.

    "But what exactly do we have to do?"

    "First, we get enough information on the Netherlores and what they are up to..."

    Deducing from the incident that happened to Maria so many years ago, the Netherlores had been involved with Nether for a while.

    ''Also, since they separated from the Helmsworth and took on the name of Netherlore, it must have been caused by their exposure to the element...''

    "The Royal Family might eventually get involved in this. In the worst case scenario, the Netherlore household could be purged from the Eastern Kingdom."

    I heard Maria give a surprised gasp. I understood she didn''t understand the severity of the situation.

    Even I didn''t¡ªat least, not until I recieved my locked memories back.

    ''It looks like I won our bet, Solomon.'' A slight smile formed on my face, but it didn''tst lonh.

    I calmly grabbed Maria by the shoulder and stared into her eyes.

    "I know you''re confused. Everything is happening very fast, and there''s a lot you don''t understand. Don''t worry, I''ll exin everything as soon as we wrap this whole thing up."

    "Everything?"

    I nodded at her question.

    "We just have to hope that everyone else is fine with their search. We''re going to be quite busy with this mess..."

    Thankfully, Maria was quick on the uptake. I could still sense worry locked in her eyes, but she pushed it back with determination.

    "I understand! Let''s do this, then!"

    A smile formed on my face, and then I noticed something glow from Maria''s grasp.

    "Is that¡ª?"

    "Ah! Yeah... it''s [The Pope] Arcana. It sort of helped me for a bit when you fell unconscious."

    ''Ah, I see...''

    "Here." Maria pointed the card at me, but I quickly shook my head and sped my two palms on her hand.

    "No. Keep it."

    "E-eh? Why?"

    "Trust me, okay?"

    "A-alright..." Maria didn''t argue.

    I heaved a sigh of relief, happy to have such an understanding partner.

    ''She must be so confused and shaken right now. I''m surprised she hasn''t broken down despite all the overwhelming power she just experienced...''

    It showed that Maria had potential. Perhaps she too would develop a connection with the source?<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''No. I can''t be too sure. Maybe she''s justpatible... like Stefan is.''

    Too many unanswered questions swirled in my head, but I had to shove them away at the moment.

    Layers uponyers of ovepping memories also surfaced. My time with Solomon and Lilith especially reared their head.

    The situation demanded I remained focused, though, so I pushed them down.

    "Alright, Maria. Let''s go."

    A bright blue sh of light appeared, and space instantly distorted.

    ''This ce is a research facility used for the purpose of Nether. I''m sure it goes deeper than this. First, I''ll clear the building, and then take my time to explore the results they''ve reached.''

    My Automatons had already gotten most of the building''syout, and I knew just where my enemies were situated.

    Thanks to themotion we caused here, a good number of them had to be headed to this location already.

    If I didn''t act fast, they were going to interrupt my investigation.

    A smile formed on my face as I calcted the time and distance it would take for me to finish everything.

    The most optimal solution presented itself, and I nodded in approval.

    ''Alright... why don''t we greet them instead?''

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    *********

    Maria was important for another mission, so I dropped her off there before assuming my position in the extermination of the vermin closing in on me.

    It honestly didn''t take me very long to handle everyone.

    Thanks to Anti Magic, I shut down everyone''s use of Spells within the entire building. None.of them could even detect me, or offer much resistance when I appeared before them.

    The problem was that they were scattered like cockroaches, each group in a different location from the rest.

    Those who used regr Magic stood no chance, but a few had ess to Original Magic.

    Of course, I chose to be careful with those who had achieved such heights of Magic. Not only were they going to be experienced Mages, but their Original Magic''s abilities were unpredictable.

    As a result, I decided to observe how they functioned by using my Automatons as probes.

    Gawain was till under repair, so I used a few of my other reliable Automatons to deal with them.

    Most of the enemies were able to go down with sufficient effort since their Original Magic were of no consequence to my creations.

    The only few who were challenging were the ones who had portions of Nether with them¡ªeither as stages or as darkened rocks.

    I had to handle those myself, using the power of [Strength] to face off against them since Mana and Miasma¡ªeven Anti-Magic proved ineffective.

    Within an hour¡ªmost likely even less¡ªI was done cleaning up the entire building chock full of powerful Mages.

    Considering the trouble they gave me, they were probably among the elites of the Netherlore Noble Household.

    I killed them, of course, and stored their souls with ''The Collector'', my trusty Automaton.

    Once that was over and done with, I finally returned to the core of the crime¡ªthe ce emanating the strongest amount of darkness that caused even me to shiver.

    "It''s a good thing Maria isn''t here for this..." I gave a nervous chuckle as I opened the door.

    Right before my eyes was the very stuff of nightmares.

    "She just might freak out."

 Chapter 585 Nether Beast [Pt 1]

    Nether.

    I first encountered the concept in theter years of my past life as Lewis Griffith.

    It was the knowledge of this strange element, as well as its counterpart, that finally put an end to my search for the Arcanas.

    I never wrote a single entry on it in any of my books, though. There were two reasons for that.

    One was that it was not a concept I discovered. I was simply taught. I was shown. The knowledge wasn''t something just anyone could encounter.

    It was the product of countless centuries, if not Millennias of research and study by an entire Race.

    It wasn''t mine to give.

    As for the second reason... I couldn''t remember any of it.

    That''s right.

    In exchange for such profound wisdom, Solomon¡ªthe leader of his people at the time¡ªsealed my memories away the moment I stepped out of their society.

    I didn''t have a clue about Nether after that moment.

    Even when Merlin and the Pope warned me, I had no idea what they meant. Until finally, thanks to the only condition I managed to fulfill, they returned to me.

    ***********

    I was currently in arge room resembling ab.

    Several experimental objects, vials, tools, and chemicals could be seen around me¡ªorderly ced onbeled shelves.

    I even saw an entire shelf dedicated only to staffs and staves. Gleaming stones filled another angle.

    ''That must be where they infuse Nether with tools...''

    The room, unlike the other areas, was well-lit. Of course, it wasn''t done by the use of conventional Magic.

    Somehow, they had managed to convert the abominable energy they were harvesting into power. Enough power to generate their twisted form of Magic.

    The stones that radiated evil shone brightly ensuring everything in the room was clear¡ªincluding the beast that was right in front of me.

    Years ago, the Helmsworth Estate was attacked by a mysteries beast.

    It wreaked havoc, imed lives, and then vanished into thin air.

    Till date, no one could decipher the identity of whereabouts of the strange and powerful creature that could potentially ruin an entire superpower of the Eastern Kingdom.

    At least... until now.

    "You must be the one Maria saw..." I smiled, walking closer as I observed the ''thing'' in front of me.

    The monster was at least ten meters tall, and it was within a ss-like confined chamber.

    Its body was obsidian ck, and it gleamed with light and darkness as it remained stationary at the center of the room.

    Numerous pipes and tubes poked its body, and mist-like energy flowed through them. The creature''s body morphed with every passing second, and it thumped like a beating heart.

    Its malleable body became as liquid like goo for a moment, and then turned solid like metal the next.

    Eyes would pop out of its body at certain intervals, and then at other times it was nothing but a lump of ckness.

    As I observed the creature, a myriad of emotions coursed through me. This wouldn''t be the only time Iid eyes on one before, but it was my first in this body.

    "A Nether Beast... but look at you."

    Unlike the ones I saw in the past, it was awfully malnourished. Clearly, the Netherlores hadn''t taken proper care of the thing and were only interested in taking from it.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I reckon it''ll die in a few more decades..."

    Personally, I felt nothing for the creature. It had no real sentience, and only followed instinct.

    It was also a being of mass destruction, so I could only consider it a threat.

    ''So this is where they got their Nether from. But where did they find something like this? Could it be...?''

    There were two possibilities.

    One was that it involved the Nether Cult.

    Considering that they had been the malefactors of several terrible incidents already, I couldn''t put it past them.

    Also, since Stefan was also aming their ranks, the possibility only increased.

    As for the second, my focus centered on a particr member of the Cult¡ªsomeone who was even more menacing to me than the group as a whole.

    ''Legris Damien. Did he cause this too?''

    After putting several pieces together, it seemed to me that Legris wasn''t entirely acting in favor of the Cult.

    Hisckadaisical behavior, and the way we had rted in our few encounters only solidified that suspicion.

    ''Did he act out of the bounds of the Cult to provide them with this specimen?''

    But... that wasn''t possible.

    The Netherlore Noble Household dated back over a century.

    It was possible that Legris could have lived that long¡ªno doubt¡ªbut I wasn''t certain of that yet.

    Plus, the major cause of separation that ured between the Helmsworths and Netherlores must have had something to do with their exposure to Nether.

    ''Could Legris have been the cause of that too?''

    I somehow didn''t want want to believe it.

    Perhaps I was worried that if that truly was the case, then the man was an even bigger threat than I initially calcted.

    Too big a threat for me to handle with my current capabilities.

    ''Still, Legris has some connection with Nether.  That repulsive aura I felt from him... it''s simr to this...''

    Except Legris'' power was definitely more warped. I couldn''t exin it in words, but that man was really dangerous.

    ''I don''t understand him and his motives either...''

    That was what made him even more frightening.

    "The Cult or Legris... I should act with the assumption of both. It''s official now. The Nether Cult has a major hold on the Eastern Kingdom thanks got his family..."

    Since Stefan was in their higher ranks, he had to be the one in control of this household.

    The researcher said so himself¡ªthat Stefan warned them of my arrival.

    ''I hope Maria sorts out the issues I ced in her hands. As for me...'' I red at the Nether Beast.

    It still remained stationary, as though nothing bothered it.

    "I''ll take the job of putting you out of your misery. I don''t have enough knowledge or control over this power to capture you alive."

 Chapter 586 Nether Beast [Pt 2]

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    A surge of pure, unadulterated energy coursed through me.

    The room trembled, and the ss separating me and the beast began to vibrate violently.

    The power I wielded wasn''t Mana... but a different kind.

    It was the same one I had sensed from Kuzon''s Familiar back when we fought. I couldn''t fathom it at the time, but now I understood.

    I allowed [Strength] to grant me reign over the supreme ability that defied everything else. And so, as a bright white light surged from me, I noticed the Nether Beast move.

    Its body instantly morphed into an extremely dangerous size.

    "GURRRRUUHHUU..."

    Now almost twice its initial size, spokes protruded from its body and it seemed to be entering its assault mode.

    ''So, you finally see me as a threat now!'' It was toote, though.

    With the power of [Strength] on my side, I could tell the difference between me and the beast.

    While this monster would give most of the seasoned Mages I knew a run for their money...

    ... It was still inferior to me.

    "This should be a start. Let''s see what you can do!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The ss wall separating me from the beast shattered, and the pure darkness it radiated escaped.

    >WHOOOSSHH<

    I instantly vanished from my position, seeing the entire area get devastated a split secondter.

    "GURRROOOOAHHHH!!!" The Nether Beast was now out of its cage, roaring like a creature afflicted with insanity.

    It had multiple bloodshot eyes on its face, and it''s huge jaws salivated with gooey ck drool.

    I could sense a huge concentration of malice from it, and everything around the monster began decaying¡ªturning to ash.

    "Let''s take this outside!" With a burst of light, I took to the air and flew off.

    >BOOOOMMM!!!<

    The entire building trembled as the monster chased me with violent fervor.

    As I left a trail of blinding light in my wake, it devastated its path with corrosive darkness.

    Everything came to ruin as I escaped the beast''s numerous attempts to crush me.

    It generated multiple spikes to mutte my body, sending them charging with blinding speed.

    Fortunately, I evaded most and destroyed the rest of them with pure sts of contradicting energy.

    "GRRRRRRRR!!!" This only made the Nether Beast more upset, and it resorted to a more violent approach.

    ''We''re almost out of here!'' I navigated my way through the underground structure, paying close attention to the monster chasing me from behind.

    Suddenly, a dangerously immense concentration of Nether gathered in its mouth, and it steadied its aim in my direction.

    The calcified Nether st was going to overwhelm me in my current state, so I had to act quick.

    ''Not on my watch!'' As the energy gathered around it''s mouth, I condensed a good amount of energy and aimed it at the Beast''s throat.

    >WHOOOOSSHHH!!!<

    The bright arrow Iunched pierced the monster, sending panging pains coursing through it.

    Thanks to this distracting pain, the st it was preparing was foiled, and the Nether dispersed once more.

    "GRAAAAUUUHHHHH!!!" Pained screeches leaked out of itsrge mouth.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The Nether Beast''s body hissed, and a portion of it got corroded. I watched how its cells died off and crumbled away from the rest.

    ''It let go of the affected parts of itself to save the rest of the body. Not bad...'' I kept observing the monster.

    It was my first time fighting something like this, so I had to gain enough experience.

    ''If the Netherlores got their hands on this, it''s possible that there could be others. I can''t be too careful.''

    >WHOOOSSHH!!!<

    Enhancing itself with more Nether, the Beast now increased it''s pace and slowly closed the distance between the both of us.

    ''Toote!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Generating a pulse of power, I destroyed the luxurious ceiling of the Netherlore household, flying out in a sh.

    Not long after I emerged, the beast appeared as well¡ªdonning wings behind it as it looked even more terrifying

    Twisted horns protruded from its body and it''s gleamy skin generated more spikes.

    Ominous power oozed from its body as we both saw the outside warmth.

    ''Interesting....'' I noticed what was happening thanks to my Spellcraft technique.

    The Nether Beast was infecting the surrounding Mana with its energy, causing the particles to die out.

    ''So that''s how it works...''

    It was no wonder that normal Spells couldn''t work on something like this.

    ''Nether easily destroys Mana and Miasma. It''s like a virus...''

    Using Spellcraft was impossible when facing something like this.

    Mana and Miasma were out of the picture.

    ''I can''t use normal Spells too... since they operate with either Mana or Miasma.''

    The result of using them would ultimately lead to the same thing.

    ''It won''t work!''

    The most regrettable aspect of facing the Nether Beast was the ineffectiveness of my Original Magic.

    I used Mana to conjure my [Great Sage''s Memoir].

    All the Spells stored within required Mana to function. As such, none of them were going to be effective on this creature.

    My only saving grace was the Arcana I currently wielded¡ª[Strength]

    ''I''m learning more and more of its abilities as I use it.'' A smile formed on my face as I observed the Nether Beast.

    It was about to make yet another move. But, that wasn''t all.

    ''Looks like quite a crowd is forming...'' I looked all over the Netherlore Estate and noticed the many people that were watching me and the Nether Beast.

    Some pointed in disbelief, while others had faces indicating fright.

    ''This is what I wanted! By bringing this fight to the open, I''ll be exposing the Netherlores for what they''ve been up to...''

    The attack on the Helmsworth Estate was something that still remained shrouded in mystery.

    Even though the Nether Beast killed a great deal of their forces, the Helmsworths couldn''t do a single thing.

    ''This way, they''ll have the proof they need to take down the Netherlore family.''

    Once the secrets of their underground facility was exposed, it would be over for them.

    I just had to put on a good show with the Nether Beast and wait for the perfect opportunity to finish it off.

 Chapter 587 Takedown

    The Netherlore Family was going to be branded as a criminal Household.

    Their crimes not only included the horrible incident that ured when Maria was little, but also involved the illegal experimentation and non-disclosure of the harmful element¡ªNether¡ªto the Kingdom.

    It was treasonous, to say the very least.

    For harboring and researching something that could potentially bring the entire Eastern Kingdom to ruin, the Netherlores were officially screwed.

    ''I just have to put on a good show.'' I smiled at the ominous creature.

    We both ignored the people beneath us. It was a threat to me, and I was a threat to it. That was all that mattered.

    >FWHOOOSSHH<

    pping its massive wings, the Nether Beast lunged at me with incredible bloodlust.

    With its body shrouded in Nether, it killed off all the Mana around while charging straight for me.

    I could choose to defend or run, but none of those options seemed appealing at the moment.

    ''Time to fight!''

    Taking in more power than earlier, I increased my capabilities and focused most of [Strength] in my fist.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    I swiftly evaded the monster''s brutal chomp and responded with a heavy blow on its face.

    Space distorted even more and a massive shockwave spread across the sky where we fought.

    I could hear the screams of everyone beneath us as the impact was enough to make even them tremble.

    "GURAAOOOKK!!!" I heard the Nether Beast scream in pain, most definitely feeling more of its body eroding.

    >VWOOOSHHH!<

    It pped its wings and retreated backward, probably trying to create more distance so it couldunch a long-range attack.

    I wasn''t going to let that happen.

    >FWHOOOSSHH<

    Enhancing myself with power, Iunched my body toward it and have another blow to its chest.

    "AAARRRKKKK!!!" It coughed a dark, vile substance as it''s body got propelled backward.

    Not wasting any time, I sped to the powerless Beast''s destination before it could get there, sending yet another powerful strike to it.

    >BOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Shockwaves spread across the area, and the destructive power of my some strikes caused every cloud in the vicinity to spread apart.

    Nothing but the vast blue sky could be seen close to our vicinity, and even that was distorted by further strikes from me.

    >WHOOSSHHH<

    >VWOOOMMM<

    >FWUUUUSSSHHH<

    I kept increasing my pace with each strike, ensuring the Nether Beast could not react before another hit sent it flying again.

    ''Its durability is higher than I thought. Such tenacity...'' My mind wandered as I felt myself tiring out.

    Using [Strength] too much was not good for an inferior body like mine.

    As someone who wasn''t used to such power, I was going to expire soon if I wasn''t careful.

    ''I''ll have to end this soon. I''m just waiting for Maria!''

    Fortunately, as I was making this thought, several shes of blue light appeared underneath me.

    Warps in space popped all over the ce, and people beganing out of them.

    ''Finally!'' I smiled in satisfaction, happy Maria was able toplete her mission.

    I spotted Elrich Lendertwale, King Albion, my Father, the head of the Crimson Family, and the Head of the Helmsworth household.

    Of course, several Imperial Warriors and Mages also showed up, all donning their gear as though ready for war.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Alright! Looks like I can finally close this act.''

    "GUURRRRRAAAAHHHHHH!!!" The Nether Beast roared, causing everyone and everything in the vicinity to tremble.

    The power it expressed, though weakened, spoke volumes of its character. This was a true harbinger of destruction.

    Once again, I watched the Nether Beast gather a great amount of its repulsive energy in one spot.

    This time, it was even greater than thest. I understood that it saw me as an even bigger threat and desired to end me without further dy.

    ''It''s a lot weaker now, but it still expends so much power...'' I was truly amazed by the creature''s tenacity.

    Unfortunately for it, games were over.

    Energy concentrated within my grasp, and a glowing de was formed.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMM<

    The power within it was unrivaled, and I could sense the atmosphere quivering as a result of the amount of energy that dwelled in it.

    My body was also feeling extremely overwhelmed, but I endured.

    "Your power is truly something, I admit." My lips moved and I exhaled a heavy breath.

    However¡ª

    >SWISH!<

    ¡ªIt was not enough to change the results of our match.

    >SWISH<

    From my distance I gave a cross sh¡ªsending both horizontal and vertical attacks flying toward the enemy.

    The speed at which it traveled was too fast for even me¡ªthe assaulter¡ªtoprehend.

    The only thing I noticed... we''re the results.

    "G-GUU¡ª!!!"

    The Nether Beast''s body instantly divided into four clean bits. Usually, it would glue itself together and heal¡ªor break away the dead cells.

    However¡ªevery the energy poured into the strikes sent the Beast''s opposite energy coursing through its body.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    It ruptured, as a result¡ªturning into nothing but ash and embers of death.

    As I watched every fragment of the Nether Beast decay and evaporate, I noticed a tiny darkness gleaming at the center.

    It shone obsidian, and despite the rest of the monster dying off, it remained intact.

    ''Hmmm?''

    I considered the jewel worth investigating, but after considering the dangers of the Nether Element, I decided against it.

    "Die off." Sending a thrust of concentrated energy straight at it, I whispered.

    The gleaming crystal turned to dust as well, disappearing without a trace.

    With that, the Nether Beast was gone forever¡ªat least this one.

    Heaving a sigh of relief and exhaustion, I looked beneath me and noticed the Imperial Forces establishing a perimeter around the Netherlore Estate.

    They were also arresting every single member of the household and securing the area¡ªjust as instructed.

    Since Elrich¡ªa Grand Mage¡ªwas supervising the whole thing, I didn''t expect much resistance.

    Plus, the other top Noble Families were also present¡ªeven the King. I didn''t need any more confirmation.

    Things would be ying quite nicely from this point onward.

    ''Are you watching this, Stefan? I hope you are...'' I looked up at the sky and smiled.

    I hoped the troublesome boy was.

    After all, he was next.

 Chapter 588 Third Wheel

    "So... they failed, uh?" A voice called out from the darkness.

    It belonged to a young man.

    His eyes were crimson, and he stared into the vast night sky.

    All alone, he felt the loss of the subordinates he had warned. To think they still failed despite his help.

    "It''s just like Jared to get in my way..." His eyes narrowed as he reyed the battle that happened on a screen created by Magic.

    The panel showed how Jared fought against the Nether Beast, not missing a single thing.

    "So he can even handle one if those things. Impressive."

    The boy in the darkness was Stefan, and his lips curled up in a smile while rewatching the fight one more time.

    "I guess this is the end of the Netherlores. They were useful, but I really shouldn''t consider them family."

    As his voice echoed into the silent night, his gaze fell on the blond boy once more.

    "Still, Jared... you took your time facing off against just one of those."

    Stefan, whofortably sat on a high cliff, looked beneath him.

    Several monsters prowled about¡ªemitting the same wave of energy one could ssify as Nether.

    They numbered in hundreds, at the very least. Stefan watched as their bodies morphed into various shapes and sizes.

    The beasts mindlessly lumbered around, littering the ground like filthy animals. In the end, Nether Beasts were just unintelligent monsters.

    "If this is the best you can do, Jared, then..." Stefan''s smile widened as he closed his eyes.

    The battle he had with Jared reyed in his memory, and he could see just how much he had been overestimating the boypared to the underwhelming results he now saw.

    "... How can we call ourselves rivals?"

    ***********

    "Okay, this ce gives me the creeps. Is it just me?"

    Three people walked down an empty hallway. Their different sizes and shapes told of how unique the trio were.

    One had a slender build and long hair¡ªobviously a girl. Her pointed ears showed she was an Elf¡ªno, Half Elf.

    The man beside her was huge. Having bulging abs and glistening biceps, he made sure not to draw too close or too far away from thedy.

    As for thest person, he was a simple fellow. Having red hair and a in face. His body was also normal¡ªno extraordinary features at all.

    In raw words, he was an ordinary human, or at least he appeared to be.

    "D-don''t you worry, Lemi! I''ll never leave your side, no matter what!" Edward smiled bravely.

    His auburn hair danced in his head as he walked, always keeping his senses open for any danger that might befall any of them¡ªLemi especially.

    "Thank you, Ed. Can I call you Ed?"

    The Half Elf called Lemi gave a wide smile at the obviously lovestruck boy. Her soft hands caressed his muscled hands as she smoothly called his name.

    "W-well...!!!"  Edward felt his body jerk as he felt every touch due to his peaked sensitivity.

    Still, he controlled himself to the maximum. Even as Lemi''s hands were intricately tracing their way through his hand, and then bare body.

    It felt very ticklish, yet so very... unique.

    "Your body is so amazing, Ed. I''d really love to see more of it... with just both of us!" Lemi''s eyes were wide with delight and a perverse pleasure.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "A-ah... w-well... Hahaha!" Edward was at a loss for words.

    His innocence in these thingsrgely contributed to his inability to properly react to Lemi.

    What in the world was he supposed to say when a hot Half Elf girl like her told him about how amazing his form was.

    Edward had already been feeling self-conscious among everyone, thanks to how bulky he was. But, the fact that Lemi liked it so much...

    ... made him drown in an inexplicable emotion.

    ''She even wants to see it in private! Haa... could this be it?''

    ording to what he heard from Jared, he couldn''t make his assessment on Lemi based on looks alone.

    While his very good friend didn''t specify her age, Edward could deduce that Jared meant she was older than he was.

    ''Elves live longer and maintain their youthful forms...'' He remembered one of their discussions.

    It begged the question of how old Lemi was¡ªnot that it really mattered to the young loverboy.

    Despite his huge size, Edward was just fifteen years old. He looked much older and bigger than the girl he desired, but he was happy that she was older than he was.

    "Hehe... Hehe... look at this perfectly toned skin. Your abs are just so... ah, look at that chest!"

    It seemed Lemi had long forgotten the purpose of their mission¡ªor the fact that she said she was frightened merely moments ago¡ªsince she was actively fawning over Edward''s body.

    Her hands just kept rubbing them and feeling the meaty mass. Edward idiotically didn''t stop her, as he too derived pleasure from every single thing she did.

    It was a win-win situation for everyone... right?

    WRONG!

    ''You guys should just get a room or something!''

    It seemed the two have forgotten, but there was onest member of their team.

    Sure, he was silent andcked any significant presence¡ªat leastpared to the other two¡ªbut that didn''t make him nonexistent.

    ''How much longer can I take this?'' Ivan Smith was bordering on the edge of insanity as he had this thought.

    He was fine with public disy of romance, and he wasn''t exactly a wet nket, but...

    ... Weren''t Lemi and Edward being tok inconsiderate?

    ''I''m human too, you know? Isn''t this too unfair?'' He practically witheld his tears as he kept walking.

    Ivan had tried everything to distract him from the the shameless disy of the two beside him¡ªfrom active Mana Meditation, ormunication with his Familiar¡ªbut nothing seemed to quell their very steamy session.

    The worst part was that Ivan could not understand why these two would choose to do or stay such sensitive stuffs when he was right beside them.

    It made no sense!

    ''Let''s just find the Arcana and get this over with. I want to go home...''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I apologize for all the grammatical errors you''ve been encountering. I''ll correct then when I have more time on my hands. Thanks for understanding.

 Chapter 589 Taking Charge

    Edward, Ivan, and Lemi were currently in a tomb.

    It was a creepy ce, but this was here Jared dropped them off. Once he exined the reasons for his action, and what their mission was, he vanished.

    The three had the simple goal of collecting the Arcana that could be located here.

    ''What did he say the rationale was again? Stuff about an ancient story with the goddess of luck and the devil of probability?''

    Jared told them a story about how a certain Goddess who represented Luck, made a bet with the Demon of Uncertainty.

    They argued which was more powerful. Was it good fortune, or was it unpredictable scenarios.

    Eventually, after arguing for an infinite number of times, they realized the obvious truth.

    They were one and the same.

    Luck and Probability. Fortune and Uncertainty. One could not exist without the other. Realizing they had found themselves in each other, the Goddess and Demon became one and sunk to the depths of the world to create a foundation of their love... and a tomb for their rivalry.

    It was a pretty wacky story, and had a lot of plot holes in it.

    Ivan could not understand how Jared was able to make sense of anything from the tale--or how he was sure of an Arcana being in this ce because of something so random.

    However, ording to the blond boy, he cross-referenced the origins and date of the story. It ovepped with the other findings of the Arcanas.

    It could have been simple coincidence, but Jared seemed so convinced.

    He also said a bunch of other things Ivan did not understand--stuff about causality and anthropological coherence.

    In the end, Ivan simply decided to explore the tomb and leave the analysis to the obvious genius among them.

    ''How did he even get this exact location? Haa... it''s best not to even think about that, at this point.''

    With the way Jared sounded at times, it was as though he had spent his whole life researching Arcanas.

    Ivan could notprehend it, and he decided not to bother.

    Improving himself and bing a pir strong enough to live with pride were all that upied his thoughts.

    Well, at the moment, something else continuously bugged him.

    "Would you two stop it already!!!" After being unable to hold back his anger, Ivan finally erupted.

    Both of them instantly ceased their giggling upon hearing the annoyed boy''s roar of dissatisfaction.

    "We''re on a serious mission, you know? Can''t you guys wait till we get the heck out of here before doing stuff like this? Jeez!"

    Lemi, who was now on top of Edward for some unexinable reason, frowned at Ivan''s attitude.

    "Hey! That''s no way to address someone older than you are." Even as she said this, she kept dragging and pinching Edward''s cheeks.

    Apparently, even those amazed her.

    "Then act older! You''re behaving like a child right now! It pisses me off!"

    "W-wha--?!" Lemi was at a loss of words, quickly looking at Edward from backup.

    The muscr boy caught her drift. He understood how affected she must have been due to Ivan''s harsh statement.

    Truthfully, he understood where his friend wasing from. The redhead wasn''t wrong, after all.

    Still...

    "Maybe you should rx a bit, Iva--"

    "Shut it, Edward! You''re basically the same as her!" Ivan''s words were enough to forcefully silence him in an instant.

    Despite the weight, height, and power difference between the two, it was clear who won the contest of words.

    Edward melted, unable to fight against Ivan''s words, or protect the Half Elf sitting on his shoulders.

    "So mean..." Lemi gasped, leaking a tear as she shook her head.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Indeed..." Edward sniffed.

    Suddenly, the tables shifted and the red-haired boy was painted to be the viin. It was two opinions against one, and frankly, Ivan was outmatched.

    However--

    "Zip it! You think I care? When you were up to your shenanigans, didn''t you consider how that made me feel? Bunch of idiots..." He growled.

    Just because Ivan had been tametely didn''t mean that was his personality. Anyone who was remotely close to him would have realized it by now.

    Ivan Smith''s default setting was that of a wild man.

    Lemi was weak against harsh words since she never recieved any when she was younger, and Edward had too pure a heart to handle something so heavy.

    Plus, despite how things looked, Ivan was older than the buff boy.

    These factorsbined, it was pretty obvious who would win if they were to go at it in the manner of speech.

    "Now that you''ve both mellowed down, let''s focus on the mission... and Lemi get off Edward now!" Ivan growled, returning his gaze ahead.

    "No!"

    The Half Elf''s resistance made more veins appear on the red-haired boy''s face. He returned his face in her direction, ring like a demon.

    "I said... get down." A wide smile was stered on his face, and one of his eyebrows was raised.

    However, neither his smile nor his raised eyebrows diminished the obviously threatening reaction he gave.

    In fact, it was the opposite.

    "EEEEKKK!!" Lemi hugged Edward tighter than before.

    It was obvious she was being a big baby. Ivan realized he couldn''t deal with her, so he chose the next best thing.

    "Isn''t that Ana''s riding spot? I guess I''ll have to tell her that Lemi decided to take her ce. I wonder how she''s going to take that..."

    Edward shuddered once Ivan began speaking. He looked at his dear friend with horror--wondering how someone could be so cruel.

    "... Don''t you wonder the same thing... Ed?" Ivan''s grin grew wider, bing more threatening than ever.

    Edward''s muscr body grew rigid, and just like magic, perspiration flowed from the boy''s face.

    "Ivan... y-you wouldn''t."

    "Of course not. What are friends for?"

    "Whew..."

    Edward felt relief wash over him. He was safe.

    "Indeed. So, can you do me a solid, you know... as a friend?" Ivan interrupted his sigh with a friendly proposal.

    "Oh? What''s that?"

    Ivan''s agreeable face suddenly warped into the most twisted expression. Both eyebrows curled up and his eyes gave the most disdainful and condescending expression. His lips melted downward, hardened in the most threatening manner.

    "Get Lemi off your back... NOW!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Remember, everyone! Privilege Chapters will be 90 Percent Off from next month! Make sure to take advantage of this limited chance. There''ll also be a Mass Release then, so look forward to it.

 Chapter 590 The Fortune Wheel [Pt 1]

    Ever since he was a boy, Edward had always been rough and stubborn.

    He wasn''t exactly mannerless, neither was he unjust. He was just very thoughtless.

    The one who slowly curbed that habit of his was Anabelle Frederick.

    Perhaps it was her cute nature, or the fact that they had such intimate interactions as friends.

    Edward slowly found himself changing. And, before he knew it, Anabelle had be something of a limiter he ced on some of his more... excessive character.

    In conclusion...

    "U-understood."

    ... Edward removed Lemi from her position and ced her on the ground.

    The shocked Half Elf looked at the muscr boy with disbelief, but he simply couldn''t meet her gaze.

    He could feel a swirl of emotions within him--none of which were inherently negative. Still, he was certain of one thing.

    ''Does Lemi see me as a wuss, now?'' Despite thinking about the girl--if she could even be called that--he still couldn''t bring himself to nce in her direction.

    "Much better. I''m proud of you, Edward. You did the right thing." Ivan smiled, patting his meaty muscles.

    "T-thanks..." The tired and emotionally anxious Martial Artist responded.

    He would not have been in this mess if Ivan had just been more understanding. However, he also understood that he and Lemi''s actions caused the redhead''s outburst.

    Ultimately, he couldn''t me anyone but himself.

    ''Ivan is right. I should focus on this mission!'' Steeling himself for the challenge ahead, Edward clenched his fist and bulged his muscles.

    The least he could do to absolve himself from his guilt was to actually get results.

    ********

    The trio kept walking for hours, making sure to do things Ivan''s way--concentrating on the mission and the mission alone.

    However, after walking in the empty tomb hallway for so long, the group began to feel a bit weirded out.

    "Haven''t we been walking for too long? Do you think we''re walking in circles?" Ivan was the first to speak.

    Apparently, the other two didn''t want to say anything first.

    "I thought so initially, but I''ve been paying very close attention to the walls and floors. Unless there''s a special trick at work, I don''t think we''re walking in circles."

    "Yeah... I''ve been using this detector for a while now too. We''re definitely on course." Lemi brought out a special radio thingy.

    It looked wacky, with an antennae on top, but it was the real deal.

    Lemi invented it to test Mana Particles in the air, and search for distortions or the locations with the highest amount of power.

    "It''s not sensing Mana here, so that means we can''t be in an illusion too."

    "Then what''s going on?"

    "Let''s keep going. There''s nothing else to do. Maybe we can speed things up a bit?" Ivan sighed.

    To be honest, he was expecting some sort of action--like the time in the Labyrinth Of Despair.

    Unfortunately, he was just stuck with nothing to do but walk.

    "I agree. We should increase our pace."

    "Yeah yeah."

    All three of them activated their Mana, and then charged though the hallway. Edward and Ivan still paid rapt attention to their vicinity, ensuring they weren''t being misled, while Lemi kept observing her device.

    >VWOOOSHHH!!!<

    Since it was a tomb, they had to keep their speed within a certain extent. If they went too fast, the facility around them could be destroyed.

    ***********

    After a few more hours, they finally made some progress.

    The dull-colored walls and floors assumed different colors. The sudden brightness and colorful ambiance made the transition strange, but the three kept charging.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The bricks had multiple colors--green, red, yellow, blue, purple, orange, etc.--colored on them.

    It resembled a yground more than a tomb at this point.

    "I still sense no Mana. None at all!" Lemi groaned.

    Was her device broken? Did it not work? She was certain it was functioning before they entered the tomb!

    Even Jared confirmed it before...

    ''Tch! Let''s not think about him.''

    The three finally saw--with their enhanced sight--the end of the absurdly long hallway.

    "FINALLY!" They all dered at the same time.

    Excitement yed on their faces as they prepared to face whatever challengey in store for them.

    ''What will see see? I can''t wait!'' Ivan''s eyes widened as he grinned uncontrobly.

    He had been working his butt off to get stronger. It was only natural that he sought who to use his strength on.

    Edward, on the other hand, simply wanted to redeem himself in the eyes of Lemi.

    They hadn''t said an actual word to each other after he removed her from where she sat atop him, and frankly, he was getting worried.

    ''It''s okay! It''s not toote. I can impress her by putting these muscles into action.''

    Breathing calmly, he set his eyes on the goal.

    It could have just been their imagination, but the trio felt their bodies moving faster then ever as they closed in on the target

    In a few more seconds, they arrived at the target destination.

    Their eyes bulged in surprise, their faces contorted in confusion, and their minds tried to make sense of what they saw there.

    "What''s this...?"

    "It looks like a... spin wheel?"

    "W-why is something like that here?"

    Right before their eyes was a multicolored circr board that had about twenty two gradients.

    Each gradient had different colors--spanning from white, to yellow, to blue, and so on. Then there was also ck.

    The gradients also had words written on them--but no one in the trio could understand what was inscribed there--or even what was going on.

    "I-I don''t get it. There''s nothing after the hallway... just this wheel?"

    It sounded like a bad joke--especially after they had traveled for hours to get here. How could they meet no enemy or clues? The reward for all their efforts was a simple Spin-The-Wheel Game.

    "Maybe we should just destroy the walls. There''s probably something beyond here." Edward suggested, unable to take it anymore.

    Ivan would have readily agreed to his suggestion if he hadn''t been using his brains recently.

    "No... there has to be a reason for all this." The young man''s eyes squinted as he focused on the wheel.

    ''What could it mean?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Merry Christmas, everyone. If you''re Jewish, Happy Hanukkah. Seasons greetings to my dear fans and readers. I cherish and love you all.

    Remember, Privilege chapters are discounted by 90 percent next month. Think of it as my new year present.

    Do have a lovely time.

 Chapter 591 The Fortune Wheel [Pt 2]

    "Why don''t we just spin the wheel? I think that''s what we''re supposed to do."

    Breaking the anxiety with her words was the oldest, but seemingly least mature of the three¡ªLemi Vindiel.

    The Half Elf had grown tired of everyone''s interpretation of the wheel before them, and she was pretty much bored of it all.

    "What''s the worst that could happen?" She asked.

    The two boys instantly shot her a look that immediately buried her argument.

    "We don''t understand thenguage, so there''s no way to decipher what we''re spinning." Ivan murmured, taking the role of the most sensible of the three.

    "It could also be a trap. Don''t worry, everyone. I''ll protect y¡ª" Edwards was instantly stoped by Ivan''s dirty re.

    ''Don''t be weird...'' The red haired man thought to himself as he put his brain to work.

    It was unfortunate, but he was surrounded by idiots. Both Edward and Lemi were airheads that didn''t seem to understand how grave the situation was.

    Still, they couldn''t give up hope yet. He simply needed to think of the most rational approach.

    ''Ask yourself... what would Jared do?'' Ivan closed his eyes and nodded, thinking deeply.

    It took a while, but after sorting through all the options, he realized the simple solution.

    "Why don''t we just contact Jare...d...." His speech slowed down as he realized what was uring in front of him.

    >WHIIRRRRRRR<

    His eyes bulged, and his heart tightened. Veins appeared on his face as his face twisted to form a frustrated, angry face.

    "Why the hell is the wheel spinning?!" Ivan''s bark echoed in the empty hallway.

    He red at the two idiots beside him, both fegining innocence.

    "Don''t look at me like that! One of you must have done it! Confess now! Arghhhh!!!" Gritting his teeth, his bloodshot eyes was filled with murderous rage.

    "It was Edward!" Lemi quickly fessed up.

    For a moment silence prevailed amid the three. Lemi''s hand was pointed at Edward, whose face¡ªpreviously filled with guilt¡ªslowly morphed to surprise.

    "W-wha¡ª?! But you¡ª!" The buff boy stuttered, sweating from his face.

    His eyes disyed a hint of heartbreak. It seemed he didn''t take the betrayal well, or rather... he didn''t understand why Lemi told on him when¡ª

    "Edward, you..."

    The red haired boy slowly approached Edward, his rage filled face disying a warped look of terror.

    "No! Rx, Ivan. It''s not like that! The thing is, she told me to¡ª"

    "Argh! Guys, the wheel is slowing down." Lemi interrupted the boys, now pointing in the direction of the spinning wheel.

    One had to wonder about the convenience of her timing, but the urrence with the wheel was more important.

    While none of the three knew exactly what to expect, they saw enough to tell then what to look out for.

    A single arrow pointed upward, and whatever gradient itnded on was most likely the effect that would ur.

    ? The one who exined all of this was Lemi. She wasn''t familiar with thenguage, but she was still a genius in her own right.

    Figuring out how the game worked was something she focused on, while the others simply wanted to avoid it.

    "I''ll be honest with you guys..." Lemi murmured, watching as the wheel was about topletely halt.

    "I was the one who told Edward to spin the wheel. I think it''s here for a reason."

    "This girl..." Ivan''s head was steaming hot at this point.

    The most rational thing was to simply call Jared to help.

    He knew more than all of them when it came to Arcanas. Sure, there was the possibility that he would be busy with his task, but they could simply ask questions and get a good perspective¡ªat the very least.

    But now...

    "Trust me, guys. I have this intuition that it''s the right thing to¡ª

    >DING!<<novelnext></novelnext>

    As soon as the arrow stopped on a gradient, a loud chime echoed within the hallway. The gradient glowed in response to its purple color.

    >SHWWUUUUUSSSHHH<

    A bright light suddenly enveloped everyone. Before they could react, they were overwhelmed by the brightness.

    A few seconds passed, and the light finally sizzled out, allowing them to see.

    "Ah... that was intense." Lemi rubbed her watery eyes as she opened them.

    The blue and violet in her respective irises glimmered as she cutely stared around her¡ªonly to be met by an ugly, irritating sound.

    "Lemi, youuuuu!!!" The screech offset Half Elf, causing her to jump in shock.

    "What the hell, Ivan?" She shouted, equally upset.

    Why did this guy have to be so rough in speech? Even though he was younger than her, not to talk of weak.

    "I told you not to spin the wheel!"

    "Who made you leader? On what basis?"

    "W-well, that is¡ª"

    "You''re not the oldest, I am! You''re not even the strongest. Why should you call the shots?"

    "We could have agreed unanimously. Why did you take the decision on your own?"

    "I didn''t! Edward and I agreed! Right E...dwar...?"

    It was only at this point that the two arguing parties realized something they were too angry to notice before.

    "W-where''s Edward?"

    At this point, anxiety slowly reced the anger that dwelled in both their hearts. Their dear friend, Edward... was missing!

    *

    *

    *

    "Ah, where am I?" A confused muscr man nced around him.

    His eyes permeated curiousity, but no fear, as he took in his surroundings.

    He was currently in a purple room,pletely devoid of anything else, but the color. It was like he was stuck in an endless space, having only the color to recognize.

    ''Does it have something to do with the arrow striking purple? Most likely...''

    At this point, the young boy vigntly prepared himself. He couldn''t see or sense Lemi or Ivan, even by stretching his perception to its limits.

    ''Lemi''s  judgement was what led to this situation... I wonder...'' Edward had no ill will towards the girl.

    However, he had to admit he was a bit rash. Now that he was trapped, all alone in this ce, he couldn''t help but feel this was his penance for spinning the wheel.

    ''What should I do?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Happy new year, everyone.

    Stable updates will continue now. Sorry for taking so long to return.

    Also, there''ll be a mass releaseing soon, so look forward to that.

    Thanks for reading, it''s good to be back!

 Chapter 592 Lemis Theory [Pt 1]

    "Alright. I''ve decided!" Edward said to himself.

    After thinking for a minute or two, there was only one solution to his problem. Yes, he had no other choice.

    "I''ll just cut my my through this ce." The hulky boy stretched out his hand, and a burst of blue light manifested from his ring.

    ''Spatial Magic that stores my sword. Nice going, Jared.''

    >SHUUUU<

    Instantly, a bastard sword appeared in Edward''s grasp, gleaming in it''s blue and ck metallic color.The longsword was firm, sturdy, and best of all... it was brimming with power.

    Edward had been guaranteed that even he couldn''t break this de no matter how many times he used it, so it was a treat to wield such a weapon.

    The bastard sword, as tall as Edward himself, could be easily wielded with one hand, but the boy decided to pour his strength into it for a more assured effect.

    He was trying to escape an unknown ce, after all. Some measure of seriousness was necessary.

    Mana smoothly coursed through the de, causing it to give off a bright blue glow as it brimmed with far greater energy than earlier.

    ''The Mana Conductivity is perfect. Nice!'' Edward grinned.

    >SHWWWWWUUUUUUUU<

    Within seconds, Edward built up a frightening amount of energy, readying to use everything in a single sh.

    With this much power, he could cut down the highest mountains in one swoop. Certainty, it was enough to break free from this strange ce.

    ''Here goes...''

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    His de caused distortion in space, and a powerful wave of bright energy was sent ying in a single direction.

    Unfortunately, the vast purple expanse swallowed the deadly sh, not leaving so much as an explosion in it''s wake.

    There was no dent or destruction.

    Just an empty silence that followed.

    ''It didn''t work? Not even the slightest effect?'' Edward felt challenged at this point.

    Sure, he didn''t use any special Martial Arts, neither did he utilize Martial State or Fusion Mode.

    Still...!!!

    ''Alright! Let''s see how much you can resist!'' Gripping his de tighter than ever, Edward prepared another round of attack, this time raising the stakes a little.

    "12 Ultimate Forms: Step 1...!"

    *

    *

    *

    "Oh shit! Oh shit! What should we do?"

    At this point, even Ivan who had been the voice of reason, was in a panic.

    The first few minutes, he had tried to pull himself together. However, he was going insane as time went on.

    Not long after, panic took over entirely.

    "We should contact Jared. Ah,munication isn''t functioning here! Shit! I can''t reach him!" He would have tried using the Soul Brand stuff to contact him, but Ivan wasn''t an expert at Soul Magic.

    Apparently, only Jared couldmunicate, not the other way around. Besides, he was only going to intervene if their lives were in danger or something.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The fact that he hadn''t showed up meant they were not faced with a threat strong enough to warrant his attention.

    "You shouldn''t rely on Jared for everything. We can figure this out."

    Lemi, at this point, was critically observing the wheel. A floating Automaton was beside her, and she was exchanging information with it as she proceeded.

    "U-uh, what are you doing?" Ivan was surprised by the sudden change in the girl.

    Not only was she silent, but she was actually being productive. It amazed him how their positions had changed so quickly.

    "Trying to analyze what happened, and what we can do to get past this." She muttered, not letting her eyes off the roulette.

    "And? What did you find?" Ivan said, feeling dumb for some reason.

    "Not much. I''d advise you to forget about Edward for now. He''s probably paying a penalty for failing to win the spinning wheel game."

    Her cold voice echoed in Ivan''s ears, causing him to flinch a little.

    "We should be grateful he was taken. With this, I can further develop my hypothesis." She smiled, her eyespletely focused on the mechanism in front of her.

    "Y-you... you don''t care about what happens to Edward? He could be in danger right now, you know?"

    Lemi ignored Ivan and kept conversing with her automaton. After some minutes, she finally spoke out.

    "I''ve figured out an underlying principle. It''s just a theory, though. Come here."

    Ivan was furious with the Half Elf, at this point. Edward was their friend, and he was freaking out about his whereabouts. Yet... the one girl he had been showering so much attention didn''t seem to care.

    However, since he was curious about Lemi''s discovery, Ivan swallowed his rage and moved closer to her.

    "There are twenty two gradients here. It starts from white, and it stops at ck. There are several other colors here and there, but what do you notice about this wheel?"

    Ivan red as he observed the object. He honestly couldn''t see what she was talking about. It was all just a circr board of colors¡ªwith an arrow pointing upward.

    "Look closely, the color yellow is repeated three times. Here, here and here."

    Ivan''s eyes widened as he saw what she was referring to. Truly, as she mentioned, there were three gradients with yellow. They were simply scattered in several locations and trapped amid other colors that one wouldn''t pay them much mind.

    Also, they had different shades of hue, so one wouldn''t really ssify them under the same grade.

    "No other color is repeated there, or even has other shades of hue other than their base appearance."

    Ivan nodded, totally lost, but agreeing regardless.

    "I initially thought we needed to choose ''white'' since it seems like the purest, but with what I''m seeing, the odds of actually reaching that are ridiculously high. Besides, the other colors have the same underlying basis. If we can''t iste a distinct feature of a particr element, then it just makes the effect or expected result left to random."

    Ivan''s head hurt at this point. He had been fooling himself all along, but now the young boy realized the truth.

    ''She''s the one with the brains here... not me.''

    While it was painful to admit it, the boy had to concede.

    No one was more suitable for the role of leader than the Half Elf herself.

    "I have a theory. If it''s correct, then we can win this game."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Let''s gooooo!!!

 Chapter 593 Lemis Theory [Pt 2]

    "In case you didn''t notice, there were initially only two gradients of yellow. I observed all the colors and their positions when we saw the wheel."

    "E-eh...?"

    This was news to Ivan. He thought the wheel had always been like that. Howe she noticed something like that?

    "After Edward spun the wheel and vanished, an extra one appeared. My theory is that due to our error in picking the ''wrong'' color, an extra ''right'' color appeared to make things easier. These serve two goals."

    Lemi faced Ivan, who was downright bbergasted by Lemi''s reasoning.

    "One is to give us a clue for which color is correct. The other is to make the next person who tries to spin the wheel have a better chance at getting the right color."

    Since there were currently three yellow colored gradients, and neen with other colors, there was a greater likelihood to score yellow than the previous round when only two yellow gradients existed.

    Extrapting these scenarios, alongside another ongoing investigation of hers, Lemi was almost sure she was on the right track.

    "There''s more to understand, but... this could work."

    *

    *

    *

    As Ivan listened more to Lemi exin, he began to realize just how short sighted he had been.

    From the very beginning, the girl had been thinking of solutions to the problem, rather than simply avoiding it.

    Sure, she was a bit rash in her actions, but her choices simply led to more discovery that she was using to further investigate their situation.

    ''Unlike me, who was panicking about Edward''s disappearance, she simply focused on the task...''

    "Edward will be fine. He''s tough. Besides, he was a necessary sacrifice. If he didn''t spin the wheel, I wouldn''t have known so much."

    It sounded cold blooded, but Lemi was just being rational. She unapologetically continued her task of investigation.

    "Alright. I think I have it all figured out. From what my Automaton has analyzed from this foreignnguage, there seems to be amon denominator among the darker colors."

    The Automaton used Light Magic to project what she meant so Ivan could understand what she was referring to.

    "A-ah...?" The boy didn''t understand though.

    "I''m trying to extrapte thenguage and understand the underlying principle here. Look above, there''s a board above the wheel. If I assume that the letters there read ''Spinning Wheel'' or at least something in that respect, I can check for simrities in the respective gradients."

    Ivan was slowlyprehending.

    "The Gradients have letters written within the colored gradient and above them too. The ones within are most likely the name of the colors, while the one above state something else. I was trying to understand what they state."

    "And? Dis you get a good idea?" Ivan found himself somewhat excited.

    All of this was new to him, but he couldn''t deny that he was enjoying the new knowledge.

    "Sadly, not exactly. There''s so much to decipher, and since I''m using inductive logic, there''s a chance that my conclusion could be wrong. There just isn''t enough information or enough time."

    "Ah, I see..." Ivan muttered.

    "I did find amon denominator among the darker colors, and also some simrities among the other colors. Guess what? None of those have any simrity to the color yellow. I think it''s safe to assume that Yellow is the safe color."

    "A-ah, I thought you had already established that..." Ivan chuckled a little<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Are you crazy? Do you think I would just blindly follow one approach without cross referencing with another source of evidence?" Lemi suddenly shouted, causing the boy beside her to jerk back.

    ''I didn''t know she could be this serious... damn...'' Ivan''s thoughts trailed.

    "My bad."

    "It''s fine. As I was saying, with the two tests I devised, I''m almost certain that this is correct. There''s a chance of failure, so I can''t be a hundred percent sure."

    "T-then, how many percent?"

    "About sixty. But if you add my gut feeling, and the fact that we don''t exactly have a choice... it skyrockets to ny nine."

    Ivan sensed some weird logic behind Lemi''sst statement, considering she just mentioned stuff about not leaving anything to chance. Still, his trust in her analysis made it impossible to doubt her.

    "Let''s give it a try then."

    "Thank you. Now spin the wheel." She smiled.

    "E-eh?" Ivan stopped dead in his tracks and nced at the Half Elf.

    For a moment, silence took charge. Millions of thoughts coursed through his head as he wondered the reason behind her suggestion.

    "You heard me, Ivan. Spin the wheel." Her grin grew broader.

    "B-but why? There''s no telling if it''ll end up getting the desired results. The odds are still overwhelmingly high and¡ª"

    "Do you trust me, Ivan?"

    "W-well..."

    "There''s no time.for hesitation, Ivan. I have a reason behind everything I do. I know you wish you had Jared here with you, bit guess what? I''m not him! Even if he were here, do you think he''ll exin every single thing to you? No, I doubt it. Yet, I''m almost certain you''ll follow his instructions anyway."

    "H-hold on, I¡ª"

    "I don''t have the time to explore every single reason behind my decisions. Edward understood that, and he listened. So... what will it be?"

    Ivan was stunned beyond words. Faces with the serious stare of his colleague, he only had to choose what decision to take.

    The boy found himself swallowing his saliva.

    "One question. If I do this... will it add to the probability of winning?"

    "Yes."

    Ivan sighed, gulping once more as he did what he was told.

    "This better work." He murmured, spinning the wheel in front of him.

    >WHIIIIIIRRRRRRR<

    The mechanism began rotating, and all eyes were on the object.

    "Please work. Please work. Please work." Ivan begged and prayed.

    He wondered why Lemi was so m when the stakes were so high. Was she so confident of their victory.

    "There''s no need to beg or pray. The odds are against you. You''ll most likely lose."

 Chapter 594 Game Of Chance

    "There''s no need to beg or pray. The odds are against you. You''ll most likely lose."

    Ivan''s eyes widened the moment Lemi said this.

    "Why do you look surprised? It''s a simple fact." Her melodious voice sounded distant and unfazed.

    "T-then... why?" The young boy''s voice rang in despondent betrayal.

    Just what was going on here?

    "See what I mean?" Lemi''s finger was pointed at the stoping wheel.

    Just as she predicted... the gradient that the arrow pointed to was not yellow. It was orange.

    "Y-you! Lemi what did you¡ª?!"

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG<

    Before Ivan could pounce on the Half Elf, another burst of light enveloped the hallway. It blinded the two of them, transporting the boy from the ce.

    Just as with Edward, the light faded after some time, now leaving Lemi all alone¡ªwell, except for her Automaton.

    "As expected." She smiled, drawing closer to the wheel.

    "How hrious... his face before vanishing. What an idiot. So much for trusting me..."

    Lemi understood that she wasn''t as amazing as Jared or Lewis Griffith, but she wasn''t stupid either.

    Her actions and methods were simply not meant to be understood by most people. It didn''t make her wrong, but it simply showed how her mind functioned from everyone else''s.

    "Have you finished analyzing it?" She asked her Automaton.

    ~[Confirmed: All Ivan''s Actions have been calcted. Replication is possible.]~

    "Perfect. Transfer the information to me."

    ~[Understood]~

    The Half Elf shut her eyes and a bunch of data suddenly popped into her head. She processed them, sorting out the application and methods to utilize.

    Opening her eyes, she observed the spinning wheel¡ªwhich now had four gradients that were colored yellow¡ªand prepared an appropriate course of action.

    "Then, shall we begin?" She ced her hand on the wheel and took a deep breath.

    What Ivan didn''t understand was that he was also a necessary sacrifice so she could learn something more.

    Most people based games like Roulette or Spin The Wheel on luck. However, to someone like Lemi, those factors were incoherent with her beliefs on certainty.

    ''The weight of the board. The speed of the spin. The muscle movements of the yer, the position of one''s hand on the board. The direction of the spin. Everything can be calcted.''

    By observing Ivan''s interaction with the wheel, using both her senses and her Automaton, Lemi could replicate his actions and gain the same results.

    Or... she could alter the data to match an action that would guarantee the desired effect she was aiming for.

    ''At this degree, with this level of strength, I''ll spin right too... ah, yes. Let''s go for that one...'' A smile formed on her face as she readied herself.

    Everything was counting on this single move. She had done her research and arrived at this conclusion¡ªthe most optimal and assured means of sess.

    Would she win? Would she not?

    ''You better not lose, Lemi!''

    *

    *

    *

    "Haaa... haaa..." Edward heavily exhaled.

    His hands tightly clenched his de, and his eyes were still full of determination. However, his heart wavered a little.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Is this really the way out?'' He asked himself.

    So far, he had swung his sword many times, all to no avail.

    Not only could he not make a single dent in the world he found himself in, but he couldn''t even see a reasonable effect of his efforts. Nothing worked!

    "Damnit... guess I''ll have to give it everything I have."

    Doing something like that was risky, but the results were assured. However, considering none of his Martial Arts had worked,.couldn''t it be possible that even this final.move of his would end in a simr effect?

    Common sense told him that. However, his desperation to keep using Martial Arts and to return to his friends gued his mind.

    He had tried Bond techniques, Martial State, etc. Yet, all of them were to no avail.

    Ultimately, this was the only thing he was yet to do.

    "Huu... guess I have no choice." Edward slowly took his stance as he closed his eyes.

    His feet nted themselves on the purple ground and he began pushing his muscles to their limits.

    Slowly and steadily, he raised his power. Doing everything at once was extremely dangerous, so he had to take his time to achieve his desired state.

    ''More... more power... more¡ª''

    >SHWWWWWUUUUU<

    Before Edward could build enough power, he felt his body tingle with light, forcing him to open his eyes.

    ''A-ah...!'' He was glowing... and it wasn''t with his own energy.

    The bright light enveloped him, seemingly making him much lighter¡ªthough he found himself unable to move in the process.

    ''Am I finally returning?'' He thought to himself.

    If that was so, then was it because of his hard work all this time... or was everything he did meaningless?

    Edward didn''t know.

    >SHIIIINNNGGGGG!!!<

    In the beam of light, he vanished from the purple space. And, as soon as he left, the entire area copsed.

    With no prisoner, there was no need for a prison. Thus, it ceased to exist.

    *

    *

    *

    "Let me out of here, you bastards!!!" Ivan screamed with passion.

    He was trapped in an orange room. Simr to Edward''s prison¡ªthough Ivan was unaware of this fact¡ªthere was nothing to be seen for miles other than the endless hue of orange.

    After being transported away, he at least thought he would have to face enemies or see Edward, but none of that was the case.

    He was simply tossed into this world with not a single soul present.

    "You bastaaarrrddddssss!!!"

    After some time of throwing tantrums and trying out techniques, Ivan realized it was hopeless.

    ''I''m not a musclehead like Edward. It''s better I think rationally...''

    Interacting with Jared, and now Lemi, showed how certain problems did not require violence. Sure, he wasn''t a genius in that field, but he had learned a thing or two.

    Looking far into the horizon, he realized that the world was endless. He even spread his perception, but as far as he could sense... there was nothing but space.

    It was hopeless to try to run away or escape. Rationally speaking, there was nothing he could do.

 Chapter 595 Half Elfs Thoughts

    ''Welp, I''ll just wait for Lemi to pull me out of this mess.''

    And so, Ivan took his meditative stance and began internal training. Rather than wasting his energy and burning out his Mana, wouldn''t it be better to take this time of solitude to increase it?

    ''Alright... let''s do this instead.'' Ivan smiled, closing his eyes as hemenced his Mana Core training.

    However, merely seconds into it¡ª

    >SHWWUUUUUUUUU<

    ¡ªHe felt his body shrouded by white light.

    ''Oh, you''ve got to be kidding me.''

    One would expect Ivan to be happy, considering he wanted to get out of the ce just some moments ago. However, his face clearly showed annoyance toward his rescue.

    "At least give me some time to traaaaiiiinnn..."

    Ivan''s voice echoed as he vanished from the orange space¡ªwhich copsed upon the frustrated boy''s disappearance.

    *

    *

    *

    "I did it. I was right. Whew!" A sigh of relief escaped Lemi''s lips.

    She was just as surprised as she was impressed by her abilities. As someone who knew the uncertainty of life, there was no way she could have known for sure that her n would work.

    "In your face, dad... I mean¡ª" Her face became flushed with embarrassment for a minute as she fell to the ground on her buttocks.

    "Dad? What the hell am I saying...?" Her eyes narrowed as she gritted her teeth.

    Her father was nothing more than a jerk who left her mother and even had the guts to neglect her.

    ''And even now he gets on my nerves. What a dude. He''s not as amazing as I imagined...''

    Ana had told her the truth some time back, and they both took their time deconstructing all they knew this far.

    They also investigated everything they could¡ªa major reason they were close. After exchanging information and engaging in separate as well as joint observation, the girls arrived at the same conclusion.

    "Jared Leonard is Lewis Griffith..."

    She had previously thought that was too far-fetched. Perhaps Jared simply had Lewis'' memories.

    However, after seeing her aunt''s current disposition towards Jared, and most importantly Jane Urs''s interaction with him... it was difficult to call that the case.

    There was also the fact that Jared''s personality¡ªeven since when Ana knew him¡ªwas odd for a child.

    They could only have been formed by personal experiences, and he had to be the same same person as the man in the past.

    "Maybe he could have done this much faster than me. Maybe he wouldn''t have needed to sacrifice his teammates, but..."

    At least, with this, she proved she didn''t need his assistance.

    The only reason she even embarked on this mission was for the greater things at stake¡ªnot because she personally believed in him.

    ''He healed me of my sickness. He trained me to fight, and he even helped with my research. I can tell he''s trying to right his wrongs...''

    Unfortunately for the Half Elf¡ªdespite how selfish she seemed¡ªthose things he did weren''t enough.

    "He would do the same thing for his friends. He resurrected Aloe Vida, a total stranger... he trained Edward and Ana, even before they became very close. He''s saved people without necessarily having a connection to them¡ªeven going as far as risking his life."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Whether she admitted it or not, Lemi could feel the gnawing pangs growing in her heart. The truth that she wasn''t any special to Jared as everyone else.

    "N-not like I even care! Hmph!'' Her face was once again flushed with pink.

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG!!!<

    A bright light appeared, causing the Half Elf to cover eyes with her hands, even after closing them.

    The surge of energysted a brief moment, and once it died down, she could hear the voices of her twopanions.

    "Lemi! You did it!"

    "I''m back... I''m already back..."

    Edward seemed motivated to be back, but Ivan appeared somewhat gloomy. Not like she cared much about thetter, though.

    "I''m d to see you''re both in good health. I told you to trust me, didn''t you? My ns always work!"

    There were a few holes in her statement. Luckily, none of the two in front of her were smart enough to notice.

    "Yeah, I guess you''re right. I''m sorry for doubting you." Ivan swallowed his words and smiled slightly.

    "You''re a good leader."

    Those words made Lemi''s heart leap slightly. She didn''t expect Ivan to say something so decent, for once.

    "Why, thank you Iva¡ª"

    "Indeed! Lemi is just the best. Why do you think I spun the wheel the first time. All you have to do is trust her. She has a n for everything." Edward interrupted her word of thanks by stealing Ivan''s attention.

    "Hoho! I see now. I don''t understand most of what she says, but we can trust her words, right?"

    "Yep! She''s crazy smart."

    "Haha! That''s our leader for you!"

    As they kept talking about how awesome Lemi was, leaving the subject of their conversation out of the discussion, she couldn''t help but feel a bit...

    ''Aren''t they exaggerating a bit? I''m not that awesome.''

    They kept talking about how they would blindly follow her as long as she had a n. At this point, she had be deified.

    ''You guys, stop! That kind of thinking is dangerous, you know?'' At this point, the Half Elf was panicking.

    They had yet to even see the Arcana they were searching for, yet these idiots were already drawing conclusions.

    Wasn''t it crazy?

    ''What if they start looking up to me for everything? I don''t have the answers! Ah, shit...'' She found herself under stress at this point.

    ''What should I do? I''m surrounded by idiots! Is this how Jared felt?'' Lemi found herself thinking about her father.

    Jared must have had his memories as hisst life for some time. That meant he had to interact with humans who didn''t measure to him in terms of intelligence and made him into someone more special than he was.

    ''In that respect alone, I can at least empathize with him...''

    Keeping up with expectations was a rabbit hole she never wanted to get into.

    Though, just as she must have suspected, it was toote.

 Chapter 596 Arcana Of Fortune [Pt 1]

    ''I''m over five hundred years, for crying out loud. These humans are like children to me.''

    Lemi felt like she would cry out, with the way the two human boys kept talking.

    Was this her punishment for defying Jared? Babysitting the boys.

    "Haa..." A brief sigh escaped her lips.

    Even though she felt like their treatment of her was prized, the Half Elf couldn''t bring herself to hate it. In fact, it was the opposite.

    ''Well, it''s not so bad...'' Lemi smiled slightly, feeling her initial hesitance fade away.

    Both of the boys were loud, annoying, and mistaken about her.

    However, she couldn''t say she disliked the scene unfolding before her.

    ''I guess you also enjoyed yourself like this sometimes...'' A boy appeared in her mind¡ªthe same person she suspected to be her father.

    "Maybe I should have¡ª"

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG!!!<

    A bright light interrupted her line of thought, causing Lemi and herrades to closer their eyes in response.

    It was a bright yellow color, almost golden in its ambiance.

    "W-what''s going on now, Lemi?"

    "Yeah! Did something go wrong?"

    The Half Elf almost wanted to take back all the nice things she thought about the two boys the moment they came crying back to her.

    "How the hell am I supposed to know?!" Her voice screeched, causing both boys to scream in response.

    If the brightest mind among among them had no idea what was uring, how could they think of anything?

    "I don''t want to return! I don''t want to go back there!" Edward shouted, clinging firmly to the giant de he swiftly summoned.

    It seemed he was ready to swing his sword to simply avoid the looming fate that seemed inescapable.

    "H-hey! Don''t you dare swing that thing!" Lemi screamed.

    "H-how did you¡ª? You can see me?!"

    "No! Of course, not. But I can tell what stupid things you''ll do."

    This intense back-and-forth between Lemi and Edward unnerved Ivan, who was left just as confused as the two.

    His mind was under stress, and he didn''t know what to do. Perhaps he wouldn''t mind returning to the quiet and peaceful ce from earlier, but...

    ''What if Lemi can''t bring us out?!''

    Sweat dripped from his face as he entered a state of panic.

    "Rararararararara!!!" Before he knew it, Ivan was throwing balls of mes in the direction of the light¡ªnot that he could even see well, to begin with.

    >BOOOOMMMM<

    >BOOOOOOMMMM<

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Loud explosions echoed across the hallway, causing Lemi and Edward to snap at Ivan.

    "I-I was freaking out, okay? Hope nothing hit you!"

    "Of course not! Can''t you tell where I am by hearing my voice?"

    "A-ah, true..."

    "You guys are idiots."

    Who would have thought that a team which almost achieved perfect unity was once again  ripped apart by an unexpected variable.

    "I think we should just¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    A gust of wind suddenly manifested, and the light slowly converged in a single location. Everyone''s vision slowly returned, and their various awkward positions were revealed.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Lemi was t on the ground, trying her best to avoid being hit by Edward''s swing it Ivan''s explosive spells.

    Ivan already had two fireballs prepared¡ªready tounch them¡ªwhile Edward''s de was raised, taking on a stance that meant he could strike at any time.

    "You guys! What the... unbelievable!" Lemi screamed in exasperation, rising to her feet whole casually dusting her outfit.

    "W-well..."

    "I just..."

    "Save it!" Lemi ignored their excuses and pointed her gaze in the direction of the converged light.

    Floating in mid-air was a card. It hovered in the air, slowly spinning as it bounced ever so slightly.

    "I''ve never felt energy like this before... what is this?" Edward was the first to whisper.

    The mysterious object hummed, glittering yellow as it invited all three of the spectators to draw nearer.

    "I think... that''s the Arcana. We passed the test, so this should be our reward... right?" Ivan simplified the experience, staring at Lemi for confirmation.

    The Half Elf did not respond. Her eyes were simply focused on the card, enamoured by its existence.

    "Interesting... we actually got one." A smile leaked from her face.

    She reached out for the card, but was promptly stopped by Edward and Ivan.

    "It could be a trap!"

    "Y-yeah!"

    Despite their vtile arguments, there was no doubt that they still cared about each other. There was no way they could just ept such a risk and¡ª

    "You''re right. Edward, try taking it." Lemi smiled in response to their worry.

    "E-eh? But it... could be a trap." His response was that of confusion and apprehension.

    Unfortunately for him, the Half Elf didn''t seem to care about his worried reaction.

    "Exactly. You''re the sturdiest among us. Come on... just do it. You''re strong, right? Right?"

    The musclehead nodded, though it was a bit uncertain whether he agreed to Lemi''s clearly unreasonable request because  of his confidence in his abilities... or the foolish feeling of love.

    Either way, the boy sucked it in and approached the card with a fierce look of determination. He had to do it! He had to prove himself.

    "I am stro¡ª" As soon as he touched the card, it glowed purple and sent a wave of energy.

    >WHOOOOSHHHH<

    The violent burst of power instantly repelled Edward far far away from the suspended card.

    "Argh!" The muscr teenager was pushed far down the hallway.

    Itt took his absolute best to regain bnce andunch himself back to hisrades, though he was wincing as he returned to them.

    "Ow... ow..." He nearly cried, feeling his body throb in pain. Cackles of purple lightning flickered on his body as he felt their sting every second.

    It would appear that he wasn''t strong enough.

    "Your turn, Ivan." Lemi nced in the direction of the very hesitant human.

    "Hell no!"

    "Come on, don''t you trust me?"

    "Not at all!"

    "I have a n, and I need you to¡ª"

    "Do it yourself!"

    Lemi''s eyebrows twitched as she red at the stubborn redhead.

    After watching the strongest member of their group get fling away so easily, who in their right mind would want to take the risk? Definitely not the most cautious one among them.

    His answer was an emphatic NO!

 Chapter 597 Arcana Of Fortune [Pt 2]

    "Nooooo. Leave me alone! Don''t do this... please."

    The long hallway was filled the echoes of one particr human. His throes were loud, and they rang of desperation, but they had no power in them.

    The owner of this voice was, of course, Ivan.

    "Edward, you traitor. Don''t let they fiend deceive you. Let me gooooo!!!" The young man cried, kicking his feet in the air as he was overpowered by his hulky friend.

    "Ivan, just calm down. Didn''t you say you trusted Lemi too? She has a n, so just¡ª"

    "Nooo! Let me gooooo!!!" The red haired boy kept throwing his tantrums.

    His throes almost made Edward give in and release him, but a nce in Lemi''s location made him reconsider that idea.

    Her serious gaze, and the very dangerous glint in her eyes that promised a harsh punishment if he failed, made Edward keep going.

    He carried Ivan to the suspected Arcana, and then threw the young boy toward the card.

    >BBBZZZZTTTZZZ<

    Once more, the Arcana changed color, sizzling with orange electricity as Ivan wasunched back.

    "Garrghhhh! It hurrrtts!" His screams echoed as he flew backward.

    Fortunately, Edward caught him. Still, his body sparked with orange electricity, making him make funny faces that only served to depict his pain.

    "Y-you bastards..." He gritted his teeth as he looked at Edward and Lemi.

    They were traitorous friends who betrayed him, and¡ª

    "Oh, please, Ivan. It wasn''t that bad. Besides, you could have just used Magic to escape Edwards grasp whenever you wanted. Stop making a big deal out of it."

    The red haired young man gulped, realizing he had been found out. He was truthfully curious about the results... though he was also sort of unwilling to take the risk.

    The fact that they forced him was perfect since he could me them for mishandling him.

    ''How did things end up this way?!'' Ivan''s thoughts rang... though he was unwilling to ept defeat.

    "W-well, it hurts! You wouldn''t understand since you didn''t feel it!" He barked.

    "You''re right. Fortunately, it seems I won''t have to."

    Lemi snickered, approaching the glowing card, picking it with her delicate fingers.

    Ivan and Edward winced, expecting some sort of ''buzz'' or negative reaction. Personally, the former wished for a scream as well.

    However...

    "Oh? Looks like I was correct, after all. See?" Lemi''s grin was yet to fade, and there was no scream.

    Rather, locked between her fingers was the card that gave them so much trouble. It flickered with yellow lightning, resonating with the Half Elf holding it.

    "H-how...?" Ivan''s jaw was ck with surprise.

    His nned revenge had failed!

    "I suspected as much when it flickered purple in reaction to Edward, and then orange when it was your turn." The girl exined, drawing closer to the boys.

    "You both picked the wrong answers in the test, and the colors that the wheelnded on was disyed in the sparks of electricity."

    The reason Lemi wasn''t affected was because she was the one who got the answers right. In essence, she was the chosen one!

    The Arcana was rightfully hers.

    "Oh? Looks like it''s The Wheel Of Fortune. Nice. I have such good luck!"

    It took a while for the boys to realize this¡ªperhaps they never got the full picture on what happened¡ªbut they had just gotten yed by Lemi.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Muahahaha!" She gave a mock evilugh as the defeated men hung their heads in shame.

    At this point, the zeal to fight or argue had long faded.

    "Let''s just go home..." Ivan''s voice unenthusiastically echoed.

    "Y-yeah..." Edward responded.

    Lemi shrugged. She felt a little bad for the boys, but every course of action she made way the most optimal.

    Sure, she used them, and they arrived at a conclusion where the Arcana Of Fortune chose only her. However, one could argue that she contributed most to their mission.

    In essence, no one deserved the power more than she did.

    ''Though I don''t even know what this does...'' She looked at the warbling card.

    In the end, she would still have to consult with Jared and train to master whatever ability was waiting in store for her.

    ''Sweet! Something nice to experiment with.''

    Now that their business within the hallway wasplete, it was time to leave. The boys were long ready to depart, but Lemi was still enjoying herself a bit.

    "Alright. Let''s go." She finally agreed after watching their unmotivated faces.

    Jared had given each them Spell Cards so they could return, though one was enough for all three of them.

    Lemi decided to use the one in her possession, and it glowed blue as soon as she activated the Spell.

    "Goodbye, hallway. I enjoyed myself!"

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    The blue portal appeared before them, and they were able to leave in one piece. It truly was a fun time¡ªthough open to interpretation, depending on which member was asked.

    They could all agree on one thing, however.

    ''Missionplete.''

    *****************

    [The cier Dungeon]

    "Tch... this is unexpected." A gruffy tone sounded, and misty breaths escaped the lips of the man who spoke.

    "Yeah. I agree." A feminine voice replied.

    "W-what should we do?" This time, it was the tone of a child.

    The group of three had troubled expressions on their face, and as they exhaled, visible evidence of their breaths leaked out.

    Maro Smith, Aloe Vida, and Asa were in quite the pinch, and they knew it.

    Their mission was to recover an Arcana suspected to be in this location, so of course they had tried their hardest.

    They were able to navigate their way through the harsh climate of eternal frost that surrounded the Dungeon.

    Once they entered the extremely dangerous structure, they were greeted with countless opponents, most of which were frosty statues. With their intelligence and abilities, they somehow managed to get by.

    The journey got more difficult the further they ventured into the Dungeon, but they endured. Until finally... they arrived at the heart of the most dangerous ce they had ever experienced.

    Now this was where things got a bit tricky.

    "This is... a bit too much, don''t you think?"

 Chapter 598 Cold Reflections

    The Boss of the cier Dungeon wasn''t the real problem.

    Sure, it was a tough opponent¡ªstanding at about sixty meters in height alone. The Golem-like entity had a very bulky body, and its cold skin was hard.

    The Mana it exuded was also extremely immense.

    Aloe Vida and Maro struggled a great deal against it. Not only was it strong, but it was fast as well. Due to its extreme mass and magical density, it was a challenge to fight it.

    Still, by using Asa as the deciding factor, they had managed to push through. The young Beastfolk had a special ability that allowed him to escape the detection of anyone.

    Even he couldn''t exin it beyond ''merging with the surroundings''.

    The ability was useful in this respect, though. By nting Mana Bombs in the specified areas that Maro told him to¡ªthe Boss''s weak points and most important joints¡ª they were able to deal serious damage and slow it down.

    Once Asa was done with his mission, Aloe Vida leaped into action and used her frightening Magic ability to finish it off.

    All in all, it was a tough round, but... they still managed to emerge victorious.

    *

    *

    *

    "So, why...?"

    Aloe Vida was sick and tired of facing challenge after challenge. It ate at her energy, but Mana wasn''t her problem.

    The whole thing just seemed unfair.

    "The Boss has been defeated, so what is the meaning of this?"

    The three team members watched as three thinyers of ice emerged from the ground. They had immense energy within them¡ªenergy that couldn''t be exined or described with words. It was simply overhelming.

    "This could mean trouble..." Even Aloe, the most powerful of the three, felt like she couldn''tprehend the energy she was sensing within the ice sheets.

    Finallypletely separated from the grounds, the three surfaces transformed into mirrors, reflecting the respective challengers within them.

    From left to middle to right¡ªAloe, Asa and Maro watched as the mirrors took in their image. Confused expressions formed on their faces as they failed toprehend the relevance.

    Until¡ª

    >SHWUUUUUUU<

    ¡ªThe most absurd thing ured.

    Out of the mirrors proceeded the reflections they encapsted. Single copies of the respective personality captured came out of the mirror.

    Aloe Vida''s eyes widened as she gazed at a copy of herself¡ªthe same happened to the two beside her.

    Their mirror selves gave dead, cold expressions. Other than the misty energy emanating from them, and the nk expressions they made, it was impossible to differentiate any of them from the original.

    "What are we supposed to do? Fight them?" Aloe Vida nced at Maro.

    It didn''t seem like there was any other option. Even though all three copies were transfixed in a single position, unchanging in the slightest, they were still obstacles.

    It was possible that they wouldn''t recieve their grand prize with the mirror versions of themselves standing.

    "How much Mana do you have left?" Maro whispered to Vida.

    Out of the three, she had been the one who expended the most energy. Her Original Magic, and the Light Magic that was useful for burning through the obstacles rightfully earned her the position of vanguard.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Maro was the strategist, and while his Magic was the weakest, his technology and use of resources made themplete their mission with rtively greater ease.

    Even the n for dealing with the Boss came from him.

    As for Asa, he was a tough nut. Hisbat ability was scary¡ªas expected of the child of the Beast King. In terms of battle prowess and skill alone, Vida thought he was better than her.

    Unfortunately, he was still weaker than her in every other regard.

    "It''s fine. I''m still fine... I''ve almost recovered the Mana I expended." She quickly responded to Maro''s inquisition.

    "Scary... are you sure you''re human?" Asa''s voice echoed with awe rather than disrespect.

    "H-hey!"

    Aloe Vida was blessed with a great deal of Mana and her recovery was just as fast. Thanks to the multiple Mana Core technique Jared taught all of them, she was now able to stock up a lot of Mana, making her reserves extremely abundant.

    "That''s good. What of you, Asa?" Maro''s gaze fell on the young Beastfolk.

    "I''m not a monster like Miss Vida, but I have over sixty percent of my Mana pool."

    Maintaining his ''null'' state, as he had dubbed it, took a lot of energy from him, so even though Asa hardly fought the Boss, he was still plenty drained.

    "I''m not a monster, Asa. I just... have my circumstances." Thedy squealed, a bit embarrassed.

    "Take it as apliment, Miss Vida! You would suit a lovely bride for my father. I''ll make sure to tell him all about you."

    "What are you even¡ª?" Aloe groaned in exasperation.

    Apparently, Asa had some weird ideas, no doubt thanks to his Beastfolk heritage. Whether or not he would go along with his word was something the ''monster''dy didn''t want to consider.

    ''It''s because of Jared, and my sudden resurrection that this happened...''

    Ever since that moment, her power had increased beyond expectations. As if that wasn''t enough, it kept rising after the incident.

    As a result, her recovery and growth skyrocketed.

    ''Even when I told him, Jared told me he has also resurrected others, yet... none of them are showing as much potential as me...''

    It made her wonder if her resurrection was the only reason behind her ever-growing power.

    "Focus, everyone." Maro''s voice brought her back to reality.

    The opponents were still stagnant, in front of them. The decision on whether or not to engage remained undecided, though it was about to be addressed.

    "I believe we should start simple. Let''s start small, maybe with simple Spells... just to see their reactions."

    As expected of Maro. Rather than choose a straightforward answer, he preferred to mull over the situation and consider other possibilities and alternatives.

    That was why he was unanimously agreed to be the leader.

    While Aloe was a Magic Lecturer, and a powerful Mage at that, she knew her limits. She wasn''t as tactical as Maro, and she certainly wasn''t as brutally violent as Asa.

    With this understanding android maturity, she nodded in response to Maro''s suggestion.

    "I agree."

    "Me too."

    "Alright you two... let''s do this!"

 Chapter 599 Original Versus Copy

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    It was meant to be a demonstration of simple Spells, yet the explosion caused the entire area to roar in response.

    Aloe had used her [Light Grenade], while Maro utilized a [Fireball] Spell. The one with no bearing withmon sense was Asa.

    He went ahead to use [Icy Burst], causing massive ice spikes to emerge from the ground, enveloping the opponents in a powerful cold explosion.

    "A-Asa!" Maro and Vida yelled at the boy instantly.

    "W-what? I did as I was told." He replied innocently, his blue eyes radiating absolute honesty.

    "How do you call that a simple Spe¡ª" Maro stopped dead in his tracks the moment he realized something.

    ''Asa''s right! It''s actually a simple Spell... at least, by his standards.''

    "I used an Advanced Spell. That''s simple, right? We''ve been using Peak all this time. Miss Vida even resorted to Original Magic,  which is Transcendental!" Asa was confidently defending his decision.

    Unfortunately for the two adults, they couldn''t argue with him.

    He was right, after all.

    It was their fault for not giving him enough of a thorough exnation. Despite his prowess, Asa was still a child.

    "Well, what''s done is do¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Suddenly, three figures approached them with deafening speed.

    "Dam¡ª"

    Fortunately, one of the three originals was fast enough to react. Swiftly erecting a golden barrier that epassed them, Aloe''s eyes widened as the copies dangerously approached.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Sparks of energy flew in multiple directions as her barrier was chipped down in mere moments, notsting more than five seconds

    The explosion caused Aloe and her allies to dart backward, creating enough distance between them and the enemies.

    "Tch! They''re strong." Maromented, gritting his teeth as he watched the shattered ground they once stood on.

    The devastation their copied had wrought within mere seconds was frightening, to say the least. As the smoke cleared from their location, the three artificial human¡ªor whatever could be used to describe them¡ªlooked just as cold and lifeless as before.

    However, Maro, Aloe, and Asa could sense danger pulsating from them.

    "They''re going to be tough."

    "Yeah. You think they''re mimicking our power level?"

    Maro didn''t want Aloe''s suspicion to be true. Because if it was, then they were in serious trouble.

    "I''m sorry, guys. This is all my fault..." Asa gave a stifled sound.

    The Beastfolk expressed worry, and guilt was written all over his face.

    "No, it''s not your fault. These things most likely have a defense mechanism which we triggered by attacking." Maro responded, refusing to take his eyes off the opponents.

    They were no longer stationary. In fact, their movements seemed to indicate they would be attacking any moment.

    "Yeah. They would have probablye at us regardless of the kind of Spell..." Aloe reassured the boy, rubbing his head in a yful manner.

    Her optimistic and energetic smile reflected in the boy''s clear blue eyes, and he found himself epting her words as true.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ? "Yeah. You''re right! It''s not my fault at all! It''s Maro''s fault for choosing this course.of action, right?"

    How could the adults have known that Asa would end up making such a conclusion? They almost sighed in exasperation.

    "W-well, that''s not exactly¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOMMMM<

    Aloe found herself unable to correct the boy''s ideology due to the enemies striking once more.

    "Shit!" She readied her body, infusing Light Magic to give her far greater speed to react to the enemies.

    "Be careful. Don''t use your full abilities on them. It might trigger another response."

    "Got it!"

    >VWWWOOOSHHH<

    Aloe surged from their location and solely charged at the three copies. Golden Mana shed as she closed the distance between them in a sh, creating several hardened light constructs to pierce them.

    "Will she be alright by herself?" Asa asked Maro, whom he had already deemed to the be sole cause of their predicament.

    His eyes suspiciously watched the older man.

    "She should. So far they''re not disying more dangerous abilities. I suspect they respond to our power levels, or maybe there''s something else going on here. In any case, I need to observe them more."

    As such, Aloe Vida would take the forefront and engage the enemy while he watched them closely.

    Maro hoped he would find the weakness of their copies, or at least learn enough about how they functioned to turn the tables around.

    "What about me? I should join the fight! I can at least help Vida." Asa made to leave, but Maro stopped him by cing his hand on his shoulder.

    "No. You don''t know restraint. For now, we simply observe."

    Asa wanted to snap at the man, but Aloe''s words surfaced in his mind, causing him to stop.

    ''You''re lucky she told me to respect and listen to you...'' The boy sulked.

    For Beastfolk, strength was everything. In terms of Mana Capacity and Magic abilities, Asa had already surprised Maro. That was probably why he found it difficult to listen to the human, despite the age difference.

    Fortunately, Aloe had figured this out early on and managed to knock some sense into the young and impressionable Beastfolk.

    Being beaten by an older woman who was far stronger than he was¡ªalso pretty and very kind¡ªmade Asa develop some sort of attachment to her.

    It was close to filial love, mixed with respect and idolization. In simple terms, to Asa, the young woman could be seen as...

    ''Aloe Vida is so cool!''

    ... A mother he never had.

    ''She has to marry father!'' He thought to himself, watching as the brilliantdy zoomed in the air as she singlehandedly handled there copies.

    It was just as Maro posited. The clones weren''t utilizing the full abilities of the originals.

    Aloe Vida''s ability to keep up, and even overpower them was proof. However, just as they were about to celebrate, the Aloe clone suddenly started increasing in power.

    "W-what is that?" Asa''s eyes widened as he saw fake Aloe''s Mana surge with greater power.

    Its power, and speed especially, instantly caught up to the the original''s and it zoomed in on Aloe¡ªcatching up to her in a sh.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

 Chapter 600 Abrupt Eruption

    Launching a frightening kick at Aloe, the copy sent her falling down.

    >SHWUSH<

    Right before the gleaming Aloe could hit the ground, she twisted her body in midair. Swiftly maintaining her bnce, she returned to herrades in a sh.

    Asa''s eyes sparked with relief to have Aloe back with him, while Maro nodded with gratitude for taking on her task with due diligence.

    "So, did you figure anything out so far?" She asked, keeping watch on the three copies who  hovered in the air.

    "Yeah... I did. I think I''ve figured it out."

    Maro''s words were never to be taken lightly. The fact that he had taken some things into observation, and was able to offer a reasonable conclusion in such a short time simply spoke of his capabilities.

    "I know how we can win."

    "Oh? Pray tell." It wasn''t easy restricting herself to a particr set of skills, so Aloe was pretty much prepared to end the fight and get their prize.

    Besides, her copy seemed to be adapting very quickly. If she kept dying, it wouldn''t take long for it to catch up.

    "From what I''ve observed, the clones can only mimick the power levels of those they resemble. As in Aloe''s case, even though you were overpowering the three, only your copy became stronger."

    Seeing that the other two still struggled to fight with her, not making any noticeable improvements, it could be posited that their clones could only match the power levels of their respective originals.

    "I suggest we take on copies different from our own. That way, they won''t be able to use our abilities when fighting." Maro continued by exining what he meant.

    By matching Aloe with Asa''s copy, for instance, she could go all-out without the clone being able to evolve beyond its current limits.

    Likewise, if Asa fought Aloe''s copy, the same results could be seen.

    "The best part about this n is that you don''t need to use too much of your abilities to handle Asa''s clone, considering your limited self is already superior to both mine and his copies."

    The real problem was Aloe Vida''s duplicate. It had already reached a level that would make it quite difficult to catch orbat without having to resort to some degree of seriousness on the part of Asa or Maro.

    "I suggest you leave your duplicate to us. You can handle ours, right?" The red-haired man asked.

    "Yeah, I can. But are you sure you''ll be fine? I mean... what if you have to resort to using more power and your duplicates match your power levels? Things could get more difficult for me."

    That was where them problem existed. They were all in the same area, and so if any of them exceeded a certain threshold, the clones would respond in kind.

    "Think we should split up? That''ll be nice." Maro looked around him.

    They could lead Aloe''s duplicate through the entrance of the Boss Room and fight with it in a different location.

    "The only thing were unsure of is whether or not they''ll be willing to leave this ce." Maro considered the fact that they spawned in the Boss Room.

    Perhaps they were being too optimistic in thinking they could lure the enemy away from their territory.

    "You guys... they''re about to make their move again." Asa pointed at the hovering beings.

    Just like he said, they seemed to be preparing for another charge.

    "Both of you just try your best to hold my copy off until I destroy yours. Once that happens, you''re free to go all-out!"

    "Smart move, Aloe. Well said."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Miss Vida is the best!"

    As the two nodded in response, Aloe prepared herself for round two against her opponents. It would be a bit tricky, but they didn''t stand a chance against her.

    "Alright the¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    In an eruption of pure blue energy, the three copies were instantly engulfed in an explosion that consumed the air they upied, and the ground underneath them.

    ? The heat and pressure caused the three to brace themselves, shell-shocked by the sudden urrence.

    ''W-what... just happened?!'' Maro''s thoughts rang.

    Aloe and Asa had simr thoughts, wondering what could have caused such an explosion... possession enough power to easily destroy the enemies they had painstakingly strategized against.

    Before they could make sense of what was uring, the st died down, and steam radiated throughout the area.

    The icy surroundings began melting, sizzling like boiling water, as the floor turned wet with the heated liquid, leaving only a few sheets of solid ice floating around.

    As the smoke permeated the surrounding, a sshy sound of approaching footsteps could be heard.

    "Someone else is here!"

    "This... this energy!"

    "S-so strong..."

    Maro, Aloe, and Asa jointly red at the emerging being in front of them. He was a distance away, but the sound he made as he drew closer gave an ominous vibe.

    "You people waste too much time." His voice was deep andmanding, enough to cause all three of their bodies to shiver.

    Sweat fell from Maro''s face as he could feel himself get overwhelmed by the Mana Pressure alone.

    Asa and Aloe still seemed alright, but his head was pounding so much and he was slowly bing light headed.

    In the presence of this extremely powerful stranger whom he did not even know... Maro felt tortured.

    "You could have just killed them in one blow... talk about a waste of time."

    The mist around the stranger cleared, revealing his surprising form.

    "Y-you are¡ª!!!" Asa was the first to respond.

    The young boy''s body trembled as he fully captured the image of the person in front of him.

    The man had two horns growing on his head, also possessing rough blue and red hair that flowed to his backside. His eyes glowed with both crimson and azure, having the re of a beast.

    He wore a long garb, though his bare chest could be seen due to its design. His bare foot and exposed portion of his arm showed scales, like those of a dragon. The scales gleamed blue and red, and they seemed incredibly tough.

    There was no doubt. This man, whoever he could be...

    ... Was incredibly strong!

 Chapter 601 The Draconic Warrior

    "N-no way... it''s you!"

    As Asa observed the being''s appearance, especially his face, he had no doubt in his mind as pertaining to this stranger''s identity

    There was no way someone like him would be forgotten by the young boy.

    "Y-you... you''re Lord Vaizer, aren''t you! Vaizer the Azure Dragon Of Crimson!"

    Upon hearing this statement, the horned man stopped in his tracks and observed Asa. A smile crept up on his face instantly.

    "Oh? It seems I have yet to be forgotten by my people."

    Asa couldn''t believe his eyes. He was standing before a legend... one who was said to be unrivaled before his father became Beast King.

    An invincible Beast King in his own right... Vaizer the Draconic Warrior!

    "T-this is Vaizer?" A hushed voice proceeded from Aloe''s lips as she stared at Asa, and then at Maro.

    If Asa was right, and the men indeed responded to that name, it would mean his identity was the former Beast King. However, that would also mean...

    "... He''s a member of the Cult."

    Asa snapped from his awe and nced to his side. He noticed hisrades ring at the one known as Vaizer, and it also started to dawn on him too.

    "A-ah, sorry guys." The boy muttered, flushed with slight embarrassment.

    "Hahahaha! It looks like you know already. Very good. It makes this much easier and less awkward."

    Once the Beastfolk before them erupted inughter, the three had to give all their attention to him.

    Not only because of the dangerous energy he emitted, but because of the dangerous task he must have been entrusted with... the Arcanas.

    "Just give it up. You can''t win." He, having noticed their hesitance, responded with a wide grin.

    His sharp teeth went on disy, and a very bloodlusted gleam shed from his eyes. Anyone could tell he meant business.

    His sudden appearance, the immediate execution of their clones, and now his demand. It was in to the three at this point.

    "He''s the one, all right. What should we do, Maro?" Aloe nced at her most reliable partner when it came to these things.

    However¡ª

    "I... urgh..."

    "Maro!"

    The man copsed. Fortunately, Aloe had noticed sooner, and she was fast enough to catch him.

    She swiftly held his body, feeling it shiver in her grasp.

    ''He... I see, the Mana Pressure.'' Her eyes widened upon realization.

    Maro was the weakest among everyone in the room, in terms of Mana quality and Magic ability.

    ''Why didn''t I realize sooner?'' The young woman bit her lip slightly.

    "He fell rather quickly. Just how weak is he, to be affected by my Mana Pressure already?" Vaizer''s response angered Aloe, but she maintained her cool.

    cing the man''s body on the ground, she covered him with Light Magic. Not only would her Mana protect Maro from the adverse effects of the pressure, but it would allow him to recuperate.

    "I don''t know why you bother with dregs like that. He''s weak, you know? I can sense that you''re strong, at least. Why waste time on someone like tha¡ª?"

    "Would you shut up, please?" Aloe Vida''s lips curled up in a dangerous smile, and her eyes sharply red at the draconic beastfolk.

    It felt like she was slowly snapping, and Asa beside her could also sense the same thing. The look in her eyes made it obvious¡ªso much so that if scared the young one.

    ''Miss Vida is upset. I''ve never seen her upset.''<novelnext></novelnext>

    The youngdy stepped forward, her focused eyes remaining on her target.

    "You''re a feisty one. Very well. I also believe in letting abilities do the talking, however..." Vaizer''s eyes narrowed as his grin widened.

    "... I can promise you loss of you fight with me. You''re not strong enough to¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    In a sh¡ªliterally¡ªAloe lunged at her opponent.

    Light surged from her body as she transcended the barriers of normal speed. With her fist thrust to give a deafening punch, she poured her Mana and¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The environment echoed in shock, sending the echoes of the impact flying all around. The shockwaves devastated the area of impact¡ªice shattered and broke apart like rocks.

    "Haha, see? Not string enough!" Vaizer''s voice surged through the air as he caught her blow with ease.

    Even if his surrounding quaked due to the pressure, he seemedpletely fine. He hadn''t even budged from his position in the slightest.

    "I gave you your warning. Now... it''s time to make good on my word."

    "Y¡ª"

    Vaizer made his move¡ªmuch faster than Aloe could perceive¡ªand sent his blow flying in her direction.

    In one swift attack, he aimed to blow her head apart, killing her instantly.

    "Die."

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    A sudden gust appeared beside him, and his body was slowly enveloped in thick ice.

    "Huh?"

    Fortunately, this distraction allowed Vida to break free, quickly retreating backwards.

    >SHWOOSSHH<

    She seemingly teleported back to her previous position, only to meet Asa appearing from thin air as he undid his invisibility.

    "Thanks for back there." She whispered to him.

    Of course, Aloe meant what happened to Vaizer earlier. Asa had a specialty of using Ice and Water Magic. Sure, he was a Beastfolk, and they generally didn''t utilize Magic.

    However, after Jared had observed his talents and the special Null ability in his possession, he decided to teach him some Magical arts.

    Fortunately, he had an affinity for it.

    "No problem. But you have to be very careful, Miss Vida. This one... he''s very strong." The person Asa was referring to was Vaizer, who simply stood still and broke apart the ice that seemingly chained him down.

    If the boy hadn''t used his Null to blend with the surroundings and attack Vaizer, there was no way he could have seeded.

    ''He won''t be so easy to catch next time.'' Asa also thought.

    Things had just gotten much more difficult.

    "I''m sorry... it''s because of my selfishness that¡ª"

    "Miss Vida, please stop." Asa gave a slight frown.

    For a moment, the youngdy was stunned. It had been a while that Asa had shown her this face.

    ''... Asa?''

 Chapter 602 Burning Rage

    "The one at fault is that guy. Former Beast King or not... he''s the enemy." Asa''s hand was pointed at Vaizer, but his gaze was still on Aloe.

    Intense emotions surged from him. Both agitation and excitement. Slowly, a smile crept up on his face.

    "Let''s stop him together."

    Silence proceeded the boy''s proposition, but not for long. After all, the emotion he gave off was infective.

    Aloe tapped the boy''s shoulder and gave a sweet smile of appreciation. It would seem she was back to her normal self.

    With a gleam of delight in her eyes, and her confident grin spread all over her face, she faced their opponent.

    "You''re right. We''ll have to do this without Maro, but..."

    "Yeah..."

    Appearing to be like mother and child, but now partners in the same cause, Aloe and Asa stood side by side, staring at Vaizer like predators.

    "Let''s take him down hard."

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    The ground beneath the two shattered as theyunched themselves at the previous Beast King.

    He stood, transfixed to his positions, but his eyes trailed their every movement. To normal people, they must have been imperceivable, but they weren''t much fast to him.

    >WHOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Both, from the left and right, sent powerful hits at Vaizer, but he caught them instantly. He sighed, thinking there was no point to the challenge.

    However¡ª

    "Uh?!"

    The one called Asa slipped past him and instantly appeared underneath him, freezing his body more.

    "What are you¡ª??"

    Before Vaizer could say another world, shes of light appeared above him, sending down rains of Light Spears.

    "Ah..."

    With ice impeding his movement and destructive light darting at him, there was a deadlock he couldn''t escape.

    "... Are you mocking me right now?"

    At least, that was what they thought.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A burst of blue light sent everything in Vaizer''s path flying away. The indescribable surge of power blew Aloe away, sending her crashing among the icicles that hung from the ceiling.

    "Miss Vida!" Asa, unaffected by the st cue to his Null state, swiftly ran away from his opponent.

    "Pathetic." Vaizer gave his verdict.

    The young boy was still in his Null state, so the draconic beastfolk couldn''t see or sense him.

    However, having felt the ice attack cease, he determined that the boy went after his partner. The weak banding together with the weak... it truly was pathetic to him.

    As for Asa, he ran to the site of the crash until he saw Asa slowly descend from the debris and destruction.

    "I''m fine, Asa. Thanks for worrying."

    Asa reappeared, nodding with a smile as she returned to his side.

    "You were right. He''s tough. Looks like I''m going all out."<novelnext></novelnext>

    It didn''t seem like there was any other option at this point.

    ''He has a great deal of Mana. His physical abilities also exceeds mine...''

    The only advantage they had was that Vaizer was unable to use Magic, making him septable to it.

    "It is said that he''s a Martial Arts master, though." Asa interrupted Aloe''s thoughts, almost as though he read her mind.

    "A-ah, thanks for that."

    A true Martial master could match a skilled Mage. Jared had once told them that, so Vida took it into consideration.

    Things looked much more difficult once she made that consideration.

    "How did your father beat him then?"

    So far, he seemed very powerful. It would be nice if they knew a weakness of his.

    "I... father told me he just beat the hell out of him. He was weaker than him. That was all." Asa whispered.

    While possessing immense skill in Martial Arts was important, a person with far greater power could simply blow you away in one shot. That was how Gerard had beaten Vaizer.

    He was simply far stronger.

    "Interesting subject you have going on there." Vaizer''s voice echoed from where he stood, and he slowly began approaching Asa and Aloe.

    "Bringing up Gerard... the brat I lost against. He''s still the Beast King, right? I wonder how much stronger he''s gotten..."

    The moment Asa heard this, his face instantly morphed into that of rage.

    "Shut up! As if you''re not aware that he''s dead! You people blew up our city!"

    "Eh? Really?" Vaizer''s face morphed into that of surprise.

    He stopped dead in his tracks, and the look in his eyes showed genuine shock.

    "He''s dead? What kind of joke is that?"

    This surprise¡ªwhether fake or real¡ªjust enraged Asa even more.

    "Joke? You dare call it that? Your Cult blew us all up, and you''re acting surprised like you didn''t know!" Asa was seething with pure anger at this point.

    His family, everyone he ever loved had been snuffed out in an instant. All thanks to the Nether Cult, no doubt. Yet... yet...!

    "Rx, Asa. Jared never exactly confirmed that the swordsman was from the Cult." Aloe tried pacifying the boy.

    "B-but, who else could it be? They''re the only ones with a grudge or whatever!" Asa was slowly getting calmer, but the anger in his eyes remained.

    "Did you say just a swordsman? He took out your City?" Vaizer''s eyes narrowed, and he appeared to be in thought for a while.

    Aloe felt a bead of sweat fall from her chin as she tried to imagine ways which they could use to ensure victory.

    "Did the swordsman have long auburn hair, by any chance? Long auburn hair and a blue dress?"

    "H-how do you¡ª? Yes... if you mean a kimono, then yes. Seems like you know him. So the perpetrator was from the Cult, after all." Aloe Vida spoke, trying her best to observe the opponent and his surroundings

    What she noticed, however, was an ever-growing frown on his face.

    "I... wanted to fight Gerard again. I wanted to crush him this time. With my newfound power, I was going to crush him in front of everyone." Vaizer whispered.

    The burning gaze in his eyes only seemed to strengthen as his piercing gaze took in both Aloe and Asa.

    "To think ''he'' got to do that first... damn it!" True anger spread across Vaizer''s countenance.

    Though the reason behind his rage was questionable, he was just as¡ªif not more¡ªangry as Asa had been.

 Chapter 603 Clash Of Will

    "This is frustrating... so frustrating..."

    Vaizer began recoiling from the terrible news he heard, not even focusing on his foes as he had been doing since the fight began.

    ''Now''s my chance!'' Aloe''s thoughts snapped.

    She didn''t know how long it wouldst, and if Asa could keep up with her speed, so she decided to go solo.

    ''Pour as much Mana as I can... condense it... I only need one strike!'' Aloe prepared herself.

    The heat emanating from her body melted the surrounding ice and golden shes sprang forth from her crouched form.

    Before long¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Moving as the fastest thing in existence, light itself, Vida coated herself with the golden energy and traveled to Vaizer with such speed and pressure that everything around.her shattered.

    The ice broke apart, melting in the process. The wind pressure pushed Asa back, causing a storm brewing in her wake.

    As concerned as she was, she did not have the luxury of turning back or being distracted for even the slightest second.

    Her mission took utmost priority.

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH<

    With the pressure she built from traveling with such sleed, as well as the highly concentrated Mana she had condensed on her palm, the brave young woman prepared for her strike.

    "Hey..."

    ''Huh?'' Vaizer''s voice danced in her ears, and her body suddenly trembled.

    Her unshakable, unwavering action, found pause.

    "... I''ll be killing you now."

    Aloe realized that if she got any closer to the opponent, it would prove extremely deadly. No, it was perhaps too dangerous already.

    She needed to step away... and fast!

    ''Those eyes are filled with bloodlust. I can''t...'' Once again, Aloe''s defensive instinct kicked in, and she found herself retreating back to Asa''s position.

    She lost her chance.

    "Damnit..." The youngdy whispered, ncing at an oblivious Asa.

    For all he knew, she had only flickered for a moment. That was how fast she just went.

    "You made the right choice. I would have killed you if you stepped closer. But, it doesn''t matter. All you''ve done is prolong your life for a few more seconds." Vaizer dered.

    Asa still didn''t understand what was happening, but his re remained toward Vaizer.

    "This news has greatly saddened me. I have something I need to do now, so I''ll be ending the both of you quickly. Hopefully the Arcana appears after that..."

    Aloe knew their opponent meant no joke. They had to give it their all now.

    "Mage Mode. Fusion Mode. Original Magic." Aloe murmured, transforming instantly.

    Asa infused his Mana around his body, granting himself heightened abilities. Unfortunately, he wasn''t in water, so his aquatic form couldn''t help much in this situation.

    However, with his current state and the Null form he now manifested, he could at least put up a fight.

    As for Aloe, she now took on the appearance of a goddess¡ªsimr to a blinding sculpture of golden brilliance. This, of course, was the consequence of using her Mage Mode and Fusion Mode.

    A Special Grade Mana Core floated on her shoulder, and about a dozen more Mana Cores floated around her. The Special Grade Core served as some sort of sun, and the extra Mana Cores took on the similitude of stars.

    This was a result of her Original Magic: Aurora Vidalis.

    Darkness instantly enveloped the space around, and the brightness of her lights glimmered even brighter than ever.

    "Follow my lead, Asa. You can use your senses to follow me and the enemy. Do what you can to keep up."

    "U-understood!" Asa whispered, though he knew Aloe couldn''t hear him in his current state.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He was surprised, though, with the way the environment had Instantly darkened.

    Usually, it took a while before Aloe''s Special Grade Mana Core swallowed up the light in the vicinity.

    However, this time it was instant!

    ''Could it be due to the many Mana Cores that are shimmering around her like stars?'' He wondered.

    Unfortunately, he didn''t have the time to think about Aloe''s mysterious growth. More pressing matters bothered him.

    ''I have to keep up! I have to¡ª!''

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    As Asa was still trying to gather his resolve, Aloe sped right past him. He couldn''t even see or sense her the slightest until she was far gone.

    Like an afterthought, he decided to give chase. Though Aloe was clearly stronger and faster than he was, Asa reckoned that there were still certain things he was useful for.

    ''I... can help!''

    *

    *

    *

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The brilliant sparks of blue and golden light caused by Aloe''s sh with Vaizer were sent across the area.

    More of the surroundings copsed, and the icy ground beneath them melted. Waves of pressure filled their vicinity as they exchanged more blows.

    Aloe used her multiple Mana Cores to send beams of light in Vaizer''s direction as she created a study light saber to utilize.

    "Tch!" Vaizer, coated in his energy that shrouded him like Dragon-like scales, deflected the blows.

    Unfortunately, he wasn''t too slow¡ªor rather, he wasn''t as fast as before.

    ? >WHOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Aloe Vida''s de came crashing down, breaking the scales of protection he donned.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Before he could say more, her Special Grade Mana Core appeared from behind and emitted the most dangerous gleam of light.

    "[Grand Ray Blitz]!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The draconic beastfolk was baptized in a devastating explosion that evaporated the ice, water, and everything else around them.

    Aloe darted back, readying herself for nother round. Surely, that wasn''t enough to stop her foe.

    ''Thanks to my current state, we''re evenly matched in speed.'' Aloe analyzed within herself.

    If she was being honest, she was a bit faster. Unfortunately, Vaizer''s senses were sharp, so his ability to react appropriately made them an equal match.

    The problem was elsewhere, though.

    ''He''s stronger. His durability too...'' Aloe Vida noticed the mist clearing, and tight at the center was an unscathed Vaizer.

    He waspletely, and off the charts unharmed.

    His outfit was gone, though, except for a small portion of his undergarment.

    He stepped out of the devastated vat of evaporating liquid, a deep re manifesting on his face.

    "Annoying fly. I''ll end this quickly."

 Chapter 604 Sizzling Transformation

    >SHWUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    An intense amount of energy swirled around Vaizer, and his body suddenly transformed to arger state.

    He took on the form of a beast, and his gleaming scales covered his entire body. In a sh, he grew a long tail, his horns grewrger, and wings sprouted from behind him.

    Not only had he grownrger, but his form was different. The only thing human-like about him was his bipedal nature. Other than that, he was now apletely different being.

    ''That is... Beast Transformation!'' Aloe acknowledged in silence, wondering what she would do next.

    Vaizer had be an apex of beasts, worthy of being titled the strongest in terms of power and prestige.

    That''s right, his current form... was that of a Dragon!

    "His abilities have risen even more. This will be tough..."

    Aloe proceeded to enhance herself with Magic, hoping she would be able to keep up. Even with her Original Magic slowing everything down, she was still at a loss. Just how fast was this person?!

    ''I''ll have to take more!''

    "Hey, human..." Vaizer''s deeper, more authoritative tone rang out.

    Aloe found herself shudder a bit when she heard the Dragon-like being speak. It rattled her down to her bones.

    "... I''ll be killing you now."

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Vaizer lunged at Aloe, and despite her Aurora Vidalis, he was still plenty fast. As he approached, she wondered the best approach to take.

    ''Stall for time? But then what? I don''t want to trouble the others unless I''m aware that he can''t be handled. What should I do?''

    Asa was meant to assist her, but she couldn''t entirely rely on his help. Ultimately, she had to make an active choice.

    ''But... can I win? Do I stand a chance?''

    Suddenly, a memory shed in her head and she collected the words of a certain Automaton.

    "Youck enough violence." Those were the words of Gawain when they fought back in training.

    Jared had also told her something simr, saying she was ''too conservative.''

    Her fighting style was always centered around using her speed and excess Magic abilities to defeat her opponents.

    However, it wasn''t like she engaged the opponents violently. She preferred using her wits, or even one-shotting them. An attempt to struggle in a head-on sh, until there was a final victor, had no appeal to her.

    In the past, she was different. But, everything changed after suffering a miserable and painful death at the hands of the demons back when she was a dorm supervisor.

    It was since then that she felt repugnant to excessive violence and the meaningless struggle centered around it.

    Unfortunately, here she was again, confronted with something simr.

    ''But... I don''t know for sure if I can win or not.''

    Had she really ever pushed herself to the limits with her current strength? She was overflowing with so much power, far more than ever before.

    ''More... I can have more!''

    It wasn''t impossible to reach out for more. Her growth so far had always been about surpassing her limits.

    There was nothing stopping her from doing the very same at the moment.

    "I''ll do it. I''ll give it my all!"

    And so, Aloe decided to finally do what she had been avoiding.

    "Come!" She was going to face Vaizer head-on!

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<<novelnext></novelnext>

    The sh of the gold and azure beings sent a destructive wave spreading across the area. The icy dungeon parted and everything around them melted in moments.

    "You... stopped my blow?!" Vaizer was stunned beyond words.

    His bloodshot eyes widened upon realizing his target''s head was still intact. She was meant to have died by now!

    "Haaa..." Mist-like breath proceeded from Aloe''s parted lips.

    Hot steam surrounded her, and her golden ambiance radiated even further.

    It was brimming with unbelievable energy and heat.

    Her eyes werepletely covered in white light, and so were the insides of her lips and nostrils. Every fiber of her being had transformed into light¡ªpure and true.

    "... It wasn''t that a big a deal, after all." She whispered.

    Vaizer felt the sting of her insult. Did she just refer to his blow as not that big a deal?

    No, she really didn''t.

    Vaizer misunderstood Aloe''s words.

    To he frank, her body was still in shock from receiving that hit. It had damaged her, no doubt.

    However.... what of it?!

    "You won''t be killing me, Vaizer." Aloe''s tone warbled as she crunched her fist in preparation for a well deserved payback.

    Currently, Aloe Vida''s form allowed her transcend the limits of a human body. She was faster than the concept of pain, and every damage recieved was too slow to manifest on her form.

    After taking in so much light from.around her, leaving nothing but darkness around, Aloe had gone past the limits holding her back.

    She was currently light energy at its purest!

    "You bit¡ª"

    Faster than he could perceive, much faster than anyone couldprehend, Aloe casually dug her fist into Vaizer''s face.

    She didn''t struggle, neither did she intend to move quickly. It was just a casual jab.

    Vaizer''s face sizzled, burning up due to the amount of heat that stered itself there. He was unmoving though, simply transfixed in his position.

    Then, in a sh¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The Dragonoid was sent flying.

    Shockwaves were sent, clearing everything¡ªeven the debris. Therge auditorium copsed, revealing the frosty environment surrounding the dungeon.

    The entire structure was already melting at an abnormal rate.

    "Gurk... you... what did you do?" Vaizer groaned, feeling his body throb in shock.

    He was already outside the Dungeon and all he could see for miles was a snowy storm.  Heaving heavily and seeing his misty breath, he picked himself up.

    ''Just now... I didn''t see her. I just felt myself move, and... what is this?'' Vaizer felt the scales on his face crack.

    Just... what in the world was happening?

    Suddenly, the being of absolute light manifested right above him. She was glimmering like the sun in the absolute darkness that apanied her.

    Everything slowly became swallowed by night, leaving her as the only source of light present.

    The ice around began melting, and the snow stopped raining. They sizzled and evaporated instead.

    ''She... what has she be?''

 Chapter 605 The Power Of Justice

    Vaizer found himself speechless as he witnessed the magnificence of Aloe Vida.

    Around her were sparkling Mana Cores, numerous in number like little stars.

    Therger, special grade Mana Core was on her right hand, and her right hand held what seemed like a scepter.

    A crown of glory floated on her head, sharp on the edges like a razor-like halo. The mere presence of Aloe made everything around he melt, and other than her, the entire area was a dull grey.

    ''I... what''s going on here?''

    Vaizer felt stuck. He could hardly move. Even his heart felt like stone.

    He was hardly moving.

    "Don''t bother. I took your speed. The motion around has been collected."

    Currently, the only one who could really move was the overpowering entity above him.

    ''Isn''t that unfair?'' Vaizer found himself thinking.

    He couldn''t even speak at this point.

    "Tell me, Vaizer. Is this the best you can do? I want to experience more."

    It sounded condescending, but Aloe Vida wasn''t being arrogant at all. The fact that she was able to grow into something so spectacr because of a challenge.

    Her current state had now ovee that barrier, and now...

    ... She desired more.

    ''The arrogance!'' Former Beast King Vaizer growled internally.

    As a matter of fact, he indeed had a trump card. He was still learning its workings since had been bestowed this power just recently. However...

    ''It looks like I''ll have to use it, after all. My Arcana.''

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG!!!<

    A bright glimmer surged from Vaizer¡ªsomething that shouldn''t have been possible. It radiated with him as the focal point, thus restoring color to his body.

    "Haaa, much better." The dragon beastfolk grinned, feeling his body return to normal.

    Everything about him felt great, though the environment was still a faded dark color.

    "I didn''t think I''d have to use this. But, I guess it all worked out in the end."

    His opponent, Aloe Vida, scrunched up her face in slight confusion.

    "What''s going on? I can''t take away your ''motion''... how?"

    "Hehe, it''s simple... though you don''t need to know that."

    Vaizer''s secret weapon, his Arcana, was the only thing that could make something like this possible.

    ''With [Justice], I have the ability to turn any unfair situation around. If my opponent is stronger, I can bring us to the same level. I didn''t use it before because there''s no point...''

    Despite the Arcana in his grasp, Vaizer knew he couldn''tpletely utilize its phenomenal power. The best he could do was simply turn his body''s situation around, granting him a fighting chance.

    Now that he was no longer stuck in slow motion, and his opponent could not interfere with his ability to fight, he was in a far more advantageous state.

    ''This much is enough... I''ll crush you!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    In an instant, Vaizerunched a fiery crimson breath at Aloe Vida. The intensity scorched the air, sending a trail of devastation in it''s wake.

    Aloe simply stretched her scepter,pletely nullifying the strike.

    In an instant, itpletely disintegrated.

    "Not bad!" Vaizer was now in the air, directly behind her.

    As heunched his fist, she flipped her scepters edge and used it counter.

    "I should be much faster than you, yet you can keep up?" Aloe murmured.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Hehe. Speed is rtive, after all."

    The Arcana [Justice] was making things fairer, and that only meant Aloe Vida''s advantage was slowly disintegrating.

    Unfortunately, that wasn''t the only thing that was vanishing.

    "U-urhhh..." A sharp pain suddenly surged through her heart.

    Her body suddenly began throbbing helplessly, giving Vaizer the perfect chance tounch a follow-up strike.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Aloe fell to the ground in a loud crash, crating a crater of cold, rocky debris.

    Her light transformation became undone, and she was in a half conscious state. Her tone slurred as she struggled to keep her eyes opened.

    "Hehehe... Hahaha... I should be asking you now, human. Is this the best you can do?" Vaizer dered from his height, now descending to the crater where Vida helplesslyy.

    As soon as his feet touched the ground, he kicked the paralyzed woman, causing her to fly a far distance ahead.

    Swiftly, he followed her, giving another deafening blow that sent her falling straight to the ground.

    >BOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Now standing atop her body, like the victorious one he was, Vaizer grinned in victory. He had, once again, triumphed.

    "This is the power of [Justice]!"

    Aloe Vida''s eyes were closed at this point, and there no longer remained any strength in her to fight back.

    She was spent.

    "You weren''t a bad opponent. I relished the fight."

    Vaizer was in a great mood. Thanks to his battle with Aloe Vida, he had realized something critical.

    ''With the power of this Arcana, I can defeat just about anyone.'' So long as [Justice] was on his side, wasn''t that simply the best?

    He would always win!

    "I didn''t think it was possible before, but now... I''m certain! I can finally rise to the top!"

    Even though it was ambitious of him, Vaizer thought of the first person he would challenge.

    ''The First Seat. He stole my prey from me. How dare he...''

    It is said that power makes one drunk. That was probably what afflicted Vaizer, as his hubris started making him generate thoughts grander than he dared to imagine in the past.

    "Now, then... to finish you." He stared down at the helpless woman.

    After he was done with her, he would kill off the others and hope the Arcana would appear.

    ''Come to think of it, I haven''t seen that little shrimp in a while...''

    As Viazer''s thoughts trailed, he noticed thedy beneath him stirring as she smiled weakly.

    ''Why is she smiling? I won, didn''t I?''

    "I... did it..." Aloe''s voice trailed.

    The beastfolk, still in his draconic form, was confused. He was the victor, and she was the defeated. Yet why did she seem awfully pleased with herself.

    "... Missionplete." As she made that final statement, Aloe Vida fell unconscious, leaving Vaizer with nothing but confusion.

    "Still thinking you''re better than me after losing? This bit¡ª"

    >BZZZZTTTTTTZZZZZ<

    Suddenly, a strange sensation pulsated throughout Vaizer''s body. His entire being felt numb, and then... what came next...

    ... was PAIN!

 Chapter 606 Unseen Teamwork

    "Arrrrghhhhh!!!"

    Vaizer''s scream pierced the air as he felt his body being assailed by uncontroble energy.

    It felt like all his nerves were tangled in a twisted knot.

    His veins and arteries seemed to have exploded uncontrobly, and everything in his insides were in a frenzy.

    ''W-what is¡ª?!'' Vaizer''s eyes bulged as he felt everything tear apart from within.

    "H-huh...?"

    His entire body became paralyzed too, and he found himself losing control over all mobility and sensory functions.

    His vision blurred and his ears rang. His brain pounded, and everything simply felt WRONG!

    ''W-what... I don''t... understand...''

    "Great work, guys." A voice sounded behind Vaizer, but he couldn''t tilt his head to see the owner.

    As his footsteps approached, the Beastfolk felt dread and powerlessness. A strange sense of fearful foreboding assailed his being.

    "No problem." A voice sounded right beside Vaizer, and a kid appeared.

    The very same kid that he was looking for!

    "It took all of my self control not to react despite what he was doing, though. Look at Miss Vida''s current state."

    The kid seemed angry, and he was referring to the approaching footstep that became even closer.

    "Haha, I apologize. I also didn''t expect things to get so intense. Fortunately, we were able to get to a resolution."

    The man finally appeared from behind, tapping Vaizel on his shoulder as he made his appearance in front of the paralyzed Beastfolk.

    ''Y-you!!!''

    Right in front of Vaizer, smiling ever so confident, was the human who copsed due his inability to withstand his Mana Pressure.

    ''H-how...?!''

    Was he faking it? Was everything a trick?!

    "I know what you must be thinking, but no. I actually fainted because of your Mana Pressure." Maro, the red-haired humanughed in slight embarrassment.

    ''T-then how?!'' Vaizer wanted to twitch his eyes, but they wouldn''t move.

    "I just woke up much earlier than you thought. Thanks to Aloe''s protective and restorative Spell, I was able to observe your battle for some time. Thanks to that, I was able to devise a countermeasure."

    Vaizer was silent, but a lot of questions squirmed within him.

    Ever since he fought his opponents, especially Aloe, it never seemed like there was any form of teamwork going on.

    ''What countermeasure is he talking about? Didn''t they all just attack me desperately?''

    "Haha, of course you''ll be confused. I can''t see any reaction since your face ispletely paralyzed, but it''s just a guess."

    Vaizer was dying of shame, but curiousity still got the better of him. He wanted, so badly, to know what had just happened.

    "Asa, could you help me heal Aloe?"

    "I don''t know any Healing Magic."

    "I didn''t say you did. You know what? I''ll just do it myself. Watch over the prisoner."

    Maro left Vaizer without exining, and then moved over to where Vida remained unconscious.

    He brought out a vial from his pouch¡ªa Magic Item that protected its contents from being damaged, and also preserved them in their best state, while also having a vast space within it.

    The vial was glowing yellow, and it was to help restore Vida''s Mana so she could self-heal.

    He brought out yet another vial, a potion that boosted recovery and healed the one who consumed it. As a result, Aloe''s body glowed and shemenced her healing process.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "You did a good job, Aloe." Maro smiled at the sleeping young woman.

    He had never felt any prouder of a partner. Not only did she risk her life, but she exceeded his expectations.

    Truly...

    ''Well done.''

    ... She was strong!

    *

    *

    *

    What had happened was simple, yet a somewhat nonexistent disy of teamwork.

    Initially, Asa and Aloe were nning on simply giving their all until they defeated their opponents.

    Asa was going to do his best to catch up to Aloe and help in any way he could. He strengthened himself to the limits, and used his Null ability.

    While he was trying to catch up to his opponent, though, he heard Maro''s voice in his head.

    All he had to do was follow a n, and Vaizer would be defeated. He was skeptical about it, but once Aloe was connected to the three-waymunication¡ªand she agreed¡ªAsa had no choice but to go along with it.

    The n involved Asa taking some vials from Maro¡ªthough he didn''t know their functions¡ªand stter them on Vaizer at intervals.

    He had five vials, and after a specified interval, on Maro''smand, he would douse Vaizer with the next round.

    Fortunately, Vaizer was too busy with his fight with Aloe to care about being sttered with liquid. Also, since Asa could simply pass through any form of destruction while remaining invisible, he was perfect for the job.

    That was what he had to do.

    Hisst vial was spent when Vaizer stood atop Aloe, in victory and the cumtive effect seemed to manifest not long after.

    As for Aloe, her duty was to simply engage Vaizer as much as possible. Maro suspected the beastfolk had an Arcana so the n was for Aloe to push him to the point of utilizing it.

    If it turned out Maro was wrong, then it was still good.

    Why?

    Because that would only make Vaizer all the more screwed.

    Once he used his Arcana''s ability, Maro would know what they were dealing with and locate the position of the Arcana. Once the location was deciphered, Asa''s second job was to retrieve it as soon as the enemy became paralyzed.

    Sure, there was more chaos than expected.

    The n was almost ruined die to Asa''s boiling annoyance as well. Fortunately, his form made it impossible for anyone to sense even his bloodlust.

    Regardless, they seeded.

    Vaizer was sessfully captured thanks to the new and improved Mana Shock concentrate Asa doused on him, causing his entire body function to stop.

    All in all, while being extremely, it was a sessful fight.

    *

    *

    *

    "I bet you''re dying of curiousity, aren''t you?" Asa grinned at the oblivious beastfolk.

    The boy was currently holding the Arcana he swiped from Vaizer.

    ''Who would have thought it would be in his hair? Smart move.''

 Chapter 607 The Moons Guardian [Pt 1]

    Vaizer was dying of both curiosity and shame¡ªnot to talk of the unbearable pain that tore him apart from within¡ªbut no one was willing to tell him anything.

    Not only had he lost his trump card, but he was nowpletely powerless. Vaizer felt like dying.

    ''J-just... kill me...''

    "You were stronger than anything I imagined. For that, you have my respect." Asa said, however his re only deepened.

    "But, you hurt Miss Vida. That is a crime I can never forgive you for. You also betrayed your people and joined the Cult that is responsible for wiping out my friends and family... your own people!"

    At this point, Asa was seething with rage.

    "Maro said you''ll be feeling so much pain that it would be considered unbearable. I hope that''s true." The boy suddenly grinned.

    "You should suffer."

    ''Damn brat!'' Vaizer groaned internally, watching as Asa flicked his card in the air as though it was a toy.

    "Hey, Asa! Be careful with that Arcana!" Maro angrily yelled at the boy, causing him to finally cease his yful action.

    "Yeah, yeah... what about Miss Vida?"

    Asa knew she suffered some severe injuries, but shouldn''t she had been healed at this point? Or, perhaps...

    "She''spletely healed, but she hasn''t gained consciousness yet." Maro answered.

    His tone sounded sullen, and his face also disyed confusion.

    Naturally, Aloe should have awoken after her Mana and health had been restored, yet she was still unconscious.

    "Could it be a side effect of that form she took at thest minute? It looked incredibly dangerous and powerful too..." The Magic Schr murmured.

    "H-hey! If anything happens to Miss Vida, you''ll¡ª"

    "Keep quiet, brat. I''m thinking here!"

    Once Asa heard Maro snap, he found himself keeping silent. Was he scared of the man? No. It was just...

    "Y-you''re lucky Miss Vida said to listen to you." With that, Asa puffed his cheeks and kept a pout.

    He watched Vaizer while Maro examined Aloe even further. Neither of them knew what was going on...

    ... For it was beyond mereprehension.

    *

    *

    *

    "Where... am I?" A voice echoed through a vast space.

    Aloe, the sole person within, wondered if the voice was hers. The question in the nervous voice, as though being stated by  multiple persons at once.

    Why was that so? Did it have something to do with the ce she found herself in? No doubt, it did.

    Around Aloe Vida were mirrors. Multiple mirrors that reflected her. They centered on the young girl''s location, everything capturing several moments of her existence¡ªfrom different perspectives as well.

    ''This ce is... I can''t sense anything at all.''

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG<<novelnext></novelnext>

    A brilliant illumination appeared from above, causing the young woman to raise her head. Her eyes widened as she witnessed it falling... the Arcana she had been searching for.

    "T-the Moon?" Aloe murmured as she saw it descend.

    However, just as the card drew closer to her, something else began gathering.

    Light particles emanated from all the mirrors around her, and Aloe felt her heart resonate with the light fragments that formed.

    It started to take form, and before long, it took the shape of a woman.

    She was d in a white gown, and her wless skin was pale. She had white hair, and a ck spot under her left eye and her lip. A brilliant green glow appeared in her irises, and she put on a gentle smile.

    The woman d in white floated in the air and took hold of the Arcana, descending slowly in Aloe''s direction.

    ''Even though she took the Arcana... why do I feel at ease?'' Aloe simply watched, as though in a trance, until the woman floated right in front of her.

    "You... there''s something different about you." The pale woman spoke in a warbling tone.

    She seemed to indicate surprise¡ªas though something was wrong with Aloe. It puzzled the youngdy.

    "Ah, I don''t mean that in a bad way. I just mean... your Soul has a peculiar form. You must have... reached the Root, right? Or maybe you touched it?"

    "Wha¡ª? I don''t understand... what you''re saying?" Aloe Vida muttered.

    She was totally confused.

    "Aether. I mean, Aether. You''vee into contact with it. And I mean, direct exposure. Your Soul is gleaming with the stuff. You didn''t notice?"

    Aloe was hearing the total stranger speak about stuff like Aether as though it wasmon sense, but she didn''t even know what that was.

    "Haha, I see. You must not know what it is then. I understand. But it''s such a waste, really. You could be so much more if you knew."

    Aloe felt like she was missing out on a lot. The friendly nature of the woman got her curious. Plus, this was her soul she was referring to.

    "C-could you teach me?" She whispered her question, not exactly confident in her proposition.

    "Hmm, should I? I don''t know..."

    The blond youngdy didn''t know what to say. Her elegant, ghost-like conversation partner didn''t seem to particrly mind. Perhaps she could insist?

    "Your Mana must be increasing at a steady rate, right? I''m sure your Soul pumps out more Mana than usual, and your Mana Core¡ª correction, Mana Cores¡ªabsorb them at a much faster rate. You recover your Mana easily, and you keep getting stronger. Are those symptoms urate?"

    Aloe Vida was beyond astounded. The ghostdy got it all spot on.

    "Y-yeah. You''re exactly right!"

    "Well, Mana and Miasma are just two sides of the same coin. It''s only natural that your Soul pumps out what your body is capable of receiving. It should have matured into Aether by now, though."

    "Y-yeah, you''re right. So teach me." Aloe didn''t believe she was doing this... but she simply had to ask.

    The ghostdy stared at her. It seemed even she was stunned by Aloe''s approach. Then¡ª

    "Haha! I like your spunk, girl. You know, I was already impressed that you got ess to Aether at such a young age. Plus, these multiple Mana Cores, such a wonderful innovation."

    Aloe felt a little guilty since she didn''t really achieve any of that, but she justughed in response to the woman''s praise.

    "Yeah, hahaha..."

 Chapter 608 The Moons Guardian [Pt 2]

    Aloe wanted to attribute her achievements to Jared, but she didn''t know how to bring it up.

    ''This exposure to Aether she''s talking about... is it because Jared resurrected me?''

    She still had a bunch of questions.

    "Alright, Aloe. I''ve decided to take you in as my apprentice. We''re gonna be here a while, you ready for that?"

    It was a sudden question, but Aloe was already certain about what to respond with.

    "Yes!"

    ''I''m sorry for my selfishness, everyone. I have to find out more...''

    "Haha! I like your zeal! Alright then."

    *

    *

    *

    The Mirrors around them turned into walls, and a tiled surface appeared underneath. Before long, it seemed like they were in a ss room¡ªwith both the woman and Aloe as the upants.

    "You seem to have a suspicion as to how and where you must have gotten ess to Aether. So, spill." The woman in white spoke, her voice echoing lightly in the vast and empty hall.

    "I-I think it''s when I died and Jared resurrected me. I was killed by some demons during an invasion and¡ª"

    "Hoho, I see. He resurrected you through normal means? The world has advanced to that extent already?"

    "N-no, not really. Jared is just really exceptional..."

    "Seems to me like you have some sort of ''special feelings'' for this Jared character. Hehe." The pale woman leaned closer, grinning mischievously.

    "I-its not like that. I just respect him a lot. Besides, he''s got someone else..." Aloe was blushing hard at this point, yet she denied any prospect of having feelings for the boy in question.

    Surely, she wasn''t expecting the ancient being in front of her to buy that.

    "Haaa, I totally get how you feel, Aloe. It was the same for me, with Merlin."

    "Oh... you liked him?"

    "W-what? Who said that? Of c-c-c-course not! Why would you think that?!" The paledy was also blushing all over.

    It seemed the two were more alike than they initially thought.

    "Oh... okay..."

    "What''s with that tone? You don''t believe me? Come on, if you have something on your mind, spill it!"

    "Haha, I''d rather just focus on training on the... Aether?" Aloe swiftly tried to return the focus to the relevant subject that they had decided to undertake.

    It wasn''t like romance and those kind of things weren''t also important to her, but...

    ''The world is at stake. I have to get back to the others quickly.''

    "What''s the rush? Come on, let loose a bit. I haven''t had someone to talk to in ages." The paledy said with a pouty expression.

    With the snap of her fingers, a sofa made of ss appeared, and she sat on it with an emphatic desire to make herselffortable.

    "B-but, aren''t you like... going to disappear or something?"

    "Uh?"

    "I mean... back when Jared met Merlin, he said something about him being out of time, and he vanished. So, I was wondering about you, and..."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Instantly, the pale woman''s eyes popped wide open and she dashed in Aloe''s direction in a sh.

    "You saw Merlin? What did he say? Did he mention me?" Her eyes sparkled with desire and curiosity.

    For someone who imed not to have any feelings for the man in question, she sure disyed the opposite.

    With her face blushing so hard, and what appeared to be steaming from her her nose, it seemed pretty clear to Aloe... but who was she talk?

    "W-wait, I don''t know. I''m not sure. I wasn''t the one who met with him personally."

    "Ah, is that so?"

    Disappointment spread across thedy''s face as she plopped back to her seat. Aloe heaved a sigh of relief, happy her ''mentor'' hadn''t egged her on concerning the topic.

    ''Merlin didn''t talk about her at all. ording to what Jared said, he only mentioned...'' Aloe''s eyes bulged as she realized something.

    Something utterly important!

    ''H-how could I have forgotten?''

    There was one person that Merlin vehemently warned against. The only person he specifically mentioned.

    "U-um... what''s your name? I just realized we haven''t exchanged names. I''m Aloe Vida." She gulped, looking at the pale woman with a slightly nervous expression.

    If she was indeed the ''person'' that Merlin spoke about, then...

    "Ah, I''m Kazen. Wait... did you think I was Ciel? So you did meet Merlin!" Thedy named Kazen once againunched herself at Aloe.

    "N-no, Jared was the only one, really. He only told to beware of a ''Ciel''."

    It was a tough one, but Aloe once again avoided the hounding of her obviously lovestruck or obsessed mentor. She could deny it all she wanted, but wasn''t it in?

    "It''s a relief you aren''t Ciel, though." Sheughed, trying to create conversation upon seeing Kazen pout.

    "How can you be so sure? This is my world, you know? Reading your thoughts isn''t exactly difficult, if I wanted to. I could just pretend to not be Ciel."

    ''Ah, that''s true. Crap!'' Aloe realized that no matter how she sliced it, there was no way to be entirely certain.

    "Don''t worry, though. I''m not her... and you best be happy I''m not. For one, Ciel isn''t an Apostle of Aether... at least not anymore."

    Aloe felt there was a lot to the story, considering Kazen, who was usually so expressive, now had a darker expression.

    "What exactly happened?"

    Kazen gazed into Aloe''s eyes, and she sighed while shaking her head.

    "Na. I don''t want to talk about it. You asked why I''m not worried about disappearing, right? There''s no need to worry about that."

    Aloe felt a bit saddened about how Kazen brushed off the topic, but it was probably too painful to discuss.

    Either way, she simply had to respect her predecessor''s privacy.

    "I didn''t use up my Aether before dying, after all. Besides, I used my Original Magic to ensure I wouldn''t vanish... at least, in a sense."

    "Huh?"

    "[The Moon] Arcana controls reflections. In essence, mirror copies. I copied my soul and ced it as the custodian of this Arcana."

    "N-no way..." Aloe found herself in amazement.

    "I know. I''m pretty awesome, right?"

 Chapter 609 Kazens Revelation

    "In any case, you mentioned how you were resurrected by Jared''s special technique and got into contact with Aether, right?"

    At this point, both Kazen and Aloe were seated opposite each other in the vast ssy room¡ªappearing to be in some sort of consultation.

    "Y-yeah. But the thing is, he has resurrected others too, yet none of them seem to have experienced the same change I have. I don''t understand it myself."

    Kazen nodded calmly, obviously assessing the situation with the best of her abilities. She ced her.finger on her chin and thought for a moment, arriving at a conclusion before long.

    "I don''t know!"

    "E-eh...?" This certainly wasn''t the answer Aloe was expecting.

    "I said I don''t know. There''s so much vague information, so I can''t deduce anything. I wasn''t there, so how can I tell?" Kazen sighed, throwing her hands in the air.

    "W-well..."

    "Besides, you were dead at that point too, right? So there''s no way you could give an entirely urate ount. If only that Jared dude was here, I would have asked him to give more useful answers..."

    Somehow, that sent a direct hit to Aloe''s heart. She instantly felt sorry for not being adequately equipped with the information they required.

    "There are many elements that could have caused your transformation. The most usible is that your soul got exposed to Aether before it returned to your body. But, there are other options..."

    "Ah, I see." Aloe whispered, listening more to her mentor''s words.

    "You mentioned how Jared saw Merlin, right? That means his soul also has exposure to Aether. Perhaps it resonated with yours upon revival and sent some of its materials to yours?"

    However, Kazen wasn''t sure about this option. The quality of Aether in Aloe''s soul couldn''t havee from mere trickles. Besides, that was indeed the case, then a portion of Jared''s soul should have been attached to hers.

    Soul theory wasplicated, and the woman didn''t want to start delving into it.

    "The bottom line is that there could be one of many factors, or maybe abination of many reasons that you''re the way you are."

    "Ah, I understand. I don''t know if this is helpful, but Jared mentioned something about... him being a Singrity? Do you know what that¡ª"

    >WHOOOSHHH<

    Instantly, Kazen appeared right in front of Aloe, tightly clutching both her shoulders.

    An expression of insanity yed on her face, and it seemed like she was on the verge of a mental copse.

    "D-did you just say... Singrity?"

    "Y-yeah, that''s what¡ª"

    "Are you sure?"

    "Y-yes, I am. Merlin said so too... Jared told me that too." Aloe quickly added thest part so as not to raise another issue of Merlin x Kazen.

    Everywhere suddenly grew tense, and Aloe began to wonder if she should not have mentioned a Singrity at all.

    "Well, of that''s the case, then it probably makes sense that you got ess to Aether. Singrities can''t exactly be reasoned with, after all."

    Now Aloe had more questions. In the first ce, what exactly WAS a Singrity?

    "No one really knows much about Singrities, so don''t look at me for answers. Their cause, their purpose... it''s all shrouded in mystery. All I know is that they''re chosen by Aether."

    "Chosen... by Aether."

    Kazen sighed, returning to her seat once more. A serious expression ran through her face, and it appeared grim.

    "It means from the time they were born, they had alresdy been exposed to Aether. They''re special."

    However, if that was all there was to it, Kazen wouldn''t have had such a reaction. No, in fact, she would have probably rejoiced. Geniuses were a cause for celebration, after all.

    Unfortunately, there was a stark difference between geniuses and Singrities.

    "The Root, Aether, chooses Singrities for a particr purpose. It usually involves something of a grand scale..."

    Aloe Vida felt like she was slowly grasping the logic, but it seemed to be shrouded in even more mystery. What greater particr purpose? What grand scale?

    "I need to speak with this Jared character..." Kazen spoke, giving off an entirely serious vibe.

    Aloe remained silent. There was nothing to be said. Even if her mentor wanted to, there was no way she could leave this space... or was there?

    "We should hurry up with this training. If it''s the same asst time, then the world is in grave danger."

    Kazen rose to her feet, and Aloe did likewise. The sofas vanished, and the time for small talk seemed to have gone far behind.

    ''This is what I wanted, but... why do I feel so frightened?''

    Perhaps it was because she just heard some pretty damning news? Yes, that was probably it.

    "How long will this take?" Aloe nervously asked.

    "I don''t know. But, don''t worry, Aloe... I''ll make it quick."

    Aloe nodded, and Kazen stared straight into her eyes.

    "Once you''re done here, we''ll have to inform the others"

    "W-wait....we??"

    Kazen broke into a smile and ced her hand on the youngerdy''s shoulder. It felt fluffy and surreal, but it was still tangible.

    "Yep! I''ming with you!"

    "W-what? For real? H-how...?!"

    "You don''t need to know, for now. Just do your best with the training."

    "O-okay!" Aloe nodded diligently.

    She didn''t want to disappoint her master, but she also refused to dy any further. If the world was truly at risk, then Aloe Vida had no choice but to give her all.

    "I''ll do my best!"

    Kazen smiled at the youngdy''s determination. She had many proteges back when she was still alive, so she understood the joy of seeing an apprentice eager to learn.

    Not only was Aloe bursting with potential, but she was also eager to learn.

    It really was an amazing and inspiring sight.

    ''It''s such a shame, though...'' Thedy in white thought to herself.

    She had observed Aloe for long enough, seeing through her Soul and her body to perfectly understand how it functioned.

    ''You seem like such a sweet girl, Aloe... which is why it pains me to resort to this.''

    However, to do what was necessary, she needed to manifest in the world... and how could she do that without a vessel.

    ''Once I make your body suitable, Aloe... I''ll be taking it.''

 Chapter 610 Converging Comrades

    "She''s not gaining consciousness. There''s also no Arcana in sight."

    Maro sighed as he stared at Asa and the frozen Vaizer. His eyes contained hints of worry, and guilt riddled his mind.

    ''Was I being too ambitious? It''s really my fault for choosing such a risky tactic...''

    Sure, they had won, but at what cost?

    "Tch, let''s head back. I''m sure Jared can do a better job in fixing her up." Asa red.

    He still hadn''t forgiven Maro for granting Aloe Vida such a dangerous mission, but he also wasn''t in any position toin.

    They had won, and it wasn''t as though Aloe was dead. Besides, without Maro''s guidance, they would have probably lost.

    ''As frustrating as it is... we owe this victory to him.'' The boy thought to himself.

    It wasn''t like he nned on saying such a thing to Maro''s face, though.

    "Besides, we got our hands on an enemy and his Arcana, right? That had to count for something."

    Maro''s eyes brightened once he heard Asa''s words. They were rather optimistic, as expected of a kid.

    ''He''s right, though...'' The older fellow smiled.

    Jared could probably fix Aloe up, and they had achieved quite a lot in this mission.

    Sure, they didn''t find what they were searching for, but one could argue that what they raked in was far more valuable.

    "Alright, Asa. Let''s return." Maro brought out his Spell Card.

    "What of this Vaizer guy? He''s still suffering, right? You sure he won''t die on us?"

    "No. That dosage shouldn''t be enough to kill him, though most people would have perished a while back."

    "Ah, I see..." Asa murmured, sticking close to the red-haired adult.

    Maro carried Aloe on his shoulders while Asa kept guard over Viazer''s body. Upon activation, the Spell Card created a distortion in space, instantly transporting them to their destination.

    "I hope the others are fine..."

    ***************

    "Well done, guys!"

    I smiled at myrades as I saw them appear from the warped space behind me.

    Thanks to their Soul Brands, I was already aware of their imminent return, but seeing them up close gave mefort.

    It seemed like I hadn''t seen them in forever, though it hadn''t been up to two days.

    "To be fair, I didn''t think you guys would be the first to return."

    In front of me were Lemi, Edward, and Ivan¡ªthe merry trio.

    ''It''s not like I doubt their skills, but...'' Iughed internally.

    We were currently in our base, located in the outskirts of the Eastern Kingdom. The vast sky and ever-expanding field just seemed like the perfect location for a wee.

    "Hehe, missionplete!" Lemi grinned, excitedly shing the Arcana that was locked in her fingers.

    It brimmed with energy, and I could sense Aether brimming from within it.

    ''It looks like they got the real deal.'' My smile widened.

    "[Wheel Of Fortune], eh? I guess it suits your team well. You guys are lucky."

    "H-hey! What do you mean lucky? We worked hard for it, right guys?"

    Edward and Ivan jointly nodded. Something about them seemed off... like they werepletely exhausted.

    ''Lemi has the least amount of stamina, yet she seems fine. The boys on the other hand...''

    Just what happened during their journey?

    "Did you work them to the bone? You used them, didn''t you?"

    Lemi shrieked upon hearing my voice. Her surprised told me I was spot-on. She had always been quite easy to read, after all.

    "W-well, I just did what I had to do! It''s not like¡ª"

    Moving swiftly, I closed the distance between me and the trio, embracing the chattering girl. I felt Lemi''s body tremble as my arms got wrapped around her.

    "You did well, Lemi. I''m proud of you."

    "W-what are you¡ª!"

    She seemed to be in protest, so I quickly detached myself from her. It was probably inappropriate, anyway...

    ''I just wanted to congratte you like a father would. Maybe...'' I observed Lemi''s extremely flustered face, thus deciding to ce my hand on my shoulder whole giving her a thumbs up instead.

    "Nice going!"

    Even with the boys lifelessly groaning in the background, I couldn''t have foreseen these results she showed me.

    ''You used them to achieve your goals, but everything turned out fine. That meant you were careful and precise. You weren''t reckless too. Amazing, Lemi...''

    Seeing my own daughter evolve right in front of my eyes brought me satisfaction that I couldn''t quite exin.

    "Yeah, yeah. What did you expect? I''m awesome!" She huffed, swelling in pride.

    ''Okay, that''s enough.'' I stopped praising her and appreciated her partners for their help.

    "You guys did well. I''m proud of the results... and thank you."

    I didn''t n on being biased, though it seemed inevitable. Still, Lemi couldn''t have achieved what she did without them¡ªtheir exhausted reactions showed that much.

    ''Now I really want to know what happened.''

    "Ah, where''s Maria, by the way?" Lemi started ncing around, as though that would make the girl in question appear.

    "She''s in the Capital, dealing with some legal issues. Some things happened in your absence. I''ll fill everyone in once they arrive."

    "Hmm? Kay..."

    Thankfully, Lemi didn''t further the discussion. I didn''t want to have to repeat myself on the whole Netherlore saga.

    Maria was busy with the arraignment and dispensation of justice on the Netherlore household.

    I let her get involved since she was a victim of their antics, and also an important eyewitness. Plus, since we finished our mission early, she could as well spend it on other important affairs.

    ''She''s with [The Pope], so she should be fine. Plus... I''ll instantly rush to her side if there are any issues at all.

    So far, so good.

    "Let''s go inside. I''d love to hear about your adventures." I spoke to the trio, to which they were all eager to.

    Life slowly returned to the faces of Edward and Ivan. It seemed they desired thefort a good old sanctuary provided.

    Thus, we decided to retreat inside. However¡ª

    ''Hmm? What''s this? Another batch?''

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Another blue portal appeared, and within it emerged four figures¡ªonly three of which I recognized.

    My eyes widened the moment.I realized what was going on.

    ''T-this is¡ª!!!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Jared is baaakkk!!!

 Chapter 611 Interrogation [Pt 1]

    An unconscious Aloe Vida.

    A worried Asa and Maro.

    A Beastfolk under Mana Shock.

    It didn''t take me very long to piece all the information together. I realized that simply standing outside and asking questions would get us nowhere, so I resorted to the only reasonable option.

    "Let''s talk inside."

    *

    *

    *

    Aloe was ced on an enchanted bed¡ªa Magic Tool meant to preserve a person''s physical and Mana conditions.

    The bed a curtain-like barrier hovering above and around it. The barrier glowed, and then the entire space around Aloe glimmered with white particles of light.

    ''This should stabilize the situation.'' I thought to myself.

    Even if a person was in a near death situation, as long as they were on the bed, their survival was guaranteed.

    ''It contains immense healing properties and restorative effects.''

    As if that wasn''t enough, even if a person was dead, the bed would still fix the body and return it to optimal condition while also ensuring the circltion of Mana within it.

    "Don''t worry, she''ll be fine." I told the audience that gathered around her.

    Edward. Ivan. Lemi. Asa. Maro. They all appeared worried for the youngdy.

    I was too, but this wasn''t a relevant time to indulge in such emotion. So far, I only had a basic idea of what could have transpired.

    I had topletely understand the situation.

    "You guys,e with me." I specifically addressed Asa and Maro.

    They knew that evey well, as they instantly left Aloe''s side and followed my lead¡ªthough Asa seemed a bit saddened to abandon her bedside.

    We left the room and proceeded to another more conducive environment to conduct our conversation.

    The Beastfolk, also known as former Beast King Vaizer, was already waiting for us within the space.

    Of course, he remained paralyzed as we entered.

    The room wasrge, and it was greatly strengthened with enhancements¡ªeven more than that of the entire building.

    ''No one should be able to see through the walls or hear whatever goes on in here.'' I nced in Vaizer''s direction while making this thought.

    "You two, please have your seats."

    Two chairs appeared in the room, and they obeyed instantly. I could tell from their sullen expressions that they were ready to cooperate as long as I fixed their supposed mistake¡ªAloe''s current condition.

    ''These guys...'' I almost sighed.

    "First of all, I apologize for noting to your aid. A lot happened on my end, and it didn''t seem to me like you were in extreme danger."

    They expressed surprised upon seeing that I bowed my head, but I didn''t care. As the leader, I was responsible for their wellbeing.

    Whatever risks they took was on me¡ªalbeit indirectly.

    "N-no, it''s all my fault. It was my n to¡ª"

    "Yeah. It was Maro''s fault!"

    It seemed the two agreed that Maro was to be med. It was no wonder the older man looked more miserable.

    ''You say that it''s his fault, Asa... but why do I also sense guilt from within you? You me yourself too, don''t you?''

    It was better not to address that now, though. The important things came first.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "It''s fine. What''s relevant now is how to rectify the situation."

    A chair appeared right behind me and I sat opposite them.

    "Now, then, tell me everything that happened."

    *

    *

    *

    "I see. So that''s how it is."

    Once they were done exining, I could finally see the big picture.

    As expected, Vaizer here was their foe. It seemed the Nether Cult somehow caught wind of everyone''s location, after all.

    ''Despite how hard I tried to hide it... that Legris.''

    In any case, they did well in their fight against Vaizer. For them to have emerged victorious against someone who possessed an Arcana, they had my respect.

    ''[Justice], uh? And with what they heard him say, it sounds like a very dangerous Arcana. Did he not know how to use it properly?''

    Vaizer was a Martial Artist by nature. Arcanas were basically Magical in nature, thus expecting him to master suchplex Magic would probably be asking for too much.

    Fortunately, what happened to be the case here was their opponent''s inexperience in Arcana utilization.

    "I did everything I could, but she won''t regain consciousness. I don''t think it is physiological." Maro postted.

    He was most likely spot-on.

    ''Maro is very intelligent, and we both worked on the newly improved Mana Shock potion...''

    Thankfully, he had enough sense not to use the lethal one on Vaizer. That way, we had a perfect hostage.

    "I see. If you think it has something to do with her Soul, her Soul Brand is still intact. There''s nothing wrong with her in that respect."

    If I were to give a diagnosis, I''d say she was simply in a sleep-like state. The reason she hadn''t awoken wasn''t due to any damage or danger, but...

    ''It''s almost like she''s choosing to remain asleep?''

    I wasn''t certain of what it meant, but there was probably no way to know for sure at this moment.

    "Let''s focus on what we can actually control now..." My gaze went to Vaizer.

    His expression was frozen, and his monstrous form made him appear ber simr to a statue.

    "We should get some answers from our dear friend, here."

    To achieve what I wanted, it was best to do this without any interruption. Besides, it would be best of Asa and Maro rested by Aloe''s side.

    "You guys can leave now. Make sure you rx, too. You''ve earned it."

    They nodded and made to leave. Their backs told me that they were less troubled than when they first arrived.

    At least now they knew Aloe wasn''t in any danger.

    "Thank you for your help, the both of you. You''ve done an amazing service by capturing him and retrieving an Arcana."

    ''Really, thanks.''

    They both nodded and smiled faintly, exiting the room soon after.

    The moment the door was shut tight, and I once again confirmed that the Magic pervading the room was intact, I gave my fill attention to our prisoner.

    "Hello, Vaizer." A smile slowly crept on my face as I approached him.

    ''Let''s start this, shall we?''

 Chapter 612 Interrogation [Pt 2]

    "You and I... we''re going to have a discussion now."

    Was my tone sounding scary? Perhaps. I couldn''t care less at this point.

    It didn''t really matter how it was achieved... as long as I could get what was required, that was victory.

    ''And what I require is every single person I care about being intact.''

    "But youpromised that, Vaizer." My smile broadened.

    Now right in front of the paralyzed Beastfolk, I prepared myself for what I was going to put my interlocutor through.

    "I really hope you cooperate... though I''ll get what I want either way."

    I drew closer to the Beastfolk, whispering as clearly as I could into its scaly ears.

    "So... as soon as I undo this paralysis... you better start talking."

    ****************

    Vaizer felt an emotion squirm within him when the human in front of him spoke.

    RAGE!

    ''How dare you?!'' His thoughts pounded.

    Had it not been for his clearly miserable state, he would have crushed the boy''s jaws and proceeded to draw out his intestines.

    It was simply because of his current weakness!

    ''Don''t think you deserve my fear, boy. You''ve earned nothing!''

    The human before him was fifteen¡ªmaybe sixteen at most¡ªby human standards. He was still a fledgling, no matter how one sliced it.

    Yet...

    "It seems we''re in agreement." He spoke, now summoning some sort of potion to cure his current predicament.

    Vaizer felt pain as he awaited the moment he would be free¡ªenough pain to drive someone to the edge of insanity.

    He waited to be cured so desperately!

    However,pared to the pain he endured ''back then'', this was nothing. He simply grit his teeth and awaited the moment he would strike.

    ''Stupid brat. I''ll show you...''

    The human went ahead to inject a potion into Viazer''s body. The draconic warrior wondered how he was able to pierce his armored skin so easily.

    ''It"s probably the material used for the injection. What''s it made from?'' Vaizer found himself pondering.

    Still, it didn''t change the end result.

    ''Haa... I feel it... the pain leaving me...''

    Slowly, Vaizer began to feel his nerves and his aching muscles. His insides had been bastardized beyond belief, but not beyond redemption.

    He slowly healed himself when he could, and while he was slightly able to move, he remained stagnant.

    "This should do it. Should I wait for a while?" The boy whispered, turning away from Vaizer.

    He casually walked to his seat, most likely intending to have a good time while watching his prisoner slowly gain control.

    ''Fool!'' Vaizer grinned.

    Once he was done healing, he would go on a rampage. He could sense it well... the reinforcement behind the walls that surrounded the room.

    ''I''ll kill you first, impudent brat! No one will being to your aid.''

    Then, he would pour out his strength and concentrate it in a single portion of the wall. Vaizer assumed he would be able to break it down eventually.

    ''But first...''

    His eyes narrowed on the boy as he prepared to have his seat.

    ''... How could you turn your back on an enemy, paralyzed or not?''

    Vaizer felt like he could easily tear down the brat, but he kept his cool. He would prefer it if he waspletely recovered.

    The blonde sat down, patiently watching him. A moment of silence pervaded the room, and some minutes flew by in a sh.

    Then¡ª

    ''Hehehe... FINALLY!''

    Vaizer''s eyes bulged as he enhanced every muscle in his body.

    He would have preferred letting his prey suffer as much as he did, but other pressing matters required his attention.

    As such...

    ''... I''ll blow off his head in one hit.''

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<

    The shockwaves made by Vaizer suddenly moving extremely fast sent echoes flying in the room.

    He swiftly made his way to the seatedd, preparing tounch his fist at the boy. Vaizer had poured a great deal of energy¡ªenough to tear down mountains¡ªin his fist.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Surely, that was enough to kill someone.

    "Sloppy."

    In a blur, The boy''s hands moved, grabbing Vaizer''s neck. His strong grip and sudden movements shocked the beastfolk.

    ''E-eh...?!''

    The human boy, still seated, had so easily grabbed his throat?

    ''Y-you¡ª!!!''

    Realizing things could get awry due to this slight deviation from his ns, Vaizer instantly sent his raw punch flying in the boy''s direction.

    "Dieeeee!!!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    The walls were sturdy enough to absorb the impact, but certainly not the boy. He was human, after all.

    ... Right?

    "N-no way... with a single hand?" Vaizer''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    What unfolded before him shouldn''t have been possible. This single boy had casually stopped his blow with one hand.

    He was even smiling at him¡ªalmost as if the hit meant nothing! Even the other humans he faced couldn''t have taken this hit and remained unscathed.

    Besides, Vaizer was in his transformed state. Hid power and speed had reached a different realmpletely.

    ''He''s not even in any form! T-this is just his normal strength?!''

    The former Beast King found it preposterous. This simply shouldn''t have been!

    However, even as he was making these thoughts of shock, Vaizer sensed a sudden change in the boy.

    He was no longer smiling.

    ''W-what is¡ª?''

    >WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    In a sh, the human zoomed forward, Vaizer still in his grip, and crashed thetter into the wall.

    "Guark!" Vaizer found himself spitting out blood due to thr impact alone.

    His throat ached as its muscles were tightly squeezed by the kid. The boy''s deadly gaze slowly made Vaizer realize how powerless he was.

    "You..." He coughed as he spoke.

    "W-who are... you?!"

    Vaizer tried to use his fists to respond, struggling to the best of his abilities. However, the human bou easily caught every single attack with his unupied hand.

    ''Guek!'' The boy''s monstrously strong grip kept crushing his throat.

    "Ah, I see now. I never introduced myself." The boy grinned, his hold tightening further.

    Vaizer shivered, instantly giving up on attacking.

    He now decided to remove his opponent''s hand from his aching throat. Unfortunately, even that bore no fruit.

    Despite how hard he tried, the boy wouldn''t budge.

    It was just... impossible.

    "I told you to start talking the moment I undid the paralysis."

    "S-shut up, bra¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    A sharp, stinging sensation spread through Vaizer''s body as his stomach was kicked by Jared''s single blow.

    ''U-urk!''

    "Now, then, for the sake of introductions. My name is Jared Leonard."

    Vaizer''s bloodshot eyes widened.

    Why hadn''t he realized it sooner? Was he so caught up in rage and defeat that he couldn''t recall the most pervasive enemy that the Nether Cult currently faced.

    ''T-this... this is THAT Jared Leonard?!''

    "Now then..."

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Another echo of devastation spread through the room, sending a round of pain course through Vaizer''s body.

    It felt... utterly overhelming!

    "... Speak."

 Chapter 613 Vaizers Resolve [Pt 1]

    Vaizer felt his head spin.

    He wanted to throw up¡ªnot just blood, but the undigested food in his bowels.

    However, as if sensing this, Jared tightly locked his jaws with his strong grip. He gave another punch to the beastfolk''s stomach, causing another throe of pain.

    "When I ask a question, you answer."

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!<

    "It''s not up for negotiation."

    Vaizer gave up on resisting the human''s attacks at this point. He was simply no match.

    ''I was wrong... I was wrong...''

    The person in front of him was in apletely different realmpared to anything he imagined.

    Still...

    "I... I won''t ever betray the Cult." Vaizer coughed.

    No matter what pain he went through... he didn''t care. The Nether Cult was his new family. The leader gave him a new purpose, and even granted him power beyond his limits.

    ''H-he also cured my Mana Overload problem by recing my normal Core with an Artificial Special Grade one.''

    While Vaizer knew he wasn''t the best when it came to moral ethics, there was no way he could budge on this matter.

    ? He was loyal to the Cult. That would never change... EVER!

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    "KEUK!" Vaizer was forced to swallow the vomit he tried to release. Jared''s grip remained ever so strong.

    "Let''s try again... talk."

    More blows followed, and then more resistance¡ªa never ending dance of madness.

    *

    *

    *

    "It seems physical pain won''t get us anywhere..." Jared murmured, staring squarely at the battered Beastfolk.

    At this point, Vaizer had already returned to his normal state, no longer having any strength left to maintain his transformation.

    His face was swollen, and his body was filled with several bruises¡ªall from Jared''s punch.

    "I-I''ll never talk..." Vaizer managed to say amid his groans.

    "It''s at this point I wish Ciara was here. She would have made you talk with her Magic. But she''s busy right now..."

    Jared took one or two steps back while sighing.

    "You... no matter what you use. I won''t crack. Everyone in the Cult knows that too... so there''s no use." Vaizer grinned, though it was painful.

    He wondered what his torturer would do next. However, Jared simply smiled in response¡ªshocking him.

    "I wonder why the Cult ced a self-destruct sequence on your Artificial Mana Core, then. Shows how much they trust you."

    "Say what you will. Even if I am disposed off, I would harbor no ill will towards them..."

    Vaizer''s response seemed to surprise Jared. It feltpletely bonkers, but the man wasn''t afraid to die while protecting the Nether Cult.

    "I''m sure they must be proud of you for saying that, considering they''ve begin the sequence. In a minute, your Mana Core will explode and you''ll die."

    "W-what?!"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "You''re only a lower seat, so it makes sense. Your disposable. Besides, you have no problem sacrificing yourself for the cause, right?"

    Jared''s some grew wider as he stared down at the slightly flustered beastfolk. Despite all his grandiose statements, even he didn''t want to die.

    "Y-you''re lying¡ª" Vaizer felt his heart race and his insides tighten up.

    Something wasn''t right within him. He could sense it already, despite how subtle. The Mana Core within him was growing unstable.

    Jared was right.

    He really was being executed.

    ''B-but... I wasn''t going to talk...''

    "Now I know you don''t care about anything else, but you must value your life. Maybe you don''t, but definitely care about what you want to achieve."

    Vaizer gave a re of surprise at Jared. What did he know? A brat like him couldn''t possibly understand.

    "You want to fight against Gerard and win, don''t you? You want to be recognized by your people. Both of these were stolen from.yiu by the cult.

    "N-no, you''re wrong! The First Seat must have acted on his whim! He always does personal stuff like that!" Vaizer sharply responded.

    There was no way the Cult Leader would have known about his genocidal intentions on the Beastfolk and he wouldn''t stop him.

    "Really now? In an organization like yours, the leader wouldn''t know where the First Seat went to?"

    Vaizer''s eyes bulged.

    The Cult Leader must have known! The First Seat asked for permission, and he granted it. The Cult Leader knew everything. That was show he had been able to guide them so far. He left them with absolute precision.

    ''There is no way he wouldn''t have known...'' Vaizer felt his insides tighten up even more.

    "Ah, thirty seconds more. Guess I better make my pitch, then." Jared smiled, squatting so he could be on the same level as the fallen Beastfolk.

    "I can help resurrect Gerard and the other Beastfolk. You are aware of what I can do, can''t you? At least to an extent."

    How could he forget? This was the same Jared who was giving the Cult such a difficult time. He resurrected the Elves and even saved the fallen soldiers who met their end in their final battle against the Demons.

    The boy had been resurrecting people since he was still a kid in the Academy. This was THAT Jared.

    "I... I don''t need your charity. The Nether Cult can do that just fine." Vaizer growled.

    His re remained and his position remained unchanged. Once he exined to the cult, surely...

    "Ah, my bad. I wonder if they''ll do that once you''re dead. Or even if you do survive... I wonder if the Beastfolk have enough value for that."

    This was the statement that broke Vaizer.

    Slowly, he remembered the Cult members that died before him. Had any of them been revived?

    No.

    The Cult Leader indeed didn''t care about those who didn''t have value.

    ''T-the fact that... I''m about to die is proof of that, right?''

    The reality was that Vaizer lied.

    More than anything, he wanted to live. He desired strength so he could rise to the top and rule his people once more.

    ''To be unbound by my limited ability and short lifespan... that was why I joined the Cult...''

    And now... he was going to meet his end like this?

    ''KEUK!!!'' He felt his Mana Core on the verge of copse.

    ''I-is this really how I''ll die?!''

 Chapter 614 Vaizers Resolve [Pt 2]

    Jared simply watched the suffering beastfolk with no emotions.

    The boy was really going to let him die without any consideration at all.

    ''N-no... I don''t want this!''

    Vaizer realized... he would do anything to live.

    He betrayed his people.

    He joined the Nether Cult.

    He abandoned everything to get his heart''s desire.

    ''KEUUUKKKK!!!'' His Mana Core was already at critical point.

    Any second now, and his death was going to surface.

    ''Not yet! I can''t die yet!''

    Vaizer simply wanted to live on his terms. To soar higher than any Beastfolk ever had. He wanted to rise even far beyond. To do that...

    "F-fine! I surrender! I give up! I''ll cooperate!" Vaizer screamed.

    His eyes were tightly shut, and a miserable expression clouded his bruised face. The creatures body trembled as he waited for help¡ªsalvation from the imminent death that crept up on him.

    "Wise choice."

    With a snap of Jared''s fingers, Vaizer felt the irregrity within his Mana Core to cease. No longer was he feeling the dreadful signs of Mana Overload.

    "I only paused the effect. If you don''t give me what I want to know, it''ll resume."

    The Beastfolk instantly understood.

    He hadn''t gotten free¡ªat least, not yet. Unfortunately, he was still a dog on a leash. The only thing that changed was his master.

    "I''ll keep it nice and simple. You don''t have any objections, do you?" Jared gave a warm smile.

    If it wasn''t that Vaizer had just seen him being apletely ruthless being, he would have been sold. He truly didn''t seem harmful in any way.

    "N-no..." The beastfolk''s voice trembled as he answered.

    He couldn''t believe he was going to divulge cult Intel, but... he had to do anything to survive.

    "Perfect. Let''s begin."

    ************

    I asked a series of questions, to which my prisoner gave me honest answers to.

    ''He''s not lying.'' I thought to myself.

    The reason I knew this was because I constantly monitored his pulse, heart, Mana Core too. He couldn''t escape my appraisal.

    Other than the palpitations that came about due to fear, there was no sign of dishonesty. Despite that...

    ''This is useless.''

    ... Nothing I got was worthwhile.

    I pretty much knew the location of the Cult, so confirming it from him didn''t help in any way. The number of Arcanas in their possession, their remaining members, etc. I already know all these things.

    As for their grand goals, or the reason behind seeking the Arcanas¡ªthe questions I had no answers to¡ªVaizer couldn''t provide me with an appropriate response.

    As I feared, he wasn''t aware of anything substantial.

    "W-we all have our reasons for joining the Cult. I don''t know what the leader desires, but... he said with thebined abilities of the Arcana, we can do anything."

    Well, their leader wasn''t wrong.

    Arcanas dealt with thews of the world. I could only imagine how much one could control if they possessed all that power.

    The very prospect worried me.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Unfortunately, when I asked about who this leader of theirs was, Vaizer didn''t particrly know. He simply gave a vague description.

    "H-he looks young, but his profound wisdom and power makes it evident... there''s no way he''s just a kid." So said Vaizer.

    Based on what I surmised from his words, their leader was very strong. Since he was the head of the organization¡ªhaving an even higher position than the First Seat who, apparently, was the one who busted the Beast Kingdom¡ªI expected some massive power.

    Such a thing couldn''t be achievable by a kid... or perhaps it was.

    ''Is it possible that their leader is reincarnated like me? Is he a Singrity? There''s so much I don''t know...'' Unfortunately, Vaizer didn''t know as well.

    The beastfolk also mentioned something about him being apanied by a woman in white. He added that the woman was also quite powerful.

    ''His mother, perhaps? Or could the whole thing be an act?''

    It wasn''t like shapeshifting didn''t exist. What if he simply took on that persona to misdirect anyone from realizing his true identity?

    That meant he could be anything, for all we knew.

    Vaizer''s testimony was wed because even he hadn''t conversed with the leader beyond official settings. The only time they spoke alone was when he was recruited.

    Vaizer described it as the most inspiring moment of his life, but that didn''t matter to me.

    ''In the end, I''m back to square one...'' A sigh escaped my lips.

    "At the very least, tell me the names of the Cult Members."

    So far, I knew quite a few of them already. Vaizer, being one. The others included;

    Legris Damien

    Reed Sterling

    Fairy King Beruel

    Stefan Netherlore

    Yeah... that pretty much covered it.

    I was still missing out on the true names and identity of the upper three members of the Cult. Descriptions would also be nice.

    "A-ah, t-there''s... there''s... t-the¡ª"

    Suddenly, I felt something surge from within Vaizer.

    It was murky and dark, and it consumed him from within.

    ''Shit... no way... Nether?!''

    "G-guurrrrrghhhhhh..." Vaizer''s choked scream echoed as he gave a shocked re at me.

    His expression was akin to that of betrayal. He must have suspected my hands in this... or at least my culpability in refusing to prevent such an oue.

    However... I had no idea!

    Before I could respond or help the Beastfolk, his body underwent rapid corruption, and the darknesspletely shrouded his being.

    "N-noooo..." Every fiber of his being was engulfed in the pitch ck energy. And before long... he became one with nothingness

    "Damnit!"

    My eyes were wide with rage at this point. Not only had I been outdone by the enemy, but it was at such a critical moment too! Just when I was about to find out something I wasn''t aware of.

    ''Vaizer had those answers... and they intentionally cut me off!''

    Rage swirled within me, but more than that existed frustration.

    ''I couldn''t detect the Nether in him at all. Just how much was it integrated into him?''

    From what I heard, it seemed the Cult Leader made him stronger by undergoing some procedure.

    ''He recieved a new Mana Core, but what of he got something else too?''

 Chapter 615 Discourse Of Corruption

    Nether, depending on how used, had various effects on people.

    ''But it usually leads to death, right? I don''t understand...''

    The Netherlore had conducting experiments on Nether for something simr¡ªharnessing the power for themselves.

    The fact that Stefan also manifested the power made it usible that certain people were clinging onto the forbidden abilities offered by Nether.

    ''But I didn''t sense anything like that from Vaizer!''

    He had been using Mana throughout, and even Maro''s testimony tallied with that. If he could utilize Nether, he would have done so already.

    That made it all the more confusing.

    A reasonable exnation would be that the Nether Cult found a way to make Nether manifest from Vaizer remotely. In that case, he was never safe from them.

    ''Even though I set up the perfect stage... damnit.''

    "I''m sorry, Maro, Asa. Even though you went out of your way to capture a specimen for me... I let him slip away."

    ''No. This isn''t the time to let this drag me down.''

    I just had to focus on the more important matters... things I could control.

    ''Apologies, Vaizer. I couldn''t fulfil my end of the deal.''

    His soul had also been corrupted and destroyed, so there was no retrieving him. I didn''t have enough time to establish a Soul Brand too, so I couldn''t have preserved a portion of it.

    ''Though that was probably for the best.''

    The mere thought of having Nether invade my Soul using the connection I had with another made me shiver.

    If I had home ahead with the Soul Brand, the likelihood of getting corrupted myself was high. In a way, things could have gone a lot worse.

    The fact that I didn''t make good on my word left a bad taste in my mouth, though. I didn''t n on just letting it slide just like that.

    ''This is on me. I might as well have justice for you...''

    I stepped out of the room to share the news to everyone, once again ensuring I had my Arcanas close in hand.

    ''... That''ll be my penance.''

    ***************

    In the darkness of a strange abode sat a young man.

    He looked nothing more than a teenager, having dark hair and equally pitch ck eyes. His expression was cold, and his pale skin made him seem almost like a corpse.

    He wore a dark cloak, shrouded in dense power that would make anyone crumble under the pressure.

    This was the Cult Leader, as his subordinates would like to call him.

    "Vaizer is dead." He spoke, almost as if telling someone in particr.

    However, no one was in the vast hall where he sat. A table was set before him, and numerous books¡ªpile after pile¡ªremained for him to attend to.

    In this office-like hall, he was all alone.

    Well, not really.

    A lovely young woman appeared from behind him. She was doused in white¡ªher attire, and her hair color. Everything about her was clear and beautiful.

    Her light skin had a bright tone too, perfectly matching her choice in fashion.

    The only thing different about her was the gleaming hues in her eyes. They seemed to sh a different color per moment.

    She approached the young man, who was busy with seeing through the ancient texts. Her gaze was constantly on him.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He was the Cult Leader, after all. The object of fervent devotion and immense authority.

    If only the subordinates could see just who he was beneath the child-like appearance he had... perhaps they would even begin worshipping him.

    He was that glorious.

    "Deep in thoughts?" His voice echoed as he nced in the direction of the woman behind him.

    "Yes, forgive me. I was just in awe of your greatness, as usual."

    The young man returned his gaze to the work he had to do, narrowing his vision as he have a sigh.

    The white maiden was always like this. She wouldn''t shut up about his greatness, especially when they were alone.

    When they were in front of the others, she simply kept herposure and remained silent. However... in private...

    "I didn''t expect Vaizer to betray us. He had no reason to." The Cult Leader whispered.

    It sounded like he made a statement, but it raised a question for the woman to answer.

    "Perhaps. Fortunately, you silenced him before he said any more." She smiled in response.

    "Were you able to locate them? They have something that belongs to us, after all."

    "I did. Unfortunately, his Magic distorts my vision of the ce."

    The Cult Leader sighed.

    Things had gotten moreplicated than he expected. If it hadn''t been for the interference of one person, they could have steadily achieved their goals.

    "We should have eliminated the Singrity back then... when he was still a child." He added, staring coldly at the woman behind him.

    "Perhaps. But, we had to operate under the radar and use less impressive means to achieve those goals."

    The young man had no choice but to ept her words. She wasn''t wrong, after all.

    Singrities were the beloved of the world. They had ess to Aether, and somehow things functioned in ways that prevented disasters from uring to them.

    However, if it was on a smaller scale, something beyond the control of nature... they could have achieved their goals.

    "Ever since I got the [Vision], it''s been one issue after the other. Who would have expected the child to take out not just one, but two assassins. When we used the Shadow Demon, he was saved by Neron."

    One thing or the other always had to happen.

    "We could have just eliminated Neron." The Cult Leader grumbled a little.

    His gaze was on the book, but his mind travelled far behind.

    "Ah, perhaps... but you know we can''t do that."

    "Haa... still waiting for the right time, huh? I see..."

    Neron Kaelid was perhaps a greater nuisance than Jared¡ªalways had been.

    The only reason he was still alive was due to the [Vision] that made him valuable to the n.

    Taking him out would severely affect the causality of their goals.

    "We live in Aether''s world, after all... and a mother cares for her own." Thedy in white smiled.

    The Cult Leader ignored her words and continued reading. Certainly she wasn''t implying what it seemed to be.

    No, she probably meant the other thing.

    "To think we would have more than one Singrity this time..."

 Chapter 616 Haunted Abode [Pt 1]

    "This is boring..."

    A boy and a girl were walking down a dark path.

    It was within a building, yet it seemed like everything was covered by an expanse of night.

    Even the darkness of nighttime had the light of the stars, though... unlike their current location.

    For these two, only a fragment of light kit their path¡ªand it came from the boy''s brightly colored mes.

    "I''m just happy you''re not scared anymore." The young man responded to his female counterpart.

    His brown hair flowed with the cool climate, and his honest eyes showed his innocence. To the contrary, the girl seemed cute enough, but her glossy eyes rang of deviousness.

    Itcked the fundamental innocence of the man.

    "Yeah... whatever."

    The boy and girl were, of course, Ciara Epilson and Jerry Keller.

    Ciara couldn''t help but sigh as she stayed beside the boy, sticking as close to him as possible.

    ''Seems he''spletely used to it, at this point... this isn''t good.''

    The two were currently in a Dungeon¡ªor more akin to a haunted ruin. The structure resembled to a multiple storey house¡ªperhaps once an exquisite vi.

    Jared transported them just outside the haunted house''s gate. Their instructions were given, thus... they were supposed to get into the creepy-looking ce to get their rewards.

    As instructed, Ciara and Jerry both ventured into it, ignoring the twisted garden that contained withered flowers and hushed whispers.

    It was quite easy to infiltrate the house, considering the doors weren''t even locked, to begin with.

    The problem, however, was what happened after.

    The house was without any form of light, and there seemed to be many creatures shifting through the darkness. Bright eyes shed through the sheer ckness of the house, and they slithered all around them.

    The two could feel themselves being watched. They sometimes felt touches from behind.

    It was the real deal. This ce was most certainly crawling with creatures. Creatures that hid themselves from sight and struck when the time was right.

    As a result...

    "Kiaaaaaaa!!! I-I''m scared!"

    "I-it''s alright, Ciara. Really... I''ll use my Magic. Really..."

    Even though using light would just attract the creatures¡ªwhatever they were¡ªto them, and the pair would be easy targets, it was still much better than being blind.

    Sure, they could sense their surroundings through Mana Sense or other sensory aspects, but with Ciara freaking out, Jerry decided to take the lead.

    Just as she nned!

    The boy seemed to think Ciara had been scared since they entered their current location, but that was simply what she made him think.

    It was her excuse for sticking close to him, and whenever she did, he would always yelp in a flustered tone.

    ''It was supposed to be fun. I was supposed to be a damsel in distress. He would get shy and all around me, which is cute, and then... he would slowly... we would slowly...''

    Unfortunately, things didn''t quite turn out as she expected.

    For one, it seemed Jerry was more focused on the situation than he was her. His eyes never really nced in her direction.

    Even when she pressed her body on him!

    Sure, he had made ufortable sounds before¡ªespecially when her chest touched his body¡ªbut he slowly limated.

    His mind was so focused on the mission that it drove Ciara crazy.

    ''You should look at me! I''m right here, Jerry!'' She was exasperated.

    They ascended the first, second, and third stairs¡ªrealizing the building definitely seemed smaller on the outside.<novelnext></novelnext>

    For one, there seemed to be no end to the size of the entire structure.

    The entire vi seemed like some noble''s mansion, having chandeliers, carpets, and of course, a lot of pristine designs.

    They had explored the many rooms within the house, only finding emptiness wherever they went.

    Even when they found some rooms with specific purposes...

    "T-this is the library?" Within were shelves filled with books, to which Jerry readily explored.

    Unfortunately, the books were all empty. Literally.

    No pages existed in the books!

    Even when they saw the music room, viewing many instruments¡ªnone of them functioned well.

    Why, for example, would string instrumentsck strings?

    "This ce is weird..." Jerry felt the eerie vibes of his surroundings the more he explored the structure with Ciara.

    If there was something he noticed over time, though, it was that...

    "Where are the monsters? I don''t see them lurking around anymore."

    Indeed, there were definitely living creatures who constantly watched them. They often gazed in their direction.

    Their glowing eyes often reminded the two that they weren''t alone. Still, the monsters hadn''t engaged them, and Jerry thought to keep things that way.

    "We don''t want to cause unnecessarymotion here, especially since we don''t know the rules of this ce." Was his rationale.

    Besides, without any idea of how strong the entities were, it would be unwise to engage them.

    Though if they found no clues, it would be imperative to change their approach.

    "I wonder..." Ciara responded to Jerry''s earlier question.

    ''The monsters, eh...?'' A wide smile formed on her face.

    "ROOOOOAAAARRRRRRR!!!"

    "GRRRUUUUUUUU!!!"

    "KRUUUUAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

    Suddenly, multiple sounds emanated from all around them.

    "W-what is that?! T-these sounds¡ª!" Sweat slowly formed on Jerry''s face as he nced around.

    They were currently in the hallway of the third floor, and these cries sounded like the aggressive howls of monsters.

    Jerry could sense bloodlust! The Monsters were now direction their killing intents toward the two.

    The pressure so strong that even Jerry shuddered in response to the sudden outbursts of the beings lurking around.

    The floor began rumbling, and the rushing sounds of several beings rushing in their direction caused the two to snap to reality.

    The situation was dire!

    "Eeeeek! S-save me, Jerry! It''s dark... and I''m scared!" Ciara cried, hugging the boy with far greater fervor than before.

    Her chest pressed against his body, and their skin rubbed against each other... enough for him to yelp.

    The boy''s heart ached instantly.

    ''What are you doing, Jerry? You can''t be flustered like this. Ciara is counting on you!''

    With that in mind, he put his mind to action in order to protect both himself and his dear friend.

    ''Don''t worry, Ciara! Just like back then... I won''t leave your side!''

 Chapter 617 Haunted Abode [Pt 2]

    Ever since they had known each other, Ciara had always been scared of the dark.

    She would often spend her night in his room¡ªa practice that filled their childhood.

    Jerry was of low nobility, and his father was the lord of the particr patch ofnd where Ciara had been brought up.

    Still, as wasmon with those who had very little power, the Lord was close to the people. Which made Jerry know Ciara, and even be friends with her without any form of bias.

    She spent some time in his abode, and he spent some time in hers as well. His father had been poor, so they didn''t really have much going for them anyways.

    But, Ciara had had it much worse. She''d lived in the slums. Her home hadn''t been in any good state at all. Compared to her lifestyle, Jerry had felt himself to be a king.

    It made him appreciate her more¡­ especially her smile and expressive personality.

    Well, all of that vanished once darkness arrived.

    Ciara was scared of the dark, and simply clung close to him whenever it was that time of any day. And as the confident one¡­ as the man, he had to protect her!

    His father had allowed her to spend the night in his house, after some persuasion. Though Jerry didn''t know why, the Lord often asked about his experience the next morning.

    There was no experience, though. He simply cuddled her and caressed her hair so she could fall asleep.

    He would soothe her with his words and they would whisper nice things to each other till they fell asleep.

    It wasn''t anything special, really.

    However¡­ they eventually parted.

    Despite their friendship, there was one thing that severed the connection they''d had¡ªtalent for Magic!

    It initially hadn''t been a problem, but after some time¡­ Ciara changed.

    He would often dere how he would get to her level, but she always seemed to get even further and further beyond his reach¡ªeven at Ainrk.

    ''Those were some days, huh?'' Jerry smiled a little, now recollecting how he had been very frustrated and impulsive back then.

    Despite their very strained rtionship in the Academy, and his dislike for how things had turned out, Jerry couldn''t deny he often had certain thoughts about Ciara before he slept.

    He had often wondered how she managed to sleep when she was in the female dorms back at Ainrk. Her fear of the dark had been a serious problem when they were kids, after all.

    After wondering for some time, he decided to settle on the thought that she had gotten over her fears.

    ''Looks like I was wrong¡­'' Looking at her now, Jerry realized she still had that fear within her.

    She was but a frail girl in the darkness!

    ''Just how long did she have to endure like that in Ainrk¡­ being alone in the darkness! It made him realize that her twisted personality in school was probably not entirely her fault.

    She had simply been pushed to that point due to her mental stress, no doubt.

    ''That''s why¡­ I can''t falter here!'' Jerry removed his mind from her soft boobs and nice smell.

    Now wasn''t the time to indulge in such things¡ªnot that he had ever really done so.

    Ciara Epilson was relying on him. That was all that mattered!

    *

    *

    *

    "I-it''s unavoidable anyway! Since they''reing for us, then there''s no need to remain in the dark any longer!"

    The purpose of simply having a small light source had been defeated, after all.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Time to brighten up this ce!"

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    His mes got much brighter, it became a zing me as they grew to a higher degree.

    Suddenly, the darkness was banished, and illumination radiated everywhere. Jerry smiled, spreading the mes throughout the hallway¡ªensuring it passed through the crevices and exposed the hidden things.

    "[mes of Sight] have a low temperature and very little destructive power. They are perfect for this purpose." He turned to Ciara, hoping this would calm her a little.

    "Tch."

    It could have been his imagination, but John thought he saw Ciara frown and click her tongue. As soon as he blinked, he realized it must have been his mind ying tricks on him.

    Ciara was still clutching onto him tightly, and her face indicated light relief¡­ though worry remained trapped in her eyes.

    It made him want to protect her even more.

    ''This time, Ciara¡­ I''ll do my best to help!''

    It was no secret who was the superior one in ability.

    Unlike Ciara who had Original Magic, Mage Mode, a Special Grade Mana Core, and several other impressive feats¡­ he was quite weak.

    However, no one was invincible!

    In these circumstances¡­ it was his turn to cover for his partner''s weakness and do his best.

    This was his way of catching up!

    >DUMMMMMMM<

    The hallway shook violently as the tform underneath them trembled.

    As expected, more monsters were alerted of their presence and were rushing towards them.

    ''This can''t be good!''

    Jerry nced around him, quickly attempting to decide on what path to take. They had to ascend to a higher floor to achieve their goals.

    However, before he couldplete this mission, creatures emerged from both viable means of escape.

    ''Shit!'' Jerry cursed, now stuck between the horde of monsters.

    The beasts facing him were all deformed entities, some had exposed, ugly flesh while others had multiple eyes. Some had several limbs, while others seemed unreasonably emaciated.

    These freaks had various differences, but one thing was simr about their appearances.

    "S-scary¡­"

    Jerry''s heart raced once more as he heard Ciara''s shaky voice. The darkness wasn''t the only problem, as this time around it was creatures that made up one''s nightmares.

    "Don''t worry, Ciara¡­ I''ll protect you!"

    Jerry swiftly made up his mind as he nced at the least congested area to pass through. Sure, there would still be monsters to face, but it would be much safer.

    ''Using my senses, I already see the stairs. Plus, the monsters that are stilling after us are a lot. I need to move fast!''

    "Hup!" Jerry quickly lifted Ciara, carrying her in both arms¡ªlike a baby being cradled by its mother.

    "Hold on tight."

 Chapter 618 Haunted Abode [Pt 3]

    "E-eeehh? W-what are y-you¡­?!"

    The flustered girl in his arms made unintelligible sounds after her surprised yelp.

    The whole thing was shocking, after all.

    "Please bear with me, Ciara. Hold on tight¡­ this will be a rough one!"

    "O-okay¡­"

    Ciara wrapped her arms around Jerry, blushing as she looked away. It seemed she finally understood the situation.

    ''I-I''m sorry to put you through this, Ciara¡­ really!''

    Jerry was simply following the method he knew best. Fear made a person slow. Ciara''s motor functions would definitely bepromised due to her current state.

    ''If I let her run with me, chances of the both of us getting caught is higher. And I can''t allow that!''

    To increase their chances of survival, it had toe to this.

    "[Elemental Chamber: Armament]!"

    Instantly, condensed Mana formed all over Jerry''s body.

    Usually, the destructive mes would have burst out, devastating everything around him, but he had learned topress this energy to simply serve as a thin shroud for himself.

    This made it all the more powerful!

    He became stronger, faster¡­ and overall more powerful.

    Of course, it limited the range of his offensive capabilities as he would only be able to engage in Meleebat. However¡­ with the boosts it offered, this ''Armament'' form was perfect for certain moments¡ªlike now.

    ''I''ll save Bond Magic and Fusion forter¡­''

    With that, he leaped into action.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    The tform he stood on waspletely eviscerated as heunched his body forward. The wind violently blew against him, though his current state made it no problem at all.

    As for Ciara, though, she covered her eyes due to the sheer speed at which Jerry was moving.

    >FWOOOOOOSHHHHH<

    The monsters stood no chance.

    They violently lunged at him, but he easily evade them.

    Leaping and running while using the walls as footholds, Jerry swept through the grotesque beings in a sh.

    He made sure to kick the monsters that got too close forfort, turning them to ash with only a single hit.

    Due to Jerry''s immensely concentrated power, a single blow from him would cause the pent-up pressure to instantaneously finish his target.

    It was enough to destroy enemies with extremely high durability.

    The mere matter of its focused range made it extremely deadly.

    ''Let''s go! Yeah¡­ I can do this!''

    Jerry zoomed past the monsters, sessfully escaping the hallway. He sped to the stairs, trying to be light in his steps in order to prevent destroying any more of the areas.

    By dispersing the energy that would have devastated the grounds he trod on, the boy ensured there was a foothold left for him to tread.

    ''They''re still chasing me. Maybe¡­'' Jerry''s eyes narrowed at the monsters behind him.

    He was maintaining a far distance from them, but it was still troubling that they followed him. He had ensured that his bright mes of light pervaded the entire area, so he wasn''t particrly a beacon of light.

    Still, they pursued him with such fervor that he simply had to shake them off permanently.

    "A-ah!''

    An idea popped into Jerry''s head, and he decided to cut off every means of reaching him.

    "Burst." He stomped the ground, ring at the monsters some distance away.<novelnext></novelnext>

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    The tform that spread from his position to the monsters instantly shattered, turning into ash in moments.

    The ground beneath the monsters began breaking apart as well, causing them to fall to the lower floors.

    "GUUAARRAAAAAKKKK!!!" Jerry ignored their screams and continued on to his destination.

    The tform where he stood was also bing unstable.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Akin to a blur, he raced past the slowly copsing tform behind him.

    The stairs were just in sight, and Jerry ascended them in a sh. He didn''t halt for a second, even when he saw monsters at the very top of the stairs.

    The boy simply steeled himself as he proceeded to break through. There was only one thought on his mind at this point.

    And it wasn''t Jared''s mission to him.

    It was the girl he tightly held in his grasp.

    ''Ciara¡­ just count on me!''

    *

    *

    *

    ''Kyaaaa! Yesss! This is what it''s supposed to be like!'' Ciara''s thoughts screamed as Jerry held her tight and sped through the enemies.

    Her heart raced uncontrobly and she found her passion increasing at an uncontroble rate.

    Her cheeks were so flushed with pink, but it wasn''t due to embarrassment.

    ''H-he''s so cool!!!'' Ciara''s eyes sparkled as she stole a nce at her knight in shining armor¡ªliterally.

    Her body was trembling fervently, causing Jerry to soothe her instantly. More determination filled his eyes as he tried even harder to protect her.

    It made her ecstatic!

    Of course, she wasn''t shaking because she was scared. No, Ciara was just excited and moved by Jerry''s coolness.

    ''So he still thinks I''m scared of the dark¡­ how cute.''  She couldn''t help but smile within herself.

    Back when they were younger, she had wanted to spend more time with Jerry, so she''d had to resort to that narrative.

    Thanks to her lie, though, she had been able to sleep beside him every night. He would speak to her, cuddle her, hold her tight¡­ he would do just about anything for her.

    It had been paradise.

    Ciara felt like his father suspected her lie, but thankfully he didn''t call her out on it. It had been an obvious sign that he was in support of their rtionship.

    Still, she had gotten so ustomed to being with him at night that even when they had been at Ainrk she would sneak into his room to watch him sleep.

    It was a habit that refused to leave her.

    And now¡­ who would have thought that he would hold her in his arms as he sped through a dangerous ce¡ªprotecting her from the monsters around.

    He truly was acting the part now¡­ like a knight in shiny armor.

    ''As expected¡­ you just needed a little push.'' Ciara grinned.

    With all the monsters around being under her mind control, she was sessfully controlling the narrative.

    ''Should I make things a bit rougher? Maybe I should¡­''

    If there was greater danger, wouldn''t Jerry show even more of his cool side to her? His adorable expression as he did his best to protect his woman¡­ Ciara could never get enough of it!

    ''This is so goooood! I love you so much, Jerry!''

 Chapter 619 Dead End

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­"

    Jerry was heavily breathing as he finally reached the topmost floor of the entire building.

    Fortunately, he had managed to protect both himself and Ciara while ascending the numerous stairs and they finally got to the highest point.

    ''We couldn''t explore more of the other floors because of the monsters. But¡­''

    There really wasn''t any choice. The goal was to cause as little damage as possible, considering they had little to no information concerning this deserted ce.

    Once Jerry reached the top, he erected a Magical barrier, preventing the monsters from climbing up to reach them.

    Ciara also assisted him, making the barrier much more powerful.

    ? In the end, they were safe from the enemies.

    "Haaa¡­ such a relief."

    Jerry was genuinely relieved, though one could say Ciara was indifferent. Perhaps it was because only she was aware of the fact that there hadn''t been any real danger, to begin with.

    If anything, she was sad to see it all end.

    ''It was fun while itsted¡­'' She shed a tiny tear.

    Upon seeing this look of sadness on her face, the innocent Jerry misunderstood. He assumed she was still recoiling from the shock and fear.

    "I''m sorry, Ciara. You must have been really scared, right?"

    She nodded, and copsed on his chest. Rather than resist her, Jerry stroked her hair¡­ just like he used to in the past.

    He whispered nice words to her, and his chest offered herfort. Even if it was only for that moment, both of them felt like they had returned to their childhood¡­

    ¡­ Back when they had been inseparable friends.

    *

    *

    *

    The top floor waspletely bare, unlike the other ones beneath, which had variouspartments and rooms.

    The bare area was illuminated by Jerry''s bright mes, bringing everything into view.

    The vast empty expanse resembled a simple hallway¡ªthough it''s size made it more akin to arge room.

    The t surfaces surrounding it seemed to belong to the buildings'' walls, and nothing worthy of note could be found.

    "What now?" Ciara asked Jerry, who had already be the de-facto leader.

    He had to think of what to do, and he was in charge of both himself and the woman in his arms.

    "Y-you shouldn''t be scared now, Ciara. There aren''t any monsters around. Plus, it isn''t dark anymore¡­"

    Jerry was well aware of how ferocious his dear friend could be in given circumstances.

    She was the very person who had made short work of the Demon Army and easily defeated the Demon General during the war.

    She was one of the strongest in their group, and most Mages wouldn''t stand a chance against her.

    Thus, Jerry was convinced that she had to be fine now.

    "I-it''s not like I''m enjoying this, you know! Am I that much of a burden to you?" Ciara''s outburst surprised the boy, causing him to rethink his position.

    ''Was I being too rash? It could be that she''s still recovering from the trauma.

    No human was invincible, after all. Everyone had fears, and Ciara was no exception. Sure, she was strong¡­ but even the strongest had their areas of weaknesses.

    "N-no, it''s not like that. You''re not being a burden!" Jerry quickly responded with an apology.

    Thinking logically, he was usually the burden between the two. He was weaker, after all. Just because Ciara was incapacitated now didn''t mean he had to rub it in or anything.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''I was being too insensitive¡­''

    Unfortunately for thed, he was dead wrong.

    ''Just look at his face. So cuuutteeeee!!!''

    The girl whose emotions he was considering so carefully wasn''t at all in a delicate situation. Rather, she was reveling in the current situation.

    ''I''m enjoying this so much!'' Ciara pressed herself to Jerry, sending his body into shivers.

    His innocent reactions never ceased to amuse her. Though¡­ she wondered when he would finally be honest about his feelings.

    ''When will he confess?''

    Unfortunately for the girl, even she was dead wrong.

    Both of them were mistaken about each other on the most fundamental level.

    "I believe we should try exploring this ce. It looks empty, but¡­ who knows?"

    There was the possibility that Jared had simply been wrong about the existence of an Arcana in this location.

    If that indeed was the case, then this would definitely suck.

    "Alright. Let''s do this." He, and the girl beside him nodded.

    Together, hand in hand, they proceeded to search for whatever they could find.

    However, as unfortunate as it seemed, there was nothing in sight. It felt frustrating that they had spent their entire time exploring the building, yet there was nothing to reward their efforts.

    ''Is this really it?'' Jerry wondered.

    "Why don''t we check the garden? We never explored it."

    Ciara''s suggestion surprised the boy. Neither of them had thought of exploring the exterior of the building considering what the obvious answer was.

    Perhaps Ciara had a point. Still¡­

    "A-are you sure you want to go through that, though?" The boy asked rather nervously.

    "Y-yeah. No harm in trying, right?"

    Upon receiving her consent, there wasn''t anything holding him back.

    "Okay. Let''s do that."

    While the decision to return downstairs was unanimously reached by the two, there was something important to consider.

    The grotesque monsters of darkness!

    This was the very reason why Jerry had been hesitant on the idea, and why Ciara had rmended it.

    ''I''ll have to protect her again. Am I up for the job?'' Jerry asked himself, after realizing that the monsters would have all piled up by the stairs.

    They would be eagerly awaiting the descent of the pair.

    If they had found the Arcana here, they could have used their Spell Cards to vanish from the entire vicinity. That had been Jerry''s thoughts when he chose to seal the stairs from the advance of the monsters.

    Unfortunately, they had to return from whence they came.

    ''I''ll do my best!'' He nced at the girl he had to defend.

    He saw her trembling, and his resolve tightened.

    If only he knew the cause for her reaction. It wasn''t due to fear or anxiety. No¡­ he wasn''t even close.

    ''Hehehe¡­ hehehehe¡­ hehehehehe¡­.Time for round two!''

    The girl called Ciara was simply indulging in her obsessive imagination.

 Chapter 620 Trapped [Pt 1]

    It took a lot of skill¡ªperhaps even luck,¡ªbut Jerry and Ciara managed to descend to the ground floor without any casualty or injury.

    It could have been his imagination, but Jerry felt that their opponents became faster and stronger at a particr point.

    However, his will to protect his friend¡ªas well as his own drive for survival¡ªensured he gave it his all. Until¡­

    ¡­ They finally arrived at their destination.

    ''Kyaaaaaaaaaaa! So awesome!'' Ciara thought gleefully to herself as they both sealed off the monsters¡ªpreventing them from giving chase.

    They noticed that the creatures avoided the door to the house, which meant that they probably couldn''t leave. However, just to be safe, the duo erected a barrier anyway.

    "Alright¡­ we''re in the garden. What now?" Jerry heaved a misty breath.

    The environment was dark and cold, and the garden didn''t make it a more pleasant sight.

    Nothing but the deep darkness of a thick forest could be seen in their environment. The night sky barely contained stars, and the moon was awfully dull.

    "Let''s explore the garden." Ciara nodded to Jerry''s words, and they began their exploration.

    Of course, Jerry kept her close, and he diligently searched for their prize.

    ''This has to work!''

    *

    *

    *

    NOTHING!

    The duo found nothing at all!

    There was no Arcana in the garden, and this was made clear to Jerry and Ciara after they tried their best to find one.

    In the first ce, neither could sense the energy signature which was unique to an Arcana¡ªthe iprehensible energy¡ªin the garden.

    It was the same as the mansion.

    Despite their best efforts¡­ nothing.

    "What now?" Jerry sighed.

    He felt stuck at this point. After trying all he could, being as diligent as possible¡­ he still couldn''t do this one job right.

    "Don''t look so down, Jerry. This is a very difficult job. Besides, Jared said that it''s possible that he was wrong and there''s no Arcana here."

    "Y-yeah¡­"

    "You know¡­ there''s something we''ve never tried before. Maybe it''ll work¡­"

    Ciara gave Jerry a slightly embarrassed expression, and she slowly leaned towards him.

    Whatever was going on in her mind remained a mystery to the young, oblivious man. He simply tried to encourage himself with her words, and he was happy when she made a suggestion that could work.

    "O-oh? What is it?"

    Jerry was desperate at this point. If it had even a slight opportunity for sess¡­ he would take it.

    After a little moment of waiting, Ciara finally opened her pursed lips and let out what was squirming in her inner thoughts.

    "K-kiss¡­"

    "Eh?"

    For a second, maybe more, awkward silence pervaded the area. Other than the howling of the wind, and the ruffling of the garden''s withered, twisted branches, there was no sound at all.

    "I-I mean¡­ I read it in a book somewhere. A kiss breaks¡­ some kinds of bind or spell. Maybe it¡­ will break¡­ this one¡­"

    Jerry''s eyes bulged as he heard Ciara say this. Red dots slowly appeared on his face and he yelped in shock.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "W-w-w-what are you implying?! A k-kiss?!"

    "Don''t raise your voice! It''s not like¡­ it''s something easy for me too¡­" The girl fidgeted, creating an even more awkward atmosphere.

    Despite saying that, though, Jerry could not help but wonder how their situation had devolved into a kissing matter?

    For one, he had never heard of a book or method that prescribed kissing for solving a rather awry situation.

    ''I know I''m not as smart as Ciara, but¡­'' His cheeks flushed with more pink and his heart raced.

    Jerry was so uneasy that he began sweating. What could he do? If Ciara was smarter than he was, and there was a possibility of sess in the act¡­ then shouldn''t they go ahead with it?

    ''I-it makes sense¡­ right?''

    Jerry gulped as he looked at the girl beside him. Her lips were glossy, and they were so weing. It felt so¡­

    ''Shame on you, Jerry. How can you think of her like that?'' He thought himself to be vile for considering such a thing, especially to someone who was in a vulnerable state.

    "Ciara¡­ we better not. I know you said this because you''re considering how much I don''t want to fail, but you''re right. Jared mentioned how it''s possible that we won''t find anything. I think we''d better report back to him."

    As Jerry exined himself, he felt that he saw Ciara''s countenance fall. But it all happened so fast that that he must have seen wrong.

    "Tch!"

    Once again, he must have heard wrong too. There was no way Ciara would click her tongue like that.

    "We should teleport back. Where''s my Spell Card?" Jerry rummaged through his outfit.

    ''U-uh?!'' His eyes bulged.

    Something wasn''t right, but he couldn''t be so certain, right? He decided to search thoroughly.

    After a few seconds of searching and searching, he finally arrived at the most rational conclusion¡ªthough it made no sense to him.

    "C-Ciara¡­ I can''t find it. My Spell Card."

    Perhaps¡­ perhaps she could find hers. If she did, then¡ª!

    "I can''t find mine too!"

    Both of them looked at each other in surprise. Shock was written on their faces until it evolved into confusion.

    "H-how?!"

    "Why?!"

    They had no answers to those questions. Did they drop it behind? No, he didn''t think so. It was possible that it could have been lost in his battle against the monsters, but¡­

    ''I made sure to secure it properly!'' Jerry wasn''t stupid.

    He knew what he was doing well.

    ''Plus, Ciara isn''t so clumsy. Something must be going on here¡­''

    In any case, they were stuck.

    Not only were they trapped in the middle of nowhere, but they also had no prize for their efforts.

    "Damnit. I''m sorry, Ciara. The others might even be returning with their Arcanas by now, and yet¡­"

    Why did someone as strong as her have to end up with a weak and unimpressive guy like this.

    ''No Arcana. No Spell Card. What''s going on?!''

    There was nothing he could do at this point, though. Even though he was a man, and he wanted to prove himself¡ªat least to an extent¡ªhe had already failed pretty badly.

    "We''ll just wait for Jared toe save us."

 Chapter 621 Trapped [Pt 2]

    An iprehensible amount of time passed. Jerry couldn''t tell how long, but it felt like forever.

    The duo waited in the garden, setting up a wellid structure they could rest their backs on while waiting for Jared to return.

    Jerry knew he had to stick very close to Ciara¡ªespecially due to the darkened conditions of the area¡ªso they were currently cuddling.

    It reminded him of old times.

    ''Still¡­ am I not a bit sweaty? Do I smell? Is she just enduring it? Ah, this is so embarrassing¡­''

    Still, the mere fact that Ciara wasforted by his presence made him, at the very least, feel a little better about himself.

    The mission was a bust.

    Not only that, but they were now waiting to be rescued by Jared.

    ''I would have tried to scout the area¡­ or perhaps look at the area from a higher ground, but¡­''

    It was better to just wait for Jared. Not only did they have no idea where they were, but they also didn''t know how long it would take to get home.

    Besides, with the dangers they were currently facing, staying put was the best way to ensure their safety.

    But, after waiting for so long¡­ Jerry was tired of simply staying in a single spot and waiting to be saved.

    His heart tightened in dissatisfaction, and frustration coursed through his veins. He would end up being rescued¡­ and he would also have nothing to show for it.

    ? ''Am I really okay with this¡­?''

    The only other option was Ciara''s suggestion. He didn''t know how feasible it was, but he considered it more now than ever.

    ''What am I thinking?! Kissing Ciara? I would go that far to preserve my ego?'' Jerry felt more disgusted with himself.

    Compared to their time in Ainrk, Jerry felt like he and Ciara had gotten closer. Sure they still had their rivalry going on, but still¡­ he didn''t feel all too distant from her.

    That was precisely why he couldn''t think of using her.

    ''M-maybe if she¡­ suggests it again¡­''

    As if Ciara was reading his mind, she stirred from her slightly dazed state. Jerry''s attention slowly shifted in her direction, and he saw how amazing she looked.

    Her pursed lips were attractive beyond belief. He wanted to touch them, no doubt. Her face was also very cute¡­ and Ciara had always been pretty.

    Seeing her sleep the way she did, seeing her so vulnerable¡­ it was indeed cute to Jerry.

    ''She''s sleeping, so it''ll be less embarrassing. Should I try¡­ it?''

    Jerry felt ashamed of himself once more, but he couldn''t help thinking about it regardless. The possibility of ending everything with a single kiss.

    In fact, wouldn''t it be selfish for him NOT to kiss her?

    ''Why am I justifying failure due to my ethics? I should try to do what I can to win¡­ even if I feel bad about it.''

    The fate of the world was at stake. Why was he so hung up on his values?

    ''Sometimes¡­promises must be made.''

    That''s right! For the greater good, he had to damn his conscience and do what guaranteed sess¡ªeven in the slightest.

    It definitely wasn''t because Ciara was an attractive young woman. Neither was it because she was cute beyond belief. No, that wasn''t it.

    ''I just¡­ want toplete the mission¡­''

    With this thought ringing in his head, Jerry leaned closer to the girl beside him. He was so nervous he could cry. Still, he had made up his mind.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''I''ll do it! I have to do it!'' Puckering his lips, Jerry drew even closer to his target.

    ''Here I go!''

    *

    *

    *

    ''He''sing! He''s really doing it! Finally!'' Ciara grinned within herself in excitement.

    It took him long enough, but the girl somewhat knew that Jerry would break at some point. It had only been a matter of time.

    ''That''s why I had to confiscate your Spell Card¡­ not that it would have been useful, to begin with.''

    The thing was that, unlike Jerry, Ciara was in perfect control of the situation. Not only had she masterminded the whole monster rush, but also Jerry''s card being lost.

    It was all thanks to her mischief.

    However, it wasn''t as though the girl wanted to torture Jerry intentionally. It was love. She simply did everything out of love!

    ''He needed the push. And now, with how long we''ve spent here¡­ he''ll finally go through with it.''

    She could feel her partner''s body trembling as he drew even closer to her. His sweaty musk made her even more excited and she awaited the moment their lips would connect.

    It took all of her willpower not to pucker up her lips or to swiftly connect her lips to his.

    ''No! None of those will be satisfying!''

    She wanted him to do it himself. And finally, after waiting for so long¡­ it was finally happening!

    It was finally¡ª

    ''U-uh¡­!''

    Jerry''s lips connected.

    It sent shivers down her body, and the simple contact between them caused what felt like her body being electrocuted.

    Of course, she controlled the external disy, but her insides were in a state of excitement. It was thrilling!

    ''But¡­'' Ciara thought to herself, half in disappointment.

    Sure, his lips connected, and sure it could be regarded as a kiss. However, this wasn''t exactly what she''d had in mind.

    ''¡­ Why did you choose my forehead?!''

    She wanted mouth-to-mouth, and Jerry must have known that. Yet, he chickened out at thest minute.

    ''Jerry, it seems you have a long way to go in order to fully express your feelings. I understand. I''ll keep supporting you.''

    Just like now, all Ciara had to do was create the ideal scenario for them.

    ''Still, the forehead kiss was amazing. I¡­ I''ll forgive you for today.'' She grinned internally.

    Jerry did all he did because of the desire to change the narrative and obtain results. Ciara knew that much. Since he had performed his side of the deal, it was only right that she delivered her end of the deal.

    ''I guess I''ll break us out of this illusory world.''

 Chapter 622 Judgement [Pt 1]

    Ever since they stepped into the building for the first time, Ciara had felt something.

    ¡ªSomething invasive.

    As an expert in mind games and Mind Magic, she was familiar with the sensation and concept. That was why she knew the truth immediately.

    ''We''re in an illusion.''

    Ciara acted naturally, though, trying her best to gather as much information as she could. She studied the building''s structure, and the denizens within.

    Everything felt real.

    ''Impressive¡­ very impressive!''

    The illusion was incredibly powerful, and the hold it had on them was very strong. However, with her Original Magic, [Phantom Link], Ciara was confident in her ability to escape.

    Still¡­ there was no way she would simply cut her adventure with Jerry so short.

    They had to have some fun first!

    Thus, the whole monster attacks that she instigated. Then, the wild goose chase she created. Everything was for the purpose of mutual bonding.

    However, once Ciara realized that they had to get to the real world eventually, she faced a dilemma.

    ''If I tell him about the illusion now, he''ll wonder why I didn''t mention it earlier. Well, I could just lie to him, but¡­''

    Jerry was currently battling a lot of self esteem problems. Ciara knew he felt inferior to her, and while it was cute, she wanted him to also grow.

    ''If I point out the problem and help him solve it, he''ll probably feel worse.''

    It was while she was brainstorming the issue that Ciara found the perfect excuse to use.

    ''A kiss!''

    By causing him to kiss her, she would pretend as though it was the power of the kiss that broke them out of their predicament.

    That way, Jerry would be the one to take the active position and feel good about himself after achieving the result.

    ''Plus, I get a kiss. Hehe¡­ I''m such a genius!''

    It was perfect, and foolproof too!

    Well, there was one major issue that determined the sess or failure of the n. And that was simply Jerry''s willingness.

    As she''d feared, the boy initially didn''t want to go along with it. Thus, she stole his Spell Cards before he even noticed.

    ''The Spell Card won''t transport us to Jared since this is an illusion, but that''s precisely the problem.''

    If the Spell Card didn''t work the way it was supposed to, Jerry could determine that they were in an illusion or under a certain effect. And that wouldn''t bode well.

    Worst case scenario would be if they indeed teleported to Jared, but were still within the illusion. That would just make the whole thing continuous, and Ciara would ultimately have to break them out without getting her kiss.

    ''I have to get my kiss!''

    Thus, the Spell Cards had to go.

    By giving Jerry time to think things over, by pretending to be asleep, he was slowly convinced.

    Ciara knew how attractive she was, and that Jerry was attracted to her. If a kiss was the only feasible alternative, and she was practically waiting beside him¡­

    ¡­.Jerry would ultimately kiss her!

    And, just as she nned, everything came together.

    ''Sure, it was a forehead kiss, but it still works¡­ for now.''

    Ciara sent a mental pulse the moment Jerry nted his lips on her forehead, expertly utilizing her Original Magic to break down the false reality they were trapped in.

    >BZZZTTTZZZ<<novelnext></novelnext>

    "W-what''s going on??!" Jerry eximed, watching as the reality around him started to fizzle out.

    "U-uh¡­?" Ciara stirred, pretending she was just waking from her sleep.

    "T-the kissed work! It actually worked?! Were we trapped in a barrier before?" Jerry beamed, ncing around him as the environment faded from sight.

    The garden turned to dust, and the environment dissolved. Slowly, darkness crept all around them, and then light emerged.

    *

    *

    *

    "Well done."

    A voice woke Jerry and Ciara from the darkness, and both of them opened their eyes to perceive the one who spoke.

    The moment their eyes shed open, the first thing they noticed was the change in scenery.

    They were within the mansion once again, but this time things were different.

    The chandeliers were well-lit, and the hall they stood in was full of light and life. The tiled ground was exquisite, the rug looked brand new too.

    There were murals on the walls, and the entire environment seemed habitable and friendly enough.

    The warmth felt nothing like the dark eeriness from earlier.

    It was clear that this was the same building they''d entered previously, but¡­ everything was different and amazing¡ªas though brand new.

    Sofas were well arranged, and the curtains were beautiful and well-ced. It was simply exquisite.

    "Is this¡­ another illusion?" Ciara murmured.

    "Not quite. Also, I would prefer you didn''t ignore me."

    Ciara''s focus, as well as Jerry''s attention, finally centered on the most conspicuous entity in the room.

    It was a man seated on the master''s sofa. He had a cup of tea in his hand, and he seemed like a ssy nobleman.

    The way he was dressed depicted elegance. His simmering blue hair felt like the ocean itself, and itpletely matched his eyes. His face was perfectly chiseled, he had the perfect skin tone. He was definitely the most handsome person the duo had ever met.

    This man¡ªwhoever he was¡ªwas simply the epitome of perfection.

    "Who¡­ are you?" Jerry was the one to ask the question.

    He felt awkward being in the presence of such a powerful and elegant man without saying a word.

    ''Is he the owner of this ce? Is he the Boss? Do we need to fight him? How can we defeat him?'' Those were the thoughts that echoed in Jerry''s mind as he greeted the perfect human.

    They couldn''t be careless.

    ''For all we know, this could also be an illusion.''

    "H-hey! You don''t have to think of me as an enemy, you know? Yes, I''m the owner of this house, but I''m not some kind of Boss or anything. This isn''t a Dungeon."

    Jerry was both surprised and relieved.

    "You can read my mind?" He gasped, slightly wishing he hadn''t been so quick to judge.

    "Yes, I can. Alright¡­ let''s take this from the top, shall we?" The seated man sighed.

    He rose from his seat and smiled at the two who stood before him¡ªas elegant and as charismatic as anyone could get.

    "My name is Lancelot. I am an Apostle of Aether¡­ wielder of the Arcana of Judgement."

 Chapter 623 Judgement [Pt 2]

    "My name is Lancelot. I am an Apostle of Aether¡­ wielder of the Arcana of Judgement."

    Ciara and Jerry''s eyes widened¡ªthetter''s own being more obvious¡ªas the man introduced himself.

    His warm smile and cool gaze made it even cooler, and none of them could deny the validity of his statement.

    None except¡­

    "Prove it."

    ¡­ Ciara.

    "Huh?"

    "Prove you''re an Apostle of Aether and stuff." She emphasized, still staring at the man with suspicious eyes.

    Jerry, at this point, waspletely flustered¡ªno, more like worried.

    "Don''t mind my partner, Sir Lancelot. She simply means that it would be nice if there was something to prove your identity and stuff. Haha¡­"

    Ciara didn''t seem apologetic, so Jerry had to prevent consequences that could arise as result of her actions.

    "Oh, that. I suppose you''d like to see my Arcana."

    Instantly, a brilliant light engulfed the room, and within moments, a card appeared. It hovered atop Lancelot''s open palm, and the object was filled with great power.

    "A-amazing¡­"

    The card was embroidered with amazing designs at the edges, and the image disyed at the center was that of an angelic being blowing a trumpet.

    At this point, even the doubtful Ciara believed It.

    "I''m impressed you were able to interfere with my Magic Barrier. As you we all know, it interferes with the mind, so even several powerful people who came here in the past were not able to leave."

    Lancelot wanted to make certain that these young ones were aware of the feat they had aplished.

    "W-wha¡ª? So, they died?"

    Lancelot nodded his head and sat down gently. He didn''t seem all too pleased about the deaths of his unfortunate victims, but it didn''t appear as though he was remorseful either.

    "They trespassed on my abode. They sought after my power. Surely, they knew the risks involved. It is within my rights to defend my property. Should they desire the power I offer, they simply had to work hard for it."

    Unfortunately for the previous candidates, they had been too weak mentally.

    Not only had their minds beenpletely affected by the barrier ced around the house¡ªwhich caused everyone within it to fall under an illusion¡ªbut it didn''t take long for their mental processes to bepletely eroded by the long-term effects of such powerful Mind Magic.

    "You two are the first to make it this far. For that, I am duly impressed."

    Jerry and Ciara broke into smiles¡ªthe former being the most expressive. He had a thought he simply had to leak out.

    "I didn''t think it would work, but¡­ Ciara was right. That kiss really was powerful enough to break through the illusion!"

    Jerry''s sudden deration surprised Lancelot, almost as much as it embarrassed his partner. She would have said something if not that it would reveal her n to him.

    "A¡­ kiss?" Lancelot asked in a curious tone.

    "Yeah. To be honest, we were also trapped without being aware of anything. When we were stranded, Ciara rmended a kiss¡ªsince she had researched how it broke through in dangerous situations. I initially didn''t want to, but¡ª"<novelnext></novelnext>

    No one had to stop Jerry before he paused for a moment. He couldn''t go any further, and his shivering gaze slowly went to the girl beside him.

    She looked very innocent¡­ and she was¡ªat least to Jerry.

    ''Crap! How do I exin that I kissed her? I know it was just on the forehead, but¡­''

    Ciara was sleeping when he''d performed the act. Wouldn''t she consider him to be a pervert if he revealed his actions.

    ''I literally took advantage of her in that state!''

    That was unforgivable for Jerry, but also very humiliating. It was better to swallow it all and not say anything.

    "Hm? Well, I don''t really understand what you''re talking about¡­" Lancelot nced in Ciara''s direction for a while.

    His eyes narrowed on her, and a smile formed on his face. The girl was personally a bit nervous, but nothing too scary.

    "Well, not to waste any of our time, I would like to pick my sessor now." Lancelot rose to his feet once more.

    His charming appearance never seemed to be dull, in the slightest.

    "O-okay¡­" Jerry muttered.

    "Cool." Ciara responded in a calmer tone.

    Before them was an object of indescribable power. Only one of them would reap the rewards.

    "You need to bepatible enough for this power, so I''ll be testing you in different rooms. Prepare yourselves."

    With a snap of his fingers, one of the two vanished¡ªcreating two equally simr realities within the same building.

    Like a broken mirror being able to reflect different things on the same surface, the division separated the two teenagers into separate spaces.

    "Now that he''s gone, we can talk freely¡­ Ciara Epilson." Lancelot smiled, walking closer to the girl before him.

    "What do you mean?"

    "You already knew of the barrier the moment you entered. You were also keenly observing the nature of the ability, and you were also the one who broke out of the mind prison."

    Ciara sighed once she heard these. Apparently, she wanted it to be a secret, but how could she expect to fool a master?

    "Isn''t it just okay to give Jerry the Arcana? I don''t really need it, since I''m strong already." Her response contained absolute honesty. She really felt that way.

    "Unfortunately, no. He has no affinity or ability to aid in the mastery of this Arcana. The opposite is true about you. I doubt there''s anyone with enough affinity than you." Lancelot smiled softly.

    ? "Why? Because of my Original Magic?"

    The man burst into a slight chuckle, but also shook his head slightly.

    "It''s part of it, but not theplete story. Your Original Magic, and your affinity for this Arcana all boil down to the same thing."

    This just made the girl more confused. Of course, she had always known she was special since her childhood¡ªespecially when Magic was involved, but¡­ what did that have to do with the Arcana before her?

    "Your surname, Epilson, do you not know it''s origins? Perhaps I ought to inform you¡­" Lancelot''s eyes seemed to grow brighter than ever.

    "I am Lancelot Epilson, founder of the Epilson Lineage as well as your ancestor."

 Chapter 624 Epilson

    "M-my ancestor¡­?!"

    Lancelot nodded at Ciara''s surprised reaction. His genuine smile and the soul-filled smile didn''t disy an atom of dishonesty.

    "I knew it from the moment I saw you¡­ that you were my descendant. Let''s call it one of my special abilities. We resonate quite well too. Do you not feel it?"

    Ciara didn''t know what to say. She was stunned beyond words.

    ''Yes, I''ve also been feeling something within myself, but I just thought that it was because of the Mind Magic. What is this guy saying?''

    Ciara Epilson grew up in the slums. She hadn''t had the easiest of lives, and she certainly wasn''t one lost princess that needed salvation from her long lost lineage or parents.

    Her parents died pretty early, but they left her their thatched house and the surname she now carried.

    Nothing about her life resembled being rted to some great guy in the past.

    "I see¡­ so that''s how your life had gone. That sucks."

    "W-what?! You read my mind?" Ciara burst out in annoyance, obviously peeved by the invasion of privacy.

    Lancelot Epilson didn''t seem to have an issue with it, though. His simple shrug showed that much.

    "I really don''t know what happened over the years that deteriorated our lineage, but¡­ youe from a prestigious family, Ciara. The vast pool of Mana, as well as the special affinity you have with Magic, are what you inherited as a member of the Epilson household."

    It all made sense, now that Lancelot exined it. Wasn''t it a bit irregr that someone like Ciara, who was from the slums, would end up being so dangerously powerful.

    She was simply too strong.

    "And? What of it? What does that have to do with your decision? Are you ying favorites now?" Ciara still wouldn''t budge from her request to make Jerry the new wielder of the [Judgement Arcana].

    "I realize you do care about the boy. But, Ciara, a tool is only as good as the wielder''s skill. I am entitled to y favorites, since it is my power, but this isn''t about that. It''s about your immense skill in Mind Magic¡ªthe very same kind that I have."

    [Judgement] was a mind-based Arcana, and who else was better suited for it than her?

    "What about Jerry?"

    "He''s undergoing certain tests in the other room. He won''t be getting the Arcana, though. At least I was considerate of his feelings." Lancelot sighed.

    "I¡­ see¡­" Ciara muttered.

    Her eyes fell and her mood suddenly became cloudy. It seemed like everything was happening the same asst time, for her.

    Why was it that she always got the greater portion of anything, and Jerry ended up with less?

    ''At this point¡­ won''t he lose his drive to catch up with me?''

    Ciara just kept getting stronger and stronger. It bothered her that he would eventually realize the futility of his actions and give up.

    ''I don''t want that.''

    "Well, then, Ciara. Here you go¡ª"

    "No. I don''t want the Arcana. I refuse to wield it." Her voice suddenly echoed, as she boldly dered her decision.

    "It''s not up to your decision. If you really want to save the world, as I''ve seen in your memories, you need this power." Lancelot responded tly.

    "I don''t care about the world, though. Only Jerry matters."

    "Well, big news¡­ Jerry lives in the world."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I''ll work my way around it."

    "Sigh¡­ how did my descendant end up bing like this?"

    The two beings grew tired of arguing, and thus began staring nkly at each other.

    However, in a snap, Lancelot caused the Arcana in his grasp to slip past Ciara''s guard and embed itself in her body.

    "W-what did you do¡ª?!"

    "Hahaha! Now you have no choice but to ept my precious gift. It''s fused with you currently. You won''t be able to throw it away so easily."

    "You¡­" The girl gritted her teeth, causing Lancelot tough even more.

    "You''ll be needing this power soon. Once you do, please don''t hesitate to call for it. To protect both yourself and Jerry¡ªand ultimately the world¡ªyou will require the power of [Judgement]."

    Ciara realized that she couldn''t do anything at this point. Her best bet was to simply be patient and go along with the man''s wishes.

    ''Jared''s gonna find a way around this, anyway.''

    "I can hear your thoughts, you know?" Lancelot groaned in exasperation.

    "Well, I don''t care. By the way, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Ciara ced both her arms on her hips as she defiantly stared at the beautiful man in front of her.

    "I would love for that, but¡­ time''s up."

    "Ah, you''re going already?"

    "Yeah. Thanks to The [Judgement] Arcana''s projection ability, I remained. However, now that it is yours¡­ I''ll naturally fade away."

    Ciara was speechless. She watched as Lancelot turned into sparks of light. Little balls of energy emanated from him and he slowly lost color.

    It wasn''t just him, though. Everything around as well. The ssy interior designs, the furniture, the carpet, the chandeliers, everything slowly faded away.

    "J-just asking¡­ erm¡­ how strong is¡­ this Arcana?" Ciara whispered, her cheeks flushing in slight embarrassment.

    Her gaze unintentionally met Lancelot''s as she hesitantly stared at him. A warm smile spread out on his face¡ªat least what was left of it.

    "Crazy strong."

    Ciara didn''t know why, but that made her heart feel fuzzy. She, who had decided not to give in to the power, now found herself getting increasingly excited.

    "Nurture it well. Also, as for your friend, I gave him a little present as well. Not as good as an Arcana, but its decent. Consider it his constion prize."

    "I-is that so? Thank you." Ciara beamed at Lancelot''s words.

    "Ah, onest thing. Be careful with how you handle the Arcana. There''s someone called Ciel. She''s extremely dangerous, so make sure you avoid her at all costs!"

    At this point, Lancelot''s voice was fading fast, but his tone took on a more serious vibe than ever before.

    "If you do encounter her¡­ never try to use your Arcana. She''s¡­"

    At this point, Lancelot''s voice was totally gone. His leftover state realized this, so he sighed and shrugged as a result.

    ''Goodbye Ciara.'' His thoughts loudly echoed across the vast room, and Lancelot Epilson vanished.

 Chapter 625 Dark Arrival

    The world around Ciara copsed, and the lovely sight was reced with an old, musty mansion.

    The chairs were covered in dirt, dust, and were already broken down. The floor was dirty, the chandeliers had fallen to the ground, and everything else was a mess.

    The interior was very old, and the nearly broken-down building was simply pathetic inparison to what was shown just earlier.

    "Ciara." Jerry''s voice called her from behind.

    As usual, a wonderful smile radiated on his face, causing the girl''s heart to flutter. She forgot about the ruined building and simply focused on Jerry''s lovely charm.

    "Looks like everything is back to normal. You got the Arcana, right?" He asked with such innocence and curiousity that it made Ciara''s heart ache for a moment.

    "Y-yeah." She blurted out hesitantly.

    "Sweet! At least one of us got it. I was afraid you''d fail too, but it''s such a relief that you passed." Jerry ced his hands on Ciara''s shoulder, proceeding with a thumbs up.

    "Y-yeah¡­"

    "We should use our Spell Cards and get out of here." Jerry rummaged through his outfit for his magic item.

    It made sense that they couldn''t find their Spell Cards in the illusion¡ªthough that was just Ciara at work¡ªbut now that they were in reality, Jerry assumed he would be able to find it.

    Fortunately, he did.

    "Alright, Ciara." He brought out his Spell Card.

    Both of them drew close to each other, causing a slight air of awkwardness between them.

    For the same people who had shared quite a good portion of intimacy together¡ªeven on this adventure alone¡ªtheir reaction towards each other at this point felt bizarre.

    "I-I''ll activate it." Jerry murmured.

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG<

    His card began shining brightly, ready to warp space and allow them exit their current position. However¡ª

    >BZZZZTTTTTTZZZZZ<

    ¡ªThe Spell suddenly failed.

    Both Ciara and Jerry expressed surprise by the failure of the spell. This was the one thing they never imagined would ur.

    Jerry observed his card properly, murmuring words to himself.

    "What just happen¡ª"

    "Jerry, watch out!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In a sh, the entire building was blown to bits. Every block got eviscerated by the brilliant detonation that remained a mystery.

    The dark night was illuminated by the beautiful firework¡ªor rather, the purplish, dark energy that consumed the area.

    Afterpleting the deed of destroying everything, the dark explosion fizzled out. Nothing but dust and debris now reced the previous house.

    The garden was also caught up in the st. In fact, the entirepound had already be a sea of ash and smoke.

    Thankfully, there was no blood.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­" Ciara heaved with a strained breath.

    A dense blue barrier covered her and the shocked boy beside her. Sweat enveloped Ciara''s slightly throbbing body as she tried to recover from her dangerous action.

    Thanks to exerting herself so quickly, they had been able to avoid the situation. Still, it was so risky that she had gotten very close to suffering Mana Shock.

    ''A secondter, and I would have been toote!'' Her thoughts rang.

    Smoke and dust cleared the path of the malefactor as he approached. His silhouette appeared tall andnky, as he moved in a casual manner.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Ciara kept her eyes on him while supporting Jerry, who was also recoiling from shock.

    "What just¡­ who is that?" He muttered.

    They both strengthened their sight and watched the man who had just tried to kill them, approach.

    ''This¡­ no way!'' Ciara was the first to notice, then Jerry also realized the same.

    At this point, the culprit stood a couple of meters away from the teenagers. His calm eyes and yful grin disyed nothing but malevolence.

    Forbidden, twisted energy formed around him as he ced both hands within his cloak''s pockets.

    His brown hair pped around, all thanks to the blowing wind, and the darkness surrounding him seemed to be dominating the area with every given moment.

    "It''s been a while¡­ students." The man spoke with a friendly tone, but nothing about him indicated an ounce of goodwill.

    "L-Legris¡­ Damien¡­?!" Ciara and Jerry shuddered in his presence.

    He seemed so very different from thest time they saw him. For one¡­ the energy flowing around him was extremely deadly.

    "Looks like you guys still remember me. That''s a relief." He responded to their surprise with a friendly tone.

    However, considering the fact that he had nearly blown them apart with his attack¡ªsomething that was extremely difficult to survive¡ªit was pretty logical to deduce that he had no intention of being nice.

    ''Is he the reason why the teleportation isn''t working¡­?'' Ciara asked herself.

    Her own Spell Card was in her grasp, yet nothing was happening.

    ''Just how¡­?!''

    The fact that Legris Damien confidently stood in front of them made him the prime suspect.

    "What did you do?" Ciara growled.

    "Hey, hey. Is that a good way to greet your former teacher?"

    Ciara''s eyes narrowed at the older fellow, and she clutched Jerry close to her.

    The boy might have thought she was scared again, and needed hisfort, so he drew closer to her as well. However, he was sorely mistaken this time.

    Ciara was indeed frightened, but the only reason she brought Jerry close was to protect him.

    "I came for the Arcana. Hand it over, and no one has to get hurt." Legris grinned, drawing close to the duo.

    Ciara, after hesitating for a moment, decided to betray her character.

    "W-we don''t have it."

    ''What am I doing? I should just give him the Arcana and he''ll leave us alone!'' Her inner self yelled at her folly, but Ciara found herself refusing to budge.

    "Is that so? I would have believed you, but¡­ I can sense Aethering from within. You have the Arcana inside your body, Ciara." Legris''s malevolent grin unnerved the two.

    More sweat formed on Ciara''s face as she shuddered.

    "If I kill you, it shoulde out pretty easily, don''t you think?"

    "W-wait!" Ciara quickly yelled.

    Despite her attempts at chivalry, there was no way she could risk her life and Jerry''s.

    "I-I''ll give you¡­" She weakly muttered, rising from Jerry''s grasp.

    No matter what happened, there was nothing she cared about more than Jerry, and her securing their happy ending.

    Fate of the world or not. Mission or not.

    "If you let us go, I''ll give you the Arcana."

 Chapter 626 The One To Protect [Pt 1]

    "If you promise to let us go, I''ll give you the Arcana!" Ciara dered in desperation.

    So far, she had sensed the difference between her strength and that of the man before her.

    They were akin to night and day.

    "A wise choice indee¡ª"

    "NO WAY!" A loud voice interrupted the deal between the two.

    It came from Jerry.

    "No way! I''ll never agree to this!" Jerry yelled, grabbing Ciara by her shoulders.

    "We''re never giving you the Arcana." His firm deration shook the entire area.

    Conviction was cemented on his face, and the boy''s fiercely ignited passion shone from his eyes.

    "Ciara¡­ you don''t really n on agreeing with him, right? RIGHT?!"

    The girl whose shoulder was being held felt a mix of emotions.

    First, she felt her love for Jerry increase. His deration and na?ve confidence added a lot to his charm.

    Second, she felt her heart race insanely. The way he gripped her shoulder, and the aggressive tone he was using¡­ it made Ciara very excited.

    Thirdly, she felt guilty. Guilty that she had indeed wanted to give in to the enemy due to the sheer difference in their abilities.

    ''But¡­ what''s to say Legris Damien won''t kill us after he gets what he wants?" Her thoughts echoed.

    In the end, wouldn''t it be foolish to hand over what they had worked so hard for when there wasn''t a guarantee of survival.

    "O-of course, I didn''t n on giving him. Don''t you trust me, Jerry? Haha¡­"

    "I knew it! Haha!"

    Both teenagersughed, much to the viin''s chagrin. He looked at the two and sighed while shaking his head.

    "You guys, really¡­ oh well, I have been nice enough."

    Dark energy began rising from Legris as his body became shrouded in subtle darkness.

    ''Ah, this is bad. I should have just taken the deal¡­'' She gulped slightly.

    The usual Ciara Epilson was very confident. Since she was extremely powerful, almost anyone she fought was fodder.

    Even against stronger enemies like Gawain, during training, it hadn''t been as though there was anything at stake.

    But now¡­ being confronted with an actual evil, she felt exposed to new emotions that made her feel dazed.

    "Don''t worry, Ciara. I''ll protect you!" Jerry stood in front of the girl as the darkness around Legris swelled.

    "W-what¡ª?!"

    The boy turned back and smiled at her, giving her a thumbs up. He shed a lovely smile that rendered the poor girl instantly smitten.

    "Lancelot gave me a little something¡­ and I''ll use that power to protect you, Ciara." He smiled.

    Power suddenly began emerging from Jerry, causing Ciara''s eyes to widen in surprise. She had never sensed this type of energy before¡ªespecially from someone like Jerry.

    It felt so simr¡­ to the power that had been around Lancelot and the area that surrounded her back when they''d met the Apostle of Aether. This power was¡­.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    In a burst of bright light, Jerry became doused with pure white mes. Hebined his usual ability with the newfound one he''d gained, creating a new one.

    "Elemental Chamber: White Armament!"

    Instantly, the mes around him converged and formed a shell that encased his body. Like a light,pressed armor of fire, the white fire brimmed with even greater intensity than ever before.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The entire area quaked in response to Jerry''s sudden transformation. It seemingly burned though even space, as everything around Jerry warped like an unstable incineration.

    "Interesting. I didn''t think you guys would be able to use Aether already. So that''s the Aether I sensed within you too¡­" Legris Damien smiled, narrowing his eyes to observe the boy who wanted to fight him.

    "J-Jerry¡­" Ciara muttered hesitantly.

    Her heart was racing so incredibly that it was difficult to form words. She hadn''t seen Jerry look so cool before. In his current state, even she wasn''t certain she could handle him.

    This new power that Legris dubbed as Aether¡­ it was simply beyond her capabilities.

    "Ciara¡­" The boy''s ming body shifted a little, and his smile was once again shed In her direction.

    "¡­ Allow me to protect you this time."

    "A-ah¡­" Her heart raced even faster¡ªif that was even possible.

    Flickering, fluttering mes lit up the darkness, in the form of a man. And Ciara thought she was gazing at an angel.

    Her guardian angel.

    Being the weaker one for the first time didn''t feel surprisingly bad. Her heart was sent out to Jerry and she wished with all her heart¡­ that he would be her knight.

    ''Jerry¡­ I''m counting on you.''

    "Hahaha. Isn''t this cute? Both of you really¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Leaving a trail of heat and distorted space behind him, Jerry sharply lunged at Legris. His speed was beyond what a normal person would consider perceivable, and his charge was akin to aet.

    The ming boy prepared the strongest punch he had ever thrown in his life, hoping to get one in as soon as possible.

    >FWOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Heunched the strike, sending shockwaves permeating through the area, and it closed in on the target.

    However¡ª

    "What are you doing?"

    Legris Damien suddenly appeared behind Jerry. He whispered in the boy''s ears with an amused smile on his face.

    ''E-eh¡­?!'' Confused and frightened, Jerry felt all the hair on his skin stand.

    How could a target that was right in front of him suddenly vanish behind him? Was he just so fast? Was it teleportation? Jerry swiftly moved his body to react to his opponent, but suddenly found Legris right in front of him again.

    ''W-what?! I don''t understa¡ª''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    The one who threw the first sessful punch was Legris, and it connected perfectly with his target.

    Jerry, on the other hand, felt his brain tremble as the blownded on his cheek.

    Unable to breathe or react, he could only feel himself being helplessly thrust in the direction he came from.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!<

    His crash generated a massive crater, and for a few seconds, Jerry was too dazed to even move.

    His flickering white mes had protected him from a great deal of the injury, but Jerry was still recoiling from the shock.

    "You both have things very backwards here. If you think you can beat me, you''re sorely mistaken." Legris smiled.

    He began advancing towards the two, his aura of malevolence growing thicker.

    "I''ll be killing you now."

 Chapter 627 The One To Protect [Pt 2]

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Jerry raced forward, clenching his fists with resolve, as he pushed his speed to the limit.

    Sure, he had suffered a severe blow from Legris, but he swiftly got up to attack. If he failed, the chances of being killed was high.

    ? However, there was one whose life he wanted to preserve even more.

    ''You will not be hurting Ciara!'' His thoughts echoed as his white mes burned through everything around him.

    Being a bit experienced in Martial Arts, Jerry utilized the techniques he knew to bnce the power gap that existed between him and his opponent.

    Bing a blur and swiftly escaping Legris Damien''s hits were very difficult¡ªas each blow sent shockwaves flying around¡ªbut he managed regardless.

    The problem, however, wasnding a hit himself.

    ''How am I supposed to hit him if I''m on the defensive!''

    "Not bad." Legris grinned excitedly, steadily engaging in a dance with the more desperate Jerry.

    "Shut it!"

    Jerry was boiling with rage¡­ as well as impatience. Time was running out for him, and he couldn''t manifest his power for much longer.

    "Rarrggghhh!!!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    Jerry''s blow sent debris of scorched rocks flying everywhere, and thendscape was further ruined.

    The dark night brightened due to his brilliant explosion, and loud echoes reverberated through the whole vicinity.

    This level of destruction far exceeded what he could aplish in the past¡ªenough for even Ciara to marvel at.

    "Haaa¡­ haaa¡­" Jerry''s strained breath leaked out.

    His glowing body suddenly lost all its luster, and he returned to his mediocre state. Sweat broke out of his skin, and his heavy panting echoed throughout the vicinity.

    If it wasn''t clear enough to anyone, the situation was pretty obvious to him.

    ''I''m spent!''

    He trembled, struggling to move away from the site of destruction that seemed to spread for miles.

    Having wreaked more havoc than he had expected to, Jerry found himself a little proud of his achievement. However, he was vulnerable in his current state.

    The thick smoke and heated floors would inadvertently damage him if he wasn''t careful. Thus, he had to step away.

    ''Haa¡­ did I do it, though?'' Jerry wondered as he moved.

    His chest tightened when he saw Ciara at a distance. She was giving him an expression he hadn''t expected.

    ''C-Ciara¡­?''

    He had just given it his all to defeat the enemy. It had taken everything he''d had, but he''d seeded, hadn''t he?

    ''I won. You don''t¡­ you don''t have to be scared anymore.''

    Despite Jerry''s thoughts, though, Ciara didn''t seem to be getting any happier.

    Her expression soured, and her eyes bulged in surprise. He couldn''t understand it. He had just won, yet why wasn''t she giving him a smile.

    "W-why¡­?"

    That was when Jerry realized it¡ªsomething he had failed to notice until he carefully observed Ciara''s eyes. They weren''t directed at him¡ªno.

    Her eyes gazed at something beyond the tired boy. It was¡ª

    "Jerry, watch out!!!"

    ¡ªSomethinging from behind him!

    >SQUELCH<

    Blood spurted out of his pierced body.

    The red liquid oozed to the ground, forming a small pool underneath the fatally wounded person, while also dripping onto the person who was beneath the injured body.

    "N-no¡­" Jerry''s eyes widened as he saw someone bleeding above him.<novelnext></novelnext>

    She was radiantly beautiful, even as blood dripped from her lips. Her body waspletely shrouded in her favorite transformation¡ªMage Mode.

    "¡­ Ciara!!!" Jerry screamed, watching the wounded girl smile even though she was pierced by dark tentacle spikes in several areas.

    "A-are you alright¡­ Jerry?" Her voice was barely audible, and it contained so much pain that it was heartbreaking to hear.

    "I¡­ I¡­" Jerry''s eyes were rapidly filled with tears¡ªso much tears that his vision blurred.

    He had failed woefully! He''d tried his hardest, and yet he had failed to defeat the enemy. And now, even the girl he had sought to protect was in a terrible state.

    He felt extremely frustrated. Yet¡­ even as his heart ached, he couldn''t bring himself to look away from the girl who sacrificed herself for him.

    It should have been him, yet¡ª

    "W-why¡­?" Tears streamed from Jerry''s eyes as he whispered.

    Why did she do it? She should have lived! She was more powerful than him anyway. She was the one in possession of the Arcana. She shouldn''t have died for him.

    How could she¡ª!!!

    "Because¡­ I like you a little bit, Jerry." She smiled at him.

    The way her blue eyes captured his own, and how her glossy lips curled up at that statement, moved the boy''s heart.

    For the first time ever, he felt it race uncontrobly.

    His face became hot, and he found himself staring at thedy in front of him with disbelief. For the first time ever¡­ his eyes saw a different Ciara.

    "I-I''m so¡­ I''m so¡­"

    Overwhelmed by the new feelings swirling within him, Ciara''s injured state, and how exhausted his body already was; Jerry found everything too much to bear.

    And as a result, he fainted.

    *

    *

    *

    "Eh¡­?" Ciara''s eyes widened slightly upon seeing the boy she protected faint.

    It was a little surprising, since this wasn''t what she was expecting at all. Even after her self sacrifice and how she had perfectly executed her lines, this wasn''t what was meant to happen next!

    "Uh? He''s unconscious already? For real?" She was dazed beyond words.

    "How surprising. You seem fine even after taking all of those attacks." A voice emanated from the rubble.

    It belonged to none other than Legris Damien, who emerged with his strange dark energy swirling around him.

    "It''s just a clone. I''m not stupid enough to run into danger." Ciara''s wounded self smiled, before vanishing like smoke.

    The blood that stained the boy and the ground also dissipated, leaving an unconscious Jerry in the hands of apletely healthy Ciara.

    Legris stood at a distance, hands in his pocket, as he gave a quizzical expression.

    "Don''t look so surprised. I only did what I had to do." Ciara muttered, ncing slightly at her unconscious partner.

    "Oh? And what''s that?"

    The girl smiled.

    She carried Jerry and ced him in a safe corner¡ªusing Magic to serve as a protective barrier.

    Once she was fine, Ciara approached Legris with an expression that betrayed the ones she had disyed prior to this very moment.

    "Jerry''s chivalry was appreciated. I love how he wanted to protect me, and he did everything he could to achieve that goal."  Her lips curled up, widening her smile even more.

    "However¡­ in the end, he''s still too weak to protect me."

    Legris chuckled slightly, shaking his head in both disbelief and amusement. He was amazed by the expression his opponent was making.

    Ciara''s blushing face contained a daring smile, and her stance showed that she was ready for battle.

    "The one who will protect Jerry is me!"

 Chapter 628 Minds World

    "So¡­ you''ll fight against me?"

    Legris was much faster than anything Ciara had ever seen. His mysterious abilities also didn''t make much sense to her.

    ''Not only did he not die after Jerry''s final attack, but he had suffered no damage too¡­''

    Ciara found herself wondering how exactly to best the man in front of her.

    ''Mind attacks aren''t working. I already tried. My Magic abilities¡ªeven in Mage Mode¡ªaren''t as strong as Jerry''s assault.''

    In the end, she found herself backed into a corner. Legris Damien was simply too strong and mysterious for her.

    "Of course. Who else is here to fight?" Ciara grinned maniacally.

    Legris Damien''s eyes widened in surprise. This girl kept surprising him at every turn.

    "I''m fascinated. For a second there, I thought you were actually¡­ the damsel in distress."

    The image of Ciara sacrificing herself to save Jerry was now tainted by her expression which was akin to insanity. The pure and kind persona hadpletely evaporated.

    "Ciara Epilson, the magic genius with the Special Grade Mana Core, and one of the strongest in her generation. I suppose it''s only right for you to get messed up in the head."

    "A. Thanks for thepliment, retard. Only Jerry gets topliment me. Don''t be a creep, you''re not my type at all."

    Ciara''s bark, even with the smile on her face, made Legris all the more amazed. Still, he couldn''t forget his mission, now could he?

    "I''ll spare you if you just give me the Arcana. I don''t think I want to kill someone like you, or your boyfriend." He sighed.

    "B-b-boyfriend?! W-who told you that?! What gave you that impression?!"

    Ciara''s sudden transition confused Legris even further. He was simply caught in a daze.

    "I was just¡ª"

    "F-ttery won''t get you anywhere, y-you know? I''m never giving you the Arcana! Jerry would be disappointed in me if I did!"

    After Ciara''s deration, there was silence. Both opponents stared at each other¡ªnone directed animosity towards the other, surprisingly.

    Legris ended the brief moment of silence with a sigh.

    "You know what? I give up. There''s no point. I''ll just kill you and get my prize."

    He was tired of trying to figure the girl out. She just seemed too messed up in the end to bother.

    Besides, Legris had other people to think about.

    "Give it your best shot!" She dered, stretching out her hand and beckoning him to draw nearer.

    "Very well¡­"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    In a single stroke of the wind, Legris closed the distance between himself and Ciara, burying his hand deep into her chest.

    "Eeek! You pervert! You have no idea where you just touched, do you?" Her voice sharply emerged from behind Legris, causing the man to nce back in shock.

    "What did you¡­?!"

    "I always knew you were a creep!"

    Ciara was perfectly fine, and the one Legris had stabbed suddenly vanished into thin air. It was mind boggling.

    "What sort of trick are you using?" He asked with narrowed gaze.

    "Why should I tell you?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    Tension rose between the two, and finally a chuckle arose from the older fellow.

    "Hehe¡­ hehehe¡­ hahaha¡­"

    Ciara was creeped out by the sudden burst ofughter, but she did her best to contain her surprise and disgust.

    "I see what''s happening now." Legris Damien''s voice echoed even louder.

    He was genuinely amused. So much so that Ciara was beginning to get nervous.

    "You actually managed to trap me inside the Mind''s World, didn''t you? So you already know how to use the [Judgement] Arcana. As expected of an Epilson, I suppose."

    Ciara''s eyes instantly widened. Not only because Legris deciphered everything she had been up to, but because of his knowledge about her identity¡ªsomething she had only just found out about.

    "How do you know so much?" She blurted out in suspicious curiousity.

    For a moment, Legris kept quiet¡­ until he found the best way to answer her question.

    "Why should I tell you?"

    A vein or two appeared on Ciara''s face. She didn''t appreciate someone copying her words, but she was also aware that her enemy wasn''t going to divulge information to her.

    In this situation, her Original Magic wasn''t useful since she couldn''t affect his mind at all.

    ''It''s because of this strange energy that he has¡­''

    The power simply repelled hers.

    However, she wasn''t entirely disadvantaged. After all, so what if he knew about his current predicament? It wasn''t like he could escape from it?

    "I have to admit, you caught me well. I don''t know when you activated it, but you were quite subtle. It doesn''t matter, though."

    >BZZZTTTZZZ<

    The area around suddenly started to melt. Thendscape, the sky, the ground. They slowly dposed and lost all shape and form.

    "U-uh¡­??" Ciara wondered what was happening.

    One second, her world was upright, and the next¡­ it was breaking apart. Of course, she knew there could only be one architect.

    ''What did he do?!'' She couldn''t ask the man, because he wouldn''t even respond to her.

    "You aren''t the only one with an Arcana, you know?" Legris smiled as he relished the confusion written on Ciara''s face.

    "E-even if you have an Arcana, you shouldn''t be able to use it! Your actual body is paralyzed since your mind is trapped here. There''s no way you can activate your Arcana remotely!" She yelled in response.

    It was unlike Ciara to lose herposure, but this was the best way she knew to contain the situation and also protect Jerry.

    There was no other way to fully battle Legris without putting Jerry in a risk of danger. No matter what barrier she used, Ciara felt her opponent would still be able to break through it and use the boy she loved as leverage.

    If it came to that, she would have no other choice but to abandon her mission and give him the Arcana. The only problem was whether he would honor a deal or not.

    It was something Ciara didn''t want to have to find out, so it was better not to take any chances, to begin with.

    ''But it''s toote now¡­''

    In a sh of light, the Mind''s Worldpletely dissolved, and reality set in.

    Legris stood confidently on one end, while Ciara¡ªholding Jerry tightly¡ªknelt a distance from him.

    A bead of sweat dripped from her face as she struggled to find a better solution.

    ''¡­ What should I do now?!''

 Chapter 629 Uneven Struggle

    ''What should I do now?'' Ciara found her thoughts wavering as she stared down Legris Damien.

    He approached with a menacing aura, and she realized that it wouldn''t take very long before he made short work of her and Jerry.

    ''Even if I use Bond Magic now¡­'' She thought to herself.

    Combining Fusion Mode and Mage Mode had to be her greatest form, but she doubted that was going to make much of a difference.

    ''Still¡­ I have to try!''

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Ciara''s body was instantly enveloped in dense Magic, and several stars appeared around her. Her body shone like an oily surface, and numerous star particles danced around her.

    ''If I knew how to use the Arcana more, it would have been better, but¡­''

    The Mind''s World was the only ability she had ess to, and that was only possible because she had experienced it herself.

    It was certain that there were more features of the [Judgement] Arcana, but she was currently too unskilled to handle it.

    The only thing she could currently do was to give it her all.

    "Interesting. You have a Constetion as a Familiar. I''ve never seen anyone chosen by them before¡­ well, except one person." Legris Damien grinned as heid eyes on her magnificent form.

    Ciara was gleaming in her bright blue Mage''s attire, surrounded by numerous clusters of stars.

    Her brown hair had now transformed into white, and her blue eyes had bright sparks within.

    Fusing with her Familiar made her transcend to her current state¡ªGrand Fusion Mage Mode.

    Ciara retreated to the air, holding Jerry in her grasp. In her current state, she could do many things, but her priority was protecting her partner.

    ''I''llunch long-distance attacks and keep my distance.''

    Mind attacks didn''t work, and she doubted the Mind''s World would be very effective the second time.

    "Let''s do this!"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Ciara darted to the sky, hoping to create as big a distance from Legris as possible. Even if it was to abandon the building they were currently in, she was determined to do everything to escape.

    "Not impressive enough." Legris instantlyunched himself into the air.

    ''Tch!'' She thought to herself.

    She was moving faster than even Jerry had been, yet it didn''t seem to faze her opponent in the slightest.

    >VWOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Ciara sent dozens of her stars flying in Legris Damien''s direction. Each of them possessed massive destructive abilities.

    ''They can slow him down, at the very least¡­'' The desperate maiden had thought.

    Unfortunately, Legris had even better skills than she anticipated

    He bypassed all the stars she sent in his direction, swiftly dodging her projectiles while blocking her meaningless magical strikes.

    "Damnit!" She cursed, watching as he caught up with her.

    The heavy and musty night breeze whipped her in the face, but she ignored everything and solely tried to escape.

    "Just leave us alone!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    A brilliantbination of mes and wind, in addition to the eruption of several stars wereunched in Legris''s ascending direction.

    However¡ª

    >FWISH<

    Legris increased his speed, overwhelmingly breaking through the devastation. His mysterious dark energy easily passed through the deadly strike, and he emerged unscathed.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    It only took a few moments for him to catch up to Ciara and Jerry, causing the flying girl to shriek in shock.

    Once he got ahead of them, Legris sent his power in Ciara''s direction.

    "G-garh!!!" The poor girl felt her body shiver, and her entire form Instantly copsed.

    ''W-what? I can''t use¡­ Mana?!''

    Mage Mode dissipated, and her Familiar''s manifestation becamepromised. All the stars around her darkened, and she lost control over the energy that usually made everything much easier.

    "D-damnit!"

    Ciara felt herself descend from her height, unable to even control her position in the air.

    "Perhaps I should help."

    Legris stood above her, pointing a finger that reeked of negative energy. Sparks of darkness emerged from his fingertips, and it was certain that her time of execution had arrived.

    In an instant, he was going to blow her away with his power, and there was nothing Ciara could do about it.

    >BZZZZTTTTTTZZZZZ<

    Ciara''s powerlessness made her want to cry out, but the shock prevented her quivering lips from moving.

    Ultimately, she could do nothing but feel the wave of evil power wash over her.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!<

    The dark lightning consumed everything around Ciara, including her and the boy she tightly hugged.

    Drops of tears fell from her eyes as she gritted her teeth in frustration.

    And thus, even the ground that received a portion of Legris Damien''s assault instantly ruptured.

    The earth parted, and debris flew in multiple directions.

    The old house which had stood erect before was instantly torn down, and everything became a pile of broken-down rocks and decaying wood.

    "Haa¡­ why am I not surprised?" Legris Damien softly spoke as his smile increased.

    He was suspended in the air, but his gaze was focused on a view behind him.

    Even though he had just incinerated the girl and her friend, he wasn''t the slightest bit interested in the devastation he''d caused.

    That was because¡ª

    "So, you finally show your face after all this time, eh?" Legris turned behind him to look at the small group that had appeared.

    His darkened gaze picked up a certain blond boy and hisrades.

    With them were the two he had almost killed. Apparently, they had been rescued before being consumed by his attack.

    "Not going to say anything?" Legris raised his voice, the wicked smile on his face getting bigger.

    The one he spoke to was none other than a young man. His hair swayed with the wind, and his focused stare was enough to strike fear into the hearts of many¡ªnot Legris, though.

    They both stared at each other, the tension rising on both ends.

    "It''s been a while, Legris." The boy finally spoke.

    The people he was with also seemed to share the same sentiment. They all donned serious expressions on their faces¡ªequally cautious, but also determined.

    "You came for the Arcana, didn''t you? It''s too bad though¡­" The blonde smiled.

    The helpless two were now under his care, and he didn''t seem to have any intention of letting Legris have his way.

    "¡­ They''re mine now."

 Chapter 630 United Front

    ''Haa¡­ what a mess.''

    Why did things have to end up this way? Why, of all people, did I have to be confronted with Legris Damien?

    "You had better give up now." A daunting smile formed on my face as I tried my hardest to radiate confidence.

    My opponent, the very same person who had outsmarted me thest time, didn''t seem too scared by my sudden appearance¡ªeven when I had backup with me.

    Edward, Lemi, and Ivan were also with me as backup.

    While I knew that none of them could really prove to be much of a threat to the enemy, it felt smarter to rely on the mirage of strength in numbers.

    In the worst scenario, I would simply transport everyone back to the base while fighting Legris myself.

    "What a surprise, Jared. You can use Aether now? I wasn''t expecting this development so soon¡­" Legrisughed, pping his hands.

    As always, he threw me off guard. I couldn''t tell if he was lying about his surprise or not, though the former seemed more usible.

    ''He''s trying to misdirect me again. I won''t underestimate you, Legris.''

    In any case, Ciara and Jerry seemed to be in a rough shape.

    For Jerry, he must have exerted himself too much¡ªenough to render him unconscious. As for Ciara, she had to have been exposed to a huge wave of Nether. It must have affected her ability to use Mana, as well as weakening her considerably.

    ''Her body doesn''t seem to be in good condition¡­ though it''s getting better on its own.'' My thoughts rang as I thoroughly observed her body.

    It most likely had to with the Arcana in her possession. It made me d that they hadpleted their mission.

    ''That leaves only Neron and Serah.'' A smile formed on my face.

    Of course, that only depended on the possibility of us winning this round against Legris.

    "You know, we''re a horrible matchup. Even if you have Aether, the possibility of beating me is low." Legris grinned.

    "I''m more amazed that you can use Nether. How long have you had ess to it?" I swiftly responded, narrowing my eyes in curiosity.

    In the past, I couldn''t tell what energy he had that made me so frightened. However, I now understood it to be Nether.

    The problem, however, was how he was able to utilize it so freely. Regr people¡ªno, even powerful beings¡ªweren''t supposed to be utilizing Nether as freely as Legris did.

    "Ah, that. I''ve always been able to use it¡­ I think."

    His response made it seem as though it was only natural. And that seemed off for so many reasons.

    "No¡­ back at Ainrk, you didn''t have this power. I don''t know how you were able to pull off your escape, or how your survived my Spell, but¡­"

    It wasn''t until after that moment that Legris began exhibiting this new ability. Granted, he could have hidden his ability from everyone. However¡­!!!

    "I refuse to believe you wouldn''t have used Nether to stop me back then."

    Did he y me at that point? Had he been in no actual danger when I cornered him that time? Was everything just a fool''s crusade?

    I had many questions, but I kept my cool regardless.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Ohh, so that''s what you mean. I don''t believe you have any right to know any of that, Jared. I mean¡­ why should I tell you?" Legrisughed in response.

    He was definitely right about his answer. Even if he gave me a response, there was no genuine reason to believe him. In the end, I wouldn''t be able to get a definite answer.

    "Just so you know, Jared, you actually won that time. I''ll admit that I was cornered with no way to escape. It''s not easy admitting a loss, but I admit that one."

    Was he trying to appeal to my ego? Trying to make me a bit more confident and careless?

    ''Not a chance!''

    "You say that, yet you were able to win in a game with much higher stakes." I responded.

    ''Alright. I''ve bought enough time. I''ve restored Ciara''s and Jerry''s energy with Resonance. Plus, we''re ready to move anytime.''

    My [Strength] Arcana was also on standby, in case Legris pulled out his Nether to interfere with my Original Magic.

    ''I really don''t want to fight with him since I have barely gotten a hang of the power.''

    If Legris was telling the truth about his masterful experience with Nether¡ªwhich was believable, to be honest¡ªthen I was probably screwed in a fight.

    "Yeah. Fair enough. I''m not arguing that I''m superior to you, Jared. At this point, even Neron is¡­" He chuckled slightly.

    ''Is he implying that he can beat Neron?'' I couldn''t tell truth or lie apart with the man in front of me.

    "What will you do now?" I prepared myself, stirring the energy within me.

    It still took time¡ªno matter how little¡ªto teleport. The rest would have to escape while I covered them.

    ''Thank goodness Asa, Maro, and Vida are still in the base. Less people to worry about¡­''

    "I mean, you guys must have a ton of Arcanas, right? Why would I let any of you escape my grasp?''

    As expected, he was going to engage. Why would a member of the Nether Cult skip on his chance to obtain a good number of Arcanas¡ªespecially since they were gathered in one ce.

    ''That''s not going to happen, though.'' I red at him.

    "Alright, Jared. Shall we begin our next round?" Legris released his Nether, causing the entire area around him to be shrouded in unpleasant darkness.

    "Tch¡­" I conjured the energy in [Strength] and spread the power of Aether around me and my allies.

    Any moment now, I would forcefully teleport them away.

    They would simply be a burden to me, at this point. I couldn''t afford for any of them to slow me down. Besides, the Arcanas were¡ª

    "Here Ie, Jared."

    Shockwaves sent even the earth parting as Legris made to close the distance between me and him in one swift motion.

    ''Shit! Here goes!''

 Chapter 631 A Complete Mission

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    As I braced myself, expecting Legris''s first strike, he suddenly halted mid attack.

    He had barely moved from his location when a somewhat dazed expression manifested on his face.

    He seemed downright surprised.

    "Hm? What''s this?" Legris murmured.

    I was still apprehensive, wondering if this was simply a trick he was using.

    ''Doesn''t seem like his style, though.''

    "Hahaha, well isn''t this interesting." Heughed, removing drops of tears from his eyes at this point.

    ''What''s going on?'' I wondered, and I was certain my expression disyed the exact reaction.

    "Looks like we''ll have to postpone this little fight of ours." Legris suddenly began shrouding himself in darkness.

    I was a bit puzzled by the suddenness of the situation that I had to say something¡­ and fast!

    "What''s going on? Where are you going?!"

    Legris chuckled even more in response to my question, causing my heart to race in anxiety.

    ''What is more important than obtaining a bunch of Arcanas?!'' I began to get extremely worried.

    "Don''t look so anxious, Jared. It''s just word from the higher-ups. Apparently, two of our members have been killed. You probably know one¡ªVaizer."

    His words struck me, and I remembered the Dragon Beast folk that was consumed by Nether.

    ''How can they say he was killed when they were the ones who dealt the finishing blow?''

    "The second one probably went after Neron. Such bad luck. Haha. Needless to say, your team won this round. Neron probablypleted his mission too. Isn''t that wonderful."

    If everything Legris said was true, shouldn''t he have been upset? Or at least, a bit dissatisfied? Yet, he seemed rather thrilled.

    "I''m returning to the headquarters. I doubt we''ll meet again, Jared¡­ which makes this somewhat regrettable." Legris, almostpletely enveloped in his ck pool, waved at me.

    I was all the more confused, but I couldn''t say or do anything but gawk in response.

    "The showdown is close at hand. Bye!"

    >VWUUUP<

    His negative energy finally consumed him, and it vanished as soon as its job wasplete.

    I was left in a daze, staring at an empty space as I mulled over everything Legris had just told me.

    ''We won''t be meeting again? What does that mean? I don''t understand¡­''

    It seemed they were gathering all their members to the headquarters now that all the Arcanas had been found¡ªwell, almost all of them.

    I still had no idea where [The World] was.

    "What now, Jared?" Edward asked from behind me.

    My otherrades had been discussing for some time now but he finally raised the question to me.

    "I¡­ am not entirely sure. Let''s return to the base first."

    Hopefully when Neron and Serah returned, we would be able to establish something more concrete.

    At the moment, most of the things I would end uping up with could end up being nothing more than spection.

    To move forward, I needed to be thorough.

    "One thing is for sure, though." I smiled at my allies while nodding.

    "Wepleted this mission. That''s what matters now."

    I was greeted with their excited smiles and relieved sighs.

    Jerry was still unconscious, but I knew he would be fine. As for Ciara, she gave me a re for some reason.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I wasn''t looking forward to an appreciation, but still¡­

    ''I guess she''s alright too, as far as that goes.''

    I felt like a heavy burden had dropped from my chest with thepletion of our mission, though something heavier remained there.

    ''The Nether Cult.''

    Whatever was going on with them had yet to be concluded. Rather, it was the opposite. We were probably just getting started.

    ''Now that we have the Arcanas that they don''t possess, we''re going to be their next targets.''

    That meant we had to prepare for the inevitable move of the Nether Cult. Or better yet¡­

    "Let''s return."

    ¡­ We had to strike first.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    ********************

    [Moments Earlier]

    "Well, we got what we came for. That was surprisingly not as difficult as I thought." A woman with crimson hair grinned as she spoke to her partner.

    The dark haired man returned her smile with a distant gaze.

    His attention was on the object trapped between his fingers. It was a card that warbled in a somewhat grey color¡ªdistorting the space around it.

    "Indeed. But, to think we got [The Fool]." He muttered.

    The woman drew closer to him and joined him to once again observe the name written on the card, as well as the illustration embedded on it.

    It had the image of a ragged vagabond holding a stick, with a cloth tied around it. Somehow, for some odd reason, the image resonated with the two.

    "Well, since wepleted our mission, we should head back." Serah stretched her hands and yawned slightly.

    A quick nce at thendscape showed that it was devastated beyond recognition. Whatever Dungeon or structure that had existed prior to their arrival was now nothing more than ash and smoke.

    All that was left were debris and evidence of utter destruction. And standing at the center of the chaos were the two culprits¡ª

    Neron Kaelid and Serah Crimson.

    The couple seemed to casually stand at the center of the damage they had wrought, acting as though such a thing was only natural.

    "Jared gave the wrong coordinates, though. The scope was toorge too¡­" Neron sighed, staring at the woman beside him.

    "Yeah. But it wasn''t a problem for you, anyway. That new ability of yours is really handy."

    "Tell me about it." He grinned.

    Both of them stared at one other passionately. Their instincts connected¡ªand despite the very terrible choice of location¡ªthey both decided to give into their carnal desires.

    "Let''s kiss." Serah smiled, drawing closer to Neron, who did not resist whatsoever.

    It was a wonder how they could both indulge in such pleasures, but¡­ who was around to judge?

    "I would rather not witness such a sight. Cease your actions instantly!"

    Well, someone was present, after all. And it wasn''t an ally.

    "I''ve been observing you two, and you''ve gotten even more careless than you were in the past. How disappointing." The intruder growled as he revealed his presence.

    He wore a Grand Mage''s outfit¡ªconsisting of a well embroidered purple cloak, and royal blue wear.

    His exquisite garb was only fit for someone of his caliber, and his aged appearance gave him a more prestigious look.

    "Neron. Serah. It''s been a while, hasn''t it?" The older man smiled as he watched the two lovers gaze at him, speechlessly.

    They both clearly knew who he was¡ªa fact that caused his grin to widen even more.

    "Won''t you greet your old friend?"

 Chapter 632 Old Acquaintances [Pt 1]

    In the past, there were three Grand Mages¡ªeven before Serah Crimson became one.

    They were considered extremely powerful¡ªelites in their own right. It was trite that they would be considered the strongest in the entire Eastern Kingdom.

    Elrich Lendertwale¡ªthe Royal Court Mage

    Mordecai Kaelid¡ªthe Great Sorcerer King

    Reed Sterling¡ªthe Revolutionary Magic Schr

    These three led the golden age of the Eastern Kingdom, especially when it came to the advancement of Magic.

    Elrich developed countless Magic artifacts and explored the functions of several Magic ores as well as monsters in order to determine the effects they had on one another.

    Mordecai was regarded as the most powerful and diverse when it came to his Magic Ability. He was the battle axe of the Eastern Kingdom, and it was said that he singlehandedly defended the Eastern Kingdom from the invasion of unstoppable Monsters¡ªmaking him a legend.

    Reed Sterling was the greatest Magic Schr after the legendary Lewis Griffith. He built on the work of his predecessor and developed countless Magic Theories and their practical applications.

    The refining methods through the use of Mana, or how to extract certain elements from their respectivepounds. Most of Modern Magic and Technology had one thing or the other to do with this genius.

    It was thanks to this, even, that he was granted the title of Grand Mage¡ªdespite being barely qualified for the title when it came to actual Magic prowess.

    Still, even though he wasn''t nearly as powerful as his fellows, his contribution toward the cause earned him great respect.

    He was ced in charge of the future generation of Mages¡ªbing the Headmaster of Ainrk Academy.

    As such, Grand Mage Reed Sterling oversaw the education of the buds of the Kingdom, ensuring the future of Magic remained brighter than ever.

    That is¡­ until he vanished some years ago.

    It had been as mysterious as it was unexpected. Reed Sterling, without warning or reason, simply disappeared.

    No one knew his whereabouts.

    ¡­ Until now.

    *

    *

    *

    "It''s been a while, hasn''t it? Won''t you greet your old friend?"

    The man who stood before Neron and Serah was a familiar face. He was Reed Sterling, the Grand Mage who had been missing for so long.

    "Reed¡­"

    "Old man¡­"

    The couple stood still for a few moments, observing their mentor and fellow colleague.

    With all they saw, it didn''t seem like they were mistaken about the old man''s identity. His aged smile and confident demeanor told them that he was perfectly fine too.

    When Neron and Serah had been students at Ainrk, he had presided over them as their Headmaster. He had also been present when Serah rose to the ranks of Grand Mage, and Neron became a part-time teacher at Ainrk.

    Thus, his disappearance had been just as surprising to them as it had been to everyone else¡ªperhaps even more so.

    "Looks like you still remember me. That''s good." He chuckled, stretching his hand slightly.

    His palm was exposed, almost as though he was expecting them to give him something. Was there something of his he wanted back?

    Perhaps¡ª

    "The Arcana in your possession. Give it to me." His smile remained, even while he made such an absurd request.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Ah, so it really is true. You joined the Nether Cult."

    "Won''t you exin yourself, old man?" Serah''s voice was much louder as her brows were crinkled in annoyance.

    The Nether Cult was responsible for several evils¡ªone of which was the invasion of Ainrk Academy. If Reed Sterling was a member, then¡ª

    "Ainrk was attacked, you know? Students died! A lot more would have perished too. You''re really part of a group that did such a thing?!"

    Fire burned in Serah''s chest as she stared at the old man. His gaze didn''t waver in the slightest, and his hand was still outstretched.

    "That was Legris'' n. I had nothing to do with it. Even I find it distasteful to kill kids¡­" Reed sighed.

    "Then why are you still¡ª"

    "With that said, if it had been for the sake of my goals and I had no other option, I would have done the same. No hard feelings."

    The fact that he could utter something so repulsive, without even changing his current positive expression, sickened Serah.

    ''Is this really¡­ Reed Sterling?!'' Her thoughts rang as she stared at him.

    "It''s him, Serah. There''s no need to waste your time thinking about that." Neron interrupted the redhead''s thoughts.

    His gaze was calm, and he maintained a collected demeanor. Even with his old mentor right in front of him, he didn''t seem fazed.

    "Be a good boy, Neron. Serah, you too. Give me the Arcana, and things won''t have to get messy."

    Serah gritted her teeth in anger. Perhaps because her emotions were more vtile than Neron''s. It was just too unbelievable that a man she had looked up to had turned out this way¡ªespecially after she had been worried about his whereabouts for so long.

    It boggled her mind to no end.

    "Can I ask why, at the very least? Why the Nether Cult? Why do you want the Arcanas?" Serah asked, her voice quivering a little.

    Silence enveloped the three for a short while. The couple stared at their formerrade, and he returned the favor.

    "Well¡­ let''s just say I''m not satisfied. It''s not enough¡­"

    Serah''s eyes twitched once she heard his statement. She didn''t quite understand what he meant.

    "What are you¡ª?"

    "Being a Grand Mage. Being Headmaster of Ainrk, being given so many titles and granted recognition, they weren''t enough for me. The primary objective I have always had was never satiated. That''s why¡­"

    Serah was in even more confusion. How could he say those things weren''t enough? He was literally granted the highest position a Mage could attain in the Eastern Kingdom! Yet¡­!

    "Power. You wanted more power, right?" Neron asked, his expression containing as much boredom and disinterest as possible.

    His cold ck eyes fell on the man he was supposed to respect, yet not a sliver of that could be found in them.

    "You two wouldn''t understand. You were born gifted. You didn''t have to struggle for power like me."

    An ufortable air of silence and tension began rising at an unbelievable rate. Any iota of friendliness was already long gone.

    "In the end, power is everything. And that''s the only thing I want."

    * *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you all caught the teaser I ced in this chapter. I also hope you enjoyed it.

 Chapter 633 Old Acquaintances [Pt 2]

    Unknown to his colleagues and those who knew him, Reed Sterling was a man who had battled with inferiority his whole life.

    Sure, he had a considerable amount of Manapared to everyone else. Plus, he Awakened at the age of five, the normal age for children at that time.

    He was by no means untalented in Magic. No, he was incredibly skilled in it, and his knowledge of the concept exceeded most of his peers.

    However, there was a certain reason why he still felt inferior. Something that always gnawed at him no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.

    And that was the existence of far more talented individuals.

    Reed was powerful, knowledgeable, and very skilled. That was all true. However, there were people who were far greater than him in those departments.

    A prime example was Mordecai Kaelid. They were not even on the same ying field when it came to talent or skill. Reed only had the edge in his research and diversification of theories.

    He lost in other areas¡­ badly.

    Even though he''d tried to ignore this unfair reality, he had been forced to admit it when it had been shoved in his face in the form of the Headmaster of Ainrk.

    While watching the young ones grow, and nurturing the buds that would lead the Eastern Kingdom into far greater heights, Reed Sterling encountered young prodigies that exceeded his expectations.

    Students who had disyed such talent and skill that he became ovee with envy. Not only had they been blessed with amazing Mana, but they had also been adept at using it extremely well.

    One of them, in particr, had stood out above the rest.

    Reed Sterling could not forget how he had felt when he''d experienced this. The painful feeling he''d had within him¡ªhow his heart had tightened and his insides had churned.

    He had dedicated himself to growing, for several years, yet some kids easily boasted the same level of ability.

    His Original Magic which took decades to master had been achieved by someone whom he''d considered a child.

    It had been this unfairness of reality that finally drove him to the edge of despondency. And with said despondency came desperation.

    *

    *

    *

    "Why don''t you join our group?"

    Legris was the one who brought Reed into the Cult.

    He had been working as a staff for some time, but the Headmaster suspected that something had been up with him.

    When he finally cornered and confronted him, Legris revealed that it was all a ploy to see if Reed was someone worthy of joining the Nether Cult¡­ and that he had passed sessfully.

    Reed would have normally avoided something as shady, ominous and repugnant to his ideals. However, after weighing the humiliation he''d had to suffer for so long, he decided to hear Legris out.

    In return for a small favor¡ªserving as a bridge between the Eastern Kingdom and the Nether Cult¡ªReed was given a power that made himpletely dumbfounded.

    When even more of that power was offered if he decided to be a member, Reed found himself unable to hesitate any longer.

    How could he say no to the appeal of an Arcana?

    Thus, he joined the Nether Cult.

    He''d attained all he had ever wanted¡­ power beyond his peers.

    He rose in status, and climbed up to the higher ranks¡ªbing an Upper Seat. While it was painfully clear that he was out of his league among the Upper Seat within the organization, Reed was able tofort himself with the fact that everyone there were either not human, or far older than he was.<novelnext></novelnext>

    As far as he was concerned, he was the strongest ordinary human in the Nether Cult, and that gave him immense satisfaction.

    He had far transcended everyone he knew in the Eastern Kingdom¡ªto the point where they didn''t matter to him any longer.

    He was stronger than Mordecai. He was stronger than Elrich. Even his most talented pupils¡ªSerah and Neron¡ªwouldn''t stand a chance against him now.

    That was all that mattered to him¡­ what he still wanted more than anything.

    "Power!"

    *

    *

    *

    "Every member of the Cult has their agenda. I''m just going to achieve my goals through them. That''s how it goes." Reed deepened his smile and narrowed his saggy eyes.

    He didn''t care much for a conversation, so he stretched out his hands even further.

    "Give me the Arcana. This is thest time I''ll ask."

    Neron''s response was a sigh. The Arcana was in his possession¡ªstill locked between his fingers¡ªthough he had no intention of budging.

    He nced at Serah, who had recovered from her initial shock, and was now shaking her head in exasperation.

    "You''ve disappointed me, old man." Her tone no longer contained the flustered element she had disyed earlier.

    Her gaze was daring, and her lips had curled up in a smile. She folded her arms and simply stood still.

    The couple clearly gave their stance to the old man.

    "I see. It''s regrettable, then. I''ll just kill you."

    >VWUUUUUUUUUYUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A massive surge of energy instantly emerged from Reed Sterling''s body. He was emanating so much power that the destruction and debris parted way for his concentrated energy to manifest itself.

    The sky parted and everything around them vibrated due to the sheer pressure caused by the magnitude of his power.

    "With the Arcana [The Magician], I have infinite Mana. I have transcended the very limits that shackles all Mages!" Reed Sterling dered, bursting forth even greater waves of Mana.

    The ground shattered, and everything shook for miles.

    He could use his Original Magic without any limits. He could spam Spells as much as he wanted. He could induce Mana Shock. He could overwhelm their Spells with his.

    There were many ways Reed Sterling could defeat his foes, no matter how powerful they were. He had indeed reached the pinnacle of Magic!

    "So this is why you left. I can understand, considering the fact that no one would normally stand a chance against you¡­" Serah murmured as she stared at the manifestation of the unreal energy.

    Even with her [Invincible], she didn''t have an Infinite amount of Mana. Her power simply kept rising topensate for the power levels of her opponent. She simply got stronger until she beat whoever she targeted.

    The problem with fighting someone like Reed was that his limits were not defined. He had boundless Mana, making him impossible to triumph over.

    Reed Sterling was truly invincible.

 Chapter 634 The Dance Of Destruction

    "Will you do it or should I?"

    Serah nced at Neron in response to his question. His eyes seemed somewhat distracted, but he didn''t lose sight of their objective.

    "I think I''ll handle¡ª"

    "Such hubris." The deep andmanding tone of Reed Sterling interrupted Serah.

    He was floating in the air, at this point. His body burned with such concentrated energy that everything around him was simply eviscerated.

    The ground kept melting and breaking apart, while space warped in response to the abundant Mana emanating from his body.

    Reed Sterling''s appearance had also changed. He now donned a staff that seemed to have been constructed with millions of Mana Cores, due on the sheer concentration of energy around it. Reed''s garb was now glowing bright blue.

    His eyes glowed a brilliant blue as well, and veins of blue energy appeared all over his skin and face¡ªlike cracks on a charred surface.

    ''His body probably can''t handle that much Mana indefinitely.'' Neron thought to himself while making this observation.

    "I could take both of you on, and nothing would change." Reed pointed his staff at them and narrowed his eyes.

    In an instant, he couldpletely destroy them with such a high-density Mana that the entire area would explode¡ªfor miles, at least.

    "I''ll give you onest chan¡ª"

    "Just shut up and attack already." Serah''s tone sounded impatient, with hints of annoyance.

    Her smile didn''t seem very friendly, and her furrowed brow already indicated that she as in a foul mood.

    "Tch. You fools. Very well!"

    Reed tried to think about what made the two so defiant towards him. He had just disyed how superior he waspared to them, yet¡­

    ¡­ Why hadn''t they surrendered.

    ''No matter. The results remain the same.''

    Truthfully, he had always harbored a special kind of dislike for both Neron and Serah.

    They were still so young, yet they had achieved such magnificent powers. Serah became a Grand Mage in her twenties, and Neron settled for being a teacher even though he was just as qualified.

    It made no sense to him, who had worked his whole life to get to such a level.

    Sure, they had history together, and Reed didn''t necessarily hate them. Rather, they represented the very injustice he despised in reality. They were the bane of his existence.

    Thus, perhaps wiping them out would be for the best.

    ''I''ll interfere with any Magic they n on using bypletely saturating the area with my Mana. No defensive Spell should be able to work too, and their bodies will be ravaged by Mana Shock. Original Magic would be overkill, so I''ll just destroy them with enough power to erase everything nearby.''

    The durability of the Arcana would make it unscathed after his assault, thus granting him absolute victory.

    Nothing could stand in the way of absolute power. Reed had learned that the hard way.

    "Die."

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!<

    As expected, the entirendscape became engulfed inplete destruction.

    Miles upon miles of devastation spread across the area as the sheer force of Reed''s single attack consumed everything around him.

    ''I could never have dreamed of something like this in my prime.'' He smiled, watching the cloud of smoke ascend.

    Unlike most members of the Cult¡ªor people generally¡ªReed Sterling was well aware of the abilities of both Neron and Serah.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He knew their powers in detail, and he had realized the futility of trying to counter them.

    Neron controlled time, while Serah''s destructive abilities were off the charts.

    If he decided to take out Serah¡ªwho was easier to deal with¡ªfirst, Neron could reverse the situation ande to her aid. That meant he had to go first.

    Unfortunately, Serah became stronger the more her opponent did, and he didn''t want to have to deal with her in [Invincible].

    ''I''m way more powerful, but if this bes a battle of attrition, I''m not sure if my body will be able to keep up with this power for as long as she can. Then again, I could just destroy her in one shot.''

    Rather than risk anything, Reed decided to finish them off at the same time.

    By overwhelming them with his Mana andpletely saturating the environment with the energy he was emitting, any kind of Magic they tried to perform would bepletely suppressed by his power.

    Neron and his Time Magic. Serah and her destructive Magic.

    Everything would be nerfed, giving him the perfect moment to obliterate them.

    Sure, they had an Arcana with them, but it took time to learn to control one. Since he attacked them the moment they discovered it, the two were practically done for.

    He had won¡­

    ¡­ At least on paper.

    ''Hm? What is¡­ this?!'' His thoughts rang out as he instantly sensed two life signatures amid the destruction he had caused.

    Reed Sterling''s mind was in an instant state of confusion, and a bead of sweat suddenly fell from his face.

    ''What? Why? How? I don''t¡ª!!!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Before his mind could even process the situation in order to answer the list of questions that boggled him, a sharp eruption emerged from underneath him, and a crimson blur appeared.

    The blur, in the shape of a woman, swiftly headed towards Reed, closing their distance in a sh.

    The levitating man could do nothing but slowly widen his eyes as he tried to react. Everything was so shocking and unexpected that he fumbled in his next action.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Before he could get a grip, the crimson human was already right in front of him.

    "Hey¡­" Her voice sounded grave and dangerous, causing the old man''s heart to race in surprising worry.

    "Keuk!" Fortunately, he loved his life too much to hesitate this time.

    Stretching forth his staff in order to attempt another st, Reed charged up the overflowing Mana he had and sent it flying at her.

    Sure, it was too close forfort, but he swiftly erected a dense barrier to act as security.

    ''Die! Now!''

    "I don''t think so!" In a swift motion, the blur sent her fist charging at the beam that had enough power to destroy anything it touched for miles.

    An obviously foolish move.

    However¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    It was the beam that was instantly destroyed by the woman''s crimson fist.

 Chapter 635 The Cults Loss [Pt 1]

    ''W-what?!'' Reed''s eyes immediately bulged, as he couldn''t understand or believe the sight that was urring in front of him.

    He had to quickly¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    The crimsondy was already right above him, and was now bringing her fist close to his face.

    ''My barrier!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!<

    ? Nothing served as resistance to the blow¡ªneither the barrier, nor the man.

    Everything Instantly got destroyed.

    Before he could even consider anything or make another move, Reed Sterling was destroyed along with his barrier.

    "GUAAAARRRHHHHHH!!!" His cracked bodypletely turned crimson as it was engulfed in the unstoppable energy that shouldn''t have been possible.

    An eruption unlike any other dyed the sky in crimson yellow¡ªlike the sun¡ªand shockwaves spread across a distance, far beyond anything Reed could have ever thought of reaching.

    He didn''t even get to make his final thoughts or speak hisst words.

    How was he to regret his actions? Or how could he wallow in his inferiority being shoved in his face once more?

    Even with this ultimate power, he waspletely powerless before his junior¡ªhis own student!

    It reminded him of how he had been demoted in the Cult due to the most painful injustice he had ever experienced¡ªhow a mere fifteen year old child had be his superior in the Nether Cult.

    Stefan Netherlore rose above him!

    And now, here he was being pitifully killed by someone he thought he could at least exert dominance over.

    How¡­?!

    In a swift motion of one hit, before Reed Sterling could dwell on any thought or resolution, he was defeated.

    "Stupid old man. I liked it better when you were smart." The crimson-d woman sighed.

    Her opponent had beenpletely erased, not even leaving cinders.

    Now in her [Invincible] state, but being powered by something more powerful than her Mana, Serah floated in the air with a sad smile on her face.

    ''Power isn''t everything¡­''

    It sounded hypocritical, considering she had just used a more dominant ability to override his offense and defense. However, Serah held fast to this belief.

    After Jared defeated both she and Gerard back then, she had realized just how shallow the concept of ''absolute power'' was¡ªat least in her opinion.

    ''If he had acted smarter¡­ like how he used to, then maybe it wouldn''t have been over so quickly¡­''

    Still, the results were inevitable.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    The smoke beneath her parted, and someone appeared right beside Serah, cing his hand on her shoulder.

    "I didn''t think you''d actually do it. It must have been hard on you."

    It was Neron, and he gazed at his lover with keen interest at her current state.

    Serah undid her transformation while shrugging, turning back to her usual form. She didn''t seem to be sad, but a tinge of unpleasant emotions yed on her face.

    "Reed wasn''t much of a fighter. His battle intelligence and adaptive abilities are subpar. Having more power wasn''t going to change that." Neron added, hugging Serah from behind.

    They enjoyed each other''s embrace for some time, drifting in the air like two insignificant birds.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "He belonged indoors. In theb or in the ssroom. It''s not our fault he didn''t ept that." Serah smiled, tilting her head so she could look at his face.

    He tightened his hold around her, and moved his face closer. The two kissed, deciding topletely forget about the opponent they had just defeated.

    ~Did you get it, though?~ Neron''s thoughts resonated within her.

    ~His Arcana? Yes I did.~ She instantly responded as she deepened her kiss with him.

    The couple kept smooching shamelessly, uncaring about whether or not they were needed back in the base.

    ~Perfect. I bet we''re the ones who had it the easiest.~ Neronughed internally, and Serah joined him.

    They both enjoyed their time together, undergoing the therapeutic process they knew to use best, when grieving the loss of someone they once knew¡ª

    ¡ªBeing intimate in a Timeless Word.

    *****************

    In arge hall that had exquisite murals for design, and incredible chandeliers and tiles, a table existed at the very center.

    The table had a couple of chairs. Seated on those chairs were people¡ªthough some seemed to be mere projections.

    Three seats were ced on the right side, while three were positioned on the left. A grand chair stood at the forefront of the table, and on it sat the leader of the Nether Cult

    As usual, ady in white stood beside him¡ªmaintaining some distance between herself and his magnificent seat.

    The six who sat, were the only remaining members of the Nether Cult''s executive members, and they all just happened to belong to the Upper Seat.

    Of the six, only three were physically present, while the others were ably represented by their Magic Projections.

    "As I informed you through Magic Communication, Reed and Vaizer are deceased. As such, we will continue our conquest with this number." The leader spoke in his usual imposing tone.

    Those present could feel the heavy pressure he exerted.

    The First Seat¡ªLegendary Martial de God

    The Second Seat¡ªKido Midas

    The Third Seat¡ªKarlia the Subus

    These three definitely knew of their leader''s power, and they kept themselves in check as a result.

    "You all failed your mission. Not only did we fail to retrieve any new Arcana, but two more were lost in the process. A shame, wouldn''t you say?"

    The guilty parties knew just how they had erred.

    The Fourth Seat¡ªFairy King Beruel

    The Fifth Seat¡ªStefan Netherlore

    The Sixth Seat¡ªLegris Damien

    They had all encountered the enemy, one way or the other, and each had managed to fail in retrieving any Arcana.

    Even though they were not as ipetent as the other members who lost their lives and the Arcanas bestowed on them, it was still shameful that members of the Nether Cult lost their targets.

    "I sincerely apologize." Stefan Netherlore bowed his head.

    Even though he was simply a projection, his genuine intentions were well conveyed.

    A wave of difort and awkwardness seeped into the minds of the gathered members. Not long after Stefan''s earnest apology, Legris and Beruel apologized as well¡­

    ¡­ Though not as profusely as Stefan had.

 Chapter 636 The Cults Loss [Pt 2]

    While Stefan apologized with pure remorse and a disy of regret, the expression of the two other guilty members were merely husks of sincerity.

    And for good reason.

    For Beruel, it wasn''t in his ce to seriously interfere with the enemies, considering it wasn''t even within his territory. He simply cautioned himself and decided not to act rashly.

    "My original body was searching for the Arcanas as I was instructed to, and I met no resistance. While it is unfortunate that I failed to retrieve any, it wasn''t due to any fault of mine."

    As a result, he saw no reason to profusely apologize. Instead, he offered his genuine regrets for not taking his enemies more seriously¡­ though there was a limit he could achieve with clones.

    As for Legris Damien¡ª

    "I would have killed them and retrieved the Arcanas if you didn''t call me back. I know I was taking longer than needed, but¡­ victory was within my grasp."

    ? ¡ªHe sounded more unapologetic than anyone else.

    Even though he was currently the lowest in rank, his actions towards the members of the Cult¡ªespecially the leader¡ªseemed a bit conceited.

    However, in a ce such as the Nether Cult, bothersome things likeplete respect and limitation of expression was nonexistent.

    As a result, even the all-powerful leader didn''t deem it fit to make an example of Legris or any of the others.

    They weren''t in the wrong, after all.

    "Ah, that''s well alright, Stefan¡­ and the others too."

    The most important thing right now wasn''t that they had failed in their missions, but rather it was to ensure that such a thing never urred again.

    "We currently possess eight Arcanas, while the enemy has twelve. The odds have shifted against us."

    The situation indeed sounded grave. The Nether Cult had spent such a long time gathering these tools for achieving their goals, yet in such a short while, their ns becamepromised.

    They all knew it was due to the interference of a particr human within the Eastern Kingdom. The boy known as Jared Leonard.

    "You don''t seem too worried, though. Your tone is awfully calm." Kido Midas interjected, cutting through the tense atmosphere.

    The golden haired man appeared as elegant as ever, adorned with earrings and other jewels that simply added to his magnificence.

    His smile and yful gaze settled on the unusualposure of their leader. Everyone knew that he hardly showed any emotion, but one would expect some level of annoyance after their organization lost against the idea of a mere child.

    "It is regretful that our efforts to secure thest pieces we require ended up being foiled. However, nothing has truly changed."

    Stefan and Kido in particr had expressions of curiosity as they stared at the Cult Leader. Only their eyes depicted the desire to know more.

    "Even if we had secured all of the Arcanas we sought, and we didn''t lose the ones we did, the sh between our organization and Jared Leonard was unavoidable." The Leader calmly posited.

    "They had some Arcanas in their possession prior to the search, and we would have still needed to retrieve those eventually. The only consequence of this development is that there are now more Arcanas in their possession."

    "Haha! Doesn''t that make it more difficult to obtain them?" Kidoughed in response.

    It was a habit of his to have fun while making points that many others would rather not get involved with.

    However, as has already been proven by the Cult Leader several times, all of his questions would always be urately answered.

    "Each of you possess individual power that surpass anything Jared Leonard and his allies can muster. Plus, it takes a very long time to understand and fully manifest the abilities of the Arcanas. They don''t stand a chance."

    The Cult Leader''s words were absolute, and his wisdom was profound. Even their newest member¡ªStefan Netherlore¡ªwho had gotten two years of training, still hadn''t perfected the use of his Arcana.<novelnext></novelnext>

    How much could the opposing side achieve in mere days? If the Cult chose to attack them as soon as possible, then it would be checkmate.

    However¡ª

    "Are we forgetting the fact that they have [The Hermit] with them? Plus, with Neron''s abilities, wouldn''t they have enough ''time'' to be proficient¡­ at least, to a certain extent." Karlia spoke this time.

    She would have preferred to be silent about her thoughts, but the Cult had to consider all their alternatives.

    They couldn''t mess up now.

    ''Not when we''re so close¡­'' Her thoughts trailed.

    "I thought about that too." Kido pointed out, smirking at the Subus who inly ignored him.

    Needless to say, his words fell t.

    The prospect of Jared and his allies having enough time to grow even further was scary to imagine.

    Sure, they couldn''t entirely stop time, but the time they had was still unfair.

    "Then that''s even better."

    Everyone stared at the speaker in surprise. It wasn''t the Cult Leader, but the authority in his tone was simr.

    The one who uttered those absurd words were none other than the First Seat himself.

    The Legendary Martial de God.

    "I see. You want to fight them at full strength?" Kido asked with an amused expression.

    It was suicide for anyone to face wielder''s of twelve Arcanas who had mastered it to an expert degree. Yet¡­

    "Indeed. I wonder how far I will be able to go. How shall I fare against those odds? It puzzles me."

    Of course, the only person who could dream of uttering those brave words was none other than the First Seat.

    His words gave the others enough confidence¡ªor at least¡ªa moderate amount of excitement, for what was toe.

    "The opposing forces, no matter how long they are given, will not prove to be a threat to us. That much is certain." The Cult Leader concluded.

    His focused gaze told everyone present that he saw what they didn''t. He knew things they couldn''t fathom.

    He was truly certain.

    "So, what should we do in preparation?" Legris asked, and Stefan nodded in response.

    Everyone wanted to know their next step, and as usual, they looked up to theirmander.

    "We wait. There is no need to seek them out¡­"

    It was a surprising take, but the Cult Members had never had a reason to distrust the judgement of their leader.

    They all simply nodded in perfect understanding.

    "¡­ They''lle to us."

 Chapter 637 Fairy Kings Base [Pt 1]

    Finally, with the most important issue already concluded, the members decided to close the meeting with certain small talk.

    Not everyone could engage in such trivialities, though.

    The First Seat excused himself and went for his usual walk. The Third Seat swiftly left to attend to a research she had abandoned for the meeting.

    Time was running out, and she had to do everything she possibly could. Thus, Karlia exited the hall.

    "I''ll be leaving now. I have some important matters to attend to." Beruel murmured, almost distracted by something.

    ? "Hm? You don''t look like yourself, Beruel. Sure you''re okay?"

    The Fairy King red at the one who spoke and narrowed his gaze.

    "It''s none of your business. I''ll take care of  it myself." With this final statement, his hologram flickered and he vanished within moments.

    "Looks like we''re the only ones left" Kido yfully looked across the table and noticed the few others who were still there¡ªthough not for long.

    They were; Stefan, Legris, Kido, the Cult Leader, and his female pet.

    "I''d like to discuss some things with you, Legris. Do you think we could rendezvous together?" The young Fifth Seat nced in the direction of Legris Damien.

    The older man didn''t seem too surprised by this question, and he responded positively.

    "You know where to find me, yes?"

    "Yes. We''ll see each other soon." Stefan said, before wishing everyone farewell and disconnecting.

    "Got any idea what he wants to say to you?" Kido asked the smiling Legris Damien.

    Thetter simply shrugged, disying nothing short of a carefree attitude.

    "Don''t know. I hope it''s fun, though." With this statement, Legris disconnected from the meeting as well.

    The only one left was Kido and the upper echelon.

    "What will you do now?" The Cult Leader asked him.

    For a moment, Kido sat in silence, rubbing his bare chin in consideration. Once a few seconds passed, he jumped to his feet and donned his cheerful smile.

    "Hmmm¡­ I believe it''s time to nip my family problems in the bud."

    "It''s about time." The Leader answered.

    "Yeah. I mean, we''re already close to endgame. We don''t need anything else sticking out. Besides, Kuzon has an Arcana."

    The Cult Leader sighed, rising to his feet as thedy beside him gave him some space and prepared for his departure.

    "There''s a reason we haven''t bothered with him yet. There''s no real need to obtain his Arcana. Still¡­ it would be interesting to have it, at the very least."

    "Welp, bonus point to me, then."

    "Just ensure you keep in touch. All members will be called back to the headquarters once the time is at hand."

    Kido nodded at the Cult Leader''s words, and thetter walked away from the hall¡ªhis pretty white maiden trailing behind him.

    "She''s cute." Kido murmured, taking one final look around before opening a golden portal in front of him.

    "Alright. I should have some fun first." Upon saying this, Kido vanished into his swirling distortion of space.

    The entire meeting area thus became devoid of life and personage.

    *

    *

    *

    Beruel sighed as he opened his eyes.

    His surroundings were dark, and his body was hardly visible due to the darkness that surrounded him.

    In this vast, empty space that seemed to contain only him and his massive throne, he gave a tired expression.

    Projecting himself to attend the Nether Cult''s meeting was something he didn''t quite enjoy since it disconnected him from every other urrence happening around him.

    In essence, he was quite vulnerable in this state

    Fortunately, his security systems could sense anything he might be missing, and they ryed the information to himter on.

    And this was the very reason why he swiftly left the Nether Cult''s gathering despite an issue he had wanted to raise.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''The systems picked up something¡­'' His thoughts trailed as he narrowed his eyes.

    In one blink, several System Windows appeared in front of him.

    [SYSTEM ALERT]

    <Intruder Detected>

    [SYSTEM ALERT]

    <Two Intruders Detected>

    [SYSTEM ALERT]

    [SYSTEM ALERT]

    <Aether Signature Detected>

    [SYSTEM ALERT]

    <Arcana Signature Detected>

    Beruel''s tired eyes went through every single information before him, and realized just how serious the situation was.

    "Run facials." His voice echoed throughout the dark hall.

    Arge screen appeared in the air, and the two persons who had intruded into his secret base came into view.

    "Those two? I should have known. Though it''s a surprise they managed to decrypt it all in time¡­"

    Beruel was fascinated, but also very annoyed. How did he not notice theming a mile away? Or how did they track him down without his being  informed?

    ''They were recognized by the system as formidable. As bothersome as this is, I can''t underestimate them¡­''

    The Fairy King closed all the glowing windows that manifested before him¡ªwith the exception of one.

    [SYSTEM COMMAND CENTER]

    ~Please Input Your Command~

    <Input Here>

    "Activate security measures by extrapting their danger levels and appropriately devising the proper algorithm to eliminate the threat."

    [SYSTEM COMMAND RESPONSE]

    <Understood>

    The System Window fizzled out the moment themand was made, leaving Beruel all alone once more.

    A number of thoughts gued his mind, but he chose not to overthink anything this time.

    ''No one has ever figured out my location before. Even the Cult¡­''

    The fact that these pests were able to find his fortress and dared infiltrate it proved how incredibly intelligent they were.

    "The Midas child¡­ he''s the culprit behind this. Damn Kido''s blood."

    Thanks to the ipetence of the other Cult Members, his agenda had been pushed back. He didn''t like the fact that they had to wait either.

    Needless to say, Beruel was in a terrible mood.

    "A Midas boy and a human girl. What an imbnced matchup." He chuckled a little.

    The security systems were activated, and sooner orter, the two would be flushed out. Sure, he knew the boy was especially dangerous¡ªall things considered.

    ''He killed members of the Cult, and I have yet to see the limits of his power.''

    However, the only reason he was formidable was because Beruel was yet to decipher his abilities.

    "Disyplete footage andmence analysis."

    Arge screen appeared in the room, showing just about everything that would be going down henceforth.

    ''I''ll see with my very eyes how powerful you are¡­.Midas boy."

 Chapter 638 Fairy Kings Base [Pt 2]

    Surrounded by several snowy mountains, two individuals stood at the foot of one mountain in particr.

    The mountain was indistinguishable from the others¡ªit had a gleaming ck surface and thickyers of snow covering it.

    The immense cold and barely passable sun made thendscape dark. Add to it the ceaseless downpour of snow, and it was practically an eternalnd of frost.

    "We''vee this far. Nice." The golden-haired boy smiled, staring hard at the mountain in front of him.

    Kuzon tilted his face a little, staring at the shorter girl beside him.

    Her gaze was not on the mountain, but rather on a device she held tightly in her hands. The object resembled apass, and it pointed straight in the direction of the massive structure in front of them.

    Plus, its green glow indicated they were in the right area.

    "It took a few days, but¡­ we''re finally here." Anabelle Frederick smiled.

    She was covered in a thick sweater, and had a scarf wrapped around her neck. As well as gloves, boots and dense pants. She looked more like a stocky child than a maturedy.

    Kuzon noticed this and did his best to suppress hisughter.

    Unlike her, he wore a white winter jacket, with a dark red shirt, which matched the color of his jacket and his trousers. He also had on a pair of shiny, ck boots.

    In contrast, Ana''s color was mostlyprised of blue, with little shades of white.

    "You did an amazing job, Ana."

    "You''ve said that for the umpteenth time, Kuzon." Ana snapped at him, intentionally refusing to look at his face.

    "Haha. True¡­" Somehow, the awkwardness was also affecting Kuzon¡ªthough he was trying his hardest to hide it.

    They were both suffering from the bacsh of an earlier conversation¡ªone that wasn''t very easy to forget.

    *

    *

    *

    [Moments Earlier]

    "I finally did it!"

    Ana was sweaty, and the bags under her eyes showed nothing but exhaustion.

    The youngdy had been working for two days straight, so it was simply a given that she would be dead tired. However, even in her spent state, she still leaped with joy once her design waspleted.

    "Whoah! Ana¡­ what''s the matter?" Kuzon popped into Ana''sb, a hint of nervousness and worry in his voice.

    He had heard her screams and wanted to check if she was okay¡­ though he still remained nervous due to the fact that she absolutely despised having him interrupt her when she was busy inside.

    Kuzon shuddered when he remembered thest time he had entered without her permission¡ªwhen he''d told her to rest.

    It was something he didn''t want to experience again.

    However, this time, he risked it all, due to his curiousity and worry. Fortunately, no grim consequence came as a result.

    "I did it, Kuzon! I solved it!" Ana jumped happily, even gushing at him in excitement.

    That was indeed better news than he had been expecting.

    Kuzon''s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing her words.

    ''Amazing. I expected it to take at least five days¡ªno, maybe a week?''<novelnext></novelnext>

    It wasn''t easy to decipher Beruel''s code, considering he was an expert at mechanics. Every road had led to a dead end for Kuzon. Besides, Ana had to backtrack the signal in a way that the owner wouldn''t know about it.

    That meant she''d had to take a roundabout turn¡ªsomething that was more difficult and time consuming.

    Yet, she''d pulled it off in two days!

    "Ana, you''re so wonderful!" Kuzon swept her off her feet and raised her in excitement.

    "W-what are you doing!!!"

    He had forgotten how much she hated that¡ªor perhaps he hadn''t. The boy spun around , holding her high up as heughed and congratted her even more for her achievement.

    "H-hey¡­ s-stop it! STOOOOOPPPP!!!"

    In the end, Kuzon had to be stopped violently. Whether or not he had desired this oue was left to the boy''s mind.

    *

    *

    *

    "So, this is thepass that will lead us to his location. The general area has already been established by it. The signals of the two devices which you gave me to cross referencest came from the West¡ªthough it is an extreme region that is apart from the Western Continent."

    The Compass Ana held projected a map, and she pointed out the general location where they would find their target.

    "It''s close to the Fairy Kingdom. I suppose that is to be expected." Kuzon murmured, narrowing his gaze on the many inds that drifted away from the Western Continent.

    "It wasn''t easy transcribing the location. If you hadn''t gotten two, I doubt I would have made any progress." Ana added.

    "Then I suppose were in luck then. Thanks, Ana. I''ll take it from here." Kuzon smiled, stretching out his hand to collect thepass.

    His words surprised the girl, and she instantly leaped back¡ªher expression transforming into a re.

    "What?" Ana''s tone clearly depicted her thoughts, same as her facial expression.

    "Don''t be like this, Ana. I needed you to help me find the location of Beruel. I already established this from the beginning." Kuzon sighed, drawing closer to her.

    "And after I was done, you''d just throw me away and go on your own way, right?"

    "Exactly! Wait, no¡­ don''t put it that way!"

    Ana''s re intensified, making the young Midas groan in exasperation.

    "It''s not like I want to relegate you or keep you out of the loop, okay? It''s just¡­ you don''t stand a chance against Beruel. It''s going to be the most difficult fight I''ve ever engaged in, no doubt. And that''s saying something¡­"

    Ana''s face softened a bit, though it didn''t exactly help the state of her heart. Being left aside because of her weakness wasn''t going to appeal to her in any way.

    "I can still do something, can''t I? I can help!" She argued, albeit hesitantly.

    "But, Ana¡­ you''re not strong enough."

    Kuzon''s face depicted how he felt about the whole thing. He truly wanted her by his side. In fact, having Ana with him would probably be for the best.

    However¡ª

    "I can''t allow any harm toe to you."

    "Because of the dumb promise you made to Jared?"

    "No. Because I actually care about you. This is difficult for me too."

 Chapter 639 Awkward Partners

    "No. Because I actually care about you. This is difficult for me too." Kuzon sighed.

    At this point, the young Midas was right in front of Ana, and he held her hands in his.

    As his golden eyes reflected her blue ones, he stared at her small face for moments without saying a word. Hopefully, his intentions would be understood by his much shorter and na?ve partner.

    "I aming with you." Ana stubbornly responded.

    It almost drove Kuzon crazy.

    "I have a Spell Card that will allow me to escape if ites down to it, so you don''t have to worry about my safety." She continued, her determined gaze unfazed.

    Despite all of this, Kuzon wasn''tpletely convinced. His conflicted expression conveyed that very clearly.

    "But¡ª"

    "Even if you have thepass, you probably won''t be able to operate it. It runs on a unique power that resonates with me. It won''t respond to your signature."

    "A-ah¡­"

    "Even if I design it to answer to you¡ªwhich would take more time¡ªthepass'' function will cease to be relevant once you arrive at Beruel''s base. Are you sure you want that"

    Kuzon''s expression turned sullen. He knew exactly where she was going with this.

    "You said it yourself, Mechanics isn''t your forte. Beruel is an expert in this field. Isn''t it reasonable to have a partner who can assist you where you''re not so skilled? What if a mechanical problem arises and you can''t solve it? Not everything can be achieved by sheer power. I believe you understand that, and that is why you had me help you."

    Kuzon nodded. As much as he didn''t want to, he couldn''t help but agree with her position.

    "I know I''m not as strong as you, but don''t you dare think I won''t be useful." Ana drew closer to Kuzon and elevated her height to the best of her ability by standing on the tip of her toes.

    Something about Ana''s determination caused the boy to be curious.

    ''I''m desperate to find my uncle, so I need information. Besides, this Fairy has been bothering me for some time. But¡­''

    "¡­ What is your motive? Why are you so interested in this mission?" Kuzon asked the young girl.

    Their faces were so close to each other¡ªlimited only by Ana''s inability to reach further above due to her restrained height.

    "I¡­" Her eyes seemed distracted as she looked away.

    She probably didn''t know how to say what was in her thoughts. It was something embarrassing, as well as something she was fighting against.

    How could she say something like that?

    "I¡­ want to further my knowledge and research. Beruel has technology and information I need too. You''ll probably kill him, so I want to get as much as I can." Ultimately, Ana lied.

    Sure, she wanted all those things, but they weren''t her primary motivation when it came to this particr scenario

    Kuzon could easily help her ask the questions she wanted, and he could obtain the technology she desired.

    She could even watch what was going on by having an Automaton or a Golem of hers follow Kuzon¡ªinstead of going physically.

    ? In essence, her presence wasn''t necessary to achieve her supposed goal.

    Thus, there was something else.

    Kuzon must have also realized this, but he didn''t say any more. Understanding that Ana would rather keep her true motivation hidden, he sighed and backed off from her.

    "You have the Spell Card, right? Please be ready to activate it at all times."

    Upon hearing those words which were literally synonymous with a ''Yes'', Ana''s face brightened up.

    "We leave in an hour. You can shower and rest up before then."

    >BZZTTTZZZZZ<

    In a spark of lightning, Kuzon vanished from sight, leaving Ana alone in the room.<novelnext></novelnext>

    For a moment, the girl stood in silence¡ªstunned by all that just transpired between her and the boy.

    Her face slowly turned red, and she suddenly felt her heart rate reach a climax.

    "MPPHHHHHHHHH!!!" She held in the scream that would have escaped earlier had she not controlled herself.

    She squatted and covered her face in embarrassment, feeling the heat rise in her body.

    "Kuzon, that idiot¡­" Ana murmured.

    ''How could he say stuff like that with a straight face¡­''

    The memory of how he mentioned his care for her shed into Ana''s mind, and she stifled a scream once more.

    Despite her personality and obsession with Magic, she was still a girl. She had a heart that responded to things too!

    How could he have said such a thing to her?

    "And he expects me to not go with him? No way¡­"

    After all, despite how much he drove her crazy and got on her nerves, Ana could not keep denying the feelings that kept growing within her.

    "¡­ Y-you''re not the only one who cares¡­"

    The mission came first, Ana was well aware. She also understood that she couldn''t drag Kuzon down.

    Which was why, while she had been working on locating Beruel, her side project had also been constructed by her Automatons.

    ''I have no intention of being dead weight.''

    She couldn''tpete with Kuzon in terms of power. That much was certain.

    After watching him win so wlessly against Jared, Ana would be insane if she thought she could even touch him in a fight.

    However¡ª

    "There''s more than one way to be useful¡­ and I''m going to show you!"

    *

    *

    *

    [The Present]

    "So, how do we get in? Is there an entrance? Or¡­?" Kuzon asked Ana.

    He didn''t like the awkward silence, so this was the best way he could cope.

    ~Sheesh. Good going¡­~ A voice within himughed at his very forced attempt to strike a conversation.

    It came from none other than his Familiar.

    ''Since when do you makementaries like this? Stay out of this.''

    ~Is that how you''ll address me? Don''t bother asking me for helpter on!~

    This was the only thing that could break the young Midas¡ªwell, other than Ana''s cute tantrums.

    ''F-fine¡­ I''m sorry.'' He sighed.

    What was with him today? Being pushed around by two females¡ªhis Familiar, and his partner.

    It was definitely not cool.

 Chapter 640 Beruels Protocol [Pt 1]

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    With a powerful st, the interior of the base was exposed to the bright light of the outside world.

    Kuzon had just used a powerful st to create a crevice¡ªenough to enable him and Ana to easily enter the structure.

    The false snowy mountain was none other than a cover for the hidden base of their opponent.

    "Now that we''re in, you''ll lead the way to the control center. Is that cool by you?" Kuzon asked as they proceeded inside the dark structure.

    "No problem."

    With her eyes on thepass, Ana walked while replying. It didn''t seem at all like she wanted to enter into a conversation¡ªsomething that stung Kuzon in more ways than one.

    ''We''ll have to resolve this when we return. For now, I should adhere to what the mission dictates.''

    ~There are traps up ahead, Kuzon.~ His familiar added.

    Kuzon nodded and kept his perception to the highest level¡ªconsidering it was Ana who would be leading the charge.

    ''I would have used Magic, but that could trigger another effect. So, let''s save it forter.''

    *

    *

    *

    Ana came prepared. Even in the thick darkness, herpass brightened the immediate vicinity.

    Plus, with both her and Kuzon''s enhanced senses, they were still able to keep a constant watch on their surroundings.

    The interior of the base was unlike what either had expected to see.

    The walls were coated with iron¡ªsame as the ground. The echoing sounds of their footsteps reverberated through the area, though neither minded at all.

    Considering their loud wee into the ce, they had given up on subtlety.

    It was also surprisingly warm within the structure¡ªa product of Magic perhaps.

    Since they were in enemy territory, Kuzon had rmended using Resonance tomunicate with each other¡ªto which she''d agreed.

    ~How long do you think this will take?~ Kuzon''s soothing words flowed into Ana''s head.

    She fought to keep herposure and also put her thoughts under control. It would be regrettable if any of her more embarrassing ideas flowed into his head.

    ~I''m not certain. But this is just one mountain. It can''t be that far. Unless, of course, this is connected to a deeper path underground. One sec.~

    Ana pulled up an alternate projection from a bracelet-like Magic Tool. It disyed thendscape and coordinates. Kuzon watched it with keen interest as he awaited Ana''s exnation.

    ~An Automaton of mine is overhead outside. It''s monitoring our signature.~

    ~Oh? And?~

    ~We''re still in the mountain, though¡ª~

    >BZZZTTTTZZZZZZZZZZ<

    Suddenly, the map andndscape projection buzzed and sizzled out.

    The malfunction caused even the Magic Tools, thepass and the bracelet, to short-circuit.

    "A-ah... ow." Ana instantly threw the bracelet off and dropped thepass.

    The moment they left her skin, sparks surged from the both of them until the devices were renderedpletely useless.

    "Damnit!" Forgetting they were supposed to be silent, Ana watched as both her devices became ruined.

    Frustration and pain coursed through her. She knew just how long it took for her to design and create them¡ªyet...!

    However, the destruction of Ana''s prized tools was enough to tell them that the enemy had begun to move.

    "Something''sing!" Kuzon shouted, surprising Ana for a second.

    "W-wha¡ª?"

    Suddenly, the girl felt a wave assail her, causing her body to tremble. It was an overwhelming power that exceeded anything she could control.

    However, this wasn''t her first encounter with it!

    "Ana¡ª!"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I... I''m fine." Quickly tapping her chest, she ceased hyperventting and the emerging sweat on her face stopped as well.

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH<

    In a sh of light and with the swift motion of the wind, two beings appeared from both behind and in front of the flustered duo.

    At that very moment, the entire hallway radiated light¡ªusing the luminous ores that had been deactivated before.

    The sudden illumination that now covered the vicinity sent a bit of shock to both intruders¡ª especially Ana¡ªwho winced as she tried to get adjusted to the sensation.

    Unfortunately, there was no time to adapt. The opponents were already present.

    "Automatons...?" Ana murmured as she looked around her.

    The glowing silver and blue colored beings resembled humans in mechanical suits¡ªthough neon wires made up their veins, and their bodies wereprised of hardened shells.

    [WARNING]

    [WARNING]

    [WARNING]

    [WARNING]

    [WARNING]

    [WARNING]

    Red System Windows started to appear all around Kuzon and Ana, clouding their vision, but also making distracting sounds.

    The Automatons readied themselves to attack, using the intruders'' shock to their advantage.

    However¡ª

    "That''s enough."

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    In an instant, both Automatons burst into blue and white mes.

    It didn''t take seconds before they werepletely gone¡ªdown to their very core. The mechanical beings didn''t just melt. No¡ªthey werepletely destroyed.

    "Haa... can you keep going?" Kuzon asked Ana.

    "A-ah...?"

    Ana wasn''t as fast, strong, or reactive as Kuzon. Plus, without prior preparations, she was inferior to top-tier fighters.

    Those were all of her excuses for not being a single bit useful in the just concluded assault on them.

    Well, there was also one other factor.

    "I''m sorry I didn''t do anything." Ana whispered, her gaze falling and her expression sullen.

    "It''s fine. I didn''t bring you here to fight, anyway. That''s my specialty."

    Kuzon smiled as he walked closer to Ana. He ced his hand on the girl''s shoulder and nodded in understanding, shing a brilliant smile and a confident thumbs up.

    "Just do what you have to. Provide mechanical support."

    "About that..." Anaughed awkwardly, averting her gaze from Kuzon.

    The young Midas didn''t quite understand her words, nor the cause of her reaction. He needed more information.

    "Thepass and location tracker have both been ruined. I also can''t fix them here¡ªnot with this kind of situation and certainly not without my equipment."

    "A-ah, that''s bad..."

    Both had decided to abandon Resonance, considering it was far morefortable to speak aloud... and the enemy was already aware of their presence anyway.

    Still, considering the possibility that they were being monitored by their opponent, exposing their ns and sudden weakness was akin to utter foolishness.

    Which was why...

    ~We''ll misdirect the enemy with that. While it''s true that they have both been destroyed, I already saved thest recorded coordinates. Besides, we don''t need thepass at this point...~

    Kuzon and Ana nodded, directing their gazes to each other through the vast, empty hallway¡ªnow lit by the ores around them.

    ~Just give me some time. I have a n.~

 Chapter 641 Beruels Protocol [Pt 2]

    "Damnit..." The Fairy King spoke from within his hallowed space.

    Surrounded by darkness¡ªwith the only source of lighting from the bright screen in front of him¡ªBeruel''s eyes remained fixated on the two unwee guests he had.

    ''I would have attacked them before they even infiltrated my hideout, but that would have caused too muchmotion, and if the Cult gets a hold of my signature, then...!''

    Beruel didn''tpletely trust the Nether Cult¡ªjust like he didn''t put his faith in just about any institution.

    After being betrayed, it would be foolish for him to make the same mistakes again.

    Besides, the Nether Cult didn''t care about his most trusted subordinate''s death, and the members hardly shared his values.

    He was simply using them.

    ''They can''t know of this ce, though...''

    To the outside world¡ªand even the omnipotent irvoyance of their leader¡ªthis was simply a mountain.

    And that was simply because of his strong efforts to hide this location. He was also the most intelligent and skilled when it came to mechanics, which was why none could track him down.

    ''I''ve been using clones to cater to my affairs and responsibilities so far...''

    Never had he once exposed his real body to them¡ªand for good reason. Perhaps most would call him paranoid, but he was simply being as cautious as he could.

    Hubris was the cause of his previous downfall, after all.

    "Speaking of clones..." Beruel sighed, instantly regretting the actions he''d made prior to his notice of Kuzon and Ana''s assault.

    "... All of them are scattered around the world¡ªlooking for clues for the Arcanas."

    The recent meeting with the Cult had ended with the conclusion that all of the Arcanas had been found, making his efforts worthless.

    ''I''ve called back the clones, but it''ll take some time for them to get here, especially since they''re doing it discreetly.''

    He had a few left as backup clones, but it was regrettable that he was limited in his arsenal.

    After all...

    ''They''re more pesky than I thought...'' Beruel sighed.

    So far, Ana and Kuzon had been avoiding the traps he set while also defeating the enemies he was sending to them.

    Advancing to the deeper portion of his base got progressively more difficult, but they surprisingly got closer with every attempt he made.

    ''I didn''t think they would have Aether... or at least the Midas boy.''

    Since he was being absolutely cautious, he had used Aether as the base of the Automatons he was using as security protocols.

    Normal Mana or Miasma didn''t work on Aether, making his Automatons practically invincible¡ªor at least, that was how the story was meant to be.

    Instead, Kuzon kept destroying them with rtive ease.

    It frustrated him beyond words.

    "I would have sent a few clones, but he''s clearly proven he can handle them. It''s better not to spread them out, but gather them to form an airtight formation."

    Beruel''s beef was with Kuzon¡ªsince he had killed his subordinate. As for Ana... well, no one could know his secret base and live.

    "I''ll kill you both for sure."

    *

    *

    *

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Ana''s eyes sparkled with wonder as she saw Kuzon obliterate the several Automatons that tried to attack them.

    She couldn''t count just how many he had defeated at this point.

    Not only was he faster than any of them, but even before they could utilize a single skill in their arsenal, he destroyed them.<novelnext></novelnext>

    His fierce gaze and precise attacks caused her heart to race every moment she saw him in action.

    Ana wished she had realized it earlier, but she was now too far gone to care.

    ''I''m falling hard for this guy... no way!''

    "Are you alright? Is it ready yet?" Kuzon suddenly asked her after taking care of the final threat.

    "Y-yes. On both counts." She found herselfughing nervously.

    ''What am I doing?!''

    Ana brought out a glowing shard from her sped hands. The object was simr to a blue stone, and it warbled the moment it became exposed outside the covering of her palms.

    She had been working on this for some time now, and it was finally ready.

    "What exactly is it?" Kuzon asked, drawing his face closer to the stone.

    The closer he got, the more it warbled. It''s glow intensified, causing Ana''s eyes to widen in surprise.

    "I-it''s for detecting a certain kind of power I''m currently researching. I discovered it not too long ago, but after recent events, my perspective is shifting..." She murmured.

    "What do you¡ª?"

    "It''ll serve as a guide. I''ll configure it to gravitate towards the strongest source of the power. That way, we''ll be able to navigate our way through this ce." Ana interrupted by speaking over Kuzon''s voice.

    "Okay...?" The young Midas responded, still curious about certain things.

    An awkward moment of silence existed between the two after this. It was pretty obvious that each had something to say to the other, but they decided to keep their mouths shut instead.

    "Once I release this, it''ll move in the direction of the strongest signature. Try to keep up with it."

    "Haha... I''m not worried about myself." Kuzon responded to Ana''s words of caution, causing her to give him an annoyed re.

    "Sorry..."

    Ana sighed, shrugging upon hearing the apology. While it warmed her heart, she didn''t want to show any weakness at this point.

    "You''re right. My equipment probably wouldn''t work due to the overriding energy that''s coursing through this ce. It''s hard enough to even maintain focus due to the instion I have on."

    "You could retreat, you know¡ª?"

    "No."

    "Fine..." Kuzon sighed, swiftly moving close to Ana before she could react.

    "Kyaaa! W-w-w-what are you¡ª?!"

    Kuzon lifted her off the ground, cradling the flustered young girl like a baby. Her blushing face warped intoplete shock and embarrassment, and even though he was grinning... the young Midas was also blushing pretty hard.

    "It''s necessary. We have to hurry, right?" He whispered, trying his best to maintain his cool.

    "... Right..." Ana had no choice but to respond.

    Though hesitating slightly, she released the small blue stone into the air. And then¡ª

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH<

    ¡ªIt instantly zoomed off.

    "Haha. You''re right. It''s quite fast. Brace yourself."

    Golden lightning appeared all over Kuzon''s body, sending waves of energy surging through him.

    And then¡ª

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    ¡ªOff he went as well.

 Chapter 642 Emperor Vs Chariot [Pt 1]

    642 Emperor Vs Chariot [Pt 1]

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH<

    Navigating through the metallic recesses of the huge base, Kuzon swiftly flew with Ana safely in his arms.

    The girl held onto him tightly, which made him smile in a somewhat satisfied sense of enjoyment... though her re on him made it difficult for the pleasure to beplete.

    Thankfully, his eyes weren''t focused on her, but rather on the object he so diligently trailed¡ªthe shard that was attracted to the very core of the base¡ª which was made by none other than Ana herself.

    Kuzon did his best to keep up with the shard while also controlling his speed so he wouldn''t overtake it¡ªthus keeping the golden shes of lightning at minimal level.

    "How much further... ow?!" Kuzon asked silently, receiving a stinging pinch behind him from Ana''s little hands.

    Just how much could she achieve with those seemingly delicate fingers?

    ''A world of hurt... that''s for sure.'' Kuzon smiled internally as he decided to do his best not to get on her bad side.

    ~Focus on the mission, lover boy.~ Xenia chastised him, to which he maintained a respectful silence.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Traps appeared here and there, but Kuzon decided not to dy in his quest toplete his mission as swiftly as possible.

    Using his immense speed and Bond Magic, he coated his immediate surroundings with golden lightning and blue mes. This destroyed everything in his path.

    The machines didn''t stand a chance and we''re instantly obliterated as he made his way to the heart of the base.

    And he did!

    *

    *

    "W-what is this...?" Ana was the first to speak, disembarking from Kuzon''s arms as her blue eyes curiously stared around her.

    This space was far different from the corridors and paths they had been traversing. Sure, those were huge, but this massive hall was something else.

    It was massive!

    The bright lights emanating from the ceiling and walls gave it a sublime feel, and the tform they stood on also had neon glows.

    Therge opening that had been used to enter this ce had been violently shut behind them, leaving them trapped in this massive space.

    The shard had led them here, and it remained suspended in the air afterwards.

    Such arge space, which was densely crawling with energy, hardly felt like it was buried underneath a mountain.

    However... that was the least of the things that warranted a observation.

    "This is quite a surprise." Even Kuzon fell into awe.

    In this massive room, at least a hundred human-sized tubes were present. They had numerous wires connected to them from the walls, ceiling, and floor¡ªthey glowed white, blue, red, gold, and other colors and had particr fluids which were added to the casings... or at least what was within.

    Within the tube was a transparent fluid¡ªsimr to water, but not quite. The differently colored wires all dumped their contents into the liquid within the tube, and everything turned clear.

    Clear enough that the spectators could witness what was inside each tube. The beings that remained suspended within the casings of water-like substances.

    "They all look the same. They look like¡ª"

    "The Fairy King himself." Kuzon interrupted Ana and gave a slight frown.

    He had expected to see something unexpected, but certainly not this. It almost felt... familiar.

    ''No. This isn''t quite the same.''

    "What are all these for? Not just two or three. There are like a hundred here..." Ana was extremely shocked, to say the least.

    Hundreds of seemingly living beings that shared the same physique as the one who they were searching for.

    "It''s so..."

    ~AMAZING, WOULDN''T YOU SAY?~

    A loud sound buzzed from all over the room. It contained pride and charisma¡ªtwo core impressions that the Fairy King gave.

    The question echoed across the vast room¡ªseeminglying from everywhere¡ªyet they couldn''t pinpoint their foe''s location.

    "... I was going to say absurd. What do you think you''re doing, Fairy King?" Kuzon''s tone, while calm, seemed to hint at a bit of impatience.

    ~WHAT AM I DOING? WHAT DO YOU THINK? I''M MAKING MORE OF MYSELF!~

    Kuzon''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the sleeping beings in their pods. Just as he''d suspected, they weren''t merely Automatons or Golems.

    No, they were something more!

    "Clones. You''re making clones of yourself, aren''t you?" Ana beat Kuzon to the answer by raising a tried his hardest to stay on guard.

    09:11

    question for the invisible owner of the voice to answer.

    Her eyes seemed to glitter with surprise, but not amazement. Kuzon had to assume she had seen something like this¡ªor perhaps experienced it before.

    Why else would she be able to appear so calm?

    ''This doesn''t match the kind of shocked reaction Ana would give...'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed as he tried his hardest to stay on guard.

    ''The question is where she has seen something like this before. She couldn''t have¡ª''

    Before Kuzon could dig deeper into his thoughts, he felt a strong surge of energy.

    It caused the entire room to reverberate, and the pods¡ªor rather, the liquid within them¡ªsuddenly started glowing.

    >SHIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG<

    ~IT''S A SHAME THAT I WON''T BE ABLE TO USE EVERY ARSENAL AT MY DISPOSAL. IT''S ALSO A WASTE TO USE THESE ONES. HOWEVER... AS LONG AS THIS INVESTMENT ENDS WITH YOU BEING DEAD, THEN IT''LL BE WORTH IT!~

    The loud screech that echoed all across the room contained anger and depraved excitement.

    Before either Kuzon or Ana couldpletely decipher his words, however, the ss-like containers opened up.

    >SPLOOOSHHH<

    Liquid fell to the ground, creating a pool of transparent liquid that evaporated within seconds, leaving behind the beings that had been previously asleep.

    ~I WONDER HOW YOU''LL BE ABLE TO FARE AGAINST ALL OF THEM! THEY''RE THE NEWEST BATCH. EVEN IF YOU¡ª~

    "Ana... I think it''s time for you to escape." Kuzon whispered.

    He no longer cared for the Fairy King''s exnation. He only wanted the safety of his dear friend.

    "I... I can''t leave you like this!"

    Ana knew her job was done. They had reached the center of the base, and even she couldn''t do any more.

    Besides, she could sense why the shard was so attracted to this point. The strange energy signature that it felt from the room was spot-on

    Ana could feel it¡ªthe powerful energy that crawled within each of the hundred clones of the Fairy King that had now opened their eyes and brought forth their wings.

    She could feel the immense power.

    It far outweighed any she had ever encountered before¡ªeven far more than what Kuzon had produced with the help of his Familiar.

    "I know I can''t help, but... I can''t leave you to deal with them all by yourself!" Ana stubbornly remained.

    ~DON''T YOU EVEN THINK OF ESCAPING. THE SPACE HERE IS TOO WARPED TO TRY. ESPECIALLY NOT WITH THE SPELL CARD IN YOUR POSSESSION!~

    Upon hearing this, Kuzon''s eyes twitched and Ana broke into a worried expression. Even if she wanted to escape with her partner, that was rendered impossible.

    At this point, it was in as day to the duo.

    "We''re trapped."

    *

    *

    *

    Beruel grinned within his chamber as he watched the two slowly get surrounded by his hundred duplicates.

    ''[The Chariot] Arcana invokes technology and technomancy. I''ve intricately designed all of them to share my exact attributes. No... even better. They have Aether.'' The Fairy King thought with glee.

    The girl was useless, no doubt. She would die soon. As for the young Midas, Beruel knew he was capable of utilizing Aether.

    ''I saw from the footages. I''ve observed your abilities.''

    However, even his utilization of Aether could not surpass a hundred clones that had been sucking the energy for a while now.

    ''These should take care of the both of them. No, it''s probably even an overkill!'' Beruel thought to himself.

    He watched in anticipation, waiting for the execution of his subordinate''s killer, as well as the extinction of his friend.

    ''Or better yet, I can use her as a bargaining chip with Jared Leonard. Alright then. I''ll assemble her body together once this is done.''

    Now deciding on his course of action, Beruel mentally instructed his clones ordingly... and then watched what would y out.

    "Hehehe. This should be fun!"

    *

    *

    *

    Kuzon was indeed in a tough spot¡ªmuch tougher than he had ever been before.

    ''As expected. He''s difficult...''

    The reason he had defeated Jared so easily was because thetter didn''t have ess to Aether.

    Unlike him, all hundred of Beruel''s clones were brimming with it¡ªmore than he could handle if he chose to utilize it.

    ~You can retreat, Kuzon. I can guarantee that you have enough power to do so.~

    Kuzon bit his lip.

    Was that really the only solution he had?

    "No. I''m not going anywhere."

    ~Kid, really...~

    "If I run away now, how will I ever grow? How much further will it be before I can confront Kido?" He spoke aloud.

    All this time, he had violently trained and diligently hunted down members of the Nether Cult. He knew how much of a challenge Beruel would be, but he chose to confront him anyway.

    "I won''t lose." Kuzon stubbornly said.

    And he was confident of this im.

    ~Don''t tell me... you''re going to use ''that''?!~

    The young Midas smiled.

    ''To effectively use [The Emperor] and win this, I''ll have to exceed my current threshold...''

    Kuzon knew his limits. His body couldn''t handle enough Aether to override his opponent''s power.

    That was why...

    ''... I''ll be using my Midas Treasures now.''

    New Story Alert!!!

 Chapter 643 Emperor Vs Chariot [Pt 2]

    As thest prince of the Midas Race, Kuzon was gifted with the treasures of his people¡ªthe Midas Heritage.

    His Ring.

    His Bracelet.

    His Ne.

    They all symbolized different aspects of the Midas culture, and they all possessed immense power.

    ''I''ll need to resort to using one of them.'' Kuzon thought to himself, staring at the enemies that surrounded him.

    ~You don''t have to do this, you know? I can just manifest and destroy them, if ites down to it, so¡ª~

    "No. I''m not making you fight. It''s my battle." Kuzon stubbornly clung to his word.

    His eyes were aze with determination. So much so that it surprised Ana. She hadn''t seen Kuzon look this serious before.

    "Besides... this won''t take too long." Kuzon smiled.

    Xenia, his Familiar, decided to simply observe instead. Usually, she would have been on his case and done her best to tease him. But...

    ... She understood the state he was in.

    Kuzon needed this victory.

    "Hey, Fairy King. If I win this fight, will you give me the information I need?" Kuzon asked, a daring smile ying on his face.

    He clutched his left arm with his right¡ªraising the former to disy a golden bracelet hidden within his sleeves.

    The bracelet had strange encryptions on it, and they began to glow on his wrist.

    ~I DON''T CARE! KILL HIM!~

    The Beruel clones all summoned dense energy in form of Aether and created light projectiles that instantly became sharp spears.

    Each spear was filled to the brim with concentrated energy, and they sent all of them flying at Kuzon in a sh.

    A golden-blue barrier was instantly raised around both Kuzon and Ana, shrouding them in the dome of protection.

    The metallic surface of the ground took most of the damage, sending sizzling smoke spreading everywhere.

    Fortunately, the barrier remained intact.

    ~TCH!~

    "I''ll take that as a yes. In that case... I''ll show you something interesting, Fairy King." Kuzon''s voice echoed amid the smoke and dust.

    He exited the barrier made by his Familiar, walking calmly though the smoke.

    ''Take care of Ana...''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    The bracelet on his wrist gleamed brighter than ever, now sending waves of power swirling around him.

    A golden pir of light shot through the ceiling, and everything around Kuzon cleared up instantly.

    Now at the center of the chaos, right in front of the well-protected Ana, was a newly transformed Kuzon.

    His body waspletely gold¡ªfrom top to bottom. The way he gleamed like precious stones, so captivating and royal, made all eyes fall on him.

    His attire also adopted the gold attribute, and even underneath him¡ªthe ground itself¡ªwas getting drenched in his color.

    "Emperor''s Transfiguration."

    This wasn''t Mage Mode. This wasn''t Elemental Chamber. This wasn''t Fusion Mode. This was... something different entirely.

    "I''m ready¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!<

    Before Kuzon could finish his statement, multiple sts of light descended upon him. The hundred clones above baptized him with a rain of destruction.

    "KUZON!" Even Ana was surprised and scared for her partner.

    She believed in his power, and his newly transformed state gave her confidence. However, the power of the clones was something she had yet to experience to such a degree.

    Frankly, it frightened her.

    Though she was stuck in her bubble¡ªcourtesy of Kuzon''s Familiar¡ªAna felt impatient.

    ''You better be alright, Kuzon!''

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    As though answering her thoughts, a violent pressure swirled around Kuzon, enough to push away the smoky mist that shrouded him.

    He was still standing¡ªno, at this point, he was floatingpletely unharmed.

    "Your attacks are useless. None of them will work." Kuzon whispered.

    Was he bluffing or not? Even the Fairy King''s clones couldn''t tell. Which was why they decided to attack once more.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''I don''t have time for this. Xenia...'' Kuzon''s thoughts sharply summoned his Familiar.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Golden light coated his body, and me-like energy manifested all over him. At this point, he was both in Fusion Mode and his previous state.

    ''Fused Emperor''s Transfiguration.''

    And with his current power, Kuzon was confident enough to achieve what he wanted.

    ''This is the end.''

    There really wasn''t any need for him to jump around and take them all on, one after the other.

    There was no need to summon massive amounts of energy to attack them. No. He had a more effective means.

    "[The Emperor]...." Kuzon stared at the multitude of attacks that were being rained down from above, and he sighed.

    It was all useless.

    >SHUUUUUUUUU<

    ? Within moments, the attacks dissolved, and everything turned into nothing but tiny particles of light.

    ''Now, then, as for you all. How about... this.''

    Kuzon snapped his fingers, and all hundred clones instantly experienced the unexpected¡ª

    ¡ªDeath!

    >VWUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM<

    Instantly consumed by the very Aether energy they disyed, the Clones'' bodies disintegrated, all at once.

    ~W-WHA¡ª?!~

    Their destruction looked like fireworks, and their brilliant detonation filled the room with blinding light.

    ''Now, channeling all that excess energy right there...'' Kuzonmanded all the vtile particles of light to move in a single direction¡ªthe wall that was right in front of him.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Kuzon smiled as he watched the exploding shards collided with the wall, generating a massive reverberation that caused the entire room to tremble.

    And then¡ª

    "There you are."

    ¡ªThe wallspletely broke apart, revealing something... or rather, someone within.

    ~Kuzon, it''s not safe to go on.~

    ''You''re right. I''ll undo it.''

    >VWUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM<

    His golden body evaporated, leaving him to descend from the air with only a flicker of his Familiar''s blue and gold Aether.

    He returned to Ana''s side, and the girl expressed relief once he was near her.

    "Kuzon! Thank goodness!" She rushed to him, hugging him tightly the moment he got close enough.

    ''W-whoah!'' The young Midas controlled his cheeks from going beet red, though he couldn''t help the smile growing on his face.

    Kuzon could feel Ana tremble, and her breathing was somewhat heavy¡ªher eyes were also teary.

    "Thank you, Ana. I''m fine." He returned her hug, albeit a bit awkwardly since she was much shorter than he was.

    Still, even with this emotional moment, the boy''s attention did not leave the gaping hole he made in the wall.

    Kuzon''s eyes glowed golden as he stared deep into the dark opening a distance from him, and his grin broadened.

    He could definitely sense someone within¡ªjust as he had been able to when he had achieved the heightened state he''d previously utilized.

    "Won''t youe out to wee us, Fairy King?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Some of you may be confused about Kuzon''s abilities.

    I mean, he shows ''this'' one time, and then ''that'' another time.

    You may be confused about what exactly he can do.

    Don''t worry, it''ll be exined soon.

 Chapter 644 Absolute Defense

    ''H-how...?!''

    Beruel''s mind had been hurting ever since Kuzon managed to survive the attacks of his clone without so much as a scratch.

    Their Magic was supposed to be concentrated to the highest degree, and even one st should have eviscerated anyone who didn''t employ the protection of Aether.

    He had observed the boy, and the young Midas never erected a barrier in his golden form. He simply tanked their assault.

    As if that wasn''t enough of a strain on his senses, Beruel also watched as Kuzon dissipated the condensed light attacks made by his clones.

    He then destroyed said clones, and¡ª

    ''H-he... how?! No way...!''

    Beruel now stood in his observation room, watching as a massive opening manifested in front of him.

    His dense barrier had been bypassed¡ªor rather, obliterated.

    Even the walls which he had especially used the strongest alloy he could find to create had also been destroyed.

    His sanctuary had been breached, and he was now left bare¡ªhaving only his technology to defend himself.

    "Won''t youe out to greet us, Fairy King?"

    Beruel''s face scrunched up upon hearing the condescending tone of the young Midas. Veins appeared all over his pale face as his dull green eyes disyed sheer fury.

    ''Darn brat! He must know, by now...'' Beruel gritted his teeth as his System Window appeared in front of him.

    This wasn''t over yet. He couldn''t give up at this point.

    ''I can''t defeat him as I am now. I''ll ept that much...'' Beruel''s thoughts trailed.

    However, that didn''t mean he was going to allow himself to get defeated by a brat. Never!

    ''This isn''t over, Midas boy!''

    The Fairy King''s mind swiftly went to work, and he figured out the best way to achieve his objective.

    ''I''ll draw this out for as long as possible. If I buy enough time for my iing clones to arrive, then it''s possible!''

    Not only would he be draining Kuzon''s energy, but when thousands of duplicates arrived on the scene, it would be over.

    "Activate all sanctuary defences. Protect me at all costs."

    The System glowed instant red, executing itsmand in a sh.

    *

    *

    *

    "Hm? What''s going on?" Kuzon murmured, feeling the room tremble.

    While he and Ana remained in the protective bubble of his Familiar, Kuzon still felt the tremors manifesting around him.

    The walls of therge area they were in was transforming, and even therge hole that Kuzon made was closed up within moments.

    "Hiding, I see..." The golden-haired boy smiled.

    Sparks of golden electricity appeared on his body as he made to move. However, he was stopped by his partner''s off behavior.

    Ana''s eyes were widening, as though she just realized something.

    She swiftly activated a ring she had on, summoning something in the process.

    "Alright! Magic Tools are finally working!"

    Something about Kuzon''s protective barrier made it possible for her to utilize her Items. The moment Ana realized this, she went straight to work.

    >SHUUUUU<

    The item she summoned was a box, and she swiftly knelt and opened it to bring out one of its many contents.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "What are you doing?" Kuzon asked in puzzlement.

    This didn''t seem like the time or ce for scientific experiments.

    The walls had already fully transformed, and several sters were pointed in Ana and Kuzon''s directions.

    Spikes also protruded from the ceiling and surfaces around them. In essence, their surroundings had been turned against them.

    It definitely wasn''t the time for Ana to start fiddling with her technology.

    "I''m trying to be useful. These stuff clearly aren''t enough to stop you, so the only conclusion is that our opponent is trying to buy some time."

    "Yeah, I know that much." Kuzon responded.

    It was precisely the reason why he wanted to end things quickly.

    "I think he''s trying to call more clones." Ana added.

    "That''s a fair assumption. I thought of it too."

    Again, this was why he wanted to end this charade quickly¡ªbefore things escted to a point where he would have to push himself again.

    "I''m trying to interfere with hismunication with them. If that''s the case, then we can take our time interrogating him and also exploring this ce without worrying about being overwhelmed by his forces."

    Kuzon''s eyes widened slightly as he tried to control his surprise.

    Truly, the reason he was so interested in the Fairy King was information. As an Upper Seat, Beruel must have had ess to Kido¡ªhis uncle.

    Obtaining said Intel wouldn''t be very easy, and he would most likely have to engage in a lengthy conversation to fully collect all he needed to know.

    Rushing things wouldn''t solve the problem.

    "How do you n to do that?"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    The numerous sters bombarded the barrier around Ana and Kuzon, but the most they could do was leave scratches which ended up vanishing within moments.

    The spikes were also sent, but none could pierce their safe haven. It was strong enough to distract Ana from her primary objective.

    "This stuff is pretty sturdy."

    Kuzon shrugged in response.

    "Xenia is incredibly strong. This guy''s technology doesn''t stand a chance. Also, you were saying?"

    "A-ah, I mean... I already analyzed the frequency of each chip you gave me. That''s how I was able to backtrack it to this ce and find out where the source wasing from."

    "Okay...?" Kuzon nodded.

    He understood everything thus far. After all, even he had tried utilizing Magic to connect the frequencies, but failed.

    "Since I understand the frequency, I can use it to trace the multiple clones he''s summoning¡ªhow many they are, and even their location. I can use this device to interfere with that frequency." Ana showed Kuzon a cube.

    It was glowing, warbling with several runic inscriptions that seemed like a fine hybrid between Magic and Technology.

    "I developed this to mess with Gawain, but..." She murmured.

    "I understand what you mean, but Beruel is controlling them using an Arcana, most likely. [The Chariot] allows him to use technology with seemingly no limits. That''s most likely how he was able to make all of this. Your device won''t be able to usurp hismand."

    Surprisingly, Kuzon''s words did not appear to faze Ana in any way. In fact¡ª

    "I know."

    ¡ªThey only made her smile even more.

 Chapter 645 Anas Brilliant Plan

    "Of course, I know I''m not as strong as him. The power he disyed is enough to show the difference between us. Even though the slightest interference would cause hismunicationwork to fall apart, I don''t think I have enough energy to break the firewall."

    Kuzon''s expression fell slightly. Ana was a genius, but that didn''t make her omnipotent. Still, the fact that she was still smiling confidently showed that there was something else... something more she had in mind.

    "You can do that for me, Kuzon. Your Arcana allows you to control stuff, right? Plus you have that strange energy signature I keep detecting and thinking is the root source of all of this. If it''s you, I''m sure you''ll be able to do it."

    The young Midas couldn''t contain his surprise at this point. A bright smile formed on his face and his heart leaped beyond what he even imagined was possible.

    This girl, Ana... she was just too amazing in his eyes.

    "So, Kuzon... what do you say?"

    Amid the chaos around them¡ªthe destruction, explosion, and numerous projectiles that seemed to never end¡ªKuzon knelt and softly touched Ana''s hand which was holding the device.

    His face depicted a warm sense of affinity that he couldn''t resist. The moment his hand touched hers, Ana also felt something.

    It didn''t seem like they were giving Beruel much thought at this point. They were simply lost in the moment.

    "You''re amazing, Ana." Kuzon spoke, squeezing her hands with his.

    "I know. And don''t you forget it."

    He nodded.

    If it was this girl, then he wouldn''t mind being with her after this was all over. Kuzon could feel it within himself.

    ''She''s brilliant!''

    And as much as he didn''t like the next words he was about to utter, Kuzon didn''t mind. If it was for Ana, then why not?

    "I''ll do whatever you want. So, show me."

    Ana nodded, excited to see Kuzon being very cooperative. It was one of his best traits, after all.

    "It''s simple. The device will simply resonate with your abundant energy and you''ll break the firewall with it. Then, you''ll use your Arcana to forcibly interfere with themunicationwork."

    "Hmm... but would it really be that simple? He''s also using an Arcana to control them, no?"

    "He''s using his Arcana for so many things. That should spread his control thin. You should be able to at least interfere, even if you''re not usurping control."

    Kuzon nodded at the exnation. Ana was right, after all.

    Even for him, the more targets he used his Arcana on, the tougher it was to maintain it. That was why he had needed a good deal of Aether to utilize [The Emperor] on Beruel''s clones, since there were so many of them.

    "Alright. Got it. Let''s give it a try... wha¡ª?"

    Kuzon''s face lit up with surprise as Ana''s hand swept over his hair and she patted him lightly.

    "Good boy."

    ''W-w-wha¡ª?!!'' His mind waspletely going through a crisis.

    With Ana smiling so sweetly and she resorting to that for the first time, Kuzon felt an indescribable emotion that caused him to lose his emotionalposure.

    ''No! Focus, Kuzon!'' He shook his head with resolve.

    Ana''s hand was soft and warm, but he had to attend to other matters first.

    Ana retracted her hand, and her face turned pink for a moment before returning her attention to the cube she presented to Kuzon.

    "L-let''s get to work!"

    *

    *

    *

    "What are they doing?" Beruel murmured.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He was watching from his safe haven, waiting for his minions to arrive so they could decimate his opponents.

    It was annoying how they had shielded themselves with such a dense barrier and didn''t even seem to worry about its stability, but Beruel didn''t feel the need to be upset about that.

    What annoyed him the most was their public disy of affection¡ªespecially in such a tense situation.

    ''Couples... those two couples...'' He gritted his teeth.

    Now he had one more motivation to get rid of them¡ªthough all his efforts so far seemed to be ineffective.

    "No matter..."

    The spikes and sters were simply to buy time, after all.

    "... Their true opponents will be arriving soo¡ª" Beruel''s eyes suddenly popped wide open due to a strange sensation he felt.

    ''U-uh...? What''s... this...?''

    Beruel''s face paled instantly as he stared at the screen, only to see Kuzon and Ana looking directly towards him with grins on their faces.

    ''They knew? What have they done?!'' His mind raced.

    The sensation he felt was a disconnect¡ªno, it felt more like an interference¡ªbetween him and his clones.

    Without the resonance between himself and his duplicates, thetter would only end up being figurines with no action.

    ''H-how did they¡ª?!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Everything around him shook as the wall in front of him creaked. Even though he had further enhanced it to ensure his protection, dents stated to appear all over its surface.

    ''N-no!'' His eyes went straight to the screen that disyed both Ana and Kuzon, but only the girl was in the barrier.

    As for the young Midas¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    ¡ªHe was directly assaulting the only thing existing between Beruel and his opponents.

    With each pounding, Beruel grew even more anxious. Hemanded his security system to stop the intruder at all costs, but they were instantly decimated by his opponent''s sheer power.

    Only Beruel''s clones could stand a sliver of a chance, at this point, and they were inactive.

    ''Damnit!!!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOIOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The bombardment finally broke through, and the wall came crumbling down after a couple more hits.

    ''Eeeek!'' Sweat formed all over Beruel''s face as he saw the light pierce his dark room.

    The System Window in front of him buzzed, but the Fairy King ignored itpletely. What held his total attention was the young man who floated so close to his dark room.

    His golden hair fluttered as he smiled casually. His hands were folded, and golden threads danced around him.

    "S-shi¡ª!!!"

    "Don''t even think about moving." The young Midas named Kuzon dered, ncing away from the Fairy King for a moment.

    Ana, his partner, appeared from beneath. She was inside the spherical barrier that was sturdy enough to maintain its integrity despite the volleys of explosions that had been constantly fired.

    With both of them now standing outside the room¡ªa miniscule distance from Beruel himself¡ªthe Fairy King felt incredibly frightened.

 Chapter 646 The Truth About Beruel [Pt 1]

    "Finally, we meet. I do hope this is your real body."

    Kuzon smiled as he gazed in the direction of the Fairy King. Ana remained by his side as they both stood at the entrance.

    "S-stay back!"

    Beruel''s squealing tone seemed nothing like themanding voice that had been ying on the speaker.

    It was more frail, weak, and somewhat underwhelming.

    "I don''t think so, Beruel. I have some things I would like to ask you. Now, then, we''reing in."

    Despite the powerlessmand of the Fairy King, Kuzon floated into the room with Ana by his side.

    >BZZZTTTZZZ<

    A ring sound and red shes of light appeared all over the room the moment they entered Beruel''s haven.

    [SYSTEM NOTICE]

    <INTRUDERS ALERT>

    "Silence." Kuzon coldly responded.

    Instantly, the System buzzed and vanished, same with the unpleasant sounds.

    "Y-you..." Beruel''s voice croaked.

    "Like I said, don''t move. Oh¡­"

    Kuzon''s eyes lit up with surprise and intrigue the moment he took a step closer to Beruel. He was fascinated, as well as amazed.

    "[Illumination]."

    White bubbles of light danced around the room, making it clear as day.

    "D-don''t! Stop it! Don''t look at me!"

    The light fragments finally revealed the Fairy King''s true body¡ªthe one known as Beruel himself.

    "D-don''t... look at me..."

    Beruel''s head was hung wearily on his sunken shoulders as he sat on a massive throne. However, instead of the regal appearance of a King, he looked like something else.

    For one, his silver hair was now gone¡ªleaving nothing more than a few strands of faded, white hair.

    His emaciated physique made the regal apparel he wore look oversize, and his pale body indicated that he wasn''t at his finest.

    His wings were wilted, falling t against his back. They also had a faded ash color¡ªquite pitiful for a Fairy, let alone royalty.

    Tons of wires were connected to his throne, which in turn connected a singlerge pipe into the base of his neck.

    "I see. So that''s why you stubbornly tried to get rid of us rather than escaping..." Kuzon muttered as he stared at the pathetic excuse for a Fairy King.

    Even Ana''s face was nothing shy of a shocked expression.

    "... You can''t leave this ce, can you?"

    *

    *

    *

    How long ago was it?

    Beruel couldn''t remember at this point. Yes... he couldn''t remember when he was born.

    It had most likely been over a thousand years, at this point.

    He forgot a lot of things, frankly. No longer could he recollect the appearances of his deceased parents, or even any of their characteristics.

    Other than the core ts of his values and the memories that had the strongest impression on his mind, all that remained in Beruel''s fading mind were vague memories of the past.

    It wasn''t as though he was afflicted with an illness, or a curse had been ced upon him. No, it was something rather simple and biological.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He had gotten old.

    Fairies weren''t immortal. They had never been. Yes, they lived for very long, but so what? Eventually, death woulde for them, no?

    As such, old age was only inevitable for a Fairy like Beruel¡ªwho had lived far beyond what was normally permitted of a Fairy.

    Ever since he got banished from the Sanctuary and he''d had to leave the Mana saturated environment, he began to age faster than usual.

    He did his best to slow it down, but the best he could do was this¡ªpumping concentrated Mana into his body and forcibly prolonging his life by reducing his physical activities and the strain it had on his expiring body.

    This led him to his current predicament¡ªbeing an immobile being who could only properly manifest in the form of his clones.

    A husk of a Fairy King.

    *

    *

    *

    "Interesting..." Ana muttered as she stared closely at the Fairy King.

    After observing him for just a few seconds, she had a lot of questions in her mind.

    For one, why was the Fairy King so humanlike? Other Fairies appeared tiny, but he was simr to an Elf, appearance wise.

    Also, what happened to his wings?

    ''They''re so different. Could this be...?''

    Fairy King Beruel was right in front of them, but his appearance was so surprising that it didn''t even feel like a victory any longer. The conclusion was so underwhelming that Ana forgot they were standing face to face with the enemy.

    "Beruel, I want answers to my question, and you''re going to give them to me." Kuzon spoke in amanding tone, drawing closer to the husk of a being.

    Throughout their short time together, the Fairy King had only told them to stay back, and also not to look at him.

    Apparently, even he knew he was not a sight for sore eyes.

    "You... you killed my subordinate..." His tired voice trailed.

    It sounded devoid of life, and it felt so strained that it almost seemed like Beruel was dying at that very moment. However, despite its tragic tone, an evidence of anger could be deciphered from his words.

    "I did." Kuzon answered.

    "Why? Did he not give you the information you wanted?" Beruel''s pale face disyed even more anger.

    "He did tell me what I¡ª"

    "THEN WHY?! WHY DID YOU KILL HI¡ª!" Beruel''s eyes bulged and he began to cough before he could conclude his rageful inquisition.

    "Ack... kack!"

    One look at him and one could tell how severely strained his body was. His sickly appearance and the bags under his eyes clearly showed he wasn''t long for this world.

    He was dying.

    Yet, his pure anger and grief wouldn''t let him stay still. His emotion of pure wrath was sent towards Kuzon.

    "I see. So you also feel pain when someone you love gets killed..." The young Midas whispered.

    The cold gaze he directed at the Fairy King depicted nothing like remorse. He was simply observing him with interest.

    "W-what are you talking about?"  Beruel groaned as he recoiled from his earlier cough.

    "I killed that Fairy for the same reason I killed the others. Because of the incident that urred twelve years ago."

    Beruel''s annoyed face slowly turned pale, and his anger started to die down. Even though the mes of hatred remained in his eyes, he couldn''t fully manifest his previous expression of disdain.

    "W-we had nothing to do with it..." He muttered.

    "No. You all did. For your goals of obtaining the Arcanas, your organization was culpable for the Midas massacre."

 Chapter 647 The Truth About Beruel [Pt 2]

    "I was only three years old, you know? Can you imagine how I felt seeing everyone and everything I cared about get destroyed?" Kuzon''s tone was calm.

    His eyes showed no emotion, and everything about him felt empty.

    Even Ana felt a chill run down her spine as she looked at hispletely stoic face. He was utterly cold.

    "That was Kido and his partnership with the Demons, the Whites. I had nothing to do with it."

    "But you benefited from it. Isn''t it your joint goal to obtain all the Arcanas? No matter the means, you''ll do whatever you can to get it."

    "N-no, I¡ª"

    "Even setting waste to an entire civilization. Exterminating thousands of people. Did you even feel any tinge of remorse after hearing all that happened?"

    Beruel was silent at this point. His tired face seemed like it couldn''t take any more talking, but Kuzon wasn''t done yet.

    "I''m not here to discuss what happened back then. I just want you to understand that the pain you feel now is iparable to my loss. I killed that Fairy simply because of the chain of events your organization started."

    Beruel couldn''t defend himself. He knew the boy wasn''t wrong. Obtaining the Arcanas at all cost... that was what he wanted, wasn''t it?

    "Just so you know, I have no personal vendetta against you or your organization. However, if I am to choose between killing or sparing you, I''d choose the former. Killing any of you won''t bring back the dead, but..."

    Kuzon drew closer to the Fairy King, his hands now in his pockets as threads swirled around him.

    "... It brings some form of satisfaction, at the very least."

    He now stood in front of the powerless Beruel. As the boy stared down at the Fairy King, and thetter looked up to meet his gaze, a tense silence began.

    After a few moments, Beruel looked away first.

    "I... I will be honest with you. I do not feel guilty about joining the Cult. I also do not feel responsible for the acts the members havemitted¡ªwhether good or bad. I joined for my own goals, and I still stand by them."

    Beruel''s tired eyes showed absolute seriousness.

    "I''m dying. And I want to avoid that at all costs. It might seem selfish to you, but there''s a lot I still want to do. I despise the gaps in my memory, and I also feel frustrated with how pieces of my identity are slowly scraped away as time passes by. I want to be whole..."

    "I don''t care." Kuzon cut the old Fairy short with his unfeeling gaze andpletely disinterested tone.

    He simply desired one thing. Everything else seems secondary.

    "I know you don''t. I also know I''m a hypocrite for ming you for his death when in fact... he only joined the Cult because of me." Beruel gave a smile for the first time.

    It was bitter and sad¡ªdistant as well¡ªbut it was genuine.

    "Young Midas... I indeed joined the Cult to retrieve all the Arcanas, but I never approved of the massacre. Your people weren''t mine, but I grieved for them. You may not believe me, but... I did."

    Beruel''s tone waspletely different from before. It felt honest and genuine.

    "I already told you. I don''t care. I just want information on Kido. If you want me to spare your life, then fine. You don''t have long in the world, anyway, and your Cult won''t be able to acquire all the Arcanas. In the end, you''ll die... without my intervention."

    Beruel sighed.

    "So... spill."

    A brief moment of silence spread throughout the room. Ana was still shaken by Kuzon''s change in tone, and Kuzon awaited Beruel''s reply.<novelnext></novelnext>

    However¡ª

    "I... I can''t."

    ¡ªThe old Fairy refused to budge.

    "Why not? Does the Cult have some sort of hold on you? If you divulge information about them, will you be killed?"

    "No. That''s not it. No member of the Nether Cult has seen my real body, let alone being able to subject it to such."

    Beruel''s eyes were distracted, and his body feltpletely like a statue.

    "Then why? You have attachments towards them then? You wouldn''t betray yourrades, is that it?"

    "No. I despise Kido, and I''m mostly indifferent about everyone else in the Nether Cult. I do not share their values, neither do they share mine..." Beruel muttered, barely audibly.

    Even when his subordinate died, none of them could have cared less. They simply overlooked it and went on with their grand scheme.

    What did he expect from the same group that had been fine with genocide¡ªboth of the Midas Race and also the Demons?

    He couldn''t bring himself to agree with their core ts.

    However¡ª

    "My goals... I will not do anything to jeopardize it. I have endured countless centuries of this pain. I was among the first three members of the Cult. I havee this far..."

    "If you die by my hands now, then there''s no point." Golden lightning shed on Kuzon''s body as his stoic expression turned into a re.

    "You''re right. Such a dilemma, isn''t it? But, at the very least, I''ll die knowing I didn''t do everything in vain."

    If he chose to give the boy valuable Intel, then he wouldn''t be able to obtain his desire. He would live his life forever losing himself, and his mind would expire long before his body would.

    Beruel didn''t desire such an end.

    "Pfft.... haha... hahaha... hahahaha!"

    The old Fairy''s eyes widened in shock to see his interrogator burst out inughter. One or two beads of tears formed in the young boy''s eyes as heughed in seeming delight.

    "Haha... I see. Is that so? Well, that''s good. At least you''re different from everyone else I''ve asked."

    "O-oh, even my subordinate...?"

    "He didn''t know much, to begin with. He tried to hide the little he knew too, based on his loyalty to you, I suppose. However..."

    Kuzon''s grin grew wider as his eyes disyed a glint that made Beruel''s fragile heart pound in fear.

    "... I really don''t need your cooperation to get the information I require."

    Amid the emotional appeal and exchange of questions, it seemed like everyone had forgotten one major factor.

    "I have [The Emperor]. You have to do as Imand."

 Chapter 648 Conflict Of Interest

    Of all the Arcanas, a single one was considered to be one of the most powerful¡ªeven in the Midas Empire that studied them.

    It was [The Emperor].

    It had the ability to control anything within its immediate vicinity.

    Whether Magic, animate or inanimate objects,ws, etc. So long as it existed within the user''s domain, it could be subjected to their will.

    It was the ultimate Arcana for dominance.

    *

    *

    *

    "You don''t have a choice, Beruel. I might as well begin the interrogation now."

    The Fairy King groaned, and an expression of difort formed on his face. However, he slowly broke into a tired smile.

    "I have an Arcana too, you know? Your power won''t¡ª"

    "You possess [The Chariot]. It handles technology nicely, and I reckon it''s how you were able to prolong your life beyond the normal standard." Kuzon stared at the many wires that were fixed into Beruel''s throne, and the mechanics that surrounded them.

    "But, [The Chariot] does not grant protection against my ability. If you had [Strength], for example, you''d be able to use the Aether to achieve a versatile set and protect yourself from my influence, but..."

    Kuzon stretched his hand and touched the pale head of the Fairy King.

    "... You can''t resist."

    Beruel''s eyes bulged, almost popping out of their sockets as he felt the energy swelling from Kuzon''s hand. His body throbbed in futile resistance, but the end result was inevitable.

    He realized it already.

    The young Midas boy had won.

    "K-Kuzon, stop!"

    Suddenly, the energy that permeated the Fairy King ceased. It hadn''tpletely vanished, but it simply halted in its takeover.

    "What is it, Ana?" Kuzon asked, turning around a little to see a distraught Ana.

    His cold gaze didn''t leave him for long and he didn''t seem like he was going to stop what he had started... even though Ana''s expression was that of disagreement.

    "Don''t do this, Kuzon. I..."

    "You''re sympathizing with him now?" Kuzon asked, his expression still as stoic as before.

    Though, it was obvious from Kuzon''s tone that he didn''t care for Ana''s opinion at this point.

    "I''m not. It''s you I''m concerned about."

    "There''s no need to be concerned about me. This isn''t the first time I''m doing this. If you don''t feelfortable watching this, you can leave. The Spell Card should be working now, right?"

    Kuzon''s gaze left Ana, and he focused his attention wholly on Beruel.

    Silence pervaded the room¡ªat least until the Fairy King waspletely under Kuzon''s influence and began spilling everything the boy wanted to know.

    Questions like:

    "Where is Kido?"

    "How strong is he?"

    "How strong are the other members of your organizationpared to you and him?"

    "What seat is he?"

    "What abilities has he disyed for you to see?"

    "What have you heard him say?"

    Specific questions that were met with helpful answers. Thankfully, Beruel had fought with Kido several times, due to their disagreements.

    "It wasn''t much of a fight, since he is far superior, but he did disy some abilities." Beruel had exined, going further to spill all he knew about the man.

    Thissted for several minutes, until finally... Kuzon was finished.

    "That''s all." Removing his domination effect from Beruel, Kuzon stepped away in disinterest.

    Even though the old Fairy groaned and coughed, he didn''t even bat an eye and walked towards Ana instead.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "We should leave now."

    His approach was met with a fierce re from Ana. Her blue eyes depicted disdain, something Kuzon hadn''t expected from her at this point in their rtionship.

    "I had to do it, Ana. If that''s why you''re upset, then you should know¡ª"

    "I''m not upset that you did whatever you could to achieve your goals. I would do the same to obtain what I wanted too..." Memories of how she captured Demon Lord Lydia yed on her mind.

    "Then¡ª"

    "You told me to leave... despite me being concerned about you."

    A bead of sweat fell from Kuzon''s face. He realized he blew her off in a somewhat mean way, but he couldn''t help it. He required focus when he wanted to achieve his objectives.

    It was the same when he nearly killed Jared in their duel.

    "I''m sorry for being harsh towards you. That wasn''t intentional." He smiled softly and ced his hand on Ana''s very stiff and cold shoulder.

    "I didn''t mean to hurt you, okay?"

    With Kuzon going as far as apologizing and even using gentle words now, Ana couldn''t see even the shadow of the cold emotion he had just disyed.

    ''He''s probably like that for a reason. I''m the same...''

    It would be hypocritical to judge the boy for crimes she too hadmitted. However, seeing Beruel''s state did something to her that she normally wouldn''t consider.

    It appealed to her emotions.

    ''Maybe I''m the one not being logical here. But¡ª''

    "I understand, Kuzon. It''s fine." Ana returned Kuzon''s apology with a genuine smile.

    "Ah, then shall we¡ª?"

    "You can leave without me. There''s something I want to try out first."

    "Huh?"

    ? Ana walked past Kuzon and moved in the direction of the silent Fairy King. He was in an aggrieved state, no doubt.

    It was too bad his physical condition prevented him from being expressive enough to disy the pathetic condition he suffered internally.

    "What do you think you''re doing? If you''re worried about whether or not he remembers, I already erased his memories of mypulsion and our visit. He''s in a daze right now."

    Ana stopped in her tracks and stared at Kuzon coldly¡ªjust the way he did at her.

    "Return his memories... now."

    For a moment, tense silence permeated the room. The partners stared at each other with varying thoughts going on in their minds.

    Then¡ª

    "Why?"

    ¡ªKuzon broke the silence with a simple question and an unenthusiastic shrug.

    "Just do it."

    "I''ll need a reason to do that." He persisted.

    The young Midas was curious about Ana''s ns, and the only way to really get an answer was to put her in a situation where she had to spill.

    "I need him to be fully aware for me to attempt what I want to."

    Kuzon''s smile broadened, and he approached the short girl who was now busy observing the Fairy King''s frame.

    "And what do you want to attempt?"

    Ana''s eyes remained on the specimen in front of her¡ªher blue eyes glowing in anticipation of a new task she had never attempted before, at least on this scale.

    However, she felt somewhat confident she could achieve it.

    ''I have to!''

    It was the perfect chance to test her limits and also to help the dying person in front of her.

    "I''m going to give Beruel what he wants. Immortality."

 Chapter 649 Beruels Problem

    "What? Why? No... how?"

    Kuzon was a Midas, so he knew immortality wasn''t necessarily inconceivable. However, no matter how powerful a body was, or how skillful an individual became, they couldn''t escape the expiration of their own bodies.

    It had toe, sooner orter.

    Sure, making new bodies was something that could be achieved, but...

    ''Ana can''t possibly mean that, right?''

    Kuzon had no idea what was going on in the girl''s mind. He had to give in to his curiousity, though.

    "If you''re so curious, then restore his memories." She smiled at him.

    It was a sweet, innocent smile, but Kuzon somewhat felt like he was the one being baited, and not her.

    ''Sigh, whatever. Let''s see what happens...''

    *

    *

    *

    "U-urgh..." Beruel groaned as his tired eyes opened and his vision returned.

    It felt like he had just woken up from a sleep, something that never happened unless he wanted to.

    ''What''s this? Thest thing I remember was...'' His eyes caught the appearance of two people.

    A boy and a girl.

    It only took one second of observation for him to tell who they were, as he remembered what they did to him.

    "Y-you¡ª!!!"

    Before he could protest any further, Beruel found himself violently coughing.

    His emaciated body throbbed, and it seemed like he was going through a seizure with every whooping cough that proceeded from his mouth.

    Slowly, however, he became stabilized.

    "Calm yourself, Beruel." Kuzon spoke in a model tone.

    "I said I would take it from here." He was swiftly replied by Ana.

    "Sorry... jeez."

    Ana stepped forward to the recoiling Beruel, who stared at the two with utmost suspicion.

    "What do you two want? You should have erased my memories after youpelled me to divulge the intel you wanted."

    "Oh, I did. She told me to return it to you."

    Ana felt peeved that she was actually being ignored by the old Fairy who would rather talk to Kuzon than the girl in front of him.

    "And you listened to her? I suppose I overestimated you, young Midas." Beruel groaned.

    "Hey! I''m right in front of you, you know?"

    Awkward silence descended upon the room as Beruel''s gaze finally rested on Ana. He spent a few moments observing her from head to toe¡ªthough the way his tired and elderly eyes ogled her felt ufortable to the younger girl.

    "You are...? Who are you?" Beruel finally muttered.

    "What? You can''t pretend you don''t know me! Kuzon and I literally came here together! We''re partners!"

    The old Fairy''s face slowly transformed into anger.

    "And how dare you raise your voice at me? Females should learn to show respect to the males. Is this how you train your female? Tch! And what''s this deal about partners? She isn''t your subordinate?" Once again, Beruel turned his attention to Kuzon.

    "Pfft." The golden haired boy stifled hisughter and awkwardly looked away.

    As much as he wanted to see Ana''s expression in response to the Fairy King''s sexist and bigoted disposition, he also felt that he wouldn''t be able to control the level of amusement he would disy.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''This is the scumbag you want to help, Ana. Hahaha!''

    "Hey, listen here old dude..." Ana grabbed Fairy King Beruel by the head.

    Her eyes were twitching while a strained smile was stered on her face. Despite her very good intentions, Ana was already reaching a point whereby she wanted to knock some sense into the older fellow.

    "W-what are you doing? Who said you could touch me? I''m a King, you know? Also, you''re not only amoner, but you''re also a female. Show some respect!"

    "Shut up!"

    "My... how dare yo¡ª"

    The Fairy King struggled to get her hands off his head despite his sickly frame, exerting his declining physical prowess more than he should have.

    Ana found her impatience reaching an unprecedented degree¡ªuntil she couldn''t take it anymore.

    >WHAP!<

    "A-ah, I''m sorry!"

    Ana said that, but the damage had already been done. The fine print of her palm had already made their mark on the Fairy King''s cheek.

    The echoing sound of the p remained for a few moments as every single person present in the room were quite literally lost for words.

    "Y-you..."

    Beruel''s bulging eyes stared at Ana in absolute shock. His pale skin shivered and his scanty teeth were clenched with a strong emotion.

    ''Ah, I lost control for a sec. This is bad...'' Ana''s mind plunged into worry.

    She didn''t want to have to resort to it, but if Beruel kept proving stubborn, then perhaps Kuzon could offer a little bit of help to ''convince'' Beruel.

    Unfortunately, that would eventually pose more problems for her and everyone else.

    "... W-why did you hit me?"

    "Because you were being a jerk. I helped you regain your memory and I''m trying to help you, but you chose to be an idiot."

    "Jerk? Idiot? You dare say that to me? Jane... you''ve gone too far. I''m your King! Don''t you forget that!"

    "Hold on... Jane?" Ana looked behind her to seek out Kuzon''s opinion, but he simply shrugged.

    She couldn''t have heard wrongly, right? Beruel just called her Jane. Was he mistaking her for someone else?

    If that was the case, then there was one particr name that stood out for Ana¡ªand most firm followers of the legend of the past.

    "You mean... Jane Urs?"

    "What are you¡ª? Don''t change the topic now! Why do I have to call you by your full name? You''ve been growing more rebellious as ofte! You should know your ce."

    Frankly speaking, Ana was more confused now than before. Could this be due to shock? Or was Beruel hallucinating?

    "Beruel, it''s Ana and Kuzon. You''re not talking to Jane Urs. You''re here, in your hideout. We''re the intruders, remember?"

    Suddenly, the old fairy''s eyes widened, and some sort of darker shade enveloped his dull eyes.

    "A-ah... what was I...? Did I say anything weird? I must have spaced out. Who are you again?"

    "I don''t think I care enough to tell you." Ana sighed and walked away.

    "I thought I wanted to help you, but I''ve lost interest. I mean, you are a viin, so I didn''t expect a righteous personality. But, it seems you''ll be a pain in the future, and I''d rather not have that."

    "W-what are you¡ª?!"

    "She wanted to solve your problem since she felt somewhat bad for you. You just had to piss her off. Nice going." Kuzon added to the Fairy King''s incredible dilemma.

    "What? I don''t understand. What are you saying?"

    He was so lost that even more wrinkles appeared on his face as he looked for answers from the two.

    "What kind of person were you, Beruel? Before all of this. I don''t think you were a good guy."

 Chapter 650 The Fairy Kings Past [Pt 1]

    "Remember, son. Remember the building blocks of our society. Do not forget our legacy."

    Those were the only words Beruel still remembered from his father.

    They were the things he often heard since he was little. Those words filled his childhood, and his father never ceased uttering them every now and then.

    One day, when he was old enough, he asked his father¡ªthe Fairy King at the time¡ªwhat those words meant.

    What were the building blocks of their society? What was their legacy? How could he forget what he did not remember?

    "Son, look around. What do you see?"

    It wasn''t until his father took him to the very zenith of the Fairy Kingdom and showed him the world from above that the young Beruel understood.

    He witnessed the lives of themoners. He saw them go about their businesses. He watched the young, the elderly, the sessful, the rejects¡ªBeruel truly saw everyone and everything from his height.

    "You are on top. You were born to be on top. You are a male. You are a Royal. You will be King."

    Those words were pounded into his head by his father''s loving whisper. Beruel''s innocent eyes couldn''t help but widen in understanding as he heard the tone of the most powerful man in their society.

    His father was the wisest of all. He stood at the pinnacle and understood all things. The boy thought that perhaps the older, wiser, more powerful, being could answer to yet another one of his concerns.

    "What about them?"

    Beruel found himself pointing below¡ªat everyone his eyes could see;

    His mother, who was talking with his father''s other wives.

    His many sisters.

    The pce guards.

    The numerous Fairies that flew here and there.

    Beruel didn''t understand their ce in this world. If he was meant to be on top, what could that mean for everyone else?

    "They are whatever you want them to be. Remember this well, son. The subjects only exist to serve us. The males are superior, and the King is supreme. Do you understand?"

    Beruel thought the exnation was simple enough to understand.

    He reasoned with his father''s point of view and found out how it resonated well with the Fairy society.

    He could finally understand why his father and other males were allowed to have multiple spouses while the females couldn''t.

    He also understood how custom dictated that the women bowed to the men in greeting. Looking at how society was shaped, and how peaceful everything was... Beruel thought it was paradise.

    ''They''re all happy. There''s no conflict. This is utopia.''

    Yes. His father was right. How could he not have noticed till now?

    Everyone was smiling and functional because of their roles in society. How the Kingdom operated, was so it could provide the best means of living. Nothing had to change.

    Thus, even when Beruel matured and became of age, this ideology of his solidified. A mindset was formed, and it became the very principle he abided by.<novelnext></novelnext>

    When he became King, he ruled in ordance to the building blocks of his Kingdom. He operated with respect to the legacy of his predecessors.

    In all honesty... he was doing an extremely good job!

    He created policies that ensured the upational opportunities and academic curriculum of the male and female gender. He ensured a proper divide existed between the male and female careers.

    Sure, there existed exceptions and outliers, but those were nigh impossible to scale through.

    Beruel looked at this utopia he made every day and smiled. He wished his father was alive to see what he had made of this wonderful Kingdom, but he knew that his ancestors would be watching with smiles on their faces.

    However...!

    There was one bane to his existence¡ªa being that always seemed to defy his policies and made the very system of the Fairy Kingdom seem like nothing but rubbish.

    Her name was Jane Urs¡ªdubbed by many as the Mad Witch.

    Jane was everything that was wrong with the Fairy Kingdom¡ªat least, to Beruel. She was a rebel that always seemed to exceed the lot assigned to her by custom.

    She outdid her male counterparts in Magic, technology, research,bat¡ªjust about every field imaginable.

    She was a genius!

    It almost seemed like the Fairy Kingdom could not contain her abilities, and the worst part of it all was that she was far older and more experienced than even Beruel.

    Nothing he did seemed to work on her, and she seemed out of his control. Thews and protocols he made never seemed to faze her and she kept rising to the top.

    Perhaps he could have taken more drastic steps to ensure that she submitted to his will, but there was a significant element that prevented Beruel from taking such an action.

    He... was infatuated with the Fairy.

    "You... Jane Urs... you will be mine!" He often told himself several times.

    Even though he had many women tofort him, and he had a lot of subordinates at his beck and call, there was only one person he desired.

    Unfortunately, she always seemed out of his reach.

    Jane Urs ignored all attempts he made to get her attention. The only time they bothmunicated was during disagreements and heated arguments.

    Beruel didn''t understand why, but those moments always made him excited. Even though it was extremely sphemous for a female to defy a male, he found himself sinfully reveling in her rebellion.

    He intentionally frustrated her efforts by creating hindrances, or by refusing to ord her promotion or recognition¡ªknowing fully well that she woulde to argue with him on his decision.

    How he loved those moments.

    Beruel knew it was wrong. He knew she had to be punished severely for insulting a male¡ªnot to mention the King.

    Still, he humored her.

    Perhaps that was the cause of his downfall. The ancestors must have had enough of his foolishness and he paid the price for abandoning the words of his father.

    A coup urred, and Beruel was shamefully driven out of his Kingdom. The very peace and stability that had existed for so long finally came crashing down.

 Chapter 651 The Fairy Kings Past [Pt 2]

    The legacy of the past crumbled before his very eyes, but it was toote for Beruel to repent.

    He and what were left of his followers were exiled from his own Kingdom. It felt like a dream, but... Beruel knew it was all real.

    Pain. Confusion. Regret. Fury. Fear. Anxiety. Rage.

    Multiple emotions swirled in his heart when the dust settled and he found himself with barely anything left.

    However, the one emotion he never felt even once was hate.

    Despite all Jane did, all that he lost, all that went down between the two of them... Beruel''s heart never changed towards her

    He didn''t want to admit it initially, but he had known all along...

    "... I still love her."

    *

    *

    *

    One after the other, within the span of years, his Fairy Subordinates rapidly began to reduce.

    Without the effects of their Mana Rich environment, they couldn''t maintain their youthful state.

    Thus, they either decided to return to the Fairy Kingdom¡ªnow dubbed the Sanctuary¡ªor to die slowly with the leader they believed in.

    Beruel, who had no direction, could not stop anyone from doing what they wished. He had lost that power and authority years past. All he wanted to do... was to get back at Jane, one way or the other.

    Despite everything, he still hadn''t given up his ideology.

    He still believed men were superior. He still believed his ancestors were right.

    "Give a woman some power, and she ruins everything!"

    Hadn''t that been the case with Jane Urs? Wasn''t that the reason his Kingdom fell into ruins?

    "I''ll start my own Fairy Kingdom and show them just how different and superior it is to Jane''s!"

    Beruel knew just how intelligent his adversary was. He also understood the poption of his forces,pared to the bulk of the Fairy Sanctuary.

    Still, he chose not to care!

    "I will do it! Our ancestors'' legacy lives within me. I am the rightful king!"

    It took a while of searching, but Beruel finally found a region that was bustling with energy. It started out as a seemingly random cave, but it ended up leading to an ancient ruin.

    The energy he, as well as the rest of his subordinates felt, wasn''t Mana. It was something far greater. Since Fairies were naturally inclined towards Mana, the power felt even more appealing.

    Beruel in his curiousity and excitement, decided to venture further to seek out the source.

    And his subordinates dly followed!

    After so many years of sojourning as a nomadic group, they had finally found a ce to call home.

    The ruins needed a lot of work before it could be justified as a Kingdom built by the Fairy King himself, but Beruel had no doubt in his ability¡ªespecially if he could find the source of power he felt.

    They all raced towards the energy source¡ªinnocently driven by their goal to create a better world; an utopia without the bane that caused the other one to crumble.

    Unfortunately...

    ... This innocent dream died in that cave.

    *

    *

    *<novelnext></novelnext>

    "How many survived?"

    Beruel''s body was badly scathed, and blood dripped from his ear and other parts of his body.

    Unlike him, who had been lucky to get away with such mild injuries, Fairy corpses littered the ground.

    Needless to say, he only survived because of his immense speed¡ªand perhaps luck as well.

    "I-I am the only one, King Beruel."

    Beruel should have already known that, given the fact that only he and the young Fairy in front of him were still standing while they saw theirradesying still on the floor.

    Blood oozed from their corpses, and some had burn marks that were so bad, it looked like they would turn to ash at any moment.

    The several traps in the ruins had surprised everyone, and they had been pretty much doomed to fail since they had rushed in without thinking.

    "Do you hate me?"

    The Fairy King could not believe he was asking this of his subject. Subjects lived for the King. They could never hate him! They were always loyal to him¡ªeven till the bitter end.

    But Beruel had seen his subjects turn on him. In the coup, a majority of the denizens of his Kingdom abandoned him as King. Even among the ones who initially stood by his side, many eventually abandoned the cause and tried to cling to survival rather than loyalty.

    It was unbelievable how quickly the tables turned.

    And now, with the death of everyone except he and a single subordinate, Beruel could not help but ask the question.

    However, even to his surprise, the subordinate knelt and bowed his head.

    "No, Fairy King. I do not despise you. Everything you''ve done this far has been to provide your people with a sanctuary. You have tirelesslybored for us. After following and protecting you all this time... how could I despise you?"

    Beruel''s eyes widened at that very moment. He couldn''t believe it¡ªor rather, he had never heard such a genuine response before.

    It was so different from the answers that he had previously received that Beruel thought it was breathtaking.

    Usually, people would say;

    "I can never hate you, you''re the Fairy King!"

    "The Fairy King is always loved by all!"

    "Did someone say that? My King, do not believe their words..."

    Yet, this subordinate was different.

    "... Besides, my King... you won your prize, didn''t you? The source of that strange energy."

    That''s right, Beruel had forgotten. Locked in his shaking palm was a card¡ªan Arcana¡ªknown as [The Chariot].

    The ruin had been a Dungeon, and he''d had no idea until it was toote.

    His subordinate had survived due to sheer luck, and also because he was the leastpetent among the others. He hadn''t been fast enough to trigger any of the traps before the others did.

    "Haha... you''re right." Beruel found himself whispering.

    But what good was his prize without his subjects?

    "H-uh...??"

    As he thought of it, the idea seemed to make more sense and take a more definite form.

    ''B-but father said the subjects exist because of the King..."

    The sight around him and the feelings in Beruel''s heart, however, seemed to turn that iron-d mindset to null.

    It simply didn''t ring true any longer.

 Chapter 652 The Fairy Kings Past [Pt 3]

    Now that he looked around him and saw the carnage¡ªand saw only one survivor¡ªBeruel did not feel much like a king.

    He had gained his prize, but so what? What was a King without subjects?

    That was when the first lie of his ancestors became known to the Fairy King. He finally understood an error he''d failed to see all along.

    "The subjects don''t exist for the King. The King exists for the subjects."

    His subordinate was still bowed before him, but Beruel no longer thought of the young Fairy as a ve to him, the master.

    No... the rtionship didn''t feel that way any longer.

    ''I-I''m happy you survived. I''m happy you still consider me worthy...''

    That meant his authority as King didn''te from his being special. No, it came from the people who were willing to treat him as special. His people had been the ones at the top all along.

    ''It seems Jane was right, in her own feminine way.''

    Of course, lots of biases remained, but Beruel was willing to admit the error of his ways¡ªat least in this regard.

    "What is your name?" The kneeling subordinate was asked.

    "Murel. Murel Levan."

    The Fairy King smiled and approached Murel, cing his unupied hand on his shoulder and nodding.

    "Well, then, Murel... will you keep following me?"

    Much to Beruel''s pleasure, the subordinate agreed. Thus, both he and Beruel began to learn and harness the power of the Chariot. They had intended to use it to take back their Kingdom, but then Beruel''s health becamepromised.

    Together, they built the fortress where he would remain sustained. A new body was made for him to utilize instead of his older one.

    Unfortunately, being no expert at Soul Magic or any kind of Magic-Science Hybrid, other than mechanization and technology, Beruel had no idea how to transfer himself to his new body.

    Jane Urs had made something like that, but he could only somewhat copy her model. Without her unique ability, he was never going to be able to escape his mortality.

    The best he could do was create duplicates of himself and utilize them for his own whims.

    Through Resonance, he could feel whatever the clone felt, and he could relive the experience of walking and flying as he did in the past.

    Unfortunately, Beruel couldn''t do that with his own body any longer.

    He had no hope to eventually do so, and his pride would never allow him to beg Jane for a cure.

    He and his subordinate instead took it upon themselves to search for other Dungeons in order to find an Arcana that would be able to cure him. If they could find one to resurrect his dead subordinates, or to take over the Fairy Sanctuary, then those would also be well appreciated.

    It was during one of these searches that they came across another individual who was also interested in the same venture.

    This individual took an interest in Beruel, and gave an offer that was nigh impossible to reject.

    An Immortal body for he and his subordinate. The possible revival of his dead followers, and also the retrieval of the Fairy Sanctuary. Once all the Arcanas were gathered, all of Beruel''s wishes woulde true.

    The individual he met was a woman in white, and she presented herself as the direct representative of the Cult Leader. It was, in fact, the Leader who personally scouted Beruel.

    He spoke to the man in charge via Magic Communication, but thedy in white was physically present during the discussion.

    They called their proposed group the Nether Cult¡ªand he was going to be the Third Seat.

    Beruel, who had hit a wall when it came to his search for the mystical cards that wielded immense power¡ªand also saw that the Cult already had a few in their possession¡ªdecided to join.

    Thus, he became an integral member of the Nether Cult, but was eventually moved to the Fourth Seat by the genius of the Midas Race¡ªKido Midas.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Their group slowly increased, and it was only when Beruel was certain of its security that he involved Murel, his subordinate.

    He ensured Murel remained in the bottom ranks¡ªnever rising to the top or gaining much attention.

    It was better for him that way.

    Years passed and Arcanas were secured, though at a slow pace. When Beruel demanded a swifter collection of the god-like objects, the Lady in White, who was still the proxy of the Cult Leader, stated that it was yet to be the right time.

    The Cult Leader only spoke to them virtually, never appearing in their physical meetings. Instead, he sent his proxy.

    It was only until the recent years that he showed up, and his power was enough to make everyone in the room recognize his authority¡ªdespite how young he appeared to be.

    Considering how Beruel had known of the Cult Leader for decades, at this point, he understood that it was impossible for him to still be a child.

    Therefore, his child-like form had to be a ruse.

    When the Cult Leader appeared, things began to take quicker steps.

    The Demon Race got involved in their conquest, and before long, the Midas Empire was destroyed.

    The Eastern Kingdom was infiltrated, War broke loose, and a very serious search for the Arcanas became a reality.

    Unfortunately, even at that... the Nether Cult failed to obtain all the Arcanas.

    Murel died in his service to the Nether Cult, thus leaving Beruel all alone.

    He couldn''t stop now. He had lost too many years and too many people to stop in his conquest.

    He had to obtain all the Arcanas!

    He had to right his wrongs...

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    "So that''s how it is." Ana muttered.

    "I... I..." Beruel didn''t know what to say.

    He was just as surprised as the other two present when the memories of everything began to flood in.

    Thanks to Kuzon''s [The Emperor], even Beruel''s subconscious was forced to resurface, and the apparently forgotten memories were exposed.

    The tyrant King was shown.

    The kind Master was revealed.

    The lonely Fairy was exposed.

    Thus, Beruel''s past was concluded.

 Chapter 653 Anas Deal [Pt 1]

    Ultimately, Beruel''s story was told with all three members of the room present--all of which were stunned by the discovery.

    "So, what will you do now?" Kuzon smiled, ncing at Ana.

    A grin was on her face, just as he had expected. He could already guess her answer to the question.

    "Well, I suppose it''s worth a try, isn''t it?" She now moved closer to the distraught Beruel.

    cing her small hand on his sunken shoulder, Ana looked at the old fellow in the eyes and asked him with genuine intent and a very excited face.

    "Fairy King Beruel... do you want to be young again?!"

    "U-uh...?"

    "You see, I''m feeling very generous today, so I want to help you. Of course, there''ll be terms and conditions. But, what do you think?"

    Beruel was still in a daze. He couldn''tprehend why and how the little girl in front of him could say something so absurd.

    ''She''s casually cing her hand on me, and she''s speaking in this familiar tone. We''ve hardly met, and yet...''

    Even without Beruel''s bigot tendencies, he still felt the girl was being rude to him. Still, just as with Jane''s actions in the past, Beruel couldn''t find himself hating it.

    His tired eyes stared at the girl, and while millions of thoughts ran through his mind, he decided to humor her efforts.

    "I''ll try anything at this point. What terms are you suggesting?"

    "Be myb partner!"

    "W-what?!"

    "If I help you be young, you''ll have to devote your first ten--no, let''s say twenty--years to me and my cause. Once that period is over, you can do whatever you like." Ana smiled, excitedly cing both hands on her hips.

    ''Is this girl serious?'' Beruel found himself asking.

    How could she think of making someone like him--the Fairy King--a simpleb partner? This surpassed any insult Jane had  made to him.

    ''Ah, well, not quite...''

    "Of course, you''ll leave the Nether Cult and be one of the good guys. You can do that much, can''t you? I mean, that''s why you joined them, isn''t it?"

    "You''re forgetting I also joined the Nether Cult for the purpose of reviving my past subordinates and taking back my Kingdom." Beruel''s eyes narrowed at the young girl.

    His resolve to tread a dishonorable path, so long as it helped to achieve to his goals... this girl was mocking it! He couldn''t stand for such a deal that clearly proved disadvantageous to him.

    "I''m surprised you think you have a choice here. What do you think, Kuzon?" Ana chuckled as she nced at the boy behind her.

    "I think he''s being delirious if he thinks we won''t take away his Arcana and leave him stranded so we can destroy his evil organization. I mean... I said this already, but their goals won''t be achieved."

    The little energy on Beruel''s face suddenly drained when he heard Kuzon''s statement. He looked at the two kids and wondered what kind of evil spawned them.

    "Y-you guys..."

    "Don''t worry, Beruel. I''m sure you''re a meticulous man, so you must have collected the flesh and blood samples off your deadrades."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Subordinates. And yes, I did. I also tried replicating the cells while artificially creating bodies for them. Of course, without their souls, those are practically useless."

    "Well, Jared has an Arcana called [The Hanged Man]. It can revive your deadrades so long as those samples are present. The fact that they have bodies prepared even makes it easier, don''t you think?"

    "W-wha--?!"

    "I mean, you don''t have to be in the Nether Cult. I can save you, Jared can save your fallen subordinates, and as for your Fairy Kingdom, well... when you regain your body and subordinates, you can deal with that yourself."

    "A-ah, I see..."

    "But only after your time with me has expired. Plus, I don''t really like the idea of taking back the Fairy Sanctuary. Jane is such a nicedy, and everyone there is so happy."

    Beruel''s eyes widened upon hearing Ana''sst words.

    "J-Jane? You''ve met her?!" The pitch of his tone increased at this point.

    "Y-yeah, what of it?"

    "How is she? What does she look like now? Ah, she can make herself virtually immortal, so it''s practically the same. But she could still have gotten s-Gic surgery, so there''s a possibility she looks different. Does she still wear herb coat everywhere? What hairstyle does she have now? What is her...?"

    Ana slowly stepped back from the rambling Fairy King''s obsessive questions.

    His bloodshot eyes widened even more as he asked for more details, creeping out the young girl. To her, Beruel looked nothing more than a perverted old man.

    "W-well..." She could onlyugh awkwardly.

    "Looks like someone''s smitten. Our dear Fairy King still likes Miss Jane so much."

    "N-no! I''m not! I mean, I don''t like... her at all..." Beruel''s voice trailed.

    For a shut-in old man, he sure was exhibiting a lot of pep and energy. Besides, how could he lie to them when they had all heard his story not too long ago.

    "Then, how about this, I promise to tell you all I know about Jane if you decide to ept the bargain. I could even ask her stuff you want to know."

    "A-ah, is that so...?"

    "Yep. The thing is, I don''t think you''re a bad person, Beruel. That''s why I''m giving you this chance. I think you''re brilliant and, well, useful. I want to work with you and develop the ultimate mesh of Magic and Technology. Doing that, I''ll finally be able to surpass Lewis Griffith." Ana''s eyes were shining with excitement at this point.

    For a moment, silence prevailed. Everyone stared at Ana''s bizarre announcement with an odd look. It almost seemed like she was out of her mind.

    "Wait, what? You want to surpass Lewis? You? Hahaha!"

    "H-hey! Why are youughing.".

    "I knew Lewis back in the day. We shared contradicting opinions in terms of women and culture, but we got along finely. Do you know why?"

    "Uh, why?"

    "Because he was brilliant!"

 Chapter 654 Anas Deal [Pt 2]

    "Lewis Griffith was brilliant. A human without Magic would have been considered less than dung in my eyes, but this particr man... had simply been outstanding."

    Ana nearly rolled her eyes.

    She knew Lewis Griffith was amazing, and she had read enough of his thesis and propounded works to know it would take a great deal of work to surpass him.

    However, his achievements weren''t absolute!

    "I''m breaking into new waters that''ll revolutionalize everyone''s perception of Magic!"

    "Oh? Pray tell."

    "I''ll tell you after you join me."

    The deadlock between the two seemed to be inevitably growing stronger with each passing moment. It seemed neither would budge, at this point.

    "I would advise you not to underestimate this girl, Beruel." Kuzon''s voice finally broke into the silence as he walked closer to the man as well.

    "Hm? Even you too, young Midas?"

    "Indeed. She has exceeded my expectations more than once today. She''s a genius, an unrivaled one. I doubt Lewis Griffith was able to achieve even remotely close to what she has aplished when he was her age."

    "W-well..." Beruel was at a loss for words.

    Was his bias preventing him from seeing the obvious truth in front of him? Was this human girl really that great?

    "She was able to sort through your encrypted signal and locate you. She was also able to disconnect you from all your clones. She was able to defeat a Demon Lord far stronger than her. She has created Golems and Automatons that operate independently¡ªacting on pure algorithms, yet they''re able to act appropriately in every given situation."

    Beruel was shell shocked. He hadn''t expected so much from the girl. His widened eyes kept Ana in his focus, and he observed as she excitedly puffed her chest with pride.

    "That''s not even half as impressive as her current feat. She isn''t wrong about revolutionizing Magic. Ana discovered a new source of energy that is different from Mana and Miasma, and she did it purely based on research."

    Beruel''s eyes were bulging at this point, and it seemed like they would pop out of his baggy sockets.

    "Y-you mean¡ª!!!"

    "Yes. She discovered Aether."

    "B-but that''s impossible! Wait, she used the Arcana, didn''t she?"

    "No. Not at all. Ana has no Arcana at her disposal. She discovered it purely based on research and evidence. Not only that, but she was able to use this Aether as a base for tracking down your location and also interfering with yourmunicationwork to¡ª"

    "H-hey! Kuzon, don''t tell him everything! So the new energy was Aether? Darn it, Kuzon! Why did you have to say it to him? Now I have no leverage!" Ana interrupted Kuzon''s exnation with her surprised rants.

    "Haha! Well..."

    "How do you know so much, though? Don''t tell me... it has already been discovered and built upon? Damn..."

    Beruel''s thoughts were a mess, at this point. He was struggling toprehend how a mere child like her could have gone so far in the pursuit of Aether.

    ''I don''t even think Jane has achieved this much in that department.''

    "Youngdy, can I ask you a question? If you give me a satisfactory answer, I''ll ept your bargain, no questions asked. I''ll also abandon my ns for a conquest."

    Beruel''s eyes were dead serious at this point. He was still shell shocked, but he had to hear the truth from the horse''s mouth.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "How did you discover it? Just... give me a clue, at least." His tone was sullen, and his body trembled in anticipation.

    This was obviously a big deal. It was beyond impossible that a little child like her would have achieved so great a height in Magic that she attained Aether.

    Plus, Kuzon said she didn''t possess an Arcana¡ªwhich was how Beruel came into contact with it.

    So how...?

    "It seems like you guys know more about it than me, though. I''m still in the starting phase. What even is Aether?"

    Kuzon chuckled a little, instantly attracting a deadly re from Ana.

    Beruel wondered what to say. Even he didn''t have a proper definition of the concept. It was beyond him. The little he knew about the power was what had been shown to him.

    He knew it exceeded Mana and Miasma. He knew it was absolute. He knew it was the ultimate source of power in the world. However, what exactly could he use to define it?

    In the end, Beruel''s gaze fell on the young Midas.

    "Aether is the source of all life and energy. Some call it the Root. Some call it the Origin. It is the very essence of everything around us. Mana and Miasma are simply offshoots from it."

    Beruel''s face cracked into a smile once he saw Kuzon solve his dilemma.

    ''As expected of a Midas.'' He thought to himself.

    The Midas Race was known to be supreme in Magic. Their deep knowledge and connection to Aether was the most probable reason.

    "Aether is the purest kind of power to obtain, making it far more dangerous and useful. It''s what allows the Arcanas to control thews of this world."

    Ana''s eyes widened as she heard about what she had been studying. It was far bigger than she imagined. However...

    "You already know that much, huh? It sucks that I wasn''t the first to discover it."

    ... What was the point of her research when information on the subject matter already existed?

    "You''ll be surprised by how much we are yet to know about it, Ana." Kuzon smiled.

    "Uh?"

    "Answer my question, youngdy." Beruel added his voice to the mix, now getting impatient since Ana hadn''t addressed him yet.

    However, with a single re from the young female, even Beruel found himself shrinking back a little.

    At the very least, a bead of sweat fell from his head.

    "Well, whatever. It doesn''t matter at this point." Ana sighed.

    Suspense squirmed in Beruel''s heart as he awaited her answer.

    "I found it by examining the body part of the Demon Lord I defeated. I was able to extract a sizeable portion from her body before killing her."

    It was her first proper chance to study Miasma and how it operated. Who would have thought that it would lead her to yet another source of energy.

    ¡ªAether.

 Chapter 655 Aethers Discovery

    Ana realized the opportunity of a game changer when she got her chance to study Miasma.

    After defeating the Demon Lord, Lydia, she had been able to get samples from her¡ªincluding a huge chunk of her body that contained tons of exhaustible materials for research.

    Thanks to the heteromorphic nature of the Demon Lord of nc, Ana was able to carry out tons of experiments with the flesh samples¡ªwatching as it changed as long as she preserved the cells from dying off.

    It was time-consuming, and it took arge portion of her time. But¡ª

    "I did it! This is it, right? Miasma!"

    ¡ªHer hard work had actually paid off.

    She was able to understand the fundamental nature of Miasma thanks to her exposure to the Demonic Energy. Her hope? To surpass Lewis Griffith, and even Jared, but also discovering a way to use both Mana and Miasma that no one had thought of before.

    Thus, she studied the two energies side by side¡ªdown to their atomic structure and microscopic qualities. The interaction between the two energies was that of repulsion, but she had to understand why?

    What made them so distinct? Just how distinct were they?

    This question nearly drove her to the edge of insanity, but she persisted.

    Finally, she realized something.

    "They share one simr element. A corresponding link. The fragment is small, but they''re fundamentally simr..."

    Ana initially assumed it to be a fluke, but after examining many samples, she was able to confirm her suspicion.

    Mana and Miasma were rted by a connecting link.

    "There''s something present in one energy system that''s also present in the other."

    Unfortunately, anytime she tried to bring them together, the opposing elements of Mana and Miasma would interfere and the two energies would cancel each other out.

    It was frustrating, to say the least.

    Just what was this connecting factor? It was so miniscule that it would have escaped her notice had she not been actively searching every nook and cranny.

    She had to iste it in some way.

    Ana felt very lucky that Lydia''s body was very regenerative once connected to the proper nutritional source. It didn''t decay, and she was able to restore lost parts as long as more sustenance was pumped into it.

    The best part about the specimen was it''s ability to adapt to whatever Ana wanted. When Lydia was still alive, she could utilize both Mana and Miasma thanks to her shapeshifting abilities. This change urred down to her most basic level, so Ana was able to generatepletely different results based on what she wanted to test out using the Demon Lord''s flesh.

    Thus, she did.

    Upon isting the element from the energy by slowly draining the excesses, she was able to have two light sources¡ªfragments so miniscule that she wouldn''t have been able to notice them normally.

    She examined the one from Miasma, and then the one from Mana. They were the same. Then, the next thing to do was capitalize on their simrities and bring them together.

    Thus, that day marked Ana''s encounter with the sublime energy that permeated the world. The power of Aether.

    *

    *

    *

    "I created more samples and underwent the same process¡ªisting the new energy ¡ªuntil I had enough to make it visible as a power source. It was pure white, and the concentration of power was unlike anything I had ever felt."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Kuzon and Beruel silently listened to Ana''s exnation. They might not have disyed it, but the two men were awfully impressed.

    The Fairy King even felt downright stupid in the presence of Ana''s genius

    "I figured if humanity could tap into this power, we''d be able to advance our Magic use as a species, you know? Sigh. I''ve not achieved nearly enough in my research, and there''s a lot of work to be done, but..." Ana''s gaze fell as she stared at Kuzon.

    "But what?"

    "You said it yourself. It has already been discovered. There''s a lot you know about it¡ªat least, more than I do."

    Ana''s cheeks were flushed with frustration. It was only natural that she would feel upset, considering she just lost her only ticket to a victory against Lewis Griffith.

    "He probably even discovered Aether and didn''t include it in his works. I wonder how he would be able to discover it without any Mana, though. Even I found difficulty¡ª"

    "Lewis Griffith probably never discovered Aether. If he ever came across the energy, that means someone showed it to him... and that''s next to impossible."

    Ana''s eyes widened as she stared at Kuzon. His smile was genuine and he shrugged.

    "It''s impossible to even dream ofing close to interacting with Aether unless you have a Special Grade Mana Core. You have to have a vast amount of Mana, and you have to be special in some way."

    The young girl''s eyes could understand Kuzon''s words, but she couldn''tprehend what they meant.

    "Aether is the Hallmark of power. Only when Mana or Miasma is refined to the utmost degree will Aether manifest. Those other sources of energy are adulterated, inferior versions."

    Beruel nodded in agreement. While he was never able to use Aether beyond the manifestation of his Arcana''s ability, he still had a fair idea of how it worked.

    That was how he was able to infuse the energy from his Arcana into his newly made clones¡ªgranting them that power.

    "The Midas Race studied Aether and learned to harness it. That''s not because we isted the particles from Mana and Miasma like you did, but because we refined our Special Grade Mana Cores and artificial Mana Cores to the limit."

    "I-I see..." Ana responded to Kuzon.

    She still didn''t understand why he was telling her all of this. It was only proving her right as to how she was steps behind in Aether''s discovery.

    "You were able to do all of this from the scratch, Ana. That makes your process of discovery amazing¡ªbetter than anything anyone has ever done. Do you know why?" Kuzon moved closer to the girl.

    "Why?"

    "Because this is a method that guarantees the utilization of Aether by the ones who aren''t special. Think about it. If you can harness Aether... what does that mean for the rest of the world?"

    Ana''s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn''t seen it in that dimension. Kuzon had just opened her eyes to a new possibility she had never thought of before.

    A way to achieve her goals and best Lewis Griffith. Still, though...

    "... Are you saying I''m not special, Kuzon?"

    "Haha, well... you are special to me."

    Ana''s eyes narrowed at the golden-haired boy and he took that as his cue to step back, raising both hands in surrender.

    It was enough to cause Ana to break into a smile.

    "Thank you, Kuzon. Really... thanks."

 Chapter 656 Foe Turned Friend [Pt 1]

    "So, tell me, Beruel... after hearing all of that, aren''t you dying of curiosity?" Kuzon smiled, turning his focus to the dazed Fairy King.

    "W-what...?"

    The old Fairy was trying his hardest to hide it, but how could he deny the deep impression that Ana had made on him?

    She was unlike any other.

    "Don''t you want to see how she''ll go about improving your current condition? Even better... don''t you want to see what she''ll be able to achieve? The limits she''ll be able to exceed, especially with your assistance?"

    Beruel couldn''t deny the prospects.

    Ana was still young¡ªshe barely looked anything like a teenager, but Beruel didn''t think she was a child either.

    There was a lot of room for growth.

    ''Especially in some... proportions.''

    "H-hey! What are you looking at? Why are you squinting your eyes? What''s taking you so long to think about it? I answered your question, right? Make your choice already!"

    Beruel still wasn''t ustomed to being yelled at by a woman. In fact, he found it irritating and condescending.

    He was a male! He was superior! He was in charge!

    Well, Beruel just found the second female whom he didn''t mind was being unbelievably rude to him.

    First had been Jane, and now, Ana.

    "I see... so that''s how it is." Beruel chuckled throatily.

    Of course, this was followed by a violent cough.

    "Geez, don''t push yourself. How long do you have to live anyway?" Ana''s face disyed worry.

    The way she was seeing things, it seemed he would pass out at any moment. His sickly body seemed unbelievably weak.

    ''I wouldn''t want him to die before he gives me his answer.'' Her thoughts trailed.

    "Hmmm... let''s say a few more decades or so..."

    Ana''s eyes widened in surprise, and an "Eh?" leaked out of her lips.

    "If I''m lucky, maybe fifty more years? That''s only assuming I don''t exert myself any more than I already have."

    Ana hadn''t expected so much vitality to be left in the Fairy King''s body. It actually made no sense to her whatsoever.

    "Ah, I have a question. Why is your bodyrge, like a human''s? Shouldn''t it be small like a normal Fairy?"

    Beruel nodded at Ana and gave a tired sigh.

    "It''s to slow down the ageing process. Therger the mass, the slower the degeneration process is. If I had a smaller body, I''d grow old faster, due to my mass being smaller. Besides, our size is simply a result of evolution and setting. We can undo it if we really try."

    "Eh?" It was the first time she had heard such reasoning, but Ana chalked it down to Fairy Biology.

    ''A smaller body means fewer nutrients to keep it active, though. I have to assume that his body is slowly dposing and his cells are dying one after the other with barely any regeneration. If that''s the case, then it makes sense that a bigger body would be more useful.''

    "As for your proposal, human... I have decided to ept it."

    Beruel''s words instantly pierced through Ana''s bubble of thought, causing her to grin with excitement.

    "Perfect!"

    "But, before that, there''s something I have to ask from my future... partner..." He murmured hesitantly.

    "Hm? What is it?"

    "Y-your name? What is your name?"

    Beruel was unsure of whether he had heard it before or not, but he simply didn''t have any recollection of it.

    For a moment, an awkward air of silence permeated the air, as he waited for Ana to speak.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Then¡ª

    "Pfft. Hahaha... hahaha!"

    ¡ªYeah, Ana burst into an amused round ofughter.

    Beruel was mortified, but he kept his cool. If this was how he would always be treated, though, the Fairy King had to reconsider his position.

    "My name is Anabelle Frederick! My friends call me Ana, and soon... this world will know me as the Greatest Sage!"

    The girl burst into moreughter¡ªalbeit a confident one.

    Beruel couldn''t help but be charmed by her childlike and dreamy personality. He never had a real family or offspring, but... he felt like he wouldn''t mind having a child like Ana.

    A child that resembled Jane so well.

    "Very well, Anabelle Frede¡ª"

    "What are you doing?" Ana''s words cut him short.

    "Calling your name...?"

    "I said my friends call me Ana. From now on, we''ll be partners¡ªthough I''m the senior partner¡ªso we''re automatically friends!"

    Beruel couldn''t understand her line of thought, so he simply chalked it down to naivet¨¦. How could a female of her calibre demand his friendship?

    Still...

    "F-fine, Ana..."

    ... He didn''t make anyints. None at all.

    "... I ept your terms and conditions. I''ll dedicate twenty years of my life to helping you out with your projects and I''ll not attack the Fairy Sanctuary. In exchange, you''ll save me from this dying body and also convince your friend to resurrect my subordinates."

    "Perfect! It''s all recorded here!"

    Right in front of Beruel was a Magic Contract Parchment, and it glowed the moment Ana revealed it.

    That meant their agreement was recorded, and she had a means of enforcing it.

    "That is of no concern to me. I''m a man of my word." Beruel shrugged. "Now, let''s see what you can do, Ana."

    The Fairy King was staring at her with a smile, and Kuzon was also doing the same.

    Both men were curious about what she would do, and an air of suspense hung in the air.

    "I''ll use this."

    Summoned from a ring of hers was a white ball.

    The ball was asrge as a human''s head. It was round and smooth. However, and most importantly, it felt fresh and alive

    "This is the refined lump I was able to harvest from Lydia''s body. It''s full of ''Aether'' energy, as you call it, and it''s fully organic, so it''ll make for a perfect vessel for you."

    Beruel''s eyes popped wide open. Even from where he sat, he could sense the quality of the body.

    It was perfect.

    "Since the amount is small, you''ll only be able to assume your small Fairy form¡ªor any kind of form you desire, really. As long as the size remains within budget."

    Thanks to the heteromorphic quality of the material, Beruel could assume whatever shape he wanted.

    It was simply the most optimal choice.

    Only one question remained.

    "How do we transfer Beruel''s soul to the new body?"

 Chapter 657 Foe Turned Friend [Pt 2]

    "How do you intend to transfer his soul?" Kuzon''s voice ovepped with Beruel''s tone of awe as he kept observing his new vessel.

    The young Midas gave a small smile of curiosity, and his narrowed eyes told Ana that he was interested in how she intended on doing it.

    ''She''s going to surprise me, isn''t she?''

    Beruel nced at the two before the question finally registered in his head.

    "Ah, yes... the transfer. How will that work? I''ve tried many times to transfer myself to the numerous bodies I made, but... I can''t."

    Beruel wasn''t an expert at Soul Magic, so he couldn''t move his own soul from his body to another vessel.

    "Even for those with some experience and skill in Soul Magic, it''s difficult for them to transfer their own souls from their bodies. It''s much easier to do it for others."

    After all, when someone''s soul left their body, they were sort of dead. They no longer had any control or means of manifestation in the world.

    Beruel wasn''t even an expert in Soul Magic, to begin with. Even though he had made so many clones, none of them could be his new vessel.

    "Surely, you have a n to do that. I''m surprised, though. To think a young girl like you could utilize Soul Magic. You''re a genius." The Fairy King wasn''t stingy withpliments at this point.

    His excited gaze hadn''t left the vessel.

    "Well, I can''t use Soul Magic. I know about the concepts, thanks to Lewis Griffith''s books, Jane Urs''s project, and also Jared''s recent Soul Brand Magic. So, theoretically, I know of it..."

    "Eh?''"

    Beruel suddenly froze in his excitement and nced at Ana with an expression that seemed to be a hybrid between horror and shock.

    "What... are you¡­ saying?"

    If he heard her correctly, then Ana wouldn''t be able to help him. What was the point behind this whole project? He''d thought she had a n. Had she just been leading him on?

    ''No, no, that''s not possible. She even resorted to that Magic Contract. I mean, if she doesn''t fulfil her end, the contact will be nullified.'' Beruel''s thoughts rang.

    Even Kuzon gave Ana a quizzical look.

    With both men staring at her with such unfiltered surprise, Ana realized that she had to word her intentions more clearly.

    "Rx. Just because I can''t use it doesn''t mean I don''t have a n."

    The old Fairy sighed with relief. He had felt betrayed not too long ago.

    "The key to the n, however, is not me... but Kuzon."

    "Uh? Me?" Kuzon''s eyes widened the moment his name was mentioned.

    "Yes. If you utilize your Arcana, you can transfer the Soul from Beruel''s old body to this one."

    The room fell silent in a sh. Once again, the two males were in shock¡ªnot because they were impressed with Ana, but because of how ridiculous her idea sounded.

    "You want me to use [The Emperor] on his Soul? Really? What do you know about my Arcana''s ability?"

    "It can control anything, right?"

    "There are some conditions, but yes."

    "Even incorporeal or energy-based substances can be controlled, right?"

    "Well, yes..."

    Ana smiled at Kuzon''s response, indicating that she knew he could do the job.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Why factor me into this n at all? I remember not being interested in saving his life." The boy sighed in indifference.

    In response, she shrugged while smiling.

    "There''s another way, but that''s much tougher. The probability of its sess is also low, and I''ll probably need Jared''s help to make it more certain. If you want me to resort to that, then¡ª"

    "Fine, I''ll do it." Kuzon sighed.

    Kuzon''s swift response made Ana happy, causing her to p her hands while giggling with excitement.

    "That''s perfect! Thanks, Kuzon!"

    It wasn''t like she had given him much of a choice, though. The girl had simply used his rivalry with Jared as a way to get what she wanted.

    Besides, at this point, Kuzon wasn''t averse to Beruel''s cooperation. However, one problem had not yet been ounted for.

    "For me to use [The Emperor] on anyone or anything, I must be superior. However, my Soul is far younger than Beruel''s. That makes the equation imbnced."

    Ana smiled and shook her head in disagreement.

    "Use your Familiar as a base. It''s a Bond Soul, isn''t it?"

    "How do you know if it''s ancient enough?" Kuzon raised his brow in curiosity.

    "Gut feeling."

    The golden-haired boy sighed at his partner''s carelessness. He knew there were underlying principles behind her rash personality, but he couldn''t help wondering about the lengths she was willing to go to in order to achieve her goals.

    "Well, I guess that could work. To make the process smoother and painless, I''d advise Beruel not to resist."

    The Fairy King was nervous at this point.

    His eyes kept moving between Kuzon and his new body. He didn''t know how to feel about the boy, considering how his subordinate died at his hands.

    ''Well, I collected Murel''s body samples before his death. I wanted to create clones for him too. Thankfully, I still have them.''

    That meant he could revive him too. It was due to this very reason that he was able to bury his burning rage¡ªat least to an extent¡ªagainst Kuzon.

    Well, it was also because of what happened all those years ago... with the Midas Race.

    "I understand. Do it."

    A golden glow suddenly burst out of Kuzon''s body, and his eyes glowed ever so brightly. In a sh, the room was brightly lit¡ªeven more than normal.

    Kuzon moved closer to Beruel and ced his hand on the old Fairy''s body. This caused him to instantly fall unconscious.

    His body went from dry topletely pale and cold.

    It became evident after a few seconds... Beruel was dead.

    However, floating on Kuzon''s second hand was a bright orb shrouded in his golden energy.

    Kuzon''s eyes settled on the pure white mold in Ana''s possession, and he sent the bright cluster of light in its direction.

    Like a guided firefly the light danced as it progressed, until it finally entered the lump. The white sphere glowed, and it swiftly flew away from Ana''s grasp. It rose to the air and remained suspended for a moment.

    Then...

    ... It began to take form.

 Chapter 658 Metamorphosis

    "Haa.... haaa..."

    The white lump began squishing and moulding itself as it hovered in the air.

    First, it had a humanoid appearance, and then wings were formed behind it. Afterwards, details such as colours, clothes, shoes, etc., began manifesting.

    Beruel''s long, silver-coloured hair flowed behind him, and his handsome face appeared, bearing no resemnce to his previously sickly form.

    His appearance was that of pure royalty¡ªwith a sceptre, a crown, and a royal garb that told of his status as king.

    A king without a kingdom¡ªbut a king nheless.

    His clothes were gold and purple, and he donned ssy ck shoes. Once every detail of himself was settled, his wings finally took full bloom.

    Gold, silver, purple, and shades of ck. All four colours formed beautifullyrge wings that told of Beruel''s magnificence.

    "Haaa... finally. It''s been so long."

    Beruel opened his eyes and greeted the world around him as he grinned widely¡ªnow in his new body as a genuine youthful Elf.

    "I feel so alive!" His voice echoed throughout the vast room.

    "Hahahahaha! I''m so happy it worked. Amazing, isn''t it?" Ana excitedly yelled, jumping around with her little body.

    It brought her indescribable joy to see how sessful her experiment was. Even though she''d had help from Kuzon, this was still ground-breaking for the young girl. It was the transfer of life.

    A height she had never reached before.

    "So, this is Aether. This power coursing through me... it flows so freely within my body. It''s resonating so well with my soul." Beruel''s tone was shivering, almost as though he was experiencing overwhelming pleasure.

    "Stop acting weird, old man." Ana sighed. "Stay in one ce. I want to observe you some more."

    Beruel didn''t seem to hear Ana, though. He simply flew around in his smaller body, enjoying the freedom that had been deprived of him for so long.

    "Hahahaha!" His sparkly multi-coloured eyes took in the world around him, and they were filled with such life and wonder¡ªunlike his old self.

    Speaking of his elderly body...

    "Gross. Was this really how I looked like? Thank goodness I didn''t keep any mirrors around."

    ... The Fairy King was utterly repulsed by the ugliness of his old body. Fortunately, he no longer had any attachments to the shrivelled husk that had previously been his body.

    "I finally understand the appeal of body switching. I feel brand new, honestly. All my organs¡ªinternal and external¡ªfeel so fresh. Haaa..."

    The best part was the nature of his body''s material. It was fluid and solid at the same time. He could be whatever he wanted. The possibilities were endless.

    All in all, Beruel was happy. However, more than that, he was thankful.

    "You have my gratitude, Ana. Your actions have disproved yet another one of my biases." Beruel swiftly approached Ana, gently touching her hand. Though with his small size, the whole thing simply looked funny.

    "Haha, you''re wee."

    "I should have seen it before. With you and Jane around, I suppose some females aren''t inferior to males. Haha!"

    Veins appeared all over Ana''s face, but she controlled herself since the newly invigorated Fairy King didn''t know any better.

    Plus, Kuzon patted her shoulder from behind.

    "All in all, it was a sessful procedure. How badass is that?" The young Midas grinned with optimism.

    "Y-yeah. You''re right."

    It was amazing how the whole scenario had started, and how they were all seemingly allies now.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''It''s amazing... this change.''

    "I owe you my life, young Midas. Thank you." Beruel proceeded to touch Kuzon''s shoulders while donning a sincere smile.

    "No problem."

    "It''s a tragedy what happened back then. I certainly hope you get the justice you seek."

    "I''m not looking for justice, Beruel." Kuzon stepped away from the Fairy King, detaching thetter''s hold on his shoulder.

    "I want revenge. It''s that simple."

    Despite how distracted Ana was with observing Beruel''s body¡ªobserving every detail to ensure that it was perfectly suited for use, she couldn''t ignore Kuzon''s dark statement.

    She slowly approached him with a hesitant expression. They had been apart for very long, so Ana couldn''t say shepletely knew Kuzon. Even during the times they had spoken together in the past, she''d hardly known anything about him. Still...

    ... Their short time together had convinced Ana that they shared a bond. Perhaps it was friendship, or maybe it was something more. Regardless, she didn''t like the creeping darkness that seemed to shroud Kuzon and his past.

    As well as the fact that she didn''t know about any of it.

    "I still don''t know what happened to you in the past, Kuzon. What exactly went down?" Ana''s voice was low and uncharacteristically calm.

    While her eyes were filled with curiosity, she made sure to tame her impulses and instead addressed Kuzon gently. From the little she knew, his entire family, no, his whole race had been destroyed. The matter was a sensitive one, to say the least.

    "I don''t like talking about it." Kuzon''s response was cold, and understandably so.

    Ana knew she couldn''t be selfish and demand that he spill everything to her. Even if she decided to be adamant, he could easily refuse. Besides, Kuzon had helped her a great deal already. Not only had he been the one to convince Beruel, but he had assisted in the process.

    ''He didn''t have to, but he still helped me.''

    Ana appreciated Kuzon''s efforts, and all his support, which was exactly why she couldn''t just be silent when her friend was hurting. His past, whatever it was, seemed to be his major motivation.

    And the fact that he found it unsavoury to discuss meant it had to be very terrible.

    ''Should I just bring it up another time? Yeah, maybe that''s for the best.''

    Kuzon had to be tired from using his abilities a lot. He didn''t show any signs of exhaustion, but Ana knew how much he had exerted himself. They had experienced enough drama for the day.

    "Kuzon, I¡ª"

    "Well, would you look at this? Looks like a nice gathering..." A mysterious voice suddenly pierced the air.

    No one had sensed anyone or anything before the manifestation of the sound, and the moment it emerged, a figure appeared out of nowhere.

    He was floating directly outside Beruel''s chambers. His face¡ªespecially his smile¡ªclosely resembled Kuzon''s, and his golden hair floated behind him.

    With a sudden appearance and overwhelming pressure, this entity caused the initially lively trio to stop dead in their tracks and watch in shock, surprise, and horror.

    "... You don''t mind if I join in, do you?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Take a wild guess at who our neer is. Come on, just try to get the answer!

 Chapter 659 The Midas Confrontation [Pt 1]

    "You..."

    Silence rang in the room as Kuzon''s voice created an echo of anger, mixed with surprise and fear.

    The tension felt so thick that Ana couldn''t lift a single finger. She even had to remind herself to breathe. Her eyes had initially been fixated on the stranger, but they slowly trailed to Kuzon.

    Seeing his face, she didn''t know what hade over him.

    Never before had he shown such an expression!

    "Hey, Kuzon. It''s been a while." The Golden-haired man smiled while speaking.

    It seemed like he was the only one who was taking the situation with levity. His handsome face and well-ornamented body gleamed with delight as Kuzon''s appearance devolved into something sinister due to his foul mood.

    "KIDO!"

    Ana was startled by Kuzon''s raised voice. She was honestly terrified. The raw emotions Kuzon was disying far outssed anything he had ever shown.

    And his rising energy didn''t make things any better. The room felt like it hade to a standstill, waiting for someone to make the first move.

    "H-how did you find this ce?"

    Beruel spoke in a grim tone, floating closer to Ana and Kuzon while ring at the one known as Kido.

    "How? Hmm... let''s see. We Midas people have some sort of special connection. I can always sense Kuzon wherever he is."

    "W-what?! You''re kidding, right?" The Fairy King instantly burst into surprise.

    It made no sense whatsoever to him. If they could sense each other, then why would Kuzon be searching for Kido for so many years?

    Besides, if Kido was right, then the reason behind his appearance could all be med on Kuzon. As much as Beruel didn''t want to resort to that...

    "Of course, I''m joking. Hahaha!" With a burst of throatyughter, Kido put an end to the tense silence¡ªor at least, it was supposed to.

    However, it didn''t seem like anyone felt any less pressured. Even with Kido''s charm and seemingly funny personality¡ªthat is, his friendly and casual demeanour¡ªhis overwhelming presence made everything about him downright terrifying.

    "Now, then... Beruel¡ª"

    "KIDO... WHY ARE YOU HERE?!" Kuzon''s loud voice interrupted the speaker, and this time it seemed that his anger had grown to another level.

    "Two reasons. I came here to offer backup to Beruel since he''s a member of the Cult. It''s my responsibility to look after the weaker ones, after all..."

    "H-hey!" Beruel barked, but his tone was powerless at this point.

    "It doesn''t seem like you need saving, though. Looks like you''ve be chummy with these people. The fact that you''re in that younger form means you guys somehow reached apromise, right?"

    The previously bold Beruel shrunk back and looked away, with guilt written all over his face.

    "And your second reason?" Kuzon asked, still teeming with angry tension.

    "Ah, yes. I''m supposed to eliminate you. You''re bing a bother, so... you''ll have to die." Kido spoke so casually that one could have almost overlooked the weight behind his words.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "It''s about time, wouldn''t you say? For your death, that is!"

    "Hahaha! You''ve grown cheeky over the past couple of years, you know? Well, I''ll just fill you in on something. This should be fun..." Kido raised his hand, and a goldenpass appeared.

    Thepass glowed, and its arrow pointed in Kuzon''s direction.

    "I''ve always known where you were and what you''ve been up to thanks to this artifact. I just didn''t care enough to kill you. Well, maybe there was a bit of sentimental feeling as well. After all... you''re family." Kido gave a charming smile, tilting his head to one side.

    This was thest straw, and Kuzon couldn''t handle any more of it.

    "KIDO! YOU...!!!"

    >WHAP!<

    A loud sound permeated the dark room, and even outside, where Kido floated. It was the sound of someone nting a stinging p on a surface. Surprise filled everyone''s faces as they watched the unexpected scene unfold.

    "Get a hold of yourself, Midas boy. You won''t be able to win if you keep this up."

    It was none other than Beruel who hadnded the p on Kuzon. His expression was utterly serious, and even in his little form, his presence still rang of dignity and maturity.

    Kuzon was silent. He received the p without a word or any form of retaliation. His face was simply sullen.

    "I understand wanting so badly to kill your opponent. It makes your blood boil, doesn''t it? It makes you frustrated, doesn''t it? You just want to rip the enemy to shreds andugh atop their decimated corpse. However, if you give in to that pleasurable thought and indulge in your righteous rage, you''ll never win. Especially against someone of his calibre."

    Beruel sighed. It was only natural that the boy felt rage. He was, however, speaking as a much wiser and more experienced person. Despite how overwhelming one''s emotions were, they had to be put under control.

    "I see..." Kuzon''s voice finally leaked out.

    It was small and stiff, but most importantly, it was calm now¡ªdevoid of the excesses known as rage.

    Kuzon turned in the direction of the Fairy King. His eyes still shone with rage, and veins appeared all over his face. However, stered on his face was a smile.

    "Thank you Beruel... you too, Ana." His grin widened.

    It was quite impossible to tell if he was still as furious as before, but Beruel could understand after seeing the boy''s face.

    "That''s more like it, young Midas."

    "You know, whether or not you put your emotions under control, you won''t be able to win." Kido interrupted the highly emotional and wholesome moment with his dose of reality.

    The way he saw it, it was pretty much impossible for him to lose¡ªeither to Kuzon or all three of them.

    "I wouldn''t be too sure about that." Beruel grinned.

    ~So, do you guys have any ns?~ He went on to resonate his thoughts with the two teenagers.

    For Beruel, Kido was an opponent he was not certain of beating, even with their help. However, a proper n could save them. He didn''t think much about it before, but he already considered Ana and Kuzon as hisrades.

 Chapter 660 The Midas Confrontation [Pt 2]

    "Welp, it''s now pretty obvious that you''ve betrayed the Nether Cult, Beruel. I have every right to eliminate you. As for Kuzon''s girlfriend, I personally have nothing against you, but I''ll just treat you as coteral damage."

    "I-I''m not his¡ª!"

    "Yeah, yeah. You look just like his type. Hahaha." Kido waved off Ana''s response with such levity that one wouldn''t think he was trying to kill all three of them off.

    It truly was paradoxical how he interacted with them.

    Even Ana was surprised by her instinctive reply to him. It almost made it seem as though Kido was a likable father figure and not a mass murderer.

    "Beruel, Ana, stay out of this. It''s my fight, and I''ll be beating Kido with my own ability." Kuzon stared at his two partners.

    His focused eyes were enough to show them how much he meant it.

    "W-what? No way! There''s no way you can win! You can''t¡ª!"

    "I don''t remember asking for your input." Kuzon silenced Ana as he stared at his opponent.

    For some reason, Kido wasn''t attacking. He simply floated in the air, waiting for the three to resolve their conflict and fight him.

    "We can simply retreat. With Jared''s help, and Neron, and Serah... with everyone''s assistance, we''ll be able to win!" Ana protested desperately.

    She didn''t seem to care about Kuzon''s indifference towards her. Her sense ofpassion and worry for her dear friend outweighed the hurt she was feeling.

    "That''s enough."

    In a sh, Kuzon snapped his fingers, causing the Spell Card in Ana''s possession to glow. It shone brightly, warping space and surprising everyone present.

    "K-Kuzon, what are you¡ª!"

    "Young Midas!"

    The two couldn''t move thanks to Kuzon''s [Marite], and the blue swirl magnified. They all knew their looming fate, but their reactions clearly depicted how they much were trying to resist it.

    "Stop! Kuzon, don¡ª!"

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Even as the blue spatial rupture swallowed the immobile Ana and Beruel, they never ceased theirints and protests. Shock filled their faces as they were helplessly transported somewhere else.

    "You really think I''ll let them escape?" Kido''s voice interrupted the teleportation.

    "It''s not up to you," Kuzon responded with a more intense expression than before.

    An undeniably immense pressure swept the room, and the entire ce was covered with Kuzon''s [Marite].

    "You guys..." The golden-haired boy turned to watch the look of disbelief on his allies'' faces.

    Only their heads were still visible at this point. It was being consumed by the portal, but they weren''tpletely transported before Kuzon could give his farewell.

    "... Thanks for everything."

    >SHWUUUSSHHH<

    It seemed like Ana wanted to yell something¡ªperhaps she did¡ªbut her voice waspletely consumed by the swirling gate, and so was she.

    "Haa..."

    For a moment, silence permeated the area. Only Kuzon and Kido remained there, and they never stopped locking eyes. With one gaze filled with yful frivolity, and the other possessing boundless rage, they remained in this deadlock.

    Until...

    "That was a dumb move, you know? Letting go of your allies. You can''t beat me alone."

    Kuzon didn''t say anything. He simply continued to stare at Kido¡ªthe man he had once respected.

    "Well, even with the three of you it still wouldn''t have changed the oue. Still, Beruel''s new body seems to be flowing with Aether, and his Light Magic is pretty good. I understand wanting to protect your woman, but weren''t you too harsh? I mean, she seemed hurt."

    "That''s none of your business."

    "Well, maybe. But it would suck if thest thing you did before your death was to upset her. I can imagine her having to live through all that."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Kuzon remained silent. Perhaps he was sorting through his thoughts on how to defeat the man who was currently suspended in the air. Kido''s appearance hade as a surprise to him, as well as everyone else.

    It wasn''t difficult to understand why Kuzon would be stuck on how to make do with the situation.

    "Well, she''ll be joining you shortly, so I suppose it''s not so bad." Kido noticed Kuzon''s re intensify once he made this statement.

    "You''ll never find them."

    "Hahaha! Debatable. Besides, they''re your good friends. I''m sure they''ll return here as soon as possible. I should kill you quickly and then kill them too. I really should, right?"

    "We''ll see about that." Kuzon''s statement seemed to ring of utmost confidence.

    Golden sparks of lightning covered his body, and his golden hair glowed ever so brightly. His irises shone bright gold, and markings appeared around them¡ªlike tattoos.

    "Ah, Mage Mode. Brings back memories. You could do that since you were a kid, right? My brother was so proud of you. Such talent, even for a Midas..."

    Kuzon ignored Kido''s gratifying statement and put his Original Magic into action. Pouring as much Aether as he could into his threads, he made the most durable kind and wrapped himself in golden-coloured clothing.

    With his appearance now changed, after the manifestation of his Mage Mode and Original Magic, Kuzon proceeded to utilize his Familiar.

    "Xenia, full power. As much as my body can handle..."

    ~It''s not toote to retreat, Kuzon.~

    "Xenia... please."

    In response to his pleas, golden mes manifested around Kuzon. ming wings appeared behind him, pping to create waves that easily destroyed the small room that was already melting away.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    With everything gone in the blink of an eye, Kuzon and Kido found themselves in therge but damaged hall.

    With Kuzon now transformed into an ascended being, even the surroundings began to crumble. The only thing¡ªor rather, person¡ªthat seemedpletely fine¡ªwas Kido.

    Kuzon''s legs and hands were now pure golden mes, and his wings were gloriously keeping him afloat. His hair also seemed like bursts of me, and he still retained the effects of both his Mage Mode and Original Magic.

    This was the culmination of Kuzon''s power.

    "Not using your Arcana?" Kidomented with a brilliant smile of expectation coursing through his face.

    "There''s no point. It won''t work on you since you have [The Empress]."

    "Well, true..."

    "I have a question, though." Kuzon''s face was calm.

    Even as the whole world burned around him, he no longer seemed bothered, troubled, or angry. He was quite simply lulled.

    "Why aren''t you doing anything... Kido?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The long-awaited sh is upon us. Who will win? Kuzon or Kido!!!

    I know we''re all rooting for our boy, but this seems difficult already. Anyway, leave ament and let me know your thoughts.

    Also, ever thought of joining the Discord server? You can get ess to character arts, interact with the author, and other readers, and also get book updates. Well...

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    ... Here you go.

 Chapter 661 Kidos Offer

    "Why aren''t you doing anything?"

    Kuzon was at his peak, and his body was oozing with great power, yet the opposite could be said about Kido. Unlike the young Midas, the older man simply floated while watching in amusement.

    "I simply wanted to judge for myself how much you''ve grown." He shrugged.

    Even as everything around him burned and melted in response to Kuzon''s transformation, Kido still seemed perfectly fine. He simply waited for whatever Kuzon would do next.

    ''Damnit... that Arcana of his is troublesome...'' Kuzon found himself thinking as he red at his uncle.

    [The Empress] was an Arcana that served as the counter of [The Emperor], but that wasn''t all it was useful for. There was a reason why the Midas Empire had been considered the strongest nation due to their possession of both Arcanas.

    "As you are well aware, [The Empress] prevents any act of control over me¡ªwhether from your Arcana or any other factor."

    There were many uncontroble things in life, and [The Emperor] could tame them. Controlling the weather,manding gravity, dominating wills¡ªthey all fell under the purview of [The Emperor].

    As for its counterpart, the effect was the opposite.

    "I can never be affected by anything. Concepts like harm, gravity, mind control, or this ''heat'' effect you have going for yourself. Nothing you do will affect me in the slightest."

    It was a broken ability that ensured Kido remained undefeated, especially with Kuzon as his opponent. Laws couldn''t work on him, and the effects of other Arcanas cancelled themselves out when they were used against it.

    However...

    "Why are you acting as if you''repletely invincible?"

    ... This all seemed too good to be true.

    "I know the weakness of your Arcana. I know if you overload it with too many things to protect you from, it''ll have to take a cooldown period of one hour per day." Kuzon began gathering his energy, preparing to strike.

    "Right you are, and how certain are you that I haven''t already experienced the burnout phase?"

    Kido smiled casually, almost as if he wasn''t bothered by Kuzon''s knowledge. No¡ªit was more like he was expecting it.

    "I have absolute resistance against everything. Plus, I''m actually more powerful than you are. Mage Mode? Original Magic? Fusion Form? I learned those ages ago. Also, even though you''re equipped with three of the most treasured items of the Midas Royal Family, I have so many treasures at my disposal thanks to the fall of the kingdom."

    Kuzon couldn''t hide his rage or his disgust for the man in front of him. His eyes were bloodshot, as he gritted his teeth in frustration. Still, even with the swirling emotions of hate and anger he was currently experiencing, Kuzon knew better than to mindlessly charge in.

    ''Kido is very intelligent!''

    A man who had been able to plot the downfall of the Midas Empire couldn''t be underestimated. Besides, Kido outssed him in every way possible. The only reason Kuzon had taken his current form was so he would be able to keep up with Kido''s speed and attacks.

    And, to his surprise, his uncle wasn''t budging. Rather, he was assuming his talkative nature and throwing words around.

    "In short, I''m stronger than you are. Plus, I have the perfect ability to nullify literally anything you can throw at me. The only one I know who surpasses me in that department is that Subus, Karlia. The bottom line is¡­ you can''t beat me, Kuzon."

    "So what? You expect me to forget the past and move on?" Kuzon was nearing his limit, at this point.

    The limit of his patience, that is.

    "Nah! That would be too dull and anticlimactic. I''m saying you should join me. I remember how we used to have fun in the past. You and I have always had a deep, indescribable bond, you know?"

    Kido''s teeth sparkled as his golden hair swerved back and forth. His golden earrings, his nes, his bracelets, his hair essories, all of them glittered as he made his unexpected offer.

    "So, what do you say?" Kido stretched out his hand¡ªone in which there was at least one ring on each finger.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Silence followed Kido''s offer, and Kuzon simply stared hard at the older Midas for a moment.

    Suddenly, his anger seemed to dissipate. The veins that appeared on Kuzon''s face slowly vanished, and he stopped gritting his teeth.

    Slowly, a smile took over. Kuzon donned his usual smile, and he took deep breaths to help him achieve that.

    After pausing for seconds, simply inhaling and exhaling, Kuzon finally gave his response.

    "You are insane."

    "Ah...?" Kido''s face, which previously had an excited smile, fell in disappointment.

    "I thought hard and long about why you would go about destroying our entire Empire, but I''ve finally figured out the reason... you''re insane."

    Kido sighed at this point, shrugging off Kuzon''s statement. He was utterly displeased, no doubt. However, there was another thing hidden behind his disappointment.

    Something unexpected.

    "I thought you of all people would understand. But I guess that isn''t the case. It really is a shame."

    "There''s no point in reasoning with a lunatic."

    In a sh, golden embers of light surrounded Kido, and several swords that were made by condensing Aether manifested.

    "Oh?" Kido looked around him in surprise.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    The des, which were controlled by Kuzon, zoomed towards Kido. However, just as exined earlier, the attack was nullified.

    But it wasn''t due to his Arcana''s aid.

    "Even without my Arcana, I have many defensive items with me. You''ll have to do better than that... or so I''d like to say, but I''ll be ending things now."

    Kuzon felt a chill envelope his body the moment Kido spoke. His opponent was still smiling, as usual, but something about him had changed.

    It seemed he waspletely serious¡­ and that frightened Kuzon!

    "Original Magic..."

    ''What should I do? Beruel never mentioned what his Original Magic is. I should keep my distance and¡ª!''

    >FWUUUSH<

    In a sh, Kido appeared right in front of Kuzon.

    "U-uh¡ª!"

    Before the boy could think of retreating or moving out of the way, the older Midas whispered words into his ears.

    "Sorry, kid... but this is the end of the line."

 Chapter 662 Realm Of The King

    "U-uh...?"

    Kuzon felt very disoriented as he opened his eyes. His whole body felt strange, as though he had been stripped of so much power.

    Everything around him felt surreal, but it wasn''t until after he opened his eyes and took in his environment that everything started to make sense to him.

    Or, at the very least, it cleared him of a certain confusion. Although, it gave him a new one in the process.

    "Where is this ce? Where am I?"

    Kuzon stood¡ªor rather, he was floating¡ªin apletely nk void.

    It was a simple white ne, with nothing around for miles and miles.

    This ce defied what Kuzon already knew about the world. It was just... empty.

    "Wee to the Realm Of The King. This is my Original Magic." A voice appeared from behind Kuzon, causing the boy to swiftly retreat from his position.

    "No need to run." Once again, the voice came so close to Kuzon that the boy felt Kido was right behind him.

    >FWOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Thankfully, he was still in his transformed state. Kuzon picked up his pace and tried to remain moving. However¡ª

    "It''s pointless, really."

    ¡ªno matter what he did, Kido''s voice still seemed to cling to him.

    ''What is going on?''

    "I am omnipresent and omnipotent in this world. It''s literally my world."

    Kuzon heard a snap of fingers, and suddenly, he felt heavier than normal.

    ''W-wha¡ª?!''

    The new weight of this world forced him to fall uncontrobly. He couldn''t fight the crushing weight on him, and he kept descending even deeper into the pure white space.

    "I can do and undo."

    Suddenly, a vast grassynd appeared amid the white space.

    "Wha¡ª?!" With the speed at which he was falling and the newnd that suddenly appeared beneath him, Kuzon knew he was on a direct collision course.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    A huge crater formed on the ground, and within it was the young Midas, looking dazed and confused¡ªbut unscathed.

    "Tch!" Now bursting with more golden power, Kuzon struggled to ascend despite the overwhelming weight of gravity pressing down on him.

    And then, he finally seeded.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    Rising from the cloud of smoke and debris, Kuzon looked around him for signs of Kido, but couldn''t find any sign that would help his search.

    ''There''s so much Aether here... I can literally see the particles.''

    Amazed by this world he currently upied, the young Midas kept his guard up, trying his best to calmly analyze his situation.

    ''I can maintain this form for quite a while, but the problem is how to beat Kido.'' Kuzon knew his options were limited.

    His Arcana didn''t work on Kido.

    His Original Magic paled inparison to Kido''s.

    His Magic prowess was flimsypared to his opponent''s.

    In physical ability, Kido far outssed him.

    ''He hasn''t even used his Familiar yet, and he''s not using Mage Mode or anything like that. This is simply how powerful Kido is...''

    However, something about that bothered Kuzon. If his opponent was so powerful, why hadn''t he killed him yet?

    He has had multiple chances to do so already. What is he waiting for? I don''t understand...

    "Don''t worry your pretty little head. Why don''t I give you something to do?" Kido''s voice echoed all around the strange new world.<novelnext></novelnext>

    In a sh, several swords began manifesting from thin air. They numbered hundreds of thousands, at the very least. Each sword contained a good amount of Aether, and Kuzon was certain that their potential of harm was greater.

    ''Shit. I can''t use [The Emperor].''

    That meant he had to rely on his battle prowess.

    ''At least, until...'' Kuzon observed his surroundings and realized that he was surrounded.

    The boy knew he was in trouble at this point.

    Choosing to use [Marite] to create counters for these weapons was a valid tactic, but he had to produce as many as the ones that surrounded him.

    ''I can''t make so many if I want to have the same quality they have.''

    That meant he had to utilize them strictly for defence.

    ''I''ll create a strong protectiveyer. But what about offence?''

    He had multiple spells at his disposal, but none were sorge-scale that they could handle so many threats.

    At this point, Kuzon decided to resort to the most optimal solution.

    ''Xenia, I''ll need you to bail me out of this one. We''ll need one of your special abilities.'' He sighed.

    ~I thought you''d never ask. mes Of Erasure, I''m guessing.~

    ''That''s right. I''ll handle defence, so just burn through everything.''

    ~You know, if you just let me loose, I could do more.~

    ''No... I want to kill him myself. I can''t just call it quits before I even try everything within my disposal or because things have gotten tough.''

    If Kuzon was being honest with himself, he had a couple of options, but those either required time or couldn''t be used for too long.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    The des descended, and Kuzon swiftly used his Marite ability to shroud himself in the densestyer of thread he had ever created.

    The sphere of protection glowed golden, preventing the iing harm that would cause him great harm.

    >CLANG!<

    >CLANG!<

    >CLANG!<

    He felt de after de trying to pierce his haven, all to no avail. Like metal scraping metal, the sharp edges chipped at the walls of his thread sanctuary.

    "Now, Xenia."

    ~Yeah, yeah!~

    Kuzon''s ming wings suddenly spread outside the ball of protection, shrouding it in golden fire.

    And then¡ª

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    ¡ªIt quickly swept through the massive realm, consuming every de it spread to.

    The mes Of Erasure acted as their names described. They disintegrated the numerous des that would have caused more harm and trouble.

    In a sh of golden mes, the legion of swordsbusted and became vaporized.

    ~The job is done. But, using you as a medium would have exhausted you a great deal. Are you sure you can keep going?~

    At this point, Kuzon was seating within his cot of threads. His eyes seemed tired, but he was still stubbornly resolute.

    ''I need to spot the location of Kido''s real body. Lend me your eyes, Xenia.''

    ~Will your body be alright? You just used mes Of Erasure.~

    ''I should be fine. After all, I n on ending this soon.''

 Chapter 663 Kuzons Resolve

    ''I n on ending this soon.''

    ~Don''t tell me... you''re going to use it again? Kuzon, your body! This is really dangerous. If this is what you want to do, then I won''t assist you anymore. I won''t allow you to risk your life.~

    The young Midas gave a knowing smile and sighed.

    ''I have a n, but I can''t do this without you. Will you really abandon me at this crucial stage? This is the moment I''ve been waiting for my whole life. This is what I''ve always trained and worked hard for!''

    Drops of tears were falling from Kuzon''s eyes at this point, and they became vaporized the instant they came into contact with the air.

    ''I will kill Kido right here and now, and I don''t care if I die while doing it. Do not forget the basis of our arrangement.''

    ~W-wait, Kuzon... I¡­~

    ''You provide me with power when I want to kill Kido, and in exchange... I''ll set you free to see the world beyond this one. Well, you''re in luck...''

    The Familiar was silent, at this point. Kuzon had spoken the truth, after all. The underlying basis of their contract couldn''t be refuted.

    "... After today, you''ll be free."

    ~I can see the future, Kuzon. I can see everything. You''ll die if you do this.~

    A smile formed on Kuzon''s face and he nodded slowly. His sweat slowly started to dry up, and the tears in his eyes ceased.

    ~Are you okay with that?~

    ''Will I win?'' The Midas boy swiftly responded.

    That was all that mattered.

    That was all he wanted.

    ~You will. You''ll win, but¡ª~

    ''Then I don''t care. I''ll join my family in the afterlife, and the Midas Race willpletely vanish from this ne of existence.'' Kuzon''s smile was sad.

    No one wanted to die, and he was no exception.

    However, his resolve to do anything to win far surpassed his fear of mortality.

    ~What of your friends? You''d really die and abandon them in this world? Do you not consider how they''ll feel? What of that girl you like? Ana, right?~

    Kuzon''s smile faded, and his face darkened. He had tried his best, but he couldn''t hold it anymore.

    "S-stop it already, Xenia..." At this point, a stream of tears flowed from the boy''s gleaming eyes.

    He thought of the two people he cherished most in the world. He thought of the girl he had grown so attached to, and the boy who kept surprising him beyond expectations.

    Their rtionship was flimsy and unconventional, and he didn''t have many memories with them, but... Kuzon had never felt close to others, other than his family.

    They were his friends.

    "... Don''t make this any more difficult than it has to be."

    The young Midas was stunned by how his heart ached and how the tears wouldn''t stop. He had been able to pull off so many bizarrely calm facades during the most critical moments of his life, however, hisposure was failing him here.

    "I don''t want to die here... I don''t want to die, but..."

    He was only a teenager, wasn''t he? He wasn''t even an adult yet. Even with his power, the young heart he possessed wouldn''t let him have his way.

    "... But if I don''t kill him now, I won''t be able to live with myself. This is my purpose. It''s the reason I''ve done everything till now."

    At this point, Xenia realized she couldn''t stop the young boy from his mission. It was tragic to see her host die, but...<novelnext></novelnext>

    ~Very well. I will grant you my eyes.~

    Kuzon nodded with a smile, drying his tears as he made his final preparations.

    "Right here and now... I''ll erase the Midas Race from this world!"

    *

    *

    *

    [The Base]

    >VWOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHHHH<

    Space warped, and a blue burst of energy appeared. In a vast in, which had nothing around except for a single building, the wormhole grewrger.

    In a sh, the denizens of the only structure present in the vicinity lunged out of their abode. Each of them had prepared expressions on their faces, and they were ready for whatever would emerge from the spatial warp.

    And then¡ª

    "Is that...?" The voice of the blond boy at the centre rang out as his eyes widened with relief.

    Even though he had sensed the signature in the portal to be simr to the ones he generated from his Spell Card, he had still been sceptical considering there was another energy mixed in.

    Fortunately, the ones who emerged from the warped blue portal weren''t worthy of apprehension¡ªwell, only one of them was.

    ''What''s he doing here?'' The blond boy thought as the two fully made their appearance and the portal closed.

    "Haaa... haaa..." The blond girl who now knelt on the ground was panting heavily, her face full of worry.

    "W-where are we?" The one beside her spoke in confusion.

    His small frame moved around as he scoured the area to get a fair idea of their surroundings, before finally noticing the group that silently watched him and his female partner in surprise. Recognizing the blond boy from an earlier sh they''d had, the winged man knew he had to quickly rify his position.

    "A-ah, wee in pea¡ª"

    "Ana? Beruel? What''s going on here?"

    Yes, this awkward reunion was between Jared alongside his allies, and Ana along with Beruel. With the two suddenly popping out of nowhere, it raised a lot of questions and confusion. For one¡ª

    "Where''s Kuzon? Why is the Fairy King with you? Isn''t he a member of the Nether Cult?"

    Jared appeared more confused than anyone else, considering he had many thoughts concerning the particr issues at hand¡ªespecially his belief of Ana being with Kuzon and Beruel being the enemy.

    His entire logic seemed to be crumbling.

    "N-now isn''t the time for that. I''ll exin everythingter, but right now... right now we need to go back!" Ana''s tone was panicked, and her voice rang of desperation.

    It surprised Jared.

    "What''s going on? Why do you need to return?"

    "It''s the young Midas... he''s in trouble," Beruel spoke up, having a more collected tone than his female partner.

    However, his grim tone made the situation even more dreary.

    "We need to help him."

 Chapter 664 Emperors Requiem [Pt 1]

    ''Hmmm...'' Kido thought to himself as he observed the golden orb that shrouded Kuzon.

    It served as ayer of protection that prevented his highly destructive projectiles from touching him. Not only was the cocoon defensive, but it served as a blot of interference that Kido found displeasing.

    ''I can sense and see everything within this Realm... everything except what is within that sphere.''

    It felt like the orb had be Kuzon''s little domain within Kido''srger, all-epassing territory.

    ''Well, it really doesn''t matter...''

    All the boy could do was buy time anyway. He knew fully well his limits, and that it wouldn''t be nearly enough to win. [The Emperor] couldn''t work in his domain, which was one of the rules he set within this world.

    The Aether within the Realm Of The King was made ording to his desires, so they were different from the ones capable of being ruled by the [The Emperor] Arcana. All of this was thanks to fusing his Arcana with his Original Magic.

    ''It''s immune to practically any attack, and it is absolutely within my control. The ultimate realm in which I am god.''

    Kido didn''t mean to underestimate Kuzon, but he knew full well that he couldn''t lose.

    An omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being in a world that waspletely under hismand. What could possibly stand against him?

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    Kido felt his territory tremble, and he was amazed by the cause.

    "So, you decided to use that trump card of yours, eh?" He grinned from where he watched.

    He could manifest anywhere he desired, but what good would that do now? That was his thought as he watched Kuzon emerge from his golden cocoon.

    The young boy was doused in golden light from top to bottom¡ªlike a sculpture made from the finest of gold. He had a crown hovering around his head, and several, golden, ss-like shards floated around him.

    Wings were still behind him, and a halo dwelled beneath his feet. His attire was that of a king¡ªno, an emperor.

    "Emperor''s Transfiguration. I''ve only ever heard of it or seen images. Seeing one with my very own eyes really is something else."

    The area around Kuzon oozed with his glory, and it seemed like the newly transformed boy had be a walking aberration in Kido''s realm. This was, of course, within the older man''s expectations.

    "What will you do now, Kuzon?"

    *

    *

    *

    ''I can see him...'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed.

    The sight of his Familiar exceeded his expectations. Not only could he clearly see the strangely structured Aether that pervaded this world, but he also saw the influence of [The Empress] on each and every particle.

    The world seemed to stretch infinitely, but Kuzon was able to see its borders. If perhaps he could get there, he would be able to escape, but the boy would do anything but that. He had already made his resolve, and his currently transcended state proved that.

    "What will you do now, Kuzon?" He heard Kido''s voice echo throughout the world, but he was able to trace his location¡ªnot like that did him any good.

    ''We''re inside him... his Core.''<novelnext></novelnext>

    Kido''s Original Magic was the ability to transform the Core within his body into an indefinitely expanding domain that waspletely under his control. He was able to manifest this domain as a seemingly physical world, trapping Kuzon''s physical self within it.

    In short, Kuzon was within Kido.

    ''He really is omnipresent. As for omnipotent, that checks out too.''

    Kido could do and undo in this world. The only thing Kido couldn''t control was Kuzon himself.

    "I now understand why you didn''t kill me even when you had the chance to. I know why you brought me here. You want to absorb my power, don''t you?" Kuzon whispered.

    "Spot on!"

    Not only was Kido''s reply instant, but it also didn''t contain any hesitation. His confidence showed how impossible it was for Kuzon to escape.

    A smile formed on the young boy''s face, regardless. A hint of mischief, and even far greater confidence settled within him.

    ''Who said anything about escaping...?''

    "Your tools have a mechanism of automatically reacting if an unregistered person attempts to collect them. To prevent the hassle of bypassing the mechanism¡ªassuming I''m even able to¡ªI decided to bring you here and directly absorb you once you''re susceptible."

    Kuzon remained stationary, listening to his uncle''s rant. He still hadn''t changed his perspective of the man. Kido still seemed like the epitome of insanity.

    "We have all day, you know? Time is basically nonexistent here. We''ll be long done before any of your allies even think of rescuing you. Moreover, I don''t think I''ll have to wait very long to get what I want. It seems... the side effect of using that power has already begun to have its impact."

    Kuzon''s eyes twitched a little. Kido was incredibly observant¡ªas expected of the man who brought down the Midas Race.

    "Your body is slowly getting petrified, isn''t it? If you remain in that form, it''ll cause irreparable damage and you''ll slowly turn into a golden statue. You''ll die if you keep this up, though I understand why you''ll want to remain in it."

    Kido was overwhelmingly powerful. The only way Kuzon could handle both offence and defence was for him to be practically indestructible and invincible. That was what this form offered him.

    "As long as you remain like this, nothing can harm you. You also have ess to as much Aether as you want without expiring. The perfect form for unleashing power. That''s why I''m so confused. Why aren''t you doing anything?"

    Kuzon''s grin grew much broader once he heard his uncle''s amused, yet confused statement. He remembered how he had asked the same question a few moments earlier.

    At this point, they were both at a stalemate. Kuzon and Kido were indestructible. They also possessed nigh-infinite power. The only determinant was TIME.

    "You''ll expire long before I even break a sweat, Kuzon. If you want to turn this into a battle of attrition, you''ll be losing big time."

    *

    *

    *

    Will Kuzon die?

    Will Kido lose?

    Will the team arrive on time?

    The answer will be revealed in the next chapter as this confrontation reaches its closing phase.

 Chapter 665 Emperors Requiem [Pt 2]

    Kuzon waspletely still, shining with a golden splendour in his new form.

    Every second that passed meant more time was expiring for him, yet he made no move. Kido, who watched this began to get curious.

    ''Why won''t he do anything? Is there something he''s trying to do? Something I left out?'' He observed carefully.

    Kuzon''s entire field was covered in his energy, and the Aether that filled Kido''s world couldn''t get to him, so all thetter could do was make guesses based on observation.

    However, so far everything seemed to add up.

    ''Nothing has really changed, yet...''

    "Maybe I''ll try this."

    *

    *

    *

    >VWOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH<

    In an instant, Kido manifested in the Realm Of The King.

    He stood a distance from Kuzon, grinning widely. His many Magic Items jiggled as he faced the young man.

    "You were looking for me, right? Here I am."

    "I don''t care."

    "Come on, don''t be like tha¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    In an instant¡ªno, much faster than that¡ªKuzon closed in on Kido and effortlessly pressed down on his shoulder.

    "I said... I don''t care."

    Instantly, Kido''s body transformed into goldpletely petrified by Kuzon''s single touch. Of course, this was simply a manifestation and not the real one.

    "You know that''s pointless, right?" Another Kido appeared behind Kuzon, smiling as gleefully as the earlier one.

    "Of course you know."

    "I bet you do."

    "What''s the deal, Kuzon."

    "What''s the matter, Kuzon?"

    "What''s your n?"

    Several more Kido avatars popped up in the strange new world, and they all surrounded Kuzon.

    "Each avatar of mine possesses all the abilities I have in real life. Needless to say, they''ll be good punching bags for you." This time, the voice came from all over the vast realm.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    The hundreds of Kidos flew in Kuzon''s direction, all travelling faster than the boy would have been able to evade. However, this time, he could see everything.

    Not only because of his newly heightened state, but because of the eyes he possessed. Everything they were going to do, the line of action, their capabilities.

    He saw them all.

    However, nothing mattered at this point.

    >SSHHHHHHHHWUUUUSSHHH<

    A few of the several golden ss-like shards around Kuzon swiftly moved, turning into smaller pieces.

    Before Kido could get to his target, each particle of ss¡ªnow nothing more than a sparkle¡ªswiftly moved towards each of the hundreds of different Kidos and made contact.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!<

    They all exploded in a golden st,pletely obliterated as Kuzon floated at the centre, totally unbothered.

    "It''s time." He whispered.

    "Oh? Time for what? Finally taking action? What are you going to do?"

    Kido''s echoing voice of excitement and curiosity gave the young Midas a sense of satisfaction. He was grateful that his uncle hadn''t noticed all that he was doing during his times of inaction and the littlebat he''d experienced.

    ''Now, let''s execute it...''

    "[The Emperor]"

    A card manifested in front of Kuzon, disying a golden brightness and an illustration depicting a powerful ruler. It was an Arcana¡ªKuzon''s Arcana.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "The Emperor? It doesn''t work here, remember? [The Empress] cancels it out."

    Kuzon merely smiled at Kido''s statement. His uncle was right, but also wrong.

    "You''re omnipotent, right? So riddle me this..." [The Emperor] shone brighter as Kuzon spoke.

    Suddenly, his area of influence began to expand. The glow started to slowly take over more of his vicinity.

    "... What happens when an unstoppable spear meets an immovable shield?"

    The question was a paradox, and the closest answer to the correct one would be that they cancelled themselves out.

    Both elements were deemed invincible, but when they shed with each other, they would be finite, and as such, would end up destroying each other.

    Kido knew this already, but why was Kuzon asking him?

    ''Don''t tell me¡ª!!!'' The omnipotent being widened his eyes in realization.

    "The answer has been quite simple all along. [The Emperor] exerts dominance, and [The Empress] retains it, rejecting interference. The sh between the two often results in nullification..."

    "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Kido''s voice echoed throughout the vast world, and several versions of himself manifested in the Realm Of The King.

    He was visibly upset, and he had a disapproving look when he stared at Kuzon.

    "... But what happens when there are two unstoppable spears and one immovable shield?"

    Usually, there would be no difference in the variance of infinity, but reality was a different ball game entirely. If one against one cancelled the other, what would happen if an equally stronger power entered the equation?

    "The answer is, of course, that the spear would win. I am the spear."

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    The several avatars of Kido suddenly had their bodies impaled by golden spears made from mid-air. des made from the very fabric of the Realm Of The King.

    "W-what??!"

    "I''ve taken over a sufficient portion of this realm. Every second I spend here will give me even more control. Once I obtain full dominance over everything, it''s game over... for you."

    Kido was still stunned by how Kuzon had managed to pull something like this off. Something not even he had anticipated.

    It all boiled down to one thing.

    "One of those artifacts of yours... they have a hidden function, don''t they? Something I don''t know about?"

    Kuzon smiled and shrugged.

    "You aren''t revered as a genius for nothing."

    In essence, while he wasn''t going to tell his secrets, Kuzon already implied that he was correct. This made the absolute confidence that the older Midas had slowlye crumbling down.

    Hisckadaisical attitude soon vanished, and what reced his eyes was fierce determination.

    "I''m not allowing this."

    >VWUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM<

    Suddenly, a huge shockwave manifested within the Realm Of The King, a distance from Kuzon''s area of influence.

    The distortion¡ªor rather its cause¡ªcaught the young Midas'' attention, and he noticed it fast approaching.

    "So, you decided to seriously try to eliminate me."

    >FWOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Like a blur, the moving distortion instantly closed its distance with Kuzon.

    It had the likeness of a man¡ªwith flowing golden hair, and a gold and ck armour with several runic engravings on them.

    Withrge wings that pped with his great meteor-like approach, and a glowing body that seemed doused in a fiery furnace, this being charged at Kuzon.

    "Come, Kido!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Okay, I''ll try to conclude everything in this next chapter. For those confused about how Kuzon came up with this n, it''ll be exined in the next chapter.

    Lol

 Chapter 666 Emperors Requiem [Pt 3]

    As the Heir of the Midas Empire, and the only living heritage of their past civilization, Kuzon possessed the greatest treasures that served as heirlooms of their fallen nation.

    Of course, Kido had managed to get away with most of the Empire''s spoils, but the young Midas still possessed their greatest treasures.

    The Ring Of Power¡ªwhich had the function of storing and absorbing a constant stream of energy that could be released or assimted at any point in time.

    The Bracelet Of Transfiguration¡ªwhich granted upon the user a transcendent state that gave one infinite durability, but at a steep cost of golden petrification.

    The Ne Of Knowledge¡ª which possessed the knowledge and information of the Midas Race. The glory of their civilization, as well as the crux of their research.

    And...

    The Emperor¡ªThe Arcana that controlled anything within the holder''s vicinity as long as dominance could be proved.

    [The Empress] would have been a part of the collection, but Kido took it before they could be properly passed down to him.

    However, even with the theft and destruction, Kuzon was left in possession of these great gifts¡ªthest source of connection he had with his people.

    "And they are the reason I''ll win."

    *

    *

    *

    [Moments Earlier]

    ~Okay, Kuzon. Tell me your n.~

    Even though his Familiar had agreed to help him, she still wanted the full details.

    ''Can''t you see the future or something?'' Kuzon asked her with a raised eyebrow.

    He was fortunate that he had Xenia on his side, but the young boy didn''t quite appreciate how much of a fuss she always made during critical moments.

    ~Of course, I can. But that''s only a somewhat defined stream. It happens like a vision. Like shots of a scene. I don''t know everything, you know?~

    ''Is that so?'' Kuzon nearly rolled his eyes.

    There really wasn''t any time for stories.

    ~Yes. So spill! Besides, telling it to me will prove just how effective you think it''ll be.~

    ''Haa... fine.''

    Arguing would only prolong the matter. Even after making such an emotional pitch to her, Xenia still wanted to know everything.

    ''You Phoenixes are too fickle...''

    ~We are the rarest, most powerful Familiars in existence, so...~

    The boy rolled his eyes this time.

    He couldn''t argue with Xenia because she spoke the truth, but Kuzon figured he could at least show some degree of disapproval.

    ~Tell. Now.~

    The fact that they were speaking to each other by resonating their Souls showed there was no chance of their information being leaked.

    Besides, the protectiveyer around them prevented any form of interference¡ªat least that was what Xenia had promised.

    ''I n on taking control of Kido''s world and destroying him in the process.''

    ~How?~

    ''He''s omnipotent and omnipresent here. That means he''s somehow fused with this ce. That''s how he can appear anywhere and can do anything. If I take control of this ce and usurp control from him, I''ll be able to get him in no time.''

    Besides, even if Kido isted himself from the Realm Of The King, Kuzon would use the eyes Xenia gave him to detect his position and finish him off.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ~I meant how will you take control of his world? [The Empress] is the natural enemy of your Arcana.~

    Kuzon''s smile broadened.

    ''I n on overpowering it. [The Empress] has its limits. Kido can''t constantly use it for a full day. An hour interval is required for its cooldown. Imagine what would happen if it was protecting something on the scale of a world?''

    ~Is that your n? I don''t think it''s wise to count on that. Besides, Kido could find out and simply resort to something else once you''re bing a nuisance.~

    ''No, he won''t. He won''t be able to kick me out with my Transfigured state. That''s the point. He can''t interfere with me. Besides, I don''t simply n on waiting for his time to run out. I don''t even think I canst that long.'' Kuzon sighed, but his confident smile remained.

    Xenia was satisfied that her host understood his limitations¡ªenough to make her pause in expectation of the alternative he had in mind.

    ''I''ll use the Midas Ring of Power to amplify [The Emperor] itself.''

    ~The Ring? Do you mean you''ll be using two Midas Treasures at the same time?~

    ''The Transfiguration effect will nullify the side effects of the Ring Of Power.''

    ~Yeah? Well, it''ll only make your petrification faster than normal. You''re pretty exhausted already, so¡ª~

    ''We''ve talked about this already. I''m up for the task. The question is... are you?''

    After their little back and forth, silence prevailed for a moment. Kuzon''s heavy breath echoed around him, and a feeling of difort crept upon him.

    That is, until his Familiar spoke.

    ~What will you have me do?~

    ''The Ring of Power will amplify [The Emperor], but that means I need to be on a certain level to be able to use it. I''ll need you to flood me with your power.''

    ~What? You''ll die!~

    ''Not if its a gradual impartation. Give it to me in morsels so my body has time to limate.''

    Xenia couldn''t believe this host of hers. His strategy for defeating his invincible uncle was by bing even more invincible himself.

    Sure, the n sounded probable in theory, but that presupposed the idea of Kuzon being capable of handling so much power.

    ''I''ll use [Marite] to keep myself moving at all cost. With your eyes, I should be able to see all of Kido''s Aether, so controlling them won''t be too difficult. I''ve been stockpiling so much power into the Ring for years now¡ªincluding a great deal of [The Emperor]''s energy signature.''

    ~During the time I grant you morsels of my power, take in the Aether around you too. It should allow [The Emperor to key into the frequency of this world and help give you control.~

    ''Thank you. I''ll do that.'' Kuzon was a little surprised by Xenia''s suggestion, but it only made him happier.

    Despite her attitude and several troublesome traits, she had been his partner for such a long time. He was going to miss her the most.

    ''You really are the best.''

    ~Damn straight. Now let''s do this, Golden Boy!~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 667 Kidos Struggle

    Kido desperately lunged at Kuzon, with his body shrouded in dense energy¡ªalmost the same kind as thattter.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    His trail left distortions in its wake as he swiftly made to end the single anomaly in his world.

    The younger Midas, in contrast to his speeding opponent, was stationary.

    In a sh, Kido had closed their distance, determined to kill him in one hit. However¡ª

    "I don''t think so."

    Kuzon easily evaded his sharp attempt to cut off his head. Then¡ª

    >FWUUUSHHH<

    The several shards around Kuzon instantly flew in his direction, sending destructive sts radiating around.

    However, judging from the golden sparks and the blur that signalled the disappearance of Kido from the area, it was safe to surmise that he had escaped.

    Kuzon grinned.

    "Using Mage Mode and your other tools already? Haha... why don''t you resort to your trump card in this situation? Use your Familiar!"

    The young boy''s taunt echoed throughout the world, but there was no response.

    ''Well, if you won''te to me...''

    Kuzon''s eyes glowed as he searched the entire world for his prey''s signature. He didn''t need to search very long.

    ''Found you!''

    As quickly as teleporting, the golden boy immediately manifested in his determined location, stretching his hand to grab an incorporeal existence¡ªKido.

    "Gurgh!" The choking Kido manifested, obviously struggling against Kuzon''s superior strength.

    "Why does this avatar feel so¡ª?"

    "You fell for it!"

    As soon as he made this statement, the avatar''s body glowed brightly, and just like a brilliant detonation, it blew up the area.

    However¡ª

    "You must be grasping at straws here... I''m not going to take any damage." Kuzon sighed, appearing out of the huge explosion like it was nothing.

    At this point, he was practically untouchable.

    "Yeah? Well, the more you use that power of yours, the faster the side effect will happen!"

    Several more Kido avatars lunged at Kuzon, all glowing like they were about to explode.

    In a battle of attrition, it was clear who would win. In order to gain the upper hand, Kido simply had to shorten the span of his annoying nephew''s life.

    That was the surest way to ensure victory!

    *

    *

    *

    ''Why won''t you help me now? Of all times, did it have to be now?!''

    Kuzon was currently upied with several of Kido''s duplicates, but there was someone talking to his familiar in a harsh, nearly desperate tone.

    It was Kido.

    ~You know our agreement, Kido. I won''t attack another of my kind.~

    ''They''re attacking us! They''re attacking your home!''

    Familiars lived in Mana Cores. That meant whatever Kido''s familiar was, it was currently in this space. Yet... it was doing nothing!

    It wasn''t attacking Kuzon, even though the likelihood of stopping the young Midas with its power was high.

    ''Listen to me. You''re my Bond Soul. Mine! We had an agreement, but if I suffer any more damage, it''ll affect you too!'' He gritted his teeth, impatient and flustered

    The confident and prideful Kido had long vanished. He hadn''t broken character in years, but this time the situation made him a little anxious.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Anxious enough to resort to pleading with his Familiar.

    ~Then so be it. However, at this current pace, it''s more probable to say that you''ll lose to¡ª~

    ''I never lose! I always get what I want!'' Kido sharply cut his Familiar off, his re showing deep animosity.

    ~Really? Then you don''t need my help... not that I was going to give it to you anyway.~

    If a Host died, their Bond Soul would also die if they chose to remain inside. Most times, Bond Souls ditched their hosts right before death, trying their hardest to find another home.

    In certain cases, Familiars chose to die with their Hosts in situations whereby their bond was strong.

    "If I die, you die. You know that, right?" Kido growled, now getting more aggressive in his approach.

    Bond Souls always had the choice to leave whenever they wanted... unless they were bound to a Midas using the ''Golden Rule'' method.

    Just like Kuzon''s Familiar, Xenia, Kido''s couldn''t leave even if it wanted to. The Host had to release them.

    Thus... the older Midas was practically holding the life of his Bond Soul ransom.

    ~What happened to not being able to lose? Just how much has been corroded? From my estimate, I''d say over seventy percent, right? That''s fast. If you don''t do something fast... he''ll win. That would be such a shame...~

    Kido could sense the sarcasm dripping from the tone of his Familiar, and it infuriated him.

    ''I''vee too far to lose now. I waited till he was ripe enough to harvest. We''re so close to the recovery of every Arcana. Everything is perfect right now. I just have to deal with this pest.''

    He hadn''t counted on his Familiar being uncooperative, or Kuzon possessing this much power.

    If he could, Kido would throw the golden boy out of his realm, but even that was impossible.

    The only thing he could do... was to quicken his petrification.

    ''Just how long does he have left?''

    .*

    *

    *

    "Guark!" Kuzon coughed violently, spitting out golden blood.

    His whole body was stiff, and he knew he had reached the limit of his life.

    Still, he had many avatars of Kido to deal with, as well as almost twenty percent of the territory to cover.

    ~The damage is irreparable. Even if you stop now, almost ny percent of your body has been petrified. You''ll die anyway...~

    Perhaps it would have been better if Ana was here to transfer his Soul somewhere else, but it was just him and Kido.

    After petrification, he would die¡ªhis soul would also probably leave his body long before help arrived.

    ''Do you think we can make it? Can we reach everything?''

    ~Not at this rate. You''ll have to use everything at once. No more morsels or leakages.~

    Kuzon understood things perfectly. He nodded in response to Xenia''s statement and closed his eyes.

    He wasn''t looking for a trickle, but a single masterful stroke that would end everything. What he sought was...

    "... Full Burst."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 668 The Midas City

    >VWWWUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM<

    Warbling energy radiated from Kuzon, and his domain swiftly expanded faster than its usual pace, consuming everything within seconds.

    "N-noo!" Kido yelled, lunging hard and fast at Kuzon.

    However, as this was now mostly the young boy''s domain, he was practically untouchable.

    "Fall."

    Gravity took over, and its heaviness sent thest of Kido''s avatars crashing into a vast ground that suddenly appeared.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    His crater created a huge impact, but Kuzon ignored them and focused on concluding his mission.

    "S-stop this, Kuzon... s¡é&###@@"

    At this point, Kido''s voice became incoherent andpletely unintelligible.

    Kuzon''s golden influence spread through the Special Grade Mana Core¡ªor rather, the Realm Of The King.

    And then... finally....

    "Haa...."

    ... He was done.

    "The King... has been... dethroned."

    Kuzon had always believed this, and his position never changed. Even now, as his body was being consumed by the side effects of his own power, he didn''t waver from that belief.

    "Nothing beats the Emperor."

    Using [Marite], he brought the final vestiges of Kido to himself since it was virtually impossible for him to take another step.

    Struggling under the control of Kuzon''s invisible threads, the older Midas was grunting and groaning.

    His confidence had been destroyed, and his powerful appearance had vanished. Kido''s hair was pretty dishevelled, and any semnce of authority seemed non-existent.

    "How does it feel, Kido?" Kuzon smiled at his powerless uncle.

    "You..."

    "How does it feel to have lost?"

    "You''re going to die too, you know? So what if you''ve taken over my world? That changes nothing. You won''t¡ª"

    "Silence."

    Even [The Empress] wouldn''t defend Kido from Kuzon''smand¡ªor rather, it couldn''t.

    It was now in its cooldown phase, so the young Midas didn''t have to exert any effort in uttering hismand.

    Kido could do nothing but silently wait for Kuzon''s next course of action. Surprisingly, the boy wasn''t even looking at him.

    "Look..." He whispered.

    Suddenly, the entirendscape changed.

    Skies appeared in the empty ne, and a huge city arose from the barren grounds.

    The sky had an orange glow to it, and the golden sun hung clearly in the firmament. The clouds looked puffy and soft

    "Like cotton candy." Kuzon smiled with nostalgia, ncing everywhere

    The city that rose from the earth looked even more amazing than the Fairy Sanctuary.

    Unlike thend of the winged folks, the buildings were all built on the ground¡ªwith the exception of a floating castle.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The royal pce and its premises looked beautiful with their ck and gold structure, and the entire city looked glorious.

    It was, quite literally, and of golden beauty.

    The streets were clean and paved with golden tiles. Precious materials were utilized as household designs.

    Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires... they were all treated like simple decorative tools. The true jewelleries were the Magic Items, and they were worn by practically anyone in the city.

    Yes, this city... this city seemed otherworldly.

    "You remember this ce? Ah, and look at the Overwatch. Everyone dreamed of working there, you know? The ultimate goal of the Midas Race was to uncover the mysteries of the world."

    The Floating Castle hummed as it floated in the air. Kuzon''s eyes sparkled anytime he saw it.

    His mother had been the head of the research institution, after all. She was the one who possessed [The Empress] Arcana, and the reason Kido had it now was because he had been her deputy.

    "She took me to that ce often. I thought to myself that I wanted to be a part of it one day... well, we all know how that ended up."

    The Midas methods wereplicated and would sound strange to most people, but their entire civilization was woven around Magic¡ªmore specifically, the study of Aether.

    "You caused the Whites to infiltrate the Midas homes and copy their signatures, while using your Original Magic on the more powerful ones, right? To think you would have used my father''s gift to you¡ªyour Familiar¡ªto achieve your ends and easily kill off your enemies."

    Kuzon''s eyes contained hate once more, but he didn''t act on it. He kept his breathing steady. It was the best way to prolong his life.

    With his mission aplished, and the entire world under his control, Kuzon could have deactivated his Transfiguration, halting the petrification process, but he wouldn''t dare.

    It was the only reason he was still breathing, after all. The moment he undid it, the young Midas knew he would die.

    "But I''m betting your Familiar wasn''t very keen on attacking me or my Familiar when you tried to get it to do so." Kuzon''s gaze remained on the amazing city in view.

    "You wanna know why?"

    His question was met with silence, but Kuzon didn''t seem to mind. The tranquillity of the ce, as well as the glorious view of his city, gave him enough satisfaction.

    "The Midas Empire has been the haven and breeding ground of the Phoenixes. It''s one of the reasons why we stay separated from the outside world. It was because of our treaty with their race, as well as to prevent our research from falling into the wrong hands."

    The world outside always warred, but the Midas Race had no interest in that foolishness.

    That was probably why they were the first to discover Aether.

    "Yet, you destroyed the Empire. You achieved what you desired, but I''m guessing your Familiar wasn''t too happy with you. I''m sure you hardly ever use her, or even talk to her. I''m also very sure you n on dying with her."

    Suddenly, thendscape changed once more. It became all nkpletely white all over.

    In this white space, only Kuzon and Kido existed. The young Midas stood in front of the older one. Now face to face, inches away from each other, silent conversation ensued between them.

    Kuzon smiled and his rage melted away. For the first time since he witnessed the death of his Empire, he felt the weight on his heart vanish.

    He felt free.

    "We''re both going to die here, Kido. You''re going to release your Familiar, just as I am going to release mine. They''re going to be free, and we''ll both die."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 669 End Of The Emperor

    The words of the Emperor were absolute, so Kuzon had enough confidence in his deration.

    His confidence was however in contrast with the look on his interlocutor''s face.

    Kido''s eyes bulged, but he couldn''t say anything. His face twisted with anger, but then turned into something else. Something akin to a plea to speak.

    "I won''t ask for your final words. Why? I frankly don''t care."

    Kuzon was out of time, and he knew it. Besides, why would he ruin this beautiful moment of transient peace by allowing his madman of an uncle to speak?

    "I guess I''ll be seeing you on the other side..." Kuzon touched Kido''s head, feeling his rough hair while taking in every sensation.

    Having his victory being achieved and the object of his hate at his mercy like this... there was no better feeling.

    "... Goodbye, sperm donor."

    *

    *

    *

    Kido''s eyes widened in shock, but it was only met by Kuzon''s knowing smile.

    It seemed the boy knew everything!

    He had wanted to use it as his final trump card¡ªhis plea for his nephew to see reason¡ªbut he never imagined that Kuzon knew everything.

    ''When? How? Since when?!'' Kido was in a state of confusion.

    How could Kuzon have discovered that he was his biological son?

    ''A-ah...!'' It really was no use.

    Even though he wanted so badly to escape, there really was no other alternative.

    Kuzon knew about their ties, yet he didn''t even hesitate or waver in his mission to kill him. That depicted just how determined the Midas boy was.

    ''Shit... why did I hesitate too?''

    >VWUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM<

    Kido felt his consciousness fade away as his body became overwhelmed by Kuzon''s golden touch.

    It really was the end.

    In hisst moments, Kido wondered what all his years had been for.

    He had wanted the throne, so he decided to switch his own child in ce of his brother''s offspring, and every other incubated child in the Integration Room.

    With only his child surviving as the Emperor''s own, Kido knew he now had a stake in the Midas Empire''s future.

    He destroyed everything and collected the Arcanas in order to recreate the Midas Empire with him as the loved Emperor and his sister-inw as his wife.

    To satisfy his lust for power and goals, hemitted many atrocities.

    All that, and the pursuit of his pure desire to have whatever he wished for... they were all rendered null and void at this moment.

    Right. He was dead, after all.

    *

    *

    *

    ~Congrattions, Kuzon. You won.~ Xenia''s voice greeted him as she emerged from within him.

    Her fiery form, coupled with the blue and golden hue that danced around her body, made her look as celestial as ever.

    "Thanks, Xenia. Kido''s Familiar should be free now, so both of you should leave this ce. I''m about to destroy everything."

    ~Destroy...?~

    "Well, more like petrify. If I activate a function of the Bracelet Of Transfiguration, it''ll spiral out of control and petrify everything around it. I n on using it to destroy this bodypletely."

    That way, not only will it be impossible to revive Kido through his Soul¡ªwhich is already extinguished¡ªbut his body will also be inessible.

    ~Why did you lie, though? You obviously destroyed Kido''s Soul, so why did you say you would see himter on?~

    "Sounds about fair since he also lied about his identity as my uncle to everyone. My parents weren''t stupid. They knew everything. It''s unfortunate they didn''t see him for the man he was."

    ~So, if both of us leave... you''ll also die here? Inside Kido''s body?~

    "Yeah. I have to be the one to activate the sequence. That also means I have to be overwhelmed by the petrification. It''s a suicide move."

    ~Ah, I see...~

    Kuzon nodded gently, smiling at his pretty Phoenix Familiar. Her form was beautiful, and she had supported him all his life¡ªever since he lost everyone else.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "This is goodbye, Xenia."

    She moved closer to him, and they embraced. Itsted for a moment, but Kuzon could feel their hearts connecting.

    Once more, tears welled up in his eyes. The golden tears dropped into the nk space, and they were lost in oblivion.

    ~I''ll miss you, Kuzon.~

    "Of course. I would have said the same, but... haha!"

    Tears fell from Xenia''s eyes as she looked at the young boy withpassion.

    ~You did a good job, Kuzon. You did as you wanted, and you lived your life ording to your principles. I''m sure your parents would be proud.~

    "Proud I''m dying before I turn sixteen?"

    ~Proud you lived YOUR life.~

    Xenia knew Kuzon could have had a lot more out of life.

    He made friends, but he could have made much more.

    He had a girl he liked, but they could have gotten together.

    He had reached a transcendental peak of power, but he had so much more potential left.

    STILL...!!!

    "Thank you, Kuzon, for showing me the most amazing time." She finally opened her mouth to speak, giving Kuzon a peck on the cheek.

    Her loving smile and gentle nod melted the boy''s heart, and he felt a burst of joy emerge from him.

    "You too, Xenia. Farewell!"

    *

    *

    *

    Kuzon utilized his authority to eject Xenia and Kido''s familiar out of the Realm Of The King, which had be his domain.

    Once he did that, the young Midas was left all alone.

    He was practically gasping for air at this point. With his entire body frozen solid¡ªcovered in gold¡ªthe only thing keeping him conscious was his will.

    ''Ana... I''m sorry, but this is the end.'' His almost solid face smiled.

    He thought about how it felt to lift her up into the air. How she would screech and bellow in disagreement. He would haveughed if he could, considering how cute she had been.

    Plus, her intelligence was incredible! He truly wished he could see how far she could go.

    ''Jared, it looks like I''ll never get to see you surprise me again.''

    That blond human that defied magic by using logic¡ªKuzon admired him a great deal. Even though he never came around to really saying it, he felt he and Jared shared a connection that made them good friends.

    ''Neron... I would have really liked to see the depths of your power.''

    The man in question was one who would have been qualified to use Aether, yet Kuzon had never seen him utilize it.

    ''Everyone... this is the end for me.''

    He had yed his part. Defeating the 2nd Seat wasn''t an easy feat, after all.

    At this point, Kuzon could hardly even think anymore, but he had one prevalent idea that kept echoing in his mind.

    ''I had fun, you guys.''

    And then... with thisst thought of his marking the end of his life, the Bracelet Of Transfiguration enveloped everything in gold.

    It was indeed a fitting burial for an Emperor¡ªone of Kuzon''s caliber.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 670 Dilemma

    "We need to help Kuzon!"

    As I heard the voices of both Ana and Beruel echoing in my ears, I was filled with confusion.

    ''Help... Kuzon...?''

    Kuzon was one of the most powerful people I knew. If he needed help, then what kind of threat was he facing?

    "It''s the Second Seat. His uncle, Kido." Beruel was yelling at this point, thus answering my question.

    "We need to act fast!"

    Ah, ording to their expressions, it was an urgent task, one that didn''t require much of my analysis.

    ''Could it be a trap?'' I asked myself, watching Ana and Beruel cautiously.

    They both seemed like themselves, and they both seemed fine, but how certain was I that this wasn''t due to our enemy''s use of Original Magic?

    We currently had the upper hand with all the Arcanas in our possession.

    Could I really count it as a mere coincidence that Beruel was suddenly a good guy and apanied Ana to tell us about a friend that was in danger?

    ''If this is a trap, then what would be the most effective solution?''

    "JARED! KUZON NEEDS OUR HELP!" Ana''s scream pierced my ears, and I honestly felt a sting within me.

    But pragmatism was my strongest suit. I had to think ahead in times like this.

    ''If I don''t want to lose against Legris... or the Cult.''

    "What are you thinking about, Jared? That it could be a trap?" As expected, one of my allies understood my line of thought.

    I cast my nce towards Neron and nodded, hoping to get an inkling of what to do from him. He was incredibly resourceful¡ªespecially in moments like this.

    It hadn''t been very long since he and Serah returned from their mission, and just as I had expected, they brought back an Arcana. No, two of them!

    I would have liked it if they had captured the Cult Member that Serah killed, alive, but it would have probably ended up like the case with Vaizer.

    In that case, they did well by eliminating the enemy and gaining the one Arcana that I wouldn''t want to be in the enemy''s hands at the moment.

    ''The Fool...'' I smiled at Neron, casting a side gaze at Serah, who was kind offorting Ana and calming her down along with Lemi.

    Edward stood awkwardly, not knowing what to do, but Ivan, Jerry, and Ciara decided to keep a close watch on Beruel. He was still an enemy in my mind, after all.

    Nothing had been exined yet.

    "I can use [Timeless World] to check. That way, I''ll confirm everything."

    Ah, what a simple solution!

    "You''re a genius, Neron! Please do. And if the opponent really is overpowering Kuzon, then help him."

    If Neron didn''t show up after a specified time, we would simply assume that he was engaging the enemy, and we''d be right behind him.

    "Alright. Spell Card, please."

    While I summoned a Spell Card to transport Neron, I felt a gaze from behind me. It belonged to Ana.

    "Y-you... don''t even believe me? You''re not hurrying?" Her voice quivered as she stared at me in disbelief.

    Ana''s re conveyed a lot of deep emotions, and it seemed highly unlikely that she would fabricate this story.

    ''But Magic can be very tricky. She could have been shown an illusion for all I know.''

    "This isn''t about trust... but about safety." I told her, giving Neron the Spell Card that would allow him to teleport to the exact coordinates Ana was returning from.

    "Guess I''ll see you all soon."

    I smiled and nodded. For us, it would be nothing but mere moments¡ªprobably not even up to a second.<novelnext></novelnext>

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    *

    *

    *

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    "I''m back."

    Neron''s voice and his return happened almost as soon as he left, causing me to get a little disoriented.

    The concept of time was a little difficult to understand.

    But, I did know something upon Neron''s arrival.

    "Kuzon isn''t in danger, is he?" I smiled, now switching my gaze to Ana.

    Neron''s gaze was calm, and his expression was practically the same as always¡ªstoic. The fact that he wasn''t hurrying us into action meant my theory must have been correct!

    ''This is why you have to be cautious about stuff. It''s probably be a trap.''

    Our enemies were brilliant strategists¡ªLegris especially.

    If we wanted to win, we couldn''t act impulsively, or on emotion. We had to think very hard about things.

    "So, Neron, tell u¡ª"

    "It''s better you see for yourselves." He sighed, seeming too tired.

    Something about Neron''s distracted and now hesitant gaze gave me an odd feeling, but... I decided to shelf that.

    ''Could they have gotten Neron too? Nah, not possible!''

    Was I being hypocritical by trusting Neron''s vague testimony more than Ana''s? No, not really.

    Neron fulfilled the conditions of our arrangement, and he did so in [Timeless World]. The data we had at the moment suggested that he was practically invincible in this state.

    Sure, he couldn''t interfere with anyone or anything without bringing them into the Timeless State with him, but that also meant that his arrival exactly as soon as he left meant he''d no interaction with an enemy.

    ''It checks out. Besides, there are many factors that make Ana''s story less believable.''

    One was Beruel... but I decided to shelf that curious line of thought for another time. At this point, we had to act on the situation.

    ''I don''t want to be seen like more of a jerk than I already appear to be.''

    Lemi and Ana were side by side, and it seemed she was doing a good jobforting the girl. I could see Edward''s awkward stature behind Ana, as he gave her a light tap on her shoulder, a way of showing his support.

    ''Let''s go check this out, shall we?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Jared is being calctive for a reason, as you should all know. I understand why some of you might be annoyed with him, but he doesn''t know anything.

    He''s also the leader, so he has to think of every single possibility. Look at me defending him... pfft.

    I personally feel pained about Kuzon''s death btw.

 Chapter 671 The Statue

    "We need some people to watch over the fort and protect Aloe," I said, preparing to transport the team to see the problem with Kuzon.

    "There''s no need. This ce is protected by your Magic, as well as mine. If they can break through this ce, then there''s no one we can put in charge that''ll stop them."

    As always, Neron made another fair point. But we couldn''t just leave Aloe in heratose state without any protector.

    "I-I can stay!" Asa raised his hand.

    I couldn''t allow that, considering he wouldn''t be strong enough. But then again, who else would volunteer?

    Perhaps Edward or Ciara? But the former would rather help Ana, and thetter? Maybe¡ª

    "Just leave your Automatons here and help Kuzon! Can''t you just teleport back when the barrier is breached? Neron has time powers, doesn''t he?!"

    Ana''s loud voice brought me back from my deep realm of thought.

    After properly going over her suggestion, as well as the very heavy gazes of everyone around me, I decided to go along with it.

    "Fine. We''ll do that."

    *

    *

    *

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    The blue portal opened wide and we were all instantly sent to an odd-looking ce.

    Neron, Serah, Asa, Ivan, Jerry, Lemi, Ana, Maro, Ciara, Edward, and then me.

    I did as Ana suggested, so no one was left behind.

    We were met with a small room¡ªwell, not too small, but considering our number, it wasn''t exactly very spacious either.

    A chair¡ªwhich was simr to a throne¡ªwas disyed in front of us, and behind it were many wires. I deciphered that this technologically advanced setup had some rtion with Beruel, though I couldn''t be fully sure.

    ''Where are we exactly?'' I had only analysed the trajectory based on Ana''s previous coordinates, so I was clueless.

    "It''s my Fort, but... it''s different."

    The entire ce seemed just like how Beruel would like his fort to be. After all, everything around us wasyeredpletely in gold. I felt like it was a bit too extra, but who was I to judge?

    "This way." Neron spoke, floating away from the room where we appeared.

    He left through arge hole in the wall, a hole I deciphered was probably caused by the walls being destroyed by forceful entry.

    Just by looking at the cracks and the formation, I could guess that much.

    ''But breaking through pure gold... hmmm...''

    We all followed Neron out of the hole, experiencing a different setting from the more clustered room.

    It was arge hall¡ªprobably used for showcasing or keeping several items. However, it looked iplete for some reason. What seemed like several ss tubes and pipes filled the damaged area.

    "T-this is..."

    My eyes, just like everyone else''s, caught something at the centre of the hall. It had the form of a person but waspletely covered in gold¡ªlike everything else around us.

    "You really are an odd one, Beruel." I murmured as we drew closer to the golden statue.

    I didn''t expect him to decorate his ce with the statue of a man who was not himself. Besides, I was amazed that the statue seemed so out of ce¡ªstanding at the center of everything that surrounded it.

    ''It also doesn''t have any scratch on it. Strange.''

    I calmly observed the statue, but Beruel and Ana seemed to be in an excitable state. Their highly pitched voices told me that something was indeed up with the figure.

    "T-that''s him! The one who attacked us."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "His name is Kido, the Second Seat of the Cult."

    ''That means he''s powerful, right? Hold on... this is the actual person? Did Magic do this to him?''

    I was even more intrigued at this point. It indeed had all the details a normal person had. But was that enough proof that this was the actual person?

    I mean, Magic could achieve the same effects.

    "Neron, could you¡ª"

    "I already used Time Immersion to check the events of the past."

    At this point, I stopped staring at the statue and looked at him. Ana, Beruel, and literally everyone else, looked at him.

    "Ana was right. Kuzon was in terrible danger." He sighed.

    ''A-ah...'' Realizing the blunder I''d made, my expression turned sour.

    For a moment, a solemn silence filled the air. I knew it was possible for me to be wrong, but I always prepared for the worst. It wasn''t like I regretted my actions, but¡ª

    "Wait, you said he ''was'' in danger! What about now?" Ana''s voice rang of desperation.

    Her wide eyes pleaded for hope, but Neron''s solemn expression didn''t seem to insinuate that. Even I felt my heart race at this point.

    "Yes. It has been a difficult battle, if I could call it that. Kuzon had been on the losing end. In the end, this person used Magic to transport him to a ce by using Original Magic. A ce he clearly mentioned to be within himself."

    ording to Neron, this man named Kido was far stronger than Kuzon and took him somewhere else. However, not long after, he began to be petrified and turned into gold.

    He turned into gold, and the element spread all around us, transforming everything else into the same substance.

    ''So that''s what Beruel meant when he said this ce is different.''

    "S-so, you''re saying Kuzon won the fight?" Ana''s eyes widened even more.

    "He did."

    However, even with Neron''s affirmation, why didn''t he seem very happy? He looked a little at a loss for words, and that couldn''t be good.

    "I resonated with the statue when I was in Timeless World. It''s nothing but gold now, but I sensed two traces of energy mixed within. One belongs to Kuzon."

    ''H-hold on... what is Neron... saying?''

    My current expression had to be that of an idiot, because I didn''t understand where this was going. No, I probably did, but I didn''t want to admit it.

    I couldn''t!

    "Just as Kido died, Kuzon met the same fate. That''s what I''ve been able to deduce from everything I''ve seen and investigated."

    No way! Just... no way!

    Neron had no motive or reason to lie. He was most likely even right, but... I just couldn''t believe what I just heard.

    "Kuzon... is dead?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    If at this point, you''ve still not added the book to your library, then... wow. I respect every reader''s taste, but you''re definitely missing /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Just give it a try.

 Chapter 672 Grief

    Silence enveloped the vicinity as we all stood, shell-shocked by the undeniable truth that confronted us.

    "Kuzon is¡­ dead?" A voice echoed in the vast, golden room.

    I wasn''t certain whether it belonged to me or not. The voice gave off a hollow sound, almost as though it was straining to speak. I couldn''t understand, but I knew very well the tight and deep emotion locked in the sound.

    "U-uh¡­?" I felt my vision blur, and my heart tightened in shock.

    Kuzon was the one person whose death I never expected. We weren''t particrly close, but¡­ I hadn''t expected his demise¡ªat least not like this.

    "H¡­ h¡­ no way. I don''t believe it. I don''t¡­ it can''t be¡­" Ana''s shaky voice was apanied by her sobs.

    Her small frame trembled, and the paleness of her face showed a look of despair mixed with a bit of disbelief. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and her scrunched-up face depicted the agony and frustrating sorrow that was permeating her very being.

    I had no idea what happened between Ana and Kuzon in the time they were away, but¡­

    ¡­ Her sorrow seemed toe from a genuinely deep ce¡ªmuch deeper than I, or anyone else in the room, could fathom.

    "Apologies, young Midas¡­" Beruel whispered.

    Even the Fairy King disyed some degree of sorrow, a face I had never seen him make before. My thoughts tried to consider what could have given him a change of heart, but now was probably not the time.

    "Noooo!!! He can''t be dead! H-he can''t be! K-Kuzon is¡­ he''s invincible!"

    At this point, Ana was crying in Edwards''s broad arms, and Lemi was alsoforting her. I tried speaking, but the lump in my throat prevented me from uttering any word. Rather than speak words that eluded even me, I tried observing the golden statue myself.

    Perhaps we were drawing our conclusions too early. I understood that Neron was brilliant and incredibly skilled, but there were still many tests to run. So many possibilities.

    "Maybe¡­" I whispered while drawing closer to the statue.

    "Don''t bother. I''ve tried everything. He can''t revert, even with Time Maniption." Neron stopped me with a sigh.

    It seemed he had read my mind perfectly. I was grasping at straws, I knew fully well, but¡­ this was a friend¡ªarade. Was it foolish of me to imagine ways that could work?

    "Wait! You can still try, Jared! We have so many Arcanas, right? There has to be one that can break Kuzon free. Right? Right?" Ana''s eyes were wide open, and it was just like looking into a mirror.

    One close look at her desperate face reminded me of how foolish I was being.

    "None of the Arcanas in our possession can do anything about this."

    Kuzon''s body, or rather, the statue of Kido hadpletely changed properties to gold. There was practically no way to change it back. ording to Neron''s words, and what I was sensing, it seemed like the body had always been goldpletely inorganic.

    Besides, there was no Soul present.

    "I''m sorry, Ana. Kuzon is¡­" I whispered, a lump forming in my throat.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Why couldn''t I say the rest of my sentence? Hadn''t I lost people in the past? I knew it didn''t get easier, but why was I acting like such a child? Everyone around me was getting emotional and breaking down. As the adult¡ªthe oldest¡ªI was supposed to lead by example.

    I was supposed to¡ª

    "DO SOMETHING!" Ana interrupted my thoughts, yelling furiously at this point.

    Her widened eyes leaked out more tears, and I could see her face morph from an expression of sorrow to that of rage.

    "DO SOMETHING, JARED!"

    My heart ached as I stared into her blue eyes, and I wanted to tell her I could figure it out or find a solution, but there was practically no alternative. No way out.

    "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, SO DO SOMETHING!"

    "Calm down, Ana¡­ you don''t really mean that." Edward tried to hold her closer to him, but she pushed him off in a swift move.

    "I-if¡­ if you hadn''t wasted so much time¡­ then Kuzon would probably still be a-alive. T-this is all your fault!"

    Ana drew closer to me, though she was quickly stopped by Edward and Lemi. I could say or do nothing but remain transfixed in my position. I couldn''t argue with her because she was probably right. If I hadn''t spent my time overthinking or doubting the uracy of Ana''s words, then perhaps¡ª

    "There''s no need to cast the me on anyone. There''s nothing Jared, or anyone here for that matter, could have done to help." Neron''s calm tone suddenly intervened.

    I found my gaze resting on hispletely stoic face as he walked between Ana and me.

    "B-but, if not for the dy, then¡ª"

    "Then we would still be toote. I used Time Immersion to check the past. If we had left exactly when you exined Kuzon''s plight, we would still bete." He exined, still maintaining his cool.

    I found myself wondering how Neron could be so calm and logical in times like this. I thought I had just been giving myself excuses, which was why my mind couldn''t bear to raise even a single defence for myself.

    "Besides, Jared is the leader here. He had to consider many factors, and he couldn''t jeopardize the safety of the team or the mission. Besides, Ana¡­" Neron sighed, now moving closer to the young girl.

    He ced his hand on her shoulder and nodded slightly. I couldn''t see the face he was making since his back was facing me. However, a very gentle aura shrouded him.

    "... You''re not the only one who has lost a friend. Cut him some ck."

    I couldn''t understand why I felt indescribably relieved to hear Neron''s words. It felt like something had finally broken loose from my heart. As a result, yet another thing burst free from within me.

    ''A-ah¡­?'' I felt them¡ªhot liquids¡ªleaking from my eyes and streaming down my cheeks to touch my sheen.

    My jaws trembled, and I could feel my sweaty hand constantly shaking. The tears blurred my vision, so I couldn''t see anyone else around me, but¡­ I could tell.

    I wasn''t alone in the tears.

 Chapter 673 Parting Gift

    "Kuzon was more than a friend."

    Ana pushed Neron''s hand from her shoulder and walked away from him. Edward tried to hold her again, but after giving him a deathly re, he froze in his tracks. Lemi fell silent, most likely knowing her ce in the grief of her friend.

    Ana ignored everyone else and drew closer to Kido''s statue. Her hand was stretched out, and she slowly moved closer. She despised the face she saw, but Ana knew full well that the boy she cherished so much dwelled within the viin''s body.

    Yes, Kuzon was still in there. With that thought, Ana advanced closer.

    "W-wait, isn''t that¡ª!"

    "It''s fine. She won''t be harmed." Neron interrupted Edward''s worried objection.

    No one stopped her, and she didn''t want them to. For Ana, all she wanted was absolute silence. She needed to think. She needed to calcte. She needed to fullyprehend everything.

    ''I''m not as strong or smart as Jared and Neron, but¡­'' Ana gritted her teeth as her palm felt the cool surface of the gold statue.

    ''... I''m brilliant. You said so yourself, Kuzon. You called me a genius. You said I was amazing¡­ right?'' Tears resumed their downward spiral, and Ana began sobbing some more.

    "I''m amazing enough to save you, right? You think so, don''t you, Kuzon?"

    Ana knew what the smartest people in the room were telling her, but she didn''t think she could believe their words. No, she had to have faith. She needed to trust in her own judgment and ability. She had to see herself the way Kuzon saw her.

    As an amazing genius!

    "I''ll save you. I promise, I won''t¡ª"

    >SHIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!<

    A sudden sh of light appeared, causing everyone''s eyes to bulge in shock¡ªAna''s most of all. Her heart raced, and her tears began drying up as her face broke into a hopeful smile.

    "I knew it! You can''t be¡­ there''s no way you''re¡ª"

    "Kuzon is dead." A feminine voice cut Ana''s rushed words off, and the brilliant light that appeared right above the statue suddenly manifested into a small, winged entity.

    The entity was shrouded in blue and golden attire, and her mes were of identical hues. Her appearance was majestic, but also quite familiar.

    "Xenia¡­ is that you?" Ana muttered, watching what she could only recognize as Kuzon''s familiar, emerge from nowhere.

    The winged entity smiled, nodding as she slowly descended to create an even ne for a conversation.

    "In the flesh. I believe this is the first time we are conversing, Anabelle." The winged, ming being had the most enchanting voice.

    Unfortunately, it wasced with as much distance and grief as the rest of the people around.

    "Y-yes. Xenia, you''re here to save Kuzon, right? He said you''re very powerful. You will help him, won''t you?"

    Ana''s face seemed forced at this point. It seemed the young girl already knew the answers to her enquiry, but she still fought to hold on to her deluded belief.

    "No. I can''t help him. None of you can, so don''t bother." Ana''s expression instantly crumbled when Xenia uttered the words she had been rejecting for so long.

    Even though she had disproved Neron and Jared''s logical words with some degree of hope¡ªconsidering Magic was all about doing the impossible¡ªAna could no longer maintain her position once Xenia gave her verdict.

    No one understood Kuzon more than Xenia, and they were both partners. If his Familiar could say there was no hope, then what was her justification for still attempting to find a way?

    Ana found herself in a dilemma.

    "T-then, why are you¡­ here?" She could barely manage to say.

    "Kuzon told me to give something to you as his dying wish. I already went to your previous location, but to think you all came here so fast¡­"

    Jared and Neron exchanged quizzical looks. They both didn''t sense anything wrong with their barriers, yet Xenia said she went to their base. It roused their suspicion, and their level of grief didn''t affect their wariness.

    "Don''t worry, I didn''t interfere with anything. Now back to topic¡­" Xenia stretched out her hand, and golden sparks appeared around it.

    "Stretch out your hand, Ana."

    "W-wha¡ª?"

    "Your hand. Stretch them out."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Ana felt confused by the demands of the Familiar, but she reluctantly obeyed her instructions despite recoiling from the shock of Kuzon''s demise.

    >VWUUUMMMMMM<

    A great surge of energy descended on Ana¡ªor more specifically, her ring finger. The concentrated golden particles finally took form and gave the appearance of a ring.

    The golden ring, bright and immensely concentrated in energy, sat on Ana''s finger, with the girl expressing nothing but surprise and downright confusion.

    "Kuzon wanted you to have this¡­ something you can use to remember him by." Xenia nodded lightly.

    Her face seemed to be calm, but the Familiar was experiencing just as great a turmoil¡ªif not more¡ªfor losing her perfect host.

    "Goodbye, then. I will be taking my leave."

    Xenia began ascending, slowly vanishing in a golden light. Her gaze rested on a weeping Ana, who was now violently crying as she fell to the ground. Her heart tightened, but a creature such her herself could probably never have apathy towards humans.

    Kuzon was simply the exception.

    "Wait! May I ask something?" Jared''s voice suddenly pierced the air.

    Xenia ceased her ascent and curiously stared at the young one who requested an audience. She understood the rtionship the blond shared with her dear Kuzon, so she decided to give him a shot.

    "What of the Arcanas in Kuzon''s possession? And the one with his opponent, Kido? Did you manage to retrieve those?"

    His question created a lull around him. Even Ana, who had been crying violently, slowly ceased her weeping and nced in Jared''s direction with the most amazed face¡ªand not the positive kind.

    "I understand your reasons, which is why I do not take offence to your question. The answer is no. Kuzon''s Arcana and that of his opponent can be considered to have suffered the same fate as their owners. They''re gone."

    "I-I see. Thank you, Xenia¡­"

    The zing Familiar nodded her head, and in a burst of blue and golden mes, she vanished from sight. Still, even in her absence, the entire area remainedpletely silent. It wasn''t a calm kind, though.

    A rising ambience of unease began manifesting.

    "With this information, we know that the enemy won''t be able to get their hands on the Arcanas. It''s unfortunate that we have lost our chance to obtain two more, but at least this will be¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHH!!!<

    Everything happened in a blur, but those who were fast enough could see how Ana lunged at Jared from her position, disying nothing but murderous rage on her face.

    "YOU¡­!!!"

    Whether fortunate or not, Jared caught her p before she could properly nt it, and he gave her a somewhat surprised look. His eyes rang of genuine confusion¡ªa sharp contrast with Ana''spletely pissed-off re.

    "How dare you, Jared¡­ or should I call you Lewis Griffith?"

    "..."

    A very heavy atmosphere took over, and with everyone bearing witness to this confrontation¡ªor rather, sh¡ªAna''s disdain rose to a frightening new height. Enough for her to finally reveal the churning deration she had kept within her for too long.

    "I utterly despise you¡­" Her tone was hateful as she directly stared into his eyes with repulsion and utter disgust.

    "... Lewis Griffith!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 674 Shocking Confession

    "Ana, what are you...?" I was flustered, to say the least.

    For one, why was Ana being so aggressive towards me? I only asked the question I did because of our mission, and also because we still had enemies who wanted to bury us.

    If I didn''t make those inquiries and it turned out the enemy could actually obtain two more Arcanas, it would have made our problems increase.

    Besides, having two more of the world-defying cards was something that would only help our cause, not hurt it.

    So why...? Why was Ana upset?

    I stared into her eyes¡ªso filled with hot tears and bitter rage. This probably had less to do about me and more to do with her grieving. Unfortunately, shepletely dragged me into it by the statement she uttered next.

    "I utterly despise you, Lewis Griffith!"

    The contents of her words were just as shocking to me as the fact that she openly addressed me as my past self.

    In abination of panic and surprise, I looked around me to see Lemi''s expression remaining almost the same. If anything, she too was ring at me.

    ''Lemi knows too?! Does everyone know, then?'' Fortunately, other than Neron and Serah, everyone still seemed ignorant.

    They showed surprise, but it wasn''t as though Ana was currently a credible source. It wasn''t toote for me to change their minds.

    ''But doing so would paint Ana as a liar to others, and it would also paint me as a liar to Lemi and Ana. Damnit!''

    I returned my gaze to Ana''s re. She was gritting her teeth at this point¡ªalmost as though she would rip me apart if I let go of her hand.

    "Why are you doing this, Ana?" I sighed, letting go of her hand.

    My voice was calm, and I expected some degree of sanity between us. Surely, we could both reason together like friends¡ªor perhaps even just humans.

    ... At least, that was what I hoped.

    >WHAP!<

    ? In the end, she still wound up pping me before walking out on me.

    ''I could have stopped it, but what''s the point? At least this way, she has released some of her grief and frustration on me.''

    While I couldn''t agree with Ana right now, I understood it was out of the turmoil going on in her heart. Also...

    ''... As long as I don''t directly admit I''m Lewis Griffith, she can''t prove it. It would be better if I stayed silent on the topic.''

    "Hold on, is it true? You''re Lewis Griffith? Like the one who died over five hundred years ago?! My buddy, Lewis?"

    Of course, I didn''t ount for Beruel. How could I have let his existence slip my mind?

    The Fairy King drew closer to me, narrowing his gaze as he observed me. I knew I had to do something fast. Else...

    "I have no idea what you''re¡ª"

    "Whoah! It makes sense now that I think about it. You were acting all familiar with me back when we first met, weren''t you? And all these things you achieved... it can only be possible if you''re not a child. I suppose the most convincing is how you allied the nations and took care of the Demon Army. Lewis Griffith would have done exactly what you did."

    Beruel fluttered around me and kept chattering while making his inferences.

    At this point, everyone was getting even more curious about whether Ana''s statement was indeed more than just an angry rant. I could see it in their eyes.

    They wanted the truth.

    ''Damnit, Beruel. Neron... help?'' I nced in the direction of my mentor, but he gave me a neutral shrug.

    In essence, he was telling me "It''s your call."<novelnext></novelnext>

    I disliked it when Neron decided to stay out of matters. While I knew I had to make my decisions myself, it was always nice to have guidance.

    Especially because I was currently panicking.

    ''I mean, Maria didn''t freak out too much when I told her, right? Maybe it won''t be that bad...'' I thought to myself.

    A major factor I had to consider, however, was that Maria was in love with me¡ªor at least, she professed to be.

    And I could tell that she meant it.

    ''Everyone in this room has varying opinions of me. We''re bound together by trust and goodwill. If I admit to hiding something as huge as this, then the results could be catastrophic.

    I nced at Edward, and he was simply looking at me expectantly. I couldn''t tell whether he''d be disappointed or not.

    What about Ivan? Or Jerry? Ciara seemed like she didn''t even care. Maro seemed genuinely stunned.

    ''Damn it...''

    This wasn''t the way I thought things would go down. I''m fact, I was currently of the belief that I should just keep the truth hidden.

    However, that would only hurt my case¡ªespecially if Ana refused to back down.

    "Haa... everyone, Ana is correct." I began in a somewhat tired tone.

    To be honest, this really was the best course of action. Neron probably knew it but didn''t want to impose the choice on me, so he decided to be neutral.

    ''If I leave this uncertainty hanging around, it''ll hurt the team. Looks like you win, Ana.'' I nced at the short girl, and she was still frowning while crossing her arms.

    "In my past life, my name was Lewis Griffith¡ªThe Great Sage of the Eastern Kingdom."

    I saw some jaws drop. It was expected, but... certain faces twisted in anger.

    Lemi, for example, seemed angry. I understood why she would, but... this was getting hard for me.

    "I got reincarnated in this time, and in this body. Don''t ask me how, because I also have no idea. I have my memories of my past life intact, and I have already told a few people about this."

    Neron and Serah casually raised their hands in admittance.

    "I never openly admitted to this because, ever since I was young, there has been an organization that has been after my life. From the first week of my birth, even till I was barely a teenager, and then at Ainrk. I believe this organization to be the Nether Cult, and I was going to tell you all after the threat had been extinguished."

    I gave a sad smile while staring at their mixed reactions. Who would have thought that everything woulde crashing down so easily?

    "That''s all."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 675 Subtle Discord

    Silence.

    An unbearable, unwee silence permeated the vast auditorium.

    Conflicted emotions arose, and the multifarious expressions on the faces of the people present disyed the intensity of the current situation.

    Anger. Disappointment. Shock. Indifference. Several reactions leaked from the faces of the listeners of Jared''s confession¡ªthus causing an ufortable decorum. Sounds of inhtion and exhtion interrupted this silence for some time, but ultimately someone had to speak.

    And that person had to hurry.

    "S-so, you''re actually¡­"

    "I don''t understand any of this. It''s too shocking."

    Different people spoke. Their voices ovepped with one another, but out of everyone who spoke up, there was one who didn''t utter a word¡ªof course, other than the young girl who instigated all of this and the couple who weren''t surprised by the news.

    "I just have one question¡­" The silent one finally spoke up.

    Her ck and white hair fluttered behind her as she approached Jared''s motionless figure, and a cold gaze was evident on her face. It was difficult to understand how exactly she felt, but it certainly didn''t seem positive.

    "... Were you really ever going to tell us? Tell me?"

    Silence suddenly rang among the plentiful voices, and everyone ceased theirments to listen to Jared''s response to the one thing they must have all thought of at least once.

    Jared Leonard, now revealed to be Lewis Griffith¡­ had he ever nned on confessing this truth to his friends if Ana hadn''t put him in such an awkward position? Would he have denied any familial connection to his own daughter? Would he have kept such a fundamental secret from everyone?

    Everyone stared at him for a response to that.

    "I¡­" The young boy uttered.

    So far, he had maintained his stance of truth. He was walking on a slippery slope, and any error on his part could be irreparable. With this on his mind, Jared wondered what he could say.

    ''The truth? Or should I tell them what they want to hear?'' He sighed.

    In the end, he had to keep treading the path of honesty¡ªconsidering he had already begun.

    "... I''m not sure. I don''t know if I would have ever told you recently, but¡­" Jared remembered how Maria had confirmed the truth due to the Pope''s game in The Cathedral.

    If it hadn''t been for the conditions, he wouldn''t have said anything. However, after Maria told him about Ana and Lemi being suspicious of his identity, with both of them being nearly certain of it, he knew he would have to say something soon.

    Thus, he changed his mind at that point and decided to reveal everything once the time was right. In essence, his initial position of keeping his secret changed due to the very reason that they were already figuring out the truth.

    ''How can I, in good conscience, say I would have told them otherwise?''

    The previously ufortable atmosphere turned heavy as Jared''s allies felt just how distant their supposed friend had been this whole time. A man about a century old, who was meant to be dead for over half a millennium, was who they thought was their friend.

    Once the reality dawned on them, even the surprised ones slowly moved to the point of disappointment. It was at this point that they all realized one truth that they had been too ignorant to see all along.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Jared Leonard waspletely different from them.

    It all made sense now. He lived in apletely different world¡ªheck, he even had apletely different life. Was there any hope of him ever seeing them as equals?

    As these difficult thoughts ate through their trust for the boy whom they had all unanimously agreed to be their leader, Neron finally stepped forward.

    "Okay, that''s enough." His voice roused everyone, bringing them out of the mental slump they were experiencing.

    "I know what you all must be thinking or feeling. I won''t even try to justify Jared''s actions or give you reasons to. That''s something he must do by himself."

    Neron possessed a particr charm that made him unavoidably attractive. Even though everyone was wallowing in their shock or distrust, they could not resist his voice, as well as his modest appearance.

    The ck-haired man moved to stand beside Jared, making a tired sigh as his face still contained a certain nkness that was akin to boredom¡ªor perhaps even lethargy.

    "Let''s not forget the reality, alright? I know your egos have been bruised, and your bonds of friendship have been injured, but that changes nothing." Neron''s calm voice soothed the tension with ease.

    "Changes nothing? You''re kidding, ri¡ª?"

    "Jared, no matter how much information he haspartmentalized, still possesses the means of leading this team into victory. He has somehow sessfully gained the upper hand against the enemy due to his strategy, and despite how you might feel, his interests are for humanity and the allied races."

    Ana felt a flush of embarrassment as Neron silenced her. The sharp look he gave Lemi also discouraged her from any further efforts of resistance.

    "Whether he didn''t tell you about his past life or not is immaterial to our rtionship as a team. Besides¡ªand I don''t mean to offer this as a defence, but Jared''s past identity is a private matter that has no bearing on this mission."

    Whether or not his audience epted his words, Neron managed to make everyone silently consider the meaning behind them.

    "If you feel your egos and personal entitlement are far more valuable than the current mission, or the goal of stopping the Nether Cult¡ªwhose member did this to Kuzon, who have done worse, and who will do even more terrible things if they get the Arcanas¡ªthen you''re free to allow your emotions to take control of your dispositions."

    Neron''s words caused cognitive dissonance within his listeners. On one end, they realized what an unreliable and secretive friend Jared was, however, they also understood what a great and indispensable leader he was.

    As things stood, they needed him.

    "Jared Leonard or Lewis Griffith¡­ whoever he really is, his knowledge and contribution have made him relevant for our survival."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    As always, Neron remains the GOAT.

 Chapter 676 Emergency At Base

    "You all haven''t suffered any misfortune due to him keeping his identity a secret, and I''m certain a good number of you also have things you are yet to tell your friends."

    Wavering gazes and guilty expressions could be seen on the faces of Neron''s listeners. He had said he wouldn''t support Jared, but his words clearly indicated that everyone else was being faulty in their current judgement.

    "I urge you all to keep your private sentiments as just that¡­ private. Let''s focus on the matter at hand and choose the most effective method. Can we do that?"

    Silence permeated the hall, and the audience was struck with paralyzing awe and conflicting thoughts. Neron''s points were difficult to argue against, and it would be selfish to even think of opposing them.

    Thus, the silence.

    "I said¡­ can we do that?"

    Neron''s voice was just as calm, just as sincere, and just as direct as ever. However, something about his voice carried authority this time around. His ck eyes and utterly unfazed expression must have contributed to that fact.

    "Y-yeah¡­" The audience had to say.

    And so, whether or not it was ideal, the conflict became resolved.

    **********

    I was amazed¡ªno, beyond amazed.

    As I watched Neron defend me in front of everyone, a warm feeling coursed through me. Like a small fragment of light, mending my broken heart, I felt true relief and security behind his words.

    ''Despite him saying he won''t support me, he''s actually¡­''

    Sure, Neron wasn''t actively speaking on my behalf. Rather, he was addressing the audience and more or less talking about them. Still, I could tell that he meant well. He said everything out of goodwill.

    ''Reminds me of his reaction when I first told him¡­'' An internal smile manifested within me.

    Neron had actually shown me the most peculiar response when I made my revtion. ording to him, while it had been a bit of a phenomenal revtion, he hadn''t been offended by my decision to keep my identity a secret. He also posited that my secrets didn''t make him trust me any less, and he couldn''t deny my results and observable behaviour.

    In his words¡ª

    "You are a necessity to this world, Jared. That much is enough for me to tolerate your existence¡­ no, even support it."

    Neron''s position seemed to stem from an objective standpoint, but it also affected his subjective interaction with me. To be honest, while I knew it was too far-fetched to expect the same reaction from everyone else, I had hoped for something simr.

    ''I guess Neron is the only exception.''

    Sometimes I had to consider who was actually the reincarnated one out of the two of us. Neron''s genius and brilliance were almost unreal. However, when I asked, he told me a very straight "Nope."

    Apparently, he didn''t know one could reincarnate until I told him about it, and he was now interested in the concept. I didn''t think Neron would lie about such a thing, considering there would be no benefit in it.

    In contrast, if he was a reincarnated soul like myself, it would be more advantageous if we pooled our memories together and gained new knowledge on both Magic and history.

    ''His intelligence, maturity, and skills are just astounding.'' I found myself smiling as I observed him and the effect his words had on everyone.

    Neron was right about one thing, though. I had to defend my position myself. I felt bad for not revealing things to them, but my reasons were genuine. The emotional saturation of everyone almost made me forget about that fact.

    I simply had to present my case and render my apologies where they were necessary.

    ''If they still can''t bring themselves to forgive me or understand my reasons, then¡­'' With a sigh, I stepped forward and made to give my position on the matter.

    "Everyone, I¡ª"

    My eyes instantly popped wide open, and so did Neron''s. We both stared at each other, as an understanding was established between our senses when they picked up a particr signal.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Jared¡­"

    "Yeah. I understand." It was unfortunate, but we had to pause the apologies for now.

    Something was urring back in the base. My barrier and that of Neron had picked it up and notified us. Apparently, it was something serious¡­ and powerful.

    "We need to head back." I swiftly tried connecting myself to the Automatons I had ced within the premises, but something kept interfering.

    "Something is happening back in the base. We need to go."

    Despite their shock and distrust, my allies gave positive responses¡ªmost simply nodded at my words. Swiftly pulling out the appropriate Spell Card to use, I readied myself for our Mass Teleport.

    "Head on without me. I need to check out my samples and gather them. They''re very important to my work¡­ and our deal." Beruel nced in Ana''s direction and nodded.

    "That''s true. I''ming with you to help." The girl responded, almost as though relieved that Beruel had raised the topic.

    "You sure?"

    "Definitely. They can leave without us. Besides, I still haven''tpletely explored this base of yours."

    "Well¡­"

    I watched the exchange between the two, and Beruel nced in my direction¡ªmost likely so I could give my input.

    "It''s fine. Just take care of yourselves. Here." I threw two Spell Cards at the two of them. "They''reced with Aether, so you can use them even with interference."

    Ana might not havepletely understood the implications behind my statement, but I was certain Beruel did. He was a member of the Cult, after all.

    "Thank you, Lewis." The Fairy King said with a smile and a light nod.

    Something about his tone and expression felt slightly different from the haughty man I remembered. I mean, Beruel hadn''t really been harsh towards me, but he hadn''t beenpletely nice either. He had always believed himself to be superior, and I''d had to agree with him on that in order to get his help during the war¡ªwhether through pity or pride.

    But now, he seemed to have changed.

    ''Old age, maybe?''

    "I still need an exnation concerning your rtionship with the Cult, as well as your current motive. For now, though, I''ll choose to trust you." I nodded at him, and he nodded in agreement.

    Thankfully, he knew where we both stood.

    "Alright, then. We''ll see each other soon."

    Space warbled, and within moments we were warped to our destination¡ªthe base.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I need yourments. Whose side are you on? Jared or everyone else? Also, if you like this novel, please support it by voting with your Power Stones, Golden Tickets;menting and reviewing also counts. You can also do all of them if you want.

    My book needs the boost. Thank you all.

 Chapter 677 Aftermath Of Grief

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHH<

    Space warped and the group vanished to their destination, leaving Ana and Beruel behind. The two remained transfixed until they were certain the team hadpletely disappeared.

    "Huu¡­ finally." Ana sighed with relief.

    It seemed the tension had been too much for her, and she now felt capable of enjoying the less crowded area.

    Lemi had even offered to stay with her, but Ana needed this alone time for herself. She craved it.

    "I''ll leave you here with the statue. I''ll go get my things." Beruel''s voice woke her from her meditative silence.

    "N-no, I could stille with you."

    "It''s alright. I understand why you chose to stay behind. Do what you must. I''ll be back once I''m done packing everything. If you still want a tour by then, I''ll happily oblige."

    Ana''s face disyed surprise. She never expected Beruel to be so considerate, and that emotion of shock slowly transformed into gratitude.

    "Thank you." She nodded with a soft, nearly teary smile.

    "No problem." With that, the Fairy King flew off.

    As he distanced himself from Ana, he could already hear the sobs and embarrassing cries of pain and sadness. He, who had lost all of his loyal subordinates, understood the pain she was going through¡ªperhaps even more than most.

    The poor girl had to know the truth¡ªthat she wouldn''t see the one she loved again. He was gone. Truly dead! Beruel could sympathize with that, at least. After all, everyone who had sworn personal loyalty and devotion to him, even his most loyal subordinate, was no more.

    "A sad fate indeed. Young Midas¡­ look what you''ve caused."

    The Fairy King knew full well that if all three of them had faced Kido, they would all be dead by now. Kuzon had actually sacrificed his life so they didn''t have to. He knew all that, and yet¡­

    "... Why does it still irk me?"

    Beruel couldn''t answer this question, nor could he resolve theplicated feeling he had towards Kuzon. However, one thing was for sure, though.

    ''I''m no longer their enemy¡­''

    He knew it would take some time to convince Jared¡ªor rather, Lewis¡ªand everyone else that he was done with the Nether Cult, but Beruel strangely feltpelled to do it.

    ''To think Lewis is still alive in this world, though¡­'' He smiled as he flew past the golden hallway and approached his storage space, hoping everything was still intact.

    ''He probably ced an undetectable tracker on me, as well as a listening device. That sly Lewis.''

    Still, the Fairy King understood his previous friend''s skepticism. They indeed had much to discuss, but he had to focus on the immediate matters first.

    ''The samples of my subordinates. I need them.''

    >WHOOOOSSSSHHH<

    Beruel quickened his pace, finding himself panicking for one major reason. With everything around him irreversibly turned into gold, he feared that the same fate had befallen his samples. In fact, he had every reason to believe so.

    ''No¡­ please no!''

    If they had all been petrified, the deal would have been for nothing. He too would have to be prepared to part with any hope of his subordinates being revived. The very thought made his heart ache ceaselessly.

    Fortunately, his fears were for naught.

    "T-this is¡­?" Beruel''s eyes widened with indescribable surprise the moment he arrived at the vast storage room.

    His eyes took in everything around him, as well as the strange urrence that happened at the end of the hallway and on the ground leading to the storage area.

    "The gold¡­ the petrification¡­ it stopped just before it spread inside here." Beruel''s voice shook as he spoke.

    What could this mean? It was too great a coincidence for him to simply conclude that it had happened by mere chance. The gold literally stopped before it reached the storage that contained several tubes and vats of organic material.

    After watching in silence for so long, Beruel could only arrive at a single conclusion.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Young Midas¡­ you did this, didn''t you?"

    The old fairy didn''t know how to express his thoughts in words. Hisplicated emotions and thoughts concerning Kuzon slowly began to unravel, and once the knots became untangled, the Fairy King nodded in both respect and gratitude.

    "Thank you¡­ Kuzon. Thank you so much."

    *

    *

    *

    After sobbing and crying and sobbing, over and over again, Ana finally stopped.

    Her eyes were swollen and irritated, and a few droplets of tears still cascaded down her face, but she was done with her throes of sorrow.

    Her eyes were on the golden statue of the despicable enemy that caused Kuzon''s death. This being was responsible for taking him away from her, and yet¡­

    ''I can''t bring myself to stare at it with disgust.'' Kuzon''s body was within the statue, after all.

    As she thought of the statue, Ana remembered the numerous memories she had with Kuzon, whether it was when they had been at Ainrk, or even after. His smile, his jokes, his casual aura¡­ his confidence.

    "I¡­ I¡­" Ana found her voice trembling as she broke into sobs once more.

    "I should have¡­ I s-should have told y¨Cyou how I really felt."

    Her heart pounded, and it hurt so much. The feelings she had kept bottled up for too long due to her series of disappointments¡­ they were finally finding expression. It was toote, but the dam was too full to be contained any longer.

    "I should have told you how much I love you!"

    Her voice echoed in therge auditorium, responded to by merely echoes. She was all alone, kneeling before an inanimate statue¡ªthe very definition of loneliness.

    "I¡­ I love you¡­" More sobs cracked her voice as she felt the golden ring on her finger.

    After looking at its smooth surface and caressing it for so long, Ana couldn''t deny the feelings she had for him¡­ and the one he had for her.

    "I promise you. I promise¡­ I''ll bring you back."

    She didn''t know how yet. She didn''t understand the concept or the method. However, Ana said this with all of her conviction and all of her heart.

    She would improve her knowledge of Aether. She would use everything at her disposal, and she would tirelessly do everything possible... everything for her grand cause.

    Her new purpose.

    "No matter what, Kuzon¡­ I''ll bring you back!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I wonder if Ana will seed or not, honestly. Also...

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 678 A Friends Return

    "Looks like we made it back in time." I murmured, proceeding from the blue portal I created.

    Every other member of the team stepped out as well, with Neron directly behind me. We looked around us and found nothing to be in any form of jeopardy. The barrier was still active, and thendscape had been preserved.

    ''I can reconnect to my Automatons now!'' My eyes widened and I started to quicken my pace.

    My biggest fear had been that the enemy had attacked this ce. The sudden burst of energy that the barrier recorded didn''t seem like a fluke. Had we beenpromised? Was our location unsafe? These questions were relevant, but one was even more so.

    ''Is Aloe safe?''

    At the thought of this, I swept through the area with my senses and made my way towards the base building.

    ''This feeling¡­ An Arcana?!'' My eyes widened, and I swiftly teleported myself and everyone around me into the base itself so as not to waste any more time.

    >WHOOOOSSSHHH<

    The moment we appeared, we all nced in the direction of Aloe''s enchanted bed. We had worried looks¡ªat least, I was certain I did¡ªbut who would have thought...

    "A-Aloe...?

    ... We would see the sleeping beauty now seated upright and staring at us.

    Aloe''s blond hair seemed golden as it flowed down to her shoulders and fluttered in the soft breeze. Her brilliant eyes caught my attention, and as we gawked at her, she also stared at us with an expression of surprise.

    "Jared... everyone..." Her voice was calm and gentle.

    A warm smile spread all over her face, and I could tell how happy she was to see us. However, what was even more amazing, was what she held in her hands as she looked in our direction.

    "Is that...?" I murmured, pointing at the card in her grasp.

    Aloe shifted her gaze to the object she was holding¡ªwhich was obviously an Arcana¡ªnodding as she smiled more softly.

    "Yeah. It''s called [The Moon]. I met its owner in my dream, and she actually gave it to me."

    Perhaps Aloe was tired, considering how she hadn''t been conscious for some time. Besides, her tone and expression told me she wasn''t exactly in top form.

    "It''s good to see you safe and sound, Aloe. I''m so sorry I resorted to such a reckless n." Maro stepped forward and bowed his head to the still staringdy.

    "A-ah, Maro, it''s alright. We did what we had to do to win the fight, right?"

    As expected, Aloe remained kind hearted as she epted Maro''s apologies, and the wee of everyone else.

    Everyone except¡ª

    "What''s wrong, Asa? You won''t wee me back?" Aloe smiled sweetly at the boy.

    I had also noticed the pouty Beast folk who chose not to say anything to Aloe. Rather, he simply stood still and stared at her with some sort of dazed expression on his face.

    "You... you''re not..." He murmured.

    Everyone in the room paused in weing Aloe back from the realm of unconsciousness, and instead focused on Asa, and the kind of reaction he was having.

    At the very least, no one expected it.

    "... You''re not Aloe!!!" He yelled; with almost all the strength he could muster.

    His reaction shocked all of us, and I personally stared at him in surprise. If anyone would be happy about Aloe''s return, it would be Asa, right?

    Yet, why was he being this way.

    ''Perhaps he''s right.'' I thought to myself.

    Could it be possible that we were somehow underestimating the miracle that brought her out of an unidentifieda?

    Could we be ignoring the suspicious convenience of it that Aloe managed to be awake and with an Arcana?<novelnext></novelnext>

    Could we also be ignoring the fact that Aloe was in possession of an Arcana out of thin air.

    ''So, I should indeed remain critical...'' However, I had run as many tests as I could during my brief exchange with Aloe, of which I learned that she was perfectly normal.

    ''It seems to be her.'' I nced in Neron''s direction to hear his opinion on the matter.

    His nod and shrug showed that he agreed with my observation¡ªprobably because his own bore the same results.

    ''I admit that it''s possible she isn''t the same Aloe as before. I trust my friends, though.'' There were two things I wanted achieve with Aloe''s warm wee.

    ''First, was to get as much information as possible, and the second is to closely monitor her.'' By doing these things, I was giving Aloe the benefit of the doubt.

    Still, I hoped this blond and beautifuldy before me was the genuine one, and I was certain others felt the same way.

    "Asa, wait!"

    It seemed the young Beast folk couldn''t take it anymore as he sped away from our gathering.

    He ran out of the room and past the hallway¡ªmost likely heading outside for the fresh air. I heard his footsteps grow duller and fainter, before returning my gaze to Aloe.

    "Did you do something to him?!" I asked, cocking my head.

    She shook her head and sighed. Her expressions definitely counted as the most worried or devastated.

    "I''m just as confused as you... as well as a little hurt that he wouldn''t even greet me."

    I could tell from Aloe''s sighs that her exhaustion wasn''t just physical any longer.

    "Why don''t you rest your body, first? There''s much to do, and a lot to discuss." The moment I told her, she eyed me with curiosity, but I was determined to let her rest.

    "Rx." I nodded, leaving her in the room along with my automatons as guards.

    The Team Members once again expressed how happy they were to see her. It was definitely a happy moment for everyone.

    A moment I didn''t want to interrupt.

    *************

    "Haa..." Aloe plopped down on her bed, tired of everything she''d had to go through simply because she woke up

    As she stared at the ceiling, watching the pure and simple design on it, she wondered if they would all understand her reasons for taking so long to wake up, as well as taking over someone else''s body.

    ''That Asa is very perceptive..." She knew she had to be wary of him.

    Even Jared didn''tpletely trust her, so had her work cut out for her.

    ''I''m sorry everyone. You all seem like wonderful people. Aloe is really fortunate to have people like you...''

    Still, she knew her mission wasn''t going to be stopped. She had toplete it at all costs!

    ''Please forgive me, Aloe. But this is something I have to do.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I guess we all know this is Kazen, right? Also, please support this book with your power stones and Golden Tickets.

    Also... I really need morements and reviews for this book. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 679 Preparation For The Inevitable

    Tension

    Tense silence filled the room, causing even me to feel a little¡ªno, quite a good amount of¡ªdifort.

    I was standing in front of an audience whose trust I had most likely lost, after all.

    *

    *

    *

    "I want to officially congratte everyone for a job well done."

    We were currently in therge ins just outside our base. I chose this spot because of how free the area was.

    Unfortunately, it did nothing to relieve the tension that was already built up.

    A day had passed since Aloe awoke from heratose state, and she was perfectly sound at the moment. She¡ªas well as everyone else¡ªwas seated on the in, staring at me as I made my address.

    Edward, Ana, Beruel, Ivan, Jerry, Ciara, Aloe, Asa, Maro, Neron, Serah; my allies awaited my voice... and I had to deliver.

    "We currently have thirteen Arcanas in our possession. One is with Jane Urs, one is with Elrich Lenderwale, and the others are divided among you. And as it currently stands, we have the superior number."

    I nced in Beruel''s direction and smiled at him. It really was good to see him as a part of our team¡ªthough I had to thank Ana and Kuzon for their efforts in achieving it.

    It had been a day since Kuzon''s death and her express disy of disgust towards me. We hadn''t talked since then, and I could tell that she was still plenty upset.

    ''It''s best I leave her alone. In fact...''

    From the gaze of everyone around me, it was pretty clear how very skeptical they were going to be towards me.

    ''I told Aloe after she rested up yesterday, and she was also very surprised¡ªwell, more intrigued than surprised...''

    Thankfully, Aloe wasn''t annoyed. In fact, she was curious and wanted me to tell her more. It felt a bit too much, but I suppose her enthusiasm was justified.

    In essence, other than some exceptions, the members of the team weren''tpletely trusting towards me.

    And that brought about tension.

    ''Just do what you have to do, Jared. You don''t require validation to achieve the goal that is required.''

    In essence, I couldn''t waste my time worrying about my emotional needs, especially now that our n had reached such a precipice.

    "However, that doesn''t mean we have won the battle yet. Obtaining the Arcana was simply a preventive measure. It was executed so that the Nether Cult wouldn''t take the Arcanas themselves."

    I couldn''t have known that the n would be achieved with such rtive ease. I was certain that we would encounter more difficulty, but the team was fortunate to have survived the trials of the Labyrinths and in obtaining our prize.

    "Now that we possess the majority of the Arcanas, it''s only to be expected that they''ll choose to strike our premises. If they still do not have any idea about our location, then they will invade the Eastern Kingdom¡ªperhaps even the allied nations."

    A wounded animal was far more deadly than a perfectly healthy one. While thetter would be more sedentary due to satisfaction, the former would be desperate.

    "We''ve wounded the cause of the Cult. It''s only inevitable that they strike."

    ording to the info I received from Beruel, there were currently three dangerous members of the Cult¡ªof course, not counting their leader.

    "The First Seat is said to be unstoppable. As we saw in the Beast folk Nation, he possesses tremendous power." I dered.

    I had to ord respect to the man whom even Neron wasn''t sure of beating. Besides, Beruel wasn''t one who was fond of exaggerating the abilities of others over his own, but even he testified to the power of the First Seat¡ªenough to make me wonder.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "With Kido dead, that leaves the Third Seat. She''s a Subus¡ªa rare Crimson Demon who is said to bepletely immortal and indestructible."

    ording to Beruel, she was as tenacious as a cockroach, and none of his abilities worked on her. Images of Karlia popped into my mind when he described her, but when I asked for the Subus'' name, Beruel said he didn''t remember.

    ''I even mentioned Karlia, but he didn''t recognize that name. Just how terrible is his memory?'' Perhaps it had something to do with his view on women.

    Fortunately, it seemed he was changing his views a little.

    Well, names weren''t relevant. As long as we had the knowledge of their abilities and the way they operated, it would be fine.

    I refused to believe Karlia was a member of the Cult, and since there wasn''t enough proof to conclude on that, I decided to focus on the important aspects of the Nether Cult.

    "The final member to be wary of is the Maiden in White¡ªthe assistant of the Cult Leader."

    ording to Beruel, she was very strong... as well as old. She was the one that invited him to join the Nether Cult, and after asking around he found out that it had been the same for every Cult Member.

    Apparently, she had been the one managing the affairs of the Cult, and they never physically met the Cult Leader until the recent years.

    In contrast, this Maiden in White was always there, and her presence was something that even Beruel found to be scary.

    "She can''t be human." Was his finalment on the maiden.

    Also, as expected, he didn''t know her name.

    ''It can''t be Lilith, right? No way...'' The image of an old acquaintance shed in my mind.

    Lilith''s choice of outfit didn''t fit Beruel''s description, and it didn''t seem like she would be a part of a cult.

    However, it had been centuries since Ist saw her.

    I couldn''t fall into the pit of assumption.

    "We also have Stefan, Legris, and the Cult Leader¡ªall of whom are very dangerous people."

    I had no idea what the Cult Leader could do, and neither did Beruel. However, if the three most dangerous members of the Cult could be in support of him and act in subordination to him, then he had to be very powerful.

    ''I won''t have any problem with Stefan, but Legris... now that''s an issue.'' My thoughts trailed.

    "In any case, I just want to implore us to be more careful and prepare for the bacsh of our actions. We''ll need to act soon too."

    I nodded at my audience, clearing my throat as I prepared thest portion of my speech.

    "I''ll be leaving for the Capital now. There are a few things that need to be resolved.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    ? The story is slowly reaching it''s turning point. Ah, and don''t worry... there''s still a lot to uncover in this Arc.

    Also, please support this author with yourments, reviews, and power stones. Golden Tickets and Gifts are much appreciated too.

    Thank you.

 Chapter 680 Return To The Capital

    There were a couple of reasons behind my departure.

    One was obviously the high tension that was going on among everyone. The atmosphere of distrust was heavy, and even though I had rendered an apology, that simply wouldn''t suffice at this point.

    ''I would have to reconnect with them on an emotional level. Unfortunately, there''s no time for that now.''

    The best thing I could currently do was give everyone some space. If I removed myself from the equation, the heavy atmosphere would lighten¡ªif only a little. Besides¡­

    ¡­ I had other reasons.

    ''The Netherlore Family trial should be concluding. I''ll get to see Maria soon, then¡­'' I had no idea why my heart was racing in excitement.

    Or perhaps I did, but simply chose to feign ignorance.

    ''In any case, I''ll need to speak with Elrich Lendertwale, as well as the king. Things have gotten too serious not to include them.''

    I couldn''t see the future, but I could at least predict it. What our Kingdom, and not just ours, would have to face eventually, needed time to be prepared for. The Nether Cult had enough influence, resources, and willingness to plunge the Eastern Kingdom and the Demon Race into war¡ªjust so they could have a smokescreen for their activities.

    I could only imagine what lengths they would go to in order to eliminate us and obtain the majority of the Arcanas.

    ''Still, we have more Arcanas, which gives us the advantage. The problem is that we''re too inexperienced to wield them. Arcanas are difficult to control. It took me years to learn the ones I know. I couldn''t even master [The Hermit], and my control over the others is simply due to learning their sequence and adapting them into my Original Magic.''

    The reason I could use the [Strength] Arcana so efficiently was because it was pretty much natural to use. Its process was simple, and I was sincerely grateful to Merlin for making it less difficult than I imagined.

    ''The Labyrinth was the toughest part for his own Arcana.'' Since there were different creators for the different Arcanas, I had to expect variations.

    In essence¡­ I had to avoid generalizations.

    ''That''s enough thinking. It''s time to go.''

    >VWUUUSSSHHHH<

    Space warped around me, and I began making my exit from the crowd. My gaze met Neron''s, and he nodded calmly at me.

    ''As long as he''s here, it''s going to be fine.'' With that thought echoing in my mind, I vanished.

    **********

    "It''s finally over¡­" Maria heaved a sigh as she exited arge courthouse.

    It was a bright and sunny day in the Capital, yet the girl''s weary expression could give everyone the wrong impression. It wasn''t that she was sad, or cold, or tired. Perhaps one could say that she was simply bored.

    To be honest, she had been expecting the trial of her rival family to go down more smoothly, but the poor girl hadn''t¡ªfor once in her life¡ªexperienced a true trial before now.

    The drawn-out process, the back and forth, the uncovering of even more atrocities of the Netherlore Household, the culmination of evidence, the exchange of rhetorics, and at longst¡­ the sentencing.

    ''I didn''t know justice could be soplicated.'' Another sigh escaped her lips.

    Jared ced her in the capital for both personal and official reasons, so she knew it was an unavoidable responsibility. Still, it didn''t make her feel less inclined to take any more of the boredom that had shrouded her for the past couple days.

    ''Watching them get sentenced was satisfying, though.'' Maria smiled.

    The Netherlore Family had been conducting several atrocious experiments¡ªincluding human ones. They had been exploring an element called ''Nether'', supposedly discovered by their first patriarch who founded the Netherlore branch after seeding from the Helmsworth family.

    Not only were the experiments unauthorized by the crown, but they were also inhumane and dangerous. For example, the Nether Beast that attacked Maria when she was little, and then the one Jared had killed. It was pretty obvious that they were doomed after their activities were found out.

    ''Jared really did an amazing job¡­" Maria forgot all about her boredom once she pictured the boy who made all of this possible.

    A smile slowly formed on her face as she walked down therge stairs of the exterior courthouse and made to return to the Royal Pce to inform her family of the conclusion of the case¡ªas well as the announcement of her return to the team.

    Her silver hair fluttered elegantly with the wind, and her bright blue eyes captured the bright sky. She was feeling rather energetic now. If the young girl was being honest with herself, she knew the reason for this change of emotions.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Maria couldn''t wait to see Jared, as well as the others.

    "I miss him so much, and¡ª"

    "Oh? Miss who?" A voice suddenly emerged behind Maria, causing the young girl to leap in surprise.

    "Eeep!"

    She swiftly twisted her body in mid-air and turned to face the owner of the voice. Her body was still excited from the shock, thus making her eyes widen even more the moment they captured the one responsible.

    "J-Jared?!" Maria eximed.

    The young, blond boy was standing and smiling at the flustered Maria. He had a gentle smile and a calm demeanour, and with both hands in his pocket, he coolly expressed his satisfaction at Maria''s lostposure.

    "You really should be more vignt. You wouldn''t want to be caught off-guard, now would you?" He grinned.

    "Y-you¡ª!" Maria rushed towards him, as she became red all over her face and her brows twitched in both annoyance and relief.

    "It''s you! What am I supposed to do against that?" By the time she reached him, they were mere inches from each other.

    Her fierce blue eyes met his dark yellow ones, and they both stared at each other for a while.

    "You look good. How did the proceeding go?" Jared finally broke the awkward silence.

    Apparently, Maria didn''t seem to be too interested in doing so.

    "Was the verdict to your satisfaction?" Even with these questions, Maria did not respond.

    Jared began to break into a nervous sweat. The young girl just kept looking at him without saying a single word in response to his questions.

    ''Is she angry? In a bad mood? Were things that bad? Not you too!'' Were the most likely thoughts that were going on in Jared''s head as he stared at Maria.

    "You know¡­" Maria drew closer to Jared.

    Their faces were apart by only a few centimeters¡ªenough to make anyone lose their nerve. Jared''s previously calm face seemed to slowly disy shades of pink, while Maria''s beautiful one was pretty much saturated by her blushing.

    "... I could kiss you so easily right now."

    Jared''s eyes popped wide open as he stared at Maria''s daring smile. Her fierce blue eyes showed that she wasn''t kidding, and her track record made it pretty obvious that she could indeed do something of the sort.

    Stuck in a confrontation he hadn''t nned or predicted, Jared couldn''t help but utter the only words his lips could release before they were once again smushed.

    "W-wha¡­?!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have to ask, because I''m quite curious.

    Which Ship do you prefer?

    Jared x Maria or Kuzon x Ana

    Let''s hear it!

 Chapter 681 An Awkward Walk

    ''Why did I choose to tease her?''

    When I teleported, I saw Maria standing alone, so I decided to y a little joke on her. Of course, I used my [Unknowable] Magic, so she didn''t notice me approaching her. I even overheard her saying she missed someone.

    Thinking that was the perfect cue, I made my presence known.

    ''H-how could I have known that things woulde to this?!''

    Maria was dangerously close to me. Her blue eyes seemed to have a hypnotizing effect, and her glossy lips beckoned the moment they parted when she smiled. It was almost as though she was inviting me to make the first move.

    ''No way!'' I thought to myself.

    This girl confused the hell out of me. She always surprised me by how easily she switched personalities, from being gentle and mild to being so upfront and confident.

    ''What happened to that shy girl from Ainrk? Has she always been like this?!'' My heart raced even more as I continued to observe her.

    One thing was for sure. She definitely wasn''t the girl from the Academy. I wouldn''t be saying any more than that.

    "A-are you kidding? We''re out in the open, you know?" I stated my argument.

    It was an ultimate defence since nobles like us couldn''t be seen acting improperly in public¡ªespecially since we both belonged to families who were among the four great Nobles.

    ''Or should I call them three now? The Netherlores should be out of the equation.''

    Unfortunately for my defence, the courthouse¡ªand practically its surroundings¡ªwere devoid of people. If I had to guess, it was most likely a defensive measure taken because of the Netherlore Trial.

    ''After sentencing, they''ll most likely by transported by teleportation¡ªkind of like how the Ainrk Academy works.''

    In essence, other than the patrolling Mages and Warriors hiding around, Maria and I were alone. Once I realized my defence wouldn''t hold up, I knew I had to brace myself for impact.

    Impact in three¡­ two¡­ one¡­

    "Rx. I wasn''t actually going to do anything." Maria chuckled, stepping back in a yful manner.

    ''U-uh¡­?'' I was a little dazed for a second, but I almost instantly regained myposure and realized that she had just been teasing me.

    "Consider it revenge for what you did earlier!" She gave a smug smile as she folded her arms¡ªthus boosting her chest to a heightened degree.

    I didn''t know whether this was on purpose or not, though. It was better not to guess.

    ''This is good, though. Right? She was just kidding!'' My thoughts broke into relief, and I joined Maria tough it off.

    Why, then, did I feel a bit disappointed? Yes, just a little disappointed. Was I really hoping she would¡ª?!

    "So, why are you here, Jared? I thought you were busy with stuff on the team? The arrangement was for me to return once I was done here, right?" Fortunately, Maria interrupted me before I could delve deeper into my thoughts.

    Thank goodness, really!

    "A-ah, well something came up. A lot has happened, and it''s caused me to move up my ns a little." I managed to say, finally using my serious tone.

    Fortunately, this served as a precedent for a serious conversation, and all the silliness from before quickly fizzled out.

    "Move up? Really? What happened?"

    As expected, Maria''s eyes disyed curiousity. She had missed out on a lot, after all. Perhaps this would be a good way to let off some steam.

    "Well, I''ll tell you on the way. You''re going to the Royal Pce, right? Me too." I smiled at her.<novelnext></novelnext>

    I was a bit caught off guard when she blushed in response to my words. Really, she kept on confusing me every single time.

    ''I didn''t even say or do anything weird this time.''

    Fortunately, the awkward air was remedied by Maria''s sensible approach and her agreement to cooperate.

    "Alright then. I''m guessing you want to see The King?" At this point, Maria and I started moving.

    It would have been much easier and faster to simply teleport to our destination, but considering we had much to discuss, I chose to enjoy a walk with her instead.

    "Yes. But it''s not just him. There''s Elrich Lenderwale, as well as my father who''s in the Capital. I dropped by his manor, but I was told he''s in the Pce."

    "Ohh, I see..."

    Awkward silence tried to settle down between the both of us, but I decided not to let it prevail.

    "You''ve seen him around a few times, right?" I asked with a smile.

    "Y-yeah. You take after him a lot, I think." Sheughed so charmingly that I felt like my heart jumped from its position

    "Haha. Is that so? What part of him do I take after?" I decided to further that conversation.

    "Well, mostly good traits. I can see that handsomeness runs in the family."

    "H-handsome? Surely you jest. You should have seen my face in the past. I was perfection."

    I puckered my lips while using my hand to smoothen my chin. My eyebrows were raised and I gave her my best ''Sir Charming'' smile.

    "Pfft. Haha... stop it, Jared. Hahaha!"

    As expected, the damsel burst outughing. Was my expression so funny? I hoped so, considering I intended for us to have a good time and clear away the awkwardness

    And by my calctions, I was precisely on track.

    "I''m serious, though."

    "Really? Why don''t you show me?"

    "Eh? Show you what?" I had an idea of what she meant, but feigning ignorance was my best bet at the moment.

    "Transform into your past self and show me. You can use that Magic, can''t you? Or even just Projection or Illusory Magic."

    I gulped down the saliva that got stuck in my throat and forced myself not to draw attention to the bead of sweat forming on my forehead.

    "Haha... there''s no need for that. Come on!"

    "Show me." Maria''s tone suddenly sounded firm, and her wide blue eyes seemed so imposing.

    I was caught between crossroads.

    ''Should I? Should I not?''

    I got myself into this mess, so I had to simply resolve it. Fortunately, I had a trump card I could utilize.

 Chapter 682 Blossoming Change

    "I''ll show you some other time. Perhaps somewhere more private. There could be eyes watching."

    Yes, that''s right! This was my secret weapon.

    ''From what I''ve seen, there are people who knew my identity in the past. People like Aurora and Jane. There could be others.''

    "We have to be careful in this phase of ours. We can''t mess things up."

    "O-oh, yeah. You''re right. My bad..." Mariaughed a little, but I could tell that I just made things worse.

    All of my effort at lightening the mood had just gone down the drain. A certain thought popped into my head, asking why exactly I cared so much.

    I hadn''t always been so conscious in the past, had I?

    ''I think it''s pretty obvious to me already...'' My thoughts trailed as I stared at Maria.

    Things were different between us now. That much was certain.

    "Y-you know, I''d really like to meet your parents too. I''m sure you''d share a lot of attributes with your mom." Iughed, drawing closer to Maria as I tried to repair the bridge that was slowly copsing.

    "W-wha¡ª?! Meet my parents...?  No way!" Her cheeks turned pink and she raised both of her hands as her voice rose in panic.

    "Come on. It''s not fair you''ve met my parents, but I haven''t met yours."

    I mean, Maria spent some time in my house. She met my mother too. What about me?

    "Well, maybe..."

    "How about this? Youe with me when I meet my father, and I go with you to see your parents. You have to tell them about the trial and all, right?"

    Normally, Nobles of their calibre¡ªand even the king would be present during the trial of a family as influential andrge as the Netherlores.

    However, for safety reasons, I determined that they shouldn''t attend.

    Maria had an Arcana, so she would be fine. Elrich would have also been present, but after the sentencing, he would have returned by teleportation.

    Maria''s parents did attend a part of the trial as witnesses, but they didn''t stick around for the sentencing.

    ''Elrich utilized the Golems and Automatons I gave him during the Demon Incursion for security.'' Since he kept me updated with information throughmunication Magic, I was pretty much updated on how things fared.

    "So what do you say?"

    Maria''s stoic expression reappeared and she ced her finger on her chin, looking deep in thought.

    "You know the implications of meeting with our families, right? You''re a Noble, so..." Her eyes sharply pierced mine and she gave a serious look.

    ''A-ah! That''s true. How could I¡ª!''

    "I won''t rush you, Jared. But if you want to meet my parents, you need to have the resolve."

    A meeting like that was seen as a prenuptial tradition among intending couples. I missed something so basic in order to get closer to Maria.

    "So, until you decide whether or not you want to be with me..." Maria drew closer, causing my heart to beat faster.

    I took a step back, but stopped myself and steeled my body.

    "... And until you be a Legal Adult..."

    At this point, her face was mere inches from mine, and her body was lightly pressed against my very teenage form.

    I felt heat rise from my inside, and the tempo of my heartbeat followed.

    "... The answer is ''Nope!''" Maria smiled after this statement, pping my cheek twice before stepping back.

    Throughout all of this, I couldn''t even move! I was just frozen in both shock and excitement, waiting to see what she would do.

    "W-wow..." I muttered, unsure of what to say and how to begin.

    Maria had recreated a distance between us, enough to indicate that she was still very much invested in our conversation.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "What is it?" Her stoic face looked at me once again.

    After staring at her for a while, the image of her younger self ovepped in my mind. While they shared the same expression, as well as many features, I could tell that there was a striking difference¡ªboth in how I saw her, and how she had grown.

    "You''ve changed." I smiled, keeping up my pace as I kept walking.

    And, after moments of silence, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I was met with a smile from the amazing girl.

    "I''m not the only one." She said.

    Thus, with both of us having that fuzzy feeling within us... we kept walking and discussing.

    And, to be honest... it wasn''t so awkward anymore.

    *

    *

    *

    It took some time¡ªthough I hardly noticed at all¡ªbut we finally arrived at our destination.

    "It''s been quite some time." I smiled, staring at therge walls and humongous gate. It reminded me of thest¡ª as well as the first¡ª time I made my appearance in the Royal Capital.

    ''In my past life, I first came to the capital to Awaken my Mana Core. I never got close to the castle, though...'' Humiliating memories coursed through my mind, causing me to smile wryly.

    "You have a lot to do. What''s your first order of business?" Maria interrupted my self-reflection with her melodious tone, and her nk face indicated slight curiosity.

    Perhaps it was just my imagination, but it seemed I was beginning to understand the dynamics of her reactions... even though they all practically looked the same.

    "Well, we''re about to enter the Royal Pce, right?" I smiled at the youngdy.

    Guards¡ªboth visible and invisible were stationed around the vicinity, and I could see many barriers erected all over the ce. It wouldn''t be very difficult for me to infiltrate, but a majority of people wouldn''t even dream of trying to pass through uninvited.

    Fortunately, I had way more than an invitation with me.

    Moving forward with a confident stride, I approached the giant gate. Of course, the guards on duty would stop us and request certain things before allowing us to pass. However...

    .... There was an exception to every rule.

    "L-Lord Jared!"

    "We''ve been expecting you!"

    "Court Mage Elrich Lendertwale has informed us of your arrival!"

    My smile grew broader. It seemed Elrich had already set things into motion, just as I had instructed.

    ''This way, we''ll preserve much of our time.''

    "Is everything ready?" I asked, drawing even nearer as the gates were instantly opened.

    Then again, it wasn''t like I needed them to be.

    "W-we''re not sure, but the relevant participants have arrived already. The Lord of the Crimson Household also arrived not too long ago."

    The Crimson family was recognized to be tardy¡ªno, a better terminology would be fashionablyte. If they were present, I was guaranteed that everyone was around already.

    Elrich really did a wonderful job setting things up while I was talking with Maria. No time was wasted.

    Turning back to the stoic-faced Maria, I realized that she was most likely confused, as well as curious. It looked really cute.

    "Everything''s ready, so we''ll be going straight to our first meeting, Maria." I quickened my pace, passing through the bowing guards and widely opened gate.

    We were members of high nobility, so this sort of treatment wasn''t exactly surprising. Still, in case she still had some leftover confusion in her mind, I thought it would be better to rify things.

    "We''re going to see the King."

 Chapter 683 Jareds Reward

    The Royal Pce

    Within it was the magnificent throne room of the head of the Eastern Kingdom.

    Gold and precious stones decorated the massive hall, and it looked spectacr¡ªworthy of being the central power of the Eastern Kingdom. The clean floors sparkled with splendour, and the designs oozed luxury. The carpet was elegant, the chandelier was glorious, and the people present looked impable.

    Nobles gathered close to the throne. Members of the ''Four Ducal Households'', now reduced to three, sat at the forefront, among the twelve Council Members of the Kingdom. Of the twelve, eleven were present¡ªa staggering number to be centralized in one ce.

    The twelve Council Members, representing the great families and foundations of the kingdom, presided over matters such as the Legitive and Judicial affairs of the Kingdom¡ªthough all were in ordance with the King''s will.

    King Albion Lestrome Indiavel sat on his throne, and beside him was the Royal Court Mage¡ªElrich Lendertwale.

    The three princes stood behind their father, while the princess stood behind the Queen, who was also dressed marvellously.

    All in all, it was a full house, and everyone was waiting in anticipation.

    The King

    The Queen

    The Princes

    The Princess

    The Royal Court Mage

    The Council

    The Ducal Households

    The Kingdom stakeholders¡ªResearch , Imperial Forces, Executive Officers, etc.

    It was no understatement to call this a prime gathering of the Kingdom''s finest and most significant people. The only missing faces that would be considered important here were the ones on Jared''s team¡ªtoo upied with their tasks to be present.

    Thus, this would be considered¡ªby far¡ªthe greatest audience the Kingdom could bestow upon anyone. And yet¡­ all of this was for a single individual.

    "Presenting¡­ the saviour of Ainrk, and now the saviour of the Eastern Kingdom, as well as the proponent of the Allied Nations¡­ Jared Leonard."

    Therge doors were opened, and every head turned in the direction of the approaching male who stepped into the royal hall with poise and dignity.

    A girl was beside him, and her appearance connoted peerless beauty. Though she was not announced, everyone in the hall knew her to be Maria Helmsworth¡ªa prodigy in her own right, and the disciple of Serah Crimson.

    Together, walking side by side, the boy and girl entered the throne room. Once they reached a considerable distance, they halted¡­ and bowed their heads in reverence.

    "Raise your heads." The King said almost as soon as they bowed.

    In obedience to the pinnacle of power in the Kingdom, both Jared Leonard and Maria Helmsworth raised their heads. A look of respect still remained in their eyes, and their etiquette remained unfettered.

    "We greet your Majesty, King¡ª"

    "There''s no need for such formalities¡­ at least, not anymore." King Albion swiftly spoke, chuckling under his words.

    His memories took him back to the first time he saw Jared. He had been impressed with the boy''s etiquette and wisdom. But now, such etiquettes were irrelevant.

    Albion Lestrome Indiavel knew Jared had more power and authority than him, at this point. Not only was he superseding the Allied Nations, but his influence far extended beyond what the Eastern Kingdom could obtain.

    Besides, he had performed such great service to them that it was reasonable to exclude him from the cumbersome rites of greeting. After all, the Eastern Kingdom needed Jared far more than Jared needed them.<novelnext></novelnext>

    With that in mind, King Albion was ready to do anything to remain on good and consensual terms with the young boy¡ªand he had something he could offer him at this point.

    "Very well, King Albion. Maria and I came here as representatives of the team I gathered. There are certain things I would like to discuss, moving forward. Thank you for agreeing to this meeting, as well as involving all the relevant parties here."

    "That is no problem at all. Before you venture into the matter you wish to discuss, though¡­ I have something to say."

    King Albion''s voice boomed through therge hall, sending his charismatic tone into the ears of everyone present. Jared nodded in response to the King''s words.

    "The Netherlore Trial has been concluded, and we will see fit that they pay for their crimes. Your efforts in subduing them, exposing their crimes, and even every other thing you''ve done thus far, have not gone unnoticed."

    Everyone present nodded their heads in agreement.

    Jared Leonard¡ªcontrary to how he seemed at times¡ªwas very humble in terms of rewards. Even for his efforts in subjugating the Demon Army, he did not ask for much. Every effort he had done to benefit the Kingdom was rewarded very meagrely, per his instruction.

    This time, Jared also made it clear he did not desire any reward, but King Albion''s conscience could not take any more.

    "While you have not made any request for a reward, and you have no desire for any of the Kingdom''s possession that could be yours, I still desire to reward you for your efforts, Jared."

    This was difficult for King Albion. Jared Leonard was an impossible man to satisfy with any reward. However, he was still a man.

    And a man¡­ had certain needs.

    "Step forward, daughter." King Albion Lestrome Indiavel spoke with a stern tone.

    Silence filled the hall as the attention of everyone swiftly converged in her direction.

    Dressed in her royal blue attire, with golden essories all over her, the young blonde stepped forward in her elegant shoes and stood beside her father.

    She curtsied, showing more of her elegance. The small crown on her head bounced as she returned to her upright posture, and her charming smile captured the attention of all who saw her¡ªJared included.

    "Jared Leonard¡­ I present before you, my only daughter¡ªCelestine Lestrome Indiavel."

    The young man was clearly attracted to the princess, since he had a dazed expression while he stared at her. King Albion smiled coolly. It would seem like he had made the right decision, after all.

    "I have spoken to your father, and it seems you are almost of age, Jared. You will need a spouse soon, do you not agree?" His smile broadened.

    "U-uh? Y-yes, I suppose¡­" Jared muttered, his eyes now widening as though he was realizing where the conversation was heading.

    Unfortunately¡ªor perhaps fortunately¡ªfor the boy, it was toote to turn back now.

    "I wish to give you my daughter''s hand in marriage. What do you say, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth? Will you take the Princess'' hand in marriage?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Well, we''ve gotten to this point, folks. What do you think?

    Should Jared get with the princess and forget about the girl beside him? Is this the end of the JaredxMaria ship?

    Let''s hear your thoughts!

 Chapter 684 Royal Rejection

    ''... Eh¡­?''

    My thought process became suspended as soon as I heard King Albion''s proposal. The confidence I had built up, and the rational line of reasoning that followed from that confidence seemed to evaporate.

    The question he posed had me stuck in one position¡ªone confused stance.

    ''What the¡­?!''

    I watched the entire Throne Room be very lively, as several Nobles looked at me in amazement. Some eyed me enviously, while others nodded in approval¡ªthose of thetter were more than the former, by the way.

    However, whether or not they liked the deal was inconsequential. There were so many things to consider. For example¡ª

    ''M-Maria¡­?''

    ncing to my side to see the facial expression of the girl beside me, I was surprised by her reaction. It was¡­ utterly nk! She made no expression at all. It was simply a stoic, unmoved, and utterly nd look.

    And the worst part? I couldn''t even tell what she meant by herck of-expression.

    ''Is she angry? Anxious? Worried? At least look at me or something, Maria!'' I panicked internally, but the girl maintained herpletely unfazed position.

    It almost felt like I was all alone in this decision.

    "What do you say, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth? Will you have my daughter be your bride?" King Albion once again pressed me on the matter, causing me to shiver slightly.

    My eyes turned to the princess¡ªa way to distract myself from her father. Unfortunately, her highness also had a charm that made her irresistible.

    She looked splendid, to be honest. Perhaps it was because she was decorated in royal apparel, and she had this luxurious appearance, but her attractiveness seemed to radiate all around her. I still thought Maria was more beautiful, but at the moment it was no secret to determine whose appearance dominated therge hall.

    "I¡­ I do not subscribe to an arranged marriage. Have you discussed this with her highness, Celestine Lestrome Indiavel, prior to this meeting?" I asked with the most respectful tone I could muster.

    I didn''t want to step on King Albion''s toes¡ªnot simply because he was a king, but also due to his position as a father. What kind of father would be d if he offered his only daughter and she was rejected?

    I needed to be smart about this, or else¡ª

    "Indeed. She is thrilled by the idea of being your bride. Why not hear it from her lips directly?" King Albion''s words broke my defence, and he nodded at his daughter¡ªsignalling for her to give the finishing blow.

    "It would be an honour to be your wife, Jared. I honestly feel that way." She bowed slightly and gave me a charming smile.

    ''It''s possible she''s pretending, using the face of etiquette. Mum taught me all about that as a kid¡­''

    I didn''t want a situation whereby she was going into marriage by force. That would be tragic on both ounts. However, on the likelihood that she was indeed willing, there was no problem on their end. It was simply me who had to make the decision.

    But why did it have toe to this?

    ''King Albion seems like a smart guy. He should know that I won''t do anything to harm the Eastern Kingdom. He should also know that I have this ce''s best interest at heart. I also possess more influence than him at this point. This, looking to take over the throne by marrying the princess wouldn''t even be an option I would consider¡­''

    That narrowed down the reasons quite a bit.

    ''If I am to follow my hypothesis, I''d say¡­ he just wants to render his gratitude? Maybe he feels the Kingdom just hasn''t done enough for me? If that''s the case, as a father¡­ he wants to offer what he values most.''

    I sighed internally, finally understanding the rationale behind the King''s offer. Unfortunately, I didn''t subscribe to it.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I apologize profusely, but I''ll have to decline." My tone was firm while being as respectful as I could make it.

    I could see an expression of shock on the face of the princess, and I indeed sympathized with her. It wasn''t a good thing to be rejected so openly, after all. This was why it took me a while before I finally decided to refuse.

    As for King Albion, a soft smile appeared on his face. It was a bit creepy, but I stood my ground on what I said. This was no time to be a coward.

    ''Doing so would only make things worse.''

    "May I ask why you refuse?" His Majesty asked, still maintaining his friendly attitude.

    Thankfully, it didn''t seem like anyone was offended. The princess'' smile returned to her face¡ªthough something about it felt strained. I could also hear hushed whispers among the nobles.

    My father, whom I had been monitoring for some time now, had a neutral expression. He simply wanted me to make my choice freely.

    ''He was brought into an arranged marriage, so he knows how it feels¡­''

    I wouldn''t say my parents didn''t get along, and neither would I say they loved each other unconditionally. My father was born into High Nobility, and my mother was born into a Mage family¡ªshe even spent some time away as an Adventurer. It was evident that there would be some dissonance between them, and the older I grew, the more I noticed it.

    ''Father and Mother are not the ideal couple.''

    They were able to create a happy marriage and birth me, so it had been a sess. However, if even one of them had decided not to put in as much work and understanding as the other, everything would have copsed.

    ''I don''t want to take that kind of risk¡­ at least not for just anyone.''

    In any case, I needed to answer the King''s question.

    "It''s simply because I do not desire the princess. I also do not want to be tied down. I want to marry someone I can have an adventure with¡ªwho shares my passion for Magic, and is willing to travel the world with me." I smiled.

    The Princess could try her hardest to be that person, but we had to face it¡­ she most likely wasn''t very adept at Magic or roughbat. Her expression proved my point nicely.

    "I see. Interesting take. However, from your words, it seems you already have someone else in mind. Or am I overthinking it?" King Albion grinned.

    "I do."

    My words caused all of my audience to gasp or murmur. Many stared at me curiously, and my father gave a somewhatplicated smile. I already knew we would have to discuss this privately.

    However, my immediate situation remained unchanged.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    N-no way... Is Jared finally going to be a man?!

 Chapter 685 Grand Confession

    "May I ask who? King Albion''s words echoed in my ears.

    ''Alright, Jared¡­ are you sure you''re ready for this?'' I thought to myself, looking beside me to see even Maria staring at me.

    Her expression still looked nk, but her widened eyes showed that she was just as surprised as everyone else. Yes, even until a few moments ago, I was surprised as well.

    Surprised by the fully formed conviction within me.

    How long would I deny it? How long would I shove it aside? Was it really something I could ignore now? The answer, of course, was NO.

    "You wanted an answer, right?" I whispered to Maria, smiling as I stepped a little forward.

    I could tell that she was trying her best to maintain herposure, so I took her hand into mine as I advanced even further.

    This was the moment of truth. Honestly, I hadn''t nned on doing this here, but¡­ it was a perfectly grand opportunity I wasn''t going to miss.

    Here I was, holding Maria''s hand while stepping forward in the presence of the king. My father was watching. Maria''s parents were watching. Every relevant person in the room was watching. At this point, I had reached the point of no return.

    ''No more running away!''

    With a confident smile on my face, I raised both mine and Maria''s hand above, making my official deration.

    "I am in love with Maria Helmsworth of the Helmsworth Household."

    My shocking confession, in front of so many strangers, caused even me to feel so embarrassed. I watched as my dad''s jaw dropped, and the Helmsworth Family looked at me with a somewhat neutral expression. I was getting mixed reactions from everyone, but the one they all shared inmon was most likely unfiltered surprise.

    ''Not yet¡­ I''m not done yet!''

    "She has also professed her feelings for me, so it''s mutual. If Miss Maria still feels that way, then it is my desire for us to be wed." I sped her hand with mine, ncing at the stoic, but blushing face of the youngdy.

    Her beautiful eyes sparkled so much that I felt trapped in them even though I tried resisting with all my might. Maria''s reddened cheeks became tantly obvious as the pink hue contrasted with her pale skin. In essence, she was unable to hide it anymore.

    "There''s your answer." I whispered again, winking at Maria, the cutest girl in the world.

    "If it pleases Your Majesty, I would like to be wed to Miss Maria instead. Of course, even if it doesn''t¡­ that doesn''t change anything."

    King Albion and I chuckled a little thanks to my little statement, and thanks to that, the tension in the atmosphere melted considerably.

    "Well, well, well. You made an interesting choice, but a wise one, nheless. It would seem the Helmsworth Family is the one who will be amodating Jared as their son-inw." He chuckled even more, ncing in the direction of both the father and mother of Maria.

    I also stared at them. While the father didn''t seem all too imposing, her mother''s wide eyes made me gulp a little. It seemed Maria''s stoic expression came from both of them. She also seemed to get a good deal of her physical traits from both of them.

    All in all, Maria''s parents seemed like the adult versions of her¡ªthough her father would be the male kind. However, thanks to this resemnce, it was just as difficult to read their expressions.

    ''What are they thinking?'' I thought to myself.

    It was scary how they werepletely unreadable.

    "Well¡­ if the young boy is serious, then he shoulde to our Estate when he''s old enough. We''ll host the official meet then." Duke Helmsworth spoke.

    His tone was surprisingly warmer than I thought.

    "Words are cheap. We have had many who have proposed to be our inws. Unfortunately, none of them qualify." Maria''s mother said the very thing I dreaded to hear.

    The fact that her family could consider me inadequate.

    "Fear not, boy. You seem reliable enough. Besides, there''s no detriment in your union. Your family is equal to ours in official status¡ªperhaps even more so in the actual holding of power." The Duke''s words soothed me once more.

    While he wasn''t smiling outwardly, his voice made it seem like he was.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Surely, you jest, Franklin. Your family is an elite unit of generational Mages. The very backbone of the Kingdom¡ªalongside the Crimsons. I daresay you are superior to ours." My father swiftly interjected, chuckling in the process.

    Unfortunately, what was meant to be taken as a light humour quickly died due to the unamused expression of the Helmsworths.

    "We''ll leave this debate for another time, Damien."

    "Of course. Haha. So what do you say about my son?" It seemed my father and this ''Franklin'' Helmsworth were really hitting it off.

    Did he learn to read their emotions, even though they showed none? Was it like how I was currently learning to understand Maria and her stoic face?

    ''You''re a genius, father!''

    "I personally like you, Jared. However, as it has already been established¡­ wait till you are of age. Should you still feel the same way, you may take the proper steps." Franklin Helmsworth addressed me, to which I bowed in response.

    "Indeed. If you two are to be joined as one, we''ll require that family meetup and discussion." The Duchess added.

    I understood things perfectly well.

    The good news was that the Helmsworth family favoured me. The fact that my father was also close to them was a good thing. Finally, the fact that Maria and I felt the same made allplexities vanish.

    Everything solely depended on my will.

    "Maria¡­ what is your response to this? Do you feel for him as he feels for you?" The question came from none other than my father himself.

    He had a smile on his face, but I could tell that he meant every word with utmost seriousness. And he was justified in it.

    ''I know how she feels, but not everyone does. She is yet to say anything¡­''

    "Yes, Father. I love your son."

    ''WHAT?'' My eyes widened as she made such a bold statement.

    It shook the whole hall, and even Maria''s parents both widened their eyes at their daughter''s words. The King, the Nobles, everyone present was filled with surprise. And I? I was the most surprised of all!

    ''She called him¡­ father¡­?''

    "Hahaha! d to see you''re so enthusiastic. I sincerely hope things turn out that way." My father''sugh felt genuine, and I was happy that he epted and even supported us.

    With everything clear and settled, it brought me joy and relief that I was finally able to muster the courage to stand by Maria and dere our desired union.

    I was able to see her smile, and she was able to see mine.

    ''Alright, then. Now that the most difficult part of this conversation has been dealt with, it''s time to focus on the easy part¡ªtaking down the Nether Cult.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I guess the JaredxMaria Ship has been solidified already... or has it?

    I hope you haven''t forgotten about certain... loose ends. Well, I can think of a particr Subus who''s one.

    What do you all think?

 Chapter 686 Proposal Against The Cult [Pt 1]

    "Now, then, shall we move on to the topic for today?" I smiled, stepping forward once more.

    After settling the Maria issue¡ªat least, to the best of my ability¡ªit was time to address another matter of utmost pertinence.

    The Nether Cult!

    "We currently have an edge over them, but if we''re not careful, we could get flipped to the losing end." I added, my tone depicting concern for the Kingdom.

    "I see..." King Albion murmured.  "... You must have a strategy to cover that, right?"

    Once he added that, I nodded.

    My main objective, after retrieving the Arcanas, was to find out more about the Nether Cult. Once that was done with, I had to destroy them.

    ''And... we''ve finally reached that phase.''

    "I n on attacking them in a week''s time. Before the appointed time is reached, there are certain things I would like to prepare, but a week is the highest time frame."

    Gasps and murmurs echoed around me. Since this meeting was filled with the important members of nobility, as well as high-ranked persons of the Kingdom, they were most likely under a heavy presumption of the Cult.

    The same Cult that stood behind the Demon Incursion, and also had spies working within the Eastern Kingdom... they were formidable foes indeed.

    "But why one week? Surely, we''ll need more time to prepare and amass our strength. Besides, if you desire to use the Arcanas to your advantage, won''t you require quite a bit of time to learn of their abilities?"

    King Albion was correct. In an ideal setting, that would have been preferable.

    However¡ª

    "There''s no telling what the Cult would do if we give them enough time. It''s possible that they might have something sinister they''re plotting, and the fact that we''re giving them more time means they will have more opportunities to enact whatever scheme they have in mind."

    It was simply too risky!

    "I see. But still..."

    "I understand your concerns, however there''s no need to worry. I have hatched an efficient strategy that will function exactly how I envision it to."

    The issue with one week was that it didn''t give us enough time for training, as well as time for preparation against the enemy¡ªwhoever they were.

    Personally, I felt we would also need more time¡ªthat is, unless two conditions were satisfied.

    "We possess [The Hermit], which is an Arcana that slows time. Using this, we can properly prepare in the space of one week."

    Neron had more Mana than I did, so he could make the time ratio work to our advantage. We could spend years within a week, training with our Arcanas to improve as much as possible.

    "We also have an informant from the Nether Cult. A former member has been sessfully won over to our side, and with enough information on their organization, we''ll be able to n more appropriately."

    I saw the King''s expression brighten as I spoke, and he nodded with every point I made.

    Once I was done, a wide smile formed on his face, and he nced to his side¡ªin the direction of the Helmsworth Family.

    "You guys are quite fortunate."

    The Duke and Duchess nodded, though their expressions still didn''t change. It felt almost creepy, but I could live with it.

    "I know I have said this before, but your son really takes after you, Damien." Next, King Albion addressed my father.

    "Haha... not a chance, your Majesty. When I was his age, I was barely running my family business alongside my father." My father humblyughed.<novelnext></novelnext>

    He was a modest person, so he had omitted the part where he had been responsible for the finances of his family''s linen business when he hadn''t even been an adult yet.

    My father was a genius!

    ''The only edge I have over him is the fact that I''m older.'' Since I reincarnated, I had a wealth of experience that he didn''t.

    That was what made me special.

    "So, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth... tell us your n moving forward. The specifics, if you may."

    There was no harm in saying anything.

    For one, I had ensured this entire area was impervious to Observational Magic. I had also fact-checked everyone present here, so the possibility of an information leak was minimal.

    ''Besides, if its Legris Damien, he should be able to figure out what I''m going to do. It''s pretty obvious.''

    The n was simple and straightforward, and the only reason it would work was because of our level of skill as individuals and as a team.

    "I intend on dividing the members of my team into groups. One part will remain in the Eastern Kingdom to protect it, the others will be spread out to the respective Nations to assist them there, and finally the main force will attack the headquarters of the Nether Cult."

    "Spreading out your team? Won''t that reduce the level of power you''ll have? Going into the enemy''s camp, won''t you need more people in order to stand a better chance?"

    King Albion had a point. If I didn''t have any other stakes in the other nations¡ªEastern Kingdom included¡ªI would have poured all my efforts on the headquarters.

    However, that would be a stupid thing to do.

    "There''s a strong likelihood that the cult will attack the other nations. They''ve shown how merciless they can be in the past, and if it was me, I''d definitelyy waste to the other civilizations while their champions were currently fighting against my forces."

    I had utilized the same strategy against the demons, during the war. It was an effective n to not only reduce the moral of the fighters, but to also take care of a defenceless nation.

    The Nether Cult most likely considered the other Nations to be worthless or dangerous enough to be eliminated.

    ''The Demon Incursion proved it. Besides, their First Seat easily wiped out the Beast folk Nation.''

    In any case, if we were to make any mistake, we could suffer the same fate.

    "I''m curious, who will you leave behind to protect the Eastern Kingdom?" King Albion asked.

    I smiled upon hearing this question. It was bound to be asked eventually.

    "Elrich Lendertwale and Maria Helmsworth. These two will remain here." I saw a surprised expression leak out of Maria, but I chose not to address it yet.

    Fortunately, she didn''t too.

    "It''s the best option, and I hope you understand."

    I watched as her parents nodded in approval, most likely thankful that I wasn''t taking their daughter to the centre of the battle.

    ''I don''t think they understand, though...''

    If what I was thinking was the actual case, then every single portion of the world wouldn''t be safe from the Nether Cult.

    ''Maria and Elrich will have to fight their hardest to protect this ce.''

 Chapter 687 Proposal Against The Cult [Pt 2]

    "I will need you to prepare some things before then, King Albion. Please be ready to cooperate with the Allied Nations, and I also n on resolving certain things on my end."

    His Majesty responded with a nod, a bright smile still spread out on his face.

    Many would consider it weird that a child my age was referring to maters like this in such a respect, and that even the King acknowledged me.

    However, after disying both my power and intelligence in thest round, only fools would utilize a bias like age, in this situation.

    "As for the members of our team that will be assisting the other nations; Anabelle Frederick, and Beruel¡ªour newest member¡ªwill be working with the Fairy Race. They will be involved in the final stages of a project that will be very instrumental to our cause." I added.

    The revival of the Beast folks was going steadily, but even if they were to be revived at this point, their battle efficiency wouldn''t be astronomically relevant to the battle toe.

    ''The enemy has Nether, after all.''

    That meant we needed something that could fight against their overwhelming force. Fortunately, I had just the right idea.

    ''With Ana and Beruel¡ªboth of whom are geniuses¡ªby Jane''s side, they should be able to pull if off.''

    My only worry was how to convince my dear Fairy friend to ept Beruel back into the Fairy Sanctuary.

    I also needed to inform the Fredericks of their daughter''s journey into the Fairy Kingdom¡ªsince I had informed them when Ana joined my team.

    ''I really had my work cut out for me, didn''t I?''

    Afterwards, I told King Albion about the other members of the team and where they would be stationed.

    He didn''t ask for my reasons anymore, and simply believed I had genuine and strategic purposes behind my choices¡ªwhich I did.

    Ultimately, I was able toy out the n for our assault against the Nether Cult.

    All that was left...

    "So, your Majesty, what do you think?"

    ... Was his approval.

    *

    *

    *

    "So, what now?" Maria asked me as we stepped out of the throne room.

    We had gotten our approval from the king¡ªas I had expected¡ªand now, it was time to move on to the next phase.

    "We''ll have to inform the team. That means I''ll have to exin everything from scratch." I knew I sounded whiny, but what could I say?

    I was deted.

    ''The team isn''t exactly what it used to be...'' My thoughts trailed as I stared at Maria.

    Fortunately, I had her by my side. If nothing else, she was an emotional support that I could use right now.

    "Can I ask you something?"

    I gulped instantly, nodding as soon as the words registered in my head.

    "Why did you station me at the Eastern Kingdom?"

    "O-oh... that..." I sighed in relief.

    "What did you think I was going to ask?"

    "N-nothing..."

    "Spill. Is it about your public confession? We''ll get to that part soon, don''t worry." As soon as she said that, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.<novelnext></novelnext>

    So, she did remember, after all!

    "So, why am I being assigned to the Kingdom? Is it to protect me, or...?"

    "Not at all." I swiftly interrupted her.

    ? Just like her parents, it seemed Maria was mistaken about the safety of her role in the grand scheme of things.

    "Your job is very dangerous. The Eastern Kingdom is probably the most dangerous location to be assigned to¡ªapart from the Fairy Sanctuary and the Cult Headquarters." I said, staring into Maria''s eyes.

    Unlike the other nations, our Kingdom had less security and also fewer individuals who possessed adequate power.

    I had no idea how the Nether Cult would choose to attack, but it was most likely going to be by overwhelming the nations with unstoppable power.

    "I''ll create a barrier around all the Nations, and I''ll also charge up the devices of destruction each one has¡ªat least to serve as a means of countering anyrge-scale explosion from the enemy."

    Unfortunately, I had to assume Legris would be aware of this much. If I were to think it through, the enemy would most likely resort to an all-out melee attack.

    ''If they have an army, it''s going to be an overwhelming one.''

    "The Elf Kingdom has the environment to their advantage. The Dwarves are extremely tactful and resourceful. Their technology and impervious fortress gives them a decent advantage. The Fairy Sanctuary... well that speaks for itself. The problem is the Eastern Kingdom."

    In terms of security and defences, we were deadst on the scale. It was due to that mere fact that I decided to employ more Automatons here than in the other nations for defence.

    But that also meant I had to choose the most capable members we could spare to protect this area.

    "That''s why you and Elrich were chosen. You two are the most powerful duo among the others that I''m sparing."

    ''Well, Beruel and Ana would make for a stronger team¡ªconsidering their skill set and Beruel''s power, in general, but their expertise is needed with the Fairies.''

    In any case, I decided to ce Maria here because I trusted her and believed in her strength. Plus...

    "You have [The Pope] Arcana, and Elrich has [The Tower]. They''re both useful for defence and evasion. You have to use them well to protect everyone."

    Unfortunately, she wasn''t very skilled in the use of her Arcana yet¡ªthe same also applied to the Royal Court Mage.

    ''That''s why this one week is instrumental. Even Elrich is going to be training with us. We need to get stronger... and fast!''

    "I-I see. I got the wrong idea. Thanks for rifying." Maria gave me a sweet smile, something that caused my cheeks to turn hot for some reason.

    "Haha... is that so?"

    I quickened my pace, stillughing awkwardly as I walked ahead.

    "Where are you going? I hope you haven''t forgotten the other thing we need to discuss."

    My body froze instantly. There really was no escaping it, huh?

    "Jared."

    "Maria."

    I heard two distinct voices call our names a distance from where we stood.

    I turned in the direction of the voices, and found out that it had originated from a small grouping out of the throne room.

    My smile twitched a little when I saw my father walking alongside Maria''s parents. I didn''t need a soothsayer to tell me the cause.

    "Jared, where do you think you''re going? You think you can drop a bomb on us like that and just leave?" My father approached me, cing both hands on my shoulders the moment he drew closer.

    I could feel the pressure already building up, causing me to gulp.

    ''Ah... oh, well. Might as well just get this over with.''

 Chapter 688 Mixed Emotions

    "You really take after, your mother, Anabelle. Did she teach you this habit too?"

    My father seemed shaken beyond belief¡ªbut in a good way. He probably never expected me to pull off such a card in front of everyone.

    "To confess your love, though... that took a lot of guts, I have to say."

    The Helmsworths approached us at this point.

    Their faces still maintained the stoic expression that Maria usually had, and the way their eyes glimmered as they drew closer gave me mixed feelings.

    Maria''s parents both had polished appearances, and their ck and silver outfits were in tasteful contrast to my father''s white and gold outfit.

    To each family their own, I suppose.

    Duke Franklin Helmsworth suddenly ced his hand on mine, giving me a gentle gaze¡ªthough his face was still stone-cold.

    I could sense a soft sincerity in his eyes; so, even though it felt a little overwhelming, I knew everything was alright.

    "I truly can not wait till youe of age and go through the due process. I''d be happy to give my pride and joy away, then."

    "F-father!" Maria''s voice sharply rang out in protest.

    Her face was flushed pink, and she appeared even more bashful than I had ever remembered her looking

    To be honest, she was so cute!

    ? "Father? Maria....father?" I heard Duke Franklin''s voice quiver with emotion, though his face was as steely as I could describe.

    Still, the way his eyes watered, and the tone of his voice, showed that he was disying a certain kind of emotion.

    "I-I''m sorry..." Maria''s eyes looked at me for a split-second, before finally turning away.

    "... Daddy."

    ''Whhaaaaaaaaaa!!!'' It took all of my willpower to control my facial expression.

    How did the Helmsworths manage to do this stuff for such a long period? It was crazy!

    ''Maria just called her father ''daddy'' in front of all of us!'' I really did my best to hide every single emotion within me.

    Still, I had to say...

    ... It was sooooo CUTEEE!!!

    "That''s much better." Her father patted her head, causing my face to turn red due to holding in myughter for so long.

    Seeing Maria look so shy and ufortable while experiencing these things just made me want to jump with joy.

    "What about me? Won''t my daughter refer to me as mummy as well?"

    "F-fine... mummy..."

    Her mother also jumped with excitement¡ªwell, her body did. Her face remained stoic, but she also lovingly stroked her daughter''s hair.

    After this very awkward disy of familial affection, both parents hugged their daughter.

    My father and I nced at this and we both had the same expression. We were both trying our hardest to remain dignified.

    I noticed how my father''s reddened face was about to explode withughter, and suddenly an idea popped into my mind.

    "How have you been... Daddy?"

    "Pffffffffffttttttttttttttttt!!!"

    It worked like a charm!

    *

    *

    *

    "Please take care of our daughter during your one week of training." The Helmsworths told me after hugging and cuddling their ''baby girl'' to death.

    "I''ll be sure to inform your mother about everything... son." My father broke into a grin.

    Something told me he was going to have his revenge for what I just pulled off, making me all the more nervous.

    Still, I couldn''t show any weakness. I had to stand strong!

    "Indeed. I''ll also tell her about drawer four in your office."<novelnext></novelnext>

    My father''s face froze and his eyes widened, as his lips mouthed the words;

    ''You know about drawer four?''

    I nodded and winked at him, causing his face to pale instantly. He was almost at the point of looking like a Helmsworth himself.

    "We''ll see you allter. Thanks for having us." I smiled, preparing to teleport away from the Capital.

    Elrich Lendertwale was going to join uster in the day, after delegating his responsibilities to his subordinates andpleting whatever work he had left.

    As for Maria and I, it was time to reunite with the rest of the team.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    ***********

    An awkward silence was left behind after Jared and Maria teleported away.

    Well, it was mostly awkward for one person¡ªnamely Damien Leonard Alphonse Sereth.

    After what seemed like an eternity of silence between the three nobles¡ªwith the couple constantly staring at the lone man with curious eyes¡ªsomeone finally broke the silence.

    It was Franklin.

    "Damien... what''s in drawer four?"

    The blond-haired man knew this question would arrive, thus he knew he only had one option at this point.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    ... He utilized one of the Spell Cards his son gave him and conveniently made his escape.

    With only the Helmsworth couple left behind, still donning doll-like faces, they shrugged and decided to return to their homes.

    After all, they had confirmed that Jared was indeed serious about Maria. And if that were to be the case, a family interview would be in order.

    Whether Damien Leonard wanted to or not, he would have to divulge that information to them.

    Thus, the couple nodded to themselves and spoke in unison.

    "Curiosity is the way of the Helmsworths, after all."

    ************

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    We easily returned to the base, Maria and I, and we found the team readily waiting for us.

    Beruel and Ana were present¡ªeveryone was there.

    ''Looks like Neron did well to assemble them before I arrived.'' I smiled to myself, nodding in his direction.

    He gave a nonchnt shrug, and I decided to fulfil my role as leader.

    Maria was weed grandly. The girls, and even Serah were so happy to see her again. Unfortunately, the same couldn''t be said about me.

    Well, they hadn''t seen her in a while, so it was understandable. With that thought as an excuse, I decided to move on to more important things.

    ''It''s a bit monotonous, but I''ll exin everything in the n to them.''

    The atmosphere was still awkward, and the gazes of certain individuals¡ªlike Lemi¡ªthrew me off a little.

    Still, I was determined.

    Of everyone here, only about half would be following us to the headquarters itself. I imagined some would be disappointed by this, while others would be ecstatic.

    However, it was the only optimal solution I could think of.

    ''Alright, Jared. Let''s spill the n.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Is it just me, or are the Helmsworths really weird?

 Chapter 689 Designations

    "W-what?! No way! Do you not understand what you''re implying, Lewis?!"

    Yes, the person speaking was Beruel. Like Jane, he was ustomed to the name I had used in my past life¡ªtherefore, he kept on referring to me as Lewis Griffith.

    ''He''s just making things moreplicated for me... but I understand.''

    "How can you say I should return to the Fairy Kin¡ªI mean, Sanctuary? Don''t you know that I was evicted by Jane and her followers? I''ll never be allowed in there again!"

    Beruel was currently worried about his ce in the n. He and Ana were meant to assist Jane, but he was hesitant to go along with it.

    It wasn''t like he wanted to refuse, but... he was simply being rational.

    ''Jane hates his guts, after all. I mean, I could stand him, but she couldn''t.''

    Still, looking at Beruel now, I could say that a lot about him had changed. He was now a little less arrogant, and his respect for other beings¡ªwomen especially¡ªhad gone up considerably.

    Surely that had to count for something... right?

    "Don''t worry about Jane. I''ll take care of her. If she understands how important this is to the n, I''m sure she''ll concede." I smiled.

    "Are you certain?" He narrowed his gaze and stared at me with suspicion.

    "I am. Besides... don''t you want to see her again? It''s been so long, right?"

    "W-well..."

    Beruel''s face couldn''t lie to me. Even though he was trying his hardest to hide it, the pink flushes on his cheeks gave his heart away.

    ''He likes Jane? That''s new...'' I nearlyughed out loud, but held it in.

    What was it about romance being in the air these days. It seemed everyone was being paired up with someone.

    ''Is it some kind of divine phenomenon? Or is it...?'' I shrugged, after harbouring those foolish thoughts for a while.

    "I''ll trust your judgement, then, Lewis. You''re a smart guy, after all."

    "Thank you. I also haven''t forgotten the bargain you made with Ana. Once this is all over, I''ll resurrect your fallenrades. You have my wor¡ª"

    "Subordinates. Fallen subordinates." Beruel sharply corrected, crossing his hands across his chest and looking as proud as he possibly could.

    "S-sure... subordinates."

    ''Am I sure he''s really changed, though?'' Iughed internally.

    In any case, since Beruel''s issue had been resolved, I had to move on to the other teams.

    "Ivan and Jerry will be stationed with the Elves." I spotted Ivan giving himself a fist bump once I made this statement.

    It seemed he had an interest in the Elf Kingdom¡ªone I wasn''t even sure about.

    ''He was training under their General, right? I believe she had a daughter. Could it be... Was he also...?''

    A smile formed on my face, and I nodded instantly. It seemed my dear Ivan was a man of culture as well.

    ''So you finally understand the appeal of the Elves. Well done.''

    When the time came, I would have to teach him all I knew about them. That way, his chances were sure to increase.

    "H-hold on, Jerry is going to the Elf Kingdom?! What about me?!"

    I nearly rolled my eyes when I heard this objection. It was from none other than Ciara Epilson.

    ''She''s always on my case where Jerry is involved. It''s so exhausting...''

    "You''ll be with the main team. There are reasons for tha¡ª"

    "I refuse. Station me with Jerry." Her stubborn voice interrupted mine, making me all the more exhausted.

    I disliked having to go through stuff like this with her every single time.

    "But, Ciara, this is the most efficient method." Jerry interrupted Ciara with a sensible statement.

    It made me d that he had been paying attention to all I had been saying.

    "We make a good team, don''t we? During the Arcana retrieval, didn''t we do very well together?" She crossed her arms and stared at Jerry.

    Suddenly, the young man fell silent. His eyes widened and his cheeks became flushed with pink, almost as if he remembered something embarrassing.

    Frankly, it had me interested. Neither of them had told me what happened with them during their Arcana retrieval.

    Other than the issue of Legris Damien appearing, I knew nothing else of their adventure.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Did something interesting ur between them?''

    "W-well..." Jerry suddenly turned to jelly, as he lost all confidence.

    For some reason, he wouldn''t even look Ciara in the eye. His eyes were so distracted, and beads of sweat formed on his face.

    I wasn''t the only one noticing this, was I? Was this just my imagination, or...?!

    "Let''s proceed with the listing."

    "Hey! I haven''t agreed to¡ª"

    "Asa and Maro will be stationed with the Dwarves." I swiftly spoke over her voice.

    Utilizing Spellcraft secretly, I diminished her sound while increasing mine. Magic was very convenient during moments like this.

    Just in case she wanted to bring out her Mind Magic, I fortified my body and soul with Magic. Ciara was that unpredictable, after all.

    "For the main team, there will be Neron, Serah, Ciara, Lemi, Aloe, Edward, and me." So far, the list seemed eptable to me.

    However, to appease the fumingdy who wouldn''t shut up, I decided to further exin my rationale.

    "Jerry and the others don''t have ess to the Arcanas, and by extension, a good supply of Aether."

    I nned to train everyone within the week we would be using for preparations. I also nned on finding ways in which everyone could utilize Aether in their fights¡ªeven though they couldn''t produce it the way they did, Mana.

    Unfortunately, when up against the Nether Cult''s upper echelon, those sorts of things were useless.

    ''I can''t imagine Jerry, Ivan, and the others faring very well with those odds.''

    "I n on giving one of you four¡ªMaro, Asa, Ivan, or Jerry¡ª[The Magician]. Depending on your affinities with it, you''ll be able to use the Arcana for your battle against whatever the Cult is nning."

    Unfortunately, there were only so many Arcanas to go around, and most had already been assigned.

    ''Edward will be getting the [Justice] Arcana. That''ll help us a lot in our battle against the Cult.''

    Every other Arcana was already taken, at this point. Neron possessed two, but ording to him, he had already resonated with [The Fool], so I thought it would be a waste to give it to another.

    ''Besides, that Arcana is dangerous. If I''m not the one to use it, I can''t think of anyone else to wield it other than Neron.''

    My final reason for letting him keep the Arcana was because it wasn''t exactly in my ce not to ''let him.''

    The others who found their Arcanas were pretty much bound to them. Since I didn''t ask Lemi or Ciara to cough up theirs, what right did I have to ask Neron for his?

    ''It''s finders keepers, after all.''

    Moreover, [The Fool] was extremely unwieldy and difficult to use. If anyone could crack the code, though, it had to be Neron.

    ''I''m counting on you.''

    "With that said, the ones who will be going to the Nether Cult''s Headquarters were chosen because of their high affinity with their Arcanas, their strong potential to wield Aether, and their level of power.

    We needed our tough hitters at the forefront of the battle, but we also needed some people to man the other regions.

    That was the rationale behind this arrangement.

    "I hope you understand now, Ciara." I smiled tiredly at the defiant girl.

    ''Please! Please understand!'' I prayed internally.

    After staring at me for some time, Ciara sighed. From her tone and facial muscles, it seemed my prayers were answered.

    "I understand everything you''ve said." She gave her verdict, bringing me relief.

    Unfortunately... she wasn''t done yet.

    "But, I still don''t agree!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Tell me, which Ship is your favourite at this point? Or which interactions do you enjoy the most? It would be fun to hear.

 Chapter 690 A Weird Moment

    "Y-you still don''t agree? But why?"

    "Jerry and I make a good team. I believe we would be able to function more efficiently if we are ced together."

    I nearly screamed in frustration.

    Ciara was so stuck on her convictions that I couldn''t see a way to convince her at all. I nced at Jerry for help, but he didn''t seem capable of rendering any assistance.

    ''What to do?''

    Ciara was very important for this mission. Her Magic abilities ced her at the top tier of our team''s fighting power. Plus, her Arcana seemed particrly useful.

    ''Should I just risk it and drag Jerry along? I could keep a fragment of his Soul to resurrectter, so there shouldn''t be any problems... right?''

    In case any member of the team died, I could still rely on The Hanged Man. The Original was with Jane, but I still had it recorded in my Memoir.

    "You know what, Ciara? Why don''t we¡ª"

    "I''ll be going to the Elf Kingdom. I agree with Jared. This isn''t the time to be selfish." Jerry''s voice echoed across the vast field.

    Hearing his mature, thoughtful voice made me nearly break into tears of joy. Finally, someone understood.

    "But, I''m not being selfish. We''ll function better as a team. Isn''t that for the benefit of all?"

    "Function better how? We were literally running around throughout our search for the Arcana. If we hadn''t... k-k-k-kissed, we wouldn''t have found it."

    It seemed Jerry''s voice took a nosedive during the second half of his statement, but I heard something like a ''kiss''?

    ''They kissed during a mission?!''

    "D-don''t misunderstand! It was essential for finding the Arcana!" Jerry quickly raised an objection once he noticed my expression.

    Well, looking around, I was certainly not the only one who gave an odd reaction to the news I was hearing.

    "You don''t need to exin, Jerry." Ciara interrupted, sighing.

    "W-well... ahem." Jerry coughed.

    After a while, hisplexion returned back to normal, and his firm conviction was evident on his face as he made the same statement as before.

    "I agree with Jared, Ciara. It''s best we split ways."

    "Really? You would really¡ª!"

    "There''s a lot I need to think about... apart from you. It''s best we spend some time away from each other."

    ''Oh, snap!'' My thoughts echoed as I looked at both Jerry and Ciara.

    ''Is this... what I think it is¡ªow!'' I felt a knock from behind me.

    It came from Maria, and she gave me a tired sigh.

    ''What was that all about? What did I do?''

    "What are you even talking about, Jerry?" Ciara gave a nonchnt shrug as she stared at the braved.

    "I... after our experience back then... the kiss... a lot had a been going on in my mind. It''s all jumbled up, and I think I need time to sort things out. It''s best we spend this time apart."

    "The kiss? But that''s not a big deal. It was just to dispel the barrier and¡ª"

    "Well, it''s a big deal for me! I can''t stop thinking about it, and it''s driving me crazy. It''s best we spend some time apart. How is that so difficult to understand?!" Jerry''s voice rose to an unprecedented degree, surprising even me.

    When he said all of these things, I couldn''t help but wonder if this was the appropriate time to divulge such information.

    ''I mean, you could have done it secretly or something...''

    But, I still had to admire Jerry''s fortitude and courage.

    "What are you saying, Jerry?"

    "I... have a lot to think about. But, I promise you, Ciara..." He approached her with gentle, slow steps.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Jerry actually ced both his hands on her shoulders, and the feisty girl seemed stuck in ce.

    Not only did she not move a muscle, but she also seemed dazed as heck! It fascinated me to no end.

    ''I still can''t understand their rtionship!''

    "... Once I''m done sorting these thoughts and feelings out, I''ll let you know." He gave a gentle smile.

    For a moment, awkward silence permeated the atmosphere.

    The tension was high, and I could see everyone awkwardly staring at each other. Ana''s eyes were especially teary, and Maria looked touched by the whole thing.

    Edward kept ncing at Lemi for some reason. And the worst part? She was also ncing at him!

    ''I... what''s all of this?!''

    Ultimately, the crazy atmosphere made me even more confused, throwing my ns for the rest of the day into chaos.

    "Let''s stop our meeting here. You are all dismissed." It was almost evening anyway. Everyone had things to attend to, considering training officially started the next day.

    "You should all prepare well for tomorrow."

    I nced in the direction of Ana and Beruel¡ªwho seemed to have gotten surprisingly close, considering their difference in race, age, and gender.

    "We''ll be leaving for Jane''s ce soon."

    Unlike everyone else, these two weren''t going to be training with us. They had to spend the whole week with my fairy bestie.

    ''That way, the project will bepleted as quickly as possible.''

    "Alright, Jared. But are you sure about this?" Beruel asked once more, a nervous expression breaking out on his face.

    "Is Jane that scary?" Ana asked him with a curious gaze.

    "The scariest." He whispered.

    "Get ready in five. Say your goodbyes if you want to... well, I meant that in a positive way." I chuckled faintly.

    Beruel didn''t seem to understand my joke, and Ana didn''t seem to particrly care.

    We hadn''t exchanged a single word since the incident, and that in itself made the conversation weird.

    ''I should follow Jerry''s example and save this difficult conversation forter. We both have a lot to think about and sort through, after all.''

    Thus, I left the two and walked away, in order to get a well-deserved five-minute break from everything.

    As I prepared to teleport, I could hear Lemi, Edward, and everyone else wishing Ana farewell.

    Their excited voices tickled my ears, and I felt a tinge of loneliness. Just a tinge.

    Maria was also bidding Ana farewell, so there was that.

    ''Isn''t this the time when Aloe usuallyes to cheer me up?'' I joked to myself.

    Just to humor my thoughts on the issue, I nced in her direction. Once I thought of it, I realized that I didn''t really pay much mind to her in our meeting.

    "She''s just staring at everyone nkly. She has a smile on her face, but..."

    Something about her gaze felt very simr to mine. She looked lonely¡ªno, more than that.

    Somewhat nostalgic... or was it my imagination?

    "Oh, well..."

    Blue sparks appeared around me, and I let myself be swallowed by space.

    >VWWWWUUUUMMM<

 Chapter 691 Old Quarrel Buddies

    "NO!"

    My face was wrenched in painful pleading, and I was so sure I had done a good job at exining the merits of having Beruel on board.

    However¡ª

    "I''m not working with him. He shouldn''t even be back here, you know?"

    ¡ªIt seemed I was wrong.

    We were currently in Jane Urs''s territory¡ªthe special area we were using for, Soul Project: Omega.

    "You really let him waltz in like this? You must have some deep trust in him... considering his affiliations with the Nether Cult." Jane pped her hand on her face, as she shook her head in disbelief.

    I could understand her point of view. I too had initially been sceptical about Beruel''s change, and whether or not to trust him.

    However, I realized I could.

    ''My hope is that she does too, but...''

    Jane wasn''t budging from her stiff position of wanting absolutely nothing to do with Beruel. I felt myself grow tired as I tried several times and failed to exin to her.

    Ana and Beruel were waiting outside Jane''s office¡ªof course, they were restricted from touching anything in the tubes around.

    I would have asked about the project''s progress, but this matter came first. I needed to secure Jane''s agreement to their joint cooperation.

    "I''m honestly intrigued by this Ana girl. From all you''ve said, she seems skilled enough, for a human teenager. I can trust that you''re not overrating her true skills, right?"

    When it came to epting Ana, Jane agreed without much need for convincing. It indeed showed that she needed the help.

    However, Beruel was also an indispensable person that I needed for the new project I wanted to entrust in Jane''s care.

    ''Soul Project: Omega, should be going fine, though they''ll be able to help her with it. My main concern is the other work I want to bring to the table.''

    It would be too much for Jane to aplish alone. I really wanted her to ept Beruel''s assistance.

    And then, all of a sudden, I remembered something very very important.

    "Beruel possesses an Arcana that''s indispensable for this task. [The Chariot] allows him to manipte technology¡ªeven intricate and micro ones that the eyes can''t process. It would really save a lot of time and effort on your end if you choose to work with him."

    I watched as Jane''s face suddenly twitched. Her eyes reflected curiousity, as she ced her fingers under her chin.

    While she nkly stared into space, I prayed that she would make the right call.

    ''Arcana or not; if she hates Beruel enough, she still won''t agree.''

    Unfortunately, this was something we needed to resolve. It was also a matter of priority for the Fairies.

    ''If the Nether Cult attacks, I''ll need something on ground that canbat them on an equal footing.''

    Having three experts cook up something amazing, per my instructions, would be perfect.

    "You''re going to have to donate more Automatons and Golems, you know." I nodded readily upon hearing Jane''s voice.

    My major concern was whether or not she had¡ª

    "Haaa... fine, I agree. Having an Arcana that can do that kind of stuff changes things. I''ll tolerate him until this is all over, I suppose." Jane sighed.

    I knew Beruel was infatuated with her, but I couldn''t understand why. This Fairy hated his guts.

    ''At least they''ll be a team.''

    "Bring them in." She added, finally ready to meet her new recruits.

    I could only hope for the best from this point onward.

    *************<novelnext></novelnext>

    Jane was upset.

    Why?

    She had been interrupted by Jared during a very critical moment in her ''side project.''

    Yes, she knew it couldn''t be helped, and after hearing Jared out, she could understand where he wasing from.

    She agreed with him on the necessity of this new project he proposed. Unfortunately, he wasn''t even going to help her with it.

    Instead, he brought people to assist her¡ªone of which was the vilest Fairy she had ever known.

    Beruel, the previous Fairy King.

    ''He can''t be serious, can he?''

    She''d thought it had simply been a look-alike that walked into the project hall, but when Jared told her it was the real deal, she had nearly flipped.

    Not only was she disappointed in Jared for trusting him so easily, but she was also very much upset with how insensitive he had been to just barge into her ce of work with someone like that.

    ''He could havee alone and exined the situation to me first!''

    It infuriated her to no end.

    However, there was one silver lining that caused her not to flippletely. It was what Jared finally resorted to when trying to redeem Beruel.

    ''He has an Arcana... and it''s the kind I need at the moment!''

    Jane''s thoughts went from beingpletely shut against the idea, to bing a little open to apromise.

    The more she mulled it over, the more she realized that she could tolerate Beruel for a short while if it meant achieving her goals.

    ''I can solve my current predicament by making him help me with it unintentionally. That way, I won''t need to spend even more time.''

    And there was also Jared''s project, which she still didn''t know the full details about. He probably wasn''t going to tell her until she agreed to bring Beruel on board.

    Ultimately, she agreed.

    It wasn''t easy swallowing her pride, but she would do anything just to ensure the safety and sess of her project.

    "Bring them in."

    *

    *

    *

    As expected, the heat in her chest rose to an enormous degree the moment sheid eyes on Beruel.

    He, like her, was small in size. His wings, hair, and practically everything about his physique, were just as she remembered.

    The only thing missing was the haughty expression he always shed at her.

    ''Tch! This guy...''

    Beruel entered her office with Ana, whom she was increasingly developing a good opinion of. The fact that Beruel praised Ana''s efforts¡ªand that she was the one that built Beruel''s new body for him¡ªmade Jane genuinely curious of the little girl.

    ''If possible, I could also...'' She smiled.

    In any case, she just needed to endure being around Beruel while trying her hardest to use the lemons she had been given to make lemonade.

    "Nice to meet you both, team members."

 Chapter 692 Project Proposal

    I heaved a sigh of relief once the reintroduction of Ana and Beruel went rtively well.

    Even though I spotted Jane ring at Beruel more times than I could count, no incident urred.

    Ana seemed excited to be in the presence of Jane¡ªa bit too excited, to be honest.

    She was here to work, wasn''t she?

    ''Well...''

    I knew Jane would find Ana charming and incredibly useful once the work started, but my main worry was Beruel and Jane. Fortunately, I knew I could trust her with separating personal affairs from official matters.

    "You don''t need to be so apprehensive, Jane. I no longer have any interest in the Fairy Sanctuary. You can keep ruling it, if you desire."

    Beruel''s words were gentle, and his eyes were genuine. His sudden change really surprised me, if I was being honest.

    I could only hope that it was the same for Jane.

    "Whatever. Let''s discuss the project. That''s why we''re together, right? Jared?"

    ''Ah, I suppose this was my queue.'' I thought to myself, as I moved to stand in front of all three of them to present the in-depth analysis of my proposal.

    "I want to mass produce weapons that can be wielded by our soldiers and the bulk of the military."

    My encounter with Nether had shown me how useless Mana or Miasma was in its presence. Even if one could use it, the output would need to be crazily immense.

    That would be apletely inefficient and unwise approach when fighting a war. When searching for an alternative, I finally found a solution.

    "We''ll use Aether as a base. With enough energy from the [Strength] Arcana, and with a technology capable of withstanding the output of Aether bursts, we can make even our base soldiers capable of fighting against Nether."

    My major problem was that this was just a recent idea that I developed. In the absence of enough time to further develop the concept, as well as my upation with other affairs, I couldn''t build it up more than I had already done.

    I needed all three of them to work on the concept and make it into a reality. To achieve that, however, they needed to work as a team.

    "Aether is the main source of power for these weapons. That means we''ll need lots of it." Jane spoke.

    I nodded, summoning my Arcana in an instant.

    The [Strength] Arcana can produce Aether, but it can also transform the Mana I inject into it and turn it into Aether.

    As a result, we can''t run out of juice as long as we have a functional source of Mana.

    I was hoping for a way we could develop conduits in each weapon that ensured they could transform their Mana into Aether when utilizing it, but that was far tooplex to be ventured into now.

    We needed to focus on what could be achieved within the short period of time we had.

    ''Time slows down in this world ce, but still...''

    "It is satisfactory just to be able to mass produce weapons that utilize Aether as it''s energy source. I''ll give you a sample of what I''m talking about."

    By showing them an enchanted jar filled to the brim with Aether, I was giving them something to work with. Furthermore, by properly using it as a sample, they would be able to achieve the desired results.

    "How will we get the Aether fuel, though. We need to charge these, after all." Jane asked.

    "Leave that to me. I''ll prepare your fuel, or batteries, as they may be. I''ll bring them to you at intervals, so you have a constant supply of Aether."

    Just as Mana could be stored in Mana Crystals or Stones, I would be producing concentrated Aether.

    "I can assume we have an ord, can''t I?"

    *

    *<novelnext></novelnext>

    *

    ''YESSSSSSSS!!!'' I gave myself a fist bump, as I flew out of the hall.

    Not only did Jane agree to take on the project, but I could see the mes in her eyes¡ªhow excited she was to explore this new source of power.

    Not just that, but I also got a new information on the Soul Project:Omega.

    ''Looks like it''ll be right on schedule. You did a good job, Jane.''

    Since they were already getting busy, I showed myself out. It would have been nice if I had someone to see me off, but I understood the situation.

    ''As long as the work is done...''

    ************

    "Alright, listen here... there are a couple of ground rules that need to beid out if we''re going to be working together." Jane mmed her hand on her table, her hardened expression focused on her two new co-workers¡ªor more like subordinates.

    "First of all, this office is my space. No one is to disturb me when I''m in here. It''s very critical for you to understand this, understood?"

    Ana and Beruel nodded their heads, causing Jane to break into a relieved smile.

    "Secondly, since we''ll be working on a couple of things at once, it''s gonna take a lot of our time and efforts. You all have to be as dedicated to this stuff as I am."

    They nodded in agreement.

    "If you have any other motivations, or perhaps a personal reason for this, let me know now."

    Silence pervaded the room at this statement, and finally, Ana raised her hand to speak.

    "Go on."

    "I..." The young girl started, having a somewhat conflicted expression.

    "... I n on reviving someone I lost. Both his body and Soul are not avable. But, I haven''t given up. I hope that by working with you and learning more about Aether, I''ll get closer to a means of resurrecting him."

    Beruel instantly shot Ana a surprised look, his jawspletely hanging open.

    However, a few secondster, he raised his hand as well.

    "What is it?" Jane nearly snapped at him.

    "I promised to help Ana with her experiments, so if she''s doing this for her dead boyfriend, I''m all for it too."

    "H-he''s not my¡ª"

    "Fair enough..." Beruel raised his hands in surrender before Ana could say more.

    As Jane watched their exchange, especially Ana''s determined gaze, she was reminded of herself in the past¡ªhow she had tried everything possible to resurrect someone she cared about too.

    ''Talking her out of it would be hypocritical and unfruitful...'' Afterall, Jane remembered just how adamant she had been back when she lost Lewis Griffith.

    ''She''ll eventually realize the futility of it.''

    Miracles rarely happened¡ªand unless her ''boyfriend'' got Reincarnated, she had already lost him forever.

    ''Its quite unfortunate. But... I don''t dislike her.'' Jane smiled at Ana.

    Something about the little girl resonated with her. Somehow, she knew within herself that they could work well together.

    ''Maybe even... haha, that would be interesting indeed.''

 Chapter 693 Dream Of The Forgotten

    "Haaa..."

    Neron''s eyes looked open, even though they were closed.

    It waste at night, and everyone was fast asleep¡ªhimself included. However, why were his eyes glowing green despite him being deeply asleep?

    Why was he sweating buckets on his bed?

    "Gh... ngh!" He grunted and groaned, twisting and turning on his bed.

    There could only be one reason at this point... and it has to do with the dream he was having.

    Or perhaps one could call it a nightmare...

    *

    *

    *

    "Y-you killed all those people! They did nothing to deserve that!"

    Neron was having a lucid dream.

    He was aware of everything happening around him, and that nothing was real. Yet... he was watching these events y out like they were actualy happening in reality.

    He could see everything from the perfect angle, as he watched an exchange between two people. They were arguing.

    Thendscape was grey and dark, and everything looked blurry. Neron took in this scene with keen observation and a bit of confusion.

    After all, this wasn''t the first time he was having nightmares like these.

    But why was this a nightmare?

    ''Serah...'' His thoughts trailed as he watched the exchange.

    A dark-haired man who resembled Neron was on one end, and a crimson-haireddy resembling Serah was on another end... and she was incredibly pissed.

    "Everyone! You massacred an entire group people, Neron!" Her voice peaked.

    Neron could feel his heart racing as he witnessed this exchange.

    He tried to speak out, or at least reach out to Serah, but he was stuck as a spectator. Something just wouldn''t let him budge.

    "You wouldn''t understand." The version of him in the dream retorted calmly, staring coldly at the agitated redhead.

    "They were a threat. Besides, we tried to do this peacefully, but they didn''t cooperate."

    Serah, or rather thedy in the dream, appeared even more disgusted. Her surprise and appalled expression were heartbreaking to see.

    "Besides, they killed Legris. That''s more than enough." Once the cold and distant Neron said this, Serah''s face could be seen scrunching up in shock, and then¡­ sadness followed.

    "Don''t use your best friend''s name as justification for such an act. Is this really what Legris would want? Besides, they were just defending their nation. Why would¡ª"

    "Like I said... you wouldn''t understand!" Neron raised his voice, now looking even angrier and scarier than the annoyed woman.

    His pitch ck irises, as well as his tightly furrowed brows made it obvious that he was done with the conversation.

    However, as it would happen, the crimson-haireddy was now shaking her head, stepping away from Neron.

    She appeared horrified of what Neron was saying... what he was bing. It seemed like she didn''t even recognize him any longer.

    In response, Neron sighed. His expression turned gentle, and his face softened. He slowly began to walk towards Serah, and after a few gentle steps, he was right in front of her.

    "Don''t get so worked up. Once I obtain all the Arcanas, we can resurrect Legris... and even those other guys." He smiled, attempting to ce his hand on her shoulder.

    However¡ª

    "Stay back!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

    A fiery explosion caused Neron to fly backwards. He had a surprised expression on his face, and this gaze of his met her genuinely furious gaze.

    "Serah, what are you¡ª"

    "You''ve changed so much, Neron..." Her energy began swelling, and her body slowly turned crimson.

    Her fiery gaze never left his, and her power rose to an unprecedented degree.

    Even the spectator¡ªthe dreaming Neron¡ªrecognized this form. It was Serah Crimson''s Original Magic.

    "... I don''t know what changed you. Was it the power? All those things you experienced when you were away? Or maybe it''s that group of yours!"

    Serah was gritting her teeth at this point. Tears fell from her eyes, but they were instantly vaporized by her terrifyingly powerful form.

    "Serah, what are you doing? You can''t best me¡ª"

    "We haven''t fought in a while. You''re not the only one who has changed!"

    "Well..."

    "I''ll be bringing you back... no matter what! This madness has to end."

    "You expect me to abandon all of this? Then what would everything have been for? Legris'' death, my whole years of adventure and study? Everything?!"

    Serah''s face morphed into rage as she seemed to be building the resolve to fight.

    "I can''t stop now! I''m so close... we''re so close! Soon, I''ll find what I''m looking for. A way to get to the hidden root. Maybe once I do that... You''ll finally understand."

    "I understand your reasons, but not your methods. You''ve gone too far in this pursuit. Is this what your father would have wanted?"

    "Mordred is dead. The reason he''s gone is because he wasn''t willing to take the steps that I am willing to when ites to seeking the truth about Magic."

    "You... I know you don''t mean that."

    "Serah, I''m destined for greatness. I knew it since I was born. I''ve been gifted ever since I was little. Ever since I lived in the slums. Modred understood that, which is why he adopted me."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Still... Neron..."

    "This is what I am destined for! Everything that has happened was meant to lead to this moment. I''ll uncover the truth and show the world... everything they''re searching for. The whole point of Magic, and where it leads. That will end this madness."

    "Is that all it boils down to? The fact that you don''t like¡ª"

    "That''s enough." Neron finally sighed.

    His hair turned white, and white cackles of dense energy surrounded him. His expression was full of resolve¡ªenough resolve to fight his childhood friend.

    "Let''s get this over with."

    *

    *

    *

    "Haa... you''ve indeed grown strong, Serah."

    The devastated scene around them was a testament to Neron''s statement.

    Of course, he had no scratch on his body, but his expression disyed a good amount of respect for thedy on the ground.

    "Y-you... I''ll never give up... on you..."

    Serah Crimson was on the ground,pletely worn out and defeated. Her tired eyes stared at Neron withpassion, but also determination.

    "I wish I had [The Fool]. I would just erase your memories of all that has happened so far."

    "Y-you¡ª!!!"

    "In any case, I''m leaving. You''d do well to stay away from me."

    As Neron began to walk away, Serah grabbed him by the helm of his cloak. Her grip was tired and slipping, but she clung to him desperately.

    However¡ª

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    He still managed to escape her grasp. And in an instant, he flew off, sending dust and smoke flying about as he left the lone, injured woman all alone.

    "N-Neron..." She whispered.

    There was no one to hear her... except the dreamer of course.

    He was right beside her. His vision became clouded as his eyes were filled with tears¡ªtears and something akin to frustration.

    Despite him watching thedy on the ground, his emotions were tied to the Neron of his dreams.

    He could sympathize...no... understand the position of this dream''s Neron. However, he also felt for Serah, whom he had brutally abandoned.

    ''Why...? I can''t...''

    This created a dissonance that seemed to tear him apart from the inside out.

    "... Neron..."

    "... NERON!"

    He kept hearing Serah''s voice, even when he covered his ears, and this continued until he felt his dream slowly blur out, as well as a stinging sensation on his body.

    "NERON!!!"

    An image of Serah shed in his head, and suddenly, his dream fadedpletely. In return, he felt his consciousness returning back to present time.

    "H-haaa...."

    In a sh, he found himself awake from his sleep.

    His sweaty body glistened in the darkness, and his widened eyes took some time before they adjusted to his surroundings.

    "Neron! Can you hear me?! NERON!"

    Someone was pping his cheeks left and right¡ªand that someone was Serah.

    "A-ah, yeah... what is... what happened...?!"

    He was surprised that his body was being touched. Did he forget to turn on his protective Spell?

    Or...?!

    However, before he could think of all that, Serah''s worried expression was right in his face.

    He could see her teary eyes and flustered look, and that pulled his wandering mind into the current situation

    "Neron, what''s going on! Are you alright?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Guess you guys will be curious at this point. Or maybe you''ve figured it out already. Who knows.

    Hahaha

    Anyway, I''m not feeling too well. I just thought to let you know. I''m literally just pushing myself to write at this point.

    So, your support in Power Stones, Comments, Reviews, Golden Tickets, and Gifts, will be much appreciated. I really need to be cheered up right now.

    Thank you all.

 Chapter 694 Tough Conversation

    "Tell me what''s going on with you, Neron... and I want the truth."

    After Neron had calmed down, had a shower, and used Magic to clean up his sweat-drenched portion of the bed, he was now in a seated position.

    Serah was seated on her side of the bad as well.

    They were both facing each other, and while Serah''s expression still connoted worry, Neron''s calm expression showed that he was brooding.

    "Your eyes were wide open and they were glowing. I felt your Mana being disturbed, and I could even touch you. You seemed to be in such distress. What''s going on, Neron?"

    The ck-haired man understood the worry of his partner. He would probably have felt the same if their positions were reversed.

    It was indeed very troubling¡ªall the signs he showed¡ªbut after thinking about them for some time, Neron was slowlying to a realization.

    And he knew he could no longer hide it away from Serah.

    >SHWUUSHH<

    A card suddenly appeared as Neron stretched out his hand. It had a gleaming, blue and green colo ¡ªaplete contrast to the usual grey appearance it usually exuded.

    "I-isn''t that..."

    "Yes. [The Fool] Arcana." Neron sighed calmly. "It''s deeply resonating with me."

    "Could it be warping your mind? Causing all this distress? Maybe it''s a negative effect that makes it dangerous. We should tell Jared, or¡ª"

    "No, it''s not like that. You wouldn''t understa¡ª" Neron''s eyes widened as he realized just what he had been about to say.

    His tone, his expression, and even his words... they were a striking resemnce to the version of himself that he saw in his dream.

    He almost blew Serah off, just like that other Neron.

    "Are you alright?" He felt a warm sensation on his shoulder.

    It was Serah''s touch. Just the sensation of their their skin contact made him calm. His racing heart slowed down, and Neron felt more at ease.

    ''I''m not him. I''m not that guy!''

    To prove that, he was going to tell Serah what troubled him. The things he had been hiding from her for so long.

    "I have something to say, Serah. I''ll understand if you get upset with me, but... I need to tell you."

    Serah shook her head slightly, staring lovingly at Neron. Her eyes glimmered with such affection that he thought they looked magical.

    "How could I be angry with you? Just spill the beans already."

    Her soothing words provided him withfort¡ªenough for him to finally reveal what he had been hiding from her.

    About his constant nightmares... and the reason behind his confession.

    *

    *

    *

    "WHAAAAAAAATTTTTTT?!"

    Serah''s eyes widened with shock, and they indicated anger.

    "Now, now, calm down. Remember, you said you wouldn''t get upset."

    "I never promised not to get angry. I simply asked you how I could get upset." Serah''s re pierced Neron''s eyes, causing him to gulp a little.

    How could he escape this situation?

    "Let''s not make a fuss. It''s night, so everyone is asleep."

    "We used Magic to make this room soundproof, remember? After all..." Her eyes narrowed on him.

    "Oh, yeah..." Neron suddenly remembered why they had been thoughtful enough to prevent any sounds from leaking out of their abode.

    It wouldn''t be nice for theirpanions to be disturbed sote at night by... the sounds they made at night¡ªor practically any time they wanted.

    "L-let''s just calm down, Serah."

    "So, you mean... you confessed to me because you had shes of me dying and stuff? And the reason you want us to get married so soon is also as a result of that fear?"

    "That''s not how I said it, though." Neron tried his best to argue¡ªalbeit weakly.

    "That''s what you meant."

    "Look, Serah. This doesn''t change how I feel about you. I genuinely love you. I always have. It''s just... I''ve always had this inclination to distance myself from you. That''s why I refused to confess all these years." Neron''s voice was sullen now, his gaze unfocused.

    "I... I have always been led by some sort of intuition. It was this intuition that let me attend the Academy instead of going on adventures like I wanted. I became a teacher because of that too..."

    Serah silently listened to Neron. She had never heard him talk about any of these things before.

    "... My intuition told me to stay away from you. Even with my feelings, I couldn''t ept yours. That would mean defying the strong warning within me."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "And you think these dreams are a cause of you defying your intuition?"

    "No. I initially started having them as shes¡ªlike memory shes¡ªand those were before I confessed to you."

    Neron didn''t know how to exin properly, but these shes had been what prompted him to confess and get together with Serah.

    "I just... I don''t want to lose you."

    In his nightmares, he usually saw Serah dead¡ªor his life as another person. They were strange events he didn''t recognize, yet they seemed so real.

    Almost like memories.

    "But, what role does [The Fool] have in all this? It has to do with memories, right? So, are you saying I''m supposed to be dead?"

    "No, I don''t think so. I''m not sure too. It''s all too confusing. The ''me'' I see in these dreams don''t resemble any ''me'' that I know of."

    "Then... could this be a future incident?"

    "Maybe. But... I still have this inclination that it could be something more." Neron felt confused.

    It was an emotion he wasn''t quite used to.

    For most of his life, he had felt certain on what path to take. His intuition never failed him. Perhaps that was why he had be bored at some point.

    However, this was too much.

    "Perhaps we should tell Jared. If the both of you rub minds together, then¡ª"

    "No. I can''t..."

    Serah''s eyes twitched when he said this. Neron''s gaze was distracted, but he seemed pretty certain about this one.

    He truly didn''t want Jared''s involvement.

    "Your intuition?" She asked, to which he nodded.

    "Alright. I trust you."

    "I''m sorry for keeping all of this from you, Serah. I understand if you feel hurt, but... like I said... I truly and genuinely care about you. I love yo¡ª"

    Before Neron could conclude his statement, he was stopped by a finger on his lips. Serah''s finger, to be precise."

    "I got it." Serah was smiling at this point.

    Her confidence was amazing, and her menacing expression made Neron''s heart race in excitement.

    "I don''t care what dreams you have, and what your visions say. I''m not going to die, and you''re not going to go to the dark side."

    "But... what if I do?" Neron asked, a worried expression forming on his face.

    "Then I''ll knock you out of your delusion and drag you back with me!" Sheughed, flexing her muscles.

    Neron''s eyes widened instantly. He was shocked¡ªno, appalled¡ªby the striking resemnce Serah had to the one in his dreams.

    Their resemnce was uncanny.

    "Don''t worry, Neron. We''re in this together, alright?"

    Serah''s voice pulled him out of his daze once again, and her fist was right in front of his face.

    He instantly knew what she was going for.

    "Yeah. You''re right." Neron returned her grin, giving her an instant fist-bump.

    "Haha! That''s the spirit. You better get some sleep, though. Rough training begins today!"

    Neron nodded.

    "Will you be fine? I''ll watch over you to make sure you''re not in a nightmare agai¡ª" Before Serah could finish her statement, she felt Neron''s hand on her cheeks, and his soft smile warmed her worried heart.

    "Don''t worry, Serah. With everything we''ve discussed tonight... I doubt I''ll have any nightmares."

    Both of them stared at each other passionately, and a sort of mutual understanding was established.

    Their hearts became one at that moment, and they hugged each other, cuddling as they fell asleep once more.

    And, what a peaceful night it was.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What a lovely rtionship these two have. I wonder what''s going to happen to them. Hehehe.

 Chapter 695 Moonlit Discourse [Pt 1]

    The stars spread far across the darkness of the night.

    A cold gust of wind blew, sending a mellow chill across the bare ins that was established as the team''s base.

    The night''s moon was hung high up in the sky, and the small¡ªyet brilliant¡ªglows of the stars spread their light upon the world.

    Everyone was fast asleep, preparing for the day of training that wouldmence very soon, unable to witness just how glorious the night looked.

    Everyone except one.

    ***********

    "Haa..." I heaved a sigh as I looked above me.

    A lot was going through my mind¡ªso much so that I could do nothing but sit still while watching the world from my position.

    Sleep eluded me, and my body was too full of energy to fall into slumber.

    ''Rest is important.'' I thought to myself, but deep down I knew that wasn''t going to happen anytime soon.

    I was troubled, after all.

    The Nether Cult frightened me, in all honesty. There was something about the group... about this mission... that seemed to send shivers down my spine.

    Underneath all the bravado and all of the nning, I had a sense of foreboding within me.

    And that scared me plenty.

    "And there''s also the issue of the team..."

    I was in some sort of uncertain area at the moment, as regards to their trust. The most obvious gulf existed between me and Ana... and ourst encounter didn''t show any signs of things getting better.

    The silent treatment she gave me, and the dissatisfaction I sensed from her... they all proved one thing¡ªthat she was still upset.

    ''I can''t make this all about me. I know she''s still mourning Kuzon''s death, and she can''t exactly be the same as she was. But...''

    She had spoken to everyone else after that incident. Everyone but me.

    Aloe Vida was also acting strange.

    ''No one is raising the issue of my Reincarnation. I guess they want to focus on the mission first...''

    I understood things from that aspect. However, I still felt uneasy.

    Perhaps sitting and watching the night, all alone, caused me to go too deep into my thoughts.

    ''Who knows...?''

    "What''s wrong, Jared?" A voice suddenly echoed in my ears, causing me to swiftly turn in the direction of the sound.

    I was so lost in thought that I hadn''t even perceived the presence of someone else in the vicinity... not until she spoke.

    "A-ah, Maria..." I stuttered, my eyes meeting hers.

    Underneath the allure of the night, Maria''s sudden appearance had a certain charm to it. Her silver hair seemed to gleam brightly, and her blue eyes glowed like gems.

    I was so captivated that words failed me.

    "Jared... are you okay?" Once she said those words, I finally snapped from my gawking state.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Y-yeah. I am." I nodded, looking away as I raised my head to once again admire the canopy of bright darkness above my head.

    Maria drew closer, and I could hear her gentle footsteps. It didn''t take long before she sat right beside me, her hair tickling my face slightly.

    "Hey, talk to me. What''s the matter?" She nudged me¡ªboth with her words, and with her  shoulder against mine.

    "Haha... well..."

    What could I really say? How was I supposed to begin? I was the leader. The one with the n, as well as the certainty, that would guarantee our victory.

    Yet... why was I suddenly so unsure about everything? This moment of weakness felt so crippling that I didn''t want to reveal it to anyone else¡ªespecially not to Maria.

    However¡ª

    "I''m scared, Maria."

    ¡ªI didn''t even know when I started to speak.

    "Scared about what?" Her melodious voice rang in my ears, causing me to divulge even more.

    "This mission. Everything that has been happening. I have a bad feeling."

    Silence took reign for a moment. Maria was probably speechless by my words, but I had to give it more context.

    "The Nether Cult has existed for so long, Maria. Its members are not only powerful, but they''re also experienced. They have brilliant people like Legris on their team, and their First Seat can devastate an entire nation with one strike. I''m not saying those things in themselves are scary, but..."

    How could I exin this in words? How could I really trante my suspicion into speech? It eluded me greatly.

    "They''re currently weakened, I understand that well. We also have the advantage and everything seems ideal.. However, why do I feel so hesitant now? My true identity being revealed has caused a major crack in the team, but I fear that many more might appear. I... I just..."

    Maria''s hand touched my shoulder, causing a wave of warm sensation to course through my body.

    ''Her hand is cold.'' My mind thought.

    "Should we postpone the mission?"

    "No. That''s the worst part, I can''t do that. The longer we take, the worse it''ll be. It''s best we act fast. The moment the team gets the hang of the Arcanas, and we''ve attained the desirable level of power for this mission,  we have to strike fast."

    If we were to take our time, the chances of being struck unprepared was very high.

    "And that''s what scares me. It''s the fact that we have no other choice but to attack now, yet I''m nervous about it. It''s like we''re stuck in a situation where this is our only chance."

    I felt like I was being yed once again. If anything, this could be one of Legris'' ns.

    ''If I choose to use this perfect opportunity, it could be a trap. However, if I refuse, they''ll cause more damage.''

    Either way... I felt like a predetermined oue existed.

    "If the First Seat alone should strike... he can wreak havoc on an entire nation in seconds. The Soul Project: Omega, can only handle so much. I can''t possibly withstand the deaths of many people possessing my Soul Brand, and weck enough facilities and time to revive them¡ªnot to talk of energy."

    I could see risk after risk.

    The best means was to spearhead a team to go all-out on the enemy and cause whatever damage we could on their territory.

    "And we only have one shot."

 Chapter 696 Moonlit Discourse [Pt 2]

    I wasn''t looking at Maria. I didn''t know what kind of expression she would have, and I was somewhat nervous about it.

    "Jared. If this is the best route to take... then take it."

    "I know that, but¡ª"

    "You''re worried that you won''t be able to save everyone. You''re frightened about the effects of your actions. You fear the enemy might use this against you." Maria was spot-on.

    I nodded at her every word.

    "But... the thing is... it''s the only option that guarantees the best results. If you feel inadequate, then train more or create a better countermeasure against whatever the enemy might utilize against the current n."

    I understood her answer, but¡ª

    "Jared."

    >WHAP!<

    Both of her hands smacked my cheeks, and before I knew it, they were turning my face in her direction, and I found myself looking into her eyes.

    It was... beautiful.

    "Jared, I know you want to win. I know you''ll do whatever you can to secure the best results. I know you''ll think of every possible solution."

    Her glimmering blue eyes sent fireworks coursing through my body. I couldn''t exin it, even if I tried.

    "But you have done all of those already. If this is what you''ve chosen, then forget about the other ns. Make a choice and stick to it. Come what may, you''ll know you did everything you possibly could."

    Her answer was simplistic, but something about her words resonated within my heart. Was she right? Was she wrong?

    I had no idea.

    However...

    "Everyone believes in you, Jared. We wouldn''t be here if it weren''t for that fact. Even Ana does. Why else would she agree with your n to send her to Jane?"

    ''She... does?!''

    "The Allied Nations rely on your judgement. I know that makes you feel more worried about what will happen if you end up being wrong, but... it simply shows how none of them could do a better job."

    "A-ah..." I was left speechless.

    "I''m not trying to appeal to your ego, Jared. And I''m not trying to make you feel better. I''m just being as realistic as I can. Everyone follows your n partly because they trust you, but it''s also because they can''t do any better."

    My eyes widened even more.

    "Even if the n fails and we lose... why would they me you for something they couldn''t do any better in?"

    Something within me instantly sparked, and my memories returned to the time when I was revealed to be Inept in my first life.

    When I returned to my town andshed out at everyone as a result of my insecurities. How I raised my voice in fear of the mockery that was bound toe as a result of my humiliating failure.

    However¡ª

    "Well, it was a shame you didn''t end up being the genius magic user you proimed you would be¡­ but, why would we make fun of you for not achieving something we couldn''t either?"

    ¡ªThe words they responded to me with, were enough to shatter my preconceived expectations

    "A-ah... So that''s it."

    Perhaps I was overthinking too much. Was I being overly worried, shackling myself with expectations and consequences that simply weren''t present?

    Perhaps that was it.

    "Thank you, Maria." I suddenly broke into a smile, staring at her usual expressionless face.

    Something about the girl''s clear outlook made me appreciate herpany.

    "It''s nothing, really." She shrugged.

    Even with her words, I found myself unable to look away. It was the same for her, apparently.

    The both of us just kept staring at each other, unmoving.

    Why?

    Why couldn''t I move?<novelnext></novelnext>

    I simply couldn''t help but remain stationary as my heart raced with unexpected urges, and the heat within slowly burned brighter.

    ''I... what do I...''

    Suddenly, I found myself moving.

    My body slowly tilted forward, moving in the direction of the girl in front of me. I couldn''t exin it¡ªor perhaps I could.

    Something about her clear eyes, her glossy lips, and her alluring presence kept me moving forward.

    I was lost... too lost in the moment... to show any form of restraint any longer.

    "Maria..." I whispered, my face now mere inches from hers.

    "... Thank you."

    And then, it happened.

    I kissed Maria.

    For the very first time... I kissed her. My lips touched hers, and I felt the sulent softness of her tongue on mine.

    It was awkward, considering I had been the one to initiate this moment, but... it wasn''t so bad either.

    Our hands touched, and I could feel thefort in the chill of her skin. It contrasted my body''s heat.

    ''Truly, Maria... thank you.''

    As our fingers intertwined with one another, so did our lips. I had no idea for how long, but we were lost in ecstasy, under the night''s watch.

    ***********

    "Well, isn''t this interesting..." A voice echoed within an iprehensibly vast room.

    The room had a huge table, with six seats on the right side, and another six on the left side.

    The forefront had a throne-like seat, and the entire structure demonstrated order.

    The room was exquisite, its walls painted with murals, and the chandeliers, alongside the tiles, drapes, and carpets. depicted luxury.

    This was the headquarters of the Nether Cult, and the man who just spoke was their leader.

    He was seated on his superior chair, and before him were the cult''s remaining members, who were a measly number of four.

    The First Seat, the Third Seat, the Fifth Seat, and the Sixth Seat.

    Other than the four, the other members were absent¡ªmost of them already dead.

    "Beruel switched sides, while the others are dead. It''s amazing how our numbers dropped so swiftly. Even Kido is..." Karlia, the Subus nced to her side and was met with an empty chair.

    "Miss him already?" A teasing tone rang from Legris Damien of the Sixth Seat.

    He had a stupid grin on his face that made light of the situation, a sharp contrast to the younger boy who sat beside him.

    "Shut up." The crimson-toned Demon replied, gritting her teeth in disgust.

    Her current apparel was that of ab coat, and she had sses on. It was clear she had been in the middle of a certain scientific procedure before the start of the meeting.

    The First Seat was silent, simply waiting for their leader to divulge whatever information he wanted to.

    As for the Fifth Seat... his expression was grave.

    "We now have a total of six people left at the helm of our organization. Four Seats, along with her and myself." The Cult Leader nced at the female subordinate beside him for a moment, before returning his focus to everyone else.

    "We should start the meeting now."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    We''re slowlying to the conclusion of this Arc... or so you would think.

 Chapter 697 The Cults Fellowship [Pt 1]

    "As expected, the Singrity proved to be a major threat. Not only have we been ced in such a disadvantageous situation with the Arcanas, but we''ve also lost two of our Upper Seat members. This has never happened before."

    The person speaking was Karlia, and the expression she had wasn''t very friendly. Anger and frustration filled her face, and a little wrinkle of worry appeared as well.

    "We should have focused our attention on getting rid of him first¡­ then focused on the Arcanas,ter on. Right now, the job has be more tedious." She sighed.

    Silence followed her words. The other Seat members stared at Karlia, and then at their leader. The former had raised a valid point, and they awaited their leader''s response.

    "Does anyone else have something to say?" His voice echoed through the vast hall, sending chills throughout the room.

    In response, no one spoke.

    "Karlia, your point is valid. It does seem more useful to get rid of the Singrity. However, it''s much more difficult than you can imagine."

    "That was when we had been operating in secret. Now that our identity has been revealed to the public, there''s nothing wrong with sending one of the Upper Seats to get rid of him. Heck, the First Seat could get the job done. No offence." She swiftly added, bowing gently to the silent man.

    In response, he smiled softly and nodded.

    Karlia always held the man in high regard, and his cool response always made her d that he was one of her coworkers. Unlike that pervert, Kido, he didn''t b all day. He respected boundaries, and he had this mysterious and secretive vibe surrounding his goals¡ªmaking them seem profound.

    To be honest, she thought he was cool.

    "If we had just gotten rid of that Jared fellow, and also Neron, then we wouldn''t have be sitting ducks. Is it just me, or have we been postponing their demise for too long?" Karlia mentioned, staring at everyone in the room.

    "I have to agree with Karlia on this point. I have fought with Jared, and he definitely isn''t strong enough to pose a threat to everyone here. We should have gotten rid of him earlier." Stefan mentioned.

    "Oh? And what makes you so sure that he wasn''t holding back when fighting you?" Legris added with a snicker.

    "I was holding back plenty."

    "Then why didn''t you kill him?"

    "It wasn''t in the n. If I had been given orders to, I would have killed him. What about you? Why didn''t you kill Jared?"

    "Well¡­ let''s leave it at that."

    Legris and Stefan red at each other, although, most of the animosity came from Stefan. Legris mostly gave a defiant grin that only served to annoy the young boy even more.

    "Welp. I guess the Cult Leader will exin why we''ve been so passive. Right, leader?" The Sixth Seat grinned sheepishly at their overarchingmander.

    He was seated silently, watching everyone''s interactions. Patience was a virtue, and the young leader had plenty to spare. He simply watched his members tire themselves out from their arguments. Until finally¡­

    ¡­ The hall becamepletely silent.

    "It seems you are all done. Then, I shall exin." His voice was like a mist, shrouding the area in its soothing and chilly tone.

    At this point, all four seats gave him their focus, and the maiden beside him broke into a wide smile. She also smiled at her master with devotion¡ªawaiting his words of wisdom.

    "We''ve spent years, and only managed to gather a couple of Arcanas in the process. However, in such a short span, everything has been found and ounted for. It''s amazing, isn''t it?"<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Yeah. It just sucks that they are with the enemy."

    "I wasn''t done, though." The Cult Leader shot Karlia a sharp gaze, causing her to instantly realize how imperative it was for her to shut up. "The Arcanas are with Jared''s team. However, that is almost inconsequential to me."

    The Cult Members all shifted in their seats a little. They didn''t want to interrupt the leader, but something about his statement didn''t resonate well with them.

    In the first ce, the only reason they were in the Nether Cult was because of their desire for all the Arcanas. Surely, the leader knew this. Why would the possession of such objects of power not matter to him?

    "I desire thepletion of the set as much as all of you. However, there really is no reason to get too worked up over this development. In the end, victory is ours¡­ that is something I can absolutely guarantee." The Cult Leader grinned.

    He hardly ever disyed any emotion, so everyone was amazed to see the height of his confidence in their group''s victory.

    "Their team will most likely being here to exterminate our group. If we intercept them and y our cards right, we should be able to win. Cards¡­ see what I did there? Hahaha!" Legris chuckled, causing the young boy beside him to groan while pping his forehead.

    Sometimes, one had to respect Legris'' genius mind. However, that impression was always undermined by his acts of stupidity. One could never tell if he was doing these things on purpose at this point.

    "With Kido gone, I guess we have a newedian in our group." The Cult Leader''s grin widened.

    "A-ah¡­ hahaha. You''re wee¡­?" Legris let out an awkwardugh, before finally deciding to shut uppletely.

    "In any case, I''ll need to be clear with everyone here. The n will indeed seed. Your wishes will be realized as soon as the Arcanas converge. And they will do so in one week''s time¡ªgive or take."

    "Why that time in particr?" Karlia asked, raising her brows in curiosity.

    Silence bled into the room, and expectant eyes greeted the Cult Leader once more. However, a being of his calibre was capable of providing an answer in no time.

    "Just a hunch."

    "Is that so? Alright then. I''ll stick with you and the group. As long as I get what I want." Karlia shrugged.

    "Well, you are the new Second Seat, so¡­ And anyway, the role doesn''t really matter now that the climax is upon us. Still, your wishes will be actualized, and all of your desires will be fulfilled."

    That statement seemed to please everyone. Thus, the leader was able to finally address the issue he wished to discuss.

    "The opposition most definitely has a n for the impending sh. As an organized group, we should do the same¡­" His eyes gleamed, hints of excitement and mischief swirling deep within.

    "... Don''t you think?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What deep dark secrets await? What ns are waiting to be put into motion? The revtion draws nearer.

 Chapter 698 The Cults Fellowship [Pt 2]

    "Let''s start with you, Stefan Netherlore. You''ll be AWOL during the attack." The Cult Leader stated, ncing in the direction of the young teenager who seemed to be younger than him by only a year or two.

    "W-what? I won''t be around? But¡ª"

    "I understand your desire to have a rematch with Jared Leonard, but you already had your fun. Your responsibilities to the Culte first. Don''t you agree?"

    Stefan gulped upon seeing how the leader''s gaze narrowed at him, forcing him to nod his head in defeat.

    "You''ll be in charge of attacking the allied nations. Use the resources at your disposal properly¡ªthe Nether Beasts and the Corrupted." Their Leader added.

    "U-understood."

    Stefan''s face was dark with annoyance, but he was too powerless to resist orders from his superior.

    ''Damnit! I wanted to be the one to face Jared this time around. I wanted to defeat him fair and square!'' What was the point of his big reveal to Jared, and disying a fragment of his power to the boy?

    It was all to build the situation up to an epic climax where he would finally assert his superiority over Jared and prove himself peerless among everyone his age. However, all of that suddenly seemed to go down the drain.

    ''How frustrating!''

    "Hey, don''t look so glum, Stefan. You''re attacking the allied nations, right? Things are bound to get very interesting." Legris patted him on his shoulder, eliciting an immediate reaction from Stefan.

    "Take your hands off... now!" An ominous re filled his face, depicting nothing short of pure animosity.

    "Whoah! Rx. I''m just saying... Maria Helmsworth is bound to remain in the Eastern Kingdom. Don''t you have a score to settle with her too?"

    "How are you so certain about that?"

    "I know Jared''s personality well. He won''t let Maria or Ana invade somewhere as dangerous as here." Legris smiled, as he slowly removed his hand from Stefan''s shoulder.

    The young boy didn''t seem to be in such a foul mood anymore. Rather, he appeared to be in deep thought¡ªruminating well on his options.

    "I see. Well, if it''s Maria... I can manage. But, will she be as strong as I hope?" A smile began to break out on Stefan''s face.

    ''I also think Jared won''t let the weaker onese here. He''ll leave Maria, Ana, and a few other members behind because of that. But if I tell Stefan that, he won''t be satisfied with fighting Maria. It''s better this way.'' Legris shrugged at Stefan''s words, hiding his thoughts.

    "Who knows? But I doubt she would be weak. I mean... she''s a genius, right?" Of course, this statement sparked greater interest in the Netherlore boy, making him more eager to engage in his mission.

    "Very well. I suppose this is enough to appease me, for now. I should also be able to face interesting opponents from other nations. This should be fun."

    The Cult members were amazed by how Stefan''s disposition took a big turn simply because of Legris Damien''s persuasive words

    ''He''s incredible.'' Thought Karlia as she subtly nced in the man''s direction. ''Yet he''s pretending to be ipetent. How interesting...''

    With Stefan''s job settled, the Cult Leader proceeded to state the tasks assigned to the rest of them¡ªor rather, he intended to. However...

    "About Neron Kaelid... is it alright if I take care of him?"

    Everyone was, once again, struck by surprise when the most unexpected proposal came from the most unexpected individual.

    Legris Damien, the most underqualified member of their group, was asking to be allowed to deal with the most dangerous person recognized by the Nether Cult.

    Of course, the Cult Leader and his maiden maintained a neutral stance¡ªno, thedy in white even smiled a little.

    "Why? I thought you were more interested in Jared Leonard?" The Leader''s voice boomed, containing a tinge of amusement.

    He wasn''t the only curious one.

    Legris had always appeared to be veryx and not particrly strong. Sure, he was intelligent and cunning¡ªbut that should have told him how much of a stretch it would be for someone of his calibre to ''take care'' of Neron.

    Besides, when did Legris be as ambitious as to demand prey from the Cult Leader himself?

    This sudden switch in his personality made everyone amazed; some were amused, while others were unsurprised.

    "Jared is interesting, but¡­ not as much as Neron. We have a history together, so¡­ I just thought it would be fitting."

    "History? As in fellow lecturers at Ainrk? I don''t think that kind of history is enough to generate such an interest." Stefanmented.

    Everyone''s eyes were now on Legris, awaiting his response¡ªor rather, the justification he would give for his unwarranted and sudden interest in Neron.

    "I mean, I''ve known him for so long. He probably doesn''t remember, but we were quite close before."

    "I was unaware of this." The Cult Leader mentioned.

    "Hahaha. Well, it''s just in my head. You don''t need to take me seriously." Legris burst outughing, causing the members to either shake their heads in disappointment or even smack themselves in the face for thinking¡ªfor even a second¡ªthat Legris was about to make a valid point.

    "I just¡­ want to have a go at him. What do you say, leader? Pretty please?" Legris sped his hands together and made his best puppy-eyes impression.

    It was honestly a pretty good try¡­ if it hadn''t been for his stupidly mature face which ruined the expressionpletely.

    "You haven''t given me a valid reason for this, so¡­ well¡­ fine, then¡­ Legris, you''ll take care of Neron Kaelid."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "WHAT?!" Stefan and Karlia expressed shock at the same time.

    They had all expected the Cult Leader to instantly shoot Legris down, request be damned. This development was utterly unexpected!

    "Do not fool around, Legris. Neron is dangerous." The Cult Leader ignored everyone''s objection and focused his attention on the rejoicing Legris Damien.

    "Understood. I''ll give it my all."

    "It''s settled, then. Legris will handle Neron, while Stefan takes care of the Allied Nations. As for the two of you¡­" The Cult Leaderpletely settled the topic and moved on as naturally as possible.

    It was such a bizarre development that the people present in the room had to express surprise. However, the First Seat simply nodded calmly, the maiden in white smiled broadly, and the Cult Leader was simply indifferent.

    Everyone simply had to take it as it was.

    "First Seat and Second Seat¡­ you''ll be in charge of eliminating all the trespassers. Prevent them from advancing any further. Leave no one alive."

    "Yeah¡­ sure." Karlia sighed.

    It felt surprising that the lower-end members were left with such burdening responsibilities while the most powerful were relegated to cleanup duties. Then again, eliminating the main team of invaders was the most vital aspect of this mission.

    As Karlia digested the task she had to aplish, a hand was raised beside her. It immediately caught her attention¡ªas well as the attention of everyone else in the massive hall.

    "I would like to make a selfish request." The Fist Seat spoke in his calm tone.

    His unfazed expression, stern and strong, caught everyone''s notice. His unwavering gaze and humble persona were one of the things that gave him the honour he currently had, and his simple personality could not be despised.

    "What is the matter?" The Cult Leader''s tone was just as respectful.

    "I would like to be left in charge of exterminating all the invaders." This bold statement roused the attention of everyone.

    The bulk of the opposition''s force¡ªdetermined topletely obliterate the Nether Cult¡ªbeing intercepted by only one member sounded absurd. However, everything made sense once everyone allowed it to settle in that the First Seat was the one in question here.

    Everyone knew he was impossibly strong. Nevertheless¡­

    "Any reason in particr?"

    "I desire a challenge. The prospect of their strength is high, so I''m interested. Besides, they shouldn''t pose too much of a threat to me. If they do, I''ll be sure to call for backup."

    "Hmmm¡­"

    "I mean, I don''t mind. It gives me more time to do my research, so I''m in support of the First Seat fighting all of them." Karlia added.

    No one particrly doubted the strength of their strongest member. Nheless, the decision was up to the Cult Leader, wasn''t it?

    "Very well. Karlia, remain on standby, just in case¡­"

    "Understood."

    "As for the First Seat¡­ I will leave them to you."

    "I greatly appreciate it." The Martial de God bowed his head in response.

    ? "Since your roles have been settled, all we can do is wait for the presence of our opposition." The Cult Leader gave an undaunted smile, and his expression was shared by all who were present.

    The Martial de God.

    Karlia, the Subus.

    Stefan Netherlore

    Legris Damien

    And even the maiden in white.

    They all smiled fearlessly because they knew the end result of the imminent confrontation. It was in as day to them.

    "Jared Leonard and his allies¡­ will onlye here to die."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you all think? Will Legris stand a chance against Neron? Who wants to make a guess on the oue of this inevitable sh?

 Chapter 699 Start Of Operation [Pt 1]

    [One Week Later]

    The sun peeked from the horizon, steadily rising in the advent of dawn.

    The grassy fields danced, and the refreshing wind spread far and wide, sending waves of both chilled and soothing aromas to the inhabitants of thend.

    "Haa... we actually made it in time." A voice stated.

    Its tone sounded relieved, and something about it felt free-spirited.

    The ins had quite a few inhabitants, all of whom were smiling at this point. They couldn''t help but agree with the blonde who just spoke.

    "I didn''t think we''d make the cut at some point, but would you look at this?" The voice belonged to Jared, and he was smiling at the team members that were gathered before him.

    They all returned his gaze and expressions with simr ones. Relieved looks spread across their faces, and their eyes bloomed with excitement.

    "How many years did we spend?" One asked.

    "Maybe three? Four?"

    "Five years. We spent five years." The ck-haired gentleman named Neron answered. "I increased the ratio, so we''d have more time."

    After five years of rigorous training, all of their preparations had been for this very day¡ªthis single mission.

    "I am proud to announce that your training is over. And now¡­" Jared dered with both arms crossed, as he proudly stared at each person''s face.

    Neron Kaelid

    Serah Crimson

    Lemi Vindiel

    Ciara Epilson

    Aloe Vida

    Edward Carl Leon

    Maria Helmsworth

    Elrich Lendertwale

    Ivan Smith

    Jerry Keller

    Asa

    Maro Smith

    "... We begin the mission."

    ********

    Ana and Beruel didn''t train with us, since they were busy helping Jane with the new project¡ªone I hoped was in its finishing stages.

    ''Should I check up on her again?''

    Thest time I did so, she told me not to bother her about the details, and that it would be ready in time. Wasn''t it better to simply put my trust in her words?

    "I''ve supplied them with enough Aether. All that''s left is for them to exercisepetence on their end." Jane had never failed me before, so I wasn''t doubting her skills.

    With brilliant people like Beruel and Ana with her, I was even more confident. With that already established in my mind, I decided to focus on other things.

    ''One week transformed into five years... Neron really is amazing.''

    Back when I trained for a century, three years psed in the normal world. Compared to my limited control over the time ratio, Neron did an outstanding job.

    Thanks to that, my team members had reached an adequate level of power¡ªone where I considered their past selves pale inparison.

    ''This should be enough. I really hope it is...'' I shook off all pessimistic thoughts and decided to move on to the next phase of the n.

    "Alright, guys. It''s time to teleport you to your assigned zones."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Ivan and Jerry were going to thend of the Elves; Asa and Maro would be with the Dwarves; Maria and Elrich were to remain in the Eastern Kingdom.

    They didn''t need my help getting back to the capital, considering Elrich''s mastery of [The Tower].

    ''He really is a genius and an expert at Magic Items. He even achieved a higher proficiency than me with [The Tower].''

    I utilized my Spell Cards and sent the respective people to their designated locations. Since I had already spoken to the Allied Nations beforehand, there wasn''t any problem with sending them directly to their destinations.

    It was efficient, even.

    Within moments, everyone had gone to their assigned spots¡ªexcept Elrich and Maria, of course.

    "You guys will be stationed at the Capital, yeah?"

    "Indeed. Though, I''ll have the Automatons stationed at every possible area of the Kingdom. The denizens have also been evacuated, and I''ll make sure to transport them to the pocket dimension using [The Tower]. No one will get hurt."

    I nodded at Elrich, happy that he knew exactly what to do. Then again, he was a Grand Mage¡ªthe personification of my childhood dream.

    ''All the citizens are currently as close to the capital as possible. Since they''re all in one ce, it''ll make it easier for him to keep them in his pocket dimension.''

    [The Tower] was useful for many things, and having a very vast¡ªnigh infinite¡ªalternate space was one of its perks.

    "I''ll also spread out my senses. Nothing will escape my perception."

    I smiled, nodding at Maria''s diligent tone. Her face was the same as usual, but I saw the mes of conviction in her eyes.

    It really was amazing how much she had grown in one week¡ªwell, five years.

    ''[The Pope] will suit her well.''

    ''Be careful, Maria. Fall back if it gets too difficult,'' is what I wanted to say to her, but that would only be an insult to her conviction.

    It wasn''t like I would allow anyone to dissuade me from my own mission, so the same could be said for her as well.

    Maria was doing this because it was in the n... and for that, I had to admire her grit.

    "Thank you, Maria." I eventually said.

    We stared at each other for a long second, and then our faces drew nearer as we shared a brief kiss.

    It felt good.

    "I''ll be back as soon as I''m done." A smile formed on my face

    "You had better." She returned my grin.

    Once again, we stared at each other. I felt like kissing her some more, not even caring about the numerous stares we were getting.

    However¡ª

    "A-ahem! Jared... tick tock." Elrich murmured, feigning a cough before making his statement.

    "Ah, that''s right. Sorry to keep you waiting." I let out awkwardly.

    It wouldn''t do if I¡ªthe designated leader¡ªwas the cause of some sort of dy in the n.

    "W-well, then... goodbye."

    "See you soon."

    With meaningful nods and smiles on our faces, we parted ways.

    Elrich created the portal that sucked them in; sending them to their proposed designation, no doubt.

    "Well, there''s that." A smile remained on my face as I stared at the people who were left.

    "Neron. Serah. Ciara. Lemi. Aloe. Edward." And¡­ well, me.

    "Let''s start things on our end, shall we?"

 Chapter 700 Start Of Operation [Pt 2]

    "Alright, Neron. You''re up." I smiled at the most vital element of our first step¡ªas well as the major powerhouse we had on our team.

    Neron was going to be the one to initiate the first contact on the base of our adversaries¡ªin essence, the Nether Cult Headquarters.

    ''We''ve known their location for some time now. So, Neron will use his Timeless State to infiltrate the area. With everything stopped in the world, he''ll conduct a survey and inform us of everything we need to know about the area we''re about to invade.''

    I wanted this whole thing done far sooner, but there was a valid reason we were just relying on it now. ording to Neron, the First Seat was able to sense his presence when he used Time Immersion.

    ''If that''s the case, it''s possible that he will also be able to sense Neron if he surveys the area, even though the entire world is paused. We can''t take any chances or reveal our cards beforehand.'' That was the reason we decided to do this at thest minute.

    ''It''s not going to take any time, considering the nature of Neron''s Timeless World; He''s the only one who will be out of the natural flow of time, hence everything is stopped till he returns.''

    It would simply be like a sh.

    "Got it." Neron smiled, resonating with his Arcana, no doubt.

    I knew I was going to be seeing Neron a secondter, but this stuff never got old. I kept my eyes peeled, watching as he vanished from sight.

    And then, I awaited his instant return.

    **********

    "Welp¡­ here we go." Neron looked around him, and as expected, everyone was frozen in time.

    He looked at Jared''s expectant face, and he could tell that the youngd was expecting him to instantly appear once the survey was done.

    ''Fair enough.'' Neron considered teasing him, but considering the nature of the mission, he decided against it.

    There would be plenty of time for fun after their job wasplete.

    ''I feel a bit tired¡ªconsidering the fact that I had to operate [The Hermit] nonstop, the whole time. Well, it''s no big deal, but¡­''

    Fortunately, he wasn''t exhausted to the point of not being able to use any of his abilities. Timeless World and Time Immersion were still options. And, of course, his other abilities outside the realm of time. However, he knew full well that he wasn''t at full strength.

    ''I''m having a long sleep after this.''

    Neron vanished¡ªor rather, he was just that fast¡ªinstantly appearing above the coordinates Jared gave him.

    ''Well, this is the Nether Cult''s Headquarters, right? As expected, it''s cloaked.'' All he could see for miles was a vast body of water.

    It was just the sea, through and through.

    However, he had expected this much. A smile formed on his face, and he knew a barrier was right in front of him.

    ''If I interfere with the barrier, then it''s possible that I will be caught. It''s a possibility¡­ and it''s a definite future that I''m going to be on the other side, right?''

    Neron grinned. Wasn''t this the perfect time to try out a new ability he had cultivated during the time everyone had been practising? He''d had to undo his Time Loop so that he could grow beyond his previous strength, and boy did he grow.

    He hadn''t shown this to Jared yet, but¡­

    ''[Future Insertion]''

    In a sh, Neron became something akin to an after-image. His appearance was pale and borderline transparent.

    In return, another Neron appeared at the other end of the illusory barrier. He pretty much looked the same, but an excited grin covered his face as he stared at his afterimage.

    "It works here too. Great!"

    What he just did was [Future Insertion]¡ªa Spell that functioned exactly the way it sounded. Not only could Neron insert himself into the time stream, but he could take the ce of his future self, so long as the event was probable.

    For example, if he was going to be in a particr area at some point in the future, Neron could insert himself into that future, teleporting to that point instantly.

    ''Well, it''s not instant teleportation since I''ll be there at the time my future self would have been there. But¡­ since we''re in Timeless World, I can be anywhere in no time at all.''

    It was something akin to time travel, but with no consequences¡ªespecially when it was as instant as this.

    "Alright then¡­ let''s take a look around, shall we?" Neron removed his gaze from his afterimage that had practically faded away, and instead feasted his eyes on the vastnd that was beneath him.

    ''Wow¡­''<novelnext></novelnext>

    ? The patch ofnd waspletely circr¡ªlike it was artificially made. The ground was surprisingly all white, like it was covered in light sand. The ground''s surface seemed smooth, and everything appeared clean.

    The massive ind contained several structures¡ªone which looked like a storehouse, another that resembled an army barrack; and several other importantndmarks that Neron could not quite recognize.

    However, if there was anything that stood out, it would be the massive building that found itself within an equallyrgepound. It resembled a crossbreed between a cathedral and a mansion, and one could easily guess its purpose.

    ''I''m guessing that is the headquarters, huh?'' Neron was using his immensely powerful vision to cover the absurdlyrge ind, taking in what details he could from his current distance.

    ''There''s so much Nether around, though. Jared was right; the others wouldn''t have fared so great here¡­ well, except Maria and Elrich.'' Neron thought Asa had a chance as well, but not the other three.

    Even his heightened senses felt dulled by the waves of Nether that distorted everything on the ind. His only advantage was his constant resonance with [The Hermit].

    ''I''ll need to have a closer look, after all.'' Neron thought, finally descending from his elevated position.

    He had his work cut out for him, and it was amazing how only a second¡ªor even less¡ªwould pass for everyone waiting for him. In a way, that told him not to rush, but he also had to consider the First Seat.

    That man was his major interest in the Nether Cult. Neron had so many things he was curious about¡ªbut that had to involve them making contact.

    ''Well, I can sense him¡­ he''s still.'' Even with the amount of distance between them, Neron could tell just how much power the First Seat possessed.

    He wondered if he could take him out with Timeless World.

    ''Nah. The moment I make contact with him, he''ll be brought into Timeless World with me. There''s no guarantee that he''ll die from my first strike. It''s better not to ruin the n.''

    As such, Neron stuck to his duty¡ªsurveince.

    *

    *

    *

    After spending hours of his time diligently checking the nook and cranny of everything around, all that was left were two buildings.

    ''That massive building that looks like a research centre¡­ and then the main headquarters.''

    Neron was going to save the headquarters forst, so he decided to check the research centre first.

    So far, so good; nothing worthy of note had urred. Sure, he found some very interesting things¡ªlike what appeared to be a breeding area that would have had several Nether Beasts within, as well as another ce that seemed to be reserved for human experimentation.

    ''Nothing urred in Timeless World, so¡­'' Neron wondered what new things he would discover in this research centre he was about to investigate.

    What other atrocity awaited him? He was genuinely curious. Too curious to have noticed something that was too minuscule to have warranted his keen observation.

    "Uh¡­?" Neron felt himself step on something, something akin to a muddy puddle.

    The puddle was ck¡ªa seemingly harmless ck patch of liquid, and he wondered why he didn''t notice it before stepping there.

    ''Illusion? But wait¡­ if I stepped on it, then¡ª?!'' Before Neron couldplete his thought, the ck puddle suddenly expanded, and a huge pool of fluid-like darkness suddenly surged forth.

    >VWWWWUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHH<

    The Nether quality of the burst of liquid was enough to interfere with Neron''s barrier, forcefully causing the darkness topletely envelop his body within mere moments¡ª It was faster than he could utilize any other Spell.

    Thus, in an instant, Neron was consumed by the darkness. As soon as that urred, both he and the dark wave¡­pletely vanished.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Neron is mysteriously abducted. Has the mission begun to take a big dip from the very start? There''s only one way to find out!

 Chapter 701 Things Fall Apart [Pt 1]

    One second.

    Five seconds.

    Ten seconds¡­ and then one minute.

    "What''s going on? Where''s Neron?" I found myself blurting out.

    Timeless World was supposed to take a mere instance for us, so it was surprising to notice how a minute passed without any sign of Neron.

    ''What''s happening?'' A dark thought crept into my mind, but I didn''t want to imagine it until it was the only choice left.

    ''Is Neron messing with us? No¡­ he wouldn''t do that at this point. Then, where is he?'' I ran many simtions in my head, wondering what could have happened.

    Did he undo Timeless World for some reason? Did he have to interact with something? But, even if it were thetter, only he and that thing would be moving out of time.

    ''T-then¡­ are we also in Timeless World?'' I doubted it, considering the clouds were moving, and everything seemed normal.

    Neron had shown me what it felt like in Timeless World before, and it definitely did not feel like this. Time was running its course¡­ I could see that¡ªor rather, sense it.

    "Jared¡­ I''ve lost contact with Neron." Serah suddenly interrupted my thoughts with more bad news.

    I felt a twitch inside of me, and I checked my connection with Neron¡­ just to be certain.

    ''H-he''s gone¡­'' My eyes widened in surprise.

    No matter where Neron was, ourmunication connection still had to be intact. This stability made it a reliable way to at least tell whether Neron was around or not. However¡ª

    "I can''t connect with him at all!"

    ¡ªIt was almost as if Neron vanished from this ne of existence.

    At the moment, I had two immediate theories. Considering the little amount of time we had to work with, this was the best I could do.

    ''Neron is either stuck out of time¡ªthat is, stuck in Timeless World¡ªor something has happened to him."

    Considering the mental elements of Neron, it was highly improbable that he would intentionally do something like this. It had to either be by ident or due to a malicious attack from the enemy.

    But that left the question¡­ what or who exactly could have been powerful enough to stop Neron?

    *

    *

    *

    After waiting for five more minutes¡ªmostly thinking and deliberating¡ªI concluded that Neron wasn''ting back. At least, it was better to make our next move with that in mind.

    Since it hade to this, we had to make a choice; to either continue the mission or¡­

    "Jared, what will you choose? It''s your call." Serah told me with a calm expression on her face.

    I knew she was just beingposed for the sake of the team, and so that I wouldn''t make any biased choices that would cost everyone''s safety.

    ''She''s nning to go off on her own if that''s what it takes¡­'' There was no way Serah would sit still after this unknown circumstance that had befallen Neron.

    The question was, could I do the same?

    After contemting time and time again, I couldn''t arrive at any other conclusion. The Nether Cult''s headquarters was dangerous, and the enemies were going to be very powerful. With Neron gone, not only did we lose information on thendscape we would be invading, but also about half of ourbat potential.

    Continuing the mission would be risky¡ªtoo risky.

    Still¡­ STILL¡­

    "We''re going to continue with the mission."

    ¡­ There was no way I could abandon Neron!

    Anytime I thought of it, his image would just pop into my mind, and I couldn''t stand the thought of it. Was it because of how much I owed him... how much he helped me?

    ''I was going to die back then... when Kahn had invaded Ainrk. If it hadn''t been for Neron, then¡ª!''

    That''s right! I couldn''t leave him behind.

    "I would have said that Serah and I alone, would be going, but frankly we would be at a disadvantage without the help of everyone here. What do you all say?" This time around, the mission was more personal than it was logical.

    However, even if it was personal, I had to use my intelligence. We had a better chance of seeding if we went as a team. Unfortunately, that also meant that if we lost¡­ it would be deadly.

    ''If the one that got Neron is still out there, it doesn''t matter if we attack sparingly. We might as well stick to the original n and go all-out.''

    The choice, however, was up to my teammates.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Of course, we''re doing this!"

    "What do you think I trained all that time for?"

    "This is the optimal moment, right? The Golden Time!"

    It seemed we were all on the same page. Thank goodness.

    "Alright, guys¡­ I hear you. Let''s get ready to go."

    We didn''t have the privilege of information any longer, and Neron was no longer on our team. The probability of sess had just reduced drastically. Still, it hadn''t dropped to zero.

    And also¡ªit was just a gut feeling, but¡ªI knew wherever he was, Neron wasn''t going to allow himself to remain there forever.

    ''He''s going to find his own way out¡­ and we''ll be there, waiting for him when he does!''

    *

    *

    *

    With everyone ready for the teleportation, I steadied my breathing and used [Strength] to enhance my abilities. In case we met any danger, it was best to be prepared¡ªthough we also had to be lowkey so as not to be too forceful.

    There had to be some room for stealth.

    ''The First Seat will probably see iting, though.''

    In any case¡­ we only had one shot at this. And it was NOW!

    >VWUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHHH<

    The portal appeared, and we all warped away from the Eastern Kingdom ins. Whatever we would find there¡­ whatever we wouldn''t¡­ we could only hope for the best¡­ and prepare for the worst.

    >SHWWWUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!!<

    Space undted, and we were soon going to appear at our destination. However, something odd began to ur.

    >ZZZZTTTTZZZZZZZ<

    The blue energy became bloated and began spasming and retracting as though it was being affected by a strange phenomenon.

    "W-what?!"

    >BZZZTTTZZZZZ<

    This glitch had never urred mid-travel before, and as I tried to wrap my head around this urrence, the most devastating thing urred.

    "H-huh?!"

    I found myself all alone! None of the other members were with me. Only I was surrounded by the blue energy!

    However, before I could even scream, I found myself at the destination I preset¡­ the Nether Cult''s Ind. It was shaped weirdly, and the white-coloured beach was different from what I expected, but that was hardly my concern.

    "Everyone¡­ where''s everyone!"

    I looked around me, and spread my senses as far as I could¡­ but I couldn''t sense them.

    ''Damnit! What happened back there? Why did we get separated? How?!''

    It seemed like interference Magic of some kind. Was it the enemy? Did they know we were going to appear at exactly that destination? How could they have predicted so far and interfered with the teleportation?

    ''The only other possibility is that someone in our team did it, but¡­ that''s not possible. The mental elements don''t add up.''

    I was left confused, but confusion was going to get me nowhere.

    ''This is a big ind¡ªbigger than my senses can decipher. I''ll just have to scout the area and hope that Ie upon any other member. Or better yet, I''ll keep a lookout for all of them.''

    ''You guys had better be safe! I''ming for you all!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It''s funny how the ''perfect n'' keeps falling apart.

 Chapter 702 Things Fall Apart [Pt 2]

    "H-huh?!"

    "Where are we?"

    "Where are the others?"

    Edward, Lemi, and Ciara found themselves at the very same spot. They were located on a wide expanse ofnd, white in colour, with presumably nothing to be seen for miles.

    "What''s this ce? This is supposed to be the Nether Cult''s base, right? Where''s everyone else?" Ciara''s voice was beginning to sound irritated, and the frown on her face proved that even further.

    Edward looked calm, observing as much of their surroundings as he could. And as such, rather than speak, he kept analyzing everything around him, in hopes that he would understand the situation.

    Lemi had been teaching him the art of observation and science¡­ and it was really helpful¡ªespecially for training his senses and Martial Perception. It didn''t do much for his cognitive abilities, though.

    Speaking of Lemi, she was holding a pair of Magic Binocrs, trying her best to survey the area. It was best to figure out where they were beforeining and whining like Ciara.

    "There''s no point, you guys. You realize our connection is being interfered with, right? I know everyone is alive, but I can''t sense where they are¡­ or evenmunicate with them." Ciara dropped to the white sandy surface, finally sitting down in frustration.

    "You''ve tried your Mind¡ª?"

    "Yep! Everything! Our devices don''t even work too. The Nether here is really dense. Urgh!"

    Edward joined Ciara in her sigh, realizing that she was right. He had just spread out his senses, and yet he didn''t sense anyone. He also couldn''t connect with Jared and the others.

    ''Did she already do all of that before giving up so early? Impressive!'' Edward nodded at Ciara, smiling proudly.

    Well, he soon noticed Lemi''s gaze piercing him, and he quickly removed his eyes from the fussy girl.

    "W-well, maybe we should keep searching¡­ you know, for clues and stuff¡­ right Lemi?" A bead of sweat fell from Edward''s face as he made his appeal to the Half-elf.

    "Yeah¡­" Of course, she just shrugged him off.

    The three were still in the process of deciding what to do, or how to find their bearing without Jared when¡­ another unexpected thing urred.

    "Greetings to you all."

    "H-HUH?!"

    All three jumped back, swiftly reacting to the voice that had greeted them from behind. Once their gazes fell on him, their eyes widened even further.

    The man in front of them donned a blue kimono. He had long auburn hair, and a sword was strapped to his waist. His sandals covered his feet, and he had a calm look.

    "I wee you all to the Nether Cult''s abode. I am the First Seat, also known as the Martial de God. I was of the belief that there would be more of you, but¡­"

    >WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

    In a sh, Edward surged forth with his summoned de.

    An immense burst of energy swirled around him as he swung his de downward, ready to cut down the foe in a split second. However¡ª

    "Hmm¡­ it seems you split up at some point. I can see where the others are. Ah, I see¡­ so that''s how it is." The man murmured.

    He didn''t move from his position, yet Edward couldn''t believe what had just happened. His attack¡­ his attack which was full of killing intent¡­ was still stuck in midair.

    "Hmmm¡­ that attack isn''t capable of getting past my defence. I apologize for that."

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Edward suddenly felt a huge gust of power push him back. He did his best to resist, but¡ª

    "Guh!"

    ¡ªUltimately, he lost against the current.

    Crashing a few meters behind hisrades, Edward slowly rose to his feet, clenching his teeth as he stared at the man in front of him. After that single exchange, he now had no doubt.

    "This guy is very strong."

    "He said he knows where everyone is! Just how high could his perception be?" Ciara added in wonder.

    "Edward, you idiot! Don''t run headfirst into danger like that!" Lemi hit Edward behind his head.

    Of course, since she was way shorter, she had to jump to reach him. That sight in itself was funny.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Sorry about that. I just had to know¡­ when I heard that name, I had to know how strong he was."

    "And now you know, I guess."

    "No. Not yet. I haven''t tried everything¡­" Edward''s smile broadened for some reason.

    His excited gaze met the mellow one of the Martial de God, and one predominant thought assailed his mind.

    ''Could this guy really be¡­ the originator?!''

    If so, how the heck was he still alive? Sure, Edward had read about the path of transcendence in his Martial Books, and how it led to immortality, but he didn''t think of that in the literal sense.

    But¡­ if that was indeed true, then this man before him was most likely the Martial de God himself! The founder of the Martial de God Martial Arts¡­ as well as Edward''s ancestor!

    ''Words are cheap, spection is a waste of time!'' If he wanted to find out the facts, he had to get them for himself¡ªby engaging in a conversation ofbat.

    "Don''t even think for one second that you will be engaging him alone." Lemi interrupted Edward''s excitement, causing the big guy''s shoulder to dete.

    "Well¡­ a guy can dream, can he not?"

    "W-wait¡­ hold on, you want to fight THAT?!" Ciara burst out, as her eyes widened.

    Clearly, she didn''t want to fight.

    ''We should just use our Spell Cards and get the hell out of here!'' Her mind rang.

    "Excuse me, but you shan''t be leaving for anywhere. I took the time to rid you of your means of escape." The Martial de God''s tone caused them all to stare at him in shock.

    Especially because he was holding all of their Spell Cards in his hand.

    "W-WHA¡ª?!"

    In a brilliant burst of blue mes, they were all destroyed.

    "It''s not like teleportation would do you any good, but¡­ it''s simply more preferable for you to try your hardest without the assumption of being able to retreat." He calmly added.

    Ciara felt like she was growing crazy with what she was hearing.

    "See? He won''t let us go. We have to fight!" Edward''s grin widened, to which Lemi simply sighed.

    "As much as I would like to disagree with him, the musclehead has a point. We have no other choice, at this point."

    Ciara groaned, pping her face with her palm. To her, she seemed like the only one who was thinking rationally.

    Or was she the only one who knew how impossible it was to beat the guy in front of them?!

    "Damnit! We should just fight to escape or something..." Regardless, Ciara understood that they couldn''t run without at least subduing the man.

    ''Even if it''s for one second!'' She thought to herself.

    Victory was definitely not her goal.

    "It seems we are all in agreement. That''s good. Well, then, shall we get this over with? I still have two other ces to stop by. Thatst one can be handled by the leader himself. Or, well, maybe... her?"

    The Martial de God ced his hand on his sheathed de, taking a normal stance as he stared at the three youngsters in front of him.

    "This feels almost unfair." He added softly.

    "Huh? And why is that? You don''t think you''re outnumbered, do you?" Lemi raised her voice defiantly.

    "No. It''s not that. It''s just... you won''t be able to win. This unfairness can hardly be called a battle, but... I still have my responsibilities."

    "Tch!"

    The Martial de God brought out his de¡ªa regr-looking de with no special features at all.

    It just looked ordinary, and yet¡­ something about it oozed danger and signified havoc to the three who saw it.

    "Forgive my selfishness. However, you three will be struck down right here and now." Thus said the Martial de God.

 Chapter 703 Struggling To Go All Out

    Lemi was extremely skeptical about fighting such an obvious red g.

    Not only was he the First Seat, but they were currently not at full strength as a group. Jared was missing, and so were Aloe and Serah.

    ''We''re not the ones who are meant to be handling this dude!'' Her thoughts rang.

    Then again, now that she was confronted with such an obvious foe¡ªone they could not escape¡ªthe only thing she could do was n how to fight him¡­ and how to win!

    ''This is the guy that destroyed an entire civilization without batting an eye. He''ll be ready and willing to kill us at any time.'' To Lemi, that meant they couldn''t pull their punches.

    ~We''re going all-out, guys! Use your Arcanas!~ Lemi found her mind connected to her other two colleagues thanks to Ciara''s Mind Magic.

    Sincemunication was scrambled, and Resonance was risky in such a situation, Ciara''s ability was the perfect alternative.

    It was fortunate that each of them had Arcanas;

    Edward had [Justice].

    Lemi had the [Wheel of Fortune].

    And Ciara had [Judgement]

    ~I''ve tried trapping him in the Mind''s World, but it''s not working. I guess that''s out of the picture~ Serah''s voice echoed within the minds of the other two as she sighed.

    It seemed she would have to make use of the other ability of her Arcana. If she coordinated it well with the attacks of the other two, then perhaps they could stand a chance. There was, however, a problem.

    ~We still don''t know what his Arcana is!~

    "Here Ie." The Martial de God announced, taking a step forward as casually as possible.

    Everyone''s eyes immediately narrowed in his direction, as he instantly vanished before their thoughts could even process it.

    And then¡ª

    >FWOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH<

    ¡ªThe first target met her end.

    "LEMIIIIII!!!" Ciara and Edward yelled, their eyes widened in shock.

    Right in front of them, Lemi had been sliced into two equal pieces, courtesy of their opponent.

    It didn''t even take a moment before she met her end. It just¡­ happened.

    Amid the carnage and floating entrails, the Martial de God stared at the other two. His unfettered gaze told them they were next.

    "Hmm¡­ strange ho¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    A massive explosion descended upon the Martial de God, covering everything around him in plumes of me and smoke. The shockwave spread out to a wide distance, and the two who would have been caught in the st were miraculously dragged away.

    "Haa¡­ that was a surprise." Lemi heaved a sigh of relief.

    "L-Lemi?!" Edward''s eyes widened in shock.

    He had just seen her get cleaved into two by their enemy. How in the world was she still fine?

    "I got lucky¡­ I almost died, damn." Even she had a bothered expression on her face, so that meant the horror wasn''t over yet¡ªno, it was far from it.

    Ciara, who was still recoiling from the shock, realized how Lemi must have used her Arcana to escape death. That was certainly a convenient ability to have, wasn''t it?

    "He''sing!" Edward nced in the direction of the st and watched how the mes and smoke parted, as a figure emerged from within.

    The Martial de God was unscathed, as he simply held his unsheathed de. His blue kimono contrasted with the crimson embers that glowed in the background, and his calm gaze drove fear into the hearts of those who saw him.

    "Shiiit!" Ciara swiftly activated her Arcana before whatever attack coulde.<novelnext></novelnext>

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    Instantly, a fortress built with golden light emerged. It covered Ciara and herrades, and it seemed severalyers thick.

    "This should buy us some ti¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In one clean swing, the Martial de God broke through her defence.

    "Crap!"

    Many projectiles made of golden light appeared out of thin air, each doused with immense power¡ªAether, of course.

    She resumed her projections and created even more barriers to shroud her and her teammates.

    "Guys¡­ going all out means going all out. This guy is dangerous!"

    Edward and Lemi nodded at Ciara, swiftly connecting their Mana with the nature of their Arcanas¡ªjust as Jared had taught them.

    In a sh, their bodies were transformed, and their abilities were heightened.

    Be it Mage Mode, Fusion Mode, Martial State¡ªand for Ciara, Original Magic¡ªthe group of three donned their best in order to defeat their most powerful opponent yet.

    Lemi was shrouded in ck and white light. Her outfit had a simr glow, and she held a wand meant to control and direct both aspects of Mana and Miasma. However, considering neither of these were useful for fighting an opponent with Aether, a new ability sprang from it.

    By using her Arcana as a conduit and base, she was finally able toplete the process ofbining Mana and Miasma to form something new¡­ and no, it wasn''t Anti-Magic.

    ''By condensing the two to their limits and extracting the purest quality they can produce, I am left with one element. And by adding the element inbination with my Arcana, I get¡­''

    Lemi pointed her wand at the projected wall in front of her, waiting for the appearance of her opponent. And, as expected¡ª

    >BOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªHe broke through the walls with ease.

    ''... Aether!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    Lemi poured out a pure beam of Aether, sending it charging at the enemy in front of her.

    Space warped, and the st definitely moved faster than light. It surged through the area in a straight line, focused only on the target.

    "I think this is enough."

    >SWISH<

    The Martial de God swung his de only once, and the wave of Aether was extinguished. In a single sh, all of that power¡­ was gone.

    "You three¡­ do you really not know how to fight?" The Martial de God sighed as he stepped forward once more.

    Lemi, Edward, and Ciara huddled together, ready to attack together if necessary.

    "You with the Mind attacks¡­ your projection abilityes from your Arcana, does it not? And you with the ck and white hair, your Arcana influences causality, doesn''t it? Luck, perhaps¡­" The Martial de God finally nced at Edward who tightly clung to his de.

    "I sense Vaizard''s Arcana on you. Why do you choose not to use it? Ah, [Justice] is subjective, isn''t it? Does your personal inclination allude to the unfairness of three against one? You''d deem it more appropriate if it was just me against you? I see¡­ that''s your subconscious limitation."

    The Martial de God stared at all three of his opponents¡ªno animosity or kindness in his eyes. It was simply nk.

    "You three have potential. You can be really strong. Fighting you then would be entertaining, but¡­"

    At this point, the Martial de God sheathed his de.

    "... You three are not worthy of my de."

 Chapter 704 The Martial Blade God [Pt 1]

    The Martial de God was disappointed.

    He felt eager to go to the next battlefield and test the others, but he also felt the inclination to remain where he was. As long as he felt this way, he refused to end the lives of his opponents.

    Time seemed to be still for him.

    He could walk past all of them and cut them down before they realized it, but he chose not to. Something about this group¡­ pulled him in.

    Their attack patterns were simple. Their mastery over the Arcanas was basic, at best, and their level of experience paled inparison to his by a wide margin¡ªIt was simply too wide to consider.

    These were mere toddlers.

    The Martial de God hadn''t even used any techniques yet, and he already felt like it would be impossible to converse with children like these. This was the burden he carried as someone who had transcended the bounds of nature.

    He could move so fast that time seemed toe to aplete standstill.

    He could see so far ahead that even the future was within his line of sight.

    If he wanted to, he could destroy any continent with a single strike.

    Yet¡­

    ¡­ He chose not to.

    Restricting himself to basic clothes, a basic sword, a basic stance, and azy fighting style¡ªhe kept hoping that he could reduce the level of danger he posed to his opponent in order to enjoy a somewhat fair battle.

    However, just how much could he restrict his abilities?

    As a transcendent being, he had far surpassed the reach of most constraints. He was simply too strong, and he knew it.

    ''There has to be someone stronger, better than I am!'' He thought to himself.

    Looking back at the past, he remembered how he had fought the one acimed to be the strongest Martial Master in the world¡ªSword King, Gawain. Gawain was one of the Heroes who fought off the demons.

    When they fought, he found the man to be above average in skill, but not in much else. It was unfortunate that Gawain had been inept in Mana, considering how the de God noticed him unconsciously using fragments of Aether.

    If he could grow more, live more, then perhaps¡­

    ''Unfortunately, he refused to grow any further¡ªchoosing a mundane life of peace.'' The Martial de God could not understand such foolishness.

    He, on the other hand simply sought the next mountain to conquer. Unfortunately, every single mountain had been cut down by him¡ªevery obstacle pulverized.

    He simply stood on a vast field filled with no speck of challenge.

    It was boring.

    "All men are like grass, and their glory, like the flowers that fade away¡­" The Martial de God spoke calmly as he stared at the three children in front of him.

    Having deemed them unworthy of his de and sheathing it, he could see their eyes widen in relief. Why were they looking at him that way? Did they really think they had been saved?

    "Use your best attacks if you will. I will be ridding you of your lives in one strike each." The Martial de God took his stance.

    Having no de, he raised both hands and took a martial stance. His eyes sharply focused on the three, as he remained fixed in position.

    "Damnit, you guys!" He heard the brte growl.

    She was currently in Mage Mode, as well as Fusion Mode¡ªher Familiar being a literal Star.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''She attracted the attention of a Celestial. That''s interesting¡­ it''s as I thought. This one is special.'' Celestial Familiars existed outside the bounds of this.

    They were far more special than Principalities, and the greatest of the Stars were the 12 Zodiac Constetions.

    ''Hers is a regr Star, though. Not bad, but not the best¡­'' The Martial de God observed the nature of her energy flow.

    ''Original Magic is Mind-rted, and it''s in perfect sync with her Arcana. Her Arcana¡­ hmmm¡­ she can project whatever image she conjures up in her mind. This image will take on the properties assigned to it and manifest itself in reality.''

    So much potential. Such waste.

    "I will be ending you first." His gaze met Ciara.

    "W-wai¡ª!"

    "Wait your turn." The Martial de God released just enough pressure to paralyze the ck and white girl, as well as the muscr guy she clung to.

    It was just him and the Ciarady now.

    "Your name is Ciara, isn''t it? Epilson¡­ hmmm, I see. It''s no wonder you''re so special."

    "W-wha¡ª?! How do you know?!"

    "I can see through theyers of this world. The past, present, and future. All nes of existence exist in differentyers, making it impossible for them to ovep. However, as long as they exist, I can see them." He provided the courtesy of exining to her.

    In simple terms, the Martial de God knew all about Ciara in an instant. The moment he chose her as his opponent, everything about her shed into his mind.

    Everything including her dirty little secrets.

    "Apologies for intruding. I may have seen things that are¡­ better off not being seen."

    "W-what are you¡ª?!"

    "It is fine. You will not be alive to bear the shame. Isn''t it better this way?"

    "You bastar¡ª"

    "If you do not make your move in ten more seconds, I will strike you down. Use your best attack to subdue me. I will wait."

    A wave of seriousness greeted the atmosphere, causing the girl in front of him to gulp. She must have known her fate, yet her eyes didn''t show a hint of weakness.

    ''Good. Now show me¡­''

    "I-I can''t use my strongest technique with them watching¡­" Ciara nced at both of her paralyzed teammates.

    "I see. Very well."

    With a single breath, the Martial de God initiated a world-defying phenomenon.

    The world suddenly darkened, and the veil of darkness covered the whole area¡ªstopping short of where Edward and Lemi stood, paralyzed.

    "Martial Zone." The Martial de God whispered.

    The world was still, devoid of anything that existed beyond its upants.

    "We''re currently out of the bounds of space and time. You won''t be seen or heard here. Nothing exists beyond this point."

 Chapter 705 The Martial Blade God [Pt 2]

    The surrounding darkness suddenly expanded into an infinite void. It seemed to stretch on for eternity, and the space around seemed endless.

    Stars and glimmering sparks of light appeared above the heads of both the de God and the awestruck Ciara, illuminating the area. Everything simply looked beautiful.

    "Do not look so amazed. Your ability to conjure up anything you desire¡­ surely, you do not believe it to be inferior." The Martial de God spoke.

    His gaze remained on Ciara, yet she felt no burden or pressure.

    She felt a still, unimposing pressure.

    It was just like when he had first appeared. Nothing about him screamed extraordinary power, but her instincts told her to flee. The only difference now was that she didn''t feel like running. She wished to stay.

    "Can you teach me? Teach me how to harness this power like you?" Ciara could only interpret her request as madness.

    What in the world was she saying to a man who wouldn''t hesitate to strike her and herrades down? He was dangerous! He belonged to the Nether Cult!

    She knew all of that, and yet¡­!

    ''I can''t bring myself to hate him!''

    "I am teaching you. Now draw out your power, show me everything you have. At the end of your life here¡­ you would have gotten much stronger."

    Ciara had definitely heard that her life was going to end. She had just heard that he would kill her. Yet why¡­ why was she brimming with such excitement and determination? She couldn''tprehend it.

    It didn''t feel like Mind Control or the influence of Magic. It was just as though the man in front of her was simply a force of nature¡ªlike the sea, or perhaps air.

    Who could hate air?

    "Fine then¡­ I''ll conjure up my greatest Projection. I''ll pour all my power into it¡­ I''ll show you, my best!"

    Ciara was determined. She hadn''t pushed herself this far before, but she knew there was only one thing that could qualify as her most powerful projection. It was the most glorious, most precious thing she could create.

    ''I''ll make it a zillion times stronger!''

    Ciara poured out all the Aether she could muster, and she strained her mind to the limits. She could feel herself going insane, but she put her heart, soul, spirit¡ªeverything¡ªinto this one construct. Throughout the ordeal, there was a single image that shed in her mind.

    And, the image guided her through the process.

    ''Almost¡­ there!''

    The golden light originating from her projection lit the vast space with its splendour. Its brilliance was indescribable.

    Far greater than the glorious sun. More solemn than the moon. Way prettier than the stars.

    This was the pinnacle of Ciara''s Magic¡ªher very philosophy.

    It could all be summed up in one word; one person!

    "JERRY!"

    That''s right! The culmination of all her power had formed a single entity¡ªa being that transcended anything else Ciara could ever dream up. It was Jerry Keller, the boy she loved with her whole heart.

    He had his same dark auburn hair, and his charming eyes remained constant. His handsome face was sculpted with excellence, and he currently donned a golden regalia as well as a golden crown that made him look majestic.

    Jerry was KING!

    "I won''t let you hurt Ciara." He spoke in his chivalrous tone, causing her to squeal with pleasure.

    The Martial de God stood, his face depicting a degree of surprise for a moment before reverting back to his calm demeanour.

    "I see. If this is your choice, then it makes sense."

    As someone who knew her obsession with the kid, the Martial de God understood why this would be her most powerful projection. The power it emitted was also no joke.

    ''It''s the strongest I''ve seen in years¡­ well, besides those four.''

    The Cult Leader, the Maiden, Kido, Karlia. These four were stronger than the being in front of him, but it was superior to all else.

    "That''s interesting¡­" He unsheathed his de.

    "I thought I wasn''t worthy of your de." Ciara grinned, smiling proudly at her perfect projection of Jerry.

    "You are now."

    Thus, the shmenced.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The unstoppable force of nature versus the epitome of a teenage girl''s obsession¡­ which would prevail?

    The projected Jerry charged at the Martial de God, shrouding himself with enough energy to cause the vast space to quake in response. Jerry''s powers rose and climbed with such an unfettered tempo that the Martial de God felt a little bit of excitement as he swung his de.

    He had to use a fitting attack for such a fitting opponent.

    "#051:Transitioning."

    >SWWWWWWWWWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!<

    And just like that, a brilliant glow enveloped the entire space, and the shockwave was enough to shatter it.

    *

    *

    *

    "I¡­ I see¡­" Ciara croaked.

    Blood dripped from her lips and her stomach as she was pierced with the de of the Martial de God.

    "CIARAAAAA!!!" Edward and Lemi screamed in powerlessness as they watched this horrible scene.

    In what appeared to be a sh, the Martial de God had run his de through Ciara. Usually, it was possible for such an injury to be healed by Magic, but Ciara seemed too far gone to be healed by magic this time.

    "Did you learn something?"

    "I¡­ I did." Ciara''s smile broadened.

    "I think¡­ I found a reason to hate you now."

    The Martial de God was genuinely surprised this time. He was also curious.

    "What reason?"

    " Ack¡­ kof¡­ you¡­ you destroyed my precious Jerry." Ciara muttered, spitting out more blood.

    "I hate you now."

    She said that, and yet her eyes were still gleaming with delight and her smile was wider than before.

    "Ahh¡­ how very peculiar. You really are special." He returned her smile with his.

    In one swift stroke, he dislodged his de from Ciara''s body, and she copsed to the ground instantly. Falling in her own pool of blood, Ciara breathed herst and died.

    A light bow of respect was given to her by her opponent, and it seemed that he genuinely gave her the honor he felt she deserved.

    After a few seconds of this, he finally concluded his ritual.

    "Now then¡­" The Martial de God turned from the corpse and gazed upon the surviving two.

    His gaze was once again devoid of emotion. Neither of malice nor of love.

    Just calm emptiness that seemed to garner no reaction from the party that looked at him. They despised what he had done, but he was too abstract to be hated.

    He was simply¡­ the Martial de God.

    "... I choose you, next."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Well, she''s finally dead. Ciara, the crazy yandere is gone. I''m gonna miss her¡­

    On another note, you guys should be honest here. You have to be honest. Who would win between this guy and Neron?

    And why?

 Chapter 706 Battle Of Luck

    "U-uh¡­?!"

    The person the Martial de God chose next was Lemi.

    Her eyes bulged with surprise. She was still recoiling from the trauma of watching herrade die in cold blood. Perspiration covered her body while her breathing got out of control.

    ''Rx, Lemi! Jared can revive her. Jared can¡ª'' Suddenly, Lemi remembered something extremely pivotal.

    The man before her had attacks which destroyed the soul, and Ciara had refused Jared''s Soul Brand. That meant¡­ it was very likely that Ciara was gone forever. With this realization, Lemi''s heart tightened further in pain, and she almost retched in horror.

    "Ten seconds before your demise. You choose." The Martial de God calmly stated, watching Lemi with keen eyes.

    The ck and white girl knew that she couldn''t escape her current situation. Ciara, who was one of the most powerful people in the group, had been killed. Edward, the strongest of all three of them, was stuck¡ªparalyzed.

    Her frightened brain struggled to understand the probability of victory. It was pretty much nonexistent. She stood no chance at all!

    Yet why¡­ Why was she stepping forward?

    "You killed Ciara¡­ without seeing her ability." Her tone was trembling, but she spoke anyway. "I thought we had one shot."

    "She indeed attacked me, but it was within my Martial Realm. I''ll show you."

    The Martial de God breathed once more, oozing life into the world to create his own.

    Once again, the firmaments darkened, and the brilliance of the stars filled the sky. A nigh infinite space covered them, and only the two inhabitants were there to witness it.

    "T-this¡­ is where¡­ she fought you?" Lemi muttered in amazement.

    She had so many questions, but she swallowed them all.

    "There is no need to hold back your words. Say what you must."

    "How did you make such a vast space? Based on the principle of Energy Conservation in Mana Theories, making such a vast realm like this is deemed impossible. The kind of energy you would need to pull that off is¡­ too immense."

    In essence, to create an infinite world, one practically needed to have an infinite amount of energy.

    "I have more than enough Aether to utilize this technique. So long as my mind projects this as my will, then it''s not impossible." Lemi didn''t fully understand what the Martial de God was saying to her.

    If she got anything, though, it was that he was very strong. Impossibly strong.

    "Isn''t this unfair? You know I can''t win."

    "Then, will you back down?"

    "Nah¡­ with these odds? No way!" Lemi revealed a toothy grin.

    Suddenly, a brilliant light shone around her, and a massive wheel appeared behind her. It was a roulette, simr to the one she, Ivan and Edward had found in their search for the Arcana. However, unlike back then, this roulette seemed to be constructed with yellow energy.

    It shone brightly behind Lemi, and the girl gained some level of confidence because of that.

    ''With the Wheel, I can ovee adversities based on what I spin."

    The roulette had many colors¡ªranging from white to ck, with colors getting progressively darker the further they went in the gradient curve. Lemi had done her in-depth study of its mechanics, figuring out what worked for it.

    It basically went thus;

    The lighter the color chosen in the color scheme, the better your luck. The darker the color, the less effective it would be. As for the colour ck, it simply represented no luck at all. Lemi was fortunate that that was all there was to it.

    If there were downsides¡ªlike having bad luck for certain spins¡ªthen things would have been way worse.

    ''I survived getting killed by this guy because I rolled a green before we arrived here.''

    The effects of a spinsted at least an hour¡ªand because it had been a ''Green'' one, its effects were really good.

    "Okay, right now¡­ I need the best."

    Lemi was in the most dangerous of situations. Death was staring at her right in the face, and he patiently waited for her futile resistance.

    ''White. Give me white!''

    Causality Maniption. usibility Alteration. The power of luck had been interpreted in more ways than one. However, if there was one thing luck could do¡­ it was capable of turning a situation as hopeless as this into something she could see some victory in.

    Lemi turned to look at her wheel, proceeding to spin it with as much uracy as she could.

    >VWOOOOMMM!<

    The color wheel spun, turning and turning, as the arrow steadily pointed at the different colors.

    Suspense ate into the girl. Her heart raced uncontrobly as she awaited the products of her result. What she wanted was something to use in order to survive¡­ in oder to win.

    It could be a power-up for her, a nerf for the enemy, or both, or even somethingpletely different. Lemi prayed within herself as the Wheel slowed down and finally stopped on a color.

    The color was¡­

    "WHITE, BABY!!!" Lemi grinned, practically surging with confidence at this point.

    With white, she was invincible!<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Alright! I''m ready!" Lemi grinned

    "Are you certain?" The Martial de God asked a useless question.

    Lemi nodded with absolute confidence. She would have loved to stack up more lucky spins, but her current level only allowed one spin. In fact, it took her body some time to even adjust to the changes in causality around her.

    Her major challenge had been learning how to properly spin the wheel in order to obtain her desired result. Another issue was the amount of energy it sapped from her. However, it was well worth it this time.

    With ''White'', she was practically untouchable.

    "Causality maniption and interference with order¡­ that is indeed a frightening ability." The Martial de Godmented.

    Lemi ignored him and conjured up her most powerful attack. Mixing an unstablebination of Mana and Miasma while coating them with as much Aether as she possibly could, she created a bomb.

    ''The st radius and intensity should blow everything around into smithereens. Plus, since I rolled a White, I won''t die from it. Let''s do this!''

    The massive ball of white and ck light she generated above her made both Lemi and the Martial de God seem like insignificant specks of dust. It brimmed with so much energy that Lemi began to grow frightened.

    ''So this is what happens when I go serious with a ''White''.

    Without any further dy, Lemiunched her massive orb of destruction towards the Martial de God, who was standing still.

    >BBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!<

    Lemi felt herself get vaporized by the st¡ªwell, almost, considering her immense luck¡ªand everything around her suffered the same fate. The st radius covered a lot of ground, and as far as Lemi could see, destruction reigned true.

    But then¡ª

    "Impressive." The Martial de Godmented.

    His body was shrouded in what seemed like an incorpreal armor.

    The blue energy-like projection  must have shielded him from the attack, and it didn''t even seem to have a single scratch on it.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Lemi was beyond appalled when she saw this.

    Her luck was maxed out, wasn''t it? Why was this still happening?!

    "Do not look so distraught, young one." The Martial de God spoke, calmly closing the distance between them.

    "Probability maniption only works when there is a probability. In a situation of absolute certainty, it bes redundant."

    Lemi''s eyes widened at the man, who was now right in front of her.

    "Your use of luck¡ªno matter the amount¡ªcannot allow you to change something that isn''t simply a possibility, but a well-grounded truth. An impossibly certain reality."

    Lemi''s heart raced as she stared deeply into the eyes of the Martial de God.

    She knew what wasing next. She dreaded it!

    "Multiply any number by zero, and you get zero. You had no chance to begin with. No amount of luck was going to change that." He raised his de.

    Lemi closed her eyes, realizing the inescapable truth in his words. He was right. She had always known, but she thought¡­ she thought she could actually prevail due to the power of luck.

    So far, it had seemed to work so well for her. However, this was finally the end of the line.

    Her demise was imminent. Her death was certain.

    In her final moments, Lemi found a couple of images shing through her mind.

    The face of her loving aunt. The face of her amazing cousin. Her family. Her people¡­

    ¡­ Her mother

    ¡­ Her father.

    "I-I''m so sorry, everyone." She burst into bitter tears, but it was no use this time.

    It truly was the end of the line.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 707 The Nature Of Life

    "You were too confident in an absolute possibility. Or were you simply being delusional?" The Martial de God watched the corpse of the Half-Elf in front of him.

    "YOOUUUU BAASSSTTTAAAARRRRRDDDDD!!!"

    The Martial de God ignored the words let out by the powerless Edward and kept staring at Lemi. His eyes bled with something akin topassion.

    "Your parents would be proud. Do not worry¡­ your father will be joining you soon." The First Seat smiled softly.

    He bowed his head in respect, remaining that way for a while.

    Of course, there was no moment of silence since Edward kept shouting and barking out empty words. Tears streamed down his face¡ªunderstandable tears.

    His hulky body did nothing but throb with weakness and powerlessness, and the First Seat understood why the young man felt so wounded by the death of his femalepanion.

    "He loves her, doesn''t he?" The Martial de God could not understand why people would rather fill their hearts with such mundane things.

    That was what differentiated him from the likes of Gawain, and even this Edward in front of him.

    "Haaa¡­ it seems you''re thest person left." The Martial de God finally concluded his respects and stared at Edward.

    "Shall we get this over with, then? As a Martial Artist¡­ give me your best strike."

    There was no need to use the Martial Zone. A Martial Artist-to-be in another Martial Artist''s Zone¡ªnow that would be unfair.

    ''Let thisndscape sink into his mind. Let him use his environment as a canvas¡­ a stage to dance upon.''

    "Do not worry about using all of your strength. The impact of your attack will not destroy the bodies of your friends."

    Lemi was lying in her pool of blood; same with Ciara. They were both shrouded in white-like energy¡ªcourtesy of the Martial de God himself.

    "Your paralysis has been released. What are you waiting for?" He asked Edward.

    Edward remained silent. He remained on his knees. His head hung low on his shoulder and he couldn''t raise it.

    As his eyes stared at the white surface he knelt on, he didn''t budge a single inch. Sniffing and trembling, he remained in the same position. As someone who had expected the opposite, the Martial de God was displeased by this.

    "Get up."

    Edward refused. Or perhaps he just couldn''t obey.

    "Get up."

    Edward remained in the same position. He slightly raised his head and saw the dead bodies of hisrades. Once again, the fresh sensation of fear and weakness washed over him.

    "Get up. Or In ten seconds, I''ll¡ª"

    "How¡­ do you find it so easy to kill?"

    Edward finally raised his head and stared at the Martial de God with bloodshot eyes. Tears streamed down his eyes as he stared at the older man with what could only be described as conflicted emotions.

    Edward genuinely did not know what to feel¡­ or what to do. All he wanted, at the moment, was to know why in the world the Martial de God could eliminate people so easily¡ªso swiftly.

    "All life is life." The response the Martial de God gave was inadequate.<novelnext></novelnext>

    It was not substantive. It wasn''t enough to give him closure or help reconcile any of his shattered thoughts. He was just more confused than ever. He kept staring at the Martial de God for a genuine answer.

    ANYTHING!

    "You still know nothing about Aether, right? Or the nature of the Soul." The Martial de God remained emotionless as he stared at Edward.

    "When someone dies, they return to the Root. The Root assimtes the soul, allowing them to be one. Soon after, the soul is released in another form after having its previous properties mixed in with the Root¡ªnow possessing new properties."

    Edward felt stupefied by the Martial de God''s words. How was this an answer to his question?

    "Your soul is merely a recycled version of another''s. When you die, your soul will mix in with other souls in the Root. You will lose all your current properties, merge with the Root, and another fragment of you will be taken up as the soul of another. Do you understand now? All life is life."

    ording to the Martial de God, everything came from and returned to the Root. But what was this ''Root''?

    "You do not need to worry about my motivations or ideals. You do not need to consider my intentions or ns. They are insignificant¡ªselfish at best. I apologize for taking the lives of yourpanions, but I will not regret it. Just as you do not regret trampling the grass to reach your destination, nor do you worry about the family of the animal you ughtered for the sake of sustenance. I too¡­  will do whatever I must to attain my desire."

    Just as Edward thought¡­ he couldn''t bring himself to hate this man. He despised his acts, but the man before him was no longer a mere man. He had be an ideal¡ªa force that seemed both tangible and intangible.

    "Now¡­ Get up."

    Edward heaved a heavy sigh and found enough strength in his muscles to rise to his feet. His footing was steady, but he didn''tpletely feel like himself.

    "Snap out of your daze. Draw your de. Steady your thoughts."

    Edward heard those words. He allowed them to guide him. He felt his bleeding-heart stop and his hot tears dry up. He felt strength rise from his depths, and he could feel something else¡­ something more.

    For some reason, his heart felt different. It was like he, Lemi and Ciara stood together on the battlefield¡ªboth of them possessing his body.

    How could he exin this sensation? Perhaps it was because he now felt that he was wielding his de for the sake of the two who had died.

    ? Maybe. Maybe not.

    But, one thing was certain. The fact that he wielded a de¡­ and his enemy stood right in front of him.

    "Well done, Edward¡ªMy seed. You will show me just how well you have honed the power of the de."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 708 Two Martial Masters

    If there had been any doubt about it before, such a thing had now vanished from Edward''s mind.

    He was convinced that the man in front of him was his ancestor. Other than their simr auburn hair and striking brown eyes, Edward felt a form of kinship he had never experienced with anyone except his parents.

    ''He also called me his seed.'' He thought to himself.

    However, what did all of that matter at this moment? Edward threw all his thoughts aside and brought forth his bastard sword. The massive depleted his mass, and Edward instantly took his stance.

    The man in front of him was ready to kill him without any remorse¡ªjust as he had killed his friends. Clearly, there was no chance of going mellow¡­ none at all.

    "Percival, we''re going all out!" Edward roared, as he was suddenly coated in dense energy.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    His surroundings bore the brunt of the damage, and the earth shattered in response to his transformation. For miles, one could see the glorious light of his transformation ascend to the sky. A mix of white and dark purple.

    >VWUUUUSSSSHHHH<

    The dust settled, and standing right in front of the Martial de God was Edward. He was in his Martial State, and he now had white hair. His eyes were also bright white and his attire had also transformed into a pure martial robe.

    However, this was merely the start.

    Soon, Percival''s armour began shrouding him. From top to bottom, the dense shell of his Familiar''s protection granted him an increase in power. Edward''s de was also coated with the Duhan''s sword, granting it far more durability and power.

    All in all, Edward''s power had risen to a tremendous degree, heightened to the transcendent stage.

    "I see. Martial State and Fusion Form¡­ This is the Martial Fusion State, correct? Good choice. What next?" The Martial de God seemed quite familiar with this transformation.

    Not only would Edward have ess to heightened versions of his power, but he would also be able to use the Bond abilities of his and his Familiar''sbined Magic. It was indeed a frightening state, however, one would think it wasn''t based on the gaze and tone of the Martial de God.

    "I''ll show you¡­ my best!" Edward intensified his gaze and hardened his muscles.

    He made sure to pool together all the power he could into his body. He only had one shot, and he needed to win. That meant he had to use all the steps in the 12 Ultimate Forms. He had to push himself to the brink of his limit¡ªno, even far beyond.

    And, once he had reached such a precipice, he would finally¡­

    "[Justice]!" Edward yelled, calling forth the ability of his Arcana.

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    Suddenly, a pulse of pure energy surged from Edward, covering everything around him for about a mile. Something akin to a purple dome covered both Edward and his adversary, and a projected scale floated in the sky above.

    The scale appeared golden, and it maintained a bnce in its measurements.

    "Oh? I see¡­" The Martial de God nodded in observation.

    By utilizing his Arcana, Edward was ensuring their battle had a form of fairness to it. The Martial de God could already see why.

    ''He''s in the Transcendent realm at the moment, albeit the lower strata. Even in base, I still outss him. However, this Arcana of his changes things.''

    The Martial de God could feel a restriction being ced on him¡ªsomething akin to a set of weights. He felt his senses being distorted, and his movements bing slower. His ess to the world was slowly getting clogged, and he felt everything around him dampen.

    ''So this is the power of [Justice].'' Not only did he feel much weaker than before, but he could sense the fairness that the Arcana firmly resolved to apply.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Aether allocation. I see¡­ It''s granting him my Aether. So, this won''t be a pointless battle.'' The Martial de God felt a tinge of amazement from the ongoing phenomenon.

    However, more than that, a surge of excitement was slowly climbing in his heart. Hadn''t it been a while since he could fight on an equal level with an opponent? His skill was hardly even necessary when he was just profoundly stronger than his opponent.

    This fight seemed fundamentally different, though.

    ''We''ll both disy our skill with the de, as well as our understanding of Martial Arts.'' The battle would be smaller in scale, but Edward would make it enjoyable for him, no doubt.

    "Won''t you use your Familiar or your Arcana?" Edward''s voice echoed in the air as he took his battle stance.

    "Hm?"

    "I know the members of the Cult possess at least one Arcana. You''re the First Seat, so you should have an Arcana. You also have a Familiar, right? Why aren''t you using them?"

    ''Why indeed?'' The Martial de God inhaled deeply and exhaled just the same.

    He tightly gripped his fairly ordinary de and met Edward''s resolved gaze. His eyes contained purity and honesty¡ªlike a reflection of Edwards''s.

    "I don''t need them. If I did, I would use them."

    "W-what?!" Edward''s eyes widened in shock.

    Why would his opponent¡ªsomeone who wanted to kill him and his friends¡ªput himself under such a restriction? Edward realised that the man in front of him must have been holding back from the very beginning. Even though he imed that he wanted to end their lives, he still granted each of them an opportunity to prove their worth.

    ''I get it now¡­ I understand.'' Once more, Edward felt a similitude to the Martial de God.

    "You desire fairness too, don''t you? You want a battle of skill¡­ of true Martial Arts." Edward grinned at his opponent.

    In response, the Martial de God nodded, taking his stance as well.

    Both of them stood a distance from each other, surrounded by a dome that ensured all fairness in theirbat. This was justice¡­ This was a true battle.

    "Martial de God Technique; 12 Ultimate Forms: Step 1¡­" Edward inhaled deeply, readying himself as he focused only on his opponent.

    At this point, nothing else mattered.

    "... IGNITION OF THE BLADE!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 709 Ancestor Versus Descendant

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    An astounding explosion ascended into the heavens as it surged from Edward¡ªhis de to be exact.

    The brilliant detonation painted everything in a bright light, and a dark corruption, thus propelling him forward with a speed that defied logic.

    The earth shattered, everything around him crumbled, and the only things left were the two Martial Artists! Closing in on the only thing in sight, Edward clung to his highly vtile de with an excited smile and a hardened heart.

    He was going to win. He was going to kill this man!

    Thus, the perfect opening to their fight was revealed.

    *

    *

    *

    ''12 Ultimate Forms¡­'' The Martial de thought to himself with somewhat widened eyes.

    How long had it been since he had utilized that technique?

    He couldn''t remember the exact century, but it had been quite some time, no doubt. A wave of nostalgia washed over him, but he did not have the time to dwell on it.

    His opponent was rushing at him with tremendous speed.

    ''[Step 1: Ignition of the de]. It focuses onmencing the fight at a quick pace and swift tempo. A powerful strike is to be expected.''

    >WHOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    The Martial de God chose to go on the defensive, leaping backwards as Edward closed their distance in a sh.

    ''I can''t generate enough power to counteract the First Form, considering he ignited it first, and he has also given it time to climb.'' Of course, this was simply restricted to his own use of the technique.

    After considering it for a very short moment within the little time he had, the Martial de God arrived at a conclusion.

    ''Let''s just go with this. I''ll enjoy the fight. Show me what you have, Edward!''

    >FWOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    The blinding light and darkness of Edward''s de devastated everything around him as he approached the Martial de God. What seemed like the harbinger of death and destruction approached with transcendent power.

    In one swift and powerful swing, the culmination of all the built-up energy was released, all converging on the Martial de God.

    >CLANG!<

    In response, however, the kimono-wearer twisted his body in the air and created a divergent form of energy. This energy twister, so to speak, shed with Edward''s attack, causing the concentrated power that approached him to dissolve into much thinner particles of power.

    This breakdown of energy was instant. In a sh, all the energy that was released evaporated into the air.

    However, this sudden development did not intimidate Edward. Rather, as soon as both the twister energy and his energy became nullified, Edward had already propelled himself to the front of the Martial de God.

    After all, the major benefit of the first step of the 12 Ultimate Forms was being able to draw closer to the target. Afterwards¡ª

    ''Step 2: A Thousand Miles of the de!"

    Edward inhaled deeply, prepared to unleash the second aspect of his technique.

    His muscles bulged even more, and his entire frame was supported by Percival''s power. As a result, a new level of confidence coursed through his body, as did the power he called for.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHHHHH<

    Instantly, Edward made several strikes that constituted the second step. Just as the name implied, Edward made a thousand powerful strikes in a single second.

    Not only were the strikes made with a hundred percent of his strength, but he also ensured that they covered his opponent in all directions.

    After images of Edward appeared and vanished all around the Martial de God, and they struck at the same time¡ªa thousand strikes of sheer force.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The wind howled and space parted. Everything around them was broken into pieces, and the ground underneath them proved to be an unstable foundation. However, since they were in the air, that didn''t matter anymore.

    Edward was certain that his strike had connected.

    However¡ª

    "Nice flow." A voice appeared behind Edward, causing his eyes to widen in shock.

    It was the Martial de God, of course.<novelnext></novelnext>

    >FWOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    Edward swiftly twisted his body in the air and propelled himself higher into the sky in order to avoid any strike from the Martial de God. Fortunately, the attack never came.

    However, this position was perfect for the third form. That''s right! Since he had a higher vantage point, he was going to utilize it.

    >VWOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

    The energy that was shrouding Edward''s body suddenly coalesced on his de, and Edward lowered himself from his height back to the very ce he rose from.

    Like a ded meteor, he descended to the Martial de God.

    "Step 3: Descent of the de"

    Edward could feel his de get heavier and heavier. The power within it made it difficult for him to steer it, and his forceful descent caused the pressure to mess with his aim. However, he tightened his grip and focused all his attention on his prey.

    The perfect timing. The perfect piercing! He was going to be sessful.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The third step was meant to devastate everything in a straight line¡ªfrom up to down.

    And it did.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A huge crater formed on the ground, creating a seemingly bottomless pit that oozed with unknown darkness. The chaos had been achieved, and the technique was sessful.

    However¡ª

    "Good execution." The Martial de Godmented, a few inches away from the affected range.

    He had taken a swift sidestep at the perfect moment, avoiding any fatal harm.

    ''Damnit! Next, then!'' Edward gritted his teeth, prepared to take his next step.

    *

    *

    *

    Unfortunately for him, none were effective.

    Step 5

    Step 9

    Step 11

    ¡­ STEP 12!

    All of them proved fruitless.

    Not only did the Martial de Gode out of every attack unscathed, but he kept praising Edward''s execution. That went to show that the problem wasn''t Edward''sck of mastery. No, there was something else.

    A fundamental difference that still created a vast gap between both Martial Artists despite supposedly being on the same level.

    "You were taught well¡­" The Martial de God remarked. "... You''ve trained well too."

    Edward was already out of breath at this point. His muscles were sore, but he kept up his bold front.

    There was no way he would show weakness to his opponent!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 710 God Of Martial Arts

    "You must have realized by now that your efforts are fruitless¡­ and for good reason." The Martial de God spoke calmly.

    Both of them were currently floating atop a devastatedndscape. Nothing but absolute destruction could be seen for miles. At this point, they were floating above what could only be described as a sea of devastation.

    However, both Martial Artists never got distracted by their surroundings. Their gazes were on each other the whole time.

    "Your 12 Ultimate Forms¡­ They were defeated a long time ago, by me." The Martial de God''s words struck Edward in a heart-wrenching way.

    "W-what¡­?"

    "I once asked myself¡­ what would happen if I were to be faced with the 12 Ultimate Forms that I created? Back then, it had been my masterpiece. However, in a situation whereby someone had mastered this technique and honed it to the same level of perfection as I had¡­ How would I be able to defend myself against it?"

    Edward''s mind was slowly realizing why his attacks thus far had proved to be pointless. They were never going to serve as a threat to the being in front of him.

    Because¡­

    "After spending years training, I developed the perfect counter;

    ''Dispersal'' for ''Ignition''.

    ''A Thousand Returns'' for the ''Thousand Miles''.

    ''Shallow Evasion'' for the ''Descent''.

    I was eventually able to defeat every single one of those techniques."

    Edward''s bones were rattling, and his muscles ached. He slowly began to feel more exhausted than before.

    "I never recorded this development, so you must have not seen my Reverse Ultimate Forms when you were learning the original. Do you know why I chose to do that?" The Martial de God slowly began to sheathe his de.

    "You¡­ wanted your sessor to figure it out themselves."

    "Indeed. You should think of how to defeat yourself, even if no one else can. Rather than remain in your current state, seek out power by defeating whatever and whoever you consider to be ultimate."

    Edward realized the profound wisdom in his ancestor''s words, as well as his own arrogance. He had always thought he was too strong, but now¡­ being faced with a true master¡­ he realized just how much he had to learn.

    "Shall I show you an example?" The Martial de God ced both hands behind him and rested a rxed gaze upon Edward.

    "W-what are you¡­?"

    "I will now fight you a bit more seriously." The Martial de God spoke.

    Edward could tell that he was dead serious, but that made him even more confused.

    ''Why isn''t his de unsheathed? His hands are behind him as well?'' Edward thought to himself.

    He was genuinely puzzled, but he took his stance regardless.

    "You are right in thinking I require a de to reveal the extent of my power. After all, what is the Martial de God without his de?"

    ''Exactly!'' Edward thought to himself.

    He wasn''t been paranoid or anything. This was simply a natural flow of thought.

    "You are mistaken about one thing, though." As the Martial de God spoke, Edward slowly felt something in his insides.

    It was like a needle¡ªno, this was a de.

    The sharp sensation tickled his heart, coursing through Edward''s entire body. It didn''t take long for him to figure out that this strange phenomenon was being caused by the Martial de God himself.

    Edward broke out in a cold sweat.

    He could feel his powerlessness, and the nature of the de that had now ceased stirring up his insides. For a second, he had thought he was dead. He had thought the sharp de would pierce him, killing him instantly.

    How the de bypassed all of Edward''syers of defences remained a mystery, but Edward knew as surely as his enemy was right in front of him, that what he had felt was real.

    "I do not need any physical de to win against you." The Martial de God''s voice echoed in the vast, cloudy area.

    The smoke and fumes caused by the destruction around made the sky darken at this point. Stormy clouds stood above their heads, but Edward was still wrapped around the words of the Martial de God, as well as what he had just done.

    "What¡­ was that?"

    The Martial de God let out a little smile. It was brief, but Edward could tell that it was warm.

    "The de I will now use to fight¡­"

    Suddenly, a somewhat transparent projection was etched into the space between Edward and his opponent. It took form, and the shape of a de manifested.

    The de was suspended in the air, and it felt just as real as it felt unreal.

    It seemed too visible to be considered false, but it also had some elements of invisibility that made it seem unreal. So, which was it?<novelnext></novelnext>

    What was this weapon?!

    "... The Mind de."

    The invisible de suddenly began to multiply.

    Two. Four. Eight. Ten. Twelve. They kept growing in number¡­ until¡­

    ¡­ The whole sky was littered with them.

    Many des stood above Edward, their tips pointed in his direction. Like suspended raindrops, they awaited the time of their descent. All of them, without exception.

    "A-are you still under the influence of [Justice]?" Edward had to ask.

    This power he sensed¡­ Was well beyond him. The dome that surrounded them still seemed active. Plus, the scales were evenly proportioned. Yet, Edward simply couldn''t believe that this was fair.

    No¡ªhow could it be?!

    "I am. The only difference between us right now is our level of skill."

    Impossible! How was this possible with simple skill?

    "I simply used my skill and will. The energy wasted by you in your precious attempts to fight me was moulded by my mind. I granted form and life to them, turning them into my weapons. It has nothing to do with how much power I possess."

    Edward''s eyes were beyond bloodshot at this point.

    He had thought this would be a fair fight by reducing his opponent''s abilities. He wanted a true battle of skill with a Martial Artist, but what did he expect from someone who hade before him?

    "Just who¡­ are you?" He could only mutter powerlessly.

    "Who am I?"

    "How did you get so strong? The de you wield¡­ the techniques you use¡­ the power you possess¡­ why are they so different from mine?"

    Edward had reached a realization. He couldn''t beat the man in front of him. He felt like he couldn''t beat him no matter how long he trained or how much he tried.

    There was just ''something'' that distinguished them.

    Something Edward thought he would never have.

    "I see. Your question is valid. Who am I? How did I arrive at this point? Well, Edward¡­ the answer to that is right in front of you."

    Edward was just as confused as he was perplexed. What did this man mean?

    "I have no name. I have no identity. All you see is all I am. I am the Martial de God, and only the Martial de God."

    Edward''s eyes widened instantly.

    He now understood! He understood the difference between him and the man in front of him¡ªwhy he could never be as strong as him no matter how hard he tried.

    ''This man! He¡­! Everything about him is Martial Arts!''

    Unlike Edward who had saturated his life with so many other things, there was only one definition of his opponent¡ªone thing that defined him.

    He cared not for money, women, or friends.

    No, there was only one thing that upied this man''s mind. One reason he lived, one reason he breathed, and one reason he would die

    MARTIAL ARTS!

    "You understand now, don''t you?"

    Edward nodded instantly. He could not beat this man. No Martial Artist could.

    Why?

    "I have given everything to Martial Arts. And this¡­ is my reward."

    That was what made the Martial de God invincible.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    R.I.P. Edward.

 Chapter 711 Edwards Path

    "J-just how old¡­ are you?"

    Edward didn''t know why he was blurting out such a question. He was at death''s door, and this information would do nothing but sate his curiosity before his inevitable demise. Regardless, he asked away.

    "Who knows? I remember about seven centuries." The Martial de God shrugged.

    He didn''t seem overly interested in his age¡ªor in that of others too. What held the utmost value to him was one thing¡­ Martial Arts.

    Or, rather loosely; strength.

    "Why then, do you side with the Nether Cult?"

    "What do you mean?"

    "You''re not evil. I can see it. You wouldn''t kill unless it was required¡­ at least I would hope so. This philosophy of yours about life¡­ How does it apply to the Nether Cult?" Edward didn''t know how to articte his thoughts, but he had a major problem with the Martial de God''s involvement with the Cult.

    Somehow¡­ it ruined the sanctity of his focused life.

    "It is because the Cult is necessary. If it wasn''t. I wouldn''t have joined¡ªor rather, depending on the circumstances, I would have struck it down." The Martial de God gazed upon the heavens and inhaled deeply.

    "This, also, is a result of my selfishness. Do not consider my path to be that of virtue. It is trodden with corpses and death. It has led to the death and destruction of many¡ªso much unfathomable peril. Even I, am left empty now that I stand at the pinnacle."

    He then looked at Edward with sincere eyes. His gaze felt kind and warm, yet also very distant. Edward could notprehend the depths to which they went.

    "I desire to transcend even this state I am currently in. To reach the primordial waters and advance in strength."

    Edward understood his reasoning. This was the very drive of every Martial Artist; growth, transcendence, breakthrough. Yet, the more he conversed with the Martial de God, the more he realized something.

    "But, after that¡­ what next?"

    Edward realized the futility of the pursuit.

    "There exists nothing after the primordial¡­ at least none that I am aware of. If there is, I shall seek that too. I simply cannot remain stagnant."

    Edward realized the ironic loop¡ªone in which even he was currently trapped.

    ''Seek strength. Find strength. Get strength. Seek more. Find more. Get more.'' On and on, again and again.

    This process continued until one finally reached the zenith.

    Unfortunately, any who had trod the path for so long would be dissatisfied unless even more power¡ªmore heights¡ªexisted for them to reach. They needed this for a purpose.

    ''He seeks even more power despite having unfathomable abilities.''

    In the end, what would await an immortal, invincible Martial de God? Edward knew the answer to that.

    "This path I tread¡­ can only lead to absolute despair." The Martial de God told Edward as soon as the boy was done figuring it out.

    That''s right. Once he reached the end of his journey¡ªunable to live on and incapable of sumbing to death¡ªan emptiness called despondency awaited him.

    Both Martial Artists understood this as they stared at each other.

    "However, I cannot stop. Not until I see¡­ not until I feel for myself, the very essence of the primordial heights."

    Edward nodded¡ªboth in respect and in sorrow.

    This man had killed his friends and would kill him for the sake of this pursuit of power, yet Edward could feel no animosity. He could feel no anger, rage, or fear. He was simply enthralled by the life of the Martial de God¡­ as well as repulsed.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''I¡­ I¡­''

    "What is your answer, youngd? What is your purpose as a Martial Artist?"

    Edward already realized that he could never be as strong as the Martial de God. He didn''t have the resolve to begin a path that led to ultimate emptiness. He could not throw away his friends. He could not abandon his life.

    He could not forget his love.

    "I want to live as a strong person, but die happy."

    In the past, he had always announced his desire to be the strongest. However, now? Now, he began to realize where that road would lead him¡­ and what awaited him at the end.

    Ultimate power, alongside ultimate boredom.

    "Well, considering all I have seen now¡­ I would say you''ve fulfilled that well."

    Edward mulled over the words of the Martial de God as he watched him unsheathe his de. Something about the man''s fluid movements, as he brought forth his de, captivated Edward. Regardless of this, he could not fight away his thoughts.

    ''Did I live strong? Am I dying happy?''

    Edward knew the answer to at least one of those questions¡­ and it was a NO!

    "NO! I''m not happy yet! I haven''t raised Martial Arts to the status it once had in my Kingdom. I haven''t helped my friends to achieve their dreams yet!  I haven''t had my rematch with Jared! I haven''t confessed to Lemi yet! I haven''t felt the warm touch of a woman on my lips. I haven''t had a wife¡­ or children. I haven''t built my family or seen the family of my friends. I want all of these things and more!"

    His desires were far moreplicated and borate than the Martial Artist''s goal of simply being the strongest. However, Edward realized something as he battled the Martial de God. As much as he sought strength, he could not¡­ would not¡­ reach the very peak he once admired.

    "Enough power to maintain my happiness and protect the ones around me. That is what I crave." Edward let go of his de as he stared at the Martial de God.

    His face was filled with resolve, and the tension in the air suddenly ceased.

    The cloudy sky suddenly cleared up, revealing two men floating in the cloud. They simply remained there, suspended in the air.

    "Very well. So, for your final trial¡­ are you ready?"

    "I''m ready." Edward closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and awaited what was toe.

    Neither of them spoke another word to the other. Such things were meaningless in the event that was about to unravel.

    All that remained now¡­ was action.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 712 Enlightenment

    Edward let himself feel the domain that surrounded him.

    His eyes were shut tight, but his mind was open¡ªexpanding far beyond his body, spreading to things around him.

    To things seen and unseen.

    Edward found something as soon as he chose this path¡­ he found sight!

    ''I-I can see!''

    A third eye had formed! Not a visible one, of course¡ªno, not at all. It was the eye of the mind. Edward, despite shutting off his vision, found himself able to see everything. It was just as before¡ªno, even far better!

    This was his mind''s eye, and with it¡­

    "I see them well."

    ¡­ He could finally see the Mind des.

    They were as real to him as anything. They littered the sky in their hundreds¡ªeach having enough power to grievously injure him. With their multitudes, and in his exhausted state, Edward found himself incapable of avoiding them all.

    Hecked enough power to defend himself as well. The situation seemed helplessly impossible, even for him.

    But, what was this peace that enveloped him? Now that he had let go of his de, what was this tranquillity that stirred his soul? Could he exin it? It felt like a pebble had fallen into a pool of water, creating a beautiful ripple that surged through him.

    Suddenly, his mind became much clearer and his vision sharper. At that moment, and in that instant, he had an epiphany. At that point¡­

    ¡­ Edward Karl Leon knew exactly what to do.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    Like sharp drops of rain, the des descended upon Edward. Like a storm, they assailed him from every direction.

    Their sharp edges gleamed with danger, and just a moment was enough to rid Edward of life. But, rather than fret at this knowledge, Edward revealed a smile.

    After all, he now understood.

    "That energy¡­" He exhaled, forming his will and manifesting them as reality.

    Edward opened his eyes, causing them to glow with blue energy. His body was covered with the same aura, and everything around him was influenced in the same manner¡ª everything, including the many des that were just about to make contact.

    "... Is mine."

    The Mind des were all suspended in the air¡ªnow shrouded in Edward''s blue energy¡ªhis Aether. They were no longer for any other person to control. These hundreds of invisible, absolute des now belonged to their progenitor.

    Edward himself.

    "Well done. You have obtained enlightenment." The Martial de God smiled and nodded.

    Edward''s gaze met his, and both found themselves bowing to the other.

    "You can now ess it, can''t you? You can also see it all around you¡­ the very nature of this world¡ªthe building blocks of existence."

    Both men now spoke at the same time, as they had knowledge that was hidden to most people. They called this the source of everything that existed¡­

    "... Aether."

    Edward nodded in understanding, and the Martial de God did the same in pride.

    "You are the first of my descendants to have gained ess to Aether this early in life. I suspect it has something to do with our interaction, as well as that Arcana of yours, but¡­ it is an impressive feat nheless."

    "Thank you. It''s a shame you''ll be killing me now." Edward smiled.

    "Don''t act so smug. You know I won''t be doing that. Besides, now that you can see with your mind''s eye, have you not noticed already¡­ that your friends are not dead?"

    Edward''s eyes widened instantly!

    Perhaps it was because he was still a novice, but Edward hadn''t noticed anything of the sort until the Martial de God spoke about it. However, now that he was well aware, he could finally see his friends.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Ciara and Lemi.

    They weren''t yet dead.

    They were right beside him! They stood right beside him, just like the Mind de had been above him before.

    "I simply made them one with nature. One of your allies, the Beast folk¡ªAsa¡ªpossesses an inherent talent that can do the very same thing. Usually, those in the natural ne cannot interact with those who have be one with it. However, with Enlightenment, you can see them with your Mind''s Eye. And, with transfiguration, you can touch them."

    Edward had simply begun his journey as a newly enlightened Martial Artist. He knew this was simply the beginning. However, if there was something he feared, it would be¡ª

    "Do not worry. Once your mind''s eye is opened, it can never be closed. Enlightenment cannot be returned. Even after this battle is over, and even after your Arcana''s effects run out¡­ you will remain on this level. You have now advanced to the Transcendent Realm, Edward."

    Indeed. Even as he deactivated all of his buffs and returned to his original state due to exhaustion, Edward realized that he was still in the Transcendent State.

    "The distance between the lower level and the middle level of transcendence far exceeds the distance between the Basic level and your current status. It is nearly unfathomable. And the higher you go, the more you will realize this."

    Still, Edward did not understand one thing.

    "Why are you telling me all this? Why are you helping me?"

    The Martial de God simply smiled and warmly answered" Because it is necessary."

    "M-may I ask one final thing? What level are you on in the spectrum of power?" Edward''s heart throbbed with excitement for some reason.

    It was almost as though he had be a little kid at this point¡ªleaping with joy and excitement at the sight of something beautiful.

    "You do not need to know. It is unnecessary for the path you have chosen¡­ and the path that I am threading."

    In response to his words, Edward nodded, instantly realizing his error¡ªbut also noticing something even more significant.

    ''The Martial de God¡­ he respects my path!''

    "It is time for our farewell. I cannot let you interfere with the scheme at work, so you and your friends will pass out as soon as I leave your presence. You will not wake up until it is necessary. And once you do, all three of you will find each other safe and sound."

    Edward responded with a light nod. He was already more than grateful for the fact that his life, and that of his friends, had been spared.

    "You three hold value. You will all grow. And that will indeed be worth seeing."

    The Martial de God was correct. To be honest, if Edward had to be more grateful for anything else, it would be his encounter with this man.

    "Thank you, Martial de God."

    The auburn-haired man nodded and decided to take his leave.

    As he turned his back on Edward, the boy felt relief course through him. They had fought for quite some time, after all. Even if they hadn''t been able to subdue the Martial de God, his team did their best in stalling for time and holding him down.

    ''At least¡­'' Edward fell to the ground¡ªa smooth surfaced ground, which was different from the devastatedndscape he had known just a moment before.

    However, he was too far gone to consider just why and how such a thing could be.

    ''... We held him for as long as we could. Jared, everyone, please do your best!'' Closing his eyes, Edward finally rested.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 713 Enemy Encounter

    "Where am I?"

    Serah Crimson found herself in a strange location, all alone and not sensing anyone around her.

    Her crimson hair danced slowly as she began to walk around¡ªrefusing to stay idle for any reason at all. Finding herself in a strange region, surrounded by white sands and recognizing nothing, Serah realized that she needed to be on the move.

    ''Where did everyone go? Was this caused by the enemy?'' She suspected something simr could have happened to Neron.

    If the enemy was capable of interfering with their teleportation, then it only followed¡ªor at least, it was possible¡ªthat Neron could have been caught off-guard the same way.

    ''But, even in Timeless World?''

    Ultimately, though, Serah knew that simply asking questions would get her nowhere. As such, she needed to investigate the area.

    Her heart was pounding in both fear and worry. The n was going wrong before it even started. However, she refused to give in. She had to rejoin the group, but there was something more that weighed heavily on her mind.

    Something she resolved to do no matter what.

    ''Neron¡­ I''ll find you no matter what!''

    *

    *

    *

    Serah considered following Jared''s initial n of a stealthy advance, but after realizing that the enemy probably knew their position¡ªsince they were most likely responsible for their sudden division¡ªSerah decided to resort to more drastic measures.

    >WHOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    Flying at an immense speed, she swept past the white expanse, looking around her for any sign of Neron. It felt like the ind was muchrger than she had been led to believe. Even though she had reduced her speed to better allow her to process her surroundings, Serah was still moving very fast.

    Yet, it seemed like thendscape was endless.

    Fortunately, her doubts were quelled by the facility she finally saw in a distance.

    It looked like a massive dome, and something about its aesthetics told of a research facility. Serah was d to finally see an observable structure¡ªsomething more substantive than sand and the endless sky.

    She rushed towards the structure, her eyes widening in anticipation, and her mind prepared for whatever she might find. And then¡ªafter a moment¡ªshe made her descent.

    ''Should I first investigate the outer parts before venturing in? Something about this building prevents me from seeing through or sensing anything within it.'' Serah wasn''t specifically a sensory Mage, but her instinctual abilities and immense proficiency in Magic made something like this basic.

    Yet, she found her senses being blocked by the material.

    ''I should be cautious, but¡­'' She took a step forward, determined to get what she wanted.

    ''... I''m going in!''

    "Hold it right there." A voicemanded from above Karlia, instantly halting her in her tracks.

    She swiftly leapt from her location, coating herself in dense energy as she looked up to see someone floating above the massive dome.

    This entity was a female with crimson skin, ck hair, and violet eyes hidden behind her sses. She donned a whiteb coat, but that did very little to hide her big bust¡ªone which appeared even bigger than Serah''s¡ªand her overall attire made her look like a scientist.

    However, this entity''srge wings that pped behind her, as well as her dangling tail¡ªcoupled with her red skin and sharp fang-like teeth¡ªmade it apparent that she wasn''t human.

    She was a Crimson Demon.

    "The Subus Demon¡­ are you the 3rd Seat?" Serah asked, her re intensifying as she maintained eye contact with the demon.

    "Kido is dead, so I got promoted." The floating demon spoke, almost as though sighing.

    She descended from her heights,nding on the ground with her ssy, heeled shoes. Something about her rang of a dedicated, officialdy. Someone who simply wanted to get back to work.

    "I know you. You''re one of the invaders, right? Serah, the Grand Mage. Though, this is surprising¡­" The Subus murmured, looking quite thoughtful as she ced her fingers under her chin.

    "What is?" Serah was already prepared for conflict.<novelnext></novelnext>

    Her Arcana was ready to be activated, and she could instantly conjure her other abilities to handle the threat. Serah still had no idea if she could win, but¡­

    ''I have to try!'' Her mind echoed in resolve.

    "The Martial de God should be the one taking care of you. I find it highly improbable that you escaped his surveince." The Subus replied.

    However, after appearing to be in thought for a while, she simply sighed and shrugged the whole thing off. She muttered something like; "Who could possibly know what he was thinking?"

    "Hey, can you just pretend you never saw me? I''m actually very busy right now. You could just keep going straight down, and I''m sure you''ll spot some of your friends."

    Serah couldn''t believe what her opponent was saying.

    ''Isn''t she a member of the Cult? Why wasn''t she engaging her? I''m her enemy, no?'' Serah found all of this incredibly suspicious.

    Could it perhaps be that this wasn''t the Subus Beruel had told them about? No, she matched his description quite well.

    ''Her eyes, her outfit, her looks¡­ her chest.'' Serah felt somewhat intimidated by her enemy''s slightly superior knockers, but she tried her best not to dwell on that.

    There were more important things to consider.

    "Look, I don''t want any trouble. It''s like I said, I''m busy. Don''t worry, I won''t harm you. I''m pretty sure you''d end up facing my colleague along this path. Your allies are also in that direction, so it would benefit you to just ignore me and move on."

    Serah found the whole thing even more suspicious. Why was thisdy so adamant about convincing her to pass through? Could it be¡ª?!

    "What exactly are you busy with? You don''t want me to intrude on your research facility, it seems."

    "Obviously."

    "But why? What do you have hidden there?" Serah narrowed her eyes.

    "Personal stuff. None of your business. Now, just go." The Subus appeared tired already.

    She adjusted her sses in the right position since they slipped out of ce thanks to her constant sighing.

    "I can''t just leave." Serah''s resolve intensified as she prepared herself even more for a direct confrontation.

    "What?!"

    Serah''s crimson aura shrouded her entire body, and she swiftly began running many strategies through her mind. Possibilities swirled within her mind, but one primary motivation kept her from leaving her opponent.

    ''Neron¡­ Neron could be here!''

    "You won''t find anything here. Really." No matter what the Subus said, it only made Serah suspect her more.

    "It''s nothing personal, but¡­ not only are you a member of the Cult, but you might also be holding the man I love."

    Thus, Serah prepared herself not to show any mercy or hesitation.

    "I have to fight you!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 714 Karlia Versus Serah

    ''Is this woman an idiot?'' Karlia thought to herself in exasperation.

    ''You don''t have to do anything. Just go¡­ like, really.''

    This was what made her tired of people in general. Why couldn''t they simply listen? It puzzled her to no end.

    Karlia, the Subus, was very busy with her work. Even the Nether Cult understood its value. They knew not to waste her time, and they even allowed her to do her research and everything else in their territory.

    That was how important this stuff was to her. Yet¡­

    ''She really is an idiot.'' Karlia sighed to herself.

    Still, she didn''t want to engage in pointless conflict. As someone who despised violence, she preferred experimenting and developing new things to further her goal. Not only did she see fighting at first nce as barbaric, but she also considered it to be counter-productive.

    Of course, people like the Martial de God had her respect because they simply lived by their philosophy, and their goals required them to fight. If her goal was the same, she would be the same.

    ''But, I''m really not into this.''

    Karlia didn''t remember thest time she had killed someone. She didn''t like the idea of killing without due reason¡ªespecially when it wasn''t her job.

    ''The Martial de God can contact me at any time, so he would have told me to handle it if he couldn''t¡­''

    That meant this woman was his to handle. She didn''t want to have anything to do with it.

    ''She''d have to go through him to get to the leader too.'' That left the whole matter out of her hands.

    If there was something that piqued her curiosity, though, it would be the fact that Serah Crimson was all alone.

    ''Why are they scattered around the ind like this?'' Karlia asked herself.

    Still, she could simply chalk it down to a fault in their ns¡­ or perhaps they chose this approach to cover more ground. Thetter seemed stupid and dangerous to her, but what did she care?

    ''I want to get back. I''ll try convincing her onest time.''

    "Listen, human, I do not wish to fight you. You are searching for people, no? You also have a mission you mustplete, right? Why bother with me? You''ll only find our exchange to be a waste of time, really."

    Karlia watched how Serah Crimson''s eyes narrowed further in suspicion, and she observed how her determination grew. That was when it struck the Subus.

    ''Damn! She''ll fight me regardless of what I say.''

    Trying to convince her any further would only be a waste of time on her part. If she wanted to get back to her important tasks, she just had to give the human what she wanted.

    A satisfying fight.

    *

    *

    *

    ''I''ll have to go all-out!'' Serah realized she needed to use her full power due to the nature of her opponent.

    This Subus was now the Second Seat within the Cult. That made her extremely powerful!

    ''Beruel warned us about her, but even he doesn''t know the full depths of her power since he was weaker.'' She braced herself, ready to use all the cards at her disposal.

    ''Original Magic¡­ INVINCIBLE!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Her body instantly surged with fiery power, and she was doused in it. She instantly took on the form of energy, shimmering with crimson radiance.

    ''Not yet!''

    Now utilizing the power of her Arcana, Serah fused [The Sun] with her transformation¡ªcausing her bright form to take on a darker shade instantly.

    She turned dark crimson, and all over her body was a brighter radiance than before. It appeared like she was covered with the sun itself, and her body was as unbreakable as the strongest substance. This heated form of hers was¡­ Truly Invincible!

    Yet, she wasn''t done!

    ''Mage Mode!''

    >BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Around her flowed several shimmering balls of light that seemed to dance in response to her will. They seemed like stars, but each had heat and pressure that burned brightly¡ªeach of them suns in their own rights.

    Now, in this form, Serah was confident of a good fight.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Let''s go!''

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Serah zoomed past the distance as though she had simply teleported.

    She closed the distance between her and Karlia in a sh, creating a de the instant she stepped within range. In an instant, a crimson longsword appeared in her hand, and she swooped it down to cut through her opponent.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Everything around suffered the brunt of the damage.

    In just one hit, the area had be a sea of mes. What appeared to be molten magma now served as the newndscape, and a zing heat covered the area for at least a mile. However¡­

    ''H-huh?!''

    Her opponent, the Subus, seemed perfectly fine.

    ''She didn''t even dodge it?!'' Serah thought to herself

    The enemy had beenpletely still throughout the attack, and she also felt her de connect to something. It had to have hit her!

    ''Even the building behind her is unscathed. How tough are they?''

    Serah knew she wasn''t at full power yet. In fact, that was the whole point of her Original Magic. She would keep growing stronger as time went on. Stronger than any adversary she would ever face.

    ''Mage Mode increases the rate at which I grow stronger, and it provides me with a variety of ways to store Magical powers.''

    As for [The Sun], it had the properties of Aether, thus making it effective on opponents like those in the Nether Cult. By fusing her Original Magic with it, she could inflict far more damage than before.

    There was one other function, but Serah was saving it as a trump card after she had gotten enough information on the enemy¡ªas well as to serve as ast resort if she ended up in a pinch.

    For now, though, she simply had to be satisfied with the destructive capabilities her form provided. After all, even Jared and Neron admitted that no one packed a bigger punch than her in the whole team.

    ''We''ll see about that!''

    In a sh, Serah ascended to the sky and threw one of her crimson suns at Karlia and her territory. The effects?

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!<

    A massive dome of crimson light spread for miles, consuming everything. It covered thendscape, swallowing all within its reach. In an instant, the solid earth became a sea of magma, and heat rose to the sky in form of smoke.

    With just a single attack, Serah devastated everything.

    Everything but the enemy and her massive dome-like building.

    "What? How?"

    The most astounding part was the fact that the enemy simply stood still, and she didn''t have a scratch.

    "How is this possible?!" Serah stared, a bemused expression on her face.

    "Haa¡­ this is why I said you''d be wasting your time." The crimson demon beneath her sighed, spreading her wings as she floated to the sky.

    Her lips seemed to be forming a smile, and something akin to a demonic smile spread all over her face.

    Serah could feel the chills just by looking at it.

    On one part of her body surged Miasma, and on the other reigned Mana. They flowed and merged at the center, thanks to the effects of Aether. In this magnificence, she rose to the same heights as Serah.

    "I am truly immortal. Nothing in this world or in any other can kill me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 715 Unstoppable Force Vs Immovable Object [Pt 1]

    Karlia was regarded very highly in the Cult for her vitality and durability.

    That was perhaps why whenever she really had to fight anyone. She could just take all of their attacks and remain standing while they tired themselves out. Of course, she still had immensebat potential, but that wasn''t what she took pride in.

    "I have absolute immunity to damage and negative status ailments." Karlia announced to the astounded woman in front of her.

    They were both floating above a sea of mes, yet neither of them focused on what was happening beneath them. As for Karlia''s dome, it safely remained stationed in ce.

    Thanks to the materials she had used to build it, as well as its sturdy foundation, not even a thousand of Serah''s blows would be enough to devastate it. As such, Karlia remained confident in the defensive ability of the dome.

    "W-what are you talking about?" Serah murmured in surprise.

    "It means nothing affects me negatively. My cells are built topletely adapt to any change. They instantly nullify any negative status ailments like freeze or burns. They are also sturdier than any attack you can dish out, and they can adapt to any attack thates in contact with them. I also have instant regeneration, so my cells immediately heal in the unlikely scenario that I get hurt. Which, as I said before, I can''t."

    Serah was astounded! Her expression depicted absolute shock.

    It seemed very impossible that such a being like Karlia would exist. It was more realistic to believe she was bluffing, but she wasn''t.

    "You¡­ can''t die? Don''t screw with me. Even if your body is sturdy, your soul will be¡ª"

    "My Soul, eh? Which one?"

    "H-huh?"

    "I have infinite lives, my dear. Just as my cells are resilient enough to regenerate instantly and can adapt to anything. My soul can do the very same. Besides, I have a stockpile of infinite duplicate souls within a special dimension that will instantly activate in a scenario whereby the original is extinguished. They multiply every second, and even I don''t know how many souls I have now. That''s why they''re infinite!"

    Karlia''s exnation felt rushed, and she glossed over the most important points as if she was simply telling Serah what she''d had for dinner. Everything she had spoken of sounded impossible. No living being could be without limitations.

    "No one can be that perfect!" Serah responded.

    "Of course not. I''m not perfect. I never said I was. But these abilities of mine are real. At this point, I don''t think you can kill me. I''m not even sure if the Martial de God can. I did the calctions, and even if this world explodes and turns to ash¡­ I won''t perish."

    Serah''s eyes narrowed in concentration. She truly didn''t see a way out of this one. However, she couldn''t just turn tail and run now.

    ''Is Neron really in that building? Maybe I should ask her? No! Who''s to say she''ll tell the truth? But¡­ she has been honest thus far.'' Serah was still contemting whether or not to retreat when Karlia sighed heavily.

    "Since this situation seems hopeless, why don''t I let you in on the only weakness I have? You look pretty, and you''re strong too. I don''t want to discourage your efforts too much."

    ''Huh? Weakness? What is she talking about?''

    "What do you say? Do you want to know?"

    "You''re just going to tell me? Just like that?"

    "Listen carefully. I''ll only say it once."

    "My weakness is¡­ that I have no weakness. Hahahahaha!"

    Veins instantly appeared all over Serah''s energy-based face, and her eyes burned with fury. Karlia had simply been making fun of her from the start.

    "Tch."

    "Look, I mean, if you could try restraining me, that could work. As long as it doesn''t negatively affect me, it should be effective. With that said, I''m pretty strong, so it still won''t guarantee you victory. You''re someone who relies on brute force, though. You can only destroy stuff, so I doubt you''d be very skilled at sealing and all of that."

    Serah''s eyes bulged instantly. It wasn''t out of rage this time, but simply recollection.

    ''How could I forget.''

    She had been so distracted by Karlia''s grand abilities that she forgot about hers. It was a bit early, but¡­

    ''I''m going to use my Trump Card on you!''

    "Do you have a Familiar?" Karlia suddenly asked.<novelnext></novelnext>

    For a moment, Serah flinched. Something about Karlia''s question shook her at her very core. It was unbing of a woman of confidence, so after a few seconds, she shrugged it off.

    "That''s none of your business."

    "Okay."

    "I''ll be getting serious now."

    "I already told you. There''s really no¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    Suddenly, a burst of sun-like energy ascended to the sky.

    It shined so brightly that it seemed like space was being warped. No, it was more than that¡­ it was being destroyed!

    ''Huh?'' Karlia noticed something happen around her.

    ''Gravity just stopped?'' She could feel the atoms and elements around her be destroyed in moments.

    ''Everything is getting destroyed. Even space? Don''t tell me¡­!'' She stared, wide-eyed, at the massive beam of light that was now concentrated on a single person.

    That person was Serah Crimson, her enemy. The power that was strong enough to destroy invisible concepts¡ªevenws¡ªnow rested in Serah.

    ''Another effect of [The Sun], eh? Makes sense, considering its destructive nature.'' Karlia said with an ufortable smile.

    Serah was now shrouded in crimson and golden light. Her entire body was covered in it and her Arcana''s symbol was visibly imnted on her chest.

    The very fabric of space and time seemed to break¡ªor rather, burn¡ªin her majestic presence, and the pool of mes beneath her slowly began to ascend due to the nullification of gravity. Everything was slowly turning weird thanks to the devastation she was causing.

    ''This is why I have to end things quickly.'' Serah red at Karlia, as her eyes lit with resolve.

    "Since you were honest with me, I will do the same." Serah spoke, walking on the air as though it was a sturdy tform.

    As she moved, more of nature was altered¡ªno, it was destroyed.

    Distance seemed irrelevant, and the very concept of time seemed obsolete. It felt like a drawn-out, yet instant, moment.

    "I am currently capable of destroying anything¡ªburning it all down till there''s nothing left."

    Karlia stood, unmoving, as she stared at Serah with wide eyes.

    "Therefore, I am curious about something." Misty breath escaped Serah''s lips as she clenched her fists in resolve.

    "Which will prevail¡­ my unstoppable destructive power, or your perfect immortality?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 716 Unstoppable Force Vs Immovable Object [Pt 2]

    Serah had realized that her Arcana was capable of destroying concepts during one of their many training sessions when she had sparred with Neron, during the group''s preparation week.

    She hadpletely rendered time useless and had even been able to fight a Neron who couldn''t use his time abilities.

    All the time around her burnt up thanks to her abilities, and he was left with only his other abilities. Of course, Neron still won, but in Serah''s defence, she hadn''t gotten the hang of her abilities yet.

    If she had, no matter what Neron threw at her, it would have been rendered meaningless by her unstoppable power. After practising it and learning how to apply it to her other abilities, Serah finally found a name for this power¡ªUNSTOPPABLE.

    Combined with her INVINCIBLE, and Mage Mode, Serah found the perfect name for this newbination of hers¡­

    *

    *

    *

    "INVINCIBLE: UNLIMITED!"

    "Nice name." Karliamented in response to Serah''s deration.

    "Thanks. Everyone said it sounded repetitive."

    "Nah. It''s cool. Mine is called Perfect Immunity. As if immunity doesn''t already mean perfect resistance."

    As bothdies spoke to each other, they understood more about these abilities of theirs¡ªas well as their personalities. Before long, they realized something.

    ? They were both curious!

    "I want to see¡­ just how far you can go!" Serah grinned devilishly.

    Of course, she considered her power to be invincible. She knew it was capable of destroying anything and everything. This opponent of hers would suffer the same treatment that everything around them would get.

    Utter annihtion.

    "This is worth studying. When I win, I''ll be taking that Arcana to study it. I wonder if I can tap into the secrets of unlimited energy through it." Karlia''s smile was just as malevolent.

    She had thought this encounter would be a waste of time, but her mind changed the moment Serah revealed this trump card of hers.

    ''I am yet to possess perfect offensive abilities¡ªjust passive defences.''

    "One more question before we fight. Why do you not use your Arcana to fight? It could help, you know?" Serah asked with both curiosity and excitement.

    She didn''t want any holds barred. Her confidence reigned so high that she was guaranteed victory even if Karlia used every arsenal at her disposal¡ªArcana included.

    "Ah, that. I actually have."

    "What?!" Serah was surprised.

    Had there been any effects that she hadn''t noticed yet? Or, could it be¡­?

    "It''s not exactly what you think. You see, my Arcana isn''t an offensive type. It''s called [The Lovers], and its essential function is topletely merge two properties and make them one or perfectly separate the distinct properties of an object¡ªThus, it can also reverse its effects. I mean, I could use it inbat as well, but I prefer to use it for my research and experiments. Alchemy can be pretty useful when attempting to¡ª"

    Karlia stopped before she could finish her sentence, after realizing that she was already getting carried away with her exnations.

    Her Arcana was actually back in her facility¡ªas it was serving its function. She could summon it at any time, but what was the point of disrupting the process?

    "It''s thanks to the Arcana, I was able to merge all the various resistance and abilities I obtained over the years, granting me Perfect Immunity. I''ve also merged several other abilities to make them more powerful, so¡­ I don''t really need it in a fight."

    "I see¡­"

    To be fair, even in the eyes of an invincible being like Serah, Karlia was just too impressive. She seemed to have too many abilities at her disposal¡ªnone of which she had even seen yet.

    Still, no ability could stand a chance against invincible power.

    "Here Ie!" Serah''s grin widened, and her eyes turned bloodshot as she sped towards Karlia.

    Even the wind was nonexistent¡ªsound as well¡ªas Serah appeared before Karlia. There was no oxygen or any other element around. The only things present¡­ were these two.

    ''Normally she would have been destroyed, but her resistance is strong. A direct hit should do it.''

    In one swift thrust, Serah sent her fist flying in Karlia''s direction.

    However¡­

    "I didn''t say I would let you hit me, though."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Karlia was right behind Serah.

    ''I didn''t even¡­ see her move!''

    Space should have been warped so how did she do it? Teleportation was impossible, movement should have been greatly impeded due to spacial and gravitational malfunction.

    How could she have gotten behind her so fast despite all that?

    "I simply moved. I told you before¡­ I''m strong."

    ''Tch!'' Serah had to admit that her opponent was powerful.

    Ultimately, she needed to also do better. Be faster. Stronger. Quicker. Karlia was avoiding her attacks because she knew the damage they would cause.

    In essence, her Perfect Immunity wouldn''t work!

    ''One hit¡­ I only need a hit!'' Moving swiftly ¡ªmuch faster than before¡ªSerahunched another attack.

    This time, Karlia didn''t get out of the way¡ªperhaps she couldn''t due to the sheer speed¡ªcausing her attack to connect. However, it didn''t hit Karlia directly. Rather¡­

    ''An energy wall?!''

    A wall of power blocked Serah''s fist. Such a thing should have been impossible for a mere energy wall, as her attacks would have eaten right through it. However, Serah recognized the properties of the shield.

    ''T-this is¡­ [The Sun]!''

    "Hope you don''t mind. I borrowed some of your energy to deflect the attack. I have to say, though¡­ it''s hard to even take any." Karlia''s smug smile vexed Serah.

    "Rarrrghhhhhh!!!" In a fit of rage, her power increased¡ªintensifying to the point whereby even someone as powerful as Karlia wouldn''t dare to take power from it.

    "Yikes¡­"

    In a brilliant move, Serah ascended to the sky. She joined her palms together and created a massive st of energy. One that would utterly envelop the entire region in pure, unstoppable power.

    "Eat thisssss!!!!"

    A brilliant, yet dangerous orb of light manifested at the edge of Serah''s joint palm, and it was pointed at Karlia.

    This time, though, the subus appeared worried¡ªthus, giving Serah the sign to release the energy. And then¡­

    With nothing in its path, the ball of concentrated power went straight for Karlia.

    Rather than attempt to escape, Karlia hurriedly charged in the direction of the st¡ªa determined expression on her face.

    ''I can decide to escape its range. I''m fast enough, but¡­'' Her gaze went to the massive structure beneath.

    It was her research building!

    ''It most likely won''t survive the st!''

    As such, Karlia decided to make the ultimate sacrifice¡ªtake on the st, and try her best to contain the explosion.

    ''Whatever happens¡­ happens!''

    Thus, both the Subus and the ball of destruction shed¡­ creating the most devastating silent explosion ever.

    It lit up the entire ind¡ªno, the whole world.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Also... I avoided using Sound Effects, cus¡­ no sound. Still, these guys sure are OP, aren''t they?

 Chapter 717 The Immovable Object

    The brilliant detonation shed throughout the sky like a re, illuminating everything around for miles.

    Just as Karlia intended, she was able to contain the st so well that it barely scraped the top of her building, consuming everything else around it. In a single strike, everything dissipated into nothingness¡­ Karlia included.

    Serah''s eyes widened in both shock and relief as she saw nothing left of Karlia. She was utterly consumed, after all.

    ''I won! I¡­ won!'' Inasmuch as she had forged a kind of bond with Karlia over the short span of their conversation and their fight, they were still enemies.

    Serah knew that what she did was just¡ªhence the relief.

    "Haa¡­" Serah huffed, finally releasing herself from her INVINCIBLE state.

    Her Original Magic began to have a strain on her once it reached a particr threshold, but it wasn''t simply the power that exhausted her. It was [The Sun].

    ''The overwhelming power is still a lot. I can''t control it for very long.'' Serah heaved.

    She was still floating in mid-air, staring at the havoc all around her with both a sense of pride and dread.

    ''Thatst attack should attract the enemies to me¡ªas well as my allies.''

    Now torn between staying to reconnect with her allies, and fleeing in the direction Karlia had shown to her so she could encounter herrades, Serah stared at Karlia''s building.

    ''First of all, I''ll need to inspect it¡­'' That was the main rationale behind fighting Karlia, after all.

    The moment Serah moved from her position, she suddenly felt something behind her.

    ''E-eh¡­?''

    The feeling was chilling, to say the least. Serah found herself paralyzed for a few seconds, simply because of the dread she felt oozing from behind her. And then¡ª

    "I told you already¡­"

    ¡ªA very chilling touch caressed her shoulder.

    An entity was right behind her, whispering into her ears as she oozed the very stench of danger that petrified Serah.

    "I can''t be killed."

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    Quickly mustering her strength, Serah swiftly propelled herself forward, escaping the reach of the whispering figure. Upon putting a considerable distance between herself and the enemy, she twisted mid-air to spot who it was¡­ though she already had a fair idea.

    "Y-you?!"

    That''s right! The crimson demon stood right in front of Serahpletely unscathed.

    "Even after telling you countless times, you won''t listen, huh?"

    "H-how?" Serah was sure she hadpletely consumed Karlia in her concept-destroying st.

    By all means, Karlia was meant to be dead by now.

    "I told you already. With [The Lovers], I already defeated the concept of death. Even in the very unlikely situation where I am supposedly killed, I have infinite souls."

    A human needed either a Soul or a Body to be resurrected¡ªconsidering either served as a tether for the other. The dynamics between the two concepts made it possible for revival to be possible as long as one was present.

    "Even if it''s just my soul, I can be revived instantly thanks to my Absolute Immunity. My body also adapts to the changes and causes of death just like the previous time, so it doesn''t experience it again. So congrattions, you''ve given me one more thing I''m not going to die from. So, I can''t die because of that st again."

    Serah had to make the st more potent and dangerous, or alter something about it to ensure that Karlia would even have as much damage as before, let alone death.

    "On another note, you really shouldn''t invade my research facility. I also told you this before, but you have no business there¡­ not that you''d be able to get very far inside, anyway." Karlia smirked while shrugging.

    The Cult Members were all aware of how much Karlia valued her privacy, so none even dared or bothered intruding on her safe space. It wasn''t just due to courtesy, though.

    "My facility is poisonous to anyone who isn''t me. You''ll simply die before even realizing it."<novelnext></novelnext>

    Serah was still amazed by how her opponent was alive, so she didn''t hear thatst part. It wasn''t important either, considering she was not going to be intruding anytime soon¡ªor ever.

    "Well, I''ve seen what I wanted. I''ll be taking your Arcana now. No hard feelings, okay?"

    Serah felt an unknown source of anger surge from within her. Could it be due to her wounded pride, or perhaps the fact that her opponent so casually wielded such power?

    Despite attaining her current height with a good amount of effort, how could she meet an opponent who was impossible to beat? It made Serah grit her teeth in anger and frustration. It was quite infuriating.

    "If you''re this strong¡­ If you have this much power and knowledge¡­ Why are you here?" Serah suddenly mumbled.

    "Excuse me?"

    "You could make a real difference in the world! Why are you doing all of this? What''s making you side with this Cult?" Serah unintentionally raised her voice.

    She truly did not know where this anger wasing from. Something about Karlia gave her the presumption of someone incredibly intelligent, and she was also very strong. If she had used all this power and knowledge to help her people¡ªor the world¡ªthen wouldn''t that have been a more productive venture?

    "Ah, that. The thing is¡­ I need the Cult. I have a goal, you see? I lost someone dear to me. I want to bring him back." Karlia suddenly revealed a sad smile.

    Her demeanorpletely changed, and the floating figure of the subus suddenly seemed more vulnerable.

    "I have neither his Soul nor Body, so I need a miracle. Gathering the Arcanas will give me what I require. That''s my reason¡ªin and simple."

    "W-what? Just that?"

    "Yes. Perhaps you wouldn''t understand, but¡­ do you have someone you care about so immensely that nothing makes sense without them?"

    Serah tried to fight the thought that she would do the same for Neron, focusing instead on the damage caused by the actions of the Nether Cult.

    Karlia was justifying the deaths and conflict caused by the Cult¡ªevents in which she partook because of her selfish interests. There was no way Serah could overlook that.

    "Your entire race was doomed to death because of the conflict instigated by your group. Those were your people. They were all massacred!" Serah''s voice was surprisingly loud, but at this point, she didn''t care.

    "The Nether Cult has wreaked so much havoc. Have you grown so insensitive to their actions simply because of your desire?!"

    Serah''s heart resonated with Karlia''s cause, but at the same time, her sense of justice told her it was wrong. What Karlia was doing in the name of her cherished person was wrong¡ªin and simple!

    "I believe you are misunderstanding something here." Karlia suddenly spoke.

    Her eyes seemed utterly empty as she made this statement, and her face lookedpletely nk. With this stoic, unfeeling gaze, shepletely alienated herself from the inner turmoil Serah was experiencing.

    "I have been spending all of my spare time trying to seek an alternative¡ªeven now, I still search for it. However, up until now, there has been nothing."

    Karlia''s words echoed from a deep abyss that even Serah couldn''t fathom. How long¡­ How many years had she been on this quest to revive this loved one of hers?

    Serah could not understand.

    "Besides, all I want is to bring back the one who gave meaning to my life. That''s all¡­" Karlia''s voice trailed as she stared into the sky.

    "The world can burn for all I care."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 718 Singularity Conversation

    [Moments Earlier]

    "How long has it been now?" I murmured to myself as I looked around me.

    It seemed like I was surrounded by an endless expanse ofnd. I wondered how big the ind was, or if perhaps some sort of Magic was at work here.

    ''It''s probably Magic¡­'' I once again felt the chill of Nether course through me, reminding me to not relent in my efforts to protect myself from the hostile energy.

    ''It hasn''t been very long, though. Ten minutes, to be urate.'' Considering the importance of our mission, quite a lot of time had passed since we arrived here.

    We needed to converge¡ªand fast.

    ''But, if I move too fast, I run the risk of alerting the enemy. If I use teleportation again, I could end up at another random location.''

    I decided to patiently walk for a few more minutes, making an borately new n as I trekked. Even if I hurried and met my allies, I still needed a n.

    ''It''s possible the enemy already knows our location due to teleportation, so there might be no point in conserving it. But, all that has happened so far seems to suggest that is not the case.''

    If a Cult Member indeed knew where I was, they woulde storming here. After all, considering how they had been attempting to kill me since I was a kid, I had to envision some sort of aggressive assault on me, did I not?

    ''No one has arrived yet, so let''s scrap that.'' That meant I could probably rely on teleportation.

    The only thing bothering me was my ignorance of everyone else''s location. If I did, I would have gone to them by now. My senses were already spread out, yet¡­ nothing.

    ''Everything is going badly. I think we should retreat, but I can''t even gather my allies. This was a trap right from the start, huh?''

    Maria''s words suddenly popped into my head, and I slowly rxed my hurting head.

    This was the best solution, so even if it failed¡­ I couldn''t beat myself up too much. That said, I needed to work hard to find out where my allies were, while also devising a concrete strategy for our next move.

    "Alright, Jared! Let''s do this!"

    "There''s no need." A voice suddenly emerged, causing me to instantly flinch in surprise.

    My vision¡ªno, my entire senses¡ªwas left in a state of shock as I noticed a man standing a few meters from me.

    ''I didn''t sense him until now. What in the¡ª?!''

    The man had a long, flowing blue kimono, and his long auburn hair danced in the direction of the blowing wind. He had a calm gaze, his eyes filled with resolve.

    Based on all I was observing about this man, I could already conclude about his identity.

    "Are you the First Seat?" I asked, my body readied for action at any given moment.

    "Indeed. I am the Martial de God. You must be Jared Leonard. It is a pleasure to meet you." His tone was polite, his words cordial.

    It was difficult for me to believe that someone like this was responsible for ughtering thousands of people¡ªan entire civilization¡ªwith a single hit.

    ''He isn''t even oozing unfathomable power. This guy¡­'' I watched him with both caution and curiosity.

    Who was he exactly?

    "You look startled. Shouldn''t you have been expecting my appearance?" The Martial de God, as he called himself, asked me calmly.

    He was right. I had been expecting a member of the Cult toe to greet me, but with Neron''s disappearance, I was sort of expecting this man to be the one keeping him upied.

    ''If he''s not the one who is keeping Neron upied, then who? Could it be¡ª?!''

    "Legris Damien is with Neron Kaelid. As for your allies, I have already taken care of Lemi, Edward, and Ciara. And as for Serah, she''s about to engage my colleague."

    ''Legris is the one with Neron?!'' My eyes widened.

    Could it be that my suspicions about him were correct? Did he have the means to defeat Neron, or at least impede him for so long? It turned out that that was indeed the case.

    Unfortunately, this discovery was simply the start of my headaches.

    ''He took care of those three? Does that mean they are¡ª?!''

    "They''re alive. They will be fine."<novelnext></novelnext>

    "Huuu¡­" I heaved a sigh of relief.

    If what this guy said was true, then they were most likely incapacitated. ording to the vibe he was giving off, as well as Neron''s testimony, I saw no reason to doubt his words. Plus, Martial Artists didn''t have the disposition to use tricks or be cunning¡ªunlike Magic Users.

    Seasoned Martial Artists simply had a straightforward approach to life. The stronger one was as a Martial Artist, the more their responses became straight and simple.

    ''Only the weaker ones resort to tricks.'' I stared at him cautiously, wondering where myrades were.

    Also, how the heck was hepleting my thoughts? Could he read minds or something? It wasn''t impossible, but¡­

    "You do not need to worry too much about those details. That''s because, unlike those ones whose lives I have spared, you will be dying here." His tone was so t and assured that another chill ran down my spine.

    Still, I should have expected this oue.

    Just because he spared myrades, that didn''t mean he would show me the same courtesy. Considering the damage I had caused them and the danger I posed to them as a Singrity, it was pretty obvious they would want to eliminate me.

    "You know, you''re quite an interesting person¡­ Lewis Griffith."

    ''H-huh¡­?!'' My eyes widened in shock.

    Indescribable, unimaginable shock.

    ''HOW DOES HE KNOW?!''

    "We never met in your past life, and this is our first meeting in this one. It is indeed a pleasure." He bowed slightly, still speaking calmly, but none of his courtesy could stem the shock assailing me.

    ''He knows my identity? Does that mean¡­ the Cult is aware? Do they know of my reincarnation? But that makes no sense! If they did, they would have done things differently from the start!''

    I always assumed they simply considered me an anomaly without knowing the exact cause. However, with this, I could already conclude that their members knew who I was.

    If that was the case, then this n had been doomed to fail from the start!

    "Do not be startled. I did not know of your identity until I met your daughter, and I knew not of your past until I met you. Though a great deal is shrouded in mystery. It must be the interference of the Root, thanks to your status as a Singrity. Or perhaps¡­ no, this Magic is distinct. It belongs to someone¡ªsomething."

    The Martial de God was mumbling unintelligible words that made me more confused than ever. His whispers caused me distress, but I was at least relieved to hear that he had just found out my identity.

    ''Whether he has ryed it to his headquarters or not is another issue.''

    "Jared Leonard, I have discovered something quite interesting about you." The Martial de God interrupted my thoughts with a statement that gave me yet another feeling of apprehension.

    He smiled slightly and narrowed his gaze at me.

    "You are being protected by someone else. This signature¡­ this causal link¡­ its initiator is not Aether herself. It''s a distinct entity."

    What in the world was he saying? Once again, the Martial de God was assailing me with iprehensible words.

    "Have you ever wondered the cause of your reincarnation? If I were to assume, I could simply call it the will of the Root, considering your status as a Singrity."

    ''H-huh?!'' I still didn''t know the cause of my Reincarnation.

    What did he know? Did he find out the truth?!

    "But it seems I was mistaken too. Jared Leonard¡­ someone caused this reincarnation of yours."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 719 Intention Of Execution

    ''W-what?!''

    My eyes nearly popped from their sockets in surprise, but I made sure toport myself. Still, the Martial de God''s words gave me a feeling of shock.

    ''He sounds so definite. He''s been right so far too. Plus, he has no reason to lie.'' I was still curious as to how he knew all about me, but¡­ so far he had been telling the truth.

    ''Someone caused my reincarnation? But who? How?''

    Could it be that Jane''s many rituals and experiments had some sort of effect on me, after all? No, it feltpletely off. Even Jane and I had agreed that her past efforts couldn''t have had any effect on my life after death¡ªespecially causing something asplex as Reincarnation.

    "Certain portions of your Soul contain this signature, but¡­ I do not know its origin and neither can I trace it back."

    Hearing that there were certain things he could not do brought me relief. However, the things he could do were overwhelmingly stacked against me.

    ''He knows my identity, and he''s strong enough to easily dispatch Lemi, Edward, and Ciara in such a short time.''

    If I assumed that we all arrived at the same time, then this Martial de God fought with them for ten minutes max. Could I even hope for such an easy win against all three¡ªespecially with their troublesome Arcanas?

    ''Maybe he swiftly eliminated them before they could use any special move? Did he ambush them? No, that doesn''t seem to be his style. So far, he seems to be a strong Martial Artist who believes in his strength.''

    Besides, I was more dangerous than them, and yet he did not sneak up on me. This was a man who believed in his strength.

    ''He could also sense all of us from our respective distances. His senses are extremely sharp. I also can''t fathom the depths of his power. As for his level of threat, Neron himself had been unsure of the oue of a fight between the two of them¡­ and I''m not on the level of either of them.''

    Still, before I delved intobat, or changed the topic, I had to learn more about what the Martial de God knew about me. This was about my reincarnation, after all.

    ''Let''s also start nning from this point on. Myrades still need me.'' With that in mind, I focused my gaze on the stoic Martial de God.

    "What else do you know about my reincarnation? Do you have any¡ª?"

    "Don''t bother. It''s shrouded in mystery." His response was so t that it outright rejected the possibility of extensive study. "Besides, you don''t need it now."

    "Why? You want to fight me?" I smiled wryly, prepared for what mighte.

    "No. I am here to execute you. There appears to be a difference between the two." The Martial de God took a step forward, and I instinctively took a step back.

    My gaze never left him, though. I wondered what would happen if he decided to move just a little faster.

    "Why don''t we converse some more? There are still certain things I wish to know, after all." I cautiously spoke.

    "Do you not fear that by stalling for time, you are leaving your friends in a greater likelihood of danger."

    A smile formed on my face the moment he said this.

    He was right, after all.

    The longer this mission dragged on¡ªespecially my conversation with him¡ªthe longer everyone had to fight on their own. And I didn''t just mean everyone on this ind, but even far beyond it.

    The mission I gave everyone wasn''t a walk in the park. I was aware of that. Thus, the wise thing to do would be to try finishing things quickly¡ªfor the sake of everyone else.

    However¡ª

    "There''s no need to rush, is there? You''ve ced us in a special space, haven''t you?" The moment I said this, the Martial de God flinched.

    His eyes contained a hint of surprise, but he smiled and nodded not long after.

    "I see. That is impressive, Jared Leonard. The other three, despite how impressive they were, failed to notice this."<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''I see. So he probably took longer when fighting them. He simply encased their battle in a somewhat isted space where the concept of time was different.

    My question, however, was¡­ how?!

    "You seem surprised by my abilities." He stated calmly.

    ''Of course! It seems like Magic, at this point¡ªespecially Arcana Level Magic.'' Even I would need an Arcana for such aplex process.

    Sure, this guy was old¡ªand he was most likely the person my friend, Gawain, fought in the past. However, how could he have mastered Martial Arts to the point whereby his results were indistinguishable from Magic?

    "Martial Arts is a practice of one''s will. It is about controlling yourself, and exerting that control over all that is around you. You use your fists to break rocks, but your fists may also mould the air currents and propel you. The most difficult to control, however, is the mind. With oneness of the mind, and the control of one''s thoughts¡­ you can exert dominance and mould your surroundings to suit your will."

    I had never heard of such a philosophy regarding Martial Arts before. It was just as his name implied. This man in front of me had transcended what would be called natural for Martial Artists.

    ''If what he says is indeed true, and he can exert his will due to the full control of his mind, then¡­ he is a god.''

    "Now, then, that''s enough chatter." The Martial de God unsheathed his de as he stared at me with utter calmness.

    "I take no pleasure in this, and fighting you will bring me no satisfaction whatsoever. However¡­ I must fulfil my obligations."

    I gulped and readied myself. The man in front of me sought to end my life with his de¡ªand he seemed perfectly capable of doing so. To win, I had to use all my brains and brawn.

    ''This feels almost as dangerous and unfair as my fight with Neron.''

    ***********

    "Haa¡­ isn''t this great?" A boy with ck hair and a dark cloak said with excitement.

    His eyes were glowing red at this point, and he floated in the skies while staring at all thendscape surrounding him.

    Something about the twinkle in his eyes rang of nostalgia, but also mischief.

    "At longst, I''ll be visiting the ce I once called home."

    This boy was Stefan Netherlore. His excitement was obvious¡ªand evident also, were the legion of beasts and men that stood still beneath him.

    They stood, motionless, all awaiting hismand.

    "Yourrades are about tond on the borders of the other nations." Stefan smiled at the substantive army he had under hismand.

    "We shall nowmence the invasion."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 720 The Nether Wars [Pt 1]

    [WESTERN CONTINENT]

    "Here theye¡­"

    The stench of an unstoppable army tingled the noses of all the Elves who stood, prepared to engage with their opponents.

    They had determined faces, depicting how willing they were to die for their nation¡ªeven with no hopes of a revival.

    The Elven army stood right outside their city gate, and they filled the ins that made up the distance between their outskirts and the capital. All the Elf civilians were safely tucked into the Capital, so the soldiers knew full well that the only thing that stood between their enemy and them¡­ was them.

    The Elf Queen led the army at the forefront¡ªher daughter and the head of army both bravely standing beside her. Aurora wasforted to have both Freya and ra with her, but she also wondered what the intensity of the battle would do to them.

    Would this be thest time she would see them? Aurora couldn''t help but wonder.

    Important, yet powerful fighters¡ªlike Maya, udius, Derius, and all of the Royal Elves¡ªremained behind the queen, ready to support and fight to the best of their abilities. They led various units of the Elf Army, taking the lead asmanders.

    However, two people stood out from all of this chaos.

    They didn''t have pointy ears like the rest of the Elves. One had red hair, and the other had auburn hair. They were both boys¡ªappearing to be the same age. While the redhead had a rough and wild demeanour, his partner had a calmer, more cautious expression.

    These two¡ªIvan and Jerry¡ªwere also prepared for the battle toe. Unlike the others, they stood at the forefront of the battle, and beside the Elf General, ra, herself.

    The formation of the Elves was impable, but they knew something as technical as that wasn''t the most important element in the war they were about to engage in. Their opponents were incredibly powerful, they could sense the dread as they drew closer.

    Nether Beasts; creatures made up of a grimy ck substance, appearing to be the embodiment of evil itself. They looked incredibly monstrous and savage, some walked onnd, while others floated in the air, but these weren''t the only opponents.

    They also had to fight the ''Corrupted.''

    The Corrupted were sentient entities who were granted the ability to use Nether. Thanks to their intelligent disposition, they were leading the Nether Beasts into battle. They all had dark cloaks, and each had obsidian staffs and nes¡ªwhile some had rings¡ªthat they seemed to be channelling their powers from.

    With the Corrupted leading the group of monsters, and the Elves preparing for a sh, it almost seemed like a massive disadvantage for thetter. Which was why¡­

    "I will protect you all with my life."

    ¡­ The Elves had backup in the sky.

    Gawain, as well as several thousand constructs, floated above the Elves. Their major goal was to reduce the number of casualties the enemies would cause by contributing to the defence, healing, and general support.

    This legion of metal, coupled with the Elves and the two human Mages, stood united. Thus, they now had a much better chance of defeating their opponent.

    All they now waited for was the order of the Elf Queen. She would lead the charge, and they would all follow¡ªfor better, or for worse.

    Aurora Vindiel realized this, causing her to sigh. She remembered the faces of her sister and her dear niece. Something about this moment felt sullen, so she closed her eyes. Surprisingly, she felt tears form there, and an unknown sadness assailed her.

    She looked to her right and saw her dear daughter. To her left, she saw her most trusted friend, ra¡ªas well as the humans Jared sent to support them.

    ''Lewis¡­ it seems like this is it.'' Aurora smiled sadly, finally opening her eyes.

    Her gaze instantly became hardened, and she raised her staff in resolve. A fine energy shrouded her, and she steadied her first attack which would signal the entirety of her forces.

    "May the Spirits watch over us."

    *

    *

    *

    >BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!<

    It didn''te as a surprise, but the first strike still packed a punch.

    The surroundings were devastated by an immensely concentrated ball of Nether, as it destroyed everything around it.

    The Elves had already put up a barrier as a contingency, but as expected of the properties of Nether, the st ate right through it.

    Debris flew around, and the devastation stopped only a few inches away from the elves¡ªthus serving as something of a warning shot.

    However, this was the error of the enemy.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "RAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!"

    They should have done their best to eliminate as many Elves as possible in their first strike. However, it was now toote.

    "Here we go!"

    >WHOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    The army advanced swiftly, closing in on each other.

    Jerry and Ivan were especially fast¡ªboth shrouded in dense Mana.

    For the Auburn-haired boy, he was in Elemental Chamber: White Armament, now shrouded with the white mes of Aether he received as a gift. His body waspletely covered with the powerful me, and his eyes were lit with passion¡ªprepared to win.

    As for Ivan, he waspletely covered in white wax, with balls of mes flying around him like wisps. He was encased in his Guardian Form,pletely protected by his extra-denseyer of Wax, but that was only the beginning.

    After training for so long, these two had finally developed what made them worthy enough to stand on the battlefield¡­ Mage Mode!

    Both Ivan and Jerry now donned Mage Mode, alongside their Fusion Mode, ready to rush their enemies with full power.

    The Elves followed behind them, and the Automatons hovered in the air, intercepting the Nether Beasts. Some remained behind, though¡ªlike the Elf Queen herself. Someone like her was best suited to attack from behind¡ªwith her long-range Magic Abilities.

    Especially her infamous Spell: Harbinger Of Rupture. One she had gotten even better at.

    Thus, the army charged forward with conviction. They shed with the Nether Beasts while the Corrupted watched from behind.

    The first few seconds usually decided how a battle would progress, but this was too big a mess to understand. Both sides were simply locked in a brutal fight, and only a few outstanding people could be seen amid the carnage and destruction being wrecked around.

    However, after the first few seconds, the direction of the battle suddenly shifted¡­ and it was in favour of the Elves.

    The Nether Beasts were suddenly getting pushed back, much to the shock of the Corrupted. Their faces morphed into surprise, and disbelief was disyed all over their faces.

    They were led to believe that their power was ultimate¡ªunrivalled! Yet¡­ what was this?!

    Why were the Nether Beasts getting pushed back?

    How were they able to fight against Nether?!

    It made no sense! Certainly, this was ridiculous.

    The pale expressions of the Corrupted depicted this quite well.

    "How are they doing this?!"

    "This shouldn''t be happening!!!"

    "Curses!"

    Elves were rich in Mana, and not much else. Yet... the Corrupted were sensing the only power that served as their very antithesis.

    And that power... was Aether!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up "Chuunibyou Challenge!!" on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 721 The Nether Wars [Pt 2]

    This wasn''t what they were told.

    ''No way¡­''

    The Corrupted were never informed of this possibility.

    ''H-how is this happening?!''

    They had expected the Elves to be crushed so pitifully that the battle would give them great pleasure. They had hoped to see despair, pain, death, and even more destruction.

    However, their expectations were shattered by the unprecedented performances of the Elves and their allies.

    ''HOW DO THEY HAVE AETHER?!''

    *

    *

    *

    Aurora grinned softly as she focused her gaze on the maddened Corrupted who stood a far distance away, writhing in both awe and rage.

    She was once again grateful for the introduction of Aether to the Elves¡ªespecially in preparation for this fight. Aurora realized now that without such a powerful source on their side, their demise would have been a foregone conclusion.

    How, then, did they gain ess to this power? The answer was simple.

    They didn''t.

    None of them could generate any Aether. They could hardly even control the energy that was introduced to them so abruptly. However, because they couldn''t generate it, didn''t mean that they couldn''t manufacture it.

    Thanks to a brilliant human girl named Anabelle Frederick, who came up with the process, and the investment made by Jane Urs, they were able to create something revolutionary.

    The Aether Conversion Mechanism.

    Simply put, it converted Mana or Miasma into Aether by condensing it and isting the purest particles while dispersing the other foreign elements¡ªthus creating a fluid and clean energy known as Aether.

    Of course, this was simply the energy itself.

    Converting the energy into useful stuff like Spells and Magical Techniques was another huge leap. The whole technical process had gone over Aurora''s head when they had tried exining things to her, but the gist of it was quite simple.

    By making devices that could conduct the energy, while also imbuing Magic Forms on them, they would be able to utilise Aether as Magic. This was a more practical adaptation of Jared''s Spell Cards.

    Weapons, artefacts, and even Automatons were imbued with Magic Forms that allowed them to transform the raw Aether into energy.

    With this revolution in Magic and Technology, however, came a problem.

    ''Resources. Limited Mana Reserves¡­'' Aurora began to use her staff, already possessing the Aether property.

    The problem with the Aether Conversion Mechanism was how much Mana it consumed. To produce Aether suitable for one person, they had to sacrifice over a thousand people''s worth of Mana.

    As such, they could only produce a limited amount of Aether¡ªany more would adversely affect the Elven Lands and the climate.

    Another major problem with artificially utilizing Aether was the finite nature of the energy. Sooner orter, they would run out. Aurora knew her people couldn''t keep this up forever.

    ''We have to end this¡­ and fast!''

    With that single thought, the energy around her staff climbed to a terrifying degree, and three arrows materialised in an instant.

    They were aimed at various locations, and they spun swiftly, increasing in power with every rotation.

    "Harbinger Of Rupture¡­ Threefold!"

    Aurora directed this st at the leaders of the army¡ªthe Corrupted.

    In a sh, she released them, sending a swift and powerful strike to the enemies. Thanks to their paralyzing shock, they could not react quickly enough to defend themselves. And as a result¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    "Haa." Aurora heaved a sigh as she prepared her next volley.

    Normally, she would be doing her best to conserve her energy. No, everyone was supposed to be managing the resources given to them.

    Yet, with the way every Elf and Automaton fought their enemies, they used their powers without any restriction. They did not waste the power they had been given, but they were not frugal with it either.

    They simply fought with all their strength¡­ and that was for a reason.<novelnext></novelnext>

    The more drawn-out the battle was, the more disadvantageous it would be to them.

    ording to Jared, the Nether Beasts had adaptive and extremely dangerous regenerative features. As a result, it was much more effective to not hold back on any of their attacks when dealing with them. Trying to conserve power would ultimately waste time and resources¡ªa luxury they couldn''t afford.

    ''We have to end this fast!'' Aurora rained her spell on the opponents once more.

    This time, though, they were more prepared. The Corrupted raised a barrier, like a canopy above their heads. Aurora knew this would be a waste, so she redirected her arrows towards the Nether Beasts instead.

    As a result¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    More deafening explosions followed.

    Aurora noticed the murderous res of the corrupted, and they all acknowledged the fact that she was the most dangerous of all the threats they faced. As a result, with all their animosity concentrated on her, the Corrupted left the Nether Beasts to deal with the Elves and Automatons, all swearing to do the Queen in.

    Aurora, however, had anticipated this as well. Causing the most damage was bound to draw the attention of enemies to you. Which was why¡­

    "I sent those three already." She smiled.

    *

    *

    *

    The Corrupted were the riff raffs of the Nether Cult¡ªnothing more than foot soldiers, really.

    They had no redeeming qualities, and most were referred to as numbers or codes. Their significance was better felt as a group, and not as individuals.

    Some were satisfied with this status quo¡ªhappy to simply be gifted with such power that made sure no normal person or Mage stood a chance against them.

    However, some wanted more. Way more.

    "I will prove myself in this battle and take the glory." A Corrupted told himself in excitement.

    He knew he was among the strongest of everyone present, and his level of sync with Nether was extremely high. Even his direct superior¡ªStefan Netherlore¡ªhad told him this.

    Stefan also told him about the empty positions within the 12 Seats of the Nether Cult. That had been enough to spark his ambition.

    "I want a seat at the table!" He muttered with both delight and greed.

    He had once been an exceptional Mage who struggled due to an illness that clogged his Mana, and even though he was brilliant, he was still so powerless because of this infirmity of his.

    One could only imagine the frustration he had felt when he watched others surpass him, despite his sheer experience and skill. All due to this weakness, he had watched as others gained fame and fortune, while he was left with nothing.

    The likes of Neron Kaelid, Serah Crimson, and even Damien Lawcroft had made a name for themselves¡ªthetter, by bing a member of the Nether Cult''s 12 Seats.

    That could have been him! If only he hadn''t been so afflicted, he could have done the same too.

    "There''s nothing special about them. They''re just privileged." Even as this man stared at hisrades, he could only see privileged and entitled idiots.

    They, unlike him, didn''t have to work so hard to attain the power they now possessed. They hadn''t felt the despair he''d felt. They didn''t have the ambition he had.

    Plus, he was far superior to all of them!

    ''Which is why¡­ I will prove myself, and get that Seat!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 722 The Nether Wars [Pt 3]

    Eyes gleaming with ambition, the Corrupted focused their attention on Aurora, the Elf Queen.

    They had two options. The first option was to kill her with their volley, while the other was to make her fall on the defensive. The Corrupteds definitely preferred the former, but thetter wasn''t a bad alternative either.

    ''That way, she won''t be causing any damage on the battlefield and to our troops.''

    The Nether Beasts were the major members of the army when it came to brute force and numbers. The Corrupted were simply there for guidance and coordinated assault. If they lost their muscle, that would be too bad.

    "I''m gonna kill that bitch. If I do¡­ the Seat!" A certain Corrupted grinned with desperate determination and pride.

    His name was Kayers, and he was simply brimming with ambition.

    He and his allies were inside a dome made by Nether, all hundred of them, causing the Elf Queen to turn her attention to their troops. They had already lost two hundred thanks to the Elf Queen''s first attack, so they didn''t n on losing any more.

    Since they were protected by their overpowered ability, they could send some devastating attacks to the Queen.

    That was their rationale. However¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

    An explosion suddenly rang behind the hundred Corrupteds.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    It seemed like the eruption came from beneath, and as it did, debris flew off the earth. No one was killed, but the damage was extensive. Plus, the Corrupted became distracted from their main task.

    After the st, three beings suddenly emerged from the hole the explosion came out of. As they ascended, their forms became much clearer.

    Two humans. One Elf.

    "Haaa, that was a loud st, Jerry. Not that I couldn''t pull off the same!" A loud voice pierced the air.

    "Haha, thanks¡­ I guess." A gentler tone emerged next.

    "Youngds, you have done well. It was indeed Impressive." An older-sounding tone emerged as well.

    The two youths were humans, individually covered in their respective elements¡ªone had white mes while the other had white wax. The older fellow was an Elf dressed in white. He barely had any armour or element on.

    He simply donned an astounding white suit, as well as a matching white coat. His expression was prim and proper, and his gaze calmly rested on the hundred Corrupteds who now red at the intruders.

    "Old man, how strong are they?" The wax warrior asked the older Elf.

    "He has a name, you know? It''s Derius."

    "Ah, yeah¡­"

    Kayers watched as these three made a stable entry into their stronghold¡ªhis face twisting with both shock and anxiety.

    ''T-they bypassed our dome by moving underground?!''

    They had been so focused on protecting themselves from the Elf Queen''s aerial attacks that they had neglected to defend the area beneath them. It was indeed a cause for worry. However¡­

    ''They sent just three? Really?''

    Two of the three were kids. Kids who had shown talent when fighting the Nether Beasts, but kids nheless.

    ''Fools.'' Kayers grinned to himself.

    He looked around, and it seemed hisrades felt the same way.

    ''Our Nether barrier is still active¡ªand it functions independently from any other attacks we use.'' That was why they were nning to defeat the Elf Queen while remaining in their haven.

    ''That will have to wait, though. For now, let''s get this over with. Hehe.''

    Kayers nced at hisrades, and once again, they agreed on this issue. There was no need to waste any time conversing. All they had to do¡­ was win!

    >VWUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Before Kayers could think any further, the redhead among the trio punched the earth with his fists and all of a sudden, it shook. The quake destabilized all of them, though a lot of them instantly took to the sky.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "I''ve got the ones below. Take those in the sky."

    Jerry nodded, bursting into more mes as he ascended to take care of the floating Corrupteds. Kayers was one of the flyers, but he made sure to maintain a stealth Spell the moment he did so. He had been caught off-guard by the opponent, and he refused to fight blindly.

    ''I''ll need to be subtle about this. Observe, then attack!''

    "UARRRGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

    "IT BUUURRRNNNNSSSSS!!!"

    "GAAAHHH, SAVE ME! SAVEEE MEEEEEE!!!!"

    Hearing the agonizing screams of his brethren beneath him, Kayers realized what was going on.

    ''Is that¡­ Lava?!'' His mind echoed.

    Underneath him¡ªflooding the Corrupteds on the ground¡ªwas a mix of white and crimson. It seemed like wax, yet the fiery elements, as well as the extreme heat it emitted, proved it to be more.

    Even from his position above, Kayers could feel the heat.

    ''Just how many degrees?!'' He thought to himself, watching as hisrades got drowned in an ocean of heated wax. Before long, it hardened,pletely burying them in an utterly suspended state.

    ''SHIT!'' Kayers thought to himself. ''That redhead¡­ he''s not all talk!''

    The wild youth was grinning, smiling at the older fellow beside him. They were being so carefree on the battlefield, and it pissed him off.

    >BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!''<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, even around him, he could hear multiple explosions. Stifled screams of hisrades pierced the air as they were each consumed by white fire.

    Their opponent was too fast. In white streaks, he navigated his way through the air. He used the mes generated from his feet and hands as propellers, easily dodging the spells the Corrupteds threw at him.

    In a sh, he dispatched one, then two, then five¡­ and it went on forever.

    Kayers was gritting his teeth in frustration at this point. Why were hisrades dropping like flies? Why couldn''t they handle a single kid? Besides¡­

    ~YOU IDIOTS! CAN''T YOU SEE THAT THE ONES BELOW ARE DISTRACTED? KILL THEM FIRST!~ Kayers sent a message to the minds of all hisrades.

    Once he said this, their eyes bulged, and their focus shifted from the man in mes to the two people who were discussing beneath the ensuing chaos.

    ''Hehe! First, we''ll kill those two, and then¡ª''

    Nothing was going to stop him from gaining his prize. He had sessfully reduced hispetitors among the Corrupteds, but now? Now was the time to get serious.

    ''We''ll kill you all! We''ll kill you all!!!

    Kayers watched hisrades descend upon the old Elf and the other youth¡ªmostly focusing on the older Elf, considering the young fellow had just drowned a good number of them, and they were all targeting the weakest link.

    Unfortunately for them, they couldn''t have been more wrong.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 723 The Nether Wars [Pt 4]

    Derius was not suited for battle¡­ at least ording to him.

    He despised violence, and he was also a very cautious Elf. Even his Original Magic, Absolute Insight, wasn''t attack-based in any way. He had always preferred things this way.

    Thus, when the youngsters had told him to leave the battle to them, Derius had agreed without even putting up a fight. He was actually relieved that he wouldn''t have to fight. Preferring to be a spectator, he watched Ivan and Jerry work their Magic.

    Ivan was able to merge his me attribute with his Wax Emperor''s ability, in order to form his Bond Magic: Boiling Wax. He used this technique to raise the temperature to thousands of degrees. However, that wasn''t all.

    He was also able to harden his Wax, instantly freezing the enemies in apletely static state as the wax covered their whole bodies. Thus, the Corrupteds suffered a very brutal death.

    ''Impressive.'' Derius thought to himself.

    As for the second one, Jerry, his battle prowess was off the charts. His speed, his precision, his destructive power¡­ they were all a step above what he had expected. He was a blur in the sky, and the way he naturally disyed his abilities was amazing.

    ording to Jerry¡ªback when they had been revealing their abilities to one other, before finally engaging the enemy¡ªhe had told them he was a fire-based Mage. However, with the speed and skill he currently disyed, Derius believed he had more than simply mes.

    Once he studied his Familiar, using Absolute Insight, he realized why he felt that way.

    ''His Familiar is a Pard, regarded to be extremely fast. Enough to evenbust itself. So, that''s it. He''s using Bond Magic to boost his speed and he''s not even in Fusion Mode yet.'' Derius found both young men to be amazing.

    Even as Ivan kept talking to him and boasting about how awesome his skills were, Derius was enamoured by the two youngsters. They were certainly strong.

    >WHOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    As Derius was enjoying thepany of his ally, the Corrupteds shifted gear from Jerry and lunged at him. With all their focus on the old Elf, it wasn''t difficult for him to sense their bloodlust.

    The problem, however, was what he was going to do about their joint assault.

    ''They''re fast!'' Derius thought to himself.

    Their desperation must have given them the boost they needed, and they closed in on him too quickly. Derius noticed Ivan had finally spotted the enemies, but he knew the young boy would be too slow to deal with the enemies.

    ''Plus, he''s exhausted from thatst move. I can tell.'' Derius sighed, realizing he would have to do something if he didn''t want to die.

    ''Very well, then¡­''

    He gave a cold stare at the approaching enemies, not moving from his current position, but instead¡­ he snapped his fingers.

    The mere snap of his fingers echoed across the field.

    However, before the Corrupteds could make sense of this, or even care to understand it, the most shocking thing happened.

    "H-huh¡­?!"

    "Uwa¡­ uwaaaaahhhhhh!!!"

    "Guaaaarrrkkkkk!!!"

    Suddenly, they found their heads swelling. They were swelling, growingrger andrger, and at the same time hurting the Corrupteds.

    Every one of them copsed to the ground, gripping their heads as they screamed in agony.

    Unfortunately, there was no one willing to hear or help them. As such¡ª

    >BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Their heads all exploded at once, causing bursts of ck blood to fly around. Fortunately, none of the gore touched Derius, as an invisible wall shielded both him and Ivan.

    "Derius!" Jerry yelled, descending from the sky as he finished killing thest corrupted he was engaged with.

    He descended, now utterly out of breath. He had used up too much of his white mes, and now all that was left was a flicker.

    "Are you both okay?" Of course, seeing the corpse on the floor was enough to deter Jerry from asking any further questions.

    Ivan was just as shocked.

    Who would have expected an old and gentle fellow like Derius to ughter so many Corrupteds¡­ with the mere snap of his fingers.

    "I''m afraid I have exhausted most of my Aether." He murmured.

    "Yeah. Me too. What about you, Jerry?"

    "It''s the same here¡­"<novelnext></novelnext>

    It seemed like the three were nearly out of energy. Fortunately, they had managed to subdue all of the Corrupteds, so it was all good.

    *

    *

    *

    ''T-THEY''RE MONSTERS!'' Kayers thought to himself in horror.

    He had just witnessed all of hisrades die, dropping like flies. Their power was nothingpared to the three. However, being the optimist that he was, Kayers decided to focus on the good part of all he had experienced.

    ''A-all mypetitors are gone. Besides, they''re already out of power, aren''t they?''

    The deaths of all hisrades had also caused their barrier to go down, so he could leave this ce. Yes, he could leave and call for backup!

    Looking at the current tide of the battle, it seemed that the Elves were already being pushed back, so there might be no need. However, just in case¡­ at least he should watch from a safe distance.

    ''I''d better not approach those three.'' He gulped, taking flight as he moved to escape.

    Then¡­ he heard the finger snap.

    ''O-oh¡­ oh n¡ª''

    *

    *

    *

    "Why did you snap your fingers again? Wanna blow us up too?" Ivan yelled, seeing Derius use the same attack he''d used on the Corrupteds.

    It was too frightening to imagine what would happen if he was affected.

    "Don''t be rude, Ivan."

    "It''s fine. I understand your concern. However, I just used a little frequency and increased the pitch. Of course, this takes a ton of power, and I am almost out of power. Sound moves fast, so I had to resort to it."

    "O-oh, and what about now?"

    "Don''t worry about that. Just testing something out. Besides, we don''t have time to worry about that right now."

    Derius and the youths decided to ignore the heavy thud that echoed behind them¡ªthe fall of a corpse, no doubt¡ªand focused solely on the battle in front of them.

    "This is bad¡­" Derius muttered.

    The two humans couldn''t help but agree with him.

    Why?

    "The Nether Beasts are already overpowering our forces. They''re also getting stronger and bigger."

    The problem stemmed from the fact that they had run out of Aether. Since that was the case, things were about to get unbearably more difficult.

    "We''ll need a miracle to win, at this rate.''

    Derius was right. They had suddenly reached a huge wall¡­ one that was now closing in on them.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 724 The Nether Wars [Pt 5]

    [The Southern Continent]

    "Oi! Hold your ground!" A very rough and loud voice echoed throughout the extremely noisy battlefield.

    Mecha tanks and golems ran through the battlefield, fighting violently with the invading Nether Beasts. Missiles and various bombs were used in this Magical and Technological warfare.

    This was Dwarven Territory, and the huge walls that protected their city could not be allowed to fall. Every Dwarf donned their armour and used their respective tank armours or vehicles to fight off their invaders.

    The problem now was that their Aether had run out, so they were currently at a disadvantage. Still, they were determined to slow down the advance of the enemy¡ªeven for one more second.

    The Nether Beasts were especially ferocious, while the surviving Corrupteds attacked from behind the wave of monsters that threatened their lives. A good number of dwarves were still alive, thankfully. Due to their reliance on their Golems and tools, most didn''t have direct contact with the Nether Beasts.

    Unfortunately, those who piloted their Magic Golems manually had to be in the crosshairs, and they had already lost a good number of them. Still, the struggle continued.

    "WE''RE NOT FIGHTING IN VAIN! BUY MORE TIME!" The thunderous voice of the Dwarven Chief motivated his people to go on.

    That''s right, the Dwarves were fighting a meaningful battle. Yes, they had run out of the only thing that could beat these creatures, but they were currently working on making more.

    "How much longer, Asa?!" The Chief''s thunderous voice echoed.

    "Just a little more time¡­" The response came from a child.

    No one could see the child, nor did they sense the presence of anyone like that. It was most probably due to his special ability which allowed him to be one with nature. Still, what would exin the Chief''s reliance on Asa for Aether?

    Well, that was quite straightforward.

    Asa had an Arcana [The Magician], which poured out seemingly unlimited Mana. Thanks to the technology developed by the Fairies, they could transform Mana into Aether. And as a result, they were waiting for Asa to refill their sters and weapons so they could once again fight the enemies.

    But the process of turning Mana into Aether took time, and they also had to fill up each individual''s weapon. At this rate, things were going to get pretty bad before it wasplete.

    Still, the Dwarves held their ground.

    Beyond the walls were their families¡ªeveryone and everything that mattered to them. They were willing to fight till theirst breath, and some did so.

    ''C''mon, Asa!'' A certain red-haired man grunted as he piloted his giant Golem from within it. This was a courtesy gift from Jared, who called it Hugo.

    Not only was it massive, but it had many controls and functions that rendered it extremely powerful. Unfortunately, without Mana, these abilities would not affect their enemies. Still, by using Hugo''s bulky size, this man was able to hold the enemies off.

    He was Maro¡ªand he served as the major support for the Dwarves, along with the many Golems and Automatons around.

    They were on the verge of winning. They just needed more Aether.

    *

    *

    *

    ''Come on, Asa!'' The blue-coloured Beast folk growled as he directed his concentrated Mana st towards the device in front of him.

    The device seemed like a veryplicated contraption¡ªhaving arge bowl-like container, with a pipe that Asa had to keep pouring Mana into. The container processed the Mana and turned it into Aether, releasing the final product from the other end, through yet another pipe.

    Asa''s duty wasn''t very difficult, but he had to be careful with the output of his Mana. Too much would overwork the device. Besides, there was only so much Mana he could control at the same time.

    Normally, the enemy would have detected activity of such a scale, but Asa was currently using his special ability¡ªnot only on himself, but also on the entire contraption.

    ''Almost there!'' A strained smile formed on his face.

    Once he was done, it would be time for a turnaround in the battle. Everyone was being pushed back, exhausted and dying. It was up to him to bring them back to their feet.

    ''The issue is, after it''s done, what next?''

    Sure, he would have the help of mechanisms and golems, but he would need to distribute the Aether. That would take more time.

    ''Damnit¡­''

    In the end, they still needed more time. Unfortunately, it didn''t seem like that was something they could afford at the moment,<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Don''t worry about that! Just do your be¡ª''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A loud eruption echoed across the area, causing even Asa to lose his bnce¡ªfurther distracting his focus from the mission he was given.

    At this point, however, the mission was hardly on Asa''s mind. After all¡­

    "W-what in the¡ª?!"

    Right at the center of the battlefield was a Nether Beast different from the others around it.

    It was massive, about the size of Hugo, with several heads, eyes, and multiple tails. It had the appearance of a ck dragon, but its numerous eyes made the monster more repulsive than usual.

    It had slimy drool dripping from its mouth, and emerging from its body were several spikes. This enormous monster was so intimidating that Asa found himself trembling in fear. His Nether was too much for even he to resist.

    And he was not the only one.

    The Dwarves were all paralyzed due to the overwhelming surge of this Nether Beast''s Nether. Unknown to Asa, while he had been so focused on his mission, several Nether Beasts had gathered to form this monstrosity

    Its invincible form easily took Hugo down, sending a couple of tails towards it and crushing it to pieces.

    Theponents of Hugo instantly turned ck, and soon after faded away. The Nether Beast had made it nonexistent¡­ and it was just getting started.

    "ROOOOOAAAARRRHHHHH!!!"

    The paralyzed Dwarves expected this to be the end at this point. Even Asa was too scared to focus, thus turning his entire body visible. He could hardly see with his blurry vision, but he was able to witness Maro''s escape from Hugo before itpletely got destroyed.

    Still, what of it?

    The great Nether Beast could not detect Asa, as well as the contraption. It even stared in his direction, grinning evilly as its menacing re told the kid he was not going to survive.

    >RUMBLE!<

    >RUMBLE!!<

    >RUMBLE!!!<

    It approached slowly, killing the stationary Dwarves in its way. The very few Nether Beasts who were left stood behind their champion, and they proceeded to take the lives of everyone present.

    Asa, utterly powerless as he watched all of this, could do nothing but mumble unintelligible words. Wide-eyed and deep in despair, he saw the monster draw closer and closer.

    "U-uh¡­"

    He felt like breaking down. It felt like he was being crushed by boulders¡ªlike he was being stabbed by millions of needles. Simply maintaining eye contact with this terrifying Nether Beast and watching as it eliminated all of the Dwarves in its path¡­ Asa could only think of one thing at that moment.

    ''F-father¡­'' Tears flowed down his face as hepleted his thought.

    ''Father¡­ save me¡­ please¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    ? New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

 Chapter 725 The Nether Wars [Pt 6]

    [The Northern Continent]

    "ROAAAAARRRRR!!!" A deafening roar emerged from the head of the United Beast Council.

    The Mighty Dragon King, Z''ark let out a powerful sound, causing all of his followers to follow his charge into battle.

    Dragons, Griffins, Minotaurs, Centaurs, Manticores¡ªand many more magic Beasts¡ªtrailed behind him, all letting out various battle cries. Their powerful roars and screeches echoed across the battlefield.

    With the elderly, pregnant, and young ones safe in the shelter, the able-bodied adults¡ªboth male and female¡ªdid not hesitate to move towards the enemy.

    They understood only one tactic in battle¡ªfighting until the bitter end. And as such, showing neither fear nor hesitation, the mighty Magic Beasts began their sh with the Nether Beasts and the Corrupteds.

    Their immense numbers, alongside their savage strikes, easily won them momentary victory.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The Corrupteds were easily the first to die. They could not match the savage brutality of the Magic Beasts, thus leading to their immediate eradication.

    "UARRGHHHHH!!!!"

    They all suffered under the breath of the mighty dragons.

    "GAHHHHHHHH!!!!"

    Spikes and arrows appeared from more Magic Beasts. The variety of attacks they possessed made them too much for the Corrupteds to handle. In no time at all, thanks to their all-out attack, the Corrupteds were exterminated.

    The only ones left were the Nether Beasts.

    "Damnit!" Z''ark growled as he floated in the air.

    He was running low on the Aether he had lent from the Aether Generator, so he had every right to worry¡ªespecially now that the Nether Beasts were merging to form massive creatures.

    ''They''re too much!'' The Dragon King thought, his eyes narrowing on the five giant Nether Beasts.

    Their size towered the clouds, and the amount of Nether they had was nearly enough to overwhelm him. However¡­

    ''My people are counting on me. Thisnd¡­ I will not let our race down!''

    With an intense glow evident in his eyes, Z''ark decided to exert every ounce of his strength. He had to fight the Nether Beasts in ce of his already weary soldiers.

    He could tell from their expressions and body movements that they too were running out of strength.

    ''It''s now or never!'' No dy was allowed.

    "Original Magic: Breath of Creation!"

    Pouring every drop of his Mana inbination with the Aether permeating through him, Z''ark generated a massive surge of power from his mouth. The mix of energy swelled, condensed, and then swelled once more.

    >WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH<

    Z''ark ascended to the sky¡ªflying far beyond the clouds so he could reach a level above his enemies. Once this estate was reached, the energy bomb in front of his open mouth was ready to beunched.

    ''One shot¡­ I have one shot!''

    He pointed the Breath of Creation in his target''s direction, squinting his eyes to confirm his target for thest time.

    ''NOW!'' Widening his eyes, heunched the huge bomb at the very center of the five Magic Beasts.

    The closer the orb got to its destination, the faster it became¡­ and therger it got. In a sh¡ªfaster than light¡ªthe st became muchrger than the Nether Beasts. Then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªIt epassed the entire location.

    Fortunately, Z''ark had telepathically informed his subordinates and allies to leave the area. As a result, the bomb was able topletely envelop the Nether Beasts.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­" At this point, he was certain.

    The mighty Dragon King had exhausted all his power.

    ''Damnit, should I have asked for backup from Jared?'' He huffed even more.

    Jared Leonard had informed them of the brewing crisis, but the number of allies and support were limited. As such, the priority of support was going to be determined ordingly.

    The Magic Beast Council was currently the most popted Nation. Plus, they were the strongest in terms of manpower. As such, it was expected that they would get minimal support.

    However, thanks to Z''ark''spassion for the defence of the other nations, as well as the pride of the Magic Beasts, he insisted they could handle the threats.<novelnext></novelnext>

    ''Did they send more Nether Beasts here, ounting for our strength?'' He strained his breath.

    Fortunately, he had managed to execute his Magic.

    ''It''s not over, though¡­'' Z''ark''s eyes narrowed on a particr location.

    His Original Magic was not really based on destruction. As an expert on Matter Maniption, he could assemble and disassemble them at will¡ªwith enough Mana, of course.

    However, his current stock was not enough to achieve that feat on such arge scale. As such, he had topensate.

    The five massive Nether Beasts were not yet dead. They hadn''t been atomized¡ªnot even close.

    "RARRRRHHHHHH!!!" They screeched.

    However, unlike their massive and intimidating forms, the five Nether Beasts were now the size of an average Dragon¡ªnot too small, but not toorge.

    Z''ark had managed to cut down their mass, but he couldn''t kill thempletely. And now, he was out of energy.

    ''The people are exhausted too¡­''

    Even though only five Nether Beasts remained, it seemed the Magic Beasts were at their wits'' end. Without Aether, they couldn''t damage the Nether Beasts.

    ''This means trouble!''

    *

    *

    *

    [The Western Continent]

    "Hold them down!" Beruel yelled.

    He knew he didn''t need to shoutmands at his legion of soldiers, but he did so anyway.

    His clones were decimating the Nether Beasts, and they were pretty much done eliminating the Corrupteds. On normal terms, they would have won a long time ago.

    Even though all the Nether Beasts invading them were massive, Beruel thought he would be able to handle them with his clones, the Fairies'' defences, and the soldiers who were fighting alongside him.

    However¡­ there was a big problem.

    ''They just keeping!''

    The Nether Beasts invading the Fairies were far more formidable than the ones attacking the other nations. Not only were all of them massive, but they were too many.

    More and more kept appearing despite Beruel''s best attempts to contain them. The worst part was that the Nether Beasts were learning from each assault, thus bing even more powerful.

    His clones, who had the upper hand initially, were now being pushed back.

    Things weren''t looking too good.

    The Fairy Forest Defenses had already been rendered obsolete. The only thing they had going for them were the many machines that Beruel built, as well as the few Fairies who could actually fight.

    With their Aether running low, though, they soon became liabilities¡ªup to the point whereby only Beruel and his clones remained.

    Only he was hanging on.

    ''C''mon, you two. Ana¡­ Jane¡­ hurry up!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 726 The Nether Wars [Pt 7]

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The vibrations and echoes of war leaked into the facility where Jane and Ana were.

    The two could be seen quickly operating on their devices. Jane was swiftly configuring some keys, moving faster than any eye could process. As for Ana, she was running around, ensuring the reactions of each and every subject was stabilized.

    The thousands and thousands of tubes around them did a lot to hurry them up, as well as the battle cries and booms they perceived from the outside. If there was one thing these two were aware of, it was the fact that there was no time.

    Literally.

    ''All my calctions have been thrown out of the window. Damnit! Why did Neron''s Arcana effect stop working? Our time ratio is back to normal!'' Jane thought to herself in a panic.

    If only they had the time right, things would not have escted to such a degree.

    ''I calcted everything perfectly, yet¡­!''

    She had tried contacting Jared, Neron, and whoever else followed the main group, but no one was responding. As much as Jane was determined to remain optimistic, she couldn''t stop the dreadful thoughts that constantly crept into her mind.

    She cast a sideway nce at Ana and noticed the girl was also looking worried. Of course, this was a natural reaction. Considering her friends had gone on said mission, this much was expected of her.

    ''But we have to focus!''

    There were almost done with the final configuration. Just a bit more time to process the final variables.

    Her people were busy fighting out there¡ªah, and one other person.

    Beruel!

    Even Jane had to admit how much Beruel had assisted them in the project of creating the Aether Conversion Mechanism. The conductivity issue, as well as the assembling of the materials, were both done by him.

    His Arcana was extremely useful.

    After the battle¡ªif they survived¡ªJane decided to keep Beruel by her side. The possibilities of his Arcana, especially regarding her private project, made the possibilities of sess far higher than normal.

    But, all of that would have to wait!

    She knew they were all relying on her¡ªno, them. Ana was trying her best, and so was she. Jane knew she had to do her best to protect this ce. The enemy couldn''t interfere, no matter what!

    Not only because of her people''s safety, and it was certainly not because of Ana and Jared''s project. No, there was something else¡­

    ''I can''t let them near Lewis'' Soul! It''s still gestating, and it''s in a critical state.'' Worry spread all over her face, but her hands were just as steady as normal.

    Nothing¡­ absolutely nothing would stop her from this mission!

    ''Just hang on, everyone!''

    *

    *

    *

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    "Gah!" Beruel grunted, feeling a hot sensation permeate his insides.

    His Arcana was demanding more Aether from him, but he now had none. He was all out.

    His clones¡ªthose who were yet to be consumed by the corrosive effects of the Nether Beasts¡ªwere all on the ground. They, like him, were out of energy.

    The Nether Beasts were still quite a lot, and he knew he could barely hold them off for a few more minutes.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Scratch that! A few more seconds would be generous.

    "GRRRRRRRRRR¡­."

    The several dozen Nether Beasts now approached the exhausted Beruel, and he realized he was about to meet his end again.

    ''Damnit¡­'' He still feared death.

    He didn''t want to die. He didn''t want to meet a fatal end now.

    ''If I put in my best, I can escape. I can use full speed, utilize my Mana stockpile, and race out of here!''

    Yes, the thought crossed Beruel''s mind. However, to his amazement, he found himself not fleeing. Here he was, taking a hard stance, even thoughmon sense told him to run away.

    Why?

    Why wouldn''t he budge, even though death was simply a few inches away?

    Perhaps it was because of the hopeful looks the Fairies behind him were sending. Their respectful gazes washed over him, and they were all looking at his back with reverence and amazement.

    As the only one standing between the enemy and them, Beruel had be their guardian.

    No one could see him as a tyrant. Rather, there was only one word that could describe the kind of being Beruel was at the moment.

    A Hero!

    "FAIRY KING BERUEL!"

    "FAIRY KING BERUEL!!"

    "FAIRY KING BERUEEEEEELLLLL!!!"

    Screams and yells permeated the air, and he could feel his heart thumping.

    ''How can I back out now?'' He asked himself, donning a crazy smile on his face.

    It wasn''t an expression befitting royalty, but Beruel''s wide eyes and disheveled hair screamed of desperation. The genuine desire to win.

    "I won''t die¡­ and I won''t run!"

    A sword of light manifested on Beruel''s hand, and several mechanical des formed behind him. He daringly smiled at the group of Nether Beasts who had almost reached him¡ªready tounch all he had at them.<novelnext></novelnext>

    "GRRRRRRRRRRRR¡­"

    As soon as they were well within range, his eyes bulged even further, and he readied himself for theunch.

    "RIGHT NO¡ª!!!"

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!<

    >WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    >SWIIIIIIIIISSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    >WHUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!<

    Before Beruel couldplete hismands, several beings suddenly charged toward the Nether Beasts¡ªeach donning des, sters, staffs, spears, or simple gauntlets.

    These entities were shrouded in pure Aether, and they lunged at the Nether Beasts within moments¡ªtearing them to pieces at the same time.

    The remaining monsters stood no chance.

    All were eradicated by the legion of beings that trooped from beyond the Sanctuary''s dome. Their ferocious strength, their heightened utilization of Aether, their immense battle prowess, their violent strikes¡­ these beings depicted their primal instincts for chaos and destruction as they wreaked havoc all around them.

    "Well done, Beruel!" A voice called out for him, causing him to remove his eyes from the amazing sight in front of him and instead look behind.

    Ana and Jane floated from the Sanctuary, both approaching him with a smile. He knew instantly from their smile, and the chaotic creatures around him, that they had seeded in their task.

    "We did it, Beruel!" Ana yelled, jumping excitedly at the smaller being.

    His small frame was almost squished by the overenthusiastic girl''s swift hug.

    Beruel, whose body was already worn our from overexerting himself, screamed out to him in pain, and his eyes turned bloodshot.

    "Let him go, Ana. You''re hurting him." Jane smiled calmly.

    "A-ah, sorry." She quickly detached herself,ughing awkwardly.

    "It''s no problem... ah... ow..." Beruel groaned in response.

    "You don''t need to hide your pain. Judging from thendscape, it seems you''ve done a lot to hold back the enemy, Beruel."

    "No need to mention it, Jane. I was just performing my duty."

    "Perhaps. However, you still have my respect. I admit I was wrong about you, Beruel. You have indeed changed."

    To Beruel''s surprise, Jane extended her hand in his direction, giving a very genuine smile.

    The Fairy King never expected such a thing from Jane¡ªthough he had desired it many times.

    Of course, he took her hand.

    And so, as they both shook hands, Beruel and Jane smiled at each other; not as enemies, or as strangers...but asrades.

    "Apologies for interrupting you all, but I must now speak." A deep voice, containing authority and power, snapped the two fairies from their friendly exchange.

    They both nced in the direction of the voice, and sure enough it was a heavily built man.

    He was the leader of the Beastfolk, known by all we the Beast King. This entity was right in front of them, his people floating behind him as he approached Ana, Beruel, and Jane.

    He was Gerard!

    "You uploaded the necessary information to us in ouratose state, so I am up to date on the current happenings. I am also aware that we are meant to provide backup to the other nations."

    "That''s right. It''s all ording to the n¡ªthough it is a bitte in schedule." Jane nodded in response to the Beast King''s words.

    "I understand. We will now be leaving for our respective regions to provide backup to those who require the assistance. However, I have one question before I leave."

    There was hardly any time for discourse¡ªthey all knew that very well.

    However, Gerard''s serious demeanor, and his narrowed gaze, showed how serious he was.

    "Ask away." Jane smiled.

    With a wide grin and a determined gaze filled with nostalgia, Gerard asked the only question on his mind.

    "Where is my son, Asa?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

    Also, I would really appreciate it if you all kind of interacted more on the book. To be honest, I''ve been feeling a little lonely writing this novel these days.

    I remember when there used to be a lot of interactions. I just wish we could back to those times.

    Ah, and if you''ve notice, the book is taking a bit of a fast pace with the fights. That''s because we''re pushing towards a good climax.

    I certainly hope you enjoy reading.

 Chapter 727 The Nether Wars [Pt 8]

    It became a swift victory for the Allied Nations after the Beast Folks were awakened.

    They swept through the battlefield, disying such power and speed that the tides were easily turned in the favour of their allies. Nether Beasts were eradicated by the Aether-based weapons that the Beas folks possessed, and they did not stop until they were all destroyed.

    The Elves were fortunately rescued in the nick of time.

    Many had been killed, and far more were injured. However, the moment the Beast folks arrived, they were saved.

    The same happened in the North, and then the South¡ªwith Gerard leading the charge there personally.

    One could only imagine the joy on Asa''s face when he saw his father. Their reunion, warm and charming, seeped through the despairing battlefield, and with the hope of victory growing, everyone celebrated.

    With the Nether Beasts and the Corrupteds vanquished, they were done with the incursion of the Cult. However, there was a stagnant fear in the minds of everyone who had faced this crisis.

    What would happen if even more monsters appeared?

    As such, the Beast folks stationed in each nation remained on standby. The soldiers, after resting and pulling themselves together, also remained on high alert. The worst thing that could happen at this point would be a devastating ambush.

    However, despite all of this caution, they also realized how little the chances were for such an urrence. As a result, there were two more concerns on their mind¡ªfar more urgent than the initial one.

    "We have yet to spot the leader of this coordinated assault." Jane Urs used her Magic tomunicate with the allied nations.

    Right in front of her, in the vast expanse, several screens popped up, revealing the faces of each leader she was referring to.

    The Elf Queen

    The Dwarven Chief

    The Dragon King

    The Beast King

    The Human King

    And finally she, the President of the Fairy Sanctuary.

    Beruel and Ana were beside her while she made the call, and a look of concern was etched on her little face. Adjusting her sses a little, she gave them all a serious expression.

    "The leader has to be an Upper Seat in the Cult. We have yet to see anyone like that." Jane was worried that as long as he remained unounted for, their problems were far from over.

    And she was right!

    "And what''s the second concern?" Gerard asked in an excited tone.

    He had just woken up from his slumber, only to fight Nether Beasts and see his son be a warrior. When he arrived at the scene, he had seen Asa fighting so bravely¡ªeven though the boy was powerless.

    This was a perfect day for him¡ªboth as a father and as a Beastfolk. Thus, he itched for even more action.

    "The second problem has to do with the main team invading the Nether Cult. I have lost contact with them, so I can''t tell how they''re doing, but I suspect it''s not very good."

    "Really? Lack ofmunication shouldn''t be sufficient reason to think that, though." Aurora added.

    "I agree. I''m connected to Jared''s Soul due to our bond, and so far he doesn''t seem to be in any kind of mortal danger."

    "Then¡ª"

    "But Neron''s Magic suddenly stopped working, and the entire n was almost thrown out of the window. This battle strategy that we developed is so intricate that it falls apart if even one side does something wrong. Fortunately, we pulled through at thest minute, Or else¡­" Jane heaved in relief.

    At this point, the faces of the other leaders were beginning to show just how dire the situation was.

    "What do you think the problem is?" Z''ark asked in his deep tone.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I''m not sure. Fortunately, the assault of the enemies¡ªwhile being very precarious¡ªwas not as terrible as Jared had predicted. As a result, we were able to finish much faster than expected. I think we should all try to assist Jared and his team."

    "Wouldn''t that risk our stronghold? The one we''re protecting?"

    "I get your point Dwarf Chief. We can leave enough capable individuals to defend our territories while we leave. It''s risky, sure. But my gut tells me something is going down at the headquarters. I believe, even if it''s just a few, we should send our best forces to assist Jared."

    "Hmmm¡­ fair point. That is the enemy''s base, after all. Jared and his team might have trouble doing it alone."

    "Yes, and if they fail¡­ all of this would have been for nothing."

    The whole n hinged on the Nether Cult being totally wiped out. If Jared''s team failed, it would affect everyone terribly. As a result, their mission had to seed.

    "But still¡­ all of this is due to Neron''s Magic not working as it should?"

    "Yes. If something has happened to Neron, then I can guarantee that the team will be out of whack. Knowing Jared and Serah, they''ll want to rescue him. Things could get messy quickly." Jane sighed.

    "But¡­ if Neron is in trouble, and team Jared won''t be sufficient to handle the mission, what is the guarantee that we can?"

    "Well, there''s no guarantee. But we need to increase our chances." Jane added stubbornly.

    "May I make a suggestion?" An aged voice interrupted the back-and-forth.

    After a brief moment of silence, Jane conceded. "Sure, King Albion."

    "Why not send an elite team to go after team Jared? Let itprise our strongest warriors. It would be a waste and a shame if we sent a crowd, only for them to die."

    Once everyone heard this suggestion, they immediately appreciated it and thanked Albion for his wisdom. He had been silent throughout the meeting, but who would have thought that he had such smart words?

    ''I would have brought that up eventually, but¡­'' Jane smiled.

    "Alright. Let''s go with that instead. I''ll personally assemble the ones that will be going. By the way, King Albion, it''s a surprise that no Nether Beast has invaded your kingdom yet."

    "I am as surprised as you are. My Mages and Warriors have nothing to do here." The king chuckled.

    "Nevertheless, I''ll be sending some Beast folks your way¡­ just in case."

    "That would be much appreciated. Thank you."

    Jane nodded with a smile. Caution was necessary in times like these. As such, they had to be on guard at all times.

    As for the elite team she wanted to form, Jane had an idea of the members she wanted for it.

    ''Whatever is going on, I''m gonna make sure we don''t lose this war!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 728 [Bonus ] The Nether Wars [Pt 9]

    "Haa¡­" Albion Lestrome Indiavel, the current king of the Eastern Kingdom, heaved a sigh as he ended the call he was having with his allies.

    Something about meeting with far more powerful and influential leaders than him made the king feel on edge. He hadn''t spoken throughout their exchange simply because he had been nervous. However, after having a good enough idea, he finally spoke up.

    ''Thank goodness I wasn''t shot down.'' He said with relief.

    The leaders adopted his idea, and he was even praised for being wise¡­ how gratifying.

    Currently, the king and a few of his nobles were in the royal court. They had prepared for this historic day, but those who couldn''t fight¡ªlike Damien Leonard¡ªremained in the castle.

    Those who made it their duty to protect the Eastern Kingdom¡ªlike the Helmsworths and Crimsons¡ªand practically every other powerful individual in the kingdom, stood and guarded it with their life.

    This was somewhat unnecessary since Elrich had kept all the citizens in his special space, thanks to [The Hermit], however, there was one factor he had to consider.

    Their Pride!

    Just as the king wouldn''t abandon the capital, even though the rest of his family had done so, these few nobles and soldiers had the strong will to defend their capital. They refused to back down.

    Of course, the ones who were allowed to remain behind consisted of, the best of the best. Archmages, and those who were Archamge Candidates. For Martial Artists, the most powerful ones were chosen. They were in the Peak Stage¡ªall five of them¡ªand they were resolved to fight to the very end.

    The only exception to this rule was Damien Leonard¡ªJared''s father.

    And that was simply because he was their fallback in terms of strategy. Once things got too dangerous, Elrich was determined to instantly ce him in his special space.

    All the Archmages, Archmage Candidates, and Head Warriors gathered on the capital''s outskirts¡ªwhere they determined the fight would take ce.

    Their numbers were about fifty¡ªalthough, they mostly consisted of candidates. With twenty Archmages¡ªAlphonse alongside another from his household, a couple from the Helmsworth Family, the Crimson Family, and also one from the Frederick household. There were also twenty-five Archmage Candidates, thus, the number was a total of fifty.

    A good number of them were left behind to protect the king, so only thirty were left standing on the battlefield as they awaited the enemy.

    Several Automatons and Golems also stood guard, making their numbers skyrocket to the thousands. ording to Jared''s instructions, if the enemies were too powerful, everyone was to simply retreat to the special space.

    There was no reason to throw lives away unnecessarily.

    However, judging from everyone''s hardened faces¡ªElrich''s included¡ªnone of them had any intention of retreating. Right here and now¡­ they would fight against the enemy and win.

    Leading this charge were the two most exceptional Mages that were currently in the Kingdom.

    The Grand Mage and the Royal Court Mage¡ªElrich Lendertwale.

    And¡­

    Maria Helmsworth.

    With these two standing strong, the defenders rallied behind them¡ªready and waiting for the enemy''s strike. Though, after some time and yet no attack, they had to wonder¡­ just where was their opponent?

    ''Several Automaton Scouts are scouring the Kingdom for signs of an enemy, but none has been spotted yet.'' Elrich thought to himself, ncing at Maria.

    Her serious nod told him she was thinking the same.

    ''We''ll just have to wait it out if that''s what it takes. We''re never letting our guards down!''

    ording to the king''s reports concerning the other nations, the attacks were harsh and brutal. The Nether Beasts overwhelmed them so greatly that it was too difficult to win. However, with the awakening of the Beast folks, things changed.

    A legion of them wasing over for backup, ensuring the fortification of the Eastern Kingdom.

    ''It''ll be fine¡­'' Elrich and Maria thought to themselves, waiting for the rumble that would indicate the approach of the enemy.

    Dark clouds of despair. Quakes of devastation. Roars of savagery¡ªthey waited for the assault of the Nether Cult, or at least the signs of theiring.

    However¡­

    "Apologies for beingte." A gentle voice greeted all those who waited.

    It came from the sky.

    "W-wha¡ª?!''

    Floating in the air, with a long flowing cloak, dark hair, and a menacing smile on his face, was the enemy.

    It was a single person and he looked like a young man¡ªnot qualified enough to bebelled an adult yet. His blue eyes watched them intently, and while one of his hands was in his pocket, the other hand held something akin to a metal head.

    "I had a bit of disturbance on my way here." The boy in the sky threw down the metal head, and from what Maria could decipher, it had a familiar form¡­

    ''G-Gawain!''

    The Automaton''s headnded on the ground, echoing emptily and lifelessly. Obviously, it was long dead.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "This, and a couple of others, tried to interfere with me and my troops on my way here. I had to take care of them." Both of his hands were now in his pockets as he descended.

    As his hair fluttered with the wind, his face came into closer view. Of course, Maria already knew who the boy was from his voice alone. However, as he drew closer, so did everyone else.

    He was none other than Stefan Netherlore.

    "I hear you''ve been treating my family ''well''." He grinned widely. "That must be nice."

    "Why do you ask? You want us to free them of their crimes?" Elrich narrowed his eyes as he stared at the young boy.

    He was prepared to fight at any moment, but something else bothered him.

    ''Where is his army? Did they get destroyed on his way here?''

    "Nah. There''s no need. Do with them as you please." Stefan shrugged.

    His expression told them that he truly did not care about his family. His gaze was simply filled with one element¡ªhimself.

    "You must be wondering where my army is, right? Even now, you''re using your senses to scour for their whereabouts. I''ll advise you not to."

    "What?"

    "I came alone. It makes this easier for me, and all the more satisfying."

    ''He''s bluffing¡­ right?'' Elrich was dumbstruck by Stefan''s words.

    This sort of confidence was on another level entirely. Who did Stefan Netherlore think he was to be able to fight the whole Eastern Kingdom by himself?

    "Oh, don''t give me that look." Stefan grinned, especially at Maria who had a re on her face. "This makes things easier for you people, doesn''t it? There''s no need to be worried."

    His tone was condescending, and he seemed to be enjoying the attention.

    "If you beat me, then you win. As for me, I''ll have to crush all of you. That''s sufficient as a handicap, don''t you think?"

    "Do you really think you''ll win?"

    "I do." Stefan brought both of his hands out of his pockets and pointed in the direction of the capital.

    "First, I''ll destroy that ce¡­ then I''ll deal with you all."

    Elrich''s eyes widened in both surprise and rage. His body was pulsating with energy, and his heart raced as he gave a swift prompt to move.

    However¡ª

    >WHUUUUMMMMM!!!<

    Seemingly in a sh, Stefan was no longer in their presence. It seemed like he had vanished, but was that just his speed?

    Just as he''d proimed, Stefan was now atop the capital. He had a mischievous expression on his face, and his eyes were glowing red.

    "NO, YOU DON''T!"

    In brilliant bursts of light¡ªfilled with Aether¡ªthe team of thirty, and even the strong ones within the capital, leapt to the sky. They all went straight for Stefan, their expressions depicting desperate valour.

    Unfortunately¡ª

    "Watch and learn¡­ Witness true power."

    It was already toote.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 729 Stefan V The Eastern Kingdom [Pt 1]

    It all happened so suddenly.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    In a single stroke of power¡ªa mere thrust of the wind¡ªand a mighty push, the Royal Capital was destroyed.

    It started at the center, the push effect of Stefan''s technique. Buildings, and everything else, were sent flying. In violent, dystopian imagery, everything in the capital was reduced to rubbles¡ªthey were all sent vacating through the holes in the huge walls that were also broken down.

    All of this urred within seconds.

    All the individuals who tried to protect the capital¡ªthose who rushed towards Stefan¡ªwere all pushed back by his power.

    Some were affected more than others, causing their instant deaths, while many others sustained serious injuries.

    All in all, it was an overwhelming victory for Stefan.

    No one stood a chance!

    *

    *

    *

    ''Hmmm¡­ I see. So, no casualties in the pce.'' Stefan thought to himself as he observed the ruinedndscape.

    ''Did the Court Mage teleport them to safety before it was toote? So he did that instead of teleporting to my location. A wise decision.''

    He had been well aware of Elrich''s ability to teleport ever since the Demon Incursion.

    ''Jared, that bastard. Why did he keep giving out Arcanas? He should just keep them for himself.'' Stefan sighed.

    Still, he could not be too upset. The destruction he caused was enough to satiate his pent-up annoyance, at least for now.

    ''The Nether Beasts and Corrupteds in the other nations have been destroyed, and so quickly too. This is thanks to you, isn''t it, Jared?'' It upset Stefan that Jared had nned ahead and ensured the victory of the other nations.

    It was also annoying that he sent some Automatons to intercept him. While they were quite formidable¡ªespecially because of the special weapons they had¡ªthey still didn''t stand a chance against him.

    ''Did he really think I would be so easy to kill? Or did he simply intend to stall me? I have no idea.'' Stefan sighed in frustration.

    Still, all of this wasn''t going to be a waste¡ªat least, he hoped so.

    ''Maria is here. Ah, and the Court Mage too. Both of them should make for formidable opponents. I want to fight them so badly.'' His grin widened maniacally.

    Groans of the injured echoed through the air, and their voices annoyed the hell out of him. He didn''t like how the battlefield was filled with weaklings. To him, only the strong were worthy to stand in his presence and fight.

    ''I came here to fight strong people, after all.''

    "STEFAAAAAAAANNNNNN!!!" A scream emanated from beneath him, causing him to look in its direction.

    ''Ah, Maria¡­ that''s a lovely expression you have on your face. Do you finally see how much I''ve surpassed you? You can''t do stuff like this, can you?''

    Stefan had always beenpared to his cousin, and it had always irritated him. He was always considered inferior to the true genius¡­ and that was beyond annoying. His family had pressured him persistently, and Maria never understood how he felt.

    But now, the situation had been flipped.

    ''I''m stronger. You''re weaker.''

    And while this fight wouldn''t be as satisfactory as his intended battle with Jared, it would have to suffice.

    "This is just a show of strength. I''ll advise you to teleport all the dregs around to safety. They''ll only slow you down. Ah, and I''ll kill them if they remain here."

    Elrich''s face twisted instantly, much to Stefan''s delight. He loved seeing their faces; how they showed the anger, shock, rage, and multiple other emotions that were directed at him.

    His favourite, though¡­ was despair!

    Elrich, as he''d expected, obeyed and teleported the wounded and weak to whatever safe location he had in mind.

    ''It doesn''t matter. I''ll be taking both your Arcanas and then I''ll destroy everything in this Kingdom.'' Stefan grinned with delight.

    This was going to be fun no matter how he thought of it. He versus the great genius and the Court Mage.

    "Show me your best moves."

    *

    *

    *

    In a sh, Maria donned her Mage Mode, Fusion State, and allowed the power of her Arcana to course through her veins¡ªgranting her even more power.

    In essence, she was in a more heightened state of Archangel Drive.

    Her Familiar was an Angel¡ªan Archangel ss one. It was supposedly a Star, and it was certainly very powerful. Her power was rising at a fast rate, but Maria felt that it still wasn''t enough.

    Her body glowed white, and a glistening apparel covered her¡ªpure white armour, white feathered wings, and a white crown.

    In this Archangel Drive, she was strong enough to decimate most targets. However, after witnessing all Stefan had done¡ªhow he had killed her father who had been close to the impact, as well as her other rtions, she knew she had to do far more.

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Golden and silver designs began appearing all over her armour, and her wings grew even longer. The crown on her head appeared more majestic, and several feathers floated around her.

    Everything around her bloomed, and white flowers began to blossom all around her. This was what happened when she poured enough power from [The Pope] into her Archangel Drive.

    It became something else.

    "Celestial Archangel Drive"

    ncing to her side, she could see Elrich also donning his Magic Items and entering Mage Mode. He fused with his Familiar, one that happened to be a Centaur.

    Centaurs possessed great minds, and their intelligence was said to have reached a transcendent degree.

    "Cheiron¡­ let''s do this." Elrich muttered.

    He didn''t have hooves¡ªneither did he have any particr horse feature. However, several tattoos formed on his body, especially his face and his body also turned ebony. Along with the effects of Mage Mode and his Magic Items, he appeared to be a dark-red entity, with cracked marks of power covering his skin.

    Bursts of energy, like mes, covered his body. A Magic Grimoire floated in front of him, glowing with several colours. He also held a staff, and the ne on his neck glowed ominously.

    "Maria¡­ do not hold back." His warbling voice was stern and intimidating.

    The girl beside him nodded, and the both of them faced the enemy.

    "I should return the favour." Stefan grinned.

    >WHHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Dark scales shrouded his body, and his cloak was stained with red energy. A tail formed behind him, as well as a pair of dragon wings. Horns appeared on his head, and his dark hair grew far longer than before.

    Cackles of red and ck lightning surrounded him, giving more credence to his form.

    He appeared to be a dragon¡ªand quite a majestic one, at that.

    "My former Familiar was removed by the Cult, and I got this one as a recement. Haha¡­ isn''t that great?"

    The Dragon''s power was indeed impressive, and the surge of power he was currently depicting had toe from Mage Mode. With these two factors, along with his Arcana''s power, Stefan was more than prepared for their challenge.

    Maria now understood the weight behind Elrich''s words. Stefan was too powerful¡­ and dangerous!

    Thus, all three stood¡ªtwo against one¡ªas they prepared to sh.

    With no one around to witness the battle, or get in the way, they were free to fight without worry or fear.

    "Let''s go!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 730 Stefan V The Eastern Kingdom [Pt 2]

    ''I would love to use my Grimoire''s [Analyze], with my staff''s [Link] and [Activation] effects, to counter Stefan''s abilities, but¡­''

    Doing that against an Arcana was a tall order. Perhaps that would have worked for other Spells, but Elrich was unsure.

    He would simply use them when the need called for it. His major options in this battle were his Arcana, the many items that heightened his raw power, and the ne that would shield him. He also had his rings¡ªeach having various elemental attributes that would be somewhat useful depending on the situation.

    His Familiar had many uses¡ªmost of it involving precognition, battle analysis, weakness identification, information supply, andplete awareness of the details around him. His current mode also vastly improved his cognitive ability, so he could think very fast; much faster than his body could move.

    His Familiar, while not having any major offensive ability, was perfect for support!

    ''The Gem on my forehead can allow me to redirect an attack¡ªbut depending on the intensity of the attack, I don''t know how many it can handle before expiring.''

    Stefan was far more powerful than his precious opponents, so he was unsure of how the battle would go. However, Elrich didn''t despair. After all, he wasn''t alone.

    Maria was right beside him, and based on raw power alone, she was pretty much his match. He wondered how someone so young could possess such prowess, but this wasn''t the time to delve into such things.

    Besides, their enemy was about the same age as Maria, and his power appeared to exceed theirs¡ªat least on an individual level.

    ''Working together, using our Arcanas¡­ we can win!'' With this in mind, Elrich signalled to Maria and she made the first move.

    *

    *

    *

    >VWUUUUSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Maria sped through the expanse of space between her and Stefan, instantly appearing right behind him.

    "Not bad." The boy arrogantlymented.

    At that very moment, Elrich teleported in front of the target. Both he and Maria coordinated their strikes, prepared to destroy Stefan. However¡ª

    ''Fools.'' He grinned, perfectly capable of sensing both Maria and Elrich as they closed in on him.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    With a surge of power, he sent Maria and Elrich flying away¡ªat least, he was supposed to.

    However, the moment he tried this, Elrich had already teleported Maria and himself far away from Stefan, thus wasting the attack.

    "Smart move. Running away from me like that." Stefan grinned, watching them from their distance.

    Thanks to Elrich Lendertwale''s teleportation ability, they could easily evade attacks. Thus, making their increased mobility very difficult for Stefan to counter.

    ''Hmph! Is that what they really think?''

    He watched as the two prepared another set of attacks¡ªthis time from their distant range.

    Maria''s energy appeared to be condensed into the form of a spear, while Elrich was using ten different elements to form a massive sphere. Both were dangerous attacks¡ªand they were sure to cause considerable damage to any target.

    ''But I can easily repel it. What are these idiots thinking?'' Stefan thought to himself in disappointment.

    It was as though they were using their abilities without much thought. It ruined the experience for him.

    "Whatever." He stretched out his palm, and a ck orb appeared in front of him. Crimson cackles formed all around him, and the orb kept expanding,

    "I''ll y along with their farce."

    Both Maria and Elrich released their attacks, and they shed with that Stefan''s.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    A st ascended to the sky and burrowed itself into the earth. In mere moments, the area around them was covered in char and smoke.

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    Emerging from this smoke were Elrich and Maria, once again choosing to attack Stefan with their joint efforts.

    ''My senses transcend sight alone. Even with the smokescreen, I can clearly sense them.'' He nearly sighed.

    The moment they struck, he utilized his repulsion once more, and this time, while Maria teleported away, Elrich took the hit.

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    As expected, he was sent crashing into the ground.

    He quickly picked himself back up, though. Once he recovered from Stefan''s absolute defence, Elrich returned to Maria''s side with a brilliant smile on his face.

    "What are you idiots up to?" Stefan asked in exasperation.

    So far, they were hardly putting up a challenge. It was almost too boring.

    "Come on, Maria! Onest time." This time, both Elrich and Maria teleported right in front of Stefan.

    They prepared their attacks once more, and this made the boy extremely upset.

    ''Are you kidding me?!''

    He decided to get a bit more serious, utilizing his power of motion to halt both Elrich and Maria in their current position while sending his push ability to decimate them.

    However¡ª

    "U-uh¡­?"

    ¡ªIt didn''t work!

    "What?!"

    While he was in this state of shock, Elrich and Maria swiftly unleashed the trap they had been preparing for Edward from above.

    A beam of light¡ªlike a kaleidoscope pir of many colours¡ªdescended from above and consumed their target.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    With Stefanpletely baptized by the pir, and its influence spreading to consume Elrich and Maria, both vanished from their position and retreated a far distance away.

    "Haa¡­" Elrich heaved a sigh.

    Even though he was used to the basics of his abilities, and even got around to mastering a few other tricks, using the Arcanas in quick session¡ªespecially in split-second intervals¡ªwas a bit of a bother.

    If it weren''t for the abilities of his Familiar, he wouldn''t be able to keep up with such speed. Still, it seemed they had dealt their first strike.

    And it was all thanks to their cooperation.

    *

    *

    *

    Maria''s Arcana, [The Pope], created a purification effect that eliminated anything considered evil, and as such, anythingbelled with malevolence. It was especially effective when battling Nether.

    This contrast allowed her to nullify Nether and its influence.

    Just as it was possible to operate an Arcana using Mana or Miasma, Nether apparently also worked. Since Stefan was using it, Maria could nullify it¡ªat least that had been their belief.

    To test this out, she encased Elrich in her energy and allowed him to intentionally receive Stefan''s attacks head-on.

    Of course, Elrich was sent flying¡ªbut only as an act. The Arcana''s effects didn''t work on him. Through this short interaction, they were able to figure out a way to escape the influence of Stefan''s power.

    Who else could have thought of that? Maria was Stefan''s natural enemy.

    "You¡­" Stefan emerged from the light pir, a little roughened by its impact.

    His wounds soon healed, however.

    p¨£§ád¨£ §«?¦Í¨º1,§ã¨°§® "I''m done ying. Why don''t we kick things up a notch?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 731 The Ultimate Sacrifice

    The Star.

    That was the Arcana Stefan Netherlore possessed.

    It could control motion. Up, down, left, right. Its influence on motion spread to that of gravity. It had an irresistible pull, an unstoppable push, and an unrivaled inertia.

    All in all, [The Star] was an ultimate tool in terms of attraction, repulsion, and stasis¡ªa fine example would be how it blew up the Royal Capital in a matter of seconds.

    That''s right. Such was the power of an Arcana.

    *

    *

    *

    >VWUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A heavy feeling of gravity suddenly permeated the area, causing both Maria and Elrich to wince, bracing themselves as they resisted.

    Maria unleashed her Pope ability, instantly shielding both Elrich and her from Stefan''s influence. However, the moment she did this, Stefan appeared right in front of Elrich, with a ckened hand that oozed concentrated Nether.

    Elrich, whose mind operated over a dozen times faster than his body''s reaction, saw his opponent closing in on him and quickly chose to utilize his Arcana.

    ''U-uh?!'' Elrich''s eyes bulged the moment he realized something.

    ''Why isn''t¡­ it working?!''

    One look at Stefan''s wide grin told him that the young boy knew what was going on. However, before he could find out¡ª

    >SQUELCH!<

    Stefan drilled a hole through Elrich''s chest, going for an instant kill.

    "Guark!" Elrich, whom Stefan''s hand was now impaling, coughed out blood and shuddered with pain.

    "ELRICCCCHHHH!!!" Maria sped in his direction, but Stefan seemingly vanished, appearing a further distance from Maria, the Grand Mage still impaled on his hand.

    "Pathetic. I expected more from the Grand Mage of the Eastern Kingdom." Stefan grinned devilishly, as he slowly removed his hand from the Grand Mage''s chest.

    Elrich writhed and groaned as a result, his eyes turning bloodshot, while Stefan simply enjoyed the old man''s expression of pain.

    "I''ve destroyed your Heart Core. I''ve also infected your body with highly concentrated Nether. You won''t survive. It seems you thought that that measly protectiveyer of Aether could protect you, but¡­ I easily went through it with a far more powerful amount of Nether."

    Elrich was grunting and groaning as Stefan spoke, while Maria did her best to strike him while he still spoke¡ªall to no avail.

    ~Don''t do it. Don''t use it. Not yet¡­~ She heard a voice within her, and it prompted her to simply rely on screaming and pointless attacks to stop Stefan.

    "Hahaha! It''s no use." The enemy grinned at Maria''s sheer stupidity.

    "I''m much faster and stronger than you are. I don''t know how you resisted my Arcana''s ability, but it won''t happen again. Besides, with your Space Magic nowpletely out of the picture¡­" Stefan fully removed his hand from Elrich''s chest, leaving a gaping hole in its ce.

    No matter how one looked at it, the Royal Court Mage was going to die.

    *

    *

    *

    There was something not many people knew about in this world¡ªthe interaction between thews of existence.

    How did time interact with Space? How did Space interact with Gravity? Understanding these factors would have shown them the truth about what would happen when twows conflicted.

    As such, when Stefan and his enemies fought, thetter assumed that they had the upper hand due to the nature of Maria''s Arcana. But¡­ could it not also have been the other way around?

    Gravity was the very glue that held space and time together.

    Once Stefan realized this about his power, he often wondered what it would be like if he created a highly dense gravitational field epassing an enemy who could use either space or time Magic.

    He didn''t leave this untested, though, as he sought the aid of the Cult. There, this theory of his was personally tested by Legris¡ªof all people¡ªwho had the ability to teleport through his dark portals.

    And what would you know¡­ Space Magic couldn''t properly function within a highly dense gravitational field. It would grow unstable and copse.

    Once he realized this, Stefan''s joy knew no bounds. He had finally found it¡­ the power he would use toy waste to those who had looked down on him, acquiring even more power by doing so.

    *

    *

    *

    Elrich could feel his body turning cold, and his consciousness fading. He had been struck in both his first heart and his backup heart. As a result, he was going to lose his life very soon.

    Stefan''s attack had been a surprise to him. Perhaps he had miscalcted and underestimated the boy''s abilities. They hadn''t been the only ones holding back, after all.

    It was a shame his Grimoire couldn''t mimic any Nether ability, so he couldn''t be of much use in the fight. Sure, he had a few more cards here and there, but Stefan was either too fast or too strong to resist it.

    ''He really has grown very strong, hasn''t he?'' Elrich smiled to himself.

    Perhaps that was why he had allowed himself to get hit.

    Even though his body moved at a set speed, his mind was much faster. He had processed Stefan''s approach before the act had actually urred. Space Magic didn''t work, and Elrich surmised it had to do with the gravitational field Stefan set up.

    ''I''m such an idiot! Why didn''t I see it earlier?'' But it was toote. It was already in course.

    Elrich thought of various routes he could use to escape, and while he came up with one or two, he also realized something.

    ''I won''t have a chance like this again. The next time he attacks¡ªwhich will most likely be immediate¡ªI''ll be dead for sure.''

    As a result, he had to make a decision.

    Thus¡­ he did.

    "U-urgh¡­" Groaning and ring at Stefan, he let out thest bit of his strength.

    "What are you doing? Still struggling to¡­ uh?!"

    Elrich, despite the influence of the gravitational field, was utilizing his Arcana. The blue energy turned purple, and then ck, ever-expanding like a vortex, as it emanated from him.

    "W-what are you¡ª? You can''t use it now, it''s destabilized."

    "E-exactly¡­ When Space gets destabilized and copses, and yet gets bigger and bigger, an anomaly is formed. And¡­ that anomaly is¡­"

    The vortex grew extremelyrge, appearing between both Elrich and Stefan, as it suddenly started swirling and twisting, forming a gaping ck void.

    "... A ck hole!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 732 Stefans True Power

    >WHUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    The ck Hole instantly began sucking everything around it into its pitch-ck void.

    The air, energy, and the two beings who stood right in front of it¡­ were all being taken in without discrimination.

    "Are you crazy? If you do this, you''ll die. You''ll kill us both!" Stefan yelled, both in disbelief and desperation, as even he could not slip his way out of the almighty pull.

    The ck Hole''s gravitational pull was much stronger than what he could muster so suddenly. Thus, as Elrich was getting sucked in, he too found himself being pulled closer.

    "I''ve lived for long enough, Stefan, so this much is fine. Still, no matter how much you resist it¡­ you''reing with me!"

    "N-never!"

    "Onest parting gift, though¡­" Elrich grinned, and suddenly, the gem on his forehead cracked.

    The moment this happened¡­.

    "G-guh¡­ uh¡­?!" A hole appeared in the middle of Stefan''s chest,pletely out of the blue.

    Dark blood flowed from the boy''s chest, thus reducing any form of resistance he previously had. His body was now powerlessly drifting into the singrity, while Elrich was practically immersed in it.

    "The rest¡­ is up to you¡­ Maria¡­." Elrich whispered before finally getting consumed whole by the void.

    Taking with him, Stefan Netherlore¡ª

    "THAT''S ENOUGH!!!"

    ¡ªOr so he thought.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    *

    *

    *

    Stefan was desperate.

    He knew he had lost the moment the ck hole appeared. He knew he would have to rely on more of his power. However¡­

    ''Doing that would be insulting! How can I use my full power here?!''

    His pride wouldn''t let him go all-out. He still believed that if he waited out the storm, resisting the tides for long enough, the ck Hole would lose its stabilizing source and ultimately implode. Once Elrich died, no one would be left to control [The Tower], thus, it would lose its form of sustenance.

    His only fear, however, was that he had no idea if the ck Hole had reached the point of self-sustenance.

    This position of his, however, changed the moment Elrich used another one of his trump cards¡ªthe mirrored attack he had used on him. Since it was an offensive move that was used with the intent to kill, Stefan felt the brunt of it quite well.

    ''T-this¡­ is my attack?!'' He had thought to himself, groaning and feeling the pain that apanied being hit with his own power.

    Once things got to this point, and Stefan could feel himself slipping into the abyss¡­ he had no other option. He had to let go of his ego and w his way to survival. He had to win¡­ no matter the cost!

    "RAAARRRRGHHHHHH!!!"

    As a result, he finally unleashed his most primal instincts, as well as his most powerful form.

    His bodypletely turned ck, and red cackles surrounded him.

    Even his face waspletely dyed in darkness, leaving only his red eyes visible. His wings becamerger and more crooked, spikes emanated from his body, and his dragon-scale armour became one with greater darkness.

    Once he attained this state, Stefan had enough power¡ªnot just simply to escape, but also to destroy the very thing that threatened his life.

    Thus, in a brilliant eruption of dark power, Stefan destroyed the ck hole and liberated himself.

    "Haaa¡­" He floated in the air, heaving as his glorious new form created a blot in the sky.

    He could see the despair written all over Maria''s face¡ªhe took this as his reward for trying so hard. Still, despite not dying as Elrich had wanted, he had to give props to the old man.

    ''You made me use my full power. That''s impressive.''

    He swiftly discarded this transformation, returning to his Fusion State. After all, using such a form on Maria would be too boring. Her face told it all¡ªhow frightened she was as a result of his immense power.

    "W-what have you be¡­?" Maria''s shuddering voice echoed in his ears, but Stefan felt nothing stir within him.

    If she was trying to gain his sympathy, it wasn''t going to work.

    "Look at all you''ve done¡­ all you''re doing. How can you truly enjoy this? You¡­ are you really Stefan?" Hearing her whimpers made him both disgusted and delighted.

    Maria had always been a goody-two-shoes; a personality he had grown to dislike over the years.

    He had initially started out with respect for her. He had felt frustrated about his inferiority, yes, but that didn''t blind him from seeing her sheer ability. In terms of talent and skill, she was superior¡ªand he didn''t deny that.

    However, as time progressed, the respect he had towards Maria¡ªthe reverence¡ªslowly became something else.

    Some called it envy, others called it resentment, but to Stefan, it only meant one thing¡­ disgust!

    He felt disgusted towards Maria, and towards himself as well.

    For someone who had so much power, her actions annoyed him. He often imagined what he would do if he had that power¡ªno, if he had more.

    Finally, just when he had been about to be swallowed whole by the despair of weakness, his family revealed to him just who he was¡ªwhat he was. To his surprise, Legris Damien had also conspired with them.

    He was promised power if he followed Legris and joined the Cult. The promise was well kept.

    The Cult Leader personally supervised the procedure, and Stefan was integrated with so much Nether¡ªenough to kill anyone.

    However, ording to the leader, and thedy in white, they had not seen anyone aspatible with Nether as he was.

    It turned out that he was truly a genius among geniuses. He had always been special, and the depths of his powers had yet to be reached.

    He had just been looking in the wrong direction all this time.

    "But now¡­" Stefan grinned as he gazed at Maria.

    She was still on the ground, but she was covered in a dense dome.

    "Hmm?"

    He stretched out his hand towards her, using the effects of his Arcana to pull her in his direction. However, much to his chagrin, nothing happened.

    "Ah, so you''re the one responsible for that interference. Your Arcana must be countering mine. Very good."

    Maria remained on the ground. Her expression was stoic, but her eyes hid so much pain.

    "Why don''t we try something a little bit different? If I won''t use my Arcana, then¡­"

    Suddenly, various colours of light began appearing all over Stefan.

    Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Indigo. Violet.

    Once these seven colours danced around Stefan, his grin widened even further, and a dark gleam entered his eyes.

    "... Why don''t we try Original Magic?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 733 Backup Arrives

    Original Magic was the pinnacle of a Mage''s personal journey with Magic.

    After familiarizing themselves with the concept, they could weave the very form they had been practising and create their own unique brand.

    Mages could choose to either start from scratch or tweak the ones they could already use.

    The more unique an Original Magic was, the more unpredictable it would be. And the more versatile it was, the more useful it would be. However, no one could argue the power an Original Magic user wielded.

    After all, even the Arcanas were formerly the Original Magic of certain individuals of old.

    *

    *

    *

    "Original Magic: Dance Of The Celestial Lights." Stefan smiled, both hands folded as he looked at Maria in a condescending way.

    "At this point, using Original Magic should be enough for you."

    Maria said nothing as she kept her gaze on him. Her calm face always bothered him, but he soothed himself by staring into her eyes. They were filled with emotions¡ªmost likely fear.

    However, just when he decided to strike, Stefan noticed something.

    "They''re here¡­" Maria whispered.

    The people who had arrived¡ªwho Stefan had also sensed because they had gotten within his range¡ªwere none other than the backup forces.

    The Beastfolks!

    *

    *

    *

    Baraja was a powerful, well-renowned Beast folk among his people.

    Some even said that he was second only to the Beast King in strength. When he had been younger, he''d even dreamed of having that position.

    That would be the greatest honour, he thought to himself.

    However, with Gerard''s emergence¡ªsomeone much more powerful than he was¡ªBaraja epted his fate. He would alwayse short against the Beast King no matter how hard he tried.

    Sure, he was a Dragon Beastfolk, just like the former Beast King¡ªVaizer. However, Gerard was a different kind of monster. He was a variant with so many transformations and bloodlines that it was impossible for him topete against him.

    In both strength and versatility, he was inferior.

    And¡­ Baraja epted it.

    He decided to ept his lot, refusing topare himself to Gerard any longer. Rather, he chose to cultivate his strength at his own pace.

    He was currently a well-to-do warrior. He had enough fame and status tost him a lifetime. He had a good family, and the satisfaction he experienced when he attained a new level of strength¡ªwithoutparing it to Gerard¡ªwas indescribably pleasant.

    All in all, Baraja was the best he could possibly be; which was why he was sent, alongside a squadron of five thousand Beastfolks, to the Eastern Kingdom.

    ording to thest report they got, the Eastern Kingdom wasn''t under siege at all, so he and his forces took their time getting there while taking close looks at their surroundings to spot where the enemy could be hiding.

    They didn''t spot anyone or anything until they neared the capital. Once they did, however¡­ he and his team were overwhelmed by the horror!

    ''T-the entire capital¡­ has been destroyed?!''

    What amazed Baraja the most was that there were still no Nether Beasts in sight. Just chaos and destruction all over the ce. However, almost as soon as they spotted the destruction, Baraja was able to spot two people on the scene.

    One was a young woman, who was on the floor, and the other was a young man. Thetter seemed to have the advantage, and Baraja could spot highly concentrated light energy emanating from the man''s direction.

    "Is this the enemy? Is he the one responsible for all of this?!" Baraja whispered.

    He recognized the youngdy once he got closer. She was one of the people of the Eastern Kingdom¡ªhis ally. The fact that no one else was around¡ªnot even the Grand Mage he had been told he would meet¡ªmeant the enemy had either wiped them out, or something unfortunate had urred.

    Either way¡­ he and his team would have to help.

    *

    *

    *

    "HALT THERE, NETHER CULT MEMBER!!!"

    Stefan watched himself be instantly surrounded by the Beastfolk army.

    They gathered around him like flies, and he felt that they would be a bother to him and his little rematch with the genius of the Eastern Kingdom.

    "You''re in my way¡­" He sighed.

    Of course, the Beastfolk soldiers were not going to back down simply because he was dissatisfied. Thus, he had to make an example out of them.

    "Guess I''ll use this power on them first¡­" Stefan eyed the Dragon Beastfolk who appeared to be the leader of the army.

    He had a dignified appearance, and he looked powerful. However, the guy was nothingpared to him.

    "Red."

    A red beam of light formed in front of Stefan, and it seemed to be gettingrger as seconds passed.

    "EVERYONE, DEFENSIVE MANEUVERS!"

    "Useless." Stefan thought to himself as he released the red ball¡ªwhich was now twice as big as he was.

    >WHHUUUUUUUSSSHSHHHHHH!!!<

    Instantly, the Beastfolk erected a barrier made of Aether¡ªusing their tools¡ªand took their formation as they prepared to attack.

    However¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The red st expanded, destroying the Aether shield instantly. Just a little bigger, and it would have consumed Baraja and the subordinates he had around him.

    ''Red is simply for destruction.'' The malevolent boy smiled. ''Should I try a different colour?''

    Stefan''s Original Magic: Dance Of The Celestial Lights, was a technique that involved seven different colours¡ªeach with its own distinct effect. Not only did it ensure versatility, but their nature as light also guaranteed their speed.

    In the end¡­ it was an Original Magic perfect for him.

    Red stood for pure destruction. The bigger he made it, the more powerful the st would be.

    However, because he didn''t want to waste any time with them, and he wanted to render their defences obsolete, Stefan decided to opt for¡­

    "Indigo."

    Instantly, an indigo light shone, spreading around Stefan like mist.

    The brilliant surge of light travelled faster than the Beastfolks could react to, though their defences held up.

    "Hehe.."

    Unfortunately, even the defences could not prevent what happened next.

    "UARRRGHHHHH!!!! MY HEEEAAAADDDDD!!!"

    "GUARRRHHHH!"

    "MY ARMS!"

    "URRRKKKKK!!!"

    Stefan revelled in the screams of his adversaries as he stood at the center of the army. All the Beastfolk soldiers that surrounded him were suddenly afflicted with something beyond their control.

    Indigo!

    ''I''ve affected their minds. Their synaptic responses are in overdrive, so they''re seeing hallucinations and experiencing a lot of pain. Once it reaches a certain threshold¡­ they''ll die.''

    The best part about this technique was that it was incorporeal, so unless the target escaped its effective range, it would keep on affecting them.

    "With this¡­ I''ve won."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 734 Wish Upon A Starlight

    Screams of despair echoed across the vast field.

    The devastatedndscape disyed the chaos beneath, and the agony above.

    All the floating Beastfolks crashed to the ground, stripped of the mental fortitude and focus required to maintain the flight effects of their items.

    Even as they fell, one after the other, their screams continued. It would only be a matter of time before they met their end¡ªtheir painful, agonizing end.

    However¡­

    "That''s enough."

    A voice suddenly emerged from the chaos.

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In an instant, the entire area was covered in white light.

    The white light stretched on for miles, and white flowers bloomed all over the earth¡ªeven in the fully destroyed locations.

    A white dome shrouded everything across the area of influence, and a bright glow could be seen emanating from a single person. This person rose from her low estate, her bodypletely transfigured into that of an angel¡ªno, it was something even more divine.

    To anyone that saw her, there could only be one word to describe this holy entity shrouded in white, silver, and golden light.

    A Goddess!

    The screams instantly ceased and were reced with utter decorum. The Beastfolks fell unconscious, and white flowers suddenly shrouded them where theyy.

    The Goddess, covered in light, and oozing sheer purity, looked around her to ensure that all the Beastfolks were safely under her protection. Once she confirmed this, her gaze shifted in the direction of the malefactor.

    Stefan Netherlore.

    "You¡­ what did you do?!" He snarled.

    *

    *

    *

    Maria felt like the most powerful being alive.

    This was only an illusion that her sudden boost in power offered her, but it was enough to grant her a much wider perspective on everything.

    Her aching heart and trembling face were suddenly frozen in ce, and an aura of gentle authority took over.

    The Beastfolks who suffered would suffer no more. Once she produced that thought, her will was carried out.

    Maria encased the entire area in her protective sphere, and with all the preparations finally made, her focus finally converged on the enemy¡­ Stefan.

    "What did you do?" He asked her spitefully.

    She owed him no exnation, so she didn''t speak.

    Why did she need to tell him how she and her Familiar had fused past the allowed integration level?

    Usually, in Fusion Mode, the host had an equal or higher share in the power distribution. It offered a bnce and some means of control for the host. The highest synchronization rate would be an equal distribution, so both Host and Familiar would be co-drivers¡ªpartners in the body.

    However, Maria had exceeded this level.

    Her synchronization rate was currently 30:70¡ªthe lesser number being her current position in the body. As a result of this, she was granted even more power, and the flow of power from her Archangel Familiar was increased dramatically.

    This, in turn, allowed her to siphon more Aether from her Arcana and utilize it more efficiently. In essence, she was far stronger than before.

    However, with his new power came some dangerous effects.

    Maria''s personality had gotten numbed, and her self-awareness plummeted. In this state, she was seemingly in a daze. It felt like she was not the one piloting her body, though she still had a good idea of what was happening.

    Finally, even with herck ofplete consciousness, Maria''s main objective remained the same.

    Stop Stefan Netherlore¡­ no matter what!

    "Original Magic¡­" Maria muttered, staring at Stefan with focused eyes.

    Suddenly, a circle simr to a wheel appeared underneath her¡ªright beneath the sole of her armoured feet. Maria''s angel wings pped, and feathers fell from them.

    ''W-what? I don''t¡­ I haven''t fully developed my Original Magic. What is this? This isn''t¡­'' It didn''t take long for Maria''s inner self to realize what was happening.

    This wasn''t her Original Magic.

    It was the Original Magic of her Familiar!

    "... Starlight Of Heaven."

    Suddenly, the Magic Circle began to shoot rays of light upon Maria, and the feathers around her took the appearance of stars.

    The stars burned brightly, and they radiated gloriously.

    From the circle also emerged something akin to a wand. The wand floated into Maria''a hands, and she held it lightly.

    Her gaze remained on Stefan, and despite the amount of time she was taking for her preparation, there was a reason she hadn''t been attacked by her opponent yet.

    That was because he was frozen still.

    From the activation of her Original Magic, and the manifestation of the circle underneath her, she had already transcended the speed Stefan could reach. Albeit only temporary, due to the activation sequence, Maria was currently moving faster than the flow of time itself.

    "Star bright, Starlight,  Stars with heavens delight." She muttered, swinging her staff slowly as she controlled the glimmering stars around her.

    The circle slowly disappeared, and time finally went back to normal.

    Stefan could be seen in a confused rage, as he directed multiple light sts, all possessing different colours.

    Still, none of them seemed to grab her attention. Maria''s focus seemed to be on the stars that were focused on a particr point.

    Once the stars converged and formed a more massive one, Maria''s smile finally appeared.

    "I hereby wish, O'' Star, for you to hearken to my heart''s desire. Wish upon a star, and the star shall heed your heart''s desire. So, reverse the harm done and set causality right. Such is the wish of this Constetion, one of the twelve watchers of this life."

    Stefan''s multicoloured lights instantly disintegrated the moment they neared Maria, but her light kept getting brighter and brighter. It ascended far into the heavens, shimmering in all its glory.

    Up, up above, it went. Finally, upon reaching a precipice¡­ it exploded.

    And then¡­

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Everyone was blinded for a moment due to the sheer intensity of the st.

    However, once the dust settled and sight returned to their eyes¡­ They were all greeted with the most amazing sight.

    All had been restored.

    The entire capital¡ªno, even the areas beyond that¡ªhad been restored, down to thest bedrock.

    And, as if that weren''t enough the people who had died, and the ones who suffered¡ªwere all present once more. It was a miracle from the heavens, a sight impossible toprehend.

    All of this wonder was induced by a single source.

    The single star that ascended to the sky¡ªilluminating everything with its light¡ª restored everything to what was right.

    "Such is my wish¡­ answered by my Starlight."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 735 Showdown Between Geniuses

    Stefan was stupefied by the sudden urrence around him.

    "Y-you¡­"

    The disaster he had caused waspletely reversed, and the casualties all appeared alive and well. It was as though time had been reset to a time before his appearance.

    ''H-how¡­?!'' Stefan knew fully well what had effected this change.

    It had to be the star his opponent sent flying into the sky. It contained such dense Aether that even he had felt shaken to his bones. However, that didn''t answer the crux of his question.

    ''How is Maria able to use such power?!''

    He watched as even Elrich Lendertwale appeared beside her,pletely unscathed. The Grand Mage seemed surprised as well, but after a few moments, he calmed himself and backed down from the fight¡ªleaving only Maria to face him.

    ''You''re looking down on me too much!'' Stefan growled.

    Something had changed about Maria, sure. She seemed more capable and certain of her actions, and the energy she emitted was beyond ordinary. However, so what?

    ''I''m still the superior one!'' The moment he made his triumphant thought, Stefan created sevenrge beams of light¡ªeach containing six of the seven colours of his Original Magic.

    ''Let''s see if you can handle this bombardment!''

    As a safety measure, he created a gravitational field that would copse any spacial rift that tried to interfere with his offensive move. As far as his senses went, Elrich Lendertwale seemed to be protecting everyone below.

    He didn''t need to worry about those small fries.

    >WHOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    The surge of multicoloured lights leapt from his direction, and with such a speed and veracity that could not be described. They reached their target in no time, surrounding her from all angles. With each light promising the most fatal of injuries and damage to every portion of her being, they struck.

    >PSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU<

    However, before they could even get to her, the giant balls of light dissolved into particles¡ªglittering as they were swept away by the wind.

    ''W-wha¡ª?!'' Stefan was taken aback by this.

    Not only did his attacks not work on her, but they were easily done away with.

    ''I see. So you''ve also reached that level, huh?'' He realized he would be foolish to underestimate her.

    With the amount of power oozing from her, refusing to acknowledge the girl''s strength would be the very definition of stupidity.

    ''Guess I''ll go all-out.'' Dark energy slowly began to rise from Stefan as he made those thoughts, and the intensity kept climbing to an overwhelming degree.

    "It is no use, Stefan Netherlore. You have already lost." Maria spoke, her tone sounding hollow, and her gazepletely focused.

    "Hahaha! Shut up! Just because you deflected my attacks, you think you can run your mouth?!" A violent, raging storm surrounded Stefan instantly.

    Wrapping itself around the boy to form a cocoon of darkness, the ck power, coupled with dark red shes of light, kept growing stronger and stronger.

    Unlike thest time when he entered this form half-prepared, Stefan decided to fully transform into his most powerful state¡ªa form that Maria could not trump no matter what.

    ''I''ll show it to you, Maria¡­ despair!''

    *

    *

    *

    Elrich Lendertwale stood among the gathered Beastfolks, and all of them watched from the safety of their distance.

    He wasn''t sure if he would consider this range to be safe, but he had been assured by Maria¡ªwhoever she was now¡ªthat it was.

    "W-who is that female?"

    "A-amazing!"

    "S-such power!"

    He could hear the Beastfolks around him murmuring and marvelling at Maria''s power ceaselessly. Ever since they awoke a few moments earlier, they had been talking about the same thing¡ªhow powerful the goddess-like figure in the sky was.

    Some even bowed and prayed to her.

    As much as Elrich found that to be extreme, he also couldn''t me them. He too was in awe as to how Maria was able to generate so much power.

    The dome she created spanned several miles, and the white flowers that blossomed and covered the entirendscape flowed with smooth energy. The destroyed capital was restored in the blink of an eye, and all the dead were returned to life.

    It was a reset¡ªsomething he could not have fathomed.

    ''Even I am alive. It truly is amazing!''

    He remembered how surprised he had been to find himself by her side. It was only when she telepathicallymunicated with him that he sort of understood what was going on. He was also given a task¡ªwhich was to teleport the previously dead people to the safe storage space and to protect the Beastfolks.

    He realized none of them would agree to be sent to the pocket dimension for safety, considering the sight that was about to unfold before them. Even Elrich didn''t want to miss it for anything.

    Somehow, he had the reassurance that everything was going to be fine now. And so, like the other spectators, he knelt and watched the sh between light and darkness in the sky¡ªhoping to see light prevail.

    "Show me¡­" He smiled at the shimmering goddess above him. "... I pray thee."

    *

    *

    *

    "HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Stefan cackled.

    His body was now covered in darkness, and everything around him radiated pure malevolence. His size had also improved, as he became a bit over three meters tall, with sharp distinguishing features that made him resemble a devil rather than a man.

    "WITNESS MY POWER!"

    Dark lightning shed all around him, and the intensity of his Arcana peaked. The power of motion began expanding beyond his area of influence until it covered the entire capital and even beyond.

    ''I''ll destroy it again! I''ll destroy everything and everyone below! And I''ll destroy you!''

    His power was unstoppable. He was currently covered in highly concentrated Nether. Who could be his match?

    Perhaps if Stefan had paid a bit more attention to his surroundings, rather than obsessing over the goddess in front of him, he would have noticed something.

    The impotence of his power to everything around him.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 736 The True Genius

    Nether naturally corroded anything it touched.

    The more intense and it was, the more powerful the decay would be¡ªand the quicker it would take for anything to devolve into nothing. That was what made this radical, perverse element so dangerous.

    One would expect the magnitude of Stefan''s Nether to have the same effect, considering how incredible the power was.

    But, it didn''t!

    The air around him remained the same. The ground remained the same. The city, the Beastfolk, the flowers¡­ everything maintained its purity.

    And it was all because of one being.

    "Yourst chance to stand down is now. You can not emerge victorious."

    "SHUUUTTTT UUUUUPPPPP!!!"

    Stefan went critical, gathering all the Nether that leaked out of him so he could expel all of it at once. The moment he did so, not only would the entire area be destroyed, but the corrosive effect of Nether would return everything to nothingness.

    ''I''ll ruin everything!''

    >VWWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU¡ª<

    Just as the climbing energy reached its threshold and was about to explode, Maria suddenly appeared right in front of Stefan.

    She stood right in front of him¡ªat the center of the Nether storm that surrounded his exploding self.

    ''W-wha¡ª?!'' His eyes met hers, and he could not sense any emotion this time.

    It was simply ss¡ªreflecting the kind of face he was making.

    It felt like everything had slowed down, and Maria''s appearance in the Nether storm brought everything to a halt.

    "You''ve lost." She whispered.

    ''Shut up¡­''

    "That power of yours is unnatural."

    ''SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!''

    "It has to go¡­"

    ''SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!''

    Unable to bear her presence any longer, Stefan released all the pent-up Nether and initiated the explosion.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    However, all of the force he released slowly converged in a single direction. Rather than spreading to destroy everything¡ªas was his n¡ªthe Nether explosion gathered around Maria''s outstretched palm, unable to escape.

    In no time, what was supposed to be a massive Nether explosion became a tiny orb that floated atop her palm.

    ''W-what are you¡ª?!''

    Before he couldplete his thoughts, she crushed the orb, purifying it with light. All the Nether vanished instantly.

    ''N-no¡­'' Stefan''s eyes widened as Maria drew closer to him.

    ''That was¡­ that was a huge amount. That would have wiped out everything. How could she have¡­ just like that!''

    "Like I said¡­" Maria slowly raised her hand as she spoke.

    She brought it closer to Stefan, who shuddered as he watched her powerlessly.

    ''I-I can''t move!'' Stuck in ce, even in his almighty form, Stefan could only quiver as her hand neared him.

    "W-what are you doing to me?" Stefan barked in his loud, distorted voice.

    His growl, meant to inspire fear within others, had now be nothing more than a powerless whimper.

    "It''s not about what I am doing, but about what I will do. You have devastated the bnce of this world with this power of yours. I am going to correct that."

    Her words could only mean one thing, and Stefan realized it instantly.

    "N-no¡­ please no! Don''t do it!" His voice suddenly peaked as he begged.

    Maria did not stop, even though his face depicted desperation at this point. She continued toward his head, and he dreaded every moment of it.

    "DON''T DO IT! DON''T TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME!"

    Nether made him special. Before cultivating this power, he was nothing more than an inferior genius¡ªsomeone who was destined to stay behind Maria and Jared as they both crossed the boundaries of Magic.

    He was destined to be the side piece, never allowed to shine.

    But, once he was given power¡ªthe Nether and [The Star], he became relevant. His words mattered, and he possessed authority.

    Words could not describe how happy he felt when he was told of his immensepatibility with Nether. For the first time, he felt like he had won over everyone else.

    That he had be a true genius.

    Yet¡­ YET¡­!!!

    "DON''T TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME. THAT''S THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES ME SPECIAL!" He begged, his devil-like face cowering at the mercy of his enemy.

    A gentle smile formed on her face, and she gave him an expression of pity.

    "If it''s of anyfort to you¡­ you were never special. The Nether didn''t change anything." With that, her hand touched Stefan, and the most electrifying sensation shot through his body.

    "ARRRRGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" His scream pierced the heavens as the dark, forbidden element, rose from their depths.

    All the Nether around and within him gathered on Maria''s hands, and her purification effect tookplete control.

    "[The Pope] wards away all evil, and purifies the darkness that lurks around." She whispered, closing her eyes.

    Stefan''s bloodshot eyes leaked out the dark mass of energy¡ªthe same went for his nostrils, his mouth, and his ears. Even the sweat pores in his skin brought forth all the Nether they had, leaving no room for escape.

    "GAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

    The screams went on, as Stefan''s body slowly started to shrivel up. His face turned pale, and his skin dried up. He grew thinner as more energy was drained, and his hair soon began to fall out as well.

    "Do not fear. You will not die. Just endure this pain. You¡­ will be reborn anew."

    "GARRRRRGGHHHHHHHhhhhh¡­ ahhhhhh¡­."

    Stefan''s voice finally went stale, and the loud noises he made slowly diminished.

    "Y-yooouuu¡­" His vision blurred as he looked at Maria.

    ''You took everything from me. How dare you! You¡­ how could you! I hate you! I hate you so much!''

    He had no strength to speak, but his thoughts raged with malevolence and evil. His heart cried out for power to kill this person¡ªto destroy her¡ªbut nothing responded.

    He was drained of all of it.

    ''Y-you took it all away from me.'' Tears flowed from his eyes and his body powerlessly fell to the ground.

    Just when he had found the perfect power to rise above his past and surpass all those who trampled upon him in the past, it was stripped away from him.

    ''Why can''t I be powerful too? Why can''t I be a genius as well?''

    Even after all of this time, Stefan realized nothing had changed. Even though he tried his best to fight his fate, everything ultimately led to this moment¡ªhis defeat.

    And now, even as he descended from his heights, his blurry vision could only see one thing¡ªone person!

    ''It seems I can never be the star¡­''

    The glowing figure of Maria filled his sight as she drew closer to him.

    ''You''re the true genius, after all."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 737 Aftermath Of The Invasion

    "WOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!"

    Thunderous cheers echoed in the air as Maria descended from her high estate, cradling Stefan as shended.

    The Beastfolk were all in joyous moods, all addressing the power she disyed with reverence. Their eyes no longer saw a human girl. No, they saw someone even more impressive than a true warrior.

    What they witnessed was the act of a god.

    "You did it, Maria." Elrich Lendertwale approached her with a smile. "Even I don''t believe it."

    Maria undid her transformation, reverting into the sixteen-year-old human girl with regr¡ªalbeit beautiful¡ªfeatures.

    Groans could be heard from the Beastfolk audience, who would have preferred her remaining in the form of a goddess. Now, things had be too awkward.

    "It wasn''t me. I had help. My Familiar¡­ she helped me."

    "Yeah, I understand that¡ª"

    "No. She really did. I don''t know how and why, but¡­" Maria''s stepped back in exhaustion, and she almost fell to the ground as a result.

    "Easy, there. You used a great deal of power back there¡ªmore than I thought was possible. You should rest." Elrich supported her, guiding her to sit among the white flowers that slowly faded.

    Unfortunately, Stefan did not get the same treatment, so his frail body fell to the ground. Thankfully, he was already too unconscious to care.

    "Will he live?" Elrich suddenly asked, his gaze shifting from Maria to Stefan.

    "He was drained of all the Nether in him. He still has Mana, so he should be fine. His Soul is badly damaged, though. A huge chunk of it was already corroded by the power. He would have died in a few more months if nothing happened."

    "I see¡­" Elrich stared at Stefan''s still body.

    It looked about as good as that of a corpse.

    ''I wonder what will happen when he wakes up and realizes what happens. Will he be thankful that his life was saved? Or will he be bitter that he lost so much power?'' Elrich was willing to bet on thetter.

    "With this, we''ve quelled the Nether Cult''s attacks on all nations. You''ve also captured the leader. Well done." Baraja, the Beastfolk General, walked up to Elrich and Maria, showing his respect.

    They all looked around them, and it was doubtful that a battle even urred, in the first ce. If it hadn''t been for Maria''s god-like ability, things would have been very different.

    ''Stefan Netherlore¡­ while I understand what drove you to this path, you''re going to pay for your crimes¡ªjust like your family.''

    It was perhaps more of their fault than his. Stefan didn''t choose to be born into the Netherlore Household, and he was probably used also used as a major subject in their experiments. Being exposed to Nether at such a young age¡­ it must have contributed to the downward spiral he experienced the older he got.

    Still, that did not excuse him of the horrors he hadmitted.

    He had the chance, the choice, not to follow through with his deeds, yet he did not. Rather, it seemed he even enjoyed all the havoc he wreaked.

    It was in obvious¡ªStefan Netherlore was guilty.

    "I only wish I could have helped him more¡­" Maria''s voice trailed sadly.

    "Don''t beat yourself up over it. You saved my life¡ªand the lives of others. That is more than enough." Elrich responded, cing his hand on her shoulder.

    "Listen to the man. He''s right, you know?" Baraja grinned energetically.

    With both grown men telling her what a good job she did, Maria couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride in her achievement. She was happy she was able to live up to all their expectations.

    ¡­ Especially Jared''s.

    ''I hope you''re well, Jared. We''re already done here.'' She raised her head and smiled into the distance.

    The image of a blond boy pervaded her mind as she inhaled the fragrant scent of the wind, enjoyed thepany of her allies, and settled down to rest her head a little.

    "What now?" Her voice echoed

    "We rest, I guess." Elrich shrugged. "Once we catch our breath, we should rendezvous with the others so we can assist them."

    Maria knew Elrich was being considerate of her¡ªconsidering she was the only one who appeared to be exhausted out of everyone else.

    "Jane Urs is already gathering a team to venture into the Nether Headquarters in order to assist Jared and his team. From what I heard, they could be in trouble."

    Maria''s eyes instantly shed open once she heard Baraja say this, and her heart thumped with worry and anxiety.

    "What did you say?"

    The Beastfolk General scratched his scaly head in a bid to remember more of what was asked of him. As was prevalent among most of their people, he wasn''t very bright.

    "Something about the n being dyed and ack ofmunication. I don''t know the details, but Jane is seriously concerned about the sess of the mission. So, she''s sending an elite team there. Who knows, you may get called."

    "I¡­ I see¡­" Maria could only mutter in response.

    Jared? In trouble? She couldn''t help but think about the conversation they had many nights before¡ªabout how uncertain he was about the n. She remembered how she had encouraged him back then.

    And now¡­

    ''If Jared is in trouble, we have to go.'' Her thoughts echoed.

    "Elrich, why don''t we¡­ argh!" She suddenly felt faint, and unbelievable pain shot through her body.

    The effects of using power that would normally be too much for her to handle were finally catching up to her. Somehow, Maria knew it was too good to be true that all she got from exerting herself so much was nausea.

    ''Damnit¡­ not now.'' Her thoughts faded away, and thest thing she could hear were voices calling out to her.

    ''Jared¡­ needs¡­ me¡­''

    Upon making these final thoughts, Maria passed out.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 738 Where Neron Went

    Tension among the nations fizzled out once the news of Stefan''s loss and capture reached them.

    Apparently, the Eastern Kingdom had the showdown against the Fourth Seat of the Nether Cult, and they emerged victorious¡ªboasting no casualty or damage at the end of their confrontation with the enemy.

    Once the nations got the news, relief spread through the people like wildfire.

    The tired soldiers were finally able to rest, and the Beastfolk were left with nothing to look forward to. Security was certain among their people, and the only location left to strike was the Nether Cult headquarters itself.

    And this was why Jane prepared herself for the important mission.

    ''I already know the people I''m going to employ.''

    The heroes from each nation, and the most useful personnel on the battlefield¡ªthose were the people she was after.

    ''Elrich is looking after Maria and the Seat member, so we''ll leave them as standy. For now, though, the rest of us will have to do.''

    Her thoughts focused on those she had in mind;

    Aurora

    Dulum

    Z''ark

    Gerard

    Jerry and Ivan

    Asa and Maro

    Of course, Beruel and Ana would apany her as well.

    Once Maria recovered, she and Elrich would join them if necessary.

    ''There''s the risk that we''ll end up facing just as much danger once we get there. If that''s the case, wouldn''t it be unwise to pack our strongest cards into the enemy''s base?''

    Jane wondered if she was acting purely based on emotion. While she was extremely level-headed in terms of objective analysis, she was well aware of her limits as a strategist. In battle, many unforeseen variables could surface, and she wasn''t very good at dealing with such unpredictable elements.

    That was why she needed Lewis.

    ''But, if we don''t make a move, the enemy will eventually wipe us out. It''s better we create a united front to fight against them.''

    Once she made up her mind, she decided to contact the affected parties. For something of this scale, they needed all necessary hands on deck.

    Only then could they show the true force of the alliance.

    ''Still¡­ this all started going downhill when that guy''s Magic suddenly failed and I couldn''t even detect him at all.'' Jane thought to herself as she got to work.

    ''What the hell happened to you, Neron?''

    *

    *

    *

    Pitch ck darkness covered everything, and the whole expanse was filled with malevolence.

    One of the many figures in this dark world calmly stood, gazing into the abyss that enveloped him. His dark hair, pitch ck eyes, andpletely stoic face told of his identity.

    "Neron Kaelid!"

    "Wee to my domain!"

    "I''ve been expecting you."

    "Wondered if you''d actually fall for it."

    "I had no doubts."

    "And now you''re trapped."

    Various voices ovepped, echoing emptily in the vast expanse that didn''t seem to end. The voices all sounded like the same person, yet they were spoken by different people.

    "Legris Damien, I presume. I have to admit, I''m impressed." Neron finally spoke.

    He could feel the rigidity of his body, and how thews of this world restrained him to a terrifying degree. He could barely move, and it took a great deal of effort to speak.

    However, that wasn''t the scariest part about this ce.

    ''I can''t ess my Time Magic¡­ and even [The Hermit] isn''t functioning properly.'' Neron could instantly tell why all of this was happening.

    "HAHAHAHA!"

    "As expected of you, Neron. You figured it out!"

    "That''s right! It is as you''ve seen."

    "This ce ispletely made up of Nether!"

    "This is my domain."

    The various voices seemed to approach Neron slowly, and he could feel the darkness around him closing up on him, pressuring him even more.

    ''A world filled with nothing but darkness and Nether. No wonder my Magic isn''t working. The concept of time, space, and the other things that Arcanas control aren''t present here.''

    It was simply a perverse world that Legris owned.

    "Who are you, Legris?" Neron''s eyes narrowed, glowing brightly as he focused Aether into them.

    Thanks to this, he was finally able to see.

    But, what he saw¡­

    "Who am I?"

    "That''s a funny question."

    "How to answer that."

    "I wonder¡­"

    "Make a guess."

    "You could get it right."

    "Or wrong."

    "Either way¡­"

    "It doesn''t matter."

    ¡­ What Neron saw defied logic.

    All around him¡ªas far as his eyes could see and his senses could reach¡ªwere various versions of Legris Damien.

    They all had distinct markers, so Neron was certain they weren''t mere clones. Some had slightly distinct facial features. Others appeared taller, some looked shorter, some had different colors of hair, others wore various attires.

    However, they all had one thing onmon¡­

    They were all Legris Damien.

    "Ah¡­ I see." Neron whispered as he closed his eyes.

    The numerous people surrounding him suddenly halted, and only one of them stepped forward. That was the Legris he was most familiar with¡ªthe Sixth Seat of the Nether Cult.

    "This is your trump card, isn''t it? Original Magic¡­"

    "[Who Am I?]" Legrispleted Neron''s words, grinning widely as he did so.

    With a single Legris right in front of him, and many around him, he was obviously trapped. He was in a world where his Magic was ineffective, confronted with many enemies that had powers and strength rivaling the one who stood in front of him.

    "It''s been a while since I''ve been pushed back like this. Who knew you were hiding a card like this?"

    "You do¡ªor rather, you should." Legris gave him a knowing smile.

    That smile was enough to finally shatter the mask of ignorance that pervaded Neron.

    His bright eyes darkened a little, and his stoic expression slowly transformed into something else¡­ something simr to a grin.

    Both men stood opposite each other, yet the tension that once filled the air was nowhere to be found.

    "Well said, Legris¡­ or should I call you ''old friend''?" Neron finally spoke, his tone sounding a lot more confident than earlier.

    "I thought I told you already¡­ I never considered you a friend."

    "Fair enough." Neron''s eyes narrowed even further.

    Images of his dreams slowly began to ovep, and the pieces began connecting. It didn''t take him very long to recognize the domain he was in, and the nature of the man in front of him.

    His smile widened the more he looked at Legris.

    "Still, Neron, I have to say¡­" Legris returned the expression. "... It feels good to have you back."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Ah, yes. I wonder what''s going on now...

    Also;

    New book release announcement!!!

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 739 Hidden Secrets

    "Is that how you really feel?"

    Neron and Legris stood opposite each other, a short distance dwelling between them. While the tension in the dark expanse was nonexistent, and both of them kept up a smile, there seemed to be something more to their reunion.

    Something darker.

    "Nope. You''re already a threat to me now. Who knows what''ll happen when you gain all your memories?"

    "Hmmm. So you know all about it, then."

    Legris instantly erupted intoughter.

    "Yeah, well, I guess I never really told you about my origins. That Spell you used at the end¡­ while it got the job done, it didn''t erase my memory¡ªor should I say it didn''t reset it."

    "How much do you know about it?" Neon''s eyes narrowed slightly.

    "Not much. I was quite surprised to see what happened too. I knew it had to be you, so I monitored your progress. That''s the reason why I became a teacher at Ainrk, to be honest." Legris shrugged, a smug smile spreading all over his face.

    "Isn''t it because of Jared? His status as a Singrity¡­ that''s what the Nether Cult wanted you to eliminate, right?"

    "You are also a Singrity. The only reason you haven''t been targeted yet is that I made a deal with the Cult. Even though you''re currently weaker than before, and you don''t have those memories, I still don''t know if you''ll resort to something so pesky again."

    "Oh? So that''s why you kept up your charade until it was finally time to catch me. Is that it? Neron''s smile grew wider.

    "Yes. That''s right. You can''t use your powers here. You can''t break out as well. Even if I kill you here, you won''t be able to resort to that trump card of yours." Legris ced both of his hands on his waist, nodding emphatically.

    Looking at the conversation between the two, one could only conclude that they were either best friends, or the worst of enemies¡ªperhaps somewhere in the middle.

    "Then why didn''t you set up a simr trap earlier? You''re smart enough to do it, aren''t you?"

    "Well, you know me well. I was simply curious about what you were nning. That''s why I decided to observe a little."

    Legris and Neron exchanged piercing gazes, and both parties appeared to be searching for clues in the eyes of the other. This wasn''t purely a discourse between friends¡­ neither was it coated with hatred either.

    Suddenly, just as the silence was about to recreate the tension of before, both men burst outughing again.

    "You''re an intelligent man, Neron. I don''t know why you would do what you did without ounting for your loss of memories. The routes you took this time were also quite different from before. I never pegged you for the type to attend the Academy¡­ or even be a teacher there."

    Neron remained silent, simply smiling and watching Legris.

    "What were you thinking, though? And how is it going with Serah? You guys are together now, right? That''s cute. Hey, does she know about¡ª"

    "She does. And she doesn''t care¡­ just as I predicted."

    "Nice one."

    "Look, Legris¡­ I know what you''re trying to do." Neron sighed, his arms drooping.

    "Do you, now? Even back then I never told you everything. Plus, it doesn''t seem like you remember everything. Am I right?"

    "Believe what you want. However, I still won''t concede. Everything thus far has led up to this moment. Do you really believe I didn''t know you enough to predict what actions you would take and what actions you wouldn''t?" Neron''s face suddenly grew tired, and his smile began to vanish.

    Before long, his expressions returned to their old state.

    "Even with my loss of memories, I still get nudgings from what I call my ''intuition''. That''s how I have been able to veer away from certain paths."

    "Ah, I see. So you were the one that put those intuitions there? As a measure for when you lost your memories? That would mean you''ve plotted out everything, huh? Including this round?" Legris'' grin was also disappearing.

    "Who knows¡­"

    "PFFT!" A snicker suddenly came from Legris, and he hugged his stomach tough a little.

    Tears formed on his face, and he gave a roar of amusement that echoed across the vast hall.

    "Hahahaha!"

    "Neron, you''re so funny!"

    "Amusing!"

    "Exciting!"

    "Scary!"

    "It''s not possible!"

    The multitude of Legris Damiens joined him in his amusedugh.

    "Enough with the tricks, Neron. You won''t fool me with that nonsense. Your so-called intuition would have warned you about this ce. Even if you could see all of it, you can''t see through my Nether Domain. It''s cut off from your reality, after all."

    "Fair enough."

    "Besides, I''ve already narrowed down what your n is." Legris mused.

    "Oh? Why not enlighten me?"

    "It has to do with Jared Leonard, doesn''t it? There''s something odd about that kid¡­ and I can smell your influence all over him."

    Neron''s face darkened a little, and his eyes narrowed slowly.

    "What are you talking about?"

    "Don''t y dumb. You think I wouldn''t have figured it out by now? It''s clear that Jared is an anomaly. He shouldn''t be here. That is why he''s a Singrity."

    Neron remained silent, his thoughtspletely unreadable by anyone who witnessed his stoic face.

    "After observing you two, I realized it. You''re using Jared Leonard to do what you can''t, aren''t you? All of these things¡ªthe Demon Incursion, the Arcana Search¡­ heck, even back at Ainrk, during the invasion. You really did n ahead."

    Still, no reply came from Neron.

    "But how did you do it? Why did you use Jared, of all people? I''m not sure. But, well, it doesn''t matter anymore¡­"

    "What do you mean by that?" Neron finally asked.

    "It''s getting closer to the finishing act. The Nether will soon return, and Jared is sure to perish¡ªjust like the rest of this world."

    Neron''s expression intensified immediately, and a re manifested.

    "Why are you looking at me like that? Didn''t you n for this situation? Ah, right¡­ you weren''t the only one nning, after all."

    "You¡­" Neron growled.

    "Things are a bit different now, but my n will still triumph. Besides, you shouldn''t be overly concerned about others¡­"

    The surrounding versions of Legris slowly began to move, all seeingly prepared for a showdown with Neron.

    "... You''re not leaving here alive, you know?"

    A burst of Aether shot from the surrounded man, and a defiant expression coursed through his face.

    "We''ll see about that."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Alright. I know I have brilliant readers. Some of you must already have thoughts and theories on this. Mind leaving ament to share your thoughts?

 Chapter 740 Overwhelming Odds

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    "Guark!"

    The destructive st of the Martial de God''s attack was too much for even my shield. One hit was enough to send me crashing into the ground.

    "U-urhh¡­" I groaned, rising from the massive crater which had formed as a result of my impact.

    "When will you begin to fight earnestly?" A voice spoke from above me.

    It belonged to the man who had kept me here all this time. Rather than searching for my allies, I was stuck engaging this person¡ªnearing death many times already.

    "Who said I''m not fighting earnestly?" I muttered, grunting as I red at his looming figure.

    The Martial de God¡ªtruly, he was worthy of his title.

    A mere nce around revealed several craters¡ªsome ten times asrge as the one I currently stood in. Whether on the ground or in the sky, this man remained unmatched. I tried various tactics to escape, but he always cornered me regardless.

    ''I understand why Neron said he wasn''t sure who would win. Even I am not certain.''

    I still hadn''t seen the true depths of Neron''s abilities, so I couldn''t judge. But, from what I could see and also estimate¡­ it seemed like the Martial de God was superior.

    Not only did he have precognitive abilities, and speed which I hadn''t seen Neron exhibit, but even when I used my Original Magic and supported the Arcana Abilities stored within with my Aether, he found a way to counter everything.

    Time was ineffective against him¡ªI tried!

    Perhaps Neron''s mastery over time would make a good difference, but the Martial de God could see through time. That was how he was able to decipher my identity. That was also why he could be so confident of my demise.

    ''Damnit¡­'' I thought to myself.

    Fortunately, with the few exchanges we had¡ªmostly consisting of me fighting for my life¡ªI was able to figure out something.

    ''He can see through time. But other than that one time he used it, he supposedly hasn''t utilized it anymore. I can''t be too sure, and this n hinges on that assumption, but I''m running out of options!''

    When the Martial de God supposedly looked through time, he would take in the information of the present, and it would split into the past and future.

    ''However, while the past is certain and fixed, the future can be malleable. He can''t possibly see through all the versions of the future, so he simply takes in the present and it branches off to the more probable future¡ªcreating a more streamlined set of foreseeable events.''

    Thankfully, the Martial de God was honest. It wasn''t too difficult to extract enough information from him.

    ''Now, for my counter¡­'' I watched as the Martial de God rushed at me with another strike.

    To be honest, I couldn''t evade his assault. Space wouldn''t warp properly, so my teleportation wasn''t going to function well. Discing an object of mass, leaving a vacuum behind¡­ that wouldn''t work at all.

    As I watched him get closer, barely able to move my body due to how fast my senses and his speed moved, I knew it was impossible to evade or block.

    Even though my Familiars currently buffed me up, and my Elemental Chamber was active, and I was relying on my Arcana¡ªsomething he wasn''t doing¡ªI could barely keep up with him.

    He did tell me something amid our fight;

    "You''re making me exert full strength at base. Impressive."

    Those were his words of praise, yet I couldn''t help but feel insulted. Here I was, pouring out all I could¡ªusing all of my power¡ªwhile he was simply relying on his normal strength. Despite all of that, the Martial de God was superior.

    And now¡­ he was ready to perform the execution.

    Would I see my two lives shing before my eyes? Would the images of those I cared about ovep in my head? Would regret and sorrow fill me up? Would I desperately cling for life despite all the hopelessness?

    The only answer to these questions was simple¡ªI wasn''t going to die here!

    ''Thankfully¡­ it''s ready!''

    *************

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    The Martial de God swooped down from above, well past the speed allowed to any mortal. Shockwaves and earth-shattering pressure surged form him as he sought to finally execute the young boy.

    ''He put up a good fight¡ªmore than the rest of them, apparently.'' Truly, the Martial de God felt like Jared Leonard was worthy of the Nether Cult''s attention and troubles.

    However, what of it?

    Ultimately, the boy was going to die by his de¡­ just as he had seen.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The attack connected, and the entire area suffered for it. For miles, the radiation of battle surged forth. Everything within that range was pulverized instantly.

    It meant victory!

    However¡­

    "H-huh..?" The Martial de God whispered in shock.

    He was usuallyposed, but the sight in front of him¡ªwhat he held in his palm¡ªwas surprising, to say the least.

    ''This is¡­?''

    A metallic odor tickled his nose as he held a scrap part of a supposedly artificial being. In one move, he crushed the metal object¡ªmost likely a heart¡ªand inhaled deeply.

    "He tricked me¡­" The Martial de muttered, staring far into the sky.

    Jared was nowhere in sight, and the Martial de God even had trouble sensing him. It made him instantly realize what had just happened.

    "Not bad." A smile formed on the swordsman''s face.

    "Not bad at all."

    ************

    "Haa¡­ I survived!"

    It was no mean feat, escaping the clutches of such a powerful man. I actually thought I was going to die.

    ''Thankfully, I analyzed it right on time¡­''

    What did I analyze, some might ask? Well, it was something even I did not expect toe in handy¡­

    Damien Lawcroft''s Original Magic!

    As much as I didn''t like the guy, and as simple as his Original was, it quite literally just saved my life.

    ''Damien''s Original Magic allows him to switch ces with any object he has marked¡ªor to even switch the positions of two marked objects. Neron told me all about it during one of our conversations.''

    I actually recorded his Magic during the Demon Incursion, even though I never reallypleted the process since I was busy with other matters. However, during that fight with the Martial de God, I had no choice but to resort to it.

    ''Damien''s Original Magic worked because¡ªunlike my Space Magic¡ªit wouldn''t leave a vacuum once I escaped.''

    If I timed it perfectly, and chose an object with simr mass to rece me, nothing about the unstable nature of Space, at the time, could prevent the exchange from taking ce.

    So, I reced my body with an automaton with a simr structure and Mass as me. The only limiting factor was the whole ''Mark'' condition for Damien Lawcroft''s Magic, so I had to rece it with a more convenient one.

    It caused the process to take longer than it would have taken normally, but thanks to it, I was able to alter the Original Magic. I could swap ces with objects I had control over¡ªor objects connected to me.

    All the Automatons I remotely controlled shared this connection with me, so it was convenient.

    ''Finally, to bypass the Martial de God''s precognition¡­''

    Since he could only see the present, which could branch out to the most probable future¡ªand he didn''t check again after the first time¡ªI was able to develop a new Original Magic that escaped his future sight.

    If he had been more careful, checking my future at every given moment, then it would have been my loss. Fortunately, his personality wouldn''t allow that.

    Putting all these factors into ount, I was able to secure my escape.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Mass Release off 10 chapters iing!!!

    Also, you can purchase the privilege chapters if you can. They''ve been made more affordable, so you can check out what happens 50 chapters ahead.

    Things are reaching the climax.

    Also, doing so supports me as the Author, and it also improves the publicity of this book.

    Thank you all for reading this far. I appreciate the support.

 Chapter 741 Serahs Resolve

    Upon switching ces with an Automaton, I decided to utilize my Space Magic once more.

    ''I''ll use a more powerful version of [Unknowable] to get in this time. I''ll also steer away from my earlier location.''

    I had to be extremely careful. If I was caught by the Martial de God again, I wasn''t too sure of pulling the same trick twice. Since that was the case, I had to be more prepared.

    ''I''ll move to my pocket dimension and use that chance to restore my strength while creating something better than [Unknowable]. Hopefully, I can still find the others and find a way around searching for Neron.''

    As forpleting the mission, I still had one more ace up my sleeve. Once I secured everyone else, I would use it. For now, though¡­ everyone came first.

    ''Alright, Jared¡­ let''s get a move on!''

    *********

    "Garghhhh!!!"

    Serah Crimson yelled as her body was flung to the ground, creating a massive explosion in the boiling surface.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    The earth rumbled, and the shockwave of the hit spread for miles.

    "U-urgh¡­" She growled, ring at the opposition who hovered above her.

    Her opponent, the Subus who had the 2nd Seat in the Nether Cult, cast a condescending look on her injured form¡ªcausing Serah''s determination to soar even more.

    "I told you already¡­" The Subus, Karlia, sighed in exasperation.

    ¦Ñ¦Á§ád¦Á §«?¦Í¨º|(§ã¨°m) She had repeated this very same thing to Serah countless times, but they always fell on deaf ears.

    "It doesn''t matter how hard you try¡ªyou can''t kill me. Trust me, I''ve also tried."

    Karlia''s demon wings pped behind her, and her tail danced as she folded her arms while maintaining her position in the air.

    Her clothes, which had been destroyed many times by Serah''s attacks, instantly reappeared on her body. The Subus was not only immortal, but it seemed herb coat and her apanying attire, were also capable of restoration.

    "You''re almost out of steam. Your power won''t even be enough to damage me at this point. I''ve done well to adapt to it all."

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­ is that¡­ so..?" Serah huffed and put on a brave smile.

    Despite all her bravado, she knew Karlia was right.

    She was already well past her limits, and the 2nd Seat was yet to break a sweat.

    "Guess I have no choice¡­" Serah whispered.

    Karlia appeared puzzled, but also curious. It initially felt insulting to Serah that the Subus never showed any caution or fear when they fought, but after a while shepletely understood.

    There was no real reason for her to feel threatened by Serah''s power. In the end, even if she was damaged, she could instantly heal. She could never die. She was virtually unstoppable.

    "I can clearly see what you''re doing. You''re going to kill yourself if you attempt to use so much power." Karlia spoke after watching Serah keenly.

    "Is that your trump card? Don''t use it."

    "I can''t believe you care that much about my wellbeing¡­" Serah leaked out a smile as she huffed even more.

    Even though she was tired, her eyes contained enough resolve to carry out her mission. To save Neron, to protect her Kingdom¡ªno, the world¡ªshe wouldn''t mind sacrificing her life.

    "W-w-what are you even talking about? You''ll just blow yourself up and me alongside you. Now, I''m sure I''ll still survive, but myb is still right there. I would prefer it if you didn''t resort to that." Karlia''s face seemed redder than usual, for some reason.

    Was she angry at Serah''s stubbornness, or was she feeling some other form of emotion¡ªperhaps embarrassment?

    But why?

    "Well, I''m not a big fan of throwing my life away. But¡­ I have to do all in my power to aplish my mission!"

    "Haa¡­ you''re so insufferable. Look, I told you already, I don''t really want to kill you. Of course, you''ll leave me no choice if you threaten my project."

    "Haha¡­ well, I also don''t feel like killing you¡ªnot that I could¡ªbut¡­ we are enemies. That hasn''t changed."

    "I suppose. Hey, I''ve been curious about this for some time now, but¡­ what exactly is your mission? If it is to stop us, then even if you sacrifice yout life, it would be for no¡ª"

    "That''s not all there is to it! I want to save my people, and I want to save the world from your organization. But more than that¡­ I want to save my man from your clutches!" Serah pointed at Karlia with resolve.

    "Your man? What are you talking about?"

    "Don''t y dumb. Neron came here to scout, and we lost track of his signature. Clearly, he was taken by one of you."

    "O-ohhhh¡­"

    "See? You know what I mean. It''s just as I thought! You''re guilty as charged."

    "N-no, wait¡ª"

    "Neron wouldn''t die that easily, so you''ve kept him in thatb of yours. The fact that I can''t sense whatever is inside shows that if Neron could be anywhere, it''s in there."

    "Just hear me ou¡ª"

    "I can only imagine what he''s going through in there. Ah, Neron¡­ don''t worry¡­ I''ll save you!" Serah tightened her fist in resolve as she ascended to the air in order to confront the enemy once more.

    "Are you finished?" Karlia sighed.

    "No, I''m just getting starte¡ª"

    "Shut up, you idiot. I don''t have Neron. Legris does."

    "U-uh¡­?"

    For a moment, silence pervaded the whole area. Serah nkly atared at the Subus, who groaned as she pped her head in annoyance.

    "S-so you''re saying¡­"

    "Yeah. This whole thing is a misunderstanding. Look, we were all assigned our respective tasks. Legris was to take care of Neron¡ªand neither of them is even on the ind as we speak."

    Serah''s face slowly began to leak beads of sweat. Her body suddenly began to ache, and she could feel the me within her quell.

    "How do I know you''re telling the truth?" She asked her final question.

    "Have I ever lied to you? Lies are something I can''t stand, so I don''t engage in them. So, there you have it."

    Serah an instant sense of awkwardness wash over her as Karlia sighed. Everything suddenly felt like a waste of time and energy.

    "H-hey, Karlia¡­" Serah mumbled, feeling nervous and embarrassed as she stared at the Subus in front of her.

    She never thought she would resort to this, but after hearing the truth about Neron, and that there was no longer any point in fighting, Serah could no longer help but wonder¡­

    "D-does your offer still stand?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Mass Release off 10 chapters iing!!!

    Also, you can purchase the privilege chapters if you can. They''ve been made more affordable, so you can check out what happens 50 chapters ahead.

    Things are reaching the climax.

    Also, doing so supports me as the Author, and it also improves the publicity of this book.

    Thank you all for reading this far. I appreciate the support.

 Chapter 742 Unexpected Reunion

    When they first started fighting, Karlia promised to look the other way and ignore Serah if she left her alone. She rejected the offer back then because of her desperation to find Neron¡ªand also because she didn''t trust Karlia''s words.

    Well, things were different now¡ªand on both ounts too.

    "Sure. You look tired, though. You might as well rest here for some time." Karlia shrugged, still watching Serah with somewhat curious eyes.

    Serah was surprised to see her enemy show her mercy, but she was too tired toin or suspect. Besides, she somehow felt she could trust Karlia''s words.

    "Haa¡­" Serah returned to the ground, exhausted beyond description.

    The heated surroundings instantly cooled down as shended to have a seat. Surprisingly, Karlia also descended from her heights. Both women stared at each other for some time before the Subus finally spoke up.

    "So, you actually went through all that to save your man? You were even willing to die in the process¡­ just for him?"

    "Well, yeah¡­ I mean, he''s Neron."

    "Wow! That''s totally badass. I have even more respect for you now. We''re sort of simr, you know?" Karliaughed.

    "How? You''re the bad guy in a group that wants to destroy the world." Serah rolled her eyes.

    "No, I''m serious. You''re kind of right about the whole thing, but I''m only on this side because I have to be. Just as you were risking your life for your lover, I''m doing the same for mine."

    "A-ah¡­ the one who died?"

    "Yes. I want to bring him back¡ªjust as you want to bring Neron back." Karlia sighed, sitting down as well.

    "W-well¡­ I don''t know what to say. You''re still my enemy, but¡­"

    "It''s fine. I get it."

    Another round of awkward silence enveloped the two of them. They could hardly even look at each other, at this point.

    "So¡­ what will you do now? You know, about Neron?" Karlia finally broke the silence with a question.

    Who would have thought the enemy was so interested in Serah''s actions when it came to finding the man she loved?

    "Oh, that. I don''t need to do anything."

    "Wait¡­ what?!" Karlia''s jaws instantly dropped in shock.

    She had thought Serah was a selfless woman who fought for her lover. After all they had been through, and all the exchanges they had, it was clear how strongly she felt for the man. Yet, her current words were contradicting her past actions.

    "I don''t need to search for him anymore. I know who he''s with, after all."

    "Legris is an enemy. He''s also dangerous. It wouldn''t bode well to underestimate him, you know?"

    "I am well aware of that."

    "Then¡­ don''t you care about Neron?" Karlia narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

    "I do. It''s just¡­ if he''s with Legris, then there''s no need for me to worry. Neron will never lose."

    "Oh? That confident, huh?"

    "Yes. I am. Neron is the strongest!" Serah nodded, her chest swelling with pride.

    "Do you think he can defeat me, though?"

    "Sure, he can! You think he can''t bypass your immortality? I don''t think so!" Serah burst outughing.

    "And how will he do that?"

    "W-well, I''m not sure. And even if I was, why would I tell you? You''re the enemy, after all!" Serah instantly interjected, looking away.

    "Hmm. Fair point. Well, even if he can, though¡­ there''s still one more person to consider." Karlia''s grin widened as she spoke.

    Her face suddenly disyed a dangerous smile, and a wave of pressure enveloped Serah just by looking into her eyes.

    "The First Seat¡ªThe Martial de God. Neron would have to face him too."

    "Well, he would still win!"

    "I doubt it. I don''t think he will."

    "H-hey! Whose side are you on? Oh, wait¡­" Serah retracted her statement, slowly realizing something about it didn''t add up.

    "Haha. You''re an amusing woman. I really like you. Unfortunately, you and your team made a terrible mistake bying here."

    "What do you mean? We have a n!"

    "It doesn''t matter. Trust me. I''m a scientist, and I study the data pretty closely. Based on what I''ve researched, and the evidence I''ve seen¡­ you people won''t be able to win."

    "Heh! We have more Arcanas, though."

    "And what of it? Do you really think we need Arcanas to win? I''ve not used mine at all, even though it''s powerful enough to defeat you if used properly. The First Seat also has his, and he could easily wipe out your team with it if he wanted to." Karlia sighed.

    Her exasperated expression made it clear that she was trying very hard to convey just how hopeless the situation was.

    "I was actually sending you on your way to meet the Martial de God, back when we first met. If you had gone, you would be dead by now. But, I''ve taken quite a liking to you, and I don''t want you to die pointlessly."

    "What¡­ are you saying?"

    "Leave this ce. Honestly, it''s the best option for you. That way, you''ll be able to live on. I doubt you''d be considered so much of a threat if you hand over your Arcana and retreat. You''ll be safe."

    Serah chuckled instantly. As tired as she was, her voice roared and ascended to the heavens. It contained amusement, as well as seriousness.

    "Do you really think I would run?"

    "No. It was worth the try, though."  Karlia sighed, rising to her feet.

    Serah followed suit, and both women stared at each other as they stood a good distance from each other.

    "We might as well end it here." The Subus began to infuse her body with energy.

    "What will you do?" Serah asked, her face showing nervous preparation.

    "Don''t worry. I won''t kill you. I''ll preserve you until everything is set. That way, you won''t get in our way."

    "Tch. You''ll have to kill me first!"

    "I already told you I won¡ª"

    "WHATEVER!"

    A massive surge of energy burst from the two of them, and they prepared for their final confrontation. The power was enough to tower the sky and part the clouds, and the tension was so thick that it caused the earth to rumble.

    The final moment of attack¡­ the sh between the two¡­ was near.

    However¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªA sudden interference urred.

    "Serah! I finally found you!" The voice of a boy instantly pierced the air as hended in the middle of the two women.

    His blond hair fluttered with the wind, and his body was shrouded in multicolored energy. As the cloak he wore danced behind his back, so did his eyes the Aether enveloping him.

    The smoke cleared, and the dust settled, revealing the identity of the third party.

    However, the moment it became clear¡ªand all three people suddenly saw each other¡ªthe most unexpected urred.

    "Jared! You''re back!" Serah smiled in both shock and relief.

    However, to her surprise, she wasn''t the only one who felt this way. No, perhaps she was the one who felt the least of these emotions.

    "Y-you are¡­ Karlia¡­?" Jared''s eyes went straight for the dazed Subus opposite him.

    His body was trembling, and his widened eyes wouldn''t stop shaking. It seemed like he was having both the sweetest dream and the worst nightmare.

    He wasn''t the only one, though.

    Opposite him stood Karlia, just as shocked¡ªif not more so.

    Tears streamed down her eyes as her body froze in ce. She would have been mistaken for a statue if not for the wind that swept her dark hair, and the tears that clearly depicted emotion.

    Her lips began to quiver, and her eyes gleamed with something she hadn''t expressed in so long¡ªthe bright sign of hope.

    Only one word could emerge from her lips as she gazed upon the boy and he gazed back.

    "L-Lewis¡­?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Mass Release off 10 chapters iing!!!

    Also, you can purchase the privilege chapters if you can. They''ve been made more affordable, so you can check out what happens 50 chapters ahead.

    Things are reaching the climax.

    Also, doing so supports me as the Author, and it also improves the publicity of this book.

    Thank you all for reading this far. I appreciate the support.!

 Chapter 743 Parting Of Lovers [Pt 1]

    Thest time we met¡­ was so many years ago.

    The nations had all converged in a single location for a special event¡ªthest days of Lewis Griffith himself.

    Kings and honorable people from all over the world graced me with their presence. They gathered to celebrate with me, and to mourn my passing. This started with the arrival of Jane Urs in the morning, stretching until daytime, when even more guests arrived.

    However, soon enough, no one was present in the room. Per my request, they all left, and so I enjoyed my solitude¡ªwaiting for the time death woulde.

    However, who could have expected that I would still have one more visitor?

    "You''re definitely a sight for sore eyes." The melodious voice echoed within my room.

    My tired, old eyes widened the moment I heard the voice.

    I was too tired to raise my head, and my blurry eyesight couldn''tpletely pick up the person who spoke. However¡­

    ''This presence, this scent, this voice, this¡­ it is¡­!''

    It belonged to a crimson demon, coated in ck. Her enthralling physique was still evident despite the dark outfit that clung tightly to her body. Her tail danced gently, and her wings were retracted at the time.

    I couldn''t tell when she arrived, and I also couldn''t clearly see her face until she drew closer. Once she did, though, I noticed how shaky the smile on her face was.

    "Karlia¡­ is that you? It''s been so long, hasn''t it?" How could I not return her best efforts with a smile?

    I did my best to give a toothy grin¡ªthough I could only imagine how awkward that would be, given my old age.

    Several emotions ran through me. Nostalgia, relief, guilt¡­ they all squirmed within me. Still, with all of these emotions, I couldn''t dream of not staring at her.

    "It''s been very long to you, but not to me." Karlia sighed, drawing closer to my side as she spoke.

    The cool scent of her alluring charm caused my body to rx. When did Ist experience such a soothing sensation? The mere presence of this Subus brought me so much satisfaction.

    p¦Á§á?¦Á-no¦Í?1¡¤§ão§® However, I still couldn''t forget what happened thest time we met¡ªhow I chose Emilia over Karlia, and how much I hurt her.

    Even though I didn''t stay with Emilia for very long after that, I didn''t settle with Karlia either. I lived out the rest of my life single¡ªand while there were fulfilling points in it, I still felt that empty void that could only be filled with love.

    Still, with many people here to wish me goodbye on my deathbed, I let go of those regrets and chose to die a happy man. I chose to let go of the burdens of the past and focus on the present¡ªas well as my nonexistent future.

    Unfortunately, Karlia hadn''t moved beyond her past¡ªat least, from how she looked at me.

    "How have you been, Karlia?" I asked warmly.

    "I''ve been traveling around, exploring many things. I learned lots of Magic Science from you during those times we spent together, do you remember? Well, I''ve been expanding my knowledge."

    "Oh? Is that so?"

    "Yes. I might even know more than you already?"

    "Hahaha! You really think so? Well, give it a couple of decades, and you''ll probably surpass me. For now, though, I''ll keep my title. Hehehe."

    Surprisingly, we both burst out inughter.

    Even if it was just for a moment, it felt like old times¡ªme and Karlia, all alone in the room, talking andughing.<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    We went on to discuss many other things. I told her of my escapades, and she told me of hers. It turned out Karlia had been through so many adventures¡ªexploring many regions of the world and experiencing so much.

    It was good to hear that she was finally seeing the world. I genuinely felt happy to hear all that she was seeing¡ªand the many more she would see. However¡­ when I realized the point she was driving at, it saddened me a little.

    "No matter how much I try, I can''t forget it, Lewis. Believe me, I''ve tried all I can to forget about you¡ªabout us. But, it is impossible. I know that I truly love you, and that can''t change."

    It broke my heart to hear that. Here I was, on my deathbed, yet Karlia still couldn''t let go of the connection we had.

    "Tell me, Lewis. I truly want to know. Back then, when you chose Emilia over me¡­ did you really feel nothing at all?"

    ''I see. So she still hasn''t let go¡­'' I thought to myself when I saw her glittering violet eyes.

    I was going to die very soon. If there was any time to be honest and spill out the truth, now was a perfect time. Even though I lived with regrets, I didn''t want to die with any.

    "I have always loved you, Karlia. I loved you back then¡­ and even now¡­" I stared at her, unable to let go of the past too.

    I couldn''t exin it. I couldn''t ignore it. I couldn''t avoid it.

    Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Emilia and I eventually broke up. I couldn''tpletely disregard my feelings for Karlia despite choosing Emilia. And now, facing her, I couldn''t lie to her any longer.

    "Haa¡­ is that so?"

    "I''m sorry for lying to you. I had to make a choice back then."

    "So why didn''t you choose me?"

    I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I didn''t know what to say at that point. Did I love Emilia more than I loved her? Maybe.

    Or maybe, with the way the situation had escted¡ªwith Emilia being my wife and being hurt by Karlia''s Miasma¡ªI instinctively chose her.

    I genuinely didn''t know.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Mass Release off 10 chapters iing!!!

    Also, you can purchase the privilege chapters if you can. They''ve been made more affordable, so you can check out what happens 50 chapters ahead.

    Things are reaching the climax.

    Also, doing so supports me as the Author, and it also improves the publicity of this book.

    Thank you all for reading this far. I appreciate the support.

 Chapter 744 Parting Of Lovers [Pt 2]

    "So, it''s like that, huh? I understand." Karlia sighed.

    "Y-you do?" My voice stuttered as I looked at her sad smile.

    "I do, Lewis. Thank you for telling me." She ced her hand on my chest and I couldn''t help but fall deeper in love with her.

    The fact that I could see her one final time before I died meant a lot to me.

    "Thanks foring, Karlia. I¡­ appreciate it."

    Strength was leaving my body, and I knew the time of my demise was already near. Anytime from this point, and I would meet my demise.

    "It was¡­ good to see you again. Even after all these years¡­ you are still very attractive."

    "Pfft. You little pervert. If you want to fuck me, juste out and say it."

    "Hahaha! I''m afraid I can''t do that now."

    We both burst outughing, though mine was interrupted by a series of coughs. The fact that no one came in, even when we were making such a ruckus, meant Karlia had probably enchanted the room.

    "Well¡­ maybe not now. Perhaps another time." She gave me a calm smile.

    "Another time? What does that mean?"

    "It means I''m not giving up, Lewis. I''ll find a way to bring you back¡ªhealthier and younger. That way, we can do it all we like!"

    I smiled at Karlia, appreciating the sentiment. Even Jane said the same thing before. However, there were certain rules in the world that couldn''t be broken. And, just as I exined to Jane, I also said the same to her.

    "You don''t know everything, Lewis. You can''t be certain."

    Well, she was right about that. But, I didn''t want the woman I loved to spend her whole life trying so hard for me¡ªespecially when she was finally experiencing so much of the world.

    "Lewis¡­ I''ve given it so much thought already. I''ve done all I can to forget about you¡ªto find a new purpose, or something else I can wholeheartedly dedicate myself to. But they alwayse short of you."

    Karlia''s words melted my heart. I appreciated her so much, but her statement also made me feel worse for leaving her just like that.

    My departure was causing so many people sorrow, yet it was only natural.

    "I can''t imagine a life without you, Lewis. I¡­ I can''t." Tears were already falling from Karllia''s cheeks.

    I didn''t expect a woman so mature to be so fragile. Still, even amid the tears, Karlia was so cute.

    "Karlia¡­ thank you. Honestly, I¡­ I thank you. However, you must live on without me. I have no right to tell you how you should live, but¡­ please be happy. I can only die without regrets if I know you''ll be happy. So please¡­ stop crying."

    "L-Lewis, you¡­ you''re so unfair."

    "I know. I know. And I''m sorry for that. But I''m leaving now¡­ and I want to make sure you''re okay."

    My bony hands fell atop hers, and we had a moment of silence¡ªone where we both exchanged smiles.

    "I promise, Lewis¡­ I promise to live well without you. Don''t worry about me. I won''t be dying or despairing anytime soon."

    "That''s good to hear."

    From the depths of my heart, I was happy that Karlia was going to be fine without me. Even though Emilia never saw me, despite my imminent demise, I still worried for her.

    At least, with this, Karlia would be fine.

    "I¡­ actually also have something I need to ask you." A smile formed on my wrinkled face.

    Honestly, I had no idea why Karlia would care so much for this sack of bones. She was the epitome of perfection, and I was far from that definition. However, I loved and respected her enough to respect her feelings.

    Still, it didn''t eliminate the question that gued me for many years. It was always something that popped up anytime I thought of Karlia, and I couldn''t get it out of my head.

    However, now that things hade to this, I could ask her. No, I had to ask her.!

    Only then could I rest in peace.

    "Karlia¡­ back when we were together¡­ do you remember?"

    "Yes¡­?"

    "When we were having sex for the first time¡­"<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    "Y-yes¡­"

    "Y-you said something¡­"

    "Where are you going with this, Lewis?"

    "My¡­ erm¡­ tool. You said it was quite small¡­"

    "O-oh¡­ that."

    To be honest, I still hadn''t forgotten that awkward moment. Her words haunted me, even when I got married to Emilia. Icked confidence in it for years, even though Emilia told me it was way above average.

    The dissonance between Karlia''s opinion and Emilia''s opinion left me confused. I¡­ could not get over it. No matter how hard I tried, those words remained stuck in my head. It was petty, but¡­

    "I have to know, Karlia¡­ is it really that small?"

    Did she really manage with my equipment? I had to know before I died!

    "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Lewis, you idiot. That''s what you''re thinking about on your dead bed?"

    "Hey! Different strokes for different folks. You have your priorities, and I have mine."

    We both chuckled andughed under the watch of the moon. It was a truly magical moment, one I wishedsted longer.

    "Well, the truth is¡­ it wasn''t actually small Lewis. It was pretty average." She smiled, narrowing her eyes as she went on to lick her lips.

    Words could not express the relief I experienced the moment Karlia told me that. I felt like all the things that haunted me in the past evaporated.

    Finally, I had inner peace.

    "H-hey, what do you think you''re doing? Don''t even try." I could already spot her gaze moving in the direction of my equipment, and I knew just what kind of mischief she could pull.

    "Boo. You''re no fun."

    "Yeah, yeah. As much as having one final go with you before I die will be the best way to go¡­ I n on myst moments being more¡­ solemn." I smiled, closing my eyes as I inhaled deeply.

    "Want me to stay here with you?"

    "Thank you. I would really¡­ appreciate that."

    Karlia moved closer and kissed me on my forehead, and she tightly held my hand while watching over me. It felt¡­ very good.

    Soon, all my guests and visitors entered the room, but none of them could see Karlia. She was like a ghost. However, I had no doubt that it was really her I just talked to.

    There was no way it was my imagination.

    Jane, and pretty much everyone else, stayed with me as I closed my eyes for thest time. I saw all of them with my blurry vision, especially Karlia''s teary smile.

    As much as it pained me to see them go, I was happy they were here with me. Now, it was time to let them all go.

    And so, as I thought about Magic in myst moments, I could hear Karlia''s voice ovepping with my thoughts.

    "I will bring you back, Lewis. And then we''re going to live happily ever after¡­ forever."

    A smile formed on my face as I felt my consciousness fade away.

    This was finally the end.

    Little did I know at the time¡­ I couldn''t be more wrong!

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    [A/N]

    I actually like this ship a lot. And now, as we return to the present, you have to ask yourselves... what will Jared do now?

    I wonder...

 Chapter 745 Lovers Or Enemies?

    "K-Karlia¡­?"

    "L-Lewis¡­?"

    As my voice ovepped with Karlia''s, I could feel a lot of emotions rush into me. They were overwhelming¡ªtoo overwhelming.

    However, despite the myriad of thoughts that flowed into my mind, one of them popped out even more.

    "H-how did you¡­ know it was me?"

    She looked just as surprised as me, so that meant this came as a shock to the both of us.

    The reason I knew it was Karlia was because she hadn''t changed a single bit since west saw each other. Well, she was using sses now¡ªand was that abcoat I saw on her?¡ªbut she still had pretty much the same look.

    There was no way I wouldn''t recognize the only demoness I ever loved.

    ''But what about her? How did she¡ª?!''

    "Lewis¡­ how is this¡­ possible? You''re Jared Leonard? What is this? Soul possession? Body augmentation? No¡­ this can''t be¡­ Reincarnation?"

    All it took were a few seconds, and she unraveled the mystery surrounding my return.

    "K-Karlia, what are you doing here? You¡­ you can''t actually be the Subus in the Nether Cult, right?"

    Logic told me to look at the facts around me, but I couldn''t believe that someone as kind and as non-violent as Karlia would hold such a high position in the very organization that sought to destroy me.

    "What do you think, Jared? She''s the Second Seat." Serah moved closer to me, speaking words I didn''t want to hear.

    I was still stunned to the point of disbelief to find Karlia here. I suspected she was alive somewhere, somehow, but I didn''t want to interrupt her new life.

    ''I thought she''d take my advice and live happily. If she did that, then wouldn''t I have forced her to make a choice between me and her new life¡ªjust as I was forced to do back then?''

    I stayed away for her own good.

    Who would have thought we would meet like this¡­ and in such a way?

    ''Shit! Now isn''t the time to think like this. I have to leave here with Serah before¡ª''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Like a meteor falling from the sky, a being suddenlynded a short distance from where I, Karlia, and Serah stood.

    It was just as I feared. He was¡­

    "We meet again, Jared Leonard. Did you think you could escape me so easily?"

    ¡­ The Martial de God!

    ''He''s tracked me down so quickly! Damnit!''

    The n was to cause a stir here, while grabbing Serah and making a break for it.

    With the perfected form of [Unknowbale], I could choose to reveal myself or stay hidden. My intention was to temporarily reveal myself here, causing the attention of the Martial de God to divert to this point, while I used the chance to look for the others alongside Serah.

    Unfortunately, I faltered at the most decisive point thanks to seeing the most unexpected person. As a result, the timing, and everything else, was ruined.

    ''Shit!''

    I swiftly clutched Serah and decided to instantly rece our bodies with automatons. However, just as I suspected¡­.

    "That trick won''t work on me again."

    ¡­ The Spell didn''t activate!

    I could think of many reasons why this could happen. One would be that the Martial de God could already see our destination, thus eliminating the automatons before we had a chance to swap positions.

    There were a few other exnations, but the most straightforward approach, and the one I suspected most, was that he was simply hijacking my Spell with his dominating pressure.

    ''You can use [Interference] to disrupt Spells. He could be resorting to that. No¡­ he has to!''

    "I appreciate you keeping them here awhile, Karlia. I will be taking over things from here." The Martial de God took a step forward, slowly unsheathing his de.

    I was frightened out of my mind, at this point.

    There was no way to beat this monster!

    ''If he''s interrupting my Magic, and his motive is to execute me, then¡­ I''m screwed!''

    The worst part, however, was that my only backup¡ªSerah¡ªlookedpletely worn out. I could tell that she went all out, and she waspletely tired.

    ''Spellcraft would have been preferable, but it''s useless because of all the Nether around.''<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    I was out of options, and my partner was a mess.

    ''Who''s to say he can''t simply interfere with all my Spells and kill me as fast as possible? Damnit! Do I have to pull out my trump card now? But¡­ if I do, then the n is¡ª''

    "Do not fret, Jared. I will make it quick." The Martial de God raised his de right in front of me, ready to swing it and rid me of my breath.

    For a moment, I actually saw my life sh before my eyes¡ªand I felt like it would be over before I even realized it.

    However, just as he was about to strike¡­ the Martial de God suddenly halted.

    ''H-huh?!''

    His arm was still raised, but he didn''t move it any longer. Instead, he slowly looked behind him and gazed upon the colleague behind him.

    "What are you doing, Karlia? Your bloodlust¡­ I can feel its intensity." He spoke, narrowing his gaze at her.

    ''W-wha¡ª? Karlia¡­?'' My gaze also went in her direction.

    She was transfixed in a single location, but I could tell see what the Martial de was referring to. Even though her bloodlust wasn''t being directed at me, I felt myself shiver just by looking at her.

    "Get away from him." Karlia''s voice sounded deep and imposing.

    Her fists were clenched, and her face resembled that of a ferocious predator. The bloodlust kept rising to an unprecedented degree, and it seemed her face kept morphing into a more dangerous scowl.

    "Why should I do that?" The Martial de God''s voice was the only thing calm about the current situation.

    "He''s mine."

    "I saw him first."

    "No, I did."

    "Ah¡­ yeah¡­ that''s true. Unfortunately¡ª"

    "I said¡­ stay away from him." Karlia began taking steps forward¡ªeach move made me shiver down to my bones.

    Never before had I seen her like this¡ªnot even against the Demon Lords in the past. It made me wonder just how much she had changed¡­ how I probably didn''t know her anymore.

    ''NO! What am I even thinking?! I told her before I died¡­ that I wouldn''t dictate how she would live. I''m not about to judge her for her actions now!''

    I had also done terrible things in the past, and even I had to give Karlia the benefit of the doubt¡ªeven if she was a Nether Cult executive.

    ''I won''t make the mistake I made in the past!'' This time, I med myself.

    I simply assumed Karlia would be living a happy life without me¡ªnever once considering the opposite. It gave me the perfect excuse to live my own life without worrying about her.

    ''Forgive me, Karlia¡­ I failed you.''

    However, if I was sure about one thing, it was that she couldn''t have changed. She was still the same Karlia I knew. Just by looking into her eyes when we met, I could see the same woman I fell for all those years ago.

    ''Even now, she''s protecting me from her own group.'' There was no doubt about it, and I would be a fool to think there was.

    "Hey, Martial de God¡­" I tightly clenched my fist as I spoke.

    What kind of man would I be if I let her stand up for me without also standing up for her? With this resolve quelling the questions in my heart, I red at the Martial de God.

    "Don''t look at Karlia that way!"

    *

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    [A/N]

    Now things are getting interesting. Hehehe

    Also¡­

    You can purchase the privilege chapters if you can. They''ve been made more affordable, so you can check out what happens 50 chapters ahead.

    Things are reaching the climax.

    Also, doing so supports me as the Author, and it also improves the publicity of this book.

    Thank you all for reading this far. I appreciate the support.

 Chapter 746 Resonating Feelings

    Karlia was locked in an endless swirl of emotions.

    Her heart constantly raced anytime she saw Jared¡ªno, Lewis Griffith in Jared''s body.

    He seemed surprised that she would be able to recognize him despite his new form, but that was simply underestimating her sensory abilities. Since their Souls were linked by her Original Magic, Karlia could tell the moment she looked at him.

    Even though the bond wasn''t as strong as a Soul Brand, the moment he appeared in front of her, she could instantly tell.

    ''I-I can''t believe this! H-he''s alive?!'' Her heart was racing at an unbelievable speed.

    Through the years¡ªfor over five centuries¡ªshe had sought ways to bring him back, yet here Lewis was, right in front of her.

    ''Oh, no! He must think I''m his enemy! I''m in the Nether Cult, and I even wanted us to kill Jared because he was troublesome!'' Her thoughts suddenly surged.

    How was she going to exin her way out of this mess?

    "Lewis, I¡ª"

    Unfortunately, her words were interrupted by the arrival of the First Seat.

    The moment she saw him, she realized her blunder¡­ as well as what was toe. The only reason for the Martial de toe was for Jared''s execution.

    Normally, she would have allowed it¡ªno, even supported it. After all, Jared was one huge stumbling block that stood between her and her dream.

    However, now that she discovered Jared was Lewis, what would she do? Was she going to watch the Martial de God execute the only person she ever loved? Or was she going to save him?

    ''He''s still confused. He probably has some weird perception of me. I¡­ I¡­''

    Betraying the Cult was something she never wanted to do¡ªespecially because of her goals. But, her cooperation so far only hinged on one reason. And now the reason was in front of her.

    Did it really have to take her so long to decide?

    ''NO! I''m not letting you near him!'' Her thoughts echoed, and her bloodlust began to manifest¡ªfocused only on the Martial de God.

    She knew she was courting death with her actions, but Karlia''s thoughts were only centered around one thing. That single thing was enough to conquer the fear and reverence she had for her senior.

    ''Lewis is mine!''

    *

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    "Don''t look at Karlia that way!"

    The eyes of the subus widened the moment she heard those words from Jared/Lewis.

    ''H-he''s¡­ not mad at me?'' Her heart thumped louder than before, and her whole body became hotter by the second.

    She could see the resolve in his eyes as he stood up for her. It was simr to the one in her eyes. For that moment alone, despite their confusion and mixed emotions, Karlia could feel the connection between the both of them restored.

    They had be one!

    "I see. So, you''ve chosen to side with each other. I don''t me you for your choice. However, do you really believe this changes anything?" The Martial de God asked, his eyes narrowed as he exchanged nces between her and the one she recognized as Lewis.

    Serah was out of the equation, but she was most likely going to be dealt with after the Martial de God was done with them.

    ''I already mad my peace with this a long time ago¡­'' Karlia thought to herself as she took a deep breath in.

    The Martial de God was standing right between her and her goal. And there was only one thing she could do to get back her lover.

    "... I don''t care if the world burns as a result¡ªand the same applies to the Nether Cult!''

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    In a sh, she darted in the direction of her prey.

    The Martial de God instantly picked this up, and he swung his de to intercept her. However¡ª

    She instantly vanished from his reach and appeared beside Lewis, and right in front of Serah. They both disyed shock, causing her to grin a little.<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    "W-whoah¡­ what did you do?" Lewis asked, his eyes aze with curiosity.

    "It''s one of my abilities. I can teach you about it some other time."

    "Sweet!"

    They both smiled at each other, and she could feel something deep within her Soul. It was¡ª

    ''RESONANCE!'' Her grin grew wider, and so did Lewis''s.

    It was just as she realized. Lewis and her¡­ they were both one in thought and intentions.

    ~Let''s do this, Karlia.~ His voice appeared in her thoughts.

    ''Yeah. Try to keep up!'' She responded, her focus on the enemy in front of her.

    It was both of them against this incredible monolith.

    Karlia didn''t know the full extent of Jared''s strength, but she knew it was inferior to the Martial de God''s power. She also knew her limits, and they also fell short.

    However, she had a n.

    ''We''ll fight¡­ for now. Once the time is right¡ªI''ll get us out of here!''

    Facing the Martial de God and hoping to win was suicide. Fortunately, she had perfect immortality!

    "This should be an interesting battle." Their opponent muttered, pointing his de at the two of them.

    "I have always wondered if I could kill you. Now is the time to put that to the test."

    "Give it your best shot!" She yelled in excitement.

    Even though she greatly feared and respected the Martial de God, having Lewis by her side gave her all the confidence she needed.

    Somehow, she felt she could do anything as long he was by her side. It also helped that, at this very moment, she was¡­

    ¡­ INCREDIBLY, INDESCRIBABLY HAPPY!

    And with this profound joy, came strength!

    ''Lewis is alive! That''s all that matters!'' She strengthened her body and prepared to go all-out.

    "Give it my all, huh? I''m not sure about that." The Martial de God whispered, blue and white energy suddenly emanating from his body.

    Pressure filled the entire area, and the power he exuded was unbelievable.

    "You are right in one aspect, though. I''ll need to try harder if I want to win."

    As he spoke, his hair turned white, and his skin appeared clear and pale. His eyes glowed bright blue, and he seemed to be covered in a bright attire made of energy. In his current form, all his senses were heightened, and his power reached more frightening heights.

    This was his Martial State.

    "Now then, shall we begin?"

    With both sides prepared to give their all, the tension of battle enveloped the entire ind. Anyone who dwelled on it could instantly tell¡­

    ¡­ This would be a devastating sh!

    *

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    [A/N]

    I have been looking forward to this confrontation for some time now. Hehe. Now, then, why don''t we check something out in the next chapter?

 Chapter 747 The Grand Malefactor

    Amid the chaos and destruction that constantly shook the entire ind, there was one portion of it that remained unaffected.

    It was the Nether Cult headquarters'' main building.

    It stood wide and tall, almost as though daring whoever challengers to venture inside and face the consequences. Not only did it ooze out such power, but the strong field around it was so dense that nearly anything that tried to venture inside without the proper authority would instantly die.

    Despite all of that, a certain figure still approached the building with resolve.

    She swiftly moved like the wind, easily passing through the barrier without suffering any harm, and passed through the walls of the buildings with her powerful Magic.

    A cloak was around her, and it shrouded her body, revealing very little of her face. This culprit was none other than Aloe Vida¡­ or rather¡ª

    Kazen herself.

    ''I apologize, everyone. You all have good intentions, and your ns were well-meaning. However¡­ you have no idea who you''re up against.'' She thought to herself as she stealthily strolled through the massive hallway within the building.

    ''It''s pretty. As expected¡­'' Kazen thought as she took a good look around while advancing in Aloe''s body.

    She inhaled deeply, still feeling the sting of guilt for abandoning her supposed teammates and ruining their ns.

    ''I interfered with the teleportation to separate them all. That way, they won''t interfere with my actions. As much as it pains me to have done that, it was for the best¡­''

    Kazen had to do what she had to do¡ªand she had to do it alone.

    That was the reason she came from the grave, after all.

    ''Apologies, Aloe. Apologies, Jared. Apologies, everyone.'' Her gaze was now fixed on a massive door that ominously stood in front of her.

    So far she had stealthily traversed the Nether Cult''s center of power, but Kazen was not foolish enough to believe that the master of this building would not have noticed her presence.

    Her stealth was meant to prevent any annoying pests from getting in her way.

    ''In the end¡­ you''re the one I have to face!''

    In one swift move, Kazen made her way past the door and found herself in a massive hall.

    Murals decorated the ce, and the tiles were paved with white. The chandeliers glimmered marvelously, and the ambiance within it brought back old memories within her. This ce¡­ the homely feeling of this room¡­ Kazen could not forget it if she tried.

    A distance from her, she saw the twelve seats around a round table, and she was once again reminded of herrades¡ªher friends.

    The Apostles of Aether.

    "Tch. So you recreated even this¡­" Kazen murmured as she stepped forward.

    The seats were fewer than in the original setting, considering the Apostles were 21 in number. Compared to the memories she had, the twelve seats feltcking. They were also empty.

    The chairs were not well-rounded, unlike how she remembered them. Instead, six chairs were located to the right, and six went to the left. At the head of the table, that is, the top front, was a much more grandiose seat.

    This thirteenth seat resembled a throne, and someone sat on it. He resembled a young boy, having an aura of darkness around him. As he sat on his throne and watched her, Kazen could tell¡­ this was the leader of the Cult.

    His steely gaze and malevolent eyes were fixed on her as she stepped forward. Her steps were careful, yet steady. Nothing about the determination on her face had changed the slightest bit.

    "I have been expecting you, intruder." The Cult Leader spoke, his bone-chilling voice spread through the hall.

    The power in his voice, and the darkness he depicted, were enough to make anyone tremble before him. However, Kazen did no such thing. Her gaze remained determined.

    She kept moving forward.

    "I''m surprised you came alone. Do you really think you can defeat me alone? Or, are your allies so upied that only you could make it here?"<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    Kazen did not respond to the Cult Leader''s obvious attempts at provocation or information probing. She wasn''t going to waste her breath talking to him.

    "It''s a bit sloppy of the First Seat, I must say¡ªletting one of the targets slip under his watch. Then again¡­ he must be upied with the Singrity." The Cult Leader chuckled to himself.

    Suddenly, his malevolent aura increased over tenfold, and a sheer quantity of Nether danced around him. An instant wave of tension consumed the entire area, causing Kazen to finally halt and re at the youngd.

    "Haha¡­ oh, well. We should conclude things no¡ª"

    "Enough with the theatrics. I didn''te here for you." Kazen finally spoke, her tone indicating the impatience and annoyance that she felt.

    "What?"

    Kazen''s scowl intensified as soon as she heard the Cult Leader speak again. Instantly, a gust of Aether swirled around her. In a sh, it fought off the Nether that the Cult Leader emitted¡­ and it prevailed.

    Her power suppressed his, causing the seated young man to let out a gasp of shock.

    "I have no interest in a pawn. I want to speak to the true master of this ce. Reveal yourself, Ciel!" Kazen roared.

    For a moment, her voice invoked nothing but echoes, and finally silence.

    The Cult Leader seemed frozen in shock¡ªhis bloodshot eyes focused on Kazen, and a very deep frown formed on his face.

    "What¡­ are you talking about?"

    "I said its enough! Bring me Ciel¡­ NOW!"

    Kazen released more of her aura, causing the entire area to tremble as a result. The Aether she released was so pure that even in such an area dense with Nether, her power prevailed.

    Even the Cult Leader shook at this point, unable to bear it.

    "Hahaha! That''s quite enough, Kazen." A voice suddenly echoed across the massive hall.

    The moment it did, the trembling ceased and Kazen swiftly lifted her gaze around. She swiftly attempted to find the origin of the sound, but failed.

    "I''m right here." The voice came from where the Nether Cult Leader sat¡ªor rather, beside him.

    The sonorous, gentle tone belonged to a woman d in white. She elegantly stood beside the Cult Leader''s throne, a smile ced on her face.

    "Y-you¡­ you''re Ciel¡­?!"

    "Haha¡­ it makes sense that you don''t recognize me. I''ve gone through a bit of a makeover since ourst encounter over a thousand years ago."

    Kazen was speechless, but she maintained her stance regardless.

    "It has been ages, hasn''t it, old friend?"

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    [A/N]

    I imagine some of you already guessed it before the big reveal. I remember someone actually guessed it.

    Well, there you go, everyone¡­ Ciel herself!

 Chapter 748 The One Called Ciel

    "It has been ages, dear friend." The white-d woman, or rather¡­ Ciel, spoke with grace.

    A smile constantly remained on her face, and her pristine beauty could take one''s breath away. This enthralling part of her held no appeal to Kazen, however. Instead, it only drove her further into a rage.

    "Do not call me that. I am no longer your friend!" She growled.

    "There''s that temper. As expected of you, Kazen. When I felt your Aether, I instantly knew it was you. Honestly, even in death, you haven''t changed."

    Kazen gritted her teeth, ring murderously at Ciel.

    Millions of thoughts ran through her head, but most of them consisted of one major element. How to kill the woman in front of her.

    " I expected, if anyone would return from the dead, it would be the strongest or something. Perhaps Merlin or Lancelot. Why would you be the one toe? And why choose such a weak vessel?"

    "That''s none of your business," Kazen responded brazenly.

    It wasn''t like the Apostles had the chance toe back from the dead, or anything like that. Not all of them could ingrain their Souls into their Arcanas as she could. The few who could do that only left portions of themselves there¡ªlittle embers that would fade after a while.

    The only reason she was different was because of her Original Magic.

    "I could say the same about your little charade. Using a figurehead to control others¡­ that sounds perfectly like what you would do." She clenched her fist.

    Kazen remembered when she had once called Ciel a friend. She remembered how she had initially been a pure maiden, who was meant to be their newest member. Kazen remembered how she used one of their members and tricked him into deluding the rest of them.

    She remembered how, in the process of solving the consequences of her ambition, herrades had used up their lives. They protected humanity from the Nether and saved the world from Ciel''s twisted ideals.

    And, she remembered how they all went their separate ways¡ªchoosing to hide their most valued treasures since they believed that it was the only way to return the evil of the Nether to the world.

    ''Even after all that, she still hunted us down and tried to obtain our Arcanas. How many friends of mine died at your hands? You two-faced bitch!''

    "You seem angry at me for personal reasons. Aren''t the Apostles meant to be selfless heroes? Well, your anger is justifiable, but¡­" Cielughed softly, as she cast her gaze on the Cult Leader, who was still shaking in his seat.

    She used her hand to rub his head, casting an unusually loving gaze on the boy.

    "... Don''t take it out on my child."

    Kazen''s eyes instantly widened in shock¡ªno, more than shock¡­ disgust!

    "N-no¡­ what did you do? What have you done!"

    Ciel kept rubbing the head of her supposed son, and the boy¡ªdespite being the Cult Leader, kept his head steady. He did not resist, and neither did he squirm. Rather, he seemed to be enjoying her touch.

    It was not an image befitting the leader of the Nether Cult.

    "What have I done? Oh, plenty. As for my little child, well¡­ ''WE'' made him together."

    The shock disyed on Kazen''s face kept intensifying the more she watched and heard.

    "Y-you didn''t¡­ no way¡­"

    "I told you all, but you didn''t listen. No one can stop our bond. Even though you took my beloved from me, I was gifted with a portion of his glorious self. As a result¡­ I was able to fuse him with myself¡ªthereby birthing our seed."

    At this point, Ciel''s frosty white face had shades of pink. Her hand was on her face as she smiled in euphoria. It seemed like she was experiencing a heightened sense of pleasure¡ªone that would be better left unsaid.

    "You''re sick." Kazen shot a look of disgust.

    "And you''re ignorant. But I don''t me you. You weren''t chosen by his glorious self, after all." Ciel shrugged.

    "H-how can you say that? It is going to destroy everything and everyone in this world! It is going to kill everything! Yet you call my desire to stop that, ignorance?" Kazen raised her voice, her anger rising to new heights.

    "And what of it?"

    "W-what¡­?"

    "And what of it? If it is his glorious will to destroy everything, then I shall dlyply. There are more worlds out there, after all."

    "Y-you¡­"

    "I do not care if this world burns¡­ as long as I get my beloved back. You do not understand, which is why you are ignorant."

    "You monster¡­"

    "I can only imagine his joy when he sees our child. Ah, the thrill makes me squirm with anticipation." Ciel was now using both her hands to caress her face as she spoke.

    The Cult Leader was also smiling¡ª the innocent smile of a child who believed the words of his mother and sought the return of his father.<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    Both of them grinned like maniacs, and Kazen watched their expressions of depravity, unable to take any more of it.

    "I won''t let that happen. I came here to stop you¡ªeven if I kill you, your child, or both in the process. I will not let you bring that monster into this world!" A burst of Aether surged from Kazen, instantly transforming her into a glorious maiden of light.

    Resolve burned deeply in her eyes, and she readied herself for when she would strike.

    "Well, that would have been more threatening if I wasn''t already certain of my victory. Unfortunately for you, Kazen¡­ you''re a bit toote." Ciel smiled nonchntly.

    Despite the extreme pressure that dominated the area, Ciel did not even break a sweat. Herposed expression told Kazen how confident she was.

    "Quit bluffing and stalling. You need all the Arcanas to achieve your goals. That is your reason behind establishing the Cult, isn''t it? Without all of them, the gates will never open!" Kazen shouted.

    With her eyes on the target, and her body ready to perform its task, Kazen let out a battle cry.

    "This is the end of the line, Ciel!"

    >WHOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    The first strike ended in a stalemate, almost as soon as it was initiated. Kazen met with a dense field, thus causing her attack to be nullified.

    Even though she was moving well beyond the speed of light, Ciel was still fast enough to react.

    ''Tch! And she looked so rxed¡­''

    "You make too many assumptions, Kazen." Ciel''s voice echoed in her ears, causing Kazen''s re to deepen.

    "What¡­ are you talking about?"

    Ciel''s lightughter triggered Kazen. She was enjoying herself in her dome of protection, and it seemed she had more cards up her sleeve.

    ''I knew this would be hard before I embarked on this task. I can''t stop now¡­'' She gritted her teeth.

    "Don''t bother, Kazen. My n is already in its final stage of fruition." Ciel ceased herughter and made a gentle statement.

    ''She''s just trying to bait me. She still needs all the Arcanas to¡ª''

    "You believe I need to have all the Arcanas to achieve what I want, do you not?" Ciel''s smile broadened as she spoke.

    Kazen obviously thought along that line. Who wouldn''t?

    The 21 Arcanasbined formed thest piece, and that was the only way to open the gates. That was the only way Ciel could get what she wanted.

    ''Arcanas can''t be destroyed. We tried and failed. If we could¡­ we would have destroyed them ages ago.''

    Still, with the way the cards were currently divided, Ciel couldn''t aplish her n. As long as that was the case, she was never going to win.

    "What if I told you, dear friend, that I found another way?" Ciel''s smile shook Kazen to the core.

    The confident look in her eyes¡­ the way she made her statement¡­ Kazen could tell that Ciel was utterly sure of her words.

    ''What? How? I don''t believe it!''

    "T-that''s impossible!" She yelled, ready tomence a stronger volley of attacks. And this time, enough to destroy the shield.

    "Oh, but it is. I now have a way that allows me to win."

    ''YOU''RE LYING!!!''

    "And I no longer need to possess the Arcanas to do so!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Okay, so things are slowly reaching the climax. That''s good to see.

    I just want to remind you all¡­ to check out my new book. Thanks. Haha.

 Chapter 749 The Loophole

    What in the world was going on? What sort of nonsense was Ciel spouting? Kazen could not wrap her head around her words.

    ''There''s no way¡­ right?''

    Magic existed to make the impossible possible. However, certain immutablews couldn''t be broken. One of thosews was the death of living beings.

    The body or soul¡ªpreferably both¡ªhad to be present before the person could be brought back to life. The reasons stemmed from theplex nature of life, and the connection of Magic to every single element.

    Ultimately, even if there was a loophole, it had to operate under thews that existed¡ªthe power that be.

    Even the solution to the impossible return of the Nether was only feasible with the convergence of the powers of the Arcanas. Any other way and it simply wasn''t usible.

    Unless¡­

    "It looks like you''ve caught on, Kazen." Ciel smiled, stretching her hand forward.

    Instantly, projections of multiple cards began appearing in the air. The cards had various colours, but they were shrouded in Ciel''s white light.

    "I have lived for a very long time. Longer than you all have. That time has provided me with the means to create a second Original Magic¡ªone asplex and intricate as this."

    Kazen''s eyes widened when she saw the floating projections. She realized it the moment she decided to take a closer look¡­

    ''T-those aren''t mere projections!''

    The patterns, the forms, the nature¡­ the projections that hovered above Kazen''s grasp resembled the real thing in every sense of the word!

    They were replicas!

    "My initial Original Magic: [Eye Of The Wise], grants me perfect irvoyance in this world. I can see all things present, so long as certain conditions are met. Utilizing that to my advantage, I created my second Original Magic¡­ [Forge Of Creation]."

    Kazen was lost for words, but everything starteding together.

    "N-no way¡­" Her eyes widened the more she thought of all she had heard from Aloe, and what she had experienced since she came to this world.

    "The war against the demons¡­ the search for the Arcanas¡­ the sh between the Nether Cult and everyone else¡­ all of that was for¡ª"

    "Precisely!" Ciel''s grin widened to a terrifying degree, causing Kazen to tremble.

    She finally realized the truth behind Ciel''s initial words, and howpletely usible it was.

    "My magic [Eye Of The Wise] shows me when the Arcanas are being used, and I analyze their properties and functions down to the tiniest detail. With [Forge Of Creation], I can recreate the Arcanas perfectly. With these two abilities under my perfect control, I do not need to possess any Arcana."

    ''So that was why she was able to easily distribute the Arcanas to the Cult Members! Not only did she not need them, but by facing the Cult Members with Arcanas, Jared and his allies would have to use their Arcanas as well, allowing her to learn and absorb all the information she needed.''

    Kazen instantly realized how they had all been duped by Ciel''s borate trick.

    ''T-then¡­ does that mean¡­ that her n is¡ª'' Kazen stopped herself before she couldplete her thoughts.

    She realized something as she thought of how absurd Ciel''s new Magic was. It was subtle, a critical element that almost escaped her notice. However, she caught it anyway.

    "Energy! Youck enough energy to supply them with enough power!" Kazen yelled<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    Granted, Ciel was very powerful. However, the Arcanas were made with the aid of the Root. Merlin and herrades were connected to the very source, and they drew power from there with their Arcanas.

    That was also why their Arcanas couldn''t be destroyed.

    ''Even if she duplicated them, how will she have enough power to charge all the Arcanas?''

    "Did you really think I didn''t consider that problem?" Ciel''s cool tone interrupted Kazen''s thoughts, causing her to snap out of them instantly.

    "What do you think I spent my time doing all this time? Over a thousand years¡­ and yet I didn''t expend any energy, nor did I actively search for the Arcanas. Where do you think all that excess power went to?"

    ''N-no way!'' Ciel had been storing over a thousand year worth of energy just so she could achieve her goals!

    Still, Kazen could not believe it! She could not believe that Ciel had ess to all the Arcanas! She could not ept that the enemy was on the verge of winning.

    "The only Arcana left is yours, Kazen. Once I have that, it''ll beplete. I can''t thank you enough foring here."

    ''Tch!'' Kazen braced herself.

    "You think I''m ever going to use my Arcana after hearing all of that? Over my dead body!"

    Ciel let out another lightughter, her face depicting amusement. She seemed so carefree about the whole thing that it made the tension Kazen was currently experiencing seem like a joke.

    "I currently have twenty Arcana abilities in my possession. I also have a thousand years'' worth of energy. Tell me, Kazen¡­ do you really think you have a choice?"

    Ciel slowly began to walk away from her previous position beside the Cult Leader. Each step she made depicted elegance, and the cking sound of her heels echoed within the silent hall.

    Kazen''s current expression was nothing like the face she had made when she first arrived. The stubborn and angry expression she previously had was nowhere to be seen.

    Her confidence had evaporated, and it was now reced with a look of frustration and fear. Not the fear for her own life¡ªno, but rather fear for the lives of every single being in the world. She was frightened because she now realized the truth.

    The fact that she had lost this game¡­

    "Whether you use it or not doesn''t matter. After all¡­ I can just pry the Arcana from your corpse."

    ¡­ And the fact that Ciel had won!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Well, dear readers, what do you think?

    Do share your thoughts. Based on the exchange between Kazen and Ciel, it seems the MC and his crew are royally screwed.

 Chapter 750 The Perfect Duo

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    The sounds of our battle had evolved from mere echoes to thunderous roars of destruction.

    With Karlia and I on one side and the Martial de God on the other, we charged and fought, causing so much destruction that I couldn''t even begin to fathom the extent of the damage.

    At some point, I had to move Serah to my pocket dimension due to the extensive damage we were wreaking.

    For miles upon miles, the crater we just created kept spreading, creating a gaping hole in the ground. No clouds remained in the sky as well.

    Despite all this damage, Karlia and I were still nowhere near defeating our foe.

    "Hahaha! Not bad, Jared. You''ve done well to keep up!" Karlia made a loud and confidentugh.

    I could do nothing but smile at her words.

    Honestly,pared to the Karlia I knew in the past, she was even more of a monster now. I was barely contributing to the fight since she carried most of the destructive power between the both of us.

    I handled some side attacks and feints, but I had to rely on Karlia if we wanted to hit hard. When it came to defence too, she also took the hit.

    As I had nowe to realize¡­ Karlia waspletely immortal!

    Even the Martial de God couldn''t kill her!

    With every strike he used to kill her, she returned much stronger than beforepletely adapting to the attack. As a result, the Martial de God had to resort to different attacks each time¡ªkilling her over and over again!

    It felt awful to watch Karlia die in front of me so many times, but if she didn''t take the fall, I would. And unlike her indestructible andpletely restorable body, mine was far too weak.

    One serious hit from the Martial de God was bound to kill me.

    "Both of you¡­ are quite formidable." The Martial de God muttered, looking at us with an expression I had never expected him to make.

    He was grinning widely.

    It wasn''t his usual stoic look, and neither was he smiling gently. No, the Martial de God had a smile that disyed excitement.

    "How long has it been since I fought like this? Even in Martial State, I am unable to defeat you." I knew Karlia deserved most of the credit for his words.

    Once or twice, thanks to our coboration and well-synced attacks, Karlia was able tond hits on him. Those were the only times we were able to damage him, yet he had already healed from them.

    Comparing that to how many times Karlia had died¡­ the gap was just too wide.

    "Hahaha! It''s only a matter of time. We''ll be the winners!" Karliaughed confidently, disying her sharp teeth.

    Her optimistic attitude and cheerful personality in this fight were the only things that prevented me from giving uppletely. Her presence gave me confidence, and despite my weakness, I did all I could to ensure that I could support her.

    We were currently resonating with each other, so we shared our thoughts. Coupled with the fact that we were currently fighting side by side, the feeling was indescribably awesome.

    Even though we were putting our lives on the line, and any mistake guaranteed instant death, I could not deny how much fun I was having.

    With Karlia¡­ this battle suddenly felt too good to be true.

    ~Let''s do this, Lewis!~ I heard her prompt me from within, and I instantly heeded her call.

    ''Alright!''

    My [Great Sage''s Memoir] was right in front of me, and I flipped the pages to utilize the abilities I could.

    No matter how powerful my Spells were, they couldn''tpare to Karlia''s, so I chose to support her instead.

    Using [Justice], I evened the ying field as much as I could between the Martial de God and Karlia.

    [The Hermit] made the both of us much faster by speeding up our time, thus making us capable of keeping up with his speed.

    [Judgement] helped me create projectiles for distracting the Martial de God, or to even serve as constraints. Though, my projections hardly did anything meaningful to stop him.

    I used Damien''s Original Magic, which I improved, to switch ces with Karlia¡ªor vice versa¡ªwhen the need called for it, and with my [Strength] Arcana, coupled with [Wheel Of Fortune], I was able to somewhat keep up and survive.

    So far, it had been a stalemate, and that was simply because of our different methods of fighting. While Karlia and I relied on strategy mixed with force, the Martial de God preferred to attack us head-on.

    As expected of a true Martial Artist!

    With my current strategy, Karlia utilized a multitude of her abilities at once, engulfing herself in multicoloured light. Her body became tougher than anything, and she was easily able to evade the Martial de God''s strike.

    She passed through his follow-up attack, and a double of her assaulted him from behind. This was stopped by the shield protecting the Martial de God.

    However, Karlia was one step ahead.<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    In a bright explosion, both she and her clone exploded, reducing the integrity of the shield. Several Karlias appeared, absorbing the rest of the shield, and leaving the opponent bare.

    Several des appeared to pierce Karlia¡ªwhat the Martial de God called the Mind''s de¡ªbut I countered by creating lots of projections to match their attacks.

    One of his des took at least a hundred projections to slow down, and I knew I couldn''t keep it up forever.

    Fortunately, I bought enough time for Karlia to pass through the ongoing assault and prepare tond her very powerful strike¡ªone borne from the all-destroying power of [The Sun].

    Just to be certain of our victory, I used more projections to halt the Martial de God in his tracks, making him unable to move due to the vulnerable position he was in.

    Karlia went for the strike, putting all her strength into her thrust, no doubt.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    Once again, a loud explosion roared through the air.

    Unfortunately, it wasn''t because Karlia seeded in killing the Martial de God. Rather, he released a huge surge that countered her hit and even consumed her.

    That was another death for Karlia.

    "Haa¡­ he''s one tough fellow!" She appeared right beside me,pletely regenerated.

    ''It never gets old.'' I thought to myself as she grinned at me.

    "We almost got him that one time. Want to try again? Got any other strategy?" Sheughed, grinning at me as she winked.

    I didn''t realize when I too startedughing like she was. The feeling was exhrating for some reason. Feeling what she felt and working with her to this extent¡­ It was too thrilling to pass up!

    "Of course! Leave it to me!"

    "Hehehe! We make a pretty good team." Karliaughed, ready to give it another shot as we both saw the Martial de God emerge from the smoke.

    "Indeed!"

    I genuinely felt satisfied with Karlia, even as we fought in this extremely dangerous situation. It surprised me so much, considering how long it had been since I felt something like this.

    Somehow, only she could inspire this kind of reaction from me.

    ''No, Jared, what are you doing?!'' I cautioned myself as I focused on the battle in front of me.

    What was I truly doing? Just when I had publicly confessed my feelings for Maria and I was making progress on that front, I was once again drooling over Karlia.

    ''This has to stop!'' I told myself.

    As much as I enjoyed herpany, I could not betray Maria''s trust and our bond.

    However, despite these thoughts interrupting our moment, I found myself enjoying Karlia''spany more and more. And as a result¡­

    ¡­ A certain guilt began to gue me.

    ''I can''t make the same mistake asst time! I must not!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Another challenger has appeared, folks.

    The beautiful subus, Karlia! Who should he choose? His previous lover, or his current one?

    This is indeed a tough choice, is it not?

    Maria vs Karlia, make your choice in thements. I want to hear your thoughts.

    Also, please and please¡­ just go and read my new book. If you don''t like it, at least you can say you tried. Come on¡­ do it for this pleading author.

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 751 The Crash

    "Hahahaha!"

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!<

    We flowed with the destruction, wreaking even more havoc as we relentlessly fought our opponent.

    Karlia died two more times, but we also managed tond a decent hit on him before he healed up again. This was the biggest stalemate I had ever seen.

    Well, almost.

    ''It feels like he''s not giving it his all yet.'' I thought to myself as I stared at the beast of an enemy.

    Despite all the precautions I took¡ªall the buffs and debuffs, as well as strategy¡ªwe were only able tond a few hits while protecting our lives.

    ''Damn. If only someone like Neron was here to tilt the scales a little¡­''

    Unfortunately, he was still nowhere to be found.

    Karlia did tell me that he was with Legris Damien, so at least that gave me an idea of where he was. The problem, however, was that I was even more surprised.

    ''Legris has the power to hold Neron for this long? Where could he have taken him?'' It seemed that for every n I initiated, Legris was always going to interfere.

    And this time, it was by taking one of our most pivotal pieces.

    ''So he was that strong, huh? I still can''t whollyprehend that guy¡­'' I decided to leave my thoughts of Neron and instead focus on what concerned me at present.

    How to deal with the Martial de God.

    ~The n is almostplete. One more round should do it~ Karlia''s thoughts assured me, causing me to break into a huge grin.

    Relief washed all over me, considering how tired I was. My body ached too. As much as the fight was thrilling, it also drained too much strength from my body.

    ''Constantly speeding up my time at such a rate is bound to negatively impact my body.'' Besides, all the apanying stress also had to be taken into ount.

    Thankfully, the fight was almost over.

    "Alright! Let''s¡­ uh?!" My senses instantly told me that something was approaching.

    I wasn''t the only one who sensed this, though. It seemed Karlia and the Martial de God felt it as well. The approaching ''thing'' was a person, though¡­

    And I recognized the presence.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Crashing into the ground, a good distance from our fight, was a woman who was covered in several wounds. Smoke rose from the crater she

    formed, and the destruction hernding caused was by no means little.

    The issue was¡­ I recognized the fallen one.

    "A-Aloe!" My eyes widened, and I swiftly abandoned the fight to run in her direction.

    ~Lewis, what are you doing?!~ Karlia''s voice echoed in my head, but I was in too much of a panic to respond.

    From what I just saw and sensed, Aloe hadnded after being thrown here from a very far distance. The huge crater, coupled with her tattered outfit, dirty blond hair, and scathed body¡­  showed just how much she had suffered.

    "Aloe! Are you okay?"

    Rushing towards her, I met her at the base of the cater. Instantly using Magic, I cleared away the dust that pervaded the area.

    "What in the¡­?!" Upon closer inspection, I realized just how bad her wounds were.

    Her body seemed like it waspletely battered without mercy. Cuts and bruises that were even more deadly than mere flesh wounds¡ªI saw them all and wondered just how Aloe had gotten them¡­ as well as who she was fighting.<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>

    I had made contact with the first and current second seat¡ªKarlia. ording to what thetter told me, Legris was busy with Neron, and Stefan was the one leading the invasion. There was no other Cult Member on the ind.

    UNLESS¡­!!!

    My eyes widened and I didn''t want to begin imagining such a possibility. Looking at how she was badly wounded and corrupted with Nether, I could only assume that the opponent was extremely powerful.

    But, wouldn''t it be too extreme to say that she fought the Cult Leader? However, that seemed like the only usible exnation.

    "Aloe! Aloe! Aloe! Can you hear me?!" I began healing her with my Magic¡ªusing [Strength] to grant her more Aether as resistance.

    Healing Magic wasn''t my Forte. Fortunately, I had a few Familiars who could help me out with that.

    Once I enveloped her with energy, I saw her stir a little. At least, she wasn''t dead¡ªthough that in itself was a miracle, considering the amount of Nether that currently infected her. Still, since her condition would stabilize soon, I could finally¡ª

    ~Are you crazy, Lewis? How could you leave in the middle of a fight?~ Karlia''s voice emerged loudly within me, and she swiftly came to me in the crater.

    It didn''t take a few seconds before she noticed Aloe, and then gave me a somewhat dangerous look.

    "Oh? You abandoned me on the battlefield for her, didn''t you? Who is she?" Even though Karlia was now smiling, my senses were tingling that all was not as it seemed.

    "She''s one of my teammates, and she''s badly injured." I responded honestly, though, from her narrowed gaze, it didn''t seem like shepletely believed me.

    "Cheat¡­" I heard her mutter, drawing closer to Aloe''s badly battered form. "Allow me."

    Karlia stretched forth her hand, and in an instant, the Nether was out of Aloe''s system, and her body healed so rapidly that my eyes couldn''t believe it.

    In a sh, she began to recover.

    ''Amazing!'' I thought as I looked at Karlia. Not only was she an expert in offence and defence, but also in healing.

    She was the perfect all-rounder!

    ''I would have used my pills on Aloe, but I haven''t created one that actively dealt with Nether-based wounds. I had been too busy.'' Thankfully, Karlia was here to save the day.

    "What about the Martial de God?" I asked, now realizing the kind of situation we were in.

    "I am right here." I heard a voice emerge from above me. It belonged to the enemy, and he currently stood above the crater, staring up into the sky.

    "Do not worry. I will not harm you. There is no longer any need anyway." His voice wasposed, but his eyes were distracted.

    I wondered what he meant, but I could see that his de was already sheathed, and his gaze no longer contained any lingering attachments to our battle. I didn''t know if I should have felt relieved or insulted.

    Most likely the former.

    "Do not celebrate, young boy." The Martial de spoke the moment I heaved a sigh, causing me to freeze in ce.

    "Your struggles are just beginning."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 752 Emergence Of The Cult Leader

    "U-urghhh¡­"

    As soon as Aloe stirred, I took my gaze off the Martial de God.

    What he said still bothered me, and his presence was just as unsettling. However, the Martial de God would never resort to sneak attacks or any other tricks of such kind. As a result, even as I was distracted by tending to my friend, I was sure he wouldn''t harm me.

    Aloe''s eyes slowly opened, and she looked at me with such sadness and pain that it felt heartbreaking.

    "I''m¡­ I''m so sorry¡­" Her voice broke, and tears began to flow from her eyes.

    She seemed so sad and so guilty. I couldn''t understand why, considering she was the one who was severely injured. Wasn''t I the one who was meant to be apologizing to her?

    "A-Aloe¡­ take it easy. I''m sorry for¡ª"

    "Jared¡­ I''m sorry¡­ I couldn''t stop it¡­" Her voice trailed weakly, further plunging me into a state of confusion.

    ''Stop what? Did she face the Cult Leader? If so, how could she have hoped to win?''

    "It''s not your fault, Aloe. Just try to¡ª"

    "I-it''s toote now¡­" Her eyes showed me a deep-seated regret, as well as undisputed despair.

    Her trembling tone and hot tears showed me just how strongly she felt about whatever had happened, but I was more concerned with healing her than anything else at the moment.

    ''Once I get Aloe, Edward, Ciara, and Lemi will be the only ones left. The Martial de God also seems distracted. We can use this to our advantage¡­'' My thoughts trailed as I looked at Aloe.

    "Uh¡­ Jared?" Karlia''s voice called out to me.

    "What is it?" I asked.

    A part of me thought she would bring up the whole Aloe issue again. I didn''t know why, but I felt like exining myself to Karlia¡ªthat nothing was going on between me and Aloe.

    However, one look at Karlia''s worried face told me that there was no need for my consideration.

    "It seems¡­ that it''s finally time." The Martial de God''s calm voice echoed in my ears, and his gaze was fixed on something high above¡ªfar into the sky.

    It seemed Karlia was turning in that direction too, though her expression wasn''t as pleasant as the Martial de God''s.

    Before I was further plunged into confusion, I suddenly sensed an overwhelmingly powerful presence. Far more powerful than anything I had sensed sinceing to this ce!

    The power was crippling, and I sensed it emerging from a single direction.

    "T-there!" My eyes widened as I looked into the distance and saw a being draw closer to our location.

    He resembled a boy not much older than me, and his flowing dark hair matched his pitch-ck eyes. He had pale skin and was coated in darkness as he hovered in the sky.

    "I-is that¡­ the Cult Leader¡­?!"

    The most shocking¡ªor rather, scary¡ªthing about this sight was not the presence of the Cult Leader, but rather the twenty-one objects that hovered around him.

    Cards floated around him, all glowing and brimming with power. I didn''t want to believe what I was seeing, but I recognized the signatures of some of the cards around him. I had studied their wavelengths, after all.

    As I watched the twenty-one cards dance around the Cult Leader, I only had one thought¡­ and it was scary!

    "Arcanas?! But how¡­?!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    All twenty-one known Arcanas were with the Cult Leader!

    ''I¡­ I don''t understand!'' Beads of sweat fell from my face as I watched him confidently halt in the air.

    He was still a considerable distance from the rest of us, but not unreasonably so. However, his distance allowed me to feel the overwhelming powers of the Arcanas¡­ including [Strength], which was still in my possession.

    ''How can he have them? Are they duplicates? Is there more than one copy? I don''t understand!'' Unfortunately, I didn''t have the luxury to dwell on these thoughts.

    The Cult Leader seemed to be up to something and with the joint effort of these Arcanas, his power was more overwhelming than anything else!

    "You sure are taking your time, Martial de God. Why are you yet to kill off that pest¡ªand the traitor beside him?" The Cult Leader spoke, his tone exuding authority.

    His gaze on me was cold, and I could sense a special animosity directed at me.

    "They were more formidable than I thought."

    "They should have proved no problem for you regardless." The man in the sky insisted.

    "Indeed. However, I am saving my strength for what is toe. Per our agreement." The Martial de God''s response seemed to put a lid on the argument.

    "Very well, then. It doesn''t matter now, anyway. You held them down for long enough. The Arcana set isplete."

    ''WHAT? BUT HOW?!'' He didn''t seem to be bluffing, but how was this possible?

    ording to Karlia, she still had possession of her Arcana. Even if we were to exclude the Arcanas that were with the Nether Cult Members, my Arcana was still with me, and so was Serah''s. Aloe seemed to have lost hers, which was probably why she apologized.

    Still, if we added the ones Neron possessed and the ones in the allied Nations, then there was no way this guy could have obtained a perfect set. Yet, not only did he im that to be the case, but his Arcanas all seemed genuine.

    I had never been this confused in any of my lives. This seemed like a paradox, and it betrayed all my existing knowledge of the Arcanas.

    ''Ah, wait¡­ there is one more Arcana! [The World]! He doesn''t have that yet!'' My eyes widened, though my discovery didn''t change much.

    Having twenty-onew-bending tools at his disposal already made him invincible¡ªmore invincible than even the Martial de God.

    "It''s time to put an end to this charade¡­" The Cult Leader dered, staring at me specifically.

    "This is your loss, Singrity."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 753 Help Arrives

    I felt a chill the moment my eyes met the Cult Leader''s.

    Staring into his eyes felt like looking into an eternally swirling abyss of darkness. Still, I held my ground. His condescending smile and cold gaze couldn''t move me.

    After all, even though it was something one had to dig very deeply to find, there was still one Arcana missing. Even I hadn''t yet discovered its location.

    ''[The World]... He doesn''t have it yet! It''s not over!''

    ording to what I knew, the Nether Cult needed all the Arcanas to utilize a Spell that required their union. As long as one was missing, it couldn''t function.

    "Am I really at a loss? I don''t know how you gathered those counterfeit Arcanas, but there''s still one missing." I responded with a daring smile, but my instincts were anything but confident.

    ''Even without one more Arcana, he''s too powerful now! He''s like a god!''

    "Oh? It seems you do not know. I must have overestimated your knowledge." The Cult Leader grinned at me.

    ''W-what?!''

    "Jared¡­ there are 22 Arcanas indeed, but¡­ you only need 21 of them to summon the final piece." Karlia whispered to me.

    ''E-eh?!'' This was the first I had heard of it.

    "He has all twenty-one. And I can tell that they''re genuine. He''s going to summon the final piece and fulfil the goals of the Cult." She added.

    How could this happen? It seemed I had to eat my words.

    ''It''s¡­ my loss¡­?!"

    I still couldn''t understand why, but I knew it was. What was happening right before my eyes was proof of that.

    "He''s going to fulfil the goals of the Cult? Not if I can help it!" I smiled nervously.

    ~Count me in!~ Karlia''s voice resonated within me, and I was grateful for her support.

    "Your pathetic resolve sickens me. Clinging onto hope when there is none¡­ how amusing." The Cult Leader''s words struck a chord within me, but I did not let it discourage me.

    "I have all 21 Arcanas. The power to alter space, time, life, death, power, and so much more. Yet, you think you can stand against me?"

    When the Cult Leader put it that way, he made a good point. There was no natural reason for me to even have a sliver of a chance at beating him.

    Besides¡­ even the Martial de God was present, and I doubted he would let us ruin a n he endorsed. All in all, things had turned really shitty.

    "I am surprised, Karlia. I thought of you as one of the most loyal to our cause. Yet, when you were so close to receiving your reward¡­ you betrayed us. How foolish of you."

    I nced at Karlia to see the kind of reaction she would make, but to my surprise, she didn''t seem all too disappointed or regretful.

    "I no longer need the Nether Cult. My wish has already been fulfilled." Her response was surprising, but so was the way she looked in my direction when she made the statement.

    "I see. While I do not care to understand what you just said, it is rather unfortunate for you. You, the Singrity, and every single one of our enemies will perish on this very day."

    An immense pressure surged from him, causing me to tremble in response. It was as simple as a gust of wind, and it didn''t even seem like the Cult Leader had done anything, yet¡­ I felt the overwhelming power down to my bones!

    "No, Jared. Calm yourself!" I gritted my teeth as I stared at the enemy and his Arcanas.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    My brain went into overdrive and I wondered how exactly I was going to achieve victory in this situation.

    ''I could use Spellcraft to resonate with the Arcanas. That seems like my only choice. If I leak enough Aether into the air, I can create enough of a connection between myself and the Arcanas in his possession.''

    If it worked, I would be able to share the powers he possessed. Even though he would have a bulk of the power, I could gain the advantage in skill. If Karlia could just hold the Martial de God down for some time, then perhaps it would be worth a shot.

    Of course, this n was not without its problems.

    ''It all hinges on the assumption that I am more skilful than the Cult Leader, or that Karlia can hold the Martial de God all by herself¡ªespecially with what is at stake.''

    Honestly, I was so outnumbered and outmatched that this situation felt hopeless. Aloe Vida still seemed to be recoiling from the shock, even though her body waspletely recovered.

    I couldn''t even count on her to help me, considering that she didn''t have her Arcana anymore. Perhaps she could help support Karlia, but wouldn''t she be more of a liability?

    ''Damn¡­ if only I had more allies with me!''

    "Oh? Looks like we have some visitors¡­" I suddenly heard the Martial de God speak, and his gaze was directed behind me¡ªfar beyond the crater.

    "JAAAAARRRRREEEEEEEEDDDDDD!!!"

    Far up in the sky were a bunch of people who rushed at me. Their bodies were glowing with Aether, and I could tell that they were moving at max speed based on the amount of distance they were covering.

    "Tch. More insects." The Cult Leader clicked his tongue.

    Almost as soon as he said this, the cavalry arrived. To my surprise¡­ the very thing I wished for suddenlynded in the crater and surrounded me.

    Allies!

    Jane Urs and a good number of faces I recognized all gathered around me. Even Ciara, Edward, and Lemi were present. They had most likely been found by Jane''s team and brought along.

    ''I don''t see Elrich and Maria. Could it be¡­ NO! Now is not the time to think about that!'' I chastised myself.

    Merely seeing these people converge around me was more than enough to push any distracting thoughts from my head and instead make me focus on the most important thing at the moment.

    The Nether Cult!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 754 The Pit Of Despair [Pt 1]

    Jane, Aurora, Dulum, Z''ark, Gerard, Jerry, Ivan, Asa, Maro, Beruel, and Ana¡ªall of them gathered around me in an instant. Edward, Ciara, and Lemi were also present

    To say that I was relieved would have been an understatement.

    "Jared, we''re here! Are we toote?!" Jane spoke first, and the rest of her party members stood behind her.

    Apparently, she had already established a hierarchy within the team. As expected of someone as meticulous as her.

    Unfortunately, about her question¡­

    "Yes. You''rete. They''ve gotten their hands on all the Arcanas."

    "WHAT?! HOW IS THAT¡ª!"

    Beruel, Edward, Ciara, and Lemi were especially surprised to hear this. They searched themselves for their Arcanas and found them, thus driving them into more confusion.

    "He must have used Magic. We can''t think too deeply about how it was achieved and waste our time. The fact that he now has all the cards is what matters most." Karlia stepped in, sighing as she stood beside me.

    "L-Lewis, that''s a member of the Cu¡ª" I noticed Beruel suddenly re up, pointing at Karlia in an usatory manner.

    His eyes were wide with indignation, and I could tell from a nce that he didn''t like her. Or, perhaps he was just being a good friend by warning me about Karlia, and her affiliation to the Nether Cult.

    "It''s fine. She''s on our side now. There''s no time to exin, we have to stop¡ª"

    "You are all fools." The Cult Leader''s voice finally put an end to the fun, little reunion I was having with everyone.

    His pressuring voice had enough weight to silence our words.

    "More of you have arrived, but that changes nothing. In the end, you have alle here to be extinguished. I suppose that makes this all the more satisfying."

    The more I observed the Cult Leader, the more I realized something about him. Perhaps it was irrelevant, but¡­

    ''He sure likes to gloat.''

    Despite the hopelessness of the situation, there was no way I could ignore what was happening. No matter how many times he talked about how pointless our resistance was. In the end, I would still use all the cards I had to fight for victory.

    ''It''s going to be hard, but¡­'' With more people serving as backup for Karlia, while having a few to also support me, we had a decent chance.

    It still seemed impossible, considering we were dealing with a mysterious entity who had theplete set of the Arcanas dancing around him.

    ''Alright, guys¡­'' I used Resonance tomunicate with Ciara, and she used her Mind Magic to link everyone together.

    I could also pretty much achieve a simr effect, but having Ciara do it lessened the burden on me. I would be needing all my focus for Spellcraft, after all.

    ''We''ll be divided into two major assault forces. One will focus on supporting Karlia as she faces the Martial de God. The second team will focus on supporting me as we fight the Cult Leader.''

    ~But, Jared, where''s Neron?~

    Perhaps this was the wrong time, but I noticed how Jane kept calling me Jared and not Lewis. It felt a bit off, but I still felt it was a good thing. As for her question¡­

    ''Neron isn''t here. We''ll have to orchestrate a n without him present. Ah, also¡­''

    I brought Serah from my pocket dimension, and I swiftly briefed her by feeding her all the information using Magic.

    ''There''s no further time to spare!''

    It was dangerous to dawdle for much longer, all things considered. I didn''t know why the Cult Leader hadn''t summoned [The World] yet, but I hoped it was because he hadn''t fully limated to thebined power of the Arcanas in his grasp.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    If that was the case, we needed to strike in his moment of weakness.

    "Fools¡­" As soon as I was done with my ns, and we were all ready to move, the Cult Leader''s words echoed in my ears.

    He suddenly stretched his hands and in a whisper, mentioned something even I couldn''t quite understand.

    ''Is he going for a distraction? Stalling for time?'' I asked myself, deciding that my team should attack immediately before he could achieve his goal.

    However, just as I thought of this, and both sides were about to strike, a sudden pulse spread around us¡ªoriginating from the Cult Leader. The wave of unknown power went as far as my senses could take me, and after the wave spread, everything around me felt a little odd.

    ''H-huh? What just happened?'' I asked myself, swiftly infusing myself with Aether, and¡ª

    ''W-what?!'' My eyes widened as I realized something utterly devastating.

    "Wait, what¡­?"

    "What''s going on?"

    "How can this be?"

    "Why can''t we¡­"

    I heard the voices and whispers of my allies, and I understood their plight. After all, I was experiencing the same thing.

    ''We can''t use Magic!''

    The moment I tried to infuse my Aether into my body, or tried to generate a Spell, it just wouldn''t work. I was beyond confused¡ªespecially because I was using Aether!

    Just as I had these thoughts, I saw the Cult Leader smiling. Above his outstretched palm now stood something like a white orb. It was small, but it was ever-growing in size; however, that wasn''t the most spectacr thing about this orb.

    The Aether in it was massive!

    ''Damnit! Is he siphoning all the Aether we''re using onto his palm?!''

    My Aether came from my Arcana, not from within. That meant I had to infuse the energy before I could use it. Thus, anytime [Strength] was to send power through me, or I wanted to manifest its power, the Aether vanished¡ªtaken by the Cult Leader, no doubt.

    If things had taken this turn, I had to say goodbye to my initial n¡ªespecially to the use of Spellcraft. At this point, I had to give props to the Cult Leader.

    He was right.

    ''This is looking hopeless¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 755 The Pit Of Despair [Pt 2]

    Our current enemies¡ªThe Cult Leader, and the Martial de God¡ªwere incredibly powerful opponents.

    Even with a solid strategy and the full power of the team, our chances of victory were still small. However, now that we couldn''t ess our powers at all¡­ there was no chance.

    None in the slightest!

    "Hahaha! Look at you all. Pitiful, inferior beings. You have onlye here to die." The Cult Leader began to gloat once more.

    Unfortunately, we couldn''t do anything except listen to him. Teleporting out of this ce was even apletely different matter.

    "Lewis, what now?" Karlia asked me. "You can''t use your Magic, can you?"

    "I can''t. You?"

    I just asked a useless question. If I, and everyone else, couldn''t use our powers, how could she be capable of¡ª

    ~I can.~ Her voice suddenly echoed in my thoughts.

    "W-what?!" My eyes widened in shock.

    ~It''s a simple trick. That orb with him absorbs the pure energy of Aether all around. Even the slightest whiff and it''s gone. However, by mixing Mana and Miasma together, I can create a different kind of effect.~

    ''Anti Magic?!''

    ~Correct. By creating a field around myself with Anti-Magic energy, I can block off the effects of his absorption, and then freely use Aether within my domain." Karlia shrugged. "I''m sure you''d have figured out the trick soon enough.~

    I was astounded by what she said. Frankly, I never even thought of things from that angle at all.

    ''Mana and Miasma have be so redundant as ofte, so I never thought of them as an option. But with this¡­'' A smile formed on my face.

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    I created a field of Anti-Magic to surround my friends and me. It enveloped all of us, and before long, I realized I could ess Aether within the domain.

    ''Anti-Magic doesn''t work on Aether, so it won''t interfere with our Spells. It''s genius!'' I smiled at Karlia, who simply shrugged.

    I honestly didn''t know what I''d be able to do without her. Unfortunately, not everyone could utilize this method since you''d need to have perfect control over Mana and Miasma to achieve this.

    Only Lemi had ess to them both, and even she wasn''t entirely proficient at using the two at once. Besides, this wasn''t simply creating a wave of Anti-Magic, but rather stabilizing such a phenomenon to form a dome.

    It was beyond her level.

    ''Besides, she''s been spending most of her time training with Aether since it''s more effective on the enemy.'' There was no way she could have learned Miasma and Mana by the side.

    Ultimately, only Karlia and I could use this new method.

    "Oh? That''s a nice workaround. But it''s toote. The preparations areplete¡­" The Cult Leader''s voice grew stronger, drawing our focus to his ever-wide grin.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, the entire ind vibrated, and it seemed like the air itself was trembling.

    Everything around me seemed unstable, and it seemed that¡ªbeyond the anti-Magic sphere that shrouded me and my friends¡ªthe world was copsing.

    Space didn''t just warp. It was breaking apart.

    "Even if you tried now, there is nothing you can do." His malevolent voice echoed, and I honestly began to feel fear surface within me.

    Looking around and seeing the distraught faces of those around me, I realized the feeling was mutual. Stuck within the massive crater, while having Aloe in my arms, I feltpletely paralyzed by fear.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Convergence of thews of existence, create the one thing that culminates your purpose and power." The Cult Leader whispered.

    Everything around us seemed to tremble more violently as we watched in utter paralysis. In the presence of such an ominous presence, what could any of us do?

    "N-no¡­ no¡­. Must¡­ stop him. The end¡­ of the¡­ world¡­" Aloe had been acting like a vegetable for some time, but this time, her body trembled violently.

    "I WON''T ALLOW YOU!!!"

    Before I could say or do anything, she shot away from my arms and ascended to the sky¡ªswiftlyunching herself at the Cult Leader.

    I was shocked to see that she could still use her power beyond the Anti Magic field, and also by the sheer magnitude of her Aether. When had Aloe ever disyed such a frightening amount of power before?

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Her speed warped space and time itself, and she aimed straight at the Cult Leader. If she seeded, then¡ª

    "Hehehe¡­" Her target chuckled, releasing the orb that was in his grasp¡ªthe one that had an unbelievably dense amount of Aether.

    ''N-no way! If it explodes, then¡ª!'' Before I realized it, I swiftly flew into the sky to intercept the st.

    My body moved on its own, and my mind quickly tried to catch up. Fortunately, my Anti Magic barrier was still active, so I could forcefully use short-range teleportation to get as close to the st as possible.

    However, the moment I appeared in front of Aloe while running into the st myself, I was reminded even more of how dangerous the little sphere was. We were definitely going to get vaporized if it erupted¡ªthere was no way around it.

    However, the moment I had these thoughts, and watched the white light glow brighter, my instincts took over!

    "SPELLCRAFT!"

    I stretched my hand in the direction of the ball of power, fusing my Aether with it to gain control of the haywire cluster of energy.

    The fundamental principle of Spellcraft indicated I fused my Mana with the surrounding Mana to gain more energy to use. It was the same situation here, except¡­ it was with Aether!

    "ARRRRRRRRRHHHHHHH!!!" I screamed, trying my hardest to control the overly powerful orb that seemed impossible to subdue.

    "Do it¡­ boy!" Suddenly, I heard Aloe''s voice whisper into my ears and felt her touch from behind.

    ''G-guh!'' A massive rush of Aether flowed through me.

    It was so bountiful, but since the Aether flowed into me, I directed it to the orb, finally bringing it under control.

    "STOP HIM!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 756 The World

    "STOP HIM!" I heard Aloe shout from behind me.

    Her voice resonated with desperation¡ªdeep-seated desperation that told me not to mess things up. I only had one chance¡ªone shot to end all of this.

    The enemy was just a distance from me, and now I had the power to stop him! With thebined energy of my allies¡­ and thanks to the help of everyone thus far¡­

    ''I will give my all!''

    Since I was ahead of her, and was now in possession of such an absurd amount of Aether, the ball was in my court. This was the decisive moment for me¡­ one I could not mess up.

    A simple, yet destructive Spell! That was what I needed to achieve my goals. A Spell with no limiting capacity for destruction¡ªa Spell that could be cast instantly.

    Only one came to mind.

    "ULTIMATE¡­ GRAND BLITZ!"

    I concentrated the power in front of me, giving it an attribute of golden light while aiming it in the direction of the stationary enemy. The Cult Leader had an expression of shock on his face, but I ignored that and did what I had to do.

    In a sh, the Spell was ready.

    "FLY!"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    Iunched the golden ball of light straight at the Cult Leader, who was too upied with his Spell to retaliate. The spinning ball closed in on him, ready to destroy the Cult Leader, and hopefully his Spell in the process.

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHHHHH<

    Before the Spell could fully manifest its destructive nature, a sharp silhouette suddenly appeared, using what seemed like a de to deflect the iing strike.

    The Ultimate Grand Blitz suddenly moved above all of us¡ªflying far, far away from our heghts. And then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    It exploded in the distance.

    I had no idea how high up it was deflected, but the shockwaves reached me and Aloe, sending us crashing right back into the crater we came out of.

    ''N-no¡­'' I watched as the sky¡ªor whatever was beyond the sky¡ªget dyed in glorious golden destruction.

    The devastation covered the heavens above, and my heart screamed in regret that it couldn''t have affected the Cult Leader.

    ''And it''s all because of him!'' I red at the man who interfered with my ns.

    He was none other than the Martial de God!

    "You haven''t forgotten about me, have you?" He calmly spoke, sheathing his de as he spoke.

    "Hehe. Well done, First Seat. They surprised me for a second there¡­ though you know I could have taken care of things by myself, don''t you?" The Cult Leader grinned devilishly.

    "If you say so. I just didn''t want to take any chances."

    "Tch¡­"

    The Cult Leader finally ceased discussing with the Martial de God, returning his focus to his Spell¡ªone that was already in its finishing stages.

    "N-no¡­ NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Aloe''s scream reverberated throughout the vast expanse, causing me to feel both the fear and unrest that seemed bountiful within her.

    I didn''t exactly know what she dreaded so much, or what woulde of the Cult Leader''s Spell. However¡­ I knew I had every right to feel afraid.

    "Here ites!" The Cult Leader smiled, and we all witnessed the twenty-one Arcanas glow to a blinding degree.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Suddenly, a card manifested because of theirbined glow. It seemed like all the Arcanas resonating birthed this new card, as it shone with multiple colors, looking far more beautiful and radiant than the others.

    Plus¡­ it was HUGE!

    The Arcana was slightly bigger than the size of a person, and the illustration on it appeared to be that of an entity.

    This entity was pierced with long metal pegs on both hands, and they were shrouded with a ragged-looking attire. Their pose was all-embracing, and I could not tell whether the person was meant to be a man or a woman.

    Wrapped in ragged attire, with the pegs in both hands, this entity in the Arcana was grinning, and a bright light shone from behind it. Watching it from my low estate, I could almost feel like the illustration within the Arcana was alive.

    "Thus, it begins¡­ [The World]"

    All the hair in my body stood, and I could feel a strange sense of submissiveness to the Arcana above me. My weary knees felt like giving out, and I nearly felt like my will was lost.

    One by one, my allies copsed to the ground. They knelt in obeisance to this higher, but I kept fighting.

    "Damnit¡­ so this is [The World]." Karlia mumbled as she walked to my side.

    It seemed she was also able to fight the pressure.

    "Yeah¡­ this must be their goal. I can''t even begin to fathom the depths of the power locked within that thing. So this is what ultimate power looks like¡­" I murmured.

    Honestly, I had never felt this hopeless before.

    "You''re wrong. This isn''t their final goal." A voice came from my other side.

    It belonged to Aloe, who¡ªjust like Karlia¡ªwas also fine. I would have been surprised, especially because she didn''t even have an Arcana, unlike the others who had given in to the power, however¡­

    ''After witnessing all she can do, and experiencing the kind of power she possesses¡­ it''s possible.'' I sighed.

    "They seek to use this power to bring forth something." She added, right as I was about to ask what the goal of the Cult was.

    At this point, though, I could guess what they wanted to summon.

    "The Nether?"

    "Correct. And its toote now¡­" Aloe sighed as she looked above.

    No, I had to stop calling her that. After conversing with her for some time, and experiencing how she had been all this time, the pieces slowly starteding together.

    "You''re not Aloe, are you?" I nced at her.

    "I''m not." Her response was surprisingly honest.

    It was just as I thought. This was an imposter¡ªone who had been in our midst all along.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 757 The Gate Opens

    I began to have my suspicions about Aloe back when she first awoke and started acting a bit strangely. However, I easily chalked it down to many other factors.

    Training also revealed a lot of inconsistencies in her character, but I gave excuses for those too. Besides, I had checked her using Magic, and there was nothing suspicious about her in the slightest.

    Then, when we teleported to the Nether Cult''s headquarters and got separated; I slowly began formting exnations for the cause of the incident.

    There was a strong likelihood that my Spell was interfered with as we teleported. Thus¡­ suspicion fell on a member of our team. Once the inconsistencies added up, a justifiable basis of suspicion was formed.

    Now that it had been confirmed by the recent series of events¡ªas well as the direct confession of the party in question¡ªI no longer had any doubts.

    ''This is Aloe''s body, but¡­ she''s not Aloe!''

    "Won''t you ask me who I am?" She asked me, most likely confused about my silence.

    "If I was to guess, I''d say you''re one of the Apostles of Aether. You possessed Aloe''s body, and you''re currently using it to your ends. Am I wrong?"

    "H-how did you know all that?" Aloe, or whoever was inside her, returned my distracted gaze with surprise.

    Now wasn''t the proper time for this, but just to make us on the same page, some exnations were necessary.

    "You are too strong. You know too much. And you are too afraid. Once you piece those three together and understand the situation that led to Aloe''s strange behavior¡ªhera when trying  to find [The Moon] Arcana¡ªI can basically make that guess." I sighed.

    "So, am I wrong?"

    "No. You''re spot-on correct. My name is Kazen, an Apostle of Aether."

    "Well, Kazen, I have many questions and reservations about this. However, now is not the time."

    As much as I did not approve of her actions¡ªand I was plenty upset about how she messed up my n¡ªI also recognized her desire to eliminate the imminent threat.

    ''Also, she''s more useful than Aloe. In terms of importance, it''s better to have Kazen on our side.''

    "We need to find a way to win. As much as it pains me to say, that Arcana seems invincible. I''m out of ideas." I shot her a curious look. "Got any suggestions?"

    Kazen shook her head in a sigh. Her brows were crinkled with worry, and she bit her lip helplessly.

    "Our only hope is probably to gather every single Arcana to form our own amalgamation. Unfortunately, the Cult is in possession of some original Arcanas¡ªmine included. Unless¡­ you could make Arcanas from scratch?"

    "H-hold on, is that what the Nether Cult did? Is that how they were able to ovee their shortage of Arcanas?" I gasped in shock.

    Something bitter permeated my mouth.

    "Yes. You figured it out."

    "Ah, I see. Damnit!" Now it was my turn to bite my lip and clench my fist.

    I was overwhelmed with anger¡­ at myself!

    ''My Original Magic studies spells, analyzes them, and can replicate them! Why did I not think the enemy could do the same? If they could see us using our Arcanas and simply extract all the forme and information they need, then¡­ DAMNIT!''

    How could I have been so shortsighted? How could I not have seen this bit of obvious information? How could I have let such an oversight ur?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    If I nned better¡­ if I prepared a bit more, then none of this would have happened!

    "Even if we miraculously gather all the Arcanas, it''s toote. They''re way ahead of us in the process. Besides, at best, we''d be evenly matched. However, not only are those two more powerful than we are¡­ there''s also Ciel. It''s impossible to win."

    Once I heard ''Ciel'', my mind sparked. The Apostles had been warning us about this being ever since we found the [Strength] Arcana.

    "Ciel? Isn''t that¡ª?!"

    "Besides¡­ it''s already toote. Now that the final Arcana has been created, we can''t stop what wille next." Kazen whispered, her body trembling as she spoke.

    I could see the sky darken, and despair slowly began to take form.

    The air suddenly turned cold and stale, and dark clouds hung all over us. Malevolence filled the air, causing violent chills to assail my body.

    "My friends and I witnessed this same thing many millennia ago¡­"

    The massive Arcana shot arge burst of energy into the dark clouds, creating an impossibly massive shockwave.

    Karlia, Aloe, and I braced ourselves as we watched all that was going on.

    The multicolored beam of light spread across the dark cloud, instantly forming a huge swirl of dark space in the sky. The swirl increased in size, forming something big¡ªlike an all-consuming ck hole.

    However, unlike a ck hole, the massive blot in the sky didn''t take anything in. Rather, it seemed like something was about toe out!

    "Back then, we banded under Merlin and fought it off. We barely won, and a lot of my friends were sacrificed in the process. But now¡­"

    Despair dawned on me more and more, as a certain embodiment of Nether began emerging from the void. Its misty hand came forth¡ªmassive and immensely overwhelming.

    "... There aren''t enough powerful heroes in this world. There aren''t enough Arcanas to go around." Aloe''s trembling whispers pounded within my ears.

    The gigantic legs of the misty Nether entity came next. It was coated in purple energy, and its overwhelmingly powerful manifestation nearly caused me to pass out. My head pounded so much, but I used all my willpower and Nether to remain standing.

    Soon, the rest of the body came from the massive hole, revealing itsplete body¡ªthe very embodiment of darkness given the form of a being.

    "The world will end now that the Nether is here."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 758 Return Of The Nether [Pt 1]

    "He''s here! He''s here! He''s finally herreeeee!!!"

    I began to notice subtle changes in the Cult Leader. He was always a talkative, but he had this condescending andposed vibe.

    However, now he was simply gushing andughing like a madman. His eyes widened, and his loosened jaws pped as heughed and dered the presence of the almighty cluster of despair, given form.

    p¦Á§ád¦Á`no¦Í?1`§ão§® ''Haa¡­ would you look at that thing¡­'' I couldn''t take my eyes off it.

    This personification of all the world''s malevolence was, at least, a hundred meters tall. It had a somewhat incorporeal body, consisting of purple and ck mist. Its purple eyes glowed from its deep darkness, though, a bone-chilling experience.

    I felt myself shudder in the presence of the Nether, almost falling to my knees. Fortunately, Karlia held me and pulled me together.

    "[The Pope]..." Fortunately, with enough support from her, I was able to cast my Original Magic and utilize the stored Arcana ability within.

    Mixed in with [Strength], it was filled with Aether, and I used the dome of light of [The Pope] to grant me and my friends sanctuary.

    The bright white dome chased off the pressure I felt, though I still felt scared just by looking at the towering figure.

    "MOTHER! Did you see everything? I did exceptionally well, did I not?" The Cult Leader yelled into the air, a brilliant gleam in his eyes.

    ''Eh?''

    Even though he had all twenty-two Arcanas currently at his disposal, and he still had a terrifyingly strong presence, it seemed like he was a different person. His personality had ben warped too much.

    "Indeed, you have¡­" A voice suddenly appeared.

    It was calm and soothing, feminine too.

    I felt like I could get entrapped into those words as I heard them¡ªand even more in the woman who spoke them.

    Donning a white robe, and having pristine beauty, a woman manifested from thin air. She drew closer to the Cult Leader and buried him in her bosom, smiling with delight as she hugged him. Her pure expression remained unsullied, though a pink hue permeated her cheeks.

    "You did well." She whispered.

    To call me confused, at this point, would be an understatement.

    Firstly, the towing Nether simply stood still¡ªunmoving. As for the exchange between mother and child¡ªwhich confused me even more¡ªI simply could not fathom it.

    "What''s going on Kazen? Why isn''t the Nether attacking? And what''s going on between those two?"

    Could this be our moment of opportunity? The perfect time to strike? Their trump card was docile, and the enemies seemed distracted. Wasn''t this the best time to attack?

    ''Wait a minute¡­ no. Why would they be so rxed right now? They must be confident. Even the Martial de God¡­'' My gaze went to a patch ofnd beyond the cater, where the Martial de God currently sat.

    ''... Is he meditating?''

    His eyes were closed, and he waspletely still¡ªso immersed in whatever he was doing.

    With him out of the picture, and in such an ideal situation, it would be most advantageous to strike. Unfortunately, the whole set of circumstances seemed far too convenient.

    ''Damnit! What''s going on?''

    "That''s¡­ the Nether is still because it''s being assailed by Aether. That''s thest resort. It''s a foreign being from another world, so this one is rejecting it. As for the woman, she is¡­ Ciel."

    My eyes widened as I focused them on the loving mother above. That¡­ was Ciel?!

    I would never have expected it in a million years.

    "Now, then, my child. It is time for your reward. Are you ready for your inheritance from your father?" Ciel ced her hands on the Cult Leader''s face, her smile widening with each syble.

    "Yes. I am!"

    The excitement from the two made the nervousness I felt seem like a dream. With such tension permeating the air, wasn''t it unfair that this was going on right before my eyes?<novelsnext>¦Ñ¦Á§ád¦Á `n?¦Í?| §ãom</novelsnext>

    "Very well. I am so proud of you¡­"

    Suddenly, the first twenty-one Arcanas converged on the Cult Leader''s body. The cards all stered themselves on his body, glowing brightly as they all seeped into him.

    "GAAAAAHHHHHH!!! IT HURTS! MOTHER, IT HURRTTTSSS!!!"

    "It should." The woman called Ciel responded with her usual smile, causing a shiver to run down my spine.

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    The Cult Leader''s power rose to a terrifying degree¡ªlike he was the personification of all the Arcanas. No, this was even more threatening than that!

    The final and biggest Arcana, [The World], also sped toward him,pletely melting into him. I heard constant screams from the boy, yet Ciel remained smiling.

    "Hush, my boy. It will all be over soon. It will all be over." The Cult Leader seemed to be holding everything in, trying his possible best to smile back at his mother.

    "You just need to take in one more¡­" Her gaze traveled as she spoke, and I followed it.

    Ciel''s line of sight¡­ was heading towards the Nether itself!

    ''What? She''s going to stick it to him too? It''s too big!'' My eyes widened.

    At this point, multicolored veins were already appearing all over the Cult Leader''s body. His body was surging with so much power that I feared it would destroy him.

    But then¡ª

    "Take your ce, my master and one true love. The vessel is ready!" Ciel raised both hands and loudly dered toward the purple mist.

    "What?" My voice echoed across the area. However, it wasn''t just me that expressed surprise.

    No, even the Cult Leader''s eyes widened in shock.

    "V-Vessel? B-but I thought we¡ª"

    "Yes, my son. This way, you and your father will be one. And I can love you both forever."

    Her twisted words caused even me to tremble.

    "B-but you said¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!<

    The mist swiftly moved in the direction of the young boy¡ªall hundred meters of it¡ªand enveloped the shocked Cult Leader. Tears fell from his eyes as his body was swallowed by darkness¡ªa darkness so deep that it swallowed him whole.

    "T-this isn''t¡­ what you promised¡­" His voice vanished deep inside the dark mist¡ªgone forever.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 759 Return Of The Nether [Pt 2]

    Never before had I seen such cruelty.

    Even though her son screamed while being drowned by the purple mist, his mother didn''t move an inch. Rather, she seemed to be enjoying every second of it¡ªher eyes even gleaming with anticipation.

    It soon made me realize what kind of person Ciel was¡­ and why the Apostles warned us so much of her return.

    "Yes¡­ just like that¡­" She whispered, all her focus on the Nether''s convergence on the boy.

    "No way! She''s going to use the boy as a vessel for the Nether! If she does that, then¡ª" Kazen''s eyes bulged, and her body trembled.

    It seemed like she was once again reminded of her past¡ªor perhaps something awful that happened back then.

    "We have to stop i¡ª"

    "TOO LATE!" Ciel grinned widely¡ªher face bing uglier with how twisted her smile had be.

    She stood right in front of the mist, almost as if defending it so the process wouldn''t get interrupted by any of us.

    "You can''t stop it. Why should you even dream of it?"

    "You''re terrible. Using your own child like that¡­ I knew he was another expendable pawn to you." Kazen growled, her eyes narrowing in hatred.

    As much as I despised the Cult Leader, and would definitely kill him if I could, I had to agree with Kazen. Ciel''s actions didn''t belong to a mother, but rather a monster.

    "What are you talking about? My son is not an expendable tool. He''s special. He always has been. He always will be. Who else can take in all of the Nether''s power and it would stabilize?"

    "You¡­ monster!"

    "Unlike thatst time, he will bepletely at home in this vessel. I ensured it would be that way."

    ''Using your own son like that¡­ Merlin was right about you!" I added.

    While I didn''t know of the past of the Apostles, or of Ciel, it was obvious who the evil person was¡ªthough I couldn''t say Kazen wasn''t too far off. She did steal Aloe''s body and put all of us in danger.

    ''She''s a momentary ally, but I can''t say it''ll remain that way forever¡­'' As much as I would do my best to cooperate with her to take down Ciel and the Nether, I couldn''t trust her.

    "You misunderstand. I only gave my son his rightful inheritance¡ªthe indwelling of his father."

    ''Twisted!'' My thoughts echoed.

    "He was born of the union between his father and me. No one is worth more, and no one is better suited than he is. That''s why he''s so special. Because he''s his father''s son." Ciel grinned.

    I couldn''t tell if I was the only one thinking it, but this woman was definitely crazy. She was the worst!

    "Haha¡­ you do not need to give exnations to fools." A deep, terrible voice suddenly emerged from the darkness.

    My eyes bulged, and my body nearly jumped in fright. I also felt paralyzed.

    "A-ah, Master!" Ciel frantically turned back to respond to the voice.

    Before all of us could even react, all the Nether converged in the Cult Leader, and his body underwent a drastic change.

    Suddenly, ck and purple armor emerged from his body, and a thick cloud of Nether swirled around him. He looked like a warlord far more deadly than even the most grotesque demons. Purple and ck shes of lightning spread across his body, and he appeared to be the very embodiment of everything evil in life.

    "Haaa¡­ I am finally back into this realm."  The Nether spoke, his dark tone warbling with each syble.

    "Master!" Ciel bowed to this monster, even though they both floated in the air.<novelsnext>¦Ñ¦Á§ád¦Á `n?¦Í?| §ãom</novelsnext>

    Merely watching this scene y out above me nearly caused my head to cry out in pain.

    "My darling, it''s been too long. I have missed you greatly." The Nether beckoned on Ciel to approach him, which she did.

    "You look different from before¡­"

    He took her hand and drew her close to him. Wrapping its armor-coated arms around her, he stared deeply into her eyes.

    I wondered how Ciel was able to endure contact with so much Nether, but after seeing her facial expression, I abandoned the thought.

    ''Is she¡­ moaning?!'' Disgust spread all over me.

    "D-do you like it? My new look?  Master¡­" Ciel smiled as she enjoyed the embrace he gave her in her twisted, perverted way.

    I bet she was a masochist, and she was simply enjoying the pain caused by being exposed to so much Nether. I couldn''t even imagine if I was going to survive beyond the shield I generated around me and my friends.

    The atmosphere was just too thick with Nether.

    "I love it! Haha!" The Nether''s voice seemed to bring her satisfaction, causing her to squeal in delight.

    Both of them seemed to be in an exquisite mood. I could only hope they chose to spare this world as a result. Or, was it toote¡­?

    The corrosive effect of Nether was already consuming everything around this being. All the sky turned purple, and dark clouds enveloped everywhere. Even the ground darkened, wholly being enveloped by Nether essence.

    p¦Ánd¦Á`no¦Í?1~§ão§® "Once the world is covered in darkness, he will consume everything," Kazen answered my inner inquiry.

    "But, then what? After this world, what next?" It seemed too much of a waste that they would choose to destroy all of civilization rather than rule it, or something.

    "There are many worlds, Jared. With the Arcanas under the control, they were able to release the Nether from his world. With the same set of Arcanas, they can gain ess to other worlds."

    My eyes widened at this discovery.

    I always knew there was more to explore beyond thends spread out before me, but I could not have imagined that things had be so dangerous with such stakes of this scale.

    "The Nether will not stop until everything is destroyed. And Ciel, as the only Apostle of Nether, will do everything to support it."

    I gulped, my body shuddered, and I slowly realized how despairing the situation was.

    "Is there really¡­ nothing we can do?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 760 Return Of The Nether [Pt 3]

    "After eons of waiting on the other side of Origin, I havee once more." The Nether dered.

    His words made no sense to me, and I turned to Kazen for an exnation. However, she was so preupied with her thoughts and her nervousness that it didn''t seem like I would be getting answers from her.

    "Once I devour the Root of this world¡­ I shall finally be whole."

    The root? Did he mean this''s core? I had many questions, but I kept silent and observed the whole thing. My mind was constantly working to see if I could find any opportunity to exploit. So far, though, I found nothing.

    It was frustrating, to say the least. Frightening too.

    ''I don''t know how, but I have to stop this thing! Damnit! What should I do?!''

    All my allies were already stirring from their trance. They would be waking up any time from now, but so what? None of them could stand a chance against that thing.

    Even if we attacked together, we would not even be able to make a dent in such an entity. Even Neron¡­ I doubted if his Magic would be effective on such an entity.

    "This power¡­ is far above Transcendent Grade." I gulped.

    "That''s right. It''s in the Primordial Realm. The highest, most unreachable point. It belongs only to beings like the Nether and entities beyond our understanding¡­" Kazen responded to me, beads of sweat falling from her face.

    Her face was pale, and it seemed like she was going to pass out.

    "Kazen, you¡­ are you okay?"

    "Not really. My Magic¡­ is reaching its limits. Without my Arcana, I can''t hold on for too long in this body."

    It seemed her possession was only temporary. Normally, I would have been relieved, but this was the worst time.

    "Shit! Not now¡­ not now!

    *

    *

    *

    Ciel was happy beyond description.

    Her pale cheeks were flushed with so much pink that one would think she was down with a fever. Her breathing was also hot and uneven.

    Her body screamed with delight as she felt her master''s touch, and she felt like giving her whole being to him.

    ''The sting of his touch¡­ hurts so good!'' She moaned as she wished he would caress her more.

    However, Ciel understood her master''s desires. Now wasn''t the time to indulge in hers.

    After receiving a generous reward from him already, they had to get down to business, and she knew the perfect way to kickstart everything.

    "Master, I have something to report to you."

    The Nether''s curious gaze on her nearly made her yelp in ecstasy, but she held it in. She had to control herself. Yes¡­ control.

    "A lot of things have dyed your return. You would have arrived much sooner if it hadn''t been for the interference of some people."

    "Oh? They posed a problem even for you?" The Nether''s voice contained surprise and a bit of disappointment.

    Once she sensed this, Ciel''s heart nearly dropped, and she realized that she was on the verge of letting her master down. There was no way she could allow such a thing!

    "N-no way! Never! None of those fools could stand a chance against me¡ªnot even that Apostle of Aether down there!" She boldly dered.

    "Hoho, is that so? No wonder I sensed such Aether. That human there¡­ she is one of those mortals that sealed me away then."

    "Yes. She''s possessing the body of a mortal right now, and it seems it won''t be long before she fades away. Do you want to have some fun with her before then?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The Nether grinned with his darkened face as he stared at Ciel.

    "You know me well. Some light exercises should be done before the main event. Anything else you have in mind?"

    "Well¡­ that''s what I was about to tell you. The only reason my ns were disrupted a little bit is because of the interference of one individual."

    "Just one?" The Nether''s tone showed disappointment once more.

    "A Singrity."

    Once Ciel said this, his disappointment melted and it was reced by a measure of understanding.

    "So, the Root knew I wasing, eh? Well¡­ I suppose I should have expected it. Since that is the case, then I don''t me you. That Merlin, back then, he too was very formidable."

    "Not as powerful as you, master. Not even close. If it hadn''t been for the iplete vessel, there was no way you would have fallen."  Ciel argued passionately, her eyes gleaming brightly at her master.

    "You think I am unaware? And whose fault was that?" His voice suddenly took a deep plunge into deeper, darker waters.

    Even Ciel experienced the chills of the Nether''s powerful presence. She felt fear unlike any other, and her body buzzed with its corrupting power.

    "A-anng¡­ it was mine, master. Please punish me for that!"

    Yes! She loved this sensation the most. Feeling her master''s dominating aura wash over her¡­ Ciel was in bliss.

    "W-well¡­ maybe some other time." Her bliss was enough to startle even the very personification of evil.

    As much as he fancied her, even the Nether had to admit that she was strange.

    "In any case, show me this Singrity. I should at least thank him for serving as a dy to our ns." The Nether was sessfully able to change the topic, as he excitedly looked for his prey.

    "Ah, I''ve seen him. That''s strange. Why can''t I see through his soulpletely? Something is blocking my sight."

    Ciel was surprised to hear this. Her master, Nether, was nigh omnipotent. In the Primordial Realm, he was already above several concepts, and his power was beyond anyone''s understanding. What could possibly be enough to impede his all-seeing sight?

    "C-could it be that Aether is¡ª?"

    "Oh? Hahaha! I see now. So that is what happened. No wonder the memories are ovepping. So, he actually did it. That bastard¡­" The Nether was already mumbling words that were strange to Ciel''s ears, but she couldn''t dare interrupt her master.

    "Then, is this your n? Well, since you aren''t here to see it through to the end¡­ I might as well end this boy." His rotten smile inspired Ciel, and she was happy to witness the manifestation of her master''s power.

    Finally, all who had defied him would see his glory.

    "I''ll eradicate this Jared Leonard. It should prove to be a good gift for you, my bride. He''s put you through a lot, hasn''t he?"

    "Yes. Indeed, master!" Ciel was ovee with joy that her master would seek to reward someone as unworthy as her.

    "Then, let''s get started."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 761 Facing The Nether

    ''U-uh¡­?!'' I suddenly felt chills run down my spine and I felt the attention of both Ciel and her very very evil master.

    They were both looking at me, and even though I was within the area of influence granted by [The Pope], I wasn''tpletely immune to the bloodlust I felt.

    "Jared Leonard¡­ Singrity¡­ it hase to my notice that you were one of the obstacles that dyed my return. As a result, I will be eliminating you now." The Nether finally let go of Ciel and he slowly began to descend.

    Right as Ciel was about to follow him, he stopped her. "Wait here. I''ll take care of this quickly." He said.

    Afterwards, he resumed his descent.

    I felt a menacing re from Ciel on me, for some reason. This re finally transformed into a very malevolent gaze¡ªone that felt like she was waiting for me to get what wasing to me.

    I had no luxury to dwell on the meaning behind her expression, though. After all, the Nether had just said something I couldn''t ignore.

    "You''ll¡­ eliminate me?"

    So, I was first in line before the destruction of the world? That didn''t seem veryforting.

    "Let''s fight him together, Lewis." Karlia made a fist and gave me her usual confident smile.

    I saw her lips quivering, so I could tell that she was feeling anything but confidence. How could I allow her to throw her life away like that?

    ''It''s possible that she''ll die for real if she faces him so haphazardly. I can''t allow that!'' Both for selfish reasons and also for the sake of the world, I didn''t want Karlia to die.

    "No. I''ll face him alone."

    "WHAT? You don''t stand any chance at a¡ª"

    "Neither do all of us if we rush in at once. Don''t worry, I don''t n on dying or anything. I''ll do my best toe up with a strategy that we''ll use to defeat this guy." I smiled at the two women beside me.

    "But, Lewis, you¡ª"

    "We know very little about this guy¡ªespecially since the Nether is in a perfect vessel. I have to find out more."

    "Then let me go! I''m stronger than you." Karlia yelled, not wishing to let me go.

    It broke my heart to see her nearly cry, but¡­

    "You wouldn''t be capable of the kind of analysis I''m opting for. You''re stronger, most likely smarter too. But¡­ I''m still a better strategist."

    I simply had more experience in fighting, and Karlia was someone who was averse to violence unless absolutely necessary.

    "Besides¡­ I don''t want you to get hurt." I touched her face with my hand, a smile on my face.

    Frankly, I wasn''t the least bit confident ofsting a second against my opponent. However, it is said that people can draw out limitless strength when it is for the sake of others.

    ''I hope that''s true¡­''

    "I can''t lose you agai¡ª"

    "ENOUGH TALK!" Before Karlia couldplete her statement, the Nether released a burst of energy from his finger¡ªone that turned into a massive surge of purplish-ck power.

    It charged straight at us, and I doubted the barrier would be able to handle it.

    ''That st has enough power to wipe out everyone here!'' My allies were already regaining consciousness, and I had so many people I cared about here.

    There was no way I could allow them to suffer.

    "Protect one another! I''ll be back soon!" With that, my entire body became doused in multicoloured light.

    >VWUUUUSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Utilizing Grand Fusion Mode, Elemental Chamber, and my Original Magic, I sped towards the Nether''s st.

    It felt so powerful that even in my current state, I knew I was probably going to die.

    ''No way! No way! I won''t die here!''

    "RAAAAAARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Pushing my body to its limit, I summoned the strength of every single familiar in my body. I condensed their power, fused it with the power of [Strength], and sent it charging at the imminent burst of destruction.

    "RAARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Blood began pouring from my eyes, nose, ears, and even mouth. They evaporated as soon as they leaked outside, though, but I kept pushing.

    The st, despite all my efforts, was still overwhelming me. Despite giving my all, it still didn''t halt.

    There was not an ounce of Aether in the air¡ªjust Nether¡ªmaking my Spellcraft obsolete.

    However¡­

    "CHAAAAARRRRGEEEEEEEEE!!!"

    I brought out all the attack Spell Cards in my possession¡ªat least a few thousand of them¡ªand fired all of them at the st.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    Finally, both forces became equal in power, and a massive st sent everything flying away.

    "Gah!" The recoil pushed me further away, but I struggled to find bnce after a short while.

    My entire body ached, and I felt almost numb all over.

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­" The earlier attack practically took everything I had, and it was merely a casual attack from the Nether.

    How exactly was I supposed to formte a strategy when I was already spent with that single strike?!

    "Haha! Seriously? You''re already tired from that? What a disappointment! You sure you''re a Singrity?" The Netherughed as it taunted me.

    ''What is he¡­ talking about?'' I was one of the most powerful¡ªif not the most powerful human alive. Well, other than Neron and the Martial de God, of course.

    There was a limit to how powerful we could be, but I had long surpassed that limit. Perhaps Singrities were meant to be even more powerful, but that was expecting a lot from a fifteen-year-old kid.

    "I have faced two Singrities before you, and they were far above your level. You use that Arcana as a crutch because you still haven''t mastered Aether, am I wrong? How can you even hope to stop me?" Heughed further.

    I couldn''t argue with him. He had a very good point.

    I always used crutches¡ªwhether Arcanas or Magic Items¡ªwhen fighting my adversaries. There was a limit to my growth, after all. I was so young, yet I was fighting so many unbelievably strong opponents.

    And, as for how I stood no chance against him, he was probably right.

    I couldn''t see myself beating him, or even taking on another of his attacks. The reason I took that blow of his was that if I didn''t it would have killed everyone below.

    I couldn''t have that!

    But¡­ What now? I had already lost before I had even started.

    ''Is that what you really think?'' I smiled internally.

    This was the same as when I fought Kahn back when I was in the Academy¡ªthough this scale was astronomically higher. Regardless, it didn''t change what I had to do.

    ''It''s as good a time as any to use my Trump Card¡­''

    It was something I had nned on using against the Cult Leader before the n failed. However, now was the perfect moment to rely on my best crutch.

    Preparing my body for the imminent series of mind-gruelling and painstaking efforts I was about to go through, I strengthened my resolve.

    ''Even if it costs me everything¡­ even if I die¡­ I''ll pave a way for everyone to defeat you!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 762 Jareds Trump Card [Pt 1]

    I only had one chance.

    Any small misstep, or even a little bit of wrong timing could mean a definite loss for me.

    If I didn''t move carefully, swiftly, decisively, and desperately¡­ loss was inevitably going to be mine. Realizing this, I decided to give everything I had to the n.

    Everything was set, and it was probably going to take a lot more out of me than anything else. However, if it would fulfill my goal, then¡­ there was no other choice.

    "Let''s see how you handle a second strike." Pointing his finger at me again, a burst of purplish ck energy made its way to me.

    The roaring concentration of power almost consumed me if it hadn''t been for the swift activation of my new Swap ability by my Great Sage''s Memoir. I had swapped ces with the many tiny automatons in the area.

    With their help, I could achieve effects simr to teleportation¡­ though, I could probably only use it a few times before it would be useless in the face of this powerful opponent.

    "Sneaky. So that''s why you spread these things about. Switching positions¡­.?" The Nether chuckled, snapping his fingers.

    Instantly, all my Automatons turned to dust, leaving me utterly stranded.

    ''Shit!'' I wanted to wait a little longer, but it seemed like I had to bring it out now!

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH<

    The air around me turned purplish blue, with white light striking the area around me, as I brought out my weapon¡ªthe very one that destroyed the demons in a single strike.

    "Oh? What is that?" The Nether watched with curiosity.

    Thankfully¡ªwhether it was due to pride or inertia¡ªhe was standing still in the air. That made him a perfect target!

    The weapon of mass destruction¡ªthe one I used to destroy the demon continent back then¡ªhad been myst resort in dealing with the Nether Cult.

    I had been charging it up with energy for as long as possible, stocking it up with as much power as possible. The device had consumed a lot of my Spell Cards, my Aether and my other sources of power. I had invested so much energy in it¡­ waiting for the moment I would finally use it.

    ''The other nations also have the blueprint for how to make it, but we didn''t have enough resources to build theirs.'' The ingredients for building such a weapon was something none of them could easily get their hands on.

    The conducting alloy was also something of a rarity.

    ''The little they had was used to make the device that turns Mana to Aether. However, for a weapon of mass destruction that amplifies the energy poured into it and releases it in a destructive measure, they would need a lot more.

    Thus¡­ this was the only one of its kind¡ªmy ultimate nuke.

    ''My trump card!''

    >WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!<

    My device whirred, and the energy within it glowed. In a few moments, it would strike!

    ''I have to time this well!'' I leaped to the sky, leaving my device pointed in the direction of the Nether.

    It had as strong a defense as it had an offense, so I simply let it float while I focused on my other task.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    "Where do you think you''re going? Think you can stop me with that?" The Nether now pointed his two fingers¡ªone at the weapon and another at me.

    The moment he released the st, I threw two cards away from the point of impact, switching ces with one of the cards, while the other card was reced with the device.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    As a result, we were both spared.

    My device was just about ready, so I had to take action¡­ and fast!

    ''Let''s go!''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Coating my body in as much energy as I could, I went ahead of my device''s beam of destruction and charged in the direction of the Nether. My body ached to no end, and I could feel it expiring rapidly.

    Using too much power would kill me for sure, but I was desperate. I pushed myself and charged at the enemy head-on.

    "Are you a fool?" The Nether pointed one of his fingers at me, but I used the same trick from earlier and swapped ces with a card I threw behind him.

    That card was my most durable, yet the moment it got behind him, it almost became corroded and vanished. Fortunately, I was able to swap ces with it before itpletely dissipated.

    This was why I had to time everything!

    "You really¡ª"

    My device suddenly whirred loudly, indicating that it was about time to release its power. From its upper angle, it would shoot a powerful st at the Nether, weakening or perhaps injuring this being.

    "Like I''d let that happen." The Nether pointed his palm at my device, pouring out an immeasurable amount of Nether into it.

    ''Wait for it¡­'' I thought to myself.

    I was nearly out of cards, but cards wouldn''t cut it this time.

    The moment the st was about to be released, my device was also ready to fire. And then¡ª

    >WHOOOSSHHHHH!<

    I switched ces with my device, allowing it to appear right behind the Nether¡ªat a lower angle. From this angle, it fired its shot while the Nether''s st slowly enveloped me.

    ''NOT YET!'' I swiftly returned to my friends by swapping positions with the Spell Card I left behind when I charged into battle.

    With that, I was not only safe, but¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡­ The Nether got hit by my strike!

    Due to the angle of the attack, and the sheer power unleashed by my device, the beam of light pushed the Nether up into the sky.

    It would be too much if everything here got razed¡ªleveled to the ground. As a result, I positioned the st to a lower angle. This sent everything flying upward, detonating itself and the Nether into the sky.

    ''Not finished yet!''

    I remotely controlled the device to fly upward as well. Its core went critical, causing it to self-destruct in the most borate way as well.

    In the end¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    Everything erupted marvelously!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 763 Jareds Trump Card [Pt 2]

    The sky above was painted marvelously in a multitude of colors.

    It seemed to spread across the entire world¡ªlike an expanse of glorious light. With such shimmering lights, and the beauty of destruction evident to our eyes, we witnessed the borate destruction I caused.

    The area of effect was estimated to be at least three times bigger than what happened in the Northern Continent, and I also tried to contain the st so it would target the Nether and only him. Still, the area of effect, as expected, expanded far and wide¡ªthe target being at the center of it.

    ''That''s why¡­ or at least, one of the reasons why I took it far into the sky.''

    The shockwaves greeted us as they apanied the loud explosion, fortunately, we were safe within my reinforced barrier.

    "W-wow¡­ such destruction." Kazen whispered beside me.

    She gave me a nervous look, as well as that of surprise. She probably couldn''t believe that someone like me could be capable of so much power.

    ''This is the result of stocking up for a long time¡­'' I thought ti myself.

    "You really did it, Lewis! I''m sorry I doubted you. You really¡­" Karlia was astounded.

    She looked at me with such pride that I also felt good about it, and myself. However, I was not blind to the reality of the situation.

    "It''s not over yet." My gaze went far beyond the direction of my allies, and focused on a single location.

    "What do you mean by that?" Jane spoke up behind me.

    My allies were finally conscious, and I had seen just how tired and disturbed they were. Their faces were slowly brimming with hope, but my statement must have made their relief cease.

    "Look at Ciel. She''s just floating there, unconcerned. Based on everything that has happened so far, you''d think she would be upset¡ªor at least concerned¡ªabout what just happened."

    Instead, she was giving her usual smile.

    "She''s not concerned at all. It''s not over. Not by a long shot!" I grunted.

    We all raised our heads to the sky, and sure enough, the lights were slowly evaporating, and a deep, dark purple cloud began to manifest in the air. shes of purple lightning upied the expanse above our heads, and a single entity stood there.

    This being''s monstrous majesty could not be ignored even if one tried.

    ''It''s the Nether and¡­ it''s unscathed.''

    I had hoped that the st would be enough to injure him, at the very least. It contained so much energy, after all. Yet¡­ he seemed absolutely fine.

    ''Now I see why Ciel couldn''t have been bothered. All of that was just child''s y, eh?''

    "Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I certainly felt that one¡­" The Nether''s voice thundered.

    He remained above, most likely immersed in the grandeur of his dominance.

    "Do you have more attacks like that? If so, then perhaps you''re not so weak, after all." The Nether slowly began to descend.

    It felt like his power just increased, or perhaps he had been holding back his powers before now. It was also possible that he still had a good amount of his powers that he had not yet revealed.

    In essence, just like with the Martial de God¡ªno, this was even worse¡ªI couldn''t detect how powerful this monster was.

    Speaking of the Martial de God¡­ he was still in deep meditation. Since the fight started, he had yet to move from his location.

    I would have gone after him if I had the chance, but my hands were full with the Nether. It probably wasn''t worth it anyway¡ªthough I couldn''t help but wonder what he was up to.

    ''Still¡­''

    "If you have nothing left to offer, this should be the end for you."

    ''... I''m not done!''

    In fact, this was only the beginning!<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >VWUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    I instantly teleported to the sky, leaving everyone behind. Flying far above the Nether, I reached the spot where the explosion had taken ce. Once I reached this summit, I was able to see everything around and beneath me.

    ''Haaa¡­ it worked!'' A smile formed on my face as my gaze rested on the Nether.

    My true goal hasn''t been to kill the Nether with my earlier st. I did count on him being injured by the st, so the fact that he was perfectly fine threw a wrench into my ns. Still, I just had to improvise.

    ''The true reason for the explosion¡­ was to create an ideal environment for my actual trump card.''

    SPELLCRAFT!

    "Let''s begin round two." I grinned fearlessly despite beingpletely nervous about this whole thing.

    "Hehe¡­ you''re amusing. Different from Merlin, but simr to¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!<

    Interrupting his words with my first strike, I sent multiple shes of light charging in his direction.

    "Really? That won''t work, you know?"

    I was well aware. The big st from my device didn''t even leave a scratch on him, and that had been my strongest move. It was clear that I couldn''t overpower him with raw power alone.

    There had to be another way.

    Sourcing for that weakness was my  reason for creating the perfect environment for Spellcraft.

    ''The explosion dispersed Aether into the area. I can use all that Aether to my advantage. If I take the interaction of Mana and Miasma, andpare and contrast it with Aether and Nether, I should be able to find a way out of this¡­''

    Mana and Miasma could be considered opposites the same way Aether and Nether were. I had almost no knowledge of how Nether worked, so I was just going on a limb here.

    If I was wrong, then things could be messed up really quickly.

    ''If an equal amount of Mana and Miasma collides, it will cause a bnced elimination of the distinct particles and offset any action that is brought forth from them.'' In essence, it created Anti Magic.

    If either side was weaker than the other, depending on the ratio and method ofbination, it could lead to a chain reaction of unstable elements, causing a much bigger explosion than normal.

    Kind of like how little sprinkles of water caused mes to re up, while arger measure would put it out.

    ''If I use the same process here, I wonder what will happen.''

    There was only one major thing to consider about this task I was undertaking¡ªone crucial element.

    ''Will I have enough Aether to survive?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 764 A Heros Farewell

    I was scared.

    My body felt cold, and I was shivering uncontrobly. Despite how cold I felt, beads of sweat still formed on my skin. Terrified of this entity, and the huge possibility of loss, I remained stagnant in the sky.

    I watched as my bolts of light flew in the Nether''s direction, waiting and keenly observing the effects.

    "This is stupid."

    Without moving an inch, the sts werepletely dissolved.

    ''They were canceled out by his Nether. They were too weak, after all. Then¡­''

    Using Spellcraft to attract the Aether around me, while also powering it up with [Strength] to quicken the process, I created a javelin of light.

    It contained more condensed energy, and I fired it right at the Nether.

    "Hmmm? I see." This time, he flicked his finger, and the javelin met the same fate as the bolts that came before it.

    "I see you''re being cautious¡­ testing the waters. But I grow impatient. So, I''ll being to you now."

    My eyes widened as I felt the Nether suddenly appear behind me. It didn''t even take a second, or a fraction of it.

    One moment, he had been speaking to me, and the next, he was behind me. It made me realize something¡­ that this monster could kill me at any time.

    ''He''s been messing with me!'' My thoughts rang out as I smiled internally.

    Using Spellcraft, I became one with my surroundings. Of course, all my senses improved dramatically. However, because of this bond, I could easily be anywhere in my sphere of influence as well.

    No distortion or disturbance could prevent my free teleportation. Besides, since it was close by, and well within my domain of influence, I could evade even the Nether''s strikes.

    My brain couldn''t keep up with the speed of my opponent, though. However, I wasn''t necessarily the one casting the Spells. It belonged to my Original Magic.

    ''Great Sage''s Grimoire!''

    I vanished from my location before the Nether could capture me, moving even further above him. A smile formed on my face, and sweat dripped down my face.

    That was a close call, and I really thought I would die. However!

    ''I''ve got you where I want you now!''

    All the Aether around swiftly converged on him, shrouding him in their multicolored light. Back when he had been outside my area of influence, I could only test the waters, but with him here, I could attack with all I had.

    Of course, trying to damage his body was useless. He was too strong for the Aether to really damage him. However¡­ I hadn''t forgotten how he got to this state.

    ''Ultimately,  the Nether is possessing a vessel, and that vessel has the total set of Arcanas within him to keep everything stable.''

    If I used Spellcraft to guide the Aether into my target, and offset the reactions going on within him, then it would be my victory. No, I probably didn''t even need that much.

    ''Just one Arcana. If I can just offset one Arcana, or cause an internal imbnce due to the mix of Aether and Nether, that will be enough.''

    The chain reaction would cause the Nether to go unstable, and that was when we would all make our counterattack. That''s right¡­ that was the hallmark of my n!

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    I sent the Aether around him to even the depths of his soul, concentrating them in order to poison him from the inside out. His external shell was tough, but what about his internal self?

    Giving it my all, with total concentration, I probed deeper and deeper, until¡ª

    "You fool." The Nether chuckled, causing me to suddenly freeze.

    "So that''s what you were trying to do? How foolish."

    My eyes widened instantly, feeling a certain pressure course through my body.

    "What an interesting way to use Magic. Unfortunately, you''re not the first to try something like this on me. What did he call it then? Magecraft? Haha¡­ he truly was an interesting specimen."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I didn''t understand a word of what the Nether was speaking, but that wasn''t important at the moment.

    ''I¡­ I can''t move! I can''t use Magic!'' I couldn''t do anything at all.

    "Aren''t you aware of the dangers of this technique? If you can control the Aether remotely by infusing your energy into it, then isn''t it possible for me to hijack that control by infusing my more dominant power?"

    Upon hearing this, my eyes widened and my senses suddenly went haywire.

    All the Aether around me, all the lights that surrounded me, suddenly died out. They all became corroded, turning into Nether.

    And I was right in the middle of it.

    I couldn''t do anything but helplessly watch.

    "What now? What is your counterattack?" The Nether asked, but I could not respond.

    My body was no longer my own, and my mind was going nk.

    "Don''t tell me you only thought this far? This is all you can do? Really?"

    Unbelievable pain seared through me as the overwhelming Nether began eating through my body. It felt so painful that I wanted to cry and scream, but no sound woulde out.

    In silence, my body went through torture.

    "I don''t understand why he would choose someone like you. You''re weaker than he was when this happened. You''re also not as clever¡ªor should I say, creative?" As the Nether belittled me, I felt everything around me going nk.

    I could hear faint noises beneath me¡ªthe voices of my allies.

    "Compared to him¡­ you''re nothing special."

    A gust of wind lunged at the Nether, but he waved it off in a sh, sending whomever it was crashing to the ground.

    "Stay out of it." He whispered and drew closer to me.

    "Singrity, this is the end. I''ll kill you, and then kill this world. I''ll consume everything and be whole." The Nether''s hand touched my chest, and I felt a searing pain course through my soul.

    "Don''t even think of returning. This Soul, and every other one that exists in any other ce within this ne of existence¡­ will be extinguished."

    It was painful.

    I was scared¡ªterrified.

    I was really going to die.

    Noing back, no contingency, no countermeasure.

    Everything was going to end right here!

    "Bye bye."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 765 Jareds Death

    I watched as my life came to an end.

    This was the point of no return, and I knew there was no turning back. All my countermeasures--the clones and Soul Brand duplicates--were being rendered useless by what the Nether was doing.

    He was going to use my current soul to destroy any other copy of my soul that was within the same wavelength. In essence, corrupting everything rted to me and ensuring all of my links to this reality are cut off.

    Thereafter, he would extinguish my soul by permanently destroying it with Nether. That way, there would be nothing left.

    My body was already expiring, so that meant I''ll be gone forever.

    ''I... I...''

    I wish I had more time.

    In my final moments, my thoughts began to gue and hound me. I couldn''t help but think of so many things that I had pushed back for so long.

    My past life--my friends, lovers, family.

    I remembered my parents; both in this life and in my past life.

    I remembered my lovers; both in this life and in my past life.

    I remembered my friends; the ones I had in this life and in my past life.

    As both lives sh before my eyes, I realized how much I wanted to live. How badly I wanted to cling to existence.

    When I died in the past, I had epted it. I was fulfilled--save for one regret that I had.

    MAGIC!

    I had wished to use Magic and in this life, I had far surpassed the level of anyone I knew in my past life--except maybe Solomon and perhaps Lilith too.

    I wondered where Lilith was now, and I wondered if she eventually found the peaceful death she sought.

    In the end, these two were the only ones I could not surpass. The rest never stood a chance.

    I have developed more Magic theories in this life and even invented Anti Magic. I have done so much, and I''ve had so much fun.

    The only regret I could never let go of in my past life had already been fulfilled. And even though I never reached the pinnacle of Magic, this much would have satisfied the ''me'' of the past.

    But... not anymore!

    Magic or not, I now have more regrets. More reasons I simply can''t die.

    I realized now what Alphonse and my other friends had been teaching me--about how Magic means nothing without people.

    I saved my Academy. I saved the Kingdom. I just fought a being that is capable of destroying the world. I have had my fair share of adventures and heroics.

    This was more than enough for people to remember me by.

    However, thereinid the problem.

    ''There will be no one left...''

    If I died now, everyone would die too. The very thought of that hurt my very soul, far more than the Nether that had nearlypleted its task.

    The death of my friends and family--everyone I care about--weighed heavily on me.

    I so desperately want to live to prevent any of the chaos that was about toe. Unfortunately, I was too powerless to do anything.

    My body had long expired now, bing one with the Nether. My soul was nearing disintegration--merely a breath away from utter destruction.

    ''It seems... I won''t get to see anyone ever again.'' Everything slowly vanished.

    Memories and experiences faded away.

    Jane. Aurora. Ana. Edward. Stefan. Jerry. Ivan. Freya. All of them came and went, like shes of light.

    Kuzon... I wish you were here...

    Maria... I''m sorry...

    Karlia... forgive me...

    The memories of my other friends and family ovepped and then vanished, all turning dark. In the end, there were surprisingly only three images left.

    Lemi... forgive your father...

    Neron... where are you...?

    Finally, thest single thought that remained shined ever so brightly. It shone in the ever-growing darkness. The memories of this person were corroded by the murky depths of despondency, and I could not do anything to prevent this.

    I could only watch.

    ''Emilia...'' My thoughts desperately called for her.

    The moment she vanished, I knew it was over. But, what could I possibly do in this state?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Absolutely nothing!

    The end was here... and the memory waspletely consumed.

    The moment this happened, everything went dark, and I found myself sinking into the jaws of nonexistence.

    The abyss called for me... and I ceased to exist.

    *********

    "Huh?!" Maria''s eyes popped wide open in shock.

    She swiftly rose from where shey, seating upright instead.

    "Hey, hey! Take it easy. You need to rest." Elrich''s voice brought her out of the daze that enveloped her.

    She nced at him with widened eyes, her face depicting pure confusion. Something about her stunned expression showed horror that could not be described.

    "I... I felt Jared''s Soul Brand vanish." She whispered, still trying to wrap her head around the whole thing.

    "O-oh... yeah, me too. It probably has something to do with that." Elrich pointed at the sky, and for the first time, Maria properly looked above her.

    The skies were covered in pitch-ck darkness. Dark lightning struck without end, and the air was chilly.

    Around her, Maria could see many dead birds. All the beings that upied the sky were already down--dead due to their exposure to the dark clouds and the element that caused it.

    "Nether..." She whispered.

    "Indeed. It is spreading at a fast rate... and I fear this is only the beginning."

    Who was to say thends wouldn''t be covered by Nether next? If that happened, wouldn''t that mark the end of every being who couldn''t use Aether?

    The death of everything that existed.

    "Jared... he''s in danger. I need to get to him." Maria''s voice quivered.

    Clearly, something had gone wrong with the n. Jared needed her now!

    "No. Not yet. We need to ensure the safety of everyone in the other nations first. Not many people can utilize Aether. What of the innocents? If the skies are being covered in Nether, I fear what will befall all of them."

    "But Jared is--"

    "I''m sure Jared would want you to do the same. We need your [Pope] to protect them, and my [Tower] to help move them to safe ground."

    Elrich had pretty much reached his limit by putting the denizens of the Eastern Kingdom in his pocket dimension. He would have loved to stuff the whole world inside it, but he didn''t have enough power for that.

    "Create a massive dome, likest time--but bigger. That will create a sanctuary for those we''ll be saving. Set it up here. I''ll travel around and transport those I find to this ce."

    In essence, she had to keep the people safe, while he brought them to her.

    "O-okay!"

    "Good. Baraja and the others will stay here with you. I''m off!" Before she could say any more, Elrich vanished.

    It was clear from his tone that he was in a hurry, and that he was extremely worried.

    Who wouldn''t be, with the darkness spreading to every region in the world?

    "But, Jared..." Maria muttered.

    Something in her heart felt empty, and her soul ached.

    Still, she couldn''t abandon the many innocents who needed her aid, could she? Now that she was awake, she felt much better--enough to protect the ones she could.

    "SANCTUARY!"

    Thus, her massive white dome began to form. As she created this shelter, however, Maria could not help thinking about the boy she loved.

    "Jared... you''re still there, right?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Well, there we go... Jared is dead.

    No plot armour or anything. It sucks that despite all his efforts and strategies, he still lost.

    Poor Maria too...

    Well, let''s see what''ll happen next.

 Chapter 766 Battle Demon

    "All done." The Nether spoke, returning his gaze to his dumbstruck audience.

    Jared Leonard, humanity''s champion, had long be ash, and his soul had been snuffed out. He was dead¡ªin every sense of the word.

    At first, only silence permeated the dark expanse.

    Everyone was too devastated to utter a single word. Their eyes simply widened as their bodies remained still. It was as if they couldn''t make up their minds on what to feel.

    Anger? Sorrow? Regret? Shock? The list was too long for their brains toprehend at once.

    In the end, the onlookers gave gasps of despondency and pain.

    "Now then¡­" The Nether grinned, slowly returning to Ciel''s side. His satisfaction stemmed from the defeat of the only avable contingency.

    Now nothing was stopping him. Not anymore.

    Jared''s friends¡ªhis allies¡ªcould only watch powerlessly. None could stand up against the Nether.

    "J-Jared, I¡­" Ana was too distraught to form a coherent speech.

    She had been so upset at Jared that she had done something foolish because of it. She regretted it throughout her stay with Jane, but she just hadn''t known how and when to tell him how badly she wanted to apologize.

    But now¡­ now she''d never have the chance.

    Having lost Kuzon first, and now, Jared¡­ she simply couldn''t take any more. She could only crumble to her knees and weep helplessly.

    Lemi was no different. She always blew off her father, and her rtionship with him was paper thin. She had med him for abandoning her and her mother, and she often acted stubbornly towards him.

    While she still felt that he was a jerk, Lemi knew he was much less of a jerk than she was.

    "D-dad¡­ no¡­" Her whispers were filled with emotion and her eyes disyed despair.

    Then, there was Jane.

    "J-Jare¡­ Lewis¡­" Jane was also in deep agony.

    While she didn''t cry, her heart burned with immense pain. She fought off the tears this time, but her eyesight was blurry. Her head hurt ceaselessly, and she felt like something in her chest would explode.

    ''It hurts¡­ it hurts so much!''

    Tightly clutching her chest in pain and iprehensible sorrow, she broke down as well.

    The pain was not restricted to these three, though. Each person who watched was rted to Jared in one way or the other. Even Kazen, who hadn''t known him for very long, mourned his loss greatly.

    "That boy¡­ was a true Apostle¡­" She whispered amid the grief.

    Well, once you looked through the crowd, there was perhaps only one person who wasn''t grieving. However, she felt very sad that Jerry was. And as a result, her heart broke to see such a tragedy happen.

    This truly was¡­

    "Y-YOU¡­.!!!" The loud surge of a rageful voice suddenly sounded.

    An eruption of pure, destructive energy rose to an unprecedented degree. It was so terrifying that it made the onlookers forget their grief for a moment and look in the direction of the voice.

    It belonged to Karlia!

    Her bulging eyes were focused on the Nether, and her body emitted so much destructive power that it felt unreal¡ªascending far into the heavens.

    With an expression akin to a beast, and all the energy around finally coalescing into her to form a more stable and concentrated source of power, Karlia growled and roared at the one who took her man from her.

    "I''LL KILL YOUUUUUU!!!"

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Before a moment of thought could even be formed, Karlia closed the distance between her and her target, easily destroying everything in her wake.

    Her body was covered in the energy she had absorbed from [The Sun], as well as the Martial de God, apanied by several other pieces she had umted over the years.

    All of that unused energy immediately burst out, causing her to reach heights she had never attained before.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Her body turned bright red, and her hair floated up in the sky. Horns appeared on her head, and her ears grew longer. Her fangs became bigger, and her eyes were glowing like death.

    She felt like a demon beyond the realm of demons. A devil, in every sense of the word!

    "RAAAAARRRRGHHHHHHH!!!!"

    Launching her first strike, she was able to easily deflect the Nether st from the Nether''s fingers, surprising the dark entity.

    She dodged the next one, reaching him in two steps. Roaring with her mouth wide open, she unleashed a powerful breath attack that shot at point-nk range.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!<

    The ground, the moment it received her strike instead of the Nether shattered, sending debris around.

    Her power was enough to destroy the earth so much so the water underneath it began to surge.

    "DIEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" Ignoring the repercussions of her attack, Karlia lunged straight for where the Nether had vanished.

    "What a beast." He stretched out his hand and unleashed a st of Nether.

    It corroded her body instantly, killing her off.

    However¡ª

    "RUAAAAAARRRGHHHHH!!!"

    ¡ªShe appeared once more, grabbing the Nether by the throat as she violently hissed.

    "What?"

    A mere touch of his body caused her to instantly decay. However, she soon appeared once more, tightly holding him in her grasp.

    "What are you even doi¡ª"

    The energy in her body became unstable, and she went critical. In no time, she self-destructed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    The shockwaves spread around for miles upon miles, and the skies were painted red.

    "Haa¡­ this one¡­" The Nether emerged from the st, just as unscathed as he was from the earlier battles.

    Karlia also emerged,pletely fine as well.

    "You''re interesting. So you can''t die, huh? I see¡­" The Nether''s grin widened in a sadistic manner. "You shouldn''t be too certain about that."

    Karlia was ready to strike again, this time her body was covered in dark scaly armour. It seemed to improve her defences, but she was more concerned with offence.

    Her wings transformed into pure energy, and her body followed long after. Now as a form of energy in a dark gleaming casing, she moved to strike down her enemy¡ªone who was simplyughing as he watched her approach.

    "This time, you''ll stay dead."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 767 Monster Versus Monster

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The ind was breaking apart already. Thanks to the deep hole Karlia caused, and the other levels of destruction that she wrecked, the sea bed was seeping onto thend, and the water levels were rising.

    No, it was more urate to say that thend was sinking. It was slowly plunging deep into the dark waters.

    The murky liquid that was now the sea took the same form as the skies. They were ck and purple, oozing Nether, and radiating pure poison.

    "Let''s find higher ground!!!" Kazen told the rest of the distraught allies that were with her.

    With Jared gone, their defensive array was gone, and overexposure to Nether would affect them adversely. In the end, she would have to rely on the Arcanas in their possession to protect them.

    "I can create projections with [Judgement]." Said the one called Ciara.

    If she made a stable tform for them, away from the wreckage that was currently taking ce, they could survive. They could also surround themselves in the Aether projection, protecting themselves from the danger below.

    "Alright! Let''s do this!" Kazen encouraged Ciara, and she did as she was told.

    Now in a safe location, observing from a position not too high, but also not too low, the group watched the mad dance between Karlia and the Nether. They could also see Ciel watching from her heights, and the Martial de God in meditation.

    For thetter, nothing around him had been destroyed yet. Whether this was a coincidence, or whether it was simply a testament to his power, was beyond the scope of their concern at the moment.

    "S-shouldn''t we assist her?" Jerry spoke up, looking at the way Karlia struggled tond hits on her enemy.

    Even when she did, she couldn''t damage him. Perhaps together, they could stand a chance.

    "I agree." Ivan supported the idea as well.

    While a majority of the team was in a slump because of Jared''s death, not all of them were too far gone to be called back.

    "What could you possibly do? Look at her. The level of destruction she''s causing, and the speed at which she''s going. She''s matching the Nether''s pace, and she still hasn''t suffered any real damage." Beruel interrupted the boys and sighed.

    "If we try to help, we''d only get in her way and slow her down." He added.

    They were all simply too weak. Compared to Karlia, or the Nether, they were mere pebbles¡ªif not lesser.

    ''She''s much stronger than I thought. What a monster!'' Beruel began to wonder if she would have actually been able to defeat Kido if she''d tried.

    However¡­ this wasn''t the time for suchparisons. He also hadn''t seen Kido at full strength soparing the two was ridiculous.

    "B-but we have Arcanas, don''t we? Let''s help her kill that son of a bitch!" This time, Lemi spoke. The anger in her tone indicated a righteous fury that she wanted to expend on the enemy.

    "Exactly. We can keep up if we use our Arcanas. Take my [Justice] for example. If we¡ª"

    "It''s useless. Don''t even think about it." Kazen interrupted Edward''s rousing words.

    She felt the boy was too optimistic for his own good, and the same applied to a lot of people in the group.

    Or, was she the one being pessimistic? No, she was just more in touch with reality.

    "Arcanas won''t work on the Nether. Not only is he from another world, but he also possesses all the Arcanas as his base. His constitution will nullify your Arcanas'' effects."

    Once she said this, the expressions of everyone instantly fell.

    "The Arcanas are designed to be used in this world. Their forme exist to affect thews of this world. It''s tricky to use it against a being such as the Nether. In fact, without enough of this world''s essence or atmosphere, an Arcana could be useless. And¡­ this reality is slowly being eaten away by the Nether."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    There coulde a time when the Arcanas wouldn''t work on thews any longer. If thews became perverted, then the relevance of thew-bending objects would cease to exist.

    Kazen couldn''t even bear to look at the faces of the people with her. How could she tell them that their situation was hopeless? That their world was bound for destruction?

    "So¡­ we can''t do anything?" A sceptical voice sounded from behind her.

    She didn''t look, but a sigh escaped her lips. What did they expect her to say?

    "Pray, maybe? I don''t know. I don''t have much time left¡­ so I am also thinking very hard¡­ about what I can do."

    Hopeless silence enveloped all of them as they helplessly watched the battle between two monsters. All of them, without exception, hoped for the crimson one to win.

    *

    *

    *

    "Hahaha! I''ve caught you now." The Nether grinned as it held Karlia by her neck.

    "The nature of your soul is interesting. So, it keeps getting restored even when it is extinguished, I see."

    He tightened his grip on her throat and then sent his power flowing straight towards Karlia''s soul. His overwhelming energy held her in ce while he did all of this.

    "I''ll simply utilize the same trick I used on that other fool. I''ll synchronize with the frequency of your Soul and destroy all of them. You won''t be returning."

    And so, he did. He seeped his power into Karlia''s Soul, gaining ess to the numerous ones that existed in a multitude of ces.

    "Smart. You stored them in a pocket dimension. But that''s too bad. I can reach them using your soul as a window."

    It was time for her to die, and he was going to do it in the most satisfying way.

    However¡ª

    "W-what is¡­ this?"

    ¡ªThe Nether was not expecting what came next.

    "How is this even possible?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 768 Object Of Interest

    The Nether could not believe his eyes¡ªor rather, his senses.

    ''What am I looking at here?'' He asked himself.

    Throughout his life as a primordial entity, he had never seen anything like this. It was quite intriguing.

    As soon as he utilized Karlia''s current soul to reach the stockpile of souls she had, the Nether had begun to eradicate them. However, the moment he took one down, two more took its ce.

    Her souls were in a constant state of multiplication and he took that into ount. That was why he sped up his corrosion and tried consuming as many as he could at once.

    However, the moment one was consumed, two appeared, thus by destroying billions and trillions of souls, even more souls surfaced. It was like a never-ending game.

    ''And what is this now? The new souls are resisting my power?'' The corrosive effects of his Nether had been dampened, and he was amazed by it.

    Karlia now had more souls, and she was less prone to dying than before. She had gotten much stronger and more resistant to him. It was as though she was on a constant stream of evolution¡ªand if he didn''t stop, a time coulde when she would bepletely immune to his power.

    To prevent that, the Nether had to admit his loss and halt his corrosion.

    "You really are immortal¡­" He muttered.

    "I''LL KILL YOU!" Was all she could release from her lips, before once again oveing his hold on her and exploding brilliantly.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

    She appeared a distance from him, ready to strike once again. Concepts such as exhaustion were foreign to her, and her focus was solely on her target¡ªone who remained unscathed despite her many attempts.

    "It''s pointless. Do you not see? I can not kill you, but you also do not have enough power to damage me. We''re at a stalemate." The Nether grinned.

    Ciel, from her position, expressed surprise at this. She couldn''t believe her master could make such a statement. He even went as far as praising the woman in front of him¡­ just as he''d once praised her in the past.

    ''N-no way¡­ does he¡­?!'' Her eyes widened as she looked at Karlia with jealousy and fear.

    There was no way the Nether would take an interest in a savage like Karlia, right?!

    "Unfortunately, you are too deep in your grief and rage to consider a proposal from me. Mind control and other measures don''t seem to work on you either. Your body must be resistant to those¡­"

    The Nether didn''t seem keen on keeping her as an ally, much to Ciel''s relief. However, it begged the question of what exactly he was going to do with this discovery he had just made.

    "I''m quite upied now. So, I''ll save you forter. Your power will be very interesting to observe¡­"

    Karlia was done with her preparations, and an even greater surge of power burst from her¡ªfar greater than anything she had disyed earlier.

    It was as though she was the very personification of destruction!

    "I''ll observe youter." As soon as the Nether stretched out his hand, Karlia was already in front of him, ready tounch a reality-shattering blow at him.

    The speed defied time and space, and this blow was bound to be the finishing blow that would tear this ind apart.

    However¡ª

    "That''s enough for now."

    ¡ªThe Nether easily parried it, using a huge wormhole to suck in her fist as soon as he deflected it.

    "H-HUH¡­?!"

    Before Karlia could recover from the recoil of having her hand sucked into the wormhole¡ªa dazed state that didn''t evenst a moment¡ªthe Nether moved much faster and shoved her into the massive ck portal.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Helplessly pushed inside, Karlia disappeared into the darkness, removed from the worldpletely.

    "It seems I can still seal her away. In any case, she''s not escaping from where I kept her. I''ll deal with herter¡­" He murmured.

    Still, he hadn''t been this intrigued by a creature for a while. Only a few had aplished this feat¡ªlike Ciel and Merlin. Thest person that had really attracted his attention was the one who was responsible for the current ovepping of his memories.

    ''That one, Jared¡­ he showed promise. Maybe it was because he was still young. He was not as strong as I''d have liked.'' Ultimately, none of them could prove to be of much trouble to him¡ªat least, not anymore.

    "M-master, how do you feel?" Ciel''s voice broke the Nether from his thoughts, causing him to look in her direction.

    He felt like he could tell her the honest truth.

    "I feel weak. As much as this body has managed to contain my energy without getting destabilized, there''s still so much power I haven''t tapped into. The consumption of this world is progressing slowly too."

    "I-I apologize, master. I am sure it''ll limate and you''ll gain your powers as time passes." Ciel bowed frantically, truly disying her fealty.

    ''Like a dog.'' The Nether grinned as he looked at her.

    Ciel was definitely not the most interesting person he had met, but she was the most loyal. That ensured stability, as well as a guarantee of the sess of his ambition. As long as she existed, he would always be guaranteed a way to return.

    That was why he liked her so much¡­ though he had to admit that she was weird.

    "In any case, I say it''s time we deal with the leftovers. They shouldn''t pose much of a challenge to me."

    "Should I do it for you, master?" Ciel asked with puppy dog eyes.

    "No need. I''ll do it myself. I have nothing better to do, after a¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    Before the Nether couldplete his statement, a brilliant glow of blue light ascended to the heavens. It lit up the darkness above, making everything bright.

    "Hm?" Both the Nether and Ciel looked in the direction of the glorious burst.

    It came from a single person¡­ the Martial de God.

    "Haaa¡­" Misty breath escaped the swordsman''s lips as he focused his gentle gaze on the Nether.

    "I''m ready."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 769 Battle Among Gods

    "I''m ready." The Martial de God spoke calmly.

    His form was simple¡ªa blue kimono, with his normal-looking de on his hip. Even after meditating for so long, he still seemed like the same person from before.

    "You''re¡­ the Martial de God?" The Nether spoke, narrowing his gaze as his eyes turned purple.

    "Indeed. Per my agreement with Ciel, I shall be facing you in an all-out battle." He reached for his de, keeping his gaze on the floating Nether.

    The Nether nced at Ciel, and the woman nodded with a smile. Her expression told him that he was serious, and that the battle itself would be one of the same nature.

    "I see. Since I have time to spare, I might as well do it" The Nether shrugged.

    "I appreciate it."

    This time, the Martial de God did not bow. Neither did he show any of his usual courtesy to the Nether. His gaze was indeed calm, and he disyed no animosity. However, he was also not being cordial.

    In this state, he unsheathed his de and took his stance, waiting for Ciel to move out of the way. She did so almost immediately.

    "Now, then, how should we do this? From what I have been informed of, you were very instrumental in my return¡­ and it was all for this battle. So, how do you want it to go?"

    The Martial de God gave a very simple answer¡ªone that made him seem extremely crazy.

    "Go all-out. I want to fight you at full strength." This was the only answer he could give.

    After all, he had sacrificed a lot to reach this point. He had caused the deaths and destruction of so many people. He hadmitted unspeakable atrocities¡ªall for the return of this monster.

    And now, it was time for him to im his prize.

    "If I go all-out, you won''t be able to bear it." The Nether''s words brought a smile to the face of the Martial de God.

    When was thest time someone had shown him such consideration in a battle? Usually, he was the one saying it to others. And that was because he was simply stronger than them.

    That''s right¡­ The luxury of giving consideration to an enemy was the luxury owned only by the strong. At the moment, he had lost that right.

    The enemy in front of him was stronger.

    "Very well. Then¡­ fight me until the very end!"

    "Alright then. If it bes too drawn out, I''ll just end you as soon as¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    An immense pressure permeated the air, causing everything around to shiver. The ascending blue light converged on the Martial de God, and his hair turned white¡ªsame as his clothing and his de.

    Several incorporeal des appeared around him, and an armour-like structure covered his body. It seemed like the swordsman had really ascended to the realm of the divine, thus living up to his name¡ªa god!

    As the Martial de God felt the power course through his body, he heard a voice echo in his Soul.

    ~Are you sure you want to do this alone?~

    It belonged to his Familiar¡ªone of the constetions that existed beyond the current world he was in.

    "Yes, Aries." The Martial de God smiled.

    The fight would certainly be much easier and faster if he had the aid of one of the most powerful Familiars that could ever exist. However¡­

    "There will be no point if I do not use my power."

    ~Very well. I will be sure to watch your final moments.~

    "And who says I''m going to lose?"

    ~Well¡­ shall we wait and see?~

    The Martial de God could not help himself from chuckling. It was just like Aries to be salty because he wasn''t being relied on. Still, who could me a Familiar that wasn''t being used by his wielder?

    "Haha¡­ I''ll give my all. There shall be no regrets!" Suddenly, the Martial de God could feel it.

    He was slowly reverting to how he used to feel back when he''d just started practising Martial Arts¡ªback when he hadn''t been so peerless.

    The thrill he felt when he learned his first set of techniques. The excitement he had when he fought his first opponent. The joy he felt when he won his first battle. The fulfilment he had when he created his own Martial Techniques.

    All those emotions had been numbed due to ack of stimtion. But now, facing an opponent that was far stronger than he was, the Martial de God could not help but feel the rush of long-forgotten sensations.

    It felt amazing!<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Here Ie!"

    In a powerful leap that destroyed the entire foothold that was perfectly fine a moment earlier, he lunged straight for the Nether.

    His de was fastened to his grip, and his Mind des went ahead of him to strike down the Nether.

    Instantly, the Nethe also brought his own darkened de and parried the des that wereunched, prepared to cross des with the Martial de God.

    >VWUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Space parted as both parties swung their des.

    However¡ª

    >SPLOOOSSSHHH!!!<

    ¡ªDark liquid spurted from the Nether as the exchange ended.

    "W-wow! I never expected this! You are¡ª"

    Before the Nether could say any more, the Martial de God went for the next strike. His de was brimming with so much power that it could destroy anything it touched¡ªeven Nether as dense as his opponent''s.

    This time¡ª

    >SPLOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    ¡ªMore darkened blood leaked from the Nether.

    "I underestimated you, eh?''

    The Martial de couldn''t ess most of his abilities due to the Nether''s influence around him and the nature of his being. He could not see through the Nether''s time, and he could not rely on a lot of his techniques.

    Even if he could, they wouldn''t have been very effective on the opponent. In such a situation, there was only one thing he could do.

    He threw them all away!

    He chose not to rely on his other techniques and focused all of his Aether on his de. Every single power he had was focused on his body¡ªand his weapon was an extension of it.

    Nothing else mattered.

    As long as he could reach his enemy¡­ as long as he could cut his opponent down¡­ that was all that mattered.

    "HAHAHAHAHA! INTERESTING!"

    They crossed des many times, and the Nether always came up short¡ªlosing more fluids as the match went on.

    Everything around them suffered damage, and there was practically nond underneath them anymore. Even the darkened seas were evaporating rapidly. Before long, there would be nothing left in the world.

    Still, nothing prevented them from exchanging more blows.

    ''This is it! This is what I''ve been living for!'' The Martial de God clenched his teeth and strained his body even more tond another hit.

    In terms of speed and strength, he admitted that the Nether had him outssed. In fact, the distance between them was very wide.

    However, the Nether was not as adept in Martial Arts, which gave the Martial de God his only advantage.

    Even then¡­

    ''It''s taking every single ounce of my power tond a hit. This is it!'' He was certain that if this kept up, he would finally be able to achieve it.

    He would be able to surpass his limits and reach the state he desired!

    *

    *

    *

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From next month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

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 Chapter 770 The Martial Peak

    ''How long have we been fighting for?'' The Martial de God had no idea.

    The concept of time suddenly seemed meaningless in the sh between both him and a being that had transcended such shackles.

    Only the sublime feeling of cutting through the Nether''s body, and the evasion of fatal blows, filled his mind. And slowly, he began to experience another sensation he had forgotten.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­"

    He was running out of breath!

    His swings became sluggish. His bones ached. His muscles hurt with each convulsion. His body was already showing signs of exhaustion.

    ''So this is how it feels! I had forgotten!''

    The Nether now had the upper hand, pushing the Martial de God on the defensive. He had lost the advantage, and was now barely keeping up. He was in a very precarious position, drawing closer and closer to death.

    Yet¡­ the Martial de God was smiling¡ªno, he wasughing.

    Like a madman dancing in the presence of imminent destruction¡ªhe did not cease his cackles of insanity.

    Even as his body began to receive hits from the Nether''s de, he kept up his cheerful state, he kept up his excitement. His body screamed in pain, but that did not prevent him from enjoying every moment of it.

    The constant stream of Nether energy that corrupted his body was purified by the high concentration of Aether in his body, and his wounds kept healing. However, the rate of damage, and the intensity, made him more and more wretched the longer he fought.

    His wounds healed slower than before, and his wounds kept getting more.

    "Haaa¡­"

    He had finally reached it¡ªthe limit of his strength.

    The Nether, however, seemed to be getting stronger. It seemed the gap between them only widened the more he swung his de.

    Yet, what could he do except swing his de?

    His body was weary, yet he couldn''t stop. Until¡ª

    >CLANG!<

    The very de he took pride in¡­ shattered!

    With his de of light broken, and the Nether''s next strike approaching him, the Martial de God realized this was the end.

    His hair was ragged and his breathing was uneven. His body was mutted. He was in a miserable state.

    He could no longer move too.

    ''Is this¡­ the limit¡­?'' He thought to himself.

    Could he not go even further than this?

    He watched as the de closed in on him, unable to do anything. His thoughts were in a calm still, and yet he pondered the futility of all this time.

    Did it really not exist?

    Now that he had stopped swinging his de, he could feel it. He could see the answer that had been right in front of him this whole time.

    ''It does exist!''

    Only when he stopped swinging his de did his mind open up to a new reality¡ªthe realm he had sought for so long.

    ENLIGHTENMENT!

    He shed his old body that very moment, escaping the expired shell that kept him trapped for so long. The Nether de was only able to kill that body of his, but his soul was finally freed.

    The soul achieved a new body¡ªone that was incorruptible, undefiled and transcendent.

    The Martial de God''s hair was still white, but so was his entire body. His clothing took on the same mantle, and he was shrouded in energy that could not be defined by mere mortals.

    "So this is¡­ the Primordial Waters¡­" He muttered.

    The calm, blue gaze of the Martial de God was no longer on the surprised Nether entity a distance from him. It was way beyond that.

    His senses extended beyond the world and went far into the dark reaches outside of it.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The others, the cosmos¡ªthe Martial de God was now one with the universe.

    ''So this is what you see¡­ the state of this realm''s existence¡ªand that of the others. These infinite strata¡­ I see¡­"

    What the Martial de God now understood to be the world was much more different from what he had expected. The realities he peeked through, the multiple life forms he saw, the vast reservoir of energy left untapped¡­ so many things that would not have beenprehensible to him prior to this moment.

    But now, he saw them all.

    "Oh? This is surprising. You''ve broken through to the Primordial Stage" The Nethermented.

    A dark gleam of both anticipation and caution was disyed by this malevolent entity, and he finally had to admit the truth standing in front of him.

    ''My current strength is no lesser than his. This is worrisome. It looks like I''ll have to go all out."

    He worried that his vessel would not be able to handle all of his power, but at least there had to be a certain threshold it could take.

    Either way, he had to do it¡ªelse, elimination was a possibility.

    "I will be going all-out now." The Nether proimed to the Martial de God.

    "As will I."

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The Nether''s body suddenly released an immense surge of dark power, spreading past his body''s reach. He slowly began to expand¡ªboth in size and power. His initial form paled inparison to the new state he was reaching.

    He grew to be at least a hundred meters, his form towering over the darkened clouds above. In this form, his dark majesty became far more pronounced.

    "This is the limit, it seems¡­" The Nether smiled, looking at the little speck of the Martial de God.

    ''Now, my power has far exceeded his.''

    The Nether''s influence was already supreme. No one could stand beside or around him. Even Jared''s allies had long fled and could only watch from a distance.

    In this form, there was certainly no one who could go against him.

    ¡­ Or so he thought.

    "Martial de God Final Technique: Martial Peak."

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    Warbling and glowing like the very essence of the world, a massive burst of Aether peaked.

    It cut through the heavens and dispersed all of the filth that epassed the progenitor of said power. The Aether was simply too powerful, enough to reverse the corruption that had been done around it.

    And then¡­ from this brilliant burst of Aether emerged the Martial de God¡ªor rather, his avatar.

    Standing exactly a hundred meters tall, the being made of pure Aether manifestedpletely. It looked like a Martial Artist¡ªlike a more incorporeal form of the Martial de God himself.

    This projection felt as incorporeal as the Mind de and yet as real as a tangible energy. It transcended exnation, and the pressure it exuded was impossible to resist.

    This avatar had a de that was strapped by his waist, and its kimono flowed, almost as if it was as soft as fabric. Light armour appeared here and there, and his face was leftpletely nk¡ªsave for the never-blinking eyes that kept a constant gaze on the Nether.

    As for the Martial de God himself, he was at the chest portion of this being of pure energy. He stood in a casing-like chamber there, and lines of ultra-thin energy converged into his chamber¡ªlike nerves in the body, all connected to the main source.

    This was his trump card¡ªan invincible, perfected form of a warrior.

    The Martial Peak!

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 771 Shattering The Heavens [Pt 1]

    Standing opposite each other were two giants who could only be described as gods.

    Their powers were unrivalledpared to all of the onlookers, and their contrasting elements caused the world¡ªabove and below¡ªto react disastrously.

    "You''ve exceeded all my expectations." The Nether spoke¡ªhis voice thundering as his massive form prepared to sh with the Martial de God''s perfected form.

    "I''ll be killing you now."

    It was beyond surprising that a human could ever get to the Primordial Stage of power. It was the greatest any one person could wield¡ªand it wasn''t meant for mortals like the Martial de God.

    ''A man who seeks to be a god. I will not allow it.''

    The Martial de God had long gone mute; his determined gaze, and the imposing stance of his Martial Manifestation, were enough to disy how much he wanted to win.

    And the lengths he would go to in order to achieve it.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    Both parties threw their first punch at each other¡ªjust for feels.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    The resulting shockwave would have been more than enough to destroy an entire ind. In fact, the Nether Cult''s headquarters had long been destroyed. Both the Nether and the Martial de god simply floated atop the waters.

    The water was bright on the Martial de God''s side, while it was murky and dark where the Nether stood.

    "Enough of this."

    Deciding to take things many levels higher, the Nether flew high into the sky, releasing several sts of Nether at his enemy. Several sts appeared from multiple directions, and they converged in the Martial de God''s direction.

    Swiftly moving the Martial Manifestation unsheathed his de, its energy climbing as the weapon came out of its incorporeal sheath.

    And then, with a swift strike of his de¡ª

    >BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    ¡ªEverything was instantly levelled.

    The ocean floor evaporated rapidly, and the sts of energy that came for him were destroyed by the resistant de strike.

    "#91: Heaven''s Thrust." The de of the avatar was raised in the direction of the Nether, and instantly, a massive sword descended from above.

    It was bright blue, radiating the same energy as the Martial Manifestation. Like a Mind de¡ªbut thousands of times bigger¡ªit descended on its target.

    It was more massive than the Nether and the avatarbined. It fell with such speed and ferocity that it took the Nether by shock. The de sent the powerful being falling from the sky.

    "You¡­"

    The Nether, in a fit of rage, utilized more Aether, instantly breaking apart the de before he could touch the surface of the water.

    Never before had he faced such humiliation from a single human.

    ''I''ve tested the waters long enough. Why don''t I try actual Magic?" With his body limated this far, the Nether felt he would be able to finally achieve utilizing actual Spells and not simple tricks with Nether.

    "[Spatial Copse]" He spoke, pointing at the Martial de God''s Avatar.

    Instantly, what seemed like a ck hole appeared under it. It gleamed dark purple, and it rapidly swirled, sucking everything into it.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Thest bit of the water was sucked by the ck hole and it was hungry for even more. The swordsman''s avatar did its best to escape, but the pull of the hole was surprisingly too strong.

    "#95: Heaven''s Purging Array."

    Instantly, several giant des¡ªlike the one from earlier, descended from the sky.

    The des all dropped to the edge of the ck hole, circling the whole thing. Once they did this, the Martial de God controlled his massive avatar to strike the very heart of the ck hole.

    "#97: Hell and Heaven''s sh"

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!<

    The swift motion of the avatar was followed up by two contrasting kinds of energy on its de. A crimson and azure aura danced around the Martial de God''s de, and it descended upon the ck hole¡ªdestroying it instantly.

    As soon as he did this, he swept through the air and went for the Nether, who was still surprised by his ability to destroy a copsing space with enough force to destroy a world. Yet¡­ with a series of attacks, something like that was destroyed in no time.

    It was unbelievable.

    ''Here hees again.'' The Martial de God made to strike the Nether down, but he easily teleported behind him.

    He utilized a miniaturized version of [Spatial Copse] to serve as a thrusting blow to the avatar, sending it flying further into the sky.

    "Let''s take this above us." The Nether sent a couple more miniaturized versions which the Martial de God easily evaded this time.

    Many Mind des appeared, all to severely wound the Nether, but he created a dense barrier to ward them all off.

    "[Corruption]" The moment he cast this spell, the Mind des turned purple, and they all became Nether des instead.

    The Nether sent them flying in the direction of the Martial de God, but he counteracted the strikes with more Mind des.

    "[Inverse Proportions]"

    Instantly, the direction of the Martial de God changed¡ªalmost as though reality had been flipped. The further he tried to get away from the enemy, the closer he got.

    The Nether easily closed the distance between them like this, creating a st at the centre of his palms. It had an especially high concentration of Nether.

    "#098: Heaven''s Ascent"

    The st went straight for the Martial de God, but an overwhelminglyrge ball of energy rose from beneath the Martial de God as he swung his de, and it overwhelmed the orb of destruction, sending both of them further into the sky.

    The st detonated above the Martial de God and the Nether¡ªcausing the darkened skies to have a bit more colour to them.

    Sparkles of blue and purple energy descended on them from the sky, and once more, they watched each other in silence.

    The air turned stale, and an atmosphere of finality settled on the two.

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 772 Shattering The Heavens [Pt 2]

    It was clear now that these two were in the closing act of their battle.

    Even though it had destroyed all of the water around, and even thends far away had suffered so much damage, they still had a lot more energy to spare.

    Nothing would ever be the same, and it was because of their sh, but what did these two care? They simply wanted to settle the score. Only one thing could be said from an observation of the two monstrous beings.

    A man defying a god.

    No, perhaps this wasn''t a man any longer. He was something more¡­

    ''This man has be a pest.'' The Nether thought to himself.

    Never had he met anyone as strong as this, yet he wasn''t a Singrity. As much as he would like to know more, the end hade upon them.

    ''Time is up.''

    shes of malevolent power began emanating from the Nether, further increasing his powers. He didn''t care if he had to exert himself for this. Everything inside him told him one thing, and one thing only.

    ''I need to kill that man!''

    Thus, he prepared himself.

    "[Dark Sun]. [Spatial Copse]. [Essence Of Death]. [True Corruption]. [Offset]. [Reality Imbnce]. [Reversal]. [Prity Proportionality]. [Coagtion Of Elements]."

    Thanks to his final Spell, all the aforementioned Spells that manifested in the air as he mentioned them, converged into a single glob-like orb.

    Its mushy membrane, like that of slime, took in all the power that the Nether poured into it. It now stood above the Nether¡ªat least five times bigger than he was. This pure ck blob of an orb was on standby, ready to fall and crush the Martial de God and everything around.

    "This will destroy everything and everyone." The Nether smiled.

    It had enough power to kill everything in this world, to be honest. As much as the Nether wanted to simply absorb the entire world, he wanted to kill the Martial de God even more.

    With this move, albeit quite extreme, he was bound to die.

    "Now what will you do¡­ swordsman?"

    *

    *

    *

    The Martial de God felt a lull within him as he stared at the imminent attack of the Nether.

    It contained a lot of power¡ªtoo much power.

    ''I''m not sure I can match it.'' The Martial de God smiled regardless.

    This was going to be his final hurdle¡ªand he knew that deep within his heart.

    Now that he had be one with a much bigger realm outside this world that he inhabited, the Martial de God had a broader perspective on everything.

    "I can stop that attack." He told himself, gripping his de tightly while staring hard at the powerful, world-defying concentration of power.

    ''The Nether must be giving it his all now. It''s only fair that I do the same.''

    He was now going to use his strongest technique. A technique that stood at the pinnacle of the Martial de God''s Martial Arts.

    ''Watch me, Edward. And the rest of you¡­ look carefully.'' The Martial de God could see Jared''s allies, and how their stupefied expressions clearly disyed their disbelief.

    It was charming to experience that one more time.

    "But now¡­ the end is near." The Martial de God took his form, and his avatar followed suit.

    Both of them were connected, so whatever he did or thought, the manifestation will do the same. As such¡­

    ''We are one.''

    Taking his stance far above the destroyednds, watching the Nether stand even further above him, he steeled his resolve.

    "Martial de God Technique #99¡­" He whispered.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "DIIIEEEEEEEE!!!"

    The dark, intimidating, and giant orb of utter annihtion descended upon him. As it drew closer, it felt even more impossible to win against it.

    It was too strong!

    However, what of it? If it was too powerful, the answer to the problem was quite simple.

    Stronger¡­ he had to be stronger!

    Bursts of crimson, azure, golden, and multiple other kinds of colours shed around his de as he prepared to strike. All the converging energy fused and became apletely new kind of power.

    White light¡ªlike the purest gleam of bright white energy, defying anything imaginable.

    Taking one final look at the approaching darkness, the Martial de God lowered his de and screamed with all his might while releasing all of it.

    "... Birth Of The True Martial de."

    >FWIIIISSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!<

    In one swift motion, this ascending strike rose to meet the target, hitting the powerful descending darkness.

    "Guh!"

    Even after putting all his energy into it, the darkness was too strong and heavy for the Martial de God. It pushed him down, consuming his Martial Manifestation, and eating up his de too.

    In moments, it was clear who the victor would be.

    "UUUUUOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!!" The Martial de God did not give up, though.

    He kept pushing the unstopping force, aiming to be the immovable object.

    "RAAAARRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

    With a powerful roar, while utilizing everything in his power, he pushed the devastating spell away from him, sending it flying far beyond the sky.

    "W-WHAT?!" The Nether''s voice depicted shock.

    Unfortunately for him, this was just the start of the technique. After all, this technique had two forms; one was the upward vertical strike¡ªthe one he used to stop the orb and push it upward. As for the second¡­.

    "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

    ¡­ It was a descending vertical sh.

    Both hands were raised now, and the Martial de God showed just as much determination as he earlier.

    >SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    In one swift move, he closed the distance between himself and the destructive orb and hit it with his extremely vtile de.

    It was the sh between pure light and pure darkness. As such¡­ everything around felt the blow.

    The entire world shook as a result of the sh between the unstoppable force and the immovable object. One would have to move eventually, or else the world would rip itself apart.

    And the one who moved was¡­

    ¡­ Of course, the one without a de!

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 773 Martial Blade God Requiem

    "W-what am I looking at?"

    Edward could not count how many times he had said this to himself¡ªwhether with his lips or in his mind.

    He was too bbergasted to think straight, but his eyes and senses did not remove themselves from the sight before him. They couldn''t, even if he tried.

    The effects of the battle could be seen everywhere. There was no ce to hide where the shockwaves or sts of destruction would not touch. The entire world was shaking¡ªbreaking apart.

    And it was all because of the two beings in the sky.

    "Martial de God¡­" Edward muttered to himself as he watched him cleave an entire ball of devastation into nothingness.

    The st was sent beyond their world, and the shockwave shook the whole once more. Edward knew what would have happened if it had been allowed to explode just a bit closer to civilization.

    It would have marked the end.

    All Edward and everyone else could do now was watch the sparks in the sky, and the supernova that painted the expanse above them.

    He and his allies were currently being protected by the joint efforts of everyone''s Magic, and they were quite a distance away from the battle that was taking ce. Even though they maintained their distance, it was only for safety.

    They hadn''t forgotten their mission of stopping the Nether.

    Fortunately, the areas that had been affected were devoid of living entities¡ªthe work of Elrich, they suspected.

    "My scout will confirm," Beruel assured the team, so they only focused on the Nether¡ªwaiting for when their turn woulde.

    However, after watching all that had urred¡ªall the power being disyed by both the Nether and the Martial de God¡ªthey weren''t so sure about what to do anymore.

    What else could they do, but watch?

    ¡­ And pray.

    Even though they all had multiple thoughts in their minds, and several impressions of the Martial de God, the allies were simr in one respect. Their minds were connected on a particr matter.

    They prayed for the Martial de God to emerge victorious.

    Whether he was on the side of good, evil, or neutral¡ªeveryone internally agreed that the Martial de God was a better side to support. As such, even from their distance, they all wished the best for humanity''s current champion.

    The Martial de God himself!

    *

    *

    *

    "Haaa¡­" The Martial de God smiled.

    Once again, he had surpassed what he considered his limits. He had been able to deflect a world-breaking attack, sending it far beyond their world before it could explode.

    Unfortunately, it had expended all the energy he had.

    ''I would have had unlimited Aether if it weren''t for thepromised state of this world. I suppose it''s only expected because of the Nether''s presence.

    No, that wasn''t the only reason.

    ''I''m not a Singrity.''

    Singrities had a personal bond with Aether, and a straightforward channel to the power that brought it about. Unlike Singrities, he had to rely on the power he had amassed from reaching such a height, and his allocation was limited.

    If the Nether wasn''t here, things would have been different, but¡­ what could he say? There were no excuses he could make.

    ''I always knew this.''

    A smile of satisfaction spread across his face as he watched the Nether''s face scrunch up with shock.

    "You look stunned, Nether. Why? Was my performance that spectacr?" The Martial de God smiled.

    "Yes. You are more amazing than I gave you credit for." The dark entity spoke, his voice a troubled calm.

    "Really? Well¡­ may I ask a question?" Once he saw the Nether nod, the Martial de God proceeded with his question. "Among all the humans you''ve ever fought¡­ am I the strongest?"

    For a moment, silence reigned. Both entities stared at each other with nothing but honest eyes. It was as though, at that moment, they were not enemies.

    "No. You are not." The Nether finally replied.

    "Oh? Is that so?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "There are two who I will consider stronger than you are. However¡­" The Nether''s face tightened, almost as though admitting defeat.

    "You are the first to have ever pushed me this far despite utilizing nothing but your power. You used no Familiar, and neither did you have any assistance from allies. You also never relied on the main source for power, since you are not a Singrity."

    The Martial de God remained still, unflinching despite the Nether''spliments.

    "Singrities are anomalies in this world. They are special beings chosen by the Root itself as its representative. It would be a stretch to even call them humans, at this point." The Nether sighed, now smiling.

    "I have changed my assessment. You are definitely the strongest human I have ever fought¡ªundeniably so."

    "Is that so? Oh, well¡­" The Martial de God once again gripped his de tightly. "... Thank you, Nether."

    "Hahaha! Now that we''ve got that out of the way, let us finish this!"

    "Indeed. This will be myst move. If you can survive it, then victory is yours."

    The Martial de God readied himself, watching the Nether very closely. His opponent did the same.

    Both parties seemed to be waiting for the other to move first. However, after taking a proper stance, the Martial de god finally lunged straight for the Nether.

    Throwing his de like a javelin, the Martial de God kept rushing towards his opponent.

    Twisting higher into the air, the Nether evaded the de, and this was the perfect opportunity for the swordsman''s avatar topletely close their distance. And, when it was done¡­

    "YOU CAME INTO CLOSE RANGE? YOU FOOOOLLL!!!" The Nether made to corrupt the Martial de God''s avatar by grabbing the huge target.

    However¡ª

    >SHHWWWUUUUSSSHHHH!!!<

    ¡ªThe swordsman''s avatar suddenly vanished.

    No, it didn''t just disappear. It was more like it coalesced so quickly that it seemed like it disappeared.

    And where did this energy condense to?

    Well¡­

    "W-WHAT?!" The Nether no longer saw the Martial de God''s manifestation, but rather, the Martial de God himself.

    He was rushing upward, moving past his chest now.

    "YOU FOOL! NOW THAT YOU''RE OUT OF YOUR SHELL, I CAN EASILY¡ª!"

    Before the Nether could conclude his statement, he was distracted by the hand of the Martial de God.

    Every ounce of energy that belonged to the avatar could now be spotted on the fist of the Martial de God. And that fist was headed straight for the Nether''s jaw.

    "I won''t let yo¡ª!"

    The Nether made to intercept him, but the flying de that was evaded earlier suddenly appeared and pierced him from behind, causing yet another moment of distraction.

    And then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    The blunt force of thebination of all the power gathered on the Martial de God''s fist sent the entire area into utter chaos, and it also sent the Nether flying out of the world.

    "This is the end. My final move¡­" The Martial de God whispered, flying straight for the Nether.

    He swiftly caught up to thepletely stunned and utterly damaged Nether¡ªtoo upied to offer any resistance¡ªand unleashed all the power left within him in the most powerful way possible.

    A concentrated, decisive strike.

    "#100: Martial de God Requiem!"

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 774 The Selfishness Of A Hero

    Darkness.

    It covered everywhere, even beyond the world.

    The Martial de God could see all of it as he ascended past the bounds of his own and reached the outer expanse that hosted it. His world, as he hade to realize, was one of many. And this reality was also one of many.

    His body could feel the resistance of the Nether that he was gripping as they both left the world behind. He ascended higher and higher¡ªas high as he could.

    Just as he had done his whole life!

    There really wasn''t any pinnacle¡ªthere never was. The culmination of worlds was so infinite that this power he had would be somewhat insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Yet, he was so happy.

    So fulfilled.

    ''I was selfish until the very end¡­'' The Martial de God thought to himself.

    A smile formed on his face when he made this realization.

    He remembered how the deaths of so many people were caused because of him, and how the extinction of his own world was nearly brought about because of his selfishness. Everything was meant to weigh him down, but he epted them all with a smile.

    Even though he knew he was a horrible human being¡­ the Martial de God could not help but smile.

    He still did not care for a name beyond his title, and he did not care for an identity beyond Martial Arts. However, in his final moments, he remembered Edward, and the ambition the young boy had.

    It was so different from his philosophy.

    ''I can''t see the future beyond the span of my life, Edward¡­ however¡­'' The Martial de God''s smile grew wider and wider.

    ''... You must fulfil your dreams!''

    Ascending even farther from his native world, the Martial de God''s body began to have cracks. Energy cracks which indicated that something within him was about to explode. It was power beyond power.

    It was pure, unbridled energy.

    ''Even now, I can''t help but wonder how powerful this will be¡­ and if you''ll survive it.'' The Martial de God looked at the stunned Nether.

    It was just the both of them, in this infinite darkness that stretched for miles upon miles¡ªand even further beyond.

    He could see them, though¡ªthe lights that existed beyond the darkness. He could see the sun, the stars¡­ he could see hope within this darkness.

    So, why couldn''t he be one too?

    ''My final act is also that of selfishness¡­'' The Martial de God''s body was already breaking apart, and his own body was beginning to consume him.

    This was the end.

    ''I have no regrets, though. I lived my life how I wanted, and I will die exactly how I want to.'' The Martial de God doubted that he''d be a Bond Soul based on the required criteria.

    Not only did he no longer have any regrets in the mortal world, but there wouldn''t even be a soul after he was done. He was going to use up everything¡ªeverything topletely wipe out the Nether.

    ''Aries, do me a favour.''

    ~Yeah, I know. I understand¡­~His Familiar responded through his thoughts, a tone so grave that it seemed like it was the one dying.

    ''This is farewell.'' The Martial de God smiled.

    ~You never used me even once¡­~

    Then came the silence. No one spoke or moved after the statement. It was simply like the world, and everyone in it stood still.

    ~You followed your desired path till the end. And now, you have no regrets. It is now undeniably true, Martial de God¡­ that you are the STRONGEST!~

    Hearing it at the end of his life wasn''t so bad, after all.

    ''I am¡­ the strongest!''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    And then¡­ the eruption began.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    *

    *

    *

    The surge of light was even much bigger than the world that the Martial de God emerged from. The explosion was more than powerful enough to wipe out every single being in the world if it was detonated there.

    Yet, even in outer space, the st was enough to cause the to tremble.

    As for the denizens of said world, they were also shaking¡ªboth in fear¡­ and excitement!

    "H-he did it!"

    "Martial de God, I always believed in youuuuu!!!"

    "He saved everyone! Whew!"

    "I can''t believe my eyes!"

    "Amazing!"

    The man they spoke of was already dead, so he could not see the people who once stood against him now revere him as a hero¡ªthe only one who could stand against the Nether and win.

    The darkness in the skies was dissipating, and the ckened waters were turning pure. With the Nether gone, it seemed that the overruling force of Aether was beginning to return. In no time, the world would return to normal.

    Edward, Ciara, Lemi, Ana, Jane, and practically everyone else that dwelled in the floating fortified tform, however, could not celebrate for long. No matter how happy they were about the preservation of the world, they couldn''t forget the ones who sacrificed themselves for the greater good.

    They couldn''t forget about Jared.

    "This isn''t over yet, everyone." A voice suddenly roused them from their slump, and they were forced to look in the direction of Aloe Vida¡ªor as she''d introduced herself, Kazen.

    "Ciel is still out there. She''s not smiling, though. That''s a sign that the Martial de God did his job well."

    "Really? The Nether is gone? For good?" Edward jumped in excitement.

    He simply couldn''t help but take pride in what his ancestor did.

    "No. The Nether isn''t gone for good. He''s not dead. He can''t be killed." Kazen sighed, almost showing how exhausted she was.

    "W-what do you mean?"

    "The Nether is a being of pure anti-energy. It''s like the antithesis of this world''s Aether given form. Energy can''t be created or destroyed, but just transformed from one state to the other. The same applies to a being who is of pure energy¡ªor rather, the opposite."

    Once Edward heard this, he stopped the celebration going on within him.

    Instead, he focused on Kazen''s grim face.

    "This isn''t over."

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 775 Cornered

    "S-so, the Martial de God died for nothing?!"

    Edward couldn''t believe what he was hearing. His ancestor had given his all in an epic showdown against the Nether, and he had even protected all of them¡ªno, the whole world¡ªin the process.

    Yet¡­ his sacrifice had been in vain?

    "No. The Martial de God did well in fighting the Nether. That means he''s expended a lot of power. Plus, with that st''s effects, I can only imagine that he''s gotten even weaker."

    Kazen was simply trying to say that the Nether would be a far easier target now that the Martial de God had yed his part.

    "But how are we supposed to stop him if the Martial de God couldn''t?" Ivan spoke, sighing as he shook his head.

    The situation was too messed up for a simple man, like him, to wrap his head around.

    "Ivan has a point. If we can''t even kill him, then what are we supposed to do? " Jerry asked, looking at everyone in the floating fortress.

    He knew theirbined might was far weaker than the Martial de God''s shown power, so if the Martial de God couldn''t win, how could they stand a chance?

    "We don''t need to kill him. We just need to offset one of the Arcanas inside him. That should create an unstable reaction, destroying him from the inside out. Jared had the same n, before he¡­" Kazen stopped before she could finish.

    The mere mention of Jared clouded the faces of almost everyone.

    ''I understand how you feel, kids. He was a boy that showed so much promise and potential.'' Unfortunately, even the most gifted minds had to go eventually¡ªsome in worse ways than others.

    "For now, though, let''s go after Ciel. She must have used a great deal of her power to bring the Nether here. She should also have no energy left to power her Arcana replicas." Compared to them, Ciel was pretty defenceless.

    With this in mind, the team moved in the direction of their target¡ªhoping that their actions would end up saving everything and everyone they cared about.

    *

    *

    *

    Ciel''s eyes widened in devastation.

    Her expression showed shock and fear, and her body was paralyzed because she was overwhelmed by it.

    ''I¡­ I didn''t know he was that strong!''

    The Martial de God proved to be a more formidable threat than she had surmised. How could she have let him live to face her master? How could she have let the both of them fight?

    As she stared into the sky, spotting the supernova that stretched throughout the space that was beyond the world, Ciel could feel her heart pound violently.

    She knew her master wasn''t dead, but she just hoped his body wasn''tpletely damaged. Unlike his core self, his vessel could be injured. If that happened, then he would either be forced to appear without a vessel, or his vessel would be imbnced¡ªboth of which were terrible oues.

    "I am so sorry, Master. I should have interfered.'' She knew the Nether would have refused her assistance, and also¡­ she was no match for the Martial de God.

    At this point, she hadn''t seen anyone disy that sort of power since Merlin. With a great deal of her power depleted, she was also vulnerable.

    ''If I''m vulnerable, and the Nether is vulnerable¡­ that leaves us in a bad position.'' She thought to herself while gritting her teeth.

    It was all so infuriating.

    ''WHY DO PEOPLE GET IN THE WAY OF MY¡ª!''

    "CIIIEEEEELLLL!!!" A loud voice emerged from a distance, and Ciel recognized it instantly.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The owner was none other than¡ª

    "Kazen. You¡­" Ciara growled.

    She really wasn''t in the mood for this.

    Kazen and her allies rode on their fortress projection, all of them grinning at Ciel, ready to strike.

    "Tch."

    They finally stopped a mere couple of distances between both sides.

    "It seems your n was once again thrown into the pit, and by one of your allies nheless." Kazen grinned, revealing herself as the roof of the fortress vanished.

    All those who remained present and ounted for focused their gazes on the lone Ciel.

    Edward, Serah, Ciara, Jerry, Ivan, Lemi, Aurora, Jane, Dulum, Z''ark, Gerard, Asa, Maro, Beruel, and Ana. With Kazen leading the charge, they were raring to go.

    "You''ve had your fun with this world, haven''t you? You''ve caused so much death and suffering. But now¡­ your Cult is gone, and even your ''master'' has been badly damaged by the strike of your own ally." Kazen knew it would take some time before the Nether fully recovered.

    Or even partly recovered.

    As a result, she and her team were going to end Ciel before the Nether returned. Once the force of malevolence returned, she would enact the final part of her strategy.

    ''I just pray this body holds on for much longer¡­'' She thought to herself.

    "Do you really think you''ve won?" Ciel narrowed her gaze on Kazen.

    For a second, perhaps two, there was silence. And then¡ª

    "Don''t let her stall us. Use all you can on her." Kazen broke the silence with words, and her allies prepared for action.

    With the Nether gone, this was the perfect chance to¡ª

    "HAAAAAA¡­."

    Sudden paralysis befell everyone who opposed Ciel. In a mere instant, none of them could move at all. They could only watch with bulging eyes of confusion, as the skies darkened once more and an utterly despicable being descended from the heavens.

    Contrary to what any of them had thought, the Nether wasn''t in a terrible state, and neither did he look weakened in the slightest bit.

    He was miniature in size¡ªabout five meters tall¡ªbut that didn''t seem to diminish his power. No, it was even the contrary. It was almost as if¡ª

    "This body has limated again. I have evolved¡ªand at the perfect time too." The Nether grinned at his shocked audience.

    "And now¡­ it''s time to continue from where we left off."

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 776 Last Ray Of Hope [Pt 1]

    The Nether stood above all who watched him in apletely new form.

    He was about five meters¡ªnow bulkier than before, and brimming with more power than they could fathom.

    "That Martial de God¡­ he really had me running, didn''t he?" He muttered, resting his gaze on the next set of heroes who would dare defy this new¡ªbetter¡ªversion of him.

    "MASTEEEERRRRR!!!" Ciel squealed in excitement as she rushed over to his side.

    Her widened eyes and drawn-out smile clearly depicted how excited she was, and she jumped on him despite the immense amount of Nether that seared her body as a result.

    "Haaa¡­ your warmth feels amazing!" She rested more on him.

    The Nether patted Ciel, and then removed her from his embrace.

    As expected, her contact with him caused her own body to suffer damage. Her clear skin was now afflicted with dark scars, and a sizzling sound came from her burning flesh.

    "Avoid contact with me for now, Ciel."

    "E-ehhhh? But, master¡ª"

    "That is your punishment for your misdeeds. Surely you understand¡­"

    Ciel understood that it was because of her carelessness that the Martial de God was able to reach such a height and threaten the ns of her master. She had no choice but to take the me.

    "I understand, master." Upon bowing, she still couldn''t help but feel so enamored by the Nether.

    Wasn''t he so great? Despite the Martial de God disyed, it still couldn''t stop the Nether. In fact, he had only gotten stronger since then. That was the nature of the invincible master she served.

    "Well, I better finish things here. It seems the process of consuming this world was interrupted because of the Martial de God, and Aether managed to resist me. I''ll have to start all over." The Nether murmured.

    With the current power he possessed, he would be able to achieve it within moments¡ªbut only if he chose to put his focus on the task. As such, he desired to eliminate any further potential threats.

    Looking at the group before him, he could only spot one.

    "Kazen¡­ you don''t look so good." The Nether grinned.

    "Y-you¡­"

    Out of everyone in the group, Kazen was the only one who could still speak. The rest were too ovee by the Nether''s pressure that they could not do anything except watch the exchange while awaiting their inevitable demise.

    "You look so pale. It seems you won''tst much longer in that body of yours."

    The Nether stretched out his hand toward Kazen, his smile unfading. He simply enjoyed seeing her painful expression, and watching her suffering.

    "What do you have nned for her, master?" Ciel asked with a wide smile. Her master wasn''t the only one who felt indignant toward Kazen, after all.

    "Just watch."

    With a mere flick of his fingers, Kazen screamed violently, and her body hummed with power. Golden energy radiated from her body, and everything converged into a single point.

    "You¡­ you¡­ you won''t win! You''ll never win!" Kazen growled amid her screaming.

    Sweat poured all over her face as the golden ball of light slowly escaped her body. The further it left her, the more lifeless she seemed. At this point, she was even struggling to breathe.

    "T-there is always¡­ hope¡­"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The golden ball was yanked out of Kazen¡ªor rather, Aloe¡ªcausing the body to fall to the ground instantly.

    The golden ball that now floated in the air glimmered so brightly that it was blinding. It slowly drew closer to the Nether, who was grinning menacingly.

    "That is¡­ Kazen''s soul?"

    "Indeed. I''ll consume it and destroy it in the most painful, most devastating way possible. She''ll never join herrades in the afterlife, and she''ll suffer before she is returned to nothingness." The Nether grinned.

    The golden light finally helplessly rested on the Nether''s grasp, and ck gooey liquids began emanating from his palm, sucking the light in.

    In a moment of silence, Kazen''s soul was sucked into the Nether''s body¡ªdoomed for unspeakable torments and unimaginable horror.

    A horror that the remaining audience feared.

    "What about the rest?" Ciel asked the Nether, her eyes gleaming as she watched the paralyzed allies of Kazen.

    "They don''t pique my interest. You can kill them for me and¡­ huh¡­?" The Nether suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

    His eyes suddenly widened, and ck goo slowly began to fall from them. His body quivered, and the power within him slowly began to get¡­ unstable?

    "GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" His scream pierced the air, and they were enough to send shockwaves flying in all directions.

    "M-master, what''s wrong?!" Ciel asked, her eyes pleading frantically.

    She had no idea what was going on, but the fact that ck goo kept descending from the eyes of her master, and he wouldn''t stop shaking and screaming showed something. If she had to guess, it would be¡ª

    "Unstable¡­ imbnced. My body¡­ gahhh¡­ Kazen, you bastard!" The Nether growled, overwhelmed by what was happening to him.

    Fortunately for them, Ciel knew exactly what was going on.

    ''His body is experiencing an imbnce due to a reaction in his body. Did Kazen cause this? Yes, that must be why he mentioned her. But how? Damnit! This most likely means one or more Arcanas have beenpromised.''

    "W-which one? Which Arcana was hit?" Ciel asked in desperation.

    "Which one do you think, you fool? Are you retarded? Gahhh! Of course, it''s her Arcana!"

    Ciel felt ashamed of herself for asking her master such a useless question. Of course, the only Arcana Kazen would have been able to affect was her very own, [The Moon]. Her bond with the Arcana must have manifested once she became one with the Nether.

    Was this her n the whole time? Ciel had no idea. Even she hadn''t expected Kazen to make such a move.

    She understood one very crucial thing, though¡­

    ''If I don''t act fast, my master''s ns¡­ his new life¡­ they''ll be forfeited."

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 777 Last Ray Of Hope [Pt 2]

    "GUAAARRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!"

    The Nether''s scream of pain spread through thends¡ªor whatever was left of it. It had a mix of agony and rage¡ªpure rage toward the one who put him in this state.

    ''I can''t believe she destroyed her own soul and counteracted the unity of my Arcana formation. By damaging [The Moon] Arcana, it''s already useless to me. Without a stabilizer¡­ I''ll be¡ª!'' The Nether could feel his body breaking down.

    Once one offset urred, it was only a matter of time before the next one happened, and after that the next. This chain reaction would keep going until there was nothing left. That was how delicate he was internally.

    ''I made a mistake!'' And it cost him dearly.

    "Master¡­ here!'' Just when the Nether thought it was the end, his little pet came through for him once more.

    Ciel was holding a card up in the air, while panting as if she was close to death. Her eyes seemed bloodshot, and a couple of wrinkles slowly appeared on her previously clear face.

    Not only did she now look old, but her tone was rather coarse, and her breathing was uneven. Blood trickled down her nostrils; yet despite all of this, she leaked out a toothy grin.

    "Use this!" She yelled, iling the card at him as she approached.

    "This is¡­!

    It was an Arcana replica of [The Moon].

    "When I retrieved the Original from her, I studied itsponents well enough to replicate it¡­" She was heaving now, barely speaking.

    Even though Ciel knew theponents and structure, there was one thing she wascking¡ªenergy.

    She had used almost all the power she had in trying to revive the Nether¡ªover a thousand years'' worth. The remaining energy, coupled with the stockpile she had kept for herself in case of emergency, as well as the immense energy that kept her in her youth, was what she used to create this new Arcana.

    It literally took everything out of her.

    "Hahaha! You did well, Ciel! This is why I love you so much!" Yanking the Arcana from her, the Nether absorbed it instantly.

    Ciel blushed hard, even in her older form, as she watched her master get well. He ejected the damaged Arcana from his body, sending it plunging down into the darkened abyss. Now that a new one reced it, he was now perfectly fine.

    "Haaa¡­ now that''s more like it."

    Now full of health, the Nether could return to his menacing grin.

    "Where was I? Aah¡­ yes, kill them all, Ciel. I have no further use for these worms." He smiled, slowly ascending to the sky.

    Once he reached a certain threshold, he would spread his energy far and wise, thus consuming every single thing in this world. Once he got to the core of the, it would die. With that, he would have taken one part of the Root.

    ''Once I takeplete control over this reality, I''ll have the properties I need to be whole. Haha¡­ I can see it now.''

    He ascended and left Ciel below.

    Even in her weakened state, surely she would be able to deal with a couple of paralyzed fools. In fact, killing them off so prematurely would be an act of mercy, wouldn''t it?

    They wouldn''t be around to watch their world die.

    *

    *

    *

    It felt strange how meaningless everything was.

    Ana realized that now that she was right in front of the jaws of death. The enemy was overwhelmingly powerful, and there was no further alternative left to explore.

    She, and the rest of her allies, werepletely frozen. Their joint efforts ultimately amounted to nothing. In this situation, more than anything, she felt like crying.

    Her vision was stuck in a single direction, and that was the Nether himself.

    He must have ensured they were all staring at him as he ascended to destroy their world. Thest thing she was going to see would be the monstrous actions of an absurdly powerful being who was immortal.

    They would watch as he consumed the world, all while his servant¡ªCiel¡ªexecuted them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    To distract herself from these thoughts, even though her widened eyes could not close, Ana remembered the past¡ªthe times when things were so simple.

    She remembered her family¡ªhow her brothers were so aplished and she was allowed an almost unlimited reserve of freedom. She remembered how she befriended Edward, the pauper who had a nice personality and a strong will.

    Ana remembered how they both shared their dreams with each other, and how they enrolled at Ainrk to fulfill them. She remembered how Lewis Griffith had inspired her to never give up, and her childish assumption of not utilizing Magic to surpass him.

    Then¡­ Jared came along and changed everything.

    She remembered how they all hung out as friends¡ªhow they trained together, and how he helped them to be the best versions of themselves.

    The more she thought of it, the more it hurt her. She regretted her actions toward him in her time of grief¡ªhow she was so mean and angry at him, when it wasn''t his fault.

    ''I¡­ I''m so sorry, Jared.''

    Perhaps she deserved this. Yes¡­ perhaps this was her punishment for being so inconsiderate.

    "You''re amazing, Ana." A voice suddenly yed over in her head.

    It belonged to the person who believed in her far more than she did herself. He was also dead, and it made her realize how the two people she loved, and who encouraged her to strive for growth beyond the limits, were both dead.

    ¡­ It hurt her so much.

    ''Jared¡­ Kuzon¡­ I''m so sorry.''

    Perhaps it was best that they weren''t here to see the end of the world¡ªthough, it wasn''t as though they got to have peaceful deaths.

    Still, how she wished to see them again¡ªespecially the boy she loved with all her heart. Even now, in the brink of death, with her eyes forcefully witnessing the victory of the Nether, his image appeared in her mind''s eye.

    ''Kuzon¡­''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!<

    Suddenly, a bright and blinding light surged through the area.

    It pushed Ciel far away from the helpless group, who weren''t so helpless anymore. The glorious burst of Aether that just appeared had done the impossible¡ªit made the grouppletely free from the Nether''s paralyzing influence.

    "N-no way¡­" Ana whispered, watching the golden light, like a re, ascend into the darkened heavens¡ªclearing it away instantly.

    ''My ring!''

    The golden light emerged from her ring, and its power still resonated with her. She could feel the energy coursing through her veins, and a bright beam of hope shimmering in her heart.

    It seemed, even though Kuzon was gone, his will still protected her.

    That is¡­ if that was the case.

    "Wow! This is quite the mess!" A voice emerged from the re that ascended above.

    The voice sounded young, cool, yet yful. It belonged to someone still in their youth¡ªperhapste teens.

    "I hope I''m not toote." The bright glow of the re dispersed, revealing the man who was within it.

    shing a confident smile, while moving his gaze to the group beneath him¡ªespecially the short blond girl who returned his gaze with hers¡ªthe returned Kuzon gave a wink and spoke with ease.

    "Thank you all for waiting. I''m back now!"

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 778 The Golden Palace

    [Some Mysterious Moments Earlier]

    "W-where am I?"

    Kuzon Midas was beyond confused. However, because he had no other words to express himself, he asked this question out ofplete ignorance.

    The area surrounding him was literally covered in gold¡ªgolden floors, golden walls, golden ceilings, etc. Everything took on the luxurious color of gold.

    The stairs that led to higher ground stood in front of him, but he currently stood in a ce that resembled a ballroom. It was very big, and the golden chandelier that hung above him illuminated everything in its luxurious splendor.

    He could not describe the shimmering beauty and grandeur of this ce, even if he tried.

    "Amazing¡­" Was all he could whisper¡ªand this came from the boy who had seen the beauty and glory of his own Midas Empire.

    Compared to the designs and beauty, this ce seemed to have the upper hand. It was just so pristine and otherworldly, and yet something about it felt warm and weing.

    Despite all of this, though, confusion remained foremost.

    ''Thest thing I remember is dying with Kido. What''s going on?'' Kuzon thought to himself as he looked around him.

    He had most certainly died back then. Was this life after death? If so, was Kido with him?

    Kuzon looked around him to be certain, but he found no one. He also activated his senses, but those didn''t seem to work here, either. Still, there was no ce to hide here.

    In this vast expanse, he seemed to be all alone.

    ''Our Lore states that when a Midas dies, they''re taken to the Root. That they''re weed by their people. But I see no one here. Is this the Root?''

    Kuzon had a lot of questions¡ªone of them was how he had gotten his body back.

    It was a glowing form, but it was still a body nheless. Was this simply the manifestation of his Soul? He could stand around all day contemting these issues, but he felt a rather urgent drive within him.

    And as such, he proceeded to the stairs.

    Upon leaving the massive hall through the wide golden gate that stood before him, he found himself in a hallway¡ªone so exquisitely beautiful that he was nearly gawking.

    Still, Kuzon did not lessen his steps.

    He had already faced the reality of his death and the structures he was seeing here, as well as the unrealistic nature of his own body, proved that he wasn''t in the normal ne.

    ''I''m definitely dead. I killed Kido, and Ipleted my mission.''

    The thought alone gave him a good deal of satisfaction, but also a tinge of pain. After all, he''d had to leave some people behind.

    ''In any case, let''s find out more about this ce, shall we?''

    In this ce, which resembled an borate castle, Kuzon could sense nothing. He couldn''t use Magic as well, so he was powerless.

    Despite all that, though, this warm feeling of familiarity and safety enveloped him as he traversed the hallway¡ªand even when he had been in the ballroom¡ªso he felt no unease.

    Finally, after walking past the hallway, Kuzon finally arrived at an even bigger door. It had markings on the surface¡ªa mural carved in gold.

    The mural depicted the image of a phoenix rising from the ashes, with two cards floating on both wings. Within the phoenix were three items¡ªa ring on the right wing, a bracelet on the left wing, and at the center of the ming bird, as though it was wearing it, was a ne.

    Kuzon recognized this image well. It represented the Midas Kingdom¡ªmore particrly, the Royals.

    ''The three items are my three treasures. The two cards are the Arcanas. The phoenix is the Midas¡­ or at least, it represents him.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Kuzon could tell that this ce was linked to the Midas Empire. Even though he no longer had any of his treasures or even his Arcana with him, he could still resonate with the image.

    Whatever reason there was to be in a new world that was clearly of the Midas Empire, even after death, he had a hunch he would find it on the other side of the door.

    ''Let''s see, shall we?''

    As Kuzon drew closer, the doors opened, and he found himself in a throneroom.

    This throneroom was even grander than the other things he had already seen.

    It was grand in splendour and massive beyond belief. A carpet spread itself before him, leading to the throne that seemed to be so far away. The chandeliers that hung on the ceiling spoke of ss, and many murals were immactely inscribed on the golden wall.

    Yes, this ce was the perfect form of the Midas pce.

    However, rather than two thrones¡ªone for the king, and one for the queen¡ªthere was only one. And it seemed much bigger than the ones his parents had used.

    ''Is this¡­ for me?'' Kuzon murmured as he stepped forward.

    He still didn''t fully understand what was going on, but he was beginning to have an inkling.

    Drawing closer to the throne with steady steps, not missing a beat, Kuzon kept his eyes on the elevated tform where the golden throne stood.

    And then, mere moments into his journey, he was already right in front of it.

    No longer hesitating, Kuzon decided to take the throne for himself¡­ and so he sat on it.

    >SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!!!<

    That very moment, the entire pce brimmed with such brilliance that Kuzon thought he was to go blind because of it.

    He shut his eyes tight and clung to his seat, refusing to budge. For some reason, the throne seemed to call to him, and he did not want to part with it.

    Finally, once the light subsided, Kuzon felt at ease. He felt warmth unlike ever before. And also¡­ he didn''t feel alone any longer.

    "Open your eyes, Kuzon." He heard a voice¡ªone that shook him beyond words.

    He obeyed, and the moment he did, his eyes widened with both shock and joy.

    Standing before him were the people he had lost.

    All of them!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 779 The Golden Throne

    "D-dad¡­?"

    Kuzon was beyond stupefied to see his father standing right in front of him.

    "M-mom¡­?"

    His mother too. Both his parents stood beside each other, smiling so warmly at him.

    "Fabian¡­ Alura¡­ Gus¡­"

    His three friends, who had been more like the siblings he''d never had. Though, Kuzon remembered that he had often viewed Alura as a little more than a sister.

    To think they were all here. If this had been all, Kuzon knew for a fact that he would have been satisfied. Yet, this was only a fraction of the whole.

    "... E-everyone?!"

    The entire poption of the Midas Empire¡ªsave for two¡ªstood before him.

    They all bestowed warm smiles upon him. Even grumpy old Dez was smiling. It was a magical, unexinable sight that he could not exin.

    "Y-you''re here¡­ wi-with me¡­ I¡­" Kuzon already felt tears forming in his eyes, and his body instinctively moved to rush towards all of them¡ªhis parents first.

    He could not quantify how much he had missed them, and how happy he was to see the thousands of people, that belonged to their glorious Empire, right in front of him. The only two missing from the picture were him and Kido.

    But, as he made to jump at them, he knew the picture would beplete very soon.

    HOWEVER¡­!

    "W-what¡­?" Kuzon encountered a bit of a problem.

    He couldn''t rise from his throne.

    ''I¡­ what is the meaning of this? My parents! My friends! My people!'' Kuzon desperately looked at all of them, desiring above all else to hold them in his arms.

    It wasn''t fair that they were right in front of him, yet he couldn''t do anything.

    "Kuzon, rx. It''s fine." His father''s voice echoed through the air, causing him to finally cease his fruitless struggle.

    "If you stand up from the throne, you won''t be able to get this message, which is why you''ll have to wait it out. Sorry, son." His mother smiled warmly.

    Tears were already dropping from his eyes at this point. This was because he realized something very crucial¡ªsomething he had discovered as a result of their words.

    ''T-they''re not real!''

    His parents, his friends, and his people¡­ they weren''t really themselves! This was a mere projection.

    "Kuzon, listen to me." His father''s voice brought him back from the distraught state he was sinking into.

    Just when he''d thought he was reunited with all of his people, he now realized that this was simply a message recording left for him after so long.

    "It''s alright to cry, Kuzon. We understand it must be hurtful for you. However, there isn''t much time. We need you to listen."

    It seemed there was an important message they desired to pass across to him. Even though Kuzon was curious about what it was, he wondered what good any urgent message would do.

    "I''m already dead. What else is important?"

    "But you''re not dead, Kuzon. Notpletely, anyway." His mother gave him a knowing smile and nodded slightly.

    ''What? You don''t mean that¡ª"

    "Indeed. The resonance of the two Arcanas, the three Royal treasures, and your Soul, transported you to this realm that was built since the time of the ancient Midas Emperor."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Kuzon could not believe his ears.

    ''My soul got transported here, instead of the afterlife? And it was designed specifically for me to return this way? But why?''

    "This is the Realm Of The Emperor, and it is now a part of you¡­ no, it is one with you. As you are thest Midas, this is now yours¡ªall of it."

    Kuzon was still trying to wrap his head around everything when yet another bombshellnded.

    "A portion of the souls of every single Midas, since the dawn of the Empire, resides in this realm. Only we appear to you because of your direct link to us." His father whispered, and the people behind his parents nodded.

    They all had distinct smiles and expressions, almost making them appear alive.

    "As a result, you not only sit before the people you knew but also those of ages past¡ªthose who came before any of us. This is the final treasure of the Midas Empire. It is your inheritance."

    Kuzon felt that everything was so abrupt, yet he did not want to interrupt the dead¡ªnot while they were still speaking.

    "All of this is yours. The Realm, the People, and that Golden Throne you are currently seated on. The power of the three treasures, and the two Arcanas, are already yours as well."

    They were promising him so much power, but Kuzon could no longer feel any excitement about it.

    Why should he?

    "It doesn''t matter, anyway. I already destroyed my body, and my soul isn''t even in the living ne. Besides, all of this power is meaningless if this is the cost. All of you¡­ all of you make up this power, yet you''re all gone."

    Despondency began to spread all over Kuzon''s soul, and he felt hopeless.

    The throne held on to him tight, and he felt so stuck in this new role that was thrust upon him.

    "I thought¡­ I thought I''d finally reunite with you and rest. I thought I would finally be happy¡­" He couldn''t hold back his sobs.

    He was forced to sit before all of his people, yet he could not stop crying.

    "Kuzon¡­" Suddenly, he felt the warmth of two people resting on him.

    Opening his eyes, Kuzon saw his mother and father holding him in their arms. They¡­ they were real?!

    "Only a fragment of our souls are left here, so this is the most we can offer you." His mother whispered lovingly.

    "You''ll just have to wait until you join us after living your life to the fullest. Not now, but eventually¡­ we will meet." His father added.

    Having both his parents hug him, and speak loving words to him¡ªwords he hadn''t heard in years¡ªKuzon finally broke down and immersed himself in their embrace.

    Crying andughing at the same time, he responded to their words.

    "I understand¡­. I understand."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 780 The Golden Legacy

    The Realm Of The Emperor¡ªalso known as the Emperor''s Domain.

    Kuzon had learned all about it from his parents.

    It was the ne made for the Emperor, meant to offer guidance and assistance to him in his time of need. Bybining the joint powers of the Arcanas and the Royal Treasures, a true heir would be able to enter into this world and consult with past Emperors.

    As for why the ordinary denizens were here, it had to do with their Soul Brands. Every denizen had a Soul Brand linked to the main Midas Central System¡ªused for both research and the wellbeing of the people.

    This was used to monitor the activities of the Midas people, to eliminate crimes or unjust punishments¡ªin the very unlikely event of one.

    This Central System could pinpoint the malicious minds in the Empire, and it could also apprehend culprits guilty of an offence. However, this wasn''t simply used for security, but also for the progression of Magic Research.

    The Midas Empire had prospered in Magic because they''d had the Fragments of their entire poption to work with. Their goal had been to use these soul fragments to learn more about the world¡ªespecially about Aether.

    They had made many advancements in this, and while they could have made more discoveries¡ªlike inventing immortality¡ªthe Midas Empire had been more focused on the nature of Aether, and on the flipside Nether, as well as the truth of existence.

    Their primary objective had been knowledge¡ªespecially about the Root.

    And with each generation, the advancement progressed.

    The Soul Fragments harvested from the people had been taken to the Emperor''s Domain at some point, and that had been the cycle.

    Unfortunately, the executive officer in charge of this Soul Fragment Management had been Kido, which had allowed him to get away with his own crimes¡ªas well as his n of decimating the Midas Empire.

    Still, all of that was in the past, and Kuzon was now being told about the future.

    *

    *

    *

    "I see now¡­"

    Kuzon was on his throne, his parents and all his subjects were standing in front of him, watching him expectantly.

    Everything had just been revealed to him, and while it felt a bit overwhelming, Kuzon now had the resolve to ept it.

    Apparently, all the Soul Fragments in the Emperor''s Domain, alongside the very structure itself, now belonged to him.

    With him being thest of the Midas, everything was going to be condensed into pure Aether and bestowed upon him¡ªall for him to use as he pleased.

    "You are now the one true Emperor. You are the hope of our race. Therefore, it is up to you to create a new Empire¡ªa better one. Be the first progenitor once again, and shine the light of the Midas people on the new world."

    Now burdened with a new purpose, one which he now had the power to achieve, Kuzon couldn''t reject this destiny.

    All the Aether he needed was right with him¡ªand he was no longer alone in the world.

    "Thank you all for guiding me." was all he could say.

    His tears had long dried up, and a smile was the only thing left on his face.

    As his golden hair danced, and his golden eyes glimmered, he made a firm resolve in his heart¡­ to fulfil the promise he made to his people.

    "I will create a new Empire¡ªone that willst longer than the old, and one that will lead this new world into a new age of prosperity and order."

    He had the knowledge of the Midas Race¡ªthe culmination of their millennia of research.

    "The treasures and Arcanas were fused with you and this world the moment you amalgamated yourself with them using the Transfiguration effect." He was told.

    And as such, not only did he have both [The Emperor] and [The Empress], but he still possessed his bracelet and ne, while still resonating with his ring.

    "All hail the Absolute Emperor, Kuzon!" His father gave a rousing shout, smiling at his son.

    In that same moment, every single Midas before Kuzon bowed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Hail! Hail! Hail!"

    Kuzon could feel something warm rise from within him, watching as his people crowned him the sessor of the Midas throne.

    "Long live the Absolute Emperor. Long live Kuzon Midas!"

    The legacy of the entire Midas Race¡­ was now his to bear.

    *

    *

    *

    The integration process came after his coronation.

    One after the other, the Soul Fragments of the people turned into golden lights¡ªmanifesting as pure Aether.

    Even the millions he could not see before¡ªrepresenting the past Midas¡ªcame into view. Some fragments were much bigger than others, and others glowed brighter.

    They all converged in a single location, forming a huge sphere that finally condensed in size until it became asrge as a small ball. This small ball floated towards Kuzon, embedding itself into the boy''s body.

    >SHIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!<

    That very instant, golden light radiated across the throneroom, with Kuzon at the very center of the attraction.

    Suddenly, the entire Golden Pce began to get sucked into Kuzon as well. The golden light absorbed everything, and the entirety of the Realm went into the seated boy.

    Finally, nothing was left except for the boy¡­ and his throne.

    And then¡ª

    "It''s finally time¡­"

    ¡ªEven his throne followed suit.

    Now all alone in a nk void, Kuzon could feel himself brimming with the heritage he received from everyone¡ªthe joint power of the Midas.

    In this empty space where time and space were irrelevant, he had to digest all the power he had just received. They were all a part of him now.

    "When I''m done, I''ll leave this ne through my ring, which is still resonating with me."

    It was a good thing he gave Ana his ring. It served as a tether to reality, hence making everything much easier than it would have otherwise been.

    Time and Space didn''t matter here, but Kuzon knew reality went by those rules. Once he reached the entry point and sought to return, he would have to be guided by the will of the world¡ªby Aether herself.

    "When I''m ready, lead me to the path I must take¡­" He whispered, closing his eyes in the nk void.

    "... I will not fail."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Dear readers, please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 781 Hero Of The World

    Everything had led to this moment.

    After absorbing all the power that had been left behind for him to inherit, a path opened up for him, and he was brought to this moment in time.

    Aether spoke to him, and he understood.

    Everything suddenly became clear to him.

    As such, even as his body became restructured, and he arose¡ªlike a re piercing the darkness¡ªthere was no room for confusion or fear in his heart.

    His countenance disyed excitement, and a broad smile filled his face, instead.

    Even against the ultimate evil that threatened to end everything he knew and loved, Kuzon''s glow did not fade.

    "Thank you all for waiting. I''m back now." He spoke with confidence.

    Silence followed his words. Confusion and shock, no doubt, confounded the people that witnessed his resurrection. However, none of that bothered him.

    The only source of concern for him, at the moment, was the malevolent being that floated right in front of him.

    And, just as he gave it all his focus, the Nether returned the attention.

    "You are¡­ a Midas. Hmm¡­ Kuzon Midas. Something about you is¡­ different."

    "I''ll take that as apliment. It seems my reputation precedes me." Kuzon responded with a shrug.

    "It doesn''t matter. You''ll end up dying anyway. Just like Jared. Just like everyone here."

    "Is that so? Then I guess I''ll have to do all I can to stop you!"

    "You? What can you do?"

    A wider smile formed on Kuzon''s face, and a golden brilliance instantly shrouded him.

    In a sh, his entire body turned golden, and a glorious crown floated above his head. Adorned in a gold emperor''s robe, along with the many¡ªnigh uncountable¡ªsparks of golden light that danced around him, Kuzon''s majesty was revealed.

    To his left was a sceptre, and to his right, a sword. Seven stars danced beneath his feet, and everything about him brightly shone with pure golden authority.

    "T-this is¡­!"

    "Absolute Emperor''s Transfiguration. It''s the best I can do." Kuzon calmly spoke, his golden eyes still focused on the Nether.

    Not only had his Aether reached an unimaginable degree, but his very constitution was perfect to the very core.

    ''[The Emperor] and [The Empress] have been fused with me. As such, I can freely affect anything around me, and nothing can affect me.''

    It was the very definition of being invincible.

    "Arcanas don''t work on me." The Nether, almost as if reading the boy''s mind, based on his smug expression, responded with a growl.

    "But these aren''t Arcanas. At least, not anymore. They''re now a part of me. You''d better believe that they''ll work." Kuzon''s energy kept climbing to a dangerous degree.

    "You can''t beat me." The Nether kept his menacing re intact.

    At this point, the dark clouds were already dissipating. Once again, the world''s descent into darkness was interrupted.

    "I know. Regrettably, even this power isn''t enough to get rid of you. However, I can y my part¡­ and stall you."

    "Stall me? For what?"

    At this point, a thunderous roar surged from the dark entity''s lips. His eyes were wide with amusement, and the very world shook with each cackle he made.

    Dark thunders raged, and the heavy wind blew around like whips¡ªhis power was manifesting.

    "Your heroes are dead. There is no one left in this world who can beat me. The only one who stands a chance is you, but your power is insufficient."

    The Nether was right.

    "I grow stronger by the moment, and I shall consume this world, bing even more powerful. Every second you waste will only serve to make me more powerful. Stall all you wish¡­ it shall only cater to my ends!"

    Once more, he was correct.

    "I will enjoy killing you, and destroying this world¡ªeven more so than I enjoyed it thest time. Hahahaha!"

    The Nether kept up hisughter, drowning in the ecstasy of his assured victory.

    And then¡ª

    "WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHHH!!!!<

    ''H-huh¡­?''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    A gaping hole, the size of a fist, appeared on the Nether''s body. Dark purple blood oozed out of the hole, causing the dark being to tremble in slight terror.

    Just slight terror.

    "Are you done?" Kuzon''s voice echoed, his hand raised high for the Nether to see.

    Sure enough, dark purple stains could be seen on his golden fist¡ªat least, before everything dissipated as a result of the immense Aether that shrouded him.

    "I see what you did¡­" The Nether mumbled, his wound healing instantly.

    A single blow¡ªone that transcended even the speed of time¡ªwas sent to his body. That was what injured him.

    ''He''s fast!'' Thought the dark being.

    He would need to be more careful.

    "M-Master!" Ciel yelled for him, but the Nether could not concern himself with her at this moment.

    He had to pay close attention to his opponent. Else¡­

    "Take care of her. I''ll handle the Nether." Kuzon told his allies and they all nodded.

    At this point, it was already clear to everyone just how capable he was. His speed, his strength, his overall power¡­ everything had already transcended the bounds of humanity.

    The Primordial Stage.

    Kuzon was already within it, and he was not simply at the start line.

    "You told me earlier that I would be stalling in vain, but you''re wrong." Kuzon grinned.

    As he prepared for his next strike, and the Nether also made his move to respond, the Absolute Emperor was certain that help woulde.

    "He''s not here now, but¡­ he''ll certainly show up."

    It didn''t matter how long he had to stall, there was no way the heroes of this world were all gone. After all, ''he'' was still alive.

    In a sense, anyway.

    "Until he arrives, I''ll be your opponent."

    *

    *

    *

    "Haaa¡­" Neron sighed with exhaustion.

    His breathing was heavy, and his expression told the reason why.

    He was tired.

    Neron''s body was trembling, and his usuallyposed facade was nowhere to be seen. Having been trapped in eternal darkness, he was now like a different person.

    "You''re something else, Neron¡­" Legris Damien emerged from the darkness, along with innumerable versions of himself.

    "Even with all the restrictions, you''ve killed millions of my variants."

    Neron''s gaze did not leave the speaking Legris. The dangerous glimmer in his eyes told of a powerful, unbreakable resolve.

    After a brief moment of silence, only interrupted by his ragged breath, he finally uttered his first statement in a long time.

    "Yeah¡­ and you''re next."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Dear readers, please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 782 The Awakening [Pt 1]

    The legion seemed to be without end.

    Time and time again, Neron had killed an infinite version of Legris'' who had assaulted him. Yet, they only kepting.

    He ughtered them in droves.

    Utilizing the several Mana Cores and Sub Cores in his body, he killed them as they attacked.

    Unfortunately, even he had his limits.

    Time was ineffective here, so his body no longer operated on the same loop as it once did. Whenever he was damaged, he needed to use healing Magic on himself.

    Infested with Nether, he had to utilize the surplus quality of Mana he had,pressing them until he had the Aether he needed. [The Hermit] was useless here, and he needed all the power he could muster to fight against the countless Legris Damien he fought.

    ''Each one is almost as powerful as a Grand Mage. Which makes this difficult.''

    He had to keep recreating Mana Cores and Subcores as he exhausted his supply while fighting so many opponents. His Familiars were put into overdrive, and he used all thebinations in his arsenal¡ªmillions and billions¡ªto kill the foes before him.

    Yet¡­ they never seemed to end.

    "They''re over a billion now, Neron. You''ve killed over a billion variants of me." Legris'' voice echoed in the vast space.

    Nether pervaded every corner, and if he rxed for even a fraction of a moment, Neron was certain it would consume him.

    "You''ve badly damaged this Limbo, you know?"

    "Damn¡­ the damage is so extensive that it''s unbelievable."

    "To think you still haven''t regained your full memories, yet you''re this strong."

    "I really need to end you quickly."

    Voices upon voices ovepped, their frustration evident in their tone.

    "Then end me. What''s stopping you?" Neron yelled, utilizing an immensely powerfulbination of fire, wind, and lightning to destroy a variant that charged at him while making use of his many clones to keep the others at bay.

    "If only it was that simple.

    "Unfortunately, it''s not."

    "This is the most I can do."

    "I can only do what I can do."

    "All of these are me."

    "We are one."

    "I can only attack as much as possible."

    "You''re just too annoying!"

    "Like a rat!"

    "If only you weren''t so strong!"

    The only advantage Neron had was his quality, in opposition to their quantity.

    There was strength in numbers, but when all of them gathered to fight a far more powerful foe, it ended up as a stalemate.

    Legris couldn''t beat Neron, but Neron couldn''t kill Legris.

    This dance had continued for so long that both parties had lost track of time¡ªboth of this world and the one beyond it.

    "You''re already getting tired."

    "A few more rounds, and I''ll win."

    "Your body can''t handle anymore."

    "Whether I kill you, or you kill yourself, it doesn''t matter."

    "In the end¡­"

    "... I''ll be the ultimate victor!"

    "I''ll finally rid myself of you, Neron!"

    "Hahahaha!!!"

    This burst ofughter pervaded the dark expanse, and it brought about something unusual from Neron.

    "Keke¡­"

    A chuckle?!

    Neron was now still. He no longer resisted, but he simply stood in a single position.

    And¡­ he wasughing!

    "You''reughing?"

    "In this situation?"

    "What''s so funny?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Several Legrises lunged at Neron, refusing to miss this opportunity, but they were so easily blown away by the immense surge of Aether that burst from his body.

    "Hahaha!"

    "You''re being so wasteful of your Aether!"

    "How much do you have?"

    "You''re running low, aren''t you?"

    "Finally given up?"

    "Come on, say something!"

    Neron''s chuckle only grew louder as Legris taunted him. Both voices ovepped until one finally overpowered the other due to its sheer volume.

    Soon, no one spoke or moved.

    Only Neron''sughter filled the dark abyss. It went on and on and on¡ªechoing like the sound of a ripple in a boundless well.

    Then¡­ it slowly came to a halt.

    "Haa¡­ Legris¡­" Neron''s voice still contained hints of exhaustion, but his relieved smile seemed to indicate otherwise.

    It wasmon sense to assume that he was in trouble, but why did it feel like it was the exact opposite?

    "I''ve already gotten what I wanted. It took some time, thanks to all the interference you caused, but I finally got the hang of it."

    Legris¡ªno, all of the Legrises¡ªfelt confused.

    "What are you talking about?" They all chorused.

    "Well, you know me, Legris¡­ old friend. I hate losing."

    What did that have to do with anything? Was Neron stalling? Legris knew something was amiss, but he couldn''t ce his finger on it.

    It felt like¡­ he was missing something.

    "[The Hermit] is useless here because the concept of time doesn''t exist. I can use Aether just fine, and I can perform other actions just fine. But certain elements, like space, gravity, and so many other things are meaningless here." Neron said.

    He must have deciphered all of these things amid the battle.

    Then again, what of it?

    What was the relevance of these observations? Ultimately, he was going to die here.

    "It would seem as though I''m out of cards, Legris. Or¡­ am I?"

    Suddenly, a card manifested right in front of Neron, shrouding him in grey-like energy. The glow was dull and small, but it slowly began to have more lustre¡­ more colour!

    "N-NO!" By the time Legris realized it, the process had been initiated.

    It was already toote!

    "NO WAY!"

    "YOU¡­. NO!"

    "HOW COULD I HAVE¡­?!"

    This was what he had been missing this whole time. This was the error he had made.

    Legris had always assumed that [The Hermit] was Neron''s Trump Card. That was how it had always been. How could he have expected a second Arcana?

    And this wasn''t just another Arcana. It was the very one that could unravel everything!

    It was¡ª

    "[The Fool]" Neron smiled as the glow grew brighter than ever.

    "It was a close call, but¡­ I''m finally ready."

    Legris'' eyes bulged in desperation and shock as everything within him pounded in fear.

    Pure, unbridled fear!

    "STOP HIM!" All the Legrises yelled, and they instantly charged towards Neron in their droves.

    But, as was mentioned earlier¡­

    ¡­ It was toote!

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Who else is getting goosebumps? It''s finally time!!!

 Chapter 783 The Awakening [Pt 2]

    "Looks like it all worked out in the end."

    Amid the thick darkness stood a man. He had white hair and his body was radiating so much light that his immediate surroundings were illuminated by it.

    Bright white light pervaded where he stood, and even though it was like a little flickerpared to the darkness, the light had a defiant glow that exceeded the intensity of the pitch-ck world it inhabited.

    "It feels good to be back."

    This man was smiling. His eyes had a lot of colours swirling within, and every ounce of his being represented pure power.

    His outfit was a simple white cloak, along with an inner shirt and a simple pair of trousers. He was barefoot, but even his skin had a magnanimously sublime feel that made it seem like it was woven by the world''s greatest fabric.

    No, not even that couldpare to its beauty.

    The beautiful form of this being was without measure¡ªwithout equal.

    He appeared to be an evesting sea of bountiful greatness.

    "You¡­ who are you?" A voice emerged from the darkness, almost stifled in its tone.

    It belonged to Legris Damien, for even he was shocked by the glorious nature that the person before him possessed.

    It felt too pure to be real.

    "Don''t tell me you can''t recognize me, Legris. It''s been quite a while, or has it?" The god-like being smiled in response.

    "Neron¡­" He whispered. "I am Neron."

    *

    *

    *

    At a time before¡ªor rather beyond¡ªthe present, two figures could be seen in a disced world.

    "N-no¡­" The voice of a young man leaked out of this abyss.

    It was Neron.

    His dark hair swayed ever so slightly as he watched a woman, who was as good as dead,y stiffly on hisp.

    ''Serah¡­'' His thoughts went out to her, but she gave no response.

    "No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.No. No. No. No. No. No. NO. NO! NO!! NOOO!!!"

    He ignored the destruction that was urring in the background. The devastation wrought upon the world by the Nether¡ªthe death of everyone and everything.

    Nothing mattered anymore. It was toote.

    "I''m sorry. I''m so sorry¡­ I¡ª"

    The hulking figure of the Nether seemed to revel in the destruction he had wrought on this dead world. The Nether ignored Neron, and he did the same.

    There was no point in a sh, anyway.

    It was all over.

    "It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault!!!"

    He repeated these words so much that one might have thought that he was insane, Neron remembered all the events that had led to the world''s destruction and the part he''d yed in ensuring it happened.

    Now that everything hade crashing down, and he was all alone, he realized the foolishness of his actions¡ªas well as the betrayal of the one he had trusted most.

    "You''re a sight for sore eyes, Neron."

    "It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my fault. It''s not my¡ª" Neron stopped his mantra and his eyes found the man whose fault all this was.

    The person was the true architect of the chaos¡ªthe personification of evil that felt more sinister than the Nether.

    "Legris Damien!"

    "Don''t look at me that way. Isn''t this a result of our efforts?" The one he had once called his best friend said this to him with a twisted grin.

    "This¡­ this isn''t what I wanted! You lied to me! You¡­ I thought we were friends!"

    "Hahaha, well¡­ I guess that''s one way of putting it."

    "You bastard! You and Ciel tricked me! You¡­ why¡­?!''"

    "It was unavoidable. I don''t care either way, but apparently, she''s the one who wanted this oue."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    What exactly could he benefit from this chaos? Ciel, the madwoman who was in love with the Nether, was reunited with her Master. But what of Legris?

    "W-why¡­?"

    "Well, the work is done. Sooner orter, I''ll get what I want. It''s a shame, though. This world is doomed¡­"

    What did he want?

    "N-no¡­"

    "Yes. The Nether is here, after all. It''s only a matter of time."

    Neron could only shudder and wither away as he felt even more despair.

    He cursed himself, regretting everything he had ever done. How he had joined the Nether Cult and rose to the First Seat.

    How he''d participated in the massacre of the Midas Race.

    How he''d helped gather all the Arcanas to bring about the very end of everything.

    The world. Existence. Himself.

    Everything was going to end!

    "I¡­"

    Millions of thoughts echoed in his mind. However, out of the many emotions that consumed him, two remained the strongest.

    Regret¡­ and HATRED!

    Neron raised his head and his pure ck eyes slowly showed a glimmer of light.

    "¡­ I won''t allow it!"

    Suddenly, the entire area was enveloped in white light, and the shock was enough to send ripples of distortions to every corner of the world.

    He finally caught the attention of both the Nether and Legris Damien¡ªboth of whom reacted with immediate precision.

    Neron had now be a threat!

    And not just any kind of threat. It was the only threat that could stop what was happening¡ªthe only kind that existed in the world.

    It was the power of the Singrity, Neron Kaelid!

    *

    *

    *

    "After I killed you, I defeated the Nether, and orchestrated all of this." The majestic Neron spoke with a smile.

    "I admit, it''s a bit borate, but¡­ what can I say? It was the only way."

    Legris¡ªall of them¡ªcould no longer hide the emotion that apanied the sight of Neron''s awakening.

    "But now¡­ I''m counting on Jared to stop the Nether. After all, that''s the reason why he''s in this world at this time."

    With that said, Neron''s focus went to the horde of Legrises that existed in this realm. The time of reckoning was already at hand, and it was inevitable.

    Everything hade to the closing act.

    "All I need to do is take care of the cleanup."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I certainly hope you enjoyed and understood this chapter. If you didn''t, don''t worry, more will be revealed soon.

    I have been dropping bits and pieces of everything throughout the story because I don''t want to saturate a particr point with all the info.

    But now, it''s time to learn the truth.

    By the way, I''m thinking of creating a side story about Neron, so if you want to see that, feel free to let me know.

 Chapter 784 The Reunion Of True Love

    A ce was shown.

    It transcended all forms of description. Words weren''t sufficient enough to epass the nature of this expanse.

    Before the concepts of colour, shape, size, and other forms of imagery existed, this realm already did. Dwelling out of such bounds, it remained.

    In this ce that had no exnation, a young man stood.

    He had ck hair and his likeness was that of an adult male. He had blue eyes, and his face was something to behold. His tall stature and his well-bnced physique would make him a catch anywhere.

    However, this young man appeared troubled.

    Why wouldn''t he be?

    He was in a ce that even he could not exin. He could not exin where he was, and neither could heprehend how he got there. Confusion, mixed with a bit of fright, enveloped him like a nket.

    Thus, he stood still, waiting for answers,

    "Where am I?"

    No one responded.

    "What am I?"

    Answers did note.

    "Who¡­ am I?"

    He received silence once again.

    In this state of confusion,pletely overwhelmed by everything he couldn''t understand, he seemed to be doomed to an eternity of madness.

    However¡­

    "W-who''s there?"

    ¡­ Salvation arrived.

    A woman appeared at a distance, instantly drawing his attention.

    Her silky white hair and violet eyes resonated within him, and her smile sent shivers travelling through his body.

    Her body was as elegant as her face¡ªpure and unsullied¡ªand she stood beautifully still, watching him keenly.

    "W-who¡­ are you¡­?" He asked.

    Something told him he knew the woman. He could feel something inside him long for her, and he could feel many twisted knots unravelling. However, he still couldn''t recognize her, or what she meant to him.

    Then, she started to move.

    Slowly, she walked towards him.

    With each step she took, a longing¡ªno, an unbearable thirst¡ªassailed him.

    More than anything, he wished she woulde quickly. He wished to hold her and tell her words¡­ even though he didn''t know what to say.

    "W-who¡­ are you¡­?" Was all he could say, until she finally stood right in front of him.

    Now mere inches apart, he craved her even more. One more step forward and their bodies would sh, but he could not move. He could not touch her.

    He could only watch.

    "W-who are¡ª"

    "You know who I am." The woman''s voice teased his ears, and her hand caressed his cheek.

    The sweet sensation of her words offered himfort, but her touch made him desire more. This desperation drove him further into insanity.

    It was a feeling he could not exin.

    The woman had told him that he knew who she was. If that was indeed true, then¡­

    "W-who am I?"

    A most precious expression filled her face as she smiled so beautifully at him. It caused something in his chest to race and race and jump with excitement.

    He wanted it to end, yet he wanted more of it.

    "Lewis Griffith. You are Lewis Griffith." Her sweet voice echoed in his ears, and suddenly, memories surged up in his head.

    He felt the sensation of countless images ovepping and sticking into his head. However, something about everything felt iplete.

    "You are Jared Leonard."

    More memories emerged from deep inside him. Memories of his new life kept popping into his head until there was no longer any hidden memory.

    They all returned.

    "Now, tell me¡­ do you know who I am?"

    At this point, Jared¡ªalso identified as Lewis¡ªnodded. A smile formed on his trembling lips and his hair slightly moved in a wavy line as he nodded.

    "Who am I?"

    He felt something hot stream from both his eyes. They flowed down his cheeks, dropping from his jaw. His face felt hot, and he felt like his heart would burst.

    After so many centuries, he was finally seeing her again.

    "Emilia¡­ it''s really you."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Her long white hair flowed, as though being brushed by the wind, revealing her pointy Elf ears.

    "Yes, Lewis. It''s me."

    Standing face to face with her, after so many years, there seemed to be nothing left for him to say. Or rather, there seemed to be so many things to say that his mind was too muddled, leaving him with no words to express himself.

    He had never felt so frustrated.

    "Emilia¡­ I''m¡­" After trying so hard to initiate a conversation, but failing woefully, Lewis could only arrive at one conclusion.

    "... I''m sorry."

    More tears fell from his eyes as he stared into her deep violet eyes. It oozed with so muchpassion and love that it broke his heart and healed it, over and over again, the more he looked.

    "I¡­ I made a mistake, and¡­ I shouldn''t have¡­ I should have returned. I should havee back for you¡­ for our child. I should have¡­ I didn''t¡­ I couldn''t¡­ you¡­"

    "Shhh¡­"

    Suddenly, her finger touched his trembling lips, and he found himself growing silent, sombre, and calm.

    "I understand."

    No, how could she ept his apology so easily? Lewis could notprehend this¡­ this level of forgiveness.

    He knew who Emilia was. He loved how pure she had been, even when she had been alive. But, how could she hold such a degree of affection now?

    "B-but it''s my fault you died¡­ and our child¡­ its all my fault, and I¡ª"

    "How long have you had to carry these thoughts?"

    Her question hit him like a sledgehammer.

    "Did you me yourself for everything, even in death? Do you consider yourself irredeemable? Undeserving of forgiveness?"

    Lewis wanted to speak, but he truly did not know what words to utter. What could he tell her? What could he say?

    "I¡­ I¡­"

    "Your heart''s desires were heard when your soul was brought here. There was one person whom you loved more than anything¡ªthat one person was sent to wee you and return you to yourself¡­" Violet''s smile widened as she drew even closer to him.

    "That person is me. Aether has sent me here for a reason, Lewis. And that is because you love me more than anyone or anything else."

    His eyes widened instantly. He''d never realized it, but her words rang true in the depths of his thoughts.

    "And that is enough for me. That is why I understand. Because¡­ I also love you more than anyone or anything else."

    More tears streamed down his eyes, and Lewis could not stop them this time. His entire being melted in Emilia''s presence, and he felt like he would drown in the rush of emotions he felt.

    "That is why you need to stop ming yourself, Lewis. Do you understand?"

    Her eyes were moist.

    It seemed like she was in pain, just by watching him.

    That broke him more than anything. There was no way he could cause Emilia pain¡ªnot again!

    "I understand. Thank you¡­ for forgiving me." He smiled.

    "Of course. I love you, Lewis."

    "And I lo¡ª" He halted mid-statement.

    A rush of guilt coursed through Lewis, and he suddenly remembered everything that had led up to this moment.

    It was regrettable, but¡­

    ''I can''t say those words. Not anymore.''

    "I understand." Emilia''s voice echoed in his ears, her smile encouraging him.

    And then, before he knew it¡­ he too was smiling.

    "Thank you, Emilia."

    For a moment, they stared at each other. It seemed like an eternity was encapsted in a single moment, but neither of them let go of the other''s gaze.

    Until finally¡­

    "I have so many questions," Lewis whispered.

    After spending an ideal amount of time here, he could no longer resist the dozens of gnawing questions that gued his curious mind.

    "Where are we? What is going on here? And finally¡­ WHO ARE YOU?"

    *

    *

    *

    A/N]

    Dear readers, please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 785 Within The Root [Pt 1]

    "... Who are you?"

    As my voice echoed in the indescribably vast expanse, the white-haired Elf in front of me kept smiling. Her clear face depicted no surprise or offence.

    She honestly looked just like Emilia. However¡­

    "What do you mean?"

    "You''re not Emilia. Something doesn''t feel right." I muttered, taking a few steps back.

    I noticed that I could now move my body properly, but now wasn''t the time to be focused on such trivialities.

    "So, please tell me the truth. What''s going on here? Where exactly is here? And who are you?"

    I was sure I died at the hands of the Nether. When all my memories returned, I remembered how the Nether destroyed my body, soul, and all the other duplicates I had made.

    With my soul destroyed, I wasn''t even supposed to exist. Yet, here I was talking to someone who imed to be Emilia, in a ce I didn''t know of.

    Everything felt off.

    "I see. You have an incredible perception. Or, rather, maybe I made an error in my presentation of your lover¡­"

    She finally admitted to being an imposter. That brought relief, but at the same time, pain. I had truly wanted to be wrong. I had genuinely wanted her to have been the Emilia I knew and loved.

    That way¡­ perhaps all I had said thus far would have been real.

    "You didn''t make any mistakes. I just felt that something was off. Besides, the very fact that you didn''t fumble about was a major indication that you aren''t her. People aren''t perfect¡­ and neither was Emilia."

    "I see. Well said."

    Thisdy in front of me didn''t seem evil. She also didn''t seem to have any terrible intentions. Something within me felt attracted to her, and I honestly felt that she did not mean any harm. However, how could I trust someone I didn''t even know?

    Besides, if I was still alive, then¡ª

    "Can I return to the normal world? I died, and¡­ the people there need my help! Since my soul hasn''t been destroyed, then¡ª"

    "Calm yourself." Before I even realized it, her hand was on my shoulder.

    I didn''t even know how she got to me so quickly. It felt as though she had always been there. In fact, when I looked around, it felt as though she was all around me too.

    I was honestly too puzzled toprehend what was going on.

    "There''s no need to hurry. I know everything that is happening. Besides, I have sent a friend of yours to keep the Nether upied at this moment. You know the young Midas, don''t you?"

    "Kuzon is alive too?!" I burst out in surprise, my eyes bulging.

    "Indeed. And he''s doing a good job at holding the Nether at bay."

    My eyes widened even more as she made that statement. My chest tightened upon hearing that Kzon was holding off an entity as powerful as the Nether.

    ''Just how powerful is Kuzon?''

    "I will decide on whether to return you once we are done with this conversation. You will make a choice, and depending on that choice, there will be a consequence."

    I could understand her words, but without knowing her identity, or whatever this ce was, it was difficult connecting what she was saying to anything coherent.

    "You asked me who I was, didn''t you? Well, I am Emilia, and at the same time, I am not. I am the culmination of every soul and entity in this world. I am this universe, this reality¡ªThe root of the tree of this reality."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    As I heard this, more memories shed into my head¡ªespecially my conversations with Solomon, and the discoveries I had made. The more the memories flooded me, the closer I came to the truth.

    "You know who I am." She said.

    As I looked at her, our eyes connecting in silent understanding, I nodded slowly. It all made sense now.

    "You are Aether. The very essence of the world."

    In response, she nodded calmly.

    "Indeed. Emilia''s soul is a part of me. So is yours, and everyone else that exists in this world. I am all of your essences, and everything that has ever existed in this reality rose through my birth."

    In essence, she was god itself!

    "You''re currently in the Root. This is the starting point of this reality¡ªwhere everything branches out. Some call it the core of existence, while others call it the world''s soul. This is the pivotal point of everything that springs forth¡­ my Domain."

    As she spoke, she took a step back, and suddenly, majestic lights were projected from her. Golden and white fragments of light, like fireflies, danced all around her.

    Finally, her real form materialised in front of me.

    Aether had a flowing white gown, with bright golden embroidery around it. Her skin was pure white, and her hair was bright white. Her features were mostly human-like, but this level of pristine god-like beauty ced her beyond anything I had ever seen.

    She was beyond transcendent in everything.

    As she floated, her gown flowed like clouds of white mist, and golden sparks covered her body. Pure energy¡ªunfathomable¡ªflowed through her and all around her.

    "This is who I am." Her voice, now taking on an indescribably pleasant tone, teased my ears once again as she smiled kindly at me.

    I was dumbstruck, at this point.

    "I have also told you where you are. All that''s left is¡­ what is going on."

    She was correct. However, something else was gnawing at me. Something that was quite selfish and not really pertinent to the matter on ground, but my mind could not rest regardless.

    "You seek to know about the wellbeing of your lover, Emilia." Aether''s voice interrupted my conflicting thoughts.

    I wanted to deny it, but considering I was in the presence of a literal god, I decided against it. Instead, I admitted to my selfishness.

    "Yes. Yes, I do."

    *

    *

    *

    A/N]

    Dear readers, please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 786 Within The Root [Pt 2]

    "Emilia is now a part of me. Every dead soul returns to me. They be one with me, and I use all of their materials and processed information to produce more souls. It''s a cycle of life."

    Aether''s voice was fluid and smooth, calming me with every word she uttered.

    "Certain races and individuals receive various properties and allocations based on the requirements of dispensation. However, it is up to my discretion, based on the bnce of this reality, to allocate it to the souls as is necessary."

    Everything she said raised questions about existence within me, but I saved them forter.

    "So¡­ Emilia is¡­"

    "Gone. In a sense. However, for her, she''s one with me. And that simply means eternal bliss in my bosom."

    I smiled, nodding slowly. In the end, it seemed that everything I had experienced with Aether was simply a one-sided charade.

    "I know everything about Emilia since she is a part of me. Everything I told you is what she would have said. I took her form because I wanted to better exin things to you and put your unstable soul at ease."

    "I-I see¡­"

    "When you die, and be one with me, you''ll see her again. In a dream-like paradise, forever."

    I understood that she was trying to beforting, and this was mostly the product of a perverse human mind, but the way she put those words sounded a little weird.

    "You''re right. Thank you."

    Aether wasforting me, and I genuinely appreciated it. The fact that I could see Emilia again, and be with her, was enough for me.

    "One thing, though. Emilia would want you to keep living. Not to be constrained to the past, but to freely embrace the future. I know you think she was miserable after you broke up, but she eventually got over everything and lived happily with her daughter and family. She didn''t die sad or broken. She was fulfilled."

    "Thank you for telling me all of this." I smiled, fighting back the tears that had already begun to form in my eyes.

    "You''re wee."

    We both stared at each other for some time, in what I could only describe as a necessary moment of silence.

    She recognized that I needed the time, and she gave it to me.

    Until, finally¡­

    "I''m ready."

    *

    *

    *

    "You were brought here for a reason. Even though the Nether destroyed your Soul¡ªand all the copies¡ªI saved one before it was toote." Aether began.

    "H-how?"

    "You saved a backup within some of the Arcanas. All Arcanas are connected to me, so it only follows that I can use that link to transport them directly to me."

    My eyes widened in surprise. Now that I thought of it, [Strength] granted me a steady supply of Aether that had toe from somewhere.

    ''So it was directly linked to her!''

    "I had to cut off my connection with the others that were consumed by the Nether before it became toote. In any case, that''s how I brought you here."

    If it weren''t for Aether, I would be utterly destroyed. Words could not express my gratitude.

    "Your soul was unstable, though, due to the shock. I had to return it to its prime form by resonating with you. That way, you returned to yourself."

    Understanding all that she told me, I realized the reason for all her actions. Even if I was angry that she had impersonated Emilia¡ªwhich I wasn''t¡ªI could now understand why.

    "You Soul is now in a different form, thanks to my interference. In the past, it had both the qualities of Mana and Miasma, but after stabilizing it, it has taken on the form of pure Aether."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    She exined to me how Mana and Miasma were simply impure versions of Aether, and how Aether was their natural, original, and apex stages.

    "Like a pool of water that has be muddled with foreign elements, so is Aether that has taken on the form of Mana, Miasma or both."

    Apparently, only Singrities possessed pure Aether Souls¡ªor those who had attained enlightenment and rid themselves of all the excesses in the soul.

    "But, I am a Singrity, right? I didn''t have a pure Aether Soul." I objected. "Also, if all Souls possess Mana, why are there so many inept people? I could never crack that puzzle until I died. Why is that?"

    Aether gave a slight chuckle¡ªone that rang of understanding, and not pride.

    "Indeed. The reason for your status as a Singrity goes beyond the innate nature of your Soul. Rather, it has to do with its state."

    I didn''t understand the difference, but it seemed I was on the verge of being enlightened.

    "My power still flowed through your Soul despite its nature. That''s why you survived till now. Besides, there''s another reason¡­ and that''s the foreign Aether that seals your Soul from interference or observation."

    I was more confused at this point.

    "These factors brought about your Reincarnation and are what makes you a Singrity." She concluded her response to my first question.

    However, there was still the issue of being inept.

    "Inept people experience dissonance between their Soul and body. You harness the power of your Soul through your body¡ªwhether consciously or unconsciously." Aether began.

    "By default, the contents of your Soul begin to leak into your body, spreading all around it to make Mana or Miasma particles. In rare instances, when the Soul is purely Aether, the energy that is released will be Aether."

    Just as one didn''t need to control their blood cirction or other processes that urred inside the body, all of this happened naturally.

    "The Core is also formed naturally, and it continues to progress that way, eventually leading to an Awakening." Aether added.

    Unfortunately, it seemed the inept people were simply incapable of this process. It made me wonder why so many Inepts existed, though.

    And Aether''s answer to that was what I didn''t expect.

    "Bnce. Oversaturation of power leads to destruction. Underdevelopment of it, however, leads to devolution. As such, there has to be a middle ground." Aether began.

    "Those who possess this innate ability are privileged. Those who do not, are meant to serve as a bnce."

    I understood all she said, even though it felt a little frustrating. If she was in charge of choosing the routes, then why¡­

    "Why didn''t you make me capable of Magic? I would have been able to do so much more in my first life! The things I could have done¡­ the developments I could have brought about¡­ they would have been so much more!"

    It made sense that I would be among the chosen ones if such a system existed, right?

    "That is precisely why I chose not to. The world is like an endless stream, and I ensure the flow is not disrupted. Advancement in Magic at that point would have created a tidal wave in a calm stream of water." She replied.

    In simple terms, it had been too dangerous to grant me the gift of Magic.

    "For the sake of order and bnce, you could not be allowed to possess Mana."

    *

    *

    *

    A/N]

    Dear readers, please look up Chuunibyou Challenge!! on Webnovel, or simply use the link below. I promise, you''ll love /book/chuunibyou-challenge!!_25760893305800205

    Cheers!

 Chapter 787 The Truth Behind Reincarnation

    "B-but¡ª"

    "You also hid certain discoveries from the world because you knew it wasn''t ready. You must have understood¡­"

    I could no longer deny her words once she brought that up. Since she was the essence of the world itself, her reasons must have been justifiable and beyond just me.

    "So why was I reincarnated? Wouldn''t that still yield the same result? My actions in this  new life have caused tidal waves, or have they not?" I asked with curiosity¡ª and perhaps a bit of skepticism.

    If her true aim was bnce, she would not go out of her way to return me to the stream of the world, now would she?

    "A tidal wave is preferable towards the end of the stream, don''t you think?"

    The end? Did she mean the Nether?

    "There is a lot you do not know, Lewis Griffith. It is now time for you to find out." Aether spoke, drawing closer to me.

    I felt a heavy weight suddenly bind my insides, but at the same time, I felt an unravelling like nothing I had ever experienced before.

    "Your reincarnation and the current threat that seeks to destroy this world are not unrted. They are tied together by a single factor."

    This was it! After so long wandering in the darkness of ignorance, I was finally going to get answers! Suspense swelled within me, and the weight slowly began to fade away.

    I listened, both curious and anxious about what she would utter next.

    "The mould that holds all of this together is Neron Kaelid. He is the reason behind your reincarnation¡ªthe cause of this new reality."

    The moment Aether said this, my mind went nk. I couldn''t even think for the first couple of seconds.

    "W-what¡­?"

    After a brief moment of paralyzing shock, I remained locked in an endless swirl of conflicting emotions and shing perceptions.

    After considering what Aether said, and the implications they had, I arrived at the only conclusion I could reach.

    "T-that¡­ makes no sense!"

    The more I thought of it, the less usible the idea seemed¡ªnot like I was in a perfectly sound state after getting a bombshell like that dropped on me.

    "You say so because you do notprehend the reasons and causes that have led up to this point."

    Aether most likely knew what she was talking about. After all, she was basically a god, andpared to her knowledge of everything, I was too ignorant to debate with her.

    However, if what she said was true, that meant Neron deceived me.

    "He acted like he had no idea. Hepletely¡­ no¡­ I can''t just¡­"

    Neron was one of the very few people whom I had grown to trust. He was capable, dependable, and actually trustworthy. Our joint passion for magic and our aligned interests made us good friends¡ªeven beyond our rtionship as teacher and student.

    When I was with him, it didn''t feel like I was with a senior or junior. It just felt wholly natural.

    "If he knew¡ªno, if he caused my Reincarnation from the start then¡­" Everything I knew about Neron was practically null.

    How could I ept that?

    "I know it is difficult to ept, but it is true. Neron was the one who caused your Soul to flow to the body of Jared Leonard, though I helped him out."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The more Aether revealed, the more it became apparent that she was willing to break the rules she earlier established¡ªparticrly the one about bnce and waves.

    If Neron was as powerful and skilled as she said, then why was he gifted with so much logic-defying power? I never really understood why he was so powerful.

    I was a Reincarnated genius, who used my past memories to improve myself. Plus, this Singrity status of mine allowed me to go even further into the art of Magic, allowing me to surpass my past self.

    However, what of Neron? Why was he so special?

    "Neron is a Singrity." Aether revealed to me, causing another leap in my heart.

    The more I heard, the less anything made sense to me.

    "No, it''s not as simple as that. He''s not just a Singrity. Perhaps it''s more urate to call him the Original Singrity."

    More confusion caused my head to hurt.

    "So, you''re saying¡­ The reason I''m here¡ªthe reason I''m a Singrity at all¡ªis because of Neron? And the reason he was able to affect all of this is because he is a Singrity?"

    "Correct." Aether responded to my almost exasperated summary.

    It seemed I would need a lot more exnation than I currently had. Aether must have realized this since she gave me a kind smile and nodded gently.

    "I understand how confused you must be right now. However, I promise you, there is a reason for all of this. If you are ready, I will reveal all of it to you this instant."

    She didn''t need to hear my answer to know what it would be. Based on my expression alone, my desire for the truth was already pretty obvious.

    "Neron was chosen by me as a Singrity¡ªjust as I chose Merlin all those years ago. He was chosen to be my avatar¡ªto serve as my representative for what was toe."

    If I was to guess, I would say the ''thing'' toe was the Nether.

    "You see, I am only the essence that flows through all things in this tree of existence. I cannot actively participate unless there is an agent through which I can act." She added.

    I had pretty much already guessed this. The fact that Aether was so powerful, and she didn''t stop the Nether Cult from achieving their goals, made that clear.

    "Unfortunately, many things went wrong, and the n derailed from its original model. To atone, and restore order, Neron had to change everything and select a new avatar. He chose you."

    "M-me? Why? What happened? Why couldn''t he do it himself? What went wrong?" More and more questions swirled around me.

    Thankfully, It seemed that Aether was nning on answering all of them.

    "The truth, Lewis, is that this world has already been destroyed, once before. Everything in this ne of existence should not exist."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The time of revtion is nigh.

    I hope you are all ready. I sure am!

 Chapter 788 The World That Was

    In the past, the world was plunged into chaos because of an otherworldly entity known as the Nether.

    This being contradicted the very nature of Aether, and it corrupted everything it touched. As a result of this, it brought unstoppable darkness and destruction to the world.

    All hope seemed to be lost!

    However, thanks to the bravery and sacrifice of the heroes of legends and founders of Magic¡ªthe Apostles of Aether¡ªthe Nether was cast out of the world and sealed away forever.

    Order was restored to the world, and the nefarious ns of the evil one were foiled.

    But, how could they know¡­ that this threat would return once more?

    One equally powerful being, however, was well aware of this!

    Aether.

    She knew of the return of the Nether, so she chose yet another for the task. The one whose Soul had been blessed from his conception, and whose thoughts far exceeded the realm of reason.

    Neron Kaelid.

    As one who oversaw the existence of the world, she could see all the branches that sprung from the same stem that came from the Root. She could observe all the realities that could spring forth from every singr point.

    She could see the variants in her tree of reality.

    Unfortunately, there was something she could not control¡ªeven if she could see it.

    ''Free will''

    The fact that a person was bound by choice and they could choose the path they would ultimately embark on. In that vein, her new avatar could as well choose the path of evil or that of good.

    But what did that matter anyway?

    For every good choice he would make, there existed yet another where he would not make that choice. As long as that likelihood existed, she could prune the undesired choices and ensure the right reality became the central stem that connected the many branches of her reality.

    However, there existed a major oversight¡ªa problem even she didn''t perceive. It existed beyond even the reason of a primordial entity such as herself.

    It was an anomaly!

    The Singrity known as Neron suddenly became beyond her reach. Something interfered with her supervision and the little control she had over the events.

    At a particr juncture, Aether became unsure of the safety of her reality.

    And then, the great tragedy urred!

    The world ended, and everything she sought to protect came into ruin.

    It would have been preferable if there had been a reality where Neron had taken a different path that led to the world''s salvation, but she could find none.

    The whole tree had been in the process of being consumed by Nether, and it had been toote to cut off the infection as it had already spread past the branches¡ªreaching the stem and heading for the root.

    The more the Nether consumed, the more powerful he would be. The more powerful he was, the weaker she would be.

    It had only been a matter of time before she waspletely immersed in the corruption of the very opposite of her purity.

    To Aether''s surprise, however, the very one who had brought doom to this world was the same one who saved it!

    Neron Kaelid actually rose up and utilized his connection with Aether to face off against the Nether¡ªdefeating him and halting his advance on the tree of existence.

    Unfortunately, it had been toote.

    The damage had been done. Everything that was wrought had taken so much toll that it had already swept a huge portion of Neron''s universe into despair.

    Still, it hadn''t been the end.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Neron Kaelid utilized his Original¡ªno, his Primeval¡ªMagic, andpletely reversed the state of the world.

    He rebooted existence, dating everything back to the very beginning of his conception.

    However, for reasons known only to him, he chose to erase his memories and seal away the powers of his potential future. He chose to alter the choices he made in the past and instead made unconscious alterations in this new reality.

    As a result, things became very different in this new world.

    However, that had still not been enough to stop the disaster toe¡ªneither had it been enough topletely repel the cause of his initial deviation.

    And¡­ that was why he''d had to bring forth another element.

    An element that wouldpletely alter his destiny¡ªas well as the fate of the world.

    *

    *

    *

    "Of every single soul in history, he chose you, Lewis. He was quite confident that you would be perfect for the role of a Singrity." Aether exined.

    Honestly, after hearing everything, I was too awestruck to speak. I had no idea Neron had carried such a burden and that even he did not know the effects of his past¡ªno, rather his future¡ªactions.

    "Why would he choose me?" I asked in a whisper.

    "It is as you said before. No one is as gifted in the art of studying Magic and as passionate in the art as you. You might consider yourself simr to Neron, but you have no idea how different you two are. He knew he couldn''t fulfil it alone, so he chose you."

    Despite all the overwhelming information, I finally understood something crucial. Something I had been feeling for some time now.

    ''I am not that special. But at the same time, I am.''

    Even though I hadn''t been chosen by the essence of the world, I was the one selected to save it¡ªto save everyone.

    It was something I had to ept, despite all my questions and reservations.

    "May I ask more questions? It''s about everything you told me, but less about my Reincarnation."

    Aether nodded slowly, her face a gentle stream of light.

    Based on her tale from earlier, the stakes seemed much higher than the effects of the Nether on my world. It seemed far more serious than that.

    The Tree of Existence¡ªwhat exactly did that mean?

    "These branches you referred to in your story. They''re what exactly?"

    I had to know!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I really need to know if I should make a Neron spinoff. There''s a lot of information and interesting stuff that I''m glossing over so we don''t deviate from the main plot.

    It would be really nice to hear your thoughts.

    DO YOU WANT A NERON SPINOFF?

 Chapter 789 The World That Is

    What did Aether mean when she called herself the essence of the world?

    What was the Root of existence?

    And finally, this great tree, and its many branches¡­ what exactly did they represent?

    These questions kept swirling around in my mind as I tried to wrap my head around the truth about Neron, and the world that was.

    "Your reality is a stream that flows into a muchrger sea that is connected to several others. There are immeasurable realities different from yours. Other than this world of yours¡ªeven beyond your universe¡ªthere exists other dimensions that are parallel to the one you know."

    "W-what?!" My mind nearly exploded upon hearing all of this.

    ording to Aether, we were just one of a nigh-infinite system of existence¡ªa single branch in the tree of reality.

    It was fascinating¡ªa new concept I had never even considered in all of my life. This truth contained infinite possibilities.

    There was now so much to explore. The unknown seemed much deeper than I thought. It seemed I hadn''t even begun to scratch the surface of Magic at all.

    This had to be something one could only see when they had ess to the Root!

    "This¡­ this is¡­"

    Wasn''t this supposed to fill me with despair? The very idea that I was nowhere close to solving the secrets of the world? That I was simply something as insignificant as a speck in a branch that expanded into infinity.

    Wasn''t that supposed to be depressing? Yet¡­!

    "... THIS IS AMAZING! I CAN''T BELIEVE THIS!"

    I couldn''t help but wonder just how diverse orpletely new the concepts of these realities would be.

    However, with these many thoughts came another sharp realization. No, it was more like an inquisition¡ªa blot that existed in the image I pictured.

    "So, this Nether¡­ hees from where exactly?" I asked.

    The branches that Aether spoke of were all connected to her. She seemed to be the origin of pretty much everything that existed.

    But, what about the Nether?

    "I never said there was a single tree, did I?"

    My eyes bulged the instant Aether said this. Did this mean that¡ª!

    "There are two primordial trees that spring from Origin. The tree of Life¡ªthe one I govern¡ªand that of Corruption¡ªwhich is ruled by the Nether.

    Life and Death.

    Good and Evil.

    Light and Darkness.

    Just as these elements contradict each other, our trees cannot coexist, and are in always conflict."

    In awe, I silently listened. My mind was ever expanding to this amazing truth, but it seemed the subject weighed heavily on Aether.

    The smile on her face was nowhere to be seen.

    "The Nether Realm of existence is fundamentally different from this one. As a result, we are always¡ªand should always remain¡ªseparate."

    It seemed the Nether didn''t think that was enough. Based on what he said before I was killed, he wanted more.

    "The Nether seeks to consume me and finally reach Origin¡ªthe source from which we both sprung out." Aether gently spoke, her voice taking on an immensely serious tone.

    However, my curiosity could not stop there.

    "What exists in the Origin? Why does he seek it?"

    "@ll T%!^&$"

    I could not properly hear orprehend the words Aether said. It seemedpletely beyond me. Still¡­<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "What did you say?"

    "@ll T%!^&$" She repeated herself, but I still could not hear her words.

    "You do not possess enough capacity to hear such truth that exists beyond the primordial. The Origin is far deeper and older than even the trees. You cannot know it."

    Even though I wanted to have more knowledge, it appeared that I was bound by my own limitations. Knowing more than I did was impossible.

    "Any more questions?" Aether asked gently.

    She must have sensed my realization concerning the futility of my curiosity. However, the fact that Aether was still willing to answer some of my inquiries proved that there were things I was allowed to know.

    And currently, there were two things I was extremely curious about!

    "The original owner of this body¡­ what happened to him in the original timeline? The one Neron erased?"

    My family was very happy to have a brilliant child like me, but¡­ I wanted to know what would have happened if I never got reincarnated.

    "Jared Leonard originally wouldn''t have had any talent in Magic. His constitution barely allowed him to form his Mana Core until he became twelve. Even then, he struggled to cast Spells and it caused a lot of friction within the Leonard household since they needed an heir who could utilize Magic.

    It also caused a dispute between the Alphonse household since the arranged marriage between both families had been for the sake of producing an offspring that could practice Magic and elevate the Leonard family''s name¡­"

    Once Aether was done narrating this body''s future, I realized that my reincarnation was truly a blessing to my family. Knowing that alone brought me great ease and satisfaction.

    My mother and my father¡­ they were helped by Neron''s actions.

    "One more question." I spoke up, my heart pounding a little more than usual.

    After all, this was something I had been mulling over ever since Neron was brought up. Since this was a new timeline, there was someone I wanted to know about¡ªmost especially his activities in the past.

    That person¡­

    "Legris Damien. What kind of person was he before Neron changed the world?"

    ¡­ I needed to know everything about him!

    So far, he was the most persistent person I had ever faced. He also seemed to be popping into my mind, and the many things I found out about the Netherlore household¡ªas well as the Nether Cult¡ªseemed to involve him in some ways.

    Last, but not least, he managed to trap Neron somewhere.

    There was no way he was one ordinary character! At least, by knowing who he had been in the past, I would be able to determine¡ª

    "I do not know."

    Aether''s words stopped my thoughts right in their tracks, and I let out a whisper of disbelief.

    "H-huh¡­?"

    This was a being who knew the secrets of existence¡ªwho exined primordial truths to me a few moments ago. Yet¡­

    ¡­ Legris Damien''s identity seemed to evade her?

    "The man called Legris Damien¡­ I have no idea who he is."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Legris is indeed built differently. I''ve been hinting at this from the third arc.

    I wonder what kind of person he''ll turn out to be.

    Perhaps even I do not know.

 Chapter 790 The Final Point

    "I-I don''t understand."

    Aether was practically the god of all that existed in this whole tree of reality. If I were to use a word to coin it, it would be a multiverse.

    She knew of past events and urrences that would take ce in the future. The branching timelines and alternate realities were all within her scope.

    She saw everything!

    "Yet you don''t know his identity? What does that mean?"

    "It is exactly as I have said. I bear the records of all that has existed and should exist in this tree of existence. It is both puzzling and perplexing that the one called Legris Damien is not a part of that. Though, there appears to be a usible reason."

    From what she said, I was already getting to the same conclusion.

    "He''s not from this tree of existence, is he?"

    "Correct. He most likely originates from the tree of Nether. As a result, he is not within my scope of existence."

    Aether knew Nether because of their conflicting rtionship. However, it was understandable that she wouldn''t know the people who dwelled within his reality.

    "Do you remember when I spoke about an anomaly urring with Neron? How he suddenly reached a point that even I could not handle? I believe it is rted to Legris Damien."

    My eyes widened as I took in this information. If she was right, then Legris was far more dangerous than I initially thought.

    "He managed to disturb the natural order of things and it''s somewhat because of him that Neron''s path became so murky?"

    "Indeed. I can onlyprehend urrences and characters within my tree of existence. Once corruption sets in, my senses are unable to perceive them and my power fails. Legris must have interfered with the natural order of things. The how and why is beyond me."

    Aether appeared distraught¡ªlike how anyone would be if they had a little insect constantly pestering them while being unable to detect or stop it.

    Legris had be a gue that continued to fester as a result of his anomalous existence in her world.

    "But how did he manage to get here? The Nether required all the Arcanas to breach this ce, didn''t he? So how did Legris achieve it?" I muttered, rubbing my chin in confusion.

    I knew Aether also had no clue, but it was something very curious indeed. I couldn''t shake off the feeling that it was something close, yet far from myprehension.

    "Lewis Griffith, be cautious around him. If he was able to corrupt Neron, then surely the danger he poses still exists." Aether gave me a word of caution, and I heeded.

    Though, a question constantly pressed me.

    "If Neron erased the previous timeline, doesn''t that mean everything is reset? Doesn''t that include Legris Damien''s memories? If we calcte that, then¡ª"

    "I''m afraid your reasoning is false. Neron only affects the time in this tree of existence. Time functions differently in the Nether World. It also has different sets of principles for its inhabitants." Aether interrupted my reasoning.

    "Primordial entities like me, who exist beyond concepts like time, are not subject to it. The Nether is another exception to thisw¡ªthough, he currently does not possess his full authority now that he has crossed over."

    ording to what Aether told me, she and the Nether were not subject to thews in their respective realms. However, the way it applied to people like Legris astounded me.

    "Neron reset everything in this world''s timeline, but that has no effect on a being that is originally not from this world. Legris Damien''s  memories were most definitely not erased."

    "If that''s the case, then why would Neron let him be? Why can''t Neron kill Legris and get it over with? Why would Neron erase his own memories?"

    Aether shook her head slowly, smiling at me softly.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "You have killed him before, haven''t you? Yet Legris always seems to appear. Neron also destroyed him in the future timeline. Yet, he never seems topletely vanish. Somehow, Legris has attained something akin to perpetual immortality."

    Even when he was killed, he returned. If someone as powerful as Neron couldn''t kill him, then I was beginning to get scared.

    "You don''t need to fret, Lewis. It is not your burden to worry about Legris Damien. That duty has already been assumed by Neron. Your duty is more immediate." Aether interrupted my thoughts with her soothing tone.

    "I see. The Nether, huh? I have to defeat him. That''s why I''m here."

    "Indeed."

    "H-how¡­?"

    The answer still eluded me. If Neron was certain I could defeat that monster, surely he had a way to execute it. Currently, I was nowhere close to that monstrous entity in power, or anything else.

    "By bing a vessel."

    "H-huh?"

    "Be my vessel. Just as the Nether has a vessel that allows him to manifest himself in this reality, I can select an avatar to represent me and utilize my power."

    I understood instantly. So this was what the n had been all along. Using Aether to fight Nether. There was one issue, though.

    "Can I handle the power?"

    "It seems you understand the implications." Aether answered.

    Of course, I did. Even the Nether''s vessel¡ªthe Cult Leader¡ªhad to absorb all the Arcanas to be the perfect host. And despite that, his body seemed barely able to contain the Nether''s power. It seemed like it kept limating as time passed.

    "I have had two vessels throughout existence¡ªMerlin and Neron. Neron was able to contain my power, thanks to his temporal loophole and Magic prowess at the time, and he was also able to reverse the state of this world. It was at the cost of everything, but that was his desire."

    "What about Merlin?" I asked with my brows furrowed.

    "Merlin was apletely different case. It will do you no good topare yourself to him." Aether sighed. "In the end, this task is up to you."

    Silence pervaded the hall, and it seemed Aether awaited my response.

    "What will your decision be, Lewis Griffith?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The moment of truth approaches and the end draws near.

    What will be of Lewis/Jared? And how will his choice affect all of existence?

 Chapter 791 Darkness Versus Light [Pt 1]

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A brilliant explosion detonated in the sky¡ªa mass of both purple and golden colours. As they tore through the very fabric of space above, everything beneath and even the entire world trembled.

    This was a sh between two beings with phenomenal power. It was a battle between the golden boy and the being of absolute darkness.

    Kuzon against the Nether.

    They had been at this for quite some time¡ªexchanging blows, deflecting each other''s attacks, and disying even more abilities to defeat their foe, yet it always ended in a stalemate.

    "You''re annoyingly persistent." The Nether stated, floating in the air as his majestic form warbled.

    He had been five meters tall when they had started their battle, but now Kuzon could already see some changes. The Nether was at least two meters taller now. His power kept rising as time went on, and the young Midas wished his power was the same.

    Unfortunately, that wasn''t the case.

    ''A few more exchanges, and he''ll be stronger.'' Kuzon thought to himself, narrowing his eyes as he watched his opponent prepare the next barrage of attacks.

    "[Anti-Life Barrage]" The Nether sent forth severalher darts that far transcended the speed of light¡ªand they were all focused on Kuzon.

    Normally, he wouldn''t have had to fear them because of his constitution, but it seemed like the Nether nned on destroying even the Laws that governed his body and granted him his invincible form.

    At the moment, the Nether couldn''t achieve such a thing yet, but Kuzon wondered if that could change in the nearest future.

    ''Let''s not think too hard about this!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In a burst of glorious light, he destroyed all the projectiles, instantly rushing towards the Nether in his golden form.

    >WHOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!!<

    He closed the distance between them in a sh, generating his own projectiles using his Original Magic, which was already evolving into something more.

    "[Arrow Of Destruction]" He whispered.

    Rather than creating multiple projectiles that the Nether would be able to dodge, Kuzon focused his strings towards making just one that possessed more power and speed.

    In a sh, the arrow was created¡ªfarrger and denser than reasonably possible. It also oozed with the golden light and authority that Kuzon possessed.

    "Go." Kuzon smiled,unching it at the Nether.

    "Tch. Begone!"

    >WHUUUSSSSHHHHHHHHH!<

    The dark pulse utilized by the Nether topletely offset the arrow''s impact, or better yet, corrupt it, was suddenly negated by the arrow.

    "W-what?!"

    Kuzon smiled, watching the surprised Nether receive his attack head-on.

    And then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The highly dense burst of energy sent the Nether flying upwards and detonating beyond the clouds. Thanks to Kuzon''s control, he concentrated the explosion at a single point, refusing to let it leak beyond the area of impact.

    If he hadn''t done so, the results would have been disastrous to the surrounding areas.

    "Besides, it''s more effective this way¡­" He murmured, narrowing his eyes at the centre of the explosion.

    "Unfortunately, even this is not enough."

    Just as Kuzon began speaking, a far more powerful andrger Nether emerged from the destruction. The power he was oozing seemed to have quadrupled, and his size was now nine meters tall.

    His glowing purple eyes watched Kuzon, both with irritation and excitement for what was toe.

    Several tendrils danced in the air around him, waiting to beunched, and several other orbs of dark light also floated within his vicinity.

    In terms of power and pretty much everything else, Kuzon could already tell that he had been surpassed. The Nether, which kept evolving, had finally reached another precipice.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It was a point that Kuzon could not attain¡ªat least, not in this state of his.

    "Looks like this is it for me¡­" He smiled, casting a brief nce at his allies fighting against the other enemy.

    It seemed they were having the upper hand there, and it was only a matter of time before they achieved victory. In that case, since they were trying their best, how could he throw in the towel now?

    "You dare look away in my presence?" The Nether''s voice shook the very air and his presence caused thundering storms above to begin to brew.

    Nether permeated their surroundings, and while Kuzon''s Aether was enough to fight off the corruption around him, he could not stop everything.

    Not with the kind of strength his enemy possessed.

    "Time to conclude the theatrics. Young Midas, your power is impressive, but unfortunately for you, this is where you die."

    The Nether raised his hand and above it emerged a dark orb, coated in purple light. The orb suddenly developed a ring around it.

    "[Essence Of Dark Return]" The Nether spoke, ready tounch this new Spell at Kuzon.

    Whether or not the boy could stop it remained a mystery.

    "Die."

    >FSHUUUUUUUUUUU!!!<

    The orb didn''t need any form of speed to close the distance between it and Kuzon. It simply appeared before him. And then¡ª

    >FWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Like a balloon, the ringed orb expanded, consuming Kuzon and the space around him with its malevolent form. As soon as it did that, itpressed slowly, growing unstable as purple light radiated all around it.

    "Implode." The Nether grinned.

    >WHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Hardly making any sound, the dark, purple orb contracted and then emitted a strong ck and purple light that shone brightly across the area. This implosion was to cause everything it consumed to bepletely broken down by its darkness and ultimately destroyed.

    That was the nature of the Spell.

    And yet¡­

    "Why are you still alive?" The Nether''s eyes widened as he looked at the boy called Kuzon.

    No, it wasn''t Kuzon he was staring at.

    It was the entity beside him. There was another being that waspletely shrouded in light¡ªfrom his form, to the energy around him.

    His entire being glowed with white light and his hand was on Kuzon''s golden shoulder.

    "You should be dead!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    We can all guess who it is, can''t we?

    Also, I''d really like you all to support my new book. No, its not Chuunibyou Challenge.

    It''s called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 792 Darkness Versus Light [Pt 2]

    "It took you long enough." The young Midas smiled, ncing beside him to see the friend he''d supposedly lost.

    Tension was still in the air, but something was different about it. Despite the strong pressure the Nether exuded, it felt like nothing when these two stood side by side.

    "Well, betterte than never."

    Both The white being and Kuzon remained unscathed from the implosion that would have ultimately killed them. And now, they were both smiling.

    "I made sure to destroy your soul. Ah¡­ I see¡­ Aether intervened. Why is she so invested in you?" The Nether''s eyes narrowed, and he seemed to be clenching his teeth.

    He didn''t look too pleased, and the climbing rate of his power was enough to attest to that fact.

    "He''s stronger than I remember." The being in white light muttered, the energy within and around him coalescing in one spot as it grew more and more stable.

    "Of course. And you know why." Kuzon replied.

    A brief moment of silence, mixed with uncertainty spread into the air. Both sides¡ªlight and darkness¡ªstood still to observe the one opposite them.

    "Are you ready?" Kuzon spoke, his eyes still on the Nether, as his friend cracked his knuckles.

    "Haha¡­ that''s a strange question."

    A grimoire suddenly appeared in front of him, and what seemed to be a staff of pure light manifested in his hand. Arge mage cloak covered his body, and a hat of the same aesthetic floated on his head.

    All were in pure white, with golden designs marking and outlining the edges and centre.

    Jared Leonard, in this form, was heightened beyond imagination.

    "Why else would I be back?"

    *

    *

    *

    [MOMENTS EARLIER]

    Within the world that transcended description orprehension, Jared¡ªin the form of his past self, Lewis¡ªstood before Aether.

    He had just been told to make a choice; one that could ultimately destroy him due to the intensity of the power he would have to channel

    "If I do this¡­ does it guarantee everyone''s survival?" He asked the celestial entity before him.

    "It all depends on you, and how much power you can control."

    ording to her exnation, even the Nether only possessed a fraction of his true strength. However thanks to his body constantly limating, he would always increase in strength.

    The same applied to her, even if she chose Jared to represent her.

    "If you work together with Kuzon, though, the chances of your sess will increase."

    "Then, how do we stop the Nether for good?" Jared asked, curious.

    "You''ll need to possess more energy than him, and then pry open his dense body to retrieve all the Arcanas. Finally, you''ll have to reopen the gate and send him back to where he came from. As long as he returns to the Nether Realm, this world will be safe."

    It sounded difficult, and it was going to be his hardest mission yet. However, Jared felt a little ufortable with the n as a whole.

    "Is there really no way to destroy him? He''s a constant threat to this world. Destroying him for good seems like the most reasonable solution."

    "It''s impossible to destroy him. You''d be better off sealing him off." Aether sighed, shaking her head slightly.

    If this was what the God of his world said, Jared had no choice but to concede. Still, one other thing remained on his mind.

    "This n of yours¡­ is it possible for me to revamp it?"

    "Revamp in what way?"

    A smile formed on Jared''s face. He looked like someone who had just found the perfect n.

    "Instead of struggling to pry open the Nether to gain ess to the Arcanas¡­ Why don''t I just make new ones?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Since Ciel was able to make them, nothing was stopping him from doing the same.

    "You know their structure, and you also have the power. If you use me as a channel, we can create new Arcanas."

    "I understand that. However, the time and strain it''ll ce on your body is too much. Although, I admit that your n has some merit to it." Aether replied, ushering a moment of silence as both parties fell into deep thought.

    After barely any time passed¡ªnot that the concept existed in this realm¡ªAether''s eyes glimmered with inspiration and a smile formed on her face. She had gotten the perfect solution to the problem.

    "How about we reach apromise?"

    ***

    And with thispromise reached, both parties decided it was time to begin Jared''seback, as well as the power of Aether in its purest form.

    Theeback of Aether Herself!

    *

    *

    *

    "What''s the n? Aether told me you both cooked up something." Kuzon said, prepared for any moment when the Nether would choose to strike.

    "I do. And it''ll require all of us." Jared''s gaze moved towards his friends and allies who were too busy fighting Ciel to even notice his return.

    They must have had quite a decent amount of trust in Kuzon¡ªorplete immersion in their battle¡ªto have missed his resurrection.

    "Don''t tell me¡­ it''s the power of friendship?" Kuzon slightly raised his brow, confused by Jared''s vague terms.

    "No¡­ not that. It''s the power of Arcanas. Just trust me."

    "Fair enough."

    With both of them prepared to take on the Nether, Jared''s grimoire flipped its own pages, and suddenly another copy of him appeared out of nowhere.

    "Neat trick." Kuzonmented.

    "Thanks. Picked up a few things on my way back. Now then¡­ let us begin."

    >WHOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Both the false Jared and Kuzon charged directly at the Nether, who was already preparing multiple copies of the orb he''d used moments earlier.

    The original Jared¡ªthat is, I¡ªstayed back and closed my eyes while focusing on the task ahead.

    Remembering the words Aether told me¡­

    "Rather than create new Arcanas, you can simply attract all of the existing Arcanas, and create the missing ones."

    ¡­ I began the process.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Sorry for the abrupt switch in narration.

    Also, please check out my new book SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody. Link /book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

    Cheers!

 Chapter 793 The Amalgamation Commences [Pt 1]

    ''Without being a  proper vessel, I won''t be able to handle Aether''s power¡­''

    I began the process of attracting all the Arcanas that had not yet been corrupted by the Nether''s influence.

    ''Without sufficient power from Aether, I can''t defeat the Nether.''

    In the end, I still needed to pry open the Nether''s vessel, in order to ensure that he could never return to this world by utilizing the Arcanas in his possession. But my current power wasn''t enough. This was only a tiny fraction of what I needed.

    A mere drop in an all-epassing ocean.

    ''But this drop will be enough for what I''m about to do.''

    "[Call Of The Progenitor]" A Spell I had learned from Aether; it was meant to allow me to easily attract all the Arcanas in the world to my current location.

    The moment I cast this Spell, I began to sense all of the Arcanas that still existed in this ne¡ªundefiled.

    The Magician

    The Pope

    The Lovers

    The Chariot

    Justice

    Wheel of Fortune

    Strength

    The Hanged Man

    Death

    The Tower

    The Star

    The Sun

    Judgment

    "Thirteen of them, huh?" I smiled to myself.

    That took over half of the burden from my shoulders.

    In the process of scanning the world and resonating with these thirteen Arcanas, however, my attention was brought to some rather interesting observations.

    ''Some Arcanas are still in use. Maria is utilizing hers, and so is Elrich. Those fighting Ciel are using theirs as well, albeit to a limited degree.''

    Even Jane was still using the Hanged Man in her office, even though the project was supposed to have beenpleted.

    ''And then, there''s theb¡­'' My senses went to the structure that belonged to Karlia.

    It had been long buried under the sea of destruction, but it was still sturdy enough to not be destroyed. I could sense [The Lovers] Arcana within it.

    ''Karlia¡­'' Before arriving here, Aether put me up to date about everything.

    She showed me how the Martial de God sacrificed himself in a battle against the Nether. It was fortunate that he left behind his Arcana, though I suspected that he must have known we would have use of it in his absence.

    However, the most concerning incident was Karlia''s abduction by the Nether. The Nether took her, no doubt. Aether did not know where, so it had to be somewhere only he could ess.

    The Nether Realm, most likely.

    ''Let''s not get distracted.'' I told myself.

    I had a mission, now that I was back in this world as Jared Leonard. I had to defeat this evil monster that sought to eradicate all of existence.

    ''Once I obtain all the Arcanas, I''ll be able to ess the Nether Realm too. I''ll be able to save Karlia.''

    Having that thought was enough to give a final push to my resolve and Ipleted the Spell.

    Instantly, a white cocoon shrouded me, keeping me in its warmth.

    I could feel countless energy sources lunging at me from various directions. It was only a matter of time before the existing Arcanas arrived, meaning I had to create the remaining based on the time I had left.

    ''Let''s trust in Kuzon, the duplicate, and everyone else. I''ll be back soon.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    *

    *

    *

    Elrich Lendertwale had just arrived at the Eastern Kingdom, where Maria had erected her huge Dome to protect the several denizens around the world who were inside it.

    As promised, he had brought even more powerless people to seek refuge in the dome, and he was about to go to get more.

    The corruption had stopped, but they had no idea when it wouldmence again. To save as many lives as possible, he had to hurry.

    However¡­

    "Huh¡­?"

    He couldn''t teleport!

    Suddenly, even the dome went down. It seemed like his and Maria''s Arcanas had suddenly stopped working.

    "What is going on?" Maria gazed at him, her face instantly paling as she heard the terrified murmurs of those protected by her sanctuary.

    As if that wasn''t enough, the Arcanas in their possession suddenly warbled and left them. In mere moments, the cards rose to the sky and went off in the same direction.

    Shock and fear, mixed with confusion, filled their hearts at that very moment.

    "What could be happening?" Elrich wondered.

    "I have no idea. It must have something to do with the Nether Cult, though!"

    While they were speaking, another bright light emanated from within their midst, and they found yet another card flying in the same direction as the previous two.

    It had the insignia of a multitude of stars, and an entity at the very centre of it.

    "T-the Star? Then¡ª!"

    Maria and Elrich instantly looked in the direction of the unconscious Stefan. Much to their shock¡­ he was nowhere to be found.

    "What in the world is happening?!" Maria eximed, now paralyzed with fear and worry.

    Not only had they lost their greatest source of strength and protection, but now even the prisoner had managed to slip away.

    Locked in mystery and fear, they pondered what to do next.

    *

    *

    *

    "You persistent rats!" Ciel growled as she was surrounded by the alliance that sought to stop her and her master.

    Jane, Aurora, Dulum, Z''ark, Gerard, Jerry, Ivan, Asa, Maro, Beruel, Ana, Edward, Ciara and Lemi were all working together to defeat her. It sounded like a bit of overkill, but it only attested to the level of danger she posed.

    As a matter of fact, if not for her massive deficiency in power, she would have easily defeated all of them despite their number.

    However, thanks to their Arcanas, and herck of sufficient energy to initiate more powerful Spells, she found herself cornered.

    Her irvoyance and the Magic Items she had on, were her only saving grace now. Still, time was running out and she had to score a decisive victory.

    ''For my Master. For the Nether!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel that''s full of action as well as adventure and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 794 The Amalgamation Commences [Pt 2]

    "W-wait, what?"

    "What''s going on?"

    "Why is this happening now?"

    Suddenly, those who possessed Arcanas began to exim just as they were about to gain the upper hand.

    With shock and disbelief on their faces, they watched as their abilities stopped functioning. As though that wasn''t bad enough, they felt the power given to them by the Arcanas leave.

    Ciel watched this sight in surprise, however, she did not break into relief.

    >SHWUUUSSSHHH!!!<

    Their cards left them and lunged in the direction of a white cocoon that now hovered in the air.

    The process was faster than anyone could follow, so before they could do anything, it was practically toote. The Arcanas fused with the white cocoon, along with a couple of others that flew over from their respective locations.

    All the cards flew into the single white object.

    "What in the wor¡ª" Before Ciel or anyone else could properly react, a loud eruption caught their attention.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    This explosion also came from above them¡ªfar beyond the height of the white cocoon and on a scale that none of them could fathom.

    "I-is that¡­?!"

    "N-no way! It really is him!"

    "He didn''t die! I knew it!"

    "H-how is this¡­ this is impossible!"

    While the allied fighters expressed delight, Ciel disyed immense disbelief. What she was witnessing defied her view of her Master and his supreme power.

    "Jared¡­ and Kuzon¡­"

    They all watched as light and darkness danced in the sky above thempletely beyond the realm that mere mortals could reach.

    "... They''re on apletely different level!"

    *

    *

    *

    "You''re pretty good." Kuzon smiled as he flew side by side with Jared''s duplicate.

    It was a mere husk, meant to duplicate his body and nothing else, yet Kuzon could not helpmunicating with it.

    So far, they had tried their best to match the Nether¡ªit was mostly thanks to theirbined efforts and the support they rendered to each other. Although, so far things were at a stalemate.

    "How long will this process of yours take?" Kuzon asked, barely dodging a very dangerous strike from the Nether as he swiftly closed in on the aggravated enemy.

    He did not expect Jared''s duplicate to answer, but to his surprise, the clone nced at him with a disapproving look in its eyes.

    "You shouldn''t be distracted. Carelessness is an enemy." It spoke.

    Kuzon''s eyes instantly popped wide open¡ªnot just because Jared''s clone had spoken, but because of the feminine tone that emerged from his lips.

    It sounded melodious, yet firm. Kuzon instantly recognized that the voice belonged to none other than¡ª

    "Aether?!"

    "Yes. I have decided to control this form in order to offer my help. The most I can do, however, is remotely manipte it. It''s not sufficient for habitation."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Kuzon''s smile widened and his expression brightened instantly. Hearing that he had Aether by his side was more than enough to cheer him up.

    "Aether. So you finally decided to show up." The Nether''s tone caused the air to vibrate and a far more malevolent aura took over the area.

    "Keuk!" Kuzon felt a force pushing him back, but he quickly regained hisposure as he stood beside Aether''s bright form¡ªor rather, her manifestation in Jared.

    "I will not allow your will toe to pass." Her voice echoed from Jared''s lips, and her bright golden eyes shone with determination.

    "That vessel is too weak. I grow stronger with every moment that passes. Even if you stall, there is no point."

    Almost immediately after he spoke, his power climbed to yet another degree.

    "He''s already stronger than the both of us, and it''s difficult to keep up. Any longer and¡­" Aether''s eyes narrowed.

    "Isn''t it ironic that the essence of hope and light is being pessimistic?" Kuzon responded with a smirk to hide his own nervousness.

    "I am not the personification of hope or pure light. Despair exists in this world and so does darkness. I am all of those things. However, I also represent the natural order of things, which ensures that hope triumphs over despair, and light over darkness. I am bnce."

    "You are a fraud." The Nether interrupted with a menacing cackle.

    "Your so-called bnce is wed and you know it. You are only one side of the coin, while I am the other." He added. "The one who actually seeks bnce is me!"

    "What you seek is the destruction of all that exists in your selfish pursuit to be whole. That is not bnce at all. It is simply chaos."

    "Call it whatever you want. No one will be around toin once I get what I desire."

    The Nether''s grin grew wide, and he immersed himself in his growing energy, while the power of his adversaries kept getting smaller inparison.

    However¡ª

    "MASTER! That strange cocoon is taking in all the surrounding Arcanas! I fear they may be up to no good!"

    Ciel''s warning was enough to snap the Nether out of his arrogant rants and break away from the distraction that both Kuzon and Aether tried to offer.

    "You¡­" He growled, instantly shooting his attention towards the cocoon. "What are you up to now?"

    He knew it was impossible for them to seal him away without the power of all the Arcanas. However, the Nether was also well aware of the fact that it was possible to duplicate Arcanas if one had enough power.

    The fact that so many Arcanas were gathered in a single location already meant that something was definitely wrong somewhere.

    He could not allow it!

    "Stop the Nether with all your might. Make sure you protect Jared." Aether spoke, swiftly moving Jared''s duplicate to intercept the iing Nether.

    "Get out of my way!" Instantly utilizing an overpowering pulse, he instantly pushed the duplicate body out of his way, overwhelming it with corruption so that it disintegrated.

    Kuzon appeared before the Nether next, his eyes zing, and his will unmoving. Once again, he faced this creature of darkness, but now he was at a disadvantage.

    However¡­ that didn''t deter him from his mission.

    "No way are you going past me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action, as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 795 The New Emergence

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The st of Nether disintegrated the surrounding area, turning it into nothing but dust. Fortunately, Kuzon remained intact.

    ''I can''t get too close to him because of the surrounding Nether. Even though he technically can''t harm me, I can''t stop him¡­''

    The most disturbing situation, however, was that time was running out.

    ''I can''t maintain this state forever. I also don''t know what to do until Jared returns¡­'' After considering his predicament for some time, Kuzon made up his mind on what to do.

    He decided to stop thinking.

    ''Screw it! Let''s just give it everything I have!''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    In an instant, several golden threads manifested, forming several different things. From des to beasts; these creations of Kuzon each possessed enough dense Aether to cause massive damage.

    Pouring his power into these took a huge strain, especially since it was instant, however, Kuzon kept making them.

    "Fire."

    Several dense artilleries were fired at the approaching Nether, but they bounced off its denseyer of Nether, as even more were fired. Kuzon''s n was to wear down his defences by keeping up the destruction.

    And the n worked!

    After some time, the dense shell of Nether broke, and several more of his attacks pierced through, hitting the Nether consecutively.

    This chain reaction caused a massive explosion to ur and it kept expanding, devastating the entire area in the process.

    Until¡­

    "Enough!" A more powerful dark wave swept the explosion away, revealing an even more powerful version of the Nether.

    "Shit!"

    Before Kuzon could say or do anything more, the Nether approached him and grabbed him by the throat.

    "Keuk!"

    "You little insect¡­" The Nether growled, tightening his hold on Kuzon as he red at him. "Count yourself fortunate that I am yet to be able to corrupt you."

    In a quick move, he flung Kuzon away, sending multiple sts of Nether to keep him busy while he lunged for the white cocoon.

    ''I can''t sense anything within it. Strange¡­'' The Nether thought to himself, approaching it in no time.

    Whether or not he could sense its activity didn''t remove from the fact that it was dangerous, though. And with that in mind, the Nether proceeded to destroy the cocoon.

    But¡ª

    >SQUELCH!<

    Piercing him right in the chest was a golden arrow filled with the densest form of Aether he had experienced thus far.

    "Guh! Y-you¡­" He red at the boy behind him.

    Kuzon was currently out of his golden form and now looked like a regr person. He had barely any energy left and it appeared that he had condensed all of his leftover energy into that single arrow.

    And it worked!

    "Tch! What a nuisance!" The Nether shrugged off the Aether arrow, fully destroying it with his own superior Nether.

    Kuzon, already looking plenty exhausted, simply smiled at the sight.

    "It seems I''ll need to destroy you first. Fortunately, that is possible now." Pointing but a finger at Kuzon, a dense surge of negative energy gathered at the tip.

    It warbled in its ckness and shades of purple hue, and the very air shook as a result of its power.

    "Die." Said the Nether.

    >WHOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    Unable to escape or defend himself against this iing ray of destruction, Kuzon could only think of his friend and the defeat that awaited the Nether.

    ''I have done my part, Jared. Now you do yours.'' He closed his eyes with a smile. ''It''s a shame I won''t get to see it.''

    The st finally washed all over Kuzon, consuming him totally in its murky corruption. Having no defence now, he was bound to die.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    However¡ª

    "Huh¡­?"

    The negative energy was dispelled, and Kuzon was safe and sound in his location. A white orb surrounded him, and it had protected him from sure destruction.

    Before anyone could wonder why or how it happened, someone emerged from the cocoon.

    "Hey¡­" He held the Nether''s monstrous hand with his gleaming white one.

    The cocoon shrivelled away, revealing the emerging person in all his glory.

    He had a pure white, gleaming form with sparks of golden radiation floating around him. With majestic, golden designs on his outfit, his staff, his grimoire, as well as his floating mage hat, he looked utterly majestic.

    However, that wasn''t all.

    Around him hovered twenty-one objects¡ªeach with varying colours. The objects warbled with energy and seemed to resonate with one another.

    They also had orb-like contraptions that surrounded them in their respective energy colours.

    These twenty-one Arcanas floated around the newly emerged person from the cocoon, and something else appeared behind him¡ªimprinted with gold on the white fabric in his back.

    It was a twenty-second card.

    In fine golden print, with marvellous designs surrounding it, the card showed a being who was impaled by a nail and possessed a surrounding robe that floated around it.

    It was The World.

    "... I''m back."

    *

    *

    *

    Once again, I found myself in the same space as thest time¡ªdirectly within the Root.

    "Congrattions, Lewis." Aether told me.

    She was smiling and I instantly realized that the time hade for her to take the wheel in this situation.

    Just as the Nether had taken charge of the Cult Leader''s body, it was preferable that she took charge over mine. That way, she who knew all primordial things would be able to utilize her power to the fullest.

    "You may use my body as you like. As long as you defeat the Nether once and for all." I said, nodding in approval.

    Aether shook her head slightly, still maintaining her gentle smile.

    "It seems you misunderstand. I will not be controlling your body. I will simply dwell within it."

    I did not understand her statement.

    "Think of me as a partner. Just as you have Familiars whom you bond with and utilize Fusion Magic with. I will take on such a role."

    It sounded unbelievable to me at this point, but¡ª

    "You want us to work together¡­ in Fusion Mode?"

    I had to admit, it was very cool!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 796 True Convergence

    "W-which one¡­ are you?"

    As the Nether red at Jared''s new form, he was simply speechless.

    Looking into his eyes, he could find traces of Jared, as well as the Aether locked within that same form.

    It frightened him.

    "We''re abination of both." The strange amalgamation between a mere human and a primordial entity spoke for itself.

    In this new form, Jared Leonard and the Aether had be one. Just like him, they also had all the Arcanas.

    ''So what? It doesn''t matter! We''ll have a simr level of power, at the very least.'' The Nether assured himself, deciding to test the waters.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    As he released his wave of negative energy, Jared smoothly disappeared from his position and appeared beside Kuzon, who was still suspended in his white orb.

    The young Midas had passed out, and Jared seemed to be concerned about his well-being.

    "Watch over him." He spoke to hisrades who were observing everything from their lower viewpoint, before sending the white orb to them.

    It was insulting to the Nether, but he contained his frustration. Rather, a very suspicious and wary expression took over his face.

    "I''d rather not desecrate this ce any more than you already have. There''s an entire expanse of space out there. I''d rather do this there¡­" Jared spoke, his tone a little low.

    "And how does that concern me?" The Nether assumed authority, despite his caution.

    He made sure not to show any sign of weakness, even as he observed the kind of power this new Jared possessed. Even if he was at his peak, Jared was still a human vessel. He could not hold too much power.

    ''Compared to me, who has limated for some time, he just got used to this power. It''s my victory¡­'' He encouraged himself.

    "I will fight wherever I¡ª"

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    With a speed that not even the Nether could exin, he suddenly found himself flying higher into the sky.

    "W-whut?!"

    Even though he tried to stop, he found himself unable to. And as soon as he tried harder to break free from the pressure that pushed him upward, a powerful st from Jared drove him further beyond the clouds.

    Until finally, they got into the vast expanse of space.

    "You were saying?" Jared smiled, appearing before the Nether after creating a considerable distance between them and this home world.

    Tension permeated the void of space as both beings stood opposite each other¡ªhaving at least ten meters of distance between them.

    "How did you do it? How did you manage to overwhelm me? We should be equal in strength, at most." The Nether asked, his eyes narrowing at his opponent.

    He was so close to getting everything he wanted, yet these people were getting in his way once again! And now, the ultimate foe was before him, yet why did he feel so stuck?

    "Equal in strength? No, in terms of sheer power, you should still be superior."

    Exactly! The Nether knew that much.

    So why did he feel so pressured? Why had he been overpowered? It made no sense!

    "However, you''re going to lose based on one major factor." Jared''s voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

    "SPELLCRAFT."

    The instant Jared said this, the truth became obvious to the Nether.

    All he had to do was take a proper look around him and everything suddenly made sense. Throughout the vast space and even going beyond the stars, the Nether could feel energy converging and dispersing.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    He felt his influence dwindle and also realised that he was being boxed in by the surrounding power. And who was the one that controlled this power?

    "Y-you¡­" The Nether could already feel it now.

    Something he hadn''t felt in so long.

    FEAR!

    "That''s right. Using Spellcraft, I can control everything that is made up of Aether by utilizing the Aether in my possession."

    *

    *

    *

    The greater the amount of energy one had, the more one would be able to influence their surroundings. Since I had a veryrge pool now, there was really no limit to my influence in this gxy¡ªat the very least.

    It felt amazing, being connected to the world around me.

    I could see so much, it felt beyond incredible!

    This was my first time out in this void, outside my homeworld. The fact that so many others existed outside of it¡ªas well as the fact that there was even more than one universe¡ªsimply amazed me to no end.

    Still, I focused on the task ahead of me.

    ''I would have had to sacrifice my body to reach the level needed to stop the Nether, but with this, I only need to draw power from the Aether around me.'' A smile crept up on my face.

    Thanks to this loophole, I could exceed my limits many times over and overwhelm the Nether''s current form.

    ~The n hasn''t changed, Lewis.~ A voice surfaced within me, and I recognized her instantly.

    There was no way I could forget Aether''s presence within me. Besides, she was currently the only Familiar I had.

    ~Take out [The World] Arcana from him, at the very least. If possible, remove all the Arcanas he has. Since you possess equal, no even greater power thanks to Spellcraft, it should be possible.~

    "Understood!" I responded, eager to try out this new power in my possession.

    I felt like I was at the very summit of Magic¡ªcapable of bending thews and being one with the surrounding cosmos.

    If this had been me in my past life, I would have been more than satisfied. However, I knew better than to simply be content with this.

    After hearing all that Aether had to say about everything, I couldn''t delude myself into thinking this was the limit.

    What was that thing I couldn''t hear back in the Root? What existed beyond this realm of reality? These other worlds that stretched far into the universe¡­ how did they function?

    After being granted so much knowledge and power, I realized that there was something I sought more than anything else.

    MORE!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 797 The Final Dance [Pt 1]

    I readied myself to begin the fight that would determine the fate of the world.

    It didn''t take me very long.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    My opponent, the Nether, floated a short distance away, his form now shifting and warping in the void. Clearly, he was trying to evolve once more.

    ''Don''t even bother!''

    I reached out with my mind, feeling the surrounding energy respond to my call. I began to draw it towards me, coalescing it into a swirling vortex of power around my body.

    This way, not only my strength, but also my speed, stamina, and everything else about me would improve drastically.

    ''I can now fight on equal grounds!'' I thought to myself.

    The Nether responded in kind, drawing on his own power to create a vortex of dark energy that seemed to suck the light out of the stars. His darkness was restricted to his immediate vicinity, thanks to the density of Aether I made surround him.

    ''You once called my Spellcraft inferior, didn''t you?'' I smiled, drawing nearer to him. ''Let''s see if you still think that!''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Our first head-on sh broke space, causing us to recoil backwards instantly.

    As we circled each other, the gravitational pull between us began to increase, distorting the space around us. I could feel the pressure building, threatening to crush me under its weight.

    It seemed our power was too great for the surrounding area to handle. I had to end this battle¡­ and fast!

    I focused on channelling the Aether around, using its power to counteract the Nether''s negative energy. Just as it could corrupt Aether and destroy it, I could do the same since I had more power at my disposal than he did.

    "Damn you!" The Nether roared with fury, most likely feeling the pressure build even more for him as he lost more of his currently finite power.

    ''We''re not done yet!''

    I unleashed a burst of energy, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Thanks to his vulnerable state at the moment, the attack connected.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The Nether was thrown back, his form twisting and writhing as he struggled to regain his bnce. But he was not defeated yet.

    With a flick of his hand, the Nether unleashed a burst of energy of his own. He seemed to have put a great deal of power into it¡ªfar more than I had prepared for.

    "Guh!" The force of his powerful attack sent me careening backwards, my body tumbling through space.

    I could feel my consciousness slipping away as I struggled to regain control.

    ~Don''t be careless.~ Aether warned me.

    Perhaps I had gotten a little carried away. Sure, I had the advantage in power, but that wasn''t always what decided fights.

    Hadn''t I won against people who were stronger than me before? This was no different!

    "Alright¡­ let''s get even more serious!"

    I focused on channelling Aether once more, transforming it into a series of codes. The energy responded, flowing through me and surrounding me in a protective shield.

    Once my defence was settled, I decided to focus more on my strongest suit, and not simply brute force.

    I had the Arcanas at my disposal, after all.

    "[Dimensional Cage], [Copsing Star], [Exploding Sun], [Grand ck Hole], [Fallen Neb]." I transcribed the Spells as Aether guided me, flipping through the pages of my book to record them.

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The space around us was twisting and warping, distorting the very fabric of reality. While the effects of the Arcanas couldn''t affect the Nether, they could still affect the surrounding area where we fought.

    As long as that was possible, not even he could resist the power I unleashed.

    "KEUK!" The exploding sun erupted within the ck Hole that swallowed him, and a massive ball of heat crushed his dark body.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    He couldn''t escape due to the ss-like cube that surrounded him¡ªwhich I made very dense with the power of Spellcraft.

    "The power of this very world rejects you¡­" My eyes glowed brightly, and every single orb behind me followed suit.

    "... You never stood a chance!"

    In ast-ditch effort at resistance, the Nether roared, tearing through everything that bound him. He was going through yet another evolution, but that was going to be his demise.

    "I don''t think so."

    Stretching my hand forward, I sped my fist in mid-air¡ªor rather, space¡ªinstantly halting his transformation.

    "W-what¡­?!" The Nether''s eyes instantly bulged, feeling a shock course through his body no doubt.

    "I have to thank Kuzon for that arrow¡­" A grin formed on my face as I felt the resonance between my Arcanas and the ones within the Nether.

    "Looks like this is the end."

    "W-WHAT? HOW? NO WAY! NOOOOOO!!!"

    Sending all my Arcanas towards the Nether while projecting [The World] in front of me, I sent the surrounding Aether flying towards the Nether.

    First, I had to pierce his body to get rid of his Arcanas.

    What better way to do that than to use my own?

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    The inrush of so much energy nearly overwhelmed me, but I kept pushing. My body began to ache, and I could feel it reaching its limit, but I continued going.

    "S-STOP IT! STOOOOOPPPPP!!!"

    Finally, with a burst of energy that seemed toe from the very depths of my soul, I unleashed a final, devastating attack.

    The Nether was thrown back, his dark form flickering and fading away from the host it inhabited.

    As soon as the Nether left the Cult Leader''s body, I got to see how emaciated and utterly disgraceful he looked.

    His body was barely a bag of bones, and dark marks of corruption pervaded his skin. He looked absolutely miserable, even as his tired eyes stared at me.

    "K-kill... Me¡­" He whispered, feeling the coldness of space course through him in his vulnerable state.

    "Of course¡­" I replied.

    I was going to kill him either way.

    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" The misty form of the Nether roared as it tried to return to the host that stood a few distances from him.

    It was toote for him, though.

    Using my Arcanas to resonate with the ones in the Cult Leader, I generated the ultimate resonating dissonance.

    In essence, an explosion of sheer power.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 798 The Final Dance [Pt 2]

    The Nether was just within range.

    With him and his host, already trapped within the range of the st, I nned onpletely destroying both of them.

    ''I''ll eliminate the threat once and for all.''

    The thought of Karlia shed through my mind, causing me to hesitate a little. However, I highly doubted this wicked being would be honest with me about her location.

    Also, to what end? Why would he even choose to tell me anything?

    In the end, it was more detrimental to keep him alive.

    ''I''m supposed to send him to his dimension, but¡­'' With two versions of the Arcanas present, I didn''t simply want the misty Nether to return home unharmed.

    I wanted it gone for good.

    ''I know this is only a portion of it, but if I extinguish himpletely, then¡­''

    And it worked!

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The explosion was verypact¡ªas I tried to ensure that it stayed within a particr range, but at the same time, destroyed my target.

    In his misty state, the Nether didn''t stand a chance at all.

    It consumed him, the Cult Leader, and anything within a few kilometres of the center. Of course, I ensured to keep my distance so that I could watch the magnificent eruption of multicoloured light.

    It was beautiful.

    "It''s over¡­ I win¡­" I muttered, feeling exhaustion course through me.

    My glowing white form dissipated, and I could feel my consciousness slowly drifting. Before Ipletely fell into an unconscious state, I considered it best to return to my homeworld.

    I wouldn''t be able to survive here for even a second longer if I became weakened to the point of passing out.

    ~Lewis¡­ I warned you¡­~

    Upon hearing Aether''s dreadful tone, I paused. Her voice sounded very low, and considering how worn out my body was, it was probably my waning connection with her that was to be med.

    ~... You should have gone with the original n.~

    I realized that. However, by destroying every portion of the Nether that managed to leak through, the results were the same. When weighing the two options, I found it unjust that the Nether wouldn''t suffer for its acts.

    Besides, the n worked. I ensured I calcted everything, and there was no way the Nether could survive such a powerful explosion.

    "Huu¡­"

    My body froze the moment I heard a rough, distorted toneing from the center of the explosion.

    "... I have to thank Ciel for this one."

    My eyes bulged, and my tired body shook a little. I was confused, but the creeping fear began to make me terrified.

    Out of the dispersing aftereffects of the explosion, emerged the Nether, in apletely new form.

    He had a ragged state¡ªlike the form of a wild monster. His shabby ck hair floated above him, and more purple aura coursed through him.

    To be honest, this seemed like a major downgrade,pared to his previous forms, but he still appeared as menacing as ever. In fact, one could say he looked the most monstrous in this new state.

    "H-how¡­?"

    ''Why isn''t he dead? What''s with that new form? He shouldn''t have that! No way!''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    As the Nether cackled, triumphantly emerging from what would have been his end, he didn''t pay mind to me, but his current body.

    "This is a far more inferior vessel. It''s weaker than thest, and it''s unstable with no Arcanas. I can only use it as a temporary measure, and I''ll have to manage my power so this form doesn''t get destroyed¡­" He muttered.

    His tone cracked and warbled, like a broken source of ominous aura. The Nether he emitted was far less than his previous body, but it was still considerably massive.

    At the very least, it could still kill me, and everyone else on Earth.

    ~You were warned, Lewis. You shouldn''t have been careless.~ Aether hounded me with the truth of my carelessness, causing my heart to tighten in guilt.

    And then fear.

    ''I messed up.'' My eyes bulged.

    "Jared Leonard¡­ you almost got me." The Nether finally looked at me, his eyes fiery purple and ck.

    I shivered at his gaze.

    "What will you do now? Not only have you lost the means to stop me, but you''re pitifully weak, right now." He cackled in arrogance.

    Unfortunately, he was right.

    I already destroyed the Arcanas by resonating them with each other and offsetting the bnce to create an effective dissonance¡ªcausing enough of an explosion to swallow him in it.

    Thanks to the absence of the other Arcanas, I couldn''t utilize [The World], and I also couldn''t recreate all the other Arcanas since I was already so spent. Plus, it did take some time to make everything.

    But, I had already calcted all these aftereffects before, and I''d been fine with everything because of my confidence in the Nether''s destruction. It had been my sure bet, and I''d thought that I would definitely win.

    So, what happened?

    ''He mentioned thanking Ciel. Did she do something? Damnit!''

    Ciel had been nning this for so long. Perhaps she''d had yet another body for the Nether in case of emergencies.

    If that was the case, then I was totally screwed.

    ''What should I do?'' Panic spread through my body as the Nether drew closer to me, having a terrifying presence that brought me closer to passing out.

    My body could barely move, but I was too frightened to go back to my world and sentence everyone there to death.

    "You fool. You messed with me. Now, I''m going to kill you and everyone you love." He moved even closer, excitement all over his twisted face.

    This was bad. Even though everyone relied on me¡­ I had still managed to screw things up at the very end.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Character arts and illustrations (including the Nether''s forms, Aether, and other characters) are in the Discord Server. The link will be ced below.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 799 The Light Of Salvation

    Darkness closed in on me; like a predator did to its prey.

    Paralyzed with fear, overwhelmed by guilt, and full of exhaustion, all I could do was powerlessly watch as my enemy approached.

    I knew for a fact that death would soon follow¡ªand not just for me, but for all of existence.

    "Hehehe." The Nether cackled. "I''ll be sure to¡ª"

    Suddenly, it stopped taunting and moving closer to me. It was just as abrupt as it was shocking. I was surprised by this, but the next statement that came from his crooked lips shocked me even more.

    "Y-you¡­ why are you here?"

    His eyes were not on me, but something behind me¡ªsomething that Instilled fear within him.

    "You did well, Jared¡­ or should I call you Lewis now?" A familiar voice danced in my ears, and it wasn''t until the sound was uttered that I noticed someone was behind me.

    ''T-this person¡­'' I tried to look behind me, but my body had grown too stiff to listen to mymands.

    A hand softly touched my shoulder, instantly spreading warmth and energy through me. I felt this jolt of life course through my body, and I felt good as new¡ªalmost as if¡­ everything had been reversed.

    My eyes bulged, and I swiftly turned behind me to see the face of my saviour and the source of fear for the Nether.

    It was Neron!

    "Good work holding on for so long. Apologies for being a littlete."

    No, in my opinion, he was right on time. Everything had just been about to go into disarray, but I suddenly felt a tinge of relief.

    "This reminds me of Ainrk." I thought aloud.

    Back then, even when I failed to defeat Kahn, he came to my rescue. At that time, all I''d felt was relief andfort that he came to save me and everyone else.

    However, currently¡­ I felt a lot of frustration.

    ''I could have handled it well. Yet, I messed up!''

    Unlike my battle with Kahn, I''d truly had the overwhelming advantage in this fight against the Nether. Yet¡­

    "There''s no need to me yourself." Neron''s voice echoed in the vast expanse. "I already knew this would happen, anyway."

    My eyes widened and at that moment I realized something, I discovered that Neron was far different from what I remembered.

    And I meant that literally.

    He had flowing white hair, which seemed far more majestic than before, and his pure skin radiated such light and splendour that it made my heart race. His eyes especially drew me in, disying various colours as he smiled brightly.

    He represented such purity that I found it impossible to look away from him.

    "You did a wonderful job so far, Jared. You can leave the rest to me."

    Thanks to his power, I felt just as powerful as before. Sure, I still didn''t have the Arcanas, but I could still fight. However, I decided to listen to him and watch instead.

    To my surprise, I no longer felt frustrated by this oue. Rather, I was curious and trembling with anticipation. A question coursed through my mind as I watched him move from behind me.

    ''What will he do?''

    *

    *

    *

    ''Why is he here? I was assured that he was already dealt with. And he''s in that form of his? Damnit!''

    The Nether felt a strong sense of dread as he watched the conversation between Neron and Jared.

    There was only one reason why the two could freely discuss in his presence¡ªand that was simply due to the power they possessed.

    Or, more specifically, the power Neron possessed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''What should I do now?''

    He couldn''t run. He couldn''t hide. It would be more than foolish to fight.

    Should he just give up and try again another time? The Nether was caught between so many emotions, and he felt a very strong sense of frustration.

    ''But I''m so close already! Closer than I''ve ever been! This can''t be!''

    He was a Primordial Entity. The very personification of corruption and chaos. How could he be wary¡ªno, scared¡ªof a mere mortal?

    The answer existed in the rewritten future¡ªhow this very mortal had vanquished him.

    ''He''s dangerous!''

    "What''s wrong? Not happy to see me?" Neron''s voice suddenly echoed through the air, causing the Nether to shiver even more.

    "I would havee out to y with you earlier, but I had to deal with Legris first. It''s rather unfortunate, but he managed to catch on quickly and escaped before I couldpletely destroy his Limbo."

    The Nether was well aware of this Legris Damien. He was a special case¡ªsomething akin to an oddity, even in the Nether Realm.

    About a millennium ago, however, this Legris suddenly vanished, removing all traces of his existence from his tree.

    And it wasn''t just one branch. No, all the Legrises in his infinite branches disappeared.

    ''He defeated Legris¡­'' The Nether shuddered even more.

    "Now that things have reached the climax, why don''t we finish this?" Neron smiled, the power within him rising as he spoke.

    The question of what Neron was going to do assailed him. If it was to destroy him, the Nether was sure that this weakened form of himself wouldn''t cause Neron a bit of trouble to destroy.

    If that was the case, however, wouldn''t he have done so already?

    "What are you nning?'' The Nether asked.

    "You''ll see." He simply replied. "First, the preparations."

    With a snap of his fingers, he caused three bright sparks of light to appear around him. His grin grew wider and his eyes gleamed with delight.

    "I''ve missed you three."

    The bright sparks of light hummed, and they all fused with him once more, causing a massive change to ur within him instantly.

    "You¡­ why are you going this far?" The Nether asked in a trembling tone.

    The brilliance of Neron''s light swarmed the vast space and the pressure outmatched anything anyone had been able to disy thus far.

    "Why are you using three Constetions at once?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Character arts and illustrations (including the Nether''s forms, Aether, and other characters) are in the Discord Server. The link will be ced below.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 800 The Grand Idea

    Constetions were the most powerful of Familiars.

    There exists a cadre of Familiars; ranging from The Common Grade, The Noble Grade, The Imperial Grade, The Fable Grade, The Legendary Grade, and The Transcendent Grade.

    Out of all these grades, Constetions were the only ones in the Transcendent Grade.

    The Phoenixes who were known to be the most powerful in the world were in the highest level of the Legendary Grade and the Transcendent grade was often mistakenly attributed to them.

    True Transcendent Grades, however, existed beyond the bounds of the world. They existed beyond the reaches of space and were spread across the universe.

    The myths were made up of twelve Constetions, though it was unknown if they really existed. However, if they did¡­

    ¡­ Then they would be among the most powerful beings ever to exist.

    *

    *

    *

    Yet, Neron possessed three of them.

    Utilizing Grand Fusion Mode, he harnessed their power and transformed his already-perfect state into an even better one.

    "Libra. Sagittarius. Capricorn." He whispered as he ascended to a new form.

    He now had flowing white apparel, with what appeared to be a  scale floating on his right shoulder, an arrow on his left one, and a majestic incorporeal clock behind him.

    His white hair grew even longer and a strange design appeared on his face, around his eyes and on his forehead, resembling a universal concept that defined exnation.

    Finally, in front of him appeared a concept simr to a small universe. It was woven to resemble an orb, but it literally depicted the cosmos, gxies, and innumerable stars within it.

    "Do you know what happens when you have so much power? Who am I kidding, you definitely do¡­" Neron began, smiling at the paralyzed Nether.

    "To be honest, even with this power, I wouldn''t stand a chance against yourplete form, in your realm, now would I? Fortunately, the conditions are just perfect here."

    The universe before him slowly began to warble and move¡ªthe stars shifting.

    "Not only are you mortal here, so long as the right conditions are established, you are also subject to certainws. In your previous body, the Arcanas negated the effect of Law, but in this state of yours, you''re more than vulnerable."

    Perhaps it was Neron''s intention for Jared to fail all along. After all, that would ce the enemy in a body that had more weaknesses than the one before it.

    But to what end?

    "Even now, without [The World] connecting you to your world, you should still be able to resonate with it. Also, your original body still has a connection with this one."

    "What do you n to do about it?" The Nether''s eyes narrowed on Neron, cautiously nning what he would do based on the response given.

    "Just as you destroyed all of Jared''s Souls based on this resonating link, I n on finally eliminating you. Jared is right, after all. You''re too much of a threat to simply seal you away until the next event, and the event after that."

    The Nether would somehow find a way to return¡ªperhaps not in their generation, but in another one. Or what if he chose another timeline?

    As long as his threat hovered above their world, he was more than an active danger. Thus, the best method would be to destroy him.

    But how?

    "That''s impossible. I existed before even time began. You can''t destroy me. Doing so would mean copsing the whole Nether Tree, and¡ª"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "The Tree sprouts from the Root, which originates from Origin, where ''All Things'' lie. You are simply a supervisor, created from Origin to monitor and prune your world as you see fit. Your end will be of little consequence to the continuing of the Nether Realm."

    "Tch. It''s still impossible! I cannot be destroyed. I exist beyond the bounds of¡ª"

    Neron sighed loudly, interrupting Nether''s angry rant. It wasn''t quite clear who the Nether was trying to convince¡ªNeron, or himself.

    "Your main self is currently incorporeal¡ªsimr to a Soul. That is why you require an active agent to act beyond the realm of the Root. If I hijack this body of yours and use that Resonance against your defenceless soul, what do you think will happen?"

    "You can''t destroy me!"

    "I can''t truly. However, I wasn''t really going to. You are a primordial entity that has existed since time was founded."

    "E-exactly! I am¡ª"

    "Why don''t I simply return you to the state before that?" Neron grinned wider.

    An air of unease followed his statement and dead silence took over.

    "Time began to exist at a point. That coincides with when the world BEGAN, and you BEGAN to exist in a reality with time. What if I returned you to whatever form you were in before time, and ensure you never have a ce in a temporal reality?"

    It was aplicated venture. Too ambitious for a mere human to propose. The dawn of time marked the very start of everything that existed.

    The nck Time.

    If Neron was going to undertake this task, he would need to return to a specific point in time, kick the Nether out of it, and shut the doors within a nck time, thus technically destroying the Primordial entity from everything that existed simply by ensuring it never did, to begin with.

    Unfortunately, this task¡­

    "It''s impossible! You don''t have enough energy for that! No one does!"

    The amount of time Neron would need to bypass was something no mortal could ever attain. It defied thews of the world! Not even Aether could grant him such power because his body wouldn''t be able to handle it.

    Besides, doing that would mean he could even destroy Aether if he wanted. That was too dangerous a power for any one person to possess.

    "Haven''t you heard the popr saying? Magic exists to make the impossible possible." Neron smiled, turning back to look at the blond-haired boy who was watching him intently.

    "You''re going to want to check this out, Jared. It should be fun."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Character arts and illustrations (including the Nether''s forms, Aether, and other characters) are in the Discord Server. The link will be ced below.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 801 The Endless Stream

    Fun?

    As I watched Neron and listened to all he said, I wasn''t even sure what to think or believe anymore.

    It all sounded too good to be true.

    However, when he quoted me and gave me that confident smile, I instantly knew he was up to something. But what exactly?

    ''Aether, can he achieve it?'' I asked her.

    ~No. Even with this phenomenal amount of power, he doesn''t have nearly enough to reach the very dawn of time. That would make his power almost equivalent to ours.~

    Then how was he nning on achieving it?

    ~There is more than one way to do something. When you do not have enough power for a Spell, what do you use?~ Aether asked.

    "S-Spellcraft¡­" I slowly answered.

    But, if that was the case, and Neron used Spellcraft, would he still be able to obtain the energy he needed? Wouldn''t that mean he''d have to suck all the Aether around him dry, adversely affecting the universe itself?

    ~The surrounding Aether of one universe isn''t nearly enough to aplish this feat. Besides, he already has a universe''s worth of energy at his fingertips. There''s also the fact that Neron can''t contain all that energy.~

    The more I conversed with Aether, the more I realized how absurd this venture of his sounded. I mean, Neron was phenomenally stronger than anything I could have imagined.

    However¡­ he wasn''t enough!

    Even he couldn''t defy thews of equivalent exchange¡ªand he needed the right amount of energy to effect the right amount of change.

    "I don''t have enough energy. I can''t do it. I am limited." Neron''s voice echoed in my ears as he made a mockery of our concerns. "Those are all valid concerns."

    However, Neron wasn''t stopping.

    Light from his universal construct shot towards the Nether, shrouding it in its light. At this point, Neron was in control of his body.

    "If I am limited by my amount of energy, all I have to do is ensure I don''t run out. If I am limited by the durability of my frame, all I have to do is ensure I never perish. In essence¡­ I could simply loop it all."

    My eyes bulged once I heard this.

    ~Indeed. His n relies on that. The fact that he can simply reset his body to ensure he never takes damage while still churning out a stable supply of energy without running out.~

    What sort of loophole was that? Howe I never thought of this?

    If Neron was able to achieve this feat, and constantly pour out infinite Aether, with no limits¡­ then he had far transcended what I currently thought of him.

    He was quite literally unlimited!

    *

    *

    *

    "Let us begin." Neron spoke softly, allowing himself to bepletely plunged into the stream of time.

    However, it wasn''t his time¡ªbut the Nether''s time.

    The stream appeared more like a raging sea¡ªdeep, dark, and murky.

    Neron felt like he could get lost in its depths if he wasn''t careful and the moment he ran out of energy, he would drown.

    However, how could he stop now that he hade so far?

    ''Everything¡­ everything had been for this moment!''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    And so, he initiated the backward swim against the forward movements of the tides of time.

    In one fell swoop, a massive chunk of his Aether was consumed¡ªnot only because he was using time in such a way, but because Nether constantly ate through his energy. As a result, he was burning through way more power than normal.

    But so what?

    In an instant, his power was restored.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It was taken away, then restored. Over and over again, this process continued near infinitely.

    Thanks to the power provided to him by the Constetions, his frame was able to handle the strain, and the power he had ess to radically increased.

    All the cards were on the table, and he just had to keep ying. Everything depended on his will, as well as strong determination.

    ''I started all of this. I have more than enough!''

    The stream was long¡ªfar longer than anything that should have been allowed to exist. Even though he kept at it for a very long period, he could not see the end of the stream.

    It seemed like an infinite eternity.

    Yet¡­ he kept up with the flow, pushing the flow downwards, and erasing anything that existed from that point onward.

    By pushing the flow past the border of time, he would achieve his desire.

    The extermination of the Nether.

    Forever.

    *

    *

    *

    Finally, after pushing for so long, he reached it.

    The dawn of time itself¡ªwhen all that existed and didn''t exist began.

    It was a wall¡ªone that seemed likeplete emptiness. Beyond it would be the world before anything. Before even nothing.

    Beyond this ce was Origin.

    With the flow concentrated at this very point, all he required was one final push, and his goal would beplete. However, Neron felt drawn towards the realm that existed out of the bounds of everything that could be known.

    ''All Things'' waited for him beyond this juncture.

    "No." He whispered, closing his eyes slowly. "No more¡­"

    Hardening his heart and giving one final push with everything he had, he sent the flow beyond the wall and used the clog of time to ensure this process was never initiated.

    "This loop will constantly ensure this process stops at this point and reverts every single time."

    This was the hallmark of his n.

    "The work is done." He sighed, smiling softly, his eyes still closed.

    Memories of his past, and the origin of his path, flooded his mind. The mistakes he had made to get to this point, and the errors he''dmitted, which caused the ruin of everything.

    He could only atone for everything by doing this.

    "You were right, Serah." He smiled, remembering the woman he loved with his whole heart.

    "We won."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The Nether has been defeated, and the WAR is finally over.

    However, is that truly the case? Is this the end of everything?

    Perhaps.

    This could be the happy ending we''ve all been waiting for.

 Chapter 802 The Perfect Aftermath

    ~Congrattions, Jared. Neron seeded.~

    The dark mist parted right before my eyes, and I could no longer sense any aura of Nether around me.

    Everything that existed, that I could feel and sense, in the vast expanse of space¡­ was pure Aether.

    "He really achieved it." I muttered.

    The Nether was gone and the threat he could ever pose to this reality¡ªand others¡ªwas removedpletely.

    "Neron¡­ really did it."

    I wanted to be the one to end the Nether, but after looking at all the conditions, I realized that it could have only been achieved by Neron. I was simply a cog in the machine¡ªa piece in the puzzle to put all the necessary conditions in ce.

    Surprisingly, I wasn''t frustrated.

    A strange sense of satisfaction washed over me as I looked towards my world from the distance where I stood.

    It looked so small, yet so vast.

    Thanks to Spellcraft and Aether''s presence within me, I could feel everything there. I could see my allies all safe, their faces disying relief. Ciel had already been defeated as well.

    My gaze trailed away from them and went in the direction of the Eastern Kingdom.

    All the denizens were safely there, but my focus was more on one girl in particr.

    "Maria¡­" I whispered in relief.

    She didn''t seem to be harmed in any way. That was more than enough to soothe my heart.

    ''However¡­''

    It didn''t change the fact that so many people had lost their lives. It was beyond tragic to see the aftereffects of the war on a global scale. As I took in everything at once, the satisfaction I once felt began to dissipate.

    So much death.

    So much carnage.

    So much chaos.

    "Aether¡­ these people¡­ is it possible to¡ª"

    ~Their Souls aren''t with me.~

    My eyes widened in shock as I heard this.

    "W-what are you talking about?"

    All souls belonged to Aether. Once people died, they became one with her. Yet¡­ ah, how could I forget the corrosive effects of Nether!

    Were their Souls destroyed before they could make it to her?!

    ~No, that''s not it.~ Aether''s voice interrupted my thoughts, sending me into more confusion.

    If it wasn''t due to Aether or Nether, then what could have happened?!

    "I can exin." A voice suddenly appeared behind me, as a warm touch tingled my shoulders.

    I swiftly turned back and much to my relief, it was Neron.

    "You''re back! You did it. That''s¡ª"

    "It was all part of the n, Jared. I apologize for using you as a pawn. It is understandable if you despise me for deceiving you for so long. It was all to ensure that everything went ording to n."

    Even though Neron was shrouded with such unfathomable power, one that dwarfed even the one I had ess to, he was still the same person I remembered.

    His gentle face never changed and a warm smile spread across his face.

    "It''s as you said before. I was necessary. That''s all there was to it." I returned his words with mine.

    I knew exactly what I would have done in his position. I knew what I would sacrifice for the greater good.

    "It was well worth it, but¡­ what did you mean by your earlier statement?"

    Aether seemed to be aware of the current issue that gued my thoughts and so did Neron. It had to do with those who had perished as a result of the chaos.

    "I suppose it''s time you received the memory that was taken from you, Jared. Once you remember, it''ll all make sense." Neron spoke, coursing energy through my body.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    In an instant, everything turned nk.

    And then deep within the recesses of a seemingly endless pit, a new light emerged.

    *

    *

    *

    I saw it all.

    The n that I had devised with Neron¡­ about how the war would y out and how we could achieve victory.

    "Use your Time Immersion to flow upstream into the flow of time and see all the casualties. That way, we''ll know the ones that will die and the ones that won''t." I had said.

    Since it was impossible to cater for the Souls of everyone in the Alliance and to form Soul Brands with everyone, this was the best I could have done.

    "We''ll use Soul Brands on them to siphon portions of their Souls. I''ll preserve them in the Soul Container in my possession."

    That way, even if their Souls werepletely corroded by Nether, there would be backup Souls left to rely on.

    "Afterwards, use [The Fool] to erase the memories of all the candidates whose souls we will be storing. That way, the future won''t be changed."

    I had even asked him to erase my memory, just in case.

    Only Neron remembered this task, so that when the time came¡­ we would return all of the dead back to life.

    *

    *

    *

    "That time has arrived, Jared. Would you like to do the honours?" Neron nodded in encouragement.

    I understood what his gesture meant.

    Even though I wasn''t able to deal the final attack on the enemy, I could still help all the dead beings who required revival. With the power I currently possessed with Aether, it was possible.

    ''This will be thest thing we do together, won''t it?'' I smiled, preparing myself to unleash the swelling power within me.

    ~Indeed. This was only a temporary arrangement, after all.~

    I couldn''t deny how much I was going to miss the feeling that currently swirled within me. Being one with the world around me and being capable of so much power.

    It was amazing beyond words.

    "Very well. I''ll do it."

    Once I made up my mind, I summoned my Soul Container and poured out all the stored fragments back into the world.

    Once I did, I initiated the process of [The Hanged] man, which was stored in my Great Sage''s Memoir.

    Back in the world, bodies began to form, and life swiftly became restored.

    Thanks to Aether''s help and Spellcraft, the process was swifter than I expected.

    In no time at all, everyone was revived.

    And so, as the world was renewed and a new aftermath greeted me, I felt Aether leaving my body while her final words soothed my heart.

    ~You did it, Jared. You saved the world.~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Another happy ending.

    It seems all is well¡­

 Chapter 803 Unfinished Business

    In a deste corner of the world, a being could be seen running desperately.

    Her legs were shrivelled up and they shook so much with every step that it seemed like she would fall at any moment, but¡­

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    ¡­ She kept running.

    Her dishevelled white hair and tired-looking eyes spoke well of her exhaustion. Her pale skin and her emaciated figure clearly disyed herck of nutrition¡ªor perhaps the deprivation of the energy she desired for sustenance.

    Her bulging eyes took in everything in front of her as she kept running desperately, sweeping through the dark forest that surrounded her.

    "There''s no need for you to be in such a hurry." A man''s voice suddenly echoed through the vast sea of dark vines.

    The dishevelled woman instantly froze dead in her tracks. She recognized the voice that spoke to her and it caused her to instantly turn around.

    Her eyes bulged the moment she saw the man who stood in front of her.

    "My, my, how the mighty has fallen. You''re a sight for sore eyes¡­ Ciel." He spoke to her in a very arrogant manner.

    One would think of this person as impudent, but he had a very good point.

    This old, dishevelled, ugly, and drained hag before him had once been the beautiful and pure Ciel that ruled the Nether Cult from the background. Yet, one look at her current state would make that past reality seem like a lie.

    Perhaps it was because she recognized the terrible position she was in that she did notin about the man''s gaze on her. Or perhaps¡­

    "L-Legris. I thought you perished."

    ¡­ She understood the kind of person who was speaking to her.

    "That''s impossible. I did suffer a great deal of damage from Neron, though. A great deal of my ns will suffer a huge hit as a result of it, as well." He smiled, taking a step forward.

    Ciel took a step back almost instantly.

    She had lost a great deal of her power in the earlier conflict and it was only thanks to her backup n that she''d been able to transfer a portion of her soul to the current pseudo-body that housed her.

    Not only did she have no internal Nether left, but she was in a race against time. If she didn''t hurry and make a better body, then this one would eventually perish and fade away.

    ''I refuse to die. Not yet! Not while my Master needs me!''

    Yes, her n had failed thanks to the constant interference of her enemies, but how could she allow that to stop her?

    Even though her son had perished, and even though the Nether had been banished from the world once more, she was never going to give up.

    ''S-scratch! I''ll start from scratch!'' Her thoughts kept echoing as she red at Legris.

    "Don''t bother, Ciel. The Nether isn''ting back¡ªnot after Neron executed whatever n he had in mind."

    "W-what are you¡ª?!"

    "I know Neron well enough to know that he''s thorough. I''m even amazed that I escaped from his grasp. It makes me wonder if¡­ no, it can''t be. In any case, you failed me, Ciel."

    "We had an arrangement. I fulfilled my end of the deal. If anything, you''re the one who failed to get rid of Neron!" Ciel barked with frustration and anger.

    "Welp. Fair point. Guess we both flopped this time."

    Ciel heaved a sigh of relief once she heard this. Legris had been about to heap the burden of failure on her, but how was it her fault?

    It was all due to the bastards that kept getting in her way!

    "It''s not toote. Our goals still align. We can start over. We can do it if we work together." She desperately smiled at her long-time coborator.

    "Oh, I don''t know¡­"

    Ciel''s face paled even more when Legris shrugged in disinterest.

    "You think I don''t know what you want to do? I know you possess a fraction of Nether essence. You intend to cultivate it so you can have ess to him, don''t you?"

    "H-how do you¡ª"

    "Well, I''m not interested in your crazy love drama. I''m not even interested in this short-sighted goal of destroying this world, or whatever notion you have of my intentions."

    Ciel''s eyes were bloodshot at this point.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Legris had always been strange and mysterious, but she''d always been able to count on him as one of her pawns due to their joint ambition. She wanted the Nether to return and he had a twisted ideology of chaos.

    Together, they could achieve their goals.

    That was what she''d thought.

    Yet¡ª!

    "T-then¡­ what do you want?"

    Even with his arrogance, Legris was still useful. She didn''t know how he knew so much, but he had always been very perceptive and knowledgeable about many things.

    ''As long as he is on my side, then¡ª''

    "It''s presumptuous of you to think you can ''use'' me, Ciel." Legris''s voice interrupted her thoughts.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Before she could properly respond to him, Legris moved like a blur and grabbed her by her face. He easily raised her up, smiling so menacingly that she thought she would die from his look alone.

    Her bloodshot eyes widened further, revealing veins, while her lips leaked out helpless whimpers.

    "You''re still useful to me, Ciel, so I won''t be killing you." Legris spoke calmly.

    "Your Original Magic¡­ I''ll require it for the next phase of my n."

    Ciel could feel such an insurmountable amount of pressure from Legris that she didn''t know what to think. The intensity of his Nether made her frightened beyond description.

    "The only reason you were able to escape their perception is because of me. It''s also the reason they can''t spot us now. You owe me your life, Ciel."

    She couldn''t help but whimper in submission.

    "Don''t worry. If you''re good, I''ll take you to where your Master most likely is. However, first, we need to achieve the first phase of the n."

    What could that be? What sort of atrocity was Legris nning?

    "You should have realized it by now¡­ how annoying Neron and his allies are." Legris''s twisted smile widened as he spoke. "Well, it''s time to get rid of them."

    A wave of dark mist swept around them, swallowing the two into a brand-new realm of darkness.

    "It will take some time, but¡­ I suppose it''s time for me to make my move."

    And then, everything faded to ck.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Okay, so we''re drawing closer to the end of this Arc.

    If you''re all confused by all that has happened, or what will happen going forward, then you can always reach out to me on Discord.

    As for Legris Damien, I suppose we could all tell that he was up to no good. I''m excited to see how far he hase since his first introduction in the second Arc.

    I hope you enjoyed his character progression and the story as a whole.

    Character arts and illustrations (including the Nether''s forms, Aether, and other characters) are in the Discord Server. The link will be ced below.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Please check out my new book, called SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody.

    It''s yet another reincarnation novel, full of action as well as adventure, and I can guarantee your enjoyment.

    Thanks for reading, everyone.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 804 The Wedding [Pt 1]

    [Three Months Later]

    A lot had happened, hadn''t it?

    The deaths and destruction that rained down on the world, threatening to end all of it in one fierce blow.

    The malevolent being that emerged from the darkness, seeking to consume all that breathed in this world and beyond.

    However, that time had long passed.

    At this moment, all of the evils of the past had been forgotten. Instead joy, peace, and celebration filled the air.

    After all¡­

    "WOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

    ¡­ It was Neron and Serah''s wedding!

    *

    *

    *

    This event was held at Ainrk Academy''s grand Auditorium, and it was chock full of guests from all over the world.

    Thanks to Magic, the massive Colosseum was retrofitted to fit the wedding atmosphere¡ªmaking enough room for the kind of proceeding that was to take ce soon.

    The seats were arranged like pews, and they stretched as far as the eyes could see. The pews circled the altar, with the exception of the red carpet that stretched from the entrance of the venue to the stage.

    Magic Screens floated in the air, projecting the event as it urred in real-time. This allowed everyone to get a piece of the action¡ªseeing the couple get joined in sacred matrimony.

    "Do you, Neron Kaelid, take this wonderfuldy to be yourwfully wedded wife? For as long as you remain conscious and breathe, bound by your souls in this union?" A feminine voice echoed throughout the massive hall.

    Neron and Serah stood opposite each other, each in their respective formal wear.

    Neron donned an all-ck suit, and theyplimented his eyes and wavy hair. As for Serah, her pure white gown sharply contrasted the dark hue he donned.

    Serah''s long crimson hair flowed well below her back but was covered by the white veil on her head. They stood opposite each other, smiling and chuckling like little kids.

    Right in front of them, at the very center, was the supposed priest meant to join them together. She floated in the air, like a ghost, but she had a brilliant smile that clearly disyed her excitement.

    She had white hair, clear skin and green eyes. The dark spot under her eyes and lips were evident as she stared at the married couple, remembering her past.

    "I do." Neron snapped her out of her thoughts, and she proceeded to look at the bride to say her vows.

    This type of wedding was new to the Eastern Kingdom, and it only existed in the past when one of the Apostles Of Aether developed it.

    ''I sure wish you could see this, Gus.'' The new Pope¡ªKazen¡ªsmiled as she watched the scene y out.

    Thanks to Jared and Neron''s resurrection effect, even she didn''t perish in the fight against the Nether. They created a new body for her, and she was now able to live a new life in this reality.

    It was both an exciting and also sometimes lonely experience.

    Thankfully, with the people that now surrounded her, there didn''t seem to be a dull moment. While they could never rece the friends she''d had in the past, she wasn''t alone anymore.

    That was what mattered.

    "Do you, Serah Crimson, take this wonderful man to be yourwfully wedded husband? For as long as you remain conscious and breathe, bound by your souls in this union?"

    "I do!" Serah responded almost instantly. Kazen smiled, happy beyondpare. And she wasn''t the only one.

    The entire hall, now shaped like a cathedral, was bustling with excited noises and epic screams. It was just an awesome sight to behold.

    "Is there anyone who would like to object to this union? Speak now, or forever hold your peace."

    The couple instantly cast their gaze on the audience.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    With Neron''s intense gaze, though apanied by his slight smile, no one dared to say a peep¡­ or so one would think.

    "I¡­ MMPHHHH!!!" A muscr Beastfolk by the name of Gerard¡ªalso known as the Beast King¡ªtried to protest, but he was easily subdued by the audience around him.

    "Anyone at all?" Kazen asked, trailing her eyes through the crowd.

    "MMMPHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Having no proper response to object to their union, it was time to proceed with the nuptials. And everyone knew what wasing next.

    "Then¡­" They all smiled as they watched this particr part.

    "... I hereby dere you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

    "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHOOOOOOOO!!!"

    Everyone''s cheers made the hall vibrate with excited tremors.

    Neron and Serah could be seen blushing as they drew closer to each other. Everyone''s eyes widened as they awaited the public disy of affection.

    Even the little ones wanted to see this epic sight.

    However¡­

    "Timeless World."

    Everyone stood still and only Neron remained in thispletely silent world.

    He cast his gaze upon his bride, and a wide smile crept up on his face as he stared into her adorable eyes. Within this moment, he could feel his heart race and his cheeks burn.

    This moment, one which they had discussed so many times in the past¡ªboth in this reality and the one that no longer was¡ªnow unfolded before his eyes.

    "I love you, Serah¡­" He whispered as he drew closer to her and nted his lips upon her.

    Instantly, she moved, wrapping her arms around him, as she passionately returned his kiss.

    They remained like this for as long as they wanted, unfazed by the several frozen eyes that watched them.

    "I love you too, Neron." She whispered, before burying her lips in his once more.

    *****

    The wedding ceremony was officially kickstarted by the exchange of oaths, but that was only the first part of the entire event.

    After the couple enjoyed their kiss¡ªthough no one was able to see it¡ªthe real ceremony began.

    The party!

    Music red across the reception hall, as tables were set for the respective guests, almost instantly, using Magic.

    Food, drinks, and souvenirs were passed around to everyone, and they all enjoyed themselves by having a good time.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you all found this chapter to be satisfactory. I personally, enjoyed it, honestly.

    A good payoff for Neron and Serah.

 Chapter 805 The Wedding [Pt 2]

    "I guess everything worked out."

    Maria and I were currently walking around the banquet. We could see many groups clustered together, and even pairs discussing, however, we didn''t care much for anyone but each other.

    Neron and Serah were busy attending to guests and discussing with the important folks around, so I didn''t want to concern him with any distractions so far.

    Besides, we would eventually have a little after-party between our small circle, so it was all good.

    "I finally made up with Ana, and just recently, Lemi too." After telling her all about my experience in the Root, and about what ultimately happened to Emilia, my daughter was finally willing to give our rtionship a shot.

    "I''ll try to start out as friends, and see if we can progress from there."

    Speaking of Emilia, after my entire death experience, I realized that there was no longer any reason to hang on to the past or cling unto all that my previous life had been in order to live a new one.

    ''I''ve chosen to spend the rest of my life with Maria. That''s all that matters.'' I smiled at her clueless face as we kept walking and discussing.

    There was one thing, though¡­

    "I am still worried about Karlia. It''s been three months and we''re yet to find any way to reach her in the Nether Realm."

    Utilizing all the Arcanas, I could most likely use [The World] to travel to the Nether Realm, but with Karlia''s current trajectory unknown, it would take forever to sort through the nigh-infinite realms that existed there.

    "The Automatons you sent there as probespletely lost contact with you, right? You''re trying your hardest." Maria tried to soothe my heart.

    However, despite how much she tried to encourage me, the thought still ate at me.

    "I haven''t tried my hardest. Not yet."

    If I were really desperate, I would have plunged myself into the Nether Realm while damning the consequences, in order to find Karlia.

    But could I really do it? Could I throw everyone and everything I currently knew just so I could go on a search that could ultimately yield fruitlessness?

    Not even Aether knew what would await me in the Nether Realm, and its infinite branches.

    ''I can''t abandon Maria and everyone here, neither can I put them in danger.''

    As a result¡­ I was stuck.

    "I''m not giving up, though." I smiled at Maria, feeling her soft hands nudge me on my shoulder.

    "That''s the spirit. Hehe."

    Her shortugh tickled my heart, and the heaviness within me slowly dissipated.

    "So, are you ready now?"

    She was referring to what we had already discussed beforehand¡ªthe ''thing'' I was going to do at this wedding.

    "Of course. I''m still quite nervous." I responded, a bead of sweat forming on my forehead.

    "Don''t worry. It won''t be that scary."

    Based on myst experience, I knew her statement was utterly false. Still¡­ I had to put my trust in the girl I had chosen for myself¡­ right?

    Plus, who could resist her adorable face¡ªespecially when she let out that soft smile?

    "Alright, then. Let''s go."

    *

    *

    *

    Just as Jared and Maria moved to their respective destinations, several other people were engaged in discussions.

    One of these conversations was between two fairies.

    They stood in a corner, speaking in an obviously secretive fashion as they discussed out of sight. Thanks to their minuscule height, this wasn''t a very difficult feat to aplish.

    Still, who would have thought that these two would be discussing alone?

    Jane Urs and Beruel.

    "So, what do you say? I really need your assistance with this project. If I had your expertise, as my assistant, we can do many amazing things."

    Jane was currently smiling broadly at the white-haired, male fairy.

    Beruel wore a neat suit, a mix of white and gold, while Jane''s outfit had a dazzling splendour of silver. Sequins and glitters were dusted all over the dress, making it exquisite.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Honestly, it had been imposed on her by her female acquaintances.

    "For you to request my help, you must be quite desperate. How important is this project of yours? No, it''s not only about its importance. It must be something veryplex and technical. Why else would you require assistance?"

    Beruel''s whisper was well expressed by his facial expression. While he rubbed his bare chin, he looked at Jane''s restless expression.

    "Why me? Don''t you think you should let Jared know about thi¡ª"

    "No! Jared can''t know!"

    "Why¡­?"

    "I-It''s a surprise! Yes! It''s a surprise project."

    "But I''m a bbermouth. Why would you trust me to keep my mouth shut if it''s that secretive?"

    "I''ll make you keep your mouth shut."

    Beruel instantly gulped. He knew Jane wasn''t bluffing about this, and there were also many ways she could actualize her words.

    "I am choosing you because you''ve managed to convince me that you''re not scum. At least, not anymore. I didn''t want to believe it before, but perhaps I''m willing to give you another chance. A chance to prove yourself."

    Beruel''s eyes widened when he heard this. His heart raced, and his cheeks reddened instantly. He never could have imagined that he would hear Jane utter those words to him.

    It felt like a dream.

    "So? What do you say?" She smiled, stretching her hand as she awaited his sure answer.

    "I¡­ I''m sorry, I can''t."

    Jane''s expression instantly devolved into shock and her eyes widened beyond their usual size. Beruel had refused her offer, though his expression showed that he didn''t want to.

    "May I ask why?"

    "I¡­ I made an earliermitment to Ana and I intend to make good on it." He finally spoke in a murmur.

    His head was hung low and his cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment. He really wanted to go along with Jane, but how could he give in to his selfishness and go back on his promise?

    "You really have changed." Jane suddenly gave a different smile as she stared at Beruel. "How interesting¡­"

    Beruel felt a rush of warmth in his heart and he felt like bursting with such great excitement when he received herpliment.

    Jane actually thought he was interesting?!! How awesome!

    "I understand. It''s very understandable." She nodded slightly and began to fly away.

    "There''s no need to feel bad, Beruel. It''s fine. I hope you find satisfaction with Ana. She''s a brilliant girl, so support her well."

    Beruel felt his heart drop as Jane flew off. He wanted to say something, but a lump was stuck in his throat. He couldn''t find the right words to utter.

    "W-will you be okay? Who will you ask to help you out with it¡­ with the project?"

    Jane paused in her flight and gave him a confident look. Her eyes were gleaming with such energy that he found himself unable to look away.

    As her peach-coloured hair danced in the wind, Beruel was reminded why he found Jane Urs so captivating and absolutely enthralling.

    "I''ll just have to do it myself."

    With that fine statement of finality, she zoomed off and Beruel watched her in a daze.

    "Haa¡­" He could only sigh in wonder.

    ''She really is amazing..''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I wonder what will be of this whole thing. Remember to join my Discord Server, and check out my newest book.

    https:/book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 806 The Wedding [Pt 3]

    "Come on¡­ you can''t be serious."

    "Fr, fr... I''m not joking."

    "Hahaha. Stop it!"

    Two people were shamelessly enjoying each other''spany.

    Even in this loud and active ceremony, they seemed to be in a world of their own. Theyughed and spoke intimately, as they enjoyed each other''spany.

    These two were none other than Kuzon and Ana.

    "When will I be meeting your parents, though? Are they still busy?"

    "Come on, I''m not emotionally prepared yet." Ana covered her face, blushing as she squealed.

    Kuzon couldn''t help but poke at her little body, causing her to burst out inughter as he tickled her.

    "S-stop¡­ people are watching¡­ haha¡­" Even though she said that, Ana made no move to halt his advances.

    What could she do with her tiny body, though?

    "Hehe, maybe I should search for the Frederick family among the guests."

    "S-stop¡­ nooo¡­"

    "It shouldn''t be too hard. I''ll just look for any woman who looks like you¡­ but is a little taller."

    "KUZZOOONNNN!!!"

    "Hahaha!"

    At this point, Kuzon fled and Ana chased him with her little legs¡ªboth of themughing and yelling at the same time.

    A couple of weirdos, they were.

    *

    *

    *

    "Jerry, where are youuuu!"

    Ciara Epilson was faced with a major problem. She couldn''t find Jerry, who had promised to be her date for today''s event. Ever since the opening ceremony, she hadn''tid eyes on him.

    ''Why does he keep avoiding me? This is so not fair.''

    Ever since the war ended, they hadn''t had much time together. It hurt her and she didn''t know how else to deal with it.

    ''He promised to tell me something after we ended the war. And he still hasn''t¡­ Jerry, that jerk! Could it be¡­ that there''s another girl?''

    A murderous aura instantly took over Ciara and her eyes shone with violence as she activated her sensory Magic to search every nook and cranny of the massive hall to find him¡ªas well as whichever whore he was with.

    ''Jerry is mine and mine alone!'' Her thoughts rang as she walked with climbing rage.

    Searching and looking around proved futile, so she decided to ask the people she met on her way. Her first target was Ivan¡ªwho was talking with Freya.

    Ciara didn''t know¡ªneither did she care¡ªwhat they were discussing, but Ivan was swirling the wine in his cup and smirking weirdly as he spoke. In return, Freya was giggling. The fact that they even stood close to each other while speaking also sent a special message.

    "Hey, have any of you seen Jerry?" She interrupted their moment with no remorse.

    "Uh¡­. no?" Ivan said, clearly annoyed.

    "Are you sure?" Ciara narrowed her eyes and more of her intimidating aura leaked out.

    Instantly, Ivan corrected his re and beads of sweat formed on his face. He once again realized his ce in the hierarchy¡ªespecially where Ciara was concerned.

    "U-uh¡­ I am¡­ sure¡­"

    Freya simply watched in silence, wondering what the big deal was.

    "Hmm. I see¡­" Ciara narrowed her eyes further, and then after a few seconds of tense silence, she left the both of them alone¡ªalthough, she decided to leave a passingment beforepletely walking away.

    "You both like each other, don''t you?"

    With that, she skittered off, leaving the two acquaintances blushing hard.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Ciara continued her search and saw Edward and Lemi being stupid, as usual. Edward was blushing hard andughing, while Lemi was busy regaling him with whatever thrilling tale she had.

    It was mostly stuff about her research, but Edward seemed to dig the stuff. He didn''t even appear to be pretending. It felt like he genuinely liked hearing her talk about Magic Technology and experiments.

    Considering he was best friends with Ana, though, that wasn''t a surprise.

    "Tch." Ciara ignored the two, proceeding to look elsewhere for a more productive answer.

    To be frank, the atmosphere was getting to her. Everywhere she looked, she would either see couples or potential couples talking and enjoying themselves.

    It made her very salty.

    Where was her date? Where was Jerry in this obviously magical moment? She missed him, and she so desperately wanted him to be by her side.

    So much so that she was slowly going crazy.

    ''Jerry¡­ Jerry¡­ Jerry¡­!!!''

    *

    *

    *

    [MEANWHILE]

    "I bet you''re wondering what I''m doing here¡­"

    Jerry''s voice was a bit hollow and soft and he was speaking to the being that sat beside him.

    "Uh¡­ not really."

    Gawain was the one beside him¡ªan Automaton who was rather sentient but was also not as interested in humans and their events.

    "Everyone is out there enjoying the party, but here I am¡­ hiding."

    "Dude¡­ I don''t really¡ª"

    "I need to let this out, man. I hope I''m not bothering you too much."

    To be frank, Jerry was indeed bothering Gawain. The Automaton came to this ce, the storage area, to have some alone time since many people kept looking at him and asking him questions.

    He was a sentient Automaton, but that didn''t mean he was a very social one.

    Not long after he found his solitary paradise, this human walked in and practically began to pour out unnecessary information.

    "I¡­ I''m actually hiding from someone. She''s a close friend. We''ve known each other since we were kids."

    ''Is he talking about Ciara Epilson? No shit.'' Gawain nearly let out an external sigh.

    Information on Jared''s teammates were already among his memory files and he knew all about Ciara and Jerry''s very odd rtionship¡ª though even he didn''t understand what the heck was going on.

    Well, if Jared couldn''tprehend it, who was he to get what they were all about?

    "I promised we could hang out today, but I can''t bring myself to face her. It''s been this way for three months now. I¡­ I just¡­"

    These feelings swirling within him, was it finally time to let them out?

    Jerry could think of no better time and no better person to talk to.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It''s so cute to see Jerry and Ciara''s rtionship evolve as the Arcse and go. Remember to join my Discord Server, and check out my newest book.

    https:/book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 807 The Wedding [Pt 4]

    "It all started to feel weird after that kiss we had that one time. And then as time went on, especially after the war, this strong emotion within me seemed to increase. I can''t control it." Jerry clutched his chest as he spoke with a blushing face.

    His heart always raced whenever he thought of Ciara and he couldn''t spend too long in her presence because he always ended up having dirty thoughts about his own friend.

    He felt extremely guilty about that.

    "I¡­ I think I have feelings for her."

    ''No kidding.'' Gawain once again rolled his eyes.

    He didn''t have emotions like humans did, but he could analyze behavioural data and deduce it to mean a particr thing.

    Jerry indeed seemed to disy all the symptoms.

    "Then, why not confess to her?" Gawain finally spoke up, giving the most optimal answer to the dilemma Jerry currently faced.

    "B-but what if she doesn''t like me back? It''ll make things weird between us." Jerry protested in worry.

    "Things are already pretty weird between you guys, though¡­"

    "I just don''t want to ruin our friendship. Ciara is¡­ she''s too precious for me to lose¡­" He muttered.

    Gawain was really ufortable now. He truly wanted to help the kid, but what could he say?

    "If you don''t do anything, you just might lose your friendship¡­ and her."

    Once Gawain''s voice sunk into Jerry''s head, his eyes widened and his blushing face took on a brighter shade of red.

    "Y-you think she''ll leave me for someone else?"

    Gawain never said that, nor did he intend for his words to be construed in such a way. However, the very thought seemed to drive the young boy in front of him.

    After calcting the probabilities in his head and weighing the chances of sess, Gawain finally settled on the perfect solution.

    "That''s right. You need to be upfront about your emotion before it''s toote."

    "A-ah¡­"

    "This is a wedding, you know? Lots of candidates for Ciara. If you don''t make your move quickly, then¡­" Gawain narrowed his metallic eyes as he stared at Jerry

    "... You could lose her forever."

    Those words heavily resonated with Jerry as his eyes nearly popped with fear and his heart burned with pain.

    "Will you allow that to happen?" The Automaton''s voice echoed in the storage room.

    "N-no¡­ I c-can''t¡­"

    "I can''t hear you."

    "N-NO, I ca¡ª"

    "I can''t hear you!"

    "NO, I WON''T ALLOW CIARA TO BE TAKEN AWAY BY ANOTHER MAN!" Jerry raised his voice in determination.

    "Now go, youngd. Go and im your woman!"

    "YESSIRRR!!!" Jerry, pumped to the brim, rushed out of the storage area to face his destiny.

    No more running away! No more hiding! He was going to confront it all!

    ''Whew¡­ took him long enough to leave.'' Gawain smiled in satisfaction.

    He could finally rest without interruptions.

    >CREAK<

    Suddenly, the door creaked slightly open and Jerry returned, poking his head into the storage hall.

    "B-but¡­ what if she doesn''t like me back?" His tone was sullen, and Gawain could see signs of fear and anxiety on his face.

    "Have faith. The worst she can tell you is ''no''."

    With a smile on the Automaton''s face, apanied by a mutual nod, these two understood each other perfectly. They felt their emotions resonate with each other¡ªa good consensus between man and machine.

    "Thank you, friend."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "You''re wee¡­ friend."

    Thus, the doors closed once more, and Jerry left Gawain in peace.

    This time, however, the Automaton wasn''t just happy that he was left in peace. The smile on his face did not dissipate and his thoughts remained on the brave young chap.

    "Go get her!"

    *

    *

    *

    "H¡­ h¡­ I¡­ I wanted¡­ to marry her¡­"

    Gerard was drowning himself in booze as he spoke with a slur. He appeared to be tipsy and his face was bright red,  but he kept consuming the alcohol in his massive jug.

    "I can''t¡­ bear¡­ this¡­"

    The grown Beastfolk¡ªa king in his own right¡ªbegan to wail and cry.

    He was most likely the only one in the entire event who was resorting to tears¡ªin a negative way, for that matter.

    "Dad, calm yourself. Don''t you have tons of wives already?" Asa sighed as he stared at his drunk dad.

    "You wouldn''t understand, kid. When you grow older¡­" Gerard gulped more alcohol and drowned himself in his sorrows.

    Asa clicked his tongue and left his father. Instead of hanging around aining man, he went to a more interesting scene.

    Aloe and Maro, all alone.

    ''Hehe. So it''s finally happening, eh?'' Asa grinned devilishly, deciding to sneak up on the two in order to hear what they were talking about.

    Just looking at them, he could tell they had gotten much closerpared to a few months ago.

    ******

    "It feels funny, seeing Kazen floating around. She used to be in my body, you know?" Aloeughed with Maro.

    They had talked about many things thus far and thisment of hers was only a way to slow things down. Small talk was always appreciated among good friends.

    "Yeah, you never talk about that. How did it feel?"

    "I really can''t describe it. But I felt everything she felt and I knew she wasn''t evil. She simply wanted to do the right thing."

    After the entire saga, when Jared resurrected everyone, Aloe and Kazen had a long talk. Thetter apologized to her and they even made up.

    Considering how long they had spent together back when she was unconscious and how much Kazen taught Aloe about Aether¡ªamong other things¡ªthere was no way they would just drift like that.

    Kazen''s apology and Aloe''s forgiveness brought them much closer to each other. In the end, they settled as friends.

    Maro allowed her to narrate and describe her experience in full before he spoke again. "Well, I''m d I get to talk with the actual Aloe."

    "True. I''m d that I get to talk to you with my body and soul intact too."

    They clinked their sses and would have talked even further. However¡­ the most unexpected urred.

    And it would forever change their line of conversation.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Remember to join my Discord Server and check out my newest book.

    https:/book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 808 The Wedding [Pt 5]

    Elrich Lendertwale enjoyed himself as the moderator of the entire wedding ceremony.

    From the exchange of oaths to the reception, he was also in charge of organizing the programs, ensuring the event went as nned and that there was absolutely nothing wrong with anything.

    Of course, that also meant protocol and security officers.

    It felt good to be busy¡­ to be relevant. Sure, the stakes weren''t as high as saving the world, but just for today, he was the hero!

    "And now¡­ it''s time for the ''Magic Toss''!" Elrich dered with great pleasure.

    The reception was swelling with so much excitement that not everyone picked up on his words and the consequences until it was toote.

    Neron and Serah, who had returned to the stage, after spending so long greeting guests and having a generally good time, now had a purposeful look in their eyes.

    The Magic Toss was something they couldn''t forego.

    "You ready?" Neron asked Serah with a knowing smile.

    The whole thing was riding on her, so it was only a matter of course to ask her.

    "Definitely." She returned his grin.

    In one swift motion, she turned her back to her audience and generated a small ming spell on her hand. It wasn''t powerful enough to seriously harm anyone, but it was concentrated with enough energy that dodging it was impossible.

    This ball of mes burst into a bouquet-like structure and as soon as it did, Serah lifted it above her head.

    "Readyyyyyy? GOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Elrich''s voice echoed throughout the hall, instantly prompting Serah tounch the ming bouquet.

    >VWOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Like an unstoppable rocket, the projectile ascended into the air and shot through the sky, finally descending upon the anticipating audience.

    The pressure was on and the ming construct was descending in a particr direction¡ªtowards an unsuspecting target.

    >BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The moment the bouquet hit the target, it burst into sparkles of amber light. Like glitters, the bright fragments of light showered her body.

    "W-wha¡­?" The shockeddy muttered, ncing at the man she had been speaking to and then at the entire crowd that had their gaze fixated on her.

    As her blond hair danced and her innocent eyes searched for an answer, she quickly realized what was going on. She had been chosen!

    ''W-wait a secon¡ª!''

    Even before her thoughts couldpletely process how she ought to respond, a loud shout rang through the air, sealing the deal for herpletely.

    "Aloe Vida is going to get married next! And her suitor is right beside heeeeerrrrrr!!!"

    The voice came from a rather young boy who excitedly jumped out of his ce of hiding. He had scaly skin on some parts of his body¡ªan obvious sign of being a Beastfolk.

    This was Asa and his mischievously bright smile said everything that needed to be understood.

    "N-no wai¡ª"

    Before Aloe and Maro could contest Asa''s sudden announcement, a loud roar pierced the air. It was the deafening sound of victory, surging from the crowd.

    They had all seen the bouquet descend on her like aet and they all knew what the Magic Toss meant¡ªat least, it had been exined in their invitation cards.

    The toss was meant to choose the next person in the audience who would get married.

    Not only did it fall on Aloe, but she''d also been having a very engaging conversation with a man when it happened. These were signs that were too clear to refute.

    Aloe Vida and Maro Smith¡­ those two had to be getting married soon.

    "WOOOOOOOHHHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

    The audience drowned Aloe''s protests and Maro''s awkwardughter with their cheers. The supposed couple clearly had no say in their union.

    It was fate!<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It was destiny!

    It was¡­ LOVE!

    "WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!" The audience cheered even more.

    As they all cried in happiness and excitement, plunging the bashful duo into a tumultuous sea of unwanted attention, Neron and Serah were grinning.

    "You did well to aim at her." Neron grinned with mischief.

    "Come on. I know you improved the speed of the Spell with your Magic. They never stood a chance."

    These two had clearly nned it out. Why they would do such a thing remained a mystery. However, they were clearly having the most fun.

    "Hehehe¡­ hehehehe."

    Thus, the party continued in even higher spirits than before¡ªwith everyone drowning themselves in the joy that filled their hearts.

    Well, not that everyone was in that festive state.

    A particr group seemed to be in a more serious moodpared to everyone else. It consisted of a mature and important couple¡­ and a young one.

    *

    *

    *

    ''Why did they have to do the Magic Toss now? Things just got even more awkward''

    I was standing right in front of the Helmsworths¡ªMaria''s parents. Their cold gazes were more than enough to make me ufortable, but now the joyful mood increased the tension in the air.

    Frankly speaking, it was overwhelming.

    "I havee to greet you both, as the parents of the woman I love, as well as my future inws." I managed to squeeze out a statement.

    I spotted my father making a wry smile while my mother cringed a little. Was I so stiff in my statement that it fellpletely t?

    "You have done well, Jared." Fortunately, Maria''s father didn''t seem to think that way.

    "What Franklin says is true. We appreciate your efforts to greet us and even nning for our families to meet like this. You have my appreciation."

    As I had already noticed before, the Helmsworths really didn''t show any emotions when they spoke. It unnerved me at first, but it seemed I was getting used to it.

    "Yourpliments are too much. I have not forgotten the agreement we made in the Royal Pce. Once I am of age, I will officially visit your estate with my family and dere my intentions to the entire Helmsworth Household.

    The two nodded in agreement and it seemed like they leaked out a small smile. It could have just been my imagination, but I could have sworn I saw it.

    "We anticipate your presence."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    You know... I miss thements and power stones you all used to give. For those who constantly support me, thank you. For those who don''t... it isn''t toote to start.

    Your contributions matter a lot to me. Thanks.

    Remember to join my Discord Server, and check out my newest book.

    https:/book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 809 Abrupt News

    After our mild introductions and briefplimentary greetings, I began to talk to Maria''s parents.

    Surprisingly, they weren''t as bad as I imagined.

    Duke Franklin was a charming man, who cared for his daughter much more than his expression allowed him to show. I somehow got the vibe of my father when I spoke to him.

    A man who was quite busy, but loved her more than words could tell.

    As for Maria''s mother¡ªLilia¡ªshe was someone who had a jumpy body and a very active personality. It just felt odd that she remained stoic the whole time.

    If she could change expressions the slightest bit, I could peg her as a very yful woman. Fortunately, it didn''t really bother me after talking to both of them for some time.

    ''They''re really good people.'' I concluded within myself.

    I honestly couldn''t wait till we officially sealed the deal between our families.

    "Psst! Hey, Jared!" A voice suddenly called out of nowhere, interrupting the small talk that was going on between both of our families.

    I immediately recognized the voice, as well as the presence that approached us. It was Alphonse, in the flesh.

    "Dad, where have you been?" My mother was the first to speak. "You won''t even greet your daughter."

    "Keke. You should know how it is by now. You''re a big girl now, and yet you want some pampering every now and then? No way!" Alphonse fumed, walking towards me as his wrinkly face formed a smile.

    "Got a sec, kid?" He whispered in my ear.

    He didn''t even give me any time to respond before he began drawing me away from the discussion.

    ''What the¡­?''

    His face was particrly excited, and it seemed like he was about to burst just by holding whatever he was keeping inside. I was curious but also hesitant.

    ''Can I just leave the discussion like this?'' I wondered to myself.

    However, after looking at the Helmsworths and getting their nods of consent, I decided to go with the flow. Maria also didn''t seem to mind¡ªand I could now tell if she was upset or not, thanks to the time we had been spending together.

    Since no one was against it, I went along with him.

    "Well, it''s always a pleasure, Alphonse." My father chuckled as he watched Alphonse drag me off.

    "Yeah, yeah. Take better care of my daughter, will you? She''s been craving an Adventure for some time now." My grandfather waved nonchntly, not even bothering to look back at the two.

    "W-wut¡­? Stop¡­ it¡­" My mother whispered, blushing as she looked away.

    That was thest scene I witnessed before I waspletely carted away by the overexcited Alphonse.

    ''He had better have a good reason for this!'' I found myself thinking.

    *

    *

    *

    "I overheard Elrich and Neron just now. They were discussing it so passionately. Apparently, it''s the King''s decision and everyone in the inner circle unanimously agreed!"

    Alphonse regaled me of the highly improbable tale of his espionage.

    There was no way my grandfather¡ªdespite how skilled he was¡ªcould sneak up on Neron and Elrich. And if it was something as important as the King''smand, then that made it all the more secretive.

    ''Unless¡­ they wanted him to hear it? Maybe.''

    I still hadn''t heard what this amazing news was. Anytime I asked, Alphonse used a roundabout tactic to keep talking about how important the whole thing was and how this would be the very first time something like it would ur in the Kingdom.

    I was just about fed up at this point. Fortunately, Alphonse finally decided to fess up.

    "You''ve been chosen as the new Grand Mage, Jared."

    The moment I heard those words, my mind shut down.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    And then, after a few seconds, my mind slowly began to recover. It returned to the past¡ªto my first life. Back when I had been an ambitious child.

    "I will be the greatest Grand Mage of the Kingdom!" I had often told myself and the many others around me.

    I worked hard and studied even harder. I did all of those things, only to be told that I was inept. Back then, that path becamepletely closed to me.

    Yet¡­

    "R-really?" I muttered, surprised to hear my voice tremble.

    The title of Grand Mage wasn''t supposed to mean much to me at this point. I had already surpassed the Kingdom''s current Grand Mages and the most powerful person in the kingdom wasn''t even a Grand Mage.

    Neron had shown me that one didn''t need a title to be recognized as the most powerful. It should have been hollow to me.

    Despite that, I found my heart racing and a smile forming on my face.

    It was almost like I had be a child once again.

    "Are you sure you heard it right, though?" I tried to shut down the welling excitement that seemed about to devour me whole.

    "Come on, Jared. Don''t you trust me? I wouldn''t lie to you about something this important."

    If Alphonse was sure, then how could I try to deny it?

    Still, it sounded unbelievable. Granting such a title to someone who hadn''te of age yet¡­ wasn''t that too absurd?

    ''Well, I''ve done absurd things, so I guess it''s understandable.''

    This Kingdom and the other nations had been through a lot. We had endured and ovee the literal end of the world together.

    We won.

    ''There are still a few important things to address¡­ most importantly, Karlia. However, isn''t this what I wanted?''

    I was surrounded by friends, family, a lover, a purpose and a ce in this new world. I could change this world even further and we could all grow together.

    ''This is all I''ve ever wante¡ª''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!<

    Suddenly, even before I could properly respond to it, a dark swirling blot appeared in the sky. It contained sheer darkness and within it emerged two individuals.

    A man and a woman.

    And the most shocking part was that I recognized them both!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Almost time for the end of this Arc. Be prepared.

    You know... I miss thements and power stones you all used to give. For those who constantly support me, thank you. For those who don''t... it isn''t toote to start.

    Your contributions matter a lot to me. Thanks.

    Remember to join my Discord Server, and check out my newest book.

    https:/book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 810 Malevolence Resurfaces

    A tense silence filled the hall as we watched both man and woman appear above us. Everyone was either shell-shocked or cautious and with due reason.

    Silence and preparation to strike pervaded the hall as we readied ourselves for instant battle.

    "Why, hello everyone!" The very familiar man spoke, his eyes gleaming with delight and his grin widening for all to see.

    My eyes widened in shock as I stood, almost paralyzed beneath his malevolent smile and oddly friendly demeanour. There was no way I, or many of the people present here, could forget this man.

    Legris Damien! What the hell was he doing here?

    My eyes went to the woman who floated beside him. She was covered in white and she had clear skin, like a being of purity¡ªthough I knew better than to judge her based on her appearance.

    Ciel was a very cruel woman and her selfish desires nearly brought the world to ruin. Seeing these two side by side, my mind processed a few things in a sh.

    ''Neron did say that Legris escaped, but why is Ciel still here? She should be dead. And why do they look so healthy? Neron said he''d badly injured Legris, and even if he was alive, he would still be badly affected.''

    There was a lot I didn''t know about Magic¡ªlike how they were able to escape our supervision for this long, and how they were able to interrupt the wedding, despite the defensive measures already in ce.

    "Why are you all looking at me this way? I came to give my congrattions to you, Neron. Ah, and to the lovely Serah as well. You both look so happy. What a lovely wedding." Legris began talking so casually, almost as if nothing was wrong.

    "Ahhh, I''m so jealous."

    "What do you want, Legris?" For the first time since this bizarre halting of the event, Neron finally spoke.

    "Hmm? Come on, Neron. Stop the act already. You must have already known this whole thing wasn''t over. Haven''t you been expecting me?"

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about." Instantly, Neron''t hair turned white and currents of power flowed from his body.

    I followed his lead and took on my most powerful transformation. Grand Fusion Mode, with Mage Mode and Elemental Chamber.

    Unfortunately, it was all Mana-Based.

    Without the Arcanas, I couldn''t use Aether. Plus, I hadn''t gotten around to forming an Aether Core yet.

    Neron was different, however. He was pulsating with the stuff and he seemedpletely infuriated by Legris'' return.

    "Things have deviated so much from the original timeline, Neron, but that doesn''t mean I''ve lost. I admit that you caught me off-guard with the Nether, and how you resolved that¡­ but¡­"

    Legris'' eyes narrowed and his grin formed a sadistic curve. It appeared he was enjoying every second of this moment.

    "Keep talking. You won''t escape this ce." Neron spoke calmly.

    "Ah, so you''ve trapped me in this ce. You''ve also activated your time Magic. Whatever shall I do¡­ I wonder¡­"

    Something told me that there was something not right about this whole thing.

    Legris was the most cunning person I had ever met. I doubted he would be foolish enough to challenge Neron during his wedding, with only the strongest of people gathered in the same location.

    Or perhaps¡­ was this exactly what he wanted?

    As I pondered this, I maintained my guard and made sure to prepare my Original Magic in case of any emergencies.

    My family was in sight¡ªsame as my friends and family.

    "Let''s see¡­"

    My eyes instantly bulged when I watched the manifestation in the air. Twenty-one cards circled him and one hovered above his head.

    Those were the Arcanas!

    ''Of course! Ciel can manufacture more Arcanas, as long as she has enough energy!''

    How Legris was able to survive the aftermath, or how Ciel had enough energy to manufacture all twenty-one Arcanas in order to produce [The World] which hovered above both she and Legris'' head.

    How in the world?

    Unfortunately, there was no time to process all of this. Not while we were in this kind of danger.

    ''S-Spellcra¡ª''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "[The World]... Discement."

    A bright light suddenly engulfed the whole room, overwhelming all my senses in a sh. It was so much that I was instantly paralyzed.

    It felt like I was being pushed away, yet I remainedpletely still¡­ unaware of what was happening around me.

    *

    *

    *

    Legris and Ciel watched the now-empty hall in silence.

    There was no one in sight, despite the hundreds and thousands of people that had upied it just moments earlier.

    "I could only get six of them. How disappointing¡­" He sighed.

    Neron Kaelid.

    Jared Leonard

    Kuzon Midas

    Ciara Epilson

    Aloe Vida

    Edward Karl Leon

    ''I wanted to capture the others¡­ especially Serah Crimson. They''re still very troublesome¡ªespecially considering the long run.''

    But, it seemed despite all the Arcanas in his possession, he couldn''t outmanoeuvre Neron''s impable defence.

    "He must have teleported everyone to safety. Perhaps a joint effort between him and Jared? Well, if six of the major yers are gone, then the mission is just about done, right?"

    With a shrug, Legris caused the Arcanas around him to vanish.

    "Where did you send them to?" Ciel muttered softly, her gaze not daring to look in the direction of the man she spoke to.

    "Nowhere important. Even I don''t know. I just used [The World] to scatter them around various branches within the tree."

    Without Arcanas or the proper knowledge of how to cross the branches¡ªas well as the way to navigate how to get to their own branch¡ªthe victims were as good as stuck.

    "I don''t doubt their ingenuity. However, by the time they figure everything out¡ªif they don''t die first¡ªI''ll be done with all my preparations."

    A ck void appeared behind Legris and Ciel and they both ventured inside.

    "No¡­ I would have long won."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    One more chapter, and we''re done with this Arc.

    This has been a spectacr journey so far and I am really happy that we''vee this far.

    Please keep supporting me.

    Let''s keep going further!

 Chapter 811 Converging Bewilderness

    A dark ce.

    I found myself in an extremely dark ce when I opened my eyes.

    ''W-what is going on¡­?!''

    My memories of Legris, Ciel, and everything that had happened instantly returned to me and I swiftly made to observe my surroundings in response to the dread that enveloped my body.

    ''H-huh?!''

    Something instantly didn''t feel right.

    Not only could I not use Spellcraft, but my surroundings felt different¡ªlike it wasn''t suited for me? No, I couldn''t quite exin this.

    It waspletely weird!

    >SWOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    I heard a sound suddenly rush towards me and I also felt strong bloodlust emanate from the person.

    ''W-what the¡ª?!''

    I was barely able to strengthen myself and escape their assault¡ªas I lost control of any Mana that leaked out of my body.

    The strange sensations that invaded my body still made mepletely dazed by what was going on.

    "Whoever you are, show yourself." I took a defensive stance, making sure to properly respond in case another attack came.

    "I mean you no harm."

    For a moment, silence enveloped the room.

    And then¡­

    "No harm? You must be kidding!" A familiar voice echoed in my ears, causing my eyes to bulge in shock.

    The dark veils were lifted and light suddenly permeated the air. The vast hall I was in became revealed and the face of my assaulter was shown.

    It was none other than the woman I had been searching for all this time.

    "K-Karlia?!"

    The smile on my face couldn''t be described and I heaved a sigh of relief.

    "I''ve been searching for you for so long. Ever since you were taken by the¡ª" I stopped myself when I noticed the blood-lusted gaze she gave me.

    ''Why is she looking at me like that?''

    The re on her face was so extreme that it felt like she wanted me dead. It seemed like it took all of her self-control to stand still and watch me in both caution and sheer hatred.

    ''What is¡­ going on? Why is Karlia¡ª''

    "Don''t be so foolish to engage yet, Karlia." Another familiar voice emerged across from me and a swordsman garbed in a kimono drew nearer.

    He had dark auburn hair and a de in his hand. He looked much younger than I remembered too, but this man was firmly burned in my memory.

    It was the Martial de God!

    ''He''s also looking at me the same way as Karlia¡­ this pure hate!'' Even when he had been alive, the Martial de God had wanted to kill me.

    However, it hadn''t been like this.

    "Damn¡­ how do you think he found our base?" Another familiar voice surged forth.

    "Magic. Duh." Yet another.

    "I wasn''t expecting this." And another.

    As each of the approaching individuals exposed themselves to the light, my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock.

    Beruel stepped forth. And then there was Vaizer. I also spotted Stefan Netherlore beside an older fellow whom I recognized as Reed Sterling.

    ''No¡­ no¡­ what is this? What''s going on here?!''

    A man with golden hair, who had to be Kido¡ªif I wasn''t mistaken¡ªalso appeared.

    They all surrounded me, eyes filled with indignation and their postures represented pure animosity.

    ''Damn¡­ the Nether Cult? How in the world did this happen?''

    As I tried to contemte my current problem and what solution I could employ, I heard the most familiar voice echo into the air.

    "Halt!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The voice resonated within me and it seemed it did the same to everyone around me.

    They instantly stopped, stepping back while ring daggers at me. Somehow, it felt like Karlia''s re was the most intense.

    Perhaps it simply hurt more.

    "I''ve told you guys already. Stop being rash¡­"

    The speaker stepped into the light, revealing himself as he stood right in front of me.

    His dark hairplimented his pure ck eyes. He had a stoic expression on his face and a dignifying dark apparel apanied him as he halted while gazing at me.

    This man¡­ he was¡­

    ''N-Neron?!''

    "When confronting an enemy, always be cautious." He drew a de, and his eyes narrowed at me.

    My thoughts were a mess, but I understood my situation enough to tell me howpletely screwed I was.

    I barely had any Magic to use and my senses were constantly disturbed. Everything was a mess and I just had to be surrounded by the strongest guys I had ever known to exist.

    Things couldn''t get any worse.

    "Neron is right." A melodious voice rang forth and at her word, the people around me swiftly turned in her direction.

    I could see a different look¡ªone of adoration¡ªwash over them as they looked at her.

    Her pure white form and her pale skin made her look absolutely enthralling. Her clear eyes and her cute smile reminded me of the disaster that nearly plunged my world to ruin.

    No, she didn''t just remind me of that¡­ she was THAT!

    Ciel herself!

    "We should all be cautious in the presence of an enemy." She spoke softly, her gaze on me as she smiled.

    Ciel? Smiling at me?

    No, that wasn''t the only strange thing about all of this. She was also¡­ very young.

    About ten or twelve years old. She had Ana''s height, so I could only estimate that much. It puzzled me greatly.

    As Ciel took steps forward, I felt myself growing fearful.

    Not only did these extremely powerful people desire to kill me, but now the most dangerousdy in the world was with them.

    Neron was a member of this Nether Cult organization and it seemed like they all saw me as their enemy.

    "I-I''m Jared Leonard. I was formerly Lewis Griffith. I hope we can talk. I mean no har¡ª"

    "Shut up, you monster!" Karlia yelled, pure fury raging in her eyes.

    The others also seemed more infuriated when I said this, but Neron''s expression remained unchanged. Out of everyone here, he seemed the calmest.

    "Oh, we know who you are." Ciel smiled, drawing even nearer.

    "Jared. Lewis. It''s all the same when ites to reincarnation." Her whispers seemed to contain more meaning than I could decipher.

    There was nothing I could do but powerlessly watch as these extremely powerful entities closed in on me.

    Neron. The Martial de God. Karlia. Kido. Stefan. Reed. Vaizer. And now¡­ Ciel.

    I didn''t need anyone to interpret how messed up my situation was.

    ''Is this the end?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [End Of The Fifth Arc]

    It''s been an epic journey, hasn''t it? Well, brace yourself for even more!

    You can all support me with your Power Stones, Golden Tickets, Comments, Reviews, or anything. It''s been my pleasure writing for you all, and I hope you all enjoy this work.

    [Sixth Arc: The Lost Worlds, will resume shortly]

    Cheers!

 Chapter 812 The Malefactor Grins

    On a far coast, deep within a cave, a young man sat shivering.

    His legs were huddled together and his eyes were bulging as he trembled violently.

    He muttered incoherent words¡ªa sign that he could be mad¡ªand his face clearly told of the horrors he had seen.

    Everything about him, from his emaciated form to his ever-shaking body, proved to be very miserable. His dark cloak hung loosely on his body as he sat in despondency.

    Once or twice, he would bite his nails, but he was usually just huddled miserably in this cave¡­ recounting the trauma of the past and the life he had lived right up to this moment.

    The glorious life he was meant to live.

    The reason it got shattered.

    The one who shattered it.

    "M-Maria¡­ J-Jared¡­ damnit¡­" He muttered incoherently and with a trembling tone.

    As he uttered these statements, two figures suddenly appeared within the cave. From a patch of darkness, they surged forth, looking at the young boy with contrasting expressions.

    The female had a look of indifference, with a hint of contempt. As for the man, he had a very wide grin on his face.

    "It seems you''ve notpletely lost your mind, despite the Nether deprivation." He said, finally getting the young man to stop muttering.

    "Stefan Netherlore¡­ it''s been a while."

    With widened eyes, he looked at his two visitors. Their familiar faces were deeply etched into his memory that he couldn''t forget¡ªor at least, one was.

    "L-Legris¡­ Damien¡­?"

    *

    *

    *

    Curing Stefan wasn''t too difficult a task.

    By providing some Nether to soothe his needy body, he became stabilized. Still, however, he wasn''tpletely cured of the trauma.

    Despite the constant ringing in his head, though, he was still capable of telling his tale and conversing with his former colleagues.

    Apparently, a Special Magic Tool activated right when his Arcana got taken from him and he was forcibly teleported to a safe zone¡ªthis cave.

    The cave had special properties, considering it was within a Mana-dense territory. It would easily mask his weak presence, especially when he got stripped of his Nether.

    "But now¡­ ah¡­ I feel much better. Thank you, Legris." Stefan sighed, clutching his head and wincing at the pain.

    He would have surely died in this cave if no one had intervened. After fighting Maria, he hadpletely lost his will.

    Somehow, Legris had changed that.

    "You don''t need to thank me, Stefan. I came here with a proposition for you. If you''d like to show your gratitude, then maybe you should join me."

    The fact that the Cult Leader''s Maiden was now working for Legris¡ªbased on the little he saw¡ªcould he assume that the Cult Leader was dead? Or perhaps they defected from the Nether Cult?

    "The Nether Cult is no more. Its members are gone too. Ciel and I are the only ones left. And yeah, we''re no longer the Nether Cult. We have a new goal and you can join us."

    Hearing all this new information fazed Stefan a little.

    It was bittersweet to hear that he wasn''t the only one who failed in the Cult. It seemed none of them had been able to stop Jared and his allies.

    It could have been self-patronizing, but he felt less of a loser now.

    "Why go out of your way to seek me? I don''t understand. Am I integral to your goals?" Stefan asked earnestly, wincing slightly once more.

    "Not really. Without you, I think I''d do just fine. However, I just thought it would be fun to have you along. Besides¡­ it''s not a bad deal for you, right?"

    Stefan heaved a sigh. Legris had always been like this since they had known each other. He just wished he''d known how powerful, or rather, skilful this man was while they had been in the Nether Cult.

    "What is your goal exactly?" He asked.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Everything. I want to obtain everything. If you join me, I can give you a good portion of that. You can have power that defies anything you''ve ever dreamed of. A power that trumps Maria''s or Jared''s."

    Upon hearing Legris''s offer, Stefan sighed heavily and slightly shook his head. He knew Legris had perfectly hit the nail on the head, but there was something fundamentally different now.

    He was different.

    "Back then¡­ I thought of myself as special¡ªdeserving of power. I thought it was my right. When I waspatible with the Nether element, I was overjoyed, because I thought I was special."

    However, after his defeat at the hands of Maria, Stefan was ready to face the ugly truth.

    "I''m not special. I never was. I really have nothing going for me, and I don''t consider myself gifted in any way. Everything I had built up for myself turned out to be a lie."

    Legris and Ciel patiently watched as Stefan rose to his feet, on his still-trembling legs.

    His slightly bulging eyes disyed a kind of light that hadn''t been present there before.

    "I¡­ I would simply like to find a new purpose for my life. Whether that leads to power or destruction. I want a path I can take. A path that will lead me to the answers I never knew I wanted to obtain."

    Power was superficial. In the end, everyone had it to a certain level. What Stefan sought was something he could call his and his alone.

    "You sound like a greedy brat." Legris also stood on his feet, his smile broadening as he looked at Stefan.

    "Yeah. Maybe you''re right¡­"

    "Don''t worry, Stefan. You''ll find that purpose you seek with us. I can guarantee that."

    Both individuals stared at each other in silence and Ciel simply watched them quietly¡ªa little disturbed by their expression.

    "But¡­ what of Jared and the others? They''ll get in the way. I''m not doubting your capabilities or ns, but¡­"

    "Jared, Neron, and the other major threats are currently not present. I made sure of that."

    "W-what?!" Stefan''s eyes widened further than before.

    He didn''t understand when this happened. However, if Legris was telling the truth, then this world''s power to resist had just fallen to a very terrifying low.

    "Serah, Maria, and a few others are still present. However, they won''t prove to be a threat on their own. In the end, things will proceed ording to the n."

    Hearing all of this made Stefan excited, though he did his best to hide it.

    "Okay, Legris. I''m in. Where do we start?"

    Legris grinned upon hearing those words. His dark brown hair fluttered with the air in the cave and his gleaming eyes expressed pleasure.

    "The first order of business would have been to initiate the Amalgamation Process. Unfortunately, Neron badly damaged my Domain, so I don''t have enough power to start it."

    Stefan didn''t understand what Legris was implying by ''The Amalgamation Process'' and one look at Ciel showed that even she didn''t get it.

    "We''ll need a very powerful source to achieve it. Fortunately, I already have the perfect n for obtaining it."

    And the best part about his n was simple.

    "With Jared and the other pesky pests gone¡­ there''s no one who can stop me."

    *

    *

    *

    [The Lost Worlds Arc hasmenced]

    Wee, and prepare yourselves. This is going to be a rather¡­ strange (but interesting) Arc.

    Please continue to support me.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 813 Another World

    Silence pervaded the room as my muscles ached.

    My heart raced faster than I could endure and I felt sweat forming all over my body. Considering my current situation, this was a well-deserved response.

    At the moment, I was surrounded by inconceivably powerful enemies.

    The Nether Cult!

    They looked a little different from how I remembered them. For one, Ciel looked like a child, The Martial de God seemed younger and less dignified and Karlia seemed absolutely furious with me.

    Other than that, though, there was another main difference.

    Neron was a member of the Cult!

    And he was looking at me withplete caution and utter suspicion¡ªsomething that chilled me to my bones.

    If I was in top form, perhaps I could at least devise a method of escape. Perhaps I would have even the slightest chance¡ªthough I highly doubted it.

    However, things were different here.

    I couldn''t properly use Magic, and Spellcraft was invalid. I couldn''t even sense the energy around me and I lost control over any energy that leaked out of my body

    In essence, this was the worst possible condition.

    ''Is there even any doubt about it?'' I thought to myself as I stared at the people who were after my life.

    ''I''m totally screwed.''

    "All of you should stand down. This man is not our enemy."

    In a surprising turn of events, Ciel¡ªthe one I had least expected to say such a thing¡ªspoke up and addressed the bloodthirsty crowd.

    "W-what are you talking about, Ciel? This is Jared Leonard!" Karlia instantly protested this.

    She really wanted to kill me, huh?

    The Karlia I knew was averse to violence, except when necessary. What caused her to change so much? Or rather¡­ was this really her?

    "Yeah! We shouldn''t even be wasting time deliberating this! An opportunity has presented itself to us." Stefan, who also wanted to kill me more than anyone else, spoke up.

    "Rx. Do you think it would be that easy to kill Jared Leonard?" Neron''s calm voice soothed the crowd and he remainedposed, despite themotion.

    To be honest, even though he was my enemy, I still couldn''t help but admire him. It seemed like he noticed that too.

    "Let''s hear what Lady Ciel has to say, first." He added.

    With his voice of reason permeating the group, the members epted it grudgingly. It seemed they respected both Neron and Ciel too much to allow their personal desires take over.

    "Thank you, Neron. Now then¡­ back to the topic at hand." Ciel shifted her gaze from each of the Nether Cult members and then stared at me.

    "Young man¡­ who do you think I am?" She asked.

    Was she talking to me? Did she just call me a ''young man''? That was a little odd,ing from a little midget like her.

    Well, considering how old Ciel was, then I suppose it wasn''t really weird.

    ''Should I y ball? Should I be honest with a conversation, or¡ª"

    "Hey! Answer Lady Ciel already!" Karlia yelled at me¡ªher eyes nearly exploding in a threatening fashion.

    ''Yikes! I better just be honest here. Since she stopped everyone, then it means she at least wants a conversation¡­ right? But this doesn''t make any sense, right? All of this is so strange and weird!''

    "Fret not, Jared. Or should I call you Lewis? I am not your enemy. I simply want to confirm something. So tell me¡­ who do you think I am?"

    Ciel was shing me a very innocent, harmless smile. The one I knew could easily smile the same way and it wouldn''t count for squat. However, I strangely felt the need to at least trust this one.

    Whether or not that would yield a positive result still remained uncertain. Then again, it wasn''t like I had much of a choice.

    "You''re Ciel. The true leader of the Nether Cult and the depraved woman who sacrificed her child just so she could bring back the Nether to destroy all that exists."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I was leaving out a lot, but that was the gist of it.

    There was no way I could be fooled by her seemingly innocent demeanour. Underneath that facade was a monster.

    ''More importantly, didn''t she appear with Legris and crash our party? Wasn''t that the reason I got sent here? What of the others?''

    Right before everything went nk, I thought I heard Neron''s voice in my head. It told me something about how Maria and the others were safe.

    If I was to take him at his word, then I just needed to worry about how to get myself out of this mess¡ªnot that it would be possible in the slightest.

    Now that I had spilt the beans, there was no longer any doubt that I knew all about Ciel''s evil act and her grand goal.

    The Nether Cult was evil through and through¡ªand I knew all of that.

    "What the hell is he talking about?"

    "Look, he''s out of his mind! This is the perfect time to end his life!"

    "Looks like practising all that Dark Magic has finally affected his brain. He''s vulnerable now!"

    It seemed these hungry wolves were ready to devour me. However, Ciel raised her hand and stopped them.

    ''Why?'' I couldn''t understand the reason.

    However, she still maintained her creepy smile and approached me without any form of ill will or caution.

    "I knew it¡­" She whispered and drew closer.

    It honestly creeped me out, but I held my ground.

    "All of those things you said¡­ they aren''t of me."

    Did she really think I would buy that? But,e to think of it, it was weird that everyone around thought I was insane for saying the truth as it was.

    Why did it feel like I was the one who was crazy?

    "You must be referring to a different Ciel." Once she said this, my eyes widened and I suddenly realized something I had been too confused to think about.

    "I am not the Ciel you know." I nodded slowly as she spoke.

    She was right, after all. It was entirely possible that I was the one mistaken this whole time.

    This ce¡­ these people¡­ this world¡­

    ¡­ They were different from the ones I knew.

    "You''re not the Jared we know, are you?"

    "No, I''m not." I responded, now convinced that something was indeed off with everything so far.

    I hadn''tpletely figured it out, but this seemed like the most reasonable conclusion¡ªespecially after all the signs.

    "I''m in another world."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Wee to the most interesting Arc thus far. If I''m able to pull it off quite well, it''s going to be grand and epic.

    I can''t wait for you all to dive in.

 Chapter 814 An Alternate Explanation [Pt 1]

    [A Few Hours Later]

    I sat alone, in a confined space.

    It felt very simr to a detention center, but considering the situation, I couldn''tin too much about anything.

    These people were well within their rights.

    ording to what Ciel had exined to me, after we both confirmed that our realities were indeed different from each other, they weren''t the Nether Cult.

    Their true identity was the ''Outgroup''¡ªpoprly known as Outers.

    They were indeed perceived to be the enemies of this world and its factions, but for good reason. I had no cause to think they were evil, and after confirming that my reality was different from theirs, Ciel decided to show more courtesy.

    At this point, I was mooching off them.

    ''I''m confused and in a strange ce. I need them more than they need me.''

    Besides, they could kill me at any moment. I was at their mercy, so it was better to cooperate.

    ''But, wow¡­ this feels unreal.''

    Aether did tell me about the nigh-infinite branches connected to the stem and then the Root. I never knew I would be crossing branches anytime soon.

    ''Is this what Legris is after? He must have done this with [The World].''

    That meant he was up to no good!

    If he got rid of me, he must have gotten rid of the others that would prove to be threats to him. Neron and Kuzon were a definite.

    ''If they''re out of our reality, then what happens next? Who''ll be able to stop Legris?''

    I had faith in my friends, but I couldn''t put them in such obvious danger¡ªespecially where Legris was concerned.

    I knew about Neron''s history with him and how dangerous he was. We still didn''t know his goals, making the threat he posed much more dangerous.

    ''I need to get back¡­ and fast!''

    >CREAK<

    The door to my room opened and a man entered.

    "I apologize for the wait and the inconvenience." He gently spoke, a calm demeanor on his clear face.

    ''Neron¡­ and he''s alone?''

    The room has arge table at the center, with my chair on one end and two chairs on the other. I had expected Ciel to be the one here¡ªperhaps with Neron in tow.

    But to think he came alone¡­

    "If you''re wondering about Lady Ciel, then she has gone into meditation. She won''t be able to attend to you now." He took his seat opposite me.

    "I''ll be representing her and the Outgroup as the Team Leader."

    So Neron was the leader of the Outgroup? Why wasn''t I surprised? However, if he was the head, then who was Ciel?

    What was her position in their organization?

    "Firstly, I would like to apologize for my team''s behaviour. You suddenly appeared in our base and it didn''t make matters better that you have the face of our enemy."

    When he put it that way, it was even a surprise that they didn''t eliminate me quickly. Never before had I been thankful for the fact that I couldmunicate with them.

    If we spoke differentnguages, things would have devolved far quicker.

    "I should be the one thanking you all. You were understanding enough to give me a chance to exin myself. Even now, I''m sure a good number of you are still suspicious of me. Thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt."

    "Well¡­ we weren''t really giving you a chance to exin yourself." Neron muttered, scratching his ck hair a little.

    "We were just being cautious. If we knew we could take you, we would have eliminated you as soon as you showed up."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I instantly gulped at his cold statement. How lucky was I that they considered me a threat big enough to cautiously approach?

    "O-of course, we''re deeply sorry for how we treated you. Ciel has exined the details to me, so I''ll fill you in on what you want to know. Hopefully, we can share information and benefit from this conversation." Neron gave a strained smile.

    Clearly, he wasn''t used to it.

    Still, even though this wasn''t my world and the people here were different, Neron seemed the most simr to the original. He was just as level-headed and courteous.

    It would be safe to assume the same of his strength.

    "Yeah, I hope we can get along too. And I also look forward to sharing information with you."

    I didn''t know why Ciel was meditating, or what the other members were doing, but it was most likely the wisest choice for Neron to be here.

    He was the best person I could befortable around.

    "The only issue is where to begin." I added with a sigh.

    I waspletely lost.

    Based on how they sounded, and how everyone was different, I could deduce that this alternate reality had a different history from mine. The people here lived different lives too.

    If I was ever toprehend this reality, then I would have to throw out any of the preconceived notions I had about my world.

    "Why don''t we start from the very beginning? The most important parts, of course¡­ like the reason behind the ongoing war and the purpose behind our existence."

    It seemed there was a lot to cover.

    "Please tell me what happened here." I bowed slowly, ready to be enlightened.

    Neron nodded and began to tell his tale.

    Believe me¡­ I could never have imagined it being this crazy.

    *

    *

    *

    Everything I knew ended up being false.

    The Apostles Of Aether, led by Merlin, were neither apostles nor were they on the side of Aether.

    They were the Nether Cult. Or rather, they seemed to be¡ªthough the people in this world simply referred to them as the Cult Of Darkness.

    Unlike the story I was told, Ciel was the lone hero in this story. She sacrificed her life to stop Merlin and hisrades from bringing darkness upon the world.

    With her dying breath, she sent herself into the cycle of reincarnation, determined to keep protecting this world even after death.

    This was the catalyst of this world''s history.

    The beginning of a very crazy story.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Jared finds himself in a reality that eludes him.

    What secrets are there in this world and will he be able to return home? Keep reading to find out.

 Chapter 815 An Alternate Explanation [Pt 2]

    It sounded unbelievable¡­ but it was true.

    Thousands of years ago, a group widely known as the Cult of Darkness sought to dominate this world and the worlds outside it by utilizing a strange power.

    This power was known as Dark Magic.

    Dark Magic had the power to nullify and corrode anything, making it supreme. It was a widely coveted power, but also dangerous.

    The Cult of Darkness sought to use this power to take over everything. However, a certain follower of good would not allow it.

    The Priestess of Light, also known as Ciel, was chosen by the very universe to stop them. She was given thews of nature, as well as the understanding of hidden things.

    Using these gifts bestowed upon her by the world''s will, she was able to save everyone and defeat all those who desired world domination. In exchange for her life, of course.

    Unfortunately¡­ even that hadn''t been enough.

    Merlin, the leader of the Cult, had found a way to preserve his Soul using this evil Magic. If she had left the world without any protection, it was bound to suffer at Merlin''s hands.

    As a result, using thest of her power, she sent herself into the stream of time and ignited a process of Reincarnation.

    Out of time and out of energy, she was not able to properly control the Reincarnation and so ended up being born in this era¡­ where the damage had already been done, with the world already plunged into chaos.

    That was the tragic history of this world.

    *

    *

    *

    ''It''s totally different from my reality. That''s crazy.''

    Just how different were things in other branches?

    I understood that different worlds meant different events and that with small modifications, bigger changes were bound to happen¡ªthus creating a ripple effect that would spread out andpletely alter events that would have otherwise happened.

    As I digested everything Neron told me, more questions popped up in my mind. One of those was about the identity of my doppelganger in this world.

    ''No. Now isn''t the time. I''ll let Neron keep talking.''

    "After thousands of years of peace and rtive progress¡­ there finally came the dark point of humanity." Neron said, his eyes narrowed in slight hesitance.

    "Oh? Is that why you are all on edge and¡ª"

    "No. This happened over five hundred years ago. It was the birth of the monster that wouldpletely change this world."

    ''Five hundred years ago? Monster? Could he mean¡­?!'' My eyes widened as he stared deeply into them with his dark irises.

    "Lewis Griffith, the Deranged Sage, was born."

    Deranged Sage? That was ridiculous! Just how much history changed?

    "We know very little about his past. We know he grew up in a ruralmunity and he attended Ainrk Academy, rapidly growing in power and influence. Even though he was Inept, he kept surprising everyone with his research and scientific progress."

    Everything Neron said seemed to tally with my actions in the past. What exactly was so wrong with it?

    "However, Lewis Griffith suddenly changed one day. He was discovered to be delving into Dark Magic, killing people and using them for research purposes."

    Okay¡­ now things were getting a bit out of hand.

    "He was so obsessed with Magic that the lengths he went to had no limits. He made so many horrible creations andmitted so many terrible acts¡­"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Hearing about the evils that I had wrought on this world felt strange. I knew this guy wasn''t me, yet why did I feel a little pain in my chest?

    "Ciel believes that this was due to Merlin''s interference. He must havee into contact with Lewis at some point and corrupted him. That''s how Lewis was able to quickly develop Magic, as well as propound so many Magical breakthroughs."

    "So, what happened to him? Was he stopped?"

    Neron shook his head at my question, sighing slowly.

    "Lewis Griffith must have known of the limits he had with an Inept body. He would have eventually grown old and died¡ªthere was no way around it. As a result, he did the unthinkable in his lifetime¡­" I suddenly felt a chill all over my body.

    "He figured out the trick to Reincarnation Magic."

    My eyes bulged almost as instantly as Neron said it.

    ''He figured it out? That''s insane!''

    I was Reincarnated due to Neron''s interference in my world, but this guy actually Reincarnated intentionally?

    "The world celebrated his demise and we used what we could in his research to further improve our Magic and civilization. How were we supposed to know he would return as the child of the most influential Duke Household in the Eastern Continent."

    ''Ah, I see¡­''

    "The Leonard Ducal Household had both Magical Power and Political Authority. They were the perfect target for a parasite like Lewis to feed on. Thus, he reincarnated as the baby, Jared Leonard, and began his rise to power."

    Neron further exined their history to me.

    As Jared increased in strength, he was able to take over the entire Eastern continent and quickly spread his influence to the other Nations in the world.

    He took over the Western Region pretty easily, considering one of his major allies was an influential figure there. She was able to swiftlyunch a coup, driving the original King from the throne.

    "Jane Urs took over the Fairy Kingdom from Beruel, nearly killing him in the process."

    Neron told me how Beruel had managed to escape and how he found him before Jane Urs''s army caught up to him.

    It was shocking that Jane would turn over to the side of evil like that. Sure, this world was warped, but the only reason she performed the coup in my world was for the welfare of her people.

    Even that had changed.

    "What of the Elven Kingdom? What became of it?"

    I wanted to know if this world''s version of Emilia ever had a connection with Lewis or Jared. If so, what became of the whole saga?

    "That¡­ is another tragic tale."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Just so you know, my Swordcraft: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody is linked to Spellcraft.

    There''s even going to be a crossover.

    If you''d like to read Swordcraft, use the link /book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 816 An Alternate Explanation [Pt 3]

    "W-what?! The Elves are no more?"

    My eyes widened with both shock and anger as I looked at Neron. I knew this wasn''t my world and my raging emotions were useless, but I couldn''t help it at this point.

    Not after hearing what he just told me.

    "Over five hundred years ago, before Lewis Griffith died, we suspect that he released some sort of Magical virus on the Demon Race. It slowly drove them mad and they became a savage Race. This eventually devolved into something else, and they ultimately sought out violence and destruction."

    "B-but why?"

    "We initially thought it was just one of his evil antics¡ªa way to spread destruction and chaos even in his absence. However, how could we have known of his future ns?"

    The Demon Race went after their closest neighbours¡ªthe Elf Kingdom. Due to their sheer numbers and brutal nature, the Elves didn''t stand a chance.

    All of them¡ªwithout exception¡ªwere wiped out.

    ''So, the Demon War never happened. Instead, Jared instigated them to kill all the Elves and carry out a massacre? What a monster¡­''

    I had alsomitted Mass Genocide before, but that had been for many unavoidable reasons. Why would this world''s version of myself go to such lengths?

    It was no wonder these people hated him.

    "When this happened, the Fairy Kingdom feared they would be next, so they partnered up with the other Nations, and together, the world eradicated the Demon Race."

    "How did you solve the Miasma Problem?"

    "Miasma?" Neron cocked his head in confusion when I asked the question.

    "Uh¡­ the energy Demons emit."

    "They emit the same kind we do¡­ Mana."

    Ah, then it all made sense. The Elves only lost because they were outnumbered and outmatched. As for the Demons, they lost because of the very same reason.

    They must have also been exhausted after fighting the Elves, so the alliance used that in their favour.

    "The world thought Demons were too dangerous, at that point, so the Alliance decided to exterminate them as well."

    It was no surprise¡ªconsidering the damage the Demons had wrought. Plus, their berserk states made them unreasonable, no doubt.

    "As a result, two of the world powers vanished from the face of the Earth, without a trace. Karlia is the only survivor." Neron added.

    No wonder she despised me so much. From her perspective, I was responsible for the death of her people.

    "She''s a mutant, so the virus didn''t have any effect on her. She had no other choice but to watch as her people slowly descended into darkness. In the end, she couldn''t save any of them."

    Neron went on to tell me how Lewis, after reincarnating as Jared, was able to easily take over the world thanks to the lower number of nations that stood in his way.

    The Demons and Elves had some of the highestbat power thanks to their dexterity and affinitiy with Mana.

    Yet¡­ they were killed off before they even had a chance to resist him.

    ''This world''s version of me is just as smart¡ªno, he''s probably smarter than I am. He could be getting help from this Merlin guy, but still¡­''

    Hearing about Karlia''s story made me curious about the others, so I asked Neron to tell me¡ªif he wanted to, of course.

    "Stefan Netherlore was Jared''s ssmate back when he attended Ainrk Academy. In his words, his cousin, Maria Helmsworth, had a huge crush on Jared at the time. Unfortunately, she was killed by Jared when he took over Ainrk Academy during the Monster Invasion on the school."

    In more detail, this world''s Jared used some monsters to attack Ainrk Academy, making it easy for him to gainplete control over the Magic Institute.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Stefan saw how his cousin, and very close friend, was killed in the Invasion, and when he realized that it was intentionally caused by Jared, he couldn''t forgive him.

    "Stefan is very talented, you see. He''s a genius that outsses any human I know. He resisted Jared''s ascent with all his might, but even he couldn''t stop that bastard from taking over the school. He would have died trying too¡­"

    I was shocked to hear all of this. Stefan, Ainrk¡­ everything was so different.

    "Reed Sterling was the Headmaster back then and he was the one who led the students to try to resist Jared''s uprising. Unfortunately, even he was no match for the boy. In the end, his efforts were in vain and a trap was set for the resisters."

    Jared ughtered every single person who went up against him that day.

    "Reed had contacted me earlier that day, so I went to the scene to help. I saw the carnage firsthand. Unfortunately, when I arrived, Reed and Stefan were the only ones who were still alive."

    Neron saved them, and they were only able to escape with his help.

    "Reed still mes himself for the deaths of all those students and Stefan cries on some nights due to the loss of his cousin."

    It seemed all of them had lost one thing or the other thanks to this evil version of myself.

    "Vaizer''s situation is simr to Beruel''s case. They were both ousted from their Kingdom as a result of Jared''s quest for power. It''s worse for Vaizer because his wives and children were all ughtered before his eyes by the new Beast King."

    "D-don''t tell me It''s¡­ Gerard?!"

    "Yes. It seems you know him from your world. Gerard became Jared''s loyal subordinate after being offered a cure for the Beastfolk''s short lifespan, as well as increased power."

    ''A-ah¡­ that¡­'' I kept my lips shut this time, pretending I knew nothing about it.

    "I was able to save Vaizer since I had been monitoring the Beast Kingdom when the incident urred. I already suspected Jared would attack the ce next. Unfortunately, I was only able to save Vaizer."

    After the Beastfolk Conquest, Jared enved the Dwarves as well. In essence, the Deranged ve had practically conquered the world.

    "Well, almost. There remains one powerful nation that remains standing despite all of Jared''s efforts to take it down." Neron interrupted my thought, raising a finger.

    "The Midas Empire."

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Just so you know, my book, Swordcraft: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody, is linked to Spellcraft.

    ¦Ñ¦Á§ád¦Á---n?¦Ía| §ãom There''s even going to be a crossover.

    If you''d like to read Swordcraft, use the link /book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 817 Nerons Shocking Revelation

    "The Midas Empire is being ruled by Kuzon Midas, and they''ve taken control of the Northern Continent, making it their stronghold."

    When Nerom told me this, I couldn''t control the smile on my face. It seemed not everyone was a problem, after all.

    ''The Midas Empire still stands in this reality? That''s amazing!''

    "Kuzon has formed an alliance with the Magic Beasts and they''re currently warding off Jared''s forces. In any case, that''s the current state of this world¡ªThe Midas Empire versus Jared''s United Nations." He sighed.

    For some reason, Neron didn''t seem too happy about the resistance Kuzon made against Jared. Perhaps things weren''t as simple as I thought.

    "Why not ally yourselves with the Midas Empire and help them stop Jared?" I asked.

    Neron sighed even more, confirming my earlier suspicions. It seemed something more was wrong with the Midas Empire and Kuzon.

    "If only we could reason with Kuzon Midas. Unfortunately, ever since Jared killed his parents, he has been blinded by pure rage and he has led his nation into an all-out war against Jared''s forces."

    Neron continued to tell me how much of a tyrant Kuzon was and I instantly realized that this guy was totally different from the Kuzon I remembered.

    "Kido, his uncle, tried to knock some sense into him. He tried to let him consider a better way to win without an all-out sacrificial war, but he was shunned by Kuzon. In the end, Kido joined us so we could stop Jared before Kuzon slipped further into darkness."

    It seemed quite selfless for Kido to go so far for his bratty nephew. From the little I knew about him¡ªafter hearing Beruel and Kuzon speak about him in my original world¡ªthe dude was an asshole.

    ''If he''s kind here, then that''s an improvement for sure.''

    It seemed the situation was more dire than I thought. This world was caught between two extremely powerful factions¡ªJared, the world-conquering maniac, and Kuzon, the tyrannical ruler.

    Both sides were at loggerheads and so the world burned as they engaged in conflict.

    "That''s why we exist. As the Outgroup, we take it upon ourselves to intervene in ways that Kuzon won''t. We covertly attack Jared''s supply points, we reduce his manpower, we set traps, and we do whatever we can to stop them¡ªor at least slow them down."

    "To what end, though?" I asked.

    "Merlin had a n, and it seems Jared is also following in his footsteps. Ciel fears that they might be trying to rain Dark Magic upon this world, just like what happened those years ago."

    "I see¡­"

    The Outgroup, though consisting of only a few members, seemed to be doing very important work. It was impressive that their little group had been able to hold on for so long.

    ¡­ Or was it?

    ''This doesn''t add up at all.'' I thought to myself.

    These people were equivalent to the Nether Cult in my world. Those guys really caused us a lot of trouble, and in the end, they won¡ªat least, until Aether intervened.

    If these guys had the same roster¡ªwith Karlia, Neron, the Martial de God, and Kido leading the charge¡­ what was stopping them from winning?

    After listening to the tales of each member and seeing how Neron intervened, it puzzled me that he couldn''t do more than rescue the victims.

    For example, when he saved Stefan and Reed during the Ainrk takeover¡­ Why couldn''t he have defeated Jared right then and there?

    During the Beastfolk coup, why hadn''t he helped Vaizer more than he did? It made no sense, considering the fact that Neron was the strongest person I knew.

    Unless¡­

    "How powerful is this group¡­ no, how powerful are you? What level are you at in Magic? Peak? Transcendent?" I didn''t want to say any further, since that would be too much.

    Or was I looking at this wrong? Perhaps it wasn''t that the Outgroup was weaker than I thought, but that Jared''s team was just much more superior.

    Maybe I already surpassed Neron in this world.

    "We measure our Magic by stars. One star is the weakest¡­ and Nine stars is the highest." Neron spoke, interrupting my thoughts.

    ''Ah, so even their concept of Magic is different.''

    Still, I had no doubts that Neron would ce somewhere rather high up.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Those who can''t practice Magic don''t qualify for this ssification though, and I''m one of them. I am an Inept."

    ¡­ Eh?

    ''Did I just hear that right?''

    "You''re¡­ inept¡­?"

    Suddenly, I began to piece everything together. The reason why the team didn''t seem as powerful as I thought they would be, and the reason Neron hadn''t solved the problem at this point.

    He couldn''t use Magic!

    "I assume the Neron in your world could utilize Magic." He smiled a little. "Based on that look you''re giving me."

    Oh boy, he had no idea just how much magic he could use!

    The Neron in my world was a beast on another level. Everyone knew that!

    ''I shouldn''t say anything. It''s better that way.'' I told myself, bleeding for this version of Neron as I held back my tears.

    "Y-yeah. He had Magic." I simply replied, stuttering for a second.

    "I see. Was he strong? Could he have averted this crisis?" He went on to ask.

    I shivered instantly. What was this guy''s deal? How could he ask such leading questions? It seemed no matter the world, Neron was still as clever as always.

    "Yeah, most likely. The Neron in my world is strong enough to save the world many times over."

    "I see¡­ thanks for telling me." A sad smile formed on his face.

    "Sometimes, I have these feelings of dissatisfaction swirl up within me. I want to do more¡­ to be more¡ªand it always feels like I should be able to achieve it. Yet¡­"

    I could rte with Neron, considering the fact that I was Inept in my past life as well.

    "But, I''ve long made my peace with myck of Magical Abilities. After all, there''s more than one way to win a fight."

    I watched as Neron broke into a bright, charismatic smile. His face was shining with such blinding hope that I could only watch in awe.

    Rather than feel despair, or pat himself on the back in pity, Neron kept pressing forward.

    "We will win this war¡­ and we won''t fail."

    It seemed no matter what reality, Neron was still the same. And I couldn''t help but smile at this.

    ''That''s good.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Just so you know, my Swordcraft: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody is linked to Spellcraft.

    There''s even going to be a crossover.

    If you''d like to read Swordcraft, use the link /book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 818 Unbending Will

    "Edward teaches me Martial Arts, so I''m prettypetent in that respect. My true strength, however, lies in developing Magic Items and strategies."

    Neron told me about how he had learned how to manipte Magic artificially by using what he called ''Mana Mas''. By using them, he made Magic Items as a kid, and he became better and better as time went on.

    He had cultivated this talent himself as well. Although he had also attended Ainrk, so part of his knowledge had been gained from the school. His talent and skill had been the reason that he and Reed became close during his stay at the school, and even after that.

    ''As expected of Neron. Even if he is an Inept, he still ends up being a badass.''

    There was one thing he''d said that stood out about everything he had exined so far, though.

    "Edward? Who exactly are you referring to?"

    Did that mean that my Ainrk friends were here too? No, ording to what Neron said, only Stefan and Reed were from Ainrk. If Edward existed in this world, he would most likely be dead.

    "You met him earlier. That big oaf with the de."

    Hold on¡­ who exactly was he calling Edward? Was it actually¡­

    "... The Martial de God?!"

    "Martial de God? Edward? Please don''t let him hear you say that." After chuckling for some time, Neron''s face suddenly turned straight and he stared inly at me. "Seriously, don''t."

    What was the problem now? Maybe¡­ oh no¡­ was the Martial de God nerfed in this world too? At this point, I could only assume that to be the current situation.

    "Edward has been walking on the path of immortality for so many centuries that even he has lost count of how long he has lived. Unfortunately, he never had the required talent to back up all his hard work. As a result, despite all his efforts as a Martial Artist, he was never able to break past the fifth star of being a Martial Artist."

    Based on my calctions, that would make him close to the Peak Stage, but not quite there yet. That was a massive downy of what I knew of him in my world!

    "How is he not dead yet?" I asked with a shortugh. "He couldn''t have possibly reached a point where he could conquer death, right?"

    He even looked younger than he did in my world.

    "Apparently, he met an Immortal Shaman by the name of Lilith. She had been the one to grant him a never-ending life since he wished to be able to practice Martial Arts forever."

    My eyes bulged the moment he mentioned that name and beads of sweat dripped down my face.

    "L-Lilith? Did you just say Lilith? She really made Edward immortal?"

    "Yes."

    What in the world was going on? Why would she do something like that? Yes, I knew this world was different, and that this world''s Lilith was different from the one I knew.

    But still¡­

    ''She would never do that. Not with the consequences that would definitely follow. Unless¡­''

    "Does the Martial ¡ª I mean, does Edward experience any sort of side effects due to his immortality?" I asked Neron while trying to breathe through my sudden state of panic.

    "No¡­ not that I know of. He''s always in healthy shape. Though, if you ask me, he takes things a little too far. Because he knows he can''t die, he''s always putting himself in all sorts of danger."

    ''Ah¡­ it''s no wonder, then.'' I smiled to myself.

    So, in this world, Lilith perfected it. It all made perfect sense now.

    "Why would she make him immortal, though?"

    "Well, he grew up under her tutge. ording to him, he spent the first couple decades of his life learning Martial Arts from her."

    Ah, yes. Lilith was a monster who excelled at both Martial Arts and Magic. I had never seen anyone surpass her in that regard in either of my lives.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "She told him he had no talent for it, but he kept being stubborn and determined. In the end, she allowed him to keep practising so he could achieve his goals. Afterwards, she disappeared, and he hasn''t seen her since."

    ''That''s an interesting story. So, Lilith brought up the Martial de God in this world. She always wanted kids, but¡­''

    "It''s a shame, though. If only we could find her so she could join our cause. ording to Edward, she''s very powerful."

    Some things just never changed, I guess.

    "So, how did you and Edward meet?" I asked with a lighthearted smile.

    Somehow, it felt good to hear that this world''s Lilith was doing just fine. I knew it didn''t change what happened in my reality, but¡­ it still brought me some level of satisfaction.

    Perhaps I was just being self-patronizing.

    "I stumbled upon a cave where he had been in seclusion. Apparently, he had been in the cave for so long that he didn''t even know about the chaotic state of the world. I had been a teenager back then, so we sort of got along well."

    Edward and Neron hit it off pretty easily and they eventually became the best of friends it seems.

    Neron then went on to tell me about how Ciel appeared in front of them and told them all about herself. After she exined the destructive events of the past and the fate of the world toe, he knew he had to create a group to help everyone.

    Edward had been the first member of the Outgroup, and after some time, they increased in number.

    "A good number of ourrades are dead. Damien Lawcroft had been a good man. He hadn''t been as talented as Reed or Stefan, but I knew him when we had both been at Ainrk. We were good friends in school¡­"

    Ah, to think even this would happen once again.

    "He sacrificed himself for the cause, as did a couple of others. But, we''ve managed to survive this long. This world needs us and we can''t give up now."

    I honestly felt moved by Neron''s words. It was no surprise that he was the leader. Still, his ideals didn''t mean much if their members were too weak to achieve their desired results.

    Surely, he had to be aware of that.

    "So, tell me¡­ what exactly is your trump card? What makes you so confident that you guys can win this war?" There had to be a driving reason behind his continuous efforts.

    "Well¡­ we aren''t very strong individually, but we work extremely well as a team. Besides¡­" Neron''s smile widened and he suddenly became even more happy.

    "... You''ve already met our Ace. She''s the very heart of this group¡ªthe one who kickstarted this whole movement."

    Ah, yes. How could I forget her? Even in my world, she had been the one who made the Nether Cult emerge victorious in the end.

    "Ciel."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Just so you know, my Swordcraft: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody is linked to Spellcraft.

    There''s even going to be a crossover.

    If you''d like to read Swordcraft, use the link /book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 819 Resolve To Advance

    "Ciel trains us in Magic and teaches us ancient Spells lost to civilization. She also reveals the things that happened in the past, helping us make sense of the present."

    I could sense a great deal of respect in Neron''s tone as he spoke. He and Ciel must have reallye a long way.

    "You really trust her, huh?"

    Neron smiled slightly and nodded.

    "She doesn''t have most of her former powers, and her connection to the world has thinned considerably. It takes a lot of time for her to gather enough power to affect thews of this world, but without a doubt¡­ Ciel is the strongest."

    In essence, thanks to her abrupt and rushed reincarnation process, Ciel was nerfed.

    ''Their team is obviously outgunned.'' I thought to myself.

    I had expected something more spectacr, but if this was all they could boast of, I was a bit worried about us.

    Even Karlia and Kido, who were plenty powerful in my world were bound to have some sort of limit in this world.

    "I realize what you might be thinking. This seems like a losing war, doesn''t it? However, we have a n."

    My body twitched a little upon hearing my favourite word. Instantly, anticipation filled my eyes and I looked at Neron with expectation.

    "What n?"

    "By coordinating our attacks to look random on the surface, and attacking strategic sites which will definitely affect Jared''s world Empire." Neron began, his eyes narrowing with seriousness.

    "We n onunching a sting operation on one of those facilities today. It''s a weapon production site. Destroying it will not be enough to stop Jared, but it''ll slow the effects of his tyranny down."

    I liked how Neron was as pragmatic as he was hopeful. It would still take a long time to deal any damage to this Evil Jared himself at their current pace, but I recognized what their efforts would achieve.

    "That''s pretty good."

    "Thank you. I''m only telling you all of this because Ciel told me not to withhold information from you."

    I perfectly understood this. In fact, I was already pretty excited about the whole thing that I eventually had to raise my hand to make a suggestion.

    "Why don''t I help you guys?" A smile leaked from my face.

    "Help us? How?"

    "W-well, with Magic. Back in my world, I''m pretty strong, you know? Not as strong as Neron, but still very powerful."

    "Oh? Really? That''s great, then. Maybe next time."

    ''... Eh?''

    I was actually offering my help just now¡­. And Neron just politely refused it at point nk.

    "Do not take offence at my words. It''s simply because you are an unounted variable in the n. I can''t add you to the team so abruptly since that would mean a whole lot more nning and restrategizing. And we''re leaving today."

    Once he said that, I realized I was the one being inconsiderate.

    The more people who had to be teleported or protected, the more power one would have to expend. If they were truly trying their best to conserve energy, and they had made a perfectly functional n without me, then I would just be a nuisance.

    Besides¡­

    ''I don''t think I can help much anyway. My power is still on the fritz.'' I thought to myself. ''I need to figure out how to stabilise my power¡­ and fast!''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "There''s also the fact that you still don''t know a lot about this world, and my teammates don''t wholly trust you." Neron''s calm voice permeated the room.

    Afterwards, for a while, we both descended into silence.

    "How about you? Do you trust me?"

    ¦Ñ¦Á§ád¦Á---n?¦Ía| §ãom Neron''s stoic face hardly moved as he shrugged his shoulders, rising to his feet in the process.

    "Strangely enough, I do. I don''t have a particrly good reason for believing you. I guess you could call it my intuition."

    "There''s a lot more to say and I would like to hear all about your world too, but there''s hardly much time left. I have to go now."

    Neron made for the room''s exit, opening the door slowly.

    "You should remain here until we get back. The Magic barrier here gets deactivated after a day, so if we''re not here by then, consider yourself free to go."

    So there WAS a Magic Barrier. As expected.

    ''Yet, I didn''t notice it. How weak have I gotten?''

    "I understand. I''ll try to figure things out on my end too. Thanks for your time." I replied with a genuine smile.

    "It''s fine. Rest well."

    With that, Neron exited the room and shut it behind him, leaving me alone to ponder my current predicament in this strange world.

    ''My connection to Aether was severed back then, so I can only resort to Mana and Miasma. However, for some reason, I can''t use them properly here. Why?''

    If I had to develop a theory, it would be because of wavelength. I couldn''t sense the Mana here, so the wavelength of this world must be different from mine.

    After all, this world has its own set of rules, and as a foreigner, I would need to learn them in order to realise how to apply my abilities to them, so that they would work.

    In essence, I would have to build my Magic from scratch. If I was to choose a method, it would begin with my Mana Cores.

    I didn''t have the time, opportunity, or need to do this back in my old world, after the war, but perhaps it was finally time to begin.

    ''First, I''llpress my Mana and Miasma Cores, purifying them to the utmost degree so I can form an active Aether Core.''

    I didn''t know how many Cores I would need to sacrifice to achieve this feat, but it was necessary. Then, there was the other thing.

    ''I also have to figure out how to properly use Magic in ordance with this world''s wavelength and see if I can use Spellcraft while I''m at it.''

    With no Arcana or enough Magic to fuel my Original Magic, I was stuck in this world. I still had a lot to learn and plenty of things to do, so the sooner I got started, the better.

    ''Looks like I''ll have to resume my hardcore training.''

    *

    *

    *

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

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 Chapter 820 Strategic Meeting [Pt 1]

    "So, how did it go with that shady guy?"

    Neron had just been walking into the Meeting Room when he heard a voice ask him about his meeting with Jared.

    It came from none other than Karlia who was currently scowling while standing in a corner in the room.

    "If you hadn''t left there after five more minutes, I would have stormed in there and dismantled his body, pulling it apart limb by limb." She added, her sharp teeth bared, thanks to her wide, malevolent smile.

    "Rx. He''s not dangerous or evil. He seems good." Neron sighed, looking at the rest of his teammates¡ªsome of whom gave him looks of disbelief.

    "You really trust him, Neron?" Edward asked, his arms folded as he leaned against the wall while standing in a different corner of the room. His eyes were closed and he was in a cool andposed pose with his kimono.

    p¦Ánd¦Á---no¦Í?1,§ão§® "Yeah, I do." Neron ignored the swordsman''s attempt to look cool and instead drew closer to Karlia.

    "At first, I only decided to give him a chance because of Lady Ciel. However, after observing and having a conversation with him, I can say for sure that I trust him."

    Neron''s statement and his soft smile shocked everyone in the room.

    "You''re not the trusting type, Neron." Karlia reminded him, cing her hands on his cheeks while staring straight into his eyes.

    "Really? I''m pretty sure I trusted you well enough." He said this as his smile grew wider. "Or have you forgotten?"

    "Perhaps I have. Care to remind me?" Was the Subus'' reply.

    Everyone in the room knew what wasing, so they instantly averted their gazes from the two in front of them.

    Even Stefan, who was interested in the whole thing, had his eyes covered by Reed Sterling.

    "You''re not ready for this yet." The man said to the boy.

    Neron and Karlia ignored everyone in the room and crushed their lips on each other, enjoying a warm and loving kiss. It got rid of all the tension in the room¡ªrecing it with a different kind.

    The perfect solution they needed at the moment.

    "You two need to get a room." Edward groaned. "I practice celibacy, so I don''t think you need to rub all of this in my face, you know?"

    "Yeah, right. You''re just keeping yourself for Lilith."

    "H-hey! That''s Master Lilith for you!"

    The group burst intoughter, fully taking advantage of the brand-new atmosphere that allowed them tough and smile so freely.

    Of course, even this didn''tst for too long.

    "Alright, let''s get down to business." Neron began, spreading out arge map on therge table at the centre of the room.

    Other than that, no piece of furniture existed.

    The whole team gathered around the very detailed map that he was showing them.

    "My Scout Golem took a live footage from above the site and Ipiled it to form this."

    The extensive structure of the sight was at least half a dozen acres ofnd, and the ominous-looking terrain would have been enough to intimidate anyone.

    But not these Outers.

    No, they had a mission to fulfil.

    "Lady Ciel is currently gathering enough energy for the trip. Once she''s done, we''ll set out immediately."

    The longer they dyed, the less urate this map would be. They had to strike as soon as possible.

    "I believe in all of us and our abilities." Neron stared at hisrades with a confident smile.

    "Edward¡­" His best friend.

    "Karlia¡­" The woman he loved with all of his heart.

    "Kido¡­" The man he sympathized with the most.

    "Reed..." His old mentor and friend.

    "Stefan¡­" His adopted younger brother.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Beruel¡­" His drinking partner and brother-in-arms.

    "Vaizer¡­" His most respectedrade.

    These were the people he had risked his life for and with. He trusted them with everything he had, and they trusted him in return.

    Along with Lady Ciel, who gave him a purpose, this group of people were his family.

    And that was never going to change.

    "... Let''s do our best!"

    *

    *

    *

    [MEANWHILE]

    In a dark castle to the far East, there was a room that remained untouched¡ªout of the reach of many others, save for a few.

    Within this room were four individuals, all standing in the presence of a massive throne. Usually one would need to constantly bow before this throne, but things were different for these four.

    The dark room was exquisitely furnished, considering this was a luxurious ce to be.

    The chandeliers that hung from the ceiling, and the twisted murals that were illustrated on the walls, all of them depicted fine luxury. The gleaming stones that were ced strategically and the trophy of weapons across the space also told of the majesty of the man on the throne.

    ¡­ That is, if he could be called a man.

    "I wee you all, my friends." A very youthful voice surged forth from the throne and the lights all over the room instantly shed.

    The brightness revealed the four who stood before the elevated throne and the one who sat on it.

    "Jane, Elrich, Gerard¡­ and Abellion." The supreme ruler spoke as he narrowed his eyes at the four of them.

    His four generals.

    Steadily drumming his fingers on the exquisite golden throne, he looked beyond the flight of stairs that separated him from the base where they stood.

    "It has been some time¡­" Gerard spoke with a tone of reverence.

    "Indeed, I hope you have been well¡­" Abellion followed.

    "It is indeed an honour¡­" Elrich smiled.

    "Did you miss me¡­?"

    All their eyes focused on the man worthy of their attention, loyalty, and adoration.

    "... Lord Jared."

    He smiled as he listened to his generals greet him.

    Garbed in a regal ck and gold attire, with a golden crown on his head, and bleached white hair, Jared silently watched their disy of reverence.

    It never failed to amuse him.

    "Now that you''re all here, let us begin the meeting." He rose from his throne and his royal outfit flowed seamlessly behind him.

    "There''s a lot to discuss."

    *

    *

    *

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

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 Chapter 821 Strategic Meeting [Pt 2]

    The nning hall was a sacred ground that only the most relevant people could venture into. However, since these people were at the top of the food chain, of course, they were granted ess.

    With Jared leading them, they all ventured towards the moderatelyrge hall, with murals still staining the wall, and tiles so exquisite you could see your reflection.

    The room also had a centre table which five chairs gathered around.

    Two chairs were to the left, two to the right, and a more majestic one stood firmly at the head of the table.

    "Have your seats. Jared smiled, moving to take his prestigious position among the others.

    Despite his warm invitation, no one dared to have their seat before he did. It wasn''t due to anything he had imposed on them, but rather, it was simply their respect for the hierarchy.

    Once he sat, they followed.

    "Alright, then. Since we''re all here¡­ let us begin."

    *

    *

    *

    "... And that concludes the report."

    An eerie silence followed Elrich Lendertwale''s voice. Everyone in the room satpletely still as they watched Jared nod slowly.

    "So, still no progress on the Midas front, eh?" He sighed.

    The Midas Empire had been their most challenging opponent throughout the conquest. All the other nations had fallen without much difficulty, but this group was proving to be a serious thorn in his flesh.

    "It''s because of their pesky barrier. That''s pretty much all they have going for them." Abellion growled.

    He, who had been the only Demon, apart from Karlia, to be spared from the massacre in exchange for betraying his own people, had swornplete fealty to Jared¡ªor perhaps, Lewis Griffith.

    In any case, he was his loyal servant, and his master''s desires were his as well.

    "Our Spells can''t do anything to them and our technology is also incapable of breaching it yet." Jane Urs responded with a grin.

    The Midas Empire''s Barrier had to be the most peculiar one in existence. It pretty much nullified their Spells and it was constantly active.

    That was the only reason why their race, as well as the Magic Beasts, still had any reasonable grounds.

    "We already have enough manpower to defeat them, do we not? It will be tough, but I can see us winning. If the Magic Technology Division could just work on something on their end, then¡ª"

    "Hey, are you seriously ming me, Gerard?" Jane''s eyes red as she red at the Beast King.

    "N-no, of course not! I was just saying¡­"

    Like a puppy, he shamefully hung his head low and epted his fate.

    "My division is working tirelessly to produce so many things at once, including the main project. The little time we have dedicated to breaking the barrier has proven futile. Yet what would you have me do?"

    "Okay, okay, sorry¡­" Gerard could already see himself being backed into a corner.

    It was shameful that a woman was talking to him with such disrespect, yet he knew he couldn''t fight back.

    If she had been his wife, he would have beaten her half to death for daring to speak against him. He would have shown her her ce in the hierarchy.

    Unfortunately for him, she wasn''t his to discipline.

    The man who imed the title of her lover¡­ was someone he would never wish to cross.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Rx, Jane. I''m sure Gerard meant no harm. Right, Gerard?" Jared''s voice soothingly interrupted their discussion.

    His warm smile and understanding eyes would have given peace andfort to Gerard, but he knew the true meaning behind them.

    Shut up or die!

    "Y¨Cyes sir!" He bowed vigorously.

    Jane scoffed a little, grinning afterwards. Clearly, she was looking down on him.

    ''Damnit¡­'' Gerard endured the humiliation, giving more importance to his instincts of self-preservation.

    "As long as we all get along well, that''s fine. Thank you for the report, Elrich."

    The man with flowing white hair bowed courteously without uttering a word. As Jared''s top Mage, he only needed to speak when he was told to.

    The very man who gave him the right to immortality was the one who now dictated his freedom of speech. However, Elrich didn''t mind.

    As long as Jared showed him more Magic, and ensured he always had enough ''materials'' for his research, he was perfectly fine with being his loyal subordinate.

    "How about you, Jane? Anything special to report?"

    "Yes. Quite important, actually." Jane rose to her feet.

    Unlike the miniature size that fairies usually donned, Jane had a regr human size. Of course, she had wings behind her, making it clear she was a fairy. Her pointy ears also gave it away.

    "Our Magic Observatory detected some strange phenomenon that urred some hours ago." She began, no longer smiling.

    "What kind of strange phenomenon are we talking about here?"

    "It''s difficult to exin. It''s like space and time folding in on itself, and reality itself warping. I also felt a strong surge of Magical Energy, unlike anything I''d ever experienced before. The readings were simply off the charts."

    "But were you able to pinpoint its exact location or range?" Jared''s eyes narrowed further as he heard more about this strange urrence.

    Clearly, it wasn''t natural. An unprecedented phenomenon, urring at such a critical moment? No¡­ how could it simply be overlooked.

    "That''s the problem¡­ not at all." Jane sighed. "The readings were so off the chart that we couldn''t pinpoint the exact source."

    A Magic Power that was too dense to calcte and trace? How absurd was this surge?

    Or more importantly¡­ Who had caused it?!

    "Hmm¡­ could this be the work of the Midas Empire again? They''re relentless in their efforts and they aren''t that weak either. Perhaps they''ve developed something formidable." Jared rubbed his chin in deep thought.

    "Perhaps¡­ or it could also be the work of our other opponents¡ªthe Outers?" Jane added, her eyes disying just as much concern as Jared''s.

    "The Outgroup, huh? I see¡­"

    *

    *

    *

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

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 Chapter 822 Strategic Meeting [Pt 3]

    The Outgroup.

    Despite their small size, they continued to be a major threat to everything Jared had built. Not only were they hidden from his United Nation''s detection, but their assaults were also extremely thought-out.

    This mysterious and highlypetent band of outcasts always found a way to get under his skin, and he could attribute it to mainly one person.

    ''Neron¡­'' Jared gritted his teeth.

    ''Could this be the work of Neron? Has he figured something out? Did he make something else this time? Something dangerous?''

    A bead of sweat fell from Jared''s forehead as he tried to think of any possible exnation for the Outgroup having such a power.

    ''What could he be up to now¡­?''

    >SHUUUUU<

    An incorporeal figure suddenly moved close to Jared, grabbing both of his shoulders with its skinny fingers while leaning down to his ears.

    ~Don''t be too sure it''s Neron~ The ghost-like being said.

    It had a nearly transparent form, with a glowing pale-likeplexion, and a very distinguished robe to cover its thin skeleton-like body.

    ~Ciel. This could have been the work of that wretch, Ciel.~ The ghost added.

    Jared''s eyes slowly trailed to the face of the one who spoke.

    The flowing white hair, the obsessive eyes and the cold, unfeeling face could only belong to one person.

    ''I understand the possibility, Merlin. I''ll keep that in mind.''

    ~Do more than that. Ciel is a major threat. The most major of all the Outers, and even the Midas Empire.~

    ''I won''t let her get in our way. Don''t worry about it.'' Jared sighed and shut his eyes for a few moments.

    At that moment, he heard a hissing sound, and the heaviness in his heart and soul slowly lifted. It seemed the ghost had vanished.

    Opening his eyes, he watched as his four generals watched him with expectations. None of them could see Merlin''s ghost, but this was already old news.

    Even though he had been seeing and speaking to the spectre of the legendary Mage ever since he was a mere teenager¡ªbitter about his ineptitude in magic and Inept identity.

    If it hadn''t been for Merlin''s intervention and their fated encounter with each other, he wouldn''t have risen to be the man he was today.

    In a way, Merlin was his mentor. However, their rtionship ran deeper than that. Too deep to consider at the current moment.

    "Now, then, where was I?"

    Finally getting back on track with the topic, Jared decided to resort to the only thing he could at the moment.

    "Tighten security in all our major regions. Ensure there are more than enough troops on standby. And also, prepare the big guns. We need to be more vignt at this point in time."

    Without knowing what exactly caused the energy surge, they could only be as prepared as possible.

    "Begin to make the preparations immediately. That is all."

    His generals instantly rose to their feet and nodded.

    This marked the end of their meeting, and while it had been short, the uneasy atmosphere that clung to everyone in the room made it evidently clear that they couldn''t afford any errors in their duties.

    Something big was happening¡­ and Jared''s ever-expanding empire had to be prepared.

    Failure was not an option!

    *

    *

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "How do you feel?"

    Once everyone left, only two people remained in the room.

    "You look a little bothered." Jane Urs moved close to Jared, a smile stered on her face. "Is it because of what I said?"

    Jared, who was still seated in his chair nodded slowly.

    "Yeah. It''s a bit worrisome. I don''t like the idea of someone possessing a power that even you are unable to pinpoint."

    "Haha, you give me too much credit." Jane drew closer until she was right in front of Jared.

    "Do I, now? Aren''t you the most brilliant mind in the world?" Jared smiled, gazing at her passionately.

    "Second only to yours, I''m afraid." She returned his gaze.

    For a brief moment, they simply stared at each other in silence. And then¡ª

    "Mmmph¡­ mmmh"

    p¦Ánd¦Á---no¦Í?1,§ão§® It all happened in an instant, but Jared and Jane were now passionately kissing. The Fairy sat on hisp, and he caressed her while they engaged in this act.

    No one could see the both of them like this¡­ in this shameful state of emotional weakness and utter indulgence.

    "Haa¡­ Jared, I''ve missed you so much. Hmmm¡­" Jane moaned, enjoying more of her partner''s warmth.

    Jared was too upied to speak, but he definitely felt the same way.

    No one had managed to make him feel anything remotely close to how this woman did. They were both made for each other.

    Their simr love for Magic had evolved into an inevitable attraction that drew them closer and closer together. Jane Urs was his best friend and best partner.

    They were soulmates, which made this whole venture even more worthwhile.

    "You know, what, Jane? I''m excited!"

    Still in each other''s embrace, Jared finally halted their kissing, smiling widely at his lover.

    The glimmer in his golden eyes disyed the level of sincerity he had in his statement. When it came to Jane, there was no need for lies or bravado.

    No one understood him as much as she did.

    "I can''t wait till we conquer this world and then expand to the other ones that exist beyond this ce."

    More kisses interrupted his words.

    "I can''t wait too, Jared. Hehe¡­ to explore Magic with you and conquer everything that exists. Haa¡­ it''s a dreame true."

    Their skins grew warmer¡ªtoo immersed in their depravity to care about anything else.

    "We''ll let go of this small rock¡­ and explore even far greater ones."

    Their passion evolved into something greater and deeper as more time passed. It was almost¡­ Magical.

    "The universe is ours!"

    *

    *

    *

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

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 Chapter 823 Attack Of The Outers [Pt 1]

    The Outgroup gathered in their hall. They were all wearing resolute expressions on their faces.

    Silence pervaded the group, and their eyes looked over each other. They had done many operations like this before, so it wasn''t a new thing.

    Still, there were times when they lost one or tworades in an expedition. No one could tell for sure.

    "We''ve made all the preparations possible. Right now, we can only try our best." Neron finally spoke to his team members.

    Almost as soon as he said this, thest member they were waiting for arrived solemnly.

    "Lady Ciel." They all beamed with a smile.

    Since she was now out of her meditation, it meant she had gathered enough energy to utilize her [Teleport] Spell.

    "The time hase, dear friends." She returned their smiles with her gentle demeanour. "Let us begin."

    All nodding, they moved close to each other¡ªleaving Ciel at the centre. Battles were often unpredictable and dangerous, but they were confident in their abilities and their cause.

    Well¡­ almost all of them.

    ''My intuition tells me something is off¡­'' Neron''s thoughts echoed.

    However, when he considered just how much time and effort was put into the nning and the stakes that arose as a result of this operation, he knew he had to do more than rely on his intuition.

    Everyone here was willing to risk their lives for the cause and he was no exception.

    ''Maybe I''m overthinking things, but¡­'' Tightening his fist, he looked at the only family he had.

    "Let''s all be extra careful out there."

    As usual, they would be split into pairs, and they would be scattered across the various regions marked on the map. The survey and investigative analysis that led to this moment yed a big role in their current operation.

    "Sure. Let''s do our best, buddy." Edward grinned, smacking Neron on his back.

    Just like thest time, he was paired with Edward.

    "Yeah." He returned the gesture, smacking Edward at least twice as hard.

    "Ow! That hurt! To think I held back out of consideration¡­"

    They allughed at Edward''s response, enjoying the brief moment of joy before the storm. Deep in their hearts, the Outgroup members knew they might not see each other again.

    "You must all survive. Let''s meet at the rendezvous point." Ciel spoke, and they all nodded.

    "Then¡­ let''s go.

    *

    *

    *

    Protected by a doubleyered barrier, a certain factory stood tall in its massivepound.

    It covered over a dozen acres ofnd, and the eerie energy that poured out of its several chimneys showed how intense the activities within it were.

    One of the barriers protecting this facility handled stealth, while the other served to protect it, like armour. In addition, since it was in such a remote area, the factory was away from civilization and prying eyes.

    The most important thing about this factory, however, was its function.

    About twenty per cent of the total manufacturing power of the Magic Weapons utilized by Jared''s World Power was made here.

    That didn''t sound like a lot, but whenpared to the other areas the Outsiders alone had hit before, it added up to over fifty per cent damage to the United Nations under Jared''s banner

    A perfect score!

    >VWUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    A bright beam of light suddenly surged at the northeast section of the massive factory building. <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The brilliant radiation pierced the darkness that shrouded the building''s outer shell, and one could see other simr shes of light from other regions¡ªrepresenting the other teams of Outers.

    Two men emerged from this beam of light, both shrouded in some sort of transparent aura.

    ''The security measures should kick in now and our simultaneously divergent appearances will confuse the system for some time.'' Neron thought, looking up into the darkened sky.

    As expected, there were flying drones monitoring everything and they would now be alerting the denizens of the factory.

    ''We''re currently cloaked, thanks to the Enchanted Devices we have equipped ourselves with. Looks like everything is progressing considerably well¡­''

    The security footage and Magic sensors would only detect surges of light, but none of them would be detected.

    Still, by diverting the attention of this facility''s security to many areas at once, they would be able to thin out their opponents, as well as cause a distraction long enough to carry out their ns.

    It was a n Neron developed¡ªthe act of killing all their birds with the single stone of their appearance.

    Neron nced at Edward, who already had his de unsheathed, and they both nodded at each other.

    Their resonating devices allowed them to see each other¡ªthe same applied to every other member of their team. However, considering the fact that the Magic Power of their devices were limited, they had to hurry.

    A ring on Neron''s hand glowed golden and instantly a de appeared. It had runic inscriptions, and intricate designs on it¡ªnot to mention the aura pouring out of it.

    "Alright, Ed¡­" He smiled, no longer feeling any dread or hesitation. "... Let''s do this!"

    Edward''s eyes turned bright blue, and his long de glowed with azure light. He had an equally daring expression on his face.

    "Yeah!"

    *

    *

    *

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The massive surge of energy sent metallic debris flying all over the massive factory room.

    Two pale silhouettes of males could be seen swiftly sending their des dancing as they cut through the several golems that stood in their way.

    eaglesnov?1,§ão§® "9 Martial Precepts ¡­ #01: REND!"

    Moving like the breeze, Edward skillfully sliced through multiple Golems at once.

    The Precepts were his self-made Martial Arts¡ªnine techniques he had mastered to their limits. They were his very best techniques.

    As he cut through more Golems, Neron utilized one of his de''s special abilities¡ªcreating energy projectiles in the form of simr-looking des.

    As he pointed them in the direction of his enemies, he went on to actualize the true aim of the mission.

    ''I''ll nt the Mana Singrity Bombs (M.S.Bs.) in the strategic areas¡ªsame as every other pair¡ªand after scouring the facility for useful resources¡­ we''ll blow it all up!''

    That was the n.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

    Don''t forget to share your thoughts usingments or reviews and support the novel with stones and golden tickets***

 Chapter 824 Attack Of The Outers [Pt 2]

    As the assault continued, the tempo slowly rose to the point of extreme difficulty.

    The distracted security measures were already being redirected to the inner facilities, where the Outers were attacking.

    As a result, the time they had bought was as good as spent.

    "#00: Martial Dance!"

    Edward went into a frenzy as he destroyed a vast amount of Golems in one fell swoop. His precision was extremely sharp¡ªthe result of practicing for so long.

    Compared to the few Neron had defeated, Edward''s pile of destroyed Golems was too great to begin counting.

    However, this wasn''t a really fair assessment, especially when onepared Neron''s focus on the whole operation.

    ''I need to find building schematics and additional information concerning their operations and other chain facilities.''

    Gathering raw materials was important, but it wasn''t as if they didn''t have a decent stock already. What the Outgroup needed at the moment was information.

    As a result, Neron ced a lot of emphasis on that pursuit¡ªonly taking certain items he considered rare or useful.

    They swept through the Northeast area, making their Southern entrance¡ªthe Outgroup''s rendezvous point.

    Once they all got there, they would resort to the next step of their n.

    eaglesnov?1,§ão§® ''We don''t need to destroy all the Golems. As long as we avoid the troublesome ones and we use the tactics we already discussed, we can save them for after the M.S.B''s explosion.''

    The MSB was one of Neron''s most potent inventions. By causing a chain reaction of Mana Explosions consisting of different frequencies, and forcing each fraction to resonate with one another, the force would be magnified, thereby creating an unstable connection.

    Eventually, all the energy would sh, further increasing the destructive capacity of each unit¡ªthus forming a massive chain of explosions in the end.

    In essence, if they managed to make it out of the facility, and then detonate the st, it would wipe out everything inside; Golems included.

    "Um¡­ Neron, a little help here?!" Edward''s sudden yell distracted Neron in his search, causing him to swiftly press the watch on his left wrist.

    Instantly, a small ball-like Golem appeared from it¡ªalmost like a holographic projection.

    "Code: S43. Eliminate hostiles." He muttered, returning to his search.

    The spherical Golem swiftly made its way towards the cluster of Golems¡ªalmost a hundred¡ªthat surrounded Edward at this point.

    Whirring as it closed in on its targets, it finally stopped above Edward, sizzling with heat and glowing with brilliant light as soon as it got there.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Sending a brilliant st from the centre, the floating ball destroyed itself¡ªalong with all one hundred Golems that gave Edwad trouble.

    Thanks to its position above Edward, the st didn''t affect thetter in the slightest, leaving him unscathed among the several defeated Golems.

    Edward wasn''t surprised, though. This was simply one of the many tricks that Neron could employ.

    Even without Magic¡­ he was still more than capable enough to be the leader of the Outers.

    "Thanks, Neron!" Edward yelled, catching his breath as he made his way to his friend''s location.

    As expected, the energy in their cloaking devices was already exhausted, so the onught of their enemies would be even more aggressive than they would like.

    ''I still need to figure out how to increase the Mana Usage capacity of the Cloak Mechanism.'' Neron groaned internally as he observed their current predicament.

    He had recently hit a wall in that venture thanks to his preupation with other matters, as well as theck of an assistant to help with his research.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    If only he had just one person¡­

    ''We''ll keep running into all kinds of trouble if this keeps up. This is no time toin, though¡­''

    Utilizing the goggles he now donned, Neron was able to see far ahead¡ªeven further than Edward was currently capable of.

    "Golems are heading in our direction from three o clock. We''ll need to take a detour!" He dered to Edward, who readily agreed.

    "Damn! So many Golems! Where are the operators? Is this ce merely an iron fortress?"

    "I told you already. They''re not simply made of iron, but¡ª"

    "Yeah, yeah, I get the point¡­"

    Edward and Neron took their detour, avoiding the collision path they would have jumped into if they had continued their sprint in a straight line.

    "The moment we attacked, they would have been forced to flee. Capturing one or two of them would have been nice, but they have Teleportation Stones."

    "Oh, yeah¡­ I forgot."

    Edward remembered their difficulty in catching a hostage despiteunching many attacks on the enemy''s many facilities.

    Usually, it would take an unbelievable amount of energy to even attempt teleportation. However, in the case of Jared''s United Nations, they had found a way to solve the problem.

    By linking two points together, causing their positions to resonate, they interconnected the two regions¡ªthereby acquiring the Mana necessary to traverse the distance and making it smaller inparison.

    The reason Ciel spent so much time preparing their teleportation was due to the immense distance they had to cover, plus the two barriers they would need to bypass. In the end, using that kind of Magic was too draining.

    ''It doesn''t help that they use a special process to absorb a majority of the Mana in the atmosphere. They have the advantage.''

    Still, that changed nothing!

    Once they were done with this building, they would have destroyed a little over fifty per cent of the enemy''s supplies.

    Their efforts for so many years had not been in vain.

    ''All that''s left is the Dwarven Region. If we attack there, we can eliminate over forty per cent of their artilleries and then their technological advancements.''

    It wouldn''t be easy, but they had to do their best.

    ''Let''s survive this one first! We''re almost done!''

    Neron thought of his friends and he did his best to seed¡ªnot only for them but for the world as well.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

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 Chapter 825 Mission Almost Complete

    "Wooohoooooo!!!"

    Edward''s excited voice pierced the air as he and Neron finally saw the Southern Gate in front of them.

    It was too early to celebrate, though. There were a bunch of golems charging towards them at breakneck speed. With both parties exhausted, it was only a matter of time before they became overwhelmed¡ªeven if they did manage to reach their rendezvous point.

    "Um¡­ Neron?" Ed yelled, ncing at his partner.

    "I''m on it!"

    As they both leapt through the gate¡ªtheir enemies right behind them¡ªNeron initiated his countermeasure.

    "T.M.P." He muttered, tapping an emerald jewel that hung low on his neck like a pendant on a golden chain.

    Instantly, the Techno-Mana Pulse he had been saving up all this time spread around him, halting the functionality of the golems for about five minutes.

    ''Their Magic Cicuits are currently being overwhelmed. The effects shouldst us long enough to rejoin the others¡­''

    Every team had a T.M.P. Device with them. If they both activated theirs at the right moment, then their ns would flow seamlessly.

    ''All that''ll be left afterwards is the destruction of the whole building.'' Neron smiled, running alongside hisrade as he made his way to the rest of his allies.

    *

    *

    *

    "Huu¡­ you guys arete." Karlia said, her brows creased in concern as she watched Neron and Edward run towards her. "Kido and I were in the North and we still managed to get here faster."

    The two best buddies were already out of breath as they approached the group. Just as Neron had predicted, they were thest to join the party.

    Kido and Karlia, Stefan and Reed, Vaizer and Beruel, as well as Ciel. Everyone was already waiting for them.

    "W-well¡­ not all of us are as strong as you." Edward stuttered, pretty much worn out after using his techniques too many times in a row.

    His muscles ached and he was already feeling the side effects that came with overexerting himself.

    "Aren''t you meant to automatically recover or something?" Kido muttered, staring at him.

    Edward''s face turned red, and he gritted his teeth in response. "That''s not how it works, okay?"

    He had lost count of how many times he''d exined this to everyone¡ªespecially Kido. His immortality didn''t grant him unlimited stamina.

    ''I still feel pain and exhaustion, you know?''

    If it had been his master, Edward knew she wouldn''t have gotten tired this easily, yet he was already worn out after barely an hour ofbat.

    ''Every second I spend as an immortal¡­ I am reminded of my inadequacies.'' He smiled sadly.

    ncing in Neron''s direction, Edward hoped to find somefort in his best friend. They always encouraged each other, despite theirck of talent in their respective fields.

    That was why¡­

    "... Guh!" Edward scrunched up his face the moment he saw Neron and Karlia kissing.

    "G-get a room already!" He cried out, covering his eyes as he turned away.

    "Maybe you should get someone you cherish." Beruel snickered in response.

    "Aren''t you ''old'' enough?" Reed grinned.

    "You''re very handsome, Mister Edward. I''m sure you can find someone as well!" Stefan said, innocent to the intentional mockery they were all making of him.

    Everyone was aware of Edward''s celibacy, but such matters were perhaps tooplicated for the young one to understand.

    "S-shut up¡­" Edward''s cheeks turned pink as he closed his eyes and covered his ears. "La!"

    Everyone often tried to get him to move on, but how could he? As long as his master was still out there¡­ How could he desire another woman?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''I know they mean well, but¡­'' He couldn''t see himself moving on anytime soon.

    Unlike Neron, who had found Karlia as his lover, he was alone.

    *

    *

    *

    "Alright, Ciel, how much longer will it take for you to gather enough energy?" Neron asked.

    "About ten more minutes. We still have about three more minutes before the T.M.P. wears out, right?"

    "Indeed.

    The T.M.P. was very effective in disrupting the Magic Circuit of anything around it. Unfortunately, that was also its major w.

    ''The bombs I ced close to the exit were affected. I''ll have to wait three more minutes before I can detonate them.''

    His remote detonator had also been affected by the T.M.P., so that was another factor to consider.

    They would be cutting it close, but as soon as the three minutes were up, he would initiate the explosion and destroy the building.

    The st would be sure to attract a lot of attention, and while the escape of the workers would surely attract the appearance of reinforcements, it would take some time before a decent force was mobilized to stop them.

    ''With the destruction of the Building, the Resonating Effect will be gone, so they''ll have to consume a great deal of Mana and time to reach us.''

    They were most definitely going to be able to hold out for ten more minutes before Ciel returned them to base.

    At least¡­ That was how it was supposed to go.

    However¡­

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    In the blink of an eye, the Outgroup found themselves surrounded by enemies that seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

    e¦Áglesnovel`c,om The entire factorypound was covered in thousands of Golems¡ªsome even flying in the air.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" The Outers were filled with shock, and fear slowly began to creep into them.

    The blue glow that suddenly brought the unexpected group here had to be the work of immensely powerful Magic. And worst of all¡­ they could sense the sourceing from the direction opposite their group''s circle.

    "So, you are the Outgroup, huh?" The warbling tone of the metallic figure echoed in the darkness as he approached the surrounded, flustered group.

    This being''s tinum body radiated prestige, and his humanoid appearanceplimented his armour-like body.

    "N-no¡­ why did it have to be this one!" Beruel''s eyes bulged as he nced at Neron.

    Everyone in the Outgroup felt the same level of fear and nervousness as Beruel when the Ultimate Automaton approached them.

    It was revered as Jared''s ultimate creation, after all.

    "Gawain, The tinum Knight Of Carnage!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

    Don''t forget to share your thoughts usingments or reviews, and support the novel with stones and golden tickets***

 Chapter 826 The Sacrificial Proposal

    Most Outers had only heard rumours of Gawain, The tinum Knight of Carnage.

    The only ones who had actually seen him in action were Beruel and Neron¡ªand they were more than lucky to have gotten out alive.

    To think the most sophisticated Automaton¡ªthe highest form a crafter could make a regr Golem into¡ªwas the one who now stood in front of them!

    ''Damnit¡­'' Neron thought to himself as he gritted his teeth. ''I was wrong.''

    His calctions had indicated that there would be more than enough time for them to escape. He had made all his assessments, and his predictions were usually urate.

    Yet¡­ not only did backup arrive sooner than expected, but one of the most powerful entities in this world was the one leading the charge. It was too bizarre to have been expected.

    ''What''s going on? Did Jared and his group change their strategy? There had to have been a shift that I''m unaware of.''

    It was toote to figure out the reason their n had failed, though. At this moment, only the thought of survival was upying his mind.

    ''How should I handle this?''

    Gawain, the Ultimate Automaton, was walking straight towards them.

    His gait was slow, but that was simply on purpose. None of them could escape the encirclement set by the thousands of Golems that Gawainmanded, neither could they even dream of fighting through them to get away.

    Not while this immensely powerful thing was present.

    In the end, they were at the end of their rope¡ª with nowhere to run or hide, and with limited power to fight.

    In the end¡­ there was only one way.

    "I''ll be using my trump card, everyone. I''ll buy us enough time to retreat." Neron turned in the direction of his group, wearing a strained smile.

    For a moment, his dazed teammates stared at him in shock. Their eyes widened, and a look of horror spread all over their faces¡­ especially the female demon''s.

    "It''s the only wa¡ª"

    "W-what are you saying, Neron? You think I''m going to allow that?" Karlia''s voice interrupted him, and a frightened look of disapproval permeated her face.

    "Karlia¡­ I know, but¡­"

    The choice wasn''t easy for him too, however, after putting everyone''s abilities into ount¡ªas well as the fact that they were all exhausted¡ªhe could only rely on this method.

    Mana Overdrive.

    With it, he would be able to insert the Artificial Mana he developed into his body. This would grant him temporary ess to the power that the world denied him from birth.

    However, the consequences of doing this were undoubtedly lethal.

    ''I''ll die after ten minutes¡­ and considering how much I''ll have to exert myself to fight Gawain, I''ll probably not evenst that long.''

    With his current knowledge of Magic, as well as his mastery of the Martial Arts that Edward taught him, he was at least confident in holding off his opponent until Ciel was ready.

    ''Nine minutes. I''ll do my best to hold out till then!''

    "Neron, no! If you''re going to die fighting, I''m going to sacrifice myself too!" Karlia cried out, her eyes filled with tears.

    After the death of everyone she had called friends and family, all she had known was hate and despair. Yet, with Neron, she had been able to love again.

    He had brought light to her life.

    "I¡­ I can''t imagine life without you!" Her body was shaking so much that she could barely stand upright. "I won''t let you die alone!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "No, Karlia. We can''t afford to lose more than one member of the Outgroup. We''re already short-staffed as it is." Neron responded calmly.

    This was the most logical approach he could take.

    Even though it broke his heart to see the woman he loved in such pain, he would rather see her in tears than see her lying in a pool of her own blood.

    e¦Áglesnovel`c,om ''I''ll do anything to protect my family!'' Neron gritted his teeth and prepared himself for the procedure.

    Once it began, there was no going back.

    "You don''t have to sacrifice yourself, Neron."

    "You''re our leader. Losing you would be a big blow to the Outgroup."

    "Let me do it instead!" After the other members of their team protested, Edward finally got thest word in. "I''m immortal, right? Let me do this."

    cing his hand on Neron''s shoulder, the young Martial Artist smiled boldly. Although, a bead of sweat trickled down his face, and it was clear that he wasn''t at all in top form.

    Still, he did his best to put on a brave front for his friend.

    "No." Neron replied, shrugging Edward''s hand from his shoulder.

    His tone was cold and his gaze was focused on the approaching Gawain. The hundreds of meters of distance between them had now been reduced to a few dozen.

    "If you were an option, I would have chosen you. Unfortunately, you''re not. This really is the only way."

    Neron was hardly wrong about anything. That didn''t make him perfect, but he was more insightful than anyone else on the team¡ªof course, Ciel was an exception.

    ''It''s not like I want to die willingly. I want to keep living. I want to see the end of this war, as well as the liberation of our people.''

    However, the current circumstances had made things clear for their group.

    The only reason he and Beruel had escaped from Gawain back then was because of his T.M.P., which had disabled the Automaton for just a minute so they could make their escape.

    Gawain would have been upgraded after that, so that trick wouldn''t work anymore, even if he could try it.

    ''As regrettable as it is¡­ I will have to die here.'' He controlled his emotions and tightly held onto the little white pill he would need to swallow.

    "It has been a great honour fighting alongside you all. You''re my family, and I love you." Neron''s gaze went over every member of the team, before finally resting on his lover, Karlia.

    "I will always love you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This is a bit sad.

    I really liked Neron (Alter).

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

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 Chapter 827 Power Unlocked

    Most of the Outers were in tears.

    The few who weren''t, either forced themselves to hide their overflowing emotions or were too focused on gathering energy to concentrate on anything else.

    ''Ciel understands what needs to be done. I just need to do the needful.'' Neron smiled, raising the pill to his mouth in order to ingest it.

    His hands were trembling, and once again it registered within him that death was awaiting him the moment the substance entered his mouth.

    However¡­ Death was alreadying for all of them.

    In this inevitable situation, wasn''t it better for him to sacrifice his life for his friends?

    Yes¡­

    "Farewell, everyone."

    It would be rough for them without him, but he had faith that they would pull through. They would gather new members and be stronger. Ultimately, they would stop Jared and return the world to its glorious state of peace and tranquillity.

    ''I... I wanted to see it happen!'' He fought back his tears and willed his mouth to open.

    ''I''ll watch over you all in paradise with the rest of our friends.'' He dropped the pill into his mouth. ''All of you must¡­''

    The white, round object neared his lips as he closed his eyes and epted his fate.

    ''... Survive.''

    "WAIT!"

    Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced the air, causing Neron''s face to move with a jerk. The white pill bounced off his chin instead, forcing him to catch the precious item before it rolled away.

    "H-huh¡­?!"

    Both Neron and the rest of the Outgroup¡ª even the enemy forces¡ª looked above them to find the source of the sudden sound.

    It came from a young man who floated in the air. He had a darkened cloak and his blue hair unnaturally flowed behind him. He looked like a total stranger.

    Yet¡­

    ''T-that is¡ª!''

    Neron could recognize him. They had met before, and while thed was now putting on a new face, he could not mistake his presence.

    ''Jared Leonard!''

    Jared, in this new form, was grinning widely, and he confidently stood above everyone¡ªeven the floating Golems. As both friends and foes alike stared at him, there was only one thought on their minds.

    ''What is he doing here?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [Moments Earlier]

    ''Haaa¡­ this is good.''

    Thankfully, the dysfunction my power was experiencing in this world didn''t affect its internal nature. When I concentrated enough, I was able to sense all my Cores and Familiars.

    eaglesnov?1,§ão§® ''Well, this is going to be a bit tough.''

    My goal to transform my current Cores into Aether ones was simple, but also very difficult.

    ''I''ll have to purify and condense my cores. That''s really all there is to it.''

    Thanks to Ana''s groundbreaking discovery of Aether, as well as its formation, I was going to awaken my Aether by using this process.

    ''It''s amazing how she figured this out. With this alone, she has surpassed me.''

    Of course, Ana didn''t see it that way. For her, her discovery was only a stepping stone. She wanted to make even more discoveries and inventions that would bury me.

    I suppose that was the true meaning of surpassing your predecessor.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Welp, I''m rooting for her.''

    In any case, I needed to focus on this task. It would be really draining, and I would end up starving afterwards.

    The Outgroup never mentioned a kitchen to me, but if I was sessful in doing this, I would be able to ess my subspace through Original Magic and bring out something to snack on.

    ''I better get right to it, then!''

    [Hours In]

    ''Ah¡­ yes.''

    Finally, after condensing and purifying the cores for over three hours, I was able to do it¡ªmy first actual Aether Core.

    ''Ah¡­ I''ve missed this feeling.''

    My primary Core had now been transformed into an Aether Core, which would make it easier to affect the others. Still, to think I sacrificed over a thousand Mana, Miasma, and Fused Cores just to satisfy the most basic requirements for an Aether Core¡ª It was just crazy.

    The demand for energy was really high¡­ but so were the rewards.

    ''If I turn most of my Cores into Aether Cores, I should be able to apply Spellcraft internally, and directly purify and condense my Mana Particles so they automatically get turned into Aether.''

    Once that happened, I would naturally be able to generate Aether, and I could automatically form Cores even during battle or rest.

    ''For now, though¡­'' I smiled, feeling the surge of energy within me and even externally.

    ''I can finally feel the energy around me. Not surprised, though.''

    Aether was the very energy that represented the essence of this world. It didn''t matter the branch¡ªAether would still function the same way.

    In this world, there was no Miasma. It was possible that other realities where there was no Mana, or where everyone was inept existed.

    ''I can''t imagine how people can live without Magic. Perhaps they''ll rely on ingenuity to create technology that can assist them, rather than Magic.''

    However, one indisputable fact about all of this was the flow of Aether. As long as I had that, I would be able to use Magic.

    ''I''m not that hungry. Should I form another one? That would be nice. Maybe I can even¡ª''

    Suddenly, I received a signal from the Micro-Automatons I ced on all the Outers. I did it so I could help them in case I got my Magic figured out on time.

    Unfortunately, I couldn''t even ess them until now¡ªafter developing my Aether.

    ~It has been a great honour fighting alongside you all. You''re my family, and I love you.~ I heard Neron''s voice.

    It seemed troubled, and I could hear sniffles and voices of unease from the other Outers. I couldn''tpletely decipher the situation, but one thing was quite clear.

    ''Something is wrong.''

    My Automatons instantly fed me the location of the Outers, and the distance from my current position was considerablyrge.

    However¡­ it wasn''t going to be a problem.

    "[Original Magic: Great Sage''s Memoir]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Alright! Hype moment!

    Can''t wait to see what our hero will do now.

    ***SPECIAL OFFER: From this month, all the Privilege Chapterse with a 99% discount. That means the price of each chap = 1 coin only. See what Priv suits you the best and enjoy the discount :)

    Don''t forget to share your thoughts usingments or reviews, and support the novel with stones and golden tickets***

 Chapter 828 Powerful Intervention [Pt 1]

    ''Okay¡­ wow.'' My thoughts trailed as I watched from my height.

    The thousands of troops that surrounded the Outgroup were basic Golems, and while their numbers were a bit worrisome, they shouldn''t have been too much of a problem for the group.

    ''They look tired, though. Maybe that''s why they look so distraught. It''s a good thing I flew here as fast as I could.''

    My body was coated in Aether, allowing me to achieve the regr feats of Magic without worrying about any dampening effects. Thanks to Light Magic, I was also able to swiftly get here.

    I would have teleported, but my Arcanas couldn''t directly interfere with thews of this world. Their frequency was still tuned to that of my old world. To change that, I''d have to improve the Arcana form.

    ''That''ll take time and energy¡­'' And while I would eventually have to do that, if I wanted to return home, now wasn''t the time.

    eaglesnov?1,§ão§® That meant most of the Arcanas in my possession weren''t going to be very useful at the moment.

    ''Not like I need them, though.'' A smile crept up on my face.

    >WHOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    I watched the several hundred Golems floating in the air as they whirred and turned all their focus on me. It seemed they would be attacking very soon.

    ''I should also end things fast.'' Returning my gaze to the Outgroup, I noticed Ciel was in the middle of immense concentration.

    Perhaps she was gathering enough energy to teleport everyone.

    ''Fair enough. I''ll just help them out until they make their escape.''

    "[Grand Safe Haven]"

    In a sh, a golden dome surrounded the whole group, encasing them in its glow. With it, none of the Golems would be able to prate it.

    The only issue would be the Automaton, but¡­ it seemed its focus was on me. Something about its tinum body and pristine design made it look familiar to me, but I dismissed the thought instantly.

    The Golems in the sky were already charging towards me.

    "[Storm Of Lightning des]"

    In an instant, I rained down blue-coloured des that were made with lightning energy. They descended upon the metal Golems, sending them into shock, as well as piercing their most vital points¡ªall in an instant.

    >BZZZTTTZZZZ<

    I could hear the sounds of their Magic Circuits frying, and watching so many metal puppets dance around me added a certain thrill to it.

    ''And that''s a wrap.'' I smiled, looking at the enemies that remained.

    There were a few thousand left, and then there was the one who appeared to be the leader, which was the Automaton. It really resembled the Gawain I had designed back in my original world, but¡­

    "What is your identity? Depending on your affiliation, I shall not engage." The Automaton finally spoke to me, its tone warbling exactly as Gawain''s usually did.

    I felt like my Gawain''s tone was clearer, and this one''s pitch was a bit off¡ªless natural than I would have preferred¡ªbut they were certainly simr.

    "And what would you do if I said I was with them?" I grinned menacingly.

    It was possible that the Automaton was stalling for time until more backup arrived, so I had to remain vignt. However, this was my first conversation with someone who could be considered an enemy.

    Perhaps I could learn one or two things from it.

    "Then, I shall eliminate you. Gawain, The tinum Knight Of Carnage, deres it."

    ''E-eh¡­?''

    It really was Gawain!

    My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I heard him introduce himself. So this world had a Gawain too, and while its design was a bit different from mine, it had the same Aesthetic.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    How could I have been mistaken? Well¡­

    "Do you understand now? You realize who you''re crossing now, don''t you? If you know what''s best for you, then introduce your¡ª"

    "Sorry, but are there other Gawains like you?" I asked, itching my head a little.

    "What?!"

    "I mean¡­ you''re Gawain, The tinum Knight Of Carnage, right? Are there like¡­ other Gawains with other different titles?"

    My major fear was that Jared had managed to mass produce Gawain. If this was only one of the various versions of the Ultimate Automaton, and the others were actually running around causing havoc, then¡­ that would suck.

    It would be no wonder this world was like that.

    "What in the world are you talking about? I am the Ultimate Automaton, made by Lord Jared himself. How dare you drag a masterpiece like me to such a low estate?"

    Ah, it seemed I was mistaken once again. This really was the Ultimate Automaton. The Gawain I built as a masterpiece.

    ''But¡­ really?'' No, maybe this world''s Jared simply programmed this Gawain to think that way.

    Someone as diabolical as the evil version of myself could simply employ such a strategy to throw his enemies off. Yes, that could indeed be the case.

    ''Or am I overthinking this?'' I nced at the Outgroup, specifically Neron, for advice.

    They knew this world much better than I did. Besides, if anyone could tell me more about this reality''s Jared, it would be them.

    ''It''s better than just assuming.''

    Neron nodded at me in confirmation, his eyes depicting absolute seriousness. Once I saw it, I instantly knew that the Automaton must have been telling the truth this whole time.

    It had just been me who found it difficult to believe.

    ''Can you me me, though? I should have already expected this, but¡­ I didn''t think it would be to this extent.''

    It seemed I had worried for nothing¡ªat least, in terms of this battle.

    "Gawain, I am on the side of the Outers. In essence, I am your ene¡ª"

    Before I couldplete my statement, the Automaton lunged at me with full veracity. It appeared like he wanted to end me himself.

    But, well, that would be quite a problem. It wasn''t because of anything, other than the simple thing I observed.

    The thing that made me doubt this thing''s authenticity.

    ''It''s too weak!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It seems we finally get to see Jared being Overpowered once more.

    Ah, so refreshing. Isekai is always such a breath of fresh air for me. I hope you enjoy it.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 829 Powerful Intervention [Pt 2]

    Light Magic was a very useful type of magic.

    Thanks to its properties, everything about me became faster¡ªincluding my physical and cognitive abilities.

    I could engage in my thoughts for a long while, yet only a moment would have passed in real-time. With this ability activated, it made sense that the world around me would slow down when I wanted it to.

    Nevertheless¡­

    ''This Automaton is too slow.''

    Was this the stuff that gave Neron and the Outgroup trouble? No, it was probably because they were exhausted.

    I had no right to judge them since I was unaware of just how much they had pushed themselves before reaching this point.

    As the only line of defence against Jared''s tyrannical rule, I had to give them props. Even if Neron was nerfed and the other members aren''t as strong as before¡­ it should still stand to reason that they can handle themselves in a fight.

    Something as mundane as this Automaton shouldn''t have been a problem for them.

    ''Should I try it? It''s been a while since I used it¡­''

    As a Mage¡ªa candidate for the Grand Mage title¡ªthere were many Spells in my arsenal. However, I really liked using one in particr.

    ''It''ll be great for clearing out the other Golems that are standing in my way. Then, I''ll take my time to thoroughly examine this Gawain once I''m done.''

    As soon as Gawain, The tinum Knight Of Carnage, got within range, I used the back of my hand to hit it.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The impact sent him flying straight in the direction of the massive factory beneath me. There was barely any resistance at all.

    ''It seems to be coated with Defensive Magic, but¡­'' The defence felt so paper thin that it barely registered as one.

    Then again, it was operating on Mana, while I had used Aether. Despite this, I was currently limiting my Aether usage, while giving part of my attention to replenishing my supply.

    ''It''ll take some time to get used to condensing and purifying in the middle of battle. Thankfully, this can''t really be called one.

    The thousands of Golems beneath me whirred to life and would charge at me at any time. Unfortunately for them, I nned on ending their lives pretty quickly.

    ''The barrier I''m using to protect the Outers should hold up. Ah, it seems Ciel is already done concentrating. They''ll be teleporting soon, eh?''

    "Go on without me. I''ll meet you guys back at the base!" I yelled at them, yet they proved unresponsive.

    It appeared that they were frozen in some kind of trance¡ªone I couldn''t quite decipher at the moment.

    ''Oh, well¡­ let''s focus on the targets.''

    Golden shes of lightning burst forth from my fingertips, and a surge of power coursed through me¡ªcausing the lightning to swell in size.

    This was an original Spell I had developed by merging light properties with lightning. It was quick, precise, and highly destructive. It was¡­

    "[Grand Blitz]"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    ¡­ More than enough to take care of the rest of the small fries.

    "Ah, it seems they''ve teleported already." Once I was done with the Spell and looked in the direction of the dome, the Outers were no longer present.

    I really needed them to teach me more about this world¡ªespecially for the sake of essing my Arcanas. Ciel was the answer, so I would have to talk to her after all this.

    But first¡­ I suppose I had to deal with Gawain.

    ''Let''s see what else it can do.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    *

    *

    *

    ''W-what is going on here¡­?!''

    Amid the rubble and dark crevices of the partially destroyed factory was Gawain, The tinum Knight Of Carnage.

    Yes, his name was dreaded by all of Lord Jared''s enemies, and only a few individuals who were his allies could be called his match¡ªor his superiors.

    That was how Lord Jared had designed him.

    ''Other than Hugo, who is my match, there''s also the Four Generals.'' Apart from them, Gawain could see no one else whom he wasn''t confident about defeating.

    Yet¡­ with a mere backhanded hit, he had been sent flying to the ground? How highly improbable was this?

    "Unexpected. This is unexpe¡ª"

    Before Gawain could utter another word, he heard a loud explosion, like the roar of a very fearsome storm. The intensity of the energy chilled him to his very wires, and he shivered like a frightened child.

    ''N-no way! T-this is¡­!!!''

    In a sh, all of the fine Golems under his control had been annihted. A single Spell had wiped them out!

    How was any of this possible? Gawain found his circuit getting hot as he tried to process somethingpletely inconceivable. It was too much for his logic to handle.

    ''I can''t sense the Outers as well. Did they get away? I¡­ let them get away?'' Throughout his years of dedication, Gawain had never let anyone escape his hands.

    The only ones who had managed to do so had been Neron and Beruel¡ªand that was simply because he hadn''t been perfected then.

    ''I''m different now. I''m the ultimate!''

    Yet, he had failed. He had shamed his creator, as well as their cause. Gawain couldn''t really feel emotions, since he was an Automaton. However, based on how he was programmed, his failure brought him great anguish.

    "d to see you''re still alright." A voice suddenly greeted the confused Automaton, causing him to freeze in his position.

    The stranger that just attacked him suddenly appeared in front of him, looking as casual as one could be in their current situation. It didn''t even seem like he was taking any of this seriously at all.

    "Ah, wait! Your jaw is a little¡­ you know, crooked." The blue-haired young man said.

    Logically speaking, Gawain already knew he couldn''t fight against this person. The only and best option would be to escape. He had to escape and inform his master of his wrongdoing¡­ as well as the danger this man posed to their ns.

    "Tch!" As much as it hurt him to say¡­ this was his final farewell.

    ''Self Destruct Sequence¡­ Activate!''

    *

    *

    eaglesnov?1,§ão§® *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 830 Odd Encounter

    I watched as Gawain activated its Self-Destruct Protocol. I also realized that it really was quite simr to my own version¡ªat least, in that respect.

    ''Once it detonates, all the information it has will be uploaded to whatever server the Jared of this world has prepared for it. In any case, everything that happened here will be exposed to him.''

    Did I really want that to happen?

    ''Well¡­ perhaps¡­'' I stared at the Automaton in front of me, watching as its Magic Circuits began to overheat and fry.

    In a second or two, it would explode, swallowing me and the entire building we were within in its powerful eruption.

    ''I''m disguised anyway. It''s not like my identity will be deciphered. Besides¡­'' A smile formed on my face as I looked at the battered thing. ''... I''m curious to see how this world''s version of me would respond to this.''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO¡ª<

    I contained the st within a Magic Barrier, preventing the explosion from spreading much further from the Automaton itself. I could see the sizzling st struggling to get out, but my Magic Barrier was far stronger than the struggling eruption.

    In the end, it died down without too much trouble.

    ''Guess we''re done here.'' From the fight I just had, there were a couple of things I had deciphered.

    Firstly, this world''s Gawain was far weaker than mine. The Defensive Magic it had on, plus the material it wasprised of¡­ they were all subpar.

    ''Plus, it Self-Destructed. That means it was also aware that it stood no chance.''

    I was tempted to project Gawain''s weakness to its creator. Perhaps this world''s Jared was not as strong as I had imagined? Perhaps I could handle him.

    ''No¡­ let''s not get too conceited. I have to be careful here.'' Just because this world''s Jared was less skilled in making the Perfect Automaton didn''t mean he wascking in other areas.

    Besides, he had hidden knowledge from this world''s Merlin. He most probably had trump cards as well, making the situation more difficult than I could imagine.

    ''Then there''s also Spellcraft. I can''t use it currently. But if he can, then I''ll be at a disadvantage.''

    In the end, I still needed more time.

    "Alright, then. Why don''t I take care of the other issue I noticed since I entered this building?'' A smile formed on my face as I looked at the far end of the factory.

    There was a hidden door that was made to look like part of the wall. Beyond the wall-like door was a special room, and someone was dwelling inside it.

    ''I wouldn''t have known if I didn''t move this close.'' My senses were also enhanced to their limits due to my being extra cautious.

    The person on the other side had to be skilled at using Magic Distortion. Perhaps there was a Magic Device that allowed for something like that there.

    ''Let''s find out.''

    In no time, I closed the distance between me and the mysterious hidden door. Concentrating my energy on my fist, I readied myself and bolstered my defences¡ªjust in case there was a trap.

    ''Here goes¡­''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In one burst of power, I obliterated the wall before me, revealing the moderately sized room within.

    It had a certain metallic smell, and I could see dim lights shing around the room. There were shelves in every corner, and the centre had arge, sturdy table ced there.

    Just one nce told me that this was a workshop¡ªone belonging to a crafter, no doubt.

    "E-eeek¡­" I heard a slight shrieke from the other side of the room.

    A small figure was crouching down, trembling as she squeaked even more. She seemed to be the only person here.

    Her yellow-blond hair and the oversizedb coat she donned, brought back memories. She had a small stature, and even the high pitch of her voice sounded familiar. Almost like¡ª

    >WHOOOOOOSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Three small flying Golems lunged at me from behind. They were strengthened with Magic, and each one would pack a heavy punch if they came into contact with me.

    Unfortunately for them¡­ I was much faster and stronger.

    ''[Electro-Disruption Field]''

    The moment they drew closer, my barrier paralyzed them, frying all their Magic Circuits in an instant. My gaze returned to the little one who remained crouched.

    As soon as I stared at her, her skin jumped. She must have realized that her n failed and she was now royally screwed.

    "E-eeeeeppp!!!"

    "What now? It''s your call." I grinned, drawing closer to her.

    The closer I got, the more she appeared smaller. This person¡­ looked very much like a child. An image shed in my mind, but because she was wrapping her hands over her head, I couldn''t see this person''s face.

    "P-p-p-please¡­" She suddenly slid to her knees and prostrated in front of me.

    ''E-eh?''

    "... Have mercyyyyy!!!"

    Her loud tone, and incredibly high pitch, made me almostugh. It was so instinctive and natural that I did it without much thought.

    At this point, I already realized that my suspicions were correct.

    "You may raise your head¡­" I smiled at the little girl, or rather, the Loli. "... Anabelle."

    Stiffening slightly, she slowly lifted her head, revealing the baby-like face of the girl I remembered. Her bright blue eyes were filled with tears, her nose was running and her soft cheeks were red.

    It seemed she really didn''t want to die.

    e¦Áglesnovel`c,om "What are you doing here?" I asked her, narrowing my eyes to imply that any false statements would mean her death.

    Of course, I couldn''t possibly kill Ana¡ªat least, not until I was sure she would be a threat to me.

    "I¡­ I work here¡­ in this factory." She muttered, more tears falling down her cheeks.

    ''I see. I suppose I should have expected this.'' A smile formed on my face.

    No matter the world, it seemed Ana didn''t really change. Her love of being a Magical schr, especially Engineering, hadn''t changed.

    The fact that she had this workshop proved it. She had to have been a key technological developer in this factory.

    ''Looks like I hit the jackpot!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 831 The Lolis Dream

    "I couldn''t evacuate until I had taken all of my equipment with me. B-but by the time I was ready, everyone else was gone¡­"

    Ana told me the funny story of how she had been left behind by her coworkers¡ªmany of whom were most likely her subordinates.

    In a huge factory like this, there were bound to be many ground workers, and then there were the superiors who handled the moreplex matters. The fact that she had her own workshop, as well as projects that she had deemed worth saving¡­ That meant she was someone pretty high up.

    ''She''ll be useful.'' I smiled to myself.

    "I-I''ll do anything! Please just spare me. I¡­ I have a dream I must attain at all costs¡­"

    People would say anything to escape harm¡ªespecially something as grave as death. Ana could easily tell me anything to prevent me from killing her.

    Still¡­ I wanted to hear what this dream was.

    "Tell me your dream."

    "W-wha¡­ uwaaa¡­ I can''t¡­" She covered her face, blushing even harder than ever before.

    Why was she blushing when she was in danger? Was she really feeling embarrassed in such a tense moment? It had been a while since I had seen my world''s Ana get flustered like this around me.

    She seemed all grown up now.

    ''Well, except when she''s with Kuzon. Those two act like children all the time.'' I nearly sighed.

    This whole thing just reminded me of how much I missed my old world, and how concerned I was about the ones I got separated from.

    "Speak." I deepened my voice in order to pressure Ana to reveal her dreams.

    I didn''t have all day and neither did she.

    "W-well¡­ I¡­" Her expression slowly started to fall. The cute and flustered Ana slowly vanished, and her bright blue eyes darkened very fast.

    "I¡­ want to have revenge. My parents and eleven siblings were all killed thanks to Jared Leonard. He took everything from the Fredericks, just because we never sided with his cause. He made my family an example to everyone else who thought of rebelling." Her tone was sullen, and I could feel my heart twisting just from hearing that.

    "I wasn''t home when it happened. I had to change my identity and my name. You called me Anabelle, but my new name is Liliana. Anabelle is the name I discarded, just so I could blend in and stop this monster." She clenched her fist, and I could see the frustration on her face.

    Using Magic, I could also see that she was telling the truth. It was both sad and relieving, to hear her story. It turned out Ana wasn''t a bad person here.

    Still, something bothered me about the entire narrative.

    "Didn''t you look up to Lewis Griffith''s exploits?" I asked, rubbing my chin.

    "H-how do you know that?" Her cute eyes widened in response to my words. "I¡­ never told anyone."

    "I just do." That was my response.

    As someone with a higher position of power, I didn''t have to answer her question. Besides, if she ended up being an ally, she would eventually find out the truth about me.

    "I indeed admired Lewis Griffith. It wasn''t for his malevolent acts, though. I admired his Magic Genius, and so I began applying myself ever since I was young. Using everything, from knowledge to the practical use of Magic¡­ I strived to reach his level."

    So, in this world, Ana actually started using Magic at a young age. That was a relief to hear.

    "But, after his return¡­ when Jared Leonard''s army killed my family and he proimed himself the reincarnation of Lewis Griffith¡­ I was appalled."

    It seemed Ana didn''t know too much about the atrocities that Lewis Griffithmitted in his past life. She probably didn''t know about the Demon extermination incident and the fact that this world''s Lewis intentionally caused the extermination of two entire races.

    It took the death of her entire family to despise him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "What of the Helmsworths? The Netherlores? The Crimsons? What happened to the other Noble Households?"

    If perhaps they had rebelled or joined his side, I could find a way to sift through the people I knew, and the people that would mean trouble.

    "Jared Leonard copsed the entire nobility. The Netherlores fiercely stood against his rise to power, especially after he took over Ainrk, but they were met with destruction. The other three major Noble Households joined forces and went up against Jared, but they all suffered the same fate."

    As it turned out, this world''s version of me was so brutal that he even killed his new parents with his own hands.

    ''What in the world¡­?''

    I was already beyond stupified. However, I couldn''t show Ana how flustered I was.

    "Well, I believe you. I choose to believe you, Ana." I moved closer to her, patting her head. "Don''t worry, I won''t kill you."

    A smile formed on my face as I watched her blush and nod gently. She really was incurably cute.

    "In any case, we should get out of here." Drawing her little frame to myself, I carried her in my arms.

    ''She''s lighter than I expected. Has she been eating well?'' I asked myself.

    My world''s Anabelle was definitely heavier. Or¡­ perhaps, was she just eating too much? Ah, this whole thing confused me every single time.

    "W-where are we going?" Ana shrieked, asking me with a flustered face. Honestly, just watching her act this way was well worth it.

    eaglesnov?1,§ão§® "To the Outgroup. Surely, you''ve heard of them."

    "Y-yes. An elite, mysterious force that fights against injustice and for the sake of the people. B-but no one knows where¡­ no¡­ don''t tell me¡­ you''re one of them?!"

    Well, I wouldn''t exactly call myself an Outer. However, Ana was blushing so hard already, and I could see glimmers of stars in her eyes.

    How could I let her down now?

    "That''s right. I am an Outer." I smiled wryly.

    "Whoah!!! That''s so cooooo¡ª"

    Before she could say any more, I elerated my body with Light Magic, coating the both of us in Aether.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    In no time, we were out of there.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 832 The Outgroup Discourse

    Silence permeated the dimly lit room as Neron and his allies sat.

    The lounge was a ce they often sat down to discuss random ideas, or even silly ones. It was the one ce in their invisible fort that was notorious for the amount of noise that leaked out if it, yet today¡­ this ce was quiet.

    Each member of the Outgroup sat on afy sofa¡ªcourtesy of Magic and Engineering¡ªand they either looked too stunned to say anything, or too conflicted about where to begin.

    Ciel wasn''t present, though. After teleporting the whole team, she was too exhausted to move, so she was taken into her room to rest.

    All that was left were the rest of the team members, and none of them was speaking. This threatened to go on forever. However¡ª

    "I would like to apologize, everyone. I put your lives in danger, despite thinking I had everything nned out. I really am sorry."

    Neron was the first to speak, rising to his feet and bowing his head before every other member. He had a genuine expression to show how sorry he was, and his tone proved it too.

    Everyone either watched him with stunned reactions, or understanding ones.

    "Neron, it''s fine. I don''t think any of us could have expected that oue." The first to speak was, of course, Karlia.

    It was expected that she would support him, though her tone sounded a little off. It was clear that she was angry¡­ even though she said it was fine.

    "Karlia is right. Something must have happened that caused such a drastic shift in their security." Beruel added, rubbing his chin as he considered the options.

    Back when he ruled, Beruel was known as ''The Wise King.'' This was due to the fairness he disyed to his people, as well as the policies he enacted.

    He had to consider the strategy a ruler would utilize, especially when that ruler was Jared.

    "Agreed, Beruel. It must have been a new policy from Jared." Vaizer added.

    He too was revered among his people back when he was king¡ªthough it wasn''t due to wisdom or anything of the sort. For Beastfolk, strength was everything.

    The moment he lost to Gerard, he had forfeited that right. He would have dly stepped down had it not been for Gerard''s affiliation with Jared¡ªor rather, his subordination to him.

    As a result of his weakness as former king, his entire race was subject to such a tyrranical monster. That was why Vaizer knew Jared''s twisted wisdom when it came to leadership.

    "Hmm, could it be something we didn''t notice? We''ve been more concerned about this raid for some time now. I believe there could be some things going on behind the scenes." Kido added.

    He was his brother''s counsel many times, so he was adept at givng insightfulments on matters like this.

    No matter how one looked at it, the n was perfect. Neron wasn''t at fault.

    "They could have developed new Magic Technology to detect us sooner. Perhaps they already pepared for our assault¡­"

    None of them even suspected the existence of a mole among them. No, that would be absurd. They were family. None of them had that capacity.

    "Maybe it has to do with the other world Jared''s return." Stefan suddenly blurted out, causing everyone to look in his direction.

    He looked nervous at first, but after a pat from Reed Sterling, and an understanding nod from Neron, he proceeded to divulge his thoughts.

    "I was studying, back in Ainrk, about the Cosmological Variance Theory. It''s a long experience, but it seems this world has its variables and constants, which won''t be interfered with unless an external source acts on it. If that happens¡­"

    "... The Variables will shift." Neronpleted Stefan''s words for him, smiling at the young boy for bringing out something so insightful.

    Not even the adults had thought of that.

    ''He really is a genius¡ªnot only in Magic, but also in study. It would be nice to see how far you can go.''

    It all added up to Neron now. Everything about the absudity of their recent experience became unraveled.

    eaglesnov?1,§ão§® "They must have tightened security and focused more on their defenses than ever before. Who would have thought they would cease attacking the Midas region and halt their expansion. Even Gawain was dispatched, which means the situation is grim."

    At this point, Neron had to subscribe to Stefan''s opinions.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Stefan is right. Jared''s sudden appearance in this reality is what caused the active caution of the enemy camp."

    "I knew that kid was trouble." Karlia gritted her teeth and frowned, while folding her arms in anger.

    "Rx, Karlia. He saved our lives." Neron sighed. "And in the most absurd way too."

    "Finally! Are we finally going to talk about that?!" Edward jumped from where he was partially asleep on the sofa, his eyes now beaming with excitement.

    It was understandable, since he must have been exhausted from the fight, so no one had disturbed him. Who would have thought that he was waiting for everyone to talk about the new Jared.

    "To think we thought that we could take him on¡­" Beruel whispered, shivering a little.

    "Did you see how he easily beat Gawain like he was nothing?"

    "Thatst spell he used, just before he vanished¡­ do you think he was able to wipe out the rest?"

    "Based on that unbelievable intensity, I would say so!"

    "Simply astounding!"

    Everyone was beaming with such surprise and wonder that most of them forgot the peril they had been in just moments ago. This gave Neron the perfect opportunity to talk to Karlia.

    "I know you''re angry at me, Karlia. I know you didn''t want me to die back then, or to leave you alone. I broke my promise to you¡­ that I would always remain by your side." He knelt as he spoke to her.

    Their eyes connected, and teats began to fall from the Subus''s angry face.

    "Y-you¡­" Her voice was shaky, but her frown easily melted to that of sadnss and then devolved into a purely teary baby.

    "Y-you¡­ never do that again!" She hit his chest, crying some more.

    Neron understood her frustration, and the overwhelming emotion she was feeling.

    After losing her family to Jared''s evil n, this group was all she had left. Neron was the anchor that kept her here, and his death would devastate her.

    He knew that ver well, yet he told her to live on without him.

    ''In the end, I was just being selfish¡­''

    Her tears soaked his shoulder, and as she cried loudly, her voice echoed into the noisy room. Even with the sound of the other Outers chatting in the backdrop, Neron and Karlia had their intimate moment.

    Everyone knew better than to interrupt them or pay any attention. They simply focused on the amazing sight they had experienced¡­ wondering just how powerful this new Jared was.

    However, there was still a prevalent thought on their mind.

    Even with all that power¡­ was he a match for the threat that gued their own world? Could this neer beat the horrific existence born in their world?

    *

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    *

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 Chapter 833 Back To Base

    "I''m back, guys!"

    Appearing within the lounge area, where I had sensed all the Outgroup Members, I dered my presence to everyone present.

    It seemed that they had been engaged in a lively discussion moments earlier. Their odd stances and the noise they were generating when I initially appeared in the room proved that.

    However, immediately after I appeared they all turned silent and froze.

    "U-um¡­?"

    Their eyes were on me for a moment, but they quickly moved in the direction of the girl beside me. The blonde with a child-like body.

    "Ja¡­ I mean, who is that?" Neron was the first to break the ufortable silence in the room.

    I was still in his disguise, so Neron must have thought it was most appropriate not to reveal my name yet. That was a smart call.

    He, as well as the other Outers, however, looked very anxious about my sudden appearance in the room. I suspected two reasons for their reaction.

    One was my disy of power mere moments earlier. I must have shocked them with my level of power¡ªthough, to be fair, I was the one who was more shocked by theirck of it.

    The second reason¡ªwhich I felt was the most pertinent at this point¡ªwas the fact that I had a stranger with me as I casually entered the base.

    Based on the properties of the Outgroup''s base, it had no way in or out. No doors or windows existed in the entire fort. It was also invisible and imperceivable from the outside. That was most likely how they had been able to avoid detection for so long.

    Even the Outers teleported to their destination when they wanted to leave, and they teleported back¡ªusing their predetermined coordinates. Plus, this area was chock-full of different Magic Effects.

    One of them was Time Magic.

    ''I noticed it more when I awakened my Aether Core. This ce slows down time, doesn''t it?''

    If I had to guess, I''d say the ratio was about 3:1. For every three hours spent here, only one would pass in the outside world. It wasn''t the best, but at least that gave them more time to prepare and practice.

    It was fair enough.

    In any case, since I couldn''t teleport¡ªthanks to my Arcanas which are currently out ofmission¡ªI had to resort to the next best thing.

    [Phasing Magic].

    I could already detect them, thanks to my Nano Automatons. Thus, it ensured that I wouldn''t mistake their location for another. Once I had pinpointed their position and neared it, I activated [Phasing Magic] for both me and Ana.

    ''If I was the only one, I could have used my Original Magic to activate Damien Lawcroft''s Magic.'' That way, I would simply trade ces with one of my Nano Automatons.

    However, with Ana by my side, I had to resort to this.

    "I understand your apprehension, but, please hear me out." I raised my hand in surrender, trying to show them that their apprehension was unnecessary.

    At this point, I knew I could best most of them in Magic Combat. Not only were they weakened, thanks to their earlier mission, but their expressions proved just how amazed they were at my disy of power earlier.

    I could show them even more.

    ''But, we''re at their base, so I''m sure they have many defensive measures and arrays in case it bes necessary to fight.''

    I was going off-track in my thoughts, though.

    Currently, there was no need to fight or anything. I was on their side. Hopefully, Neron would be able to understand that.

    "That girl''sb coat has the insignia of Jared''s empire on it. The uniform she has under thebcoat is also the staple wear for the workers at the factory we just attacked." Neron added, obviously refusing to back down so easily.

    "I appreciate the fact that you saved our lives. Words cannot express that. I am also d that you are well. However, bringing a member of Jared''s empire to this ce is¡­"

    Neron drew closer to me, his intimidatingly taller physique daunted me a little. I could feel the pressure exuding from his naturally charismatic aura.

    ''Haa¡­ let''s hear it.'' I waited for him to chew me out.

    "... Simply amazing! This is astounding!" Neron suddenly beamed, causing me to doubt if I had heard him right.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''E-eh?''

    He ced his hands on my shoulder, grabbing them with such energy and vigour that I felt they would fall off.

    "We''ve been trying to capture one of them for so long now, yet you got one. That''s awesome!" He appeared genuinely happy, which was totally unexpected.

    It wasn''t just him, though. The other members of the Outgroup looked pleasantly surprised. It almost felt like I had brought a gift for all of them to enjoy.

    "W-well, haha. You''re¡­ wee?"

    I didn''t know they were searching for a hostage. Now that I considered it, though, that was a good idea. Hostages, especiallypliant ones, were very useful.

    e¦Áglesn?¦Íel In fact, one of the reasons I brought Ana with me was because she could divulge the information I wanted. It must have been the same for the Outgroup.

    "How did you do it, though? We were sure they had all evacuated." Neron''s excitement nearly caused me to startughing stupidly as well, though I controlled myself.

    It reminded me of how my world''s Neron and I often joked about many things¡ªMagic included. We even talked about our past lives often after the three months.

    Despite what I initially thought, Neron and I had almost nothing inmon. We were pr opposites in many areas¡ªthough, of course, there were a few things we shared.

    And even that was mostly affiliations with people.

    ''I guess I didn''t really know the true Neron until he got his memories back.'' Brushing aside my thoughts about my world, I exined how and where I found Ana.

    As expected, everyone was impressed with how I was able to find the ce¡ªand also how Ana, despite her small frame, had a workshop all to herself.

    "So, you actually managed to get an executive staff of the factory? That''s beyond amazing!"

    Neron shared my sentiment as well. Having a higher-up was far more useful than simply capturing a footsoldier.

    "U-um¡­" Ana''s voice suddenly interrupted our conversation. "... I''m not an executive staff or anything like that¡­"

    What was she talking about? Did that mean she was in an even higher position? I didn''t want to overestimate her capabilities in this world, so I assumed she was simply of a high rank.

    But, with what she was saying¡­

    "Your workshop appeared small, though. Or was that just one of your workshops? Then that makes sense¡­"

    It was possible that the ce I found her was simply where she kept her secret stash. If that was the case, then it was possible that Ana was even more impressive than I gave her credit for.

    How impressive, though? I was about to find out.

    "I''m¡­ I''m¡­ I''m just an ordinary factory worker!"

    For a moment, Ana''s voice did not properly register in my head. It appeared to be the same for Neron.

    However, the moment we heard this, both of us widened our eyes at Ana at the same time.

    "WHAT?!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 834 Unraveled Disguise

    Okay¡­ I hadn''t expected this.

    As I looked at Ana''s face in shock, she fidgeted ufortably, blushing and looking hesitantly at the ground.

    Could she sense my surprise? My disappointment?

    "B-but, you had a workshop, right?" There was no way a workshop would be given to an ordinary factory worker.

    Unless¡­

    "I made the workshop myself. It''s a secret one too. No one has ever found me there¡­ except you." Her tone became softer as she kept speaking. "I collected scraps and parts disposed of by the factory to develop my tools. Sometimes, I stole some of our raw materials¡­"

    So that was how she had been able to achieve it. It seemed I had assumed too much.

    "When we got the rm that we were being attacked, I couldn''t just leave everything I had worked for behind. I thought I could quickly retrieve them, but¡­"

    The backpack Ana carried behind her was where all of her items were. She must have used some form of Structure Alteration Magic to reduce the size. I remembered the Dragon King had one of such Magic¡ªthough, his was probably more advanced.

    "I see. I understand, then." I smiled, drawing closer to her.

    She tightly shut her eyes while clenching her fist in turn. I wondered if she felt I would be disappointed by the sudden revtion.

    ''I mean, I am a little disappointed, but¡­'' Ana wasn''tpletely useless yet.

    "The fact that you could make amazing inventions from scraps further proves your value. You should be proud, Ana." I patted her head once more, gazing warmly into her eyes.

    Looking at how cute she was, and how she responded with a nod, I grew nostalgic. Honestly, I had missed Ana''s cute days.

    "In any case, it''s time to get rid of my disguise. There''s no longer any reason to keep it on."

    "I was beginning to wonder when you would." Neron replied with a light chuckle.

    In any case, the moment of truth was at hand for Ana. I just hoped she wouldn''t freak out too much.

    My blue hair faded into yellow and my facial structure reverted to its original¡ªmore handsome¡ªform. Yes, my original ''Jared'' look was definitely superior in terms of looks.

    As a light mist rose from me, the transformation was undone, and I was back to my original form. The first person I nced at was Ana, trying to confirm if she was alright.

    "J-J-J¡­. L-Lord¡­ J-Jared?!"

    As expected, she wasn''t!

    Sweat broke out all over her face and her bulging eyes were filled with fear and stifled rage. As I watched all the colour drain away from her face, I decided to quickly resolve the misunderstanding.

    "F-forgive me, Lord Jared! I honestly did not mean any of the things I said earlier. That story was false. I¡­ I am your loyal servant. P-p-p-please, spare my lifeeee!"

    Ah, wasn''t it a bit toote for that, though?

    ''At this point, she must be thinking something along the lines of this being a test of some sort.'' Ana was very calcting, so I expected this much from her.

    She would probably think of ways to guarantee her escape and would operate on the assumption that I wouldn''t believe her anyway.

    ''It would have been fun to tease her some more, but there''s no time for that.''

    "Ana, rx. I''m not the Jared you know." I sighed. "I mean, why would the Jared of this world be working with the Outgroup."

    This had to be the first time, but Ana''s bright eyes widened as she looked around her¡ªseeing all the Outers that were presently upying the lounge.

    I had no idea if she didn''t notice earlier, but¡­ her face suddenly lit up in surprise.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "T-that''s true. B-but wait¡­ what do you mean by the ''Jared of this world''?!"

    It was time to exin this again. Fortunately, I had Magic which could just ry the information I wanted to her without much effort on my part.

    ''This shouldn''t take too long.''

    *

    *

    *

    "A-ah, I see¡­" After experiencingyers uponyers of my memories, Ana must have already gotten the gist of everything.

    Of course, I only showed her the parts relevant to the discourse, so she didn''t know much else about me.

    "I-I''m sorry for doubting you." She muttered.

    "It''s fine. I understand why you would react like that."

    At this juncture, with the Outgroup already aware of my capabilities and with Ana already up to speed about the gist of the situation, it was time to bring up the true reason I brought her into the fold.

    Fortunately, based on all I had seen, that reason was still valid.

    "Ana was a brilliant Magic Schr in my original world. She developed countless devices, discovered a new energy source, and defeated many people who were stronger than she was. She was the perfect culmination of Skill and Knowledge." I looked at this world''s Ana with a smile stered on my face.

    "You haven''t changed in that regard, even in this world. That is why I want to suggest making Ana a member of the Outgroup."

    Not only did she have a good motive for wanting Jared gone, but she was also very skilful. Besides, I sort of didn''t want to let her out of my sight¡ªboth for practical and conventional reasons.

    ''I still don''t understand how this world''s mechanics work. Technology, Magic¡­ almost everything here is a mystery. Having her around should make it easier for me.''

    Of course, with Neron and the others here, I could most likely make do without her. That was why this was most probably more personal than practical.

    ''Then again, wouldn''t Neron be busy? It''s still a mix between the two. Ah, but if Ana joins the Outgroup, she''ll be busy too.''

    I finally decided to cease my mental back and forth. The decision was not mine to make, It was the Outgroup''s.

    And so, as I looked at Neron, casting my gaze on everyone as well, I hoped they would make the right call.

    ''I don''t know what I''ll do if they don''t.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 835 Invitation

    "She''s been able to achieve a lot by collecting scraps, while also working as a regr factory worker." I said, attempting to convince the Outers of my opinion.

    ''This is just a guess, but the reason she didn''t ascend to a higher position is most likely because she was hiding her skills, and she was cking off in her main duties.''

    Ana''s focus must have been constantly divided between work and her personal ''activities'', yet she bnced both pretty well. That was plenty impressive.

    "She also has a motive. Besides, you guys are understaffed. It wouldn''t hurt to have an extra hand on deck."

    "But she''s just a child. We''re not desperate enough to start involving kids." Stefan suddenly burst out.

    e¦Áglesn?¦Íel His face appeared very concerned, and I could tell that he was worried about Ana.

    "The Outgroup faces death in every mission. It''s never a piece of cake. We''re not going to endanger a child just so¡ª"

    "I¡­ I¡­ I''m sixteen, for crying out loud!" Ana''s voice suddenly peaked above Stefan''s, causing everyone to let out shocked gasps.

    Their jaws dropped, and their faces were veryedic to watch. Even Stefan, who had been advocating for her safety, froze in ce.

    "F-for real?" He muttered, still unable to recover from his shock.

    "Yes! And by your own standards, aren''t you pretty young too? You don''t look any older than me."

    Stefan would be the same age as Ana, if I wasn''t mistaken. In essence, if Stefan could join the Outgroup as a legal adult¡­ so could Ana.

    "Hold on, didn''t Stefan join since Ainrk''s copse?" I asked, a little confused.

    "No. He only recently joined when he became an adult. Before then, he was training and practising his Magic." Neron answered.

    "Ah, I see. But what of Ciel? Isn''t she a¡ª"

    "You know very well that Lady Ciel is an exception." Neron snapped, falling for my bait. After his response, he realized how I was pulling his legs, and we both smiled.

    "In any case, the decision is up to you. Is that fine, Stefan?" I nced at the slightly blushing boy.

    Ana was also looking at him, so he must have felt a little embarrassed.

    "Y-yeah, it''s fine. I apologize for making assumptions about your age. That was very presumptuous of me."

    I wouldn''t exactly fault Stefan for arriving at that conclusion. I mean¡­ anyone would pretty much think the same thing if they looked at Ana. Still, it was pretty cool how he apologized politely.

    "It''s fine. I get that a lot, so I''m not bothered. Thanks for worrying about me, though." Ana gave Stefan a bright smile, to which he responded with a hard blush.

    I kinda felt happy for the boy. Now he had someone his age to whom he could talk to.

    "Well, this decision is a very important one. We''d like to have some privacy to decide." Even though Neron was the leader, it seemed he ran a democratic administration.

    This would make the process slower,pared to autocracy, but I could understand the appeal. Everyone trusted Neron''s decisions, and he trusted them as well.

    ''It''s not that bad.'' I smiled, wondering if I could have found better ways to lead my team¡ªwhether against the Demons or the Nether Cult.

    "We''ll be going to the other room to discuss. Make yourselvesfortable here in the meantime."

    "Fair enough." I smiled, watching as the Outers exited the lounge to go into the Strategy Room, most likely.

    I still had my Automatons on them, and I could most likely eavesdrop on their conversation. But why bother? It didn''t really matter.

    ''I also trust Neron''s decisions.''

    *

    *

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    After what seemed like barely five minutes, the group returned.

    ''That''s fast.'' I thought to myself.

    Perhaps the Strategy Room had a greater Time Magic ratio than the other rooms. Or maybe they were quick in making their decision. Either way, I wanted to hear the verdict.

    "We''ve decided that I will take her under my wing. Ana is very good with crafting devices, correct?" Neron nced at her, causing both her and me to nod.

    "We badly need technical support on the team. Currently, I''m the only one with that level of skill. Beruel knows a bit, but his speciality is Magic. It''s a bit too much designing equipment and managing resources alone."

    Ah, I see. Just how hard was Neron pushing himself every day?

    Not only was he the leader, but he was also their mechanic and developer. He was the strategist as well, and he even engaged inbat with the rest of the team.

    ''He''s spreading himself too thin. I''m sure this will be affecting some of his research and designs.''

    It was one more reason why the team needed Ana.

    "If you''re interested, we can learn from each other and grow. Since you must have some ideas I do not possess, and vice versa, we can grow together and make sure that the world benefits as well. What do you say?"

    Ana must have beenpletely caught off-guard by Neron''s words because she suddenly froze. Before long, her body trembled, and tears began to fall from her eyes. Her wide eyes glistened like the sun shining on the surface of the sea, and her cheeks took on a light shade of pink.

    It was both a marvellous and emotional sight.

    "I¡­ I wouldn''t want it any other way." She sniffled, trying her best topose herself into forming a smile. "Thank you for the opportunity."

    Neron smiled and nodded at her. Not long after, though, he cast his gaze upon me.

    "Jared, we also had a discussion about you."

    I expected that to have happened eventually. It was a good thing he was getting to the point instead of beating around the bush.

    "First, though, I would like to ask you what you n on doing now. Based on your reply, I''ll consider what to say next."

    My lips curled up to form a grin before I finally revealed my intentions.

    "I will simply do whatever I can to help this world, while also striving to return home. That is my goal."

    Neron nodded slightly, his smile unchanging. "That''s good enough for me."

    The Outers also nodded, smiling in their respective ways. Even this world''s Karlia, who seemed to hate me the most, wasn''t scowling or staring daggers at me.

    That was a good thing, right?

    "We would like to invite you to join us as an Outer. What do you say?" Neron spoke, stretching his hand towards me for a handshake.

    "Our world really needs you. Will you help us?"

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 836 Conditional Agreement

    Deafening silence echoed in the lounge as Neron stretched out his hand to make his offer.

    ¦Ñ¦Á§ád¦Án?¦Íel I stayed silent, almost as though in silent contemtion. However, even before he said anything, my mind had already been made up. Surely, he must have noticed it as well¡­

    "Watching all of you right now¡­ being unable to even scratch the surface of your full potential¡­ It''s honestly hard to watch. How can the Martial de God be this weak? How basic are his Martial Arts? And the rest of you; howe you haven''t developed more techniques or grown any further than this?"

    I wasn''t particrly talking to anyone, but I could sense some ufortable fidgeting among my audience.

    ''Honestly, it''s insulting, almost like a bad joke, seeing them like this. We risked everything to stop the Nether Cult, yet this group poses very little threat here. And the worst part is that they''re the good guys.''

    Perhaps if they were stronger, I would have simply focused on using them to achieve my goals. Unfortunately, it seemed they needed my help even more than I needed theirs.

    ''Other than Ciel and Neron, I don''t think I can benefit much from the rest. Then again¡­'' A smile formed on my face.

    ''I think I just want to help them out.''

    "I''ll join your group on one condition," I said, my eyes brimming with enough confidence to cause even more fidgeting in the seats by everyone present.

    ''I''ll need to observe how Magic Technology and other things have developed in this world. I''ll also need to learn Spell Forms from Scratch. Ciel will have to guide me on that. I need to learn how to limate the Arcana Spells that are in my Original Magic to this ce.''

    Learning things from scratch, how fun¡­

    "What is your condition?" Neron finally asked me.

    "It''s simple. I want to be ced in charge of training."

    Currently, the Outers were too weak. But, that could be fixed. As long as I taught them what I knew and shared some of my techniques with them, they were going to be fine.

    "It''s for your own good." I smiled at everyone around me.

    "I see. So we''re that weak, huh?" Sadness crept up on Neron''s face for a short while, but it quickly vanished.

    "I''ll need to discuss this with Ciel, but I personally agree with your condition. If it will make us stronger, then I am more than willing."

    I reached out my hand to his outstretched one, finally shaking him. "d to hear it. Let''s do our best together."

    ''I''ll need to spend more time with Ciel, trying to figure out how to sync my Arcanas with this world''s system. I''ll also need to train everyone here. Finally, I''ll need to work on my Aether Cores.''

    I was finally about to fully form my second one. Just a tad bit more concentration and I would achieve it.

    "There''s a lot of work to be done, and very limited time." I said. "My presence here must have alerted this world''s Jared, so they''ll probably be on high alert. As a result, it''s possible that they''ll be very cautious at first. We''ll use that to our advantage and train as hard as possible during that period."

    Going out on missions now was risky. As much as I wanted to test the waters, I had to be careful. If the Jared of this world was working together with Merlin in order to tap into Nether, my extremely frugal Aether wouldn''t stand a chance.

    "I say we do some intensive training here for three months. That''s the barest minimum. Thanks to the Time Ratio that''s going on here, only one month would have psed in the real world, am I right?"

    "You know about the Time Ratio too? Amazing¡­" Neron appeared genuinely surprised, but that only served to raise his opinion of me.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Ciel helped set it up, right?"

    "Yes. She has ess to Ancient Magic and her connection to this world¡ªwhile extremely limited now¡ªallows us to achieve certainw-bending effects."

    ''That must be this world''s definition of Arcanas.'' I smiled to myself. As expected, Ciel was the key I needed.

    "It''s going to be a hectic couple of months. I hope you''re all prepared." A wide, intimidating smile spread on my face.

    Many shivered at the sight of it. After all, they had seen the kind of power I wielded. However, I could also notice the level of excitement written on their faces. They wanted to grow.

    "W-will we be able to use powerful spells like you after the three months? Is it really possible to grow that fast?" Stefan asked with a puzzled, yet eager expression.

    Even as a genius in this world, he must have realized the limits of growth that every person had. How could he advance so quickly?

    ''I''m sure everyone is curious about it too¡­ how they can develop very fast.''

    Without speeding things up any further with my [Hermit] Arcana, this was as far as we could go. Even in my own world, reaching the level I desired for them within a mere span of three months was asking for too much.

    But, it wasn''t impossible.

    "I''m going to teach you all a special technique. It will serve as your ultimate weapon¡ªyour trump card!"

    The time had finallye to pass on my most guarded secret. I would have preferred another method, but for their quick growth and this world''s survival, I was going to do it.

    "You all will be the first to learn it, so be grateful. I haven''t even taught this to those in my original world yet."

    I couldn''t use it yet since I hadn''t synced with the signature of this world''s energy, but it would be easier for them to get the hang of it. Perhaps watching how they did it would help me out in harnessing the power as well.

    "I''m going to teach you Spellcraft. With it, you''ll be invincible."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 837 The Boy Who Desired Magic

    Within the depths of a massive castle that stood tall in the Eastern Kingdom''s Capital, now known as the heart of Jared''s domain, the vast throne room rang with silence.

    No one was present there, save for the young man who sat on his throne.

    At first nce, it would seem as though he was sleeping, thanks to the way he drooped his head, resting it on his hand while sitting on the golden throne. However, upon closer inspection, his lips could be seen to be moving.

    Was he talking to himself? No¡­ there was someone else present.

    Or rather, something else.

    "Even now¡­ I can''t forget how we met." The young man whispered, not bothering to look at the ghost that hovered beside him.

    "If it hadn''t been for you back then¡­"

    The young man on the throne, Jared Leonard, was recollecting his miserable past¡ªback when he had been the poor Inept called Lewis Griffith.

    He had always loved Magic since he was little, and watching others perform it fuelled his desire to one day utilize Spells himself. He read all manner of books provided for in their little town and he impatiently awaited the time when he would Awaken.

    "You can do it, Lewis."

    "You''re our joy."

    His parents had encouraged him every step of the way, and they had supported him in his journey to be the greatest Grand Mage in the Eastern Kingdom¡ªno, ultimately the world.

    Unfortunately¡­

    "It appears Lewis is Inept. He won''t be able to form any Mana Core or use Magic. I truly apologize, but your son¡­ will never be able to be a Mage."

    Those words remained etched in his soul and even now the mere thought of that day stung his heart.

    The trauma from the revtion caused him to remain silent, unable to utter a single word. His dreams had been shattered, and his hopes had been dashed like they were nothing.

    Nothing made sense anymore, and at that point¡ªwhen he had been at his lowest¡ªhe looked up to his parents for their support.

    "What? Are you serious? Then why have we been feeding you all this time? Why did we bother raising a deadbeat?!" His mother had said.

    "If only you''d had more children for me! Curse your womb, woman. How will I be able to revive the Griffith name if your seed is inept!" His father had replied.

    Apparently, he had been born into the lineage of a fallen noble family. The Griffiths suddenly lost their ability to use Magic, thus they were emunicated from the Noble Hierarchy. Since they were mere Viscounts, no one cared for their little family.

    Still, the Griffiths never gave up. They kept trying, for generations, to revive their fallen family and reim their ce in the social hierarchy.

    What they needed wasn''t merely a Magic User, but someone with immense, indisputable talent that would pave their way into the luxurious and respectable life they had once enjoyed.

    And they all thought Lewis Griffith would be that person.

    "My brothers also gave birth to useless children, and now you. Aren''t you all useless? Shit, even incest isn''t working¡­"

    The Griffiths had done their best to keep their family lineage pure. They had squandered the small fortune they had in trying to do anything to restore their Magic abilities.

    Unfortunately, everything ended up going down the drain. All their efforts were null.

    "Useless child." After receiving a lot of harsh beatings from her husband, his mother stared at him like some kind of animal.

    No, something even lower.

    "Why were you even born?" She had said.

    They got ready to leave the Capital that very day, and after a few days on the road, they arrived at their destination.

    He remembered dreading every second of the journey. The harsh words of his parents had damaged him irreparably, but he knew that even more woulde from the townspeople he had looked down on.

    He wasn''t wrong.

    "Pfft! Even Jared is Inept? Looks like there''s no hope for your branch too, Lista.

    "Better luck next time. Buahahaha!"

    "Cheeky kid. You would think he had some talent to support his ims. So he was Inept all along."

    "Look at his face. Such a disgrace!"

    "Why did they bother bringing him back? Should have just left him in the city. Tch."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    He remembered wanting to scream at the hypocrites for criticizing him when even they were mostly Inept, but he had no courage to do so. Even his parents didn''t bother responding to the taunts and insults of the crowd.

    They merely directed their res at him.

    "This is all your fault, Lewis."

    "Tch. Useless son. Didn''t you say you would make me proud?"

    It was at that point that something broke inside him¡ªsomething he had never been able to repair.

    Ever since then, he had despised his name and everything his past stood for.

    He ran away from this town merely a few months after the incident, unable to bear the indiscriminate torture and starvation he was put through.

    They all shunned him. They all treated him like dirt. First, he felt shame, then self-pity, then self-loathing and finally despair.

    However, everything changed when he mysteriously found the Ancient Cavern of Dark Secrets. It was there he met the remnant of Merlin''s Soul, and he gained ess to the hidden knowledge no one possessed.

    And so, as he grew and learned under the tutge of Merlin, the Dark Apostle, his despair slowly transformed into something else.

    It turned into pure rage.

    Enough to let him ughter every single person who had doubted him and insulted him. Killing his parents felt particrly satisfying. Those who didn''t wrong him were spared from immediate death.

    He had needed subjects to experiment on, after all.

    After learning all he could from the cavern, performing all sorts of atrocities in isted research, he travelled the world and went to other sites all over the world where he encountered more materials from the other Dark Apostles. He learned Spells, though he remained incapable of using them.

    Although, unfortunately, only Merlin''s Soul survived whatever skirmish happened so long ago, but that didn''t matter now.

    As long as he could learn more, he had been more than willing to continue.

    When his journey around the world came to an end, he enrolled in Ainrk Academy at fifteen years old¡ªthe standard age at the time¡ªand gained ess to more mainstream knowledge and information, thereby strengthening him further. Soon, he became dissatisfied with the limited amount of knowledge he could obtain.

    The limits were frustrating, and even modern Magic at that time had not advanced enough to satisfy him. To make the advancement he had desired, there was something he''d had to do.

    Something no one else had been willing to undertake.

    "Dark Magic¡­ I''ll do it."

    Whether it came about by human sacrifices, experimentations, or whatever vile means¡ªhe was ready to do everything it took to reach it.

    The very peak of Magic.

    He''d made allies in his past life, thanks to the knowledge and maniptive tricks that Merlin taught him. He had also been able to bring a lot of them to his side, and anyone who stood in his way was eliminated.

    Finally reaching the limits of his mortal life, he decided to undertake the risky venture of Reincarnation. He had studied this his whole life, in addition to Merlin''s guidance as well.

    And he finally perfected it!

    "In my next life, I''ll finally do it. If I don''t do it by that time, then, I''ll just have to keep trying. Again and again! Until I have everything!"

    Magic. The world. Everything.

    "I want them all!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 838 Brewing Emergence

    "We''vee this far already¡­" Jared Leonard''s dark voice echoed in the throneroom.

    The person he was speaking to remained silent, simply floating beside him as he muttered his thoughts out loud. The dead weren''t expected to speak much, or even at all, but Merlin was usually more talkative.

    "What''s wrong? Having second thoughts?" Jared asked, stealing a nce at the old ghost.

    "I''m just considering what your Automaton reported. The man he faced¡­ doesn''t he bother you in the slightest?"

    For a moment, Jared said nothing. He closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh. His eyebrows became creased and a scowl appeared on his face.

    "I am."

    Gawain was his best creation. Even though Hugo rivalled him in power, Gawain''s speed and energy output efficiency was higher.

    He was the pinnacle of Magic Engineering, built upon many years of research and a conscious effort to achieve the best.

    "It''s difficult topress the power Gawain possessed into a small Artificial Core. Usually, you''d need them to be as big as Hugo. Plus, with the overheating and energy consumption, making it an Automaton would ultimately overload its Magic Circuits, so it''s much better if they''re Golems¡­"

    It had been difficult to solve all of these problems while creating Gawain. He had also kept evolving the Automaton, using only the best materials to achieve his current state¡ªat least, before he went and self-destructed.

    "Gawain''s code wouldn''t let him self-destruct unless the enemy was overwhelmingly stronger than him. It bothers me that someone like that appeared, especially soon after we sensed the anomaly. They''re clearly connected."

    The worst part remained that this individual was on the side of the Outgroup.

    "Even if Gawain were to have been sacrificed, I wanted him to at least take out Neron and those pests. To think they survived annoys me to no end." He clenched his fists.

    "What of the one who was swallowed up by Gawain''s explosion? Do you think he survived?" Merlin''s cold words echoed in Jared''s head.

    "That remains unclear." The moment Gawain self-destructed, they lost connection with whatever happened after. "The site was investigated by drones just recently, though. It seems the factory is still standing."

    The explosion was supposed to level everything.

    "We''ll have to live with the assumption that the enemy survived."

    It angered him to no end, but Jared maintained his calm. Interferences were inevitable, but having an unknown variable suddenly appearing right when their n was in its final phase made him incredibly uneasy.

    "Will he get in the way of the project, though¡­ this new variable?"

    "No. We''ve had interferences from the Midas Empire and the Outers, but none of them can stop what''s about toe."

    Merlin''s wrinkled face morphed into a smile and Jared joined him in it. "Whether or not we can eliminate them before ''it'' is concluded is irrelevant."

    Closing his eyes once more, Jared broke into an evil grin. He remembered how much time and effort it had taken for them to finally arrive at this point.

    "Once the project is finalized, it''ll be over for all of them."

    *

    *

    *

    [Three Months Later]

    I walked into the strategic nning room for the first time since I arrived in this world, seeing that everyone else was already present.

    ''Looks like I got a bit carried away and lost track of time.''

    Smiling, I entered the room, observing how moderately vast it was to allow for free movement and proper expression of ideas. This was where the Outgroup usually nned its operations.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The only reason I hadn''te here before¡ªdespite being an official Outer¡ªwas because there had been no need for strategic nning for the past three months.

    Other than training, learning, and constructing, nothing much was happening here.

    Exactly as it should have been.

    "I apologise for beingte." I told everyone, watching as they shifted their gaze to me.

    They all looked a little different from the first time I saw them. Perhaps it was just sentiment, or maybe it had to do with the fact that they were currently wearing well-polished gear and the aura around them felt more impressive.

    Either way, I was satisfied with what I was looking at.

    "It''s fine. Neron just finished briefing us about the n." Karlia said with a slight nod, a small smile on her face.

    It had been three months, and I was d our time together had been enough to give her a more favourable impression of me. However, if there was something I hadn''t been expecting, it was the fact that she was Neron''s lover in this reality.

    ''I shall never speak of this when I return.'' I closed my eyes and nodded, maintaining my smile as I banished the image of the couple making out.

    "And? Have you all mulled it over?" I asked, ncing in the direction of the leader.

    "Not yet. They appear to have some issues with it, so I was hoping you could articte it better."

    Neron''s dark hair swerved as he smiled warmly at me. He was currently wearing his usual dark cloak, with golden embroidery on it, possessing all manner of effects that made me think he was over geared.

    "Is that so? Then, as you wish, leader, I will exin the n in greater detail." I returned his smile.

    Neron had probably wanted this oue from the beginning. Perhaps it was because I came up with the whole thing, therefore he wanted it to be me who presented it in front of everyone. Even after the past few months, he always ensured I had a major role to y within the group''s core functioning.

    I stepped forward, eyes on everyone present.

    Neron, Karlia, Edward, Kido, Stefan, Beruel, Reed, Vaizer, Ana, and finally¡­ Ciel.

    Everyone was present and ounted for.

    "I''ve been monitoring the affairs of the outside world for the past month. It''s time for the Outgroup to make their first appearance in a while."

    I could see excited smiles forming on their faces. We were all itching for some outdoor activities. Besides, I could tell they were curious about something.

    ''How strong have they gotten?''

    "I''ll exin it quickly, so pay attention." My voice echoed throughout the hall and my heart swelled with equal excitement.

    "We''re going to the Midas Empire."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 839 Invading The Midas Empire

    "We''ve all gotten stronger these past three months. We''ve trained hard and studied hard too." I began, addressing my audience with a serious tone.

    "However, for us to overthrow the man known as Jared, we''ll need more allies than this group of Outers. To make a real difference and also to eliminate his control over practically the whole world, we''ll need help from the most powerful allies we can get."

    I nced at Kido and he seemed a little anxious.

    ''I can''t me him, though. Even in my previous life, the Midas Empire didn''t take any side during external conflicts.'' The only reason I was even banking on the idea of getting support from them this time around was that Jared was amon enemy.

    "As we all know, the Midas Empire is situated in the Northern Continent, and they are already allies with the Magic Beasts who live there as well. Forming an alliance with the Midas Race will grant us ess to the Magic Beast army as well."

    Once that was done, the first part of the takeover could be considered settled. All things considered, I didn''t have the time and luxury to y the long-term game, so I was aiming for a short and decisive victory against Jared and his allies.

    "I can recognize the worry that is pervading this room. You might all have doubts. However, I want to assure you that this was well thought out by Neron and me. With that in mind, anyone that has a question can ask it."

    "I do."

    As expected, the one who spoke was Kido.

    "Yeah? What are your concerns?" I smiled.

    "How certain are you that Kuzon will ept to join hands with us? Also¡­ what are you going to do if he refuses?"

    I could see concern written all over Kido''s face. In as much as Kuzon was being a brat, ording to what I had heard, he still cared a great deal for him.

    "I won''t do anything to him. It''s his choice. However, we just have to be very persuasive when we ask him."

    "Persuasive? In what way?"

    A wide grin formed on my face, and it seemed that the flustered Kido felt even more uneasy the moment he noticed it.

    "Well¡­ It''s better I tell you now."

    *

    *

    *

    After I exined the things that were needed for the mission, it seemed everyone finally became satisfied with it. Kido still looked a little nervous, but he didn''t object to the n either.

    ''I also don''t like rushing things, but it''s better this way.''

    The meeting was practically over, so it was time to get the mission underway. I nced in the direction of our Spellcaster, nodding instantly at her.

    "Ready whenever you are, Ciel."

    She had the coordinates to the Midas Empire already, thanks to my prior preparation, so she was going to teleport everyone to our destination.

    ''Her control over teleportation has improved a great deal. Plus, she can use it at will now.'' A smile formed on my face as she responded with a confident nod.

    After spending months with the Outers, I had grown to like this world''s version of Ciel. I had initially been suspicious of her, but after some time I realized that I was allowing my knowledge of the other Ciel to affect my view of this world''s version.

    ''She''s very kind, considerate and selfless.'' I could only imagine the loneliness and pain she''d felt, being the only one to stand against evil in the past.

    Yet, she reincarnated and did her best for the team as well. Before my arrival, she would always drain herself for the sake of the team.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Needless to say, after spending a lot of time researching Magic together, I grew to like her more. We had a lot of interesting conversations, and I was truly d I got to know a woman so kind.

    "Let''s gather around." Neron told the team, and we all huddled together within moments.

    He stretched out his hand, smiling at everyone present. I could already tell what he was about to do¡ªand so could everyone present.

    We all brought forth our hands as well, with each of us forming a fist while converging in a small circle. I could feel the spark of energy that formed as a result of ourbined fist bumps.

    "Let''s all do our best." Neron dered.

    "Yeah. Let''s!"

    Once that was concluded, Ciel closed her eyes, and an instant burst of power encircled us. The Mana that swept through us encircled our group, creating a spatial distortion in moments.

    I watched as the blue shimmers of light glowed ever so brightly and the transition from our location began to happen. My vision slowly blurred, and everything around me began to warp.

    In mere moments, I found myself in a different location¡ªthe same as my allies.

    ''Looks like we made it.'' A smile formed on my face.

    We were currently standing on the outskirts of the Nothern Continent, and I could even see the golden barrier that covered the entire piece ofnd from a distance. Even the sky was coloured in a golden hue, as the protective dome spread through all of its environs.

    ''Ciel managed to get us inside. She doesn''t appear tired too. It seems my theory was correct.'' Utilizing Arcana-Based Magic was enough to bypass the Midas'' Ultimate Barrier.

    I was able to teach Ciel how to use the Arcanas, just as she was able to show me the way this world''s Magic worked. It felt good watching the result of our research, and her constant efforts at training, y out so well.

    ''I don''t need to expend my Aether. That''s a relief.''

    Unfortunately for us, my victory was cut short by the immediate reaction of the Midas Empire''s impable security.

    In a sh, multiple individuals who donned golden attires and possessed staffs and staves¡ªalong with Magic Beasts beside them¡ªsuddenly surrounded us.

    "Intruders, halt!"

    I could see about a hundred robed men¡ªat least¡ªwho were already ring at us while emitting strong Mana signatures that threatened to pulverize us at any moment.

    "Take one more step and you perish." The one who appeared to be the leader stepped forward, a deep re on his face.

    "You are trespassing on the Midas Territory."

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 840 The Emperors Brand

    Immense tension filled the air, and I could only watch in silence while donning my blue-haired disguise.

    The hundred or so men that surrounded us already had their Mana flowing through them, and I could tell just how powerful they were. If we were to take a single step, they would try their best to subdue us instantly.

    ''Whether they''ll be able to seed or not is another issue entirely.''

    "Y-you are¡­ the Outgroup." The leader of the squad muttered, his staff warbling with a deep golden hue.

    He had long golden hair and his hair was in a ponytail which was tied behind him. He looked like a young man¡ªin his early twenties, at the very least. His golden eyes, along with his wlessly clear skin, indicated to me that he belonged to the Royal Family.

    Also¡­

    "Kaliel, stand down. It''s me, Kido." Our Outgroup Ace finally stepped forward, speaking in a low, calm tone.

    "Y-you¡­ What are you doing here?! No, how were you guys able to get past the barrier, to begin with?"

    It appeared they knew each other, after all.

    ''They must be panicking. No one has been able to prate their barrier since the start of the conflict, yet we achieved it. It''s in their best interests to eliminate us, but they''re probably wondering if they can achieve that.''

    This situation sort of reminded me of how it was when I first arrived in this world.

    "Wee in peace. We''ve onlye to see Kuzon." Kido added. "Please, Kaliel¡­ let us pass."

    The golden-haired chief guard seemed conflicted about what choice to make. His hardened face seemed to soften a little, and I could sense hesitance in his strong gaze.

    "I-I can''t. Even if it''s you¡­ Sir Kido. The Emperor has told me to guard this ce with due diligence and to put down any unlikely insurgent that is powerful enough to so much as partially breach the barrier. Besides¡­ ever since you left, he said that he no longer considers you a part of our Empire."

    How troublesome. Things seemed a bit tighter than I had expected.

    "You can''t make any exceptions?" Kido looked conflicted, clenching his fists in frustration. I simply watched the whole exchange in silence.

    I pretty much knew how things would end at this point.

    "If you leave now, I''ll pretend I never saw anything, so please¡­"

    Gasps escaped from the others that surrounded us. They were probably shocked that he was being so lenient.

    ''The fact that we can bypass the barrier means we can most likely do it again and again. It''s safer to eliminate the threats than give them the chance to cause another breach in security.''

    I couldn''t tell if this Kaliel was being overly generous, or if he was just ignorant of the implications of his actions.

    It didn''t matter either way, though. We couldn''t retreat aftering this far.

    "Apologies, Kaliel. That is not an option for us." Kido took another step forward, an imposing aura alreadying off of him.

    Kaliel and the hundred guards braced themselves. He clutched his staff tight, quickly activating a defence Spell to protect himself from whatever attack Kido was going to unleash.

    Unfortunately for him, though¡­ this wasn''t an attack you could ''block.''

    "Stand down."

    The moment Kido said this, the bodies of all the armed men instantly tensed, and a powerful aura came over them after hismand.

    "Drop your weapons."

    Instantly, they did as they were told. Each of them, even Kaliel, let go of his precious staff. As their weapons fell on the ground, we were left with nothing butcent soldiers.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Kido appeared conflicted about doing this, but I appreciated the fact that he recognized the need for such action and did it anyway.

    He was way too nice, after all.

    "Ask them where Kuzon is. For all we know, he might not be in the pce." Neron approached Kido, speaking calmly.

    "Where is the Golden Emperor?" The moment Kido spoke, Kaliel opened his lips and divulged everything without hesitation.

    "He remains in his pce. He is currently having a meeting with the Dragon King, Z''ark."

    The Dragon King was most likely the leader of the Magic Beasts in this world as well. That meant they were nning something big. It was a good thing we came at this particr time.

    ''How lucky!''

    "Thank you for your help. Now, then, resume your guarding duties and forget you ever saw us."

    "U-understood."

    Kaliel and the other soldiers kept standing as our group passed beside them, allpletely still. They probably wouldn''t be able to move until Kido''s influence over them wore out.

    "What a scary power¡­" I heard him whisper to himself.

    This had to be the first time he was using it on so many people, but he didn''t appear worn out. As expected of the results of his efforts in training and practice.

    ''He still needs to speak to exert his authority, but it seems he''s pretty much gotten the hang of [The Emperor].''

    Since I had all the Arcana Spells in my Original Magic, I pretty much understood the structure. By obtaining Ciel''s help in transcribing them to suit this world''s frequency, I was able to evolve their function to limate to different frequencies.

    In essence, even if I wasn''t in this world, I would be able to switch frequencies to use them¡ªso long as I utilised Aether when doing so.

    ''It''s still a theory, but it should work.''

    As for why Kido had an Arcana, it was simply because I gave it to him. No, not just him. Each member of the Outgroup had been given a specialized Arcana Spell. It was just that me and Ciel knew more.

    Though Ciel''s knowledge and control were only limited to about five.

    ''Since Arcana Spells consume a lot of energy, and they have to cast them by themselves, I only told them to use it in special cases.''

    I watched as the glowing brand of [The Emperor] on Kido''s hand dulled. His influence was probably losing its potency, so we had better hurry.

    ''I guess we better make it to the meeting fast. Though, I doubt Kaliel and his guards will remember ever seeing us.''

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 841 The Lord Kuzon

    "Lord Kuzon, you can''t be serious!"

    The deep, loud voice of the Dragon King, Z''ark, echoed within the vast golden pce. The ornaments and jewels thatplimented the walls, ceilings and floors made it absolutely breathtaking, but nothing about the unbelievable beauty of the Midas Throneroom mattered at this point.

    Z''ark, now donning his miniature form as a small-sized Dragon was currently appealing to the one who sat on the absolute golden throne.

    His gaze contained disbelief and his clenched fist showed that he strongly disagreed with the person on the throne. It was due to this frustration that the Dragon King finally spoke up.

    "You want to risk the lives of ourbined forces just to carry out an immensely risky attack on Jared''s domain? That''s madness!"

    The more Z''ark thought of the decision, the more illogical it appeared.

    ''We''re safe within this barrier. As long as we further strengthen our defences and build our strength, we''ll be safe from harm.''

    Z''ark realized that this was a selfish move. His rationale condemned the rest of the world to suffer under the mighty hand of a tyrant. However, that appeared to be the most reasonable path for his people.

    ''Even if we were to attack, we have to build our strength now and bid our time.'' Only when Jared''s domain became weak and careless could they even think of striking against him.

    "From the little information we were able to gather, we know that Jared has tightened security and his guard is even higher than ever. What you''re suggesting¡­ there''s no worse time to carry it out than now!"

    He could only hope that the emperor he was appealing to could see reason in his words. For the sake of the United Magic Beasts and also the Midas Race, war had to be avoided at all costs.

    "Are you done?" The young, calm voice of the seated Emperor finally rang out, causing Z''ark to tremble a little.

    His gaze was lowered, but he could still see the cocky smile of the child that sat on the throne as the ruler of his people.

    "How long do you think we can rely on this barrier to shield us from the filthy reaches of those savages?" The Emperor began. "The mere fact that they have tightened their security means they are hiding something. I can tell that they are making preparations and we must not allow them to finalize it."

    "B-but¡ª"

    "This is the most logical thing to do."

    His golden hair danced as he spoke, and his clear skin depicted the purity of his royal lineage. As he stared at Z''ark with his golden eyes, thetter could sense something much deeper than mere logic.

    ''He may sound like he''s doing the most rational thing, but we both know why he wants to attack!'' Now that Z''ark had reached the very end of his rope, he only had one final thing he could appeal to.

    "Emperor Kuzon, please reconsider!" He cried. "Please consider your people and¡ª"

    >BAM!<

    The moment Z''ark uttered those words, Kuzon banged his fist on his armrest, creating a deafening echo that sent an aura of dominance surging through the whole room.

    "I am considering them! This is for them! For the Midas who have perished because of that bastard, Jared. For my parents who suffered death at his hands. I will never forget. I will never cease in my consideration!"

    In the end, this was what everything boiled down to¡­<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "What would you have me do, Z''ark? Forget the tragedy Jared has wrought? Ignore the evil he brings upon the world? How can you stand here and talk like this when you know how your people were persecuted and hunted down due to that man''s madness?! If it hadn''t been because of the Midas Race who offered you sanctuary, you and your people would have been long dead."

    Z''ark bit his lip lightly, creasing his eyes as he powerlessly listened to Kuzon''s words. Most of what he said was true¡ªno, perhaps all of it was.

    ''We offered our allegiance to the Midas in our time of desperation, making us a vassal state under them. We''ve been ordered around and we''re subject to your rule as a result¡­'' He hung his head powerlessly.

    In his eyes, he could hardly see much of a difference between Kuzon and Jared. He and his people had simply picked the lesser of two evils, choosing to be subordinated to the peaceful and isted Midas Empire than actively engage in the conquest led by Jared.

    ''But now, even the Midas Empire wants to court war with Jared''s United Nations. My people can''t bear this. But¡­ what can we do? We are bound to serve the Midas Empire, as long as it doesn''t directly mean our extermination.''

    Thanks to the loophole that existed in their arrangement, the Midas Empire could always order the Magic Beasts to do anything. All they needed was a justifiable reason that proved to benefit both parties.

    ''You bloodthirsty, childish Emperor. You''d throw so many lives away just to satisfy your thirst for revenge.'' Z''ark felt his blood boil, but what more could he do but hang his head and bow in submission?

    "I am the Midas Emperor. I decide what''s best for my people. I have chosen the next course of action." He rose from his throne, a charismatic smile etched on his youthful face.

    "We will strike Jared and his forces at full strength, and overwhelm them with our power. Once we get to the heart of his domain, I will personally fight with that filthy monster. I will make sure he dies by my hands!"

    Kuzon Midas gave a maniacal grin, already drunk on the ecstasy of his imagined oue.

    "The one who will kill Jared Leonard¡­ is me!"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Just as he said this, a sudden gust of wind blew into the throne room, and space warped on a particr point.

    In a sh of blue light, a group of people suddenly appeared and in front of them was someone who could never be forgotten by the Midas Race.

    He had the same kind of golden hair as Kuzon and his golden gaze had the same glow. Other than the difference in their age, they appeared very simr.

    "I''m back, Kuzon." The man whispered. "It''s good to see you are well."

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 842 Down To Business

    ''Oh boy. Is this Kuzon? He looks funny in that emperor attire.'' I nearly burst outughing when we finally got transported into the pce by Ciel''s Magic.

    He had thisrge golden robe, with tons of ornaments on it. It looked extremely funny. Too funny to even describe¡ª as it looked to be wearing him instead of the other way around.

    ''Z''ark looks pretty much the same, though. Could it be that this is how Midas Emperors dressed back in my world? I have to ask Kuzon. Honestly¡­''

    Fortunately, I was able to establish enough self-control to stop myself fromughing out loud.

    "Pfft¡­" I ended up chuckling a little, though.

    Fortunately, it didn''t seem like anyone heard.

    "Kido¡­ what are you doing here? No, how did you get here, to begin with?" Kuzon''s tone was harsh and his eyes were aze with fury.

    He nced at the rest of us, donning a gaze of arrogance and conceit. It almost felt like he saw us as animals¡ªno, maybe even worse.

    "You even brought your filthyrades with you. How did you Outers manage to get in here? Could this be the work of a mole? Tch, those¡ª"

    "Who are you calling filthy? Don''t forget thend that you now im as your own belonged to the Demon Race. Why don''t you evacuate from here since it''s so filthy!" Karlia burst out in anger, her violet eyes turning crimson with animosity.

    "Tch. Our Race has purified this ce. It is no longer filthy because we exist here. Do not seek to sully our pure utopia with your presence."

    "That''s enough, Kuzon. Karlia, please calm yourself. This isn''t worth it." Kido finally spoke, raising his voice as he pleaded for silence.

    Even though he wasn''t using the effects of his Arcana Spell, both parties fell silent.

    ''Impressive. Such good charisma. See, Kido? You can do it if you try.'' To be honest, Kido seemed like he would make a better emperor than Kuzon.

    At least, ording to what I''ve seen and heard about both of them.

    ''Also¡­ judging by their exchange, it seemed that this wasn''t the first time the Outgroup had interacted with Kuzon. Maybe they bumped into each other a few times during missions? Yeah, that makes sense¡­''

    Since they shared amon enemy, it was more probable that Kuzon and the Outgroup had a history. Unfortunately, based on the drivel that just came out of Kuzon''s mouth, I could already deduce that their few interactions hadn''t been pleasant.

    "That''s enough fooling around. Let''s get down to business." Neron sighed, stepping forward as the leader of our little squad.

    "I agree. Finding out how you managed to make it this far can wait. For now, though¡­  I''ll simply capture you." Kuzon''s grin grew wide instantly. "Get them, Z''ark."

    >VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH<

    Without hesitation, the Dragon King lunged at our group, heading on a direct collision course with Neron, who was currently in front of everyone.

    In a sh, the Dragon King assumed his massive form, ready to crush Neron and everyone else with his massive power. Considering Neron was Inept, he was mostly right to assume he was fodder.

    "Haa¡­"

    Even faster than it took the Dragon King to reach him, a sudden pulse surged from Neron''s body.

    His hair turned white, and shes that appeared to look like electricity covered his body. His eyes glowed a brilliant blue and his skin brightened.

    He stretched out a hand, easily stopping the powerful charge of the Dragon King at that moment. Without even moving an inch, he caught Z''ark by the head, holding him in ce.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" The Dragon King could only bark in shock, feeling his body bepletely paralyzed by a foreign influence of¡­ Mana!

    Yes¡­ Mana.

    The Dragon King and Kuzon must have already known of Neron''s status as an Inept. They must have assumed he could be easily taken care of, thereby striking a deadly first strike on the Outgroup.

    How wrong they were to assume that.

    "I said, enough fooling around." Neron whispered, before crushing the thick scales that covered Z''ark''s head.

    The poor Dragon King seemed like he was going to scream judging by how bloodshot his eyes became, but his jaws were forcefully shut tight by Neron''s pure exertion of force.

    "MMMPPPHHHHH!!!"

    For a few seconds, Neron remained in this state, his intense gaze properly entuating his signature deadpan expression.

    A mix of fear and pain seemed to rise from the depths of the Dragon King''s heart, and I could even see Kuzon be petrified by pure shock. None of them had expected our dear leader to possess so much power.

    As casually as Neron stopped Z''ark, he finally flung him away, causing him tond right at the feet of Kuzon¡ªwith a heavy thud, of course.

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Fortunately, none of the fancy stuff was damaged.

    Neron remained right in front of us, and Kuzon appeared flustered with the defeated Z''ark groaning at his feet. That made Neron''s statement abundantly clear.

    "Let''s get down to business instead."

    *

    *

    *

    It only took a brief moment of silence before Kuzon called for the guards, but it was useless.

    "I cast a Discement Spell the moment we got here. No one is going to hear you." Ciel replied, smiling triumphantly.

    By using [The Tower] to a degree of mastery, you could make something beyond spatial perception. It was the whole logic behind my [Unknowable] Spell.

    "Y-you¡­ you think you scare me? I am the Midas Emperor! I can take you all down, no sweat." Kuzon yelled, still flexing his superiority like the idiot that he was.

    ''I can''t tell if he''s doing this intentionally, maybe to let our guards down, or if he''s really this stupid.''

    Watching this imbecile speak just desecrated the ''cool'' image of Kuzon I had in my head. It was pure sacrilege.

    "It seems you are yet to listen to reason. Then, why don''t we allow our newest member to teach you some manners?" Neron spoke calmly, now ncing in my direction.

    ''E-eh?''

    This wasn''t part of the n, but that didn''t mean it was against it as well. Still, to think Neron was going with this. It was totally¡­

    ''... AWESOME!''

    Words could not describe the kind of emotions that currently swirled in my heart. To think Neron was giving this round to me¡­ how could I ask for any more?

    ''Kuzon and I have fought twice before and he beat me both times.'' It was embarrassing now that I thought of it.

    A young kid like that kicking the ass of an old man.

    However, I already learnt my lesson from those two fights. I used those losses to learn new things, and thanks to the humiliation I suffered, I was able to grow even further.

    "Are you looking down on me, filthy Outers? Sending your weakest to¡ª"

    "Then it shouldn''t be a problem. Since you''re going to deal with all of us eventually, there''s no problem starting with our newest member." Neron seemed to be enjoying himself as he spoke.

    I took his queue and stepped forward, resting a calm gaze on Kuzon.

    "Tch. You filthy barbarians. I''ll show you¡­" He murmured, finally returning my gaze. "I''ll make sure you regret that chuckle you gave."

    ''Ah! So he did hear me back then¡­'' I nearly flinched in surprise.

    In any case, a Midas was still a Midas. Just because this Kuzon was an absolute bratpared to the one I knew didn''t change their lineage.

    ''He''s the Emperor. I have to treat him as such¡­'' My gaze narrowed as I caught his prideful smile.

    ''Will I need to go all-out?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Now this should be fun. Jared versus Kuzon, for the third time.

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 Chapter 843 Absolute Emperors Monologue

    Kuzon''s heart raced as he watched the Outgroup in sheer annoyance.

    ''Filthy¡­ they''re all filthy!'' His thoughts rang.

    Why were they here, sullying the Royal Pce with their impure presence? To him, it was a crime worth disposing anyone of.

    ''No¡­ not yet. I need to know how they achieved this!''

    The Midas Empire''s defences were by no means a walk in the park. They had a very powerful warding barrier, for starters. Even the immensely powerful Jared Leonard could not find a way to go around or disable it.

    Furthermore, they had powerful guards stationed everywhere.

    ''I made sure even the royals served as leaders among the guards. Cousins, uncles and aunts. Even Kido was meant to be a guard before he went down this foolish path.''

    If the Royals were guarding the Midas Empire, it only made their security tighter. How then would anyone be able to get this far into his precious domain¡ªespecially if they were the Outers?

    ''And now they''re challenging me? These bags of filth?!''

    There was a time when he never really had an opinion of the other races. He hadn''t considered the difference in power and prestige between his Midas Race and the other Races as a cause for discrimination.

    However¡­

    ''Weak-minded savages that fall for Jared are all inferior.''

    Whether it was the annihted Demon Race, the humans, or whatever other Race. All of them sumbed to Jared''s influence. All of them were too weak to do anything about it.

    ''Only the Midas Empire stands tall. We are this world''s only hope.'' They had to wipe out the evil known as Jared Leonard from the face of the world.

    It boggled his mind why no one understood such simple logic. Were they idiots? Yes, that was most likely the case.

    ''I''m the strongest and wisest person in the greatest Empire. I''m the only one fit to destroy that evil monster, Jared. I will wipe out that monster and then lead the new world into prosperity.''

    The Outgroup had always been a thorn in his side in his quest for perfect bnce. It was most likely for the best that they came to visit him.

    ''I''ll end all of them and then torture thest one so I can get the information I desire.''

    That way, nothing would stand in the way of his goals¡­ his perfect picture of restructuring the world once Jared was defeated.

    ''Don''t these idiots realize it yet?'' Kuzon scowled at his enemies with malevolence. ''They can''t save anything. The only one who can make a true difference¡­ is me!''

    Then again, he had to consider the right strategy to employ.

    Yes¡­ he wasn''t simply going to charge towards them like someplete amateur. No, as a brilliant Emperor, he was built better than that.

    ''Seeing as Neron can easily defeat Zar''k, I have to assume he''s the most powerful in the group. Has he been hiding his powers? Or did he just use his trump card? No, I doubt it.''

    Someone as shrewd as Neron wouldn''t use his trump card so readily. Besides, he lookedpletely fine even after subduing the Dragon King, so he couldn''t have exerted that much power¡ªat least, not very much.

    ''Maybe he''s just acting fine. Yes, that''s most likely the case. He''s pretending to be fine and he''s trying to restore his strength. Or maybe he used a one-time use Magic Item, and he can''t use it anymore. That means he''s still an Inept!'' Kuzon''s grin was already broadening at this point.

    ''Knowing how sly Neron is, he''s trying to manipte me into thinking otherwise. Keke, you can''t fool me. Your silly little tricks won''t deceive me!'' Kuzon''s pride began to swell the more his thoughts dwelled on the events that just urred.

    ''There''s also a chance that Z''ark went easy on him because he expected him to be Inept. Honestly, there are so many things that point out that Neron is still weak.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The most obvious was his recent taunt.

    ''He wants me to fight their newest member? Why else would they sacrifice their weakestrade, if not to test the waters while avoiding the most sacrifice.'' Kuzon could see right through their obvious tactics.

    ''They''re simply reaching, at this point. Their desperation is obvious to me.''

    The more Kuzon thought of it, the bigger his confidence became. He considered his chances and realized the battle was absolutely in his favour.

    ''The most troublesome ones are still that white-haireddy and Kido, though.'' He thought to himself.

    When the Outgroup teleported here, he had sensed the energy signature coalesce on her. Besides, she was the one who cut off the Throneroom''s connection with the outside world. That was enough to settle it.

    Anytime he encountered the Outers, she always seemed like an important figure to them. That told him something.

    ''She''s dangerous.''

    As for Kido, he was a Midas Royal, and between the both of them, he was the older one. And Unfortunately, that stood for something.

    ''Unfortunately for him, he''s not as adept towards violence as I am. Plus, I have the [Ultimate Power] on my side.''

    As the Absolute Emperor, he had gotten gifts from both his parents¡ªthe secrets behind the Midas Royal authority.

    The source of their great strength.

    Only a few throughout history had ever possessed one of these two kinds of gifts, but he actually had both of them. And, they were of the utmost grade, considering it had been passed down from generation to generation by his prestigious family for millennia.

    It was time to teach these fools¡ªonce and for all¡ªthe true might of the Midas Empire.

    ''I''ll show them why they''re nothing but filthy trash and why I am the only one who can stop Jared to save the world.'' Kuzon grinned, now diverting his attention to the first one he would eliminate in order to initiate the chaos that was about to ensue.

    First, he would kill the blue-haired idiot. And then, he would proceed to dispose of everyone else, except Kido¡ªfor old times'' sake.

    He had everything all figured out, and there was only one way this whole thing could end.

    ''In the end¡­ victory is mine!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Emperor Kuzon is simply all-wise and all-powerful. Can''t wait to see how he stomps on Jared and the Outers.

    Who''s with me?!

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    Here''s the link.

 Chapter 844 Speculative Analysis

    I eased my breathing and kept a focused gaze on Kuzon, ensuring to keep my Aether Cores prepared at all times.

    The Outers had already taken a considerable step back, moving some distance away from both me and Kuzon. Even the Dragon King limped away from what was now seen as the battleground.

    "The rest of you should not bother running away. I''ll deal with you all next." Kuzon had even said not too long ago.

    It concerned me a little.

    ''Even though we''ve isted him, and the Dragon King was easily beaten by Neron, he''s very confident. Why?''

    There was one exnation that kept pounding in my head. And it made me even more tense as I considered the battle that would ensue very soon.

    ''He''s strong!''

    Why else would he be so confident about taking down all the Outers? He must have had enough justifications to prop up this aura of dominance.

    That meant I couldn''t underestimate him.

    It was a good thing Neron chose me to fight this guy. If any other Outer had done it, then they most likely wouldn''t stand a chance.

    ''If I''m correct, then this is indeed the best arrangement.''

    Of course, this was all pure spection. After all, I had already noticed a lot of issues that were ipatible with the power Kuzon supposedly possessed.

    ''For example, why is the barrier around the Midas Empire so weak? I mean, it''s not extremely weak, but it should be way better.''

    It bothered me a lot that even my evil version hadn''t invaded this ce yet. Then again, perhaps evil Jared was more concerned about other things and simply didn''t think the Midas were that much of a threat.

    ''But if Kuzon is this strong, then he is supposed to be taken as a threat. What if evil Jared is even far stronger than Kuzon, which is why he doesn''t see him as someone worthy of his attention?''

    The Outgroup also mentioned how they were always very careful to ensure evil Jared and his forces would be unable to decipher their movements and capture them. But if Kuzon was this strong, it meant evil Jared was far stronger, which meant he would have been able to easily defeat the Outers.

    ''Is he letting them get away with it? Am I just overthinking things?''

    Yes, that was probably the case. I was making too many assumptions without any substantial evidence to back them up.

    ''Rather than thinking about all that, let''s focus on what''s in front of us.''

    Using my Magic to perceive my opponent and sense their energy wavelength, I could decipher how powerful they were. Of course, it was possible for someone to hide their true strength, but it was worth a shot.

    ''Hmm¡­ he doesn''t appear very strong.'' This Kuzon also had a Special Core Grade, but something about it felt¡­ unfulfilling and weak.

    Was he hiding his true strength?

    ''In my world, Kuzon has a range of abilities; ranging from Original Magic to Bond and Fusion Magic, to pretty much a superior use of Magicpared to most Mages. He is also more adept than most experts in Martial Arts.''

    In essence, he was a golden boy in all fields.

    ''Even if I have confirmed that Arcanas don''t exist in this reality, the Midas Royalty must have trump cards that should make this battle tricky.''

    I wanted to avoid using my full strength since I was conserving my energy, so I would only be responding to his heightened powers if he used them.

    ''Everyone I''ve met in this world has been weaker than I expected. I mean, it''s to be expected given how Magic hasn''t really advanced that far.''

    Magic Technology was still limited.

    There were no such concepts as Familiars

    Original Magic and Mage Mode were extremely rare. Not even the Outers could use them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The disparity went on and on.

    However, there were certain exceptions to this rule.

    For example, even though things were not as advanced here, there were certain things that existed here that I had no knowledge of in my world.

    ''For example, Neron''s [Overdrive] pill that will temporarily grant him amazing Mana Abilities before ultimately killing him.''

    Or the fact that he was able to develop a serum using Edward''s blood and his Magic Research to decrease his ageing and increase his physical strength.

    ''Neron in my world used Time Magic to keep himself from ageing, but this world''s Neron used extensive research to achieve the same result. He''s merely slowing it down, but still¡­''

    There were many other innovations this world had that didn''t appear in mine, which made me all the more cautious.

    ''Besides, this is the Midas Empire. Magic Innovations, technology, and extensive research are their forte. I can''t afford to get careless.''

    Even Kido didn''t know the true secrets of the Royals since he wasn''t the heir. When I asked him, he said only the one to inherit the throne was blessed with the hidden knowledge and power of the Midas Rulers.

    ''I just have to operate on the assumption that he''s stronger than what I expect. I''ll prepare every countermeasure and make sure I win this, no matter what.''

    I leaked out a diluted form of my Aether, mimicking the Mana of this world, so as to hide my cards. I didn''t want him to consider the possibility of me possessing even more power.

    "Hehe¡­ I see you''re already set." Kuzon stepped forward, descending from his throne as he shrugged off his ridiculous robe.

    He revealed his regal garment, a simpler white shirt and trousers¡ªwhich were also imbued with golden designs.

    "I''ll end this quickly¡­" He grinned mischievously, and I braced myself.

    ''How far do I need to go? If pushes to shove, I''ll surprise him with my Familiars.''

    Currently, I had a massive amount. If I caught him off-guard, then¡­

    ''No. Let''s see how far he pushes me first.''

    "[Special Purple Bolt]."

    In a brilliant burst of power, I witnessed a sh of powerful light radiate from Kuzon''s fingertips.

    Cackles of purple electricity danced on his fingers, and I instantly felt a coalition of surprising emotions wash over me.

    ''T-this is¡­!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Let the battle begin!

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 Chapter 845 Emperor Versus Magic Scholar [Pt 1]

    .>ZZZZZTTTTZZZZ<

    As the brilliant spark of lightning crackled, I saw it charge in my direction.

    It rushed towards me like an unstoppable stream of water, threatening to consume all that it touched. The dense quality of Mana residing inside was immense as well.

    ¡­ For an Intermediate Spell, that is.

    ''Is he being serious right now?''

    With a mere sigh, I deflected the assault with a barrier. I was already beginning to feel agitated¡ªnot because of the Spell in particr, but because of the thought process behind it.

    ''I really don''t like being underestimated to this insulting degree. I suppose this works to my favour, but still¡­''

    Kuzon must have thought an Intermediate Spell would be enough to destroy me, which was why he used the purple lightning Spell to attack first.

    ''I thought he''d use something shier, you know¡­ to strike fear into everyone.''

    I guess I was wrong about him, though. Who would have thought he was considerate enough to severely dial down his Magic Power when fighting me?

    ''He could also be conserving his power for the big guns¡­''

    There was also the possibility that this wasn''t entirely an act and that perhaps I was the one overestimating him. For now, I decided to walk on careful ground.

    "I''m impressed you repelled that." Kuzon''s voice suddenly distracted me, snapping me out of my inner thoughts. "It seems you''re not as weak as I thought, are you¡ª?"

    Before he could conclude his statement, I utilized the watered-down Aether flowing from me to create my own Spells.

    "[Air Strike Barrage]"

    Before he could finalize his taunts, which I thought were to simply buy time for himself¡ªfor reasons unknown¡ªI decided to take the first step.

    ''If he''s strong enough, he''ll sense the Spell and he''ll be able to avoid it.'' My thoughts trailed as I watched him.

    Surprisingly, though¡­

    >BAM!<

    >WHAM!<

    >BOOM!<

    The p and blows of multiple wind strikes were sent to Kuzon, and I saw his shocked expression as it connected with his body and he writhed in pain.

    ''E-eh¡­?''

    ''That was just a moderate Advanced Spell. I was using it to test the waters, but¡­''

    To my surprise, Kuzon took it on. Did he do it intentionally, or¡­?

    ''No, at this point, I''ll have to stop finding excuses for him.'' While it was best to remain cautious, I could no longer operate with my earlier theory.

    If the unforeseen urred, I would just have to revert to my initial position. However, for now, I had to act with the assumption I had fought so hard to ignore.

    ''This world''s Kuzon¡­ could also be weak!''

    It made logical sense and so far as this person had given me no reason to think he was more superior than he appeared¡ªboth from his external and even what I sensed from his Internal self.

    ''I can think of millions of ways to beat him, but something is off¡­''

    He had only shown one Spell, so I couldn''t get too cocky.

    "Y-you¡­ It seems I went too easy on you, eh?"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    Suddenly, several shes of lightning began appearing around him. Violent winds also blew, and it seemed as though he was covered in a very deadly storm.

    "I won''t make the same mistake again."

    The Kuzon I knew would only mess around if he wanted to have fun, and he was pretty decisive in his actions. If he had been in the shoes of this person, he would have already done what he could to eliminate me, and then go after the other Outers for the same purposes.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    No, he probably would have just fought against all of us on his own terms.

    ''But this guy¡­''

    "[Divine Lightning Maelstrom]"

    Forming a massive spiral, the violent whirlwind charged at me, coated with brilliant bursts of electricity.

    The ground shook and I could feel vibrations all around me. Despite the effects it was having on my surroundings and the obvious threat it would pose, I couldn''t help but sigh in disbelief.

    ''This is an Advanced Spell. But it''s still verycking¡­'' With yet another but more concentrated surge of my power, I was able to deflect the Spell with a barrier.

    "Tch!" Kuzon''s face twisted into a rage.

    "What kind of defensive artefact are you wearing? Ah, I see¡­ so this was your n, Neron."

    What the hell was he saying now?

    "No wonder you wanted me to fight this one first. You already made him a sophisticated defensive artefact, didn''t you?"

    ''Ah, is this guy for real?'' I nearly rolled my eyes as he continued his theatrics.

    "You must really think you''re clever. Do you really think that if you hold out for long, you''ll be able to escape me? You think you''ll resist my power for a long time?''

    I nced at Neron with a raised eyebrow, but he just smiled and shrugged. Did he know something I didn''t?

    In any case¡­ this whole thing was now bordering on the ridiculous.

    ''Maybe I should just get this over with and then we''ll get the n underway. It''s not like we have all the time in the world.''

    "I''ll show you, then¡­ the difference between us¡­"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, I felt a rupture of Mana that put all the earlier attempts to shame. No, since my arrival in this world, this was most likely the strongest amount of Mana I had ever sensed emanating from a single person.

    It was golden, glorious and highly concentrated. The bountiful flow caused me to marvel at its beauty.

    "I will now reveal one of the two gifts I received thanks to my ultimate position as the Absolute Emperor."

    The purple shes of lightning around him turned golden, and his appearance slowly changed.

    Suddenly, he now had arge golden ne, and arge crown floating on his head. Bangles covered his right arm and rings littered his left fingers.

    A golden sceptre made its way to his grasp and a golden cape floated behind him.

    "T-this¡­ this form is¡­" My eyes widened as I recognized the Mana Signature and Transformation Process.

    If I wasn''t mistaken, then¡­

    "I will show you the ultimate ability of the Midas. The true dominant race of this. Feast your eyes on thest thing you''ll ever see before your inevitable demise!"

    I wasn''t wrong, after all. There was no way to mistake this.

    "... My Emperor Mage Mode."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Yes. It''s a silly battle, I know.

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    Here''s the link.

 Chapter 846 Emperor Versus Magic Scholar [Pt 2]

    Why¡­?

    Why in the world was this idiot putting ''Emperor'' as part of the title? Wasn''t this just in old Mage Mode?

    ''Was this how his predecessors had dubbed it? How narcissistic could they have possibly been?''

    This stuff could be used and learned by anyone with enough talent and skill in Magic. Yet, it seemed like Kuzon thought he was something extremely unique for having it.

    ''This is¡­ troubling.''

    The art of Mage Mode being passed down, like some sort of special secret, must have been one of the causes behind Magic''s slow progression in this world.

    Everyone hoarded too much information and the few who could use strong Magic¡ªlike Mage Mode and Original Magic¡ªbegan to act as if it was exclusive and special to them.

    As a Schr and a Mage who had dedicated himself to the art, I could only say I was utterly disgusted by this.

    ''I only kept Spellcraft, as well as a few theories and designs¡ªlike multiple Mana Cores¡ªbecause the world simply wasn''t ready for it.''

    I also couldn''t prove a lot of those theories right or wrong, so there was no way I could publish such content. As a Schr, I had to have empirical, well-researched, and urately described results, before I could put anything out there.

    I didn''t have that luxury.

    ''Also, if I had just left it lying around, it''s possible that the people might cause even more harm than good just from using it recklessly¡ªwithout my supervision.''

    That was why I buried my secrets. Someone would have been bound to find it eventually, and by then the world would have either figured out what I discovered, or they would have advanced to the point of properly testing and utilizing the things I left behind.

    ''But that''s not what I see here¡­'' I red at Kuzon''s haughty smile.

    The elite thought they could keep the strong Magic for themselves, thereby creating a gap in the knowledge and practice of Magic.

    "It''s disgusting¡­" I muttered.

    "What did you sa¡ª"

    Before Kuzon couldplete his statement, I rushed towards him, ignoring all the defences and buffs provided for him by the artefacts he donned.

    I instantly distorted the purple lightning that shed around him, quieting them instantly. In one quick swoop, I grabbed his neck and fixed my gaze on his.

    "You''re disgusting."

    I had no idea why I was feeling so annoyed. Maybe I did, but chose not to think about it too much. One thing I knew for sure, though, was that this person I was holding tightly was a disgrace.

    "T-tch¡­ Y-you!"

    He managed to slip away thanks to short-range teleportation, finally creating some distance between us.

    I watched as he appeared and flung an intense surge of Magic at me.

    ''Light Magic¡­ and it''s this pure¡­'' I thought to myself.

    Swiftly coating myself in Light Magic, while also intensifying my body''s enhancements, I evaded the bright bursts of power.

    ''He''s using it so crudely. So much Mana, yet he''s throwing a great deal of it away.''

    What about moulding the energy to form a more desired, efficient result? Simply shooting sts of intense Mana wasn''t going to help his cause.

    "Just¡­ dieeee!" He condensed the golden light in both of his palms, forming something akin to an unstable overflow of golden energy. It was like an ever-morphing orb that contracted and convulsed.

    ''That is a lot of Mana¡­''

    Kuzon directed the Spell at me, causing the very air to vibrate as it approached me.

    ''Unfortunately, it''s just that. Simply Mana.''

    After watching this person use his immense power so foolishly, and seeing how he always avoided any close-range fights, I could already tell that he had no real Battle IQ.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    His Martial Arts skills were most likely nonexistent and his control over his Spells was basic, at best.

    ''Maybe I should show him¡­''

    A smile formed on my face, and so I decided to use the very first transformation I was able to achieve.

    "Elemental Chamber."

    Instantly, a wind sphere enveloped me, and it was coated and encircled by the basic elements; fire, water, earth and lightning.

    The level of control required to utilize so many contrasting elements in such a stable form was only really possible with multiple Cores.

    ''Though, with his Special Core and that energy in his possession, surely he should be able to find a way to mold his Mana into something simr. Even if it''s just two or three elements.''''

    That was what I was hoping he would see.

    "W-what is¡­ what is that? How do you have the same power he does¡­?!"

    Same power as who? This world''s Jared?

    I mean, we were sort of the same, so I expected that he could at least do this much.

    ''Elemental Chamber is still basic. There''s the Grand Elemental Chamber as well where I can use even more elemental attributes. But that''ll be overkill.''For now, I was satisfied with just this.

    My hypothesis of Kuzon had already been proved.

    ''He''s weak.''

    However, I wasn''t done. There was one more thing I wanted to see. Until then, I would keep this up for as long as I wanted.

    "[Penta Bomb]" I generated a floating orb that seemed like a miniature Elemental Chamber.

    The orb was made of wind and had a center that was rich in energy. That served as the core of the spell, just as I was the core of the current Elemental Chamber.

    With the centre of gravity established, the other elements swirled around the orb to form the bomb. It all happened in a sh, and all five elements coalesced to form my new technique.

    Yes. I just developed it on the spot.

    "Water. Earth. Fire. Air¡­ and Lightning." I mumbled while staring at the obviously frightened Kuzon.

    "Prepare yourself,"

    I stared down at him from my superior estate, preparing tounch my Spell. Of course, I was giving him enough chance to react.

    Why?

    Because I was waiting for something.

    ''Let me see it, Kuzon. Show me your second Trump Card.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It''s time to pull out the big guns!

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

 Chapter 847 The Midas Touch

    ''W-what is going on right now?''

    Emperor Kuzon, even when arrayed with powerful artefacts while being in his Emperor Mage Mode, found himself trembling slightly.

    As he raised his head and witnessed the amount of power condensed in the ever-growing multi-elemental orb floating on the palm of his opponent, Kuzon felt a degree of intimidation that he hadn''t experienced since the tragic day he lost his parents.

    He had vowed never to suffer defeat at anyone''s hands ever since that moment, and he couldn''t break that promise now¡ªnot to this neer.

    ''Tch! What trick did those Outers pull?'' Now wasn''t the time to dwell on those matters, but Kuzon was certain they were using underhanded means.

    ''It doesn''t matter, though¡­'' A smile formed on Kuzon''s face.

    Even though he hadn''t expected himself to utilize this power yet, it seemed he was left with very little choice in the matter.

    The ''Penta Bomb'' descended from Jared''s palm, moving rapidly to decimate Kuzon. He felt the pressure from the orb as it approach him, but his gaze showed a conviction that defied the impending danger.

    ''I''ll blow them all away with this¡­ my second Trump Card!''

    After his fight with this current opponent, he was going to use this ability to decimate everyone else.

    It was an ultimate ability that was bound to destroy any target¡ªthe Original Magic of the Royalty of the Midas Race!

    "[Midas Touch]"

    Instantly, a golden glow appeared all over Kuzon''s body, and the radiation spread around him, turning everything into the same colour.

    Before the Penta-Bomb could even get to him, it turned into nothing but a golden statue before falling to the ground and bing a golden dust that danced away like sand.

    Above the swirling sand was the young Midas in his newfound power.

    With his body now golden, every single aspect of himself had improved. He was at the very pinnacle of Magic.

    ''Hahaha! How about that!'' Kuzon looked at his opponent with widened eyes, watching as he expressed immense shock.

    As expected, even the haughty Outer had finally realized the difference in their strength. Sure, Elemental Chamber, or whatever the guy called it, was impressive, but this power far out scaled it.

    The [Midas Touch] was a transformative Original Magic¡ªthe rarest kind that changed everything about the caster, and also their surroundings. Unrivalled in strength, and unstoppable in dominance, he stood tall.

    Plus, there was the hidden card of ''Petrification'' for anyone or thing that became exposed to his radiation for too long.

    ''If I touch the target, the speed of petrification intensifies, and they will be blocks of gold in merely a few seconds.''

    It didn''t matter what kind of power they possessed. As long as they existed¡­ they would be golden statues.

    The certainty of his victory caused Kuzon to cackle, basking in his golden aura.

    ''It is my victory!''

    *

    *

    *

    ''What am I looking at here?''

    Kuzon was now golden and he was emitting some dangerously strange power. His surrounding environment was bing petrified, and it seemed like he was directing the same radiation in my direction.

    ''This looks like Kuzon''s Transfiguration ability, doesn''t it?''

    The power that Kuzon possessed in this state was beyond amazing. Plus, with his upgrade after his initial death, he was practically invincible in this form.

    ''He doesn''t petrify the surrounding with radiation, though¡­ so is this different?'' Perhaps this was a more dangerous form of that.

    If that was the case, then I was in danger here.

    ''My power still hasn''t reached the level I want it to yet. I''m not confident in fighting against my world''s Kuzon like this.''

    However, unlike him, the energy signature I was sensing from this Kuzon seemed far weaker. Logically speaking, I felt like I could still take him down.

    ''It can''t hurt to be careful, though. It was far better to understand the variables involved.''

    I still hadn''t confirmed if he had the ability of permanent petrification, or even the conditions for said ability. There was a lot to consider, so I couldn''t be making any assumptions now.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''For now, let''s test him.''

    The Penta Bomb attack failed, so I would have to go stronger.

    "Let''s do this¡­" A smile formed on my face and I chose my next course of action.

    Instantly deactivating my Elemental Chamber, I entered a new state¡ªMartial State.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    My blue hair turned white and I could feel an immense surge of energy flow through me. White bursts of energy surrounded me, and I could finally sense everything at a muchrger scale.

    ''Alright, then.'' I grinned, staring at the ring Kuzon. ''Let''s do this!''

    *

    *

    *

    ''As expected, he''s an impudent fool!'' Kuzon thought to himself as he watched the opponent undo his long-range Assault State, and choose this new form.

    ''Hasn''t he noticed my petrification attribute? If he draws closer, it''ll be my win!'' As if reading his mind, the white-haired fool suddenly dashed towards Kuzon, emitting a dangerously powerful aura.

    Kuzon instantly poured a great deal of his strength into his fist, sending it flying at the enemy¡ªwho was alsounching his fist at him.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    The impact of their attacks sent shockwaves flying through the hall, and the swell of power was enough to push the spectators back.

    "Nng!" Kuzon could feel his body recoil from the shock.

    From what he could tell, even with Mage Mode and Midas Touch, this person was still stronger than he was. It defied logic, but that was the case.

    ''He''s most likely the most powerful among the Outers.'' His thoughts echoed as he felt his arm throb with pain.

    Even with the pain, though¡­

    "Haha¡­ hahaha¡­. Hahahaha!"

    ¡­ He beganughing.

    Kuzonughed so hard as his fist opened up, and he tightly grabbed the opponent.

    "It''s my win now!" He screamed, now awaiting the effects of petrification that would descend upon his opponent. "Dieeee!!!"

    Silence.

    The silent gazes of everyone in the hall descended on Kuzon¡­ Including the one who was supposed to have be a statue at this point.

    "W-why¡­?" Kuzon could only croak amid the silence.

    His heart raced, and a certain amount of doubt and fear arose within him.

    ''Why isn''t he turning into gold?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The next chapter ends the fight.

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 Chapter 848 Kuzons Loss

    Kuzon could feel his nerves stretching thin.

    Sweat formed on his golden brow and his widened eyes sought an exnation. Right in front of him was a person who was supposed to have be a statue, but was perfectly fine.

    How was such a thing possible? How could it happen? This was the ultimate technique of the Midas Race!

    No one was supposed to be able to resist it. Yet¡­

    ''Why isn''t he petrified yet?!''

    ¡­ Here he was, watching an exception to the absolute rule.

    "Hmm. I see now." A voice appeared from behind him, and someone suddenly materialised. "So that''s how it works."

    Before Kuzon could even react, the hand of the oddly familiar voicended on his shoulder, sending a very domineering feeling coursing through him.

    "Y-you¡­ how are you¡­?"

    Kuzon knew he was holding the opponent right in front of him. Yet, why was there another one standing right behind him?

    "C-clone¡­?!"

    "Close, but not quite." The voice came from behind him, and suddenly, the one he held became nothing more than particles of light.

    The particles found their way to Jared, and they fused in no time.

    "You wouldn''t understand, even if I told you." The young man behind him added, instantly driving Kuzon into a state of rage.

    "How dare yo¡ª"

    Before he could evenplete his sentence, and pour out his abundant energy, the hold of his opponent suppressed everything.

    "K-keuk!"

    He couldn''t even leak out a single word.

    "I thought I would be careful, so I decided to use this means, but it seemed I overestimated you."

    Kuzon could sense the condescending tone being used on him¡ªthe Absolute Emperor.

    He couldn''t take it. It infuriated him to no end.

    "But, well¡­ I suppose something good came out of this venture. I was able to scan your [Midas Touch]. It''s an interesting ability. With just enough tweaks, I can¡­"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    Kuzon''s eyes instantly widened when he heard the sound of the wind echoing in his ears and saw the golden aura that emanated from the Outer.

    In moments, the Outer was now in the same form as Kuzon¡ªgolden all over, with a brilliant smile on his face.

    Disbelief was etched in Kuzon''s eyes, and he found his heart slowly turning mellow. His body copsed like jelly, and he quickly lost the will to fight.

    The hidden technique of his family¡­ had been easily copied by a mere outsider.

    "Y¨Cy-you¡­ filth¡­" Even though Kuzon said this, there was hardly any animosity in his words. It felt so weak-willed that it was almost sad.

    "If I use this as a base and add it to other Magic effects, I should be able to develop something good. As I thought¡­ there are some innovations that are still worth keeping here."

    As if that wasn''t enough, the defeated emperor heard the Outer mutter words like; "Kuzon is going to be so shocked when he sees this¡­"

    He would have questioned it, but he was currently too broken to utter any word. He was stuck in the pressuring hold of his opponent, who could easily replicate his trump card.

    What more was there to say or do? He knew it well enough.

    ''It''s¡­ my loss¡­''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    *

    *

    *

    I didn''t think it would be this easy, but everything worked out in the end.

    While Kuzon had been basking in his power, I used [Unknowable] and [The Moon] to create an invisible clone. Then, by activating Martial State, I swapped ces with the clone, allowing me to bepletely undetectable while Kuzon fought the duplicate.

    Calling it a duplicate sort of watered down what it was meant to be.

    Simply put, I extracted a portion of myself and made it into another me. The ''clone'' that fought against Kuzon was simply another ''me''.

    The reason I chose to use the Arcanas in my fight with Kuzon was because of my caution. I could have even sought any simple cloaking Spell, but I chose [Unknowable].

    That was how careful I decided to be.

    ''Thanks to going through that route, though, I was able to confirm something important.''

    The [Midas Touch] affected Mana on the same wavelength as anything native to this world. Since Mana existed everywhere here, Kuzon could petrify the Mana itself, thus affecting everyone and everything by extension.

    Even Inepts still breathed air that had fragments of Mana. Plus, their Souls had Mana. As long as the concept of Mana existed, [The Midas Touch] would affect it and petrify the object of attention.

    ''Unfortunately for Kuzon, I don''t exist in this reality, so the wavelength is different.''

    I also remembered that the Aether transformed my Soul into pure Aether, so it wasn''t Mana-based any longer.

    ''Once I turn all the Mana Cores that exist in my body into Aether, and my Soul pumps out more Aether, the leftover Mana Particles in my body will eventually vanish and be Aether.''

    In any case, his ultimate power wasn''t going to work on me¡­ which was kind of sad, considering the petrification was the only thing about the [Midas Touch] that really worried me.

    "It looks like I win this round, Kuzon." I smiled at the broken youth, though no form of satisfaction really coursed through me.

    There was no way I could take satisfaction in beating someone as weak as this. Even Neron, who had been Inept just a while ago, would be able to defeat this Kuzon.

    ''The petrification will be a problem, but knowing Neron, he''ll be smart enough to figure it out.''

    Ciel would also be able to win. Edward and Karlia as well.

    ''As for the others¡­ well¡­''

    With Arcana Spells, it was sort of cheating to evenpare their powers with Kuzon, to begin with.

    I deactivated the [Midas Touch], deciding to practice its useter. For now, it was far preferable to continue the talk we were having right before the interruption.

    Since we won, Kuzon would have to hear the Outgroup out.

    ''Everything is going as nned.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 849 The Outgroups Proposal [Pt 1]

    ''Now, then¡­'' I nced at Neron, stepping back to join the remaining members of the Outgroup. ''The rest is up to you.''

    Neron returned my smile with a nod, stepping forward to approach both the defeated Kuzon and the shivering Dragon King. Based on the short exchange between our parties, it was clear who had the upper hand.

    "Tch¡­ whatever. I suppose I''ll hear you out." Kuzon gritted his teeth as he returned to his throne.

    He put on his emperor''s robe, doing whatever he could to regain his dignity. I wondered if he was socking in self-awareness to understand that it was already toote.

    "Thank you, Emperor Kuzon. I will be representing the Outgroup in this discussion. I apologize for just barging into your pce, but such measures had to be taken so we could speak with you."

    "W-well, you could have at least¡­"

    As expected of Neron, through his eloquent speech and expert use of words, he began to reduce the tension that permeated the throne room.

    Before long, even the wounded pride of the Emperor seemed to have been restored to a considerable extent.

    ''By appealing to subtle ttery, and these other means, Neron is priming this childish version of Kuzon to be more susceptible to our message.''

    Whether or not this would be sufficient for our goals was another matter entirely. Still, I trusted his method of executing our strategy.

    "The Outgroup seeks an alliance with the Midas Empire and the Magic Beasts. We n on making a coalition and stopping Jared before he expands his influence and power even further." Neron dered.

    The moment he said this, I could already see the dazed expressions of Kuzon and Z''ark.

    ''Now, then, what will their decisions be?''

    *

    *

    *

    ''E-even the Outgroup wants to attack Jared''s Domain? We were just discussing the matter before they arrived¡­'' Zark''s thoughts echoed as he nced at Kuzon.

    He could tell that the young Emperor was trying his hardest to hide his emotions, but his expression gave away his look of satisfaction.

    ''Kuzon must be happy that even the Outgroup agrees with his reckless strategy. But still, we shouldn''t go down this route. It''s too¡ª''

    "It''s too risky. You want me to risk the lives of my people, and the entire Magic Beasts to attack Jared Leonard at this point? The security measures in his territory have skyrocketed recently. In terms of manpower, we are sorelycking. Not to mention, we''re safe in this haven. Jared''s forces haven''t managed to invade this ce yet, and they never will."

    Z''ark''s jaws nearly dropped when he heard Kuzon give his opposing reasons/

    ''T-those were my exact reasons! Why is he repeating what I said?!''

    Didn''t this mean that Kuzon already knew that he was right? He had simply wanted revenge, after all. However, now that the Outgroup came up with the same solution, he was adamant about epting their proposal.

    In the end, the most rational solution would be to build their forces and wait for a sign of weakness from Jared''s Unified Nations.

    "Do you really think you are safe here? Do you think your people will remain safe from the outside forces forever? Jared and his allies have conquered every single ce in this world, except this one. Do you not see that it is only a matter of time?"

    "This ce is special. Don''tpare us to the others. We will never fall."

    "We were able to prate this barrier pretty easily. Do you really think it''s that impossible?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "W-well¡­" At this point, Kuzon was at a loss for words.

    He nced at Z''ark, but even the Dragon King was speechless. After all, the Outgroup had indeed easily broken past their defences as they had imed.

    "Our group isn''t confident of stopping Jared alone. It shows how powerful we think he is. Logically speaking, he should be able to prate your barrier already. Unless¡­" Neron rubbed his chin and gave Kuzon a knowing look.

    "W-what are you saying? Are you telling me he already has his means, but he''s biding his time? You''re saying the barrier isn''t a problem for Jared and his forces?!"

    "The likelihood is high. And so, I ask, are you willing to take the risk, even if there is only a slight chance of it happening?"

    Gulps escaped from the throats of Kuzon and Z''ark, but they did their best to hide their difort.

    "Isn''t it more prudent to build our forces first? Instead of haphazardly attacking, we can wait until we''re ready to¡ª"

    "And what if the enemies attack while you''re preparing? Not only would you be ill-equipped, but you''ll be fighting on their terms. Besides, the longer you wait, the more you push yourself to the point of disadvantage." Neron proimed, his voice rising steadily.

    "Jared grows in power with each day that passes. He amasses more power, and his ambition peaks to greater heights. In essence, he bes a much bigger threat the longer you stay dormant."

    Neron''s wordsmanded silence in the throneroom, leaving both Kuzon and Z''ark dazed. Had they been so shortsighted all this time that they hadn''t bothered to consider the consequences of postponinging to a decisive action?

    "I-I told you, Z''ark! Do you see? My idea was right all along! We need an all-out assault on Jared''s domain, and then we''ll take him down!" Kuzon suddenly changed his position, now staring at the Dragon King with feigned superiority.

    Finding a way to remain absolved from any me, he attempted to deflect, while passing the me to his powerless vassal.

    "We should attack the heart of his empire! Strike the head, and the body will¡ª"

    "No. That''s not what we''re talking about here." Neron suddenly interrupted Kuzon''s glorifying words.

    "H-huh? Wasn''t that what you meant?" The young emperor stared in confusion.

    In response, Neron shook his head.

    "You seem to be misunderstanding something very fundamental here, Emperor Kuzon." A dark glint appeared in Neron''s eyes as he spoke with all seriousness. "We aren''t simply aiming for the capital, but for all of the Kingdoms under Jared''s banner!"

    Shock and disbelief spread through the two parties, but that only served to broaden Neron''s grin.

    "It''s not just the head. We''re going to be taking down the entire body as well."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Will we be having an alliance or not? We shall see¡­

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 Chapter 850 The Outgroups Proposal [Pt 2]

    "WHAT?!"

    The expressions of the Midas Emperor and the Dragon King morphed into that of shock when they heard Neron''s absurd statement.

    "W-what exactly are you implying? If what I heard is right, you''re trying to¡­"

    "Indeed. We willunch a well-coordinated and simultaneous assault on the various territories that Jared controls."

    Once again, their faces disyed puzzlement. They appeared downright stupefied by Neron''s logic.

    "Are you stupid? What kind of dumb n is that?"

    Um, I actually made the n. Hearing that these people were badmouthing my creation so much would have hurt my pride, but Ipletely understood where they wereing from.

    It sounded insane to challenge the most powerful person in the world by splitting our forces to all the areas he controlled while leaving a less-than-desired number to face him.

    ''When cutting down a tree, you don''t have to take down the branches first. When killing a person too, it''s best to use the most efficient method to end their life.''

    However, we weren''t simply concerned about ending Evil Jared''s life, or his rule. By the time one considered the various people who were under his control, it became easy to imagine many scenarios where they could be threatened if the situation was handled with care.

    By spreading out and ensuring every territory was ounted for, we wouldn''t need to worry about the fates of the innocents who would get dragged into the conflict.

    ''I''m sure Neron will exin the rationale perfectly well.'' I smiled at our dear leader as we all watched him address the issue.

    "Jared has major factories and bases stationed all over his Allied Nations. He has innocents working under him, and he controls their very lives. Our priority isn''t merely to stop Jared, but to ensure their safety as well."

    "But by focusing our attention on Jared and ending his reign, we can guarantee their security. Both goals aren''t mutually exclusive!" Kuzon argued, as expected.

    Just as Kido told me, he was really more interested in defeating Jared than anything else. I mean, my alternate self was a genocidal maniac, so I understood the hatred Kuzon hatred toward him.

    "I understand your line of logic, but it is wed. When two elephants battle, the grasses always end up being trampled. While I do not consider myself superior to anyone, our joint forces will end up being a powerful force that stands against Jared''s forces. Ultimately, weaker groups and individuals will end up suffering the brunt of our assaults."

    That was why damage control was important. Neron was hitting the nail on the head.

    "By ensuring we cover Jared''s entire territory, we canunch attacks on the several bases and strongholds of power. We will emancipate the people, then we will deliver righteous judgement on Jared''s forces, leaving no chance for them to recover. There will be no chance of retaliation or any hostage situation. In one clean sweep, we will take care of all the problems¡ªbranches, stem and root."

    There was a lot to discuss in terms of logistics and practicability, but this was just the basic overview of the n.

    "You¡­ you may sound smart, but¡­ " Kuzon''s low tone interrupted the silence that apanied Neron''s calm presentation.

    The frown on his face showed irritation and I could sense elements of animosity. As an absolute emperor used to having his way, he was most likely displeased by Neron''s opposition to his selfish n.

    That said, though, there was one major w with all that Neron had said so far. Based on my predictions, Kuzon had most likely spotted it.

    ''He''s going to use that to try to resist Neron''s proposal.''

    "You im this and then say that. Yet what do you have to show for it? At the end of the day, all the things you spouted are just idealistic. Jared''s army far out scales anything we can produce!"

    Kuzon was mostly right. The n was idealistic.

    "Do you understand how muchnd we''ll need to cover? Have you considered transportation? Or the total resources we''ll need for the potential expenses?"

    Once again, Kuzon hammered on the n''s impracticability.

    "You lead a little bunch of people, so I don''t expect you to understand. Leading an entire Empire is far different from the image you''re painting. The fact that we''re up against thebined forces of nations shows just howrge the scale of this conflict is. Don''t get in over your head!"

    Perhaps he was right. Were we too arrogant in our n by assuming that we could take such a route and still end up victorious?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    There was a lot to consider and the requirements that we needed in order to fulfil the conditions of victory seemed too impossible.

    "We should just go with my¡ª"

    "No. It is indeed possible." Neron''s voice interrupted Kuzon''s, a smile stered on the former''s face.

    My grin widened upon hearing his response.

    ''That''s right¡­'' My thoughts trailed. ''With Magic, anything is possible.''

    "Based on the calctions we have made, we need over 5 million members in our forces in order to stand a chance against Jared and his forces." Neron began. "To guarantee overwhelming victory and the safety of those we want to protect, we are raising the number to 6 million."

    "Can you hear yourself?" Kuzon instantly scoffed in response. "The Midas Forces, in addition to the Magic Beasts barely exceed the one million mark. While you lot are certainly formidable, your numbers leave very little to be desired. Even if we were to draft citizens and choose to squeeze in the most capable of soldiers, we''d hardly reach the two million mark."

    What Kuzon had just stated were brute facts. I was stunned to hear the number they had in their forces. Looking at Neron, he was stunned as well.

    "I thought they''d be way less, but it seems we will have no problems, after all." He smiled, provoking even more puzzled reactions from the dumbfounded duo.

    "Can you even listen to the drivel you are uttering? Are you mad?!"

    "I''m perfectly sane, I assure you." Neron stepped forward, oozing confidence. "My confidence simply stems from the fact that there appears to be no need for concern."

    "W-what¡­?"

    Kuzon and Z''ark seemed to think Neron was retarded. Considering the fact that all of us Outers lookedpletely unfazed by Neron''s words must have made them conclude that we were all nutjobs.

    But was that actually the case?

    "We currently possess five million forces at our disposal. The problem was that additional one million, which, fortunately, you possess."

    Silence followed Neron''s assertion, and I could sense the disbelief¡ªno, utter bafflement¡ªthat grew thick in the hall.

    ''Too bad they don''t know of my pocket dimension and the number of constructs I have inside.''

    "From Automatons to Golems¡­ We have an ample supply of soldiers. We only ask for your cooperation in supplying the rest."

    Surely, Kuzon and Z''ark were smart enough to realize the implication of our offer¡­ and our ims.

    ''Not only can the Outgroup infiltrate the Midas Empire at any time, but we also have an army that''s more than twice the amount that they can ever manage to muster.''

    Unless they wereplete idiots, the only answer they could give was a resounding YES.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Jared carries this whole team. Lol.

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 Chapter 851 The Outgroups Proposal [Pt 3]

    ''T-they''re lying¡­ right?'' Kuzon thought to himself as he sat on his throne.

    He quietly observed Neron, but it didn''t appear as if he was being dishonest. No, Neron had always been a difficult man to read. What about the other Outers? Surely, they would fidget at the ridiculous words of their leader.

    ''None of them are reacting out of the ordinary. Are they really being honest?''

    But that was impossible¡­ right?

    As far as anyone knew, the Outgroup was made up of a rag-tag group of exceptional individuals. He even knew most of them, except the little girl who seemed to be clinging close to Stefan. She appeared to also be a neer.

    ''In any case¡­ should I believe them, or not?'' Kuzon nced at the Dragon King, Z''ark for his counsel. ''I wonder what the old dragon thinks of this¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    ''Why the hell are you looking at me? You''ve always done whatever you wanted.'' Z''ark''s thoughts echoed as he maintained his outward persona.

    He was also rattled by Neron''s ims. Such a thing as having over five million soldiers at their beck and call was an extraordinary im. The issue was the evidence.

    ''Do they have any way to prove the veracity of their words?'' He thought.

    If the Outers did, then Z''ark already knew he and his people would be better off following them than taking their chances doing nothing. In fact, after considering all of what Neron had said, he found himself having a change of heart.

    ''It would indeed be wiser to strike them hard and fast, and as soon as possible too. With an army of the proposed number, we should be able to win.''

    Plus, with an intelligent person like Neron on the team, they would be able to follow a well-structured n. Honestly, the n sounded lucrative enough to him.

    ''Not that Kuzon really cares what I think¡­''

    In the end, the absolute Emperor would make all the decisions himself. That was how it always was.

    *

    *

    *

    "I have considered your words carefully." Kuzon began, his tone low and sullen.

    I watched as his eyes drifted around ufortably, only to find their way back to Neron. Despite the obvious signs of difort, I could also sense some sense of resolve in his eyes. It indeed seemed like he hade to a decision.

    "I will ept this alliance you have proposed. And we will operate ording to your n¡ªif, of course, you have the five million troops you im to possess." Kuzon stated.

    That sounded fair. In fact, it was only rational. Something told me he wouldn''t stop there, though. Unfortunately for me, I was right.

    "If we are to lend you our strength and follow your n, then I have one condition." Kuzon smiled, his eyes narrowed. "The one who will end up fighting Jared¡­ will be me!"

    Ah, so this was what everything was all about.

    ''In the end, he agreed because our n still makes it viable to reach Jared. Does he even care about his own troops or the lives we''ll be saving thanks to our strategy?''

    It didn''t seem like it.

    This looked to me like he was a guy who just wanted to use us and his own resources to increase the chances of his selfish ambition¡ªrevenge.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''I guess it doesn''t really matter as long as we get the job done.'' Shrugging a little, I sighed.

    Neron picked up on my gesture, no doubt, so he knew where I stood on the matter. In the end, it was up to him to decide, though.

    He was the leader and this was his world. I could only serve as an advisor, trainer or whatever. However, the decisions still had to be made by Neron. Fortunately, he was very good at what he did.

    "Very well. You will be given the right to challenge Jared. Our n will amodate that detail and we will not get in your way unless it''s unavoidable."

    "You had better not. I''m going to crush him!" Kuzon responded with a bitter tone.

    I wondered how he could say something so haughty, especially after just losing to a neer in the Outgroup. I thought that would humble Kuzon a little, or at least, make him doubt his own strength.

    However, it seemed he was still as stuck-up as he always was¡ªespecially where the Jared of this world was concerned.

    ''I''m relieved he agreed to this easily, though. I didn''t have to take any other measures¡­'' A smile formed on my face as I observed my invisible surveince automatons in the air.

    They had captured the entire fight I had with Kuzon, as well as Neron''s rousing speech. If I wanted to, I could broadcast it to all the citizens of the Midas Empire, as well as the Magic Beasts.

    They would see just how much sense we were making, and an inevitable insurrection would grow from the people.

    ''That method is too vtile, so I wanted to save it as ast resort.''

    There were also other methods we could use¡ªlike an active threat or even controlling Kuzon himself. However, I just thought a diplomatic approach would help everyone out, especially considering the long run.

    ''And what do you know? It ended well.''

    "So, what now, Neron? Outgroup? When should we begin our n? Or rather¡­ how much time would we need to sort out the details."

    That was indeed a valid question. As much as I would love to take out my evil version as soon as possible, it was much better to go through some logistic checks, discuss the n in detail and observe the armies that the Midas and Magic Beasts imed to have

    "Well, first of all, we¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, I felt a vibration pulsate throughout my body. It spread all around me, and I could see Neron and the rest of the people in my line of sight trembling as they felt the wave permeate the building.

    ''W-what is going on?!'' My thoughts echoed and a bad feeling began to rise in me.

    The surge of Magic Power I was experiencing was beyond ordinary.

    It felt¡­ out of this world.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 852 The Return Of Darkness [Pt 1]

    "T-this power¡­ it''s just like back then¡­"

    I swiftly looked in the direction of the quivering voice, only to find Ciel mumbling as she shivered in fear. Her widened eyes which seemed about to pop out of their sockets told of an untold trauma, and her pursed lips trembled with terrifying horror.

    A dark sense of expectation hung above her and I could feel tension spreading throughout the hall at a rapid rate.

    ''I need to find out exactly what''s going on.''

    "One second¡­" I told everyone, instantly teleporting out of the throne room.

    >VWUUSH!<

    In a sh, I appeared outside, floating directly on top of the grand Midas Pce. My head was raised high into the sky, and my senses enhanced to their limits.

    That was when I saw it¡­ the sight that was impossible to miss.

    ''N-no way¡­''

    Many miles and kilometres away from the Midas Empire and its pleasant ambience was a thick formation of dark clouds. I recognized the coordinates well.

    ''The Eastern Kingdom''s Capital. The enemy''s main base.''

    A bright purple light shot out of a particrpound and seemed to connect with the sky, causing a cloud of darkness to form around the area.

    ''I can sense extremely dense energy from that light, and also something within the dark clouds. It feels otherworldly¡­''

    My eyes widened in realization and shock.

    ''Is he trying to¡ª?! Already?! But how will he? No, this doesn''t make any sense!'' I had a million questions on my mind, but how could I start addressing them at that particr moment?

    Upon closer observation of the dark clouds, I saw a disk-like energy projection. It was very small, but I saw it gradually expand. It looked like a portal, leaking a great amount of malevolent energy that threatened to tear everything around it apart.

    It was a wonder how the portal was able to remain firm, rather than simply crash upon itself. The energy utilized in generating it had to be immense, and it also had to resonate with the force that dwelled on the other side.

    ''Now isn''t the time to analyze this, you idiot!'' I gritted my teeth and chastised myself.

    This only proved that we had much less time than I initially thought. We couldn''t allow ourselves to be patient and wait for a while before developing a n.

    We had to act quickly.

    ''Damn, why don''t things ever go ording to n?''

    *

    *

    *

    "M-Merlin''s n¡­ it''s going down now. I can feel it. This creeping sensation, this growing darkness. Can''t you sense it? Can''t you feel it?"

    As Ciel shivered, the Outers surrounded andforted her. She was always the pir that gave them a purpose, so it was very difficult for everyone to see her break down like this. The very thing she feared and had hoped to avoid was now upon them.

    And she wasn''t strong enough to stop it.

    "Let''s not focus on that for now. The nes first." I told Neron, who kept ncing at Ciel.

    "A-ah, yes. You''re right." He responded hesitantly.

    I could tell he was concerned about the woman and also worried for the world, but we didn''t have time to be hung up on emotions. This was a decisive moment that required action. Hopefully, he could see that.

    "I apologize for being distracted. I''m fine now."

    Once he said this, I nodded and decided to leave the rest to him.

    "Emperor Kuzon, King Z''ark¡­ we no longer have time to spare. Right here and now, I will brief you all on the n, and we will act as quickly as possible."

    Kuzon and Z''ark also seemed flustered by the sudden wave of vibration and the strange energy that was strong enough to even invade the closed walls of the Midas Empire.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    However, they had no time to be afraid.

    "The war has begun."

    *

    *

    *

    As expected, Neron gave a precise, concise, and charismatic rundown of the n.

    By designating roles, and assignments, and also issuing warnings to others, he was able to quickly make sense of the situation and deliver his message sinctly.

    In a nutshell;

    The Midas forces were to storm the Fairy Kingdom to take it over, along with Beruel and Kido, who would be serving as themanders.

    The Magic Beasts would go to the Beastfolk Kingdom, and they would be led by Vaizer and Reed.

    Ana and Stefan, who seemed to be the best duo based on theirpatibility in Magic and Technology, as well as in other areas, were in charge of the Dwarven Kingdom. Their goal was to eliminate the opposition, but more importantly to emancipate the enved Dwarves there.

    My Automatons would be evenly distributed among the members, creating an armyrge enough to resist the enemies, while also ensuring the safety of the people.

    ''I''ll be transferring the consciousness of my Familiars into the Golems, so they can have even higherbat ability than usual. As for the Automatons, they function well enough with orders.''

    It was going to take some time to gather the armies belonging to the Midas and Magic Beasts, so we simply began the preparations while they gathered.

    "W-we still haven''t figured out a way to transport all of the soldiers you lot im to have!" At this point, Kuzon was panicking more than normal.

    His hysterical voice, widened eyes, and perspired face showed what kinds of thoughts he was having.

    "Don''t fret. We have a way to handle that." Neron responded.

    That way was simple.

    ''We''ll use [The Tower] to transport the armies to their respective locations.'' I smiled, exchanging nces with Neron.

    There was a bit of a hup with the n, though.

    Since I would be transporting a lot of soldiers (Automatons/Golems/Magic Beasts/Midas), it would take me some time. Besides, I needed to attach my Bond Souls to the Golems and grant urate instructions to the Automatons before releasing them.

    In any case, we couldn''t afford to wait for all of that before confronting whatever Evil Jared was cooking up.

    "It is as you think." Neron smiled as he ced his hand on my shoulder. It seemed he was also having the same line of thought.

    To ensure things didn''t progress too much in our opponent''s favour, we had to disrupt his ns as early as possible.

    That meant one thing.

    "Some of us will have to head out first."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 853 The Return Of Darkness [Pt 2]

    The n was set.

    "Karlia, Ciel, Kido, Edward, Emperor Kuzon, Dragon King Z''ark, and I will attack the main base." Neron dered before nodding at me.

    My Automatons and Golems were going to handle the surrounding area to ensure that the people were safe, while also doing their best to handle the myriad of security protocols that my malevolent counterpart would have set in motion.

    ''I''ll have to send my big guns to assist them. They''re going to have their hands full, after all.''

    My Scout Automatons pretty much gave me theydown of the topography and geography of this world. I could teleport anyone anywhere I wanted. Plus, with my constructs upying key areas all over, I could switch ces with them at any time.

    ''It''s not yet time for me to act. I should save that forter¡­''

    For now, I had to focus on my task of transportation, while the real yers dealt with the threat.

    "Alright, everyone. Let''s begin the mission."

    *

    *

    *

    In the massivepound that surrounded the gigantic castle belonging to the Overlord Jared, there stood a group of people, alongside an immense army.

    The groupprised of none other than Jared''s elite members, and they all stood behind his magnificent form as he watched the humming machine in front of him carry out its task.

    The device was a towering structure made of sturdy metal and advanced technology, standing over 100 feet tall. At its core was ''The Matrix Core'', a powerful energy source that could generate a beam of intense energy capable of piercing through the atmosphere and beyond.

    This was the result of thebined efforts of him, Merlin and the engineer Jane Urs. It was the main carrier of their ambition, meant to bring their goal to them.

    "The time is nearly upon us." Jared whispered, his white hair fluttering as he stared into the swirling dark abyss in the sky.

    With every minute, the blot increased in size and the skies around it darkened even more. The dark portal''s power spread its influence around the sky, showing how much it was growing.

    "Soon, very soon, we will be able to harness this power." Jared smiled.

    All they had to do was wait for the portal to be stabilized. Any rash decision now would cause the event horizon to copse, and all the expended energy they had harvested over the course of so many years would be expended.

    ''Ever since my death, the Matrix Core has been constantly absorbing energy andpressing it to form this high-density energy.''

    They couldn''t waste all their efforts and resources, so this project had to be dyed until all the right conditions were met.

    ''We''ve finally mapped a coordinate, and the sample of ''Dark Energy'' has led us to its source. A world full of it¡­ full of that ultimate power.''

    With it, he would finally be able to conquer this world and everything beyond the bounds of his. He would conquer any and all forms of Magic, and then, rule the universe.

    Those who epted him would prosper.

    Those who rejected him¡­ ah, they would wish they were dead.

    "Thank you, Jane." He whispered while ncing at the lovely fairy who stood among his subordinates. "Without you, I would never have made it this far."

    The both of them were going to achieve their goals, together.

    ''And no one is going to stand in our w¡ª''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSHHHH!!!<

    Before he couldplete his statement, a sudden gust of wind and a wave of light appeared a good distance from him and his device.

    Blue and white bursts of light danced around the sudden cluster of energy, and a group of people emerged from it.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I knew you woulde." Jared grinned, watching as each Outer made their appearance. He could also see the Midas Emperor and the Dragon King with them.

    "It''s perfect that you''re all gathered in one ce. I can just destroy you lot at once."

    Still, something seemed slightly off.

    While seven was a decent number for their attack, especially when considering their elite nature, he also had to consider something very important.

    "Did you reallye here without reinforcements? You''re outnumbered, you know?"

    Behind Jared, other than his Four Generals, were hundreds of thousands of troops. They consisted mainly of Golems, but powerful Mages and Warriors were also among their ranks. All in all, they were over five hundred thousand.

    "You''re surrounded by my army. They might be inferior to your individual quality, but together, you and your team don''t stand a chance."

    Of course, he knew Neron would have known that. That was what made him even more confused.

    Where were they hiding their soldiers?

    "Hey, Jared¡­" Neron suddenly spoke, causing him to re at the dark-haired man. "... You talk too much."

    The moment he said this, Jared furrowed his brow and broke into a grin. It was just like Neron to get him agitated, but he was tooposed to allow that to happen.

    ''I was asking questions in order to feel them out. However, as expected, Neron has made sure all their lips are shut.''

    Whether or not they chose to answer him was inconsequential to his ns, though. In the end, he had an insurmountable advantage.

    As much as he knew that Neron must have a backup n, he was also aware of the limits of the Midas Race and Magic Beasts¡ªboth of which seemed to be allies of the Outgroup.

    ''At the maximum, they should be able to squeeze in two million. The number of sentinels I have surrounding this capital is more than that amount.''

    The soldiers behind him alone were five hundred thousand, and there were many others around; in the sky, beyond thepound, and even camouged.

    In the end, they were still outnumbered, no matter what.

    Then again, what other oue was to be expected? This n had been in the works for so long now. Victory was pretty much inevitable.

    "You''re not going to stop m¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    The moment he said this, Jared suddenly saw a surge of blinding light appear before him. His eyes widened and he suddenly realized¡­

    ¡­ Perhaps he was wrong after all.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 854 Final Clash [Pt 1]

    Right before his eyes, Jared saw magnificent portals spontaneously appear in hispound.

    A hundred? No

    A thousand? No

    A million? No!

    Portals that added up to exactly three million suddenly appeared all over his line of sight, covering his field of vision with their blue hue. The immense surge of energy emanating from the portal was extraordinary, enough to make him slightly tremble in response.

    ''W-what is that?!'' Jared thought to himself, forcing himself to show no fear.

    Was this kind of a thing possible? Such Magic that allowed spontaneous spacial rifts to form? It was true that magic made all things possible, but weren''t there limits to certain phenomena?

    No one being could possess such energy, so Jared instantly ruled out that possibility. Rather, he was more concerned about what happened next.

    "What in the world are they¡­. Ah, no way¡­" Almost as soon as he made the statement, he began to sense movement within the spacial rifts, and then ''things'' began to step out from them.

    The metallic surfaces of some of them gave their identities away instantly, but Jared was shell-shocked by the level of advancement and design of each model.

    ''T-these are¡­ Golems?!''

    But they weren''t Golems, were they? They were Automatons.

    Emerging from the portals as well, after the Golem Automatons had, were the real Golems. However, unlike the ones coated in simple metal skin, the Golems were covered in the element of whatever Familiar dwelled within them.

    Elements like fire, lightning, ice, etc.

    Several other specialized Elements covered the Golems, and despite being lifeless pieces of machinery, they were being controlled by the Familiars within them, making them as capable¡ªif not more capable¡ªthan the Automatons.

    Jared and his allies didn''t know much of any of this, though.

    The portals closed as soon as the ''things'' within came out, and the blue blots that littered the sky rapidly vanished.

    All except one.

    ''What is¡­ all this? What is that?!'' Jared wondered to himself, already feeling immensely threatened by the number of adversaries that now stood before him.

    Using a supposedly impossible power, the Outers had managed to bring an army of three million to the scene. It boggled his mind, made him anxious and slowly brought in an emotion that he thought he had long discarded.

    Fear!

    ''No¡­ I shouldn''t jump to conclusions. They could be advanced holograms or they could even be fodder.'' He couldn''t guarantee their efficacy in battle just by looking at them alone.

    ''That one portal still bothers me, though.'' Jared red at thest remaining blue blot, hovering at the epicentre of the army that littered the sky. ''What could be within?''

    Fortunately, or rather, unfortunately for him, he didn''t need to wait for long.

    The blue distortion of spacial energy slowly parted, revealing the one that proceeded from it. The being was shrouded in tinum-like armour, and it appeared so regal that its elegance could not be described with mere words.

    It was brimming with dignity and power, having a humanoid form, yet the nature of an artificial entity.

    ''That looks like¡­ Gawain?!'' Jared''s eyes widened instantly.

    He couldn''t believe it. The enemies had their own version of ''Gawain''?!

    ''How? Did they find the prototype? No, that can''t be. How did they replicate my masterpiece? How were they able to get the materials or effects right?''

    It made no sense!

    What made matters worse was that this version of Gawain seemed even better than his own model. It puzzled him to no end.

    "L-Lord Jared¡­ What should we do?" He heard a voice ask him from behind.

    It belonged to Jane, his sweetheart. She had an expression of worry etched onto her face. No, it wasn''t just her. All the generals had looks of horror or disbelief as they all witnessed the amazing sight before them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "What else?" Jared forced his lips to curl upward and he gave an undaunted smile. "We attack, and we win."

    They couldn''t postpone their project any longer, after all, they had alreadye so far. No matter the enemy''s intentions or strength, Jared still believed his forces could hold them off until the process wasplete.

    And once it wasplete, it would be the end of everything.

    "Jane. Summon Gawain and Hugo. They will lead the army while we take care of the Outers." Jared narrowed his eyes.

    "Understood!"

    "As for the rest of you Generals¡­ you are not to underestimate them. Give your best shot and do not even consider losing!"

    "Y-yes sir!" Abellion responded instantly.

    "I understand!" Elrich Lendertwale answered.

    "Yes, my lord!" Gerard replied.

    With most of his elite forces concentrated in this ce, Jared was confident in ultimate victory. He had been nning this for so long after all.

    ''Curse that Neron. He took me by surprise!'' Even though he had tried his best not to underestimate the Outgroup and the Midas Empire, this sort of thing happened.

    It made him look foolish.

    ''But how could I have predicted this?! DAMNIT!'' As he was having this thought, an incorporeal entity moved close to his ears, dropping its bony hands on his shoulders.

    ~Curse that Ciel. What has she done? Has she reawakened her Ancient Magic?~ A cold, hollow voice leaked out from the ghost.

    ''What do you know about this, Merlin?'' Jared swiftly asked, his frown deepening.

    This was his problem with Merlin. He never told him everything he knew.

    ~Ciel possessed vast power akin to this in her past life. But reincarnation has made her weaker since she lost the connection to this World''s power source¡­~

    Jared gritted his teeth in even more frustration. ''And you didn''t tell me this, why?''

    ~I didn''t consider it to be relevant. Ciel was already weakened. There was no need to know of her past strength.~

    No need? Looking at the situation now, how could Merlin be such a fool as to say that there was no need for him to know?

    Still, Jared swallowed his annoyance and joined Merlin in ring in the direction of the white-haired girl among the Outers.

    ''So Ciel is the one behind this, huh?''

    Now that he knew the strongest in the team, as well as their weak link, Jared felt more confident.

    ''Let''s kill them all!''

    ~Agreed.~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 855 Final Clash [Pt 2]

    Neron took in a deep breath as he watched Jared leak out a malevolent grin while ring at Ciel.

    ''As expected, they think this is Lady Ciel''s doing.''

    So far, they had kept most of their individual ability and growth hidden from Jared and his forces. They knew very little about their group, so the most likely choice of attack was Ciel. She had been seen as the powerhouse of the group for so long now.

    However, Neron was waiting for something else. Something he knew Jared would soon ask him.

    "Where is that new member of yours? The one with the blue hair."

    ''I knew he would eventually ask about him. Thankfully he doesn''t seem to know anything about our Jared.''

    If he did, he wouldn''t think Ciel was the perpetrator behind the multiple portals and their army. Based on his calctions, Jared and his forces would concentrate their abilities on stopping Ciel.

    ''We''ll have to use formation B, after all.''

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about." Neron answered with a shrug.

    "Liar. It''s obvious. By the way, how were you able to build all these Golems? I doubt the Outers have any industrial site to use for constructing¡­ ah, wait¡­ I see now¡­"

    Neron decided to keep quiet and let Jared''s imagination run wild.

    "Why didn''t I notice it before? Kukuku¡­ So that''s how it is."

    The answer was pretty simple, but Neron couldn''t allow himself to be a wet nket. He too was curious about what Jared would say.

    "You and the Midas Race have been coborating for a long time, haven''t you? Yeah, that makes sense. You attack our bases and factories, steal materials and blueprints, and then give the Midas Empire to build these things on arge scale. Considering how long the Outgroup has existed and started their insurgence activities, that makes sense¡­"

    Neron''s smile widened as he shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe."

    "You can''t hide the truth from me, Neron. You think you have the upper hand? We shall see."

    ''Well¡­'' So far, things had mostly gone ording to n. All the Outgroup had to do was ensure they saw things through to the end.

    "We''re at the climax, everyone. The final battle between good and evil. The fate of this world rests on our shoulders."

    The moment Neron said this, everyone around him stiffened, and their expressions turned serious.

    "This is the most important fight of our lives. Let''s give it our all." He nced at the Outers who were with him.

    Not all the members were present, but he still gave his warm smile to everyone he saw. Some were already dead, while others were carrying out other missions. It was a shame they couldn''t all be here for the final showdown, but¡­

    "... Let''s make sure to kick ass for the sake of all ourrades!"

    And then, in a loud battle cry that resounded with excitement, the Outgroupmenced their final sh.

    *

    *

    *

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In mere moments, the battle became aplete and utter mess.

    First, it started with the sudden appearance of the Ultimate Golem Of Destruction, Hugo, and his equally malevolent partner, the Ultimate Automaton, Gawain¡ªboth on the side of Jared and his evil empire.

    Their sudden appearance and charge over Jared''s soldiersmenced the sh between both sides, wreaking havoc and chaos on everything around.

    In a sh, the entire capital became a swirling mess of nothing but destruction.

    A good number of the Automatons scattered around in order to protect the powerless people who were around¡ªpaying more emphasis on evacuation, in order to prevent any casualty.

    The rest of the Outgroup''s forces focused on fending off the enemy''s resistance. Since they were mostly machines, their destruction wasn''t problematic. However, for the ones who were sentient beings, they did their best to render them unconscious or immobile rather than kill them.

    In such a battle of utter anarchy, with the brunt of the attacks meant to target Ciel, the Outgroup executed their strategy which forcefully diverted the full force of Jared''s army.

    Executing Formation B of their strategy, each Outgroup member selected their targets, deciding to go after them so as to upy them, reducing the number of enemies focused on Ciel.

    In no time at all, the n was implemented, and the Outers split from each other in order to catch their designated prey.

    Division wasn''t usually advisable in a team, but this was mandatory.

    *

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    *

    "Tch¡­ so I''m stuck with you, huh? I''ll make this quick." The Beast King, Gerard growled at his opponent.

    The young man with long auburn hair, who chose this particr opponent on purpose, smiled as he gave him a gentle gaze.

    "You caused my friend a lot of suffering. I''ll make sure I pay you back in full¡­ for Vaizer."

    ***

    "Bitch, do you really think you stand a chance against me?!" Abellion said, ring at the other Demon in front of him with contempt.

    "Shut up! Traitors like you have no right to speak." Karlia responded, forming a fist already. "I''ll pummel you to death."

    ***

    "I suppose I''ll handle the big Golem. Hugo, is it?" Z''ark smiled as he watched the massive construct trod along. "What about you?" He stared at Kido.

    "I think I''ll just help out where I can." The golden-haired Midas answered, looking very carefully in the direction of Kuzon.

    "I might be needed soon¡­"

    ***

    "So, you''re the one I''m fighting." Elrich smiled as he watched the very leader of the Outgroup approach him. "Isn''t this unfair? A seasoned Mage against an Inept?"

    Neron shrugged off the question, maintaining his expression of absolute confidence. "Maybe you''re right."

    However, his demeanour alone told a different tale. It was clear that this man did not have any intention of losing.

    ***

    "Looks like I''m the only one who got to you. I''m not sure how powerful you are, but¡­ I''m going to do my best to eliminate you."

    The one who spoke was Jane Urs, and she was standing directly in front of Ciel. Thetter had a calm demeanour on her cute face and her gorgeous eyes were narrowed in caution.

    "You overestimate my capabilities." She said, almost at the point of exasperation. Still, resolution remained etched on her face.

    "I won''t lose, though. Prepare yourself."

    ***

    With everyone fighting their own battles, being lost in the seemingly endless swirl of chaos and devastation, two individuals found each other.

    One had golden hair and the other''s hair was white as wool. They both stared at each other, each with contrasting expressions.

    "Jared¡­ finally, I have you within reach." Kuzon, the Absolute Emperor grinned like a maniac as he stared hard at his opponent.

    "Urgh. It''s you. Stay out of my way, weakling." Jared responded with a frown, no, more like a look of disgust.

    Despite this, however, Kuzon would not back down. Never!

    "I''vee this far. I''ve mastered my family''s secret techniques, and I''ve honed my abilities¡­ all for this moment."

    "I don''t care."

    "You will pay for what you did, Jared. I will make sure you die in the most painful way imaginable."

    At this point, Jared was already rolling his eyes.

    "Right here, right now; I will use my all to end your life!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 856 Final Clash [Pt 3]

    [MEANWHILE]

    [The Southern Continent: Dwarven Colony]

    The Dwarven Nation was once revered as the hub of all smithing activities¡ªthe paradise for all technological advancement and construction.

    Of course, that hadn''t really changed much, but one look at the nation now and one could only see vestiges of the city''s former glory.

    The Dwarven Colony, brought under subjugation by Jared Leonard¡ªhead of the United Nations¡ªnow had the appearance of a slum setting.

    Well, not quite.

    Towering above the heads of the Dwarves were huge monoliths, and tall buildings called Forges. Factories littered the Colony, and they consumed most of thend. The remaining habitable areas were overpopted by desperate Dwarves who wanted to survive.

    Yet, even that proved to be very difficult.

    Thanks to the thick smoke and toxic waste that came out out of the overcrowded factories, the skies that hung above their head was constantly grey and uncolorful. A certain fould smell constantly wafted in the air, and everything within the civilization was affected.

    It became inevitable that the denizens would eventually begin to experience poisioning¡ªsicknesses  that were caused by the toxic waste they were forced to live with. In this sort ofmunity, where one had to ve away and work in order to survive¡­ what manner of hope was there for these people?

    Were they fated this sort of existence forever?

    Well¡­

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    In the outskirts of the Dwarven Colony, a burst of bright blue portals manifested, revealing a myriad of entities appearing in the sky.

    These entities consisted mainly of Automatons and Golems, and they numbered a couple hundreds of thousands in number.

    At their center was an especiallyrge Golem¡ªabout sixty meters in height. It looked geared for battle, with gleaming metallic skin, and a colorbination of white and ck radiating out of it.

    Its golden eyes shone brightly, and it had wing-like thrusters that allowed it to be suspended in the air¡ªthough thrusters also existed at the sole of its foot and palm.

    This Golem was Hugo. And operating it from the inside was none other than the only Magi-Tech expert in the Outgroup other than Neron and Jared.

    "Haaa¡­ I''m so nervous¡­" Ana leaked out a worried sigh, seated right in front of the interface before her.

    What would she do if she failed to work as efficiently as she could on this mission? She didn''t want to be a burden to everyone, so she chose whatever task was given to her. However, now that she was in the field, she was beginning to have second doubts.

    ''Compared to everyone else, I am not talented in Magic at all. My Mana Output is low. I can ony help with Magi-Tech and Research¡­''

    That was also why she was given Hugo to operate. She had nobat prowess, so she had to rely on the Ultimate Golem granted to her by the good Jared.

    ''I have to admit, though¡­ this is amazing.''

    The Jared of this world also had a ''Hugo'', and while she had never seen it in person before, she was able to extract footages of the Ultimate Golem by diligently scouting. She had also heard many informed statements of it.

    ''Based on my assessments, this one is better.''

    Then again, she couldn''t be so sure unless the other was right in front of her, and she couldpare their functions. Simply put, Ana didn''t have enough information.

    ''Haa¡­ enough about that! What now? I''m so nervous, I could die.''

    She was seated behind the Golem Interface, and arge screen was disyed in front of her, showing her exactly what her Golem was seeing.

    Its sight range was far higher than anything humans were capable of, so she could easily spot the Dwarven Colony from her distance. She could even see detailed activities going on there, including the sad lives the poor denizens lived.

    ''Jared, that monster!'' Once more, she became reminded of how vile the evil overlord was.

    Though, at some point, it became very conflicting to think of ''Jared'' with hate when his doppelganger was a very nice andpassionate person.

    They shared the same name and face¡ªonly different in hair color and personality. Thetter made all the difference, but it was still difficult for her.

    "Haa¡­ okay, enough thinking! I can do this. I can do this¡­"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Are you alright there, Ana?" A voice sounded behind her, instantly sending her into a state of shock and panic.

    "Eeeeeep!!!"

    "Rx. It''s just me." The young boy named Stefan was also taken aback by Ana''s exaggerated response. His cheeks slightly reddened, and he took a few steps back while raising his hand.

    "A-ah, sorry Stefan." Pink shades appeared on her cheeks as well.

    Were the both of them so embarrassed? Or¡­

    "S-so, why are you here?" She asked, looking away to stare at nothing in particr.

    "W-well, I just came to see you one final time. We''remencing in a minute, and we probably won''t see each other until its all over, so¡­" Stefan stopped nearly at the end of his sentence and leaked an awkward smile.

    Stefan and his troops were in charge of emancipating the Dwarves, and defending them, while Ana and her troops were supposed to destroy the enemy forces. Since they had different missions, they would probably not interact much until they had finished their tasks.

    "Y-yeah, you''re right." Ana responded. "Thanks. I was a bit nervous just now, you know¡­"

    "Me too. We''re barely adults yet we''ve been given this responsibility." Stefan chuckled slightly, a distant glow appearing in his blue eyes.

    However, not long after making this statement, his gaze deepened, and a stronger look of resolve formed.

    "However, I believe we were chosen because we are capable enough. The only thing we can do now is to give it our all." With the warm smile on his face and the look of confidence in his eyes, Stefan blurted out his wods.

    Instantly, Ana''s eyes widened, and she found herself nodding in response.

    "Thank you, Stefan¡­" A bright smile instantly formed on her face. "You just cheered me up!"

    Her reaction garnered a shocked demeanor from Stefan, causing his cheeks to feel even hotter than before. Ana''s words resonated in his head, and his heart suddenly began to race beyond his control.

    "T-thank you too¡­" It seemed like steam was rising from his head as he spoke. Fortunately for him, Ana was leaking out the same steam.

    Both of them looked at each other for a few more seconds, basking in the awkward moment.

    >BEEP!<

    Thankfully, Hugo''s rm system kicked in, saving the both of them anothe second of feeling intense emotions at the beginning of a nerve-wrecking battle.

    "W-well, I gotta go then. Wish me luck!" Stefan quickly said, utilizing the Spell Card he was given to transport out of the Golem.

    "M-me too. And good luck!"

    Blue light reced Stefan in his location, and in an instant, he vanished. Now alone once again, Ana held her pink cheeks and shut her eyes for a few seconds.

    ''Not now, Ana! Let''s focus on the mission!''

    With that in mnd, she manned her interface and prepared for her task.

    ''I won''t let everyone down!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 857 Final Clash [Pt 4]

    Stefan set aside the lofty feelings and warm sensations permeating his heart and he decided to focus on the task he had been assigned to.

    Ever since he lost his cousin and all his friends, joining the Outers in the process, he never really had much of an opportunity to interact with someone his age. He had to force himself to grow up, bing more like the grown-ups around him, so he could properly contribute to his team.

    The Outgroup was his family, and he loved all of them as one would cherish older siblings or parent-figures. However, something felt missing amid all of that.

    But everything changed when Ana joined their team.

    ''These past months¡­ I really enjoyed myself.''

    It had been so long since he felt something like this for anyone. However, he couldn''t assume that Ana felt the same. He didn''t want to burden her with how he felt, especially when things had reached this critical stage.

    ''Let''s make it out of this alive, Ana. I''ll tell you how I feel once this is all over!'' Stefan gritted hs teeth as he floated in the air among his troops.

    ''I promise you!''

    *

    *

    *

    "The Safe Zone has been established already. It''s time."

    The Safe Zone was arge patch ofnd, just outside the bustling Dwarven Capital, which was now covered in a bright white dome.

    ''We''ll bring all the Dwarves here while Ana and her forces eliminate the threats.''

    The Dwarven Colony was filled with poisonous air, and the levels of infections were high. The only reason the denizens could survive in such a ce was because of their strong vitality. However, by taking them to the Safe Zone, their health would be guaranteed, and they would be protected from harm.

    It was Jared''s idea, but Stefan couldn''t help but feel immensely proud of the idea.

    The Safe Zone Core was designed by the joint efforts of Ana and Neron. It uses the Mana around and creates a denseyer of protection that hardens and prevents any form of entry. Only those whom it recognizes will be allowed entry by the Mana Layer lowering its density in the direction of the ally, enough so that the person could enter with no problems arising.

    ''My troops and I are all recognized by the device. We''ll bring the Dwarves here and keep them safe.''

    The Safe Zone was only about half the size of the Dwarven Colony, but when you considered the current poption, and the fact that most of thend in it was upied by Evil Jared''s minions and factories, it became easier to see how it would upy all of them.

    ''They should have already sensed the Mana Convergence in the Safe Zone, so the scouts should be here at any moment. Looks like Ana and her team will be making their move soon. I should y my part now!''

    >WHUUUUUUSSSSSSHH!<

    With a wry smile, Stefan navigated his way through the air, his troops behind him, and he lunged toward the Colony.

    Within moments, he closed the distance and arrived at the Dwarven Colony.

    "HALT! INTRUDER, SURRENDER!"

    As expected, he was met with resistance by pretty much all of the Colony''s Security.

    Golems and Exoskeletons manned by pilots appeared before Stefan, as well as other Magi-Tech constructs that imposed a grave apprehension of harm.

    Faced with the malevolent forces that threatened to halt his mission, Stefan resorted to one of his Trump Cards¡ªone that was drilled into him, and hisrades, by Jared.

    ''Spellcraft¡­''

    In an instant, the Mana he had spread around began to coagte with the surrounding Mana, creating a fierce reaction that stunned everyone who watched.

    "[Frost Blizzard]"

    In an instant, a severe ice storm consumed the environment, creating a screen of fog that epassed everything within a couple hundred meters.

    ''Not only will the frost slow them down, but they''ll have a hard time seeing or even sensing me thanks to the thickness of the blizzard.''

    Since it was a Mana-condensed area, even Mages who had Sensory Magic would find it difficult to find him.

    >WHOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Completely unharmed by his Spell, thanks to his preemptive utilization of a defensive barrier, he continued his journey into the Colony. His main mission was now about to begin.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Getting the people to cooperate in our efforts to relocate them to the Safe Zone as quickly as possible¡­''

    Normally, this would have been quite a difficult task to undertake. Not only was he an unreliable stranger, but these Dwarves had been living in fear and captivity for so long. Why would they dare defy Jared and listen to him?

    It was a problem that would have threatened the viability of the entire mission.

    Fortunately, the solution dwelled in his second Trump Card.

    ''Arcana Spell: [Temperance]''

    Within moments, a burst of magnificent light spread from him and covered the entire Dwarven Colony. This peach-colored glow pierced the dark clouds, turning them into pink-like fluff. Soon after, showers of the fluff began raining down on the city.

    ''Alright¡­ let''s see what happens now.'' Stefan watched as the shocked and worried Dwarven Denizens tried to escape the falling pink snow, though not all of them could avoid it.

    The moment the snow touched a Dwarf, their eyes glowed bright pink, and a smile of pleasure coursed though their faces. They stopped moving, almost as if stuck in a trance.

    "Take them to the Safe Zone." Stefan told his Automaton and Golem troops, and they instantly obeyed.

    The ones who did their best to avoid the snow, either by seeking shelter or using the tools in their possession, were still a problem for Stefan¡ªthough not for long.

    ''[Temperance] deals with emotions. It forcefully drowns emotions while bringing a dominant one to the surface. It affects anything, as long as it is living. By putting the catalyst in the clouds, I was able to spread it faster as snow¡­ but its effects aren''t limited to that.''

    All that was required was physical contact with the catalyst, and that existed in many ways.

    ''For one¡­'' Stefan smiled as he watched even those that avoided the snow suddenly showing signs of its influence.

    They came out of their hiding ces, showing ecstatic smiles while leaving themselves defenseless.

    ''... The sense of smell can also be used.''

    The pink snow leaked out a sweet smell that permeated the Colony. Even if the snow itself couldn''t reach everyone, the aroma would. In the end, it was just like the spread of an epidemic.

    ''This way, all of them will easilyply with my wishes and safely evacuate.''

    Stefan was grateful for the perfect conditions that made it more convenient for this n to work. Not even he had enough Mana to influence an entire nation¡ªno one among the Outers did, except perhaps Jared.

    It was thanks to Spellcraft that he was able to utilize the dense Mana in the surroundings to spread his influence over these people. Without the right conditions, it would have been too draining and time-consuming to do so.

    ''Also, these people are physically and mentally worn-out, making it easier.''

    All in all, the conditions were simply made for the solution he utilized.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    He could hear the sounds of battle in the distance, realizing that Ana must have begun handling the enemies.

    ''Good luck, Ana. I hope to see you soon.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    You know... I miss thements and power stones you all used to give. For those who constantly support me, thank you. For those who don''t... it isn''t toote to start.

    Your contributions matter a lot to me. Thanks.

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 Chapter 858 Final Clash [Pt 5]

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Destruction littered her environs, yet Ana did not pause or hesitate as she operated her massive Golem, Hugo.

    Enemies came to her in droves, but they were easily repelled by Hugo''s immensely powerful defensive field. Its offense was even more impressive, considering the fact that Hugo had a homing function that could target thousands of enemies at once.

    The firepower at her fingertips was also no joke.

    ''Just how much Mana does this Golem have?'' Of course, she already knew the answer to her question was foolish.

    The ''Mana Core'' of Hugo was more of an engine that artificially produced the result of Spellcraft. Every time it was active and used energy, it gained more by collecting the surrounding Mana.

    To prevent an overload, a stabilizer existed in the Mana Core¡ªone that reduced the intake of Mana if the Core was getting full, and also expelled Mana from it if it had reached its peak state. In the end, every contingency had been ounted for, making this the bulkiest, most efficient construct she had ever seen.

    "After this fight, I''m going to bury myself in research! I won''t stop until I have made my own ultimate construct!"

    Ana didn''t know why, but apetitive spirit towards Jared was budding. She didn''t want to lose, and she felt¡ªfor some reason¡ªthat she could do much better and eventually attempt to surpass him.

    ''I''ll do my best!'' She shot yet another missle at her enemies, easily decimating their ranks.

    Since the Dwarf Colony was highly toxic, petty much all the soldeirs here were machines. The evil Jared''s empire wouldn''t want to endanger capable soldiers by cing them in such a wretched ce, so the next best thing was to make Automatons and Autopilot Golems do the work.

    Unfortunately¡­

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡­ They stood no chance against the Ultimate Golem!

    ''I wonder how Stefan is doing¡­'' Ana thought to herself, her cheeks turning a little pink.

    Her heart began to slowly race, and she clutched her t chest with a little bit of concern. Even then, a small smile began to appear the more she thought of him.

    ''What am I doing¡­?''

    Ever since she was a kid, she never had much interest in romance and the likes. Boys weren''t really her priority, considering she was surrounded by her male siblings.

    Ana''s major interest dwelled in knowledge, and she pursued that with all her passion.

    However, ever since she and Stefan began to interact, she could feel this budding attraction no other person had managed to make her do.

    ''Is it because I''ve never really interacted with boys until now¡­?'' When she thought of it, she had mostly been too busy¡ªeither with research or revenge¡ªto give romance any thought.

    ''Even when I first met Jared, I was flustered, wasn''t I?''

    But, how did that exin the thumping in her heart whenever she talked with or thought of Stefan? In the first ce, the kind of connection she had with Jared was a morepetitive and respective one.

    However, for Stefan, she could feel a longing and attraction that defied prior experience.

    And it was for good reason.

    ''He''s kind. He listens well. He teaches me new things. He''s very smart and curious. He''s veeery handsome too. He''s strong. He encourages me all the time, and he''s so proper. He can be assertive at times, but I like it when he''s all shy and cute too.''

    There was one other thing that attracted her to him¡ªsomething that shocked her till this point.

    ''H-he¡­ always mentions how cute I look¡­ because of my stature.''

    Why was she so giddy about this?

    Usually, Ana got upset when anyone brought her height and overall appearance into the conversation. It felt like those who did this were looking down on her, or something. Even Stefan did something simr in their first meeting, for which he already apologized for.

    In essence, she didn''t like it.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Yet, why was it that when it came to Stefan, she was smitten by his charming way of implying how cute she was with her small stature?

    ''Most of the time, I overhear him talking about it. I wish he could say it to me more¡­''

    Ana found herself drowning deeper and deeper in the vast sea of her emotions, almost to the point of forgetting her task.

    "A-ah, what am I doing? I have to focus!"

    She could honestly put the Golem on Autopilot and it would still do well in handling the enemies. Plus, she had hundreds of thousands of reinforcements. However, Ana knew she wouldn''t feelfortable if everyone was working hard and she wasn''t/

    "Stefan¡­" She whispered onest time, watching the pink snow falling in the distance. "... I can''t wait to see you after this is all over!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A FEW HOURS LATER]

    "You''re all safe now. There''s no need to worry."

    It took some time, but the issue was finally resolved. After evacuating all the Dwarves, and also defeating all the enemies they faced, Ana and Stefan rendezvoused at the safe zone,manding all their forces to remain suspended above the wide dome.

    Fortunately, there were no casualties, and everything went exactly ording to n. The shaky part of the entire mission was pretty much how to exin the entire situation to the Dwarves.

    Fortunately, the Dwarven race was more understanding than they gave them credit for. Perhaps it was due to all they had suffered, but the Dwarves slowly warmed up to their words, and they even thanked them.

    All in all, it was missionplete.

    ¡­ Or so they had thought.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    Stefan and Ana instantly looked beyond the safe zone and watched the skies darken from a distance. It was the direction of the Eastern Continent, so the two of them knew it had to be the doing of their prime enemy.

    A dark pir of pure, unexinably repulsive energy slowly converged at a point. They couldn''t properly observe all that was happening, even with enhanced sight, but what they saw and felt bought a grim expectation upon them.

    The ck void in the sky had broken forth¡­ and the darkness was now descending.

    "Oh no¡­" They found themselves whispering as the dark clouds began to spread.

    Was this the end?

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What exactly has happened to the attacking team? Is evil finally going to descend and consume this world?

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 Chapter 859 Final Clash [Pt 6]

    [MOMENTS EARLIER¡­]

    [Western Continent, Fairy Kingdom]

    The Fairy Kingdom was well-fortified, thanks to Jane Urs''s immense talent and skill in Magic Engineering.

    Golems, Automatons, and droves of weaponized constructs were already prepared to resist Beruel and Kido, who led the invasion. Other than the inanimate weapons of war, the Fairies were also prepared to defend their Kingdom from external aggressors.

    Whether they did so of their own free will or not was irrelevant.

    Thanks to Jared''s calctions, though, the total number of soldiers with Beruel and Kido was sufficient to handle the resistance put up by the Fairy Kingdom.

    Despite their possession of enough forces to eventually take back the Fairy Kingdom, the duo decided to take a much different approach.

    An approach that rendered the thousands of troops behind them¡­

    "[The Charriot]"

    "[The Emperor]"

    ¡­pletely unnecessary.

    [The Chariot] easily hijacked control of the enemy''s technological advantage, while [The Emperor] took over the living opponents.

    In essence, just the two of them were enough to subdue the entire Fairy Kingdom¡ªall within a matter of minutes.

    *

    *

    *

    "There''s a problem¡­" Beruel whispered.

    Even though they had already disabled all the technological defenses, and forced the Fairies to surrender, there was a much bigger issue that caused the Fairy King worry.

    "Using [The Chariot], I was able to detect something from them." He added, looking at Kido with a very concerned expression.

    Kido could only depict shock.

    "[The Chariot] only works on technology, though."

    "Exactly!"

    "W-what are you saying, Beruel?"

    It seemed a lump had formed in his throat, since it took him a great deal of time to form the words properly. His expression was so downcast that he seemed too distraught to know where to begin.

    "Their bodies¡­ inside their bodies, there is a multitude of technological devices."

    "H-huh?" Kido was confused now.

    He nced at the dazed Fairies, who were pretty much on their knees thanks to his power.

    "I wondered why they didn''t show any emotion when they attacked me. I wondered why they would easily throw their lives away, considering how very fearful of death we Fairies are. Now I know."

    He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

    "Jane Urs¡­ how dare you¡­?" Beruel growled as he tightened his fist and scrunched up his face.

    The fact that Kido could control the Elves showed that they were organic lifeforms. However, the fact that he could also affect them with his Arcana Spell showed they were partly machines too.

    No, that wasn''t quite right.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The Fairies weren''t wholly organic, and neither were they machines. They were something else¡­ something more.

    "She must have injected Nano-Machines into them, forcing them to do her bidding. I''m sensing explosive materials within them. If they disobeyed her orders, she would have killed them. It''s no wonder the coup was so sessful. Just how long did it take for her to take control of everyone¡­?"

    The Fairies had these tiny machines within them, so they had to hearken to Jane''s instructions. The technology wasn''t veryplicated, but he was sure that Jane would have made it seem even more dangerous than it was.

    ''It''s just technology that explodes upon meeting special conditions. The firepower isn''t exactlyrge-scale, considering the size, but if there are millions of them in a person, that person is sure to die¡­''

    From what he was learning from the devices, they functioned parasitically. Absorbing the Mana Particles in the body t stay functional, and if they were going to explode, they would simply overwork the stabilizer by taking in more Mana Particles, thereby leading to self-destruction.

    "Kido, tell one of the Fairies under your control to exin how he was threatened."

    In response, Kido nodded and brought a random soldier before Beruel.

    "Tell us about the card Jane Urs uses to keep you fighting for her." He said very calmly.

    "I¡­ I have a wife and three kids. If I don''t fight and win, they''ll d-die!" The Fairy said with as much emotion as a controlled puppet could muster.

    "How would they die?"

    "All of us have been injected with Queen Jane Urs''s powerful nano-devices. It can read our minds to decipher our loyalty. It can cause us sickness or bring us health. It can also kill us at any time. If we desire to live, we must remain loyal to the Queen and do whatever she desires."

    Beruel''s face darkened the more he heard about the plight of this single Fairy. He wondered about the many other Fairies and the stories they had to tell.

    "Jane lied to them. The device can''t read their mind or do anything else. It can only bring death to them by using their Mana Particles against them¡­"

    But whether she was lying to them or not about how effective her technology was didn''t change the fear it had on them. No, the lie was most likely what made her hold over them so strong.

    "Do you think you can deactivate the machines, or something?" Kido asked Beruel.

    "I should be able to. The machines shouldn''t be too much of a bother to manipte. The problem is that there are at least a million in every Fairy. There''s a limit to how much I can control at once."

    In the end, he would have to do this by saving one Fairy at a time.

    "It''s going to take a great deal of time¡­" Beruel narrowed his gaze in resolve. "But, I will save my people¡­ NO MATTER WHAT!"

    That was his duty as the Fairy King.

    "Onest question, Fairy. What do you think of your former Ruler, Fairy King Beruel?" Kido asked the controlled being before the two of them.

    "Fairy King Beruel¡­ was the kindest ruler I have ever known. Everyone regrets betraying him, I''m sure. He was¡­ the best!"

    A warm smile formed on Beruel''s face, and his twinkling eyes expressed gratitude to Kido.

    "Come on, Fairy King. Time to get to work."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 860 Final Clash [Pt 7]

    [A Few Hours Later]

    Beruel and Kido were in the process of ridding the Fairies of the life-threatening nanomachines inside them¡ªwith the Fairy King doing most of the work, and Beruel filing the Fairies in an orderly fashion to increase the efficiency required.

    The both of them were in the middle of this when they felt an immense pressure that emanated from the Eastern Kingdom.

    The surge of what could only be described as malevolent energy coursed through them, and they felt chills pervading their bodies. The swirling dark portal in the sky seemed to be leaking its contents into a single location.

    And that spelled an unpredictable cmity toe.

    "Should we go and check that out? It looks bad." Kido asked, concern etched on his face.

    Beruel remained silent for some time, lost in his own thoughts. He had to weigh his options¡ªsaving his people as fast as possible, or the world.

    "Jared and the main team should be in charge of that region. If they were unable to stop this¡­ I don''t see what we can do." He muttered.

    Beruel was right.

    Most of their heavy hitters¡ªif not all¡ªwere supposed to be there. If they failed, then just the Fairy King and one Midas wouldn''t change much.

    "Still, I''m worried about everyone¡­" He added, tightening his fist as he red at the spreading dark clouds.

    "Let''s go, Kido. I''m not sure of what we can do, but I can''t afford to stay here while my family perishes."

    Kido gave a soft smile and nodded. It turns out he too felt the same.

    "Yeah. Let''s go."

    *

    *

    *

    [MOMENTS EARLIER¡­]

    [Southern Continent, Beast Kingdom]

    The Beast Kingdom Recovery Expedition was meant to be the most problematic of all the assaults.

    Not only were the enemiespletely organic, but they were Beastfolks whom Jared had cured, thus making them extremely powerful¡ªand very loyal.

    In essence, if one were toe to theirnd with the intention of taking it over, then they would fight till theirst breath. They would defend theirnd with honor, and wouldn''t care about throwing their lives away to protect the leader they had sworn loyalty to.

    ¡­ If only that was the case.

    "W-we surrender!"

    The Beastfolk, after experiencing Vaizer and Reed in action, realizing that the two were practically unstoppable by this world''s standards, instantly gave up.

    It was a pity their Beast King wasn''t present to see their shameful decision.

    The Beastfolk, who had gotten introduced to life without Mana Overload, must have gotten softer over the years. Perhaps they now valued life too much to throw theirs away.

    They wanted to grow stronger, live longer, and have even more children. Who among them would desire to throw their lives away so meaninglessly?

    "We''ll be taking over thisnd. No longer will you be under Jared Leonard''s control. Neither will you be subjects to Gerard." Vaizer dered to the trembling people.

    He still remembered his past life in this ce. The desire to be the king of these people was long gone. Once he established enough order, and a new King was selected, he would leave this ce.

    ''My wives¡­ my children¡­''

    He remembered their lovely smiles, and the way they often warmed his heart. He missed them every day¡ªso much so that it hurt at times.

    He didn''t want to relive those memories, so it was best to let his past go.

    ''Nothing is waiting for me here.'' He smiled sadly, watching over thends.

    "It seems you really won''t be ruling your people any longer." Reed''s voice interrupted Vaizer''s thoughts.

    The old Mage drew closer to the smiling Beastfolk. He had a wry smile stered on his face, and he too seemed distant in his thoughts.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "You know, after this is all over, I''m thinking of spending the rest of my days as an Adventurer. I want to explore more of this world, discover hidden treasures, and defeat monsters." Reed said with a smile.

    Frankly, he had already had his fill with society and its intricacies. He wanted more freedom now.

    "I''m not going senile, am I?" He grinned.

    "You''re not. In fact, I was thinking the same thing just now." Vaizer returned Reed''s warm smile.

    The old man must have wanted to cheer him up, and he seeded. Being an Adventurer, enjoying the pleasures of the world as well as the dangers, perhaps that was what he needed.

    "That would be nice. Where do you reckon we begin from?" Vaizer added.

    "Well¡­ I''m thinking of Land Of Eternal ciers far North."

    "Oh? Any specific reason why?"

    "I''ve only heard rumors and myths. I want to see for myself, if there''s a Frost Dragon dwelling within the cier Cave. It would be nice to see if we could get the Frost Dragon and travel the world on its back as we continue our Adventure."

    "That sounds pretty reasonable."

    "Once we gather enough experience and treasures, we can even open an Adventurers Academy, or something. I''ll spend the rest of my old age bragging to young''uns about my epic adventures, while teaching them to follow their dreams and stuff."

    The more Vaizer heard of Reed Sterling''s ns, the more he felt inspired to join the old man. Something about the picture he painted resonated with him.

    He thought of the danger, the pleasure¡­ and then the fulfillment.

    "I guess that doesn''t sound so bad."

    "No, it doesn''t."

    Both menughed heartily, enjoying each other''spany as the surrendered Beastfolk watched in sheer confusion and timidity.

    ¡­ But then¡­

    "What is that?"

    ck clouds formed from a distance, and the direction was one they were all too familiar with¡ªthe Eastern Kingdom.

    "It seems everything didn''t go exactly ording to n," Reed whispered, his brows narrowing as he made the statement.

    The dreadful energy he was sensing was too dense and malevolent to be dismissible. It had to be the endgame of their prime enemy.

    "We should go and help them out¡­ as much as we can." Reed tightened his fist as he stared at the distant clouds.

    "It seems our Adventuring ns will have to be put on hold, Reed."

    "Right, you are."

    The pairughed, knowing deep within themselves that the ns they had just relished, and looked forward to, was most likely going to be snuffed out.

    ¡­ And very soon as well.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    We''re going to the main story now. Let''s see what''s going on...

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 Chapter 861 Ultimate Versus Ultimate

    [MOMENTS EARLIER¡­]

    [Eastern Continent, The Capital]

    ''H-how is this happening¡­?'' A certain voice echoed as the owner watched a battlefield rife with chaos.

    It wasn''t that this being was averse to violence. No, in fact, he was called the tinum Knight of Carnage.

    The problem he faced¡ªone that caused him to question all he had been led to believe thus far¡ªwas how inferior he was.

    ''H-how am I¡­?!''

    All around him, he could see that things weren''t going ording to his master''s n. His allies and reinforcements had their hands full with the opponents, leaving him all alone. Usually, he would have had no problems with this arrangement.

    He could count those who were stronger than him on his mechanical fingers. That was what made this situation so unexpected.

    "You seem distraught." His opponent''s voice suddenly echoed, causing him to re at him with both fear and rage.

    As much rage as an Automaton could muster.

    "S-shut up! What would you know?!"

    His opponent was in view. It was an Automaton who was strikingly simr to him. The tinum-colored skin they both shared made them very identical, and their simr builds added to that uncanny resemnce.

    Despite all of this, however, there was a massive difference between the two¡ªone that irked Gawain, the tinum Knight of Carnage, to no end.

    The Automaton before him looked far more attractive and advanced,pared to him.

    "Well, I recently gave love advice to a human. I''d say I''m qualified to know a bit about emotions. Besides, we''re both Automatons, so I can somewhat empathize with¡ª"

    "Shut uuuuuuppppp!!!"

    The Knight of Carnage raised his powers to their limits, burning up an intense amount of Mana as he red at the target.

    There was a lurking feeling that kept bothering him, but he set that aside. Hepletely focused on winning¡ªon fulfilling the desires of his master.

    "I will kill youuuuuu!!!"

    In a sh, it traveled the distance that separated him and the opponent. A bright burst of whitish-blue Mana coursed through his body, enhancing it to the utmost limit.

    At this point, both his offensive and defensive were at maximum power. He had sacrificed most of his Spell Usage, and Magic Versatility just for more efficiency and power.

    And it was paying off.

    Gawain had honestly not felt this strong before.

    ''I-if it''s like this, then I should be able to¡­!''

    >SWOOOOOSSSHHHHH<

    In one sweep, much faster than anyone could possibly perceive, he brought down his de of justice, coursing the densest Mana through it.

    This was it!

    This was the end.

    His victory was assured!

    "Pathetic. Even after everything, is this the best you can do?"

    ¡­ Eh?

    Gawain''s eyes would have bulged if it could. He, who should have sliced through his target, felt some form of resistance that prevented his de from passing all the way through.

    It was stuck to something, unable to move past it.

    "Something as petty as this can''t prate my defenses." The opponent said, almost dismissively.

    Petty? How was the energy he poured petty? Was this person joking? Was he bluffing? He was bluffing, right?

    Yes, he had to be bluffing!

    "SHUUUTTTT UUUUPPPPP!!!"

    >WHOOOSSSHHH<

    >VWUUUUUSSSHHHH<

    >FWUUUUSSSHHH<

    Gawain used multiple attacks with his de, slicing up his targets as fast as he could while improving the tempo of his attacks.

    All he could hear was ngs, but he was certain he was chipping away at the enemy''s defenses, and even his body.

    ''He''s just bluffing! He''s acting! He''s actually scared! Yes, he''s¡­ he''s frightened of my power!''

    After making the same frantic efforts for a few more seconds, Gawain finally heard the sound of metal breaking, and then shattering.

    ''Hehehe¡­ hehehhehehe¡­ hahahaha! I knew it! He was actually¡ª!''

    Perhaps he missed the little detail thanks to his excitement, but it wasn''t his opponent''s body that shattered.

    It was his own de.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "A-ah¡­ ahh¡­"

    His de was as good as useless at this point, already broken and chipped away in its remaining parts. Even though his weapon was in such a miserable state, the opponent looked as beautiful as ever.

    ''H-how¡­?!'' His mind could notprehend it.

    "Master told me to be patient and withstand your attacks, but¡­ I really don''t see how I can learn anything from you. Perhaps he gave you too much credit? Hmm, maybe I''m the one being overly conceited."

    The more Gawain heard theseyered insults, the more the thoughts he tried to avoid surfaced.

    "I''m not weak! I''m not inferior! I''m better! I''m better than all of you! I''m the best, you hear me! The best Automaton! I am the perfect creation of my master! The Ultimate Automaton!"

    It was a rant at this point, but Gawain did not care.

    "I am the tinum Knight of Carnage!" He rushed toward his opponent, ready to use his own body to fight if that was what was necessary.

    He threw punches, each blow packing enough of a punch to create heavy noises and bright sparks around.

    He utilized all the power at his disposal, not minding the effects his actions would have on his body.

    Punches! More punches. He kept going, ignoring how badly damaged his hands were bing.

    Just a little more, he must have thought. If he just did a little more, then it would be enough to disprove the gnawing fear that ate at him.

    The fear that maybe¡­

    "I could honestly stay here and take your attacks all day, you know? You''d just wear your body out and destroy yourself without me having to do anything. But, that''s no fun, is it?"

    ¡­ Just maybe¡­.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    ¡­ He was actually not that strong.

    "G-gah¡­." Gawain''s hollow voice echoed as his body shattered intoplete pieces thanks to a single hit from his opponent.

    He didn''t even have the chance to activate his Self-Destruct function. Everything in him was already messed up beyond repair.

    And all it took was one hit.

    "You seem to misunderstand something. I don''t know or care who you are, but¡­ there''s only one Automaton that''s allowed to be called the best." His opponent said, still maintaining his position.

    "That''s me. I am the Ultimate Automaton."

    Gawain''s eyes ceased to function at that moment, and slowly every other part followed.

    ''Master¡­ you lied to me¡­'' His thoughts echoed as he sank into the cold pit of death. ''... I wasn''t the strongest.''

    Compared to that man he faced in the factory, and then this Automaton just now, he now knew the truth.

    ''... I''m weak.''

    That constituted the final thoughts of the tinum Knight of Carnage.

    It ceased function immediately after.

    *

    *

    *

    "Well, that was underwhelming." Gawain thought to himself, holding onto something that belonged to his opponent.

    It was something akin to an orb¡ªthe core of the fallen Automaton.

    "Since Master wanted me to learn more from it, I decided to take its core. Its information should be stored here. We''ll be able to learn all we want. Maybe give it a stronger body if it has enough potential."

    In a sh, the orb vanished from Gawain''s hand, safely stored somewhere, and the Ultimate Automaton''s eyes scoured the battlefield to see how it was going.

    Most of what he was seeing brought a smile to his face.

    "So far so good."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This should be fun...

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 Chapter 862 Chaotic Battlefield

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    A very chaotic sh urred between tworge figures¡ªat least,pared to the rest on the massive battlefield.

    Z''ark, the Dragon King, against Hugo, the Ultimate Golem.

    They exchanged blows, shing with pure power, and also defending with their sturdy bodies. Z''ark was in his mighty dragon form, doing his best to withstand and strike the Golem''s taller frame. Before long, the fight entered into a stalemate.

    Or so one would think.

    ''Tch¡­ it''s tougher than I thought.''

    So far, he had barely done any damage to the Golem, and while he too hadn''t sustained a serious injury, there was something more important to consder.

    ''Stamina¡­ and Magic Power!''

    Unlike a Golem, he had limited stamina. He got tired, and he also ran out of energy. Sure, Golems experienced thetter, but the former was foriegn to them.

    Plus, Golems had ways to restore their powers faster, considering they had charged batteries and all. Plus, with what he had heard¡ªand even the little he had seen of Hugo¡ªhe didn''t expect it to go down anytime soon.

    ''Damn. Why did I end up biting more than I can chew?''

    Everyone was engaged in one fight or the other, and even if they weren''t, it would be shameful to call for help at this point.

    ''As long as it meant survival, I never really cared about Pride, but¡­'' Somehow, this battle had him resurrecting the feelings he had in his youth.

    The determination to be better. To be stronger.

    ''I can do this! Even if I have to risk my life¡­ I will do this!'' He red at the stoic Golem, watching as it prepared its next attack.

    ''I''ll pour all I have into defense now, and once this attack is done, I''ll go all-out with offense.''

    There was no need to drag the fight out. Hugo was going to oust him, that was for sure. The only thing he could do now was to give it his all.

    "RAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! Bring it o¡ª!"

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH!!!<

    Speeding past Z''ark, much faster than he or even the Golem could percieve, was a beam of light that went straight for Hugo''s bulky frame.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In one strong, firm hit, the light tore through the giant, destroying itpletely.

    "A-ah¡­? What in the world?" Z''ark lost hisposure, his eyes widening in disbelief as the opponent he struggled so much against was defeated with a single hit.

    His motivation to get stronger. His deep-seated desire to surpass his limits, and his rising urge to risk his life¡ªall of them fizzled out in no time as he witnessed something that humbled him once more.

    Hugo''s pilots were able tond to the ground safely, though the chaotic battle they met knocked them out almost instantly. Even with that, Z''ark was more focused on the beam of light.

    Who was that?

    "I see. So, even this cheap knockoff feels the same. And here I thought it resembled Hugo¡­" The voice from the light echoed, and soon the brightnes dimmed, revealing the entity within.

    It was the Automaton on their side¡ªthe one Jared ced in charge of his mechanical suport that would be serving as their soldiers.

    "Well, you did well holding it off for some time." The Automaton spoke to him with a casual attitude, but Z''ark instantly felt ufortable with that.

    Someone of this being''s power was more than fit enough to be his master. His people would jump at the opportunity to have a strong leader like him.

    There was no way he could simply address him this way.

    "I''m off then. Good job."

    "P-please wait! What is your name?" Z''ark asked.

    They were allies, so it was a bit strange to ask at this juncture. Still, he had to know who his benefactor was.

    "Gawain. In any case, keep it up."

    Before Z''ark could say any more, the Automaton vanished.

    All alone, the Dragon King chuckled at himself, realizing he was far more tired than he earlier thought. Looking at how the battle was turning out, he doubted he was needed to ensure their side''s victory.

    ''I think¡­ I''ll just rest a little¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    Amid the destructive tension of the battlefield, two people stared at each other.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Surprisingly, despite being surrounded by chaos, their immediate vicinity was leftpletely untouched. No soldier or interference¡ªjust the two of them.

    On one end was an auburn-haired Martial Artist. He held his de with conviction, and a cool ambiance surrounded his frame.

    On the end was a well-built man. He had a menacing grin, and his bulky frame was a pure reresentation of power that the Beast King was supposed to be.

    Edward and Gerard.

    Both of them stared at each other, engaged in silent assessment for a moment, and then one of them finally broke the silence.

    "You won''t attack? I thought you wanted revenge for that fool, Vaizer." Gerard chuckled, though a hint of impatience lurked in his tone.

    Silence.

    "Come on. Won''t you say something? I don''t have all day, you know? I still have to kill more of you and win this battle already!"

    Still, silence.

    "Hahahaha! Scared? Don''t tell me you''re scared! Hahahaha! Maybe I should have just¡ª"

    "Shut up." The silence was finally broken.

    "Huh? So you can actually speak? I thought you were dumb or somethi¡ª"

    "I said¡­ shut up."

    The instant Edward repeated himself, a strong pressure circted the area, forcing Vaizer to swallow any further words he had to say.

    "I have the [Death] Arcana Spell. I could easily render ''death'' to you at any moment, and this will be done with. But¡­"

    Edward''s hair slowly turned white, and his body glowed with pale light. His right eye turned blue, like the sky, and his left eye became amber like scorching mes.

    "... Where''s the fun in that?"

    His de took on an azure glow, and sparks of energy consumed it. He was in a astate that transcended anything his opponent had ever seen or known before.

    "No, I think I''m going to use this as an opportunity. A chance to make you wish for death."

    Gerard, who had been so cocky earlier, found himself trembling now. Was it because of the energy Edward was leaking? Was it because of his newly transformed state? Was itfue to his words?

    Yes, it was all of the above.

    Edward was simply frightening.

    "Gerard. You killed the family of my dear friend. You took his kingdom. You''vemitted far too many atrocities for me to ignore." As Edward said these words, he took a step closer to his opponent.

    "E-eeek!"

    "An eye for an eye. Tooth for tooth. Bruise for bruise."

    Just as Edward was about to take another step closer, he stopped. He heaved a sigh, and a mist-like breath proceeded from his lips.

    "I will give you a chance to live. Show me your best attack. Do your best to kill me." Edward''s smile was already widnened to the point of insanity.

    "If you fail¡­ you will die."

    Gerard was still trembling, but it seemed his freedom had been returned to him. Thanks to the reduction in pressure, he could finally utter the words he had been longing to spt out.

    "W-who¡­ just what are you?"

    In response, Edward could only render one exnation.

    "The Martial de God."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Now, that''s some good rizz. Even though the Martial de God we know and love is gone, we can still enjoy this alternate version.

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 Chapter 863 The Punishment

    Stale air greeted the two opponents as they stared at each other.

    Gerard had a very conflicted, and mixed, expression written on his face. On one end, he was annoyed at Edward for his arrogance, but he also couldn''t help feeling extremely intimidated.

    ''Tch¡­ this bastard! Why do I need to fear?''

    Since he was given a chance to freely attack his opponent once, he just needed to pummel him with the strongest technique at his disposal.

    ''What a big mistake this foolish one has made! Kekekeke!''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    A burst of dark blue light drowned Gerard in its torrents, causing only a silhouette of himself to show. Slowly, his form began to change. His body grew bulkier, and bigger, donning multiple characteristics.

    Wings grew from behind him, and ws reced his hands. He grew one extra pair of arms, granting him a total of four firm and powerful arms. A tell emerged as well, with spikes rising from them.

    Horns manifested, and three more eyes formed on his face. His hair grew longer, and it began to gleam like metal. No, his entire body seemed to gleam like metal. He took on more animal characteristics, making himself more powerful as the process continued.

    "HAHAHAHAHAHA! I usually don''t have time to activate my full transformation in battle, so thank you for standing around like an idiot and allowing me to do this. PUAHAHAHA!!!"

    The burst of energy finally converged on Gerard''s changed body, showing how immenselyrge and powerful he had be.

    His bulky frame, taking on multiple animal characteristics at once, was terrifying. He stood at about five meters tall, gleaming evilly at Edward''s unmoving body.

    "KEKEKEKEKE! DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

    Beast King Gerard opened his massive jaws, revealing his sharp teeth. An immense concentration of Mana began to form at the center of his mouth, getting stronger and stronger with each passing second.

    "My ultimate¡­" He grinned while still forming the st. "... st of Destruction!"

    At this point, Gerard released the immense power trapped in the orb, creating a highly vtile breath that devastated everything around.

    The rain of pure energy decimated the area, disintegrating all things with its high density and temperature. In no time, the surrounding area became a pile of ash and smoke.

    "Fuuu¡­ now that was a good warm-up." He smirked.

    As expected, the swordsman was unable to keep up with the speed of the attack. He had seen how the st of Destruction consumed him, and how it consumed everything else. Since everything around had been destroyed, it also meant the same for the annoying swordsman, didn''t it?

    "I should go cause more damage while I can still maintain this form¡­" He murmured, already feeling a slight strain on his body.

    Rapidly transforming to his most powerful state, while also using his ultimate attack, took a lot out of him. The results were worth it, though.

    With this in mind, Gerard began looking around to decide which battle he ought to join.

    ''Jane is already after Ciel. My attention should be more on these small fries that are more troublesome than expected. We''re really losing a lot of our soldiers. It seems their constructs are more powerful than ours. Well, it doesn''t matter. As long as we''re here, they shouldn''t be able to¡ª''

    >WHOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Interrupting his thoughts was the sudden gust of wind that blew away all the dust and smoke that had stagnated around him. In one moment, everything vanished, revealing something that stunned Gerard.

    He wasn''t alone!

    "W-what¡­?!"

    Edward was still right in front of him,pletely unmoved from his position. Not only did he appear unfazed by the series of events that had just ured, but he seemed to bepletely unscathed by his earlier attack.

    "W-whoah! You gotta be kidding me, right? You''re fine after all that? What form of defense did you¡ª?!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "It seems your chance has been consumated. Time is up." Edward took a step forward, and suddenly the ground quaked.

    Gerard found kneeling on the ground before he knew it. Did he identally slip due to the quake, or was Edward''s pressure simply too heavy for him?

    As he mulled over the question, sweat began to form on his face as he watched Edward close in on him.

    "After thinking about it properly, I''ve decided on what will be the best punishment for you." Edward took yet another step closer, almost in the position of the struggling Beast King.

    "Y-you b-bastard!" Gerard growled. "I''ve done nothing wrong! You hear me? The path of the Beastfolk is the strong rules over the weak. I was simply stronger! I did nothing wro¡ª"

    >SQUELCH!<

    Edward''s de pierced the Beast King''s chest, though it didn''te out of the other end. No blood came out, and it seemed like it hardly even hurt the person who was struck.

    "What are you doi¡ª"

    "[Martial de God Technique #21: Overflow]"

    >WHUUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!!<

    In a loud hum, Mana suddenly began flowing from Edward to his de, and finally¡­. To Gerard.

    "W-what is¡­ what are you¡­ this is¡­ ahhh¡­ no¡­."

    The Mana constantly flowed, unceasing and unstopping. Everything was pumped into Gerard with no sign of moderation.

    "Guuuhh¡­ nooo¡­. P-pleasee¡­. Noo¡­. not that. PLEASE! NOT THAAAATT!!!"

    Edward watched the Beast King''s plea with cold, unfeeling eyes. He simply stood motionless, dispensing his definition of justice to the man beneath him.

    "What are you afraid of? Just a little Mana? Ah, it must be what happens when you have too much Mana, right? I''m pumping all of this Mana directly to yout Core, after all¡­"

    Merely a decade ago, or so, the Beastfolk were afflicted with a serious problem. It gave them a high mortality rate, and they suffered because of it. They had long been cured by Jared, thanks to Gerard swearing all of their allegiance to him, and they hadn''t experienced the pain ever since.

    The agony of Mana Overload!

    "Right now, I''ll make sure to prolong the process to elongate your suffering."

    In essence¡­ Gerard would experience hell for as long as Edward wanted.

    "Death is overrated."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 864 The Last Demons

    "He onlysted thirty minutes, eh? That''s disappointing." Edward muttered as he looked at the ashen Beast King.

    His body was already fading with the wind¡ªnothing more than burnt ash.

    "I suppose I''m done here. The others should be done by now too." He smiled, unsheathing his de. While the revenge he enacted wasn''t for himself, Edward still felt good about it.

    His white hair turned back to its normal color, and his eyes also reverted. He shut them and smiled, allowing himself a brief moment of peace and silence in the raging battlefield.

    *

    *

    *

    [Moments Earlier]

    "Bitch, surrender now and I''ll consider sparing you. I haven''t done ''it'' with a fellow Demon in so long now. Be mine and I''ll spare your life."

    The one who uttered these crass words was none other than Abellion, the Demon Prince that sold off his people to Jared in exchange for power and recognition. He had zero loyalty towards his people, and was rather content being one of Jared''s Generals as they conquered the known world.

    Watching him utter these words, Karlia felt sick to her stomach. She wanted to vomit in disgust, but she controlled herself, limiting her expression to a mere re.

    ''All my family¡­ my friends¡­ our kind ruler¡­ they were all killed by him.''

    Yet, the bastard called Abellion kept pping his gums as if his actions were too flippant to be bothered with. It enraged Karlia the more she thought about it.

    "So, what do you say, bitch? Be my whore!"

    Karlia had no response for this man. To be honest, she would prefer it if he suffered for all of eternity, what would that solve in the end?

    The past was in the past.

    She had managed to survive the carnage, and she was able to find love and peace with Neron. She had a new family thanks to the Outgroup, and her purpose had never been clearer.

    There was no way an imbecile like this was going to take any of those away from her.

    "Time to use my Arcana Spell¡­" She whispered, her right palm glowing with something akin to a tattoo.

    "Oh? So you want to fight, eh? Very well, bitch! Taste this! [Hellfire of¡ª]"

    "[Spellcraft]"

    The Magic Circle that was already forming in front of Abellion instantly evaporated, producing nothing but tiny sparks that could hardly light up anything.

    "W-what¡ª?!"

    "I''ll end this quickly¡­"

    In a sh, something that caused Abellion''s eyes to pop wide open in shock urred. It manifested as a very bright core that traveled high into the sky.

    Suddenly, every scrap and metal part on the battlefield began to gather to the white light. The process was scary fast, and it attracted everything in moments.

    "Add a little bit of fire, and then lightning, wind too, and water¡­"

    The sky above her produced torrents of lightning that struck the convergence of so much matter, and it burst into mes. Water suddenly appeared around the bulky mix of weird elements, and a swirling wind gathered around it.

    The power was akin to a freakish storm that remained suspended in the sky.

    "W-what is¡­ what is that?!"

    "It''s nothing. Just an unstable mix of multiple elements, some conflicting. They need a makeover." She raised her hand to the sky, causing the bright tattoo on her palm to glow even brighter.

    "[Arcana Spell: The Lovers]"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    In response to her words, the massive bulk in the sky glowed. The elements began to merge with one another, fusing to form something new. Something better.

    Within a moment, a new object now hung in the sky. It was a perfectly smooth and round mass the size of a small mountain.

    The huge sphere had a rainbow-colored light shrouding it, and it menacingly stood high in the sky.

    "What are you doing?" Abellion growled, trying once more to kill Karlia with his Spell.

    Unfortunately, it kept dissipating before he couldplete it. Was this the result of a Spell of hers? In that case¡­

    Abellion rushed towards Karlia, most likely intending to defeat her in a melee before she couldplete what she had going for her in the sky.

    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you," Karlia advised, however, Abellion quickened his pace instead, hands stretched out to kill her.

    >SQUELCH!<

    In one swift strike, Abellion''s whole body was pierced from the top of his head, through his torso, and out through hisher region.

    "G-guughhhh¡­." Blood gushed out of Abellion, creating a pool underneath him.

    His body throbbed slightly, as the little embers of life within him were being snuffed out.

    In that brief moment, he was able to experience an iprehensible amount of pain. The sharp, energy-filled spikepletely crushed his brain, heart, and vital organs in its assault, leaving apletely mangled corpse in its wake.

    "I told you not to move¡­" Karlia smiled as she looked at her toy that hung above.

    It was from the orb that that massive spike came from. Like judgment from heaven, it sent an extension of itself to pierce Abellion in the most surefire way to kill him.

    ''By mixing multiple elements, I can ount for the elemental resistances the targets might have. Plus, with its sturdy body made of condensed metal, it should be dense enough to pierce anything.''

    Abellion was only one of her many targets, so shepletely ignored his lifeless body as it plopped into his own bloody pool.

    "B-bitch¡­." She heard his passing statement as he lost his life, but didn''t bother about it.

    Those were idiotic wordsing from an idiotic man.

    "Alright. Let''s see the limits of this new creation." Karlia looked at her malleable, yet immensely dense orb.

    "Eliminate  as many registered enemies as you can." Since the construct was linked to Karlia, it would be able to determine the enemy forces, and separate them from their allies.

    Plus, with its swift attack pattern, most enemies wouldn''t even see the attacking.

    "Initiate assault." Her lips curled upward, forming a near-evil grin.

    Killing the bad guys was always fun!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 865 Darkness Seeks Light [Pt 1]

    >SPLOOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!<

    A loud echo of carnage pervaded the battlefield as the massive orb locked in the sky unleashed its many spiky tentacles upon the field.

    In an instant, the Golems were pulverized, and destruction reigned supreme. The mission involved sparing living beings¡ªof course, with the exception of the Generals¡ªso no one technically died.

    However, the injuries and destruction that spread around were a testament to Karlia''s new creation.

    "Ah, I see. So, it destroyed three thousand in a single go. It also injured its fair share of people¡­"

    She could keep this up and try to whittle down the forces of the enemies. Yes, that would be the best way to spend her time.

    ''I don''t think anyone requires my help or anything¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    "I see. So this is your n." Jane Urs narrowed her eyes as she looked at Ciel with a hint of carefulness as well as admiration.

    The two of them were currently in the sky, separated from most of the conflict that seemed to drown thendscape.

    "Your team really came prepared. You''re even overwhelming our forces. Your Golems and Automatons are superior to ours as well. It really is surprising. I''ll need to know how you pulled it off."

    Jane had always been a curious person. If she wanted to learn something, she always found a way to obtain that knowledge. Even if that meant having to pry it from corpses or screaming victims.

    Ultimately,  it was the end that justified the means.

    "You give us too much credit, Jane. Our side isn''t particrly strong. You''re just too weak on your end." Ciel answered, her gaze containing absolute caution and seriousness.

    One might think she was being condescending in her statement, but she really wasn''t.

    "Oh, please. No need to be so modest. When measuring strength, don''t you consider the power of both sides and grant the title of the ''strong'' to the more powerful one? Your group obviously has that advantage. Congrattions."

    Jane was mostly right in her line of thinking, but she was missing one important variable.

    ''Jared Leonard¡­ the man that came from another world.''

    Compared to the power he had disyed to them, this world''s Magic was nothing. How could the Outgroup boast of being strong when they knew someone like him existed?

    ''The strength we are able to disy is all thanks to him. Our troops also belong to him. He established this n as well¡­''

    So, no. Ciel wasn''t being modest at all. She was simply giving honor to whom it was due.

    "It doesn''t matter, though. Jared and I have already considered every possibility. It won''t stop what''s about to happe¡ª"

    "You''re stalling for time, aren''t you? Waiting until the generator stabilizes and the event horizon gets a constant reading and not aplexly endless state of flux." Ciel narrowed her eyes as she interrupted Jane.

    "Haha. As expected of you, I suppose. You are indeed right, Lady Ciel. We are stalling. But what of it? You won''t be able to do anything about it."

    Ciel sighed and closed her eyes for a brief moment.

    "Is that really what you think?"

    "What are you talking about?" Jane, once again curious, asked.

    "You don''t need to know. Let''s simply end this." A bright beam of light covered Ciel, transforming her into an angel-like being.

    Wings formed behind her, and she became wrapped in a pure-white apparel. A crown made of olives rested on her long flowing hair, and her entire form screamed of beauty.

    "Oh? How shy! Is that thebination of Mage Mode and Original Magic? I haven''t seen anyone except Jared use the both of them consecutively."

    Ciel didn''t respond, but simply opened her eyes slowly as she looked at Jane.

    "I don''t have anything that shy, but¡­" A snap of her finger brought something immensely huge descending from the sky above.

    It was a beam of light.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The energy burst bathed Ciel, and her immedidiate surrounding, with its power, creating a massive crater into the ground.

    However, Ciel managed to proceed out of it with no injuries of any kind. The white barrier that surrounded her seemed to be the reason behind her safety.

    >BEEP<<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >BEEP<

    >BEEP<

    An rm emanted from a device Jane wore on her wrist. It resembled a simple bracelet, with a red gem affixed on top.

    "Wow. This thing is detecting excessive Mana just oozing out of you. How long do you think you can maintain that form?"

    "As long as I want." Ciel replied nearly casually.

    "What?"

    "I said as long as I want."

    Ciel didn''t want to exin her position, but her statement was genuine. Thanks to the Arcana Spell: The Magician, she could create an indefinite loop that converted the surrounding energy around her to Mana, giving her an unlimited supply. With Spellcraft, she could also attract more Mana for her purposes, allowing her ess to even more Mana than she would otherwise possess.

    "That beam of light from beyond the sky¡­ it''s from a satellite, no? Incredible. So you managed to build one." Ciel smiled.

    "Y-you¡­ how did you know?"

    Ciel still didn''t want to exin how her senses had spread so far that even she was amazed by it. Besides, she was able to spot the light as it rained down on her. It came in a straight path, directly from the sky.

    ''I can''t sense the Satellite itself, since its out of range, but I have already determined its position.''

    It didn''t matter much, though.

    "Hehe. You''re right. My Satelite can track your movements in real time and shoot you down at any given moment!"

    "Really? Then why haven''t you gotten rid of us yet? If your satelite is that powerful, you would have used it earlier."

    Jane''s strained smile was already beginning to fall as Ciel uncovered more of her grandiose statements and exposed them for what they really were.

    Lies.

    "I''d like to assume that was a one-shot beam that can''t be used again. You were proabably saving it for something very urgent and important. Is that how badly you want to kill me?"

    At this point, veins began appearing on Jane''s face, and her pretty demeanor slowly morphed into something else.

    Something repulsive.

    "You think you know everything, huh?"

    "Hm? No. I don''t think that at al¡ª"

    "Shut up! I''ll show you¡­ you don''t know a single damn thing!"

    An immense energy gathered around Jane as she red at Ciel. The atmosphere was thick with bloodlust, and her aurapletely morphed to form a dark silhoutte.

    Slowly, she became cloaked in darkness, and what appeared to be shadows rose from her dark cloak.

    Darkened mist surrounded her, and a malevolent grin formed on her pale-looking face.

    "This is¡­" Ciel whispered.

    "That''s right! Pseudo-Dark Magic. I invented my own form of it. It''s not as effective as actual dark energy, but it mimics its effects."

    Ciel narrowed her gaze and clenched her fist. It seemed things had gotten far more serious than she hoped.

    "I''ll make sure to consume you in this darkness, Ciel. If nothing else, you''re going to die here!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 866 Darkness Seeks Light [Pt 2]

    Dark Magic.

    It was a disgusting power gotten from an otherworldly source known as Dark Energy. In this world, it was a deadly force to be reckoned with, and even the mightiest of champions feared its effects.

    That was because the effects of Dark Magic were absolute.

    *

    *

    *

    >WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    Jane Urs lunged at Ciel, donning a murderous gleam in her eyes. Her intention was in as day, and the brutal grin stered on her face further drove home the point.

    "YOU''RE DEAD!"

    Cackles of purple and ck electricity surged from Jane, and they were thrown at Ciel, who swiftly teleported a distance away in safety.

    "Tch! Stay in one ce, why don''t you?" Jane muttered, ncing in Ciel''s new direction. "I''ll make it quick."

    In another burst of evil energy, Jane dashed over to Ciel''s location, this time brimming with dark mes that even corrupted the very air around her.

    Fortunately, Ciel managed to evade once more, barely escaping the immense furnace that would have consumed her otherwise.

    "Looks like¡­ I''ll have to get a bit more serious!"

    Jane pped both hands together, and suddenly, the dark mist that centered around her began to shroud the entire area. It''s immense appearance became thinner, until only dark spots could be seen around, but she was able to sessfully expand her influence.

    "You won''t be able to teleport now."

    Dark Magic interfered with Spells, after all. Even if this was a pseudo kind, and she had spread it so thin, Jane was confident in its ability to at least slow down the Spells of her target.

    Dy it long enough for her to strike!

    >BZZZZZZTTTTTTZZZZZZZZZ!!!<

    ck and purple shes of lightning cracked once more, and they lunged at Ciel with unstoppable fervour.

    "Haa¡­" A light breath escaped from Ciel''s lips as she witnessed the terrifying surges of electricity draw nearer. "... Let''s end this."

    Despite the heavy restrictions, blueish energy surrounded her. The space around her got distorted, and she was able to instantly teleport.

    "W-wha¡ª?!" Before Jane couldpletely utter her shocked response, Ciel appeared behind her, a ball of energy already prepared atop her palm.

    "[Purify]." She whispered, pointing her palm at Jane, who was still barely recoiling from the series of unbelievable events that had just yed out.

    "Y-you¡­" Jane tried to gather as much Pseudo Dark Energy to defend herself from Ciel''s imminent attack.

    Unfortunately, she was toote.

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Consumed by a massive beam of light, Jane felt herself drowning in the unbelievably immense power that struck her.

    She became lost in the white sea of energy,  and she felt the current pull her down. Every single speck of her Pseudo Dark Energy evaporated, and all the defensive artifacts she had eqipped were instantly overwhelmed by the power.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    Inevitably, she crashed upon the earth, creating a massive crater upon impact.

    "U-urghhh¡­ ahhh¡­."

    As her back was buried deep into the dark soil, and her face forcefully pointed at the sky, Jane felt her injured body grow stiff and heavy. She could hardly move, andcked even the most basic energy to cast a Spell.

    She was stuck in every sense of the word, and her heart tightened upon that realization. Having no other choice, her eyes had to witness Ciel floating above her, coated in beauty and splendor¡ªwhat could be described as Jane''s opposite at the moment.

    "It seems you''re the one who lost." The young-looking woman in white said with a smile. "That Pseudo Dark Magic of yours¡­ its scary, but iplete."

    Frankly, if it hadn''t been for the influence of the Arcana Spells in her arsenal, she couldn''t have been certain of her victory. Once more, she had to thank Jared for bestowing upon her this knowledge, and the ability to harness enough power to use them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "So, what are you going to do now? Why aren''t you destroying the generator?" Jane asked, coughing as she chuckled bitterly.

    "You think I''m stupid? Doing that would cause the event-horizon to copse. It could lead to spacial imbnce, and that could potentially break apart this world."

    "Well, if we seed in our ns, its not like you''d be better off. So why allow us to win?" Jane probed, almost as if she wanted Ciel to take the action itself.

    Even with her wounds, she leaked the fiercest grin.

    "I''m not in a hurry. While it is scary to imagine the return of Dark Energy, I have decided to have trust in my allies. Especially ''him.'' Since ''he'' said I should leave this to him¡­ I willply."

    Jane appeared a little confused by Ciel''s statement. It was most likely because she didn''t know who Ciel was referring to. Was it Neron? No, she wouldn''t have sounded this way if it was him.

    ''Then¡­ is it that new member that Jared told me about? Come to think of it, he''s not here is he?'' Jane didn''t like how peaceful the smile of Ciel appeared, and she could feel her chest tightning in annoyance as she watched.

    >BEEP<

    >BEEP<

    >BEEP<

    A device suddenly rang from Jane''s device, projecting arge screen in front of her. A couple of images, nnumbers, and a few other statistical values were etched on the bright transluscent window.

    "N-no¡­ what is this? What''s going on here?" Jane''s eyes widened in shock.

    "Oh? It seems you''ve finally realized it. We''re attacking all the regions you control. Judging by the expression you''re making, the n must be proceeding nicely."

    "H-how?! How do you have so many resources to spare? Attacking all those many ces at once, and even this ce! How? Just how possible is this? It can''t be!"

    It defied exnation how the Outgroup¡ªeven if they teamed up with the Midas Race¡ªcould secure so many soldiers and resources.

    How could an army of that scale even have moved to the respective nations without being detected by survence.

    ''Don''t tell me¡­ it''s teleportation?!''

    But who could have been able to use such advanced teleportation? She and Jared had concluded¡ªeven if they still found it unbelievable¡ªthat it was Ciel''s doing.

    However, with the same thing uring all over the world, in multiple regions, it seemed they would have to throw aside their theories.

    There was someone else!

    ''T-the strange man, then? He''s the only reasonable exnation! But is that even possible?'' No, it wasn''t possible.

    Someone like that¡ªthat could do all of these things¡ªwas far more powerful than her lover. That was something she could not tolerate.

    ''Is that why they''re so confident about their n? Do they really have a countermeasure against the generator?'' The more her thoughts flowed, the faster her heat poounded.

    Was she overreacting? No, this was the only natural response she could give upon being exposed to this shocking revtion.

    "Your n was doomed to fail from the very start, Jane." Ciel''s voice echoed in her head. "It was only a matter of how."

    With Jane Urs defeated, and most of the battle won, Ciel nced in the direction of the conflict that was yet to subside.

    ''Should I help?'' She thought to herself. However, upon remembering the words of the Outer''s Jared on non-interference, she decided not to.

    ''I''ll trust you, Jared!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 867 Neron Alter [Pt 1]

    [A Few Moments Earlier]

    Two people stood opposite each other¡ªenemies in their own right. One had short pitch-ck hair, while the other donned one with a contrasting color and length.

    "Are you really sure you want to fight me? It''s a little lopsided, in my opinion." The one who spoke was the man with white hair, Elrich Lendertwale.

    Also known as the strongest Grand Mage.

    "I''m not really into bullying. It''s a waste of time and energy." He added, staring at the one who was supposed to be his opponent.

    ''Lord Jared praises him a lot, especially his intelligence. However, when ites to a Magic Battle, he''ll stille out inferiror.'' Elrich thought, narrowing his gaze on Neron.

    In contrast to the talkative Elrich, Neron simply stood still and listened to all that was being spouted. His deadpan face showed no emotion, and it even appeared he was bored of the whole thing.

    "Not going to say anything, huh? Alright then. Let''s get starte¡ª"

    "Tell me something¡­" Neron''s calm voice suddenly pierced the tense environment. "... What''s so great about Magic?"

    For a moment, the question was recieved without a response. It was only greeted with a confused stare from Elrich.

    "What the hell are you talking about?" He asked.

    "I mean, what is so great about this thing you call Magic? You sold your basic rights and became a subordinate to Jared because you wanted to expand your reach in Magic. You partook in many atrocities, also for that goal. Magic is a driving force that propels you to do the unthinkable. But, I ask you¡­ what is so great about it?"

    Elrich still expressed bewilderment at Neron''s question. No one had ever asked him that question, neither did they need to.

    What kind of person would ask such a foolish question? To him, it was like someone asking "What''s so great about water?"

    Wasn''t that just ridiculous?

    "To be honest, I think I would prefer a world without Magic."

    "Hahaha! Now you''re just spouting nonsense! What kind of person talks like this? Aren''t you even a Magic Engineer? A Schr?" Elrichughed, almost in mockery of what Neron said.

    "Is that so? Yeah, maybe you''re right. Maybe I''m being a hypocrite¡­" A smile slowly formed on Neron''s face as he stared at Elrich. "Maybe, maybe not."

    "Should you really be wasting time like this? Don''t you want to stop the generator?" Elrich asked.

    "I don''t need to. It''ll be fine." Neron added, is smile growing wider. "It seems I asked you a useless question. In that case, just ignore what I just said."

    "Seems like you''re well aware. It was a stupid quesition. What''s so great about Magic? Coming from an Inept like you? I suppose you wouldn''t be able to understand the thrill of doing something like thissssss!"

    In an instant, twin shes of lightning appeared on both Elrich''s hands, and he pointed them at Neron.

    The bursts of whitish blue energy charged toward him, cackling loudly in their wake.

    >BZZZTTTTTZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz<

    Almost as soon as the bright sparks got to Neron, they stopped, spreading around an invisible surface, before finally fizzling out.

    "H-huh?" Elrich muttered.

    "Don''t look so surprised. You said it yourself. I''m an inventor. Even right now, my body is coated with a lot of Items I made." Neron responded with a shrug.

    "Primulus Ores have a special property that repels electrical currents. By fusing them with other Prismatic Ores, and gemstones, I can create a natural elemental resistance barrier. Of course, improving concentration and creating multiple resonating reactions make the repulsion fields much more intense. You could try another Spell and see how it goes."

    "W-what?!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "It''ll be the same result, though. Ah, unless you use a Spell that''s about 7, but something tells me you can''t."

    "H-how did you¡­?"

    "By the way, you''re yet to prove my question foolish, you know? I mean¡­ what''s so great about Magic, Elrich?"

    The Grand Mage began gritting his teeth at this point. He had spent so much time studying and improving his Magic, but his specialty was Elemental Magic.

    Did Neron ount fo this before deciding to face him?

    "I will give credit where it is due. Your intelligence was not exaggerated." Elrich muttered. "However, this proves nothing."

    With a snap of his fingers, Elrich caused a dark red orb to appear. It gleamed brightly, but something murky seemed to dwell within.

    Something detestably dirty.

    "Did you sacrifice living beings to make that Blood Stone? Looking at howrge it is, you must have consumed a lot."

    "Oh, this isn''t mine. It was a goft from Lord Jared. It''s the result of the Elven Massacre all those years ago.

    Neron''s eyes twitched the moment he heard that.

    "Oh, don''t look at me like that. Do you think I would refuse such a gift? You know how immensely powerful Blood Stones are, don''t you? The condensed Mana Particles of those who died, all converging to form a huge Mana Amplifier. It''s the ultimate tool for a Mage! Even those who can''t properly use Magic,  should be able to use it with this. Of course, it does nothing to help Inepts like you."

    A Blood Stone could only serve as a Supplimentary Mana Core, but not an actual one. If used right, even the least adept human could be able to use the power of Magic to its full potential, but those who didn''t have any ability at all remained helpless.

    "It''s the greatest Magic Item in the wor¡ª"

    "It''s disgusting." Neron spoke, his voice thick with something else this time.

    No longer did it contain ackluster energy, and no longer was his expression deadpan. His tone had gone through a drastic change, and the current look in his eyes expressed something that made Elrich shiver down to his bones.

    Rage.

    "So this is your answer, Elrich?"

    "Keuk!"

    Neron''s hair began to turn white, and sparks of energy danced around him. The intensity of the power forced Elrich to kneel, trembling fervently as the energy kept rising.

    "This is how great Magic is?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 868 Neron Alter [Pt 2]

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    Elrich Lendertwale could feel himself hyperventting.

    His heart wouldn''t stop racing, and sweat filled his face¡ªno, his entire body. All his pores leaked out the sticky, salty liquid as his bulging eyes turned bloodshot.

    ''W-what is¡­ this power?'' Elrich''s thoughts screamed as he felt his bodypletelycking strength.

    ''Wasn''t he inept?!''

    Just as Elrich felt the immensely buntiful power was about to crush him¡­ it suddenly ceased.

    "I don''t think so. Perhaps Magic is indeed relevant to live a better, more peaceful life. Perhaps there could exist a world where Magic isn''t used to cause more harm than good, and a greater justification for atrocities isn''t wrought because of this supernatural force. However¡­ that kind of reality doesn''t exist here."

    Neron''s white hair returned to its usual ck color, but his eyes were frosty cold. Elrich looked at his face with trembling as he remained on his knees.

    "Even an Inept like me can wield Magic with an Artificial Core ans some body modification surgeries. By enlisting ''his'' assistance, I was able toplete the project and use Magic. However, do you know what I felt after personally experiencing it for the first time in my life?"

    Neron''s gaze grew darker.

    "Disappointment. Magic is underwhelming."

    "E-eh¡­?" Elrich''s face turned pale.

    "You all increased my expectations, so I had my doubts about my view on the subject. I had thought it was because I never knew how amazing it felt that I couldn''t understand why it was so relevant¡ªwhy, despite the horrors it causes, we still ce it at the apex of our desires."

    His body trembled the more he listened to Neron. A man who wielded such power¡­ yet called it insufficient justification? Yet demeaned it to be disappointing.

    How could someone like this exist?

    "Now that I have experienced it firsthand, I can clearly draw my conclusions. This world does not require Magic to function. Magic isn''t so great. In as much as it can bring good and happiness, the risks outweigh the benefits."

    Elrich could not understand. He had spent his entire life chasing after Magic. So had his father, and his father, and the father before that. His mother''s lineage was no different.

    In the end, everyone could agree that the pursuit of Magic was what drove their civilization forward. How could this man say otherwise.

    "Evil will always exist in the world, in one form or another. However, the power of Magic amplifies that which already is. Those who desire to do good are further strengthened, able to save more lives and help more people¡­"

    "T-then¡ª!"

    "But what about the evil ones? Of what use is saving the lives of a hundred more people when a thousand could perish as a result of the very same power?"

    Elrich couldn''t ept this line of logic. After building himself up this long¡­ after making so many sacrifices to arrive at this point¡­ there was no way he could subscribe to Neron''s words.

    "I don''t know why I''m telling you this. Honestly. It''s a waste of time, I know. Perhaps I just wanted to let it out of my chest this once. Perhaps I wanted to see the reaction another person would make once they heard my true thoughts. Perhaps¡­" He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

    "... I want you to understand the reason behind what I''m about to do."

    "S-shut up and die!" Elrich swiftly raised his Blood Stone, causing a massive eruption of energy that seemed to blow everything in the area away.

    "With this power, I can transcend my limits and use 8 Star Magic. I''ll destroy you with my Ultimate Spell!"

    Neron remained rooted in his position as Elrich heard this. The distorted space, caused by the intensity of Mana in the air, made it nearly impossible for anyone to see the kind of expression he was making.

    "[Five Elements Scream]!"

    >VWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    An unbelievable eruption of all five major elemental attributes instantly appeared.

    Fire. Water. Earth. Wind. Lightning.

    They all gathered, like a massive storm that converged to create an evenrger epitome of destruction. The multicolored st was on standby, covering arge expanse as Elrich stood behind it, grinning with delight.

    "This is what''s great about Magic! To hell with your logic! You deserve to die! You and your dangerous philosophy!"

    The Blood Stone gleamed, and the raging storm grew evenrger, before it was released toward Neron.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    It began to flow.

    Everything in its path got destroyed as it surged and danced and roared, tearing through the distance to consume the single target it desired.

    "HAHAHAHAHA! DIEEEEEEEEEE!!!" Elrich cackled maniacally, waiting and hoping to see Neron eviscerated.

    But¡­

    >FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU¡­<

    The erupting st suddenly bagan to dete as it got closer to Neron The mes flickered, bing smaller, and the water evaporated. All the elements began to lose their luster, and by the time they reached one or two meters from Neron, the Spell had be nothing but a squishy mesh of elements that could fit into a person''s palm.

    And, of course, it self-destructed.

    >POOF!<

    Just like that, the Spell vanished.

    "H-how? You said it wouldn''t stop anything more or equal to a 7 Star! That was an 8 Star Spell!" Elrich screamed, tears and snot falling all over his distorted face.

    "Are you retarded?" Neron asked, a wide grin etched on his face. "Have you never heard a lie before?"

    "A-ah¡­ ahh¡­"

    "I could have easily lied about the capacity of my Items. Why would you rely on any statement I make? As your enemy, shouldn''t I be unreliable?"

    So, that was it? Neron tricked him? Neron lied to him? He was deceieved?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Neron, you bastaaaarrrdddd!"

    "I didn''t lie, by the way. That device of mine only had that capacity. Your Spell was enought to overwhelm it."

    This only made Elrich all the more confused. "T-then¡­"

    "I didn''t need to lie to win. I was nning on doing this from the start anyway. I just needed to give you enough of an incentive to use your full power. Just as expected, it holds up."

    Elrich''s face had now be ugly, turned wretched by Neron''s brilliance and clear dominance. He could do nothing but stutter like a bumbling idiot.

    "W-what holds up?"

    With narrowed eyes, and a wide smile, Neron uttered the words that Elrich never expected to hear.

    "Anti Magic."

    "W-what?"

    "How long has it been now? When I happened to stumble upon the vestiges of Dark Energy in the Dungeon I visited with Edward? I studied itsponents and realized its ipatibility with this world''s Mana¡­"

    Suddenly, Neron started moving.

    "However, within that ipatibility, I found something very interesting in their interaction."

    Step by step, he got closer to Elrich.

    "Anti Magic. The ability to eradicate Magic by nullifying Manaponents with Darkponents, creating a resonating null.

    "A-ahh¡­"

    Before Elrich knew it, Neron was right in front of him. His shivering body was unable to do anything, not even as Neron ced his palm on his head.

    "What do you think would happen if I used it on a person, ounting for all the variables and necessary frequencies?"

    "N-no¡­ please¡­n-n-noo¡­"

    Elrich could feel something course through him. It was an odd feeling, but it felt like he was being probed¡ªdown to his innermost region.

    "Analysispletel. Commencing Nullification." Neron''s voice rang in his head.

    The Grand Mage began to feel dizzy,pletely absorbed into whatever Neron was doing to his body. He couldn''t resist, nor could he even sense anything around him anymore.

    Rather, he could feel himself being more and more aware of his body¡ªspecifically the urence that was taking ce within it.

    Elich saw a multitude of lights inside him, and one by one they darkened.

    It finally remained a few hundred. Then a few dozen.

    Ten.

    Five.

    Two.

    One¡­. and then none.

    The final ember was snuffed out, and he felt himself in perpetual darkness.

    Before Elrich knew it, he crumbled to the floor, unconscious. He seemed to be breathing just fine, and while he appeared exhausted, there didn''t seem to be any sign of injury or death.

    As for the bloodstone in his grasp, its color darkened until it turnedpletely ck, before shattering like ss.

    "First experiment is a sess. Perman nullificationplete." Neron''s words echoed on as his deep ck eyes stared at the body of his adversary.

    "Congrations, Elrich¡­" Neron whispered, a smile forming on his face. "... You''re now Inept."

    With that, Neron left the old man''s body, watching as it reverted to its miserable elderly state before rotting away. Without Magic supporting his long life, there was no longer any reason for him to be alive.

    "This is just the beginning, though¡­" Neron muttered, looking at the battlefield around him.

    All the chaos and destruction.

    They repulsed him to no end.

    "Soon, all of this will be nothing but ancient history." His eyes trailed to the stabilizing wormhole above him.

    "I just need a little more Dark Energy."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    So, this chapter was longer than usual.

    That''s because I was so immersed in it. I wanted you all to see this as it was.

    I''d be happy to hear your thoughts on Neron (Alter). What do you think about him and his ideals? Like it? Support it?

    Or¡­?

    Let me know in thements.

 Chapter 869 Disgraced Midas

    "DIEEEEEEEEEE, YOU BASTAAAAAARRRRRRD!!!" A bright streak lunged at its target.

    Kuzon Midas, covered in golden light, was currently engaged in a fierce battle with Jared Leonard¡ªor so he thought to himself.

    However, all he was really doing was chasing his opponent with all his might, trying his best tond even one solid hit.

    "S-stay in one ce, you slimy bastard!" Kuzon yelled.

    The only response he recieved was a light chuckle from his opponent. Jared Leonard''s white hair fluttered as he dodged yet another one of Kuzon''s attack, and a cold gaze of condescension beamed from his eyes.

    ''D-damn it!'' Kuzon growled internally. ''Why can''t I hit him?!''

    When they first began the battle, he was d that he was indeed pitted against his archnemesis. He was finally going to be able to carry out his revenge. Everything had gone ording to n.

    Even during the start of the fight, he had an immense level of confidence in his abilities. Sure, he had just lost against the Outer''s newest member, but that was merely an exception.

    He had been studying Jared for very long. He knew he had what it took to defeat him¡­ especially if he went ultra serious in the fight.

    However¡­

    ''Why can''t I hit him?!''

    ¡­ Nothing seemed to work!

    ''I''m using both [Mage Mode] and [Midas Touch]. I''m also adorned with my enhancing artifacts, and my powers have risen to unimaginable bounds. Why am I¡­ still behind?!''

    Kuzon gritted his teeth as he created several hundred constructs of light with his Magic, lunging the golden des toward Jared.

    "For real¡­?" He heard a whisper from the target, assuming he said that because he was cornered.

    ''I finally got you bastar¡ª''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Seemingly effortlessly, Jared repelled all the golden des, causing them to shatter like cheap ss.

    "N-no way!"

    Kuzon knew how much Mana he had expended in that venture. He had ensured each de waspressed enough to prate the thickest hide, yet Jared pushed everything with zero efforts at all.

    ''How is he doing that?!'' It made no sense to him, which enraged the Midas Emperor even more.

    "BASTAAAAR¡ª"

    "Alright, that''s enough." Jared''s voice suddenly echoed, and Kuzon felt his body grow heavy.

    "K-keuk!"

    Before he knew it, Kuzon fell to his kneed, causing massive cracks on the already devastated ground. His body ached as he could feel every part grow heavier and heaavier by the minute.

    No, that wasn''t quite right.

    It seemed like there was a heavy burden on top of him. It was invisible, but Kuzon could feel its immense weight, unable to shake it off.

    "B-bastard! W-what did you d-do¡­?" He gasped, struggling to rise from his knees, but failing every time.

    "[Forced Homage]" Jared''s voice echoed in his ears, forcing him to cease his pointless struggle. "I made the air around you heavier than normal. It''s a simple Spell, and it gets the job done."

    As a result, Kuzon found himself in the most humiliating situation¡ªhim kneeling before the man he hated the most, Jared Leonard.

    "Y-you¡­"

    "Bastard? Yeah, you keep saying that. I''ve heard that word so many times that it''s gotten stale. Don''t you have something better? Not that it matters, though¡­" A twisted smile formed on his face.

    Kuzon felt a zing inferno rage within him. Frsutration and unquelled fury threatened to swallow him whole, and his whole body convulsed amid this weight of emotions.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I decided to spend my time with you, yet you ended up wasting it. And here I thought you would have gotten stronger after ourst encounter¡­" Jared''s words stung Kuzon''s heart.

    "I-I have¡­"

    "Really? I couldn''t tell. Then again, it''s probably not you but me. When you reach a certain point in strength, it bes pretty irrelevant what the worms do beneath you."

    "I-I''m not a w-worm¡­"

    "Sure, you are."

    Before Kuzon could respond, Jared nted his heel on head, forcing it to sh with thr ground. He then rubbed his boots on Kuzon''s suppressed face.

    "See? I stamp worms with this very boot. There''s no difference between you and them." Jared, the clear dominator, grinned.

    "Kuek¡­ y-you¡­ I''ll kill y-you¡­"

    "Urgh. You keep saying that. Grow up already." Jared rolled his eyes, now disying disgust.

    "W-what are y-you¡ª"

    "I mean, sure I killed your parents. I stabbed them in the back and made you an orphan. So what? You don''t need to bitch on about it."

    "Y-you monster¡­"

    "Exactly! I''m a monster. That''s what I am. It''s what I do. Do you know how many people I betray and kill in a day? Do you know how many orphans I''ve made already? Stop whining about your situation as if you''re some sort of special case."

    "H¡­ h¡­" At this point, Kuzon began to choke on his sobs. Tears fell from his eyes, overflowing due to his increasing frustration and unquelled rage.

    "Yeah, yeah. Keep crying like the little baby you are. I can''t believe this. You mean, you allied with the Outers, went through all this borate n, and even challenged me, all because of some childish reason? What a snowke."

    "M-mom¡­ d-dad¡­." Kuzon cried even more, miserable and pathetic as his face hugged the dirty floor.

    "Pfft. What a retard."

    Kuzon''s golden light vanished, and his Mage Mode expired. He was now nothing but a pathetic loser, fallen andpletely helpless.

    "I find it hard to believe you are the Emperor of the Midas Empire. It''s a good thing you allied with the Outgroup. Pretty sure they helped you with most of your administrative affairs. Even this n¡­ I doubt you got to have any say in it. Why? Because you''re an idiot."

    Broken. Weak. Sunken to the lowest point of despair, Kuzon''s empty eyes saw nothing but hopeless darkness.

    ''A-ah¡­ am I¡­ such a loser¡­?''

    He had been shown just how weak and ipetent he was.

    He was a terrible ruler, a bad nephew, a hopeless Mage, a dishonorable son. All in all¡­ wasn''t he a failure? That''s right. Kuzon Midas was an absolute disgrace to the Midas Race.

    W-wouldn''t everyone be better off if he just died?

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Evil Jared is such just¡­ demn.

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 Chapter 870 The Ripening

    "...ill me¡­" A whisper escaped from Kuzon Midas''s lips.

    He was as helpless as a rat caught in a trap. No, perhaps he was even worse off. Not only had hepletely lost the will to struggle, but now¡­

    "Huh? What did you say?"

    "Just¡­ kill me."

    ¡­ Kuzon hadpletely lost the will to live.

    "So you finally want to die, eh? About time. I was thinking of doing the same, considering how much of an eyesore you''ve be."

    There was no response from the young Midas.

    "I thought it would be a bit thrilling to have some sort of powerful figure who was out for revenge and doing their best to oppose me. I thought you could at least be useful for entertainment, but you fail at even that, huh?"

    Kuzon could not utter a word in his defense.

    "Worthless child. You''re a worthless child." Suddenly, he began to stomp Kuzon, kicking and crushing him with his boots with every word he gave.

    A dissonance existed in Jared''s tone at this point. A form of anger was disyed in his eyes as he gave a frown of disapproval.

    "You''re not useful for anything. How dare you be this useless? You idiot! Retard! Inept bastar¡­ ah¡­"

    He slowly stopped pumelling him, looking at the bloody mess he had made on the floor. He watched the disfigured face of the fallen Midas, and how discheveled he looked.

    "Allow me to put you out of your misery." He whispered coldly, pointing his hand toward Kuzon.

    "[Just Die]"

    In that moment, at that very spot, a heart stopped beating, and death was inflicted upon the target. The cold corpse clung closely to the dirt, drenched in its darkened blood.

    "... What an eyesore." Jared stared at the darkened blood, watching the reflective surface of the stale liquid.

    "Looks like that''s one issue taken care of. What of the rest?"

    *

    *

    *

    After a brief moment of investigation, using his sensory abilities and ultimate technique, Jared opened his eyes and gave a light sigh.

    "Looks like most of our forces have been defeated. That''s unofortunate." It seemed, even though he thought he had nned well enough for the climax, his prepaations were stillcking.

    Looking at the current state of the battlefield, it was clear that the opposition had the upper hand. If something wasn''t done quickly, their side would lose.

    Not that Jared was really worried.

    "Three of the Generals are also dead." He muttered, continously observing the battlefield.

    He could see that Abellion and Gerard were dead. He could only see a rotten corpse in ce of Elrich. The corpse seemed to be undergoing a rapid process of decay.

    ''Even after I gave him that Blood Stone, he still lost? What a useless fool.''

    Well, it couldn''t be helped that he perished. Considering the fact that his opponent was Neron, that much was to be expected. Besides¡­

    ''I only gave him a portion of theplete Blood Stone harvested from the Elven Massacre. Most of the power went to powering the device.'' Jared looked at the generator, and at the bright purple light that pierced the sky.

    The event-horizon was stabilizing. He could see that it wasn''t going to be long before he achieved his desires. However, something felt missing. Even as he saw the gateway to his grand goal,  his thoughts were elsewhere.

    ''Jane¡­''

    She wasn''t dead. Not yet.

    Since they were linked¡ªbound by their Soul Contract¡ªhe could tell. However, he was finding it very difficult to find her location. He didn''t think he would have this much trouble, but apparently he did.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Where are you, Jane?'' His thoughts began to get erratic as he searched around even more, ignoring the multiple enemies that began closing in on him.

    ~Jared, what are you doing? Now isn''t the time to get distracted?~ Merlin''s ghost appeared that very moment, touching his shounder with its cold hand.

    ''I''m searching for Jane.'' He gave a simple response.

    ~Right now? The time is at hand. We''ll finally be able to achieve our desires and¡ª~

    "All of that is meaningless without Jane!" The moment he said this, a powerful force erupted, sending all the enemies that surrounded him flying.

    Once more, he was all alone on the battlefield, eyes widening in desperation. Until..

    "Ahh¡­ I''ve finally found you!"

    In a sh, Jared flew from his position, causing the ground around him to erupt. He ignored the catastophe he caused and darted straight toward the signature he sensed.

    Navigating his way through the multitude of energies, crushing any obstacle that stood in his way¡ªmostly Automatons and Golems¡ªhe finally arrived at the location.

    "J-Jane?!"

    He saw her within a massive crater, lying on the ground unconscious.

    "JAAANEEEEE!!!"

    Launching himself toward her, he cleared the entire area of any interference andnded gently beside her. Grabbing her softly, he drew her close to his chest and hugged her tightly.

    ''She''s cold.'' His toughts echoed. ''Mana deprivation!''

    Quickly, he coursed Mana from his body into hers, gently filling her up so she wouldn''t get too much or too little at once.

    "Jane¡­ wake up." He whispered into her ears. In response, she stirred, mostly likely drifting in the real of her subconsciousness at this point.

    Unfortunately for him, before he could utter another word, he felt a cluster of presences closing in on him. They felt extremely familiar¡ªbut not in a good way.

    "Who would have thought¡­ Jared Leonard actually has a heart." Neron''s voice echoed, and he revealed himself, along with the other Outers around.

    Edward, Karlia, Ciel, Z''ark as well. All of them surrounded Jared Leonard as he clutched Jane Urs.

    "Thanks for hiding her presence until we were all done." Neron smiled at Ciel, who nodded gently.

    It seemed everything was just a n to lure him in.

    "Do you really think you can stop me, even if you band together?" Cornered and growling, Jared red at the members of the Outgroup.

    For a moment, silence pervaded their ranks. However, Neron broke it by taking a step forward and providing the answer the he least expected.

    "Yes. We can stop you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    d to see he has some humanity left in him. Wonder what''ll happen to him eventually¡­

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 Chapter 871 The Outpouring

    ''I''m surrounded? Ah, I see¡­ I was careless.''

    Still firmly holding Jane in his arms, Jared watched his enemies close in on him. His gaze was especially fixed on Neron. He had noticed something different about him, after all.

    "You can use Magic now? How interesting¡­" He whispered, maintaining his careful expression.

    In response to his obviously apprehensive demeanor, Neron broke into a smile. Jared felt irritated just watching a look of satisfaction on the face of his most despised adversary, but he controlled himself.

    "Isn''t this the time you show us your incredible power? Tell us we''re worms, and proceed to wipe the floor with us?" Neron said, radiating even more of the confidence Jared despised.

    "Why do you ask? Do you already miss thest beating I gave you? I should have killed you back then¡­"

    "You talk as if you could. In the end, you just weren''t given the chance thanks to the situation."

    "A situation you devised. As always, Neron¡­ you remain the greatest annoyance that stands in my way."

    At this point, Jared could do nothing but calmly watch as his adversary drew closer to him.

    ''I would have disyed my power, and I don''t think it would be too difficult to escape this situation, but why does it seem like that is exactly what they want me to do?''

    When he thought about it deeply, couldn''t they have ambushed him, or perhaps attacked him with abined effort, rather than leisurely approach him like this? It seemed to him that they were daring him to retaliate.

    ''Do they have some sort of trick up their sleeve? Ciel was able to hide Jane from my senses, only revealing her presence when she wanted. That shows that they''re at least not the weaklings they were in the past¡­''

    Plus, Jared could sense it¡ªthe power that the group in front of him leaked.

    ''They''re far more polished than before. Even their equipment is astounding. They really prepared well¡­''

    And now, they had also seeded in trapping him.

    "I suppose this is a ''Check'', one step away from Checkmate." Jared gently put his down, using Magic to ensure her body didn''t touch the cold, dirty ground.

    Sparkles of light danced around Jane, causing her to levitate mere inches from the floor. The light also encased her in a protective dome that boasted an immense concentration of energy. In essence, it was her haven.

    "How considerate of you. If only you had spared only a small degree of that affection for others, it wouldn''t havee to this." Neron said, a grave expression on his face.

    Jared shrugged instantly. He wasn''t in the mood to get into this discussion any longer. It had been too long since he chose to walk down this path, and his dream was in sight. Only a fool would give up now.

    ''What has this world ever done to deserve my affection? It has caused me nothing but pain and hatred. Crushed by the weight of despair, my desire formed, and I decided to do whatever it took to arrive at my goal.''

    How was he the one in the wrong? No, he just wanted what was denied of him in the first ce¡ªwhat he had to struggle to obtain.

    "Power. All I need is more power. Jane understood that. She deserves all my love and affection¡­ not the rest of you mongrels." Jared''s thoughts leaked out as he red at the Outers.

    "You can stall for time all you want, Jared, but that doesn''t matter. Once the wormhole you generated bes stable, we''ll destroy it."

    Of course! They must have known that doing it prematurely would only doom the world.

    "You need to get to the portal in order to get what you want. We''re not going to allow that." After Neron said this, a bright light manifested from Ciel, and a highly concentrated dome covered Jared and his immediate vicinity.

    "Is that so?" The white-haired overlord responded, a wry smile forming on his face.

    An influx of emotions coursed through him, and his heart palpitated slightly, but he maintained a calm expression. Rather than waste his breath saying any more, he observed the shield that covered him.

    ''It''s dense. Also rich in Mana. I see¡­ they''ve really thought this true.'' If he used his strongest Spell, he would be able to break out, but they weren''t going to give him enough room and time to use it.

    ''In the end, all I can do is wait, huh?''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    But, how long did he really have to wait? That was the most pertinent question.

    And the answer?

    >VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH<

    "Hehe¡­" Jared grinned, raising his head to witness the source of the echoing sound.

    It wasn''t just him. The Outers also observed the rushing sound that emerged from the final stabilization of the wormhole''s event-horizon.

    In essence, the moment of truth had arrived.

    "It seems you people misunderstood something." Jared''s smile kept widening as he gazed at the ckening sky.

    "I don''t need to go to the portal to ess Dark Energy¡­"

    Misty ckness suddenly began gushing out of the swirling rift in the sky, like how water burst out of a leaking tank.

    The outpour raged, rushing only in one direction.

    "... The Dark Energy wille to me."

    Just as he made this statement, the shield around him cracked, buzzing in response to the iing corruption that gnawed at its vitality. It weakened the dome enough for him to resort to his ultimate technique.

    "[Spellcraft¡­]"

    At that moment, the dome shattered, and the darkness copsed on him.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Everything around him shattered, and even the Outers were pushed away due to the sheer pressure that enveloped him.

    Slowly, the darkness raised him above the earth, taking him to its source. The wormhole called for him, pouring out even more of its contents to him.

    Immersed in the bountiful sea of Dark Energy, Jared could feel what he had sought for so long¡ªhe felt it in abundance.

    "Power¡­"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like we''re getting to a climax. I know some of you are wondering where the MC is¡­

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 Chapter 872 [Bonus ] Dark Reign [Pt 1]

    A dark blot formed in the sky.

    So ugly and magnificent that everyone could watch in sheer horror and awe. This blight that darkened the whole world towered above everyone and everything else, doused in the ooze of darkness.

    The ooze converged and formed a man. The man had white hair, and ck-like veins around his pale body. His eyes glowed purple, and everything around him seemed to grow distorted as a result of his mere presence.

    "Haa¡­" Misty breath escaped his lips as he looked at his hand. Dark Energy converged there, and he inhaled the mist it produced.

    "So, this is it? The power I have sought after for so long."

    He had built his body to be strong enough to contain it. He had left his primary Core dormant, and even created multiple hollow Cores so he could absorb as much Dark Energy as he could. And now¡­ he had gotten it!

    Unlimited energy, newfound power. He could feel his desire getting fulfilled¡ªto be the strongest in the world, and even beyond. His wish is to possess all the Magic and be supreme.

    The means were now in his grasp.

    He had won!

    "There''s still so much power to tap from. Haha¡­ I really did it!"

    As his cackle echoed across the dark skies, certain people watched from beneath. Their faces told various expressions¡ªnot that he cared to notice.

    He only sought the one man he wanted to gloat to.

    "Do you see, Neron? Do you understand now? Hahahaha!"

    However, even though he gave the most maddeningughter, tearing through everything with the echoes he made, Neron''s gaze remained unfettered.

    It almost felt¡­ detached.

    ''You''re supposed to feel impressed¡ªno, threatened! You should look up in awe or fear¡ªmaybe both! Show me something! This isn''t the kind of face you should be making!''

    Neron''s unimpressed expression ached his heart, but it also brought about a blood-curdling thought.

    ''D-did he expect this too¡­?''

    That couldn''t be, right? RIGHT?!

    *

    *

    *

    ''As expected, he had a countermeasure¡­'' Neron''s thoughts trailed as he watched Jared''s elevated position¡ªhow he oozed so much Dark Energy.

    ''I''m a little envious, but I can''t be in too much of a rush.''

    Neron knew the amount of Dark Energy above him was enough for him to achieve his goal¡ªwiping out Magic from this world.

    However, that was only one piece of the puzzle.

    ''Mana won''t be an issue. I thought it would be difficult to achieve, but after learning Spellcraft, it shouldn''t be too difficult to tweak a few things to achieve the desired result.''

    Spreading Dark Energy into every nook and cranny of this world, ensuring the quantity and quality were well-regted, he could get rid of all the environmental Mana. Once that was done, he''d only need to use it on the living creatures.

    ''That would be moreplex, but it won''t be difficult.''

    All he had to do was generate a form that would Induce ''Ineptness'' in anyone who consumed it. Considering everyone had different qualities and quantities of Mana, the major hurdle he had to cross was administering the right dosage to them.

    ''I''ll also have to ount for timing. The effects have to take ce as close to simultaneously as possible, so everyone can lose their ability to use Magic at an approximately simr time.''

    If it was a worldwide phenomenon, it would remove suspicion from him as a malefactor. Or, even if he was still spotted as the origin, he could always show them the utopia he wanted to create.

    ''There''s still a lot of work to be done before then, though. I''ll need to do more experiments and research to arrive at the perfect form¡ªpreferably one that automatically administers the right amount of Dark Energy to nullify a person''s Mana.''

    Then, there was the BIGGEST obstacle he had to face.

    ''The otherworld Jared. He''s been of tremendous help to us, but he''s also detrimental to the n.''

    Words could not describe how much he respected and even admired the Jared that hade from anotherpletely different reality.

    He liked how easily they understood each other, as well as the mutual understanding they shared. He especially admired how, despite the tremendous power he possessed, this Jared would rather help others and assist in their growth.

    ''He uses his powers for the good of others, and he also desires the welfare of those who should be nothing more than strangers to him.''

    Neron genuinely saw Jared as a good friend¡ªarade who could understand his ideals. <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Unfortunately¡­

    ''Despite his good intentions, I''m also certain he has caused his fair share of misfortune thanks to the use of Magic. He must have also suffered a lot of hardship as a result. In the end, Magic is the same everywhere.''

    He would have loved to pitch his n to Jared. He had even hoped they could work together to actualize a rtively more peaceful world without the use of Magic.

    Regrettably, he could already see how impossible that desire was.

    ''He loves Magic. I can see it. There''s no way someone like him would understand. Even if he does¡­ he won''t ept it.''

    Neron could already see Jared as a hindrance to his n, and as long as he remained in this world, he couldn''t actualize it.

    ''I already know I''m no match for him.''

    That was why he had to be patient. Even with his grand prize above him, he had to hold back his desire and y his part in ending the devastating battle that had urred for far too long.

    ''Still¡­'' As Neron thought of Jared, something that had been bugging him for some time now resurfaced.

    ''Where is he, anyway?''

    They had been carrying things out ording to n, and Jared should have already been done with transporting all their allies.

    ''I thought he didn''t want to make his move until the portal stabilized, but what about now?'' Neron could only contemte in his head as he kept up his poker face.

    "What should we do now, Neron? He has seeded in fusing with the Dark Energy." Karlia asked, looking worried as she stood beside him.

    In response, Neron could only leak out a short sigh. Their n ended at stopping Jared before he could reach the portal. There was nothing after that.

    ''But, I can''t just say that, can I?''

    His hair instantly turned white, and energy danced around his body. In a sh, he transformed into his heightened state.

    "We just have to do whatever we can." He spoke, and a wry smile formed on his curled lips.

    "We''ll do all we can to stop Jared."

    *

    *

    *

    I watched the fight from a distance, observing everything thanks to my immense perception.

    I could already sense everyone on the other continents, seeing as they rushed to the Eastern Continent thanks to the dark blot in the sky.

    ''So, that is this world''s version of me, huh?'' The resemnce was uncanny.

    What got my attention the most, however, was the swirling portal that murked up the sky and supplied Evil Jared with so much power.

    ''To think I initially concluded that it was Nether when I first heard the story¡­''

    Now that I was looking at it with my very eyes, I knew better than to make such a skewedparison.

    NO, Dark Energy wasn''t Nether at all. It wasn''t even close.

    ''It''s just Miasma.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Alright! Looks like a lot is about to go down. Do you think Neron (Alter) will get to sh with Jared?

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 Chapter 873 Dark Reign [Pt 2]

    Miasma had an adverse effect on Mana.

    It corroded the purity of Mana, corrupting it and disrupting any Spell that was made using it as a source of power. Following this logic, it was very reasonable now that I really thought about it.

    "In a world that knows only Mana, Miasma is a valid source of dread."

    Dark Energy and Dark Magic¡­ they pretty much stemmed from Miasma, and not Nether as I had initially thought.

    ''It''s embarrassing to be wrong. Though, it''s a relief that''s the case.'' Fortunately, I was able to look into the future thanks to [The Hermit], so I pretty much knew the events that unfolded before they did.

    Still¡­ to think all of this conflict was because of some Miasma. It was very valuable here¡ªaddressed as ultimate power¡ªbut in my world, it was just another source of energy.

    ''I guess power is rtive. This world has a low standard for power, so the stakes are a bit low¡­''

    I observed as my evil version stood tal, spreading his arm wide as he grinned. It seemed he was waiting for something.

    ''Ah, yes¡­ so it''s about time for that. Well, this should be good.''

    I intended to keep observing for some time. I could pretty much stop this conflict if I wanted to, but it wasn''t time yet.

    ''The Outers need to grow with their newfound powers. Once I''m gone, they''ll be the protectors of this ce. I can''t have them be weak.''

    All of a sudden, I felt like a doting father. It was a bit weird, but I understood the feeling quite well.

    ''We''ve be very close this past couple of months¡­'' I smiled, looking at the ensuing catastrophe a good distance from me.

    Things were about to get a lot worse.

    *

    *

    *

    Jared, cloaked in darkness, watched his enemies connive against him, but all of that was of no use. They had no possible card to use against him.

    Perhaps thest thing they could resort to was to attack Jane, but he had already transpoerted her away.

    ''It was the first thing I did with this power¡­''

    ~And it''ll be thest.~ A voice suddenly echoed in Jared''s head, causing him to sharply respond to the owner.

    "What are you sayi¡ª"

    However, before he could utter another word, the most shocking thing ured.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!<

    The darkness that circled him suddenly began to spiral out of control, and even more ckness fell upon him from the rift in the sky. It consumed his body, suffocating him till no end.

    ~Hehehehe! I''ll do a bit of remodelling to make this a suitable body.~ Merlin''s hollow voice echoed

    The question was¡­ suitable for who?! At this point, the answer couldn''t be any more obvious.

    "Y-you¡­ bastar¡ª" Drowning in his own power, Jared cursed and cursed.

    Even if he could no longer speak, he cursed within himself as more darkness buried him. His onlookers only watched, seeing the invincible Jared Leonardpletely fade into the darknes.

    ¡­ And someone else emerged.

    "N-no¡­" Ciel whispered as she witnessed the entity that emerged from the void this time.

    He had long white hair, and a robbe that seemed to be the night itself. Dark orbs danced around him, and a dark purple halo stood above his head.

    He opened his eyes, showing how the whites of his eyeballs had turned dark purple, and his irises now giving off a bright golden hue.

    "That is¡­ he''s back¡­" Her voice wouldn''t stop quivering. Her eyes depicted a re that no one had ever seen on Ciel''s face.

    It was one that represented both hatred and anxiety.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "... Merlin!"

    >FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU¡­<

    The excess energy vanished, leaving the man named Merlin floating above. His warbling orbs kept himpany.

    "It''s good to be back in the flesh¡­" His handsome face spoke, and a deep voice emerged.

    Compared to the presence that Jared had exuded, this person gave a pressure that felt too unreal to be true..

    "Putting up with that whiny brat was worth it." With a grin as wide as the devil''s, he smiled.

    He looked around him for a moment, and a glow appeared in his narrowed gaze.

    "Let''s take care of the trash first." Raising his hand above his head, an inconceievable aount of dense Dark Energy gathered there. "[Dark Corruption]."

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Instantly, a wave of energy shot through the entire area. Like a pulse, it covered the surroundings within moments.

    And then¡­

    >CLANG!<

    >THUD!<

    >CREAK!<

    Every single living entity on the battlefield fell, with the exception of the Outers¡ªall of whom were within Ciel''s white dome.

    The Automatons and Golems also fell, as if bing dysfunctional. Even Gawain¡ªthe one on the side of the Outers¡ªmet the same fate.

    In a sh, all the potential enemies and small fries that would only serve to distract him were dealt with.

    "Much better." Merlin smiled, his gaze now centering on the Outers.

    Out of all the members, there was only one person who had his gaze. She was the only Outer worthy of interest in his eyes.

    "Ciel¡­ its been a while, has it not?"

    "Merlin, you bastard. Don''t think you''ll get away with this."Ciel growled, her re intensifying.

    "Oh? What are you going to do about it? You''re stuck in that form, and your Magic Power is abysmal,pared to all those years ago."

    As much as Ciel wanted to disprove his statements, she could only bite her lips and keep up her expression of disgust.

    "And would you look at you ragtag group? You really think these people can stop me now that I''ve acquired this much Dark Energy? Not a chance."

    The Outers were never a threat to him. And now, even if Ciel did regain her lost power, they still wouldn''t be able to stop him.

    "Admit it, Outgroup. You''ve lost this battle." Merlin''s confident voice echoed in the darkness.

    "I win."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 874 The One Called Merlin

    Merlin felt ecstatic.

    The power flowing within him was just as he had hoped. No, it even transcended his expectations.

    ''So this is what it feels like¡­ to be a god?''

    He could see everything for hundreds of miles. He could feel the world around him, down to the elements that made everything up. The power that swirled within him seemed to be without end.

    This was true power.

    ''Don''t you worry, Jared. I''ll use this body well. I''ll even help you acheive your goals¡­''

    The poor boy had always been a pawn in his ns. Ever since he was Lewis Griffith, he had been emotionally unstable¡ªthe perfect vassal he required.

    However, for his ve to do his worl with utmost priority and urgency, he had to possess a false sense of agency. As a result, Merlin had convinced Jared that thetter was in control, which made his ego grow as well as his efforts.

    He only made suggestions to Jared, allowing thed to figure the rest out. It was astounding how much progress was made as a result of that arrangement.

    Jared was brilliant! His intelligence surpassed Merlin''s expectations. Without his tutge, the boy would have probably ended up being someone great¡ªeven though that would take him down a different path.

    He was indeed fortunate for gaining ess to him first.

    ''And now, after our long journey together, I''ve finally gotten what I wanted all along.'' Merlin had told Jared about his desire to be resurrected once he obtained the Dark Magic, but why would he simply settle for that?

    There couldn''t be two kings in a nation. How could he coexist with Jared whn both of them desired unlimited power?

    In the end, one had to go.

    ''And that person was you. I''m sorry, Jared, but this too is the fate of the weak.'' Merlin grinned.

    With this body, and the power he had ess to, Merlin felt like he could finally begin his task.

    "Killing everything here¡­"

    Afterpletely destroying every single life form on this, he would leave for the other worlds that existed within the infinite expanse of Space.

    Merlin could feel his heart whenever he thought of his desire, and desired even more to indulge in them.

    ''Two things need to be done before then, though. First of all¡­" His gaze fell on the Outgroup, especially Ciel. "I''ll need to kill all of them."

    Then, the second was finding Jane Urs. She was a brilliant person, and he could foresee circumstances that would require him to make use of her abilities.

    "It wouldn''t be a bad idea to have apanion too. I''ll use a Spell to warp her mind and make her my loyal ve. That should do it¡­" A sick grin of perversion formed on his face instantly.

    It looked too twisted to be called a mere smile.

    ''Be grateful, Jared. I''ll be helping you and your lover fulfil your dreams. Leave it to me.''

    Once those two factors were dealt with, he''d use [Spellcraft], Jared''s best technique, to manipte the vast stockpile of Dark Energy in his posession, to create arge-scale Spell that would prove fatal for the world.

    With his ns already set in his mind, Merlin decided to proceed with the first task at hand.

    "Killing you alles first."

    The Outgroup didn''t wait for him to conclude his words, however. They allunched themselves, attacking from different directions as they wielded strange tatooes on their bodies.

    ''Let''s see how you do. I''m also curious about trying out this power!''

    "[Death] Strike!" Edward was at the forefront of the battle. His de was coated in smething ck and immensely powerful.

    Even Merlin''s eyes twitched once he observed it.

    ''That''s¡­ dangerous.''

    He didn''t know exactly what it was, but it seemed to have the quality of permanent death. Whether or not it would work on him was another issue entirely, though.

    ''Let''s not be too careless, though¡­'' Being much faster than the swordsman, even though thetter was in Martial State, Merlin appeared right beside him, dodging the strike effortleslsy.

    "Begone."

    One of the orbs behind him turned into a beam of purplish ck light, firing an immnse cluster of energy at him.

    "Wha¡ª!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Edward was sent to the ground, most likely eviscerated as a result of the powerful blow dealt to him. Such an amount of Dark Energy would kill anyone many times over.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "You bastaaarrrd!!!" Next up was Karlia, who came from behind him. Her body was burning hot, and a massive orb stood above her. It seemed she wanted to crush him with it.

    "Useless¡­" Merlin grinned.

    He stretched his hand to her orb, while two of his lunged at her.

    Dark purple energy flew frm his palm and disintegrated the huge sphere. As he did this, his spheres created sparks of purple and ck lightning, electrocuting her down to her bones, boiling even her blood.

    "ARRRRRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    It all happened in an instant, so Karlia was too unconscious and damaged to see the destruction of her orb.

    She plumetted to the ground, but before shended, Merlin sent a dark spike, in the form of a de, at her. "You''re an eyesore. Die."

    However, just as it neared Karlia, almost fatally impaling her, the spike suddenly vanished.

    "H-huh?" Merlin''s face twisted in surprise. ''Did my Spell just get¡­ nullified?''

    "NOW, EVERYONE! COMBINED ASSAULT!"

    Edward, who was suposed to have died, rose from the massive crater on the ground. The whitish transparent batrrier around him also faded.

    As for Karlia, the sings behind her pped, and she regained her consciousness.

    The Outers, inplete sync, utilized their strongest techiques and Spells on Merlin.

    Z''ark poured out his fiercest Dragon Breath.

    Karliabined all the elements she could andunched the amalgamated energy.

    Ciel used her [Tower] and [Pope] Arcana Spells to form a spatial orb that contained as much purified energy to it. [The Magician] also aallowed her to pour as much Maba as she could into the strike.

    Edward used the strongest technique he could utilize, coating it with the [Death] Attribute of his Arcana Spell. "Martial de God Technique #49: Shattered de''s Uprising"

    As for Neron, he used the strongest Magic Item in his possession and pumped it with all the Mana he could to generate the strongest chain reaction as it resonated with the other Spells and techniques being used.

    Thus resulting in a massive explosion.

    "Let''s do this everyone!"

    That''s right! No matter what, they had to emerge victorious!

    >WHUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<

    The multiple concentrations of energy swept through space and focused on a single target.

    Merlin quickly used all the orbs at his disposal to generate a massive shield to cover himself, but even that did not stop thebined efforts of the desperate Outers.

    "Keke¡­ kekekekekeke¡­. kekekekekekekekekkeekke!!!"

    As soon as the barrier shattered, the converged energies met their target and generated the biggest explosion they had ever experienced.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The heavens erupted, and the earth quaked as the eruption was initiated.

    In the blink of an eye, everything turned pure white, and for that moment, darkness was banished.

    In the minds of everyone who won, there was a simple inquisition.

    "D-did we¡­ win?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 875 Downfall

    Fading darkness.

    With light already shining, the slithering shadows receded. They coiled back, their fates undecided.

    In that moment, hope was lit anew. The onlookers were brought relief, and it seemed they could finally rest in their achievement.

    However, this sweet delusion onlysted for a brief moment.

    "Haaaa¡­ hahaha¡­. ahahahaha¡­"

    The malevolent cackle of the monster they all feared echoed in the air, bringing the hopeful fools back to their senses. The battle wasn''t over.

    Not yet.

    "That hurt, you know?"

    Dark purple mist hissed from Merlin''s body as he once again appeared. It seemed a good chunk of his lower body was missing, but it was being estored in no time.

    The dark clouds returned, and the situation reverted to how it was before their assumed victory.

    Nothing had changed.

    "I take it back. You''re a pretty good team. I underestimated your power."

    Merlin''s body was nowpletely restored, and it seemed like he never got scathed in the slightest. The sight was both baffling and terrifying.

    "However, that makes you that more dangerous. I should take things a little more seriously."

    Stretching his hand out, Merlin closed his eyes and whispered.

    "[Dark Summon: Wraith]."

    At that moment, a terrifying screech pierced the air, and a malformed entity was birthed from the darkness.

    It had a ghost-like body¡ªtransparent and floaty. It aso had pale skin, apanied with sharp ws and monstrous jaws.

    A monster¡ªthat was what best described the being.

    "An incorporeal entity even more dangerous than a Spectre. Your attacks won''t work on it, and it''ll drain your life force. Using this, I won''t need to do the dirty work myself, and I''ll be able to watch you all suffer." Another twisted grin formed on his face.

    However, this grin was cut short by the appearance of someone he wasn''t expecting.

    The footsteps of thedy that emerged seemingly out of nowhere caught the attention of both the exhausted Outers and the almighty Merlin.

    Thetter''s face contorted to express downright shock.

    "How unexpected. What are you doing here?"

    *

    *

    *

    Jane Urs had woken from her slumber a few moments earlier, and she witnessed the desperate attempts of the Outgroup in stopping Merlin.

    They ended up failing, obviously.

    She thought of them as foolish. Why would they undertake a task that they knew would most likely not guarantee them any sess? It really boggled the mind, didn''t it?

    In any case, after watching for long enough, she couldn''t hold it in any longer.

    And that was what led to this moment¡ªJane Urs standing before both the Outers and Merlin.

    "You should really take your disgusting ghost ws off my Jared''s body." Jane dered, her hand on her hip as she spoke.

    Despite the immense aura of malevolence that poured from Merlin, she didn''t seem too fazed. Her eyes showed nothing but confidence with every syble she uttered.

    "Jane, it seems you really had a few screws loosened from your head when you got knocked out. Is that why you no longer feel fear?" Merlin replied, still stuck between surprise and amusement.

    "I suppose this is a good thing. I get to achieve both of my goals quicker than I thought. Kill the Outers and obtain Jane. Both are within my sight."

    Jane didn''t budge despite his bone-chilling statement.

    "Why did you betray Jared? He was really going to do it, you know? He was going to revive you." Her voice was calm, but stern.

    "Why wouldn''t I? We both desired unlimited power. We both desired to rule everything. He stood in the way of that, so I got rid of him. Wouldn''t Jared have done the same?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "So, all this time, you''ve been manipting him and using him for your purposes?" Jane further asked.

    "You get the picture. As always, you''re sharp."

    "Hmmm¡­" Jane ced a finger on her glossed lips. Before anyone realized it, they curlped upwards.

    "Pfft¡­ just as he suspected."

    "What?"

    "Pfft¡­ haha¡­ hahahaha¡­ hahahahahaha!" Jane culdn''t stopughing at this point. Despite the people looking at her, she didn''t shy away from cackli ng as much as her heart desired.

    "Why are youughing? What''s so amusing to you?"

    "Ah, nothing really. It''s just¡­ haha¡­ Jared already realized this would happen." Jane spoke, still recoiling from the humor only she felt.

    "He¡­ did?" Merlin''s face twisted in disbelief.

    Why?

    If Jared really suspected him, he would never have danced along and fallen so easily for his trap.

    But Jane didn''t seem to be joking. Despite herughs, her words felt totally real.

    "Why would he¡­?" Merlin''s eyes widened slightly, and his lips twitched the moment he stared at Jane one more time.

    She had a device on her hand.

    The answers suddenly began manifesting in Merlin''s head as he considered the most probable reason Jared would allow himself to be taken over.

    "No¡­"

    "Yes, you bastard." The device in her grasp was a simple switch, but it was far moreplex than anyone would expect.

    "Wraith, stop her!"

    "Toote. The switch has already been flipped." Jane smiled. "I was just stalling for time."

    The Wraith didn''t move an inch from its position, and neither could Merlin. He looked at his body, and found it to be different from the one he had just earlier.

    It was wrinkled andpletely emaciated. Worst of all¡­

    "N-no way!"

    ¡­ It was incorporeal.

    Merlin had reverted to his state as a ghost.

    "I have to thank you, Merlin." The deep voice that should have belonged to him rang from the body that should have been his.

    However, it seemed someone else was in control.

    "Thanks to you taking over my body, I was able to build an even stronger capacity for Dark Energy. I was also able to absorb your memories. I now have ess to all the knowledge you chose to withold from me¡­"

    It was Merlin''s body and voice, but it was already clear who was speaking.

    "J-Jared¡­?" Merlin''s voice stuttered as he witnessed the malevolent smile he disyed.

    Upon hearing the name, his face only showed more satisfaction.

    "In the flesh."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 876 Dark Lovers

    A disturbing silence echoed as all parties partook in a staring deadlock.

    Jared Leonard, floating in his majesty.

    The Outers, transfixed in their surprise.

    Jane Urs, brimming with satisfaction.

    ¡­ And Merlin, pale with horror.

    "Looks like our long game hase to a close, Master. I learned a lot from you, but there''s literally nothing else you can teach me." Jared gleamed evilly.

    He used his fingers to tap his head, his smile intensifying. "Everything is already in here."

    It was now checkmate.

    "You should know this already, but the [Dark Summon: Wraith] Spell isn''t only used to deal with physical opponents."

    It instantly dawned on Merlin what Jared meantg by his statement.

    "N-no¡­ please wait¡­" He began to whimper.

    "Incorporeal enemies are a chore to deal with, you know? That''s why Spells like these are useful."

    Merlin found himself paralyzed despite how horrified he was by the fate that awaited him. The Wraith whom he summoned was already drawing closer to his ghost form.

    "I should thank you for freeing me from the burden of summoning the Wraith myself. As always, you''ve been most useful."

    "Wait, Jared! Hold on! L-let''s be rational about this and¡ª"

    "I am being rational, though."

    "I am your Master!"

    "That didn''t stop you from betraying me."

    "I-I was going to fulfil your dreams. I promise! I swear! Hey, just listen to me. Stop that Wraith, Jared. Jared! Lewi¡ª"

    Before Merlin could say any more, the Wraith pounced on him, devouring his soul and extinguishing thest flicker of life that existed there.

    In a mere moment, it was snuffed out.

    "Urgh. Finally. Good riddance to bad rubbish, am I right, guys?" Jared''s attention moved to the Outers, who were still shell-shocked by the sight before them.

    "Oh, don''t give me that expression. You saw how he was, didn''t you? He deserved it." It felt a little strange hearing someone who appeared far worse condemn another viin.

    It was the perfect example of the pot calling a kettle ck.

    "Don''t worry, though. You''ll be joining him soon. One thing to get out of the way first, though¡­"

    Jared shifted his attention from his enemies and focused everything on the most important aspect of his grand n.

    "Jane, you genius!" He grinned,unching himself at her.

    Gracefully, yet swiftly, he closed the distance they had, grabbing her by her slender waist as he pulled her close to his chest.

    The onlookers knew better than to interfere, lest they got caught up in a crazier affair. Plus, Jared''s current power made it impossible for them to get close, even if they tried.

    "Huhu¡­ you and your sweet mouth." Jane licked her lips as she drew her face closer to his. In that single magical moment, both of them merged lips and kissed.

    *****

    [Meanwhile]

    "What the heck? Yuck! Why in the¡­ with Jane? Urghhh! Whyyyy!"

    I almost retched multiple times just watching the disy of affection between this world''s version of me, and this world''s version of Jane Urs.

    It was so gross.

    ''I mean, Jane isn''t bad by any means. No, she''s actually really pretty, but¡­ hey, what am I thinking?!''

    I could feel my cheeks grow hot, and an ufortable feeling swirling deep inside me.

    "Hell no! I don''t like Jane! We''re just friends. Best buds! Yes¡­ that''s all!"

    I wasn''t just saying this for my sake. It was true.

    Honestly!

    I truly had no feelings for that woman.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ¡­ We were just friends.

    *****

    "Mmmhmmm"

    The two lovers locked eyes as they concluded their passionate kiss.

    "That was amazing¡­" Jane whispered.

    "Looks like this new body''s gonna be great." Jared responded with a sly grin.

    Normally, if something as bizarre as a body swap ured between a lover, the other lover was bound to feel a little weirded out. It would usually take some time before they could achieve the same level of intimacy as before.

    But that logic did not apply to Jared and Jane.

    He had already reincarnated once, after all. Having a different body wasn''t so strange.

    "You''re even more endowed down there¡­" Jane grabbed something in-between Jared''s legs, causing him to let out a soft moan. "It''s bigger than your first body. Isn''t that hot?" She licked her lips seductively.

    Jared gulped, feeling something rise¡ªboth within him, and without.

    "You little tease. I''m going to enjoy breaking you¡­" Jared grinned, responding to her tease.

    "Oh? How will you do it? Which ''me'' will you break? My smaller form or¡ª"

    "HEY! THAT''S ENOUGH!" A voice suddenly halted Jared and Jane''s conversation.

    It prated the darkness that enveloped them, and the power was enough to break the concentration the two had.

    "Please, just stop. I can''t¡­  can''t stand this anymore!" The voice cried out.

    Jared and Jane cleared up their dark smokescreen and were surprised to find a blue-haired stranger floating in the sky as heined about their actions.

    "Isn''t that¡­"

    "Yeah. The one who fought Gawain. As I suspected, he is an Outer. I wonder why he didn''t show up sooner." Jared smirked.

    "Maybe he was tending to the other territories. It would make more sense that way, considering they were able to fall so easily."

    "Hmm¡­ true¡­"

    Jared and Jane stared at each other so affectionately once more, and everything around them vanished, including the intruding stranger.

    Their faces drew closer to each other, and just as they were about to connect¡ª

    "Come on, guys! Break it up. It''s gross!"

    "Shut up!" Jared instantly snapped, sending an immense surge of Dark Energy flying in the direction of the intruder.

    It seemed due to his anger, he had let out more power than necessary. This amount that currently lunged toward the imbecile was enough to wipe out the entire Outgroup¡ªno, perhaps even more than that.

    ''Oh well¡­'' Jared thought with a smirk ''... I suppose he''ll learn his manners in the gra¡ª''

    >SHUUUUUUUUUUUU<

    His eyes twitched as he felt the immense Dark Energy he threw dissipate.

    "What?"

    At this point, both Jared and Jane gave the stranger their whole attention, finding himplely unharmed.

    "Haa¡­ really." The blue-haired imbecile groaned. "How am I supposed to face Jane when I get back?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I wonder who the idiot imbecile is¡­ Lol

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 Chapter 877 The Blue-Haired Outer

    "Who... are you?"

    I heard my doppelganger ask me the question with a puzzled expression on his face.

    His question was understandable, considering I was just a random nobody who happened to crash upon his happy moment.

    But, I had no choice!

    ''Any further and it would have been bad for my eyes.''

    This was the reason why I didn''t use [The Hermit] Arcana Spell to look further into the future.

    It was just too... weird.

    ''Jane has always had a kind of image in my head. Seeing her act like this, especially toward a version of me is too strange.''

    It got even worse when he changed into a sexier, more manly body.

    Seeing Jane get intimate with him just didn''t sit right with me. I had to stop them at some point.

    As a result, I ended up interrupting the final fight between the Outers and the antagonists of this world.

    ''I really didn''t want to interfere, but...'' This was also a good way to end this.

    "I believe I asked you a question. Who are you?" Jared, my doppelganger, asked in disdain.

    Suspicion glowed within his eyes, and I could see a mix of both caution and bloodlust.

    "I am an Outer. I''m here to help out my colleagues, obviously." I replied calmly, floating in the direction of Neron andpany.

    Their expressions were already lit with excitement and anticipation. I guess they had been waiting for my arrival for some time now.

    ''Sorry I''mte, everyone. I was watching you all...'' My thoughts trailed as I smiled at them.

    I also sent them a wink, hoping they wouldn''t overreact as a result of my appearance.

    "How were you able to deflect that attack just now? It shouldn''t be possible by any standard." I heard my evil alternate say as he clutched Jane tighter into his embrace.

    ''Ngh!'' I felt a sharp sensation pierce my heart upon watching the sight, but I controlled myself.

    As for his question concerning the attack he sent toward me... it waspletely ridiculous.

    ''That much Miasma wouldn''t even pierce my defenses. Besides, there''s also Anti Magic, and so many other Interference-based responses I can use.''

    In the end, it was never a threat.

    The true answer to his question, however, was something else.

    "I have a Magic Item on. It automatically negates attacks that fall below a certain threshold." My reply was sinct and honest.

    Ever since I began my three-month training regiment with the Outers, I began immersing myself once more into Item Creation.

    I was able to develop an Artificial Mana Core for Neron, though we followed his specifications and a blueprint he designed himself.

    ''That guy is a beast in any dimension. Seriously.''

    I was also able to somewhat upgrade Gawain and Hugo¡ªthough only a little bit.

    In the process, I learned a lot about Magic Engineering in this world and was able to create Magic Items that operated ording to this world''s wavelength, and could also alternate to my world''s frequency.

    ''I forgot how fun stuff like that could be. Honestly!''

    In any case, that was my answer. I used one of my Items¡ªa ring I currently wore on my right finger.

    "I see. To think you''ve advanced that far in Magic Technology. Looks like you''ve got some seriouspetition, Jane." Alternate Jared, or maybe I could refer to him as Evil, moved his gaze to Jane.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Well, maybe. But it still doesn''t exin how he was able to negate such a huge amount of Dark Energy." She answered.

    I mean, the process was quite simple. Just release a wave of Mana that offset the iing wave of Miasma.

    My item simply calcted the intensity and quantity of the Miasma being directed toward me and sent an equivalent wave of Mana to stop it.

    ''I guess they still think Dark Energy is the apex of energies, when it''s just like the twin of Mana.''

    The issue with this world was ack of enough in-depth analysis into Magic.

    ''Original Magic is extremely rare, and even Mage Mode is kept as some sort of secret trump card that others can''t know.''

    It stunted the growth of Magic greatly.

    ''That''s why arrogant pricks like this guy, who has more knowledge and power than anyone, starts getting ideas on how to rule people with his hidden power.''

    Looking at him now, though he no longer possessed my face, I couldn''t help but feel a little irritated.

    Still, it would be hypocritical topletely me everything on him.

    ''In this world, bad people are now good. I suppose it''s also understandable that good people are bad.''

    They all had different experiences, so who was I to pop out of the blue to judge them?

    I just wanted to end the war, restore peace to this ce, and then return home.

    ''I''ll leave the administration of justice and stuff to the residents...''

    "Where did youe from, stranger? I observed your battle with my Automaton, and I noticed your strength. Where have you been all this time?"

    I shrugged once I heard the question. I really didn''t have to answer.

    "Did you have anything to do with that surge of energy that ured over a month ago?"

    He was most likely referring to the moment I arrived in this world, but I ignored the question as well.

    "It appears I''m being too lenient with you. I''m not usually this forgiving, you know?"

    I didn''t know if my doppelganger was trying to look good in front of hisdy, but it wasn''t really working.

    I had a lot on my mind, and it was taking some time to really unpack.

    There were so many variables to consider, so I wanted to be careful about what route I should pick

    "It''s really hard, you know...?" I muttered, staring at the two architects of this world''s current state of chaos.

    "Trying to pick out which method to use in dealing with you two is just too difficult "

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 878 Jared Versus Jared [Pt 1]

    So many lives extinguished.

    So much havoc wrought.

    So many atrocities done.

    And yet, these two were intent on perpetrating even more chaos.

    ''I can''t allow that.'' My thoughts finally settled. There was only one major issue with all of that, though.

    Where was I even supposed to start from?

    *

    *

    *

    "Jane, why don''t you stand back and watch? Leave this guy to me." Jared said to his woman.

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah. He was able to deflect that much Dark Energy. He was also able to defeat Gawain, and even though I''m exuding this much power, he doesn''t seem fazed in the slightest."

    Jared already knew this person was not ordinary.

    "Still, he''s no match for me. I just don''t want you caught in the cross-fire."

    "Damn. Now I feel like dead weight." Jane murmured.

    "Don''t take it too hard. Once we''re done with these nuisances, you''ll be able to harvest enough Dark Energy for your devices. That should give you an edge over everyone else." Clearly, Jared was trying tofort her.

    "Well..."

    "We''re going to conquer everything together, aren''t we? Cheer up!"

    In the end, she just couldn''t say no to Jared. As a result, Jane agreed to stay away from the battle, floating away from Jared''s arms.

    A snap from his fingers caused an immense barrier, simr to a curtain, to separate Jane from everyone else.

    It was translucent enough for her to see through it, but the amount of Dark Energy in it made it virtually impossible for anyone to dream of prating.

    "I don''t mind the both of you attacking at the same time, but I''ll respect your wish." The blue-haired Outer spoke impudently, but Jared ignored his clearly provocative words.

    ''Is he trying to imply that he is stronger than I am? That he is more powerful than my endless supply of Dark Energy?''

    Jared nced at the Outers and noticed how calm they were. None of them even bothered to assist theirrade.

    In fact, they were all seated on the ground, watching the battle that was soon about to unfold.

    ''This is a little unsettling, but...'' Looking around¡ªwatching the devastation his power had already caused¡ªwas enough to bring back his confidence.

    ''Merlin was able to vanquish all of the small fries with an intense wave of Dark Energy. I currently have his memories, and I have the power to boot.''

    Sure, this person was a lot tougher than the fallen Automatons that littered the battlefield, but he was still mortal in the end.

    There was no way he could conquer Dark Magic.

    "[Dark Summon: Principality]"

    Jared already knew the first thing he had to do was feel his opponent out and test the limits of his ability.

    To do that, a fitting opponent was necessary.

    The Principality that was summoned had gleaning dark armor that covered the entirety of it''s body. It''s bright red eyes shine with violence, and dense purple energy rose from it''s body.

    A cape of darkness flowed behind it, and spikes littered the shoulder and back portions of it''s armour.

    It resembled a knight, but as a Principality, it was several levels higher.

    "GRRRRRRRRRR..." A deep growl leaked out of it''s helmet, and it was clearly thirsty for battle.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Looks like it''s a Berserk Principality this time.'' Jared smirked.

    The kind of Summon that had little to no intelligence, all for the sake of increased battle proficiency.

    In essence, it was the best when it came to raw power among the rest of it''s kind.

    ''It should be able to reproduce that wave of Dark Energy I produced, and so much more. It''s immensely powerful too. To think Merlin was keeping something as amazing as this from me...'' Jared grinned evilly.

    He couldn''t wait to see his new summon in action.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    In a blur that even startles Jared, the dark Principality lunged at its target. It moved like a shadow, donning an intensity that betrayed the naturalws of nature.

    In no time, it already closed the distance between it and the opponent.

    However...

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU<

    As soon as it got closer to the blue-haired Outer, reaching the same range as the previous attack, the Principality began to evaporate.

    Within a second, barely any speck remained of it, before itpletely dissolved into the air.

    "H-huh...?"

    It was unreal. Even Jared couldn''t believe his eyes when he saw what had just happened.

    ''It vanished? Just like that? How...?''

    He had been paying close attention to the fight, and he didn''t even see the opponent move a single muscle. The Outer simply stood still as the Principality closed in.

    ''There was also no sign of Magic, so how?''

    "I told you already. Any Spell under a particr threshold won''t make it to me. It''ll be counteracted."

    But this was Dark Magic! How was it possible to stop something that was meant to be the very antithesis to conventional Magic?

    It made no sense.

    ''Nothing stops Dark Magic!''

    "Is there anything else you''d like to try?" Jared heard his enemy say.

    He felt a tight knot in his heart as the taunt echoed in his ears.

    ''Is he really... looking down on me?''

    Even now that he had ess to unlimited Dark Energy, and enough power to rule the world beyond his, he was still being looked down upon.

    "Shut up..."

    It was uneptable.

    "[Ultimate Dark Summon: Ruler Of Death]."

    >WHUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    A massive burst of Dark Energy gathered right in front of Jared to create the most powerful entity that could be brought from darkness¡ªboth ording to his memories and the ones he stole from Merlin.

    A dark cocoon was formed, and almost as soon as it was made, a creature tore through it.

    It was at least five foot tall, and it had a massive robe that covered it''s entire body. Its sharp sickle was tightly gripped by it''s ck bony hands.

    Everything about it screamed of ckness and evil, and it''s eyes was oozing malevolent purple energy.

    It was a creature sculpted perfectly to embody its name.

    Death.

 Chapter 879 Jared Versus Jared [Pt 2]

    The air grew heavy thanks to the presence of the ultimate creature of darkness that floated with it''s massive sickle.

    The Ruler Of Death itself.

    As it opened its bony jaws, a misty aura that killed everything around it pervaded the summon.

    "This is the very embodiment of death. It''s even stronger than I was before obtaining Dark Energy, and its concentration of Dark Energy is unrivaled among any other summon." Jared boasted, almost to himself.

    He might have gone a little overboard, causing even the area around to start rotting, but if it was to prove his superiority, then it was all worth it.

    "Ruler Of Death..." Jared began, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he watched his surprised opponent.

    "... Kill that man for me."

    ******

    ''Amazing!'' My thoughts rang as I watched the new summon my counterpart conjured up.

    ''I have never applied Miasma like this. To think it could also be used this way...''

    It was just as I postted a while back. There were a lot of things in this world that I could learn, even if their Magic wasn''t as advanced as I initially thought.

    ''I''m definitely memorizing all of these things and recording them in my [Great Sage''s Memoir].''

    There was one issue with the Spells so far, though.

    ''They''re too weak. Even this one is no exception.''

    Sure, it was stronger than the previous one, but not by much.

    They would both be registered as Advanced Spells in my world. Sure, the Principality would be considered to the on a lower tier, while this one had a high tier, but it certainly wasn''t the highest.

    After Advanced Spells, there was still the Peak Magic Category, and then the Transcendent Stage.

    Also, recently, I had been exposed to the Primordial Realm. It just went to show how big the world really was.

    ''Compared to that, this is hardly impressive.''

    While this world had a lot of unique elements to it, the power level was too low.

    "May I ask a question before you begin?" I raised my hand, staring honestly at my doppleganger

    Something about the evil grin he wore told me he couldn''t wait to tear me to shreds.

    "How powerful is the Spell you used to summon this creature?"

    ording to what Neron told me, they used the ''Star'' system to identify the strength of Spells.

    From One-Star to Nine-Stars, that was how this ce operated.

    "It''s a Nine-Star Spell. To think you wouldn''t understand it even after seeing it. Did I overestimate you?"

    "A-ah, I see..."

    So, the limit of this world''s Magic was the Advanced Grade?

    Well, certain Spells... like the ones for Teleporting and the feww-altering Spells I had observed certainly fell above the Advanced Grade, but the way they were applied was toocking.

    They also consumed too much Mana and required a lot of time to prepare, so I couldn''t really call them efficient.

    ''Honestly, if not for the Miasma handicap, I''d say my 12-year-old self could win in a fight with the strongest person here...''

    Perhaps I was overstretching it a little, but¡ª

    ''Ah, here ites!''

    The Ruler Of Death sped through the distance, causing the very air around it to distort as it approached.

    Judging by the ovep of energy, and from what I was sensing, it was going to swing its scythe to initiate it''s first attack.

    The attack would contain an immense amount of Miasma which would naturally kill anyone by inflicting Miasma poisoning.

    That was probably why it was called the Ruler Of Death.

    Unfortunately for it, though, it wasn''t going to work on me.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    As expected, it swung it''s scythe and directed all the concentrated Miasma at me.

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU<

    The demonic energy dissolved just a couple of inches from me¡ªyet the effect of my Magic Item.

    ''Anything below Peak-Level Magic won''t work on me.''

    In essence, it was probably safe to assume that I was invincible in this world.

    "WHAT?! HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT?!" I heard the enraged voice of my very clearly confused doppelganger.

    Evil Jared was looking like he had just witnessed somethingpletely impossible. His face twisted in utter dismay, and he seemed powerless in his ignorance.

    ''Sucks to be him...'' A wry smile formed on my face.

    The only reason I was prolonging this battle was to see what else I could learn from the supposedly most powerful person in this world.

    So far, it had been disappointing, but it was possible that his pride prevented him from revealing all his cards.

    After all, this was most likely the first time he had been pushed this far despite iming to have ultimate power.

    ''Should I rattle him a little...?''

    Yeah, that would most likely work. The problem was picking the Spell to use.

    ''Ah, why don''t I mimick him? Yeah, that should do it.''

    So far, I had been nullifying his Spells and using a ''mysterious power'' he didn''t understand. If I spoke in hisnguage when it came to Magic, then perhaps he would be willing to go all-out.

    "Alright then..." I began circting my internal energy.

    It wasn''t Mana or Aether, though. It was the third kind of energy I had in abundance within myself.

    Miasma!

    "Kahn, you''re up."

    A dark shadow erupted from me, and my favorite Demon among the surplus that dwelled within me emerged from it.

    His shadow-like body warped until it formed a solid form. Sharp ws for hands, and a spiky shoulder, along with pointed ears that peaked at the top of his head, and then the two eyes that contrasted his ck body; all of them became regally evident.

    "My Master, you have summoned me..." Kahn muttered with a bow.

    The both of us floated in the air, yet he maintain his usual disy of reverence.

    "Yes, Kahn. You should know what to do, don''t you?" I can''t my gaze on the dumbstruck Jared that watched what I was doing from his distance.

    I wondered what was on his mind, but I decided to simply enjoy what was about to ur instead.

    Kahn joined me in looking toward the person he would be facing.

    His face cracked close to his jaw, revealing his widening sharp teeth.

    "I understand, master. I will do my best."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 880 Jared Versus Jared [Pt 3]

    "T-that is...!!!"

    Jared''s eyes went nearly bloodshot as he watched the recently summoned dark entity that his opponent brought forth.

    The being was coated in dense ckness, and it was constantly oozing Dark Energy.

    Not only was it superior to the Principality from earlier, but Jared was certain it had the same, if not more, powerpared to the Ruler Of Death.

    Slowly, all the pieces starteding together.

    "Ah... now I understand. So this is why you were able to stop my attacks..." He gave an undaunted smile, and an expression akin to relief spread across his face.

    "You practice Dark Magic too, don''t you? It''s no wonder."

    "Well, I don''t exactly call it Dark Magic, but... yeah, I guess you''re right."

    Jared''s smile widened even further.

    "Then I suppose I''m done feeling you out. So far, you''ve ovee all my challenges. I suppose I''ll fight you in earnest now."

    "You''ll have to go through my bodyguard first."

    By bodyguard, he must have meant his summon.

    ''He''s still looking down on me, huh?''

    At this point, Jared decided to calm himself. It was natural for someone who had Dark Energy to grow confident in their abilities. After all, he was the same.

    ''So, he uses both Mana and Dark Energy, and he can create an even more impressive summon than I can. That makes him very formidable...''

    A grin began to form on Jared''s face as he began to decide within himself...

    ''... Just where should I start from in order to tear this guy apart?''

    A mix of anticipation and disgust swirled within his heart, and it was all for one reason alone.

    ''I am the only one! The only one allowed to be this strong!''

    *

    *

    *

    The Outers, who sat under the canopy of darkness, watching the brewing conflict between their hero and their arch nemesis, were now in a very tight spot.

    They were watching something unexpected. In all their encounter with the good Jared, they had never seen him mention this ability, yet...

    ... How could he use Dark Magic?!

    Ciel was the one most astounded by this sudden disy of power. She always knew Dark Energy to be evil and corrupt, yet for someone as the otherworldly Jared to wield it, her worldview slowly began to crack.

    Just what was Dark Energy?

    There was one member who was both shocked and exhrated as he witnessed the sight before him.

    His eyes were wide with excitement, and beads of sweat dripped from the side of his face.

    "Haaa... I see now." Neron muttered, his focus concentrating solely on their blue-haired ally. "So you also have Dark Energy, Jared."

    It seemed he was right, after all. The more he watched Jared in action, the more he realized how mistaken and shortsighted he was.

    Everyone in the Outgroup was shell-shocked by Jared''s disy, and for good reason. Once again, he had broken the bounds ofmon sense.

    Were they to fear him now, or perhaps Revere him more? Torn between this dichotomy, they kept watching.

    ''Just how much more will you show me? How much will you show us?'' Neron smiled in anticipation.

    The real battle was only just beginning!

    *

    *

    *

    "I''m ready!"

    Upon saying that, Kahn coated himself in more darkness and lunged at Evil Jared with breakneck speed.

    ''The fact that he and Karlia didn''t recognize Kahn as a demon makes me suspect there weren''t any Shadow Demons in this world...''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I removed my mind from the distracting thought and instead decided to watch the battle about to ur.

    Kahn traveled past the distance in a brief moment, already appearing before Jared with his hand morphed to form a massive dark de.

    ''Starting off with a melee, eh? What will you do, alternate me?''

    Jared crumbled into darkness, and then appeared a couple of meters away from Kahn,

    sending multiplerge spikes flying in his direction.

    The Shadow Demon, of course, easily deflected them, now using his second hand to form another de.

    Both arms cross-shed, causing an immense surge of Miasma to fly in Jared''s direction.

    He erected a shield to protect himself, and then caused multiple elements to descended upon Kahn.

    ''Haaa! Nice!'' I grinned, particrly happy to see that move.

    ''So he has multiple Cores too. I wonder when he''ll use Mage Mode, or Elemental Chamber. Does he have Original Magic? It would be cool if he does.''

    I hoped his Original Magic was different from mine. That way, I would be able to take it for myself.

    ''All''s fair in love and war.''

    The battle continued, mostly with Kahn attacking and Jared being on the defensive. It seemed he was waiting for something, so I decided to keep observing.

    ''Should I have used Abellion instead of Kahn? He''s stronger, so maybe that would have put more pressure on Jared.''

    But Abellion could be a little too much. He was an idiot prince, but his power was quite impressive. Especially his Original Magic.

    ''Hold on, did I justpliment him? It seems this world is lowering my standards when ites to Magic.''

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    The explosion caused by Kahn''s use of a Spell caused me to return by gaze to the battle.

    Kahn''s Spell was a swirling storm of dark mes that created a massive eruption around him.

    Fortunately, Jared was able to once againe.oit unscathed.

    ''Hmm... something feels off.''

    I wasn''t underestimating Jared, or anything. I also wasn''t particrly hoping for his downfall. However, so far, I had been noticing some discrepancies with all of Kahn''s attacks, and then the area around Jared.

    It took me only a couple of seconds to figure out the cause.

    ''Oh? So that''s what it is! Jared, you sly dog!''

    Why didn''t I notice it sooner!

    ''He''s using Spellcraft!''

    Had I really lowered my standards to the point that I wouldn''t suspect this? This world''s Jared knew how to use Spellcraft.

    ''If that''s the case, then Kahn is most definitely going to lose this fight.''

    Why? Because it didn''t matter how much power he had if Jared had the power to hijack his Miasma and even use the abundant supply of Miasma in his own possession.

    ''Plus, there are other factors¡ªlike the techniques he hasn''t revealed yet.

    So far... I could see evil me taking the win here.

    ''Sorry Kahn... maybe next time.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 881 The Jared Dilemma

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    "Guh!" Kahn flew backward after one final hit stopping short only a small distance from me.

    He appeared disgruntled by the fact that the enemy had gotten the better of him, but this was only to be expected.

    ''Even when he split himself to attack from multiple directions, Jared simply uses Spellcraft to control the surplus Miasma around to create a solid defense and multiyered Spells.

    In that regard, I had to admit that this world''s Jared was overpowered.

    ''Unfortunately for him, hie overpowered status ends is limited to the confines of this world.''

    I didn''t know how many branches were out there, but I knew this world¡ªand even mine¡ªwas just one of the several that existed.

    ''If this world''s Magic is so unadvanced than mine, then I can only expect that there are worlds that have higher possibilities of Magic than mine.''

    If that was the case, would I really call myself strong as well?

    That was another thought for another day, though. For now, I had to take care of the menace in front of me.

    "Kahn, that''s enough." I told the Shadow Demon, seeing as he was about to rise and return to battle.

    "I... apologize, Master."

    "It''s no problem." Perhaps if I allowed him to use the Magic Suit that I made for him, he would have stood more of a chance, but at this point, he was too weak.

    "Return."

    Kahn nodded gently, turning into darkness as he merged with me once more.

    ''Well, that was educating...''

    "It seems your summon is no match for me, just as mine wasn''t a match for you." Evil Jared said in a distance, a smug expression on his face.

    ''Would you look at this guy? Is he shamelesslyparing the two of us?''

    Unlike me, who just effortlessly let my Magic Item nullify everything he threw at me, he actively engaged in battle with Kahn.

    ''He has replenishable Miasma, and he uses Spellcraft too. Of course, he would win! Yet he''s feeling so proud about his victory? Isn''t thatughable?''

    During my first battle with Kahn, I was severely disadvantaged, but I used my wits and resources to gain a slight edge.

    ''I still lost that fight, but it just goes to show how a real high-stake battle is.''

    "So, are you going to fight me now? Or are you just going to watch in a distance? If it''s thetter, then I''ll being for you."

    Right now, I actually wanted to fight him myself. I wouldn''t be satisfied otherwise.

    However, there was something that kept causing a tightening knot within my heart.

    I couldn''t ignore it anymore.

    "May I ask you a question?"

    "Hm? I''ll allow it." He responded dismissively.

    I nearly leaked out an annoyed expression, but controlled myself at thest minute.

    ''I''ll decide my next course of action based on his answer to my question.''

    With that in mind, I heaved a heavy sigh and looked at him honestly.

    "Why are you doing this?"

    Silence.

    For a moment, silence took overpletely.

    Both of us looked at each other. I maintained my serious, curious gaze, while he gave me a slightly surprised reaction.

    "Why am I doing this? Well... I guess there are lots of reasons. It could be to prove a point to everyone who has ever doubted me. Also obtaining ultimate power and ruling everything in sight... there''s that too."

    But, was that really all there was to it? I didn''t think so.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "If I was to give a real reason, though. I would say it''s because I love Magic. I guess I''ve always loved it." Jared paused mid statement and stared at me.

    I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

    "I love it more than anything else. That''s why I want to pursue it and see how deep it goes¡ªwhere it leads¡ªand I don''t care how far I have to go in order to obtain it."

    In essence, all of this¡ªhis grand conquest for power, and all the destruction he had wrought... it was all to satisfy his lust for Magic.

    "I will explore the vastness of this universe, and I will encounter other realities. I will attain more power and develop new Magic¡ªJane and I will see this through to the end."

    ''So that''s why they got together. They both have an obsession for Magic.'' My thoughts trailed, though thinking about their rtionship still disgusted me.

    "And no one is going to get in my way. Not Merlin. Not Neron. And definitely not you."

    I listened in silence, and after hearing him conclude, the heavy weight in my heart slowly lifted.

    ''It looks like Aether was right.'' A sad smile formed on my face.

    If I had been given Magic in my first life, there was indeed a high chance that I would have wrought an imbnce to the world due to my obsession for it.

    Perhaps not.

    ''Looking at this twisted version of myself, I can''t help but be grateful to everyone I got to meet¡ªboth in this life and in my first one.''

    The experiences I had must have shaped me into who I was, allowing me to pursue a different pathpared to this world''s Jared¡ªor rather, Lewis Griffith.

    ''I could have easily be this monster...''

    "How about you, Outer? Why are you standing in my way? Why are you risking it all to stop me and help those losers?"

    Why indeed? It wasn''t like this was my original world, and using more power meant having less for myself.

    However, this guy was wrong about one specific detail.

    ''I''m not exactly risking it all. It''s just like a minor inconvenience.''

    As for why I would even choose to make the effort, well...

    Slowly, my hair changed color, reverting to my original blond type.

    My face also returned to it''s usual state, and I donned my flowing white coat, with the ck inner shirt and trousers.

    My outfit was coated with golden designs, and a couple of Magic Items served as essories on it.

    In no time at all, I was back to my original state¡ªas Jared, of course.

    I could see Jane and Jared''s eyes widen in shock as they watched me unveil my true identity to them.

    It seemed I had gotten my answer, thanks to Jared''s answer, and his follow-up question.

    Why was I going so far for a ce as inconsequential as this,pared to my own world and the grand scheme of things?

    The answer was quite simple.

    "I guess I''ve taken quite a liking to this world."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 882 Jareds Epiphany

    "Y-you''re... me?" I heard Evil Jared say, a little rattled from the way his tone was.

    His face also disyed shock, which was a reaction I expected. Jane had the same look as well.

    They were both dumbstruck by my sudden revtion.

    "I am not exactly you. This is as strange to me as it is for you, but I can clearly say we''re different people."

    Our hair color were different, sure. But we lookedpletely alike¡ªespecially taking his past form into ount.

    "My true identity is Lewis Griffith. I was also reincarnated into Jared Leonard''s body. I attended Ainrk Academy. I made acquaintances. Got stronger. I grew... just like you. Still, were different."

    And that distinction made all of the difference.

    "Haa... so Merlin''s theory was true, after all? The bubble theory."

    ''Bubble?''

    "Our entire universe exists in a bubble, but there are other bubbles that reflect the same contents of our universe, but in a more distorted form. The side bubbles..."

    Merlin came up with a theory simr to the reality of the Branches and Roots by himself? That was surprising.

    Then again, he was able to discover the use of Miasma in a world that didn''t use or even have it, so I didn''t have to be so surprised.

    There was one problem with the bubble theory, though.

    ''It tries to ce this world at the center of the grand scheme things. But every supposed bubble, in reality, is a side bubble. The original reality traces back to the root.''

    It wasn''t my world, or this world.

    Different actions and inactions caused the reality they were in to branch off and form a world where such action existed or didn''t exist.

    This loop of action and reaction caused the cosmic tree to be stretch on nearly infinitely, and even I couldn''t calcte how far it extended, or how many branches existed in it.

    ''Limiting it to bubbles and calling other words side bubbles is a little...''

    "So, youe from one of those side bubbles, don''t you? It all makes sense now. That strong anomaly that we experienced over a month ago. That was when you arrived, correct? We couldn''t pinpoint the location, but you must havended somwehre close to the Outgroup."

    His posttion was spot on. As expected of this world''s version of me, I guess.

    "I can imagine them giving you a hard time due to that face of yours. How did you be allies?"

    So this guy understood the kind of trouble he caused me, didn''t he? What an annoying bastard!

    ''I almost died, you know?''

    Yes, this world''s standard of Magic was poor, but I would have seriously died back then if things had devolved any further.

    I still got shivers anytime I remembered that very intense moment.

    "Ie from a world different from this one, Jared. Or should I call you Lewi¡ª"

    "Don''t call me that!" He snapped, his expression turning immensely dark in an instant.

    ''I see. So he really wants to let go of hisst that badly?''

    It must have been a really terrible first round he had.

    "Alright then. Ie from a different reality; one where I am praised as a Hero. I stopped a war, and I put my life on the line over and over again to save my people. I helped bring peace to the world."

    I told him about how my world''s version of Neron and me were very close friends. I told him of how the Nether Cult consisted of members of the Outers.

    I told him about how Jane and I were best friends instead of lovers.

    I felt my heart ache every time I spoke and looked at his face. I could see something gleaming deep inside him.

    Something that told me he wanted it¡ªwhat I had.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I didn''t think his desire was to be purely evil and despised. All of that was only a means to an end.

    All of these tragedies, though unforgivable, only served as a path to achieve his grand desire.

    MAGIC!

    And thanks to his love for Magic, Merlin was able to manipte him and use him to achieve his ends.

    In the end, this world''s Jared was just a victim.

    ''it doesn''t make his actions excusable, and he''ll definitely pay for them. However, I can empathize with him...'' I gave a soft smile while looking at his dazed face.

    "I''ll be getting married soon. I think... I may have found something worth pursuing other than Magic..."

    Looking at myself in the mirror now, seeing how far my desires would push me, and how it would warp those dear to me, I discovered the truth that had taken me this long to find.

    "I get to choose what to pursue. I have always had the choice."

    Whether it was between Karlia and Emilia. Or Magic and Love.

    I had the choice ultimately.

    "I don''t have to keep going down this lonely path. And I certainly don''t have to do it by hurting those around me."

    I could tell that this world''s Jared and Neron had some form of rtionship¡ªmost likely something simr to mine¡ªbefore their friendship devolved.

    Stefan''s frustration with Jared for killing his cousin, Maria, stemmed far deeper than a mere student''s action.

    ''They were most likely close. The way Ed and Ana were to me.''

    Kuzon''s vengeance spree wasn''t simply directed at an unknown enemy. He and Jared must have had a rtionship prior to his actions causing such a catastrophe.

    In the end...

    "You made the choice to pick Magic over your friends."

    And I could see where all of that would lead to.

    "In the end, you''d also abandon Jane for the sake of Magic."

    It had taken me centuries to arrive at this conclusion, but right here and now, I had taken one step closer to the truth I wanted to set for myself.

    "I love Magic. But...  love my friends and family more."

    That was the true difference between me and this person before me.

    "We''re not the same."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This chapter hits deep for me, personally.

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 Chapter 883 Jareds Final Round [Pt 1]

    Silence.

    Once I made my deration, silence consumed everything.

    I saw my doppelganger close his eyes as he inhaled deeply. The fact that he heard me out, and was currently not speaking, showed my words somewhat had an impression on him.

    Perhaps he¡ª

    "Are you done?"

    "What do you mean?" I responded, not expecting a response so soon.

    "I mean, are you done spewing all that idealistic bullshit?"

    "Ahh..." It seemed I raised my hopes a little too high.

    This was someone who would wipe out an entire race in his pursuit for his desires¡ªsomeone who had spent over a hundred years down this path.

    ''He''s not going to change that easily.''

    "What you''re essentially saying is ''be nice to people, and treat people well, instead of looking out for yourself.'' That''s stupid!"

    It seemed he was deflecting my ideals, rather than critically analyzing what I just told him. There seemed to be a cognitive dissonance somewhere within him, but he preferred to ignore it rather than face it head on.

    I knew deep down this version of me didn''t want to be evil.

    ''He wants to be recognized too, doesn''t he? Recognized for his achievements.''

    "Unlike you, I actually have no room for distractions. I will keep pursuing Magic to it''s utmost limits. I will abandon anyone who stops me or stands in my way, that''s true, but only fools would even try that."

    Seeing this person this way ached my heart in more ways than I could say. Perhaps it was because these could have so easily been my words.

    ''No, Jared. Stop trying to immerse yourself too deeply. You''re different people.'' I cautioned myself, maintaining my cool.

    "Do you know what that makes me? It makes me superior! I''m not like everyone else. I''m smarter, I''m stronger... I''m better! I am better than them!"

    His gaze went to the Outers, and then to me. He seemed to be enjoying every moment of it. At this point, I couldn''t really tell which one he''d rather be.

    A hero or a viin.

    "I don''t care about useless people. If you don''t have what it takes, then beat it. I worked tooth and nails to reach where I am. I gave it my all, suffering and enduring for my sweet reward. You think I''m going to let everything go now? You think I''d leave everything I''ve toiled for just because you told me to?"

    Yes... I was too optimistic. These sort of things took time.

    ''And with time...'' I smiled a little, ncing at Jane, whose face depicted how touched she was by my words.

    ''... You''ll understand.''

    I just had to give the seeds enough time to germinate.

    "I suppose it''s time we ended this now." I said, calmly ending the conversation there.

    "Indeed. Considering how I know you''re me, I''ll be going all-out. Since you''re a Hero who has saved your world countless times, this should be the best approach."

    I nodded gently.

    "You''re right. You should hold back."

    I wasn''t going to hold back too much either. To make this fight as meaningful as I wanted it to be, I had to show this Jared the truth.

    "Kindness is not the same as weakness. You can be strong, and at the same time... you can love others."

    "Shut up!" Jared snapped, his face now twisted in rage and disgust.

    It seemed he had gotten enough of my supposed ''bullshit.''

    "[Elemental Chamber]!"

    The moment he said this, all the major elements converged on him, swirling around to form the same model I used.

    "[Dark Mage Mode]."

    His body became.more engulfed in darkness, and a dark mage cloak covered his body, with a twisted staff held in his hand.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Several dark orbs appeared around him, and his power swelled considerably.

    "[Original Magic: Ultimate Power]."

    It seemed his power skyrocketed even more the moment he activated this Magic.

    It just kept rising indefinitely.

    ''Is this like Serah''s [Invincible]?'' No, there seemed to be a difference.

    His power seemed fluid and malleable. Almost as of it was constantly adapting and shifting.

    It took me a few seconds of analysis, thanks to my Magic Items and my immense sensory abilities¡ªas well as Spellcraft, to finallyprehend what his Magic was all about.

    ''I see. [Ultimate Power] allows his power to keep increasing, while also maintaining a constant state of flux. This gives him the power to use any Magic he understands, with no restrictions and requirement.''

    His energy would easily switch to the attribute, eliminating all forms of casting time or requirements.

    He could probably use Original Magic of it was simple enough for him to understand and easy for his power to mimic.

    "This is the very pinnacle of power. No, it''s beyond it. This power far transcends Nine-Star Magic." He dered to me. "This is the result of my dedication and unyielding determination!"

    He was right. This right here was ''Peak Level'' Magic.

    Even my Magic Item wouldn''t protect me from his Spells anymore.

    ording to this world''s standards, he could be considered a deity.

    ''He''s very strong...''

    In a world like this, his powers had transcended what anyone could hope to achieve.

    However... this was simply the case of a frog in a well.

    ''I''m at the Transcendent Level. This isn''t even a challenge for me.''

    And perhaps it was time for him to know the simple truth.

    "[Grand Elemental Chamber]. [Grand Fusion State]. [Mage Mode]. [Martial State]."

    And finally...

    "[Original Magic: Great Sage''s Memoir]"

    My body radiated immense light, and my transformation was concluded in an instant.

    Emerging from the brightness that surrounded me, contrasting the darkness before me, I kept my gaze constant and resolved my heart.

    ''I just have to show you... how wrong you really are.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It''s finally time for them to Duke it out onest time.

    Just so you know, even though we''ve gotten to a climax, this is nowhere close to the end of this Arc.

    There''s still a lot... and I mean A LOT!

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 Chapter 884 Jareds Final Round [Pt 2]

    My hair turned white, and my eyes shone with golden light.

    A sphere of energy surrounded me, andyers uponyers of different elements¡ªnot only restricted to the basic five surrounded me. The numerous offers surrounded me¡ªor rather, the sphere.

    My entire body was glowing brightly too, and the multicolored energy of all the many Familiars in my possession began coating my skin and outfit in dense energy.

    My cost became longer, a and something akin to a crown of jewels sat on my head. Bright energy kept condensing on me, making me extremely more powerful in every second that passed.

    ''I would have used [Midas Touch] too, but I''m not used to it yet.,''

    Besides, having just this was mofe than enough to teach this person a lesson.

    I didn''t need to use my Arcanas. I just had to show him¡ªno, show them¡ªthe error of their ways.

    "You can''t win, Jared." I smiled amid the torrents of energy I was releasing.

    His face showed shock¡ªor should I call it extreme intimidation.

    He most likely couldn''t believe how powerful J was.

    He could already see how much stronger I was,pared to him. However,.blinded by rage and power¡ªperhaps even an inferiorityplex¡ªhe would not back down.

    "SHUT UP!" He yelled at me, causing me to grow silent.

    ''I''ll let you attack first...'' My thoughts trailed as he pped his hands together to activate some sort of Spell.

    And, as expected... he made his first assault Spell.

    "[Final sh]"

    My eyes widened when I heard that Spell. It was something I used a bit too, and it was a Peak-level Magic Spell.

    Definitely, it was going to have more power than all of Jared''s other Spells.

    ''Hr also has Spellcraft, so he''s definitely going to increase the strength and ensure I get hit.''

    The problem with that arrangement was that it was simply useless.

    >BZZZZTTTTTTT...<

    "DIE!"

    The lightning descended from above, sending currents coursing through my body while also putting me into a constant state of shock and pain... or so it should have gone.

    However, not even a spark of the lightning touched me.

    ''Anti Magic nullifies every Spell. To be honest, nothing much has really changed.''

    The raging storm of lightning that aimed to descend upon me disappeared after a few seconds.

    All on an instant.

    "Since you''ve given an attack, I suppose it''s my turn."

    "[Sword From Heaven]" I raised my hand, and suddenly, something miraculous began to ur among the thick dark clouds

    >ZJUUUUUUUUUUU<

    The clouds began to part, revealing something giant and golden descending from. it.

    What was it? It was a de! An extremely massive de.

    "A-ahh..."

    It fell from the sky at a currently slow pace, but thanks to its mass, and the rate of descent, it was bound to cause harm upon it''s target and everything around him.

    "I''ll just do¡ª"

    Before Kuzon could judge, I used Spellcraft to bind him, holding him that fixed position where the sword would descend upon him.

    "Feel the pain." After all, he had many other suffer the same, no, even worse.

    "Y-YOU¡ª!"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    The de dropped at a massive rate, and while Jared erected an incredibly dense shield for himself, the thing easily broke, causing the de to impale Jared and sending him crashing to the ground.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    The ground shattered, sending dark debris flying everywhere as the area fell into plumes of smoke.

    "Any second now..." I muttered.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Jared''s body, coated in even more darkness than earlier, rose from the massive crater that had formed on the ground, and once again ascended to the sky.

    "Grr..."

    I felt in unnatural that an alternate version of me wouldn''t be using strategies in a fight when his opponent was obviously stronger.

    ''Is the Miasma affecting his intelligence, or has he been so superior for so long that he can''t develop any tactic to fight me?''

    I still had to watch out for any surprises, but so far I didn''t think he would be able to anything that would cause me substantial harm.

    It would still be nice for him to try, though.

    After ring for very long, he began throwing many Spells at me, nevermind their effects.

    "[Dark Flow]!"

    An acid bath filled with nothing but Miasma.

    Did it work? No.

    "[Dark Fall]"

    A strong gravitational attack that would send me flying to the ground, crushing me instantly.

    Did that work? Nope!

    "[Mist Of Corruption]!"

    A deep dark cloud that would rot me down to my bones.

    Did this one work? Of course not!

    It didn''t matter what Spell he used, I could either use Anti Magic or block it.

    And his Original Magic only served to improve the rate, speed, efficiency, and power at which he was able to dispense the Spells.So far, I hadn''t really performed a Spell his energy could imitate.

    "I should respond in kind now, right?" A smile formed on my face.

    Stretching my hand at him, and then focusing my energy to the top of my finger, I used a pretty simple Spell.

    "[Bang]!"

    >PSHU!<

    A very thin concentration of golden energy left my body, diving straight toward my target.

    It easily traversed the distance and reached him before he could say anything.

    I watched how the bullet I released pierced Jared, and then created the next effect the Spell was known for.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Jared was consumed by a golden st, causing him scream like a man bordering the very edge of insanity.

    "It hurts, doesn''t it? It feels like your entire cells are boiling, right?"

    "S-sh-shut uuuuup!"

    In an instant, he used a massive wave of Miasma to douse the burning energy. Now feed from the agony I put him true, I expected him to still be in his hateful state, but it seemed Jared had now gotten a change of heart.

    His eyes were still bulging, but a smile was now stered on his face.

    "I''ve had enough of this. I''ll just end this now..." He stretched his hands towards me, almost as if he wanted to grab something.

    ''Hm?'' I wondered to myself.

    What exactly was this guy up to now?

    "[Just Die]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like Jared''s gonna die again. Ah, I don''t know which one...

 Chapter 885 End Of The War

    Despite how ridiculous it sounded, [Just Die], was an extremely difficult Spell.

    It targeted the internal organs of the target by using Spellcraft to invade their body and affect them as he pleased.

    If he wanted the target to suffer prolonged pain, he could first destroy a lung, and then watch as the person struggled to breathe, before eventually seeing them die.

    For the case of his current enemy, though, as much as he wanted him to suffer, Jared understood how dangerous he was.

    ''He might figure out the trick to my Spell before I''m done.''

    It was highly unlikely, but it was still within the realm of reason. He was a different version of ''Jared'', after all.

    As a result, Jared decided to go for the heart, using his most ridiculously OP Spell.

    A Spell worthy of being the Trump Card Jared wielded; a surefire way to win against any of his opponents.

    So why...?

    ''Why isn''t he dying?!''

    Jared''s jaw tightened automatically, and his eyes kept twitching as he watched his enemy lookpletely normal.

    "What are you looking at? Is there something that''s supposed to be happening?" He asked.

    ''H-how...? It has always worked before! Why is nothing working!''

    Frustration began to set in. Deep frustration that made him feel anger and yet fear beyond description.

    He felt powerless even though he had reached his most powerful state.

    Could it be that dark energy wasn''t ultimate power?

    ''I... I...''

    At that moment, something broke within Jared. And once it did, there was finally nothing holding him back.

    ... So he gave in to his desperation.

    "UWAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    *

    *

    *

    A deafening roar resonated from Evil Jared''s location, but to me it seemed more like the whining of a child.

    After his earlier Spell, which I didn''t quite understand, didn''t work for some reason, it seemed he had finally reached a breaking point.

    ''What will he do now?''

    The answer I got was something so straightforward and simple that I didn''t expect it from my alternate self.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    That''s right! He wasing for a head-on attack.

    ''I''m literally in Martial State. That''s like the equivalent of Mage Mode for Martial Artists.'' Well, something like that didn''t exist here until I taught Edward, so he probably didn''t understand it.

    However, what that meant was...

    >CLANG<

    ... I wasn''t ever going to lose a one-on-one close range fight with this guy.

    Deactivating my Elemental Chamber, I used a de of light to parry his sword of darkness, causing sparks to dance around us.

    He instantly summoned a second one, deciding to wield it on his second hand, but I swiftly projected an energy de that shattered his second sword before it could fully manifest.

    >SWOOOSH<

    Twisting my body in mid-air, I gave him a roundhouse kick, sending him flying a great distance from me.

    ''Might as well engage in this...''

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    I swiftlyunched myself from my position and dashed at him, feeling the wind whipping my face.

    It didn''t take a second before I caught up to the recoiling Jared, but I was just getting started with him.

    He saw me appear from behind him, and he sharply moved his body in order to close at me with his Miasma-coated hands, but I vanished from my position and appeared behind him.

    A little p on his back sent him flying another great distance, but I closed in on him once more and sent him back to the position he wasing from.

    Eventually, I began to treat him like a ball, and out fight became a game.

    Anytime I sent him flying, I would appear right where he was headed and push him to a different location.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    After going on and on like this, I realized I was besting Jared to a pulp already, so I decided to end things in a much more preferable way.

    "Last hit..." I whispered, tightening my fist and costing it with a little more energy than usual.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    His body crashed yo the ground, reacting a massive quake while forming thergest crater on the battlefield.

    I floated in the air above him, watching the smoke clear up and everything slowlye back into perspective.

    Waiting, I watched Jared''s defeated, bloodied state.

    Miasma still poured out of him, but it seemed way less than before, and to obtain more supply, he would need to tap into the portal above.

    Not like I was going to let him do so, though.

    "So, you''re not going to fight again?" I asked calmly.

    His Dark Mage Mode vanished, and practically all the other transformations.

    All he was left with was the slithering Miasma around him and his slowly healing body.

    "Do you see it now? You''re not going to rule an entire world. You''re not going to conquer your universe. You''re not superior to anyone. You''re human, just like the rest of us."

    His hunger for power must have driven him tomit atrocities in his first life, but why did he not learn from his past mistakes and live a different life after reincarnating?

    ''Why didn''t he decide to live a mode fulfilling life?''

    Instead, he continued spiralling down that path¡ªkilling innocents, including his new parents.

    "I can''t save you, Jared. I have no say what your punishment will be. However, I will say this..." My eyes narrowed on the shuddering figure beneath me.

    "... You shouldn''t let your past define you."

    As I said that, I reflected on all my choices and regrets of the past. It was finally time to let them go too.

    I was Jared Leonard now. While I had my memories, and friends, and regrets from the past, I was living apletely different life now.

    And that meant I needed to have apletely different ending.

    "I told you... to SHUT UP! WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME, HUH?! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I WORKED HARD TO GET HERE? YOU KNOW NOTHING! YOU DONT KNOW HOW IT FEELS FOR YOUR PARENTS TO LOOK AT YOU LIKE A PIECE OF DIRT! FOR EVERYTHING YOU LOVE TURN THEIR BACKS ON YOU! FOR EVERYTHING TO LOSE MEANING!" The pain and bitterness heavy in his voice was heartbreaking.

    "ALL OF THAT WAS DUE TO MY LACK OF POWER! WITH POWER, EVERYTHING GETS SOLVED EASILY! I JUST NEED TO HAVE IT! MORE AND MORE!"

    I really couldn''t say any more to him at this point.

    "Jane, where the hell are you? Don''t just stand there and be useless! Stop that bastard! Do something! Help me, damnit! Move and do something now!"

    I nced at the Fairy he was referring to, and she lookedpletely somber.

    Tears fell from her eyes as she just stood still,pletely paralyzed in her position.

    ''I see...'' I nodded as our eyes met when she looked at me.

    If not for anything, I was d that one of the two could at least understand the message.

    ''I don''t think she''ll be fighting anymore.''

    As I stood above the ruinedndscape, watching the chaos that shrouded everywhere, I could finally say it with confidence.

    "This war is over."

    *

    *

    *

    ''Haha... it''s just as I thought!'' Neronughed internally, though his face contained a smile that rang with disbelief.

    After watching the fight between the two Jareds, he was d he had chosen to be more careful.

    ''You''re too strong, Jared. I really am no match for you.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Next chapter, we''ll try to wrap this up and keep the story moving.

    Sorry I made this fight drag on for so long

    Thanks for reading.

 Chapter 886 Collapse Of Darkness [Pt 1]

    A devastated Landscape¡ªone that stretched for miles.

    That was the sight that would greet anyone who witnessed the current state of the Eastern Kingdom''s Royal Capital.

    The fallen soldiers and golems littered the ground like dirt, and smoke and exhaust still filled everywhere.

    Hovering right above all of this chaos and destruction was a blonde who donned his white coat and and cooly observed everything.

    Yeah, that blonde was me.

    I looked in the direction of the Outers, who kept gawking at me in reverence and relief. Neron particrly had a good expression of surprise on his face that I personally enjoyed, but too much of that look wasn''t very good for me.

    I looked in the direction of the enemies¡ªJared and Jane¡ªwho were now currently unable to do anything.

    Jane had gone over to Jared''s side, and it seemed she was trying tofort him or something, but Jared was most likely having an emotional/mental breakdown at this point.

    I took my attention from them and looked at everything, taking in all the information they possessed.

    ''The war is pretty much over. All I have to do is stop the portal. I was thinking of a way to bring diversification to this world by letting Miasma have some space here, but there''s really no need...''

    If I let Miasma stay here, then new developments like Anti-Magic, and eventually perhaps pure Aether production, could be discovered.

    What made me hesitate, however, was the harm that Miasma could cause.

    It was extremely dangerous, especially to the people of this world, who were more attuned to Mana than anything else.

    ''It''s regrettable, but I''ll be stopping the portal. The device seems interesting, though. I think I''ll keep it for further research.''

    With that concluded, I ascended to the sky in order to stop it all.

    ''This shouldn''t take too long.''

    *

    *

    *

    "Tell me, Jane..." A low, hoarse voice emerged from Jared as he stiffly looked above him.

    His long white hair was stered on the dirty ground, with dirt and grime littering his face and body.

    His body ached beyond words, but something inside him hurt even more. It felt like he was being torn apart anytime he considered the swirling emotions that raged within him.

    "... What have we been doing all this time?"

    As he whispered this words, his body shook. It seemed he wanted to say more, even do more, but he was limited by his actions.

    Bloodshot eyes and gritting teeth could hardly exin the level of frustration that was rising within him.

    "After everything, how did we still lose? I... after all this time, why am I still weak? Why isn''t anything good enough?!"

    It made no sense to him.

    Even with his thorough preparations. Even though victory should have been assured and gotten undisputed, this had to happen.

    Why?

    What was his error? Why were things always like this?

    It felt like the very world was against him.

    "Jared, I..." Jane''s words weakly answered.

    Her eyes were a little swollen thanks to the tears, and it broke her heart to watch her lover this way.

    Clearly, she empathized with him. They hade so far together, and this was a dream that they both decided to undertake.

    However... somewhere along the way¡ªduring the final battle that cost them victory¡ªshe had mulled over the words of her enemies.

    She had listened, and something within her shifted.

    "I love you, Jared. Do you... love me too?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "What?" He responded,pletely surprised by the sudden switch in topic.

    Couldn''t something like that wait for now? They were currently facing a crisis, and it certainly wasn''t time for romance.

    "Jane. You know how deep my feelings run for you..." Jared muttered.

    "Then¡ª"

    "But there''s a ce for romance. And there''s a ce for Magic. You and I both ce Magic at the forefront. That''s why we''re so perfect for each other. It''s why I love you so much. Do not let that change."

    Jane bit her lip as she heard those words. She tightened her hands to form a fist, and it seemed that even more tears were about to fall.

    However, she fought the hot liquids back, and she took light breaths. Closing her eyes and stabilizing her breathing, Jane made a very sad smile.

    "Its a little toote for that, Jared." She answered, sniffing a little.

    "What do you... mean?"

    Jane wasn''t so sure how her lover would react to this. No, perhaps she already did. However, after listening to the otherworldly, she couldn''t deny herself any longer.

    The sole motivation for all she had done¡ªall the atrocities she had wrought so far, and even more that she would do¡ªall centered on one person.

    "Jared, I love you more than Magic."

    There remained no doubt on her mind about it.

    "And I want to know right now, Jared.... if you could feel the sa¡ª"

    "Don''t fuck with me! Don''t say that to me! I don''t want to hear any of that!" Jared''s response was a loud roar that seemed so full of despair and bitterness.

    "This isn''t how it was meant to go! Why did things have to turn out this way?!" He yelled, rage evident in his eyes.

    "All I wanted... why is it being denied now? And even you... you''re leaving the path too? Why can''t you all see what I see? Why can''t you all understand? I thought you understood, but¡ª"

    "I understand, Jared. I under¡ª"

    "No, you don''t! You fucking don''t! No one does!"

    His voice echoed sadness and despond, breaking the heart of Jane who watched and tried tofort him.

    "I... I am all alone."

    Hearing those words from Jared, the Fairy finally realized the truth.

    That Jared just couldn''t care and love her the same way he did for Magic.

    "I-I see..."

    And that was enough to break her.

    "S-sorry for ever loving you."

    She copsed on the ground too, now losing all the strength in her body to move.

    She no longer had the strength to tell him about their child that she carried... or the future she had envisioned for their girl.

    All she could do was lie there, not knowing what to expect next.

    That was Jane''s punishment.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    As this point is slowlying to a close, I hope you''re all enjoying yourselves.

 Chapter 887 Collapse Of Darkness [Pt 2]

    >BZZZZTTTTTTT<

    I touched the darkness of the spatial expanse above me and felt an electric charge sizzle on my hand.

    It did no damage, but I could feel the resonance and equal dissonance I had with the gateway.

    ''Interesting...'' I smiled.

    I had to admit, even though the Magic in this world wasn''t very advanced, the inventions often astounded me.

    ''To think they built a device that could pierce through dimensions. How amazing.''

    This portal led to another world¡ªone that was rife with Miasma.

    ''They actually crossed from.one.branch to another without an Arcana. That''s amazing. Just how many variables did they have to consider to get this sort of result? And the energy output too...''

    Before the portal became self-sustaining, a substantial amount of energy had to be used to pry the doors open.

    It was beyond fascinating.

    However, there was one more factor that made it all the more spectacr.

    It was the wavelength.

    ''When I first arrived in this ce, my energy wavelength differed. As a result, I wasn''t properly able to harness my Mana and Miasma.''

    Other than trying to resort to Aether, I was stuck since my Mana would rapidly evaporate into the air as a result of itsck of sync with the frequency of this world.

    ''It''s also why I thought Dark Energy was Nether. How else would they be able to harness an energy that didn''t belong in this world, to begin with?''

    However, it turned out I was wrong on all ends.

    The Miasma that proceeded out of this portal was in perfect sync with this world''s frequency. It was amazing, just looking at the thing.

    Whoever invented this thing was a geniusparable to people like Ana and even me. And that was even more amazing when considering the kind of reality this was.

    ''They managed to stabilize an unstable event-horizon without the use of an Arcana. They also tweaked the frequency of Miasma so it could freely operate in this reality. This device, while clunky and in need of a lot of upgrades, works too well.''

    If I applied this to my world, wouldn''t it be possible for us to harness the energy of other realities? To create diversity and special effects?

    Not everyone could use Aether, but wasn''t it possible that there existed other kinds of energy out there that would end up being just right for them?

    Besides, the very fact that it would advance Magic made things very exciting for me.

    ''They''re most likely going to ask how they can repay me for my kindness. I''ll ask for this device.

    ''I want to study it more.'' A smiled formed on my face. ''But just in case they don''t...''

    I looked beneath me and saw all my fallen Golems and Automatons.

    "You guys can stop acting now. I need you to do something for me, Gawain."

    The moment I said this, the multitude of constructs who were supposedly taken down by Merlin''s wave of Miasma, whirred back to life.

    ''I made them pretend to make things go more smoothly...''

    I could feel my Familiarsin within me, telling how they would have liked a piece of the action too, but what could I do?

    ''Kahn was the only one I used in the final fight. Sucks for them...'' I nearly gave a wry smile.

    After learning of the wavelength of this world, I applied it to Kahn as a test. It was also one of the reasons why I let him fight.

    It turned out he was able to use Miasma without any real restriction, thus replicating the effect this device had on the otherworldly Miasma that currently poured into this world.

    ''Alright, Jared. Enough talking. Let''s shut this thing down.'' I smiled, using my Original Magic to summon the right Arcana Spells for his.

    "[The Tower]. [The Chariot]."

    I used the former on the portal, while utilizing thetter on the device.

    >WHUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    Bright bursts of energy erupted from me as I utilized my Aether to affect the swirling pool on the sky, shutting it down within moments.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    As for the device, I was able to easily disassemble it with [The Chariot].

    Thanks to that, I was able to get its fine blueprint, so I suppose everything worked out perfectly well.

    In very little time at all, the n that must have taken them so long to execute, was taken apart.

    *

    *

    *

    After I was done with the portal, I descended from my high estate and made my way to the crater where Jared and Jane helplesslyy.

    Both of them seemed as lifeless and hopeless as one would expect after a loss.

    They also looked broken.

    ''Guess they suit each other more than I thought. Argh, what am I thinking!''

    I approached Jared, my gaze as calm as it could possibly get.

    "What are you going to do now?" He asked, barely even staring at me.

    His eyes were on the bright and clear sky above him.

    With the darkness evaporated, there were barely any more vestiges of Miasma around.

    The only one left... was him.

    "After ridding you of your Miasma, I''ll hand you over to Neron and the Outers. You''ll face justice and pay for your crimes."

    "Is that... so...?" His voice trailed.

    It seemed he already knew what wasing to him. Still, he didn''t seem to care.

    Was he that much broken?

    ''It''s out of my hands now.'' I thought to myself.

    "H-how...? How did you be so strong?" He suddenly asked me.

    One could only imagine the kind of surprised expression I leaked out when I heard his question.

    ''Oh?''

    His facepletely stoic, but his eyes... they still showed that yearning from earlier.

    Even with no hope in sight, it seemed Magic was all he could think about.

    "I had help. My friends, my family, my teacher... and even my enemies. Everyone made me this strong. The most recent is the Outgroup, and even you. You''ve all made me far stronger than I was before arriving here."

    Thanks to the nature of my Original Magic, I was pretty much always learning.

    "I-I see..." Jared whispered. "Must be nice."

    I nodded, looking up at the sky too.

    "You''re right. It is."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    How do you guys feel about how it ended? Did you want Evil Jared to suffer more or something?

 Chapter 888 A New Idea

    "NOOOOOOO!!!" I heard someone scream.

    I sharply looked in the direction of the noise and found it to being from a short distance to my right.

    It belonged to a golden-haired man who picked up the bloodied corpse of another golden-haired boy.

    "K-Kuzon, please. Not you. Please... don''t be... n-not you... I can''t lose you too... h..."

    The man who cried and sobbed endlessly was Kido Midas, Kuzon''s uncle, though you''d think he was his father or something just based on how he was acting.

    Kuzon was so harsh and cold towards him, yet the man was so warm and kind.

    ''His death must take a heavy emotional toll on him. I can''t bear to see Kido in anguish.''

    It was best to revive Kuzon, and pretty much any other person who died on the battlefield.

    I owed them that much.

    "[The Hanged Man]. [The Magician]. [Spellcraft]."

    Combining these three, I was going to have enough energy to undertake the task.

    ''Reviving people with their bodies alone.''

    *

    *

    *

    "Uwaaaaahhhhhh!!! Jared, thank you so muuchhhh!!!" Kido was now hugging me at this point.

    His arms were wrapped specifically around my butt as he knelt and ced his head on my crotch while crying.

    It feltpletely weird.

    "Yeah, I got it. Just go spend time with your nephew!" I cried out, detaching myself from his strong hold.

    I understood how emotional he was. It would be more illogical if he wasn''t, considering he had just seen an actual miracle.

    Kuzon, and pretty much every living being in this battlefield were now revived.

    As I had these thoughts, the rest of the Outers¡ªthose who had been stationed in the other nations included¡ªapproached me.

    Judging from the smiles on their faces, and my immense sensory prowess, I knew things had gone over smoothly over there.

    The war really was over.

    "You amaze me every time, Jared. To think you can even raise the dead." Neron smiled at me.

    It felt very strange hearing someone like Neron tell me that.

    ''Didn''t he revive almost everyone who died in Ainrk back then? I''m pretty sure he has done even more crazy things.''

    I knew this world''s Neron couldn''tpete with mine, but it still felt weird.

    "I can do a lot of things with the Arcana Spells. I could teach you, but there''s no time. I should be returning to my world soon."

    "Surely, you could make time for this one Arcana Spell, right?" Karlia burst out, looking a little too enthusiastic.

    ''Ah... I get it now.'' A sad smile formed on my face.

    I should have realized it sooner. How dense could I be? The Demon Race Massacre, the lostpanions of the Outgroup, the many who had perished before now.

    With such a godlike power at their beck and call, it would have been stranger if they didn''t desire it.

    Unfortunately...

    "[The Hanged Man] can only be used on either the Body or Soul. And by body, I mean a healthy, living body."

    I could see Karlia''s face darken. She must have felt extremely sad¡ªno, that would be an understatement.

    After experiencing hope, it was a very brutal thing to be thrust back into despair.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I''m sorry." I sighed. "Even I have my limits."

    The mood was sinking slowly. Even though we won, why did it seem like some us had lost.

    ''I would have considered leaving the Demons within me in this world, but it''s too risky.''

    Not only did they have their whole constitution centered around Miasma, but they weren''t particrly a peaceful race. The fact that they could be a major threat to this world dissuaded me.

    Alternatively looking at it, due to the difference in frequency, they probably wouldn''t be able to thrive properly here.

    I could probably make the whole arrangement work, but would that really solve the problem?

    Karlia had people she lost, and bringing a couple of strangers to live with her wouldn''t cut it.

    ''Besides, with Legris up to something, I can''t let go of a majority of my Familiars. They''re still useful, after all.''

    After considering these factors, I arrived at a dead end.

    It began to bring even my mood down.

    ''Neron, why don''t you help out here?'' I looked in his direction, but he seemed to be deep in thought.

    ''What are you thinking about? Your woman is in such a mood, and you''re busy in thought?'' I wanted to scream at him, but I chose to say nothing.

    ''Nah, screw it!''

    "Neron, you¡ª"

    "Jared, I''ve been thinking..."

    Our voices ovepped, causing me to halt in my tracks and consider the words he had to say.

    "Based on my understanding of the Arcana Spells; [The Hermit] maniptes time, and [The Hanged Man] can revive the death. Is it not possible that those two aren''t mutually exclusive for out purposes?"

    My eyes twitched a little once he said this.

    "You could turn back time in a given area or on a given target, and then revert them to their desired state."

    "I can''t interfere with the Soul, though. It''s beyond the scope of [The Hermit]."

    "I''m not saying it is. That''s where [The Hanged Man]es in. Revert a body to it''s optimal state, and then use [The Hanged Man] to revive them."

    My eyes slowly widened the more I heard Neron speak.

    "Doing this on a wide scale would drain a lot of energy, but if you use [The Magician], it shouldn''t be a problem.

    ''To use the Arcana Spells myself, it''s better I use Aether. By condensing the Mana provided by [The Magician], turning it to Aether, I should still be able to use it.''

    It was brilliant!

    "What do you think, Jared? It''s a rough idea, but¡ª"

    "It could work!" I beamed, looking at all of them with excitement.

    "The Demons. The Elves. Stefan''s cousin. The Ainrk Students. Kuzon''s parents. Vaizer''s family. And so much more."

    It could all work. I could bring them all back!

    My heart raced as I made this realization, and my eyes widened more and more with indescribable exhration.

    "I can''t wait to try this out."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    OP Jared. Haaa, so nice to see.

 Chapter 889 Epic Resolution

    "Haaa..." I exhaled as I closed my eyes.

    Locked in my heightened state, using all forms of Magic enhancements and supplements, I was brimming with power.

    I rose above the the ground, ascended beyond the sky, and finally left the.

    I feasted my eyes on the beauty of the world beyond the lonely world everyone I had grown to love lived in.

    All of what I was about to do was for their sake.

    The sake of a lone and its inhabitants.

    "This ce is perfect." I said to myself.

    It was rich in untapped energy, an excellent ce to use Spellcraft in addition to [The Magician], in order to fuel [The Hermit] and [The Hanged Man]

    The n was to use Neron''s Spell, [Time Immersion], to observe certain parts of the world in the past, and then use [The Hermit] Arcana to reverse the state of the particr person in that area so I could get their ideal form to revive.

    It was a long,plicated process¡ªespecially now that I thought of it more clearly.

    However, I wanted to do this.

    I wanted to see if it was indeed possible to raise the dead without resorting to either the Body or the soul at the very start.

    Thinking about it alone gave me goosebumps that simply wouldn''t go away.

    "Let us begin..."

    My bright body brimmed even more as I initiated the spark of Magic.

    *

    *

    *

    It worked! It all worked out perfectly well.

    I revived all of them.

    It was exhausting for me¡ªusing so much energy and concentration for each task¡ªbut I pulled it off.

    Never before had I done something as extraordinary as this.

    But I did so anyway!

    "Haaa... haaa..." My breath was heavy as I watched the new before me.

    "It seems I''ve once again grown in Magic."

    The excitement hadn''t faded. My heart felt.like bursting with his new aplishment echoing in my heart.

    "I can''t wait to let the others know about this!"

    And by ''others'', I meant those at home.

    ''I could use [The Fool] to erase, or even alter their memories, so that they can forget all of this ever happened. I could make Jared and Jane good people¡ªor think they''re good people. I could do so many things...''

    But I decided to leave this world as it was.

    People died, and people also made mistakes. Society learned and progressed as a result of this.

    ''I''ve made an exception by reviving the dead ones that mattered to those that matter to me in this ce. That should be enough.''

    After all, even the dead didn''t feel agony or anything.

    I wasn''t doing them a disservice.

    "Let''s return. There''s still a lot I need to do."

    *

    *

    *

    [A Few Days Later]

    "It''s still amazing, now that I think about it." Neron smiled, walking beside me as we talked.

    It hadn''t been long since the end of the conflict, but a lot of things had already changed.

    Jared and Jane, as well as their allies and subordinates were currently imprisoned while going through trial.

    I decided not to interfere with the legal system of this world, so I left it all to Neron.

    The Outgroup also disbanded, and the members were going on doing whatever was fit for them.

    Kido was back in the Midas Empire, serving as Kuzon''s adviser. Thetter''s parents, though revived, were on vacation.

    Apparently, they thought they could entrust their entire Empire to their kid. How irresponsible.

    Stefan and Maria moved back into their family home, and the both of them were currently thinking of attending Ainrk as staff¡ªaiming to be teachers.

    Karlia was with her Demon family, helping them settle into this new world that was now presented before all of them.

    Neron said he went to visit her often, and they had an intense love session every time.

    I didn''t need to know thatst part, but he told me anyway.

    ''I have to admit, I''m a little salty...''

    Seeing Neron and Karlia together never stopped being weird for me.

    Beruel was back to leading his people, though Vaizer didn''t return to his position as Beast King.

    Instead, he chose to explore the world with Reed as an Adventurer.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    His family remained in the Beast Kingdom though. He nned on seeing them before and after every adventure he went through.

    As for Edward, he set off on his journey to grow stronger. Once he was powerful enough, he was going to confront Lilith and confess to her.

    ''That''s a tough pill to swallow. Perhaps Lilith in this world.is different, but...''

    The Lilith I remembered didn''t do so well with romance.

    "Ciel is thinking of exploring thes outside this one." I smiled.

    "Interesting, isn''t it?" Neron answered with a smile.

    There could be allies or enemies out there. It was only rational that she would explore the stars to search for them.

    "Is she going alone?"

    "Na. Ana is thinking of joining her." Neron answered.

    Ana? But I thought she and Stefan were already getting pretty close.

    Did something happen?

    "Apparently they decided to give each other some time to figure things out. I''m not sure of the details, but they both want to explore their passions. It''s best we respect their decisions." Neron borated.

    Since that was the case, I suppose it was alright.

    The other revived Outers were busy with one thing or the other, and while Ciel nned on visiting the world outside this, she was currently dealing with the Elves and helping them settle in.

    There was bound to be some remnant enmity between the Elves and Demons, particrly on the side of the victims of the massacre, so she was currently working hard to resolve it.

    Ciel was pretty much this world''s guardian at this point.

    "What about you? What do you n on doing?" I asked Neron.

    "Researching, mostly. Your arrival here has opened my eyes to a lot of things. We''re currently not as advanced as your world, right? That means I''ll have to work on researching and making sure we make new developments in Magic."

    I smiled when I heard this. "That''s nice."

    "I was hoping Ana would be interested, but it seems she wants to know.more about this vast world we live in..Thanks for giving her Hugo, though. She constantly gushes over that Golem."

    We bothughed at Neron''s statement, especially because we had experienced it firsthand

    After piloting it during the mission, she didn''t want to let Hugo go. I decided to give it to her and simply make a better, upgraded version when I left this ce.

    "Well, you guys also gave me that Generator, so I suppose it''s fair."

    "We gave you that as thanks. This is different." Neron argued.

    "There''s no need for such ''thanks'' among friends." I stretched my hands toward Neron, and after a bit of surprise written on his face, he took my hand.

    We both shook hands, giving each other warm smiles that calmed my heart.

    "When are you leaving?"

    "Oh? In a hurry to see me go, huh?"

    "No. I was thinking of having one final get-together for all the Outers before you go."

    As expected of Neron. He always thought of the right thing to say.

    "That''ll be grea¡ª"

    >BZZZZTTTTTTTZZZZZZZZ<

    A buzz echoed a short distance from the both of us, and a sudden rupture in space manifested, bringing forth a golden portal.

    Golden electricity charged from the portals edges, and almost as soon as it appeared, someone proceeded out of the spatial gate.

    He had golden hair, golden eyes, and an extremely handsome face.

    He was wearing a bizarre outfit, but I definitely recognized him¡ªeven based on the resonance we shared alone.

    "No..." My eyes widened.

    "Ahh... I''m finally here!" The young boy sighed, stretching a little as the portal behind him vanished.

    I was nearly dumbstruck seeing him in front of me, but almost instantly a smile formed on my face.

    After all.....this person was my friend.

    "Long time no see, Jared." He smiled, returning the same twinkle I had in my eyes.

    Words could not exin the thrill I felt from his presence alone.

    "Kuzon!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I need a very big favor from you all.

    I just started a new book. Yes, I know, this is like the millionth book.

    But please just give it a try, will you? Or at least just add it to your library.

    Title: Only I Can See The End

    Thank you all for your help and support.

 Chapter 890 Reuniting Friends

    "Haaa! That crazy old man was right all along!"

    Kuzon instantly crumbled to the ground the moment he heard call his name.

    He sat on the bare ground, not minding the dirt, and his face depicted pure relief.

    "Kuzon...?"

    I was still very surprised to see him just pop out of nowhere, and I had plenty questions, but there was one thing that bugged me above all else.

    "What in the world are you putting on?" I asked, twisting my face in surprise as I stared at his bizarre outfit.

    At the moment, Kuzon was putting on a Mage outfit¡ªhaving the whole cloak and wizard cap on.

    The whole getup.

    The problem was the way the outfit was designed.

    "Blue and green, with white stars? And why is it oversized?" Words could not exin how ridiculous I thought he looked in the thing.

    "W-well, it wasn''t my fault. He forced me to put it on."

    "Hahaha! Is that so? Someone forced you to put something like this one? I wonder what Ana would think if she saw you?"

    I was a bit curious about who could make Kuzon subject himself to such shame, but I had to make fun of him first.

    "Ha ha, real mature of you, Jared. Won''t you stop him, Neron Alter?"

    "Alter?" Neron muttered, rubbing his chin a little in confusion.

    "Ah, don''t mind me. That''s what the crazy old man called you..."

    "Well..." Neron stared at me for a moment, but then shrugged not long after.

    It was hrious seeing Kuzon''s shocked face turn to disappointment.

    "Pfft." After going through all the crazy things for months in this world, it was finally time to have someic relief.

    No one could me me for that.

    "In any case... who are these people that are closing in on me? Friends of yours?"

    Just as Kuzon said that, the Outers gathered with shes of light bustling around them. They took their respective positions, surrounding him, while maintaining a safe distance.

    I saw caution written on their faces, but it onlysted for a moment.

    "Guys, rx. He''s a friend of Jared." Neron raised his hand and calmed them down.

    ''Phew! Tough crowd.'' I thought to myself with a smile.

    To think they would all leave their respective locations and rush to this ce at the slightest hint of danger.

    It was a good thing I taught them teleportation and all. This way, they would be alert if their world was ever to be in danger of any external threats.

    "H-hold on... Kuzon?! Ah, so it''s like that..." The Outers quickly adjusted to the logic of my Midas friend being a doppelganger

    After all, after encountering me and hearing me out, they had be more open to the idea.

    But what about Kuzon?

    "Oh? Aren''t these members of the Nether Cult? Looks like you''ve had an interesting adventure, Jared."

    "Haha, well... I guess. I even fought an evil version of myself." I grinned.

    "Oh, wow. Lucky you." It seemed like Kuzon was nearly in tears when he said that.

    Just what did he have to experience? How did he even know where I was?

    He seemed awfully calm about everything¡ªeven seeing the uncle he despised so much as a doppelganger.

    "You''re not even going to react to an alternate Ana?" I asked him teasingly.

    "H-hey, what''s that supposed to mean, Jared?" Ana yelled, her cheeks flushed with pink.

    She was most likely embarrassed for no reason at all.

    "Meh. Mine is prettier."

    "What in the¡ª?! I don''t understand!"

    Seeing Ana in so much confusion brought a couple of chuckles from both me and Kuzon. It seemed, no matter what, we both enjoyed watching our favorite Loli in a state of panic.

    "As much as I would like to stay here and hear your story, as well as regale you with the tales of my adventure, there''s no time." His chuckles slowly died down, revealing a serious expression on his face.

    It seemed Kuzon knew something I didn''t know. I was honestly extremely curious about all he had been through, but there was something more important on his mind.

    "Legris separated us by transporting a bunch of us to separate worlds. We still need to find the others."

    ''Wait... really?'' My face twisted a little in confusion.

    "I heard Neron''s voice in my head, though. He told me it would all be fine. That''s what made me less worried and hurried about returning home."

    Kuzon sighed, cing one of his hands on my shoulder.

    "I figured he would tell you something like that. His message to me was different, though."

    "Oh? What did he¡ª"

    "Try your hardest. Win ''his'' approval. Everyone is counting on you!" Kuzon repeated the words Neron must have told him. "It seems Neron knew I''d be the one to reach out to you first."

    My eyes widened a little. Just how far did Neron see? Was he ying a grand game again? <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I was totally confused.

    "In any case, you need toe with me so we can get the others. I''ll tell you what happened to me on the way. I also want to hear all about your side."

    I nodded slowly, still trying my best to digest all I had just heard.

    Still, something couldn''t leave my mind.

    "What of our home world? How is it? Do you have an idea?"

    Everyone who was left... I was immensely worried for them.

    Just how many of us got sent in the alternate worlds? What about Maria? What about my parents? My family? Myrades?

    I was beginning to get worried that it started to drive me crazy.

    "Rx, Jared. It''s going to be alright... hopefully. That''s why we need to hurry."

    Upon hearing Kuzon''s words, I steadied my breathing and calmed my heart.

    He was right. No good woulde.out of getting too worked up.

    "Alright then. I understand. You have a way to track them down, right?"

    "Yeah. The crazy old man gave the coordinates and the tools to me."

    Who was this crazy old man Neron kept referring to? I wanted to ask him, but since he said he would tell me everything eventually, it was more pertinent to leave now.

    "Looks like this is goodbye, Neron. Everyone." I looked behind me and saw all of them giving me warm smiles.

    Neron Kaelid.

    Ciel

    Edward

    Karlia

    Stefan

    Vaizer

    Reed

    Beruel

    Ana

    The other Outgroup members were also present.

    I felt my chest tighten a little. I wanted to spend a little longer with them¡ªat the very least to see this world thrive.

    However, my own world and people needed me too.

    "Looks like we''re going to have to postpone that party." Neron smiled at me, a twinkle in his eyes.

    I wasn''t even sure I would ever see him, or anyone here, ever again. However, my lips curled up to form a smile regardless.

    "Yeah. Definitely."

    >BZZZZTTTTTTTZZZZZZZZ!!!<

    A blinding light shone, revealing the same portal that Kuzon came out of. I saw him holding an orb, which glowed ever so brightly.

    It seemed to be connected to the golden portal in front of us.

    "Alright, Jared. Let''s go." With that, he entered the golden pool in front of us, and I trailed after him.

    With one final look at this alternate world, a smile formed on my face and I remembered all I had experienced.

    ''I''m going to miss you all...''

    And with that, Ipletely vanished from the alternate reality... making it lost to me.

    Maybe forever.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I need a very big favor from you all.

    I just started a new book. Yes, I know, this is like the millionth book.

    But please just give it a try, will you? Or at least just add it to your library.

    Title: Only I Can See The End

    Thank you all for your help and support.

    Also, I''m making one final chapter to show what happens after Jared leaves.

    I hope you enjoy it.

 Chapter 891 Closed

    >CLACK<

    >CLACK<

    >CLACK<

    Sounds of footsteps echoed in the deep, dark underground prison.

    Other than the cheap sets of luminous stones that served as a dim source of light, the entire ce was simply filled with cold darkness.

    In this silent and bleak ce, someone was walking.

    He easily passed through the defenses of the prison¡ªa ce of maximum security, exclusively made for one person.

    Finally, he opened the double-doors that led to the massive expanse where the prisoner was jailed.

    Behind the solid bars, and having dense Magic Constraints that covered his hand and legs, was the most malevolent one in the history of the world.

    Jared Leonard himself.

    "You... why are you here?" His voice, devoid of much emotion or energy leaked out.

    His tired eyes stared intensely at the man who  was now taking a seat opposite his cage.

    "Hey, won''t you answer me? I''m taking to you..." A deep re slowly began to form as he uttered the man''s name, almost as though it was a curse.

    "... Neron."

    As soon as Jared spoke, Neron''s face broke into a small smile.

    "Rx. I was just trying to get a littlefortable before speaking."

    "Why are you here? Is it finally time for my execution? Is that it? You''vee to lead me to my death?"

    "No. Your sentence has been extended, so you won''t be dying anytime soon."

    Jared''s eyes widened as he heard this. A soft gasp escaped his lips and he expressed disbelief at Neron''s words.

    "Why? I don''t... I don''t understand..."

    "You should really be grateful to Jane. If it wasn''t for her, I would have already put you down."

    "H-huh...?" Jared''s face twisted even more in confusion.

    "She''s finally decided to cooperate with the project. Of course, in exchange for sparing your life."

    "W-what are you¡ª??"

    "The both of you worked on a simr project together, but she''s a better expert. Plus, she''s more docile, and it''s easier to use her. You''re a higher profile criminal, so it''s best you take the brunt of public attention."

    Jared, hearing all of Neron''s words, was now swimming in a pool of ignorance.

    He had no idea what was going on.

    "The generator you two created was taken by your doppelganger. While I found it regrettable that I lost a tool to help me tap into dark energy, it wasn''t a total loss..."

    Dark Energy? Tool? Jared''s eyes widened as he looked at Neron.

    The man''s jet ck eyes was awfully cold. Completely devoid of any emotion other than pure objectivity.

    "The blueprint is avable, and Jane has the expertise to rebuild. Though, after considering all the factors involved, I''ve decided not to go down that route. One could call it a change of heart... or n?"

    "What are you trying to do? Get Dark Energy for yourself? Is that it? Now that you can use Magic, you want more power for yourself?" Jared''s voice echoed within his massive cell.

    A mix of both curiosity and a sense of satisfaction yed on his face.

    However...

    "Pfft. Puehehe... haha... hahahaha... hahahahahahahaha!"

    ... His words were met with nothing but ridicule.

    "Why would I do that? You think I''m like you? Power this, Magic that. All of that is useless to me."

    "What...?" Jared''s whisper faded as soon as it was uttered.

    "I want a world without Magic, Jared. A better world."

    More confusion was etched on Jared''s face. "Lies. How would Dark Energy aplish that?"

    "You don''t need to know. I also don''t need you to believe me. I just came here to vent a little, I guess."

    "What are you even... saying?"

    "Tapping into Dark Energy is too tedious. The process is too conspicuous, and the energy is too erratic¡ªunpredictable. Especially in such arge quantity. I wouldn''t want to create even more conflict in my pursuit of peace." Neron smiled, raising a finger as he spoke.

    "So, I''ve decided to simply create my own version. A better, more stable version of Dark Energy."

    "H-how in the world...?"

    "Jane attempted something simr, and while it was inferior, it had some of the qualities of Dark Energy. That''s why it''s important that she''s with me. I''ll be requiring her expertise on this matter."

    Jared ground his teeth as he listened to Neron speak. He couldn''t take one more second of it.

    "You won''t seed! You don''t think I tried that? It doesn''t work! You need the actual thing! Anything else will be inferior!"

    "Says who? You?" Neron''s darkened eyes twinkled a little as he spoke.

    "I swear, you Jareds are all the same. You im to have such a great understanding of Magic, yet you limit yourselves in the most mundane ways. There are no ''can''t'' or ''shouldn''t'' in Magic. It defies all of those. That''s one of the prime reasons why it''s so dangerous."

    "You won''t be able to do it..." Jared still shook his head adamantly.

    "Really? Even after experiencing the actual thing and having enough samples to run tests and synthesize a better version? How close minded can you be?"

    Silence echoed within the room. Both Jared and Neron stared at each other until the former looked away.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    A defeated expression yed on his face. Clearly, he had lost on all ounts.

    "How long... have you been nning this?"

    "Who knows? Maybe since I was little. Or maybe a few months ago. Time is a pretty strange thing, is it not?"

    "You''re crazy!" Jared barked in response to Neron''s calm words. "Magic is everything! Do you think this world will be the same without it?"

    "We''ll have to learn, then. Besides, that change is what I''m looking forward to. A without Magic... doesn''t that sound interesting? Is it just me that thinks this?"

    "... C-crazy..."

    "It''ll take some time to sort out the details, but I believe we''re on the right track. The other Outers are too busy, so there''s no one to interfere with my work. " Neron''s word''s ovepped with Jared''s insistent ramblings about how insane he was.

    "With the possibility of life outside this, there''s the chance that eliminating Magic here would make us vulnerable to alien life. It''s only realistic to expand my ns beyond the confines of this ce."

    "... Insane..."

    "But what about the other worlds? Surely they''re bound to be threats out there. What if the next visitor that visits from outside out reality has ill intentions? With our current Magic¡ªor worse still¡ªwithout Magic, we''ll be too vulnerable to fight back. You know what that means, don''t you?" Neron''s smile broadened even more.

    "... You''re... insane..."

    "I have to consider all the variables. To protect everyone and everything. To save as many lives as possible¡ªnot only in this world, but outside it¡ªMagic has to be eliminated."

    "...C-crazy..."

    Neron rose from his position, his eyes staring straight at Jared who kept shivering as he murmured.

    "I will create a new world, Jared. A world where my family, and everyone''s families, can live in better peace and equality... a fair world."

    He took a step closer to Jared, his wide smile not disappearing from his face.

    "... And the creation of that starts from you and me."

    He passed through the bars that separated the two of them like the security measures were nothing.

    They almost felt like holograms at this point, fritzing and blurring in his presence.

    "You know, I''ve been thinking of how to make you suffer for all you''ve done this far, Jared. I thought about the worst kinds of torture, but  even those wouldn''t do justice to the people you''ve killed and the amount of evil you''ve wrought." In one more step, Neron grabbed Jared by the throat and raised him up, apletely different expression on his face.

    This time, it was of a cold,pletely numb look. It felt like he was an inanimate statue.

    "And then, I finally thought of it. The perfect punishment." Neron''s eyes turned blue as he spoke, and some strange energy began coursing through his body.

    "You said it yourself. Magic is everything. However, I think you forgot to add one word to it." And with that, Neron uttered them. "Magic is ''my'' everything. That was what you meant, wasn''t it?"

    At this point, Jared''s eyes widened in sheer horror.

    He must have known what was about to happen. He tried to beg or scream or do anything, but at this point his body wouldn''t listen to him.

    He waspletely helpless.

    "I promised Jane I would take your life. I never said the same about your Magic..."

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU<

    The strange energy coursed through Jared, filling him up from the inside out. It went through every nook and cranny of his body, purging every single ounce of energy that remained within him.

    And then, after a few seconds, the energy left him.

    The work was done.

    "Congrattions Jared..." Neron spoke, dropping the weakened Jared like a lump of meat.

    "... You''re now Inept."

    He once again passed through the cage, and it made way for him as if he was nothing but a ghost.

    "No... no... please no..." Jared''s whimper leaked out, but Neron couldn''t care any less about them.

    It was already toote.

    No... it was actually just the beginning.

    Neron''s smile returned as he left the prison and emerged from the dark underground into the light.

    His eyes saw the beautiful world that surrounded him, and his heart imagined the amazing ones that awaited him.

    The lost worlds.

    Everything was already in motion, and it was inevitable that it would eventually converge... just as he wanted.

    "All in due time."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Will Neron Alter be returning? Who knows...

    In any case, I hope you all enjoyed the first portion of this Arc.

    We''re about to jump into Kuzon''s side of the story for a little. I promise you, it''s going to be good.

    Thanks for reading this far. Please this book needs your support, so I''d appreciate it if you continue to render your help.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 892 Strange Descent

    [Kuzon''s Story]

    *

    Kuzon could have sworn he was just right beside Ana a few seconds earlier.

    And then Legris Damien used that strange Spell. It blinded him, and then he felt his body being carried somewhere beyond his will.

    It was toote to resist by the time he knew what was happening.

    ''What is going on?!'' He thought to himself, feeling drawn into something.

    Somethingpletely different.

    *

    *.

    *

    "Where am I?"

    Standing on a very dry patch ofnd, I looked around me and saw no one else.

    It was and devoid of life, light, or much hope. The clouds were dim, like it was about to rain, but the air around wasn''t cool in the slightest.

    Kuzon wasn''t concerned about any of those details, though.

    His thoughts were fixated on something else.

    The wastnd was empty, with no one in sight in his nearby vicinity. Perhaps things would be different if he used Magic, but...

    ''Something is strange here. The frequency, maybe? I can tell... I don''t belong here.'' His thoughts echoed within him.

    That, of course, meant he had to leave. However, to do that, it was necessary to deciphered where ''here'' was, and how to get out.

    Still standing in the wastnd, Kuzon began to mull over all that was going on.

    ''Based on this feeling alone, and the extremely stale particles in the air, this isn''t the world I''m used to. Plus, there''s currently no ce on our that has this kind of setting...''

    Could this be another? It was likely so. It could also be something that Kuzon feared more than the former.

    ''Is this a different dimension? Damn...'' He had experienced his fair share of alternate dimensions, so he understood to an extent.

    "Is this perhaps rted to that voice I heard before gaining consciousness here?"

    Before appearing in this world, he had heard Neron''s voice. It told him a simple message;

    ~Try your hardest. Win ''his'' approval. Everyone is counting on you!~

    Did Legris really transport everyone to separate realities? And was Neron relying on him to help the others?

    ''This isplicated, but I think I get the picture.'' In all things, Kuzon chose calmness over any other expression.

    It was much better to reason one''s situation as objectively as possible... even though they were going crazy within.

    ''Ana... everyone...'' His face darkened and he clenched his fist. His heart was racing faster than he could control, a sigh of anxiety, but he did his best to maintain a stable front.

    ''Whose approval do I have to gain, based on the message?''

    Neron was very intelligent and meticulous. Kuzon already knew this. If he said something like this, then it had have some merit to consider.

    ''That must mean there should be a civilization nearby. Alright then...'' Neron''s eyes slowly turned golden as his golden energy leaked from out of his body.

    "I''ve been putting off the use of Magic in this world, but let''s see how it goes."

    Unsurprisingly, it worked just as well. His senses began to spread out from behind his position, passing through miles in the wastnd, and beyond the continent he stood on.

    However, still maintaining his desire to reach the closest civilization, Kuzon focused his attention on a cluster he sensed with his Sensory Magic.

    "I''ve found it. A nearby civilization!" A smile formed on his face and he halted his enhanced search.

    ''I''ll talk to the people there. Hopefully, the person Neron wants me to impress or whatever is there.''

    Even if they weren''t, he would gain the information he needed for the current world he was in.

    He still had no idea where he was, after all.

    "I have to go home as soon as possible. I''m sure the others are working on other things on their end too. Since they''re counting on me... I can''t fail." And with a daring smile, he began his journey.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Wait for me, Ana!''

    *

    *

    *

    >FWUSH<

    All it really took was one teleportation Spell, and Kuzon was already at the outskirts of the vige before him.

    He decided to put aside the formal attire he wore for the wedding and instead put on a hooded robe that made him seem like a traveler.

    ''I shouldn''t put on the hood. I''m not here to raise suspicion, after all.'' If he showed his friendly face around, he was sure more than a few would be inclined to answer his question.

    ''Still... this ce....''

    Kuzon''s eyes took in the sight in front of him. Greeting his presence was a settlement that could hardly be qualified as a civilization.

    Tents littered his sight, and other than the two ascending poles and the connected signpost that marked the start of the town, there was really no line of separation, or walls that properly covered the ce.

    It was a barend, filled with tents and people going about their businesses.

    ''How many are they? Ah, I see.  Almost a hundred thousand, huh?''

    They were quite a lot, considering the kind of treatment they were receiving, why would they choose to remain in such a ce?

    ''That doesn''t matter for my purposes, though. I should hurry.''

    The moment Kuzon took a step past the poles and signpost, venturing into the primitive society in front of him, he was instantly greeted with stares from the people who were going about their business.

    ''Ah, is it strange for them to have visitors?'' He pondered.

    However, before he could think too far on the issue, he saw the faces of the denizens slowly warp.

    Their eyes turned bloodshot, their bodies trembled, and they instantly jerked away from what they were doing.

    ''H-huh...?'' Kuzon thought to himself.

    Before he realized it, the several thousand people in themunity were already gathering together, all having the same expression of mixed fear and reverence.

    Right before his very eyes, these people¡ªboth the grown men and women, as well as the younger ones¡ªall bowed before him.

    Their impoverished attires were stained by the dirt of the ground, but it seemed they were hardly concerned at all.

    Beads of sweat formed on their faces, and nervous reactions pervaded the ever-growing number of bowing people.

    "W-we greet you, and wee you to our worthlessmunity..."

    They really were frightened of him. Kuzon could see it on their faces¡ªin their tired-looking eyes.

    But why?

    "P-p-please spare the lives of your worthless servants and show us mercy. We are willing to do anything, o'' Supreme Midas."

    Hearing and seeing all of these, feeling the unexpected rush of devotion and attention from.allmof these people, Kuzon was dumbfounded.

    For a second, he becamepletely nk.

    ''... What the hell is going on here?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I personally prefer this Kuzon''s Story to that of Jared''s. I''m not sure of you''ll feel the same when reading, but I can guarantee it''s just as interesting, at the very least.

    I''ll also try to make it as short as possible.

    Thanks for reading.

 Chapter 893 Ugly Truth [Pt 1]

    ''They''re all scared... of me?''

    Kuzon was so confused because he had ensured he concealed his power before approaching them.

    He had also not done anything worthy of such treatment. After considering their reactions and his current predicament, he could only conclude one thing.

    ''The Midas Race?''

    Did these people fear the Midas Race? If that was the case, then did his people exist in this world?

    ''That''s perfect. I''d find better information there!'' If only he were that naive.

    The fact that these people were so terrified of him showed there was a problem with the Midas Race.

    ''Before I see the Midas, I better know what I''m dealing with¡ªthoroughly.''

    With that, he took another step forward, causing the audience to squeak.

    ''Its weird that they''re acting this way, but I can just take advantage of this. This way, at the vet least, I''ll be getting honest answers fron them.''

    "You may all raise your heads." Kuzon spoke gently. "I am only interested in asking a couple of questions. Once I''m done, I''ll leave."

    He could see twinkles of relief in their eyes, but most of them had immense shades of doubt.

    ''Tough crowd..." Still, it didn''t matter to him.

    So long as they would answer his questions... that was all that mattered.

    *

    *

    *

    "Where is this ce? What are you people doing here?" He began by asking.

    He understood the question he asked.might have seemed foolish, especially to residents of this world already.

    ''Thankfully, they''ll answer it anyway.''

    "We''re mere vagrants. This is a ''Shelter''. We don''t have anywhere else to go, so we decided to camp here¡ªin the wastnds." The one who seemed like the leader decided to answer.

    He was elderly and frail, and he looked so sickly that he could die at any given time.

    ''Did he volunteer himself because he knows he doesn''t have long to live? If he offends me, or answers incorrectly, and I kill him, it wouldn''t really be that deep a blow. Is that what they think?''

    Kuzon was once again confused about the line of thought these people had.

    "Why have have you all be disced? What happened to your homes? What happened to this ce?" He asked.

    At this point, the people shivered more, showing hesitation that had never disyed before.

    The fear had reached a new height.

    "Don''t worry. Answer my questions honestly, and I won''t harm you. I give you my word."

    Their eyes widened at his gentle tone and understanding face, and he nodded calmly. If he could gain their trust, Kuzon figured he''d be able to get more urate information.

    "W-we''re like this because of the ''Cleansing'' that happened a few centuries ago. The M-M-Midas Race... purged the world of t-the filth, and... they brought a new world order. Those who did not fit into the new world... we''rebeled vagrants. We''ve been living like this¡ªwe and our families¡ªin the wastnds ever since. A-as long as we do not cause any trouble, we won''t be eradicated... we hope."

    Hearing all of this, Kuzon''s eyes widened instantly. His lips quivered, and there was only one word he could say.

    "What?!"

    >DUM!<

    Instantly, an overwhelming pressure enveloped the area, causing all the kneeling residents in the area to nearly fall t on their faces.

    It suddenly became very difficult to breathe, and they felt like they were going to die if the conditionsted for a little while longer.

    "A-ah, I''m so sorry. I''m so sorry. I didn''t mean to do that!" Kuzon snapped out of his daze, realizing the harm he was causing.

    Guilt and anxiety spread across his face. A pricky feeling coursed through his heart, and he felt pangs of pain that he couldn''t possibly decipher.

    Seeing the powerless and helpless shiver before him, watching in horror as he stood before them.

    "W-we are fine, almighty Midas. We are grateful you spared us..."

    Even though they said that, Kuzon could sense the hollow nature of their voices.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It was almost like they were automatons who were taught how to respond when confronted with certain situations.

    It hurt him to no end.

    ''The Midas Race did this... here?''

    "Tell me more about this world''s history. Why do you all live like this? Certainly with Magic, you could live much better lives and improve your civilization." Kuzon said.

    He had sensed Mana dancing in the air, and he knew these people had Mana Cores. So, they weren''t Inepts.

    ''Is it that Magic in this world isn''t very advanced, or...?'' He looked at them, and the denizens appeared very confused with Kuzon''s inquisition.

    What did he say that was out of ce? As he killed over this, the elderly man finally decided to answer.

    "W-we can''t use Magic, almighty Midas..."

    ''What? But they can. They have Mana Cores, so they should be able to. Not one of these people is Inept. In fact...''

    "The use of Magic by anyone other than a Midas is forbidden. Forgive me for thinking this is some form of test the Midas Empire is performing on us, but none of us have been practiced Magic. I can guarantee that, my Lord."

    Kuzon couldn''t believe his ears, but he couldn''t stop now. He needed to hear more.

    "What happens if you use Magic?"

    "The almighty Midas Race, in all their glory and magnificence, have created a Magic Device that allows them to detect the use of Magic all over the world. If one is detected, the Inquisitors are dispatched, and that person is purged. Depending on the intensity of the Spell, or the resistance met, the Inquisition also has the authority to purge the entire settlement."

    Kuzon was beyond horrified. This tyranny had taken him to a realm of disbelief, yet the words of the man didn''t seem false.

    He had no reason to lie.

    ''Is this ce real? From all I''ve been sensing, that seems to be the case.''

    In this real, but different world, his own Race had done something so horrific?

    But... why?

    "Why did they do this?" He asked, the question burning deep within his heart.

    "Before the ''Cleansing'', the nations warred against each other in what seemed like an endless conflict. Magic was used as a critical element of that conflict. After the 3rd Celestial War, the Midas Empire decided to intervene, thus putting an end to the violence and bloodshed. They banned the use of Magic because of how much it corrupts, and also to protect us from ourselves." The man said, his head still bowed.

    ''Bullshit!'' Kuzon wanted to say, but he swallowed his rage.

    The Midas Race probably didn''t want any opposition, so they made a system as oppressive as this.

    ''He said this has been for a few centuries now. That is so...''

    This man was probably someone who didn''t experience all the cmities himself, so he must have heard everything from a third ount, most likely.

    ''Based on his response, and even the response of all these people, they''ve been conditioned never to question the Midas Empire. They''ve be nothing but lowly subjects, and the Midas people are recognized as gods.''

    Once Kuzon discovered this ugly truth, he couldn''t control his disgust.

    ''This is clearly wrong!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I need a very big favor from you all.

    I just started a new book. Yes, I know, this is like the millionth book.

    But please just give it a try, will you? Or at least just add it to your library.

    Title: Only I Can See The End

    Thank you all for your help and support.

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please support the book.

    Thanks.

 Chapter 894 Ugly Truth [Pt 2]

    In this new world, the use of Magic was illegal.

    That had been thew for centuries. Even though these people naturally formed Magic Cores, they hadn''t used them even once. Pretty much no one even knew how to cast a Spell.

    ording to public policy, that was like casting costly pearls before swine.

    "Does this neww apply to ever race? What about the Magical Beasts?" Kuzon asked.

    "Y-yes. It applies to all. The Magic Beasts have been domesticated by the almighty Midas Empire, so no one among them dare to defy them. Thanks to that, we now live in a utopia devoid of war and chaos."

    Kuzon tried his best to hide his disgust, but it seemed a little leaked out every now and then¡ªespecially when he heard answers like this.

    ''The conditioning is so strong, huh? Or is he just trying to bootlick me?''

    In any case, these people who were suffering, still appeared so grateful to the Midas Empire.

    It repulsed him.

    "We now have order. Stability. Direction. It is all thanks to the Midas Race interfering with our primitive ways and giving us theirws that we could arrive at this development." The old man furthered.

    "Praise the Midas Emperor."

    Everyone bowed and raised their hands above in response to his words. They all jointly changed the words "Praise the Midas Emperor!"

    Hearing those echoes disturbed Kuzon, but he kept his cool. Instead, he looked at the nearly hundred people whomitted this act, feeling nothing but pity... and then shame.

    However, it was at this point that he noticed something spectacr among the crowd.

    It was a youngdy among them.

    ''She''s not joining them to say the words. And look at her eyes... the frustration... the anger...''

    For some reason, seeing even one among this sea of sheep made him happy.

    Not everyone had been brainwashed, at the very least.

    "Is this world truly better off...?" Kuzon whispered as he gazed at the darkened sky.

    He truly did not think so.

    ''There are still more questions I want to ask. I should also hurry, so let''s get this over with.''

    *

    *

    *

    Kuzon asked more questions and managed to learn even more about the world.

    Apparently, a lot people were way better off than those living in the slums. Those ones loved in cities known as ''Zones''.

    There were a total of one hundred zones all over the world, made into small cities that confined their residents into that particr box where they did jobs and engaged in monotonousbor until they died.

    ''Their paths are set for them, and they will continue the loop until they finally exhaust their lives¡ªnot able to leave the city even once.''

    How was this a better world?

    ''Can''t they see it? They''re merely prisoners.''

    He learned more, though.

    This wastnd, where these people lived, once served as a battlefield. It was also a ce where the non-skilled and non-talented could afford to live.

    Thefortable lives in the city came with benefits, such as safety, security, and the warmth of civilization. However, that came with the price of taxes and the daily expenses they had to live under.

    Some even went into debt as a result.

    Those who could not cope with such a lifestyle, due to not having proper skillsets, had no choice but to live in the slums.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "We get provided with our daily rations from the benevolent Midas Empire, even though we do not work or deserve it. They still feed and sustain us." The old man had said.

    Kuzon knew all of that was a load of garbage. It was all wrong.

    ''The Midas are probably keeping these people alive to serve as an example, a deterrent to those in the cities who do not want to lose their privileges. It makes them continue to work harder. As for these guys, they are given very little¡ªjust enough to keep them alive¡ªand yet they''re so loyal?''

    Didn''t they understand that they would have been able to eat healthier and better without the oppressive system, to begin with?

    ''Even paupers should live better lives than this...''

    Still, that wasn''t all.

    Apparently, in this new world talent and skill were everything.

    The talent that was required and appreciated couldn''t be based or anybat-rted skill. In a society where everyone needed to have a ce, theck of the preset abilities meant being forcefully ejected out of it.

    That was why slums existed, and why ''Shelters'' were built all over the world.

    ''Its just to maintain this defective system...'' Kuzon thought to himself.

    He could his head hurting anytime he thought very deeply about the matter. Plus, the fact that the people he was speaking to kept praising the Midas Empire didn''t give him enough perspective.

    He felt like there was something missing.

    "The Midas Empire is responsible for the greatest atrocities in the history of this world. They imed to have ended violence abd bloodshed, but theymitted the worst kind!" A voice suddenly erupted from the crowd.

    Kuzon''s eyes twitched as he swiftly diverted his attention to the one who spoke.

    ''Ah, it''s the same girl from earlier. The one who wouldn''t behave like everyone else...''

    He could already see people around her gasping in shock and begging her not to speak any longer, even going as far as restraining her, but she struggled anyway.

    "P-please forgive her indiscretion, my Lord. I will make sure to punish her very strictly for this sphemy that she has uttered "

    "Please forgive the child."

    "Have mercy!"

    "Spare us."

    The vige elder and many others began pleading and begging.

    It reached a point of irritation that Kuzon finally raised his hand, causing everyone in the pandemonium to freeze.

    "Whose child is she?" He asked.

    "W-we don''t know. She was abandoned here in the slums, and we''ve been taking care of her ever since."

    ''So, even in their oppression, they remain kind people...'' Kuzon smiled.

    At the very least, he couldn''tpletely despise them.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 895 The Girl Called Maya

    The youngdy had jet ck hair, long enough that it effortlessly flowed down her back. Her red irises shone like a prized ruby, and her defiant expression added a certain kind of allure to her face.

    ''Interesting...'' Kuzon smiled as he watched her.

    He observed as the vigers had her on a leash¡ªone covering her mouth, and the others holding tightly to her arms and legs.

    They probably didn''t want her to get into any trouble, or doom the entire settlement.

    ''A ce with so many people, yet she''s known by them. Her notoriety must be quite high.'' He mused.

    "What is your name?"

    At that moment, Kuzon''s eyes went straight for hers, and he signaled everyone around her to cease their actions.

    As a result, they all let go of her, freeing the youngdy.

    "My name is Kuzon Midas. What is your name?"

    For another few seconds, she didn''t say anything.

    "Don''t tell me you''re too scared to tell me your na¡ª"

    "I''m Maya. Just Maya!" She barked, almost in rage.

    Kuzon leaked out an amused chuckle as she spoke. He knew someone like her would most likely respond if he decided to rile her up a little.

    And it worked.

    "Maya. That''s a nice name..."

    "W-what..?!" Her response was shock, but also downright suspicion.

    "I said you have a nice name. Your personality is also pretty interesting."

    "W-what are you... saying...?" Her voice trembled, and she looked utterly confused.

    She probably wasn''t used to hearing those kinds of statements, and she most definitely wouldn''t have expected such apliment from a Midas.

    "Maya, please tell me more about what you were saying earlier."

    "A-ah..."

    At this point, she began to look around her, seeing the worried expressions of the people. Despite her earlier outburst, she seemed quite considerate of her people.

    ''Maybe she can''t properly control her emotions? Maybe she reached the limits of what she could tolerate before speaking up? Either way...''

    "Don''t worry about them. I won''t hurt anyone as long as my questions are answered honestly. You have my word."

    Using [The Emperor] would have been much faster, but ever since he came to this world, the Arcanas that fused with his body seemed to bepletely dormant.

    It bothered him to no end, but he chose to shelf the matter until he gained more information.

    "W-well..." Maya muttered, her expression turning a little darker.

    "Yes? Go on." Kuzon nodded on encouragement.

    He was truly interested in the true history that these people were avoiding to address.

    "The Midas Empire resorted to Mass Genocide, killing everyone who defied them and their new system. That is the true meaning of the ''Cleansing''. They cut off the strong, leaving only the weak and powerless behind."

    ''A-ah... so that''s what I''ve been missing.'' Kuzon''s thoughts echoed.

    "Only the weak and docile remain. We can''t do anything about the situation, and we''ve epted it as our fates." She seemed to be seething in anger now.

    It pleased him.

    "I often ask myself... if the Midas Empire was so perfect, and so loving, and so powerful, couldn''t they have found a better way to ensure peace and order? Why would they have to kill so many people¡ªeven innocents¡ªjust to give us this reality we have now? We barely get by every day, and none of us are allowed to want more. This can''t be the work of a just system. This... this... there''s something wrong somewhere!"

    Kuzon''s eyes beamed once he heard those words.

    ''She''s different from the rest of them!'' It genuinely made him happy to see someone who strayed from the hive mind.

    However, it was also a wonder how she had managed to survive for so long despite her strong views against the Midas.

    ''The Midas Empire most likely can''t see everything. They just detect Magic waves and respond to them as well. However, the dogma has formed an assumption in their hearts that the Midas Empire is all-powerful and can do anything.''

    Since they were the only ones who could use Magic, it was only natural that the Midas Race would reign supreme in this new world.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Keke... kekekeke..." Kuzonughed at himself, grabbing his face as he felt an uncontroble emotion rise from within him.

    "Hahaha... hahahahahahahaha... hahahahahahahaahahaha!!!"

    Hisughter echoed the surrounding, enough to send the entire area into a wave of silence and confusion.

    "It''s funny, isn''t it? This is why dictatorship is always doomed to fail. It''s not sustainable. Hahahaha!"

    This time, the people stared at each other in confusion. They didn''t really understand what he was implying, but it was their duty to support the words and actions of their Midas superiors

    "Y-yes, my Lord. It is most hrious!"

    "Indeed. Very funny, my Lord.."

    "Yes. You have rightly said so, my Lord."

    "Your sense of humor is transcendent, my Lord."

    "Right as always, my Lord."

    "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

    Before Kuzon realized it, everyone was already copying him,ughing as hard as possible.

    Theirughter rang empty and hollow, yet they kept it up.

    "What the fu...?!" Kuzon''s face twisted in annoyance.

    ''Who told you tough? Why are you guys so¡ª?!''

    Before he could conclude his statement, Kuzon felt an iing energy from behind him, so he nced in it''s direction.

    ''Spatial Magic?''

    And, just as he guessed, space warped and a portal formed.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    The portal resembled a puddle of water, but standing vertically.

    It was also golden in color, radiating the signature color of none other than the Midas Empire.

    ''So they''re here, huh?''

    Footsteps echoed in the silent expanse, and a group emerged from the portal.

    They were garbed in golden armor from bottom to top, taking the form of knights. The dignified designs on their armor and helmet showed a form of dignity that couldn''t be replicated.

    There was a sharp contrast between them and the kneeling residents of the slums.

    One of them, dressed in a different, more exquisite, set of armorpared to the others, stepped forward.

    He was also not wearing any helmet, so everyone could see his crimson eyes and golden hair.

    "We are the Midas Inquisition, Division 15. Magic activity has been detected in this area, and as such..." The man''s eyes gleamed and a  grim smile formed on his face.

    "... On behalf of the Midas Empire, we are here to purge the heretic."

    Silence and dread instantly filled the air.

    "Praise to the Midas Emperor."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like an action scene is iing...

    Hope you''re enjoying the read so far.

 Chapter 896 Midas Royalty [Pt 1]

    "Praise to the Midas Emperor."

    The word echoed from the lips of Darius, Vice Leader of Division 15 of the Midas Inquisition.

    The Inquisition Department, just like any other Midas Construct, was extremely ordered in both its internal and external affairs.

    There were a total of 100 divisions, and the lower the number was, the more powerful the Division was.

    Division 1 was the most powerful, consisting of only the most elite of the Midas Empire who chose this line as their career path.

    However, when one considered how many divisions there were, Division 15 wasn''t too bad as well.

    And Darius was the Vice Leader of this Division.

    That made him one of the strongest in the Midas Empire, didn''t it?

    He took pride in that day after day, and the appraisal he recieved from those around him only further went to boost his ego.

    Despite all of that, though, there was only one thing that made him feel truly special.

    ''Subduing the Inferior Race.''

    That was why he joined the Midas Inquisition. That was why he loved his job so much.

    Even now, as he appeared in front of the kneeling audience, his grin was especially wide.

    He was so ted to see all of them kneeling before his mighty presence.

    ''They''re quick to bow, too. These ones know their ce.''

    That put him in such a good mood. Instead of simply ughtering everyone here like he originally intended, perhaps he would only kill a small portion¡ªsay, fifty percent.

    That would be benevolent, would it not?

    Darius couldn''t wait to begin the ughter and see the despair the people he subdued would show him.

    His body twitched just imagining it.

    "N-no one here has practiced any Magic. I swear to you!" An elderly man spoke, his voice creaking like that of old furniture.

    It really pissed Darius off.

    ''Alright, then. It''s decided! I''m definitely killing that old man first.''

    "Yeah, yeah. That''s what they always say. Am I right, guys?"

    The five-hundred troops he had behind him all joined him all chuckled in excitement.

    One could ask why the Midas would dispatch so many troops, almost all of the total force of the 15th Division, to such a slum.  The answer was something even Darius didn''t know.

    The Leader seemed a bit surprised and told us to go ahead of him.

    ''I don''t mind, though. It allows me to y boss for a little while longer. Hehe! It''s always ecstatic, being in charge!''

    Watching all these lumps of meat look at him with such fear and trepidation made him so aroused that he couldn''t help himself anymore.

    He had to take a life¡ªright there and then!

    ''Let''s start with you, old man!''

    A Magical glow appeared all over his hand, and instantly, a golden de manifested.

    Darius already knew how he was going to use it. He was going to drive it through the old man''s skull, dividing his shrinking brain into two equal parts.

    It was going to be magnificent!

    ">WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    Faster than anyone could see or react to, Darius brandished his de, taking a step back as he prepared for his straight thrust.

    He could already imagine how his de would tear through the man''s skin like a hot knife through butter.

    ''Haaaa... haaa... I can''t wait! I cant wait! I can''t wai¡ª''

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOMMM<

    This de shot through space, ready to pierce and take a life.

    "Stop..." A low, calm voice suddenly echoed, but Darius couldn''t stop.

    Not when he was in the zone.

    Not when he was so close to fulfilling his long-held craving.

    ''DIEEEEEEEEEE!!!''

    "I told you to stop."

    Suddenly, someone held the de he had thrust with so much power, causing the entire thing to shatter like ss.

    It was only at that moment that he realized that there was someone who stood in front of the old man.

    ''A-ah...?!''

    This person had golden hair and golden eyes¡ªgenuine ones that glowed as he disyed his dissatisfaction.

    Cold sweat instantly coursed through his body and he took a couple of steps back. He nearly forgot to breathe, shivering while moving further away from the man he was looking at.

    The nging sound made by the fallen shards of his de woke him from his daze, yet he found himself unable to properly speak.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Why?

    "F-forgive me for my insolence!" Darius, and the five hundred troops hemanded instantly knelt to greet the man in front of them.

    Why?

    Well, there was only one reason; and it was more than sufficient.

    The Midas society operated based on order¡ªon hierarchy.

    And at the very apex of that hierarchy were the Royals

    Golden hair. Golden eyes. Clear skin. Graceful appearance. Immense power.

    These qualities unquestionably defined a Royal.

    "Haaa, you idiots..."

    And currently, they were currently in the presence of one.

    "... What do you think you''re doing?" The Royal whispered in his graceful voice.

    It caused everyone who knelt before him to bury their knees to the ground.

    "You were about to kill an innocent old man. You''ve not even confirmed if he was the one who Magic or not."

    Darius couldn''t understand why the Royal was hounding him because of that. He thought he would be more upset that he defied his order to stop.

    ''Inferior races are livestock. Why... do we need to be considerate towards them?''

    It didn''t make sense to him. Why was this Royal taking their side?

    "For your information, I was the one who used the Magic. I''m guessing you detected a powerful surge of energy. That was me."

    "B-but the System registered it as uwful. All Midas citizens have their Mana signature registered, so they can freely use it. But... "

    "Oh? Are you saying I''m lying?" The Royal asked, his eyes narrowed on Darius.

    ''H-huh? No way! How could I? No one would ever defy a Royal!''

    Even if it didn''t make any sense, he wouldn''t dare question the ims of the Royal.

    Darius suspected the Royal was protecting someone from this slum, but what could he say?

    He wasn''t a Royal. There was nothing he could do about it.

    ''Maybe it''s a whore he desires here. I have no idea why some Midas desire pigs like these, but...'' Darius knew he had to back off.

    If he didn''t want to be the one executed, he had to obey the status quo.

    "Ipletely understand, sir. You are right, sir." He nodded and bowed his head.

    Even though this felt very frustrating for him, Darius knew it was only natural.

    He had also made others inferior to him do the same. Now it was his turn.

    ''I am among the elite of the elite. I hardly have to do this to anyone. But, there are still people above me whom I have to obey.''

    It was only natural.

    "Now, then, you may return." The Royal said calmly.

    Now, that... that would be a problem.

    "W-we can''t do that, sir."

    "Oh? Are you defying me again?" Darius wondered why this Royal was acting so oblivious of the Midas System, but he decided to answer regardless.

    "Not at all sir. But we have orders from.oir superior... and we can''t disobey."

    A very essential element of the top 30 Inquisition Divisions was that their leaders were Royals.

    Division 1 was led by the crown prince himself, and going down that trail, less powerful Royals were ced in charge of lower-ranked Divisions.

    Their leader, being the head of Division 15, was by no means inferior even though he wasn''t at the very top of Royalty

    And that meant one thing.

    "We can not turn against the orders of the 9th Prince."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What will happen now? Can''t wait...

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 897 Midas Royalty [Pt 2]

    "We can not go against the orders of the 9th Prince."

    As those words echoed in Kuzon''s ears, he stiffened a little, though his expression remained the same.

    ''Haaa... looks like things are even moreplicated than I thought.'' He sighed internally. ''What should I do now?''

    Currently, everyone''s lives were at a risk thanks to his use of Magic.

    ''I was careless. I didn''t consider that my arrival in this world would cause such a Magic disturbance.''

    Plus, he also used Magic to teleport to this ce, leading the trail to this Shelter. Ultimately it was his fault, so even if this was time consuming for him, he had to help these people.

    ''I used telepathy to tell Maya to kneel as soon as I noticed the spatial rift. Thankfully, she listened.'' He also erased his presence through Magic, allowing himself to be undetected when the Midas soldiers arrived.

    ''I wanted to see how they would act. To think they actually wanted to kill an innocent old man without reasonable justification...''

    He had noticed the Midas Captain''s expression¡ªhow he seemed incredibly excited to take the life of another.

    ''Maya was right. It seems the Midas Empire really is the viin here.''

    The big question, however, was what he could do now.

    ''Should I take them down by force? Should I use Magic to hijack their will? But using more Magic to resist will clearly be detected as unregistered Magic. Wouldn''t that create even more trouble for these people?''

    Kuzon also knew he couldn''t be naive enough to think he could easily solve the problem by defeating the Midas troops.

    ''Sure, it would save them on the short run, but...''

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    As Kuzon was still considering his options, another golden portal suddenly formed and swirled a short distance from both him and the Midas troops.

    The spatial gateway caught the attention of both parties, causing them to look at the individuals who emerged from it.

    First came about a dozen more Midas soldiers, dressed in a simr armor as the regr troops that stood behind the one who led them¡ªthough they had capes behind them, and the quality and designs of their armor seemed much better.

    They were still inferior to Darius''s armor, though.

    They took their respective positions, like an entourage of someone greater than then, they formed two different rows, standing firmly like statues to wee the final person to emerge from the portal.

    "What''s taking you all so long?" A deep, authoritative voice suddenly surged forth, and the owner followed afterward.

    He was garbed in thin golden armor that covered his body, with an exquisite white cape that flowed behind him.

    His long golden hair trailed behind him, and his smooth, clear face shine with magnificence.

    Appearing no younger than twenty years old, his golden eyes showed his identity as a royal, and the authority he exuded showed how much power hemanded.

    Then, there was the magnificent golden crown that shone brightly.

    "Why have you not dealt with this already, Darius?" The Royal asked, his eyes narrowed.

    Every member of the Midas Troops, Darius included, showed homage by bowing their heads, almost nting it on the ground itself.

    It was all in reverence to the prince before them.

    "We wee, with reverence, the 9th Prince; Prince Kendrick Midas."

    Darius''s announcement was followed by a chorus from the other kneeling troops.

    Kuzon noticed that the residents of the slums did not utter a word, even though they would have been more than d to praise the arrival of the prince.

    ''I see. So they''re not even allowed to speak in the presence of Royalty.''

    He realized how much of a miracle it was for him to have gotten so much information from the people.

    However, the arrival of this prince provided yet another problem.

    "Answer me, Darius. What''s with the holdup? Have you identified the source of that powerful Magic?" Prince Kendrick asked, his frown not vanishing from his clear face.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "M-my prince, the situation has gotten moreplicated than I initially thought." Darius stuttered, his tonepletely mellow now that he was in the presence of his true superior.

    "Oh? How so?"

    "We encountered a Royal who ims to be the perpetrator of the Magic. Since we are not authorized to go against the authority and words of a Royal, we were unable to act." Darius shifted his gaze to Kuzon, who remained fixed in his position.

    "The Royal is right there, my Prince."

    It was in that moment that Kendrick moved his gaze from Darius to Kuzon, and that shift was enough topletely alter the direction of the entire scenario.

    ''I didn''t know any Kendrick in the Midas Empire. I also don''t recognize this face. Also, 9th Prince? I was the only Prince of the Midas Empire...'' Kuzon''s thoughts flowed as he felt the gaze of the prince.

    ''Their outfits are also different from my world''s Midas Empire. It seems this world''s culture and history varies from mine than I initially thought.''

    With all of those factors in mind, Kuzon already knew what to expect.

    ''Haa... this will be quite a mess.'' Noticing as Prince Kendrick squinting his eyes at him, he braced himself for impact.

    "Who are you?" The prince spoke.

    "..."

    "I do not recognize you. You''re not actually a Midas Royal, are you? You imposter."

    ''As expected. Looks like the jig is up.'' Kuzon would have loved to argue that he was actually a Midas Royal, and the true heir to the Midas throne, but that would be as good as useless in this ce.

    Why?

    ''I most likely don''t exist in this world.''

    "Darius, I will not fault your error. You do not know the identities of all the Midas Royals, so it is understandable. However, since it is impossible for me not to recognize a Royal belonging to my Empire." He narrowed his eyes at Kuzon. "You are not one."

    "Well... I suppose you''re right." Kuzon finally spoke, shrugging a little.

    "I was the one who performed the Magic too. I thought I would pretend to be a Midas Royal to escape liability, so I would get away with it. Seems I was wrong..."

    "How foolish. Do you not realize what you''ve done? There is only one crime that transcends even the death penalty... far worse than the unregistered use of Magic." Prince Kendrick took a step forward, and a sudden pressure enveloped the area.

    His frown grew deeper, and his eyes glowed bright golden.

    "And that is the act of an inferior pretending to be a Midas, especially a Midas Royal. It is the greatest sphemy, the most insulting act against the Midas Empire''s authority." Another step forward, and the pressure doubled.

    "You havemitted the greatest sin imaginable, mongrel."

    The kneeling Midas troops, as well as themoners, shivered with each step the prince took.

    It seemed like the very air itself was vibrating.

    "Your punishment is inevitable. By the time I''m done with you..." Golden energy burst from his body as sparks of Mana danced around him.

    "... You''re going to wish you were dead."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    How powerful do you think the Royals here are?

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 Chapter 898 Clash Of Royals [Pt 1]

    ''What powerful Mana...'' Kuzon thought to himself, staring intently at the Royal who stood a good distance from him.

    As the golden light flickered off his body, he knew the power was nothing to scoff at.

    ''It''s about the same level as the Midas Royalty in my world. It seems that hasn''t changed here...''

    However, despite that pedestal, Kuzon didn''t seem to fazed. After all...

    ''It''s not going to be a problem for me.'' A smirk formed on his face.

    *

    *

    *

    Kendrick felt an unsettling emotion swirl inside him as he stared at the enemy he had to execute.

    The crime of impersonating a Midas was the gravest offense one could evermit. The crime increased in severity when it came to doing the same for Royalty.

    It was highly unusual for anyone to even think of doing the former, talkless of thetter.

    ''I''ve only heard talks of people doing it perhaps a century ago. But no one in this day and age tries it...''

    Yet, this young man attempted doing something so foolish.

    ''He still won''t put off his disguise despite being caught. He''s getting on my nerves!'' Kendrick clenched his fist and red so deeply at the man before them.

    If looks could kill, Kuzon would be dead many times over.

    "L-let us be of some use to you, my Prince!" Darius blurted out as the battle between the both of them were about to unfold.

    The Deputy Leader most likely wanted to remain relevant in the fight.

    Unfortunately for him...

    "Judging by the surge of energy I sensed, the likes of you won''t be able to handle him. While it is questionable how a lowlife could attain such a level of power, I will admit that he is strong." Prince Kendrick took a nce at his subordinates.

    And then, returning them to Kuzon, he narrowed his gaze and spoke.

    "I''ll be the one taking care of this trash. The rest of you can kill every witness he¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Before Kendrick couldplete his words, an eruption interrupted them, sending a massive gust of wind flying his way.

    It was immense, almost to the point of being overwhelming... and all of that power came from a single location.

    "If any of you even attempt to touch those people, you''re going to die." Kuzon answered, almost murderously.

    ''He dares stare at me with those eyes?!'' The Prince could feel the blood in his veins boil at a terrible rate.

    ''No, let''s not get impatient...'' Kendrick told himself.

    "Oh? Nice words you have there. Can you back it up."

    He needed to test him.

    In a sh, a golden de appeared out of thin air and flew in the direction of a random viger that knelt among the hundred thousand others.

    The de swept through the air, closing in the distance like it was nothing. Within a moment, it would reach and spew blood all over the ground.

    However...

    "Why did you have to do that?" The opponent''s voice echoed as soon as the highly improbable sight ured.

    ... The de was instantly shattered to tiny pieces the moment it went past Kuzon.

    "Now I''ll have to kill you... Prince Kendrick." Kuzon sighed, his hand covering his face. "I don''t like taking back my words, after all."

    ''What?!''

    Before Kendrick could even respond to the extremely conceited words of the imposter,  another voice exploded.

    "The impudence!" Darius roared instantly, most likely infuriated that a mere imposter would address a Royal that way.

    It vexed the prince to no end. Why didn''t people just know their ce?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Darius, why are you still here? Yiu were already given your instructions, weren''t you? You and the other Inquisition members... kill off the witnesses."

    Kendrick''s body exploded more Mana, and he made a stance that showed how prepared he was for battle.

    A deep frown upied his face and his eyes told of wounded pride.

    "I''ll take care of this vermin."

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    In a sh, Kendrick appeared right in front of Kuzon, his hand nearing his face at a remarkable pace.

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    One moment, he was about topletely crush his opponent''s skull by breaking it apart with his grip alone, and then bashing it on the ground, and the next moment, he was simply crushing the ground underneath him.

    Kuzon was nowhere to be seen.

    The earth shivered, receiving the brunt of Kendrick''s rage. Everyone standing or kneeling could feel the imbnce caused by his attack.

    Still, of what use was it when the target wasn''t even reached?

    "I''m right here." Kuzon smiled, now floating above his opponents.

    "I must say... it feels good to look down on my opponents like this. I can see the appeal."

    Kendrick''s rage instantly grew.

    So far he had thought of remaining collected, exhibiting the dignity of Midas Royalty. However, this situation didn''t warrant for that, did it?

    His enemy was powerful, and he was going to kill all the witnesses anyway.

    ''There''s no harm in using my fill power to subjugate this idiot!''

    Once he concluded that thought, Kendrick decided within himself to use them; Original Magic and Mage Mode.

    Complimenting these two, he would show his opponent what it meant to be up against unrivaled power.

    ''But first...'' Kendrick leaped to the air, creating shockwaves that quaked the earth.

    ''... I won''t allow myself to be looked down on like that!''

    Several golden des swirled around him like a storm, each containing enough dense Mana to execute everyone in the settlement without fading away one bit.

    Several were more than the vermin he faced deserved, but he wasn''t going to be satisfied with any less.

    Overwhelming power was his game!

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    The des lunged at Kuzon, who expertly dodged them and began retreating further away from Kendrick.

    Unfortunately for the fool, the des had already registered his energy signature.

    ''You won''t escape so easily!''

    With that single thought echoing in his head, he lunged at Kuzon, his des also attacking simultaneously.

    ''I''ll make you suffer no matter what!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 899 Clash Of Royals [Pt 2]

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    des with intense energy all lunged at Kuzon, desiring nothing but to end his life¡ªno, more like severely injure him until he could offer no more resistance.

    ''I doubt this guy would be so merciful as to let me die like this...'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed as he smiled.

    He nced at his opponent, the 9th Prince, and saw nothing but absolute fury.

    They were currently in the air, and while they were still within wastnd territory, the Shelter was no longer within their immediate vicinity.

    ''Should I push him a little more?''

    "Original Magic: Marite]" Kuzon whispered, weaving invisible threads until they wrapped around each golden de.

    And then¡ª

    >CLANGANGANGANG!!!<

    In no time at all, every single de turned into mere shards instead, broken into pieces by the invisible threads he weaved.

    ''Did he detect my strings, or...?'' Kuzon stole a nce at Kendrick, and from the surprised expression the prince made, it was most likely safe to assume he didn''t.

    ''Since we''re away from them, I should settle on a decisive battle here.'' Spotting an appropriate ce to conclude the battle, Kuzonnded in a vast area within the open wastnd.

    ''I''ll end things here once I find out what I want. It shouldn''t take too long.''

    A rain of golden des greeted him as the sole of his feet touched the ground, but they only took a sigh from him.

    ''It''s pointless.''

    All of them were broken like ss.

    There was, however, one presence that lunged at him with immense velocity. He had to give at least some degree of attention to it.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Kuzon felt Prince Kendrick''s killing intent as he struck, though he had his invisible barrier of strings protecting him from his strike.

    ''He is really pissed off, isn''t he?'' The fact that the Prince still hadn''t touched him despite all of that big talk he rendered earlier showed how frustrated he must have been.

    It wouldn''t be long until he would be forced to go all-out.

    ''Using Magic might be unavoidable in the future. If they''ll be able to detect my use of it, I''ll need to know how powerful these people are.''

    If this was the 9th Prince, leading the 15th Division, and they operated in a hierarchical system, then he expected him to be among the strongest in the Midas Empire.

    ''Allowing him to draw out his full strength should help me figure out the power level of this ce...''

    Considering his Arcanas seemed to be malfunctioning, Kuzon didn''t particrly have the luxury of being careless.

    ''I just want this to end quickly. Should I aggravate him more?'' He thought to himself.

    "Tch! You..." Kendrick''s voice interrupted him.

    The Prince leaped backward, finally standing on the same ground as him.

    ''Looks like I won''t have to anymore. That look in his eyes... is he finally ready to go all-out?'' Kuzon braced himself.

    It wasn''t going to do him any good to be defenseless against the power of a Midas Royal.

    "I believe this is enough of a warm-up. I don''t know why you decided to move away from that settlement. You''ve doomed those people to death already."

    "Is that what you think?" Kuzon smiled.

    "My subordinates are already extinguishing their lives, no doubt."

    ''Can he not sense their presence from this distance? That''s disappointing...'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed.

    "I''ll make you experience the worst of pain. And while you suffer, you''ll remember the people you doomed to death, and the more horrid fate that you will encounter when I take you to the Midas Empire for the appropriate dispensation of your punishment."

    After hearing the things Kendrick had to say, Kuzon had two thoughts.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''He sure talks a lot.''

    Something he had noticed sinceing to this world was theckluster style of battle.

    ''Too much talking. Is this a custom here? To talk while having a serious fight? I understand it makes you feel good, but...''

    If it was up to him, he would just finish off his enemy as soon as possible. A conversation was possible before or after the fight¡ªnot during it.

    ''Oh well. He provided me with good information, so it''s fine.''

    And that led Kuzon to his second line of thought.

    ''Should I allow myself to be caught? That would take me to the Midas Empire, where I can learn more about this world.'' he mulled over this option well.

    However, just as one would suspect... he had to dismiss it.

    ''I can''t guarantee my safety there. Plus, that would mean having to sacrifice all those people in the vige for something I''m not certain will work.''

    There were a lot of factors to consider, but he couldn''t engage in borate thought with his enemy already releasing some dangerous Mana.

    >WHUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH<

    Kendrick was currently covered in golden light, far more intense than earlier.

    The bright golden surge of energy ascended into the sky, revealing a transformation that increased his already powerful state.

    His armor took on an even grander style¡ªsomething Kuzon hadn''t thought was possible.

    His cape became bright golden. Glitters danced around him, like butterflies, and a staff appeared on his hand.

    Finally, the crown on his head grew way longer and grander than before.

    It was like he was a cross breed between a battle-hardened general and a prime ruler.

    ''Looks a bit too much, though. I suppose that''s his Mage Mode?''

    Was he going to stack it with Fusion State? What else was he going to use.

    Perhaps it would be¡ª

    "[Original Magic: True Domain]"

    The moment he heard this, Kuzon felt something suddenly shift in his atmosphere. It was no longer the same as it was a second earlier.

    "I should have done this from the start. It''ll make things a lot simpler.'' Kendrick muttered, pointing his scepter at Kuzon. "I guess I didn''t want to have to go all-out."

    Kuzon''s eyes widened the moment he heard those words.

    ''This is him going all-out? Finally! Let''s see the effects and wrap things u¡ª''

    "Why are you still standing in my presence? Kneel!" Kendrick''s loud, imposing tone surged through the air as his scepter lunged forth.

    ''T-this is...!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 900 Clash Of Royals [Pt 3]

    The environmental shift that Kuzon had noticed since the initiation of Kendrick''s Original Magic began to grow stronger.

    The pressure felt like it was closing in on him, growing stronger and more imposing.

    And then...

    ... Then...

    ... Nothing happened.

    "Hm?" Kuzon cocked his head to the side, his thoughts a little confused about what to expect next.

    Kendrick''s dumbfounded expression didn''t make his confusion any better.

    It seemed something was supposed to happen, but nothing was going on. Kuzon considered saying something to ease the awkward silence that had taken sce in the air, but thankfully he didn''t have to.

    *

    *

    *

    "W-what?! Why isn''t it working?" Kendrick''s voice shot out.

    ''Why isn''t he on his knees yet? He should be...'' The 9th Prince was on the verge of breaking out in a vicious roar, just thinking about the impossibility uring in front of him.

    [Original Magic: True Domain]

    It was his trump card, and Original Magic that was among the best in the Midas Empire, even acknowledged by those superior to him.

    It had a very simple, yetplex function; bending his immediate surrounding to his will.

    He could make the ground around him break down and be nothing but a swampy mess.

    He could remove all the moisture around himpletely.

    He could make the air heavier and denser, forcefully making anyone in his vicinity to crumble under the pressure.

    There were lots of other applications he could utilize, but for the purposes of this match, he had used the third function.

    His opponent was meant to be forcefully brought to their knees, or even t-faced to the ground.

    He had used this move over and over again that it already felt predetermined.

    Yet, for the first time in so long... someone withstood his power?!

    No, it wasn''t even about withstanding. It seemed like he wasn''t even being affected at all.

    Why?

    How?

    None of it made sense to him.

    "Haaa... I see how it is now." The enemy suddenly spoke out, causing Kendrick to be slightly flustered.

    Perhaps he could use something else. Something that would instantly overwhelm the target and cause him to bepletely submissive to his power.

    ''If I don''t hurry, he''ll look down on me. I can''t allow that. Anything but that!''

    What about removing moisture?

    Igniting the oxygen in the air?

    Dropping the temperature to the lowest degree possible?

    Kendrick tried all of those things, yet...

    ''... WHY IS NOTHING WORKING?!'' His thoughts cried out.

    Was it a fluke?

    Was his Mana unstable?

    Was he doing the Spell wrong?

    It was none of those things. There was no problem on his end, so why wasn''t he achieving the desired result?

    The answer evaded him, and he felt like a fool for even attempting even more variations of his Spell.

    ''Why can''t I just¡ª!''

    "... Inferior." The opponent''s voice tingled Kendrick''s ear in his desperation.

    "W-what? What did you just say?"

    "I figured it out. The reason why your Magic isn''t working on me. It''s simply because the energy behind yours is inferior."

    "What?!"

    Kendrick was confused. What was this fool saying?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I''ve said enough. It''s time to make good on my promise now."

    He wanted toprehend. He wanted to dig deep until he found the answer. What did he mean by inferior?

    "YOUUU VEERRMIIII¡ª"

    >SQUELCH!<

    Before he realized it, Kendrick was already pierced in the chest by a golden de.

    ''I... didn''t even... see iting...''

    He had thought his de projection was immensely fast, but this was on another level. It seemed transcendent.

    "Guark!" Blood poured out of his mouth, oozing into the pool that had formed underneath him thanks to the red liquid that flowed from his chest.

    Kendrick''s rage and anger suddenly began to dete. Suddenly, nothing seemed to matter any longer.

    Nothing except the burning question that ached his heart¡ªthe very heart that was being crushed under the weight of the de that impaled him.

    "C-can I ask you one thing...?" Kendrick muttered, his tired gaze on the supposed vermin that stood in front of him.

    He didn''t realize when he crumbled to his knees, sttering more blood on his golden armor.

    The fact that he wasn''t healing despite the countless Healing Magic he was utilizing showed just how hopeless and useless his situation was.

    "What question?"

    "A-are you... really an imposter...?"

    This power he disyed, and the authority he exuded, it wasn''t like anything a mere Inferior could produce.

    ''It''s almost the same as... when I am facing older brother...'' The image of the First Prince shed in his head.

    The rising sun of the Midas Empire¡ªthe genius among all geniuses. The one to be Emperor one day.

    Why would a mere plebian remind him of his dignified brother?

    "I am not."

    "I-I see..." It appeared he was right, after all.

    This man, though he didn''t recognize him, was a Midas.

    More questions surged through his mind, but he slowly found himself unable to say anything else.

    At the very least, the frustration and anger he had felt plummeted upon this revtion.

    ''It was... a Midas Royal all along...''

    "Can I ask you something too? How strong am Ipared to the other Midas Royals?" He could only hear echoes at this point, but Kendrick was surprisingly able to hear the question so clearly.

    He didn''t think he could give a coherent answer, but... he knew for sure.

    "My older brother... the First Prince... will utterly destroy you..."

    "I see. That''s useful to know."

    Once more, Kendrick found himself unable to hear or see anything properly.

    He was descending to his death for sure. Still, what was this relief he felt within him?

    It wasn''t like he looked forward to death, and there were still many things he wished he could have achieved before dying.

    However, this relief was too overpowering to resist.

    ''At least, I didn''t die a weakling.''

    That was his greatest fear. Throughout his fight with this stranger, that fear had risen to the point of nearly driving him insane.

    However, now that he knew the true identity of the one who killed him, he could finally close his eyes in peace.

    ''I wasn''t weak. He was just... too strong.''

    The moment he made that thought, Kendrick breathed hisst.

    ... And died.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Poor Kendrick. He stood no chance.

 Chapter 901 Absolute Domination

    "Looks like he''s dead." Kuzon stared at the lifeless corpse of the 9th Prince.

    He disyed no real emotion while staring down at Kendrick. The man was his enemy, plus he didn''t even know him in his original world.

    There was no real reason to feel any sense of guilt or remorse.

    ''I should also be prepared to do the needful if someone wears the same face as someone I know in my original world.''

    Hesitation was a fatal weakness he didn''t want to possess.

    ''What if it was Ana? Would I be able to do it?'' Kuzon couldn''t tell unless he experienced it for himself.

    He brushed aside the thought and reflected on the just-concluded battle. There were a few things he wanted to mull over.

    The first was simple;

    "It seems the rules haven''t changed here. Mana remains inferior to Aether."

    Kendrick''s Original Magic seemed formidable enough. The only restricting factor was the fuel behind that power.

    ''He had bountiful Mana, and his Magic was powerful too. Unfortunately for him, I use Aether now...''

    That was all it took to create an impossiblyrge gap between them.

    ''I can''t assume that everyone in this world can''t use Aether, though. I would have asked him, but what if there''s some form of Magic that allows anything I say to be recorded and sent to the Midas Empire? Then, I''d just reveal the whole Aether secret to them.''

    That would suck a lot, wouldn''t it?

    The other thing he had to consider was the First Prince that Kendrick mentioned. It seemed like he was going to be someone very powerful.

    ''Maybe an Aether user. I guess I''ll watch out for someone like that, then.''

    There were a lot of other things to consider, but it was best he went his way.

    He looked at Kendrick one final time. "I think I''ll burn it up. It''s the least I could do."

    Kuzon was about to cast fire Magic on the fallen prince, but then it suddenly dawned on him.

    ''I swear, it''s not to erase the evidence or whatever.''

    Now that he thought of it, that seemed like what he was aiming for.

    ''Well, there''s nothing wrong with erasing the evidence. But, I think it should be better leaving things like this. Especially when I consider how things could y out eventually. Yeah... let''s do that.''

    With that in mind, Kuzon left the dead prince and leaped into the air.

    "I should probably get back there soon."

    With that thought in mind, he leaped into the air, charging straight at the Shelter.

    ''Hopefully it''s already over.''

    *

    *

    *

    "H-how...?"

    Darius was currently shivering as he stared at the scene of carnage before him.

    The heads of many Inquisition officers were on the ground, and their blood stained everything in sight.

    The pool of dark red liquid oozed on the ground, reflecting the horror that had been perpetrated by something not even he could exin.

    ''H-how did they die?!'' Darius had no idea.

    He had ordered them to attack the plebians before him, yet the moment they got closer to them, their heads were sent falling.

    It made no sense to him.

    How could they die so instantly and suddenly without a sign?

    He had also tried using Magic. The surviving knights were ordered to cast long-range Spells to decimate their opponents, yet even that proved useless.

    Why?

    The Spells, no matter how powerful, never reached them. They would simply get extinguished or destroyed before evening close to anymoner.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It reached a point of shame for Darius. And slowly... that shame morphed into fear.

    He suddenly remembered the words of the imposter that his superior was most likely already done dealing with.

    "If any of you even attempt to touch those people, you''re going to die."

    Darius gulped. He truly couldn''t wait for their leader to return and handle this problem for them.

    ''I don''t want to seem like a useless subordinate, but this is out of my power.'' He turned to his remaining subordinates, and even they seemed too frightened to move.

    "Surely, Prince Kendrick would understand...  right?"

    "The dead have no need for understanding anything." A sudden voice interrupted Darius''s line of thought, causing him and the rest who stood him to look above them.

    Floating there was the golden-haired imposter.

    He stared at them with a bright glow evident in his eyes and a chilling grin on his face.

    "Y-you? W-where is Prince Kendrick?" Darius yelled, forgetting his fear for a moment.

    "Oh? You''re quite slow for a superior race. Didn''t you hear what I said earlier?"

    The moment Darius''s thoughts trailed to the words the man uttered, his body shivered. His eyes bulged, with his irises shaking in disbelief.

    ''N-no way! He killed Prince Kendrick?!''

    "I''m surprised, though. To think some of you are still alive. You''re a lot more careful than I gave you credit for."

    Darius''s body shivered at the mere sound of their enemy''s chilling voice.

    ''What should I do now? What can I do now? Can I... do anything now?!''

    "Since you didn''t try toy your hands on them, my threat doesn''t apply to you. This is quite the problem. Should I spare you or..."

    Darius couldn''t believe he was doing this. His lips trembled, and his body moved on its own.

    His subordinates followed his lead, like mindless drones, and all of them plopped to the ground on their knees.

    They ignored the blood and gore before them, and with a trembling smile that showed nothing but sheer fear and submission, Darius felt his lips move.

    "S-spare... us...?"

    In response to his words, the obviously supreme one who floated above them ribbed his chin in consideration.

    Darius could only beg¡ªno, pray¡ªthat he was shown mercy.

    At that point, there was nothing that upied his mind other than his instinctive desire to preserve his life.

    He didn''t want to¡ª

    "Nah."

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    Thest thing he heard was the sound of his head being severed from his body.

    And just like that, Darius''s vision he dark and he lost all sensation.

    In that moment, death came for him and his subordinates.

    About fifty-nine of them or so.

    "It''s nothing personal."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 902 Lingering Issues

    Kuzon descended from his height, using Magic to gather the gore in one pile by the side so he wouldn''t get stained.

    ''I''ll leave it there too... for now.'' His thoughts trailed.

    For now, there were more important things he had to settle.

    And they were staring at him right in the face.

    [A Short While Later]

    "You guys shouldn''t really be so stiff around me. Honestly, it''s cool."

    Kuzon fought back the urge to sigh when dealing with these people.

    Ever since he had defeated the Midas that would have ughtered them, they had been treating him as a literal god.

    He didn''t realize when they shifted their loyalty from the Midas Emperor to him, the Midas yer.

    Apparently, he was now a hero to these people.

    ''Have they forgotten the fact that it''s my fault that their Shelter got attacked, to begin with?'' He really couldn''t deal with people like these.

    ''The sooner I leave, the better.''

    The problem, however, was how he was going to leave.

    "Your Shelter is pretty muchpromised already. Those Midas idiots will definitely send more people to deal with this problem." Kuzon told the denizens of the Shelter.

    "What''s taking them so long, then?" Maya was the one who responded.

    She, unlike the others, was someone he felt he could reason with.

    So she was right in front of the entire crowd who sat on the floor as he addressed them.

    "They''re probably looking for the appropriate team to send. A higher division that will get the job done."

    Sending more weaklings would be a poor move on the part of the Empire.

    ''I expect something among the ranks of the 10th Division... maybe even  stronger.''

    Looking at these poor people, they wouldn''t stand a chance of surviving without his help.

    "Is there anywhere else you can go? Maybe another shelter you can retreat to?"

    He really didn''t want to bother with these people. They would only slow him down, and he was currently in a hurry to reunite with hisrades.

    ''Honestly, if I didn''t cause this mess I wouldn''t be the slightest bit concerned.''

    This wasn''t his world. They weren''t his problem.

    "W-well... not exactly." The elderly man finally spoke, his tone containing uncertainty.

    ''Uh oh.'' Kuzon already knew what wasing next, and he didn''t like it the slightest bit.

    "We''re pretty much criminals of the Midas Empire. The other Shelters won''t ept us due to the risks associated with harboring the Empire''s criminals. They may even capture us and offer us as a tribute to them..."

    Hearing the words of the old man confirmed Kuzon''s fear. In this world, fuelled by dogma and instilled reverence of the Midas Empire, who would dare take them in?

    ''Besides, they''ll be endangering other lives if they find a ce that''ll ept them. I don''t want more innocents to suffer because of me.''

    It was annoying, but Kuzon couldn''t deny that he had to help them.

    Taking responsibility wasn''t something he liked doing, but with the way he was progressing with Ana, he had to start doing it at some point.

    "Alright then. It seems I have no choice. All of you here will be under my protection." Kuzon sighed.

    As he said this, everyone erupted in cheers. Their voices echoed loudly, disying relief that their hero would personally save them from certain doom.

    "Well, you people should rx in my domain until I figure things out. Till then..."

    With the snap of his fingers, Kuzon generated a massive golden wave that traversed the entire area that the vigers upied.

    Instantly, the pulse swallowed all of them, causing them to disappear. Trances of golden dust were left behind, and in no time at all, all but one had vanished.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Alright. With that, the¡ª"

    "W-w-what did you just do?!" The only one he didn''t teleport raised her voice in both shock and apprehension.

    "Where did everyone go? Where are... what did you... what''s going on? Exin yourself! Why am I the only one¡ª"

    "Calm down, Maya. I transported them to a ce called the ''Emperor''s Domain''. You can also call it the ''Realm of the Emperor''. It''s an alternate dimension that I control."

    "W-wut...?"

    Her nk face andpletely confused demeanor showed him she didn''t understand what he was implying.

    It was what he would expect from a primitive people when it came to Magic.

    ''Do I really have to exin this?'' He nearly pped his face hard, but managed to control himself.

    "Basically. It is a world that I control. Think of it like a Shelter I built in a ce that is invisible. It''s also safe, so they can be protected from harm."

    "O-ohhh! Like a safety castle."

    "Yes, that''s right. A safety castle... whatever that means..." He murmured thedy part, but tried to maintain his dependable smile.

    Hopefully, he wouldn''t have to exin further.

    "Alright then. I believe you!"

    ''Hm? Just like that? Looks like she''s more trusting than I gave her credit for.''

    He really made the right call by choosing her among everyone else.

    "B-but why am I still here?" Maya asked, her face turning slightly pink.

    Now that he thought of it, it was just the two of them in this empty shelter.

    ''A-ah! Don''t tell me she''s misunderstanding something.''

    Before anything further was said, Kuzon swiftly decided to rify.

    "I wanted someone to be my guide. It''s going to be difficult and strange traveling this world alone."

    "Ohhh. I see. That makes sense. Why do you want to travel, though? You want to search for a safernd for us?" She asked, quickly catching up go his intentions.

    It brought him relief.

    "There''s that. But also because I''m looking for someone. I''ll need to ask you some questions as we travel, and it''ll help in my search.''

    He still had to find the ''person'' Neron told to gain approval from. The whole thing seemed vague, but that was the only clue he had at the moment.

    ''This Maya seems like the most bearable person I can have to be my guide. She''s smarter than the rest, and I can expect some level of unbiased answers...''

    There was one final thing he had noticed since the very beginning, but chose to keep a secret.

    It was her potential.

    "Who would have thought I would find someone like that here..." Kuzon smiled while looking at her innocent face.

    "... Someone with a Special Grade Core."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thus begins the adventure of Kuzon and Maya as they travel together in this new world and go through... stuff.

    I hope you find it interesting.

 Chapter 903 The First Princess

    [Moments Later]

    Like a ripple on mid-air, a golden rift formed and space parted.

    The dense power leaking from it was enough to make the area vibrate, even if it was just got a moment.

    And then, knights began to pour out.

    They wore had ck armor, with gold designs and inscriptions on them. Each of them also had a number imprinted on their left shoulders, the sign of a hierarchy that existed among them.

    As these elite knights began pouring out, they took their ces in two opposite rows, prepared to usher in the great one who served as their leader.

    They bowed in greetings as it remained only the Midas Royal who led them.

    In response to their reverence, the object of attention emerged from the golden portal.

    Her hair was golden, and her eyes followed the same pattern. That said, she had ck glossy lips, and her eye liner trailed in ck hue.

    Her long dress was ck, with golden designs on it, and a very regal tiara sat atop her head.

    "We greet the Midas 1st Princess, Gloria Midas!" They all dered.

    "Yeah, yeah..." She quickly dismissed them with a sleight of hand.

    Her eyes were too distracted by the sight of gore she was looking at to care about the petty greetings her subordinates hand rendered to her more times than she could count.

    "Hmm? Isn''t this an interesting sight?" She whispered.

    Before her very eyes was a pile of dead bodies¡ªa hill with hundreds of Midas soldiers dead.

    Blood stained the floor, and the buzzing flies danced around their rotting flesh. It was an humiliating sight for any Midas to be found in.

    "To think Division 15 ended up like this..." She muttered. Her golden golden eyes brightened as she stared at the pile."I don''t see my brother''s body there."

    Her subordinates gathered around her, most likely to hear her instructions.

    "Spread across the area and scout. I want every good details reported back to me.".

    Bowing their heads in reverence, the ck and gold knights epted their task and vanished.

    Once most of them left her, save the few dozen that liked to serve as her close guards, she sighed a little.

    ''To think you''d cause so much trouble, even in death, Kendrick...''.

    Every Midas had undergone registration with the Empire. It allowed them to monitor their health and also record their death.

    Considering the fact that Royals were a lot more special than the average Midas, this applied to them more than most.

    The moment Kendrick died, the Royal Pce of the Midas Empire was informed.

    ''We would have taken action for sooner, if not for the absence of anyone morepetent. I''m just arriving from myst mission, so I had toe here as the only avable person left...''

    Not that she was wouldn''t have rushed here anyway once she heard who it was that had kicked the bucket.

    Of all people, it had to be her closest sibling..

    Sighing and taking a walk around, she took a good look at the slums that stood not very far from the area of carnage.

    ''You''re telling me a bunch of nobodies killed Kendrick? It makes no sense...''

    Based on the reports, Kendrick came her to explore a powerful and unexined surge of energy. Plus, the use of unregistered Magic.

    ''But how would a slum get ess to such Magic?''

    However, the fact that none of them were here, and she could still detect Frances of a Spell, proved that these people were indeed guilty.

    "Just you wait, you¡ª"

    "We''ve found the 9th Prince, Princess Gloria Midas."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    She swiftly turned in the direction of the knight who knelt beside her.

    A murderous look yed all over her face, and it was clear that she was seething in unfathomable rage and unbridled wrath.

    "Lead the way."

    *

    *.

    *.

    "Based on the marking, it seems arge impaled him from the chest, protruding out of his back..."

    Gloria was a little proficient in autopsy, so she could tell just how her brother had died.

    ''It wasn''t a surprise attack too. Since it wasing right at him.''

    Just how fast was the enemy?

    There was too much information that shecked, so Gloria could only clench her teeth in annoyance.

    ''Look at that look of relief on your face. Did you really want to die that badly?'' She already knew the answer to that.

    She knew how tenacious Kendrick was. She also knew that, despite his tank as 9th Prince, and being ced in charge of the 15th Division, Prince Kendrick disyed exceptional skill evenpared his brothers.

    His Original Magic was also one of the most powerful in their tanks.

    ''He wouldn''t have epted death so easily. Was his opponent a powerful person he could do nothing against?'' Her eyes widened and turned bloodshot as she could only think about one person.

    "Could it be ''him''?" The image of a bearded man came to her mind, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

    ''No... this doesn''t fit his M.O.'' Perhaps he had changed his mode of operation, but Gloria didn''t want that to be the case.

    She couldn''t ept that he had already started targeting the Midas Inquisition and Royals.

    It was supposed to be the other way around.

    All the top Midas Inquisition Division; The 1st to 10th particrly, had been hunting him down for years now.

    Yet, there seemed to be no progress.

    "Damnit! And now this...?" Gloria felt like throwing a fit right there and then, but she controlled herself.

    As royalty, she had to remainposed at all times.

    "I promise you, though, perpetrator..." She whispered, staring at the bloodied corpse of her brother.

    "... Whoever you are, you will suffer only the most gruesome death by my hand."

    Squeezing her palm so hard until it seemed like her skin would pop, golden magnificent energy sparked forth.

    "I, leader of the 2nd Division, promises that."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like Kuzon is in some serious trouble now

    He managed to piss of the most powerful princess. Let''s see how it''ll go.

 Chapter 904 The Start Of A Journey

    "So, Maya... I have a couple of questions." Kuzon asked as he sat opposite the girl before him.

    It waste, and the two of them were both currently seated stop a small mountain. A campfire dwelled between the both of them, keeping then warm, but the fire wasn''trge enough to block the vision they had of each other.

    In this situation, traveling all alone, they had sat in silence until Kuzon raised the topic.

    And that was because of one lingering feeling that had been gnawing at him for some time now.

    ''Did I make the wrong choice?''

    The reason for this worry stemmed from the fact that he currently had no real direction for his mission.

    ''Was I supposed to get the approval of the Midas Emperor? If so, then I''ve failed woefully.''

    After killing the 9th Prince, he knew he was going to piss a lot of people off, including the guy''s father.

    Such a man wasn''t going to be willing to cooperate.

    ''Still though...'' There was one thought that kept Kuzon frompletely regretting his actions.

    ''Neron wouldn''t want me to get the approval of such a douchebag, right? I mean, an Emperor that would allow all of these is essentially a monster.''

    There was no way Neron would think he was going to cooperate with someone like that.

    ''Which means there has to be something useful...''

    The only source for clues he had was this girl before him. Hopefully she had something useful for him.

    "Ask away." Maya replied with a smile, most likely enjoying the warmth the mes provided her.

    "Well... other than the Midas Empire, is there any other person¡ªor group of people¡ªwho still uses Magic?" He could see Maya''s face twist a little.

    Perhaps she didn''t understand the question.

    "See, I''m looking for someone. He''s meant to be really important and impressive..."

    Kuzon didn''t know what to expect from Maya, but he could only cross his fingers and hope for the best.

    Even if it wasn''t much, it would still help in narrowing his search a little.

    "There is one man..." Her voice trailed, and the words she uttered instantly caught Kuzon''s attention.

    "Oh? What man?"

    "Well, he''s more akin to a myth. They say he defied the Midas System decades ago, and till now the Inquisition still hasn''t found him. And so, he still freely uses Magic till this day."

    Neron beamed when he heard this. This indeed sounded like the kind of person worth his time.

    ''Looks like not all hope is lost yet.''

    "I actually... think I''ve met him before. I''m not sure, but I think it''s him.".

    "Oh? Could you please tell me about that encounter? What did he look like? Where did you meet him? Anything at all."

    Maya looked at Kuzon with a bit of hesitance. "You promise yiu won''tugh or find it silly?"

    "I won''t." He responded sharply.

    Anticipation was building up within him as he awaited Maya''s response.

    "I saw him one night. He was riding a flying sleigh. A couple of flying deer-like creatures were pulling the sleigh, and I saw him cruising through the sky with that strange mechanism. It felt... off."

    Kuzon had to admit... that was indeed a very strange story. However, Maya wasn''t done.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I heard him make sounds like ''Ho ho ho'' as he cruised the sky, and till now I still don''t know what those words mean."

    "Ho ho'' ho? Hmm... I wonder what it could mean." Kuzon also rubbed his chin. The more he heard, the more he was lost in the bizarre nature of Maya''s tale.

    ''She doesn''t seem to be lying, though. I should learn more about this guy.'' He finally decided.

    "How did this mysterious man look like?"

    For a moment, Maya maintained silence, most likely trying her best to remember his features¡ªor better yet, trying to properly articte them into words.

    "He has a white beard. He was also stressed strangely... with something like a hat and an oversized robe."

    "Hmm. I see. I see."

    Kuzon had to admit, it would be difficult tracking someone down with only that amount of information.

    ''I have a strong feeling this is the guy I''m supposed to find. But it''s gonna be tough.''

    Considering he didn''t have too much time at his disposal, he had to hurry.

    ''Where should I even start from?''

    "Can I ask a question too?" Maya''s words interrupted Kuzon''s thoughts, and he nodded almost instantly.

    For a moment, the both of them maintained silence. Only the low cackle of the burning wood separating them could be heard.

    And then¡ª

    "Those powers you have... will you be using then to liberate the people of this world? You know, help them from the¡ª"

    "No. I won''t."

    "What? Really? Why? You have so much power. You could help so many people with it. If I had that much power, then..." Kuzon could see the frustration in her eyes, but he still didn''t change his demeanor.

    ''I wonder if I should tell her about her Special Grade Mana Core yet. Na... she''ll want me to train her, if that''s the case.''

    Considering he was in a hurry, there wasn''t enough time for that. And that was specifically the issue.

    "I don''t have time. My world is in danger, and I have people I must protect there... even if it means abandoning the ones here." He answered honestly.

    "T-that''s really cold. How can you expect me, or even others to help you, when you won''t even lend a helping hand to those around you? You have the power, so why not make a difference?"

    Just as Kuzon expected, Maya was already making a big deal out of this. He once again reminded himself not to inform the girl of hertent.

    At least, not until he had gotten all he could from her.

    "If it''s going to be like this, then why should I even help you on your search?" She blurted out, obviously cross with him.

    Kuzon couldn''t help but sigh.

    ''This is getting a little troublesome...''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Something tells me Christmas ising soon. Just saying...

 Chapter 905 Wanderer

    "You have to help me find the legendary figure, Maya. He''s going to be beneficial to not only me, but you as well." Kuzon spoke, his voice calm and clear.

    He intently gazed into Maya''s red eyes, showing as much seriousness as he could.

    "What? What do you mean?!"

    "If we could meet him, he can teach you and your people Magic. With Magic, you''ll be able to stand up for yourselves and fight for your world. You could also convince him to help liberate this world."

    Once Kuzon said this, Maya halted her protests and remained dazed by his words.

    "Y-yeah. I guess you''re right about that."

    It turned out she was the one being close-minded about the benefits of helping Kuzon.

    If he wouldn''t assist in liberating this world, she just needed to find someone who would.

    "Besides, how can you say I''m being heartless? Am I not sheltering your people in my special dimension?" Kuzon added, feigning hurt feelings.

    He clutched his chest and looked immensely pained.

    "Well... we wouldn''t be in this mess if it wasn''t for you." Maya responded instantly. "Don''t push it."

    Kuzon nodded instantly. "Yeah. Good point. Sorry about that."

    Mayaughed slightly at Kuzon''s straightced response, and seeing her innocent chuckles brought at least some measure of ease to him.

    Enough to make him break into a genuine smile.

    ''Something still bothers me, though...'' His thoughts trailed.

    It concerned the mythical figure that Maya was talking about. If he truly was so powerful and impressive, why hadn''t he helped out this world already?

    ''Even though I told Maya that this guy would help them if we find him, I highly doubt it. If he wanted to save these people, he would have done so already.''

    There was also the problem he had to face when dealing with this person.

    ''Will I be able to get the approval of this person?  Will he even be willing to help me?''

    The only thing he had to go on was an abstract hope that an unknown man existed, and that he had to gain his approval.

    He didn''t even know how correct Neron''s voice was.

    ''Unfortunately, I don''t have any other alternative.''

    Whether this was ideal or not, he just had to follow Neron''s instructions and hoped things ended up working out.

    ''You have a lot to exin when we meet again, Neron.''

    *

    *

    *

    [Two Weeks Later]

    "Damnit!" Kuzon banged his hand on the rocky ground that served as their seats for the night.

    Frustration swirled on his face as the bright embers of the campfire caused it to glow.

    Opposite him was Maya, and she remained silent as he went through his fit of stifled rage and annoyance.

    She knew why he was acting out like this, but after all they had been through together, she considered it best to simply watch in silence.

    As for Kuzon, he couldn''t properly articte the full extent of his frustration into words.

    That didn''t stop him from trying, though

    "Two weeks. It''s been two weeks now, and nothing!"

    Kuzon and Maya had wandered around the world for two weeks, going through both cities and slums in order to find their mythical figure, all to no avail.

    They had also gone to remote areas, like mountainsides or forests, yet found absolutely nothing.

    ''I''ve tried using Resonance and Mana/Aether Search, yet nothing...''

    The use of Magic would cause the Midas Empire to detect him, so he had been avoiding it''s use for some time now.

    Rather than leak out his energy, he simply used it within himself to try to detect anyone who fit Maya''s description.

    So far, nothing!

    ''I''m severely limited in ability thanks to those pesky bastards.''

    Even searching for alternatives like Arcanas was pointless! He had asked Maya, but based on her answer and the little research he had done in the world so far, it seemed like those didn''t exist in this world.

    ''I guess that exins why this body, which is supposed to be reinforced by my two Arcanas isn''t responding as it should.''

    The rules of the world had to have something to do with it since his world operated on a slightly different set of ts.

    ''Since the people here are different, the same should also go for the flow of Mana, and the nature of Spells. I''m pretty fortunate I have Aether.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    But what if it?

    So far he hadn''t made a single progress in his search for a man who might not even exist.

    ''Let''s not give up. Not yet.''

    Setbacks were always a part of research and searches.

    As long as he kept moving forward, while using his head, Kuzon was determined about finding his answers.

    ''It won''t be long now. I''m certain.''

    *

    *

    *

    [One More Week Later]

    "I''ve had enough of this!" Kuzon fumed, walking into a clearing in the forest.

    "W-wait, you can''t be serious. Surely, you know the risks!" Maya protested, moving behind in a hurry.

    Concern was etched on her face, but also a slight hint of fear.

    For the past week, she had seen Kuzon''s agitation slowly grow. And now, it had reached the climax.

    "You''re about to do something stupid!"

    Why was she even bothering? She couldn''t stop him, or change his mind.

    She could only trail behind him and powerlessly tell him to stop.

    "I''ll be fine, Maya. I''ve thought this through. If we keep going on like this, we may never find him." Kuzon paused in his tracks and turned to look at her.

    "I know it''s dangerous. However, it''s the best bet I have. If you want, I can out you in the Emperor''s Do¡ª"

    "No! I want to stay with you."

    A small smile formed on Kuzon''s face. It seemed both sad and happy at the same time.

    "Thanks, Maya. It''s been three weeks, and I haven''t actively used Magic in order to avoid detection." Kuzon finally returned his face forward. "It''s most likely that they''ve registered my Magic signature as a top ss enemy, so if I use it now, I can expect powerful opponents toe my way."

    Maya understood why he nned on doing this regardless of the danger involved.

    ''We''ve not found the man he''s searching for yet, so rather than simply looking for him blindly, Kuzon wants to get his attention.''

    Whether or not the would work was arbitrary. However, she had faith in Kuzon.

    ''Please work!'' Maya cried as she looked at the desperation on Kuzon''s face.

    ''Please work for his sake!''

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    The brilliant flow of Kuzon''s bountiful energy began to rush forth, causing the very environment to tremble in his presence.

    Slowly, the light ascended upward, illuminating the dark skies much brighter than the sun or moon.

    It was almost like daytime once again.

    "Alright, then! Let''s see what we''ll fish!" Kuzon grinned with anticipation. "Please don''t let me down!"

    After moments of shing his bright golden energy, he finally quelled it.

    At this point, there was only one expression left on his face.

    "Haaa... damn it."

    Disappointment.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like things are going tough for our young Midas and his new friend.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 906 Cousins [Pt 1]

    Disappointment permeated Kuzon''s face as soon as he retracted thest ounce of his energy.

    It seemed even this risky venture turned out to be fruitless, after all.

    ''I still didn''t sense any energy for miles, and I don''t think I was able to get his attention.''

    Unfortunately for him, he still had to face the consequences of his actions.

    And that was...

    >VWUUUUSSSHHH<

    ... Midaspany.

    As golden portals began appearing around Kuzon, almost as though trying to trap him and his partner in their encirclement, he began to delve into deep though.

    ''Should I just avoid them?'' He clicked his tongue as soon as the thought emerged.

    ''So far, I''ve been doing that. What has that brought me? It seems taking things easy and safe isn''t cutting it...''

    Wasn''t it time for him to get a little radical?

    ''The Midas Empire should have solid information about him if his existence is indeed true. I believed Maya before, but I''m already having doubts. At least, this way...''

    The golden portals finally stabilized, and from them emerged an army.

    All of them were covered in gold armor. They looked prestigious¡ªmore prestigious than thest batch he had fought.

    Plus, their numbers as, they poured out of the swirling portal was, way more than anything he had seen in this world before.

    At least, in terms of hostile forces.

    Still, Kuzon wasn''t fazed. Instead, he has a determined expression rooted on his face.

    "What should we do now, Kuzon? Can we still escape?" Maya asked him, causing gin to shrug a little.

    That much was a given.

    While teleporting could prove problematic for them, due to the Midas Magic sensor, which would detect them wherever they appeared next, they could still find loopholes to the system.

    ''If ites down to it. I could also transport us to the Emperor''s Domain, where we''ll spend some time and wait until everything here is settled.

    Once that urs, we''ll reappear.

    Sure, the Midas Empire would be able to sense their return, but before they could dispatch any troop he could find some way to run and hide.

    ''Though it''s getting annoying that we have to hide. Should I just get rid of the Midas Empire?''

    The only thing stopping him at this point was the presence of his priorities. Also because he was still uncertain about their strength.

    ''I won''t risk my life. Well... it looks like I already am.''

    Kuzon and Maya were now watching how a troop the size of at least five thousand golden knights encircled them.

    In terms of numbers, it was clear they were screwed.

    But that wasn''t all...

    "Haa, so these are the ones responsible for our little brother''s demise."

    "Hm? They look really weak, though."

    Two Midas Royals emerged from the golden portal directly opposite Kuzon and Maya.

    They had flowing royal robes, u like the armor the thousands of knights around them donned.

    Their distinct royal outfits made then stand out, especially since these two appearedpletely identical.

    The one on the right had dark blue designs topliment the golden color of his robe, while the one to the right had a bright redpliment.

    One was also a boy, while the other was a girl.

    Arrogant grins were stered on their faces, and they seemed to be in the natural state of mockery. With their brows curled up and their eyes full of pride, they stared at Kuzon and Maya.

    "You two... you are enemies of the Midas Empire. You''re going to be taken back to the Empire, where your punishment would be rightly allocated."

    Once again, Kuzon considered whether he should go to the Empire.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Its too much of a risk. Let''s see how this goes, though...''

    Despite the thoughts that currently gued his mind, there was one that remained at the forefront¡ªespecially when he stared at the twins in front of him.

    Their faces looked so familiar to Kuzon, and he could already picture the people they reminded him of.

    ''My cousins. These two look so much like them.

    "Reverence to the the 4th Prince and the 3rd Princess. Prince Geri and Princess Leri." The the troops roared as the echoes of their voices soared into the air.

    ''I see...'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed as his eyes narrowed on them. ''... They eve. have the same names as the ones I used to know.''

    His cousins were killed in the Midas Massacre, along with all the other members of his family.

    They were already dead.

    ''These two are just alternate versions of my dead family. Even so...'' He squinted his eyes.

    "Oh? Don''t tell me he''s frightened already." Leri, the 3rd Princess gloated, snickering wickedly.

    "Perhaps he didn''t expect us to bring an army of this size. Don''t underestimate the Midas Race, you fool."

    "He''s even trying to imitate us. What a nipoop."

    "His crimes are already severe enough as it is. This bastard really is a glutton for punishment."

    Theyughed even more, causing Kuzon''s heart to ache a little.

    The reason wasn''t unfounded.

    ''I''m an idiot. Why did I get so worked up?'' Looking at the two of them, they indeed looked like his cousins.

    However, that was where their resemnce ended.

    ''Their personalities are too different from these people. It''s almost like I''m staring at strangers.''

    Kuzon didn''t know whether to be grateful about this, of frustrated.

    Either way, he could finally resolve in his heart and clench his fist in determination.

    ''I don''t know these people. There''s no way I''m holding back.''

    "Hm? It seems they''re not moving. Do you think they want to surrender?" Geri murmured, staring at his sister.

    Their twisted smiles grew even wider.

    "How boring. I was hoping he would entertain me for a while longer. What a shame."

    Snickers echoes in the air even more.

    "Seize them, my 7th Division knights." Jeri said.

    "Restrain them, my 6th Division knights." Geri added.

    The thousands of golden soldiers began to move, each step creating a quake.

    With no way to escape, and beingpletely surrounded, it was certain that the rat had finally been caught.

    ... Or had it?

    "It seems I''ll finally be able to blow off some steam, Maya." Kuzon smiled, ncing a little at the girl beside him.

    "Let me show you real Magic."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Here we gooooooo!!!

 Chapter 907 Cousins [Pt 2]

    "[Original Magic: Marite]." Kuzon whispered.

    Instantly, golden threads began to dance around him. Almost likepletely thinned out tentacles, they formed, wrapping themselves in the air with their multiple appendages.

    >ZZZTTTTTZZZZZ<

    Golden electricity instantly covered Kuzon''s body, and the threads around him began to glow.

    "I hold nothing against you, but..."

    The knights that had so confidently marched forward slowed down, and even took a step back.

    The amount of power they were sensing from the Kuzon alone must have halted them in their tracks.

    "W-what is that power?" Geri whispered to his sister.

    "No idea. It feels simr to what big brother has, though." Jeri answered, her eyes cautiously staring at their target.

    Despite this, though, their pride remained.

    "What are you waiting for? He''s a trapped animal! What could he possibly do against your numbers?!"

    The Knights shook a little the moment they heard the words of their superior.

    "Attack him. Use your Magic! Attack all at once!"

    The moment thismand was given, each knight brought out what seemed like golden staves from their waist, pointing it at Kuzon and his glowing wires.

    >WHUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    The terrifying sounds of multiple Spells being initiated at once caused a warbling effect all around Kuzon.

    The surrounding aura and their multiple effects should have fazed him.and out him under pressure, but nothing of the sort happened.

    And thanks to his defensive measures on Maya, she waspletely fine too.

    No, rather, she was ecstatic.

    ''Show me, Kuzon!'' Her thoughts echoed with a yearning that even she had tried but failed to ignore for the past three weeks.

    ''I want to see it! I want to see more Magic!''

    The knights fired their Spells¡ªwhether it was fire, or lightning, or light, or any other destructive element that was bound to cause some damage.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    The earth quaked and destruction erupted, causing smoke to ascend into the sky.

    None were naive enough to celebrate yet, though. Not until they saw the corpse of their target.

    Unfortunately for them...

    "Hm? Not bad."

    ... He remained unscathed.

    Thinyers of transparent threads blocked their attacks, preventing not even. the slightest one slip through the cracks.

    It was an absolute defense.

    "Guess it''s my turn." Kuzon''s smile grew a little as he took in the shock of his audience. "Let''s try out this construct... Fenrir."

    >FWIIIISSSHHHH<

    The golden threads quickly multiplied, creating a massive construct within seconds.

    The wires formed muscles, and veins, and smooth linings to cover all these things in order to form a perfect replica of Kuzon''s imagination.

    The construct stood at least fifteen meters tall, with apletely golden hide. It had the form of a wolf, though it''s regal appearance made it appear as something fat more divine.

    "W-what?!" Kuzon could hear many voices erupting around him. He only had one word for them.

    ''You''re all too slow.''

    In a sh, the threads he manipted carried him and Maya to the back of the giant wolf, and he watched his enemies from above.

    "Kill them."

    "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...."

    In an instant, the wolf''s body burst of golden electricity, and it let out the most magnificent roar.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "ROOOOOOOOOAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!"

    Whether or not wolves roared didn''t matter now. The most important thing was the effect.

    The dense electrifying aura around the construct instantly traversed the area, pouring through all the knights around it.

    "ARRRRRGHHHHH!!!" Their voices echoed across the forest as the brilliant glow of golden electricity shone through.

    It was hot enough to burn through the armor they wielded in an instant, causing the hot liquids to melt their flesh and bodies along with them.

    Being fried alive while encased in a melting vat of gold... the pain was too intense to imagine.

    Needless to say, a good number survived the attack, and they readily prepared a counter.

    Using Magic to fly, while increasing their defenses to the maximum, they all ignored the wolf and went for Kuzon who stood atop it.

    Once again resorting to surrounding him, they gathered all their energies to take him down in one fell swoop.

    What they noticed, however, was that his head was lifted to the sky¡ªalmost as if stating at something they couldn''t see.

    And just as they were close to reaching him, they could finally see a radiant glow of light shining upon them¡ªlike a second sun.

    But this was no sun.

    It was simply the reflection caused by multiple golden constructs that descended upon the surviving troops like rain.

    "Construct: Arrow."

    >WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    Like divine punishment, the arrows from heaven, as fast as light, found their way to the opponents.

    They pierced through their defenses like they was nothing, and more than five of them were distributed per individual.

    Their skulls were pierced and crushed by the weight of the arrows.

    Their hearts were specifically targeted, same as three other regions in their bodies.

    All of them with perfect, pinpoint uracy.

    "GUACCKKK!!!"

    Blood stained the interior and exterior of their armor as all the remnant knights plopped to the ground.

    All of them dead.

    "I wanted to try more, but I guess this suffices." Kuzon smiled at the sight of carnage he had wrought.

    Over five thousand powerful individuals... dead in merely seconds.

    ''This is nothing.'' He shrugged. ''I could have easily controlled then with [Marite], but why should I? Let''s save the best forst.''

    His eyes were now on the doppelgangers of his dearest cousins.

    He could see their expressions of fear and shock at the scenery he had so graciously created for them.

    The pride that once littered their eyes was now nowhere to be found.

    Right now the twins looked dazed beyond recovery. The perfect result for Kuzon.

    ''I have many use for them. I could take them as hostages. I could extract information from them. The list is endless, is it not?''

    Perhaps they didn''t deserve to die, but that wasn''t any of Kuzon''s concerns. He would kill anyone that stood in his way, and there was no time to begin a moral deliberation on his part.

    ''I just have to get back home. That''s what matters most, isn''t it?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Now then... let''s see what else Kuzon has to show us.

    I think in terms of brutality, he''s a step ahead of Jared.

 Chapter 908 Marionette Worms

    Geri and Jeri had always been special since they were born.

    Born as royals, bred as geniuses, raised to be superior; only a few could boast of being their equal or being stronger.

    Now, both of them being neen years, they were soon expected to take on active roles in the administration of the Empire.

    As Midas Royals, they were destined to topple the world and dominate anyone who stood in their way

    ... So why?

    Why were they currently on their knees before this man?

    ''I... I can''t move my body.''

    ''W-what did he do?!''

    The young man they imed as their target, rushing to the scene to defeat despite their older sister''s insistence that he was her prey, had now be the predator.

    The giant wolf he created stood a short distance from them, with his partner still seated atop it.

    As for him, he had descended from it and managed to subdue them without even saying a word.

    It puzzled them how they couldn''t even shift a muscle voluntarily.

    It was like their entire body was stuck.

    Why?!

    *

    *

    *

    ''They shouldn''t bother. They''re not breaking out of [Marite]''

    Kuzon''s golden threads were the most versatile weapons in his arsenal.

    Not only could they construct whatever he desired, but they could be used for both offensive and defensive purposes.

    He could make thenpletely invisible, and he could also utilize them in many unpredictable ways.

    Still, one of the most basic ways to use it remained...

    ''Puppeteering.'' His smiled widened as he looked at the kneeling twins who werepletely powerless before him.

    "I have some questions I''d like to ask you. Considering the fact that you''re the heads of the 5th and 6th Division, yet you''re currently at this level... it shows how much of a threat I pose to your Empire."

    Frankly, Kuzon had expected this level of antagonism from the Midas Race.

    In fact, he orchestrated it.

    ''It''s why I left those corpses there without burning them. It was bound to incite rage within the Royals. It''s also why I never hid my identity in any city I visited. Surely, I expected some kind of investigation on me. I wanted to stand out.''

    It wasn''t simply due to the Midas Empire, but also to gain the attention of the man Maya mentioned.

    If he could see how much the Midas Empire despised him and wanted him dead, surely, he would be able to consider him the enemy of his enemy.

    That form of reliability was something he had hoped to cultivate.

    ''But it looks like the man didn''t notice. Either that or he''s still keeping his distance.''

    Should he not have kept up his Midas identity? No, that wouldn''t have worked.

    ''I''m not an expert at Disguise Magic. If this guy holds the key to getting me home, then he''ll surely see through it.''

    The best thing was to be true to himself and prove how he wasn''t on the side of the Midas Empire.

    ''Well, considering how these guys are high-ranking Royals and made it a priority to kill me... I can guess I''ve gotten a bit of attention from them.''

    "I''ll be granting you control over your facial muscles. You''ll be able to speak. I want some questions answered. Be honest, and I''ll spare your lives."

    Compared to the value of the information he wanted, their lives weren''t worth much. Kuzon had no real motive to take their lives anyway.

    Of course, that was only if they cooperated.

    ''But knowing these fools...''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Y-you think you have the upper hand? Forget it!"

    "We''ll never tell you anything!"

    ''As expected, they''re being stubborn.'' Kuzon sighed.

    He could understand why they would be so stubborn as to not give in to an enemy. However, this was too much of a waste of time for me.

    ''If I could use [The Emperor], I could easily dominate their will.'' Unfortunately, that option was currently not avable.

    There were other methods he could use, and it seemed like those were what he had to consider.

    ''I didn''t think I would have to use this again, but... oh well.''

    "[Marite Worms]"

    Threads began to appear around Kuzon, dancing like snakes as they coiled and wrapped themselves around his body.

    Their thinyers glowed with a certain allure that rang of both beauty and danger.

    "It''s too bad. For you two."

    Slowly, the thin threads began to extend over to the twins.

    "W-what are you doing?!"

    "S-stop! Stop right this instant!"

    The threads didn''t stop, though. Almost as if they had a life of their own, they began burrowing right into the body of the twins.

    They entered their ears, into their nostrils, wiggling into their eyes, and also into their mouths.

    That wasn''t all, though. They became much thinner, to the point where they weren''t visible to the eyes any longer, and began entering the pores in the skin of the two Midas Royals.

    In no time at all, the golden wires had prated all of the holes they could into the body.

    "This should suffice." Kuzon smiled at the two, almost with eyes of pity.

    Why was he looking at them in such a way? There could only be one reason.

    "I now haveplete control over your bodies. I mean that in every sense."

    Once his threads prated into the target''s body, they began a process of division and replication, breaking down into smaller versions, and also creating more clones to take full charge of all the organs in the body.

    Their internal organs were already under his control, and pretty much all the tissues too.

    ''The cells are being taken over, and the process is almost done.''

    A few seconds more and these two wouldpletely be his.

    Evidence of that was the current nk expression they have him.

    ''I have ess to all their information. I can control their very lives. I can even give them temporary autonomy and the illusion of free will, but they''d be dancing at the palm of my hands.''

    This was a method that best replicated his [Emperor], though this was far crueler.

    After all, he had vited every single portion of their bodies.

    ''You could have just answered my questions from the start.''

    At this point, there was no going back.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I know what you could all be thinking right now.

    I have noments on that. Lol

 Chapter 909 The Alternate Midas Empire

    Having ess to the thoughts and memories of the Midas twins, Kuzon resonated himself with the Marite Worms, allowing for property immersion into their consciousness.

    Thus, the very secrets they tried to hide now became revealed to him.

    All in in sight.

    *

    *

    *

    The Midas Empire had been around for thousands of years.

    Many often attribute their existence to that of evolution, and im that they share amon ancestor with humans.

    Perhaps they were right, considering how simr both Races looked.

    The only difference between the two, obviously, was power.

    The Midas Race could drawn out and absorb more power than the humans, making them somewhat superior¡ªboth in the eyes of the humans and the Midas themselves.

    They took this superiority to mean seclusion, thus deciding not to interact with the outside world.

    They remained in their ownfortable patch ofnd, more thanrge enough to upy them.

    However... even though they expected to continue down this path, the most unprecedented thing ured.

    Their resources slowly began to get depleted¡ªspecifically the minerals and rare nts that they used for relevant purposes within their Empire.

    Ask a result of their limited and depleting resources, the Midas Empire began to set its eyes on the outside world.

    They noticed just how many resources existed outside their tiny rock, and slowly this observation morphed into something more.

    Greed!

    Their desires were sparked, and they began to wonder how to go about their plundering while maintaining the high status of the Midas.

    Then, as they deliberated, an opportunity suddenly presented itself to them in the form of a Celestial War.

    They used this chance to subdue the other Races while iming to have a righteous and just cause.

    At first, the people saw this as a much needed intervention. In fact, most of they people belonging to the grassroots appreciated the effort of the Midas Empire.

    But who could have known that this was only a means to their true end?

    The Midas Empire used their power and technology to suppress everyone else, threatening death if their stiptions weren''t followed.

    They began the Inquisition to prevent anyone from using Magic, so as to maintain peace andplete submission.

    As expected, though, not everyone sat right with this tyranny that the Midas Empire began to express.

    Heroes and viins teamed up to stand against the Midas Empire. Unfortunately for them, they were outmatched.

    The Midas Technology exceeded what they could even imagine; and thanks to them plundering resources from the continents outside theirs, they were able to make their machines more powerful.

    Also... their denizens, specifically the Royals, were immensely powerful.

    The entire war did not evenst a day, yet the Midas Empire achieved wless victory.

    One would think the bloodshed was just done. How naive that was.

    No, the true horrors were just beginning.

    In order to prevent any further insurrections, the Midas Empire began secret raids, and witch hunts.

    They would smoke out any potential insurgent, and then kill them. They nted spies in every settlement to ensure they could always have ess to streams of information.

    Plus, they made their Magic Detector Satellite, which told them of Magic activities all over thes.

    Their suppression was wless, but they could see that the people they were oppressing slowly began to dwindle.

    Theirck of prosperity, and their broken will seemed to hinder their productivity and subservience to the Midas Empire.

    And so, they created the ''Zone System.''

    They made prosperous cities, granting roles to citizens with high prospects, rewarding them based on merit.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    As for the worthless trash, they were taken to the slums, where they would be given the most minimal amount of care.

    Still, the fear that these people could once again go against them remained among the Midas Upper echelon.

    This birthed yet another sinister n¡ªindoctrination.

    By creating institutionalized breeding grounds for indoctrination, the Midas Empire were sessfully able tostruct inescapable cage that trapped anyone and everyone inside.

    The Academies and Institutes were made for the rich, while Shelter Resource Programs were made for the slums.

    The children and youths brought up under this system would grow to adults, and then raise their own offsprings to think the same way.

    This cycle would forever weave a web of dependency and loyalty to the Midas Empire.

    It was perfect!

    ... Well, almost perfect.

    Everything was going great until ''he'' showed up.

    An irregr that was not indoctrinated by the Academy nor higher levels of education. His opinions and views showed a sharp contrast to what everyone had been led to think.

    It made him a dangerous variant that had to be suppressed.

    However, when they tried to, they realized the boy could use Magic.

    He had been using it in secret, yet he avoided their absolute detection.

    How?!

    How was he doing that?!

    It made no sense!

    In any case, the suppression of the boy failed, and he became the greatest blot in the history of the Midas Empire.

    As well as their greatest pain.

    *

    *

    *

    "I see..." Kuzon whispered as he took in thest vestiges of the memories his targets had to give him.

    "It seems this person is the same one I''m looking for. He''s the number one enemy of the Midas Empire, and pretty much all the higher-ranked Inquisition Divisions spend the majority their time searching for him."

    That meant he was a very difficult man to find. Strangely, Kuzon felt relieved that he wasn''t the only one having a tough time when it came to this mysterious person.

    ''These two don''t have any concrete information on him too. Just a couple of sightings. Looks like they''re a dead end on that front. However...''

    Kuzon''s gaze narrowed as he stared at the two of them.

    ''They still have their uses.''

    He had been trying to decide whether to go to the Midas Empire all this time, but thanks to these pawns he didn''t have to.

    ''I''ll simply use them as extensions of myself. It''s safer and more efficient.''

    Thus, he could keep searching for the mysterious man while also gaining more information from the Midas Empire.

    ''It''s perfect.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I just wanted to give you all a bit more context about this world''s history, and all of that.

    I wonder who this mysterious person is, though....

 Chapter 910 Reinforcement

    ''It seems this wasn''t a total waste of time, after all.'' Kuzon stared at his two new pawns.

    He could easily nt them in the Midas Empire and use then for his ends.

    A sly smile formed on his face the more he thought of the prospects

    There was one problem, though.

    ''The Midas Empire''s suspicion. So far, I''ve ughtered all my enemies. The mere fact that I spared these two is¡ª''

    Before he couldplete his thoughts, Kuzon''s eyes widened in mild shock. It was most likely due to the urrence that his senses picked up.

    "Hehe... so that''s it." A slight chuckle escaped his lips.

    ''And here I was worried about what excuse I would have to utilize in sparing them so my actions don''t seem too suspicious.''

    His eyes darted behind him, and then all around his immediate surroundings.

    ''It seems I don''t have to worry about that anymore.'' He could already feel the distortions in space, and golden lights began to appear all about the expanse.

    ''They''re here!''

    *

    *

    *

    [Moments Earlier]

    Gloria Midas was furious.

    She had just returned from her patrol and rigorous search for the mysterious man, who had just been sighted at the North Pole.

    She thought she would be able to get some clues, but everything seemed like a waste of time.

    He cleaned up his tracks well¡ªalmost to the point that it seemed he was never even there at all.

    It frustrated her to no end.

    ''We are doing our best, pouring our utmost attention to catch this bastard, and yet... yet...'' Gritting her teeth, she returned to Headquarters.

    She had to submit her reports to the Management Officer, and then ask for any updated information concerning their second headache.

    ''The Midas ughterer.''

    Thinking about the person, or group, that killed their Midas Inquisition Division 15, and also her younger brother, caused her ruined mood to plummet even further into sheer rage.

    Yet, Gloria controlled herself.

    Yes... she was the First Princess for a reason. Her dignity and poise had to be well proportionate to her strength.

    As a symbol for all the Midas maidens, and also for her younger ones. She had to remain calm no matter what.

    ****

    "WHHAAAAAAAATTTTT?!" Gloria''s voice echoed like a roaring trumpet in the Observational Chamber within HQ.

    Her bloodshot eyes abd gritting teeth showed her current state of fury, and any second it seemed the cup would overflow.

    "Why did you allow those two to go? I told you to inform me! I said he was my prey!"

    The man in charge of the Observational Consul #B35 pleaded with her, of course. As a member of the lower strata of Midas Nobility, what chance did he stand against the most powerful woman in their Empire.

    Unfortunately for him... he had caught her in a bad mood.

    >SQUELCH<

    Just by the tightening of her fist, the man''s head squeezed like a piece of mold, spurting out blood out of his twisted nose and ears.

    Needless to say, he died on the spot.

    Killing a Midas was illegal¡ªa crime worse than death. However, there was only one group exempt from this rule.

    The Royals.

    As a result, Gloria could kill pretty much anyone that pissed her off.

    Except, of course, Royals.

    "Someone shoulde clean this mess! Also prepare the Teleportation Chamber. I''m going to the branded to the location!" Her roar echoed across the entire Observation Chamber, causing all the remaining staff to scramble.

    Her instruction was of utmost pertinence.

    "What of your backup First Princess? Your subordinates are not yet here, and¡ª"

    "I can go alone!" She fumed, making her way to the Teleportation Chamber¡ªa white hall that had a vast expanse within.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Create multiple portals to confuse the enemy. I''ll face him alone and drag him here with my own two hands!"

    As crude as they sounded, everyone knew just how much strength was backed into those words. Nobody dared question  her decision.

    "U-understood!"

    And so, they shot the Teleportation Beam which took her straight to her destination.

    ... Bringing us back to the present.

    *

    *

    *

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    In a sh, almost like a blur, Gloria leapt from the position she appeared from and instantly dashed in the direction of the only stranger that she could see.

    He was standing right in front of her kneeling siblings, and a somewhat disgusting smile was on his face.

    ''BASTAAARRRRRDDDD!!!"

    She poured intense, pure energy into her fist and targeted his position as she carried her body to him.

    And then¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    The ground erupted, sendingrge chunks of debris flying everywhere.

    The trees that surrounded that area were instantly ttened, and more vibrations coursed through therge clearing in the forest.

    Despite all that, though, it seemed the malefactor escaped her attack.

    "Tch!"

    He now stood beside arge golden wolf, having a female partner riding it.

    ''So they were two, after all.'' Gloria gritted her teeth as she narrowed her gaze on them. ''I''ll kill them!''

    Of course, she knew she couldn''t actually kill them. Their punishments were far steeper than than that.

    Still, she was going to make them wish she had done them the pleasure of ending their lives.

    ''And that bastard... he''s impersonating a Midas Royal?! How dare he!''

    Gloria felt she might explode from pure rage. She was currently standing in front of her siblings, but her back was turned to them. She had to face the malefactor while protecting them from any further attack he was about to render on them.

    "B-big sis...?" She heard their voices utter.

    They sounded so sleepy and weak. Just what did the imbecile before her do to them?

    "What is your current condition? Can you still stand?" She asked, not sparing them a single nce despite the concern on her face.

    ''It would be foolish to take my eyes away from the enemy. For now, I can only ask of their wellbeing.''

    "...  C-can''t."

    "S-sorry, big sis..."

    Just how badly did this young man and his partner injure them?

    "Haa... I see." Gloria''s eyes lit up in fiery determination as her body instantly manifested golden light.

    "You should rest. Leave the rest to me!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What exactly does Kuzon n on doing? Will he fight the strongest princess or...?!

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 911 False Clash

    Silence.

    A choking silence that could make anyone in the vicinity freeze in fear and trepidation.

    That was what was currently being disyed by the few who stood in the devastatedndscape of shattered ground and razed trees.

    "Who are you?" The first to break the silence was the Midas Impersonator, of course.

    ''He doesn''t know who I am? I guess he wasn''t able to get any information from the two.'' Gloria narrowed her eyes as she stared at him.

    He didn''t seem all too threatening, but that was only at face value.

    ''The girl also doesn''t look harmful. The only thing to be really concerned about us that giant wolf. It shouldn''t be a problem for me, though.'' She thought to herself.

    Despite her looks and personality, Gloria was actually very adept at using her head. Even now, while being consumed by insurmountable rage, she was still thinking and strategizing.

    That was just the kind of person she was.

    "I am the First Princess; Gloria Midas. Identify yourselves, and be prepared to face the consequences of your actions.

    ''Looking at this bloody mess, he and that girl must have killed all these Inquisition Officers.'' Gloria could see how their numbers were about five thousand.

    Confirming this, it wasn''t very difficult to believe that they were able to defeat Kendrick and his Division.

    ''But how? Why are they so strong?''

    Gloria was not among the close-minded Midas citizens who believed that a non-Midas could never stand a chance against a Midas. Reality didn''t work that way, unfortunately.

    The fact that there was a non-Midas that had escaped their grasp for so long proved just hoe formidable they could be.

    ''Does that mean they''re also irregrs? But how?''

    After the disaster with their current headache, they had ensured their indoctrination methods improved by leaps and bounds.

    Their current system was more akin to brainwashing than anything else.

    It wouldn''t be easy, or even possible, for anyone to break the mold.

    ''And if they did, we would have been notified. So... how?''

    That didn''t matter right now, though. Her major concern was capturing the enemy, protecting her siblings, and then returning to the Empire.

    ''So what of they defeated five thousand Knights and two Royals? I could do the same!'' She gritted her teeth and tightened her fist.

    Her confidence was further boosted by the fact that the two would naturally be tired after their fight.

    Evidence of that was how the Midas Impersonator was breathing heavily. He was trying to hide it as best as he could, but she noticed it regardless.

    ''The girl on top of the golden wolf is an even better pretender, but it''s probably because she used that pet of hers to so the fighting. She''s most likely not abatant, so if I defeat her summon, then...''

    Gloria''s grin widened as she pretty much developed her strategy on the spot.

    ''Let''s do this!'' With a determined gaze, and a fiery heart, she resolved to fight...

    ... and WIN!

    *

    *

    *

    ''Looks like she''s all fired up. I don''t want to fight her, though.'' Kuzon gazed at his opponent.

    If he did, it would be a waste of the opportunity he had been given.

    ''I would rather retreat. It''s better that way, and it wastes less time.''

    He had already achieved his goal. All he needed was for his minions to invade the ranks of the Midas Royals.

    ''If I can use ''that'', then things would get even more interesting.'' He smiled internally.

    Kuzon could only hope the princess in front of him was noticing the subtle signs of exhaustion he was giving her.

    She was bound to underestimate him thanks to these factors, so her initial attack wouldn''t be overwhelmingly powerful.

    ''Once she does that... at that exact moment... that will decide everything!'' <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    Just like clockwork, the Midas Princess lunged at Kuzon, shattering everything around her, though paying special mind not to affect her siblings.

    Like the wind, she rushed towards him, her hand outstretched.

    ''... As expected.'' Kuzon thought to himself.

    This was the part where things got interesting.

    His construct, Fenrir, instantly jumped in her way, shielding Kuzon.

    At that moment, Maya fell off the massive wolf, slowly falling in midair as she disyed surprise and slight fear.

    "You....!" The loud voice of the first princess echoed at that very moment, and more golden light shrouded her body.

    >BOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The loud impact made from her sh with Fenrir sent shockwaves flying around, and the ground trembled once more.

    Kuzon stifled his smile and caught Maya, who yelped as soon as she fell into his arms.

    ''Time to undo Fenrir so it seems there was damage...''

    The golden threads that made up his massive construct instantly scattered, starting from the point where Gloria''s fitnded on.

    Snapping and dissipating not long after, the pieces of Fenrir''s body began to vanish.

    "Heh!" Gloria leaked out a condescending smile as she red even deeper at Kuzon and Maya, who now seemed powerless and helpless.

    "All I need to do is take care of you two now." She strengthened her muscles and prepared for yet another disy of sheer strength.

    "Really? You should be more worried about your siblings, you know?"

    Gloria''s eyes widened as he said this, granting Kuzon yet another reason to smile.

    "Kak!"

    "Urgh!"

    Both of them suddenly coughed out blood, their vomits oozing from their mouths. They shivered, their faces pale.

    Gloria, who hadn''t looked at them before, sharply nced in their direction out of pure concern.

    The moment she noticed their physiological reactions, only one thought appeared in her mind.

    "P-poison?!"

    "Hehe. Correct. How else would I have been able to take down two Royals of such strength?" Kuzon swiftly responded.

    ''Good. She''s biting in.''

    Gloria''s face turned distraught. However, at the same time, she expressed more rage than before.

    "You bastard!"

    "Call me whatever you like. I need to do whatever I can to win. In any case, what are you going to do about them? Will you save them? Or will you continue this fight?"

    Kuzon''s grin grew wider.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 912 Retreat

    "Will you save them? Or will you continue this fight?"

    Of course, Kuzon knew the answer he would receive wasn''t as clear-cut as his question posed.

    He also knew just how cruel the Midas Empire was. Even though it was taking her a long time to decide, Gloria''s eventual decision would be to do everything in her power to capture him.

    ''However... that brief moment of hesitation is all I was after from the very start. It''s checkmate, Gloria. I win!''

    The moment Gloria got distracted by the choices presented to her, torn between her responsibility to the Empire and attachment to her siblings, the ripe opportunity emerged

    And that was...

    "W-what is... this?!"

    ... A bomb!

    "I''ll use... urgh... thest bit of my power for this. Guh... take thiiiiissssss!!!" Kuzon coughed, hoping his performance was convincing enough.

    Falling from the sky, and heading straight towards Gloria, was a massive golden ball of light.

    It was also approaching at a terrifying speed that seemed impossible topletely dodge when one measured it''s range of impact.

    "Bastard! You think I''ll let you kill yourself?!" Gloria dashed towards him.

    "Hehe. It''s much better than being captured by the Midas Empire. It''s regrettable that this is as far as we go, but..." Kuzon grinned, almost sadly.

    He held Maya very tightly at this point, and his face showed how prepared he was to face death.

    It left Maya clearly confused and panicky. His acting was enough to make her doubt the words and instructions he had given her through Telepathic Magic.

    "Eeeeehhhhhh!!!" Her scream was apanied by the loud eruption of the bomb.

    And then...

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    *

    *

    *

    The brilliance of the explosion finally died down, leaving Gloria dazed as she rubbed her eyes.

    A downcast expression formed on her face as she rose to her feet and clenched her fist.

    ''So... it was a sh bomb, after all.''

    She felt like crushing someone''s skull just based on the rage she was feeling.

    ''They managed to escape, didn''t they? To think that man made this borate scheme to plot their escape.'' Gloria was both impressed and disgusted.

    ''Should I chase after them? They should still be weakened, so maybe I have a chance...''

    The loud coughs and painful groans of her siblings made it very difficult for her to think straight, though.

    ''Well... it''s not guaranteed that I can catch them. From experience, these kind of people are extremely difficult to capture, especially when they''re on the run.''

    And so, rather than risking it all by giving chase, it was better to go for the one with the guaranteed result.

    Saving her siblings.

    ''If I end up giving chase, and these two die... if I end up failing to capture him, it will.be double jeopardy.''

    ying it safe, this was the most reasonable choice.

    "Geri, Jeri... let''s get you both treated." She smiled at the weakened Royals.

    "Y-yes..." They answered tiredly.

    "Thank you big sister."

    It seems their teleportation badges had been destroyed thanks to their earlier fight with the imposter.

    That meant she had to use hers for them. But, this meant she had to return to the Teleportation Chamber.

    By the time the whole process wasplete, it would be toote even if she returned immediately after.

    The trail would have gone cold by then.

    ''Oh well. It can''t be helped...''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Even as she approached her siblings a d prepared to teleport back to their base, Gloria couldn''t help thinking about the irregrs¡ªspecifically the Midas Imposter.

    Her face turned red in fury and she clenched her fist in obvious rage.

    ''I swear, I''ll kill him with my own hands!''

    *

    *

    *

    "Whew! That was a close one, wouldn''t you agree?" Kuzon smiled, seated beside Maya on a mountain.

    There were a bunch of mountains that peaked a short distance from the forest. From their current position, they could faintly see the scene where they fought, and could clearly see the rest of the massive forest.

    "Could you have defeated that Midas Royal, though?" Maya asked.

    "Is that even a question? Of course, I can. At this rate, I''m beginning to think even the First Prince isn''t that big a deal."

    "I wouldn''t advise you to underestimate him, though. I heard that one time, he and the rest of his siblings trained. Only he stood against all of them and defeated them. He''s that strong."

    "Oh? Where did you get that information from?"

    "W-well... the people in my vige. I suppose."

    "Have you ever been to the Midas Empire?"

    "Uh, no."

    "Seen the Royals train?"

    "N-no, but..."

    "So, a bunch of guys in the slums told you the story and you just took it at face value? Don''t you know the meaning of exaggeration?"

    At this point, Maya was red in the face. Her puffed up cheeks showed she was pouting.

    "I was just trying to help, you know? You should be careful about those people!"

    "I hear you. Haha, it''s just that... I have no reason to doubt my strength or overestimate my opponents." Kuzon grinned.

    "So far, it seems they''re all too weak."

    Anyone hearing this would think he was being conceited. However, since he had pretty much gotten the memories of Midas Royals, he could say as much with confidence.

    ''Maya is right, though. That First Prince did defeat all the Royals. It seems he has some sort of hidden power. I shouldn''t be too careless...''

    He needed more information, but not necessarily rted to the Midas.

    ''I''m still at square one when ites to the mysterious man. Plus, my pawns are currently asleep in the infirmary, so I can''t use them currently.''

    It was better to leave then that way, so as not to garner suspicion.

    ''I used my Marite Worms to secrete energy that interfered with their Mana flow, causing some Mana Shock, intense fever, coughing among other things.''

    It mimicked poison perfectly.

    Fortunately, he could hide his Worms, so they wouldn''t be detected through Magic; at least, not the kind that he knew the Midas Empire used.

    ''Once they''re up and well, I''ll use them properly. For now, though... there''s one thing on my mind.''

    He stared into the forest, finding himself deep in thought and slight confusion. His eyes were capturing the image of a particr person amid the trees.

    ''Who the hell is that?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 913 The Old Man [Pt 1]

    Amid the cluster of trees was an old man.

    He had a clock covering his entire body, but that didn''t stop him from being recognizable at all.

    His flowing white hair and long beard leaked out of the hood he wore, and his jolly eyes couldn''t be contained by the hood''s disguise.

    The old man took a step, and then two, ncing around him as if trying to ensure no one was following him.

    Walking in the woods was a good way to traverse the world whole trying to hide one''s identity, but the man''s caution seemed too far-fetched.

    No, in the first ce... who was he?

    "Maya, look at that person?" Kuzon pointed at the bushy bearded old man who stroked his beard as he nced left and right before taking even just a couple of steps.

    He seemed clumsy for an old oaf, but something about him just drew Kuzon in.

    Perhaps that was why he couldn''t look away.

    "T-that''s him! That''s the man with the sleigh! He''s the one you''re looking for?" Maya''s voice suddenly peaked, causing Kuzon to swiftly cover her lips so she wouldn''t make any further noise.

    If someone like the old man was cautious enough to look around him, Maya''s words could have attracted his attention.

    ''We''re not too far from him. Though I wonder why he isn''t just using Sensory Magic.'' Kuzon thought to himself, recoiling from Maya''s words.

    "He''s the mysterious man? The Variant that''s causing the Midas Empire such a headache...?" Kuzon looked at the old man once again and his heart fell.

    ''Really? Him?''

    Sure, the man seemed ''odd'' enough. However, the possibility that he was just an entric old man was certainly high.

    ''I can''t sense any Manaing from him. No Aether too...''

    Nothing in the man''s outfit had any Magical effects, and the fact that he was being so overly cautious while slowing himself down, instead of simply using Sensory Expansion or something, made him doubtful.

    ''I know of the Midas Rule, but you can still perform basic sensory stuff despite it. That''s what I''ve been doing. If he''s truly the enemy of the Midas Race, he should have figured it out...''

    Kuzon mulled over these thoughts, alternating states between Maya and the old man. In all honesty, he was disappointed.

    However...

    ''This is the closest we''ve gotten to solving the case. It wouldn''t hurt to give it a try.''

    Perhaps it was because he now had a contingency in the Midas Empire¡ªor rather, two¡ªKuzon didn''t feel as anxious or as frustrated as before.

    "We''ll follow him from behind. Let''s see what he''s up to."

    It would be difficult to follow someone''s trail, and stalk from afar, without Magic. However, Kuzon was an expert in that area.

    ''His means of detection are sloppy at best. He won''t be able to catch me.'' He smiled, ncing at Maya.

    "You just have to follow my lead. Don''t do what I wouldn''t do, and don''t stray away from me."

    If this was indeed their guy, Kuzon still wanted to obtain enough information before approaching him.

    ''He seems especially cautious and fritzy.'' With that in mind, he decided it was time to enact his n.

    *

    *

    *

    Kuzon and Maya trailed after the old man for a couple of minutes, traversing the thick Custer of trees, and doing everything they could to stay hidden

    By ensuring they stayed a sufficient distance from him, they maintained their hiddeness. Plus, the little sounds their footsteps made couldn''t travel very far, making it pointless for the old man who tried to see and hear the approach of enemies.

    He looked like an idiot to Kuzon; cing his hand around his ear, or his hand over his eyes.

    ''He won''t be finding us.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    After following him for a while more, they finally slowed down thanks to the old man stopping in a particr ce that even Kuzon didn''t know existed in the forest.

    ''I surveyed this ce, though. Was this always here...?''

    It was a cave.

    This cave was embedded into a massive stone-like boulder, and it was covered with nt-like curtains.

    It was a primitive method, but understandable.

    ''Why is he going to the cave, though. Don''t tell me... it''s his home?!''

    The old man ventured inside, causing curiosity to rise in Kuzon''s chest.

    He couldn''t take the suspense anymore, so he focused his vision so he could see beyond the nt-like curtains, and then into the cave itself.

    ''By circting my energy flow and concentrating it internally, I can do this. I wonder why the old man doesn''t do the same to better sense his vicinity...''

    Since they began observing the old man, the chances that he was the man Kuzon was looking for had fallen drastically.

    At this point, it was mostly out of curiosity that he kept on spying.

    He also had nothing better to do¡ªat least, until recoveredpletely.

    ''Hm? That is...'' Kuzon''s eyes narrowed as he looked at what the old man was doing inside the shallow cave.

    Rather than resting, the old man cleared some of the twigs that seemed to litter the flow, taking away a moss-like carpet too.

    Once those were shifted to the side, something became visible to the old man, and to Kuzon.

    ''... A vault?"

    The metal-like casing, and it''s solid handle made it look like the real deal.

    ''Looks like it isn''t his home, after all.''

    However, that raised her another issue for concern.

    ''What is a shabbily dressed old man doing with a vault like that? Could he be plundering someone else? No. Am I cing too much emphasis on his appearance?''

    ''Maybe he''s in disguise and is the real deal. But, his actions don''t add up.'' Kuzon shook his head as his thoughts shed, trying to focus more on the scenery unfolding before him.

    ''What will you do next, old man?''

    Before Kuzon realized it, the man jumped into the vault, closing it instantly.

    The twigs and carpet miraculously returned to their position to cover the vault,pletely making it the same as before.

    As a spectator, Kuzon was stunned, to say the least.

    ''E-eh...?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I wonder who this old fellow is...

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 Chapter 914 The Old Man [Pt 2]

    ''The vault was actually a secret entrance? Interesting...'' A smile formed on Kuzon''s face as he narrowed his sight on the twigs that now covered it''s metal surface.

    "Looks like the old man has gone inside the hole else. Shouldn''t we follow him?" Maya asked, her tone a little hushed.

    "Hmm. Yeah, if we don''t want to lose the trail. We should also head in."

    The problem was the unpredictability of the situation.

    ''What if it''s a trap?'' Even with his sensory abilities, he couldn''t sense beyond the metal vault door.

    He had no idea what to expect beyond it.

    ''But now that the old man has piqued my interest, I guess we can go an extra mile.''

    With that in mind, Kuzon and Maya left their hiding spots and approached the cave. Their goal was simple;

    Infiltrate the secret area that the old man went to, and keep following him!

    ******

    "Are you ready?" Kuzon asked, both of them standing above the vault.

    It was pitch ck, and even now that the entrance was open, Kuzon couldn''t sense anything beyond it.

    It puzzled him to no end.

    Still... he hade this far already. His interest in the old man was already growing beyond what he initially expected.

    It was even possible that he could be the one he was looking for.

    "Y-yeah. Though I''m a little bit... kyah!" Maya''sst words were interrupted by a yelp. This was because Kuzon suddenly held her and drew her close to himself.

    "W-w-what are you doing?" She screamed, her face beet red.

    "Rx. The opening is not too big. We can both fit in if we stick together like this. Besides, didn''t you say you''re scared?" Kuzon smiled, looking straight into her eyes.

    "Don''t worry. I''ll protect you."

    Maya''s crimson eyes widened, and they seemed to sparkle the moment Kuzon made the statement.

    She was so distracted by his words echoing in her ears, and the smile he gave off, that she didn''t notice when they plunged into the vault.

    ... And descended into darkness.

    *

    *

    *

    "W-what is this ce...?!" Kuzon was the first to speak so loudly.

    Merely due to shock alone, he had forgotten to remain in character. Both he and Maya were now somewherepletely different from what they knew just a second ago.

    It was like new a world far removed from the mundane realities of the life they had experienced before now.

    "This ce is... a pocket dimension?" Kuzon thought aloud, looking at everything around him.

    It was a realm brimming with enchantment, whimsy, and unfathomable beauty¡ªa veritable tapestry woven with the threads of imagination.

    The skies of thend were a cerulean expanse, dotted with fluffy, cotton candy clouds thatzily drifted by. The air was infused with a fragrance akin to sweet blossoms and hints of freshly baked confections, enticing the senses and drawing visitors deeper into this extraordinarynd.

    ''Is it like my Emperor''s Domain? No... this ce feels far stranger. Far removed from reality.''

    He couldn''t exin his unease and hisfort. He stared at Maya, and the girl seemed tok stunned to even say a single word.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The situation must have puzzled and amazed them both.

    "Look at the footprints. The old man must have passed this route. Let''s walk quickly so we can catch up to him." Kuzon said, finally snapping Maya from her daze.

    "Y-yeah. Let''s..."

    With both of them nodding in agreement, they continued their journey through the strangend around them.

    As one ventured forth, they would find themselves traversing winding paths that meandered through meadows adorned with vibrant flowers of every hue.

    Each petal boasted a unique, vivid color, radiating a luminosity that illuminated thendscape with an ethereal glow.

    Butterflies danced in a graceful ballet, their wings painted in vivid patterns, carrying with them the secrets of the universe.

    The trees they saw defied the ordinary, stretching toward the heavens in fantastical shapes and sizes. Their trunks and branches were adorned with sparkling crystals that shimmered like stars, casting a gentle illumination upon the verdant grass below. The leaves rustled in harmonious melodies, whispering ancient tales of adventure and mystery.

    Creatures of all shapes and sizes roamed freely, their forms fantastical and their demeanor curious. Mischievous fairy-like beings fluttered about, their iridescent wings creating a kaleidoscope of colors as they yfully darted through the air.

    Squirrels with iridescent fur scurried along, chattering in anguage only they understood, while unicorns grazed upon the velvety moss, their coats resplendent with hues that seemed borrowed from a rainbow.

    Rivers and streams flowed through thend, their waters crystal clear and infused with a luminescent glow. The gentle babbling of the brooks created a soothing symphony that harmonized with the chorus of nature. Bridges, crafted with delicate precision, arched gracefully over the water, inviting wanderers to cross and discover the wonders thaty beyond.

    Perhaps the strangest observation of the two strangers was how time seemed to exist in a perpetual dance.

    The sun, adorned with a golden halo, painted the sky with breathtaking hues as it made its slow descent. Moonbeams, silvery and soft, cascaded down upon thendscape, transforming the world into a dreamscape where reality and fantasy intertwined.

    At this point, Kuzon was beyond stupefied, he was beyond dumbfounded too.

    ''Impressive! The system that make up this entire ce... did that old man make it? No, this is too amazing! I can''t believe it!''

    Kuzon had to admit to himself that he could have been wrong.

    No, at this point, he probably was.

    ''This ce is the real deal. That old man, whoever he is, is definitely the real deal!''

    ******

    After walking a little further, following the footprints, they finally spotted the old man. The way he walked so casually in such an amazingndscape told Kuzon that this man most likely lived here.

    This was his natural habitat, wasn''t it?

    ''It''s no wonder the Midas Empire hasn''t been able to find him. He lives in his own pocket dimension, huh?'' Kuzon smiled nervously

    His heart was already pounding in both anxiety and excitement.

    However, choosing the pragmatic option, Kuzon kept his emotions suppressed and decided to be as careful as possible.

    ''Let''s keep watching him. He''ll eventually stop at his home or something.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 915 The Old Man [Pt 3]

    "Haa... haa..."

    Kuzon could feel it. The mental strain that was afflicting his body, even though he was still physically healthy.

    ''How long? How many hours has it been now? No, perhaps more than that?''

    Kuzon was currently hunched over as he constantly kept taking steps so he wouldn''t lose sight of the old man in front of him.

    It had been so long since they started following him that it didn''t seem real that they would continue pursuing the relentless fellow.

    One stare at his shabby back, and Kuzon''s tired eyes fell even further.

    ''I-impossible! How is he still moving?!''

    "Urgh...." A slurry voice sounded atop him. It came from Maya.

    She had used up all her strength a while ago, and was now being carried by him.

    They were both tired, no doubt.

    ''How can he keep this up? Is this perhaps the special effect of this world? Magic?''

    It was indeed possible that he was being ''affected'' by a negative condition. Perhaps he was hallucinating.

    His Arcanas were currently on the fritz, so he didn''t have any absolute defense against such measures.

    ''Should I use Magic to cancel it? But...'' The reason he didn''t want to use Magic was because he was bound to be detected if he did.

    Not by the Midas Empire, but the old man.

    ''Am I really sure he hasn''t noticed us already? If we are in his domain, then he should have.

    ''Or is this ce just a Magic Spot in this world? Could it be that this old man found it by ident and made it his home?''

    There were many alternatives, now that Kuzon thought about it.

    However, it still didn''t shake off the uneasy feeling he had.

    ''Just a little Magic. Let me try it.''

    Kuzon closed his eyes and circted his energy, coursing everything through his body.

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU...<

    "Haaa..." Opening his eyes slowly, exhaling deeply.

    It turned out he wasn''t under any illusion.

    ''Let''s keep going, then.''

    *******

    Fortunately, not too long after, Kuzon and Maya saw the old man arriving at a residence.

    But...

    ''Huh?!''

    ... It was as underwhelming as the cave from long back.

    The shack looked like a small wizard''s hut, made form straw and stone bricks. It had a chimney, and magical dust-like smoke rose from it.

    All in all, it was bizarre and unimpressive.

    ''This is his actual home...?'' Kuzon''s eyes widened slightly as he watched the old man venture inside.

    ''Let''s not judge things at face value. So far he keeps surprising us, right?''

    The problem right now was what to do now that the old man had arrived home.

    Were they supposed to watch a bit longer? Investigate the terrain? Extensively discuss all they had seen?

    Kuzon quickly mulled over all these details, but finally arrived at a simple answer.

    "We''re out of time. Let''s go in."

    "A-are you sure? We should me more patient. Maybe even rest a little."

    Kuzon found it odd that the person who had hitched a ride on his back could spew such words.

    In one big shrug, he pushed her off his back, causing her to Yelp as her buttocks hit the ground.

    "Ow-ow! You''re so mean."

    "Yeah, yeah." Kuzon couldn''t care less. His gaze was more focused on the old man''s cottage.

    "We''re going in, Maya."

    "F-fine..."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    And so, the two ventured straight into yet another world they didn''t expect.

    ******

    Within the confines of the unassuming abode, a magnificent hall unfolded, defying thews of space and reality.

    It was a ce where magic thrived, casting its ethereal glow upon the two who dared to venture inside.

    As Kuzon and Maya stepped through the threshold, their senses were immediately captivated by an array of strange and mesmerizing sights.

    "N-no way. Again?!" Kuzon nearly screamed this time as his eyes took in the miraculous sight before him.

    The hall seemed to stretch infinitely in all directions, its vastness defying the confines of the humble hut that contained it.

    In the midst of this enchanting spectacle, their eyes were drawn to peculiar creatures suspended within ss jars, their otherworldly forms both curious and captivating. Each jar held a mysterious being, frozen in time, their presence evoking a sense of awe and wonder... as well as dread.

    An assortment of staffs and staves adorned stands and lined the walls, their intricate carvings and ornate designs imbued with an undeniable allure. Each one seemed to possess a story of its own, whispered by the ancient, yet beautiful wood that coursed through its very core.

    Books, ancient and weathered, were scattered throughout the hall, their pages brimming with forgotten knowledge and untold tales. They beckoned the two curious souls to unravel their secrets, promising an adventure that transcended the boundaries of the mundane.

    Sparkling jewels and curious artifacts adorned every corner, casting a kaleidoscope of colors and reflections that danced upon the walls.

    Rare and peculiar items, most of which were unknown to even Kuzon, were put on grand exhibition, showcasing the mysteries thaty hidden within their delicate frames.

    "L-look there, Kuzon. I told you I saw him riding reindeers in a sleigh!" Maya dragged the dazed Kuzon to yet another awesome spot in the massive hall.

    There, nestled among the treasures, stood a stand adorned with miniature wooden reindeers.

    Their lifelike features and delicate craftsmanship breathed a semnce of life into the very wood from which they were carved.

    "It''s almost like they''re alive..." Kuzon whispered.

    Still, all of this magnificence that bewildered them had one w in Kuzon''s eyes.

    ''They don''t have an ounce of Mana or Aether. Not even the mystical-looking ones.''

    He had thought, for sure, that they would be powerful, but theirck of any kind of special attributes disappointed him.

    ''They are beautiful, though...'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed as he watched them with longing eyes.

    "Are you done sightseeing?"

    Kuzon''s body stiffened the moment he heard the strange, yet oddly familiar voice.

    Twisting sharply in the direction of the tone, his vision met the old man they had followed here.

    He stood a distance from them, a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes. More spectacr, however, was the new outfit he donned.

    ''W-what the hell is that?!'' Kuzon thought to himself

    It was a weird wizard attire. It had bright multicolored dyes as the base and weird star designs all around it, with a crooked wizard cap to match.

    ''What in the world is¡ª?''

    "So? What do you think of my ''toys''?" The old man''s smile widened as he intently stared at the two of them, specifically Kuzon.

    ''His gaze feel so intense. I couldn''t even sense him until he spoke.''

    Also, by toys, did he mean the objects that decorated the hall? Kuzon was more surprised that he didn''t ask what they were doing in his abode.

    ''Did he sense us here, after all?'' In any case, Kuzon decided to answer.

    Now that it hade to this, and he was going to have to win the old man''s trust, he had to be honest.

    "I think... they''re beautiful. But as far as Magic goes... they''re not too impressive."

    Hopefully he didn''t sound too condescending. However, that was simply how the whole thing appeared to him.

    "Oh? Is that so?" The twinkle in the man''s eyes died so quickly and suddenly that Kuzon felt a heaviness suddenly envelope him.

    "How disappointing..."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Next chapter, his identity will be revealed. You can all make guesses, though.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 916 Crazy Variant

    Disappointing? His response was disappointing?

    Kuzon was stunned. He had thought his honesty would be appreciated. Should he have lied?

    ''No. Something tells me that would have been worse. Then...''

    "I mean, I expected this oue. Yes. You were bound to say that, weren''t you, Kuzon?" The old man rubbed his white beard as he so flippantly mentioned Kuzon''s name.

    "Y-you know who I am?"

    "Well, maybe you should see for yourself, then. I mean, what was I expecting, right? It''s not like you''d be able to get it at first nce." Hepletely ignored the confused Midas and muttered even more.

    "Hmm... this should do it..." More murmurs.

    Kuzon, at this point, had reached the limits of his patience. He couldn''t just stand still and.let the man ignore him.

    He had to win his approval. ND to do that, he needed his attention.

    "What exactly is going o¡ª"

    >SNAP<

    All it took was one snap from the old man.

    ''... Huh...??!''

    And the impossible ured.

    Kuzon instantly fell to the ground, his eyes bulging, turning bloodshot instantly. Sweat poured from his skin and his body trembled to the core.

    An overwhelming might seemed to keep him down, kneeling and shaking as his mind nearly went nk.

    This inescapable, unbelievable pressure... where was iting from?

    Above? Behind? Below?

    It was all, and yet none, of those answers.

    ''E-every... everywhere?!'' Kuzon''s fragmented thoughts managed to utter.

    The unimaginable power that crushed every ounce of his will emanated all around him¡ªspecifically from the very items that pervaded the seemingly infinite expanse.

    ''E-even one... the weakest one I sense... is stronger than me...?!''

    It sounded ridiculous, but it was true!

    His face slowly turned, and he could see the reindeers that he once discarded as beautiful junk.

    Just one of those reindeers possessed more power than he had amassed.

    To think he was weaker than a mere ''toy.''

    Kuzon shook endlessly, his entire beingpletely subjugated. He could no longer fight the power that seemed to swallow him whole.

    He was no match.

    He could never dream of evening close.

    "Okay, maybe that''s enough. Don''t want you to go crazy on me. Haha...hehehe..." The old man cackled, snapping his fingers once more.

    In an instant, almost like waking up from a nightmare, the pressure vanishedpletely.

    Silence enveloped the area, and nothing but Kuzon''s heavy breath pervaded the hall.

    "Haaa.... haaa... haaa..."

    His clothes were already soaked in sweat, and the sting of humiliation coiled around his heart.

    Never before had he experienced such an overwhelming power.

    Not even from the Nether.

    "W-what is... who are... ah... what of Maya...?" Kuzon slowly looked beside him.

    Maya was lying face t on the ground,pletely still and quiet.

    ''S-she is¡ª!''

    "Oh, she fell unconscious instantly. Don''t worry, she''s fine."

    "A-ah... I see." His worry vanishedpletely the moment the old man said that.

    He also saw that she was breathing just fine.

    "So, what do you think now? About my toys?" The old man folded his hand and grinned exquisitely.

    ''What the hell? Those are toys?!''

    They were items that infinitely defied logic and contained such unfathomable power.

    Yet this crazy old man called them mere toys?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "T-they''re powerful. Too powerful..."

    "Meh. I think they''re fine, but nowhere near powerful. They''re just prototypes, after all."

    "E-eh...?"

    "They''re decorative items, you know? I made them in my youth, when I was still obsessed with form over performance. Hold on, I''m still in my youth, right? Yeah... still youthful. Hehehe."

    Was this man kidding him? Every word he spouted seemed like crazy nonsense.

    The very epitome of bullshit.

    "I''m actually in myte thirties... right? Well, not exactly. Ah... time is such a funny concept, isn''t it? Pfft... I can be millions of years old, and still just in myte thirties, while looking like I''m fifty or something."

    Kuzon was so confused. He felt lost in a torrent of thoughts that it felt like he would unravel at any moment.

    "Who...?" His voice finally made it out of his lips. His gaze wavered, but he still stared at the old man with thest ember of his determination.

    "Who are you?"

    "Me? Eh, I don''t know what to say. Names aren''t very important to me. They''re meant to be distinct, but in actuality they''re not."

    ''What?''

    "Think about it. How many people bear my name, or your name, or their name? It''s an infinite amount! Those other branches having the same name as you... it ruins the concept of self-identity, doesn''t it?"

    "I-I guess...?"

    As expected. The man knew of the branches. So this was a branch, after all.

    ''That must be how he knows my name.'' Kuzon''s thoughts echoed. ''He should have a way to return me home!''

    The crazy old man kept rambling, his voice and words scattered.

    "... But, well, I guess you need to call me something besides ''crazy old man''. Though, I know you''ll still tell our dear MC that when you meet him."

    "MC? What do you mea¡ª"

    "My name is Neron. Ring a bell?"

    At that very instant, Kuzon''s words ceased and his jaws nearly dropped.

    Bewilderment yed on his face as he stared at the youthful smile of the old man, while also feeling indescribable feelings.

    "Hahaha! I knew you''d react that way. Pfft, just look at that expression."

    Kuzon''s eyes twitched. He was facing Neron himself? This old man was...

    "I''m not ''your'' Neron, though. Ah, when you put it that way... oof..." He rubbed his white beard even more.

    "T-then, you know the Neron of my world, right? You know my world too, right? That means you can¡ª"

    "Of course I do, Kuzon. What do you think I am, chopped liver? This guy..." Old man Neronughed, pping his hand on his face almost as if it was funny.

    ''What is he finding so hrious, though?''

    "Its just hrious anytime I interact with you guys. I mean, I''m often engrossed in my own stuff, but isn''t it amusing?"

    "What is...?"

    "Okay, okay. Get this. Imagine you''re in your house one day, and a very small ant just walks in. But you can see it, right? And the ant climbs your body, and you can feel every single sensation. And then it reaches your shoulder, and it realizes you''ve been staring at it for a long time. Then it gets surprised and starts to talk to you. It asks how you could see it, even though it''s your house. It asks if you know it is an ant, or that it came from an anthill, or whatever. You get the point. Now multiply that by infinity! That''s how hrious this situation is. Hahahahahaha!"

    Kuzon didn''t know how to feel by the words of  this world''s Neron.

    Was he calling him an ant? No... infinitely lesser than an ant?

    "Look, Kuzon. You realize that I let you guys find and track me down, right? I pretty much knew all you would do and how you would react¡ªall the alternatives."

    So that was why this old man found things so funny.

    ''To him... even this conversation is as predictable as anything else.''

    That was just how crazy this Neron was.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Yes! Finally time for one of my favorite Nerons to get some love.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 917 True Insanity

    Have you ever bothered with observing the mundane lives of everything in the world?

    Even down to the very atoms.

    Ever tried to understand them. Replicate them. Create them. And understand them again.

    And then... have you ever considered just how many atoms there would be in the vastness of a. A sr system. A gxy. A universe.  multiverse.

    All of existence.

    ... If not, then you do not know the true meaning of insanity.

    *

    *

    *

    "I need your help, Neron. I''m sure you already know the details of my predicament. It''s of utmost importance that I return home. Please can you... no, I mean, please take me back!"

    Silence echoed all over the hall as Kuzon pleaded with the old man before him.

    Desperation rang in his eyes, and his heart oozed sincerity.

    "Hmmm. Well..." Old man Neron rubbed his beard, his eyes closed for a few moments.

    One could only wonder why he was taking so long to determine his answer when he already knew what it would be.

    "Nope. I don''t wanna."

    "H-huh...?"

    "I said I don''t feel like it. It''s all inconsequential to me anyway. Why should I bother?"

    Hearing those words caused a certain effect within Kuzon.

    His heart began to race quickly, and his muscles tightened. His teeth grinded together and his facial muscles twisted to depict one thing.

    Anger.

    "Why? I''m sure it wouldn''t take you much effort at all."

    "En. It wouldn''t even take any."

    "So why? It won''t cause you any detriment, right? So please just help me and¡ª"

    "You do realize how hypocritical you sound right now, don''t you? Didn''t Maya ask you to help out with saving other people? I''m pretty sure you responded the same way I did."

    Upon hearing those words, Kuzon''s heart gree heavy. He understood the implications behind them, but how could he simply ept it?

    "I-I couldn''t do it because I didn''t have enough time. I have to return home for my friends and family. For my world."

    "Simply put, you would only take action if it''s of value to you. Besides, didn''t you pass by many settlements in your investigation? I''m sure it wouldn''t take you any time at all to save the suffering people by at least transporting then to your Emperor''s Domain."

    "B-but where would I put them after¡ª"

    "Oh, please. Like you couldn''t just destroy the Midas Empire and give them thend. Oh, is that too extreme? If you were going to meet me anyway, and dump Maya''s load on me, wouldn''t it be better if you were already saving this world''s denizens, rather than just handing all the responsibility to me. The people in this reality are also people, you know?"

    "If you feel this way, then why didn''t you save them sooner?" Kuzon yelled, unable to contain his dissatisfaction.

    "Same reason you didn''t. I care about something more. So much so that I really couldn''t care less what happens to this reality. And if I don''t care about the reality I was born in, do you really think I would consider your own world? Especially when, if our roles were reversed, you wouldn''t care about mine?"

    "I... I..." Kuzon was at a loss for words.

    "Look. I get it, okay? You want to save your people and and lover, and all of that. But try to think about it from my perspective. Just wrap your head around if for a moment. Maybe I should exin." Neron sighed.

    "I''m not interested in this world. Your world is included in it. This entire dimension was create by me. It''s currently asrge as a couple million universes, and I can make it stretch on as much as I want. I set an automatic expansion rate, so it''s growing on its own. I can also manipte it at will."

    "Even... spending all this time talking to me is more important than sending me to my world? Even though this is far more time consuming?" Kuzon spoke, his words echoing the pain that upied his heart.

    "What time is being consumed? It''s all rtive to me. I''m sure you thought you were walking for hours while following me, right? Well, it only took me a moment to get here."

    Kuzon''s face entered a daze as soon as he heard Neron. He didn''t even know what to say on response.

    "Do you get it now? Thews of reality are different here. I pretty much make the rules, and the amount of life here is already far more than this world and yoursbined."

    "A-ah..." Kuzon could only whisper.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It seemed he had been underestimating the man in front of him all this time.

    He was beyond fathoming.

    "Let''s continue our talk in my office. I feel like seating down." As soon as he said this, a chair suddenly appeared, and the old man plopped to his seat.

    ''If you''re seated now then why do you need the office?'' Kuzon wanted to say, but no words came out.

    "Wake up, Maya. It''s time to go."

    "Y-yes!" Maya jumped to her feet, her expression indicatedplete attentiveness.

    "A bit of time and energy maniption makes her up and ready in no time. Perfect, right?"

    Before Kuzon could even give an answer, Neron moved away from him, toward a magnificent golden door that suddenly appeared in the middle of the hallway.

    At this point, the young Midas knew not to question anything he saw anymore.

    With Neron, it felt like anything was possible.

    "Let''s go!"

    The door opened, and in an instant, all three of them were sucked inside, dragged into another new world.

    ********

    This time, it was a library.

    One look, and one could tell that this was a ce not meant to be perceived by mere people.

    Its grandeur knew no bounds, stretching endlessly in every direction, defying the limits of mortalprehension.

    The library''s imposing fa?ade rose majestically, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering stained ss windows. Its architecture bore the marks of countless civilizations and eras, reflecting a timeless amalgamation of human achievements and wisdom.

    "Haaa... I really can''t see the end of it." Kuzon whispered.

    Even though he was using his full Magic capacity to sense howrge it was, he simply couldn''tprehend it.

    This ce was impossiblerge.

    "Wee to my Grand Library. Feel free to explore, or not. I mean... your choice." Old man Neron hovered on his chair as he moved forward, not even bothering to look at the two dumbfounded people who gawked at everything in their line of sight.

    "T-that is...!" Kuzon''s gaze traveled to a particr corner in the library where a pile¡ªno, more like a heap¡ªof cards stood.

    He had sensed strange signatures from the cards, so he moved there in a hurry.

    "A-ah, those are... well, they''re not really that impressive." It seemed Old Man Neron was a bit embarrassed when he talked about them.

    Almost like they were a pile that didn''t deserve anyone''s attention.

    "T-these are all Arcanas! All of them!" Kuzon shouted, almost deafeningly.

    There were all the real deal¡ªno, perhaps even more impressive. He even noticed a lot of variations that were foreign to him, but we''re just as powerful as the others he was familiar with.

    How was this even possible?!

    "I call them the B-Blu. You want some?"

    Kuzon could feel it more and more as he conversed with this world''s version of Neron. He had been skeptical to conclude it before, but now he was certain.

    ''He... He''s crazy!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    That''s right!

    This is Old Man Neron, also known as Crazy Neron.

    You can only guess how powerful he is.

 Chapter 918 The Origin Project

    "Seems like you don''t want them. Oh well..." Neron shrugged, almost like it all didn''t matter to him.

    "N-no! I want them. Give them to me."

    "You realize that those won''t work in your world because of the Law Alignment issue, right? Isn''t that why your Arcanas aren''t working too?"

    "W-well..." Kuzon could only chuckle slightly in disappointment.

    That was indeed true. These Arcanas wouldn''t do any good in his world.

    "I mean. Unless you use [The Leviathan]. It can fix up the alignment issue. But... en. Let''s forget about it."

    In a single ''POOF'', the Arcana pile disappeared.

    "NOOOOOOO!!!" Kuzon cried out loud. He was just about to look for the Arcana that Crazy Neron had told him about.

    Yes, Crazy Neron.

    ''That''s the best term that properly define this insane entity!'' Kuzon concluded. There was no way this man was even a man anymore.

    He was literally a god.

    "Come over here. Leg me show you something actually impressive. It''s what I''m working on. Why I''m so busy." He smiled, a youthful twinkle in his eyes.

    Kuzon hadn''t seen that twinkle in a very long time, and he wondered just what kind of project would make the old man glow like that.

    ''If Arcanas don''t even faze him, then... just what could it be?!'' Kuzon could feel his heart race in excitement.

    He couldn''t wait to see how profound the work would be.

    His heart was already sullen¡ªhumbled beyond expectations. He nced at Maya and saw her beautiful childish innocence.

    She was so astounded that words failed toe out.

    Speechless beyond imagination.

    ''He really is amazing, isn''t he?'' Kuzon now reflected on his hubris.

    ''I already suspected that the mysterious man, whoever he was, would not help Maya and her people. If only I considered the same for myself...''

    Crazy Neron had so much power, and that meant he was beyond bothering over their own little problems.

    ''I was never a priority, to begin with.''

    ******

    Crazy Neron brought Kuzon and Maya to a wide desk. It covered a great distance that Kuzon thought at least a dozen versions of himself could lie downfortably on the piece of furniture.

    As soon as Kuzon noticed the desk, though, he also observed yet another pile beside it. This pile consisted of ss orbs, all of them just lying on the ground and on one another.

    A couple were on the table, but they were too scattered to be the main focus of Neron''s disy.

    ''What could they be all about?'' He reached out for one among the pile and resonated with it.

    "H-huh...?! No way! No..." Kuzon''s face twitched in shock and more sweat appeared all over it.

    Inside the ss orb that he held was an entire universe.

    ''T-there are so many lying around. He has so many universes just sitting here?! Don''t tell me! Did he¡ª?!''

    "Ah. I call those the Bu-Laba. Universes I made myself. Pay them no mind. They''re not the focus for today."

    Words could not escape Kuzon''s mouth as he dropped the orb and remained stupefied. He slowly moved closer to the craziest man he had ever met, noticing something shimmering on the desk before him.

    "This is what I''m currently working on." A tinge of pride echoed from Crazy Neron''s mouth as his eyes focused on the cube before him.

    Both Kuzon and Maya couldn''t help but stare at it as well.

    The object appeared to be a transparent cube. This cube glimmered with white light, but upon closer inspection, there was a whole spectrum of lights it emitted, but the rate and speed were too fast and imperceptible that they eventually just appeared as white.

    The cube housed something simr to a seedling. The little leaves and trunk had already broken out of something akin to a water-like surface, most likely meant to represent the soil.

    And the little roots were wrapped around a bright source of energy. It looked like a mushy thing. Solid one second, and the permeable the next.

    "What do you think this is?" Crazy Neron''s voice echoed.

    Kuzon and Maya could not answer. They could only keep staring at the germinating nt.

    They watched as it grew about half an inch longer, extending a branch by the side.

    The seedling had a pure translucent color to it, and it glowed like white, though the multiple colors were whatprised the seemingly monochrome hue.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "You can''t even guess? Well, I guess I''ll exin, then." Crazy Neron smiled, almost as if he always wanted to do this.

    "I''m creating my own ''Root''. The starting point of a tree of existence."

    "E-eh...?" Kuzon''s tone sounded squeaky as he robotically stared at the old man who gracefully hovered on his chair.

    "You know there are two Roots, right? One is Aether and the other is Nether. They all stem from Origin, opposite and bncing existences."

    Kuzon struggled to keep up while still confused as to how the being in front of him managed to pull of such a feat.

    "I thought it would be cool to make my own Root. So, I started by generating an artificial ''Origin''. Honestly, that was the hardest part of this whole venture."

    "A-ah... I see..."

    "I could only do it because I have seen it before. ''All Things.'' It exists in Origin, and it''s basically infinite, unlimited, and all-epassing power. Ever since my encounter with it, I''ve never been the same."

    "O-oh..."

    "Past. Present. Future. I live in all those realities at once. urrences aren''t really relevant to me because they are already there for me to observe and interact with."

    "S-so, that means..."

    "Indeed." Crazy Neron smiled at him, his eyes glowing brightly. "I can already see how everything will end up for you. I know how it all started. I know how it''ll end."

    Kuzon gulped.

    "The ''me'' you see. The ''Neron'' you''re interacting with is only an extension of my existence. You are but a frame that arrives and vanishes, but I am constant."

    This was the true reason why nothing mattered to him in this reality¡ªno, in all of existence.

    Why he didn''t care for the existing rules and concepts of everything.

    He had already experienced them all!

    "That''s why my Origin Project is so interesting. It''s apletely new world. A ce where I am the variable, not the constant."

    In essence, Crazy Neron waspletely detached from pretty much all that existed already.

    "I understand now..." Kuzon whispered, his widening eyes finally closing slowly.

    "Oh? You do? That''s a relief."

    "I understand why Neron wanted me to get your approval."

    "Hm. Is that so?" Crazy Neron once again seemed disinterested.

    Kuzon could see it in his eyes¡ªhow he didn''t really care what happened to anyone or anything.

    They were all simply beneath him.

    ''Still... still...!!!''

    "How can I obtain your approval? How can I get your help? I''ll do anything!"

    There had to be a reason why Neron would tell him to seek this person''s help. That meant it wasn''t an impossible task.

    ''I can do it. No... I must!''

    "Kuzon, you assume too much." The crazy old man''s voice finally emerged with a sigh.

    The young Midas'' eyes widened as he watched Neron smile once more. His eyes were also glowing.

    "Who said I was the one you need to gain approval from?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you''re enjoying the story so far. I know I am.

    Pleasement, vote, and give reviews.

    Thanks everyone!

 Chapter 919 Constellations Approval [Pt 1]

    "W-what did you say?"

    At this point, Kuzon was she''ll shocked. What was the man before him saying?

    He had spent over three weeks trying to resolve the issue of finding the man Neron told him about.

    And now that they had reached this juncture, he was telling him it wasn''t as he thought? Something didn''t seem right.

    "Dont get me wrong, Kuzon. You did well in searching for me. You could say I''m the pathway to finding your prize¡ªthe actual person you''re meant to impress."

    Kuzon calmed himself and decided to listen, not think.

    Crazy Neron was someone who saw the end from the beach, right? That meant all he was saying had to have been valid.

    "Who am I supposed to impress? Where''s the person that''s going to approve of me?" He asked, determination seared into his eyes.

    ''Its already three weeks. I can''t dy things any further...''

    Despite thinking that, Kuzon had already begun to think about the general rtivity of time.

    And it hurt his head.

    "A Constetion. He wants you to get the approval of a Constetion."

    Kuzon''s face twisted a little in confusion.

    "You don''t know what Constetions are?" Crazy Neron asked, his face depicting shock.

    "Don''t you already have the answer to that?"

    For a moment, the old man paused, scratching his beard in the silence. "Oh yeah... haha... good point."

    Kuzon nearly sighed in the process. Of course, he knew the Constetions. They were mythical beings that were said to be the greatest above all kinds of Familiars.

    However, their true identities remained a mystery, and they were pretty much gods in their own right.

    ''I can''t say I really know a lot about them...'' Most of the information he got about the Constetions came from Xenia, and even she didn''t know too much.

    ''Xenia is a step below their level. But even that makes all the difference.''

    "Well, Constetions are high-tier entities. The highest living souls that exist in the ne of reality. Do you know what that means?" Crazy Neron asked, one of his brows raised in amusement.

    "No... I don''t. You know this." Kuzon kept his own eyes from twitching in annoyance.

    Why was this guy being so yful about everything, and then beating around the bush. All he cared about was telling him the things he didn''t know, and blowing his mind away with all the power and knowledge he had.

    ''He doesn''t even want to help me.'' Still, Kuzon kept up his countenance and tried his best to endure.

    More information meant he understood what he was dealing with.

    "It means they''re constant."

    "H-hold on. Constant? Like you?" Kuzon instantly snapped.

    He never knew that detail before.

    "No. It''s different. I exist in the past, preset, and future, and I can permeate my existence beyond this ne... but I just choose not to. However, for the Constetions, they are ''constants'' in every branch of reality."

    That meant that it didn''t matter the branch, or whatever difference each world had. Constetions remained the same in every world.

    "That''s because there are only twelve Constetions. They permeate themselves through the entire branches, so it appears like all twelve exist in each branch."

    "I see..." Kuzon muttered. "So, I''m supposed to gain the approval of this Constetion. Which one is it? How do I go about it?"

    A part of him feared that Crazy Neron would leave him to solve his questions himself. That wouldpletely suck.

    After all, he wouldn''t even know where to start from.

    "The Constetion is going to remain anonymous, at least until you gain its approval."

    "But how will I go about that? Ah, sorry... you don''t want to help me, right?"

    "Hahahahaha!" Crazy Neron suddenly burst into a throatyughter, beating his own stomach for some reason.

    It always creeped Kuzon how serious the man could be for one second, and then switch to the borders of insanity.

    "Don''t be so blue, Kuzon. Don''t worry. I''ll help you this time."

    "Really? Why?" Surprise instantly formed on the young Midas'' face.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Why would he go that far for¡ª''

    "Neron Kaelid and I had a deal, so it''s all good. I''ll help you out with the Familiar issue, and then the other matters afterward."

    "W-wait... really?"

    "Yeah. Also, I don''t get why you''re in such a rush. It''s not like the situation is that dire. Well, maybe for one of them, but it''s not too serious." Crazy Neron muttered in hisst statement, gently rubbing his long beard.

    "Hold on, what did you just say?"

    "I mean you should worry about yourself for now. Do your best to gain the approval of the Constetion. Anything else can wait, right?"

    Hearing those words caused Kuzon''s heart to tighten.

    Was he just supposed to forget about the friends and allies he had made in his original world?

    What about his lover? And her family? Crazy Neron said the situation wasn''t very dire, but that statement could be taken in a rtive context.

    Just what would qualify as ''dire'' for him? Still...

    "I understand." Kuzon muttered.

    He had no choice but to listen to the old man''s words.

    "That''s epic! I already knew you would say that, though."

    "Sure..."

    "Onest thing, Kuzon. It''s something Neron Kaelid should tell you himself, but what the heck. I''ll just say it." Crazy Neron''s grin grew wider. "Your Neron meant for all of this to happen."

    "H-huh?!" Kuzon had his suspicions, but to think that was actually the case.

    "You''re not the only one who got sent to other worlds. There are a couple of you. Ana is safe, but Jared and the others are busy navigating their way in the new reality they''ve found themselves in."

    "A-ah... I see. But why would he do that?"

    "Constetions. Just as he wants you to obtain one''s approval, he also wants the others to do the same. It''s all necessary. Throughout your journey, you''ll see what I mean."

    "A-ah! Does that mean I''ll seed?"

    "W-what? I never said that! Hmph!" Crazy Neron responded, flustered because of Kuzon''s assertion.

    "I-in any case, you need to work very hard. You too, Maya." Attention suddenly shifted to the young girl who was busy observing the orbs in the pile beside the desk.

    "Eeek! W-what? What about me?" She promptly answered, now stuck under the pressure of both Neron and Kuzon''s gaze.

    "You''re going to learn how to use Magic whole Kuzon is in trying to get the Constetion''s attention."

    "O-oh! Really?"

    "Indeed. You have a Special Grade Mana Core. That means your affinity for Magic is pretty much at the very top. It would be a shame to see it go to waste."

    "O-oh? Wow! Really?" Kuzon''s body shook a little once he saw the excitement on the girl''s face.

    Instant guilt coursed through his body.

    "Yes. It seems our dear Kuzon was too distracted, so he didn''t notice that..."

    "Y-yeah. Haha... haha... ha..." N awkwardugh escaped Kuzon''s lips, and he prayed nothing was said on the matter any further.

    Fortunately, Crazy Neron granted his wish.

    "Alright, then. Shall we begin? I hope you three are ready for this." The old man cackled loudly, , lifting his chair far above the two so he could look down on them.

    "You''ll never leave this ce if you don''t seed!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I''m going to have to skim through the actual training and all.

    I hope you all understand...

 Chapter 920 Constellations Approval [Pt 2]

    Constetions were very powerful entities. They were boundless in terms of the branch differences, and their varying resonances.

    In the eyes of the Constetion, they were in one and all of those branches at the same time.

    It then raised the question;

    Why would such powerful entities be Familiars to weaker Vessels?

    No one knows for sure. Perhaps it was just in their nature¡ªto search though the Branches for worthy candidates that would inherit their power.

    Of course, their standards werepletely arbitrary. It was up to them, and no one else, who they would choose... and who they would ignore.

    Ah, yes, a Constetion could also have more than one vessel.

    Unlike the other way around, where humans could have more than one Familiar, these amazing beings could have more than one host.

    Considering the vastness of the branches, and the nigh infinite number of worlds that existed, that much was reasonable.

    Now, one could ask; how would they be with one host, and then be with another host?

    But wasn''t that a foolish question?

    Constetions were present in all the branches, all at once. If they weren''t limited by such obvious boundaries, why would they suddenly be restricted to one host?

    In the end, Constetions stood at the apex, yet longed for apanion¡ªa vessel they could serve.

    Still, that brought up yet another question. Perhaps the most important one of all...

    What kind of person would such beings want as a host?

    *

    *

    *

    "Power."

    "Charm."

    "w."

    A pause echoed across the vast hall where Crazy Neron was addressing Kuzon.

    Just these two were standing in this openly vast room.

    It was colored with dark hue, like the very ckness of space, with shining stars radiating all across the room.

    Kuzon felt like he was already one with the universe.

    "These are the three general criteria that every Constetion considers before choosing anyone as a Vessel."

    "I see." He responded.

    "There are other criteria, which they decide on subjectively. But these three are crucial." Crazy Neron borated.

    "What are they all about?"

    "Power is, of course, the level of Aether you have in your control, the level you''ve reached in Magic, h h h. Charm is your appeal. How unique are you among the vast poption in all the branches in existence? That sort of thing." Neron paused.

    "What of thest one? w?"

    "Ah, yes. It''s just ack. If you''re already that impressive and you have no w, then what''s the point, right? I mean, the Constetions look for the people who they can assist. They need a w to operate."

    "A-ah, I see. Can I ask a question?"

    "You want to know if I have a Constetion as a Familiar, don''t you?"

    Kuzon nodded instantly. There was no point in hiding these things from Neron.

    "I don''t have one. And you wanna know why? It''s cus I have no w! Hahahahaha!!!"

    Hearing the narcissisticugh that Crazy Neron made caused Kuzon to roll his eyes nearly sarcastically.

    ''You really believe that, huh?'' His thoughts echoed.

    But was it truly possible? That a person would be without w? If it was Crazy Neron, then perhaps that was¡ª

    "I''m just kidding. Haha. I''m not perfect. On a serious note, though, I have ws. The answer is simple. I chose not to have any of them as my Familiar."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Kuzon''s eyes nearly popped out of his sockets.

    "The primeval rule states that you can''t be the vessel to more than three Constetions. It''s for bnce sake. That''s why your buddy, Neron Kaelid, only has three of them."

    "H-hold on. You''re saying you rejected all of them because you couldn''t have them all?"

    "No. Not all of them. Constetions like Virgo and Gemini don''t really like me. Ah, and there''s that prick tok. So, only nine of them made the offer. I declined, though."

    ''Nine... Constetions...?''

    Kuzon was about to work his butt off to simply gain the attention, and ultimately the approval, of one of them, while this Neron got nine?

    How did that even make any sense?!

    "How many approached the Neron Kaelid from my world?"

    "En. I knew you''d get to this. Ask him when... I mean, IF see him."

    "Is that so?" Kuzon grinned, though he had a re in his eyes."

    "Damn straight. You better get to work. I''ll guide you on how to go about it. I pretty much know what those guys like."

    "Wait... how?"

    "I told you I didn''t choose any of them. That doesn''t mean we aren''t tight, though. I mean, we talk and hang out. They also do me favors sometimes, so it''s all good."

    ''S-so... instead of exclusively being the host of three, he found a way to gain the favor of the nine that approached him?!''

    "The other three are a bit stubborn, so while we''re not on the best of terms, we still tolerate each other. Ah, except that prick. Yes. Yes, I know you can hear me. So what? What are you gonna do? Hahaha! Hahahahaha!!!"

    Kuzon was pretty much dazed by all he was seeing.

    ''I wonder which Constetion he''s referring to.''

    "I''ll help you out, Kuzon. We have an eternity together, so I don''t really care how long it takes. You''re not leaving this ce until you get it right."

    "Haa... I''m already beginning to dread all of this. What of Maya? How is she?"

    "En. The other ''me'' is taking good care of her. I''m going to drill in as much Spells and Magic as possible into her. Maybe I should call it the ''Maya Project''. Gotta see how much power she can hold."

    "Please don''t go overboard." Kuzon sighed, rubbing his head.

    "Oh? So you do care!"

    "Yes. I mean, she was my partner for weeks. Of course, I care. At least, with this training... she can finally save her people." The young Midas smiled. "Thanks."

    "Oh! No need to thank me. Remember what I said. It was a deal."

    "No. I mean about Maya. Did my world''s Neron tell you to train her too?"

    "Nope."

    "So thanks.

    "En. Let''s not get sidetracked. Focus on what''s ahead of you, Kuzon."

    Beyond the massive hall, where only two people resided, a fiery entity watched with great interest.

    It seemed there was soon going to be a change.

    ... Even if it would onlye after a lifetime.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New Character Arts of Neron (multiple versions), Serah, Maria, Aloe, Lewis, etc, have been added to the Discord Server.

    What are you waiting for? Go check it out!

    Link:

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 921 Final Acceptance

    Time flowed differently in the training hall.

    Night or day didn''t exist in the space-like expanse, so it was difficult to tell what the time was.

    Not that any of it mattered, though...

    The one who was concerned with such a concept was too busy engaging in his arduous training to gain a Constetion''s approval.

    "Power."

    To achieve this requirement, he needed strength.

    The first means to achieve this was to fix the dissonance that existed between thews of this new world, and this new dimension, to the Arcana properties he had absorbed.

    By doing this, it wouldn''t matter what world he got into, he would be able to use his full strength.

    Using the [Leviathan] Arcana Spell, and making a few improvements, Kuzon passed that phase.

    Still, needing more power, he decided to strengthen and expand his Special Grade Mana Core.

    His Original Magic also needed work. Anything less than Primeval Magic wouldn''t cut it.

    "En. Let''s skip that phase." Crazy Neron shrugged like it was nothing.

    "We can just chalk it up to your ''w'' when the timees."

    As a result, theypletely skipped the advancement of his Original Magic.

    Achieving all of this, Kuzon moved to the next requirement.

    "Charm."

    What did he have that no one else had? What made him unique? What made him special?

    He could think of a few, but when applying it to a multiverse that had too many variations to consider, Kuzon knew he was stuck.

    If he was a Singrity, that would definitely get the attention of Constetions, but he wasn''t.

    He was just a Midas¡ªsomething quite irrelevant when looking at the grand scheme of things.

    "En. I''ll teach you a Spell no one else knows. Well, except me. But that should make you unique enough."

    The Spell in question was something he had to spend another inconceivable amount of time learning.

    It was the idea of ''Life Creation.'' Making a Soul from scratch.

    "Should be useful if you add it to your Original Magic. Maybe it will help you in advancing it to Primeval Magic. Meh, what do I know. Oh wait... hahahahahaha!!!" Was what the old man said before cackling endlessly.

    And so, yet another period of training began.

    Finally, Kuzon barely passed the standard after so long, and it was time to move on to the final requirement.

    "w."

    This was the most difficult to determine, considering Kuzon had spent a majority of his time ridding himself of so many ws.

    However, there were a low of problems with him than he had noticed.

    "Your Magic iscking. If you gain the help of this Constetion, you should be able to further it and improve. Combine that with the Magic I taught you, and you''ll eventually reach Primeval Magic in no time."

    There were other problems too.

    "You worry too much. When that happens, you be timid. You''ve also lost a majority of your pride and confidence. It can be a good thing, but in the eyes of this Constetion, that''s a w they''ll seek to correct."

    In the end, it seemed he had been more sessful in generating ws than he initially thought.

    "Does that mean...?!" Kuzon widened his eyes as he looked at his teacher.

    The crazy old man called Neron.

    "Indeed. There is nothing more I can teach you... well, there are a lot, but you probably wouldn''t get it, so there''s no point."

    Kuzon''s shoulders dropped instantly, the tiny embers of his confidence slowly dying out.

    He used to think he was talented, but after being with Crazy Neron for all this time, he realized he was rather slow.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    He was weak as well.

    He wasn''t too bright either.

    These things were revealed to him in his training, and he realized now, more than ever, how much he needed growth.

    "You are ready." Crazy Neron finally said, cing his hand on Kuzon''s shoulder while exhibiting a proud smile.

    "It''s time. You know what to do."

    As soon as those words were whispered, the old man vanished, leaving only Kuzon in the vast hall.

    Despite how alone he must have felt, Kuzon didn''t show any hesitation or anxiety.

    He simply sat and closed his eyes in meditation.

    It was finally time to send the call.

    ''I know you''ve been watching. Your interest leaves you wanting. I know you''re already in tune. So, heed my call ande through...''

    Brilliant bursts of energy slowly enveloped Kuzon, but he was not fazed.

    The temperature in the room rose to a terrifying degree, but he chose not to open his eyes.

    Instead, hepleted his call.

    ''O'' noble and great Constetion... I request to be your Vessel. Grant me your aid and support. I will never betray your trust.''

    The promise made to this Constetion was something that served as a double-edged sword.

    It was the final and only way he could gain the help of this Constetion despite being socking.

    ''You shall be the only one for me. Forever bound... till all of eternity.''

    In conclusion, Kuzon had already forfeited his other two Constetion options for this one.

    Perhaps it was a hasty call, borne out of desperation and ignorance. Crazy Neron didn''t fault him for choosing this route, though, so the old man must have already known why.

    It was simply because Kuzon was that kind of person.

    ~You will have me and no other, hm? That is satisfactory...~ A deep, imposing voice echoed within and around him.

    It felt strange, yet familiar.

    ~My name is Leo. The representation of authority and sovereign power. My will burns through all, and I subject all to my divinew.~

    The mes around Kuzon began to seep within him, entering every nook and cranny of his body, as though purifying it.

    It burned, and Kuzon felt like he was melting. Still, he endured.

    ~I hereby choose you as my host. For just like you, I am the only one among my siblings who despise multiple partners. I shall have you, and only you, as my host.~

    The mes finally settled within Kuzon''s Ultimate Grade Aether Core.

    And thus, the eptance Ritual wasplete.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I know what you all might be thinking.

    Kuzon is already much stronger than Jared at this point, isn''t he?

    I mean, is that even fair?

    Well, chill out everyone. Let''s see what more this story has for us.

 Chapter 922 Disciples Of Insanity

    "Congrattions, Kuzon!" Crazy Neron beamed. "I always knew you could do it."

    "Yeah. Thanks a lot."

    Even though Kuzon said that, his tone was hollow. It wasn''t as though he meant any disrespect or sarcasm toward the old man.

    He was just too distracted.

    ~This Core of yours is too stuffy. Your body constitution is also too weak. Looks like we''ll need to make a lot of changes around here! You better be grateful I''m helping you out. I chose you out of everyone else, you know?~

    "Yes. Thank you very much." Kuzon said once again.

    How many times had he said this already? He had lost count.

    It had been some time since the eptance Ritual was concluded.

    After it was done, and the Constetion of Authority and Power, Leo, began to dwell him, Kuzon made sure to leave the hall and freshen up.

    He took a nice shower, changed clothes, and made sure to appear before Neron in his office.

    He had thought he would be able to enjoy all of these in peace, but he was dead wrong.

    ~Hmph!~

    Leo was like a baby. He always made a fuss about everything.

    Despite having a mature and deep tone, the expressions and personality exhibited were purely juvenile.

    Kuzon couldn''t believe he was stuck with such a Familiar for the rest of his life.

    ''Ah... oh well. At least, he''s strong.'' And the fact that they had firmed an exclusive contract proved Leo was also bound to him.

    ''Lets try to be understanding and see things from his point of view. He''s an immensely powerful being who is stuck with someone like me. I actually have to improve a lot; for his sake, at least.''

    ~That''s the spirit! You know I can read your thought, right?~

    How unfair was that?

    ''Can I read yours?'' Kuzon sighed tiredly.

    ~W-w-why would you need to read mine? Just focus on your training!~

    ''Okay...''

    ~Good boy.~

    Kuzon stifled all the feelings he would have expressed in a loud scream and simply decided to smile at Crazy Neron.

    "You crazy old man. You knew this would happen, didn''t you?"

    "Kekeke! Seeing you look so miserable makes all of this so worth it. Hahahahaha!"

    >CREAK<

    Interrupting Neron''sugh and Kuzon''s sigh was the opening of the office door.

    At first, it opened slowly, but it quickly gained momentum until the whole thing spread wide open.

    Beyond the door was someone Kuzon felt he hadn''t seen in a lifetime.

    "Ah... it seems you''ve been we¡ª"

    Before he could conclude his words, the girl rushed and hugged him.

    Her dark hair fluttered, and her crimson eyes glowed in excitement. A bright smile formed on her lively face too.

    "Kuzon! It''s been so long. I missed you!"

    ''E-eh...? Was she always like this?'' Kuzon thought to himself, causing him to hesitate.

    ~What are you waiting for? Hug her back! Be a man. Be bold! Do the needful!~

    ''Fine! Fine! I got it!'' Kuzon reciprocated the embrace of the girl he hadn''t seen in so long.

    "It''s nice to see you too, Maya. I missed you as well."

    "Hehe!"

    The two of them remained that way for some time, only breaking up when Kuzon thought it had be a little too much.

    "A-ahem. Isn''t it time we talked? There''s a lot to discuss, after all."

    *

    *

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Okay. First things first. The both of you had different time ratios set in your halls. Maya, you trained for about fifteen years, give or take. As for Kuzon, you trained for one hundred and fifty years."

    "WHAT?!" Both of them burst out in shock.

    "Pfft! Congrats... you''re an old man now." Crazy Neron directed his mockery toward the dazed and utterly stupefied Kuzon.

    ''That means... I''m 166 years old? What the hell...?'' How was he going to tell this to Ana when he returned back home?

    "I don''t mind, you know?" Maya responded, tapping Kuzon on his shoulders.

    "Thanks, Maya. That helps a lot." He returned her smile.

    She was probably right. None of these things mattered if the bond between friends or lovers were strong enough.

    ''Jared is way older, and that didn''t cause any problems, right? I''ll be fine.''

    ~You know that Maya girl likes you, right?~

    ''Oh, shut up.'' Kuzon''s thoughts identally slipped out.

    ~What? What did you just say to me?~

    ''U-um... nothing?''

    ~That didn''t sound like nothing...~

    Kuzon decided to simply zip it¡ªboth in thoughts and in words.

    He couldn''t win against his Familiar, even if he wanted to

    "About two weeks or so have passed in the outside world. I could have made it not so, but it''s just better this way."

    "I see. Thank you, Neron." Kuzon gave a genuine smile, and so did Maya.

    "You''ve both done well. I know it has nothing to do with you guys, and it has everything to do with the fact that I''m your teacher. And the fact that I''m awesome. But... well, you tried your best."

    "T-thank you... Neron..." Their voices became hoarser.

    More cackles escaped his lips, and he used his finger to rub his nose in pride.

    It took all of Kuzon''s efforts not to roll his eyes at this point.

    "You two are worthy to be called my disciples! Rejoice and be grateful."

    Despite his arrogant words, Kuzon felt proud to hear that. Crazy Neron was the most powerful and knowledgeable entity he had ever met.

    Despite his obvious ws, he was a truly amazing person.

    "Being the disciple of someone as great as you are... I thank you for such an honor." He bowed his head.

    His words rang with sincerity, and from a nce, he could tell that Maya was doing the same as well.

    "Huhu! Good thing you know. Now then, it''s time to give you my official disciple uniform."

    ''Oh...'' Kuzon''s eyes widened as the nice outfit he had just selected for himself vanished.

    In its ce was the same Wizard-type attire that Crazy Neron was wearing.

    Maya was also garbed in the same wear.

    ''... No!'' Kuzon wanted to fall to his knees and cry.

    The outfit he had on was too weird and cringy. It might have suited Crazy Neron, thanks to his entric old man aesthetic, but not him

    "Hehe! You must represent me with dignity and honor. The actions of the disciple reflects the master, after all."

    Kuzon and Maya hung their heads in both shame and surrender.

    How could they escape this one? It was toote.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The climax of this part is drawing near. It''ll soon be over and we can get back to Jared''s part of the story.

    Hopefully you weren''t bored with this.

    Join the Discord Server for Character Arts:

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 923 Farewell To Wonderland

    They had spent a good amount of time with their master, Crazy Neron, but it was now time for Kuzon and Maya to leave.

    They couldn''t stay with him forever, after all.

    "Before you go, Kuzon, I''ve got something for you."

    Thanks to that, Kuzon had yet another private audience with his master.

    "Here." The old man suddenly brought out a device out of thin air. "I call this the ''Blu-Blu''."

    It was a transparent orb¡ªsimr to the ones that contained universes, which littered Neron''s office.

    The moment Kuzon took it from his hands, though, something bright glowed all over the orb, and what felt like a ring wrapped itself around Kuzon''s finger.

    "The Blu-Blu will allow you to navigate through the branches and find your friends. The locations have also been preset in that ring you''re wearing, so you don''t need to learn itsplexities to understand how to operate it."

    Kuzon wondered if Crazy Neron just called him dumb, but he was already used to these sort of things.

    Besides, the old man already knew he was in a hurry to reunite with his friends.

    "You just need to press the Orb and course Ether through the ring, which will also flow to it, and that''s pretty much it.

    "Thank you very much, Master Neron. This disciple really appreciate your help." Kuzon bowed once again.

    "En. Its all good." He shrugged. "The first preset destination is Jared''s. Neron Alter should be with Jared when you meet him, so it''s perfect timing."

    "Neron Alter? Another version of you is with Jared?"

    "More like another kind of Neron. I''ve always liked the guy''s disposition on Magic. It''s almostedic."

    "Oh? I see." Kuzon could tell that this was one of those things Crazy Neron knew, but didn''t want to share.

    Like what the future held, and all of that.

    ''Its probably fine to leave it be.''

    "You. Jared Leonard. Ciara Epilson. Aloe Vida. Edward Karl Leon. And finally, Neron Kaelid.

    You''ll need to find those people and return home."

    "I see. Thanks. You said Ana is safe. Does that remain true?" Kuzon asked.

    "Your first child will be a boy. You''ll have three kids. Don''t worry too much about Ana."

    The moment Kuzon heard this, a warm smile formed on his face.

    He felt warm inside.

    ~He never said your wife would be Ana, though.~

    ''Ohe on!'' Kuzon nearly groaned in exasperation.

    Surely, the old man implied it.

    "One more thing. Give this to Jared." Crazy Neron interrupted Kuzon''s thoughts and smiled.

    It was a small paper slip, just about asrge as a finger.

    It was glowing brightly, though.

    "Give to him at the end of your odyssey through the branches. He''ll understand then."

    Kuzon didn''t really understand, but he had learned to trust his Master through all of the things he had experienced.

    ~Let''s take a peek inside it~ Leo''s voice echoed mischievously.

    ''Y-you...''

    "You can try. But are you sure even you have the power to open it if I don''t want you to?" Crazy Neron''s voice echoed aloud.

    Kuzon wondered if it was meant for him... or the Constetion within.

    ~Tch. Whatever. It was just a joke...~

    "Pfft!" Kuzon nearly burst outughing, but stopped himself.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    This was the first time Leo actually backed down. It was refreshing to see.

    "In any case, you have to keep growing and learning. I''m sure you''ll be much stronger in the future. Not as strong as me, but... well... strong enough."

    Kuzon already knew it was impossible to match this old man. Still, he wondered why that was.

    "Why are you so powerful, though? How did you be so strong?" He asked, both with sincerity and curiosity.

    For a moment, tense silence radiated throughout the room. Once the decorum reached a climax, the old man smiled and spoke.

    "I''m Neron. What other reason is there?"

    Kuzon chuckled after hearing those words. "I see. Well, that''s a good point."

    The fact that he already knew three existences of Neron already made it something he couldn''t ignore.

    ''Neron Kaelid. Neron Alter. And this Old Man Neron.'' Just how many more was he going to meet?

    Thinking about it brought another disturbing thought to the surface.

    It was something he had been keeping buried down for so long, but now that his Master was being so cooperative, he decided to ask.

    "Can I¡ªno, can we¡ªtrust Neron Kaelid?"

    Crazy Neron told him that the Neron they all knew and loved, nned for all of this to happen. It also seemed very obvious that he and Crazy Neron knew each other, and that he had a desired oue in mind.

    There was also the fact of how they defeated the Nether, and just how powerful he really was.

    It frightened Kuzon, to be honest.

    ''What is hidden behind that stoic face of his? What kind of thoughts does he have? What is his endgame?''

    All of this only made sense if Neron knew Legris would attack his wedding and wreak all of this havoc. If that was the case, weren''t they also being yed by him?

    Kuzon was lost in a maelstrom of thoughts, and he was very conflicted on what to believe or doubt at the moment.

    That was why he looked up to his Master. Perhaps if it was him, then¡ª

    "Pfft! Hahahahahaha! Oh... ooohh.... Hahahahahahahaha! Puahahahahahaha! Kekekeke... Kikikikikikiki... Fuahahahahaa!!!"

    Crazy Neron gave the loudest, most energeticugh Kuzon had ever heard.

    It sounded like he genuinely found Kuzon''s question to be funny.

    ... Or downright irrelevant.

    "Kuzon, my disciple. I''ll only say this once, so listen up. There''s no greater wisdom in all existence than this..."

    All of a sudden, a pressure enveloped the room, and the smile on the old man''s face vanished.

    Recing it was apletely emotionless and cold expression that sent jitters down Kuzon''s spine.

    "Never trust a Neron."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

    I wonder what will happen with Neron, and the whole story. We''re reaching the end of Kuzon''s part, and I can''t help but feel anxious about what the future holds.

    Join the Discord if you would like to discuss these issues with fellow fans, or even me.

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 Chapter 924 The Plan To Massacre

    "Let''s go, Maya." Kuzon whispered as he left Crazy Neron''s office.

    After his warning, they had discussed a little more, but now it was time for he and his femalepanion to leave.

    "O-oh, okay." Maya responded with a nod.

    Her crimson eyes glowed with curiosity as she stared at Kuzon. Something about his troubled face caught her interest.

    "Are you okay? You don''t look too good."

    "I''m fine. Just a lot on my mind..."

    "Hmm..."

    They both stared at each other for a while, almost forgetting that they had to leave their master''s domain.

    "Do you think we''ll ever be able to return?" Maya asked.

    "I don''t know. But as master''s disciples, I don''t see why not." He responded.

    "Haa... that''s a relief."

    It seemed she really liked it in this ce. Kuzon could see why. The scenery was beautiful, and there just seemed to be way more to explore here.

    ''I really doubt that I''m returning here, at least anytime soon. Still, since that crazy old man has made us his disciples, he''d have given us ess to this ce.

    That was his line of reasoning, and it was justified.

    "Let''s go, then."

    And so, the two traversed thend and navigated it together, for onest time, before finally reaching the exit.

    With one final look at the ce that upied them for what seemed like years, the sojourners eventually vanished to the normal world.

    *

    *

    *

    "So, what will you do now?"

    The two were now atop the mountain they previously upied before spotting Crazy Neron.

    They could see the forest beneath them with ease, and as they enjoyed the cool atmosphere, they began conversing.

    "Will you be liberating your people now?" Kuzon asked her, his brows raised.

    "I think I''ll start with the source. I''ve decided not to ignore the issue any longer."

    "Oh? Bold move. You want to strike at the Midas Empire itself?"

    "Yes." Her answer was both firm and resolute.

    It was clear to Kuzon that she had been thinking of this for a very long time.

    Most likely since the first time she got her hands on some power.

    ''Well, her level of power isn''t bad. Merlin taught her to use Aether, so she''s pretty much stronger than all the forms I''ve encountered thus far.''

    Whether or not she''d be able to wipe out the Midas Empire on her own, though, was something not even Kuzon truly knew.

    And so...

    "Want me toe with you?"

    "H-huh...?!" Surprise instantly formed on Maya''s face as she looked at Kuzon.

    The nights shade made his face darkened, but that was nothing in the presence of her glowing red eyes.

    Her gaze was on him, and she intensely stared.

    "I mean... only if you want. I don''t want to get in your way or anything. It was just a¡ª"

    "Yes."

    "What?"

    "I want you toe with me. Let''s do it together!" She smiled so warmly that even Kuzon had to break into a much nicer smile.

    "Nice! What''s the n, though? How do you intend to handle it?" He chuckled.

    For another moment, they stared at each other in silence.

    Maya rubbed her chin under the dim glow of the night''s moon and the coverage of stars.

    Her serious demeanor showed how important the matter was for her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I n on eradicating all the Royals, Soldiers, and Nobles. Anyone who resists, and has the strength to resist will bepletely annihted."

    "What of those who are unable to resist. Like the weak ones? What will you do to them?" Kuzon''s gaze deepened.

    "I''ll spare the innocents, since they didn''t really do anything wrong." Maya replied, her hands folded.

    "Isn''t that too childish a d idealistic? You''ll spare then because if their innocence? Why if they return for revenge? What then?"

    Kuzon wasn''t mocking her efforts, and neither was he making light of her resolve.

    However, her line of thinking bothered him too much.

    ''You''re making a big mistake. You should never leave a survivor who is gued with so much anger and grief...'' His younger self shed in his head.

    ''Whether it takes ten or twenty, or even. thirty years... the survivors will eventually rise up against you.''

    It could be a futile effort, but the longer it took achieve one''s revenge, the more intense it often wade.

    Experience had taught that to him.

    "So, what do you suggest then?"

    A bright smile finally appeared on his face, and he cocked his head to the side while pping his hands together.

    "You could choose to kill all of them..."

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    "... Or you could listen to my suggestion. The choice is yours, of course.

    "You have suggestion? Alright. Let''s hear it."

    A bigger smile developed.

    "You kill some. Spare some. I use [The Emperor] to dominate their will and give them specific instructions. I already have two candidates in mind. They''re pretty much my pawns now."

    He was referring to the twins who were now probably through with their mission.

    ''It''s been two weeks since then, after all...''

    "How should we determine who to kill and who to spare?"

    "Hierarchy, maybe? It''s indeed right to kill off the stronger ones and leave the weaker ones, just as the Midas did to this world."

    It wasn''t like it mattered to the mission, though. The suggestion was just to out Maya''s mind to rest.

    ''After all, once we''re done, there won''t even be anyone to resist.''

    "Indiscriminate massacres leave a bad taste in my mouth. That''s why I made this suggestion as an alternative."

    It was ironic enough that he was going to engage in a Midas ughter, considering his disposition.

    But...

    ''These people aren''t them. This isn''t the Midas Empire I belong to.''

    Did that make it okay for him to take their lives? Probably not.

    Perhaps this was just hypocrisy. However, Kuzon did not care.

    "What do you say, Maya? Should we go ahead with that?"

    It was the perfect way to let off some steam beforemencing his mission.

    "You''re right Kuzon." Maya responded with a smile, her bright irises glowing even further. "This should be fun."

    They bothughed in the darkness, their voice echoing across the mountains.

    "Damn straight.".

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 925 The Purge [Pt 1]

    In the heart of the fabled Midas Empire, and steeped in opulence and grandeur, a breathtaking scene could be seen.

    Bathed in golden sunlight, the city sprawled before the beholder, a testament to the extraordinary wealth and glory that permeated every aspect of its existence. From the luxurious residences that dotted thendscape to the towering edifices that reached towards the heavens, the Midas Empire emanated an aura of extravagance and splendor.

    As one ventured through the streets, a symphony of sounds filled the air. The clinking of coins, the lively banter of merchants, and the gentle rustle of silken garments blended together harmoniously, creating an atmosphere of bustling prosperity. The aromas of exotic spices and rich perfumes wafted through the wind, tantalizing the senses and adding an alluring dimension to the cityscape.

    Amidst the vibrant hustle and bustle, majestic buildings soared above, their architecture a testament to human ingenuity. Towers of marble and gold stretched towards the heavens, adorned with intricate carvings and delicate filigree. Gargantuan domes crowned pces and temples, shimmering in the sunlight, reflecting the Midas Empire''s reverence for beauty and magnificence.

    But perhaps the greatest spectacle of all was the pce, a majestic structure that stood at the heart of the city, its grandeur unmatched by any other.

    Gilded spires pierced the sky, catching the light in a mesmerizing dance, while the walls gleamed with borate mosaics depicting scenes of triumph, conquest, and prosperity. The grand entrance, adorned with intricately carved columns and statues of noble figures, weed visitors with a regal allure.

    Once inside, a world of sheer luxury unfolded. Gilded halls stretched before the eye, lined with tapestries woven from threads of gold and silver.

    Crystal chandeliers hung from lofty ceilings, casting a warm and radiant glow on the exquisitely polished marble floors below. The air was perfumed with the delicate fragrance of rare flowers, transported from distantnds to adorn the pce gardens.

    Traversing the pce''sbyrinthine corridors, one was bound to encounter opulent chambers filled with treasures beyond imagination.

    Gems of every hue sparkled in golden settings, captivating the eye with their brilliance.

    Priceless paintings adorned the walls, each stroke of the artist''s brush a testament to the Midas Empire''s love for art and refinement.

    In the grand ballroom, chandeliers of dazzling crystals illuminated a dance floor of polished marble, inviting guests to partake in an endless symphony of merriment and revelry.

    Beyond the pce, the city extended into the horizon, where pockets of lush greenery and tranquil waterways intermingled with the urbanndscape.

    Parks and gardens, meticulously manicured, provided a respite from the opulence, offering moments of serenity andmunion with nature. Blossoming flowers perfumed the air, their vibrant colors harmonizing with the splendor of the city.

    The Midas Empire was a realm where wealth flowed like a never-ending river, where beauty and grandeur were worshipped, and luxury was a way of life.

    However...

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    A sudden loud explosion changed everything they were about to experience.

    In one mighty blow from an unknown source, the barrier that protected this massive Empire crumbled¡ªno, shattered like ss.

    In no time at all, the citizens of this great nation were leftpletely bare and helpless.

    They could only watch as the reapers descended from the sky in sheer horror and shock¡ªa product of living their entire sheltered lives in the safe embrace of their nation.

    "R-RUUUUUUUUNNNN!!!"

    With powerless voices, like helpless chickens, they all zoomed off, distancing themselves from the source of the explosion and the two strangers who had descended upon their nation.

    "Looks like the show is about to begin. How do you want to y this?" The male asked, his golden hair fluttering with the wind.

    He looked just like a Midas, though the way his eyes glowed as he stared at the powerlessness of the people showed he was in no way affiliated with them.

    "It''ll be too slow if we just wait for attention, right? Let''s destroy stuff and go to the Pce." The female responded.

    Her red eyes glowed in obvious excitement. Her long ck hair danced as well, though one of it obstructed her view.

    "Fair enough. But first..." The male looked at the stampede before him.

    "Let''s quell the nuisance first."

    With one snap of his fingers, he sent a wave of energy¡ªstrong enough to reach even the borders of the Empire.

    t exactly that moment, all the worried citizens felt disconnected somewhat.

    Their emotions were suppressed, and they were all forced to copse to the ground.

    Before long, they became unconscious.

    "The coteral won''t be getting in our way. Just be careful where you attack." The male shrugged once the task was done.

    "Same to you. But seriously, your power is too much." She answered.

    "It has a name, you know? It''s called [The Absolute Emperor]."

    And so, with smiles stered on both their faces, Kuzon and Maya¡ªnow considered terrorists of the Midas Empire¡ªleaped into the sky, setting off for their destination.

    Their eyes told of something that could only be said to mean excitement.

    They were really going to have fun; of course, while being dressed as the disciples of their great master.

    *

    *

    *

    The Midas'' Headquarters was in utter chaos.

    "INTRUDERS ALERT!<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The entire establishment devolved into anarchy.

    "Two strangely dressed terrorists have intruded the Empire."

    Dear and unease rested in their hearts, feelings they weren''t ustomed to. It drove them crazy.

    "Our automatic defenses are not working. They''ve already sent the citizens unconscious, and are now in the process of destroying property."

    Helplessness began to creep in as well.

    "They''re making their way to the Royal Pce!"

    A question squirmed in their hearts,  waiting to get loose. It was something that gued every human at least once, after all.

    "A-are we going to die?!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The entire building shook as a result of the explosion that was wrought in a distance.

    It seemed even the defenses of their greatest stronghold had now beenpromised.

    The highest centralization of power in the world was now exposed to the likes of merely two terrorists.

    However...

    "Kekekeke!"

    "Those fools..."

    "They really do not know anything!"

    ... The terrorists were clearly too naive.

    Why? Why would these people, who were supposed to be at the brink of death, and were supposed to be trembling with fear, be looking happy and expectant?

    It all stemmed from one thing.

    "They''ve stepped right into the lion''s den!"

    "Do they really think they can get away with it now?"

    "They''ve missed their chance to retreat!"

    "HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

    Cackles filled the air, allowing the people within to escape the crippling fear that paralyzed them moments earlier.

    Their mindset became one.

    ''Now that they''re in the Royal''s territory, ifs over for them!''

    And so...

    "Let''s all try to¡ª"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!<

    In a sh, before any of them could even react, the entire HQ floor was consumed in immensely deadly heat.

    Enough to disintegrate the walls and vaporize the ceilings

    Of course, the people there were no exception. Each and every one of them died within a moment.

    At the very least, one could say they perished in their ignorant relief. Perhaps one could call it a good thing.

    ... Or not.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 926 The Purge [Pt 2]

    "Alright. Looks like the Headquarters has been taken care of." Kuzon smiled, watching the result of Maya''s work.

    In a mere moment, she had decimated an entire building.

    ''Its the thirdrgest building I''ve seen in this ce. And she did it so easily...''

    Thergest building was the Royal ce, and the second was the Royal Residence.

    "She has really grown, huh? Well, I look forward to seeing what happens now."

    Kuzon and Maya had split up, each handling the Eastern and Western side respectively.

    ''That way we both get to have our fair share of enemies without being interrupted by the other.'' Kuzon, who was floating in the air, could see a multitude of corpses already beneath him.

    Already numbering in the tens¡ªno, maybe hundreds of thousands?

    "These are all soldiers and lower ranking Nobles, though. Where are the big leagues?" Of course, he already knew the answer to his Inquisition despite murmuring the question.

    ''I can sense everything here in great detail. The Royals that are around are donning their armor and preparing their weapons.''

    Kuzon also noticed that not all of them were present. Of course, this was to be expected since they arrived uninvited.

    ''They''re using Magic to contact the Royals outside. It seems the First Princess is also not present. The twins are here, though.'' His smiled deepened.

    He had already decided to spare their lives, considering they were harmless. Plus, they had done him a great service.

    ''Though it''s not like I need it now, but still...'' His thoughts came to a close as soon as he detected several presences approach him.

    ''Looks like they''re here.''

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Plumes of purple mes instantly consumed the area that he upied, sending multiple recurring sts echoing in the sky.

    Like condensed fireworks that were made up of pure fiery energy, the mes kept sparking and exploding, brightening up the sky with it''s glory.

    As soon as the eruption began, a group of twenty individuals appeared.

    They were, of course, all Royals.

    Some were Princes, some were Princesses, while others were simply rtives who had the Royal Blood.

    Their concerned faces didn''t vanish despite Kuzon being caught in their explosion. Perhaps they knew it in their hearts.

    ... That such a thing wouldn''t be enough to defeat their opponent.

    "I see. So most of the Inquisition Officers are out. You''re the only ones left..." Kuzon''s voice echoed forth as he descended from the explosion in the sky.

    As one would expect, he waspletely unharmed by the terrible sight that would have ended another.

    Gasps filled the air. Surely, even if he wasn''t defeated, they expected some measure of injury to have been inflicted.

    Unfortunately, their expectations were quashed.

    ''Other than the twins, there are about three other Inquisition Officers. The rest are just member of Royalty. Perhaps they were given administrative roles and.management activities rather than Inquisition.'' Kuzon ribbed his chin as his sole of his shoes touched the ground.

    "Well, there''s no real need to deal with you guys. I suppose I''ll kill off the strong ones and leave the useful administrative-role types."

    The group had terrified and rage-filled expressions on their faces, yet for some reason, they didn''t move.

    No, rather, it was more like they COULDN''T!

    "It seems the [Marite Worms] have fully matured in all of you. That''s good..."

    There were many features of the Marite Worms that made them very useful. One.of the most important ones was the ability to spread to another and rapidly duplicate in the next target.

    By bing a parasitic Spell-based inanimate mechanism, the Marite Worm''s directive was simple.

    Absorb energy from the body of it''s host. Subtly spread itself to every part of the body by duplication, and after that, infect another by traveling through the nds and pores of one to another.

    Since they were Energy Based, they could phase through thinyers and membranes as well.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    In the end... Kuzon could infect as many unsuspecting people as he wanted using this process.

    ''Good job, twins. Everyone here has already been infected.''

    As a result, they couldn''t defy him now that he had awakened thetent Marite Worms.

    "Alright. Which ones among you are the strongest?" Kuzon asked the group.

    About five of them lifted their hands. The twins were among, and the other three seemed to belong to the Inquisition.

    It seemed even more backup would be arriving shortly.

    ''Lets end it before then.'' Kuzon snapped his fingers.

    Instantly, the neural pathways of his targets were severed, and the neuralwork ceased to function.

    ''I shut down their brain, essentially. They''re dead.'' Kuzon looked at the three fallen Midas Royals.

    As promised, he didn''t kill the twins. But, he still caused them to fall unconscious.

    ''Now, then... let''s further thin out the herd.'' Kuzon''s grin increased.

    He didn''t particrly enjoy senseless murder, even though it seemed like he did. Perhaps he was simply taking pleasure in something else.

    The fact that he had already be much stronger.

    "Okay..Next question. Who is the best in administration here."

    *

    *

    *

    After thinning the herd, Kuzon managed to spare five Royals besides the twins. That made up to seven people on his end.

    ''Having Royals alive to lead the people, even if they are puppet leaders, is essential for the smooth running of the Midas Empire.

    This nations culture relied on it a lot, after all.

    "It''s about time for the main event. Hehe..."

    Just as he said this, a intense surge of energy descended from the sky¡ªlike a brilliantment¡ªcreating a massive crater upon contact with the ground.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    "Looks like we meet again, Princess."

    Just as Kuzon expected, the one in front of him was none other than the First Princess of the Midas Empire.

    "You... you bastard! I swear I will destroy every ounce of you for what you''ve done!"

    ... Princess Gloria Midas.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 927 The Strongest Princess [Pt 1]

    [Moments Earlier]

    "What? The Empire is under attack?!"

    Gloria Midas and her forces were following a trail left by the Empire''s greatest enemy¡ªthe Variant¡ªwhen they got a call from the Midas Empire.

    She was beyond astounded when she heard the description of the terrorists.

    There were only two people who fit the bill, and hearing what they did made her bite her lip until it bled.

    "They even got to the Royal Pce. How dare they..." Her fists were clenched in fury.

    Frustration and rage coursed through her.

    The most annoying part was that, since HQ down, teleportation was impossible to use.

    They simply had to rush to the Empire as fast as possible.

    In the end, Gloria had to leave her subordinates behind, crating massive fissures in the ground as sheunched herself to the sky and charged straight for her Empire.

    "Just you wait, bastards! I''ll kill you all!"

    *

    *

    *

    [The Present]

    "Y-you bastard!"

    Gloria was currently standing before one of terrorists¡ªthe male.

    He was the one she considered the trickiest and strongest, which was why she had decided to attack him first.

    "I''ll utterly destroy you!" She barked. The sight of her Empire going up in smoke, and also riddled with tons of debris.

    The dead bodies of thousands of Midas Soldiers were right behind him, as well as a sea of darkened blood.

    Seeing the members of her Race in such a distracted state caused her even more infuriation. Far more than she could bear.

    However, that was not the most enraging part. It was what she saw next.

    The fallen bodies of her own siblings, and the other members of Royalty thaty at his feet.

    Yes, she noticed some were still alive, but... to think he had already killed most of them.

    ''You... You....!!!''

    It was a pathetic, pitiful sight... and everything was this man''s fault!

    "Mage Mode: Royal Transfiguration." In a sh, Gloria''s body turnedpletely golden, and the bright shes of light that radiated from her represented dense energy.

    Too dense to be merely called Mana.

    It was powerful beyond what any Royal, except her brother and the Emperor, could actually aplish.

    A massive golden crown stood above her flowing golden hair, like a halo on an angel. She had no staff or de on, but her fists seemed to be especially concentrated with unfathomable energy.

    "[Original Magic: Absolute Doom]."

    An ominous tone followed her deration, and the very ground broke apart as soon as she utilized this.

    Her body was now covered in rune-like engravings¡ªlike dark tattoos on her golden body.

    In this form of hers, she was invincible!

    Not only did her ''Mage Mode:Royal Transfiguration'' give her more power than any other kind of Mage Mode, but it particrly nullified any Spell lesser than the power she emitted.

    It got rid of any Trap Spells that served as nuisances to her.

    The power she currently wielded was no less than her older brother, the First Prince''s in his base form.

    However, coupled with her Original Magic, she was bound to be much stronger.

    [Absolute Doom] was a specific Original Magic geared towards nothing other than destruction.

    Anything within her vicinity was bound to get destroyed as a result.

    Whatever she thought of, or even looked at, could easily get pummeled by her thoughts alone.

    And, there was the final effect.

    Her attacks bypassed defenses, while also ignoring distance and durability, hitting the targets and ensuring damage.

    It was the greatest assurance for a decisive victory. That was why she was known as the Strongest Princess in the Midas Empire.

    Gloria Midas was at the apex level among Midas Royals.

    "[1st Gear]" She muttered, readying her fist for a powerful blow.

    Her attacks were divided into ''Gears'' to help separate the differences in power.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Of course, [1st Gear] was the weakest.

    As for the strongest she had ever dialed up her attacks to... it was the [9th Gear].

    ''Even that wasn''t able to scratch my brother in hispletely awakened form, but still...''

    Compared to the First Prince, this man wasn''t a threat.

    "Die!"

    A burst of golden aura distorted space itself as the punch wasunched.

    It defied thew of distance, and in no time, the immense impact was already nted on the chest of the young Midas.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    Instantly, he was pushed away from the bodies he has sullied in blood and distasteful carnage.

    No one was allowed to spill Midas blood. That was the greatest sin to bemitted.

    "I''ll be sure to punish you properly!" Gloria roared,unching two more punches to send her enemy flying.

    Finally, her efforts seeded, and he was sessfullyunched to the sky.

    "Hmph!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The ground shattered as she pushed herself to meet him in the air, her body flowing as fluidly as energy itself.

    ''I don''t care anymore. I''ll skip the 2nd and move to the the 3rd!'' Her inner voice as she resolutely stared at the stunned opponent.

    "[3rd Gear]" This time, what seemed like a giant incorporeal hand formed right beside her hand.

    It had particrly dense golden glow, and it had way more power than the first three blows she had struck at the start of the fight.

    "Don''t die yet. You have to suffer.mlre first!" Clenching her fist, she pushed it forward, aiming at none other than the man''s stomach.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Shockwaves sent debris on the ground flying, and the sturdier aspects beneath them cracked even further.

    Gloria could hear the man cough, most definitely in pain, giving her far more.pleadire and delight.

    ''This is just a taste!'' sping her hands together, she raised it, and two energy-based hands did the same, raised above her head in sheer imitation.

    The target was suspended in the air, pretty much in pain thanks to her earlier attack.

    His eyes were staring straight at her punch, but his body was most definitely paralyzed thanks to her continuous strikes.

    "Raaaahhhhh!!!"

    She brought her hand down, and the sped energy hands descended on the man, sending him crashing into several building and destroying them all, almost as if they were mere paper.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Their scattered remains spread through the entire Pce Compound, further sullying it, but Princess Gloria didn''t care. Her gaze was on the man who had taken her blow.

    His back broke through the final wall of the many buildings, and he found himself once again out in the open¡ªthe Royal Garden, specifically.

    "Urk..." A groan leaked from him as his paralyzed body could only stare at her, as she hovered in the air above him.

    She only stared at him mercilessly, her eyes glowing ever so brightly in rage.

    Only death awaited this man, but he wanted him to suffer even more before she granted him such sweet relief.

    And even after death, she prayed he would rot in hell for his evil actions wrought against their chosen Empire.

    Her siblings were dead. So many lives were extinguished... the lives of the Chosen Race¡ªthe special ones.

    All because of this man and his partner''s foolish actions.

    That was the very bright of lunacy. An abomination that deserved to be extinguished.

    "[4th Gear]... "

    *

    *

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 Chapter 928 The Strongest Princess [Pt 2]

    Nestled within the heart of the Royal Pce, a  garden bloomed in a riot of colors and fragrances.

    The air would usually be redolent with the sweet scent of roses, mingling with the invigorating aroma of freshly cut grass. Paths lined with meticulously trimmed hedges would guide visitors through the lush expanse, offering a serene retreat from the bustling life of the pce.

    Tall, ancient trees would stand as sentinels, their branches stretching towards the sky, casting dappled shadows on the verdantndscape below.

    Sunlight would also filter through the canopy, creating a kaleidoscope of light and shade that danced upon the emerald carpet of grass. Gossamer-like petals would cascade from flowering trees, forming a soft, pastel carpet that whispered with every step.

    At the heart of the garden, a fountain usually sparkled like liquid diamonds, its crystalline waters cascading in delicate arcs before settling into a pristine pool. The statue of a nymph adorned the fountain''s center, her stone form forever frozen in a graceful pose, surrounded by a chorus of vibrant blooms. Colorful butterflies flitted from flower to flower, their delicate wings a living tapestry of vibrant hues.

    But in the midst of this idyllic scene, chaos unfolded.

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    A sudden explosion shattered the tranquility, ripping through the air with a thunderous roar. mes leaped into the sky, casting an eerie glow upon the once-lush garden.

    Fragments of stone and debris rained down, scattering like broken dreams upon the scarred earth.

    In mere moments, this supposed utopia had be a hellscape.

    The reason?

    "How about another round, you bastard!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Well, the cause was none other than the Midas Empire''s strongest Princess¡ªGloria Midas.

    Her mere presence in the garden was enough to bring it to ruin. However, her seemingly endless strikes caused the once beautiful paradise to bear no resemnce to it''s past glory.

    It had now be a sea of destruction and mes.

    And, lying on the ground of this particrly horrid scenery was none other than the opponent she sought topletely break.

    The enemy of the Midas Empire, and heretic who dared tomit the gravest offense imaginable.

    "[Fifth Gear]!"

    This time, Gloria Midas'' body was shrouded with the incorporeal energy-like structure that had formed since her [Third Gear].

    This time, it covered her like a bulky energy-armor, though it''s energy-like state made it more abstract.

    The golden translucent light that covered the Princess made her appear even more intimidating, no doubt to the detriment of the one on the ground.

    "I''ll be taking away your arms now." Having had enough fun and games, Gloria thought it was about tims to end things.

    She knew the man beneath her deserved far more than death, which was why she had been holding back on killing him.

    She would simply harm him so previously that he would not even dream of having any cause for joy after she spared him.

    The very edge of despair. The deepest bottom of the sea of despondency.

    That was where she was driving him to.

    And now... it was time to deal the blow that would finally plunge him to that point.

    "Haaa... okay, I think I''ve seen enough." The young man suddenly spoke, almost as of he waspletely fine.

    "What are you¡ª"

    "Welp..." He slowly got up, and a glow of energy encircled him, restoring his body and outfit to their original state before she began to attack him.

    ''H-he can heal himself?!'' Her thoughts echoed.

    "You never really damaged me, Princess. It was all just an act. I wanted to see the nature of your Original Magic. And I think I get the gist now, so it''s all good."

    Gloria was flustered.

    What exactly was this person saying? What in the world was happening?

    Indeed, just as he said, he didn''t seem to be in any particr danger, and none of his earlier injuries were evident.

    It truly appeared like he waspletely fine.

    ''Could it be that¡ª''

    "What a nice ability. Ignoring durability, defense, and distance. Your blows were powerful. I even sensed embers of Aether... though not enough to constitute a major threat. I think I would have had to take you more seriously if you could freely use it."

    Gloria could understand the tone he used, even if she couldn''tprehend why he now spoke to her this way.

    This was the tone of a victor¡ªsomeone who waspletely certain of their victory.

    Why would he use this kind of tone in her presence? She was definitely stronger than him.

    ''Is it because I wasn''t trying to kill him? Then, I should give a warning.'' Her eyes shed wide open,.and in that instant, a massive pothole was nted on the ground directly beside the opponent.

    "With a single thought, I could end your life. I could blow you apart in an instant!"

    However, she wanted him to suffer. There was no way she could take such an easy route out. This was a battle of supremacy, where she intended to subdue him over and over.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''I won''t resort to that. I''ll drive the pain inside you until you¡ª''

    "Try it."

    "W-what??"

    "I told you to try it. That insta-death attack. I want to see if it''ll work."

    "You... YOU.... YOU BASTARD!" Gloriaunched multiple attacks, like a flurry, at her opponent.

    Her goal was simple¡ªcrush him without mercy!

    >BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!<

    The ground parted

    >BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Debris scattered

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Explosions erupted.

    Everything seemed to be descending into chaos and destruction, with no signs of stopping.

    However...

    "Okay, that''s enough."

    Gloria suddenly felt the movement of her hands cease. She couldn''t use another attack!

    She could feel the reason why. Something¡ªno, someone_was holding her hands

    And the hands that held them belonged to none other than the man she was now.eager to kill.

    "There''s no point in this, I guess. Perhaps it''s time I killed you."

    Gloria felt her heart nearly stop once she heard this. For the first time, what was this feeling that lurked in her heart, threatening to swallow her whole?

    Wasn''t this fear?

    Why would she be scared of a bastard like this?!

    "Where are the backup? Some should have arrived by now. Ah..."

    Gloria gritted her teeth once she heard his question. Of course, several backups had signalled her of their arrival, but she had told them to go over to the Western side so they could deal with this man''s femalepanion.

    No matter what anyone said or did, she still considered him her prey.

    "You... I''ll kill you..."

    "You keep saying that, but it amounts to nothing. You should use that word lightly, you know?"

    "What are you even¡ª"

    "Take me for example. I told your brother''s soldiers that I would kill them. I did so."

    Gloria could feel the best in her chest rising.

    "The same applies to your brother. I also told him I would kill him. What was his name again? Ah, yes... Kendrick."

    "YOOOOOUUUUU BAAAAAASTTTTTAAAARRRDD!!!"

    At that point, Gloria no longer cared about the rules, or the die process the man in front of her had to undertake.

    She didn''t even care about making him suffer anymore.

    She just wanted him devoid of life.

    *

    *

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 Chapter 929 The Midas Rising Sun [Pt 1]

    The man before Gloria truly didn''t deserve to breathe the same air she was breathing.

    He was the most despicable, heretical, and vile creature she had ever met. Enough to form conclusive murderous thoughts in her mind.

    And the result of this resolve of hers was...

    ''Die!''

    ... Her [Absolute Doom] ability.

    She sent a single thought to him, and stared very intensely at his head, hoping his brain would explode for her to see.

    However...

    "E-eh?"

    Nothing happened.

    ''What''s going on?'' She didn''t understand why it didn''t work.

    Her [Absolute Doom] was perfect. Itcked any weaknesses, and the only one who could really resist it was her older brother.

    Even the Emperor admitted he had no defensive measure against it, though his power still surpassed hers.

    So why?

    How could it not affect him?

    "[The Absolute Empress] Effect... though I''m sure you wouldn''t understand."

    ''What in the world is he talking about?!'' Gloria''s thoughts echoed.

    She was beyond baffled. Perhaps too baffled to notice that her body had stopped responding to her as well.

    "Welp... I suppose this is goodbye, Princess. In the end, you couldn''t have damaged me no matter how hard you tried."

    Gloria could sense it... the fact that her end had alreadye.

    It was scary, but she felt too weak and powerless to stop it.

    In the end... this was how she was going to go?!

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    Her vision went nk for a moment, expecting pain to arrive, and then the bitter pang of death.

    However, none of them arrived.

    "Open your eyes, Gloria." A familiar voice called her.

    Before she realized it, the paralysis on her body hadpletely faded away. She also felt like she was being cradled by someone.

    His muscr arms seemed to indicate security, and the warmth of his touch informed her of safety.

    And then there was the deep baritone voice. Gloria could not forget it, even if she tried.

    "O-older brother!" Her gasp echoed as she opened her eyes.

    Holding her in his arm, like a knight would hold his damsel, was the First Prince himself.

    His long golden hair fluttered with the wind, and his brilliant smile matched his well-chiseled face.

    He was the epitome of beauty and handsomeness¡ªthe perfect crossbreed of the two.

    Golden energy flowed around him, granting strength and warmth to the worn-out Gloria.

    "You''re so cold. I called you by your name, and yet..." He sniffed slightly, a yful smirk forming on his face.

    "B-bro, can''t you be serious for a minute?" Her voice emerged, from being low and weak to quickly take on a defiant quality.

    "Haha... well..."

    Gloria, now blushing in embarrassment, quickly detached herself from her brother''s embrace and floated on her own.

    "W-what about the enemy?" She asked, looking around to notice that he was nowhere in sight.

    "I teleported us away from him."

    That''s right. The First Prince was the only Royal, other then the Emperor himself, who could use Teleportation Magic freely.

    Though, he could only teleport himself and those who were in physical contact with him.

    "He''s probably hot on our tail right now, so we don''t have much time." The First Prince maintained his smile.

    Gloria looked at him with a somewhat conflicted expression. Joy and relief were definitely present.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    After all, he was here now. However, she couldn''t help but feel shameful for herself, and also a little angry that her brother hadn''te sooner.

    ''If he was here... then none of this could have happened.''

    "I''ve been around for some time now. I was watching your fight with that man." He suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

    "R-really?! How long have you been present?!"

    "Rx. I arrived not too long ago. Even though I can teleport, it''s not like I can travel far distances in one stretch."

    That was true. Teleportation Magic cast by a person, and not their specialized machine, could only go so far.

    The First Prince was the most skilled in Teleportation Magic in the Empire, and even he could only teleport a couple of miles per try.

    Teleportation Magic was also extremely draining, so it must have taken a freakish amount of energy to have traveled from his far location back to the Empire.

    Could anyone besides the First Prince even achieve something so amazing?

    "I only arrived when you started using the 3rd Gear. I watched your battle intently while concealing myself."

    Gloria''s cheeks instantly reddened I''m embarrassment. The fact that her older brother had been watching something so shameful as her losing her patience and attacking so violently... made her feel extremely flustered.

    "It seems my little sister has yet to lose her easy temper. Though, I suppose in a way... it is cute."

    "S-stop it, big bro!"

    "Haha. Rx. I''m teasing. I also know about the death of some of our siblings and family members..." His voice trailed.

    Though his smile remained, Gloria could tell how her brother was really feeling.

    "Y-yeah..." She could only whisper, hanging her head in shame. "If only I arrived sooner¡ª"

    "It''s not your fault, Gloria. I also camete, didn''t I? Don''t worry, though..."

    His countenance suddenly darkened, and a serious demeanor greeted his lively personality.

    The switch was instant, almost impossible to pinpoint when it actually ured.

    "... I''ll be sure to defeat him."

    *

    *

    *

    ''Hmmm...'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed as he looked into the far distance.

    His mind flowed to what had just ured. How someone had just swept in to save the First Princess while he was about to kill her.

    ''The First Prince, huh?''

    His narrowed gaze detected them, a little over two miles from his current location.

    ''Should I leave this ce to intercept them?'' He thought to himself.

    He knew someone had been spying on them all along. It was one of the reasons he hadn''t really been serious with Gloria despite being bored for some time.

    Who would have thought it would be the First Prince.

    ''Seems they''re pretty close.'' After observing their conversation for a while, that was his conclusion.

    There was one thing he didn''t ount for, though. It was why he was till frozen in his tracks despite his naturally proactive disposition.

    "That First Prince..." His eyes focused on the man''s face.

    "He used Aether."

    *

    *

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 Chapter 930 The Midas Rising Sun [Pt 2]

    If there was something that wascking in this world, which meant an overwhelming victory for Kuzon, it would be Aether.

    But now...

    "He used Aether..." That already made the First Prince a threat, irrespective of his capabilities.

    Inasmuch as Kuzon was deliberating what to do in the current situation, he already knew he had to get rid of the prince.

    ''Guess I''ll go to their location, then.'' In a brilliant golden sh, he vanished from his location¡ªof course, not before informing May via telepathy of his exit.

    ''If anything extra happens, I''ll be back in a jiffy.''

    With that in mind, hepletely vanished from the Royal Pce.

    *

    *

    *

    Kuzon appeared right in the middle of the siblings'' conversation, causing the both of them to look at him with surprise etched on their faces.

    Gloria Midas was especially shocked, though it seemed the presence of her older brother granted her some form of sce.

    Then, what of the First Prince?

    "You got here fast." He smiled, disying a friendly demeanor one wouldn''t expect from an enemy.

    "Of course. I can''t allow my prey to escape, now can I?" Kuzon responded, a bright gleam emanating from his eyes.

    For a moment, there was silence. It seemed they would continue staring at each other this way until he broke the silence.

    "Are you truly a Midas Royal?" He asked.

    "Why do you ask?" Kuzon swiftly replied with his own question.

    "You look like one. Also... perhaps you''re an illegitimate child and you are doing all of this because of a vendetta..."

    Upon hearing this, Kuzon nearly rolled his eyes. He wanted to chuckle a little, but upon seeing the now serious expression of the First Prince, he changed his mind.

    "That''s not it." Kuzon smiled. "Calling me illegitimate is too much of a stretch, but maybe you''re right."

    Kuzon''s real father was actually Kido, so he wasn''t the actual child of the Empress and Empress of his own Midas Empire.

    "Then am I right in assuming this is a vendetta?" The First Prince asked, his eyes narrowed as his seriousness began to increase even further.

    Kuzon shrugged. "Maybe for my friend. I just tagged along with her."

    He had already found a way home. He didn''t need any further things in this ce. He just thought he''d let off some steam and have fun with Maya one more time before they left.

    ''Ah, there''s also the horrible things they did to the people in this world. Of course, that''s wrong.''

    With all of that in mind, though, Kuzon still stuck by his earlier statement.

    "You... did all of that... for a friend? It holds no meaning for you?"

    Kuzon was relieved the First Prince was finally getting it. There was no real reason to his action.

    "I just want to fight. Soe at me, First Prince."

    At this point, any form of yfulness had vanished from the eyes and face of the Prince.

    A deep scowl covered his face, and his eyes held a deep re. The dark golden gleam they gave off as he stared at Kuzon showed repressed bloodlust.

    "I see..." He muttered.

    Kuzon nodded in response. His expectations soaring.

    So far, the First Princess had been a disappointment. She had traces of Aether, but nothing too substantial. However...

    ''You''re different, right? Show me.''

    "I, Kuzon Midas, First Prince of the Midas Empire, will be sure to mete out the appropriate punishment upon you for betraying your people, and also for the gravest crime recorded in ourws¡ªtaking the life of a Midas."

    "H-huh...?"

    "And for that, you will pay the ultimate price." The golden aura around the First Prince, Kuzon Midas, suddenly peaked beyond what it previously disyed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    His long golden hair danced incredibly well behind him, glowing like a glittering river of pure golden oil.

    His body took on a golden hue, and white markings covered his golden form.

    Despite all of this, the Illegitimate Kuzon kept watching in a daze. The name of the First Prince resonated with him.

    It was...

    ''My name? Ah, I see...''

    It seemed the name ''Kuzon'' would have been given to the First Prince irrespective of who he was.

    ''To think it would be like this, though...'' Kuzon watched with a careful gaze.

    He couldn''t afford to get too distracted due to the nature of his enemy''s power, as well as potential threat.

    ''It seems he also wants to kill me. I had better stay on my toes.''

    With that in mind, he activated his Original Magic and coated himself with his golden electricity.

    "One more question. The Variant. The one called Neron. Do you have any rtion with him?"

    Once Kuzon heard this, another look of surprise greeted his face.

    "Why do you ask?"

    "Your strange outfit. It is reminiscent of the times I saw him."

    "W-well... haha..." Kuzon could feel his heart ache in humiliation.

    He had nearly forgotten what he was putting on, yet this guy had to remind him of it. Regardless...

    "Yes. I''m his disciple, and he is my master." He responded, eyes beaming with pride.

    "Is that so...?" The First Prince spoke, his eyes narrowing in both contempt and caution. "I suppose that exins why you''re strong.

    ''Its due to my hard work...'' Kuzon wanted to say, but he refrained.

    "It seems I can''t show you any mercy, and¡ª"

    "Just start already. You people like to talk too much."

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    In a sh, Kuzon¡ªthe rogue¡ªclosed the distance between himself and his opponents. His hand neared the prince, mere inches from making contact with his face.

    But then¡ª

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    Another burst of golden energy surged from the opponent, pushing Kuzon away due to its sheer power.

    This light pierced the heaven and shook the earth. It spread across the area, enveloping one''s field of vision.

    The moment Kuzon recoiled from the disruption, his eyes widened in response to the new sight that manifested before him.

    "H-huh...?!"

    "[Original Magic: True Emperor''s Edict]"

    *

    *

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 Chapter 931 An Actual Challenge

    A massive, imposing golden statue stood before Kuzon.

    It was at least fifty meters tall, though the power and authority it exuded made it appear evenrger.

    The small mountains and hills dwarfed inparison to the sheer mass the construct had.

    Made up of energy, and having a semi transparent form, despite the golden light thatprised it, the statue stood magnificently erect.

    It had an emperor''s robe, with a cape that fluttered with the harsh winds that blew. The massive crown that floated atop it''s head like a halo also spun slowly.

    It held a scepter on one hand, and a de was locked in the hips closest its other hand.

    ''Looks like the First Prince and Princess are taking refuge in it''s chest region. That should be where the defense is toughest, then...'' Kuzon''s thoughts echoed as he gazed upon the massive thing before him.

    It''s eyes glowed white, and it''s lips were drawn in a frown, disying disapproval. Its meaning brought a grim expectation to Kuzon.

    However, despite the size and magnificent design the massive being had, there was one more thing Kuzon noticed.

    No, perhaps it was the most important aspect to this whole thing.

    ''Its body isprised of Aether. Every aspect of it...'' It was the first time he had seen so much Aether gathered in one ce and used by someone in this world.

    ''The first prince really is special, isn''t he?''

    "JUDGEMENT HAS COME." The deep, loud, thunderous, and authoritarian tone of the construct emerged, sending vibrations into the air.

    Kuzon felt the very atmosphere shake in response to the voice, though he remained fine.

    ''Haha. Look at this monster. He''s leagues above the others.'' However, despite saying that, Kuzon couldn''t help but smile to himself.

    That was because, for the first time since he arrived at this world, he was meeting an actual challenge.

    ''Neron is not counted. There''s no way I''m counting him.''

    That ''man'' would always be out of the equation whenever power was involved. And he used the term ''man'' very loosely.

    "Looks like I can''t ck off too much, am I right?"

    "DIE." The statue stretched it''s scepter at Kuzon, preparing a high-density Aether st.

    ''Hm. It''s quite dangerous, that st.'' Having this thought, Kuzon decided it was time.for him to take action.

    "[Marite]." A bright idea instantly sparked in his mind as he watched his opponent''s trump card. "Let''s do something simr."

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The golden st destroyed everything that separated it from Kuzon''s location, busting up even thendscape that spread beneath.

    Nothing was spared.

    The destruction caused a massive quake to consume the area, and the golden explosion ascended to the sky.

    However¡ª

    "[Marite: Absolute Emperor Avatar]. Complete."

    Emerging from the golden explosion was an entity that was made from Kuzon''s multiple golden threads.

    It was a hundred meters tall, about twice asrge as the already massive construct that had manifested first.

    It had neither cape now a royal robe. No, this avatar was actually dressed like a Wizard Mage, same as Kuzon.

    It wasn''t just the outfit. It seemed hisplete appearance of was burned into the construct, making it a muchrger replica of the original.

    Of course, it was glowing in golden light, and unlike the semi-transparent body of its counterpart, this energy construct was too dense to reveal any such quality.

    Other than the casing on it''s chest that was tinted golden, barely enough for anyone to see through it, every other part of the Absolute Emperor''s Avatar was simply shimmering in dense golden light.

    "Haaa... I haven''t tried this out before." Kuzon''s voice echoed through the lips of his avatar as he lowered his gaze and looked at the First Prince''s shorter construct.

    "What do you think, Prince Kuzon?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "...."

    There was no response, but that didn''t stop Kuzon from taking a step forward, donning a smile of absolute confidence.

    "Do you still think you can kill me?"

    *

    *

    *

    ''What the heck is that?!'' The First Prince, Kuzon Midas, thought to himself, his jaws nearly dropping as he saw the massive construct before him.

    Wasn''t something like this unnatural? No, impossible!

    ''How much Divine Energy does he have?! How is he using so much!''

    As the First Prince, he had been blessed with Divine Energy¡ªsame as the Emperor. That was the sign of their legitimacy to the throne. The closer a Royal was to the hierarchy, the more Divine Energy they would disy.

    Gloria Midas, for example, had Divine Energy, most of which were disyed the higher she went in her ''Gears''. His other siblings had fragments too, but nothingpared to his and the Emperor''s.

    ''No... even father admitted that I have an unnatural amount of Divine Energy!''

    Far more than any Emperor before them. Even his father''s supply of Divine Energy paled inparison to his.

    In essence, he was the only one who could do something like this. It was what made his Original Magic so invincible.

    No Spell could work against Divine Energy this dense and pure. He was invincible in this construct of his.

    Plus, the destructive power it possessed, as well as the crippling pressure it emitted, made it the absolute greatest in the Midas Empire.

    So why...?

    Why did an illegitimate child have so much Divine Energypared to him?

    ''Does that mean he''s actually... the First Prince? No, he looks much younger than I am. But does that really matter?!''

    In the Midas Empire, the one with the highest amount of Divine Energy was the rightful heir to the throne.

    It just so happened that the firstborn children usually had the highest amount.

    ''B-but what if...! What if he''s the one?!'' Kuzon could feel himself shivering as the logic all came rushing into his brain.

    ''What should I do? Hand over the throne to hi¡ª?''

    His eyes instantly widened the moment that thought crossed his mind.

    He remembered the ughter the man before him had led, as well as the countless destruction he had wrought upon the Midas Empire.

    ''Someone like you isn''t worthy! You''re not worthy of the throne!'' Kuzon Midas roared in his thoughts.

    "The only one who can be Emperor... is ME!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 932 The Absolute Emperors Power

    ""RAAAAHHHHH!!!"

    The scepter was lifted once more, and this time an unquestionably high-density energy beam was about to beunched.

    The cackles of golden electricity, and the immense heat it generated caused everything around them to melt..

    The sh of two powerful sources of energy became a huge burden for the environment to bear, and it seemed like the world would get destroyed if they kept up their bout.

    "BEGONE!" The scepter''s beam of energy wasunched at the chest region of the the taller construct, pouring all the power it had amassed into destroying the casing that held the man in control.

    Unfortunately...

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU<

    ... It was ineffective.

    "My turn." The taller, much grander construct spoke calmly.

    It raised it''s hand, and a royal golden de suddenly appeared.

    Based on its action, it was clear what the objective was.

    ''It''s going to bring the de down!'' Kuzon Midas thought to himself.

    His scepter was to thin to handle the weight of such a tall de, so he quickly resorted to the de his construct had by the hip.

    >WHUUUUUSSSHHHH!!!<

    The de descended with great fervor, causing the clouds to part instantly, and cutting through the winds itself.

    It seemed as though space warped as the de fell, crashing upon the only thing the mighty First Prince could defend with.

    "KEUK!"

    The weight instantly sent his construct to his knees.

    The ground copsed, forcing the collosal being to sink inside, unable to rise thanks to the sheer weight that held him down.

    "Ngh!" Kuzon Midas felt his a sting in his chest as he stood within the protective haven of his construct.

    Despite being in his Supreme Emperor Mage Mode, and even using his Original Magic, he couldn''t do anything against the opponent that was overwhelming him!

    ''I... I thought I had studied him well. I knew I hadn''t seen his full power, but to think it was this scary!'' Sweat fell from his face even though his determined re remained. ''What a monster!''

    As the First Prince, he had once been challenged by all his siblings, and he was able to dominate them with his power.

    Even his father, the Emperor, already admitted that he had surpassed him. The moment the old man passed away, he would be the new Emperor.

    They all called him a monster genius! The rising sun of their Midas Empire.

    Yet... YET...!!!

    ''Such an entity exists?!'' He couldn''t believe that the limits of his power and that of the other person was as far as heaven and earth.

    In the end, even though he named his Original Magic after the Supreme Emperor, he found himself kneeling before another.

    The Absolute Emperor!

    *

    *

    *

    "Looks like fifty meters is the tallest he can go. That''s a shame. Should I have just utilized the same height he used?" Kuzon whispered to himself as he watched the construct of his opponent struggle against one simple attack.

    ''Using [Marite], I can make this thing as big as possible. Though it would just unnecessary consume too much Aether. Then again, I have an Aether powerhouse with me...''

    ~Hey! I heard that!~

    ''I thought you were asleep. Isn''t that why you haven''t been speaking for some time now?'' Kuzon smiled.

    ~I just woke up. Seems you''re still in the fight. I''m going back to sleep.~

    Kuzon shook his head in a mock manner, unable to contain his wide grin.

    ''You don''t even help me?''

    ~Pfft. As if you need my help.~ With that, Leo returned to his peaceful rest.

    Even though it was quite lonely being by himself, he couldn''t deny he enjoyed the peace that apanied Leo''s sleep.

    There wasn''t any nagging, at the very least.

    And as for what Leo said, it was already ringly true.

    ''As he is now... this guy can''t stand a chance." As Kuzon was still locked in his thoughts, a brilliant idea suddenly shed in his mind.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Ah, that could work!" A beam of excitement coursed through his face.

    "I mean, I''m going to kill both him and his sister anyway. Might as well do it like this..."

    While his opponent was still struggling under the weight of his de, Kuzon''s expression lit up, and his lips moved.

    "[Marite Worms]... kill her."

    *

    *

    *

    "B-brother..." Gloria whispered, feeling her body slowly turning against her. "I... I don''t feel so good."

    Kuzon, who had been so distracted with the giant de that kept crushing his construct, hadn''t had the leeway to look at his younger sister.

    However, the moment he heard her trembling voice, his eyes darted in her direction.

    That was when he saw it.

    "A-ah...? W-what is... this...?" His widened eyes took in the strange sight of his sister.

    Her body had turned pale, and it seemed like worm-like substances were crawling inside her skin.

    The worst part was the appearance of multiple cracks on her body. They glowed golden, and no matter how anyone looked at the situation, it didn''t look good.

    "G-Gloria, what''s wro¡ª?"

    Before Kuzon couldplete his statement, her body was consumed by the worm-like beings, and the cracks grew too bright to be controlled.

    And then....

    >FSSSHHUUUUUUUUU<

    Her body turned into golden dust, falling right before his eyes.

    Kuzon''s bloodshot eyes took in the scene, his thoughts unable to fully.make sense of what he was seeing.

    Was his sister dead?

    Was Gloria home forever?

    He struggled to ask himself the question, and the only answer he could find was a very simple one

    YES!

    She was GONE!

    Lost forever.

    The moment that thought settled into his mind, Kuzon couldn''t hold it in anymore; his pain and his tears.

    "Haaa... Aaaaahhhhh.... ARRRRRGHHHHH!!!"

    His scream echoes within the lonely expanse that protected him.

    Trembling violently, with his bloodshot eyes streaming out tears, Kuzon''s gaze shifted from the remnant dust that was his sister''s corpse, and turned in the direction of the malefactor.

    At this point, he no longer cared about legitimacy or session. His thoughts didn''t consider the throne, or anything about the Midas Empire

    Only one thought currently upied his mind.

    "I''LL KILL YOU!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Our Kuzon is a savage. And for those who think he is evil for doing stuff like this, let''s not forget who the actual bad guys are.

    Though I admit... he is going too far.

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 Chapter 933 Utter Demolition

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The massive construct of First Prince Jared shattered, and he emerged from it, his shining golden body coated in an even brighter golden armor.

    Several swords floated around him, and a regal crown stood on top of his flowing hair.

    "I''LL KILL YOU!!!" He yelled, sending his des flying the in the direction of the giant 100 meter avatar of his opponent.

    >CLANG<

    All his des were deflected, almost as if they were both but tiny grains of sand flung against a concrete wall.

    "ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Screaming in pure rage, he raised his two hands above him while ascending to the sky.

    Instantly, a golden ball of light formed. He tightened his muscles and began clenching his fingers, causing the energy ball to slowly condense.

    Finally, it became as little as a tiny sphere that floated between his palm.

    "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" In one rush, he released the energy locked within to form a highly concentrated beam.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

    The beam shed with the casing on the chest of the construct, all the excess energy tearing into it, trying to prate the defenses erected.

    ... All to no avail.

    "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!" The mode he failed, the more enraged Kuzon was

    His current berserk appearance didn''t suit the image of royalty that he often maintained.

    His easygoing personality had long faded, leaving nothing but an animal thirsty for revenge and hungry for chaos.

    "Let me make it way for you." The enraged beast heard the voice of his enemy echo, and the construct that stood in the way suddenly vanished.

    The one who must have killed his sister now stood there, hands folded as he smiled with such shameless confidence that it nearly caused Kuzon''s heart to burst in anger.

    "ARRRRHHHHHHHHHH!!! I''LL KILL YOOOUU!!!"

    He used a dense amount of Divine Energy to make a sturdy de, rushing towards Kuzon with the intention to hack him down.

    He didn''t care anymore.

    All that mattered was the destruction of his opponent.

    "KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL. KILL."

    That lone word upied his thought and speech as he flung his de against the young man who simply floated and watched him.

    His thoughts were too buried in revenge for him to notice how ineffective his attack was. Not only was his opponent unharmed, but he was unfazed.

    He showed neither fear nor pain... and that only served to frustrate Kuzon even more.

    "Die. Suffer. Despair. Cry. Crawl. Bawl. Despond. Fear. Squeak. Tremble. Run. Crumble. Bleed. Die. Suffer. Despair..."

    He kept repeating the same lines as he hacked and hacked.

    He created multiple des and sent them flying at the target, all of them yielding the same result.

    Absolutely nothing.

    It yielded absolutely nothing.

    "JUUUUUSSSTTTTT DIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!" At this point, tears fell and poured from Kuzon''s eyes.

    He wept like a child, unable to repress the frustration and rage he felt.

    Why?

    Why was he so powerless that he couldn''t even avenge his sister?

    He couldn''t save his people. He couldn''t protect his family.

    ... And now he couldn''t avenge them either.

    "W-why...? Why?!" He cried, pouring the veryst of his power into a final attack.

    Creating a thin arrow, full of nothing but divine Energy, he hoped to at least prate his opponent''s defenses and puncture a hole in his heart, or throat, or brain<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ANYWHERE!

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    The thin projectile moved in its trajectory, filled with purpose and capacity.

    Perhaps this was the one. The one that would finally wreck his opponent and show him the might of the Midas Empire.

    The might of the First Prince.

    ... The might of an older brother!

    >CLANG<

    Unfortunately, the arrow, just like every other projectile, was simply knocked off.

    "Argh... arrhhhhhh! ARRRRRGHHHHH!!!" His screams pierced the heavens and shook the earth.

    More tears fell down his eyes and more pain scarred his face. Despite all the praise he had recieved for his strength, when it came down to it... he couldn''t do anything.

    He was pathetically weak.

    "You''ve run out of power already. Might as well end it now."

    >SQUELCH<

    Almost as easily as piercing a body of stale water with a stick, the opponent''s golden de went through him without the slightest bit of resistance.

    "Oh? Would you look at that. You have red blood too. Just like everyone else."

    The mocking tone of his enemy echoed into his ears, but with so much strength already expended, and with him already at the brink of death, Kuzon could not say any word in his defense.

    He could only utter the simple question.

    "W-why...?"

    Gloria was his younger sister. The Royals were his family. The Midas'' Empire was his home.

    "Why did you do it...?"

    He stared into his opponent''s clear golden eyes. There was no doubt that this young man was a Midas.  They shared the same blood¡ªthe same superior genes.

    Why would he do this to his only family?

    "I don''t have a single reason why. But if I were to pick just one of the many options... I''d say it''s because you people are an embarrassment."

    "W-what...?"

    "You heard me. You''re an eyesore. Oppressing the weak, asserting dominance, operating on this stupidly strict hierarchy, and even taking over the world... really?"

    Kuzon could not understand the words of his opponent.

    "What happened to revolutionizing Magic? Reaching the Root? Learning more about Aether, or the worlds beyond this one? What happened to fairness and equality? What happened to the construction of useful Magic Technology and the advancement of knowledge?"

    "A-ah.... ahh... a-ahhh..." Kuzon could only leak out, his eyes already losing sight, and his life fading away.

    "In my eyes, the inferior ones... are you."

    Those were thest words the First Prince heard before losing his life.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 934 End Of The Line

    "I should get back. Maya should be waiting for me." Kuzon muttered, letting go of the golden de he had used to pierce the dead First Prince.

    The sword vanished the moment he let go, plunging the First Prince into the abyss that was the boiling ground beneath Kuzon.

    "All that''s left now is the Emperor." He smiled at himself.

    "I wonder who the idiot is."

    *

    *

    *

    Just as Kuzon was busy, Maya also had her hands full. No, one could even say she had even more to deal with.

    Since the First Princess did not require any backup, and the First Prince eventually intervened when she did, no one among the backup Inquisition, or the Royals who led them, bothered with him.

    That meant that diverted all of their attention toward her.

    That didn''t make it a problem for her, though. Even when the First Princess''s Inquisition Officers appeared, with their ck and gold armor, she didn''t encounter much of a challenge.

    A little bit of [Heart Stop] and [Brain Freeze] was enough to stop them.

    And what about the most powerful Inquisition force in the Midas Empire¡ªthe First Division.

    Unlike the Second Division, they had white and gold armors, brilliant as well as powerful.

    The power gap between the two forces was too wide to be measured.

    Surely, this group would pose enough of a challenge¡ªperhaps even harm¡ªto the lone Mage who was still dressed in her embarrassing Wizard attire.

    Well...

    "[Death Wish]" was all it took to kill all of them.

    Of course, these Spells weren''t particrly easy to cast.

    They also took a great amount of energy to use, and were exclusive to Aether. However, after training for fifteen years with her Master, such Spells seemed like nothing to Maya.

    No, perhaps it was more like they felt so natural that uttering them like that was inconsequential.

    Besides, with her nearly bottomless and restorable power source, was there really any need to worry about depleting her energy?

    The end result of Maya''s bout with all the Inquisition Officers and Royals that attacked her was the sight of carnage that would make even the most hardened of warriors crumble in tears.

    Standing in the midst of all this chaos and death was the youngdy.

    "Looks like Kuzon is finished as well." As soon as she said this, he appeared right beside her in a golden sh.

    "Yep. Shall we go see the Emperor now?" He smiled, but then looked around him to see the staggering amount of kills she made.

    Compared to hers, his seemed like a carnival.

    "You''re one scary woman, Maya. Did you even spare anyone?"

    "W-well..." She scratched her head awkwardly.

    "But what about the n?"

    "I forgot..."

    "This girl..." Kuzon sighed to himself, itching his hair as he stared at hair. "Just cus you have some power now, you''ve be so cheeky. Come here!"

    Before she could react to his speed, he lunged his two hands toward her cheeks and pinched them while also stretching them out like rubber.

    "Ow! Ow! Ow! Pwease stawp! I''ve learned my lesson! Oww! Pweasseeee! I can revive a couple! Uwaaaaa!!!"

    "Hmph!" Kuzon finally let go after having his fill. "As long as you know."

    "You''re so mean."

    "Me? You''re brutal. Honestly, I mean... look at this!" Kuzon nearly cried out.

    "D-doesn''t that mean you should be afraid of me? I mean... I could do the same to you, you know? And yet, you¡ª"

    "Pfft. Why should I be afraid of you, Maya?" Kuzon knocked her head, albeit yfully. "After all, I''m stronger."

    Hearing him say that, while also looking at his confident smile, Maya''s eyes glittered and her cheeks slightly disyed pinkish hue.

    "S-shut up! Who said you''re stronger?"

    "Well, I am."

    "Want to find out? I could instantly kill you, you know?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Damage doesn''t even work on me."

    "This isn''t damage. It''s instant death."

    "Same difference..."

    "I could seal you away."

    "Effects like that aren''t effective on me."

    "I could cancel those effects that make my effect ineffective.''

    "That''s impossible. My effect will make your effective magic ineffective, so you can''t affect my effect of making your effect ineffective and... ah, let''s just stop." Kuzon groaned, already tired despite his supposed inability to feel such a thing.

    "So... you''re immortal?"

    "So far, yes. Though it''s only when ites to damage. Its more like I can''t be harmed. If I indeed get harmed, I think there''s a high chance I''ll die."

    "But how can you die without being harmed?"

    "There are many ways people can die without being necessarily harmed."

    "Oh? Like what?"

    "There''s ''killing people with kindness.'' I also heard that some people die of ''cringe'', and some people have overdosed on pleasure and also died. It goes on and on. I''m not invincible quite yet."

    "I see..."

    Both of them, discussing so seriously about the prospects of their limitations, once again ignored the numerous corpses and the chaos they had wrought upon the Midas Empire.

    One could wonder what kind of angels of destruction hadnded upon the world.

    No, perhaps they could only be referred to as devils.

    *

    *

    *

    Deep within the Midas Empire''s Royal Pce was the Throneroom.

    The Emperor who sat there watched a screen. His wrinkled face twisted ufortably as his hands rubbed his cleanly cut beard.

    His aged eyes were fixated on the two people that were disyed on the screen, and a wry smile formed on his face.

    "It appears that it has finallye to this..." His tone, gruff and deep echoed in the lonely expanse that shrouded him.

    Despite the luxury that upied his line of sight, his gaze was only focused on the two who would soon reach his doorstep.

    "It appears I have no choice."

    I raised his hand, now holding a golden goblet filled with nectar that smelled so sweet, yet forbidden.

    The golden hue within glowed with mystery and depth, and one whiff of the liquid told him of the inevitable oue.of his choice.

    However, after seeing all that had happened, the Midas Emperor knew this was the only way he could win.

    The only path he could take.

    "Let me just die."

    ... And so he gulped it all down.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Now that''s one Emperor with no backbone. Haha!!!

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 Chapter 935 The Aftermath

    "The heck? He''s dead already?" Kuzon pped his face as soon as he and Maya entered the Throneroom.

    The ce was grand as well as huge, with pirs supporting the massive ceiling that hing above their heads.

    Chandeliers hung above, and many statues decorated the hall. The clear golden grounds were clear as ss, and the carpets and drapes that added a posh vibe to the ce seemed very extravagant.

    The Throneroom also semedrge enough to contain hundreds of thousands of people, ounting for it''s size alone.

    Unfortunately, none of the two parties who arrived there were concerned with any of those details.

    They had been looking forward to an epic final fight, so it was incredibly underwhelming that the Last Boss was dead.

    "Since when was the Midas Emperor so shameless? Tsk tsk." Kuzon stepped forward, Maya sighing beside him.

    She also clearly wanted to vent out her anger on the Midas Emperor¡ªat the very least, for what he did to her people.

    "Maybe I could revive him, and we can have our final fight?" She smiled, almost devilishly.

    "He''s lost his will to fight. That''s why he killed himself. Do you think you could force him to fight for his life?" Kuzon asked his brows raised.

    The moment he said this, Maya''s countenance fell, and the brilliant look she had dissipated into thin air.

    "I could perhaps solve the issue with my [The Absolute Emperor] or [Marite Worms], but no. At this point, I''ve lost interest."

    Besides, there was probably no more time. He had done what he could here, and he also enjoyed himself while doing it.

    ''It''s time to leave.'' Kuzon smiled, ncing at Maya.

    "I guess I should first release your people from my Enperor''s Domain."

    *

    *

    *

    As easily as it was to ce all of themoners into his alternate dimension, all of them popped back out in their thousands.

    The dazed expression on their faces, graduating into the look of positive shock, caused the atmosphere to be rife with loud murmurs and noises.

    It took some time for Kuzon to calm them down and exin the situation. It was difficult to restrain the excitement of the crowd, though.

    Why?

    "We bow to and hail the mighty one, Absolute Holy One and One True Emperor, Kuzon."

    "HAIL!"

    "HAIL!"

    "HAIL!!!"

    The whole crowd worshipped him as they knelt and bowed their heads to him in reverence.

    "E-eh...?"

    Apparently, the time they spent in the Emperor''s Domain had granted them a far grander perspective of Kuzon.

    In the pocket dimension, he ensured to feed them as much as they wanted, grant them warmth, and showed them so much glory and beauty that they thought they were in paradise.

    Perhaps that was why they weren''t too fazed about the Royal Midas Throneroom that Kuzon transported them in.

    The beauty of the Emperor''s Domain far outranked it. And so did Kuzon, who was the source of all that grandeur.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I am not an Absolute Mighty one or whatever. And I am not a God! I am a Midas¡ªa privileged race known for talent and a special connection with the energy of the world, but a far cry from being almighty!" Kuzon''s voice echoed in the hall, silencing the zealots who were already enthusiastic about serving a new master.

    "I''ll be leaving you all now. Maya here will ensure you people are properly taken care of. Right, Maya?" Kuzon nced in her direction, shing a smile.

    "You don''t have to tell me that. It was always my n. Hmph!" She pouted a little, causing Kuzon far more confusion than he bargained for.

    "In any case, you guy, just stay here for the time being." Kuzon wasn''t very good with public speeches, so he strung a few other words together before bidding them farewell and teleporting out of the hall.

    "That idiot..." Maya whispered, sighing and following after him.

    *

    *

    *

    Kuzon and Maya, now standing on the roof a long tower that nearly touched the clouds, feasted their eyes on thendscape around them.

    They witnessed the chaos they had caused, and the carnage that had ured thanks to their actions.

    It was reminiscent of bittersweet memories for Maya, who had a heavy burden in her heart as she alternated nces between the vast world around her and Kuzon.

    "So... what will you do now?" He finally spoke, his voice as smooth as it was hesitant.

    The breeze lightly filled the atmosphere with coolness, causing Maya''s dark hair to dance a little as she smiled softly.

    "I think I''ll lead my people down the right path and teach them Magic. I''ll start by restructuring the Midas Empire so that both themoners from the slums and the Midas people can live together. It''ll be an experiment. If I seed, I want to take it global."

    In short, she was aiming for equality and a world where everyone could live in rtive peace irrespective of their dispositions and ethnic backgrounds.

    ''That''s easier said than done, though...'' Kuzon knew Maya wasn''t so naive that she would think that such a thing was a readily achievable task.

    ''The people in this world have been oppressed by the Midas Race for a long time. If released from their oppression, sure they''ll be grateful for some time, but soon their suppressed desires will begin to emerge.''

    Anger and rage would eventually take over, and every Race would see the Midas Empire as their enemy, considering the dark past.

    ''Besides, didn''t they say this world was in a constant state of war in the past? In order to avoid that repeating itself, she''ll need to be very careful.'' Kuzon''s thoughts echoed seriously.

    ''Still...'' He smiled as he looked at her. ''I know she can do it.''

    "I know you''re going to do well." Kuzon moved closer to her and used on of his hands to pinch her cheek.

    "Ow! Ow! So mean..." She cried out, her voice echoing across the vast Midasnds.

    Despite the setting sun, and the carnage, it seemed even friends could have fun.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 936 Bittersweet Parting

    ''Kuzon, you...'' Maya''s voice echoed as she looked at him.

    She remembered when she first saw him. Her first thoughts were that he was handsome. It wasn''t untilter, when she caught herself in her own thoughts, that she developed animosity towards him.

    He was a Midas, after all.

    However, as fate would have it, he wasn''t really a Midas¡ªat the very least, not in the sense that made him tainted in her eyes.

    This alone brought a relief that she couldn''t quite describe. It was ecstatic.

    And then, they started their journey together. Despite Kuzon''s increasing frustration and anxiety, she found herself desiring to spend even more time on their quest.

    A huge part of her wanted Kuzon to be happy, and that meant finding the person they were searching for.

    However, another part¡ªa more subtle side of her¡ªdidn''t want their adventures to end.

    It was especially dreadful because she realized the possibility of never seeing him again if he disappeared to the homeworld he told her about.

    However, now that things had reached this juncture, it seemed her desires ended up being rejected.

    He was finally going to leave...

    *****

    "S-stop it!" Maya''s voice echoed, feeling her cheeks sting, yet Kuzon didn''t stop. It seemed he enjoyed, more than most things, to tease her this way.

    ''I can''t just leave things like this, can I?'' Her thoughts shed with determination.

    It was now her turn!

    Maya''s eyes fiercely targeted her choice location, swiftly stretching her hands out to both sides his cheeks to pinch them.

    Unfortunately...

    "No harm, remember?"

    ... It was useless.

    However, she remembered something she said. Something very pivotal. It was something she had been thinking of trying for some time now, and with their close proximity, it was the perfect opportunity.

    "Death by pleasure, huh?" A smirk formed on her face instantly.

    "What are you thinki¡ª"

    Maya''s body flowed like the wind, and her face moved closer to Kuzon''s in the fraction of a moment.

    Her glossy lips met his, and in that brief window, they kissed. Or rather... she kissed him.

    However, it onlysted for that brief window.

    "Maya, stop!" Kuzon quickly said after drawing her away with his arms.

    Her dazed reaction as he did so was well expressed, and so was his flustered, guilty expression.

    Both of them, their cheeks glowing a slight hint of red¡ªwith Maya''s far more obvious¡ªgave bated breaths and couldn''t speak for some time.

    Perhaps one was waiting for the other to say something, but¡ª

    "K-Kuzon... I have something to tell you." Her voice wavered a little, but she fought to make it as firm and as clear as possible.

    ''I can''t believe I''m going to do this!'' The girl''s thoughts echoed as she tightened her fist in resolve.

    Her heart couldn''t take any more, and she had reached her limits of bottling it in. Her entire being wanted to let out the huge burden within her.

    It was now or never!

    "I..."

    "Maya, stop. Don''t..." Kuzon weakly muttered, his expression showing sadness and a hint of guilt.

    ''Why is he making that face? She wondered to herself. Too bad her lips moved faster than her thoughts, so she ended up spouting her words.

    "I... I don''t know when it started, b-but... I have feelings for you, Kuzon!"

    Her passionate voice echoed, carried by the wind, reaching the ears of the man she confronted.

    Her cheeks were flushed with bright red, and her eyes were shut tightly the moment she finished.

    Clenching her fist as she awaited an answer, Maya couldn''t believe what she had just done.

    Mustering courage to confess one''s feelings was no easy feat, yet she did it.

    ''Oh my goodness! I''m so embarrassed! What will he say?'' Her fingers covered her face as even more pink hue gushed out. ''What should I¡ª?''

    "I''m sorry, Maya. I can''t reciprocate your feelings." Kuzon''s voice icily tore through her fragile, defenseless heart.

    "A-ah...?"

    She could see the guilt on his face intensify. For a moment, his eyes appeared distracted. He was looking elsewhere.

    However, the moment she focused on his sharp golden eyes, he brought them in her direction.

    "There''s someone else, Maya. And I love her." His tone was just as firm, no, firmer than hers ever was.

    The resolve he disyed put hers to shame many times over. It hurt her so much.

    "So I''m sorry." He bowed slightly.

    Awkward silence rang among the two, and once again they were unsure of what to say and who should say it.

    "I-I see..."

    "Y-yeah..."

    The awkwardness intensified.

    Pain was clearly evident on Maya''s face. Kuzon was the first man she had ever developed such feelings for. Even as she trained all those fifteen years with Crazy Neron, his image never vanished from her mind.

    She had loved him for that long, yet...

    "That girl you like... must be very special." Maya''s tears fell as she spoke.

    She didn''t even realize it when the hot and bitter liquid flowed down her cheeks.

    Her eyes were simply on the man she had hoped to be her lover.

    "She is. Very special."

    "I see. What a fortunate girl..." Maya sniffed, trying to wipe away her tears, yet more fell.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    She couldn''t help the seemingly endless pain that swirled in her heart and tortured her to no end.

    ''I-if perhaps things were different. If they were just a little different...'' Her eyes captured Kuzon''s hurt expression.

    She could honestly tell that his heart bled to watch her like this.

    ''... I would have begged you to stay here with me. Or I would have left it all to go with you.''

    Unfortunately, that reality never existed¡ªat least, not in this ce.

    In the end, she was never able to get the only man she had ever loved.

    "I understand." Maya whispered, her tears finally drying up. A struggling smile began to form on her face as well.

    "It seems this might be thest time we''ll ever see each other. I don''t want you to remember me just crying."

    Wiping thest of her tears, Maya''s smile radiated, shing her teeth and closing her eyes.

    "Remember me as your very bright and optimistic friend, okay?"

    For her another moment, silence radiated the tower''s rooftop. Both boy and girl stood there, the wind toying with their hair.

    "I will, Maya." Her eyes widened as she felt Kuzon''s voice whispered into her ears and an embrace coiling around her.

    "You''ll always be my very bright and optimistic friend. So please... don''t change, okay?"

    More tears welled up in her eyes, however, this time she let them flow freely without stopping.

    Even as the tears flowed, Maya''s smile remained. The bittersweet sensation in her heart gave her these aches and throbs that made her both happy and sad about their current rtionship.

    "Yeah. And you better not change too!"

    "Who do you think you''re talking to?" Kuzon''s voice confidently echoed, finally releasing himself from her embrace and smiling at her with his thumb pointing at himself.

    "I''m the Absolute Almighty One!"

    Maya''s tears instantly evaporated upon seeing Kuzon''s warm smile, and the confidence he exuded

    It gave her the inspiration to be brave, embracing the bitter parts of her heart while enjoying the sweet.

    Before she realized it, she was snickering.

    "Pfft. Idiot."

    "Look who''s talking."

    "H-hey!"

    "Hahaha!!!"

    "Hahahahahahahaha!!!"

    Both of themughed atop that tower,pletely immersed in the pleasantpany they gave each other.

    "Let''s see each other again someday, dear friend." Kuzon''s fist was sent out, a gesture that invited hers to do the same.

    "Yeah. Maybe I''lle visit you one of these days."

    "You should. Maybe I''ll even give you a tour."

    "I''m sure you''ll be terrible at it."

    "Come find out then."

    Laughing once again, they fist bumped. Not as reluctant strangers, or as rejected lovers, but... as true friends.

    "See you around, Kuzon."

    "Yeah, Maya. Later."

    And with that, Kuzon used the Blu-Blu Crazy Neron granted to him to open the golden gateway to his first destination.

    The portal swirled and whirled, inviting him as the pool finally stabilized.

    He smiled, walking towards it while waving at Maya behind him. With one final look back, he smiled confidently.

    "Take care of yourself." And then, he stepped in.

    Perhaps Maya could have left it at that. But, she couldn''t just let him say the final words. Onest time, she poured her heart out to him.

    "You t¡ª"

    >VWUUUSSHH<

    The portal closed at that moment, cutting her short at thest minute.

    It left Maya all alone on the tower, taking in the sight of her world all alone.

    "I miss him already..." She whispered to herself.

    They hadn''t known each other for too long, but Maya felt like she had known him her whole life.

    It wasn''t a very terrible feeling.

    "Good luck, Kuzon. I wish you good fortune."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This chapter was longer than usual because I wanted to encapste the feelings of farewell in this.

    As you''d expect, I''m making ast chapter about this world without Kuzon. It won''t be focusing on Maya, though.

    Tell me your thoughts on the Maya character, though. How was she in your eyes?

    There are new Character Arts, Interactions, Novel Updates, and Interactions, in the Discord Server.

    What are you waiting for? Hop in!

    Link to join:

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 937 Echoes Of Insanity

    A massive screen disyed the entire scenario of Maya''s confession to Kuzon, and his rejection.

    It depicted her tears, and the smile she disyed at the very end.

    The screen also showed the final moments of the two''s interaction before going their separate way¡ªKuzon to his home world, and Maya to the extras that didn''t matter much to the plot.

    "Hahaha! Now that was a good ending, I''d say! Far better than the original version. Pfft!" The man who spoke in his office was none other than a bearded old fellow who satfortably on his couch.

    He left the screen on, so it kept showing Maya''s adventures after Kuzon departed, but at this point, the old man''s gaze had departed from the footages.

    "As much as I like randomly spying on people like, this one has a special meaning for me." He chuckled, talking to himself.

    Or was he looking at himself, really?

    No, it seemed he was staring at something else entirely.

    Yet, it was just a nk look at space itself.

    "Yeah, I see you. I see you reading this stuff. Hahaha! You thought I wouldn''t notice. Oh, you guessed wrong. I know who''s writing this, and you all that are reading this. Well... not that it matters, though."

    More echoes ofughter escaped his lips as he closed his eyes and smiled.

    "Once I''m done with the Origin Project, I''ll leave this narrative. I suppose that''s all that matters now. Little pieces of entertainment like these are worthwhile, though." His gaze went to Maya, and a small smile formed on his face.

    "To think just the addition of my homunculus would change the narrative so much. It''s amazing, isn''t it? If it wasn''t for me, he''d have just been traveling on his own. That would suck..."

    To make a morepelling story, the old man had added a variable that never existed to begin with.

    The girl called Maya.

    "Hey! I was going to tell them that!" Crazy Neron yelled out to the air once again.

    One could only wonder who he was talking to.

    "Well, it doesn''t really matter. Her addition to the entire scheme should take this world forward, I suppose. It should be fun to see... if I haven''t seen it already. Keke!"

    Neron rose from his couch and began floating toward his desk, like azy bum drifting through the air.

    "Azy bum? Me? No... no way." He denied it endlessly, but deep within he must have known the truth.

    "I work very hard, you know? It isn''t easy digging up the secrets of the Mageverse."

    Perhaps he wasn''t sozy, after all...

    "Hehe. I thought so. Anyway, I can see the branches and paths. The road to ''All Things'' itself. It''s a little iffy in my opinion." Crazy Neron muttered, finally arriving at his desk, where his lovely cube was.

    The seedling within had grown yet again, this time creating more branches from its stem.

    "You better not forget your promise, Neron Kaelid. I''ll be needing that ''necessary''ponent soon."

    Letting an alternate version of himself obtain and share something was far more valuable and less stressful than him going through all the effort himself.

    His creation of ''Origin'' already proved how averse he was to oveplicated matters.

    "Still, I wonder why everyone is just fighting over all this existent garbage. I''d rather just make my own stuff." He muttered, indirectly calling himself trash.

    "Ah, well yed."

    He drew his face closer to the cube on his desk, his eyes brimming with excitement.

    "The toys I make are built tost. And best of all... they''re exclusively mine." He chuckled, and then stared at the screen once again.

    He could see a more mature Maya smiling, and something within him stirred a little. It was like a parent seeing his child grow.

    "Hmmm. It''s not a terrible feeling."

    Still, there were other things on his mind. One of the major ones, despite its irrelevance, was the fate of Kuzon Midas and hisrades.

    "Will they be able to stop Legris? En, I know how it ends... well I can''t see beyond ''that'' point, but..." His eyes squinted a little.

    "Urgh! This is why worrying about the little things; like saving a, a universe, or Magic itself, is pointless. Even this struggle for "All Things is pointless."

    After all, he would rather just make his own paradise and rewrite his destiny, forgetting that most people, if not all, were not like him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    This lonely existence he possessed was the true reason why he was insane.

    "Yeah, yeah. Spoiler Alert, Karlia and Jared @&# #)& &@!;& #+ &*# ¦Ð¡Ì /)+@#$:&. Ah, you censored it? Well yed, then."

    He finally decided to throw away all those worries and all those concerns, slowly settling for the creation of his that caused all of existence itself not to matter¡ªat least, in his eyes.

    "It''s not my business anyway. As long as I get what I want... that''s all that matters to me." With that, heughed once again

    "I am a Neron, after all."

    *

    *

    *

    [Seoul, South Korea, (Year 2023), Sector 4]

    "Are you worried, Noona?" A voice echoed from someone who seemed to be in histe teens, despite being in his early twenties.

    He had a very innocent look, a liability in this kind of job.

    In front of him was the young woman who sat right beside him.

    She had blond yellow hair, and her glittering eyes shone like bright emeralds. Her clear skin and beautiful face made her stand out as a foreigner.

    They were currently seated at the back of a vehicle, and they could see the deserted streets if they focused on the modern scenery around

    However, both of them did nothing of the sort.

    "It''s your first time, I know. But don''t worry. I''ll do my best to be your guide, Noona."

    He had suddenly been ced as her guide, per her instructions, despite many people desiring the role.

    He was thankful for her intervention, since his previous jobs had been hell. Perhaps this was Sung Han Soo''s turnaround arc.

    And he couldn''t help but be grateful to the goddess who had helped him through the crisis over a month ago, and was fill helping him now.

    "Han Soo, please stop with the Noona. I''m still not used to it." The lovely voice of the youngdy echoed within the car, and her radiant smile took away any form of remnant awkwardness that was bound to manifest.

    "Just call me by my name."

    Ever since he met her over a month ago, she had insisted on it. Even though she could speak fluent Korean, it was still strange how foreign she was to their culture.

    "Y-yeah. I guess I should." It was still a bit weird for him, but Sung Han Soo resolved to follow thedy''s words.

    Ever since she saved him from those Monsters in that Double-Dungeon, he had owed her everything.

    Something like calling her by her name wasn''t something he should have even struggled to do.

    "Thank you, Aloe Vida. Let''s hope today''s Dungeon Raid goes well."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It''s time for some good old fashioned Hunter and Dungeon adventures.

    Well, not really.

    In any case, Jared''s perspective will return next chapter.

    I hope you all enjoyed this round. Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Cheers!

 Chapter 938 Arrival At Modernity

    ''Save our separatedrades, and then return home!''

    After getting the major gist of Kuzon''s story in mere moments¡ªthanks to the wondrous effects of magic¡ªthat was the goal.

    However, despite the thrill that apanied having a clear goal and the means to achieve it, something else crept within me.

    It was an uncertain feeling that threatened to swallow me whole, and the more I dwelled on it, the more hesitant I became.

    This nearly crippling trail of thoughts led only to one element.

    ''Neron...''

    From Old Man Neron''s exnation about our world''s Neron and his knowledge of the urrence of these sets of events, to the fact that no ''Neron'' could be trusted, I began to feel unease and doubt.

    I had also critically thoight about the possibility that Neron knew more than he was letting on, but... it currently felt unreal that he had some suspicious motive behind his actions.

    It seemed Kuzon also wanted me to reason things in this light since his own disposition towards Neron was already suspicious.

    Regardless, within the span of a few seconds, that seemed to stretch on forever, I was able to at least determine one thing.

    ''Survive long enough to confront Neron. That''s the only thing I can do now.''

    With that thought echoing in my heart, I braced myself for the new world that awaited us.

    *

    *

    *

    The golden portal that connected Kuzon and I from the world I previously upied to the one we approached finally parted, leading us to a new ce.

    A fresh fragrance apanied the wind that blew on my face as we were transported to our destination.

    With both resolve and determination, I embraced the future toe, stepping out of the golden portal with energy burning in my eyes.

    ''Eh...?''

    ... And, well... things didn''t always work out as we wanted, right?

    Kuzon and I found ourselves in a shady ce the moment we arrived.

    It seemed like a massive warehouse, made of pure metal. The dimly lit expanse held a lot of crates around, and the hardly tiled ground hand a crude look.

    However, the most important things I noticed were the people.

    The moment we arrived, we were greeted with the piercing gazes of strangers. They were at least a couple dozen of them, and they seemed to have been talking to themselves before we arrived.

    The moment our presence was made known outside the portal, though, I sensed an immense amount of malice surge from them.

    ''Damnit! Why did we get transported to this sort ofprising location.''

    Was it just my bad luck that I always ended up in ces like these?

    The people began to speak differentnguages, engaging in dialects that I couldn''tprehend.

    ''Haaa... this is bad. To think I finally arrived at a world where I don''t understand what they''re saying at all.

    ''I also don''t recognize any of them.'' My thoughts flowed as I saw their agitated faces.

    Their facial structures were strange. I hadn''t seen any kinds of people like these before.

    It was certainly strange beyond words. A ''new'' kind of strange.

    "This is bothersome. They''re getting closer." Kuzon muttered, taking a step forward.

    I could already guess what he was trying to do.

    ''Welp. Maybe it''s for the best.'' Inasmuch as these people were likely not to be enemies, and the whole thing was a misunderstanding, we couldn''t resolve the issue without any means ofmunication.

    In the end, we had to subdue them... and then figure out a way out from there.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''To do that, I''m sure Kuzon will resort to his ability.''

    In a surge of golden light, Kuzon released an overpowering amount of Aether, causing all the people who had begun to close in on us with weapons go instantly fall to their knees in subjugation.

    In a mere instant, we had all of them subdued¡ªwell, Kuzon did.

    *

    *

    *

    Magic truly remained an amazing concept to me. Using it, one could achieve literally anything.

    And that included learning a newnguage.

    Scanning the memories of one of the people that were currently dazed and kneeling, I got a feel of theirnguage and identity.

    "Looks like we''re in a ce called South Korea. This is the Year 2023, and this ce is one of many secret warehouses of an Illegal Brokers'' group." I muttered.

    It looked like these people were the bad guys, after all.

    I should have figured, considering how they looked like thugs¡ªwith their dangerous res and tattooed bodies and faces.

    ''I just didn''t want to discriminate based on appearances.'' I smile crept up on my face as I observed the thirty-one men.

    All of them looked human, and while I couldn''t sense a Mana Core from them, they had vestiges of Mana flowing through their bodies.

    ''Interesting. They can use Mana without a Mana Core?''

    "We shouldn''t waste time with them." Kuzon''s voice echoed as he nced at me.

    I noticed he was removing his hand from the head of one of the kneeling men.

    ''Looks like he already absorbed his memories'' I smiled to myself.

    With that, it seemed the both of us could understand thenguage of the people of this ce.

    However, more than that... it seemed there was a much bigger problem.

    >BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    An explosion sent the massive steel door that blocked the entrance to the warehouse flying, and a lot of men in ck and blue uniforms rushed in.

    They were also speaking in Korean, which was now something I could interpret.

    "WE ARE THE SPECIAL SEOUL SECURITY SERVICES!" I could hear a loud echo emanate from outside as more of the men poured in.

    In no time at all, they had taken positions in strategist ces¡ªsome holding transparent-like shields, while others wielding this world''s staple weapon¡ªa strange technology called a ''Gun''.

    "Get down on your knees... NOW!"

    Now surrounded by these men in uniforms, I nced at Kuzon, who seemed to be waiting for my decision.

    ''Looks like things are going to get moreplicated, after all.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Wee to the Awakened Modern Era side of the story.

    I guess we all know who they''re here to save. Let''s see how that unfolds, shall we?

 Chapter 939 Chaotic News

    "Director Baek!" A very lousily dressed worker yelled as he burst into his superior''s room.

    The man, having sses, and an untucked shirt, panted as he closed the door behind him in panicky motion.

    One would consider it an act of disrespect that a subordinate would engage in such an act with his superior, but the desperation in Hyun-Shik''s eyes made it apparent that the situation demanded for it.

    "What is it, Captain Hyun?" Baek asked, his brows furrowed, and his eyes narrowed. "You better have a damn good reason for interrupting my nap."

    Thanks to his position as a Director within the Hunters Association, he hardly had time to rest. This was one of the rare moments that he could indulge in a brief office nap, and even then...

    "It''s a huge dimensional spike, sir! The biggest one we''ve ever seen!"

    The moment the Director heard this, all the drowsiness that bogged his mind instantly vanished. Instead, his eyes bulged and he jumped to his feet.

    "W-what?!"

    His body trembled uncontrobly, and his face instantly paled.

    "Did you just say the biggest??!"

    Dimensional Spikes were rted to the appearance of ''Gates'', which opened the door to another world which they called ''Dungeons''

    The bigger the dimensional spike, the more dangerous the Gate was.

    Gates were usually rated based on letters¡ªfrom F ss, up to S ss.

    "E-even bigger than the one we had over a month ago?"

    "Y-yes... it''s much more intense."

    "KEUK!"

    Director Baek clutched his chest tightly and fought to retain hisposure. Even though he was just in his early thirties, he had a heart problem, and that meant he couldn''t stress his nerves too much.

    Still, wasn''t the situation already too nerve wrecking for him to handle?

    ''We were fortunate that time. Some of our country''s strongest Hunters were killed, leaving only a Guide as the survivor. If it wasn''t for the appearance of that woman, then...''

    However, it was highly unrealistic to hope for yet another miracle.

    "The dimensional spike that ured back then exceeded S ss, and could be said to be SS ss. If that''s the case, then this one will be¡ª"

    "SSS ss, Director. And that''s putting it lightly! I''ve never seen such numbers before sir! We need to act fast!"

    "I know that, damnit!" He growled, once again clutching his chest.

    As his dark hair swayed, he put his brain into action and began to think of alternatives.

    ''Every Gate, without exception, remains stable until a week passes. After that, the dimensional fissure opens, and the Monsters within invades the real world...''

    That was known as a Dungeon Break.

    ''If we even want to have the hope of facing this threat, we need every single powerhouse this world has to offer.'' As Director Beak was still in the process of internal analysis, looking for a way that could guarantee the salvation of his country, and hopefully the world, Hyun Shik recieved a call on his smartphone and engaged the called.

    Mere seconds in, and his eyes nearly popped out of his sses.

    "What?! The Dimensional spike has vanished? What the hell are you saying?"

    The moment Director Baek heard this, his body shook a little.

    Dimensional Spikes vanishing meant only one thing.

    "T-the Dungeon was... cleared...?!"

    But how? Something as powerful as that, that threatened to destroy their entire world, was cleared within mere moments?

    How?

    "It just appeared. How can this be possible?" Hyun Shik muttered in disbelief. "What should we do, Director?"

    At this point, even Baek didn''t know. However, his heart was racing in excitement and curiosity.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    This was an unexpected miracle.

    "Send our best agents to the location. I want eyes and ears on the field. Investigate the area too, and any recent activities that have ured there."

    "We already identified the location to be an abandoned warehouse near the Myeongdong Shopping Street."

    ''What?! The Dimensional spike was there?''

    A famous shopping district in their most populous city, Seoul. Imagining the level of damage and casualties the Dungeon would have wrought brought shivers to Beak''s spine.

    It also didn''t help that his wife worked there, and so did his only daughter.

    Whoever this unknown group saviors was, Baek now owed them a lot more than he had initially imagined.

    It had be personal.

    "Do all you can to investigate the scene well. I want to know everything that happened there, and any activity that urs there."

    "Ah, a message just came in." Hyun Shik checked his smartphone, eyes squinting at the screen.

    "It seems there was a raid by the Special Services recently. Apparently, some Illegal Brokers were using the ce as their base¡ªhiding in in sight and all."

    Baek couldn''t believe it. Could the Brokers have been responsible for such amazing feats?

    Were they the cause?

    ''Our devices are top-notch, so they couldn''t have mistaken the Dimensional Spike. Then... could it be¡ª''

    "Ah, it seems among the list of those arrested, there are two who weren''t on the suspect list. They also seem to be foreigners."

    Something about those words resonated with Baek, reminding him of a simr scenario that ured over a month back.

    "Those men... were they dressed strangely?" Baek asked.

    "Y-yes. I''ll send the footages to yourptop now." Hyun-Shik replied, transferring the files instantly.

    "One was especially dressed as an old-school wizard. Investigation and interrogations willmence soon, but¡ª"

    "It''s them! It has to be!" Director Baek''s eyes gleamed brightly as he looked at the screen of theptop ced neatly on his desk.

    Seeing one yellow blond hair, and another golden blond hair, it reminded him of yet another blond foreigner that graced their country just recently.

    Unlike her, however, they looked much younger. Being generous with his estimation, he ced them within the range of theirte teens.

    Still, the mystery surrounding them, coupled with the simrity they had with the other single case they had of something so strange, provided Director Baek with his conclusion.

    And so, he finally stopped holding his chest and smiled instead.

    "Are these therades you spoke of... Miss Aloe Vida?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I need a very big favor from you all.

    I just started a new book. Yes, I know, this is like the millionth book.

    But please just give it a try, will you? Or at least just add it to your library.

    Title: Only I Can See The End

    Thank you all for your help and support.

    Also, I wonder how powerful the characters in this world are...

 Chapter 940 Custody

    "So, tell us your names."

    A man stood before us, referring to himself as Agent Joo Won.

    He worked for the Special Seoul Security Services¡ªan organization that sought to protect the public from illegal activities involving dimensional energy.

    Ah, dimensional energy was kind of what they called Mana here.

    "My name is Jared Leonard. My colleague here is Kuzon Midas." I responded cooperatively, while Kuzon simply didn''t bother speaking.

    I could tell he was dissatisfied with my decision. He didn''t think it was the best use of our time, and he probably felt it was tok humiliating for someone as powerful as he was to be arrested and questioned by weaklings.

    ''But, well, he doesn''t have [The Hermit] Arcana, so he doesn''t know that this is for the best.''

    Thanks to my synchronization from my first alternate world, as well as the intense analysis of the golden portal that the Blu-Blu formed, I was able toplete the process.

    ''Now I can sync my Arcanas to any world by simply connecting the frequency to the current wavelength.''

    As a result, I could use my Arcanas in any branch.

    ''Its better we just cooperate with these people. They''re good guys.'' I smiled.

    Public officers like these fought for the security of the people. They had been investigating the movements of the Brokers for some time now, and they had already nned to raid them before we showed up.

    One could say that we interfered in their operations.

    ''Then again, we did help in subjugating their targets. Shouldn''t they cut us some ck?'' I understood that things weren''t so clear cut in this world, though.

    Especially considering the kind of harm Brokers like the ones we subdued caused to society.

    ''Its fine if we follow due process.''

    "Thank you, Mr. Leonard, and Mr. Midas. Could you tell me what you were doing at the scene of the crime?"

    In this culture, it was formal to refer to someone using their first names¡ªwhich would be the opposite for our culture.

    The officer must have noticed how distinct our names sounded from the people in this country, and so chose to switch it up.

    ''Good going.'' I smiled.

    And as for his question, "It''s confidential. We can''t reveal that to you."

    Speaking in this strangenguage was a bit strange. However, thanks to Magic, I didn''t stutter or get the pronunciation wrong.

    Magic proved itself to be a lifesaver once again.

    "Really? Why do you say it''s confidential?" The Agent asked, a small frown forming on his face.

    "You''ll soon find out, don''t worry." I shrugged. "In the meantime, can I have some time alone with my partner here? Perhaps I can convince him to be more cooperative with you?"

    We were currently bound by anti-dimensional energy cuffs (ADE Cuffs for short), but it did pretty much nothing to affect our abilities.

    I could easily control the man if I wanted, but there was no real point.

    He was going to leave anyway.

    "Very well. I''ll be back shortly." Agent Joo Won rose from his seat and left for the door, stealing one final nce at Kuzon and I before finally leaving the us.

    "Whew!" A tiny huff escaped my lips. It was now time to handle the brewing storm.

    ''Here goes...''

    "Why are we doing this, Jared? There''s no time!"

    "Rx, Kuzon. I''m sure you can use your powers in this world. Do you detect anyone from our world anywhere in this world?"

    He looked a bit hesitant, and then finally shook his head.

    "They''re probably in a Dungeon currently. We might as well wait it out until theye out. Besides, we shouldn''t unnecessarily cause havoc in a new world."

    Especially when they weren''t using unjustifiable violence against us.

    "I have ess to 21 Arcanas. You have the aid of a Constetion. I''m sure we can both agree that this world poses no real threat to us."

    "The issue is time."

    "That''s all rtive. It''s fine. I''m sure our dear ol'' pal, Neron ounted for all of this too."

    I didn''t know how consequential and inconsequential this world would be in the grand scheme of things.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    However, it was far better to forge good connections, or at least neutral ground, before obtaining what we wanted.

    "How long do we have to stay here, then?"

    "It shouldn''t be long. In fact, right about... now?"

    The moment I said that, our dear friend, Agent Joo Won, opened the door once again.

    This time, he had a slightly flustered look on his face, and he was standing stiffly, even bowing his head a little.

    It was partially because of us, but that wasn''t the specific reason. Agent Joo Won was acting this way because of the person that entered the room after he did.

    ''There you are, Director!'' I hid my smile and watched a man appearing to be in histe thirties enter the room.

    He had pure ck hair, which I noticed to be a norm in this ce, and he wore a brown suit, with a really nice tie.

    He had an air of poise surrounding him, and the official smile he gave off connoted experience.

    The man who appeared before us was none other than Director Baek, one of the Directors of the South Korean Hunter Association, and the one in charge of the Seoul Division.

    ~Quit trying to hide your smile. It''s so obvious.~ Kuzon''s words echoed in my mind.

    He was using Telepathic Magic to speak to me, no doubt.

    ''Well... he''s going to be a useful man. Might as well be friendly towards him, especially if you want us to leave here as soon as possible.''

    ~Okay, fine. Whatever...~

    Kuzon sometimes acted immature and pouty, but he was never slow at grasping the true nature of a situation.

    I could be guaranteed of his cooperation.

    "Greetings, gentlemen. My name is Baek Dong Soo. It''s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." The older man spoke, his deep voice booming across the room.

    "Likewise, Director Baek." I quickly responded.

    "Oh? You know who I am?"

    "Isn''t that what Agent Joo Won called you before entering here? My hearing is a little too sharp sometimes." I returned his words with a bright smile.

    "Hehe. Is that so? Then I guess those cuffs are unnecessary."

    "B-but sir, they''re dangerous suspe¡ª"

    "They are indeed dangerous¡ªenough so that those cuffs are useless on them. They could probably destroy us if they wanted to."

    "I like this man. He knows his ce." Kuzon remarked with a bright smile.

    This was his definition of cooperation.

    "In any case, the Hunter Association will be taking over the investigation of these two. They''re under our purview, and are instrumental in the ongoing Dimensional Spike investigation." Director Baek furthered.

    In terms of authority and influence, the Hunter Association exceeded the Special Seoul Security Service. That was why I was able to confidently call our reasons ''confidential''.

    Because, in the end, the ones that truly mattered to our purposes weren''t the people who arrested us, but the ones that understood our value.

    "They''ll be returning with us to the Hunter Association Headquarters."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I need a very big favor from you all.

    I just started a new book. Yes, I know, this is like the millionth book.

    But please just give it a try, will you? Or at least just add it to your library.

    Title: Only I Can See The End

    Thank you all for your help and support.

    Also, I wonder how powerful the characters in this world are...

 Chapter 941 The Hunter Association [Pt 1]

    ''This world''s technology never ceases to amaze me.'' I smiled, looking out the window as I cruised in a vehicle called a car.

    Kuzon looked unfazed by the whole thing, though I could see his eyes asionally darting out the window.

    We were in the back seat of the car, watching thendscape as it changed.

    ''This truly is a different world. Look at the buildings, and the applications of technology. It reminds me of the Fairy Capital. Well... not exactly, but...''

    It truly was fascinating, at least from an explorative perspective.

    ''But, from a Magical one, it''s nearlyckluster.'' I almost sighed in disappointment.

    Even though the alternate world I found myself in at the start of this mad journey had underdeveloped Magic, I still learned some pretty nice applications to it.

    However, I had been spreading my senses in a wide range, trying to see any of such unique attributes.

    Unfortunately, none of them existed.

    ''I guess it has to do with this world''s unique history.'' I smiled.

    Thanks to the memories I just recently obtained, I had a fair idea of what happened here.

    ... And how it became the way it was.

    *

    *

    *

    In the Year 2012, over a decade ago, a sudden urrence happened.

    The world experienced the first visit of Dimensional Energy¡ªan otherworldly power that tore through space and warped reality.

    Unfortunately, this energy was not on their side in the slightest.

    The interaction it had with the world was none other than catastrophic¡ªthe creation of Gates!

    These Gates, a byproduct of too much Dimensional Energy coagting in one area, served as a gateway to other dimensions.

    These Dimensions were dubbed Dungeons, and Monstrous beings existed on the other side.

    Initially, the humans of this world didn''t know what to make of this development, thus they suffered gravely for it.

    In a bid of trial and error, they finally learned some ugly truths.

    These Gates had a time limit. Once a week passed and the ''Boss'' wasn''t defeated, the Gate would spill over the monsters into the real world, causing what was known as a Dungeon Break.

    Modern technology barely had any effect beyond the gates, or even none at all, thanks to the density of Dimensional Energy.

    As a result, the humans had to resort to something more drastic.

    Implementation of Dimensional Energy.

    It started out as a desperate attempt, but the infusion of Dimensional Energy into people altered them greatly, making them capable of superhuman feats.

    This was called an ''Awakening''

    Those who sessfully Awakened held the Titles of Hunters, thus making it their profession to stop the Monsters in the Gates.

    Still, only about one percent of people held apatibility for this great power, making the rest Inept, unable to ever Awaken.

    That wasn''t all, though.

    Even among those who Awakened, there were different levels ofpatibility they had, which affected how much power the would be able to disy.

    These were divided into sses (Ranging from F ss to S ss). As the times progressed, more technology was developed tobat the Dungeons, and so even the Gates got ssified based on their danger levels.

    It had been over a decade since the first incident, and mankind has made sufficient progress already.

    .... Though it was not nearly enough.

    After all, within every advancement for good, there was always the possibility of evil.

    There were quite a few groups that sprung up as a result of this power that they recieved from the Dimensional Energy.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Brokers were one of them, but those were just lowlifes trying to bypass the established system in order to obtain illegal profit.

    There existed a much worse organization, though not much was known about it. However, their scale of operations was global, and they held a lot of influence.

    They were known as... The Shadows Of Light¡ªa terrorist group that opposed the order of society.

    No one knew the face of their leader, no the identities of their members.

    However, they were infamous in this world.

    Dungeon Breaks. Terrorist Bombings. Mass Shootings.

    They had caused a lot of chaos in this world. It was already clear as day who the viins in this world were.

    All that remained was rooting them out.

    Agencies like the Special Seoul Security Service, and even the Hunter Association, were in charge of stopping their activities and bringing ensuring the safety of humans.

    And, right now, we were heading to South Korea''s Hunter Association Headquarters.

    *

    *

    *

    We arrived at a rather massive building, locked within a much biggerpound. The entire area was well protected by numerous officials, and I could see smaller buildings and vehicles in thepound.

    Since we were in the Director''s car, however, neither I or Kuzon experienced any difficulty entering the building.

    "As you''d expect, we have our Headquarters in Seoul. However, even though my office is somewhere around here, I would like you to have an audience with our Chairman. Is that fine?" Director Baek asked.

    What a nice man. Not only was he courteous, but he also appeared very humble in his speech.

    ''Hmm...'' I smiled, nodding to tell him it was fine.

    Kuzon shrugged, and so we were taken to the uppermost floor in order to meet the most important man in South Korea''s Hunter Association.

    I wasn''t having any big expectations, considering they''d be a total stranger, but this was the best time to get whatever information I wanted so we could peacefully leave this ce.

    Once we used the Elevators, we arrived at the topmost floor, and Director Baek guided us to a veryrge hallway, where a room was already waiting for us.

    It had ss walls, and it was empty as well. It appeared to be something used for a group meeting, but so far we were the only ones present.

    "Our Chairman will be here shortly." He bowed slightly.

    ''I thought we were going to meet him. So he''sing to meet us instead?'' I didn''t say anything, but smiled once more.

    ~This is a waste of time...~ Kuzon''s thoughts echoed in my head, to which I shrugged aside.

    ''You think so? Well, maybe you''re right...''

    However, motives were essential to every action. And just as Kuzon had his reasons for his whatever he would rather do, I had mine as well.

    "Let''s wait a little longer."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I know the Arc feels slow at first, but trust me, it picks up very soon.

    Also, please check out my new book.

    "Only I Can See The End"

    Thanks for reading. Enjoy.

 Chapter 942 The Hunter Association [Pt 2]

    "Good afternoon great visitors. My name is Sung Do Gong, and I am the Chairman of the Hunter Association."

    Chairman Sung was an elderly man who was most likely in his sixties. His grey hair, and the wrinkles on his face, proved his age very well.

    He had a scar on his forehead, as well as another sh scar that cut through one of his eyes.

    ''He must have seen a lot of action back in his days.'' I smiled, watching his polite greeting to both me and Kuzon.

    It wasn''t long after we got into the room that he entered, which meant he must have been on standby somewhere closeby already.

    This was his territory, after all.

    ~They just wanted us to sit first before calling their leader.~ Kuzon''s voice echoed in my head.

    ''I was thinking the same thing. It''s not that bad, though.''

    The Chairman was dressed simply. He had a formal white shirt, with a ck tie firmly clinging around his neck. His dark official trousers and shiny ck shoes also gave him a lot of ss.

    Finally, he had something called a ''wristwatch'' on his hand. It looked quite luxurious, so I paid it some notice.

    Since he must have already been briefed on our names, we simply greeted him in return.

    "I''ll get straight to the point, then. Someone we suspect to be one of yourrades arrived in this world over a month ago. Her name is Aloe Vida. Does that ring any bells to you?"

    "Of course." I quickly responded with a smile. "She''s ourrade."

    "Yes. The reason why we''re here in the first ce." Kuzon seemed to be sending ayered message with his words, but I ignored it anyway.

    "I see. So it''s true then."

    "Indeed. Can you tell us the details surrounding her arrival here? Also, about her whereabouts." I asked.

    I could easily extract the information from them, but I believed in order.

    "I don''t know much of the details. Director Baek was one of the few who had direct contact with her."

    All of us turned our attention to the Director, who sat at the corner of the room.

    "I did have some form of contact with her, but the one who had the initial contact with her is currently with her on a mission. He''s a ''Guide'', after Miss Aloe Vida saved his life in a Dungeon, they have been inseparable." Baek replied in his usual official tone.

    "I can tell you what I know, though."

    "Please do."

    And so, he began.

    *******

    Apparently, Aloe arrived directly in front of a Gate when she first appeared in this world.

    The Gate had suddenly gone through something called an ''Evolution'', increasing it''s difficulty to something only known in theory as an SS ss Gate.

    This gathered the attention of all the higher-ups, and they sent their Strongest Hunters to stop it.

    Aloe apparently entered the Dungeon to save them, but by the time she got there, only one survivor remained.

    "The Survivor''s name is Sung Han Soo... my grandson." The Chairman smiled at me as I analyzed the story.

    Apparently, despite his low rank as a Hunter, having barely crossed the threshold of an F ss Hunter, he settled for being a Dungeon Guide.

    That was just a very morous word for being a pack mule. Essentially, he carried all the supplies that the real Hunters didn''t want to be bothered with, and he also served as a scout.

    That meant, he was most likely serving as bait a lot of the time.

    ''How did someone like that survive in the Dungeon for so long?''

    "I gave him an S ss item for protection." The Chairman said once again. "It''s the only one I had that doesn''t require him to possess any power for him to use it."

    So, that was why he so confidently threw himself into danger.

    ''How interesting...'' A smile formed on my face.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "By the time Miss Aloe Vida arrived at the scene, the barrier was about to run out, and ording to him, he knew he would die. Thankfully, she defeated the Monsters and saved him fro¡ª"

    "How easily?" I interrupted the Chairman''s words

    "Excuse me?"

    "How easily did she defeat the monster?" I asked.

    A monster capable of tearing down an S ss barrier had to at least be an A-S ss monster. It was also most likely not the Boss of the Dungeon, considering it wasbeled an SS ss Gate.

    Therefore...

    "One hit. It was defeated in one hit." Director Baek answered for the Chairman.

    "I see." Nodding to myself. "And how long did it take her to defeat the Boss?"

    Director Baek and the Chairman stared at each other for a while before sighing.

    "That was the Boss."

    "I thought you said it was an SS ss Gate."

    "It was..."

    "If that''s the case, then¡ª"

    "The monster was most likely toying with him, which is why the S ss barriersted so long. However, after observing what was left of the Monster¡ªits Core, we can definitely see that it was a beast far above the S ss threshold."

    "And where is the Core now?" I asked.

    "That''s confidential informa¡ª"

    "It''s fine, Director. The Core is currently undergoing transport to ''The Zenith'' for further investigation."

    ''The Zenith...'' My thoughts echoed. Unfortunately, I didn''t have much information about them other than the fact that they served as the International body of each country''s Hunter Association.

    "Thanks to these very chaotic times, our world has finally achieved Global Peace. We all cooperate with one another tobat the crisis. That''s why The Zenith exists. It is the glue that binds all the country''s Hunter Association."

    I thanked the Chairman for his brief exnation on the Zenith.

    "So, who''s in charge of the Zenith? I mean, which nation?"

    In the end, even if they all imed to be cooperating, wouldn''t one country be benefiting the most, by standing at the very helm of power?

    "Before I answer that, may I ask you a question, Mr. Leonard." The Chairman spoke rather seriously.

    "Of course."

    "From what you see in this world... who do you think holds the most power?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 943 World Affairs

    "From what you see in this world... who do you think holds the most power?"

    Was this a trick question? I could see the merit of asking something like this to test me, but the answer was quite obvious wasn''t it?

    It seemed to be the government.

    ''All Hunters register within the Hunter Association, and it''s a public agency dedicated to protecting the citizens.''

    They recieved their sries from the government, and depending on their contributions and ranks, had other benefits.

    ''Since only the government posseses the technology ''Awaken'' a person, those who undergo the process have to sign an exclusivity contract with them, ensuring they use their newfound powers for the greater good, as Hunters.

    It gave them obligations and rules to follow.

    Therefore, the government¡ªThe Hunter Association¡ªwas in charge... at least, on the surface.

    "I''m not sure by what you mean." I smiled instead. "It does seem like it''s the government, right?"

    "Indeed. That''s what it seems like. But the real answer is just the opposite."

    The twist was just as I expected.

    "Hunters are the true people in power. Think about it. Without the power to enforce those regtions and obligations, which Hunter will listen to the Hunter Association?"

    That was the major issue. A civilian government could not hope to control those who had way more power than them. The Unawakened could never put the Awakened on a leash.

    ''In the end, the more powerful still triumph.''

    "That is why powerful Hunters upy he helm of the Association, and most positions of authority. As the chairman of this country''s Hunter Association, I am an S ss."

    I understood what he was implying.

    "My subordinates respect my authority, and they also fear my power. Having someone powerful upy the topmost position gives order to those at the bottom of the hierarchy, don''t you agree?"

    It made sense. I could definitely see why such a system operated.

    The question I asked him earlier also began to answer itself. If an S ss was the one who stood at the top of the Hunters Association in South Korea, then the situation had to be  simr all over the world.

    And if that was the case, then the one who stood at the the very top of The Zenith wouldn''t simply be a country, or a nation''s power, but an individual or group of individuals who possessed the greatest power.

    They were probably too powerful to remain affiliated with a country, thus they were perfect for being independent and unbiased for a cooperative union of the nations.

    "The one who heads the Zenith is the strongest Hunter in the world. His name is Chad." Chairman Sung smiled at me. "Does that answer your question?"

    "It does. Thank you." With a smile stered on my face, I responded.

    ''Chad, huh? I see...''

    "You said Aloe Vida went on a mission with your grandson, right? Where did they go? Also, does that mean Aloe agreed to join the Hunter Association?"

    The one who spoke was Kuzon, and it seemed he was more interested in Aloe''s whereabouts than anything else.

    Ipletely understood his line of reasoning.

    "A-ah, not really. She''s more of a contracted worker, since it''ll help her gain ess to information she wouldn''t otherwise have, and she will bepensated for her services."

    Aloe had been in this world for over a month. She had to earn a loving somewhat, and also find ways to investigate her arrival in this strange ce, as well as the possibilities for her return.

    Since she was a smartdy, I knew she would have chosen the most optimal option.

    "Miss Vida is very powerful. She''s on the level of S ss Hunters, maybe even higher than your average type. We only have a few individuals who are capable of that, even on a global scale, and most of them are centralized in The Zenith." Chairman Sung exined even further.

    Why did it feel like The Zenith wasn''t simply a form of united nation gathering, but mofe of an enforcer.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''The fact that they transported their rare SS ss Monster Core to them, despite it being their country''s property, and the fact that most of this world''s strongest upied positions there; everything seemed awkwardly strung together.

    "How many S sses do you have in South Korea?" I asked, narrowing my gaze on the old man.

    "... I''m the only one left."

    ''Ah, I see...'' He used an interesting choice of words there.

    "What happened to the others? They left for the Zenith, didn''t they?"

    "H-how did you know?"

    "It''s obvious. I''m guessing they offered your Hunters a more enticing deal than you people in the Hunter Association. Besides, since the Zenith is also meant to protect the lives of the people as a public organization, they aren''t viting their contract."

    In fact, one would say they were adhering to it.

    "Your country, as well as the other countries, are under the Zenith. If your Hunters choose to switch boats, they aren''t jumping from one boat to another, but are simply leaving a small canoe that is aboard a massive ship."

    That was what described this situation best.

    "You are right." The Chairman sighed, his hands trembling a little.

    "Unfortunately, we''ve passed the point of no return. That''s why Miss Vida is so important to this country. So far, she has helped out in many Dungeon Break incidents, and she has also assisted in Dungeons. We owe her a lot."

    It was a shame that Kuzon and I had now arrived to take her away. I could see the glimmer in the eyes of the Chairman as he spoke.

    Clearly, he had the same worries I thought he did.

    ''Without Aloe, these people will be sitting ducks. And judging from the worried expression of the Chairman, it seems there''s still more to be done¡ªprobably even bigger than anything this far.''

    I could already make a guess. However, until he was willing to talk, it was best I kept my mouth shut.

    "Thank you for all the information, as well as your hospitality."

    "Haha, it''s no problem. You all could have chosen to cause us problems, but you decided not to. I am thankful for that." The Chairman rose to his feet to shake us.

    ''I can sense his fears and worries. He''s concerned for his people, isn''t he?'' My thoughts echoed as I gripped his hand for a handshake.

    ''Forgive me, Chairman. I have to do this.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 944 Grave Disaster

    Our handshake concluded, and it was Kuzon''s turn.

    He also shook the chairman, not showing a hint of pleasantry or disgust.

    It seemed like he just didn''t care.

    "Once Miss Vida is done with her mission, we''ll contact you. In the meantime, we will show you to the suites you''ll be lodged in. Of course, it''s up to you if you want to¡ª"

    "Thank you. We don''t mind at all." I gave a smile and nodded at the Chairman.

    Kuzon and I followed Director Baek out of the room, leaving only the Chairman seated there.

    A lot seemed to be going on in his mind, and while I was probably not the only one who noticed, no one showed any intention of doing anything.

    ''It''s in times like these that people should be given time alone, I suppose.''

    *

    *

    *

    Chairman Sung Do Gong sighed as he stared emptily into the nk space before him.

    He was all alone in the vast conference room, causing a lonely feeling crept up on his aging heart even more.

    ''Looks like we''re in quite a mess.'' His thoughts echoed.

    South Korea had a very positive start, especially considering how many other nations had it worse when it came to the arrival of Dimensional Energy.

    Unfortunately, with the constant poaching of the Zenith, and the increased risks of the Dungeons, the danger levels began to skyrocket.

    They seriouslycked manpower, and it was incredibly difficult to generate more Hunters to join theirbor force.

    Considering how they required the purest kind of Dimensional Energy to inject into people in order to produce the safest, most assured result, it took a long time to generate a dosage.

    Theycked the manpower to mine more from high-tier Dungeons, since majority of the Hunters were too focused fighting with their lives on the line to ensure there was no Dungeon Break.

    That was why more focus was given to the Boss than the actual resources they could obtain.

    ''And even if we do secure the Energy needed, then what?''

    Being a Hunter in South Korea was synonymous to courting death these days.

    The mortality rate had risen by over sixty percent just this year alone, and it was constantly on the upward slope.

    Many citizens were reluctant to sign up for such a job that made death almost guaranteed for them.

    ''Its why Han Soo decided to y his part as a Hunter despite being a weak one...''

    Chairman Sung worried for his grandson, but he also held deep love and respect for him.

    ''After his father died a Hunter, he''s pursuing the same path. He has that fiery spirit. If only he had morepatibility...''

    Sung Han Soo had the makings of a hero. His ideals and determination already made him a very strong moral warrior.

    It was just unfortunate that he was weak.

    "I''m thankful that Miss Vida saved his life. If not, I would have lost myst remaining family member..." He whispered.

    These were dangerous times¡ªfar more dangerous than the public were led to believe.

    ''The Shadows of Light... those bastards keep striking us where it hurts the most.''

    The worst part was that they were Awakened humans, most likely renegade Hunters who chose to remove themselves from the System.

    However, with the increasing number of Awakened criminals, even down to the Brokers, the situation wasn''t so simple any longer.

    There was a growing suspicion that an alternate means to be Awakened, besides going through the Hunter Association, existed.

    If that was the case, it would spell doom for the nation''s security.

    Unfortunately, the Hunters who could solve these problems were already spread to thin..Everyone was too busy dealing with Gates and Dungeon Breaks that they hardly had time for anything else.

    ''If only we had more powerful Hunters...'' Chairman Sung knew he couldn''t even think so naively any longer.

    If an S ss was Awakened in South Korea, the Zenith wouldn''t let the matter die down. Since they had ess to every nation''s information, Chairman Sung couldn''t bypass their oversight function without resorting to illegal or unapproved means.

    That would only serve to further implicate the Hunter Association and sully his country''s name.

    He couldn''t afford to do that.

    ''Fortunately, they don''t know about Miss Vida yet.'' And he had nned on making things remain that way.

    Unfortunately, even their final bright ray of hope was beginning to crumble.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Herrades are here to take her away. Damnit..."

    He knew he had no right to try and keep someone like her in his country. He knew it was very selfish of him to even think of it.

    Yet... yet... Chairman Sung was desperate.

    ''The two S ss Gates that we just detected... I can''t stop them alone.''

    They could request help from the Zenith or other nations, but that would mean the division of the profit gained.

    And at the moment, the country desperately needed the returns from Dungeon exploration.

    ''We tried to hold on to the SS ss Monster Core for as long as we could, but since we don''t have enough information and technology to properly implement it, we had no choice but to lend it to the Zenith for economic gain.''

    That was how badly they required finds. It had be a big mess.

    ''Will those two give us more time? At least, until the situation stabilizes. I''m not sure, but maybe I can try to reason with them?''

    While it seemed like one named Jared Leonard was very reasonable and courteous, the other one called Kuzon Midas didn''t appear to care for their world.

    It created a conflict of interest, and the Chairman feared that even the ones who could be willing to showpassion would rather listen to theirrades than help total strangers.

    "Haa... I''m at my wits end here." He sighed once more.

    He knew South Korea''s situation wasn''t unique. A couple of other nations had spoken of the same issues, and he suspected that a lot more were keeping theirs hidden.

    And while all of these were uring, The Zenith kept expanding.

    ''Was it a mistake to try unifying the world?'' He couldn''t help but think to himself.

    Whatever the case may have been, it was quote literally toote for regrets.

    "I can only hope to¡ª"

    >DING!<

    >DING!<

    >DING!<

    Chairman Sung instantly ceased his murmurs and stared at his ring watch with bulging eyes.

    His brows twitched and his face instantly morphed into that of worry.

    "N-no way..." With a quivering voice and a look of sheer anxiety, his thoughts exploded.

    "A Dungeon Break?!"

    That was just the start of the terrible news, though.

    By expanding the screen of his watch to form a holographic panel in front of him, Chairman Sung could see the location of the uring disaster.

    "N-no..."

    It was uring in Busan, which would take anyone from Headquarters a great amount of time to reach.

    "Our Hunters there can''t handle it alone!"

    That was because the Gate that existed there wasn''t a mere B or even A ss Gate.

    "An S ss Dungeon Break!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 945 Dungeon Break [Pt 1]

    "Your lodging will be in the Hunter Association Headquarters, but do not worry. We have prepared the finest suite for the two of you, worthy of even the VIPs that we receive as guests."

    I didn''t trust Director Baek''s words. Considering how well they spoke of Aloe, and the assumption that we weren''t inferior to her, it was only natural that the Hunter Association went this far for us.

    "We assumed that the two of you would prefer staying together, so we prepared a three-room  suite. It''s grand, with..."

    As Director Baek kept exining more about the suite, my thoughts were elsewhere.

    Slowly, a smile formed on my face, and my gaze tilted backward.

    ''Looks like it''s about time...''

    "PLEASE WAIT!" A voice suddenly sounded from behind us.

    It was a familiar tone, though itcked the finesse and calmness that I previously attributed to it.

    We all turned in response to the man who called for us, witnessing an elderly man who was sweating as he looked at us.

    "C-Chairman?!" Director Baek looked in surprise, while Kuzon also seemed a bit surprised by this development.

    It was to be expected, considering the length he went to in order to keep his dignity as Chairman, and the pride of the Hunter Association.

    To think such a man would look so ragged now was something one could consider unexpected.

    "The Gates... there is a new development..." Despite talking about Hunter business, Chairman Sung''s gaze was on Kuzon and I, though¡ªspecifically me.

    "What do you mean by that sir?"

    "A Dungeon Break. An S ss one!"

    Director Baek instantly stiffened as soon as he heard this. His body shook considerably, and sweet appeared on his face.

    "I didn''t get a beep on my device, so that means it isn''t in Seoul. T-then¡ª"

    "It''s in Busan. I''ve already informed the Hunters here to begin preparations for backup, but... we won''t get there nearly on time."

    It was no wonder the Chairman was worried. This was a catastrophe!

    "Why are you telling us this?" Kuzon''s voice leaked out, his deadpan expression once again giving away the fact that he didn''t care.

    "P-please... help us. I know it''s shameless for me to ask you of this, but please. Please help us this once."

    From the grave tone of the Chairman, the Hunters in Busan weren''t strong enough to handle an S ss Dungeon Break by themselves.

    His earlier exnation also gave the impression that the Hunters were already spread too thin. Most of them would be in Dungeons, or getting treatment after venturing into a Dungeon. That meant they would be highly understaffed.

    ''Plus, there''s only one S ss Hunter left in Korea.''

    That already spelled doom for Busan. In such a situation, I could understand why the Chairman was so worried.

    ''In this world, while they have fast means of transportation, there''s no Teleportation.'' In fact, Magic didn''t really exist here.

    Just Special Abilities.

    "Fine. We''ll help you." I finally spoke, realizing there wasn''t really any point in wasting time deliberating on the matter.

    My mind had long been made up.

    "What do you think, Kuzon? Should I go alone?" I smiled at my dear Midas partner.

    "Haa, whatever. I''lle along. I want to experience this S ss Dungeon Break myself anyway."

    I smiled at him, d he took me up on my offer. Kuzon was a very fickle individual, who simply did whatever he wanted to do.

    So far he had been very cooperative. That was a very big relief.

    "Alright, then. Let''s go."

    Utilizing the Arcana Spell of [The Tower], which I had already mastered without the use of my Original Magic, I instantly created a blue warp in space around me and Kuzon.

    "See you guys soon."

    >VWUUUMMM<

    And so, with the warbling hum, Kuzon and I vanished from the premises.

    ''Ah, I forgot to ask for the coordinates...'' I found my thoughts trailing as we traversed through space.

    Well, it didn''t really matter. I already knew where we were heading.

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    *

    *

    "T-they really are amazing..." Chairman Sung whispered, seeing how the two beings were right in front of him one second, and the next, they were already long gone.

    He was in sincere awe.

    "What should we do now, Chairman?"

    "Inasmuch as we trust those two, we have to y our part. We are still the Hunter Association of Korea. Gather the Hunters that are avable, and prepare the equipments we require. Even if it''s danger control, or backup, we need to help out in one way or the other."

    Chairman Sung didn''t want to seem like a helpless pushover in front of their heroes.

    ''Besides, we need to at least make some effort into trying to help, else it will appear suspicious.''

    In the end, Jared Leonard and Kuzon Midas were unaffiliated with the Hunter Association.

    That made thempletely private individuals.

    "As the Association that protects the public, we must y our part."

    It was with this rationale that Chairman Sung and Director Beak moved into action, determined to do whatever they could to save the people of Busan.

    *

    *

    *

    [Shopping District, Busan, South Korea]

    "Hold the fort!"

    "Don''t let them get past the barricade!"

    "Tch! They''re too strong!"

    "Where''s backup?"

    "On their way!"

    "We need more hands on deck!"

    "KEUK!!!"

    "ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    The shouts and screams of the Hunters of Busan echoed loudly in the particrly popte district where the Dungeon Break had unfortunately manifested.

    Usually Gates had to have been active for a week before Dungeon Breaks ured, but recently, there had been strange cases of  Dungeon Breaks that defied this rule.

    The S ss Dungeon Break before them was one of such.

    "We''re still evacuating the citizens. Don''t let up on the barrier!" The leader of the assault team yelled, his sharp gaze on the influx of monsters that were pouring out of therge Gate in front of them.

    Despite his energetic words of optimism, even he knew it was impossible to win in this situation.

    ''Are we all going to die here?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 946 Dungeon Break [Pt 2]

    "ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"

    The air in Busan was thick with tension as the Gateway, a swirling vortex of otherworldly energy, crackled with an eerie luminescence.

    Emerging from its depth were a torrent of nightmarish creatures, their grotesque forms silhouetted against the fading sunlight.

    "Grand Orcs..." These were the strongest kind of Orcs recorded in the Hunter database, and there were hundreds pouring out of the Gate without pause.

    The Busan Hunters, elite in their own right, still considered their inadequacy as they stood their ground against the emerging monsters.

    As the guardians of their city, they couldn''t let up now.

    "CHAAAARRRGGEEEEEE!!!" The roaring echoes of their Commander''s voice instantly resonated within them, and they all sprang into action, their faces etched with determination but tinged with trepidation.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Their first barrage, filled with the full force of the defensive line drawn by the Hunters, ultimately ended in failure.

    "Damnit..." The Commander groaned at himself.

    Commander Lee, a Veteran A ss Hunter, with grizzled features and amanding presence, surveyed the chaos unfolding before him.

    His heart sank as he witnessed hisrades, armed with an array of unique abilities and advanced gears, being ruthlessly overpowered by the overwhelming horde of monsters.

    The ground shook beneath the weight of their advance, and the once vibrant cityscape of Busan now resembled a war-torn wastnd.

    Without hesitation, Commander Lee barked out orders, his voice cutting through the cacophony of battle.

    "Form defensive lines! Hold the line at all costs! We cannot let these abominations overrun us!"

    The Hunters, battered and bruised, rallied around their leader, summoning theirst reserves of strength.

    Themander''s eyes flickered with a mix of apprehension and determination as he unsheathed his gleaming sword. With each swing, he carved a path through the grotesque horde, his movements fluid and calcted.

    Hisbat skills were honed through years of experience, but the sheer magnitude of the onught threatened to overwhelm even his formidable prowess.

    "Skill Activation: <Full Burst!>

    Instantly, his whole body was shrouded in misty white light. His eyes glowed brightly, and every aspect of himself intensified in power.

    With this, perhaps he would stand a chance...

    "ROOOOOOOOOAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!"

    A monstrous creature, towering over the rest, charged at Commander Lee with an ear-splitting roar. Its leathery wings unfurled, casting a shadow that blotted out the fading sunlight.

    "An Evolved Grand Orc?!" Shock radiated his face to see such a terrifyingnd creature gaining the ability of flight.

    ''Damnit! Damn it all!''

    Themander gritted his teeth and braced himself, steeling his resolve. He parried the creature''s bone-shattering blow, his muscles straining under the force. The sh of steel echoed through the air, a testament to the intensity of the struggle.

    "Guh!" Recoiling from the pressure, he leaped far away, using the force he had built up to spin fight into the sky.

    "Skill Activation: <Heaven Rendering Strike!>

    With a full-powered swing, he managed to behead the massive beast.

    "Haaa... haaa..."

    Unfortunately, Commander Lee had no chance to rest.

    "GRRRRRRRRR...."

    "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR..."

    "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRFRRRRRRR..."

    More of the Evolved Grand Orcs emerged from the Gate, almost as if there was an unlimited amount of them.

    "Damn it all!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Once again, he pushed himself to battle, never failing to strike and sh his way through the monster horde.

    With the barrier rendered ineffective, they were thest line of defense that stood between the monsters and the evacuating citizens.

    So many had been injured, and the Commander knew a lot of the Hunters were already dead.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Still, he couldn''t stop his body from moving and attacking.

    "Dieeeeee!"

    >SWOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    Blood stained thendscape, both those of the monster and hisrades.

    Yet, for every monster that fell beneath themander''s de, two more took its ce. The Hunters fought valiantly, their powers unleashed in a desperate bid to stem the tide, but they were outnumbered and outmatched. The once proud defenders of Busan were reduced to a harried, retreating force.

    "They''re too much. At this rate..."

    As the relentless horde closed in, Commander Lee''s heart weighed heavy with the weight of defeat.

    He nced over the beleaguered city, its streets littered with rubble and the screams of the terrified echoing in his ears.

    ''They already broke past our defensive formation. Shit!''

    The people he had desperately tried to protect were inevitably going to fall prey to the monsters, and he could do nothing to stop them.

    All within the span of minutes, all of this catastrophe had been wrought.

    This was the danger that an S ss Dungeon Break brought.

    "Is this the end?" he wondered, a flicker of despair clouding his steely gaze.

    The monsters wouldy waste to Busan at this rate.

    The innocent citizens would die, and the death of hisrades would have been in vain.

    Was that really what he wanted?

    ''NO!'' Even amidst the chaos, a spark of determination ignited within themander''s heart.

    He knew that he had to rally his forces, to inspire them to fight with every ounce of strength they had left. With a resolute voice, he called out, "To thest breath, myrades! We will not let Busan fall! Our city, our home, will not be devoured by these monstrosities!"

    His words resounded through the ranks, filling the air with a renewed sense of purpose. The Hunters, battered and bruised, found strength in theirmander''s unwavering resolve. With a collective battle cry, theyunched a final, desperate charge against the horde, pushing back against the encroaching darkness.

    "Alright, that''s enough." A strange voice suddenly echoed in the air.

    And in the split second that the Hunters tried to unravel the mysterious sound...

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Lightning filled bursts of golden energy descended from the sky, shattering the earth and instantly vaporizing the group of Evolved Grand Orcs that had gathered there.

    In one single strike, all of them were annihted.

    "A-ah...??" Commander Lee''s jaws dropped in disbelief.

    He couldn''t believe it, but, could it be that¡ª?!

    "You can rest easy now, Commander." A blond teenager floated down from the sky, donning a white cloak, and looking coolly at the horde of monsters.

    "Backup has arrived."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 947 Godlike Power [Pt 1]

    Kuzon and I arrived a bitte, and we witnessed a bit of the struggle the Hunters went through.

    It didn''tst very long, though, as my dear Midas friend decided to finally intervene.

    In a rather shy descent, Kuzon destroyed both thend around him and the monsters that upied saidnd, electrifying everything with his golden burst of energy.

    Rather than follow his example at an overwhelming entrance, I calmly approached the Commander and gave my calmest smile.

    "You can rest now, Commander. Backup has arrived."

    With that, I used [The Star] to control the bodies of the Hunters in close proximity to the monsters, drawing then away from the savage bunch.

    Once that was done, I used [The Pope] to create a massive dome around the Gate and monsters, ensuring none of them could get past the walls I made.

    "W-who are you...?" The Commander behind me finally managed to mutter, his eyes bulging in shock at the many things I was able to achieve in mere moments.

    By forcefully retreating the soldiers and creating a barrier to contain the chaos, I ensured there would be no more casualties on the chaotic battlefield.

    He was probably impressed by that.

    "Just think of me as someone you can trust. Gather all the Hunters and take a look around. There could be innocent civilians under the rubble. Ensure they are taken care of, and ensure the area is clear of any innocent. I assume you understand what that means, don''t you?"

    "Y-yes. I get it." He nodded at me almost instantly.

    Rather than allow him time to ask me so many question, it was better to keep him busy with more work.

    "My partner and I will handle the monsters. Ensure you and your men do your jobs well too."

    With thatst statement of mine, I flew away from the monster horde.

    I could hear stutters from the Commander, uttering words akin to "Thank you."

    Seeing the clouded expression on his face brighten up brought a small smile to my face.

    It wasn''t a bad feeling at all.

    *

    *

    *

    "Cmander... who was that?"

    "They look like foreigners."

    "Are they from the Zenith?"

    Commander Lee heard his subordinates specting and murmuring among themselves.

    He wished he could answer their queries, but he was just as confused as they were. There was no news about backup from the Zenith, so he couldn''t conclusively say they were responsible.

    ''But... which other Country has people they can easily dispatch to another ce like this?"

    Judging by the lightning strike from the heavens that the golden-haired teenager used, and the gravity powers coupled with the barrier the blonde used, they were most definitely S ss Adventurers.

    ''And at such a young age too.'' There was no doubt on his mind that they were rare talents.

    The type that the Zenith would want for themselves.

    ''But why have I never heard of them, nor seen them before?''

    The answer eluded him. However, before he had the chance to further explore his thoughts, duty called.

    "There''s no time to ck around! Search high and low, and be thorough with your search. Ensure there are no civilians caught in the chaos!"

    This was the only thing he and his subordinates could do.

    And so, while they ensured the people were safe and sound, Commander Lee hoped that the two strangers would help save their city.

    ''Please, heroes...'' With that fleeting thought, themander joined in the search.

    *

    *

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "What took you so long?" Kuzon asked me as I appeared beside him in a sh.

    "Was talking with the Commander a little. I also used Spellcraft to handle a bit of the loose ends."

    This world had energy floating around, albeit thinnerpared to my original one. However, thanks to the Dungeon Break, dimensional energy was flowing quite abundantly.

    Tapping into it was no problem.

    "Looks like the monsters keep pouring out of the Gate. How do you want to handle this?" Kuzon asked.

    "It''ll be too boring, and pointless, if we eliminate them before they manage to rear their ugly heads. Let''s just defeat them as theye." I responded with a smile.

    There was something else, and I wondered if Kuzon had already realized it.

    ~You realize we''re being watched, right? By those guys in those suspicious ck robes.~

    I smiled once I heard his thoughts.

    ''So you noticed. As expected.''

    ~Seems like you n on doing nothing about them. Why? They''re most likely the ones behind this incident. I suspect that they''re¡ª~

    ''Shadows of Light. Your hunch is most likely right. Though there''s something else...''

    The monsters beneath us were already growling impatiently, some pounding on the barrier I made in a futile attempt to leave.

    ''In any case, just ignore them. Right now, our focus should be the eradication of the monsters here.''

    ~Oh? Want to make it a contest?~ Kuzon grinned, an excited gleam showing in his eyes.

    ''A contest? Really? Wouldn''t this be too easy?''

    "GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR..." As soon as I sent my telepathic message, a beastly growl suddenly echoed in the vicinity.

    Kuzon and I took our gazes to the sound''s origin, and we found the most interesting sight thus far.

    Emerging from the open Gate was a massive creature¡ªdark green, with bulging muscles and spikes protruding from its skin.

    His body was well guarded with heavy metal-like armor, and its glowing red eyes showed how immersed it was in its primal instinct.

    It had a terribly deadly club on one hand, and a battle axe on the other, standing over five meters tall.

    "ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"

    The murderous roar of the beast incited all the other Orcs, causing them all to re in our direction, leaking out reddish energy from their bodies.

    Nowmanding the horde of creatures, the Boss grinned in perverse delight, licking it''s ugly lips in anticipation.

    It amused me.

    "Looks like that''s the Boss." A chuckle escaped my mouth.

    "I call dibs."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 948 Godlike Power [Pt 2]

    "[Blitz: Cloak Model]" I grinned, instantly shrouding myself in a golden lightning cloak.

    "That''s simr to my¡ª"

    "Yeah. Exactly."

    Without wasting much time in response, Iunched myself at the Boss Monster, leaving the rest of the small fries for Kuzon to handle.

    Knowing him, he would take care of them all in no time. Perhaps he could even do it in a shorter time, but we sort of established an unspoken rule to only use our base abilities.

    Which meant... no Arcana abilities or transformations like Mage Mode.

    Certainly no Original Magic.

    ''This doesn''t count since I''m just covering myself in a Spell.''

    I was constantly exploring the various applications of my existent Spells, so this variation was something that I had developed in my head, but hadn''t gotten the chance to use.

    ''Blitz is abination of Light and Lightning Magic. Using those properties on myself will make me much faster than normal, and it''ll also improve my damage potential.''

    In a sh, I was already face to face with the Grand Orc Boss, watching it''s disgusting lips curl up in a stupid grin.

    "GRRRRRRUUUUUUU!!!"

    Lifting it''s heavy club to pummel me to the ground, it rushed toward me with immense ferocity.

    >BOOOOMMMM!!!<

    Rather than the club shattering my bones and forcefully sending me falling, the entire thing shattered in that hit.

    "G-GURUUUU?!"

    "Pathetic." I smiled at the shocked Monster.

    Its trembling hand dropped the remnant of its broken weapon, instead grabbing the axe on his grasp with both his hands.

    A fierce look of determination formed on its face and the weapon was wildly flung in my direction.

    The beast must have had the expectations that I would be cut down by such a dull and crude de, but¡ª

    >KLANG!<

    The contact of my fist with the giant axe only led to the thetter shattering and breaking apart.

    ''Well, I did use a bit of Strengthening nd Protective Magic, just in case, but it''s as expected...''

    The Axe seemed to have some Mana emanating from it, but it was hardly worth much.

    ''This world would consider it a Magic Item, though, and it''ll fetch for a great price. It''s really...'' I almost sighed in exasperation.

    In any case, that was an irrelevant distraction. My focus returned to the Boss Monster.

    ''Now that you have no weapons, what will you do?''

    "ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!" Ah, of course... it was going to roar.

    As soon as it concluded it''s roar, its slimy green skin began pouring out ominous dark red energy.

    Like blood, but even more malevolent, the energy seeped out of its skin, and it''s rageful face became even more ominous.

    It''s muscles twitched, and then bulged. It''s size also seemed to be increasing at a rapid pace.

    ''So this is it''s trump card, huh?''

    In a mere couple of seconds, the Boss had transformed into twice it''s initial size, now a giant that stood ten meters tall.

    It had horns now, and its skin was bright red, with ck tattoos all over it.

    ''Its more akin to a Demon than and Orc now...'' I gave a smirk of amusement.

    I noticed a glow in its mouth, and instantly understood it was going for a breath attack.

    ''There''s no harm in seeing it try, but... naaa!'' I generated a barrier around it''s face, causing the breath attack it burst out to backfire, damaging it''s ugly facade instead.

    "GUUUURRRRRRAAAAHHHHH!!!"

    It''s deafening cry did not bother me in the slightest.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I simply watched it recover from the smoky most that enveloped it''s face.

    I could see some of its bones peeking out, but they were soon covered by flesh thanks to its healing factor.

    ''Interesting.'' It brought a lot of thoughts to my mind.

    Was the Boss'' healing factor unlimited? If not, how long would itst before reaching it''s limits.

    My guess was that it had to do with its Mana capacity, and so far it seemed like the monster still had a lot.

    ''Maybe stalling and letting it wear itself out would be a nice way to go about it, but I''ve grown bored already.''

    I smiled, raising my hand a little. "[Blitz: Spear Model]."

    Instantly, a bright golden lightning spear formed on my open hand. It sparkled and called, leaking out pure destructive power.

    "Perfect." I gripped in tightly, already aiming at my choice location.

    ''I don''t want to damage the Monster Core since it''ll be useful to these people, so maybe...''

    The Boss Monster roared once more, leaping at me in a futile attempt at revenge. Unfortunately for the poor soul, it''s life was practically over.

    "Hut!" I flexed my muscles andunched the Blitz Spear, sending it charging in an unstoppable straight line.

    >WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!<

    Like a stroke of golden light, or more akin to a single horizontal line of ascending lightning, the spear pierced the Boss''s head, electrocuting it''s entire body, while exploding right at the center of its brain.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    In a massive burst of Blitz, the Boss Monster lost its head, and it''s entire body''s nerve connections and synapses exploded beyond repair.

    In short... it was my victory.

    "Fuuu... now that it''s over, what about Kuzon?" I smiled, looking around me.

    What else did I expect from him? As soon as I observed my surroundings, I realized that all the other Orcs were long dead.

    Not a single one was left alive.

    ''Hm? Looks like the Gate is closing...'' The portal began shrinking in size, a testament that we won.

    I disabled my Magic Buffs, descending to observe the dead monsters. It seemed they were all electrocuted to death.

    "Looks like you''re done on your end too." Kuzon suddenly appeared before me, a confident smile locked on his face.

    "Pretty much."

    "Pfft. Showoff." He grinned wider. "Still, I wonder what would happen if we had another rematch."

    I didn''t know if Kuzon was making a subtle challenge, or simply giving a statement of curiosity. However...

    "I wonder what would happen indeed."

    ... He wasn''t the only curious one among us.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 949 A Constellations Thought

    Kuzon had been watching Jared''sckluster fight with the Boss Monster while he easily took care of the mobs.

    Using [Dark Lightning Surge] a couple of times was enough to kill all of them. He would have used a stronger Area Of Effect Spell, but he was worried about damaging the Cores, so he went lighter.

    While he did this, though, he had a fleeting thought.

    ''I wonder who''s stronger between the both of us now...''

    It was a thought he didn''t know how to properly resolve. As such, he involved someone he would have normally liked to be quiet.

    ... His Familiar, the Leo Constetion.

    ~You''re stronger, of course. You have me¡ªa Constetion.~

    As expected, Leo''s response was very biased.

    ~I''m being serious. Hecks the raw power and potential you have thanks to my presence. The amount of Aether I possess alone is more than mere humans can gather in multiple lifetimes.~

    That''s right. Kuzon knew this quite well already, thanks to his training with Crazy Neron.

    Other than Aether herself, the Constetions were known to be the ones that had the most Aether.

    It was too vast to be properly quantified.

    ~Of course, since you''re limited, there''s only a certain amount you can tap into. And, there, I think, does the problem lie.~

    ''Hm? What do you mean by that?'' Kuzon''s face twisted a bit in apprehension.

    ~As much as I''m sure you have more raw power and Aether reserve than your friend over there, it''s still uncertain who would win in a fight.~

    ''Oh?''

    ~That man has a higher proficiency in using Magic than you. He can use everything in his arsenal with far higher efficiency. His fighting prowess and intelligence exceeds yours as well. Then... there''s the issue of the Arcanas.~

    Sure, Kuzon couldn''t be harmed thanks to his Arcana''s effects, and he could alsomand others thanks to his second¡ªwell, first to be exact¡ªone.

    However...

    ~Jared has all the Arcana Spells, including yours. It''s possible to void your effects if he utilizes the Spells properly.~

    ''Hold on... for real?!''

    ~Yes. And with his knack for tweaking Magic, I''m sure he will begin tk make improvements and changes to the Spells as time goes on.~

    "I see..." Kuzon slowly found his thoughts leaking out.

    ~The fact that he was able to synchronize his Arcanas with any world''s frequency without the guidance of someone, unlike you, shows the vast difference in your abilities. I''d say you have the advantage... because of me... but as time goes on, the gap will only increase.~

    Kuzon didn''t know what to feel at this point. He considered Jared a friend, and someone he respected simply based on their simrities and differences.

    However, if there was something that was integral to their rtionship, it was the hierarchy.

    Kuzon had always been the stronger one.

    ''I don''t want to lose to him.'' His thoughts echoed stubbornly.

    ~Hehe! That''s the spirit. I guess you should work on getting used to my power. Maybe start developing your Primeval Magic too.~

    Kuzon could only nod at the Constetion''s words.

    He could stop Jared from catching up to him by simply putting in more effort into his own development.

    ''Looks like I''ll need to get even stronger.''

    *

    *

    *

    While dwelling within Kuzon, The Constetion Leo sighed to himself.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Of course, he made sure his thoughts weren''t visible to Kuzon, so he could have an internal session in privacy.

    He also shut out Kuzon''s thoughts so he could have a quiet ambiance in his vicinity.

    ''That Jared... he''s really something.'' Leo''s thoughts echoed in his domain.

    Inasmuch as he treated the subject so flippantly, it was an incredible feat for Jared to have synchronized his Arcana Spells, which would make him nearly invincible in his original world, to other worlds.

    This was the kind of crazy nonsense he would have expected from Neron, but not a second-hand Singrity.

    ''He''s definitely surpassing our expectations.''

    The first time Leo and the other Constetions really noticed Jared was during his fight with the Nether.

    After Jared nearly concluded the fight by harnessing the power in his universe, their interests were already piqued.

    Of course Leo realized Aether was assisting him by possessing his body, but it was still incredible¡ªespecially since Aether had only ever possessed two others in the history of existence.

    ''Merlin and Neron.'' Those two were hot cake among the Constetions, yet Aether chose a nobody as her third.

    It clearly meant Jared was special.

    ''The only reason none of the Constetions have approached him yet is because of Neron.''

    Neron overshadowed Jared, and since the two were close to each other, they often preferred Neron.

    However, it didn''t mean they hadpletely lost interest in Jared at all.

    It only meant they were keeping their eyes out for him.

    What surprised Leo the most, however, was that Jared had even attracted the attention of ''that'' one, as they all often referred to their most entric sibling.

    ''She''s also looking at him, huh? That''s a surprise...''

    She was someone who never even bothered with Neron.

    Her and Old Man Neron never got along, even when the other Constetions settled for a truce contract with him.

    ''Even though I am selective of Hosts, I have had quite a couple of them since existence started.''

    However,  this Constetion was the was the only one that had never chosen a single Host since her dawn.

    ''I wonder... what''ll happen to him. Will she choose him? Or will it be nothing more than fleeting interest?''

    It was something Leo looked forward to more than anything else.

    After all, Constetions existed to find Hosts and serve them, and this particr one considered herself pure and unsullied¡ªa virgin in every right.

    The moment she found someone to dedicate herself to... their bond would be eternally transcendent.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 950 Two Heroes

    "Those two... just who are they?"

    By the time the Busan Hunters returned to the scene of destruction, after ensuring the safety of every single citizen, they were met with a corpse party.

    All the Monsters were dead, without any discrimination.

    There was hardly any struggle orrge-scale battle here.

    It was simply a massacre.

    ''This is amazing! This is such good news for the Association!'' Commander Lee smiled, his widening eyes growing even further in sheer disbelief.

    The profit gained from this alone, especially from the Boss Monster, would go a long way to alleviate the financial burden they had been experiencing for so long.

    Still, the fact that the two strangers were the ones who took care of most of the monsters, it was only obvious that they would be taking a bulk of the profit.

    They would have to pay Tax, but still... it wasn''t the same as the Association having the rights to the total profits.

    Commander Leepletely understood how things were, though. It was thew, and it was only right that the one who hunted should have the right to their prey.

    The most important thing now was that the Dungeon Break had finally been extinguished.

    ''It''s a shame that a lot of myrades had to suffer death and grievous harm to make this a reality...'' His thoughts trailed.

    "Have you calcted the total number of civilian deaths and injuries? What about the same figures for our Hunters?" Commander Lee turned to the Hunter that approached from behind.

    "W-well, about that..."

    "Just give it to me straight. I want to know." He gritted his teeth as he spoke.

    While all that happened was nothing short of a miracle, the staggering deaths that were bound to result from this venture would be nothing short of heartbreaking.

    "T-the thing is... there are none who are injured or dead, sir."

    "What?"

    "We checked thoroughly. We couldn''t find a single dead or injured. We''re currently doing a head count for the Hunters, since we know how many were dispatched, and their information. So far, it seems all of us are ounted for."

    "H-how is this possible...?" Commander Lee muttered.

    It was impossible! He had heard sounds of hisrades dying. He had definitely heard their screeches and desperate screams.

    Sure, he was busy killing the monsters to focus on a single one, but he was certain there were fatalities.

    And yet...

    "Are you serious?" He muttered.

    "I am, sir. As for the civilians, er have t found a single corpse or injured body. At this point, it''s very doubtful that there are any."

    It all sounded very unreal. In the history of Dungeon Breaks, there hadn''t been a single S ss disaster that didn''t leave a trail of dead bodies in its wake.

    This was literally the first time he had ever heard of something so ridiculous.

    "I-I see. Well, keep doing the head count and all of that. Is there anything else you have to report?" He spoke, a tired smile on his face.

    He had seen way too many miracles today to remain the same.

    "Yes sir. We found this letter drifting in the air, covered in some sort of energy. Its addressed to you, Commander."

    The Hunter handed over a letter to him, and sure enough, it was addressed at a "Commander Lee."

    "This is my name... yeah... well, thanks." He could hardly make coherent statements at this point.

    His mind was too muddled with thoughts and assumptions at this point.

    What was real? What wasn''t? He could hardly figure it out.

    That is, until he read the letter.

    ****

    ~Commander Lee;

    You should know who this letter is from. Just wanted to inform you that we have no interest in the spoils, so just treat them as the Hunter Association''s property.

    We''re unaffiliated with your country, or other countries, so just think of us as individuals who wanted to test our strength... or something like that.

    I certainly hope you, and everyone else, end up being okay.

    This shouldn''t be a time for mourning, after all.

    That''s all I wanted to say. Good work today.~

    *****

    Seeing the contents of the letter brought a trembling sensation to Commander Lee''s body, and he found himself covering his mouth and stifling his gasp.

    "It was... them? They... but how?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Healing abilities? Resurrection abilities? The first was extremely rare, and the second didn''t exist.

    "But if they''re Healers, they wouldn''t have had such amazing offensive abilities."

    Everyone knew Hunters specialized in certain fields based on their sses.

    Commander Lee was a Warrior, specialized as a Swordsman. He had most of his abilities stacked in that respect.

    ''A Healer of this level... shouldn''t have been able to defeat so many monsters.''

    Just the two of them were enough to handle an S ss Dungeon Break.

    They imed not to belong to any nation or group, which made sense since Lee would have heard of them if that hadn''t been the case.

    "Haha... what an absurd miracle." He couldn''t think of any other world to describe what he had just experienced

    Still, despite his relief, his curiosity remained persistent.

    ''Just... who are they?''

    *

    *

    *

    In arge expanse filled with luxuries all covered in darkness, two figures entered, bowing to greet a third person who was already in the room.

    He was seared on a morous sofa, he legs crossed and resting on a footstool. He also had a wine in his hand, and a blue glow radiating from his eyes

    "Boss... the mission failed." One of the men said, his tone sounding grave.

    "..." The seated one said nothing

    "There were some unforeseen elements that disrupted the n. Two strangers appeared out of nowhere to¡ª"

    "I understand." The deep voice of their leader caused the men to instantly keep their mouths shut.

    He snapped his fingers, and suddenly, a holographic screen appeared in front of him, visible also to the two who trembled in his presence.

    "I saw it all." The man smiled. "These two..."

    The screen in front of him disyed two heroes fending off the attack of the monsters spilling out of a Gate.

    Their attacks packed heavy punches, and their blows were destructive.

    "... It seems we''ll need to make a few changes."

    His grin grew wider. "You watched them from your safe distance, didn''t you? What do you think of their power?"

    For a brief moment, there was tense silence.

    "They were incredibly powerful, easily S Rank. However..."

    "They won''t be a match for us¡ªthe Seven Stars of the Shadows of Light."

    The man nodded, his grin expanding even further.

    "Good. Well then, I suppose it''s time.for your next assignment."

    Dropping his wine cup while interlocking his hands, he began exuding the authority and power befitting the leader of the Shadows Of Light.

    The light in his eyes flickered with malevolence, and his voice rang deep and hollow as he spoke.

    "Eliminate them."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Bad guys alert!

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 Chapter 951 Instant Celebrities

    "We''re back!"

    Kuzon and I appeared in the Hunter Association Headquarters, meeting the Chairman and Director about to leave for somewhere on an aircraft after gathering their men and preparing all their gear.

    Since I sensed them on the roof of the massive building, I transported Kuzon and I there.

    It was quite strange to meet a couple of stern-faced strangers, as well as seeing the Chairman and Director in suits of armor.

    ''Guess they also act as Hunters asionally...'' I mused.

    "Where are you guys headed?" Kuzon blurted out, his nonchnce once again adding ayer of disregard to the tone he used.

    "To... Busan...?"

    "There''s no need, though." I said, looking at the Chairman point-nk.

    ''Didn''t he already tell us to help him out? Why is he... ah, I see. I understand, then.''

    It had to do with the whole Hunter Image, and the politics of this world.

    In the end, it would be weird if they, the Hunter Association HQ didn''t make a single move when one of theirrgest cities was attacked.

    "Y-you''re already done...?"

    "Yes. Can''t you confirm or something?" The Chairman and Director stared at themselves as soon as I said this.

    Nodding, they used a watch they equipped on their wrist to project a holographic map that showed Busan.

    Sure enough...

    "I-I see... it is indeed true." Chairman Sung seemed to be shaking slightly, though I could tell he was trying to hide it.

    "Haha... guess there was no need for gathering South Korea''s avable best Hunters..." Director Baek muttered, straining a chuckle.

    Hold on, were they really making an effort toe and assist Kuzon and me? That was a good gesture, butpletely unnecessary.

    "Thank you, the both of you." Chairman Sung and Director Baek had alreadye out of the  aircraft, and we''re now bowing before us.

    I didn''t know where they got the Hunters behind me from, but they also bowed as well.

    "It''s fine. We were just doing the right thing." A smile coursed through my face.

    It was met with cheers and beams from the audience¡ªthough I could see Kuzon rolling his eyes from my peripheral vision.

    Still, I didn''t care.

    ''We saved everyone. The people are safe. All''s well that ends well. It was a perfect mission.''

    I couldn''t have been more wrong by this.

    *

    *

    *

    "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Chairman Sung cried out loud in his office.

    At this point, he no longer cared about keeping hisposure in front of us. His howl, like an old man, was filled with both pangs of pain and shock.

    To be honest, he wasn''t the only one who was surprised by the unexpected news. Kuzon and I had also been caught off-guard by it.

    Director Beak had some sweat running down his face, and from how he fidgeted, the situation was quite bad.

    What situation, one might ask?

    Well...

    "There are so many videos and footages of you guys leaking all throughout WeTube. Not just that, but in practically every Social Media. It''s be viral in South Korea, and it''s only a matter of time before the whole world catches wind of this!" <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The pain and frustration in the Chairman''s voice echoed in my heart, and I truly felt his pain.

    This was something I didn''t want as well.

    ''I guess relying too much on [The Hermit] in a strange world isn''t advisable¡ªat least, when considering the consequences my acts will have on the future.''

    The difference between seeing the future of this reality and that of my own reality was the dimensional dissonance I had with this one.

    I had solved the synchronization problem, which allowed me to tap into thews of this world, but that didn''t mean I was personally an integral part of it.

    ''This world sees Kuzon and I as a foreign element, so the future and paths of this world that I''m allowed to see do not include the changes that we will make to the timeline until it urs.''

    That meant I wouldn''t have seen the consequences of my actions ripple into the future until I had actuallymitted the action and affected this world one way or the other.

    ''If this was my original world, and I was a natural contingent, it would have taken ount of my existence and action.''

    As a result, it seemed I had been blindsided by that mere fact and made such a reckless move.

    There was also one thing that had caught me by surprise¡ªor rather, that I underestimated.

    "Curse those new-gen Smartphones..." I muttered.

    I couldn''t believe that while I was rescuing those people, they would be capturing Kuzon and I with their phones.

    ''Worst part is I could sense people around, but how could I have sensed that I was being recorded by the camera of a phone?''

    In the end, we messed up more than we thought.

    ''Oof...''

    "Honestly, we would have preferred the news not to be widespread, considering the fact that we are trying to keep you two hidden from the Zenith¡ªfor your sake and ours." Chairman Sung sighed, interlocking his fingers whole cing his hands on his desk as he regained hisposure.

    "Unfortunately, it''s toote now. It''s only a matter of time before it reaches their ears now, if it hasn''t already."

    "But what of Aloe? You said she was very helpful to you, right? How did you handle her situation and keep her hidden from the Zenith?" Kuzon asked.

    And so, with yet another troubling sigh, the Chairman exined it to us.

    Apparently, even though Aloe helped in dungeon Breaks, if was often smaller scale ones, or those in deserted areas. She also didn''t disy as much power as the both of us did.

    "This puts our Hunter Association in the limelight, and it seems we''ll be under the Zenith''s radar for some time."

    "Haha... is that so?" Kuzon chuckled a little, "Sorry about that, then."

    There was no real need to apologize or feel bad, though. While this was indeed an unforeseen situation, it wasn''t all bad.

    ''We just need to use the opportunity wisely.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 952 Trouble Brewing

    The room was tense with silence, both sides contemting what to do about the situation.

    Somewhere along the line, Director Baek had gone out to ease himself, leaving just us three in the room to mull over the issue.

    On the positive, the Hunter Association had temporarily solved a great deal of their money issue, thanks to the number of resources they were able to obtain from the Dungeon Break.

    Unfortunately, the infrastructure that had been devastated thanks to the attack of the monsters was going to take up a sizeable amount from the profit they would gain.

    ''I could do something about that, but let''s hold off on that got now.''

    At this point, I was adjusting my ns to fit into the current situation. If I could find a way to improve it, then it would end up being advantageous for both myself and the residents of this world.

    "Chairman, I have urgent news!" The Director rushed into the room, his face as pale as snow, and sweat dripping from his facade.

    I could instantly tell, from the strain in his tone, the heavy breaths he made, and the desperate, fearful look in his eyes, that what he had to say was of grave importance.

    Perhaps even worse consequence.

    "What is the matter, Director Baek? You can speak, we''re the only ones here."

    So, the Chairman wanted us to listen,despite it probably being a very sensitive issue?

    ''Is he trying to curry our favor? Maybe Garner our sympathy?''

    I knew he didn''t want Aloe to leave anytime soon, thanks to the pinch their country was in. Perhaps this could be a way to appeal to us.

    "W-well... it''s about the SS Grade Monster Core that was in transit..."

    ''Ah...'' My eyes widened slightly, and I could already see the parking expression of the Chairman from those simple words uttered.

    "The transport vehicle was attacked, and the cargo was stolen! Based on the symbol they left at the scene... it has to be the Shadows of Light."

    "N-no... no way..." The Chairman''s usually energetic voice crumbled under the weight of the news.

    The SS Grade Core was supposed to be given to the Zenith, yet it was stolen before it got to them.

    The ones who would bear the responsibility for this was none other than the South Korea. Hunter Association.

    In essence, they were in deep trouble.

    ~So this was their game all along. Use the Dungeon Break as a distraction, so they can go ahead with their n. A smart move, wouldn''t you agree?~ Kuzon''s voice echoed in my mind.

    He was correct. The Shadows of Light were really brilliant in the implementation of their n.

    ''Though it''s not as if I wasn''t already aware of it.''

    In the first ce, this was the natural progression of events. And, from what I could see, this would only be the start of the downward spiral that this organization¡ªand country¡ªwould go down.

    ''Not unless I stop it, of course.'' A small snake radiated from my face and I spoke up.

    "Chairman Sung. The situation seems quite bad..."

    It was a lot more than ''quite bad.'' A lot of problems seemed to be copsing on the Hunter Association, and I could see it consuming the Chairman.

    "Do you want me to help you?" I asked, a serious, yet calm expression ying on my face.

    "H-help us?"

    "Yes. I will solve this entire problem for you. In exchange, you will answer one of my requests." A small smile formed on my face.

    Some would consider my condition exorbitant, since these people were in a desperate situation.

    The shock on their faces, and the looks of hesitation the Chairman especially had was proof of that worry.

    "Don''t be too concerned about it. I won''t be unreasonable in my demand. I promise, it won''t be harmful in any way. This arrangement benefits you all more, actually."

    Once everything concluded, they would see it with their own eyes.

    ''For now, I just have to make the offer.''

    After a lot of mulling and weighing his options, the Chairman finally asked his final question.

    "Can I trust you with this?" His tone was sullen, without any bias or pride.

    I could tell he was just trying his best to be honest¡ªto make a plea of reliance.

    "Yes. You can trust me." My response had already been determined.

    "Very well. I ept your offer." I used Sound Magic to record our entire conversation, just in case.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Though, I doubted there would ever be a need to use it again.

    "Great. There''s no need to worry about it anymore, then. Chairman Sung... once I''m done, you''ll see it with your own eyes¡ªhow much of an opportunity all of these problems are."

    "I certainly look forward to it..." He chuckled, though echoes of sadness, pain, and worry leaked from his hollow tone.

    "You both must be tired already. Director Baek, please lead them to their rooms."

    "Chairman..." The Director nced at his boss with a bit of hesitance and concern flickering in his eyes.

    "I''ll be fine. Don''t you worry." Straining a smile, the Chairman sent us on our merry way.

    Thest thing I saw of him when I left the office was his bittersweet smile.

    ''Don''t fret too much, old man.'' I smiled. ''All is well that ends well.''

    *

    *

    *

    "Please, make yourself feel at home." Director Baek bowed as he initiated his leave after leaving us at a marvelous suite truly befitting VIPs. "I should be going now."

    "Director... don''t you worry too much too. I''ll take care of everything. I promise you that."

    "Thank you, Mr. Leonard. You too, Mr. Kuzon." He smiled, and then walked away.

    I knew he had a lot on his mind too, so I left it at that and closed the door of our room.

    Once again, I was made to appreciate just how great the ce looked. I had definitely seen better, but the culture and civilization of this world made me simply appreciate the new aesthetic that greeted my eyes.

    Unfortunately...

    "We need to talk, Jared."

    ... That didn''tst very long.

    Kuzon was already seated, his stern expression showing me how he wasn''t in a very good mood.

    I also knew the reason why

    "Why in the world would you offer to help them?"

    We were currently in a hurry to get back home. Why would I decide to waste even more time here?

    "As you can tell, this situation is something that needs to handled intricately, and over time. It''s not something that sheer power can just solve." Kuzon added, his re bing more obvious.

    Of course, I understood that.

    "Then why...? Why would you go so far? We have our own problems to worry about."

    Even though he was upset, Kuzon was being mature enough to let me have the floor and exin myself.

    His annoyance was justified, and his focus on our goal wasmendable.

    I just had a different perspective of the whole thing.

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 953 Illusion Of Control

    "Truthfully, I can travel back in time and stop the whole thing from happening. I can prevent the Core being stolen, and even ensure the non-existence our viral video."

    I had [The Hermit] Arcana, after all.

    The damages and future problems were not irreparable, especially since everything had only ured within such span of time.

    "I could also get what I want from the Hunter Association without resorting to a deal. I already have a good idea who''s behind everything, and perhaps I could even confront them right now to end everything."

    Kuzon looked at me with a suspicious gaze, creasing his brow and making a frown.

    "So why don''t you? Since you im to care for these people, isn''t it better to just solve the issue rather than beat around the bush?"

    "I have my reasons." I smiled calmly.

    "What reasons could those be?"

    "Control. Both the Hunter Association, and the Shadows of Light... all the key elements in this narrative. It is to give all of them the illusion of control."

    Agency was very important for every sentient entity. If someone felt they were being forced or made to do something, the optimal effect of that action would differ from a person who felt they were in charge of their own actions and did everything based on their free will.

    By ensuring each person¡ªboth on the good side, and on the bad¡ªyed their part while having the sincere belief in their agency, my n had a much higher chance of sess.

    "You''re using them, while they think the situation is ying out naturally?" Kuzon asked, his eyes already burning with something akin to annoyance.

    "They''re using us too. People use each other all the time. It''s not necessarily a bad thing. The important thing to note is whether the person using you can also be used, and the intention behind their use of you."

    In my opinion, if someone had a genuinely good intention, and required my help, that was them using me, but it wasn''t particrly bad.

    The narrative changed if they were using me malevolently.

    "In the end, as long as the best results are achieved, and all sides get what they sincerely want, with no one really getting hurt... isn''t that what''s best for everyone?"

    Kuzon shook his head and sighed. I could see his face scrunch up a little in disgust.

    "I can see why you have such a high opinion of Neron. The both of you are more alike than I realized."

    "What? What does that have to do with anything?" My brows twitched in surprise.

    "The very fact that you can supposedly see through everyone and everything, yet you can''t recognize that simple fact, is incredibly ironic." Kuzon rise to his feet, chuckling a little.

    I could sense sarcasm in his tone.

    "Do what you like, Jared. I''ll y along with your game... for now."

    With that, Kuzon left the parlor and went into his room, leaving me standing still.

    For a while, I remained motionless, unable to take a single step forward or behind.

    ''Did I make the wrong choice?'' I asked myself.

    By seeing the future possibilities and recognizing the most beneficial.anf advantageous path to take, while seeing everything as chess pieces that had to be arranged in a particr order to fit the narrative... had I taken a wrong path without realizing it?

    Or, perhaps I was simply guided by something Kuzon and everyone else could not see and understand.

    ''Haaa... I think I understand now.'' A sad smile formed on my face.

    When Kuzon said I resembled Neron, he must have been referring to this very thing.

    ''So that''s how it is. Neron, you... you also saw things this way, didn''t you?''

    Looking into the future and knowing the possibilities while using the most optimal situation to gain the best results.

    ''Were we all pawns, given a false sense of control and agency by you? Are we still ying the game you want us to y?''

    I couldn''t feel bad about it, even if that was the case. I was doing the same to these people, and it was for their benefit.

    However, something about the whole thing made me uneasy.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    That was simply because, unlike in my case where I knew my  intentions were good, Neron''s intentions were aplete mystery to me.

    ''What exactly do you want? I... I have no idea.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A Rank Dungeon//Frost Wilderness]

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    An eruption soared through the air, creating an echo that reverberated across the vast, frozenndscape.

    The massive Frost Giant, already considered a B ss Monster of the highest caliber, was shattered to pieces as a result of an impact with it''s sturdy body.

    It joined the rest of itsrades in death, leaving behind it''s core which shone with a dark blue hue.

    "Haaa... haaa..." Sung Han Soo gave heavy breaths as he rushed to grab the Core.

    His dark hair swayed and his innocent face brimmed with both wonder and excitement as he grabbed the thing and ced it within the backpack he had on him.

    As a Guide, he was pretty much just a Porter for the Party¡ªeven though this particr Party involved just him and someone else.

    "Haaa..." Misty breaths escaped his lips as he raised his head to witness the final two Frost Giant survivors who lunged at his floating colleague.

    Brilliant sparks upied his eyes as he witnessed her golden radiance. In one hit respectively, the flying woman destroyed the Frost Giants with ease.

    The ice shards fell, and he once again rushed to obtain the Cores.

    How many times had he witnessed this sight already? He simply couldn''t have enough of this sight.

    The sight of a goddess meting out punishment on grotesque monsters.

    That was what this situation was to him; and that was who the woman in the sky was in Sung Han Soo''s eyes.

    A Goddess!

    "You did it once again..." The young Hunter smiled as he watched her glorious form illuminate the cloudy skies.

    "... Miss Vida."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 954 Within The Dungeon [Pt 1]

    Sung Han Soo and Aloe Vida ventured into the confirmed A Rank Dungeon quite early that morning, and they had been inside for the whole day.

    The reason wasn''t due to Aloe Vida''s ipetence, or the Dungeon posing some sort of special difficulty for her.

    The true reason behind them taking their time relied on the fact that an early clear would be too suspicious in the Hunter Association Records.

    In order not to draw too much attention to themselves, they had to resort to such means¡ªeven going as far as filling the raid member count by employing ghost members.

    As a result, while the other team members were outside the Dungeon, busy with other activities after registering for the Dungeon, only Sung Han Soo and Aloe were actually in the thick of it.

    Both of them were used to this, though. Ever since Aloe made the agreement with Korea''s Hunter Association, she had been helping them this way

    Aplete one-man-army!

    *

    *

    *

    "How long has it been since we started camping again?" Aloe asked, sitting opposite Han Soo as they both huddled close to the campfire that separated them.

    All the monsters in the Dungeon had been defeated, except the Boss.

    They were currently waiting outside the Boss Room, and just Han Soo only needed to tilt his head a little to see the imposing frosty gate that menacingly invited them to venture inside.

    It wasn''t time yet, though. Since Aloe had eliminated all the monsters too quickly, they had to wait for a couple of hours before they could subjugate the Boss Monster.

    "It''s been almost three hours. Two or three more, and we should be good to go." He checked his Hunter-specific equipment.

    It was a watch that calcted the dimensional energy wavelength and used it to  determine how much time had passed in a Dungeon.

    Considering how gravity, time, space, along with otherws that existed in the normal world, functioned rtively different in certain Dungeons, this was an item that at least one member of a Hunter''s Party had to have on them.

    "I see. Well, that''s fine, I suppose." She smiled, her eyes trailing to the Boss Room''s massive gate.

    "Haha..." Han Soo could tell that she wanted to subdue the monster and get rid of the threat of this Dungeon.

    He had learned to read a lot of her facial reactions and and derive intentions from them over the past couple of weeks.

    Perhaps that was because he found himself looking at her more times than he would consider normal.

    ''What am I doing?'' He sighed to himself, hearing the flickering mes breaking the silence the silence that existed between the two of them.

    ''Miss Vida is just such an awesome woman. No, she''s a goddess.''

    As the son of one of the world''s greatest S ss Hunters, and the grandson of the Chairman of South Korea''s Hunter Association, certain expectations had been thrust upon his shoulders, especially by society.

    People expected him to follow the footsteps of his predecessors, and even he thought he would.

    Unfortunately, unlike his father and grandfather, he simply didn''t have the talent.

    His natural affinity for Dimensional Energy was extremely low¡ªonly enough for him to be an E ss Hunter.

    The bacsh he recieved from the very society that cheered him on and praised his heritage, was heavy.

    At some point, he even despaired.

    Despite that, he purposed within himself that he wouldn''t give up no matter what. He picked himself back up and chose to do the best he could do as an E ss.

    He became a Guide, serving as a Porter, or even Monster bait when the situation demanded for it.

    ''South Korea is incredibly short-staffed. Especially after that S ss Dungeon Break...''

    The disaster that took the lives of his parents¡ªboth of whom were Hunters.

    A lot of South Korea''s top Hunters perished that day, and it was because of the strange nature of the Dungeon Break.

    Three S ss Dungeons... all appearing and bringing out monsters at the same time...

    It was the most catastrophic event in South Korea.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    In the end, it led the country to receiving the aid of the Zenith, which was just starting out at the time.

    The Zenith promptly subjugated the problem that had gued South Korea for several days, handling everything so swiftly and precisely.

    Their leader, Chad, even made an appearance.

    After that incident, South Korea became subordinate to the Zenith, and other countries followed not long afterward.

    ''Why didn''t they just help on time? Why did so many have to die? Why...? Why could I not do anything?!''

    Sung Han Soo perhaps hadn''t let the pastpletely go. His current actions reflected that, at the very least.

    ''I... I don''t want disasters like that to ur again. Even if it''s in my own little way... I want to help people!''

    As a result of that desire, he often ventured into Dungeons any chance he got.

    Of course, someone of his caliber could never be allowed beyond C ss Dungeons, and even that was a stretch.

    Still, since his role was nonbative, he was allowed some of the time.

    And... it was during one of those expeditions that a sudden Dimension Spike appeared, merging two Dungeonndscapes into one, which in turn increased the power and number of the monsters.

    Before anyone realized it, the difficulty had skyrocketed from C ss to ss.

    No, it wasn''t simply S ss. It was something more.

    The first recorded SS ss Dungeon!

    Every member of his Party was ughtered, and the remaining monsters began toying with him as he hid behind his barrier.

    He really thought he would die right there and then.

    There was no apparent hope of survival, and all hope seemed to be lost.

    But...

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    ... It was in that exact moment that the brilliant light of hope shone the brightest.

    Within mere moments, the source of illumination eliminated all the monsters, and in one hit, the Boss Monster perished.

    He was saved by that light¡ªno, the source of it.

    That was the first time he met Aloe Vida¡ªthe one who saved his life and rescued him from the pits of despair.

    Sung Han Soo still remembered the only thought that coursed through his mind when he witnessed her radiant beauty.

    ''She... she''s a goddess!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 955 Within The Dungeon [Pt 2]

    ''It seems he still sees me that way...'' Aloe smiled sadly as she looked at Sung Han Soo''s face for a brief moment.

    They both maintained eye contact for a split second before she looked away. In the brief moment her eyes connected with his, though, she could see his look of admiration towards her.

    ''He still considers me a goddess...'' Even after all this time, she couldn''t change the impression Sung Han Soo had of her.

    At first, she spoke against how he idolized her. However, after realizing it was pointless, she simply chose to ignore it.

    Perhaps it was because Aloe realized how hypocritical it would be for her to chastise him for the same offense she had been guilty of.

    ''I also saw Jared that way...'' A small smile formed on her face as she remembered her immature days.

    Thankfully, she realized it early¡ªhow, despite a person''s amazing abilities, they were still fallible humans.

    ''I was immature, then.'' Her smile graduated into a soft giggle. ''I guess I don''t need to worry too. He''ll also grow out of this phase.''

    Aloe knew she wasn''t some goddess or perfect entity that Han Soo liked to think of her as.

    She was just a woman who was lost in a strange world, finding a way to return home.

    ''So far, my investigations have led to nothing substantial.''

    Something kept gnawing at her that the information at her disposal wasn''tplete and urate, but she also knew the South Korean government wouldn''t dare deal with her so deceptively.

    ''They gave me all the information I wanted, which is all the information they have on Dimensional Energy, Gates, Monsters, and Dungeons.''

    She had also taken her time to go over them in the past month.

    ''Yet... nothing. Something feels off. It feels like I''m missing something.''

    The Hunter Association even allowed her ess to the International Database that all the countries used to share information concerning the Dimensional affairs, managed by the Zenith.

    ''Even then, it feels insufficient. Is it just my suspicion? Haaa... in any case, I''ve hit a dead end.''

    She could only hope to help the country that treated her so well, helping in gathering materials and helping in their research so they could advance the information and applicable science they had on the topics she needed.

    ''My Magic knowledge and skills aren''t sufficient.''

    These were the thoughts that afflicted Aloe, but she kept up her facade.

    ''Let''splete this mission first. I''ll think of the rest when we return.''

    *

    *

    *

    [Boss Room]

    The icy hall that was the Boss Room greeted both Aloe and Han Soo, who didn''t waste any time in walking straight forward once the time for waiting was over.

    The shiny frosty tiles, and the exquisitely designed throne-room didn''t seem befitting to the monster who sat on a primitive ice throne.

    It was almost like pearls thrown before swine.

    "GRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!" The Frost Giant King rose to his feet, sending vibrating roars into the air.

    Its bulky frame was five meters, and its intimidating form gave off a chill that couldn''t be merely exined as cold air.

    It felt like the aura of death.

    Despite that, however, Aloe did not cease her advance.

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!<

    Cloaked in golden light, Aloe leaped from her position and charged straight forward.

    Faster than the Frost Giant could move a muscle, and much faster than Sung Han Soo could perceive, she clenched her fist and sent a devastating blow to her opponent.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The Frost Giant King shattered instantly, its body breaking into tiny chunks, thanks to the intense energy Aloe sent coursing through it.

    In that moment, that single second, the Boss Monster was subjugated

    ... And the Dungeon was cleared.

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    *

    *

    "You should have kept it upied while I harvested the Dungeon materials!" Sung Han Soo whined, almost in tears as soon as he saw the Boss Monster''s body was no more.

    He took the Monster Core and kept it in his backpack.

    Since it was a Special Item, it could store a whole lot of things, and it also eliminated most of the weight that apanied the load.

    The Chairman gave it to Han Soo because he was the one apanying Aloe Vida, their VIP

    ''Its unfortunate that we can''t harvest any more than this...'' Han Soo thought to himself, nearly in tears.

    Sure, his goddess was wless, but she could be really impulsive sometimes.

    "How long before the Gate closes?"

    "It usually takes thirty minutes for A Rank Dungeons, but it also depends on its size." Han Soo sighed.

    The bigger the Dungeon was, specifically the distance between the entrance and Boss Room, the longer it took for the Gate topletely close.

    It almost felt like the Dungeon was being considerate of the Hunters.

    "It''ll take about ten minutes for us to reach the entrance of we hurry, so it''ll leave about twenty minutes to mine. But that''s not even enough time for all the things we could obtain."

    Since South Korea really needed resources right now, they had to make the best of every Dungeon raid.

    This was yet another reason it was more profitablepared to Dungeon Breaks.

    "Oh, no worries. You can leave it to me." Aloe suddenly spoke, a bright smile radiating on her face.

    "W-what?"

    "[Original Magic: Aurora Vidalis]"

    Those were thest words Sung Han Soo heard before cking out.

    No, perhaps it felt more like he blinked his eyes.

    By the time he reopened them, both he and Aloe were already in front of the Gate.

    "H-huh...??"

    The backpack Sung Han Solo had on felt way heavier than before, and the sudden change in his environment flustered him.

    "I took care of everything. We just have to wait a while before leaving."

    Took care of everything? What exactly did she mean?

    Checking the time, Han Soo realized that only a few seconds had passed since he was in the Boss Room.

    Counting for the fact that he had been flustered for a few seconds already, it meant all that Aloe did¡ªharvesting the appropriate ores and loot, as well as bringing the both of them before the Gate¡ªliterally took no time at all.

    "A-ahhh... haaa..." He never expected this, even from Aloe Vida.

    She really was a goddess¡ªan awesome one, in fact.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 956 Heartwarming Surprise

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM<

    The diminishing Gate that stood in a remote station, already surrounded by security officials, and cut off from the rest of civilization, began to warble.

    Two silhouettes reflected on its blue and white surface, and in no time at all, the silhouettes became actual people.

    The E Rank Hunter, Sung Han Soo, and the provisional Hunter, Aloe Vida.

    A one would expect from a team that had their secret weapon, none of them were scathed. In fact, from the expression they had, it almost felt like they were just returning from a field trip.

    They both exited the Dungeon ten minutes before the Gate would close, s very reasonable conclusion to their adventures within it.

    The officers who stood outside the Gate watched them both emerge in grace. While not all of them had the courage and wit to be Hunters, they still served their nation by guarding the Gates and securing the area around it.

    "Wee back, Miss Vida."

    "Wee back, Hunter Sung."

    Sung respond with his usual awkward greeting, however Aloe said nothing.

    Instead...

    "W-what is... this...?"

    She seemed to be shaking a little, her body growing rigid as her eyes widened. It was as if she had entered a daze, but also feltpletely in tune with reality.

    "Miss Vida... is everything fine?" Sung Han Soo asked, a concerned expression forming on his face.

    "... They''re here." She whispered, a wide smile forming on her face.

    "What? Who are here?"

    "I sense two... Jared and... is that Kuzon? They''re both here." Her teeth were disyed now, and excitement coursed through her.

    "Ja...red? Are you talking about your¡ª"

    Before Han Soo could conclude his words, Aloe swiftly ced her hands on his shoulders, her expression showing immense seriousness.

    "I have to go, Han Soo. Take care of all the remaining details."

    "Wait... what?"

    "My friends are here! I gotta go see them!"

    "B-but¡ª!"

    "I''ll make it up to youter, I promise!" Her ted voice kept soaring.

    Han Soo quickly realized there was nothing he could say or do that would stop her. Since that was the case...

    "F-fine. I''ll do it.".

    He had to just give up.

    "Thanks, Han Soo!"

    "Y-yeah, no pro¡ª"

    Before he finished his response, a bright light surged from Aloe''s location, and in that brief moment it seemed like she disappeared.

    Technically, she just flew to the location where she sensed them. However, with speeds already on par with the speed of light, it was bound to appear as teleportation in the eyes of most.

    "Well..." Sung Han Soo looked at the protocol officers with an awkward look.

    He had just gotten ditched in front of everyone. Even though he knew Aloe meant no harm, and he didn''t really suffer any injury, he felt a little stung in his heart.

    ''She left so easily...''

    In the end, even though he thought they were very close, they had only been together for over a month.

    ''I guess it''s only right that she pays her proper friends more attention.''

    *

    *

    *

    "Jareeeeed!!!" Almost as soon as I sensed Aloe, she flung open the door of our suite and rushed in excitedly.

    "Aloe! It''s been a while." I grinned, watching her draw nearer with her staple brilliant smile.

    I actually missed that quite a lot.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Would you look at you in that getup." Aloe was dressed like a Hunter¡ªwith gear decorating her body like a costume.

    "Haha! Well, I had to look the part. I guess you''ve already spoken to Chairman Sung and Director Baek, considering you''re here."

    "Damn straight." Kuzon''s voice surged from his room, and he stepped out, looking as nonchnt as possible.

    I could tell he was relieved to see Aloe, though.

    "I''m so d to see you guys are okay."

    "Haha! No, we should be saying the same about you."

    Aloe''s warmth quickly pervaded the room, and it brought smiles on both my face and Kuzon''s.

    Despite the fact that the suite was heavy with negative emotions before she arrived, her mere presence changed everything.

    This was what I loved most about Aloe.

    "Oh my. We have a lot to discuss!"

    *

    *

    *

    It was evening already, but we spent hours just discussing our escapades in the strange new worlds we found ourselves in.

    Of course, Kuzon exined the situation of how things were. He told her about how only a few of us were scattered, and how the rest were safe on Earth.

    Thankfully, her optimism didn''t vanish after all of that.

    "Neron didn''t even tell me anything..." She retorted, her cheeks almost pouted. "Anyway, I''m jealous of you guys. You had so much engaging adventures and fun. Mine has been veryckluster."

    ording to Aloe, after settling in South Korea, all she did was fight monsters and hang out with Sung Han Soo, pretty much her only friend in this world.

    She exined the dead end she had reached on her researched, which Ipletely understood. I was even surprised when she voiced out her suspicions about the Zenith, and the information they might have been hoarding.

    I was happy not to be the only one thinking in that direction.

    ''She''s right, after all. The Zenith is suspicious.''

    "So, what now?" Aloe interrupted my thoughts with her charming voice.

    I could already tell her intentions from the expression she made.

    "We''re supposed to be on our way to the next world now, but Jared insists we remain here for a while on order to  achieve his goals. Pretty insensitive, right?" Kuzon sighed, looking at Aloe for support and empathy.

    ''Poor Kuzon,'' I thought to myself.

    If there was anyone whom he could seek to support his ideology, they certainly wouldn''t be Aloe.

    She was thest person who would want to go back home now¡ªnot with a world in danger.

    "I agree with Jared! Let''s stay a while longer!" With a bright smile, and pumped fists, she nodded in total support

    ''As expected.'' I smiled at Kuzon in absolute victory.

    Aloe was not the type to abandon those in need of help. She had always been this type of person ever since I knew her.

    ''And now the majority is on my side.''

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 957 The Night Incident [Pt 1]

    "Haaa... fine. Whatever. I''ll just cooperate for now."

    In the end, Kuzon folded under the pressure of Aloe and my solidarity. I suppose one could say we won him over.

    "So what are we supposed to do now? Do you have any way to solve the problems?" Aloe asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and interest.

    "Yeah. Do you?" Kuzon seemed to be curious as well.

    As much as I would have loved to divulge everything to them, it was unnecessary at this point.

    "Don''t worry about anything for now. I''ll involve you all in it soon enough, but for now just enjoy your stay here."

    I needed to do some things on my own first, before involving anyone else. Since results were paramount, I would need then to cement the trust I needed to build.

    ''Aloe trusts me, but Kuzon''s disposition is somewhat shaky.'' We still had to work together regardless.

    "Fine, then. I''m going to sleep." Kuzon yawned, rising to his feet and dragging himself to bed.

    "What about you, Aloe? What will you do?" I smiled at her.

    "W-what are you talking about? I have my own suite, you know? It''s inappropriate for girls to stay in the same¡ª"

    "That''s not what I meant!" I cried out instantly. She should have known that.

    "Hehe. I''m just teasing, Jared. I''ll first see the Chairman and Director before heading off to bed. I also want to have some shuteye."

    Even though the monsters in this world posed no challenge to her, she had been in the Dungeon all day.

    It was understandable that she needed rest.

    "Alright then. Take care."

    "You too, Jared. It really is nice seeing both you and Kuzon again."

    "Likewise." I deepened my smile and nodded.

    Soon we would be reunited with all our friends. Afterward... it would finally be turn of our malevolent enemies to suffer.

    "Well, goodbye!"

    With her final statement of farewell, Aloe left me in the suite. Now that I was all alone, with no distractions, it made for the perfect opportunity to act.

    ''Let''s wait till it gets a bit darker. This should be fun.''

    *

    *

    *

    [Hours Later]

    "Come forth." I whispered.

    Instantly, several silhouettes sprang from me, all flowing like incorporeal mist.

    The living room became shrouded in darkness thanks to their sheer number, and seeing so many Shadow Demons before me gave me an oddly sensational feeling.

    "As you know, Kahn will coordinate you all. Your mission is simple." A satisfied grin formed on my face.

    Their numbers were in the hundreds.

    ""Integrate yourselves with the shadows of the  targets I will provide. I''ll also grant you their coordinates with Magic, so make sure you all get the job done before dawn."

    "UNDERSTOOD!" They responded in their hollow tone.

    "Very good. You are all dismissed."

    Like spoke, they all dissipated into the air,mencing their mission.

    ''They''re quote capable, and they must be trying their hardest to curry my favor, so they''ll do the job well.''

    "Now then..." After delegating tasks to my subordinates, and telling my allies to rest, it left only me.

    ''I suppose it''s my turn.'' Rising to my feet, I used the [Unknowable] Spell, erasing my presence in the room in a mere instant.

    "Alright, then. Let us begin."

    *

    *

    *<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Sung Han Soo arrived at his apartment buildingter than usual.

    After getting a cab to drive him home, thanks to getting a little tipsy, he got into the apartmentplex and climbed the stairs in silence.

    ''I sorted out the details, just like you wanted me to... but still...''

    She just ditched him for her friends. It wouldn''t have hurt him so much if he hadn''t been nning on asking her to see a movie with him on that very day.

    After watching the movie alone, he went to the bar and got some.shots before he could take no more.

    "Why am I surprised, though? This is how it should be, I guess..."

    With another tired sigh, he reached his own apartment and opened it casually.

    "... Hm?" The moment Han Soo entered, however, he instantly felt a chilling effect course through him.

    ''Why do I feel this way?'' He took a few steps forward, looking around the dark room.

    He turned on the lights, but they only served to further his confusion.

    ''Nothing is here. Yet why do I...?''

    Han Soo''s brow knotted into a scowl, and he slowly began to reach for something in his pockets.

    A weapon, perhaps?

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    A silhouette suddenly emerged, charging straight toward Han Soo.

    ''I knew it!'' His thoughts echoed, and he swiftly pulled out the gadget he had as a precautionary measure.

    A smoke bomb!

    >BOOOOOMMM!!!<

    The thick mist covered his entire room, but considering this was his home, Han Soo already knew the location of his apartment entrance.

    ''I need to leave... NOW!'' Carrying his legs with desperation, not showing an ounce of hesitation, Sung Han Soo rushed to the exit.

    He had no idea who the man we''re, considering they had masks on.

    ''I just need to¡ª'' He felt like he suddenly hit a wall the moment he tried to escape.

    "Urgh!" Knocking himself to the ground as a result of the sheer force, Han Soo groaned in shock.

    What just happened? He was certain he was at the exit!

    That was when the mist cleared, and he soon realized why he should have given up from the get-go.

    Blocking the entrance were three men¡ªall of whom were already way stronger than him.

    ''A-ah... C Rank...'' His device beeped. "What do you guys want?"

    The fact that they broke into his house meant their actions or even the intention behind them, weren''t legal.

    "Hehehe..." The bulkier man at the centerughed.

    He was most likely the one Han Solo had hit.

    "... It''s simple, kid. We''re here to kidnap you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 958 The Night Incident [Pt 2]

    What happens when a powerless person goes against those with strength?

    The answer is obvious, isn''t it?

    Pure, inevitable defeat.

    That was the same reality that Sung Han Soo faced in the presence of these three overwhelming figures.

    They were probably on the level of average Hunters, but to him, they were monoliths he could not ovee.

    Even the Special Item his grandfather gave him was undergoing repairs, so he didn''t have it on him.

    He was utterly powerless!

    And so, as one would expect from their sh, he lost by an overwhelming margin.

    Of course, Han Soo struggled, fighting with the full power he could draw from himself, but  still found himself to be no match for even one of the men.

    He tried calling for help, but he couldn''t even world his smartphone for one second.

    His opponent was too fast.

    In the end¡ª

    "Geuk!!!" One sharp thrust of the enemy''s hand to his throat sent all the strength in his body shimmering away.

    "I hate slippery kids." The man who did this said.

    His grin was the very essence of sadism. "You''re a tenacious one, aren''t you?"

    Han Soo could not answer. The man''s strong grip was tightening around his throat, prevention him from uttering even one syble.

    He could only grunt and groan.

    "Sleep tight, little guy. When you wake up, the real action begins."

    And so, just like that, Han Solo lost consciousness .

    *.

    *

    *

    ''W-where...'' Han Soo''s blurry vision was greeted by a very spacious and unupied space.

    It looked like a warehouse of some kind.

    ''Where am I?''

    The weather was cold, and he was barely in anything except his vest and boxer shorts.

    ''A-ahh... I feel so....''

    In front Han Soo sere the three men who abducted him. They were busy mumbling to themselves why they enjoying the conversation they were having.

    "H-hey, you bastards!" He would have liked to say, but he had a gag on that prevented him from saying anything

    Was this the fate of the weak? Expressing such suffering, so close to imminent death, and yet remaining ignorance.

    ''Can I at least know what I did wrong?!'' He held back his tears, and his body shivered.

    ''Do they want money? These bastards!'' His family was in a terrible state now, so money was a big problem for them.

    ''Still, they could just be upfront with what they want!''

    Almost immediately after making this thought, a crimson warp in space appeared, and a silhouette emerged from the red portal.

    "B-boss!"

    "We greet you, great leader!"

    "We have secured the target, per our agreement!''

    Wasn''t it strange how these three men acted so confident when they were at the top of the food chain, only to suddenly be bubbling idiots in the presence of their master?

    The strong bowed to the stronger, and the weaker would be pushed down by those who were not as weak as they were

    "It seems you''ve secured the property." The man''s voice was dignified, yet deadly.

    It sent chills down Han Soo''s spine, and it took him everything to endure the malefactor''s presence.

    He began walking closer and closer to Han Soo, causing hiss heart to race faster than what anyone would consider healthy..

    Was this the moment of his death? No, if they were going to kill him, why go through such an borate method?<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    They were definitely after something else!

    "Oh? I like those eyes of yours. It shows you''re thinking." The malefactor smiled, removing his hat.

    He had dark brown hair, with glowing orange eyes. He looked younger than his voice connoted, probably in his early thirties.

    "My name is Sloth. I''m one of the Seven Stars of the Shadows of Light."

    ''Shadows of Light?!'' Han Soo''s eyes widened instantly.

    What did they want with him?!

    "Seems you know who we are. Then again, who doesn''t." An air of pride coursed through his words.

    "I''ll keep it short, kid. You''re the grandson of the Chairman of South Korea''s Hunter Association. We''re going to use you as a bargaining chip to get something we want.

    To think he would end up being the weak link that would make others attack his grandfather.

    ''I''m sorry... I''m so sorry, grandad.''

    "Hey, don''t cry on me, brat. We haven''t even started yet." The malefactor''s grin widened, disying his sets of teeth. "We just gotta know a few secrets is all.,"

    The moment Han Soo heard the word ''secret'', his mind went to only one person.

    ''Miss Vida! Do they want to know about her?!''

    It was only a matter of time before she became public, but they had taken a lot of precautions so she wouldn''t be so needlessly exposed.

    This was premature!

    "It seems you know what I''m taking about. You''re young, so I''m sure you check your smartphone a lot Those two are trending everywhere."

    The man called Sloth pushed a phone in front of Han Soo, forcing him to watch apletely unexpected sight.

    ''H-huh? Who are those?'' He was witnessing two people go head-on against an army of Grand Orcs, and several variants.

    ''This is the first time I''m seeing this? But... this intensity... who''s the they? How were they able to ..?''

    Han Soo had a plethora of questions, and his curiosity surfaced in response to the mystery presented before him.

    "This happened while you were recorded to be in a Dungeon, and while the Hunter Association ims they share no attachment to those two, it''s obvious that''s a lie."

    ''Could they be... Miss Vida''s friends?'' Han Soo''s thoughts echoed.

    "It appears you know a little about the matter, kid. Mind enlightening us a little before your grandfather replies my threats, ah, I mean, invitation for discussion."

    "E-eh...?"

    "Come on, kid. Say something." Suddenly, the air gree heavy, and Sung Han Soo felt as though he would be crushed by the sheer weight that was afflicting him.

    It was too much!

    ''KEUK! Is this... the end ..?!''

    As his vision blurred, Han Soo''s gaze wandered to a strange figure who stood inconspicuously behind the Star, wearing a hood, and cing his hands in his pockets.

    The stranger had a smile on his face, and he appeared like a ghost..

    However, even if it was just a ghost, Han Soo couldn''t bear the pain any longer.

    Thus, he cried from the depths of his heart.

    ''P-please... HELP ME!''

    "

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 959 Shadows Of Light [Pt 1]

    A dark presence.

    An overwhelming pressure.

    An immense helplessness that seemed to swallow him whole.

    Having these emotions churn within him, Sung Han Soo could do nothing but cry for help¡ªspecifically at the smiling stranger that suddenly appeared in his line of sight.

    He begged with all his heart... for salvation.

    And then¡ª

    "This much should be enough."

    ¡ªA voice echoed in the warehouse, filling the ears of all the upants.

    "Hm?" The Star who called himself Sloth looked in the direction of the sound''s origin.

    The three others also did the same, their eyebrows raised in both curiosity and shock.

    In everyone''s line of sight was a young man, most definitely a teenager, who had yellow blond hair, though most of his face was covered in a hood.

    Even though he seemed young and small, the hooded boy had a mysterious air of dominance about him.

    ''This guy...'' Sloth thought to himself in caution as he maintained a re

    This stranger had suddenly appeared out of thin air, almost as if he was always in the room without anyone noticing.

    Caution and suspicion interweaved into Sloth''s heart as he spoke.

    "Who... are you?"

    "I''m the one you''re looking for." Pulling his hood down to reveal his face, the men gasped.

    They instantly recognized him to be one of the two who fought the monsters in the S ss Dungeon Break¡ªespecially Sloth.

    After all, he had been watching the whole thing with his partner from a distance.

    "You... figured out we were watching you?"

    "Isn''t that much obvious?" The impudent boy spoke, advancing with a single step.

    "H-hey, how dare you talk to boss like that?!"

    "Yeah! You better¡ª"

    One look from the young boy caused all the three men to instantly fall t on their face, passing out immediately.

    "Did you just kill them?" Sloth asked, his lips curling upward to form a grin.

    "They''re just sleeping." The stranger spoke, shrugging as he spoke nonchntly. "They''re not the ones I am after."

    Once he heard this, Sloth''s smile intensified. He instantly realized that this boy in front of him wanted a fight with him.

    ''Is that why he didn''te with his partner, even though he figured out my location?''

    "I''ve been bored waiting for you to arrive, you know? Thankfully we can finally meet like this."

    "Oh? So you knew I would be arriving here?" Sloth had many questions, and while he knew he would be able to extract as much as he could after defeating this idiot before him, he didn''t mind gaining bits and bits from their interactions.

    ''To think that the Leader wanted us to eliminate them, and one is already in front of me. If Iplete this task, and I end up taking care of the other one... wouldn''t that finally make me due for a promotion? Hehe!''

    He didn''t care for the motivations of the enemy before him. He was nothing more than a step that would lead to his sess.

    ''Sorry, kid. I''ve seen what you''re capable of. You''re very strong. In my base, I probably won''t stand a chance, but...''

    Sloth slowly brought out an orb from the inner pockets of the suit he donned.

    It glowed crimson, and it had a forbidden and ominous energy circting around it.

    He could see the surprised reaction the boy gave, as well as what appeared to be caution emanating from him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Hehe! That''s right!" He desired the fear that came from the revtion of his power.

    With the powerful item he wielded, this entire fight was tipped in his favor.

    ''As long as I have this Blood Stone... no mere Hunter can defeat me!''

    *

    *

    *

    To be honest, I expected most of what happened here.

    The kidnapping of Sung Han Soo was in line with what would happen in the newly established future.

    They were bound toe to this location, but I still ced Shadow Demons in the shadows of the kidnappers while I waited here for them to arrive.

    Even after they came, I had to wait for their leader to show up.

    As expected, he was one of the two who were spying on Kuzon and I back when we fought those monsters in the Dungeon Break.

    He most likely recieved a mission from their leader to eliminate us, so he thought the best first step would be to kidnap the grandson of the Chairman and obtain more information.

    It was indeed a smart move, when looking at it from a particr angle.

    However, all of these preparations and nning only worked on the assumption that he could defeat me when it came down to a fight between the two of us.

    ''The glowing rock he''s holding makes him even more assured of his victory.''

    ''What''s that?'' I wondered to myself, looking at the crimson orb that glowed ever so brightly.

    It seemed like a culmination of Mana, but it also had an unpurified, disgusting feel to it. I had a very horrid guess what it could be, but I decided to wait until I had emerged victorious in my inevitable fight with this Shadows Of Light Executive member.

    ''He looks raring to go, and it seems the sphere he holds is his jackpot that leads to his assured win.''

    I was had a good theory about why that was.

    ''The crimson orb seems to function like a Mana Core. The people in this world don''t have Mana Cores, so if he harnesses that power in conjunction with the Mana Particles in his body, he should be capable of immense feats.''

    From the looks of it, all the Stars of the Shadows of Light had these Artificial Mana Cores, making them immensely powerful.

    ''In fact... too powerful.''

    I would have to wait until I was done with my fight to judge, but from the looks of things, as a terrorist group, their members were certainly too powerful not to havemitted more drastic atrocities.

    ''Just what is their goal? What is their true identity? I have a good idea, but... I''d like it to be revealed it to everyone.''

    That way, these criminals would no longer be able to hide in the shadows.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 960 Shadows Of Light [Pt 2]

    "[Skill Activation: Gravity Press]!"

    Sloth was grinning to himself, d he choice his most brutal Skill at the get-go.

    In as much as he was confident of his victory, he knew his opponent was powerful as well. He would prefer a much safer, easy-to-win brawl that would end in with him on top.

    As a result, using the unstoppable force of gravity topletely pummel his opponent seemed like the best course of action to take.

    However...

    "W-what?!"

    ... The target seemedpletely fine despite the immense weight he was supposed to be under.

    ''How is this possible?!'' He was using an S ss Skill, amped up by his Blood Stone.

    Hunters generally couldn''t learn Skills beyond their Ranks, and based on their Ranks, the number of Skills they could learn was also limited.

    F ss Hunters couldn''t learn any Skills.

    E ss Hunters could learn only one skill.

    D ss Hunters could choose to learn two E ss Skills or one D ss Skill.

    C ss Hunters could choose to learn three D ss Skills or one D ss Skill and one C ss Skill.

    B ss Hunters could choose to learn four C ss Skills, or two C ss Skills and one B ss Skill.

    A ss Hunters could also choose to learn four B ss Skills, or one A ss Skill and two B ss Skills.

    As for S ss, they could learn as many as three A ss Skills and even an S ss Skill to boot.

    However, Sloth was different from mere S ss Hunters

    He had advanced to a much higher Rank¡ªa rank that wasn''t known in the scaling system.

    The SS Rank!

    ''I abandoned all my puny Skills and only focused on S ss Skills!''

    At this point, he had three S ss Skills in conjunction with his Special Ability.

    ''If [Gravity Press] isn''t working, then maybe he''s resistant to gravity. Then¡ª''

    "[Skill Activation: Absolute Sub Zero]!"

    It was the strongest cold-based Skill. It was absolute, just as the name implied, and most targets would due from the instant damage it gave, though it continuously gave the ''cold'' damage that went over time.

    However...

    ''What?! It''s still not working?!''

    At this point, Sloth realized he had to use the one Skill he was trying to avoid.

    Not only did it take up too much of his energy, but also because it was an area of effect Skill that would cause a lot ofmotion and draw a lot attention to the warehouse.

    However, at this point, he was desperate.

    His opponent was resistant to both gravity and cold. However, there was no way he would also be resistant to an element the opposite of cold

    "[Skill Activation: Hellfire]" Purple plumes of mes rushed toward the opponent, like a.massjve flood seeking to consume everything in its path.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The roof of the warehouse was flung wide open, and the dark purple mes ascended to the sky thanks to the immense explosion it made.

    Sloth had used a protective barrier¡ªhis Special Ability¡ªto defend himself and the hostage he had from the attack.

    Everything else in the warehouse was razed to the ground thanks to its intensity, however.

    In the end, it seemed he had to go all-out just to defeat one of the two.

    ''Guess I underestimated them. The leader will reprimand me a little for going this far, but I''ll also be praised for aplishing my mission.''

    Sloth smiled as he stared at Sung Han Soo, the hostage.

    ''Do I still need this brat? The partner of this one I just killed wille looking for me in order to exact revenge. When that timees, I''ll eliminate him too.''

    Carrying a brat like this around was going to be troublesome, especially now that their cover was blown.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''I''ll just kill him.'' A wide, murderous grin spread all over his face.

    "I was wondering why you were so confident of your victory..."

    Sloth''s eyes bulged the moment he heard the calm tone of his opponent emanating from behind.

    ''W-wha¡ª?!''

    "So this is all there is to it? How disappointing."

    From the plumes of smoke emerged the one who was supposedly killed by the intense explosion.

    Not only was he unharmed, but a very menacing grin formed on his face.

    "Your subordinates got swept up in the explosion, though. I could have saved them, but since you wanted them to die so badly... I let that happen."

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    A brilliant gust of wind suddenly swept away the stale smoke that had formed around them.

    However, the wind did not eliminate the smoke. Rather, it formed a wall of it around Sloth, the stranger, and the hostage.

    It felt like an inescapable wall that prevented any escape, even it was nothing but thick smoke and burned dust.

    "I have to admit, though, you are absurdly stronger than the usual Hunters in this world. Even S ss. By my estimation, if the Shadows of Light want to take over the world, they could have already done so..." The boy took a step forward, and with each step, a terrible sense of foreboding approached Sloth.

    "Ah, there''s the Zenith, I suppose. However, surprisingly, the Zenith are hardly involved with the Shadows of Light affairs, considering most of them are domestic matters. The Zenith only get called to resolve the aftermath once the situation has spiralled out of control... an example being the triple S ss Dungeon Break that happened in this country not too long ago."

    Sloth''s was trembling down to his core. This young man... just how much did he know?

    "The Zenith... the Shadows of Light... they''re one and the same, aren''t they?"

    "KEUK!"

    It was at this point that Sloth realized that he couldn''t do anything anymore. He had grossly underestimated the opponent.

    And the only payment he could give for his severe error... was death!

    ''Leader Chad... forgive me for my ipetence!''

    Before the enemy could take another step forward, Sloth bit the poison capsule locked in his teeth.

    "F-forgive m-meee...." Whispering in a hollow tone, he passed away.

    Death. One would think that was the end of this man''s life.

    However, the one who towered above him had other ns.

    "You really think you can die without my permission?"

    A crooked smile upied the blonde''s face, and a single word was uttered that changed everything.

    ... Even death.

    "[The Hanged Man]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 961 An Interesting Discovery

    Sloth drifted in the abyss.

    He thought he had died, and so his soul was most likely going to descended to the depths of hell thanks to all the atrocities he hadmitted in his life.

    However...

    "[The Hanged Man]"

    At the sound of that voice, and with the surge of energy that pulled him from the abyss, he found himself regaining his senses.

    He wondered what was going on. Wasn''t he meant to be dead? How could he hear, or smell, or finally... see?

    That''s right! He was no longer dead.

    "W-why am I still...?"

    "Why else?" The towering figure that stood before Sloth reminded him of the humiliating fight he just had, and the impossibly powerful enemy he had faced.

    ''E-eeeek!''

    "Don''t worry. This won''t take long." the blonde spoke with a bright smile, almost bright enough to hide the darkness that Sloth could sense from him.

    ''Don''t touch me! Don''t... touch m-mee...''

    As soon as the young man ced his hand on his head, he felt himself drained of energy, and his vision instantly gree blurry.

    ''I... can''t do... anything...'' Sloth found his consciousness fading away, and in no time hepletely passed out on the cold ground.

    ''I...''

    *******

    "I knew it." I smiled to myself once I was done taking all of Sloth''s memories.

    ''I was able to learn a couple of new things, but it''s mostly in tandem with what I''ve found out for myself.''

    Just as I suspected, the Zenith was the same as the Shadows of Light.

    ''Where there is light, shadows are bound to appear. To appreciate good, evil must also exist.''

    The Shadows of Light was an organization that was created to oppose the Hunters of this world in order to boost the image of the Zenith.

    They would cause the problem, and the Zenith would fix them.

    ''But that''s not all they''re good for.'' I gave a wry smile. ''They''re also used for the Zenith''s dirty work.''

    If anyone opposed the Zenith, or perhaps the Zenith wanted to make a nation desperate or suffer, they would use the Shadows of Light.

    All those years ago, South Korea refused the policy of the Zenith, and hadn''t joined them yet, so the triple S ss Dungeon Break diaster was initiated in order to make them bend.

    ''South Korea isn''t the only country, though. The water gets murkier the deeper you go...''

    In the end, the Zenith had only managed to build their image and prestige on bloodshed.

    And that was only the half of it. The second part had to do with their creation of Blood Stones¡ªthe item that Sloth seemed to cherish so much.

    ''The crimson orb was made using the lives of others as a base. It seems they cause disasters to also generate casualties do they can fuel their powers even more.'' It was a disgusting venture, but that exined so many things now.

    Finally, the Zenith, or Shadows of Light, knew a lot more about the Gated and Dimensional Energy than what the world was currently privy to.

    That was why they were able to cause Dungeon Breaks whenever they wanted, or even create a Gate if they wanted to.

    ''Seems like it requires a good supply of Blood Stones to pull off, especially depending on the Rank they intend to make.''

    Still, to think theymitted so many atrocities and also im to be the heroes of this new world¡ªit was a horrid joke.

    Still, everything now fell into ce ordingly.

    "As for you..." I looked at the unconscious Sloth with a cold gaze. ''... I know the perfect thing to do.''

    I intended to use [The Fool] and manipte his memories. He was an executive officer, after all.

    ''I make good uses of my pawns. You''ll be useful for my n, so until then... let''s change the narrative a little, shall we?'' A grin formed on my face.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Let''s get started."

    *******

    Once I was done altering Sloth''s memories, I allowed him to leave the scene. He was going to return and give his report to his leader.

    He was going to tell his leader how he underestimated me, and how he almost won, but I was just a bit stronger, and in the end, he was able to injure me before escaping due to themotion caused by his explosion.

    ''Its scripted, but I''m sure he''ll tell a convincing tale since that''s what he believes happened.''

    I also had to return his Blood Stone to make it all convincing, but that didn''t concern me too much.

    With that matter settled, I turned to face the true victim of tonight''s event.

    "... Chairman Sung''s grandson." Muttering to myself, I drew closer to him.

    I could hear his muffled sounds from my position, and while he was bound and gagged, I knew he was trying to say something.

    With the flick of a finger, I released his gag, and also untied him from the right position he was strapped in.

    "You''re free now." I smiled at him.

    "T-thank you! Thank you so much." He began to thank me profusely, even breaking down and crying.

    The young boy looked just slightly older than me, though from what I gathered, he was in his early twenties.

    ''He indeed looks very young.'' I thought internally.

    ''Hmmm?'' Something about the man in front of me felt simr, no, different.

    He felt different from all the other people I had encountered in this worlds thus far, yet he appeared simr to me, and those I had interacted with before arriving here.

    ''Don''t tell me¡ª!'' My eyes widened once I enhanced my senses slightly.

    This was the first time I was really paying him any mind, so I hadn''t noticed until now, but to think I would make such a discovery here!

    ''He has a Mana Core!''

    I instantly walked closer to him, cing one hand on his shoulder while kneeling partly.

    "S-sir...?" His face depicted confusion as I stared at him with a warm expression.

    "Young man, what do you say to bing my disciple?"

    "E-eh...?"

    There was no way I would pass up the chance to have a test subject¡ªno, I meant a disciple¡ªwho was an oddity.

    "Be my disciple!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 962 Different Paths

    The next day, I had a meeting with Chairman Sung, Director Baek, Kuzon, and Aloe.

    We had a lot to discuss, but it mostly concerned what I had been up to the previous night.

    I briefed them of what happened; how Sung was kidnapped for information about myself and Kuzon, and how I saved him.

    I further went on to exposit my fight with Sloth, one of the Stars of the Shadows of Light, and how things ended.

    I refrained from mentioning the link between the Zenith and the Shadows of Light.

    Telling the Chairman any of that wouldn''t solve any problem, and it was possible that the opposite could happen as a result.

    I did mention my use of memory maniption to have a pawn among the ranks of the Shadows of Light, and how Sloth would be useful to us in the long run.

    "It will take some time before everything falls into ce, but everything is proceeding ording to n."

    That meant two things.

    One was that none of the things that uredst night took me by surprise or derailed my ns.

    The second, and perhaps, the most pertinent one for now... was that we now had some free time on our hands.

    "Tch. So you went out all alone to get the action." Kuzon murmured. "How inconsiderate..."

    It sounded as if he was sulking, but his expression didn''t show anything of the sort. Well, what did I expect from Kuzon to begin with?

    "You can explore one of the S ss Dungeons that have just been discovered by the Hunter Association. I''m sure Chairman Sung wouldn''t mind." I returned his words with a smile.

    "W-well, I wouldn''t really mind, but¡ª"

    "What sort ofpensation is that? You just want me to do freebor and fight some weak monsters."

    "Why don''t you trust me on this one? I promise you, something interesting is sure to happen." Kuzon''s hard stare was at me for some time, but I maintained my positive glow.

    "Haa... fine. I guess I''ll settle for that."

    In the end, the Chairman agreed to the whole thing. Of course, Kuzon would have to sneakily do his thing, since we were still not affiliated with the Hunter Association.

    "What about you, Aloe? What will you be doing?" I asked Vida, who had been silent for some time now.

    "I think I''ll just continue to do raids in order to lessen the burden of the Hunter Association. There''s a lot to be done, after all."

    That sounded just like what I would expect someone like her to say.

    "Many thanks, Miss Vida." Both the Chairman and Director expressed their gratitude.

    "What about you, Mr. Leonard? What are your ns?"

    "Yeah, Jared. I''m curious too."

    Well, I suppose I left ''that'' part out of the story, so they couldn''t have guessed yet.

    "I''m going to spend more time with Sung Han Soo. Specifically training and research."

    "H-Han Soo?!" Both Aloe and the Chairman spoke at the same time, their tones echoing something akin to shock, but also concern.

    "Yes. He is actually really special. None of you could recognize that, since your technology isn''t suited to detect it, but I was able to notice."

    The boy who was ostracized as the pathetic E ss Hunter just might have enough potential to surpass all the Hunters in this country¡ªperhaps even the world.

    ''There''s only one way to find out.''

    "I-I see. Then, I thank you for giving up your time to nurture him."

    Once more, the Chairman thanked all of us for what we were to venture on during our break period. Director Baek followed his lead.

    The meeting didn''tst long after that, and we left his office not long after.

    ''I can tell he''s still concerned about the numerous issues that are surfacing, but he appears more at ease now.'' I smiled and nodded.

    ''Don''t worry, Chairman. It''ll all be fine.

    *******<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    [Several Hours Later]

    It was night already, and Chairman Sung was still in his office, sorting out the documents that had piled up on his desk.

    The Hunter Exams and Special Awakening Ceremony were going to happen in a few months, and there was a lot to do before then.

    After the candidates had been screened, and shortlisted, he as the Chairman still had to thoroughly scrutinize them to make the final call.

    South Korea needed loyal and trustworthy Hunters. It would be a waste if the ones chosen were the opposite of that.

    "Haa... I was so immersed in work that I didn''t notice how much time had passed." He lifted his gaze from his desk and looked to his side.

    There, he was able to peer though the ss walls of his office and take a look outside. It was night in South Korea, and the neon glow of the city''s night hours made it all worth it.

    Somehow, Chairman Sung felt like rising from his chair and moving closer to the ss walls so he could be closer to the sparkles of light he witnessed.

    ''To protect this beautiful country and her people... that is why I work this hard.'' That was why he couldn''t take a break.

    Not yet.

    "Heh!" Chairman Sung gave himself a little chuckle. This too was a sacrifice he had to make for his country.

    "What''s making you smile like this, old man?"

    The moment Chairman Sung heard the echoing voice, his body froze and his eyes bulged.

    He feltpletely paralyzed, and even his open eyes refused to close.

    "You seen to be in an awfully good mood despite the mess you''re in, old man."

    At that moment, someone appeared before Chairman Sung, like a shadow emerging from the ground.

    He had a hooded cloak, and it seemed like his whole body was dressed like the night itself.

    ''Y-you...!!!'' The Chairman''s thoughts echoed as his brain pounded.

    There was no way he wouldn''t recognize one of South Korea''s former S ss Hunters, now naturalized to be someone else.

    "Look at you, still trembling in my presence. Did you miss me so much?"

    How could he say that? Chairman Sung felt a lot of emotions swirling within him; rage, pain, betrayal, and so much more.

    However, there was one dominant feeling that overshadowed the rest.

    It was fear.

    ''Gyu Pol...'' His thoughts echoed grimly as he stared at the young man who had brought his hood down.

    This man was no longer a citizen of South Korea. He had now be a Pir of the strongest organization in the world.

    ''Fourth Pir of the Zenith!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 963 The Zenith

    Gyu Pol.

    He was an exceptional Hunter with so much skill and talent that everyone in South Korea knew him to be one of the strongest S ss Hunters.

    After the death of Sung Han Soo''s father, the strongest Hunter in Korea, the rise of Gyu Pol brought hope to the people.

    He was strong, but also incredibly kind to the people.

    Chairman Sung noticed all of these and even thought Gyu Pol would one day seed him and be the next Chairman of the Hunter Association.

    However... the facade was soon dropped when the Zenith offered Gyu Pol an offer he couldn''t resist.

    Chairman Sung had thought he would reject it, considering all the actions he had depicted as a Hunter of virtue.

    His teammates and colleagues all thought he would choose South Korea and fight for their country.

    "This was all to climb thedder. Do you think I''ll remain stuck here when a bigger opportunity awaits? What am I, an idiot?"

    In the end, Gyu Pol had only been putting up an act to rise to the very top. Once a different, more prospective, path opened up, he chose it without hesitation.

    It was all for the power; nothing more, nothing less.

    ********

    "W-what are you doing here?" Chairman Sung was soon able to move his body, and while he would have red at his interlocutor for treating him in such a way, the dared not.

    "What? I can''t visit you anymore, old man?"

    Gyo Pol sat on the chair opposite Chairman Sung, an air of disrespect and conceit flowing around him.

    "Y-you..."

    "Aren''t you forgetting something? I''m a member of Zenith''s Seven Pirs. As a representative of the world order, am I not allowed to visit your office?"

    The Chairman realized there was no way he could wiggle out of the trap he had put himself in.

    "I-I apologize. You are right." In the end, he could only bow his head and beg for forgiveness.

    "That''s much better." The satisfied grin Gyo Pol made brought him so much internal agony, but he endured it

    Even this humiliation was for the sake of his country.

    "The Grand Symposium is in a few weeks'' time. I came to remind you of that."

    "Y-yes, we are preparing our best to atte¡ª"

    "We hope your Hunter Association would have found our item before then. Inability to do so will lead to some... undesirable consequences."

    Once more, Chairman Sung gulped despite gritting his teeth.

    ''They''re already calling it their item. We were only supposed to lend it to them, and yet...''

    The investigation concerning the stolen SS ss Core had gotten nowhere.

    They had reached a dead end, and while Chairman Sung would have thought of it as officially the ruin of their Hunter Association, Jared told him to have trust in the n.

    That was the only reason he hadn''t despaired yet. However, with the situation already reaching this point, the only other alternative presented itself to the Chairman.

    "We will return the payment Zenith made for the item." Those were heavy words he uttered, but this was the onlypromise he could make at this point.

    ''Raising the funds won''t be easy. No, it will be downright difficult, but it''s not impossible.''

    "Oh? You do realize that the loss of the item incurs further damages for breaching our contract."

    "I understand that." Chairman Sung said, his eyes glowing with resolve. "We will refund the money to y¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, a warbling sound echoed across the hall, and an insurmountable pressure causes the Chairman''s body to freeze.

    It felt like he was being torn apart, yet his body was stationary.

    ''K-keuk!''

    "Look here, old man." Gyu Pol smiled, his eyes glowing bright purple. "We want the Core, as stipted in the contract."

    Chairman Sung''s heart trembled, as the young man''s voice sounded like grating metal in his ears.

    "If you fail to deliver it, there will be consequences."

    After a moment of silence, the pressure slowly dissipated.

    "Do we have an ord?" With Gyu Pol''s voice echoing in the office, Chairman Sung could do nothing but hang his head in powerlessness.

    "Y-yes. I understand..."

    "Good. Now, then... to our next area of business."

    ''There''s more?!''

    "The Busan incident yesterday. Why is the Hunter Association being silent about the two men who appeared there to save the day during the Dungeon Break?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Ah... that.'' Chairman Sung already knew what the Zenith was really after.

    Just like they poached Gyu Pol from South Korea, they wanted to do the same to South Korea''s new heroes.

    Unfortunately for them, things weren''t going to go as they nned this time.

    "The Hunter Association has no affiliations with them."

    "Hmm. Are you being serious right now?"

    "I am. We have no connection to those two men."

    "Do you really take our informationwork for granted? We know the SSSS arrested them, and the Hunter Association took them away from custody."

    ''So they already went that far in such a short amount of time, huh?'' Chairman Sung could feel a bead of sweat fall from his face.

    Still, he expected something like this would po up eventually.

    "Yes. We wanted to interrogate them about the Dimensional Spike that ured which ovepped with their time of arrest. After interrogating them and seeing they were innocent, we let them go."

    Chairman Sung could feel the heavy aura increase in his office, but he stuck to his guns.

    "We currently have no affiliations with them, and we aren''t responsible for their actions."

    "Oh? So they just helped out in an S ss Dungeon Break for nothing?"

    Chairman Sung gave a wry smile as he heard Gyu Pol''s question. It was regrettable that things turned out this way.

    "Can we... not have good people who do the right thing just for the sake of justice?"

    He knew he was being impudent, but... Chairman Sung stared at Gyu Pol in the eyes while speaking.

    "The Hunter Association has no need to hide anything from The Zenith. If we had such capable Hunters, why would we keep them from you?"

    "Hmmm..."

    "We''re all on the same side, aren''t we?" Straining the best smile he could as the pressure intensified, Chairman Sung concluded all he had to say on the matter.

    "Oh? Is that so? It seems you''ve gotten better at sophistry since west spoke, old man."

    "Thank you for thepliment, Fourth Pir."

    For yet another moment, an air of tension permeated the office, and the Chairman felt his body ache in apprehension.

    What would Gyu Pol''s next move be? Was this enough to satisfy him? Or would he keep pressing on the issue?

    Chairman Sung knew he wouldn''t give up the information no matter what, but he feared the extreme to which his former protege would go to achieve his goals.

    "Hmph. Very well, then. If that''s what you say, then I''ll believe you."

    Fortunately, Gyu Pol rose to his feet, refusing to press the issue any further.

    ''Haa... haaa...''

    "I suppose we''ll see each other in the Grand Symposium. It should be entertaining..."

    And so, like mist that faded in the presence of the wind, Gyu Pol vanished into thin air, leaving the trembling Chairman alone in his office once more.

    "Damnit!" Chairman Sung''s croaking voice echoed as he fought back the tears of frustration that welled up in his eyes.

    Even now, South Korea was being threatened by The Zenith, a body meant to protect them.

    The future appeared bleak, and it was inevitable that worry would pervade his heart.

    However, amid all of these, Chairman Sung had one thought.

    ''Jared Leonard... I''m counting on you.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 964 Special Hunter

    Aloe, Kuzon, and I spent the whole day catching up and discussing many things. We were supposed to go about our businesses that day, but by the time we realized what was going on, it was alreadyte in the night.

    As a result, we decided to postpone our activities to the next day.

    The moment that arrived, Kuzon left for his adventures in the S ss Dungeon nearby, while Aloe made her way to see Director Baek for her next assignment.

    With only me left, I decided to reach Sung Han Soo through Telepathic Magic. Thanks to the link I already established with him two nights ago, it wasn''t very difficult.

    ... Not that it would have been any harder to do it normally, especially with my current level of proficiency.

    *

    *

    *

    "You came faster than I expected." I smiled at the enthusiastic young man who stood before me.

    We were currently upying one of the training halls within the Hunter Association. However, since I was the one who requested to use a training room, they gave me thergest that was avable.

    As a result, Han Soo and I were standing in a very magnificent hall that would otherwise contain thousands of people.

    ''How generous.'' I smiled.

    "It''s because I want to get stronger. You told me you could do that. I was... also curious about what you said back then."

    Ah, yes. The night I told Han Soo to be my disciple, he was very puzzled by my request. Considering how hecked anything really special, he considered himself unworthy for some reason.

    However, it all changed when I told him one thing, and also promised him strength.

    "You''re special, Han Soo." I repeated the words I told him that night.

    I didn''t mean he was very special beyond what I had seen before, but in this world, he was an anomaly.

    And that was something that intrigued me. To pass time, I wanted to see how far I could go with this young man.

    "You have something called a Mana Core within you. It''s an intangible, incorporeal energy source within you that grants energy for you to perform supernatural feats."

    In this world, there was nothing like Magic. Skills and Special Abilities took the cake. There were a couple of people whose abilities resembled Magic, but they didn''t refer to them as the actual thing.

    ''Which is why Han Soo is special. I can actually teach him Magic.''

    "Mana Core? I have something like that in me?"

    "Yes. Usually Mana Particles in the body gather over a period of time to form a Mana Core. However, in this world, it seems the Mana Particle flow has be stagnated. As such, Hunters merely harness power directly from Mana Particles and not the Mana Core."

    Compared to using a Mana Core, the power and efficiency of such a method was greatly inferior.

    "The reason you seem weak and talentless, Han Soo, is because you are an exception. Your Mana Core has been pulling in your Mana Particles, leaving very little for you to use directly. And so, it seems you don''t have an aptitude due to the smaller amount of Mana Particles outside your Core." As I was speaking, smiling with every word uttered, I noticed Han Soo was already breaking into tears.

    He seemed so dazed, like he was dreaming, and the tears flowed down his cheeks.

    "I... I really... had something like that...?" His tone contained disbelief, but also something reminiscent of hope.

    I could tell he was overjoyed to hear what I was telling him, even though he couldn''tpletelyprehend it yet.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "That''s right, Han Soo. You have the potential to be very strong. If you learn to harness the power in your Core, you''ll develop a power that can exceed any Hunter in Korea¡ªno, even the whole world!"

    One of the major reasons why absorbing directly from Mana Particles was so crude and inefficient was the limit it ced on the under.

    Every person had the rate at which their bodies produced and distributed Mana Particles. As a result, once Awakened in this world, the present amount of Mana Particles and the rate of recovery were seen as affinities, and Ranks were given based on that.

    ''From F Rank to S Rank. Those in the upper ranks have higher recovery of their Mana Particles, and a greater number. But isn''t that simply too arbitrary?''

    Rather than relying on something as stagnant as that, someone who had a Mana Core could keep growing as time went on. Eventually, he would be able to manage a higher energy output than an S ss, and that wouldn''t even be the limits of his growth.

    ''In a world where those at the bottom remain powerless, and the strong upy the top, stagnation is bound to ur.'' Hopefully, my actions would shake the status quo for the best.

    "Your grandfather told me a bit about you before we met, Han Soo. I know you want to help your Country, especially your grandfather and the Hunter Association. You want to save people, don''t you?"

    "Y-yes! I want that more than anything!"

    I smiled and nodded at him. Chairman Sung was right. He had the makings of a hero. Weakness had simply clipped his wings.

    "So, what will you do now that I''ve told you all this? Make your choice."

    "I want to do it!" I had barely finished speaking before Han Soo responded with fervour.

    His eyes glowed with extreme determination, and I could see his fists clenched with fierce desperation.

    "I will give it my all! Please help me be stronger!"

    Of course, I was going to that. It was also good that he agreed upfront. This way, I had gotten consent from my test subject.

    ''Now I can freely use his body for more research.''

    We would both get what we wanted, so everyone would end up happy.

    It was a win-win for the two of us.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 965 Dungeon Mayhem

    >BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In a very loud explosion, several monsters were sent flying in multiple directions.

    Those with close proximity to the st were all eviscerated by it, while the surrounding creatures were simply blown away by the shockwave.

    In the end, none could withstand its power, nor the power of the being who floated in the sky above them.

    "I can''t even properly train in this ce. The monsters are too weak..." He muttered to himself.

    ~Why didn''t you just ask Jared for a spar? He would be a worthy training partner.~

    The moment Kuzon heard the voice of his Constetion Familiar, Leo, he sighed even harder.

    Clearly, even his Bond Soul was bored out of his mind.

    "He''s teaching a kid. How could I interrupt him?"

    ~Can''t he... duplicate himself or something? He could just leave a clone to teach the kid and then fight you or something.~

    Kuzon knew that was a possibility. However, there was a reason he wasn''t involving Jared in his training.

    ''I don''t want him to know just how much I''m capable of yet...''

    Besides, there was the possibility of him losing, thus changing the status quo that they had.

    ~In essence, you aren''t seeking his help because of your pride?~

    "When you put it that way..."

    "ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!!!"

    A massive beast, having four arms, with a ferocious face like a dragon, and bat-like wings, roared and charged for Kuzon.

    It was clearly the Boss Monster, and with pretty much almost every single monster vanquished in the Dungeon, it had finally reared its ugly head.

    ''... You''re making it sound like I''m holding myself back.''

    Before the horrifying creature even neared Kuzon, several invisible threads wrapped themselves around it, cutting through it''s ck scales and turning it into mincemeat in no time.

    >SQUELCH!<

    Just like that, the blood and meat of the Dungeon Boss scattered all over the devastatedndscape before Kuzon.

    "Oh well, the Boss is dead. Time to go."

    ~The Hunter Association needs the spoils of wat gathered from eliminating the monsters, and also the useful materials that can be gotten from this ce. Won''t you help them retrieve them?~

    "Ah, that''s true. But it''s difficult to find anything I can consider ''not trash'' in this ce." Kuzon responded, looking around yet failing to see what could be so valuable.

    At that moment, it struck him that the world he was delivering these materials to didn''t have the standards he possessed.

    ~Seems you''re catching on.~

    "I''ll just grab whatever. We still have about thirty minutes or so before the Gate closes." He would grab anything that had any value, no matter how little.

    If it had vestiges of Mana, or was shiny and dense enough to take a light blow from a low-energy output punch, then it was good.

    In the end, Kuzon spent a good deal of time analyzing and ensuring he was thorough in his search.

    The items and materials he ended up picking were thrown into a specific room within his Emperor''s Domain.

    ''I should take all the corpses too...'' The ones that were left intact, that is.

    He used [Marite] to sew the Boss Monster''s body, giving it a whole appearance, and he also did the same for the other monsters that were rendered into mincemeat.

    ''Can''t do anything for those already burned up, though. At least, their Cores will be useful.''

    ******

    By the time Kuzon was done, it remained ten minutes before the Gate would close. As a result, he knew he had to hurry.

    >FWUUUSHHH<

    In a single sh, he teleported to the entrance/exit of the dimension he found himself in.

    ''Welp. Time to go.''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >BZZZZTTTTTTT!!!<

    The moment he attempted to leave, the Gate suddenly glowed red, buzzing with some sort of crimson spark.

    It refused to part, and for some reason, the surface tension was too dense for even Kuzon to get through.

    "What is this? The spatial passage is locked. Why?"

    ~Who knows? But I''m guessing you know what this means.~

    The implications of this was simple. Kuzon was stuck in the Dungeon.

    ''I''m not an expert on Space Magic, so I don''t have the Magic expertise to bypass the dimensional threshold.'' He sighed, looking at the shrinking red Gate.

    He would have loved to keep staring at the strange thing to figure it out, but the mere fact that there was a time limit bothered him.

    If he wasted too much time, the Gate wouldpletely close, and he would be stuck in this ce.

    ''I can''t fully operate the Magic Item Crazy Neron gave me since it has preset coordinates, which means I can''t rely on it.''

    At this point, there seemed to be only one way out.

    "I know you can do something about this, Leo."

    ~Hm? What are you talking about?~

    Kuzon nearly sighed in exasperation, but he decided to continue.

    "The fact that you''re silent now proves that yoh want me to ask you about it."

    His Familiar was often times an attention whore. And now that it was finally time for the Constetion to show its full power, his dear Leo was ying coy.

    "Please help."

    ~Haaa... fine. Fine, you got me.~

    Kuzon instantly sighed in relief.

    It was already less than five minutes before the Gate would finally close, and from the looks of it, the dimensional rift was closing much faster with each passing second.

    ~I''ll let you use my [Representation]. I told you before, didn''t I? I represent Authority and Sovereign Power.~

    "Yes."

    ~Well, it''s time to see it y out right now. Behold my power!~

    At that moment, Kuzon felt a surge of power rush through him, and his mind suddenly grasped the Magic of his Constetion Familiar.

    "I see." A grin formed on his face. "So that''s what it is."

    This time, Kuzon did not hesitate in touching the crimson Gate before him. A golden aura shrouded his palm as he did so.

    And then, he whispered.

    "[Authority Of The Sovereign]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 966 The Star Of Gluttony [Pt 1]

    Kuzon had learned a lot in his journey as a living entity. He was also blessed with a lot of power

    From his Spells, to his Original Magic, and even down to his transformations.

    However, perhaps what stood out the most were his major abilities that stemmed from his absorption of two Arcanas.

    [The Emperor], which allowed him to dominate anyone and anything inferior to him.

    [The Empress], which allowed no harm or ''negative effect'' to befall him.

    With these two, along with the Absolute Emperor Transfiguration, he was considered invincible.

    However, that only applied where he was facing those without the same sets of Arcanas as him... or beings who were inconceivably superior to him.

    In the end, he had yet to achieve absolute invincibility.

    That is... until now.

    "[Authority Of The Sovereign]"

    One could call this power simr to [The Emperor], but infinitely stronger.

    However, there was one key difference that separated the power of the Constetion Leo from the Arcanas Kuzon wielded.

    While Kuzon was allowed to dominate the inferior with his Arcana, the Authority of the Sovereign qualified him to be superior.

    In simple terms, [Authority Of The Sovereign] ced Kuzon at a higher in of existence, like a god in the clouds, staring at insignificant ants.

    In this realm... the power to quash a simple barrier seemed almost inconsequential.

    It was as simple as making a thought.

    And then...

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM<

    ... Kuzon was finally free.

    *********

    "T-that was... wow!" Kuzon murmured as he stepped out of the Gate, appearing dazed.

    He found himself within an apartment uilding, which was evacuated once an S ss Gate was detected there

    His eyes barely saw anything around him, and his body felt heavier than usual. It was a strange sensation, something that only came about when he overexerted himself.

    ~This is why I was skeptical of you utilizing my power. It''s too much for you to handle, at least not without preparing your body with your other transformations first.~

    ''So why didn''t you say anything?!'' Kuzon''s thoughts screamed in exasperation.

    His body felt really worn out.

    ~Is that your way of saying thanks? What an ungrateful brat.~

    "W-well..."

    Kuzon was indeed grateful that his Constetion hade to his rescue, but something within him told him something wasn''t right.

    Especially now that his head was much clearer from the panicky state that he temporarily assumed in the Dungeon.

    And then, it struck him!

    "Now that... I think about it... haaa... I could have used [The Emperor]."

    The Gate was being blocked by someone sort of ability, now that he thought well about it. If he used [The Emperor] to hijack control, it would have worked out.

    Perhaps even using powerful Magic to break down the surface tension.

    There seemed to be so many other options than his Constetion''s ability. So why...?

    "You wanted me to use your power, didn''t you? Yet you im it''s the opposite of what you wanted."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ~W-what? I have no idea what you''re talking about? I didn''t even want you to use it.~

    "Sure, you didn''t." Kuzon smiled, feeling a little better as the aftereffects of receiving so much power began to leave him.

    ~Well, whatever. We''ve gone past the point of any return. Your body will slowly limate to my power. When you use my power next time, it won''t hurt... too much.~

    "Well, that makes me feel so much better." Kuzon chuckled.

    There still seemed to be a lot of questions on his mind. For example, why did the Gate turn red and trap him within the Dungeon.

    However, at this point, Kuzon didn''t really need to ask that question.

    He already knew the answer.

    "Are you seriously going to keep watching me?"

    His voice echoed in the vastplex, and finally, after some time, a certain figure appeared, fading into visibility.

    "So you could sense me, huh? That''s amazing. You''re really amazing..."

    Kuzon strained his gaze to see the person before him, and he found him to be aplete stranger.

    It was a youngdy, and she had a ck cloak, with red hair and eyes. She also had a paleplexion, and her facial features didn''t seem like a South Korean.

    ''She''s speaking thenguage fluently, though.'' Kuzon thought to himself.

    "Not only did you manage to escape the Gate I clogged with my S ss [Spatial Lock] Skill, but you even managed to see through my A Rank [nk Form]. Interesting..." The pale-faced woman spoke.

    Kuzon simply watched and listened in silence.

    "You seen exhausted already, though. It seems breaking out took up most of your energy..."

    ''Um, no. It was Leo''s overwhelming power that made me like this...'' Kuzon thought to himself, but he couldn''t exactly tell her that.

    "And you also talk to yourself a lot, don''t you? I used my A Rank Scouting Skill on you, and it doesn''t seem like you''remunicating with anyone."

    ''I''m conversing with my Familiar who is within me...'' Still, Kuzon couldn''t tell all of this to his enemy, so he decided to keep quiet instead.

    "In any case, I suppose it''s time for introductions. You must be wondering why I trapped you in that Dungeon, and why I have appeared before you now." The woman smiled, her eyes glowing red.

    She slowly began walking toward Kuzon, every step ringing of confidence.

    ''Not really. Isn''t she one of those Shadows of Light people that were spying on what Jared and I did in Busan? She''s probably here to eliminate me.'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed.

    "I am a Star of the Shadows of Light." Exuding confidence, the woman licked her lips as she stared at Kuzon with a murderous gaze.

    "You may call me Gluttony."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 967 The Star Of Gluttony [Pt 2]

    Tense silence enveloped the deserted ara as both enemies stared at each other¡ªthe woman with a bright, confident smile, and the young man with slight indifference and caution.

    Any moment, and it seemed like the entire area would copse as a result of the heavy tension.

    ''As expected. A Shadows Of Light Star, huh? Just like the one Jared faced...''

    It all slowly began to make sense to Kuzon,. especially considering what Jared told him.

    ''So this is what he meant by something interesting. Not bad.'' Kuzon nearly leaked out a smirk, but he maintained his serious demeanor before the woman in front of him.

    ''At the very least, my journey here wasn''tpletely in vain. I should be able to practice something if she''s the target.''

    As Kuzon was engaging in his thoughts, Gluttony vanished from her location, bing a blur that could hardly be perceived by anyone.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Closing the distance between them in a single moment, sheunched her hand towards Kuzon, the whole thing being coated by a dark red aura.

    ''What''s this...?'' Kuzon swiftly dodged the attack at thest minute, sensing something off about his interaction with thedy.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    Not giving him room to breathe, she vanished again, this time appearing behind him. Just as before, he dodged, and then she kept switching positions and attacking with such speed and veracity that the entire room vibrated.

    ''Her speed isn''t bad. It''s just not enough.'' However, despite that, his focus wasn''t on the woman''s speed.

    It was on something she wielded that kept drawing Kuzon''s senses toward it.

    "Hey, what''s that you have in your pocket?" Kuzon asked her, an eyebrow raised in suspicion.

    Unfortunately, her blow was already fast approaching him when he began his inquisition, and it seemed inevitable that she would hit him.

    But...

    "H-huh??"

    She suddenly froze on the spot, her fist a mere inch from Kuzon''s face.

    No, it wasn''t like she froze. It seemed more like something restrained her, holding her still despite her best efforts to move.

    "Looks like [Marite] works just well. In any case, what''s the stuff you have in your pocket? It''s the first time I''m sending something like that in this reality."

    "Y-you bastard! Let me go!" The. Star called Gluttony yelled.

    Of course, Kuzon ignored her and went straight for the item she had in her breast pocket.

    "Argh! W-what are you doing, you¡ª"

    "You''re too loud. Jeez..." Finally feeling something warm in the pocket, Kuzon grabbed it and brought his hand outside. "Here we go."

    Locked in his grasp was a brimming crimson stone. It had a malevolent aura emanated from it, and it contained a considerablyrge chunk of Mana.

    "So this is the Blood Stone Jared talked about. A bit underwhelming, but¡ª"

    "Kuku... kuukukuku..." As Kuzon began appraising the stone, Gluttony began tough, her eyes narrowing as her lips widened in delight.

    "Why are youughing?"

    "Hahahahahaha! You fool! You''ve made your worst mistake! Now that you''ve touched the Blood Stone, there''s no going back!"

    ''What the hell is she talking about?'' Kuzon thought to himself.

    "Looks like I can''t go easy on you any longer. I''ll use my Trump Card!"

    Kuzon''s eyes widened as the stone in his palm suddenly began to grow incredibly hot. Of course, no harm came to him, but the sensation made him wonder.

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, something akin to a veil enveloped the surroundings.

    It took over everything, coursing through the ceilings and floors as well, transforming everything into a world of crimson hue.

    The woman, who had been still before, was suddenly freed by teleporting away from her previous position.

    The stone in his grasp also vanished, returning to her possession.

    The world became fully formed, and it seemed like a deste reality drenched in blood, cut off from the rest of the world.

    ''Is this... an alternate dimension?'' Kuzon thought as he observed the newly changed world.

    He feltpletely disconnected from the reality he was in just moments ago. The sensation was simr what he felt in a Dungeon.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''So, I''m trapped once again, huh?''

    "Wee to my [Blood Dimension]!" Gluttony roared in both amusement and pride. "It''s my Ultimate Skill, an S Ranked Skill!"

    ******

    Unlike the Sin of Sloth who focused on obtaining three S ss Skills, Gluttony spread her Skill sets more broadly. She had only two S ss Skills, and a couple of other inferior ones.

    Out of all of them, though, her most powerful Skill was the [Blood Dimension], which created a realm that she had absolute control over.

    Coupled with her Special Ability of teleportation, she was invincible.

    "It seems I''ve wasted too much time messing around. It''s time to show you my full power and destroy you!"

    There were so many ways she could go about her enemy''s elimination. Just thinking about how to pay him back for humiliating her, and also due to the orders of their leader, made her lick her lips in delight.

    "I agree. It also seems like I''ve wasted my time." The golden haired opponent suddenly said, his tone depicting nothing short of boredom

    Perhaps even disinterest.

    "Since I''ve seen your Trump Card, I''ve deemed this battle to be a waste of time."

    "What?!"

    "You''re pretty proud of this stifling room you call a dimension. It''s disheartening."

    "You..." Veins began appearing on Gluttony''s head as she red at the ignorant fool who spoke.

    Her special dimension was asrge as a house. She could manipte anything within it, and she could easily kill him now if she wanted.

    How dare he degrade her power to such an extent?

    "You deserve to be punished!" As soon as she said this, with a widened, murderous gaze, several spikes emanated from all over¡ªthe floor, ceilings, sides, etc., and sharplyunched themselves at the young man.

    Gluttony expected to see blood strewn on the floor, or the boy turning into mincemeat. Ah, even seeing his guts spilled all over her dimension wouldn''t be bad.

    Using Skills below S Rank didn''t work in this world, and even the S Rank Skills used would instantly be detected by her at the moment of activation.

    She was quite literally invincible!

    "Disappointing..." With a single mutter, the crimson spikes that closed in on the young man began to change color.

    All of them turned golden.

    "W-what?!"

    "Perhaps I should show you what a true domain ought to look like."

    The floors, the ceilings, and everything around began to take on a golden form.

    "W-what are you doing?!"

    "Taking over your special dimension. But even this isn''t enough." A wide smile formed on his face, causing Gluttony to break into an anxious sweat

    Gold covered everywhere, and a bright light took over her senses.

    It felt like she was being transported to get another new reality.

    "You need to see for yourself. What a superior domain is."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 968 Superior Domain

    The Emperor''s Domain materialized before their eyes, a breathtaking pce that seemed to stretch on for an eternity.

    Every inch of the pce was adorned with an ethereal beauty, bathed in a golden glow. The walls, intricately carved and adorned with delicate patterns, shimmered like liquid gold. Sunlight cascaded through ornate windows, casting a warm, enchanting light that danced upon the gilded surfaces.

    "Haaa... w-what is... this...?"

    As Gluttony stepped forward, she found herself standing on a floor made of polished gold, reflecting her every movement like a mirror. The air carried a sweet fragrance, as if the very essence of blooming flowers had been captured and infused within. Soft, melodious music resonated from unseen corners, serenading their arrival and stirring their souls.

    The ceilings soared to great heights, seemingly impossibly distant. They were adorned with grand chandeliers, sparkling with crystal and gold filigree. The light from the chandeliers refracted through prisms, creating a mesmerizing disy of colors that painted the entire pce in a celestial symphony.

    In the distance, Gluttony could see awork of grand corridors and archways, leading to unexplored realms within The Emperor''s Domain. Every doorway held the promise of a new marvel, inviting her to venture deeper into this captivating sanctuary.

    "I-impossible..."

    As soon as she realized the magnificence of the scene unfolding before her eyes, the location changed.

    This time, Gluttony found herself in a massive hall.

    Statues sculpted from pure gold lined the hall, their intricate details frozen in time. borate tapestries, woven with threads of precious metals, depicted scenes of mythical creatures and heroes from ages past.

    Once again, the scenery changed. This time, they were outside the Golden Pce, surrounded by a surreal golden sky that reflected the evening sun.

    The gardens of The Emperor''s Domain were a verdant oasis, a testament to nature''s mastery. Exotic flora bloomed in vibrant hues, their petals seemingly kissed by the sun. Majestic fountains, crafted entirely of shimmering gold, formed the centerpiece of each garden, their waters sparkling with a timeless allure.

    Amid all this beauty and wonder, time seemed to stand still.

    Gluttony lost herself in the enchanting whispers of the wind and the soothing echoes of footsteps.

    The Emperor''s Domain, with its ethereal beauty and surreal grandeur, was a haven unlike any other, a ce where dreams merged with reality.

    In this ream, Gluttony experienced a world beyond her wildest dreams, where everything shimmered with the luster of pure gold. It was a pce of wonder and enchantment, a testament to Kuzon''s extraordinary power and his ability tomand realm that transcended the limits of imagination.

    "You understand now, don''t you? How pathetic your realm is."

    "A-ah... ahh..."

    Kuzon watched Gluttony shudder as he stood behind her. He could see tears fall from her eyes, but he ignored them and casually ced his hand atop her head.

    "Heuk!" Twitching as Kuzon absorbed her memories, her mind-broken face shone with the same golden wonder as the sanctuary she beheld.

    "I''m not as soft as Jared. The obvious end to our encounter is death... especially since I''m not the one making the ns."

    The body of Gluttony had now be a golden statue, brimming with beauty but devoid of life.

    "He probably knew this would happen. In any case, it seems I''m done here." With a smile, Kuzon snapped his fingers, causing everything around him to dissolve like Magic Particles.

    In moments, he returned himself to the reality he left¡ªSeoul, South Korea.

    Looking around him, there was no evidence that there was ever a serious battle here. He couldn''t also sense anyone observing him, so it was more likely that Gluttony came alone.

    With nothing left to do, Kuzon decided to return to the Hunter Association HQ.

    ''At least I got a souvenir.''  His smile widened.

    A glimmering stone shone in his pocket as he walked out of the abandoned building.

    ******

    Seated in a sumptuous, high-backed leather chair was a man ofmanding presence.

    He had long white hair, and his blue eyes gazed at therge video conferencing screen before him.

    The luxurious office, adorned with mahogany paneling and exquisite artwork, exuded an air of opulence. Behind the man, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the bustling city below.

    This level of luxury was certainly something befitting the most powerful man in the world.

    The Strongest Hunter and leader of The Zenith¡ªChad.

    On the screen, six faces materialized, each belonging to an individual who held a prominent position in his organization, all experts their respective fields.

    The virtual meeting hadmenced, and Chad''s expression was a mask ofposed authority.

    "Good evening, my Stars... or should I say Pirs?," he began, his voice resonating with an air of gravitas. "I have gathered you all here today for an important announcement." <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    His tone held a hint of intrigue, a calcted mystery that left the others on the edge of their virtual seats.

    "One of you is no longer among the living. While Gluttony was a wild one, she was still one of the most powerful among you. It''s a shame she is dead." Chad continued, his gaze sweeping across the faces disyed on the screen.

    The room fell into a silence that hung heavy with curiosity and a touch of unease. The participants exchanged puzzled nces, their expressions reflecting a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

    "It seems the two Busan Heroes were more powerful than I gave them credit for. Sloth suffered defeat and retreated, while Gluttony was killed.

    What Sloth reported was that the match ended in a stalemate, and he managed to escape, but Chad wasn''t foolish enough to believe that story.

    It was more believable that Sloth realized he couldn''t win, and thus decided to escape.

    The air was heavy in his office, a testament of the severity of the topic at hand. It was at times like this that Chad had to raise the mood.

    "Fear not, my subordinates," Chad reassured, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "For the Grand symposium that awaits us shall shed light upon all the secrets that lie in the shadows." His words carried an enigmatic weight, hinting at a hidden purpose, and the participants leaned closer, their interest piqued.

    What secrets? What shadows? The answer was whatever Chad purposed in his heart.

    "As we prepare for this gathering of exceptional minds," He continued, his voice steady and deliberate, "I encourage you all to ready yourselves for what is toe. You all have your parts to y."

    The screen flickered, and Chad''s image expanded, filling the room with hismanding presence. The participants were captivated, their attention held by the man who spoke of mysteries and imminent revtions.

    He was more than worthy of his title.

    "Till then... let us remain what we always are; the light that shines upon the world, a d the darkness that lurks in the shadows."

    This duality was essential in the world that he wanted to create.

    ying the hero and the viin at the same time certainly had its thrills, but more importantly was the power to be amassed as a result of the bnce he achieved.

    "Both fear and respect. Hope and despair. Law and Chaos. I hold all of them in the palm of my hands."

    As his words hung in the air, a lingering tension wrapped around the virtual conference room. The participants exchanged nces, their minds buzzing with anticipation and a hint of trepidation.

    Chad''s final smile, enigmatic and alluring, conveyed a subtle promise of an extraordinary climax.

    "It should be fun."

    From behind the screens, the six other participants of the virtual meeting made a graceful nod, allowing him to conclude the meeting.

    As the virtual screen faded to ck, and the participants left with an indelible impression of Chad''s profound might, the mastermind grinned in delight.

    In the luxurious office, Chad reclined in his chair, his eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and ambition.

    He had set the stage, nting all the necessary seeds, and now he eagerly awaited the day of harvest.

    "The Grand Symposium. I guess I''ll see you there..."

    With that final thought, he closed his eyes.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 969 A Serious Conversation

    "I wonder if Han Soo is still with Jared." Aloe Vida''s thoughts leaked out of her lips as she walked in the hallway, navigating her way to the suite assigned to thetter.

    She had just concluded a mission, and since she had some free time, she thought she''d check in on the group.

    ''Should I first check the training room? Well, it''s on my way there, so I''ll just check in.''

    With this rationale, Aloe made her way to the suite. She didn''t even need to knock before hearing a voice telling her toe in.

    Opening the door and walking in, Vida found Kuzon floating in the air as his bodyy down t.

    "Sup. How''d it go with the mission, Aloe?" He casually said, his gaze trailing to her for a moment before returning to the ceiling.

    ''It''s just Kuzon, huh?'' Aloe didn''t have a particr problem with the young Midas, though it would have been nice if she met Jared too.

    ''I could have just sensed their presence, yet...'' She fought back a sigh and moved closer.

    "It was fine. After this break, Chairman Sung and I are going to attack the other S ss Gate that formed recently. That should get rid of all the major Dungeon threats." She smiled as she sat on the sofa in the room.

    Kuzon, upon seeing that, sat upright, though he still remained in midair.

    "What about you, Kuzon? How did it go with you?" She asked with genuinely curious expression.

    "I encountered a Star of the Shadows of Light." He shrugged nonchntly.

    "Really? How did it go?"

    "Meh. It was pretty easy. Even the S Rank Dungeon was too easy."

    Aloe Vida understood how he felt. She felt the same anytime she was in a Dungeon. It was just unfortunate that she had to follow protocol in order to avoid the worst scenario uring.

    "I should even submit the loot I collected. Maybe I''ll just use Magic to transport them..."

    "Haha. You''ve really gottenzy, huh?"

    "More like bored. I just want to return home, yet Jared keeps making me wait with these borate ns of his." Kuzon sounded like a whiny child, but even this was understandable.

    Even though the boy was usually yful and carefree, it was easy to tell that he was worried as well.

    "You miss Ana, don''t you?" As Aloe said this, Kuzon nced at her, and she returned his gaze with a smile.

    After a moment of silence, he finally responded.

    "I do." A smile formed on his face "I really do."

    "Are you worried about her? Maybe her safety, or¡ª"

    "Not really. As you already know, my Familiar is connected to our original world, so I already asked him to check how things are. He won''t tell me the details, but he assured me that she''s safe. Everyone is safe."

    "But that doesn''tpletely eliminate your concerns, does it?"

    A wry smile formed on Kuzon''s face and he nodded.

    "No. It doesn''t." Once again, he stared at Aloe. "How about you? Got anyone you''re concerned about?"

    A fuzzy feeling coursed through her heart as her thoughts went to many people she cared for.

    They were too many to count.

    Her family. Her students. Her colleagues. Her friends. Maro Smith...

    "Yeah. I''ve got lots." She finally settled for those choice of words.

    "I see..."

    For yet another awkward moment, no one said a thing.

    They remained still in the room, either looking at the furniture or ceiling. Perhaps it was because neither of them had really talked to the other much¡ªor even at all¡ªwhen they were still in their original world.

    Now that they were stuck in the same situation, it was a bit... weird.

    "Can I ask you something?" Kuzon finally broke the silence with a rather serious tone.

    It made Aloe nearly tighten her hand on her chest as she heard it. His voice sounded like a mix of caution and silent rage.

    "What do you think about ''our'' Neron?"

    Once Aloe heard the question, her thoughts became plunged into a sea of rather confusing, conflicting, and contrasting ideas.

    Kuzon and Jared had briefed her on their tour of the world, and they also revealed how suspicious Neron''s actions¡ªor rather, inactions¡ªwere

    The main question raised by all the discussions they had was;<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "What is Neron up to?"

    Aloe was yet to give her own opinion or thoughts on the matter since, at the time she was told, she still had to gather her thoughts.

    She thought she would be able to reach a definite conclusion if given some time, however, even now that Kuzon was raising the question before her, Aloe still found herself unable to answer properly.

    "I... am still unsure." The image of Neron appeared in her mind, and for a second, her heart leaped.

    Neron''s jet ck hair and crystal blue eyes reflected in her thoughts. His handsome face upied her mind, and his gentle tone echoes on and on within her.

    Even letting go of all the biases, she couldn''t reach a clear answer.

    If Aloe was to give any, then it would be;

    "Maybe he has his reasons for doing what he did. We can''t bepletely sure until we ask him."

    "What?" Kuzon raised his brow slightly, and a hint of annoyance slithered in his tone.

    "I mean... we can''t jump to conclusions, right? He must have had a really good reason for what he did."

    "You mean manipting us, lying to us, and allowing something disastrous of this scale to ur?"

    "Yes."

    "He''s literally ying us like puppets. We don''t know what he''s thinking, but we''re moving ording to his bidding, and all for a goal we have no idea about."

    "I''m sure it''s something that''ll benefit all of us, and¡ª"

    "How can you be so sure?"

    "H-huh?"

    "You seem to have so much faith in Neron. How can you be so sure?" Kuzon''s golden gaze felt piercing, enough to make Aloe stop dead in her tracks.

    She found herself unable to formte a speech that would properly address his Inquisition.

    "It''s not strange for allies to turn to foe. It''s not unheard of for friends to have secret motives and intentions that cause harm to others. How are you so certain that Neron''s actions are geared towards a greater good."

    "S-so far, he hasn''t failed us yet, so¡ª"

    "BULLSHIT!" Kuzon stopped floating in midair, his feet touching the rug.

    His eyes were wide with rage and frustration.

    "He''s using us! Yet we''re expected to trust him when he doesn''t even trust us?"

    "Kuzon, calm yourself and¡ª"

    "I''m absolutely calm! Right now it feels like I''m the only one that''s calm. Jared is so busy ying his games that he doesn''t realize how much he''s beginning to resemble Neron. And you... you''re actually making excuses for him?"

    "I''m not making excuses. I''m just¡ª"

    "You''re blinded by sentiment. I can see it clearly. Your view is biased."

    Aloe felt her chest tighten. She wanted to speak against Kuzon for what he said, but found herself unable to.

    Perhaps it was because he was right.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you all think about Kuzon, Neron, Jared, and Aloe? Let me know in thements.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 970 The Lesson To Be Learned [Pt 1]

    "Emotions blind us more than we can imagine."

    As Kuzon said these words, his gaze gree softer and his tone much lighter. It seemed like he regretted raising his voice, but couldn''t mouthe an apology.

    He was just... so upset.

    The result of this was a stalemate of silence. Neither Kuzon not Aloe knew what next to say. As a result, the room became dead with decorum.

    "Why are you considering the worst?" Aloe''s voice finally rescued the two from the abyss of silent awkwardness.

    "I will admit that it''s possible that Neron can''t be trusted, but it''s just... it''s hard to believe that. How are you sofortable imagining the worst about him?"

    "Because it''s never the best to see the best in people." Kuzon responded, his tone firm and his gaze stern.

    "Not everyone has a justifiable reason for their actions. Not everyone needs a noble cause to do bad things. Some people are just fucked up."

    Memories of his biological father coursed through his head, but more importantly, the destruction of his people.

    "The only thing that blind trust breeds... is ultimate destruction." Clenching his fist and gritting his teeth, his heart heavy from the frustration that Aloe''s disposition gave him, he turned towards the suite''s exit.

    "Crazy Neron told me it was a foolish thing to trust a Neron. So far, that statement rings true." He opened the door, stealing one final nce at Aloe''s saddened face.

    "And one day, Aloe, you''ll see it too..."

    Kuzon left the suite, most likely to submit the spoils he obtained from the S.Rank Dungeon. He would also need to have a meeting with the Chairman, along with Jared and Aloeter on due to encounter he had with a Star of the Shadows of Light, as well as  the Blood Stone he obtained in the process.

    As he walked down the hallway, leaving Aloe alone in the room, his emotions were a mess.

    ''I''m sorry, Aloe. But it seems I can''t trust you as well.''

    In the end, even though he was surrounded by two of hisrades, he was all alone.

    ''I miss you already, Maya...'' With a sad chuckle, he recollected his adventures and walked toward his destination.

    ******

    "I... I did it! Hyung, I did it!"

    Sung Han Soo''s eyes were wide with a mix of excitement, relief, and extreme satisfaction.

    Why?

    "I finally connected to it! My Mana Core!" His loud voice echoed within therge training hall, and while he was seated in a meditative position, his bright smile and widened eyes rang of child-like passion.

    Currently, his body was emitting a nearly transparent mist, and something white-like glowed in his stomach region.

    It was his Mana Core¡ªpure and white.

    "Good work, Han Soo." I smiled, watching everything with a nod.

    ''By rearranging and strengthening his nerves and synapses, I finally achieved the synchronization effect.''

    It was a delicate process, but since Han Soo had never been in contact with his Mana Core before, I had to handle the creation and development of most of the pathways.

    ''Still, he did a good job enduring and concentrating until now.''

    Now that he had seen the fruit of hisbor, I was certain he would be even more excited to do more for me.

    The fact that he now called me Hyung, despite my body technically being younger than he was, was proof of the respect I had gained.

    ''That''s the spirit.'' My wide grin didn''t cease.

    "Now that you have connected to your Mana Core, the next thing you need to do is learn how to properly harness the power you have." I already told him this, but since he was the only one in this world that I knew of who had a Man Core, his capabilities¡ªMana Output and Mana Pool¡ªwould exceed most Hunters.

    Plus, he would be able to grow as time went on. A Hunter that could grow indefinitely... that would be phenomenal in this world.

    ''Now, what would be the best method for growth? Learning Skills is one way to go about it, but...'' Since he was now my disciple, I was going to do away with those stiff concepts and allow him to taste the wonders of true freedom.

    Real power!

    "Han Soo... I''m going to teach you Magic!" Beaming with delight, I focused my attention on the young man who, to my surprise, was now breaking into tears.

    "Y-you..." He sniffed, the tears flowing heavily from his eyes. "Y-you''re helping me so much..."

    ''A-ah...'' My thoughts echoed awkwardly. <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It''s true that I was assisting him, but I was also doing this because I was interested in certain experiments and results. So far, I had achieved some of my goals.

    However, if he learned Magic, I would be able to learn more.

    "M-miss Vida too... she saved me so easily, and she also helps me all the time. Y-you both... you''re so kind."

    What a kid. Just how did he grow up for him to think that strangers bring nice to him was suddenly an extraordinary thing?

    "B-both of you..." Suddenly, Sung bowed to me, his head t on the tiled ground. "... You''re both gods to me!"

    As Han Soo''s voice pierced the air, and I felt the sincerity of his gratitude, something about what he said just didn''t resonate well with me.

    ''I''ll have to correct it.''

    "Han Soo, I''m only doing what is natural. Don''t think more of it." With U gentle smile, I knelt and lifted him from his pathetic state.

    "If you have the power to do something, and it aligns with your principles, it''s only natural for you to do it."

    I could see his innocent gleaming eyes reflect my face. It was the perfect nk canvas to paint, but I couldn''t do that.

    Sung Han Soo had to walk his own path, and that meant his freedom.

    "Vida and I aren''t gods. We''re just people who are more powerful than you are. And while that makes us special, it doesn''t make us perfect or infallible."

    Han Soo was silent, holding his breath as he watched me.

    "Listen to me. Unless there is a higher stake, so long as it doesn''t cost me anything or cause bad effects, it''s only natural for me to help others. Aloe has her own standards, and you should have yours too."

    I ced both of my hands on the young man''s shoulders and gave him a warm smile.

    "Be a hero in your own way."

    *******

    ''A-ahhh...'' Sing Han Soo watched Jared with sparkling eyes.

    Inspired by the young boy''s words, he couldn''t help his fast besting heart andpletely immobilized body.

    ''He''s right...'' Han Soo''s thoughts echoed within himself.

    "Can I ask you something?" He managed to croak out.

    "What''s it?"

    "Can you tell me about your connection with Miss Vida?"

    For a moment, no one said anything.

    ''D-did I ask for too much?'' Han Soo thought in a panic, sweat enveloping his skin.

    "My first encounter with Aloe wasn''t a pretty one." Jared''s smile didn''t waver, even as he spoke, making Han Soo lost for words.

    "She was a corpse drowned in her own blood... and I saved her from death."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 971 The Lesson To Be Learned [Pt 2]

    Within the training hall, Sung Han Soo listened to the heart wrenching story of the Ainrk Demonic Incident, hearing the horrors of the Demon Invasion, and how many people suffered as a result.

    The deaths. The destruction. The desperation.

    Even though Jared still looked young, he had experienced so many atrocities.

    ''H-he has suffered a lot!'' Han Soo looked at Jared with warm eyes.

    It was in this story that Jared met Aloe Vida. Han Soo learned everything about their first meeting¡ªhow Jared barely resurrected her, and how she became an ally afterward.

    However, this was only one side of the story. The most important aspect was the next.

    Jared told him about the aftermath of her resurrection, and it made Han Soo realize something he never considered.

    ''I... I''m just like Miss Vida was in the past!''

    Aloe had looked up to Jared so much that she respected him to a fault. She considered him perfect, and she was bound by his every words.

    Han Soo realized how that resonated with him and his current position¡ªhow the past Vida resembled his present self.

    ''Our circumstances are so simr. We both made the mistake of deifying those we highly respect.''

    "Do you understand now?" Jared''s voice echoed in Han Soo''s ears, causing him to look once more at the former.

    "It''s fine to respect someone, hold them in high esteem, or even desire to be as strong as them. However, never idolize or deify anyone. No one is perfect, and while they may perform good deeds, there are more nuanced and selfish rationales behind their actions."

    Everyone was like that? Even Jared and Aloe? Han Soo found it hard to believe that they were currently operating on a selfish basis.

    "What is the selfish reason you''re helping me so much, Hyung Jared?"

    In response to this, he only said one thing. "Because I''ll learn and grow from it. Is that satisfactory to you?"

    "I see." Han Soo smiled, instantly recognizing what Jared meant by his words. "Its satisfactory."

    In the end, even Jared had to keep growing and learning. He wasn''t perfect, neither was he a god.

    The same allied to Aloe Vida.

    "Thank you for telling me all of this, Jared. Thank you for helping me this much too. I really, really appreciate it greatly."

    Once again, a warm smile courses through Jared''s face, and they both rose to their feet in this renewed atmosphere.

    "I promise... I won''t put any of this to waste. I''ll get stronger and carve a path for the future of this world! I''ll use the power I''ll gain to help others, just as Hyung and Miss Vida helped me!"

    "That''s good." Jared''s response was soft and cool, making Han Soo''s heart jump in happiness.

    "I''ll teach you as much as you can learn in the weeks toe¡ªat least, until the Grand Symposium."

    "Oh? You were invited, Hyung? You''re also going to attend?"

    For Sung Han Soo, the Grand Symposium had always been his dream. He wanted to go more than anyone else.

    Unfortunately for him, the only way to attend was through the Hunter Associations who had formed an alliance, and South Korea''s Hunter Association¡ªlike the others¡ªcould only select three people, other than the Chairman, who could attend.

    Being an E ss nobody, he didn''t stand a chance of attending.

    Even though his grandfather was the Chairman, he couldn''t dream of pulling strings to get to the Grand Symposium.

    Not only would that stir up great controversies in the country and beyond, but his grandfather was not the kind of man to make suchpromises.

    If he wanted to go, it had to be by his own merits.

    ''Hyung is strong enough to attend, so I''m not surprised.''

    "Oh, I''m not going."

    "R-really?"

    "Yes. I''m not officially affiliated with your Hunter Associations. But don''t worry, I''ll be with you guys in the spirit."

    For a moment, Han Soo didn''t understand what Jared meant by his words. However, after a few seconds of processing the words, he realized...

    "You guys? What are you saying?"

    "I''m saying that if you do well in your training, you''ll be qualified to attend as well. Isn''t that what you always wanted?"

    "Really? I can go?" Han Soo''s voice rose to an unprecedented degree, and his eyes showed glittering stars of delight.

    "Yes. So work hard for it."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Yes, Hyung! I''ll work super hard!"

    "That''s the spirit."

    With that, both the senior and junior initiated the next phase of their time together.

    Real Magic Training.

    *******

    [Weeks Later]

    "It''s time."

    All of the important yers were important in Chairman Sung''s office

    Jared Leonard

    Kuzon Midas

    Aloe Vida

    Director Baek

    Chairman Sung

    .... And finally, Hunter Sung Han Soo.

    "As nned, I''ll be going to the Grand Symposium with Miss Vida, Director Baek, and Han Soo." The Chairman began his words.

    He was initially skeptical about the choice of thetter, since it would breed controversy.

    Even though Jared was the one who made the suggestion, his skepticism made him desire to test out his grandson.

    The result of that was the current situation, as well as Chairman Sung''s positive assessment of his grandson.

    He was now strong!

    "As for you two..." He gazed at Jared and Kuzon, who would remain in the Hunter Association.

    "There''s no need to be concerned about us. We''ll have enough action right here in the Association."

    "Can''t you just tell us the details of the n?" Aloe muttered, a worried expression locked on her face.

    In the end, they weren''t able to find the SS Grade Core, and the Zenith was sure to cause major problems for them as a result.

    The only reason they could have some degree of confidence was because Jared proimed he had a n.

    His sheer confidence in his n was what propelled them forward.

    "If I did so, it wouldn''t be a good way to conclude this adventure. What''s the point of a surprise if I just tell you?"

    Everyone in the room sighed at Jared''s words.

    "Don''t worry about the little details. Just attend the Symposium and act as you naturally would." Something akin to a twisted smile formed on Jared''s face as he made his final admonishment.

    "Things should y out rather interestingly."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 972 The Grand Symposium

    The grand symposium had finally arrived, a highly anticipated event where the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me of Hunters from all corners of the globe would converge.

    The prestigious asion was held in a vast, opulent hall within a magnificent convention center, specially transformed to amodate the remarkable gathering.

    The hall itself seemed to breathe with an air of anticipation, as if aware of the extraordinary individuals who were about to grace its expanse.

    The hall was adorned with intricately designed tapestries, depicting mythical creatures and legendary battles, paying homage to the rich history and folklore of the hunting profession.

    The high ceilings, embellished with borate chandeliers, bathed the space in a warm golden glow, casting enchanting shadows across the room.

    The fragrance of freshly cut flowers wafted through the air, mingling with the faint scent of old parchment, creating an atmosphere both regal and schrly.

    As the delegates filed in, the buzz of excitement rippled through the crowd, each person eagerly searching for familiar faces and renowned figures.

    The audience consisted of Hunter Association Chairmen, their entourages, and other esteemed guests, all dressed in formal attire befitting the grand asion.

    The attire varied, reflecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of the attendees, with vibrant robes, sleek suits, and traditional garments intermingling, forming a colorful mosaic of sartorial elegance.

    At the center of the hall, a magnificent stage stood, elevated above the rest of the hall,manding attention. The stage was adorned with banners featuring the emblem of the Zenith, yet another testament of their importance in this glorious event.

    The emblem, a striking amalgamation of mythical creatures representing strength, agility, and wisdom, served as a reminder of the significance and prestige of the event.

    As the murmurs in the hall began to die down, the imposing figures of two of the Zenith''s most powerful individuals stepped onto the stage.

    They were dressed in tailored ck suits that exuded authority and charisma. Their eyes scoured the hall,manding total silence in recognition of their arrival.

    These two Pirs were well-recognized by the world as the most powerful Hunters besides the head of the Zenith.

    The Pir of Love; Derek Scotsman

    The Pir of Diligence; Gyu Pol

    The decorum in the hall onlysted for so long before finally being interrupted by a more natural response.

    Apuse.

    The audience erupted into apuse, their anticipation reaching a crescendo, before finally settling into a hushed silence as the higher ranked of the two Pirs, Derek Scotsman, raised a hand, signaling for attention.

    "Please... save your apuse." He smiled, truly exhibiting his title as a Pir of Love.

    He had a handsome look, having dark brown hair, with striking green pupils that would put anyone under an instant spell.

    His body was also well-built, and his well-chiseled face as well as clear skin brought everyone''s attention to him as he spoke.

    The other Pir, Gyu Pol, stood beside him with both hands behind and a serious expression on his face.

    "We only came here to wee in our leader. He is the one that truly deserves your apuse."

    The tension in the auditorium reached an all time high, and everyone''s expectation shot through the roof.

    Some Hunters present in the room hadn''t evenid eyes on the one proimed to be the strongest Hunter and head of the Zenith.

    The time hade for them to say goodbye to that.

    "Please present a round of apuse to the man who stands at the very top of the Zenith and leads this world into the future." Derek Scotsman smiled, uttering the name of the hero of the world.

    "Chad."

    Roars and rounds of apuse instantly filled the hall, nearly deafening those present. Excitement, awe, anticipation, and expectation allbined into a fine blend.

    Everyone''s eyes were fixed on the stage, expecting his arrival

    And then, just like clockwork... he arrived.

    The apuse and noise exploded even further once Chad made his appearance, his long white hair dancing as he walked on stage.

    He had a clear face, one that put even Derek''s to shame. He was so handsome that Derek looked like a rat inparison.

    His well-built body was the perfect tone of bnce and a sheer masterpiece.

    He was the epitome of perfection, the man who resembled a god.

    Suddenly, the room came into a hush¡ªsilence befitting a man of such caliber.

    "Esteemed Hunters and honored guests," His voice boomed through the hall, resonating with amanding presence. "Wee to the Grand Symposium, where the world''s greatest Hunters havee together to exchange knowledge, forge alliances, and face the challenges that lie ahead."

    The crowd erupted into apuse once again, this time a thunderous roar that filled the hall, as the Zenith''s leader gestured toward the representatives from each country, acknowledging their presence and contributions. The representatives stood tall, representing the pinnacle of their respective country''s Hunter Associations, radiating an aura of strength, determination, and unwavering resolve.

    With a wave of Chad''s hand, the symposium officiallymenced, marking the beginning of a series of enlightening discussions, demonstrations, and exchanges of information.

    The hall brimmed with fervor as the symposium unfolded, a melting pot of ideas, expertise, and camaraderie, united in their shared passion for the Hunter''s way.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Ever since the Zenith was founded, this had been an annual event for solidifying the bond of every country... and also to remind them of the body in charge of them.

    As a result, the grand symposium had be a crucible of intellectual prowess, where the collective wisdom and experience of the world''s greatest Hunters merged, fostering a spirit of coboration, growth, and innovation.

    From that moment forward, the stage was set for a remarkable chapter in the history of the world when it came to Gates, Dungeons, Monsters, and research associated with it.

    The symposium embraced its role as a beacon of knowledge and a catalyst for the preservation of humanity in the face of formidable challenges.

    At least, on the surface, that was the idea. But in the end, it had devolved into one thing and only thing only.

    The Zenith''s show of power.

    "You should all be careful not to draw attention to yourselves." Chairman Sung whispered to the people with him.

    They were seatedfortably in the area allocated to the representatives from South Korea, and so far none of them had experienced any trouble.

    While it was too naive to expect the same treatment throughout the event, Chairman Sung preferred avoiding anything that would escte the situation.

    However...

    "W-why...? Why is this...?" A certain female voice in their midst oozed out.

    Chairman Sung and the other two male in their group looked at Aloe Vida, whose eyes were wide in shock.

    Her face appeared pale, and her wide eyes were fixated on the leader of the Zenith, who was addressing everyone on stage.

    In simple terms, it felt like she had seen a ghost.

    "Why.... why is he here? Why is he the one...?"

    "Is everything alright, Miss Vida?" Chairman Sung asked, a bead of sweat now escaping his face.

    The other two representatives also had awkward, ufortable expression on their faces.

    This was the first time they had seen Aloe so shaken up, and it was all due to the appearance of the head of the Zenith.

    "Have you met Mr. Chad before?" Chairman Sung asked, his face depicting worry.

    "Y-yes. I mean, no. Not him. It''s just..." Fortunately, Aloe snapped out of her unconscious depiction of shock, a d she finally began topose herself.

    Sweat still formed on her face regardless. After all, the man called Chad had a face she recognized too well.

    "... He looks like someone I know."

    Of all the things she couldn''t have expected to see, this certainly topped the list.

    ''Is this what you meant by a surprise, Jared? Isn''t this too cruel?'' Aloe''s bit her lip as she fought topose herself.

    Her heart raced, but she did her best to control it.

    ''Why didn''t you tell me that Chad looks exactly like Neron?''

    The man who led the Zenith was yet another variant of the one they sought after the most.

    ... Neron Kaelid.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Okay, who expected this result?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 973 The Setup [Pt 1]

    The Symposium began with a bang, and it continues with rtively the same energy.

    The discussions mainly revolved around the issues of Monsters and the increasing difficulty of the Gates, as well as how to move forward with everything.

    The Shadows of Light were also mentioned, bit the fact that very little was known about them made the conversation more.abstract and obscure than practical.

    The Hunters in the room were able to interact with the matters addressed, and everything seemed to be going well.

    ... Until the most unexpected ured.

    "For the next discussion, and most likely the most important for today, I would like to bring it to your notice that the South Korean Hunter Association has vited our rules and the international treaties that bind the Hunter Association and the Zenith."

    The hall went silent instantly, and all eyes greeted the seat allocated to South Korea.

    "What is the meaning of this? Why are you using is out of nowhere?!" Chairman Sung banged the desk in front of him and shouted in fury.

    He was a man who prided himself on his ability to control his emotions, only showing so much depending on the situation.

    However, the mere fact that Chad had besmirched his country''s name by bringing up a baseless usation was something he couldn''t allow.

    It would have even been more surprising if he didn''t get upset.

    "The South Korea Hunter Association are coborating with the Shadows of Light, and they have also vited the agreements made to the Zenith, as well as the international interests of the Hunter Association worldwide." Even more nonsense was spewed out.

    "W-what are you even¡ª?!" Chairman Sung''s face began to show veins, and his eyes turned bloodshot.

    However, before he could fully express himself, he was greeted by another shocking reality that brought him to the very edge of despair.

    Everyone''s gaze... was filled with instant suspicion.

    "T-the South Korea Hunter Association. They did that?"

    "Is it safe to be seated so close to them?"

    "I had a feeling they were suspicious."

    "T-this is... to think I ced them in high regard."

    "Weren''t they trending recently?"

    "Why would they do something like this?"

    "The Shadows of Light? They would so auch a thing?"

    "Unbelievable...!"

    "How repulsive!"

    "Disgraceful...!!!"

    The res and words of the Hunters gathered in. the Grand Symposium nearly broke Chairman Sung. His heart bled as he powerlessly watched the world turn against them.

    "Of course, I''m not saying all of this without basis. I have proof." Chad continued speaking, drawing the attention of the audience to his words.

    "We made an agreement to loan an extremely rare SS Grade Core from the South Korea Hunter Association. Of course, we paid the amount required, and we were clear to inform them that we needed to study the Core so as to understand itsponent and further unravel the mysteries about Dimensional Energy."

    Chad further exined how the South Korean Hunter Association, after receiving payment, staged a scenario where the SS Grade Core went missing.

    "They im it was the doing of the Shadows of Light, but if they are in direct coboration with them, doesn''t that mean they get to keep the SS Grade Core for themselves, selfishly hindering the progress we''re making for the betterment of humanity."

    More murmurs and echoes supporting the words of the Zenith, and degrading the South Korea Hunter Association, surged forth.

    "We already exined it was out of our control. We aren''t working with the Shadows of Light. It''s a huge loss for us too, and we even said we''d refund your funds, so¡ª" Director Baek roared in South Korea''s defense.

    "What is moneypared to the progress we could have made from the researching on the Core? Do you really want to reduce the advancement of humanity to a couple million dors per month?"

    The way Chad flippantly talked about money and emphasized on humanity made the audience gravitate further to his side.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Before they realized it, South Korea became isted.

    "And what about the Busan Incident? I''m sure you are all aware of the S ss Dungeon Break that ured in Busan, and the two who intervened in the situation¡ªthe Busan Heroes."

    No one in the room could say the news didn''t reach them. The viral videos, and thementaries were sensational andsted for over a week.

    "Well, those two aren''t heroes. Out investigation ties them to the Shadows of Light."

    "W-what are you saying? They have no¡ª"

    "They were arrested by the Special Seoul Security Service in a warehouse used by Brokers. These Brokers have already confessed to having ties to the Shadows of Light. It''s suspicious enough that they were found there, but the Brokers also confessed that the two Heroes were sent by their higher-ups to manage their operation."

    "T-that doesn''t even make any sense! If they were so evil, would they have surrendered on their own?"

    "The SSSS made a surprise attack and caught them in the operation. It would have been messy if they fought and caused a stir, so they surrendered. And can anyone guess what happened after that?"

    Silence. No one could speak. They were all waiting for Chad''s next words.

    "The South Korean Hunter Association came to bail them out of custody. That''s right! Those two surrendered because they had a strong backer, and they knew they''d get away with it without resorting to violence."

    More murmurs escaped the lips of the Hunters gathered. Disbelief apanied with disgust yed all over their faces.

    "Don''t tell me you believe him just like that! That''s not at all what happened! It''s a lot moreplicated than that!" Director Baek shouted, his tone desperate for the trust of his colleagues.

    However, none of them showed him even the slightest hint of such sentiment.

    "The S ss Gate was most likely perpetrated by them, intentionally using it to gain fame and go viral. We can''t be certain yet, but I suspect they''ve found a way to harness the power of the SS ss Core in their possession and those two Busan Heroes are the first of the many Super Hunters that South Korea ns to create."

    The audience, upon hearing this, did not bother to think about how much of a stretch the matter had be, or how many unsubstantiated ims were mixed into the actual events that ured.

    Once they heard the supposed project that South Korea had embarked on, and the assumed progress they had made with these ''Super Hunters'', it was more than enough as thest straw.

    No matter how altruistic a nation was, the utmost priority was to ensure they had the edge over other nations, or at the very least, other nations didn''t have the edge over them.

    That was the point of the Zenith, and their union as Hunters.

    The fact that all nations were equal under the might of the Zenith.

    Any country that decided to break out of that restraint and went against the status quo would be officially recognized as a threat.

    ... No exceptions!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you think about Chad Neron? So far, he''s the scummiest of the variants.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 974 The Setup [Pt 2]

    The atmosphere in the Grand Symposium hall shifted with an undercurrent of tension as Chad took center stage and didn''t back down in his usations.

    The South Korean Hunter Association was in a tight spot, and they knew how stuck they were.

    As the one recognized as the strongest, Chad''s imposing figure exuded an air of authority, and his piercing gaze seemed to prate the very souls of those gathered. The crowd''s conclusion was already drawn at this point.

    Anything else he would say simply served as an extrayer of butter on his sandwich of deceit.

    Chad continued with a calm, measured tone, his voice carrying a weight of certainty thatmanded attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed Hunters," he began, his voice echoing through the hall, "I have gathered you all today to discuss this matters of great importance, to address the betrayal done by our supposedrades."

    As he spoke, Chad''s gaze turned towards the representatives of the South Korea Hunter Association, who sat together, an air of unease and frustration settling upon them.

    They knew mere words could not avail them now.

    Chad raised his voice, projecting his allegations to the entire hall. "Their actions have had severe consequences, and it is clear that they are unable to fulfill their duty to protect the innocent and maintain the delicate bnce between our world and the dimensions beyond. They even conspire with our enemies. Unforgivable!"

    The crowd murmured in response, exchanging nces filled with certain condemnation. Chad''s words carried weight, and many had already begun to draw their conclusions concerning the South Korea Hunter Association''s ability to uphold the ideals of their profession, and their ce in the spectrum of good and evil.

    "Tch..."

    Amidst the growing unease, Aloe felt a surge of indignation.

    She could not fathom how Chad could cast such sweeping usations without understanding the intricacies of the challenges they faced.

    ''He''s misunderstanding our situation, I''m sure of it!''

    If Chad truly cared about the world, and he was truly reasonable, surely he would listen to their defense.

    ''If he''s only swayed by the evidence, then we just have to prove it to him!''

    Sure, the South Korean Hunter Association hadn''t been utterly forthright about all that had been uring in their midst for the past two months, but that didn''t make them evil.

    ''It just couldn''t be helped...''

    So, while she tried to understand Chad''s suspicions, and the worry of the other countries, she could no longer sit back and watch them wrongly use an innocent body of diligent people.

    Rising to her feet, she raised her voice in protest.

    "Chad, you are mistaken!" Aloe''s words rang out with fervor, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and desperation.

    "You do not understand theplexity and full scope of the situation. We can sort this out in a way that doesn''t lead to pointing fingers."

    Aloe''s outburst was met with a mix of reactions. Some heads turned towards her in shock, while others regarded her with skepticism, swayed by Chad''s authoritative presence.

    In the end, though, she was unable to elicit even a single positive reaction. Still...

    "If you have any interest in the truth and justice, then hear us out!"

    The moment her voice echoed in the hall, it fell dead silent. Everyone''s gaze fell upon Chad, who had an unwavering gaze despite her challenge to his authority.

    "Hear you out, huh? Of course. Once you''re behind bars, you''ll be heard properly."

    "W-what?!"

    "You heard me well. Of course, we''ll follow due process and not deny you of your right to defend yourselves, even though it''s clear you''re in the wrong."

    "W-what are you even sayi¡ª?!"

    "At this moment, however, you are tok dangerous to be left alone. As a danger to your country, and even to the world, you have to be apprehended. If you want to prove your innocence, wait until after you have been arrested and the safety of everyone has been secured."

    "That''s absurd! We''ve done nothing wrong!"

    "Then you have nothing to fear, no? Resisting arrest will only prove your guilt even more. Of you really care about the safety of everyone here, and the people of your country, then you''ll do the right thing.

    "Y-you..."

    Rage began rising in Aloe''s chest as she red at Chad.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Even though he wore Neron''s face, had Neron''s voice, and spoke with the same confidence and enthusiasm Neron had, she couldn''t get past his clear malevolence.

    She had engaged in a battle of words with Chad, presenting her arguments with passion and conviction, but she found herself losing ground against his relentless usations and maniptive rhetoric.

    ''He doesn''t even want to hear us out! Everyone is condemning us, and yet...!'' Aloe''s frustration grew, realizing that Chad was not interested in hearing her reasoning.

    ''He says we''ll be given a chance to fairly defend ourselves, but I highly doubt it!''

    If he couldn''t allow a fair and honest.analysos of everything now, what was the assurance that it would happen once they were held captive?

    Data could be forged, and evidence could be manipted¡ªall to suit the narrative.

    At this point, Aloe was certain that this was nothing short of sabotage.

    ''But why? What is his reason for this? Why would he...?!'' In the midst of Aloe''s waning resistance, a wave of realization washed over her.

    She remembered the words Kuzon told her¡ªhow she was guilty of everything he warned her about.

    ''I keep trying to find a reason to exin these clearly malevolent actions. But now I can see...'' Her appalled face took on a serious change, and a frown formed on her lips.

    ''There''s no positive hidden motive or good intention here.'' Whether he wore the face of Neron didn''t matter to her at this point.

    Sometimes people were just bad for their selfish gains and interests¡ªNeron or not.

    Now, she understood the depth of his deceit.

    "You''re a liar and a fraud. I shouldn''t have trusted you blindly..." Aloe realized that her words weren''t merely directed at Chad, but she said so anyway.

    "I won''t let you get away with this." Energy began to rise from her slowly as she red at the smiling man on stage.

    "Miss Vida, please calm yourself." Chairman Sung''s voice suddenly echoed in her ears.

    "But he¡ª"Vida nced at the Chairman of the Zenith, surprised to see a gentle smile locked on his pale face.

    His wise eyes met hers, silently conveying a cautionary message. He gestured subtly, urging her to remain calm and not make matters worse by acting impulsively.

    Reluctantly, Vida nodded, her gaze shifting back to Chad, who wore a smug grin, convinced of his victory.

    ''If I act now, I''ll only make matters worse. I''m sure everyone also realized that.'' Aloe gritted her teeth and returned to her seat.

    At this point, the Korean Hunter could only do one thing as they sat in a hall full of enemies.

    They could only have faith in Jared''s n.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 975 Bird In A Cage [Pt 1]

    "We at the Zenith have been preparing for this moment for some time now..." Chad smiled, taking a step forward as he looked at his ever-listening audience.

    He ignored the helpless frustration of South Korea''s Hunter Association and simply let his charisma overshadow their presence.

    ''I''m a little surprised that didn''t act up more, though...''

    His expectations involved the South Korean Hunter Association making the situation even worse for themselves by trying even harder to defend themselves.

    Unfortunately, they didn''t dig more into the hole he had prepared for them.

    ''No matter. This much is enough. Besides, I wonder what they''ll do once I reveal this...'' Widely grinning internally, Chad remainedposed

    "I''m sure you all know there are seven Pirs of the Zenith, and yet in this very important event, only two are present." Snapping his fingers, a holographic screen appeared right above him.

    It was tall and wide, shining brightly in the auditorium. It instantly caught the attention of everyone who had eyes.

    Many gasps escaped the lips of the shocked audience, and their surprise was highly justified.

    What they saw on the screen was enough to prompt anyone to feel the same.

    "As you can clearly see, we''ve surrounded the South Korean Hunter Association Headquarters. We n on holding their assets hostage and arresting those involved in their atrocities."

    As if that wasn''t enough, Chad furthered his authoritative speech.

    "Should we find evidence of their coboration with the Shadows of Light, and their many other crimes, we''ll permanently seize their assets and ensure they face the right punishments for their crimes."

    In essence, the Zenith would have every right to control a nation''s entire body... without any national interest in the country.

    Something like that had never happened before!

    "Our forces are also closing in on their other bases all over the country. Do not worry. None of them are going to escape."

    Murmurs of uncertainty began resonating among the audience.

    Worried faces of representatives began to show, though they tried to mask it by nodding in agreement and straining smiles.

    None of them could hide the rising fear that was pervading the room.

    They began to ask themselves one simple question.

    ''Could we be next?!''

    South Korea was going to fall into the hands of the Zenith. No one was naive or foolish enough to believe that all of this wasn''t premeditated.

    The country had be a scapegoat¡ªthe first of many.

    If any country crossed a line, or did something contrary to the Zenith, it was likely that they would also be swallowed up.

    The worst part was they none of them could speak up against their actions. Not unless they wanted to bebeled as allies or fellow conspirators.

    As such, their worries choked them as they watched the live footage of the Zenith''s elite Hunters close in on the Headquarters in Seoul.

    "While one of our Pirs is unavoidably ill, the remaining four are currently on the mission. You don''t need to look so worried. We will definitely nab these viins and bring them to justice."

    Needless to say, they weren''t worried about the Zenith''s sess or failure. They were more concerned about their positions.

    At this point, some of them began to feel sympathetic toward South Korea. Looking at the frustrated faces of the Hunter representatives, they could see hints of innocence.

    It was more likely that they were innocent. Unfortunately, none of that mattered since they hade to this point.

    Chad was in the absolute right.

    "Now, then. Let us watch with anticipation. Let us see as the Zenith handles the threats that loom over us."

    Chad''s warm smile did nothing to signify the brutal cold grin he made internally.

    ''Hehe... I can see they''re very apprehensive now, but it''s inconsequential. They''ve all fallen into my trap.''

    Like a bird in a cage, they could do nothing to escape their situation.

    ''Now that they''re at my mercy, they''ll be more obedient. South Korea will be an example, and any country that doesn''t wish to follow will be more obedient.''

    The illusion of control that each country''s Hunter Association had would crumble, and they were all going to realize the one true leader that governed them.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''... Me!''

    He had already ordered his Pirs to do the needful by framing the Hunter Association with nted evidence.

    They weren''t going to escape his trap once all was said and done. They could struggle as much as they wanted, but the reality remained.

    He had won.

    ''Now, then... let us begin!''

    *******

    "We''re being surrounded, Jared." Kuzon murmured, his gaze on the television he was currently watching.

    It seemed watching TV had be his new favorite thing to do. With popcorn on one hand, and a very rxed smile, he watched a man sling from building to building... like a spider.

    "Yeah. I noticed. Gimme a sec." I was also sort of upied at the moment.

    I was ying a game on the console that was already provided for in our room.

    Considering the limited time we could spend in this world, I wanted toplete as much of the stories as possible.

    And I was just about to finish a really tough mission!

    "In 3... 2... 1... !!!" My tongue rubbed my lips as my eyes widened in anticipation for my mission to beplete.

    ".... Aaaaand MISSION COMPLETE!" I grinned, jumping to my feet in an energetic stride.

    "Alright! I''m ready." I leaped towards Kuzon.

    "For real? This episode just started. I can''t stop now... it''s spectacr!"

    "You can just continue after we''re done with the problem."

    "Why didn''t you stop too?"

    "Uh... um... the game couldn''t be paused."

    "Sureeeeee..."

    "In any case, let''s just get this over with. Yeah?"

    Fortunately, Kuzon agreed with me without asking any further questions.

    "So, what''s the n now? How do you want to handle the intruders?" He asked, looking at me with some sort of expectation on how to handle the situation.

    "How else?" I smiled, cracking my stuff finger joints.

    "We beat the shit out of them!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 976 Bird In A Cage [Pt 2]

    "Y-you bastards! You have no right to encroach on this territory!" The Vice-Director of Seoul''s Hunter Association, Seo Hwa, yelled in anger.

    Her misty purple hair danced behind her head as her eyes glowed in determination. She wielded a sword, and aura steadily danced around her.

    Behind her were herrades, fellow South Korean Hunters.

    At this point, the Hunter Association had dispatched every single manpower they could muster to protect their building from the intrusion of the Zenith''s forces.

    Hunters were usually very busy, either raiding Dungeons or handling the rapidly increasing Dungeon Breaks.

    As a result, even though this was the Headquarters of the South Korean Hunter Association, they had barely a hundred Hunters gathered to defend their territory.

    Compared to their measly number, the Zenith''s assault force numbered at least a thousand, with four of the Pirs taking charge of the team.

    Needless to say, they were both outnumbered and outmatched.

    "Your crimes include conspiring with the Shadows of Light, hoarding useful information that would benefit humanity, among others."

    "W-WHAT?!"

    "You should surrender while we''re still being nice about it."

    The air crackled with tension as Seo Hwa heard of these abominable usations.

    "What shit are you trying to pull right now?" Yelling crassly at the Pirs before her, she brandished her de and instantly recognized them as her enemies.

    "You will not trespass on our territory, and not with baseless usations like that."

    The Pirs were not only discourteous to the Hunter Association, but also highly disrespectful to the Korean government.

    It was almost as if they disregarded any form of authority and autonomy they wielded. Seo Hwa instinctively knew that if she backed out now, it would shame both her country and her superiors.

    "Hehe. Very well, then. I didn''t want to do this, but... you leave me no choice."

    Even though the Pirs spoke this way, the expression they had on their faces were that of utmost delight.

    It was certain that they would enjoy every moment of the fight, reveling on subduing those weaker than them.

    "[Skill Activatio¡ª]"

    "Okay, let''s all just calm down." A voice suddenly emerged from above the two parties engaged in their scuffle.

    The confident tone, and the intimidating presence it exuded, caused both parties to temporarily ignore the other to look above them.

    "Mr Leonard! Mr Midas!" Seo Hwa eximed in surprise.

    ording to what she had been briefed on, these two were not meant to show any affiliation with the Hunter Association. In the eyes of the public, they were independent agents.

    ''What are they doing here?'' She asked herself, her eyes widening in surprise.

    "We sensed the presence of intruders, so we decided to see what was happening."

    "A-ah, I see. But¡ª"

    "Aha! It''s just as the Zenith thought! The two Busan Heroes were affiliated with the Hunter Association, after all. Yet you lied about your rtionship." One of the Pirs, the Pir of Humility bellowed.

    The members of the Zenith allughed, pleased with the fact that their position had been further strengthened by the appearance of both young men.

    Looking at them, they seemed to be no more than teenagers, yet the maturity and power they exuded was enough to garner caution from even the Pirs of the Zenith.

    "Shut up, idiot. We were invited here as guests. How does that make us affiliated with them?" The one with the golden hair that covered a portion of his eyes spoke with a flippant smirk.

    "You''re the ones who are the uninvited guests here. If you continue to cause trouble, we''re going to have to ask you to leave."

    Looking at things objectively, the Zenith was most definitely in the wrong.

    They had been to rash and forward in their action. They also didn''t regard the South Korean government at all.

    However... what of it?

    In the end, the one who had the most power was the one who could do whatever they wanted.

    It was why the Grand Symposium ended up favoring Chad, despite the several implications his actions caused.

    The reason why these Zenith Hunters could so brazenly show up was because they werepletely confident of their victory.

    They were stronger, after all.

    "Hahahaha! You bastards really have no tact. You''re really going to rebel against the words of the Zenith?"

    "Zip it, retard. What''s the point of following the Zenith when they''re about to consume the South Korean Hunter Association." The golden haired boy spoke again, causally disrespecting the leading Pir.

    "You really have a big mouth. I''ll look forward to making you¡ª"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    In a sharp streak, too fast for anyone to notice until it was toote, a golden arrow shot past the Humility Pir, grazing his cheek and flying off without doing much else.

    "A-ah... ahhh...?" Blood slowly dripped from the slit that had formed, and widened eyes of disbelief followed.

    No one could fully exin what had just happened.

    No one but the two who floated in the sky.

    ********

    "This shouldn''t take very long." Kuzon smirked, golden strings appearing all around him.

    He could definitely take on all of them without much of an effort. The only problem was¡ª

    "You''re right. Don''t kill them, though."

    Yeah, it was Jared.

    "Why?"

    "It''s part of the n, obviously."

    It was at that moment that Kuzon finally reached the limits of his patience. Not in the sense that he was angry, but that he simply wanted transparency.

    "Tch. There''s something else you''re not telling me, Jared."

    "I don''t tell you lots of things."

    "This one is important. I can guess it''s also part of your n. These people... they''re the Shadows of Light, aren''t they?" Kuzon sighed.

    "Oh? Looks like you figured it out already."

    Jared''s smile made him clench his fist a little in annoyance, but he controlled himself.

    "Well, I can clearly sense the Blood Stone that they have in their possession. It''s the same as the one that attacked me."

    The mostpelling evidence, however, was the identity of the ''Humility'' figure that was currently leading the rest.

    He was the partner of the one Kuzon faced, as well as the one that Jared defeated and let escape.

    At this point, it was certain that the Zenith''s Pirs were the same s the Stars of the Shadows of Light.

    "Then you know why we can''t kill them." Jared''s words interrupted Kuzon''s thoughts, and thetter shrugged.

    "Fine. I understand." Whether it was to kill or to merely incapacitate the targets, it would only take a moment.

    "[Original Magic: Marite]"

    The golden threads around Kuzon multiplied rapidly, each forming des that remained suspended in the sky.

    The des numbered hundreds, and they kept increasing as each second passed.

    Before the troops beneath them could evenprehend what was uring, the des were now over ten thousand.

    "Isn''t this overkill?" Jared asked, a bead of sweat falling from his face.

    In response to this, however, Kuzon only shrugged in nonchnce.

    "I''m just following the n. Beat the shit out of them, remember?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 977 Crumbling Down

    The scene quickly became that of horror.

    Heavy rains of golden swords fell from the sky, instantly incapacitating the proud and invincible Zenith Hunters.

    "Guark!"

    "Urk!"

    "Keuk!"

    The attacks were brutal, albeit blunt. Each sword had no edge, and as such, could only deal dull attacks.

    One could think this would be better, but that was far from the case.

    At least, when sharp weapons pierced the target in multiple areas, they were bound to experience the sweet release of death.

    However, such was not the case with these dull des.

    "S-save meee..."

    "S-stop! Stop iiiit!"

    "Gahhhhhhh!!!"

    Like big chunks of metal crushing their bones over and over again, while rendering them unable to deliver a counterattack, the golden raindrops continued.

    ... Until nearly the Zenith Hunters were vanquished.

    The ones that remained were four disheveled Hunters¡ªring above with both intense rage, and deep-seated fear.

    They were the Pirs, yet even they seemed to tremble at the sight of Kuzon''s overwhelming power.

    "Oh? You''ve done well to resist until now." The perpetrator of this gloriously devastating sight smiled.

    His golden hair fluttered with the wind, and his hands were in his pockets while he made a casual pose.

    "You know, there''s plenty more where that came from."

    As soon as he said this, more golden des appeared, littering in the sky with their content.

    "Shall we go for another round?"

    The clearly frightened Pirs gritted their teeth as they prepared their Skills in retaliation.

    From their eye movements and signnguage, it seemed they would use their strongest offensive abilities at once in an attempt to destroy the two who remained floating.

    "Don''t bother." The voice came from none other than me¡ªthe observer thus far.

    "I''ll take it from here." I told Kuzon, finally descending from my elevated position. "Remain on standby, Kuzon."

    With that, I slowly fell to the ground, finally touching it with my feet.

    "Your attacks will be useless. They won''t work."

    After I said this, what did they do next? One could only assume they would be sensible and retreat.

    However...

    "SHUT UUUUUUP!!!"

    >WHUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    The sum of multiple elements and attacks mixed into a giant orb of multi-elemental energy.

    It certainly looked powerful, and from the intense expressions on the faces.of the Pirs, it seemed they had given it their all.

    ''Too bad for them.''

    An attack of this level wasn''t even going to touch me. After all...

    >FSHUUUUUUUUU<

    ... I could easily disrupt it with Anti-Magic.

    The cluster of energy instantly broke apart, causing the particles to scatter.

    "You were saying?" I smiled at the clueless bunch.

    "Now, then. I suppose it''s time to mete out punishment to you all." My grin became much wider.

    "Y-you bastard! Do you think the Zenith will let you get away with this?"

    "Y-yeah! Once Master Chad gets a hold of you, then¡ª"

    "I... I..."

    And finally, thest response I was hoping for...

    "P-p-please spare meeeeee!" A rather squaky voice emerged from the stuttering group.

    Instantly, the owner of said voice crumbled to his knees, bowing before me while surrendering shamelessly.

    "I don''t want to die! I''ll do anything! Please spare me!"

    Tears were in his eyes, and his body trembled.

    If this was merely an ordinary member of the team, then perhaps things would have been different.

    However, the man who was currently submitting to me was the Pir of Humility¡ªleader of the head of this attack squad''s set of pirs.

    ''... And also someone who I brainwashed.'' I stifled my slightly twisted grin.

    "W-what are you doing?"

    "You can''t kneel to him! What will Master Chad say?!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "G-get up. Hurry!"

    Despite the admonition of his colleagues, the shameless man clung to the ground, trembling before me.

    ''You all shouldn''t bother with him. At this point, he has no choice but to act like this.''

    He was just following the order I gave him all those weeks ago.

    "You''re all members of the Shadows of Light. Your leader is Chad, isn''t that right? Why should I show you mercy?"

    The moment I said this, all the Pirs expressed shock. At this point, they were most likely stuck between wondering how I knew their identity, and trying to formte what to say next.

    However, before they could t out deny my words, the kneeling man intervened.

    "Y-yes we are! We are of the Shadows of Light! We''re all executive officers. B-but... it wasn''t of our choosing! It''s all Master Chad''s fault! He is the one you should really me!"

    Just like clockwork, he began running his mouth, his tone trembling so he appeared scared.

    "... S-so please spare me!"

    As soon as he said this, hisrades expressed shock once more.

    "H-hey, what are you doing?"

    "We''re being recorded, you know?"

    "Zip it already!"

    It was a shame that none of them were smart enough to simply deny his words on the spot. Humilty''s words would have still been implicating, but at the very least, they would be able to salvage some of their image.

    Unfortunately, it was toote for them at this point.

    Everything was quite literally crumbling down.

    "S-shut up! I don''t want to die. Didn''t you see those rain of des! We''re no match! It''s best we confess our crimes and get pardoned." Humilty''s words peaked, echoing loudly as he cried.

    And then, the internal rambling began.

    "Are you out of your mind?"

    "You want to betray Master Chad?"

    "Thank goodness Master Chad has ess to stopping the recording whenever he likes. If everyone at the Symposium saw this, who knows what they would say..."

    "In the end, everything will go ording to Master Chad''s n. Even this, I''m sure, is all part of it."

    "T-that''s right. He has never let us down before. Whether as the Shadow of Light head... or as the leader of the Zenith."

    "H-hey! Why are you still saying that?!"

    "I mean, isn''t it toote? He already knows. Besides, the recording would have stopped, so there''s no point keeping it hidden any longer."

    "I know, but..."

    This was what happened when a leader made all the decisions for his followers, and didn''t let them think.

    Idiots were produced.

    ''They''re making one terrible assumption at this point, to the point of facy.''

    Their faith in Chad was so great that they thought he was invincible and prepared for everything.

    It made them unable to consider the possibility that their great and mighty leader might not have everything under control.

    ''... Or that the recording was never stopped.''

    ********

    [The Grand Symposium]

    ''W-why..?!''

    Chad could feel many piercing gazes on him¡ªthe likes of which he had never felt in his whole life.

    The betrayed expressions of people, and their appalled reactions toward the confessions made by his subordinates.

    The wide screen he thought he could use topletely demolish Seoul''s Hunter Association had now backfired and be his ruin.

    And the worst part made him grit his teeth in greater frustration and anxiety.

    ''Why can''t I turn it off?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 978 Beautiful Frog In A Well

    From the very start, this was my intention.

    By using [The Fool] to manipte the memories and thoughts of one member of the Shadow of Light, I was able to influence his actions a month after.

    And the ripple effect of his actions caused his otherrades to implicitly reinforce his words, causing unavoidable problems for the true culprit.

    However, for this n to work, all the parties involved had to be given the illusion of control.

    By having a perceived agency over their actions, they would be vulnerable to the weaknesses their emotions and actions would bring.

    Of course, everything was hinging on the scenario that Chad couldn''t simply turn off the recording and make excuses such as technical issues.

    If that was the case, then all the confessions would have been for nothing. The moment Chad saw things were going sideways¡ªno, even before it got to that¡ªhe would cease showing his audience the live footage.

    But, that was never going to happen.

    ''No one in this world can resist my Spellcraft.'' With a wide grin on my face, I snapped my fingers, causing all the men to fall unconscious, sealing their fates.

    ''At this point, there''s really nothing left for me to do.''

    The final phase of the n was now in effect, and I was no longer relevant to it.

    Finally looking around me, seeing all the defeated Zenith members, and flying to meet Kuzon in the sky, I left the scene to continue my video game.

    ''Chairman, Director, Aloe, and Han Soo. It''s your turn.''

    ********

    "What is the meaning of this, Chad?!"

    "You were lying to us all along!"

    "So you''re actually the viin here?!"

    "I should have known!"

    "You monster! To think you were secretly the leader of the Shadows of Light!"

    "You won''t get away with this!"

    The entire Grand Symposium was now in a frenzy, with every pointed finger at Chad.

    After watching the video of his direct subordinates confessing, there was no one in their right mind who would not be the least bit suspicious of Chad.

    However, the true catalyst behind their very agitated response was the ''threat'' Chad had posed earlier.

    He had them under a leash by implicating South Korea, and they were held hostage¡ªforced to cooperate and watch as they lost all agency and control over their own nations and assets.

    Unfortunately, they couldn''t resist or fight back... until now.

    Right now, every member in the Grand Symposium was on the same side¡ªtherefore, they were justified.

    They no longer needed to hide in the shadows or cower in fear. United in their distrust toward Chad, they raised their banners against him.

    "Exin yourself, Chad!"

    "You''re not getting away with this!"

    "Turn yourself in!"

    "Say something, you bastard!"

    The maelstrom ofments and noises from the several Hunter Representatives shook the room, and all attention was fixed on the single man on the stage.

    He seemed downcast¡ªhis expression obscured by the long hair that covered his face.

    However...

    "Kukuku... kukuku..." Gripping his forehead with his hand, he made a low, sinister chuckle.

    It sent a chill down the spines of those present.

    However, they couldn''t back down now. Not after finally driving Chad into a corner.

    "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE¡ª"

    "Be quiet."

    At that moment, a dead calm swept through the entire hall.

    It was abrupt, absolutely instantaneous. The once noisy hall had now be a deadzone, all thanks to the simple words that were uttered.

    "Sit down."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The moment he said this, every single member who had arisen and expressed their antagonism of Chad sat down.

    None were left standing.

    "This is really surprising. I didn''t expect my ns to sour like this." Chad began to mutter.

    "To think South Korea was already prepared. How amusing. But, in the end, it is of no use."

    So what if he had been implicated? So what if they now knew him for what he was?

    As long as he had absolute power, he would still triumph.

    ''The most powerful Hunters in this room are S ss. My Pirs are SS ss... and I... I''m SSS ss.''

    No one here could resist him. Not with his power.

    "It seems I will have to¡ª"

    "That''s enough out of you, fiend!" A sudden voice interrupted Chad''s monologue.

    Her annoyed tone contained simmering emotions that couldn''t be exined with words, but more importantly, the mere fact that she was able to speak brought a series of issues.

    "W-what?!" Chad spotted the woman who spoke the instant he heard her voice.

    It was a representative of the South Korean Hunter Association!

    "Y-you...??!"

    She was a Hunter that had just surfaced recently, and he was a little interested in her since she seemed capable and looked like a foreigner.

    However, since his n was to bury the South Korean Hunter Association, he decided to leave her forter.

    But now, face to face with her, Chad was confused as well as conflicted.

    "You... resisted my [Absolute Order] Skill? How?"

    There were only two exnations that could justify this result, and none of them seemed feasible.

    The first was that his woman, Aloe Vida, was just as strong as him¡ªthat is, an SSS ss Hunter.

    There existed no one in this world who was capable of such a feat.

    And the second option? The second was even more impossible.

    It was simply that she was stronger than him!

    "But that''s impossible! Tell me how you did it!"

    Only an SSS ss Skill or higher¡ªif such a thing existed¡ªcould ever nullify or resist his power.

    How could anyone but him have that kind of power?

    ''A-ah... ahhh...'' He suddenly remembered the two who had defeated his elite Zenith force and four of his Pirs so easily.

    Were they the same as this woman? They certainly seemed that way.

    It was at this moment that Chad realized the ugly truth.

    ''I''m... not the strongest...?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 979 Crescendo Of The Conflict [Pt 1]

    Aloe''s gaze was now strengthened with resolve.

    Her fists were clenched, and her heart pounded with sheer annoyance.

    So far, she had silently observed the antics of Chad, especially after realizing his true nature, but her patience had reached its limits.

    Even after he was exposed, he still wanted to control everyone and have them do his bidding.

    "You''ve gone too far. It''s time for you to pay for your acts." Aloe floated from her seat, her eyes locked with Chad''s strangely terrified gaze.

    Sweat formed on his face, and his confidence began to morph into something¡ªalmost ss if a realization was dawning on him.

    "I... I admit..." His voice quivered as he spoke, causing Aloe to hesitate for a moment as she stared at his horrified face.

    "... It''s my loss this time."

    ''This time?'' Her thoughts echoed.

    However, before she could conclude her thoughts, a bright blue swirling pool of energy appeared distorting the space around him.

    Aloe instantly recognized the signature, her eyes widening in annoyance.

    "YOU...!!!" She sharply lunged at him, her eyes flickering with rage.

    "I won''t forget this! I''ll be back to take what''s mine."

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM<

    The energy dissipated, and with it went Chad. He vanished from sight, escaping Aloe''s grasp in just a fraction of a moment.

    "Damnit!" Her howl rose to an unprecedented degree, expressing just how frustrated she was.

    ''I have to chase after him.''

    At this point, the Hunters within the auditorium were slowly regaining their senses. They seemed weakened, however.

    ''I can leave them alone here... right?'' As Aloe was about to vanish, a sudden thought interrupted her.

    ''No. Something''s not right.''

    The Zenith was arge organization. Even though they had dispatched a majority of their troops to attack Seoul, there had to be a good number of Hunters left in this ce.

    Yet... where did they go?

    ''The two Pirs as well...''

    Using her sensory abilities, she was able to spot them instantly.

    ''They''re all outside the auditorium. But why? Shouldn''t they be making an effort to apprehend the Hunters here in order to prevent the information from spreading? Or of they''re scared, shouldn''t they be actively retreating?''

    Other than one particrly hidden one, the rest were just watching the auditorium from a distance.

    Why?

    ''Wait... could it be¡ª?!'' Aloe''s eyes widened instantly as soon as she realized what was going on.

    >BEEP!<

    >BEEP!!<

    >BEEP!!!<

    However, it was toote...

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO¡ª<

    ... Or was it.

    "[Original Magic: Aurora Vidalis]"

    The entire auditorium¡ªno, the entire ind it upied¡ªlost all color at that point, reced by a fading darkness.

    The only source of light in the room was Aloe Vida.

    Her multicolored Core, shrouded in intense light,plimented her golden form. A halo floated atop her head, granting her the allure of a cherub.

    Time seemed to stop for Aloe. Everything around her was in aplete still.

    From the multifarious expressions of the people in the hall, to the emerging st that was bound to consume the entire auditorium in seconds.

    They were all frozen in ce.

    No, that wasn''t quite right. It wasn''t like time had stopped or anything.

    She had just be too fast, and everything else had be too slow.

    That was the nature of her Original Magic. This was the true meaning of [Aurora Vidalis].

    "Fools..."

    In that moment, Aloe took it upon herself to rescue every single person in the hall from certain doom.

    She could have simply generated a barrier to protect them, but in order to fully prevent any tragedy, she decided the best course of action would be to evacuate them.

    And so, she did.

    All the attendants, numbering roughly a thousand, were safely evacuated in the blink of an eye¡ªno, faster than that.

    And it was only after she was fone that the explosion resumed.

    >¡ªOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Not only had Aloe saved everyone present, but she was now right in front of a confused crowd, facing the members of the Zenith who were equally confused.

    "W-what is happening?"

    "They survived?!"

    "Teleportation? B-but how?!"

    "I-impossible!"

    The Pir that led them, Pir of Love¡ªDerek Scotsman¡ªred at Aloe with caution.

    He gulped hard, unsure of whether he could confidently face someone as monstrous as her.

    ''She''s clearly responsible for all this. I can handle the others, but this... this one is dangerous.''

    As Derek was still having this thought, he heard a strange sound emanate from his chest.

    >SQUELCH!<

    And with widened eyes, he noticed blood was dropping from his chest, forming a small pool on the ground.

    "H-huh...?" He whispered, murmuring as he slowly lost all strength in his body.

    That single attack had proven fatal, and death followed instantly.

    Thest thing he saw was a blurry image of Aloe''s confused reaction towards his demise. It didn''t seem like she was the one that dealt the final blow.

    ''T-then who...?'' It might have just been an illusion caused by his demise, but Derek felt his shadow flicker before finally closing his eyes and breathing hisst.

    Rather fortunately¡ªor perhaps unfortunately¡ªdeath wasn''t exclusive to only him.

    >SQUELCH<

    >SQUELCH<

    >SQUELCH<

    ... It came for them all.

    Echoes of piercing flesh rang in the cool outdoors, and puddles of blood gathered to form a massive pool.

    Many were too slow to perceive what had ured, but not Aloe.

    She clearly saw the shadowy hands that pierced the chest of each member of the Zenith, ending their lives instantly.

    ''Shadow Demons? Then, is Jared¡ª'' While she was still making this thought, a deep voice echoed in her head.

    ~Please leave this ce to us. You may chase after Chad~

    The voice sounded strangely familiar, and the presence also shared the same quality.

    It belonged to the one who was responsible for taking her life before she met Jared.

    Kahn, the fallen Shadow Demon Lord.

    ''He''s an ally now, so there''s no need to be on edge.'' Aloe thought to herself, her eyes still wavering a little.

    Since Jared''s n involved this, she couldn''t particrlyin. However, something else bothered her.

    ''There''s one more Pir hiding around. He may cause some trouble for¡ª''

    ~Master is well aware of that. He has ns for that one.~

    ''Alright then. I''ll leave them to you.'' With that, Aloe stole one final nce at the stunned Hunters who were still wondering how they arrived outside the hall, how their lives had been saved from the massive explosion the observed in the distance, and the shocking massacre of all their enemies in the blink of an eye.

    Everything was happening too fast.

    "I''ll be leaving to chase after Chad now. Chairman Sung, Director Baek, Han Soo... I leave this ce in your care." Aloe nced at her allies, nodding her head knowingly.

    Even though they were still dumbstruck by all that had happened, all three of them returned her nod with theirs.

    "Leave it to us."

    "We won''t fail you."

    "Be careful."

    Nodding at their words, Aloe vanished in a brilliant glow of golden light, leaving everyone with the sight of a devastated auditorium on one end, and a bloody mess on the other.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 980 Crescendo Of The Conflict [Pt 2]

    Sung Han Soo''s heart pounded against his ribcage as he looked around him.

    The chaotic scene behind him fading into a blur, and the bloody sight before him nearly made him retch.

    The deafening explosion that had rocked the grand symposium still resonated in his ears, a reminder of the peril they had narrowly escaped.

    Sweat trickled down his forehead, mixing with the dust that clung to his skin, as he took in deep breaths to steady his racing pulse.

    Relief washed over Han Soo as he surveyed the scattered and disoriented Hunter Association representatives from around the world.

    They were dazed, their faces etched with shock and gratitude for their survival.

    ''It has to be Miss Vida who rescued us.'' Han Soo thought to himself.

    Though he had no memory of her swift and decisive actions, he could think of no one else who could have done anything even close.

    He was a bit surprised by her heartlessness in causing such a bloody mess by killing all the Zenith Hunters that obstructed them, but Han Soo reckoned it was for their own good.

    The mere thought of Aloe Vida brought a genuine smile to his face. In the midst of chaos, she had been their beacon of hope.

    ''Still... what a mess.''

    The pungent odor of blood overpowered his senses, causing Han Soo''s mind began to rey the events of the Grand Symposium.

    The reality had been nothing like he had expected.

    He had imagined an atmosphere of intellectual exchange, a gathering of brilliant minds discussing the intricacies of Gates and Dungeon Raids; all with the goal protecting the world from supernatural threats.

    But instead, it had been a battleground. The unexpected enemy, Chad, threw everything into disarray, and they had all barelye out unscathed.

    ''Thankfully, Hyung Jared and Miss Vida were able to sort things out in the end.'' A smile of relief washed over his face.

    ''But...''

    Guilt gnawed at Han Soo''s conscience as he reyed his own actions¡ªorck thereof.

    He had felt paralyzed, unable to contribute anything of value while chaos reigned around him.

    He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, a silent testament to his frustration and self-reproach. How had he allowed fear to paralyze him?

    "Even after all the training. After everything I was taught..."

    Determined to make amends, Han Soo vowed to himself that he would be a better Hunter.

    He would no longer let his insecurities dictate his actions.

    He would train harder, study deeper, and hone his skills until he became a force to be reckoned with.

    The shame he felt now would fuel his determination, pushing him to exceed his own expectations.

    With a resolute nod, Han Soo took a final nce at the smoldering ruins of the auditorium, knowing that the scars ripple effects of today''s event would forever mark this turning point in his life.

    He joined the other representatives, their expressions mirroring his own mix of relief and determination.

    The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but Han Soo was ready to face them head-on, driven by the knowledge that the world needed Hunters like him, now more than ever.

    And thanks to being so immersed in his thoughts, he failed to notice the enemy approach.

    ... Until it was toote.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    The ground shattered as a certain silhouette descended from the sky, it''s shadow-coated figure dancing with the wind.

    "Color me surprised. I never expected this oue!"

    The shadowy figure finally took on a stable form, and as soon as it brought down its hood, the face of the malefactor became evident.

    It was none other than Gyu Pol.

    "Hahahaha! Look at all this ruin. Even after all this chaos and death, you all are still alive. What a bunch of cockroaches."

    The moment Sung Han Soo heard this, his chest tightened in anger.

    "I suppose I ought to take care of the trash. Since that scary woman has gone off to face the boss, I don''t need to worry about anyone else here."

    Han Soo knew how powerful the Pirs at the Zenith were. They were acimed to be worth the power of a thousand Hunters.

    Even a bunch of S ss Hunters would have a hard time facing a single Pir.

    ''Not to mention the fact that everyone seems somewhat exhausted after being controlled by Chad. I feel fine, but...''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Everyone else wasn''t in top form. It seemed like an impossible situation from the get-go.

    Amid all of this, Han Soo looked forward, his eyes focusing on Gyu Pol as he asked himself a fundamental question.

    ''What should I do?''

    Even after one month training with Jared, he still had no real idea how powerful he had be.

    Compared to his Hyung, though, Han Soo knew he was plentycking.

    ''Still... I can''t just watch. Not again!''

    He had promised himself that he would do better. That he would protect people and be the hero the world needed.

    How could he even dream of doing so if he couldn''t take a single step forward?

    ''I''ll do it! I''ll use that move!''

    He had to use his strongest transformation and most powerful move at the same time.

    That was the only way he could be assure dog victory.

    ''I need to hurry!''

    *********

    "You maggots never cease to amaze me. I''ll make this quick for your sakes." Gyu Pol''s voice echoed among the audience, and an amused grin shone on his face.

    "Pol, you bastard! You''d really do this to innocents? To think you were part of the Shadows of Light. How low have you really fallen?" Chairman Sung responded, his words coated with sadness.

    "Zip it, old man! In this world, power is everything. As long as I have enough power to stand above others, I don''t care about little shits like you!"

    "I-is that really... how you''ve always felt...?" The Chairman''s voice quivered, his hand clutching his chest and his face squeezing in pain.

    "Of course, you old fool!" Gyu Pol snickered malevolently. "I''ve always been this way!"

    "Is that... so..." Sadness clouded the old man''s face.

    Clearly, despite his efforts trying to convince himself otherwise, Chairman Sung still cared about his previous protege.

    To think he couldn''t see him for what he was until it was toote...

    ''I really am a fool''

    "That''s enough!" The voice of a confident going man soared through the air, and Hunter Sung Han Soo stepped forward.

    The other Hunters were either too worried or tired to even elevate their voices beyond a certain pitch, but this young man seemed fine.

    He left the tired group and walked right in front of them, determination locked in his eyes.

    "Who the hell are you?" Gyu Pol said, his brows twisting upward in both confusion and disgust.

    He didn''t really care for lowly worms, but this young man was different. He was a tiny ant that had the re of a tiger.

    It infuriated him greatly.

    The young man finally stopped moving, not out of fright, but our of sheer determination.

    "My name is Sung Han Soo, and right here, right now, I will stop you!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 981 Hero Of The New World

    The destendscape stretched out before Sung Han Soo, mirroring the turmoil within his heart.

    Jagged rocks and barren earth provided the backdrop for the confrontation that was about to unfold. The air was heavy with anticipation as he faced off against Gyu Pol.

    The wind howled through the rugged terrain, carrying with it a sense of foreboding.

    Gyu Pol stood before Han Soo with a wicked smirk ying on his lips. His eyes gleamed with a malevolence that sent a chill down Han Soo''s spine.

    The viin''s voice cut through the silence, a sinister, yet taunting tone attached to it.

    "Sung, eh? That name reminds me of a foolish Hunter I once knew," Gyu Pol sneered, his toneced with venom.

    "A pathetic excuse for a hunter who thought sacrificing himself for the greater good made him a hero. But in reality, he was nothing more than a fool who squandered his power and strength."

    To this man, power was only meant to be used for one''s own gain¡ªthe very antithesis to what a Hunter stood for in the first ce.

    Han Soo''s fists clenched at his sides, his face contorting with a mix of anger and pain.

    The mention of his father, the man who had been his guiding light, sent waves of emotion crashing over him.

    Memories of his father''s sacrifice, the weight of the burden he had shouldered, flooded his mind.

    ''He... he died in service, but...''

    With unwavering determination, Han Soo locked eyes with Gyu Pol and spoke, his voice filled with conviction.

    "You know nothing. My father was a hero in every sense of the word. He showed me that true strength lies in selflessness, in using one''s power not for personal gain but for the protection of others. His sacrifice was not in vain."

    The wind whipped around them, seemingly echoing Han Soo''s words, as if nature itself recognized the significance of this moment.

    The young Hunter''s eyes burned with a fire that matched the intensity of the destendscape.

    He refused to let Gyu Pol''s words tarnish his father''s memory or undermine his own resolve.

    "I will defeat youl," Han Soo dered, his voice filled with unwavering determination.

    "Not just for myself, but for everyone who stands here today. For everyone who has suffered at the hands of your wicked cause. For everyone in the world who still has the thoughts of heroes nted in their hearts."

    Han Soo didn''t care how he sounded at the moment. He only bled out his heart to his adversary.

    "I will prove to the world that heroes still exist, that there are those who will rise above darkness and protect the innocent."

    "Oh?" Gyu Pol''s smirk grew wider once he heard Han Soo''s words.

    They seemed like nothing but emptyments to him.

    "What an idiot" He sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You think you can defeat me? You''re nothingpared to the power I possess."

    What could a no-name Hunter hope to achieve in the face of a Pir? An SS ss Hunter?

    Well...

    "We''ll see about that."

    Han Soo''s gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing with determination.

    "[Skill Activation: Dark Constructs]."

    Utilizing his major S ss offensive Skill, Gyu Pol summoned shadow-like structures from the darkness.

    They had twisted, malevolent forms, glowing obsidian ck and purple.

    But what of it? Han Soo no longer felt intimidated by whatever the enemy would throw at him.

    Only one thing was on his mind at this moment.

    ''Let''s do this!''

    ... And that was his victory.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    The several dark tendrilsshed at Han Soo, their slithery dark bodies whipping across thendscape to close the distance and destroy their targets.

    The wind parted, making way for them to squash him t.

    However...

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    ... He was too fast for that.

    Launching himself into the air, Han Soo''s body twisted above the tendrils, evading them very quickly and easily.

    He propelled himself toward Gyu Pol, who stood astounded by the agility the boy disyed.

    "[Fire Lances]"

    Han Soo''s Spell magically brought forth several ming spears, all pointed toward Gyu Pol.

    >WHUUUMMM!!!<

    The spears flew ahead of Han Soo, flying toward the adversary with breakneck speed that amazed all who watched.

    "Don''t underestimate me, you brat!"

    The response was followed by several more dark tendrilsunched at the mes, smoldering them as soon as they made contact.

    The tendrils went on to attack Han Soo, and since he was still in midair, moving straight for Gyu Pol, thetter already had a grin thatmemorated his victory.

    "Looks like I''ll have to give it my all." Han Soo whispered in a barely audible tone, a small smile forming on his face.

    The tendrils neared, and it seemed like he would be corrupted and consumed by the darkness that closed in on him¡ªhis fate already sealed.

    But¡ª<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "[Elemental Chamber: Lightning]"

    >BZZZZZZZZZZTTTTT!!!<

    In a sh, Han Soo vanished from the sky, and a pulse of lightning shot through the dark tendrils, rendering them useless.

    Within a mere moment, the several dark constructs turned into nothing but obscure ash, leaving Gyu Pol in a state of confusion and shock.

    "W-what''s going o¡ª"

    "I told you..." Han Soo suddenly appeared behind Gyu Pol, his voice soft as silk, yet dangerously firm.

    Gyu Pol could barely follow his movements with his eyes, his skin tingling with the lightning induced sensation that he felt.

    Han Soo was currently enveloped in lightning; his hair standing upright and firm, colored bluish-white.

    His eyes glowed blue, and his form exuded magnificent energy unlike anything Gyu Pol had ever experienced.

    ''N-no... no way!''

    He knew instinctively that he had to run away! He had to use his other overpowered Skill. The only one that could stand a chance against what was toe.

    He had to use [Shadow Form]!

    "[S-Skill Activation...]"

    "... I will stop you."

    And in that split-second...

    Before Gyu Pol could escape the attack, and before anyone could take a single breath in or out.

    ... The Spell wasplete.

    "[Final sh]"

    >BZZZZTTTTTTTTZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!<

    After that, everything became nk, and the scenery was doused in white.

    The only thing the audience could perceive... was the glorious sound of thunder.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!<

    *********

    Deathes for all.

    Everyone was subconsciously aware of this concept, but they somehow managed to be surprised when their turn arrived.

    The same could be said for the case of Gyu Pol.

    As he was utterly eviscerated by Han Soo''s Spell, he feltpletely shocked¡ªboth literally and figuratively.

    His death arrived in the blink of an eye, and after suffering with a nk thought for what seemed like an eternity encapsted in a moment...

    ''Shit!''

    ... He died.

    ********

    "WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!" After the chaos came cheers.

    "H-he did it!"

    "South Korea really did it!"

    "Who is that Hunter?"

    "Oh, you don''t know? That''s the son of the legendary S ss Hunter of Korea. It seems he takes after his father."

    "What is his name?"

    Everyone looked at the boy who made a pir of light that served as both the righteous judgement of an enemy, and a beacon of hope to the world.

    "His name is Sung Han Soo."

    Right there and then... that young Hunter surpassed his father and rose in both power and fame.

    He became a true hero!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 982 The Man Called Chad

    In arge expanse, filled with countless machinations and technologies, a brilliant spark of blue light erupted.

    It warped space, forming a swirling hole in the air.

    Within this portal emerged a man with long white hair. His handsome face was tainted with sweat, and a worried expression polluted his usually calm demeanor.

    This was Chad, and he had sessfully escaped from the clutches of the woman who has be his bitter enemy.

    "Haa... haaa..." Leaking out heavy breaths, his feet stepped upon the squeaky white tiles.

    He looked around him with a tired smile, satisfied to see the products of he and his subordinates'' activities as the Shadows of Light.

    This was their secret base.

    ''She''ll never find me here...'' Chad smiled to himself, making his way past the countless devices that he had stores for various reasons.

    His goal was a particr device that was being preserved in a cocoon.

    ''Even if she does find me, there''s no way she''ll be able to win against me in here''

    This was quite literally his ce of power. No one coulde in except him, and if they forced themselves in, they were in for a ride awakening.

    ''Everything in here is under my control.'' From the Mechs, to the Special Items, to the security systems in the room.

    He could find nowhere safer than this sanctuary.

    "And now, I have this..." Chad grinned, finally reaching the cocoon to take out the item he had been thinking of ever since he was in the Grand Symposium¡ªno, even before.

    It was a round orb, almost as big as an adult human''s head. It shone crimson, oozing an ominous but overwhelmingly powerful aura.

    ''The SS ss Core the South Korean Hunter Association contributed, along with the ones I had in my grasp before... coupled with the Blood Stone form... ''

    Merging all of these to form this single item was the culmination of his scoentifiv.progress, and the epitome of power.

    Simply put, he was invincible with this.

    ''We''ve wasted a lot of energy creating fissures in our world''s dimensional wall so as to suit out purposes, but we no longer need to do that...''

    All of that energy now belonged in the orb he held on his grasp.

    "With this, I''ll reshape the world in my image." Chuckling to himself, he drowned himself in the pleasure that apanied the possession of ultimate power.

    At this point, who could stop him?

    "It seems you''re enjoying yourself." A familiar feminine voice echoed within the massive hall, causing Chad''s skin to jump slightly in shock.

    ''What?!'' His eyes widened and his brows twitched. ''She found me already?''

    His heart raced slightly, causing him to clutch the orb in his grasp even tighter. As long as he had that, why did he need to fear a lone woman?

    "To think you managed to escape the hall explosion unharmed. The fact that you''re here means you let the others die." Chad smiled.

    "They all survived. I saved them."

    ''What?!'' Her words and actions kept surprising Chad, but he kept his shock to himself.

    Instead, he calmed his breathing and maintained a confident demeanor.

    "Oh?"

    Turning to face the owner of the voice, his eyes met hers, and just as already suspected, she turned out to be thesting thorn in his side.

    "Aloe Vida..."

    "Don''t use your filthy mouth to utter my name." Her annoyed tone rang out, sending a chilly feeling coursing through the room.

    ''Tch. Arrogant bitch!''

    Chad''s re intensified as he watched her draw closer to him. In his mind, even though he waspletely infuriated with her existence, he was also very cautious.

    ''I can''t let her take another step forward.'' He echoed internally.

    "[Automatic Defense Activate]."

    The moment he said this, the Mechs that littered the room whirred to life, and several drones appeared seemingly out of thin air.

    Several weapons, mostly energy&ampced guns and even sters, all popped out of the walls and ceilings.

    "You should know better than to attack a dangerous beast in his territory." Chad''s grin grew wider, amusement written all over his face.

    "Die, bi¡ª."

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    In what felt like a gust of wind, Chad felt his vision being obscured, and everything became a blur.

    He couldn''t tell what happened, since it all took a moment, but once his vision cleared up, the scene before him unfolded.

    "¡ªtch... huh...?!"

    What greeted his sight wasn''t the bloody mess he wanted.

    No, instead, he met all his weapons and Mechapletely ruined. Their parts were all damaged, on the ground with no sign of ever being capable of repairs.

    Everything was destroyed in a single moment¡ªa moment not even he could haveprehended.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "H-hold on... what?"

    Not a single one was spared.

    "You were saying?" Aloe''s voice echoed once more, and she had closed the distance even more.

    With nothing else standing between him and her, Chad understood¡ªdespite his current confusion¡ªthat hisst resort was himself.

    ''Still... how fast is she?''

    She was able to destroy everything in a single moment. What of she did the same to his orb?

    "[Zero Null Field]"

    Using the power of his Blood Core, he generated a powerful red barrier around himself.

    With it, no matter how fast she was, there was no way she would be able to reach him.

    He could simply fight her from a distance¡ªhis specialty.

    ''My Authority doesn''t work on her, do that limits my option. Oh wait...!''

    Sure, it didn''t work when he was in his base form, but with the Blood Core in his possession amping all his abilities, surely there was no one in existence who could resist.

    "Stop moving." He dered, his voice raised to emte an intimidating tone.

    "What?"

    "Huh?"

    "Why should I stop moving?"

    "Wait... why isn''t it¡ª??"

    "Your tricks won''t work on me." The moment Aloe Vida said this, she was right in front of his barrier.

    In the past, he might have considered himself invincible behind the wall of sparkling red. However, with all this woman had shown him...

    If there was a slight chance¡ªjust a little bit¡ªthat she could prate his defenses, then all of his confidence slowly began to dissipate.

    And then¡ª

    "This is in the way."

    ¡ªJust like clockwork¡ª

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    ¡ªThe barrier shattered into pieces upon impact.

    "G-gurgh!"

    Chad was instantly blown away by the resultant pressure caused by the impact between Aloe''s strike and his supposedly barrier.

    He crashed upon the ground, his body sore from being knocked down¡ªsomething that had never happened in all his life.

    ''Damn it! Damn you!'' His re multiplied infinitely as he captured the standing woman before him.

    She seemed unstoppable¡ªlike an invincible wall that could never be surpassed.

    Why and how? Chad had no idea.

    "How... are you... so strong?"

    "It wouldn''t change anything. This power I have... you can never possess it."

    Biting his lip as he felt his muscles ache, Chad''s expression fell. He could no longer exchange words in argument with her.

    "I see..."

    "Now it''s your turn to answer my inquisition." Aloe stood above Chad, a condescending expression falling on his pathetic state.

    "Why did you do all of this?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 983 Open Eyes

    Chad was an orphan who grew up in the slums.

    He had always struggled his whole life, considering life on the streets wasn''t a very easy one for anyone.

    He struggled to eat a single meal, and as the years passed he found himself growing even more aggressive in his pursuits for power.

    One couldn''t fault a child who grew up in such an environment for seeking more power to guarantee his wellbeing.

    And so, during his early teens, this young Chad found a Gate in an alleyway. He had heard many rumors about Gates and Dungeons, but this was the first time he ever saw one.

    Captivated by its beauty, he reached out to touch it, unfortunately slipping into the portal''s open door.

    However, something miraculous happened as he traversed the bridge that connected the two separate dimensions.

    He awakened!

    Of course, as soon as he found himself in the Gate, he rushed out.

    He reported the Gate and got money for his exploits. Thanks to the newly awakened power within him, and his surprisingly high affinity for Dimensional Energy, he finally had the means to obtain more power.

    He used this method to awaken more people, and together they built what was now the current Shadows of Light and The Zenith.

    Despite how far they hade, and how many atrocities had beenmitted as a result of their actions, in the end... it was simply birthed from the dreams of a very young boy.

    A boy who simply sought to survive in a harsh and cruel world.

    *******

    "You ask why I''m doing this. That''s why." Chad concluded his story with a sullen tone. "I want to reshape the world into something more. Something better."

    His face fell even further, and a defeated sigh escaped his lips.

    "Sure, I did a lot of terrible things. I caused a lot of harm to people. But without my guidance and assistance, even more chaos would have been wrought."

    Chad exined how The Zenith united the nations of the world, fostering more  cooperation among everyone.

    The Zenith also dealt with their fair share of Gates, and that the general casualty had reduced by arge marginpared to the old days.

    In the end, his ns did more good than evil.

    "It''s all for a better world. Tell me, have you never had to make sacrifices for the greater good?"

    With those words, Chad fell silent and stared at Aloe with his bright blue eyes.

    Sincerity poured out of them, and the sadness locked within his irises could pull anyone in them.

    "That''s why..."

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    At that moment, before anyone could ever react, the Blood Orb in his grasp erupted majestic crimson energy¡ªall directed toward Aloe.

    "... DIEEEEEEEEE!!!"

    The energy flowed out seamlessly, rushing out to destroy her and consume everything.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

    Chad grinned maniacally. His bulging eyes depicting insane cackles ofughter.

    "Hahahahaha! Stupid bitch! That''s what you deserve!"

    Chad Ross to his feet, his facepletely absolved of even the slightest hint of remorse.

    A sadistic grin tookplete dominance instead.

    "Liar."

    Chad froze in his steps as he heard a voice emanate from behind him.

    ''E-eh?''

    "You''re a good liar." The voice that was supposed to have vanished from the world echoed in his ears.

    ''Crap! I have to escape! I have to ru¡ª''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    Suddenly, his body felt paralyzed, and he felt an overpowering sensation that forced him to his knees while he trembled.

    He couldn''t have known of it''s existence, but this was pure Mana Pressure.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "If it had been the me of the past, your story might have worked. Unfortunately for you, I can see clearly now."

    ''N-no, I... I...''

    "So tell me the truth. The whole truth."

    Chad''s mind went nk at that moment, and the overpoweringmand of Aloe Vida forced his lips to split open and divulge everything.

    "I... I just wanted to rule everything! I''ve wanted it ever since I was a kid. I had very rich parents. Even though we had money, I felt it wasn''t enough. I wanted everything. I wanted more power! That was why, when I identally got into the Gate and awakened my powers, I knew it was my destiny. I am special! It''s my destiny to rule others! Is there any other reason? Do I need anything else? I was born for this! I was born to control everything and everyone! Why else would I be blessed with so much power and talent?"

    Chad''s voice manically echoed within the massive room, not ceasing to emphasize how special he was.

    "I see. So that''s all there was to it." Aloe smiled sadly.

    Why did she expect anything different?

    "Kuzon was right. It seems I''ve been too naive and biased all this time."

    Not everyone was as kind as she would like to imagine. Some people simply enjoyed the inflicting so much pain on others.

    It disgusted her to no end.

    "Pathetic!" With a single sh of her hand, she sliced away Chad''s head, separating it from the rest of his body.

    Blood stained her, but Aloe didn''t mind in the slightest.

    She simply watched the corpse''s head roll, and his body copsing to the ground as it drowned in its own pool of blood.

    "A fitting end to a pathetic pig like you." With that said, Aloe vanished from the hall, leaving only wreckage and death behind.

    None of it was worth her time any longer.

    ********

    Returning to the Symposium, Aloe found everything had been resolved¡ªjust as Kahn had told her.

    Sung Han Soo really held his ground against one Pir, genuinely surprising her.

    ''Just what did Jared teach you?'' She thought within herself.

    Despite the rollercoaster of emotions, however, it seemed it all worked out in the end.

    And perhaps, above all else, they had one person to thank for it all.

    "... Jared."

    *********

    A smile formed on my face as I recieved notification from Kahn through our mental link that the situation had been resolved.

    ''Good. Good.'' I smiled, nodding in satisfaction.

    While it was indeed a long simtion, it seemed everything yed out just as I nned.

    "That''s all that matters."

    With that, I gave Kahn my final instructions, and continued focusing on the very important task in front of me.

    "Finally in Level 99. Just one more, and it''s game clear!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 984 The Deal Made

    [A Few Days Later]

    The Hunter Association was bustling with activity, as usual.

    Everyone was going about doing their thing, and I could sense pretty much everything that was uring around me.

    ''I can tell that they''re working extra hard.'' I grinned, finally forcing myself to return my focus to the room I was standing in.

    I, Kuzon, and Aloe all sat before the Chairman, with Director Baek and the other Directors of other states showing up.

    I saw a couple of new faces, and while it would have been interesting to know a couple of them, it was already toote.

    The meeting mostlyprised of thanks and gratitude to our little group for helping them. They showed us footages and numbers of what we had done, ensuring we were properly aware of the hood we had done.

    ... It was frankly a little boring.

    ''The Zenith has been disbanded, so every nation has decided to band together as a cooperative unit, with no central authority figure at their center...''

    They would develop something simr to a union, where they could simply share ideas and make agreements.

    Whether a country chose to follow it or not would be up to them; though there would be certain things that every member would have to agree on before joining.

    So far the arrangement was going well. There were bound to be hups on the way, but I had trust in this new system.

    "... And finally, I want to say that your request has been fulfilled, Jared." Chairman Sung''s words returned the sparkles in my eyes.

    The only reason I had endured all the cheesy contents of this meeting was because I was waiting for him to say that.

    The deal for my help with the Zenith and everything else was for a certain request of mine to be fulfilled.

    I had made good of the promise on my end. It was finally their turn.

    "As you said; you want all the information this world has about Gates, Dungeons, Dimensional Breaches, Technological Blueprints, Science and Technology, etc."

    That''s right! This world intrigued me so much, and their application of technology especially made me very curious.

    If I applied it to my current knowledge and Magic prowess, I expected significant growth. How could I let go of such an opportunity?

    ''Also, I can recreate video games and televisionter on. Smartphones andptops will alsoe in handy. Just saying...''

    In the end, it was a whole new world!

    "Everything you asked for is contained in an automated hard disk, with Yottabites of data to sort through. We added all the information we could find about our world that could be useful to your ends there. It''s a lot, but you requested this."

    "Thank you." I could only grin to express my gratitude as the Chairman brought out something that looked like a briefcase.

    That was the automated hard disk, no doubt.

    ''Usually, you''d need to plug hard disks to aputer to ess the files. However, this hard disk is theputer. It shows its contents in holographic form without the need for aputer.''

    It was a brilliant parting gift.

    "Usually, thus would have taken a long time toplete, but thanks to your Time Magic, we were able to speed up the process." The Chairman, and Al the Directors lowered their heads in thanks once more.

    "Truly, thank you all. Heroes from another world."

    I smiled softly, and I noticed Aloe was getting a little emotional in the room. The only one who didn''t really seem affected by their kind gestures was Kuzon.

    I could tell he wasn''t particrly displeased with us helping them. However, he never really seemed invested in this ce, so I could understand his reluctance to ept gratitude.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''It''s fine. We''ll soon be leaving, anyway.'' I shrugged.

    "You are wee. We also had a good time here. Besides, we had a deal, so I can only call this fair."

    If I hadn''t helped them take down the Zenith, a whole chunk of the information they collected for me would be missing, considering the Zenith was hiding a lot of information and schematics from the rest of the world.

    That was why I had to take them down first.

    ''And even with my Time Magic, it still took three days. It''s crazy when I think about it.''

    I wondered just how many things I would have to sort through.

    "How is your investigation on the Zenith and Shadows of Light going?" I asked casually.

    At this point in time, there was no need to keep secrets or hide anything from each other.

    Chairman Sung and Director Baek were well aware of that, though the other Directors fidgeted a little.

    "We''ve found a lot from the investigation. It seems the fear that people were gaining powers outside the Hunter Association isn''t unfounded, after all."

    "Oh?" My smile grew broader.

    "It seems Chad had the special ability to awaken others. He used that to build his army and also distribute power among Brokers to cause the Hunter Associations more trouble and weaken our control."

    It made sense, since it would cause even more chaos if even Brokers had Awakened humans among their ranks.

    "We''re still investigating how the Shadows of Light were able to make Gates spontaneously appear and break, though. We know they''re responsible for a lot of the Dungeon Breaks, and now we know that they''re able to make Gates too. We just want to know how they''re able to do that."

    Even though I wasn''t particrly well-read in this world''s history and the models in ce for their Dimensional Theories, even I could tell that their Dimensional fabric was thinning out.

    ''Chad and his minions most likely weakened the fabrics of their space-time dimensionalyer, thus exposing it to another world.''

    The process would be random¡ªspawning different kinds of Gates¡ªwith every try. However, I had a theory that the more energy they expended, the higher the Dimensional Spike, and thus the higher the difficulty of the Dungeon that would appear within the Gate.

    This was all just my spective analysis, though.

    ''I mean... what do I know?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 985 Farewell Once More

    "So, do you have any way of finding out more about the Gate Creation and Dungeon Break initiation?"

    Upon hearing my question, Chairman Sung sighed and slightly nodded.

    "We have put all of our current findings in your automated hard drive. However, we''re still working on it." He spoke, ncing a little in Aloe''s direction.

    "Everything we should know about it should be in the base of the Shadows of Light. Upon investigating the ce thoroughly, the Technology there should have significance to their activities. If we can figure out their proper mechanics and functions, as well as ess their mainframe, we should be able to unravel this mystery."

    Even though he said all this, Chairman Sung still didn''t seem to be in a positive mood. Aloe also appeared fidgety.

    "What''s holding you back, then?"

    "Well, Miss Vida destroyed everything in her fight with Chad, so it''ll take a lot of time to piece everything together and figure it out."Chairman Sungughed awkwardly.

    "I apologize!" Aloe instantly bowed her head, clearly flustered by the whole thing.

    "Haha. It''s fine. Honestly. The mere fact that you were able to defeat the strongest Hunter makes it already worth it."

    "Thanks for your understanding..."

    An awkward silence greeted the room, and I took it upon myself to switch the subject matter to a positive one.

    "And how is Sung Han Soo doing now? Heard he''s about to begin an international tour."

    After saving everyone in the Grand Symposium, the Hunter Representatives of their respective Associations instantly noticed him, and there were many opinions of him.

    All of them were positive too.

    Just as I nned, he became a centerpiece in the world¡ªan emerging Hero that this reality needed at this focal point.

    ''Things are going to get rougher from here on out, so having a symbol of hope will help a lot.''

    Still, I found myself wondering if this was the best way to handle this situation.

    ''I could fix the broken pieces of technology for the Hunter Association so they can find out what Chad was hiding, but if I did that it would impede their own progress in doing the same.''

    They were ultimately going to find a way out themselves. I couldn''t intervene and stunt their growth.

    The same applied in a much wider sense.

    ''I can use my Arcanas to seal all the dimensional fissures of this world and stabilize their dimensional fabric.'' If I did that, there would be no more Gates or Monsters to trouble this.

    But once I realized the kinds of problems I would cause as a result of that alone, and the threats they would encounter in theter future, I had to leave things the way they were.

    ''The people here need to grow, and these problems are perfect for fostering just that.''

    The only thing I could do was to help in quickening their growth.

    "Chairman Sung, I will grant you one final means of assistance. Consider it a little gift from me to you."

    "R-really?" Sparkles already appeared in the eyes of the old man.

    It made meugh a little¡ªinternally, of course.

    "I will give you the means to generate Mana Cores, like what Han Soo has, and also improve the Awakening rate of your world''s denizens to 99 percent."

    "E-eh...? Really?" Not just the Chairman, but every single Hunter Association staff in the room had their faces morph into shock.

    I had just stared something absurd, though based on my track record, they already knew I couldn''t be bluffing my way out of this.

    Perhaps that was why they were so shocked.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''To be honest, the people in this world are even morepatible with Mana than in my original world.''

    Seeing how Han Soo grew in such a short whole, while due to his efforts and dedication, I realized that his body readily epted the Mana and integrated it properly.

    However, it was thispatibility that was their w. Because their bodies could take in Mana, it distributed the Mana Particles, spreading them across the body, rather than allowing everything to converge in a spot to form a Core.

    ''Considering how many Hunters already exist without needing the ''Quickening'' ritual, or merely directing the Mana Particles to form a Core, I wonder how many will exist if they use a better method to Awaken.''

    It was quite possible that those who failed the Hunter Awakening would begin to form Mana Cores over time, like Han Soo, yet would bebeled Inepts.

    Not only would I need to educate the Hunter Association of this prospect, and teach them how to go about it, but I also had to inform them to check their records for those whom they deemed to have failed and call them back.

    They would be surprised by what they saw.

    "We would be very grateful for your guidance, Mr. Leonard!"

    Their bows were already getting pretty stale at this point, so I only waved and smiled in response.

    ''I appreciate the sentiment, though.''

    ********

    After speaking on the subject matter for some time, and also granting them an Artificial Mana Core for study, we concluded the meeting.

    With all we spoke about, I was sure they would be able to piece everything else together.

    ''If Chad and his goons could make Blood Stones, I''m sure they''ll be able to properly implement this information using the Artificial Mana Core as a Model and Han Soo as a subject of study.''

    I, Kuzon, and Aloe returned to our rooms, where we would be spending the rest of our time conversing before deciding to leave.

    I had said most of my goodbyes already. Other than Sung, whom I nned on teaching one final technique, I no longer had any further business in this world.

    ''I also hope they enjoy my little gift.'' A grin formed on my face.

    I hoped this world developed a kind of Magic upon the realization that Skills were too restrictive.

    Everything was only a matter of time and progression.

    ''Considering <The Great Blight> that is to befall this world, they better hurry.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 986 Next Destination

    "H-Hyuuuung!!! I can''t believe you''re leaving!!!"

    This was why I wanted Sung to be thest person I told my farewell to.

    I saw how he went all emotional on Aloe when she informed him of her departure, and now it was my turn.

    ''Oh well...'' I smiled.

    It just went to show how much he valued our short whole together, I suppose.

    "Haha. I mighte and visit you someday. Who knows?"

    "Really? That would be awesome!"

    "I know, right?"

    It was uncertain if that was ever going to happen. However, to properly give this world something to help them¡ªa final parting gift¡ªI decided to entrust Sung with something I knew would help him and this world in the long run.

    "I will be teaching you onest technique. It''s my trump card." I smiled, cing my hands on his shoulders.

    "O-oh? Hyung''s strongest spell? I can''t wait!"

    "It''s not a Spell. It''s more than that. It''s a well-guarded secret that I haven''t even taught to my friends."

    I had no idea why I was revealing something so close to my heart to someone I knew for a meager one month.

    Perhaps it was because I knew it would be extremely difficult for him and this world to survive without having this sort of insurance on their side.

    ''Maybe...'' I maintained my smile and looked at him with utmost seriousness.

    "I call it Spellcraft. It''ll allow you to harness more power and protect those dearest to you."

    "Spell... craft...?"

    "Yes. Now you must promise me, Han Soo. Promise me you''ll never teach this to anyone until you''ve figured out they''re deserving of such power."

    Even though this world most likely needed Spellcraft to survive, and only Han Soo couldn''t protect everyone, I was also cautious about the power of Spellcraft falling into the wrong hands.

    ''That''s why I didn''t tell the Chairman and Directors.'' Not all of them could be trusted, and in time the Hunter Association would realize that.

    But Han Soo was different. I had done my due diligence to research him¡ªpast, present, and future.

    His future would change a bit, thanks to my current influence, but that wouldn''t change who he was at his core.

    He was a good person.

    "You are a worthy sessor to Spellcraft."

    ************

    I was only able to show him the basics, and tell him how to go about it.

    The rest was up to him. Though, I had a little more assurance than mere faith that he would be able to learn it before it was toote.

    ''And he must also find sessors that he can trust with Spellcraft as well.''

    Once I was finally done sorting out myst loose end, it was time for us to leave.

    "I certainly hope you''re satisfied now, Jared. You''re done with everything you want to do, right?" Kuzon said, his brows furrowed in annoyance.

    "I am. And thank you for being patient with me." I smiled.

    "How is Sung now?" Aloe asked me, her eyes filled with concern for the young man.

    The way they parted was rather emotional, after all.

    However, the moment I recollected Sung''s determined expression, and the promise we shared, I could only give one response.

    "He''ll be fine."

    A relieved smile formed on Aloe''s face, and I granted her a reassuring nod.

    "Well, since we''re all here, I suppose it''s time to leave." Kuzon spoke, preparing the Blu-Blu, our ticket out of this world.

    "Well. I''m ready when you are, Kuzon." I chuckled.

    "Tch. About time." He responded with rolled-up eyes.

    "Same here." Aloe interjected.

    "Yeah, yeah."

    The orb in his grasp shone golden, and a bright portal appeared before us, calling us to yet another unknown realm.

    ''I wonder what we''ll encounter this time around.'' With that thought surfacing in my mind, we all took a leap of faith and ventured into the golden spatial rift.

    ... Unaware of what awaited us on the other side.

    ********

    [Grand Federation Calendar: Year 3,567]

    [Zone 13, Zipliblog]

    A fortified facility stood imposingly on the grand Zipliblog''s surface, a testament to the advanced technology and security measures employed by its insect-like inhabitants. Inside, the air hummed with a subtle energy as bipedal guards, adorned in sturdy armor, patrolled the corridors, their multifaceted eyes scanning for any signs of intrusion.

    And then¡ª

    >DRRRRRIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGG!!!<

    Deep within the heart of the facility, in a dimly lit control room, a panel flickered with rms and warnings.

    The holographic disy illuminated the tense faces of the security personnel as it red the news of a breach.

    Panic filled the room, but the guards swiftly coordinated their efforts to apprehend the intruder.

    Meanwhile, in the shadows, the enigmatic culprit prepared to execute their meticulously nned heist.

    d in a sleek stealth suit that seamlessly blended with the surroundings, they moved with a grace and precision that rendered them nearly invisible to the alien guards.

    Silent footfalls carried them through thebyrinthine corridors, avoiding the patrol routes and motion sensors that dotted the facility.

    As the rm wailed throughout the facility, the guards frantically converged on the designated breach point.

    They brandished their energy rifles, ready to confront the intruder. But each time they closed in, the culprit deftly slipped away, their stealth suit rendering them virtually undetectable.

    They utilized the intricateyout of the facility to their advantage, disappearing into venttion shafts and using secret passageways known only to a select few.

    The guards grew increasingly frustrated, their chittering mandibles clicking in agitation as they failed to apprehend the elusive thief. They coordinated their efforts, setting up ambushes and deploying specialized units to track down the intruder.

    However, each time they believed they had cornered their prey, they found themselves grasping at empty air, their quarry always one step ahead.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    As the chaos ensued, the culprit, having evaded the guards once more, essed a control panel that controlled the facility''s security protocols.

    Their stealth suit interfaced seamlessly with the alien technology, granting them unprecedented ess to the facility''s systems.

    "Hehe. Finally found it! There you are, my precious."

    A holographic disy materialized in front of them, disying the intricate details of the facility''syout and security measures.

    With their newfound control, the infiltrator initiated a shapeshifting sequence, their body transforming into an exact replica of a high-ranking Zipliblogmander.

    They observed their reflection in a nearby reflective surface, the bipedal insect-like form taking on the appearance of the esteemed leader.

    The disguised culprit confidently strode toward their ultimate goal¡ªa room deep within the facility that housed a highly secured vault.

    As they approached, two high-ranked guards¡ªthe most skilled in the whole facility¡ªsaluted and stepped aside, their respect for the esteemedmander, overriding any suspicion they might have harbored.

    Upon reaching the entrance to the restricted area, the shapeshiftedmander''s fa?ade faltered for a moment, a look of annoyance crossing their features as they were denied further ess.

    "U-um...mander... no one is allowed in there."

    Surely, themander should have been aware that this was a ssified zone that no Zipliblog inhabitant could enter¡ªnot even the esteemed leader.

    It was a territory directly controlled by the Grand Federation.

    "We''ll have to ask you to stand back... sir."

    The guards'' unwaveringmitment to protocol surprised even the infiltrator.

    It seemed this was as far as they would be able to go.

    "I understand." With a resigned sigh, they drew a concealed energy weapon, its sleek design and deadly capabilities hinting at its illegal nature.

    >PEW!<

    >PEW!<

    With a swift and precise motion, the disguised culprit eliminated the guards, their silenced weapons offering no warning to the doomed sentinels.

    The alien bodies copsed to the ground, hollow and lifeless.

    "It seems they hired amateurs to guard. Now isn''t that a surprise." Generating a sarcasticugh, the shape-shifting effect they pulled off slowly unraveled, revealing a woman standing in a skin-tight bodysuit.

    Her long brown hair danced behind her, as a streak of purple hue stained it.

    "It''s a good thing I came prepared." Her sonorous voice echoed as she brought out an oddly shaped key and inserted it into the only hole that existed in the vault in front of her.

    >FSSHHIIIIIII<

    The door hissed open, revealing a vast chamber filled with rows upon rows of highly valuable artifacts and resources.

    This was the coveted vaulted ce¡ªthe ultimate prize.

    However...

    "This isn''t it. What I''m looking for should be deeper inside."

    All of these treasures simply served as a distraction to prevent anyone from going further and finding the rarest kind of mineral in the known Universal System.

    "Isotope XY. Hm?"

    Turning her attention to one of the two supposedly dead guards, she noticed him struggling to breathe, his once vibrant armor now marred with bloodstains.

    Nothing but apathy flickered across her face as she regarded the injured man.

    "S-so... it was you..." His voice, weak but resolute, cut through the stillness of the chamber. "... The most wanted criminal in all registered Zones within the Grand Federation" he rasped, his words apanied by a violent fit of coughing, dark blue-like droplets sttering on the polished floor.

    "... Ciara Epilson."

    Ciara''s gaze hardened, a predatory glint in her eyes as she acknowledged her infamous reputation.

    The guard''s words held no surprises for her; not anymore.

    "Seems you''re more persistent than I gave you credit for. Perhaps you have something dear to you that you''re fighting for."

    The wounded guard''s eyes widened, a mixture of fear and recognition flickering within them.

    He struggled to reach for his weapon, a futile attempt to defend himself against the embodiment of chaos standing before him.

    "No, you don''t." Ciara''s hand moved with ruthless efficiency, drawing her own weapon from its holster, its polished surface glinting ominously in the dim light.

    In a swift, fluid motion, she silenced the guard''s feeble attempt at defiance, the weapon''s discharge echoing hollowly through the chamber.

    His body convulsed and slumped to the ground, life extinguished, as the air hung heavy with the acrid scent of expended energy.

    Ciara cast onest disdainful nce at the fallen guard, a testament to her unwavering resolve and relentless pursuit.

    "You should have just pretended to be dead."

    Unfazed by the violence she had just inflicted, Ciara Epilson disappeared into the depths of the vault, her steps echoing against the vaulted walls.

    "... Not that it matters to me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like this is it, folks! Ciara became a criminal? And in a futuristic cyberpunk-like world?

    Well, let''s see, shall we?

    Also...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 987 Man In The Wasteland

    [A Few Months Ago]

    From the depths of a spatial rift, a young man emerged. His dark hair cascaded around his chiseled features, emphasizing his tall and handsome physique.

    With an air of confidence, he surveyed the deste, ruined world thaty before him.

    The remnants of buildings stood as hollowed skeletons, their structures crumbling and decaying under the weight of time. Jagged shards of ss and twisted metal littered the ground, remnants of a forgotten era.

    Yet, despite the destion surrounding him, the young man remained unfazed. His stoic face, etched with a sense of familiarity, betrayed no surprise at his sudden change in environment. As his piercing gaze swept across the destion, memories stirred within him, like ghosts from a bygone time.

    "Mmm, brings back memories," he muttered, his voice carrying an undertone of both nostalgia and resignation.

    There was a hint of mncholy in his tone, as if he were revisiting a ce he had left behind long ago. He had seen the ravages of destruction before, and perhaps this reminded him of those times.

    He took a step forward, his boots crunching on the debris underfoot. The wind howled through the broken windows, carrying with it a haunting melody. It whipped through his tousled hair, as if whispering secrets only the destion couldprehend.

    The young man''s eyes were keen, as if he possessed an inherent knowledge of this forsaken world. His surroundings, though supposedly alien, seemed to hold a thread of familiarity for him. He moved through the ruins with purpose, traversing the deste streets and shattered remnants of what once was.

    "The rest must have arrived in their respective worlds. I imagine they must be confused right now..."

    He raised his head to view the darkened sky, and for a moment, shut his eyes to think a little.

    "I wonder..."

    As he walked, his mind wove a tapestry of memories, intermingling with the stark reality of his present. Faces long gone shed before his eyes, moments frozen in time etched themselves into his consciousness. He allowed himself to be consumed by the memories, for they were all he had in this destion.

    Though the worldy in ruins, a spark ignited within the young man''s eyes. It was a spark of resilience, of unyielding determination. This deste wastnd was his stage, and he was ready to y his part.

    However...

    As the young man stood amidst the deste ruins, his gaze fixed upon the remnants of a forgotten world, a sudden disturbance in the darkened sky caught his attention.

    >WHUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!<

    With an ethereal brilliance, a figure sharply descended, shrouded in a swirling vortex of blue and white energy. The luminescence cast an otherworldly glow upon the surroundings, illuminating the twisted remnants of the shattered realm.

    The figure that emerged from the vortex was a young boy, no older than thirteen.

    His slender frame was draped in a mage''s outfit, his long dark robe billowing around him as if caught in an invisible wind, and his white hair danced atop his head.

    The intensity in his eyes matched the power that radiated from his very being.

    The young boynded gracefully on the cracked pavement, his presencemanding attention. He red at the stranger who had arrived before him, his gaze a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

    "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice carrying a hint of authority that belied his youthful appearance.

    The young man''s face remained stoic, his dark hair rustling in the wind. He regarded the young boy with a knowing gaze, his eyes reflecting a depth of wisdom beyond his years.

    "You know who I am," he responded, his voice carrying an air of familiarity that echoed through the destion.

    As the two figures locked eyes, a silent understanding seemed to pass between them. They resonated on a level that defied exnation, their connection transcending the deste world around them.

    A subtle smile tugged at the corners of their lips, a shared recognition of a shared destiny.

    "Neron," the young boy uttered, his voice softening as he spoke his own name.

    The stranger, too, revealed a smile, as he whispered his own name in return.

    "Neron."

    The resonance of their voices intertwined, carrying a sense of belonging, of a connection forged by fate itself.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    These two were one and the same. They were Neron.

    *********

    "What happened in this world?" Neron Kaelid asked, his voiceced with an underlying urgency.

    Devastation stretched as far as the eyes could see, and there was no living entity in sight. Just a void of destruction and hollow vestiges of structures long forgotten.

    The younger Neron''s gaze fell to the ground for a moment, his expression clouded with a sense of regret. "This world... it was destroyed," he replied somberly, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "I couldn''t stop it. They were far beyond my abilities."

    The older young man''s brow furrowed, a glimmer of empathy shining in his eyes.

    "I''m sorry. It was the same for me as well. Fortunately, I was given a second chance." Perhaps those words could not be of muchfort to the child, but there was a solution that could work.

    "What if I told you that you have a chance to set things right? If you help me, I should be able to help you."

    Confusion flickered across the child''s face as he looked up at the older young man.

    "What are you doing in this reality? And why do you need my help?" He inquired, his voice tinged with both curiosity and skepticism.

    A sigh escaped Neron''s lips as he nced around at the deste ruins. "I was forcefully sent here, from my original reality," he exined.

    "I have to find a way back, but I can''t do it alone."

    The young boy''s eyes widened, realization dawning upon him. "So, our paths have crossed not by chance, but by destiny," he murmured, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and uncertainty.

    "But can you really trust me with all of these words? And how can I trust you?"

    A smile yed on the older young man''s lips as he met his gaze with unwavering confidence.

    "Of course, I can trust you!" Neron Kaelid''s smile grew wider as his pitch-ck gaze stared deeper into the young man''s innocent eyes.

    "You''re a Neron, after all."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    We finally get to see Neron. What is on his mind? Who knows...

    Cutting back to Jared, Kuzon, and Aloe''s side of the story in the next chapter!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 988 In The Thick Of Battle

    [Grand Federation Calendar: Year 3,567]

    [Zone 19, Lost E-A345]

    The ruinedndscape stretched out as far as the eye could see, bearing the scars of a once-thriving civilization.

    Among the debris of copsed buildings and twisted metal, the battle between two alien species raged on with unfathomable ferocity. On one end of the battlefield, the alien race known as the Gatorians stood tall. Their appearance resembled a fearsome cross-breed of fish and alligators, a formidable sight to behold.

    The Gatorians possessed powerful limbs that ended in articted appendages designed to hold and fire advanced energy rifles. These weapons emitted intense beams of concentrated energy, capable of piercing through armor and disintegrating their enemies.

    With each thunderous st, the air crackled, leaving trails of scorch marks and vaporized debris in their wake.

    On the opposing side, the Aviarans took to the skies, their bird-like wings gliding effortlessly through the battle-scarred sky. Their limbs, resembling those of a bird of prey, were equipped with deadly energy pistols and shorter des to suit their less muscr limbs.

    With impable aerial maneuverability, they darted between crumbling structures, raining down fiery destruction upon their adversaries.

    The Aviarans showcased their agility and speed, swooping and diving with a grace that defied gravity. They utilized their projectile weapons to unleash devastating beams of energy, obliterating Gatorian forces from above.

    Explosions erupted, shaking the remnants of buildings and causing debris to rain down like deadly hail.

    The battlefield itself became a deadly symphony of destruction, filled with the cacophony of gunfire, explosions, and the screams of the dying.

    The ground trembled as Gatorian troops advanced, their reptilian features contorted in a mix of fury and determination. Their thick, scaly hides provided a measure of protection, but the Aviarans'' precise shots found vulnerable points and exploited them ruthlessly.

    In response, the Gatorians formed tight defensive formations, using their energy rifles to unleash sustained barrages of concentrated fire.

    The air crackled with beams of energy as the Aviarans maneuvered and weaved through the onught, narrowly evading obliteration with each precise wingbeat.

    Not content with long-range warfare alone, thebatants engaged in close-quartersbat as well. Energy des emerged from hiddenpartments in their limbs, glinting with deadly intent.

    The Gatorians wielded their des with the savage strength of a predator, their razor-sharp edges capable of slicing through armor and flesh alike. The Aviarans, though primarily adapted for aerialbat, possessed formidable agility even on the ground. They utilized their spiked limbs to deliver devastating strikes, impaling their opponents with a lethal precision.

    Bombs and explosives littered the battlefield, further adding to the chaos and devastation. Thebatants hurled explosive projectiles and triggered traps, seeking to gain any advantage they could in the relentless struggle for dominance.

    Thendscape, already ruined by the ravages of time, was further torn asunder by the violence of their conflict.

    As the battle raged on, neither side appeared to gain a decisive advantage. Casualties mounted on both sides, each species refusing to yield ground or relinquish their im to victory.

    The alienndscape, once home to a thriving civilization, was now witness to the brutal dance of death between these two formidable species.

    With every fallen warrior, the determination to prevail only grew stronger, fueling their resolve to fight on. The sky was aze with energy beams, the ground churned with the sh of weapons, and the air was thick with the stench of ozone and burning debris.

    In this nightmarish symphony of destruction, the Gatorians and Aviarans battled relentlessly, locked in an eternal struggle that seemed destined to consume them both.

    And then...

    >VWUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH<

    ... A portal formed right at the center of the conflict.

    Three strange-looking beings,pared to the two warring parties, emerged from the golden pool of energy,pletely oblivious of what was happening around them; the war that would determine the fates of each side as a species.

    They simply stepped out of their spatial rift, and it closed instantly, leaving them open to the immense violence of war.

    "Eh?"

    "What the heck is going on?"

    "Where are we?"

    As they stared at each other in both surprise and unexpected shock, the booming voices of themanders of both sides echoed in a ferocious roar.

    "THE ENEMY HAS BROUGHT REINFORCEMENTS! KILL THOSE THREE FOOLS WHO JUST APPEARED!!!"

    Hearing the unintelligible alien tongue of the two warring parties, further confusion spread among the three sojourners, and their faces twisted in utter perplexity. None of them could speak Gatorian or Avarian.

    In such a situation, there was only one thing they could say. And that was...<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ".... Eh?!"

    ********

    As I stood there amidst the chaotic battlefield, my mind was reeling with confusion and disbelief.

    How had my allies, Kuzon and Aloe, and I ended up in this nightmarish war zone? The sight before us was both awe-inspiring and terrifying¡ªa sh between two alien races, both locked in a brutal struggle for supremacy.

    ''Why do I always end up in these kind of situations?'' I cried internally.

    Was it bad luck? Or perhaps fate was just messing with me.

    But what troubled me the most was our utterck ofprehension. We couldn''t understand thenguage being spoken, rendering us clueless about the intentions and motivations of the warring factions.

    Were they fighting for a just cause or merely driven by blind aggression? Who was right, and who was wrong? We had no answers, only an overwhelming sense of being caught in a storm we couldn''tprehend.

    "So loud!"

    "Damn it! That crazy old man must have known this would happen!"

    "This is..."

    As we exchanged bewildered nces, I noticed that the attention of thebatants had shifted toward us. It seemed as though time itself had slowed down, emphasizing the imminent danger we faced.

    The projectiles and energy beams that had been intended for their adversaries were now hurtling in our direction, closing in with rming speed. Panic gripped my heart, and a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins.

    ''This is just...'' In that fleeting moment, I made a decision.

    Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused all my energy on a single thought.

    "[The Hermit]."

    And then, with a sigh that carried both resignation and determination, time itself froze.

    The projectiles hung motionless in mid-air, the energy beams halted their deadly trajectory, and the battlefield fell silent. Everything was frozen, suspended in a surreal tableau of destruction.

    I gazed around, taking in the frozen chaos and the bewildered expressions etched on the faces of Kuzon and Aloe.

    They seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation, their eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity.

    "Alright, you guys... let''s figure out exactly what''s going on here."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This is, as you''d expect, Ciara Epilson''s side of the Arc. It might seem a bit strange for you now, but don''t worry.

    This is gonna be good!!!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 989 An InterPlanetary Crisis

    Alien soldiers froze mid-sh.

    Both sides had shed in a chaotic ballet of destruction, their strange appearances etched into my mind. Kuzon and Aloe stood beside me, their eyes also taking in the scene before us.

    ''With time frozen still, it''s definitely easier to see what''s happening.''

    The air hung heavy with the stench of burnt metal and ozone, and an eerie silence enveloped the battlefield. I decided to walk around the area while critically examining the frozen figures before me.

    ''It seems two distinct alien species are locked inbat. And its a serious one for that matter.''

    One resembled a humanoid bird with vibrant plumage, while the other possessed the menacing features of a fish fused with an alligator.

    ''I''ve used Magic to spread my senses throughout this entire area. None of them seem to have any habitat around here.''

    Only destruction spread as far as I could tell.

    ''Maybe they live on others? Did they decide to use this ce as some sort of battleground? That would definitely make more sense...''

    Not only was this pretty much infertile, it wasn''t particrly suitable for any of them in terms of a suitable environment.

    "What are you thinking about? This should be simple, really. We just use our Magic to control them to stop fighting, extract the information we want, and then leave. It''s that simple." Kuzon''s voice echoed beside me.

    He had a good point. With the aid of [The Emperor], as well as the other Arcanas at my disposal, the both of us didn''t need to do too much to secure our safety and the cooperation of these people.

    However...

    "Have you learned nothing from our adventure in the previous world?" I smiled, shaking my head slowly.

    "Don''t worry. I don''t n on interfering too much in this ce. We''ll be in and out in no time."

    Still, I had to admit... I was curious.

    Time stood still, allowing me to contemte my next move. It was clear that extracting information from the soldiers would be the key to understanding their motivations and potentially brokering a peace.

    I approached the bird-like alien first, marveling at the intricate patterns adorning its feathers. Carefully, I ced my hand on its icy shoulder, feeling the coldness seep into my palm.

    "Let''s get their memories first." I nced at both Aloe and Kuzon, and while thetter nodded, the former appeared a little puzzled.

    ''Ah, Aloe can''t absorb memories.'' My thoughts echoed. "Don''t worry about it, Aloe."

    Using Magic on the target, my mind melded with the frozen soldier, his memories unfolding before me like a surreal tapestry.

    Visions of a dying homeworld, scarce resources, and the desperation that drove them to this war flooded my consciousness.

    The bird-like alien had been one of the protectors of his people, forced into battle to secure their survival. It was a poignant glimpse into their struggle, and empathy surged within me.

    "I see now. So that''s how they see it..."

    Apparently, the bird-like creature belonged to a race known as Avarians, and just as I suspected, their was a short distance from this one.

    The Avarianscked resources, and they needed after scouring beyond their homeworld for resources, they finally found a ce. Unfortunately for them, the Gatorians, the opposing race, already imed the territory for themselves, and they wouldn''t share resources with the Avarians.

    ''The Avarians believe the Gatorians have no legal im to the Oasis, as they call it, and that it''s a Free Domain, as established by the Grand Federation; as such, they are simply fighting for their right.''

    Still, that was only one side of the story.

    With a gentle sigh, I released my grip from the still Avarian and turned my attention to the fish-alligator hybrid not too far from me.

    Its scales shimmered in the frozen light, as if mocking the devastation surrounding us. "Let''s see what you have to say."<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    I ced my hand on its arm, absorbing its memories with a newfound solemnity.

    The memories revealed a history of territorial disputes and a cycle of vengeance that perpetuated the conflict. They, too, fought to secure a future for their species, driven by a desperate need to protect their home and kin.

    The weight of their struggles pressed upon me, deepening my resolve to find a peaceful resolution.

    "It seems the Avarians tried to take thend by force, rather than agreeing to the terms set by the Gatorians. I see..."

    Even though they could have been diplomatic about it and foundmon ground to settle on, the Avarians believed the Gatorians had no right to im thend, to begin with.

    As for the excuse of the Gatorians, apparently the Grand Federation hadn''t conscribed The Oasis, since it had naturally formed as a only recently, and without any proper inhabitants, and lots of natural resources, it hadn''t been reported yet.

    The Gatorians imed thend as theirs, even though the Grand Federation had yet to decree it so, and the Avarians dered that thend was a Free Domain, even though the Grand Federation never decreed such a thing.

    ''In the end, It all boils down to the issue of the Grand Federation, eh?''

    In this world, it seemed the inhabitants of the known Universe had be aware of the existence of one another, and they ventured on to create intricateworks among themselves.

    Communication. Commerce. Warfare. The list of interactions betweens and civilizations had advanced to a veryplex point.

    ''The Grand Federation is the body that supervises the known Universe, it seems.''

    Without them, a lot of things would have been thrown out of whack, and the gxies would have been destabilized. They divided sr systems and gxies into Zones, further dividing them into Regions. They also established amon calendar for every Zone to follow, and the time ratio was adjusted to suit the functions of every Zone.

    ''Time is rtive when ites to the Universe, since it has to do with gravity and space. It''s a huge feat that they were able to create a calendar that works.''

    Still, even though the knowledge I had of the Grand Federation painted the body to be very capable in their field ofpetence, they weren''t without ws.

    ''The very fact that these two races are fighting as a result of their oversight is proof of that.''

    It didn''t help that neither the Avarians nor Gatorians wanted to report the existence of ''The Oasis'' to the Grand Federation. They most likely wanted to keep the to themselves, and it was highly probable that the Grand Federation wouldn''t allocate thend to either of them.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Apologies for all the extra info and all. I kind of have a thing for these kinds of stories. Don''t worry, it won''tst very long.

    Unless you''re all into stuff like these too.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 990 Perfect Compromise

    ''If The Oasis is made a Free Domain, other neighboring races wille for the resources, bringing in morepetition.''

    Neither faction desired this oue, so they would rather resort to war than allow it.

    "Thinking about it objectively, it was due to their negligence andck of proper management that led them to this situation. They couldn''t properly take care of their respective homeworlds and were irresponsible in their use of its free resources."

    If only they had thought of the future before it was toote, things wouldn''t have gotten this extreme.

    ''To solve this, I would have to go through a veryplex process of resolving the problem on both sides, while also brokering peace between them.''

    Ensuring there was sufficient resources for both parties wasn''t the issue, but the fact that they would eventually return to this same state after some time was what discouraged me the most.

    ''I don''t like doing things halfheartedly. I would rather not help them at all.'' Rubbing my chin, I considered my options carefully.

    Kuzon would kill me if I decided to waste time in this ce. He also made very good points regarding our need to return home. I had to concede to him this time.

    ''There''s just no time. Unless...''

    Using [The Hermit] for too long would literally drain me of every ounce of energy I had, especially since this was a strange world, and the dynamics here were far moreplex than what I was used to.

    Using Time Magic excessively was out of it.

    "The only other viable option I can think of is ''that''." A smile formed on my face and my heart raced with excitement.

    Considering how I had been meaning to try it out for some time now, this proved to be a perfect opportunity to do so.

    "Yeah. Let''s do that instead then."

    That way, I wouldn''t have to worry about dying my allies and also abandoning these people. It was literally killing two birds with one stone.

    Well... technically, the stones would be two too.

    ''I finally get to use [The Moon].''

    *********

    Once I canceled the effects of [The Hermit], time unfroze, and the battle resumed its chaotic symphony.

    But I stood there, looking into the eyes of the soldiers, their fierce expressions now softened by the understanding I had gained. I was utilizing [Unknowable], so they couldn''t see me, but I watched everything keenly.

    At that moment, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

    I had seen their memories, felt their pain, and understood their motivations. Armed with this knowledge, I knew that I could bridge the divide between these warring species. It would be a daunting task, but the flicker of hope ignited within me.

    As the battle raged on around me, I resolved to unite these aliens through empathy and diplomacy, to forge a path toward peace in this war-ravaged universe.

    It would be a long and arduous journey, but I was determined to see it through. With renewed purpose, I stepped forward, my smile unwavering, ready to face the challenges ahead and bring an end to the senseless bloodshed that stained the cosmos.

    *******

    The hum of the spacecraft''s engines resonated through the cabin as we soared through the vast expanse of space.

    Kuzon, Aloe, and I sat side by side, the weight of our recent experience hanging heavy in the air. None of us said a word to one another as the spacecraft cruised on autopilot, taking us to a preset destination.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "You know, Jared," Kuzon began, breaking the silence, "leaving those warring aliens behind was the best thing we could have done. We can''t afford to get caught up in their conflict."

    His words struck a chord within me, affirming the difficult decision we had made. We had chosen to abandon the chaos and strife, seizing an opportunity for escape after understanding all we could from them.

    The stolen spacecraft we now piloted held valuable resources that would aid us on our journey¡ªa Trantor and a map of the known Sr System.

    I nodded in agreement, grateful for Kuzon''s understanding. "You''re right, Kuzon. We need to gather more information about this world, its factions, and most importantly, find clues about who we''re looking for."

    Aloe chimed in, her voiceced with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Do you think the nearest station of the Grand Federation will have information on the next person we''re looking for?"

    I leaned back in my seat, contemting her question. The Grand Federation was renowned for its knowledge and resources, serving as a hub of information for countless civilizations. It was our best chance to uncover the truth about our predicament and locate the person we sought.

    "I believe so, Aloe," I replied, my voice filled with a newfound determination. "The Grand Federation will have archives, experts, and a vastwork that can guide us. We need to understand the world we find ourselves in to find whoever is stranded here."

    Based on the experiences each of us had thus far, I had a feeling our friend in this world was definitely going to stand out like a sore thumb.

    "It''s a vast universe... but it shouldn''t be too difficult."

    With our shared purpose in mind, we sat in silence once more. As we traveled, I couldn''t help but feel a tinge of excitement.

    ''I wonder what this new world will have to offer.''

    And, well... I hoped the other ''Me'' was fitting in well.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope none of you were confused about what happened. You all know the ability of [The Moon], right?

    Also, sorry about all the info dumps and all. I kind of got carried away with the lore of this new world.

    Hahaha!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 991 Grand Federation Base [Pt 1]

    As our spacecraft cruised through the vastness of space, a tinge of frustration gnawed at me. And it was all due to one unprecedented problem.

    "Urgh..."

    "Are we there yet?"

    "Not even close..."

    The journey to our target destination seemed interminable, the distance stretching out before us like an insurmountable barrier. It became painfully clear that our vessel''s speed was woefully insufficient for the task at hand.

    We needed a solution, something that could propel us forward at an unprecedented pace.

    ''Looking at what seems like the fuel gauge, I think we won''t even have enough juice to reach our destination.''

    It was my fault for thinking a spacecraft built for merely exploring neighborings could take us far and fast. ''But why is there a map of the entire sr system, then?''

    If I had to guess, maybe it came with the product. The Gatoians and Avarians weren''t artisans in any way. They must have bought their tech from a dealer.

    ''The dealer must have installed the map. Guess it''s standard issue.''

    "Why couldn''t they make this thing go any faster, though?" I groaned.

    The spacecraft was moving rtively fast if I was being honest. However,pared to the distance we had to reach, and my own speed, this was sorelycking.

    I was sure Kuzon and Aloe also thought the same.

    ''But we can''t just start flying in foreign space like we own the ce.'' That meant there had to be another way.

    Determined not to be deterred by the sluggishness of our craft, I turned to my friends, Kuzon and Aloe, with a resolute gleam in my eyes.

    "I''ll use an Arcana." Blurting out, I summoned my [Great Sage''s Memoir], and its pages automatically flipped to my desired location.

    "This should work."

    Drawing upon my connection with the Aether around us and within me, I focused my thoughts on the specific Arcana Spell¡ª[The Chariot].

    [The Chariot] granted me the power to control technology with extraordinary precision and imbue them with my will. Using it on a single spacecraft wouldn''t be too much, would it?

    "Of course not!" My grin grew wider as a warm glow of light coursed through me and seeped into the vessel.

    The time hade to harness its might and transform our spacecraft into a vessel of unimaginable speed.

    Closing my eyes, I visualized the intricate patterns of energy thatprised the [The Chariot]. A surge of power surged through my veins, resonating with the depths of my being. The spacecraft responded, its metallic frame humming with newfound energy.

    I could feel it changing, slightly altering its form to suit my purposes. More importantly, it was coated with a dense skin of Aether. My Aether.

    "This should be enough. Let''s see the differen¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!<

    In an instant, our vessel surged forward, hurtling through the cosmic expanse at an exhrating velocity.

    The stars blurred into streaks of light, painting a mesmerizing tapestry across the windowpane. The once-distant destination now loomed closer with each passing second.

    "W-what in the¡ª?!"

    "Now we''re talking!" Kuzon burst out in an excited roar, and even Aloe was screaming andughing at the same time.

    If I knew things were going to turn out this way, I would have done this way sooner. But, well, it wasn''t toote.

    "We should reach our destination in a couple of minutes, at this rate." Kuzon smiled in excitement.

    Anything that granted the advantage of speed and efficiency seemed to resonate well with him, since he was in a hurry to return home.

    But, well, I couldn''t disagree with him this time.

    "A couple of minutes, huh?" A thought shed in my mind.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    With the newfound speed at our disposal, I seized the opportunity to delve into the mechanics of our spacecraft.

    ''I should learn as much as I can about it. If I can understand it better, then...''

    And within the next couple of minutes, I did exactly that.

    As I studied the intricate consoles and control panels, using [The Chariot] as my guide, I discovered a myriad of functions that piqued my interest.

    I was able topletely incorporate The Trantor of the Spacecraft outside it, tapping into all of its mechanisms.

    I examined its inner workings, noting theplex algorithms and intricate neuralworks that allowed for seamlessmunication across alien tongues. That way, I would be able tomunicate with any race even outside the Spacecraft.

    The same applied to the map system, the navigation protocols, and the intricate mechanisms that made our journey more manageable.

    Time seemed to slip away as I immersed myself in this pursuit of knowledge. The spacecraft hummed with life, its inner workings a symphony of purpose and design.

    *******

    ''Looks like I made it in time, after all." I smiled, looking through the powerful windows of the spacecraft at what we were closing in on.

    As we drew closer, the Grand Federation Base emerged into our view, resembling a breathtaking city encapsted within a massive ss-like container.

    The transparent walls stretched high into the infinite sky, allowing the celestial wonders beyond to cast their enchanting glow upon the bustling streets below. It was as if we were gazing at a piece of art, a magnificent fusion of technology and nature suspended in the vacuum of space.

    The base was adorned with gleaming towers and intricate architecture, its metallic structures reflecting the brilliant hues of distant stars. Bridges and walkways crisscrossed between buildings, linking them like arteries in a vibrant, living organism.

    Glowing lights, resembling a constetion of their own, illuminated the pathways and zas, lending an ethereal quality to the entire scene.

    Surrounding the base was awork of stellite-like structures, encircling it protectively like loyal guardians.

    These satellites served not only as a defense system but also as docking stations for the myriad of spacecraft that arrived daily, bringing people from all corners of the gxy. Their sleek, streamlined shapes were a testament to the advancements of engineering and design achieved by the Grand Federation.

    As we descended towards thending tform, I marveled at the sheer scale of the base. It was a bustling hub of activity, teeming with people from differents, species, and walks of life. T

    he air hummed with anticipation, mingling with the distant echoes of interstermunication and the soft hum of anti-gravity vehicles zipping through the air.

    Once our spacecraft touched down, we stepped out onto thending tform, joining the countless individuals who hade before us.

    Aloe''s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she eagerly absorbed the sights and sounds of the base, while Kuzon''s calcting mind was no doubt already pondering how we would navigate our way through this ce.

    ''It really is something, huh?'' A wry smile formed on my face as I inhaled deeply.

    Together, we took our first steps into the grand city, already one step closer to finding our lost friend.

    ... Even if we didn''t really know it yet.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 992 Grand Federation Base [Pt 2]

    After we ventured deeper into the bustling base, we found ourselves reaching a threshold.

    The maze of streets and corridors led us to a checkpoint manned by an officer of the Grand Federation, dressed in the official uniform adorned with insignias of authority.

    Their face resembled an octopus, and the coiling tentacles made it somewhat impossible to look away. I wondered if the people in charge ced this person here intentionally.

    The officer''s stern expression and focused gaze made it clear that adherence to protocol was paramount, so we straightened our stances and walked in.

    Coming to a halt before the officer, I heard it utter in a somewhat gruff tone, "Please state your business here."

    I instantly observed the puzzled look on Kuzon and Aloe''s faces as the officer''s words were in anguage unfamiliar to both of them.

    ''Thankfully, I have a mobile trantor with me.'' I knew it was up to me to bridge this linguistic divide and convey our purpose.

    Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and met the officer''s gaze with unwavering determination. "We are travelers seeking to obtain new Trantor Devices and an Interster map," I replied, my voice resonating with a mix of confidence and respect.

    The officer''s skeptical gaze lingered upon us, their expression betraying a hint of doubt. "Prove your im," they demanded, crossing their arms in a gesture of authority.

    "Identification, please."

    ''Uh oh...'' My eyes twitched and my confidence plummeted instantly.

    Why didn''t I think of this before? None of us had any identifications, and the vessel we used to traverse this area was a stolen one, to begin with.

    "Well, the thing is..."

    "Haaa..." I heard a sigh of exasperation suddenly echo from Kuzon.

    "You''re wasting time, Jared. Leave this to me."

    Kuzon stepped forward and confronted the officer, whispering only a few words which I heard very clearly from where I stood.

    "[The Absolute Emperor]."

    With a subtle gesture, Kuzon''s power coursed through him, reaching out to ensnare the officer''s mind. It only took a moment, and the effects were just what we needed on the spot.

    The officer''s skepticism dissolved, reced by apliant expression. In a soft, distant voice, they muttered, "You may proceed. Wee to the Grand Federation Base, Zone 19-E."

    Each Zone represented a Gxy, and the letters behind them represented the Sr System.

    Since this was Zone 19, that made us closer to the main headquarters, which was in Zone 1. We would have been in quite the pickle if something terrible unfolded at that moment.

    ~That''s how you get things done. You oveplicate everything, Jared.~ Kuzon''s thoughts echoed in my mind.

    ''...'' I went silent internally, and a glum expression apanied me as all three of us were granted ess to the great citadel.

    ''Maybe he has a point.''

    **********

    As we entered the bustling lobby of the base, a vibrant tapestry of alien races and species greeted us.

    My senses tingled with anticipation as I observed the kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and sizes that popted the area. Conversations echoed in a myriad ofnguages, merging into a symphony of voices.

    Eager to gather information and make sense of our surroundings, I reached out with my magical senses, seeking to detect the subtle energies emanating from the diverse beings around us.

    ''Looks like Kuzon and Aloe are doing the same.'' I smiled, observing them spread out their senses as well.

    However, to my surprise, my attempts were met with interference.

    ''What...?'' My eyes widened slightly, and I looked around me in a slight hint of confusion.

    The technology within the base seemed to dampen the effects of my magical perception, leaving me with only faint glimpses of the auras and energies that usually filled my awareness.

    ''This is... unexpected.'' I nced over at the other two.

    Kuzon and Aloe, equally intrigued, experimented with their own magical abilities, hoping to pierce through the technological interference. Yet, they faced the same limitations as I did.

    It was as if the base itself shielded its inhabitants, intentionally restricting the influence of our abilities within its walls.

    ''Hmmm... I see now.''

    The Grand Federation, a powerful organization that governed vast regions of space, would naturally be equipped with advanced technology capable of suppressing the disy of extraordinary powers.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    It was most likely what made this ce secure enough for so many individuals or groups of varying races and dispositions to walk around without a care in the world. No one could really harm the other in such an environment.

    ''They''re using some sort of advanced technology, no doubt.''

    Understanding this, I hesitated to push the boundaries and showcase the full extent of our capabilities. It would be unwise to draw unnecessary attention within the confines of such an influential establishment.

    ''You guys should just give up. If we exert too much Aether to overpower the dampeners around, it could end up causing more harm than good.'' I sent my thoughts to both Kuzon and Aloe.

    Aloe nodded calmly at my suggestion, but Kuzon shot me an irritating look.

    ~You''re overthinking things again. Who cares what we do here? You can just pause time and let us conclude our task faster. Aloe has her Original Magic, which allows her to do something simr. Heck, I can just control everyone here to simply stay still. There''s no need be so roundabout with everything.~

    "Ah..."

    Kuzon had a point. No, he had made a very solid point. Why didn''t I think of all that?

    ''No... it''s not just this time. I''ve been experiencing all this indecisiveness for some time. When did it all start?''

    My eyes instantly widened as I pinpointed the source.

    ''N-no way! [The Moon]?!''

    I split myself into two before leaving the of the Gatorians and Avarians. I thought it was the best, most efficient means to solve the problems we faced at the time, but what if it wasn''t as risk-free as I thought?

    ''Don''t tell me... my intelligence has been halved because of the split?''

    No, perhaps it was more like my personality had been skewed. It was hard to exin, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I wasn''tpletely myself.

    Something felt missing.

    "Did I let go of some parts of myself in the process of splitting...?" I identally leaked out my thoughts, rubbing my chin in perplexity.

    "What are you talking about, Jared? In any case, I''m going to bypass the dampeners. If anything goes south, just pause time or something." Kuzon sighed, Aether slowly leaking out of his body.

    "W-wai¡ª!"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    An explosion suddenly interrupted my words as soon as they were uttered, drowning my voice in a loud eruption of both mes and electricity.

    "ARRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Panic swept through the crowd as chaos erupted. Shards of ss-like material rained down from above, and the once vibrant and harmonious space devolved into a scene of confusion and fear.

    A stampede instantly formed as everybody in the area began running in a frenzy. In this chaos, I knew there was only one thing to do.

    "Haa... [The Hermit]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you don''t find the initial chapters too boring. But if you did, then I suppose its time for some nice and juicy stuff...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 993 The Fugitive [Pt 1]

    Chapter 993 The Fugitive [Pt 1]

    [A Few Moments Earlier]

    {Zone 19, Grand Federation Base E-1}

    The air crackled with tension as the woman stood at the entrance of a dimly lit, high-tech corridor.

    Dressed in a sleek and form-fitting bodysuit that shimmered with high-end technology, she exuded an air of confidence and determination.

    Her glowing blue eyes, hidden behind a sturdy helmet, glinted with a mix of focus and defiance, and her brte hair cascaded down her back in loose waves. She adjusted the holographic helmet on her face, ensuring it was securely in ce before engaging the enemy.

    "As expected. This ce is well-guarded." She whispered, her gaze settling on the opponents who obstructed her.

    Alien guards, towering in stature and armed with otherworldly weapons, lined the corridor, their reptilian features contorted with malice. They had matching armored uniforms, all belonging to the Grand Federation.

    They were elite guards; the cream of the crop. And their mission was simple... preventing the woman before them from getting past them, or even leaving this Grand Federation Base alive.

    She swiftly retaliated, her hand whirling to reveal a small device that emitted a dazzling burst of light. The alien guard staggered The atmosphere hummed with the sound of energy pulsating through the weapons they held. Undeterred, the woman took a step forward, her body perfectly poised for action.

    As the first guard lunged towards her with lightning speed, she evaded his attack effortlessly, ducking under his outstretched arm.

    She swiftly retaliated, her hand whirling to reveal a small device that emitted a dazzling burst of light. The alien guard staggered back, temporarily disoriented by the blinding sh.

    The woman''s movements were fluid and precise as she danced between her adversaries, each encounter a choreographed disy of grace and power.

    She somersaulted through the air, flipping over an alien guard''s head and delivering a swift kick to his back, sending him crashing into hisrades.

    A group of guards attempted to overwhelm her, their synchronized assault meant to trap her in a barrage of strikes. Sensing their strategy, the woman''s eyes narrowed, and determination etched across her face.

    With a flick of her wrist, a hiddenpartment on her forearm released a flurry of miniature projectiles, each honing in on its target with deadly uracy. The guards recoiled in pain as the tiny darts found their mark, incapacitating them one by one.

    But they were relentless. Regaining their footing, the remaining guards closed in, surrounding her on all sides.

    As they converged upon her, the woman drew upon a hidden power within her suit. Her eyes zed with a fierce intensity as she summoned the energy, a swirling force field shimmering into existence around her.

    The alien guards'' attacks were repelled effortlessly by the force field, their blows rendered useless against the woman''s imprable shield.

    "You''re a nuisance." With a swift wave of her hand, a surge of energy rippled out, sending all her opponents flying.

    As she took a step forward, yet another group of alien guards materialized from the shadows, their gleaming armor reflecting the pale light.

    "So you already called for backup before I jammedmunications, huh? Not bad..." She grinned within her helmet, preparing for another round.

    The officers brandished their weapons, the reptilian faces contorted into menacing snarls as they encircled the woman.

    "FIRE!!!"

    In that instant, a barrage of energy beams was fired in her direction, meant to burrow into her armor and rip her to pieces.

    Undeterred, she instinctively activated a small panel on her wrist, causing translucent energy shields to materialize around her forearms.

    And then, she moved like a blurred streak of light.

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    With incredible agility, the woman ducked beneath the first guard, her movements fluid and precise.

    She swiftly spun around, delivering a powerful kick that sent her attacker staggering backward, crashing into hisrades. Her enhanced reflexes allowed her to anticipate their every move, effortlessly dodging even their energy bullets, while blocking the rest, with calcted grace.

    A series of rapid clicks echoed through the air as the woman''s bodysuit deployed a hidden arsenal of gadgets.

    She flicked her wrist, causing thin metal wires to shoot out from her gauntlet, wrapping around the legs of two guards. With a swift pull, she brought them crashing to the ground, incapacitating them temporarily.

    As the remaining guards realized their growing predicament, they lunged at her, attempting to overpower her with their sheer numbers.

    The woman gracefully sidestepped their coordinated assault, her lithe figure a blur of movement. With a precise touch, she activated a hidden mechanism in her suit, and a swarm of miniature drones emerged, buzzing around her like a protective shield.

    Sensing an opportunity, she raised her hand, and the drones swarmed toward the guards, emitting focused beams of energy that disintegrated their armor on contact.

    The guards'' cries of anguish were drowned out by the whirring of the drones as they efficiently dispatched their adversaries, one by one.

    Suddenly, the air crackled with energy as the woman summoned a surge of power within her. A blinding aura enveloped her, radiating a force that pushed back the remaining guards, their bodies flung against the walls.

    The sheer magnitude of her strength was awe-inspiring as she effortlessly repelled theirbined assault.

    With thest guard incapacitated, the woman stood triumphant amidst the wreckage, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths.

    "That should be thest of them..."

    Slowly, she reached up and removed the holographic helmet that concealed her face, revealing a cascade of lustrous brte hair, with a hint of purple, and piercing bright blue eyes that sparkled with a mixture of determination and resolve.

    "Did they really think they stood a chance?" A low chuckle escaped her lips as she left the sea of courses behind her and made her way to the secret vault that she came for.

    ''I''m Ciara Epilson, for god''s sake.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Is she the cause of the explosion? What exactly is up with Ciara? What is she up to? Well... let''s find out.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 994 The Fugitive [Pt 2]

    Ciara Epilson stepped into the spacious office of the Grand Federation Base, her presence a stark contrast to the polished surroundings.

    They adorned the walls with holographic disys, showcasing intergctic conquests and achievements. The head of the base, a distinguished alien man named Giovani, looked up from his desk, his expression a mix of surprise and concern.

    "Ciara? Is that really you?" Giovani''s voice wavered, disbelief etched across his face. Memories of their shared past echoed through his mind, revealing a deep-rooted connection.

    Ciara''s gaze met his, her emerald eyes glinting with abination of determination and something darker. The corners of her lips curled into a cold smile, sending shivers down Giovani''s spine.

    "Yes, Giovani. It''s me," she replied, her voice carrying an unmistakable edge.

    "What... what happened to the guards? What have you done?" Giovani''s voice trembled with a mix of fear and genuine concern. He couldn''t reconcile the memories of the woman he once knew with the formidable figure standing before him.

    Ciara''s smile deepened, the shadows of her past deeds dancing in her eyes. She leaned against the edge of the desk, her gaze piercing into Giovani''s soul.

    "You can ask them yourself when you join them in the grave," she responded, her voice dripping with icy resolve.

    Giovani''s breath caught in his throat as he absorbed the weight of her words. A sense of regret washed over him, mingling with the haunting memories of their shared history. He found himself reaching out, pleading for her to stop, to reconsider the path she had chosen.

    "Ciara, please... forgive me for what happened back then," Giovani''s voice quivered, his eyes pleading for redemption. "It''s not toote for you to turn away from this madness."

    Deep down, he must have known... what was about to happen.

    Ciara''s expression hardened, her resolve unyielding. She pushed herself away from the desk, standing tall and defiant.

    "Forgiveness? Redemption?" she scoffed, her voiceced with bitter amusement. "It''s far toote for that, Giovani. I''ve gone too far to turn back now."

    A heavy silence settled between them, the weight of their shared history hanging in the air like an invisible barrier. Giovani''s gaze bore into Ciara''s, filled with both desperation and an unwavering belief that there was still good within her.

    "There''s still a chance, Ciara. We can find a way to make amends, to set things right," he pleaded, his voice filled with fragile hope.

    Ciara''s eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, the remnants of their past still lingering within her. But then, something darker consumed her gaze, extinguishing any flicker of doubt.

    Her eyes became dead cold in an instant.

    "No, Giovani," she said, her voice nowced with a chilling finality. "I don''t want to make amends. I don''t want to set things right. I want them to burn, to feel the pain they''ve inflicted. To suffer at the hands of the monster they made."

    Giovani recoiled, realizing that the woman he once knew had transformed into something else entirely. The room was filled with an oppressive silence, heavy with unspoken truths and the irrevocable choices that had led them down this path.

    "You had your chance, Giovani. Now it''s time for you to face the consequences," she said, her voiceden with a chilling finality as she slowly began to draw closer to him.

    "I... wai¡ª!"

    Suddenly, a very low but powerful hum interrupted his words.

    "Gurgh!"

    As Ciara pressed closer to Giovani, an intense wave of pain surged through his body. His eyes widened in shock, and he clutched his head, desperately trying to alleviate the excruciating sensation pulsating within his skull.

    "How... how are you able to use your abilities here? The Dampeners should prevent this!" Giovani managed to gasp amidst his agony, his voice strained and filled with disbelief.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    Ciara''s expression twisted into a sinister grin, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of triumph and malice. She leaned in, her voice a low, menacing whisper.

    "Isotope XY," she hissed, her wordsced with dark satisfaction. "I stole it earlier this week. It nullifies the effect of the Dampeners, allowing me to unleash my power without restraint."

    A dawning realization washed over Giovani''s face, his features contorting with a mix of horror and dread. Isotope XY was a highly dangerous and forbidden substance, known for its ability to counteract and manipte energy fields.

    Its possession and use were strictly regted due to the immense risks it posed.

    Ciara''s gaze held an intensity that chilled Giovani to the core. She drew even closer, her voice dripping with sinister intent.

    "I will take your memories, Giovani," she dered, her words slicing through the air like a macabre promise. "And then, one by one, I wille for the others. None of you will be spared."

    A surge of raw power emanated from Ciara as she ced her hand on Giovani''s temple, her fingers emitting a faint, ethereal glow. The room filled with his anguished screams, echoing off the walls and suffusing the air with an aura of despair.

    Memories were ripped from Giovani''s mind, his past slipping away piece by piece as the pain intensified. Images, emotions, and fragments of his identity were torn asunder, consumed by the ruthless force of Ciara''s abilities.

    As the ordeal continued, the once formidable leader of the Zone 19 Grand Federation Base E-1 crumpled to his knees, his body trembling with the aftershocks of agony. His eyes, once filled with determination and authority, now reflected only emptiness.

    Ciara stood over him, a chilling satisfaction painting her features.

    The echoes of Giovani''s torment slowly faded, leaving a haunting silence in their wake. With a cold detachment, she released her grip on him, allowing his limp form to slump to the ground.

    The office, once a symbol of power and control, now bore the weight of despair.

    Ciara turned on her heel, her gaze fixed on the door. Before exiting, she cast one final nce over her shoulder, a shard of darkness glinting in her eyes.

    "Don''t worry, Giovani. The rest will be joining you soon enough."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 995 The Fugitive [Pt 3]

    With her mind infused with Giovani''s memories, Ciara moved swiftly through the corridors of the base, easily cutting down any resistance that dared to stand in her path.

    The knowledge she had obtained allowed her to navigate theplexyout with uncanny precision, bypassing security measures and outmaneuvering the remaining guards.

    She only had one goal now... The Control Center!

    As she arrived at the Control Center, a grim determination burned in her eyes. She surveyed the room, the nerve center of the entire base, filled with shing screens and consoles. Without hesitation, she approached the main control panel, her fingers dancing across the holographic interface.

    With a series of swift keystrokes and encryptedmands, Ciara overrode the control protocols, disabling the safety measures that held the destructive potential of the base at bay.

    rms nearly red, and warning lights began to sh, but she remained unyielding in her purpose.

    In no time, everything went dead silent and dark, leaving her inplete control.

    "This should do it." A wicked smile curled on Ciara''s lips as she initiated a sequence of random, uncontrolled explosions throughout the base.

    Each detonation would echo through the corridors, ripping apart sections of the facility with merciless force. Panic would ensue as the chaos consumed the once orderly stronghold.

    ''I can''t allow any breach in information to be leaked from this ce...''

    The fact that she had interrogated Giovani and gotten information from him, and the fact that her next target was already determined... she couldn''t let her enemies ever suspect those things.

    And just as when she stole Isotope XY, she intended to remove the tiniest shred of evidence that she was present here.

    ... Even if that meant the death of innocents.

    ''Coteral damage.'' Her hollow thoughts echoed as she stared at the control panel that disyed the timer before the process would be initiated.

    ''I should go.'' Knowing the time was limited, Ciara swiftly left the Control Center, leaving chaos and destruction in her wake.

    The path was littered with fallen guards and pools of blood, evidence of the carnage she had wrought. She paid none of them any mind as she deftly arrived at her target location.

    Reaching her spacecraft, she entered the cockpit and swiftly prepared for departure. The engines roared to life, vibrating with the anticipation of imminent escape.

    The base, which would soon now be a smoldering wreck, stood on the precipice of its ultimate demise.

    "This is goodbye..."

    And thus, as she began to take flight...

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!~

    ... The explosions began.

    *********

    Drawing upon the wellspring of Aether within me, I allowed its raw power to surge through my veins, far surpassing the capacity of the dampeners that sought to suppress it.

    With an outpouring of pure energy, I invoked [The Hermit], freezing time within the confines of the base.

    As the luminous waves of magic rippled outward, the world around me came to a standstill. Every living being and object was suspended in a tableau of suspended animation, trapped in the ethereal grasp of stillness.

    Only I remained untethered, moving freely in this temporal sanctuary.

    Kuzon and Aloe stood before me, their figures locked in motionless poses, their expressions frozen in a mix of surprise and concern at the suddenness of the st.

    I knew that their abilities were still suppressed, their powers held in check by the ingenious dampeners that dotted the base.

    ''Their abilities are still suppressed, and since they''ve not tried to break through the dampeners, they''ll most likely remain in stasis.''

    Exerting such control over time exacted a heavy toll. Though I possessed the ability to exempt Kuzon and Aloe from the effects of [The Hermit], doing so would require an immense surge of Aether, far beyond what I could afford to expend.

    With the dampeners overridden, I was already channeling an unprecedented amount of energy. The spell itself, an immense drain on my reserves, threatened to deplete me by the second. <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The luxury of tripling my energy consumption was one I could not afford.

    ''Plus, I still don''t know what is behind all of this. It might require me to expend even more power.''

    Taking flight through the immobile lobby, I propelled myself toward the epicenter of the explosion.

    "[Spatial Awareness]." I muttered.

    The spell granted me the ability to extend my senses across the entire base, probing the fluctuating energies that permeated the air, seeking out anomalies that might hold the key to unraveling this enigma.

    ''I see. The problem is the control center...''

    Using [The Chariot], in addition to Spellcraft, I remotely began to solve the problem that would have doomed the entire Base. In no time, literally, I was going to stop the imminent chaos.

    However...

    ''This reeks of sabotage. Someone must be behind this.'' My thoughts echoed.

    And amidst the frozen tableau, my heightened perception caught sight of a spacecraft attempting to depart.

    The energy emanating from the craft possessed an unmistakable peculiarity, distinct from the harmonious hum that resonated within the base.

    ''What is this?'' Intrigue gnawed at my consciousness,pelling me to press forward, driven by an insatiable thirst for the truth.

    >VWUSSSHHH!<

    In an instant, I vanished from my location and appeared right on top of the object of interest.

    I alighted upon the spacecraft, its sleek exterior poised for departure, yet frozen in time just before it could escape the embrace of the base.

    ''Suspicious...''

    ''[The Tower]'' Merging with the ethereal essence of the vessel, I phased through its metallic walls, materializing within the confined space of the cockpit.

    My gaze fell upon the pilot, their countenance etched with a mixture of determination, satisfaction, and a hint of guilt.

    "What... is this?" My eyes widened in shock as I took in the sight of a familiar face.

    Her brown hair appeared wilder than I remembered, and the purple dye that was strewn among some strands was foreign to me, but still... there was no way I could ever mistake such a face.

    "Ciara?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 996 Conflicted Encounter

    I stood there, suspended in the frozen moment, my gaze fixated upon Ciara, studying her intently.

    ''This is... Ciara?''

    I didn''t think it would be so easy to find her. I thought we would have to take some time investigating and exploring before we finally encountered ourrade in this world, but to think it happened so fast.

    ''And it''s Ciara this time, huh? That leaves Edward and Neron...''

    Still, I felt an odd feeling as I kept staring at her.

    There was something undeniably amiss, a nagging sensation that crawled beneath my skin, warning me of a discrepancy that transcended the physical realm.

    ''The very wavelength of her energy seems distorted. It doesn''t align with what I know...''

    Doubt began to gnaw at the edges of my consciousness. Could this truly be the Ciara I knew?

    The notion of variants, alternate versions of individuals from different dimensions or timelines, flickered through my mind. It was an unsettling thought, one that had be all too familiar in my travels across the branches.

    Could this be a variant of Ciara, a different iteration of her existence that had somehow found its way to this moment, to this spacecraft on the brink of departure?

    ''That seems like a possibility, doesn''t it?'' My doubts began to grow, and more questions surfaced.

    As I contemted the existence of variants, the lingering questions clung to the recesses of my mind, further convincing me that this could very well not be the Ciara from my original world.

    "The notion that she would orchestrate such devastation, attempting to blow up the Grand Federation Base and endanger countless innocent lives, seems inconceivable."

    Confusion danced in my eyes, mirroring the whirlwind of thoughts that swirled within me.

    Curiosity propelled me forward, driving me to seek answers, to determine the truth.

    "There''s are ways to find out for sure." I stretched out my hand, reaching out to make physical contact with her.

    Either through Resonance or using [Judgement] to read her mind, and also [The Fool] to sort through her memories. My hand trembled as I reached out, fingers extended in anticipation, longing for contact.

    The moment my touch grazed her form, a sudden buzz coursed through my veins.

    ''What in the¡ª?!'' My eyes widened as I felt a distortion in [The Hermit]''s effects, and the world around me erupted into motion once more.

    No, that wasn''t it. It was just my immediate surrounding. The spacecraft... and Ciara!

    As I cautiously stared at Ciara, her frozen visage had already melted away and she blinked in surprise, locking her gaze with mine.

    A symphony of emotions yed across our faces¡ªshock, recognition, and a myriad of unspoken questions.

    The silence between us held an electric charge, pregnant with the weight of revtions yet to be unveiled. In that fleeting instant, as our eyes locked in mutual surprise.

    "C-Ciara, you¡ª"

    "Bounty Hunter? How did you...?" Her tone waspletely different from what I expected, and before I could even understand what she meant by that, I felt a surge of energy course through her body, pushing me back as it glowed brighter.

    "Wait, Ciara!"

    "You shouldn''t havee here!"

    At that moment, as I looked into her eyes, I could see no form of warmth in her recognition. Just cold hostility that threatened to engulf the moment.

    Was she Ciara? Was she not Ciara? I had to find out!

    "I want to take you back, Ciara. I''m here with the others. Come back with us!"

    I would have liked to use my powers. Perhaps to stop time, or to get past the ever-growing pulse that Ciara was generating, but I felt too much interference to do anything.

    ''Unless... should I do tha¡ª?''

    "I''m not going back! You should just stop now!"

    Hold on, did she just say she wasn''t going back? My face warped in confusion as I stared deeply into Ciara''s glowing eyes.

    "But... why? We came here just for you. You don''t belong here. We need your help to¡ª"

    "I''ve made up my mind already. Don''t look for me anymore." Some form of warmth coursed through her statement, and I found myself struggling with confusion.

    ''What is she talking about? What is more important than returning home?''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "I don''t... want to kill you. Jerry considered you a friend. So, please..." Her tone both contained sadness and firm resolve.

    "... Stay away from me!"

    And with that, the pulse grew brighter, pushing me away andpletely swallowing Ciara in its bright light.

    Before I could stop her or utter any more words of resistance...

    >VWUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!<

    ... She vanished.

    *********

    After watching Ciara teleport, I also vanished from the spacecraft, teleporting the entire vehicle into my special dimension.

    Returning to my previous position beside myrades, I relinquished my connection to the frozen moment, allowing time to reim its hold on the world around me.

    As the veil of stillness lifted, reality surged back into motion.

    Kuzon and Aloe, freed from their temporal stasis, blinked in bewilderment, their eyes darting around the lobby, searching for answers. Their gazes settled upon me, filled with a mix of anticipation and concern.

    "What happened?" Kuzon asked, his voice tinged with urgency. "The explosion¡ª"

    I met their questioning stares, my mind racing to piece together the fragments of the recent encounter. "I''ll exin everythingter," I replied, my voice steady butced with an undertone of determination.

    "Right now, we need to leave."

    The base had descended into chaos. The explosion had triggered a security breach protocol, sending the entire facility into lockdown.

    Panic rippled through the air as rms red, red emergency lights casting an eerie glow over the bustling throng of alien races and species. By now, the authorities would have discovered the lifeless bodies of officers, evidence of criminal activity that had infiltrated the heart of the Grand Federation Base.

    Realizing the severity of the situation, I turned to Kuzon and Aloe, a sense of urgency igniting within me. "We have to go," I urged, my voice firm.

    "They''re locking down the base, sealing off all escape routes. We''re leaving before things get any worse."

    Freezing time once more seemed to be the best solution to our current predicament. We would steal away before anyone even noticed.

    ''I should still have enough energy for the three of us.''

    But as I focused my thoughts, ready to invoke [The Hermit], a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me.

    "E-eh...?" I stumbled, my mind clouded and my senses swirling in a disorienting haze. The world around me blurred, transforming into a maelstrom of fragmented images and sounds.

    Fighting against the encroaching unconsciousness, I clung to fleeting moments of rity. The weight of my exhaustion bore down upon me, a heavy burden that threatened to consume my every thought.

    ''W-what is... happening?''

    Darkness beckoned at the edges of my vision, pulling me deeper into its embrace.

    Myst conscious act was a faltering gasp for breath, as I sumbed to the overpowering haze, falling into the abyss of unconsciousness.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 997 The Second Jared

    [Grand Federation Calendar: Year 3,567]

    [Zone 19, Lost E-A345]

    The battlefield crackled with tension as the two warring alien races locked in a fierce and merciless conflict. Destruction and chaos surrounded me, but I stood at the center, my resolve solidifying with each passing moment.

    The time hade to wield my powers and put an end to this senseless violence.

    "I''m sick of this." Undoing [Unknowable], I materialized above the warring parties, looking down on them as they engaged in meaningless conflict.

    The moment I appeared, floating in the sky, both sides instantly took note of me. Their grotesque faces focused on my stable form, now gearing their violence in my direction, regarding me as an enemy.

    Was it due to the immense amount of energy I had? Was it because I had suddenly popped out of nowhere? Was it due to the suspicion each had for the other?

    None of that mattered to me. Nothing but the mission.

    Drawing upon the depths of my magical abilities, I channeled the raw energy within me. Sparks danced along my fingertips as I unleashed an unstoppable burst of energy, directed towards the warring factions.

    The power of the [The Sun] Arcana surged forth, ripping through the battlefield like a celestial inferno, easily eviscerating my targets without any resistance.

    The sts of energy struck their mark, engulfing numerousbatants in blindingly pure energy,pletely altering thendscape into a molten pool ofva.

    Their surviving forces scattered, ovee by the sheer force of my attack. The ground trembled beneath my feet, remnants of the devastating power I had unleashed.

    Sensing the urgency of the moment, I summoned the power of [The Pope]. With amanding gesture, an imprable barrier shimmered into existence, encasing me and shielding me from the remaining onught.

    "KILL THAT THING!"

    "DESTROY THAT MONSTER!!"

    "DIEEEEEE!!!"

    The violence crashed against the barrier like waves against a rock, futile in their attempts to breach my defenses.

    Nothing in their arsenal; not their bombs, bullets, or des, could even put as much as a scratch on the surface of my barrier.

    It was all useless.

    As I stood protected within my sanctuary, I turned my attention to those who dared oppose me. Utilizing the power of [The Star], I manipted gravity itself, bending it to my will. I effortlessly lifted and mmed my adversaries, their bodies crushed under the weight of unseen forces.

    They were powerless against the might Imanded, their efforts feeble in the face of my absolute control.

    "Die." Effortlessly tightening my grip, I crushed the muscles and bones of those whom I had put under my control, killing them off instantly.

    The once defiant soldiers began to waver and dwindle, their spirits broken by my overwhelming power. A sense of awe and fear hung in the air as they witnessed the extent of my abilities.

    It was then, with the weight of their surrender hanging heavy, that I invoked yet another aspect of my dominion¡ªthe power of [The Emperor].

    With amanding voice that reverberated through the battlefield, I dered my decree. "I have watched your senseless violence, your unwarranted destruction. I am sick of it. From this moment forth, I shall take control!"

    A palpable silence descended upon the battleground as the soldiers, once enemies, now knelt before me, their will shattered, their defiance reced by resignation. I looked upon them, a mixture of sadness and determination in my eyes.

    "I will guide you towards a new path," I dered, my voice resonating with authority. "A path of unity, understanding, and peace. No longer shall your differences be settled through bloodshed. Together, we shall forge a future free from violence."

    ''And now... for the carrot.''

    The battlefieldy in ruins, scarred by the ravages of war. Broken bodies and twisted wreckage littered the once-vibrantndscape.

    A somber silence hung heavy in the air, a testament to the devastation that had unfolded. But amidst the destion, a glimmer of grace flickered within me, fueled by the powers that surged through my veins.

    With determination etched upon my face, I extended my hands, palms upturned, and closed my eyes, channeling the essence of [The Hanged Man]. The air around me crackled with a peculiar energy, as if time itself were suspended, awaiting mymand.

    From the depths of my being, a force emerged, swirling and spiraling like ethereal tendrils. It weaved through the torn fabric of reality, reaching out to the fallen, to the souls adrift in the ruined world.

    With gentle yet unwavering purpose, I summoned them forth, calling their essence to converge upon the devastated battlefield.

    In a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow, the souls materialized, hovering above their lifeless bodies. They shimmered with a soft, ethereal glow, the very essence of their being rekindled by my power. Each soul held a story, a journey abruptly cut short by the horrors of war.

    With a sweeping gesture, I guided the souls back into their once-forsaken vessels.

    Threads of pure energy wove through the air, reconnecting severed limbs, mending shattered bones, and healing wounds with a divine touch. The fallen warriors were reassembled, their bodies made whole once more.

    A symphony of whispered breaths filled the air, as the revitalized soldiers gasped for life, their eyes fluttering open in astonishment. The once-lifeless battlefield had be a scene of miraculous rebirth, a testament to the power I wielded as the conduit of [The Hanged Man].<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    The Gatorians and Avarians, their eyes wide with awe, watched in rapt attention. The weight of their past grievances and the echoes of the battlefield were momentarily forgotten as they beheld the resurrection unfolding before them.

    Hope flickered within their hearts, mingled with disbelief and gratitude.

    As thest warrior rose, an array of emotions yed across their faces¡ªbewilderment, relief, and an indescribable sense of wonder. They exchanged nces, a silent understanding passing between them, transcending the animosity that had driven them to battle.

    In this extraordinary moment, the true power of [The Hanged Man] revealed itself. It was not just the ability to summon souls or raise the dead¡ªit was the catalyst for change, for the resurrection of hope and the rekindling of unity.

    And now, the people I had just killed could see the might I possessed¡ªthe literal power to control life or death.

    The fallen warriors, now miraculously restored, cast their gaze upon me, their savior and harbinger of transformation. Gratitude and respect shone in their eyes, a newfound appreciation for the bonds that connected them all.

    As I stood amidst the resurrected soldiers, the scars of war fading into insignificance, I knew that the path forward would be challenging.

    Rebuilding trust and fostering unity would require effort and dedication. Yet, in this transformative moment, I had nted the seed of possibility¡ªa glimmer of hope that would guide the Gatorians and Avarians towards a future of harmony and understanding.

    ''And the one who will lead them to all of that... IS ME!''

    "Now, then, you must choose. Defy me and walk down the path of destruction carved by your disobedience... or swear allegiance to me and you will never have to suffer."

    This was the easiest way to subdue these people and garnerplete loyalty. Possessing the power to dispense the ultimate punishment, as well as provide the ultimatefort, I had be a god to these people.

    ... Just as I wanted.

    With my promation echoing in their hearts, I extended my hand, offering them a chance at redemption. One by one, they rose from their knees, their gaze filled with a mix of awe, uncertainty, and hope.

    "WE WILL FOLLOW YOU, MIGHTY ONE!"

    As I stood at the center of the battlefield, surrounded by former adversaries now turned followers, I knew that the true challengey ahead. Guiding these warring factions towards harmony would not be an easy task, but with their will broken and their spirits open to change, there was a glimmer of possibility.

    ''Plus, I''ll have to properly show them how to manage their environment and be a prosperous race.''

    From this moment forth, I would be the catalyst for transformation, steering these once-warring alien races towards a future of understanding and cooperation.

    The battles may have ceased, but the true test of my power and leadership had just begun.

    With determination burning in my heart, I took my first steps towards a world reshaped by peace and unity.

    ''I wonder what my other half is up to, though...''

    A wide grin formed on my face as I thought about him, or should I say me? It felt strange how unburdened and focused I was now that I had split into two.

    I had a feeling he was also experiencing the same.

    ''Well, what matters now is the mission. Nothing else. Once I''ve done all I can do here, and he''s done with his task, we''ll merge and leave this ce.''

    ''So I can finally focus on my search for Karlia...''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like the two Jareds are indeed different. One is an overthinker, overcautious, and shows lots of restraint, while the other is just brutal and decisive.

    Well, we will be returning to the other Jared''s part now.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 998 Kuzons Resolute Decision

    My consciousness stirred from the depths of the darkness, a gentle whisper coaxing me back to awareness.

    "... red..."

    ''Huh? What''s that?'' I heard a voice, soft and familiar, resonating with concern.

    "... Jared...?"

    It was Aloe''s voice, a melody that danced on the edges of my perception. Slowly, I parted my heavy eyelids, my vision adjusting to the gentle glow that enveloped the room.

    As my eyes fluttered open, I found myself lying upon a sumptuous golden bed, the opulence of the surroundings captivating my senses. The air carried a subtle fragrance of exotic spices, mingling with the warm embrace of thevish chamber.

    The room I found myself in was a sight of opulence beyond imagination, a resplendent pce forged from the very essence of wealth and grandeur.

    The walls, adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and celestial motifs, seemed to pulsate with an ethereal radiance. Golden pirs rose majestically, reaching towards a ceiling that disappeared into a tapestry of clouds painted with hues of sunrise.

    The sunlight filtered throughrge, stained ss windows, casting colorful patterns of light across the polished marble floors.

    Every corner of the room exuded a sense of extravagance. Luxurious tapestries, woven with golden threads, depicted scenes of epic tales and legendary triumphs.

    borate chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their crystal prisms refracting the sunlight into a kaleidoscope of sparkling beams that danced across the room.

    "Jared... you''re finally awake." I heard Aloe''s voice, and instinctively turned in the direction it came from.

    "Haa... yeah..." I muttered, smiling as I cast my gaze upon her.

    Aloe sat nearby, perched on an equally luxurious chair, her features etched with relief and weariness.

    I struggled to sit up, my muscles protesting against the effort, but an overwhelming curiosity urged me forward. "Where are we?" I rasped, my voice hoarse from my recent ordeal. "And what happened after I... passed out?"

    I still wasn''tpletely sure what happened, or what was happening, but after I tried using [The Hermit], I felt drained for some reason and passed out.

    ''I should have had more than enough energy to use it. Sure, I was concerned about energy usage earlier, but that was because I didn''t know what to expect.''

    How could I have copsed that easily? Perhaps it was an attack, then? I didn''t know what to think, so I could only look to Aloe for help.

    Aloe''s eyes met mine, a flicker of concern shining within their depths. She reached out aforting hand, her touch grounding me in the present moment.

    "Take it slow, Jared," she cautioned, her voice gentle yetced with a hint of unease. "You were unconscious for quite some time."

    I nodded, acquiescing to her plea for patience. Gradually, my gaze swept across the opulent chamber, taking in the golden hues and intricate tapestries that adorned the walls.

    It calmed me a little, but also reminded me of someone.

    "Where''s Kuzon?" I asked, my voice filled with a mix of anticipation and worry.

    Aloe''s expression faltered for a moment, her eyes flickering with a hint of worry before sheposed herself.

    "Kuzon... he''s not here." She replied, her voice tinged with a touch of concern and uncertainty. "But please, let me exin everything. I''m actually pretty disoriented myself."

    I nodded, a heaviness settling within me as I braced myself for the revtions that awaited. With a steady breath, I leaned forward, giving Aloe my full attention, ready to hear the truth unfold in her words.

    ********

    [Moments Earlier]

    [Zone 19, Grand Federation Base E-1]

    Amidst the backdrop of a frenzied alien city, rms red, sending shrill echoes reverberating through the air. The massive za teemed with panicked individuals, their alien features contorted with fear and confusion.

    In this chaotic environment, Jared''s body slumped to the ground, leaving Aloe and Kuzon disoriented and bewildered. Puzzled nces were exchanged, their furrowed brows mirroring the concern etched upon their faces.

    "What just happened?" Aloe''s voice trembled with worry as she cast an anxious gaze upon Jared''s prone form. "Did he just... pass out?"

    Kuzon heaved a weary sigh, frustration etched deeply in his features. "It seems that way. What could have happened this time?"

    Now that they couldn''t stop time, Kuzon settled for obscuring Aloe, Jared, and himself from the notice of everyone around,pletely rendering all of them invisible.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''[Camouge Threads]...'' His thoughts trailed, as he watched the thin, invisible wires encapste his immediate surroundings.

    While Kuzon did this, Aloe hastened to Jared''s side, her movements urgent as she knelt beside him and tenderly pressed her hand against his forehead. The touch revealed an unsettling truth¡ªJared''s body felt unnaturally cold, drained of its vitality.

    A wave of disbelief washed over Kuzon''s face as he shook his head in utter denial. "But that''s impossible. Why would he reach that point? Something is definitely wrong."

    As Kuzon wrestled with the enigma before them, he paused, his fingers absently caressing his chin in deep contemtion.

    The weight of responsibility settled upon him, and with a resigned eptance, he exhaled another sigh, acknowledging that he would be the one tasked with unraveling this perplexing predicament.

    "I don''t understand most of what''s happening," Kuzon confessed, his voice tinged with frustration, "but it seems like I''ll have to find out."

    Summoning resolve, Kuzon took a steadying breath and extended his hand, gently cing it upon Jared''s head. With Jared''s diminished energy acting as a feeble barrier, Kuzon found it easier to ess his memories.

    With unwavering determination, he delved into the recesses of Jared''s recent experiences, piecing together the crucial fragments he sought.

    Time seemed to stretch into eternity as Kuzon absorbed the memories, his mind tirelessly sifting through the jumble of information.

    "Haa... this idiot." He whispered, finally opening his eyes.

    "Why did he go and do that? And it seems we have another problem. This wouldn''t have happened if he just listened."

    Kuzon''s tone echoed annoyance, but it onlysted for a brief moment.

    Eventually, he rose to his feet, his expression a blend of determination and unwavering resolve. Turning towards Aloe, he spoke with a steady voiceced with urgency.

    "I''ll handle things from here," He dered, his words imbued with a resolute finality. "Take care of Jared. Ensure his safety."

    "But what are yo¡ª"

    Before Aloe could say anything more, a burst of energy shot from Kuzon. His body easily resisted the dampeners, and he felt invigorated as he felt his energy pour all over him.

    ''[Camouge Threads] should block even this from external perception.'' He noted to himself, looking at Aloe''s confused face.

    "I''ll be fine, don''t worry." In a swift motion, he encapsted Aloe and Jared in his energy, easily overpowering them with little to no resistance.

    Kuzon transported both Aloe and Jared to his alternate dimension, The Emperor''s Domain, leaving him standing within his invisible cocoon, all alone.

    "It''s better this way. I''ll deal with this my way."

    With that, Kuzon returned his energy to his body, eventually doing the same to the threads around him.

    ''Just stay out of this, Jared.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 999 Severity Of An Arcana

    "That''s what happened. The next thing I remember, I was here... with you."

    The weight of Aloe''s words settled upon my shoulders as she concluded her ount of what happened.

    I had listened intently, every syble carving deeper into the tapestry of my own existence. And when her voice faded into the silence of the room, a heavy sigh escaped my lips, a mingling of regret and understanding.

    "It''s my fault," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper, as if confessing to the very essence of my being. "If Kuzon saw those memories... then he knows."

    Aloe''s gaze softened, her eyes reflecting a mixture of empathy and reassurance. "Jared, what do you mean by that?" She asked gently, her voice imbued with sincerity. "I''m totally confused, to be honest."

    Hesitation clutched my heart as I stared at her. Guilt, mixed with a genuine reflection of my actions began to surface.

    "You have to tell me, Jared. First Kuzon, and now you. I don''t like the way you two just hide things from me, and I''m leftpletely unaware of everything."

    Her words stung, considering that was how I had been treating both of them all this time. I was wrapped in my own world, while spoonfeeding them whatever I wanted when it was convenient.

    And now, it had blown in my face.

    "No more secrets, Jared. I''m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt at least. I''ll hear you out, so please..." She stopped speaking, her widened eyes waiting for my response.

    I nodded my head slowly, acknowledging the truth in her words, yet unable to absolve myself of the weight of responsibility.

    "I... used [The Moon]. I split myself into two. I did it so I could help those Aliens and also continue the mission."

    Aloe''s eyes widened in recognition, the realization dawning upon her features. "Kazen''s Arcana," she whispered, the words hanging in the air. "[The Moon]''s replication ability... you actually used it?"

    I nodded, a mixture of regret and self-awareness washing over me. "Yes," I admitted, my voice heavy with the weight of my own mistakes.

    "I somehow convinced myself I was doing it for the good of those people, but now that I think about it... I was just indulging in my curiosity."

    I wanted to try something out, finding a loophole to the constraint we had. So, I used the Arcana without telling anyone.

    "I suspect what I did is what is currently affecting me."

    "Jared... I don''t think you realize just how dangerous and vtile that Arcana is." Aloe began to mutter, her voice breaking a little while concern was etched on her face.

    "What do you mean?"

    "It''s Kazen''s Arcana. I studied under her to understand and master Aether, and while doing so, she told me details about [The Moon]." She sighed.

    ''Ah, that''s true...''

    "Sure, you should already know of its ability to replicate the essence or structure of anything perfectly." She began, her voice carrying a gentle tone of exnation, though I could sense a dark foreboding behind it.

    "Like a reflection on apletely still surface, it''ll give you an exact replica of what you desire."

    What made [The Moon] so amazing was its ability to even apply this ability to living things, or soul-based entities and concepts.

    "There exist no two things that are alike, especially those living. We possess different markers, and areprised of different properties, no matter how little. Yet, [The Moon] defies that logic and manages to create an exact copy of anything."

    All she said were in tandem with what I already knew. However, it seemed like this was only just the surface.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "While it allows the user to create an exact copy of themselves or an object, down to the smallest detail, the replication process is delicate, requiring precise expertise and an intricate ratio." Her tone suddenly grew heavier, and I could see the seriousness in her eyes.

    "Just as how a distorted surface will yield an unbnced result, or will generate an altered form that is different from the original, so also does [The Moon]."

    "Are you saying I generated an altered duplicate? But that doesn''t justify how I feel weakened, or why my personality seems a bit different from what I remember." I asked, my fingers twitching a little.

    "[The Moon] doesn''t just generate out of thin air. It uses pre-existing materials to it. Usually, it scans the user, creating a duplicate of them from the bnce. It acts like fusion and fission,plete and equal, with both sides being equal and perfectly bnced. However... in the case where the surface is distorted, it can add or subtract from the source material to the duplicate."

    "What are you saying, Aloe?"

    "I''m saying that you may have had some elements of yourself removed in the fission process, leaving you iplete." As she said this, my eyes widened.

    "What?!"

    I wasn''t surprised. No, this was actually confirming a gnawing fear of mine. The fact that Aloe reinforced what I was already beginning to think was the problem.

    "Looks like I messed up."

    "Big time. I don''t know what caused you to pass out, to be honest. It could be an effect of [The Moon], or maybe something else. But the fact that you seem to be agreeing with me shows that there are some parts of yourself that you''ve realized are missing."

    ''She catches on quickly...'' I thought to myself, nodding at her words.

    "Care to give an example?"

    There were very obvious examples I could tell her, so I did.

    The fact that I felt more timid and unsure of everything was one. Icked something within me that caused me to be so confident and decisive.

    Perhaps my other half had it.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1000 Jareds Reflection

    ''There''s something else. Something deeper...''

    Amid all of these things I noticed, there was this extremely unpleasant void that formed in my depths. It was a gaping hole that I was beginning to notice ever since I started critically examining myself.

    ''I... no longer feel a thing for Karlia?''

    It wasn''t just in the aspect of romantic feelings or sexual attractions. I actually didn''t seem to care or bother about her.

    ''It''s strange...'' A sigh escaped my lips.

    Fortunately, I was able to notice that slight change in me. What of the other subtle ones? What of the ones I was yet to discover?

    My personality, thoughts, and the elements that made me up were the things that informed my action. Without those criticalponents and biases, I could turn into apletely different person.

    The moment I realized all of this, Aloe''s words began to make a lot more sense to me. I could only hope that the other changes and deficiencies within me were limited to my preferences in food and other mundane things.

    "I was too careless with my actions. I underestimated the technicalities of the replication process. I was reckless."

    Aloe reached out, her hand finding mine in aforting gesture. "We all make mistakes, Jared," she said softly. "What matters now is how we move forward, how we find a way to make things right."

    As always, Aloe remained the bright and shining light that guided me in times of doubt such as this.

    "Thanks, Aloe. I really appreciate it."

    "You''re wee, Jared. Anytime."

    It felt lighter now that I had gotten a lot of my burden off my chest. I honestly couldn''t thank her enough.

    ''Looks like I''ll have to merge with my second half as soon as possible. With [The Lovers], it shouldn''t be a problem.''

    "Looks like you already know what you have to do. That''s good."

    "Yeah. All thanks to you."

    "Pfft. Please..."

    We both burst outughing, our voices echoing within therge hall. It honestly felt good tough so wholeheartedly like this.

    With my guilt dissipating, and my thoughts now clearer, my mind returned to the most pertinent matter at hand.

    "Aloe... I saw Ciara."

    "What?!"

    As the weight of my encounter with Ciara rested heavily on my mind, I divulged the whole thing to Aloe, eager to share my experience and seek her insights. Sitting together in the golden pce, the air filled with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

    "When I touched her, there was a strange buzz, and she unfroze. She could interfere with my power, which is strange in itself." I added, a hint of hesitation in my eyes.

    "She recognized me, Aloe, and yet she refused toe back with me. It was like she was a different person."

    Aloe furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with contemtion. "It''s possible that this Ciara is a variant," she mused, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

    I nodded, acknowledging her words, but doubt still lingered within me.

    "I understand the concept of variants, Aloe," I replied, my voice tinged with a hint of skepticism. "But for her to recognize me, to know who I am, it feels too coincidental. And there''s more, Aloe. She mentioned Jerry."

    Aloe''s eyes widened, her expression mirroring my own curiosity. "Jerry? That''s...unexpected," she murmured, her voice tinged with intrigue.

    "There could be a possibility that there''s a variant of you in this world, Jared. And perhaps this variant Ciara knows that Jared. The same applies to Jerry."

    I sighed, feeling the weight of uncertainty settling upon my shoulders.

    "It''s a stretch," I admitted, my voice tinged with frustration. "There are too many simrities, too many connections. It feels like there''s a missing piece to this puzzle, and until we find it, we won''t have theplete picture."

    Aloe''s gaze softened, her voice filled with understanding. "I know it''s challenging. But we won''t find the answers by standing still. We just need to find her to find out."

    "True..."

    Even though I said that, my voice was hollow. Aloe must have noticed it, considering she drew closer to me and uttered her next question.

    "Jared, what do you n to do now?"

    I pondered her question for a moment, contemting the best course of action. At this point, I honestly wanted to think some more. There were a lot of things to consider.

    "You know, Aloe, I think it''s time I put my trust in Kuzon," I finally replied, a hint of determination coloring my words.

    "He''s seen my memories, so he knows what''s going on. Maybe it''s time I let him take the lead and see what he can do."

    "You sure?" She raised her brows a little, and I could see hints of surprise etched on her face.

    "Yeah. What do you think?"

    Aloe''s gaze softened, and she nodded in agreement. "You''re right. I guess it''s time we trust in his abilities and judgment."

    A sense of relief washed over me, knowing that Aloe was on the same page. "Exactly, Aloe," I affirmed, my voice filled with newfound certainty. <novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "We''ll stay here in the Emperor''s Domain and ce our trust in Kuzon''s ns, while also trying to find out more about what else has changed with me. I think that''s the support we can render to him now."

    It warmed my heart that Aloe agreed with me. I had to take this time to do some serious reflections.

    "I feel a little stiff on this bed. Want to take a walk? This ce seems grand and all. Might as well look around."

    "Pfft!"

    Aloe and I burst outughing for no reason. I wasn''tpletely sure, but a wave of ease just enveloped the two of us.

    "Sure, Jared. Let''s do it!"

    **********

    [Meanwhile...]

    [Zone 2, Grand Federation Military Academy]

    The massive hall reverberated with anticipation as cadets from diverse alien races and forms filled the rows and columns, their uniforms a symphony of colors and designs.

    The atmosphere crackled with energy as an intimidating figure ascended the central stage, his authoritative presencemanding attention.

    He was clearly in charge here.

    His voice boomed through the hall, filling every corner with power and purpose. "Wee, cadets, to the Grand Federation Military Academy!" he dered, his words ringing with a sense of pride and solemnity.

    "You have proven yourselves worthy by passing the arduous exams, demonstrating not only your exceptional skills but also your unwaveringmitment to the order and harmony of the universe."

    Themander''s words stirred a sense of pride within those who listened, and their attention remained fixed on him.

    "As cadets of the Grand Federation Military Academy, you will undergo rigorous training, forging yourselves into elite defenders of peace and justice," themander continued, his voice resonating with a mix of admiration and expectation.

    "You will learn not only the art ofbat but also the virtues ofpassion, diplomacy, and unwavering loyalty."

    Among those who listened was a young man who seemed human for the most part. His golden hair stood out as he stood tall among his peers, his posture radiating confidence. His presence exuded an aura of leadership and resilience, enough to distract those around him.

    "Remember, cadets, that your journey here is not only about personal growth and achievement," themander emphasized, his voice carrying the weight of responsibility. "You are part of something greater¡ªa force dedicated to safeguarding the delicate bnce of the universe and upholding the values of unity and harmony."

    As themander''s speech drew to a close, the hall erupted in thunderous apuse. Cadets exchanged nces of determination and camaraderie. The energy in the room surged, a collective resolve etched on the faces of those who had chosen this noble path.

    In the midst of the apuse, the smile of this golden haired boy remained, his eyes gleaming with some unknown purpose.

    "All hail the Grand Federation!" Themander yelled.

    "ALL HAIL THE GRAND FEDERATION!" Every cadet shouted, making their best salutes.

    ''Oh boy... this never gets old.'' The young man smiled as he rolled his eyes amid all of what he considered to be nothing short of a farce.

    Still, Kuzon Midas joined everyone in their salutes and choruses.

    "All hail the Grand Federation!"

    *

    *

    [IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!]

    We did it, everyone!!!

    "SPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Schr" has finally reached 1,000 chapters!

    I''ve been writing this novel for over a year now, and it has been an amazing journey thanks to all you readers who kept reading and encouraging me through it all.

    Yes, I know this novel isn''t perfect. A lot of criticisms have also fallen on it, and I''ve honestly felt like stopping it many times.

    BUT...!!!

    Thanks to your help and support, I''ve been able to persevere. I want to appreciate everyone for that.

    You truly are what strengthens me to continue.

    I''m going to celebrate this threshold that I''ve reached. You can join me if you wish.

    Send yourments, so I can see.

    As always, Power Stones, Golden Tickets and Gifts are well appreciated. Thanks to everyone who has been sending them till now.

    Genuine thanks.

    Have a lovely day, everyone. And happy reading!

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1001 Kuzons Masterplan

    [Zone 2, Grand Federation Military Academy, Commander''s Office]

    Commander Cromwell, with his distinct redplexion, spiky hair, and multiple eyes, sat behind his imposing desk in his office at the Grand Federation Military Academy. \

    Opposite him sat a young man who had spent three years within the academy and had garnered astounding results among his peers.

    Adrien Skr, the phenomenal genius!

    Themander regarded Adrien with a mixture of admiration and anticipation, his fangs slightly visible as he spoke.

    "Skr, you have proven yourself to be an exceptional cadet during your time here," Cromwell began, his voice carrying a blend of authority and warmth. "Your dedication, skill, and unwavering determination have not gone unnoticed. I have personally rmended you for a position at the prestigious Grand Federation Headquarters in Zone 1."

    Adrien, his golden hair framing his youthful face, nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Commander Cromwell. I am deeply honored and grateful for this opportunity."

    Cromwell''s spiky hair seemed to bristle with pride as he leaned forward. "You have earned it, Adrien. Your performance surpasses that of your peers, and your potential is undeniable. I have no doubt that you will make a significant impact in Zone 1 and beyond."

    Adrien''s eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and determination. "I will do my best, Commander. I won''t disappoint you."

    Cromwell smiled, his multiple eyes glinting with approval. "I believe in you, Adrien. You will leave first thing tomorrow morning, so make sure you are prepared. Your journey is about to begin."

    Adrien stood up from his chair, his posture reflecting the confidence and readiness that had made him stand out among his fellow cadets. "Thank you again, Commander. I will make the most of this opportunity."

    Cromwell nodded, acknowledging Adrien''s gratitude. "Dismissed, Adrien Skr. Show the universe what you''re capable of."

    With a final respectful bow, Adrien left themander''s office, leaving Cromwell alone. Themander leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile ying across his lips. Internally, he praised Adrien''s dedication and achievements, considering him not only an exceptional student but also a shining example for others to follow.

    "Adrien Skr," Cromwell mused to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. "I look forward to witnessing the great things you will aplish. May your path be filled with sess and glory."

    With that, Commander Cromwell returned his focus to the tasks at hand, his thoughts filled with anticipation for the future of his remarkable student.

    *******

    Leaving Commander Cromwell''s office, a mischievous smile danced upon Adrien Skr, or rather, Kuzon''s lips.

    ''Well, that went well...''

    Internally, he reveled in the satisfaction of his n''s seamless execution, relishing the sensation of manipting circumstances to his advantage.

    Time had yed a deceptive game, for only mere hours had passed since the entire charade began, yet in the minds of everyone around, it had been three years.

    ''Ever since then...'' Recalling the events with a sense of Kuzon''s mind wandered to hisst contact with hisrades.

    He had transported both Jared and Aloe to his Emperor''s Domain, leaving him all alone to aplish the mission as he saw fit.

    With no restrictions or need for caution, he decided to handle things the most efficient way he could.

    The one thing he and his alliescked was information. With the spections regarding the identity of the Ciara that Jared encountered, he needed to have ess to the Grand Federation''s information.

    And it turned out the best ce to start was the Base in Zone 19.

    There, he seized control over everyone''s actions and perceptions, weaving a delicate tapestry of illusions granted by his mastery of [The Absolute Emperor].

    With theirpliance, he was able to delve deep into the base''s systems, unraveling the threads of confidential information and secrets that had once eluded his grasp.

    ''And that''s when I found out the real truth about Ciara and the current situation...''

    Everything was a mess, but the situation wasn''tpletely hopeless.

    Back in Zone 19, after his senses expanded and his influence spread, Kuzon''s awareness was able to permeate every corner of the base. It was during this exploration that he stumbled upon the lifeless body of the former base''s head.

    The vacuum of power left in the wake of the head''s demise presented a tantalizing chance for Kuzon to reshape the base ording to his own purposes.

    Crafting a new identity as Adrien Skr, Kuzon seamlessly melded into the Grand Federation Military Academy, where he was perceived as nothing less than a talented cadet. The n had unfolded wlessly, affording him the opportunity to infiltrate the academy''s ranks, gather invaluable information, and position himself strategically for the future.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''This ce isn''t really the goal, but Zone 1, the true center of power.''

    He would have loved to go there directly, but he had no idea how to get there. No one knew how to get there except those from Zone 1.

    ''They can only bemunicated to by the Commander and a few others. By positioning myself as the top student here, making everyone truly believe it using [The Absolute Emperor], I was finally able to get rmended by the people here.''

    It truly was a sublime n on his end. "And it''s almost¡ª"

    ~You should give credit to whom credit is due! Without my backing, would you have been able to affect their minds so urately?~

    Upon hearing the words of Leo, Kuzon fought the urge to sigh in exasperation. He had wondered why Leo hadn''t said anything all day. Had he been biding his time?

    "Yeah. You''re right. I owe you one. It seems you''re truly the only one I can count on in this entire mission."

    Despite how the Constetion caused him to either roll his eyes or grit his teeth, Kuzon had to ount for his reliability.

    ~Jared and Aloe are going to stay out of this for your sake. They''re trusting you, so don''t let them down.~

    "Pfft. Do they have a choice? I ced an elerated time ratio in the Emperor''s Domain. Basically, for every day spent here, only one hour is spent in there. It hasn''t even been a day here, so I doubt they would have even made up their minds."

    ording to his timetable, Kuzon didn''t n on taking very long in his task. A very straightforward mission; get the information he wanted, use the technology of the Grand Federation, locate his target, and leave this ce.

    "I should be done within three days... max."

    ~Is that so? Alright then... we shall see.~ It seemed like Leo leaked out a chuckle, but Kuzon wasn''tpletely sure. He could only twist his face in confusion.

    "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    ~Nothing. Nothing. Just rooting for you...~

    "Hmm. Is that so?" Kuzon''s smile widened as he sighed, looking straight down at the empty hallway before him.

    ~Should you really be talking so brazenly like this? What if someone hears of your ns and all?~

    "I''ll take what you just said as a joke." The golden-haired boy chuckled as he began to walk in a casual stride.

    "It''s not like anyone can hear me without my permission."

    As Kuzon briskly navigated the bustling halls, the ethereal glow of his golden hair caught the light, lending an air of charisma and confidence to his every step.

    A hidden chuckle reverberated within Kuzon''s thoughts, a testament to the satisfaction he derived from orchestrating everything to follow his ns

    This entire Academy was perfectly tailored to suit his grand design.

    Continuing his path through the academy as Adrien Skr, Kuzon''s smile broadened, fueled by the knowledge that the pieces of his intricate puzzle were falling into ce.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I think I''ll make this arc pretty short. A lot of interesting elements could pop out of it, but I think I''m more suited for a magic-based story.

    I''ll try not to make it feel rushed, though.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1002 Audience With The GrandMaster

    [Three Days Later]

    [Zone 2, Grand Federation Military Academy]

    Three days had passed since Kuzon, still masquerading as Adrien Skr, had settled into his fabricated role at the Grand Federation Military Academy.

    As the days wore on, a tinge of impatience gnawed at Kuzon''s core. He hadn''t anticipated it would take this long for the officials to arrive, but he kept his frustrations hidden beneath a carefully crafted facade.

    Summoned to the Commander''s office once more, Kuzon entered with measured steps, his golden hair shimmering under the office''s illumination. To his surprise, two men awaited him, their appearances strikingly human. Their expressions held a mix of authority and determination, leaving no doubt as to their purpose.

    Commander Cromwell, a trace of pride etching his red features, gestured for Kuzon to join the men. "Adrien, these officials are here to escort you to the Grand Federation Headquaters, Zone 1," he announced, a note of admiration woven into his words.

    "It seems your time hase to embark on your destined path."

    Internally, Kuzon suppressed a flicker of annoyance at the dy. He had grown ustomed to the ebb and flow of manipting events, but the passage of time had tested his patience.

    Nevertheless, he maintained hisposure, offering a nod of understanding, bowing his head to show respect to the two who stood before him.

    The officials wasted no time in their duty. Resonating the matching watches that clung tightly on their hands, a shimmering portal materialized before them, its ethereal glow hinting at the vastness thaty beyond.

    Kuzon''s gaze flickered between the portal and the Commander, gratitude shining in his eyes.

    As the officials beckoned Kuzon forward, their expressions firm and resolute, Commander Cromwell''s smile widened.

    "Take care of my favorite student," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine pride. "May the path ahead bring you greatness."

    With a final nce toward the Commander, Kuzon stepped forward, his heart filled with a mix of anticipation and determination. The officials nked him, their presence a testament to the importance of the journey thaty ahead.

    Without hesitation, they guided Kuzon into the radiant portal, the veil between the known and the unknown.

    Commander Cromwell watched as his prized student vanished into the swirling abyss, a sense of fulfillment settling within his chest.

    >VWUUUUSSSSHHHH!<

    In no time... he was gone.

    The scene dissolved into stillness, leaving only the lingering echoes of pride and ambition. The office stood silent, a testament to the grand design that had been set in motion.

    The Commander''s smile remained, his faith in Kuzon''s potential unwavering. Now, it was time for the golden-haired prodigy to venture into the heart of the Grand Federation, Zone 1, where his destiny awaited.

    "You... were like a son I never had..."

    ************

    As the portal dissipated, Kuzon found himself standing in the grandeur of the Grand Federation Headquarters, Zone 1. The vastness of the cosmos stretched out before him, the headquarters upying an entire system of celestial bodies with awe-inspiring structures and magnificent disys of power.

    Surrounded by a transparent, ss-like orb, Kuzon and the officers floated effortlessly through the expansive space, their movement guided by unseen forces. The orb served as a protective barrier, shielding them from the harshness of the vacuum and offering a crystal-clear view of the wonders thaty before them.

    ''Amazing...'' With a fleeting thought, Kuzon took in the wonders that greeted his vision.

    In every direction, colossal structures reached towards the heavens, their intricate designs blending seamlessly with the cosmic backdrop. Towering spires, adorned with iridescent lights, formed a tapestry of vibrant colors against the velvety expanse of space. The brilliance of the headquarters'' architecture was a testament to the technological prowess and artistic vision of the Grand Federation.

    The celestial bodies thatprised the headquarters system served as a testament to the might of the organization. Gigantics, their surfaces housing sprawling instations and bustling metropolises, orbited gracefully, their gravitational dance a symphony of cosmic harmony. Moons, each more enchanting than thest, adorned the skies, casting ethereal hues upon thendscape.

    As Kuzon marveled at the breathtaking scenery, his eyes were drawn to the central building, a pinnacle of elegance and power.

    Its towering presence dominated the celestial horizon, its architectural splendor surpassing anything he had ever encountered. The building emanated an aura of authority and reverence,manding respect from all who beheld it.

    The orbnded at the entrance, and they were granted ess inside.

    With a gentle motion, the officers guided the orb through the entrance, and the doors swung open, revealing a vast atrium that stretched beyond Kuzon''s field of vision. The space pulsed with energy, the air alive with anticipation and purpose.

    The officers guided Kuzon into the central building, their footsteps echoing softly against the ethereal silence. As they approached, Kuzon''s senses were overwhelmed by the grandeur that unfolded before him. borate sculptures, depicting the history and achievements of the Grand Federation, lined the path, their intricate details casting shimmering reflections of light.

    As Kuzon and the officers floated further into the central building, he couldn''t help but feel a surge of determination coursing through his veins.

    ''So this is what I''m up against, huh? Impressive.''

    It truly was the right decision toe here.

    "Where are we going?" He asked the officers who had been guiding him in silence.

    "To see the one who stands at the top of the Grand Federation." One of them spoke, his voice stiff and cold.

    "The GrandMaster." The second officer added.

    Surprise formed on Kuzon''s face and also within his heart. This was news to him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''I never imagined they would take me to see him of their own volition. But why? Did they figure out my deceit? No, if they did, they wouldn''t bring me here in the first ce.''

    So why?

    "Is it rare for Commander Cromwell to rmend a student of the Military Academy to the Grand Federation Headquarters?" Kuzon had no choice but to ask.

    He would have used [The Emperor], but he didn''t feel the need to go that far yet. If things escted to that point, though, he wasn''t going to hesitate.

    "It is indeed rare. However, that doesn''t warrant the audience of the GrandMaster." The first officer spoke once again.

    ''Oh? Then why?''

    "The GrandMaster instructed us to bring you to his office when you arrived. It seems he has taken a keen interest in you.''

    "R-really? I''m so honored." Kuzon forced himself to utter, smiling like an innocent youngd.

    However, deep down, his mind calcted the situation as fast as he could.

    ''Does the GrandMaster suspect something?''

    As Kuzon walked down the exquisite hallway, the subtle sense of unease began to grow within him. Every step forward was a test of his resolve, and he mentally prepared himself for the encounter thaty ahead.

    The officers, maintaining their stoic demeanor, led him to the peak of the building where the Grandmaster''s office resided. The ornate double doors loomed before him, a threshold to the unknown. With a silent exchange of nces, the officers stepped aside, granting Kuzon passage, but remaining outside.

    Taking a deep breath, Kuzon crossed the threshold and entered the chamber. The room was bathed in a soft, golden glow, emanating from therge ss walls that revealed the world beyond. For a moment, Kuzon''s attention was captivated by the breathtaking view, the endless expanse of space stretching out before him.

    But then, a voice broke through the tranquility, a voice that was both familiar and unexpected. It sent a jolt of surprise through Kuzon''s being, causing him to momentarily recoil.

    "Wee, Adrien Skr," the voice greeted.

    As Kuzon''s eyes adjusted to the light, he turned towards the source of the voice, and his gaze locked with the figure standing near the ss walls.

    The Grandmaster, who had been standing with his back towards Kuzon, turned to face him.

    Time seemed to stand still as realization washed over him, and his thoughts burst out uncontrobly. There was no way he could ever fail to recognize such a person.

    ''N-Neron?!'' He eximed internally, his thoughts filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

    The shock of seeing Neron in the guise of the Grandmaster left Kuzon momentarily speechless, his mind racing to make sense of the situation.

    A subtle smile yed on Neron''s lips as he observed Kuzon''spletely calm andposed facade.

    "Wee Adrien Skr," he said, his voiceced with a hint of amusement. "If that is truly your name..."

    A smile formed on Kuzon''s face instantly, and he dropped the pretense that very moment.

    "So you know, huh?"

    "Indeed." A spark in Neron''s eyes flickered, and his smile broadened.

    A wave of power, hinting both authority and danger flowed from him as he maintained his stance.

    "It seems we have much to discuss."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1003 Extracting Information

    [Zone 1, Grand Federation Headquarters]

    Kuzon took a deep breath, channeling his inner resolve as he calmed his racing thoughts.

    This encounter with a Neron, who happened to be the Grandmaster of the most powerful force in this universe, demanded caution andposure.

    He had to find out exactly what was going on.

    "You seem troubled, young man..." Neron took a step forward, his grin widening further.

    "... Why?"

    Confidence and amusement poured from him as he advanced a little more.

    As Neron got closer, a powerful aura radiated from him, an obvious attempt to flex his authority and intimidate Kuzon.

    ''Who does he think he is?'' Kuzon''s thoughts erupted instantly, his calm emotions taking the backseat.

    In an instant, he unleashed his Aether and used the dominating power of [The Absolute Emperor].

    "W-what?!" Neron stammered, his voice trembling with astonishment and fear.

    The authority he had so confidently wielded moments ago now crumbled before the overwhelming force radiating from Kuzon.

    Neron''s body quivered, his limbs shaking as he struggled to maintain his bnce on his knees. His gaze, once steely and calcting, now betrayed a deep sense of vulnerability in the face of Kuzon''s raw power.

    The ss walls of the office seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the encounter, amplifying the crackling tension within the room. A silence settled, broken only by the heavy breaths of the two figures locked in this one-sided power suppression.

    The weight of the moment hung in the air, as if the entire cosmos held its breath, witnessing this absolute dominance of the golden one.

    In the midst of the charged atmosphere, Kuzon''s voice rang out, cutting through the silence like a de.

    "You will answer me, Neron," he dered, his toneced with an undeniablemand that echoed through the room.

    "How do you know my identity?"

    Neron, still trembling, managed to find his voice, though it wavered with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. "I... I have been monitoring... tracking your movements, your actions," he admitted, his words shaky andced with a hint of desperation.

    "I... believed I had the upper hand."

    "How much more do you know about me?" Kuzon''s cold voice echoed with determination and curiosity, his gaze unwavering.

    "I have been monitoring you and yourpanions for quite some time. Since you appeared..."

    Kuzon''s eyes narrowed, his annoyance palpable.

    "Monitoring us? How?" he pressed, his voice tinged with a hint of impatience.

    Neron''s face paled and his trepidations increased as he revealed the scope of the Grand Federation''s technological prowess.

    "T-the Grand Federation possesses advanced technology that allows us to trace spatial anomalies and monitor events in great detail," he exined.

    "Not long ago, a powerful anomaly was detected in a remote area of Zone 19, and our sensors picked up on your presence."

    Kuzon clicked his tongue in frustration, realizing the extent of their surveince. His gaze intensified, now a re directed at Neron.

    "And what exactly did you n to do with this information?"

    "I-I just wanted to know more about you people, and your involvement in that spatial anomaly. I was specifically interested in Jared Leonard and Aloe Vida, considering they are dangerous criminals in the Grand Federation''s Hidden Index."

    Kuzon''s eyes narrowed, his grip on his power relenting slightly as he listened to Neron''s words.

    The mention of Jared and Aloe being wanted criminals, their names etched in the Grand Federation''s Hidden Index, only made matters worse.

    ''The Jared and Aloe of this world, huh? Then...''

    "Why are Jared and Aloe wanted?" Kuzon demanded, his voice cutting through the tense silence that enveloped the room.

    Neron, still subdued and at Kuzon''s mercy, hesitated before answering, his voiceced with a mix of fear and apprehension.

    "They are connected to the greatest threat the Grand Federation has ever faced," he exined, his words cautious yet revealing. "They are tied to a woman known as Ciara Epilson."

    Kuzon''s mind raced, pieces of the puzzle falling into ce. Was the Ciara in Jared''s memories that same person? Was she just a native of this world?

    "Ciara Epilson..." Kuzon repeated, his voice tinged with a mixture of contemtion and concern. "Is she the one I know?"

    Neron''s eyes flickered with recognition, a mixture of surprise and understanding crossing his features. "You know her?" he asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and caution.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Tell me more about her."

    Neron, still visibly shaken and aware of his vulnerable position, nodded, offering a glimpse of cooperation amidst the tension.

    "Ciara Epilson is the orchestrator of a dangerous rebellion against the Grand Federation," he exined, his voice tinged with a mix of trepidation and conviction.

    "She possesses knowledge and capabilities that threaten the very fabric of our society."

    "And how long has she been a criminal?" Kuzon asked, his thoughts whirring into action to piece everything together.

    "O-over a year now..."

    Kuzon''s brow furrowed as he absorbed Neron''s revtions, his mind working swiftly to piece together the fragmented information.

    The notion that Ciara had been a criminal for over a year served as enough evidence for him.

    Her debut as an ouw didn''t align with the timeline he knew, where his world''s Ciara had only arrived in this realm a couple of months ago.

    ''Sure, there can be time discrepancies since it''s all rtive, but still...''

    "Why is Ciara''s name in the Hidden Index?" Kuzon inquired, his voiceced with determination.

    Neron''s gaze shifted, avoiding direct eye contact as he responded with measured caution. "Ciara Epilson was once affiliated with the Grand Federation," he admitted reluctantly. "She served directly under me."

    Kuzon''s eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and suspicion coursing through him. The revtion that Ciara had once been part of the very organization she now fought against raised further questions.

    "Revealing her true affiliation openly would only tarnish my image and potentially cause more harm than good." Neron sighed heavily, his voice tinged with regret.

    "She possesses immense power and influence. Her capture remains a challenge, and making her status public knowledge would only cause public disorder and ack of trust in the Grand Federation."

    Kuzon''s mind whirled, carefully dissecting the information before him.

    The timeline discrepancies, the existence of multiple Ciaras, and the stark differences between the one he knew and the criminal mastermind described by Neron.

    It became increasingly evident that the Ciara Jared had encountered and the Ciara he sought were indeed distinct individuals.

    ''Plus, it''s pretty obvious to me now that if our world''s Ciara wanted to destroy the Grand Federation, she would have done so already.''

    He was dealing with a doppelganger here.

    With a decisive nod, Kuzon formed his conclusion, his gaze resolute as he locked eyes with Neron.

    "And further actions have you taken regarding us?"

    "I-I sent my elite scouts to apprehend the one that remained on the you left. By interrogating him, I nned on getting more information." Neron croaked.

    ''Oh? Jared''s duplicate, huh? I don''t think I need to worry about that now. He can take care of himself.''

    He also didn''t need to concern himself with the Grand Federation or its criminals any longer.

    What mattered most to him was finding Ciara Epilson¡ªthe only one that was of importance, anyway.

    ''Well, this has been enlightening. But... I''ve reached the limits of my investigative prowess.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1004 Ciara Epilsons Wherabouts

    ''I''m no expert on Ciara, and I can''t properly operate the system here as freely as I want to.''

    Even if he used [The Absolute Emperor] to control people, he still needed to give them explicit and direct orders.

    In as much as he would have loved toplete the mission himself, Kuzon recognized his limits.

    ''I don''t suppose you know where Ciara is, do you?'' He sighed, directing his message toward someone else.

    ~You''ve asked me this already. While I am indeed a Constetion, I am not in charge of managing the universes. I can''t exactly sense everything happening everywhere at once.~

    Apparently, there were jurisdictions and limits to each Constetion''s power, further leaving Kuzon stuck with only one other option.

    "I''ll have to bring them back. Aloe and Jared."

    ***********

    "Haaa..." As I stepped back into our world, the weight of the Emperor''s Domain slowly lifted from my shoulders.

    Everything felt somewhat different yet tinged with relief and nostalgia, like the air itself whispered of memories and challenges that awaited us. Aloe stood by my side, her expression a mix of weariness and determination, mirroring my own feelings.

    I scanned the room, taking in the grandeur of the Grandmaster''s office, now disrupted by the sight of Neron sprawled unconscious on the ground.

    ''When did this happen?''

    The air crackled with lingering energy, a tangible reminder of the intense sh that had taken ce.

    And amidst it all, Kuzon stood. His face was stoic, and I could tell he wasn''t in the best of moods.

    "I should exin what¡ª"

    "No need." I smiled, raising my hand to interrupt him.

    A surge of anticipation coursed through me as I closed my eyes, activating [The Hermit].

    I delved into the depths of time, reaching beyond the present moment. The hidden corridors of the past unveiled the conversation between Kuzon and Neron.

    Their words resonated within me, painting a clearer picture of our path forward.

    Opening my eyes, I locked my gaze with Kuzon, my expression a mix of understanding and determination.

    "I understand what has happened so far," I said firmly, my voice steady. "We''ll help you find Ciara, just like you nned."

    Kuzon nodded, a small smile forming on his face.

    "Are you okay, though? Last time you used [The Hemit], you... well, passed out."

    "I''m fine now, don''t worry." It felt nice that Kuzon was actually disying concern despite all that happened.

    I wasn''tpletely fine, but I had recovered a good amount of my energy, at the very least. Kuzon''s world was also rich in Aether, so there was that factor to consider.

    Aloe met my gaze and nodded at me. I instantly understood what she meant.

    ''Well... here we go.''

    Taking a step closer, I met Kuzon''s eyes, sincerity evident in my voice.

    "Sorry for what I did."

    "What?"

    "I know you sorted through my memories, so you should know about everything."

    "Oh, that. You don''t need to apologize, Jared. It''s fine." He sighed.

    "No, it''s not!" I drew closer to him, putting both hands on his shoulder while smiling sincerely. "I should have trusted you more."

    "Damn straight."

    Silence encapsted the moment, and for that period none of us uttered a word.

    A warmth slowly began to emanate from Kuzon''s eyes, and his expression softened with eptance and understanding.

    A grateful smile curved his lips. "Apology epted, Jared."

    "d to hear it," I replied.

    In that wholesome moment, with reforged friendship, all three of us stood there in harmony. I could feel our hearts¡ª

    "Okay, okay. That''s enough of that. Let''s find Ciara already."

    Ah, Kuzon just had to ruin the moment.

    "Kuzon has a point. We don''t have all the time in the world." Even Aloe supported him!

    "O-oh yeah. You''re right."

    With no resistance to make, I agreed and decided to get to work.

    ''Using Spellcraft and [The Chariot] to operate the machines in this entire base, I should be able to get started.''

    It would take some time and effort, considering the fact that I wasn''t in top form, but as long as I could pinpoint the right frequency that our world''s Ciara would emit, and pinpoint the wavelength, I would be able to find her.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Okay, Jared. Let''s get to work!''

    *********

    [MEANWHILE...]

    [Limbo Zone, Ciara Epilson''s Base]

    With a brilliant blue spark, Ciara materialized in her spacious apartment, the air crackling with residual energy from her forceful teleportation.

    A sharp pain coursed through her body, causing her to groan in difort. Despite the physical strain, a smile graced her lips.

    Teleportation was always a jarring experience, but it was a small price to pay for the convenience it offered.

    Surveying her surroundings, Ciara took in the high-tech marvels that adorned her apartment. Gadgets and weapons lined the shelves, a testament to her preparedness for any situation that might arise.

    The room exuded an air of calcted efficiency, every piece of equipment meticulously arranged.

    "Damn that Jared..."

    As memories flooded her mind, Ciara''s smile waned, reced by a furrowed brow. She thought back to the face of the man who had breached her spacecraft.

    How had he managed such a feat? The encounter had left her intrigued and unsettled simultaneously.

    Jerry''s introduction of Jared and Aloe resurfaced in her thoughts. She remembered the excitement in his voice as he regaled her with tales of their adventures as Freedom Fighters, fighting against oppression and standing up for what they believed in.

    It had ignited a flicker of curiosity within her, the desire to learn more about these individuals who challenged the established order.

    But those times were long gone now...

    Gritting her teeth, Ciara clenched her fist, the memories of their meeting stirring conflicting emotions within her.

    A mix of admiration and frustration swirled in her mind. She whispered a name to herself, almost as a plea,

    "Jerry..."

    >FSHU<

    As soon as Ciara uttered Jerry''s name, she felt a sudden movement within her room.

    Her senses sharpened, and she swiftly retrieved her gun, activating her suit''s defensive systems.

    The room was bathed in tension as she pointed her weapon towards the source of the movement, her authoritative tone demanding answers.

    "Who is there? Show yourself!" A flicker of apprehension danced in her eyes as she prepared for any threat that might emerge from the shadows.

    Then, a voice, distinct and hauntingly familiar, pierced through the silence.

    "Did you just call out Jerry''s name?" It echoed, sending a shiver down Ciara''s spine.

    As the words reached her ears, a sharp pain coursed through her mind, intensifying with each passing second.

    "ARGHHHHHHH!!!!"

    It felt as if her brain would explode from the sheer agony, causing her to stagger back, one hand clutching her head.

    Amidst the onught of pain, the figure in the shadows gradually materialized, revealing the silhouette of a woman.

    Her voice resonated with an air of confidence and amusement as she began to chuckle.

    "It was quite difficult locating you. Your notoriety has caused me quite the hassle, you know?" The figure took steps forward. "And yet, here we are... face to face."

    Finally, the shadow dissipated, and before Ciara stood a girl.

    "I wondered what I would do once we met..."

    Ciara''s eyes widened instantly as her eyes witnessed the appearance of the brte before her. They both looked exactly the same!

    "... Ciara Epilson."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1005 Ciaras Voyage [Pt 1]

    [Months Earlier]

    [Zone 36, Grand Federation Military Training Base A-101]

    >VWUUUUSSSHHHHHHHH!!!<

    "Huh?"

    Ciara Epilson''s heart pounded in her chest as she found herself abruptly transported to a strange new world.

    The shift from her familiar surroundings to this alienndscape was disorienting, to say the least. Her surroundings were bathed in an eerie glow, with metallic structures rising high into the sky.

    The buildings seemed to be made of ores she had never seen before, their alien architecture both captivating and unnerving. Gripping her hands tightly, Ciara took in a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

    ''What is this ce? Where am I?''

    The air was different here, carrying a faint metallic tang that sent a shiver down her spine. She could feel the weight of her magic within her, restless and anxious, urging her to seek answers.

    But then, amid the confusion, a sudden thought hammered into her head.

    ''H-hold on... WHERE IS JERRY?!''

    Ciara''s eyes widened with panic, her breathing in short,bored gasps.

    Her body throbbed with a mixture of adrenaline and disorientation. Every fiber of her being screamed for Jerry, the absence of his presence a deep, gnawing ache in her soul.

    "Jerry!" she screamed, her voice filled with desperation that echoed through the alien expanse.

    ''Where is Jerry?''

    ''Is Jerry fine?''

    ''Is Jerry safe?''

    ''Where could Jerry be?''

    ''Is Jerry nearby?''

    She instantly scanned the surroundings, her eyes darting frantically from one metallic structure to another, hoping for a glimpse of herpanion.

    But there was nothing, just an empty void that threatened to consume her.

    ''JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY. JERRY.''

    As she tried to gather herself, Ciara''s mind swirled with a whirlwind of emotions. Fear, confusion, and a sense of being utterly lost intertwined within her, threatening to overwhelm her sanity.

    This strange world felt like a prison, trapping her without a clue as to how she had ended up here.

    ''Where are you, Jerry?!''

    Summoning every ounce of her magical prowess, she closed her eyes and focused her senses. She desperately sought theforting tether of Jerry''s presence, reaching out to the depths of her magical connection.

    But instead of the warmth she craved, her mind recoiled at the foreign energy that crackled and surged around her. It felt malevolent, like a swarm of invisible predators lurking just beyond her reach.

    Terror wed at Ciara''s heart as she opened her eyes, her gaze falling upon the armed aliens converging upon her. Their numbers were formidable, over a hundred thousand at least.

    They littered the sky in their overwhelming numbers, their eyes all converging on her with what could only be suspicion and caution.

    Their strange attire and crackling weapons heightened her sense of threat. The surge of panic within her quickly transformed into a dangerous fury, fueled by her determination to protect herself and find Jerry at any cost.

    ''Do they have Jerry?!''

    Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms as anger surged through her veins. The desperation for answers mingled with a primal urge to strike back against these alien intruders.

    ''Are they trying to stop me... from reaching him?!''

    How dare they stand between her and finding Jerry? Every instinct in her screamed for violence, for the release of her pent-up frustration and fear.

    Though her voice trembled with a mix of anger and trepidation, Ciara managed to muster a demand, her wordsced with an undercurrent of barely contained rage.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    "Who are you?" she spat, her eyes locked onto the one who seemed to be their leader. "Tell me where I am, and tell me what you''ve done with Jerry!"

    The strangers exchanged wary nces, seemingly taken aback by her fury. Ciara''s gaze flickered between them, her focus shifting from one individual to another, gauging their reactions. She couldn''t afford to be na?ve in this perilous world.

    She took a step closer, her body radiating an aura of seething defiance.

    "If any harm hase to him," she growled, her voice low and menacing, "I promise you, I will tear this world apart to find him. I will make you regret ever crossing paths with me."

    The aliens stood motionless, their faces betraying a mixture of uncertainty and caution. Ciara''s words hung in the air, an unexpected deration of what could only be identified as one thing.

    WAR!

    "Jahshszzzmmeieiidhdeeewq!"

    "Jsjs kawue klpei whwu qiekd snwmo ejwwodn jeqi ejwi oqiuoe sjndke... jioend"

    "JJEUIIHN DHIW ALKEOEJ APPWOIJ NID!!!"

    All the aliens finally dew their weapons toward Ciara, causing her furious gaze to tighten even more. She could not sense Jerry among their ranks, but what if they had captured him? What if they were also threatening him, wherever he was?

    She couldn''t stand the thought of that!

    "Fine... have it your way..." Her voice deepened in a malevolent whisper, and her heart hardened in growing rage.

    ''You all... will die here!''

    >VWUUUUUSSSHHHH<

    Energy poured into her as she instantly entered Mage Mode and heightened her already-established magical prowess.

    Whether there were a hundred thousand enemies, or a million, none of that mattered to her.

    "As long as you stand in the way..." Her voice dangerously echoed as her power swelled to an unprecedented degree.

    "... I''ll destroy you all!"

    At that moment, all the alien soldiers fired their weapons, raining everything all on one location; and Ciara watched them approach her with breakneck speed.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    The ground trembled as explosions erupted, tearing apart thendscape. But Ciara remained unyielding, her shield shimmering with an ethereal glow, bearing the brunt of the devastating assault.

    As the relentless assault continued, Ciara''s mind raced, searching for a way to turn the tide. She would have used her Original Magic to instantly destroy all of them, but the odd wavelength of this alien world disrupted her connection.

    Her mind-based attacks would be ineffective against these enemies. Furthermore, her Arcana, leaving her with only her raw strength.

    ''More than enough for me!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1006 Ciaras Voyage [Pt 2]

    As the first wave of alien soldiers charged, energy sters aimed in her direction, Ciara unleashed her magic with a flourish.

    "[Grand me Torrent]."

    A torrent of mes erupted from her outstretched hand, engulfing the closest enemies in a searing inferno. Their screams of agony filled the air as they crumbled to the ground, charred remnants of their former selves.

    Using her heightened agility, Ciara leaped gracefully, dodging the iing energy sts with ease.

    With a swift motion of her hand, she conjured a gust of wind that propelled her forward, closing the distance between herself and the next group of adversaries.

    As shended, her fist connected with the face of an alien soldier, her augmented strength shattering bone upon impact.

    With each move, she danced with lethal grace, her spells unleashed in rapid session. Ice spikes erupted from the ground, impaling her foes, while lightning crackled from her fingertips, reducing them to smoldering ashes.

    Shemanded the very elements, manipting them to her will, as fire, water, earth, and air responded to her call, devastating her enemies with relentless force.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Ciara Epilson stood at the epicenter of chaos, her entire being thrumming with raw power.

    The remnant of the enemies continued hovering around her, their intent clear in the glint of their energy sters and gleaming des. Their faces were hidden behind their helmets, but their stubbornness only brought annoyance to Ciara.

    ''It''s useless! You''re a worthless waste of time!''

    With her immense Mana Pool and the vast wellspring of energy within her, she was a force to be reckoned with.

    In Mage Mode, her eyes zed with determination as she tapped into the very essence of her magic. With a sweeping gesture of her hand, more torrents of mes erupted from her fingertips, engulfing the nearest wave of enemies in a searing inferno.

    The air crackled with the heat of her elemental control, scorching the battlefield and reducing the assants to smoldering remnants.

    "You haven''t had enough yet, have you?!" Ciara''s voice rang out, her words infused withmanding authority.

    Her movements were a blur as she wove through the chaos, her agility and strength a testament to the extraordinary power at hermand. She leaped and twisted, evading enemy attacks with nimble grace.

    One alien soldier lunged at her with a wickedly sharp de, but Ciara effortlessly sidestepped the strike. "Is that the best you''ve got?" she taunted, her voice filled with confidence.

    >WHUSSSSHHHH!!!!<

    A ferocious strike of wind sent everything around her flying away instantly.

    Her Mana Pool seemed bottomless, fueling her with boundless energy as she unleashed a barrage of spells upon her foes.

    Earth erupted in towering spikes, impaling the alien soldiers unfortunate enough to cross her path. Water surged in tidal waves, crashing into her adversaries and sweeping them away like leaves in a storm.

    A group of aliens converged upon her, their energy sters zing. Ciara''s eyes narrowed, her focus unyielding. She conjured a shimmering shield, deflecting the iing sts with ease.

    "Your weapons are no match for my magic!" She dered, her voice carrying a mix of pride and defiance.

    As the fight wore on, Ciara''s dominance became apparent. The alien ranks began to falter, their forces thinning under the relentless assault of her magic.

    "Hahahahaha!!!" Herughter echoed all across the destroyednd. "How about this one?"

    Ciara''s eyes zed with an intensity that matched the crackling energy coursing through her veins. The alien soldiers stood before her, their ranks stretching as far as the eye could see.

    They trembled, their confidence waning as they witnessed the raw power radiating from the young mage.

    "Peak Magic: [Grand Lightning Descent]"

    With a sweeping motion, Ciara summoned a storm of lightning from the darkened sky. Thunder rumbled ominously as bolts of electricity crackled and danced in her outstretched hands.

    Her mana surged, an unstoppable force yearning to be unleashed.

    The first strike came as a blinding sh, slicing through the air with a thunderous boom. An electrified tendril of energy surged forward, arcing and snaking its way through the alien ranks.

    The soldiers cried out in agony as the lightning consumed them, their bodies convulsing with each searing jolt.

    Ciara''s movements were fluid and precise, her attacks relentless. She darted through the chaos, her figure a blur as she weaved between alien soldiers.

    With a flick of her wrist, lightning tendrilsshed out, striking with pinpoint uracy. One by one, the soldiers fell, their bodies smoldering as the electric current scorched their armor.

    The veryndscape shook beneath her as Ciara''s power intensified. She extended her arms skyward, drawing upon the storm''s energy. It crackled and surged, building to an explosive crescendo.

    Then, with a cry that mingled triumph and fury, she released the full force of the tempest.

    A torrential downpour of lightning cascaded from the heavens, engulfing the battlefield in an electrified inferno. The earth trembled beneath the onught, the sheer force of the attack decimating everything in its path. The alien soldiers were thrown aside like rag dolls, their bodies reduced to smoldering wreckage.

    Ciara''s eyes zed with a ferocity unmatched. She was the embodiment of nature''s wrath, a harbinger of destruction and retribution.

    With each lightning strike, she carved a path of devastation, leaving a wake of despair in her wake.

    The alien soldiers, once a formidable force, were now broken and demoralized. Fear etched across their alien faces as they witnessed theirrades fall one by one. T

    he realization of their impending doom settled upon them like a suffocating weight.

    The ground crackled beneath Ciara''s feet as she unleashed another surge of lightning, tearing through the remnants of the alien soldiers. Their screams of anguish filled the air, drowned out by the crackling power that surrounded and utterly swallowed all of them.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Thendscape was marred with smoldering craters and twisted debris.

    Smoke billowed into the sky, mixing with the scent of ozone and burning metal.

    "Haaa..." Ciara stood tall amidst the destruction, her breath heavy and her body pulsating with residual energy.

    "They''re all dead, huh?"

    Unfortunately, this wasn''t the end. Ciara knew that much, considering the backup she sensed moments ago.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    >VWUUUUUMMMMMMM<

    A loud rumble filled the air, drawing her attention upward.

    Several massive alien ships emerged from the sky, their ominous presence casting a shadow over the battlefield.

    Determination burned in Ciara''s eyes as she assessed the new threat. She refused to be cowed by their arrival.

    "NOTHING will stand in my way!" With a surge of energy, she propelled herself into the air, soaring toward the menacing vessels.

    Energy sters fired from the ships, streaking toward her with deadly uracy. But Ciara''s reflexes were honed to perfection.

    She twisted and spiraled through the barrage, narrowly avoiding each lethal projectile. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured an immense gust of wind, hurtling it toward the ships.

    The force of the tempest sent the vessels rocking and spinning off course, their aim faltering.

    "Where is Jerry?!!" Ciara shouted, her voice carrying across the battlefield.

    Ciara''s determination surged as she closed the distance, unleashing her most devastating Spell yet.

    "[Grand Extinction]"

    A brilliant ray of light appeared beyond the sky, and all of a sudden, massive meteors began to rain from above.

    The balls were coated in mes and lightning, easily sending the very atmosphere vibrating due to the sheer pressure the multiple meteors generated.

    Bolts of fire rained down upon the ships, scorching their hulls and engulfing them in mes. She channeled the very essence of lightning, sending crackling tendrils of electricity through their metallic frames.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    Explosions rocked the sky as the alien ships crumbled under the relentless onught of the Spell.

    Ciara''s power radiated with an intensity that seemed to defy the limits of her mortal form.

    It waspletely unreal!

    As thest remnants of the alien fleet fell from the sky, Ciara descended to the ground, her chest heaving with exertion.

    The battlefieldy in ruins, the once formidable enemy reduced to mere wreckage. She stood amidst the destruction, her eyes gleaming with a fierce determination.

    "Now that the nuisances have been taken care of... I can begin my search."

    ************

    [THE PRESENT...]

    [Limbo Zone, Ciara Epilson''s Base]

    ''Imagine me going through all that trouble, just to find out that this is a different worldpletely and the Jerry here is actually dead.'' Ciara sighed internally as she stared at her doppelganger.

    ''Everywhere I went, as long as there were security officers of those pesky Grand Federation, I was regarded as an enemy. I can''t even count how many people I''ve killed already... and it''s all thanks to her infamy.''

    Ciara pretty much knew how her doppelganger was a high-profile criminal ording to the Grand Federation.

    ''I haven''t been able to ess their headquarters, and even if I did I''m not sure that would lead me home. Besides, with me being wanted criminal, my options are limited...''

    Her Original Magic was still on the fritz, and the only reason she could affect the girl in front of her was because she was her doppelganger.

    As Ciara stood before her doppelganger, a sense of calcted triumph washed over her. Her mind reyed the sequence of events that had led her to this moment, a smile ying at the corners of her lips.

    ''Our wavelengths are different, but we share a lot in terms of our psyche. That''s enough for me...''

    Now, as she gazed at the doppelganger, a twinge of sympathy flickered within her. However, it wasn''t enough to dissuade her from her already made-up mind.

    ''If I deliver this Ciara to the Grand Federation, I should finally be able to move more freely. If I can also get the cooperation of the Grand Federation, I should be able to return home...''

    Her n was simple yet calcted.

    By delivering the doppelganger into their custody, she would earn their trust and, in turn, gain ess to the information she sought.

    Ciara''s eyes hardened with determination as she focused on her ultimate goal: returning home.

    ''The Grand Federation holds at least some portion of the key to my return. And as long as there''s that small chance... that''s all I need.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1007 Revelation Of The Truth [Pt 1]

    Ciara closed the distance between herself and her doppelganger, her eyes fixed upon the imposter with a mix of curiosity and determination.

    The doppelganger, still groaning from the pain inflicted by Ciara''s powers, mustered the strength to speak, her voice strained yet filled with a plea for understanding.

    "Who... who are you?" the doppelganger managed to utter, her voice trembling. "And how did you find me?"

    Ciara''s grip tightened on the doppelganger''s shoulder, her expression unyielding. "I am a Ciara from another world... not that it''ll matter to you." she replied, her voice low andmanding.

    "And I found you by following the traces of your mental wavelengths. You left a trail that led me straight to your base."

    The doppelganger''s eyes widened with a mixture of fear and confusion. "Please, listen to me," she pleaded, her voice strained.

    "There''s more to this than you know. I can''t die yet... not until I''ve had my revenge. The Grand Federation must pay for what they did to Jerry."

    The mention of Jerry''s name struck a chord within Ciara. Though the Jerry in question was not the same one she knew, the emotional weight behind his name resonated with her. She arched an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

    "Revenge?" Ciara questioned, her toneced with skepticism. "Tell me more. Be honest with me, or you won''t have much time left."

    The doppelganger nodded, a flicker of relief crossing her features. She knew the gravity of the situation and understood that her survival depended on her ability to provide answers.

    ''I understand that Jerry is dead in this reality, but the circumstances of his death remain a mystery...''

    If the Grand Federation were truly behind Jerry''s death in this reality, wouldn''t that make them her enemies?

    Jerry was still Jerry in any universe, and while she would never desire another Jerry, she understood that Jerry couldn''t have been in the wrong.

    ''I mean, isn''t he a good guy in this reality? He is a local hero too...''

    Ciara stared at her doppelganger for answers, and thetter nodded in obedience.

    With a trembling voice, she began to reveal the depths of her connection to Jerry, painting a vivid picture of their shared past.

    "Jerry... he wasn''t just a friend, he was my everything," the doppelganger confessed, her voice thick with emotion. "We grew up together, with nothing but our dreams and each other. When I had the opportunity, I enrolled in the Grand Federation Military Academy, hoping to make a better life for both of us."

    Ciara listened intently, her eyes locked onto her doppelganger, the lines of her face softening with empathy.

    "But Jerry... he found his own path," the doppelganger continued, a mix of sorrow and pride in her voice. "He befriended Jared, Aloe, and the others. They called themselves the Freedom Fighters, fighting against oppression and corruption that had consumed our gxy. They werebeled as rebels by the Grand Federation."

    A pang of realization coursed through Ciara''s heart. Jerry''s hidden identity as a Freedom Fighter began to make sense, the pieces of the puzzle falling into ce. She could now grasp the significance of his absence from her life during her time at the Grand Federation.

    "We kept in touch, even though I was in the academy," the doppelganger continued, her voice filled with nostalgia. "But he never came to visit me there, and I never ventured close to any Grand Federation base. It was a secret we both kept, to protect each other."

    The weight of the doppelganger''s revtion settled upon Ciara, the depth of their friendship and the sacrifices they had madeing into focus. The doppelganger''s voice trembled as she spoke, reliving the moment of discovery.

    "It wasn''t until one of my missions that I found out the truth," she whispered, her voice heavy with regret. "I stumbled upon a mission led by the Freedom Fighters. They were distributing resources to those in need, defying the Grand Federation''s oppressive grip. And there he was, Jerry, fighting alongside them."

    Tears welled in the doppelganger''s eyes, a mixture of joy and anguish, as she exposed the truth that had altered the course of her life.

    "I confronted him, demanded answers," she continued, her voice quivering. "He pleaded with me to understand, to join their cause. But I was torn. Loyalty to the Grand Federation shed with the love I had for him. In the end, I had to make a choice."

    Ciara''s heart ached with the doppelganger''s pain, the choices they had both faced and the diverging paths they had taken.

    The realization of the parallel lives they had led, filled with struggle and sacrifice, knit their souls together in a bond that transcended their differences.

    ''She... she''s just like me!''

    Ciara knew what she would do if anyone tried to take Jerry away from her. She knew how her life would be without him standing by her side.

    ''Yet she lost such a person!''<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    At that moment, Ciara felt a strong surge of respect for the girl opposite her. She felt they were kindred souls!

    "What choice did you make?" She asked, a soft smile forming on her face.

    "Of course, I took Jerry''s side! He was in the right. The Grand Federation tyranically governs the known world, and there have been a lot of problems with their administration that have been either ignored or swept under the rug!"

    Ciara nodded, her smile growing wider.

    "A lot of Zones would prefer self determination, secession, or at least some level of autonomy. But what do we get? Nothing!"

    All the power now belonged to the Grand Federation, and every Zone was under hostage to act exactly as stipted by the all-epassing might of the zentih.

    In the end, the Freedom Fighters were right in going against the system... even though they were criminalized for it.

    "I have no idea where Jared and Aloe are. Last I heard from them was after Jerry died. They wanted me to join them, but I couldn''t. I couldn''t move on with my life while Jerry''s death still haunted me."

    "I understand..." Ciara whispered.

    "I did see Jared recently, and he asked me toe with him, but I refused. I just... as long as the Grand Federation is still out there... I cant... I can''t forgive then for what they did to Jerry. How they took him away from me!"

    Silence enveloped the room as thedies stared at each other, both having tears locked in their eyes.

    "Is that why you went rogue? Turned to a life of crime?"

    The doppelganger nodded slowly.

    "The Freedom Fighters are indeed against the Grand Federation, but their main objective is helping people. It''s too restrictive for me." She muttered as her eyes began to glow in more rage.

    "There''s only one thing I want now, and the Freedom Fighters can''t do it for me. In the end, I have to do it myself."

    Ciara watched all of this with a racing heart, her mind echoing with exhration and pride as she watched the doppelganger in front of her.

    "And what is it that you want?" She asked, though it appeared both of them already knew the answer to the question.

    "... To see the Grand Federation burn to the ground. And I want to be the one to do it!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1008 Revelation Of The Truth [Pt 2]

    Ciara''s eyes bore into her doppelganger, filled with a mixture of solidarity and determination. The weight of her next question hung heavily in the air, the very essence of it threatening to crush her interlocutor.

    "How... did Jerry die?" Ciara''s voice trembled, the words escaping her lips with a raw vulnerability.

    She braced herself, her heart pounding in anticipation of the truth that awaited her.

    The doppelganger''s eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice choked with sorrow as she began to recount the harrowing events that had stolen Jerry''s life.

    "They... they used me as bait," she uttered, her voice trembling with pain. "Knowing my connection to Jerry, the Grand Federation lured him into the fray, hoping to eliminate him once and for all."

    "But I thought you decided to support him."

    "I had indeed made my choice to stand by his side, but I chose to help him and the Freedom Fighters from within the Grand Federation."

    In essence, she became a double agent.

    Ciara''s breath caught in her throat, the weight of the doppelganger''s revtion crushing her soul. She clutched her fists, her knuckles turning white as she listened intently, her eyes locked onto her doppelganger''s face.

    The resolve this girl had was even more than she had given her credit for.

    "The Grand Federation must have discovered our rtionship," the doppelganger continued, her voice tinged with bitterness. "They sent me on a solo mission, a mission so dangerous yet I had no choice but to go. Jerry, ever loyal and fiercely protective, found out and insisted on joining me as backup."

    Ciara''s heart clenched, the love and devotion between Jerry and her doppelganger painting a heartbreaking picture of sacrifice and courage.

    "We arrived at the mission site," the doppelganger whispered, her voice trembling with the weight of guilt. "And that''s when we realized it was a trap. Countless Grand Federation operativesy in wait, concealed within the shadows. They wanted to kill both of us."

    Tears streamed down the doppelganger''s face, her pain and remorse etched across every feature.

    "Jerry... he used his failsafe," she choked out, her voice barely audible. "A forceful teleportation device. He activated it, sending me away, while he... he was executed by them."

    The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the stifled sobs of the doppelganger. Ciara''s heart shattered into a million pieces as the gravity of the doppelganger''s words settled upon her, the weight of loss and regret engulfing them both.

    The doppelganger buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled by the despair that consumed her. "It''s my fault... I led him to that trap, I couldn''t protect him. I should have known... I should have..."

    ¡¤?¦Èm Ciara''s hands, trembling with a mix of grief and resolve, reached out to gently touch her doppelganger''s shoulder, offering a momentaryfort amidst the storm of emotions. Through tears of her own, she spoke, her voiceced with determination.

    ''It is indeed your fault. You should have protected him more, but...'' Ciara''s eyes glowed bright blue as she stared nkly into space.

    "... Those bastards are the ones most at fault. And they deserve to SUFFER!"

    Ciara smiled at her doppelganger, trying her best tofort her while also feeling the pain of loss that Jerry''s demise must have cost her.

    "Ciara Epilson, let me help you!"

    "W-wha...?"

    "Let''s do this together! I know you want to be the one to bring them down, and I respect that. But count me in too! We''re both pretty much the same, so that logic still follows, don''t you think?"

    "W-wait, what are you trying to say exactly? You... want to help me?" Her doppelganger''s eyes widened in both warm surprise and an emotional expression of gratitude.

    "Damn right, girl. I''ll let you deal the finishing blow, but I also want to take down the Grand Federation!"

    It seemed the current n had slightly titled from her original one.

    Instead of selling out the Ciara in front of her, she would work together with her to take over the Grand Federation! Once that was done, she would gather all the useful information an technology that could help her return home, while her doppelganger would finish the job and destroy the Headquarters.

    ''In the end... it''s a win-win!''

    >BZZZTTTZZZZZ!!!<

    A buzzing sound suddenly echoed across the room, interrupting the emotional moment both Ciaras were having, and a bright voice followed.

    ~Ciara! It''s Jared, from our Original World. I''m with Kuzon and Aloe, and we finally traced your whereabouts.~

    "J-Jared?!" Ciara''s eyes widened as she looked around her, her lips cracking open in relief and unexpected happiness.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ''Jerry isn''t with him, though...'' Her mood plummeted instantly.

    ~We have a way to return home. And now that we''ve found you, we can finally be on our way.~ Jared''s voice echoed once more.

    ~So, Ciara... why don''t we go back now?~

    **********

    [Meanwhile...]

    [Zone 0: The Unknown Territory]

    A man reclined in hisfortable seat, surrounded by holographic screens that flickered with information and data.

    His eyes darted across the disys, absorbing every detail, as a faint smile yed on his lips. He muttered to himself, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and frustration.

    "Well, well, I underestimated that golden-haired boy and his band of misfits," he murmured, his toneced with a begrudging respect. "They proved to be more formidable than I initially anticipated."

    His dark hair swayed and his lips curled up as his face reflected the little shes of light in the darkness of the room.

    Rubbing his chin in contemtion, he continued his soliloquy, his voice tinged with a touch of annoyance.

    "And my soldiers... all destroyed on that remote of the spatial singrity. I thought they had the upper hand, but clearly, I was mistaken."

    His gaze shifted to one particr holographic screen, disying the image of his android duplicate lying defeated. A scowl crossed his face, quickly reced by a self-assured grin. "Even my duplicate couldn''t handle that golden-haired brat. Impressive, I must say."

    Leaning forward, the man''s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "But what they don''t know is that they''ve only taken over Zone 1 of the Grand Federation. The true headquarters, Zone 0, remains untouched, impregnable."

    He seemed to be truly enjoying himself.

    "They''ll never reach me here." A sense of triumph infused his words as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with a mix of excitement and anticipation.

    "Ah, yes, Project Phoenix XY-001. It''s almost time for its grand operation. Soon, everything will align ording to my ns."

    Aughter, equal parts exhration and madness, bubbled forth from his lips, echoing in the room.

    "I can''t wait to see it all unfold. They won''t even know what hit them. The power, the control, all within my grasp."

    As the sound of hisughter dissipated, a chilling silence enveloped the room, leaving only the soft hum of the holographic screens.

    The man''s eyes sparkled with a malevolent gleam as he relished the impending chaos he had orchestrated, his mind already envisioning the triumph that awaited him.

    ''This entire universe... and even beyond... they will be mine!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Will Ciara choose to help her new friend, or return home to see her Jerry? Let us find out!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

 Chapter 1009 Teamup [Pt 1]

    ''What should I do?!''

    Ciara''s mind raced with conflicting emotions as she absorbed Jared''s words.

    The possibility of returning to her original world, where she could finally see Jerry again, sent a surge of longing through her.

    Her heart yearned for his familiar presence, thefort of his warmth. She hesitated, her resolve wavering as she contemted the choice before her.

    But then, a deeper sense ofpassion welled up within her.

    Thoughts of her doppelganger, who had endured so much pain and loss, resonated strongly within her. It was more than just a desire to help, it was a fundamental need to support a friend in their time of need.

    Ciara realized that her connection to her doppelganger ran deeper than mere resemnce; it was a bond forged through shared experiences and empathy.

    With a determined glint in her eyes, Ciara voiced her decision, her words resolute and unwavering.

    "I... I have to help her!" She dered, her voice carrying a firmness that brooked no argument.

    "As much as I miss Jerry and want to see him, I also want to be there for a friend in need. I just can''t abandon her."

    ~Uh... what did you just say?~ Jared''s tone rang with confusion, but she didn''t let that bother her.

    ''I gave her my word. I wouldn''t normally do this, but... this time I can''t back down! Not after everything!''

    Ciara''s face scrunched up in resolve, and she nodded at her shell-shocked doppelganger. The reaction on her face when Ciara said she would not abandon her seemed to radiate sheer gratitude.

    ~Ciara. We have to hurry back, you know? We still have our problems to deal with. We don''t have time to spend here!~ This time it was Kuzon''s voice that radiated out.

    "I understand! But I can''t back down now! I''m going to help my friend here and we''re going to crush the Grand Federation together!" Ciara raised her voice, ensuring her message reached herrades.

    ~Hold on... what did you just say?~

    "Listen up, Jared, Aloe, Kuzon," she called out, her voice clear and resolute. "I''m not changing my mind. Either you get on board and support me, or you step aside and let me do what needs to be done. This is my choice, and I won''t back down."

    There was a brief silence as her words hung in the air, the weight of her determination palpable.

    And then...

    ~Slow down a little. Did you just say you wanted to take down the Grand Federation? We''re currently at the Headquarters. We''ve pretty much taken it over. That''s how we were able to pinpoint your location andmunicate with you.~

    "... Eh?"

    Ciara''s eyes twitched as soon as she heard that. The idea that the mission was alreadyplete before it started caused her heart to fall a little.

    ~We even have the leader with us here. Neron, the Grandmaster of the Grand Federation.~

    "H-hold on, Neron is involved in this? He''s the leader of the Grand Federation?!"

    ~Obviously not our Neron, but... yeah...~

    Ciara''s thoughts mellowed out a little as she sorted through the new information in her head.

    ''Neron, huh?''

    "He was the one who scouted me himself back when I had nothing. He told me I had potential... that I was special, and then he brought me to the Grand Federation Military Academy..." Ciara heard her doppelganger speak, her voice now hollow.

    "I trusted him, and even believed in his words. I had no idea he was just using me and everyone else. He was the one who assigned me to that dangerous task... and he was also the one who personally spearheaded the ambush against us."

    Hearing her doppelganger''s tale reminded her very faintly of her own story. After all... it was also Neron who approached her and brought her to Ainrk Academy.

    Now that she thought about it, she wasn''t particrly close to Neron, and neither did he express any special interest in her besides acknowledging her talent and bringing her to the Academy.

    ''But the resemnce is uncanny...''

    And it made her wonder.

    ~Ciara, we may not fullyprehend your decision, but we respect it.~ Jared''s voice suddenly interrupted her thought.

    ~I would be a hypocrite if I said I didn''t~ He added.

    "You said you''ve captured the Grand Federation Headquarters, right? And you''ve even caught Neron? I suppose there''s nothing left to do..."

    ~Not quite. Come over here first. I''ll exin in greater detail.~

    "What do you¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUSSHHHHH!<

    Before Ciara could conclude her words, a portal opened right beside her, swirling and pouring out spatial energy.

    ~We''re on the other side, so it''s best you see for yourself.~

    "I see..." Ciara nced at her doppelganger and nodded. "Alright, then. I''ll trust your words, Jared."

    It was tense in the room as Ciara made her way to the front of the spatial rift, finally deciding to take a leap of faith.<novelsnext></novelsnext>

    ~You can bring your friend over too. It''s about time we all converged.~

    "You don''t have to tell me that." She smiled, ncing at her doppelganger who was also walking towards the portal.

    "Here wee."

    And so the both of them ventured into the swirling gate in front of them, already somewhat expecting whaty beyond.

    *******

    [Zone 1, Grand Federation Headquarters]

    As I stood there, watching the two identical Ciaras emerge from the portal I had prepared, a sense of surrealism washed over me.

    It was truly uncanny how alike they looked, down to the smallest details.

    ''Well, except for that shade of purple...''

    The doppelganger Ciara''s eyes widened in recognition as she locked gazes with me.

    "Jared?" she uttered, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

    I met her gaze with a reassuring smile. "Yes, it''s me," I replied, my voice calm and steady.

    Her expression softened with relief. "I''m sorry for what I did," she said, her voice tinged with remorse. "I didn''t know. it was you... or wasn''t you, ah..."

    She was probably referring to what happened back on the spaceship. Now that I thought about it, she hadn''t also been the Ciara I was searching for. In a way, both of us had been afflicted with a grave misunderstanding.

    I raised a hand, dismissing her apology. "It''s alright," I assured her. "Sorry for intruding on your spacecraft."

    She gave a warm smile and nodded, and I did the same.

    As our attention shifted, we took in the sight of Neron lying unconscious on the floor. Hatred burned in both Ciara''s eyes. I wondered what happened that made the both of them so close.

    It pretty much eluded me.

    "Actually... " I quickly chimed in. "... Your anger is a bit misced."

    Both Ciaras turned to me, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity. Their anticipation hung in the air, waiting for the revtion I was about to unleash.

    With a theatrical ir, I continued, "The Neron lying there, defeated and unconscious, is not the real Neron, after all."

    Their eyes widened in surprise, their emotions shifting from anger to intrigue. The doppelganger Ciara spoke up, her voiceced with a newfound hope.

    "What do you mean? If that''s not Neron, then who is it?"

    Kuzon and Aloe also stared at me in surprise. It seemed the both of them were also unaware of this fact.

    ''If not for [The Chariot], and a couple of other Arcanas, he would have had me fooled too...''

    Unfortunately for him, things weren''t going to be so easy.

    "This one is nothing more than a decoy, a pawn used to carry out the real one''s schemes. I already detected it a while back too."

    More surprised expressions greeted me, but I wasn''t done yet.

    My grin broadened, and I spoke aloud, as if addressing thin air. "You''re watching all this, aren''t you... Neron?"

    The room fell into silence, the weight of my words hanging in the air.

    At that moment, I felt a surge of anticipation and satisfaction. The true Neron, had been watching us all along, and it didn''t take much of an effort to detect all of that using [The Chariot], when I finally took control over the entire Headquarters.

    "Don''t worry, and just sit tight. We''ll be with you soon."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1010 Teamup [Pt 2]

    "What?!"

    Neron jumped to his feet, his eyes widening as soon as he heard Jared''s words.

    "H-he knew all along?!"

    Sweat began to form on his face as the grin he had been cultivating for a long time slowly dissipated.

    ''H-how?!'' As his thoughts attempted to process this, his irises began to shift.

    He had made sure to be careful, using inconspicuous nano-bots to achieve his ends. No one also had any knowledge of this, so there shouldn''t have been any information leak.

    ''Then how?! How did he know?!''

    "Don''t worry, and just sit tight. We''ll be with you soon." Jared''s words echoed in his ears as he watched his surveince screen go nk.

    ''See me soon? Does that mean they are all aware of this ce?''

    Neron''s thoughts were a mess, but he did his best to calm himself.

    "That''s not possible. Even if by some miracle, they found out I was watching them, they have no way of knowing my location."

    He plopped back to his sofa and crossed his legs, deciding not to fret too much.

    ''They''re all very powerful, but this much is impossible...''

    Taking a sip of the wine he now had in his hand, Neron smiled and stirred the cup''s contents even more.

    ''At this rate, they know too much, though. Should Ipletely destroy the Headquarters? If that will achieve the purpose of killing all of them, it will be worth it.''

    All the information of the Grand Federation had been backed up to this ce, so there wasn''t really a problem regarding information.

    ''I also have a substantial number of androids, so it won''t be difficult running the activities of the Headquarters from here¡ªat least for the time being.''

    The reason the Headquarters was so grand was so people wouldn''t look beyond it. But now, since they knew about his facade, there wasn''t a use anymore.

    ''Besides, all of them¡ªincluding Ciara¡ªhave now converged in a single location. I might as well do it now.''

    As a wide grin formed on his face, he snapped his fingers, causing a screen to pop open before him.

    [Please Confirm]

    <Destroy Headquarters?>

    [Yes]         [No]

    "Hehe... ye¡ª"

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    Before he couldplete his action, a swirling blue portal suddenly appeared before him, and in that instant, the bright screen in front of him buzzed, as though glitching.

    In no time, itpletely fritzed out and vanished.

    ''No... no way!'' Neron''s eyes widened as his body shook a little.

    His gaze directly went for the portal that stood not too far from him. And emerging from it were the people he wanted to see least.

    "Well, isn''t this ce sleek?" The voice of the obnoxious golden-haired boy he remembered rang out as he stepped into the room.

    His smile radiated nothing but sheer confidence and absolute control.

    ''Damn you...''

    His female associate also appeared, and then two Ciaras emerged. Finally, the one who had uncovered his secret¡ªJared¡ªproceeded from the portal

    The moment he appeared, the portal closed, leaving all of them gathered in the room.

    ''How did they get in here?!''

    **********

    "What do you think, Jared? About this ce?" Kuzon grinned, looking around him to observe Neron''s office.

    I didn''t know what to tell him in particr.

    The office was more akin to a living room, with a veryrge rxing spot, where Neron currently sat, cross-legged too.

    I could detect other objects around, and the more I expanded my senses, the more I reached out to deeper parts of this fortress of his.

    "Well, it''s dark." I responded half-heartedly.

    My current focus was on finding the true meaning behind this base, but it was going very slowly because the dampeners in this ce alone were off the charts.

    ''They''re actively trying to suppress.my power. No wonder it took a while to create a portal here.''

    I was able to pinpoint this area by tracing a faint signal I detected from the device that Neron was using to monitor us.

    ''It led me straight here. To be honest, it isn''t too difficult.''

    "[The Chariot]" I whispered, instantly sending my energy coursing through everything in the room.

    >VWUUUUMM<

    In a sh, the dampeners ceased their effects, and the lights in the room shed on, revealing more of it''s splendor.

    The purple carpet was woven exquisitely, and the red curtains were also pretty amazing as well.

    The pristine furniture that surrounded Neron, along with the state-of the art technology that surrounded him, all screamed of luxury.

    ''It''s a shame that they''re no longer in your control, Neron...''

    It felt odd calling him.by the name, but I had pretty much gotten ustomed to the weirdness.

    "W-why aren''t my automatic defense mechanisms working?" Neron burst out in exasperation, dropping the ss cup he was holding.

    His cross legged posture straightened out almost instantly.

    "You''re all supposed to be vaporized by now!" He spat, his widened eyes and perspired face depicting nothing short of exasperation.

    It kind of made me feel bad for him¡ªenough so that I decided to answer his question.

    "That isn''t going to happen for two major reasons, Neron..." I smiled, stepping a little forward.

    "First of all, I''ve taken control of all your automated systems and machinery."

    "W-what?!"

    "And secondly, even if I hadn''t... I''m sure our defenses are strong enough to withstand anything you can dish out."

    It seemed my words only drove him deeper into the pit he was digging up for himself.

    "S-shut up!"

    The pit of disbelief.

    "Hey, Neron... we meet again." The main st of the event finally spoke up, after being silent for so long.

    "Ciara. You have some nerve toe her.e Have you forgotten what happened thest time you defied me?"

    Even though I could sense unease in Neron''s words, he did well in hiding it behind a facade of false confidence.

    "Did you forget that I ca¡ª"

    "Shut up." Ciara''s voice echoed, and the room suddenly fell under a pressure.

    ''This... I remember it!''

    It was the same sensation I felt when I touched Ciara back then. That buzzing feeling that seemed to distort my abilities.

    Ciara was now leaking of it, and her widened eyes captured nothing but rage.

    "Shut up and suffer, Neron. I''m so going to enjoy this!"

    As I watched the Ciara Epilson of this world draw closer to Neron, I couldn''t help but think that we had brought a monster along with us.

    ''This should be interesting...''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1011 Shocking Confrontation

    Ciara''s heel cked on the floor as she closed in on Neron.

    Her eyes were narrowed in pure rage, and her heart raced in sheer anticipation. She had thought it would take her an eternity to reach this man, but it had happened so fast.

    "I remember all your faces. Everyone who was involved in that ambush..." She spoke in a hushed tone, advancing even more.

    "''I''ve taken care of some of them. Thest one being Giovanni."

    The impact of her heels and the ground created an echo across the room.

    "He actually pleaded with me. Begged me to forgive him." She gritted her fist, and her heart tightened with every word she uttered.

    "But do you know what I did?" Ciara smiled broadly, almost like a demon would.

    "I made sure to kill him, while making sure he suffered in every second before finally giving out."

    Stretching her hand out now, ready to begin her round with Neron, her eyes bulged in excitement and anticipation for revenge.

    "Now it''s your turn."

    She closed in, and in just a second, she would have finally been able to touch the trembling Neron.

    However¡ª

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!<

    A sudden bright surge of energy cackled from behind herrades, and it was also a sign of teleportation.

    "Cease your actions this instant!" The voice echoed, deep andmanding.

    Ciara had already reached a point where she couldn''t stop even if she wanted to. It would be foolish for anyone to tell her to cease her actions now.

    Or furthermore, expect her to listen.

    However...

    "H-huh...?" He instantly froze, her eyes widening as she mechanically tilted her head behind to witness the owner of the voice.

    ''N-no... this voice. No, it can''t be¡ª!''

    "I said... cease your actions this instant!" The blue energy that was umting in the voice''s origin suddenly dispersed, and the man within it suddenly became visible.

    Ciara''s eyes widened instantly, the moment she saw who he was.

    His auburn brown hair was longer than she remembered, and his build was much buffer than she remembered. He was also dressed as a Grand Federation officer, something she found very odd.

    However, despite all these differences, there was no doubt on her mind. The person who stood imposingly behind her was...

    "J-Jerry?!"

    Ciara''s eyes instantly grew wet with tears as she saw him¡ªhealthy and alive.

    A smile instinctively formed on her pink lips, and she couldn''t help but keep her gaze on him, despite the enemy being right before her.

    >VWUUUSHH<

    He vanished from his position and appeared right in front of Ciara, separating her from Neron.

    "J-Jerry, you''re... you''re alive. I... I..." Tears fell from Ciara''s face as she watched him with awe and nothing short of an emotional intensity.

    "Ciara, hold on. Something isn''t right here." She heard someone say from behind her, but she paid it no heed.

    The only one that mattered now was right in front of her.

    ''Why isn''t he saying anything? Why isn''t he smiling? Didn''t you miss me too? I''m sorry... I... I...'' Reaching out to touch his face, her eyes glittering with grateful tears, Ciara smiled softly.

    "Ciara wai¡ª"

    >SQUELCH!<

    "H-huh...?" Ciara felt something sear through her¡ªlike a de of some kind.

    This feeling was apanied by stinging pain, and it slowly began to course through her whole body while intensifying at a point.

    "W-wha....??" Her gaze fell to the injury she sustained.

    It was a strike directly into her heart.

    And it was at the hands of the man she loved most.

    "W-why...?"

    "You are an enemy. Enemies must be neutralized. All enemies... must be neutralized." Jerry''s tone sounded so stiff and mechanical, even though it was still the same voice.

    His dead eyes showed Ciara that this wasn''t the Jerry she knew, and his unfeeling expression served as more evidence.

    How could she have been so fooled?

    No, perhaps she knew all along, but her heart couldn''t bear it. After seeing him for so long, she couldn''t help but hug him.

    And so, even with her extremely fatal injury, she drew closer to the one who pierced her and hugged him tightly.

    "Jerry... I..." A smile coursed through her face as tears fell.

    She felt hurt all over her. It seemed his de was coated in poison as well, so her entire body felt like it was melting off.

    And even though her suit provided her enough vitality to move even after fatal injuries, she could feel herself fade away.

    Despite all of that, though, she still clung to him closely.

    "M-my biggest regret... was that... I never told you how I felt... even at the very end." Her voice, hoarse and low, whispered.

    "You have up your life for me, and you treated me very dearly to you, but... I must have feared that deep down... you didn''t see me the same way I saw you..."

    Biting her lips as even more tears and blood leaked out of her body, Ciara struggled to breathe now.

    Still, her mind was set on finishing everything she started.

    "... But I... I didn''t have the courage to ask you that...nng..." Her body shuddered as she failed to let go of Jerry despite him bridging out of her grasp.

    "... It''s toote to ask, but... I will at least say this to you..."

    A sad, loving smile coursed through her face as she whispered it into his ears.

    "... I love you, Jerry."

    And with that, all the energy in Ciara''s body finally left her, and she slumped to the ground, drowned in her own pool of blood.

    ''I-I''m sorry everyone...'' She closed her eyes and felt her mind floating away.

    No one needed to tell her before she realized it for herself.

    This was the end of the line for her.

    ''In the end... I couldn''t have my revenge.''

    But that was okay. She got to see Jerry one final time. She got to hold him tightly, and she was able to confess her feelings to him.

    Even though she wanted more... she had to settle for those things.

    And it made her far happier than how she felt after enacting some form of revenge.

    It was a shame that she wouldn''t see Neron die, but she took sce in the fact that her newfound allies would avenge her and kill the bastard.

    And then, after they were done, she would finally be able to rest in peace with her beloved.

    ''I know it''s selfish, but...'' With a final sad smile, she finally felt everything go nk. ''... I''ll be going ahead now.''

    ... And then she breathed herst.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1012 Curtains Descend

    Silence took over the room after Ciara''s demise.

    No one uttered a word. There were just various expressions all given in varying degrees.

    As they all stared at her bleeding corpse, multiple emotions went through them, and several thoughts flowed through their minds.

    None of them uttered them, though.

    Instead, the room took a tone of deference to her death. The silence was palpable, and the dead calm was scary just as it was beautiful

    However, the lull was shortlived

    "Hehe... hehehehe... hahahahaha... HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!"

    The one whoughed, breaking the wall of silence, was none other than Neron himself.

    "Hahahahaha! What an idiot! To think she confessed to Phoenix XY-001!" He burst outughing even further.

    Histest and most sophisticated project, Pheonix XY was meant to serve as an attempt at the creation of a perfect, undying soldier.

    By brainwashing an individual and infusing several weapons, all powered by Isotope XY, into them, it would make them into the perfect loving weapon.

    No emotions. No weaknesses. All that mattered was the mission.

    "I never killed Jerry to begin with, you fool! He was a very good specimen, and the perfect scapegoat! You loved your whole life thinking he was dead, but he wasn''t!"

    And the best part?

    The best part was the way she died at his hands after trying to avenge him.

    "What a fool! Truly! Hahahahaha!!!"

    Neron, who had been scared out of his mind a few moments earlier, was now reveling in his victory.

    ''Fortunately, he was able to get here quickly enough. I would have had to resort to ''that'' if he didn''te on time.'' His grin intensified.

    Now that his Phoenix XY-001 was here, he was invincible.

    "You really are a monster in every universe." A feminine voice echoed in the room, and Neron  noticed it came from the blond woman in the group.

    Aloe Vida.

    "How disgusting." She whispered.

    "Hahaha! So you''re all still here? I totally forgot about that." Neron ignored herments, considering the fact that he didn''t care for the opinions of dead men.

    "They are my enemies." He smiled, turning towards his perfect project. "Kill them for me."

    "Understood." Jerry''s mechanical voice sounded once more, and he swiftly moved to eliminate his master''s opponents.

    However, before he could do anything, his body froze¡ªas if locked in the confines of time.

    "Huh? What''s going on?" Neron murmured, seeing as his ultimate creation wasn''t budging despite receiving an order.

    "Kill them for me! Do it now!"

    "U-under¡ª"

    "Shut up." This time, the voice that emerged came from none other than the golden-haired boy.

    "This entire thing has been quite irritating to watch." He stepped forward, his tone matching the expression he had.

    A frown was nted on his face, and his eyes narrowed on Kuzon.

    "We promised her we wouldn''t interfere, which is why we did nothing despite everything that went down..." He sighed, eyes glowing golden.

    "But now that she''s dead, do you really think this piece of junk can actually do anything to me? To us?" Kuzon growled.

    Neron didn''t understand. No, perhaps he just wouldn''t understand.

    ''He''s calling it a piece of junk? No way! It''s the ultimate tool! It''s Isotope XY counteracts the effects of abilities or dampeners. It has immense firepower. It has no emotions or limits. It requires no fuel, as long as the isotope serves as its power source!''

    The list went on and on.

    In the end, the being called Phoenix XY-001 was a masterpiece.

    How dare this boy treat it as less??

    "Y-you dare to¡ª"

    "Kneel."

    >VWUUUUMM!!!<

    An immense pressure apanied his tone, and Neron found his body¡ªhis real body¡ªfalling to the ground in obedience to the words of a mere boy.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "I didn''t want to damage it too much since our ally was fond of it, but now... might as well destroy your ultimate creation in front of you."

    Neron''s eyes widened as he noticed something around Phoenix XY.

    ''T-threads??''

    There were strings all over his masterpiece''s body, preventing it from moving even if tried.

    But how could such tiny, insignificant strings hold something so strong?

    Neron had no idea!

    He was currently at his wit''s end.

    "Stop there, Kuzon. You shouldn''t destroy that body." The voice of yet another Ciara echoed across the room, sending shivers down Neron''s spine.

    It took him a second or two to remember there were two Ciaras in the room, and the one who wanted to kill him was already dead.

    "Urgh! What now, Ciara? You want to spare it because it looks like Jerry? It''s a mindless tool now." The one called Kuzon sighed in exasperation.

    It seemed he was very eager to end things quickly.

    "No, you idiot. He still has a mind." Ciara responded sharply, moving closer.

    "I-idiot...?"

    "Its just been altered to suit that bastard''s needs. That''s the basics of brainwashing."

    "You just... called me an idiot?"

    Completely ignoring Kuzon''s objections to her earlier statement, she touched the stiff Jerry''s body and smiled softly.

    "He''s still in there."

    "Haa... you... are you serious right now? So what if he is? You want him to recover his mind and find out he killed his dear friend?" Kuzon groaned, now rolling his eyes at this point.

    "Well, I can revive Ciara. Isn''t that going to solve the issue?" Jared suddenly spoke up, uttering something so crazy that Neron''s mind twitched for a moment.

    ''Resurrect Ciara? What nonsense is he spouting?''

    "Do you even have enough capacity for that? You''ve used a huge chunk of energy for a lot things already, and I can tell that your body is already at its limits."

    "Well, you have a point. The issue isn''t even energy at this point. It''s my body''s constitution. But..." Jared suddenly smiled widely.

    "... I never said ''I'' would be doing it alone."

    ''What in the world is he even talking about?!''

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    Suddenly a portal manifested within the room, swirling and turning to reveal the upant that slowly emerged from within it.

    ... It was yet another Jared!

    ''W-what in the world is this? What is happening here?!'' Neron''s thoughts echoed as his eyes nearly brought forth tears in response to the absurdity

    The new Jared that appeared had a wide, confident smile stered on his face. His eyes gleamed with such energy, and his presence contained so much power that it made the room around to tremble.

    "I''m finally back, everyone." He dered, hands folded in a confident pose.

    "Is this a bad time?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1013 Spilled Feelings

    There I was, standing opposite myself.

    It had been a while since I saw all my allies, but they all seemed well.

    ''I figured it''ll be nice to surprise everyone about my existence¡ªsplitting myself into two and all¡ªbut it seems they already know...''

    It felt a little underwhelming to end things like this, especially considering the climatic adventures I enjoyed with my little project.

    "How are the Avarians and Gatorians, by the way?" Kuzon asked, though I could sense from his tone that it was dry and sarcastic.

    The joke was on him, though.

    "I quite enjoyed myself. I helped them form a stable and sustainable environment, and taught them the benefits of maintaining a proper ecosystem. You know, all the good stuff."

    I had some hardcore Kingdombuilding adventures, and while there were certain nuisances that tried to interrupt my work, none of them really fazed me.

    ''Everyone should be fine there. They all didn''t want me to go, but my work there was done...'' Remembering my parting moments with the new society that formed almost brought a test to my eyes, but I brushed those emotions aside.

    There were more important things at y here.

    "I seem to be interrupting something important, but it seems you don''t look too good... other me." I smiled at the Jared that stood not too far from me.

    He was the reason I could track down this zone, and by resonating with him, I was able to teleport so far away from my previous position.

    It took a considerable amount of energy, but considering the overwhelming amount I had, plus the power of Spellcraft, it was really no big deal at all.

    "Yeah. Apparently we didn''t do the fission correctly. Once we fuse back, you''ll understand." My other half smiled tiredly, and I instantly understood.

    I had already begun to notice some signs on my own, but chose to shelve them all until the work was done.

    "Well, we might as well do it now."

    Using [The Lovers], it wouldn''t be very difficult at all.

    "Well hurry. We haven''t got all day." Kuzon murmured, rolling his eyes a little in exasperation.

    Why was he so worked uptely, I couldn''t help but wonder.

    "Alright. Let''s do this."

    I walked closer to my double, and with both of us smiling at each other, and nodding almost at the same time, we activated the effects of our respective Arcana Spells.

    "[The Lovers]"

    ... And that was all it took for things to return to normal.

    *********

    "Haaa..."

    I opened my eyes, feeling an immense surge of energy course through me.

    The missing parts of myself suddenly became whole, and I felt like a brand new individual.

    "... I''ve missed this." A smiled formed on my face as I stared at everyone around me¡ªboth with my eyes, and also with my magical perception.

    I could see beyond the base, beyond the Zone,  even reaching to the immediate areas outside its jurisdiction.

    My connection to this world had never been stronger!

    "I''m back."

    Looking at how everything seemed to be wrapping up well; Neron nowpletely subdued by Kuzon, Ciara moving towards the suspended Jerry, and Aloe on standby, there was only one thing left to do.

    I walked closer to the dead rebel¡ªCiara''s doppelganger¡ªwatching her keenly as I bent to take a closer look.

    ''Looks like she''s smiling. She''s at peace, huh?''

    To be honest, this girl wasn''t particrly my favorite person.

    ''She''s caused the death of countless innocents, and even almost destroyed that Grand Federation Base we were on.''

    I doubted it would be the first time she had done something like that, or closely simr.

    ''But... at this point, I don''t think I care.''

    I just wanted to save her from death, and help my friend who had be her friend.

    "Ciara..." I turned to face the brte was already cing her hand on Jerry''s head.

    "Hm? What is it? Don''t tell me you can''t¡ª!"

    "No, I can save her. I''m just curious about something."

    All the pieces of our past, the things I had been confused about before, slowly began to make a lot more sense to me.

    My curiosity, or rather, conclusion, had reached a point where I couldn''t be quiet about it any longer. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "You... like Jerry, don''t you?"

    "W-what?!" Ciara suddenly burst out, her face instantly turning red as she red at me.

    It seemed like a mix of denial and murderous rage directed at me for even asking.

    "You know, I didn''t quite understand you, and your rtionship with him, back when we were at Ainrk..."

    In fact, out of the entire squad, one could say that Ciara was the person I knew less. I had no idea about her motivations or her true nature.

    It was all shrouded in this weird mystery that I never bothered to unpack.

    But now, after seeing all that happened¡ªespecially with this world''s Ciara¡ªand how ours sympathized with her¡ªI arrived at the conclusion.

    "You really like Jerry, don''t you?" I repeated, my smile widening.

    "S-shut up!" She barked back, her face turning red even more.

    Her eyes contained less of a murderous glean and more of a sort of vulnerable softness. It felt sort of fun seeing her like that.

    "It''s quite obvious, Ciara. We could all tell very easily." Aloe''s voice echoed from where she stood, and looking at her, she was making a smug grin.

    "Oh? So you knew, Aloe?" I asked with a slight chuckle, to which she shrugged.

    "I''m more surprised that you''re just catching on. Didn''t you know about it too, Kuzon?"

    All our gazes went to Kuzon, who was just standing and watching in an aloof, impatient manner.

    However, after a few seconds of silence, he finally gave in to our probing gazes.

    "Haaa... yes. Of course, I knew. I just didn''t care."

    "Ueeeeeeee!!! Y-you all knew?! All along?!" Ciara burst out in surprise almost melodramatically.

    Her shrieks seemed to frighten even the Neron that Kuzon had captured, and it''s overly loud sound caused even me to tremble slightly.

    The room was full of chuckles andughter as we all sort of poked fun of Ciara''s sudden outburst.

    This was actually the first time I had seen Ciara act in such a way.

    "W-well, what about Jerry? Is it obvious that he likes me too?"

    The moment she asked this though, the room instantly fell silent.

    "Hm? No one''s saying anything?" Her voice echoed in the vast lull we all jointly partook in.

    The problem wasn''t what to say, it was how to say it.

    ''Does Jerry really like her as anything more than a friend?'' My thoughts echoed within me, but I quickly cautioned myself, just in case Ciara could probe within to find out what I just thought of.

    Kuzon''s nonchnt shrug seemed to corroborate what I had in my mind, but Aloe''s onlh smile seemed to widen even more.

    "Well, I won''t speak for everyone, but over the past couple of months, I''ve been noticing the signs."

    "R-really?!" Ciara''s eyes widened with a bright glimmer,pletely changing the atmosphere of the room.

    "You really mean that?!"

    ''Yeah, Aloe! Did you really mean that?'' My thoughts zed as I stared right at the grinningdy.

    It wouldn''t be nice if she was just saying all these things to get the hopes of the girl up.

    ''As far as I can tell, they''re just in friends, right?''

    ... Right?!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1014 Emotional End

    "Of course I mean it. I see the way he looks at you now. He''s clearly smitten by you!" She added fuel to the mes.

    "For real?!" Ciara''s voice rose higher.

    "Of course!"

    The exchange, at best, felt strange to me, but I decided not to speak.

    "B-but... he''s been avoiding metely. I couldn''t even find him during the wedding..."

    "That''s just a sign that he likes you so much!"

    "R-really?!"

    "Of course! Trust me!"

    "Whoah! You must be right! You won the Magic Ross, after all. Guess that wasn''t just pure luck." Ciara beamed, now appearing more excited and enamoured by Aloe''s words.

    ''Well, that''s a valid point. Aloe does seem like the most mature and knowledgeable in these things...''

    ''Maybe I could ask her about... nah, it''s not worth it.''

    I smiled briefly and shrugged.

    "You know, I was a little jealous you won the Magic Toss, Aloe. I thought you were just a conniving bitc¡ªI mean,dy. But now, I can see you''re really sincere and nice."

    Was it just me, or did Ciara almost say something else right there?

    "Why, thank you." Aloe smiled warmly, but I already noticed how she twitched her brow within the hundredth of a second as soon as Ciara said the ''B'' word.

    Fortunately, it seemed no one was willing to pursue matters any further.

    ''Thank goodness.''

    "You guys... thank you all for your support. It really means a lot to me." Ciara''s smile made it all worth it in the end.

    We all nodded at her words.

    "I really didn''t think much of you guys at first, but... it seems... maybe you all aren''t Sinbad, after all."

    ''Hold on, we''ve beenrades for this long, and she didn''t think much of us until now?''

    I already figured Ciara wasn''t a card I could control, but she always seemed to go along with everything, so I didn''t really have an issue with her.

    But to think she viewed us so loosely asrades. It really was heartbreaking.

    ''And the fact that it''s our confirmation of her and Jerry liking each other that makes her see us in a more positive light makes it even worse.''

    I huffed slightly, deciding to let the matter die off in my mind.

    Some things were just better left unsaid.

    "We really should return to the important part of¡ª"

    "Onest thing!" Ciara''s voice interrupted Kuzon, who maintained a calm demeanor, but I could tell he was upset.

    "After seeing all that has happened here... I''ve made my decision!"

    We all listened to her speak, though it wasn''t like any of us had a choice not to.

    "I''ll confront Jerry on everything the moment we return! No more hiding or running!"

    I wanted to mention how we would probably have to face Legris and whatever ns he had before we could think of romance and the likes, but it was probably better not to kick that ho''s nest.

    I could even see Aloe giving me the warning stare, so I backed off.

    ''Besides, it seems Kuzon''s motivation to quickly is also romance-rted. I don''t want to  burst any bubbles.''

    "You should do that, Ciara. You deserve to be happy with Jerry... just as we''re going to make these two happy with each other." I shed mypletely real smile, giving my best energy in support to their union.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "Jared, you... thanks so much." Her eyes sparkled at me.

    Just like that, I was able to score some favorability with Ciara!

    ''Now that I know what matters her, I should be able to use it to my advantage...''

    "I agree with Jared. With all that''s happening, it''s better to settle things with him as soon as you return¡ªonce and for all."

    Aloe''s warm-hearted words felt more natural, and it seemed Ciara bought more into her words as disyed the brighter twinkles in her eyes.

    ''Damnit!'' I controlled mypetitive spirit and decided to settle for what I had.

    "Well... I suppose it wouldn''t be bad seeing you two together." Surprisingly, Kuzon even rendered some good words.

    With an atmosphere so full of life and support for Ciara, the scene that had been overflowing with tension and tragedy a moment ago suddenly became so lighthearted.

    "Thank you all... >Sniff< for your support... >Sniff<"

    With all our hopeful smiles and cheering demeanors toward Ciara, I could definitely see something positive okay out for both her and Jerry.

    Heck, even Neron seemed to be touched by how much love was spreading across the room.

    ''Oh... he''s actually just unconscious. My bad.''

    In the end, we decided to end our very odd adventure in this strange world bypleting the final piece of the puzzle.

    "I know Jerry''s mind like nothing else. Even though I''ve never read it... though I''ve had the temptation to do it so many times. I should be able to restore this one''s mind." Ciara grinned, flexing her nonexistent muscles with newfound energy.

    I had to admit, seeing her so pumped up and happy kind of warmed my heart.

    "d to hear it. I''ll revive Ciara with my ability as well. There shouldn''t be anyplications on my end as well."

    We both nodded at each other, having an implicit understanding of our roles in thepletion of the entire narrative.

    ''By reuniting this world''s Ciara and Jerry, it''ll give her more confidence that things will work out for her and our Jerry. How quaint.'' I mused.

    "Focus, Jared." Kuzon''s words echoed in my ears, snapping me out of my thoughts.

    "What are you talking about, Kuzon?" I smiled, finally removing my thoughts from any distracting thoughts and concentrating on my target corpse.

    "I''m always focused."

    With the bright gleam of my Original Magic, and the glowing particles that began manifesting around the dead body of Ciara''s doppelganger, I uttered the Magic Words.

    "[The Hanged Man]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1015 Taking Responsibility

    The resurrection was sessful!

    Looking at the surprised face of Ciara as she awoke from her death was especially satisfying.

    She looked so confused and lost, though the fact that I was right on top of her didn''t help matters at all.

    Well, not exactly on top, but... well... I was beside her actually.

    ''Maybe my face wasn''t the first one she wanted to see.''

    Ciara''s doppelganger ultimately calmed down when she saw Jerry, though, so things didn''t escte beyond that point.

    She was there to witness our Ciara undoing the nasty brainwashing that Neron ced upon her dear lover... or was it friend?

    ''I''m not so sure. Maybe the two have the same type of rtionship as they do in our world.''

    The process took some time, especially since Ciara was doing this with her raw power, and not an Arcana.

    She was also not using Aether, but pure Mana. It made me wonder how she had managed to survive in this world for so long with her Magic prowess alone.

    ''She has a Special Grade Mana Core, but still... this is insane.''

    Fortunately, her power still excelled in this world, considering she could somehow tweak it''s wavelength¡ªthough I suspected she did this unconsciously.

    ''Her Special Grade Core also produces a lot Mana, depending on how much she needs. These geniuses sometimes just makes things harder for the rest of us...''

    Well, it was probably fine. It was due to her talents that she was able to survive for so long in this world.

    That alone deserved praise.

    "Haaa..." Her heavy breath leaked out, and she slowly opened her eyes while pursing her lips.

    We all watched her, our hearts racing in tension.

    Did she do it? Did she not? The questions coursed through the air.

    "It should be alright now." Her voice finally broke the silence, and the smile she gave reinforced her words.

    "R-really?!" Her doppelganger instantly let out, her eyes expressing the same glimmer that Ciara showed not too long ago.

    ''These two really are alike. No wonder Ciara took a liking to her.''

    "Yes. Kuzon, you can release him now." Ciara turned to face Kuzon, who was busy sorting out something with Neron by the side.

    "Alright then." He murmured, and in no time at all, the strings that bound Jerry unraveled.

    The instant his strings snapped, his long auburn hair flowed, and his tall muscr body fell to the ground.

    ''Urgh, Kuzon, you could have set him in a different angle.'' I sighed internally.

    "Jerry! Are you okay?!" Ciara¡ªno, sorry, her doppelganger¡ªswiftly rushed to his side, her eyes widened with concern.

    "Haha... yes... I''m fine, but..." Jerry''s face turned slightly red as he stared at the girl beside him.

    The doppelganger seemed to be more concerned with his health, and even thought he was having a fever.

    Talk about beingpletely clueless.

    "I''m sorry... for what I did..." He finally whispered, having a sullen tone that sank the mood of the entire room.

    "Jerry, it wasn''t your fault. You were being controlled." Of course, the lovestruck girl said.

    "I know, but... that doesn''t give me the right to absolve myself of responsibility." His face scrunched up in guilt and the aura around him reeked of resolve.

    "I need to make up for my mistakes."

    I could definitely imagine my world''s Jerry speaking like this. It seemed like this world''s Ciara and Jerry were quite simr to our world''s version.

    ''Man... I really wish I could see this world''s version of myself. I wonder how he''s like.''

    "Y-you idiot! You had me worried. I thought you were dead!" Ciara cried as she stared at Jerry, creating an atmosphere of passion.

    "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have left your side. I just... couldn''t hear to see you hurt."

    "Why?" She blurted out. "Why didn''t you want to see me hurt?"

    At that point, a daze fell over Jerry''s face, and his cheeks turned redder.

    "T-that is..."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "Tell me, Jerry. How... do you feel about me?" The question finallynded.

    Everyone was silent now, all our attentions converging on the couple who were having a very serious conversation.

    Whatever happened here was none of our business, really, but it would really affect how our Ciara would perceive things when we returned.

    We all had to see things through to the very end.

    "I... I..." Jerry''s voice was shaky, but it echoed with sincerity.

    And then¡ª

    "I love you, Ciara!!!"

    ¡ªHe finally uttered the words.

    "I don''t want to lose you! I couldn''t think of a world without you. That was why... I had to save you back then. I... I''m sorry, but¡ª"

    The gross part happened after, with Ciara''s doppelganger and Jerry''s doppelganger kissing deeply.

    Of course, I didn''t look away. I wasn''t a child, so I embraced the entire awkwardness and observed every moment of it.

    "Ueeeeehhhhh!!!" Ciara on the other hand, covered her face and turned all red the moment she watched the two engage in the act.

    She must have projected herself too much in the scenario.

    "You idiot. You didn''t even consider what my life would be like without you..." A warm smile, coated in falling tears, radiated on the doppelganger''s face as she spoke.

    "I love you too, Jerry!"

    "Y-you do?!"

    "Of course! You really don''t have eyes, do you? Y-you fool!"

    "Haha... sorry..?"

    "S-shut up! You better take responsibility for all this, okay?"

    "T-take responsibility? Y-you mean..."

    "Y-yes! O-of course..."

    Both of them instantly had their entire bodies turn red, and they froze like statues.

    Something told me they didn''t even really understand what it meant to ''take responsibility''. In the end, they simply stared at each other in silence.

    ... Until a second round of kissing ured, leaving me somewhat exasperated.

    Fortunately, we were just about done with this chapter.

    ''We''ve recovered Ciara. Just two more to go...'' With a warm smile finally forming on my face, I personally bid farewell to this current world.

    ''I hope those subjects of mine are adhering to my teachings...''

    We didn''t spend a phenomenal amount of time together, but... I had fun!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1016 The Next Voyage Awaits!

    [Several Grueling Hours Later...]

    "We''re leaving now." Kuzon muttered, his face as indifferent as usual.

    Aloe, Ciara, and I all huddled close to him, smiles evident on our faces.

    "As I already said, Neron is currently harmless to you. I''ve used my Marite Worms on him, in addition to conditioning him with [The Absolute Emperor]. He will bepletely loyal to you and your cause." Kuzon added.

    Apparently, while we were all engaged in more mundane activities, he was interrogating Neron, and then he conditioned the poor soul at thest minute.

    I had to ask though... what were Marite Worms? I tried inquiring from him, but Kuzon wouldn''t tell me.

    "Neron has a lot of androids in this facility, toms of technology you can exploit, and he also has a highly vtile self destruction sequence that you can use in case he''s outlived his use and you need to destroy lots of enemies."

    The way Kuzon spouted out these words made me afraid of him sometimes.

    Honestly!

    "Just because you took down Neron doesn''t mean the Grand Federation has stopped existing. It existed before Neron came into power, and even afterward, it''ll still be a force to be reckoned with."

    Ciara and Jerry nodded, having Neron by their side. His face appeared nk, like a robot, so Kuzon had to be right about him not having the capacity to turn against them.

    "Your fight against the Grand Federation, and your goal of removing their tyranny... make it your way of atoning, Ciara. And as for you, Jerry... guide her on the right path." I added with a smile.

    They both nodded in resolve.

    ''Their n is to reunite with the other Freedom Fighters, and then use Zone 0 as their base while slowly dismantling the Grand Federation using the Technology of the very same organization, as well as their leader.''

    It was a n with good prospects, so I wished them good fortune.

    "The future of this world is in your hands. Dont mess it up." Aloe smiled brightly as she said.

    "Yeah. Kick ass! I''m rooting for the two of you... and of course, this world!" Ciara beamed, her true priorities clearly revealed by her own words.

    With our farewells said and done, we decided it was time to leave this ce.

    ''This is the shortest time spent so far. I wonder how the next ce will be like...'' I smiled.

    "Let''s go." Kuzon activated the Blu-Blu¡ªif I got the name right¡ªand a golden portal instantly appeared in front of us.

    "We''re really finally going home!" Ciara beamed in genuine excitement.

    ''Oh snap! Didn''t anyone tell her we''re not going right away?''

    Sure, we made it seem like we were in a hurry to return home, but we still had a few stops to make before returning home.

    "Erm... not quite." I murmured, barely audibly.

    "What was that?" Ciara beamed at me, her eyes filled with too much glitter.

    ''... Na, I''m not taking responsibility for this one.''

    However, after thinking about the pact I made with myself, and hoe I finally decided to be a more reliable person... I decided to just let it out.

    "We have a few stops to make before heading back."

    "What?"

    "Yeah. You''re not the only one we lost, you know?"

    "So I won''t be able to see Jerry right away?"

    "Um... no...?"

    "B-b-but no one told me about this!" I could see Ciara tearing up, and it honestly broke my heart.

    After seeing the two doppelgangers in love, I was sure that Ciara was excited to get together with Jerry.

    All of that pent-up energy would have to be stifled by the rest of our journey.

    ''We aren''t even sure how long this next voyage will take.''

    I could only brace myself for the best as I patted Ciara on her shoulders.

    "We''re all your friends, right? Just help save two more and we get to return home."

    "Don''t touch me." A cold reply came instantly.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The dead look in her eyes told me to back off, and so I did.

    "Sorry."

    "Haa... it''s fine. It cant be helped. If Jerry was here, he would have done the same." She sighed, dusting the part of her shoulder where I touched.

    ''T-this girl...!''

    "Besides, you''re all myrades. Of course, I wouldn''t abandon you all so easily." She made a warm smile at me.

    ''Do you really think I''d believe that after what you just did?!''

    I was wrong! I truly did not understand this girl at all.

    We both nodded at each other with smiles, and I resolved to myself not to even bother trying with her any longer.

    The middle ground that we both had was more than enough.

    We decided to face the golden portal instead, finally moving forward to the golden portal in front of us.

    "Well... goodbye world." With a final nce behind me, I hopped into the swirling pool in front of me, apanied by the rest of myrades.

    Whatever awaited us... whoever we would see next... I was going to be prepared this time around!

    ''The final two are Edward and Neron. Something tells me we''ll be seeing the former first.''

    I couldn''t wait to meet him and see how he''s doing.

    ''I hope he is well...''

    **********

    [In Another World: Land Of The Demons]

    "Heaven Splitting Strike!" A swordsman swiftly moved, brandishing his de as he increased his pace like the wind.

    He tightly gripped his de and conjured a sharp horizontal strike, instantly devastating his opponent.

    "Kriekhhh!!!" The monstrous screaming of the grotesque creature he had just cut down radiated through the air as it perished.

    He looked around him to see his otherrades doing the same.

    They had already killed a good amount of demonic beasts, and while the swordsman could feel his arm growing weary, he had to persevere.

    The image of his absolute ruler and deity shed in his mind, giving him strength to continue wielding his de and strive for victory.

    "For the God King... victory must be achieved!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Alright! Since I''ve gottenints that the Lost Worlds Arc is dragging on for too long, I''ll be brief about the next Mini Arc.

    It''s a very interesting one, but it won''t take very long.

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1017 The World Of Martial Arts [Pt 1]

    In and where Demonic Beasts roam free, and the survival of humanity hinges on strength, a certain group were engaged in a ferocious conflict with the monsters that sought to devour them.

    "RAHHHHH!!!"

    ~SWISH!~

    Their voices ascended into the air as their des rent the evil creatures into nothing but mincemeat.

    Each of their weapons, varying in size and length, cut though the creatures with monstrous strength.

    The Demonic Beasts, all having grotesque bodies, seemingly made of ck ooze, roared and increased in number.

    Their animal-like characteristics gave them sharp fangs and very long ws. Some even had spikes on their bodies, and their massive size made their malformed body appear all the more threatening.

    Threatening enough to have made the humans back down every single time, running for their lives or even giving in to the despair of death... all until six months ago.

    The day of Divine Descent, when the God King visited thend.

    It was from that moment on that the world experienced a drastic change... and the humanity was finally given a chance to fight back.

    They were graced with the divine power of the God King¡ªcapable of changing the heavens and shattering the earth.

    ... The power of Martial Arts!

    ******

    ''We can''t fail!''

    The thoughts of Wu Jie echoed in his heart as he swung his de alongside the rest of hisrades

    ~SWOOOSSSHH~

    Thest batch of Demonic Beasts were now closing in on the group of thirty, and while they had yet to sustain any casualty, a majority of them were already greatly exhausted.

    ''To think that we can''t even break past the tanks of the Initial Zone.''

    ssifying the Zones of the Demonic Beasts Territory was something they had to do in order to survive.

    Most wouldn''t have dared to even venture toward the edge of the Initial Zone before the arrival of the God King, but a few had no choice, considering the need for survival among the humans.

    However, ever since the God King''s descent into the mortal realm, and showing them the power of the transcendent ne, the enlightened humans could now easily trespass the Initial Zone.

    A few could even go past it and reach the Purgatory Zone.

    Beyond that, though, where the final three¡ªDreadful, Chaos, and Nightmare¡ªZones, which only the God King could challenge.

    Only he had the power to lead the world and it''s people down the right path.

    ~VWUUUMMM!!!~

    Wu Jie''s de was now very slow thanks to his weary self, but he never stopped swinging.

    The same applied to hisrades.

    "The God King vanquished millions of the Demonic Beasts in the Battle of The Millennium Days!" He roared, his body suddenly bursting with innate energy.

    The Battle of The Millennium Days refered to their God King''s conquest within the territory of the Demonic Beasts. The stories said that he spent ten days and ten nights ying Demonic Beasts until he arrived at the very core.

    He never took a break, and the echoes of his destruction kept echoing to all the deste humans that witnessed from afar.

    Wu Jie knew better than topare himself with such a being, but that story served as an inspiration for all the Martial Artists of this world.

    ''The God King... he taught us not to give up! Martial Arts is the ultimate power. We must never fail it!''

    And with that logic driving him, Wu Jie clenched his teeth and strengthened his aching muscles.

    "I won''t fail! Not yet..." And so, with newfound energy, the swordsman charged into battle once more.

    ... And so did the rest of hisrades.

    *********

    [Several Hours Later]

    It was nowte in the night, and the group of thirty currently surrounded a fire to give them warmth.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The world was greeted with the vast sky that served as a great canopy over them, and the stars that glimmered above were simply glowing rocks of divine wisdom.

    In this world, each of those stars represented their fallen ones, and the God King had told them that in a world beyond those stars... there existed even more transcendent beings like him.

    Did that mean theirrades who had perished were now on the way to bing transcendental existences too?

    Or perhaps they were simply watching over then and waiting for them to be reunited so their journey to transcendence could begin.

    No one really knew for sure, and when the question was posed to the God King, he told them to follow their hearts and search for the answers thaty in the depths.

    Such profound words from a profound man¡ªno, he was more than a man.

    Wu Jie was still dwelling and reminiscing on those thoughts when hisrades began bursting into chatter.

    "Haaa... somehow we managed to win!"

    "Right? There were more Demonic Beasts than we expected. I didn''t think we could all make it out alive, but we managed somehow."

    "This way, the Demonic Beasts won''t overflow and attack our residence..."

    "Exactly. The others are probably done with their patrol in the other regions too."

    "We can now experience a new full moon cycle of peace."

    "It''s all thanks to the might of the God King!"

    "Indeed! The God King is the best!"

    "The God King rules!"

    "He stretches out his hands and carves out the path to the future."

    "His words are wise and profound that not even the greatest sages could ever decipher them."

    His build is like an unshakable mountain, dwarfing the greatest hills."

    The words went on and on, mostly giving praises to the God King

    Wu Jie found himself gently nodding his head and smiling.

    It pleased him that hisrades knew the true meaning of gratitude.

    ''If it wasn''t for His descent, we would have perished by now.''

    After all, in this world, the Demonic Beasts had been at the very top of the food chain.

    But the God King changed everything!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you are enjoying the read this far.

    I think we all know who this God King is already, so... let''s root for Edward.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1018 The World Of Martial Arts [Pt 2]

    Demonic Beasts hard sharp ws, and long fangs.

    They could heal from deadly strikes, and some of them wielded strange powers that none couldprehend.

    Humans never stood a chance against them!

    ''We were only spared so we could reproduce and so that the Demonic Beasts could once again take from our numbers...''

    Their purpose had been nothing but livestock.

    That is, until the God King showed them the path that would change their destiny forever.

    ''He gave us power. He showed us how to live well.''

    They were nothing but primitive people, yet he showed them how to properly cook food, distill water, make clothes, and even several other lessons that greatly improved their lives.

    Best of all, he helped them to train their physique and revealed the Nine Fundamental Precepts of the Heavens.

    ''I only know three. Combining their forms, I developed the Heaven Splitting Strike...'' Wu Jie''s thoughts echoed.

    He was one of the most powerful in the settlement, and the strongest among them had only mastered five forms.

    That was how profound the Fundamental Precepts were.

    ''And that isn''t all...''

    The God King revealed that he had even more Martial Arts, but he couldn''t reveal it to them yet because their minds were weak and their bodies weren''t strong.

    Also, they hadn''t yet awakened the divine power that that the God King refered to as ''Mana.''

    The Demonic Beasts had the evil power of Miasma, and tobat the stronger ones, they required an equivalent power known as Mana.

    ''As for the God King, he possesses the power that transcends mortals like ourselves, and has the ultimate energy from the transcendent world of the divine.''

    It was the Divine Energy known ad Aether.

    "I can''t wait to return home and tell our tales to everyone else." More voices echoed from the people who surrounded the campfire.

    "What do you think, Wu Jie?" One of hisrades finally asked him.

    He was usually the quiet type, but he also understood the importance of bonding in groups.

    That was something he learned from the God King too.

    "Yeah. We have some amazing stories to share. We never backed down, and we were brave till the very end¡ªjust like the God King!"

    "YEEEESSSSSSS!!!" Everyone roared in approval, and the entire camp took on a festive mood.

    Tomorrow, by noon at thetest, they would be able to return to their home. It wasn''t a particr long journey, but Wu Jie felt impatient for some reason.

    He couldn''t wait to return and report everything to the God King.

    ''I''m sure he will praise me. If I also prove mypetence, it might finally be time for me to learn the fourth form.''

    His face formed a smile that was simply filled with pure delight.

    Until...

    ~VWUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    All of a sudden, a golden pool of distorted spatial energy manifested in the sky.

    The bright warm glow radiated down, causing the attention of all the people to gaze above at the miraculous sight.

    ''W-what is that?!'' Wu Jie''s thoughts echoed within himself.

    He had never seen anything so beautiful and densely full of power before.

    ''This energy... I recognize it!''

    There was no way he wouldn''t be able to detect what it was considering he had encountered it before.

    This was Divine Power!

    "E-everyone, to your knees this instant! That is Divine Power!"

    The moment he said so, they all gathered together and took to their knees, bowing before the swirling portal above them.

    "Divine Energy... this can only mean..." Wu Jie gulped as his entire body shook in the presence of the crushing pressure the spatial rift exerted.

    Every singlerade of his felt the same way! They all waited in reverence and also trembling curiosity.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The God King had told them he wasn''t the only transcendent one that existed... and that there others beyond their mortal ne.

    He told them that some transcendent beings were good, while some were bad.

    However, if they were ever to encounter a transcendental being at all, they had to bow and show them reverence.

    Afterwards, they had to bring the transcendent one to him.

    Only he, the God King, would be able to judge their intentions, as a fellow Transcendent.

    ''Everyone knows this! No one must act rashly!'' Mortals could never go against the transcendent ones.

    And so, as silhouettes began to appear from the golden portal, the thirty groveled even further, forcefully nting their foreheads on the dirt.

    And so, in a joint anthem, they dered to the emerging beings;

    "We wee you, transcendent ones! The lowly servants of the God King greet you!"

    *******

    ''Huh?!''

    Confusion was the first emotion that coursed through me as I witnessed a group of people bowing before me and everyone else as we appeared in this strange new world.

    They seemed to be humans, albeit primitive. Their clothes seemed to be borne from animal skin, and they also had des made from stone.

    The workmanship was impressive for such a crude weapon, but it was still verycking.

    More importantly, they spoke outnguage and treated us with reverence. This was most strange, considering how very warmly weing they were.

    ''This... had never happened before!''

    Kuzon and I exchanged surprised nces, and even Aloe and Ciara seemed a bit concerned for the group.

    ''Hmmm...''

    Looking at them, they didn''t seem all too special. They didn''t even have Mana Particles in them.

    They were all simply a bunch of Inept people. I could sense Mana around, as well as Miasma, but there were two other strange elements that drifted in the air that I didn''t recognize.

    They was odd, but I could still resonate with them using Aether.

    ''I sense Demons too in that direction. Hm. I see... they use Miasma.''

    Inparison, I didn''t detect any particrly powerful auraing from the humans, or even in any other direction other than the area upied by the Demons.

    ''How are these people still alive? And why are they so close to the borders?''

    Well, perhaps they used the des to fight, but could they really stand a chance?

    A lot of questions coursed through my mind, but I didn''t allow myself to be distracted by them.

    If we didn''t know something, we just had to ask. And since the people here seemed friendly, I didn''t think that would be a problem.

    ''Well... I guess we''ll have to find out everything we want to know from them.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1019 The Divine Visitors

    Wu Jie trembled in the presence of these mighty beings who slowly began to descend from the golden sky they appeared from.

    That must have been the gateway to the realm of the transcendent.

    He couldn''t believe he had peeked into such a profound reality!

    The beings numbered four, and while they were clearly in a different league from him, overwhelming all his senses with their mere presence, he couldn''t detect how powerful they really were.

    He knew they existed out of his scope, and groveling was all he and hisrades could do.

    "Greetings. $& (¡é=~ #$ peace." Wu Jie couldn''t really understand thenguages of the transcendent ones, save a few words they uttered.

    They, as mortals, were taught the Divine Language, but their kinds could onlyprehend some sentences and phrases at best.

    They couldn''tpletely understand all of it.

    ''It is regrettable, but most of the God King''s words are lost to our understanding...''

    With more time, they would be able to learn more about the Divine Language, but for now, they were limited.

    ''But since the divine ones have spoken, then we need to say the next thing we were taught.''

    "We greet you all, and wee you to our humble realm. If you so desire, we shall take you to our leader and he will be able to aid you, unlike our limited selves."

    Wu Jie heard some murmurs from among the transcendent ones.

    He couldn''t quite pick what they were saying, but he heard a few words like;

    "... Speaking weirdly..."

    "Can''t understand...?"

    "... Speak...nguage..."

    "Maybe... leader...?"

    He realized a fatal error he had made in his judgement instantly, and his eyes widened the moment the truth came to him.

    ''Are they upset that we know the Divine Language?!''

    Of course! Costly pearls weren''t meant for pigs. The words of the gods did not belong to mere men, after all.

    Not all transcendent beings were as benevolent as the God King, so they were currently in dangerous waters.

    Wu Jie gulped and slowly decided to help hisrades as much as possible, though he knew the consequences of his failure.

    With quivering lips, he uttered words that he could mash up together to properly convey the meaning he desired.

    "We know not Divine Language. God King show us. Some. Not all. We greet you, transcendent beings. God King is transcendent too."

    The God King once told them that he was going to bear responsibility for all of them. And that meant if they told these transcendent beings that it was ording to his discretion, they would definitely understand.

    "I see..." Wu Jie heard one of the transcendent ones utter.

    This transcendent being drew closer to Wu Jie, sending his heart racing instantly.

    ''D-did I offend them by speaking the Divine Language incorrectly? Have I doomed myrades?''

    Sweat poured all over his face, and he found his throat to be dry.

    Panic gripped his chest, but he could do nothing but grovel harder as the transcendent ones drew closer.

    He could only plead that he and hisrades would be spared.

    "Rx..." He heard the transcendent being speak, and then a light sensation coursed through his head.

    "# _-@+ hurt you."

    The transcendent being touched his head, and a sudden feeling coursed through him.

    It was instant, and while Wu Jie thought he would die from the interaction, the experience did not hurt at all.

    In no time, it was all over.

    "Ah... so your name is Wu Jie. I see. I understand now."

    ''Huh? He''s speaking the mortalnguage?!'' Wu Jie''s thoughts echoed within him.

    How could he do that?!

    Even the God King never spoke in the Mortal Tongue. Everyone thought it was impossible for the Divine Ones to utter Mortalnguage, so they instead decided to limate to the words of the Divine.

    ''Y-yet, he uttered it?!''<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Could it be that this transcendent being was... no, that couldn''t be!

    None was Superior to the God King!

    "As I thought... it''s Edward." Wu Jie heard the transcendent being murmur, and then, he felt a light feeling coursing through him.

    "You can all lift your heads. It''s fine."

    Wu Jie felt reluctant to do so, but he knew better than to refuse the words of a transcendent one.

    Hisrades also had a simr understanding, so they all lifted their heads at the same time.

    And as a result, theyid eyes on the divine beings.

    They all looked magnificent¡ªadorned in fancy wears,pared to their disheveled states. Their faces were clear, and their skins were fresh.

    They were just like the God King¡ªno, they looked even more prestigious!

    ''N-no! No one is more prestigious than the God King!''

    The four divine ones had two males and two females in their ranks.

    Among the boys;

    One had golden hair, and the other had yellow hair.

    Among the girls;

    One had yellow hair, and the other had dark brown hair.

    They were all marvelous-looking. The one who spoke in theirnguage was the boy with yellow hair, and while Wu Jie thought he looked very young, he could sense the age in the transcendent one''s eyes.

    ''They truly are like the God King.''

    "You can speak to me in yournguage, Wu Jie. It''s fine. Wee in peace as well, so there''s no need to be frightened."

    The warm feeling in his heart resonated with what the young man said, causing him to nod instantly.

    He instantly knee he could trust the transcendent in front of him.

    How fortunate for his people! The transcendental beings were good, not bad.

    The God King was going to be pleased!

    "T-thank you for your consideration, Transcendent ones. We are most grateful." Wu Jie and hisrades bowed their heads.

    Truly, gratitude flooded his heart.

    "Haha! It''s alright. So, you were mentioning something about a God King earlier."

    Wu Jie instantly nodded and repeated what he told them earlier in his own nativenguage.

    That is; the God King was a transcendent being like them, and he would really love to meet with them.

    As expected, the Transcendent one smiled instantly. It seemed he was truly pleased by those words.

    "That''s perfect! I would also love to meet him." The yellow-haired male one uttered, a warm glow sparkling in his eyes.

    "Lead us to your God King."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

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 Chapter 1020 The God King [Pt 1]

    Wu Jie was both terrified and exhrated to be in direct conversation with a Transcendent.

    Even the God King, guardian of his people, was not essible to just anyone.

    There was a hierarchy to be followed, and while he was very liberal with everyone, the God King was someone whose greatness could not be taken for granted.

    As a result, only those who had achieved great things could seek his audience freely.

    That was why everyone strived to do so well!

    "D-definitely, great one!" Wu Jie bowed in response to the blond transcendent, and also gave the same level of regard to the rest who stood behind him.

    There was one major issue, though.

    ''We are exhausted from our earlier fight, and the journey is quite tasking. Even in top form, it will take us six hours to make it make it to our destination.''

    But how could he give a Transcendent one such an excuse? To refuse the will of the divine ones was suicide.

    "Ah, I see. You''re all exhausted, aren''t you? Hmmm... I understand. It''ste at night as well. I understand."

    ''H-huh?! He knew??'' To think Transcendental beings could even peer into the minds of mortals... their power truly was great.

    Wu Jie developed even more fear and trembling towards the ones he faced, as well as greater respect for the God King whom he served.

    "I can transport everyone to your residence. I can sense a poption of humans nearby. I assume that''s your settlement."

    ''Nearby? He can sense our people even at such a distance? Such is the might of a Transcendent one!''

    Eyes that could see beyond the limits of mortals, and ears that could hear from thousands of miles away; those who had these powers could be nothing short of divine.

    But there was one more word that Wu Jie didn''t quite understand.

    "T-transport us?"

    "Yes. Using Spatial Magic. Don''t worry, it''ll be instantaneous."

    Wu Jie could not believe his ears. His eyes bulged as the man spoke.

    "M-Magic...?"

    "Yes. I''m sure you all miss your friends and family. I can take you to see them this instant."

    That definitely made sense. With divine powers there really wasn''t any limit.

    ''The God King already informed us of this <Magic>. It is inferior to Martial Arts, but it is still useful for certain things...''

    Because Martial Arts was superior to Magic, the God King used Martial Arts. He didn''t bother with the inferior craft of Magic, thus in the eyes of everyone¡ªincluding Wu Jie¡ªMagic wasn''t considered worthwhile.

    ''This Transcendent one must be inferior to the God King. He uses Magic, not Martial Art.''

    That realization somewhat made Wu Jie''s heart flutter with satisfaction.

    His deity and king was indeed superior to these divine entities.

    "We concede. Please use your Magic, divine ones." Wu Jie smiled, gathering his people together.

    They all ignored the flickering campfire in the backdrop, and they now submitted to the power they would soon witness.

    Wu Jie watched the Transcendental being discuss something with hispanions, and they freely uttered the Divine Language.

    He heard the words "Edward" and "Home World" from them, words that the God King often uttered.

    It made him certain that they were certainly rted to him.

    ''Perhaps they are his subordinates in the realm of the transcendent ones.''

    His mind could probably notprehend it, so he simply went along with the mood.

    "Alright, everyone. Let''s go."

    In a sudden sh, a gaint blue circle manifested and encapsted everyone in that area.

    "E-ehhh!" Wu Jie shrieked in surprise, and hisrades also let out simr noises.

    Their eyes widened in shock as they experienced something they had never witnessed in their lives.

    The world around them seemed to blur, and the air itself seemed to contort.

    ''T-this is¡ª!'' Wu Jie couldn''t exin it.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    There was nothing in his vocabry he could use to exin exactly what was happening.

    It was simply astounding!

    ''So this... is Magic!''

    Magic was so beautiful and amazing, yet it was inferior to Martial Arts. Wu Jie thought of that as a stark representation of hoe awesomeness thetter was.

    ''The God King''s divine power... is truly the greatest!''

    *********

    I teleported everyone to their settlement, and it was just as I sensed prior to using [The Tower].

    It was a primitive city, albeit quiterge. It had thousands of homes, and I counted the number of living humans to be at exactly 14,678.

    ''I don''t sense any other humanoid beings around. This seems to be all the humans in this.''

    If I used that as my standard, then the humans in this world were quite few.

    The houses were mostly made of stone, and they had a moderate size of livestock and nts in the few farms I observed.

    So far, it wasn''t something particrly interesting, but it was better than I initially expected.

    "The God King carved out these sturdy stone houses for us. He showed us how to make them too, and while it takes us a long while to make one, he could do it in a sh!" The man called Wu Jie told me, his eyes gushing of adoration for this ''God King'' everyone loved and revered.

    He gushed on about how the God King helped them make good clothes from animal skin, and how the tall, but pathetically constructed fence that surrounded the city was also the work of the God King.

    ''It seems they were more primitive than this, but the God King sped up the process of civilization a lot more.''

    From flimsy tents and thatched huts to sturdy stone buildings. That was progress.

    They were previously nomadic too, but thanks to the protection and security the God King offered, they settled in a single location, investing in agriculture and stable livestock rearing.

    Food and water supplies were stable thanks to the well the God King made for them, and the farm he constructed for them.

    The people knew how to hunt already, but thanks to the newly improved stone weapons¡ªlike longdes, knives, and daggers¡ªtheir work became much easier.

    Then there was the method of processing food, preserving food, and even preparing meals.

    ''Edward lived in the wild for some time, so I guess he must have picked up a lot of survival tactics.''

    Plus, with his mind already used to the wonders of technology, he would have been better able to see certain things and improve them¡ªunlike these people.

    As a result, their lives became drastically better, and as for the one they called the God King... he became their deity and ruler.

    ''I''m surprised, though. Of all the people that could be leaders... Edward? Really?''

    Among primitive people, who would worship strength above anything else, I was sure he fit the bill perfectly.

    ''I suppose it makes sense now that I think about it...''

    Still, despite looking around and taking in everything in my vicinity, there was one question I couldn''t answer.

    "Where is he? Where is Edward?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1021 The God King [Pt 2]

    Ever since I arrived in this world, I had been trying to sense the presence of someone from my original branch.

    I searched for the same wavelength, tried Resonance, and a bunch of other things, but I got no response.

    The only two we were yet to find were Neron and Edward, and even before I knew about this ''God King'' persona, I already suspected it would be Edward we were going to meet next.

    ''He should have sensed us now too...'' I had thought.

    Based on experience, arrival in a new world caused a very high spike in energy to ur in said world.

    Edward should have sensed something was up, especially now that I knew he was the protector of these people.

    Yet, I felt or saw no sign from him.

    It made me curious, but also slightly worried.

    What if this God King wasn''t actually Edward? Or what if Edward had left this ce already?

    My senses didn''t stretch too far beyond a, and even with Spellcraft, I couldn''t cover an entire universe.

    ... At least, not without external help.

    ''The only time I went that far was in my fight against Nether, and that was thanks to Aether.''

    Compared to that point, I wasn''t very powerful currently.

    ''Maybe he''s in another? Or has he left his branch already?'' A lot of other questions ran through my mind, and so I decided to ask Wu Jie.

    "Where is the God King?"

    After asking, I braced myself for the worst. Though I had absorbed his memories, I mostly targeted the ones that had to do withmunication.

    ''I would have just gone for everything, but having so much information about other worlds and cultures is bing a bother.''

    I had absorbed the memories of so many people that having their memories as a part of me had be too exhausting.

    I didn''t want to add to the list.

    ''Other than the identity of the God King, and how to speak theirnguage, I don''t know anything else except from observation.''

    "The God King is all around us. He is everywhere and nowhere. He sees all, and he knows all." Wu Jie responded to me with a solemn and respectful tone.

    ''Hold on... what?''

    Was Edward dead? Why would such vaguenguages be used?

    "It is true. He exists in a different world from us, and while he watches over us, he does not dwell in our mortal ne."

    ''Is he actually dead? Do I have to search for his body? Damnit!''

    My thoughts were racing at this point, and something very heavy gripped my heart.

    "What do you do when you want to have an audience with him?" I asked Wu Jie.

    "We go to the sanctuary. Before we step in, we state our purpose and venture inside. There, we are taken to a different realm where the God King converses with us."

    It didn''t sound like Edward was dead, but something was definitely not right.

    ''I should use [The Tower] to detect or resonate with any dimensional Magic...''

    I tried it, but I still got nothing. Besides, it wasn''t like Edward knew Magic that advanced¡ªor even any Magic, period.

    In the end, I would have to see for myself.

    "Take me to the Sanctuary."

    "Very well, great one." Wu Jie bowed in cooperation to me, and he led me and the rest toward the tallest stone building that stood at the northern end of the city.

    I dismissed everyone else in Wu Jie''s squad, since we only needed his services, allowing them to greet their families and friends who were most likely asleep at this time of the night.

    Since we bypassed the guards who were more concerned with the possibility of external attacks, and not the internal affairs of the sleeping city, we hadn''t been detected yet.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Separating from the rest of Wu Jie''s squad, Kuzon, Aloe, Ciara, and myself walked behind our guide as we ventured into the most sacred ce of these people.

    ... The Sanctuary.

    *******

    Once we arrived at the entrance of the massive rock building, Wu Jie paused right in front, sping his hands and going to his knees before proceeding further and entering.

    These people really considered Edward a deity, didn''t they?

    We entered, and we''re greeted with a fairly simply construction.

    The stone building''s interior was mostly empty. It had a high ceiling, and was incredibly spacious.

    The only thing I could see inside was arge circle at the center of the room, and a floating de hovered in the very middle of the circle.

    ''Hm? That is... Aether...''

    The de shimmered with whitish blue light, and it seemed incorporeal, yet existent. ''Despite it''s considerable power, I wasn''t able to sense it until I got this close.''

    It amazed me greatly.

    "That is the God King''s de¡ªthe entrance to his divine territory." Wu Jie began to speak gibberish again.

    I just wanted to know how to see Edward, not all the religious baggage that came with it.

    "... And so, we make our request known to the God King and hold the de. After that, we are transported to the realm of the God King, where he grants us audience."

    It sounded a lot like a special dimension. But did Edward ever have such a thing?

    I didn''t think so.

    ''Did he learn some Magic after arriving here?'' I wondered.

    "That sounds like Martial Zone. The Martial de God used it when he fought us." Ciara''s voice suddenly echoed behind me.

    "What?" My eyes twitched as I heard the very familiar name.

    Not many people gave me as much of an impression as that man did.

    ''I should be more powerful than him now thanks to all the Arcanas, but... he was too strong.''

    And that was only ounting for his Transcendent self.

    I heard he was able to break into the Primordial Realm. If that was the case, then I was most likely not going to be a match for him even with my current power.

    ''Has Edward reached his level already?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1022 The God King [Pt 3]

    "The Martial Zone is a separate dimension forged by the will of a Transcendent Martial Artist." Ciara began to exin.

    She told me about how the Martial de God totally mopped the floor with her, Edward, and Lemi by using this power.

    "The energying from that de reminds me of the Martial de God. It''s certainly Martial Zone." She finally concluded.

    No wonder I couldn''t sense the use of Dimensional Magic. It wasn''t Magic, but Martial Arts that was being used.

    ''Has Edward reached the Martial de God''s level now?'' I was genuinely curious, but also a bit intimidated.

    ''I guess there''s only one way to find out.''

    I took steps closer to the sword, and Wu Jie nodded with a reverent smile. He remained close to the entrance, unmoving from his position.

    "Aren''t youing with us?" I asked him, wondering why he was just standing there.

    "Mortals have no business in the meeting of gods. I know my ce, transcendent ones."

    His response shook me, and while I felt it was too much, a part of me was refreshed by his treatment.

    ''Every world we''ve explored has somewhat been hostile to us, one way or the other, but this one... it''s surprisingly so respectful.''

    A world where we were treated as gods¡ªwhere the strongest being that existed was even weaker than Kahn.

    ''Edward was able to grow in this ce? Fascinating!''

    I found myself anticipating our reunion.

    "We''reing in Edward." I dered, finally holding the floating de.

    The moment I did, I felt a sensation¡ªwarm and familiar¡ªcourse through me.

    It felt surreal, and I felt everything around me change instantly.

    Kuzon, Aloe, and Ciara were still with me, but my attention wasn''t on them. Rather, the world that now surrounded me filled my thoughts.

    It felt like an eternally starry night¡ªlike I was surrounded by the vastness of space.

    The air around me shimmered with a celestial luminescence, casting a gentle glow upon my face.

    I could feel the weightlessness as my body floated effortlessly, unbound by the rules of gravity.

    Above me, the stars burned with an otherworldly brilliance, painting the cosmos with their radiant light.

    As I gazed further into the distance, I noticed nebe swirling with vibrant colors, like celestial paintings suspended in the darkness.

    The intery of hues, from vivid blues to fiery reds, was a sight that defied earthly imagination.

    It was a celestial kaleidoscope, a visual symphony that ignited my soul with pure, unadulterated joy.

    "This is...!" I eximed in a hushed tone.

    It was amazing!

    Not as amazing as Kuzon''s special dimension, but it was on another level entirely.

    "It feels just like I''m in the Martial de God''s Zone again." I heard Ciara mutter. "Though this one is clearly less refined."

    "It''s not bad." This time it was Kuzon who spoke.

    He had a stiff smile on his face, something reminiscent of beingpetitive.

    ''Is he intimidated by this?'' I wondered to myself, stifling augh.

    "To think Edward made all of this. It''s amazing." Aloe added with a genuine smile.

    Kuzon could really learn a lot from how she expressed herself.

    All in all, it seemed everyone was so impressed by the special dimension we found ourselves in.

    But the question remained...

    "Where is Edward?"

    That question was met with silence.

    And then a voice appeared.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ~Looks like we have visitors. Edward''s friends, huh?~

    "Who''s there?" I responded instantly.

    It felt like the one who spoke sent their words directly into my mind.

    I nced beside me, and it seemed like I wasn''t the only one who heard the voice.

    Kuzon, Aloe, and Ciara also had suspicious expressions.

    ''This isn''t Edward''s voice. It''s also not a familiar feeling.''

    "Leo sounds excited for some reason. Looks like we''ve just encountered a sibling of his." Kuzon muttered, sighing tiredly.

    ''A sibling? Does that mean... it''s a Constetion?!''

    ~Precisely! My name is Aries, the Constetion of Will and Action.~

    Suddenly, a bright white light manifested in front of us, forming a great white orb. My eyes couldn''t properly recognize what dwelled within the orb no matter how hard I tried.

    ~Do not bother. Your eyes are incapable of perceiving me as of now.~

    "I-I see..." It felt simr to when I was unable to hear the words of Aether when she addressed a particr topic within the Root.

    ~I was the Martial de God''s Familiar, and as a dying favor from him, I was asked to consider Edward as his sessor.~

    ''The Martial de God had a Constetion as a Familiar?!''

    I thought he never had a Familiar, considering the fact that he never used it.

    ''Hold on... he had a Familiar as powerful as a Constetion, and he never disyed it''s power?!''

    When Karlia and I fought him, was he just going easy on us? He never even used his [Death] Arcana.

    ''He had so many unused abilities, and he never revealed them to us?!''

    It seemed I had been ahead of myself by thinking I could win against him the way I was now.

    ''In the end, I never even found out how strong he was''

    ~The Martial de God never used me even once throughout our contract. It was still a great adventure watching him, though... seeing him evolve and devolve, and then finally actualize his goal.

    Since he showed me something interesting till the very end, I decided to indulge him and ept his wish.~

    "S-so that means you''re Edward''s new Familiar?"

    ~I have yet to decide. Currently, your friend is undergoing a trial. Should he seed, he will be truly formed as the Martial God King, and will seed the Martial de God.~

    Was that why we couldn''t see him? The Constetion, Aries, was currently putting him through a trial.

    ~Should he fail, however, he will forever live in the shadows of his predecessor.~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Let''s all root for Edward!

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 Chapter 1023 Edwards Resurgence [Pt 1]

    Tense silence echoed in the Martial Zone as all our attention converged on the brimming light that was the Constetion, Aries.

    I had a lot of questions coursing through me, but there was only one that mattered now.

    "What kind of test are you giving him?"

    For a moment, no one said anything. Perhaps they too wanted my question to be answered.

    ~It is none of your concern. The conclusion is merely that he needs to grow stronger.~

    "And how long will it take toplete the test?" I further inquired.

    ~Do not worry. Time is rtive in this world, but even then the process is just about to bepleted. Perhaps it is by chance you arrived at this exact point.~

    ''So this Constetion is implying that we''ll be able to see the results very soon?'' I could feel anticipation building up within me.

    ~This is a fair arrangement, no? That Edward''s friends may look over him at his moment of failure or sess.~

    When Aries put it like that, it felt a bit intrusive.

    "Are we really supposed to be here for such a private moment?" Kuzon blurted out, his face connoting some form of seriousness.

    ~Ah, I see. You had your session with Leo privately. We are currentlymunicating now, and ording to him, he preferred it that way. But, Constetions have different personalities.~

    "I see..." Kuzon''s words echoed across the room, and everyone fell silent at that moment.

    I had a maelstrom of thoughts coursing through me.

    ''If Edward seeds, he''ll have a Constetion¡ªjust like Kuzon does¡ªand that''ll make him immensely more powerful.''

    ording to what Crazy Neron told Kuzon, Neron''s n for this excursion was to cause us to attract the attention of the Constetions.

    So far, only Kuzon and Edward had gotten them.

    What about me, Aloe, and Ciara? We hadn''t had any experience remote to a Constetion experience.

    ''I''m notining or anything. I''m just really curious.''

    What exactly was Neron''s endgame in all of this?

    >VWUUUUMNMMMM!!!<

    An overwhelming pressure suddenly coursed through the room, causing me to let go of my thoughts and focus more on the reality around me.

    ~It is time...~ Aries whispered into my¡ªno, our¡ªthoughts.

    The stars around slowly began to converge in a single location. The nebe, as well as the brilliant radiations that gracefully decorated the space suddenly began to draw closer to the same location¡ªlike a ma.

    ''This is¡ª?!''

    I could feel a familiar presence at the epicenter of the converging stars. I could see shes of the person within, but I couldn''tpletely decipher is identity.

    ''Is that...''

    ~Edward. The process is almost done. All that remains is theplete integration of the Martial Zone and his own Soul.~

    "What does that mean?"

    ~He will make the power of the Martial de God his¡ªat least, the power before arriving at the Primordial Realm.~

    What did Aries just say? Edward was going to be as strong as the Martial de God?!

    ~If I choose him as my host, he will be able to surpass the Martial de God''s power in Transcendence. Whether or not he will be able to reach the Primordial Waters... that is beyond my power.~

    "And? Are you going to choose him?" I blurted out in both intimidation and expectation.

    The power that rapidly converged in his location was overwhelmingly vast.

    "Can he handle it...?"

    ~Edward has been in this Martial Zone for centuries of meditation and closed cultivation. He has been tempering his body and absorbing power for that period. I have lent him my power as a foundation and base, and he has built upyer afteryer.~

    "No way..." That was even longer than I trained within three years.

    Edward used a mere couple of months to achieve that level?!

    ''Impressive...''<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Suddenly, I began to hear cracking sounds, and looking around me, I noticed the very space around us was beginning to copse.

    ~You will have to leave the Martial Zone now. It will all be fused with his Soul, after all.~

    In a bright surge of light, we were propelled out of the dimension, and we found ourselves in the stone temple from earlier.

    The sudden transition caused my body to feel strange for a few moments, but I quickly limated.

    I instead looked at the floating sword before me and narrowed my gaze on it.

    ''Edward... good luck!''

    ********

    Darkness.

    In this realm of darkness andplete void, a certain being sat at the center.

    He had a meditative pose, with his eyes closed and his heart open, he felt his own existence being born and began to ask questions.

    ''Where am I...?''

    His lips did not move, but his thoughts echoed across the vast expanse around him.

    ''Who am I...?''

    The silent solitude of the space was crushing¡ªalmost despairing.

    He had spent enough time outside the bounds of identity to recognize his own identity.

    He had thrown away all his personal attachments and biases to achieve this state... following in the footsteps of the Martial de God.

    ... But there was a stark difference between him and his ancestor.

    "My name is Edward Karl Leon." He uttered his true name, his eyes slowly opening up to reveal the blue sparks in his eyes.

    They shone like supernovas, like exploding stars and nebe.

    He could never give up his Identity. His dreams, his aspirations, his friends, and all of his connections.

    He could never do it.

    "I will not trade my most precious treasures for power. That is my legacy!"

    In the end, he chose a different path from the Martial de God.

    And while this would mean he could never achieve the sort of power to be gained by throwing away all the baggage of the self...

    ~Very well.~

    ... It also meant he had enough will to decide his own path for himself.

    ~You pass the test. Edward Karl Leon, I the Constetion Aries has chosen you as my new host.~

    The path of the Martial God King.

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 1024 Edwards Resurgence [Pt 2]

    The room trembled greatly as we witnessed the astral sword before us vanish.

    In no time at all, there remained no sign of Edward''s existence. It was a simply a nk, empty room.

    However...

    >FSHUUUUU<

    A light hiss slowly filled the room, and the tremors vanished almost instantly.

    Instead, power seemed to permeate the surroundings, all emerging from a single direction.

    ''Edward... did you seed?'' I asked myself as I watched the tear in space that ured right in front of me.

    Emerging from the spatial rift was a figure that I could notpletely decipher.

    He had the same auburn hair as Edward, but his build waspletely different from what I remembered.

    Rather than the bulky stature Edward before, his physique had greatly reduced. He appeared more like the Martial de God.

    ''Even if his muscles have reduced greatly, why does it feel like they''re much stronger andpressedpared to before?!''

    His long hair flowed from his head, and a robe of white light shrouded him.

    Something bright shone from his forehead, and I felt the same presence of the Constetion Aries within it.

    ''So Edward seeded, huh? Don''t scare us like that, you big oaf.''

    Such a statement seemed misced as I stared at him, though.

    His eyes were closed, and his lips were shut tight, but I could sense a form of maturity from him that I couldn''t have recognized earlier.

    Edward had grown.

    "Haaa..." He finally opened his mouth, and I witnessed his breath proceed like a heated fog.

    He slowly opened his eyes, revealing sparks of blue light from within. The abyss his eyes told of seemed endless.

    The power that oozed from his body, and was finally being put into a calm was immensely dense.

    Bountiful too.

    ''He''s gotten much stronger. Stronger than I thought he''d ever be.''

    Edward''s body, previously suspended in the air, finally touched the ground, and all the energy that radiated around the room swirled around him for a few moments before they finally dissipated.

    Thus, only he was left in the center of the room.

    For a moment, silence permeated the room as I stared at him and he stared at me. I could tell that everyone else was also looking at him, yet no one uttered a thing.

    Wu Jie had already passed out, probably due to his inability to withstand the power Edward radiated.

    "Edward. You are Edward, right?" I asked, my voice echoing both concern and curiosity.

    The power he exuded was unnatural, and his sheer calmness worried me. He feltpletely calm.

    "Perci is gone. I released his soul since he told me had fulfilled his wish if serving his master, and I no longer needed him..."

    ''Perci the Duhan?'' I asked myself, still staring at his calm facade.

    "In the end, I wasn''t able to reach the realm of the Martial de God. I couldn''t forego everything for power like he did. Still, this much is enough." He stared at his hand, flexing his fingers as his lips curled up slowly to form a smile.

    His eyes left his hands and finally settled on me once more. The expression on his face showed me how foolish my question had been.

    "With this much power, I can finally help everyone."

    This was, without an iota of doubt, the Edward I knew!

    "Ed!" I grinned,unching myself toward him in a sh.

    "Jared!" He did the exact same thing, and we instantly closed the distance between us.

    I embraced my dear friend, feeling his sturdy body hidden beneath his silky smooth kimono, and he reciprocated with a heartfelt hug.

    "Jared... >sniff< I missed you and everyone so much. Ana... >sniff< I miss her too! And Lemi too! I''ve missed you all so much!" He began to sob slightly as he tightened his grip on me.

    ''This guy... look at him mentioning Lemi''s name to me so casually.''

    Was he even trying to hide his infatuation with my daughter? I mean, Edward was a good guy, so he probably wasn''t going to hurt her<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ''... I am actually more concerned that she''ll hurt him.''

    "Well, we missed you too, Ed. It''s nice to see you, buddy."

    Genuinely smiling, I patted his broad back and kept up the embrace¡ªat least, until it grew slightly ufortable.

    "Okay. Time out, buddy!"

    We were finally able to break free from our embrace after a minute or two, and Edward still looked so emotional.

    His expression seemed so cute and childlike, aplete antithesis from the maturity he had disyed not too long ago.

    ''He''s definitely changed in some regards, but it seems his personality is the same.''

    "You never hugged me when we reunited..." I heard someone mutter, and when I nced in the direction of the voice, it was Kuzon''s.

    ''What... did he just say?!''

    "It''s not like I care or anything, but don''t you think it''s a bit unjust? You just hugging Edward out of the blue when you never treated your other friends that way..." Kuzon added, folding his hands and looking slightly displeased.

    I nced at Aloe and Ciara for confirmation to Kuzon''s words. Had U been insensitive without realizing it?

    "I mean, I don''t think it''s that big a deal..."

    "Why would I want a hug from Jared?"

    Just like that, the two of them demolished Kuzon''s argument.

    "W-what?!"

    Suddenly, it felt like he was particrlyining that I never gave him a hug.

    ''That''s so cute, Kuzon. You should have just said so.'' I smiled slyly as I stared at his slightly pink cheeks.

    "Shut up! I know what you''re thinking, Jared. It''s not like that at all."

    ''Sure, it isn''t...'' My smile broadened and I raised my eye brows to further establish my point.

    "Y-yeah! I also thought it wasn''t a big deal. I just felt like the others might have issues with it."

    For Kuzon, who usually served as the voice of reason, to suddenly flip out like this, it was hrious beyond words.

    "Don''t worry about it tok much. I believe you, Kuzon. We all do." I stifled my chuckle and looked at all myrades.

    "Right, everyone?"

    Ciara shrugged, Aloe agreed with me while giggling slightly, and Edward made a heartyugh.

    I couldn''t help but join Ed in hisugh fest.

    "You all... unbelievable!" Kuzon''s face was red now, and it only made me want tough even more.

    ''Sorry, Kuzon. I''m just so happy right now.''

    After all, we had all mostly reunited. Everyone on the list was present and ounted for.

    Everyone except Neron.

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 1025 The Epic Of Edward

    With all of us now present in the room, it was finally time to discuss our next course of action.

    ''There are many things to actually consider before taking the next step. I''m sure Kuzon is also thinking of raising it, considering the fact that he hasn''t told us to get going yet.''

    But before we could consider any of those yet, I was curious about a couple of things.

    Most specifically about Edward''s stay in this ce.

    "By the way, Edward, how exactly did you survive in this world for so long?" I found myself asking.

    We had heard things from the perspective of a denizen, but I needed urate intel from the horse''s mouth.

    "I mean, I suddenly found myself in this ce and saw some humans in need of my assistance, so I helped them. They couldn''t understand my words, and I couldn''t understand theirnguage, but I was somehow able to grasp their intentions."

    Edward began to tell us his story, and his earlier experiences in this world prior to our arrival.

    Apparently, after rescuing the humans, they began to worship him, and thy led him to their very primitive town where they regaled some things to the rest of the denizens, who in turn bowed to him.

    Till date, Edward didn''tpletely understand thenguage of the people, so his story was even less detailed than Wu Jie''s interpretation of what happened.

    "I sensed the presence of Miasma, though, and based on the disheveled state of the humans, and how I saw them previously struggling with the Demonic Beasts, I decided to help them eradicate their enemies." He continued.

    Edward told us how he easily cut through Demon after Demon and finally arrived at the heart of the Demon Territory.

    He had resolved to wipe out everyone, and he could have done so in a fee strikes, but since he wanted more information about the world, he thought about conversing with the Demonic Beasts before killing thempletely.

    "Unfortunately most of them were unintelligent, and they just attacked me unnecessarily."

    In the end, however, he was able to meet intelligent Demons at the center of the territory.

    When we asked how the experience was, Edward told us one simple thing.

    "They also bowed to worship me. Apparently, both the Demons and Humans fear and worship my power."

    In the end, Edward could not bring himself to kill the Demons, as they had their own civilization deep in the heart of their territory.

    The wild Demonic Beasts were not particrly under their control, so they weren''t the viins of the story.

    Besides, they also had to live. Just as humans killed animals and uprooted nts, they too had to sustain themselves.

    "I felt it wasn''t right to take a side and eliminate one racepletely." Edward muttered.

    However, since it was true that humans were at a disadvantage, he decided to teach them Martial Arts.

    "But they''re so weak. They don''t even have Mana Cores. I could barely reach them the Fundamental Precepts."

    Still, he taught the ones who had the physique to handle Martial Arts within his Martial Zone, so they were able to spend more time in training.

    Fortunately, there were a good number of humans that learned Martial Arts, and so we''re able to be stronger.

    "It was at this point that Aries contacted me. He told me he had been watching me for some time, and he revealed the dying wish of the Martial de God. I thought if I became stronger, I would be able to leave this ce and see you all, so I decided to undertake the process."

    Fortunately, we all reunited as soon as he finalized his test.

    "During that period, Aries has been speaking to the people on my behalf. I actually don''t know what they have been up to for some months now."

    I wondered what the people would think when they realized their guardian angel wasn''t actually guarding them.

    "In any case, I was able to impart them with some stuff I knew about from our home world. Lemi also talked about a lot of siency stuff and showed me a lot of interesting things. I was able to implement a few, especially in the hygiene and agricultural department. Based on what I sense, they are faring way better now. Hahaha!"

    It seemed Edward was really proud of his aplishments, though he tried to be modest about it.

    I had to wonder why he was extremely pleased by how far these people hade, though.

    ''There''s still a lot of work to be done, and this is even less than the bare minimum in my opinion.''

    Still, I knew I had to understand the difference we shared.

    ''He did the best he could. That alone shoes some measure of discipline.''

    The people of this world have be better off as a result of this.

    ''Still, it irks me to see them like this. I keep itching, considering all that could have been achieved.''

    If things continued this way, I would have to intervene and make some improvements, even if it was little.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ''Just as I did with the Avarians and Gatorians.'' A smile coursed through my face as I remembered those fun times.

    ''We could start with awakening Mana Cores in them.''

    Come to think of it, I sensed three different energies in this world¡ªother than Miasma, of course

    ''What if I harness those powers and allocate respective features to different people? That way, it''ll make for diversity and they will be able to use the three powers, depending on who is gifted with which.''

    I couldn''t believe I was already making ns.

    "I know what you''re thinking, Jared, but what about the Demons? If you advance the humans too much, then don''t you think it''ll be the Demons who will be getting wiped out?" Kuzon suddenly interrupted my thoughts.

    ''Urgh! Here ites...'' I prepared myself for Kuzon''s lecture.

    "Why don''t we do it like this... I''ll advance the Demons a little too. That way, we can bnce the equation."

    ''Eh? What?'' Was Kuzon actually being serious about this?

    "That''s a wonderful idea. Are you sure, though, Kuzon? Don''t we need to get home quickly?" Aloe added.

    "We should hurry to return home! We''ve found Edward, so let''s leave!" Ciara made sure her opinions were heard.

    "What do you think, Edward?" I smiled, turning to the sheepishly smiling boy.

    "Let''s do it! I want to help these people before leaving!"

    In the end, Ciara''s concerns were stifled by the rule of the majority.

    For a second I thought I sensed murderous intent from her, but it vanished so quickly, so it was probably my imagination.

    "Aloe and I will go and help the Demons. Jared and Edward should assist the humans. We''ll rendezvous in 24 hours."

    Kuzon''s proposition sounded fair enough, so we all agreed to it.

    Though, it seemed one of us was still grumbling in a corner.

    "The n is fine and all, but there''s one thing we need to address before all of that." Edward grinned widely, his eyes focusing on me.

    Somehow, I could already guess what he was going to say.

    "Jared, it''s finally time. After dedicating myself to so much training and meditation, I''ve be this strong."

    Yeah... I knew where this was leading to.

    "I believe I''ve be strong enough to challenge you." Edward''s grin widened, disying his perfect set of white teeth.

    "Fight me, Jared!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Time to see who is stronger.

    Jared or Edward; who are you rooting for?!!

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 Chapter 1026 Edward Versus Jared

    [Moments Later]

    Edward and I stood in Kuzon''s realm, The Emperor''s Domain.

    Rather than staying in the Golden Pce, Kuzon took us outdoors and even his the Golden Pce away, though I didn''t know the reason why.

    "Since you two are going to fight while going all out, I''ll serve as the impartial judge." Kuzon said as he hovered above us.

    That was also why he chose his domain as the battle ground.

    ''Using my special dimension would give me advantages, and Edward''s Martial Zone could be said to give him advantages.''

    Besides, even if we didn''t gain anything from using our domain as a battlefield, it would take up energy to maintain it¡ªenergy that would have best been used to fight.

    ''That''s why Kuzon is doing this for us instead...''

    "Thee rules are there are no rules. You can fight to the death if you wish. It doesn''t matter. Just give it your best so you don''tinter on." Kuzon dered.

    Ciara and Aloe were right beside him, and they nodded in agreement.

    ''We''re seriously doing this, huh?'' A wry smile formed on my face.

    When Edward asked me to fight him, I already knew I couldn''t refuse his offer. It was due to two major reasons.

    The first was due to Edward''s perception of me. He probably saw me as a wall he had to challenge some day.

    It probably even served as fuel to motivate him in his training.

    ''And now that he''s gotten stronger, he wants it to be me he fights.''

    The second reason was my perception of Edward. I still remembered what I told him during the Ainrk Demonic Incident.

    ''I said he was too weak. He''s gotten a lot stronger since then, but...''

    I needed to see for myself. I needed to burn the memories of his new strength within me to fully change my perception of his status.

    And... well, there was a third reason.

    ''It''s been a while since I''ve fought seriously. I might as well go all out now.''

    Hopefully my battle senses hadn''t dulled. Tok much power had a way of making one rusty in actual fights.

    I just hoped I could fight at top form.

    ''There''s only one way to find out.'' With a smile on my face, I focused on Edward''s wide grin.

    "Looks like I won''t be able to face you with a de this time, Edward."

    The first time we fought, I achieved overwhelming victory by defeating him using Martial Arts.

    It was a point of humiliation for him. But now, I couldn''t dare use sole Martial Arts to defeat him.

    Edward was far stronger than that.

    If I was going to win, I needed to use all my power for this. I required my absolute focus for this.

    "I''ll be using Magic."

    "I wouldn''t have it any other way!" He responded, raising his hand slowly.

    Instantly, a de appeared, and he tightly gripped it.

    "Alright, guys... you may start..."

    ''Going over his abilities, Edward uses Martial Arts, but I am unaware of what he''s truly capable of in his current form. To be safe, I''ll just equate him to the Martial de God.''

    He had a Constetion as a Familiar, but I did not know the capabilities of said Familiar.

    ''There''s only one way to find out!''

    "... Now!"

    The moment Kuzon''s words echoed across the field, he and all the spectators vanished from our immediate vicinity¡ªmost likely deciding to watch from a further distance.

    That was most likely the best option. After all...

    >VWUUUUSSSSHHHHHH!!!<

    ... This fight was going to be very intense.

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Edward had swiftly closed the distance between us and deftly raised his de to cut me down.

    Fortunately, I had also raised a barrier to protect myself from harm.

    ''[The Pope]...''

    My Original Magic: [Great Sage''s Memoir] was already active, and one of it''s capabilities was the automatic calction and implementation of the appropriate Spell at the appropriate time.

    Usually, it would be fast enough to catch up to the speed of my opponent, but this time it barely reacted to Edward''s speed.

    ''And this is him in his base state?!'' My eyes widened as the supposedly absolute barrier shivered in response to Edward''s de.

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    In a sh, Edward''s body turned incorporeal, and he instantly passed through the barrier, his de nearing my neck at breakneck speed.

    I swiftly teleported away using [The Tower], finally maintaining some distance between me and Edward, but even that didn''tst very long.

    In a swift motion, Edward vanished from his earlier position and appeared right behind me.

    ''He''s too fast!'' It didn''t seem like teleportation, but a testament to his sheer speed.

    >WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    The sheer might of his de rained down on me, but I instantly used [Unknowable] in order to pass through his strike.

    However...

    >FWISH!<

    ... I wasn''t able to avoid it!

    ''What?!''

    The de cleanlynded a hit, severing the Magic Barrier I ced on my body as a failsafe in case my defenses got beached.

    All it took was one strike for the entire barrier to shatter.

    ''[Unknowable] doesn''t work?! Is it because he can turn incorporeal too?'' My thoughts echoed, and I instantly teleported to retreat.

    Unfortunately, Edward followed me, deftly catching up to me as soon as I arrived at my position.

    ''Would you look at that? He''s pretty good.'' I grinned, feeling excitement slowly rise from within me.

    ''Alright, then...'' With a smile still etched on my face, I widened my eyes and decided to get a bit more serious.

    "[The Star]. [Strength]."

    Using the power of [Strength] to vastly improve the activation of another Arcana, I sent Edward crashing to the ground by exponentially increasing the gravitational pull around us¡ªof course, leaving me as the exception.

    "[The Sun]. [The Magician]. [The Devil]. [Strength]."

    Using these four to create a very explosive surge of energy, I flipped the pages of my Memoir and sought out the perfect new Spell I had been working on.

    "You better avoid this one, Edward..." I smiled, my hand lifted to hold the incredible mass of darkness that hovered above me.

    "[Swallowed Star]."

    *

    *

    *

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 Chapter 1027 God King Versus Magic Scholar

    [Swallowed Star] was a Spell that I created by using a ck hole and a supernova as inspiration.

    Bybining both using [The Lovers], I was able to create a new Spell. I really had to thank my other self for thinking of doing this on his way back to rendezvous with me.

    ''The gravitational pressure will rip you to shreds, pulling you in to the explosion of a supernova.''

    Even I wanted to see the oue.

    Edward gritted his teeth as he struggled to rise on his feet. It was impressive that he had such grit and power, enough to defy such weight.

    But...

    "[The Emperor]. [Judgement]."

    ... Those wouldn''t be enough!

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM<

    His body crashed to the ground, unable to resist my sheer domination, as well as the power that directly affected his mind and caused him to lose focus.

    ''He''s stubbornly not using his full power yet.'' My thoughts trailed.

    ''My Arcanas have limited effects on him currently, due to his current strength. I can only imagine what would happen if he chooses to unleash everything.''

    Till then, however, I was just going to treat him as a ragdoll.

    "Fall..."

    My [Swallowed Star] descended upon Edward, who simply stood still as he watched the mass of destruction close in on him with dangerous foreboding.

    ''Really? You won''t do anythi¡ª?''

    Before I couldplete my thought, however, a sudden burst of energy surged from Edward, instantly eviscerating my [Swallowed Star].

    "A-ahh... you bastard!" My eyes widened as I took in the miraculous white st he emitted.

    "You used [Rend] just now, didn''t you?"

    To think he was able to use [Rend], a mere Fundamental Precept, to destroy a Spell of such magnitude.

    ''That Swallowed Star could easily destroy a, you know??''

    After all, I had amped it up with so many Arcanas, and this guy just swung his de to eviscerate it.

    How was that fair?!

    "Haaa... it seems I have no choice but to use this form, after all." Edward''s voice echoed as his form became manifest before me.

    His body was shrouded in white energy, and his hair was currently white.

    He had nothing on except his pants, leaving his bare chest exposed. The de he wielded still remained on his hand, but it seemed more as an extension of himself.

    ''[Martial State], huh? Looks like he''s getting serious...''

    Since that was the case, I was going to use [Mage Mode] and [Martial State]. I could use the double boost, merely considering the kind of power I was sensing from Edward.

    ''Also...'' I hid my grin as I watched him open his eyes to disy the magnificent blue hue it radiated.

    ''... I might have to use ''that'' one.''

    With that in mind I braced myself as all the smoke cleared from Edward''s surrounding, leaving him untainted amidst everything.

    "It''s my turn, Jared." As he uttered words, mist emerged from his lips.

    "Don''t expect to win now."

    **********

    Edward could feel power pulsating through his body.

    This power would have been overwhelming to him in the past, but this time it only felt natural.

    He was one with his power, with his de, and with everything that stood at his disposal.

    Using the power of Martial Sense, he could perceive everything around him with absolute precision.

    He could also see ovepping events, like the immediate future and past of his opponents. He felt like he was connected to the events, frame after frame, and so he knew exactly what his opponent would do.

    There were many variables, but as long as he could prepare for them and eliminate them at the branching off point, he could cut down his target.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    And to do that, it was time to finally deploy his own techniques.

    ''After the Martial de God''s final guidance to me, I recieved enlightenment...''

    He was able to realize the path he had to take. It wasn''t the same as the Martial de God¡ªboth in life and in Martial Art.

    And that was why he could no longer use the Martial de God Technique.

    Instead, he created his own.

    Formting his own Path by learning and merging forms of the Martial de God, while improving what he thought he could by breathing those techniques to perfectly attune them into his own body.

    ''I no longer need to try to match the Martial de God Technique. Instead... the path I made matches me.''

    As a result, he couldfortably use any of his techniques... just the same way the Martial de God could use his.

    "Path Of The Martial God King: Art Of Transcendence."

    The strong influence of gravity instantly vanished, as he spread his Aether through the immediate vicinity, ridding it of any restrictions that would bind him.

    Arcanas were sure not to affect him now, as he was now in total control of himself and his surroundings.

    "I am the God King! I do not lose!" Roaring in deration, he initiated his first strike, instantly closing the distance between him and his opponent.

    ''[Path Of The Martial de God: Art Of Severance]''

    Tightly gripping his de, while easily reading through the flow of the natural order of things, he easily spotted Jared and struck.

    Absolute focus.

    Complete dedication.

    Unstoppable blow.

    These three factorsbined and formed apletely invincible de.

    And despite the power up that Jared was currently trying to realize, it didn''t stop the strike from reaching.

    "Die!"

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!<

    Instantly, Jared''s body was ripped to shreds, unable to withstand the powerful pressure of the overpowering strike.

    In that moment, Edward found himself smiling.

    His de had finally reached Jared... and the young boy who lost pathetically to a Magic User in a Martial Arts duelpletely vanished from his mind.

    The young boy whose help was rejected by his own friend due to his weakness was also removed from his thoughts.

    The older boy who powerlessly allowed his friend to die, unable to do anything about it was now purged.

    Finally breaking through all the thoughts that held him down...

    "I... I won.

    ... Edward finally found peace.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1028 Martial Arts Versus Magic

    Kuzon''s jaws dropped at the sight.

    Where he stood, with Aloe and Ciara, he had witnessed the fight with some degree of suspense, but also of certainty.

    He has honestly thought Jared would emerge victorious.

    ''But what''s with this surprising twist?''

    In the end, Edward won. How was this even possible?

    ''If it''s like this, then how could you say I might not win against Jared, Leo?'' Kuzon found himself questioning his Constetion Familiar.

    For a brief moment, Leo said nothing. It was almost as if he was sleeping.

    However, the moment he uttered his response, Kuzon found his eyes widening and his thoughts taking a different turn.

    Those words the Constetion uttered were simple.

    ~Are you sure... Jared has lost?~

    *********

    As Edward watched Jared''s body turn into nothingness, he wondered how they would revive him, considering his attack would have destroyed Jared''s soul with his body.

    ''Jared said he has a countermeasure for that, but still...''

    He had technically just killed his friend.

    ''No! I have faith in Jared. Besides, this is a match to the death. I''m sure Jared would have done the same to me if he could.''

    Absolving himself of any guilt, Edward watched the empty space before him, and a small smile formed on his face.

    "Thank you, Jared... for allowing this fight."

    Edward still felt dissatisfied since he wasn''t able to use everything at his disposal, but it was a great fight nheless.

    "You''re wee, Edward." A voice suddenly appeared from behind Edward, and as soon as he heard it, he felt a sensation on his shoulder.

    ''H-huh...?!''

    Edward''s neck mechanically turned to his shoulder and found out a hand was gripping it tightly.

    ''I... can''t move...??'' His thoughts echoed as he barely moved his head.

    "You really wanted to kill me, huh? That''s so harsh, Edward."

    ''I-is that... Jared''s voice?! H-how...?!'' Edward''s thoughts echoed.

    He was sure he struck Jared down. He had seen the path, the flow... and they never lied.

    Everything was supposed to flow in that order, and he knew his actions were truly fatal. There was no way Jared should have survived the hit.

    ''Was there a second Jared? Was this Jared a clone?''

    No! That couldn''t be! His Martial Sense would have picked it up.

    Edward was locked in a very confused line of thought, unable to fully decipher how his opponent got the better of him.

    "You seem dumbfounded, Edward. You want to know how I was able to survive despite all your efforts, right? Well, the answer is simple really..."

    Edward couldn''t see Jared''s face, but he knew the boy was smiling behind him.

    He wasn''t wrong.

    "... Magic. I won using Magic."

    **********

    ''He really thought I didn''t know he would strike me with a surefire hit.'' I smiled as I held Edward''s shoulder, forcefully suppressing his power while making himpletely immobile.

    Using [The Hermit] at the earliest point in our match, I had pretty much seen how everything would go.

    Sure, I encountered interference with my perception of the events thanks to Edward''s Aether disrupting most of it, but I still got the full gist of what would happen.

    ''All I had to do was prepare for it.''

    I knew Edward could read the future and past like the Martial de God could. I had to ount for that, so I couldn''t act conspicuously, this limiting my actions.

    ''That''s where my Original Magic''s automatic functiones into y.''

    Even though I used Martial State and Mage Mode, I knew Edward could have seen the flow of it, and would probably strike me down in the split second where I would be transforming.

    As a result, I chose to let him.

    The moment he struck me down, my Original Magic activated an Arcana that I hadn''t used in front of anyone.

    [The Papess]

    It had a very simple, but crucial function. It had the power of Absolute Regeneration and Restoration.

    As long as [The Papess] had Aether flowing through it as a fuel source, and had a record of how the structure was, it could regenerate and restore it.

    Of course, this only ounted for my body. What about my soul?

    Well... [The Papess] could also regenerate or restore Souls.

    As long as I had left my imprint on it, and it had energy to fuel it... I could regenerate any part I lost.

    ''It''s different from [The Hanged Man] which needs at least one of the elements¡ªSoul or Body¡ªto be present.''

    In a way, that made it better. But, it''s energy consumption was stupendously fraudulent.

    I could never use it to revive anyone other than myself, and only as a final resort.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Plus, since it required the materials to have been prerecorded, it wasn''t good for emergency situations.

    ''Finally, if I don''t keep updating it frequently, it''ll regenerate me to resemble a past version of myself.''

    That meant any new information or growth I had amassed after recording myself would vanish.

    I would lose memories, abilities, and pretty much anything that was obtained after recording my structure.

    ''That''s why I have to constantly update it.''

    It had it''s ws, but it was also an indispensable tool for restoration¡ªand not only for living things.

    "H-how did you... evade my detection?" Edward croaked, his voice trembling as he tried looking at me, but was unable to properly move.

    To be honest, it was already plenty impressive that he could twitch and speak in his current situation.

    "That''s a trade secret." I smiled at him, a twinkle in my eyes.

    Since I realized that the use of [Unknowable] was rendered obsolete by Edward''s ability to turn incorporeal and even detect me in this state, I had toe up with a theory on the spot.

    He could only detect me because I generated a different signature from him, and as long as I was a distinct entity, I couldn''t evade his surveince.

    Which was why, after he destroyed me and [The Popess] was activated, my Great Sage''s Memoir used Spellcraft as was preprogrammed, and shrouded me in Edward''s Aether signature, while also using [Unknowable] to hide my presence.

    By making myself one with his Aether, masking my ''distinct'' presence, while also erasing my existence from the observable scope, I was able to create a new Spell.

    [True Unknowable]

    ''Looks like I haven''tpletely lost my touch...'' I smiled at Edward, watching his powerless frame squirm in my grasp.

    "I know you weren''t going all out, Edward. Even now, you''re yet to use your full power, right?"

    My grin widened as I loosened my grip on his shoulders. Teleporting in front of him, I slightly stretched my hand towards him, as though weing a challenge.

    "The thing is... I''m yet to use mine too."

    That''s right! I had a lot left to test out, and it seemed this was going to be the perfect chance to do so.

    "So, Edward... don''t disappoint me this time. You should use everything you have... or you''ll die."

    [Important Note below, check it out!]

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Were moving to the climax of the battle, and I have decided to post below the list of Arcanas and their functions...

    .... For the readers who might get a little confused, or perhaps are unclear about their functions.

    [Arcana List]

    0 The Fool: Memories/Reality Perception Maniption

    I The Magician: Break down Aether into Nigh-Infinite Mana

    II The Papess: Absolute Regeneration/Restoration

    III The Empress: Absolute Immunity From External Influence

    IV The Emperor: Absolute Influence or Domination

    V The Pope: Absolute Protection

    VI The Lovers: Perfect/Sustainable Merging

    VII The Chariot: Technology Maniption

    VIII Justice: Bncing The ying Field

    IX The Hermit: Time Maniption

    X Wheel Of Fortune: Luck Inducement

    XI Strength: Arcana Boost and improving other effects

    XII The Hanged Man: Revival/Resurrection

    XIII Death: Attribute Death to anything

    XIV Temperance: Induce any kind of Emotions in Targets

    XV The Devil: Break down Aether to grant Nigh-infinite Miasma

    XVI The Tower: Space Maniption

    XVII The Star: Gravity Maniption

    XVIII The Moon: Perfect Duplication

    XIX The Sun: Destructive Power

    XX The Judgment: Mind and Thought Manifestation

    XXI The World: Connecting Branches In the Tree and beyond.

    I hope you all get it now!

 Chapter 1029 The One Who Stands Above [Pt 1]

    Edward gritted his teeth as he stared at Jared.

    Something swirled within him. It wasn''t hate or rage.

    No... if was awe!

    ''I''ve forgotten how amazing Jared can be!''

    Sure, he had gotten a lot strongerpared to before, but Jared was also bound to have experienced some growth as well

    ''Pulling my punches is merely an insult to his power.''

    With that in mind, Edward searched deep within himself and resolved to do all it took to achieve victory.

    ''Mind de... Martial Zone... and even my Constetion, Aries...'' His muscles tensed and the energy he exuded rose to an immeasurable degree.

    ''... I will use everything at my disposal!''

    **********

    ''That''s the spirit, Edward.'' I smiled, looking at my opponent''s resolute expression.

    It seemed he was finally going to take things seriously.

    Unfortunately for him, so was I.

    "ytime is over."

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    Using [Strength] to improve my overall Aether output as well as increase it''s efficiency, I used Spellcraft to gather even more Aether to me, while also using [The Magician] and [The Devil] to produce Mana and Miasma respectively, which would automatically bepressed by my Great Sage''s Memoir algorithm to produce more Aether.

    Finally, by using [The Sun], I was able to increase the destructive power each one would possess.

    The ability to eat away at anything and cause unfathomable destruction... I had it in the palm of my hand.

    Everything I prepared ured within a moment thanks to the use of [The Hermit], and before any time was properly consumated, I was done.

    "[Path Of The Martial God King... Devastation]"

    In a natural, overwhelming flow, Edward closed the distance between us, almost as if time hade to a standstill.

    The sheer pressure of his Aether distorted the effects of my Arcana on the surroundings, pushing the effects of my spatial barrier away.

    He swing his de, ready to cut me into two, but my barrier, forged through the use of [The Pope] easily deflected his de.

    Using the same trick asst time, he turned his body Intangible, bing one with the Aether around him.

    In response to that, I used an equally powerful Spell, evenly calcted by my Great Sage''s Memoir, to repel him back.

    ''Are we back to this?'' I grinned, wondering what Edward could be up to.

    Fortunately, I didn''t have to wait for very long.

    "Mind de..." He murmured, finally making his real move.

    In a brilliant surge of Aether, incorporeal des appeared all over the sky, surrounding me in their multitudes.

    They littered the sky, far more than I could bear to count.

    ''I see. Since [The Pope] can''t deflect strikes like these, he wants to use their overwhelming number to damage me, or at least wear me out.''

    It was a shame, though.

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

    As the des converged on my location, I activated the effect of an Arcana that rendered all of Edward''s efforts to null.

    "[Death]."

    Dark misty energy leaked from me, coursing through the air.

    The moment the des got within range, they all got corroded by the concept of death that I unleashed, easily turning nk in no time.

    All the supposed damage I was going to recieved amounted to nothing as the des died the moment they got close.

    Their numbers, in the thousands, all perished with the activation of the Arcana.

    ''[Death]es for all...'' With a smile on my face, I challenged Edward by stretching my hand and beckoning him toe.

    "What''s next?"

    His furrowed brows expressed how determined he was, and this time, instead of summoning many of his Mind des, Edward created a massive incorporeal sword in the sky.

    ''It''s toorge for death to consume at once... I see.''

    [Death] returned anything to a state of non-effect or nonexistence. It''s true function was by rendering any kind of death onto it''s target.

    Since my targets this time were non-living, the best method was by wearing off their durability, chipping off their essence, or aging them.

    Unfortunately, with the mass of Edward''s summoned de, it would take some time for any of those concepts to apply.

    ''In that case...'' My thoughts echoed as I watched the steady weapon set its target on me.

    >WHOOOOOSSSHHHH<

    ''... I''ll just merge the effects of [The Pope] and [Death]... with [The Lovers].''<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The result?

    >VWUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!<

    The de was met with an absolute barrier coated with the concept of death.

    ... It could not pass through.

    ''I would have easily used [The Tower] to teleport it, but the density of the Aether is distorting too much space.''

    But it was really of no consequence to me. I could use other moves at my disposal.

    ''I can''t remain on the defensive forever, now can I? My turn!''

    With an excited smile and a well calcted gaze, I leapt towards Edward, easily crossing the distance we had.

    He was well prepared, seeing as he took his stance to fight me.

    ''I''m sure you can''t see the flow clearly too, considering the fact that I''m distorting it with my Arcanas, now can you''

    Plus... I had [The Empress], which basically exempted me from his observatory cage.

    "Let''s try a good old fashioned punch!"

    Using [The Star] and [The Sun] to increase the weight and power my punch possessed, I easily crossed the threshold by simultaneously using [Wheel Of Fortune] to improve my power.

    ''If I use an [The Emperor] to dominate the [Wheel Of Fortune], I can merge it with [The Lovers] to get the results I desire...''

    Which meant...

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!<

    ... A guaranteed hit.

    The space around us shattered, and Edward was hit directly in the stomach, sending both saliva and blood gushing out of his mouth as his eyes nearly popped out of his sockets.

    ''Not done yet!''

    I grabbed him by the face, tightening my grip on him as swiftly as I could.

    Using [Temperance] to weaken his resolve and mental resistance, I utilized [Judgement] to induce hallucinations on him, creating phantom pains he must have wished he could escape.

    "GAAAARRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    As he tried struggling, doing his best to break free, I added [The Emperor] to the mix, further diminishing his power.

    With the current stock of Aether I had at mymand, Edward stood no chance at all.

    This was why I didn''t want to go serious, to begin with.

    "Do you see now, Edward? You''re still too weak."

    ********

    Edward was in indescribable pain as he powerlessly remained in Jared''s clutches.

    Despite his resounding screams that filled the air, Jared did not show any merch and continued to torture him.

    ''Pathetic...'' Edward''s thoughts faded as he suffered.

    ''I''m so pathetic...''

    Even after all that training, and all his efforts, this wall still seemed too high for him to ovee.

    ~Do you need my help?~ A voice echoed from within him.

    It was the only light he currently possessed in the overwhelming void that surrounded him.

    Aries, the Constetion of Will and Action called onto him, expecting an answer.

    And in the depths of his despair, Edward responded with the only words he could utter.

    "Help me, Aries."

    ... And that was enough to change everything.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1030 The One Who Stands Above [Pt 2]

    A sudden bright light radiated around Edward, swallowing him whole in it''s brilliance.

    Jared, who had been tightly gripping him, was sent flying away by the sheer power that began to grow from him.

    The entire surroundings quaked in the presence of the power that was emerging from his very depths, materializing to form a magnificent beam of glory.

    All of a sudden, Edward''s long flowing white hair began glittering brighter than before, and his body turned bright pale, as if he was adorned with stars.

    Several floating des revolved around him, and he was adorned with a magnificent white robe.

    "I understand now..." Edward muttered as he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a deep wisdom and revtion in his eyes that shone as bright as supernovas.

    In his grasp was unfathomable power, and the simple effect of that power made all the difference.

    ~I represent Will and Action. All you have to do is ''will'' it into existence, and ites into effect.~

    That was the power of Aries.

    "Now... it is my power." He stared at Jared with a focused gaze.

    With this Representation that had been bestowed upon him, Edward felt like he had the ability to reshape the very reality that he had been restricted by.

    "I WILL defeat you, Jared. This fight WILL end in my victory."

    At that very moment, Edward summoned an unbreakable de to his grasp, instantly imbuing it with his will.

    So long as he had an unshakeable will, he couldmand anything into action.

    The des that hovered around him served as an extension of himself, and even the robe he donned was a representation of his ascension.

    Currently... he was invincible.

    *******

    "Looks like I''ll have to take you more seriously, Edward." I whispered as I stared at his current form.

    ''He has more Aether than me, and his form diallows the effects of my current set of Arcanas.''

    The battle before me just got a lot more difficult¡ªno, practically impossible¡ªto win.

    I was tempted to call it off, considering the fact that I couldn''t match the power of a Constetion in my current state.

    ''My Familiars are nowhere close to Aries in power, and my most powerful tools¡ªmy Arcanas¡ªare pretty useless...''

    By all representations, it would seem that I was stuck.

    "Oh well..." My grin grew wider as I prepared myself for the iing volley.

    It was just like I told Kahn and pretty much anyone who brought a case of impossibility to me.

    ''With Magic, nothing is impossible!''

    Which was why I wasn''t going to surrender myself to such a concept as an absolute loss.

    ''Why don''t we test it out right here and now?'' My thoughts established firmly as I cooled my breath.

    ''A mere human fighting against a Constetion!''

    As soon as I concluded my thought, Edward suddenly appeared in front of me.

    ''H-huh?!''

    There was no sound or sign. He simply appeared before me in a sh.

    Before I had even the slightest chance to think, a de was already slicing off.my head and breaking away my soul.

    I was going to die!

    "Haaa!"

    Fortunately... [The Popess] came into y, healing and restoring me back to original shape before long.

    Rather unfortunately, as soon as I regained consciousness, yet another vicious de cut through me, killing me instantly.

    Of course, I was revived once again, but only to meet yet another strike that ended my life as abruptly as thest.

    ''Ah... I see what you''re trying to do, Edward!'' A grin formed on my face as de after de killed me over and over again.

    ''You want me to run out of energy and ultimately die for real...''

    His n was solid.

    At my current pace, and at the rate [The Popess] was reviving me, I was going to die in the next few more tries.

    ''The Constetion''s powers are affecting the effects of my Arcanas, so I decided to focus all my attention and Aether to [The Popess], but the Aether consumption is even more than before.''

    I was going to run out of energy very soon.

    ''Fortunately... it''s ready.''

    As Edward''s de neared me, most likely resorting to killing me for the second to final time, I decided to reveal my ace.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ... The ace I developed just now.

    "Haaa..."

    [Memoir Alert]

    What was happening was quite simple, butplex at the same time.

    Using [The Moon] and [The Lovers] as a base, for extrapting and merging¡ªfission and fusion¡ªI created a new function in my Grand Sage''s Memoir that would allow me to perfectly synthesize Spells by perfectly merging qualities of several various spells while keeping their efficiency or even improving them

    This process would be based on the Memoir''s algorithm, and the incubation period would be nearly instantaneous since the calctions would be done at breakneck speed, especially if it concluded it''s task in my special dimension while automatically using [The Hermit] to speed up it''s process.

    It took a ridiculous amount of Aether, which ounted for my rapid drain in energy after so many efforts to improve it immensely.

    And so, by separating the effects of independent Arcanas and Spells already in my possession, and merging their properties... I was able to form a new Arcana.

    [Original Magic: Great Sage''s Memoir Arcana Synthesis Complete]

    <Arcana: [Aries] concluded>

    ~[Aries] will be activated~

    Everything was being handled by my Memoir, independent of my own actions. All I recieved was the feedback.

    ''Hurry up!'' I cried, feeling the edge of the de already reaching my neck, about to snuff the life out of me once more.

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!!<

    It happened instantly¡ªthe effects of my Arcana.

    "W-what''s happening...?" Edward muttered, his eyes widening as his apparel slowly banished and his swords evaporated.

    The de he held shattered upon contact with my neck, and his glistening body returned to normal.

    "[Aries] has only one function..." I smiled, watching Edward''s dumbstruck expression with glee.

    "... To feed you with enough despair to counteract your will."

    By merging properties from [Temperance], [The Emperor], [Judgement], [Death], and [Justice], I was able to make it.

    Of course, there was no way I could overwhelm a Constetion Fusion Mode Edward with my power alone, so I decided not to.

    ''I used [Spellcraft] to use Arie''s bountiful energy as fuel for the Arcana.''

    In the end, an Arcana was just a form. Once I was able to understand and manipte the flow of the form to my benefit, the rest followed.

    ''Thankfully I already read the flow of Aries'' Aether signature from our first encounter, and I alsopletely registered Edward''s Aether, which allowed me to use [True Unknowable].''

    Everything I had experienced till now aided me in my venture to disrupt and defeat Edward''s Constetion''s power.

    "Y-you... you can''t do this!" Edward shouted in both exasperation and confusion.

    His widened eyes disyed nothing short of disbelief at my actions.

    "Why can''t I?" I smiled, narrowing my gaze on him.

    Magic. Martial Arts. Aether. Nether. Mana. Miasma....

    ... All of these things were well documented thanks Tommy experience and discoveries.

    Discoveries bred evolution, and evolution need change. These changes were constant, and they led to the very disruption of what anyone would perceive as reality.

    Change was absolute, and the one who caused that change could be said to be an absolute being.

    "I am the one who stands at the top. There''s no limit to what I can''t do."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1031 The Absolute One

    Frustration coursed through Edward''s heart.

    His awe and affection slowly morphed into a deep desire to win.

    Desperation clutched his heart deeply, and his bloodshot eyes clearly depicted his disbelief at his own loss.

    Something like this shouldn''t have been happening!

    "Aries, do something! Help me!" Edward shouted, his powerful voice quaking the space around him.

    ~I am sorry, Edward. But with the current disconnect we have, I won''t be able to aid you any longer...~

    Those words shattered Edward''s heart, and the crouching despair that slowly enveloped him slowly began to consume his very being.

    ''N-no...'' His thoughts whispered to him. ''... I can''t lose now.''

    Not yet! He hadn''t gone all-out yet!

    Yes... what else hadn''t he done yet? There had to be something he was yet to try.

    "No matter what you do, I will win." Jared''s voice annoyingly rang in his ears, and his muscles trembled the more he heard his taunts.

    ''I... I am not weak. Not anymore! NOT ANYMORE!!!''

    >VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!<

    There was one final thing he could do. It was exempted from the fight because it was going to shift the bnce one way or the other, but Edward could no longer see any other way out.

    This was his ultimate path to victory¡ªthe only one he had left.

    "Martial Zone..." He whispered.

    "Hey, Edward, what are you¡ª??!" Kuzon''s distant voice was silenced by the special dimension that swallowed both Edward and Jared, transporting them to the special realm Edward created through his Martial will.

    ''I won''t lose... not yet!''

    Despite Jared mentioning despair, Edward felt perfectly fine. He no longer felt the crushing weight of such negative emotion on him, but rather it was the opposite.

    Edward never felt more alive!

    "Oh? We''re back here again. This Martial Zone of yours... it''s amazing." Jared''s voice echoed in the vast expanse that surrounded them.

    The nebe that upied the sea of space. The glittering stars around. The brilliant contrast of both light and darkness.

    Edward knew his Martial Zone was beautiful.

    "You don''t seem too bothered. None.of your Arcanas will work in Martial Zone."

    This was a world made by him. It functioned ording to his own rules, was manifested ording to his will, and the concepts within were all established by him.

    No one was allowed to alter anything.

    "Your Magic will also be limited. In contrast, I will be able to do anything I desire within this space."

    An immeasurable incorporeal swords appeared instantly, allrger than the single massive Mind de he had summoned back during his fight with Jared.

    Their numbers were overwhelmingly staggering.

    And yet... despite all of this, Jared merely broke into a smile.

    "I am well aware." He simply uttered.

    ''Where is this hubris of hising from??'' Edward found himself constantly confounded by Jared''s line of thought and his arrogant words.

    It infuriated him to no end.

    "I have trained for hundreds of years just for this moment. I am far stronger than I was before, and in this Martial Zone, I am absolute!''

    What could Jared possibly do against those odds?

    "Absolute, huh? That''s an interesting proposition..." An insultingughter proceeded from Jared''s lips.

    "Why don''t we test that out?"

    "What will you do? Make another Arcana? You have something else that canbat this, huh? Is that it?!" Edward bellowed out, his realm quaking as a result of his rising rage.

    "Not exactly." Jared''s response was short and simple.

    "Then¡ª"

    "I don''t need to make an Arcana to stop you. Frankly, it takes too much Aether, and I''m almost out..."

    That was even more good news! It only made sense that after doing so many impossible deeds, Jared had finally reached his limits.

    ''But if that''s the case, why is he telling me all of this?!''

    What was his angle?

    "That''s why I''ll show you something instead. Once you experience it, I''ll let you decide."

    "Decide what? Who wins this battle?" Edward abruptly responded.

    "No. Whether you''re really absolute."

    "Tch! You..." Edward''s teeth grated with each other, causing the des he created to intensify n power and double in size.

    "... This is the end!"

    The des lunged at him with perfect speed, each packing enough power to utterly obliterate him.

    "I agree. It is the end..."

    Edward felt like he was suddenly thrust into a world where time was still.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The des heunched towards Jared were seemingly stopped in motion, and so was Jared.

    Everything was still, including him.

    ''W-what is...''

    "Your Martial Zone is lovely, but why don''t I show you something more interesting?" A voice echoed from all across the Martial Zone Edward dominated.

    It sent shivers down his spine, and he trembled at the sudden authority that assailed him.

    "It''s still iplete, but..."

    Edward felt his Martial Zone being overwritten at a rapid pace, and everything around him being swallowed by something bigger¡ªgreater than himself and everything he knew.

    "... Primeval Magic..."

    Edward''s eyes widened at the new world that he was forcefully thrust into, his entire body entirely overwhelmed by the infinite expanse that overrode his senses.

    "... [Great Sage''s Archives]."

    Gone was the Martial Zone he had crafted with meticulous detail, now reduced to a minuscule speck amidst countless gxies that stretched out before him.

    His eyes widened in disbelief as he beheld the breathtaking beauty that unfolded in every direction.

    Endless nebe swirled in vibrant hues, cascading across the cosmic canvas like ethereal brushstrokes. Stars, each one a brilliant jewel, dotted the celestial expanse, their radiance illuminating the vastness of this new world.

    The dimension stretched out endlessly in every direction, a seemingly infinite multiverse housing countless universes within its embrace. Stratas andyers intertwined, forming a tapestry of existence that defiedprehension.

    Edward''s gaze swept across the celestial expanse, his eyes tracing the interweaving threads of universes that stretched far beyond his line of sight.

    He witnessed gxies upon gxies, sprawling across the cosmic canvas like luminescent tendrils. Colors danced and swirled, painting the backdrop of this unfathomable dimension with a kaleidoscope of cosmic energies.

    The boundaries between universes blurred, allowing glimpses into other dimensions that coexisted in harmonious chaos.

    Edward witnessed realms of ethereal beauty, wherendscapes defied earthly logic and imagination ran wild.

    Forests of crystalline trees flourished under starlit skies, their branches whispering secrets of ancient wisdom.

    Mountains rose like sentinels, their peaks brushing against clouds of swirling stardust.

    In another dimension, he witnessed a cityscape of shimmering towers, their architecture defying the constraints of earthly materials.

    A cacophony of sounds, both alien and familiar, filled the air as beings from countless worlds mingled and coexisted, celebrating the diversity of existence.

    Edward''s gaze roamed across the immense panorama, his previous creation relegated to a mere collection amidst the grandeur that surrounded him.

    The Emperor''s Domain, Ainrk Academy, The Nether Cult''s Headquarters, all of them now stood as individual structures among countless other vast dimensions and realms that formed just a fraction of this extraordinary tapestry.

    But amidst the splendor and majesty, his attention was drawn inexorably towards the center of it all.

    There, an imposing figure loomed, dwarfing everything else in its presence. Edward felt an inexplicable pull, as if the very fabric of this dimension bent towards this immense being.

    As he approached, he realized that even the scale of his new surroundings was irrelevant inparison to the sheer magnitude of the entity before him.

    He felt smaller than an ant, a mere speck in the cosmic scheme of things. The being turned its gaze upon him, and Edward felt a mixture of trepidation and awe coursing through his veins.

    A smile, warm and enigmatic, stretched across the being''s countenance, radiating a sense of unfathomable power and wisdom.

    In that instant, Edward recognized the entity before him.

    It was Jared!

    "Wee to my domain." The voice echoed, and at that moment, the final vestiges of the will to fight vanished from him.

    "I told you, Edward. The one who stands at the top is the one who initiates change." Jared''s voice danced in Edward''s ears, irresistible, yet soft.

    Edward finally understood Jared''s words from earlier. He could finallyprehend why Jared couldn''t ept the proposition he made about him being absolute.

    Compared to the tiny speck of dust that was his Martial Zone, Jared''s [Great Sage''s Archives] constantly grew and evolved, and was vaster than anything he could everprehend.

    It was infinitely changing and growing.

    There was no longer any doubt in Edward''s mind as he finally admitted his loss. He couldn''t deny it any longer.

    ''The absolute one... is Jared.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thus concludes the fight. What did you think?

    I mean, Jared was always going to win against Edward, but did you imagine it to be to this degree? And now it seems Jared has ess to Primeval Magic.

    ... AND HE HAS NO CONSTELLATION!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1032 The Great Sages Archives

    The Great Sage''s Archives¡ªit was a culmination of all the spells and worlds I had ever experienced.

    An ever-growing tapestry of knowledge and power, woven together into one vast realm. Within its confines, I held absolute control and unrivaled understanding.

    It was a world that functioned as an extension of myself, granting me the gifts of omniscience and omnipotence.

    Every spell I had ever encountered, every world I had ever explored¡ªthey converged within the Archives, bing a part of me.

    The realm itself embodied my collective consciousness and experiences, making it a force beyond measure. Within its boundaries, Spellcraft was always activated, and the very fabric of reality bent to my will.

    It was this inherent advantage that Edward, despite his determination and skills, never stood a chance against.

    The moment he stepped foot into the Great Sage''s Archives, the realm recognized him as an intruder, an entity to be eliminated.

    Its defenses, fueled by my knowledge and understanding, would swiftly cut him down before he even had a chance to make a move.

    As I watched him, dwelling in the height of my power, a mix of emotions swirled within me. On one hand, I felt a sense relief that I was able to defeat Edward despite his growing strength.

    Yet, at the same time, a tinge of mncholy crept into my thoughts. It was true that Edward had been overpowered by the might of the Great Sage''s Archives, but I couldn''t help but wonder what he could have achieved had the circumstances been different.

    What could he have be if given the opportunity to forge his own path after defeating me?

    However, dwelling on such thoughts was futile. The rules of this realm were clear, and Edward''s defeat served as a reminder of the hierarchy that governed our existence.

    As friends andrades, we would continue to support and guide each other, but the Great Sage''s Archives remained my domain, my source of unparalleled power.

    ''And I remain stronger...''

    With a deep breath, I refocused my attention on the present moment. The fight was over, and all that remained was the aftermath.

    The Great Sage''s Archives would continue to expand and evolve, epassing new spells and worlds as we ventured forward.

    And as for Edward, well, he would find his own path. Whether he would grow stronger in his own way or find his own sources of power, only time would tell.

    ''He hasn''t reached the limits just yet...''

    For now, I would cherish the lessons learned and hope we could continue growing together. Because in the end...

    ''... That''s all that matters.''

    **********

    Edward and I returned to the Golden Pce almost as soon as we left, and I could see the gazes of everyone rush us the moment we made our appearance.

    It was clear who had emerged victorious based on our countenance alone, so no one bothered to ask.

    We hadn''t really spoken since I won the fight, and I could tell he was feeling pretty defeated. He admitted that he lost and recognized that I had way more power than him, but he still needed time to swallow it all.

    ''No shame in that, really.''

    I nced at our buddies¡ªAloe, Ciara, and especially Kuzon¡ªand saw the surprise and curiosity written all over their faces.

    Kuzon, in particr, had this look like he was wondering who would win if he and I threw down.

    Well, I knew exactly what was going through his head. It was a question that hung between us, sparking some excitement and maybe a little nervousness.

    ''We''ll find out eventually...'' I couldn''t help but smirk to myself.

    I personally looked forward to when our powers would collide. It was going to be one heck of a showdown. The unknown always gets me pumped, and I was ready for the ride.

    Turning back to Edward, I smiled as we made eye contact. Nodding slowly, I finally spoke.

    "You''re not weak at all. You''re the strongest I''ve fought in a while."

    Perhaps those words wouldn''t do very much to satiate his dissatisfaction, but that was all I could say.

    "T-that''s all I wanted to hear." His words, solemn and calm, finally echoed from his lips as streams of tears slowly dripped from his eyes.

    ''Haa... this guy.''<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Tears fell from Edward''s eyes, and I stared at him ufortably, trying my hardest to keep my emotions in check. Still, I had to admit... he had reallye a long way.

    ''Some things just never change, I guess.''

    ********

    Kuzon felt conflicted as he stared at Jared from where he stood. What just happened had defied all his expectations, and he was still bound for even greater shock.

    ''What did you think of the entire exchange, Leo? I didn''t see the grand finale of the fight, but Jared was clearly superior throughout.''

    ~I detect a trace of Primeval Magic emanating from him. It seems he''s advanced even further than you realized.~

    Kuzon''s eyes instantly widened in utter shock.

    "Primeval Magic? From Jared? But how?" he murmured, his mind racing to grasp the implications of this revtion.

    Leo continued, his deep voice resonating within Kuzon''s core. "Though iplete, the Primeval Magic within Jared is still considerable. It signifies a level of power and understanding that surpasses what we previously perceived."

    A mix of awe and trepidation washed over Kuzon. He had always recognized Jared''s strength, but this revtion revealed a depth he had not fullyprehended.

    Memories of the recent fight, and Jared''s ability to triumph over Edward, despite thetter''s Constetion Familiar, flooded his thoughts.

    Realization dawned upon him. ''Leo... you were right. Jared''s strength goes beyond raw power. He has a way of winning even when he''s not necessarily stronger than his opponent," Kuzon acknowledged, a hint of caution coloring his voice.

    Using the Arcanas and his understanding of Magic, Jared had turned the tides and achieved a feat no one could have predicted.

    It was terribly intimidating.

    ~You might find it odd that I say this, Kuzon, but power alone does not guarantee victory. It is the fusion of strategy, skill, and the depths of one''s understanding that can tip the scales in one''s favor.~

    For a Constetion whose Representation was ''Authority'' to say something like that, Kuzon knew the words carried weight.

    ~In Jared''s case, it seems he has both. That makes him even more formidable. In the instance where the both of you fight, it seems Jared has a higher chance of winning.~

    A sense of determination flickered within Kuzon''s eyes as he heard Leo''s conclusion to the question that had been bothering him.

    ... As well as a deep sense of intimidation.

    ''If that''s the case, then I just have to get even stronger. I refuse to be left behind.''

    It wasn''t out of envy or animosity, or at least Kuzon didn''t think it was. He simply felt the desire to win.

    ''Jared really is like a rival to me.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you think of Jared''s Primeval Magic? Pretty cool, yeah?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1033 The Divine Revolution

    [Moments Later]

    As I stood at the precipice of the primitive society in the world, a certain weight of responsibility settled upon my shoulders like a heavy mantle.

    Before me stood not only Edward, but also a gathering of people whose lives were about to be forever changed.

    This primitive world, with its untapped potential, awaited our touch, our guidance, our vision. Together, we had made the decision to embark on the monumental task of nurturing and developing this budding civilization, each of us bringing our unique skills and knowledge to shape its future.

    I understood that the first step on this transformative journey was to awaken the dormant potential within each individual, to unlock the depths of their hidden power.

    With a focused gaze, I reached out, delving into the very essence of their being, touching their souls with the spark of awakening.

    There were three distinct kinds of energy that the humans in this world could wield, and I had used my Aether to harness them. Resonating them with my Arcana [The Magician], I could produce them inrge quantities too.

    And that included condensing them in order to form active and functional Cores.

    One by one, I infused the people before me with Cores, mystical conduits that would allow them to harness the boundless energy that surrounded them.

    In that sacred moment, I witnessed a surge of energy, a symphony of power and possibility, as the Cores awakened within them.

    I named these conduits, these fountains of energy, Mana, Chi, and Ki, each representing a distinct facet of their potential.

    Some were gifted with Mana Cores, granting them the ability to tap into the supernatural currents of Magic.

    Others were bestowed with Ki Cores, empowering them to channel their inner energy, mastering Martial Arts and physical prowess.

    And for those with Chi Cores, they possessed a delicate bnce, a harmony of both magic and martial ability, enabling them to traverse the realms of possibility.

    Yet, in this awakening, doubts lingered among the people.

    They had been taught that magic was inferior to the might of Martial arts by their deity and ruler, the God King. Skepticism cast a shadow upon their faces, their belief systems wavering in uncertainty.

    ''If only they knew how badly their God King lost to me...''

    In order to preserve Edward''s dignity, though, I refrained from saying anything. We were all seen as Transcendental Beings anyway.

    The people still clung to their very inurate beliefs, until Edward finally had to step forward to stop this bias, his voice infused with conviction.

    "Magic is not a weakness, my friends. It is a gift, a tool that will help us shape our destiny," he proimed, his words resonating with authority. "Embrace it, and it will unlock the true potential within you."

    Edward''s words carried weight, his identity as the God King bolstering their trust in his guidance.

    With newfound determination, they embraced the challenge before them, setting forth on the path of learning and mastering magic, their hearts alight with the me of discovery.

    It was actually in the midst of this transformative process, that I made a profound discovery about the effects of these energies within the people.

    Those blessed with Ki Cores possessed a natural affinity for martial arts, an instinctive connection to the physical realm.

    It became clear to me that Edward, with his unparalleled expertise in the field, would be their ideal mentor, their guide along the path of discipline and skill.

    And so, I entrusted him with the task of training those with Ki Cores, allowing him to impart his wisdom and expertise, shaping them into formidable warriors.

    Meanwhile, my focus shifted to the individuals blessed with Mana and Chi Cores.

    I delved deeper into the intricate arts of magic, unraveling the mysteries of Spells, Grades, and the basic principles that governed them.

    I had to admit... it was pretty exciting.

    However, I encountered a challenge with those who possessed Chi Cores. The delicate bnce of energies within them sought a harmonious support to remain stable.

    It was then that inspiration struck, and I realized that Familiars could be the key.

    These mystical creatures, bound to individuals and sharing their essence, would provide the much-needed equilibrium for those with Chi Cores.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ''I have more than enough that I''m not using anyway. Might as well give others so they''re useful...''

    Drawing upon the weaker Familiars that resided within myself, I shared them with the people, forging connections between them and the Familiars.

    This symbiotic bond allowed the people to harness their Chi more effectively, providing a nurturing support for their energy. The Familiars became their constantpanions, guiding them, strengthening their Chi, and aiding in their journey towards mastery.

    As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, I marveled at the progress made by the people.

    Of course, I was using [The Hermit] to grant me more time in the space, allowing me to fully nurture them.

    Their mastery of magic, their honing of martial skills, and their harmonious control over their energy began to flourish. It was a testament to their unwavering dedication, their indomitable spirit, and the boundless potential thaty dormant within each of them.

    As my time among them drew to a close, a bittersweet feeling washed over me. The civilization we had nurtured would continue to grow and flourish, long after we were gone. They had be the torchbearers of a new era, the custodians of knowledge, and the guardians of their world.

    With their newfound power and wisdom, they were equipped to shape their own destinies, to protect and guide their people with the strength and wisdom we had imparted.

    They would be the architects of a future that held infinite possibilities.

    And as I stood there, witnessing the transformation taking ce before my eyes, I knew that the mission had been a resounding sess.

    Edward and I had left an indelible mark upon this world, empowering its inhabitants to strive for greatness, to conquer their own limitations, and to embrace the ever-unfolding tapestry of their own potential.

    Ciara was busy doing nothing in the meantime, though she mentioned something about training, so that was probably it.

    Kuzon and Aloe arrived as soon s I canceled the effects of [The Hermit], right on time. I had to wonder what he and her could have taught them in such a limited amount of time, considering the fact that they didn''t have the power to control the flow of time like I did.

    They mentioned something about simply evolving the species, and leaving behind a memento to help guide them into the future.

    "Kuzon did most of the training, to be honest. I only helped build their technology and improve their way of living a little."

    ''What did he do?'' I had to wonder to myself.

    Using my sensory abilities, I sensed essences of Kuzon in every single Demon that existed at the center of the forest, appearing like worms.

    I also noticed something akin to a being made of strings, most likely created by his [Marite], staying with the Demons.

    He most likely meant to allow the puppet to teach them in his absence. It wasn''t a bad call at all.

    ''Now I understand what he means by evolution...''

    I smiled, realizing we were done with our mission here, and it was finally time for the next step.

    ''And this one is the most important of all...''

    We had to focus on what to do about Neron.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Just so you know, this world and everything that happened here is linked to the SWORDCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Nameless Nobody novel.

    So if you want to see how the story evolves or devolves, you can check it out.

    Here''s the /book/swordcraft-reincarnation-of-a-nameless-nobody_26041719605806405

 Chapter 1034 Group Decision

    Now within Kuzon''s Golden Pce, separated from the world beyond, we all sat opposite each other, most our gazes on the man of the hour.

    Kuzon''s voice broke through the silence, his tone heavy with grim determination.

    "I suppose it''s time I told you all why we''re here..."

    He was the one who approached us on the prospect of a meeting, and I could tell that everyone was anxiously waiting for what he would say. Since we had concluded our business in this world, there was nothing else that tied us here.

    Nothing except the apprehension that leaked from Kuzon.

    "It''s about Neron." Just as I expected, he revealed the root cause.

    The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Kuzon''s words hung in the air, their weight pressing upon most of us like an unspoken truth.

    Aloa and I pretty much knew what the topic was about, and Ciara seemed to get the gist of the situation. Only Edward was leftpletely lost, and from his confused expression, it was left obvious.

    "What about Neron? What''s going on?" he asked, his brows furrowing with concern.

    I exchanged a knowing nce with Kuzon, my mind already racing with possibilities.

    Neron was our hero. We all knew how dear he was to each of us, so it was natural that this sort of discussion would be difficult to have.

    I wasn''t personally in support of it, since I felt we could just confront Neron on the issue, but merely doing that wouldn''t satisfy Kuzon.

    ... And he was the one who had the key to take us home, so I just had to go along with it.

    "It''s about whether or not we should get him," I replied, my voiceced with a mixture of caution and determination.

    I fixed my gaze upon Kuzon, a slight smile on my face. "Right?"

    Kuzon nodded solemnly, his eyes reflecting the gravity of the situation. "We need to discuss the steps we should take concerning Neron and whether we can trust him going forward."

    Curiosity and concern flickered in Edward''s eyes as he leaned forward, his voice filled with inquiry. "What do you mean? Can''t we trust him?"

    Aloe''s voice cut through the room, its edges sharp with caution. "Neron might not be all he seems to be. We cannot ignore the possibility that he might be an enemy in disguise. Or at least have some hidden agendas that will cause us more harm than good."

    The weight of Aloe''s words settled upon Edward, casting a somber pall over the room. The realization that someone we hade to rely on, someone who had basically saved the world, could potentially be plotting against us seemed absurd... or was I the only one who considered that?

    "I personally feel we should just trust Neron. His methods might make us ufortable, but maybe..."

    "Are you ignoring the fact that we''ve met other variants of Neron, Jared? Crazy Neron said not to trust any of them, and guess what? He''s been proven right every time!"

    "The Neron I encountered in the world I was transported to wasn''t like that!"

    "Are you so sure?"

    "W-well..." I mean, from everything I noticed, he wasn''t a viin at all.

    He did everything for those he loved, and he genuinely cared about the world. He was more simr to the Neron from our world than any other version we encountered.

    "We should consider all angles," Aloe interjected, her voice firm. "If it is determined that Neron poses a threat, we need to be prepared to eliminate him."

    Silence followed her words as the gravity of our situation sunk in. Kuzon and Ciara nodded gently, all in agreement, while Edward still seemed confused.

    "You guys... have you considered the possibility that Legris nned all of this to intentionally sow discord between us and Neron?"

    "Jared. I don''t think that excuses Neron''s intentional inaction to send us sprawling across the branches without even telling us anything." Kuzon narrowed his gaze in a re.

    "He must have had his reasons." I realized how weak my argument was but I genuinely thought so.

    "You''re just being blinded by bias," Aloe sharply responded.

    It was surprising that Aloe, of all people, would take this stance, but I could understand why. It must have been due to her interaction with Chad.

    "Neron is our most powerful ally. You realize we need all the help we can get with the way things are going now, right? We can''t just turn against Neron at a critical time like this."

    "I know. Which is why I''m not suggesting we turn against him. I''m just saying we should be prepared for the worst. We can''t fully trust him, so until we can determine whether or not we can trust him, we shouldn''t rely on that possibility."

    Edward, after receiving a refresher course from me through the use of Magic to bring him up to speed, finally spoke up.

    "But how can we be certain? Based on what you''re saying, how do we even. determine if we can trust him?"

    I nodded, snapping my fingers as I acknowledged the validity of his concern. "You''re exactly right, Edward. At this point, what will satisfy you all to the point where he can be absolved of suspicion?"

    Nothing could change the fact that Neron lied to us, or rather, refused to tell us the truth about everything until it was toote.

    He risked the lives of our friends and families, and all without consulting anyone.

    "Even if he should present a valid reason, his actions remain. I''m sure you''ll find it hard to trust anything he says regardless of what he posits."

    Kuzon''s voice cut through the heavy silence, filled with determination. "We cannot afford to becent, Jared. I don''t dislike Neron, but I refuse to have blind faith."

    "I''m with Kuzon on this one." Aloe raised her hand. "If Neron decided to y God, he should be capable enough to justify himself."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    With both Aloe and Kuzon on the other end, I stared at Ciara to see her take on the issue.

    "Neron has always been a stranger to me. The fact that he separated me from Jerry is enough to warrant my dissatisfaction."

    I knew it! Even Ciara was on the opposite end.

    "But, I won''t antagonize him or anything. I don''t think we could stop him even if we tried."

    This was yet another issue they had to ount for.

    "Neron is currently more powerful than any of us. Even if we discover he has bad intentions, what can we do about it?"

    "I rmend taking a detour. Let''s simply not save Neron, and just return home." Ciara snapped her fingers.

    At that moment, we all stared at her with raised brows.

    ''Haaa... why did we even involve her? She just wants to quicken the journey so she can see Jerry faster.''

    "I couldn''t do that even if I wanted to. The Blu Blu automatically takes us to our destination, and I can''t properly operate it." Kuzon admitted with a shrug.

    ''I''m sure he''s thought of it, but since he doesn''t have the expertise, he decided to let it be.''

    I tried using [The Chariot] to connect to the device¡ªat least to see if I could.replicste it, but the interference was too strong that my Arcana didn''t work at all.

    Crazy Neron must have made this thing to be exempt from tinkering.

    "What do you think Edward?" I asked, turning to the unusually silent God King.

    "I think we should have more trust in Neron. Even if he did this for a selfish end, he has saved all of us in the past. Shouldn''t we at least hear him out with an open mind?"

    A smile formed on my face as I heard Edward''s proposal.

    It was the kind I would expect from someone like him.

    "I agree with Edward." Dering calmly, I established my position. "Neron is my friend, and he''s someone who hasn''t given us a reason to doubt him before."

    He saved my life. He taught me how to grow stronger. He defeated the Aether, and despite all his power, he never really sought any selfish gain.

    Why would he start doing so now? What could he possibly hope to gain?

    "Well, Jared... I hope you and Edward are right." Kuzon made a wry smile. "And I hope we don''t have to pay for your naivete."

    I could tell that Kuzon was in stark disagreement with me, yet it didn''t seem like he was going to reject my proposition.

    "Fine, then. We''ll trust him and see what he''ll do."

    "Thank you, Kuzon." I was d he ced his trust in me.

    "Not so fast, Jared. I''m only doing this because I owe Neron too."

    I heard it was Neron who brought Kuzon into Ainrk Academy and catered for him while he was in the Eastern Kingdom.

    It must have taken a lot of gall for Kuzon to suddenly suspect him, so I understood what a tough  call he had to make.

    "But Jared, if Neron isn''t who he says he is..." Kuzon''s eyes narrowed as he stared at me.

    It felt like his gaze was burrowing deep into my soul, and the silence felt utterly overwhelming.

    "... It''s all on you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1035 What Neron Is Up To

    [Ruined World]

    "It''s been a few months since we''ve started this journey, and yet we''re not anywhere close to the goal..."

    Neron and his doppelganger, a young Neron, sat beside a crackling campfire on a deste.

    They had been traveling together for months, searching for the scattered Arcanas that could help them achieve their individual goals.

    For the older Neron, it was to return home, while for the younger one, it was to fix his world.

    So far, they had found nine, but the older Neron couldn''t help but express a tinge of disappointment.

    He let out a sigh, his thoughts heavy on his mind.

    Young Neron nced at his older counterpart, his eyes reflecting curiosity. "What''s bothering you, Neron? You seem kind of down."

    The older Neron mustered a half-hearted smile. "Ah, it''s nothing, kid. Just... thinking about our mission, you know?"

    Young Neron raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? What about it? We''re doing pretty good so far, aren''t we?"

    Neron shrugged, his gaze fixed on the dancing mes.

    "Yeah, I guess. But it''s just that... well, we''ve been at this for a while, and we''ve only found nine Arcanas. I was hoping for more progress by now."

    "Arcanas aren''t that easy to find, are they? ording to what you told me, they''re extremely difficult. It''s almost a miracle we were able to find nine this easily."

    "Hmm... maybe you''re right." Neron murmured, his eyes focused on the mes.

    Young Neron frowned, his brow furrowing. "Hey, don''t sweat it, man. We''ll find the rest soon enough. It''s just a matter of time."

    Perhaps it was because thed was inexperienced, he has that cheerful and optimistic vibe around him.

    Neron could see the twinkle in his eyes, and an expression of slight envy coursed through him.

    Whenst was he able to depict such innocence?

    He let out a rueful chuckle. "I hope you''re right, kid. But that''s not the only thing weighing on my mind."

    Curiosity sparked in the young boy''s eyes. "What else, then?"

    Neron hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "Well... I can''t help but wonder about the people I left behind."

    "Your friends? You''re worried about them?" The younger one asked, his brows raised slightly.

    Throughout their journey, Neron hardly mentioned them in their conversations.

    They usually just spoke about this world, and several other things like Magic and concepts.

    "I''m not. Not really, anyway. They''re probably even mad at me right now."

    Young Neron leaned in, his voice filled with genuine concern. "Why would they be mad? You''re trying to fix everything, aren''t you?"

    A hint of sadness colored older Neron''s voice. "Yeah, I suppose so. But I made some important decisions without talking to them first."

    His sad smile deepened and he sighed. "I reckon they might not be too happy about that."

    Silence permeated the two as the cackling mes surged around them.

    Young Neron''s face contorted with surprise. "Wait, seriously? But... why? You''re trying to do what''s right, aren''t you?"

    Neron nodded, a tinge of remorse in his eyes. "Yeah, I am. But sometimes people get scared or lose hope. They might not understand the choices I''ve made. That''s why I''m searching for the Arcanas as a backup n, in case they don''te to rescue me."

    Young Neron''s gaze softened, a newfound understanding dawning on him. "So, you''re tryinh to find another way, even if they give up on you?"

    "Yeah. Or else there''s the likelihood that I''ll be trapped here."

    That grim reality dawned on the youngd, causing him to gulp. If Neron was to fail in his mission, then who would help revive this world?

    "You can''t give up yet, am I right?"

    Neron nodded again, determination etched on his face. "Exactly, kid. I won''t give up, not for them or for myself. The Arcanas hold the answers we both need, and I''ll keep looking, no matter what obstacles we face."

    The two Neron counterparts sat in silence, the crackling fire providing the only soundtrack.

    Bonded by their shared purpose and burdened by their individual responsibilities, they knew their journey was a test of their resilience and unwavering belief.

    Together, they would continue their search for the scattered Arcanas, fueled by the hope that they would uncover the keys to their intertwined destinies.

    ''Jared and everyone else should be almost done gathering by now.'' A soft smile formed on his face.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Images of his friend and lover rippled across his mind, and he found himself indulging in those thoughts.

    He couldn''t deny that he missed them.

    ''Which is why I should be prepared for the worst case scenario...'' Neron''s gaze fell on the dancing mes.

    ''It''s all for the best...''

    ********

    [Several Months Later]

    Months had passed since their conversation by the campfire, and the Neron counterparts continued their tireless search for the remaining Arcanas.

    As they ventured through treacherousndscapes and faced formidable challenges, their perseverance finally bore fruit.

    Young Neron''s voice rang out, filled with excitement and triumph.

    "Neron! I found it! I found thest Arcana!" he called out, holding the final piece triumphantly in his hands.

    The glowing card had an immense energy, as one would expect of an Arcana, and the brightness of the young boy''s eyes was enough to sell anyone of the fact.

    A mixture of relief and joy washed over Neron''s face as he looked upon theplete set.

    With all twenty-one Arcanas in their possession, they could now forge the ultimate one¡ª[The World].

    This final Arcana held the power for Neron to return to his own world and with all of them gathered together, Neron could finally save his junior''s shattered reality.

    It was the culmination of their arduous journey.

    A wide smile graced Neron''s face as he held the assembled Arcanas, feeling the weight of his aplishment.

    "We did it, kid," he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "We have everything we need."

    The younger Neron''s eyes gleamed with a mixture of awe and curiosity. He nced at Neron, his voice tinged with a touch of bitterness.

    "You know, all this time, your friends never came for you," he remarked, his toneced with disappointment. "Now that you''ve found another way home, do you even care about them anymore?"

    Neron''s smile remained unwavering as he met the young boy''s gaze.

    "Of course I do," he replied sincerely. He paused for a moment, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "In fact, there''s a little secret I''ve been keeping from you."

    Young Neron''s eyebrows furrowed, his curiosity piqued. "A secret? What do you mean?"

    Neron leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "You see, kid, the truth is, I never really needed the Arcanas to save your world. I could have done it all on my own."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I mean, Neron has saved his own world without really needing an Arcana.

    Considering all the feats Jared and co have been pulling, this was to be expected.

    But why would Neron do this...?

    Let''s find out!

    Also please check out my new novel!

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1036 The Cause Of Ruin

    Confusion painted the younger Neron''s face as he processed this revtion that his senior was bestowing on him.

    The fact that his world could have been saved at any time.

    "Then why... Why would you choose not to help, Neron? Why go through all these months of searching if you didn''t need to?"

    Neron''s smile widened, a hint of mischief in his gaze. "Because I didn''t want to," he replied simply.

    Young Neron''s confusion turned into frustration and hurt.

    What was happening? Why was this happening? Even after months of traveling together, forging a respectful friendship... how could this happen?!

    "I trusted you, Neron! I never should have. You betrayed me!"

    In response, Neron''s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing and his smile turning cold.

    He met the young boy''s gaze with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

    "Don''t you already know...?" He stated, his voice icy.

    "You should never trust a Neron,"

    "S-shut up! I thought I could trust you! You said you would trust me too! Why did you suddenly be like this? After everything we''ve been through?"

    Silence.

    "Is it because you''ve finally gotten the Arcanas? You no longer need me, do you? You... you monster!"

    Neron listened to the young boy''s words, his expression calm andposed.

    He knew he didn''t have to address the confusion and hurt that filled the air between them.

    ''But whatever. Might as well...''

    With a sigh, he began to unravel the truth that he had long suspected.

    "Neron," He began, his voice tinged with a mixture of both lethargy and coldness.

    "From the very beginning, I found it odd that a version of myself, no matter how young or inexperienced, would fail to save his own world and simply mope around about it."

    Young Neron''s eyes widened in surprise, the realization dawning on him. "What are you saying, Neron? What do you mean?"

    Neron leaned back against a rocky outcrop, a wistful smile ying on his lips.

    "You see, Nerons across the branches are often enigmatic personalities, tending to be either too selfish or too selfless in their pursuits. If I were to ssify myself, I would fall into the selfish category."

    Young Neron''s brow furrowed in confusion. "Selfish? But why? What do you want?"

    Neron''s smile softened, and he locked eyes with the young boy.

    "I want to be happy," he confessed, his voice filled with a mix of longing and determination. "But true happiness, for me, involves everyone I care about being happy as well."

    Young Neron''s voice trembled with a hint of frustration as he asked, "But even after all this time we''ve spent together, why don''t you care about me? I''ve stuck by your side, unlike your friends who abandoned you."

    Neron chuckled lightly, his eyes glinting with a hint of mischief.

    "Oh, you really are such a fool," he remarked, his voiceced with a sense of amusement. "My friends didn''t abandon me. It hasn''t even been up three months since I arrived in this world. It just seemed much longer."

    Confusion clouded the young boy''s face as he struggled to grasp Neron''s words.

    "What do you mean? It''s been almost a year already. They... they never came back for you!"

    "Had it really? I already know about the temporal field, Neron. You manipted time to make it seem like we had spent so long together. Not much time has psed since that conversation we had beside the campfire."

    "W-what are you saying...?!" The young one''s eyes twitched as he took a step back.

    "Still going to y dumb, huh? Do you know why I intentionally made it seem like I probably had no assured other means of going home except the Arcanas, despite havingplete trust in my friends?"

    "I... what...?!"

    "It''s because I knew you would pull this move."

    "W-why would I... do something like that? Why are you using me of these things? We''ve been together for so long, yet¡ª!!!"<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Neron''s smile widened, his gaze unwavering. "Because I know you''ve been lying to me this whole time," he dered, his tone firm.

    "I intentionally yed along, waiting for the moment to reveal the truth."

    Young Neron''s eyes widened in shock and confusion, his voice barely a whisper. "What... What truth? I don''t understand."

    Neron''s gaze bore into the young boy, his smile unwavering.

    "The truth is, my dear Neron, that your world wasn''t destroyed by some external force like the Nether or an extraterrestrial threat," he revealed, his voice cutting through the air.

    "It was destroyed by you."

    The young boy''s mouth gaped open, his eyes filled with disbelief. He stammered, trying to find words to defend himself. "No, that... That can''t be true! I... I didn''t..."

    Neron''s voice grew cold and calcted.

    "Save your lies. The jig is up," he said, his voice dripping with certainty.

    "I know everything. There''s no point in pretending any further.

    The young boy''s fa?ade cracked, his shock and confusion slowly melting away.

    "I see. So you realized that, huh?"

    "Yes. I know these Arcanas aren''t the actual thing. You just set up this whole farce if an Arcana hunt because you didn''t want to seem too suspicious.

    "Haaa... I see." Slowly, a twisted smile began to form on the young boy''s face.

    "You wanted me to try to use the Arcanas and create [The World] so that you could travel to my world and destroy it... the same way you destroyed this ce."

    "Pfft! You even knew about that, huh? I guess I really underestimated you."

    At this point, the young Neron no longer had the cute and innocent expression one would expect from a kid his age.

    Instead, a sinister gaze rested on his face, and his lips twisted to form an amused smile.

    "I made you underestimate me, so it''s not really your fault. From the very beginning, I knew you were already in possession of the Arcanas, but I pretended not to know anything. You intentionally spread out the search of the Arcanas, making them difficult to find¡ªbased on how I told you they were."

    Truthfully, Neron''s senses could cover the entire universe if he tried.

    Finding an Arcana, or pretty much anything substantial, wasn''t going to pose a problem to him.

    Yet it took months to find all of them.

    "You operated on my narrative this whole time. And while you must have desperately wanted me to use the Arcanas so you could find a way to my world, you also thought my friends coulde for, granting you yet another ess, so you decided to hide your time."

    But the moment Neron made it seem uncertain that his friends would even show up, the younger Neron switched up his tactics and decided to use Time Magic to quicken the process of finding the rest of the Arcanas whole probably recing himself with a duplicate within the time-dted reality.

    "That''s pretty much the whole thing, isn''t it?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1037 Evil Neron

    The young Neron smiled devilishly at the older fellow before him, his mind racing with a mixture of astonishment and admiration.

    He couldn''t help but be impressed by his opponent''s ability to uncover his carefully crafted n.

    Never before had he encountered someone who had managed to lead him on and deceive him for such an extended period of time.

    The older Neron''s intelligence shone through, and he couldn''t deny that he had been outwitted.

    A smile yed on the younger Neron''s lips as he looked at his counterpart, his eyes filled with a mix of intrigue and excitement.

    "But what of it?" he said, his voiceced with a hint of amusement.

    "You''ve discovered my little game, Neron. But so what?"

    Neron''s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the younger version, his voice firm and steady. "Well... for starters, I''ll make sure you don''t get to destroy my world."

    A sh of defiance sparked in the younger Neron''s eyes as he stepped forward, his voice dripping with dark satisfaction.

    "You misunderstand, Neron. My path is not one of destruction for destruction''s sake. It is about the thrill, the stimtion, the chaos."

    Neron''s brow furrowed, his expression a mix of concern and resolve.

    "You speak of stimtion, but at what cost? The lives you''ve destroyed, the suffering you''ve caused. Is it worth it?"

    A sly grin curved the younger Neron''s lips as he raised a hand, fingers crackling with a dark energy.

    "You speak of cost as if it holds any meaning to me. I have conquered countless worlds,id them to ruin, and reveled in the chaos I''ve wrought."

    The older Neron''s eyes remained unimpressed as he shrugged.

    "You revel in chaos and destruction? You take pleasure in causing pain and suffering? You aren''t the first I''ve seen who''s that messed up in the head."

    The younger Neron''sughter echoed through the air, chilling in its tone.

    "Oh, Neron, you see, I have grown bored with such pursuits. They no longer hold the same thrill for me. But you, you possess the potential to bring excitement back into my existence."

    "Oh? How so?"

    "Think about it! All these worlds I''ve conquered, all these lives I''ve destroyed... they are inconsequential to me. They hold no value at all! They''re nothing more than Lumos of meat. Thatck of sentiment gives me no satisfaction as I put an end to their miserable existence."

    "I see. So you want to destroy my world in particr because you got to know me well. Is that it?" Neron smiled, sighing gently.

    "Precisely! It''s the reason why I never simply resorted to a mere clone, but decided to share all these months with you¡ªtalking and getting closer to you. It would be more stimting killing your friends and family knowing that I was once close to you!"

    "Damn. That''s some twisted logic right there."

    "Is it? I mean, I had to kill my parents, my friends, my family... everyone back in my original world for stimtion. I haven''t quite felt that same high again, but maybe with you, it could be different!" The younger Neron''s eyes glinted with an unsettling mix of amusement and challenge.

    "If it brings you anyfort, I killed my biological parents too. I guess we''re simr in that respect, though the circumstances are quite different..."

    In the end, one was downright cold blooded murder, while the other was...plicated.

    "Hahaha! You amuse me, Neron! How about we form an alliance? I want you as a partner, an equal. Together, we can create a symphony of chaos, a dance of maniption that will leave our mark on countless worlds."

    More echoes of maniacalughter echoed from the younger Neron, whose face now contorted in ugly malevolence

    Neron''s gaze bore into the younger version, his voice as causal as it was nonchnt.

    "I think I''ll pass."

    A flicker of disappointment passed across the younger Neron''s face, quickly reced by a wicked grin.

    "You may resist now, Neron, but I can sense it deep within you. The allure of chaos, the craving for stimtion. It calls to you, just as it calls to me."

    "You are right. In a way, I was seeking stimtion. I have always been pursuing some sort of meaning¡ªan interesting prospect to keep me engaged. To make me feel alive."

    "See? See?! You get it! You get itpletely!!!"

    "Even when I first met Jared, I found him interesting, which is why I got close to him. I didn''t have my memories then, but he was just intriguing. Particr because I sensed a portion of myself in him."

    "Well, I don''t know about all that, but I can see we''re simr, Neron. So why don''t you join me?" The young boy offered, his loud voice echoing nothing but a dark expectation

    "Can I ask you something first?" Neron stared at the younger version, his eyes filled with curiosity.

    "Huh? What is it?"

    "Tell me, what do you think about magic? Or power in general?"

    The younger Neron tilted his head, contemting the question for a moment. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he responded

    "Magic, to me, is merely a means to an end. It has alwayse so easily to me, like second nature. But it became mundane,cking the challenge and excitement I craved. That''s why I sought another form of stimtion, something that would give me purpose."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Neron nodded, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.

    "We truly are simr, you and I," he remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration. "We both possess a hunger for something greater, a thirst for power and the thrill of the unknown. But there is one critical difference between us."

    The younger Neron raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what might that be, Neron?"

    Neron''s smile widened as he leaned in, his gaze intense.

    "Purpose."

    "What?!"

    "I have realized the purpose behind my power, the reason for my existence," he exined, his voice carrying a note of conviction.

    Confusion flickered across the younger Neron''s face as he furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? What purpose could there possibly be?"

    Neron''s eyes bore into the younger version, his voice steady and resolute. "Power without purpose is empty. It is merely a tool, a force that can be wielded, butcks true direction. It is this understanding that sets us apart. It is why I will be the one to win."

    "You speak of purpose, but what purpose could be in Magic other than the pursuit of power? In the end, you either get stronger or weaker."

    "Precisely." Neron spoke, taking a step closer to the young one before him. "The stronger you are, the more you can do, the weaker you are, the less you are able to achieve.

    "It''s just as my Master taught me back then..." He smiled, remembering his past with the only woman he ever felt was truly stronger than he was.

    "... We make our own meaning through power. The more power you have, the more meaning you can make. The grater the possibilities are, and the less the limitations apply to you."

    "You''re just using fancy words to justify your theist for more power, aren''t you? You sick bastard! Don''t pretend you''re better than me!"

    Neron''s smile turned wistful, tinged with a hint of sadness. "Not exactly. Believe it or not, but I never really liked Magic, to begin with."

    The air crackled with tension as the two Nerons stared at each other.

    "But the people I met... the experiences I had... they changed my perception of everything I once knew."

    Silence radiated from their confrontation as Neron took steps forward, undeterred by the re he recieved.

    "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely..." Neron smiled.

    "But truly unlimited power is a nk canvas. As long as I am the artist... there will never exist fools like you."

    "W-what are you trying to say? What do you think you''re trying to do? You think you can stop me?"

    >VWUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!<

    An immense surge of energy suddenly rushed from the body of the younger Neron, cracking the fabric of time that trapped them.

    In no time, the world resumed it''s natural functions, and both individuals stood on the deste world that trembled in response to the power that was being exerted.

    "Don''t misunderstand. I do not possess true unlimited power..." Neron smiled, his hair slowly turning white as his eyes brimmed with radiant blue.

    Sparks of light flowed around him, and several particles of immense energy swirled around him .

    His smile had no weakness, and his lips pursed to make his true thoughts evident.

    "... At least, not yet."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you think of this interaction?

    How do you view Neron now?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 1038 Neron Vs Neron

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    The sh between Neron and his evil doppelganger, was cataclysmic in its scale.

    Both possessed an array of unimaginable abilities, capable of obliteratings and shattering stars with a single devastating move.

    As their powers collided, reality itself trembled, with the fabric of the universe straining under the weight of their immense might.

    As the conflict intensified, their Spells intertwined in a mesmerizing disy of destruction.

    Spells erupted from their fingertips, unleashing torrents of elemental fury that ravaged the cosmdscape.

    Neron raised his hand, and a surge of white-hot energy coalesced into a searing beam.

    "[Fallen Nova]..."

    With a swift motion, he hurled it toward his counterpart.

    But the younger evil Neron swiftly countered, summoning a barrier of dark matter that absorbed the beam, dissipating its formidable force.

    Undeterred, Neron swiftly pivoted, extending his hand outward.

    Arcane symbols shimmered in the air as he conjured a storm of lightning, crackling with raw power.

    "[Electric Universe]."

    Bolts of electricity arced across the battlefield, illuminating the void with dazzling brilliance.

    The Evil Neron, however, called upon his own powers, channeling shadows that swirled around him like a tempest, negating the effects of the lightning.

    The battle continued unabated, their movements fluid and precise. Neron conjured a swirling vortex of fire that engulfed the younger evil Neron, engulfing him in a zing inferno.

    But just as it seemed the mes would consume his adversary, the younger evil Neron unleashed a counter spell, summoning a freezing blizzard that extinguished the mes and encased Neron in ice.

    With ackluster roar, Neron shattered his icy prison, shards of ice exploding outward in a dazzling disy.

    He retaliated with a wave of raw telekic force, hurtling debris at his doppelganger with devastating speed.

    The younger evil Neron responded by manipting gravity itself, causing the debris to veer off course, harmlessly floating away.

    The battle raged on, each Neron disying unparalleled mastery over their powers. Reality itself strained under the weight of their relentless assaults.

    Stars were torn asunder, gxies copsed in on themselves, and celestial bodies were reduced to cosmic dust.

    Their powers shed in an intricate dance, neither giving an inch as they fought for dominance.

    "[Celestial Pirs Of Light]."

    Neron summoned pirs of light that pierced through the darkness, illuminating the battlefield with blinding radiance.

    But the younger Neron, tapping into his darker abilities, conjured tendrils of shadow that snaked through the brilliance, smothering the light with an imprable darkness.

    The sh between them reached a crescendo, a cataclysmic eruption of power that rent the very fabric of space.

    They weaved through the chaos, exchanging blows with astonishing speed and precision. Their movements were a blur, a symphony of violence and destruction.

    "[Re:Creation]."

    A surge of energy coursed through Neron''s being as he unleashed a spell of unparalleled magnitude.

    The very fabric of reality trembled as the Spell of Creation surged forth, restoring what had been torn asunder, healing the wounds inflicted upon the universe.

    However, this wasn''t an actor of benevolence. at all.

    "[Absolute Center]."

    A sh of light flickered on Neron''s finger as he pointed it at his opponent.

    "What?!"

    Evil Neron, caught off guard by the sheer magnitude of Neron''s spell, found himself momentarily vulnerable.

    "How would it feel to have the stars ands of the universe absolutely attracted to you¡ªall rushing towards you faster than the speed of light?" Neron smiled as he watched all of this y out before him.

    "Let''s see, shall we?"

    >BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<

    It seemed like the entire universe imploded, but it was only a matter of ''Time'' before it was restored.

    "You really think that would be enough to stop me?" Evil Neron appeared from the destruction, his body hardly scathed by the impact.

    A gleaming barrier surrounded him, and his body glowed with immense darkness.

    "Nah. I just wanted to try that at least once." Neron replied with a smirk.

    With that, the fight continued with a non-stop sh between both parties.

    As the battle drew to its climax, Neron''s expression remained steadfast.

    With a burst of power, he unleashed a devastating spell, a fusion of light and energy that enveloped the younger evil Neron.

    The malevolent version writhed in agony as his powers were shattered, his existence unraveling before him.

    However...

    "[The Popess]. [The Lovers]. [The Empress]. [The Emperor]. [The Pope]. [Wheel Of Fortune]. [Justice]..."

    ... The Arcanas would not let him die.

    In the wake of the battle, the universe was left scarred and ravaged, the remnants of their sh etched into the cosmic canvas.

    "You really are tenacious."

    Evil Neron smirked as he emerged unscathed once more, observing  the raw power emanating from Neron.

    "Impressive, Neron. You truly are formidable," hemented, a hint of arrogance in his voice. "But you cannot harm me either. Our powers cancel each other out, don''t they?"

    Neron''s eyes gleamed with determination as he faced his malevolent counterpart.

    "Indeed, our powers do seem evenly matched..." he replied, a faint smile ying on his lips.

    "I thought you would be stronger, though..."

    "Hahahah! Big words!" With a burst of energy, the younger evil Neronunched himself at Neron, fists crackling with dark energy.

    The sh of their blows sent shockwaves rippling through the cosmos, causing celestial bodies to shatter and reality to warp.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The battle raged on, each Neron countering the other''s attacks with precision and skill. Their powers intertwined, creating dazzling disys of light and darkness that tore through space itself.

    Evil Neronughed, his voice dripping with malevolence.

    "You can''t defeat me, Neron. It''ll be a battle of attrition, wearing each other down until one of us finally sumbs."

    Neron''s eyes sparkled with a mix of determination and amusement.

    "Ah, but you forget, dear counterpart. I have something youck," he muttered, his voice barely audible amidst the chaos.

    Evil Neron raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "And what might that be, Neron? What advantage could you possibly possess?"

    "Help... I guess?"

    "Hahaha! And where''s the help?"

    Evil Neron''s eyes widened in realization, a mixture of disgust and condescension crossing his features.

    "So that''s how it is. You''re buying time for your friends toe, aren''t you?" he growled.

    "Well..."

    "If that''s the case, then I should just end your life and wait for them to arrive. Once they do, I''ll use them to return to your world, Neron. You realize what that means, don''t you?"

    Suddenly, Evil Neron''s body burst in celestial energy, and his Arcanas danced around him with glorious splendor.

    "... I have no use for you any longer."

    The sh intensified as the Arcanas unleashed their incredible energies, amplifying Evil Neron''s already formidable abilities.

    Stars exploded in bursts of cosmic energy, creating shockwaves that rippled across the universe.

    Reality warped and twisted under the strain, threatening to unravel.

    Amidst the chaos, Neron''s voice cut through the tumultuous maelstrom.

    "Why are you so weak, though?" he taunted, his words carrying a hint of pity.

    "This isn''t so different from before."

    Evil Neron''s face contorted with anger, his eyes burning with rage. "Weak? Me? I am not weak!" he bellowed, unleashing a devastating wave of destruction.

    Neron''s smile remained unyielding as he deflected the attack effortlessly.

    "No, you are. When you said you had destroyed countless worlds and mowed down innumerable civilizations, I expected more."

    The younger evil Neron roared in fury,unching a relentless assault. But Neron danced through the chaos, his movements fluid and precise.

    "But I think I understand why you were able to seed thus far..."

    He weaved through the onught, countering with calcted strikes that struck at the core of his counterpart''s being.

    "You never encountered an actual challenge. You never met people like Jared, or my Master."

    Their battle continued, a symphony of destruction that stretched across the cosmos.

    The sh of their powers shattered stars, ruptured gxies, and tore through the very fabric of existence.

    "If you had, you probably wouldn''t be here right now. How fortunate for you. Of all the infinite branches, the ones you managed to conquer were easy."

    "SHUUUUUT UUUUUUUP!!!"

    As their powers collided with unparalleled fury, the universe trembled under the weight of their conflict.

    Evil Neron unleashed an all-epassing attack that threatened to swallow everything whole, including Neron, but the man was still not fazed.

    "You truly do not know what absolute power is, do you? In that case..." Neron''s eyes gleamed even brighter, and his glorious form undertook another transformation.

    "Let me show you. Libra. Sagittarius. Capricorn... it''s your turn."

    In that instant, Neron''s appearance changed.

    He now had flowing white apparel, with what appeared to be a  scale floating on his right shoulder, an arrow on his left one, and a majestic incorporeal clock behind him.

    His white hair grew even longer and a strange design appeared on his face, around his eyes and on his forehead, resembling a universal concept that defined exnation.

    Finally, in front of him appeared a concept simr to a small universe. It was woven to resemble an orb, but it literally depicted the cosmos, gxies, and innumerable stars within it.

    "W-what is... what is that?!" The younger counterpart froze in his tracks, his Aether and the culmination of all his Arcanas seeming like fragile emberspared to the immeasurable power that manifested before him.

    "This is why I said you''re weak." Neron smiled, stretching his hand towards the paralyzed foe while donning nothing short of a bored expression.

    An immense cluster of light formed on his palm, locked onto the despairing Neron that stood powerless and unable to move in the slightest.

    "N-no... please no...."

    "I won''t even need Primeval Magic to finish this."

    The light erupted, bathing the entire universe in its might.

    "NOOOOOOOO!!!" The boy''s voice echoed in the void, but Neron''s unattached gaze showed it no concern whatsoever.

    "Don''t worry. It''ll be as though you never existed."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1039 Connecting Pieces

    After the cataclysmic battle, the universey in ruins, its once majestic stars reduced to flickering embers.

    Neron stood amidst the devastation, his body still charged with the remnants of power.

    The Arcanas, which had once been the major source of Evil Neron''s power, now floated around him, their glow dimmed, almost as if acknowledging the gravity of the events that had unfolded.

    As the dust settled, Neron gazed around, taking in the extent of the destruction. He knew that the consequences of this battle extended far beyond this single universe.

    ''But none of that matters at this point...''

    Evil Neron''s temporal erasure meant that not only had he been erased from existence, but the causality of countless other universes that the lunatic had destroyed would also be restored.

    This one included.

    ''It would be as if he never existed.''

    ~I can''t believe you summoned three of us just for that. How underwhelming...~

    The moment Neron heard Capricorn''s words, he sense a good amount of tongueshing heading his way.

    Using the powers of Constetions to fight back the Nether was one thing, but to simply use all three of them on an opponent like the one he just defeated was another issue entirely.

    ~I know, right? Neron, you should be more responsible with your power.~ Sagittarius sighed, and Neron could feel it shaking its head.

    The two whoined were self-proimed members of the upper echelon in the Constetion ranks, though Neron doubted such a thing really even existed.

    Sagittarius and Capricorn wouldn''t stand for the casual use of their powers.

    ''Well, they represent Adaptability and Liberation, so I can understand their skepticism...''

    ~You should both calm down and understand. He did this to save all those other universes. Right, Neron?~ Libra, always the voice of reason, gently spoke up in his defense.

    She was always so nice and understanding when it came to him. As expected of the Representation of Bnce.

    "Um..." Neron didn''t know what to say since he knew deep down that he mostly did what he did out of pettiness.

    ''I actually just wanted to show off a little...''

    Sure, he nned on saving all those other worlds, but he could have carried that out in another way.

    "Well, it doesn''t matter. All''s well that ends well." Neron shrugged aside theints of his nagging Familiars.

    ~Whatever...~

    ~I mean, it was slightly stimting...~

    ~You did well, Neron!~

    Sometimes, Neron felt like a kid when he was talking to these three. The Constetions felt like his parents or older siblings.

    Though he knew they wouldn''t hesitate to heed his call if he wanted.

    "Thanks, you three. What would I ever do without you?"

    ~Hehe... as long as you know that!~

    ~Well, I wouldn''t minding to y next time too.~

    ~You know I''ll do anything for you, Neron!~

    ''... And sometimes they act like kids.'' Neron smiled as he felt their warmth course through his soul.

    With a deep breath, Neron finally deactivated his Grand Fusion State.

    The immense power that had surged through his veins slowly dissipated, leaving him feeling drained but content.

    He looked down at the universalndscape, his gaze traveling over the scars and marks that bore testimony to the intensity of the fight.

    It was over, and he had emerged victorious.

    "And now, it begins..."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    As he focused his attention on the universe around him, he saw a sight that filled him with awe.

    The Temporal Erasure Spell had begun its work, erasing every trace of Evil Neron''s existence. In response, the fabric of reality itself seemed to stitch itself back together, restoring the universe to its former glory.

    Streaks of vibrant colors streaked across the cosmos, like paint on a vast canvas. Stars that had been extinguished reignited with newfound vigor, their light shimmering through the expanse.

    Nebs danced with renewed vitality, casting their cosmic hues across the celestialndscape. It was a symphony of cosmic rebirth, a visual feast that filled Neron''s face with satisfaction.

    "Looks like this one urredte because it was thest world he got to destroy. The other universes should already be restored by now."

    He smiled, everything else momentarily forgotten as he witnessed the beauty of the universe''s restoration.

    "It looks beautiful." He murmured to himself, his voice a mix of admiration and relief.

    Neron took a step forward, his feet gliding over the ethereal remnants of the battle. The Arcanas, sensing his tranquility, began to hum softly, their power resonating with the harmony of the universe.

    "Well, off you go." With a gentle wave of his hand, he guided the Arcanas, releasing their energy back into the cosmos.

    As he stood there, surrounded by the majesty of the restored universe, Neron felt a profound sense of peace.

    The purpose that had driven him on this journey remained unchanged, and experiencing sights like this reminded him of the validity of his cause.

    "Looks like it''s about time now."

    >VWUUUUSSSSSHHH<

    A brilliant golden portal materialized behind Neron, casting a warm glow on his lean figure.

    As he turned to face it, the smile on his face broadened. Standing before him were his long-awaited friends¡ªJared, Kuzon, Edward, Ciara, and Aloe.

    "You came," Neron whispered, his voiceced with relief and excitement. However, their expressions were far from the joyous reunion he had anticipated.

    Neron''s smile wavered as he took in the sternness etched upon their faces. He swallowed hard, the weight of their expectations pressing upon him.

    He met their gazes, searching for any signs of forgiveness or understanding, but all he found were eyes filled with questions and disappointment.

    ''Oh, boy. It really is the worst-case scenario.''

    Even Jared didn''t seem pleased in the slightest. Neron thought if anyone could understand, it would be him.

    Jared took a step forward, his expression grave. The lines on his face deepened, revealing the burden of the knowledge he now possessed.

    "Neron... " He began, his voice firm and his eyes filled with objectivity.

    The scene froze at that moment, the unspoken tension hanging heavy in the air.

    "... You have a lot of exining to do."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1040 Nerons Explanation

    We all watched Neron in palpable silence, waiting for him to give us an eptable answer so he could justify himself.

    Since we arrived in this world, I had spread my senses as far as I could reach, and nothing really seemed out of the ordinary.

    We were currently among the stars, in space, and while Aloe, Kuzon and I could use Aether to protect ourselves, I feared that Ciara would be in trouble.

    ... Until I noticed she too was using Aether.

    ''Huh? How...?!''

    I wanted to say something, but that could wait untilter.

    For now, Neron was the center of attraction, and I had to know what his motives were.

    ''I''m not particrly angry at him too. This is just a front I use to show my objectivity. At the very least, Kuzon won''tin about this.''

    With that in tow, I narrowed my gaze on Neron. Nothing about him had changed at all, and I was honestly happy to find him well.

    Hopefully, the next words that came out of his mouth would make all of this worthwhile.

    "I apologize for not informing you all of the n. It was selfish and inconsiderate of me. It won''t happen again, I promise." Neron bowed his head slowly, and then raised it back up slowly.

    "E-eh...?"

    I was confused as much as I was surprised.

    ''Does he really think an apology will cut it?''

    Neron was smarter than that, so what was he trying to y? Did he really think we would just let all of this slide?

    "Neron... we just want an exnation." I sighed, finally breaking my tense act.

    "You must have known all of this would happen, yet you didn''t say a thing. We want to know why."

    Neron''s stoic face didn''t seem at all apologetic despite me spelling out the situation to him.

    He simply looked at us with a nk expression, as though unsure of what his crime was.

    "Isn''t that normal when ites to strategy, though?" He asked.

    "What??" This time, Kuzon was the one who exploded.

    He had been holding in his frustration since we arrived, deciding I should take the lead role, but it seemed he had reached his wit''s end.

    "Rx, Kuzon. I already apologized for the inconveniences you experienced. Besides, it seems you''re focusing a lot on the disadvantages that you aren''t even considering the outweighing advantages." Neron sighed a little.

    "That doesn''t justify¡ª"

    "Jared, thanks to your experiences, I''m sure you''ve broadened your horizons in Magic. Kuzon, you got trained by that Grand Singrity, and Aloe... you''ve learned valuable lessons on your journey. Ciara as well. Edward, you had the opportunity to cultivate your power in peace. There are also longsting effects of this whole thing that will be unraveled eventually, so it was more to your benefit than not."

    Neron''s words were already melting away the little source of resistance that existed within me.

    ''I actually trust him, but a part of me could rte to Kuzon''s dissatisfaction...''

    And now, that part of me was slowly fading away.

    "You say that, but what of the risks involved? You just allowed us to be thrown into a new world without¡ª"

    "I won''t excuse the impulsiveness of my actions, and I believe I already apologized for them. That''s as far as I can go with apologies, unfortunately." Neron nced at Kuzon especially.

    "If you spoke to the Old Man, you should already know that no one is dead. I specifically made sure of that."

    Kuzon was already lost for words the moment Neron brought that up.

    "The problem with your line of reasoning is that you''re focusing a lot on the abruptness of the situation, and I understand that it might be tempting to feel betrayed since I didn''t reveal the details of my n to you, but I expected you all to at least understand that it was necessary."

    "You could have just told us." Kuzon insisted.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "I couldn''t risk Legris knowing about my intentions. You realize I also hid Information from myself until the appropriate time, right? Why do you think that is?"

    I had also wondered why Neron erased his memories of his past failure. People.learned from their mistakes, but ording to his line of logic, he didn''t want to be influenced by his past life''s actions, except in smaller details.

    Aether already exined it to me, so I understood now.

    "The past destruction of the world has been avoided, but Legris'' n is still in motion. He joined the Nether Cult because he wanted to gather the Arcanas, so he could gain ess to [The World]."

    But what did he want to.use [The World] for? Wasn''t it to transport us to this world? But if so, then what was his actual n?

    "Legris brought us all here so we wouldn''t be a bother to his goals, and I decided to allow it in order to give him the illusion of control. Doesn''t that sound familiar to you, Jared?"

    ''W-what?!'' Neron was thinking exactly as I would.

    This was what Kuzon was talking about, after all.

    I really was taking after Neron.

    "You can''t just act that way around people. We aren''t pawns. We''re living individuals."

    "You are pawns. This is war, Kuzon. Don''t act so naive. With all of existence at stake, do you think I have the time to worry about someone''s feelings in order to make the right call?"

    Kuzon''s re intensified instantly.

    "I took into ount that your feelings might be hurt, which is why I apologized. But did you honestly think I would be considerate of your emotions if there was a chance that you and everyone would be destroyed because of it?" Neron didn''t appear upset, but his tone indicated some degree of disappointment in all of us.

    "Someone has to make the hard choices. It''s the epitome of responsibility. If you knew what I know, and saw what I see... you would do exactly the same thing."

    Neron''s words honestly resonated with me. They sounded so pure and true.

    "I care about all of you. It''s why I''ve gone through the trouble of ensuring you follow a set path that leads to optimal results. You can either choose that, or destruction."

    It seemed Neron had no intention of being apologetic any longer.

    "Ask yourselves a simple question. What would change if I had told you everything? Would it change the fact that you still had to go to those worlds? Would it have changed the fact that you all made it safe and sound here? There are nigh infinite worlds, and the ones you happened to fall into were universes where you were stronger than everyone else. Did you think of that as coincidences?"

    Neron must have orchestrated everything with us in mind.

    "I protected you all. I protected everyone back home. And I did it in a way that a greater good woulde from the experience."

    I could finally understand where Neron wasing from.

    ''From where he stands, he has done nothing particrly wrong.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1041 The Resolution

    When preparing for war, a general does not inform the troops or even the captains of the entirety of the n.

    This isn''t done out of malice, or an underlying attempt to lose the war, but for the opposite reason.

    In leadership, there was the concept ofpartmentalization.

    Keeping information in little bits and distributing them when necessary. That way, the troops were not overwhelmed by theplexity of the general''s ns, but on the single task they had been assigned to.

    Certainly, in war, some soldiers were going to be sent to their deaths.

    However, if an all-powerful and benevolent strategist was the one who tookmand, wouldn''t it be reasonably expected by the troops that victory was assured?

    Using all of this as references to the current situation, I could see why Neron did not see a supposed error in his n.

    ''I did the same thing in the just concluded war. There were a lot of aspects in my n that I didn''t reveal to everyone. I still keep things from my friends as well, and it''s not out of malice. It''s just...''

    "You all wouldn''t understand. I''m sorry, but it''s true." Neron finally broke the silence and spoke.

    "There''s only so much I can tell you. I won''t ask you to understand my rationale, and I have apologized for your hurt emotions. But, the decision I made remains valid."

    That''s right. I never really thought of this before, but after obtaining all the Arcanas and catching a glimpse of truly absolute power, I could somewhat sympathize with Neron.

    No... even back when I was reincarnated, among people who were way younger than me and had a very rudimentary understanding of the things I knew.

    ''I can understand what''s happening...''

    The problem wasn''t particrly with Neron. It was with us.

    Or rather, a disconnect that existed between us.

    ''He knows too much, and he''s too strong. It prevents him from being able to freely rte with us at that level.''

    I was once quite envious of Neron, but now I could also sympathize with him.

    In a way, he led a lonely life.

    "I just have one question, Neron." Aloe Vida spoke, her tone serious.

    She hadn''t said anything since we started.the conversation, even though it seemed like she had a lot to pour out back when we discussed what to do about Neron.

    "Are you on our side? Can we trust you?"

    "Um, you know that''s actually two ques... never mind..." Edward kept shut the moment Aloe red at him for trying to raise a very valid point.

    "So what will it be, Neron? Why aren''t you answering the question?" Aloe narrowed her gaze as her tone grew even sterner.

    Silence radiated among us for a while. Tension spread throughout the expanse surrounding us, and I noticed gazes all focused on Neron.

    "I''m just wondering why you think I''m untrustworthy. But, it''s fine. I understand. In the end, you''ll understand too."

    "Just answer the question, Neron." I sighed.

    "No. I won''t." He nced at me, and the moment our eyes met, I could see more of the hollow loneliness I suspected.

    Truly, Neron was...

    "Neron, if you don''t confirm that we can trust you, then we can''t bring you home with us." Kuzon added.

    "Words are flimsy. Actions matter most. Also, I''m a bit tired of exining things to you, so I''ll just stop now."

    With a shrug, Neron smiled at all of us.

    "Besides... I never said I was returning with you all, did I?"

    "What??" Even this came as a surprise to me. What in the world was Neron up to now?

    "There''s something I have to do. It''s private as well, so I won''t be going back with everyone."

    My eyes slightly widened as I searched hos face for any hint of what it could be.

    And finally, something appeared in my head.

    "Does it have to do with the deal you made with Crazy Neron?" I asked, narrowing my gaze on him.

    "Precisely. I have my own reasons too, so it''s not particrly detrimental to me."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "Will you tell us what it is?"

    "Nope. I don''t need to. Don''t worry, it''s really none of your business anyway."

    I felt a little sting within me as soon as I heard those words. Because I finally understood what that meant.

    The true question we all had to be asking wasn''t whether we could trust Neron, after all

    ''It''s whether Neron can trust us. And we''ve just recieved our answer.''

    "Doesn''t this work well for you? Your intentions must have been to abandon me if I didn''t prove my trustworthiness, right? Well, there''s no need to make that decision." Neron smiled at Kuzon, whose expression appeared slightly guilty.

    He must have begun to reflect on all that he thought and said concerning Neron.

    "You should all return to your home world as soon as possible. Do your best to stop Legris."

    "Do you know what his n is?" I swiftly asked. "It could help us in stopping him."

    "You should already know, Jared. Piece it together." Neron smiled at me.

    ''What? Piece it together?!''

    If I was to start, I''d begin with his origins.

    Legris wasn''t originally from the Aether tree, but from the Nether one. He somehow managed to leave the Nether tree, and proceed to the Aether one, where he joined the Nether Cult to retrieve all the Arcanas and obtain [The World], which he used to send us into various branches of the Aether tree.

    ''But the Nether was also able to send us to the Nether Tree using [The World] as well. Why didn''t Legris send us there instead? Could it be... hold on... but that means!'' My eyes widened as I looked at Neron, who nodded at me.

    "Legris has all the Arcanas of the Nether Tree already. That''s how he was able to arrive in this world. He got the Arcanas of this world too, which gives him both [The World] of both Trees..."

    What could he possibly need both of them for? This was the n he executed. He wanted to have them... no, he needed them!

    ''But why...?''

    A theory slowly began to form in my head, but it was inconclusive at the moment.

    "He needs a phenomenally huge amount of energy to achieve his goals, and since I injured him greatly, he''ll need to restore his strength." Neron interrupted my thought.

    In essence, we had to stop him before he finished harvesting all the energy he needed.

    At the very least, that was the mission.

    "Where would he find the amount of energy he needs?"

    "There are a few options to consider. I can''t see his future, since he''s... different. So I can''t say for sure. But I suppose the first thing to do is find him, and then stop him."

    Upon hearing everything Neron said, I felt both grateful and amazed that he was on our side.

    But, there was still one thing that troubled me.

    "You''ll... being back, right?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1042 Nerons Departure

    Chapter 1042 Neron''s Departure

    ''He said he wouldn''t be joining us to return home, but...'' My thoughts echoed as I stared at Neron.

    "You''ll being back, right?"

    In response to my question, Neron smiled softly and nodded gently.

    "Of course. Why wouldn''t I?" A bright glimmer shone in his eyes. "I have a wonderful wife waiting for me back home."

    Once again, Neron reminded me that he was actually a married man.

    "When you get back, tell Serah I''m looking for a ce where we can spend our honeymoon." He added.

    The way he said those words made me burst out in a chuckle.

    "Roger that." I responded yfully.

    "As for the rest of you, make sure you do your best. Constetions are watching you all now; Aloe, Serah... and you, Jared."

    Crazy Neron did mention that his ultimate goal was for all of us to get epted by Constetions.

    "A time wille when they will depend on you. Make the best out of the experiences you''ve had thus far."

    It really did feel like a final farewell.

    "U-um... Neron, I..." Kuzon finally spoke up, stuttering as he hesitantly shifted his gaze.

    ''He''s just sixteen in the end, isn''t he? Sometimes I forget.'' I smiled at Kuzon.

    "... I''m sorry for doubting you!" He finally dered.

    "It''s fine. Ipletely understand."

    I didn''t think it was simply out of courtesy. Neron must have actually understood everything.

    "I''m sorry for doubting you too." Aloe spoke gently, finally reverting to her old, loveable self.

    ''Whew!''

    "I always believed you would never betray us!" Edward grinned innocently.

    He truly was the best of us.

    "Safe journey. And bring back a souvenir for me." Ciara grinned excitedly, almost as of she forgot all the things she said about Neron.

    Or the horrible suggestion she made.

    "Of course. Anything for my prized pupil." Neron smiled warmly at Ciara.

    "Hehe! Stop it!" She could only blush and grin even more.

    ''Hold on, didn''t she say she wasn''t really close to Neron? What''s happening right now?''

    "How do you think I developed my Original Magic and Mage Mode? I figured out what I wanted and made the rudimentary steps on my own, but Neron taught me how to bring it to life." Ciara beamed.

    "Hold on, you did?"

    Neron shrugged slightly.

    "Ciara is extremely skilled and talented. I guess it makes sense since she''s from the lineage of the Apostles of Aether. I didn''t even need to do too much."

    "But why did she make it sound like you two aren''t really close?"

    "We aren''t. She justes to me when she need something." Neron smiled tiredly.

    "Aww! Don''t be like that. Let the souvenir be a couple''s item. For me and Jerry."

    "Fine. I hear you." He sighed, though maintaining his smile.

    "What about you, Jared? Want a souvenir?"

    "Sure. I''ll trust you to give me something good." I smiled at him.

    "Thest gift I gave you ended up being a foundation for your development of Anti-Magic. It should be fun, seeing what else you''ll be able to aplish."

    "I can''t wait then."

    We spoke for a little while longer, but considering the fact that time was of the essence¡ªliterally¡ªNeron bid us a final farewell.

    "When you see Legris, give him a big whacking for me, will you?" He finally said, standing in front of a swirling portal that looked like coagting stardust.

    "I''ll try my best." I responded.

    We both nodded at each other knowingly, smiles on our faces.

    And then...

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    ... He vanished into the portal.

    For a while, no one said anything. We only just watched in silence.

    But the silence didn''tst very long.

    "Alright, Kuzon, let''s go home." Ciara raised her voice, her tone trembling in excitement.

    "Ah, yeah... let''s go."

    Our golden-haired Midas prepared the Blu-Blu, and was about to hit it before pausing at thest second.

    "Hold on! I''m forgetting something!" He burst out, swiftly retracting his Aether.

    "What is it? Can''t it wait? Let''s go homeee!!!" Ciara whined, showing her pent-up frustration.

    Nothing mattered more to her than returning to see Jerry, it seemed.

    ''Now that we all know what her deal is, it''s sort of cute.''

    "Ah! I remember now. Jared, Crazy Neron told me to give you something."

    Ah, yes. Kuzon did mention something like that in his story. It was rushed over, so I didn''t remember until he raised the issue.

    "Since we''ve reached the end of this odyssey, I suppose it''s time to check out what Crazy Neron wanted me to see."

    Kuzon brought out a small paper slip, norger than a finger.

    It was glowing with various colors, and I couldn''t properly detect just how much Aether was locked inside it.

    "Hmm...?" The moment I took it away from Kuzon, touching it with both of my hands, I felt a sudden surge of energy wash through me.

    >VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHH<

    ''A-ah... ahhhh!''

    Suddenly, I began to hear words in my head, and strange letters started swirling across my thoughts.

    Meanings slowly started to form, and I began toprehend what the words were all about.

    This was a message!

    I deciphered the message¡ªno, more like it unfolded before my very mind.

    It seemed like a very long process encapsted within a second, but it finally drew to a close, leaving me breathless as I finally returned to my senses.

    The paper slip slowly dissipated, and I was left suspended in motion with my friend stared at me strangely.

    "Are you okay, Jared?"

    "What''s the matter?"

    "What did the message say?"

    "Can we go home now?"

    The words of my friends, each with varying levels of concern, echoed in my ears, but I couldn''t stop ruminating on the meaning The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    of what I just learned.

    "K-Karlia..." I whispered, grabbing my face with my palm.

    "... She needs my help!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1043 The Crossroads

    Chapter 1043 The Crossroads

    Darkness.

    Sheer, undeniable darkness.

    Filled with such immense pain and suffering that would instantly kill anyone that experienced it.

    That was the kind of horror Karlia was currently experiencing.

    Unfortunately, due to her immortality, she would die. She was merely trapped in that hell, cursing and suffering.

    ''All this time... she''s been suffering.''

    My body trembled as my bulging eyes twitched. What I saw was too horrifying for someone to experience.

    ... Not to talk of someone I still cared so strongly about.

    "Jared, we need to return. Legris should have started implementing his n. We need to stop him quickly."

    Hearing Kuzon''s rational andpletely reasonable words moved my heart.

    I could sense impatience in his tone, and usually, I wouldn''t hesitate to leave for home.

    "B-but... what about Karlia..?!" I whispered, my body unable to move.

    "Karlia? What are you talking about?"

    "She''s in immense pain right now. She needs my help."

    "Jared, you don''t even know where she is. Besides, we don''t have the time. You can rescue her after this is all over."

    The slip that Crazy Neron gave me had the coordinates of her location.

    "I... I know where she is now." My tone was somber, and my gaze quiet.

    The slip that Crazy Neron gave me had the coordinates of her location.

    "She''s in the Root of the Nether Realm." I muttered.

    That was the equivalent of the Root of Aether¡ªa ce where concepts were subjective to the will of the upant.

    "With the Nether now absent, the Root is in a fixed state, and the ce where Karlia is trapped in is a torture realm."

    That meant she would keep experiencing unimaginable pain forever!

    "I... I have all the Arcanas, and Crazy Neron''s message came with a huge supply of Aether. It''s enough for me to create [The World] and open a way into the Nether Realm..."

    I could go and save her. I could rescue Karlia from.her suffering!

    "Jared..." I heard Kuzon''s voice, but my thoughts were too upied with the possibilities.

    "I don''t think I''ll have enough energy to reach The Root of Nether, but if I get transported to a branch, I should be able to navigate my way to the Root."

    "Jared..."

    "If I can find her and save her, then she won''t have to suffer anymore. She won''t... she won''t have to experience all of tha¡ª"

    "Jared!" Kuzon''s.words finally snapped me out of my thoughts.

    "Listen to me. I understand your sentiment, but... we don''t have the time. Once we stop Legris, I promise we will go and save Karlia."

    Even though he said all that, it wasn''t enough to stop my line of thought.

    "Kuzon... I... I can''t abandon her again." Thest time I did something like this, I regretted it for my whole life.

    I couldn''t be happy with Emilia afterwards, and I knew if I allowed the same thing to happen, there would be no future with Maria.

    ''I can deny it all I want, but I still love Karlia.''

    And while it was extremely cruel for fate to put me in a situation where I had to choose once again, I couldn''t bring myself to make the obviously rational choice.

    "Jared. You heard Neron. An entire existence is at stake here. You want to risk all of that for one person?"

    I... I didn''t know how to respond.

    Rationally speaking, Karlia had already been suffering there for a while, hadn''t she? Of she could only wait for a while longer... at least until the world was safe, then I could save everyone and return for her.

    "She''s immortal, right? That means she won''t die. For now, we should focus on what''s more important."

    Kuzon was making sense. It was the rational call to make.

    "Don''t try to be selfish, Jared. I know it''s hard, but we need your help to stop Legris, and.you know it."

    Everything he said was urate. What good would.it be if I saved Karlia and everyone I cared about got destroyed?

    What was the optimal decision to make? What would Neron do?

    No... all of those things didn''t matter at this point.

    "Kuzon, what would you do if it was Ana who suffered unimaginable horrors for what seemed like an eternity."

    "Jared, I¡ª"

    "Her body feels like it''s constantly on fire, with her eyes constantly getting gouged out. Every part of her gets vited, and as she constantly screams your name, every sound she makes grates her throat. She is denied rest, and experiences every living moment feeling in such vivid agony."

    "I..."

    "Would you abandon her, despite knowing you could save her from even just another second of that suffering?"

    I could see Kuzon''s gaze fall. His expression darkened, and his fists clenched. He bit his lip, and I could see a tortured expression on his face.

    He too must have realized it by now.

    "I would... if it''s for the greater good. I would abandon her." He finally spoke.

    Silence radiated across us as I stared at him.

    "You''re lying."

    "I''m not. I would abandon anyone to achieve my goals. And the current goal is to protect all of existence."

    "You wouldn''t abandon her, Kuzon. You know tha¡ª"

    "What do you want me to say, Jared? That I''ll let an innumerable amount of people to perish just so I can save one person?"

    "Yes. You would."

    "I wouldn''t."

    "If it is Ana... you would."

    "I... I... I can''t be selfish, Jared. Neither can you."

    Kuzon''s words, and his dilemma hit me hard. I could understand everything he was saying, but I just couldn''t let Karlia suffer, knowing I could stop it.

    I also couldn''t waste any more time, knowing it added to her pain.

    But... how could I make the choice to risk all of existence just for her?

    Could I really do that?

    "Don''t listen to him, Jared. Follow your heart! Save the one you love!" Ciara''s words suddenly echoed in my ears.

    ''H-huh?!''

    "You''ll regret it forever if you don''t. There''s no need to overthink it. If she needs you, then go save her!"

    "Ciara, you¡ª!" Kuzon growled as he red at her.

    "I agree with Ciara. In the end, Jared... it''s your call." Aloe''s soothing voice flowed into me as well.

    "Not you too!" Kuzon''s voice sounded more frustrated with every passing second.

    "You just have to do what you think is right. We''ll hold the fort in the meantime."

    "Edward!" Kuzon roared in annoyance.

    I couldn''t believe this.

    Everyone was on my side.

    "You guys..."

    I knew it wasn''t rational, and it was wed, but... I agreed with them.

    "... Thank you."

    "Jared, you can''t do this. You should know better than this."

    Kuzon was right. Everyone else was right as well.

    Even now, I had a dissonance that left me unable to make a true decision¡ªat least, without some form of regret or the other.

    But that was when I finally arrived at my conclusion.

    "Don''t try to stop me, Kuzon. I''ve made up my mind."

    A soft smile formed on my face, and at that moment I knew exactly what I had to do.

    It wasn''t going to be easy, and it required a lot more than just willpower to pull off, but... I wasn''t going to turn back now.

    ''This time... I won''t abandon you, Karlia.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you all think? Should Jared abandon Karlia for the greater good? Or should he save herter?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1044 The Ultimate Choice

    The past still haunted me.

    The hard choice I had to make between my happy life with Emilia, and the life I could have had with Karlia.

    I thought I had settled it all, but I was dead wrong.

    Once again, Karlia fought for my sake, finding herself in unbelievable torture as a result.

    She did it all for me.

    And now I had a choice to make.

    One person... or the entirety of existence.

    It wasn''t even meant to be a decision. It wasn''t meant to take deliberation.

    But... but...

    "I can''t abandon Karlia!"

    "I can''t abandon everyone!"

    The cognitive dissonance only kept getting more severe the more I dwelled on it.

    These two shing ideologies made it impossible to make a decision and choose.

    I had someone I loved other than Karlia, but I also loved Karlia dearly.

    How could I make the right choice in this instance?

    The answer appeared to me like an epiphany.

    "I... I can do both."

    The true reason behind that lie in the power of an Arcana I had used carelessly in the past.

    [The Moon].

    Of course, I wasn''t nning on making a spontaneous decision and possibly threatening the mission on both ends thanks to my ipetence, but... what if I could achieve a perfect replication?

    That would work, wouldn''t it?

    No... it wouldn''t. Not really.

    ''In order to save Karlia, and only Karlia, I need to take a different approach.''

    Karlia was someone I cared about, but ultimatelycked enough will to choose.

    ''Which is why I have to use an imperfect replication.''

    I knew the consequences, but this was for the best.

    ''I want to make a version of me... a version that CAN choose Karlia!''

    I could finally correct my past mistakes all those years ago, and fix the regret that now gued me.

    If I could love Karlia enough to save her, damning everything else... that would be the only version of me worthy of even a fraction of the love and devotion she showed me.

    Which was why I did exactly that.

    ********

    Within the Great Sage''s Archives stood two versions of the one called the Great Sage.

    They were identical in every respect¡ªin power, in memories, in intellect, but that was where the simrity ended.

    In appearance and emotions, they werepletely different.

    On one side of the room was Jared Leonard: blond hair, a teenage appearance, his usual demeanor, and the quality of power he possessed.

    On the other side was... Lewis Griffith?

    He had dark hair, and a focused hairstyle. He was taller than Jared Leonard, and he wore a dark cloak instead of the usual white that Jared donned.

    These two looked at each other and smiled.

    "Looks like the version of me that loves Karlia the most is still you, huh?" Jared smiled at the person who stood in front of him.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "And how do you feel? About her?" Lewis returned the smile.

    "I feel... nothing. Well, I have a faint recollection, but it''s not enough to form actual emotions. I suppose I bled everything out to form you."

    That response was the satisfactory one.

    "This way, none of us have to choose." Jared smiled at his opposite half.

    "We can just follow our preferred path." Lewis grinned as well.

    "It looks like I''m inept in this form, though."

    The replication has seeded, but that only meant the ''Jared'' that was reproduced was the Jared before his reincarnation.

    Lewis Griffith''s Inept form.

    "Aether won''t be able to properly function where you''re headed. Plus, utilizing Aether in that ce will only put a target on your back."

    The Nether''s realm was bound to be rife with chaos and evil. Having the opposite energy in such a ce was bound to be suicide.

    "Without Aether, how will I survive, though? I''d be instantly vaporized by the Nether around."

    There was that aspect to consider. Without the power of Aether to fight off Nether, his body would be easily corrupted, and.hr would die.

    "I have a Nether repelling device. It should protect you from the surrounding Nether. It should also defend you from powerful attacks, but it''s durability isn''t infinite."

    "I understand. And what of the means of getting to Karlia? She''s in the Root of the Nether Realm, isn''t she?"

    This was the major problem. Reaching the Root of the Nether Realm...

    "T-that is... the wall I can''t ovee." Jared muttered, clenching his teeth as he gritted his fist.

    It was impossible to invade the Root of the Nether from any branch of the Aether Tree. Even from the Root of Aether, it was highly problematic.

    If it was that simple, then the Nether would have just done that instead.

    "I understand what we have to do." Lewis Griffith sighed, both hands in his pockets as he smiled at his partner.

    "Really? And what''s that?"

    "Obtain all the Arcanas in the other world. That way, I''ll be able to achieve enough power to reach the Root."

    "But how are we certain that world has Arcanas?"

    "I''m sure that Crazy Neron must have been well aware of the feasibility of the n when he sent you Karlia''s coordinates and the world you should send me to. Besides, since you have all the Arcanas, you can try a resonance with the Arcanas. You''ll most likely get an opposite effect of repulsion, which will prove the Law of Opposite Interactive Rtivity that I postted back then. Ah, it seems I''m getting sidetracked."

    Jared simply stood, almost dumbfounded as he listened to himself speak. How could he have forgotten something he had postted himself?

    No, he hadn''t lost his intelligence or memories. Perhaps it was his new memories that somewhat clouded his older ones.

    But with this version of himself, things were different.

    Lewis Griffith remained the Great Sage through and through.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Last chapter for the Lost Worlds Arcing up next. It has been an adventure, hasn''t it?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1045 Separation

    "You''re right. Using that Counter Resonance, we can even detect the locations of each Arcana!" Jared eximed, his eyes widened with excitement.

    "Indeed. My mission will be to recover all the Arcanas and use [The World] to transport myself to the Nether Root." Lewis responded

    "With the Nether gone, it shouldn''t be a problem to infiltrate it."

    "Once I get in, I''ll find Karlia and get her out. She''ll finally be free of her pain."

    "Yes. That." Jared muttered, rubbing his chin as he calcted their ns.

    "It''s going to be an extremely difficult journey. Dangerous too. It''s uncharted territory, and I can''t even see any future in such a world. You''ll have no Magic, and you''ll have to navigate that ne on your own, with no assistance and multitudes of iprehensible dangers sprawling from all directions. You might notst a second in there. You might even¡ª"

    "I am well aware of the risks, Jared. I realize that ns usually don''t work smoothly, and the chances of failure are much higher than those of sess."

    "And you still want to go? Maybe it''s not toote to reconsider. Help us defeat Legris Damien. Once we''re done fighting him, all of us can assist you with Karlia."

    Jared instantly recognized his line of reasoning... and how simr it was to Kuzon''s words.

    "You would do the same for Emilia, or for Maria. It''s no use trying to convince me, Jared."

    The blonde knew his other self was speaking the truth. He had felt the same only a moment earlier.

    "I love Karlia. And I''ll do anything to save her!" Lewis clenched his fist and narrowed his eyes in determination.

    This level of devotion moved Jared as he watched in both disbelief and relief.

    "I suppose this is what I wanted. Someone who would fight for Karlia no matter what. Someone she deserves."

    It was very strange how love could make people do crazy things.

    "I can''t guarantee we''lle to your aid anytime soon, or even at all. No, in fact... there''s something else we need to discuss."

    "I know what you''re thinking. I suppose that''s another reason why I have to seed in my mission."

    "Yes. Please... we''re counting on you."

    "I understand. But to seed, I''ll need some tools. Time doesn''t pass here, right? I''ll be building a couple of things for my journey."

    "Sure. Everyone is waiting for me outside this space anyway. Once I send you on your way, I''ll return to my friends and we''ll return to stop Legris."

    "Fine, then. In the meantime, you''ll be helping me make my tools. With your assistance, it shouldn''t take too long."

    "How long are we talking exactly?" Jared asked, his brows raised as he stared at Lewis.

    The older, ck haired man only gave a smile and whispered. "Not long."

    And so, both began building.

    *********

    [Two Years Later; The Great Sage''s Archives]

    "I''m finally ready for the journey."

    Lewis Griffith, the Great Sage, was currently d in a long dark hooded cloak donning a long coat of the same color underneath, with dark trousers, and an obsidian ne.

    He had what resembled a watch on his right hand, as well as five rings on the fingers in his left hand.

    He carried a satchel bag, obviously having a couple more items stored within it.

    His bright blue eyes shone with anticipation, and he readied himself for the adventure of his life.

    "Do it, Jared."

    "To think we spent two years... and you said it wouldn''t take too long..."

    Lewis could only smile at the boy who stared at him with disbelief.

    "Every second was worth it, Jared."

    "Sure it was." Jared could only roll his eyes. "Only for you."

    "Just send me on my way already."

    "Of course. I''ve had enough of your face for two years."

    "Pfft. Is that so? Well, whatever. I''ll be out of your hairs soon enough."

    "Damn straight!"

    Both men stared at each other in silence after that.

    Despite their heated exchange, they couldn''t help but appreciate each other. It was only by either of them that the other could exist.

    For that alone, they were grateful to each other.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "I wish you sess. At the very least, for the worst case scenario..."

    "Same here. I wish you good fortune as well." Lewis interrupted Jared''s words with a knowing smile.

    Upon seeing this, the younger¡ªor technically, older¡ªJared nodded.

    "Thanks."

    And then, a swirl of pure energy began to form around him.

    "Thanks to Crazy Neron''s letter, I have more than enough Aether to send you to the coordinates he specified."

    The swirl of energy rippled with multiple colors, glowing ever so brightly.

    All the Arcanas formed around Jared, each disying their respective sigils and glowing in their respective hues.

    And then, at the very center of them all, where Jared floated, the final Arcana formed.

    "[The World]"

    The lone card glowed powerfully, overshadowing the rest in its beauty and glory.

    "Farewell... Lewis." Jared smiled in aplicated manner, unsure of what expression to make.

    And then, the bright, multicolored st of the card shot through the space of the Archives, reaching Lewis in no time at all.

    "Farewell... Jared."

    And then, in one final surge of power... the space around Lewis imploded, sending him, and all he possessed into the void that was the Nether Realm.

    Whether or not he would survive... was left to the decree of fate.

    "And now, to alter my memory of this urrence..." Jared whispered.

    It was better this way.

    ********

    I returned to myrades who were patiently waiting for me after I told them to give me some time to make a final call.

    Once I returned to them, I had a smile formed on my face, and my eyes were.more focused than ever.

    "So, what will it be, Jared?" Kuzon asked, his arms folded as he stared at me seriously.

    "After giving it a lot of consideration, I''ve decided to make the truly rational choice."

    I could see Kuzon''s expression light up the moment I said this, and the expressions of my other friends morphed into disbelief.

    "I''m going to stop Legris Damien. That''s what the right choice really is."

    "J-Jared are you serious? You''d abandon Karlia?"

    "Jared, just trust us. You can go and save her!"

    "Don''t you believe in true love?"

    Aloe, Edward, and Ciara respectively tried to protest, but their words didn''t make any sense to me at this point.

    "What the hell are you guys talking about?" I smiled at them, my eyes genuinely reflecting confusion.

    "Who is Karlia?"

    *

    *

    *

    [End Of The Sixth Arc]

    This Arc has been my least enjoyable, and it''s probably because I fell sick a lot, had my Law exams, and a bunch of other personal stuffs that really ruined a lot of the journey for me.

    I certainly hope you enjoyed some parts, if not all of the story.

    Maybe when I''m all recovered and I return to check out this Arc, I''d have better thoughts.

    For now, though... I''m more excited about the final two Arcs that will put a close to Jared''s story.

    And so, for the next Arc, we have...

    [The Nether Realm Arc]

    I hope you enjoy this one.

 Chapter 1046 The Realm Of Darkness

    1046 The Realm Of Darkness

    "ARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    In the depths of a forsaken realm, cloaked in absolute darkness, a woman with crimson skin, a wickedly coiled tail, and bat-like wings writhed in unspeakable torment.

    Her once lustrous dark hair hung in disheveled tangles around her ashen face. This tortured soul, bearing the appearance of a subus, existed in a hell crafted specifically to magnify her suffering.

    A maddening silence enveloped the deste chamber, broken only by the anguished screams and pitiful cries that erupted from her lips.

    Her voice,den with desperation, echoed through the oppressive void, reverberating back upon her with malicious glee.

    Yet, there was no one to hear her agonized pleas, no one to witness her torment.

    Her scarlet skin, radiant in its demonic allure, now seemed ashen and lifeless, marked by the invisible scars of relentless pain. Her tail, once a symbol of her unearthly beauty, twitched involuntarily, a mockery of its former grace.

    The bat-like wings that had once borne her aloft in flight were now tattered and frayed, a testament to the perpetual torment she endured.

    Tears streamed relentlessly down her contorted face, mingling with the grime and soot that clung to her tortured form.

    They carved paths through the ash-colored veneer of her cheeks, tracing the paths of unspoken sorrows.

    Each tear, an embodiment of her anguish, seemed to carry the weight of countless tormented souls.

    As the darkness pressed upon her, suffocating and inescapable, she gasped for breath.

    Her cries turned into desperate sobs, the sound echoing into the void, only to be swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere.

    She curled into herself, her body wracked with sobs, seeking refuge from the ceaseless pain that wracked her being.

    Amidst the chaos of her suffering, her lips trembled, and her voice became a mere whisper.

    The name of someone dear to her, a lifeline in this abyss of agony, escaped her quivering lips.

    "Lewis," she muttered, her voice barely audible above the wails of her torment. "Please... save me..."

    With each utterance of his name, her voice grew weaker, her plea more desperate. She clung to the hope that he would hear her, that he would answer her cry for salvation.

    Tears fell unabated from her eyes, cascading down her face like a river of sorrow, mingling with her soul''s searing torment.

    But the darkness remained unyielding, the silence unbroken. In this deste realm, her pleas went unanswered, her torment unabated.

    And so, the Subus, whoever she was, continued to endure her personal hell, trapped in a cycle of suffering and longing, her voice fading into the abyss.

    "Lewis..."

    ********

    ~VWUUUUMMM~

    Emerging from the depths of a swirling vortex of vibrant colors, I found myself transported to an unfamiliar and foreboding realm.

    The disorienting journey deposited me into the heart of a dark, cave-like region.

    The air felt heavy with a palpable sense of unease, and an eerie silence pervaded the surroundings.

    "At least I made it..." Murmuring to myself, I recognized that the protectiveyer that repelled Nether from me was currently active.

    If it wasn''t, I wouldn''t be alive to think for even a few seconds.

    As I nced around, my eyes strained to pierce through the gloom, but all I could discern was an imprable darkness.

    A sense of istion gnawed at my core, and I felt an overwhelming urge to shed light upon my surroundings.

    Reaching into the depths of my satchel, my trembling hand found sce in the touch of a familiar object¡ªa luminous gemstone.

    ''This should do it.''

    It pulsated with an ethereal glow as I held it aloft, casting its soft radiance upon the shadowed expanse.

    The illumination revealed the destion that epassed me. No signs of life, no familiarndmarks to anchor my presence.

    It was as if the cave itself held its breath, waiting in anticipation for my next move. I cautiously stepped forward, my footsteps reverberating through the stillness, the echoes a haunting reminder of my solitude.

    After what felt like an eternity of wandering through the dimbyrinth, my eyes caught sight of a faint, glowing region in the distance.

    It beckoned to me like a distant oasis, promising an escape from the ustrophobic confines.

    ''The exit? Finally!''

    A flicker of hope ignited within me, urging me onward.

    My steps quickened as I approached the luminous gateway, anticipation mingling with trepidation.

    But as I breached the threshold, I found myself confronted with a sight that froze the blood in my veins.

    ''E-eh...?!''

    Before me sprawled a vast expanse teeming with grotesque and fearsome creatures.

    Others engaged in savage battles, their roars of aggression rending the air.

    12:19

    It was a macabre symphony of chaos and violence, and as my presence disrupted their realm, their They lurked amidst the shadows, their forms twisted and monstrous, their every movement hinting at unimaginable power.

    Wings beat against the air, creating gusts that carried the stench of decay.

    Some feasted on carcasses, their eyes glinting with ravenous hunger.

    Others engaged in savage battles, their roars of aggression rending the air.

    It was a macabre symphony of chaos and violence, and as my presence disrupted their realm, their attention snapped toward me as one.

    ''Crap...''

    Time seemed to slow as I stood rooted to the spot, stark realization washing over me like an icy wave.

    In that instant, Iprehended the magnitude of the danger that engulfed me.

    The creatures, sensing a vulnerable intruder in their midst, bared their teeth, ws, and fangs, prepared to unleash their fury upon me.

    Fear surged through my veins, coursing with an intensity that matched the pulsations of the gemstone clutched tightly in my trembling hand.

    I was a stranger in this hostilend, an interloper who had unknowingly trespassed upon their territory.

    Survival became my sole purpose as I braced myself for the impending onught, desperately seeking a way to navigate this perilous confrontation with the monsters that now regarded me as their prey.

    ''Wait for me, Karlia! I''ll save you!''

    For now, though, only one thing became my upation.

    ''RUN!''

    *

    *

    *

    [Wee To The Nether Realm Arc]

    Now, you might think this will be a rehash of everything we''ve seen in the Lost Worlds Arc, but then you''d be sore mistaken.

    This will be a different adventure for sure. Hopefully you all enjoy it.

    And I''m grateful for everyone who''s made it this far.

 Chapter 1047 Evading The Monsters

    1047 Evading The Monsters

    "GROOAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

    My heart pounding in my chest, I sprinted through the treacherous expanse, desperately evading the monstrous creatures that pursued me.

    ''Damnit! How was I supposed to know that I''d stumble onto their nest?!''

    Their guttural snarls and thunderous footsteps echoed behind me, spurring me onward.

    I knew I had to find a way to escape their clutches, to find sanctuary amidst the shadows that concealed me.

    ''Thankfully, I''m quite fit, so I can navigate my way through this area!''

    The tiny regions proved difficult for most of the monsters who chased me.

    As for the smaller ones, I was able to dodge them¡ªthough barely.

    I felt my life on the edge countless times, but I pushed through and endured many times.

    As I ran, my mind raced, seeking sce in the n I had devised before my arrival in this nightmarish realm.

    ''The Arcanas... yes, that''s right!''

    There was a reason I had been teleported to this cave-like ce by Jared.

    Somewhere within these depthsy an Arcana.

    ''It''s signature was detected by Jared, so to begin my journey, I was going to start here, but...''

    I had no idea where it was!

    With each stride, my focus sharpened, and I retrieved the holographic map from my satchel.

    It flickered to life, illuminating my path with a soft azure glow. The map was very imprecise and only provided a rough approximation of the Arcana''s location.

    ''It''s in my location, but where exactly? Above? Beneath? To my left? To my right?''

    I suppose I''ll have to perform some tweaks to my equipment. But first, I had to escape the chasing monsters behind me. a proper

    I knew that engaging in battles with the monstrous denizens would only hinder my progress, diverting me from my ultimate goal.

    ''Their numbers have reduced quite a lot.''

    In the eerie stillness, broken only by my hurried footsteps, I plotted my course.

    Adrenaline coursed through my veins as I pressed forward, my senses heightened, attuned to every subtle shift in the environment.

    ''Ah, there! Perfect!''

    The creatures here most likely had night vision, so even if I turned off my precious luminous gemstone, that would do me very little good.

    They could also probably sense heat signatures, so turning invisible wouldn''t work if I had already been detected.

    ''To lose them, it''s probably best to get rid of them.''

    "GRROOOAAHHHH!!!" I heard screeching roars from behind me, as if the creatures were trying to remind me of their presences.

    ''I hear you. I hear you!!!'' My thoughts echoed as a wide grin formed on my face.

    ''Might as well try this...''

    I had already observed a very deep chasm right ahead of me, and I was running straight for it.

    Removing two devices from my satchel, each with one hand, I braced myself for what would happen next.

    "Hup!" I leaped down into the gulf beneath, and so did the creatures who lunged after me.

    ''Unintelligent. Very good.''

    I used one of my devices¡ªa grappling hook¡ªto target the mouth of the cave I jumped out of, swiftly swinging away from the free fall that would ultimately lead to my demise.

    Unfortunately for most of the Demons that chased me, they were going to plunge to their doom.

    Mist covered the bottom of the hugecuna, so even i didn''t know how deep it was.

    "KRRRIRIIIIII" I heard a couple of screeches, along with wings pping.

    ''Shit...''

    Some could fly, so they were able to avoid their free-fall dive.

    Of course, I already prepared for that too.

    As soon as I swung to the mouth of the cave, finding a solid foothold for myself, I threw the second device¡ªsomething akin to an orb¡ªto the approaching creatures.

    "Die... I guess."

    ~BOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    The explosion, caused by purely naturalbustive processes, and not Magic, echoed across the hollow of the cave, sending shockwaves flying in multiple directions.

    ''I better run before something worse happens.''

    A wave of such intensity could make natural rock formations like these to cave in. If that happened, I would find it extremely difficult to move around.

    Plus, the sound was also bound to attract monsters. If I remained in the same position, there was a high likelihood I could be nutrients for these savage beasts.

    ''We can''t have that, can we?''

    As such, once I was done with my task, I returned to my path, determined to be more careful in the future.

    ''First off, I should find a ce where I can tweak as much equipments as possible.''

    The map wouldn''t be very useful in this instance, since I was already at the estimated location of my prize.

    What I needed now, more than anything, were detection tools.

    ''Heat signatures and Energy Density'' Those two were the most important.

    ''I brought some equipment with me for that purpose, but since I haven''t been here before, I couldn''t do it while I was with Jared.''

    But now, things were different.

    I was going to sync my devices and their energy receptive capabilities to the Nether around me, and ount for higher density of such energy.

    ''That would mean monsters are close by.''

    If I added the synchronizing effect and made a detection radius device, I could generate a mini-map around me, allowing me to detect the creatures that lurked around.

    I''m essence, I would be able to evade them.

    Most importantly, I would be able to find a more specific position of the Arcana I was after.

    ''Just follow the trail of the strongest energy signature.''

    But this was a double edged sword.

    ''What if it leads me to a very powerful monster?''

    Well, it was a risk I was willing to take. Inasmuch as I was trying to be careful, I couldn''t be too wary.

    This entire mission was already too dangerous, to begin with.

    "I should also be more proactive." Time was of the essence, after all.

    Karlia was waiting for me, and every second counted.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

 Chapter 1048 Labyrinth Of Chaos

    Chapter 1048 Labyrinth Of Chaos

    {Nether Realm: Eastern Continent}

    [The Khaos Labyrinth]

    "Great Sage, over here. I think I found something." A very gruff voice sounded in the deep dark silent expanse that was the Entrance Region of the Khaos Labyrinth.

    The man who spoke was a very buff individual. He had dark skin, with a bald head and a somewhat stern face.

    His tone also sounded rough, and based on theplementary nature of his features, it was easy to mistake him for a thug.

    ... But he really wasn''t.

    "Ah, Doctor Drake. What did you find?" The man called the Great Sage approached the ebony man.

    He had a somewhat thin andnky frame. He also seemed like a man past his prime¡ªmiddle aged, at best.

    He had a very youthful smile, however, and the sses he wore ssesplemented his looks.

    Unlike the dark-skinned man, who had a tank top and somewhat baggy trousers, the older man had a long dark cloak, with a satchel firmly ced beside him.

    He had a curious glint in his eyes as he approach Dr. Drake.

    "Aren''t these... ah, I see." He murmured, looking at the items that the good doctor had called his attention to.

    "Nether Ores, huh? I guess we really are at the right ce. The Labyrinth Of Khaos..."

    ording to legend, there were 21 Great Labyrinths scattered across the world where the treasures of the Prime Ancient Ones were kept.

    Obtaining all of these items would allow one infinite power and the ability topletely change the world.

    Unfortunately, finding these Labyrinths was the most difficult task imaginable.

    "I devoted decades of hardcore research, and finallypiled the list. If this is truly a Labyrinth, then the others I have pinpointed have to be urate as well."

    Unfortunately, he only had the precise location of about ten Dungeons, but it still filled his heart with joy that he found one.

    "The Khaos Labyrinth. Finally, we''re one step closer to our goals..." The Great Sage smiled to himself, his aged eyes gleaming with hope.

    "Great Sage, I''m done scouting the area. It looks safe for now." A feminine voice suddenly echoed from beyond the location of the two who observed the rock.

    Standing a distance from them was a damsel of unquestionable beauty.

    She had striking silver hair, and her crystal blue eyes could entrap anyone within them. She was currently putting on a gleaming armor, with a sword by her hip, and her helmet hanging on her back.

    "Thank you Aria. I appreciate the trouble." The Great Sage smiled at the youngdy, causing her to slowly turn away.

    "I-it''s nothing. More importantly, what are you both looking at?" She muttered, hiding her face for most of what she said.

    "Well, we found Nether Ores. That''s enough proof that this ce is rich in Nether, and it has been for a long time, such that it has crystalized here after several weathering processes." The Great Sage exined, turning to hispanion.

    "Right, Dr. Drake?"

    "Precisely." He smiled. "Based on mere observation alone, the purity also seems to be of the highest quality. I reckon we''ll find more in higher quantities if we venture inside."

    Dr. Drake was an expert on biological and geographic studies. He was even more of an expert on these things than the Great Sage... though he would never admit it.

    "How about it, Aria? You said the area looks safe, right? We can proceed, then." Dr. Drake smiled excitedly

    "No monsters are nearby. There are weaker presences I sensed beyond, but they''ll pose no problem for me." She answered sternly, donning aposite befitting a knight.

    Aria was the most powerful Magic Swordsman in the world.

    She was also an Half-Elf, evident by her pristine beauty, slightly pointy ears, and immense Magic Prowess.

    Not only was she skilled at Martial Arts, but she was also very formidable with the de, thus making her the strongest Magic Swordsman in the current generation.

    "That''s a relief. Sorry to keep relying on you like this, but you''re the only one skilled enough to do¡ª"

    "I''ve told you already, it''s fine!" Aria lost herposure for a second, raising her voice a little.

    It seemed she realized this, and thus turned away from the Great Sage, holding her face in a somewhat self-chastising manner.

    "A-ahem... anyway, it''s fine. All three of us decided to journey together to find the Arcanas, didn''t we? We all need each other, so it''s fine."

    The Great Sage and Dr. Drake couldn''t help but nod in silence at theirrade''s words.

    Aria was right, after all.

    All of them had their respective roles to y in the discovery of the most powerful items that could possibly exist.

    Dr. Drake was a medical professional, though he was even more skilled in Archeology due to his expertise in rocks and minerals, as well as biology.

    He was an expert in structural geology, paleontology, and petrology.

    His help was indispensable in the search for Arcanas which were buried in Labyrinths¡ªwhich were essentially rock formations, and we''re obscured from all civilization.

    As for Aria, she was the muscle of the team. Without her, neither the Great Sage nor Dr. Drake could hope to fight the monsters or other horrors that faced them in the Labyrinths they were challenging.

    As for the Great Sage himself, he was the greatest Magic Schr in the world, and an expert in the very thing they were after.

    He had devoted most of his life developing Magic Theories and changing the way the world perceived the concept of Magic.

    Not only that, but he spent decades studying the Arcanas, and since he was already nearing old age, he decided to explore the world to find the Arcanas.

    This would be his final mission as the Great Sage. Hisst contribution to the world of Magic.

    At least, that was what he openly dered to hisrades.

    "Well then... let''s venture in, shall we?" He smiled, leading the way for his team.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    c71241599ffa2342522e9fa0e93245a9d8ec4ad4e8c3c5baf0c66a8666374fd03e5bdb95807a5e9709c3ee6a5b052fd13eefa08ae92f0d460fb12ce08a3fd7d4d3ef6f0791ba706e3f027795d64728ef

 Chapter 1049 Denizens Of The Nether Realm [Pt 1]

    It took me a couple of hours to manufacture the devices I wanted.

    Making everything should have taken less time, but in my defense, I had to be careful about creeping monsters around while I proceeded with it.

    If I was in a safe,fortable environment, it would have been different.

    But for me, this ce was the most unsavory ce to work in.

    ''The whole thing shouldn''t have taken that long, considering I have all the materials and the theory at hand.''

    Combining and appropriately syncing the tools with the existing elements around was all that I had to do.

    "And I spent so long on it... have I gotten rusty?"

    After going through it to make sure there was no error, I decided to test it out¡ªmy new goggles and Navigation Compass.

    Putting on my goggles, I could sense the floe of Nether around me. It looked like dark purple mist just flowing around, and the particles also floated around me.

    It seemed like Nether truly existed everywhere in this world.

    ''I''d die the moment my barrier ispromised.''

    The other function of the goggles was to show me the density of Aether a target possessed.

    It would help me determine how strong an opponent was.

    ''It also allows me To detect the strongest signature around me.''

    And that was where my navigationpass came into y.

    ''Using it I can detect clusters of energy, which indicate a monster¡ªor at least, a creature with enough dense Nether or something.''

    The colors, based on the intensity of energy, ranged from white, yellow, blue, green, orange, red, purple, and ck.

    ck was the highest my device could measure.

    ''So I''ll have to be very careful not to go near any ck marker.

    Fortunately, no creature here had disyed the ck marker, even after performing a long-scale scan.

    ''Or should I call it counter-scan, since I determine there positions and qualities based on anti-resonance? Well, terms aren''t really important right now.''

    The important thing now was that I could finally navigate my way through this cave.

    ''Lets take a closer look and see where I''m supposed to go now.''

    I looked at my navigationpass hoping for guidance, but found something strange instead.

    "Hmm? What''s going on?" I murmured, staring closely at the holographic screen in front of me.

    All the markers around were moving in the direction of three markers.

    ''Hm? That''s strange...''

    Of the three Markers, one was white, one was yellow, and the final one was red.

    ''Are they monsters? Two of them seem extremely weak, though. The red one is most definitely very strong, but if it''s a monster, why is it close to the other two weak ones?''

    Were they the monster''s kids? That would make sense.

    Then, did that mean the other monsters were drawing closer to ambush the parent and her kids?

    Based on experience, the creatures in this cave were savages who were capable of anything with their primal brains.

    I wouldn''t put it past them to try to kill a mother and her children.

    ''That''s an awful amount of monsters heading their way, though...''

    I observed the map a little more, noticing the markers that managed to get close to the three markers blinked and vanished¡ªwhich meant they were dead.

    ''I see. So the red marker is protecting the other weak markers and is killing them.''

    So far it seemed to be doing well, but I couldn''t help but wonder how long that wouldst.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    After all...

    "There are three red markers drawing close to their position?"

    Would they be able to win? Would they not? I was immensely curious.

    ''Get a grip, Lewis. You don''t have time for this!''

    That''s right! I was meant to be searching for the Arcana here, not watching some sort of battle royale.

    ''Let''s focus on the task ahead of us.''

    I decided to ignore the monsters in trouble and instead use the opportunity to freely move through thebyrinthine cave.

    ''Since the monsters are drawing closer to that position, they won''t mind me. This is a perfect opportunity!''

    Plus, if I took a certain path that was a little adjacent to the spot where all the monsters were gathering, I was home free.

    ''The strongest signature is definitelying from that position!''

    It was perfect.

    Jumping to my feet, I began to make my way towards my next destination.

    "I don''t know who you are, mother monster, but thank you for your sacrifice!".

    ********

    "Huff... huff..." Heavy breaths leaked from Aria''s lips as she stared at the creatures that stood imposingly before her.

    Her narrowed eyes focused on the targets in front of her, and she gripped her heavy de with firm resolve, unable to loosen her group even if she tried.

    The glowing energy on her body was dying out, and that was only a testament to her exhaustion.

    The dead bodies of several fallen creatures littered thendscape, yet it seemed the number of adversaries wasn''t dwindling.

    "You two... just stay behind me..." Aria huffed, her tired eyes ring at the monsters that took yet another step closer to her and herrades.

    Using Magic and Martial Arts took a great amount of concentration and stamina, and while the results made it all worth it, using it for long periods drained her immensely.

    And the worst part about this battle remained very bothersome for Aria.

    ''Three of these monsters are very strong. As strong as me even.''

    And then the rest served as distractions¡ªenemies who would attack herrades if she lost her guard for even a second.

    As a result, she was stuck.

    ''I''m not giving up, though!'' She gritted her teeth and rooted her stances.

    As long as there remained breath in her chest, she would never falter.

    Never again!

    "Bring it on, you beasts!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you think of this direction? I personally like how grounded the story is in this Arc.

    At least, to an extent.

    Lewis is using his intelligence, and he doesn''t have some supreme Magic that makes everything a piece of cake.

    Or what do you all think? Do you think he''s too nerfed?

 Chapter 1050 Denizens Of The Nether Realm [Pt 2]

    Aria, her silver hair shimmering like moonlight, stood at the forefront of a chaotic battleground.

    The deafening screeches and growls of the encroaching swarm of monsters reverberated through the air, their grotesque forms casting ominous shadows upon the grimndscape.

    Behind her, twopanions whocked the means to defend themselves trembled with what could only be called fear, their eyes wide with terror.

    Undeterred by the overwhelming odds, Aria gripped her gleaming sword with unwavering determination.

    She knew that their lives depended on her skill and resolve.

    Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath, channeling her magic into the de, causing it to glow with a radiant light.

    ~WHOOOOSHHH!!~

    As the first wave of monsters lunged toward them, Aria met their onught with a deft flurry of shes and parries.

    ~SWISH!~

    Her sword sliced through the air, a blur of silver, as she maneuvered with uncanny agility, her movements a seamless fusion of grace and lethal precision.

    ~VWUUUM!~

    Sparks of Lightning Magic erupted from her de, each strike a testament to her mastery of both magic and swordsmanship.

    ~FWISH!~

    With each swing, she dispatched the grotesque creatures one by one, their lifeless forms crashing to the ground.

    ~BOOOOMM!!!~

    But the relentless swarm seemed endless, their numbers closing in from all sides.

    Aria''s heart pounded in her chest as she fought with unyielding resolve, desperate to shield her vulnerablepanions from the horrors that threatened to engulf them.

    The monsters lunged and wed at her, their fangs gnashing and ws shing.

    Aria''s focus remained unbroken, her senses honed to the razor''s edge as she anticipated their every move.

    Her body danced with agility, narrowly evading their strikes whileunching counterattacks with lethal precision.

    Yet, the tide of battle began to shift.

    Fatigue wed at Aria''s muscles, her movements losing a fraction of their former speed.

    The monsters seemed to sense her weariness and capitalized on it, redoubling their efforts to overwhelm her.

    "HAAAAAA!!!" She fought back, her sword an extension of her will, but the sheer numbers became overwhelming, threatening to swallow her whole.

    With a thunderous crash, Aria stumbled backward, her de slipping from her grasp and ttering onto the blood-stained ground.

    ~BOOOOOOM!!!~

    "Aria!" Herpanions cried out in despair, their voices filled with helplessness and anguish.

    She locked eyes with them, her own filled with a mixture of regret and determination.

    As the swarm of monsters closed in, their feral eyes gleaming with hunger, Aria and herpanions watched as their lives shed before their eyes.

    Moments of joy, sorrow, and triumph danced through their memories, a bittersweet symphony of a life well-lived.

    ... But one of regret nheless.

    ''I-if only... I could have at least...'' In their final moments, Aria reached out to herpanions, particr the older fellow.

    Unfortunately, just like always, it never seemed to reach.

    They stood together, defiant in the face of impending doom, their unspoken farewell filling the air with a quiet, unyielding strength.

    And as the monsters descended upon them, their triumphant roars drowning out the echoes of their valiant fight, Aria, herpanions, and their shared memories were forever consumed by the merciless jaws of fate.

    ... Or so one would think.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    A massive eruption roared from.begind the horrifying creatures, causing all of them to halt in their pace and turn back to see what themotion was all about.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!~

    Another round of explosion, this time greater than the first, roared through the cave, causing massive cracks to sear through the ceiling and walls.

    "W-what''s going on?!" Aria weakly shouted, suddenly experiencing the explosions that rendered the entirebyrinth structure unstable.

    "I''m not sure. But if this continues, everything around us will copse."

    Unfortunately, none of them could fly. They could activate the defensive barrier they had as ast ditch effort, but even that wouldn''t be strong enough to survive the copse of an entire portion of the cave, and all of that descending to the depths of the Labyrinth''s abyss.

    It was the reason why Aria avoided using any shy Spells, and the rest didn''t bring any explosive to their expedition.

    They even tried to avoid fights, but when the monsters lunged from below and above, they had suddenly found themselves surrounded.

    And now, they were doomed to be buried by the rocks of the Labyrinth...

    "Hey, you guys, grab on!" The voice of a man suddenly echoed across the vast cave.

    Aria and herrades saw no one, and they could not understand what words were just spoken, but they realized the ground beneath them was trembling, and the constant explosions were only making things worse.

    "Grab the rope!" The voice echoed again, but they still could notprehend the meaning behind it.

    However, the moment they saw a dangling rope mysteriously appear in front of them, their instincts told them to grab hold of it.

    "Hurry, you idiots! You want to fall?" The stranger''s voice roared imposingly, causing them to tremble at the sound of his words.

    They swiftly held onto the rope, each of them desperate to live.

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The final eruption sent the already fragile earthy tform to break apart, sending everything falling downwards.

    The monsters were forced to descend with the shattered earth, roaring as they plunged into the abyss.

    "ROOOAAARRRRrrrrrrrrhhhhh..."

    Before long, they were no longer visible, and the only survivors of the skirmish were the ones who held onto the rope that kept them from falling.

    "W-what just happened?" Aria murmured to herself, her grip strong on the rope that extended so far up that she didn''t know it''s origin.

    "I have no idea. But it seems we''ve been saved." Dr. Drake murmured, his breath heavy with relief.

    In response to this, the Great Sage couldn''t help but nod emphatically.

    "Indeed. Whoever our benefactor is... we owe him our lives."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 1051 Two Great Sages [Pt 1]

    As I watched the trio get pulled up by my grappling hook, I couldn''t help but sigh at mysslf.

    Was it a sigh of relief or exasperation? I couldn''t tell.

    ''I would have ignored these people, thinking they were monsters, but...''

    When I was taking the path that would lead me to my destination, I heard human noises¡ªparticrly the sound of a woman fighting.

    In the end, I couldn''t help but check the fight out, and it turned out to be a group of Adventurers, or whatever they were called, here in this world.

    ''Legris Damien, ording to the memories I share with Jared, is also from the Nether Realm, so I knew there would be humans here, but...''

    I didn''t expect to find some so quickly.

    The three finally reached the top, where I was standing waiting for them. The firm rocky foundation here was still intact, unlike what had taken ce below.

    I could see them breathing heavily as they greedily took in the air around them.

    Their faces were a little obscured from me thanks to their current positions, so I could hardly see their faces.

    ''They look disheveled. They must have been fighting for a while...''

    Well, not all of them. ording to my sensors, two of the three were extremely weak.

    ''The woman looks like the strongest. Half Elf, huh? That brings back memories...'' A wry smile formed on my face, however it quickly darkened.

    ''But Emilia is dead. And she wanted me to move on...''

    Karlia was still alive, and I had chosen my path already. That was all that had to exist in my mind.

    "Are you people alright?" I asked them, finally rising to my feet to greet the three.

    "a-aaaH, knaht uoy... rof gnivas su..."

    ''H-huh?'' I recoiled the moment I heard their speech.

    It seemed they spoke a differentnguage from me.

    ''This will be difficult...'' It finally dawned on me why they took to long before grabbing onto the rope I sent down for them.

    ''They couldn''t understand me either. This is a bother.''

    I didn''t have the time to concern myself with e

    learning theirnguage, or them learning mine, so perhaps we could just call it even at this point.

    "eW yer etaicerppa ruoy pleh!"

    As I listened to their words more keenly, analyzing it, something struck me instantly.

    ''Are they speaking mynguage backwards?!''

    To bepletely certain, I swiftly tweaked my perception device, allowing a mirror effect to ur in the sound region, thus rendering everything I would hear or say to flow backwards.

    ''Let''s try it now.'' I focused my gaze on the other two two were now rising to their feet.

    "How can we ever repay you?" Thenguage seemed normal now.

    ''So that was it, huh? I should also be able tomunicate with them.''

    "It''s fine..." I took in more details about them as they lifted their faces.

    One was a buff ebony man. He seemed strong, but I knew quite well that he was really weak.

    And then there was thest person¡ªthe seemingly oldest in the group.

    He had some wrinkles, and he wore sses, but the moment I saw him, I recognized him instantly.

    "Y-you are..."

    The elderly man in front of me looked a great deal like Legris Damien!

    "My name is Larry Damien. They call me The Great Sage. I am truly grateful to you."

    ''Larry? Not Legris?''

    In any case, seeing the face of the man who caused most of the troubles my other self was going through made me unhinged.

    A part of me wondered if I should have just left him and his friends to die.

    ''The Nether. Legris Damien. The visitors our world has recieved from the Nether Realm have all had malicious intent.''

    How could I have saved three of them just like that?<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    All three of them began to thank me profusely at this point¡ªespecially the Larry Damien fellow.

    They introduced themselves, allowing me to know their names and upation.

    After listening to them yammering on for a couple of minutes straight, I realized that I was a bit prejudiced in my first impression of them.

    ''They''re... actually pretty normal.''

    Well, as far as normal went.

    These three Nether Realm denizens seemed as human as anyone I had ever met. Ah, well, there was an Half Elf too, so that counted as well.

    **********

    After their initial introduction, I informed the trio that we would have to leave our current position because the explosion had attracted more enemies who were making their way to out location.

    My navigationpass detected a few red dots on the map, and the only one strong enough to handle those kinds of enemies was pretty exhausted already.

    Our best option was to retreat.

    Fortunately, thanks to the map, I knew which areas weren''t congested with dots, allowing me to navigate my way out of danger.

    It seemed the trio realized I held the key to their survival, considering the way they followed me as baby chicks would run after their mother.

    In the end, we managed to escape the immediate crisis, and we even found a cave-like region where we could hide for a bit and wait out the current agitation that swirled in our immediate vicinity.

    ''At least until everything settles...''

    With that out of the way, and with everyone safe, I finally decided to address the gnawing questions that had been eating at me for a while.

    "Who are you people? What are you doing in a ce as dangerous as this?"

    As soon as I asked my question, the expressions of all three expressed unexpected surprise.

    "Y-you don''t know who we are...?"

    Was I supposed to? Ah, I just recollected how the Larry Damien fellow called himself the Great Sage.

    The Half Elf Aria called herself the Grand Magic Swordsman, and the one named Drake called himself the Heretical Doctor.

    It seemed they were really important people in this world.

    ''Should I just pretend, or...''

    No, there was no need for that.

    ''I have the advantage in this conversation. I might as well use it to learn more about this ce.'' With that thought guiding me, I proceeded in the conversation.

    "I''ve been a hermit explorer for a while, so I''m not particrly adept at the current urrences of the world."

    "R-really? That''s... unexpected." Larry Damien seemed surprised, fortunately he didn''t appear too suspicious.

    ''Though it''s reasonable for them to disy a little skepticism.''

    "So you saved us without even knowing our identities, and you''ve treated us with such courtesy. You really are a noble young man." Larry smiled at me with his usual  cheerful demeanor.

    To be honest, I was still very suspicious about him. His face held too great a significance to be mere coincidence.

    "So... who are you people, really?" I asked once again. "And what are you doing here?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1052 Two Great Sages [Pt 2]

    "My name, as I said earlier, is Larry Damien. I am known as the Great Sage." The older man began.

    He introduced his allies as well, and they nodded.

    "We are explorers who havee to this Labyrinth¡ªThe Khaos Labyrinth¡ªto search for an ancient artifact." He smiled broadly.

    The moment I heard that, my heart skipped a bit.

    ''Are they here for the Arcana as well?'' So this ce was a known Labyrinth? I hadn''t encountered any other human here, though.

    "To be honest, I''m a bit surprised to see a fellow human here. It took me so long to decipher the location of this Labyrinth." Larry''s words interrupted my thought.

    ''Ah, I see...'' So this ce wasn''t essible to the public, after all.

    That made sense, considering how the Arcana would have been found if that was actually the case.

    ''Reminds me of the search I went through back in the good old days.''

    "There are 21 Great Labyrinths in this world. They are hidden in mystery and shrouded in enigmas. I have devoted my entire life to unravel them, and now that I''m reaching old age, I have decided to seek them out once and for all."

    Larry Damien''s smile screamed of determination and youthfulness.

    Somehow, his words seemed to resonate with me¡ªparticrly the energy he used to speak about his mission.

    It reminded me a lot about myself.

    ''But there''s something missing...''

    "Why do you seek the Labyrinths? The treasure inside... why do you search for it?" I knew I was being impudent, but I had to know something.

    "The Arcanas... so you know of them." He asked, his gaze narrowing.

    "I wouldn''t be here if I didn''t." My response was simple and precise.

    If the old man wanted to try something funny, I had a n for that. If he turned out to be an enemy, I would have to neutralize both him and his allies.

    ''That''s why I chose this cave, after all...''

    However, I was sort of hoping it wouldn''te to that. Despite being currently stuck together, I could say I enjoyed theirpany a little.

    It was much better than being alone, at the very least.

    "I... want to make a final contribution to Magic. By finding the Arcanas, our world will make a significant leap in the world of Magic." He muttered.

    I knew those words sounded hollow. His tired and distracted gaze told me there was more to it than that.

    Would he tell me? Would he not? I was curious to see his choce.

    "... At least that''s what I tell everyone. But there''s something else that I want."

    Ah, so he was going to reveal his true goals.

    "My wife died at childbirth. She was going to give birth to our child... our son." He began, his voice slowly permeating the space between us.

    "We were going to name him Legris. But... even he perished along with my wife in childbirth."

    I wasn''t certain before, but hearing the story of this man, I was sure now.

    ''He''s the father of Legris Damien! Or at least, he was supposed to be.''

    He went on, further borating on the cause of their deaths¡ªsomething about a weak constitution that could not sustain energy, and drained both the child and the wife¡ªcausing their deaths.

    "I couldn''t offer a solution then. I could only watch as both of them died."

    It was a pretty sad story. And it seemed I was finally understanding his motivation.

    "It''s been decades since then, and I''ve done nothing but bury myself in research ever since I lost them." Larry spoke, a bitter tone tinged in his words.

    "I''m recognized as the world''s best Magic Schr. I''ve revolutionized Magic and brought countless innovations to this world... all in the bid to save them somehow." <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    It seemed like his heart was aching as he spoke.

    "I don''t know why I''m telling you this. We''ve only just met, and while you saved my life, I don''t even know anything about you, but... all I''ve done since I lost those two is to find a way to bring them back."

    To be honest, I understood how Larry felt. I could sense some sort of bond between us¡ªlike we were kindred souls.

    Even now, hearing his story, I couldn''t help but find simrities to mine.

    I nced at hispanions, and they appeared sad hearing Larry''s words. The expression of the Half Elf, Aria, seemed particrly sad.

    ''Does she feel that bad for him?''

    In any case, I now understood why he wanted to find the Arcanas. Sure, finding them could revolutionalize the world, but that wasn''t all there was to it.

    "I want to bring my family back. That''s why I seek the Arcanas." He finally confessed.

    Arcanas could grant miracles. The ones I found, and the others that my other self collected, all had miraculous abilities that could bendws and change the world.

    His wishes could definitely be actualized by the Arcanas he sought after.

    ''But, I can''t help but wonder if that''s the right way to live life.''

    I didn''t have any rights to judge, considering I also journeyed to find Arcanas in order to make things right with Emilia instead of just being a man and making up for my mistakes.

    I thought I could simply reverse everything.

    ''Perhaps he is right. He should have a chance to save his dead family.''

    That was all I could say.

    ''He deserves it, after all.''

    "You can indeed save your family. The Arcanas can do it." I smiled at the Great Sage Larry, a positive twinkle in my eyes.

    "It seems you''re very sure. You must have studied the Arcanas too."

    "Indeed. More than you realize." My grin grew wider.

    Back in my own world, I was known as the Great Sage.

    It felt nice to find another who shared the same title.

    "My name is Lewis. I also seek all 21 Arcanas, and I don''t n on stopping until I have all of them."

    Stretching my hand to the trio, I made my proposal.

    "Why don''t we make a temporary alliance and find these Arcanas together?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1053 Temporary Pact [Pt 1]

    I knew what I was suggesting.

    A temporary alliance between me and these strangers, pending the time we got all the Arcanas.

    It was both sudden and shaky, but the way I saw it, the benefits made it all worth it.

    ''Firstly, there''s the fact that my knowledge of this world is insufficient. Having these three provide me information, while serving as my cover in this ce, is perfect.''

    The second, and most obvious reason, was the conflict of interests that would arise from operating separately.

    ''We both want the Arcanas, so of one side gets it first, it could cause conflict for the other.''

    I, for one, needed every single piece of the cards, and I desperately had toy my hands on them.

    ''I don''t want to hurt anyone in the process, especially if they''re not enemies.'' Which was why I proposed an alliance.

    "Hmm. A teamup, huh? That''s actually a great idea." Larry Damien rubbed his chin as he smiled at me.

    "It''s simr to what I proposed to both Drake and Aria."

    "Really?" I expressed a tinge of surprise. "You weren''t a team from the get go?"

    Looking at both Drake and Aria, I thought they would be his long-timepanions, but at second nce, I could see why that might not have been the case.

    "We were strangers just two months ago." Larry spoke. "Well, we knew of each other and had met each other many times in the past¡ªmostly at public events¡ªdue to our aplishments and fame, but we never really knew each other."

    "So what changed?" I asked in curiosity.

    I could see Aria''s face darken instantly. It made me wonder what secrets she hid behind her clear face.

    "You really aren''t from around here, are you? Two months ago... was when these two became ouws." The old man spoke.

    ''What? Ouws?!'' I was proposing to travel with criminals?

    I thought they were famous and trustworthy people, so I would have an easy time cruising with them without any real trouble.

    But if they were criminals, that meant we would all live our lives on the run.

    "The Eastern Empire fell two months ago. And it was at the hands of the Grand Swordsman. She was gravely injured afterwards, but the Heretical Doctor healed her and helped her escape." Larry spoke with a grim tone.

    "News spread of their crimes, and so they became ouws. We met not too long after they escaped, after they were cornered and had nowhere else to go. Fortunately for them, I remained neutral about the whole thing, and after hearing them out... I realized they weren''t as guilty as they were painted to be."

    Larry continued telling the story, and it seemed like a political scandal that involved a lot of factors that I wasn''t very invested in.

    Apparently, Aria used to be the Head Knight of the Eastern Empire, but realized that the system they ran was oppressive and tyrannical.

    The government was corrupt, and they greatly oppressed the poor.

    very. Forced Prostitution. Drug Trafficking.

    The system was messed up from the inside and no one at the top was willing to change it since they all enjoyed from its fruits.

    Once Aria found out about all of this, she grew appalled at the Empire she had dedicated her life to serve, and turned her de on the Emperor.

    After hearing of his countless atrocities, and seeing firsthand what he was doing in the privacy of his room, she could not think of a more befitting punishment than sending him to the graze.

    However, it wasn''t just the Emperor.

    The Nobles also fell at the hands of her de, and all the ones she had caught in the act¡ªwhich was pretty much all the upper echelons of the Eastern Empire

    "The downside of everything was that she became a criminal in the process, and thus was used of treason. The neighboring countries that have an alliance with the Eastern Empire, as well as the Criminal Underground all rose against Aria, but she couldn''t take them all on at that point."

    As a result, she fled with Drake, and left for Larry''s home, which was in the middle of nowhere at the time.

    "The public still has no idea they''re with me, so I''m technically not an ouw yet. Though I consider myself one already... considering how absolutely repulsive the system is."

    When I first saw these people as denizens of the Nether, I thought their morality would be warped, but to think they actually shared my values on morality...

    ''It shows we''re not so different after all.''

    "Aria was actually the one who suggested going to The Great Sage''s home for refuge. I wasn''t sure we could trust him, but she seemed to have faith in his integrity." Drakeughed with his deep voice.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "S-shut up! It''s just because his house was close by. Plus, he was a weak. He wouldn''t have posed a threat to us."

    Aria''s cheeks were beet red at this point, and I couldn''t help but think something was up.

    ''I''m no expert on these issues, but..."

    "... Do you like Larry, Aria?" I asked, my face drawing a clueless smile.

    "W-what?!" Her face instantly became redder.

    ''It seems I was right.''

    "A-are you crazy? What the hell are you saying? You shouldn''t say something so preposterous! Why would I... !!!"

    She kept rambling on and on about it, but there was already no point.

    I stared at Larry, and it seemed like he already knew of her feelings for him.

    ''She probably admired him from afar. And even now, she''s hiding her feelings for him for a particr reason.''

    "What are you talking about? Don''t tease Aria too much. We''re all justrades. Right, Aria?"

    "Y-yes." She murmured, avoiding eye contact with Larry himself.

    ''She''s not going to say anything because Larry is still focused on his past family, huh? Well, I suppose that makes sense.''

    Larry''s purpose was to revive his wife and child. There was no room for Aria in his ns, so she was better off giving up from the jump.

    ''I kind of feel bad for her, though...''

    But what could I do about it? Larry made his choice, and I had to respect that.

    ''Looking onto the past... while refusing to move on with the future...''

    I couldn''t particrly judge him for that, but it was a shame, really.

    ''I just hope it ends well.''

    "So, what do you think, Lewis? You still want to partner up with us after knowing the truth?" Larry asked with a grimace on.

    "Just got reference sake, what would you do if I decided to turn you in?"

    I saw their expressions darken instantly. Their faces rang of instant caution, particrly Larry''s.

    "It would be unfortunate, but..."

    "You''d kill me, huh?" I widened my grin.

    "What? No! We''ll make you lose your memories of ever meeting us."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 1054 Temporary Pact [Pt 2]

    "Ohhh..." It seemed these people were more moral than I gave them credit for.

    "What the hell? Why would we even¡ª?! What do you think we are?"

    "Pfft!" I nearly burst outughing. It caught them all by surprise, and they looked at me like I was strange, but it didn''t matter to me.

    "I don''t care what anyone else in this world says. You three aren''t criminals in my eyes." I chuckled.

    I had met worse people in the world, andpared to them, these three were simply saints.

    "The offer still stands." I stretched out my hand to the trio. "Let''s form an alliance."

    I wasn''t nning on getting involved in the political conflict that was currently taking ce in this world, but I also couldn''t ignore the obvious problems that would arise if we weren''t teammates.

    ... As well as the obvious benefits that would arise from beingrades.

    ''Most of all, I like them.'' I smiled, looking at the tree individuals before me.

    In a way, they reminded me of my teammates. I knew they were different people with different personalities, but being in a group like this... it had a warmth I craved.

    ''As long as they don''t slow me down, they''ll be perfect.''

    "I think it''s a great idea." Larry smiled, his positive energy beaming across the room.

    It spread to Drake and Aria who also shared simr answers to him.

    "I don''t see why not."

    "It''s a good idea."

    And just like that, all four of us became a team.

    After we created our partnership, I was able to learn more about the three individuals, especially Aria and Drake.

    As expected, each of them also sought the miracles of the Arcanas for personal reasons.

    Drake wanted to save lives, and prevent suffering by curing illnesses and bringing healing to the world.

    It was quite a grand dream to have as a doctor.

    However, considering how he had experienced a lot of trauma treating many patients who ended up dying or suffering despite being in his care, his wish was valid indeed.

    A world without the need for doctors like him. That would really be something to see.

    As for Aria, her desire was to bring down the corrupt people that were left in the world, both from the surrounding nations, but also the ones in other continents.

    She wanted to liberate the weak while bringing equality to the world.

    Also a noble aspiration, if I said so myself.

    "What about you, Lewis? Why do you seek the Arcanas?" The question I was expecting finally came.

    All three looked at me with curious eyes as they waited to see what I would tell them.

    My dream wasn''t as grand as bringing my family from the dead or saving the world.

    It was far more selfish and personal.

    "I just... want to save the woman I love. She''s trapped somewhere I cannot reach, and she is suffering every second of every day." I smiled sadly.

    In order to save her, I had to use the power of the Arcanas.

    "That''s why I need to find all the Arcanas. It''s the only way to save her."

    As expected, after my confession, the three wanted to know more about the woman I was willing to risk everything for to save, and I told them a bit about Karlia.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Of course, I left quite a few details.

    Like the fact that she was a Subus from another world... and that her prison was in the Root of Nether Realm.

    ********

    After waiting out themotion for a while, it was finally time to leave the cave, and so we journeyed out of it and went towards the direction of the strongest energy signature together.

    It turned out, the same way I had my Googles and Map to help me navigate, Lewis used a Special Meter which he constantly referred to, while Drake checked rock patterns and various ores to see if we would be heading to a dead end.

    As for Aria, her job was to sense approaching monsters and either avoid them, or fight them.

    Their trio was pretty bnced, but inefficient.

    With me in the mix, I simply used my special navigation map to locate the monsters around us, while also finding out the general direction that would lead us to our prize.

    I pretty much made their entire shtick a bit irrelevant, but notpletely useless.

    I couldn''t urately determine paths, or tell them apart. In the case of two caves appearing beside each other, both with strong energy presences, it would be impossible for me to tell which one would be best traversed.

    That was where Drake came in. As for Aria, since she was stronger than everyone present, she could defeat monsters for us.

    ''And Larry has the locations of all the Labyrinths, or at least a good number of them, recorded for use.''

    Thepass I was given by Jared only showed me their approximate location, so it was very reassuring to have an expert with me on the journey.

    I could probably pull everything off on my own, but this way it was far easier... and less lonely.

    To my relief, none of them slowed me down. In fact, the moment we started journeying together, we were on an endless roll.

    Even Larry didn''t stop to catch his breath. Apparently, he had a Magic Device that assisted his physical abilities, and this also wasn''t his first exploration.

    As a result, none of us weighed the other down.

    It took another hour or so, but we finally reached what could be called the final challenge of the Khaos Labyrinth.

    It was a massive gate made in form of a double door.

    It seemed to be mad of stone, with engravings on it that rang of carnage.

    "This is it, guys." I smiled wryly, sensing the most absurd source of energy I had ever perceived from beyond the gate.

    "It''s a purple marker."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1055 Joint Efforts [Pt 1]

    Tension spread through the air as we all stared at each other in choking silence.

    And then...

    "P-purple?!" Aria was the first toment on the absurdity of my observation.

    I had exined the concept of my markers prior to our arrival at the very entrance of the Final Juncture.

    "There''s a possibility that it''s not an enemy and simply the Arcana''s energy signature, right?" Drake smiled ufortably.

    He was clearly trying to run away from the dreary fact that seemed to be crouching upon his senses.

    "No. The frequency of the Arcana is different. Markers represent living entities." I responded.

    One could say that the Arcanas wouldn''t fall under any marker color, and even if it would, the color was going to be ck.

    Still, the Arcanas location was certainly beyond these doors. My sensors picked the entire area within the room ahead as the position of the Arcana

    That meant the purple marker was something else.

    "We should brace ourselves for an enemy encounter."

    "But a Purple? Didn''t you say Aria was a Red? She''s the strongest among us. We don''t stand a chance if we go in there."

    I understood what Larry was saying, but we couldn''t turn back now either.

    We also didn''t know the kind of enemy we would be facing, so we couldn''t generate a specific n to counter it.

    The only thing we could really do was move forward.

    "Don''t worry, Larry. I don''t n on losing this fight." A smiled formed on my face as I stared at the double door.

    Sure, I couldn''t use Magic, but that didn''t mean I didn''t have some tricks up my sleeve.

    "There''s more than one way to win a battle. Just trust me."

    Drake and Larry were useless in a fight, so the only person I could really count on was Aria.

    She was weaker than the opponent that existed within, but she was still formidable.

    "With ourbined strength, we should be able to win."

    No... we had to win!

    ********

    As the massive double doors swung open, revealing the foreboding Labyrinth''s Core Room, a rush of anticipation and fear coursed through my veins.

    The air was thick with tension as our small group stepped inside.

    Larry and Drake remained close to the entrance as instructed, considering the fact that they were nonbatants, while Aria and I prepared to face the monstrous being that awaited us.

    "Haha... this will be a bit difficult."

    The creature before us stood at least fifteen meters tall, its crimson skin pulsating with an unholy energy.

    Horns protruded from its skull, curling menacingly, and a long tailshed back and forth, demolishing everything in its path.

    It truly resembled a giant demon, a nightmarish creation from the depths of darkness itself.

    Aria, our masterful Magic Swordsman, readied her gleaming weapon, crackling with the power of lightning and light magic.

    I, on the other hand,cked the ability to harness magic directly, so I could only rely on the items I had in my satchel.

    ''I have to use them sparingly...'' My thoughts trailed.

    Aria took the lead, as agreed, charging towards the towering demon with swift and calcted movements.

    ~SWOOOSH!~

    Her lightning-infused de shed through the air, leaving trails of crackling energy in its wake.

    "GRRAAAAUGGGHHH!!!"

    She weaved between the demon''s colossal limbs, narrowly avoiding its sweeping attacks while retaliating with her own lightning-charged strikes.

    As the demon focused its attention on Aria, I seized the opportunity to support her from a distance.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    I rummaged through my satchel, finding a small silver orb.

    With a quick toss, the orb exploded in a blinding sh of light, momentarily disorienting the demon and giving Aria a chance to strike with even greater force.

    ~FWISSSHH!!~ Her attacks connected, drawing blood from the monster.

    "GRUAAAAHHHH!!!" It''s screams pierced the air, and based on that alone, I had to admit we were off to a great start.

    But the demon was relentless. It roared in fury, its crimson eyes burning with a malicious intent.

    It grew stronger, channeling dark energies that surged through its massive form.

    Aria and I exchanged a brief nce, our determination unyielding. We couldn''t back down now.

    With a surge of adrenaline, Aria unleashed her most powerful spell. Brilliant beams of light shot forth from her de, piercing through the darkness that enveloped the room.

    The demon howled in agony as the light seared its flesh, causing it to stumble backward, momentarily weakened.

    I seized the moment, delving into my satchel once again.

    This time, I retrieved a small ss vial containing a swirling red liquid. With a swift motion, I hurled it towards the demon''s feet, shattering on impact.

    The liquid ignited into a raging inferno, engulfing the demon''s lower body and hindering its movement.

    "RAAARGGGHHHHH!!!"

    I was honestly grateful that the beast we were fighting had no intelligence.

    We were allowed to get away with ourckluster strategy as long as we timed out attacks perfectly and acted in sync.

    Unfortunately, it seemed the Giant Demon''s vitality was it''s most dangerous attribute.

    ''Its hardly scathed...''

    We pressed on relentlessly, exploiting every opening, every weakness.

    Aria''s lightning-infused strikes grew more ferocious, each blow delivering a surge of electricity that ravaged the demon''s monstrous form.

    I provided support, alternating between hurling explosive orbs, using artificial protective barriers to defend us both, and enhancing Aria''s sword with temporary enchantments to amplify her attacks.

    "ROOOAAARRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHH!!!"

    The demon fought back with renewed vigor, its attacks growing increasingly desperate and devastating.

    But we refused to yield. We evaded its massive fists, its crushing tail, and its searing breath.

    We danced through the chaos, our movements synchronized and fluid, as if we were two halves of a single entity.

    ~VWUUUUSSSHHHH!!!~

    As the massive demon beast roared in fury, its crimson skin crackling with dark energy, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins.

    ''It''s getting stronger again!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1056 Joint Efforts [Pt 2]

    The air crackled with tension as Aria and I braced ourselves for the intensified battle thaty ahead.

    Aria, her eyes zing with determination, moved with lightning-like speed, her magic-infused de slicing through the air.

    ~BOOOOMMM!~

    Bolts of lightning danced along the length of her weapon, illuminating the room with flickering bursts of electrifying energy.

    She darted in and out of the demon''s reach, her strikes precise and powerful.

    The demon, now empowered by the dark forces it had harnessed, swung its colossal fists with even greater strength and speed.

    ~WHUM!~

    The ground trembled beneath its weight as itunched itself at Aria, aiming to crush her under its monstrous might.

    But Aria, with her agility and mastery of the sword, evaded the onught with acrobatic finesse, narrowly avoiding each bone-shattering blow.

    Meanwhile, I scoured my satchel for any item that could aid us in this desperate battle.

    I pulled out a gleaming silver amulet, swiftly pressing it''s center button.

    Activating its function, a barrier of shimmering light surged around Aria, bolstering her defenses against the onught of the demon''s attacks.

    ~BOOOOOOMMM!~

    That hit would have been dangerous. Fortunately, I was able to activate the barrier around her in time

    With the barrier providing temporary respite, Aria gathered her focus, calling upon her inner reserves of power.

    She unleashed a torrential onught of lightning and light magic, sending crackling arcs of energy cascading toward the demon.

    "GUAARGGGGGHHHHH!!!"

    The bolts struck the beast with searing force, eliciting agonized roars that reverberated through the room.

    But the demon was not so easily defeated. It summoned its own dark magic, conjuring a swirling vortex of shadows that threatened to envelop us both.

    Aria''s eyes widened with urgency as she leaped backward, narrowly avoiding being ensnared by the tendrils of darkness.

    I, too, swiftly retreated, knowing that our lives depended on maintaining distance from the abyss of darkness.

    Seeking to regain the upper hand, I retrieved a small vial containing a vibrant, glowing liquid.

    The liquid pulsated with raw elemental energy, promising a temporary surge in power.

    ''It only affects the physical functions of a person, but that''s still incredibly useful.''

    If her physical aspects were boosted, she would be able to generate more energy to fight.

    If she could pour out just enough power, then...!!!

    "Aria!" I yelled, drawing her attention towards me instantly.

    Without hesitation, I hurled the vial toward Aria, who deftly caught it mid-air.

    With a swift motion, she uncorked the vial and consumed its contents, her form briefly shimmering with ethereal light.

    ''It worked!'' I beamed from a distance.

    Now empowered by the elixir, Ariaunched herself back into the fray with renewed vigor.

    Her strikes became swifter and more ferocious, each blow apanied by a dazzling disy of lightning and radiant light.

    She maneuvered around the demon, exploiting its momentary vulnerabilities, striking with lightning-fast precision.

    I continued to support Aria from a distance, utilizing the array of magical items at my disposal.

    I pulled out a small cylindrical device, adorned with intricate wires and a vtile core within., and activated its function.

    A burst of energy emanated from it, forming a protective shield around Aria, warding off the demon''s desperate counterattacks.

    "UWOOOAAHHHHHH!!!" At this point, out opponent summoned its darkest powers, enveloping itself in a cloak of shadow that amplified its strength and resilience.

    Its attacks grew more frenzied and devastating, threatening to overpower even Aria''s lightning-infused onught.

    "Haaaaaaaaa!!!" With a battle cry that echoed through the chamber, Aria unleashed her most potent spell yet, channeling all of her remaining energy into a single, concentrated burst of light and lightning.

    ~VWUUUUSSSSHHHH!~

    The blinding explosion engulfed the demon, searing through its shadowy defenses and scorching its flesh.

    "GUUAAAARGHHHHHHHH!!!"<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    It writhed in agony, its monstrous form convulsing with the intense pain inflicted upon it.

    Sensing the opportunity, I, too, unleashed the full might of my arsenal, bombarding the demon with a barrage of explosive orbs.

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    The demon fought back with itsst vestiges of strength, its attacks growing more desperate and erratic.

    But Aria and I had be a synchronized force, moving as one, each supporting the other wlessly.

    We anticipated the demon''s now sluggish movements, evading its strikes with calcted precision and retaliating with devastating counterattacks.

    Finally, as ourbined assault reached its crescendo, the demon''s resistance crumbled.

    "GU-urrghhhh..."

    Its form convulsed onest time before copsing to the ground, a mere husk of its former monstrous self.

    "This should be enough..." I threw a tiny orb in it''s direction, watching as the object shed with the enemy''s crimson skin.

    And then¡ª

    ~BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    ¡ªit exploded,pletely swallowed in the destructive eruption.

    The explosion onlysted for a moment, though. Soon enough, only the hissing sounds of smoke filled my ears, and that soon vanished as well.

    The room fell silent, save for our ragged breaths and the fading echoes of battle.

    Aria and I stood together, battered and weary, but triumphant.

    Sweat mingled with the dirt and grime that covered our bodies, evidence of the intense struggle we had endured.

    We shared a silent moment, acknowledging the victory we had achieved through sheer determination and unwavering teamwork.

    "Good work." I smiled at her, receiving a simr sentiment from her facial reaction.

    "You''re better than I thought." She responded.

    "Hehe. Thanks."

    This would have been really tough if I had faced the monster on my own.

    ''Well, tough... not impossible.''

    As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, we turned to ourpanions at the entrance.

    They stared at us in awe, admiration gleaming in their eyes.

    "L-Lewis, Aria... you did it!" Larry seemed especially moved by it all.

    ''Well, we actually pulled something epic off, didn''t we?''

    But I wasn''t in a hurry to celebrate yet

    We had seeded, but the journey was far from over.

    ''Now, for the grand prize...''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1057 Being In A Team

    As the final echoes of the battle faded away, we stood amidst the aftermath, panting heavily, our bodies covered in sweat and dirt.

    Well, that was the case for me and Aria. Larry and Drake seemed perfectly fine.

    The sense of aplishment and relief washed over us, yet we knew our journey through thebyrinth was far from over.

    We still had to receive our reward.

    It was in this moment of respite that something caught our attention¡ªa brilliant light radiating from the center of the room.

    We turned our gaze towards the source, our eyes widening with curiosity and anticipation.

    The light shimmered and danced, growing brighter by the second. It seemed to coalesce, taking shape before our very eyes.

    And there, floating in the air, was a card¡ªan otherworldly card that seemed to exude a mystic aura.

    The card hovered, seemingly beckoning to us, and I couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement.

    My fingers twitched with anticipation as I cautiously stepped forward, reaching out to grasp the card.

    Aria, ever vignt, mirrored my caution as she extended her hand towards the floating artifact.

    The moment her fingers made contact, a jolt of energy coursed through her, causing her to gasp in surprise.

    I watched as Aria''s eyes widened, a mix of awe and realization dawning upon her features.

    Once her stunned state dissolved, she presented the prize for all of us to see.

    The card she held was none other than [The Devil] Arcana¡ªwhich had the power of Miasma in my original world.

    ''Does Miasma even exist in this world? Or maybe the abilities of the Arcanas are different in this world...''

    Either way, I wasn''t sure of the consequences of using the item, so I didn''t want to jump to conclusions.

    Still, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I muttered to myself, "This is a start."

    The discovery of this Arcana confirmed the existence of the others. That brought relief to my heart.

    It meant that we were on the right path, at the very least.

    Turning to my teammates, I couldn''t contain my pride and admiration for their unwavering courage and skill.

    "Well done, everyone," I eximed, my voice filled with genuine appreciation. "We''ve collected our first Arcana. This is just the beginning."

    With a sense of camaraderie, I extended the card to each of mypanions in turn, allowing them to behold its ethereal beauty for themselves.

    Aria and Drake marveled at the card''s crimson colored radiance, a mix of wonder and determination evident in their eyes.

    Seeing the result of the hard work they put into the venture made it all worth it.

    The one who was most excited of all of us, however, was Larry.

    With eyes shining with childlike awe, he gazed at the Arcana in his hands, his expression a mix of joy and disbelief.

    He had spent his life studying and delving into the mysteries of Magic, and to hold such a rare artifact that represented the very peak was a dreame true for him.

    "I-it''s beautiful..." I think I saw tears in his eyes.

    I nodded, positivity swirling through me.

    ''I''ve missed being in a team.''

    Ford. Dom. Gawain. Jane. Raphael

    I truly, genuinely missed them.

    ''Emilia too. And then, there''s you... Lilith.''

    Ever since that time, I hadn''t seen or heard of her again.

    ''She''s not dead, is she?''

    My thoughts seemed like a bad joke upon more analysis. Did I really have the luxury to worry about an undying entity like her?

    ''Even though we traveled together for years...''

    I removed my thoughts from the past, internally chastising myself with a smile.

    ''And I criticize Larry for not letting go of the past. It seems I''m also guilty of that in part. But still...''

    I was at least allowed some measure of nostalgia, wasn''t I?

    At the very least, for my friends.

    "Well, we should be leaving this ce now." I said to the members of the team.

    They nodded on agreement, their faces forming resolute expressions.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The journey had only just begun, but we were ready¡ªready to face the trials, to ovee the obstacles, and to emerge victorious, one Arcana at a time.

    ********

    "Huh?"

    Reluctantly, I held the precious [The Devil] Arcana in my hands, a sense of responsibility weighing heavily upon me.

    My teammates insisted that I keep it safe within my satchel, their unwavering trust in me warming my heart.

    Despite my protests, their confidence in my abilities and judgment bolstered my resolve.

    ''They''re really going to trust someone they''ve just met that easily?''

    Still, what could I say at this point? If they trusted me, I only had to live up to their expectations.

    As I carefully secured the Arcana in its protective casing within my satchel, a mix of emotions swirled within me.

    A warm tingle washed over me, and I was grateful for the unwavering trust mypanions had ced in me.

    Aria, Drake, and the esteemed Great Sage Larry¡ªthey were more than just teammates.

    ''I feel ashamed of myself for even thinking terrible of you at this point.''

    After deciding on who would hold the Arcana, we ventured out of the central room of the Labyrinth and thanks to Drake and Larry, we found our way to the exit.

    I truly didn''t know how I would have found it so easily without them.

    ********

    Leaving the Khaos Labyrinth behind, we stepped out into the outside world, and what met our eyes was what even I didn''t expect.

    It was and shrouded in darkness.

    "T-this is..." I could only whisper as I looked around me.

    The barrenndscape stretched endlessly, devoid of life and light. It felt as if a heavy fog of destion clung to every inch of the surroundings, casting an eerie pallor over everything.

    Compared to the vibrant realm I called home, this world seemed dull, lifeless, and filled with despair.

    ''Dark skies, thick clouds, dull colors, heavy air, barren surroundings...''

    My allies didn''t seem to be the slightest bit affected by what I was seeing.

    Could it be that this was their version of ''normal''.

    ''I... can''t even imagine.''

    The contrast between the two realms hit me with an intensity I hadn''t anticipated. My thoughts raced, trying toprehend the suffering and stagnation that enveloped this destend.

    And in that moment, the importance of our quest resonated within me.

    ''I can see why this world needs the Arcanas more than anything.''

    If everything in this world was like this, then it needed saving.

    And so, with a determined smile and a heart brimming with resolve, we embarked on our next chapter, ready to face the challenges that awaited us.

    The world needed us, and we needed one another.

    Thus, we couldn''t falter. Not yet.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I certainly hope you enjoyed the read. Personally, I miss the old characters we''ve gotten used to, so I can''t wait to get back to them.

    In the meantime, though, I''ll enjoy these new ones.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1058 The Triumvirate

    [Location: Unknown]

    The atmosphere in a particr underground meeting chamber was as pristine as it was foreboding.

    Soft candlelight flickered across the polished marble floors, casting long shadows that danced along the walls adorned with intricate tapestries.

    A circr table stood at the center, where three figures, cloaked in darkness, sat with an air of authority.

    Each of them was apanied by two imposing escorts, their presence a stark reminder of the power they held.

    On one end, there appeared a muscr man who looked like a giant. His bulging muscles and imposingly huge figure made the aura around him appear even more intimidating.

    Behind him were simrly built men, though none couldpare to him.

    He had weirdly shaped ears¡ªlike an animal, and he had some furry skin on his arm, as well as a white furry tail behind him.

    His eyes glowed with blue light, and the fangs for teeth he had were clear as he smiled broadly.

    On another end was a short and stout man. He had flowing long beards, and an aged face. Despite that, his wide eyes and crooked grin made it evident that his intentions were anything but pure.

    Behind him were two men, both as short as the important man was, though their beards were brown and not white like his was.

    Finally, on thest end was a woman with pointy ears, wless skin, and flowing silver hair.

    Her eyes were lustrous green, and a thin linen veil covered her face for the most part.

    She had a crooked smile underneath the veil anyway, so no one needed to guess her facial reaction.

    And so, in this gathering of the Beast King, the Dwarven Chief, and the Elf Queen, all members of the Triumvirate was ounted for.

    As the figures settled into their seats, a sense of anticipation hung heavy in the air. The meeting was about to begin¡ªa gathering of minds steeped in secrecy and illicit dealings.

    Their voices,den with whispered words and veiled intentions, echoed through the chamber.

    "It''s been a while, my esteemedpanions," The Dwarven Chief spoke, his voice low andmanding.

    "Tonight, we convene to discuss the state of our respective kingdoms and the flourishing trades that bring us prosperity."

    The Beast King chuckled darkly. "Ah, yes. The profits continue to blossom, as our illegal enterprises grow in strength and influence."

    In the end, profit and influence was all that mattered to him.

    He would sell his own people, or ruin the lives of others, just to make an extra ie.

    "Hahahahahaha!"

    Laughter filled the room, a chilling melody that echoed off the walls.

    These three reveled in their exploits, their disregard forws and morals evident in their gleeful exchange of stories and schemes.

    However, the conversation took a darker turn as they delved into more sinister matters.

    The focus shifted to the Eastern Empire, the nation that was teetering on the brink of unrest.

    "It''s getting serious, especially profit-wise. Let''s make a decision about it now." The Beast King murmured.

    He wasn''t particrly good ating up with ns and strategies, considering his straightforward personality, but he knew his allies were a different breed¡ªliterally.

    They contemted the best course of action to solidify their control over the empire, their eyes glinting with a ruthless ambition.

    "We must ensure that our grip on the Eastern Empire remains firm," the Elf Queen suggested. "A puppet Emperor will serve us well¡ªa mere figurehead to quell the unrest while we operate in the shadows, manipting the strings of power."

    "Oh? That''s perfect! Got anyone in mind?" The Dwarven Chief grinned widely.

    "Let''s just look for the most popr person in the Kingdom right now. We bring him over to our side either using money, drugs, ckmail, or if ites down to it, Mind Control Magic." The Elf Queen continued with an arrogant smirk.

    "Women are also strong temptations for men, after all."

    Everyone knew how the Elf Queen seduced the Emperor of the Eastern Empire with her charms and got most of the power she now possessed from the man''s weakness.

    The daughter born from that affair was a testament of the Queen''s ability to go to any length to get what she wanted.

    "Pfft. As long as he can make the sheep get in line, I don''t care the method we use." The Beast King added.

    Theirughter reverberated through the chamber once more, a chilling symphony that echoed their malevolence.

    With a bit more detail, they concluded their decision on what they would do about the current unrest in their previously rivaling nation.

    Once it was settled, they ventured on to other topics.

    However, as the discussion progressed, the three now turned their attention to perhaps the most pressing matter of all¡ªAria and Drake, the notorious ouws.

    Whispers filled the air as they acknowledged the threat the duo posed to their ndestine operations.

    "They just went off the grid. I didn''t expect them to be so witty." The Dwarven Chief clicked his tongue.

    "I know, right? I was looking forward to fighting and defeating the Grand Magic Swordsman myself." The Beast King grinned while licking his lips.

    "There''s a possibility that they''re being assisted by a third party." The Elf Queen sighed.

    Considering how they had managed to evade capture for two months, it was indeed very strange to think only those two would be capable of such a feat.

    "If it''s you saying that, then you''re probably correct." The Beast King nodded with a smile like the simpleton he was.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "We must smoke out the ones aiding those pests." The Dwarven Chief hissed , a glint of menace in their eyes.

    "They threaten our profits and our very existence."

    Not only was it uncertain just how much they knew about their group, but also the ns they had for the world.

    So far, only the Wilds hadn''t fallen into their grasp yet. Everything had been under the control of the Triumvirate for centuries now.

    Even the Eastern Kingdom, which was in something akin to a partnership with them was now going to bepletely subjected by their control and swallowed up by their influence.

    They had control over the known world.

    "Don''t get too worked up about them." The Elf Queen interjected, a sinister smile ying upon their lips.

    "I have already sent my elite squad to track them down. Once they locate Aria and her allies... they will be eliminated."

    The Elite Squad of the Elf Queen consisted of the most powerful Elves¡ªdirect descendant of royalty.

    In essence, the Elf Queen''s children, nephew, or nieces.

    They were the most powerful Elves, and while Aria was known as a prodigy... could she really match the full brunt of the Elf Queen''s forces?

    Curiosity and surprise rippled through the room, and the Beast King dared to question the Elf Queen''s motives.

    "Eliminated, huh? Are you sure about that?" He asked

    "I was thinking the same thing. Aren''t you Aria''s mother? Will you really kill her?"

    Perhaps it was foolish to ask such a question from someone like the Elf Queen, but curiosity made them do so anyway.

    The Elf Queen''s ethereal beauty seemed to magnify, her pointed ears and flowing hair entuated.

    Yet, her lips curled into a malevolent smile, betraying her pristine appearance true intentions.

    "I have many daughters," She replied casually, her voice dripping with calcted malice.

    "I have no use for a good-for-nothing child who can''t fulfill her duties and only causes me trouble."

    The chilling assurance in her voice sent shivers down herpanions'' spines.

    "Is that so? Well, your resolve is greatly appreciated." The Dwarven Kingughed awkwardly.

    He, for one, would never coldheartedly sacrifice his seeds.

    Everything he was doing was for his descendants to enjoy the fruits of his illegitimatebor.

    Looking at the Beast King, it was certain that he too cherished his kids¡ªthose who were strong at least.

    Unlike them, however, the Elf Queen was brutal to the core.

    "There''s no need forpassion in our line of business." The Elf Queen must have noticed their sense of unease, but she didn''t seem to care in the slightest.

    This was a gathering of dark forces, a Triumvirate bound by their shared pursuit of power and control.

    As rulers of the underworld, and their respective nations, they were at the apex of power.

    "No one who dares to stand in our way should be spared."

    The Elf Queen''s words hung heavy in the air, a whispered promise of doom for those who opposed them.

    "Damn straight." The Beast King joined.

    "Correct you all are." The Dwarven Chief added in his own chuckles.

    As the meeting concluded, the chamber seemed to absorb their malevolence, leaving only an eerie silence in its wake.

    The Triumvirate dispersed, their intentions set in motion, ready to eliminate any obstacle that dared to challenge their dominion.

    ... Completely unbeknownst to the prey.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1059 The Despero Labyrinth

    As we stood at the entrance of the Despero Labyrinth, a sense of anticipation mingled with trepidation filled the air.

    Larry, the Great Sage, stepped forward, his eyes filled with a mix of caution and excitement.

    "A-ahem, may I have your attention please?" He cleared his throat as he addressed all of us.

    He began to exin the lore surrounding this perilous ce, detailing its connection to fear and despair.

    He warned us of the dangers that awaited within, but I found myself consumed by a sense of determination, pushing aside any concerns for my own safety.

    I listened attentively as Larry painted a vivid picture of thebyrinth''s perils.

    The thought of facing the embodiment of fear and despair did give me pause, but at this point, I couldn''t let the dangers deter me.

    Time was of the essence, and we had to press on, regardless of the risks.

    Larry''s words lingered in my mind as I remembered how it had taken us nearly a week to reach this Labyrinth, the closest one to us.

    The sheer magnitude of our journey hit me, and a tinge of frustration crept in.

    How long would it take to gather all the Arcanas, given the vast distances we had to cross?

    ''If only we would find  an Arcana that could make our travel easier in this Labyrinth...'' My mind trailed.

    It would be nice to have something that could address the immense distances we had to cover.

    However, a bitter realization washed over me.

    Even if we were to find such an Arcana, it would take considerable time for mypanions to understand and harness its power.

    ''It takes time to use an Arcana, especially without help.''

    Wishing for a solution in the form of an Arcana seemed futile. I had to ept the reality and bear the burden of our journey, no matter how arduous it may be.

    As these thoughts swirled within me, guilt tugged at my heart. Karlia, the woman I loved, suffered immensely with every second we wasted.

    The weight of her pain weighed heavily upon me, and it fueled my determination to conquer thisbyrinth as swiftly as possible.

    With a renewed resolve, I stepped forward fearlessly, mypanions beside me. Aria, Drake, and Larry¡ªall of them shared my fiery determination, their eyes burning with the same unyielding spirit.

    We were a team, bound by amon goal, and their unwaveringmitmentforted me in the face of the daunting challenges thaty ahead.

    ''The upside of the long time we spent getting here is that I got to know them more.''

    ... And they also got to know me a little more.

    Together, we ventured into the depths of the Despero Labyrinth, its ominous corridors stretching out before us like abyrinthine maze of fear and despair.

    We moved forward, one step at a time, prepared to face whatever trials and horrors awaited us.

    We could already hear echoes and cackling sounds from within the darkness, but I could see the stern resolute expressions of everyone.

    We weren''t letting up now.

    As we delved deeper, the echoes of our footsteps mingled with the distant howls of unknown creatures.

    The air grew thick with anticipation, but I embraced it. I would do anything it took to ensure the mission was aplished, and so would they.

    ''Alright, everyone. Let''s do this!''

    *********

    [A Few Moments Later]

    "ARRRRGHHHHH!!!"

    As we raced through thebyrinth''s twisting corridors, fear gripping everyone''s hearts, a chorus of screams and shouts filled the air.

    Drake''s voice pierced through the chaos, his exmation a mix of surprise and frustration.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "This... This isn''t what I signed up for!" he shouted, his wordsced with disbelief.

    Aria''s terrified scream echoed alongside his words. "Ghosts! I''m scared of ghosts!" she cried out, her voice trembling with genuine fear.

    Larry, too, couldn''t hide his distress as he added his own panicked yell. "Me too!"

    Amidst their cries, I remained silent, my mind focused on the task at hand.

    I rummaged through my satchel, my fingers seeking out a particr item while my eyes darted around, analyzing our surroundings.

    The apparitions and ghost-like creatures that pursued us seemed ethereal, otherworldly, but there was something off about them.

    My gaze shifted to my goggles, their lenses reflecting the dim light of thebyrinth. I activated the device, hoping for any hint of energy emanating from the phantoms that pursued us.

    Yet, to my surprise, my goggles detected no readings, no traces of supernatural energy.

    A realization dawned upon me¡ªthey were not real apparitions.

    Thebyrinth had conjured these phantoms as illusions, designed to strike fear into our hearts.

    Theck of markers on the map confirmed my suspicions¡ªthey were mere figments of thebyrinth''s twisted machinations.

    I decided not to voice my findings to my friends. They were already running in the right direction, guided by their instinct to escape the haunting illusions.

    There was no need to burden them with unnecessary details.

    Besides, there was a mischievous part of me that found amusement in witnessing their fear, even as we navigated this perilousbyrinth.

    ''Pffft. They''re usually soposed.''

    Through thebyrinth''s twists and turns, we ran, the phantoms chasing at our heels. I maintained my silence, holding my secret close, relishing the thrill of our shared experience.

    ''It looks like I''m the only one having fun.''

    ********

    [Moments Later]

    We finally arrived at the center of the Labyrinth, and as soon as we did, the phantoms vanished.

    Everyonemended me on not screaming while recoiling as they remembered their pathetic disys of fear.

    I swore to myself at that moment never to let them know the truth of the Labyrinth.

    ''I can only imagine how embarrassed they would be then.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1060 Conquering Fear

    As we arrived at the epicenter, the heart of the Despero Labyrinth, a sense of foreboding settled over us.

    The eerie silence of thebyrinth was punctuated by our cautious footsteps, echoing through the winding corridors.

    And then, as if summoned from the depths of nightmares, a colossal creature emerged before us.

    "ROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!"

    The horrifying screech of the creature caused the room to tremble, the beast''s terrifying visage sending shivers down our spines.

    Gasps of fear escaped mypanions'' lips as they stared wide-eyed at the monstrous being.

    It seemed like a phantom, but having the form of a magnificent dragon.

    It was at least thirty meters tall, with a terrifying aura that threatened anything that dared to move close to it.

    "Another one?"

    "T-this beast... is strong!"

    "We can''t win!"

    Their worries were palpable, the weight of doubt and uncertainty settling upon their shoulders.

    The sheer strength and intimidating presence of the creature left them questioning their ability to face such a formidable opponent.

    "Hmmm... I see."

    Unlike the others, I remained steadfast, my voice cutting through the fear that gripped our group.

    "Don''t be afraid, guys." I assured them, my tone unwavering.

    "This monster is not real."

    It was just another illusion conjured up by the Labyrinth.

    ''I''m surprised Aria can''t detect the hollow energy wavelength.''

    Perhaps there was some sort of effect at y here. If Aria was seeing and feeling the power of this illusion, that meant her senses were being affected.

    ''But since I''m using the goggles to see through the illusion, my actual senses are inconsequential.''

    That meant I was the only one here with the Ability to discern what was going on.

    My words didn''t seem to offer anyfort to my friends. Their gazes were still filled with a mixture of disbelief and anxiety.

    "The hell are you talking about, Lewis?"

    I groaned as I heard Larry''s shaky tone.

    "It has a ck marker, right? I can tell that it''s unfathomably strong!"

    It didn''t even have any color on the marker. It wasn''t real at all.

    "We should retreat." Drake whimpered.

    ''Haa... this is what I get for now exining things thoroughly to them.''

    My past decisions wereing to bite me now.

    Unfortunately, I didn''t have the time to begin educating them on what was going on.

    And so, while everyone shrank back in fear, I forged ahead.

    My steps.were resolute, ignoring the roars and the creature''s menacing approach.

    It was crucial that we pressed forward, undeterred by the illusion''s attempts to shake our resolve.

    Drawing closer to the monster''s massive form, I steeled myself for whaty ahead.

    "GROOOOAAARRRRH!!!" As the creature lunged towards me, its wicked ws poised to strike, I did not flinch.

    I continued moving forward, my focus unwavering, refusing to let the illusion break my stride.

    ''It''s very scary. All my senses are telling me I''ll die if I don''t run.''

    But then, I knew it wasn''t real.

    None of it was.

    ''I just have to keep moving forward!''

    And then, as if on cue, the monster''s imposing form began to flicker, its roars turning into a deafening buzz.

    ~ZZZTTTZZZZ!~

    It was fading away, dissolving into thin air like a mere mirage.

    "Bingo."

    As soon as the dissolution ured, the heavy feeling of intimidation began to lift as well.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    In the ce where the illusion once stood, a spark of light emerged, coalescing into a card¡ªan Arcana.

    ''Finally!'' My grin widened as I watched the glowing card float before me.

    "Lewiiiissss!!!"

    "You were right!"

    "How did you figure it out?!"

    Awe and shock painted the faces of my teammates as they drew near, their eyes wide with amazement.

    ''Guess they can move now.'' I mused.

    I could see the admiration and gratitude in their expressions. It could have been my imagination, but I saw Larry wipe away some droplets of tears.

    As they gathered around me, I exined that it was through the use of my goggles that I was able to see through thebyrinth''s deceit.

    "T-then... does that mean that all along, we were just seeing¡ª"

    "Let''s focus on the task at hand." I quickly interrupted Larry''s words, pulling the focus to our grand prize.

    ''They can''t find out that I knew everything was an illusion all along!''

    Fortunately my diversion worked.

    We all stared at the newly acquired Arcana¡ªthe card of [Temperance].

    A sense of tion washed over us, smiles forming on our faces, as we reveled in our triumph.

    ''[Temperance], huh? Makes sense.''

    The Arcana induced various kinds of emotions in a target, so it made sense that the Labyrinth was able to trick everyone by taking advantage of their emotions.

    It was a good thing I had my goggles

    *********

    The team once again unanimously decided that I should keep the Arcana.

    I didn''t mind at all, though it made me feel reassured that they trusted me that much.

    Honestly, the more I thought about my earliest apprehension of these three, the more Iughed at myself.

    I kept the [Temperance] Arcana in my satchel, and once the task wasplete there wasn''t any further reason for remaining in the Despero Labyrinth.

    It was a shame that none of these three could use any of the two Arcanas we had found, but there was nothing we could do about that.

    There was simply no time.

    ''I have to wonder how they''ll use it to fulfil their wishes, though. It could take decades to fully master an Arcana.''

    Hopefully things turned out well.

    After walking though thebyrinthine paths of the Despero Labyrinth, we finally saw the opening.

    ''Finally! We can start looking for the next one.''

    However, the moment we stepped out of the Labyrinth, I suddenly had a dark feeling of foreboding wash over me.

    My goggles were detecting a wave of imposing energy, and I quickly realized something was off.

    ''Huh? This is¡ª!''

    "Guys... something is wrong." Aria beat me to it as her brows furrowed and she frowned while looking around us.

    It seemed she already realized the problem. I also looked around, my heart steadily racing.

    ''We''re surrounded!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1061 Ambush [Pt 1]

    ''How many markers are these? A dozen? No, they''re more than that...''

    My goggles were picking a lot of signals all around our group, making it clear that we were surrounded.

    ''What should we do? Pretend we haven''t detected them yet? Should we see what they''ll do?''

    There were a few thing to take into consideration when taking this sudden event into ount, such as¡ª

    "We know you are there. Show yourselves!" Aria''s voice suddenly interrupted my analytic line of thought, sending everything crashing down.

    ''Nooo! Why would you do that?'' I nearly cried out, but held my thoughts deep inside me.

    There was no point dwelling in regret now. I could only consider what to do now that Aria had revealed our knowledge of them.

    ''I mean... it''s more reasonable that we would detect them, considering Aria''s strength.''

    "Hahahahahahahaha... hahahahaha... haaaa..."

    Suddenly, echoes ofughter began echoing from all around us.

    I could hear cackles of amusement from multiple directions, almost as of the foes that surrounded us were scoffing at out little group.

    ''What''s their deal?'' I reached for my satchel, ready to utilize a tool if necessary.

    Fortunately, our invisible watchers didn''t remain invisible after Aria''s deration.

    One by one, they began to materialize. In front of us, behind, to our lefts and to our rights, they were present.

    Fortunately, there was some distance between our group and theirs, but it was clear we were outnumbered.

    ''Fifteen of them. Damn...''

    And most unexpectedly of all, our adversaries had twomon feature that resonated with all of them.

    Their silver-like white hair, and their pointy ears.

    That''s right...

    They were all Elves!

    ''We''re in trouble...'' My thoughts trailed as I carefully stared at them.

    The Elves all had orange markers¡ªalmost red. And the one who stood in front us, donning a broad confident grin, was red!

    She seemed like the leader, and her demeanor alone showed how much she trusted in her own strength.

    ''Looks like she''s simr to Aria in strength. That''s not good.''

    Aria was the strongest among all of us. In power, she was unrivaled¡ªthus making her our trump card.

    Having so many enemies who could at least stand some modicum of a chance against her, and an adversary who was practically as strong as she was, made thins a bit problematic.

    I nced at Aria and noticed her troubled expression. She was obviously shaken by the appearance of the Elves, most likely aware of their level of threat to her.

    ''Larry and Drake also appear worried. It seems they understand as well.''

    "My name is Perena, daughter of the Elf Queen Kamilia!" The Elf in front of us dered, her grin widening as she stared at us with an obvious gleam of condescension.

    "For your crimes against the Eastern Empire, and the threat you lose to the world, all four of you will be eliminated right here and now."

    ''I see. So that''s what this is about.'' I clenched my fist and red at the Elves.

    During my travels with Larry, Drake, and Aria, I got to know more about this world.

    To be frank, the races were simr to mine. However, if there was something that made minepletely different from theirs... it was the level of corruption in this world.

    ''The Elves, the Beastfolk, and the Dwarves especially. They seem to be the ones running the world somehow.''

    Aria and Drake found this out individually, and Larry had already suspected what was going on, before they eventually formed a team and decided to be ouws.

    ''For the sake of the world? They probably just want to silence them so that they can continue running their activities without any disturbance.''

    And for that reason, we had to be eliminated.

    ''Now that I know the truth, I''m part of that equation.''

    "Sister, you have to see the truth already. You can''t possibly think this is for the greater goo¡ª"

    "Silence! I no longer consider you any sister of mine. No... I never did!"

    ''Sister, huh? I''m not entirely surprised.'' I calmly thought.

    Aria had the hair color that made me already suspect she was at least part royalty. She was an Half Elf, which meant her mother or father was of a different race.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    She didn''t like talking about her family, so I already had a feeling things wereplicated.

    The moment Perena and her allies appeared¡ªall donning the same hair color, I already pieced most of it together.

    ''So she''s the daughter of Queen Kamilia, huh?''

    Aria had sometimes spoken about the leaders of the group that controlled everything¡ªThe Triumvirate¡ªand she often addressed the Elf Queen with a special type of scorn.

    I had initially thought it was due to both of them belonging to the same race, but after considering the other elements, and now that the truth was right in front of me, it made more sense that her mother was the Queen she hated so much.

    ''We don''t have time for this, though...'' I thought to myself while narrowing my gaze.

    I needed to find a way to handle all fifteen of our adversaries at once.

    ''And I have to hurry!''

    "Sister..." I watched Aria''s downcast expression, noticing the hesitation in her eyes.

    ''She''s not in the right headspace. None of the others have muchbat expertise as well.''

    It seemed like most of the burden of this confrontation would be on me.

    "You are a disgrace to our Elfen heritage." I heard one of the fifteen Elves dere.

    "Not only are you a Half Elf, but you dare go against our queen?" Another spoke.

    "Tainted one!"

    "Disgusting hybrid."

    Echoes of several derogatory words emerged from the surrounding Elves, and the Aria who was usually so stern and strong-willed suddenly crumbled under their words.

    ''So she''s been living under this prejudice for so long...''

    I could only imagine how difficult it would have been for her growing up, rejected by those she would have called family.

    How much willpower she would have had to defy her mother''s authority and go against the corruption of the Eastern Kingdom.

    Aria was stronger than I initially thought.

    "You were merely a Half Elf, yet everyone dared to call you the strongest of our Race. I''ll prove to you right here and now how foolish that is!" Perena snickered.

    "You do not deserve the title of Grand Magic Swordsman! You do not deserve the title of the strongest! I''ll show you right here and now... how inferior you are."

    Aria''s body trembled as she was battered by her sister''s words. I could only see pain on her face.

    "And when you''re dead, I''ll finally be able to im my rightful ce as the strongest. As the Queen''s greatest de!"

    "SHUT UUUUUPPPP!!!" A loud voice echoed from among our group.

    It came from none other than the Great Sage... Larry Damien.

    "Aria don''t listen to any of the words these fools are saying!" His voice roared and his face depicted genuine rage.

    ''That''s a lot of energy...'' I mused, smiling at the sight of Larry defending a fellowrade.

    "Aria is the greatest! The Grand Magic Swordsman." He proudly dered, causing smiles to form on my face as well as Drake''s.

    Aria''s face cleared up as she looked at all of us with joyful surprise, her gleaming eyes particrly focused on Larry.

    "Never forget that!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1062 Ambush [Pt 2]

    With a newfound determination burning in our eyes, Larry, Drake, and I rose to action.

    "That''s right, Aria! You''re the strongest." Drake grinned widely.

    "Perena just wants to kill you so she can be the new strongest." I added with a snicker.

    Our voices of encouragement reached Aria, who seemed ovee with emotion as she stared at us.

    "Y-you guys..."

    "Larry, Drake, let''s do this," Imanded, my gaze piercing through the mass of silver-haired Elves surrounding us.

    ''Why did I just say that? None of them can even fight...'' I swiftly thought to myself.

    It was one thing to support the actual fighter among us, and it was another to leap into action.

    Larry responded with a nod, determination etching his usually jovial features. Drake, however, offered a smug smirk, his knuckles popping ominously as he readied himself for theing storm.

    ''Looks like they took my words too seriously.'' I forced a grin on my face.

    "Your words are wasted, humans. You stand no chance against the might of the Elven folk," Perena taunted, a cruel smile dancing on her lips.

    Yet, beneath her bravado, I caught the faint shimmer of uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

    ''Taunting aside... Aria should be able to handle her sister, right?''

    The Elves were probably cautious due to Larry''s presence as the Great Sage of this world, which was why they hadn''t struck yet.

    I couldn''t imagine that holding them back for very long, though.

    ~VWUUUUSSHHHH!~

    Without warning, the Elvesunched a devastating volley of raw energy our way.

    ''What? Already?!''

    The air sizzled, thick with magical discharge and imminent danger.

    ''Crap!'' I attempted to reach my satchel for a defensive tool, but the moment I paid attention to our ace, I realized I didn''t need to.

    Aria, seemingly rejuvenated by the surge of conflict, summoned a shimmering barrier around us.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The storm of elven magic crashed against the shield, sending ripples of light dancing across its surface.

    She turned to Drake and Larry, their faces pale but resolute.

    "Stay within the barrier. We''ll handle this," she ordered, her voice hard butced with concern.

    "Yes ma''am." They nodded in understanding, their trust in us unspoken but evident.

    "Aria, do you have a n?" I asked, preparing myself for the onught I knew wasing.

    She shook her head, a grim frown on her face. I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

    "You handle Perena. I''ll deal with the rest."

    I saw her hesitate, worry clouding her eyes.

    "Can you handle them?" she asked.

    I shrugged at her question.

    Frankly speaking, it wasn''t certain.

    Still, Perena was the strongest, and I would rather pick my chances dealing with the small fries than actually fight someone with a muchrger gap of power than me.

    "I''m not sure. But you need to defeat your sister. Hurry, so you can back me up."

    Without waiting for a response, I charged towards the Elves, throwing a re into the sky. The brilliant burst of light drew their attention, and I used the momentary distraction tounch a volley of explosive shards from my satchel.

    The Elves scattered, narrowly evading the onught, and redirected their attention to me.

    ''Aria''s barrier will serve as a deterrence for the weaker Elves, and since I''m actively attacking them, they''ll want to deal with me first.'' A smile formed on my face.

    ~VWUUMMMM!!!~

    I was the new target. From every direction, a tempest of spells and attacks barreled towards me.

    With every ounce of agility I possessed, I danced through the storm, evading some and using my magical gadgets to deflect others.

    It was a barrage of deadly magic and I was at the heart of it.

    ''Please hurry, Aria!'' I screamed internally.

    Elsewhere, I could see Aria squaring off with Perena. They were a tempest of shing energy, the ground around them scorched and charred with their fierce battle. I could only hope Aria would defeat her sister swiftly.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ''For our sakes!''

    Looking around me now, I could see that I was surrounded by foes, outnumbered and outmatched.

    "Hehe..." Regardless, I appeared undeterred.

    I had to survive, to win.

    We had to win.

    I had no other choice but to weather this storm and stand firm. I knew then that it wasn''t just a battle of might; it was a battle of resolve.

    "Looks like I''ll have to get a little serious..."

    **********

    On the other side of the battlefield, a separate storm was brewing.

    Two figures shed, their magical des meeting in a cacophony of ear-splitting shes and ethereal sparks.

    Aria, her figure crackling with radiant light and bursts of lightning, locked swords with Perena, whomanded the elements of ice and wind with a chilling finesse.

    The battlefield between them transformed into a stage of raw elemental might, the air shimmering with their magic.

    Aria, wreathed in luminescent energy, moved like a bolt of lightning, her de cleaving through the gusts of wind and shards of ice thrown by Perena. Her de was a beam of light, dancing through the tempest unleashed by her sister.

    Contrasting Aria''s radiant energy, Perena was a swirling tempest of ice and wind. Her hair danced wildly in the storm of her making, her silver eyes cold as shemanded the elements with a ruthless efficiency.

    The de she wielded was a chilling manifestation of her icy magic, shing against Aria''s lightning-infused sword.

    The force of their collision sent shockwaves reverberating through the earth, the surrounding terrain transforming into a field of destruction.

    Their energies ripped through the soil, shattered rocks, and splintered trees, each sh between their des sending a powerful quake throughout the battlefield.

    "You''re not superior, Aria!" Perena yelled over the howling wind, her voice carrying a bitter chill. "You will fall by my de!"

    Aria, her eyes alight with grim determination, met her half-sister''s furious gaze.

    She was done being deterred by Perena''s words. She now had friends... a real family. None of the words she heard now had any effect on her.

    "I won''t let your delusions tarnish our fight, Perena. This ends here."

    Their fight raged on, neither giving the other an inch.

    They matched each other stroke for stroke, their power evenly matched, but Aria''s speed was the key difference.

    It was the lightning in her veins, the raw speed and power that allowed her to weave through Perena''s onught of ice and wind.

    She struck like a thunderbolt, her de a sh of light in the storm, finally breaching Perena''s defenses.

    "HAAAAAAAA!!!" With a powerful swing of her de, she sent Perena sprawling onto the ground.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    The storm finally quieted.

    Aria, her body humming with spent energy, approached her fallen half-sister, her breaths heavy and ragged.

    "Haa... haaa..."

    She cast a long shadow over Perena, who now knelt in defeat, her body shaking and her magic fading into wisps of frosty wind.

    "It''s over, Perena," Aria dered, her voice echoing throughout the scarred battlefield.

    The storm was over, but the echoes of the sh between the two magic swordsmen would linger long after their fight ended.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1063 Kill Or Be Killed

    Aria stood over her defeated sister, her heart heavy.

    "We weren''t always like this, Perena," she began, her voice trembling with unsaid words and raw emotions. "We used tough, train, y...together."

    Perena scoffed, pushing herself up to a kneeling position. Her icy gaze met Aria''s.

    "That was before I knew the truth. Before I knew you were nothing but a hindrance. A barrier between me and the respect I deserved."

    Aria''s eyes softened. "Strength isn''t just about power, Perena. You were always stronger in so many ways. I looked up to you...I still do."

    Perena''sughter echoed hollowly around them, her expression twisted in bitter mockery.

    "That''s riching from you, Aria. You, who always held the advantage. I won''t concede to you. I''ll never ept you as the stronger one."

    In Aria''s moment of guilt-ridden hesitation, Perena seized her chance.

    With a swift move, she activated a small magical device that suddenly manifested in her hand.

    "W-wha-?!" A paralyzing shockwave hit Aria, immobilizing her.

    "Haha..." Perena''s triumphant grin seemed to illuminate the ruins as she rose, her sword poised for the final blow.

    "Die!" With bloodshot eyes and a maniacal grin, Perena brandished her de to mercilessly end her half-sister''s life.

    However...

    ~SQUELCH!~

    The shocked gasp never left Aria''s lips, as Perena suddenly jerked forward, her wide eyes mirroring Aria''s disbelief.

    Standing behind Perena was Lewis, his sword impaled through her.

    "H-haa...?"

    Blood sttered on the ground as all three were locked in the silence of the surprising oue of the battle.

    "I had to do it," Lewis whispered coldly, withdrawing his de as Perena staggered.

    "It was her or us."

    Perena''s body swayed, her gaze flickering between Lewis and Aria.

    "How..." she choked out, blood trickling from her lips. "How did you...?"

    How had he managed to escape the detection of both of the strongest Magic Swordsmen in the world? Wasn''t he just an ordinary man?

    It... it didn''t make any sense!

    Perena''s question hung in the air as she copsed onto the ground, her life extinguished like a candle in the wind.

    "Perena!" Aria''s scream tore through the silence, her tears falling onto the ruined earth.

    Paralysis wore off, and she crawled towards her sister''s still form, her heart shattering with eachbored breath she took.

    As Aria grieved, her gaze swept across the battlefield.

    "W-what? N-no... no way..." Her heart clenched as she recognized the faces of her fallen siblings among the carnage.

    Fourteen figuresid lifeless, each a harsh reminder of the battle that had just happened.

    "T-they''re all..."

    All dead. All gone. The silent witnesses to a familial battle that ended in nothing but despair.

    The reality of it all threatened to swallow Aria whole, the weight of their loss a crushing burden she witnessed with near disbelief.

    "You killed all of them...?"

    "Yes." Lewis replied calmly, almost as if he had not done anything worthy of address.

    "There wasn''t enough time to take care of them without going to the extreme. Trust me, I tried."

    "What are you saying? That it was easier for you to kill them than to let them live?"

    "Precisely." Lewis'' voice echoed within her ears like a hollow tune. "And it''s a good thing I ended them quickly. If I didn''t..."

    Both their gazes fell on the lifeless body of Perena.

    "... It would have been your corpse on the ground."

    *********<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    [Moments Earlier]

    "Filthy human!"

    "Give up now!"

    "Die!"

    The fourteen Elves encircled me, a relentless wave of power emanating from each one as theyunched Spell after Spell toward me.

    ~BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    My mind raced, piecing together possible strategies. I erected a barrier around me, barely having the time to strengthen it before the volley of spells came crashing down.

    My barrier shuddered under the relentless assault, fracturing at the seams. The Elves'' power was extraordinary.

    ''The barrier can''t hold forever...''

    The realization dawned on me. This wasn''t a battle I could win by holding back. It was kill or be killed.

    "Time to get serious," I muttered to myself. Reaching into my satchel, I felt the cool touch of the ss vial that held my trump card - Aether Poisoning.

    Unleashing the gas version of the lethal substance, the air around us swirled in a haze of dangerous potency.

    "W-what is... thissss...?!" The Elves, their eyes widening in rm, began to falter.

    "GUAAAARRCKKK!!!"

    They clutched their throats, their bodies convulsing as the Aether invaded their systems.

    "In the Nether Realm, Aether is your worst nightmare," I whispered, watching as the Elves fell one by one.

    They crumbled to the ground, their eyes filled with fear and confusion. The lethal potency of Aether was merciless.

    "You should''ve considered that before threatening us."

    As thest Elf sumbed to the poison, I looked beyond my area ofbat.

    Aria was caught up in a conversation with Perena. I could feel the tension radiating off of them, an ominous sign. I decided to draw closer.

    Pulling a ring off my finger, I activated its enchantment. My form was immediately shrouded in an invisible cloud of Aether energy, masking my presence from the Nether beings.

    It was my secret advantage. I crept closer, my movements undetectable.

    Perena had Aria paralyzed, and her victorious grin turned my blood cold.

    Not wasting any time, I lunged forward, driving my sword through Perena''s back and out through her chest.

    No remorse filled me as her body slumped to the ground, my only thought being Aria''s safety.

    As her sister, as Perena breathed herst, I knew then that we had done what we had to, regardless of the cost.

    After all, it was them or us.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you think of Lewis'' actions? Justified or not?

    It''s been a while since we''ve seen our MC get cold blooded tho...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1064 The Dead End [Pt 1]

    Following the demise of the Elves, the area around us was eerily quiet, the once lush meadow now a somber graveyard.

    The wind carried a bitter cold, whipping across the barren wastnd left in the wake of our destructive battle. The charred remains of once towering trees stood as stark reminders of the sh that had urred here.

    Aria had painstakingly dug graves for each of her siblings near the entrance to the Despero Labyrinth, mourning them in silence. Larry and Drake offered whatfort they could, but the grief etched on Aria''s face told me words were of little sce.

    As I observed the scene, a twinge of impatience gnawed at me.

    ''We need to continue our journey...''

    My goal of saving Karlia hanging in the bnce. Every second dyed was one I couldn''t bear to stand, and I wanted more than anything to express the swirling exasperation within me.

    But I swallowed the words. This wasn''t the time to press.

    "Aria," I said, striding over to where she knelt by the fresh mounds of earth.

    "The Arcanas. They possess extraordinary power." I paused, ncing at Larry, whose own hopes rested on the fabled artifacts. "They''re said to control even life and death."

    Her eyes met mine, and I was taken aback by the depth of despair in them. But as my words registered, a flicker of hope ignited within them.

    "Really?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

    I nodded, hoping my reassurances weren''t hollow promises. "With them, Larry hopes to bring back his family. You could...you could do the same for your siblings."

    Her gaze remained locked with mine, the despair slowly giving way to a glimmer of something akin to hope.

    I felt a pang of guilt, because even if I knew the Arcanas held such power, I wasn''t particrly supportive or invested in bringing back her dead ones.

    ''Considering the fact that I am the one who killed them, it makes me feel more like a hypocrite.''

    But I needed Aria focused and moving forward, not trapped in her sorrow.

    Larry and Drake thanked me quietly, gratitude shining in their eyes for the ray of hope I''d provided.

    However, I didn''t feel like a hero.

    I''d said what I needed to, to get us moving again. And I was still worried about the journey ahead.

    We''d made powerful enemies, and the path we''d chosen was fraught with peril.

    ''If not for the fact that these three are useful, I might have already abandoned them... perhaps...''

    I wasn''t too sure myself. Perhaps I could never be certain of the choice I would make.

    But I simply smiled in response, masking my own concerns.

    As I gazed at the mournful scene, I couldn''t help but wonder if I deserved any of the praise being offered to me.

    Yet, even as doubt gnawed at me, I steeled myself. We had a mission to aplish, and no matter the cost, we would see it through.

    ''That''s what I should focus on. That''s all that should matter.''

    *********

    [One Month Later]

    The weeks that followed the death of Aria''s sisters were a blur of desperate escape, shadowed pursuit, and sleepless nights.

    We pushed ourselves to the limit, stealth and speed our only allies in avoiding the relentless sentries. The journey seemed to stretch on forever, an endless trek through dense forests and harsh terrains.

    The world around us was as gray as the emotions etched on our faces.

    We were shadows flitting through the wilderness, hunted, constantly on the move.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    A grim silence clung to us, like a shroud wrapping us in its dreary embrace.

    A whole month of this ceaseless wandering finally brought us to our destination - the Mors Labyrinth.

    A chill of foreboding ran down my spine at the sight.

    Situated in the heart of a festering swamp, thebyrinth was a monstrous monument to despair.

    Its presence loomed in the air like an unspoken death sentence.

    The name ''Dead End'' wasn''t just a title; it felt like a tangible entity, an unseen specter of death waiting to im the unwary.

    "Mors... a dead end," Larry mumbled, his eyes fixed on the entrance. "The records weren''t exaggerating in the slightest."

    The entrance to thebyrinth was a gaping maw swallowed in the eerie silence of the surrounding swamp. Thick mist clung to the ground, cloaking the dark path thaty ahead in mystery.

    Aria was silent, her face set in a determined scowl.

    I could see the subtle twitch of her hand on her de, an unspoken deration of her readiness to face whatevery ahead.

    Drake and Larry echoed her grim determination, their eyes reflecting a mixture of apprehension and resolve.

    I pulled the cor of my coat closer, the damp chill of the swamp seeping into my bones.

    A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I looked at mypanions, their faces etched with weary resilience.

    "Remember," I began, meeting their eyes. "We''vee this far, faced obstacles that would break most. The Mors Labyrinth is no different."

    Everyone nodded as I spoke, staring at the overwhelming sight before us.

    "We get in, retrieve what we need, and get out. Stick together, watch each other''s backs, and never lose sight of our goal."

    With those words hanging in the chilling air, we ventured forth into the belly of the beast, the shrouded darkness of the Mors Labyrinth swallowing us whole.

    The tension was palpable as we stepped over the threshold, thebyrinth seemingly breathing around us, ready to test our resolve, our unity, and our will to survive.

    If only I knew at that moment that venturing inside was a mistake.

    ... A costly one.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What will happen next? What mistake is it? I wonder...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1065 The Dead End [Pt 2]

    The moment we crossed the threshold into thebyrinth, it felt like stepping into the maw of a monstrous creature.

    A bitter, damp chill hung in the air, wrapping itself around us, permeating our very bones. The walls of the maze were slick, shadowy stone, resonating with a sense of foreboding.

    We traveled in silence, the only sound being the echo of our footsteps, creating an eerie rhythm in the oppressive silence. Thebyrinth seemed to change and shift with each passing second, its sinister nature concealed in the shadows.

    "Feels like we''re being watched," Drake whispered, his eyes darting back and forth.

    "Just keep moving," I instructed, my hand reaching for the pouch of tools at my belt. This was no ce for hesitation.

    Suddenly, our path was blocked by a horde of grotesque ck creatures. Their forms were inky, shifting masses of shadow, their beady red eyes ring at us with a malevolent light. There were both towering beasts and small, writhing things, all united in their hostility.

    "Get behind us," Aria ordered Drake and Larry. She brandished her sword, ethereal lightning sparking along its edge. I quickly armed myself with a sturdy, enchanted staff from my satchel.

    The sh was swift and brutal. Aria''s de was a blur of steel and light, cleaving through the beasts.

    Each swing of her sword released a sharp crack of thunder, apanied by blinding shes of lightning.

    Her attacks were swift and precise, each one imbued with a ferocious energy that kept the creatures at bay.

    I fought back with everything I had. Enchanted spheres erupted from my staff, their brilliant light illuminating the grotesque features of our adversaries.

    The staff itself became an extension of my arm, a reliable ally as I struck the monstrosities around me.

    I was once again grateful for my knowledge of Martial Arts.

    Despite our efforts, the swarm of creatures seemed unending. For each one we felled, two more appeared to take its ce.

    Yet, we persisted, fighting back-to-back, our spirits unyielding.

    "You alright?" Aria shouted over the mor of battle.

    "Nothing I can''t handle," I replied, gritting my teeth.

    Thebyrinth felt alive, the walls pulsating as if in response to the ferocious conflict. Aria and I fought like two cornered animals, our survival instincts guiding our every move.

    Eventually, our relentless onught started to take effect. The swarm dwindled, their numbers lessening with each passing minute.

    Finally, only a few of the grotesque creatures remained, their courage wavering.

    With a final flourish of Aria''s sword and a radiant burst from my staff, the remaining beasts dispersed into shadowy wisps, their forms dissipating in the chilling air.

    We stood panting, the aftermath of the battle spread around us. Drake and Larry emerged from their cover, their expressions a mix of awe and relief.

    "Is everyone alright?" Aria asked, her eyes scanning over the group.

    "We''re good, thanks to you two," Larry replied, his voice filled with gratitude.

    We continued on, thebyrinth''s oppressive silence creeping back in, reminding us of the danger lurking at every corner.

    Hours seemed to merge into each other, the sense of time distorted in the shadowy maze.

    Eventually, we arrived at a colossal gate, what seemed to be the entrance of a massive space beyond it.

    The gate was intimidating, a grand testament to thebyrinth''s sinister design. A feeling of dread filled the air, the sense of an impending encounter thick in the chilling air.

    "Well, this isn''t ominous at all," Larrymented dryly, his gaze taking in the sight.

    "We must be prepared," I warned, my hand instinctively reaching for my satchel.

    The real challenge of the Mors Labyrinth awaited us, its hidden horrors ready to be unveiled.

    ''Let''s see...''

    Looking at the map, there didn''t seem to be any adversary beyond the gate. No marker whatsoever.

    Yet why couldn''t I shake away the awful feeling that gnawed at me?

    ''No time for hesitation, Lewis. Every second counts.''

    With that thought echoing in my head, or group pushed through the gate, advancing to the spacious expanse that greeted us.

    ~SHUUUUUUUUUUU~

    ... That was our mistake!

    ~VWUUUUMMM!~

    The heavy door behind us grumbled closed, it''s stone exterior melting into the seamless wall of thebyrinth.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    ''What?!'' My heart pounded in my chest, echoing the finality of the door''s closure.

    No turning back. No way out.

    From the abyssal darkness of the chamber, grotesque forms began to manifest.

    Enormous, nightmarish entities, each one towering above us with an imposing presence.

    They were the epitome of thebyrinth''s ominous promise ¨C colossal horrors spawned from the darkest depths of despair.

    "N-no... no way..."

    Each of these creatures bore the dreaded purple marker on my navigation device. A symbol that made my blood run cold, a testament to their terrifying strength.

    Fear gnawed at my heart, but I bit back, steeling myself for the encounter.

    ''What should I do? What can we do?''

    Then, as I was still trying to remainposed, another entity emerged from the heart of the chamber.

    "HUUUUUUUUU..."

    A monstrous form, its size and power dwarfing the others.

    Its presence was suffocating, a potent mixture of dread and despair.

    My device began to glitch, unable to measure the sheer magnitude of the entity''s energy.

    "No... this is..." My eyes widened as I realized that this was a ck marker. The ultimate sign of a monstrous threat that we had no hope of defeating!

    The ck-marked entity that stood before us was a monstrous amalgamation of everything nightmarish. Its towering silhouette loomed ominously, casting a ghastly shadow that swallowed the dim light of the chamber.

    Its form was too grotesque to describe.

    Despair welled up within me, a gaping chasm threatening to consume my sanity. This was an impossible situation, a death trap in every sense.

    Thebyrinth had yed its hand and dealt us an inevitable demise.

    I clenched my fists tightly, my knuckles whitening under the strain. I nced at mypanions, their faces pale in the ominous glow of the chamber.

    They looked towards me, seeking a n, a glimmer of hope. But for the first time in our journey, I had nothing.

    "Is there even a way to defeat that thing?" Aria''s voice wavered, his gaze fixed on the ck-marked monstrosity.

    I swallowed hard, the bitter taste of fear and despair lingering in my throat. "I... I don''t know."

    The words felt like a betrayal, an admission of defeat that I never thought I''d utter.

    Desperation wed at my mind, pushing me to think, to strategize, to find an escape from our impending doom. But thebyrinth had us cornered, the eerie silence now a deafening testament to our hopeless predicament.

    For the first time ever... I truly felt powerless, incapable of altering the grim oue.

    ''Is this the end?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Faced with overwhelming odds and the very rights of despondency, what will our hero and his allies do now?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1066 Dead End [Pt 3]

    My Navigation Device registered the level of threats I faced based on the color of the markers it disyed.

    White

    Yellow

    Blue

    Green

    Orange

    Red

    Purple

    ... And the worst of all...

    ck!

    I already determined within myself that if I ever saw anything bearing the ck marker... I would immediately retreat.

    Unfortunately for me and myrades... that was no longer an option.

    "HUUUUUUUUU..."

    The ck-marked entity that stood before us was a monstrous amalgamation of everything nightmarish. Its towering silhouette loomed ominously, casting a ghastly shadow that swallowed the dim light of the chamber.

    Its form was a grotesque parody of existence.

    Veiny, muscr limbs, too many to count, sprawled in chaotic directions, each ending with a set of razor-sharp ws that gleamed wickedly.

    Its torso was thick and barrel-shaped, covered in scales that shimmered in an eerie palette of purples and cks, reflecting a non-existent light.

    Its head was a grotesque masterpiece of terror. Multiple eyes, as ck as the void, dotted its elongated cranium, gleaming with malevolent intelligence.

    Its mouth was a horrifying gash that stretched across its face, filled with countless jagged teeth, each onerge enough to impale a man.

    From its back sprouted appendages that could have been wings, but they were unlike anything found in the natural world.

    They appeared skeletal and leathery, crisscrossed with pulsating veins that gave off an ominous glow, as if brimming with pure, destructive energy.

    This creature was an embodiment of despair, a creation born from the darkest recesses of fear.

    It exuded an aura of power and malevolence that transcended everything we had ever encountered, etching an image of impending doom into our minds.

    It was despondency incarnate.

    Yet... YET...!

    We had to fight!

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The deafening cacophony of battle reverberated through the massive chamber, swallowed by the suffocating darkness that surrounded us.

    Beams of light, summoned by Aria''s desperate magic, danced against the titanic monsters towering over us, casting grotesque shadows against the cold stone walls.

    "There''s too many of them!" Aria yelled, her voice barely audible above the mor.

    But I was already acutely aware of that grim fact.

    Throwing my Aether bombs at the creatures, I watched as they detonated, sending waves of destructive energy rippling through their ranks.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The Aether Bombs served topletely bombard the Nether properties of the opponents, and so far they seemed to be working.

    There was only one problem, though.

    The quality of Aether I have can''t match the amount of Nether that they''re generating. I had one which was immensely destructive, but using it would mean the death of everyone in the room.

    It was ast resort that would kill everyone, perhaps even destroy my barrier, which would ultimately kill even me.

    I couldn''t use it even if I wanted to. Not in this enclosed space.

    ''Please let these be enough! Please!!!'' I cried internally, facing over a dozen of the monsters myself while Aria struggled to merely keep one at bay.

    For a moment, it seemed like we had an advantage... but the monstrous beasts quickly recovered, their towering forms undeterred.

    ''Come on!''

    Frantic, I reached into my satchel and pulled out every magic item I could grasp, hurling them towards the approaching horde.

    But it was like trying to hold back the tide with a teacup.

    "Get behind me!" I yelled at Larry and Drake, who were huddled together, their faces painted with terror.

    I had thought of escaping. Perhaps using a very vtile bomb to destroy the study wall that had formed behind us and escape, but even that proved problematic.

    The several monsters that covered my line of sight and surrounded us made it virtually impossible to move past their ranks.

    We were slower and weaker.

    We wouldn''t stand a chance the moment we decided to go on the run.

    ''But...''<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    In that moment of hesitation, my eyes widened as I took in a sudden sight.

    "Larry! Drake! Behind you!" But even as the words left my lips, I knew it was toote.

    "ROAAAAARRRRR!!!!" With a savage roar, one of the purple monsters lunged towards them, its gargantuan form moving with an agility that belied its size.

    With a single, brutal sweep of its w, they were flung aside, their lives extinguished as easily as a candle''s me.

    "No!" Aria''s scream echoed in my ears, a piercing note of despair.

    Tears poured from her eyes as her voice pierced the air; sadness and rising rage evident from her face.

    But her grief was swiftly rewarded with a monstrous w impaling her, lifting her off the ground.

    "Gurk!" Her crimson blood sttered across the ground as she made a weak groan.

    I could only watch as the light faded from her eyes, her body falling limply to the ground.

    "No... no..."

    Despair and rage welled up inside me, as potent as any spell.

    "NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"

    With a roar, I activated the magic stored within my nine remaining rings.

    "ARRRRGHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Spells of destruction rained down upon the creatures, obliterating several and pushing back the rest. Mists of Aether spread across the room, poisoning and destroying all the enemies around me.

    ''They''re dead...!'' My thoughts echoed as I witnessed all of them, seeing their pale bodies having no life within at all.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Multiple high-end Spells burst out, all chipping at the integrity of my barrier, but leaving me unharmed.

    But even that wasn''t enough.

    "Why...?"

    More monsters filled the gaps, their hideous forms relentless and undying. My trump cards, my best strategies, they all meant nothing.

    "Why won''t all of you die...?"

    The ck-marked creature simply watched, its multiple eyes gleaming in the dark.

    The realization was as cold and unforgiving as death itself. It mocked me, almost as if telling me I wasn''t going to survive this.

    "JUST DIEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

    As the monstrous horde closed in, my heart pounded in my chest, the echo of each beat a countdown to the inevitable end.

    I nced at my fallen friends, their lifeless forms a stark reminder of our futile struggle.

    I had failed them.

    As the final wave of monsters descended upon me, I braced myself for the end, my breaths ragged, and my body trembling with the force of my impending demise.

    I had fought, and I had lost. Now, there was nothing left but to face the end.

    "No... not yet..."

    I grabbed the ne tied around my neck, gritting my teeth in a frenzy of rage and desperation.

    I knew using it was tantamount to suicide. The explosion would obliterate my barriers, leaving me exposed to both the crushing force of the detonation and the toxic aura of the Nether.

    It was a death sentence - but then again, I was already living on borrowed time.

    With trembling fingers, I rubbed up the ne, its cold metallic surface searing against my skin.

    I hesitated for a moment, the deafening roars of the monsters surrounding me fading into a distant echo as my focus narrowed on the task at hand.

    "I''m sorry," I whispered to the still bodies of my friends lying amongst the rubble. "I''m sorry I couldn''t save you."

    Taking a deep breath, I clenched the ne in my fist, forcing myself to confront the inevitability of what I was about to do.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This is such a dark ce.

    I wonder what will happen next...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1067 The Flicker Of Hope

    "I''m sorry," I whispered to the still bodies of my friends lying amongst the rubble.

    "I''m sorry I couldn''t save you."

    I felt a heavy sorrow knotting inside my chest, a bitter cocktail of regret, loss, and the raw, unadulterated terror of facing my own mortality.

    However... more than the pain of loss I felt was the rage against the one who inflicted it on me.

    "Let''s see how you handle this," I muttered, my voice cracking with the strain of suppressed emotions. With a sudden surge of resolve, I activated the ne.

    "Big Bang..."

    Time seemed to slow as a blinding white light erupted from the pendant, the space around me instantly disintegrating under the onught of raw, untamed Aether.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The cavernous chamber transformed into a maelstrom of destructive energy, the monstrous horde disappearing beneath the searing light.

    My barriers crumbled almost instantly, the protectiveyers of magic vaporizing under the immense force of the detonation.

    I felt the raw energy wash over me, burning into my skin like a thousand suns, my screams swallowed by the deafening roar of the explosion.

    "ARRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    The world around me was blotted out, reduced to a nk canvas of white. I could see the chamber copsing, chunks of stone and debris disintegrating before they even reached me.

    My senses were overloaded, the harsh light searing my retinas, the deafening roar of the explosion drowning out all other sounds.

    Myst sight was the searing white expanse of destruction I had unleashed.

    ''Haaa....''

    In the end... did I manage to get them? Everyst one of them?

    Was I able to kill the creature of darkness?

    The answer?

    "HUUUUU...."

    NO!

    Reality resurfaced as the blinding light faded, leaving in its wake an eerie silence and the chilling echo of devastation.

    I was lying face-down on the cold, unforgiving ground, every inch of my body ame with agonizing pain. My barriers were obliterated, leaving me unprotected, vulnerable to the treacherous Nether that now started to seep into my system, poisoning me from the inside out.

    I knew I only had a few seconds to live.

    "HUUUUUU...."

    It was then, through my blurred vision, that I saw it.

    The ck marker monster.

    "HUUUUUUUUUUU..."

    Still standing, unfazed by the destruction that had decimated everything else. A hot surge of regret, a bitter taste of failure welled up within me, anger ring as I gritted my teeth.

    It wasn''t supposed to be this way.

    My breaths were ragged, uneven, each one seeming like myst. My thoughts swirled, dizzied by the overwhelming pain and the creeping darkness at the edges of my consciousness.

    I could feel death''s cold touch, lurking at the edge of my senses, its icy fingers reaching out for me. I was on the cusp of the abyss, teetering precariously at the precipice of nothingness. I was dying.

    But as Iy there, seconds from oblivion, a sudden realization hit me. I didn''t want to die.

    I wanted to live.

    My mind clung desperately to images of Karlia, her smile as bright as the sun, herughter that echoed like a sweet melody in my ears. My heart ached with longing, with the unfinished promise of a future I wanted to fight for.

    I thought of Larry and Drake, of Aria, their voices, their sharedughter, our bonds that were severed so abruptly, so cruelly.

    I wanted to bring them back. I needed to bring them back.

    The mission... our mission. It wasn''t over. It couldn''t be over. Not yet.

    "No," I gasped, forcing the word out through clenched teeth. The determination to survive, to fight, ignited within me, a spark in the all-consuming darkness.

    "I... won''t... die."

    As if mocking my frail attempt at defiance, the monster moved, a towering shadow that loomed over me. I couldn''t move, my body was betraying me, failing me.

    The fear was potent, a gut-wrenching terror that seemed to dwarf even my physical pain. But underneath it, a single thought clung stubbornly, refusing to be extinguished.

    "I... will... live."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Whether it was a whispered vow to myself or a challenge to the looming specter of death, I didn''t know.

    All I knew was that I had to fight. For Karlia, for my friends, for the world that still needed saving.

    The world blurred once again, my strength waning. The darkness was closing in, but in my heart, the spark of will remained, flickering stubbornly against the suffocating dark.

    The world around me began to fade, but my resolve didn''t.

    I was Lewis. And I was not done yet.

    And so... as the ckness threatened to consume me entirely, a strange phenomenon began to ur.

    From somewhere deep within me, a brilliant light ignited, dispelling the encroaching shadows.

    There was an abrupt surge of energy, an explosion that radiated outwards from my very core, stirring the lifeless particles of Nether around me into a frenzied whirlpool of raw, untamed power.

    ''Haaa...?''

    I felt myself being lifted, like a marite being yanked upwards by invisible strings, until I was standing, shakily, on my own two feet.

    My body was enveloped in a swirling tempest of energy, a corona of seething power that danced and crackled around me.

    The pain, the agonizing torment that had been gnawing at my very being, started to recede, reced with an electrifying sensation that coursed through my veins.

    My hand rose before me of its own ord, appearing pale and ghostly amidst the violent undtion of energy.

    But rather than decaying under the ravages of the Nether, my flesh began to knit itself back together, healing with an astonishing rapidity that left me reeling.

    "Nether..." I breathed, a sense of awe overtaking me.

    I was not only withstanding the destructive force of the Nether, I was controlling it.

    Manipting it to my will, bending its chaotic nature into a beacon of restorative light.

    In that moment, my mind raced, connecting dots and drawing conclusions faster than ever before.

    The energy swirled around me like a tangible force, resonating with my heartbeat, synchronizing with my every thought.

    I could feel it, more intimate than my own heartbeat, more intricate than the mostplex of spells.

    I could now channel this energy, this Nether, into Magic.

    The realization struck me like a lightning bolt, sparking an exhrating rush of anticipation that flooded my senses.

    A strange serenity washed over me as thest of my injuries healed.

    The corner of my mouth twitched upward, stretching into a wide, feral grin.

    For the first time in a long while, amidst the wreckage and ruin, under the watchful gaze of the ck marker monster, a spark of hope ignited in my heart.

    My voice emerged from my throat as a whisper, yet carried a note of triumph that echoed through the cavernous chamber, reverberating against the walls and ceiling.

    "Spellcraft... "

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Hype moment! Lewis Griffith, the Great Sage, unlocks Magic!

    How and Why?

    And what will he do with this newfound power?

    Let''s find out!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1068 The Great Sages Magic

    There I stood, amidst the ruins and the fallen, the energy of the Nether pulsing and rippling around me like a living entity.

    I lifted my hands, fingers syed wide, feeling the pure, unbridled power coursing through my veins.

    I could feel the surge of ecstasy rippling through me as I realized - I was about to use Magic, for the first time ever.

    "HUUUUUUUUUUUU..." The ck marker monster, undeterred by the spectacle, extended a gnarled hand, summoning from the depths a host of vile creatures, each more grotesque than thest.

    They lumbered toward me, monstrous forms silhouetted against the foreboding darkness. I should have felt fear or despair.

    I should have felt the crushing weight of failure and anxiety.

    But I didn''t.

    No.

    Right there and then, only one feeling coursed through me, invading me down to the marrow of my bones, coursing through every vein in my body, and reaching the very recesses of my soul.

    I only felt a thrill of anticipation.

    "Let''s see... Let''s see..." I murmured to myself, my gaze falling on the myriad of creatures that the dark entity had summoned from the abyss.

    They were grotesque, their bodies twisted and malformed, their eyes glowing with an unholy light.

    I focused my energy, feeling the Nether respond, thrumming in time with my heartbeat.

    "[Ethereal Cascade]," I whispered, and the energy erupted from me in a wave of shimmering light.

    The ground beneath the creatures'' feet exploded into a field of luminous spires, impaling them with beams of condensed energy.

    Despite the sessful attack, I didn''t pause.

    Time seemed to slow, the world around me existing in a surreal, dreamlike haze. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing with the surge of magic.

    "[Dark Vortex]," I called out next, and a swirling whirlpool of energy appeared in the midst of the remaining creatures, tearing them apart with its sheer, unyielding force.

    "Whoa..." I found myself muttering, staring in awe at the destruction I had caused.

    The euphoria of it all was intoxicating, heady, a rush of adrenaline and power that left me giddy.

    But there were more of them, and I wasn''t done yet.

    "[Gale Barrage]," I shouted, and the air around me solidified into razor-sharp des of wind, slicing through the enemy ranks like a hot knife through butter.

    More creatures spawned from the darkness, attempting to overwhelm me with their sheer numbers. But I was on a roll now, my confidence soaring as I engaged in the thrilling dance of battle.

    "[Ethereal Chains]," I bellowed, and the remaining creatures were ensnared in glowing binds of energy, rendering them immobile.

    My eyes focused on the dark entity, the ck marker monster, now standing alone amidst the destruction.

    I was panting, my chest heaving with exertion, but I felt invincible, the taste of power on my lips.

    "Now for the big finish," I whispered to myself. "[ck Nova]..."

    I could only watch, mesmerized, as a ball of condensed Nether energy formed in front of me, growingrger andrger, pulsating with pure, raw power.

    "Haa..." With a final push of will, I released it, watching as it barreled toward the remaining horde of monstrous entities, growingrger and brighter until it consumed everything in its path, culminating in a brilliant explosion of magic and power.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

    For a moment, there was silence - a deafening quietude that followed the blinding sh.

    I stared at the smoking crater left behind, the remnants of the once formidable monster.

    I let out a breathless chuckle, my lips curving into a satisfied smile as I muttered to myself.

    "Magic... it''s really incredible."

    It was one thing to develop theories about it.

    It was another to use Magic Items to utilize the effects.

    However... nothing... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING trumped the sublime feeling of using Magic with my own power.

    "Now, then..." My barely audible voice echoed in my ears as I lifted my gaze.

    As the silence echoed in the devastated chamber, I found myself standing face-to-face with the final adversary.

    The ck marker monster loomed over me, a behemoth that defiedprehension. Its form was an abyss, a darkness so profound it seemed to suck in the surrounding light.

    ''No matter how many monsters I kill, if I don''t defeat this one, they''ll just keep appearing.'' My eyes narrowed down on it.

    The problem was that this creature seemed difficult, if not impossible, to kill.

    ''Still, I have to do it.''

    This was the endgame. The battle that could define my very existence.

    I called forth the energy once again, the Nether roaring into existence around me.

    "[Grand Whirlwind]!" I shouted, the words tearing from my throat.

    ~WHUUUUUUSSSSSHHHH!!!~

    Gusts of raw power erupted from my hands, crashing against the monster.

    But it stood its ground, unyielding against my onught.

    Its counter-attack was swift and brutal.

    Dark energy swirled and congealed into enormous ws that shed through the air, aiming for my heart.

    ~VWUUUM!~

    I moved, a quick-step dance to the side, beforeunching another attack.

    "[Void Torrent]!" I roared, invoking a violent surge of Nether that pummeled the monster.

    Yet, it still stood, seemingly unfazed.

    Each of my attacks, as devastating as they were, seemed to barely scratch this abominable foe.

    I could feel the strain of the ongoing battle, the toll it was taking on my body, on my mind.

    But there was no room for surrender.

    I gritted my teeth, sweat trickling down my forehead. I could feel the energy within me, the Nether, pulsing like a heartbeat.

    Rising to my feet once more, I swayed on the spot, my vision swimming as I stared down at the horrific entity.

    "Haa... I''m going to beat you."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "[Mage Mode]," I growled, drawing upon the reserves of my energy.

    My body ignited in a ze of scintiting light, the power threatening to consume me.

    The cavernous chamber was bathed in an eerie glow, casting long, monstrous shadows against the walls.

    The ck marker monster retaliated with a roar that echoed in my skull, its massive form lurching towards me with surprising speed.

    Anticipating the attack, I quickly muttered, "[Mirror Echo]."

    A shimmering wall of energy materialized before me, deflecting the creature''s onught back toward it.

    As the creature staggered under the force of its own attack, I seized the opportunity.

    "[Maelstrom of the Void]!" I bellowed.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The air around me crackled and twisted, energy vortexes spiraling wildly in the midst of the chamber.

    An ominous hum filled the air, the prelude to a cataclysmic symphony.

    Suddenly, with an explosive force that rocked the chamber, a myriad of energy missiles surged forth from the vortexes, their brilliant trails searing across the darkness, homing towards the monstrous entity.

    "RAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" The creature roared in agony, the missiles piercing its dark form, causing it to convulse violently.

    ''It''s still not dying. Its regeneration is too fast!'' My thought echoed as I red at the already recovering monster.

    I had to strike it while I still could. I had just awakened, and while Adrenaline and Magic kept me going past my limits, I was running out of time.

    ''Need to... end this now!''

    There was one more Spell, one that I hadn''t used yet.

    It was a risk. But I was out of options.

    ''I''ll have to revamp it by meshing various elements to make it work.''

    I would have to use Spellcraft to activate it, while using thest remaining strand of my power to gather as much energy as I could.

    ''Using the memories of the Arcanas I interacted with, I''ll generate a spatial copse that''ll render its existence impossible with that mass, while attributing the concept of null by ounting for its seemingly unlimited regeneration...''

    Calcting as fast as I could,bining various forme and effects in my mind, I arrived at the simple answer.

    "Let''s see if you can handle this..."

    This was it. The best Spell I coulde up with under such a short amount of time. Something that would even kill this undying being.

    "[OBLIVION]!" I shouted, my voice echoing across the chamber.

    I felt the energy shift around me, coiling like a serpent preparing to strike. This was not just a Spell; it was the culmination of my will, my desperation, my fear, my hope.

    And then I unleashed it.

    The air itself seemed to freeze, before the world exploded in a blinding burst of energy.

    The force of the explosion was cataclysmic, shaking the very foundation of the Labyrinth.

    The chamber was engulfed in light, the destructive force tearing through everything in its path.

    The monster let out a final, earth-shaking roar before its form disintegrated into nothingness, consumed by the ocean of energy that killed it over and over again, down to the tiniest fraction of its existence.

    And then...

    ... Silent noise radiated forth.

    ''It is done...''

    When the dust finally settled, the Labyrinth was no more.

    All that remained was a barren expanse, a monument to the titanic sh that had urred. The ck marker monster... was gone, reduced to mere ashes by the devastating Spell.

    I floated amidst the destion, panting heavily.

    Victory was mine.

    But the cost... the cost was immense.

    In the end, I was left alone, standing in the ruins of the entire region that I had shattered.

    "I... I did it..." I whispered, the words sounding hollow in the aftermath.

    I looked down at my hands, the hands that had wielded such terrible power.

    And in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion wash over me.

    "You''re next, Karlia," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the ringing in my ears.

    "I''ming for you."

    Finally, the world faded into ckness as the exhaustion pulled me under.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I really liked this fight. Epic, emotional, and we finally get to see the Great Sage really use Magic.

    Now I''m sure some of you think this is asspull.

    Well... I certainly hope you stick around for the exnation.

    Also...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1069 The Lucid Dream

    In the silent echo of a dream, I watched as the scenes of a life that resembled my own unfolded.

    I was a silent observer, a captive audience to a drama of magic and ambition.

    The boy in my dream bore a striking resemnce to me in my youth, but the more I watched his life y out, the clearer the truth became.

    He had brown hair, and his eyes were deep amber, though filled with the same childlike wonder I had.

    His words echoed around me, a mantra I felt in the very marrow of my bones.

    "I love Magic!"

    His voice was vibrant and brimming with childlike wonder, the kind that onlyes with the boundless curiosity of youth.

    His words resonated with the parts of me that were still innocent and untouched by the world.

    A familiar desire ignited within me, a thirst for knowledge and power, a deep-seated need to grasp the intricacies of magic.

    ... It reminded my own past.

    The boy''s passion mirrored mine, his ambition matching my own.

    But as I watched, a sense of unease gnawed at me.

    His life was not my life.

    His experiences were not mine.

    His dreams were not mine.

    Yet, I could not help but feel an odd kinship with him.

    I saw the boy mature, his enthusiasm for magic never waning. I watched him pour over dusty books and theory, devoting himself entirely to his love for Magic.

    He isted himself from his peers, preferring the enchanting allure of Magic to thepany of others.

    There was a single-mindedness to his ambition, a cold, calcting determination that felt eerily familiar.

    I watched him, unable to move, unable to intervene as he set his course and pledged himself to his passion.

    But as he aged, so too did his ambitions grow.

    They twisted and warped, bing more than just a dream.

    They became an obsession.

    I watched as he spoke of grand titles and global recognition, an intense fixation in his eyes that I couldn''t help but recognize.

    "I... I  can do it!" He would always profess. "I am SPECIAL!"

    And then came the ''Awakening''.

    The boy, now a young teenager, brimming with confidence and arrogance.

    The scene was heartbreakingly familiar.

    He was rejected, deemed Inept.

    "No..." The crushing reality of his powerlessness hitting him, a cruel mockery of his dreams. His dreams shattered, his ambitions ridiculed.

    His pain was palpable, raw and searing.

    It was a pain I knew all too well, a pain that had once been mine.

    I felt a wave of empathy wash over me, a deep ache resonating in my chest.

    As the dream wound to a close, I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth.

    This boy, so simr yet so different, was not me.

    I was Lewis Griffith, a Magic Schr who''d weathered countless trials and tribtions, who''d sacrificed everything for his cause.

    I was Lewis Griffith, the survivor, the Great Sage, the protector.

    The man who''d braved the abyss and emerged stronger.

    The man who''d embraced the darkness and learned to wield it as his own. I was Lewis Griffith... not this boy.

    Not...

    "Hey, Legris, you''re not gonna give up on your dreams, are you?" I watched as the boy was surrounded by the very people he had rejected.

    They all rendered him warm smiles and support.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    And what did the boy do? What response did he give to their maelstrom of encouragement and smiles offort?

    "Of course not!" The boy bore a very prideful, bright grin.

    "If I can not be a Grand Mage, then I will simply be something else! I won''t let all I have learned go to waste!"

    Yes... this was how the story went, wasn''t it?

    "I still love magic, and I will still devote myself to it! More and more knowledge of this art will be engraved within me, and even if I am unable to practice it, I will make sure no one knows Magic more than I do!"

    That''s right. This was the birth of a new goal for the young boy.

    The desire to be...

    "Legris Damien will be known throughout thend¡­ as the Great Sage!"

    And after that, the entire world went nk.

    "Haaa...."

    As I awoke from the dream, I couldn''t help but carry with me a strange sense of deja vu, a nagging familiarity that lingered in the corners of my mind.

    Th boy was not me, and yet, he could''ve been.

    I could''ve been him.

    But I wasn''t.

    "What a strange dream. Who was that kid? Why did I have that dream?" I muttered, rising to my feet as I looked around me.

    I was currently standing at the center of a massive crater, everything around mepletely leveled.

    I must have really destroyed everything in my fight with that powerful ck marker monster.

    And yet, even though I was confronted with the weight of my reality... I found my thoughts returning to the dream I had.

    "What was the name of that boy in the dream again?"

    I couldn''t remember.

    I could barely remember what he looked like.

    But why? What was this nagging feeling that wasn''t leaving my heart? It kept gnawing at my insides for some reason.

    "Well... that doesn''t matter now." I whispered, my eyes narrowing on an Arcana that was now materializing in front of me.

    The Arcana had a jet ck color, with a dark aura radiating from it.

    "Forget the dream for now. There are more pressing issues to deal with." Stretching my hand forward, I reached out for the prize before me.

    The gnawing feeling within me receded, and I slowly forgot about the pangs in my heart, only focusing on the mission before me.

    The forgotten dream could wait.

    I was Lewis Griffith, and I had my own battles to fight.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Did this chapter confuse you? Well, I had a feeling that it would. I suppose you already have some idea about what it''s about.

    Well, let''s explore this Arc together and find out.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1070 The Great Sages Resolve

    There I sat, in the stillness of a massive crater, the only testament to the incredible energy that had surged through this ce not too long ago.

    The earth around me was scorched, its once vibrant hue tainted by the power of the Nether. As I stared into the distance, the silence seemed to echo my own internal turmoil.

    I could feel it, the hum of magic coursing through my veins, pulsing with every beat of my heart.

    The very energy that had once been my bane was now my salvation.

    With each breath, I could sense the life around me, or rather, the crater, every de of grass, every grain of sand.

    It was a power I''d long coveted, yet its acquisition bore a heavy cost.

    My fingers clenched, the cold touch of the Soul Fragments of my friends serving as a harsh reminder of the price I''d paid.

    They had been with me, fought beside me, and now...now they were gone. Their vibrant spirits were reduced to nothing but glowing fragments in my hands.

    It was my fault. I was the one who couldn''t protect them.

    ''No¡­ I suppose I did the best I could do.''

    Back when I was still fighting the ck marker monster and its purple marker underlings, I had used Spellcraft to save some of their Soul Fragments.

    That mean meant one thing.

    "I can bring them back," I muttered, my voice a mere whisper in the wind.

    A spark of hope ignited within me.

    [The Hanged Man] was an Arcana that held the power of resurrection. If I had that, I could resurrect all three of them.

    But for that, I needed to find it first.

    My gaze fell upon the card thaty before me.

    Its ornate design seemed to mock me, an ill-omened harbinger of my trials.

    "The [Death] Arcana, huh?''

    Fitting, I thought, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of my lips.

    The very embodiment of the Labyrinth I just experienced.

    "But you''re also a new beginning," I found myself saying, my fingers tracing the intricate design on the card.

    The cycle of life and death, an eternal dance of creation and destruction. It was, after all, through the face of death that I''d found a new life, a life filled with magic.

    Besides, it was a useful piece for [The World], my current goal.

    My collection of Arcanas was slowly growing, three already in my grasp.

    But eighteen more stilly scattered across this world, waiting to be found.

    The path ahead was daunting, each Arcana abyrinth of trials and tribtions.

    But I was no longer the same.

    "I can do this," I reassured myself, my determination unwavering. "I will find them all."

    There was a strange sce in my newfound solitude. Without my friends, there were no distractions, no concerns.

    It was just me against the world.

    As I stood up from the scorched earth of the crater, I felt an odd mix of emotions swirling within me.

    I looked around at the vast expanse of emptiness. Once abyrinth filled with life, now a barren, destend.

    This was my doing, my victory. Yet it felt iplete, hollow.

    "There''s no need to feel this way, Lewis," I muttered to myself. The truth was bitter, but undeniable. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    With the power coursing through me, I didn''t require assistance anymore.

    I didn''t need a team to face my battles. I was capable of detecting Nether, of wielding it as my weapon.

    That power alone was a formidable force. Even the monstrous ck marker creature could not withstand it.

    ''If I capitalize on that, it should make the search faster. I have the map, so it shouldn''t be too difficult¡­''

    But my thoughts couldn''t escape thepanions I had lost along the way.

    I missed their chatter, their camaraderie, their unwavering trust in me. A part of me still yearned for their presence.

    Yet, another part, the logical, strategic part, knew I could make quicker progress alone.

    ''And then there''s the other thing¡­ Arcanas.''

    The possibility of learning to use the Arcanas of this world intrigued me.

    The knowledge felt within reach, a tantalizing prospect that set my heart racing. Just imagining the different spells, the variety of effects, the sheer power they held, it was intoxicating. T

    he thrill of the unknown, the delight of discovery, it was exhrating. The thought brought an ecstatic smile on my face, a spark in my eyes.

    "Yes, this is a good thing," I said aloud, my voice echoing through the stillness.

    The sound of my own voice reassured me, validated my optimism. I was not alone. I had the Nether, the Arcanas, the Soul Fragments of my allies.

    ''I should be much faster now. Karlia won''t have to suffer for too long either.''

    But amidst the euphoria and anticipation, there was a nagging question at the back of my mind. One that refused to be quelled.

    ''How was I able to use the Nether?''

    It was a mystery that bewildered me, a puzzle that demanded to be solved.

    The power hade to me when I needed it the most, almost as if...as if it was waiting for the right moment.

    Was it destiny? Was it some unknown entity guiding me? Or was it just the desperate plea of a dying man summoning unknown reserves of strength?

    The theories whirled around in my head, each as usible as the next.

    As I stood there in the heart of the crater, I knew that this mystery, like so many others, was part of my journey.

    It was a challenge. And I, Lewis Griffith, was never one to back down from a challenge.

    ''But there''s no time to think about that now. Not yet.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1071 Gravitas Labyrinth

    [The Elf Kingdom: Royal Pce]

    The grandeur of the Elven throne room did nothing to alleviate the suffocating tension in the air.

    Opulent chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, their soft golden glow casting long, dramatic shadows on the rich tapestries lining the walls.

    An exquisite throne of silver and emerald stood in the center, a symbol of authority and power. It was here, the Elf Queen sat, her elegant features hardened by seething rage.

    She listened, her fists clenched tightly around the throne''s armrests, as the elf messenger ryed the horrific news.

    The Special Elf Squad she had sent after Aria and her team were found dead by the special investigation team..

    Not just dead, but buried.

    A direct insult. A defiance of her authority.

    "Leave me!" The Queen''s voice reverberated through the cavernous hall, a thunderous echo that sent a shiver down the messenger''s spine.

    He bowed hurriedly, stumbling over his own feet in his haste to leave. As soon as he was out of sight, the Elf Queen''sposed facade shattered.

    "Aria!" She growled, her voice a dangerous whisper. "You''ve gone too far."

    Her slender fingers curled around a small crystal orb on the armrest of her throne, the smooth surface warm beneath her touch.

    Images flickered in the orb ¨C vivid, painful memories of the fallen Elven warriors. Her heart clenched as she looked at their peaceful faces, their lives snuffed out in the prime of their youth.

    She wasn''t particrly concerned about them as individuals, but as her tools for the progression of her ambitions.

    They has been incredibly useful, and now they were no more.

    This was a grave affront, a direct challenge to her rule.

    It was not only a matter of personal vengeance now, but of her reign, of the respect and fear her titlemanded. The lives of her loyal subjects were on the line.

    "The time for subtlety has passed," she said, her emerald eyes zing with a cold, icy fire. "Drastic measures are necessary."

    Alone in the echoing silence of the throne room, the Elf Queen plotted her next move.

    Aria and her allies had escted the battle, and now, they would face the full wrath of the Elven Kingdom.

    No¡­ the Triumvirate!

    *********

    [Location: Gravitas Labyrinth]

    "D-damnit¡­"

    The alternate dimension I had found myself in had felt like the maw of a gigantic beast, its gravity pressing down on me relentlessly.

    It was almost as if it wanted to swallow me whole.

    The pressure on my body was intense, like the weight of an entire worldpressing my every cell.

    It had felt like walking through a pool of tar while the world pushed down from above. I had lifted my foot, stepped forward, and nted it down again.

    Unfortunately for me, not every Labyrinth had to do with fighting monsters.

    Every move so far had been a war.

    Above, the Arcana I was after had twinkled teasingly in the sky.

    It seemed so far away, a star I could only dream of reaching.

    The cruel, oppressive gravity clung to my body, shackling me to the ground.

    But the sight of my goal, the shimmering light of the Arcana, had fueled my determination, intensifying the mes of resolve burning in my heart.

    "Damn it..." I gritted my teeth, mustering every ounce of will and power I possessed. "You''re not out of reach..."

    Every word I uttered hade out as a pained grunt, and each exhtion had felt like I was giving away a part of my life force.

    I had focused my Magic, channeling the Nether energy through me, yet it barely did anything to change the situation.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Thew in this world made it so that I couldn''t resist it¡ªat least notpletely.

    ''Looks like I''m close enough now¡­'' I finally halted, sweat dripping from my face as I stared at the prize once more.

    ''Let''s do this!''

    My body pulsed with the raw power, and I activated my trump card: Spellcraft.

    Swiftly fusing my Nether with the overwhelming amount around me, I directed it towards the Arcana.

    The gravity-controlling energy now began to swirl around the gleaming prize in the sky, its force starting to pull the Arcana downward.

    ''Alright!'' I gritted my teeth harder, focusing with all my might.

    The pull of gravity became more intense, more potent, and the Arcana started falling faster.

    "Come... to... me!" Each word I had forced out had been a battle, a deration of my will against the world.

    It fell.

    It kept falling.

    I watched in anticipation as I saw it descend faster and faster; like a shooting star.

    Finally, the Arcana descended within my reach, its luminescent glow casting a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness of the dimension.

    I felt my heart thud heavily in my chest, and with thest reserves of my strength, I stretched out my hand.

    "Haa¡­" The pull of gravity tugged against my arm, threatening to snap it, but I pushed against the force, reaching out further.

    ''A¡­ little¡­ more¡­''

    Just when it had seemed I could stretch no more, my fingers made contact with the Arcana.

    Its surface was warm, pulsating with power that thrilled through me.

    An intense light burst from it, encapsting the entire space, bathing everything in a blinding, pure luminescence.

    I instantly closed my eyes against the re, a triumphant smile tugging at my lips as I felt the Arcana''s energy intertwine with my own.

    ''[The Star]... I see!''

    The stong gravitational force ceased, and as I felt myself grow unconscious, I felt some whispers utter some things into my ears.

    I could hardly hear anything, though.

    "C-crap! I''m falling unconscious again?"

    As I tried my best to fight the vertigo, I quickly safeguarded the Arcana, cing it in my satchel.

    Once that was done, sleep overpowered my senses, and I fell unconscious.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1072 Madness Of A Man

    As I slipped into the world of dreams once again, it was like sinking into a sea of shadows.

    I was adrift on the currents of unconsciousness, knowing that I was dreaming but unable to interact, unable to wake.

    It was a familiar sensation now, this lucidity. I was a ghost, an observer to a story that was not my own.

    In my dream, I was in a dimly lit room.

    Books were strewn across the floor, charts and diagrams filled the walls, and a hunched figure sat in the corner, his face lit by the harsh glow of a deskmp.

    It was a young man, lost in thought, brows furrowed in deep concentration.

    I could see his frustration, a palpable aura of disappointment and dissatisfaction that hung over him like a dark cloud.

    His friends and allies came and went, trying to offer words of encouragement, of sce. But he would only shake his head, a grim smile etched onto his features.

    "Impossible..." he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "You don''t understand... none of you do."

    There was a certain stubbornness in his eyes, a spark of determination that belied his words. He was a man chasing a dream, a dream that seemed tantalizingly out of reach.

    It finally drove him to istion.

    The man locked himself in his workshop, shrugging off any attempt to pull him out of his solitude.

    He muttered to himself, his voice filled with an anguish that echoed off the stone walls.

    "They don''t understand... they don''t know what it''s like," he growled, his voice filled with an indescribable despair.

    "To want something... to need it... and to know you can never have it."

    I watched as he buried himself in his work, a man consumed by his dreams and ambitions.

    The world around him ceased to exist, the only reality that mattered was the one he was trying to create.

    As I watched him, I felt a pang of sympathy, an echo of his despair. I knew what it felt like to chase a dream, to strive for something seemingly unattainable.

    But¡­ there was something about this man that felt both odd and simr.

    "All¡­ I want it all¡­" He whispered.

    All of what?

    "My dream¡­ I made a vow that day¡­"

    Was he referring to the day I thought he was? The day he proimed he would be the Great Sage?

    "Yes¡­ that day¡­" As if reading my thoughts, the man muttered.

    "I promised everyone¡­ I promised myself¡­ that I would do it!"

    Do what? What was the thing that drove this man to this state?

    " I¡­ I would make sure no one knows Magic more than I do!"

    My eyes bulged as I remembered the same words I had uttered as a child. He was referring to that, just as I thought.

    "But I can''t do it! Not as I am now! Not as long as I am Inept! Not as long as I am mortal! Not as long as I am limited!"

    What was he implying? As the Great Sage, I studied all the Magic in my lifetime. I made sure I understood it more than my peers, and even revolutionalized it.

    As the Great Sage, even though I was Inept¡­ I achieved all that.

    Surely this man could do the same.

    "No! It''s not enough!" As if responding to me, the man responded in anger and frustration.

    "I can''t understand Magic the way those who have Magic can understand it. That feeling... I''ll never have it."

    Well, that was true, but¡ª

    "I''ll die one day. When I die¡­ someone will surpass me. They''ll find out and know things I don''t. No¡­ that can''t be. I want to know it all. I¡­ it''s driving me crazy!"<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The man aged, still clinging onto this maddening position. He developed more theories, went on many adventures, and achieved many things.

    But¡­ he wasn''t able to reach the impossible height he wanted.

    "I want it all! All knowledge! Why can''t I reach it? What am Icking? I put in all this effort¡­ I dedicated my whole life¡­ and yet¡­"

    Despair had taken over this man at this point.

    He was unrecognizable from the bright past self he once was. Now he was ragged, having full beards and unkempt clothes.

    His obsessive eyes scoured the dark room he upied¡­ his workshop.

    "Ah, that''s right. Haha¡­ why didn''t I think of this before?" He suddenly began to chuckle to himself.

    "Why didn''t I realize it sooner? I was wrong. All this time¡­ I''ve been so WRONG!"

    Insane cackles ofughter echoed throughout the room as he slowly came to a realization. My body trembled as I heard them.

    The conclusion I arrived at.

    "It''s Magic. I need it. I need to have it! Why didn''t I see it sooner? To obtain all the knowledge¡­ I NEED Magic!"

    I watched as the man rose, his eyes hollow and his eyes widening like that of a horrifying monster.

    My heart raced and the darkness slowly began to eat away at my dream, scaring me greatly. Before I knew it, everything was consumed by it.

    And then I heard the final whispers that emanated from the lone shadow in the room.

    "That''s the answer!"

    The dream began to fade, the edges of my consciousness blurring.

    His mutters were thest sounds I heard as the dreamworld dissolved around me, returning me to the waking world with a sense of both sadness and a dark foreboding of what was about to happen.

    However¡­

    "H-huh? What was that dream?"

    ¡­ The moment I awoke, I couldn''t remember the details of the dream I just had.

    I couldn''t even remember a single word that was uttered.

    It had all vanished into darkness, leaving me standing alone in a shattering dimension, with the Arcana I sought in my grasp.

    "Strange¡­" I whispered, looking around me to see nothing at all.

    "Vey strange."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1073 The Mecha Knight

    [The Makina Labyrinth]

    Teleporting into a vast expanse of stars and nebe, this Labyrinth was not bound by earth or stone but by the infinite canvas of outer space.

    I had never been here before, except vicariously through the memory of Jared, my reincarnated self, so it was a strange sensation.

    However¡­ that wasn''t the oddest part of this adventure.

    [System Alert]

    <Wee To The Insterster Battle of the Year 3199!>

    "The what now?" My face twisted in surprise.

    The surroundings suddenly shifted around me, and I found myself in the cockpit of a massive technological weapon, a Mech Warriorrger than any I had ever seen or imagined.

    [System Alert]

    <Wee to the Mecha Knight G-234. You are its pilot, and the Hero o the Interster Battle>

    It seemed like the insides of a Golem Design I thought of developing one time, but this one was way too advancedpared to what I had in mind.

    ''It''s even more advanced than Jared''s Hugo.''

    Monitors hummed and shed before me, alive with an array of information and statistics I had to quickly decipher.

    "H-hold on, what''s happening here exactly?" I had entered a Labyrinth, hoping for a regr trial, but this was the most bizarre one I had seen thus far.

    ~BOOOOM!~

    ~BOOOOOMM!~

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!~

    "Ack!"

    I felt the entire mechanical room I sat in quake, as if it had been hit by a barrage of powerful blows.

    "T-this is¡­?!" I paid rapt attention to the monitors and several mechanical disys around me, realizing the awful truth about my sudden situation.

    [System Alert]

    <Mecha Knight has sustained some damage. Integrity remaining 89%>

    ''The hell¡­?!''

    I was currently in the heart of a space battle, war ships rushing toward me like a swarm of deadly locusts.

    "Crap!" Realizing I didn''t have the luxury of dawdling around for too long, I swiftly took action.

    My fingers danced across the controls, the Mecaa Knight, as it was called, lurching forward at mymand.

    I could feel the power thrumming around me, the tangible force of this giant of steel and fire. My heart pounded against my ribcage, my pulse synchronizing with the rhythm of the colossal machine.

    ''You can do this, Lewis! You can do this!''

    I plunged headlong into the melee, my Mecha''s massive fists crashing into enemy vessels.

    I twisted and dodged through the void of space, avoiding barrages of sma fire that zipped past my metal exterior.

    "Aha!" I found myself growing excited as the battle psed.

    Each strike Inded, each enemy ship I destroyed, felt like a victory. Yet, I was vastly outnumbered.

    ~BOOOOM!~

    ~BOOOOOOOMMMM!~

    A sudden shudder echoed through the metallic frame of the mech as I gripped the control sticks.

    My heart pounded against my chest like a drum as I took a deep, steadying breath.

    [System Alert]

    <Mecha Knight has sustained some damage. Integrity remaining 81%>

    "No fair! I wasn''t even hit that hard!" I yelled at the system warning.

    Unfortunately, I had to keep fighting. Or else¡­

    A thousand pinpricks of light swarmed in the inky ckness, the fleet of warlord ships bearing down on me like ravenous wolves.

    ''They''re getting closer! Damn!''

    Their energy weapons zed in the darkness, a hail of deadly fire that streaked towards me. My breath hitched in my throat, adrenaline sharpening my senses.

    "Faster, Lewis, faster!" I muttered under my breath, hands working deftly on the controls.

    My Mecha Knight lurched into motion, every fiber of my being attuned to the machine as I danced amongst the stars.

    Ships zipped towards me, unleashing an onught of sma bolts that singed the edges of my Knight''s protective shields.

    I spun and pivoted, dodging as many as I could, but the sheer volume was overwhelming.

    I had to rely on the Mecha''s defensive capabilities, a shimmering force field that absorbed the blows but waned with each hit.

    "Hahahahaha!"

    Despite the frenzy of battle, a wild exhration surged through me.

    This was a battle of will, a test of my capabilities and cunning, a challenge I had no choice but to ovee.

    "You can''t stop the Great Sage!"

    I found the rhythm in the chaos, my movements syncing with the Mecha''s.

    Ished out with the Knight''s energy des, slicing through the hulls of the approaching ships, sparks of blue electricity marking my path.

    "DIEEEEEEEE!"<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    I watched as they spun out, disoriented, and crashed into their own.

    The more I moved, the morefortable I became. A ship dove towards me from the right, cannons zing.

    With a well-timed sidestep, I avoided the barrage and retaliated with a quick thrust of my energy de, slicing the ship in half.

    But as the battle progressed, the enemy seemed to adapt.

    They started attacking in synchronized waves, testing the limits of my shield and maneuverability. Their sma fire grew in intensity, threatening to overwhelm my Mecha''s defenses.

    I was tiring, my arms aching from the constant strain, my mind whirling from the sheer amount of focus required.

    But I couldn''t afford to falter.

    With a fierce determination burning within me, I engaged the Mecha''s thrusters, diving headlong into the swarm.

    The Knight''s systems whirred and hummed, the powerful exoskeleton amplifying my physical strength. I swung my energy des in broad arcs, the sh of ionized air leaving streaks of blue in the dark vacuum.

    The ensuing explosion was spectacr, a constetion of erupting ships cascading around me, their debris scattering like metallic confetti.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    As the final war ship detonated, I was left alone amidst the dissipating remnants of the fleet.

    "Huuuu¡­"

    Exhausted, I leaned back into the Mecha''s seat, a victorious smile gracing my lips.

    I''d ovee the odds, defied the veryws of space. I''d won.

    However¡­

    ~VWUUUUUMMMMM!~

    "Huh? What now?" My brows curled upward as I noticed a spatial rift a small distance from me.

    It seemed I wasn''t quite finished yet.

    ''No¡­ no¡­''

    Then, it arrived: a Mecha Knight so colossal, it dwarfed my own.

    It was the embodiment of devastation, a monster cloaked in steel and armed with an array of terrifying weaponry.

    "Oh boy¡­" My heart clenched as the leviathan swung at me, and I barely had time to engage my thrusters and rocket out of its path.

    "Think, Lewis, think!" I muttered to myself, darting between iing fire. "How do you fight a giant?"

    In the cockpit, I poured over the controls, finding a lever that activated my Knight''s booster rockets.

    "Uwoooooo!" With a grit of my teeth, I jammed it forward, propelling me toward the enemy with a dizzying burst of speed.

    The world blurred around me as I closed the distance between us, my Mecha Knight''s fist rocketing forward to strike the enemy titan.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMM!!!~

    The impact reverberated through my controls, shaking me to my core. But the enemy mech stumbled, its systems momentarily shocked.

    I capitalized on that moment of surprise, maneuvering my Mecha with newfound dexterity.

    I ducked beneath a sweeping blow, retaliated with a punch to its midsection, then followed up with a knee to its torso.

    Each strike rattled my enemy, forced it on the backfoot. But it was thest blow, a full-on shoulder charge that sent it reeling backward, crashing into a warlord ship in a spectacr explosion of metal and fire.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    With the enemy Gundam in shambles, the battlefield suddenly grew quiet.

    "Hahaha¡­ please, no more surprises." I leaned back in my seat, my heart pounding, my breath ragged.

    As I watched the wreckage of the enemy Gundam drift away, a shimmering card floated towards me ¨C [The Chariot] Arcana.

    As I reached out to grasp it, a jolt of energy coursed through me, the Arcana merging with my essence.

    I felt a rush of triumph, a sense of control over a battlefield that had, only moments ago, felt overwhelming.

    [The Chariot] was mine now.

    "Who could havee up with this crazy test?" I asked myself.

    It was literally out of this world.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This chapter is dedicated to a very amazing reader of mine called Okojus.

    You finally get to see your Gundams. Haha!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1074 The Arcana Adventures

    After concluding my very odd and¡­ well, fun adventure in the Makina Labyrinth, I wasted no time in plotting the course for my next mission.

    Thanks to the use of Magic, I was able to traverse this world with so much ease that it almost felt like cheating at the pace I was going.

    Of course, it made me happy because that would mean I was going to be able to save Karlia quicker than I initially thought.

    Plus, since I wasn''t particrly being pursued by the Triumvirate, it wasn''t difficult for me to breeze past cities without having to watch my back.

    My adventures were smooth¡ªwell, not exactly¡­

    *******

    [Arcana VI: The Eros Labyrinth]

    The wind was harsh against my face as I stepped out of the teleportation circle and into a bustling city on the edge of a vast desert.

    The Eros Labyrinthy at the heart of the city, a grand monument that stood as a symbol of the ancient bond between two powerful tribes.

    The challenges of this Labyrinth revolved around the concept of harmony and bnce, a test of my ability to negotiate rather than fight.

    I had to mediate between arguing spirits, findmon ground between warring factions, and bnce contrasting elements.

    With every challenge I overcame, I learned more about diplomacy andpromise.

    And then I held the card in my hands, the Arcana of [The Lovers].

    What made this one so bizarre was that the power of [The Lovers] wasn''t even rted to romance.

    Whoever made this trial probably just wanted to pull something based on their personal bias, not exactly based on the effects of the Arcana in question.

    *******

    [The Evanescere Labyrinth]

    The next Labyrinth awaited me within a city overshadowed by a singr monolithic Tower.

    The Labyrinth was hidden within its heart, a winding series of trials etched into the core of the ancient edifice.

    The challenges of the Tower were a test of adaptability and improvisation.

    This Labyrinth was a twisted, ever-changing maze of paths that looped back upon themselves, where up was down, and every step could change the very fabric of the path ahead. The traps were numerous and cunning, the puzzles intricate and deceiving.

    There was no brute forcing through this maze, no rushing headlong.

    Every step was measured, every decision weighed. I was forced to change my approach constantly, to adapt to each new obstacle, to improvise solutions on the fly.

    By the end of it, I was mentally exhausted but exhrated.

    Touching the Arcana, [The Tower]''s essence flooded into me, filling me with the ability I had been searching for after so long.

    Spatial maniption!

    With it, I would be able to travel the distances I desired, and sense whatever I wanted to in my immediate space. Not to talk of the effects of [Unknowable].

    Unfortunately, I had to first learn how to use it.

    Since there was no time, I settled for using the usual high-speed Flight Spell to traverse the distance to my next destination.

    ******

    [The Vi Labyrinth]

    I found The Vi Labyrinth of Strength hidden deep within a dense jungle, protected by a tribe of powerful warriors who believed that true strength came from within.

    Of course, these warriors were constructs made using Magic; another trial I had to pass.

    I expected that the trial would be to prove my mettle, but the challenges were different from what I thought.

    The test wasn''t just focused on physical prowess but mental tenacity.

    I was tested on my willpower, faced with temptations and illusions designed to shake my resolve.

    Most of all, I was forced to solve problems with nothing but my intellect.

    Too bad for them¡­ that was my specialty!

    When I finally conquered my doubts and fears, emerging victorious, I felt a surge of power.

    The Arcana, [Strength], was now in my grasp.

    When I first arrived in this world, I thought the trials of the Arcanas would be simr to the ones I encountered in my own.

    But I turned out to be wrong on that.

    While [The Devil] had some simrities to the Dugeon my friends and I faced when we found the Arcana, it was still very different in some areas.

    Arcanas like [The Tower], and even [Strength], werepletely different from what I remembered.

    Even [The Chariot] ispletely different from what Beruel narrated for me,

    I suppose it made sense, considering how different this world was.

    ''Oh well¡­ on to the next one!''

    ******

    [The Tempus Labyrinth]

    The next Arcana that I obtained, [The Hermit], waited for me at the top of a secluded mountain, in a Labyrinth shrouded in fog and cloaked in silence.

    It was a solitary journey, a journey of self-discovery and introspection.

    ¡­ I was literally forced to face some of my experiences in the past.

    I met my previousrades. Emilia too.

    I saw Solomon, Lilith¡­ Karlia too.

    The challenges of The Hermit were less tangible, less direct. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    They were riddles wrapped in enigmas, trials of patience and introspection. I grappled with questions of morality, philosophy, and purpose.

    They weren''t particrly difficult since I had already made my peace with most of the issues presented before me.

    ¡­ It was still painful to watch the choice I made between Emilia and Karlia, though.

    When I finally reached the peak, I was, holding [The Hermit] Arcana.

    [The Fortuna Labyrinth]

    This one was¡­ quite different from the others.

    It was a city that never slept, a city of gamblers and fortune tellers, where luck ruled and fortunes changed in the blink of an eye.

    The challenges here were unpredictable and capricious. I gambled with trickster spirits, raced against time, and navigated a maze that shifted with every step I took.

    I was supposed to win every wrong, for ten consecutive rounds, to reach the final prize¡­ which was the Arcana.

    How crazy was that?

    The Labyrinth''s gimmick revolved was a game of chance, a test of adaptability and quick thinking.

    ¡­ Well, I cheated in everything using Magic.

    By the end of it all, as I held the [Wheel Of Fortune] Arcana in my hands, I could almost feel the capriciousness of fate.

    Well, almost¡­.

    **********

    [MEANWHILE¡­]

    Bathed in the ethereal glow of the holographic monitor, the Elf Queen reclined in her ornate throne, a wolfish smile slowly stretching across her wless face.

    The chamber was steeped in a heavy silence, save for the gentle hum of the holographic projection in front of her.

    "We''ve got them," she said, her voice resonating with a cool, dangerous certainty.

    Across the projectedwork, two figures nodded in response.

    Their countenances were simrly illuminated by the bluish light, creating stark shadows on their respective backgrounds.

    The Beast King, a hulking figure draped in an assortment of furs, bristled with anticipation, his golden eyes glinting sharply.

    The Dwarf Chief, sturdy and grizzled with age, stroked his thick braided beard contemtively.

    "Are you certain?" the Beast King rumbled, his deep voice resonating through the chamber.

    The Elf Queen''s lips curled further, a spark of lethal intent flickering in her emerald eyes.

    "Very," she affirmed, her fingers dancing across an array of symbols, bringing forth a rotating holographic model of an ancientbyrinth nestled within the mountains.

    "After much investigation, we found out the Great Sage is among the ranks of Aria and Drake. Once we found that out, it wasn''t long before we discovered their objective."

    Both the Beast King and Dwarven Chief knew precisely what the Elf Queen meant.

    It was no secret to the world that the Great Sage sought only one thing at this point.

    "The Arcanas." The Beast King growled exciredly.

    "That''s right. Which means they''ll soon be heading to the designated location." The Elf Queen responded.

    A murmur of understanding passed through the holographic assembly, the weight of the queen''s revtion dawning upon the leaders. T

    he Dwarf Chief, a seasoned tactician, leaned forward, scrutinizing the three-dimensional map.

    "Then it seems the hunt begins anew," he muttered, his gaze flinty. The Elf Queen inclined her head, her smile unwavering.

    "And this time," she stated, "we will not fail. We have them cornered, and they will find no respite. After all, a hunted prey is at its most vulnerable when it believes it''s close to its goal."

    Her chilling deration echoed through the chamber, her confidence unwavering.

    The Beast King nodded in agreement.

    "And how are preparations? Is everything in ce?"

    A wide, ugly grin formed on the Elf Queen''s face at this point.

    "Of course. I don''t n on letting them go this time."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I decided to make this chapter something like a short montage of his various adventures.

    I hope you all enjoyed it!

    Lewis Griffith doesn''t seem to havepletely evaded the notice of the Triumvirate.

    What will be of him now?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1075 Unseen Chains

    The Fairy Kingdom, a resplendent jewel of otherworldly beauty, nestled amidst the whispering foliage of the Luminis Forest.

    Bounded by an iridescent shimmering barrier, it was a realm isted from the external world, preserving its ethereal charm.

    It was and where time seemed to linger, the sunlight filtered through emerald canopies casting a perpetual midsummer glow.

    The structures of the kingdom were architectural marvels, intricately carved from colossal toadstools and blossoms, imbued with potent magic to withstand the passage of time.

    Luminescent flowers bathed the streets in an array of colors, and the air was always filled with the melodious tunes of the fairy-folk, a beautiful harmony that resonated with the soul.

    The whole kingdom seemed like a daydream brought to life, yet beneath its enchanting surface, it was and governed by firm patriarchal order.

    The Fairy Kingdom was, first and foremost, a kingdom of warriors.

    Despite their delicate appearances, fairies were formidable beings, their magical prowess matched by few in the known realms.

    At the helm of this miniature yet formidable army sat the Fairy King, an embodiment of authority and power.

    The throne room of the Fairy King was situated in the heart of the kingdom, within a monumental bloom that towered over the rest.

    The interior was a sight to behold, with the ceiling encrusted with iridescent dewdrops reflecting multicolored lights.

    It was here, upon a throne of lustrous petals, that the Fairy King held court.

    A figure of regal stature despite his petite form, the Fairy King was a paragon of strength and wisdom.

    His long silver hair cascaded down his back, a crown of woven moonflowers nestled atop his head. His clear eyes held the depth of the ancient forest, shimmering with an undying me of resolution.

    Subjects bowed before him in deep respect, their heads lowered, wings folded. His rule was absolute, his word, thew. He wielded a scepter, its gem pulsating with a soft light, the manifestation of his boundless magical power.

    The Fairy King was a patriarch in the truest sense, a figure revered and feared.

    His power was invincible in thend, his magic formidable enough to keep even the most audacious intruders at bay.

    His leadership had seen the Fairy Kingdom through countless trials, standing as an indomitable beacon amidst the passing tides of time.

    Yet, despite the strict hierarchy, his rule was just. Beneath the stern veneer of the patriarchy a benevolent heart, cherishing his subjects like a father would his children.

    He was a figure of strength and stability, a symbol of the Fairy Kingdom''s invincibility. Such was the majesty of the Fairy King, a timeless ruler in a timelessnd.

    However¡­ despite this known fact, there remained a shameful truth hidden from the eyes and minds of the public.

    *********

    "H-haaaa¡­!"

    The ethereal tranquility of the Fairy King''s throne room was disrupted by the appearance of a swirling vortex of emerald magic in its center.

    From within the mesmerizing swirl, an image of the Elf Queen solidified, her gaze as frosty as the winter''s heart, and her voice like the rustling of ancient parchment.

    The moment this urred, every single guard in the room left the Fair King alone. They understood their ce, and the preference of their ruler when it came to discussions with the Elf Queen.

    He preferredplete privacy.

    "King Oberon," she addressed, a hint of condescensioncing her words, as though speaking to a child rather than an equal.

    The Elven Queen was a towering figure of grace, her eyes a vivid shade of jade and her silver hair flowing like a waterfall of moonlight.

    Her haughty demeanor was the embodiment of her status, a symbol of her untouchable authority.

    "Master," the Fairy King, King Oberon, replied.

    He instantly left his throne and went on his knees.

    His wings fluttered nervously, a stark contrast to the usually steadfast ruler.

    The power dynamic in the room shifted entirely, the omnipotent king now akin to amon serf before the Elf Queen''s image.

    "I greet you fervently. To what does this lowly one owe this meeting?"

    Yes. This was the shameful truth hidden from the denizens of the Fairy Kingdom.

    Their almighty King was nothing but a worm-like subordinate of the Elf Queen.

    "First of all, let''s get the irrelevant matters out of the way." The Queen began.

    They discussed matters of state, the exchange, however, was far from bnced.

    It was the Elf Queen who dictated terms, her voice resounding in the hall like a thunderous decree.

    Oberon, under her relentless gaze, could only nod and respond with a hushed "as you wish, Master."

    The proud patriarch, who seemed invincible in his realm, was now reduced to a mere puppet, his own words scarce and submissive.

    His silvery eyes held a restrained anger, an unvoiced protest swallowed down like bitter poison. It was clear he was bound by some potent magic, his autonomy sacrificed at the altar of her desires.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "Ensure that your warriors are ready, Oberon," the Elf Queenmanded, her words as sharp as shards of ss, leaving no room for defiance. "I expect no failure."

    "With respect, Master, the Fairy Kingdom is always at your service," Oberon answered, his voice devoid of its usualmanding vigor, reced by a meek eptance.

    Thankfully, none of his subordinates were here to witness this disgrace. What would they say if they saw their beacon of hope grovel before an Elf?

    And with her message delivered, the Elf Queen''s holographic image dissolved back into a swirling vortex of emerald, leaving the throne room in a grave silence.

    Oberon, left in the echoing silence of the Queen''s departure, clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening.

    He was a king bound by invisible shackles, his kingdom under the thumb of a formidable master.

    He was more a ve than a subordinate, his power merely a facade against the reality of his servitude.

    ''The Triumvirate¡­ when will we ever be free of them?'' He ased himself.

    It seemed too foolish to consider such a reality now.

    ''I better focus on the task I have been given.''

    In the deafening silence that followed the departure of the Elf Queen, Oberon found himself ensnared by his thoughts.

    His stern gaze, usually brimming with absolute authority, was cast on the empty space where the ethereal holograph had been moments ago.

    An invisible shroud seemed to descend upon the regal throne room, the atmosphere suddenly bing somber, heavy with the impending burden of themand that had been thrust upon the Fairy King.

    ''Aria...''. The name echoed in his mind like an ominous knell.

    The Elf Queen''s daughter, a young woman who had grown to be a formidable adversary in her own right.

    And she was not alone. Alongside her were Drake, a renowned schr, and the Great Sage, known far and wide for his knowledge and wisdom.

    This formidable trio was now heading for the Fairy Territory, to the Labyrinth thaty hidden in the heart of the enchanted forest.

    A Labyrinth that held secrets that Oberon, despite his profound age and knowledge, couldn''t fullyprehend.

    The Fairy King''s heart weighed heavy in his chest, like a stone sinking into the depths of a cold, endless sea.

    The Elf Queen''s words echoed in his mind, "Stop them at all costs."

    The severity of her tone, the icy certainty in her gaze, left no room for defiance or negotiation.

    His wings twitched, mirroring his internal turmoil. He was caught in the middle, like a leaf caught in a tempest, torn between his duty as a king and his obligation to his master.

    He wished to protect his realm and his subjects, yet he was also aware of the chains that bound him to the Elf Queen, chains made of potent magic and old debts that he could not simply ignore.

    Despite the turmoil raging within him, Oberon knew he had to maintain hisposure for his subjects, his people, who looked up to him, who needed him to be their stalwart leader.

    So he forced a calm mask onto his face, concealing his inner chaos beneath a facade of serene determination.

    He knew that he had no choice but to heed the Elf Queen''smand.

    ''It pains my heart to cause the death of young ones, but this is for the sake of my subjects¡­''

    His thoughts swirled as he considered his options.

    It was a daunting task, yet one he could not avoid. He sighed, a sigh that seemed to echo the mncholy that had settled upon the Fairy Kingdom.

    But, this was the hand he''d been dealt, and y it he must.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Well, this is certainly no Beruel.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1076 The Luminis Forest

    [Days Later]

    Draped in theforting shadows of the night, I stood at the edge of the high precipice, the vastndscape stretching out beneath me.

    The distant flickering of the countless lights from the cities and viges below seemed like a mirror image of the star-studded sky above.

    I was alone, save for my thoughts and the whispering wind, my onlypany in this hour of solitude.

    The weight of the Arcanas in my possession was both literal and metaphorical.

    Eleven. I had managed to collect eleven of them, each representing a trial I had conquered, a testament to the path I had tread.

    ''Just 10 more to go¡­''

    Every one of them pulsated with magical energy, their resonance aforting hum in the back of my mind.

    It was like they invited me to test out their power, but I put off the temptation. It would take time to unravel their powers, and I knew how invested I would be once I started.

    ''Let''s focus on gathering the rest for now¡­''

    I generated the holographic map in front of me, my eyes tracing over the next destination marked.

    The Fairy Kingdom.

    It was where the next Luminis Labyrinth was located, ording to Larry Damien''s research.

    ''Ah¡­'' The mere thought of stepping foot into that territory sent an unsettling shiver down my spine.

    It wasn''t fear, no, it was anticipation.

    Well¡­ dread too.

    The Fairy Kingdom, despite its ostensible tranquility and beauty, was under the control of the Triumvirate.

    ''Though it seems no one knows that¡­''

    The Triumvirate, which had a hand in every corner of this world, was not to be trifled with. I already decided not to even cross them.

    Which was why going into the Fairy Territory made me hesitant for a minute.

    But I had a n, a theory that might just see me through.

    A small smile crept onto my face.

    For all intents and purposes, I was a stranger to this world, an outsider with no real connection to Aria and herrades.

    Yes, I was alone, a rogue element. And it was this very istion that could be my camouge, my guise.

    ''They probably don''t even know I exist.''

    As I pondered on this, a sudden gust of wind whipped past me, ruffling my hair a little. It seemed to echo my resolve, whispering to me that it was time.

    ''Time to take the plung!'' I had weighed my options, taking into ount all the variables.

    Yes, it would be risky. Yes, there were dangers. But no path worth walking was ever devoid of hurdles.

    Taking a deep breath, I looked towards the direction of the Fairy Kingdom, towards the next trial, the next Arcana.

    "Let''s do this¡­"

    ~WHUSH!~

    Activating my Flight Spell, I went on my way.

    *******

    [Hours Later]

    It didn''t take very long to reach my destination, considering the Fairy Kingdom was considerably close to my previous location.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Hidden under the veil of Concealment Magic, I ventured further into the heart of the Fairy Kingdom.

    The ethereal beauty of the ce was almost otherworldly.

    Towering trees painted a myriad of greens stretched as far as my eyes could see. The air was rich with the scent of damp earth and the verdant foliage around, apanied by the harmonious serenade of the forest''s denizens.

    The dappled sunlight filtering through the verdant canopy above painted a tableau of light and shadows on the forest floor, lending an enchanting charm to the surroundings.

    ''It''spletely different from what exists in my world!''

    There was no dome or technological saturation. It felt like I was in the Elf Kingdom, with its love for beauty and the purity of nature.

    ''Still¡­ something is odd.''

    What struck me as peculiar was the absoluteck of personnel.

    I had fully expected the path to Labyrinth to be heavily guarded, fortified even.

    However, there was an eerie quietude that felt unnatural, almost deliberate.

    I couldn''t help but feel like the silence of the forest was hiding something, a secret it wasn''t willing to share.

    Relying on my navigation tool, I sought any hint of surveince or markers, anything that would hint at an active presence.

    But it was as quiet and calm as the forest itself. This was perplexing, almost too easy, as if I was being led to believe in a reality that was far from the truth.

    As I advanced further, the woods began to thin out, giving way to a massive tree unlike any I had ever seen in this world.

    ''Whoah¡­''

    It stood there, in majestic solitude, its gigantic roots reaching deep into the earth, while its branches reached out towards the sky, as if trying to bridge the divide between the world below and the heavens above.

    At its basey a gaping chasm, a void of darkness that whispered of mysteries and the unknown. This, I knew, was the entrance to the Labyrinth.

    ''Looks like I''ve arrived.''

    The sight of it was intimidating, its size dwarfing everything around it. A tense wave of Nether seemed to emanate from it, a testament to the countless years it had stood guard over this ce.

    My eyes were drawn to the dark chasm, an abyss that promised both danger and discovery. Despite the foreboding entrance, a strange calm settled over me.

    I stood at the precipice, peering into the darkness, my heart pounding in my chest.

    I was about to plunge into another mystery, another trial. Drawing a deep breath, I prepared myself for the plunge, ready to brave whatever the Labyrinth held in its heart.

    ''I''vepleted 11 so far. This can''t be too bad¡­ right?''

    And so, with this thought of mine, I ventured into the chasm, not knowing what to expect at all.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1077 The Luminis Labyrinth

    With the disappearance of the lone intruder into the maw of the Labyrinth, the silent forest seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

    Suddenly, the ethereal form of the Fairies shimmered into existence, materializing from thin air.

    Their translucent wings fluttered with an eerie luminescence, their smiles mischievous and knowing, the gleam in their eyes held a secret too vast for the uninitiated.

    Among them, a figure more substantial than the others solidified.

    His ethereal form shimmered with an intense luminescence before coalescing into the tangible form of the Fairy King.

    A regal figure, his silhouette was a beacon of elegance and majesty amid the iridescent glow of his subjects.

    "My dear subjects," he began, his voice a tranquil murmur that echoed in the air, "we are one with the forest, and the forest is one with us."

    The words were spoken with a deep-seated reverence, a testament to the intimate bond between the Fairy folk and their forest home.

    Thanks to Ancient Magic that had been the heritage of the Fairy Kings since time immemorial, the entire Luminis Forest was their domain.

    No one could detect them if they deemed it so, and no one could hide from them either.

    A low hum of affirmation spread through the crowd, their faces lit up with pride. But the Fairy King''s eyes were drawn to the gaping maw of the Labyrinth, his brows furrowing slightly.

    "One, not three," he muttered to himself, his gaze contemtive.

    The anomaly didn''t escape his astute senses. Hismand was clear ¨C there were supposed to be three intruders, yet he only detected one entering the forest and venturing to the depths of the Labyrinth.

    The Fairy King leaned on his staff, his eyes narrowing.

    He could only detect the faint echoes of the man who ventured into the Labyrinth, but even that told him little.

    The intruder was male, but his identity, his origin, his intentions - they were all shrouded in mystery.

    "No matter," he decided aloud, waving off the peculiarities with a casual air.

    His eyes held a sharp glint.

    "Once he emerges from the Labyrinth, we shall have our answers." A cunning smile yed on his lips.

    "Exhaustion will make him a pliant prisoner. We just need to capture him and extract the information."

    His words held a certainty that left no room for doubt. The fairies nodded, their faces reflecting the resolve of their king.

    The forest, once more, fell into a silent anticipation, ready to wee the man emerging from the Labyrinth.

    ***********

    [The Luminis Labyrinth]

    As I stepped foot into the Luminis Labyrinth, a dense wave of conflicting Nether washed over me, and I knew at once that my Magic was off the table here.

    ''C-crap¡­''

    I couldn''t use Spellcraft with the density of contrasting energy that washed over me, and anytime I tried to use regr Magic, it was instantly suppressed.

    It was like a non-lethal or intense version of Mana Pressure.

    "Haha¡­ so its back to basics, huh?" A ripple of excitement coursed through my veins at the thought of the challenge ahead.

    Thebyrinth was a twisting, convoluted maze of interconnected caverns, interspersed with deadly traps and cryptic puzzles.

    Every step I took was a calcted move, every turn, every leap, a strategic decision. The earthen walls closed in, leaving me isted from the world outside.

    Within the confines of the Labyrinth, I found myself facing challenges that would have been easily solved if I had ess to my magic.

    It made sense why this ce prevented the use of it.

    My body strained under the physical exertion, my mind stretched to its limits. But I weed it, epted it.

    This wasn''t my first rodeo without magic; my entire life had hardened me long before I unlocked my Magic abilities.

    ''Still, though¡­ It''s only been like two weeks since I got ess to Magic, and I miss not using it already.''

    The first hurdle came in the form of a gaping chasm that stretched as far as my eyes could see. It was a simple, yet effective, deterrent.

    But I refused to be deterred. I took a deep breath,unching myself into a sprint.

    Each step echoed in the eerily quietbyrinth as I reached the edge, leaping with all the strength my body could muster. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Time seemed to stretch out, my heart hammering in my chest as I finallynded on the other side.

    A low rumble echoed through thebyrinth as the walls shifted, creating a new path.

    Each new challenge thebyrinth threw at me was unique, testing the limits of my resourcefulness, my endurance, my sheer willpower.

    The pressure mounted, the strain on my body became almost unbearable, but I kept pushing through, kept moving.

    ''It''s like this entire ce is alive¡­''

    Traps sprung up around me, puzzles left me scratching my head, but I persevered.

    My body screamed for rest, my mind was on the verge of copsing, but I forced myself to push past the pain, past the exhaustion.

    There was no turning back, there was no giving up. I kept moving, kept thinking, kept surviving.

    Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the final door creaked open. I limped through the door, my body haggard and bruised, but I was smiling.

    Despite the odds, I had made it. I had conquered the Luminis Labyrinth. The glow of victory washed over me, filling me with a sense of aplishment.

    I may have been battered and bruised, but I was unbroken.

    "Haha¡­ there you are." I beamed, watching the glowing card shining a short distance from me.

    My hands trembled as I reached for the Arcana waiting at the end of the Labyrinth.

    As my fingers brushed against it, the Arcana shone brightly, engulfing the entirebyrinth in its radiant light. And just like that, I had my tenth Arcana.

    "Oh? I could never have guessed it would be this one." A small smile crept upon my face.

    ''[The Magician]. Why would you ban Magic if you are literally called¡­ ah, never mind!''

    The good news was that I seeded. That was pretty much all that mattered at this point.

    One more step on my journey, one more piece of the puzzle in ce.

    The pain, the strain, it all felt worth it.

    I closed my eyes, breathing in the victory, savoring the moment. The feeling of triumph coursing through me was enough to wipe away the exhaustion.

    "Hehe¡­ did you really think I wouldn''t be able to ovee this one? Haha¡­ I''ve been through much worse!"

    My friends and I were able to find a couple of Arcanas even though I was Inept, and I made sure I never held them back.

    I was no pushover.

    "Magic or no magic," I whispered to the emptybyrinth, "I won''t back down. I won''t give up." And with those final words, I prepared myself for the journey back.

    For the challenges toe.

    For whatever awaited me outside the Labyrinth.

    ''Haa¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Lewis Griffith the chad.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 1078 Fairy King Versus Lewis

    As the light from the Labyrinth dimmed and the figure of the stranger materialized from its mouth, a thrum of excitement vibrated through the hidden Fairy horde.

    The Fairy King, Oberan, stood tall among them, his expression grave.

    ''To think he actually survived those trials. How far did he reach before giving up on his search?''

    He refused to believe a mere human would be able to reach the end of the Labyrinth without the use of Magic.

    No one had managed to do that. Not even him.

    His silvery wings, catching the moonlight, shone with an ethereal glow, underscoring the severity of the impending confrontation.

    "Remember, capture him. We need him alive," Oberanmanded, his voice no louder than a whisper, but it carried clearly to every Fairy present.

    The stranger, his clothes torn and his body battered, stepped out of the Labyrinth, a small smirk on his face. His aura was of victory, but his body told a different story.

    He was weary, drained, a fact not missed by Oberan and his troops.

    Without wasting any time, Oberan shot towards the stranger, who had barely taken a couple of steps away from the Labyrinth.

    A flurry of Fairies followed suit, their wings shimmering in the soft glow of the forest. The stranger''s eyes widened slightly at the sudden onught, but he quickly regained hisposure.

    Oberan lunged at him, his slim, sword-like appendage aiming for the stranger''s chest. But the man, even in his weary state, was faster. He sidestepped, narrowly missing the attack. This was the signal for the rest of the Fairy horde to engage.

    A chaotic dance ensued, the air filled with the sound of fluttering wings and the whirring of attacks.

    The stranger, despite his exhaustion, moved with a grace and agility that was remarkable. He weaved through the attacking horde, avoiding capture, but not engaging directly.

    "Enough of this!" Oberan roared, his usually calm demeanor slipping. Heunched himself at the stranger again, this time with an unrelenting ferocity. The stranger was momentarily caught off guard, stumbling back under the sheer force of the attack.

    Taking advantage of his momentary confusion, Oberan managed totch onto his arm, his grip like a vice.

    The rest of the horde quickly followed suit, binding him with their collective strength. The stranger fought back, his movements growing frantic, but the fatigue was catching up to him.

    With one final, desperate push, he managed to throw a few of the Fairies off, but it was not enough. Oberan tightened his grip, his eyes hard and unyielding.

    "Enough!" he hissed, his voice a chilling whisper in the silent forest. The horde immediately fell back, leaving Oberan and the stranger in the clearing.

    "You''ve put up a good fight," Oberan admitted, his grip not easing for a moment. "But now, you''re our prisoner."

    The stranger looked up, his eyes meeting Oberan''s.

    There was a sh of defiance in them, a glimmer of resolve that gave Oberan pause. This was a man who had just walked out of a Labyrinth and yet managed to face an army of Fairies. He was defeated, but far from broken.

    Oberan tightened his grip onest time, a silentmand for the stranger to yield.

    The man closed his eyes, sagging slightly, his body finally sumbing to the exhaustion. But as Oberan watched him, he couldn''t shake off the nagging feeling that this was far from over.

    "And what if I refuse to be your prisoner?" The stranger asked, his voice low and filled with a quiet determination.

    Oberan stared at him for a moment before responding, "Then, we''ll make sure you don''t have a choice."

    The words hung heavily in the air, a grim promise of what was toe. And yet, even in the face of such a threat, the stranger didn''t falter.

    He was beaten, battered, captured, but he was far from defeated.

    The confrontation seemed to be over, but something told Oberan that the real challenge was just beginning.

    The stranger''s eyes snapped open, their gaze zing with a fiery resolve.

    "I refuse," he growled. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Then, with a swift motion, he raised his hand, a torrent of Magic energy flowing from him.

    The forest was awash with a bright blue light, illuminating the startled faces of Oberan and his Fairies.

    Caught off guard, Oberan was thrown back, his grip on the stranger loosening.

    The Fairy horde flinched, their eyes wide with disbelief. The stranger, who looked like he was on the brink of copsing just moments ago, stood tall, Magic crackling in the air around him.

    Oberan quickly recovered, his eyes shing dangerously. "Impossible," he muttered, his own Magic ring to life.

    The serene green of the forest was reced by a harsh, gleaming silver, a testament to the Fairy King''s power.

    The two opposing forces shed in the middle, causing the ground to shake and trees to sway violently.

    The Fairies scattered, their bodies glowing as they kept a safe distance from the raging battle.

    But the stranger stood his ground, his weary body somehow keeping up with the intense confrontation.

    Despite the strength the stranger demonstrated, his exhaustion was quickly catching up to him. He stumbled, his Magic faltering.

    Oberan seized the opportunity, pushing back with a ruthless force. His silver light surged forward, swallowing the weakening blue hue of the stranger''s Magic.

    With one final, thunderous sh, Oberan''s power overpowered the stranger, sweeping him off his feet.

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!~

    The stranger''s Magic flickered out, his body hitting the ground with a hard thud.

    His eyes, once bright and determined, dulled, finally sumbing to the fatigue that had been guing him since his emergence from the Labyrinth.

    The forest returned to its quiet serenity, the harsh silver light fading, reced by the soft glow of the moon. The Fairy Kingnded gracefully, his eyes fixed on the stranger''s unconscious form.

    "We have him," Oberan announced, his voice echoing through the silence.

    Relief washed over the Fairy horde as they gathered around their King and their captive.

    The Fairy King may have won the confrontation, but he couldn''t ignore the fact that the stranger, despite his exhaustion, had put up a considerable fight.

    It was a testament to the power this intruder held and a stark reminder of the challenge thaty ahead.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1079 The Fairies Prisoner

    "Whew!"

    Safely concealed within the hollow of the enormous tree, I exhaled a sigh of relief, watching as the luminescent fairies fluttered away, their captive in tow.

    They thought they had captured me, but they were sorely mistaken. It wasn''t me they were dragging away through the enchanted forest.

    Instead, it was an empty husk, a clone born of Magic, and a healthy dose of paranoia.

    From the moment I''d stepped foot into the Fairy Kingdom, something hadn''t felt right.

    The ce was too quiet, too peaceful. Itcked the signs of guard patrols, watch towers or checkpoints, the usual security measures for a Labyrinth site.

    There was an eerie tranquility that just didn''t add up.

    So, I decided to be cautious. I''d learnt by now that caution was a good friend in this realm, where the rules of reality often seemed to take a back seat.

    Thus, I decided to let my clone take the heat, if there was any to take, while I lurked in the safety of the shadows.

    Watching the Fairies carry my body double away, I marveled at how well the clone had done.

    It had held on just long enough, fought just hard enough to be convincing. Yet, it didn''t push beyond the believable limits of an exhausted wanderer emerging from the trials of a Labyrinth.

    It was a performance worthy of an award, if there were any to be had in this reality.

    ''I''m safe¡­ at least for now.''

    A sense of relief washed over me. My gamble had paid off.

    Now, my enemies believed they had me in their clutches, which would buy me some time. Time to rest, time to recover, and time to n my next move.

    For now, I was safe, hidden away within the chasm of a tree, but perhaps it would be better to recover my strength deeper within the Labyrinth.

    I allowed my eyes to close, letting my body and mind rest. I knew that in this world of Magic and monsters, a moment''s peace was a luxury one couldn''t often afford.

    ''Haa¡­ I would have used Magic to quicken my recovery, but I used up most of the Nether in my possession to make the clone, and its recovery is underway. It''s taking a great deal of my energy to just maintain that clone.''

    If only I could use [The Magician] at such a critical moment¡­

    ''I just have to bide my time, I suppose.''

    But when I thought of it another way, wasn''t this a great opportunity?

    ''I can use the bond I have with the clone to activate observational Magic. That way, I''ll be able to gather more information while I recover.''

    Since it would take some time to fully gain my stamina anyway, I might as well just go through with it.

    ''I should be able to find out one or two new things¡­''

    ********

    In a secluded corner of the expansive throne room, Fairy King Oberon stood before a luminous image of the Elf Queen. Beside him, the captured stranger was held tight in glowing restraints of ancient fairy magic, an ethereal shimmer radiating from the binds that held him still.

    Oberon bowed slightly, "My Queen," he started, his voice a mere whisper against the heavy silence of the room. "This is the man we captured. He sought the Arcana of our Labyrinth."

    The Elf Queen examined the captive from her ethereal projection, her gaze sharp and calcting. "But this is not Aria or her allies," she stated, her toneced with a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "Who is he?"

    "We do not know yet, my Queen," Oberon admitted, his gaze never leaving the holographic image of the queen. "However, I suspect he is working with Aria''s group. Perhaps they sought to divide our attention or attempt a surprise attack."

    "And your ns?" the Queen asked, the impatience in her voice barely hidden.

    "I intend to extract information from him," Oberon said confidently, his chest puffing out slightly.

    "We''ve also strengthened our defenses around the Labyrinth, in case the others try to infiltrate or rescue their ally."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    A slight nod of approval from the Queen. "Very well, Oberon," she spoke with a tone that carried a hint of praise.

    "You have done well. But remember, I expect results. I give you a day to provide substantial information."

    "Of course, my Queen," Oberon bowed deeply. "I will not disappoint you."

    As the Queen''s image flickered out, leaving Oberon alone in the grand throne room, the gravity of the task at hand fell heavily on him.

    He couldn''t afford to fail now. He had a day to deliver what the Queen asked.

    His gaze shifted to the stranger held in the fairy restraints.

    He was the key to everything now. Oberon had to unlock the secrets he held within, for failure was not an option.

    ''I should get started¡­''

    In the blink of an eye, the grandeur of the throne room faded, reced by a dark, enclosed space.

    Vines snaked their way across the damp stone walls, their emerald hues barely visible in the dim light. Luminescent creatures, akin to fireflies, floatedzily around, casting an eerie glow over the scene.

    With a flicker, the Fairy King Oberon materialized beside the restrained stranger.

    His own eyes glowed a potent jade green in the semi-darkness, adding an extrayer of ominousness to his figure.

    "All right, human," Oberon said, his voice echoing through the room. He reached out, his fingers gently tracing the boundary of the magical restraints.

    Each touch sent a ripple of light coursing through the binds, sparking fear in the eyes of the captive.

    "I suggest you cooperate. This can be easy, or it can be... difficult."

    His eyes bore into the stranger''s.

    "I will extract every piece of information I need from you," he continued, his tone low and threatening. "And you will answer every question I ask. Understood?"

    The room fell silent, the only sound the gentle hum of the fireflies and the rustling of the vines. The threat lingered in the air, the tension palpable.

    This was not a game.

    Oberon meant business, and he would stop at nothing to get the information he needed.

    ''No matter the cost¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 1080 The Kings Cause

    The dank chamber echoed with chilling sounds as the Fairy King Oberon began his methodical, terrifying process.

    Despite his usual levity, Oberon was known for his expertise in extracting information.

    It was an art form for him, a choreography of pain and fear danced to the rhythm of his subjects'' heartbeats.

    "Listen, human," Oberon began, his voice as soft as the fluttering of a moth''s wings, deceptively gentle.

    "I don''t enjoy this any more than you do, but well, a King''s got to do what a King''s got to do."

    He snapped his fingers, and vines ensnared the captive''s limbs, pulling them taut until his body was stretched out, pinned against the cold stone wall.

    The Fairy King then summoned a tendril of magical energy, wrapping it around his hand like a whip.

    The stranger grimaced, his eyes reflecting his determination.

    No words would pass his lips, no secrets shared. He was an enigma wrapped in the pain that Oberon intended to unfold.

    With the first strike, the room was filled with the cracking sound of energy meeting flesh, the stranger''s grunt of pain echoing off the stone walls.

    His body jerked in response, but he bit down, refusing to give the Fairy King the satisfaction of his screams.

    Again and again, Oberon struck, each time asking the same questions, each time meeting the stranger''s defiant silence.

    His attacks varied, sometimes physical, sometimes magical.

    At times, he''d send electric shocks coursing through the stranger''s body, or tendrils of magic to probe the man''s mind.

    Yet, throughout the ordeal, the stranger remained resolute. Sweat poured down his face, his teeth gritted against the pain, but his lips stayed firmly sealed.

    In the dim, firefly-lit room, time seemed to slow as the night wore on, and still, Oberon found himself at an impasse.

    Despite his best efforts, the stranger''s will remained unbroken, his secrets tightly guarded. Oberon began to get impatient at this point.

    After all, he didn''t have all the time in the world.

    In the shadow-filled room, Oberon sighed, pausing in his relentless assault.

    The echoes of the stranger''s agonized grunts still hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, a heavy silence reigned.

    "I''m not heartless," Oberon''s voice, although still soft, was filled with an uncharacteristic heaviness.

    "I''d rather you just tell me what I need to know and get this over with."

    The stranger lifted his head, an effort that clearly taxed him in his current state. His voice came out as a raspy whisper, yet it was filled with an unbroken resolve.

    "Why do you follow her orders? The Elf Queen... she''s a despot. You speak of doing a king''s duty, yet you serve her."

    A bitter smile twisted Oberon''s lips. He looked at the man, then his gaze wandered past him, focusing on something unseen.

    "I don''t have a choice," he admitted, and there was a sour taste to those words, a confession that sat heavy in his mouth.

    The stranger frowned, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What do you mean?"

    Oberon sighed, crossing his arms.

    "This world... it''s governed by a Triumvirate. The Elf Queen, the Beast King, and the Dwarven Chief. I never wanted to bow to their will, but..." His voice faltered, then hardened again.

    "They forced me. Ganged up on me. The Elf Queen used her magic to curse me."

    A curse. The word hung in the air, carrying a weight of its own. The stranger blinked, clearly not expecting this revtion.

    Oberon continued, his voice taking on a bitter edge. "If I don''t obey her, I die. And it''s not just me... the whole forest will die with me. This forest is a part of me, and I''m a part of it. This curse, it binds us all."

    He nced towards the stranger, his eyes gleaming with a sad determination.

    "And I can''t break it. Believe me, I''ve tried. But it''s a part of me now, as is my obedience to that damned Queen. It''s the only way to protect my people, to safeguard our home."

    His voice faded, leaving the echoes of his bitter confession behind. The room was silent again, the atmosphere even heavier than before.

    The stranger was left with the stark reality of Oberon''s plight, and the bitter truth of his own situation.

    However¡­

    "What if I could break the curse?" His voice suddenly echoed in the darkness.

    Oberon''s hardened gaze met the stranger''s, skepticism written all over his face as the man attempted to regain hisposure.

    "Haha¡­" He chuckled dryly at the stranger''s bold im.

    "You? Break the curse?" His disbelief was evident, a stark contrast to the hope that sparked briefly in the stranger''s eyes.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The man didn''t seem to be joking.

    "Yes," the stranger coughed, steeling his gaze as he met Oberon''s doubtful eyes.

    "I have... unique abilities. Ways of using magic that could help free you."

    A moment of silence hung between them, broken only by the rustle of leaves outside the dark room. Oberon regarded the stranger with a look that was more assessment than disbelief now.

    "And why," he asked slowly, "should I believe you?"

    "Because I have nothing to gain from lying." The stranger''s voice was soft, yet firm, holding a sense of conviction. "And you have nothing to lose from trying."

    Oberon was silent, pondering the stranger''s words. The im was bold, the possibility tantalizing.

    But was it worth the risk? He turned his gaze towards the stranger again, a glimmer of intrigue recing the previous skepticism.

    "Tell me more about this... unique method of yours," Oberon instructed, folding his arms across his chest.

    His voice held a note ofmand, but beneath it was ayer of curiosity.

    If he could be free from the Elf Queen¡­ from the Triumvirate¡­ he wouldn''t make the same mistakes asst time.

    He would definitely fight for his people, and only them!

    A thin smile spread on the stranger''s face as he gazed into his eyes.

    "First of all¡­ I''ll need a favor from you. If you can help me with that, I wouldn''t mind not just curing you, but also bing your ally."

    "Ally? What can I gain from you bing my ally?" Oberon''s gaze narrowed as he stared at his prisoner.

    The man was too cocky for someone who was captured, with no way out.

    ''Does he even have the ability to break the curse? Or is he just bluffing?''

    The stranger, still tied and bound, leaned in closer. A glint of defiance shone in his eyes as he matched Oberon''s gaze.

    "Believe me, I''m not bluffing. In fact," he said, a ghost of a smile on his lips, "if we be allies, I could help you in your fight against the Triumvirate."

    For a moment, there was a dready silence. And then¡­

    "Hahahahahaha!" Oberon barked a harshugh.

    "You, help me?" He gestured towards the stranger''s bindings, his gaze dark. "You''re not even in any position to negotiate. You''re the one at the disadvantage here."

    The stranger merely shrugged, unperturbed. "Am I, though?"

    Suddenly, his figure began to shimmer, slowly disintegrating.

    "W-wha¡­?!" Oberon watched in shock as the stranger turned into an energy mist, his form dissipating.

    The restraints ttered to the ground, empty.

    The man''s voice echoed in the darkened room, taking on an ethereal quality as his form became less and less corporeal.

    "Is it really a disadvantage... if it''s all part of the n?"

    And with those final words, the stranger disappearedpletely, leaving Oberon alone with his thoughts in the echo of the stranger''s promise.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1081 A Second Confrontation

    "It''s too bad."

    A slow smile crept over my face as I felt the clone''s energy dissipate, its existence finally sumbing to the limits of my magic.

    "Couldn''t hold it together any longer," I muttered, taking stock of my own state.

    Despite the strain of maintaining the clone while staying within thebyrinth, my strength was almost fully recovered.

    But there was another problem at hand.

    Oberon.

    I couldn''t exactly stroll out of this forest unnoticed.

    ''The timing of my clone''s disappearance was less than ideal; I would have preferred it to maintain the ruse for a while longer.''

    But what''s done was done.

    My initial n had been to slip away while my clone distracted the Fairy King, but that option had evaporated along with the clone.

    "Well, it can''t be helped." I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself.

    If I couldn''t avoid Oberon, then I''d confront him directly. No point dancing around it any longer.

    I emerged from the Labyrinth,ing face to face with a swarm of fairy guards at the entrance. They looked visibly shocked, their iridescent wings fluttering in surprise.

    "Who...wait, aren''t you¡ª?" One of them stammered, "But didn''t the King¡­?!"

    "Oh, I''m someone else. Just passing through," I answered nonchntly, spreading my arms. "Your King got the right guy."

    Their faces hardened, their tiny hands gripping their weapons tighter.

    Looks like it wasn''t going to be that easy. I''d have to fight, if only in self-defense.

    A small price to pay for whaty beyond this forest.

    I just hoped Oberon would see reason when the time came.

    Until then, I needed to get past these guards.

    ''This shouldn''t take too long¡­'' I thought, a spark of determination lighting up my eyes.

    "Ready when you are," I said, smiling.

    ''... Or not!''

    Energy surged within me, pooling into my palms, as I faced off against the Fairy guards.

    I took a deep breath, centering myself, the sensation of power crackling under my skin. I needed to incapacitate them, not harm them. That was key.

    "CHARGEEEEE!!!"

    "Spellcraft: Somnus Field," I murmured, a thrum of Magic pulsating through my veins.

    I extended my arms wide, releasing the energy into the air. It spread out like an invisible wave, an ethereal ripple in the fabric of reality.

    The effect was instantaneous. The guards closest to me stumbled, their eyes rolling back into their heads.

    Their wings fluttered weakly before they copsed, crumpled like marites with their strings cut.

    The ones further back held on for a moment longer, their hands reaching out as if to grab onto something, anything, to stay conscious.

    But the sleep-inducing spell was too potent, and they fell too, adding to the unconscious bodies scattered across the ground.

    "Y-you¡­," one managed to choke out before sumbing to the Magic, his body folding neatly onto the soft grass.

    I let out a breath I hadn''t realized I''d been holding, watching as the final fairy guard hit the ground, the forest around me once again silent.

    I hadn''t harmed them, merely put them into a sleep from which they would awaken with no memory of what had transpired.

    "I''m sorry," I murmured, my gaze sweeping over them. "But I have a Fairy King to confront."

    "Is that so?" A sudden voice interrupted me,ing from above.

    ''Hmm?''

    In the soft glow of the forest''s bioluminescent flora, Oberon towered over me, rage etched into his regal features. He pointed at the unconscious forms of the fairies scattered around us.

    "What have you done to my subjects?"

    I held up my hands, trying to pacify him. "They''re unharmed, merely sleeping. They''ll awaken in a few hours, unaware of what transpired."

    "Sleeping?" Oberon echoed, his voice growing darker. "You cast a Spell on them, didn''t you?"

    "Yes," I admitted, choosing honesty over evasion. "It was the least harmful way to navigate this situation."

    Oberon narrowed his eyes, "Who are you truly?"

    I sighed, the weight of my decisions pressing down on me. "My name is Lewis Griffith. I am, as you''ve surmised, affiliated with Aria and her group. However, capturing me won''t grant you ess to them."

    "You dare to stand there and dictate terms? After invading our Labyrinth? After casting a Spell on my people?" Oberon''s voice was thunderous, echoing through the otherwise quiet forest.

    "I''d rather we talked, Oberon. This conflict is pointless," I implored, hoping he''d listen.

    Oberon''s lips curled into a snarl, his hands balling into fists. "Enough with your words! I will capture you, and you will tell me everything. And if you do have a cure to my curse... you will share it."

    I knew then that there would be no reasoning with the Fairy King.

    He was a man ensnared in desperation, willing to do anything to protect his people, even if it meant defying reason. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The gravity of our situation sunk into me, and I steeled myself for what woulde next.

    ~VWUUUUSSSHHH!~

    The tension in the air grew thick as msses as Oberon and I squared off.

    The iridescent colors of the forest around us swirled and danced, reflecting off Oberon''s eyes, highlighting the determination etched in them.

    "I won''t be taken so easily," I warned, reaching into my wellspring of Nether.

    Around me, I could feel the natural currents of magic that permeated this forest, a dense of interwoven spells that gave life to the ancient trees and mystical creatures inhabiting it.

    I had a n, and it involved these natural currents of Nether.

    With a fierce cry, Oberon rushed at me, his form blurring as he cast a Speed-enhancing spell, "[Velocity Gale]".

    It seemed to be amon spell, one that enhanced physical speed and agility. I matched his speed with a counter of my own, muttering a quick "[Gravity Tread]", to lighten my body and move at an equal pace.

    Oberon''s attacks came in quick session, a barrage of wind and leaf des conjured by his "[Aero Cuss]" Spell.

    Every de was guided with precision, aimed to incapacitate rather than kill. He was a fair fighter, even in his rage.

    However, I was not one to be outmatched. I countered with my own offensive spell,

    "[Stone Bulwark]", pulling the very earth up to form a defensive wall. The wind des crashed against it, shattering into harmless particles of magic.

    But Oberon was relentless, already casting another spell, "[Emerald Torrent]", conjuring a rushing wave of sharp, crystalline leaves.

    I had been waiting for him to use up some degree of his energy. I invoked my next offensive maneuver.

    "Spellcraft¡­" I whispered.

    Drawing upon the inherent Nether currents in the forest, I spun an intricate web of Magic.

    The Emerald Torrent crashed into my barrier, getting caught in the web of Nether, redirecting and twisting the spell back at Oberon.

    ''Normally, this ce would be his domain, but by mixing my energy and with rhe Nether around, it''ll confuse the entire forest.''

    In essence¡­ this was no longer the Fairy King''s domain.

    Caught off guard, Oberon barely managed to create a shield of wind, "[Cyclone Veil]", but it wasn''t enough.

    He was thrown back by the rebounding force of his own spell, crashing into a tree.

    "Uack!"

    Panting heavily, I watched as Oberon slowly rose to his feet, a look of disbelief in his eyes.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­"

    He must have realized then what I had known from the start: he was at a disadvantage.

    Despite his rage and desperation, my cunning utilization of Spellcraft had turned the tides in my favor.

    I drew in a deep breath, feeling the power of the Nether pulsate around me.

    "Do you see now, Oberon?" I called out, standing tall despite my light fatigue. "Your rage blinds you. We should be allies, not enemies."

    Oberon didn''t respond, but the fury in his eyes had dimmed, reced by a cautious wariness.

    It was a start, and I was willing to take it.

    We had a long way to go, but for now, I had won.

    "If you surrender, we can save time for the both of us¡­ and move on to more important matters." I sighed. "What do you say?"

    Slowly, I could see the tense muscles of the Fairy King loosen. As Oberon slid to the forest floor, the fight left his eyes.

    He looked at me, disbelief and surprise etched on his face. "How...?"

    "My special ability," I replied simply, "is not only about throwing spells at each other, Oberon. It''s about understanding the flow of Nether and using it to your advantage."

    Slowly, I walked over to him, extending a hand. "Let''s stop this. Let''s talk. We can help each other, Oberon."

    For a moment, he stared at my outstretched hand, the symbol of peace and camaraderie. Then, reluctantly, he took it.

    And just like that, the tide of our confrontation changed.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1082 The Game Changer

    [Moments Later]

    I followed Oberon into his hidden chambers, and the air seemed to hum with unspoken tension. We were finally alone, and I could sense Oberon''s guardedness.

    "You see, Lewis, this is the only ce where the Elf Queen or the Triumvirate can''t hear us," Oberon began, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

    "They can''t see us, can''t even sense us."

    The room was draped in darkness, and the low hum of Fairy Magic filled the air. It was the same room where Oberon had subjected my clone to torture earlier

    "I understand," I said, breaking the silence.

    "Our group... Aria, Drake, Larry, and me... we stumbled upon the Triumvirate''s existence by pure chance," I began.

    ''Technically, I wasn''t a part of the discovery, but¡­''

    It was better to just weave the story this way. At the very least, it was much better than telling him I was from a different tree of existence.

    Going further into the narrative, I recounted how we''d uncovered their ns, the battles we''d faced, the victories and losses, and the relentless pursuit of freedom for the world.

    "But your friends?" Oberon asked. "Where are they now?"

    "They are currently unconscious, and I''m trying my best to keep them safe and hidden," I concluded.

    ''By unconscious, I mean dead. He doesn''t need to know those details, though¡­''

    Oberon seemed taken aback, and for a moment, his hard exterior softened. But then, his gaze fell on me, a glint of desperation clear in his eyes.

    It was time to talk about his curse.

    "Now, the most crucial part. Your curse," I said, meeting his gaze. "I believe I can help you break it."

    His gaze flickered with a hint of hope. "And what do you want in exchange, Lewis?"

    "I believe the question is¡­ what can I offer you more in exchange." A wide grin formed on my face.

    "Offer me? What do you mean?"

    "Help. You can''t face the Triumvirate alone, and neither can we. You need us as much as we need you, Oberon."

    Sure, even after I broke his curse, the Triumvirate was still a major threat to his people. I doubted he could face them alone with only his power.

    By offering an alliance, especially after I just defeated him, the odds now moved in my favor.

    I watched as Oberon grappled with my words, torn between hope and skepticism.

    But he didn''t deny or refuse me outright, and in his hesitation, I found a spark of hope.

    Perhaps Oberon could still be swayed.

    Perhaps, together, we could indeed face the Triumvirate and win.

    These were the possibilities that swirled in my head. No, they were more than mere possibilities.

    ''I personally don''t have much of a stake in this reality. I just want to save Karlia and go home. But¡­''

    The more I stayed here, and the more I recounted my experiences with the friends I made here, the more I wanted to do something about it.

    ''Which is why I''ll make an alliance in their stead. So, even after I''m gone¡­ Aria, Larry, and Drake can use the Arcanas and the alliance with the Fairies to change the world.''

    "You''re not ounting for the most difficult aspect when ites to going against the Triumvirate."

    A visible strain spread across Oberon''s features as he acknowledged the Triumvirate''s formidable forces.

    "The leaders themselves are powerful enough, but the number of troops theymand... it''s a figure we can''t begin to match."

    I let a half-smile curve my lips. "Quality over quantity, King Oberon."

    While he nodded in agreement, there was a visible skepticism in his eyes.

    "True, but even quality needs a considerable quantity to stage a rebellion of this magnitude."

    I grinned wider, leaning back in the chair. "I''m well aware of that, King Oberon. Which is exactly why I sought you out. An alliance with the Fairy Kingdom would give us ess to resources that could potentially change the tide of this war."

    His eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion. "And what exactly would be this game-changer, Lewis?"<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The corners of my mouth stretched into a sly grin as I pronounced the two words that would possibly decide our fate against the Triumvirate.

    It was something I hadn''t really thought of before, until I had a revtion in one of the Labyrinths I explored.

    Now¡­ I could see a path to the future with it.

    "Mecha Knights," I dered, my voice echoing in the silence of the room.

    "What? What''s that?"

    Confusion shed in Oberon''s eyes, followed by a spark of curiosity, and I couldn''t help but chuckle.

    ''Mecha Knights are basically cooler ways of saying Golems. No¡­ Mecha Knights are superior Golems!''

    After experiencing the Makina Labyrinth, my perspective on Golems, including their design and production, changed forever.

    "Mass Producing Mecha Knights to serve as our army!"

    The idea sounded outrageous, even to my ears, but it was the best shot we had.

    The future of our world hung in the bnce.

    And so, I set out to exin the n that could either be our salvation... or our doom.

    ''Well¡­ it''s actually just really cool!''

    "Picture this," I began, my fingers steepling together as I leaned forward in my seat.

    "Advanced Golems, made from the rich ores found within your Luminis Labyrinth and the fertile soil of the Luminis Forest. Not just any golems, mind you, but Mecha Knights. Fully armored, outfitted with the most advanced magical technology, and standing as tall as thergest beasts of this world."

    Oberon''s eyes widened as he took in the concept.

    The idea was undoubtedly ambitious, but it was far from impossible, especially given the resources at our disposal.

    ''More importantly, I have Jared''s memories of the creation of his own Automatons and Golems. Using what I know now, and the culmination of my experience¡­ it is very possible!''

    "Using these materials," I continued, "we create an Automaton first. Think of it as the maestro, the conductor of our grand orchestra. I''ll provide it with detailed ns, blueprints, every step needed to create our Mecha Knights. This Automaton will then direct the creation of these knights, using your fairies as a workforce."

    For a moment, silence pervaded the room. The Fairy King was probably trying to digest all I was saying at once.

    A frown creased Oberon''s brow as he mulled over my words. "But why an Automaton? Why not direct the fairies ourselves?"

    "Time," I answered. "I still need to gather the rest of the Arcanas. Directing the production would take too much time. Time we don''t have. But with an Automaton, the fairies would have a continuous source of guidance, allowing me to focus on the Arcanas."

    ''In the end, saving Karliaes first.''

    The Fairy King nodded, seeming to understand my reasoning.

    I watched as he mulled over my proposal.

    I hadid all my cards on the table, all that was left was for Oberon to decide if he was willing to gamble on our sess.

    ''He has no real reason to refuse.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1083 Breaking The Curse

    To cut the long story short, the Fairy King agreed to my offer.

    We shook hands and entered into an agreement, just as I had nned. However, merely agreeing to do something, and then doing the thing, were twopletely separate matters.

    ¡­ We were really just getting started.

    *********

    After solidifying our agreement, the next step was relieving Oberon of the curse inflicted on him by the Elf Queen.

    ''Since we need to get this over with first before we can move on to our joint project, its best to resolve it quickly.''

    In order to understand and ultimately break Oberon''s curse, I knew I would need to delve deeply into the Fairy King''s soul.

    His curse was not some superficial enchantment; it was deeply intertwined with his very being, making it aplex and dangerous operation.

    That was why even he, despite how skilled he was at Magic, could not help himself.

    ''That means the Elf Queen has a specialty in Soul magic. Interesting¡­''

    Fortunately, I had some experience with Jane Urs, my closest friend who loved Magic just as I did. She was an expert on Soul Magic, and I learned a thing or two from her.

    ''I also have Jared''s memories intact. That''s good¡­''

    The first step was to enter a meditative state, not dissimr to a trance. Afterward, the both of us would use Resonance to connect with each other.

    This allowed us to sharpen our senses, attuning my magic to Oberon''s.

    As my awareness extended towards him, I could sense the immense power radiating from him, a testament to his status as the Fairy King.

    ''He''s really strong¡­''

    Far stronger than Aria, or any other person I had met in this realm.

    Next, I reached out with my magic, delicately probing the Fairy King''s soul.

    This was a step that required the utmost care, as the soul was an intensely private and delicate thing. Too forceful an approach could cause serious harm.

    Thankfully, my previous experiences with Soul Magic had given me a gentle touch. It was mostly theoretical, so I still had to be very careful.

    Slowly, I began to feel the curse. It was like a dark cloud, an insidious presence lurking within Oberon''s soul.

    It was twisted and knotted tightly around his essence, weaving in and out of his soul''s fabric.

    The curse was horrifyinglyplex, a testament to the Elf Queen''s malevolent ingenuity.

    ''Not bad. Not bad¡­''

    My first priority was to iste the curse, preventing it from causing further harm to Oberon.

    Using my magic, I wove a barrier around the cursed area. It was akin to containing a spreading infection, stopping the curse from further embedding itself.

    Once the curse was isted, the real work began. I started to unravel the curse, working my way from the outermost tendrils to its core.

    This was a painstakingly slow process, much like untangling a knotted string. Any wrong move could cause the curse to tighten its grip, further endangering Oberon''s soul.

    As I worked, I began to understand the nature of the curse. It was a powerful bond, a type of magical contract, that bound Oberon to the Elf Queen''s will.

    It was fueled by the Fairy King''s innate connection to his kingdom, and the more he resisted, the tighter it wound around his soul.

    With this understanding, I started working on breaking the bond.

    This required a very specific counter-spell that I had to sort of develop from scratch, utilizing various forms and techniques in order to apply to this specific condition.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    I channeled my magic into the core of the curse, weaving the counter-spell into its structure.

    Slowly, the curse began to loosen its grip, and bit by bit, it started to disintegrate.

    Finally, after what felt like hours, the curse was broken.

    Exhausted but ted, I withdrew my magic from Oberon''s soul, disabling the Resonance.

    "Haaa¡­ haa¡­"

    As I opened my eyes, I saw the Fairy King looking at me with a mix of awe and gratitude.

    I felt exhausted, but contrary to me, he seemed to be full of energy.

    "Ahh, Lewis¡­ I sincerely thank you!"

    Oberon, now grinning from ear to ear, folded his arms and floated above, brimming with excitement.

    He was free, and we now had a fighting chance against the Triumvirate.

    Looking at Oberon, his aura now significantly different after the removal of the curse, I gave a soft sigh.

    "Nowes the next part of the n," I began. "We need to disable the surveince that the Elf Queen has on the Fairy Kingdom."

    Oberon''s brows furrowed, his tone heavy with concern, "That won''t be easy. The Queen''s eyes are everywhere. It''s one of the reasons why I couldn''t resist or n against her."

    "I have a few ideas," I assured him, leaning back in the chair and folding my arms across my chest.

    "Your people have ess to powerful, ancient magic, correct? What about using a magical shield, one that could hide your entire kingdom from external magical scrying?"

    Oberon''s eyes gleamed with interest. "That could work, but the scale of the magic... It would require a significant amount of energy. And once we invoke such a shield, the Triumvirate will notice it. They''ll know something is amiss."

    I nodded, expecting this. "Correct, which is why the moment we implement this, we must swiftly proceed with our n. We have no time to waste. Once the shield is up, the construction of the Mecha Knights mustmence immediately."

    "And what about the Elf Queen?" Oberon asked, the worry evident in his voice. "How long before she intervenes?"

    "I''ll deal with that," I said, my voice filled with confidence.

    ''At the very least, I can buy a lot of time.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 1084 The Ursula

    "While I can''t block her entirely, I can create magical disturbances and distractions." I began, rubbing my chin as I spoke.

    "These should give us a bit more time. Plus, with the curse gone, you''re free to counter her magic. Together, we should be able to buy enough time for the Automaton to start producing the Mecha Knights."

    Oberon was silent for a moment, considering the n. Then, he looked up at me, determination shining in his eyes.

    "Let''s do it," he said firmly. "For the freedom of the Fairy Kingdom."

    With a smile, I stood, extending my hand toward the Fairy King.

    As he shook it, I knew that we were stepping onto a treacherous path, filled with uncertainties. But one thing was clear to me.

    ''We''re going to win this one.''

    [Several Moments Later]

    After initiating the first step of our n, which was obscuring the observatory ability of the Elf Queen, and the rest of the Triumvirate, we delved into the next phase.

    "Alright," I breathed out, my gaze trained on the vast, untouched riches of the Luminis Labyrinth and forest.

    "Let''s get to work."

    We started by gathering the materials.

    The ores within the Labyrinth were rich and abundant, the soil of the forest was ripe and magical.

    The fairies under Oberon''smand flew in all directions, their small hands deftly mining and gathering the resources we needed.

    I watched them, my mind ticking over the ns and blueprints that I had envisioned.

    After the materials were gathered, it was time for the engineering. The fairies proved surprisingly adept at this, their small fingers nimble and precise.

    I directed them, giving explicit instructions, guiding their hands as they began to put together the framework of the Automaton.

    The ores were melted down and cast into molds. Carefully, piece by piece, the Automaton started to take shape.

    Its base structure was of a metal so shiny it could mirror the sun, a body as intricate as the mostplex of puzzles.

    Though it wasbor-intensive, it was also oddly therapeutic.

    There was something satisfying about seeing the Automaton slowly materialize from the abstract ns.

    When the body wasplete, it was time to imbue it with magic.

    This was the most delicate part of the process. Too much magic and the Automaton could overload and be unstable. Too little, and it would be lifeless and inert.

    I channeled my magic into the Automaton, envisioning aplexwork of mana pathways flowing throughout its body, connecting all its parts.

    Slowly, I felt the Automaton respond, its own magical core starting to resonate with mine. It was a slow, gradual process, but eventually, the Automaton''s core pulsed with a steady rhythm, indicating it was alive.

    Last, but not least, the Core of the Automaton.

    I already had what I was going to use, considering how I had been using Spellcraft to gather Nether in a single point since the process began.

    Once every other aspect of the Automaton was developedpletely, so too was the Core; all as per my calctions.

    And then, after what felt like an eternity, our masterpiece wasplete.

    "It is done." I smiled, watching the result of my work.

    Standing before us was the Automaton.

    She floated, her form reminiscent of a fairy, yet so much more. Her shiny metallic body, interwoven with the magic of the forest, was a sight to behold. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    I had designed her to look like Jane Urs, my closest friend from the past, so she had the same delicate frame and peach-pink hair.

    She even used sses too.

    The resemnce was uncanny, from her wings to her facial features.

    "Hello, Lewis," the Automaton said, her voice a soft, musical hum. I smiled, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over me.

    I didn''t quite get the voice right, but this was close enough.

    I had already decided on a name for her too.

    "Hello, Urs," I replied, donning a wide grin. "How do you feel?"

    "I do not have any proper emotions. Since I am a rtively new entity, I believe I will have to study, learn, and understand these emotions in order to properly answer your questions. I will say that I am currently at optimal performance." She responded, her expression stoic.

    Automatons were different from Golems in the sense that they were capable of functioning independently of remote or manual control.

    ''The level ofplexity and cognitive abilities differ, so it''s not fair to ce all Automatons on the same pedestal¡­''

    This creation of mine, The Urs, was by far the most advanced Autmaton to ever exist; at least, that I knew of.

    Her potential for growth was immense.

    Cognitive ability alone, she was superior to the Gawain that Jared designed.

    ''She''scking inbat ability, though, but that''s fine.''

    After all, she wasn''t built forbat, but for guidance and direction. She would be my eyes and ears here in the Fairy Kingdom, and she would also greatly assist in the creation of the Mecha Knights that the Fairies had to make.

    I also made her to be a future assistant in my endeavors. She was going to be very useful to me moving forward.

    For now, though, it was best she assisted the Fairies with this project and used this as an opportunity to grow.

    ''I can''t wait to see the results.''

    And with that already out of the way, my purpose within the Fairy Kingdom was now concluded. It had been almost a week since I first arrived here, and a lot had happened in that time, but it was finally time to move on.

    ''I am already way behind schedule.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you think of the Urs? By the way, who do you all stan the most? Jared or Lewis?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

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 Chapter 1085 Realm Of The Unknown

    As we stood at the threshold of the majestic Luminis Forest, I turned to Oberon, his eyes shimmering with a mix of hope and apprehension. "Take care of everything," I said, my gaze lingering on the twinkling canopy of the forest, "And take care of Urs."

    The Fairy King nodded, understanding gleaming in his eyes. "Lewis," he started, his voice filled with uncharacteristic emotion, "I must confess I was initially apprehensive of the technology. I feared it might sully the sacrednd of the Luminis Forest, but I tolerated it because sacrifices must be made in war."

    He took a deep breath, his gaze affixed to the horizon. "But now, I recognize that this is the future. And I am grateful to you for opening my eyes."

    I offered him a warm smile, nodding in appreciation. "Your cooperation has been invaluable, Oberon. I hope the project continues smoothly, and I''ll be keeping an eye on everything through Urs."

    After one final exchange of goodbyes, I spread my wings, the ethereal energy radiating from them illuminating the evening. With a final wave to the Fairy King, I ascended into the twilight sky, my thoughts already shifting to the pressing matters ahead.

    As I soared above the forest, my thoughts were gued with the urgency of the task ahead. It had been almost a week I had spent in the Fairy Kingdom, just designing Urs, and I had used up a lot of precious time. Now, the race was on to gather the remaining Arcanas. I had to quicken my pace, not just for the fate of the world, but for Karlia''s sake. Every second mattered. With a final nce towards the Luminis Forest, I pressed forward, resolute in my determination.

    ***********

    In a grand hall imbued with an air of authority, the leaders of the Triumvirate convened. Each of them seemed like an entity of immense power - a stature well deserved given their reign over the world of magic.

    The Elf Queen, with her fiery eyes and a tranquilposure, sat on her opulent throne.

    The Beast King, fierce and burly, his presence imposing and heavy, upied another.

    And at the third stood the Dwarven Chief, a figure as firm and unyielding as the mountains from which he hailed.

    "The curse has been lifted," the Elf Queen''s voice echoed in the room, her tone icy, concealing a dangerous rage beneath. "Oberon is no longer under our control."

    The Beast King''s gaze darkened, his fists clenched tightly, "He''s been ying us all along."

    "No, not from the beginning," corrected the Dwarven Chief, his voice a low rumble. "I don''t think Oberon had the gall to betray us alone. Someone must''ve aided him."

    The mention of a possible outsider instigated a wave of perturbation in the gathering. "A rebellion, perhaps?" proposed the Beast King, the very idea igniting a ferocious glint in his eyes.

    "More than that," the Elf Queen mused, her gaze fixed on a point somewhere beyond the extravagant hall. "Oberon was not just a puppet, he was our eyes and ears in the Fairy Kingdom. Now, they''ve managed to cut us off."

    Silence loomed as the implication of the situation settled in, only to be interrupted by the Dwarven Chief, "We cannot let this pass. We must strike back."

    The Beast King growled in agreement, "It''s time they learn what happens when they cross us."

    "And what of this outsider?" the Elf Queen asked, her voice hard. "Whoever it is, they possess enough power to remove my curse, a skill few possess."

    "We''ll find them, and make them wish they never interfered," the Beast King vowed, his voice vibrating with an innate ferocity.

    "But first," the Dwarven Chief spoke, his gaze steely and resolute, "we march on the Fairy Kingdom. They''ve betrayed us, now they''ll face the full might of the Triumvirate."

    With a unanimous agreement, the leaders of the Triumvirate rallied, ready to unleash their wrath on their former ally. Their next move was decided - they would go to war with the Fairy Kingdom, and the world would witness the true might of the Triumvirate.

    **********

    The cool wind whipped past me as I soared over the ever-changingndscapes, my keen eyes fixed on the pulsating Arcana location map. It was an enchanting tapestry of ethereal magic, leading me towards my next destination.

    Until now, Larry Damien''s research had helped to be my guide through the unfathomable Labyrinths, gaining at least some context¡ªlike the names.

    But his research was iplete.

    I was stepping into uncharted territory, with only my instincts and the faint pull of the Arcana to guide me.

    After what seemed like hours of travel, a stark change in the topography below caught my eye.

    The soft green expanse of lush forests was gradually reced by jagged rocky outcroppings and cliffs. It was an unforgiving terrain, hinting at the lurking challenges within.

    A pulsing glow from the map urged me to descend, signaling that I was close.

    As I drew nearer, the rough terrain morphed into an intricatework of tunnels and corridors - abyrinthine structure carved into the heart of the mountain.

    Gazing at the imposing stone entrance, a sense of unease washed over me. This was the first time I was venturing into a Labyrinth without any prior knowledge.

    There was no name to refer to it by, no known risks, no whispers of its hidden dangers. It was a challenge unseen and unnamed.

    Taking a deep breath, I checked my magical reserves and examined my surroundings once more.

    Then, with a determined gaze, I stepped into the nameless Labyrinth. As I ventured deeper, the darkness closed in, leaving only the soft luminescence of my magic to guide me.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Thebyrinth was a twisted maze, with high walls of weathered stone. I moved through it slowly, cautiously, trying to understand its patterns, searching for any signs of danger or magical traps.

    Trudging through winding paths and treacherous turns, I encountered obstacles unknown.

    Massive stones moved on their own, traps triggered by invisible forces, illusions trying to lead me astray, and even elements of nature manipted against me.

    Yet, with each challenge I faced, I discovered new aspects of my magic, improvising solutions on the go, turning thebyrinth''s tricks in my favor.

    Hours turned into days, each moment a test of resilience and ingenuity. Despite the unrelenting challenges, I found myself enjoying the thrill of the unknown.

    Though the mere fact that time was running out kept bothering me.

    Nevertheless, thebyrinth, in its unnamed nature, was a pure, unadulterated challenge.

    This is what we do. We push forward, we adapt, we persevere.

    Even without a map, even when the odds seem stacked against us, we don''t stop. I smiled to myself, emboldened by the thought.

    There was still much to explore, much to conquer. As I continued my journey through the heart of the nameless Labyrinth, my resolve strengthened.

    This was just another challenge. Another adventure. Ande what may, I was ready for it.

    ******

    [Moments Later]

    My heart pounded in my chest as I neared the core of thebyrinth. Magic surged within me, electrifying my senses as I prepared for the inevitable confrontation.

    Upon reaching thebyrinth''s center, I was met by the sight of an imposing figure - a custodian of the Arcana. Dressed in a glistening suit of armor, he bore the unmistakable aura of a chivalric knight, formidable and unwavering.

    With a booming voice, the Knight challenged, "Halt, intruder! You shall not pass."

    I merely smirked, crackling magic radiating off my hands. "We''ll see about that."

    Our battle was fierce, an intense dance of magic and strategy. The Knight charged, swift and deadly, his weapon of pure energy slicing through the air. I countered with a "Barrier Glyph," a shield of swirling runes appearing in front of me. His blow rebounded off my shield, creating a shockwave that rippled through the area.

    Unfazed, the Knight charged again, his attacks growing more relentless. Pushing my magic to its limits, I conjured an array of spells. "Aether Arrows!" With a swift gesture, I unleashed a barrage of energy bolts, each one shimmering with destructive potential.

    Yet, the Knight was not so easily subdued. With remarkable agility, he danced through the onught, his form a blur of motion. His retaliation was swift,unching a wave of pure, destructive energy my way. I narrowly dodged, the ground where I stood moments ago scorched ck by the st.

    I knew I needed a more potent spell. "Temporal Chains!" With an outstretched hand, I weaved a spell of restriction. Bands of luminescent energy shot forward, wrapping around the Knight, slowing his movements.

    Seizing the opportunity, I prepared my most potent spell, "Celestial Nova!" My hands glowed with a radiant energy, and with a final incantation, I unleashed a burst of ster magic, its impact resonating throughout thebyrinth.

    When the dust settled, the Knighty defeated, his energy dispersed. I exhaled, relief washing over me. The Arcana was now within my reach.

    I had won.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1086 The Unknown World

    Holding the Arcana in my hand, its energy pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat. I couldn''t help but let out a soft chuckle of victory.

    The shimmering image of the ''Justice'' symbol was embedded in the center. I had acquired the [Justice]Arcana.

    ''Thirteen down. Eight to go.'' The thought echoed in my mind.

    I steeled myself as I mulled over my remaining task. It was a daunting endeavor, but it was one I was willing to face. The Arcanas would not gather themselves, after all.

    Taking a deep breath, I looked ahead. From this point forward, I was stepping into unknown territory. Literally. I was journeying into the ''Unknown World'' - the parts of this realm that hadn''t been touched by civilization, uncharted and unexplored.

    "I''m going blind from this point on," I muttered to myself. The echo of my own voice seemed to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Theforting familiarity of the known world was behind me. Aheady only the uncharted, the untamed.

    I could only imagine the potential dangers that lurked in the shadows of the unknown world. Dangerous creatures, hostile environments, and, worst of all,plete and utter unpredictability. It was a challenge, to say the least.

    But then again, I reminded myself, I hade this far. I had faced challenges and emerged victorious. This was just another hurdle to ovee.

    Taking a deep breath, I prepared to set out. I had Arcanas to gather, after all. And though the path ahead was murky and filled with uncertainty, I was determined to face whatevery ahead.

    The journey into the Unknown World had begun.

    ************

    In this world, there exists a boundary that separates the known from the unknown, the charted from the uncharted.

    This boundary is not marked by a signpost or a wall but by a seemingly endless expanse of dark, unforgiving waters.

    This is the demarcation between the Known World and the Unknown World - the Dark Waters.

    The dark waters have served as an insurmountable barrier for the humans of this world.

    For centuries, they have tried to cross this barrier, to delve into the mysteries of the Unknown World.

    But the Dark Waters have been imcable in their resistance. Ships that dare to traverse these waters are never seen again, swallowed up by the abyss without a trace.

    So, for the people of this world, the dark waters havee to symbolize the boundary of their understanding.

    It is a boundary they havee to respect and fear, for what lies beyond is a mystery they cannotprehend.

    What could possibly exist beyond these dark waters?

    The mind races with possibilities, each more frightening than thest. Perhaps it is and teeming with creatures more horrifying than their darkest nightmares.

    Monsters with gaping jaws, razor-sharp ws, and eyes that glow with malevolence in the darkness.

    Or perhaps, it is a world inhabited by demons, creatures of pure evil that delight in pain and suffering.

    The Unknown World could also hold horrors that have no name, things that defy description, things that the human mind simply cannotprehend.

    The unknown is, after all, a fertile ground for fear to grow, feeding off the uncertainty and the possibilities that it holds.

    But the dark waters continue to guard their secrets, standing as an immovable barrier between the Known World and the Unknown.

    A silent testament to the limits of human understanding and a stern reminder of the mysteries that remain just out of reach.

    The Unknown World remains, as it has always been, a mystery.

    For the denizens of the Known World, the Unknown World is an enigma that is both fascinating and terrifying - a question mark at the edge of their world.

    ********<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    [Unknown World]

    <Northern Settlement: A Goblin Vige>

    The sun hadn''t yet fully risen, but Gobtia was already bustling with energy. As a goblin, she was small in stature, with big, expressive eyes that held a curious sparkle and greenish skin that had a gentle sheen in the soft glow of dawn.

    She lived in a close-knit goblin vige tucked between the woods and the hills. Her father was the Vige Chief, a man of firm but kind disposition. He had ruled the vige for many years now, with the fair judgement that had earned him the unwavering respect of the vigers. His deep-set eyes were always alight with wisdom, a sharp contrast to the constant grief they held for the loss of his mate, Gobtia''s mother.

    Gobtia was a well-loved figure in her vige, known for her lively demeanor and kind heart. She woke up with the sunrise, fetched fresh water from the well, cleaned their modest house, and tended to their little vegetable garden that was lush with an array of colourful produce. Her life was not adventurous or morous but it held a gentle rhythm that she foundforting.

    Gobtia was a creature of habit. Her afternoons were spent helping out in the vige, either at the bakery or with the vige cksmith, and evenings were for sewing and cooking. Despite her youth, she was a proficient cook, having learned from her mother before her untimely demise.

    The vige was a mosaic of personalities. There was old Goblina, a wrinkled goblin who had seen many seasons and loved sharing tales of the past, and young and impish Gobkin who was always getting into trouble. The vige was Gobtia''s family, and she had a unique rtionship with each member.

    Being the Vige Chief''s daughter, and also his only child, came with its own burdens. She was expected to choose a mate, someone who would be her partner for life, as was the goblin way. The chosen one would be the next Vige Chief, a role that came with immense responsibility. This made her a sought-after mate, and many a young goblin had tried to win her heart, but Gobtia was not ready to make such a decision yet.

    However, the prospect of choosing a life partner was a weighty one, and the constant attention from potential suitors was a source of stress. She often found herself contemting her future, longing for guidance from her mother.

    Despite the pressure and the sense of responsibility, Gobtia led a content life. Each day was a testament to her strength, her love for her vige, and her longing to uphold her mother''s memory.

    She was a beacon of hope and stability in amunity that thrived on its bonds, a vige rooted in tradition and bathed in the affection of its denizens.

    Still, on some days, curiosity got the better of her and she would look beyond the territory of her small Goblin vige, wondering whaty beyond it.

    It was just a simple thought. Perhaps a wish too.

    She wanted to know... if there was someone else out there.

    ... It was unfortunate how she came to find out that stern truth.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Okay, some of you might be a bit taken aback by the direction this is going, but don''t worry, we''re still on track.

    Just wanted to indulge a little in lore and a change in perspective.

    Also...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1087 The Goblin Resistance

    As the evening descended, a sharp wind picked up, rustling the trees with an ominous murmur.

    There was a stillness in the air, a dreadful silence that seemed to weigh heavily on the vige.

    And then, from the depths of the dense woods, came the sounds that turned the blood in Gobtia''s veins to ice - the guttural roars of orcs.

    "ROAAAAAAARRRRRHHHHHHH!!!"

    Orcs were the creatures of nightmares. Bigger, stronger, and notoriously bloodthirsty, they lived in the darkness of the forest.

    Most Goblins in the vige had never seen Orcs before, and had only heard of them in stories, and Gobtia was no exception.

    The more aged goblins had always been wary of the woods and its deadly inhabitants, maintaining a safe distance and a precarious peace.

    But tonight, that peace was shattered.

    A horde of orcs, their red eyes gleaming menacingly under the moonlight, descended upon the vige. The goblins, though smaller and weaker, did not back down.

    They rallied around their Vige Chief, their spears and shields ready, determination etched on their faces. Gobtia''s father stood at the forefront, his eyes burning with resolve, ready to defend his people.

    The sh of weapons echoed through the night as the battle began.

    Goblins danced around the massive orcs, their small stature giving them the advantage of agility. But the sheer strength and numbers of the orcs were overwhelming.

    The goblins fought bravely, their hearts filled with courage, their attacks coordinated and well-nned. Yet, the tide of the battle was against them.

    The vige cksmith, a burly goblin named Gobnar, took on an orc head-on, his hammer whirling with a force that belied his size.

    He managed tond a few heavy blows, but the orc retaliated with a vicious swipe that sent Gobnar flying.

    The scene repeated itself across the battleground, the goblins'' bravery was admirable, but their adversaries were just too formidable.

    The vige was slowly being consumed by chaos and destruction, the orc roars mingling with the cries of fighting goblins.

    Amidst the pandemonium, Gobtia found herself paralyzed by fear and dread, her heart pounding in her chest.

    Her home was being torn apart, her people hurt, and she felt a growing despair consuming her.

    Yet, she knew she had to do something, anything, to help her people, her family.

    Swallowing her fear, Gobtia picked up a fallen spear, her grip shaky but determined. She was no warrior, but she was a goblin of the vige, and she would fight for her home, for her father, until herst breath.

    Gobtia watched as the orcs continued to close in on her, their heavy steps shaking the ground beneath her feet. The smell of their raw, animalistic musk filled her nostrils, fueling her fear. Yet, she couldn''t - wouldn''t - back down.

    Her heart pounded in her chest, her breaths came in rapid, shallow gasps, her eyes wide with dread. But she was rooted to the spot, her grip on the spear tightened to the point of pain. The fear was a frigid beast, wing at her insides and numbing her senses. Yet, somewhere beneath theyers of terror, Gobtia could feel a sliver of defiance, a tiny me that refused to be snuffed out.

    The orc in the front, the biggest one with gnarled tusks and bloodshot eyes, sneered at her, a gutturalugh bubbling up from its throat. The harsh sound echoed through the night, chilling her to the bone. But it only seemed to bolster Gobtia''s resolve. She was the daughter of the Vige Chief, the hope of her people. She couldn''t - wouldn''t - let them down.

    With a final deep breath, Gobtia stood tall, her shoulders squared, her eyes fixed on the approaching horde. She raised the spear, her knuckles white with the effort, and pointed it towards the orcs. It was a feeble threat, she knew. They could crush her like an insect without breaking a sweat.

    But it didn''t matter. It wasn''t about winning or losing. It was about standing up against the darkness, about protecting her home, her people. It was about not giving up, no matter how impossible the odds seemed.

    The orcs were almost upon her, their grotesque faces twisted in cruel anticipation. Yet, Gobtia didn''t waver. She was a goblin of the vige, the daughter of the Chief, and she would fight until herst breath.

    She braced herself for the onught, every fibre of her being screaming at her to run, to hide. But she held her ground. If this was to be her end, she would face it with her head held high, her spirit unbroken.

    Because that was what it meant to be a goblin of the vige, to be the daughter of the Chief.

    "Haaaaa!!!"

    Just as Gobtia was about to be overrun by the orc horde, a blinding light erupted in the sky, forcing her to squint against its brilliance.

    ''W-who is... that?!''

    A figure, suspended in the air, emerged from the glow, descending like an avenging deity from the ancient tales her father used to narrate.

    He was unlike any being she had ever seen.

    His skin was light, a stark contrast to the earthy tones of the goblins and orcs. His hair was a dark contrast to the luminosity around him, falling over his forehead in a disheveled yet attractive manner. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    The physique was different too, taller and more leanpared to the stout goblins or bulky orcs.

    The fabric that adorned him billowed around him as if caught in a constant wind. His attire was strange to Gobtia''s eyes, different from the coarse materials of the goblin vige or the brutal hide armors of the orcs.

    Yet, the figure looked noble, his very presence radiating a sense of calm authority.

    Then, the figure spoke, the words a symphony of sounds that was beyond Gobtia''s understanding.

    Yet, the tone conveyed a sense of power and firm resolve that transcended the barriers ofnguage.

    Next, he extended a hand towards the orc horde.

    What happened next was beyond Gobtia''sprehension.

    ~WHUUUUSSSHHHH!~

    Light burst forth from his hand, a brilliant beam that incinerated the orc in front of him instantly.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    A gasp caught in Gobtia''s throat as she watched, awestruck.

    ''T-this power...!''

    This was Sorcery, a power only told in the stories of the ancients.

    A power beyond her world!

    With a flick of his wrist, the figure conjured constructs of light, their forms varying from sharp spears to heavy hammers, each decimating an orc as theynded.

    The figures shifted and danced, leaving trails of resplendent light in their wake, forming a mesmerizing disy of power and precision.

    One by one, the orcs fell, their triumphant roars reced with cries of fear and pain.

    The Sorcerer moved through them with an air of calm, a dance amidst the chaos, his magic weaving a deadly tapestry of light and power.

    The orc horde was decimated in a matter of minutes, their cruelughter silenced by the spectacle of Sorcery.

    The vige was saved, not by the courage of its inhabitants but by a stranger from another world.

    A Sorcerer, whose power had redefined the meaning of hope for Gobtia and her people.

    ''W-who is... this being?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    We can all guess who the Sorcerer is, right? We''re switching back to Lewis'' perspective now...

    Also...

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1088 Stranded

    "G-GURRKK!"

    There was a heavy silence that settled after thest orc fell, their hulking forms lifeless on the ground.

    I stood amidst the carnage I''d wreaked, the brilliant constructs of my magic dissipating into the air, leaving only the lingering scent of burnt flesh and the bright glow of dying embers.

    The Goblins, small and oddly endearing in their own unique way, watched me with wide, fearful eyes, their spears clutched tightly in their gnarled hands.

    They were survivors, and it seemed, I had be their inadvertent savior.

    A cool wind blew, ruffling my hair and carrying away the smoke. It was then that I realized the truth of the situation.

    I was lost.

    ''What in the world is going here?''

    How had I ended up here, in what appeared to be a goblin vige?

    ''Goblins are mindless monsters, aren''t they? So are Orcs. The Orcs acted mindless, but what''s with the way these Goblins are looking at me? They''re even speaking anguage¡­''

    They were clearly intelligent.

    ''Asides that, there''s something more important to consider. How did I get here?''

    **********

    [Moments Earlier]

    "Damn it!" I cursed aloud, the harsh winds and pelting rain attempting to drown out my words.

    The Dark Waters beneath me churned ominously, as if a beast lurked beneath its surface, waiting to pull me down into its inky depths.

    I forced my magic to keep me afloat, to propel me forward, but the violent storm around me pushed back with equal determination.

    The waters roared beneath me, dark and tumultuous, crashing against an unseen wall with a violent desperation.

    There was an eerie pull, a near-irresistible force that was as inviting as it was menacing.

    And just as I thought I had limated to the terrors of the dark seas, the storm around me intensified.

    Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the vast expanse of the unrelenting ocean for a brief second.

    Thunder rumbled ominously in my ears, an auditory assault that was nearly deafening.

    I gritted my teeth, thrusting my hands forward, a sphere of Magic energy emanating from them. My body ached with exhaustion, my magic reserves threatening to depletepletely, but I knew I couldn''t afford to give in.

    Then¡­ from the murky depths of the Dark Waters, a shadow emerged.

    It was colossal, towering over me, its form obscured by the ckness of the storm.

    ''W-what in the world¡­ is that?!'' My heart hammered against my chest as I beheld the monstrosity, the silhouette sprawling across the stormy skies.

    But what struck me were its eyes.

    They glowed with an unnatural light, piercing through the darkness and fixing me with an unblinking stare.

    A sense of horror washed over me, the likes of which I''d never experienced before. This wasn''t an enemy I could simply fight off.

    This was something else entirely.

    "Stay away!" I yelled, pushing out a wave of Magic in a desperate attempt to repel the creature.

    But my voice seemed to be swallowed by the storm, lost in the raging winds and tumultuous sea.

    ''W-what is happening¡­?'' My eyelids suddenly felt heavy, my vision blurred.

    The pull of the dark waters and the constant barrage of the storm was sapping away at my strength, but it was something about the glow of the creature''s eyes that was making me lose myself.

    My consciousness was fading fast. I could feel the creature''s gaze on me, cold and predatory. I was at the edge, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.

    But I wouldn''t go down without a fight.

    ''S-Spellcraft¡­''

    With a final burst of energy, I channeled all my remaining magic, weaving aplex spell of propulsion.

    My hands glowed with energy, illuminating the darkness around me, and then I was catapulted away, a bullet through the storm. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    Thest thing I remember was the creature''s eyes, bright and glowing, slowly fading into the distance as I was hurtled away.

    And then there was darkness.

    Silence.

    A calm after the storm.

    When I woke, I floating above a goblin vige, far away from the storm and the Dark Waters.

    ''Where am I?'' I thought, missing a vital link that connected my previous encounter with this new experience.

    However, the memory of the creature and its glowing eyes lingered, a chilling reminder of what I just went through.

    Compared to that, the viinous Orcs that were raiding the Goblin Vige seemed like nothing but annoying insects.

    ¡­ So I dealt with them.

    *********

    [The Present]

    The rapid sequence of events, while familiar in their chaotic nature, left me disoriented.

    I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly. My mind, usually adept at handling unusual situations, was a whirlpool of questions and uncertainty.

    Why was I here? What had driven me to this ce?

    Did an Arcana have a role in this? I couldn''t say for sure, but the puzzle had certainly be moreplex.

    I took ast look at the goblins, their eyes wide with awe and fear, their bodies trembling. But there was also a sense of relief there, a lightness to their hunched shoulders.

    They were safe, for now.

    With ast nod to the goblin who seemed to be the bravest, a young girl with determined eyes, I turned away.

    I had to figure out my next steps. I had to find the other Arcanas.

    ''Hold on¡­ the Arcanas¡­!''

    Looking down at myself, my heart sank.

    The familiar weight of my satchel was absent. Panic began to gnaw at myposure instantly.

    ''My satchel... it''s gone. No¡­ no way!''

    I probably lost it to the storm,

    Unfortunately, it wasn''t the only thing missing.

    My Navigation Tool was also gone, and so were my Goggles and all the supplies I received from the Fairy King.

    I literally had nothing left!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1089 The Connection

    In the heart of the Goblin vige, nestled amidst a maze of shabbily-built huts,y a tentrger and more regal than the rest.

    I found myself inside it, seated on an improvised stool. Before me sat an older Goblin, his countenance heavy with years of leadership and wisdom. Beside him was a young Goblin girl, her eyes wide with a blend of fear and awe as they darted between the older Goblin and myself.

    Their tent was distinctly different from the rest. The interior was lit by a soft, gentle glow from a firece in the corner. Oddly-shaped artifacts, presumably of importance to their culture, adorned the walls. The floor was lined with an array of mats and cushions, the fabric worn with age yet surprisinglyfortable. There was a sense of warmth and homeliness in the tent, a stark contrast to the chaotic scenes I''d witnessed outside.

    Outside, the rest of the Goblins were busy. The dull hum of their work carried into the tent, a constant reminder of the recent attack. They moved about, carrying debris, repairing damaged structures, tending to their wounded. There was an air of resolute determination around them, a resolve to rebuild and protect their home. It was a scene I couldn''t help but admire.

    Meanwhile, in the tent, the older Goblin continued to study me. His gaze was intent, almost prating, as if he was attempting to peer into the very depths of my soul. His silence was disconcerting, the tension in the room thick enough to cut through.

    I could tell that these two were important figures within the Goblinmunity, perhaps even their leaders. I recognized the older Goblin''s authority, and the young Goblin girl''s importance was evident in the way the older Goblin treated her with subtle deference. Yet, I knew not a word of theirnguage, and they of mine.

    I was a stranger here, after all.

    ''Hmm?''

    The young Goblin girl extended a small, grubby hand towards me. Her fingers syed outwards, gesturing towards my own hand.

    Her eyes locked with mine, pleading, almost begging for my cooperation. It was a strange request, but I couldn''t help but feel that it was a gesture of trust. I paused for a moment, cautiously studying her expression.

    I weighed the risks. Was it some sort of trick? Some ploy to incapacitate me? No, her eyes were earnest, full of a desperate sort of hope. I decided to trust her.

    Slowly, with every ounce of my attention poised for any sign of danger, I extended my own hand. The moment our palms connected, an alien energy coursed through me, swift and all-epassing. I felt a distinct tingle in my fingertips, spreading across my palm and forearm, spiraling upwards and consuming my entire being.

    With her other hand, she reached out and grasped her father''s hand. The energy pulsed and echoed, amplifying in intensity. A bond was formed, a connection akin to the [Resonance] I had experienced before, yet subtly different. It felt as if a veil had been lifted, an unseen barrier shattered.

    The atmosphere in the tent changed. A soft, ethereal glow began to envelop us, the air around us vibrating with raw, primal energy. It was an unfamiliar sensation, a harmonious blend of enchantment and trepidation.

    Suddenly, the world shifted. I could feel a strange sense of unity, a shared consciousness with the Goblin girl and her father. I could sense their presence, their feelings, their thoughts.

    I was connected to them, and they to me.

    "Hello, stranger. I am Korgath," the Vige Chief''s voice echoed within my mind, deep and gravelly. "This is my daughter, Gobtia."

    It felt strange being able to understand them perfectly.

    "Greetings," I replied, trying my best to ovee my flustered state. "My name is Lewis."

    Gobtia''s thoughts were more vibrant and energetic, much like her, I presumed. "Thank you, Lewis! We are forever in your debt."

    "Indeed. If not for your intervention¡­ we would have been ruined."

    I could feel their gratitude resonating within our connection. "Don''t mention it," I responded. "I simply did what was necessary."

    A question lingered in my mind, and I let it spill into our shared consciousness. "What is this? This connection... this bond?"

    Korgath instantly smiled, and his thoughts filled the mental space, exining,

    "This is the [Connection], an ancient ability passed down in our tribe from the bloodline of Goblin Chiefs. Only the females of our lineage can bear this power. The [Connection] bonds all it touches, without exception, and cannot be resisted."

    His exnation struck me with awe.

    It was a remarkable concept, the ability to bind beings together on such a profound level.

    I wanted to know more but my immediate concern was how I ended up here, and the crucial items I was now without.

    Gobtia sensed my anxiety and her mental voice was soothing as she said,

    "Lewis, if you want, I can use the [Connection] to explore your memories. We might be able to find out what happened."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "Y-you can do that? Really?"

    "Yes."

    I nodded instantly, agreeing to her offer, intrigued and apprehensive about what would happen next.

    Hopefully this solved everything.

    "Bring your second hand, Lewis," Gobtiamanded gently, removing her hand from her father''s..

    I extended my other hand and as I grasped hers, I felt a stronger surge of energy pulsate between us.

    Her brow furrowed as she concentrated, trying to delve deeper into the [Connection].

    But then, almost as soon as this happened, a change swept over her face.

    Confusion, concern, fear.

    "Something''s wrong," she muttered, her small voice echoing in our shared consciousness.

    "There''s an interference. No, it''s... it''s like a shared connection with a third party. The [Connection] is pulling them in as well."

    rm spiked within me. This was uncharted territory for me. I didn''t know what was happening, but it seemed terrible.

    "I have to stop this¡­ before¡­"

    But before I could pull away, before Gobtia could sever the [Connection], a blinding sh erupted in my mind.

    A raw, intense energy coursed through me, white-hot and consuming.

    ''A-ahhh¡­ ahhhhhhh¡­''

    My vision blurred, a rush of dizziness swept over me, and then... darkness.

    I felt as if I was falling into an endless abyss, my consciousness spiraling away into oblivion.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1090 The One Who Touched Magic

    Who Am I¡­?

    Throughout my life, I''ve been what you could call a hopeless dreamer.

    A man hopelessly enchanted by the mysteries and wonders of the world, bewitched by the enchanting dance of magic.

    Born in a realm where thews of physics bowed to the whims of Mages, I was an anomaly.

    A man who could not touch, could not feel, could not weave the wondrous concept of energy that surrounded him.

    I was a child who watched with hungry eyes as his friends levitated toys and changed their hues.

    A teenager who spent his nights under the stars, reciting chants and spells that fell on deaf ears.

    A schr who poured over countless tomes, desperately seeking the secret that would unlock mytent magic.

    But time and time again, I was met with disappointment.

    The frustration of failure after failure, the gnawing hunger for knowledge, it consumed me. It became an obsession.

    A passion that burned with a fierce intensity.

    In my relentless pursuit of understanding, I discarded what little life I had.

    Friends, family, love. I had no time for such trivial matters.

    The insatiable quest for magical knowledge was all that mattered.

    I yearned to unlock the secrets of the world, to understand thenguage of the stars and to bend reality to my will.

    Then, one day, in the midst of my despair, a spark of inspiration ignited within me.

    A thought so simple, yet so profound, that it left me breathless.

    I didn''t simply need to understand magic. I needed to possess it.

    If I could not naturally ess the ocean of mana that permeated our world, I would force it upon myself.

    I would be the master of my own fate.

    With a renewed vigor, I threw myself into a dangerous project. The creation of an Arcana, a magical core that would be imnted within me.

    It was a daring, reckless idea, but I was beyond caring.

    What use was a life if I could not reach my heart''s greatest desire?

    Years of toiling, countless failures, near-death experiences, but my determination never wavered.

    I gathered all of them; all 21 Arcanas. I used them as a base to create the final one¡­ the one I needed to open the doorway to my future.

    And at longst, the day of reckoning arrived.

    My life''s worky before me.

    A radiant, pulsating core, humming with raw magical energy.

    My heart pounded in my chest as I prepared to fuse the Arcana with my being.

    As the core neared my body, I felt the universe hold its breath. I saw my life shing before my eyes.

    Every failure, every heartbreak, every sacrifice.

    Yet I did not falter.

    My resolve was unshaken.

    With one final surge of courage, I let the Arcana touch my body.

    Then, in a blinding sh of light, my world exploded.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The agonizing pain that ripped through me was beyondprehension.

    It felt as though my very soul was being torn apart. I screamed, my voice echoed in the emptiness, my body convulsed in a dance of death.

    Thest thing I saw was the mocking glow of the Arcana.

    Thest thing I felt was the searing pain of my existence being torn asunder.

    Thest thing I heard was my own screams echoing into the void.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    And then, I was no more.

    An epitaph to the man who dared to challenge destiny. A tragic tale of a man who flew too close to the sun, only to have his wings melt away.

    In my desperate quest for magic, I had lost the greatest miracle of all.

    Life itself.

    My existence was erased, vaporized by the very force that I had strived to harness.

    Thus ended my pursuit, not in glory and enlightenment, but in oblivion.

    But in the depths of the void, in the silence of nonexistence, one thought echoed through the emptiness.

    At least, I had touched Magic.

    ''And that is all that matters¡­ for now.''

    **********

    Blinking my eyes open, I found myself staring up at the low ceiling of the tent.

    My mind felt like it had just returned from a long, harrowing journey, tingling with newfound knowledge and a strange sense of deja vu.

    I realized that I was back in my own body, my own consciousness.

    "H-huh¡­?" Looking to my side, I saw the goblin girl - Gobtia - and the Goblin Chief.

    They were studying me with curious eyes, their expressions mingling surprise with a touch of concern.

    "Did the [Connection]... work?" Gobtia asked hesitantly, her young eyes sparkling with curiosity.

    For a moment, I simplyy there, letting the waves of fatigue and disorientation pass. Then, summoning the strength to sit up, I nodded slowly.

    "Yes," I said, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. "Yes, it did."

    Seeing their confused looks, I forced myself to exin.

    "I... I think I know what happened," I finally admitted. "I saw myself... or rather, I saw what happened when I attempted to cross the Dark Waters. I saw how I lost my satchel, my map, my sses... everything."

    Seeing their curious, expectant looks, I continued, "I saw a storm. A massive, overwhelming storm. I was pulled into it, tossed around like a leaf in the wind. And then... there was a creature. A massive, horrifying entity from the depths. It... it stole my belongings. Absorbed them, somehow."

    I took a deep breath, preparing for the next part. "And yet, I think... I think I know how to get them back."

    With these words, the air in the tent seemed to shift. Gobtia and the Goblin Chief exchanged a nce, their expressions morphing from curiosity to surprise, and then to cautious anticipation.

    From that moment on, I knew that things were about to change.

    I was stranded in this strange new ce, but now, at least, I had a direction.

    I had a purpose.

    Just one thing remained within me. What I couldn''t quite exin.

    ''Who was that man I saw? Why did I connect with him?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The meaning of this is beginning to converge. Hopefully you''re all following the story.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1091 Resolve To Grow

    1091 Resolve To Grow

    The cool damp air of the cave billowed out in a steady rhythm, dancing with the erratic glow of the makeshift machines andputers scattered haphazardly around the interior.

    Crystalline stctites hung from the cave ceiling, reflecting off the luminescence cast from the pulsating screens and blinking lights, casting a vibrant, ethereal glow throughout the enclosure.

    The inhabitant of the cave was an entric figure.

    d in a fadedb coat streaked with dirt and a smattering of other stains, the man stood hunched over a console, his eyes aglow with a mad curiosity.

    His hair, as wild and untamed as the man himself, stood at odd angles, and his cheeks were adorned with a grizzly beard.

    His gaunt features were etched with lines of age and countless hours of study and experimentation.

    "It''s back... the Kraken... it''s back!" Heughed to himself, a sound that echoed eerily off the cave walls, apanied by a metallic nging as he banged his fist onto the console in giddy excitement.

    His eyes, akin to a wild animal''s, darted across the lit screens, soaking in the data and information that flowed through.

    Something else made his mind whirr as well.

    "Defeated the Enhanced Orcs, did he?" He mumbled, ruffling through various papers strewn about.

    His lips curled into a wicked grin, showcasing a few missing teeth.

    "Interesting, very interesting..."

    This peculiar stranger, this unexpected variable in his experiments, had piqued the interest of this mad scientist.

    ''Its been decades since I arrived here. To think there''s another one who managed to cross the Dark Waters!''

    This phenomenon had put a damper on his curiosity, stifling the thrills he had been seeking.

    And now, someone had broken that monotony.

    "Who are you, stranger? Who are you that dares to defy the Dark Waters and stirs up my Kraken?"

    He questioned to himself, a spark of fascination lighting up his manic gaze.

    His long, skeletal fingers moved to adjust the thick sses resting on the bridge of his nose, a wild gleam of anticipation in his eyes.

    "I must meet you... I must know you." The words trickled out of his mouth, seeping into the stale cave air, filled with promises of a dangerous curiosity.

    The mad scientist let out a final, lingeringugh, his joy echoing throughout the cave, resonating with the rhythmic hum of his machines and the secret whisperings of the Dark Waters.

    *********

    Staring up at the patchwork canvas of the tent above me, I let out a sigh that seemed to echo through the hushed silence.

    The day''s events felt like they had been taken out of a dream, the kind that leaves you feeling disoriented and uncertain.

    My hand absently fiddled with a worn-out patch on my vest, trying to make sense of the jumbled thoughts.

    My satchel... all my necessary tools were with the monster in the Dark Waters.

    Even now, the memory of its vast silhouette, its glowing eyes filled me with an unnameable dread.

    I could almost still feel the icy chill of the water, the relentless pull of the current, the taste of fear as I''d faced off against the monster.

    I was weak, and I knew it.

    The stark truth stung, but I had to ept it. The storm, the currents, and the beast had almost cost me my life.

    And if I didn''t do something about it, next time, it might just seed.

    I shook my head, a weary smile tugging at the corner of my lips. It was a tough spot, for sure.

    But despairing over it wouldn''t get me anywhere. The question wasn''t what had happened, but what I could do about it now.

    And the answer was clear as day.

    I had to get stronger.

    I had to train, learn, and push past my limitations.

    I had to be ready to face the Kraken again, to snatch my belongings from its grasp. My journey depended on it.

    ''Fortunately, it''s not impossible to grow. It''ll take some time, but...''

    A renewed sense of determination stirred within me. My fingers stilled on the vest, clutching the fabric tightly.

    This setback, as brutal as it was, was just another challenge to ovee.

    I hade to this world, taken on a task that was already impossible by all standards.

    I had faced many trials, experienced victories, and losses, but I had always found a way.

    This time wouldn''t be any different.

    I sat up, brushing off the dirt from my vest, my eyes filled with resolution.

    "I should start with my Core..."

    I still had single Nether Core within me. If I could generate more, that would be good.

    ''I should also develop a strategy that will allow me to face that monster while also fighting against the storm and devastating current.''

    It was pretty clear to me that the beast had the advantage when it came to water territory

    I had to even the odds considerably.

    ''The eyes as well... I''ll need to do something about that.''

    As Iy back down, ready to seize a few hours of sleep, I was already nning for the day ahead.

    It was time to be stronger, to prepare for the battle that awaited me.

    Ande what may, I would face it, head-on.

    *********

    [The Next Day]

    Morning light crept into the tent, casting a warm, soft glow onto the canvas.

    Birds outside were already chattering cheerfully, a vibrant melody that greeted the start of the new day.

    I slowly stirred from my slumber, the sounds and the light pulling me from the depths of sleep.

    My body felt surprisingly refreshed despite the restless thoughts that had swarmed my mind the previous night.

    My muscles were taut with a strange new energy, as though bracing for what was toe.

    Sitting up, I smoothed the creases on my pants, and then drew my legs into a cross-legged position.

    This was the stance that allowed me to feel most grounded, most connected with myself and my surroundings.

    I had used this posture countless times in the past during magic training... or what was supposed to be Magic Training.

    ''I didn''t have Magic back then, so there was no point.''

    But today, it felt different, like an old routine transformed into a fresh start.

    My eyes fluttered shut as I took in a deep breath, the cool morning air filling my lungs.

    I reached within, toward the well of magic residing in my core. I could feel it there, a warm, constant presence, waiting, beckoning.

    For a moment, everything outside seemed to fade.

    The chattering birds, the rustle of the wind, the noise of the goblin vige, all disappeared into a silent murmur.

    The only sound was the rhythmic beating of my own heart.

    The road to strength... it was not a path of mere physical training. I knew that well. It was a journey of the mind, of the spirit, and of magic.

    I had to understand my own strengths and weaknesses, push past my limits, and harness the untapped potential of my magic.

    A smile tugged at my lips.

    "I can do this," I whispered to myself, the words dissolving into the stillness around me.

    A new day had dawned, and with it, a new resolve. A resolve to be stronger, to ovee the hurdles, and reim what was mine.

    It was a fine day to grow even further. I weed the journey with open arms.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

 Chapter 1092 Farewell To A Home

    [A Week Later]

    "Haaa¡­"

    A week of intense training had passed, each day melting into the next in a routine of meditation, physical exercise, magical practice, and the constant absorption of knowledge about the new world I was now a part of.

    My body had been pushed to its limits, yet I felt invigorated rather than exhausted. My magic felt stronger, more attuned, and my mind clearer than ever before.

    The sun had already dipped below the horizon, surrendering the world to the stars, when I finally opened my eyes and stepped out of my tent.

    The chill of the night air was a wee change from the warmth of the day.

    A gentle breeze rustled the leaves and yed with my hair, carrying the faint scent of roasting meat and the mellow undertones of a bonfire.

    I turned my gaze to see Gobtia approaching me, her small goblin face lit by the flickering fire behind her.

    She smiled at me, her eyes shining in the firelight, and motioned for me to follow her.

    "Food''s ready, Lewis," she said, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet night.

    My stomach growled in response, reminding me of the long hours I had spent training without a bite to eat.

    I thanked Gobtia and followed her to themunal bonfire, my feet sinking slightly into the soft earth beneath me.

    The goblin vige was bathed in an ethereal glow, the firelight dancing on the faces of its inhabitants.

    The air was filled with the sound ofughter and cheerful chatter as the goblins gathered around the fire for theirmunal meal.

    A sense of camaraderie filled the air, warm and inviting, just like the food that was spread out before us.

    Over the past week, I had be a part of their daily routine. The goblins had not only epted me into theirmunity but had also shared their lives and lore with me.

    I had learned about their culture, their traditions, their hopes, and their fears.

    In return, I had offered my knowledge and my strength to them, a symbiotic exchange that had fostered mutual respect and understanding.

    As I sat down with them around the fire, tasting the simple yet hearty meal, I couldn''t help but feel a sense of peace. The faces around me were no longer alien but familiar, their smiles sincere, theirughter contagious.

    I looked around at the faces illuminated by the firelight, the faces of my newfoundpanions. Each one of them had their own story, their own dreams, their own battles.

    And yet, in that moment, we were one - one vige, onemunity, one family.

    A smile spread across my face, a genuine expression of my contentment.

    Even if it had only been for a week¡­ I felt a strong bond with these people.

    Yes, I thought to myself as I clinked my cup with Gobtia''s, savoring the moment.

    ''I am finally ready.''

    Ready to face the challenges thaty ahead, ready to retrieve what was mine, ready to venture into the unknown once again.

    ''After everything that has happened, its finally time¡­''

    I looked at theughing faces around me, and the gentle gazes that surrounded me, feeling warmth permeate through me.

    ''It was short, but I really was happy here.''

    And that made all the difference.

    A warm, heartyughter echoed through the goblin vige as we sat around the roaring bonfire. As theughter died down and the goblins returned to their discussions, I took a deep breath, preparing myself for what I was about to say.

    "Gobtia, Chief," I began, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach. Both turned to look at me, their expressions curious.

    "I have something I need to tell you."

    The Chief tilted his head, his eyes peering at me intently. "What is it, Lewis?"

    "I...I will be leaving tomorrow," I confessed, holding their gazes. "I n to face the creature in the Dark Waters."

    A ripple of shock passed over their faces.

    Gobtia''s eyes widened and her father''s bushy eyebrows knitted together in concern. The rest of the goblins, who had overheard our conversation, fell into a hushed silence.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "Why?" Gobtia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you go there? It''s too dangerous."

    "I know," I nodded. "But I have to do it. I need to retrieve something that I lost there."

    The Chief sighed heavily, his shoulders drooping. "Lewis, you''ve be like a son to me in this short time. You''ve be a part of our vige, a part of our family. I...I would have been proud to have you as a son-inw."

    Gobtia blushed at her father''s words, lowering her gaze to herp. "I...I feel the same way, Lewis," she confessed, her voice quivering slightly. "I''ve...I''ve loved you since I first saw you. But I know that you have someone else in your heart."

    I looked at her, surprised by her words, but also touched by her understanding.

    "Yes," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "There is someone I love. Someone I need to save."

    "We understand, Lewis," the Chief said, his voice full of warmth. "You''ve got a mission toplete. And we respect that."

    "And we won''t forget your kindness either," Gobtia added, looking up at me with a smile. "You saved our vige, Lewis. You gave us hope."

    I nodded, moved by their words. "I owe you a lot too," I confessed. "Your kindness, your hospitality...I won''t forget any of it. And I hope that our paths cross again once my mission is over."

    I looked over at the rest of the Goblins too. I could see the warmth in their eyes¡­ and while it was a bizarre experience, being so friendly with monsters, it was an amazing one at that.

    ''I thought the Nether Realm would be crawling with dangers and horrors, but¡­''

    I had been treated with so much warmth in my time here.

    It made me so happy.

    ''I wish you could see all this with me, Karlia¡­''

    And that was what strengthened my resolve further.

    ''I have to show you everything. I will. I promise.''

    As I said my farewells to the Goblins, and they did the same, I couldn''t help but feel a pang of sadness at leaving the vige, my temporary home.

    But I also felt a sense of resolution.

    I had a mission toplete, a love to save.

    And with the strength I had gained and the memories of the goblin vige in my heart, I was ready to face whatevery ahead.

    "It''s finally time to end this."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    For anyone thinking the story is dragging on unnecessarily, I feel you. I''ll try to speed things up as fast as I can.

    I just like really wholesome moments.

    The final parts of the arc are slowly arriving.

    I too can''t wait for the Final Arc.

    Also¡­

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1093 Monster From The Depths [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1093 Monster From The Depths [Pt 1]

    The morning sun cast a soft golden glow over the Goblin Vige as I said my final goodbyes, Gobtia''s and the Chief''s sincere wishes ringing in my ears.

    I stepped out of the vige boundary and turned to look back onest time, carrying with me their hopes and the warmth of their home.

    With a deep breath, I began my journey, trekking through the thick forest, across the gleaming white sands of the beach, and finally onto the brilliant blue sea.

    As I distanced myself from the shore, the vibrancy of the world gradually waned.

    The once radiant azure sky was now a murkier grey, its vast expanse punctuated by ominous clouds.

    The winds grew colder, and the sea began to swell and heave. Slowly but surely, I was approaching the Dark Waters.

    The transformation was gradual but relentless. The further I traveled, the more the atmosphere grew oppressive, heavy with a sense of foreboding. T

    he once benign, yful sea was now a tempestuous beast, its waves frothing and crashing against me. The sky was shrouded in dark clouds, their underbellies roiling ominously as they churned in the restless sky.

    Reaching the edge of the Dark Waters, I could feel the raw, primal power of the sea.

    It was here that I had lost my satchel, here where I had met the monster that lurked beneath these waters.

    And it was here, once again, where I felt the threatening pull of the undercurrent, a menacing force that seemed eager to drag me into the abyss.

    I paused, taking in the sights and sounds around me. The storm brewing overhead, theshing waves, the chill in the air.

    It was terrifying, yet I felt a strange sense of calm.

    I knew what I was up against, and I was prepared.

    Summoning my magic, I erected a protective barrier around myself. I could feel the pressure of the sea against it, a constant, crushing force.

    But I held firm, focusing on maintaining the shield.

    With a deep breath, I flew above the tumultuous waves, the chilling wind whipping against my barrier. The darkness around me seemed to thicken, yet, within me, a fire was burning.

    I was not the same man who had first encountered these treacherous waters. I was stronger, more determined, and I was not going to back down.

    As the storm raged around me, I plunged forward, defying the gusting winds and theshing rain.

    The monstrous silhouette seemed to stir beneath the water, the luminescent eyes flickering to life.

    A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I charged forth, ready to face the monster once again.

    Despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, I felt a glimmer of hope. Hope that I would seed, hope that I would retrieve my satchel, and hope that I would save Karlia, I was determined to ovee the Dark Waters, to confront the monster beneath, and to emerge victorious.

    No matter whaty ahead, I was ready to face it.

    "Let''s begin. Spellcraft¡­"

    ~WHUUUUMMMM!~

    The creature emerged from the abyss, a monstrous silhouette against the roiling Dark Waters.

    Its eerie luminescent eyes glowed with an intense, hypnotic light.

    But I was prepared. I focused on the constant flow of energy circting around me, a protective veil that warded off its influence.

    ''Things won''t go your way this time!''

    "[Nether Infusion]!" I intoned, as the air around me began to shimmer, three Nether Cores orbiting around me.

    My casting speed skyrocketed, faster than I had ever been able to manage before.

    The creature lunged towards me, its gargantuan form cutting through the stormy waves like a dark de.

    I darted out of the way, the wind whistling past me as I narrowly avoided the behemoth''s strike.

    "[Nova Strike]!" I called out, drawing upon my Nether energy, condensing it into a brilliant beam of light.

    The spell shot out, cutting across the darkness and crashing into the beast''s tough hide.

    But it wasn''t enough.

    to close.

    Its regenerative ability was astonishing.

    The creature howled, and I could see its wounds already beginning to close.

    Its regenerative ability was astonishing.

    "[Corona Burst]!" I yelled, using Spellcraft to manipte my Nether energy, forcing it to explode outward in a dazzling corona of destructive power.

    "RUAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHH!!!" The creature roared in pain as the burst hit, but it was far from defeated.

    Suddenly, the beast''s eyes red, and a massive burst of energy shot towards me.

    I could read the flow of energy, feeling it ripple through the air around me, and I pushed off, just in time to avoid the lethal beam.

    "Radiant Chains!" I countered, conjuring glowing links of Nether energy that shot forth, wrapping themselves around the creature''s body.

    I tugged, pulling it off bnce and buying me some time to regroup.

    My heart pounded in my chest as I faced the creature, its monstrous form dwarfing mine.

    But I was not defeated. I was stronger, faster, and smarter than before.

    And I was not going to give up.

    I could feel the power of my Nether Cores, pulsating with untamed energy. I could feel my heightened casting speed, my improved Spellcraft, all my hard work culminating in this one fight.

    We were in a stalemate, but that was about to change.

    "Starfall!" I shouted, pouring every ounce of my energy into this one spell.

    It was my trump card, a spell of such destructive power that it would obliterate anything in its path.

    There was a moment of silence, and then a brilliant, blinding light descended from the sky. The beast roared as the spell hit, its body being consumed by the light.

    My heart pounded as I watched, waiting for the light to fade. I was exhausted, my body aching and my energy nearly depleted.

    But I held on, hope ring in my chest. I was determined to win this fight.

    ''No matter what it takes¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1094 Monster From The Depths [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1094 Monster From The Depths [Pt 2]

    As the light from Starfall faded, my heart sank.

    The beast remained, its eyes still glowing with a monstrous vitality. Its hide was scarred and burned, but it was regenerating at an rming rate.

    "How are you still alive?"

    My most powerful spells weren''t enough, it seemed.

    But I still had one trick up my sleeve.

    With a deep breath, I muttered, "ArchMage Mode."

    ~VWUUUUUSSSHHHH!~

    My hair whitened instantly, the world around me seemed to crystallize, and an array of orbs started to form around me.

    They were like miniature moons, each radiating a pulsating glow.

    "I''m condensing the Nether," I exined, mostly to myself.

    The Nether energy around me was being drawn in at an incredible rate, concentrating into these cores, bolstering my power beyond measure.

    ''Mage Mode grants the user power to exceed their current status. But with Archmage Mode, I have the assistance of Spellcraft, making my power rise two steps ahead.''

    In my current state, I had finally stepped into the Transcendental Stage.

    The creature growled, sensing the shift in my energy.

    All the Nether that had condensed gathered, shing together, as But I was ready. My body hummed with untapped potential, my senses heightened to an unimaginable degree.

    "Let''s see you survive this¡­"

    All the Nether that had condensed gathered, shing together, as the power within me swelled to the highest degree.

    I made this Spell just for this thing.

    "... [Grand Oblivion]!" I roared.

    This was my strongest Archmage Spell, the culmination of all my training and innovation.

    The air crackled with power as the magic gathered, forming a colossal sphere of light around us.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM

    MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The world turned white, the sheer force of the spell vaporizing the Dark Waters that surrounded us.

    I could feel the heat radiating off the spell, but it didn''t hurt.

    Instead, it filled me with a sense of determination, a desire to ovee this obstacle no matter what.

    The light faded, and the creature remained. It was battered and bruised, its hide marred by countless burns and scars.

    But it was still alive, still regenerating, still standing.

    "What? How?"

    I felt a flicker of doubt. Could I even kill this monster?

    It seemed to be immortal, its vitality unstoppable.

    But I couldn''t give up. Not now. Not when I was so close.

    I had to keep trying.

    "Just die!"

    With a roar of determination, Iunched myself back into the fray. My orbs of condensed Nether danced around me, enhancing my spells, strengthening my defenses.

    I was in control now, the tide of the battle shifting in my favor.

    Yet, the creature was relentless, its will to survive equalling mine.

    Itshed out, its attacks wild and ferocious.

    But I was faster, smarter. I dodged, I countered, and I attacked.

    Still¡­ still I couldn''t kill it!

    The battle raged on, a dance of light and darkness in the heart of the Dark Waters.

    ******

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­"

    Exhaustion gnawed at my bones.

    "Why¡­ why won''t you just die?"

    The creature seemed to mirror my fatigue, its movements sluggish, its attacks less frenzied.

    Its monstrous eyes glowed less brightly, a sign of its waning strength. But it still lived. Its life force remained undiminished despite our prolonged battle.

    "What can I do next?" I pondered, heaving heavily. The monster was seemingly unkible, its regenerative abilities surpassing anything I had ever encountered.

    ''Well¡­ almost anything.''

    Its regenerative speed was slower than the memories of Jared that I had rting to Karlia. It seemed she had the superiror regeneration, but this creature was just as annoying.

    Even age-scale attack that should have killed it down to its very atoms didn''t do the trick.

    I was stuck at this point.

    In my frustration, my mind drifted to the Goblin Vige. The Goblins¡­ the Chief¡­ and then Gobtia, to her kind smile, her wise words.

    And then it hit me.

    The [Connection]!

    I recalled the feeling of unity, the sensation of being part of a shared consciousness.

    It bypassed all resistance, all barriers.

    Could it work here?

    ''I must be getting crazy and desperate here, but I''m out of options.''

    I allowed Gobtia''s voice to guide me, her words echoing in my mind.

    "The [Connection] bypasses all barriers. It binds everything it touches without exception."

    Closing my eyes, I focused on the flow of Nether, allowing it to guide me towards the monster.

    ''The intensity it has is simply outstanding. It''s like a living lump of pure energy¡­'' I heaved slowly.

    "It draws me in."

    I descended steadily, my heart pounding in my chest.

    ''This¡­ better work.''

    I reached out to the creature, its tentacles flying towards me in a wild fury.

    Just before they hit, I deactivated my barrier, reaching out to touch the tentacle.

    As our beings connected, a strange sensation washed over me, the world shifting in an indescribable way.

    ''This¡­ this is¡­!''

    Suddenly, I felt a deep connection with the creature. Its thoughts, its fears, its desires... they all flowed into me.

    I was one with the monster.

    Our beings intertwined in the most profound way possible.

    ''Unbelievable! Its thoughts are actually flowing in.''

    This creature wasn''t just a random monster. It was sentient. I could sense actual traces of emotions and memories from it.

    It drew closer and closer to me.

    And then, everything began to turn nk.

    A stark white nothingness consumed my senses, the world around me ceasing to exist.

    I floated in this void, my mind connected to the creature, the rest of the world fading away into insignificance.

    I didn''t know what woulde next, didn''t know if I had made the right choice. But in that moment, it felt right.

    It felt like the only option I had left.

    ''I have to delve deeper¡­''

    And I was ready to face whatever woulde.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1095 The Truce

    Chapter 1095 The Truce

    As the connection solidified, I felt my consciousness cascading down an unknown path, like a river being swept away by a sudden, overpowering current.

    Suddenly, memories that weren''t mine flooded my mind, vivid, wild, and tumultuous, painting a story of a life far removed from anything I had ever experienced.

    I was no longer Lewis, the mage, but a Kraken, thest of its kind.

    I felt an immense loneliness, an ever-present mncholy that wrapped itself around me like a cold shroud.

    I saw the Kraken''s kin, beautiful beings with powers beyondprehension, once rulers of the vast oceans.

    And then came the pain, the bloodshed.

    I saw the madman, his twisted face etched with a lust for knowledge and power.

    He hunted the Krakens, capturing them one by one. They were subjected to terrible experiments, their magical essence harnessed for the madman''s nefarious purposes.

    I felt the Kraken''s desperation, its terror, as it watched its kin ughtered mercilessly. The ocean waters, once a safe haven, were now soaked in the blood of its family.

    And in its final, desperate bid for survival, it had fled to the Dark Waters, a ce feared by all.

    Here, amidst the turbulent currents and perpetual darkness, the Kraken found a refuge, a sanctuary from the relentless pursuit. Yet its sanctuary was also its prison, a lonely fortress far removed from the vibrant ocean it once called home.

    The Kraken, I learned, was not a mindless monster, but a tragic figure, its existence marred by sorrow and loss.

    It defended the Dark Waters, not out of malice, but to protect itself from the horrors of its past.

    As the memories faded, I was left with a sense of profound sadness and a newfound understanding of the creature before me. It wasn''t the enemy; it was just another survivor, much like myself. Bound by the shared experience, I felt a strange kinship with the Kraken.

    Our destinies, it seemed, were intertwined in ways we could have never imagined.

    The connection faded, and I was once again Lewis Griffith, alone in the stormy waters, face to face with the misunderstood leviathan.

    "Haa¡­ I understand now."

    As my mind snapped back to reality, I was still reeling from the flood of memories that now dwelled within me.

    It took me a moment to process it all, the sorrow, the suffering... and the truth about the monster I had spent so much time preparing to fight.

    ''This Kraken isn''t my enemy; it''s a fellow victim, a creature like me, pitted against the true viin¡­''

    And the true viin was still out there, past the Dark Waters, plotting, scheming, relentless in his pursuit.

    A madman, a mage like me, but far removed from anything I understood magic to be.

    ''And he''s dangerous too¡­''

    He wielded not one, but two Arcanas. From what I deciphered, he had [The Popess] and the [The Emperor].

    ''Now that I think about it more, it makes a lot of sense¡­''

    It was the [Popess] that gave the Kraken its incredible regenerative abilities.

    In a twist of fate, the Kraken had stolen it during theirst sh, a desperate bid for survival that had likely saved its life.

    But the madman still had the [Emperor] at his disposal.

    ''That''s a tricky one. Could it be¡­?!'' Things began to fall into ce in my mind.

    The Enhanced Orcs that attacked the Goblin Vige were probably not the random monsters I had thought them to be.

    The madman must have been behind them somehow.

    "It doesn''t seem like I''ll be able toe to a consensus with such a person¡­"

    A strange sense of unity filled me as I stared into the eyes of the creature.

    I knew then that I couldn''t kill it. Not after what I had seen, what I had felt.

    The Kraken didn''t deserve my wrath, but mypassion.

    Here we were, both victims of the same viin, both bound by amon goal: to stop this madman.

    Our fight was pointless, a diversion from our true enemy. We had to stop fighting each other and start fighting him.

    "We don''t have to fight each other," I said, more to myself than the Kraken, words carried away by the roiling waters around us.

    "We have amon enemy."

    My gaze turned towards the direction of the madman, my resolve solidifying with each passing moment.

    The Dark Waters seemed less daunting now. The storm around me was no longer a barrier, but a challenge, a stepping stone to what was truly important. I turned back to the Kraken, my heart pounding in my chest.

    "I can stop that man for you."

    My hand trembled as I extended it towards the Kraken, resonating my words using [Connection], so it could understand.

    As my palm met its tentacle, a soft surge of energy passed between us, solidifying our truce.

    The Kraken then extended one of its long tentacles towards me, a small satchel attached to the end.

    It was my satchel, the one I had lost during our first encounter, now returned to me.

    "Thank you," I said, my voice barely audible amidst the churning waters. The Kraken only stared, its eyes deep and understanding. "I promise to leave you in peace, to protect this ce, and to eliminate the madman on your behalf."

    At my words, the Kraken''s eyes shimmered with what I could only describe as gratitude. It then revealed a pulsating orb nestled amongst its tentacles.

    The source of its regenerative capabilities, the Arcana of the [Popess].

    It gently nudged the orb towards me, an unspoken agreement passing between us.

    I could sense its thoughts.

    It didn''t want the Arcana, regarding its restorative powers more like a curse.

    ''Thanks so much¡­'' I reached out to ept it, feeling a surge of energy coursing through my body, my magic power increasing at an unprecedented rate.

    "I understand your feelings," I said, cradling the [Popess] in my hand. "And I''ll make good use of this power, not just for myself but for our shared goal. To defeat the madman."

    With that, I pulled away from the Kraken, my heart pounding in my chest. We were allies now, bound by a shared promise.

    The [Popess] nestled safely in my possession, its powerful energy pulsing in sync with my heartbeat.

    ''I''ve gotten another Arcana. That''s a relief¡­''

    As I turned to leave, I cast a final nce at the Kraken. Its tentacles waved gently in the current, a silent farewell. It had given me a part of itself, trusted me with its power.

    And now, it was up to me to honour that trust.

    My gaze hardened, my mind focused on my next goal. The madman and his remaining Arcana, [The Emperor], were my next targets.

    The Dark Waters roared around me, a challenge I was ready to meet head-on.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1096 Madman

    Chapter 1096 Madman

    "Alright, then¡­"

    Now that I had my satchel, I could use my tools to search for the Arcana I was looking for.

    Since I knew it was with the madman that tortured the Kraken and its people, I could be sure that finding one would mean locating the other.

    ''I''ll be killing two birds with one stone. Let''s end this swiftly, then.''

    However, there was one thing I could not foresee. It was a surprise that shook me down to every bone in my body.

    ''N-no way¡­''

    The moment I put on my goggles and utilized the map to locate the Arcana and cluster of Nether, I found it in the location I never expected.

    "No!"

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHH!~

    My heart pounded in my chest as I navigated through the swirling currents, my sense of urgency spurring me forward.

    ''It''s the Goblin vige!''

    I had only been away for a short while, but now it was the epicenter of a significant Nether concentration.

    That was impossible. Unless¡­

    ''The madman is there!''

    Fear for Gobtia and her father gnawed at my stomach, turning it into a hollow pit. The open water seemed to stretch on for miles, mocking my desperate need for speed.

    But as a Mage, I had resources.

    "[Nether Warp]!" I chanted, the ambient Nether snapping to mymand, wrapping around me.

    In an instant, I was propelled forward, the scenery blurring past me as I moved at a speed that would have been impossible before.

    The moment I emerged from the sea and closed in on my target location, the ominous atmosphere of the vige hit me.

    The once cheerful ce was now eerily silent. Goblins who were usuallyughing and chatting were now standing lifelessly, their eyes vacant.

    They seemed to be under some kind of control.

    "Damnit¡­" My heart sank.

    And there he was. In the center of the vige square, a man stood d in a whiteb coat, his hair a disheveled mess.

    His eyes glowed with an unnatural light, an unhinged grin etched across his face.

    The madman.

    "I see the Kraken has found a new pet," he sneered, his gaze finding mine. He held up his hand, an orb pulsating with Nether energy.

    The Orb seemed to contain the Arcana I was searching for. [The Emperor].

    "It''s quite pitiful, really, how it sent you here thinking you could defeat me."

    My blood boiled, my hands curling into fists at my sides. "You''ve done enough harm. It ends here."

    "Is that so?" heughed, an eerie, cold sound that echoed off the silent vige houses. His gaze swept across the entranced vigers.

    "Well then, I do hope you''re prepared for a fight. But that would be unwise¡­ for your sake."

    "You''re crazy." I sharply retorted, watching him shake his head vehemently.

    Clearly he didn''t agree with my perception of him. The madman just stood there, a twisted smirk ying on his lips.

    "You see, I''m a man of science, a seeker of truth."

    His eyes, a chilling mirror reflecting my horrified gaze, held a flicker of madness. "And truth is only found through experimentation."

    His grip tightened on the orb of Nether energy, and I watched in silence as he gestured to the entranced Goblins around us.

    "Either you do as I ask, or their lives are forfeit. It''s quite simple, really."

    My heart pounded in my chest, my fists clenching at my sides.

    ''His goal is ultimately to capture the Kraken. He''ll most likely utilize me me to get to it. Even then, I can''t be sure of the safety of the vigers.''

    I stared at him, defiance burning bright in my gaze. I would not let this man control me.

    "You must think me naive," I began, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of fear and anger swirling within me. "You stand here, threatening innocent lives, and you expect me to justply? To just bow down and obey?"

    Hisughter echoed off the silent vige houses, a cold, chilling sound. "Well, you could try and fight me, but I assure you, the I took a deep breath, my gaze hardening.

    ''He''s probably right. The problem right now is that I''m exhausted. oue will be the same."

    I took a deep breath, my gaze hardening.

    ''He''s probably right. The problem right now is that I''m exhausted. After fighting the Kraken, I''ve used up most of my energy and stamina. Plus, the Dark Waters had denser Nether energy,pared to this ce.''

    Still, I knew epting his proposal would lead me nowhere too.

    In the end, I was walking on thin ice. Depending on the cards I yed, and how I went about this, everything coulde crumbling down.

    ''I''ll have to be very smart about this¡­''

    Narrowing my gaze on the madman, and also spreading my senses to all the Goblins he had under his control, I prepared myself for my big move.

    "So what will it be, young man?" I heard the madman ask.

    However, deciding not to waste any time with a proper response, I initiated my move.

    ~WHOOSH!~

    Determination thrummed in my veins as I sprang into action, calcting my every move with strategic precision.

    The madman was strong, I could sense it in the overwhelming aura of Nether energy around him.

    I had to prioritize the safety of the Goblins, and fast.

    "[Grand Dome]," I called, focusing the energy within my core and radiating it outwards.

    The spell was like a ripple in a pond, expanding out to form a barrier around the vige, my attempt to ensure the madman did not call for reinforcements, or control the Goblins to leave my area of influence.

    I didn''t stop there. As the madman snarled, his frustration palpable, I turned my attention to the vigers themselves.

    "[Restful Slumber]," I chanted, casting the next spell.

    I felt the flow of my Nether connect with the vigers. One by one, they slumped, their bodies rxed as a deep, dreamless sleep took hold.

    Finally, I turned my attention back to the madman, a protective aura enveloping the unconscious Goblins. Thest step of my strategy was to keep them safe from any stray energy bursts during the uing fight.

    "Fortress Shield!" I invoked the third spell, the words ringing out in the silent night.

    A dome of shimmering Nether energy sprung up around the vigers, encasing them in a protective bubble.

    ''With this, I should be able to fight freely.''

    As for the reason why my opponent couldn''t make as much as a single move during my preparation was due to me using Spellcraft to affect his position, allowing the earth he stood on to glue him in ce, while also causing the air around him to press heavily on him.

    Adding to the fact that mybination of Spells was almost instant, it was an inevitable victory on my end.

    Then, turning to the madman, I let the determination zing in my eyes speak for me.

    "Your hostages are off the table," I dered, squeezing the little Nether left from my cores.

    "Now, it''s just you and me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

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    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

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 Chapter 1097 Help Resurfaces

    Chapter 1097 Help Resurfaces

    My body felt heavy and strained, my Nether energy still recovering from my battle with the Kraken.

    Despite this, I was in a deadlock with the madman. Our powers shed, his chilling control of his Spells surprised me.

    It matched even my quick-thinking and nimble use of spells.

    I had to be very conservative with the amount of energy I utilized now.

    "[Nether Barrage]!" I yelled, directing a flurry of concentrated Nether bolts towards him.

    He merely smirked, replying with a resounding "[Void Deflect]!"

    His protective spell bounced my bolts back at me.

    "Tch¡­" I barely managed to side-step them, the impact causing a nearby rock to shatter.

    I retaliated with a Spell of my own.

    Concentrated tendrils of Nether snaked out from my hand, aiming to ensnare him. The madman, however, had already predicted my move.

    "[Shift]!" he chanted, his form blurring momentarily before appearing several feet away from his previous position.

    The tendrils hit nothing but thin air, disappearing back into the Nether.

    He then countered with another barrage of Spells.

    His relentless attack was wearing me down, but I had to keep going.

    ''Haa¡­ damnit¡­'' My mind was straining from the constant need to sustain the protective shield around the Goblin vige and the protective bubbles I encased them all in, while simultaneously matching the madman spell for spell.

    ''How long can I keep this up for?'' My control was waning¡­ and I could tell it was due to external interference.

    "It seems you''re reaching your limit," I heard the madman''s voice echo, wincing as I felt the sound of his voice reverberate in my head.

    "[The Emperor]"

    ''Shit! So that''s what it was!''

    The worst-case scenario was currently at y. My opponent¡­ knew how to properly use his Arcana!

    Suddenly, I found myself under an overwhelmingpulsion to kneel. My legs buckled under the force, my entire body fighting against the madman''s control.

    The strain on my Nether energy was intense, and I wondered how much longer I could resist.

    The protective shield around the vige flickered momentarily, but I redoubled my efforts, unwilling to let it drop.

    My vision blurred as I struggled to maintain control. I had to turn the tide of this battle, and fast.

    ''What should I do?''

    It felt like my body was shutting down under themand of the madman''s Arcana. I gritted my teeth, forcing my gaze up to meet his triumphant grin.

    "You know," he said with an almost jovial chuckle, "You''re the strongest mage I''ve ever seen. I think I''ll enjoy experimenting on you."

    "Is that why you started this? Hunting the Krakens? Experimenting on innocent creatures?" I managed to croak out, ignoring the shooting pain coursing through my limbs.

    He paused for a moment, his brow furrowing in thought.

    "It''s been so long... I''ve almost forgotten why I began," he said, almost nostalgically.

    ''W-what?!''

    "I''ve forgotten who I am. What was I called? What did I do before now? I can''t remember¡­ it''s been so long, you know?"

    Just how old was this man? Was he so immersed in his obsession that he lost track of everyone and everything?

    "It''s been so long since I''ve spoken to a fellow human too. After all those decades of being stranded in this ce¡­ I haven''t seen any other person cross those waters. Yet you did it. That''s what makes you so interesting."

    It was just as I saw in the Kraken''s memories.

    This man was insane!

    "But after losing everything, everyone, my research is all that''s left. This... this is natural to me now."

    Hisughter rang through the air, maniacal and disturbing. I watched as his eyes danced with madness and triumph, searching for a way to turn the tide.

    "WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!"

    Suddenly, a powerful howl pierced the night, resounding across thendscape.

    Both the madman and I jerked our heads towards the source of the sound. It was a familiar resonance, one I''d only recentlye to know.

    ''N-no way! Why are youing here?!''My thoughts echoed.

    Out from the crashing waves of the sea, the mighty Kraken rose.

    "WUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

    It towered over us, its eyes zing with a righteous fury that seemed to mirror my own.

    ''Does it want to fight? No¡­ its more like¡­ it wants to help me?''

    As much as relief spread through me, worry also appeared. After all, this was exactly what the madman wanted.

    ~BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    The battlefield shifted dramatically as the Kraken joined the fray. A dense surge of energy filled the air, nearly palpable.

    ''Based on raw power alone, it should be far superior to that man!'' I thought to myself.

    Unfortunately, what I saw was in sharp contrast to that.

    The Kraken was far from its native domain, so most of the experience I had with it couldn''t be replicated here.

    Its movements, though powerful,cked the fluid grace it held in the water.

    Onnd, it was out of its element, slower, and with less of a barrier ''It used up a lot of energy in our fight too, didn''t it? And currently, without an Arcana, it was far weaker than when I fought it.''

    defending it from harm.

    Worse still, I could see the signs of fatigue it had.

    ''It used up a lot of energy in our fight too, didn''t it? And currently, without an Arcana, it was far weaker than when I fought it.''

    "Hahahahahahaha! You''re mine beast!"

    Across the battlefield, the madman was relentless.

    He threw spells after spells, cackling in manic delight.

    Each spell, a different shade of destructive power, flew towards the Kraken. Fiery explosions danced across the Kraken''s hide, met with icy frosts and bolts of lightning.

    The madman was a storm of magic, a typhoonshing out in all directions.

    "WUUUOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

    Yet, the Kraken stood its ground, howling as it resisted the strikes with its tough hide.

    Fortunately, that resilience it had was still present.

    With each hit, it roared, defiance resonating through its every pore. It swung its tentacles, battering away at the madman''s spells, even as it bore the brunt of his relentless assault.

    The scene was terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time.

    And amidst this chaos, I watched with powerlessness.

    ''Damnit¡­''

    The madman didn''t seem like he was tiring, and in contrast, the Kraken looked weakened already.

    I couldn''t let this continue, or the damage on the Kraken would be fatal at some point.

    ''I have to do something. I have to help!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1098 Sages Resurgence

    A monstrous explosion erupted as the two titans shed, their struggle echoing throughout the Goblin Vige.

    The madman''sughter, rife with twisted satisfaction, shed against the Kraken''s defiant roars, creating an eerie harmony of chaos.

    "Hahahahahaha! How long can you withstand it? Tell me! Tell meeeee!!!"

    The Kraken''s colossal form lurched, recoiling under the assault of an unending barrage of spells.

    Fire and ice, lightning and earth, all forms of destruction descended upon it.

    Each impact left marks, scorched skin or frostbitten limbs, evidence of the madman''s relentless onught.

    Yet, the Kraken fought on, its cries of pain transformed into resonating roars, echoing the defiance of a creature pushed to its limits.

    "Enough!" the madman roared, a manic grin stretched across his features.

    "You will obey me¡­" His eyes burned with a maddening light, his voice trembled with a feverish excitement.

    Raising his hand, he cried out the name of his Arcana, "[The Emperor]!"

    An imposing wave of energy exploded from the madman, rushing towards the Kraken like a tsunami.

    The raw power of [The Emperor] washed over the Kraken, itspelling force irresistible.

    "I''ve chipped down all your vitality, and I''ve confirmed [The Popess] is no longer active in you. You can''t resist me any longer."

    Just as the madman prophesied, the once defiant roars of the Kraken died down to pitiful whimpers. Its eyes, glowing with a primal fury, dimmed and dulled, the spark of defiance extinguished.

    Under the influence of [The Emperor], the Kraken was no longer a beast of the Dark Waters, but a puppet under the madman''smand.

    "Hahahahaha! You''re mine! You''re finally mine!"

    The madman''sughter echoed throughout the battlefield, a chilling melody of victory.

    Hisughter carried the chilling satisfaction of a man who had just gained control over a beast of unimaginable power.

    A cruel smile yed on his lips as he regarded the now subdued Kraken, an ominous gleam in his eyes as he reveled in his triumph.

    "Haa¡­ I can''t wait. I can''t wait to¡ª"

    ~VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    An intense re of light suddenly broke through the scene''s grim aura, instantly drawing the attention of both the madman and the subdued Kraken.

    "E-eh? That is¡­!"

    The source was Lewis, cloaked in a denseyer of scintiting energy, his visage barely discernible through the blinding radiance.

    "How did you¡ª?" The madman gasped, his eyes widening in sheer horror.

    Baring his teeth in a snarl, Lewis wasted no time. As if he''d been shot from a cannon, he hurtled himself towards the still-reeling madman.

    ~WHOOOOOOMMM!~

    His right fist, encased in swirling energy, was pulled back, braced for a devastating blow.

    "W-wai¡ª!" The madman barely had time to register the iing attack.

    Caught off guard, his eyes widened in shock as he saw Lewis rocketing towards him. It was toote to evade.

    The madman could only brace himself for impact.

    "Haaaaaaaa!!!"

    With a thunderous roar, Lewis unleashed his pent-up energy. His fist connected with the madman, an eruption of power following the impact.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The sheer force of the blow sent the madman hurtling backwards, a hum streaking through the air before he crashed into the ground, sending up a cloud of debris.

    The entire battlefield seemed to tremble as the madman''s form skidded across the earth, hisughter abruptly cut short by the unexpected assault.

    A trail of destruction marked his course, a testament to the raw strength Lewis had just disyed.

    Lewis stood in the air, panting heavily, his fist still extended.

    The aura of energy around him pulsed, shimmering under the dim light. His eyes, however, were solely fixated on the fallen madman.

    A silent promise echoed in his gaze, a vow of defiance and determination.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    "You¡­ you went too far this time." He whispered, the energy around him climbing rapidly.

    "I''m going to make sure you never make your sickeningughter again."

    ***********

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­"

    As I stood there, panting heavily, the glow of my energy shrouding me, a realization swept over me like a tidal wave.

    The hold of the madman''s [The Emperor] on me had weakened substantially when he turned his control onto the Kraken.

    It wasn''t a coincidence. It was because the madman had split his attention, split his power between controlling both of us.

    With this realization, I knew I had to make a choice.

    A hard one.

    I couldn''t protect the vigers and fight him simultaneously. Every ounce of energy and concentration I had was necessary to defeat him.

    Reluctantly, with a heavy heart, I undid the barriers around the vige and also the shields that had kept the Goblins safe.

    A shudder ran down my spine as I considered the implications. The madman might decide to employ the vigers to do his bidding with [The Emperor].

    I couldn''t afford to let that happen. I had to act fast. I had to end this.

    ''But¡­ something is off¡­'' I scrutinized the madman.

    Despite wielding a powerful Arcana, he hadn''t takenplete control of the Kraken from the start.

    Even when he did control the Kraken, his hold on me had weakened.

    ''I also noticed the same for me. If he had the power from the start, he should have controlled me from the beginning to.''

    That had led me to the unfortunate assumption that he couldn''t use it. But now, I realized that my position wasn''tpletely wrong, albeit notpletely urate.

    ''It''s somewhere in the middle.''

    This signified that he hadn''tpletely mastered the Arcana.

    It seemed to take considerable time and energy to use [The Emperor], and he couldn''t maintain his control over multiple beings simultaneously¡­ especially taking ount of their strength.

    With these deductions, a glimmer of hope sparked within me.

    If I could break the madman''s concentration, disrupt his control over [The Emperor], then I could take advantage of thepse.

    ''Using Spellcraft, I can use the remnant energy from my undone barriers and the leftover energy from his battle with the Kraken¡­''

    With those, I could turn the tide of this battle.

    Gathering my resolve, I took a deep breath.

    ''I don''t n on holding back this time¡­''

    Victory was within reach. I just had to seize it.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

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 Chapter 1099 The Monster You Become

    ?An error urred while reading the file: Could not find file ''/data//panda_novel_py/used_emails.txt''.

    My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

    With a deep breath, I gathered my energy, focusing it onto my body. I needed to be faster, stronger.

    I needed to take the fight to him.

    ''Martial Arts is my best choice in the current situation. It''s direct, precise, and lessplicated.''

    In a fight that hinged on my raw power and close distancebat, I could always count on it.

    ''I have to get this right. Let''s go¡­''

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHHHH!~

    As I dashed towards the madman, the world around me seemed to slow.

    I watched as his lips moved, heard the crackle of magic building in the air.

    Spells.

    He was bombarding me with them, trying to keep me at a distance, trying to escape.

    But I was too fast.

    ~VWOOOOOMMMMM!~

    The ground blurred beneath me, the wind whistling in my ears.

    An incandescent bolt of energy sped towards me, a wave of heat rolling off it.

    A direct hit would be devastating, but I wouldn''t let that happen.

    With a mentalmand, my energy responded.

    An orb of protective energy enveloped me, my Nether acting as my shield.

    ~BOOOMMM!~

    As I continued to close the distance, his spells exploded against my shield, the impact jolting my body but leaving me unscathed.

    The madman''s eyes widened, and I felt a jolt of satisfaction.

    I was within reach now, close enough to see the sweat beading on his forehead, to hear his ragged breaths.

    Fear flickered in his eyes.

    Good.

    "H-hold on a momen¡ª!"

    With a swift movement, I struck, my fist smashing into his ribs with a crack that echoed in the silence.

    "Guarrrrkkk!" The madman cried out, the sound abruptly cut off as my other fist connected with his jaw.

    "Blech!"

    I didn''t give him time to recover.

    I unleashed a series of fast, precise strikes, targeting the joints in his arms and legs, aiming topletely immobilize him.

    "G-Gaaahhhhh!"

    Each hit was calcted, precise.

    Each bone I shattered, every scream he uttered, was a testament to my silent rage.

    ''You deserve it¡­ you monster!''

    I wouldn''t let him win. I couldn''t. The lives of the Goblins and the Kraken were in my hands.

    And I wouldn''t let them down.

    "[Imperial Martial Arts: The Last Straw]"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    One strike of my palm on his chest sent my energy coursing through his body, destroying everything within him; from sinews and muscles to the internal organs within.

    I watched his pained face, seeing that he couldn''t even properly let out a shout of pain.

    His bulging eyes were bleeding, and the same red liquid oozed from his nostrils and ears¡­ and finally his mouth.

    "I''ve destroyed your body. You''ll be dead in no time." I told him.

    Good riddance.

    *********

    The woundedy in a crumpled heap on the ground, his breath ragged and painful.

    Each inhtion felt like shards of ss scraping against his lungs, each exhtion a ragged gasp of pain.

    The world around him seemed to blur and distort, his vision narrowing to a tunnel. <novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>

    He was dying. He knew that.

    He could feel his life slipping away, each heartbeat growing weaker, slower.

    In his haze of pain, his mind began to wander, traveling back to a time before he had be this¡­ this monster.

    He had been a man once, a scientist.

    He had been fascinated by the Krakens, those massive, mysterious creatures with an energy reserve so vast and unused throughout their lifetime.

    His obsession had begun innocently enough.

    A need to understand, to learn. He had marveled at their potential, wondered why they didn''t utilize it.

    And then, he had started to imagine how he could.

    As his research deepened, his fascination turned into an obsession. The Krakens became not magnificent creatures but sources of potentially limitless energy, a means to an end.

    If he calcted it right, it could benefit everyone.

    From that point on, his actions grew increasingly extreme. He had lost himself in his research, his pursuit of knowledge morphing into a quest for power.

    No longer did he see these beings as fascinating creatures, but as batteries¡­ all for his utilization.

    His deeds were heinous. He saw that now. The Krakens he had hunted, the lives he had destroyed.

    His hands, once used to heal and help, had be tools of destruction.

    He was a monster, a shell of the man he once was.

    It was now, on the verge of death, that he remembered his name.

    Jonas.

    He had forgotten it for so long, lost in his obsession.

    Now, as death approached, it echoed in his mind, a stark reminder of the man he had once been and the monster he had be.

    Regret filled him. He had pushed everyone away, isted himself in his pursuit of power. And for what?

    For this?

    To die alone and despised?

    A tear trickled down his face, the salty taste bitter in his mouth.

    He was sorry. Sorry for what he had done, for the lives he had ruined.

    The Kraken. He had hunted it, tormented it.

    Now, he saw the truth. It was not a monster. He was.

    The man who had defeated him, who had brought him to this end, he was grateful to him. He had freed him, not just from his life but from his obsession.

    He could finally rest.

    "Jonas¡­ you''re the kindest man I know. Keep being that way, okay?" He remembered the voice of his lover.

    But¡­ that was so long ago. And now, it was toote.

    With a final shuddering breath, Jonas closed his eyes.

    He was sorry. Sorry for everything. His body went limp, his heart giving onest feeble throb before it stilled.

    His journey was over. His regrets and his crimes died with him.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I only feel a little bad for him.

    A little.

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1100 Having A Bond Companion

    ?An error urred while reading the file: Could not find file ''/data//panda_novel_py/used_emails.txt''.

    My heart pounded in my chest as I looked down at the fallen figure of the madman.

    His lifeless eyes stared back, filled with the same madness that had tormented the vige.

    The smell of burnt ash filled the air, a testament to the fierce struggle that had just ended. Crumpled in his stiff hand was the object that allowed him to wreak so much havoc¡ª[The Emperor] Arcana.

    Bending down, I carefully pried the Arcana from his lifeless grip.

    The orb that surrounded it had long vanished, leaving the card bare and empty.

    It glowed with a soft golden light, pulsating to a rhythm that matched my own heartbeat. It was beautiful, intricate patterns of gold and azure adorned its exterior, almost too divine to be part of such malevolence.

    The power that had been used to corrupt and control the innocent goblins was now in my possession. I could feel it, a throbbing energy, waiting to be directed, used.

    "I see¡­ so this is what caused it."

    Looking back at the madman''s corpse, I felt an unexpected twinge of pity.

    He had been driven to insanity by power, consumed by his desire to control and dominate. His life, once filled with promise, had been reduced to this sad, pitiful end.

    ''I guess power corrupts a person¡­ especially if they do not have the will to control it.''

    But I quickly shrugged off that feeling.

    No amount of pity would bring back the lives he had destroyed. The bnce he had disrupted. His intentions, mad or not, had caused chaos, and for that, he deserved no sympathy.

    With the Arcana now in my hands, I turned towards the vige. My gaze fell on the horde of goblins that had been under the madman''s influence, their green eyes no longer glowing with malice, but with confusion.

    ''Looks like they''re awake now.'' I smiled to myself.

    As thest echoes of victory died down, a weak roar pierced the stillness.

    "UUUUURRRRRRR¡­"

    It was a sound I knew all too well - the cry of the Kraken.

    The giant beasty by the shoreline, its massive body marred by the battle. Its eyes, usually burning with fierce intensity, was dim and full of pain.

    I rushed to its side, skidding to a halt beside its giant, scarred head.

    "Hold on, big guy," I whispered, reaching out to touch its cold, damp skin. It was far colder than it should have been.

    I closed my eyes, channeling the power of [Connection]. My mind extended outward, touching the thoughts of the Kraken.

    The contact was immediate, a torrent of raw pain and fading life force.

    Its thoughts were disjointed, slipping away like sand through my fingers. I could feel its strength waning, the life force within it slowly extinguishing. My heart ached as I realized the bitter truth - the Kraken was dying.

    A bitter taste filled my mouth.

    ''It''s my fault¡­''

    This magnificent creature was on the brink of death, all because it had saved me. If it hadn''t intercepted the madman when it did, then¡­

    ''Even though you spent your life on the run¡­ to think you''d just go like this. I''m so sorry.''

    I currentlycked the energy to heal a creature of this size. All the energy around had been sucked dry, and even the immense Nether that the Kraken were now mere vestiges.

    The situation made it impossible for me to save it.

    Tears pricked my eyes.

    No, I had to stay strong.

    For the Kraken. I pushed deeper into its thoughts, letting it feel my presence, my gratitude.

    "Thank you," I projected to it, my thoughts full of sorrow. "I''m so sorry."

    A flicker of understanding passed between us.

    It wasn''t angry. But there was something else¡­ something deeper.

    As I reached out to the dying Kraken, I was enveloped by its mind once again. But this time, it wasn''t the fading life force or disjointed thoughts that startled me. It was an undercurrent of emotion, something that had been hidden deep within the creature, nowid bare in its final moments.

    Through the [Connection], I could feel the Kraken''s deep-seated resentment towards its own existence, its constant yearning for death.

    It had felt trapped, isted in its vastness. The loneliness that its kind naturally carried was heightened to an unbearable degree.

    It had lived a life of despair, hoping for an end.

    But now, facing the finality of its existence, a strange feeling had surged forth.

    The Kraken, which had for so long yearned for death, now clung desperately to life. It wanted to live.

    ''A-ahh¡­''

    The revtion shook me. I could feel the Kraken''s desire, its newfound will to survive, the sudden dread at the impending darkness.

    But there was nothing I could do.

    Its injuries were too severe, far beyond my ability to heal.

    Tears welled in my eyes as the Kraken''s emotions washed over me. Its desperation, its fear. I gripped its cold skin tighter, offering the onlyfort I could - presence.

    "I''m sorry," I found myself whispering. "I wish I could do more."

    In its final moments, I didn''t break the [Connection]. I stayed with it, letting it know it wasn''t alone, feeling its desperation fade to eptance, its fear into tranquility.

    As its life force dwindled, I shared with it a single promise. Its sacrifice wouldn''t be in vain. That its desire to live, its wish for more, would inspire me, drive me.

    And when the final flicker of life left the Kraken, when the [Connection] between us was severed, I rose, a new determination set within me.

    The Kraken might not have been able to cling onto life, but I could. I could live, for both of us.

    ''Thank you¡­ truly.''

    ~FSHUUUUUUUUUUU!!!~

    Suddenly, an unexpected radiance exploded from its body.

    The once-dim eyes were now the epicenter of a pulsating, ethereal light that painted the world in a celestial glow.

    I shielded my eyes, taken aback by the sudden brilliance.

    As my eyes adjusted, I saw it.

    "A-ah¡­ no way!"

    Floating above the now lifeless body of the Kraken was a spectral form. It was smaller, a shadow of its original massive form, yet it retained the same distinct features.

    The ethereal Kraken pulsed with a gentle, inviting light. Its eyes, now an iridescent glow, looked at me knowingly.

    ''It became a Familiar!''

    I was awestruck. It seemed I had underestimated the will of the Kraken to live. I never even considered this possibility.

    But here it was, the Bond Soul of the Kraken.

    ''If that''s the case, then¡­ maybe¡­''

    With a sense of reverence, I slowly reached out toward the spectral Kraken.

    Its light intensified as my hand drew closer, casting brilliant patterns of colors onto my skin.

    As my fingertips met its ethereal form, a surge of energy raced up my arm, enveloping me entirely.

    The world fell away as a torrent of images and emotions rushed through me. It was the Kraken''s memories, its feelings, its entire being, intertwining with mine.

    Our consciousness merged, two bing one.

    ''... It is done.''

    The intensity of the connection subsided, leaving a warm,forting sensation in its ce. I looked into the eyes of the spectral Kraken, now my Familiar, and I could feel a sense of peace emanating from it.

    Its despair was gone, reced with a feeling of contentment. It had found a new existence, one that it chose, one that it desired.

    And it was not alone anymore.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1101 Peace And War

    ?An error urred while reading the file: Could not find file ''/data//panda_novel_py/used_emails.txt''.

    "WOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!"

    The vige was a bastion of joy and relief, alive with the sounds of celebration.

    Goblins, once enved by the madman''s Arcana, now freely danced around crackling bonfires, theirughter echoing in the cool night air.

    The glow of the mes reflected in their eyes, recing the eerie malice that once lived there.

    From one corner, a group of goblins strummed on makeshift instruments, creating a lively rhythm that seemed to pulse through the entire vige.

    The rest pped and stomped their feet, joining the melody with their own enthusiastic contributions. Their joy was infectious, their spirit indomitable, despite the recent horrors they had endured.

    "Haha¡­ isn''t this fun, buddy?"

    I stood on the periphery, watching the merriment unfold. The spectral form of the Kraken, my new Familiar, flickered at my side, casting an ethereal glow on the surrounding area.

    The goblins, in their joyous state, gave it curious nces, but its presence did not dampen their spirits.

    Seeing a break in the crowd, I moved to join the festivities.

    A cheer went up as I entered the circle of goblins. They patted my back and offered wide grins, their happiness apparent. Despite their small stature, their hearts were immense, filled with gratitude and camaraderie.

    I spotted Gobtia with thedies, preparing delicious meals, and I was already salivating as I remembered how incredible these goblins were with their dishes.

    The Goblin Chief was wasted on alcohol at this point. I saw him dancing like a crazed man, and it was too hrious to pass up.

    A hefty goblin, whose name I learned was Grubb, thrust a wooden mug into my hand. It was filled with a frothy concoction that smelled of earthy roots and potent berries.

    As I took a sip, the taste exploded on my tongue, tart and bitter, but somehow fitting for the moment.

    "Drink up, Lewis!" Grubb yelled over the music, his voice booming despite his size. "We celebrate life tonight!"

    "Haha¡­ true that."

    Around the roaring fires, tales of bravery were shared, songs of freedom were sung, and as the night deepened, the sense of unity grew stronger.

    We were not just a man and goblins, but amunity brought together by the trials of life, now sharing a moment of peace.

    ''I was really worried for you guys¡­ honestly.''

    If I had lost that battle, all of this would have been history. Just one loss would mean I could never taste the delicious meals of Gobtia, or watch the Chief act like an idiot¡­ or see the happy faces of all these Goblins.

    ''One day, Karlia¡­ I''ll bring you here to witness this.''

    This joy.

    This beauty.

    This peace.

    I wanted to share it with my special someone too.

    [The Emperor], as well as all the others I had already gathered, were in my satchel. It remained just a couple more Arcanas to find, and I could finally do it¡­

    ''Find and free Karlia.''

    With that thought, I raised my mug, joining the goblins in their revelry onest time before my departure.

    Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new battles.

    But for tonight, we celebrated.

    *********

    [One Week Later]

    In the heart of the mystical realm, nestled amidst the whimsical hues of the eternal twilight, the Luminis Fairy Forest stirred with a sudden urgency.

    Each iridescent leaf shivered with tension, each blooming flower stood guard like a silent sentinel.

    The tranquil haven, renowned for its serene beauty and timeless enchantment, was now preparing for an impending storm, a war of an unprecedented scale.

    The foe was nomon adversary.

    It was the Triumvirate, the shadowy sovereigns who dictated the world from their ndestine enves.

    Their power was immense, their grasp insidious.

    They had ruled unchallenged for centuries, their reign woven into the fabric of the world''s existence.

    Now, they had set their eyes on the Fairy Kingdom, their sinister intentions clear.

    They sought to erase the Luminis Fairy Forest, to transform the ethereal sanctuary into a horrifying epitaph, a stark warning to all other territories under their iron fist.

    Arrayed against the fairy kingdom were legions amassed by the Triumvirate.

    Beastfolk, fierce and feral, howled their war cries into the wind.

    Elves, elegant yet deadly, stood with cold precision, their longbows shimmering with mystic energy.

    Dwarves, stocky and sturdy, fortified the ranks, their technological marvels a testament to their ingenious craftsmanship.

    An overwhelming tide of power and resolve, eager to obey the ruthlessmand of their masters.

    In response, the Fairy Kingdom roused its magical forces.

    Each fairy, ordinarily a creature of peace, now bore a determined countenance.

    Their wings pulsed with radiant energy, their tiny hands sped around weapons crafted from nature itself.

    Strategists huddled around illuminated maps of the forest, their voices a low murmur amidst the war preparations.

    Glimmering towers of light sprung up around the kingdom''s perimeter, casting a protective shield around their cherished homnd.

    Archers took to the skies, their arrows dipped in starlight, ready to rain down celestial fury.

    And at the heart of the kingdom, in the grand throne room, stood the Fairy King Oberon. His bright eyes were alight with a fierce resolve, his diaphanous gown rippling with powerful enchantments.

    He was the beacon, the rallying force for his people, embodying their hope and courage.

    As the Triumvirate''s forces marched inexorably closer, an ominous cloud hanging heavy in the air, the Luminis Fairy Forest held its breath.

    Each fairy stood ready, their hearts beating in unison, echoing through the enchanted des and sparkling waterways.

    The moment was near. A conflict, threatening to shatter the tranquility of their world, was fast approaching.

    Yet, in the face of overwhelming odds, the Fairy Kingdom held strong.

    For they were not just defending their home, they were standing against tyranny, against oppression.

    The air was electric, charged with the severity of the situation. The quiet before the storm was deafening.

    *********

    "Look at this¡­ they really decided to go all-out, huh?"

    Now in the highest tower of the shimmering pce, away from the organized chaos of the war preparations, stood the Fairy King.

    He peered out of the crystalline window, his gaze sweeping across his threatened kingdom.

    The usually vibrant eyes were clouded with worry, the weight of his crown heavier than ever before.

    Beside him stood Urs, the fairy-like Automaton.

    Her gleaming metal wings reflected the soft glow of the magicalmps, her eyes, twin sapphire orbs, flickering with intricate calctions.

    Despite her metallic construct, she seemed as much a part of the magical realm as any fairy, her presence aforting constant to the Fairy King.

    "How are we looking, Urs?" he asked, his voice steady despite the tension that hung in the air.

    His eyes never left the encroaching enemy forces, their daunting formations dotting the horizon.

    The Automaton paused, the light in her eyes pulsing as she processed the various data points. "Optimal victory conditions will take more time than we currently have, Your Majesty," she stated, her voice asposed as ever.

    "However, given the stakes, I can assure you that I will strive to bring us as close to victory as possible."

    The Fairy King turned to look at Urs, a small smile forming on his lips despite the dire situation. "That''s all I can ask for, Urs."

    His thoughts drifted to Lewis. The human had provided them with something invaluable - a fighting chance.

    ''Those Mecha Warriors of yours, Lewis¡­ if only you could see them.''

    It was Lewis''s efforts that had made all of this possible.

    From freeing Oberon from his curse, to giving him this amazing Automaton, and finally the means to make the perfect soldiers.

    He had sparked a beacon of hope amidst the impending darkness.

    "Once again, I find myself indebted to that human," the King mused aloud, a soft chuckle escaping him.

    Urs''s eyes shimmered, an approximation of a smile crossing her face.

    "Lewis has indeed proved to be an unexpected variable in this battle. It should work to our advantage since the Triumvirate would not have included his interference in their calctions," she agreed.

    As the Fairy King cast his gaze back out onto the battlefield, his smile faded, reced by a grim determination.

    His knuckles whitened around his scepter, the magical jewel set atop it pulsating in response to his emotions.

    War wasing.

    The Triumvirate and their forces were mere moments from reaching the Fairy Kingdom''s defenses. Yet, even in the face of the imminent storm, the Fairy King stood tall, his resolve unyielding.

    For his people, for their freedom, for the hope gifted by a human named Lewis, Oberon steeled himself.

    Victory might be uncertain, the odds might be overwhelming, but they would fight. They would stand their ground.

    And perhaps, in the echoes of their defiance, they would find their victory.

    "No¡­ we must have win."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    From the way it''s looking, we''re slowly drawing to the conclusion of this Arc. There are still a lot to resolve, but we''re getting there.

    War ising!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1102 The Nether Root

    ?An error urred while reading the file: Could not find file ''/data//panda_novel_py/used_emails.txt''.

    "It''s finally time¡­"

    As I held thest of the Arcanas in my hands, a rush of conflicting emotions welled up within me.

    tion, fear, anticipation ¨C they all swirled together, creating a tempest within my heart.

    I stared at the ancient artifacts in my hands, their intricate designs glowing softly under the light of the setting sun.

    ''All that''s left is to make [The World]. Heh, quite a fitting name¡­''

    It had the power to traverse the boundaries of the Nether Realm, to reach the Nether Root, the origin of all worlds within this ne of existence.

    And now, with all 21 of the Arcanas in my possession, all I had to do was to make it appear.

    ''Karlia¡­ I''m almost there.''

    The thought of her sparked a rush of longing and determination.

    Her smile, herughter, the gentle touch of her hand - I could remember it all as if it were yesterday.

    She was waiting for me, trapped in the Nether Root, and it was up to me to rescue her.

    ''You''re suffering so much, right? Even now¡­''

    A warm smile spread across my face as I thought about our reunion.

    It felt like a lifetime since I hadst seen her, held her, but now I was so close. Just one more step, one final leap into the unknown.

    ''I''ming to save you!''

    I could feel the spectral form of the Kraken, my familiar, by my side. Its presence was aforting anchor, a constant reminder of the bond we shared, and the promise I had made.

    We were in this together, and we would face whatever awaited us in the Nether Root.

    The weight of the Arcanas in my hand felt reassuring. They were my tools, my keys to the unknown, and they had led me to this point.

    I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. I was ready.

    With a smile and a newfound determination, I looked towards the horizon, the setting sun painting the sky with hues of orange and purple.

    "It''s finally time," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the gentle rustling of the leaves.

    The world around me seemed to hold its breath, as if acknowledging the gravity of my deration.

    "Let''s begin."

    As I stood amidst the scattered Arcanas, a sense of understanding washed over me.

    I knew what I had to do, and for once, it wasn''t about control.

    I didn''t have tomand them; I needed to guide them, to nudge them into alignment, and let their inherent energies do the rest.

    ''Since I didn''t learn how to use them individually, that would be a waste of time. Instead, I''ll use Spellcraft to activate and resonate them with one another.''

    Underneath my hands, the symbols and Spells of the Arcanas pulsed, each a separate song of power, waiting to harmonize into one resonating melody.

    I reached out with my mind, my own energy intertwining with theirs, a conductor poised before an ethereal orchestra.

    I closed my eyes, letting the flow of their individual songs envelop me.

    I began to weave them together, guiding them gently with the delicate threads of Spellcraft. With each touch, the Arcanas hummed in response, their energy rising and falling, flowing into each other.

    The very air around me vibrated as their energies built, the power rising like a swelling tide. I could feel the ground beneath me tremble, the wind dance around me, the very world itself holding its breath as the symphony of power reached its crescendo.

    Then, with a final, resonating surge¡­ [The World] was born.

    I opened my eyes, and before me hovered [The World], a radiant card of pulsating energy.

    The Arcanas hadbined, their once separate melodies now a harmonious chorus resonating within the massive card.

    "Haha¡­ there you are."

    The creation of [The World] felt like witnessing the birth of a star, an explosive, yet eerily beautiful sight.

    ''It''s beautiful¡­''

    With [The World] now in my grasp, I retrieved [The Compass].

    It was the second piece of this puzzle; my ticket to navigating the route to the destination I sought.

    ''I don''t know who he is, but I really owe this Crazy Neron for this. His message had indicated the properties of [The Compass], and using that as a base, Jared and I worked tirelessly to perfect it.''

    Holding it aloft, I could sense it reacting to [The World], the delicate needles vibrating in eager anticipation.

    The air crackled around me as I poured energy into [The World] and [The Compass], activating them. The world seemed to twist and distort around me, a kaleidoscope of realities merging and parting before my eyes.

    Then, it happened.

    A doorway, shimmering and wavering, appeared before me.

    It swirled with multiple colors, but mostly a dark hue of purple and ck, with shes of light and tiny sparks of energy dancing around it.

    This was it, the gateway to the Root of the Nether Realm, the path to Karlia.

    "Beyond this is¡­ hell."

    I didn''t hesitate.

    There was no room for doubt, no time for second thoughts.

    With a deep breath, I stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the unknown.

    As I left my world behind, I clung to the hope that nestled within my heart, the unwavering belief that I would return, and I wouldn''t be alone.

    ''Wait for me. It won''t be long now!''

    ******

    As I crossed the portal, reality itself seemed to stretch, distort, and dissolve.

    It felt as if I were being pulled into a vortex, my very essence drawn into the depths of the Nether Realm. I was traversing the boundaries of existence, leaving the familiar behind and stepping into an unfathomable unknown.

    When the journey ended, an overwhelming darkness engulfed me.

    I had reached the Nether Root, the primordial birthce of all the worlds in this realm, and it was a realm of endless nothingness.

    ''T-this is¡­?!''

    A void that swallowed light, that silenced sound, that stilled time.

    It was a darkness unlike any I had ever experienced.

    A darkness so profound, so absolute, that it felt tangible, as if I could reach out and touch the void itself. It stretched out in all directions, an infinite canvas of obsidian void, devoid of any semnce of life, of color, of form.

    ''Where am I? I¡­ I don''t know.''

    But within that void, I could sense...something.

    An ancient power, a primordial energy that thrummed in the stillness. It was as if the darkness itself were alive, aware of my presence, observing me as I tried toprehend the iprehensible.

    ''Is that you, Karlia?''

    The silence of the void was deafening.

    There were no sounds, no echoes, no whispers of wind or rustle of leaves.

    Yet, in that silence, I could hear the heartbeat of the Nether Root. A slow, rhythmic pulse that reverberated in the void, resonating in sync with my own heartbeat.

    My feet made no sound as they stepped on... what exactly?

    There was no floor, no solid ground beneath me, yet I could stand.

    I was in a ce that defied allws of physics, that discarded the rules of reality, that existed outside the parameters of space and time.

    As I moved forward, the void around me responded. It shifted, it swirled, it rippled, creating pathways where there was nothing.

    It was guiding me, leading me deeper into the heart of the Nether Root.

    There was no light to guide my way, no stars to serve as mypass.

    Yet, I wasn''t lost.

    ''I''ll continue moving forward¡­ no matter how long it takes!''

    If it was for Karlia, I was willing to do anything!

    ''No matter what it takes.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1103 The Land Of Nothingness

    The Nether Root was an expanse of nothingness, an infinite darkness that I ventured into with little more than a sliver of hope.

    Magic, the very essence of my strength, had no dominion here. The Arcanas, once pulsating with power, were now lifeless stones, void of the energy they once held.

    I was alone, save for the spectral presence of my Familiar, the Kraken, whose ethereal form somehow persisted in this ce beyond the grasp of any magic.

    I walked through the darkness, my every step echoing into the void.

    I had no concept of time here; it could''ve been days, years, or even centuries. I walked endlessly, tirelessly, fuelled by a single, desperate need - to find Karlia.

    The solitude was almost maddening.

    In this immeasurable silence, the sound of my own heartbeat became my solepanion. I had no voice to speak, no words to utter, my every thought reverberating silently within my mind.

    If not for my Familiar, if not for the spectral presence of the Kraken by my side, I would have undoubtedly sumbed to the suffocating darkness.

    Its formless entity seemed to echo my determination, a steady, silent vow that we were in this together.

    In this timeless void, introspection became my only sce.

    I found myself traversing the corridors of my own mind as I journeyed through the darkness, revisiting old memories, the victories and failures of my past.

    Each step, each breath, each heartbeat was an affirmation of my existence, a silent rebellion against the oppressive nothingness of the Nether Root.

    In those countless moments of solitude, I found strength in my desire for Karlia.

    Herughter, her spirit, the touch of her hand ¨C they became my anchor, my lighthouse in the heart of this imprable darkness.

    I clung to her memory, her essence, with every fiber of my being for the fear that I would go insane otherwise.

    Every thought of her ignited a spark of hope within me, casting a faint glow in the shroud of darkness.

    I held onto that hope, nourishing it, cherishing it, letting it fill me with determination, with resolve.

    No matter the darkness, no matter the solitude, I would not falter.

    I would traverse this void, face this maddening solitude, defy this timeless expanse.

    I would find Karlia. I would bring her back.

    This, I promised to the darkness, to the void, to the Nether Root, and to myself.

    This was my vow, my singr purpose as I journeyed through the darkness, one step at a time.

    Karlia. My guiding star in the void of the Nether Root.

    ''No matter how long it takes, no matter the distance, no matter the darkness, I will find you.''

    That though alone put a smile on my face despite the eternity I suffered.

    ********

    Time, if it existed in this endless void, had lost all meaning to me.

    I was a lone wanderer in a realm devoid of light, direction, or hope.

    Until... out of the silence, out of the nothingness, I heard it - a voice.

    A voice that I''d longed to hear, a voice that I''d clung onto, a voice that I''d promised to find.

    Karlia!

    "L-Lewis..."

    The sound of my name on her lips echoed through the void, a beacon in the darkness, a lifeline thrown to a drowning man.

    My heart pounded in my chest, a frenzied rhythm that matched the cadence of her voice.

    ''W-where is iting from... where... a-ah!''

    Above me, amidst the obsidian void, there it was.

    A cube, colossal and enigmatic, pulsating with an ethereal light, sending waves of sound into the silent abyss.

    Her voice, Karlia''s voice, was emanating from it, an endless chorus of my name.

    As if she had been calling me, waiting for me, guiding me through the darkness.

    Tears welled up in my eyes, a liquid testament of relief, of triumph, of love.

    They spilled down my cheeks, droplets lost in the cosmic ocean. I had found her.

    Against the odds, against the despair, against the infinity of the void, I had found her.

    "Karlia...!"

    Thews of this realm had long since be familiar to me, a second nature born out of necessity, survival.

    I noa could see in the darkness now, perceive the unseen.

    I could defy gravity, defy logic.

    And so, I ascended.

    I floated towards the cube, drawn towards it as a moth is drawn towards a me.

    "Karlia!" I screamed into the void.

    My voice, unused for what seemed like eons, cracked with the intensity of my emotion.

    I reached out towards the cube, my hand outstretched, reaching for her.

    Reaching for the light, for the hope, for the love that I had been denied for so long.

    As I got closer, the cube seemed to pulsate with more intensity, her voice ringing louder in my ears.

    It was as if it responded to my presence, to my desperation, to my love.

    And I, lost in the depths of the Nether Root, was answering its call.

    "Karlia!" I screamed again, my voice echoing through the void. I was close, so close now. I could almost touch it, almost reach her.

    I was on the precipice of reunion, on the brink of salvation.

    And I knew then, with a certainty that resonated in every fibre of my being, that no matter what, no matter the odds, no matter the cost, I would never let her go.

    There, in the deafening silence of the Nether Root, I connected with the cube, reached out with [Connection].

    I felt an instant ethereal link forged by sheer will and hope, rushing with the ominous box before me.

    I let my consciousness seep into it, to be one with the world within the cube.

    What followed was an onught of raw, unfiltered pain.

    ''GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!''

    What should have been a single moment of pain¡ªin the shortest of moments, the briefest point of time¡ªfelt like an eternity of pure, indescribable pain.

    It was an eternity of agony condensed into a singr moment, a fleeting instance that stretched on endlessly, painfully.

    It felt like I was dying, over and over again.

    I could feel my life force draining, my spirit crumbling under the unbearable weight of the torment.

    My breath hitched in my chest, my heart pounded erratically, my vision blurred at the edges.

    However, just as the pain ended, I could see the cracks already forming. And then...

    ... The cube shattered.

    A cataclysmic explosion that rocked the very fabric of the Nether Root.

    The release of my energy offset the bnce of the cube, causing it to implode, to shatter, to free Karlia.

    As the world spun around me, as my consciousness threatened to slip away, I saw her.

    A silhouette in the darkness, a form amidst the chaos.

    I felt the warmth of her touch, the familiarity of her embrace as she caught me, held me, saved me.

    A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, my voice nothing more than a whisper as I uttered her name.

    "Karlia..." It echoed in the void, a deration of love, of hope, of victory. The world around me faded, my vision dimmed, and my consciousness slipped away.

    I was only able to feel the briefest moment of her pain, and it was a torture unlike any other.

    How much Karlia would have suffered... how much she had endured in my absence.

    It made me nearly bleed out tears.

    But, tugging my heart even more was the satisfaction I felt that she was out now.

    I was happy.

    For in the face of despair, of darkness, of death, I had found her. I had saved her.

    And she had saved me.

    "... Thanks foring back to me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Yayyy! Karlia is back!

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1104 Light In The Dark

    ?

    "Urghh¡­"

    My head throbbed as consciousness slowly returned to me. My eyes, heavy and sore, struggled to adjust to the surroundings.

    Darkness, an unfathomable void. But even in that pitch-ck world, one thing was unmistakably clear ¨C her presence.

    "Karlia?" My voice was rough, weak.

    My gaze rested on the crimson-skinned subus whosep currently served as my pillow. I watched the violet gleam in her eyes, and found sce in her divine smile.

    "Lewis¡­ " Her voice trembled with emotion, barely above a whisper, as if speaking any louder might shatter the fragile moment.

    Silhouetted in the darkness, while trying to limate to consciousness, I could barely make out her figure. But, there was no mistaking that voice, the gentle warmth that had once been the very sun in my world.

    "I''ve missed you so much," I admitted, my heart aching with the weight of the eternity we spent apart.

    The regret, the loneliness, the countless nights of yearning for her embrace.

    "I¡­ I¡­" Tears began to well up in my eyes as I looked up to her.

    She drew closer, and I could feel the heat of her body. Her fingertips brushed against my cheek, sending shivers down my spine.

    "Lewis," she whispered, her voice choked with tears, "I thought I''d never see you again."

    My eyes welled up, remembering the countless dreams where I reached out to her only to wake up to a cold, empty void.

    "I''m sorry I made you doubt me."

    Karlia let out a soft sob, the sound both heartbreaking and heartwarming. "I was so scared you wouldn''te back this time," she murmured, her fingers tangling in my hair.

    Rising to my knees and pulling her close, I could feel her heartbeat against my chest.

    "I''ll alwayse back for you, Karlia," I whispered into her ear. "Always."

    She pulled away slightly, just enough to look into my eyes. Even in the darkness, I could see the glimmer of her tears. "I''ve missed you, Lewis," she confessed, her voice breaking with emotion.

    "Every day, every moment, it was like a piece of me was missing. The hell, it didn''t hurt as much as being without you."

    I could barely even understand how much she suffered all alone. I could only imagine how much my dy had caused her so much agony.

    If only I had been faster, I could have saved her one less second from that torture.

    "You''re so strong, Karlia¡­"

    Cupping her face, I brushed away her tears with my thumbs. "So amazing."

    We sat there, lost in each other''s gaze, the weight of the world and the past forgotten.

    All that mattered was this moment, this connection.

    She leaned in, her lips brushing against mine.

    It was a soft, tender kiss ¨C a reaffirmation of our love and the promises we made to each other.

    Pulling apart, we rested our foreheads against each other, basking in the warmth of our shared affection.

    "I love you, Lewis," Karlia murmured.

    I pulled her into a deep hug, her body molding against mine. "I love you too, Karlia. Always and forever."

    In theforting cocoon of our embrace, the darkness faded away, reced by the brilliant light of our love.

    "I''ll never let you go this time."

    *********

    Feeling a little lighter, Karlia and I settled side by side, the darkness fading to a mere background to our shared existence. Even in this gloomy environment, I could feel her radiant energy, almost tangible in its intensity.

    "I still can''t believe you''re here," I started, looking over at her with a broad grin. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of amusement and relief.

    Sheughed softly, the sound melodious and filled with warmth. "Believe it, Lewis."

    "I''m surprised you''re here¡­ and in your original body for that matter. It almost feels like a dream."

    "Well, if it''s a dream, then it''s going tost forever.

    We bothughed heartily, enjoying the nonexistence of the ce we were nestled in. We made sure tough a lot, and I briefly told her bits and pieces of how I found the Arcanas to reach the Nether Root and free her.

    It all felt worth it, seeing the excited smile on her face.

    Seeing her so happy made me happy in turn.

    "You had a lot of fun. I''m so jealous. Unlike you, it was just a gloomy hell in here." She said it with such nonchnce, but I knew the pain she went through wasn''t anything to scoff at.

    Perhaps I had to ask and understand her perspective too, rather than just telling her mine.

    "What exactly was that cube?"

    Karlia took a deep breath, her eyes distant for a moment as she recollected. "Well, it''s a prison, but not just any prison. You know I''m... special, right?"

    "You mean the immortality?" I inquired.

    She nodded. "Yes, that. But with my immortalityes an ability to limate to any pain or damage. Over time, I be resistant to it."

    "That sounds powerful," I mused, thinking of how incredibly powerful she would be if that process was repeated over and over again.

    She tilted her head. "It is, in a way. But the cube... it''s sinister. Every time I limated to the torture, it would adjust, escting the pain to levels beyondprehension."

    I felt a sharp pain in my heart, imagining what she had gone through.

    ''It would reach a point where¡­ damn¡­'' I shuddered in my imagination.

    "Karlia... I''m so sorry I wasn''t there to save you sooner."

    She took my hand and squeezed it. "It''s not your fault, Lewis. What mattered most was that you came for me. You have no idea how happy that makes me."

    This woman right here, Karlia, she was way more than I deserved.

    I looked deep into her eyes, overwhelmed by my emotions. "I promise, I''ll never leave your side again."

    She smiled warmly, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness. "I''ve missed you, Lewis. And no matter what, we''ll face everything together from now on."

    Nodding, I pulled her into a tender embrace. Right then, surrounded by nothing but theforting presence of Karlia, everything felt perfect.

    ''It''s time¡­'' I thought with a gentle smile.

    The moment was right, and there was an electrifying charge in the air.

    I knew what I had to do. Every second apart had cemented the realization that I couldn''t be without her.

    Taking a deep breath, I stared deeply into her eyes.

    "What is it, Lewis?" She chuckled, her eyes a mix of curiosity and so much beauty.

    If I didn''t do it now¡­ I feared I would lose the moment!

    Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a small velvet box.

    "Karlia," I began, my voice a little shaky, "from the moment we met, my world changed. Through all the battles, the heartaches, and the moments of joy, you''ve always been the one constant, my guiding star."

    Her eyes widened in surprise, and her lips parted slightly as she tried to grasp what was happening.

    "Even after I betrayed you, you never betrayed me. You''ve suffered so much pain¡­ so much loneliness¡­ all for me. Words can''t express how much your love has touched me, and how much I love you. You¡­ you are the epitome of perfection in my eyes."

    I really didn''t deserve her. But, if being with her was going to make her as happy as it was going to make me, then¡­

    Kneeling down, I opened the box to reveal a delicate ring with a shimmering gemstone. "Karlia, will you marry me?"

    Tears filled her eyes, reflecting the brilliance of the sun and the depth of her emotions.

    "Lewis!" she whispered, choked up, "Yes! Yes, I will."

    ''Yesss! It took Jared and I a while to make a ring this perfect, but¡­ it was all worth it!''

    This ring was the most important Item I had to make beforeing to the Nether Realm.

    It was¡­ the symbol of a new bond I wanted to form with Karlia.

    An eternal one.

    As I slid the ring onto her finger, our lips met in a passionate kiss, sealing our promise to each other.

    The world around us seemed to fade away, the darkness enveloping us once again, but this time it wasn''t oppressive or daunting.

    It was warm,forting, and filled with the promise of a lifetime of love and happiness.

    "Lewis¡­" I heard her whisper into my ear, her warm hands touching my bare skin. "I''ve missed you. All of you¡­"

    I understood instantly.

    "You read my mind, Karlia." My grin was so wide that I thought my lips would ck.

    "I''ve missed you too¡­"

    Spending an eternity in torture and spending an eternity in darkness; the both of us had grown quite lonely.

    This was the perfect moment to relieve ourselves.

    "It''s been so long. Think you can still handle it?" I whispered.

    "Pfft. I should be asking you that. Think you canst long enough?" She responded.

    Oh, that was it!

    Thest strand of my reasoning snapped as I pulled Karlia to me and readied myself for my biggest battle yet.

    "I''ll show you what I can do!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    We all know what''s about to go down here, so I''ll just skip it and we''ll resume next chapter with the story.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1105 The Great War Begins

    Chapter 1105 The Great War Begins

    Karlia felt the warmth of Lewis''s body next to hers, their limbs entwined as theyy in the vast darkness. It was a sensation she''d longed for, dreamt of, and despaired of ever feeling again. The soothing rhythm of his heartbeat against her ear reminded her of a melody she had once feared was lost forever.

    She nestled her head onto his chest, her voice soft, carrying the weight of a thousand emotions. "I''ve missed you. All of you."

    Lewis''s fingers brushed through her hair, sending a shiver down her spine. "I''ve missed you too, Karlia. More than words can express."

    She shifted slightly to gaze up at him, her eyes searching his familiar features. "How... How do you look like your past self again? Thest I knew, you were... Jared."

    A rueful smile graced his lips. "Jared... He''s me, or rather, I''m him. He reached a point where he realized he needed to make a choice, a decision that he found too daunting. So, he split himself into two."

    Karlia blinked, trying to process the information. "Split? So, you''re..."

    "I''m a version of myself," Lewis interrupted, understanding her unspoken question. "A version that will never leave you, never abandon you. I promise."

    Tears glistened in Karlia''s eyes, threatening to spill. Her voice barely more than a whisper, she said, "I was so afraid this was all just another dream. That I''d wake up and you''d be gone."

    Lewis tightened his embrace, pulling her closer. "This is real, Karlia. I''m here, with you. And I''m not going anywhere."

    A genuine smile, one filled with pure joy and relief, spread across her face. "Being with you, living our lives side by side... That''s all I''ve ever wanted."

    He kissed her forehead, his voice soft, "And it''s all I''ve ever wanted too."

    In theforting darkness, they held onto each other, two souls finally reunited, bound by an unbreakable love.

    *******

    [Moments Later]

    Karlia and Iy side by side, the vast darkness around us feeling oddly intimate.

    Her fingers traced patterns on my palm, a familiar gesture that sent warmth coursing through my veins. For so long, I''d been driven by a single goal - rescuing her.

    And now, with her beside me, a tidal wave of emotion threatened to spill forth.

    "I''ve missed this," I admitted, entwining our fingers.

    She looked up, her eyes shimmering like the first light of dawn. "So have I, Lewis. So have I."

    I took a deep breath, knowing there was more I needed to share. "Karlia, rescuing you was just the beginning. There''s still so much I have to do, so much I need to show you."

    Her eyes sparkled with intrigue. "Like what?"

    I grinned, thinking of the adventures that awaited us. "There are ces beyond this darkness, worlds of incredible beauty and danger, mysteries that I''ve uncovered and ones I''ve yet to unravel."

    I couldn''t wait to show her all the people I had met, and all the things I had been up to in her absence. Just thinking about all of them made my heart race.

    "Plus, I made a promise to some people¡­ I have to see it through to the end."

    My friends in this new world, they were all counting on me.

    Karlia raised an eyebrow yfully. "And you''re telling me all of this now?"

    "I wanted to give you a choice," I grinned. "While I have many battles to fight, and there remain many issues to resolve, I want you to be there by my side. But only if you choose to."

    It seemed pointless to even ask, but I was a gentleman. I had to do this for courtesy''s sake.

    Karlia''s smile grew brighter, her enthusiasm palpable. "Lewis, wherever you go, I want to be there with you. Every step of the way."

    Happiness surged through me, and before I could think, I leaned in, capturing her lips with mine. The world seemed to fade away as we lost ourselves in that passionate kiss.

    ''I mean, we''re engaged now. We''re pretty much inseparable!''

    Pulling back, I saw determination in her gaze. "So, what''s our next move?"

    I grinned, feeling invigorated by her spirit.

    "First, we need to prepare. A war is brewing in the world beyond. I just hope we''re not toote. Once we resolve that, then we can embark on the adventure of a lifetime."

    "Another war, huh? Looks like everywhere you go, there''s trouble." Karlia retorted in a grin.

    Now that she mentioned it¡­ she wasn''t quite wrong.

    "Well, I can''t wait, Lewis. I''m sure you''ll show me a good time."

    Lost in her warm gaze and magical smile, I nodded yfully.

    Of course, I nned on doing all that. A man had to do everything in his power to impress his woman, after all.

    Karlia squeezed my hand in response, and together, we faced the future, ready for whatever challengesy ahead.

    ''I won''t let you down!''

    *********

    [MEANWHILE¡­]

    ~RUMBLE!~

    The ground shook with a terrible rhythm as the Giants, their colossal forms looming menacingly against the horizon, made their advance.

    Each footstep was a mini-quake, each growl from their throats akin to thunder.

    ~RUMBLE!~

    Their massive hands wielded gargantuan weapons, from crude clubs to sharpened spears, each capable of causing unprecedented destruction. Enved by the Triumvirate''s Magic, the Giants were a force of raw power and terror.

    In a war where power was everything, the Triumvirate was wise to employ these save creatures, taming them for the destruction they were birthed to wreak.

    "ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!!"

    Their terror-inducing roars caused the entire air to vibrate, and the ground to tremble in their presence.

    However, just as they were intimidating, so also were their adversaries.

    Facing off against these behemoths were the Fairy Kingdom''s most elite creations: the Mecha Knights.

    Crafted from the rarest metals and infused with the most potent fairy magic, these towering mechanical defenders glinted under the sun, ready for battle.

    Their sleek bodies bristled with weaponry, from glistening des that could slice through the toughest armor to ranged armaments designed to shower their enemies with powerful projectiles.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The sh began with an explosive roar.

    Giants charged, their sheer numbers seeming to blot out the sun. But the Mecha Knights were no pushovers.

    With practiced synchronization, they let loose a barrage of energy beams, their luminescent arcs of magic cutting through the ranks of the Giants.

    ~VWUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

    "GROOOAAAHHH!!!" Many of the towering behemoths fell, their mighty roars echoing in agony as they tumbled.

    Yet, the Mecha Knights, for all their firepower, were significantly outnumbered. As the Giants neared, the mechanical warriors switched tactics.

    des sprang to life, gleaming with deadly intent. Energy shields materialized, deflecting the devastating blows dealt by the Giants.

    ~FWISH!~

    ~SWOOOOSHHH!!!~

    ~WHOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    It was a dance of chaos and precision.

    A Giant would raise its weapon, aiming to crush a Mecha Knight beneath its heft, only for the nimble machine to sidestep at thest second, counterattacking with a swift and devastating blow.

    But for every Giant that fell, another two seemed to take its ce. Their swarm-like assault was relentless, putting the Mecha Knights on the defensive.

    One particr Mecha Knight, its armor a brilliant shade of emerald, leapt into the fray, its twin des spinning.

    It carved a path through the Giants, its every movement precise, efficient.

    A nearby Giant, its eyes glowing an unnatural shade of red, swung its massive club. The Mecha Knight narrowly evaded, using its boosters tounch into the air before letting loose a torrent of energy missiles.

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The Giant roared in pain, the missiles'' impact leaving craters across its rugged hide.

    But even as the emerald knight engaged its foe, more Giants converged on it. Two, then four, then six. The Mecha Knight found itself surrounded, its once fluid movements restricted.

    Just then, a squad of Mecha Knights rushed to its aid, theirbined firepower forcing the Giants to retreat.

    It was a pattern that yed out across the battlefield¡ªswarms of Giants attempting to overpower individual Mecha Knights, only for reinforcements to arrive, tipping the bnce.

    Neither side could gain the upper hand.

    The superior firepower and agility of the Mecha Knights were offset by the sheer numbers and raw strength of the Giants. The battlefield was littered with the fallen from both sides¡ªmechanical parts strewn amidst giant footprints.

    It was a stalemate, a grinding battle of attrition, with neither the Fairy Kingdom''s technological marvels nor the Triumvirate''s enved behemoths able to im a decisive victory.

    The war raged on, the oue still hanging in the bnce.

    Watching all of this from the Fairy Headquarters was Oberon, the Fairy King.

    A grim frown yed on his face, depicting his dissatisfaction with the current sight that he witnessed.

    "This¡­ isn''t good."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The Arc is reaching its climax¡­ slowly but steadily.

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1106 The Game Changers Arrive

    Chapter 1106 The Game Changers Arrive

    Fairy King Oberon''s eyes narrowed as he watched the chaotic dance of battle from his vantage point.

    The Giants'' earth-shaking advance shed with the disciplined maneuvering of the Mecha Knights, while the rest of his Fairies were engaged on multiple fronts against Elves, Beastfolk, and Dwarves.

    The very essence of the Luminis Forest vibrated with the intensity of the conflict, its innate magic responding to Oberon''s will to protect.

    Beside him, Urs, the fairy-shaped automaton, observed the fray with an unblinking analytical gaze.

    Oberon''s voice was tense as he turned to her. "Urs, I need an assessment. How do we fare?"

    Urs''s eyes glowed momentarily as she processed the real-time data from the battlefield.

    "Your Majesty, thus far, we have not had a single casualty. Many Fairies have sustained injuries, and numerous Mecha Knights are in need of repair. Our defensive lines are holding, but our manpower is stretched thinpared to the overwhelming numbers of the Triumvirate''s forces."

    Oberon''s jaw clenched at the news, a flicker of relief quickly overshadowed by concern. "And the long-term prospects?"

    Urs hesitated for a fraction of a second, a hint of emotion in her mechanical voice. "While our current strategies will eventually lead us to victory, it is my estimation that sacrifices will be made. I anticipate at least a few hundred Fairies will fall before the battle is A sharp intake of breath was Oberon''s immediate response, his heart aching at the prospect. Hundreds of his people, each one won."

    A sharp intake of breath was Oberon''s immediate response, his heart aching at the prospect. Hundreds of his people, each one cherished, each one irreceable.

    His hands gripped the balcony railing, knuckles whitening.

    He turned his gaze back to the battlefield, wishing he could do more. But he knew his limits.

    The very environment of the Luminis Forest had been shaped and controlled by his magic, providing vital support and defense to his forces while healing those in need.

    It had drained a significant portion of his energy, leaving him unable to intervene further.

    The battle raged on, the Fairies'' brilliant wings dancing amidst the shes of swords and the roars of Beastfolk. Oberon could see the Mecha Knights battling the Giants, their elegant mechanical movements contrasted with the brute force of their adversaries.

    As he watched, one of the Mecha Knights took a devastating blow from a Giant''s club, staggering and nearly falling. Oberon''s heart pounded in his chest as he willed the Mecha Knight to recover, to continue the fight.

    It did, rejoining the battle with renewed vigor, but the near miss was a stark reminder of how precarious their situation was.

    "Prepare our reserves," Oberon ordered, his voice firm. "I want all avable resources dedicated to repairs and healing. We will endure this, Urs. We must."

    Urs bowed slightly, her mechanical voice resonating with a sense of determination. "We will, Your Majesty. The Fairy Kingdom will prevail."

    Oberon''s gaze remained fixed on the battle, his mind racing with strategies and concerns. His people were fighting with courage and resilience, but the cost weighed heavily on him.

    He knew that victory was within reach, but the path to it was fraught with danger and potential loss.

    He gritted his teeth, vowing that he would do everything in his power to minimize the sacrifices. The Fairy Kingdom would stand strong, and he would lead them through this storm, no matter what it took.

    "I could really use the assistance, though. Where the hell are you, Lewis?"

    As if some force in the world heard his words, Oberon''s senses picked something strange going on¡­ an interference that instantly caught his gaze.

    ''T-this is¡ª!''

    Fairy King Oberon''s eyes widened as a sudden bright light erupted on the battlefield, momentarily illuminating the sh of arms and magic like a re in the night.

    His breath caught as three figures emerged from the brilliance, their very presencepelling both sides to halt their conflict.

    He recognized them instantly: the Great Sage Larry Damien, Greatest Magic Swordsman Aria, and Heretic Doctor Drake.

    Legends in their own right, their sudden appearance was like a shockwave, leaving both the Fairy Kingdom''s defenders and the Triumvirate''s aggressors in stunned silence.

    Larry Damien, his wise eyes gleaming with an inner light, stepped forward.

    His staff was adorned with mystic runes, and his robes billowed as if touched by an unseen wind. His voice carried across the battlefield, imbued with an authority thatmanded attention.

    "People of the Fairy Kingdom, warriors of the Triumvirate, hear me! Wee here for one reason and one reason alone: to end this war once and for all."

    Oberon''s heart pounded at the promation.

    The battlefield was eerily silent, every eye fixed on Larry and hispanions. Aria, her hand resting on the hilt of her legendary sword, stood tall and resolute. Drake, his face a grim mask of silence, exuded an air of mystery and power.

    ''They''re the ones the Triumvirate is after, right? It seems Lewis finally brought them back, after all.''

    Oberon could feel the tension in the air, a palpable force that seemed to grip everyone present. He knew that Larry''s words were more than mere rhetoric.

    The Great Sage''s wisdom was renowned, and if he deemed this conflict a threat to the world''s bnce, it was no idle im.

    ''But¡­ can only three people turn the tide of this battle?'' Oberon question as he squinted his gaze on the battlefield

    "You dare defy the Triumvirate?" the General spat, his anger barely contained.

    Aria stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm. "Silence, Azel. It seems your leaders do not wish to show themselves in the war they initiated. How utterly disgraceful."

    Drake''s voice, quiet and measured, added to the chorus. "You''d expect those three to at least appear in the war. As expected of cowards who are used to ruling in the shadows.

    "Y-you¡­ how dare you!" The General, whose name was Azel growled.

    He and his two closestmanders¡ªeach from the Beastfolk and Dwarf Race respectively¡ªclosed in on the three in no time.

    Oberon''s mind raced as he watched the exchange in both silence and anticipation. There was no way these three could stop an entire war themselves, was there?

    ''What in the world are you thinking, Lewis?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1107 The Challenge

    Chapter 1107 The Challenge

    The tension in the air was palpable as General Azel''s eyes narrowed, his face etched with defiance and contempt.

    He looked to his two closestmanders, one from the Beastfolk and the other from the Dwarf Race, a wordless agreement passing between them.

    The challenge thrown down by the Great Sage and hispanions could not go unanswered.

    "We will not be lectured by criminals!" Azel''s voice was a sharp snarl, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "Destroy them!"

    "I''ll handle this." Aria smiled, ncing at her two friends. Larry and Drake nodded in unison, clearly not suited at all for battle.

    Her silver danced behind her as she stepped forward, not even letting the Generalplete his words.

    ~ZZZZTTTTTZZZZ!!!~

    Aria''s body became enveloped in intense lightning magic, the air around her crackling with energy.

    "This shouldn''t take too long."

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!!~

    Her movement was a blur, faster than the eye could follow, and in the blink of an eye, Azel and hismanders were subdued, their weapons sent flying, their bodies rendered unconscious by a touch infused with just the right amount of force.

    "G-GUAAAAARRKKKK!!!"

    Aria''s face was calm, her eyes cool as she looked down at the fallen warriors.

    "I don''t want to kill you for the sins of your superiors," she retorted, her voice filled with both resolve and a trace of sadness.

    The battlefield was in stunned silence, the gathered forces on both sides witnessing the swift and decisive action.

    It was as if time itself was still, as both warring sides stared at the swift defeat of the strongest within the Triumvirate forces.

    However, this decorum didn''tst for very long.

    ~VWUUUUUSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    A brilliant light spread throughout the battlefield, a radiance that seemed to pierce the very soul, and the three leaders of the Triumvirate appeared.

    The Elf Queen, regal and aloof, her eyes filled with condescending pride.

    The Beast King, powerful and imposing, a presence thatmanded respect.

    The Dwarf Chief, solid and unyielding, his gaze steady and unwavering.

    They stood together, the very embodiment of the Triumvirate''s authority, and their voices rang out in unison, a harmony that resonated with power.

    "You have trespassed on a path not meant for you," the Elf Queen intoned, her voice cold. "Foolish daughter of mine."

    Aria''s eyes instantly narrowed as she looked her mother in the eye. She remembered the time when she wouldn''t even dare to gaze upon her mother''s face.

    However, she wasn''t that scared little girl any longer.

    "Haha! I like those eyes of yours, Magic Swordsman! You have no idea how long I''ve waited to meet you," the Beast Kingughed, his eyes fixed only on Aria.

    Larry Damien stepped forward, his face calm, his eyes meeting theirs without fear. "You should all stop this. At the very least, retreat your forces to prevent needless casualties. If you want a fight, thene at us yoursel¡ª"

    The Elf Queen''s eyes shed. "Your arrogance is astounding. You think you can dictate our course? A weak human like you?"

    Larry was instantly silenced by the Elf Queen''s words, and he could feel a light ''sorry'' tap from Drake''s hands.

    "She didn''t have to say it like that¡­" Larry murmured in defeat.

    However, that didn''t change the current situation, or their objective here.

    ''Lewis told us to do our best. That''s precisely what we''re going to do.''

    Aria stepped forward, her voice was firm, and her body still crackling with the energy of her magic.

    "You''re selfish as usual. Hear me, everyone! You do not have to fight any longer. There''s no need to kill yourselves needlessly. This very day, the Triumvirate will fall. Do not fight a losing war."

    For a moment, no one said anything.

    All eyes were focused on the countenance of the ones who held all the control¡ªthe Triumvirate.

    However¡­

    "Pfft! How idiotic."

    "Hahahaha! That''s such a stupid thing to say."

    "Have you no sense?"

    The members of the Triumvirate looked down at Larry, Aria, and Drake, their faces twisted into mocking smiles.

    The Elf Queen''s eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as she addressed them, her voice dripping with disdain.

    "You think you can challenge us? You think you can defy the will of the Triumvirate? How amusing." Herughter was like ice, her gaze fixed on Aria.

    "We''ve been around before anyone here was even conceived. Except perhaps Oberon. You really think you can say a few words and that will be the end of it?"

    Tense silence filled the air as the Elf Queen''s face morphed into a twisted frown. "I will make sure you suffer well before you die, child."

    Aria''s face remained impassive, her eyes meeting the Elf Queen''s without flinching. But it was the Beast King who stepped forward, his massive frame imposing, his eyes filled with a feral curiosity.

    "Hahaha! You are interesting," he rumbled, his voice resonating with power.

    He looked at Aria, his eyes narrowing. "I started this war to draw you out, Greatest Magic Swordsman. I have heard of your prowess, and I wish to test it myself."

    Aria''s eyes widened slightly, her body tensed, ready to react. The Beast King''s challenge was clear, and the stakes were high.

    "I challenge you to a duel," the Beast King dered, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "If I lose, I will withdraw my force. But if you lose..." He grinned, a savage smile that sent a chill down the spines of those who witnessed it.

    "You must be my bride and birth my children."

    The battlefield was in stunned silence, the audacity of the challenge leaving everyone speechless. Aria''s face was pale, but her eyes were filled with a steely resolve. She looked at the Beast King, her voice calm and clear.

    "You wish to duel me? Very well. I ept your challenge."

    The Dwarf Chief''s eyes narrowed, a hint of disapproval in his gaze. The Elf Queen''s smile widened, her eyes filled with anticipation.

    Larry and Drake exchanged nces, their faces etched with concern, but they knew that Aria''s decision was final.

    The Beast King''sughter boomed across the field, his excitement palpable. "Excellent! We shall fight here and now, and let everyone, including your mother, bear witness to our battle. "

    "Hmph! I no longer consider her my daughter. Rather than just wasting away as a corpse, perhaps she could prove more useful as a breeding device."

    "Pfft! Puahahaha! Hardcore as always! You really are too cold!" The Beast Kingughed, taking steps forward.

    Aria''s hand tightened around the hilt of her sword, her body crackling with the energy of her magic.

    She looked at the Beast King, her voice filled with determination.

    "I will not lose to you. And I will not be your bride."

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    The Beast King''s eyes gleamed with savage delight. "We shall see, Magic Swordsman. We shall see."

    With those words, the two of them stepped forward, the battlefield clearing to make way for the duel.

    Fairy King Oberon, watching from a distance, closed his eyes for a moment, a silent prayer on his lips.

    He knew that this duel could change everything, and he hoped with all his heart that Aria would prevail.

    ''Did you foresee this as well, Lewis?''

    He could only hope so. Because even he, the Fairy King, could not decide who was superior.

    The Greatest Magic Swordsman¡­ or the Strongest Beast King.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1108 The Beast King Vs Aria

    Chapter 1108 The Beast King Vs Aria

    The Beast King stood across from Aria, his massive frame pulsing with anticipation.

    His eyes were fixed on her, assessing her strength, her prowess. In her, he saw a challenge, a test of his own power. And as he readied himself for the duel, his mind drifted back to the past, to the days that had shaped him, forged him into the fearsome warrior he had be.

    He had been born different, a mutant, his body a marvel of strength and adaptability. From the very beginning, he had known that he was special, that he was destined for greatness. Strength was everything to him, the measure of a being''s worth, the essence of life itself.

    He remembered the battles of his youth, the thrill of victory, the joy of crushing his foes. He had honed his body, trained his mind, mastered the most powerful Martial Arts that had decimated his opponents. His very being had be a weapon, a force of nature that knew no equal.

    He had wandered thends, seeking out challenges, testing his might against the strongest foes he could find. Every victory had fueled his obsession, every defeat had only strengthened his resolve. His body had adapted, evolved, grown stronger with every battle.

    And then he had discovered the Triumvirate, an alliance of power and ambition that had resonated with his own desires. He had joined them, be their muscle, their enforcer, a symbol of their strength. With them, he had found purpose, a cause that matched his own hunger for power.

    He had fought wars, conquerednds, broken armies. He had be a legend, a name that struck fear into the hearts of those who heard it. He was the Beast King, a warrior without equal, a force of nature that could not be tamed.

    And now, here he was, facing a new challenge, a new test of his strength. Aria, the Greatest Magic Swordsman, a woman who had captured his curiosity, who had drawn him into this war. He looked at her, his eyes filled with a savage hunger, a need to prove himself once more.

    He could see her strength, her determination, her skill. She was worthy, a fitting opponent, a chance to show the world once more why he was the Beast King.

    His muscles tensed, his heart pounding with excitement. The duel was about to begin, a sh of legends, a battle for supremacy. He knew that this was what he lived for, what he had been born for.

    Strength was everything, and he would prove it once more. He would show the world that he was the strongest, that he was the Beast King.

    And as the first blows were exchanged, as the duel began in earnest, the memories of his past fueled his resolve, his hunger for victory, his need to prove that he was, indeed, the strongest of all.

    *****

    The Beast King''s heart roared in his chest as he faced Aria, his entire being focused on the battle. This was what he lived for, the thrill ofbat, the dance of power and skill. He could see the lightning crackling around her, the energy of her magic, the grace of her martial arts. She was a worthy opponent, a true challenge, and he relished the chance to prove himself against her.

    Aria struck first, a sh of lightning magic sending a bolt of electricity hurtling towards him. The Beast King reacted instinctively, his body moving with a speed that belied his size, dodging the attack. His own martial arts were pure power, a symphony of destruction honed by years of training and battle.

    He lunged at her, his fist a sledgehammer of force aimed at her chest. Aria moved with grace, her body flowing like water as she dodged his strike, her sword shing in a counterattack that he barely managed to avoid.

    The fight was a dance, a whirlwind of motion and power, lightning shing with raw strength. Aria''s magic was a thing of beauty, her control and precision a marvel to behold. But the Beast King''s strength was a force of nature, his blows like thunder, his movements like an unstoppable storm.

    He struck at her, his fists and feet a blur of power, each blow a testament to his might. Aria matched him, her lightning magic weaving around his attacks, her martial arts a perfect bnce of offense and defense. Their battle was a sh of titans, a contest of wills that neither would yield.

    The Beast King felt a thrill of excitement, a joy that he had not felt in a long time. Aria was pushing him, challenging him, forcing him to reach deeper into his reserves of strength. He could feel his body responding, his muscles surging with power, his instincts sharpening.

    Hended a blow, his fist connecting with her shoulder, sending a shockwave through her body. Aria staggered, pain shing in her eyes, but she recovered quickly, her magic ring as sheunched a counterattack. The Beast King roared, his body moving with a primal ferocity as he met her strike, his own power erupting in a sh that sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

    The battle raged on, neither giving an inch, both fighting with everything they had. The Beast King could feel his blood singing, his soul alight with the joy ofbat. Aria was everything he had hoped for, a true warrior, a worthy opponent.

    He knew that this fight would be remembered, a battle of legends that would echo through the ages. He knew that he had found a challenge that matched his own strength, a duel that would push him to his limits.

    And he knew, with a certainty that resonated in the very core of his being, that he would not lose.

    For he was the Beast King, a master of martial arts, a warrior without equal. And he would prove it, here and now, in this battle that had be the very essence of his existence.

    With a roar, he charged forward, his body a weapon, his spirit unbreakable, his determination absolute. The fight was far from over, and he would not rest until victory was his.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1109 Aria Vs The Beast King

    Chapter 1109 Aria Vs The Beast King

    Aria''s body felt alive with energy, the lightning magic coursing through her veins like a torrent of power.

    Facing the Beast King, she knew that she was stronger, more capable than she had ever been before.

    Was it Lewis''s doing? Ever since she was resurrected, she couldn''t help but feel like she had grown far more powerfulpared to before.

    She couldn''t be certain, but something had changed within her, and she was determined to use it.

    The Beast King was relentless, his martial arts a disy of pure, unbridled strength. Every strike was a thunderous blow, every movement a dance of power.

    But Aria was not to be outdone.

    Her body moved with precision, her magic guided by a will of iron. She felt an inner strength, a resilience that she had never known before.

    She struck at the Beast King, her sword shing through the air, her magic weaving a tapestry of lightning.

    He was fast, incredibly so, and his strength was overwhelming.

    But Aria was faster, her body moving with a grace that defied belief.

    She knew that she could not have beaten him in the past, but now was different.

    Now she was more.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The Beast King roared, his attacks a fury of force, but Aria met him head-on. Her sword cut through his defenses, her magic a storm of destruction.

    The battle was fierce, a sh of titans that shook the very earth.

    Aria''s heart pounded in her chest, her mind focused on the fight. She knew that she could not falter, could not waver.

    The Beast King was a formidable foe, but she was a warrior, a magic swordsman, and she would not be defeated.

    She pressed her attack, her body a whirlwind of motion, her lightning magic a symphony of destruction. The Beast King matched her, his own power a testament to his skill.

    But Aria felt a fire within her, a determination that would not be quenched.

    She struck at him, her sword a de of lightning, her magic a torrent of energy. The Beast King roared, his body a weapon of destruction, but Aria would not be denied. She was more than she had ever been, stronger, faster, more capable.

    And she knew that she would win.

    With a cry, sheunched a final attack, her magic a storm of lightning, her body a weapon of precision. The Beast King met her, his own power a force to be reckoned with, but Aria''s will was unbreakable.

    The battle raged on, neither yielding, neither giving an inch.

    Aria''s heart sang with the thrill ofbat, her soul alight with the joy of battle. She knew that she was meant for this, that this was her destiny.

    And she knew, with a certainty that resonated in her very core, that she would not lose.

    With a roar, she charged forward, her sword a de of lightning, her spirit unbreakable, her determination absolute.

    The fight was far from over, and she would not rest until victory was hers.

    *******

    The Beast King''s muscles screamed with exertion as he shed with Aria, his whole being focused on the fight.

    Every blow from her sword sent shockwaves through his body, and her lightning magic danced around him like a tempest. He had never faced an opponent like her before.

    He attacked with all his might, his martial arts honed to perfection, his body a weapon of pure destruction. But Aria was relentless, her movements fluid, her strikes precise. The Beast King could feel the power behind her attacks, a strength that was more than physical, something that resonated within her very soul.

    They fought with a fury that shook the earth, their battle a dance of power and skill. The Beast King roared, his attacks a storm of force, but Aria met him at every turn. Her sword was a de of lightning, her magic a symphony of destruction. And though he fought with everything he had, he could feel her pulling ahead.

    The area around them was obliterated, the ground torn apart, trees uprooted, rocks shattered. Their battle was a cataclysm, a sh of titans that would be remembered for generations.

    The Beast King''s heart pounded in his chest, his breathing in ragged gasps. He knew that he was losing, could feel it in the way Aria moved, in the way her attacksnded with ever-increasing force.

    But he would not give up, would not yield. He was the Beast King, a warrior who had never known defeat. He would fight to the end, would give everything he had.

    With a roar, heunched a final attack, his body a whirlwind of motion, his power a force of nature. Aria met him, her sword a de of lightning, her body a weapon of grace. They shed, their battle reaching a fever pitch, neither willing to give an inch.

    But Aria was more, her strength undeniable, her will unbreakable. She struck at him, her sword cutting through his defenses, her magic a storm of destruction. The Beast King felt his strength waning, felt the battle slipping away.

    With a final, desperate attack, he tried to turn the tide, tried to seize victory from the jaws of defeat. But Aria was unstoppable, her body a weapon of precision, her spirit indomitable.

    With a cry, she struck him down, her sword a de of lightning, her victory absolute.

    The Beast King fell, his body aching, his spirit defeated. He looked up at Aria, his eyes filled with respect, with acknowledgment of her strength.

    "You have won," he said, his voice a rumble of defeat. "I will keep my word. I will withdraw my forces."

    He had lost, but he had been bested by a warrior unlike any other. Aria had proven her strength, had proven her worth. And the Beast King could do nothing but ept it.

    With a final look at her, he turned and walked away, his body a testament to the battle, his spirit humbled by defeat. The war was over, and the Beast King had lost.

    But he had lost to a warrior who was more, a warrior who had earned his respect. And in that, he found a strange kind of victory.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

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 Chapter 1110 The War Must Go On

    Chapter 1110 The War Must Go On

    With the dust of battle still settling, the Beast King, Dwarven Chief, and Elf Queen gathered to discuss the sudden turn of events.

    The frustration and tension were palpable, and the Elf Queen''s eyes were aze with indignation.

    "How could you surrender so easily, Beast King?" she spat, her voice dripping with contempt.

    "We had them on the ropes! Your foolish pride has cost us everything!"

    The Beast King''s eyes were steady as he met her gaze. "I made a vow," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I lost the duel, and I will keep my word. I won''t force you to do the same, but I willmand my forces to withdraw."

    "You and your ridiculous honor!" the Elf Queen snapped. "What good is honor if we lose here?"

    The reason for the war was to exert the Triumvirate''s influence and absolutely crush their enemies.

    If the Beast King decided to be a weakling now, then¡­

    "You''re a fool! Just forget about the promise and crush them. History is written by the victors anyway."

    "No," the Beast King replied, his voice unyielding. "I will not go back on my word. My decision is final."

    The Dwarven Chief sighed, his shoulders slumping.

    He had seen the determination in the Beast King''s eyes and knew there was no changing his mind.

    "I don''t agree with this, but I can not see any profit in continuing without the Beast King," he said, his voice weary.

    "Even with our numbers, the Fairy''s army managed to hold us in a stalemate. If we lose a third of our forces, then it''s all over. The war is already lost at this point. We have already suffered too many losses, and to continue would be madness."

    "You would abandon our cause as well?" the Elf Queen demanded, her eyes narrowing.

    "I am only driven by profit. From what I''m seeing, I''d be at a loss if we proceed even further. It''s not rational." the Dwarven Chief replied, his voice filled with regret.

    "It is time to ept that and retreat."

    "You are both cowards!" the Elf Queen hissed. "You would give up so easily, abandon everything we have fought for?"

    "It is not cowardice to recognize the truth," the Beast King said, his voice firm. "We have lost, and to continue would only lead to more death and destruction."

    "I will not yield!" the Elf Queen dered, her eyes shing. "I will fight to thest, even if I must do so alone!"

    "Then you will die alone," the Beast King said, his voice filled with sorrow. His eyes showed he was dead serious in his decision.

    "Kamilia, let''s just stop this no¡ª"

    "Shut up, both of you!" The Elf Queen roared. "Don''t you dare say my name.

    At this point, the Elf Queen felt betrayed.

    Her two closest allies; the ones who had been by her side for so long¡­ now defied her.

    "It''s pointless discussing any further¡­" A sinister toneced her words. "I''m done."

    ~VWUUUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    The sky suddenly darkened as a palpable chill filled the air, the battlefield falling into an eerie silence.

    The Beast King and Dwarven Chief stared in horror as the Elf Queen manifested an object in the palm of her hand.

    "T-that is¡ª!" The Beast King''s eyes widened in shock.

    "Why do you have that?!" The Dwarven Chief blurted out.

    Their eyes could not believe that the one they had called ally and friend was in possession of such a sinister tool.

    How long had this been the case?

    "Why do you have a Grand Blood Stone?!" Joint roars of terror filled the air.

    "Fools¡­"

    Elf Queen Kamilia raised the Grand Blood Stone high, its surface gleaming with a malevolent crimson light.

    The twisted artifact pulsed with a terrifying energy, born from the sacrifice of countless souls, its power magnifying the dread emanating from the Elf Queen''s very being.

    "You thought you could defy me?" she said, her voice dripping with venom and contempt. Her eyes gleamed with madness as the dark magic swirled around her.

    "You were always under the palm of my hand, mere puppets dancing to my whims."

    The Beast King growled, his body tensing as he sensed the dark power emanating from the stone. "What have you done?"

    "What I have always intended to do," the Elf Queen replied, her voice cold and merciless. "Win this war at any cost."

    She waved the Grand Blood Stone, and a dark wave of energy swept across the battlefield.

    "Soul Magic: Absolute Binding Curse!"

    The eyes of the soldiers, elves, beastfolk, and dwarves zed over, their bodies stiffening as the dark magic took hold.

    "You see?" the Elf Queen said, her voice filled with cruel satisfaction.

    "They are mine tomand. They will fight and die for me, and continue fighting for me even after death. There will be no retreat, no surrender. The war will continue."

    The Beast King''s face twisted in horror as he realized the full extent of her madness. "You would turn your own people into mindless ves? Sacrifice them all for your own ambition?"

    "Of course," she replied, her voice dripping with scorn. "They are but tools to be used, means to an end. And the end is victory."

    She raised her hand, and the soldiers moved as one, turning to face the Fairy Kingdom''s forces, their faces devoid of emotion, their bodies mere shells controlled by the dark magic.

    "The war is not over," the Elf Queen said, her voice filled with cold triumph. "It has only just begun. You will all bow before me, or you will die."

    The Beast King and Dwarven Chief could only watch in horror as they too sumbed to the overwhelming power of the Grand Blood Stone.

    None could resist.

    Not if they were allies fighting under the banner of the Triumvirate.

    The Elf Queen''s dark n unfolded, her twisted magic turning friends and allies into mindless puppets, the battlefield transformed into a nightmarishndscape of dread and despair.

    "Now then¡­ let us continue."

    The war had be a nightmare, and there was no waking from it.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The Elf Queen was the true viin of the three. Guess you could all see thating.

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1111 The One To End The War [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1111 The One To End The War [Pt 1]

    The battlefield had turned into a nightmarish realm of despair as the Elf Queen''s Soul Magic spread like a blight, transforming friend and foe into mindless, zombie-like creatures.

    Among them was the Beast King, once a proud and noble warrior, now reduced to a soulless husk, his eyes hollow and empty, his movements mechanical and unyielding.

    Worst yet, he only had one enemy in sight.

    Even in death, it seemed he still sought after the strongest.

    "Aria¡­"

    Aria, already exhausted from her fierce battle with the Beast King, found herself facing him once again.

    Only now, he was a relentless and ruthless monster, his body driven by dark magic, knowing no fatigue, no pain, no mercy.

    "You cannot be serious!" Aria eximed, her voice filled with disbelief and horror as the Beast King lumbered toward her, his massive fists clenched, ready to strike.

    "I''m sorry, Aria," the Beast King''s voice came, hollow and devoid of emotion, his words a cruel mockery of his former self. "I must destroy you."

    With that, he lunged at her, his movements faster and more precise than before.

    ~FWOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    Aria barely managed to dodge his blow, her body aching, her strength waning. She knew that she was at a severe disadvantage.

    The Beast King was tireless, driven by a dark power that seemed endless.

    ~CLANG!~

    ~WHAM!~

    ~VWUUUSSSHHH!~

    They shed again and again, Aria''s sword meeting the Beast King''s fists in a desperate dance of death.

    She struck and parried, dodged and countered, but every move was met with relentless force, every attack turned aside with ruthless efficiency.

    "You were a worthy opponent," the Beast King said, his voice cold and emotionless as he advanced on Aria, his eyes fixed on her, unblinking. "But now you must die."

    "I won''t give in to you!" Aria shouted, her voice filled with determination. But her body was betraying her, her movements slowing, her reactions dulling.

    She could feel the Beast King''s power growing, his attacks bing more and more relentless, his advantage increasing with every passing second.

    She tried to summon her lightning magic, but it fizzled and died, her magical energy drained.

    ''Damnit!'' She thought internally.

    Unfortunately, she wasn''t even given the chance to register such thoughts.

    The Beast King''s fist connected with her side, sending her flying, her body mming into the ground.

    "You can''t win," the Beast King said, his voice cold and final as he stood over her, his massive form casting a dark shadow. "You are beaten."

    Aria looked up at him, her body battered and bruised, her strength all but gone. But her eyes were filled with a fierce determination, a fire that refused to be extinguished.

    "H-haa¡­ haa¡­ as if I''d ept that," she whispered, her voice filled with defiance. "I already beat you once. I can do it again¡­"

    The Beast King said nothing, his face an emotionless mask as he raised his fist, ready to deliver the final blow.

    Aria''s body was broken, but her will remained unbroken, her spirit indomitable.

    In that dark and desperate moment, she knew that she had to find a way to win, to ovee the impossible odds, to defeat the monster that the Beast King had be.

    She could see herrades running close to her already, their faces etched with worry. She could see how they struggled to break free from the ravaging army that closed in on the Fairy Kingdom''s troops.

    With blurry eyes, she could see that the war had continued, and that more people would have to die.

    All thanks to her mother''s stupid ambition.

    At this point, more than anything, she wished for it all to end. This war¡­ had to be stopped.

    "Alright, that''s enough." A voice suddenly echoed throughout therge battlefield, drawing Aria''s attention, as well as the focus of every major yer in the battlefield.

    It was a familiar tone, from a familiar person.

    "L-Lewis?!"

    That''s right! The man who appeared from thin hair, his dark hair fluttering on his head as he donned a fearless smile, was none other than Lewis Griffith.

    The air around the battlefield suddenly grew tense, a new energy entering the fray.

    Everyone, friend and foe alike, turned to see Lewis stepping forward, his face etched with determination and resolve.

    "I can''t bear to watch this anymore," he dered, his voice ringing out clear and strong. "I''ll be putting an end to this war."

    For a moment, silence prevailedpletely. No one could utter a word of response to the man who had just showed up.

    No one except the malefactor herself.

    "Pfft!"

    The Elf Queen scoffed at his words, her eyes narrowing in contempt. "Who are you to make such a deration? You''re a nobody. You can''t dare to stop me and my army."

    Her words were filled with arrogance, but they died in her throat as Lewis raised his hand, casting a single, devastating Spell that swept through the battlefield.

    "[Full Death]"

    In one fell swoop, he disposed of the Beast King and Dwarven Chief, their bodies crumbling to dust, the dark magic that had controlled them vanishing into thin air.

    "W-what?!" The previously prideful Queen gasped at the sight.

    The battlefield fell into stunned silence, all eyes on Lewis as the true scope of his power became apparent.

    she realized the danger she now faced.

    "Who... who are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

    The Elf Queen''s face paled, her eyes widening in shock and fear as she realized the danger she now faced.

    "Who... who are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling.

    Lewis smiled, a cold, determined smile that sent a chill down the spine of everyone who saw it.

    "I am the one who will put an end to this war," he said, his voice filled with a quiet, deadly conviction. "Once and for all. Even if it means executing everyst member of the Triumvirate''s forces."

    His words hung in the air, a promise and a warning, a line drawn in the sand that could not be crossed.

    The Elf Queen''s face twisted with rage, but behind her eyes, there was a flicker of doubt, a realization that she was no longer in control, that the tide of battle had turned.

    Lewis''s eyes met hers, and in that moment, the full weight of his determination, hismitment to ending the war, wasid bare.

    The battlefield was always a ce of horror and death, a ce where friends could be enemies, where the lines between right and wrong had blurred and twisted.

    Elf Queen Kamilia knew all of these things, and deep within her, she longed for such stimtion; especially the part where she couldpletely dispose of any who sought to challenge her.

    But now, a new force had entered the fray, a force driven by a singr purpose, a force that would not be swayed or deterred.

    This war in particr¡­ was different.

    The Elf Queen''s reign of terror was about to be challenged, and the fate of the Fairy Kingdom would be decided by the actions of one man, determined to make a stand, determined to make a difference.

    The battle lines were drawn, and the final showdown was at hand.

    "So make your choice, Elf Queen. Yield¡­ or die."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1112 The One To End The War [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1112 The One To End The War [Pt 2]

    The Elf Queen''s eyes narrowed, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear, anger, and determination.

    This stranger, this Lewis, had dared to challenge her, to disrupt her ns, to stand in her way.

    He was powerful, she realized now, far more powerful than she had initially thought. But that would not deter her. She hade too far, done too much, sacrificed too many to let one man stand in her way.

    She thought back to her rise to power, to the ruthlessness and cunning that had brought her to the head of the Triumvirate.

    She had eliminated anyone who had stood in her way, had used every tool at her disposal to ascend to her position of power.

    She had done whatever it took, without hesitation, without remorse.

    And she would do it again.

    She could feel the power of the Grand Blood Stone pulsing within her, a dark, consuming energy that promised destruction and victory.

    She had used it to control others, to bend them to her will, but she knew that it might be too much to control this Lewis.

    No matter. If she couldn''t control him, she would eliminate him.

    "RAAAHHHHHH!!!"

    With a cry of rage, she unleashed the full power of the Grand Blood Stone, the energy output so immense that the entire area trembled, The air crackled with dark magic, the sky turning ck as a torrent of energy surged forth, a tidal wave of destruction aimed directly at the ground shaking as if in fear of her wrath.

    The air crackled with dark magic, the sky turning ck as a torrent of energy surged forth, a tidal wave of destruction aimed directly at Lewis.

    "I will not be thwarted!" she screamed, her voice echoing across the battlefield. "You will not stand in my way! I will crush you, and this war will be mine!"

    Lewis faced the onught, his face calm, his eyes determined.

    But the Elf Queen could see a flicker of concern in his eyes, a realization of the magnitude of the power she wielded.

    Yes, she thought, let him see. Let him know that he is facing a force he cannot defeat. Let him know that he is facing his doom.

    The energy surged forward, a relentless, unstoppable force, a manifestation of her will, her desire, her unbreakable resolve.

    She would win. She would triumph. She would do whatever it took.

    The war was hers to win, and she would not be stopped.

    Not by Lewis, not by anyone.

    The world would tremble before her might, and all who dared to oppose her would fall.

    Her time hade, and nothing would stand in her way.

    *********

    "Not bad¡­"

    I stood there, looking at the growing power of the Elf Queen, the dark energy of the Grand Blood Stone swirling around her, a maelstrom of destruction.

    I could see her determination, her rage, her unyielding desire to win.

    She thought she had me cornered, thought she could defeat me with her newfound power.

    I couldn''t help but smirk.

    Did she really think she could best me?

    Did she truly believe that she could stand against me and win?

    She had no idea what I was capable of, no idea what I had learned within the Root.

    I had had a lot of time to think about many things, many Magic, when I was within the Root. And in that time, I had finally solved the code to using the Arcanas of the Nether Realm.

    ''By inversing all the constants and variables, arriving at an opposite conclusion that remained consistent with thews of this reality, I finally found the key to controlling the Arcanas of this world.''

    That was how I had resurrected Aria and her friends.

    That was also how I had gained the power to easily kill the Beast King and Dwarven Chief..

    Thebined might of the Arcanas was at my disposal, a power beyond imagining, a power that I could use to wipe out the Elf Queen and her forces if I so chose.

    But that wouldn''t solve anything, would it?

    ''Killing them will only perpetuate the cycle of violence, only lead to more suffering, more pain. There had to be another way, a way to end this war without more death, without more destruction.''

    Besides, most of these people here just came to war because they were either forced to, or blindly followed their leaders.

    ''Many of them have families too. It''ll be too harsh if I decide to end the cycle of violence by killing their families as well. If I go down that route, how many survivors will be left?''

    That''s right. In the end, I had to seek out an alternate means to end the conflict.

    ''I had hoped Larry and his team would be able to since they have more charisma and influence here, and they almost did it too¡­''

    But who would have thought this crazy woman had another trick up her sleeve?

    ''In any case¡­ let''s see¡­''

    "RAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    As the Elf Queen''s energy surged towards me, her screams of rage echoing in my ears, I thought back to all that I had learned, all that I had seen, all that I had done.

    I had the power to change everything. I had the power to make a difference.

    And I would use it.

    Not to destroy, not to kill, but to heal, to mend, to bring peace.

    I looked at the Elf Queen, her face twisted with fury, her eyes filled with hatred, and I could see what it was I needed to do.

    ''This should take an ample amount of energy, but that shouldn''t matter as long as I use Spellcraft and the Arcanas toplement the Spell.''

    I personally couldn''t wait to see the results!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1113 Peace At Last...?

    Chapter 1113 Peace At Last...?

    As the energy of the Grand Blood Stone surged towards me, I could feel the raw power of it, the malevolent force that sought to consume and destroy.

    But I was prepared, more than prepared.

    Thebined might of the Arcanas pulsed within me, a torrent of energy that resonated with my very being.

    "Grand Magic¡­"

    The Elf Queen''s screams of rage echoed in my ears, but I remained steadfast, my mind focused, my heart resolute.

    This was the moment, the culmination of everything I had learned, everything I had fought for.

    I raised my hands, the Arcanas swirling around me in a mesmerizing dance of colors and light. The world around me seemed to shift and tremble, reality itself bending to my will.

    "You think you can defeat me?" the Elf Queen spat, her voice dripping with contempt.

    I didn''t respond with words. Instead, I channeled the power within me, drawing on the ancient magic that had been hidden for so long.

    "... [New World]."

    The Arcanas responded to mymand, their energy flowing through me like a river, filling me with a strength that was beyond measure.

    I closed my eyes, my mind focusing on the task at hand.

    With the power of the Arcanas, I reached out to the very fabric of reality, touching the threads of existence itself. I could feel the concept of the Elf Queen Kamilia, her essence, her memories, her very existence.

    And then, with a thought, I began to unravel it.

    The world around me shifted and twisted, the very air crackling with energy.

    The Elf Queen''s form wavered, her screams turning into gasps of disbelief as her very being began to dissolve, as if she was being erased from the pages of existence.

    "No!" she cried, her voice a desperate plea.

    But I didn''t stop. I couldn''t stop. I was a conduit of power, a vessel of change.

    With the Arcanas as my guide, I erased the concept of the Elf Queen Kamilia, her identity fading away like a ghost in the wind.

    And then, with a surge of energy that shook the ground beneath my feet, I reced it with something else.

    I crafted a new concept, a new identity, one that was filled withpassion, wisdom, and a desire for peace. I infused it with the memories of a life lived in harmony, a life that could have been.

    The Elf Queen''s form solidified once more, her eyes wide with confusion, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "What... what have you done?"

    I turned my gaze to the battlefield, the Triumvirate''s forces frozen in ce, their faces contorted in shock.

    With the power of the Arcanas, I extended my influence, reaching into their minds, their hearts, their very souls.

    I felt the resistance, the fear, the hatred. But I pushed forward, unwavering, unyielding.

    Memories shifted, personalities changed, hearts softened.

    And then, it was done.

    The energy of the Arcanas began to recede, the world around me returning to a semnce of normalcy. The Elf Queen''s eyes were wide, her face a mask of disbelief.

    "What have you done to us?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

    I looked at her, my heart heavy with the weight of what I had just done.

    "I''ve shown you a different path," I said, my voice filled with a quiet resolve. "A path of peace, of unity. It''s not toote to change."

    ''Altering reality itself to ensure no one has to die in this war¡­ and no one has a reason to fight anymore.''

    Tears welled in her eyes, a mixture of confusion, anger, and something else. Something new.

    Hope.

    The battlefield was transformed, the once-hostile forces now looking at each other with uncertainty, with a newfound understanding.

    I had used the power of the Arcanas not to destroy, but to heal. Not to erase, but to create.

    ''I breached their free will, but if it will prevent a bigger tragedy¡­ then it''s worth it.''

    And as I looked at the world around me, I knew that I had done what I had set out to do.

    I had changed the course of history, rewritten the narrative, and forged a new future.

    With the power of the Arcanas, I had brought about a different kind of victory.

    A victory of the heart.

    *********

    The war was over.

    The battlefield, once a chaotic scene of destruction and despair, had transformed into a ce of calm and hope.

    The Triumvirate''s forces, once enemies, now stood side by side with the Fairies, united by amon purpose.

    The power of the Arcanas had brought about a change that none could have imagined.

    "Perfect."

    I turned to Karlia, a sense of relief and satisfaction filling my heart.

    "What do you think?" I asked, my voice filled with a mixture of hope and curiosity.

    And then, she was there, her crimson form appearing before me, her eyes bright with joy.

    Everyone on the battlefield experienced shock to witness her arrival, but she had been watching this whole time.

    I sort of wanted to impress her with what I had done¡­

    "I love it," she said, her voice carrying a warmth that wrapped around me like aforting embrace.

    I smiled, my heart swelling with happiness. "I''m d," I replied. "I wanted to make things right, to bring peace to this world."

    ''Karlia is something of a pacifist. She likes peaceful resolution, so I wanted her to see this. Looks like I made the right choice, after all¡­''

    After proposing to her and spending time with her, all the feelings I had for her were reaching new heights. I wanted to make her happy¡­ to see her smile every time.

    Watching her look at me this way, with pride and happiness, gave me pleasure that couldn''t be described with words alone.

    "You always strive to find the best solution," Karlia said, her gaze unwavering. "Even back in the Celestial War, when you spared the Demons and sought a different path."

    I nodded, memories of that time flooding my mind.

    Karlia just knew how to make me feel like a good person.

    I had seen the potential for change, for growth, even in the midst of conflict. And now, that same belief had led me to this moment, to this new world where enemies had be allies, where war had transformed into peace.

    "Yeah. Everything will be okay from this point onwa¡ª"

    ~BWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    As the calm settled over the battlefield, a sudden tremor shook the ground beneath our feet.

    ''W-what''s that?!''

    I looked up, my eyes widening as a figure appeared beyond the world, their form massive and overwhelming, enough to hold the entire world in their fingertips.

    ''The hell?''

    The clouds parted, and it felt like I¡ªno, everyone else too¡ªwas so tiny and insignificant.

    The face of the entity was etched in the sky, and the world trembled in their presence. It was so sudden that I recoiled in their presence.

    "Who... who are you?" I stammered, my voice barely audible as I beheld the immense presence before me.

    The figure''s voice rumbled like thunder, echoing in the very core of my being.

    "I am Libra," they dered, their words carrying a weight that seemed to bend reality itself. "I am the keeper of bnce within the Nether Realm."

    ''A Constetion?!'' My eyes bulged as I struggled to stay sane in their presence.

    Every other person in the battlefield had fallen, most likely passed out due to the sheer magnitude of the power confronting us.

    The entire world had to be down as a result of the magnificent presence before us.

    I mean¡­ who could stand before this being?

    Libra''s presence was both awe-inspiring and terrifying, a force that transcended all understanding.

    My heart raced as I tried toprehend the magnitude of what was unfolding.

    Libra''s presence materialized before me like a cosmic tapestry woven from the fabric of the universe itself. Their form defied conventional perception, existing simultaneously as a colossal entity that dwarfed the world and a nebulous, shimmering energy that seemed to transcend the boundaries of space and time.

    A symphony of colors danced and pulsed across their form, a mesmerizing disy of hues that shifted and swirled like a celestial aurora. Rays of ethereal light cascaded from their being, casting an otherworldly glow that illuminated the surroundings with an eerie radiance.

    Their features were both intricate and ever-changing, as if they wereposed of a myriad of cosmic fragments that converged and diverged in a mesmerizing dance. Glimpses of constetions, gxies, and celestial phenomena seemed to flicker across their form, giving them an aura of cosmic majesty.

    Libra''s eyes, if they could be called eyes, were like twin pools of shimmering gxies, swirling with an unfathomable depth of knowledge and wisdom. Each nce seemed to pierce through the very essence of one''s being,ying bare the truths and secrets thaty hidden within.

    A sense of immense power emanated from Libra, a power that resonated with the fundamental forces of creation and destruction. It was as if they held the very bnce of existence within their grasp, a delicate equilibrium that could tip in any direction with a mere thought.

    As they spoke, their voice reverberated like the cosmic winds, carrying with it the echoes of distant stars and the whispers of ancient truths. Each word seemed to vibrate with the resonance of countless timelines and dimensions, a testament to their dominion over the vast expanse of reality.

    In the presence of Libra, I felt like a mere mortal standing before the cosmic embodiment of the universe''s mysteries.

    "Your presence here has disrupted the natural progression of this timeline," Libra continued, their voice unwavering.

    I could feel so much attention and energy fall on me as I struggled to gulp.

    "You are an anomaly that must be corrected."

    My mind raced, thoughts and questions colliding in a whirlwind of confusion and fear.

    ''Damnit¡­ I wasn''t expecting this!''

    No, to begin with, why didn''t I calcte this?

    Constetions were unlimited beings in the Aether Realm. Why did I not factor in their existence in this world?

    Surely, if they existed, they would have known about my existence here.

    That would be bad since I invaded the Nether Root, and I was directly affecting the events in this world. It would be the same if a denizen from the Nether Realm began to affect things within the Aether Realm.

    I was certain Constetions who were aware would try to stop it.

    And now that I was confronted with this¡­ it made sense.

    The question remained, however¡­

    ''What should I do?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1114 Going Against A Constellation

    ?

    The presence of Libra loomed before me, an overwhelming force that seemed to bend reality itself.

    Their words echoed in my mind, their cosmic resonance sending shivers down my spine.

    I couldn''t help but feel a mixture of awe and trepidation, a realization that I stood before a being of unimaginable power.

    ''Constetions¡­ really are something, huh?''

    "You are an anomaly, stranger," Libra''s voice resonated, each word carrying the weight of gxies.

    "This world, this timeline, should have been rife with chaos, with the triumph of darkness and despair. Evil should have prevailed in the end. But you... you upended that flow, defying the natural order of things.."

    I swallowed hard, my mind racing toprehend the magnitude of their words.

    Chaos and despair, the very antithesis of the peace and hope I had fought for, were supposed to be the prevailing forces.

    Yet, I had upturned that flow?

    ''Now I understand¡­ this is the Nether Realm, after all.''

    The one who made the rules was that twisted entity.

    "You''re a threat," Libra continued, their form shimmering with cosmic energy. "A threat that must be eliminated to restore the bnce that should have been."

    My heart pounded in my chest, my thoughts a maelstrom of uncertainty and determination.

    I had thought so hard to change this world, to bring about a better future. It took a lot of care to craft this new reality, after all.

    But now, faced with the words of a cosmic entity, I couldn''t help but question whether I had overstepped my bounds.

    Had I disrupted a cosmic equilibrium that was beyond my understanding?

    ''If I didn''t reset things so much¡­ things wouldn''t havee to this point.''

    I now risked not only my life, but Karlia''s as well.

    I took a deep breath, my gaze meeting Libra''s shimmering eyes.

    "I... I only wanted to bring peace," I said, my voice wavering slightly. "To end the suffering, the pain. Is that wrong?"

    Libra''s form remained unmoving, their presence a mixture of contemtion and stern resolve.

    "It is not your ce to determine the course of events," Libra continued, their voice resonating with a cosmic authority. "Your interference has disrupted the equilibrium, upset the delicate bnce that sustains the universe."

    I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, a sense of guilt and doubt gnawing at my core.

    And then, as if to further shatter my resolve, a realization washed over me. Even with thebined might of the Arcanas, even with the power to rewrite reality itself, I couldn''t stand against a being like Libra.

    They were a Constetion, a cosmic force that transcended the limitations of my understanding. Boundless and eternal, they existed on a scale that was iprehensible to me.

    I was just a mortal, a mere speck in the grand tapestry of the cosmos.

    And no matter how much power I had gained, no matter how determined I was, I stood no chance against a force that was beyond myprehension.

    My shoulders slumped, the weight of the realization pressing down on me.

    "I... I understand," I murmured, my voice barely audible. "If... if my existence disrupts the bnce, then¡­ I''ll leave. That should change everything to¡ª"

    "No need. You should simply perish.

    ''Damn¡­ I figured that would be the case.'' A bead of sweat trickled down my face.

    For a Constetion like Libra, why would they bother to consider sparing my life?

    ''I guess there is indeed a limit to what I can do, even at the pinnacle of Magic.;

    There were forces beyond my control, forces that could not be rewritten, forces that were boundless and eternal.

    And against those forces, I was powerless.

    "It seems you understand now¡­"

    As the weight of Libra''s deration settled upon me, I found myself caught in a swirling tempest of uncertainty.

    ''No. I can''t give up now. Let''s think, Lewis¡­ THINK!''

    My life. Karlia''s life. And the many lives I had saved by changing the oue of this world¡­ all of those hung in the bnce.

    Was I going to call it quits now?

    ''Jared wouldn''t do that! Neither can I!''

    I HAD TO THINK!

    What could I do against a being of such cosmic magnitude? How could I hope to defy a force that held the very fabric of reality in their hands? My mind raced, thoughts colliding in a chaotic storm of desperation and determination.

    ''Think, Lewis! You have to THI¡ª''

    And then, a gentle tap on my shoulder broke through my reverie.

    ''H-huh?''

    I turned, my eyes meeting Karlia''s, and in that moment, a sense of relief washed over me.

    Her presence was a calming balm, so sudden that it felt so strange.

    "Don''t worry," she said softly, her voice carrying a serene confidence.

    "It''s my turn now."

    I looked at her, a mixture of surprise and gratitude filling my heart.

    The overwhelming sensation that had gripped me began to dissipate, reced by a newfound sense of calm. I watched as Karlia''s form began to shimmer, her presence emanating a subtle brilliance.

    Libra''s voice rumbled like cosmic thunder, a deep chuckle that seemed to reverberate through the very cosmos itself.

    "And what can you, a mere creation, do in the face of my power?"

    As Libra''s words echoed, a surge of energy radiated from Karlia''s form, and the entire world trembled in response. I watched in awe as her expression transformed into a confident grin, her eyes shining with determination.

    "Why don''t we find out?" she retorted, her voice carrying a yful edge.

    Why? How was she so confident? I couldn''t understand it.

    And what''s more¡­ I didn''t understand how I believed her.

    "Wait here, Lewis. This won''t take long."

    And with that, she took flight, her form bing a streak of light that soared towards the cosmic entity before us.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!~

    I barely had time to process her words before she vanished from my sight, leaving the''s atmosphere in a blur.

    The sky above us seemed to shimmer with residual energy, a testament to the power that had been unleashed.

    "Ah¡­"

    I stood there, watching in awe as Karlia faced off against Libra, her form a beacon of light against the vast cosmic expanse.

    ''What¡­ in the world is happening?''

    How could Karlia expect to fight a Constetion?

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Looks like a climatic battle is at hand. Yeah¡­ this is the climax.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1115 Libra Vs Karlia [Pt 1]

    ?

    It was a despairing sight.

    In the vast embrace of the cosmos, with the shimmering stars bearing witness to the event at hand, two entities stood face-to-face with each other.

    On one end was Libra, a Constetion, the very embodiment of bnce in the world.

    She was coated with stars and an inscrutable amount of energy that made her form brim with power. Her colossal form dwarfed thes around her, and she appeared evenrger than the sun.

    All in all, she was massive. And the energy that radiated from her was also enough to undte the void of space that surrounded her.

    However¡­ she wasn''t the only one who stood confidently in the confrontation.

    Right in front of her was a strange creature, one who seemed to know no fear, nor understand her ce when faced with sheer power.

    Karlia.

    Karlia floated in space, her crimson form like a mere dot¡ªno, even smaller¡ªin the presence of an entity like Libra.

    She seemed much smaller than an ant would be to a human, more insignificant than a speck of dust.

    Her entire being, with her tail and bat-like wings, along with her long ck hair, glowing violet eyes, and other subus-like features, couldn''t be more insignificant in the grand canvas of the world.

    Yet¡­ she stood.

    "You are really challenging me? You?" Libra''s voice was enough to make thes around her tremble in her presence.

    Even the sun seemed to flicker as she spoke, a testament to the sheer might she possessed. One could say the world was holding its breath as she uttered her statement.

    As one who was boundless within the confines of her existence, a mere sr system like this could hardly contain her power.

    It was this very Libra that some unknown subus dared to challenge.

    "You threatened to kill Lewis¡­ made him nearly regret his choice for a peaceful resolution, and interrupted such a wonderful moment. I don''t think I can overlook your actions any longer."

    The audacity of this creature!

    It made no sense that an entity like Karlia would say such words despite being confronted with the power that Libra possessed.

    Her brashness could only be one of two things.

    One: Karlia was a fool who simply couldn''t judge the power before her, and how hers was nothing inparison.

    Two: Karlia was confident that her abilities matched, if not exceeded the power she was experiencing.

    The second one was impossible, considering their difference in status.

    Everyone knew the Constetions were second only to the progenitors of the Roots; Aether and Nether.

    No one else came close.

    "You must be an imbecile who can''t judge with her two eyes and all her remaining senses the power that stands before her. I suppose eradicating you, as well as your Lewis, perhaps this entire sector as well, will be enough to remove the stain of your pitiful existence."

    To Libra, this woman¡­ this Lewis man¡­ this entire world that had been altered¡­ they had gone to far.

    Removing thempletely was the best solution.

    "And so it shall b¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHHHH!!!~

    Before Libra could utter anything more, a deafening sound traveled in the void of space where sound could not travel, instantly shattering the barrier of naturalw.

    In a sh¡ªno, even faster¡ªthe one who traveled with such veracity closed in on the towering entity that was already at the conclusion of her speech.

    "Shut up."

    Those were the words she uttered before the nextw-defying event urred.

    ~WHAAAAAMMMMMM!!!~

    A single punch from what would appear to be lesser than an ant connected to the face of Libra, instantly creating a vortex of spatial copse.

    An echo of chaos radiated from the point of impact, sending a shockwave of unbridled destruction flying across the area.

    The end result?

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    All of creation shivered as the first punch connected¡ªthe sight of a mortalnding a solid hit on a boundless one.

    Ah, but this wasn''t a mortal, was it?

    Perhaps that was the mistake of the Constetion Libra, whose massive form was now being sent flying across the edge of the gxy.

    No¡­ this woman wasn''t a mere subus. She wasn''t simply a part of creation. She was by no means mortal either.

    This was a being who had wed her way up; from being a dirty cowardly crimson demon¡­ to someone who had fought with god.

    Karlia the Crimson Subus¡­ also known as The Immortal One!

    "You''re not getting away with this! I just wanted us to change the venue." Karlia''s voice echoed across the vastness of space as she tracked Libra, who was moving faster than even light thanks to the first blow that Karlia dealt.

    "Bnce or not¡­ you''ve crossed the line!"

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHHH!~

    At a speed that defiedws, Karlia glided through space, chasing the being she had sent flying.

    In no time at all, she caught up to Libra, who was still stunned by the hit she had received.

    Perhaps it was because Constetions weren''t used to being attacked, it took a while for Libra to register what had just happened.

    She¡­ Libra¡­ had been hit in the face by someone.

    What? Did that even make any sense?

    As Libra was still flying in the void-like watch of space, she struggled to raise her aching head and look above her.

    That was when she saw Karlia, flying right overhead, her fist clenched for another round.

    "W-what do you think you''re¡ª?!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Before she could get another word in, Libra received another resounding hit that sent her head spinning and her entire body convulsing.

    This blow chipped at her very essence, affecting her core to the point where an indescribable amount of pain surged through her.

    "Ack!"

    It hurt to an unspeakable extent.

    And that blow sent Libra crashing down to the abyss¡­ what is known by most as a ck Hole.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Looks like the fight between Libra and Karlia kicked off well. Now then, let''s see just how far these two will go in their brawl.

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1116 Libra Vs Karlia [Pt 2]

    ?

    A ck hole.

    Inside this empty void, there''s a point of infinite density called a singrity at its center.

    Thews of the world as we know break down to a point where the current understanding of even Schrs bes irrelevant.

    The event horizon is the boundary beyond which nothing¡ªnot even light¡ªcan escape, and approaching it causes extreme tidal forces that stretch objects so thin it loses reason.

    Once inside, matter is pulled toward the singrity due to overwhelming gravity, and spacetime curvature bes extreme.

    Yet¡­ when ites to entities who make and break thews¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!~

    ¡­ None of those concepts matter in the slightest.

    The Constetion Libra crashed into this void, but rather than the ck hole performing its usual duties, it became instantly consumed by Libra''s presence, unable to withstand the extreme power she held.

    Nothing escapes a ck hole, with the exception of a Constetion apparently.

    Still, even with the ck hole dissipated, Libra was confronted with yet another problem as she floated in the vastness of an empty space.

    ¡­ A ce devoid of life at all.

    "Y-you¡­"

    Floating above her was the source of her current predicament.

    Karlia.

    "This ce is perfect. This way, no one gets hurt." The subus spoke, her hair floating behind her as she stared down at Libra''s gigantic form.

    How? How was such a being able topete with a Constetion?

    It made no sense!

    She shouldn''t even have been able tond a hit! Not even the greatest of ck holes could harm Libra, or any other Constetion for that matter.

    That was because they were mere creations.

    Little babies could never hurt their guardians. No matter how hard the fish tried, it could never hurt the river it lived in.

    So also could mere entities never hope to reach the realm of Constetions.

    But this woman¡­ this woman was different.

    WHY?!

    "I don''t know how you got this power, or who the hell you are¡­ but you''ve made a terrible mistake," Libra growled as she rubbed her face and stared hard at Karlia.

    "Oh? And what mistake is that?"

    Space began to tremble. The closests and stars gradually broke down. Everything that had meaning or form in any way began to resonate.

    Everything was being caused by one thing.

    "You''ve managed to piss me off." Libra dered, her brimming eyes now glowing even brighter than the stars.

    "[Representation: Bnce Of The World]."

    Once Libra said that, the world came into a pause.

    Everything stopped.

    ¡­ And all for good reason.

    It is trite that every Constetion possesses a Representation.

    Libra''s Representation was [Bnce], just as Leo''s Representation is[Authority].

    Her power involved one simple thing.

    Reconstructing anything and anyone in the world in order to serve what she deemed to be its natural state.

    If Libra deemed a destroyed as its natural state, then it would be destroyed without question.

    If Libra deemed fire to be cold as its natural state, then no me she affected would ever burn anyone.

    As such, if Libra deemed the opponent before her to simply not exist, then¡­ it would be so!

    Without question!

    "[You are an eyesore. Begone]."

    That was all that was needed to be said.

    The rest was history.

    ¡­

    "Huh¡­?"

    A second passed. Two seconds passed. Three. Five. Ten. Fifteen¡­ TWENTY!

    "Why aren''t you gone?"

    Libra''s power was instant. Her sovereign representation remained unchallenged. Unless a rival Constetion interfered, her will would manifest.

    So why?

    Why was Karlia still standing above her, practically unfazed?

    "I do not sense a Constetion within you, or even affecting you in the slightest. You should be gone now. ANSWER ME, YOU WENCH! WHY ARE YOU STILL HE¡ª!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    A resounding noise followed Karlia sending another punch to Libra, this time sinking her deeper into the vastness of the universe, bringing her to the edge of another unupied gxy.

    As Libra flew, her body was on a collision course with another  ck Hole.

    ''H-how¡­ gurk!''

    Her head spun as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

    Why was her Representation now working on Karlia? They had always worked without any interference, so why now?

    Why her?

    "It''s no use thinking about it, idiot. Your powers won''t work on me because it''s not enough!"

    As Karlia''s voice echoed in Libra''s ears, she crashed upon a muchrger ck hole, one that would devour anything and everything.

    "SHUT UP!"

    The ck hole broke apart instantly.

    Libra was short on breath at this point. It wasn''t that she was tired or anything. No, Constetions didn''t feel things like exhaustion.

    It was because of her exasperation at a foe that should have been easy to defeat.

    ''Why can''t I destroy her?''

    At this point, Libra was exploring all the other options that existed beyond the confines of how she had initially defined Karlia.

    Karlia was obviously more than she had hoped.

    "She''s strong. She''s fast. She rivals my power¡­"

    There was no doubt about it now. Libra couldn''t think of anything else.

    "You¡­ have you be a Constetion?"

    Only Constetions could rival each other. It only made sense that Libra couldn''t affect Karlia.

    If she had somehow managed to attain that kind of status, then it would be impossible to do.

    "A Constetion? Pfft! No¡­ why would youpare me to you losers?"

    What?

    "W-what did you just say¡­?"

    Did this woman just call Constetions losers?

    "I doubt you guys could hold a candle to your progenitors. You like to act all high and mighty, like the pinnacle of existence, when you are clearly under a progenitor.

    Did she mean The Nether??!

    Of course, The Nether was far more powerful than any Constetion, but he was out of the equation.

    There was only one Nether, and his only match was Aether.

    Everything else fell under them.

    That was trite.

    But so what? What did that have to do with the current situation?

    "H-hold on, you can''t mean¡­ no that''s impossible!"

    "That''s right!" Karlia grinned, her sharp teeth showing as she folded her arms and looked down at Libra''s massive frame.

    What the Constetion had never imagined before¡ªnot even for a second¡ªdue to how impossible it was. That was what Karlia dered to be true.

    "No¡­ that can''t be!"

    "Haha! You better believe it." Karlia''s voice drowned Libra''s words, stifling the atmosphere.

    "For an eternity, I suffered at the hands of your master. He tortured me indefinitely, and every time he did so, I transcended my limits and grew even more powerful¡­"

    What in the world was this subus saying?

    "The Aether within me became Nether, and my entire formpletely underwent evolution. A mortal? An immortal? A Constetion? Na¡­ you''re selling me too short."

    But that was impossible. No, it couldn''t even exist!

    "I''m none of them. I''m as close to the Nether as any being could possibly get. Though¡­ I wouldn''t ce myself there yet."

    "B-but that¡­ that would mean¡­!!!"

    "That''s right." Karlia could only grin as Libra began to understand the reality of the situation.

    It was already clear at this point.

    "You Constetions are nothing to me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Karlia really got a glow up, didn''t she?

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1117 Karlias New Form

    ?

    Karlia was immortal.

    Her abilities allowed her not to die.

    Every time her body was destroyed, it healed within a fraction of a moment. Anytime her soul was destroyed, it was reced with a brand-new replica.

    What''s more, her body developed a resistance to whatever killed her initially, making her even more powerful than before.

    That was the nature of her immortality.

    In the Nether Realm, Karlia had suffered for what felt like an infinity stretching on for as long as an eternity.

    Dying and dying¡­ and dying over and over again.

    The horror she experienced reached a point thatmon sense and conventional wisdom could not apply.

    It was quite literally too much for anyone to bear.

    However, since her abilities allowed her to adapt after death, she would always revive much stronger than before; which would in turn cause her suffering to be raised¡ªas designed by the Nether.

    All of this would continue until either Karlia''s immortality broke, or she transcended any kind of pain or suffering that could ever exist.

    And she was nearly there.

    The Nether''s powers had nearly dulled on her, reaching a point where the pain being inflicted on her was something no other living entity had ever experienced.

    The amount of energy she had to endure dwarfed anything that any creation had seen.

    What, pray tell, would be born from such suffering?

    There were two options.

    One would be a broken being, unable to fathom anything beyond the pain and torture they had been through since that would be all they now know.

    The second, however¡­ that would be the possibiltiy of an existence that transcended any limits that currently exist.

    A nigh invincible being.

    And of these two options, the one that seemed to be the case for Karlia was the second.

    In essence, nothing but the full power of the Nether would be able to hurt her in the slightest.

    What could such a being be called?

    *******

    "N-no¡­ no way¡­"

    At this point, the one trembling was Libra.

    She, the glorious constetion that was adorned with stars and gxies, now seemed to be trembling in the presence of a mere creation.

    It defied reason, but it was happening.

    Karlia currently stood above Libra, and she was folding her hands while keeping a stern face. She didn''t seem to be enjoying Libra''s terror, but that didn''t mean she was going to make it stop.

    "It seems you understand now. No Constetion, or joint effort from you all, can beat me."

    Whatever concept they governed had long been surpassed by Karlia''s current body.

    "T-that is¡­" Libra couldn''t argue.

    She still wasn''t able to sense the amount of energy Karlia gave off, even now.

    At first, Libra thought it was because Karlia''s power was too infinitesimal that it didn''t require her attention. There was a threshold a person''s abilities could reach that would make a Constetion take notice.

    Lewis had reached such a level, which was why she appeared to him.

    However, Karlia''s energy didn''t give off such a wavelength, so Libra had written it off as simply irrelevant.

    But now, after witnessing this Subus'' power, she had a different interpretation of why Karlia''s power couldn''t be detected by her.

    ''... Too much. I-it''s too much¡­!''

    Karlia''s energy was too much for even a Constetion to register.

    "I believe in peace. I don''t like violence¡­" Karlia''s words echoed in Libra''s ears.

    She stretched forth her hand, and suddenly¡­

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!~

    A massive surge of energy burst forth, and then coalesced on the palm of her hand.

    The energy condesnced to form an orb, one that shone brighter than the sun and glimmered with immense power.

    Even Libra knew how much the power Karlia just effortlessly generated was.

    "This orb has enough power to kill you. I could end your life right now."

    Libra knew she wasn''t bluffing.

    Constetions were thought of as immortal. However, that was simply because no one else could kill them.

    The Nether and Aether could do it, but they were too bound and fixated on their roles to do anything like that.

    However, with an entity like Karlia present, the tides were shifted.

    "M-mercy¡­" Libra couldn''t believe the words she was uttering. "P-please show mercy¡­"

    Whether she liked it or not, she had to beg.

    The gigantic form of Libra bowed before the tiny speck that was Karlia. She quivered and pleaded to be spared, as a child would an adult.

    It was¡­ quite a pathetic sight.

    "I''m in a good mood, so I will consider it. I just got reunited with Lewis, after all. He just proposed to me, and we''re getting married soon. I also got to see him do cool things, and I n to see what more he''ll show me."

    Libra didn''t know why Karlia was talking to her about her love life, but she couldn''tin.

    Better to listen to that than be dead¡­ right?

    "Here''s what''s going to happen. You''re going to return to wherever you crawled out of, and you''re going to deliver my message to the rest of your buddies." Karlia began, her tone growing sterner.

    It seemed she was done reminiscing about her lover.

    "Eeek!" Libra leaked out.

    "If they mess with me, my man, or anything we care about¡­ you''re all dead." Karlia''s imposing tone shook Libra to her core.

    She nodded profusely, instantly understanding what she meant.

    "Seems like you understand. That''s good." Karlia''s tone softened at this point.

    The overwhelming that covered the pervasive ckness of space finally melted.

    "I-I understand. I will deliver your message. I will¡­ make sure never to bother you again¡­ or that world of yours."

    There were many universes, all in the form of branches within the Nether Tree.

    Why would Libra risk her life because of one tiny within one insignificant sr system, within a remote gzy, within just one universe.

    There were so many others that she could go to instead.

    "Perfect. We understand each other." For the first time ever, Karlia gave a friendly smile.

    It radiated such warmth that Libra thought it was almost unreal.

    ~FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~

    The energy orb in Karlia''s grasp dissipated as she closed her palm, finally ending the threat to Libra''s life.

    The Constetion found herself sighing in relief.

    "Now scram." Karlia pleasantly smiled, though one could tell that something threateningced those words that she uttered.

    "Y-yes! Right away! A-and¡­ congrattions on y-your¡­ wedding¡­" Libra uttered, offering a salute.

    "Thank you! I''ll send an invitation to you if Lewis wants to have guests."

    "T-that wouldn''t be nessary. Hahaha¡­ I should go now¡­"

    Kai shrugged, still wearing her smile.

    Libra had enough tact to know when not to overstay her wee. And so, in the blink of an eye, she vanished from her position, something she hadn''t been able to do before since Karlia''s energy kept her trapped.

    With Libra gone, and the vastness of space finally experiencing peace thanks to the dissipation of both Karlia''s and Libra''s overwhelming presence, the conflict was over.

    "Alright then¡­" Karlia''s eyes twinkled as she looked into the far distance.

    "I should get back now."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Who do you think is stronger? Transcended Karlia or Crazy Neron?

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1118 The Constellations Loss

    Chapter 1118 The Constetion''s Loss

    ''Is Karlia going to be okay?'' I asked myself as I looked above me.

    It had been a few seconds since she shot up into space to confront a Constetion, and I couldn''t help but worry.

    ''I should probably go too. At the very least, if I strike when the Constetion is fixed on Karlia, I might be able to secure our escape.''

    No. Who was I kidding? Like a Constetion wouldn''t be able to see meing a mile away.

    ''Hold on¡­ I can''t allow myself to think that way!''

    Constetions weren''t omnipotent. They governed certain aspects of existence.

    If I yed my cards right, then maybe¡ª

    "I''m back, Lewis." I heard Karlia

    My entire thoughts froze in ce the moment I heard Karlia''s voice.

    "H-huh?" I mechanically shifted my head and turned in the direction of the voice that called my name.

    Surely enough, it was Karlia. She looked the same. Her lustrous crimson skin and pretty face, entuated with a charming smile that made my heart skip a beat.

    A wave of relief washed over me as I found myself jumping in her direction.

    "Karlia! I was so worried!" I cried out, sinking into her embrace.

    My headnded on her soft, cushion-like chest, and I buried my face inside, while hugging her tight.

    "Haha! Did you miss me that much?" Karlia chuckled as she rubbed my dark hair.

    It honestly felt like she was treating me like a kid, which was kind of embarassing¡­ because we were surrounded by everyone.

    But I didn''t mind at this point.

    ''They''re not even conscious, so I guess that''s fine.''

    "Of course, I missed you." For a moment there, I had gotten this creeping fear that somehow I would lose Karlia.

    Thest time she went against a poweful foe¡ªThe Nether¡ªhe trapped her in an eternity of suffering.

    Why wouldn''t I be worried that something like that could happen again?

    "T-that stupid Constetion. I hope you taught her not to mess with us again." I sniffed, digging deeper into her plump chest.

    I half meant that as a joke. I didn''t know what Karlia did, but I couldn''t detect Libra any longer.

    Perhaps Karlia managd to reason with them.

    "Of course. I made sure to teach her not to mess with us again. You don''t need to worry about her any longer."

    I raised my head from her chest, staring at Karlia with disbelief.

    My jaws literally loosened and fell as soon as I saw her face and noticed she was telling the truth.

    "Ah¡­ is that so?" I murmured.

    Karlia wasn''t lying, but it still took me some time to fullyprehend her words.

    Perhaps because it seemed too imusible.

    "Yep. So don''t worry." She brought my face back to her chest, and I dly followed her lead.

    It was our moment.

    So, even if what I just heard didn''t make any sense, I decided to just take it in stride and focus on what was more important.

    "Ah, I was also thinking¡­ we could invite her to our wedding."

    WAIT¡­ WHAT?!

    ********

    [Moments Later]

    After calming down to listen to the total ount of what happened straight from Karlia''s mouth, I realized two things right off the bat.

    One was that Karlia had be freakishly strong.

    Heck, she was stronger than anyone I had ever seen or heard of¡ªI think.

    Even Neron wouldn''t be able to fight with a Constetion and beat one so easily. Maybe he could win against one, but I didn''t think it would be an easy fight.

    I came to the Nether Realm to save this woman, but not only had she just saved me, but she was capable of more than anything I could even think of doing.

    Karlia had be a god.

    As for the second thing I realized¡­ it was jealousy.

    I wanted to reach such heights too!

    If a creation like Karlia could do it, then maybe¡­ maybe I could too.

    However¡­

    "Are you ready to be tortured indefinitely for eternity?"

    ¡­ Once the conditions for that came up, I knew my answer already.

    "No thanks."

    I decided to simply live vicariously through Karlia.

    "Marriage is all about making two into one, right? That means your power is technically our power¡­"

    Once I decided to rationalize things that way, I realized my jealousy was quelled a little.

    It wasn''t what I initially wanted, butpared to the odds stacked against me, this was the closest I was going to get.

    And, to be honest, having an overpowered woman as a devoted wife¡­ that didn''t seem too bad.

    Who would be able to mess with us now?

    Plus, while I would never tell her this, having her possess so much power¡­ made her more attractive as well.

    I didn''t know how to exin it.

    It was like falling in love with both Karlia and Magic all at once.

    And in the end, wasn''t that what all of this was about? Finding a bnce between Magic and Love?

    Well, I found my bnce alright.

    Karlia was simply HER.

    ''She has so much to teach me!''

    *********

    [MEANWHILE¡­]

    Libra shamefully appeared before her brethren.

    It was in a nk space, a space that was very simr to the Rot, but reseerved exclusively for the Constetions.

    A ce beyond the reach of the other universes, wherews like space and time were nonexistent.

    In this realm, Libra foound hersle face to face with her brethren.

    All eleven of them.

    "G-guys¡­ I-I have a messa¡ª"

    "We saw everything, Libra." Leo was the first to speak as he watched his sister approach the bunch.

    The rest remained silent as they kept their gazes fixed on her. However, it seemed Leo was the most impatient of the bunch.

    The next action he took was instant.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    In a sh, he closed the distance between Libra and the rest of the Constetions.

    Fumes appeared from his nonexistent lips, and his ming body contained so much energy that Libra could feel a stifling presence just with him being in front of her.

    Constetions had equal ranks, but when it came to power, they had different specialties. As a result, even a Constetion like Libra could feel Leo''s overwhelming presence.

    "You¡­" He growled in a low tone.

    Libra closed her eyes and kept her head hung low.

    She knew how badly she had sullied the name of the Constetions. Not only had she lost to a creation, but she had the gall to return here.

    To make matters worse, they had been watching the whole thing.

    How could she ever live down the shame?

    "You¡­" Leo raised both hands, his tone growing louder.

    Libra kept her eyes closed, though she could still sense everything happening around her.

    She already knew she was in for an eternity of chastizement.

    "You¡­ you really suffered a lot, didn''t you, Libra."

    ''E-eh?'' Libra thought in confusion.

    The hands Leo raised wrapped themselves around Libra as she was pulled to him in a warm embrace.

    "We saw it all, Libra. You suffered so much. We could hardly bear to watch." Leo was sniffing at this point.

    She couldn''t belive it.

    Leo wasn''t chastizing her? No¡­ he felt sorry. He felt bad for her!

    What of the others? What sort of expressions would they be making? Would they shower her with condescending looks, even if Leo let her off easy?

    "Libra, uwaaaaahhhhh!"

    "You really did your best!"

    "We were rooting for you all along, but we understand."

    "We''re so sorry, Libraaaaa!"

    Libra was shocked by what she saw.

    Not just one or two. No¡­ all the Constetions were sympathizing with her.

    They had teary eyes, and their faces were all scrunched up in sadness and empathy.

    Usually, a strong person hated it when people showed them pity. Especially if the person had pride to match their strength.

    However¡­

    "Y-you guuuyyyyyssss!!!"

    ¡­ Libra found the pity of her brethren to beforting.

    Before she realized it, she was bawling her eyes out, hugging her big bro Leo as she cried.

    The other Constetions closed in on her and patted her back while some offered words of encouragement.

    "I-I thought I was going to die. I was so scared¡­ uwaahhh¡­ s-sh-she was too strong."

    They petted Libra and offered her more words of encouragement.

    In her entire existence, Libra had never felt so much warmth.

    It made her feel so happy to have her family by her side when she needed them most.

    There was just one question on her mind.

    "Y-you guys watched the whole thing, right."

    "THAT''S RIGHT." They all responded.

    In that case¡­

    "Why didn''t any of youe to help me out?"

    The bombshellnded, and for a moment, there was silence. No Constetion spoke, and Libra awaited the response of her brethren.

    Even Leo, who had been hugging her, finally let go and shrunk back¡­ as did everyone else.

    Their faces paled, and they had distracted gazes.

    "We¡­ we were scared¡­" One Constetion finally croaked out.

    "I-If we had gone¡­ we could have died too¡­" Another blurted out.

    "I¡­ I don''t want to die too." Leo finally cried out.

    At this point, it was Libra who was speechless.

    Her own siblings¡­ she couldn''t believe her eyes when she watched them disy such pathetic sides of themselves.

    "Ah¡­" Libra''s hollow voice rang out.

    She now understood why they didn''t overwhelm her with condescending words when she arrived here.

    Just like her, they too were disappointed in themselves.

    They had seen their sister being beat up by a random stranger, yet none of them had the will to rescue her.

    They were all too scared stiff to do anything.

    "Y-you guys¡­ you must have suffered a lot!"

    They were just like her.

    "UWAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

    They were all like one another¡ªthe Constetions.

    They cried together, shared their eperiences together, and together they all made a pact.

    Never to cross the one named Karlia, and her man Lewis.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This chapter was very fun to write for me. One of my favorites in a while.

    I don''t even know why. Lol.

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1119 The Aftermath Of War

    Chapter 1119 The Aftermath Of War

    The battlefield soon dissipated once the conclusion arrived.

    The heads of the Triumvirate didn''t exist any longer, and the many who had fallen in this battle had been restored using my Magic.

    Even with all of that, it took a few days for the denizens of this world to return to stability¡ªat least, the Fairy Kingdom''s people

    I made sure to assist in the reconstruction of the world where my help was needed, but I soon found out that I didn''t really have much to do.

    Not only were my Mecha Knights extremely useful in their tasks, but with the coordination of the Triumvirate''s usualworks, it was much easier to transpot information and resources to the corners of the known world.

    It seemed the Urs already nned the aftermath of the conflict because she coordinated most of the the efforts leading to the ''Stability Project''.

    I had nothing to do but spend more time with Karlia and also converse with friends.

    Fairy King Oberon and I had a lenghty discussion about Mechas, and their useful application in the world. I was really happy to listen to his current stance concerning Mechas, and even the fresh ideas he brought up.

    It seemed he had be enlightened.

    ''Having the Urs by his side must have changed a lot of his previously held notions¡­''

    Speaking of the Urs, my most advanced Automaton, I spent a lot of time engaging in discourse with her. This was to learn how far she had progressed in learning, and if she had undergone any evolution I wasn''t aware of.

    Unlike Gawain, who was bound to me by loyalty, no matter what, Urs''s improved intelligence could allow her to turn against me at any time.

    I didn''t particrly mind if she had her own distinct will and desires, but¡­ I wasn''t going to tolerate insurrection in any way.

    Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about.

    It seemed being around Oberon and the Fairies had strengthened her perception of empathy, and her current goal was to study living beings more.

    Not only in the Fairy Kingdom, or in this world, but beyond.

    The Urs had developed an insatiable curiousity, just like her creator¡ªas well as the person she was designed after¡ªto explore the unknown.

    I could only imagine where that would lead.

    Of all the conversations I had, however, none were as emotionally tasking and investing as my talk with the first friends I made in the Nether Realm.

    Larry, Aria, and Drake.

    To be honest, there were a lot of things I wanted to tell these three, so it was inevitable that we would have a long conversation.

    I could only have hoped things went well.

    *******

    "Could you¡­ bring back my family?"

    I already expected him to raise this topic, but Larry''s excited tone made my heart squeeze tighter for some reason.

    "You resurrected everyone on the battlefield, right? You even made the Triumvirate back downpletely, and they''re currently paying for their crimes by making sure the world is much better than ever."

    Using the power of the Arcanas, I had made what would seem impossinle possible. As someone who had studied the Arcanas for years, what I had done had even surprised Larry.

    "Then¡­ you can bring my family back too, right?"

    His eyes had this bright spark that made it clear he was anticipating the results of gathering all the Arcanas. He had been waiting for this moment for so long, after all.

    "Bring my family back too. My dead sisters." Aria added, excitementcing her words as well.

    Drake also seemed to have something to say, but he held off from speaking. Perhaps he had a few people he wanted to bring back as well.

    Everyone had this excitement around them, hopeful gazes, filled with expectations that all converged on my abilities with the Arcanas.

    Unfortunately¡­ their hopes were misced.

    "I wish I could do all those things. But¡­ I can''t."

    My words were met with instant shock.

    It was hard enough to tell them the bitter truth despite their optimism, but seeing how quickly their expressions changed also made my heart break.

    However, I had to be honest with them.

    "W-why can''t you do it? The Arcanas are able to do all of that, right? I know they have the power to do it!" Larry began to raise his voice, his tone quivering as he stared at him.

    He must have known that I wasn''t lying to him, but he also knew he wasn''t wrong.

    And truly, he wasn''t.

    "If the circumstances were normal, that would have been possible. I could revive anyone in this world. I also thought I would be able to do so when I gathered the Arcanas, but¡­ things are a lot moreplicated than we all initially thought."

    "What is that supposed to mean?" This time, it was Aria who raised her voice as her brows creased to form a look of anxiety.

    I felt a tinge of guilt since I was the one who killed her sisters. I promised her she could bring them back, and I truly intended to make good of that promise if the Arcanas worked in my hands.

    But¡­ things were different now.

    And the reason for that was due to one thing.

    The absence of the Nether.

    ''After Neron locked the Nether out of all of time, he ceased to exist in reality. As a result, his position was left vacant.''

    Usually, that wouldn''t make the Nether Realm copse or anything. However, that also meant the role that both the Nether and Aether shared¡ªrecieving and recycling dead souls¡ªhad been left vacant.

    In essence, all the dead souls that existed in this world, having nowhere to go due to the death of the Nether¡­ had ceased to exist.

    They could never return.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

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 Chapter 1120 The Consequences Of Winning

    Chapter 1120 The Consequences Of Winning

    I tried to find other answers to this problem.

    The most straightforward answer was time maniption.

    Using [The Hermit] to control time and travel to the past to retrieve their souls would have been the most optimal solution, but even that didn''t work.

    It turns out I couldn''t retrive souls that had ceased to exist, even in the past.

    The Root served as a connection to all of space and time within the Nether Realm, and the Nether was the custodian of the souls that existed there.

    The souls that were with him, and the souls that were meant to return to him¡ªall of them were gone for good.

    I tried using [The Hermit]''s Time Magic, and [The Moon]''s power to travel back in time and duplicate the Souls of those dead in the present, but not even that worked.

    The moment I brought those souls to the present, they dissipated.

    It was so frustrating.

    I tried several other options, but nothing I could think of worked.

    I had spent a lot of time thinking and nning what to do. To be honest, this was mostly what upied me after the Great Nether War.

    But nothing worked.

    "I know I''m thest person who should be saying this, but¡­ it''s impossible to bring them back."

    Magic was supposed to make the impossible possible, but Magic also had rules that applied to its function.

    There was perhaps one usible way to bring their families back, but that would involve bringing the Nether back.

    I wasn''t even sure that would solve the problem, and even if it did, I didn''t have enough energy to travel to the point before time to free The Nether.

    Perhaps I could try to enlist Karlia''s help, but I doubted she would support bringing back the being who perpetrated her eternal suffering in the Nether Root.

    I could probably convince her to help me despite all of those factors, but that would be too insensitive and selfish on my part.

    Not only would bringing the Nether back endanger a lot more people, but it would hurt Karlia too.

    I couldn''t afford to do that to her.

    ''I can''t afford to do that to the world.'' My thoughts finally settled.

    Larry, Aria, and Drake were my friends. However, for the greater good, I couldn''t consider bringing the Nether back.

    Especially when there were more viable options.

    "I can take you to an alternate branch where you versions are dead and the versions of your loved ones are alive."

    That was the best I could do for them.

    For Larry, he would be dead in that universe, and his wife and child would be alive. He would be able to live a happy life with his family.

    Same with Aria and Drake.

    "But¡­ they wouldn''t be the same, would they?" Drake asked, his fingers interlocking with each other as he stared at me.

    "That''s right. But even if I did manage to bring them back, they wouldn''t be the same either way. Especially your sisters, Aria."

    Just the same way I had changed the Elf Queen and all our enemies, I would have had to alter her sisters for Aria''s safety and the preservation of this world.

    Was that really what they wanted?

    Also¡­ I didn''t want to tell Larry this, but¡­

    ''... No branch exists with his son alive.''

    At least, not his first son.

    The branches of a realm represented possibilities. Usually, there would be at least one branch where anything was possible.

    In that branch, Larry''s kid should have at least existed.

    But I found nothing.

    No trace of his kid in the entire Nether Realm.

    "How¡­ how then did you revive everyone in the battlefield? If all dead souls perish, howe you revived them?" Aria''s voice trembled as she asked me.

    "I already nned for all of that. I stored the Souls of everyone who died in the war. The same way I stored your Souls when you died. If I didn''t, you would have ceased to exist."

    It was messed up, but in this Nether Realm¡­ death was the end.

    There were no second chances.

    ''I will have to rectify that somewhat. I can''t have the people of this world suffer because of the choice Neron made to save our reality.''

    For now, however, these three were my primary focus.

    "So, what will it be? Larry, Aria, Drake? What will you choose?" I asked them.

    Unsurpringly, after I asked this, all eyes instantly went to Larry.

    It could have been because he was the leader, or he was the one who had spent the longest on this quest.

    They all looked at him for his answers.

    Larry, who had been silent for so very long finally leaked out a sad smile and spoke.

    "No matter what happens. No matter where I go. No matter what I do¡­ it seems they won''t being back."

    It was the harsh truth, one I wished I could change, but I couldn''t.

    "No matter what reality exists out there¡­ none of them will ever be like mine. None of those people¡­ will ever be like my family."

    I could sense the hurt in his voice as he spoke. He confronted the reality of the situation face-to-face, something most people wouldn''t dare to do.

    ''You''re a strong man, Larry.'' I nodded gently, smiling internally.

    "I will continue to live my life, then." He strained a genuine smile. "It looks like I''ll have to live for all three of us. For me, Zaya, and Legris."

    ¡­ What?

    Suddenly a sh appeared in my head. That name resonated deeply within me.

    words carried nostalgia, but to me they held a different meaning.

    "What did you just say? Legris¡­ Legris Damien?" I found myself blurting out, my widening eyes fixating on Larry.

    "Yeah. Legris Damien. That''s the name we gave our child." Larry''s words carried nostalgia, but to me they held a different meaning.

    ''Of course! Why didn''t I think of this before?!''

    It all made sense now.

    Why, no matter how long I searched, I couldn''t find any trace of Larry''s first son.

    "It''s because he''s Legris Damien¡­"

    And that wasn''t all.

    It all came together, as pieces to a puzzle, an epiphany I couldn''t stop.

    The visions I had been getting¡­ about the boy who aspired to be a Mage.

    The boy who spent his whole life desiring Magic, growing older to bing obsessed with it.

    That boy¡ªno, that man¡ªwas Legris Damien all along.

    "It''s always been him. Legris Damien¡­ it''s been him all along!"

    In my vision, he was erased from existence due to his experiment. Hepletely vanished from existence.

    However, how could that have affected other realities? How did all of thise together?

    ''Ahh¡­ I don''t fully get it, but it''s all connected. It all leads back to Legris.''

    And that Legris Damien was in my reality.

    ''You have to stop him, Jared. No matter what!''

    There was no way we could let him have what he wanted.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1121 Reality Check

    "Are you alright, Lewis?"

    "Yeah. You''re looking kind of pale."

    "You mentioned my son''s name. Is everything alright?"

    Aria, Drake, and Larry all asked me with their eyes connoting evidence of worry.

    "Yeah, yeah. I''m fine. Your son''s name just reminded me of someone where I''m from who shares the same name." I responded, calming myself as I settled.

    "Ah, I see. Well, it''s not exactly a unique name." Larry smiled. "What kind of person was he?"

    Hearing that question caused me to remember how Jared felt about that man.

    There was only one answer I could give at this point.

    "He''s like me."

    "Like you? He must be a great fellow, then." Larry had no idea what I meant by ''like me'', but I appreciated his sentiment.

    Legris and I both shared the same past, and the same obsession with Magic.

    But¡­ we were clearly different.

    ''No one in the Nether Realm exists in the Aether Realm and vice versa. Sure, in the various branches within a realm, variations of a person may exist, but the two realms never have an existence inmon.''

    There was no Jared Leonard in the Nether Realm, just as there was no Larry Damien in the Aether Realm.

    Sure, due to certain circumstances, there were bound to be some simr histories and titles in certain branches that parallel the other branch.

    Concepts like Fairy King, or Great Sage, existed in both Realms. However, as long as the Roots were different, no character could ever be the same.

    ''Could it be that Legris¡­ is the Lewis of this world?''

    If that was the same, then I wasn''t dealing with just someone who was simr to me.

    No. I was dealing with the ''ME'' of an inverted realm.

    The ME that was always bound to fail.

    ''It''s just as Libra said. This world''s natural order ensures evil triumphs good. Despair is the norm here. That''s the kind of person the Nether is, so his realm will be designed like this.''

    Both realms had good and evil, but in the Aether world, it seemed good found ways to constantly triumph.

    This was due to the Aether''s nature.

    However, if I applied the same to the Nether, it meant the echoes of despair and chaos were the preferred setting.

    In such a world, Legris Damien was bound to be corrupted.

    ''That''s what makes us different.''

    "I have to go now. I''m really sorry I couldn''t help you any more, you three. Even if you looked forward to this so much." I rose to my feet and swiftly left for the door.

    There was a lot more to do than I realized.

    "LEWIS!" Larry called my name, causing me to sharply turn back.

    I was very anxious at this point, and impatience was clearly disyed on my face.

    Yet, the mere sight of all three of them melted my heart and drove all those overwhelming feelings away in an instant.

    "Thank you for everything, Lewis." Larry bowed his head as he offered a genuine, natural smile.

    "I know you killed my sisters to protect us. I hold nothing against you, Lewis. You are a good man, Lewis." Aria smiled too, her head bowed.

    "You''ve done more than we could ever have thought possible for this world, Lewis. Thank you." Drake nodded, his head lowered in a bow.

    All three of them offered me their sincere gratitude and respect.

    "You guys¡­" I could feel tears forming in my eyes as I stared at them. My vision grew blury due to the umting liquid, and I didn''t realize it when I formed a smile.

    "Thank you so much."

    These people. This world. This Realm. All of it had shown me much more than I ever thought possible.

    ********

    The three friends sat in a circle after Lewis left them, their faces more cheerful than one would expect.

    They had just been told that they would never see their loved ones again. Yet, the genuine smiles on their faces didn''t vanish.

    Instead, the more they stared at each other, the more their grins widened.

    "We''re all still best friends, right?" Aria was the first to break the silence with her words.

    "Of course." Drake responded, and so a smile began to slowly form at the corner of his lips. "Though¡­ I can only expect things to change very soon."

    "What do you mean by that, Drake?" Larry gasped, most definitely apalled by what his friend was insinuating.

    Was he trying to say they wouldn''t remain best friends.

    "Yeah, what nonsense are you spouting, Drake?" Aria added.

    "Oh, nothing. It''s just¡­ I look at my two friends now and can''t help but think that the two of them might soon be¡­ ahem¡­ ahem¡­" He made a mock cough.

    His smile grew wider as his eyes narrowed.

    Surely, no one would be dense enough not to understand what that meant at this point.

    "W-w-w-w-what the hell, Drake?!" Aria was the first to burst out with stuttering words as her face took on a pinkish hue.

    There was no way she could overlook what Drake had just insinuated.

    Her and Larry¡­ bing what exactly?

    It was true that now Larry wasn''t bound by his mission to bring back his family, and he intended to live his life to the fullest.

    That meant Larry was currently single, and possibly searching.

    And Aria¡­ well Aria was¡­

    "Kyaaaaa! Stop iiiiit!" She screamed, holding both her cheeks as she ran out of the room, most likely too embarassed to look at the blushing Larry''s face.

    One would never expect a hardened warrior to disy such a feminine side to herself.

    "What did you say that for, Drake?" Larry sighed as he held his forehead. He didn''t know how to respond to his still grinning friend.

    "Welp, I just stated the truth. You''ve known for a while that Aria likes you, right? And now that you''re single, might as well just kickstart things."

    "Y-you! And who says I like her back? Or that I''m ready to get back in the game?" This time, it was Larry''s turn to get flustered.

    Not many things could faze the Great Sage of this world, but even he had his limits.

    "Pfft! Who are you decieving? I see how you stare at her sometimes, you lecherous man. I wonder how painful it was to hold it in your pants all these years¡­"

    "S-shut up! It''s not my fault. I''m a man, and I¡­ I have needs, you know?"

    "Hahaha! At least you''re honest with yourself now." Drake burst outughing even more.

    "But Aria deserves better. She should be with¡ª"

    "You. She likes you, so I think she wants to be with you. If you''re not man enough to handle it, don''t me it on her."

    Drake had always had his way with his tongue when he decided to ger serious. Larry could see that now.

    "F-fine¡­ I''ll try." Larry finally gave in.

    Drake was right, after all.

    Now that they had saved the world and stopped the threat o the triumvirate, all the tension that kept him serious had vanished.

    They were now reced by the pent-up stress he had ignored all this time, and it was finally beginning to get to him.

    "... I''ll try."

    Now, both Drake and Larry couldn''t have known this, but Aria was listening in to their conversation from outside the room, so she had heard everything.

    At some point, her cheeks flushed with deeper red, and other times, she tried her best to stop herself fromughing.

    It wasn''t too difficult to maintain her cover since she was a Magic Swordsman, and the two conversing were pretty much weak.

    Still, she felt like she had almost lost control and given herself away on multiple asions.

    Thankfully, that didn''t happen.

    ''So he likes me too¡­'' Aria smiled, clenching her hands to form a fist. She jerked it in the air, cheering for herself in victory.

    In the end, she had won his heart.

    It wasn''t all in vain!

    ¡­ And unknown to the two men conversing, as well as Aria, someone else was watching this entire thing and listening in to all that happened.

    The Urs.

    "I see. So this is how it works." The Automaton murmured silently as she stealthily hovered above the bunch.

    Aria''s excited face. Drake''s mischievous smile. Larry''s nervous face.

    She internalized all of it and assimted all the information. With her current base knowledge of empathy forming a codex within her, the Urs began to analyze eveything she was recieving.

    She did this until a particr inquiry popped into her mind.

    "Will I¡­ find love too?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Haha! Well, isn''t this chapter full of twists and turns.

    Hope you enjoyed it.

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1122 The Dying World

    ?

    Once I was done with Larry and the others, I knew I needed a breather, so I teleported to an isted area in the far north¡ªaway from any sense of familiarity, and devoid of life.

    I just wanted some time to think.

    Floating as I stared at the star-filed sky, brimming in the vastness of darkness all around, I smiled to myself.

    This world was truly beautiful.

    "So this is where you were¡­" A voice broke me out of my thoughts, though I could already sense the presence of the owner before she spoke.

    Hearing her words made my smile broaden even more.

    "Stop saying that as if you didn''t know that already." ncing behind me, I saw Karlia floating there.

    She had her arms folded, and a smile on her face. Her violet eyes locked onto mine, and as she drew closer, I could feel my heart racing.

    "Fair enough." She retorted, still drawing closer.

    Karlia''s and I had used Soul Brands on ourselves, just like I did with Jane all those years ago. In essence, she could tell where I was and vice versa.

    Even without the Brand, however, I doubted someone like her would have any problem locating me.

    Not as long as I was within the same universe she was in.

    "What''s on your mind? You seem troubled." She asked, her arms wrapped around my shoulder.

    I gave a light chuckle once I felt the warmth of her skin on mine.

    "What gave it away? The Soul Brand?"

    "Pfft! What? I don''t need a Soul Brand to know when my man is upset. What''s the matter, Lewis?" She asked once more.

    It wasn''t like I wanted to hide anything from Karlia, but it was sometimes to voice out my thoughts.

    What I just neded was a bit of time to sort them out¡­ and I would finally be able to express them.

    "The problem with this world¡­ the loss of so many souls, and its inevitable crumbling, it''s bcause we stopped the Nether from invading our world."

    Without the Nether, the dead souls couldn''t be recycled to form new souls. And so, only existing souls would be transferred to form more existent ones.

    That wasn''t sustainable.

    "The more people die, the less the total mass of souls be. Without any way to recycle them, the souls will thin out, diminishing over time."

    In essence¡­ this world would soon run out of souls to operate on.

    "The Nether Realm is dying. And it''s because of us." I locked gazes with Karlia and offered a tired smile.

    "And the worst part is that I don''t know how to correct it."

    I couldn''t even restore the Souls that belonged to the loved ones of my friends. How much more the souls of not just a branch, but the entire Nether Tree.

    I was stuck.

    "Is that all?" Karlia''s voice suddenly made my worries dissipate into a void of bright embers.

    "H-huh?"

    She gave me a smile that made it seem like everything I was saying¡­ was no problem.

    Just what in the world was she thinking?

    "Don''t tell me¡­ you can solve the problem?" My eyes bulged as I stared at Karlia''s confident smile.

    How could I have forgotten? Karlia was an excellent Magic Researcher. Not only had she found a way to make herself virtually immortal, but she kept researching various aspects of Magic in order to bring me back.

    Plus, she had so many abilities that she had collected over the years.

    Finally¡­ she was currently stronger than ever.

    ''If there''s anyone that can solve this, it could most probably be her!''

    "You''re overestimating my abilities, Lewis. Of course I can''t do that much." Karlia stopped me dead in my tracks as sheughed, patting my shoulder with her surprisingly soft hands.

    "W-what?"

    "I mean, yes, I have delved into Magic a lot, and I know my considerable share of it¡­ but I still couldn''t revive you without the conventional means, talkless of solving a problem as huge as this."

    ''Ah, that''s true.'' In terms of difficulty, the current situation was far more difficult.

    "Plus, this is the Nether Realm. The establishedws in the Aether Realm don''t apply here. I''ll have to learn a lot from scratch and build from the ground up."

    That was also true. It seemd Karlia had already considered the possibilities.

    "Even if we pool our thoughts together toe up with a solution, it''s going to take a considerably long period before we can do anything. And at that point, it''ll probably be toote."

    The more Karlia spoke, the more hopeless the situation seemed.

    Why in the world was she so confident earlier? If the situation was as bad as I thought, then why was she brimming with so much confidence?

    "Rx, Lewis. We don''t need to solve the problem. We should just delegate to those who were designed to do so." As soon as she said those words and ced her hands on my shoulders, I suddenly realized what she meant.

    The Constetions!

    "If it''s them, they should be able to pull it off!"

    Not only were they limitless in the Nether Root, but they were designed to govern various aspects of existence within the Nether Realm.

    Creating a sustainable system in the absence of the Nether was something they could do!

    "You''re a genius, Karlia! Ah¡­ but the problem is how to convince them to cooperate."

    Libra''s words still remained in my mind.

    ''This world operates on chaos and despondency. If that is the natural order of things here¡­ it''s more likely they will allow their world to die.''

    That was probably the reason the Constetions hadn''t done anything yet despite being aware of the problem.

    "Lewis, don''t worry about that." Once again, Karlia''s confident tone danced in my ears, and she took all of my attention.

    Her eyes brimmed with such confidence that it gave me an irrational sense of assurance.

    "Just leave it to me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1123 Hope For Existence

    "Hey, Libra!"

    Karlia''s voice suddenly soared as she raised her eyes into the starry sky. Her contained the residual confidence she had been disying, but a certain seriousness was etched on it as well.

    ''What is she doing? Calling a Constetion like that¡­ don''t tell me¡ª!'' My eyes widened as I interchanged nces from Karlia and the sky she intently looked at.

    "I know you can hear me. I also know you understand what the current situation is. You and your Constetion buddies better rectify this problem, you hear me?"

    I shivered as I heard Karlia speak. She had such an authorative tone that it made me a bit anxious about the results.

    ''Sure, she beat Libra, but if all the Constetions gang up on her¡­ no, even if she''ll be fine, I don''t think we should intentionally piss them off.''

    The Constetons were the only ones who could solve the current problem, after all. Wasn''t it better to resolve things diplomatically?

    ''But Karlia should know that. She must have her reasons for taking this approach¡­'' I focused my gaze on Karlia once more, watching how serious she appeared.

    "I said¡­ you hear me?" Her tone grew darker, and her eyes narrowed, clearly forming a threat.

    My worry instantly skyrocketed, and at this point I was tempted to intervene.

    However¡­

    ~SHIIINNNNGGGG!~

    ¡­ It turned out my worries were unnecessary.

    As soon as Karlia finished herst statement, brilliant glows of light appeared in the sky, and the stars above us began to huddle together in order to form words.

    Yes! Actual words.

    ~YES. WE UNDERSTAND.~ The words stated.

    I couldn''t believe my eyes.

    "What in the¡­?" I could hear myself mumble underneath my breath.

    "You see, Lewis? It''s going to be okay." She told me, her smile growing ever so brighter.

    I was rendered speechless by everything, so the only thing I could do at this point was nod at her words.

    There was still hope for this new world, after all!

    I wasn''t sure they could do anything about those who were already dead. Chances were that even the Constetions couldn''t solve that dilemma since it was in the realm of the Nether''s jurisdocation, and he was pretty much nonexistent now.

    However, for the future of the Nether Realm, it seemed there was hope. And that was more than enough to make me smile.

    ''Karlia¡­ you''ve really be somehing else.'' My thoughts echoed.

    But, strangely enough, that only made me love her more.

    "You''re amazing!" I jumped into her arms instantly, finding the both of us copsing under my weight.

    "Hahaha! Took you long enough to realize that." She giggled as I embraced her and she did the same.

    Before I knew it, we started kissing andughing together.

    It was an enjoyable moment, and it felt like an entire universal load of weight had been taken off my shoulders.

    However, as we enjoyed our awesome time together and indulged in all the fun we could, something suddenly appeared in my mind.

    ''H-hold on¡­ can the Constetions see us when we''re having se¡ª??!''

    ******

    [A Week Later]

    "So, what now, Lewis?"

    Karlia and I were currently floating in the air, above thendscape where our newfound friends and acquaintances lived, and she looked me deep in the eyes when she asked the question.

    "We''ve had a lot of fun, and you''ve shown me around this ce, but I can tell there''s still something else you need to do. Something on your mind." She added.

    She wasn''t wrong.

    I had shown her the Goblin Vige, and took her to what remained of the Labyrinths I experienced to get the Arcanas. And of course, through all of this, we had a lot of fun.

    There were still many ces we were yet to visit, and a lot more to explore, but besides that, there was something else on my mind.

    And it seemed Karlia could tell. No, it was probably more urate to say she could always tell, but didn''t want to say anything.

    At least, until now.

    "There''s onest thing I have to do. It''s what Jared entrusted to me."

    Karlia narrowed her gaze and nodded at me. She was waiting for m to tell her more.

    "It''s about Legris Damien. You know him, right?"

    "Not really. We were both members of the Nether Cult, but I never really liked the guy. Something about him made me feel uneasy."

    "Yeah¡­ Jared felt the same. But, the more time I spent here, the more I was able to understand him more. I don''t know why, but the more I know about him, the more uneasy I feel. Still, there''s no going around the fact that we can''t allow him to have his way." I exined.

    Right now, Legris was at a point where he didn''t exist in the Nether Realm, but also wasn''t a denizen of the Aether Realm.

    He was apletely different being, something different from anything me or anyone else.

    "Who is he exactly? What''s going on, and how do we stop him?" Karlia''s words were very straightforward, as I would expect.

    Inasmuch as she didn''t prefer violence, she was the kind of person who was resolved to do anything if it would ensure her goals being achieved.

    ¡­ Even if it meantitting atrocities.

    "Hopefully we don''t have to do anything. Jared and everyone else are doing their best to stop him. But, just in case he fails, we should do our best on this end as well."

    That was the deal I made with Jared. I just hoped things wouldn''t get to such a point where it was going to be thest line of defense.

    "What exactly is our part to y in all this, though? What aren''t you telling me? Karlia asked me, her brows narrowing.

    Before I knew it, a gentle exhtion escaped my lips and I found myself staring down to the world beneath us.

    A secondter, my gaze returned to Karlia, and a tone of resolve escaped my lips.

    "Ready for another field trip?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Next chapter will be the conclusion of this Nether Realm Arc. I know the past two Arcs have had their ups and downs, and some parts felt unnessary, but its almost time to return to the main story!

    I hope you all are excited!

    Also¡­

    I have a new novel ongoing, and I would really appreciate your support.

    The title is "Only I Can See The End"

    Please support me by checking it out. Thank you all.

    Join the Discord Server for character arts, interactions with the author, asional giveaways, and many more.

    Here''s the link.

    https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1124 Farewell To Home

    Farewells are usually apanied by one of two things.

    One of them is joy¡ªthe cheerful sounds of celebration, and the hopeful gazes of those that bid goodbye to you.

    The other is sadness¡ªwhen the eyes of the crowd carry such heaviness that it brings a certain bleakness to look into their eyes.

    Sometimes, it was an odd mix of both.

    Thankfully, our goodbye to this ce was more of the former, and almost nothing like thetter.

    Fairy King Oberon, Aria, Drake, Larry, and everyone else we had managed to befriend in the known world were here to witness our farewell.

    Their cheerful gazes met ours as we stood at the precipice of our next voyage; though we could leave from anywhere at any time, we chose the very battlefield that would have caused a memory of despair if not for our interference.

    Moments earlier, we had said our farewells to the Goblins, but now it was time to bid everyone here goodbye.

    The party we had was amazing, and everyone had enjoyed themselves to the utmost.

    But now, that was all over.

    It had be a time of solemn farwell.

    "Will you being back?" The question that hung in the air was finally asked by Oberon, who looked me in the eye as he spoke.

    I looked at everyone who was present, their gazes implying the same question.

    Would we being back? That¡­ was an unnecessary question.

    "Of course." I responded with a smile.

    I had so many more things to look forward to in this ce. I had fought for this world, and I had grown so attached to this ce in the short span of my time here.

    ''The people here have be family to me. I don''t think there''s much of that waiting for me back in the Aether Realm.''

    In more ways than one, this was my new home.

    ''And everyone needs toe back home at some point.''

    I nced to my right and saw Karlia''s smiling face. To my left was the Urs, who woul also be serving as mypanion on this new journey.

    Everything was set.

    "I guess I''ll see you allter." The smile on everyone''s faces infected me, and I could also see the surrounding Mecha Knights waving at me.

    I, of course, waved back at them.

    "It''s time¡­ [The World]." Once the pleasantries were concluded, I utilized thebined might of the Arcanas to generate a shimmering portal.

    The swirling singrity stood behind me, Karlia an the Urs. It warped space, and bended thews that existed around us.

    The sooner we left, the better.

    "Take care until then." I said my final farewell, finally turning my back and facing the gateway that would lead to the final challenge I had to face.

    "WE''LL BE WAITING FOR YOU!" The resounding chorus of the people behind me warmed my heart, and the intertwining fingers of Karlia as we locked hands together brought mefort.

    This was going to be the most dangerous task I had ever undertaken, and it made me worry endlessly about how much I had to lose.

    However, I was fully aware of the potential loss that would cur if I did nothing.

    The love I had for my friends, my family, my creations¡­ and my dear wife-to-be, propelled me forward.

    I could not fail.

    "The optimal time is here. We should venture forward." The Urs''s voice echoed in my ears, and I nodded in response.

    She was right.

    "You ready, Lewis?" Karlia''s soft voice made me stare at her longingly.

    And I suppose that was the final push I needed.

    "I am."

    With those final words uttered, we stepped into the abyss¡­ and never turned back.

    ******

    [LOCATION: The Aether Branch]

    <TIME PERIOD: Over A Month Before The Lewis'' Departure>

    ~VWUUUUSSSSHHHH!~

    The world came into view as the swirling mass of contorted space parted to grant my allies and I entry.

    "Haa¡­" A brief, but deep sigh escaped my lips as I finally breathed in the fresh air of the world around me.

    It had taken a lot of time and effort, but we were finally back here in our original world.

    "... It''s good to¡­ be back¡­ home¡­?" I slowed down my speech almost as soon as I started it.

    Moving closer to me from behind were Kuzon, Aloe, Edward, and Ciara¡ªall of us who had just returned from traveling the worlds within the Aether Tree in order to return to our world.

    However, upon arriving, we were instantly greeted by¡­ strangeness.

    "Is it just me, or is something wrong here?" Ciara was the first to break the silence as she looked as perplexed as the rest of us.

    In response to her words, I said nothing.

    It was still taking me a while to fullyprehend and process all that was happening around and within me.

    Objectively speaking, there was nothing wrong with thendscape.

    It looked the same, just like memory.

    It was Ainrk Academy, after all, where Neron''s wedding had been held. We had returned to thest ce we upied before we were suddenly transported.

    Yet¡­ we could instantly tell something was off.

    "It''s not just here, Jared. It''s everywhere. You can sense it too, can''t you?" Kuzon drew closer to me, his tone carrying as heavy a weight as one would expect.

    Kuzon had been the one most anxious to return, and now that we were here, I could sense the unease he was experiencing.

    It nearly rivaled mine.

    For one final time, I closed my eyes and probed the entire world¡­ searching for anything, anyone that could exin what was happening.

    But, ultimately found no one.

    ''Nothing again, huh?'' I asked myself.

    With widened eyes, I turned towards my friends, asking them a question I already knew they had no answers to. "Where¡­?"

    That''s right. None of us knew the answers.

    "Where in the world is everyone?"

    At least, not yet.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    This is the end of the 7th Arc, and now we can move to the Final Arc of this novel.

    It will be the conclusion of Jared''s Story, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it as much as I will enjoy writing it.

    I intend to pour everything into this Final Arc to ensure it is a well-deserved conclusion to this story, so please continue to support me as we progress.

    The name of thest volume of this series is¡­

    ¡­ The End Of All Things Arc.

    Till then, readers.

    Cheers!

    Ah, and for thest time¡­ please check out my new book.

 Chapter 1125 The Towering Threat

    [Moments Earlier]

    The skies were darkened.

    The earth was melting, dissolving into murky dark liquid that seemed like an endless swamp of boiling tar.

    The pungent odor in the air was so toxic that a single whiff could kill anyone, and the the intensity of negative energy was enough to melt anyone to the marrow of their bones.

    In essence, this was hell.

    And in this hell, there was something magnificent¡ªno, perhaps the word would be jawbreaking¡ªwas urring.

    "ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"

    A colossal beast, only about the size of the tallest mountain one could imagine, echoed its enraged voice, sending it flying through the disgustingly dark area.

    Its power sent shockwaves and bursts of energy filling everything around it, and the melting world around it shivered in response to its roar.

    It was a bipedal monster, with four separate fore limbs dedicated to unbridled destruction. It had what appeared to be the mane of a lion, but also several tentacle-thingies behind it, swirling and whirring like hideous snakes ready to strike their prey.

    That wasn''t all, though. No¡­ not even close.

    This monster had spikes that oozed with poisonous fluids all over his body. They seemed like bones that poked out of its gleaming dark flesh.

    Its nine glowing crimson eyes saw all, and its jaws loosened to disy its salivating mouth, filled to the brim with spiky teeth that threatened to rip everything around it to shreds. Its humongous tailshed around, like a whip that would tear all assunder with one strike.

    With a monster taller than a thousand meters roaring in fury, there was no one in their right mind who would dare to stand against it.

    None would even be able toe close.

    However¡­ this was when the miracle urred.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    This eruption was caused not by the roaring beast, nor any of its multiple destructive appendages, but by someone else.

    No¡­ not someone.

    Three people in particr.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHH!!!~

    These three women had crimson, yellow, and white hair respectively. The yellow blonde had short hair, while the other two had long hair. Compared to the other two, she appeared very little¡ªlike a child.

    Still, these three stood side by side.

    With a wild grin stered on the face of the crimson-haired woman, the stoic expression of the woman with white hair, and a calcting frown from the yellow blonde, the mist cleared, and their foe came into view.

    It was the towering creature of unimaginable power.

    "Looks like it devoured the others in this vicinity." The yellow blonde whispered, her hand pressing something like an earpiece locked in her ears.

    Goggles instantly covered her pretty blue eyes, allowing her to properly perceive the monster.

    "Its negative energy level is at a breakneck rate, and its still rising. If we don''t deal with it now, it''ll be a hassleter." She added.

    "What does that mean, Ana? Can we take it or not?" The white-haired girl asked, her eyes unblinking as she stared emotionlessly at both the adversary and herrade.

    "It goes without saying, Maria. I just wanted to analyze it a little." The one called Ana, a Loli who was dressed in a whitebcoat and a ck and gold millitary-themed uniform, smiled at herrade.

    For Maria, she was dressed in a short-sleeved white robe, which fluttered with the toxic wind around them. Her inner wear was a ck zipped up long-sleeved shirt that peeked out of the robe.

    She, just like Ana, also donned trousers, as well as high-heeled boots, toplete her outfit.

    "You girls¡­ what''s the point in wasting time like this?" The final woman, a crimson-haireddy, grinned widely as she took a step forward.

    Her outfit was a mix of ck, red, and white¡ªa short sleeved crop top that hugged her body tightly, disying her massive boobs and her streamlined body.

    Her long hair flowed behind her, and her eyes kept glowing like undying embers of mes. And as her grin broadened, her fists clenched harder.

    "We just have to kill it, right? Then let''s go."

    Both women looked at each other, and then the oldest among them¡ªthe crimsondy¡ªand eventually had to agree about the futility of their conversation.

    Their mission involved investigation, but fighting wasn''t restricted as well.

    When confronted with threats like this, there was only one reasonable option that came to mind.

    "Annihte it until there''s nothing left."

    The two women stepped forward, their gazes fixed on the monster while they parted their lips.

    "Yes, Miss Serah."

    "Understod, Master Serah."

    Serah Crimson pped her first into her palm and gave the most fearless smile imaginable as her tworades stood side by side with her¡ªtheir focus on the creature who seemed like it was contemting what to do with them, just as they were contemting what to do with it.

    But just as they all decided to eradicate it, the monster also came to the same conclusion.

    "ROOOOAAAAA¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHH!~

    In an epic streak of blinding light, the three women swiftly left their position, gliding with the wind instead.

    Red, blue, and yellow auras burst within the darkness, like various shes of lightening, instantly rushing to their targets like uncontroble meteors.

    Before the monster couldplete its roar, they had already closed their distance, ready to strike the creature.

    "First of all, the polluted area is granting an advantage to the Nether Beast. If I cut of its supply of Nether, it won''t be able to regenerate or restore its lost power." Ana''s voice echoed through the tense moment, and she took to pressing a button on her wristwatch.

    Instantly, her boots transformed into a surfboard, with which she glided through the darkness while using her goggles to navigate through the world around her.

    She ascended to the sky far above herpanions who were busy with the monster.

    As for the other two, Serah Crimson simply concentrated energy on her fist, making it glow red-hot¡­ more so than burning iron being smelted in the forge.

    With such a dangerous blow brandhished by the wild woman, Serah neared the Nether Beast who now sent its multiple tentacles in her direction.

    "Haha! Nice try!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    Serah punched the very air around her, sending a durge of red energy flying at the multiple appendages that charged at her.

    The moment the shockwave reached them, they were turned into nothing but squished, deted mounds of flesh.

    The sh between Serah''s air strike and the monster''s tentacles left a resounding bang in the air. It also caused the creature to recoil in pain, taking a step back from Serah.

    ¡­ That was its mistake.

    "[True Wind Magic: Dual Sliding Gate]."

    The only thing the Nether Beast heard was the tiny whisper of the white-haired human behind it.

    And then the unthinkable happened.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!~

    Two invisible, yet overwhelmingly perceptible force of incredible sharpness were sent forth. Before the creature could react or even understand what was going on, two of its mighty appendages were sliced off.

    As soon as they were cut off, they were further diced to pieces and turned to mincemeat as the aftershock of the Spell.

    "ROOOOAAAARRRRR!!!" The beast cried in pain, and if it had the capacity to do so, it was possible that it would shed tears.

    "Hm. Two more to go." The cold tone of the human greeted the ears of the Nether Beast, causing shivers to course through its spine.

    It had always taken pride in its imprable body, yet she had just sliced it off like it was nothing.

    "GRRRRRRRRRRR¡­."

    Well, it didn''t matter much to the monster.

    It still had two more for fighting limbs. Plus, any moment now, it would recover its lost parts thanks to the rich Nether that flowed around him.

    "HEHEHEHEHEHE!"

    That''s right! In the end, the advantage still belonged to hi¡ª

    ~FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~

    In nearly an instant, the darkened sky, boiling earth, and toxic air, suddenly shifted in trajectory.

    Not only did all the aforemention cease to exist, but they were reversed to form different phenomena that would send any beast like it into shock.

    The air now became refreshingly breathable, almost to an absurd degree. The skies were brighter than ever, raining down showers of brilliance. The earth hardened in beauty, forming the purest crystal-like minerals.

    Everything seemed like a utopia: the expected aftereffect of all that Nether suddenly transforming into Aether.

    "R-ROOOOOAAARRRRR¡­?!"

    The advantage the creature just earlier alluded to had dissipated before it even realized it, and instead of the toxic environment it reveled in, it was a world of beautiful wonder that now filled its sight.

    A world that it didn''t belong to.

    "It took you long enough, Ana!" Serah grinned. "I could have beaten it without that, but I just wanted you to show us the new trick you''ve been working on."

    "It''s not bad. I''ve never seen you use it on this scale." Mariamented as she watched Ana descend from her position in the air.

    "Well, what can I say? I needed a bit more time to study the other elements present in the air. It only took a few more seconds than anticipated, so it''s not enough toin about."

    Her wind surfboard whirred as she took her position with Maria and Serah, who now jointly watched the Nether Beast squirm in the new environment it found itself in.

    "It won''t die anytime soon. The stockpile of Nether it has should be enough tost it a couple more days. That is, if it doesnt''t adapt first and learn to produce more internal Nether than the surrounding Aether."

    With no renewable supply strong enough to offset the Aether poisoning it would be experiencing, a Nether Beast was bound to die in this case.

    But there ahd been cases of Nether Beasts evolving past that.

    Ah, not just Nether Beasts.

    "I suppose what we have to do hasn''t changed, then. We should put it out of its misery." Maria mumured, her stoic gaze resting on the creature before her.

    "That''s right,dies." Serah Crimson''s fist glowed with fiery energy once more.

    "Let''s end this once and for all."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Wee to the Final Arc of SPELLCRAFT: Reincarnation Of A Magic Schr.

    It has been quite a ride, hasn''t it? If you''ve made it this far, then bravo!

    You are one of the chosen few who will witness the end of this story.

    ¡­ Thank you for staying.

    Let us begin our grand adventure into The End Of The World Arc!

 Chapter 1126 The Three Women

    The Nether Beast was desperate.

    In all of its existence, it had never felt this way before. This¡­ threatened.

    Born from malevolence, it always had the instinctive drive to wreak havoc andmit atrocities. It dominated its peers and ruled those weaker.

    It consumed everything and everyone around it until it reached this point of its existence.

    Yet¡­ these three women who presented themselves before him¡­ were causing him to feel such a rush of emotions that his bones shivered.

    If it had hair on its disgusting ck skin, they would all be rising in response to the current state of its mind.

    No. It couldn''t afford to be distracted by such nonsense!

    In the end, this was three against one. The only reason they intentionally created such odds was because they knew they couldn''t handle it alone.

    Yes¡­ that''s right.

    They were scared of it, weren''t they? They knew they were weaker than it, right? That was why they were employing such brazen tactics instead of simply attacking head-on.

    The creature snarled as it chuckled a little, ring hatefully at the three women who seemed to be concluding their discourse and settling their eyes on it.

    It wasn''t afraid of them.

    Not anymore.

    They were prey to it. It would simply cosnsume them and survive the current Aether poisoning by quickly adapting to the qualities of Aether by integrating their prowess with its own.

    Yes¡­ that was exactly right.

    That was all it had to do.

    No more holding back!

    "ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!"

    The Nether Beast let out a screech, imbuing it with enough Nether to push back the Aether that fervently tried to eat at it. With this, not only would its opponents be weakened, but it would also get rid of the annoying debuff existing around it.

    Also, while it could certainly heal its two severed limbs, that would take too much Nether, and right now it had to focus on surviving its current state until it consumed the targets before him.

    More Nether had to be expended on eradicating them!

    "RAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

    All nine of it crmson eyes glowed, and three of them shed with elevated power.

    ~FWIIIIISSSSHHHH!~

    In a sh, a thin beam of concentrated power erupted from its three eyes and charged in the direction of its target.

    The Nether Beast chuckled as it watched the beams near the targets.

    It wasn''t a simple energy st, but a highly concentrated version of a both poison and corruption. A single scratch would send Nether coursing through a person which would forcefully integrate itself into the poor soul until it perishedpletely.

    All of this would happen within mere seconds.

    There was also no point evading it since it would chase its targets no matter where they went. It had one-shotted many of its enemies with this power before, and this time it woul be no exception.

    It was now time¡­ for them to DIE!

    ~FSHUUUUUUU!~

    Before the beams reached them¡ªjust about five inches or so¡ªthey suddenly dissipated.

    "E-EH¡­.?"

    What in the world was happening? It had no idea!

    "What was that?" He heard one of them ask the other. "A Nether Beam?"

    The Nether Beast didn''t unerstand theirnguage, but it was too stunned to stop listening. Even though it couldn''tprehend what they were saying, it kept watching them speak.

    "It''s moreplicated than that, but with the Aether defense mechanism I put in ce around me, which in turn permeates to all three of us due to our proximity, the Nether''s quality broke down before reaching us. I would say this attack was rather concentrated considering it took a while before it was neutralized."

    The yellow blonde was the one doing the exining. It seemed she perfectly understood what was going on here.

    "So, what would have happened if the Nether reached us?" This time it was the white-haired girl who spoke.

    "Probably nothing. Your defenses should be enough to resist it. I''m not as strong as you two, so I have to rely on defense mechanisms like this." The blonde responded once more.

    Something told the Nether Beast she was the most dangerous one of the bunch.

    Wasn''t she also the one who undid his Nether Territory? Yes, she had to be the main enemy here¡­

    But, how could it take her seriously when she looked like a kid? Calling her twelve-years old would be generous based on this creature''s primitive brain.

    Sure, it wasn''t against killing kids. No, it reveled in the despair it brought little ones as they suffered at his hands, even down to the point when they breathed theirst.

    But, that didn''t mean it ever saw them as a threat.

    It was difficult for the Nether Beast to ignore its primal instincts of underestimating weaker-looking things like the yellow blonde, and focus on the one who would qualify as the strongest based on its biases.

    The one with the biggest chest¡­ the crimson haired woman.

    She had to be the strongest.

    Within her contained immense power, hence the reason her chests were so plump. Nothing else could exin it to the Nether Beast.

    Plus, she was the one who destroyed its tentacles which, for some reason, weren''t healing even though it had tried to regenerate them.

    No matter. It just had to indiscriminately kill all of them. They were all it enemies, and as such eradicating them without prejudice was its ultimate objective.

    "URRRRROOOOOAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

    The Nether Beast loosened its jaw and stretched its mouth to the utmost limits, finally releasing all the Nether that had been converging there for so long.

    It was in the form of a dark orb¡­ one that whirred at unfathomable speed that it seemed like a spiraling blot in the air.

    The Nether Beast knew this was the end of the line for these fools.

    There was no way anyone could survive its end-of-the-line attack. This was its ultimate move, the destroyer of any enemy that ever stood a chance against him, and a proof of just how high of a threat it considered its opponents to be.

    The BOOM BOOM ATTACK!

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The Orb exploded and within it came a brilliant detonation of darkness that swiftly rushed in the direction of the adversaries.

    The darkness roared and echoed and threatened to eat everything in its path, and it ensity burned through any resistant Aether that stood in its path.

    Surely, this would be enough to disintegrate anything, turning them into nothing.

    Yet¡­ yet¡­!!!

    ~WHOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    It was ovee by a far more powerful crimson energy that roared and swallowed the darkness whole¡ªwithout any mercy.

    The darkness evaporated, leaving the three women standing before it unharmed.

    "AH¡­"

    The Nether Beast didn''t know what to say or do at this point.

    It had attacked physically, and even used up a great deal of Nether, yet it couldn''t even get one of these three women.

    Not even its BOOM BOOM ATTACK worked!

    Why? It wasn''t fair.

    It was meant to win!

    Who¡­

    Who were these people? Who in the world were they?

    The Nether Beast cried in disbelief as it stared at the trio before it. Even though it couldn''t understand any word they uttered, it could tell based on their expressions alone.

    It was now their turn to strike.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Nine Original Character Arts have been added to the Webnovel App, including some of your favorites (Jared, Maria, Aloe, Edward, etc.), so please go check them out and vote for them.

    It supports the novel, and it also shows me you want to see more.

    Thanks for reading, and I''ll see you in the next one.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1127 Beating Up A Dead Horse

    ?

    "Okay, so to keep things fair, we''ll all be allowed to have one strike each," Serah said, her arms folded as thest embers of her crimson strike danced in the air.

    "Nothing more, nothing less."

    Currenly, all three women were discussing something super important. It was their strategy¡ªif it could even be called that¡ªfor attacking.

    In order to make all things ''fair'', Serah proposed that they all give the monster one hit respectively until it perished.

    "Haa¡­ count me out of it. Just ensure there''s a sample left for me to studyter. This one piques my interest a little." Ana sighed, basically backing out of the agreement.

    As such, only Serah and Maria were left.

    "Well, what do you say?" Serah grinned at the girl.

    Maria didn''t know how to respond to this question. Serah Crimson was her master, both in Magic and also in Love.

    She had taught her too many things for her to begin disregarding her words now. However, Maria also felt more inclined to sit this one out.

    It wasn''t because the monster was threatening or overly powerful. No, rather it was the opposite.

    It was toow weak.

    ''At this point, isn''t like beating up a dead horse?'' One of them would be enough to finish it off once and for all.

    Ana had probably seen the futility of taking this fight seriously, so she backed down and settled for observing the creature more. Maria also preferred the more efficient approach, so she would have preferred it if just one person finished the creature off.

    But¡­ Serah Crimson was her respected master.

    As such, there was only one answer to give.

    "Understood, Master Serah!" Maria bobbed her head while keeping her face emotionless.

    "That''s the spirit. I''ll go first!" Serah''s grin widened even more as she sped her hands together and cracked her fingers in what could only be interpreted as excitement.

    "Don''t worry, I''ll hold back enough to let you have your go."

    ''No, it''s okay if you just end it on your own. You can kill it in one hit. I don''t mind.'' These were the thoughts in Maria''s head, but she dared not voice them out.

    She could only nod her head one more time to y along.

    "Let''s do this!"

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHH!~

    In a brilliant spark of crimson light, Serah vanished from her position,pletely escaping the sights of her allies and foe alike.

    ''Ah¡­ there she is!'' Maria finally spotted her behind the Nether Beast¡ªat its base for that matter.

    Serah was floating right behind its enormous legs, so the onlookers could only guess she was going after the Nether Beast''s legs.

    Strategically wise, that wasn''t a bad n.

    ''What should I do after?'' Maria found herself wondering.

    "ROOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!!!"

    The creature they faced seemed to have had enough of their bullshit because it sent seveal spikesunched at Serah, all massive projectiles converging on her position.

    However, it was all pointless.

    All the projectiles melted the moment they got into close proximity with her, and so the Nether Beast only had one other option left.

    ~SWISH!~

    It swung its tail, whipping through the air as it approached Serah''s tiny self.

    "Hehe!" Rather than fearing for her life that the humongous thingshing in her direction would do her in, Serah Crimson''s excitement only seemed to rise.

    She didn''t try to strengthen her defense, or even counter with offense.

    No. Instead, she stretched both hands out, as if expecting an embrace from the ck and meaty whip that lunged at her.

    And then¡­

    ~WHOOOSHHH!~

    ¡­ She caught it.

    The long and massive tail of the Nether Beast got stuck in her grasp, unable to budge an inch despite the hard struggle of the already terrified creature.

    "My turn."

    In a single huff, she effortlessly pulled the Nether Beast from its standing position, forcing to crash upon the earth, shattering the environs.

    Debris scattered around like the ruptured innards of an exploded person, but this was only the beginning.

    Serah Crimson tightened her grip so the tail wouldn''t slip from her hand, and she began to spin.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHHHH!!!~

    A tornado inadvetedly formed with her at the center, as she kept twisting and turning, sending the poor creature in her grasp flying around in a daze.

    It was too helpless to stop the flow, and the current was certainly too strong for him to fight against. Most importantly, Serah''s overwhelming energy rendered the creature immobile, to the point where it had be nothing more than a ragdoll.

    "Up you go!" She smiled, thrusting the Nether Beast into the air in one glorious throw.

    ~WHUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!~

    Like an invertedet, the ck creature charged into the sky without being able to control any part of the process.

    Not even its own body!

    "GUUUUUUUUUAAAAARGGHHHH!!!"

    It could feel the aftereffects of Serah Criimson''s energy, and the damage it had done on its body and every portion of its defenses. At this point, it was a living corpse, a step away frm death.

    More and more Aether attacked it, and it didn''t have long for the world anyway.

    Perhaps Maria had noticed all of this when she saw the Nether Beast and gave a tired sigh. Her emotionless blue eyes were locked on the suspended Nether Beast, who had just reached terminal velocity, and would soon begin crashing down.

    "It''s your tuen, Maria. Remember, one attack."

    Maria nodded at her master, and then she contemted what move to use.

    Her specialty was Wind Magic, but she could also use Ice and Lightning Magic considerably well. Combined, she could utilize Blizzard Magic, which was more effective as an Area Of Effect type of Spell.

    Maria felt that even that was wasted on this half-dead thing that was now having a free fall.

    ''If I overdo it, I might not be able to get the sample Ana wants.''

    And so, after thinking and deciding for a while, Maria finally found the best alternative.

    "[True Ice Magic: de Of Judgement]"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Concerned about Jared and the mystery built up inst Arc''s finale? Well, be a bit more patient.

    Also, I hope you are enjoying the read.

    Thank you, and cheers.

 Chapter 1128 Hollow Victory

    ?

    "[True Ice Magic: de Of Judgement]"

    No other word needed to be said.

    Nothing had to be uttered, and not one more statement was needed to fully express the nature of what was toe.

    From the very depths of the sky, something akin to a giant de emerged.

    It was pure white, with blue sigils glowing on the st surface of the de''s surface. The de glowed like pure metal, but it was simply made up of ice.

    True Ice.

    The descending de sliced through the clouds and parted the sky''s surface as it descended in a hum that caused a shattering vibration to permeate everything surrounding it.

    The Nether Beast was over a thousand meters, making him a towering entity that would make humans¡ªwhose average were not even up to two meters¡ªseem even lesser than ants.

    Well, the de Of Judgement was nearly nine times as tall as the Nether Beast.

    That is¡­ it was 9,000 Meters tall.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!~

    Everything made way for its descent, and as its edge neared the pathetic creature that could only watch in horror as its end approached it, the Nether Beast could only silently ept its fate.

    So it fell¡­ and it pierced.

    ~SQUELCH!~

    The single strike was enough to rip the entire creature''s body into a million pieces beforepletely crushing its form.

    Of course, Maria hadn''t forgotten about her promise to Ana, so she ensured the de Of Judgement was gentle in its approach.

    As such, afterpletely tearing the creature to shreds¡­ everything about it froze.

    "Haa¡­" Misty breath escaped Maria''s lips as she closed her eyes and caused the still descending de to vanish before crashing upon the earth.

    She had never tried it before, but a de of that size interacting with the earth like that, especially from its initial height, would prove cataclysmic.

    But none of those irrelevant information mattered.

    Their opponent was defeated.

    "We won." Maria whispered, her face still exhibiting the same cold emotion she consistently showed throughout the fight.

    After all, even if they had defeated such a powerfull creature, it was a hollow victory.

    It was always a hollow victory.

    *****

    The aftermath of the fight was pretty simple. Ana was able to salvage the parts she wanted from the Nether Beast by sorting through its frozen gore.

    She took a lot of its fluids and other parts she considered ''relevent'' for her research.

    Once she was done, Serah used her Magic to eviscerate the remains of the creature,pletely removing any trace of its existence from the world.

    "All in a day''s work, I guess." Serah finally spoke to the crew, her smile spreading positively as her burning crimson eyes shed brilliantly.

    "We''re done investigating the rest of this zone, then. I suppose that''s fine." Ana muttered, sorting out the final piece of the Nether Beast into a special dimemsional that appeared like a gaping ck hole in front of her.

    Once she was done fitting thest piece of her experimental piece into her vial and storing it in her special space, she looked about ready to go.

    "Yeah." Maria simply muttered, and then, as if with an afterthought, she added. "Do you think we''ll be any closer to finding them?"

    The moment she said this, it felt like a hollow silence sudenly took over the entire space.

    Ana and Serah''s faces that once brimmed with optimism and excitement seemed to dull in almost an instant. Even Maria''s expressionless face had a hint of sadness in it, not that she could tell.

    "I¡­ I am not sure. Based on the data and what we''ve gathered thus far, its not wise to assume¡ª"

    "Well, there''s only one way to find out, yeah?" Serah cut Ana off before she could conclude her words.

    Her smile returned, and while it resembled the wide grin she had been disying all this time, it was clear to those who watched her that the confidence she now disyed was to cover up the true nature of the situation.

    No¡­ perhaps her smile had always been for this purpose.

    "Let''s return to the base and ask Jane. She should be able to analyze the data and tell us." Serah finally concluded, and everyone else had no choice but to nod in response.

    Another round of silence permeated the environment, and all three women stared at each other for a brief moment.

    They had simr expressions on their faces, and it wasn''t difficult to tell what it was.

    However, before anyone could say or think anything else of the issue, the voice of Serah Crimson pierced the silence.

    "Bring us back."

    ~VWUUUUUSSHHH!~

    Just then, a swirling pool of energy washed upon them, instantly causing space itself to warp and all three of them to vanish from their position.

    This was the Remote Warp function, and it allowed them to map out them to map out the immediate system around them and navigate through it.

    As such, even if this wasn''t their homeworld, it was a ce they had arrived at using a Remote Warp. They had taken their due time to investigate this world for days¡ªno, weeks¡ªand the reward for all of that was an anticlimatic battle with a Nether Beast.

    None of the people they sought were here, and neither were there any obvious clues on how to find them.

    They could only hope that the one who developed this technology¡ªJane Urs¡ªcould map out more of their immediate system since they could navigate more of the world around them the more worlds they visited.

    This expedition would widen the scope of their expedition, and it could finally reveal a world where they could actually find the ones they lost.

    ¡­ Or the one who made caused the loss.

    As the Remote Warp brought Serah, Maria, and Ana back home, they silently contemted what this all meant for them.

    As well as how much longer they would have to continue this streak of despair.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you enjoyed the read.

    Hopefully, with one more chapter we can cut back to Jared and what''s going on with him.

    I wonder what exactly caused everyone to vanish too¡­

 Chapter 1129 Repressed Emotions

    ?

    Within a inly paintedboratory¡ªcolored all white and appearing congested due to the several apparatuses present within despite its very massive expanse¡ªa Fairy stood behind a device.

    She had peach pink colored hair, and her green eyes hidden behind lens were fixed on the button she pressed, as well as the massive generator that stood before her.

    Jane Urs, the Mad Witch as some knew her, was currently operating controls of the Remote Warp Device, or the RWD as she usually referred to it.

    The device required intricate calctions, the right amount of energy output, and a proper wavelength analysis that proved difficult for anyone but her¡ªits maker¡ªto do.

    Of course, she had assistance from tons of her Golems and Automatons, and they were all in their various stations, working on the various other parts of the machine.

    Jane could have left this particr one to a highlypetent Automaton as well, but she chose to handle it herself. Upon hearing her allies calling for her to ensure their return, she took full reign of the device, and after finally mming a key in, a brilliant burst of light enveloped the room.

    Like a swirling vortex invading the pure white room, a st descended from the ceiling, and three silhouettes stood at the center of the energy storm.

    Fortunately, the ce they appeared in was a specially designed area meant to contain the spatial energy caused by such high-speed travel through worlds. As a result, the entire room remained safe from the torrents that manifested.

    Jane''s gaze left the machine and focused on the three entities within the dissipating storm. They were herrades who had just returned from theirtest expeditions.

    "Serah, Maria, Ana¡­ well done." Her voice was calm, and a smile formed on her face as she watched them step out of the containment area.

    Ana and Maria had somewhat clouded expressions on their faces, but Serah still had her usual confident smile.

    "Yeah. Good to be back home." Serah retorted, turning at the two younger women beside her. "Right, girls?"

    Rather than giving a positive response that was simr to the vibe Serah was giving, what she got was the exact opposite.

    "I guess¡­" Maria muttered.

    "I''m more interested in your findings, Miss Jane. Is there any progress in the mapping? Have you detected anything?"

    As expected, all of them were anxious about the results of their expedition. Other than fighting the Nether Beasts and purifying the target from any vestige of darkness, everything hinged on the results of the mapping.

    No. One could say their search for their lost allies was the primary goal. Everything else came as a direct or indirect consequence of that.

    "Rx, you three. The device is still analyzing the data. In the meantime, I''ll need you to brief me on what happened." Jane tilted her sses a little before speaking some more.

    "Tell me everything.

    *****

    One would think it was impossible to cram several weeks of expedition into a briefing of less than an hour, but considering how most of what the trio did this time was simr to the other previous times, it didn''t take all day to highlight their experiences there.

    They spoke of thendscape, ecosystem, energy concentration, encounters with creatures, and how they spent their time. With each of the three offering perspectives of their journey, as well as abined ount of certain elements, the briefing was soon concluded before the one-hour mark.

    "I see¡­ I understand." Jane muttered, sighing more in the process.

    For a moment, there was silence among all four within the private chambers where they now upied.

    It was also painted pure white, and it existed right beside theb, but it was probably better to discuss in a private chamber than in a congested workspace.

    "Even if you discovered vestiges of Nether, you still didn''t find any definitive trace of Ciel or Legris¡­"

    The Nether Element had been introduced to the world when The Nether Cult nearly destroyed it. With The Nether invading their world, and Ciel''s twisted ns nearly seeding, everyone in the room knew just how dangerous that power was.

    Legris Damien also seemed to have some connection to it, which made the process all the more connected.

    "I thought by searching specifically for Nether, we would narrow the scope, but we''re still not any closer to finding them."

    The only good news was the nigh elimination of any trace of Nether within the observable world around them.

    "You don''t need to beat yourself up too much, Jane. After the wedding, you worked your butt off to locate any trace of Legris and Ciel. You did your best." Serah''s voice echoed within the room.

    "Well, that isn''t enough. Results are all that matter." Jane''s thoughts harshly leaked out, but she quickly realized how insensitive she seemed.

    She could see Serah''s smile falter a little, and that gave her the reflection she needed

    "Sorry, Serah. Thanks for the encouragement¡­"

    There was an unspoken knowledge in the room that no one brought up, and everyone decided it was best to simply hide within themselves.

    Out of everyone here¡­ the one suffering the most was most definitely Serah Crimson.

    "Haha! It''s fine. I can understand your frustration." The red-haired womanughed it all off like it was nothing.

    But, even if no one else knew, Jane understood full well that her smile wasn''t real.

    It was a mask.

    ''I''m sorry, Serah¡­ I understand.'' Jane thought to herself, hiding thepassion in her eyes as she tried to imagine the pain her friend was experiencing.

    On the day that was meant to mark the happiest moment of her life, she had lost the most important person in her life.

    Her husband.

    The Wedding, a day of celebration meant to signify a happy moment where two people would be unified, ended up causing far more chaos and tragedy than anyone bargained for.

    And the biggest victim was the bride herself.

    ''I know you''re trying to be strong for everyone, but¡­ Serah, you can''t keep hiding your pain like this.''

    Jane knew full well the dangers behind that.

    Something had to give, and it wouldn''t be long now before all her hidden emotions would be revealed.

    Jane could only pray that Serah wouldn''t break when it finally happened.

    "You three are the first to return from your expeditions too. The others are still not donepleting their assignments. I should say congrattions, I suppose." Jane decided to change the direction of the conversation considering how depressing the mood was getting.

    As much as she thought it was better to talk about their feelings, she knew none of the women in the room were in the right space to discuss losing their loved ones.

    "Well, they probably had more difficult missions¡­" Maria mumbled.

    "Don''t tell jokes, Maria. It doesn''t suit you, hahaha!" Jane''s unusually loud voice overshadowed Maria''s best efforts at modesty.

    "Oh. My bad."

    The mix between the brightness of Jane''s tone, and the dullness of Maria''s response slowly built up to something.

    This was it! The spark that led to what she wanted.

    "Hahahaha!" Everyone in the mood burst intoughter, all at the stoic-faced girl''s expense.

    Yes, theughter was a bit strained and forced.

    Yes, it was probably not the best moment to beughing.

    However, for these women who had lost the ones they loved and cherished most¡­ it was probably for the best.

    At the very least, that was what Jane Urs thought.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you enjoyed the read.

    It might seem like I''m intentionally postponing the Jared story, but I want you readers to experience these things from the eyes of these women.

    Cheers.

 Chapter 1130 The Power Of Love

    <h4>Chapter 1130 The Power Of Love</h4>

    Once the ice was broken, all four women ended up having more fun than expected.

    They discussed their time together, and some funny experiences they had.

    Perhaps this was to distract them from the anxiety that came with waiting for Jane''s device to finish processing the data, or simply a way to buy time.

    Either way, they seemed to be having enough fun to make it all work.

    "You know, Miss Jane, I could actually help out here. With this entire operation. I have some expertise in Magic Technology and Schrship. I am also very adept at research. If we work together, I''m sure we could¡ª"

    "No."

    Jane''s t response didn''t surprise anyone.

    This wasn''t the first time Ana had raised the issue of working with, or even for Jane Urs. Every time it happened, even if it was simply for the role of an apprentice, Jane would shoot down Ana''s offer.

    It felt like such amon urrence, so no one paid it much mind now.

    "But I can really¡ª"

    "I have said this before, but you are more useful in gathering field data. I can''t leave such a task to any other person but you and a few others. Compared to them, you''re the most brilliant too. Plus, I have enough manpower here, so there''s really no need for more hands on deck."

    "..."

    Ana definitely had responses to counter Jane''s point. An example would be to utilize an Automaton in her ce in order to urately gather field data, or how having two intelligent minds in theb would even cause more innovative development than simple manpower.

    But Jane would simply find another reason to counter her point, so Ana decided to give it up.

    Why had she even brought it up in the first ce?

    "Well, I guess that''s enough small talk. Youdies can show yourselves out. I need to do more tests and analysis." Jane rose to her feet, or one could say she flew from her seated position.

    Her pink wings fluttered behind her as herb coat swayed with the wind, and while she was much smaller than the rest of them in height, none could deny her presence.

    Once Jane rose, the rest followed suit.

    "I''ll inform you three when the data has beenpletely analyzed. Though, I think it''ll probably be best to wait for everyone''s return so we can hold a general briefing and discuss what I find, as well as the n going forward."

    Serah, Maria, and Ana could only nod.

    Of everyone on the team, Jane was the oldest and most integral in their search for the missing ones.

    They all knew when to leave it to her, and so they filed out of Jane''s room in an orderly fashion, with her floating right behind them.

    Even though her gaze seemed distracted for a second, a smile remained on her face.

    Same old Jane Urs.

    *****

    "Am I the only one who thinks Miss Jane is hiding something?"

    As the three women walked side by side, taking in the wonderful sight of the lush fields that existed just outside the Fairy Capital, Ana''s lips were moving, and her eyes flickered with something more than mere doubt.

    It was full-blown suspicion.

    "What do you mean, Ana?" Serah sighed, clearly tired, but still trying her best to hear the younger woman out.

    Maria didn''t seem to care, but she listened in anyway.

    "I feel like she acts suspicious at times. Like, one moment she seems to have all the time in the world, and suddenly she has to go do something. She seems distracted at other times too. The most inopportune moments."

    "Well, isn''t it natural that her line of work would involve some unexpected issues arising? She''s literally handling veryplicated technology that needs constant monitoring and attention." Serah once again took Jane''s side.

    "But she has Automatons for that. Also, from what I have observed, the RWD doesn''t need manual supervision. It only requires specialized expertise when activating certain functions, and even that can be efficiently addressed by specifically creating a system that functions with the algorithm to map out the frequencies of¡ª"

    "Ana¡­" Serah''s tone cut her off, and it was clear that the younger woman was nerding out again.

    This was why no one could take her seriously. Well, other than her child-like physique.

    "A-ah, sorry. What I mean is that it is not as hard as she makes it seem. I think she''s doing something behind our backs. I have no proof, but from what I''m seeing, it all just seems a bit suspicious is all."

    For a moment, all the women fell silent. Perhaps after noticing the consistent seriousness of Ana''s tone, they decided to take her words more seriously.

    "You did have your suspicions about J-Jared being Lewis back then. You might be up to something¡­" Maria mumbled, her lips quivering at some point in forming the sentence.

    The two other women noticed her hesitance, but chose to ignore it. Maria would do the same for them, after all.

    "You also think so, Maria?" Serah nced at the lull face of Maria, and saw her nodding slightly.

    "Haa¡­ you girls. Okay, fine. Maybe we''ll confront her about itter."

    "Why don''t we just sneak around to uncover the secret? It''ll be more fun that wa¡ªouch¡­ what was that for?"

    Ana''s hand was on her head as small bubbles of tears formed on the corners of both her eyes.

    The knock Serah gave was more than enough to make even a grown man bawl, but Ana prided herself on her ability to hold tears in.

    She wasn''t going to break her no-cry streak now.

    "Let''s not be mischievous. We''ll ask her straight on. If she proves difficult, we might get sneakyter¡­ but only as thest option."

    "But by then she''ll realize we suspect her and might improve the security." The most unexpected rebuttal to Serah''s point came from Maria herself.

    "Ah-ha! See? Even Maria thinks my n is better!" Ana grinned victoriously, but quickly slid back so she wouldn''t be hit by Serah once more.

    ¡­ Not that she could avoid a knock from the woman even if she tried.

    "You really want to go with Ana''s n? Really, Maria?" Serah''s tone and face disyed just how shocked she was at Maria''s response.

    "I''m¡­ just saying," Maria added.

    Apparently, she wasn''t taking sides. Just telling everyone the obvious.

    "I think we should be as honest as possible with each other. Asking Jane about it would be better." The stoic girl finally concluded.

    Hence, the ultimate victor was Serah.

    "Tch. Fine¡­ let''s do it your way. Even if I was the one who brought this whole thing up¡­" Ana grumbled as they kept walking.

    She had to admit that a direct confrontation would work best when considering how close they had be to Jane, and how they were all a team. However, even if they decided to sneak around to find out the truth, Ana didn''t see anything wrong with it.

    ''She''s the one that started sneaking around to hide her secrets first¡­''

    But Ana quickly cautioned herself. Perhaps she was being too forward and feeling entitled to Jane''s secrets.

    Everyone had things they hid, and perhaps for good reasons.

    ''If only I had been this considerate towards Jared back then¡­''

    After all, she had been very impulsive back then, and even though she was much older now, she still found herself with some of her old habits.

    ''People keep things for a reason¡­''

    Serah had her reasons for hiding her grief with a smile. Maria had her reasons for never mentioning Jared or showing much of an interest in anything.

    And she¡­ she had her reasons for not crying despite how much she felt like it.

    Perhaps Jane had her reasons for hiding her secret¡ªwhatever it was.

    "Yeah. You''re right." Ana smiled, finally sighing at herself. "Let''s ask her nicely."

    "Precisely! Seems you understand now!" Serah smiled, nodding vigorously.

    "Umu." Maria also bobbed her head gently.

    All three of them kept walking freely, and before long¡­ silence took over.

    What more could they talk about?

    "Do you¡­ think she''ll find something this time?" Maria finally broke the silence with one of her blunt questions.

    Whether the rest of them would admit it or not, the three women were all thinking the same thing.

    Would this be the time? Would they finally get the information they desired?

    "When everyone returns, and we have the meeting¡­ we''ll find out. Till then, I guess it''s fingers crossed."

    Ana''s response was the most authentic anyone could give.

    Serah nodded in response to it, and so did Maria. The three women looked at each other for a moment, and their darkened faces slowly formed smiles.

    "It''s been a while since it happened, hasn''t it? I hope this time for sure¡­ we find them." Maria was speaking a lot, which was uncharacteristic of her.

    But Ana and Serah could understand.

    "Yeah."

    "That would be nice."

    Even after so long, they hadn''t lost hope that they would once again reunite with their lovers.

    Because, despite it being ten years since the Wedding, they hadn''t lost hope.

    They still held on.

    "We''ll find them¡­ no matter what."

    That was the only reason why they could smile¡­ even in the face of darkness or despair.

    Perhaps it took a special kind of power to ovee grief and sorrow, and continue living despite the constant gnawing pangs of loneliness and fear.

    That power wasn''t Magic.

    It was love.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you for reading this six-chapter perspective into the ones who were left behind.

    Ten years have passed since Jared and the others went missing, yet hope isn''t lost.

    And now, we cut back to Jared''s story, as well as the mystery surrounding the absence of everyone.

    We are all wondering the same thing.

    ¡­ What in the world happened?

 Chapter 1131 Empty World

    Chapter 1131 Empty World

    [The Present]

    The world was empty.

    I could not see or sense a single living being for thousands and thousands of miles, and even as I spread my senses towards the very edges of the world, I found nothing.

    ¡­ I found no one.

    "What in the world happened here?" I mumbled, my wide eyes twitching as I stared at myrades.

    They were speechless and surprised all the same¡ªmeeting the world we called ours, but with no one we recognized.

    "Maybe¡­ this isn''t our world?" Edward tried to blurt out, but it seemed he was trying hard to convince himself more than the rest of us.

    "The coordinates weren''t messed up. They haven''t failed before." Kuzon sharply responded, his face slowly melting into anger. "Plus, there''s no way you can''t sense it, right? The resonating feeling you have here¡­"

    Kuzon was right.

    There was no doubt that this was indeed our. Other than the details around us, like the reception of the wedding¡ªthe tons of tables, chairs, and all manner of party confetti scattered around, there were still leftover signs of our presence here.

    It had to be our world!

    "What do you propose could have happened, then?" Aloe was the next to speak, and her tone was surprisingly calm.

    In fact, she was the calmest of all five of us.

    "I''m not sure. We might be getting ahead of ourselves a little, so I propose we calm down and rationally deal with this." I responded.

    It certainly wasn''t easy for me to get my emotions in check, but I did so anyway. Right now, Aloe''s attitude was the standard, and panicking would solve nothing.

    "We should calmly assess the situation in order to develop an urate hypothesis about what could have happe¡ª"

    "C-Calmly¡­?" A chilling voice suddenly echoed behind, sending a somewhat prickly sensation especially to the base of my neck.

    The voice was familiar, yet for some reason, it felt different.

    "... How can I be calm¡­?" I could feel the atmosphere grow dense with enegy, and it seemed all that energy was converging in a single position.

    ''A-ah¡­'' My neck creaked as I turned behind me to see the face of the one who was doing all of this.

    "W-where is he¡­?"

    Her dark brown hair seemed to be covering her face, like wretched rags wrapped around darkness. Her two eyes glowed a cetain purple color, and I could sense something deep and dark swirling within her.

    "I-I held it in for so long, b-but¡­ I can''t do it any longer¡­" The whispers she made, like grating metal, seemed to cause everything around her to grow distorted.

    The very energy around her was getting out of control.

    "Where¡­" Steam exited her lips, and it seemed everyone slowly created distance from her as she red at us.

    One look at Ciara''s face told me she wasn''t the same any longer.

    "... WHERE IS JERRY?!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM

    MMMMMMMM!!!~

    Everything around her instantly shattered, blown away by the density of her energy alone.

    ''Is this Aether? She''s already learned to control it? That''s quick!'' My eyes widened as I found rapid swirls of energy flowing around her.

    They howled and danced, causing her to begin to levitate as her hair ascended in a maddened frenzy.

    Edward, Aloe, and Kuzon appeared surprised by Ciara''s actions, but their reactions to it varied a little.

    Kuzon, for one, didn''t seem to care about her mental breakdown. He was just in thought, most likely trying to analyze what happened.

    Aloe and Edward nced at me for what to do about it, since they probably thought knocking her out was his best bet, but also didn''t want to hurt her.

    With a huff, I raised my hand to tell them to back off.

    ''I''ll do it myself.''

    "WHERE IS JERRY?!" She repeated, as if expecting the rest of us to have the answers to her question.

    ''We''re meant to remain calm and deliberate, yet you just had to go berserk at the worst time.'' I nearly sighed while rolling my eyes.

    Ciara was a weirdo who had feelings for Jerry. I was able to find that out not too long ago. However, that didn''t excuse her outright brazen behaviour.

    She wasn''t the only one who couldn''t find the one they loved here.

    ''Spellcraft¡­''

    In an instant, the Aether surrounding Ciara vanished, causing her to descend to the ground.

    I swiftly appeared before her, realizing she could simplysh out at the rest of us if I didn''t take extra precautions in this rage moment she was experiencing.

    "Ciara¡­ calm yourself."

    Using [Temperance] to stabilize her emotions, I also added [The Fool] and [Judgment] to offer a soothing memory and warp her mind so that she would have no reason to go crazy on us.

    "Jerry is fine. He''s just lost. We have to find him¡­ and we need to be calm about it." Even with all three Arcanas in effect, I maintained a soothing tone.

    It felt like I was partially talking to myself. The others were also watching, so I was talking to them as well.

    "We need each other. We need you to find them. So please¡­e back to us."

    That seemed to be thest straw to end the meltdown.

    Ciara''s purple eyes slowly dimmed, returning to their oceanic blue color. The energy crackling around her, and the energy veins that surrounded her slowly dissipated.

    In no time, she was back to normal.

    "A-ah¡­ I''m sorry. I''m so so sorry." Ciara finally broke down, her eyes slowly getting filled with tears.

    "It''s fine, Ciara. We miss them too¡­" I smiled, drawing closer to her to give her a warm hug.

    At this point, we all needed some kind of warmth to go through this.

    "Um¡­ no, thanks. Thank you for your help, but¡­"

    Ciara took a couple of steps back, and her evasive measure couldn''t be clearer to me.

    "Haha! Yeah, sure¡­ of course."

    It was my fault for trying to be nice.

    "Well, it is good to have you back."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you enjoyed the read.

    Ciara being herself, as usual. And then there''s Kuzon lost in his own bubble.

    I wonder what could have happened too

 Chapter 1132 All In Due Time [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1132 All In Due Time [Pt 1]

    "Alright, since we''ve all calmed down¡­ let''s talk."

    We all sat in a circle, and all of us had varying expressions on our faces. This was a matter of utmost seriousness, and as such it needed to be handled with the utmost care.

    "H-hey, I already apologized. You don''t need to throw more shade at me." Ciara mumbled, most likely feeling guilty because of my opening address.

    "It was just a general announcement. No need to take it personally." I sighed.

    I hadn''t even meant it to be personal, but I could understand why she would think that. Still, with everything going on, it was better to focus on the most important subject.

    What happened to everyone here¡­ and how could we get them back?

    "Ah, my bad. Please proceed."

    With Ciara''s kind ''go ahead'', I resumed the address, taking a moment to observe the countenance of everyone present.

    The one with the most troubled expression, who also seemed to be deep in thought, was Kuzon.

    "Kuzon, what is Leo saying about this?" I asked.

    Having a Constetion¡ªno, two¡ªon our side had its perks. If were to begin investigating, the best way to start would be to ask them.

    Kuzon stared at me for a few seconds before sighing and shaking his head.

    "Nothing. I haven''t been able to contact him since arriving here."

    "What?" My eyes twitched the moment I heard that.

    "It''s the same for me. Aries hasn''t been responding to me at all."

    What was happening here? Not only was everyone missing, but now the Constetions weren''t even present to answer our queries.

    It could only mean one thing at this point.

    "We''re on our own, it seems."

    There was no point moping around or beating around the bush. As curious as I was about the absence of the Constetions, I couldn''t let it distract us from the current problem.

    "Does anyone have any hypothesis they''d like to share with everyone else here?" I asked, staring at everyone present.

    The one to raise his hand first was Edward, and he had a grim expression that matched the present situation perfectly.

    "What if this is because of Legris? I mean, he sent us to various ces, right? What of the rest? Maybe he did something to everyone else?"

    That was perhaps the worst-case scenario, and I too had thought of something like that happening. But¡­ there was a reason I dismissed it.

    "That wouldn''t make any sense. Neron would have been able to foresee something like that urring. So, if it was part of his n to have us vanish, he would have done something about everyone else."

    The moment I responded, however, another problem popped into my mind.

    "Why didn''t Neron say anything if this was a part of his n?" This time, Kuzon was the one who spoke.

    I knew he would be able to instantly notice the problem with my exnation model.

    "That is the mystery, isn''t it? But considering how he didn''t inform us of anything the first time, isn''t it possible that it could be the same now?"

    Kuzon''s doubtful stare greeted me instantly. I could see some of his distrust for Neron rising, and with the mere fact that he couldn''t see anyone still left in our world, those feelings werepounded.

    At this point, even I couldn''t defend Neron.

    "Jared, if this is all going ording to Neron''s ns, I doubt our friends are dead. The problem is that he would have said something about this when west saw him. Since he didn''t say anything, we should probably consider the possibility that¡ª"

    "That what, Kuzon? Our friends and families are gone?" Aloe Vida was the one who spoke up this time, and she had a look of disbelief at the meaning Kuzon was trying to convey.

    "Neron isn''t absolute, Vida. He is capable of making mistakes. It''s possible there was a force out of his control that interfered. We can''t be so close-minded as to simply chalk everything down to his ns."

    Kuzon had good points, as usual. However, I could tell that he too would prefer all of this to be one of Neron''s unspoken schemes.

    At least, that way we would be guaranteed of the safety of our loved ones.

    While everything yed out, Ciara was silent, and so was Edward for most of it. For the former, I didn''t think she had anything she wanted to say, and as for thetter, he was probably trying not to imagine the worst.

    As I juggled all of these thoughts and possibilities in mind, Kuzon''s voice interrupted me.

    "What do you think, Jared?"

    The gaze of everyone was on me again, and I sighed in contemtion. After a while of thinking, an idea suddenly popped into my mind.

    ''Why didn''t I think of this before?'' My eyes widened slightly.

    A smile formed on my face as I stared at my audience. If I used this method, then even if we couldn''tpletely solve the problem, we could understand the root cause.

    "I''m going to see into the past using [The Hermit]."

    I could hear surprised gasps from everyone, and that was to be expected. The moment they heard of it, they must have realized how incredibly viable that option was and wondered why they weren''t the ones who thought of it.

    "Can you do that?" Kuzon asked, narrowing his eyes. I could see flickers of doubt and caution embedded in his eyes.

    "Not sure. I''ve never tried it before, but I should know how it works in theory." My response was curt, and I began to imagine the possibilities.

    Considering the fact that the wedding site was almost the same as we left it, with a small difference marking at least some passage of time, I estimated a couple of months¡ªat most¡ªhad passed since our sudden departure.

    ''If it''s only that long, I should be able to manage.''

    All the unused Aether in the environment was mine tomand. Plus, I had more than enough stockpiled energy within me.

    The main problem was navigating through a concept asplex as time. However, this wouldn''t be my first time using [The Hermit], so I had gotten used to its mechanics.

    ''What did Neron call that Magic again¡­?'' With focused eyes and a determined face, I braced myself for my travel into the past.

    Ah, that''s right! I remembered now.

    "[Time Immersion]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What truth will the travel into the past reveal? More hope, or greater despair?

    Read more to find out.

    c71241599ffa2342522e9fa0e93245a9d8ec4ad4e8c3c5baf0c66a8666374fd0d6d60b155cdfb8c73081d309cb7e8ee78202a49e29611d3bcfab9acb1a1512b0a01208d62b2a548ee1a720f2a60455bf

 Chapter 1133 All In Due Time [Pt 2]

    1133 All In Due Time [Pt 2]

    The rules involving temporal maniption are constantly in a flux.

    When it invlolved future events, even I wasn''t skilled enough to navigate through that mess. Time wasn''t my specialty, and I hadn''t taken due course to learning it.

    However, the past was different!

    The events of the past were fixed, thus bing a fixed moment to explore and investigate. All I had to do was calcte the right trajectory and properly navigate through the tides of time to reach my desired destination.

    However, that wasn''t without its fair share of problems.

    ''Even Neron never properly traveled to the past before¡ªat least, not that I am aware of.''

    The most he did was infuse his consciousness into the Time Stream in order to observe the events uring.

    Hence, Time Immersion.

    It was theoretically impossible for a future event to ovep with the past, because that would make it a non-fixed moment, thus unraveling any other fixed point that ured after that.

    In essence, the calctions required for physically manifesting in the past and altering an immutable part of existence¡­ were absurdly high.

    As a result, I could only use Time for investigative processes. Nothing more¡­ nothing less.

    ''Well, that much is enough. If I can see what happened, I should be able to develop a working model to counter the problem.''

    Time Immersion involved streaming my soul through the timestream. For Neron, he used his Original Magic in addition to [The Hermit] to achieve a cohesion effect between his soul and the world, allowing him to travel.

    I needed something simr for my own process.

    ''Spellcraft.''

    With it, I could manipte the essence of the world and link my Soul with it. Using [The Hermit] as a propeller, I could achieve the same effect as Neron.

    ¡­ Or at least something simr.

    "Well, that''s my theory. I just came up with it on the spot, but considering it isn''t breaking any established rules, and I have addressed all the problems that could potentially stop the Spell, I think I''m good to go." Mumbling these words to myself, I rubbed my chin and smiled.

    My allies simply stared at me throughout, and once I was one contemting, they came into focus once more.

    "Okay. I''m ready now."

    "Need any assistance?" Kuzon and Edward asked almost at the same time, however I shook my head.

    Personally, I was curious.

    ''Can I do this on my own?''

    "There''s only one way to find out." With a wide grin, I finally burst open my vast supply of Aether.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    The power that flowed from within me swirled around, causing a wave of power that caused everyone to be pushed back by the pressure alone.

    "You had all better stand back." I advised, hoping my words weren''t lost in the torrents of power that were wrapped around me.

    Fortunately, they weren''t.

    My friends managed to create enough space between me and them, choosing to watch me work my Magic from a distance.

    ''Alright, Jared¡­'' I could feel my heart racing as I tried to do something I had never attempted to do before.

    For a moment, I forgot about the worries I had, or about the lives that were absent in the world.

    Nothing else mattered to me at the current moment.

    I just wanted to do Magic.

    [The Hermit] generated the form nessary for the travel in the form of Spells, and I began to orchestrate a navigational guide for the Immersion.

    Using Spellcraft, I connected the overflowing Aether within me to all the energies around me, conensing andpressing them to grant me enough force for breaking the barrier that separated past, present, and future.

    The world suddenly became still, and everything froze in time, but this was only the beginning of the process.

    My actual body was also frozen, but the ''Me'' that perceieved reality as still was the Soul.

    My spectral entity was now one with the world''s energy, and with [The Hermit], temporal maniption was made possible.

    It seemed my model was correct, after all.

    All the requirements had been met.

    ~VWUUUUUSSSHHHHH!~

    The feeling was surreal. As I traveled through the lens of time, feeling it like a wave of the ocean wash over me, I could feel an embrace of warmth an chill at the saem time.

    It also felt like electrifying currents pulsated around me, and with each second of time I traveled beyond, the sensation was akin to breaking the surface tension of a semi-liquid mass.

    The faster I went, the more intense these sensations felt.

    So this was Neron''s world: the realm he constantly experienced as a consequence of his power.

    Seeing realities zoom in and out of view, discarded and regressed as I progressed¡­

    It was amazing!

    ''Let''s slowly unravel what happened here¡­'' Breaking past my thrill, it was time to get serious.

    I was resolved not to miss any single detail from the past.

    Anything could serve as a clue.

    ''... One day at a time.''

    *******

    [Moments In Time Later]

    ''Nothing thus far¡­''

    I didn''t know if I was meant to be relieved or worried about our friends and family.

    My Soul was drawing closer and closer to the point where I, Kuzon, and the others were sent to the scattered branches, and throughout my search, I was yet to see a single living entity in this world.

    That was problematic.

    I was beginning to suspect that the cause of our disappearance could also have something to do with everyone vanishing.

    That was the only viable theory at the moment, but what exactly did that mean?

    It meant that either Neron nned all of this from the start¡­ or something wrong happened with his ns.

    I had to know more, so I sped deeper into the time stream¡ªperhaps a bit too much.

    Until finally, I arrived at the moment that supposedly changed everything.

    The wedding where we vanished.

    The exact moment when Legris Damien floated overhead everyone, with his dark brown hair swaying with the wind as his malevolent smile spread over his handsome face.

    He looked just as I remembered him.

    Just as it happened in the past, he was apanied by Ciel, and his sudden appearance caught the attention of all our past selves.

    This was the point where everything went amiss. If I could at least change a few things that happened, I would, but¡­

    ''... All I can do now is watch!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Is the vanishing of the team a part of Neron''s n, or is there truly some other sinister exnation?

    What will Jared find out?

    Let us see, shall we?

 Chapter 1134 The Immersive Past

    1134 The Immersive Past

    "Why are you all looking at me this way? I came to give my congrattions to you, Neron. Ah, and to the lovely Serah as well¡­"

    I watched the events of the wedding y out, hidden from sight for reason of caution.

    Since I was merely a spectating spectre, I couldn''t interfere with any events of the past. However, that also meant no one could interfere with me. An invisible veil that held reality separated me from the past.

    However, Neron once told me about how the Martial de God had managed to sense him in the past. I didn''t know the conditions necessary to achieve such a depth of perception, so I decided it was much safer to watch from a hidden location while maintaining considerable distance from the event uring.

    "You both look so happy. What a lovely wedding. Ahh¡­ I''m so jealous."

    As I remembered, Legris was talking casually to everyone despite abruptly appearing. It caused the past version of myself, as well as everyone else experiencing the sight to be caught between suspicion and downright violence.

    There was nothing anyone wanted more than to erase Legris and his ally right there and then. However, what could we do?

    Especially when Neron was standing still.

    "What do you want, Legris?" Neron asked with a stern tone, a serious glint appearing in his eyes.

    It was at this point that Legris gave the most fascinating response.

    "Hmm? Come on, Neron. Stop the act already. You must have known this whole thing wasn''t over. Haven''t you been expecting me?"

    Hearing that now made me realize that Legris had to be aware of just how far ahead Neron had nned. It was mond-bggling, but also somewhat negative.

    ''If Legris knows Neron''s ns, isn''t it possible he''ll try to change it?''

    At this point, I was slowly beginning to think Neron didn''t have everything under control as I had earlier posited.

    If he did, then why would things have ended up this way?

    Suddenly, I noticed Neron''s eyes flicker, and even if it was only for a moment, his gaze traveled in my direction.

    In just a moment within a second¡­ I felt like we made eye contact.

    ''What?!''

    Had he seen me? Did he notice I was present?

    More questions swirled in mind as I watched him continue his conversation with Legris. He and everyone else transformed right there and then, thus causing the entire area to be awash with pure energy.

    I could only stare and watch as a battle brewed between both ends.

    And then, right at the climax of the battle, when our side was supposed to vanquish Legris and Neron¡­

    "[The World: Discement]."

    ¡­ Legris used his trump card.

    A brilliant radiation swelled from his position, and it engulfed the entire hall, swallowing all of the space within it.

    However, it was also during this process that something spectatr ured¡ªsomething I would have missed if I couldn''t navigate my way thrugh time.

    Everything in the world¡ªspace, time, and reality itself¡ªcame to a pause.

    I would not have been able to witness any of it had I not been outside the main timeline as an observer. My eyes widened in marvel as both Legris and Ciel now stood still in the air, and everyone else remained frozen like statues.

    Everything was still. Everyone was unmoving.

    ¡­ All but one.

    "Now then¡­" Right before my eyes, I watched Neron walk from his position, leaving the hall for a moment.

    ''What is he doi¡ª'' Before I could conclude my thoughts, I felt his gaze on me once more, and noticed how his smile deepened.

    Within the blink of an eye¡ªno, far faster than that¡ªthe very same Neron manifested right in front of me, almost as if he teleported.

    ''Ahh¡­''

    I was unable to speak due to the amount of surprise I was experiencing. Or rather, this speechlessness was caused both by the sheer amount of energy that filled the area, as well as the overwhelming presence of the man who now stood before me.

    "You shouldn''t be here, Jared."

    He was speaking to me directly! That meant he could clearly see me despite the discrepancy in our interactiveyers.

    "Neron¡­ what the hell is going on?" I didn''t mean that in the way it sounded.

    I could already deduce that Neron was going to do something about the situation Legris was about to initiate. He probably wanted to protect everyone here, which was why he stopped time to achieve that.

    However, considering the fact that everyone vanished, it could only mean one of two things.

    Either Neron seeded by taking them to another ce not known to me¡­ or Legris seeded. Either way, I could only wait and see for myself.

    "I see you''ve learned [Time Immersion]. But, anyone with enough connection to Aether will be able to sense your presence. It''s dangerous, even if you hide yourself so expertly well." Neron chastized me, and it made meugh a little sheepishly.

    I left my position and stood upright, face to face with the man who had many of the answers I required for my mission.

    "I''m here because the future¡ª"

    "There''s no need to say anything. I can guess it already. It''s about everyone''s disappearance, correct?"

    I nodded instantly.

    ''So he really did n for that!'' My eyes beamed, readying myself for the answer I would recieve.

    However, I could never have predicted what Neron would say to me next.

    "I can''t tell you about that. You''ll have to figure it out yourself."

    What the hell was he talking about? He could just say something and get this over with! He was talking to me, right? So there was no need to be so secretive about this!

    "I have to go now. I''m running out of time¡­"

    "Time? You? Just give me an answer, Neron. A clue maybe! The Constetions aren''t even responding at this point!"

    "Constetions? Ah¡­ so he''s started. You better hurry, Jared. The situation is more dire than you can imagine." Neron suddenly turned his back on me, causing me to grit my teeth in frustration.

    I didn''te here just to listen to vague words from him. I wanted to know what happened, even if I had to rey all of these events from scratch.

    "I used [Timeless World] to take myself outside time. That''s why we''re able to have this conversation. If not, the past and the future won''t be able to interact." Neron''s words echoed in my ears as I drew nearer to him, stubbornly demanding more information from him.

    He could just tell me something useful! Anything at all would be helpful.

    "When you return, I''d advise you to be more thorough with your search than recklessly messing around with time."

    Look at the person talking. Wasn''t his whole deal about messing with the timeline due to him messing it up the first time?

    I was slowly beginning to get upset at Neron''sckadaisical tone, and his flippant way of handling the case of our missing loved ones.

    However, in response to my deep frown and re, Neron simply leaked out a tired smile.

    "If you see Serah, tell her I''m just going to be a littlete. And¡­ I love her."

    I gritted my teeth and hardened my fist as I tried to reach out to Neron, who was already walking away.

    "Tell her yourself!" I wanted to say, but before I could utter any word¡­ I felt a repelling force that pushed me away.

    "Go back, Jared. It''s up to you to finish what I started." Neron''s voice danced in my ears as I felt the overwhelming forceunch me further away from Neron.

    No¡­ from the timeline.

    "After all, with Magic¡­" His tone sounded istant, but I could sense genuine intent within them.

    Neron meant every single word.

    "... You can do anything."

    And with those final words ingrained in my soul, I returned to the present.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1135 Plans For The Present

    "H-haaa!"

    I exhaled deeply as I opened my eyes to the world, feeling sensations I had lost slowly return to me.

    The soft touch of the wind on my skin, the scent that the air carried, and every sensation the body could offer that my soul could not urately recieve¡­ I felt them all at once.

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    My golden eyes took in the world around me, and I nearly copsed due to the influx of so much information at once. Any other person would have probably gone into shock, but for me it was only a few seconds of disorientation.

    "Hey, Jared!"

    "You look pale, what''s wrong?"

    "Did it work?"

    "Jared, are you okay?"

    I heard the voices of my friends ovepping as they converged close to me, surrounding me with their warmth.

    It seemed I was back in the present, and the familiar faces of my allies soon registered in my ahead, as well as the details of what happened prior to this point.

    "It worked¡­ and I''m fine." Shaking off thest remaining vestiges of my [Time Immersion] side effects, I rose from my knees and sighed.

    ''It took a lot more Aether than I calcted. Is it because of my interaction with Neron? Damn¡­ this amount of energy is no joke.''

    I was once again reminded why Neron had so much energy stockpiled within himself.

    My eyes felt tired for some reason, and my mind was processing a lot of information at this point. It took a while to beposed enough to tell the eager audience what I had seen.

    However, once I was ready¡­ I told them everything.

    "I don''t know what happened. Neron refused to tell me."

    To be honest, now that I thought of it, I didn''t really have any valuable information for thr group.

    That didn''t mean my trip was useless, though.

    "Neron seemed to be unable to tell me what happened. Either due to some external interference I was unawae of, or a reason that should work to our advantage sooner orter." I iterated, hoping to quell some of the rage that Kuzon was already disying.

    "The crux of the issue is that we have to investigate properly and obtain clues ourselves. Neron told me how urgent our predicament is, so I''m sure he would have told me the truth if he could."

    I exined to them how Neron told me we had to be more thorough in our investigation. He also seemed worried about something, and there was a sense of urgency I couldn''t quite exin.

    It made the situation seem more pertinent than I had given it ount for.

    "So, what now? Our only clue was Neron, and now that he has refused to cooperate, what next?" Kuzon sighed, nearly pping his palm on his head.

    I coul sense his genuine frustration.

    "Could you travel back and deliver a message to him from us? Maybe it can be a bit more convincing."

    Kuzon should have known better than to think that would work. Neron had proven time and time again that he had our best interests at heart.

    "I believe we should solve this ourselves. I also think Neron didn''t give us the answers when we met him because of this very reason."

    In the end, we just had to put in the work.

    "Where should we start, then? Since this is urgent business, that means we have to hurry, right?" Aloe asked, to which I nodded.

    "Yeah. I rmend splitting up and searching inependently. There''s a chance we missed something through sensory perception alone, so I think we can start off by being thorough."

    We were currently five on this team, and all of us were considerably good at sensory perception. The worst one among us in terms of ability had to be Ciara, but even she had proven to be strong enough to pull her own weight.

    ''With Jerry''s location being on the line here, I reckon she''ll have more than enough motivation to give it her all.''

    And that was all I needed to see.

    "Kuzon, take the North. Aloe, the East. Ciara, the West. Edward, the South." I promptly assigned everyone their tasks, going further as to exin the guidelines for a detailed exploration of thend.

    "What about you, Jared?" Kuzon asked. "What will you be doing?"

    A small smile coursed through my face as I gazed above.

    "There''s something I want to find out, so I''ll take to the skies for a while. It might end up yielding profit."

    "Alright then." He nodded, seemingly satisfied by my response.

    Since everyone understood their duties, as well as how to go about fulfilling them, there was no longer any need to huddle together.

    It was time to depart.

    "Ciara, maintain a telepathic link between all of us. If any of you find anything, contact the rest through the link, and we''ll converge in your position.

    "Well, just don''t stray too far. My range is limited to the immediate environment." Ciara murmured, itching her head a little.

    Ah, that could end up being a problem.

    "What''s the limit of your range?" I asked.

    If it was too short, I would just have to use an Arcana to do it myself. The reason I didn''t suggest that, to begin with, was because I was trying to recover my lost energy.

    Using Magic and fully absorbing Energy at the same time was impossible, unless I used separate cores for varying roles.

    Unfortunately, most of my energy resources had been depleted, so I couldn''t afford to spend any more on a Spell that my colleague could easily use with her Original Magic.

    "Well, anywhere within the¡­ ah, and just the immediate surroundings of it."

    ¡­ Huh?

    "What did you just say?" My eyes twitched as I stared at Ciara with a certain look of disbelief.

    Perhaps I heard wrong.

    "I can link us together as long as we don''t travel beyond this. That''s my limit for now."

    I didn''t hear wrong, after all.

    Ciara''s range¡­ the same one I was thinking would be insufficient¡­ ended up being far more than even I had expected.

    ''It seems I have underestimated this girl.''

    How could I have forgotten what kind of a beast Ciara Epilson was? The same girl who could use Mage Mode and Original Magic at just 13 years old.

    ''She''s a monster.''

    "W-well, it''s more than enough for our purposes." I managed to leak out a smile as I stared at her.

    Damn Genuises. If I was as talented as her, wouldn''t I have reached Neron''s level by now?

    Ah, well¡­ it wasn''t good to jump to conclusions yet. But, I knew I would be much stronger than I was now.

    ''I heard her ancestor is one of the Apostles of Aether. It''s the opposite of me, whoes from a household that hasn''t had a proper Mage for generations.''

    How unfair life was.

    "The search involves this anyway, so your range is perfect." I exined with a strained smile.

    "And what of you? Aren''t you leaving the area?" She asked, her brow raised.

    "I won''t be going very far, don''t worry."

    "Ah, okay then. I can manage that."

    For someone who didn''t spen 100 years training exclusively in the arts of Magic, who also didn''t have some sort of secret method of getting stronger, it sure was easy to make such statements such as ''manage''.

    Then again, I had already epted this part of life.

    ''As long as I can close that gap by understanding the more fundamentalws of the world¡­ not even talent will be able topete with me.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading.

    Let us hope their investigation turns up good results. Yes, the beginning parts may appear slow, but don''t worry¡­ all this buildups get good payoffs.

 Chapter 1136 Encounter At The Safehouse

    ~Well, I''ll see you all soon¡­ hopefully.~

    Once Ciara established the telepathic link through her Original Magic, [Phantom Link], we were all connected through a single channel.

    Of course, we could have independent thoughts without being heard within the general space of the Spell. However, once we had important messages to pass across to everyone, we could always use the phantom tether that Ciara attached to all our minds.

    We could also sense our positions by tracing the tether ced on all of us, making it easier to reach the location of any ally if they found something.

    With everything functioning as intended, we bid one another a temporary farwell and set off for our respective destination.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!~

    Whether it was through teleportation or simply high-speed movement, all four of my allies swiftly departed the moment I gave the signal to begin.

    ''I should get to work too¡­'' Ascending to the clear sky above me, I raised my body far above the earth, and then the clouds, and kept lifting myself till I reached the very borders of the.

    The view, watching as everything that would otherwise have seemed relevant and overwhelming, now seemed insignificant.

    Perspective really was everything.

    "Alright, Jared. Let''s see¡­" Closing my eyes, I spread out the Aether I could afford to release from my Cores, fusing them with the pure energy that shimmered around in the void of space.

    Activating Spellcraft, I now had ess to more than enough Aether, granting me heightened control over my senses.

    Like connecting the dots that existed around me, I could navigate thrugh the recesss of space that I wouldn''t be able to percieve normally.

    The result?

    "Ahh¡­" I could sense the immediate worlds¡ªthat is,s¡ªwithin our gxy.

    "... It''s as I suspected."

    Whatever happened to our happened everywhere else.

    I had just done a widespread search for life throughout all thes and dwarfs I had ess to, and ended up with only one result.

    NIL!

    Not a single one had life within it.

    "They''re all empty. Gone. Why?"

    No, perhaps that wasn''t the right question to ask. The reason for their disappearance could range through multiple possibilities.

    The true problem was where they had all gone to.

    "Legris couldn''t have gotten rid of so many people. For what purpose would he even do that? It means Neron had to be the one who sent everyone away."

    I was certain of that now.

    But where?

    I returned my gaze to the world directly beneath me, and I stared long and hard at it, using my heightened abilities to spread my senses through the entirety of the world.

    I could see all four of myrades doing their best to search for anything that could lead us to the truth. Would we have to search every single in the cosmos like this in order to scrape together the information we required?

    That was absurd! Especially if time was of the essence.

    In the silence of space, I contemted our options as I kept observing thendscape of the. I took note of the Eastern Kingdom, the Fairy Sanctuary, The Beast Kingdom, The Dwarven Kingdom, the Elf Kingdom, The United Kingdom of the Magic Beasts¡­ the¡­

    "... Hold on, something is missing."

    I didn''t notice it before since I was just giving a general overview, but now that I was being specific about the various locations I knew, there was one ce I couldn''t find.

    "Where is the Safehouse?"

    My heart thumped slightly as I focused on the location that the Safehouse was supposed to be in, but I found absolutely nothing at all.

    "This makes no sense¡­"

    The Safehouse was a ce my friends and I built to keep our secrets, including the Arcanas we found in our lifetime.

    It was meant to exist between the East and Western area, and I couldn''t forget its exact position, yet from the way it seemed at the moment¡­

    ¡­ The Safehouse didn''t exist at all.

    "What in the world?" I murmured, slowly descending from my position and nearing the position where there had to be something present.

    Yet, to my surprise, nothing appeared.

    "Strange¡­" My shoes touched the earth and I looked more than perplexed by the current situation that had presented itself to me.

    "Something isn''t right here."

    The hiddenir of the Hero Party, the ce I trained rigorously for a hundred years¡­ all of it didn''t seem to exist.

    I looked around and found nothing but a wilderness that stretched on for a long distance, and just as I was about to utter something else, my gaze picked up a glittering stone on the ground.

    It sat not too far from my position, and it gleamed with a forbidden blue light that called for me.

    "I don''t remember anything like this being here. Is this a clue?" Whispering barely inaudibly, I reached out for the gem.

    However¡­

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    An intense wave of energy suddenly sted its way through the stone, sending me sliding a few meters back.

    A swirling twister made of pure azure energy manifested before me, like an untamed torrent of zing power that would not be silenced.

    The whirlwind of energy then began to converge, almost solidifying in structure. It grew smaller and smaller, and it began to take a form that seemed humanoid.

    Before long, a being of pure energy was born.

    The entity looked human, except made of blue energy. It was bald, and it had no appendages that would signify a sex. Its eyes were pure white, and its energy-like skin were sparkling blue.

    This creature, whatever it was, looked at me with cold¡ªalmost mechanical¡ªeyes.

    "Jared Leonard. You have finallye." The entity spoke, its tone warbling with each syble it uttered.

    "You know who I am, huh? Figures. Did Neron put you up to this?" I sighed.

    So this was the big secret he was hiding. Was this energy being going to tell me everything I needed to know? If so, I could understand why Neron told me I shouldn''t have traveled to the past.

    Had I been a little more dilligent, I would have found it, after all.

    "So, since I activated you, isn''t it time for the¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    A sudden beam of light raiated from the open palm of the blue entity, and it sted toward me before I couldplete my sentence.

    ''What?!'' With widened eyes and quickened steps, I swiftly steppe away from the line of the attack.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The destruction caused by that single beam of light was no joke!

    It cleared nearly everything that existed behind me for at least a few miles, leaving behind charred remains.

    "What the hell?" I yelled, swiftly taking a defensive stance against the floating being that gazed upon me with the same unfeeling eyes as before.

    "Threat analysis initiated. Jared Leonard is an A ss obstacle that should be exterminated."

    My eyes widened upon hearing those words.

    ''Could it be¡­ this isn''t from Neron? If so, then what is it? Why was it waiting for me here?''

    Clearly the disappearance of the Safehouse and the presence of this thing in the same position wasn''t just by coincidence.

    Something was going on here!

    "Jared Leonard¡­ you must perish."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The time hase for Jared to fight his opponent while trying to analyze the current situation.

    What will be of his current predicament?

 Chapter 1137 A Scholars Warfare [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1137 A Schr''s Warfare [Pt 1]

    "Jared Leonard¡­ you must perish."

    The moment I hear those words, I automatically set up my fundamental defenses and raised my guard.

    ''I thought it was from Neron. Maybe I''m wrong¡­''

    Making assumptions would be the antithesis of critical thought. It was possible that Neron wanted me to find this ce, and this thing, but assuming it was an ally remained my fatal w.

    ''And since it seeks to attack me right now, there''s no need to be considerate, is there?''

    Studying the enemy while engaging inbat with it seemed like a viable option for me, but the moment the threat proved to be something I couldn''t handle, I would have to stop pulling my punches.

    ''With my energy levels as low as they are now, it''ll be best if I do not resort to anything too amazing.''

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHH!~

    The blue entity rushed in my direction with breathtaking speed, causing my eyes to sh in both shock and amazement at the sight.

    Its glowing hands stetched towards me, almost as if desiring to tear me to pieces once they touched my skin.

    in the direction of the blue entity, promising to rip it apart.

    However¡­

    ''No, you don''t.''

    The moment it got close, I teleported behind it and generated a sphere of darkness on my palm.

    "[Dark Vortex]."

    The Spell swirled into a giant mass of a dark swirling pool and flew in the direction of the blue entity, promising to rip it apart.

    However¡­

    ~VWUSH!~

    It also teleported away from harm as soon as the darkness reached its position.

    ''So it could teleport too?'' My eyes narrowed on it as I contemted the next move to make.

    Unfortunately, my opponent gave me no room to breathe, as the next thing I noticed was it lunging straight for me, vanishing from sight the instant I blinked.

    Using [The Star], I generated a gravity field around me, mostly for two reasons. One was the fact that gravity directly affected space-time.

    ''The greater the mass of an object, the greater the distortion it creates in space-time. Hence, teleporting something of a considerable mass as that blue entity will cause more spatial curves than a smaller object.''

    That was where my use of gravity came in.

    The mass of an object determined the gravitational pull it had. This attraction, coupled by the distortion it made, made for an interesting interaction if I influenced the gravity to my desire.

    The approaching object would be caught in a state of suspension, unable to to reach me since their distorted space-time was being affected by my gravity, which would generally attract towards them, but was being directed towards me instead.

    Ultimately, it would be impossible for either to happen, which would lead to¡­

    "A suspended null." I smiled, watching the blue entity appear in front of me, unable to move, as space seemed to copse and rpse around it.

    ''It''s been a while since I toyed with concepts like this.'' A smile appeared on my face as I stared at the blue entity before me.

    It wouldn''t be able to teleport away since my gravitational field would limate to its space-time variable, further ensuring it remained in a fixed state of moving and not moving.

    It was a trap I designed to capture enemies who would otherwise prove evasive through teleportation.

    "[Absolute Suspension]"

    Now right in front of the suspended blue entity, I narrowed my gaze to observe it even more. I had never seen anything like it before, and while it seemed like a living entity, it functioned as one without a proper body.

    ''If I''m to make aparison, it resembles a Wisp¡­''

    With a body made up of only a Soul, yet functionally a living being. The problem, however, was its evident enmity with me.

    watching as it continued to struggle to escape my Spell.

    "It''s useless. Don''t bother to¡ª"

    "Why are you targeting me?" I asked the blue entity point nk, watching as it continued to struggle to escape my Spell.

    "It''s useless. Don''t bother to¡ª"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!~

    Before I could conclude my warning, the energy levels of the monster slowly began to rise. It felt like they were climbing at an abnormal rate, and I knew what woulde next.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The explosive scale covered its immediate vicinity, turning everything around it into nothing but pressured dust. However, I was too fast to be caught in something like that, so I escaped rtively easily.

    Blue radiation spread out from its point of impact, sending shockwaves flying around.

    However, that wasn''t the most curious part.

    The being exploded into several thousand particles, spreading across the area which I had teleported from and now watched from my position in the sky.

    "Hm? It exploded itself? The range or level of destruction wasn''t even that great, so why¡­?''

    If it wanted to destroy me, this would be an inefficient way to go about it. Unless¡­ ah, so that was what it was after.

    A little smile formed on my face as I watched the blue particles of light converge together to reform the blue entity, as if it was being created from scratch.

    ''It must have realized that its mass was the problem, so it broke itself down to smaller particles to escape the suspension. That''s smart.''

    It had the intelligence to grow from a trap I developed, and it was also considerably powerful. Putting those two factors together, it was possible that my opponnent could end up bing too difficult if I dragged on the fight for too long.

    ''It''s best I destroy it as fast as I can, and then maybe save a bit of its soul essence for investigationter.''

    At the moment, I couldn''t afford to be ying games.

    "[Four Cardinal Bombardment]." I whispered, stretching my hand in the blue entity''s direction.

    Instantly, from all four cardinal directions of the targer, a strong pressure pushed them forward.

    North, East, South, and West.

    With all sides generating such powerful propulsion to force the target forward, and from every end, it forced the target to remain still¡ªtrapped in a single position.

    Even if it split into smaller particles, it would be unable to stop the intense wave of force that was pervasive in the area.

    ''And now that it''spletely still, I''ll finish it in one blow.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It feels refreshing that Jared is fighting like a Magic Schr once again. What do you think about this battle?

    I know its a bit underwhelming, especially after his battle with Edward, but¡­ its still something, right?

 Chapter 1138 A Scholars Warfare [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1138 A Schr''s Warfare [Pt 2]

    "Haa¡­"

    There were a lot of Spells in my arsenal that I could utilize to my advantage, but after considering for a moment, there was one I could utilize which would ensure the swift demise of my opponent without taking up any energy from me.

    [The Sun]

    It had the ability to destroy anything, whether it be energy or concepts.

    And right now, I had to eliminate this thing before it wreaked any further havoc or learned anything more than it was supposed to.

    "[S Bomb: Level 5]" Opening up my palm, a crimson-orange orb manifested above it.

    It hovered gently above my palm, but even I could sense just how much energy it had within it. This was an ''S Bomb'', after all.

    [S Bomb] was ssified into Levels ranging 1-9, depending on the amount of energy output I wanted to release.

    The destruction of the entire Demon Continent could bebeled as a Level 7 explosion. Compared to that, Level 5 was considerably weaker, but that didn''t make it a joke either.

    ''If I reduce the range and concentrate it on the target, it should be able topletely destroy it.'' However, if I was to do that, how would I obtain the energy sample I desired?

    [The Sun] wasn''t going to leave any trace for me once it was done.

    ''Perhaps this isn''t a good idea after all¡­ hmm?'' My eyes narrowed, and then widened as I stared down at the enemy I was deliberating against.

    ''What in the world?''

    Hovering on his palm was exactly the same stuff I had on mind.

    ''An S Bomb?!''

    How could it have replicated my Spell if I didn''t sense either an Arcana, nor the capacity for it to have done something like that earlier?

    ''Don''t tell me¡­!'' My eyes widened in surprise as the intense radiation from the orb was enough to offset the restricting Spell I had surrounding him.

    In essence, it was now free!

    ''It''s not just learning from me¡­ it''s downright copying me!''

    It probably copied my teleportation, just the same way it now used my S Bomb. The more I thought of how and why this was possible, the more it dawned on me¡­

    ''This enemy is dangerous!''

    All this time I thought I was the one observing it, but it was the other way around. It was slowly learning from me and developing itself to counter my abilities.

    ''I can''t afford to use my Original Magic or anything more powerful since it''ll get even more difficult to defeat it in the long run.''

    Fortunately, I was still in my base state, so this thing hadn''t gotten the opportunity to learn any of my powerful forms¡ªthat is, if it could.

    I still didn''t know how its abilities functioned, and while my overly curious mind wanted to know more, I had to find a way to eliminate it copletely, while also obtaining its essence for future study.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!~

    As I was still deep in thought, it threw the S Bomb towards me.

    ''This guy¡­'' Using Spellcraft unconsciously, I instantly used my energy to destabilize the energy reaction within the S Bomb, instantly rendering it null.

    Before long, the whole orb faded into nothingness before it even reached me.

    ''Ah, I used Spellcraft. It can''t copy that, can it?'' Narrowing my eyes on the blue creature who simply proceeded to create two new S Bombs, I reached my conclusion.

    It couldn''t replicate Spellcraft.

    ''Just the same way it didn''t copy my [Absolute Suspension] and use the Spell to free itself, it also can''t use Spellcraft.''

    Perhaps its ability was only effective on Spells it could directly observe and analyze, something akin to my own Original Magic. It couldn''t indiscriminately know and use any Spell I utilized.

    ''That''s why it split itself into numerous particles instead of just cancelling out the Spell.''

    The way I saw it, this creature''s abilities were divided into two-fold.

    ''One is its ability to replicate a Spell it has observed, and the other is to adapt to situations where replication is impossible.''

    So far, all of that checked out. None of my observations from earlier contradicted¡ªwhether directly or indirectly¡ªwith the model I created.

    Thus, the best way to kill this thing would be to use a sure-fire attack that it couldn''t directly observe. If I added my desire to preserve its energy to the mix, I would have to take a different route to achieve that objective.

    With all of these conditions in ce, I could see a clear path to victory.

    My opponent was nowbining both S Bombs, generating a fusion reaction that would birth a new Bomb¡ªobviously one more powerful.

    By my estimate, it would lead to an S Bomb: Level 6.

    "Let''s end this already." I dered, stretching my hands in the entity''s direction, a smile witten all over my face.

    "Agreed." It responded, a swirling mass of energy now hovering on the palm of its hand.

    Whether or not I decided to defuse the st. The creature would take a further step in its evolution, and most of my abilities either consumed too much Energy to utilize, or were visible to the naked eye.

    Well¡­ unless I added a little thing called [Unknowable].

    "You''ve already lost." I smiled at my opponent who, for some reason, couldn''t leave its position.

    All I needed was a few more seconds, and the results would be evident.

    3.

    2.

    1.

    "A-ahhh¡­ ahhh¡­"

    turning into several particles of light, which in turn burst and turn into more particles of light.

    The S Bomb in the palm of its hands suddenly burst, like a baloon, turning into several particles of light, which in turn burst and turn into more particles of light.

    The process repeated itself almost inefinitely until the particles of light were invisible to the naked eye.

    ''[Degradation]'' My thoughts as I smiled at the powerless creature before me.

    Simply put, it was the breaking down of energy into smaller units, and causing them to further dissipate with the flow of time. This reaction would cause energy to be released in smaller increments.

    As such, this Spell was the natural enemy of my opponent who was made of pure energy.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, all of you!

    Much appreciation.

 Chapter 1139 A Scholars Warfare [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1139 A Schr''s Warfare [Pt 3]

    Spellcraft was everything in the utilization of [Degradation].

    Once I released my energy into the energy-rich environment, thanks to the S Bomb I had disengaged previously, I caused all of that energy to flow around my opponent, preparing for the next phase.

    The next thing I did was to use [Unknowable] to mask the effects of the surrounding as it transformed into a Spell.

    I wasn''t sure how minute a Spell had to be for it not to be detected since my previous interactions with it hadn''t given me enough data to make a perfect estimate.

    My [Absolute Suspension] delved into the realm of concept maniption, andw control, which were generally invisible to the eyes.

    As for Spellcraft, since it was a technique, it could be that the enemy didn''t register it as a Spell that required copying. As a result, now that I was going to use Spellcraft to make a Spell, it was possible that my opponent would sense it and copy it.

    If that happened, it would prove more difficult to take the target down.

    Fortunately, I had [Unknowable].

    Using [Unknowable] in conjuction with Spellcaft, I activated the Area-Of-Effect Spell I called [Degradation].

    In simple terms, the Spell caused an inevitable breakdown in energy, and it could continue this process in a loop until said energy had reached its smallest unit.

    Spellcraft allowed me to improve its range so it covered the vicinity of the enemy, and using [Unknowable], it didn''t suspect anything until my Spell began to take effect.

    The first thing I got out of the way was the S Bomb it had generated. Once it got degraded, I absorbed the energy into the currently working model of Spellcraft, thus improving the power of the Spell.

    Once that was done, only one thing was left.

    ''If it splits itself into smaller bits, it''ll make the proces faster for me. Also, I have used [Absolute Suspension] to ensure it doesn''t teleport away from the Spell.''

    All paths of escape had been shut off, and if it tried to run away, it would be met by a force field I had erected around the area.

    "No matter what you do¡­ I will win."

    I suppose this was inevitable from the start. No matter how much potential it had, this being was too outssed when facing me.

    ''It''s too weak.''

    *******

    Once [Degradation] ran itsplete course, the enemy was now nothing more than several invisible particles of nearly imperceptible energy.

    Of course, as someone who had been working with energy maniption since he was one week old, I was skilled enough to detect and manipte said energy around me.

    ''Now that it has been broken down to this extent, I''ll store it with this¡­" In a sh, I reached into my pocket dimension and brought out an artificial Aether Core.

    Or rather, the container for one.

    It was currently empty, so by storing the blue guy''s energy here, I could leave it untainted for the most part.

    "Alright then¡­ let us begin."

    Using Spellcraft to direct all the energy belonging to the blue entity, I pulled everything into the Aether Core, ensuring I didn''t leave even a particle behind.

    Once I was done, the air turned stale once more.

    ¡­ At least, that was what was supposed to happen.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The Aether Core in my grasp suddenly began to hum and warble.

    "What is¡­"

    The thing suddenly started shaking, almost as if there was something inside attempting to get out.

    ''That should be impossible. The state of its energy should be in utter pieces. Unless theybine, which I have ensured won''t happen as a result of [Degradation], there should be no will disyed.''

    As I had this thought, trying to understand what was happening, the Aether Core suddenly vanished from my grasp.

    "W-what?!"

    Instead, it appeared in the air in front of me, still warbling and trembling as if something within it was trying to be free.

    "If it hasn''t been extinguished after that, then I''ll just have to get serious¡­" Narrowing my gaze, I prepared myself for even more of a challenge.

    However¡­

    ~FSHWUUUUUUU!~

    The Aether Core slowly began to contract, as if trying to squeeze itself together. It looked like a bubble without form, attempting to be something it was not.

    ''Is it trying to return to its previous state?'' I wondered

    But no¡­ that wasn''t it.

    It was far from what I had imagined.

    It was¡­

    ~SHIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGG!~

    The light that shed from the orb enveloped the area, but I kept watching as the final phase of the core''s transformation waspleted.

    No longer was it an Aether Core, or a spherical mass of energy. It wasn''t even a humanoid energy entity.

    The new form of the energy was none other than a card¡ª

    something resembling one of the Arcanas.

    I drew closer, narowing my eyes on the floating object that now remained suspended in thr air.

    Inscribed on the card was neither illustration nor symbol, but a single letter.

    "N." I whispered, reaching out for the pulsating card with a small smile on my face. There was no way I wouldn''t know what this meant.

    "Neron¡­ what exactly are you up to now?"

    The card called to me, and I answered, stretching my hands towards it. In response, it drew closer to me, and I could feel it resonate with me the closer it got to me.

    Until finally, our forms connected.

    "A-ahhh¡­"

    The moment I touched the card, my eyes widened, and it felt like I was being pulled into a different realm that I couldn''t exin at all.

    It felt like I was being pulled upward, away from the I stood on, and even out of the gxy I upied.

    I felt propelled away from this world, and into another.

    It all happened so fast that it took all of my strength to keep up with all the information overwhelming my brain.

    And then, after an eternity locked in a single moment, my vision ceased and I finally understood what was happening.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­" My body trembled slightly, and my breath was heavy.

    I nearly fell to my knees out of sheer weakness, but throughout all of this, I was grinning widely.

    There was only one reason for that.

    "... I know where everyone is!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Alright! That''s what we''re talking about!

    It''s finally time for the great reunion.

 Chapter 1140 The Gathering

    Chapter 1140 The Gathering

    I instantly reached out to my friends the moment I was finally able to stabilize my thoughts.

    Once again thankful for Ciara''s telepathic link that served to connect us all, I got the word out that I found something that could potentially lead me to where our friends were.

    The first to respond was Kuzon, and he wondered if it had anything to do with the fight he sensed happening where I was located.

    Since Kuzon had grown extremely powerful, he could detect the happenings of our if he tried. The same went for Edward as well.

    I didn''t think Aloe and Ciara had reached that level, but considering how Aloe''s range spread out through the entire, something told me if she really wanted to, she would find a way to replicate our sensory prowess.

    "I''ll exin everything to you all. Come back as soon as you can." I responded to Kuzon, and also everyone else at the same time.

    Based on the distance calcted, I assumed either Ciara or Aloe would make it first since they had been sent to the West, and East continents respectively. Plus, I also estimated them to arrive after a considerable amount of seconds.

    Though, with Aloe''s speed, I wouldn''t have been surprised if she made it first.

    However, much to my surprise, it wasn''t either of them that arrived first.

    ~VWUSH!~

    A golden sh of light manifested before me, and from its swirling pool of distorted space, Kuzon appeared.

    "I came as fast as I could. What''s the situation?" He dered in the most formal and serious tone ever. His eyes revealed curious concern, and they begged me to spill everything I knew.

    ''I should have known¡­'' A sigh almost escaped my lips. Of everyone else, he was still the most eager, so it made sense that he would be first.

    ''Ah, well¡­ maybe I should give the ''most eager'' title to Ciara.''

    As if responding to my thoughts, Ciara arrived next, her breath ragged and her hair all over the ce. Blue sparks of energyshed around her, and her eyes seemed to be reminiscent of a lunatic.

    At least, that was how it looked like to me.

    "What did you fin¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHH!~

    After Ciara, behind by just a few seconds, was Edward. He seemed absolutely calm in his fit body, and he looked around to acknowledge the presence of everyone.

    He seemed to have arrived here by sheer speed alone.

    Unlike the bumbling Ciara and zealous Kuzon, he didn''t seem at all flustered by the news. His eyes seemed to say "It was only a matter of time before you found them anyway, Jared."

    That was the level of faith this guy had in my ability.

    "Sorry I''mte everyone." Aloe''s voice suddenly echoed in the air as she appeared in a flicker of light.

    "I was checking out my old office for some things and I sort of got lost in the moment."

    ''She also seems quite collected. Well, that''s Aloe Vida for you, I guess.'' A smile escaped my lips as I told her it was fine to arrive only a few seconds after I made the announcement.

    In fact, everyone here was too fast.

    "Did you find what you were looking for?" I asked Aloe.

    "Me? Ah, I wasn''t particrly looking fo anything. Just checking my old stuff. I couldn''t find some things, though¡­"

    Now that was curious.

    "Things like what? Your grimoires, notes, Magic Items?" I was getting more and more invested in this situation.

    If some of her stuff was missing, did that mean there was still someone in this world who took them? But that would imply that they managed to escape our perception.

    Such an individual would be quite formidable.

    ''Or maybe it''s the same way thee Safehouse is missing in this world. No, but the Safehouse served as a clue to what I found.''

    Did that mean Alow''s missing properties served as clues as well?

    "Well, just some of my underwear. There was one pair of panties I bought the other day before the wedding¡­ and I couldn''t find them."

    ¡­ Ah¡­

    For a moment, I felt my lips glue together, unable to formte any sensible response to her words.

    what the heck?''

    ''I don''t think Neron would use those as clues. And if there''s someone running around in this world, stealing underwear, then¡­ what the heck?''

    Using all the data I had collected so far, this information seemed very confusing.

    Would I have to change my model once again?

    "I probably just forgot where I kept them is all. I could have sworn I took them to my¡ª"

    "Ahem, that''s enough." Kuzon cleared his throat, interrupting Aloe from saying any further.

    I had never been as grateful for such an act until this moment.

    "Ah, apologies." Aloeughed a little sheepishly, and while it was pretty cute¡ªenough to lift any tense atmosphere that would have been present otherwise¡ªit also felt a little ufortable.

    None of us here were kids. At least, not in the technical sense.

    ''I can''t believe my age is still 15. My 16th birthday hasn''t arrived yet, so it''s odd.''

    Even Kuzon and Edward had already be adults.

    I was the only one who was still a minor!

    "I-in any case, let''s begin the briefing." I smiled awkwardly, trying my hardest to regain myposure after trapping myself with my earlier thoughts.

    ******

    I exined everything to them; from what led to my investigation on the vanished Safehouse, to my fight with the blue sentry, and how it ended up bing an Arcana.

    After some minutes of bringing everyone up to speed, I brought out the card and showed them.

    "This is our ticket to our friends. I''m guessing it functions the same way an Arcana does, and it''ll take us to where Neron kept them."

    The epiphany I had when I touched this card showed me a world where everyone was. The message was very vague, but I pretty much understood what Neron was trying to show me.

    "So, everyone¡­ ready to reunite with our friends and family?

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Okay, let''s go full throttle from the next chapter onward!

    Thanks for reading.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1141 The Hidden World [Pt 1]

    1141 The Hidden World [Pt 1]

    ~VWUUUUUSSSSHHHH!~

    The torrents of energyshing around me the moment I poured my Aether into the N Arcana sent distortions spreading all around me¡ªno, all of us.

    Blueish purple sparks began to dance everywhere, like a mixture of electricity and mes, and the surroundings slowly began to take on the form of blurs.

    "I guess it''s working." A smile crept on my face as I stared at all four of my remaining colleagues.

    Kuzon and Ciara seemed to have overexcited features, though the former tried very hard to hide his expression. Aloe appeared asposed as ever, and Edward just seemed happy to see the Arcana work.

    I was personally thrilled, awaiting what we would see beyond this world.

    ~WHUUUUUUSSSSSHHHH!~

    An immense blue vortex suddenly appeared underneath everyone and warped us away from where we stood. It all happened in an instant, and before we realized it, the environment around us had changedpletely.

    "A-ah¡­" A small sound escaped my lips as I blinked, now looking around me to absorb the details of our new envionment.

    The luminiscent glows of energy stones, and the nk white tiles that decorated the walls, floors, and cielings¡­ they all felt familiar to me.

    I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, then opened them to exhale.

    ''It feels the same.''

    There was no longer any doubt in my mind as I observed the vast, yet empty room I was in.

    "This is the Safehouse." I muttere, ncing in the direction of my dazed allies.

    They were also looking around, most likely trying to get a proper grasp of their surroundings. None of them had ever been to the Safehouse before, so I could understand their confusion.

    ''The N Arcana is meant to bring us here, huh?'' Did that mean we were now in the world Neron transported everyone to?''

    I tried using my senses to confirm if this was the case, but as expected, I couldn''t. The Safehouse was made with special properties, and had a special barrier that prevented foreign interference with it, but it in turn also prevented the extension of energy beyond its confines.

    In essence, my sensory abilities were limited to this room.

    "Well, I suppose we just have to get ou¡ª"

    ~BZZZZTTTTZZZZ!!!~

    Before I couldplete my sentence, a sudden sound buzzing sound caight my attention, as well as the attention of everyone else in the room.

    We all looked in the direction of the sound''s origin, and we found a holographic image forming from the ground up. It seemed to be projected through a Magic Item that was hanging on the ceiling.

    ''This is¡­'' My smile deepened as my eyes widened in response to the figure that was forming in the hologram.

    "... Neron."

    That''s right! Standing before us, within the vast expanse of the in white room, in the form of a slightly buzzing hologram, was Neron.

    "Hello, everyone! Nice to see you made it this far. I knew you could do it!" The features of the hologram were identical to Neron''s, except for the blue and white hues reminiscent of the light particles it was made out of.

    The voiceing from the hologram matched Neron''s too, and it felt like we were speaking to him in real tme.

    "Now, now, I know you have a lot of things to say, but this is a recording, so it can only be a one-waymunication channel. So please, pay attention because I can only say this once."

    I folded my arms and decided to use Magic to record all of Neron''s words. Perhaps there could be some additional hints given to us that we wouldn''t be able to decipher right away.

    This was Neron, after all.

    "Don''t worry, Jared. There is no hidden message or anything. I know you''ll be overthinking this stuff way more than nessary."

    I felt a little embarassed that he called me out like that, but that didn''t stop me from continuing the recording. Besides, it wasn''t like I was being obvious to everyone else.

    "Kuzon, I know you''re upset, but just hear me out, okay? I apologize for being so secretive about a lot of things, but there are reasons for being confidential with information¡­ and that is also confidential."

    I nced to see Neron''s expression, and sure enough, his brows were twitching in annoyance.

    "When you arrived in the world supposedly your home, you were surprised to find it empty, right? You searched for your friends and families and found none of them. Yes, that was all me. I had to intervene at thest minute, when we were being teleported, in order to protect everyone else."

    It was just as I thought. Neron transported everyone to his dimension to protect them.

    "However, do not be mistaken here. I didn''t transport everyone to a special dimension to protect them."

    ¡­ Eh?

    ''I was wrong?'' My face twisted in confusion.

    "In more technical terms, I swapped our universe with another one. Ever heard of grafting in agriculture? Yeah, it''s something like that. I pulled out our branch and put it in the ce of another branch, then I put the other beanch in the ce of ours."

    ''You can do that?!'' My ears twitched the moment I heard his exnation.

    "The universe I swapped with ours is almost entirely identical to ours, having almost the same buildings and materials and people living within. All except one thing¡­ it''s a dead world."

    Neron went on to exin how the universe we arrived at was a world where all of us had ceased to exist due to some kind of Magic Explosion gone wrong, killing everyone and everything in that world.

    He used a universe that had no living entity and reced our universe with it.

    "But why couldn''t you just transport everyone to a special dimension?" I asked, forgetting for a moment that I was addressing a recorded Neron.

    However, to my surprise, it seemed it heard my query. Neron''s hologram sighed and went on to exin further.

    "This was the best method to use. I''ll now exin why."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    We all await Neron''s excuse.

    Will he manage to convince us, or not?

 Chapter 1142 The Hidden World [Pt 2]

    1142 The Hidden World [Pt 2]

    "Legris Damien is a dangerous man. He is extremely unstable, unpredictable¡­ and worst of all, he''s very petty." Neron''s hologram began in a stern tone.

    The casual mood from earlier had now vanished, and I could tell from his low pitch and slight frown that he was being very serious now.

    "His n was to scatter as many people through the branches so we would spend forever trying to save everyone and ourselves while he went on with his ns. Unfortunately for him, I intervened and he was only able to get six of us."

    Why couldn''t Neron have just stopped Legris'' ns entirely.

    "I couldn''t stop what he wanted to do because he would have just sprung something else. It''s much better to allow the natural order of events to flow while I use it to my advantage. Besides, if you all didn''t go on your separate and group voyages, you wouldn''t be as powerful as you are currently."

    With that point addressed, Neron''s hologram proceeded.

    "The problem with saving everyone else was that I couldn''t leave them behind since they would be stuck with Legris. Like I said, he''s very dangerous. With us gone, he could wipe out everything we know and love."

    I understood everything he had done thus far, but it was this part that I was stuck on. Why couldn''t Neron just protect everyone by keeping them in a special dimension? He could also give us the coordinates or key to said dimension when we met him in the world he was transported to.

    So, why didn''t he do that?

    "It''s much more difficult to protect than to attack. It''s harder to construct than it is to destroy." Neron''s hologram began.

    "Within the limits of my [Timeless World], I had to protect everyone¡ªnot just within our, but the entire universe."

    From Neron''s words alone, it was clear that he was looking at things from a much broader angle. Legris Damien was petty, so if Neron had protected us and transported everyone in our away from harm, Legris couldsh out at the others.

    He probably didn''t want the denizens of the universe to suffer for an incident in our.

    "There has been more than enough damage caused by this conflict already. No more¡­ at least, that was what I thought when it all took ce."

    I could understand his rationale now. However, was it really easier to swap universes,pared to just rescuing everyone?

    "Swapping branches is easier than you think." Neron''s voice echoed out almost as soon as I made the thought.

    "I had Aether help me out. She governs the Tree, so you could call her its gardener. Once I sent my will across to her, and revealed all that is at stake, she was able to lend me her authotity to switch universe positions."

    How was that easy at all?

    "I guess it''s one of the perks of being a Singrity." Neron''s hologram added, while shrugging his arms like it was no big deal.

    ''This guy¡­'' Nearly gritting my teeth, I maintained myposure

    "It''s much easier than ounting for every single entity in this universe and transporting all of them to a dimension I''ll have to make from scratch. You realize there are millions of ecosystems out there, right? There are organisms that have certain needs, which can only thrive under certain conditions. Do you think I had the time to carefully craft an entire universe while paying attention to all that detail?"

    "You have all the time in the world, don''t you?"Kuzon suddenly raised his voice, and I swear, he beat me by one second.

    At this point, I could already chalk down everything Neron was saying to one thing.

    "... Yeah, it was just easier to swap out the universes. In the end, I was looking for the most efficient way. Is that so wrong?"

    I truly didn''t know how a recording could be so fluent at reading the room, and our minds, but Neron must have understood how a lot of his ramblings didn''t add up.

    "A-ahem! In any case, sorry for not telling you anything earlier. In all honesty, I wanted you to find the clues yourself and alsoe here with your wits and abilities. And as you can see, you all made it here, no problem."

    In essence, it was fine for Neron to take the easy approach when it came to protecting everyone, but when it came to us¡­ we had to take the more difficult approach.

    I could certainly see how fair that was.

    Yes, I was being sarcastic.

    "I do not know how much time has passed since then, but know that due to the dimension swapping, there were a lot of things to ount for¡ªlike the interference of space time, and other minute factors. That means, based on my theory alone¡­" As Neron''s hologram was speaking, Ipleted the words in my thoughts.

    ''... The time of our original world might be affected.''

    I didn''t know to what extent, and to what degree, but it was possible that the people that were in this world had been living without us for longer than a few months.

    ''It could be double that¡­ or triple.''

    What if a year had passed since our vanishing? Just how much devastation would that cause?

    My body was already feeling heated up, and anxiety slowly crept in.

    Right there and then, I only thought of one thing.

    ''I want to see everyone!''

    "I shouldn''t keep you waiting here. Go on and see your friends and family. You''ve waited long enough." Neron''s voice echoed in my ears, and then the buzzing sound from earlier took over.

    ~ZZZzzzttttzzzz¡­~

    Once the sound died down, the hologram vanished, and silence pervaded the nk room.

    No one spoke for a while, and we all stared at each other, but after a few moments of silence, I finally broke the decorum.

    "Let''s go outside."

    The Safehouse had only one entrance and exit, and so everyone followed my lead as we ventured out to the world that awaited us.

    As we got closer to the exit, a certain thought suddenly manifested in my head.

    ''So that exins why Aloe Vida couldn''t find her panties¡­''

    It wasn''t intentional, I swear.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The character illustrations for the characters can be found in the Webnovel app now. Check them out and vote for your favorite characters.

    You can use your points, or coins to vote.

    I appreciate all your efforts, everyone.

 Chapter 1143 The Allied Nations Meeting

    ?

    [Moments Earlier¡­]

    Within an extremely spacious meeting room, adorned with simple designs such as proper tiled floors and murals decorating the walls, there was a long, rectangr table¡ªremiscent to a council meeting where all the stakeholders of a certain enterprise would gather.

    The table was made seemingly of transparent ss, and it reflected the milky white cieling of the room. The squeaky clean tiles were a fine mix of white and ck, but thankfully the murals on the walls possessed a tapestry of colors that made the room feel alive.

    Within this vast room, as one would expect, a lot of people were seated on their respective chairs, and some were also standing behind the respective seats¡ªalmost like guards to those seated.

    There was only one seemed to be standing¡ªor rather, floating¡ªat the forefront of the bunch, and she was the moderator of this meeting.

    She had pink wings, peach pink hair, and her eyes were emerald green. As a fairy, she had a naturally smaller staturepared to most of the people present in the meeting room, but themanding presence that oozed from her made that impossible to notice.

    As for her audience, they were listening to her attentively, almost religiously as she broke down the information she dispensed with pinpoint uracy.

    Everybody seated behind the very long table, and even the ones who stood behind them, were all invested in the topic at hand¡ªsome more than most.

    It was a pertinent matter that they had spent ten years trying to uncover.

    "That concludes the summarized version of the cumtive expedition data I have gathered." Jane Urs spoke as she turned her gaze to everyone seated in the room.

    Elf Queen Aurora Vindiel was seated and standing behind her were Lemi and Freya.

    Beast King Gerard was seated and behind him were Asa and one his many wives, apparently.

    Dragon King, and Leader of the United Magic Beast Council, Z''ark was seated in his miniature dragon form, and behind him were two of his loyal aids.

    One was a Griffon, and the other was a Titan, though both had been considerably shrunk in size so they were incredibly smaller than their natural appearances.

    Dwarf Chief Dulum, with two of his council members standing rigidly behind him with thier chubby bodies.

    Albion Lestrome Indiavel, King of the Eastern Kingdom, had only his Court Mage standing behind him. As one would expect from Elrich Lendertwale, he was adorned in his usual jewels, and had a calm smile on his face.

    Then, there was the seated Maro, who had Jerry and Ivan standing behind him. He felt ufortable seated among so many distinguished individuals, but his role as a mechanic was a very pertinent one, so he had his own chair.

    The strongest Grand Mage, Serah Crimson was also seated, her arms crossed. Behind her were Maria and Ana, and together they were recognized as the strongest offensive force among the expedition team.

    Finally, Beruel was also seated, and he was the only one who didn''t have a single entourage behind him. He didn''t seem to mind, though.

    No, perhaps this was the oue he had desired from the start.

    A few Fairies stood in key positions, mostly serving as guards and assistants in case their President wanted something.

    In such a ce filled with nearly all the most important figures the world had to offer, a certain air of tension filled the air.

    The entire room was chock-full of energy that it nearly felt suffocating. However, everyone present in the room were at least powerful enough to withstand such pressure.

    As a result, they allfortably sat and listened to their moderator further break down the results of their recen expedition and painstaking research.

    "After extrapting the information you have all gathered, and corrting all of them with one another, I''ve finally had a breakthrough." Jane Urs''s grin widened as she stared at the anticipating crowd.

    Beams of hope could be seen spreading on everyone''s faces as they all held their breaths and waited for Jane''s follow-up words.

    "I have been led to the Hive, the source of the Nether Beasts and all the corruption we have been battling with all this time."

    So far, they had been treating the symptoms, but the Hive seemed to be the root cause of so much Nether Corruption that seemed to be spreading at an rming rate.

    Fortunately, thanks to the constant expedition the teams had been venturing on, they had managed to thin out the influence of the Nether Beasts and whittle out the corruption guing their world.

    "Once we take care of the Hive, we''ll be able to get rid of the Nether Source in the world. Once that happens¡­ we won''t need to worry about the corruptions any longer."

    Jane Urs''s words was met with the silence of everyone seated in the room.

    All she had said was indeed good news. Getting rid of an encroaching darkness was a step towards progress. However, there was something that couldn''t be overlooked.

    After getting rid of the Hive¡­ what next?

    The Corruptions, or Nether Beasts, despite being the threats that they were, served as means for these people to dish out their frustrations and also hold onto the hope that they might find the missing ones in one of their expeditions.

    If the Expeditions were to end after the Hive destruction, wouldn''t they devolve back to a reality where they had no purpose?

    A point where they were empty.

    "With my predictive data, and from the research I''ve been doing on the Hive, especially the concentration of Nether that I''m sensing, it might take all of our strenghtsbined topletely get rid of it." Even though Jane understood what the silent she was recieving meant, she continued anyway.

    "If we are able to conclude this mission and finally rid our world of the final vestiges of Corruption, we can proceed beyond our immediate zones to explore more of the universe and search for clues about our target and the source of all this tragedy¡­"

    At this point, nearly everyone flinched. That was because there was no one who didn''t know how dangerous and despicable said man was.

    "... Legris Damien."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    While Jared and his allies n on reuniting with their friends and families, they also seem to be up to something big.

    What''ll happen next?

    Also, remember to check out the character illustrations.

    Cheers!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

 Chapter 1144 Overpowering Pressure

    <h4>Chapter 1144 Overpowering Pressure</h4>

    Legris Damien.

    The architect of the grief of the people present in this room, but also the surest bet at ever reuniting with their most loved ones.

    No one knew his location, but they had to assume he was also in their universe, else the influence of Nether wouldn''t be as strong. It was perhaps this very notion that made Jane and her allies so fixated on the Corruptions that were spreading from the Hive.

    "You say we''ll finally be able to explore more of the universe? What do you mean by that? Aren''t we doing so already?" Serah Crimson raised her hand to ask, being the most forward among the group.

    Everyone was curious about what Jane had up her sleeve.

    Well¡­ almost everyone.

    "What we''ve been exploring are closes, connected through awork that exists withi our immediate sr system or maybe even gxy. Jane is suggesting leaving our little bubble and exploring the other millions of gxies that exist outside our sphere of inflience. Am I correct in that assumption?"

    The one who spoke was also a Fairy like Jane, so perhaps that was why he understood so much of her words and potential ns.

    "That''s correct, Beruel. I have been sending probes to learn more about the world beyond what we have mapped. Initially, thet were too ill-equipped to handle such travels, or return due tomunication issues. But after constant trials and errors, as well as some of Beruel''s support, I was finally able to make functional batches that were not only capable of surviving for so long beyond our world, but also had the capacity to return."

    "So that''s what those things were for. I knew it." Beruel, former Fairy King, smiled as he folded his hands while resting his back on his custom-made seat.

    Since he was a fairy, his chair had to be elevated to the point where he coyld ce his hands on the table. Plus, it was smaller and morefy¡ªper his design.

    It was no secret that a few envied howfortable his chair lookedpared to their in seats.

    "In any case, the probes are ted to return within an estimate of two weeks, and once they arrive we''ll be able to learn so much from them. I have gotten some correspondence now, and the data looks promising. It''s iplete, though, so I need more."

    Somehow, the darkened faces of the people slowly began to exhibit more light.

    If Jane was right, then eveb after taking care of the Hive, they still had more ground to cover and more clues that would point them in the direction of their missing ones, or the malefactor behind the disappearance.

    "About this Hive mission, we can handle it, right? Then what''s the dy?" The one who asked a question this time was Gerard, The Beast King.

    He had a fearless grin on his face, and his eyes seemed to ooze nothing but violence.

    "Rx, big man. There are a bunch of things to consider, am I right, Jane?" Aurora, the Elf Queen added, her eyes shrewdly studying Jane''s face.

    "That''s right." The Fairy moderator admitted. "It''s mostly a precaution."

    "What is it about?"Dwarf Chief Dulum asked, rubbing his beards in curiousity. After silently observing for a while, he too wanted to get a word in.

    "There''s a chance that my calctions might be off the mark, so the Hive might be more dangerous than estimated." Jane bagen, flexing her sses as a short sigh leaked out of her small lips.

    That wasn''t the most troublesome aspect of their potential mission, however.

    "There''s a chance that Legris or Ciel might be behind the Hive. If that''s the case, and we''re unprepared, we might suffer a loss."

    Jane''s sudden statement caused a chill to spread through the crowd. For a moment, silence tookplete charge and no one uttered a word.

    No one could say anything.

    "W-what does that matter? Aren''t we searching for him? If he presents himself on a silver tter, all we have to do is eliminate him right there and then." Gerard roared, flexing his muscle as he tried to get rid of the tension in the air by his confident tone.

    Perhaps his efforts were a little more than just boosting morale, as he nced in the direction of Serah Crimson.

    She wasn''t even looking in his direction, instead her countenance showed her to be in deep contemtion.

    "Don''t be a fool, Gerard. Legris Damien is a shrewd one. There is a reason it''s problematic for him to be present within the Hive, even if we expect it." Z''ark''s aged and wise tone reverberated from his miniature dragon form.

    His eyes narrowed and shone amber as he slowly closed them.

    "What did you just say?" Gerard burst out in annoyance, veins showing on his face.

    Once again, he nced at Serah Crimson, but found her not even looking in his direction. The frustration he felt had to be directed somewhere, and the Dragon King had just made himself the prime target.

    "You really like to run your mouth, huh?"

    "I only uttered the truth."

    "You overgrown lizard."

    "Musclehead."

    "Bitch!" Gerard rose to his feet, now caught up in his emotions as he red at theposed Dragon King.

    Something about Z''ark''s smile unnerved and frustrated Gerard more.

    "Why don''t you¡ª?!"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    A sudden pressure filled the room before Gerard couldplete his sentence, and before Z''ark could respond.

    It felt so heavy and overpowering that it overwhelmed the senses and caused both warring parties to keep their mouths shut while sitting in the most bone-chilling manner ever.

    Everyone else in the room could feel the pressure too, and it was devastating.

    Not a single person remained unaffected.

    "E-erm¡­ S-Serah¡­ please retract your pressure." Jane Urs managed to creak out as she fixed her gaze on Serah''s frowning countenance.

    The poor Fairy could barely maintain her flight.

    ''Ah¡­ my apologies." Serah''s face slowly returned to normal, and she swiftly spoke in recognition of her actions.

    Soon after, the pressure that had pervaded the meeting hall vanished, now reced with a clear, conducive environment.

    Even at that, no one spoke.

    Perhaps they were too stunned by Serah''s sudden disy of overwhelming power. Or maybe¡­ they were shocked to see her lose her cool despite the several years of constant positivity.

    Serah turned to Jane, and with a gentle smile and bright eyes, she broke the silence.

    "Please continue the meeting."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Just how powerful is Serah Crimson? We have no idea!

    Maybe make a guess, everyone?

    Thanks for reading!

 Chapter 1145 Race Against... Time?

    <h4>Chapter 1145 Race Against... Time?</h4>

    "A-ahem, as I was saying¡­ the dangers involved with Legris being present in the Hive goes beyond our preparedness for him."

    The awkward atmosphere was yet to vanish despite Serah already dissipating her energy pressure. Eyes still appeared a bit uneasy, and minds were a little rattled, but the meeting had to go on, so Jane continued her speech.

    "The dangers of being exposed to such a mass of Nether is one thing. But, after expending a lot of time and effort, it would be disadvantageous for us to confront Legris afterwards."

    The most advantageous situation would be for them to seek out Legris on their own terms, when they were ready and able to take him on.

    Once Jane broke down the other risks involved, even the hot-headed Gerard began to see reason behind her words and also the stupidity of his own words.

    "The best we can do is¡ª"

    ~VWWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!~

    Once again, the room was filled with something¡ªa distorted pressure that circted the area.

    This energy pressure was different from the earlier one.

    It wasn''t as heavy, but it was dense¡­ rich and full of immense power.

    It felt like space itself was bending in response to it.

    "W-what is this¡­?" Jane stopped speaking instantly as her eyes widened in shock.

    "You can sense it too? This is¡­?!" Beruel''s eyes bulged.

    He recognized the energy he was sensing all too well. It was emanating from two individuals he had fought.

    "It''s getting closer." Serah murmured in a whisper.

    "I¡­ know this feeling." Lemi murmured underneath her breath.

    How could she forget the energy signature that had once gone within her very core?

    "It''s him¡­?" Aurora whispered in disbelief.

    No, that couldn''t be. Something wasn''t right.

    It seemed that not everyone in the room could feel this strange pressure, or the racing energy that approached them at instant speed.

    Only those as powerful as Serah, Aurora, and Gerard, or those who had connections to the source, like Jane and Lemi.

    Then there were those who belonged to thest category: those who were the lovers of the source of interest.

    "N-no way¡­" Ana whispered underneath her breath as her lips trembled.

    Even Maria, who had yet to utter a word or disy any emotion since the start of the meeting found her face morphing to disy shock.

    "J¡­ Jare¡ª?"

    Before any of the people in the room could conclude their words, a sudden sh appeared at the center of the table, like a bolt of lightning from the heavens.

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHH!~

    A wave of white energy dissipated around the source, and the air vibrated all across the room as if paying homage to the presence that had just surfaced.

    Layers of energy decorated his body as he slowly rose from his crouching position, his yellow blond hair swaying as he opened his eyes. His white teeth were open for disy as he grinned, and his long robe flowed behind him as he seemed to take in the armosphere in a split second.

    "Hehehe¡­" A slight chuckle escaped his lips as the entire room fell into a standstill.

    "I did it¡­" As he was still whispering words to himself, a second sh of light appeared, once again, sending a wave of energy crashing into the rooom.

    This time, the energy was like a surge of golden lightning, and within it was a young man who appeared regal in appearance and looks. His moderately long golden hair, coupled with his golden eyes could easily steal the attention of any.

    However, unlike the first one who entered the room, he wasn''t smiling at all.

    Instead, he was slightly frowning as he shut his eyes, ready for what he was about to hear from the blond boy beside him.

    "I won the race, Kuzon! I told you I was faster!" The one who spoke so optimistically was Jared Leonard, and he was reveling in his victory much to the dissatisfaction of his friend.

    "Tch. It was barely by a second, Jared. No big deal¡­"

    Even though Kuzon said that, he was internally freaking out by the prospect of what had just happened.

    ''Jared¡­ has gotten even stronger!''

    It was an unpleasant shock, and one that had soiled the mood he had been in just moments earlier.

    "Pfft! I''m faster than you are, Kuzon. Deal with it."

    "Yeah, yeah."

    Both young men stood upright, their gazes shing at each other like little kids who had just finished a childish dare or bet.

    Perhaps they were too caught up in the moment to notice what they had just done.

    ¡­ How they had officially ended a very important meeting.

    ******

    [Moments Earlier]

    The world thaty before us was just as I remembered.

    As we stepped out of the Safehouse, the instant air of nostalgia greeted my senses. I was initially overwhelmed by the feeling of being home¡ªtruly home¡ªbut I had to control myself at this very important moment.

    First things first, I had to confirm something.

    "Haa¡­"

    Using Spellcraft to swiftly adress my gnawing fear, I spread my senses to the world. Thankfully, I wasn''t disappointed.

    "They''re here. They''re all here!" I beamed, my lips instantly widening as I looked around to observe the faces of myrades.

    We were all gushing with excitement.

    "I can sense her¡­ them¡­ all of them!" Kuzon''s grin seemed to be the widest.

    At least, until I saw Ciara.

    "Hehe¡­ hehehe¡­ heeee¡­" The girl was literally drooling as her eyes brightened up like the afternoon sun.

    It was scary on so many levels.

    "It feels good to be back." Aloe spoke casually, and her mature demeanor seemed to be the right amount of calmness I needed after seeing Ciara''s crazed expression for one second.

    "Indeed. I wonder how Ana and Le¡ª" Edward stopped short of his words as he nced in my direction.

    The moment he noticed my smile, he decided not to say any more.

    That was a wise choice.

    ''Let''s not get into anyplicated stuff now. Let''s just enjoy the moment.'' I maintained my smile.

    However, it wasn''t long before I simply couldn''t control myself any longer.

    I wanted to see them¡ªmy parents, my friends, my family, and¡­ her.

    "Hey, Jared." Kuzon''s voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts, causing me to nce in his direction.

    He had a broad smile on his face, filled with what I could only call mishievous excitement.

    "Interested in a little contest?" His voice was inviting, and I could almost tell what he wanted to say.

    "What contest?" I returned his smile with mine, feeling an electrocuting vibe course through my entire body.

    "A race. Let''s see who gets ''there'' first."

    By ''there'', he meant the location where Ana, Maria, and a lot of our friends seemed to be gathered. It was probably a meeting of some kind, or maybe they were simply partying.

    How could I tell?

    "You boys are really immature." Aloe sighed, shaking her head.

    "Hehe¡­ hahahaha¡­ I''m off!"

    Ciara''s voice was the only thing we noticed because the next thing we knew, she had sped off to see her darling, Jerry.

    What a weirdo¡­ not that I couldn''t understand the feeling.

    It was taking every ounce of self control to remain calm despite my ravaging impulses telling me to run wild.

    "So, what do you say, Jared?" Kuzon once again interrupted my thoughts, his brows raised as his lips curled into a confident grin.

    "You want in?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Welp¡­ we all know how this ends.

    But maybe there''s a reason Kuzon lost and Jared lost.

    Let''s see¡­

 Chapter 1146 Sublime Reunion [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1146 Sublime Reunion [Pt 1]</h4>

    I think we could all guess what happened next.

    Of course, I epted Kuzon''s challenge: not because I was particrly petty or anything, no, I was just curious.

    Who would win in a race between the two of us?

    "Want to join in, Edward?" I asked, but the moment I did so, Kuzon cut me off with a re.

    "Nope! Just you and I!"

    As expected, he was looking for an informal rematch between the two of us. Something personal.

    ''He must be feeling challenged after my fight with Edward'' The smile on my face broadened as I nodded slowly.

    "Very well then¡­"

    Edward agreed to back down, even though I could see the look of disappointment in his eyes when he did so. He probably wanted to test his strength with Kuzon too.

    In any case, Aloe Vida and Edward stayed away from the race between Kuzon and I¡ªwhich had simple rules.

    The both of us had to sprint or fly to cover the distance between our current location and the room filled with our friends. We couldn''t utilize Spells, Transformations, and/or Familiars. It was just me versus him.

    ''Considering the fact that Leo is absent, he''s not in full power¡­'' Then again, in base form, he didn''t have to wory about all that.

    Once the rules were established, and we went on track, I cast a sideway nce at Kuzon and he did the same to me.

    "No matter what happens¡­ we''ll have to ept the results, okay?"

    It was a simple line, but I had to establish that.

    "Fair enough. Let''s begin already."

    Aloe served as our moderator, though she didn''t seem too into the whole thing.

    "On your mark. Get set. Go!"

    That was the start of a catastrophe.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Space itself ruptured as Kuzon and I raced through the grounds of the world.

    Our destination was the Fairy Kingdom within the Western Continent, and we were currently in the Eastern Continent. It wasn''t too far, in all honesty, and I estimated it would take approximately a few seconds¡ªat most.

    However, these few seconds were the most intense I had ever experienced in my whole life.

    In these few seconds, it would be decided who was more powerful in our base forms¡­ Me or Kuzon.

    However, I already knew the answer to that.

    [Spellcraft] wasn''t a Spell, yes I know how that sounded, so it would be my greatest tool in this decisive moment.

    But that wasn''t all.

    My multiple cores could evenly distribute and absorb energy at far much quicker rates than anything Kuzon had in his arsenal. Plus, by using Specialized Cores to actively improve every aspect of my body, using Spellcraft to also bring my surroundings to my advantage, the conclusion was already obvious.

    It was my victory!

    *******

    [The Present]

    It seemed Ciara hadn''t arrived yet, so we had to have overtaken her at some point. Compared to my speed and Kuzon''s it seemed hers was stillcking.

    The audience was at a standstill, and I took my time to observe the faces of those present. I saw Jane''s stunned expression, I noticed Aurora and Gerard''s shock, and as my eyes trailed among the crowd, I felt something¡­ no, someone rush towards me at breakneck speed.

    It was a presence I could not forget.

    I turned in her direction, and the moment I did so, a gentle kissnded on my lips, and I felt a wave of her scent wash over me.

    ''Maria¡­'' I caught glimpses of her silver hair dancing all over, and I felt her body press against mine¡ªso soft and warm that I forgot all about Kuzon and everything else.

    I just wanted to be alone with her.

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHH!~

    I wrapped my arms around Maria an swiftly ascended from the hall, leaving everyone else behind.

    We needed some alone time, after all.

    ******

    Kuzon watched as Jared just ascended with Maria after they kissed, and afterward, he felt his gaze trailing in a direction where he felt the strongest presence from.

    A girl was currently on her feet, her eyes widened so her sky blue eyes glittered with light. Kuzon smiled as he saw his little angel.

    She hadn''t changed in the slightest.

    Her small physique, her t chest, and her portable body¡­ everything was just as he remembered.

    ~SWOOOOSSHH!~

    He instantly vanished from his position and drew closer to her, taking her soft hand as he put on his most charming smile.

    "Ana¡­" His lips curled up to form a loving grin, and his cheeks reddened the more he stared into her gem-like eyes.

    Ahh¡­ this was youth. This was bliss. This was love.

    "... I''ve missed yo¡ª"

    ~WHAP!~

    A hot, stinging sensation coursed through Kuzon''s face as he felt Ana''s palm get imprinted on it. Her small hands had pressed on his cheeks, making a pping sound that sent shockwaves flying in all directions.

    Of course, Kuzon had seen this blowing, but he never attempted to dodge.

    After all, a p from this woman before him was a reward in itself.

    ''It''s been so long¡­ since I felt your touch.'' He held her small hands, feeling the warmth of her skin as he stared more passionately into her eyes.

    "Y-you idiot¡­ where have you been?" He could hear her whisper, and he could see her eyes fighting back the tears that were gathering there.

    Yes. He was an idiot.

    Yes. He waste.

    Kuzon knew all of that. However, that didn''t stop him from embracing his darling, even as she uttered those words.

    Hisrge body pressed against her small frame, and she did not resist in the slightest.

    It felt like he hands had be jelly, and her body was unable to resist the urge to hug him back. And so, they became locked in an embrace that seemed topletely establish how they felt about each other.

    "H-hey can someone tell me¡ª" Jane was about to speak up when Kuzon and Ana had decided to follow the lead of Jared.

    ~WHOOOOOSHHH!~

    In no time, Kuzon vanished from his position, leaving a room full of confused people, staring at each other and wondering what in the world had just happened.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This chapter was fun for me, tbh.

    It might be cringe to you, but I don''t care. I love this!

    Let''s see what happens next!

 Chapter 1147 Sublime Reunion [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1147 Sublime Reunion [Pt 2]</h4>

    "JEEEERRRYYYYYY!!!"

    The passionate shriek of a crying brte echoed across the room, forcing everyone within the meeting hall to turn in the direction of the sound''s origin.

    Standing right in front of the room''s exit/entrance was Ciara Epilson, her long brown hair now scattered all over her face. Her bushy hair made her look unkempt, and adding to this bizarre appearance was her tear-filled face, with some mucus dripping from her nose.

    Her body trembled fervently as her eyes were fixed in the direction of only one person, and his eyes were now slowly capturing her.

    "C-Ciara¡­?" Jerry''s lips parted as he looked past the shivering girl''s unkempt appearance and saw the deep fear, sadness, regret, joy, relief, etc., locked in her eyes.

    The moment his eyes fully took her in, burning sensations began to sting his cheeks, and red hues slowly appeared.

    He tried to control himself, but Jerry found tears dripping from his eyes as he looked at this mess of a girl.

    "J-Jerry¡­" Ciara whispered, her tone trembling with every syble uttered.

    Everyone else in the room was frozen in either shock or curiousity, wondering what would happen next.

    *****

    ''I¡­ I will tell him now! I will tell Jerry how I feel!'' Ciara''s thoughts echoed in fierce determination, her blurry sight regaining sharpness as she dried off her tears and prepared her heart for what would happen next.

    Her friends. Her doppelganger. Her experiences. All of them had prepared her for this very moment, when she would finally be able to confess to the man she loved.

    Yes, he looked different from how she remembered him to be. Jerry seemed to have grown even taller, more handsome, more muscr, and he even had nicely trimmed beards on his face.

    He seemed much older than thest time she saw him. About ten years, one month, and five days older¡­ if she was to be specific.

    But none of these mattered to her in the slightest.

    He was still Jerry, and after being separated for so long, Ciara could not hold it in any longer.

    She wanted to let her heart out.

    "Jerry, I¡ª"

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    Before she could conclude her words, Ciara felt a sharp blur approach her, like the swift flow of the wind. In an instant, the blur epassed her with its warmth, drawing her closer in an embrace.

    The blur was Jerry, and in the blink of an eye, he had appeared in front of her, his arms wrapped around her as he pushed himself closer to her.

    ''Ahh¡­'' Ciara''s eyes widend as her face turned pink in response to what had just happened.

    She could smell his scent. She could ehar his heatbeat. She could feel him.

    ¡­ After so long, she could finally feel him!

    "I thought I''d never see you again!" Jerry''s voice suddenly erupted, the emotion in his tone bleeding into Ciara''s ears.

    She could feel him tremble. She could hear his heart racing with every word he leaked out. She could feel his heavy breath envelope her.

    "J-Jerry¡­?"

    "I''ve missed you, Ciara! I¡­ I''ve missed you so much!"

    Ciara was instantly paralyzed.

    Hearing the words of the man she loved and missed so much¡­ filling her ears with so much emotion and desire¡­

    Ciara felt like she was sinking in the depths of her emotions.

    "I¡­" She nearly choked on her words as she felt Jerry sink deeper into her, tightning his grip on her, as if he never wanted to let her slip out.

    ¡­ Never wanted to let her go.

    Ciara could feel it from the depths of her heart¡ªboundless joy that wanted to burst out a millionfold. The smile on her face overcame every ounce of worry and fear, and she felt Jerry''s warmthpletely shroud her.

    She felt protected, safe within his strong,rge arms.

    "I''ve missed you too, Jerry." She finally mumble and melted into his embrace.

    She didn''t want to think about anything more or less.

    Ciara simply wanted to live in this moment. Because right here and now, she could finally feel what she had longed for all along.

    She was finally home.

    ******

    Everyone had just finished recoiling from the shock of seeing Ciara suddenly charge in and go through all her drama with Jerry within seconds, and now they were more than merely curious¡­ they were desperate.

    What in the world was going on right now?

    Why were the ones they desperately sought after now in front of them as if nothing had happened? Also, where were the rest of those who had vanished?

    As soon as thetter became a valid thought, a presence manifested within the room, almost as if it had been there all along.

    "Hello, everyone." The neer''s voice, calm and strong, echoed across through the room, instantly bringing all focus to him.

    His perfectly toned body and tall frame were the first to catch the attention of everyone present, followed by his auburn hair and the scar on his face.

    "It''s been a while, hasn''t it?" He spoke again, and everyone remained silent for the same reason.

    This young man¡­ he had a very powerful presence about him.

    Not only did he appear to be an immense barrier that oozed dominating power, but he was also unrecognizable from his past bulky self.

    "E-Edward?" The one who responded to his greetings first was Lemi, the Half Elf.

    Her eyes were gleaming with so many emotions, but if they could be crystalized into one definition, it would be that of a ''pleasant surprise''.

    Her purple and blue eyes radiated sheer marvel at Edward''s current form¡ªa much morepressed form of the extremely muscr state he had in the past.

    Personally, she preferred the bulky frame, but this form intruiged her. Not only had his muscles gotten even stronger and more denser than before, but the amount of energy she was sensing from him felt unreal.

    Her curiosity and interesting consumed her, almost to the point that she began to drool at the sight of Edward smiling in her direction.

    "I-it has been a while¡­"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I know the story has been progressing slowly, but I really want to establish the first act of this entire thing.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1148 Awkward Tension

    <h4>Chapter 1148 Awkward Tension</h4>

    Edward was in an awkward position.

    All eyes were on him, and yet the one that really made him the most anxious was the piercing gaze of the Half Elf that kept her eyes fixed on his body.

    Even though he had an actual outfit on, Edward felt nakedpletely stripped bare in front of her scrutinizing gaze.

    He felt his heart race at a phenomenal rate, and even though he tried his best not to show it, he felt nervous to the point of perspiring.

    ''Discipline, Edward. As a Martial Artist, you have to discipline your body and mind!'' This mantra kept him sane, and so he maintained his calm facade as he maintained his rigid, unmoving stance.

    "W-whoah, Edward!" Lemi''s voice once again filled his ears as he watched her jump from her position and rush to him in the blink of an eye.

    Within a second, she was right in front of him.

    ''S-she''s too close!''

    As someone who had been celibate all his life, who had abandoned worldly passions so that he could obtain enlightenment, he hadn''t given in to emotions like this in what felt like an eternity.

    No, it was more like he hadn''t felt anything remotely close in a while.

    However, with this Half Elf right in front of him, her eyes sparkling in wonder as she devoured his body with her gaze alone, Edward began to feel his body and mind reacting.

    He could feel something rise within him.

    "You''ve really changed a lot! For real! Look at you!" She went further than simply uttering words this time.

    Her small, soft hands went to his bulging muscles and she began to feel them up with zero restraint.

    "Look at them¡­ so tough! They feel so different from before. Ahh¡­ you''ve really changed a lot, haven''t you?"

    Edward felt like a toy in front of his young woman¡­ like a subject of examination, merely experimented on and dealt with as the researcher pleased. Despite being a human with feelings and a sensitive body, this girl didn''t care about that in the slightest.

    It was like she didn''t see him as a person!

    Anyone one would get upset if they were being treated so disrespectfully.

    But not Edward.

    "Y-you''ve changed too¡­" He managed to finally whisper, trying any other embarassing sound he would make if he was too careless.

    It took all his willpower, but Edward was about to put his body under control, even as Lemi massaged his chest.

    "Ah, you think so?" She finally stopped stroking his body, responding to his earlier assertion.

    "Y-yeah¡­" Edward could only mumble out.

    "Really? Ah, must be my hairstyle. I cut my hair cus it kept getting longer."

    "I-It suits you¡­"

    "..."

    At this point, both Edward and Lemi were silent.

    Only the heavens could tell what was going on in their minds as they stared at each other, and then looked away a split secondter.

    Edward was using his willpower to control hos body''s reaction, so he wasn''t blushing or disying any sort of reaction that could be interpreted as romantic interest.

    As for Lemi, her face was generally the same as well.

    However, when considering the control Elves¡ªspecifically the females¡ªhad over their bodies, it was possible that Lemi was also hiding something from Edward.

    Unfortunately, neither of them disyed any of the swirling emotions within them, hence creating an awkwardly tense atmosphere.

    "M-my dad, your very good friend, just ran off with a woman, can you believe it? He didn''t even bother to look in my direction. Hmmph!" Lemi retracted her hands, folding them sharply as she almost instantly switched gear from being yful to slightly annoyed.

    One could only guess the reason why she was taking this approach now, or why she never really seemed to mind prior to Edward showing up.

    "Well, I apologize on behalf of Jared. He shouldn''t have done that."

    "R-right? What a jerk! You should never treat a woman like that."

    "I''d never treat you like tha¡­t¡­"

    Edward identally slipped, unable to control his words, and seeded in recreating the same awkward atmosphere as just earlier.

    A bead of sweat formed on his face as he looked at Lemi, whose arms were still folded. Her ears seemed to be twitching, but perhaps that was simply due to his imagination.

    She pursed her glossy lips, and then bit them softly as if stopping herself from uttering any word. Edward felt himself pulled into her lips, but the moment he recalled Jared''s face, his body stiffened even more, and he found himself feeling even more awkward.

    ''What should I do now? How should I resolve this? Argh! I''m such an idiot!''

    Why did he have to resort to such a cheesy line? Here was a girl who was telling him about her dad not paying her much attention, yet he managed to make the subject about him.

    As a result, the atmosphere had taken a plunge for the worst¡­ or so he thought.

    "Y-you better not¡­" Lemi whispered, almost as if trying her hardest not to show any emotion in her voice.

    It affected her words so much that Edward couldn''t quite make out what she said.

    "What was that?" He mumbled in curiosity.

    "I said it''s good to have you back. T-that''s all!"

    "O-ohhh¡­ it''s good to be back. I-it''s also good¡­ to see you again¡­"

    For the third time, yet another awkward atmosphere took charge, and the two found themsleves fidgeting like awkward teenagers.

    Perhaps this was the prompt that finally made the silent audience intervene. The exchange between the two had finally be too painful to watch.

    "Could everyone just calm the heck down? You just storm in all of a sudden, with no exnation, and you expect us to watch you all silently? What kind of nonsense is that?" Jane was the first to speak up.

    She flexed her sses, and her furrowed brow contained annoyance mixed with frustration.

    "You all have some exining to do! Edward, Ciara, what in the world happened!"

    Jane''s voice seemed to garner the unanimous support of everyone who had been in the meeting hall prior, though one of the seated ones seemed to be contemting something else.

    "W-well¡­" Edward was dumbstruck by the question.

    It wasn''t like he didn''t have any answers, but he wondered where exactly he ought to start from.

    A lot had happened since they were all teleported away from their homeworld, and there was a lot to reveal. He just wasn''t sure if he was the right person to say all of them.

    "I think it''s¡ª"

    "Where is Neron?" Serah Crimson''s voice interrupted Edward the instant he chose to say anything.

    She was now on her feet, her crimson eyes fixated on Edward.

    "I don''t see him. I don''t sense him anywhere. Where is he?" She asked once more, and this seemed to invite pressure into the room.

    Everyone in the hall was no longer concerned about what had happened, but now considered the same thing their strongest member wanted to know.

    The whereabouts of Serah''s husband.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    How will they tell Serah about Neron''s current well-being, and what will her reaction be to it?

    What will her reaction be?

    I can only imagine.

 Chapter 1149 Evident Changes [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1149 Evident Changes [Pt 1]</h4>

    Awkward silence permeated the meeting hall, a response to the tense question posited by Serah.

    Where was Neron?

    Edward found himself being the center of attention for this question, and he utterly regretted it.

    He nced in Ciara''s direction, and he wasn''t surprised to find her still in Jerry''s embrace, with the both of them acting all lovey-dovey as if they hadn''t seen each other in a hundred years.

    As for his other friends, Jared and Kuzon, they had flown off with their lovers.

    ''When is Aloe going to show up?!'' Edward screamed within himself as he returned to reality and was met with the intense gaze of Serah.

    He had to say something¡­ and fast!

    "W-well, the thing is¡­ I¡­" Edward felt more ufortable as he uttered more sybles, and sweat began to form on his face.

    He surely wasn''t suited for rying such tense news to a crowd of people. Any little mistake would cause problems, and the uncertainty that came with being burdened with such a responsibility made him indecisive.

    "T-the thing is¡ª"

    "You don''t need to stress yourself, Edward." He heard a sweetly familiar voice from behind him, forcing him to instantly turn back to see the neer.

    "Aloe!"

    A bright smile formed on Edward''s face as he took in the sight of the woman who had just appeared in a sh of light. Golden glimmers of illumination shrouded her, though they were already dissipating, and her calm smile was enough to melt the tension that was amok in Edward''s thoughts.

    Stuff like this was more difficult thanbat, so Edward was grateful hisrade had just appeared.

    "I''ll take it from here." Aloe Vida spoke as she took a step forward, thest vestige of her Light Magic fading out

    Very quickly, all the attention that had converged on the bumbling Edward began to move in Aloe''s direction, and her green eyes seemed to absorb all of them without even flinching in the slightest.

    It was only for a moment, but her gaze met Ivan, who looked stunned to see her, though he had a tinge of guilt written on his face. Aloe could only return his darkened expression with a smile as her gaze found someone else.

    Asa, the Beastfolk. He looked much older than when shest saw him. He was at least a young adult, with a very fit body that was a stark contrast to the childlike features she remembered.

    His bright blue eyes seem to glitter when he looked at her, and his broad smile seemed to stretch his face to uneven proportions, but both Aloe and Asa maintained their silence and postponed greetings.

    Now wasn''t the time at all.

    Aloe''s gaze met a few others, and only nods were exchanged instead of actual greetings.

    At this moment, there was a more pressing issue to attend to¡ªno, perhaps two.

    One was the cause for their sudden reemergence, and why they were able to arrive at the moment that they did.

    The second, and perhaps most urgent, was Serah''s inquisition about Neron.

    It now fell on Aloe''sp to provide answers to both questions; to dispense information urately and sinctly in order to bring everyone up to speed since the rest of her colleagues were too ''distracted''.

    "Ahem! I''ll exin everything at length now. Although, since this is quite a long story¡­" Aloe''s eyes scanned the hall onest time, noticing a lot of the people seated were now on their feet, and some had scattered expressions or positions.

    Everyone seemed to be in disarray, and tension ran wild.

    That wouldn''t do.

    "... I think it''s best if everyone has their seats."

    *******

    [MEANWHILE¡­]

    ''She''s different from before¡­''

    As I engaged in the most breathtaking kiss with Maria, feeling her body resting on mine, I couldn''t help but feel this way.

    We were currently flying very high up in the sky. The wind brushed our hair, causing it to dance around us, but none of that mattered as we were both so immersed in each other.

    However, despite that, I couldn''t help noticing everything that had changed.

    ''Her boobs are¡­ bigger. No, it''s not just that. She has a much more mature body.'' My thoughts echoed as I tried to bring them under control.

    It wasn''t just my imagination, but Maria was also taller than I was.

    ''How could this have happened? How long were we away?'' I quickly dismissed the bead of sweat that began to form on my face.

    Just as I was sorting out my thoughts, also doing my best to calm my racing heart, Maria finally disengaged from our kiss, and I was able to get a much clearer view of her face.

    ''Ahh¡­''

    She looked far more beautifulpared to how I remembered her¡ªand that was saying a lot, especially considering the fact that she was a beauty back then.

    Her face currently had more mature features, and she looked very simr to an adult in her twenties than the girl who was barely 16 when I left.

    ''Could it be? No¡­ no way!'' I didn''t want to imagine that possibility, so I shrugged off my thoughts and decided to only focus on the moment before me.

    My moment with Maria.

    "I''ve missed you¡­" I whispered to her, kissing her forehead, and I felt her grip on me tighten. "Haha¡­ don''t worry, I''m not going anywhere. Not anymore."

    "Liar¡­" I heard her whisper, and then watched as she pouted.

    It was so cute that I felt my heart would explode!

    Her blue eyes seemed to peer deep inside my soul, and I could tell that she was really relieved to have me back, and more concerned that I would leave her again.

    That fear¡­ it was so deeply rooted within her that I could feel it myself.

    "Maria¡­ I''ll never leave you. I promise." I decided to fight back the fear with my resolve, hoping¡­ praying it would be enough.

    Fo a moment, silence pervaded the skies where we made our sce, and we only stared at each in that period.

    None of us spoke¡­ and we simply enjoyed ourpany instead.

    Then, Maria copsed her head on my chest and smiled, her white hair dancing all over my cloth. I could feel her different, more mature body once again rubbing on mine, and it just felt like the right moment to ask what had been swirling uncontrobly in my mind for too long.

    "You''ve really changed a lot, Maria¡­"

    "Hm?" Maria raised her head and stared at me, her nk face facing me directly.

    "I-I mean, you''ve grown¡­ a lot. It feels like you''re a lot older than before¡­ is all." I quickly added, fearing that she might have construed some other meaning to my statement.

    Maria, by most standards, was still the same. I mean, she was way openly bolder than before¡ªbut even before I vanished, she had done some really wild things, so I wasn''t too surprised.

    It was mostly her appearance that surprised me.

    "It''s been ten years, Jared. Ten years since you vanished."

    The moment Maria uttered those words, my brain nearly shut down.

    I tried to process all of it, but the only thing that coulde out of my lips after hearing such absurd news was¡­

    "What?!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The truth begins to unfold. How will both sides react to the news from the opposite ends, and what steps will they take to move forward? Let''s find out, shall we?

    Also, for those who are yet to join my Discord¡­ you should.

    More Character Arts can be found over there, you know?

    Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1150 Evident Changes [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1150 Evident Changes [Pt 2]</h4>

    "A lot has happened since you left, Jared¡­"

    Maria''s voice echoed in my head as my brain struggled to process her earlier words to me. The fact that this world had experienced 10 years without us.

    ''That''s insane!'' My mind echoed as multiple emotions overwhelmed me.

    For one, Maria would now be 26 years old, a much different person from the 16-year-old girl I used to know. I had missed out on a lot of time, and a lot was bound to have happened in those years I was away.

    Even then¡­ she had rushed to hug and kiss me.

    It brought me relief that, despite the years that passed, Maria didn''t move on from me.

    It was truly a big relief.

    "W-wow¡­ ten years¡­" I mumbled, slowly beginning to getposed. "You''ve really¡­ held on, huh?"

    It felt really odd for me right now, considering how Maria was biologically much older than I was. She was also taller, and she definitely looked more mature.

    Justparing the both of us at the moment, and anyone would get the picture of awkwardness.

    "It''s no big deal, you know? I mean our age difference¡­" Maria''s words cut through my inner monologue, almost as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.

    Her lull face melted my panicky thoughts, forcing me to grow calmer.

    "You''re still much older than me anyway. If we calcte our real age¡­ you know?" Slowly, her lips curled up to form a smile.

    My eyes widened as I saw this, and my heart began to race uncontrobly.

    "We like each other. We want each other. That''s all that matters now¡­ don''t you think?" Her hands brushed my face, and both her palms firmly rested on my cheeks.

    A cool smile still remained on ger face, and once more¡­ those blue eyes of hers seemed to burrow deep into my soul.

    It felt like deep down, even to the depths of my core, this womanpletely understood me.

    "You''re right¡­" I slowly broke into my own smile, cing both my hands on her cheeks too.

    Our faces drew closer, and my smile grew broader and broader.

    "I''m sorry for being sote. I''ll make it up to you."

    "You promise?" She responded, her tone almost feeling like she was teasing me.

    "I promise."

    "Good. You''re going to spill everything that happened while you were gone too."

    "Haha¡­ it''s quite a long story." I chuckled slightly, a tinge of awkwardness in my tone.

    Perhaps Maria''s cute face when she asked contributed to the awkwardness, but now that I thought of all the things I had been through¡­ it all seemed like a lighthearted dream.

    A dream that had long passed.

    "Well, you''ll tell me all about itter." I nodded upon hearing her words, and to be honest, I was excited to share my life with her.

    "I also want to know what you''ve been up to all this time."

    "Well, that is a long story too," Maria responded, and we both burst outughing at ourselves and each other.

    The heavy burdens in my heart werepletely lifted, and I had never felt such warmth as I did now.

    It felt so¡­ surreal.

    "Enough of that." Maria''s face suddenly transformed into a look of resolve, her stoic face steadily opposite mine.

    "Now kiss me, Jared."

    I was taught to never disrespect my seniors, so¡­ I suppose there was only one proper answer to give to Maria at the moment.

    "Yes, ma''am!"

    Our lips connected once more, and we engaged in a passionate kiss, bonding more than ever before.

    However, as we engaged in this, a question popped into my mind.

    ''I''m biologically 15¡­ and she''s 26¡­''

    Was this really right? Was this wrong? It was something that I had to search very deeply to find out.

    ''It feels right, though¡­''

    And with that, I continued my kiss with Maria.

    *******

    "You idiot! You big idiot! You''re such an enormous idiot!"

    The voice of Anabelle Frederick soared through the air as both her short hands were relentlessly hitting Kuzon''s chest.

    Even though there seemed to be a lot of passion in her loud voice, and her face seemed to depict utmost seriousness, her current actions were as effective as a powerless child hitting a brick wall.

    In essence, not effective at all.

    "You fool! You left for so long, and all you can do is smile now!" Ana''s voice, so thin like that of a baby, felt like music to the ears of the one who heard them.

    Kuzon was smiling smugly as he felt her light blows touch his chest. He enjoyed every beat, feeling the rhythm, and the patterns of her soft strikes.

    "You pervert! You like this, don''t you? Such an¡­ arghhh!" Exasperation seemed to overwhelm Ana as she must have felt powerless when it came to Kuzon.

    No matter what she did, he would consider it cute anyway.

    "You¡­ you¡­ you fool¡­" Tears streamed down her face as she finally copsed on his chest.

    They seemed to be in another part of the world entirely, in a grassy field, without anyone to interrupt them. With the two of them alone, they could finally be free¡­ expressing all the emotions they had locked away for so long.

    "I¡­ I''ve missed you so much¡­." Ana bawled, streams of tears flowing down her face like a river.

    In response to all this, Kuzon simply drew her closer in an embrace and smiled.

    "I know. I missed you too. So, so much."

    His soothing voice soon reced her hups and smiffs. It was magical, a moment simply dedicated to the two of them.

    "It''s been ten years, you fool. Where have you been all this time?" Her voice echoed in the vast field as she buried her face into his chest.

    However, at that moment, something seemed to shift¡ªfor Kuzon, that is.

    "Eh? Ten years?" He suddenly carried Ana by her waist and separated her from his embrace.

    Once he raised her up, like the child she looked like, he looked at her with a serious expression, almost as if peering inside her.

    "W-what are you doing? Stop! Put me down! This feels weird!"

    Kuzon didn''t listen, though.

    He was in deep contemtion, and he couldn''t be concerned about the powerless hits Ana''s little hands gave to his much stronger ones.

    "Pffft! There''s no way I''m believing that." Kuzon smiled nonchntly, finally dropping Ana on the grassy ins, and patting her head in the process.

    "You haven''t grown in the slightest."

    "It''s true! I''m 26 years old now, you know? 26 YEARS OLD!" Even though Ana must have meant to be taken seriously, her childlike body, and thin voice, made it difficult for Kuzon to do so.

    As a result, he ended upughing at her.

    "Haha! Sure you are¡­" Heughed even more, causing Ana''s face to turn red in embarrassment or anger¡ªperhaps even both.

    "You¡­" Ana''s voice suddenly began to change, as it got a lot deeper.

    She clenched her fist tightly, to the point where Kuzon was certain he heard the cracking of bones.

    "You¡­ should have more respect for your senior!" She yelled at the top of her lungs, the entire field trembling as she unleashed her wrath.

    The air seemed to vibrate in response to Ana''s power, and even the skies parted.

    The immense tension permeating the world around them all stemmed from Ana''s words and her outburst of energy.

    And, amid all of this¡­ what did Kuzon do?

    "Pat, pat¡­" Kuzon patted her head some more, smiling as he looked down at her.

    "Don''t worry, little one¡­ I believe you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Which interaction do you enjoy most?

    Jared and Maria

    Or

    Kuzon and Ana

    Write yourments below, and also don''t forget to join the Discord Server.

    Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1151 Loversâ€™ Squabble

    <h4>Chapter 1151 Lovers'' Squabble</h4>

    In all honesty, it was difficult for Kuzon to believe that ten years had passed since he was separated from Ana.

    However, after considering two major factors, he had no choice.

    The first was the fact that Ana was so adamant about it, and she wasn''t one to lie. She also didn''t seem to be teasing him, so that really meant she was currently 26 years old.

    As for the second option¡­

    "You''ve grown by one millimeter. I didn''t notice it before, but now that I look closely¡­ yeah, I see it."

    In essence, her increased height supported that quite some time had passed since theirst encounter.

    The moment Kuzon realized this, he patted Ana''s head and told her the truth.

    "Don''t worry, little one¡­ I believe you."

    He made sure to give his warmest smile as his hand massaged her soft blond hair. They had lost a lot of time, but if they could catch up, Kuzon didn''t see any problems with their rtionship.

    ''I really missed out a lot from your life. I want to know everythi¡ª'' His thoughts were suddenly cut short by searing pain.

    "Ow, ow!"

    Ana had grabbed his hand and was now biting it! Yes, she was biting the had he had just used to pat her.

    "What are you doing? Ow¡­ stop!" Kuzon cried out, a bit of tears in his eyes.

    Even though he had treated her kindly, and he had been so understanding, why was she being so violent? Sure, he still found it cute, but¡­

    "I''m 26 years old, Kuzon. I''m older than you, so show me some respect!" Ana hissed, finally letting go of Kuzon''s hardly bruised hand.

    She confidently ced both hands on her hips, grinning with self-satisfaction as she reveled in her age and superior maturity.

    Now that things had be like this, she was no longer the little one.

    "Pfft! What in the world are you talking about?" Kuzon''s word, however, broke Ana out of her bubble of confidence.

    "Do you know how long I spent with Crazy Neron? Haha¡­ I''m way older than you!"

    "Crazy Neron? Who¡­?"

    "Doesn''t matter. He''s an old man who taught me a couple things. In any case, if we''re to calcte age, I''m at least a thousand years old. HAHAHAHA!"

    Ana''s countenance nearly shattered as she watched Kuzonugh at her, his hands on his waist too. Compared to his much bigger, imposing pose, she seemed to be nothing more than a little child.

    It was enough to make her sniff a little as her shoulders dropped slightly.

    "Okay, okay. How about we make a truce to see each other as equals? Is that better?" Kuzon was still chuckling, but he lifted his hand for a fist bump, a wide smile ying on his face.

    His offer seemed to do the trick for Ana, as she readily raised her hand to reach his.

    The contrast between both their limbs, how one was much bigger and tougher than the other, made their fist bump appear all the more genuine.

    They both stared at each other in silence for a while, and then broke into wide smiles.

    Sure, their method of interaction was¡­ odd, to say the least, but they understood each other. And in the end, wasn''t that all that mattered?

    "I''m surprised you''ve still not asked me about mmy adventures after I got teleported away. I could have sworn that curiosity would be eating you up on the inside." Kuzon finally broke the silence by going on a tangent.

    "Well, I guess I''ve grown up." Ana grinned in response.

    "Sure, you do¡­" Kuzon could only reply sarcastically as he found himself rolling his eyes.

    "I''m serious! I don''t want to know about your ''crazy'' adventures, at least not yet. Let''s enjoy this moment a little more."

    As soon as Ana said that, she lunged at Kuzon, wrapping her arms around him to the point where her body squeezed on his.

    Kuzon didn''t mind this at all.

    "I was thinking the same thing." He smiled, remembering how long he had waited¡­ how many times he had dreamt of this very moment.

    The chance to finally feel Ana''s t chest on him.

    Kuzon closed his eyes and let the experience take full control of him, smiling in satisfaction as everything that had happened to him until now faded into obscurity.

    Right now, only the two of them mattered.

    "Hey¡­ just so you know¡­" Ana''s lips moved close to his ears and began to whisper words to him. "... After this is all over, you''ll tell me every single detail of your adventures¡­"

    It was probably just his imagination, but Kuzon felt a somewhat heavy atmosphere taking over.

    "... Including the girl you spent so much time with, and why you reek of her aura."

    "Eh?"

    Kuzon''s body suddenly grew rigid as his memories traveled back to his time in the Lost Worlds. He remembered just how much time he had spent with his femalepanion.

    ''She can sense Maya on me?!'' Beads of sweat began to appear all over his face as he carefully pondered on his next words.

    However, even after Maya, he had hung out with other girls in his other voyages. Whether it was the Hunters Association, or the Grand Federation Academy, or the Demons in Edward''s Dimension.

    The list grew more and more as Kuzon thought ore about it.

    ''But I did nothing wrong! I''m innocent!'' This sole conviction stopped him from gulping hard or overreacting.

    Perhaps he would have a stronger card if he could sense the aura of a guy on Ana, but the strongest sensation he got from her were auras of metal and minerals.

    Kuzon felt a little worried about her social life.

    In the end, Kuzon knew he had to speak up before his silence became suspicious. After carefully picking out his words, he finally spoke.

    "Which girl are you referring to?"

    Ana instantly furrowed her brow, and she made sure Kuzon saw her as she looked him straight in the eye.

    "There''s no use lying to me, you know?"

    "Ah, I guess I need to rephrase my question¡­" Kuzon mumbled to himself, straining a smile as he looked straight into Ana''s eyes.

    "... Which ''particr'' girl are you referring to?"

    Upon hearing this, Ana''s eyebrows began to twitch, and Kuzon''s lips curled upwards. He seemed to be holding inughter, most likely due to how funny Ana''s scowl looked to him.

    "I''ll kill you¡­"

    "No you won''t."

    "I''LL KILL YOUUUUU!"

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHH!~

    Kuzon swiftly dislodged from Ana''s embrace the moment she wanted to crush him, and sped off into the sky.

    Ana shrouded herself in energy and instantly chased after Kuzon as her eyes were alit with passionate fury.

    "Come back here, Kuzon!"

    "Noooooo!"

    "Exin yourself now!"

    "Neverrrr!"

    They danced in the sky, ying a game of tag, with both sides knowing exactly what was at stake if they lost.

    To be honest, Kuzon really had nothing to hide, and Ana also knew that on a fundamental level.

    Still, they engaged in these childish squabbles.

    All for one reason¡­

    It was FUN.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I can''t believe I spent an entire chapter on these two. It feels like a filler chapter, but I genuinely had fun writing it.

    Thanks for reading!

    Join my Discord: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1152 Call Of Duty [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1152 Call Of Duty [Pt 1]</h4>

    ''Looks like it''s time to get serious.''

    I was currently standing within therge meeting hall, facing the seated and standing members of the board. Kuzon, Aloe, Ciara, and Edward were behind me, and everyone else was looking at us from an audience perspective.

    ording to Aloe''s short message to me, she had already briefed everyone on what happened to us¡ªhow we got separated to different worlds, how we found one another, and how we were able to return to this reality.

    She had done all of this while the rest of us were too upied to take on the role.

    For that alone, I was most grateful.

    ''However, now it''s time for me to take charge once again¡­'' It seemed a little awkward since, biologically speaking, I was the youngest in the room.

    Even Asa that was just a kid when Ist saw him was now an adult, older than me by a few years.

    However, despite the age gap and internal awkwardness I felt, I was still met with the respectful expression of my audience.

    Perhaps, even to the most fundamental level, they knew that my age meant nothing.

    It also helped that I was the leader of the Alliance.

    As such, it was time for me to take on my mantle and speak to the eager ears awaiting my address.

    "As you are all aware, our opponent is Legris Damien. He is the architect of our current situation, and also someone who needs to be stopped before he attains his goals." I began, my voice calm and steady.

    "I have devised a n to take him down for good. It''s still uncertain where he currently is, but I have a good idea about what he wants, which will inevitably trante to his goals. If we can understand his desires, we should be able to predict his behaviour and destination, thus tracking him down."

    For a moment, silence pervaded the hall. I could tell everyone was absorbing the contents of everything I had just said. The current ns we were making had the highest scale in terms of implication and danger.

    "What exactly does Legris want?" Someone finally raised a question.

    It was Beruel. His concerned eyes met mine, and I could tell that he was among those who felt this threat the most. As somene who had worked with Legris in the same Nether Cult, he must have felt something was off about Legris too.

    Now that things had unraveled to this extent, Beruel¡ªand pretty much the rest of us¡ªcould now feel the extent of his threat.

    "I can only chalk it up to one thing: POWER."

    Everything he had done thus far, all the calctions I had made, everything I spoke to Neron about, and the deliberations made internally¡­ everything led me to that conclusion.

    "I have no idea to what end he desires this power, but it can''t be good."

    Legris was a man who would do anything to achieve his goals. He was a nuisance for Neron, just as he was a nuisance to me. Extremely intelligent, crafty, and covert.

    "That slimy bastard has to be stopped once and for all." I dered, and based on the expressions of my audience, they agreed with me.

    "How do you n on tracking him down, though? We have had no luck these ten years." Jane spoke this time, her tone cautious as it was intrigued.

    She probably thought I had devised an exceptional means or Magic Technology to achieve that goal.

    Well, she was wrong.

    "I reckon Legris will target locations with high concentrations of power, and by mapping out irregr patterns, or areas where detection fails, we can narrow down the range a little." I would require Jane''s assistance for this, or perhaps Ana.

    I was sure they had detection devices, but now that we understood Legris'' goals, we could specialize the equipment to function the way we desired.

    Hence, a more effective means of targeting Legris.

    "We shouldn''t overlook Ciel. She was Legris. I never thought those two would team up¡­" Beruel spoke up once more, stroking his chin slightly.

    Of course, I hadn''t forgotten about Ciel.

    "She most likely desires the return of the Nether. That''s probably the reason she partnered up with Legris. That further proves my conclusion that Legris is after power." I responded to Beruel, and then proceeded to address everyone generally.

    "The fact that the Nether hasn''t been brought back yet means one of two things. Either Legris doesn''t have enough power to bring the Nether back, or Ciel believes he doesn''t yet possess enough power to do so."

    The first possibility relied on Legris'' current weakness, and how Neron had shaved off a considerable amount of his power, while the second relied on Legris'' sly nature and how unpredictable he could be.

    "I doubt thetter is usible, all things considered, so I submit that the former is more likely."

    Legris didn''t have enough power to free the Nether. As long as that remained a factor, Ciel would apany him and they would work together until he was able to bring that horrid entity into existence.

    ''The fact that he''s willing to go that far means he doesn''t care about what happens to existence. That means his goals are¡­ argh, Legris, what could you be up to?''

    The more I thought about it¡­ about him¡­ the more his goals seemed too absurd.

    "In any case, he could be using Ciel for her abilities, and then dispose of her once her use has expired. We should also consider a possibility that he has enough power to bring the Nether into existence, just so we''re not caught off guard."

    Everyone nodded at my words, and I nodded back.

    "As you are all aware, Neron swapped out our world with a simr one. This was done to protect us from Legris, which means Legris''st known location has to be the replica world that Neron swapped ours with."

    Of course, there was no guarantee he would still be there since he had [The World].

    Still, since that would be hisst known location, it was a good idea to begin our search from that empty world and work our way around from there.

    "As such, I will require an elite team to apany me¡­ so we can track Legris Damien and defeat him, once and for all."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The curtains slowly rise as we draw nearer to the intense struggle to find and stop the malefactor.

    Thanks for reading.

    Join my Discord for more Character Arts and interaction.

    Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1153 Call Of Duty [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1153 Call Of Duty [Pt 2]</h4>

    "Not everyone in this room will be able to participate in this mission."

    When considering the stakes involved, and the proportion of the threat we had to face, only the most capable could even be considered, talkless of selected.

    Everyone who was present in the hall was capable, especially in their area of expertise. That was why they were here, in the first ce.

    However, we had to thin out our numbers.

    ''Thus, I require an elite team.''

    "I guess I should count myself out, then." A voice from the audience suddenly rang out.

    I had expected some level of hesitation and silence before I proceeded to select the ones I would need for the mission, so it surprised me when I heard someone throw in the towel very early on in the game.

    ncing in the direction of the voice''s origin, I saw Elrich Lendertwale raising his hand as he gave a resignated smile.

    "I know my limits. I might be a Grand Mage of the Eastern Kingdom, but I''m too weak for something of this scale." He sighed.

    Elrich''s honesty with himself, and the rest of us, made me leak out a smile in respect. That made one less person I had to consider among the audience before me.

    ''Now, what of the rest¡­''

    As my thoughts trailed, I saw another hand raised, and it belonged to Dulum, the Dwarf Chief. He had an awkward air around himself, and his stout physique seemed to puff up due to the flushed expression he had on his face.

    "I guess I''m out too. I''m not suited for this kind of stuff."

    It seemed Elrich''s actions had inspired someone else to make a choice and take themselves off the board. The way things were going, it wouldn''t be surprising if more people removed themselves from the potential list.

    ''That''ll mean less work for me, so let''s see¡­'' I nodded at Dulum, appreciating his decision as I stared at everyone else.

    "Well, I''m not leaving the team. I rmend myself to join this elite force. I believe I''m strong enough!" The gruff voice of the Beast King echoed within the meeting hall.

    I suppressed my sigh as I stared at Gerard, who was grinning widely.

    ''He seems fairly confident. He''s definitely grown iparably stronger than before¡­''

    I noticed his gaze inconspicously going in Serah''s direction, and I instantly understood why he was so forward with his proposal.

    ''Is he trying to impress Serah? I guess he must think he has a shot now that Neron isn''t around.'' I suppressed myughter and maintained a calm expression.

    His desperation was hrious, but I couldn''t deny his strength. He would make a good addition to the team, but for now he was simply going to remain a potential candidate.

    "I also wish to assist." Z''ark, the Dragon King, voiced out in his deep and aged tone.

    The moment he did so, I noticed Gerard giving him a re, and he returned it too. For some reason, it seemed they had an air of enmity between them.

    ''Did I miss something? When did this rivalry start?''

    In any case, about Z''ark''s potential as a member of the team, he was incredibly powerful too. His Original Magic had to do with mass, so it would certainly be useful.

    ''If I can use this chance to learn it too¡­ it''s not a bad idea.''

    Still, just as with Gerard, I could only chalk him up as a potential candidate.

    Asa and the other one of the Beast King''s entourage threw in the towel, and so did the Dragon King''s aides. That meant four more individuals in the room had forfeited being considered into the team.

    ''I wasn''t going to ept any of them anyway. Asa has a lot of potential, but with Gerard already here, it''s fine¡­''

    His ability to blend in so seamlessly with the world, bing as good as nonexistent, had intruiged me in the past, but I was now able to replicate it, so it wasn''t as amazing as before. Plus, back then I didn''t understand how Nether worked.

    I knew about it now.

    ''He''s still inexperienced, so it''s best he sits this one out.''

    My gaze rested on the remaining people in the room.

    "I want to join in on this mission." Aurora Vindiel spoke up in a pristine tone, raising her hand gently.

    She received noints from me. As the Elf Queen, she was more than capable of being a useful addition to the team.

    "M-me too!" Lemi spoke up from behind her, and I could see determination etched in her eyes.

    I smiled almost instantly.

    ''What''s this, Lemi? Want to impress your old man with your growth?'' I found that quite endearing.

    From where I stood, I could see how much she had grownpared to thest time we interacted. I was sure she could now control her power better, and with her intelligence, I was sure she had figured out other methods in which to utilize her power.

    I found myself most excited about her than the other entries, even though she was probably the weakest.

    ''I also want to see what you can do now, Lemi.''

    "Count me in too!"

    "Me as well."

    Ana and Maria respecively echoed out their thought, and I had no problems with it. They were both powerful, plus there was no way I could possibly say no to them.

    "I¡­ I want to join as well!" The next person that spoke surprised even me.

    I wasn''t expecting Jerry to dere his intentions of joining despite the caliber of people I had expressly asked for.

    He had a fiery passion in his eyes, one that desired to join above all else. I knew he understood his current level of strength, and how that disqualified him, yet¡­ what was with this determination he was oozing out?

    Regardless, I had to tell him the truth.

    "Jerry, you¡ª"

    "You''re too weak, Jerry!" Ciara''s voice ovepped with mine, and before long, she overshadowed my words.

    Her harsh words echoed across the hall, and I was once again reminded of how harsh Ciara could be.

    "You should just stay behind."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading.

    What do you think? Should Jerry tag along or not?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1154 The Candidate Roster

    <h4>Chapter 1154 The Candidate Roster</h4>

    Jerry appeared conflicted.

    From his demeanor alone, I could tell that he felt immensely guilty for uttering his intentions to join us despite his obvious limitations.

    Jerry wasn''t a genius by any means, and while he was far more powerful than an average Mage, he was still leagues behind those with pure talent and skills to make the cut.

    He wouldn''t even make the list of potential candidates, and he was well aware of that fact.

    Yet¡­ why was he so adamant?

    "I know I''m not as strong as the rest of you, but¡­ I''m not weak by any means!" His gaze was directed at Ciara in particr, and I noticed her tremble slightly.

    The fiery determination in his eyes also caught my interest, but that wasn''t enough for me to consider him.

    "Please¡­ let me join. The moment I be a burden, you can send me back!" Jerry pleaded once more.

    It had to have taken a lot of courage to speak up despite the hall being filled with people his senior¡ªboth in age and power.

    ''Well, since that''s the case¡­'' I was still skeptical about Jerry joining, but I couldn''t ignore his confidence and determination.

    I had to give him a chance too.

    "Fine, Jerry. You''ll be considered a potential candidate as well." I sighed, noticing how he smiled brightly the moment he heard those words.

    I took a moment to check out Ciara''s reaction, and it seemed she was still doubtful concerning Jerry''s performance. I didn''t know what those two had discussed while I was with Maria, but it didn''t seem like they had fully settled the drama between each other.

    ''Well, I better stay out of it.'' With that thought in mind, I nced at Ivan and smiled.

    "How about you? Want to take the same chance as Jerry?"

    Ivan Smith was a tier lower than Jerry in terms of abilities, though they were very simr in many respects. Ivan was also someone who had tempered himself and his skills, but even then¡­ people had their limits

    I was curious about what decision he would make after seeing Jerry. Would he be inspired, or¡­?

    "I''m going to sit this one out." He shrugged somewhat nonchntly.

    That surprised me a little, considering the kind of hotheaded person Ivan was, and how much he valued a good challenge.

    "I want to be like Jerry and confidently assert my strength, but I know myself well enough. Rather than be a burden to everyone, I''d rather train more and better myself." Ivan concluded.

    The strong expression in his eyes told me he meant every word. He wasn''t scared for himself, or about facing an overwhelming foe.

    No, he was more concerned about his allies.

    His eyes told me one thing: "I''d rather die than burden my friends."

    It was a respectable position to have, and I respected it. Nodding and smiling at Ivan, I took note of his withdrawal and concluded that the path he took was a brave one as well.

    King Albion was already disqualified due to his weakness, and after sorting out the potential members of the team, I was left with a good number of names:

    Kuzon, Edward, Aloe, Ciara, Serah, Maria, Ana, Aurora, Lemi, Jerry, Z''ark, Beruel, Gerard, and me.

    I then turned my attention to the only one who was yet to make any statement about whether she would be joining or withdrawing¡ªJane.

    "Won''t you be joining us?" A small smile formed as I teasingly spoke those words.

    Perhaps she was waiting for me to ask her, or¡ª

    "I''ll have to decline." She didn''t even skip a beat before responding, flexing her sses as she spoke.

    "Eh?"

    "I have important work I''m doing here, so I''d rather focus on that. Plus, it seems you already have a pretty capable crew."

    Something about Jane''s tone felt distant, and while I couldn''t quite ce what it was¡­ her response struck me as odd.

    ''She isn''t the strongest among us, but Jane is incredibly powerful too. Especially her Soul Magic.''

    Still, if she felt she wasn''t up for the task, then that was fine.

    ''Or is it?'' Jane would never give up an adventure due to simply being busy.

    She wasn''t called The Mad Witch for nothing. If she had an opportunity to explore more of the world and understand more about Magic, she would take her chances with such an adventure.

    For her to pass off one such chance due to being upied¡­ it felt strange.

    ''Now isn''t the time to think about that, Jared. Ten years have passed. I can''t assume things like that. Plus, there are more important things to worry about.''

    Not having Jane on our team wouldn''t prove too detrimental, so I didn''t have to push the issue.

    "It looks like thirteen people are candidates. Adding me to the mix makes us fourteen."

    If it wasn''t obvious already, everyone who got sent away by Legris was automatically a member of the team. My rationale behind that was not only due to how much they had grown in their respective adventures, but also the potential they had against Legris.

    ''The fact that he teleported them first before the others¡­ that shows that they''re threats to him.''

    It also helped that we had all grown stronger in our journey across the Aether Branches.

    "It seems there''s a final issue to address, which is the Hive that Jane has discovered using the data you have all actively collected over the years."

    I didn''t know the details, but Maria had briefed me about it a little, and I alsomunicated a little with Jane¡ªtelepathically, of course¡ªto find out more.

    ording to the information they had, all the Nether in this world had converged to form a final stronghold of darkness.

    Many would look at the Hive and think of it as a threat, but I simply saw it as an opportunity.

    "What better way can you prove your worth for the mission than that?" My grin widened, almost to the point of looking sinister.

    Our opponent was an entity that defied exnation. The bare minimum was for our team to be able to eliminate leftover scraps of Nether.

    ''It should make for a good test.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The members have been selected.

    What do you think about the list? Is anyone you don''t want there? Was there someone you wanted there?

    Also, do you think they''ll all make the cut?

    I''d like to hear your thoughts.

    Also, if you''re yet to join the Discord¡­ here you go.

    Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1155 Celebration

    ?

    [The Next Day]

    Once the meeting was over the previous day, and everyone was meant to go their separate ways to prepare for the arduous journey ahead, there was one more thing that had to happen.

    It was an inevitable event that had much significance to the present.

    A Grand Party!

    Throwing aside the severity of the threat hanging upon them, the reality of the world''s heroes returning after ten years was toorge to ignore.

    It called for a massive celebration.

    The celebration was so grand that everyone from all the nations gathered in the site where the tragedy had urred in the first ce¡ªAinrk Academy.

    Just as with Neron''s wedding, the party weed a crowd of people, and the liveliness peaked beyond the Eastern Kingdom''s borders.

    The guests poured in, and the hosts were also enjoying themselves on this joyous asion.

    Friends and allies were able to meet up and see each other after so long. Members of different families were able to greet one another in good faith.

    All in all, it was a bastion of happiness and excitement.

    While a few had the reasonable apprehension of fear, considering what happened during thest big party that was thrown, that didn''t stop them from having as much fun as they could.

    Perhaps it was due to my assuring words, or the absence of the malefactor that struck thest time. Or perhaps¡­ they no longer had a care in the world.

    After ten years of dread and a desperate attempt to bring back their loved ones, perhaps the people simply wanted to revel in their victories and forget everything else.

    And so they did.

    Even though I could recognize a lot of faces in the party, I was too upied with my fair share of issues, namely my parents and grandfather.

    No, more like my entire family¡ªaunts, uncles, and cousins too.

    They absorbed all of my attention, and the worst part was¡­ I didn''t even know who most of them were!

    So many others wanted to talk to me, but as someone whose family had not seen in ten whole years, I was hoarded by them¡ªmy mother, especially.

    The only exception to this was, of course, meeting the Helmsworth Household.

    I had kept them waiting for ten years, so I had to pay my respects to the Duke and Duchess, Maria''s parents.

    In all honesty, they were the same as before¡ªstoic and calm.

    I had already gotten used to their demeanor, so I was not on edge when we spoke. We exchanged pleasantries, and they reminded me that they were still waiting.

    "I will not disappoint," Was all I could say in response, and my genuine smile should have been enough to tell them of my sincerity.

    The party was a bit overwhelming for me, and it forced me to forget about the multiple worries that swept through my mind¡ªalbeit temporarily.

    Despite all the hustle and bustle, though, I couldn''t help but consider how everyone else was faring.

    I certainly hoped they were having fun too.

    After all, this¡­ all of this¡­ wasn''t going tost for much longer.

    ********

    "Why did you do it?"

    The party had reached its climax, but despite the loud noises of the crowd, and the dancing pervading the entire expanse that upied the celebration, two people currently stood side by side in near silence.

    The atmosphere was a mix of awkwardness and tension, and if the girl among the two hadn''t spoken up, they might have remained quiet for the entire duration of their time together.

    "Why did I do what?" The auburn-haired boy turned to the brte, his eyes glowing with sincerity.

    His name was Jerry Keller, and the girl beside him was Ciara. They had been childhood friends for as long as he could remember, but the tension currently enveloping them was not reminiscent of friendship at all.

    It felt distant¡­ almost as if they were strangers.

    "Don''t y dumb! Why did you rmend yourself for the mission?" Ciara''s voice finally peaked as she returned Jerry''s sincere gaze with a tearful re.

    "Ah¡­ is that why you''re upset with me?"

    "I''m not upset, you idiot! I''m worried! What if you get hurt during this mission? What if something worse happens to you?" She responded back, leaving no time to breathe.

    Jerry couldn''t have known this, but Ciara remembered how her doppelganger had lost her Jerry. That heartbreaking experience was something she didn''t ever want for herself.

    Yet, here Jerry was¡­ throwing himself into the biggest danger they had ever faced.

    "W-what if¡­ something irreversible happens to you? I don''t know what I''ll do if I lose you!" Ciara''s voice trembled as she released raw emotions, staring deep into Jerry''s eyes.

    Her lips quivered, and tears oozed down her eyes, trailing down her cheeks. She probably couldn''t word her thoughts well, but these questions said it all.

    She simply didn''t want to lose Jerry¡ªnot after losing him once before.

    "What if you get hurt?" Jerry''s sudden voice interrupted her myriad of worrying thoughts, causing Ciara''s eyes to widen at the question.

    "W-what are you¡­?!"

    "What if something irreversible happens to you?" Jerry moved closer as he asked his second question.

    The awkwardness slowly began to dissipate, leaving only tension amid the two.

    "Just as you worry about me, I worry about you too¡­" His words trailed, but his honest gaze remained fixed on the trembling Ciara.

    "I-I can take care of myself! I''m strong enough! But you¡­ you''re¡ª!"

    Before Ciara could conclude her statement, Jerry drew closer to her and pulled her into an embrace with him, hisrger build swallowing her small physique whole.

    "I know I''m weak. I know you''re strong. But¡­ that doesn''t stop this burning sensation in my heart." His whispers felt like the soothing winds, blowing away dandelions in the warmth of spring.

    "This yearning within me won''t vanish. These echoes in my heart won''t dissipate. What should I do, Ciara?"

    Hearing her name y out of his lips, and feeling his tenderness was enough to shatter the rest of Ciara''s defenses.

    "I just want to protect you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    A-ahem! It seems this ship is finally going somewhere.

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

    I know there isn''t any proper action yet, but I genuinely am enjoying myself seeing these characters interact so well.

    I don''t know if I''m the only one feeling it¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1156 Saying The Words

    Ciara could feel her heart racing as she rested her face in Jerry''s chest.

    His strong masculine scent increased her thumping heartbeat, and yet she also felt a form of safety in his embrace.

    She felt shrouded by something strong and firm. Despite Jerry being far weaker than she was, and despite all the loss he had suffered in her presence, she had never felt so safe.

    And hearing him utter those words¡­

    "I just want to protect you."

    ¡­ Ciara felt her cheeks burn up, and her lips unconsciously formed a soft smile.

    Why did she like hearing him say such things to her?

    Why did her body instantly turn to jelly the moment those words graced her ears?

    How could someone weaker than her even muster the courage to utter such a statement?

    And finally¡­ how could she feel so much from those simple words?

    These mysteries were encapsted in three words, and Ciara knew them. She had known them for so long, but somehow she had been unable to voice them out.

    ¡­ At least, until now.

    "J-Jerry, I¡ª"

    "I love you, Ciara." Jerry''s words cut her off before she could conclude her confession.

    His calm, confident tone caused Ciara''s entire body to shudder as his words yed over and over in her head.

    "W-what..?"

    She felt like she was going to turn insane due to how overwhelming it was for her to hear something she had waited her whole life to witness.

    "I said I love you, Ciara." Jerry''s words came once again, and she slowly felt him pull away from her.

    ''No¡­ not yet!''

    She didn''t want him to stop hugging her.

    She didn''t want to stop resting on his broad chest.

    She certainly didn''t want to stop listening to the melody of his racing heartbeat.

    However, Ciara was too weak to resist his pull and push. She could only flow wherever her heart went, and right now¡­ Jerry held it in his palm.

    With their bodies now apart, Jerry''s handsome face now became evident to Ciara, and so did the genuineness of his confession. His soft smile, his pretty eyes¡­ everything about him added so much intensity to his confession that Ciara felt her heart might explode.

    Looking at his face after hearing how he felt about her made her feel like she would copse under the weight of her own feelings.

    They devoured her from the inside¡­ until she had no choice but to open her lips and set them free.

    Those three words she had kept for years¡­

    "I-I love you, Jerry! I love you too!"

    Her heart felt liberated the moment she released her inner outcry. Her tears dried almost instantly, and her glossy lips slowly formed a smile.

    She stared into his eyes, and he stared back. She could see hints of surprise on his face, most likely due to her confession, but none of that mattered now.

    The most important thing was that she had said it! She finally did it!

    ''What now? What will happen now? What will you do now?!'' Ciara didn''t know, and that brought her both excitement and fear.

    The ball was in Jerry''s court, and her heart raced, waiting for him to do something¡­ ANYTHING!

    ¡­ And he did.

    Swiftly moving his face, letting the wind carry his hair backward, Jerry sent his lips crashing on Ciara''s. Her lips were already waiting for him, and as they locked onto each other, the two held onto each other''s faces and kissed passionately.

    The climax of their time together.

    What had started out as an awkward, tense moment had now escted into one of pure passion and love.

    Jerry''s hands rested on Ciara''s, encapsting them into his as he kissed her even deeper than before.

    The connection they had established was transcendental.

    It felt beyond the bounds of anything that existed¡­ birthing something inexplicably powerful.

    Something no one could know.

    Not yet.

    And then, once they finally ceased their kiss and looked each other in the eye, they were already tightly holding each other''s hands.

    "After living ten years without you, I realized it¡­ how much you mean to me, Ciara¡­"

    It wasn''t up to ten years for her, but Ciara definitely couldn''t live without him either.

    Hearing that he felt the same brought an infinite amount of joy to Ciara¡ªone that could not be defined.

    "I¡­ don''t ever want to let you go." Their faces drew closer once more, like mas unable to resist each other.

    The noise and music of the party in the backdrop became nothing more than a blur. The universe¡­ all of existence seemed to vanish.

    Only these two existed in each other''s eyes.

    "Me too, Jerry." Ciara finally spoke up, and they resumed their kiss,pletely consumed in their love.

    Their undying love.

    ''Me too¡­''

    *********

    Two people were currently walking side by side, their faces filled with smiles and asionalughs as they conversed.

    The party was a short distance behind them, but they seemed to be increasing that distance with their current walk.

    On one side was Aloe Vida, and on the other was Maro Smith.

    Nothing akin to awkwardness seemed to be present in their discourse, and their faces clearly depicted enjoyment. They were certainly having fun.

    However¡­

    "I can''t believe that happened. Haha! A lot really urred during those ten years, huh?" Aloeughed hard as she looked at Maro''s chuckling face.

    "Yeah¡­ a lot happened." His voice trailed a little, but he still had some chuckles left before finally falling silent.

    After those words, none of the two spoke for about a minute.

    They also stopped walking.

    Instead, they gazed up at the sky, watching its magnificent beauty with smiles etched on their faces. It was a solemn sight, one that encapsted both beauty and mncholy.

    "Indeed. You even got married¡­ and you have kids now too." Aloe''s lips formed a smile as the stars were reflected in her eyes.

    "So much has changed."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Well, this chapter certainly took a lot out of me.

    Emotions have always been¡­ well problematic for me, so I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

    I certainly did!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1157 Growing Up And Apart

    <h4>Chapter 1157 Growing Up And Apart</h4>

    Aloe and Maro had always had something of an odd rtionship.

    It started off as simply being allies, fighting for the same cause. However, after they were paired together, they slowly began to realize their chemistry together.

    However, none of them acted on it¡ªnot really.

    Perhaps if they had been given enough time, something more could have blossomed from their rtionship.

    However, after the wedding, everything began to fall out of ce.

    The chemistry they felt was unable to mature any further.

    In her voyage within the Aether Branches, Aloe was able to discover more about herself and what she wanted, and within those ten years, Maro got married and had two children.

    Their separation forever altered their paths, dissipating the embers of chemistry they had experienced.

    "It wasn''t all bad, though. I had a wonderful time with you." Aloe smiled, making a light shrug as she turned to Maro for one final nce.

    "Yeah. I had fun too."

    These two never properly kissed, or went on a date, or anything of the sort. Perhaps it was a good thing they never explored their feelings any further.

    "To be honest, I don''t feel like getting into any rtionship currently¡­" Aloe leaked out her thoughts as she stared at the night sky above her.

    "Oh? Any reason why?"

    "I''m not sure. I suppose I''m young and I have a lot of other things I want to explore. I''d like to focus on that for now." Aloe responded, her mind a distant blur.

    "I see. Well, it''s probably for the best. Take it from a happily married man, taking care of kids can be a hassle sometimes."

    "Pfft! You don''t say¡­"

    "For real! They''re so troublesome! More troublesome than anything I''ve ever ventured into. And they''re fragile too¡­ ahh, such a hassle, I tell you."

    Aloe''s smile widened as she heard those words.

    "But¡­?" She added, raising her brows.

    "But they''re amazing nheless. It''s amazing how much they''ve grown already¡­ and how much happiness an fulfillment they give me."

    "Yeah¡­ maybe I''ll have a family one day. Maybe not." Aloe shrugged. "I just want to focus on myself for now, I guess."

    Maro could only nod in response to her words.

    "That''s valid too."

    Once more, silence reigned among the two.

    They simply sat and enjoyed the night view as friends¡ªnothing more, nothing less.

    *******

    "Haa¡­"

    Aloe Vida was currently alone, staring at the night skies alone.

    Maro had run off a while back after getting a message from his wife about his kids. He had to help her with them, so he left.

    Aloe didn''t feel particrly bad about being by herself. She even felt worse for Maro, having so much responsibility on his shoulders.

    At the moment, all she wanted was to be as free as she could be.

    Perhaps she would get her wish eventually.

    "Miss Aloe!" A sudden voice echoed from the distance, instantly catching Aloe''s attention.

    Her eyes popped wide open, and so she ceased her lying position, sitting upright to look in the direction of the voice calling out for her.

    "A-ah, you¡­" Aloe''s eyes widened as she recognized the young man running in her direction.

    "... Asa?"

    That''s right! Nearing her position was the Beastfolk shest knew as a child, who had now be an adult physically on par with¡ªif not superior¡ªto most adults.

    Ten years were enough to change someone, and while people like Maro looked somewhat different than the way they appeared in the past, no one looked more different than Asa.

    He was over six feet tall, with a muscr build and manly features that put most men to shame.

    He had his long blue hair trailing behind him, donning an open ck jacket with nothing else underneath. As a result, his bare chest and abs showed on his well-toned skin.

    Asa also had nice shorts on, giving his legs the chance to disy their mature state. Sandals graced his feet, and overall, he was wearing a casual outfit¡ªnormal, when considering this was a party.

    "What are you doing all the way here? I''ve been looking for you everywhere?" Asa smiled brightly as he finally closed the distance between him and Aloe.

    ''Oh really?'' Aloe already knew he was lying.

    Someone with Aloe''s superior senses would have been able to sense her location, so there was no way he had been looking for her everywhere.

    Still, this was merely a small detail, so she overlooked it.

    "Well, I guess I just wanted some fresh air." She responded gently.

    For a few seconds, Asa did not say anything. Instead, he stared at her almost curiously, before finally exhaling lightly.

    "Is that so?" He took a seat beside her and smiled.

    "Yep."

    "Well, I get it. It can get a bit overwhelming at parties¡­"

    It seemed Asa understood how she felt, and she chalked it up to be based on his personal experience.

    ''He really has grown up¡­'' Stealing a close nce at him, she once again noticed his manly features, and it seemed unreal to her how a mere child had now be like this.

    Even his tone and manner of speech had greatly changed.

    "You''ve changed a lot, you know? It''s impressive."

    "You really think so?" Asa''s smile widened further, and Aloe nodded instantly.

    Surely he could see how much he had changed as well.

    "Does that mean¡­ you no longer see me as a kid?" The moment that question greeted her ears, Aloe became speechless.

    Then¡­ a little confused.

    "What do you mean by that?"

    "I mean, you no longer see me as the kid Asa from back then¡­ right?" His question struck her once more, and Aloe genuinely did not know what to think about it.

    What was he trying to imply?

    And perhaps more importantly¡­ what was she supposed to say in response?

    "Miss Aloe, I have feelings for you. I know this is all sudden, but I genuinely feel this way."

    The expression Aloe saw on Asa''s face told her he was dead serious. It made her heart sink almost as much as it skipped a beat.

    "Please go out with me!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What now? I wonder¡­ haha!

    Thanks for reading.

    What are your thoughts on these recent developments?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1158 A Mans Perspective

    Asa''s heart was racing faster than it had in several years as he stood in front of Aloe Vida.

    His face reflected tension, and the muscles in his body grew rigid as a result of the confession of love he had just made to the woman before him.

    ''D-did I say it well? She isn''t saying anything, though¡­''

    As a Beastfolk, Asa''s senses were several times higher than a human. He could feel everything with more intensity and with more uracy.

    That served as a benefit, but also a challenge in situations like this.

    He fought back the sweat that began to form as a result of his nervousness, and gulped down the saliva that slowly coalesced in his throat.

    The silence was killing him, and he was doing his best to hang tight.

    "How long?" Finally, Aloe finally cut through the silence with her words.

    Hearing her voice caused his heart to skip a beat, but he made sure to maintain a calm demeanor¡ªat least, as well as he could manage.

    There was no way he could make her think any less of him; not after making it this far.

    ''I''ve practiced for this moment so many times¡­ I won''t lose!'' With that thought echoing in his mind, Asa proceeded to blurt out his response to her question.

    "E-eh¡­?"

    "How long have you felt this way? When did it start?" Aloe reemphasized her question, causing Asa''s cognitive abilities to register it much better.

    "A-ahh¡­ well, I''m not sure¡­" He began, his lips scrunched together as he recollected the past.

    "I''ve always looked up to you, and I respected you immensely. I suppose you were like a mother I never had. But¡­ a lot has changed now, and when I saw you appear during the meeting¡­ I nearly had a heart attack."

    "Pfft! Come on, don''t exaggerate."

    "I''m not!" Asa couldn''t believe Aloe wasughing so casually to him pouring out his feelings.

    Everything he was saying was heartfelt and genuine.

    "You were so radiant that I felt blown away. I instantly lost all the perception I used to have of you, and only had one thought¡­ one desire¡­"

    Asa stared straight into Aloe''s eyes as he made his final deration.

    "I wanted you to be my mate! I want that for us, Miss Aloe. Please go out with me!" Repeating his words once more, Asa maintained his gaze.

    The wind stopped blowing, and the entire environment turned calm, all seemingly waiting for Aloe''s response to Asa.

    The decorum pervading the atmosphere created an unbearable echo of silence that made Asa''s heartbeat audible¡ªat least ording to him.

    The tension climbed, reaching a crescendo that felt like an unattainable peak.

    And then¡­

    "I''m ttered, Asa. Truly. But, I don''t view you that way." She gave her response.

    Her voice was smooth and silky, stained with vestiges of sadness, but she made sure to maintain her smile.

    Asa could see all of this, and his heart sank as a result.

    "Why? You still see me as a kid, don''t you? You don''t see me as a man yet." Even though his heart was aching, he managed to utter the words that rang in his mind.

    "Well¡­ I mean, just a few months ago, you were a kid¡ªat least, based on my perception of time. It''s not easy for me to view you any other way."

    Hearing Aloe say those words to him cut him deeper than any de could have.

    "Right now it just feels like my little Asa is all grown up. I feel strangely proud, you know? Kind of like how a mother would feel when her child is¡ª"

    "But I''m not a child! Not anymore!"

    As soon as he raised his voice, Asa realized how childish he had just acted. He realized how he must have blown off any possibility¡ªno matter how minuscule¡ªby his action.

    He had just proven her right.

    Aloe only smiled at Asa, her face the perfect representation of an understanding reaction to his flustered and conflicted demeanor. Asa felt lost, disappointed, and most of all¡­ frustrated.

    However, before he got to dwell on it, he felt warm touches on his shoulders, feeling Aloe''s hands hold onto them tightly.

    "M-Miss Aloe¡­" He mumbled, his cheeks reddening as he felt her touch almost as if they were on his bare skin.

    "Asa, I understand that you can have feelings for someone you respect. It''s fine to have feelings for anyone. It''s perfectly normal."

    Asa felt his heart melt as she told him those words.

    "But you have to understand that sometimes¡­ people don''t feel the same way you do. They either move on, or never saw you that way to begin with. That''s life, Asa."

    The more he heard, the more Asa felt a bittersweet sensation coursing through his entire body.

    ''This isn''t fair, Miss Aloe¡­'' His thoughts echoed as he stared at her. ''You''re just making me fall for you more.''

    "I recognize that you''ve grown up, Asa. I really should stop treating you like that little kid I used to know. So, how about this? Let''s be friends. How does that sound?"

    As Asa heard those words, he fell into deep contemtion.

    Perhaps it was unrealistic to think he could win Aloe''s heart like this. Should he just give up on the venture, or maybe start out as friends with her before tryingter on?

    As he thought about it, he looked at her smile, feeling drawn into her glossy lips. Something within and beneath him rose¡­ and that was when he realized it.

    "I refuse." He jumped to his feet, swiftly turning his back on Aloe in order to hide his bulging crotch.

    No matter how hard he tried, he could not resist her. He could not see her as a friend. He could not endure a mere tonic rtionship.

    He wanted more!

    "I don''t just want to be your friend, Mi¡­ I mean, Aloe! I want to be your man!" He dered, shifting his neck so he could look at her face.

    As expected, she had an awkward smile on.

    "You might not see me as a man now, but I won''t give up. I''ll make sure to prove it to you¡­ that I can be a man you can rely on and fall in love with." It sounded incredibly cheesy, but Asa did not stop.

    Instead, he aired out his heart.

    "By the time you return from your expedition, I''ll be a man strong enough to fight for you."

    Asa soon realized his crotch had gone back to normal, so he smiled in relief, turning to face Aloe one final time.

    "I won''t give up. I''ll always be waiting, fighting¡­ for you."

    "Asa¡­" Aloe covered her face, most likely in embarrassment. "Stop¡­ you''re acting so cute right now. It''s harder to take you seriously now."

    Hearing her response to yet another heartfelt confession, Asa''s entire face turned beet red, and he realized he couldn''t stand the humiliation any longer.

    "G-good luck on your expedition!" Instantly, Asa raced away, his stomach aching him slightly as his legs carried him far from Aloe.

    "I''ll never give uuuuuuup!!!" Were hisst words of deration as he sped off.

    And though Asa could not have possibly known this as he was making his escape, Aloe rested her head on her palm as she stared at him run off.

    Her smile was a little different from earlier, and the glimmer in her eyes was also different from anything Asa had ever seen.

    She had a fleeting thought as she watched his back and heard his echoing voice.

    ''He''s really grown down there too¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Yes, these feel like filler chapters, but I enjoy them, so I''ll write them anyway.

    If you enjoy them, that''s good for you.

    But this is mostly for ME. I want to see these characters interact properly, and I hope you enjoy seeing them like that too.

    It''s time to finally move back to the serious parts.

    Thanks for reading.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1159 The Hive Mission Begins [Pt 1]

    ?

    The next day arrived like a blur, and I stood alongside my team as we made our final deliberations concerning the situation at hand.

    All thirteen of them¡ªKuzon, Edward, Aloe, Ciara, Serah, Maria, Ana, Aurora, Lemi, Jerry, Z''ark, Beruel, Gerard¡ªstood side by side as I faced them to deliver my address.

    "We have two major objectives currently. One is to take care of the Hive that has formed a distance from here. We all have sufficient information on it, so I won''t go into the details." I began, my hands steadily positioned behind me.

    The mission was simple¡ªdestroy the Hive and leave no trace.

    I would determine the ones who were capable ofing with me for the more important mission of stopping Legris.

    "Of course, some of us will be sitting the match out, unless, of course, you require assistance. Kuzon, Edward, Ciara, and Aloe will not be participating in this event due to my knowledge of their capabilities."

    The point of this exercise was to understand the current abilities and limits of everyone on the team. Since I already had a good idea of the capabilities of everyone who was disced into different worlds, that left the ones who weren''t.

    ''I won''t say I canpletely guage Ciara''s abilities, but based on my assessment thus far, her current capabilities should be enough.''

    Besides, with her freakishly fast growth rate, it would be useless to try to know her current limits.

    ''Plus, I don''t want her to interfere with Jerry''s evaluation.''

    Out of everyone present, Jerry was the only one who potentially didn''t qualify. That meant this mission didn''t just serve as an opportunity to understand his abilities better, but it was also a test to see if he could remain on the team or not.

    It was the best I could do for him.

    "I have sent my Automatons to study the Hive, so I have a good understanding of its structure."

    The Automatons I sent were Gawain and two other assistants, considering their capabilities, so I was fairly confident of their assessment of the Hive''syout.

    "It''s essentially a huge mass of Nether, with several life forms detected within. One could call it a breeding ground for the Nether vermin. I suspect they possess parasitic tendencies, and the capability to rapidly corrupt Aether into Nether, hence exining the reason the Hive has sustained itself for so long."

    It also seemed to be expanding, so the sooner we took care of this mess, the better.

    "Now then¡­ I''ll be teleporting us to the Hive. As exined before, you''ll be operating as individual units so that it''s easier to gauge your respective abilities."

    Nether was a very dangerous element, and if they were to be facing something that could turn Aether into Nether, it was probably more efficient to operate in a group.

    However, that would prove problematic in judging the effectiveness of their individual abilities.

    ''Everyone present can use Aether. That''s the base requirement to even be considered for this task. But even that might not be enough this time.''

    I was surprised to see Jerry possessing an Aether Core, but I suppose he spent the past ten years training like hell. I could only imagine how much time he dedicated to ensuring he was stronger.

    That was probably why he was so desperate to go on this mission.

    ''Well, that and trying to impress Ciara maybe? Not that I don''t understand the sentiment¡­''

    After saying a few more things, I concluded my speech.

    "Any questions?"

    A hand swiftly went into the air, a prime example of enthusiasm if I had ever seen one before.

    It belonged to Beast King Gerard.

    "Destroying this Hive is important and all, but wouldn''t it waste more time if we were to do it this way? I thought we were in a hurry to stop that Legris fellow."

    The moment he asked the question, my heart sank.

    "Haa¡­" I was rendered speechless, unable to say anything in response to his query.

    It wasn''t that there was no proper response to give, but¡­ I was just too exasperated to say anything immediate.

    "Were you not paying any attention to what he was saying at all?" Serah''s voice loudly echoed in the silence, rescuing me from my current predicament.

    I noticed a scowl on her face, and her arms were folded in impatience as he stared at a slightly shivering Gerard. Unlike me, it seemed she didn''t have the patience to stomach the question.

    "This world''s time cycle is about thirty times faster than our normal world''s timeline. That''s why ten years passed here when only about three months passed for most of us who were disced."

    It was precisely as Serah said it. This was the side effect of Neron swapping worlds, and so even if we spent thirty hours in this world, only an hour would pse in the normal sense of things.

    A lot could happen within even the shortest time frame, but considering the utility of testing my teammates and understanding their abilities, it was worth the risk.

    ''Besides, time is rtive. Some of us spent considerably longer in our world than others. So, even if we ount for more or less time, it''s impossible to know the kind of time Legris operates under.''

    When considering that alone, it made more sense to operate as swiftly as possible while not neglecting important aspects of preparation just because we were in a rush.

    "Any other question?" I asked, looking at the faces of everyone.

    Perhaps one or two wanted to rify a few things, but a mere nce at Serah''s frown would scare anyone from trying to waste any more time.

    ''I wonder how she''s holding up. At least she knows Neron is safe, but still¡­''

    She hadn''t seen her husband for ten years, and she was just recently told that he orchestrated his disappearance.

    I wonder how she felt about it all.

    ''Well, he didn''t orchestrate it. It''s more like he regted the event to flow a certain way. If he hadn''t intervened, things would have ended up much worse for sure.''

    I was sure Serah knew that, but that would probably not stop her from feeling hurt.

    ''I can only hope things work for the best. Once this is all over, things will return to normal¡­'' My thoughts trailed as I activated my Arcana to transport everyone to the designated location of our mission.

    ''... Hopefully.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading.

    Let us delve into the world ahead of us, shall we?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1160 The Hive Mission Begins [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1160 The Hive Mission Begins [Pt 2]</h4>

    ~VWUUUUSSSHH!~

    In the vastness of space, supposed to be adorned by countless stars and blossomings, I and my allies appeared.

    We were meant to witness the otherworldly beauty of the world beyond our. A ce brimming with life, wonder, and energy.

    Stars would radiate in their distance, and the nebe would stretch on for as long as the senses could feel. We were meant to see orbitings, and perhaps the sun that held them together in a gravitational cycle.

    However¡­ all of that was missing.

    Instead, what we witnessed was an empty void of darkness that seemed to stretch on forever.

    The stars seemed to have dulled orpletely vanished, and there seemed to be no in sight¡ªjust pure darkness and emptiness.

    Other than the warbling blue light that apanied us due to our teleportation, no brilliance of any sort upied this world.

    And all of this was thanks to one thing.

    "The Hive." I whispered

    Floating before us, like an overwhelming fortress that threatened to swallow the entire space whole, was a giant mass of Nether.

    Its ckish purple form was so dense that it had taken on solid form, serving as a habitation for whatever monstrosities dwelled within it.

    The Hive was a massive sphere, but it was muchrger than any I had ever seen. It was not only bigger than a regr sun, but it had grown sorge that it was more than big enough to upy an entire sr system.

    How manys had been devoured by this mass of energy? How much energy had it absorbed already? Just how much more could it grow?

    The fact that there were no stars ors in sight meant it had attracted everything into its orbit and devoured it all.

    Even though it was subtle, nearly imperceptible, I could see it grow bigger in mass and power with every second that passed. It must have had the chance to fester like this for ten years, so I imagined it would take a few more before it finally becamerge enough to consume a gxy.

    From a gxy¡­ it would go after an entire universe.

    ''If left unchecked, it couldpletely consume the Aether Tree¡­''

    Of course, that wasn''t going to happen now that we had caught wind of it.

    "Well, here we are¡­" I turned to focus on my allies, who were also plenty distracted by the massive construct of Nether before them.

    Since they could all use Aether, they were able to maintain their bodily functions in space, and they also had no problem perceiving all I was saying.

    ''The most worrisome aspect about all of this is the gravitational pull of that thing. But, I suppose that is a part of their training.''

    The closer they got to the mass before us, the more they would be sucked into it. They risked being absorbed and integrated into the Hive, so I had to maintain a close watch on the people engaging in this mission.

    "Just as we nned, you''ll all take your respective positions around the Hive. Once you get closer, a defense mechanism will be triggered and enemies will begin toe out in droves." All of this information was obtained from Gawain, who had helped me investigate the Hive thoroughly.

    "Your mission is simply to attack the creatures and ensure you do not get sucked into the Hive. Once all the creatures in the Hive are eliminated, your mission will beplete, and we''ll proceed with the destruction of the Hive itself."

    The mass before us was muchrger than an entire sr system, and it was nearing gxy size. It was probably too much for them to handle, so after they were done with taking care of the Nether Beasts, and I was satisfied with my observations, Kuzon or Edward would help to destroy the Hivepletely.

    ''It''s best I save my energy for when necessary¡­''

    "Gawain." I called out, and instantly a blue distortion in space manifested not too distant from my side.

    From within the spatial breach, my Automaton appeared.

    "I have arrived, Master." He bowed his head, cing his right hand on his chest in obeisance.

    "Are you done scouting the surrounding areas? Are there any survivings? Any life signature?"

    "None at all. This seems to be a deserted corner of the universe."

    Well, that made sense. The Hive would have destroyed anything close to it, and the fact that it was allowed to expand to this extent showed there was no sufficiently capable life form nearby to stop it.

    "Well, you heard him. You are free to go all out in your battles. Ensure you do not get in the way of each other. There should be more than enough opponents to go around."

    Kuzon, Aloe, Ciara, Edward, and I would sit back and enjoy the show. Gawain would also serve as a spectator.

    "Your safety is a priority, though we will not interfere unless you specifically ask for help, or your life is almost forfeit," I added, noticing Jerry''s body tense up as my words reached him.

    ''Of course, it goes without saying that anyone who gets rescued isn''t fit for the mission at hand.''

    I wondered how many people would pass, and how many wouldn''t.

    "Serah, Maria, Ana, Aurora, Lemi, Jerry, Z''ark, Beruel, and Gerard; all nine of you will begin your tests at the same time, so it''ll be fair. There''ll be noints or excuses afterward. There''ll be no second chances too."

    The mission to stop Legris was too important to be taken lightly.

    "This is it, everyone." I returned my gaze to the imposing mass of Nether before us, smiling as I stared at it.

    It was finally time to see what ten years had done to these people.

    "You may begin."

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    In an instant, before I could even blink, every single member of the team rushed forward, each parting from one another at intervals as they charged towards the Hive.

    For some reason, it caused my grin to grow even wider.

    "Haha! This should be fun."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I''m excited to see what our nine contestants will disy.

    Who do you think is the strongest? Rather, how would you rank them based on ability?

    I''m curious.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1161 An Angelâ€™s Blizzard

    <h4>Chapter 1161 An Angel''s Blizzard</h4>

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    Maria''s body was covered in ethereal light as she made her way towards the smoldering mass of Nether before her.

    It felt suffocating, just looking at the imposing structure, but just like everyone else who charged for the target, she was determined not to take even a step back.

    Her body was constantly being protected by the Aether she emitted, and the bluish white light was herpass in the eternal shroud of darkness that seemed to epass everything else around.

    Before long, she arrived at her own spot, noticing herrades taking their respective positions. There was more than enough room for all nine of them to independently assault the target, after all.

    ''Hm¡­?''

    Due to the influence of the Nether''s overwhelming flow, she couldn''t properly detect her allies, and it was a chore to maintain her pure state without suffering from Nether Poisoning.

    ''There''s also a very strong force pulling me to the center.''

    There were several things she had to ount for, but Maria''s expert control over her power allowed her to maintain her bnce and distance without sumbing to the otherwise overpowering attraction of Nether.

    Before she couldpletely assess the situation, however, she noticed the massive sphere opening up at a corner, and several creatures began to surge forth in droves.

    Using her heightened senses, particrly her sight, Maria was able to observe the kinds of entities flying her direction at breakneck speed.

    They had bulky frames, the smallest ones having a height of at least 70 to 100 meters, while therger ones possessing meters in the hundreds.

    Their bodies were obsidian ck, but they possessed vein-like markings on their bodies which warbled with purple light. These veins had intricate designs on them, and it seemed therge ones had more markings like that.

    They also possessed wings and tails, as well as grotesque horns that made them appear even more monstrous. Spikes were evident on their disgusting bodies, and most of them had several limbs.

    A good number of had oddly deformed bodies; ranging from possessing an uneven number of limbs, misshapen heads, overly obese or overly emaciated forms, etc.

    All in all, however, despite their variety, they had one thing inmon.

    Their identity.

    ''Nether Beasts. And each of them is even stronger than thest one we faced¡­'' Maria thought back to thest expedition she had with Serah and Ana.

    The Nether Beast they had fought at the end of their journey wasn''t particrly strong, but it wasn''t weak either. The mere fact that there were so many Beasts who were all superior to that monster told her of the severity of the Hive''s danger.

    ''Enough thinking. I should begin the extermination.'' Maria''s emotionless eyes seemed to glisten with resolve, at least for a split second.

    This mission was a good way to show Jared just how much she had improved over the years. She was still unaware of his strength, but that didn''t mean she wasn''t going to show him her level of growth.

    ''I''ll make sure I stay on the team and remain by your side.''

    And this was the perfect time to prove herself.

    "[True Archangel Drive]."

    The moment Maria utttered those words, her glistening body burst with ethereal energy, with luminiscent glows radiating from her single position.

    For a moment, it felt like she was an exploding star.

    However, this was merely the start.

    Her body was instantly adorned with silver-white armor, and her head was crowned with a halo, along with a jewel-like helmet that doubled as a crown. Her blue eyes glowed, piercing the depths of darkness, and her skin grew pale white, as though frost covered the surface of her skin.

    Pure white wings grew from behind her, with a few lone feathers flying all across the area, each one containing a dense amount of Aether.

    "And now¡­ Original Magic¡­"

    Several des appeared beside her, all in varying calors¡ªfrom white to ck, disying a spectrum of nine colors.

    White. Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Indigo. Violet. And finally¡­ ck.

    All des danced by her side, awaitingmand as her lips moved.

    "[True Light]."

    With her transformation, as well as her Original Magic, achieved in just a split second, Maria''s gaze fell on the approaching foes with a determined stare.

    To show Jared just what she was capable of¡­ holding back wasn''t an option.

    "[White]."

    The moment Maria uttered those words, the white de that danced before her swiftlyunched itself into Maria''s grasp.

    She held the de tightly, and parted her lips to leak out a visible breath of misty fog. Though it was impossible to tell, but the de''s power was causing everything around her to drop in temperature beyond even an absolute degree.

    Pointing her de at the iing swarm, Maria finally uttered her spell with emotionless conviction.

    "[Freeze]"

    Instantly, what could only be described as a blizzard of insurmountable proportions manifested from the tip of the crystal-like white de.

    It surged, like an unreal painting of purity, sweeping past Maria and her position, to the enemies that had almost reached her.

    The Nether Beasts seemed to have realized the dangers of the iing wave of unstoppable ice, and so they acted quickly. All of them, driven by the pure instinct to live, opened their mouths to send sts of Nether to stop the ice barrage.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Launching their repulsive ckish purple energy at the pure white blizzard, they must have hoped to prolong their lives, at least even for a moment more.

    Unfortunately for them, their opponent was not one to show mercy.

    The moment Maria realized what they were up to, she increased the output of her [White: Freeze]", and everything in its path was reduced to ice.

    All the Nether Beasts¡­ and their pathetic attempts at resistance.

    The blizzard consumed everything, creating nothing but ayer of ice that turned everything into unmoving frost sculptures.

    Maria kept up this ice barrage for a while, constantly freezing the Nether Beasts as they kept appearing from their residence.

    However, once their emerging numbers dropped drastically, she decided to simply finish off the ice statues that had now obscured so much of her sight.

    As a result, she had to resort to another de.

    "Now then¡­ [RED]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Well, that was cold.

    Literally.

    I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1162 The Fiery Explosion

    ?

    Original Magic.

    It is constantly referred to as the pinnacle a Mage can ever attain, as it is the Magic developed from scratch, using the user''s wealth of experience and techniques as a base to generate this phenomena.

    A collection of one''s life experience, to be precise.

    However, for someone like Maria, who was only 26, possessing Original Magic meant one thing.

    It had more room to evolve.

    The earlier one starts to develop Original Magic, the more powerful such Magic is bound to be. Unfortunately, the venture is downright difficult, if not impossible, for most Mages.

    Most Mages would never be able to use Original Magic.

    And so, Maria Helmsworth''s ability to use one in the prime of her life, with much prospect for growth, could only be chalked up to one thing.

    She was a genius.

    *******

    "[Red: Destroy]."

    Maria felt heat course through her as she wielded the next de, pointing it in the direction of her target.

    Her image seemed to distort due to the immense heat that now radiated from her, and most especially the tip of her de.

    As her eyes focused on her target, her mind slowly drifted to one person.

    One thing.

    ''Can I really call this Original Magic? I did develop it from scratch, an its different from what you showed me, but¡­ you were my source of inspiration for it¡­''

    The image of her cousin, his dark hair and blue eyes evident on his scowling face, yed over and over in her head.

    ''Stefan¡­ your Original Magic back then remains burned in my memory.''

    He had thought he was weak, too weak for her, yet Maria had acknowledged his strength. It inspired her to model her Original Magic in the same direction as him.

    However, upon noticing the shorings of his own Magic, she ensured hers was more advanced.

    [True Light] separated her energy into nine major aspects, each possessing distinct attributes. It was simr to what Stefan had done with his own Original Magic. However, a major difference was that she had added two more colors to her spectrum, while he only had seven.

    Another distinct quality of hers was the use of physical manifestations of those colors in the form of des.

    This allowed her to better focus the Aether she expended, as well as increase the effectiveness of each color''s power. By condensing everything, it conserved more Aether and increased the power output.

    Also, while there could be ovepping simrities in the abiltiies of their respective colors, there were also differences.

    Andst but not least¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    ¡­ Her Original Magic was just more powerful than his was.

    The red st that radiated from her de instantly wiped out all the frozen sculptures in its path, and every other emerging Nether Beast, eviscerating everything in a straight line.

    Without prejudice, every single opponent was eliminated.

    "Looks like there are just a few more enemies left. I shouldn''t leave anyone unounted for." Maria murmured, preparing her de so she could aim.

    However¡­ even she could not have expected what happened next.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

    An explosion that dwarfed hers, or anything she currently had in her arsenal, suddenly surged forth.

    It caused the very space to tremble, and even Maria felt pushed back despite being in her True Archangel Drive.

    ''W-what is¡­ this¡­?'' Her glowing eyes could not believe what she was seeing.

    Her jaws loosened, forcing her mouth to widen in sheer surprise. Her usally stoic face leaked out emotion, and it was due to none other than the state of the Hive.

    That single explosion from earlier, the one that caused even space to nearly break apart, hadpletely decimated the Hive.

    That''s right! In one single eruption, the entire Hive was utterly destroyed.

    ''H-how? Who¡­?!'' A bead of sweat broke on Maria''s face as she stared at the destruction before her, seeing the entire Hive reduced to nothing but smoldering vestiges of burning Nether.

    Nothing would be left of it in a few more seconds.

    Maria knew it wasn''t her. It couldn''t have been. Even she wasn''t that powerful.

    So, the same question that was also on the mind of her other allies as they all saw the eruption gued her as she witnessed the destruction of their entire mission.

    Who destroyed the Hive?!

    ******

    [Moments Earlier]

    "Huff.. huff¡­"

    It was barely three minutes into the fight, and Jerry was already feeling sheer exhaustion weigh on him.

    His body was currently shrouded in mes¡ªblue ones.

    It almost appeared like he was madepletely out of the blue mes, and the fact that his image was distoreted due to the heat proved just how intense this form was.

    He had a ming sword on one hand, and an orb of pure mes on the other. His eyes shone crimson as the rest of his body glowed with azure fire. However, his ming sword had the purple color shrouding it, while his orb was orange.

    This was his ultimate form; a mixture of Mage Mode, Elemental Chamber, and his Fusion State. It was [Grand me Admiral], the most powerful version of himself at the moment.

    And yes, in this form, he was able to fight on equal, if not superiror footing, with the swarms of Nether Beasts that approached him.

    His purple ming sword dealt major damage to his opponents in a mid/close range, while his ming orb sent long-range damage to enemies far away. The orb''s attacks were not as poweful as the de''s but it was strong enough to reduce the amount of enemies he had to face at the same time.

    He would ward off most of his enemies with his orb, while dealing with few at once in close quartersbat. Using this form, he was guaranteed victory, even if it would take a lot of time before he could finish off all of them.

    ¡­ At least, that was what he thought.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­" Jerry''s breathing became more coarse the more seconds passed as he tiredly stared at the Nether Beasts that were closing in on him.

    ''Damnit¡­ I miscalcted!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Who do you think destroyed the Hive?

    I''m sure its Gigachad Jerry. Tell me your thoughts in thements.

    Thanks for reading.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1163 Never Give Up!

    ?

    There were two major factors that doomed Jerry Keller from the very beginning.

    No matter how hard he struggled, and no matter what sort of brilliant n he had¡­ he was always fated to fail.

    One of said factors was the constant and overwhelming expenditure of his Aether.

    As someone with a limited pool of energy, it was in Jerry''s best interest to minimize its use as much as possible. However, in such an extreme situation where he would lose if he didn''t go all out, he had no choice but to constantly burn through his reserves.

    The constant use of Aether was still bearable to an extent, since he was using it to fuel his Spells which in turn defeated his opponents. It was an unavoidable cost for progress.

    However, what made this a problem was the excess Aether he had to constantly burn in order to protect himself from Nether Poisoning and also prevent himself from being sucked into the Hive.

    That was the problem!

    This passive use of Aether was taking a toll on him even more than his utilization of Aether to fight. And the worst part was¡­ none of that Aether was being used to defeat any of the excessive Nether Beasts he had to deal with.

    ¡­ Which led to the second, and perhaps most bothersome problem.

    The Nether Beasts, or at least their numbers.

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­" Jerry''s lips parted as he poured out heavy breaths, staring at the sheer magnitude of opponents he still had to face.

    The Nether Beasts seemed infinite, at least to him.

    The more he destroyed, the more they kept appearing, until they became overwhelmingly too much for him to handle.

    Not only was he dealing with exhaustion, but the problems he had to face kept piling up.

    ''It won''t be long until my strategy falls apart.''

    His current n was the only reason he hadn''t been overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemies he had to deal with. If it broke down, he was one for.

    Jerry desperately racked his head to think of an alternative, but he was so exhausted that he felt dizzy already. His cognitive abilities were failing him due to the overheating aftereffects of his [Grand me Admiral] form.

    It was never a sustainable transformation, but Jerry had thought he could use it as a boost to wipe out most of the Nether Beasts and corner the rest of them before reverting back and handling the rest in a more slow-burn way if need be.

    He never foresaw this situation.

    ''What should I do now? I¡­ I don''t think I can go any further¡­''

    As Jerry saw it, he only had one viable option at this point¡ªGive up.

    If he forfeited the mission, he would be saved from the onught of Nether Beasts closing in on him.

    Unfortunately, that would also mean he was going to be disqualified from the team.

    ''NO! Not that! Anything but that!'' Jerry''s eyes lit aze as his heart thumped faster an harder than ever before.

    He could feel his overwhelming heat stinging his skin, but he endured. He was running out of breath, and his Aether was just about depleted, but he couldn''t surrender.

    Not now!

    Not when he made a promise to the woman he loved!

    "Rarrrrrghhhhhh!!!" Roaring at the top of his lungs, her disyed his sheer willpower, forcing his aching body to move despite having past its limits long ago.

    ''It''s not an option to fail¡­'' Jerry''s thoughts echoed as he gritted his ming teeth, feeling as his very gums were on fire.

    His insides churned, and his body begged him to rest, but he wouldn''t.

    He COULDN''T!

    "I won''t give up! Not now, not ever!" He screamed, his mes reaching a height of prominence as several Nether Beasts began to close in on him.

    He knew he couldn''t take down all of them.

    Heck, the ones close to him were already a bother, to begin with. He had been hacking and shing for so long now that he felt he would pass out any second now.

    ~SWISH!~

    As soon as he was done hacking down thest Nether Beast close to him, he saw the immeasurable number of more Nether Beasts rush to him, like hungry predators ready to devour their prey.

    He could hardly move his body at this point, but he still didn''t back down.

    Even as he witnessed his end approach, he strengthened his grip on his de and abandined his orb.

    Right now¡­ all he could do was render hisst stand.

    "Come! I''ll take you all o¡ª!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

    Before Jerry could conclude his words, he witnessed the most jawbreaking sight ever.

    The entire Hive was destroyed in a single explosion, and everything about it was consumed in destructive energy.

    All the Nether Beasts that were rushing towards him instantly shifted their attention to the destruction wrought upon their home, and how the mes of eradication neared them.

    They instantly knew their fates if they didn''t pick up the pace.

    Screeches from the Nether Beasts filled the air as they all rushed away from the Hive''s utter demolition. Their speed increased, and so did the desperation in their eyes.

    This time, however, they weren''t rushing towards Jerry because they were the predators.

    No, it was the opposite.

    They had be prey.

    "Haha¡­ haaa¡­" Jerry found himselfughing unconsciously.

    With the Hive no longer existing, and the overwhelming Nether quality drastically reduced, he realized it was now or never.

    It was time to make the ultimate gamble.

    Abandining all of his defense, he poured thest fraction of his Aether into his final strike, fusing everything into his de.

    ''I don''t need to kill all of them. The destruction will do that for me'' He smiled, readying his de as he prepared the Spell.

    ''... I just need to make sure they don''t escape!''

    The purple de instantly increased in size, nearly a hundred times more than it was previously.

    Perfect for the range Jerry was aiming for.

    With a final push, Jerry generated his ultimate horizontal sh, sending the final bursts of his mes and energy colliding with the escaping Nether Beasts.

    ''[Grand Admiral Strike].''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like it isn''t Jerry too.

    I wonder who the culprit is¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1164 Domain Expansion

    <h4>Chapter 1164 Domain Expansion</h4>

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHH!!!~

    The gust of mes, as well as pure pressure, that followed Jerry''s strike was enough to push the horde of Nether Beasts back¡ªeven if for only a few seconds.

    Thankfully, that much was enough.

    "GUUUUUAAAAAA¡ª!"

    All of the terrifying creatures met their end as the mes of destruction consumed them, leaving none behind.

    "Haa¡­" Jerry''s transformation was already undone, revealing his human form.

    His auburn hair danced on his head as he gave a tired smile.

    ''Looks like this is it¡­'' His vision was already blurry, and he hadpletely lost control over his body.

    He couldn''t see, hear, move¡­ or even breathe.

    It seemed he had used up everything in his pursuit for victory, and as such his end was inevitable.

    Whether this would serve as a sess or failure on his part was still questionable, but Jerry didn''t feel any tinge of worry or regret.

    Strangely enough, he felt nothing but satisfaction.

    ''I¡­ I didn''t give up.''

    That was what mattered most at this very moment.

    He didn''t go back on his promise.

    ''I¡­ Ciara¡­'' His thoughts trailed as he began to lose his grip on reality.

    Thest thing he saw with his blurry vision was the individual who floated at the center of the explosion.

    She had the form of a woman, and while he couldn''tpletely make out her features, he could see that she was shrouding in so much energy that it made his full power seem like a joke inparison.

    It seemed she was the cause of? the Hive''s destruction.

    While Jerry didn''t yet know of her identity, he could not help but be d for her intervantion.

    After all, without it, he would have painfully lost.

    ''Thank you¡­''

    With those final thoughts echoing in his subconscious, Jerry passed out.

    *******

    [Moments Earlier]

    In the vastness of space, close to the Hive before its inevitable destrution, a lone Half Elf girl stood amidst a wave of Nether Beasts, a wide smile stered on her face.

    "Haha¡­" As her voice echoed in a chuckle, she carefully observed the enemies before her.

    Her ck and white hair swayed back and forth as energy rushed from her, and her pupils¡ªblue and violet respectively¡ªtook in all the information she required from her targets.

    ''I see. A total of seven hundred and eighty-three. More are iing, so if I calcte their spawn rate, there should be a total of four hundred and nine Nether Beasts appearing per minute. That, of course, is contingent upon the assumption that the premise is constant.''

    Lemi''srge-scale barrier made it impossible for the surrounding Nether Beasts to eveny a finger on her ore anywhere close.

    As a result, she was able to continue her analysis without any interruption.

    ''ounting for an increase or decrease in the spawn rate, based on the data collected thus far, it would be difficult to arrive at an urate estimation. I suppose I can only guess. Then again, is there really any reason to utilizeplicated procedures of determination in this scenario.''

    In the end, her task was to dispose of her enemies. There was no specific time limit given, so she wasn''t in any particr rush.

    Lemi initially wante to study the Hive more and collect more data for future research, since she had grown more and more interested in Energy, and all her friends had been too busy to indulge her in her curious research.

    Ana was too upied with her missions and her current study on Nether condensation, while Jane seemed even busier for some reason.

    In the end, she had to obtain all the information for herself.

    Unfortunately, the current situation didn''t allow for her to freely explore the Hive. If she messed up or acted reckless, her father was going to chew her out.

    Worst of all, he could kick her off the team.

    ''I can''t allow that!'' She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth.

    Even if she would rather die than admit it to him, she wanted to spend more time with her father now that he was finally back after ten years.

    More than anything, she wanted him to see her¡­ and just how much she had grown since theirst teamup.

    In the past, she could barely control her power. She even required wands to properly cast Spells and aim her power.

    However, she was now an expert maniptor of energy¡­ perhaps even more than most people.

    Once she was done with the basics of Mana and Miasma, she graduated to learn and control Aether.

    And now¡­ she was even interested in Nether.

    "Nearly three minutes have psed. I''ve gradually expanded my barrier, so its enough to contain hundreds of them at the same time. Plus, its now saturated with Aether, just as intended.''

    She took one final nce at her enemies and realized they had more than doubled in size.

    ''Over two thousand of them. They''re all pretty huge too¡­''

    Lemi would have loved to capture one for her own personal experiment, but no one allowed her to do anything these days.

    Apparently, she was too reckless.

    ''I''ll show them¡­'' A smile coursed through her face as she readied herself for what she considered to be the most effiecient way to deal with her enemies.

    Lemi softened her barrier, allowing all the Nether Beasts to rush in to her location. They lunged at her in their hundreds, unaware of the expanding field that slowly encapsted all of them at once.

    ''Now then¡­'' She grinned wider.

    Unlike most Mages that surrounded her, Lemi was yet to learn any transformation.

    She had no Mage Mode.

    She couldn''t use Fusion Mode since she possessed no Familiar.

    She never properly learned Elemental Chamber.

    She didn''t even have Original Magic.

    With none of those things, how could she be so confident in her ability to take care of such a swarm of foes?

    Well, Lemi had a little trump card, you see¡­ and she decided it was time to unveil it to all the spectators¡ªespecially her father.

    "[Original Technique: Absolute Domain]"

    At that moment, she connected her internal Aether with the external Aether, resonating both to use a single Spell.

    "[Cleaving Severance]"

    Once Lemi uttered those words, every single Nether Beast stopped moving.

    Their ck bodies, their grotesque forms, their towering heights¡­ all of those things suddenly became meaningless in the presence of Lemi''s Spell.

    ¡­ In her absolute domain.

    Instantly, the Nether Beasts found themselves sliced into so many pieces that they became mere chunks of darkened flesh, before turning into even smaller chunks of meat.

    They kept getting sliced and diced, eventually reducing to be tiny fragments.

    "It is done¡­" Lemi smiled, watching as more creatures charged at her domain, unaware that they were rushing to their deaths.

    She paid them no mind since her Spell was automated, instead shifting her gaze to her father who was watching her from a distance.

    ''How do you like that, old man?'' She narrowed her gaze and widened her lips as she felt his eyes on her.

    Just as she wanted¡­ he was staring at her!

    Not only were his eyes widened, but his mouth was gaping as he looked incredibly shocked at her ability.

    ''Hehe!''

    She swiftly narrowed her gaze on him the moment she noticed he was muttering words, and using her suprior intellect, she was able to decipher what he said.

    His words, filled with wonder and unbridled surprise, rang aloud in her mind.

    "I-Isn''t that SPELLCRAFT?!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    It seems Lemi figured out Spellcraft on her own and called it her Original Technique.

    Pfft!

    Like father like daughter, I guess.

    Thanks for reading.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1165 Perfect Anabelle

    <h4>Chapter 1165 Perfect Anabelle</h4>

    ''Hm? What is he referring to?'' Lemi wondered to herself as she looked at Jared''s shocked face.

    She had thought he would be bamboozled about her newest technique, but he seemed to be talking about something else.

    ''I spent years developing it, you know? It''s easier for me now because I am adept at manipting my energy.''

    Thanks to that, she could also control the energy around her by merging her energy with them. It initially started on a small scale, but now Lemi had developed her [Absolute Domain] to extend far beyond her.

    She could cover an entire country if she really tried.

    ''I''m sure this is more than enough to show him what I''ve got.'' Lemi grinned to herself, her gaze slowly shifting to the muscr man beside her father

    ''I wonder what Edward thinks¡­''

    Even though she tried to be subtle about it, she eventually stared at Edward with those thoughts in her head.

    Much to her surprise, but also anticipation, he was also staring at her.

    Lemi didn''t know how to react under his gaze, so she quickly looked away the moment they made eye contact. Her eyes seemed to dart around,cking focus, and her face also seemed to be overheating.

    It puzzled her greatly.

    ''Nng! Why did my heart just race like that?'' It was a question she was unable to answer.

    Before she could even attempt at it for a little longer, however, the unexpected ured.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

    "W-what?!" Lemi''s attention swiftly went to the destroyed Hive, her eyes bulging in shock.

    At that moment, shepletely forgot about Jared, Edward, and whatever she felt about them. All that mattered as she witnessed the utter annihtion of the dark mass was the fact that it was being destroyed.

    "Nooooooooo!!!" She screamed.

    As someone who desired samples and data, watching everything go down the drain was too tragic.

    She actually shed tears as she watched everything turn into cinders, and deep down¡­ she only desired to know one thing.

    ''Who¡­ who did this?!''

    *******

    [Moments Earlier]

    "Alright, let''s get this started."

    Ana was currently standing before the dark mass of overwhelming Nether Energy, and her cute babyface was unfazed by the sheer amount of pressure the thing exerted.

    Instead, she slightly flexed her sses, and then tapped her wristwatch to initiate her n.

    ~VWUSSH!~

    Space warped beside her, and a round white orb appeared not long after her.

    The white sphere, simr to a snowball, had the same size as the head of a human adult, and while it was pure white in color, it had two ck dots at its forefront, representing its eyes.

    These two ck dots suddenly brimmed with color, finally shining bright blue to signal its activation.

    "It seems the Nether Beasts have begun to appear. Anabelle, analyze all the events uring in tandem." Ana told the floating orb beside her.

    "[Confirmed. Shall I split into parts in order to properly encapste every event uring here, or do you desire it to be focused solely from your perspective? Perhaps an overhead perspective would also suffice?]"

    The robotic tone that emanated from the white Automaton was simr to Ana''s. It was obvious that she based this invention on herself¡ªboth in name and voice.

    "Send out some of your micro parts to every pertinent area so you can get a three-dimensional view of everything uring at once. Your Original form will remain here and assist with my endeavors. You should also supply data when requested."

    "[Understood. I will begin to do so now]."

    A few seconds of seeming inactivity passed, and afterwards, the white orb called Anabelle eventually spoke up.

    "[Micro Parts have been released and sent to their respective positions. Observation has begun, and information collection has also been initiated]."

    "Good." Ana smiled, excitement now coursing through her face. "Analyze the properties of the Hive before us, as well as the approaching Nether Beasts. Cross reference them with the samples you have already analyzed in N-A15."

    "[Understood. From my observations thus far, this mass possesses highly concentrated Nether¡ªfar more than any other that has been analyzed prior. It will take some time before scanning and cross referencing isplete. Having substantial samples of the target material will also prove helpful in the long run.]" Anabelle spoke, her blue eyes shining brighter.

    "Yeah, I know that. lI''ll do my best to retrieve more samples for further studies, but a thorough scan should also prove its viability."

    "[Understood. Enemies are approaching and will soon gain on us. Do you require me to perform any other action?]"

    Ana''s smile grew wider as she heard the words of her Automaton.

    Sure, Anabelle was designed for several purposes, and its abilities were so versatile that it was considered a masterpiece in her eyes.

    However, right now it had one role¡­ one function.

    "You just focus on your task. Don''t worry about the Nether Beasts¡­" Ana smiled, cracking her tiny knuckles.

    Her sses reflected the fast approaching adversaries, but nothing about her demeanor reflected worry of any sort.

    "... I''ll deal with them myself."

    Raising just one of her hand, she let the Aether within her course through her body and find release at the tip of her fingers.

    ''The best way to deal substantial damage while utilizing the least amount of energy is by using the surroundings to my advantage.''

    And so, Ana''s Spell had one simple function¡­

    "[ck Singrity]."

    Instantly, the space around her fingertips began to distort¡­ and then copse. Everything around the tiny ck sphere close to her began to get sucked in, and all energy that caved within it found their eventual destruction.

    In essence, Ana had just made a ck hole.

    "Go now." Ana released the ever-expanding dark pool, guiding it in the direction of her adversaries.

    ~WHUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!~

    And so, it began.

    The unstoppable, inevitable destruction of the Nether Beasts.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading.

    Who do you think is more impressive? Lemi or Ana?

    Both have disyed their intelligence and resourcefulness through the course of the novel.

    So pick one!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1166 Release It All

    <h4>Chapter 1166 Release It All</h4>

    ?

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM!~

    Right before Ana''s eyes, her ck hole kept expanding until it had taken on the size of an entire city¡­ sucking in any and everything in its path.

    "Time psed: two minutes, fifty seconds¡­" She murmured, her gaze resting on the adversaries that kept being decimated no matter how hard they tried.

    "... Enemies eliminated: two thousand, eight hundred and three."

    She simply stood there, watching the automated carnage as her whiteb coat fluttered. She didn''t need to do anything more but enjoy the show.

    Frankly, it was a little boring.

    "Anabelle, what is the scan progress?" She finally blurted out, most likely tired of doing nothing.

    "[All Purpose Scan isplete, and just as you theorized, there are several elements that match]."

    "Percentage?"

    "[83 Percent]."

    "I see. So its either those others were contaminated with other elements and this one is purer, or vice versa, hence the 17 percent difference."

    "[That is a valid position]."

    "Have you identified the properties of the previous ones? Any matches found?"

    "[Not quite. Perhaps it is a new element caused by mutation]."

    "Ah, that''s true. How could I overlook that? If Nether interacts with properties here, its possible it''ll create new elements. That''ll make it difficult to iste the variables¡­" Ana bit her lip slightly, and a clouded expression began to take over her demeanor.

    "[I am not done with the cross-referencing. Perhaps new information will be found once it is over]."

    Hearing her Automatonfort her made Ana feel a tinge of satisfaction. It almost felt like she was speaking to herself.

    "That is my hope too." She smiled.

    Her experiment wasn''t particrly a secret one, but not many people had the interests and skills to assist her. Only Beruel was her ally in this, but his expertise wasn''t on energy maniption, but technology.

    As a result, field activities like these fell on her. Analysis and in-depth cross referencing were his forte. Still, since she was using this mission as an excuse to gather more data, Ana felt like their current actions here would lead to a breakthrough in their research.

    ''We will soon be able to harness¡ª''

    "[This is a tangent, but I can sense energy spiking at an unbelievable rate in one of the zones that my part is observing]." Anabelle''s robotic voice suddenly interrupted Ana''s thoughts.

    "H-huh? Spiking energy, huh? Well, it''s probably someone going all-out or something."

    Ana could feel so many of herrades and their respective energies shing with Nether. This was a battlefield, so this much should be expected.

    Why had Anabelle deemed this to be an urence worthy of mention?

    "[The level of climbing energy is catastrophic. I estimate it will be powerful enough to destroy the entire Hive in a few seconds]."

    Upon hearing this, all of Ana''s senses shot up.

    "The entire Hive?"

    "[Confirmed. It has reached that threshold. It is passing that threshold now]."

    Sweat covered Ana''s face as she considered the possibility that one of them had enough power to do that.

    "I can already guess who it is, but tell me¡­ which zone is this uring in, and who is the person doing this?" Ana asked, a wry smile forming on her face.

    "[It is¡ª]."

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

    The explosion deafened Ana for a moment, preventing her from hearing anything the Automaton had uttered.

    Not only were her ears out ofission, but her eyes and mind were all distracted by the marvelous sight before her¡ªthe destruction of the entire Hive in mere seconds.

    The way the giant mass burned bright crimson, every particle of condensed Nether consumed and reduced to nothingness¡­ even her ck Hole was swallowed in the chaos,pletely dossolving uner the pressure of a higher power¡­

    "Amazing¡­" Ana knew she could never possess such power, at least not with her strength alone.

    As such, she could only marvel at the sheer beauty of it all.

    "Anabelle, who did this? It''s her, isn''t it?" Ana mumbled, her blue eyes still reflecting the fiery destruction that consumed all in its path.

    There was no doubt in her mind any longer.

    Only one person was capable of doing this¡­ and it was¡ª

    "[If you mean Serah Crimson, then yes. She is the perpetrator of this event]."

    Ana''s grin broadened as she took in the devastation one final time. It was a shame she couldn''t obtain a sample, but that probably didn''t matter since she now had an epiphany.

    "Are you done cross referencing?"

    "[Correct. The data is ready. Do you wish to look at them now?]"

    "No¡­ let''s save that forter. Transfer the data to Beruel so he can also have a look at ater time."

    "[Understood]." As Anabelle''s response rang in her head, Ana could feel her heart thumping harder and harder.

    ''I can''t wait to begin studying all of this.'' She grinned, nowfortably heading back to the rest of the group.

    The mission was pretty much over at this point.

    All because of one person.

    "Serah, you monster. You couldn''t share this time¡­?"

    ******

    [Moments Earlier]

    Serah Crimson''s hands were folded as she absentmindedly stared at the Hive.

    Even though her body was present, it seemed like she was notpletely focused on the task at hand. A distracted expression yed on her face, and it didn''t seem like she had noticed the approaching Nether Beasts at all.

    ''Neron¡­'' Her thoughts trailed. ''... You bastard.''

    A frown began to form on her face the more she thought of her husband, who couldn''t even leave a farewell message exining himself or the situation to her.

    Her chest hurt. Her heart burned. Her mind churned.

    It was a maddening experience.

    Serah only wanted it to end. She desired to silence everything. She merely wanted to shut her eyes and forget¡­ but also to vent.

    She was tired of keeping all of these feelings in, suffering in silence as she bottled everything in order not to do something she would regret.

    No more.

    Serah couldn''t control herself any longer.

    Finally surrendering herself to the primal emotions that consumed her, Serah took a step forward, focusing not on the imminent foes, or the overall danger of the mass before her.

    No¡­ she only had one thought.

    To release it all.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading.

    Now we know who the culprit is. How many of you already guessed it?

    Haha¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1167 Vermillion Nebula

    <h4>Chapter 1167 Vermillion Neb</h4>

    The Nether Beasts charged in their swarm, all screeching with their disgusting tones.

    They had found their prey, a lone redhead woman who seemedpletely lost as she moved towards them, and none of them desired to let it go.

    As such, their wings pped and their mouths watered as theyunched themselves at her¡­ unaware of what would happen next.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUSHHHH!~

    The instant they got close enough, all the Nether Beasts felt it.

    The PRESSURE!

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    They could hardly move as their bodies rattled, trembling in the presence of an invisible force that was outside their ability toprehend.

    As wild beasts with some level of intelligence, they could understand certain things¡ªlike sadness, happiness, hunger, anger¡­ and FEAR.

    Their instincts constantly screamed at them that what they were feeling was thetter.

    Unfortunately for them, it was toote.

    The angel of death had appeared, and she was now coated in crimson mes¡ªfrom top to bottom.

    Her body seemed like it was made from the very depths of hellfire, and her burning eyes glowed with destruction.

    And then there was the heat¡­ enough heat to seep into one''s bone marrow and boil blood.

    The unmoving creatures felt all of these at once.

    As their opponent''s fiery hair danced behind her, the Nether Beasts felt their bodies disintegrate. Even though they prided their bodies for being tough and resilient, it was no match for the mere radiation that she emitted.

    With each step she took in the hollow space, the Nether Beasts felt more than enough heat embrace them.

    Until finally¡­ they crumbled to dust, cremated by Serah Crimson before she even touched them.

    ******

    ''It''s too much¡­'' Serah''s thoughts echoed as she kept moving forward.

    She finally wanted to release all her emotions, but how?

    Something told her it would yield nothing but destruction, but if she kept hoarding it, it could end up destroying her.

    Finally lifting her gaze to the ck mass before her, Serah became instinctively drawn to it.

    "If it''s you¡­ you should be able to take it¡­" She whispered, her bright body glowing even more intensely.

    "... All of it."

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHH!~

    She began to fly in the direction of the Hive, having no regard for her life or safety. The strong pull of the massive sphere aided in her swift transportation, drawing her closer than ever in just a moment.

    A swarm of Nether Beasts were still charging at her, and Serah felt it would be the perfect chance to end everything.

    She had unconsciously started using her Original Magic: Invincible, but now¡­ she wanted to do something different.

    Something that would pour every emotion she wanted out of her.

    And so Serah pursed her lips and uttered the words.

    "[Invincible Magic: Vermillion Neb]."

    Instantly, a massive cloud of crimson dust and gas surged from all over her body. It covered her up and filled everything around her for thousands of miles.

    And then it became a hundred thousand¡­ swiftly graduating into millions of miles.

    The cloud rapidly gushed out of her, like red steam fighting to get loose after being locked away for so long.

    Finally, after only a couple of seconds, the Vermillion Neb hadpletely shrouded the Hive.

    Serah Crimson, who was already face to face with the Hive, stretched out her hand to touch its ck surface.

    The surface felt strangely gooey, as if she was dipping her hands into a muddyke. However, the sensation was inconsequential at this point.

    Only one thing mattered now.

    "Ignite¡­"

    In that moment, the cloud of dust and gas that had shrouded everything around her, in merely the fraction of a moment, all lit up in destructive mes.

    The result?

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~

    The rest was history.

    Serah Crimson was unaffected by the st, despite being in such close proximity, because of her Invincible Form.

    And so she was able to witness the entire Hive''s destruction from the nearest position.

    She viewed the destruction of something that neared a gxy in size¡­ taking in all the destruction it experienced.

    As her eyes reflected the Hive''s destruction, she could finally feel what she had sought after for so long.

    Tears fell from her eyes, and for the first time in so long¡­ she screamed at the top of her lungs, crying and clenching her fists until her entire body shook in pure emotion.

    "NEEEEERRRRROOOOOOOOONNNNN!!!"

    The explosion devastated everything, scattering the final vestiges of Nether all around, though in a few more seconds they too would be consumed by her mes.

    Amid the debris, there she was¡­ crying and screaming Neron''s name.

    Despite the tumultous state of her heart, she finally felt at ease. As if she had just gotten rid of her burdens. She had said all that was needed to be said, and now it was time for peace.

    A calm after the storm.

    "Haaa¡­" Before Serah realized it, she was smiling.

    And then she startedughing. It started as a small chuckle, but it soon graduated into full blown cackles.

    "Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

    Anyone who saw her would think she was insane as she sunk deeper into her revelry. Nothing seemed to matter at that point.

    Her mind was just so clear¡ªclearer than it had been for years.

    It felt surreal; the definition of pure bliss.

    "Thank you¡­" Serah finally ceasedughing and settled for a soft smile, not knowing who exactly she was talking to.

    "... I really needed that."

    She turned around and noticed that the final vestiges of Nether hadpletely vanished, and found all her allies drawing closer to her.

    It suddenly felt like she was the center of attention.

    All the spectators and participants gathered around her with smiles on their faces.

    No one said anything.

    They only smiled, drew closer¡­ and everyone embraced.

    Serah couldn''t exin the moment well. She didn''t understand the words she was meant to utter at that moment.

    No, perhaps there were no needs for words.

    She closed her eyes and epted the embrace, feeling thest embers of heaviness leave her heart. The only thing that coursed through her entire being¡­ was peace.

    It was at this point she realized the ones she was speaking to back then.

    ''Thank you, everyone.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    I''m happy to see that Serah dealt with her burdens, and the team is closer than ever.

    I feel like they''re more than ready to depart.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1168 Strict Evaluation

    <h4>Chapter 1168 Strict Evaluation</h4>

    "It''s time to give my verdict."

    As I stood before all nine participants of the recently concluded challenge, a lot of thoughts swarmed me.

    Sure, we had a very touching moment encouraging Serah after watching her blow up the entire Hive, but in the end, this was a mission with the highest sets of stakes that we nned for.

    To ensure it was a sess, I had to be strict with the grading.

    "Beruel, Aurora, Gerard, Z''ark¡­ you weren''t able topletely eliminate your foes due to the interruption, but with enough time, I''m confident you would have done so. You pass." I began with the obvious.

    "Maria and Serah. It goes without saying that you three pass. You have immensely destructive abilities, and we need all the firepower we can get when we face Legris."

    I had already suspected that these two had grown stronger over the years, but seeing it with my own eyes was enough to prove it.

    ''I didn''t know you had developed your Original Magic, Maria. I guess you wanted to surprise me.'' Well, it worked.

    And then there was Serah. Her destruction of the entire Hive was unexpected, but in a way, it worked to our advantage.

    ''I''m happy to see that we have a few who can rival the power of the ones who were disced.'' I nodded at the two of them.

    "You pass."

    My gaze moved to the two who, in all honesty, stole my attention the most.

    "Ana and Lemi¡­ what can I say?" I truly didn''t know how to properly express myself to these two.

    Ana fought like I would; as a Magic Schr. She utilized the least amount of Aether, achieving the best results possible. Her ability to think on the spot and strategize on the appropriate Spell to use was just spectacr.

    I had never been prouder of her ability atbat. Rather than just pouring energy into one''s attacks, it was better to utilize it to the best measure.

    ''I guess people like Maria and Serah couldn''t bother with that since they already have so much energy to spare¡­''

    In any case, Ana was a fine addition to the team based on her strategic mind and impressive use of Spells.

    ''And then there''s Lemi¡­'' My gaze fell on her, and I found myself gulping hard.

    How in the world did she learn Spellcraft?!

    ''She calls it [Absolute Domain], but it functions exactly the same way Spellcraft does!'' My mind pounded as I stared at her.

    It made me realize just how simr we were, and how far she hade since ourst interaction ten years ago.

    Of course¡­ I''d never tell her that.

    Not yet, anyway.

    ''Plus, her application of Spellcraft, containing her energy inside a dome in order to protect it from interference from Nether¡­ it''s genius.''

    Both her and Ana made me pleased to see intelligent strategies sessfully implemented in the battleield.

    "You both pass. I was impressed with the way you used your abilities."

    I watched them both break into smiles, though Lemi seemed to be hiding hers quite well.

    ''Who are you fooling? Pfft!'' I subdued my chuckle and nced at thest person on the roster.

    "Jerry¡­"

    All focus was on him at this point, and his gaze was currently locked on his feet. It seemed he didn''t have the courage to look me in the eye or to spout out the brave words he uttered thest time.

    He must have understood the difference in ability between himself and everyone else present.

    "You surprised me the most, Jerry. You''ve improved greatly since thest time we met, and even in the fight, you desyed tenacity and an unwillingness to give up. It reminded me of the Inter ss Exchange we had back in Ainrk."

    Even back then, he had the same eyes.

    "But I remember you were hurt, almost to the point of death, back then. Your unwillingness to give up put your life in danger then, as it did in this mission¡­"

    For that reason alone, Jerry''s tenacity could end up being his weakness.

    "I-I see¡­" He murmured, a small smile ying on his face.

    "Yes. But Jerry, do you also remember what happened back then? When you held out for so long that you would have died if you continued for longer?"

    "Wha¡­?" Jerry raised his head and looked at me.

    His eyes widened in surprise, most likely because he saw my smiling face.

    "I came to your rescue, didn''t I? Your actions inspired me. You moved me to take action, and I did. That was something no one else could have done." I took a few steps closer to Jerry, cing my hand on his shoulder.

    "You disyed the same bravery today. And all of us who watched were moved by it."

    I watched as Jerry''s eyes darted at everyone else, and they widened even more. He was probably shocked by how many smiles and nods of approval he was recieving.

    "You aren''t fighting alone. We''re a team. As long as you hold out and don''t give up¡­ we''ll be there to support you." I removed my hand from his shoulder and formed a fist, hitting his chest softly with it.

    "You pass, Jerry. Everyone passes."

    This was my strict evaluation of the mission.

    "All fourteen of us will be leaving for our Original World now. We have already said our goodbyes, and we have strengthened our resolves for this moment." I smiled as I raised my voice, ensuring my eyes met every single member I was responsible for.

    I was determined to end this entire chapter once and for all.

    "No matter what, we must win."

    I heard the words of myrades bounce into my ears, all of them cheering and responding to my words.

    Even Jerry cheered loudly, a wide smile etched on his face as he nodded violently.

    ''No matter what¡­ no matter the cost¡­'' I looked at everyone present, a smile still etched on my face.

    ''... We have to win.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    I ertainly hope for a happy ending for everyone present here.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1169 The Stain Of Darkness

    <h4>Chapter 1169 The Stain Of Darkness</h4>

    The scorching sun overhead painted a certainndscape with its golden rays, raining down heat and vibrance until it grew akin to a flood.

    Settled dust and debris designed the earth, recreating a tableu of ruin to whomever could see it.

    Unfortunately, only corpses were present to witness this sight.

    Lying on the boiling, shattered earth were the dead bodies of countless thousands of denizens. Their cold formsy still as dried blood formed a sea of carnage.

    The radiance of the sun reflected on the dead ones and their sticky smelly liquid, showing no mercy on all the dead denizens of the world.

    Not a single one of them were alive.

    ¡­ Not one.

    ~VWUUUUSSSHHH!~

    Staining the bright convas that brimmed with death, darkness began to form.

    Like a distortion in space, a stain on reality, the ckness expanded and created a hole¡ªa gate that perhaps led somewhere, or an opening for something toe through.

    Something¡­ or someone.

    From within the pure ck portal emerged thetter, a human who seemed to be in his early thirties.

    His tall form cast a silhoutte upon the world he entered, and the brilliance of light reflected on his brown hair and pale skin. His glowing purple eyes lit up, and the darkness he emerged from clung tight to him.

    His dark trenchcoat absorbed the luminous rays that descended from amove, and his ck boots stepped into the sticky dark red pool of blood that filled the ground.

    However, rather than frown or despair at the sight of pure carnage that spread out before him, he smiled instead.

    "I see you''ve handled the rest of them." The man spoke, his calm voice a sharp contrast to the chaos that surrounded him.

    Right now, millions¡ªno, billions of people¡ªwere dead.

    And he offered no remorse for their departure.

    Rather, his gaze fell on the two who were responsible for this sight of despair. They had appeared in front of him the moment he uttered the words from earlier, and even they did not seem the least bit upset by what they had done.

    The genocide they had wrought.

    This duo¡ªa boy and a woman¡ªdid not seem like the kind who would be responsible for such chaos.

    The woman was dressed in pure white, almost akin to an angel. Her white gown was well apanied by a veil that nearly covered her face. Her white long white hair cascading down her immensely attractive face, and her skin was so pure, it rivaled jewels.

    Finally, her golden eyes glowed with unspeakable radiance.

    All in all, she was a beauty unlike any other. Someone possessing such unreal charm could not have been responsible for this grotesque sight¡­ right?

    And what of the other one; the boy?

    He looked to be in histe teens, and had long dark hair which was tied to form a ponytail behind him. He was immensely handsome, but the most apt definition of his demeanor would be ''cute.''

    A stoic expression graced his face, and his blue eyes appeared nk.

    He too, like the angelic woman, did not look like a viin who would ughter the denizens of an entire world.

    They did not seem like the kind to associate with the shady man that had just emerged from malicious darkness.

    And yet¡­ here they were.

    "You''rete." The woman? said.

    "..." The boy said nothing.

    Instead, he gazed intently at the right hand of the one who hade from the portal. In his grasp was a fragment of light, seemingly brighter than even the sun that hung above.

    "Apologies, Ciel, Stefan¡­" His lips widened even more as the purple energy in his eyes flickered with every word he uttered.

    "... It seems the target wanted to live a little longer, so he struggled quite a bit."

    However, since the light fragment was currently in his grasp, the duo that stared at this man knew he must have seeded in his task.

    "Well, what matters is that you retrieved it¡­ right, Legris?"

    Yes, this man was Legris Damien, and the fragment of light that he held was merely what he considered to be one piece in the entire puzzle.

    "Indeed. I should thank you for weakening the target for me, Ciel." He smiled at the white maiden, and then turned his attention to the boy beside her.

    "You handled most of the resistance well, Stefan. Well done."

    All three of them had spent the past couple of weeks locating and finally obtaining their first piece.

    A mementous assion indeed!

    "What is that, though? Is that really what you were after all along?" Ciel asked, drawing Legris'' attention back to her.

    Upon hearing her question, he gave a lighthearted chuckle and raised the crystal-like fragment of light. His gaze fell on it, and it seemed like his eyes were devouring it just by how intensely Legris was staring.

    "Indeed. It''s only a mere fraction, but this is a piece of a Constetion. It''s the residue left behind in a person''s Soul once they make a contract with any of the twelve."

    "And? We just need to gather enough of this stuff, right? I sense Aether from it, so how is this any different from just absorbing a ton of that?" Ciel folded her hands, a sigh escaping her lips.

    "Haha¡­" Once again, Legris couldn''t help but chuckle at her words.

    However, the moment he noticed her frown, he slowly ceased it.

    "I apologize, but it''s a little funnyparing the two. Constetions possess the purest, most powerful kind of Aether. A fraction of a Constetion''s Aether is millions of times more powerful than the same fraction of regr Aether."

    "Ah, I see¡­" Ciel''s hands dropped, and her tone slowly took an apologetic road.

    "It''s fine. Aether herself has the highest concentration of herself, but it''s not like we can start hunting for a Singrity, right? We just have to make do with the Hosts chosen by Constetions."

    Upon hearing more of Legris'' exnation, it seemed his two allies slowly understood his point.

    That caused him to smile even more.

    "Once we obtain enough of this, I can finally begin [Convergence]."

    Stefan and Ciel both smiled, nodding their heads in agreement as they epted Legis'' words.

    It didn''t matter how many more worlds needed to be destroyed.

    It was no concern how many people had to die.

    There was no consideration for the sacrifices that would be required.

    As long as they seeded in their goals¡­ that was all that mattered.

    "I just need a lot more."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    It feels like an eternity since west saw Legris. I''ve missed him, to be honest.

    Just so

 Chapter 1170 Courting Insanity

    <h4>Chapter 1170 Courting Insanity</h4>

    [Years Later]

    "We''ve been at this for some time now, Legris, and it''s getting old."

    All three members of the group stood amidst a simrly distraught expanse, with corpses and destruction trailing thendscape for miles.

    Stefan anf Ciel had been waiting for Legris, and he just appeared from his ck portal, a smile fixed on his face and the light fragment in his grasp

    He had almost opened his mouth to speak before being interrupted by the only female in their midst, and harshly for that matter.

    Ciel was currently seated on shimmering golden surface, semingly made out of Magic. She no longer had her white veil on, and her outfit nowprised of golden embroidery that went with her white gown and scarf, but she appeared as divine as ever.

    A scowl tainted her wless face, and her golden eyes seemed to brighten in annoyance. She was clearly not in the best of moods.

    "When will we have enough to bring my lover back?" She finally blurted out the words that she had been keeping in for years now.

    The deal was that she would help Legris with his task, and in return he would reunite her with her lover. Ciel had joyously decided to ally herself with this man for that sole reason.

    Yet¡­ yet¡­

    "We''ve been on this hunt of yours for years now. When does it end?" Ciel''s voice grew louder with each passing second.

    In contrast, Stefan remained silent. His dark hair simply danced with the wind, and he looked nonchntly at the entire scene y out without trying to stop his teammates from getting into an argument.

    "Rx¡­" Legris'' soothing tone pierced the air, softening the loud echoes of Ciel''s banter.

    Suddenly, it felt like the heated atmosphere took a dive into chilly waters.

    "It will all happen in due time. About a dozen more times, maybe, and we can move on to the next phase. That doesn''t sound so bad, does it?"

    "I don''t know if I can wait that long?" Ciel snapped at Legris, her tone taking on a higher pitch than before.

    It caused Legris to sigh, almost in exasperation.

    ''Ciel is an unstable character, and while I could resort to my initial n of controlling her, thus removing her agency, she won''t be as powerful as she is on her own.''

    Plus, going through all that trouble would take up more energy than he wanted, and he didn''t want that.

    As a result, Legris had to put up with Ciel''a bantering, hoping she would cease her childish tantrums so they could depart.

    "Why don''t you just challenege a Constetion?"

    The sudden words from Stefan stunned both Legris and Ciel¡ªthough for different reasons¡ª causing both of them to shift their gazes in his direction.

    "Are you crazy? Do you think we can handle one? We constantly even¡ª"

    "No, Stefan has a point." Legris cut Ciel short with his as he slowly approached the young man before him.

    Unlike the teenager from before, Stefan had grown into a fine adult, with broader shoulders, a taller build, and even longer hair.

    His blue eyes no longer had the embers of innocence he preserved in the past, and his stoic face was reminiscent of a doll.

    Legris ced his hand on Stefan''s shoulder and nodded.

    "You must be courting insanity, the both ot you!" Ciel protested.

    "Look who''s talking. Pfft!" It seemed Legris'' teasing words were enough to force Ciel to keep quiet, at the very least for a propereback against the team leader.

    Unfortunately for her, she had nothing.

    "I understand your concerns, Ciel. For the most part, you are correct. However¡­" A glint of mischief yed in his eyes as he grinned maliciously.

    "... I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

    For a moment, the entire scene was bathed in silence, allowing Legris'' words to sink into his audience.

    "Well, we need to go now. Even if I say all of that, we''re curently not a match for Constetions? yet, so let''s postpone the fight, okay Stefan?"

    "Okay."

    Stefan''s simple answer was apanied by Ciel''s incoherent mumblings as she drew closer to Legris in her floating golden construct.

    With all three of them close in proximity, darkness began to seep out of Legris.

    ''The barrier is almostpromised. It''s fortunate we didn''t take too long fighting and squabbling¡­'' Legris smiled, watching the darkness expand to cover himself and his two allies.

    ''After all, our targets are their chosen ones.''

    Throughout the years, across several worlds, he had been busy collecting the pieces. He would fight the Constetion Hosts, dealing with a variety of very troublesome abilities.

    Even though they were merely limited versions of an actual Constetion''s Magic, Legris admitted his first few times had him requiring assistance.

    Fortunately, things were a lot better now.

    ''Much better.''

    "I still can''t get used to this¡­" He heard Ciel mumble as she and Stefan were swallowed by his darkness.

    He could only smile, considering this was the only way to protect himself and his allies from the reach of the Constetions.

    ¡­ By bringing them into his world.

    ''I just have to endure all of this for a bit longer¡­'' Once he had those thoughts, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to chuckle a little.

    "Haha¡­ hahaha¡­"

    ~VWUUUUUUMMMM~

    The darkness copsed, and the malevolent trio soon escaped the grasp of reality, their true destination unknown.

    At least, for now.

    *******

    ~VWUUUUUUUSSSHHHH!~

    My allies an I arrived at the reced world that Neron put in the original''s ce, and now that I was here for a second time, I noticed the slight differences in wavelength they both had.

    It was almost hrious how I had mixed the two together.

    "Well, what matters is that we''re here." I turned to look at all thirteen of my allies, nodding at them with a smile.

    "The first task is to track down Legris by narrowing down the traces he left here before leaving."

    They all understood what came after.

    "Let us begin."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Do you think Legris and his team have any chance of beating Jared and his team, and vice versa?

    Let me know in thements.

 Chapter 1171 Malevolent Reminder

    <h4>Chapter 1171 Malevolent Reminder</h4>

    We were currently standing in the wedding venue, thest known location of Legris Damien in anyone''s memory.

    The goal was to track him down by monitoring the traces of dimensional energy that he was bound to leave behind once he left our reality.

    ''It''s possible that he didn''t leave our reality from this specific location, but as long as I can capture his trace and extrapte that to determine his movements, it will eventually lead us to hisst known location in this world¡ªand, in extension, the next world he traveled to.''

    I hadn''t attempted to track down someone using this method before, and even with Magic it seemed like a strainious way to connect the dots.

    But¡­ I had to try!

    I separated myself from the rest of my allies, using a Spell to propel me into the air, to the very position Legris had upied when he crashed the wedding.

    From that height, I looked down and observed te countenance of the people beneath me, while also having the luxury to behold the entire Ainrk Campus.

    ''So this is what you saw, Legris¡­'' My mind trailed as I recollected the events of that day with sheer precision.

    Now wasn''t the time to dwell on nostalgia, though.

    "Time to track him down!" Closing my eyes, I activated my Spell¡ªabination of two distinct forms.

    One was [The World], which would help me collect data from all over the at once in response to dimensional energy.

    As for the second element, it was [Resonance].

    ''By resonating my [The World] Arcana with theirs, as well as keying into Legris Damien''s remnant energy, I should be able to track down his path.''

    For good measure, I had to use Spellcraft.

    ''There''s a lot of data to sort through, but I also had to be as thorough as possible.'' With that thought constantly hammered in my head, I activated my spell.

    "[World Resonance]"

    *********

    "I got it!"

    An excited expression spread all over my face as I finally found the information I needed.

    It only took me eight hours, but I seeded in tracking down Legris'' next location after he left this world. The mere fact that I pulled it off in such a short time amazed me, and I felt tingles of achievement course through me.

    To the ones who waited for me from below, they probably couldn''t understand how I felt. However, I knew¡­ I was immensely happy that my posttion seeded!

    Descending from my height, I reunited with myrades, and the first one to approach me was Maria.

    "Congattions, Jared. You pulled it off."

    ''A-ah! Did I let my excitement show too much?'' I wondered to myself, smiling sheepishly at her.

    Still, I had to take back my assumptions from earlier.

    It seemed Maria had noticed how happy I became as a result of my very risky experiment being sessful. For someone who hardly showed any emotion, she was great at detecting mine.

    "So, what now? We move to the next world that Legris traveled to, right?" Kuzon interrupted my interaction with Maria before I could properly offer a response.

    "Thank you." I mouthed those words to Maria and focused on Kuzon''s question.

    "I''ve sort of created a linking tether to Legris by Resonance, so we should be able to track his activities through the worlds."

    That was why [The World] was such a majorponent in the tracking Spell.

    "So what are we waiting for? Let''s g¡ª!" Hearing Gerard''s impatient voice, and watching him get knocked on the head by Serah felt satisfying for some reason.

    In as much as we had to tread carefully when it came to Legris, we also had to consider the time aspect. It would be unwise to dy any further after all our preparations.

    "Gerard is right. We should leave now."

    Swiftly activating [The World], I opened a shimmering wormhole before all of us. The swirling distortion glowed with different colors, and right beyond it was our destination.

    "Let''s go. Maintain your guard, okay?"

    It was highly improbable that we would encounter Legris on our first trip in tracking him down, but we couldn''t afford to rely on mere assumptions.

    As a result, it was important to be prepared for anything.

    We all stormed into [The World], with the strongest of everyone present¡ªKuzon and Edward¡ªleading the way, while I had to remain behind as thest to enter due to me casting the Spell.

    Once everyone had stormed in, I inhaled deeply, still smiling a little at myself. The flutters in my heart just wouldn''t cease.

    ''... And people ask why I got so obsessed with Magic.''

    I stepped into the swirling rift, and everything instantly became a blur until I appeared on the other side within no time at all

    The first thing I noticed were the burning rays of sunlight that washed over me. It felt so undreasonably hot, but the moment I decided to address the issue¡­ I experienced the rest of the world.

    And at that very moment, the smile on my face faded away.

    "T-this is¡­" I muttered, unable to trante the rest of my thoughts into words.

    Right before my eyes were the rotting of an immeasurablw number of people; a civilization inplete ruin.

    I spread my senses instantly, praying and hoping for a survivor. However, the only thing I found was more death.

    Everyone and everything in this was dead.

    ¡­ And the vile energy of our target stained this world like a putrid odor.

    Once again, I¡ªno, everone present to witness this¡ªwas reminded of the kind of person Legris Damien was.

    "A tragedy¡­" I heard Kuzon''s voice leak out in a murmur.

    It seemed all of my allies began to develop pity for the people in this world, the fallen ones whose stories we didn''t know.

    But for me, it was different.

    As I stared at the chaos that our target had wrought, the only thing that enveloped me was rage.

    ''That monster!''

    I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth, my resolve hardening the more I watched the dead worldid before me.

    "We need to stop him¡­ before he wreaks more havoc and destroys more lives¡­" I whispered.

    I had never been so eager, so desperate, to catch someone before.

    "He''s not getting away with this."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

    There''s going to be a little tangent from the next chapter, but its all important, I promise.

    Just continue following, and you''ll like it.

    You can join the Discord for more character arts and interaction with me and other readers.

    Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1172 The Chosen One

    <h4>Chapter 1172 The Chosen One</h4>

    In the small patch ofnd, locked between the two major states of La and Pheron, all under the banner of the United Alliance Nation, there was the town of Ephron.

    It was located just beyond the twin mountains that anyone could see from a distance, though from a particr angle, their peculiar shapes formed a certain odd image, given thier perkiness.

    Ephron wasn''t veryrge, and its poption only numbered a few thousand. As a small town, they mostly engaged in substinence farming¡ªor at least, they used to.

    However, this very town had been tansformed into a tourist center nearly overnight.

    It constantly buzzed with an unreal crowd for such a small, unremarkable vige. Despite how uncivilized a ce like this was supposed to look like, it had the best kinds of facilities that would definitely rival the biggest cities.

    The walls that circled their viges was made from the best of materials, and their roads were tiled. Their houses were built with the best stones and wood, and facilities such as constant water supply were also handled.

    No other small town could boast of something like this.

    Small-scale farming was abandoned by the denizens, and there mere toll obtained from tourists was enough to keep money flowing through the pockets of the previously impoverished denizens of Ephron.

    The future seemed to be looking up well, and life had never been better for them.

    And all of this was because of one man.

    Zephyr Xanders¡­ also known as the Hero of the World.

    About thirty years ago, the seal to the Demon World finally broke loose, and a great war ensued that plunged the entire world to ruin.

    Civilizations crumbled, and the Demons¡ªled by the Demon Lord¡ªsought theplete annihtion of everything that existed besides their malevolent race.

    The races of the world joined forces and made the continent due South as their final stronghold, creating the United Alliance Nation.

    They all struggled against the Demons, fighting a losing war that only dwindled their numbers as time passed. All hope seemed to be lost, and after fifteen years of a long, bitter war¡­ deapair had already set in for thr world.

    The Demons were well on their way to conquest, and the fate of the remnant of the Alliance was sealed.

    Utter extinction awaited them.

    ¡­ Or so they thought.

    That was when the legendary Hero, Zephyr Xanders appeared seemingly out of nowhere!

    He was only fifteen years old at the time, but he disyed power that no adult dared boast of. He was stronger than the greatest warriors of the Alliance, and he had more profeciency in Magic than the world''s leading Mages.

    He was a child prodigy¡ªa genius!

    No¡­ perhaps he was more than that. Geniuses appeared every now and then, but no one like Zephyr had ever appeared in the world''s history.

    He was eventually deemed as the Chosen One¡­ the Hero from Heaven!

    This very Hero went on to face the horde of Demons with his elite team, called the Hero Party, and together they marched into the heart of the Demon Territory, achieving victory after victory.

    Until finally, after much sweat, blood and sacrifices, the Hero was able to reach the Demon King''s castle.

    After what could only be described as the most destructive battle that nearly tore through the bnce of the world, the Hero emerged the victor, finally eliminating the Demon King and all of his minions.

    This brought an end to the long fifteen-year war.

    The next five years were used by the Alliance to recover its strength and rebuild. Under the protection of the Hero, they properly established themselves as the single nation of the world, run by a council that consisted of a represntative from each race.

    It was a perfect system of governance, and this administration caused everyone to live in peace and order.

    And now, ten years had passed since all of that. Tales of the war were now left to stories, and the world was experiencing nothing but peace.

    As for why Ephron became such a hub, it was because Zephyr Xanders was born there.

    Yes, he was raised by peasant parents, having no connection or ties to anyone noteworthy, yet he was able to rise above everyone else in the world.

    His story served as an inspiration for everyone who knew him¡ªespecially those who were born in small towns and in simple households.

    "Anyone can be great if they work hard! Look at Zephyr!"

    That became a slogan that became passed around the world, and so even after the long war, the Hero remained a symbol of hope for the world.

    A true Chosen One.

    *******

    "U-urgh¡­" Zephyr woke up with a mile headache as he opened his eyes.

    His luxurious room greeted his eyes, and therge bed he currentlyy on offered himfort. He looked beside him and noticed his wife was still speeping.

    As he watched her pointed ears perk up, what always happened when Elves were in deep sleep so that they could sense danger even when resting, Zephyr smiled.

    His wife''s beautiful face was buried in her long white hair, and that caused his smile to increase even more.

    ''She''s too cute.'' He thought to himself.

    Even though he had been married to her for ten years now, he had never gotten tired of seeing her every morning. He constantly felt a sense of joy when he looked at her and the two children they had together.

    He still couldn''t believe someone like him was given a second chance like this.

    ''I dreamt of my previous life again¡­ back when I had nothing.'' Zephyr thought to himself as he rose from his bed.

    His well-built body was bare due to his nakedness, and his immensely handome face could make any woman fawn over him. Zephyr thought back to how unattractive and chubby he looked like in his previous life, and a wry smile formed on his face.

    He stepped away from his bed and stood in front of the mirror that was carefully hung on the wall.

    His blond hair, azure eyes, and overall charming look never ceased to amaze him.

    He was no naissit, though. Zephyr only made it a habit to stare at himself in the mirror in order to remind himself of who he currently was.

    No longer was he the "Piggy" that all the mean kids in school called him, or the waste of space that his family referred to him as.

    No, he was different now.

    He was the Hero of the Wordl!

    Zephyr smiled at himself and touched the t surface of the mirror, unable to let go.

    ''People often wonder how I was able to rise to the top despite growing up in the boonies, from ordinary parents¡­''

    He never told them his secret, so everyone assumed his story served as an inspiration to every average kid out there.

    They were wrong, though.

    He was far from average or normal. Everything about the circumstances of his birth, as well as his existence in this world, was due to a miracle he had only read about in his past life.

    Reincarnation!

    ''I was reincarnated into this world after a shitty life in my past one, and I n to live my life to the fullest here!''

    Yes, this was Zephyr Xavier''s true story, a secret he nned on taking to the grave with him.

    Unfortunately, that moment was drawing closer than anyone could expect.

    ¡­ He just didn''t know it yet.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading.

    Yes, I know it seems like a diversion from the main story, but it really isn''t.

    Read the next chapter, and it''ll all make sense, I promise.

    All of this stuff is important.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1173 The Homefront

    <h4>Chapter 1173 The Homefront</h4>

    "Dad!"

    "Papa!"

    Zephyr was greeted by his two adorable kids as he returned to his luxurious house after his early morning jog.

    It had be his ritual to leave every morning on a jog, passing through the town and greeting everyone present there. It served as a way to maintain a good rtionship with everyone in his hometown, thus maintaining his humble image.

    He also found it to be a good way to clear his head and bathe in gratitude for being able to enjoy such a nice life.

    "Haha! You runts were waiting for me again, weren''t you?" He grinned at the two angels he had in front of him.

    The older one was a girl called Margeret, and she took after her mother a lot. As for the youngest member of their family, his name was Mark, and he took after Zephyr. They were six and three years old respectively, so their ''child status'' still held up.

    Both kids had slightly pointed ears, solidifying their statuses as Half-Elves, and they were both the cutest things in the world¡ªat least, ording to Zephyr.

    "Hehe! Yes!"

    "Come y with us!"

    "You two are¡­ oof!" Zephyr felt the weight of hid kids as they pounced on him despite his sweaty body.

    He found himselfughing, and so did his children. When things got like this, he just couldn''t control himself.

    He was just bursting with such indescribable joy that he felt like he might cry.

    "Alright, that''s enough you three!" Of course, the one who would always intervene at times like this was his dear wife.

    "Marceline, I¡­ ahem, can exin¡­" Zephyr chuckled as he felt his kids jump all over his body.

    He knew it looked bad, but he was just a father ying with his kids.

    "Go freshen up first! The kids will learn bad habits if you keep doing this." Marceline, the breathtakingly beautiful Elf sighed as she looked at her husband.

    She currently had a casual housewife atture on, and an apron strapped on, hiding most of her perky breasts and the rest of her well-rounded figure.

    "Y-yes ma''am!" Zephyr promply responded, rising from the floor while carrying both of his kids shoulders.

    "And you two¡­ you haven''t freshened up too! No breakfast for any of you if you aren''t done within thirty minutes."

    The two children instantly froze, ceasing their childish cheers. Panic spread all over their faces, and they turned to their father to save them.

    Unfortunately for them¡­

    "You heard your mom. Let''s go."

    ¡­ Even their father was no exception to their mother''s power.

    *******

    "I recently got a Magic Message from everyone. It seems they''ll be arriving here before nightfall." Marceline spoke as she served the family their meal.

    Everyone was in the dining area, and right before Zephyr were an assortment of tasty dishes that he could not wait to dig into.

    However, by Marceline''s rules, she had to finish setting everything up before anyone could have a bite.

    Zephyr felt it was especially unfair because Marceline required everyone to be seated while she was undertaking this process.

    ''Why can''t she just call us when it''s all set? This is torture!'' Zephyr screamed internally, and looking at the faces of his two kids, he knew they felt the same.

    ''Should I risk it and take a bite? I mean, it''s not like she would mi¡ª'' One nce at Marceline''s dangerous smile told Zephyr not to even dream about moving his hands until she was done.

    Instead, he gulped down all his umted saliva and chose to respond to her earlier words.

    "That''s great. Those four made it seem like they wouldn''t make it in time for tomorrow, but I knew they were just pulling my legs."

    The ''four'' he was referring to were the surviving members of the Hero Team. Even Marceline was a member of the Hero Party, which consisted of ten members in its prime.

    Unfortunately, during the war, three of them passed away. A few years back, another passed of old age.

    Thet left Zephyr, Marceline, and his four other friends.

    "Well, tomorrow is a special day, after all. I doubt they would miss it for anything in the world." Marceline smiled, finally taking her seat after she had finished setting up the table.

    At this point, Zephyr required nothing else but to dig into his meal and enjoy his wife''s amazing cooking.

    Not only was she an amazing cook, but she was immensely skilled in every field imaginable. Even, of course, in the bedroom.

    Zephyr often asked himself if he deserved such a perfect wife, and the answer every time was a resounding ''NO!''

    He didn''t deserve his amazing wife, his adorable kids, his supportive town, and overall¡­

    ¡­ He didn''t deserve this awesome life!

    "Haha! Time to dig i¡ª"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Before Zephyr couldplete his sentence, or taste a single meal his wife had made, an eruption of mass destruction ured, engulfing their home in mes.

    Everything¡ªfrom the furniture, to the house walls, to the everything of value or not¡ªinstantly got blown away by the st.

    The mes scorched everything within the house, and whatever didn''tpletely burn was scattered in various directions thanks to the intense explosion.

    But what of Zephyr and his family? Were they done in too?

    ~SHUUUUUUUUU!~

    Hot steam rose from a golden energy field thatpletely shrouded Zephyr and his family from any harm.

    Everything within the dining area was kept intact¡ªhis wife, his kids, and of course¡­ his food.

    "W-what was that?" Marceline''s voice echoed as she finally realized what had just happened around them.

    The only one who was fast enough to react was Zephyr, and even he had only been saved thanks to one of his Cheat-like ability [Automatic Shield].

    "I''m not sure. But I intend to find out!" Zephyr instantly rose from his feet, his gaze focusing on the sky, where he noticed a presence hovering.

    "Take care of the kids. The barrier should remain as long as I will it, but create an additionalyer of defense, just in case."

    Zephyr''s body instantly glowed golden, and his eyes shone azure as he began to float.

    "Please be careful!" Marceline yelled, her worried expression staining the usually pretty demeanor she would have.

    Her kids were huddled in her arms, and expressions of fright could be seen on their faces too.

    For innocent kids who had never once experienced danger, this was a strange new experience for them. However, even they instinctively felt fear.

    And it paralyzed them.

    "Of course. I always am." Zephyr gave his family an assuring smile, even winking at his wife before ascending even further.

    "I''ll be back before my food gets cold!"

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHH!~

    Rising to the sky, he left his family in the ruins of what was their home, rushing in the direction of the presence he had been sensing since the explosion.

    Finally, once he was out of the thick fog of smoke, and was in the vast expanse of the sky, he could clearly see the man who casually hovered in the air.

    He had dark brown hair, pale skin, purple eyes, and a somewhat menacing aura about him. He donned a dark trenchcoat, and while he appeared to be in his early thirties, Zephyr felt unable to rely on that.

    "Who are you? Do you realize what you''ve just done? Who you just attacked?" He yelled, a mix of pure rage and anxiety evident in every syble he uttered.

    The man before him merely gave a casual smile, finally opening his lips to speak.

    "My name is Legris Damien¡­ and I''m here for you, Constetion Host."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I hope you all understand the ties now. If you feel it was unnecessary to exposit on Zephyr, well¡­ I like telling my stories that way.

    I also wasn''t lying that all of this stuff is important.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1174 Hero Vs Villain [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1174 Hero Vs Viin [Pt 1]</h4>

    ''Legris Damien? Who is that?''

    Zephyr Xanders maintained his stern re at the stranger before him, wondering his identity.

    At first, he had suspected him to be a spawn of the Demons, or someone who wanted revenge or something. However, the name and face of this man rang no bells for him.

    That left only one thing¡­

    "Constetion Host? So you know, huh?" Zephyr murmured.

    Did this man know about his reincarnation? No, he couldn''t jump to conclusions yet. The only thing he seemed to know about him was the fact that he had a Constetion as a backer.

    ''But what''s going on?'' He wondered to himself.

    Ever since he got reincarnated, he hadn''t heard of anyone mentioning the Constetions. The only reason he knew of their existence was due to his backer appearing to him after his death, offering him a second chance.

    They made a deal, and in exchange for the unfathomable power he obtained from his Constetion, he was supposed to save this world as its Hero.

    He had fulfiled his end of the deal, defeating the Demon King and bringing bnce to his new reality.

    So why was this being mentioned again? Why was a stranger suddenly after him due to his status as a Constetion Host?

    ''Lord Saggittarius, are you there? There''s a strange man here¡­ and he knows!''

    Zephyr recieved no response from his Constetion, which was perhaps the most bothersome thing ever!

    This had never happened before.

    "Are you trying to reach your Constetion? You shouldn''t bother. There''s a barrier that separates this point from the rest of reality. In essence, we are currently out of their domain." The man who called himself Legris Damien spoke.

    His voice seemed too calm for the statement he had just made.

    ''He separated my world from reality? Is that even possible? How powerful is this man?'' Zephyr began to feel sweat drip from his face.

    Even in his prime, during the war 15 years ago, he hadn''t faced anyone who imed to have this much power.

    And that was so long ago too. A lot had happened since then, and while he still had a perfectly fit body, he hadn''t properly fought anyone during the time of peace.

    ''Can I really win?'' Zephyr found himself asking.

    He no longer had the counsel of his Constetion on his side, and he was fighting a strange foe for the first time in fifteen years.

    The odds were stacked against him.

    "No¡­" He clenched his fist and swallowed the rest of the saliva that had formed in his throat.

    His eyes glowed with resolve as his eyes darted beneath him, witnessing the small expanse that his hometown upied.

    This was no time to doubt or hesitate. He couldn''t give in to uncertainty¡­ not while he was needed.

    "I am the Hero of this world. I am the Chosen One of the Heavens. I am Zephyr, husband and father of two¡­" His body glowed brighter with every word he uttered, until the golden light covered his entire body.

    "... I will not lose!"

    Like a true warrior made of pure gold, he floated magnificently.

    Golden armor radiated all over him, and even his face was shrouded in a sturdy helmet, though a long slit remained in the helmet''s eye region so he could see.

    In this form of his, all his abilities increased exponentially, with his defensive abilities shooting through the roof as well.

    ''I''ll have to be cautious here. I don''t know what kind of ability he has¡­'' Zephyr told himself, thinking about the family he had to return home to.

    ''The fact that he could destroy my home in one hit shows he''s not an ordinary person. I can''t sense his energy levels, or anything about him. Plus, even though I''ve transformed, he doesn''t seem fazed by my power at all.''

    That was alone to tell Zephyr that this was a high stakes battle.

    ''But there''s no turning back. This world needs me! My family needs me! This man is clearly a threat. It is my duty to eliminate him!''

    Zephyr stretched forth his hand, and his heroic de appeared in his grasp. It shone golden, having a size almost as tall as Zephyr himself.

    This was the same sword he had used to defeat the Demon King. It was the blessed de, one that possessed immense power and unfathomable depth.

    With this de in his grasp, victory was assured!

    "Are you done? Then, I will begin¡­" Legris Damien muttered, and just as soon as he spoke, he vanished!

    ''H-huh?!''

    Zephyr''s eyes couldn''t detect Legris for a moment, and all of a sudden, he detected it¡­

    ¡­ DANGER!

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    Legris had now appeared behind Zephyr, his hand stretching to touch him. Zephyr didn''t know why, but all his instincts screamed at him that he couldn''t let that happen.

    "Raahhhhhh!!!" With a loud roar, Zephyr twisted his body with unimaginable speed, gripping his powerful de with both hands.

    Throwing away his earlier idea of caution, he only had one goal as he swung his de with all his might.

    "Dieeeeeeee!"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    The pressure apanying the swung de was no joke. It seemed to rend even space itself as it approached Legris, and its powerful aura seemed to climb to even higher levels the closer it got to its target.

    Until finally, it reached.

    The enemy would be torn asunder, turned into dust, by the power of the de.

    They would cease to exist, forever destroyed by the overwhelming power of golden light.

    Purified by the Hero''s strength, they would forever disappear.

    At least, that was how it was supposed to go.

    However¡­

    ~CRACK!~

    ¡­ What happened next was somethingpletely different.

    Golden fragments danced around, their shattered selves cackling with remnant power. Appearing like ss, they floated away, all leaving the point of impact like departing birds.

    "N-no¡­ way¡­" Zephyr''s eyes widened at the sight.

    His heroic de had been destroyed¡­ in just one hit?

    "H-how¡­?"

    The hilt he held was the only proper part of the de. Everything else had shattered apart, leaving him nearly paralyzed by the imminent despair that approached.

    It was at this point that he heard the ominous tone of the man who bnow stood imposingly before him, like an impossible wall of darkness.

    "For one who professes to be a Hero¡­ you are quite weak."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Alright, everyone!

    Time to cast your bets on who will win.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1175 Hero Vs Villain [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1175 Hero Vs Viin [Pt 2]</h4>

    Despair.

    It usually began subtly in the form of doubt. Then it would continue to fester until it became fear, eating deeper into one''s soul.

    Until finally¡­ it would grow into sheer despondency.

    Zephyr was currently in the second stage¡ªFEAR!

    His hands trembled as his eyes widened at the sight of his shattered de, and his lips quivered in confusion. It had all happened so quickly, so Zephyr was unsure how his most prized weapon had suffered such loss.

    That small moment of shock made him vulnerable, enough for the man before him to reach out to touch him.

    ''A-ahh¡­ I messed up!'' By the time Zephyr realized what was happening, it was toote.

    His mind was too far gone.

    ~SHIIIIIIINNNGGG!~

    A golden barrier suddenly appeared, shrouding Zephyr in an energy field to shield him from Legris'' touch.

    If it weren''t for that, he knew that his end would have arrived.

    Almost as soon as the barrier was erected, yet another shocking scenario urred.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    An intense wave of energy descended from the heavens, like a bolt of lightning. It had four different colors¡ªred, blue, green, and orange¡ªand it possessed so much power that the entire area screamed in response to the descent.

    The wave of energy fell, not on Zephyr, but on Legris.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Like a pir of destructive light, it consumed Legris wholly, sucking him into the oblivion of illumination.

    "Haa¡­?" Zephyr''s eyes widened in relief, and his expression was a fine example of pleasant surprise.

    One look at his reaction was enough to prove that he wasn''t the one responsible for that final attack.

    Then¡­ who?

    "You''ve gotten rusty, Zephyr."

    "To think you didn''t deal with someone like that so quickly."

    "It''s a good thing we sensed something was up and arrived as quickly as we could."

    "Marceline''s message was helpful as well. Seems like trouble if you weren''t able to finish him in one blow."

    Appearing one after another, as their voices echoed in the air, were Zephyr''s oldrades: The Hero Party members.

    The first one who had spoken with his gruff tone was a stout and short old man. He had beards tied in three knots, and he appeared with hisplete set of armor. He was a dwarf, and the hammer he wielded with both hands was proof of his expertise; both in forging and crushing.

    The second who appeared was a Fairy. She looked tiny, and while she glowed with orange light, her clear skin and cute face could be clearly seen. She was dressed in her simple gown, and a small wand was carefully held in her tiny hand.

    The third was a human. He had a mage''s hat, and while he had long flowing grey beards thatplimented his elderly apperance, a youthful glow remianed in his eyes. He donned a long mage''s gown, and right on his hand was his crooked staff.

    The final individual was an Elf, and he had small cap that sat on his long white hair, nearly cascading over his pointy ears. He had a bow in his grasp, and his eyes gleamed with filial affection as he spoke.

    "Y-you guys!" Zephyr beamed in delight.

    All his closest friends, and his brother inw, were present. They had arrived right at the point he needed them.

    "Drun. Aisha. Liam. Marcus. Thank you foring!"

    The Dwarf, Fairy, Human, and Elf nodded as Zephyr called out their respective names. What were friends for, after all?

    "This is why you should have continued adventuring like us. You''ve grown too rusty, which is why you''re having issues with someone like this." Drun, the team''s Tank smiled, caressing his hammer as he spoke.

    Zephyr didn''t know what to say to the old man.

    It was true that he had gotten very rusty over the years, but that was only in the sense of experience. His power, battle senses, and every skill in his arsenal remained the same.

    When he got reincarnated, Zephyr was granted a lot of gifts from his Constetion, which made it impossible for him to rpse in power.

    He had a perfect body, an automatic defense, unparalleled battle senses, and power unlike any other in this world.

    He also possessed the power of his Constetion, though he was forbidden from using it on anyone else other than the enemy of the world at the time; the Demons.

    With so many abilities at his disposal, he was guaranteed victory no matter how long he had stayed without battle.

    Yet¡­

    "I don''t think that''s the case. He shattered my Heroic de. He''s no ordinary guy."

    "W-WHAT?!" Everyone burst out in shock the moment Zephyr uttered those words.

    They simply couldn''t believe their ears.

    Everyone knew about the strength of the Heroic de, especially the members of the Hero Party who had seen its power firsthand.

    "No way¡­" Aisha whispered, her hands covering her mouth as Zephyr showed everyone his de''s hilt.

    "By the Gods¡­" Liam muttered.

    "What in the world?" Even Marcus, the most collected of everyone, found himself gasping.

    However, the one who seemed to be the most affected by this news was the Dwarf among them.

    "How can such a guy even damage the ultimate treasure of the Hero?!" Drun eximed, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

    He simply believe that a nobody from nowhere, who didn''t even leak out any malevolent aura like the Demons they had beaten in the past, could have damaged the greatest weapon ever.

    Perhaps he was like this because he had made it his life''s mission to replicate the power of the de, yet failed every time.

    How could such a perfect work of art and destruction be ruined by a nobody?

    It made no sense!

    "Such a guy, huh? That hurts to hear, you know?" A sudden voice suddenly leaked out of the pir of light.

    Eveyone''s eyes widened with shock as they simultanously looked in the direction of their supposely lethal move.

    "I really wish weaklings like you wouldn''t look down on me so much¡­" Emerging from the multicoloredyer of destruction was a grinning Legris,pletely unharmed.

    "It makes me look bad."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The battle continues.

    The Hero Party members should give their all to subdue this demon of a man!

    If they seed, then Jared and co will have less work cut out for them, don''t you think?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1176 Hero Vs Villain [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1176 Hero Vs Viin [Pt 3]

    Silence.

    Pure decorum filled the entire aerial expanse as all the members of the Hero Party gawked at Legris emerging from the pir of multicolored light.

    How was that even possible?

    That attack was a one-hit kill move which required thebined energy of all four members of the Hero Party to aplish, and its energy consumption was also nothing to sneeze at.

    Even if it was reasonable to expect some enemies to survive that attack, none of them could do so without sustaining at least some form of injury?

    So how? How was this man not harmed in the slightest as he casually proceeded out of their attack?

    At this point, everyone began to feel the same thing Zephyr felt when his de shattered.

    The ever-growing hold of FEAR.

    It wasn''t just because he had survived two surefire attacks in a row, but also due to the current state he was in.

    Disgusting ck energy, like a fine mix of tar and thickck smoke, began to leak from his body. It felt so disturbing, unnatural.

    The spectators found themseles trembling despite the confidence they had disyed not too long ago.

    "W-what are you¡­?"

    No one knew who uttered the question, but they all agreed with it. This man before them couldn''t be human, or any other reasonable entity.

    He was different! They could feel it down to their soul.

    "WHAT ARE YOU?!" They all screamed at this point.

    However, Legris did not even respond to their question. He only had a smile on his face as he slowly raised his hand.

    He pointed at one of them, Drun. The way his pale finger was directed at the Dwarf¡­ it felt oddly malevolent.

    A single gesture caused the previously loud man to quiver in fright.

    "You¡­ I''ll kill you first."

    Silence once again seized the moment, causing everyone to widen their eyes as they interchanged nces between Legris and Drun.

    Then¡­

    "I won''t le¡ª"

    ~FWISH!~

    A dark line of energy surged from Legris'' finger, instantly traveling from his position to the target''s location.

    The darkness, without mercy or consideration, pierced Drun''s head, crushing all the defenses he had set in ce¡ªboth with his armor and Magic.

    In that instant, all of Drun''s insides were corrupted by the single piercing line, and his brain corroded at once.

    All of this happened within a single moment, and so the only thing Like someone exploding from the inside-out, Drun''s darkened body everyone else could see was the thin line that proceeded from Legris¡­ and the destruction of their friend.

    ~SPLAT!~

    Like someone exploding from the inside-out, Drun''s darkened bodypletely erupted, sending his body parts flying in multiple directions.

    His blood, his gory insides, and his tattered flesh¡­ everything found their way away from each other, like fireworks of death.

    By the time the group of five, now four, realized what had happened¡­ their eyes turned bloodshot.

    "A-ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Screams of pain, sadness and fear, all at once, echoed in the air.

    A longtime ally and friend had just perished in the blink of an eye, and now his remains clung on their body, stinking like rotten flesh mixed with the most despicable odor imaginable.

    It overwhelmed their senses, causing the mourners to enter a frenzy.

    "So noisy¡­" Legris'' whisper caught all their attention as they turned to him almost instantly.

    Their faces, previously reminiscent of calm experience, had now transformed into primal savagery.

    "YOU¡­ IT''S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

    Energy roared from all of them as they targeted their grief towards the rightful target¡ªthe malefactor himself.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    Power rushed through the air like an unstoppable current, and the entire space began to tremble as a result of the power being disyed.

    Climbing higher and higher, the energies of the aggrevieved friends reached a climax.

    No, it even surpassed the climax!

    They all prepared their bodies and strenghtened their resolves, forgetting the fear and terror they had just experienced.

    They only sought revenge, justice for their fallen friend.

    Power rushed, and theymenced their charge, the heavens shattering in anticipation for the overwhelming force.

    Any more and¡ª

    ~SPLAT!~

    ~SPLOOSH!~

    ~SPURT!~

    In that one second, the remaining three members of the Hero Party met their end the same way Drun did.

    Their bodies exploded into bloody bits, leaving nothing left but gory remnants that reeked of rotting blood and death.

    The only surivor, witnessing the instant deaths of his four friends, was Zephyr.

    "H-haa¡­ haaa¡­?"

    His widened eyes couldn''t believe what had just happened.

    All of them¡ªhis friends that left their grand lives of adventure so they could all spend the next day in celebration¡ªwere dead.

    He was certain that when they left their homes, none of them had thought that they would die today.

    Even when they sensed danger and rushed to his aid, their demise must have never crossed their minds.

    Zephyr wondered just when they thought they would die during th exchange.

    He couldn''t think of any moment.

    He¡­ even he had never once thought of a scenario where he would die.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­"

    So why? Why had his friends died despite all the ns they had for the next day? Why did this man take them away from this world?

    As the questions surged through his mind, he lifted his gaze to look at Legris Damien.

    He thought that perhaps he could get the anwers by looking at the face of his friend''s killer.

    However, the face he met was not what he expected.

    It was not a face with a motive, as one who desired something from the deaths he wrought, neither was it one of malevolence, as with the Demons he fought so long ago.

    No¡­ it was none of that.

    "Y-you¡­"

    The only thing on this man''s face was emptiness.

    Absolutely nothing.

    There was no motive to decipher, no malevolence to be seen. He had no justifiable reason to do what he did, but he did so anyway.

    "... Who are you?"

    At the sound of the question, the empty monster before him finally smiled.

    His darkened eyes glowed with something Zephyr couldn''t quite exin. It reminded him of the time when he was still in the womb, a moment he couldn''t quite remember.

    It was¡­ absolute nothingness.

    "Who am I?" Legris Damien muttered, almost in a chuckle.

    Silence upied their midst for a moment, until he answered the question.

    "I am the end."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Once again, we are greeted by the sheer despair that Legris brings.

    But where there is life, there is hope!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1177 Heros Despair

    Chapter 1177 Hero''s Despair

    [Disimer: This chapter contains some¡­ well, disturbing stuff. Still read it, though.]

    Zephyr was stuck.

    As he now stared at Legris, hearing him spill his identity devoid of meaning, more confusion set in.

    There was no way he could reason with th man who had just killed his friends, but he still found himselfcking the resolve to move.

    Why?

    Could it be because he had seen what happened to those who defied this man? All his other friends were now dead, and the only reason he was alive was because of his divine protection.

    But¡­ what if that couldn''t protect him next time?

    What if his next move ushered in the end of his life?

    ''No¡­ I don''t want to die! I don''t want to die!''

    He had lived nearly thirty years in this world, experiencing so much that life had to offer that he couldn''t let go.

    Not now¡­ not yet!

    Gritting his teeth, Zephyr decided on the only reasonable option he could think of at the moment. He wasn''t condident in his ability to beat this man, so he simply had to choose the alternative.

    ¡­ RUN!

    ~WHOOOOSH!~

    Zephyr became a bright blur, instantly leaving his position in the expanse of the sky. His focus shifted from his opponent, and only one thing upied his senses.

    ''Marceline! Everyone, I''ming for you!''

    All he had to do was leave with his family. If he vanished from the town, the madman would have no reason to hurt the people residing in the town.

    ''I''ll take all of us to a safe ce! He''ll never find us!'' Even if it meant hiding out for the rest of his life and never again appearing in public, Zephyr didn''t care.

    He was ready to throw away his status as a Hero at any time as long as he could protect his family.

    No¡­ in the end, wasn''t this just all about protecting his life? The life he had as a loving husband and caring father¡­ the one where he could wake up beside his wife and see his two kids every morning.

    That was the life he was protecting!

    ''Almost there!'' Zephyr gritted his teeth as he descended into the shattered remains of his home, already prepared to grab his family and vanish from their position.

    However, the next thing he saw stopped him in his tracks.

    "Haha¡­ you''re quite slow, Mr. Hero."

    Zephyr felt his entire body trembling, his bloodshot eyes twitching, as he witnessed the most despairing sight he could ever imagine.

    ¡­ At least, for the moment.

    Right in front of him, trapped in a barrier of his own making, was Legris Damien¡­ and his family!

    The monster currently held his wife by the throat, and his two children were currently kneeling, unable to fight back or resist.

    Pure fear and chaos tookplete control, and even Zephyr found himself unable to speak, or even properly breathe as he took in all the information at once.

    "It seems you thought you could escape with them. However¡­" Legris whispered, tightening his grip on Marceline''s throat.

    That was more than enough for Zephyr to finally reach his limits.

    He couldn''t take it any longer.

    From his very depths, he screamed out like a madman, rushing to crush the barrier and destroy the man before him.

    ¡­ Or so one would think.

    "P-please¡­ don''t hurt them." Rather than rush out in rage, Zephyr fell on his knees and drooped his broad shoulders in defeat.

    He already recognized the difference in strength between him and his foe, so any further conflict would be pointless.

    Especially when his enemy could destroy his family.

    All of Zephyr''s armor dissipated instantly, leaving him in a casual outfit. His pale face was reminiscent of terror, and his submissive state made him appear so small that he seemed fragile.

    It was at this point that the Hero realized the truth.

    ''I¡­ I don''t care what happens to me¡­ as long as those I love are safe.''

    His world. His hometown. His family.

    As long as they were safe, he didn''t care about anything else¡ªnot even his new and perfect life.

    Zephyr''s bowed head was enough to show his resolve.

    "You want me, don''t you? Please just take me and leave my fami¡ª"

    ~SQUELCH!~

    Zephyr thought he heard the sound of squishing flesh. He knew that sound well since he had killed thousands upon thousands, if not more, of Demons in the past.

    He reconized that sound from recently too, when he watched his friends die.

    And this time too¡­ he could hear it.

    But why?

    Zephyr slowly raised his head and found out the reason.

    The severed head of his wife¡­ the mutted body of his daughter¡­. the butchered state of his son¡­

    ¡­ The corpse of his family¡­

    ¡­ All of it slowly sank into his mind.

    Zephyr''s vision blurred. He could feel vomit building up within him, but was forced to swallow it back almost instinctively.

    The bitter taste of bile stung his throat, but he couldn''t stop staring at the gory sight that was before him.

    "M-Marceline¡­" He whispered, watching as her face told him thest expression she made before death.

    It was sheer terror.

    "M-Mager¡­et¡­"

    The rotting flesh and dissolving bones of his daughter was bare for him to see. She was only six years old, and yet¡­ YET¡­!

    But, there was still one more he was yet to see.

    Zephyr was frightened to look, but he found himself doing so anyway.

    "M-M-Ma¡­ark¡­"

    His body was butchered in a thousand pieces, stacked together like a bloody meal of dlesh, blood and bones.

    Zephyr could see his three-year old son''s pointy ears standing atop the mound, right beside one of his eyeballs.

    "H-haaa¡­ ahhhh¡­"

    At this point, Zephyr was too tired to rage¡­ too broken to scream.

    He could barely form any other reaction besides his gaping eyes as uncontroble tears streamed from his face.

    "Ahhh¡­"

    As steam proceeded from his mouth, his vision slowly shifted from his dead family to the only one living within the barrier.

    He had the same expression as before.

    A haughty look of absolutely nopasion, desire, or fear¡ªnothing at all.

    And that served as thest straw to break within Zephyr''s soul.

    "You¡­"

    At this point, Zephyr forgot everything.

    The fact that he had loved every single moment of his new life in this world.

    The fact that his wife was pregnant with their third child.

    ¡­ The fact that he would be celebrating his thirtieth birthday the next day.

    All of those were lost to memory.

    Right now, there was only one thing Zephyr thought.

    One thing he craved.

    It burned him from the inside out, threatening to devour him whole until he opened his lips to release the words.

    "I''LL KILL YOU!"

    ¡­ And from that point on, he wasn''t stuck anymore.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Well, that definitely took a sharp turn, didn''t it?

    Zephyr''s family is dead, and Legris is being an absolute menace once again.

    Shows how little regard he has for human life.

    Now then¡­ let''s see what our Hero does.

    What are your thoughts? Do you think he wins or loses?

    Let''s hear it!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1178 Host Of Sagittarius

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The energy that suddenly surged from Zephyr caused everything around him to immediately turn to dust.

    The houses nearby, everything!

    Fortunately, the residents had already begun evacuating after the st, so none of them were caught up in the explosion of golden light.

    However, their properties¡­ nearly everything in the town was eviscerated by Zephyr''s awakening.

    "So you''re finally using it. That''s good!" Legris'' words did not reach Zephyr''s ears.

    In fact, nothing did.

    He wasn''t listening any longer. He simply wanted one thing, and he moved forward with that goal in his broken mind.

    "I''ll kill you!"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The golden light that surged from Zephyr began to ascend high into the heavens, parting the clouds instantly.

    Then, it began to take form.

    The energy became concrete, and it began to shroud Zephyr in its immense walls. Layer uponyer, it built itself ording to his desires, climbing higher than the very clouds until it formed a towering entity of destruction.

    A Golden Titan!

    Made of pure energy, and adorned in projected armor, this construct of over a thousand meters appeared in the form of a humanoid warrior.

    It resembled Zephyr in his armored state, except it was faceless and made of pure golden essence. The giant also had a sheathed de strapped around its waist, and everything else about it screamed of power.

    As this giant stood tall, Zephyr floated within it, at the head region, his gaze refusing to leave Legris, who was still on the ground.

    "You are a monster with no purpose for existence. An entity like you should never be allowed to remain in this world." Zephyr spoke, and more steam proceeded from within his lips.

    "YOU MUST DIE!"

    His golden eyes shone even brighter as several swords suddenly appeared in the air, all massive enough to copse a building with the slightest touch.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHHH!~

    All the des sliced through the air as they made their way to Legris, defying any speed conceivable by mere men.

    Each projected edge found its mark, charging with unspeakable fervor as the debris in their path shattered even more debris.

    However¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    A single pulse from Legris caused every single de to shatter. He then leaped to the sky, his entire body now shrouded in pitch ck energy.

    In the blink of an eye, he was staring at the face of the massive construct.

    "I''ve fought a few Hosts of the Sagittarius Constetion, so I know your power of IMAGINATON. That doesn''t make it any less bothersome, though."

    The moment Legris uttered those words, he condensed all the darkness that oozed from him into his palm, forming a tiny orb.

    "First let''s get rid of that massive thing!"

    More golden des flew at him, but Legris easily destroyed them with his dark pulse before proceeding to release the dark orb toward Zephyr''s golden titan.

    ~WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The darkness instantly shrouded the massive warrior in no time, corrupting it with darkness before it could move to attack.

    "And that''s how you¡ª"

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    Before Legris couldplete his statement, though, Zephyr suddenly broke out of the dark sentinel, shattering it from the inside like ss.

    "Wha¡ª?!"

    A powerful chain of gold swiftly wrapped itself around Legris, like a snake unwilling to let go of its prey.

    He proceeded to use his darkness to consume the gold, but a instant spikes ascended from the ground up, impaling him from many ces at once.

    "Gah! You¡ª!"

    All of this culminated in a single moment when Zephyr closed the distance between him and Legris andunched a powerful golden fist on his face.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!~

    The strike sent shockwaves dancing around,pletely shattering the foundation of the entire town that had suffered more than enough damage already.

    Legris was sent flying by the attack, but before he could get very far, the loose bit of the chain that had him bound was suddenly held by Zephyr, who dragged it back.

    In the blink of an eye, Legris found himself rushing back to Zephyr, whose eyes shone brighter, and his floating hair was the epitome of bright gold.

    A massive de suddenly appeared in his grasp, and he swiftly sliced through Legris¡ªchai and all.

    "Guark!" All of this happened within a single moment, reaching speeds that were never touched before in the fight.

    As Legris'' body bled, leaking out pure ck liquid as blood, he found himself trapped in yet another contraption.

    A Golden IRON MAIDEN!

    The coffin descended on Legris, shattering every bone in his body, before proceeding to open up its spiky doors and swallow him within its spiky walls.

    Legris couldn''t even escape due to the several unbreakable chains that forcibly wrapped themselves around him, reeling him inside.

    Once he was trapped within, cuffed in all sides, the Iron Maiden sharply shut its doors, using its several spikes and heavy gold to crush Legris in a coffin of unnumbered spears.

    "Be crushed!" Zephyr pointed his clenched fist in the direction of the Maiden, squeezing it tighter than ever.

    In response, the golden constructpressed itself, causing even more blood to spill from its insides, until it became nothing but a tiny sphere of hardened gold and condensed flesh.

    It was a gruesome execution, fitting for the vile creature that experienced it.

    Unless¡­

    "Haaa! That was a close one!" Legris suddenly appeared behind Zephyr his body stained with ck blood, while being riddled with holes that seemed to be healing on their own.

    Despite his narrow escape, Legris seemed perfectly cheerful.

    Why?

    Zephyr proceeded to send heavy rains of inescapable piercing light in his direction, but the elusive Legris found his way of escaping them.

    However, even that was inconsequential.

    He suddenly found a drop of golden water sitting on his shoulders.

    "Oh, not agai¡ª!"

    The water instantly expanded to form a golden bubble filled to the brim with projected water.

    Legris tried fighting the currents that seemed to exude such internal pressure that he felt he was being bombarded from every direction.

    However, all of this was only the beginning!

    ~KKKRRRAAAAAA!!!~

    Golden lightning descended from the heavens, everything coalescing on the massive bubble Legris was trapped within.

    Screams could not echo from the golden sea, but the expression Legris made was enough to show how much he was in agony.

    "BURN!"

    The golden sea suddenly rose in temperature and changed from mere boiling hot water¡­ into molten magma.

    Legris was no longer in a pressure-filled, electrified, and heated bubble of water.

    No, this was much worse.

    His skin began to peel off, and he found himself taking in pure electrocutingva.

    Such pain that no one should ever experience were being dished out to this man, and yet his screams could not be heard.

    Zephyr drew closer to Legris, his de raised above his head by both of his hands.

    "This will end it all. Your end¡­ is here."

    His de brimmed with power, brighter than any other golden disy that had ever manifested thus far.

    The energy trapped within it was more than enough to destroy the world, and yet he was focusing it on only one man.

    This man.

    "... DIE!"

    The de descended, and bright golden light was bound to consume everything.

    BUT¡­

    ~WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    ¡­ Instead, all that appeared was darkness.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Looks like the power of another Constetion has been revealed.

    Zephyr is so close!

    Am I the only one rooting for him?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1179 Voice In The Void

    It all happened in an instant.

    First was Legris''plete helplessness.

    Second was Zephyr''s raised de, capable of finishing things.

    Finally¡­ there was meant to be victory.

    It all culminated into the perfect end of the vile entity that deserved a fate worse than mere death.

    However¡­ something went wrong.

    ~VWUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!~

    Almost like someone spread a thick veil of darkness to cover all of reality, the entire area was transformed into a realm of ck.

    Nothing could be seen, and no trace of light existed¡­ except for the brilliant radiation that Zephyr emitted.

    But even that wasn''t enough.

    Not in this infinite realm of sheer darkness and nothingness.

    However, from this realm of sheer emptiness, they began to emerge¡ªvoices locked in the void.

    "That was a close one."

    "You really had me on the ropes back then."

    "Who could have expected that oue?"

    "Looks like I underestimated you, Mr. Hero."

    "Did seeing your family die hurt you that much?"

    "That was always the n, but to think you''d go so far¡­"

    Zephyr''s de began to flicker in the darkness, and the golden light he emitted gradually dimmed.

    ''W-what is this? What is going on?!''

    He could notprehend anything.

    What way was left?

    What way was right?

    Why was he here?

    Where was here?

    Who was here?

    Where was he?

    Who was he?

    Multiple questions gathered in his mind, creating an endlessyer of confusion that kept building up until he could not move any longer.

    The golden lights around him flickered even more, and they were barely visible at this point.

    His de slowly faded away into obscurity, and his eyes slowly lost their light. Every ounce of power he had disyed just earlier were drained before his very eyes until nothing was left.

    Nothing but a fragment that shone within him.

    It was the final source of illumination in this sea of darkness. If it was extinguished¡­ everything would be over.

    At this moment, in his deepest despair, Zephyr could do nothing but return to his memories.

    He thought about his family and friends.

    He remembered everything that led up to this moment; how much he had enjoyed his life with everyone.

    The second chance he never deserved¡­ he had lived it.

    What more could a man want?

    "Of all the Sagittarius Hosts, you were the most skilled, I''ll give you that. You weren''t even allowed to use your power to the fullest because of your broken mind." A single voice echoed in the expanse.

    Zephyr couldn''t have known this, but a certain silhouette currently stood in front of him.

    The man in the silhouette was smiling, his formpletely hidden by the thick darkness all around. His hands were stretched out, though¡­ reaching for the only source of brilliance in the void.

    "In the end, you''ll be like the others that have been consumed here..."

    Zephyr was so lost in his memories that he didn''t realize it when the light fragment was taken from him.

    The moment that happened, his precious memories began to crumble.

    Everything: his entire life.

    He forgot his name, his purpose, his friends¡­ his family.

    It was like he never even existed.

    "... A part of me."

    *******

    Legris Damien returned to reality with a bright golden fragment in his grasp.

    His body appeared brand new, with no shadow of an injury in sight. His entire attire seemed brand new, and his pale skin seemed as healthy as it could be.

    Nothing about him told of the battle that had just taken ce, and just how far he was pushed by the now-deceased, nonexistent Hero.

    If not for thepletely ruinedndscape, one would never be able to guess that a fight had urred here.

    Everything in the small town of Ephron, and even its outskirts, had been razed to the ground¡ªno, even beyond that.

    A gaping hole hadpletely devoured the town, leaving nothing left of it.

    Even then¡­

    "None of the residents were harmed in our skirmish. It looks like he still protected everyone while fighting me¡­" Legris smiled, noticing the residents stuck in a massive dome of light away from the town.

    There seemed to be some form of castle-like projection surrounding them too; as expected of the power of the Sagittarius Constetion.

    "Looks like he was a Hero until the very end."

    Still, it was only a matter of time¡ªsome minutes at best¡ªand none of them would even remember the name of their dear Hero.

    ''And then causality will begin to have an effect. I guess it''s not taken full control yet because I''m here, and all that Constetion energy is interfering¡­''

    ~Legris, we''ve spotted the next target. Stefan has begun to engage.~

    The voice of his partner suddenly echoed in Legris'' mind, causing him to take his focus away from the denizens for a moment.

    At the moment, Ciel and Stefan had split up from him in order to cover more ground. He was to handle this ce by himself, while they would took care of another Host who also happened to be in this Branch.

    While this method was risky, it was the most time-efficient way to gather enough Constetion Energy due to their hurry.

    Well, it was mostly Ciel''s impatience that caused this.

    "Ah, I see. You know what to do next, right?" Legris responded calmly, a small smile forming on his face.

    ~We''re going to capture her for you, so when you''re done¡­ you know where to find us.~

    "Noted. I''ll soon be there. I just have to take care of some business first."

    Once he finishedmunicating with Ciel, his focus returned to the helpless denizens of the devastated town.

    "I might as well just put this world out of its misery too. Sooner orter, it''ll happen anyway."

    His cold eyes stared at them from where he floated, and he stretched out his hand, deciding on the appropriate Spell to use on the crumbling castle and the hopeless ones before him.

    The moment he decided on the perfect one, however, the most unexpected thing happened.

    ~WHUUUUUM!!!~

    A sudden warp in space caused the expanse behind him to shatter, and someone swiftly lunged from within the rift.

    This young man had blond yellow hair, and his appearance instantly caused Legris'' eyes to widen in shock.

    There was no way he could forget such a face.

    It was¡ª

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I wonder who finally showed up¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1180 Darkness Meets Light [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1180 Darkness Meets Light [Pt 1]</h4>

    It was horrible.

    As I emerged from the swirling breach of space and darted in the direction of Legris in a quick attempt tond the first blow, I only had one thought.

    ¡­ It was incredibly horrible!

    Myrades and I had been traveling the worlds in search for Legris. We had done this for so long that the concept of time became less and less irrelevant the further in we went in those branches of reality.

    However, in every single world we traveled, everyone alongside me could only see one thing.

    Destruction!

    Not all the worlds ended in sheer destruction, though, but the ones that did survive would do so to only suffer a fate worse than death.

    I saw many atrocities on my way here, and the burning fury within me was evident of that.

    ''The horrors we saw¡­ the ruins that awaited us¡­''

    Everything we experienced to get here was all thanks to this man.

    No, I couldn''t call him a man anymore.

    He was a monster.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHH!~

    As I swept through the space that separated the both of us, I already prepared a Spell to use against him.

    However¡­

    ~WHUUUUSH!~

    Before I could reach him, I stopped myself, teleporting back to the wormhole I had created using [The World''s Resonance].

    A bead of sweat instantly formed on my face as I just floated, maintaining our distance. I could not remove my eyes from him.

    Rather, from the power he had in his grasp.

    ''What is that? Its a high concentration of energy? Did he prepare to use it against me just now?'' My heart raced as I interchanged nces between Legris and the golden fragment of light that he held so tightly.

    As I was still having these thoughts, Kuzon, Edward, Maria, Ana, and the rest of my allies began to emerge from the widening hole in space, until all of us finally gathered.

    Initially, I had to stay behind anytime I used [The World''s Resonance], as well as [The World]''s power to travel dimensions as we tracked Legris. However, once I had done it a couple of times, I could now use Spellcraft to ensure it functioned even with me venturing in first.

    This way, I could explore the terrain and ensure no one else could get hurt before I got to the world.

    It brought more risks to me, considering I would be in a strange new world myself for just a moment, but I considered it more preferable than having my friends take on the same risk¡ªif not more.

    The portal closed behind us as thest person emerged from it, leaving a slight buzz in the air before the dimensional energy finally dissipatedpletely.

    All fourteen of us floated in the air, and our focus was on Legris.

    ''It''s been a while, you bastard¡­'' As I stared at him now, I realized just how much time had passed since Ist saw him.

    Despite everything, Legris looked the same as always. If I was to say, he looked even better¡ªhealthier¡ªthan before.

    His pale skin glistened, and hisnky frame seemed a lot more well-built than before. He still had his tall height, and his menacing gait remained the same.

    As we stared at each other, there was a look of surprise in his eyes, and he didn''t bother hiding it.

    "Jared¡­ everyone¡­ it''s been a while." His voice was the same as always.

    He had this calm, casual air about him. It even dripped with yfulness, though I knew fully well that what existed behind all of that was sheer malevolence.

    "I''m surprised you caught up to me so quickly. I thought I would have a lot more time¡­"

    My allies and I were connected telepathically, and they kept asking me about when and how to attack Legris now that he was right in front of us.

    Serah and Kuzon were especially vocal with their intentions, but I held them back.

    ''Not yet. Something doesn''t feel right about him. That energy shard with him¡­ and also what his goals are. We can''t be too careless.''

    I had to analyze the situation properly and make even more preparations so things didn''t get awry.

    "I suspect Neron had something to do with it. That guy¡­ always getting in my way¡­"

    I narrowed my gaze on him in caution, but Legris only chuckled.

    "Where is he, by the way? Neron. He won''t even pop up to say hi? That''s not very nice. Even though we''re such old friends¡­"

    I clenched my fist as my gaze slowly transformed into a hateful re.

    Even though I tried not to pay it any mind, I had already noticed the devastated town, as well as the powerless people that watched us from their low estate.

    Just how much havoc had Legris caused here? Yet he was speaking to us so casually¡­ like everything was perfectly fine.

    "Nice to see you all again. Why is no one saying anything? Beruel? Serah? Why is everyone being so cold despite how much fun we''ve had together."

    After hearing him spout enough of his bullshit, it was obvious that Legris was stalling for time.

    "What is your goal here? Why did you have to cause so much destruction here? In all those other worlds too. To what end?"

    Was it power? Was he somehow harvesting power from the chaos he wrought? Or did he perhaps gain some form of pleasure from watching people suffer?

    I asked him point nk, my brows creasing together.

    "Oh? So you''ve been to those other ces! Haha¡­ well, isn''t this a little embarassing.It was inevitable that they would turn out that way. As for what I''m after¡­ it''s this."

    Legris raised the hand he used to tightly grip the energy fragment I had been so wary of, waving the golden light fragment in our faces.

    "You''re toote, though. I''ve gotten what I wanted here."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    We finally have a confrontation with Legris.

    Will this finally mark the end of Legris? How will everything y out?

    Let''s wait and see.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1181 Darkness Meets Light [Pt 2]

    ~VWUUUSHH!~

    A pool of ck energy suddenly emerged from out of nowhere, having a mucky slimy texture that danced in the air.

    It wrapped itself around Legris'' waving hand, swallowing the fragment he held in the fraction of a second..

    One moment it was present, the next it was as if it never existed, to begin with.

    "All that''s left is to take care of the trash. They''ll be dead eventually anyway. Might as well do them the favor of kicking the their buckets."

    Hearing him say those words enraged me, but I kept my cool.

    Acting rash at such a critical moment would be stupid at this point. There were a lot more factors to consider, and this was a very important moment for us after all the time we spent tracking him down.

    Any wrong step could cost us.

    "Still, I''m surprised that Neron isn''t here. Some husband he is, am I right? Leaving his wife hanging like that, and putting you all in such a shitty situation¡­"

    The more I thought of everything, and listened to Legris, the more my chest tightened.

    The expression Serah was making told me enough about the state of her heart, and I found it to be a miracle that she hadn''t taken action yet.

    She sent a nce at me, an it instantly sent me a message.

    ''The only reason I haven''t killed that bastard myself¡­ is because of the n, Jared.''

    And I knew her self control wouldn''t be able tost forever.

    "And what about your, Jared? All your time away from your friends and family¡­ how did you feel? I personally would have liked to do something about your parents, you know? But, Neron had to just send them off to safety."

    My heart raced even more, but I still kept my cool.

    "Hmm¡­ just thinking about what I would do to them. Your mother looks so soft and young. And your father is such a workaholic. I feel like I could arrange something to help with her ever-growing loneliness."

    I still held it in¡­

    "I know a few starving Nether Beasts. They should be able to help her out a little. Hahaha, don''t you think so, Jared? Wouldn''t it be hrious watching your mother do it with those wild mutts? I think it would be fascinating." He kept speaking, and I shut my lips.

    "Or what? Not exciting enough for you? Then maybe¡­ Maria? Should it be her? Yeah, that works best. And for Neron, my very good friend, I''ll have to include Serah to the mix. Hahahahaha!"

    His disgusting cackles echoed throughout the expanse as he made more dirty and disgustingments, yet none of us spoke.

    No one uttered a word.

    I could tell that so many of them wanted to say something, or do something, and so many voices rammed my mind, raging about my inaction.

    However, I simply clenched my fist and listened to the pure drivel that Legris spouted.

    Until¡ª

    "Are you done?" I finally spoke.

    "Huh?"

    Legris looked a bit surprised to hear me speak. Or rather, shocked to see the smile that was spreading across my face despite the blood curdling words he had just spouted.

    "You have been stalling for time all this while, haven''t you? Trying to break free from [The World''s Resonance], while also making your escape¡­" My voice, low but deep, slowly began as I stared at him with deadpan eyes.

    "... So are you done?"

    At this point, all the bravado Legris disyed before all of us slowly began to crumble.

    "What did you do?" He asked, his smile slowly vanishing.

    "You didn''t think you were the only one stalling for time, did you? I endured all of your insults on my friends and family. Did you really think I would do all of that in vain?"

    It was now Legris'' turn to crease his brows. The soft re on his face was enough to tell him me that I had gotten him right where I wanted.

    "You can''t run¡­"  I took a step forward from my allies.

    "You can''t hide¡­"

    Two more steps, and my eyes began to cackle with golden brilliance.

    "... And you can''t escape."

    I had been waiting for this moment since the time he caused Kahn to assault Ainrk Academy and kill all those innocent children.

    The time when he caused the Demonic Incursion, leading to the death of so many innocents.

    The time he disrupted the wedding of two of my closest friends, separating them for so long.

    And finally, the moment Iid eyes on the destruction he had wreaked upon the first world I stepped into.

    All of those instances culminated into this very event.

    "The rest of you, protect the civilians¡­" I mumbled, energy slowly dancing all over my body.

    I could sense the unease my allies had. A lot of them tried to send me mental messaeges, but I blocked all of it and took another step forward.

    The initial n was for the team to gang up on Legris and defeat him with ourbined effort. However, the way things had turned out now¡­ I wouldn''t be satisfied unless I was the one to do it.

    ''I''m sorry for being selfish Serah, everyone. But¡­ '' My eyes sharpened with resolve, and all the energy I had been stocking for this very moment erupted at once.

    "... I''ll take care of him myself."

    ~WHOOOOOOOOSSHHHH!~

    "Hold on, Jared, we still aren''t done tal¡ª"

    Before Legris could conclude his words, or even sneak in a little attack to catch me off-guard, I was already right in front of him.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Using Unknowable] alongside [The Hermit] an [The Tower], while being amplified by the other Arcanas, I could achieve an unreal level of speed and instant travel.

    Adding Spellcraft, which I had already prepared for by suplicating Lemi''s dome strategy and cloaking them with [Perfect Unknowable], to allow me blend with the residual Aether in the air, I waspletely unstoppable.

    In simple terms¡­ I could be anywhere and everythere at once.

    "You insulted my family, Legris. Don''t expect a simple death."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like Jared isn''t joking around any longer.

    How many of you thought he was just being a stupid bitch when he let Legris say all of that?

    I have to admit, I was a little impatient myself.

    Thanks for reading.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1182 Inflicting Justice

    <h4>Chapter 1182 Inflicting Justice</h4>

    With my body right in front of Legris already, I proceeded to coat myself in dense Aether to withstand the sheer amount of Nether he emitted.

    It was more than enough to serve as resistance, and with all the current amplifications I was receiving from the Arcanas, and Spellcraft¡­ there was no way I could lose!

    "[Dark Hori¡ª]"

    "[Dissonance]" The moment I uttered those words, the Spell Legris was about to make instantly dissipated, causing his eyes to widen in shock.

    My hand instantly went for his throat, but he swiftly escaped my reach by leaping far away from me¡­ or so he thought.

    ~WHUUUUSH!~

    I arrived at his destination before even he did, and my fingers tightly strapped themselves on his throat before he could even react to my speed.

    "Keuk!" He croaked, unable toprehend what was about to follow.

    My fingers crushed his throat as I tightly held them with my great strength, and the moment he offered some resistance in form of his hands moving, I used Spellcraft to control the environment around him, instantly crushing the both of them.

    I twisted both his hands, causing them to whirr on his shoulder like spinning fans.

    ''While we''re at it too¡­'' My gaze shifted to his legs.

    I applied the same pressure to his legs, causing every bone in them to turn into dust based on the pressure alone.

    "Aaaar¡ª!" I silenced his scream by removing my hand from his throat, cing my hand over his face instead.

    Forcefully closing his jaw, I concentrated a phenomenal amount of energy on my fist.

    "Sometimes¡­ what monsters like you need¡­" The glow on my fist magnified a million times over as I narrowed my gaze on Legris.

    "... Is unbridled violence."

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    My heavy blow sent a shockwave reverberating across the space around us, and the hit instantly sent Legris flying far beyond the''s reach.

    The zing trail he left behind as he forcefully left the stratosphere was visible. I could only imagine the amount of pain that was coursing through him.

    But I didn''t care.

    This was only the beginning.

    "After all, Legris¡­"

    I instantly appeared beside him, both of us now in the vast expanse of space. His eyes were bleeding heavily, and every bone in his body was broken, and all his parts were barely functioning due to the overwhelming pressure Spellcraft was generating on all ends.

    "... This is all your fault."

    "Y-you¡ª!"

    My bombardment of Aether, and the use of Spellcraft to constantly activate [Dissonance] prevented him from even leaking out the slightest bit of energy to form a Spell without instantly being attacked by my abundant Aether.

    He could do nothing to stop me, while I could do everything to destroy him.

    "[S Bomb: Level 999]"

    Compressing the energies of so many S Bombs, I created an orb and flung Legris into it, using Spellcraft to create the perfect chamber to hold the st.

    "You''re unable to die, right? You should handle this pretty well¡­"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The eruption was contained, but even I could feel the pressure from beyond the ss-like barrier that Legris was trapped in.

    The beauty about the S Bomb I just initiated wasn''t that it generated an extremely powerful explosion, but the constant increase in temperature and destruction as the enemy limated to the explosion.

    The result of that was Legris'' screams piercing my ears as he suffered the agonizing pain of being burned alive over and over again.

    "Do you see now? The suffering all those people went through because of you! They didn''t deserve it!"

    No matter one''s goals, they weren''t meant to achieve them if that meant hurting others.

    Of course, I thought of some ways I could use Magic back in my past life, despite being inept. However, that meant I would have to sacrifice the lives of people to study the method and harness their Cores.

    I had to draw the line at some point.

    ''No matter how much power you desire¡­ you should never hurt anyone in the process!''

    As I had this thought, I suddenly noticed something emanating from Legris.

    It was the same ckish substance from earlier¡ªthe one that swallowed the incredibly condensed energy fragment.

    ''What is he trying to do? Does he want to use that power?'' I thought to myself with caution.

    However, what puzzled me most was the existence of the ck substances that were leaking out of him as he burned.

    Despite my [Dissonance], it didn''t seem to be meeting any resistance.

    No, it was the exact opposite.

    The way I perceived it, the st and my Spellcraft were only making the murky liquid stronger as it continued to fester, covering Legris'' body.

    ''No¡­ I can''t allow that!''

    Whether he would use the ck energy to heal, or vanish, I couldn''t allow it.

    ''It''s not Aether. It''s not Nether either. What is this¡­ this disturbing mix?!'' I couldn''tprehend it.

    However, that didn''t mean I wasn''t going to stop it.

    I swiftly undid the explosion, dissipating it and the containment chamber with Spellcraft, while rushing towards Legris with a deep scowl on my face.

    "[Original Magic: Great Sage''s Memoir]."

    The moment my Original Magic was activated, the pages of my grand book flipped to the perfect page I required at this point.

    "[Soul Hunt]!"

    The ck energy was almost done covering Legris, but before it couldplete the process, I used my Spell to attack the propelling force and agent behind the darkness.

    Legris'' Soul.

    Using Jane''s Soul Magic, along with a few modifications on my end, I could attack the Soul and ultimately the Core of my targets.

    "Keuk!" I encountered instant resistance from his Soul, but I wasn''t going to give up now.

    ''The [Soul Hunt] Spell is too weak to take down the resistance, but any stronger and I might have to destroy it!''

    I was stuck in a precarious situation.

    Letting Legris escape my clutches, or using the most advanced Soul Spell to reach his inner self before it was toote.

    Time was running out, and I had to make my choice.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What choice should Jared make in the heat of this moment?

    Let''s hear your thoughts!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1183 Fatal Oversight

    <h4>Chapter 1183 Fatal Oversight</h4>

    Time was fast running out, and I was yet to make my mind.

    However, at that moment of hesitation, my thoughts suddenly echoed within me, causing my body to move on instinct.

    ''What in the world am I doing, thinking this long?''

    Right now, there seemed to be only one answer, an it involved not letting Legris get away with what he had done.

    Once that sank in, I tightened my fist and echoed out the Spell.

    "[Soul Destruction]"

    Instantly, the stubborn barrier that denied me ess to Legris'' soul was broken down, and my pure energy invaded his inner self, like an unstoppable flood.

    It eroded everything within, alongside the Soul I was painstakingly trying to capture.

    Until¡­

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    ¡­ Legris'' body broke down the moment his soul experienced destruction.

    The ck energy ceased, along with all of his functions in an instant. Right there and then, I killed the man I had painstakingly hunted down for so long.

    ''By destroying his Soul, it''s possible that I might have destroyed the root problem, but I suspect that isn''t the case.''

    If that was all it took to get rid of Legris, then Neron would have done so at some point.

    ''He''s probably still out there somewhere¡­''

    If only I had gotten ess to his Soul, which was the n all along, I would have been able to track his other Souls and destroy all of them at once through aplicated, but effective process.

    ''It seems Legris realizes the danger in that, so he made sure I wouldn''t be able to capture his Soul.''

    As always, he was one step ahead this whole time.

    "At least, we were able to save the people he would have otherwise killed." I sighed to myself, staring into the empty expanse of space.

    There was just one more thing that bothered me. It had been worrying me since I firstid eyes on it and felt my senses distorted in its presence.

    ''That ck energy¡­ what is it?''

    It didn''t feel like Aether or Nether, or even both. It was just¡­ a strange mix of power that I could notpletely ce.

    It disgusted but intruiged me at the same time.

    "If that is the source of Legris'' power, I''ll have to learn more about it when next we¡­ hold on¡­"

    My eyes began to widen the more I tried toplete my sentence, and a realization suddenly dawned on me.

    "No¡­ no way¡­" I hadpletely messed things up.

    I was so blinded by my strategy of bringing down Legris and settling for a decisive battle, while resorting to the destruction of his Soul at thest minute, that I didn''t consider the big-picture n I had concocted at the start of this mission.

    "We used [The World''s Resonance] to track down Legris to this ce, and I killed the one we were tracking. So¡­"

    Clenching my fist, I had toe face to face with my fatal error.

    "... The trail ends here."

    That''s right! Due to my ipence, we couldn''t track Legris beyond this point.

    "Damnit! Did he bait me back then? Was he the one truly in control throughout our fight?"

    I didn''t want to believe it, but¡­ had I gotten yed?

    At this point, a cloud of both disappointment and frustration coursed through my insides, causing me to clench my teeth, harden my fist, and squueze my face.

    I was honestly disappointed in myself.

    ''I should return to the others¡­'' I returned my gaze to the I just left, sighing heavily.

    There was nothing more I could do now.

    *******

    Once I returned to the group, I found everyone in a golden energy field built by Kuzon.

    It was probably built to rece the dissipating one that we found around them when we arrived. Kuzon made the sensible choice of replicating it in order to protect the civilians from the sh I had with Legris, though I was already intent on leaving them out of it.

    Once Inded within the force field, everyone was gathered around one old man. It seemed they were asking him some questions before my arrival, however, once I arrived, everyone turned in my direction.

    "How did it go? What happened to Legris?" Serah asked first.

    A tight feeling enveloped my chest, but I chose to speak anyway. I had the responsibility to inform my team members of my mistake.

    "I killed him because there seemed to be no other alternative at the time. I couldn''t even capture his Soul due to the interference of a strange energy he was using."

    The expressions of my allies didn''t change all that much. They hadn''t realized the implications of that, so I had to tell them.

    "The trail ends here. I can''t track Legris any further since I already ended him. I''m so sorry, everyone."

    If I had enlisted their help, then perhaps we could have figured something out together.

    ''It''s unlikely anyone else could have had a better solution to the problem, but if I had Lemi and Ana, we could havee up with something together¡­''

    But due to my hubris and undeniable rage, I went at it alone.

    "You''ll find another way, Jared." I suddenly felt two hands on my respective shoulders, and a voice so soothing it felt like music to my ears.

    I had bowed my head due to how humiliated I felt by my mistakes, but the voice forced me to raise my face.

    The first person I saw was Maria.

    Her smile as she looked at me felt so genuine, and her eyes glittered with such pride that I wondered how she could have so much faith in me.

    "You discovered a way to track him down despite the odds. You can find another alternative." This time, it was Kuzon who spoke.

    I nced in his direction and found him smiling at me.

    "I agree. Just take this as a challenge, my rival." Ana spoke next, smiling sweetly.

    "If it''s you, Jared, I''m sure you''ll find an answer!" Edward''s voice echoed as he raised his teo fists into the air.

    One by one, my allies echoed their hopeful words at me, suddenly raising me from my state of frustration to that of hope.

    Before I realized it, a smile was already forming on my face in response to all that was being said.

    And then I remembered Neron''sst words to me.

    ~After all, with Magic¡­ you can do anything.~

    "You''re right." I said to all of them.

    Why did I need to despair when there were several other theories that were yet to be explored?

    This was an opportunity.

    The chance to learn more about how the world operated through Magic.

    Now wasn''t the time for despair at all!

    "Maybe we can help a little in your next alternative." Once again, Kuzon''s words echoed through the air, causing me to look in his direction.

    "What do you mean?"

    "While you were off fighting Legris, we were interviewing the vigers, particrly the Elder."

    Hearing that made me even more curious, especially because Kuzon had a certain twinkle in his eyes as he spoke.

    "We know what Legris is after."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Always nice to write wholesome moments.

    Let''s see what has been uncovered, shall we? Hopefully it''s good.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1184 Hero Analysis [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1184 Hero Analysis [Pt 1]</h4>

    "While you were fighting Legris, we asked the townspeople a few questions, but since the Elder is the most knowledgeable, we focused our queries on him."

    I was seated at this point, having all thirteen of my friends all in a circle that I was a part of.

    The townspeople were a short distance away, and while I was a bit skeptical about taking down the barrier, Kuzon told me it was inconsequential anyway.

    Even though the entire town was destroyed, I was d to hear that nearly all of the townspeople were ounted for.

    "What did you learn?" I asked calmly.

    Judging from how Kuzon phrased the importance of the intel, it seemed like learning about it would be very instrumental in apprehending our target.

    "First of all, it seems only four people in the entire town died. And those four are closely rted to the reason I suspect Legris attacked this ce." Kuzon responded.

    "Who are they?"

    "The Hero and his family."

    Hearing that made me furrow my brows a little. It wasn''t like I hadn''t heard of the term ''Hero'', but it felt sort of odd in this setting.

    ''Legris was after this world''s Hero?'' That felt too ambiguous.

    Fortunately, Kuzon had more information to share with me about the Hero that Legris fought before we arrived here.

    "Apparently there was a war here some decades ago, and a Hero surfaced fifteen years ago, and while he had a team, he defeated the most Demons and almost singlehandedly saved the world."

    In essence, the Hero was an extremely powerful individual.

    "That still sounds vague." I purported.

    "I thought so too, but it seems the people of this world really held the guy in high regards. They call him the ''World''s Chosen One'' or ''Blessed by the Heavens''. He seems special, and the fact that he was only fifteen years old when he ended the war proves he was special."

    As Kuzon exined, he raised his brow as if trying to tell me something amidst the exnation.

    "Well,? I was also fifteen years when I ended a war, and¡­ ahh¡­ I see what you''re getting at."

    If I was to assume that the Demon Incursion in this world was the same as in our world, then it would take an extraordinary person to almost singlehandedly eradicate every Demon in the world.

    Even I required tons of help in ending the war.

    "That means he was special beyond just being a genius, right?" I narrowed my gaze on Kuzon, and he nodded.

    "Precisely! Apparently he grew up in this town full of mostly inept people, and his parents were not even talented in the slightest."

    "Are his parents in the town?" I asked.

    "No. Apparently, they became travelers and began to explore the world now that it''s at peace."

    "Ah, I see. Go on then."

    "The point is¡­ there should be no way that someone as special as this Zephyr guy would arise from this ce and possess so much power. If we take his titles into ount, and Legris'' interest in him as well, it''s clear there''s something unique about him."

    I suddenly remembered the energy fragment Legris was wielding when we met, and it all began to make sense to me.

    ''So that''s it, huh? He was after a person here¡­ the Hero.''

    He told us he had gotten what he wanted, which was the Energy Fragment, but where did he get it from? It most likely belonged to the Hero of this world.

    ''Was that his Energy Core? That powerful thing?''

    I tried my best not to be too surprised, considering the feats I had just heard about him.

    "What do you think, Jared? I feel like the Hero was a Singrity of some sorts. You know, like you or Neron."

    After the entire ordeal with the Nether Cult, and my friends finding out about my reincarnation, I finally exined things in further detail to them.

    How I wasbeled a Singrity and nearly killed even as a child.

    Out of everyone, Kuzon was the only one who seemed to have already known this prior to the big reveal. Apparently, Aether told him all about me before his big fight with the Nether.

    "Your theory makes sense." I murmured.

    After all, the signs of being a Singrity were present in this Hero that I heard. Based on how he lived, he fit te bill perfectly.

    However¡­ the way he died disproved it just the same.

    "How old was he when he died?"

    "Apparently, tomorrow would mark his 30th birthday." Upon hearing that, I felt a little pain in my chest.

    Legris chose the worst time to end this man''s life¡­ not that any sooner orter would have been better too.

    In any case, Kuzon''s words response further strenghtened my dissenting suspicion.

    "There''s no way an adult Singrity would lose to Legris. If he stopped a war when he was fifteen, then I can track his growth reasonably. Even if it''s an era of peace, I doubt a Singrity would lose so much power that he would die at the hands of Legris."

    There was the possibility that Legris used underhanded means to win, or perhaps he was far stronger than he was letting on in my fight against him.

    Even if I granted all of those, however, there was still a major problem with Kuzon''s theory.

    "Singrities exist to face threats that will end the Aether Tree. Threats like the Nether. There''s usually only one Singrity."

    There was Merlin. After him came Neron, and after Neron was me.

    I was only meant to be a recement Singrity anyway, and the perks I got for being one was iparably abyssmal to the earlier two.

    "If he was a Singrity, he would have done something to stop the Nether. We could havebined our powers in the Nether Wars. Aether would have perhaps mentioned him too."

    However, none of those happened.

    "I see. So he''s most likely not a Singrity. But how else can you exin his absurd level of power?"

    After hearing Kuzon''s question, I reflected on all he had told me, and there was only one viable option that gnawed at me.

    It was the only reasonable answer at this point.

    "A Constetion Host. The Hero was most likely a Constetion Host."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The group is getting closer to the truth.

    However, will they arrive at the answers quickly enough¡­ or will it be toote at that point?

    Let us see, shall we?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1185 Hero Analysis [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1185 Hero Analysis [Pt 2]</h4>

    Even now, not much was known about Constetions.

    They were the mysterious entities that hovered above our reality, governing distinct aspects of existence.

    As the guardians of a tree, they were directly beneath Aether. However, due to their nature as Familiars, and their conceptual limitations, Constetions often required individuals to carry out their will.

    In essence, Constetion Hosts.

    Constetion Hosts served as proxies for their respective Constetions, and thetter usually enacted their will viacriously through those they deemed worthy of their power.

    And, well¡­

    ¡­ They also just enjoyed exisiting through those their Hosts.

    ******

    "If Zephyr was chosen by a Constetion, then it would make more sense, considering how powerful he was¡­" I began, my eyes not focusing on anything in particr as I narrowed my gaze.

    "The fact that Zephyr was 15 years old when he ended the 15-year-old war shows there''s a corrtion between the two. He was probably chosen for that specific purpose¡­ or maybe that''s too much of a stretch. But when I consider how you two haven''t been able to reach out to your Constetions, even now, the coincidences seem to pile up considerably."

    I began staring at everyone around me, and it seemed they were already gaining on the theory being pieced together in my mind.

    "If Legris targeted the Hero for the sole reason that he was a Constetion Host, that also means that the energy fragment he held is rted to that as well."

    The more I spoke, the more sense it all made to me.

    ''The sheer amount of energy from that fragment doesn''t surprise me now that I know that it''s from a Constetion.''

    "You think Legris is targeting Constetion Hosts, don''t you?" Beruel suddenly spoke up, and I nodded instantly.

    "That''s right. It all adds up. I always asked myself what kind of power Legris would be after, but now that I think about it¡­ the energy gotten from Constetions should be far more potent than regr energy."

    It was a lot more efficient to go down that route, and knowing Legris, I was sure he was after the most effective means to achieve his goals.

    What the true end of his goals were, though¡­ I still had no clue.

    "You''re right about it being weird that we can''t ess Constetions at this time. That means they''re involved somewhat." Ana murmured.

    ''Indeed¡­'' My thoughts trailed, and now that I thought of it, there was something else.

    Wasn''t the most efficient way to harness energy directly getting it from the Constetions? Yet, he was still using such a roundabout way.

    That solidified it for me.

    "I don''t think Legris is powerful enough to face a Constetion now. That''s probably why he''s going after the Hosts."

    Legris wasn''t holding back in our fight, at least not too much. He wasn''t as powerful as I had suspected him to be.

    ''The problem is that he''s too elusive.''

    We couldn''t find a way to get rid of him no matter how hard we tried.

    "What do you think we should do now?" Maria, who was beside me, asked with her calm tone.

    It took me a while to think about an alternative, but I realized that there was only one reasonable solution to our problem.

    ''We are currently stranded anyway. I see no alternative¡­''

    "The best way we can go about this is to discuss with the Constetions. They''re the ones this involves, and we''re currently at our wits end."

    The moment I said this, a few skeptical gazes greeted me neatly instantly.

    "We have already established that problem, haven''t we? We can''tmunicate with them. That''s the issue." Kuzon sighed as he spoke.

    The look on his face told me that he expected me to have thought of that already, yet I ended up speaking like I didn''t.

    "Hold on, Kuzon. I''m sure Jared has a reason why he brought that up." Edward responded with his usual confident smile.

    The moment he said this, I nodded.

    "Indeed. I realize it''s a problem. But that only means we have to solve it."

    Kuzon''s slightly disappointed expression slowly died out, and I could see the skepticism dying out.

    "We would be more productive seeking out the Constetions than we would be in searching for Legris. Plus, unlike in our hunt for thetter, we have concrete means we can use to find the Constetions." My eyes rested on Kuzon and Edward as I concluded my proposition.

    Silence pervaded our midst, and? after a while of no one saying anything, Serah, who had been uncharacteristically silent for a whole, finally spoke.

    "How do you n on doing that¡ªtalking to the Constetions, I mean."

    During the decorum, I had been thinking of that very thing as well. There seemed to be one effective method I could think of, but it was one that I wasn''t sure would work.

    "[Resonance]" I responded.

    More confused than skeptical faces greeted me instantly.

    "When you use [Resonance] and connect to another person who uses it as well, you can venture into the astral realm of one another. I''ve done it with Neron, Lemi and a few others."

    The idea here was to use [Resonance] on either Kuzon or Edward¡ªperhaps even both, for good measure. I exined the concept to them as simply as I could, and their responses were encouraging.

    If I was lucky, I could ess a Constetion and speak to them.

    "Their bond with the both of you still exist, so that means I can at least pick up traces of their position."

    The reason why I was so skeptical of this procedure working was because I had never attempted going in this deep before. If the Constetions offered too much resistance to my [Resonance], then it would be for nothing.

    "There''s only one way to find out."

    ******

    Once we all decided to give it a try, three of us¡ªKuzon, Edward, and I¡ªsat in a circle and closed our eyes.

    "Are you ready?" I asked them.

    "Yes." The two responded at once.

    The moment I heard them, I initiated the process of [Resonance].

    ''This had better work!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Cheers!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1186 Full Resonance

    <h4>Chapter 1186 Full Resonance</h4>

    I began the meditation with a deep breath, feeling the Aether stir within me as I expanded my senses.

    After expanding it, I narrowed it all down with the two who sat next to me, initiating [Resonance] at that very moment.

    My entire self seemed to be drawn towards the two of them¡ªboth at the same time¡ªand while it would have felt like I was being torn apart, the fact that they resonated with me meant all three of us became one.

    It felt like a three-way bridge that connected all three of us¡ªa triangle of power.

    "Haa¡­" Exhaling deeply, I proceeded to the next step.

    My integration into the very depths in order to find the bond that existed between the Constetions and my friends.

    My dual resonance with both Edward and Kuzon meant I had to do it at the same time, and while I could not enter two regions with one form, all our energies flowed together, allowing a free entry process.

    That was when I arrived at the seemingly infinite expanse of our joint astral realms.

    I witnessed the Golden Aether Core of Kuzon, as well as the zing Azure and Amber Core of Edward. Both of them were magnifiscent, brimming with so much power that they caused me to shiver despitecking physical senses.

    I was in awe, watching them rise in strength with each passing moment. The concentration of Aether they had was phenomenal, far more than any of my Cores could ever possess.

    It was a good thing I had decided on making more Cores and Sub Cores from the start, since there was no way I couldpete with monsters like these.

    ''Edward must have gotten most of his power from the training method of the Martial de God, as well as the guidance of the Aries Constetion.''

    As for Kuzon, he had the entire power of the Midas Race within him, not to mention the Leo Constetion.

    I couldn''tpete with either of those things with sheer power alone.

    Seeing their Aether Cores firsthand reminded me of the kind of monsters these two were, and just how far they hade from when I knew them back in Ainrk Academy.

    ''Time to go deeper!''

    As my thoughts echoed in resolve, I stretched out my hands and reached for both of the Cores before me, sending out my energy to connect to them at the most fundamental level.

    It worked!

    Our energies were sopatible that I began to feel it mixing in, and I experienced the true depths of their power.

    However, the moment our connection grew deeper, and I felt myself being drawn further in¡­ another thing began to manifest.

    Something within me.

    ''T-this is¡­!''

    It was the ''N'' Arcana I had with me for safekeeping! It was glowing brightly for some reason, resonating with me as I was resonating with Edward and Kuzon.

    The Arcana glowed brightly, and before I realized it¡­ I felt something glowing within the Cores of both Edward and Kuzon.

    It felt overwhelmingly strong, but it strangely resonateed with the N Card, which resonated with me by extension.

    ''I feel¡­ odd¡­''

    Suddenly, my form began to dislodge from the Cores I was resonating with. Instead, I felt something higher calling for me.

    A door of white opened up before me, a result of the resonance that the N Card offered me. I could feel pieces of Kuzon and Edward in the door, but most of what dwelled on the other side was a mystery.

    But the call was too strong that I couldn''t resist.

    I took one step forward, then two, and before I knew it¡­ I was stepping into the door of light, unaware of what awaited me on the other side.

    *********

    "Hm? This is a surprise¡­"

    My eyes slowly fluttered open as I heard a voice.

    It was deep, imposing, and awe-inspiring all at the same time. I could feel my entire being shiver as I heard the voice reach out.

    My blurry vision was yet to to limate to my current location, but the rest of my senses were already taking in the grandeur of the expanse.

    It felt like infinity in a box, an the Aether that filled the realm far surpassed anything I had ever experienced¡ªbesides Aether herself.

    However, other than the nature of my surrounding itself, there was an even more pertinent observation I made.

    ¡­ The upants that currently watched me.

    I felt twelve distinct entities staring at me, their presences so imposing that I felt like bowing to them. At the same time, they had so much glory that I felt an innate need to serve them forever.

    So many emotions were conjured within me all at once.

    Fear.

    Awe.

    Amazement.

    Desire.

    It went on and on, and it was almost maddening, being assailed by so many elements. Fortunately, I was able to control my entire Aether-based form thanks to my expertise in Aether Maniption.

    Even though I could not stop the excess Aether assailing me, I could guard myself from recieving any.

    "Impressive. To think you''d be able to maintain yourposure in our presence¡­"

    "Well, for him to be here is impressive enough, don''t you think?"

    "Ah, that''s true."

    As I heard more chatter among the twelve, my vision slowly got sharper, and I could finally see the world spread around me.

    It was a world filled with divergentyers of various colors. It felt like a realm sewn out of a rainbow of infinite colors.

    It felt like the opposite of any dark expanse of space, filled with so much light and energy that it took my phantom breath away.

    This world was beauiful beyond words.

    "It is good to have you here, Jared, though it is still surprising." A familiar tone echoed in my ears, and I looked in its direction.

    No, in all their directions.

    And that was when I found out¡­ I was in the presence of the very beings I sought after.

    The Constetions themselves!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    We finally get to see the Constetions¡­ yayy!

    Cheers!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1187 Meeting The Constellations

    Chapter 1187 Meeting The Constetions

    The air seemed to vibrate with an ancient energy, humming with a power beyondprehension.

    My surroundings dissolved into a swirling vortex of colors and lights, and I was transported to a ce that defied all logic and reason.

    I found myself suspended in the cosmos, weightless and free. The stars, once mere pinpricks of light in the night sky, now burned with an intensity that was both beautiful and terrifying.

    All around me, the celestial bodies had taken on a life of their own.

    And then, I saw them¡ªthe Constetions¡ªin all their majestic glory.

    The one who said my name was Aries, so they were the first I observed. They had the form of a Ram, having golden and white fleece that shimmered in the starlight. Their horns gleamed like polished bronze, and their eyes seemed like priceless amber gems.

    ''T-that is¡­ Edward''s Constetion!''

    The feeling of awe did not vanish as the other Constetions began to greet my sight one after the other, drowning me a seemingly endless pool of magnificence.

    ''A-ahh¡­'' My eyes widened as I witnessed an imposing being whose name I knew almost as soon as I saw them.

    Taurus, appearing in the form of a Bull, felt so immense and powerful that I felt my being tremble. Their eyes were zing with an inner fire that could light up the darkest of nights, and they pawed at the cosmic ground with massive hooves, sending sparks of stardust flying.

    I didn''t have time to dwell on them when another Constetion''s glory filled me up.

    Gemini¡ªlooking like conjoined Twins¡ªwas essentially two ethereal figures locked in an eternal embrace, their forms constantly shifting and merging.

    Theirughter echoed through the cosmos like a celestial melody, and I felt a tinge of embarassment for some reason.

    Cancer looked like a Crab, but nothing like anything I had ever seen before. Their shell was adorned with iridescent pearls that gleamed with an otherworldly luster. Even though their body was mostly ck in color, the glimmers of gems that decorated their exoskeleton made them irresistably glorious.

    "Haha¡­ to think you''de this far. I wonder what look Kuzon must have on his face right now."

    I recognized the voice instantly!

    It was the first sound I heard when I first arrived in this realm. The one with so much authority that made my entire body unable to stop shaking.

    Leo, appearing like a Lion, had a majestic and regal form. Their long mane wasposed of burning stars that radiated warmth and strength. They gazed down upon me with glowing crimson eyes filled with what I could only chalk up as amusement.

    ''He''s Kuzon''s Constetion. That''s so¡­ overwhelming¡­''

    "Stop teasing him. He''s my Host''s lover, you know?" I heard a sweet-sounding tone course through my ears, causing me to instantly look in the direction of the voice.

    Partly because I was curious, and partly because I was confused, I raised my brow while staring at the entity before me.

    ''Eh?''

    Did she just say her Host was my lover? How?

    This was the Constetion Virgo, dressed as a pure and beautiful Maiden. She stood with an aura of purity and grace, her presence imbued with an innate sense of order and perfection. She held a magnifiscent shot staff in one hand, and she was smiling warmly at me.

    "Maria still doesn''t know, but I''m her benefactor."

    My eyes widened and my jaws nearly loosened as I heard the news. It was unbelievable, but why would a Constetion lie to me.

    I had to simply swallow it as the truth.

    Viro''s smile felt so warm, and she was so beautiful that I had to look away from her moments after staring due to how embarassed I was.

    My gaze turned to the next Constetion, who was right beside her.

    It was Libra, who had the weirdest form out of everyone I had seen thus far.

    They looked like some an amalgamation of a glorious Fairy, thanks to their wings and shimmering form, and a six-arm creature. They had a pair of Scales, hanging on their shoulders in perfect bnce. The scales seemed to be a part of their body, and they also had six hands¡ªtwo folded, two on their waist, and two bncing the scales.

    The scales swung gently as they looked at me curiously, but I swiftly removed my eyes from them before things got too awkward.

    The next one my eyes met wad Scorpio. They had the form of a Scorpion, and they weren''t really paying much mind to me, but rather, the one beside them. With a graceful, deadly beauty, their tail poised to strike, they had eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, a reminder of the power they possessed.

    Unlike Cancer, who was pure ck, Scorpio was gleaming white¡­ like milk.

    The one whom Scorpio was speaking to was staring directly at me as they were having their conversation.

    They were Sagittarius, and they had the form of an Archer. Theor bow was right behind them, and they seemed to have eyes all over their body. Each eye shone like diamonds, and its face¡­ surprisingly had no eye at all.

    It was just a nk mask that was well-docarated with a helmet.

    "Hey, kid, don''t mind those two. One is a talkative, and the other is a prude."

    The voice that spoke to me was as gentle as it was soothing. I looked in the direction and found the one known as Capricorn.

    They had the form of a Sea-Goat, an odd mix, in my opinion.

    Their body was adorned with glistening scales and they had majestic horns rose so high, like tall twin trees.

    They smiled at me, and I smiled back. For some reason, those simple words from Capricorn calmed me.

    "There''s a lot we''re curious about. So why don''t we start with that?" A voice behind me caused me to look, and what I saw was¡­ a fish?

    Well, not just an ordinary fish.

    Pisces looked like a giant fish made of a ss-like substance. And the odd thing about their nearly transparent form was that within them were numerous fishes who swam gracefully through the astral waters, their scales shimmering with the colors of the universe.

    The way the fishes swam within the muchrger fish felt reminiscent to the flow of life itself..

    ''But they''re right. I shouldn''t get too distracted by all of these¡­'' My thoughts slowly retune to the matter at hand.

    I realized that thus far I had only seen 11 of the 12. There was still one more that I was yet to see.

    My eyes scoured the Constetions that surrounded me in a circle, and I found the one whom I hadn''t yet feasted my eyes on.

    ''Aquarius¡­?''

    They were made of a liquid substance that resembled water, and within them were shells, pearls, and other shimmering items without end.

    It felt like I was looking at the universe itself from outside it.

    Somehow, merely looking at this body of water in a humanoid form, ever-flowing and changing, I felt a boundless energy from within.

    I could see no end to Aquarius. Just a seemingly infiniteyer of depth.

    As I gazed upon these celestial beings, I felt a profound sense of wonder and awe. These were living embodiments of the forces that shaped our world and the mysteries of the entire tree.

    I had to choose my first words to them wisely.

    "Where have you all been? Worlds are getting destroyed because of Legris Damien, yet you all do nothing!"

    I was surprised by the words I uttered, almost to the point of apologizing, but I continued anyway.

    "Why are you not doing anything?!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    An entire chapter just introducing the Constetions¡­ wow

    I didn''t think it would be this long.

    Thanks for reading!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1188 Unwritten Laws

    Chapter 1188 Unwritten Laws

    I was upset, and understandably so.

    Here I was, standing in the presence of these magnifiscent, awe-inspiring, and boundlessly powerful entities, now witnessing their greatness¡­ yet I couldn''t help the rising feeling of annoyance within me.

    "You''re all so powerful. You could stop Legris. You could so something, anything, to prevent all those cmities he has been causing."

    Yet why hadn''t they acted? They couldn''t even tell any of us about Legris or assist us in any way.

    Instead, they remained in this perfect realm, watching as realities got destroyed as a result of Legris and his actions.

    I wanted to know why.

    "You are reasonably upset, Jared. The one called Legris Damien is an incredibly dangerous force that even we recognize as a threat." I heard Aries say.

    "Then why¡ª?"

    "Because we can''t do anything about him. It''s both an internal and external problem¡­" This time, it was Libra who spoke.

    I didn''t understand what they meant when they put things like that.

    "Ask yourself this, Jared. Why were we unable to act when The Nether attacked the Aether Realm? His level of power back then would have been no problem for one, not to mention all, of us."

    The moment they brought that to my notice, my eyes widened in realization.

    ''Ahh¡­ I never thought of that!''

    Why indeed hadn''t the Constetions helped back then? Of course, I wasn''t much aware of their existence at that point, but they should have been able to easily handle the Nether with theirbined strength.

    Yet¡­ they did nothing.

    "W-why¡­?" It confused me so much.

    "We couldn''t."

    "Isn''t your purpose to maintain the Aether Tree and everything within it?" I asked, unknowingly raising my voice to respond to Capricorn.

    I instantly felt bad the moment I did so, but my rising annoyance did not allow me to dwell on those emotions.

    In fact, I soon forgot all the awe I had towards the Constetions.

    "It is indeed. However, there are unwrittenws that even we have to abide by." Cancer answered with what I could only see as a sigh.

    "Unwrittenws?"

    "Yes. Laws that even the Primordial Ones¡ªAether and Nether¡ª

    abide by. It is the unwrittenw of existence itself that binds all things that exist in any measure."

    Even the most powerful existences were bound by thesews? That made no sense! They were the architects of the very fabric of our reality.

    How could they be under a higherw? No, that wasn''t the real question here.

    "Laws are made. If you are all bound by these unwrittenws¡­ then who made them?" I asked, my eyes narrowing in sheer confusion.

    For a moment, silence pervaded the world around me.

    No one spoke for a moment, and I suddenly felt all eyes flowing in a single direction.

    It wasn''t on me¡­ but on a Constetion¡ªthest Constetion Iid eyes on.

    "We do not know."

    As I heard the voice from Aquarius, like an endless stream of waters, and a feminine voice rising to the surface, I could not move.

    It felt more powerful than any other sensation I was feeling at the moment.

    Her voicepletely overwhelmed me.

    "That is why they are referred to as the Unwritten Laws. No one knows who established them. The time before existence. The time before the primordial entities and realms were built¡­ no one knows the architect that established these things."

    What could I say in response to her words? I was rendered speechless as I watched the primeval body of seas that glowed before me.

    "I am the oldest of the Constetions. I was the first to exist after Aether herself. Even I¡­ no, even Aether has no clue about the identity of the one who established our existence."

    At this point, I could only utter one word.

    "So what are they? God?"

    "We call them the Crafter. They exist at a point no one can reach. A realm beyond the Root itself." As Aquarius uttered those words, I felt a strange tingle within me.

    However, it was so subtle that it vanished as soon as it appeared.

    "So¡­ this Crafter made somews that you are unable to defy? That''s why you couldn''t stop the Nether, and why you refuse to do anything now?" I blurted out my inquisition, not even knowing what I felt at this point.

    I couldn''t me the Constetions any longer, but I could not direct my rage at one whom I did not know.

    "It''s moreplicared than that, Jared." Virgo spoke to me in her sweet tone. "The unwrittenws are not as precise or particr as you imply."

    "Indeed. They are simply limitations to the interference we can initiate on existing reality." Gemini added.

    The more they spoke, the more I understood. However, I still had to know what these rules were.

    Surely, even if they did not know the Crafter, they knew theirws!

    "The reason we could do nothing against the Nether was due to the Unwritten Law of Heirarchy. As lesser beings, we can not challenge a higher existence like the Nether." Aquarius once again iterated in her wave-like voice.

    What they were trying to say was that even if the Nether was weakened, he still had an advantage of authority beyond them.

    "I-I see¡­"

    "Aether is bound by a different Unwritten Law, which prevents her from directly interacting with reality except through the one she has chosen."

    "A Singrity." I muttered.

    "Indeed." Aquarius responded, and the others nodded as well.

    "Aether dwells within the Root, and the Unwritten Laws prevent her from interacting with much of reality, which is why we exist as Constetions. We are the extension of her will, and the ones who manage existence on her behalf."

    I now understood the roles of the Constetions and their rtionship with Aether. However, they were still yet to address my main question.

    The one that burned within me above all else.

    "Which Unwritten Law stops you from stopping Legris?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter. It''s filled with exposition, but I just thought you''d all like to know these details

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Concept Of SPELLCRAFT

    <h4>Chapter -3: Concept Of SPELLCRAFT</h4>

    SPELLCRAFT is a special technique invented by the Great Sage, Lewis Griffith.

    Using the abundant mana in the surrounding, it allows a magic-user toplement their mana and create more powerful and efficient spells.

    In simple terms, it can be said to be thus;

    Internal Mana + Surrounding Mana = Magic

    Another distinct feature of SPELLCRAFT is that the user does not need to possess a Mana Core to perform this technique. By simply ejecting the mana particles in the body, and using them to attract with the surrounding mana, mixing them together, one can shape the resultant mana into a spell and activate it.

    After the desired effect is achieved, thest stage is to renew the internal Mana that has been expended by absorbing the remnant of mana used, thereby creating a seemingly renewable and unlimited source of magic.

    There are 6 Stages in SPELLCRAFT.

    Stage 1: Dispersal

    Stage 2: Attraction

    Stage 3: Convergence

    Stage 4: Transformation

    Stage 5: Activation

    Stage 6: Renewal

    It is to be noted that SPELLCRAFT is not invincible, since the surrounding area could have very little concentration of mana, or evenck mana at all.

    Plus, it is dangerous to try attracting and merging one''s mana with a higher concentration of mana than they can handle.

 Mana Core Grade

    <h4>Chapter -2: Mana Core Grade</h4>

    A Mana Core is the crystalization of mana within a Magic User''s body. Once a Mana Core is formed, a person bes capable of using magic by utilizing the power in their Mana Core.

    There are 10 known stages in a Mana Core''s growth, also ssified as Grades.

    Each Grade represents the maturity of the Mana Core, and how much magic it is able to use.

    Refining one''s Magic Core and ensuring they break through to the next grade is one of the major upations of Magic Users, since their cores can hold more mana depending on the grade, allowing them the ability to use even greater magic spells.

    THE MAGIC CORE GRADES ARE:

    Grade 1: White

    Grade 2: Yellow

    Grade 3: Blue

    Grade 4: Green

    Grade 5: Orange

    Grade 6: Red

    Grade 7: Purple

    Grade 8: Silver

    Grade 9: Gold

    Special Grade: Multiple Colors (Rainbow)

    Note: The White Core Grade is the beginning of a magic user''s growth, and it usually ends at Grade 9, though those who have achieved this are rare.

    The Special Core Grade is one which is only found in those who possess exceptional and godlike talents, and it is said that their mana pool and magic potentials... are endless!

 Chapter 1189 Fundamental Flaws

    <h4>Chapter 1189 Fundamental ws</h4>

    No one uttered a single word.

    We all basked in silence as my question hovered in the air, waiting for any form of address.

    And then¡­

    "We¡­ do not know."

    ¡­ I got my answer.

    "W-what?" My face warped in surprise as I looked at Aquarius.

    She was without a true face, just a humanoid form of water, ever-flowing and fluid. She had no expression to offer me, so I was stuck with her stoic demeanor as she uttered thest words I desired to hear at that moment.

    "What do you mean¡­ you don''t know?"

    "We simply do not understand why we are unable to eliminate him. There are many constraints we possess, and that certainly causes some issues in stopping his deeds, but it is still very difficult to intervenepletely."

    I didn''t understand.

    No, perhaps I just couldn''t let myself understand.

    "C-can you¡­ borate?" A question slowly proceeded from my lips, almost as if I was tired of listening to the exnation being offered by these powerful ones.

    "Each of us represent and govern certain aspects of existence. As such, we have jurisdictional limitations. We suspect that this Legris knows of this, and as such has found ways to evade ourbine actions, bordering on terrirories that require the attention of only one or two Constetions."

    I listened calmly, doing my best to keep my emotions in check.

    Of course, I wasn''t conceited enough to think I could think of a better solution than these boundless entities, but I had to understand the solution better.

    "Something about his presence brings interference to our connection, thus preventing us from reaching areas he has visited unless we actively attempt to do so. It is to my knowledge that you possess a fewrades who are Hosts to my brethren, yet they were unable tomunicate with them. Am I correct?"

    "Yeah!" I swiftly answered.

    Edward and Kuzon couldn''tmunicate with their respective Constetions at all. The same had to apply to Maria, since I just learned that her Familiar was a Constetion as well.

    "The areas you upied were regions that had too much interference for our boundless reach. As such, you were unable to reach us."

    The more I thought about it, the more I began to piece it together.

    ''So, Legris affects the way they are able to use their abilities, huh? It has to be that ck thing I saw back then! It also interfered with my Magic!''

    Since we were chasing after Legris, that meant every world we ventured into had the same interference as thest, thus preventing the Constetion from reaching us¡ªor rather, us from reaching them.

    "But what about back then, in the world Neron hid all our friends and family? We couldn''t reach you back then, and it''s not like Legris interfere¡­d¡­" My words trailed as I arrived at a realization.

    "It seems you have figured it out." I heard Aquarius say, and I nodded slowly.

    "Neron¡­ interfered with your authority in that world, didn''t he? How is that even possible?" I asked.

    "No. It was more like he made a deal with us, to leave that reality alone. So weplied¡­"

    This was news to me.

    Why would Neron make a deal with the Constetions to prevent them frommunicating to us? If they had, a lot of the mysteries we had to uncover by ourselves wouldn''t have taken us so long.

    This also reminded me of how he didn''t tell me the truth back when I traveled through time to meet him, instead forcing me to find the truth myself.

    ''Why? To what end?''

    Was it really so we wouldn''t take the easy route? Was that really all there was to it?

    "Can you tell me the details of your deal?"

    "No. It is a confidential arrangement between him and us." Aquarius shot me down almost instantly.

    I suppose Constetions took their agreements pretty seriously.

    "More importantly, this Legris erects barriers which prevents us from detecting him passively, forcing us to actively scour the infiniteyers of the Aether Branches to find him. Once we do, and we actively break through the barrier, he would have already detected this and fled. As a result of this, it has been impossible to track him down or put an end to his actions before they are wreaked."

    It all made sense to me now.

    At this point I couldn''t even fault or me the Constetions, even if I tried.

    ''They are programmed to uphold reality, after all. It only makes sense that they do their utmost to achieve that very function.''

    "You must know that Legris is targeting your Hosts, right?" As I said this, all the Constetions around me nodded slowly.

    "So why don''t you just break the connections between you and your Hosts to¡ª"

    "That is impossible. Our connections with those whom we have bonded with can never be broken."

    The moment I heard this echo in my ears, I realized just how troublesome the whole situation had be.

    Not only were the Constetions in a tight spot when it came to directly intervening, but they also couldn''t take away the incentive that Legris had for wreaking such havoc and maching ever so closer to his goals.

    "As you can see, Jared, we have also been working on our end to put an end to him, but Legris Damien and his allies are increibly difficult to deal with." Virgo''s words drew my atten

    "Allies? I thought only Ciel was working with him." I murmured. "There''s another?"

    After I asked my question, a deafening calm echoed in response.

    The Constetions nced at each other, almost as if deciding on whether or not to reveal whatever was hidden from me.

    Thankfully, one of them finally spoke.

    "Jared, the other partner of Legris is one you know well. His name is Stefan Netherlore¡­ and he has be just as dangerous as Ciel."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter. It''s filled with even more exposition, but I just thought you''d all like to know these details

    Don''t worry, we''ll get into the nitty gritty soon enough!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1190 An Offerâ€™s Consideration

    <h4>Chapter 1190 An Offer¡¯s Consideration</h4>

    Shock coursed through me as I heard the familiar name of someone I considered a friend in the past.

    "S-Stefan¡­ is also¡­?" My eyes twitched slightly.

    I was already aware of the atrocities he hadmited for the Nether Cult, but I had viewed it in a sympathetic lens when I considered his family''s history and the inherent inferiorityplex he had developed over time.

    He desperately wanted to surpass his cousin and rival me, but, much to his despair, the gap kept getting wider.

    In the end, he sought the Nether Cult for more power.

    ''Maria doesn''t remember much about their fight, but she told me the details of what she remembers. She defeated Stefan and managed to rid him of Nether through her Familiar''s Purification Magic.''

    He had managed to escape, but I didn''t expect him to be on Legris'' boat.

    ''No¡­ what am I thinking? It makes sense!''

    Wasn''t Legris the one who brought Stefan into the Nether Cult''s fold? It all added up, considering the maniptive nature the former had.

    ''I wonder what he offered you, Stefan¡­''

    What could he have to gain in exchange for destroying countless worlds and destroying so many lives? I had no idea.

    "As Constetions, we are unable to directly mere mortals. The only way we intervene is when they intrude on our teritory or disrupt an essential part of existence¡­ like the bnce of a world''s order, or something like that." Aquarius interrupted my thoughts.

    With that she was saying, Ciel and Stefan were just a slippery as Legris was. As such, all three of them made a formidable team, evading the Constetions when they could, and retreating whenever they got close enough.

    "Its a stalemate, huh?" I murmured.

    No, not really. Legris and his party, while having to worry about the Constetions from time to time, still had the advantage of moving forward with their goals.

    But the Constetions were stuck.

    "You''re all in a bind. I can see that now." Rubbing my chin, I began to stare at each othe twelve.

    I didn''t know when my body had be limated to my surroundings, to the point that I no longer felt the pressure of their presence. Instead, I feltfortable.

    Almost as if I had been here forever.

    "Do not say it so casually. Its too crude." Aquarius muttered, causing me to bow in apology.

    However, after all the problems had been exposed, there remained one thing I needed to know.

    ''... What can we do about it?''

    Clearly, the Constetions couldn''t do anything on their own at this point, so I had to find a reasonable solution to the problem.

    ''I don''t have enough arrogance to think I can think of a better n than them, but¡­'' If there was something I had learned in this brief exchange, it was that the Constetions weren''t perfect.

    They were immortal and boundless, sure.

    But¡­ they were still fallible.

    As long as that was the case, I thought it would be alright to think things through on my own and profer a solution to them.

    Right here and now, that was the only thing I could do.

    "Why don''t you all make a deal with me?"

    My voice echoed in the infinite expanse as the twelve watched me with both curious and surprised eyes.

    "What?" I heard some mutter, but I didn''t let that deter me¡ªnot when I knew how desperate these entities were.

    "Neron made a deal with you, right? That means its possible for a mortal to bargain with you Constetions. I want to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement for both sides."

    Stretching out my hands and widening my lips, I gave them my stare of confidence and opened my lips once more.

    "Do you care to hear me out?"

    "It depends on what kind of deal you are willing to make." Leo responded.

    "We should at least hear him out." I heard Libra mutter.

    "He did manage toe to this space. That shows his worth, at the very least." Aries added with what I could only guess was a smile.

    "He has a track record too. Going against the Nether, though thetter wasn''t at full power¡­" Saggitaurus uttered.

    "He also met Aether, so there''s that¡­" Next was Virgo.

    "If Aether chose him, and Neron approves of him, then he must have something good to propose." Pisces bubbled out.

    "He also has the world''s best interest at heart. We would do ourselves a disservice if we do not hear his words, at the very least."Gemini echoed out.

    The other Constetions aired out their thoughts. However, once they were all done, all of them nced in the direction of one Constetion for the final call.

    The oldest of them all¡ªAquarius.

    "Are you confident your offer has worth?" She asked me with her faceless face.

    I could respond with a million things, but there was no need to overy my card right now. I was well aware of my position.

    The only reason I was allowed to speak was because of the rmendations of stronger, more important figures.

    Aether and Neron¡ªthose two granted credence to my worth.

    As frustrating as that was, I had to swallow my pride and focus on the task ahead.

    ''Even though you have only chosen to listen to me because of them¡­ I will make sure my words stand on their own merit.''

    That had been my goal from the very start.

    "I am confident." My response was swift and simple.

    Aquarius nodded, giving her implicit approval.

    "Let''s hear it then¡­ Jared Leonard." Theirbined voices filled the expanse around me, and my brows furrowed in determination.

    ''Neither Aether nor Neron are here to save you. The only one present¡­'' My lips curled up to form a grin as I prepared to speak.

    ''... Is me!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Jared faces the Constetions and prepares to astound them with his n. Will it be worth their time? Or will it be discarded?

    I guess we''ll find out in the next chapter.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1191 Jaredâ€™s Deal [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1191 Jared¡¯s Deal [Pt 1]</h4>

    After listening carefully and understanding the fundamental w that gued the Constetions, I finally narrowed everything into one central issue.

    ''The Unwritten Laws.''

    They limited these supposedly invincible entities, and they caused a lot of contrivancies and inconveniences that it made it difficult¡ªif not downright impossible¡ªto achieve the goal we all wished they could.

    However¡­ there was a simple loophole.

    ''That''s where the deales into y!''

    "It is unreliable to expect you twelve to solve the current issue. Not only is it one of absolute pertinence, but it requires an immediate solution."

    Legris was too smart to slip up when dealing with Constetion who were limited by their own cause for existence.

    As a result, we needed to approach things from another angle.

    "What is required at the moment are powerful agents who may act on your behalf. That way, you can bypass these limitations ced on you by the Unwritten Laws and put an end to Legris'' ns¡­ whatever they may be."

    As simple and straightforward as it sounded, this solution was the most efficient way to address the problem.

    However¡­

    ''I am sure they have alrady thought of this.''

    ¡­ There was a reason why this n wouldn''t be particrly favored by the Constetions.

    "What you propose brings nothing to the table. It isn''t news that our Hosts face Legris and do their best to stop him. It is our hopes that they should seed in defeating him, but he is too powerful and intelligent to let that happen."

    Indeed. That was the risk behind this proposal.

    ''If the Constetions entrust the duty of stopping Legris to their agents¡ªi.e the Hosts¡ªthere''s a good chance they will fail to stop Legris, and he will only grow stronger.''

    Legris was after the Constetion Essence that dwelled in every Host. If they actively executed this n, it would be as though they were serving him his meals on a silver tter.

    That was probably their reasoning.

    ''But¡­ it is still fundamentally wed.''

    "Legris isn''t as powerful as he appears to be. He is smart and dangerous, I admit that much, but his power isn''t as high as you estimate it."

    The fact that Legris was able to defy entities like Constetions and ensure he steadily achieved what he desired, was not a testament of his strenght, but of his vast understanding of how the world operated.

    He was able to use this knowledge to his advantage and execute a strategy that seemed to be centuries in the making.

    ''From gathering the Arcanas¡­ and now this.''

    Everything was connected.

    "He has been nning this for much longer than we have been deliberating countermeasures, so he clearly has the upper hand in that regard.''

    However, the only way to ruin this n was to attack him with the antithesis of a well-ordered strategy.

    "Brute, unreasonable force. We require an unstoppable power thatpletely topples all the cards he has built up."

    Like a stack of dominos, they would all roll out of order¡­ and Legris would be greeted with chaos.

    "Imagine this: your most elite Hosts attack Legris, surprising him in the process. If we coordinate our assault well and properly develop the roles of each individual, we will be able to create an unstoppable collective."

    The risks remained that this would only serve a full buffet to Legris, but if we did nothing, the world was screwed anyway.

    Yes, it was risky.

    "But this is the only chance we have to stop him. You need us the same way we need you."

    Once I concluded my speech, silence enveloped the world around me.

    The searing gazes of the Constetions kept me stiff, but I maintained a confident smile. This was no time to show weaknss or doubt.

    They all knew I was speaking the truth. However, their caution or pride prevented them from admitting it.

    ¡­ At least, not immediately.

    "You offer big words, Jared Leonard. However, the only things you spout are ideals." As I expected, Aquarius was the one who spoke.

    I couldn''t tell if she was scowling or frowning, but her tone didn''t sound too pleasant.

    "Thebined forces of Hosts¡­ all for the purpose of defeating Legris. It sounds perfect, almost poetic even. However, there is such a thing as reality, and the very nature of applying ideals to practice."

    Yes, I knew this would surface too.

    "Your n offers no concrete solution. You say we require agents to bypass the Laws and defeat our adversary¡­ but which agents?"

    "My friends!"

    Aquarius stopped speaking the moment I gave my response. She looked straight into my eyes, and while I didn''t know what she saw¡­ the most confident impression was stered on my face.

    "You sure are conceited, aren''t you? There are vast worlds beyond your single branch¡­ an infinite spectrum of choices. Yet, you limit us to your biased judgment." I could hear the chuckle of a few Constetions, but I kept my cool.

    "Why should we consider your friends, when there are bound to be better candidates in the vast tree of Aether."

    "No other branch has fought the Nether and emerged victorius." I responded tly, my eyes still gleaming with confidence.

    Conceit or Arrogance¡­ they could call it whatever they wanted, but I didn''t care.

    What I uttered were only facts.

    "Neron has been breeding us for this, apparently. It all makes sense. The conflict at Ainrk. The Incursion. The Wars. Our journey into the Lost Worlds. It all culminates into this single point¡­"

    Everything was to ensure we were ready for this final challenge.

    "You are free to search the infiniteyers of the worlds before you, but you will never be able to find more suitable candidates than the ones I call my friends."

    With my right hand on my chest, I boldly dered the truth that all of the Constetions needed to ept.

    "I guarantee it!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    What do you think of Jared''s ns? Let''s hear yourments, everyone!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1192 Jaredâ€™s Deal [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1192 Jared¡¯s Deal [Pt 2]</h4>

    The tension in the air was palpable.

    I refused to blink, and I forced myself not to gulp, staring at the collossal entities that surrounded me.

    If they desired, they could disregard me without a second''s thought. They could fling me aside as the mere speck of dust that I was.

    BUT¡­ they wouldn''t be able to do any of those things.

    "We aren''t just going to take your word for it." Aquarius'' voice echoed, finally breaking the tense silence that consumed the room.

    Her tone no longer had the agressive and condescending taste it previously disyed. Instead, her voice felt somewhat¡­ soft?

    "We are¡­ quite picky, you know? These friends of yours¡­ there is no guarantee we will select them."

    My smile widened the moment I heard that.

    ''It seems I was right, after all¡­''

    It wasn''t that the Constetions wouldn''t be able to refuse my offer, but they simply COULDN''T.

    ''They are wired to operate with the best interests of the Aether Branch at heart. That means, no matter what they personally think of my ns¡ªirrespective of their pride and caution¡ªthey will select the most viable means to protect reality.''

    Now that I had brought up this solution, they could not refuse it even if they tried.

    ''... All because of the Unwritten Laws.''

    "I have confidence that my friends will be able to garner the favor of at least one Constetion each. Some may even draw the attention of more."

    "Do not push it, Jared Leonard. Who do you think we are?" Aquarius instantly raised her voice, causing my very being to tremble that very instant.

    I was, once again, reminded of my ce.

    "A-apologies. Haha¡­ do forgive my disrespect."

    If it was for the sake of the world, I could take on whatever role that was expected of me¡­ at least that was what I had initially thought.

    But this¡­ this was frustrating.

    ''I want to do more¡ªbe more!''

    Merely appealing to a higher power was insufficient. Even if I had a fair amount of confidence in my ns, there was no fulfilment in it.

    I was merely a dog doing its possible best to beg for a bone.

    "What do you desire in exchange for our eptance of this deal?" Aquarius'' words suddenly lifted me out of my thoughts.

    "What?"

    "You made an atttractive offer, and we have epted to consider it. However, you have yet to mention what you want in exchange."

    The moment I heard this, my eyes widened in surprise.

    ''I wasn''t expecting this. I can actually get something in exchange for a mutually beneficial n?''

    I had thought the n I offered was something that benefited both parties, so there was no need for an additional advantage on my end.

    It seems I was wrong.

    "Do you desire to be a Host as well? Do you have particr Constetions you desire to be bonded with? Certain exceptions can be made for your sa¡ª"

    "No. That''s not what I want." My answer was swift.

    Now that it hade to this, perhaps I could finally obtain what was missing in my current state.

    "Then, do wish to maintain a friendly rtionship and loose contracts with all of us? That is also something we can consid¡ª"

    "No, that''s not it either."

    Both of their suggestions were appealing. If I had the exclusive ability to decide the Constetions I wanted to have as my Familiars, or even maintain loose Contracts with all of them¡­ that would be HUGE.

    I could end up bing even more powerful than Neron, and I was probably going to surpass any of my peers that had ever existed.

    However¡­

    ''... It''s not enough.''

    I didn''t like those offers for one major reason.

    "I''m tired of it¡ªfeeling inadequate and powerless before colossal forces of nature like yourselves."

    My thoughts could be interpreted in many ways. Perhaps I was being too greedy, conceited, entitled, or prideful.

    I didn''t see it that way, though.

    "Borrowing power and not being capable enough to properly protect those I love¡­ it''s frustrating to me." I said, clenching my fists as the words came forth.

    "I desire to fullyprehend Magic, but it feels worthless if I have to appeal to higher powers to obtain it. It is no longer an achievement but a gift¡­"

    A mere bone tossed to the dog.

    "I see. So what is it that you really desire?" I heard Aquarius ask.

    The direct gazes of the Constetions also seemed to imply the very same question. They desired to know what I really wanted.

    Well, it wasn''t any form of Contract.

    "I want an exchange. Me versus each of you."

    "W-what?"

    "That''s right! I want a fair match between me and each of you. That''s a total of twelve matches. No time limit, and the free use of abilities."

    That was all!

    "Are you serious? Your request is internally inconsistent. A duel between a mortal and a Constetion is not only impossible, but it is far from fair."

    I grinned the moment I heard this.

    "Well, maybe you are right. But that is what I desire. It is a simple request from me to you¡­"

    I could sense their skepticism as they stared at me in silence. As a result, I decided to push the matter a little further.

    "Just as you Constetions are very picky, so am I. You desire to test my friends to determine their worth, do you not? Well, consider me doing the same to you."

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The moment I uttered those words, I felt a powerful pressure envelop the vast expanse before me.

    It felt unbearably dense¡ªlike the very aspects of existence had turned against me.

    "DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU REFER TO THIS WAY? YOU DARE¡­?" I heard them thunder, both in surprise and anger.

    Despite all the tension that enveloped the world, however, I let out a light chuckle.

    "Haha¡­ hahaha¡­"

    Why?

    I knew they weren''t going to hurt me. They couldn''t do so, thanks to the Unwitten Laws.

    ''No free will, bound by thews of your existence¡­ yes, I know who you are quite well.'' My smile widened as I maintained my defiant stare at them.

    "Yes, I dare."

    The air felt heavy still, and it was difficult to breathe, but I endured all of that anyway.

    Stretching forth my hand slowly, I faced the leader of the twelve, ensuring my expression was that of goodwill.

    "So, do we have a deal?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    What do you think about Jared''s actions? Are they justified, or is he doingt too much?

    Let''s hear it below!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1193 The Constellationsâ€™ World

    <h4>Chapter 1193 The Constetions'' World</h4>

    ''I hope he''s alright¡­''

    Maria''s thoughts trailed as she looked carefully at Jared''s body from a close distance.

    Something about his pale skin and his barely moving body seemed to signify lifelessness, and it bothered Maria to no end.

    It had only been a few minutes since he began his [Resonance] with Edward and Kuzon, but it felt like an eternity to her.

    ''Edward and Kuzon don''t look pale at all. It''s just him!''

    Why? She had no idea, and that was what made her fret even more.

    "You don''t need to be worried about him, Maria. The dude can take care of himself." She heard Ana''s voice echo in her ears, and she felt her hand resting on her shoulder.

    Maria appreciated the sentiment, but it wasn''t something she could turn on or off.

    ''I know he''s very strong and capable. But¡­ seeing him like this is¡­'' She couldn''t describe it easily.

    ''If it was Kuzon, I''m sure you''d feel the same.''

    Of course, Maria didn''t dare speak out her thoughts, so she only nodded and smiled as Anaforted her.

    ~WHUUUUUUUSSSHHH!~

    A sudden gust of wind appeared, and it instantly surrounded all three of the guys who sat in a circle. A bright light also consumed them, shining so brightly that it would blind any man instantly.

    "KUZOOOON!" Ana''s voice was the first to peak, as her eyes bulged despite the bright light that just appeared.

    However, her shock and worry were only going to be temporary as the next moment, bright light began to emanate from her¡ªas well as everyone else¡ªtoo.

    The gust of wind that swirled around Maria and herrades felt light, almost pleasant. The light also felt familiar, and it seemed to be guiding her somewhere.

    She closed her eyes for a moment, taking in these strangely serene sensations, and the moment she opened them¡­ she was in apletely different realm.

    The same went for all herrades.

    No longer were they in the ruined town, or in anywhere resembling an aspect of reality. Instead, they found themselves in an inexplicable realm.

    "W-whoah¡­" Maria mumbled to herself as her eyes took in the marvelous sights before her.

    It felt like she was living on a canvas that had been created by converging rainbows.

    The palette of colors that filled her eyes caused her heart to race in excitement, and the world itself seemed so vast that it could very well be infinite.

    Thankfully, she wasn''t alone in this ce.

    Looking around her, Maria could see all her friends, all of whom were equally confused as they looked around them.

    How had they arrived in this unfamiliar realm? Who was behind this?

    And more importantly¡­ who were the twelve colossal entities that now surrounded them?

    ''Jared! Where is he?''

    As Maria''s eyes widened in shock and worry, she looked all around her, but found no trace of him at all. She couldn''t even find his body!

    ''W-where¡­ where is Jared?!''

    "Wee, allies of Jared Leonard." Upon hearing his name from one of the colossal entities, the one who resembled a humanoid mass of water, Maria turned in that direction.

    "Who are you all? Where are we?" Before Maria could utter a word, Serah Crimson yelled out her question.

    She had a fiery look in her eyes which Maria greatly appreciated.

    ''Yes, Master! Ask them where Jared is too!'' Her thoughts burst out as she tightened both her fists in determination.

    Unfortunately, Serah asked no such thing.

    "We are¡ª"

    "Constetions, huh? I see¡­ it makes sense." The one who spoke now was Kuzon.

    He rubbed his hair a little and then turned in the direction of the massive entity that resembled a lion¡ªwell, a lion bathed with cosmic aesthetics.

    "Leo, that''s you, right?" He spoke audaciously, now putting both hands in his pockets as he walked closer to the Constetion.

    "You should have said somethi¡ª"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    A sudden pressure filled the room, and Maria felt the urge to kneel instantly.

    Everyone instantly fell to their knees and trembled thanks to the abrupt invisible force that kept them down. Their bodies wouldn''t stop shaking, and the current power that overwhelmed their senses only seemed to be rising by the second.

    "Your impudence knows no bounds. All of you¡­" The water-based entity spoke once more.

    She was Aquarius, and Maria instantly understood that the moment she concentrated on her and didn''t think of Jared for one second.

    The entities around her were Constetions, the most powerful beings in the world.

    "Just like Jared Leonard, it seems his friends alsock manners. Are these truly the ones we should bestow our powers to?" Aquarius murmured.

    It was impossible to determine if she was frowning or now, but from the tone of her voice, Maria guessed that was the case.

    The pressure around her was too much for her to speak her mind, and it troubled her to no end.

    ''Jared¡­ what did they do to Jared?''

    "Hey! Who do you thinkcks manners?!" A sudden voice echoed in the massive space, causing Maria''s eyes to widen.

    Someone among them had just spoken, and her loud voice broke through the tense silence like a hot knife through butter.

    "You just dragged us all here without proper warning, and without exining things to us, you''re subjecting us to whatever nonsense you want!"

    Maria was bewildered.

    Everyone else was on their knees, trembling due to the inescapable power that weighed them down, and yet one of them was standing¡­ spewing words that would only fuel the rage of those who stood above them.

    "You''re just bullies! Now stop hurting my Jerr¡­ I mean, my friends¡­!"

    Ciara''s voice stuttered at thest portion of her sentence, but that didn''t seem to be fom nervousness. Both hands were on her hips, and she had a scowl on her face that defied all logic.

    Maria was beyond surprised, and so was everyone else.

    Even the Constetions.

    "You¡­" Aquarius murmured as she seemed to draw near with her imposing presence.

    "... What did you just do?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1194 Potential Hosts

    Chapter 1194 Potential Hosts

    Ciara felt uneasy.

    No, it wasn''t because of the imposing stares all the Constetions gave her, nor was it due to the question she was just asked by Aquarius.

    The reason for her difort was one thing and one thing alone!

    ''Jerry! He''s being forced to kneel!''

    However, the moment she had this thought, Ciara quickly corrected herself and looked at the rest of her friends who suffered the same.

    Yes, this wasn''t just about Jerry. Her allies mattered too, and right now, they were being held captive by these all-powerful Constetions.

    ''I wonder why I''m not being affected, though¡­'' Ciara wondered to herself.

    It wasn''t like she was that much different from everyone else in the room, and there were even more powerful people in the hall.

    "Answer my question, human. What did you just do?"

    Upon hearing Aquarius'' question, Ciara felt even more perplexed.

    ''I don''t think I did anything, though.'' However, even though that was what she thought, Ciara decided not to tell the truth.

    Instead, she gave a smug look and crossed her arms in absolute confidence.

    "I''m not going to tell you."

    Her defiant gaze met with Aquarius'' faceless face, and the both of them stared at each other for some time, before a voice finally broke the silence.

    "She has a point, though. They are merely ignorant children. We should do well to enlighten them."

    Ciara turned and spotted Virgo speaking.

    Her pure white form served as an inspiration to Ciara, and for some reason, she instantly lost her cocky attitude.

    "Hmm¡­ I suppose you are right. Very well, then." Aquarius muttered, and the rest of the Constetions nodded, though a few of them simply shrugged.

    "Listen carefully, all of you."

    At this point, the pressure in the multicolored expanse vanished, and all the thirteen individuals who stood at the center of the surrounding Constetions looked at Aquarius.

    "Your friend, Jared Leonard, has made a deal with us. It involves all thirteen of you, and your prospects in rtion to defeating the scourge known as Legris Damien."

    "Where is Jared?" Maria''s voice suddenly echoed out, interrupting Aquarius with her tone of concern.

    Instantly, Aquarius turned to her, and in what could only be interpreted as a re, she spoke.

    "Be quiet. I am still speaking."

    That was all it took to silence the worried girl, and so Aquarius continued.

    "All thirteen of you will undergo trials within this ce, and we will spectate these trials. This is so we can see if you are worthy of our power, as Jared Leonard has told us you are."

    Of course, the expressions of all the mortals in the room said it all.

    What kind of deal did Jared make with the Constetions? Why would the Constetions want to give them their power?

    ¡­ Would they be able to seed in these trials?

    "Should you pass your trials, you will be selected by a Constetion that fancies you. This keeps things fair for everyone, and leaves it all to your abilities."

    Silence pervaded the hall as Aquarius concluded her words and stared at everyone present.

    "Any questions?"

    Maria swiftly raised her hand, but Aquarius instantly ignored it.

    "Any other question?"

    "I have a question. What about those who already possess Constetions? Is there a need to undergo those trials?"

    The one who spoke was Kuzon, and he had a serious demeanor etched on his face. He gave a sideway nce at Leo, before returning his gaze to Aquarius.

    "That is a very good question. For those who have already been favored by a Constetion, you may choose one of two options."

    Kuzon and Edward stiffened their faces as they listened.

    For these two, they had already undergone trials of unspeakable horrors and persistence in order to attract the attention of their respective Constetions.

    It was ridiculous to think they would have to undergo another trial just like the rest of theirrades.

    "You may choose to participate in the subsequent trials and gain the attention of another Constetion, or choose to train and develop your powers with the Constetions you are currently contracted with."

    As soon as Aquarius finished her words, she looked at the ones with whom they were concerned.

    "What will it be?" The moment she asked, Edward and Kuzon answered without missing a single beat.

    "Develop my powers with the Constetion I''m currently contracted with."

    "I''ll develop my powers."

    There was no reason to hesitate.

    In the first ce, it wasn''t guaranteed that they would be able to get the attention of another Constetion. Besides, they both recognized that their current levels of mastery in their respective Constetion abilities were toocking.

    The better option was to sharpen the de they already possessed, rather than seek out another dull de that wasn''t even guaranteed to be theirs.

    "What about you¡­ Maria Helmsworth?" Aquarius turned to the flustered young girl who still seemed slighted by how she had been treated thus far.

    All she wanted to know was Jared''s whereabouts, and all she got for it was the harsh response of Aquarius.

    "What do you mean?" Maria asked, her brows furrowed in confusion. "I don''t have a Constetion as a Familiar."

    "Well, you do. You just never realize it." A voice appeared from behind her, drawing Maria''s attention to the angelic-looking entity that stood majestically among the other Constetions.

    "Hello, Maria. My name is Virgo, and I chose you as my Host."

    The moment Maria heard this, her heart nearly stopped. Not only was Virgo beautiful beyond anything she could have ever imagined, but the news was too shocking for her toprehend at the moment.

    "Y-you''re¡­ not an Angel?"

    "I am not. I often appear that way to those I choose as my Hosts, though. In essence, the Archangel that is your Familiar is a part of me, an extension of myself that I gave to you."

    In essence, Maria had made an indirect contract with Virgo by contracting with a portion of herself.

    When put that way, it all made sense.

    However, something was still strange about this whole arrangement.

    "Why? Why would you choose me?"

    For a moment, there was silence. Neither Constetion nor human spoke, and they simply stared at each other for what could be calcted as an eternity encapsted in a second.

    However, Virgo finally broke the silence.

    "Let''s just say¡­ I made a promise to someone. It started out that way, but I suppose I''m genuinely interested in you now."

    "Haa¡­?" Maria did notpletely get it, but she could at least understand what Virgo was saying.

    "So what do you say? Want to develop yourself under me?"

    Yet another period of silence enveloped the room. However, this one didn''tst very long¡­ because Maria opened her lips to speak.

    "D-do you know where Jared is? I''ll ept everything if you can tell me."

    "Hahaha! You''re an interesting child. Jared is fine. He has already begun something akin to his own trial."

    Upon hearing this, Maria opened her lips and eyes in both relief and surprise.

    "You don''t want to get left behind, do you?" Virgo''s additional words spurred something within her, and she instantly shook her head.

    "Then what do you say?"

    Maria''s lips curled up to form a grin. Now that her heart was settled, and she knew Jared was doing his best to be even stronger, there was no longer any room for hesitation.

    She had long made up her mind before the question was posed.

    "I''ll do it! I''ll develop under you as well!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1195 Grand Preparations [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1195 Grand Preparations [Pt 1]

    The thirteen mortals were split into two categories after they were informed of their purpose in the realm of Constetions.

    The first group involved those who would undergo trials to garner the attention of a Constetion. Those under this banner were Serah, Aloe, Ciara, Ana, Aurora, Lemi, Jerry, Z''ark, Beruel, and Gerard.

    The second category belonged to those who would be training under their respective Constetions. In essence, Kuzon, Edward, and Maria.

    Despite being divided into two main groups, each individual had their ownpartment where they would undergo their trial.

    It was a personal journey for everyone, thus they were separated into what could only be defined as distinct realities all locked within the Constetion Realm.

    With each person in a world of their own, they would undergo trials unique to them. As for the Constetions, they would observe the prospective Hosts, as well as the ones who aimed for improvement.

    Whether or not Jared''s allies would be able to meet up to their expectations was not up to the Constetions, but the allies themselves.

    There was no need to rush too.

    This Realm stood outside the reach of concepts like time. As such, they could spend an eternity within this ce, and not even a second would pass in the real world.

    Besides awaiting the results of those who desired to harness their power, the Constetions had one more responsibility.

    ¡­ The Exchange between each of them, and the one called Jared Leonard.

    It felt foolish and pointless to them, but since it was part of the deal, they had all agreed to do it.

    "Of all the things he could desire¡­" Aquarius muttered as she watched Jared in a vast expanse that was a mere fraction of the entire Constetion Realm.

    "... He chose this?"

    She could see the determined face of the young man as he prepared to face his first Constetion. He didn''t have any expression of pride or confidence.

    Just¡­ pure resolve.

    It intrigued Aquarius a little, causing her to draw her attention closer to the scene.

    ''Well then, let''s see what you can do¡­'' She smiled to herself, despite having no face to achieve that.

    The entire Constetion Realm held its breath to see a mortal challenge a Constetion.

    ''... Jared Leonard.''

    ********

    [Meanwhile¡­]

    A ck misty gate opened up in a world filled with carnage.

    The skies were darkened, as if a terrible storm was brewing, and the bright rays of sunlight were dimmed by the sheer presence of darkness that now shrouded the entire world.

    Dead bodiesy strewn all over the battlefield; from mangled corpses to dismembered body parts¡­ all of them painted thendscape in death and despair.

    The only two living people among this horrid sight were two individuals¡ªa woman and a young man.

    They both looked at the dark portal that opened before them, and from within it emerged the third member of their group.

    "It looks like you''re already done¡­" Legris smiled as he stepped foot into the world before him.

    The smell of dried blood and the pungent odor of boiling flesh filled the air. It was a disgusting mix of several unpleasant odors, but Legris didn''t mind at all.

    After all, he was already used to it.

    "You''rete. Here you go." Ciel murmured, throwing what appeared to be a ss-like shard of energy at Legris.

    The fragment brimmed with such intense light that it illuminated the dark expanse that surrounded them.

    "Thanks." Legris epted the light fragment and instantly opened a ck portal to ce it inside. "I had a bit of interference¡­ namely, Jared Leonard."

    Legris appeared to be in good shape. He looked handsome, as always, with his dark brown hair and pale skin. His dark coatplimented his tall physique, and nothing about him seemed disheveled in the slightest.

    He was perfectly fine.

    "Jared, huh? That Singrity bastard? The one who ruined my ns!" Ciel burst out, her beautiful face contorting into one of absolute rage.

    The glow in her golden eyes made clear the amount of malice she held towards the owner of that name.

    "No. The real Singrity is Neron. It has always been him. He was also the one who ruined your ns. Jared is more like a festering parasite that doesn''t seem to go away." Legris muttered, shrugging slightly as he drew closer to his allies.

    "He has gathered a team of thirteen other individuals, apparently. Most of them are nobodies, but a few of them pose a considerable amount of threat to us."

    The moment Legris mentioned a ''team'', something in Stefan''s eyes flickered, and his ears twitched slightly.

    He didn''t say anything, but his furrowed brow made it clear that he was now paying closer attention to every word that came out of Legris'' lips.

    "I didn''t expect him to return so soon. It puts a wrench in our ns, considering how he and his friends are closing in on us."

    experience with Jared was almostedic.

    He sounded unaffected by all the pain he must have endured¡­ the Ciel gave a sigh, and Stefan simply looked at the two of them in silence.

    "Are they really that close? You couldn''t do anything to get rid of them?" She asked, an annoyed expression recing her previously malicious one.

    "It''s not that easy. I don''t know much about his allies, but Jared is ridiculously strong now. You should have seen how he wiped the floor with¡­ well, me." The way Legris exined his terrible experience with Jared was almostedic.

    He sounded unaffected by all the pain he must have endured¡­ the horrors that was forcefully imprinted on him.

    "In the end, I got him to destroy my soul. That way, he won''t be able to track us down using his previous method. Knowing Jared, though, he mighte up with some other machination eventually, which means we have to be more careful."

    Even though it pained Legris to utter the next words that came out of his lips, the way he saw it¡­ the situation called for it.

    It was inevitable.

    "Our ns will have to be dyed."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1196 Grand Preparations [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1196 Grand Preparations [Pt 2]</h4>

    "WHAT?"

    Ciel''s voice reached a pitch that could destroy the eardrums of anyone who listened to her, as she red at Legris and uttered her query.

    The ground trembled in response to her voice, and a sudden chill manifested all around her. It felt dangerous, enough for mere men to kneel and beg for mercy.

    Fortunately for the men in her presence, they weren''t ordinary men.

    "Calm yourself." Legris'' calm voice suddenly echoed in the turbulent storm of Ciel''s wrath, and she slowly retracted the dangerous aura that she emitted.

    "It''s not like I personally prefer to dy the n. It''s just the safest option right now."

    "..."

    Silence followed Legris'' words. Based on her expression, it seemed Ciel was trying to understand what he was saying.

    After about a few seconds of saying nothing, she eventually spoke.

    "So how long will it take us to achieve our goals?"

    "Well¡­" A bead of sweat drooped down Legris'' pale face as he looked at Ciel''s curious gaze. It was clearly a tough choice for him to answer her honesty, but what were partners for?

    "A couple more years. Five to seven, give or take."

    There was a calm before the storm,sting an approximate of 0.0000000000005 seconds, enough time for Ciel''s brain to fully process what Legris just said.

    And it was more than enough time toe up with a response.

    "What the hell did you just say?!"

    "You have to understand how difficult it is to obtain sufficient energy to reunite you with the Nether and also achieve my goals. The reason for the extended time frame is because of the interference from Jared''s team, not to talk of our skirmish with the Constetions too."

    Legris was simply being reasonable in his calctions.

    The current situation ced them at a disadvantage, and he knew that very well. Currently, he had managed to escape the interference of the Constetions, but with Jared and his allies now in the mix, it was too much.

    At the very least, he had topensate for the time spent hiding, running, nning, distracting, etc. It wasn''t even like he desired any dys either.

    "It''s just how¡ª"

    "NO! No way! I refuse to ept waiting that long!" Ciel''s voice overshadowed his very reasonable tone.

    She sounded like a whiny brat, but what could Legris do about it?

    Hepletely understood how she felt. Not only had she done her part in his n for some years now, but every waking moment of her existence was pushed towards bringing the Nether back.

    To tell her she would have to wait for even longer¡­ that was beyond awful.

    "Be reasonable, Ciel."

    "NO! I don''t want to! We''ve worked so hard, all this time, and you''re telling me we have to do even more work?"

    Legris sighed the instant she said this. If anyone was to beining, it was him. He was the central figure behind this whole operation, and frankly speaking, he was the one who experienced the most trouble out of all of them.

    ''Yet I know what must be done. Perhaps I''m approaching this the wrong way¡­'' He swiftly turned his attention to the other male in the group.

    "Back me up here, Stefan. You agree that it''s reasonable to be cautious, right? We should bide our time well, right?"

    Stefan''s dull expression faltered a little when he stared at Legris'' exaggerated smile. Thetter''s bulging eyes and slowly nodding head made it clear that he wanted Stefan to agree with him.

    "Well, I¡ª"

    "No! Stefan, think about it! Don''t you want this mission done with as soon as possible? Then you''ll also achieve your goals, right? No risks, no rewards! Don''t you think so?" Ciel swiftly interrupted the young man before he could get more than two words in.

    "Stefan, don''t listen to her!" Legris protested, his tone bing higher than Ciel in an attempt to return Stefan''s attention to him.

    It worked! Stefan slowly turned his gaze to Legris.

    "Stefan, don''t listen to him!" Ciel''s pitch got even higher, causing Stefan''s head to steer in her direction.

    "Stefan!"

    "Stefan!"

    At this point, both sides were calling for him, making him stuck at the center of the impossibly prizing choices that had to be decided on.

    He had to say something¡­ and fast!

    "ENOUGH!"

    The moment he raised his voice, the entire atmosphere fell silent, and the two who had been talking over him fell into a strange lull.

    The energy that pushed them to spew words almost instantly left their bodies.

    "Ciel, didn''t it take you centuries to gather the members and Arcanas for your Nether Cult? Why are you making it sound like you don''t need to consider several factors and exercise patience in order to achieve what you desire?"

    As Stefan''s question dropped, so did Ciel''s countenance.

    A guilty expression yed on her face, and she hung her head low, realizing just how much truth the boy before her had just spouted.

    "Haha! You get it, Stefan! I knew I could count on¡ª"

    "And you, Legris¡­ you can''t tell me this is the only strategy you coulde up with. I doubt you would prefer to just dy your ns because of the appearance of new threats."

    Upon hearing this, Legris'' body quivered slightly.

    "Use your big brain to figure something out¡­ a beneficial n that is the most efficient, considering the current situation."

    As the remnants of Stefan''s words echoed in their midst, Ciel and Legris stared at each other for a few seconds.

    "It''s ultimately up to you, Legris. What do you want to do?" She sighed, finally giving up her tantrums to hear the decision of their leader.

    In the end¡­ he was the one who would make the call.

    "Well, there is another n we can use¡­" Legris began, a small smile forming on his face as he stared at his two loyalrades.

    "It''s quite risky, but if we can pull it off¡­ I''ll be able to get all the energy we need in one go."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1197 Grand Preparations [Pt 3]

    "For real? In one go? You''re serious, right?"

    Once again, Ciel''s voice dominated the lifeless expanse surrounding them. However, this time, her pitch indicated something different from anger or frustration.

    No, it was brimming with excitement.

    "Yes. I''m serious." Legris responded with a slight shrug.

    "Yayyyyyy! Let''s go with that n then!"

    Ciel began to jump in anticipation, not even concerned at all that her two partners were staring at her with embarassed gazes.

    She even started dancing!

    "You really¡­ know no shame, do you?" Legris asked, one of his hands covering his face as he shook his head.

    There was a reason this woman was determined to be mentally unstable.

    "Shameless woman¡­" Even Stefan muttered words that connoted his thoughts on Ciel, though he ensured no one could hear what he just said.

    "Pssh! You two are no fun."

    "It''s not about fun at all. Sure, the n is incredibly efficient, but like I said earlier¡­ it''s risky." Legris shattered the excitement that Ciel had been building up.

    Something told him she didn''t hear the whole ''risky'' part, but instead focused on the benefits attached to this backup strategy.

    "A-ah¡­ is that so?"

    "Legris, considering the benefits alone, you would have made this backup n your main strategy. For you to have relegated such an efficient solution to the background¡­ that means the risks are incredible¡­" Stefan iterated, causing both of the other two to look in his direction.

    "... Am I right?"

    After he asked the question, attention shifted to Legris, and he rubbed he shut his eyes, almost as if considering all that Stefan just postted.

    Then¡­ he smiled.

    "You are correct. This second n is indeed very risky. It is a simple ''high stakes, high reward'' scenario."

    Despite Legris'' aversion to risk, however, he seemed to be warming up more and more to the prospect of the n.

    "If we had undertaken this mission at the start of our journey, maybe we would have a 2 percent chance of sess¡ªat most." Despite saying that, his grin did not disappear.

    Instead, it grew wider.

    "But now, I''d say we have a 30 percent chance of sess. A lot has changed since we started this journey. We''ve been through quite a bit together, and now¡­ well, it''s our final stand."

    Legris heaved a sigh as he looked at the expectant faces of his two colleagues. Spending years together was more than enough to draw people closer to each other.

    When they first started their journey, Stefan was never expressive, and Ciel would never speak out her thoughts so brazenly.

    Yet, as time progressed, they found themselves drawing closer and closer.

    Even though they now stood above the toppled corpses of their victims, Legris realized just how much of a bond he had formed with these two.

    Whoch was why he had to ask them¡­

    "... Are you both willing to undertake this risk with me?"

    It was a simple question, but the meaning behind it was evident.

    For a while, no one said anything.

    The trio simply took turns exchanging nces, waiting for the respective answers they would deliver to the question.

    "I am willing to do anything as long as I can be with my Nether." Ciel was the first to respond, her brilliant smile.

    Her golden eyes showed no fear or hesitation at all, and she seemedpletely supportive of the n.

    But why?

    Perhaps it was truly due to her desperation to be reunited with her lover¡­ or the trust she now had in Legris and hispetence.

    Either way, her choice had been made.

    "I¡­ am not sure." Stefan''s voice broke through the bright atmosphere that was already beginning to form due to thearaderie being expressed in the group.

    Hesitation bled from his expression, and his words did not betray his true feelings on the matter.

    However¡­

    "I am curious about what this n is, and how you intend to execute it. So, I''ll be tagging along."

    ¡­ As a member of the team, he was not going to abandon it now.

    "You two¡­" Legris'' grin contorted into an expression of genuine emotion.

    His widened eyes slowly began to fall slightly, and a soft smile yed on his lips as he looked at the two allies before him.

    "... Thank you."

    Both Ciel and Stefan returned his thanks with optimistic smiles, and that caused him to smile even more.

    "I suppose since we all agree to this, we should initiate the n. But, just to increase our odds a little more¡­ let''s be a bit more patient." He raised his index finger, and a look of seriousness instantly shrouded his face.

    "We need a bit more Constetion Energy¡­ to make the odds at least 50 percent. Since we only have one shot at this n, I reckon we meticulously handle the matter."

    Stefan and Ciel both noded at his words.

    Legris had never been wrong about their ns and actions before, and he wasn''t going to let them down now.

    That was why they trusted him¡­ and he trusted them.

    "Now I''m excited about all of this!"

    ********

    "Are you ready?"

    As I heard the Constetion before me speak, my thoughts were split into various fragments.

    My body trembled slightly, experiencing both excitement and aversion, but I refused to give in to either or both.

    I gulped down my saliva and readied my nerves for the gut-wrenching battle that was about to ur.

    ''So far, I have somewhat gotten ustomed to the way Constetions fight. I still can''tpletely get used to it, though.''

    Each Constetion possessed power beyond the reach and imagination of limited entities like me, and even when fighting me, they used such a variety of abilities that threw me in for a loop.

    ''So far, I have fought 11 Constetions¡­ and I have lost every single time.''

    My final opponent was the most difficult one yet.

    Her viscous, liquid-like body floated before me, waiting for me to signify my readiness to initiate the fight.

    ''She''s apparently the oldest and most powerful¡­'' I shuddered at the thought of going against her head-on, but I realized I had to do this anyway.

    And so, bracing myself for thest time, I maintained my re and clenched my fist. My lips slowly parted to reveal my response to her earlier question.

    "I''m ready!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Looks like we are in for a treat, don''t you think?

    Who do you think will win?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1198 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1198 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 1]</h4>

    Aquarius calmly stared at the young man before her, and she only had one thought.

    ''He''s weak.''

    As a Constetion who was boundless, having ess to the infinite branches of her realm, she knew what true power meant.

    Of course, she knew that by mere mortal standards, Jared was already among the 0.0000000000001 percent in existence¡ªno, perhaps even in a smaller range than that.

    However, there were still several entities that towered over him.

    One of those entities happened to be her.

    "I''m ready!" Aquarius heard him say definitively, and all she could do in response was sigh.

    If she had a face, what she would be showing now was disinterest at the sheer pointlessness of this exchange.

    Still, as? a Constetion, she was bound to honor the deal.

    "Very we¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Before Aquarius could conclude her statement, she suddenly felt a strong coalition of energy gathering in a single location.

    ''Hm?'' Focusing her senses so she could detect even the most minute building block of energy and existence, she realized the truth.

    Everything was flowing in one direction!

    ''Him, huh? So he is absorbing as much Aether as possible. But he can''t handle that much power, can he?''

    The Aether in this ne was far purer and more concentrated than anything that existed in the mortal worlds.

    A certain amount was bound to utterly destroy a person.

    ''He seems perfectly fine, though. Ahh¡­ he''s not particrly absorbing it, is he?'' She thought, realizing that the young man was simply drawing all the energy to himself without taking it into his body.

    ''A wise choice. So he''s drawing more energy to his end. Why?''

    Aquarius already knew of the abilities that Jared Leonard had in his arsenal. She knew he could use all 22 Arcanas, though none of them would do him any good in this realm, and against her.

    This tier of existence surpassed anything the Arcanas had any business manipting. As such, he had no ability to control things on a conceptual level.

    ''He also has a wide array of Spells, a variety of Familiars, a few Transformations, Martial Arts, and a couple of other tricks.''

    Then again, that would do him no good against her.

    ''No Spell of his can affect me. Plus, his Transformations and Martial Arts are useless against me.''

    She had seen him try tobine all of his unimpressive traits to challenge the other Constetions, and while he held his ground for some time, he ultimately failed in his pathetic venture.

    ''But I''m different¡­'' Aquarius thought to herself, feeling the Aether within her swell.

    None of those petty tricks would work on her.

    "I''ll finish this pointless charade in one blow." She dered.

    Her statement wasn''t out of arrogance or some elevated conceit. No, to Aquarius, she was just stating the facts.

    Her power was the simplest, but also the most effective when it came to any situation.

    ''[Representation: Freedom]''

    In an instant, all of time seemed to stop, and Aquarius was the only one who was functionally existent.

    Jared Leonard stood still before her, aplete mannequin that could do nothing.

    "It''s over." She whispered.

    The Unwritten Laws prevented her from directly harming him, but ording to the details of the deal, if she was able to reach him in a way that would definitively mean her victory, then it would be counted as such.

    ''In the end¡­ it was this wasy.''

    Jared had indeed fared better against her younger ones, but she wasn''t as considerate as them. There were more important things to consider than this human.

    ''He was too greedy.'' In a sh, Aquarius appeared right in front of the frozen body of her target, and then raised her hand to touch him.

    A single touch would be enough to prove her victory, wouldn''t it?

    ''Then¡­ hm?'' Aquarius'' hands slowed down, and downright eventually stopped almost as soon as she reached out to Jared.

    For some reason, her liquid hands trembled slightly, and ripples appeared on her fingertips as she tried to touch him. It almost felt like¡­ there was some sort of wall that separated the both of them.

    A wall of infinite distance.

    ''What is this resistance?!'' Aquarius wondered to herself.

    She had never felt anything like this in all of her existence. No¡­ it shouldn''t have been possible, to begin with!

    Aquarious represented the concept of Freedom.

    As such, she had never been shackled by a barrier in all of her existence. The problem with Legris Damien was the every first time anything of the sort had happened, which was why it puzzled her so much.

    But even that felt different from this!

    ''I am one with the energy around, and am unshackled by any form of boundaries.''

    Her power negated any and all kinds of barriers, allowing her to be able to achieve desired results through being connected with everything.

    Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence¡ªeven among the boundless Constetions, she was truly limitless.

    That was why she was able to pass through a conceptualyer of space-time that not even Jared could detect, making it seem like he waspletely still.

    In reality, he probably wouldn''t know what hit him until it was toote.

    Yet¡­ why was she being stopped?

    Why couldn''t she reach him? She didn''t understand it.

    ''Does it have something to do with all of that Aether he was gathering earlier? If so, then what Spell did he use?''

    Aether was annoyed to no end, but no matter how much she tried to reach him, it seemed like he was only getting further away.

    "It seems I will have to try a different approach."

    The instant she said that, reality resumed as usual, and Jared began to move. However, even before he could take a single step to react to Aquarius, she lunged at him with her hand, now able to easily bypass all the supposed limitations that would have held her back.

    There was no escape this time¡­ nothing to hold her back.

    ''You''re mine now!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Is this the end for Jared? I wonder¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1199 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1199 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 2]</h4>

    For anything to exist, there have to be building blocks that support that existence.

    For a building to be formed, there are blocks that are required to form it.

    What of the blocks? Well, a single block is formed by adding several materials in order to attain the shape, size, and quality that is desired.

    And what of those materials? They also require various elements andpounds in order to be formed.

    In essence, all that exist require building blocks. Initially, it starts with simple and physical elements, but the deeper one goes into theponents, the more the revtions of the invisible, undetectable begin to unravel itself.

    However, no matter the building blocks or Concepts, Aquarius never had a problem with any of them. In fact, she could freely detect, reach, and influence all of them.

    She could interfere with areas that would be considered the limit for even the most powerful entities.

    A truly limitless entity, only bound by the Unwritten Laws.

    And yet¡­

    "What is the meaning of this?"

    ¡­ It suddenly seemed like everything that had been said prior to this moment was a lie!

    Aquarius felt perturbed, seeing as she had just tried to grab Jared a second earlier, and now it seemed like he was nowhere to be found.

    No¡­ it was more like he had never been there to begin with.

    ''An afterimage? No¡­ that''s not possible!''

    Aquarius knew exactly what she detected! It was Jared Leonard through and through! There was no way to fool her perfect detection.

    ''B-but if that''s the case, then¡­?!''

    She had never been flustered when facing an opponent before. Perhaps it was because she had never fought an enemy that she couldn''t have easily defeated with her first move alone.

    By simply sifting throughyers that no one else could reach, and using that ooportunity to strike her target before they could even suspect it, she was guaranteed any victory.

    That was until she met this mere human.

    "What did you do¡­?" Aquarius turned to her far right, her expressionless face depicting nothing short of rage.

    Floating in the nigh infinite space, with his hands folded as he stared at her with a confident grin, was the man she should have defeated by now.

    "... Jared Leonard?!"

    "Why should I tell you?" The young man responded, his golden eyes brimming with light as he spoke.

    "I see. So you used the Aether that was absorbed to create a perfect replica of yourself, down to the building blocks."

    The instant she said this, Jared''s confident demeanor shattered, and his jaws fell in shock

    "W-what?!"

    "That would naturally be impossible, considering the time and amount of power it would take to achieve perfect duplication. However, since the Aether here is so dense and rich, you were not only able to replicate your physicalponents, but the total amount of energy you possessed at the start of the exchange."

    Silence followed Aquarius'' words, and it seemed to surprise Jared to no end. He probably never expected her to understand what he had just done.

    That was his mistake.

    "H-how did you even¡­?!"

    "Your thoughts are not hidden from me. There is nothing I can not reach." Aquarius spoke with absolute authority as she stared at him.

    Seeing him so flustered and powerless made her feel a strange sense of fulfilment.

    It felt good!

    "As for how I was unable to reach you earlier, it seems you were able to integrate some measure of Space from an alternate source to the barrier you made around yourself. As a result, the more space I bypassed, the more space you generated to further distance yourself from me."

    Even though Aquarius knew all of that by reading his mind, there was still something that concerned her about the whole thing.

    ''How was he able to do all of that while being entirely immobile?''

    There was no way he could have detected her actions and calcted the right amount of space he would deploy to stop her. It seemed absurd to even consider that he had ventured into the same conceptualyer that she had.

    That left only one exnation.

    ''An automatic response, huh? His Original Magic: Great Sage''s Memoir allows him to generate automatic responses to situations even without his consciousness being able to keep up.''

    It all began to make sense to Aquarius at this point, especially with Jared''s own memories providing her with even more information.

    ''His Memoir is in sync with this world''s Aether, and since it basically operates on pure Aether, it is not limited by the consciousness orplex processes that intelligent entities have to undertake to perform an action.''

    As a result, even though she was in a conceptualyer that no one could reach, with his Memoir beingposed of pure Aether, in sync with the world around them, it could still respond to her actions.

    Or rather, it could ensure her inaction.

    "A smart move, Jared Leonard." Aquarius spoke.

    It seemed she had underestimated him too early. Despite not having the advantage of any Arcana orplex Spells at his disposal, he still managed to avoid her victory.

    ''Not once, but twice now¡­''

    She could now better understand why her siblings took so long to defeat him. Even though she was the most powerful of all of them, she had still fallen prey of his deciet.

    However¡­

    "There is a limit to which intelligence can take you." Aquarius dered.

    Now that she understood how his abilities fundamentally functioned, he wasn''t going to be able to decieve her any longer.

    "This time, I will wi¡ª"

    "Is that so¡­ ?"

    Aquarius suddenly froze, instantly pausing all of reality.

    If she had eyes, they would be bulging to their limits, all in response to what had just happened.

    ''I-impossible!''

    Right behind her, almost touching her shoulder, was Jared Leonard!

    His lips were curled up to form a smile, and his face was awfully close to hers. His charming eyes and fluttering golden hair¡­ everything about him was so close to her that she felt an overwhelming sense of dread.

    At that moment, Aquarius only had one question rush through her mind.

    ''H-how did he get there?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Who do you all think is going to win this fight? It does seem like Jared has the advantage, but¡­ I mean, he''s up against a Constetion.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1200 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 3]

    <h4>Chapter 1200 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 3]</h4>

    ''What is going on?!''

    Aquarius found herself in yet another conundrum.

    First of all, Jared Leonard had slipped her assault, not once, but twice. And now, he was getting the jump on her.

    ¡­ HER!

    ''He was right in front of me a second ago. What did he do?'' She wasn''t going to be able to read his mind since everything about him was static, but she could make guesses based on what she already knew about him.

    ''Did he allow himself to be anywhere and everywhere at once? No, that''s impossible. He can''t use his Arcanas here.''

    Then what was he using? [Perfect Unknowable] perhaps?

    ''If he''s fusing his Aether with the Aether around him, that means he''ll have topensate for the purity and density of the surrounding Aether. Does he have enough Aether for that?''

    It was that very improbability that made Aquarius certain that Jared wouldn''t even be able to properly utilize Spellcraft, considering the purity difference between his own Aether an the Aether within the Constetion realm.

    It already seemed to be an impossible challenge for him, yet he had managed to surprise her in so many areas already.

    ''And one more thing bothers me¡­'' Aquarius red at the smiling face of the young man she now stood in front of.

    ''Why did he announce his presence behind me? If he had just touched me, he would have won the match ording to the rules?''

    Of course, he wouldn''t have been able to touch her, but he could have at least tried.

    Wasn''t it victory he desired?

    Aquarius decided it was better not to dwell on simple conjecture. Instead, she would have to consult with Jared''s thoughts themselves.

    ''I should also take extra precaution¡­''

    Generating a barrier around her that prevented anything from getting in, or going out, she created some distance between her and the young man.

    ''In this barrier, I am the only one who can function properly since I transcend limits.''

    As a result, Jared wouldn''t be able to reach her again.

    ''You missed your opportunity as a result of your hubris. That is your mistake.''

    Reality resumed, and Jared''s distance from Aquarius was now considerable¡ªenough for him to make a light grin about it.

    "I see¡­" He whispered, his eyes narrowing on her.

    Aquarius felt ufortable under his scrutinizing gaze, but she ignored his bravado and decided to venture into his memories to further dig up how he was able to get behind her.

    However¡­

    ''W-what? I can''t see it?!'' Aquarius'' thoughts screamed out in shock.

    This was absurd!

    There was no thought hidden from her! Nothing was beyond her reach! How was he able to hide his thoughts from her?

    Unless¡­

    Her nonexistent eyes instantly widened as she red at him with a repulsed, but also slightly intimidated gaze.

    ''He erased his memories!''

    That was the only exnation she could think of now. After all, the only thoughts she could not reach were ''no thoughts''.

    In essence, Jared currently had no thoughts or memories concerning what had just happened!

    ''That sly bastard. I shouldn''t have told him I could read thoughts¡­'' It was at this moment that Aquarius grasped another thing she hadn''t considered before.

    ''Why did I reveal my cards in the first ce?''

    Well, the simple answer was that she felt good doing it.

    But why?

    ''He goaded me into confidently revealing my abilities to him. Even now, he must be actively doing his best to obtain more information from me¡­ scrutinizing my abilities.''

    It annoyed Aquarius to no end, finally realizing how much she was being yed by this mortal.

    ''It''s dangerous to let things drag out any further.''

    "I thought you were stronger than this, Aquarius. Your siblings offered a better challenge than this, you know?" Jared''s voice suddenly echoed in the vast expanse that existed between and around them.

    Hearing his highly conceited words pissed her off instantly.

    "If I went all-out, you wouldn''tst even one second." Aquarius responded, disdain oozing from her liquid body.

    "Is that so? Why don''t you do that, then?"

    "There is no need to go that far for someone as insignificant as you."

    "Come on, I dare you!"

    Aquarius, despite being nearly as old as time itself, felt incredibly irritated by Jared and his constant disrespect.

    She found herself at the edge of her patience.

    ''No! I won''t let him goad me. He probably has some other n that he wants to execute if I undertake that action.''

    Aquarius honestly doubted Jared being able to withstand her full power, or anything even close, but after underestimating him a few times already and being unpleasantly surprised by the results, she didn''t want to make the same mistake again.

    ''He could be cooking up another scheme, after all¡­''

    Besides, her pride just wouldn''t let her go all-out on someone as insignificant as Jared Leonard. Aquarius found it impossible to take their battle even half as seriously as she would have if she was to go all-out.

    "I won''t fall for your provocations. You wil lose this fight whether I use my full strength or not."

    It was inconceivable to think Jared would achieve victory against her after losing to her younger ones.

    At the very least, that was what Aquarius thought.

    "This is the end of the line for you." She sighed, finally deciding to kick things up a notch.

    So far, she had been limiting herself to simply finishing Jared off by ying cheap tricks on him. However, she was a little tired of that already.

    ''I can''t directly harm him, but¡­'' If she had lips, she would have leaked out a smile at this point.

    ''... I can buff him!''

    If she circumvented the Unwritten Law by sending a wave of inescapable Aether by disguising it as a blessing rather than an assault, then it would end up as her victory.

    By using her unbridled connection to his thoughts, Aquarius decided to grant him a non-lethal blow that was guaranteed to bring him to his knees.

    ''Let''s mess with his mind a little¡­''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    The fight should end in the next chapter¡­ I think.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1201 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 4]

    ?

    It was trite that no one could resist the power of a Constetion.

    If any mortal was to challenge them, it was already clear who would be the victor. However, despite the vast difference in power between Constetion and Mortal, there was one factor that gave the former the edge.

    The Unwritten Laws.

    As a result of this, no Constetion could attack a mortal directly, with only one exception allowed.

    Thanks to this, Jared Leonard enjoyed a substantial amount of liberty in his battle against Aquarius. He was able to expertly evade Aquarius'' meager attempts to end the battle, while ounting for the factor that she couldn''t harm him.

    And for a while, that was apetent strategy.

    However¡­

    ''Let''s mess with his mind a little.'' Aquarius thought to herself as she stared at Jared''s stationary form.

    Using her power to ess his mind, full memories or not, she could stir his thoughts and create dissonance in them.

    This often led to nausea, confusion, pain, submission, and whatever other reaction she desired to induce in her targets.

    ''I used this on his allies back then, and they all fell. Well¡­ almost all of them.'' It was at this point that Aquarius was reminded of the other human who irked her.

    The one known as Ciara Epilson.

    ''She was able to resist my power. I still do not know how¡­''

    First was Legris Damien, then Jared Leonard, and now Ciara Epilson. Why were so many mortals springing up to challenge her power?

    It made no sense to her!

    ''Could Neron perhaps do the same? He is a Singrity, so he is exempt, but¡­ I wonder.'' Aquarius decided not to dwell too much on her thoughts any longer.

    Instead, she focused on the opponent before her.

    His mind¡­ was as good as hers!

    "Hmmm¡­?" If she had eyes, Aquarius would have squinted them, and this was because she had just tried to ess Jared''s mind¡­ but couldn''t.

    ''Impossible! How can this be?!'' She thought to herself as she red deeply at the young man in front of her.

    There was only one exnation.

    The Jared in front of her had no mind of his own.

    ''But just a few seconds ago he¡­ what exactly did he do?!'' Aquarius wondered to herself in puzzlement.

    This was her first battle with such a problematic opponent.

    However, no matter how elusive he could be, there was no way for him to challenge her. She was currently shrouded in her barrier, thus preventing him from being able to reach her in any measure.

    ''Still, why do I feel uneasy?'' She wondered, focusing very deeply on Jared''s current dull face.

    He had no expression on, giving an unhinged emotionless and thoughtless vibe.

    "[Resonatia]." She heard him suddenly mutter, and an incorporeal book appeared in front of him, almost as if he was going to read it.

    The book floated in front of him, shining brightly as his eyes glowed in response to it.

    ''A Spell, huh? He really thinks that''ll work on me?'' Aquarius smiled to herself.

    Throughout their battle, Jared had not used a proper Spell even once, and that was because of its uselessness when facing a Constetion.

    Conventional Magic created by mortals had no means of affecting something that existed far above their scope.

    ''So, unless he just made a Spell on the go¡­ one that is effective on Constetions, then it would be foolish to even¡ª''

    "G-gurghhk!" Aquarius suddenly felt her thought process halt, and a sudden intrusion into her mind caused her to grunt slightly.

    It felt like her thoughts were being stirred, causing her vision to blur slightly, and her mind fell into a brief moment of confusion.

    ''W-what¡­ is happening?!''

    Aquarius had never felt a sensation like this in her entire life, so there was no way for her to have instantly known that this was the same sensation Jared would have felt had her Mind Interference seeded.

    And by the time she figured it out, Aquarius was bleeding with nothing short of rage.

    ''He used my abilities against me? How?''

    It could have been that his mindless mind epted her intrusion, but there was nothing to stir, so he was able to harness the frequency and utilize [Resonatia] to return the same to her.

    ''He used my Representation against me too!''

    No attack could pass through her barrier¡ªwhether from within or without¡ªbut she was the exception.

    He capitalized on this and keyed into the frequency of her attack, which had a residue path to be utilized.

    ''Smart. But so what? In the end, it''s just a mild inconvenience.'' Aquarius thought to herself as her vision returned and her senses were fully functional.

    "You are¡­ huh? Where is he?" Her words were now tinged with an emotion she was unfamiliar with.

    It was an emotion she did not prefer to feel.

    Suddenly, Aquarius felt a strange presence shroud her. If she had hair and skin, thetter would probably be erect as a result of the difort she felt within her own haven.

    It felt terrifyingly clustered in her safe space.

    And then¡­

    ~WHOOOOSH!~

    ¡­ Aquarius felt the presence close in on her, almost touching her body with its flesh.

    At this point, she had two options:

    Keep holding back and taste the humiliating experience of defeat for the first time since her existence.

    Or¡­

    To win the current battle.

    Aquarius was tired, but also tense. This wasn''t physical exhaustion, and it wasn''t as if her power had been pushed to some extreme.

    No¡­ she was just tired of her situation and the opponent she was fighting. She didn''t want to continue the mind games and unexpected twists that awaited her if she kept going down the current route.

    Besides, the presence closing in on her was evidently an opportunity for her.

    ''I''ll stop ying around.'' Aquarius finally thought to herself as she heaved internally.

    "[That''s Enough]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Okay, this time it will end in the next chapter. I give my word.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1202 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 5]

    <h4>Chapter 1202 Jared Vs Aquarius [Pt 5]</h4>

    "[That''s Enough]."

    Turning to the young man who had just appeared within her haven, something that should have been impossible for anyone to do, Aquarius found herself face to face with Jared.

    ''This human¡­''

    His body was unmoving, and the space around him was still in flux, not fully stabilized due to his abrupt appearance, and her halting the flow of reality.

    ''... He invaded my imprable haven?''

    Aquarius could detect trace elements of his energy around her, and it all began to make a lot more sense to her at this point.

    ''He used Spellcraft, huh?''

    Jared must have disguised his Aether as the surrounding Aether prior to the time she set up her Haven, thus giving her the illusion that she had blocked everything about him out.

    ''But, even if they were his Aether, the energy was dormant. To activate, they would have required a catalyst¡­''

    Once Aquarius recognized this, she realized what had just happened.

    ''This bastard¡­!''

    The [Resonatia] Spell he peformed must have had twoyers to them.

    One of thos effects was to perturb her thoughts, sure, but what if he used the opportunity to also activate all his dormant Aether, using Spellcraft to control them to do his bidding.

    ''Once he used Spellcraft on them, he was able to interfere with Space here and appear within my haven, almost as if he had been invited.''

    Still, that didn''t ount for how he would be able to bypass her barrier.

    ''It''s still impossible! Unless¡­'' Aquarius narrowed her focus on the spatial energy still yet to stabilize around Jared, and she noticed the issue right away.

    ''I see. So he first of all transferred himself to his pocket dimension, and then used the gatweway provided by his Spellcraft to ess my haven directly.''

    That saved him the rtive effort of directly breaking through her barrier from the same dimensional ne.

    ''He''s brilliant. He really thought this through¡­'' Aquarius thought to herself.

    When they first met, she thought of him as weak. While she was yet to dispose of that perception she had of him, Aquarius now recognized that he was more.

    ''He is weak¡­ but he has a powerful mind.''

    Now that she knew his trick, Aquarius also realized that he must have transferred his consciousness to his private dimension, allowing his Great Sage''s Memoir to take control of his body and perform preset actions.

    That way, she wouldn''t have been able to interfere with his mind, and he would merely be a puppet on a string¡ªalbeit temorarily.

    However, when he traveled to his pocket dimension as a measure to invade her haven, he must have recollected his mind ande for her in full force.

    Everything added up nicely.

    ''A brilliant young man indeed. I will admit it, Jared Leonard¡­'' If she had lips, Aquarius would have smiled at the young man in front of her.

    ''... I have never met any man like you.''

    Unfortunately for Jared, however, his n had one major w.

    His opponent was Aquarius.

    ''Perhaps this strategy would have worked on some of my siblings, but¡­ not me.''

    Not only was she smarter than them, but the nature of her Representation was simply too powerful for her to be affected by Jared''s n¡ªdespite how grand it was.

    ''This time, it''s over.''

    Aquarius stretched out her hand, going beyond the barriers of the present, and into the future.

    The magnificent sight appeared as if her water-like form was breaking the surface tension of thicker waters, sinking deep into the recesses of turbulent waters.

    The future was uncertain, thus chaotic.

    However, for Aquarius, she was able to easily navigate the future and reached out to her target.

    ''I am certain you used a sim defense mechanism asst time to ensure I can''t touch you in the present, even if reality is on hold. However¡­''

    All she had to do was simply do so in the future, at a time where hie Great Sage''s Memoir would not have registered what she had done in the present.

    The result¡­?

    ~TAP~

    ¡­ She easily touched him.

    Reality soon returned to normal, and as Jared tried to reach for Aquarius, he was met with yet another imprable wall that stopped him dead in his tracks.

    "O-ow!" He was forced to bounce back, thanks to the ss-like field that prevented him from even reaching her.

    However, before he could do anything else¡­ he felt it.

    A touch on his lips.

    It felt cool, but also warm. Jared couldn''t describe it. It felt like an all-epassing ocean had graced his moist lips with a touch.

    That was when Jared realized the truth.

    "I lost, huh?" He smiled, raising his head to look at Aquarius, who simply watched him with a smile on her faceless face.

    Within her water-like body, the infinite stars within glittered, and her liquid arms were behind her, almost as if taking a courteus pose.

    "Indeed. It was inevitable that you would lose." The Constetion responded. "You''re only mortal, after all."

    Despite Aquarius saying this, she felt a stirring within her that was impossible to ignore. Never before had any mere mortale close to impressing her this much.

    It was unbelievable that Jared had done all of this himself.

    "You are right¡­" His voice stirred Aquarius from her trance-like thoughts, causing her to return her gaze on him.

    "... Rather unfortunately, I am only mortal."

    Even though he was smiling, Aquarius recognized some form of sadness evident in his gem-like eyes.

    It called her closer to them, but she resisted it instantly.

    "Y-you do not need to feel bad, you know? You were actually impressive¡­" Aquarius found herself stuttering slightly, and she chastised herself for it.

    She also felt incredibly embarassed that she once thought of him as some weak and insignificant human. Her poor judgement came as embarassing shbacks that made her cringe despite being made of primeval waters.

    "Thank you, Aquarius. For you topliment me, it must mean I really did something right."

    "Whatever. It was impressive, sure, but not particrly revolutionary." Aquarius swiftly snapped back.

    She couldn''t let a human like him get too cocky.

    "Haha¡­ is that so?" All he did was respond with a soft chuckle, and Aquarius felt like he was somewhatughing at her.

    It took a decent amount of her self control not toment any further.

    "Y-yeah. We should probably head back¡­ to the others."

    Only the two of them were present in this vast realm, but Aquarius was certain that her siblings were watching them.

    That was one of the reasons why she couldn''t slip up and praise him too much.

    If she did so, then her pride would be tarnished, and the eleven wouldn''t let her catch a break. There was no way she was going to mar her image.

    "You''re right. Thanks for the duel and the kind words." Jared''s words echoed in her head, causing Aquarius to stare at him once again.

    This time, his eyes showed no hint of sadness or hesitation.

    No¡­ nothing like that was evident in the slightest.

    There was only one thing that Jared''s eyes disyed, and it caused Aquarius'' heart to skip a beat¡­ despite not having one.

    "This should be more than enough."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    What a wholesome end, wouldn''t you say?

    Yes, I know some people will want to start saying some things, but¡­ I reserve myments.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1203 The Constellationsâ€™ Choice [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1203 The Constetions'' Choice [Pt 1]</h4>

    I was transported out of the dimension where I just fought Aquarius, and previously the other Constetions in the blink of an eye.

    The next I knew, I was in an expanse upied by the other Constetions, and Aquarius appeared right behind me the moment I limated to my new environment.

    "What''ll happen to the sparring space?" I turned to ask Aquarius, who had apparently softened up to me after we concluded our fight.

    She didn''t say anything for a while, making me wonder if it was just my imagination that we had grown a little closer.

    "D-don''t address me so casually¡­" I heard her mutter, but it was barely audible that I might have misheard what she said a little slightly.

    "The dimension will be erased since it serves no purpose anymore."

    Rather than Aquarius responding to my question, it was Virgo. She was smiling broadly, but her eyes weren''t directed at me.

    Instead, she was looking at Aquarius.

    "Thanks, Virgo." I responded casually, and based on her reaction, she didn''t seem to mind at all.

    I had already fought all of the Constetions at least once. While I wasn''t their match in the slightest, I was able to understand andmunicate with them more.

    ''I think I''ve pretty much gotten used to them, and the feeling is mutual.''

    However, Aquarius still seemed to be stiff around me.

    ''She said I was impressive, but it seems I haven''t reached her criteria just yet¡­''

    Not that I cared or anything.

    As long as I was able to achieve my desired result, I didn''t mind one Constetion or two not liking me too much.

    "How was your match?" Virgo asked, her smile broadening for some reason.

    Once again, she didn''t seem to be looking at me. I didn''t know whether to respond or not, but I decided to do so anyway.

    "It was as expecte¡ª"

    "None of your business! You saw everything, didn''t you?" Aquarius'' voice overshadowed mine, causing her words to spread within the multicolored expanse.

    For a moment, silence ensued and only the faint echoes of her deration filled the air.

    I didn''t know where it wasing from, but I was sensing some level of awkwardness¡ªperhaps even tension too.

    "Huhu¡­ sure I did. In any case, it''s finally over."

    Virgo''s face as she uttered those words seemed to contain more meaning than she was letting on, but I wasn''t too versed in understanding Constetions to decipher what she meant.

    Her pure maiden-like face seemed to be hiding some sort of scheme¡­ or maybe I was just reading some meaning to it.

    ''No other Constetion seems even moderately interested, so why is Virgo being so persistent?''

    I didn''t think I would ever find out.

    However, in order to quickly alter the course of tension that was currently hovering above my head¡ªbetween Aquarius, who stood behind me, and Virgo, who was a small distance in front of me¡ªI decided to change to topic of discussion.

    "How are they faring¡­ my friends?"

    My question seemed to work like Magic, and instantly, the tension vanished from the rooom. Instead, the other Constetions even began to speak up, and the massive screens they were all staring at came into view.

    Almost like windows appearing in hin air, each of these screens disyed one of my friends undertaking whatever challenge the Constetion gave them.

    A total of thirteen screens depicted each individual and their trial or training, and as I looked at some of the screens, I had my own mixed reactions.

    "What do you think? Do you have preferred candidates already?" I turned to the Constetions who were currently watching the trials.

    Each Constetion had varying tastes¡ªtastes different from mine.

    From what I could see, while most of them were doing their best, they were quite weak. Perhaps it was due to my current level of power, but I genuinely felt they were inadequate.

    ''After fighting with each Constetion and losing every single time, I''m a bit worried that they won''t find anyone impressive¡­''

    Even though I made such a big deal out of my friends when I offered the Constetions a deal, I wasn''t so sure any longer.

    My only hope was for the Constetions to have less strict assessments concerning them.

    "Virgo, Aries, and I have decided not to choose any new candidate from your friends since we already have Hosts among them." Leo was the first to my question.

    I stared at Virgo and Aries, seeing as they nodded in agreement with Leo''s statement.

    "Oh? Any particr reason why?" I responded with another query.

    "Well, some of us prefer to have one Host at a time, but it is generally epted among us that a Constetion should not to have two Hosts who are closely linked or associated."

    I could see a few reasons why they would decide on something like that.

    ''For one, Constetions are bound to have favorites among their Hosts. If two of their Hosts are friends, it could be clear who the favorite is¡­ and that could cause issues for them.''

    There was also the factor of skill. Certain Hosts were bound to be more skilled than others. If one Host was more skilled than the other, and they had the same Constetion, it could lead to unsavory emotions and terrible oues.

    There were other factors involved, so I understood why they would abstain from choosing multiple Hosts in the same friend group.

    ''But that leaves another problem.''

    There were currently ten people who were undergoing trials to be recognized by a Constetion. However, only nine Constetions were already without a Host among them.''

    ''In essence¡­ one person might not get a Constetion.''

    Unless, of course, such a person was outstanding enough to allow them to make an exception¡ªwhich was highly improbable¡ªI had to brace myself for the worst case scenario.

    ''It''s out of my hands now, though¡­'' A bead of sweat trickled down my face as I forced a smile on my face.

    ''Everything is up to you guys.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Who do you think will be left behind? Or do you think they will all be chosen?

    I wonder¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1204 [Bonus chapter] The Constellationsâ€™ Choice [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1204 [Bonus chapter] The Constetions'' Choice [Pt 2]</h4>

    "That woman¡­ Aloe Vida¡­ she''s quite impressive, is she not?"

    I nced in the direction of the one who spoke, and it was Libra. Her tone made it clear that she was quite enthralled with Aloe, and that made me slightly relieved.

    "Yeah¡­ true."

    "I noticed that as well."

    "I like her quite a bit too¡­"

    Libra wasn''t the only one who had that sentiment about Aloe, as nearly half of the Constetions all apuded her efforts.

    ''I''ve been figting for a while now, so I don''t really know of the feats they''re alluding to. Still¡­'' I felt strangely satisfied that Aloe was getting so much traction from the Constetions.

    It made me curious about the progress of the others.

    "What of the one called Anabelle? How is she?" I blurted out, a smile etched on my face.

    "Ahh¡­ the dwarf? She has a lot of potential¡­ " The moment I heard Cancer utter those words, I felt an instant surge of pity for Ana.

    ''She''s a Loli, not a dwarf.'' I cried internally.

    Still, I had no intention of correcting Cancer. He knew more than me anyway, so I had to assume that Ana had some Dwarf blood running in her veins or something.

    ''Now that I think about it, Cancer''s Representation would be perfect for Ana¡­'' My thoughts trailed.

    Hopefully, things turned out well.

    "Haha¡­ I see." I managed tough it off, thinking about who else to bring up.

    "That Serah Crimson woman¡­ I want her."

    A very bold, imposing tone suddenly echoed throughout the entire Constetion Realm. The primal force from the voice sent jitters down my spine, causing me to instantly recognize the one who spoke.

    It was Taurus.

    "She has such fine qualities too¡­ of destruction, of course¡­ ahem¡­"

    I didn''t know if Taurus was interested in her because of her potential to be strong, or due to other reasons¡­ but I could only leak out a shortugh in response.

    "Haha¡­ is that so?"

    "H-hey, no fair, Taurus. I set my eyes on her first." This time, it was Scorpio who intervened. "I told you about her first, and then you¡ª"

    "Haha! You snooze, you lose."

    "Y-you¡­"

    It took some getting used to¡ªseeing these boundless and powerful beings act like this¡ªbut I was pretty much desensitized to it at this point.

    I didn''t know the point at which it happened, but I just slowly began to be more understanding andfortable around them.

    ¡­ Almost as if they were family.

    "You guys aren''t the only one who have their sights set on Serah, but you sure are being little bitches about it."

    Hearing Libra talk so crudely made me nearly bite my tongue. However, for some reason, her words seemed to work on the the two arguing Constetions.

    Taurus and Scorpio stopped their quarrel, and I could sense satisfaction brimming from Libra. I gave her a secretive thumbs up, and she responded with three thumbs-ups.

    Thankfully, I had gotten used to her form now.

    Back to the matter at hand, though, there was one person I wanted to ask about most of all. It wasn''t because she was my daughter, or anything.

    I just¡­ wanted to know who had set their eyes on her.

    "What do you all think about Lemi?"

    For a moment, there were echoes of silence permeating the hall, and it seemed like my questionnded in an empty expanse.

    ''Perhaps they didn''t hear me?'' I thought to myself.

    I decided to ask again.

    "What do you think abou¡ª"

    "We heard you the first time, Jared. Take a hint, would you?" Taurus interjected, his deep voice once again pulling down the little shred of confidence I had managed to muster concerning my daughter''s wellbeing.

    "She''s too flippant." One Constetion said.

    My heart sank.

    "Annoying¡­" Another one intoned.

    It descended further.

    "Distracted¡­"

    It began to shatter now.

    "Too unserious."

    It felt like they were ripping my heart out with the way they were talking about Lemi, and in a way¡­ I got a little upset.

    ''Why can''t they see her brilliance, though? She''s a genius, just like her father!''

    Sure, she was a bit entric, but in the end¡­ she was an amazing person! She even managed to duplicate my Spellcraft in her own way.

    ''Though, I guess all of these feats do not really matter where Constetions are concerned.''

    It was a shame that they didn''t look favorably upon her. I really didn''t want her to be the one left out.

    "Hahaha! You boomers are too stiff." A voice akin to a child echoed throughout the vast expanse of the realm.

    "I think that Lemi girl is pretty fun. She''s interesting too¡­"

    My eyes glittered as I turned in the direction of my now-favorite Constetion, who could see beyond what the others couldn''t.

    The twin-Constetion Gemini!

    "Really? I knew you could see her potential." I beamed at them.

    "Well, yeah. She''s going to be fun. I can see her causing a lot of trouble¡­ hehehe."

    "Rather, she would also be difficult to train. I wee the challenge¡­"

    My heart reached the depths of the abyss once I heard the words that the two offered me as their rationale for supporting my daughter.

    The two faces of Gemini had distinct personalities, but it seemed they both agreed that my daughter was a handful.

    I had to clutch my chest a little as I considered what kind of impression she must have made to cause the Constetions to think of her in such a light.

    "I do not see a cause for your intrigue or interest in any of these mortals¡­" A smooth, watery voice suddenly surged forth from behind me, emanating from Aquarius.

    Her tone felt disconcerted, and her words oozed with disinterest.

    Thus far, she hadn''t contributed to the conversation, but it wasn''t for a positive reason.

    No, it was quite the opposite.

    "None of these candidates are impressive in the slightest."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    You can all probably guess what kind of Constetion this Aquarius is.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1205 The Virgin Constellation

    <h4>Chapter 1205 The Virgin Constetion</h4>

    "None of them¡­ at all?"

    My head was arched back as I stared at Aquarius, who remained unmoving behind me. She had her arms crossed, and while she had no set expression on her face, the vibe she gave off was disinterest.

    "Yes. They''re all well below the standard."

    Hearing Aquarius'' dissenting words, I was caught at a weird impasse. ording to the rest of the Constetions, some individuals were already catching their eyes, so what was this?

    "Oh, I wouldn''t mind Aquarius, Jared." Virgo suddenly intervened, causing my several thoughts to reach an abrupt halt.

    I changed gears and looked at Virgo instead.

    "You won''t get anywhere with her." She added, muffling what sounded like a snicker.

    ''What does that even mean?''

    "Pfft! You better let him know that early." Leo added, his own deep voice entuated with a slight chuckle.

    It seemed like there was a running joke among the Constetions, and I was being left out of the loop. The moment Virgo and Leo established their words, other Constetions began to speak and evenugh.

    "Aquarius still hasn''t changed, huh?"

    "Hahaha! Even now, she''s still the same¡­"

    "Hahaha!"

    I watched them all say all sorts of things about the Constetion before finally realizing what made them so amused.

    ''Aquarius has very high standards. Too highpared to the standards of the others¡­''

    I stole a nce at Aquarius, and she seemed to be unmoved by the entire fiasco going on in the group.

    Until¡­

    "Hey! I''m standing right here, you know?" She raised her voice, causing the room to fall into an absolute lull.

    For a while, no one said anything.

    The Constetion space was even quieter than a graveyard, and it seemed like everyone within it was frozen solid.

    All until one voice leaked out.

    "Virgin¡­"

    My eyes bulged the moment I heard it, and the entire room erupted into uncontrobleughter at that point.

    All the Constetions burst outughing, and I was too shaken to even move.

    Suddenly, it all made sense to me.

    ''A-ahh¡­ so it''s like that¡­''

    Aquarius was a ''Virgin'' by Constetion standards because she had never gotten a Host before!

    Perhaps she was just too conscious of who her first time would belong to, or she simply had a very condescending perception of her potential Hosts, but she didn''t seem to be trying very hard to get her first Host.

    ''T-that''s a little embarrassing¡­''

    However, it wasn''t like I didn''t understand.

    ''Aquarius is the oldest and most mature of the group. It''s only natural that she would be the most picky and mature. However, with all her siblings already having many Hosts, maybe she doesn''t see the need to? Maybe she¡­ ahhhh, what am I even saying?''

    Why was I trying to understand what went on in the min of a Constetion? It was hrious!

    "Hahahahahahahahaha!"

    I joined everyone inughing, and even though I felt a strong pressure rise from behind me, I knew the Unwritten Laws would protect me from certain death.

    As a result, we all giggled and cackled at Aquarius'' expense.

    "This is stupid¡­" I heard her sigh, and she shrugged slightly.

    At that moment, I stoppedughing. I had to admit, I felt a little bad for her. I knew it was all fun and games, but who knew what was going on in her mind?

    ''Let''s cheer her up a little!'' A smile formed on my face and I drew closer to her.

    "Hey, Aquarius, would you consider me as a Host? You did say I impressed you back then, right?"

    I could spot the faces of the other Constetions forming surprise at my statement.

    Why?

    Because every one of them had offered me a spot, but I refused to be the Host of any Constetion. They must have been shocked to see me ask Aquarius about being her Host of my own volition.

    I let out an awkward smile, letting all the attention on me and Aquarius sink in¡­ not expecting what woulde next.

    "No. You are not my type, Jared."

    Yeah, rejection!

    "Pffft!"

    "Puahahahahahahahaha!!!"

    "You shouldn''t have asked her, Jared!"

    "We told you already¡­ there''s no hope for her!"

    "Her standards her not just too high¡­ they''re impossible!"

    "She even rejected someone like Neron. What did you expect?"

    "I''d say Neron and Jared are equally valuable in their own way. I would pick any of the two, or even both, any day!"

    "Yeah, yeah! Tell that to Aquarius!"

    "Sucks to be you, Jared!"

    "Hahahahaaha!"

    Before I knew it, I became the butt of the joke andughter, and all the mockery was directed at me.

    ''All because I tried to cheer you up, Aquarius¡­'' With watery eyes, I stared at Aquarius and leaked out a small smile.

    It wasn''t like I was even being serious about the proposal. I had my own reasons for refusing to be a Host, and instead dueling all the Constetions.

    There was no way I would throw all of that away now!

    ''Still¡­ it is what it is¡­''

    I closed my eyes and epted my fate.

    ''So this is how it feels to be mocked by Constetions¡­'' My smile broadened.

    They thought they were doing me a disservice, but it was quite the opposite.

    This was an achievement for me!

    ''I can brag about this! They have no idea!''

    "Don''t feel too bad, Jared." Aquarius'' voice suddenly cut my thoughts short, and I ignored the snickers of her peers as I stared at her.

    "If you insist, I am willing to establish a friendly pact with you and allow you to borrow my power and wisdom. O-of course, this is only if you desire it¡­"

    My lips parted in slight surprise when I heard this.

    "Ohhhh? She''s going that far for him?"

    "Whoah! That''s crazy!"

    "I can''t believe this!"

    The Constetions began gushing over this new development, making it very clear that this was an extremely rare opportunity.

    Anyone in their right state of mind would ept it instantly.

    "I refuse." My grin became broader as I stared at Aquarius.

    Perhaps I was the crazy one.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    What do you think Jared''s engame is? Fighting Constetions, refusing their support¡­ I wonder¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1206 The Begining Of Seclusion

    Dense silence greeted my response to Aquarius'' proposal, and I could feel the shock of the twelve Constetions erupting all at once.

    "WHAAAAAAT?!"

    The ovepping voices of the shouting entities forced me to shut my ears in recoil.

    One by one, they all began to murmur and whisper spections about my refusal, their surprise palpable as they exchanged nces between me and Aquarius.

    "I see. Then let''s leave it at that." She responded calmly.

    As expected of the oldest Constetion, she was quite understanding.

    "You really need to tell us the source of your confidence, Jared Leonard." I smiled once I heard Virgo say this to me.

    Her pretty face and irresistible eyes settled on me as she made a soft smile. The way she looked at me with such interest made me shiver a little.

    Especially because I could feel a chill from behind me.

    "What do you mean, Virgo?" I asked, now trying my hardest to maintain my smile.

    "You aren''t training alongside everyone, you aren''t interested in having Constetions as Familiars or even Friendly Aids. It is intriguing¡­"

    Virgo must have noticed I had another motive. She always had a sort of keen interest in me for some reason, so it made sense that she picked up on that.

    "Hmph! I hope you don''t let all that power you have get to your head. Don''t get too cocky, Jared." Taurus dered with a snort.

    "SHUT UP, TAURUS!"

    An unexpected duo of both Aquarius and Virgo both raised their voices and silenced the usually imposing figure of Taurus.

    "S-sorry¡­" He shrunk back instantly, suddenly not seeing as intimidating as he was before.

    It made me relieved to see two Constetions stand up to me. However, before my thoughtspletely settled, Aquarius kept on speaking.

    "You have all fought with Jared, so you should already know he isn''t cocky. Even I have to admit that he knows what he is doing¡­ I-I mean, that''s obvious if you think about it properly! Right?"

    At this point, I knew the message had been passed across already. I gave her a smile and nodded in appreciation.

    It wasn''t out of hubris that I challenged the Constetions, though I knew a good number of them thought that was my motivation.

    I didn''t even think I would win against them, to begin with. I just wanted tost as long as possible.

    My first few fights had their ws, but the more I fought, the more I learned.

    My final fight with Aquarius was quite difficult because most of what I learned was rendered ineffective when I fought against her, but I still did my best tost as long as possible.

    ''With everything I have gained thus far¡­ I think it should be enough.''

    "Don''t worry¡­ I''ll soon begin my training." My calm words echoed through the vast expanse, and I put both my hands in my pockets while staring cooly at everyone present.

    My gaze slowly shifted to the several screens that floated in midair, and I watched everyone training in their respective dimension.

    It was inspiring.

    "I just wanted to check up on my friends before leaving."

    They were all trying their hardest in their trials, so it only made sense for me to give my all in the next phase of my n as well.

    While I couldn''t guarantee them the results they desired, I would be rooting for them on my end.

    ''I sincerely wish you all the best in your endeavors.

    "Where will you be undergoing your training?" Aquarius asked, returning my mind to reality.

    I turned to her and smiled.

    "The Great Sage''s Archives." In essence, my personal domain.

    "I figured you wouldn''t want to train here." She responded with what I could only assume to be a smile.

    This Constetion, I didn''t really get her.

    One moment, Aquarius would act very hostile, and at the next instance, she would be sweet and understanding.

    "It''s not intentional. The Archives is just the optimal ce for me since it possesses the required conditions for me to achieve my desired results."

    "We understand."

    Hearing Virgo say that, while seeing the Constetions all nod their heads¡ªeven Taurus¡ªgranted me some form of reassurance.

    "You won''t be able to reach me until I am done. Just giving you a heads up." I added.

    "And how long will that be?"

    "I''m actually not sure of how long it''ll take me to conclude my training."

    What I was about to undertake had probably never been done before, so I couldn''t even put an estimate on it either.

    "Since your territory is also outside the bounds of time, I am unsure of the point I will appear in the flow of this ce."

    Time functioned quite differently in the Great Sage''s Archives, so I was sure that not much time would pass in reality before I was done with my task.

    ''I can''t rush this either.''

    "Watch my allies closely and take care of them, okay?"

    "We will. You have my word." Aquarius readily responded, and I could sense some a measure of reverence in her tone.

    I didn''t notice it until now, but all the Constetions were staring at me much differently from the way they did when I first appeared before them.

    From condescending gazes to that of some measure of respect.

    ''It feels nice¡­''

    "I''m sure you''ll be impressed by at least one person from the group. They''re exceptional people, so I''m sure even you will find someone who catches your fancy¡­ Aquarius."

    "Hmph! I highly doubt it!" Aquarius sharply responded.

    It made me chuckle slightly.

    "Well, we''ll see about that, won''t we?"

    I actually wasn''t sure if anyone among the group could shatter Aquarius'' impossible expectations, especially because I was unable to achieve that.

    However¡­ that wasn''t my problem anymore.

    ~VWUUUUSH!~

    A shimmering golden portalyered with multiple colors colliding and merging instantly appeared before me once I called for it.

    It was the conventional gateway to the Great Sage''s Archives.

    "Farewell! I''ll see you all very soon." I waved goodbye as I slowly stepped into the portal

    Time was often said to be rtive. I only hoped my statement could apply to that inscrutable proposition.

    ''When next we meet¡­ I wonder how you''ll look at me.''

    There was only one way to find out.

    ~VWUUUUSH!~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Now then¡­ I wonder what will happen next. You''ll want to stick around to find out!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1207 Discussion Of The Boundless Ones

    <h4>Chapter 1207 Discussion Of The Boundless Ones</h4>

    Once Jared left the Constetion Realm, all twelve guardians of the Aether Tree looked at each other with unblinking faces.

    No one moved or uttered a word for about a few seconds¡ªnot like that mattered in a ce like this¡ªbut it happened anyway.

    "Looks like things are back to being boring! Boo hoo!" Gemini was the first to speak, pouting as they folded their arms.

    "I miss Jared already¡­" Virgo muttered.

    Sadly enough, the other Constetions had to agree that they felt the same.

    Even though they would never explicitly admit it to the young man, these boundless entities had somewhat grown attached to him.

    He had the audacity to challenge them to duels, he treated them as his peers¡ªthough he still orded them with some modicum of respect. He had a certain charm and intelligence that was difficult to find in anyone else.

    No, it was impossible.

    "Sure, Neron was fun too, but¡­" Aries murmured to himself.

    Yes, they all had to admit it¡ªthe difference between their dear Singrity and this Reincarnated Schr.

    "Neron was too sly. This Jared¡­ he feels pure. I wonder why Aether didn''t simply choose him as her representative."

    "You forget that he wouldn''t have existed if not for Neron."

    "Ah, yes¡­"

    "Besides, it isn''t the pure of heart that wins wars. It is the crooked¡­ those willing to do whatever it takes to achieve victory."

    "I think Jared is the same as Neron in that regard, though."

    "I suppose. It''s just¡­ Neron is different."

    The Constetions once again reached a consensus about the man that they all knew well, yet understood almost nothing about.

    "Jared made his true intentions and grievances known to us, but not that Neron. He¡­ is still a mystery in a sense."

    Jared wanted to walk his own path.

    He admitted to his current state of weakness and explicitly stated his desires. Even though the Constetions did not know what he was up to at the moment, they could all swear that they understood his end motives.

    But what about their Singrity?

    "What does that man desire¡­ I wonder?"

    "Do you now understand why I refused him as my Host, or even as a Friend?" Aquarius'' voice suddenly cut them all short.

    Every Constetion turned in her direction, and she smugly folded her arms while speaking in the most collected manner ever.

    "No sentient entity is pure. Whether it is Neron or Jared, and it makes me reluctant to grant them power. For power is an amplifier of that which a person is within. As a result, it stands to reason that¡­"

    At this point, most of the Constetions had already zoned out of the conversation.

    Why?

    Because this wasn''t the first time Aquarius would be saying all of this as an excuse for herck of any Host under her belt since she had begun to exist.

    It was getting old for them.

    "Let''s change the topic, shall we? Let''s talk about which of Jared''s allies we prefer!" Gemini finally spoke up, putting an end to the boorish atmosphere that Aquarius was generating.

    Every Constetion in the room¡ªexcept the oldest of course¡ªagreed to this new proposition, thus shifting the focus from Neron, Jared, or Aquarius'' same reasons for being a ''Virgin''.

    "Well, I have already chosen Kuzon. That''s pretty much settled too¡­ and he won''t be gaining any new Constetion since that was established in our agreement." Leo smirked, his eyes glimmering in pride.

    "My Host has made so much progress in Magic, and soon¡­ he will be able to properly use Primeval Magic!"

    Every Constetion in the room could see how excited Leo was due to his optimistic demeanor and the pride etched in his tone.

    "Well, Maria is also incredibly talented, you know? Kuzon has had some time to get ustomed to you, but she hasn''t had much time¡­ and yet she''s slowly getting attuned to my power."

    It seemed the Constetions had reached a threshold of bragging that couldn''t be controlled any further.

    "I think it''s specifically due to her strong emotions that she''s made such progress with me as her Constetion. That means there''s no one better suited, so no one should even think ofying eyes on her¡­ understood?"

    Virgo was known to be very territorial, so the rest knew very well not to cross her.

    But, they didn''t even need to.

    Every Constetion was different, and their criteria also varied. Just because Virgo liked Maria, it wasn''t guaranteed that the rest would.

    No, it was most likely the case that they wouldn''t.

    "Haa¡­ you guys have it easy." Aries suddenly added with a sigh. "My Host is being held back mostly due to? the absence of the Will to get more powerful."

    Unlike the Martial de God who desired strength above all else, it seemed Edward was distracted by his other desires.

    It got in the way of his limation with Aries.

    "At this rate, Edward will soon reach the limit of his power due to theck of will he possesses." The Constetion added, recollecting his past conversations with his young man.

    Aries had asked him what he truly desired, and the response greatly differed from his past Host.

    "Edward simply wants to live happy and content with those he cares about and doesn''t have much desire for power. That isn''t necessarily a bad thing, but¡­"

    He had to admit that it was holding him back greatly.

    "He''s so different from the Martial de God, but still¡­ those two share the same kind of stubbornness." Aries didn''t realize when he began to smile.

    Was it due to nostalgia, or something else? Perhaps he was just reminded of the reason why he chose these kinds of Hosts in the first ce.

    "They just never listen to me¡­ even though I''m a Constetion¡­ such stubborn kids."

    Even though he said it like that, Aries'' smile did not diminish.

    Instead, it grew even more.

    "I suppose this is why I find them so intriguing."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    A wholesome chapter. How long will thisst, though?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1208 The Dark Stain

    <h4>Chapter 1208 The Dark Stain</h4>

    It started off as a mild suggestion, but before long, the Constetions were all gushing about the Hosts they had, or the potential ones they would soon possess.

    No one really knew how long conversations like thesested, especially among boundless entities like Constetions.

    From discussions ofpatibility, to arguments on superiority, they kept going on and on about the primary subject of Hosts.

    Perhaps the reason for their attitude was the fact that there had been no major incident in a while, and they also recognized that they could currently do nothing about the current situation until their vessels were ready.

    And even that seemed to be drawing ever so closer.

    As such, not only was their powerlessness the reason for their free discourse, but also their confidence in Jared''s ns.

    However¡­ even the almighty Constetions could not foresee what was toe.

    None of them could imagine it.

    ¡­ Not until it happened!

    *******

    "I personally like the kind of people that are all ''fired up'', you know? Talent and stuff like that are meaningless in the presence of Constetions, you know?"

    "What the hell are you talking about now, Sagittarius?" Leo rolled his eyes as he nced in the direction of the Archer among them.

    "Look, I''m not downying talent or anything. It''s just¡­ those are dime-a-dozen in the branches. All of those geniuses are pretty much frogs in different wells. It''s somonce to find geniuses in the branches."

    "What''s your point, dude?" Yet another Constetion, Cancer, asked with a gnawing sense of impatience.

    Sagittarius'' current position was that their myriads of conditions for Hosts were too skewed, and ultimately pointless.

    Naturally, not many took what he said well.

    "I''m just saying it''s better to find a Host with a spine. Passionate and with a nature that is willing to charge headfirst into danger to get what he wants! Even in the toughest tribtions, they choose the path they have set on¡­ and protect the ones they love!" Sagittarius dered, almost as if he was reciting poetry.

    "Geniuses are dime a dozen in the Aether Tree, but it''s hard to find someone with a spine."

    In a sense, Sagittarius had a good point.

    After all, most living beings would operate on instinct when danger manifested. It was the nature of life to preserve itself when threatened.

    Those who would rather throw away their existence than abandon their passions, desires¡­ love¡­ were the outliers.

    Rare entities in the world.

    And it seemed those were the kind of people that Sagittarius sought¡ªthose who were willing to change the world, not for themselves, but those they cared about.

    "Whatever, man. I still think your standard is the skewed one¡­" Pisces mumbled.

    "Haha! You want to say that to me when my Hosts have been proven to be one of the most integrated ones ever? Can you say that about your own?"

    "Why you¡­"

    "Haha! I''m just stating facts! In the end, the most¡ª"

    Before Sagittarius could conclude his sentence, and before Pisces could think of a rebuttal for whatever would proceed from the Archer, the both of them instantly dropped anything else they would have engaged in.

    Instead, they joined the rest of the Constetions in their troubled silence.

    Those who had eyes widened them in shock, and jaws were instantly loosened as a result of the current urrence that all the Constetions were privy to.

    "Something''s wrong¡­" The first to speak was Aquarius.

    She would have been the first to notice it, but not before even her connection was lost in the process.

    Her face was made of primeval waters, so it was impossible to get a read on her expression. However, the way her voice quaked proved the situation was dire.

    "Something¡­ something is here."

    Every Constetion instantly agreed, as they all shared their senses with the realm they upied. They were made aware of what went on within it, and as such¡­ they knew quite well that something was off.

    And that feeling only began to swell until it felt too overwhelming to be encapsted in a single second.

    All the Constetions instantly turned to the floating screen that was spread out in front of them¡ªalmost as if they were driven by instinct¡ªonly to find the most unexpected sight manifest itself.

    Just a second ago, the screen only disyed the figure of Dragon King Z''ark, who was taking a break after a rigorous round of his trials.

    The area around him was brimming with heated sulfur that would make anyone''s skin melt many times over, yet his tough physique allowed him to endure despite it all.

    The heat, and the nigh-infinitendscape that consisted of all sorts ofplicated regions he had to travel in order to obtain certain items¡­ it was all a lot for Z''ark to do, so a break was expected.

    As such, he was currently seated in his true Dragon form, his eyes closed for just a few seconds¡­ until the very second that caused all the Constetions to widen their eyes and stare at the screen.

    Right beside the resting dragon, a stain began to manifest.

    It slowly evolved within that same second, growing into something bigger and cker, until it became a murky ck portal that now warbled in malevolent delight.

    All within the same second, a hand proceeded from the ck portal.

    It was pale, and most of it was covered in what seemed to be pure darkness. The hand touched the resting Z''ark, who was too tired¡ªand frankly too slow¡ªto even sense the portal manifesting, talkless of the hand.

    The hand pressed itself on the slumped shoulder of the Dragon King¡­ and then the first second passed.

    "Zar''k, NO!"

    It was unclear which Constetion said that, but it was already toote.

    ~FSSHUUUUU~

    Right there and then, before Z''ark even realized it¡­ he was consumed by the darkness, reduced to less than dust within that second.

    At that point, Z''ark the Dragon King¡­ ceased to exist.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    And so it begins¡­ the storm we have all been waiting for.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1209 Legris Invades [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1209 Legris Invades [Pt 1]</h4>

    When a living entity experiences chaos that they are unfamiliar with, their natural response would be to freeze for at least a few seconds.

    This, other than their reflex actions, was a universal biological function that allowed one''s mind to fullyprehend or understand the current situation, while trying to generate a solution as swiftly as possible.

    Many times, living entities would fail to reconcile the shocking experience before them with the action that was required.

    The result would be them ''freaking out.''

    However¡­ Constetions were not like that.

    The moment they sensed that something had interfered with their world, they swiftly took action and focused their attention on the appearance of the intruder.

    Once they identified the malefactor, unfortunately witnessing the demise of one of the wards in their care, they did not allow themselves to be stunned by the sight.

    Instead, they took immediate action, their intentions fully evident.

    Eliminating the threat!

    However, despite their swift action, spanning what would be considered merely a second, the current situation had already escted beyond what even they could have imagined.

    "W-what''s going on? I can''t leave!"

    "Me neither!"

    "Why can''t we leave this dimension?!"

    "Why can''t we ess the other dimensions? Why can''t we go there?!"

    At this point, despite the best attempt of the Constetions to stayposed, they were now getting uneasy.

    For one, an unrecognizable entity had invaded their most sacred ce.

    Secondly, they had just lost one potential Host that could aid in the grand n proposed by Jared Leonard.

    And finally¡­ they could do NOTHING about it!

    "What is going on?!"

    Aquarius, who was the most sensitive to the Constetion Realm, and also had the Representation of Freedom, reached out the most innate power she possessed to spread herself beyond the current dimension that she upied.

    However¡­ she was met with a barrier.

    "No¡­ impossible."

    No barrier should have been able to stop her¡ªespecially not in this ce!

    This was the Constetion Realm! The Constetions were all-powerful here. They were at their most powerful due to being unaffected by most of the Unwritten Laws that governed the rest of reality.

    Aquarius¡ªwith no exceptions at all¡ªcould sense and reach everything within this Realm.

    ''So why¡­? This shouldn''t even be possible with either Aether or Nether! What is preventing me from passing through?''

    The threshold that separated their dimension from the others that existed in the Constetion Realm seemed to be cut off from everything else.

    Aquarius had never felt this sensation before.

    Like an ind, cut off from the rest of the world¡­ no, no this was much worse.

    She felt like she was in a cage. The cage prevented her from reaching beyond what was beyond the dimension she currently existed in.

    "WHY? NOTHING SHOULD BE ABLE TO STOP ME! NOTHING CAN STOP MY REPRESENTATION! NOTHING IS¡­!"

    It was at this moment of increasing anxiety and desperation that it finally struck Aquarius¡ªthe problem that currently afflicted her and the rest of the Constetions.

    ''N-Nothing¡­?''

    The barrier that seemed to cut her and her siblings off from the other dimensions was neither Aether nor Nether, or any variant stemming from both.

    It was a disgusting ckish mesh of forbidden power, one that oozed with such discrepancy that it shouldn''t have existed.

    And perhaps¡­ it didn''t.

    The hollow darkness that Aquarius sensed when she was unable to pass the barrier was simply the only thing that could stop her.

    ¡­ Nothing.

    "What is¡­ this? Who is this man?!" Aquarius trembled slightly as she was forced to lift her face to the floating screens, witnessing the aftermath of Z''ark''s demise.

    The hand that proceeded out of the ck portal was followed by a leg, and then the other arm, with the second leg dragging itself out not too long after.

    A human-looking ''thing'' appeared from within the depths of the hollow swirl of ckness. He had a dark coat on, with dark brown hair gracing his pale skin.

    His tall height entuated his overall lean physique, and a smile was stered on his face as he stepped out.

    Something about his dull eyes seemed to hint purpose, but there was a certain indifference he had towards the life he had just taken, as well as the action he was currently perpetrating:

    Invading the Constetion Realm!

    All twelve boundless entities¡ªnow trapped in their own little world¡ªcould do nothing but gnash their teeth and watch this man¡­ Legris Damien¡­ walk into their haven.

    "He¡­ he is¡­ what is he¡­?"

    No one knew at this point.

    Even though he was standing right in their domain, they could do nothing but watch him stand in the very vastness of the dimension that Z''ark once upied.

    There were certain emotions that Constetions had never felt once in their lives.

    One of them was fear.

    But now¡­ more than ever, they were closer to experiencing the real thing¡ªthe overwhelming fear that came with the inability to do anything.

    In essence, despair!

    "Jared''s Allies¡­ our Hosts¡­" Aries murmured, speaking for everyone who watched.

    They all knew the sad truth.

    "... They''re on their own."

    *********

    Legris could feel his lips quivering as he took in the purity of the realm he had now stepped into.

    His hands trembled slightly, and he found himself perspiring slightly, not due to the immense heat that surrounded him¡ªthat was no problem for him¡ªbut the sheer abundance of energy he was sensing around him.

    "So much Aether¡­ and it''s so pure¡­" Legris widened his lips and showed his perfect white teeth.

    He seemed genuinely happy about the current situation, but also¡­ strangely terrified.

    "My first time in the Constetion Realm. So this is what it''s like. So¡­ colorful¡­"

    Legris had gone over this n so many times in his head that it was now all he could think about. However, now that he was here, he found himself overwhelmed by the sheer magnificence of it all.

    "Amazing. Everything is amazing!" He beamed, raising his hand as he cackled loudly.

    Something about the way his voice echoed in the vast expanse surrounding him sounded ominous¡ªno, downright malevolent.

    "You were right, Ciel," Legris whispered as his malevolent grin spread even wider.

    "This n is the best."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    What will happen now? What is Legris up to here? No good, I''m sure.

    Well, we shall see¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1210 Legris Invades [Pt 2]

    <h4>Chapter 1210 Legris Invades [Pt 2]</h4>

    "Now then¡­" Legris inhaled deeply, preparing himself for what was about to happen.

    He had made all of these ns and preparations for this very moment.

    "... I should begin the absorption."

    With his wide grin still remaining on his face, he stretched out his hand, and a swirling ck portal began to swirl around it.

    ~WHOOSH!~

    The swirling ckness generated such great suction that it caused everything around¡ªthe sulfur, thendscape, and the ever-growing heat¡ªto rapidly break down.

    They all shattered into what seemed to be tiny ss fragments, and everything swiftly went into the darkness Legris generated.

    "So many Energy Particles¡­ it''s unbelievable." Legris whispered to himself as he watched the once vibrantndscape slowly devolve into a nk space.

    There was still so much Aether to absorb, so he kept his arm upright and kept taking it all in.

    All of this, within the span of a few seconds.

    "Maybe an hour more and I''ll be done with¡ª"

    ~CRAAAAAACCCKKKKK!!!~

    Suddenly, the sound of crashing ss echoed within the entire dimension, forcing Legris to look in the direction where it originated.

    What it seemed like was a dimensional copse¡ªa forceful entry from one dimension into another.

    The barrier that separated the two dimensions shattered like paper-thin ss, leaving shattered fragments flying in the air as another intruder made his presence known.

    "You¡­" Legris murmured, his eyes widening, as he took in the features of the young man before him.

    He had long golden hair, with an oversized flowing robe that seemed only befitting of royalty. He also had jewels adorning his neck, like a shimmering golden sea of various proportions.

    His bare chest showed due to the absence of a vest, and his puffy trousersplimented his ck and gold shoes.

    He was currently floating in the air, staring down at Legris with his golden eyes.

    "... Kuzon Midas."

    The whisper that Legris made served as both an acknowledgment and a warning.

    His eyes instantly narrowed as he looked at the young Midas, unknowingly sizing him up as soon as he fully registered his presence.

    ''He''s stronger than before!'' Legis had to admit to himself.

    He even found himself swallowing down bits of his saliva, wondering who would make their first move.

    "I''d stop that if I was you." Kuzon eyed Legris'' hand, which was still trying its hardest to absorb as much Aether as possible despite the situation.

    "Well, I mean¡ª"

    ~WHISH!~

    Before Legris could conclude his sentence, his arm got severed, leaving a trail of sticky ck liquid that gushed out of both openings.

    "Guek!"

    The ck vortex instantly dissipated as his lifeless arm plopped to the ground, leaving Legris wincing in both pain and shock at what just happened.

    He gripped his wounded hand slightly, gritting his teeth as he stared at Kuzon''s cold gaze.

    "How did you arrive here so fast? Don''t tell me¡­" Legris murmured to himself, studying Kuzon''s calm demeanor despite the current situation.

    "The Constetions told you, right? Or to be more specific¡­ YOUR Constetion did."

    Even though he felt the sharp sting of Kuzon''s blow on his hand, Legris couldn''t help but chuckle lightly.

    "Your expression says it all. It''s unfortunate, though. Even though I managed to cut off their connection to this realm, I still can''t do much with the bond they have with their Hosts." He whispered.

    It had taken so much out of Legris to iste the Constetions from his business, since he would lose otherwise, but even he had his limits.

    ''Their connection with the Hosts they have bonded with still exists, though in a limited quality.''

    Just as a radio signal could be jammed, leading to a poor connection, but notpletely cut off¡­ that was the best way to describe the current state of the Constetions and their respective Hosts.

    ''Also, only three of them had Constetions when Ist saw them. It seems my guesses were correct, and Jared decided to make his allies Hosts. But, it''ll take some time for them to be epted by Constetions, so I can be assured that not all of them have Constetion Familiars at this point.''

    This suspicion he had was further reinforced by the death of Z''ark, who had no Constetion Energy within him before or after death.

    ''He seemed to be undergoing a trial when I killed him. That means the Constetions are yet to choose. Perfect! It means the numbers have probably not changed from before.''

    Still, Legris knew he couldn''t be too careless.

    Even just one Host could pose a problem to him and his ns, especially if they were being guided by a Constetion¡ªirrespective of how unstable the connection was.

    "I thought your Constetion would tell you to run. You know, if you die and I get ess to the Constetion Essence you have¡­ it would only doom your cause." Legris decided to prolong the conversation a little.

    If he could gain even a few strands of information from his target, it would be well worth it.

    "He did. But I won''t ignore your presence here." Kuzon responded, his eyes narrowing even further, almost as if examining Legris thoroughly.

    ''I see. He isn''t being hasty to attack because he''s cautious as well¡­'' Legris smiled to himself.

    He didn''t know what the Constetion told Kuzon, but he was sure that the boy was apprehensive of him and his abilities.

    That was why he was being so indecisive.

    ''He also wants to extract information from me while ensuring I do not absorb more Aether. In a way, he kills two birds with one stone and increases the odds of his victory the longer he keeps me here.''

    If Kuzon sessfully bought enough time for his allies to arrive, they could all attack him with minimal efforts toward strategy and still emerge victorious.

    ''However, if I can kill him and collect his Essence first, the advantage lies with me.'' Legris liked the idea of this n.

    Right now, it seemed his goal was now divided into two¡ªobtain Kuzon''s Constetion Energy, and absorb as much Aether as he possibly could.

    With Kuzon being wary of him, Legris thought it was the perfect chance to take the initiative in their inevitable sh.

    ''Let''s give it a shot!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Legris versus Kuzon¡­ who do you think will win?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1211 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 1]

    <h4>Chapter 1211 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 1]</h4>

    ''How should I handle this¡­?''

    Kuzon''s thoughts were in overdrive as he stared at Legris Damien, his heart racing with every second that psed in the nk dimension.

    He knew fully well that he couldn''t underestimate this man, especially after he had just invaded the Constetion Realm itself, and even killed one of their allies.

    ''Z''ark will be missed, but I''m sure Jared has a way to revive him. I can''t dwell on that right now.''

    Besides, the Constetions could also do something about Z''ark''s demise even if Jared was unable to¡ªthough Kuzon highly doubted his rival wouldn''t have a solution prepared for the possibility of any of their deaths.

    ''Focus, Kuzon¡­ Focus!'' He red at Legris, whose grin now seemed more devilish than anything he had ever encountered before.

    ''Leo advised me to retreat, but¡­'' Kuzon knew how dire the situation was.

    Legris had been going after the Constetion Energy Fragments all this time. If he seeded in his task of absorbing Aether in this Realm, then he would be able to achieve what he wanted.

    In essence, fleeing was the opposite of what needed to be done.

    ''What is the point of trying to protect my Constetion Fragment if Legris can just absorb all the Aether he needs anyway?''

    It was for this very reason that Kuzon moved. He couldn''t allow Legris to get what he wanted, especially since the stakes had been proven to be just that high.

    ''I have to be careful, though¡­''

    Sure, he knew Jared had easily defeated Legris back then, but he also recognized that thetter had been leading him on all along.

    ''I can''t afford to fall for his schemes.''

    Kuzon knew that killing this monster wouldn''t solve the problem, though he badly wanted that to be the case. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fist, he settled on the most effective method.

    ''I have to capture him. I doubt he''ll be able to hold the Constetions for very long. Once they''re free, they should be able to get rid of him permanently.''

    After all, the reason Legris had taken all the Constetions off the board for this event was because he couldn''t afford to face them.

    ''There is no need to rush. If I end up stalling for time, it works in my advantage¡­''

    As long as he prevented Legris from sucking more Aether, he could take as much time as possible.

    ''Either more backup arrives to support me, or the Constetions get freed, or both¡­ I gain more by dragging this fight out.''

    Despite this logical conclusion, Kuzon felt another drive within him. It didn''t stem from pure logic, but it also didn''t contradict his earlier posttion.

    ''If I can capture him with my ability alone, I will do so!''

    Kuzon knew that he wasn''t Jared. They were both different, and they had unique abilities attributed to them.

    ''But¡­ if he was able to fight against Legris, I should be able to as well¡­''

    Of coutse, he wouldn''t be reckless. The stakes were too high for that. However, Kuzon had a burning desire not to fall behind Jared.

    ''I''ve trained for this long because of that!''

    With? look of resolve etched on his face, bright gold energy suddenly exploded from Kuzon, filling everything in his immediate vicinity with power.

    ''I can''t properly use Leo''s power because of the poor connection we both have, but¡­'' Tightening his fist, he released even ore energy,

    ''... I don''t need to!''

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!~

    Kuzon''s entire body turned golden, and a golden crown hovered above his head. Several weapons floated around him¡ªranging from a sword, to a spear, then a staff, an axe, and arrow, and a shield.

    Golden threads also began to floar around him, almost like they were weaving space itself as it were.

    His entire self, and even his apparel had turned golden, with fabric that surpassed even the finest quality that any man could every eyes on.

    Both of his hands were also? adorned by golden jewelry, and his ten fingers all had rings on them.

    The threads that danced around him weaved to form a giant sphere, with him at the center, almost as if he was in the middle of a forming ball of golden yarn.

    Of course, the threads were thin, only shining golden, hence, Kuzon and his entire arsenal were still visible despite the ever-spinning threads.

    ''Offense. Defense. Perception.'' Kuzon thought to himself as he stared at Legris. ''I have everything!''

    In his Absolute Emperor Transfiguration, he was both invincible, and he couldmand his environment to do his bidding. Adding that to Leo''s [Authority]¡ªdespite how limited it was¡ªand he was a force to be reckoned with.

    He could bypass distance, and he could attack with speeds that defied the limits of living beings.

    Yet¡­ even with all of this power, something made him uneasy.

    It was Legris'' smile, despite all of the power he had just disyed.

    "Haha¡­" Hisughter echoed, causing even Kuzon to shudder slightly.

    He couldn''t ce his hand on it, but¡­ Legris disturbed him.

    "You''ve gotten stronger, Kuzon. I suppose I can''t y around with you the same way I did with Jared¡­ I think."

    Suddenly, ck-like energy began to manifest from Legris, covering the severed hand he had. Recing it was a w of sheer darkness, and that was only the beginning.

    Legris'' cloak transformed into the very darkness he summoned, and his hair slowly became a fiery ck me, dancing to the tune of his ever-growing power.

    His boots also had the same effect, and before long¡­ everything about Legris'' apparel, as well as his right hand and hair, became shrouded in ck power.

    "Well¡­ none of you have ever seen me in this form, right?" His cackle once again caused Kuzon to shudder, but he maintained hisposure.

    Legris was now far stronger than before, but so what? He was also much more powerful than before.

    And in the end, the mission hadn''t changed!

    ''He is a risk we can not afford to let loose.'' Kuzon''s thoughts echoed as he gnashed his teeth and prepared forbat.

    ''For everyone''s sake, I must stop him!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Legris versus Kuzon¡­ who do you think will win?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1212 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1212 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 2]

    ''This entire dimensional is asrge as a universe by ordinary standards¡­'' Kuzon thought to himself as he spread his senses far and wide.

    ''Without Leo''splete power, I can''t control all of it, but if I use my Original Magic as a binder, I should be able toe close.''

    That meant he had to substitute¡ªor rather, reinforce¡ªthe unstable [Authority] of his Constetion with [Marrite].

    It was a difficult task, but Kuzon was up for the challenge!

    ''Let''s go!''

    Instantly controlling the gravity, friction, and resistance of everything around him, Kuzon feltpletely absolved of anything that would have offered at least some measure of pull to him. That meant only one thing.

    ''More freedom!''

    ~WHOOOOSH!~

    In a sh, he closed the distance between him and Legris, who still hadn''t noticed Kuzon''s appearance thanks to the vast difference in speed between the both of them.

    ''Fo safety, I won''t attack directly.''

    Thankfully, he didn''t need to. The prime reason for moving so close to Legris was to investigate the usibilty of the action.

    And he had just confirmed it.

    Plus, now that he was within striking distance, that meant his attacks would reach Legris much faster than before.

    ''[Golden Execution]''

    The Axe by Kuzon''s side instantly vanished from that position, instead manifesting above Legris'' head.

    Using his [Authority] and [Marite], he forcibly held Legris in ce, using threads to control space while also constructing an actual gulliotine for his target.

    The axe served as the executioner''s de, while everything served as Legris'' restraints.

    Of course, all of this ured within a second, making it too fast for anyone to perceieve¡­ not even someone as powerful or skilled as Legris.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    The Axe descended on the target, cackling energy rushing from it as soon as it began its fall.

    However¡­

    ~FSHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~

    Right before the axe reached Legris, it rapidly began to rust at the tip, with ckness seeping into its golden form.

    Before long¡ªor any time at all¡ªthe darkness hadpletely wrapped itself around the axe until it became as dark as night.

    The same applied for all of Legris'' restraints.

    All of them crumbled into darkness, returning to him as if he was ther owner.

    "Haa¡­" Legris whispered, turning to Kuzon, who was now miles away from him. "... I thought you wouldn''t want to kill me."

    Rather than being flusterd, like Legris would want, Kuzon gave a confident smile and responded with words of his own.

    "I had to see if I could. It seems I cannot, huh?"

    ''So this is what Jared was talking about, huh? The ck stuff¡­''

    It was going to prove problematic, especially now that Legris was covered in the stuff. ording to what Kuzon had observed, the darkness absorbed anything it came into contact with, rendering it a part of Legris.

    That made attacking Legris virtually impossible since he could render all attacks null.

    ''I don''t even want to begin to imagine what would happen if that stuff came in contact with me.'' Kuzon narrowed his gaze on Legris.

    Usually, his Absolute Emperor''s Transfiguration guaranteed him no harm or interferece, but with something like this in the equation, Kuzon wasn''t so sure anymore.

    He had to operate with the assumption that he could be damaged by Legris.

    ''And not just that, there seems to be another problem¡­'' Kuzon sighed internally, focusing his senses on the areas around Legris.

    As expected, he couldn''t sessfully analyze or control it.

    ''That ck stuff negates my abilities. I can''t use [Authority] or [Marite] around his immediate vicinity at all.''

    Using it on Legris himself was also out of the question.

    ''It has to do with that strange ck power of his. Just what is that thing, for it to be interfering with even a Constetion''s Representation?''

    Kuzon did not have the answers.

    All he knew was that it wasn''t Aether, Nether, or any other kind of energy he had ever dealt with before.

    That made Legris all the more dangerous.

    ''He probably used that, or some variant of it, to ensure the Constetions can''t interfere beyond their dimension.''

    Kuzon reckoned that if he learned more about the ck energy, he would perhaps be able to figure out more of Legris'' power, or even how to free the Constetions early.

    He wasn''t going to push his luck, but that was certainly a possibility.

    ''Let''s observe some more. It can''t be absolute, ri¡ª?''

    "My turn!" Legris'' voice sharply echoed in the air, interrupting Kuzon''s thoughts as soon as it proceeded from his lips.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!~

    Legris swiftly extended his dark ws towards Kuzon, quickly eating through space and every energy in its way as it made its way towards prey.

    "Tch." Kuzon was able to quickly teleport from his position, allowing him to easily avoid the strike,

    In an effort to counterattack, he used his golden threads to generate several arrows from multiple directions. Their golden forms covered the expanse, like tiny dots in a vast stream of a nk canvas.

    They numbered a billion at least, and Kuzon summoned all of them in a mere instance.

    ''Their offensive capabilities aren''t too impressive, but they''re fast, and they can cover multiple locations at once¡­''

    Kuzon thought this was the best way to achieve the desired result of chipping at Legris'' defenses¡­ at least to see how far it could go.

    ''Does it recover quickly? Can it epass him entirely? What of resistance?'' He had to know the full details.

    "Descend."

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The moment Kuzon said the word, the golden arrows began to lunge at Legris at such speed that it defied exnation.

    Slicing through space, enough to create distortions all around, they all centered in the direction of the lone man.

    Kuzon watched as Legris covered himself in a cocoon of darkness, and he watched as the arrows pierced the darkness a million after another.

    They kept falling and piercing.

    Over and over¡­ and over again!

    "Let''s see just how much you can take." Kuzon whispered, now wieling a golden staff in his hand.

    "I''m just getting started."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    The battle continues! Who will win¡­ who will lose?

    We can only wait and see!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1213 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1213 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 3]

    ~FWUUUUUSSSHHHH!!!~

    As thest barrage of arrows fell, all fired at the dark cocoon that housed Legris, Kuzon watched in silence.

    The golden projectiles, like heavy raindrops on a cloudy day, showed no mercy in their rapid bombardments. Each one tore through space, sending shockwaves and cackles of energy bursting forth with its strike.

    In the end, however, once the noise settled and the vast array of arrows were exhausted, the cocoon remained.

    "I see¡­" Kuzon murmured as he watched the nket of darkness unfurl, revealing Legris within.

    He was unharmed, much to Kuzon''s disappointment, and his wide grin even seemed to taunt him. The ck cocoon returned to his cloak and the rest of his ck-coated form.

    "That was quite a barrage." Legris whispered, but Kuzon ignored it.

    ''So the speed and numbers don''t matter, huh?'' He had thought that an overwhelming attack could override the regenerative or dexterious qualitiy of the ck energy, but that didn''t seem to be the case.

    As a result, Kuzon had to start looking for another alternative.

    ''Now I''m even more hesitant to get too close.'' No trace of his arrows could be seen or sensed by him, and it almost felt like they didn''t exist.

    It caused Kuzon to shiver at the thought of what would happen if he was affected.

    ''Let''s seek out another alterna¡ª"

    "You shouldn''t ignore me!" Legris'' voice echoed in the vast expanse, and Kuzon felt the golden hair at back of his hair tingle as the man of darkness appeared behind him in a rush.

    It was so swift and sudden that it defied exnation.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Legris sent out his ws in that split-moment, with Kuzon seemingly defenseless and caught off-guard by the sudden strike.

    However¡­

    "I don''t think so." Kuzon''s voice suddenly echoed behind Legris, causing thetter''s eyes to bulge in shock.

    After all, if Kuzon was behind him¡­ then who was in front?

    The golden figure who stood there was merely a golden manifestation of Kuzon¡ªa mannequin he designed from his golden threads.

    And now that Legris had closed in on this duplicate of his, he could finally try out his next move.

    ''Can the darkness protect you now?''

    Kuzon''s golden statue instantly took the form of several strings, all of them wrapping themselves around Legris as if binding him all over his body with their immutable force.

    However¡­

    "This won''t work, you know?"

    ¡­ All the threads quickly became nothing but darkness that melted upon contact with Legris.

    In no time at all, he was free.

    "You should know better, Kuzon. Or¡­ ah, Jared is the smart one. You''re just the one who got priviledged with a bunch of power and has nothing else going for him."

    Legris'' devilish grin showed nothing but utter disgust towards Kuzon, but thetter maintained his calmness.

    ''What''s with his sudden change in mood?'' Kuzon narrowed his gaze and watched Legris smile morph into one that showed slight annoyance.

    While he knew that Legris considered him an enemy, he couldn''t exin the sudden disy of malevolence towards him.

    ''Is he about to get more serious?'' Kuzon asked himself.

    It would be more disadvantageous for him if he allowed Legris to pull out more cards. As a result, Kuzon decided it was best to end things with his next move.

    ''This will be rough.''

    Grasping his staff, while drawing all the power he had spread out of back into himself, he focused all of it into his weapon.

    ''Here goes¡­'' Kuzon narrowed his gaze and centered his attention on Legris, who seemed to be waiting for his next strikee.

    An unfathomable amount of golden energy was channeled into the staff that Kuzon held, and the multiple other weapons that floated around Kuzon also whirred at the growing staff''s tip.

    It seemed like all of his power was being concentrated on that single blow.

    "Haha! Are you stupid? Going for a pure energy st?" Legris cackled, his eyebrow raised in both shock and disappointment.

    Kuzon understood why.

    If Legris was adept enough, he would be able to evade the attack, leading to a waste of energy. Plus, if Kuzon directed the energy on arge scale, perhaps destroying the entire dimension, then its effectiveness would be lessened.

    In the end, he wouldn''t be able to deal any substantial damage.

    Finally, it was still unclear if his ck energy had some form of limited durability. From what he noticed, they didn''t seem to have one.

    As a result, if Legris shrouded himself in that ck cocoon of his, then he would be invulnerable.

    Still¡­ Kuzon began his aim.

    ''He desires as much energy as possible, so he won''t bother dodging my assault since he can just take it head on and absorb the power I give him.''

    As a result, Kuzon knew he wouldn''t miss.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM

    MMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The pressure that proceeded from the staff was enough to cause the entire dimension to tremble. The air vibrated, and everything within it understood its immense power.

    Despite such strength, however, Kuzon only focused the energy in a streamlined st¡ªenough topletely bathe the dark cocoon that Legris was already forming in its light.

    The energy would be focused, and it would deal immense damage. However, the fact that Legris was pulling up his ck con made it evident that he was more than confient enough to handle Kuzon''s st.

    ''Let''s see, shall we?'' Kuzon grinned, releasing all of the pent-up power that had formed on his weapon.

    And then¡­ it fired.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM

    MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!

    ~

    The hum from the beam of light sent shivers through every particle in the entire dimension, and the actual attack definitely eviscerated everything in its path as it made its way to Legris Damien.

    The dark cocoon formed.

    The st neared, its speed and power unlike anything the dark sphere had ever handled before.

    As the two manifestations of contrasting nature shed, everything was blown away, creating shards of space and energyshing around in a never-ending vortex of power.

    The entire dimension was bathed in a storm of phenomenal power, all coalescing at a single point¡ªthe blot of darkness.

    Whether even this, a power enough to shatter a universe, would be enought to infiltrate the dark territory was still uncertain.

    All of existence could only wait and see.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    The next chapter ends their fight¡­ I think.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1214 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 4]

    Chapter 1214 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 4]

    "What an idiot¡­" Legris whispered to himself.

    He could hear the loud rumblings and the massive eruption that ured beyond his haven, but none of that fazed him in the slightest.

    None of Kuzon''s attacks were ever going to reach him.

    ''He can''t get past the wall. Nothing can.''

    He always knew Kuzon to be someone who fought with overwhelming power, but over the years, Legris knew Kuzon had matured beyond that.

    After all, he was able to defeat several members of the Nether Cult and elude them for years.

    That had to count for something.

    ''He also defeated Kido, though he had to sacrifice his life¡­ right? I mean, he would have used some measure of his intelligence in doing that.''

    That was why it made no sense for Kuzon to try infiltrating his dark cocoon by brute force.

    Perhaps the young Midas had simply run out of options and hoped a highly condensed st would solve the problem.

    That wouldn''t be too surprising, considering the way people often acted once all usible alternatives had been exhausted.

    With desperation, they would try anything just to achieve their goals.

    Legris considered Kuzon being in such a situation¡ªscrambling for victory using any means possible.

    ''Is heshing at me right now?'' Legris wondered to himself.

    That was indeed a possible scenario, but something felt off. He couldn''t ce his hand on it, but¡­ he just found it unbelievable that Kuzon would be so stupid.

    ''Or maybe he¡­ h-huh¡­?''

    Suddenly, Legris found his body unable to move. Not just that, but he could no longer detect the flow of his power or control it in the slightest.

    It felt like he waspletely stuck.

    ''N-no¡­''

    If that was the case, then there was only one thing that would follow.

    ~FSHUUUUUUUUUUUU¡­~

    His dark cocoon disintegrated, leaving him totally bare to the rest of the golden radiation that graciously poured on him.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The st showed no mercy. It tore through any form of resistance Legris could have dreamed to muster after his defense had broken own, shattering all his other countermeasures in a jiffy.

    In just one instant, one that felt like an eternity, Legris found himself bathed with overwhelming power that caused him to open his grinning lips for the most agonizing shriek he could give.

    "GAAARRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    The st drowned his screams in its condensed embrace, nearly disintergating him as he stood in it for just a few seconds.

    However¡­ the moment he thought he would disappear for good, it ceased.

    The golden radiation stopped ripping through his body, destroying every cell in his body as it erased everyyer of his current existence.

    Rather than the overwhelming light in front of him, it was now Kuzon who stood in his presence.

    "Y-you¡­ what did¡­ you do¡­?"

    Kuzon''s smile was condescending, and it caused Legris'' chest to tighten as he stared at the young boy. His body was nearly all burned, and the darkness he had used to shroud himself was no more.

    He couldn''t even make more thanks to the paralysis that his body currently endured, which caused a disconnect between him and his power.

    Legris waspletely helpless at this point, and he knew it.

    But how? Why? It made no sense!

    "You said I was just someone who got privileged with a lot of power, and I have nothing else going for him¡­" Kuzon''s voice echoed in the abyss that was an already devastated dimension.

    He moved closer, most likely to enjoy Legris'' damaged face of defeat.

    "How does it feel to be wrong?"

    It was at this point that Legris realized he had underestimated the young Midas. No, it was more urate to say that he simply did not give him enough credit.

    ''I was too slow toprehend what he was doing¡­'' Legris thought to himself, gnashing his teeth as he red at Kuzon.

    "It''s over now. I''m going to capture you and end this invasion of yours."

    ********

    Kuzon''s n was simple, but alsoplex at the same time.

    It only became an actual strategy after he studied Legris and his strange power for a few times, before finally realizing how it functioned.

    ''For one, the dark energy does not cover his entire body¡­'' Those were the first thoughts Kuzon had when he observed Legris.

    He only covered his severed hand, his cloak, his shoes, and trousers with the murky ck stuff.

    As a result, a decent amount of his body was exposed.

    That made him vulerable..

    Unfortunately, Kuzon ran into another problem once he tried to capitalize on the single weakness Legris seemed to have.

    ''He uses his ck cocoon to protect himself from all-directional attacks!''

    While it was frustrating, this move of Legris proved Kuzon''s suspicions correct, since he wouldn''t need a ck cocoon if he was already invulnerable to all attacks.

    Those arrows were perfect in proving that Legris had to protect his vulnerable parts from any iing assault that couldn''t be stopped by his limited darkness.

    However, that brought another issue to the table.

    ''How do I get rid of the cocoon?''

    There didn''t seem to be a way to go about it¡ªat least externally¡ªso Kuzon decided to pay more attention to all the events that had ured thus far.

    It was at that point that he was able to realize something important.

    ''When he uses the ck cocoon¡­ he''s more vulnerable!'' And no, Kuzon didn''t mean he was more vulnerable in the exteriror.

    No, it was the opposite.

    Legris had a limited amount of his ck energy. As such, anytime he made a ck cocoon, all the ck energy in his clothing, hand, and hair, would be minimized.

    Depending on just how dense he wanted to make the cocoon, he woul use up all that energy.

    ''Since he''ll be safe within the cocoon, there''s no reason to have even more ck stuff around him. It makes sense¡­''

    Kuzon was only able to arrive at this conclusion thanks to his keen observaion of Legris when he finally came out of the cocoon.

    The dark cocoon was absorbed into Legris'' coat, and once that happened, it regained its me-like property.

    Kuzon also suspected that Legris had already infused the darkness into his arm and hair before undoing the cocoon, so it wouldn''t seem like the cocoon was merely the coalition of his ck energy.

    With all of this informationing together in Kuzon''s mind, he decided to brew the perfect strategy that would help him take down Legris.

    It was perfect!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Well, I suppose the fight is over, so my promise rings true.

    Not exactly, though¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1215 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 5]

    Chapter 1215 Kuzon Vs Legris [Pt 5]

    Kuzon knew he was making a few assumptions in his analysis.

    In the first ce, he hadn''t confirmed that Legris needed to use his existing darkness to form the cocoon, or that Legris couldn''t just make more.

    Topensate for this, howver, he had toe up with a n with the possibility of that in mind¡ªa n that ounted for Legris'' potential counterattack!

    The first and most important part of it was his golden mannequin.

    The mannequin was used as a decoy for Legris, and eventually use to bind him. Of course, Legris was able to easily disarm the strings easily, but not before Kuzon activated his n.

    ''[Marite Butterfly]''

    Unlike the regr Marite Worms, this one blended properly with its surroundings and host, making it indistinguishable from air or skin.

    Since it took on the properties of its host, Kuzon was able to make it indistinguisbable from Legris'' own self.

    And so, as he destroyed the rest of the strings, the Marite Butterfly was able to remain in close proximity to Legris.

    There was a chance that Legris would notice it given enough time, so Kuzon decided to use an extremely powerful attack to distract Legris and force him to use up all his darkness to protect himself in his dark cocoon.

    The n worked!

    Legris did exactly what he wanted, shrouding himself in the dark cocoon, whilepletely vulnerable to the Marite Butterfly.

    The question remained, though.

    How exactly was a butterfly able to defeat someone like Legris? Well¡­ the answery in what the insect construct could do.

    Laying as many eggs as possible in the form of pollens.

    The Marite Butterfly infected Legris through his ear, infecting it with thousands of Marite Worms who swiftly developed as they invaded his body.

    They took control of his nerves, and eventually all of his bodily functions.

    In the end, Legris waspletely taken over by Kuzon, who did not rely on brite strength or overwhelming power¡­ but simple tact.

    Once Legris was no longer in control, it made sense that his dark cocoon would break down, causing him to take damage.

    The conclusion of their fight thus arrived.

    ''I used up a lot of energy in thatst attack. Plus, the Marite Butterfly took a lot of energy to create in order to design it as I desired and also due to the numerous Worms it would produce¡­''

    His n was not without its downsides. He even had to collect all the energy he had spread all around him to achieve his desired result.

    He probably had less than ten percent of his total Aether pool left, and he was also mentally exhausted. However, Kuzon was still able to smile as he drew closer to Legris.

    He was able to prove his opponent wrong.

    ''I know I''m not Jared. I''m his rival.'' That thought alone mae him smile brightly and confidently in the presence of a man who knew nothing about him.

    "It''s over now. I''m going to capture you and end this invasion of yours."

    ''[Golden Constraints]'' Kuzon silently cast a Spell, causing several braces of gold to wrap themselves around Legris.

    As a result, he waspletely shrouded in golden locks and chains, unable to escape.

    ''With the Marite Worms in control of Legris, I now have full authority over his body. Still, I refuse to be careless.''

    Adding extrayers of defenses felt redundant at this point, but Kuzon did so anyway.

    ''I should meet up with the others. I wonder the ones that are closeby¡­''

    He never thought he would be able to end the fight so soon, but that in itself brought Kuzon satisfaction unlike any other.

    He actually defeated a Legris superiror to the one Jared had fought, and he even managed to bypass the problem of the ck energy.

    ''I even captured him alive!''

    "Haha! I can''t wait to see the look on Jared''s face when I sh¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH

    !!!~

    Like a bolt of lightning¡ªno, much faster than that¡ªKuzon vanished from his position.

    His bulging eyes glowed as cackles of golden energy rippled across his body. His left hand tightly gripped his right hand, which was now missing for some reason, and his face had a deep scowl on it.

    It all happened so fast that even Kuzon was still wrapping his head around it, trying his hardest to dull the pain he was feeling in his iplete right arm.

    Pain¡­?!

    He was feeling pain despite still being in his [Absolute Emperor''s Transfiguration]?!

    That meant only one thing!

    "Keuk!" His bulging eyes widened even further as he focused all his attention on the man who now stood where he currently upied.

    It was¡­ another Legris!

    ''Shit! There''s two of them now? How?!''

    Kuzon instantly understood how he had messed up. Thanks to him retracting all the energy from around him, he had no Authority or Sensory Prowess to help him detect Legris until it was toote.

    ''He was able to take away one of my arms. If I took a secondter, I would be dead!''

    Beads of sweat fell from Kuzon''s face as he endured the pain and dulled the rising fear within him.

    The Legris he had under his constraint was right beside the new one, and seeing the both of them next to each other just doubled the feeling of dread that he experienced.

    Perhaps it was this dread¡­ this uncontroble fixation he had¡­ that prevented him from noticing yet another looming figure behind him.

    "G-guh!!!"

    ¡­ Not until it was almost toote!

    ~FWIIIISHH!~

    Kuzon vanished once more, but not without losing one of his legs. The searing pain, and the seeping rot of darkness caused him to nearly scream out, but he controlled himself and maintained his distance, swiftly erecting a dense barrier around himself with his remnant energy¡­ though he was unaware of just how much good that would do him.

    ''N-no¡­''

    After all, his opponents weren''t merely two Legrises¡­ but three!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1216 Severe Handicap

    ?

    ''D-damnit¡­!''

    Kuzon found himself exasperated, nearing the brink of desperation, as he looked at the three figures in front of him.

    One of the Legrises¡ªthe newest addition to the trio¡ªhad managed to sneak up behind him and would have nearly kill him if not for his swift response.

    Sure, he lost a leg, but it could have been much worse.

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    At this point, he was expending a considerable amount of energy on his barrier, while ensuring he was able to detect anything within a reasonable range.

    There was no other way to go about it¡ªdefense was the only option he had now.

    ''H-how? What did he do? Why is there more than one of him right now?''

    Kuzon, just like the rest of the team, understood the nature of Legris'' abilities. They knew he was difficult to kill because of the numerous versions of himself that existed in a special space that he controlled.

    Neron had gotten trapped there once, and he was barely able to win back then.

    ''But even at that, Legris can only have one version of himself at a time in reality. Or¡­ is that what he made us think all this time?''

    Now that he thought of it, Legris had never disyed much of his ck powers until now. It all seemed to be happening too much¡­ too fast.

    ''Why now?''

    Kuzon felt an ominous feeling as he tried his hardest to regainposure.

    Both his arm and legs felt like they were on fire, and it hurt him at an unspeakable level. He initially didn''t understand why, but after taking the time to notice it, he realized the reason.

    ''It''s rotting. My body is rotting¡­''

    The darkness was seeping deeper and deeper into his golden body, and it caused him to feel both pain and destrution.

    He had to do something about it¡ªand fast!

    ''I need to cut them off!''

    Kuzon swiftly summoned two des, positioning them close to his severed arm and leg. He gritted his teeth and squinted his eyes, ready to feel the agony that awaited him.

    ''I have to time this well!''

    None of his summoned constructs could harm him in any way, which meant he had to return to his base form. However, he was assured that the destruction of his body would intensify rapidly the moment he left Absolute Emperor Transfiguration.

    That meant he had to be swift¡­ absolutely precise.

    ''Just do it, Kuzon! Just do it!''

    He controlled his des, and they went into action, targeting the respective areas of his flesh that the darkness had yet to reach, so as to ampuate the rest of his rotting flesh off.

    ~FWISH!~

    ~WHUSH!~

    He sliced off the corrupted lumps of flesh, leaving his wounded form alone as he winced in pain.

    Strangely, it didn''t hurt him as the Legris'' darkness did.

    Still, he could feel a strange sensation from his emptied arm and leg as he tried to heal them.

    ''It''s not healing¡­?!''

    He could only close the wounds, but nothing was growing or healing up. At that moment, the fear within Kuzon began to intensify as he stared at his three foes.

    The Legris that was previously under constraint was now free, and it seemed like the Marite Worms within him had been purged, considering the fact that he now had full control over his body.

    ''The others must have helped him out.''

    What made matters worse was that all three of the Legrises now had ck energy on their apparel and bodies, like burning mes that never died out.

    If all of them served the same purpose and possessed the same level of intensity asst time, then he had no chance in the slightest.

    ''My Aether levels are low, and I can''t even ess Leo after those two strikes from Legris¡­''

    In essence, he was stuck!

    ''I can manage to recover slowly, but I doubt they''ll give me the chance to do that in peace.''

    His defenses might as well be paper, with the way the ck energy Legris had could negate and suck in whatever constructs he could make.

    That meant he was simply in an unprotected house with no real roof.

    ''The most effiicient way to deal with this is mobility and perception.''

    Kuzon knew fully well that his best bet was sensing danger and evading the attacks before they reached him.

    ''But there are three of them!'' That lessened his odds of evasion by arge margin.

    He wasn''t also in the best physical state, and his lists of arsenals were severely depleted.

    ''Plus, I can''t use [Absolute Emperor Transfiguration] anytime soon¡­''

    There was only one more option for him to use, but it was too risky to even attempt.

    ''[The Emperor''s Domain].''

    The Emperor''s Domain was his personal realm, one which hepletely controlled. Within it, he had absolute authority.

    ''If I use that, there''s a good chance I can turn the tables.''

    But that in itself came with its own risk.

    ''If he uses that chance to absorb my domain, or he makes another unexpected move, then it''s all over.''

    At this point, Kuzon was tempted to simply retreat.

    It was possible for him to hide in The Emperor''s Domain, at least to recover ore up with a strategy to counter Legris.

    But¡­

    ''I can''t do that!''

    Sure, Kuzon felt a surge of pride that discouraged him from retreating from such a battle. However, his reasons ran deeper than that.

    ''If I leave him be, he''ll only have more chances to absorb more energy.''

    Also, he didn''t know when backup would arrive, but if he was absent when they did, then there would be no one to inform them of Legris'' weaknesses and his capabilities.

    ''I currently have information on him, and I am aware of just how dangerous he is¡­''

    If he left the battlefield now, it would reduce the overall chances of winning.

    As a result of all these factors, Kuzon clenched his one remaining fist and braced himself for a fight he had no chance of winning.

    ''I''m going to hold the fort¡­ no matter how long it takes!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Legris went and jumped Kuzon... with himself!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1217 Abrupt Interruption

    Chapter 1217 Abrupt Interruption

    "Haha!"

    "What''s wrong, Kuzon?"

    "Not so confident anymore?"

    Legris Damien''s voice echoed in the crumbling expanse, sending shivers down Kuzon''s spine as he listened to every word.

    The three opponents before him were overwhelming. He knew that much.

    Still, he could not afford to retreat.

    "[Original Magic: Marite]" He whispered, causing golden threads to manifest around him, like puppet strings that danced at the owner''s whims.

    Some of the threads gathered together, shimmering brightly to form an arm and leg, recing the ones he had already lost. He could control them with Magic, and while they didn''t feel as natural as his own limbs, they were effective.

    This was all he could rely on at this moment.

    "Well then, Kuzon¡­ let''s see how long you can struggle against me."

    "Make this fun, okay?"

    "Don''t you die so soon!"

    ~WHUUSH!~

    In a sh, two of the Legrises vanished from their position, and the final one lunged at Kuzon with a crazed smile on his face.

    The darkness around him ignited like exploding mes, growing more intense as he brought himself closer to Kuzon.

    "Tch!" In an instant, Kuzon teleported from his position and reappeared at a much further location from his foe.

    Space warped as he reappeared, barely escaping the dark embrace that would have been his fate if he had wasted any more time.

    However¡­

    "Predictable!"

    ¡­ A voice was waiting for him at his new location.

    ~WHOOOSSHH!~

    This time, his opponent was too quick for him to evade entirely, so he did his best to defend himself from the inevitable hit that was about to reach him.

    Whether he would survive or not, or if he would be able to escape with even more permanent injuries, was up for debate.

    All Kuzon could think of at that moment¡­ was how dark the world had be.

    Then¡ª

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    In the blink of an eye, faster than both Kuzon and Legris, a brilliant surge of blue light burst through the dimension.

    Sounds of shattered ss, simr to the one Kuzon made when he initially confronted Legris, echoed far and wide.

    And a powerful arc of energy, one that could only be produced from a powerful sh, was already right in front of Kuzon, separating him from Legris.

    "What the¡ª"

    ~WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM

    MMMM!!!~

    The shockwave sent Kuzon flying backwards, and the strike sessfully connected to Legris, pushing him further away.

    In the end, that single attack had managed to deter the enemy, and also send Kuzon flying in the direction of safety.

    "Keuk!"

    It took a while for him to regain hisposure, but Kuzon forced his body toe to a halt while slolwy opening his eyes to take in the sudden damage that the new intruder had wrought.

    "Kuzon¡­ mind telling me what''s going on here?" The deep voice of the greatest Martial Artist that he knew rang in the air.

    It instantly brought a smile to Kuzon''s face.

    "Took you long enough¡­ Edward."

    Right beside Kuzon''s now stable form was an insanely well-built young man. He had very long brown hair, with beards covering a majority of his face.

    A few small scars decorated his face, but even more of those were stuck all over his immensely thick and muscr body.

    He was by no means a hulky figure. Instead, he stood at the epitome of perfection, with abs, biceps, triceps, and everything else toned to perfection. He had no shirt on, and he only wore very short tights, thus revealing most of his body to anyone who saw him.

    "It''s a relief to see you, man. But¡­ why don''t you put something on?" Kuzon''s voice reverberated across to Edward.

    If Edward desired it, he could even use [Marite] to sew a proper attire that would size him.

    "No. It gets in the way¡­" Edward''s reply was vague and brief.

    Whatever that could mean, it was made abundantly clear that the young man had no need for proper clothes.

    Kuzon found it absurd, but now wasn''t the time to dwell on anything like that.

    Instead, his eyes trailed to Edward''s hand, where he saw a glowing sword in his tight grip. The de had some runic inscriptions on it, and it felt special.

    zing amber light, as well as cool azure energy emanated from the weapon as it warbld, leaving even Kuzon enamored by it.

    "Don''t look at my sword. I''m not lending it to you."

    "W-what?"

    "Well¡­ I''m not."

    "Why would I¡­ why did you even¡­ argh, never mind!"

    Kuzon felt slightly embarassed, but more annoyed by the fact that Edward would think he wanted his sword.

    More importantly, he was annoyed that he kept losing track of the most important issue of all.

    ''I should be on edge, but¡­ why do I feel at such ease?'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed.

    Had Edward''s presence suddenly restored some measure of his confidence? If that was the case, then Kuzon felt both relieved and threatened.

    ''He''s gotten that strong, huh?'' That was certainly helpful for them at the moment since Legris was a force Kuzon knew he could not handle alome

    However, his level of strength brought another worry to his mind.

    What if Edward had also surpassed him?

    ''Now isn''t the time to worry about that. Let''s focus on our adversary!" At this point, the three Legrises had gathered once more, all three of them grinning at both Kuzon and Edward.

    "What''s the situation?" Edward asked, his tone disying not even a modicum of the yfulness from earlier.

    Now that he was now in ''serious mode'', Kuzon chose to do the same.

    "Legris Damien has that strange ck energy that can negate and suck in all energy and attacks that we throw at him. It seems he can also bring suplicate versions of himself to reality, though I am still unsure of his limits."

    Kuzon made sure to divulge the rest of his knowledge to Edward through a mental link, ensuring the privity of their discussion.

    "I-I see¡­" Edward whispered. "You even lost your arms and legs¡­"

    Kuzon could feel a portion of Edward''s attention on him, and it felt unpleasant. He didn''t want to be considered handicapped in such a battle of pertinence.

    "That doesn''t matter. Right now, we only need to focus on one thing¡­"

    Edward slowly nodded in agreement, and both of them looked at the sole entity they had to give all their attention to.

    "... Legris Damien!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    It seems we will be having a two versus three. Unless¡­ something else happens!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1218 Legris Vs Edward and Kuzon [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1218 Legris Vs Edward and Kuzon [Pt 1]

    ~Do you have a n?~

    Kuzon heard the voice of his only avable ally reverberate in his head, and his heart tightened a little.

    So far, he had studied Legris and arrived at a few conclusions. Back then, he thought he had developed the perfect n to take him down.

    Yet¡­

    ''There''s no guarantee that this n will work. Last time, I failed woefully.'' Kuzon admitted to Edward.

    They were currently at a disadvantage because Legris could pull off yet another surprising move that wouldpletely shatter their expectations and lead them to ruin.

    In essence, any n of his would be a gamble!

    ~I trust you, Kuzon. I''m ready to follow your lead.~

    As Edward brandished his de in preparation, his eyespletely set and focused, Kuzon saw all of this andughed at himself.

    ''He has the resolve to do the neeful, so what am I being so hesitant for?''

    Nothing in life was everpletely certain, yet people lived thier lives and made ns for how they wanted it to go.

    The same applied to battle.

    Even though they couldn''t predict what Legris would do next, that wasn''t to stop them from trying their best to understand his current capabilities and defeat him.

    ''He also isn''t entirely aware of our abilities, especially yours. We can use that to our advantage.'' Kuzon smiled as he took on the same focused gaze as his partner.

    ''Right now, we need to understand his limits. That means creating avenues where he would have no choice but to reveal more of his cards. Once we understand his limitations, I cane up with a strategy that will checkmate him!''

    That seemed conceited, especiallying from the one who just lost an arm and leg against Legris, but Kuzon couldn''t care less.

    He had learnt his lesson from that mistake, and he had no intention of making it any longer.

    ''The major issue now is pushing him to his limits. I have a good idea of how to do that, but I''ll mostly be relying on you.''

    Edward slowly nodded once Kuzon transmitted this thought to him, his eyes glowing with both azure and amber light.

    He was ready in every sense of the word.

    ''Then¡­ here we go!''

    *******

    Legris stood among himself, all eyes on the targets for elimination.

    In a sense, he considered himself fortunate since two Constetion Hosts had gone out of their way to seek him out.

    Even though his entire space was rich in pure Aether, the Constetation Fragments still had more quality.

    If he was able to defeat both Kuzon and Edward, that would add to his benefit.

    However¡­

    ''It''s quite a task.''

    ''I didn''t think I would need to expend so much.''

    ''This is more bothersome than expected¡­''

    Bringing two more versions of himself into reality was something he was saving forst, but Kuzon really pushed him to that point.

    ''It''s a good thing I took that countermeasure when I suspected something¡­''

    Not only was this more tasking for him, however, but the manifestation of his ability also ate through his current stockpile.

    It wasn''t wise to recklessly use so much of it, but at the same time, he didn''t see himself winning if he didn''t go this far.

    ''I already decided to do anything it took to seed in this mission¡­''

    ''That''s why I trapped the Constetions with so much of it¡­''

    ''That''s why I haven''t held back as much as I would for the sake of conserving more of it.''

    At this juncture, it was all or nothing!

    Desperation mixed with ambition filled Legris, and seeing two of his targets and resources before him only drove him further into his desires.

    ''Kuzon is a bother, but the real threat is Edward. No matter. If I can separate them and handle their abilities separately, then it will be my victory.''

    That meant he would have one version of himself attack Kuzon, while two would attack Edward.

    ''If ites down to it, then¡­''

    No, it hadn''te to that yet. Legris chose not to jump the rope and simply focus on how he could emerge the victor given the current conditions.

    ''Alright then.''

    ''I can do this¡­''

    ''I''m going to win!''

    Preparing all three versions of himself, Legris caused his darkness to ignite, and his pure ck eyes manifested a purple glow within.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    Instantly, all three forms of his scattered. Two swept through the collpasing space and rushed towards Edward, while two flew in Kuzon''s direction.

    At this point, he didn''t want to y with his food. It was better to take the most efficient route, using the pure essence of his ability to defend himself from any of their counters while focusing on destroying them.

    He estimated that in just a few seconds, he would be able to neutralize his opponents and win!

    The one that lunged at Kuzon was especially d.

    The young Midas had lost most of his Aether in their earlier fight, and he wasn''t in optimal physical condition.

    No matter how much he tried topensate for his lost limbs using his Magic, it would do no good.

    Especially not against his own ability!

    ''I''m going to¡ª''

    ~WHAM!~

    The sound of a flesh pounding on another flesh reverberated throughout the shattering expanse, as the most shocking wee greeted his face.

    nted right in the middle of his face was a powerful punch that sent shockwaves flying all across the area.

    ''W-wha¡­?!''

    Kuzon''s hand¡ªthe one covered in his marite strings¡ªhad sessfully hit his face with the most devastating blow.

    "Keuk!" Legris felt the pain course through his body, and his body jerked backwards in response to the powerful strike.

    Before he could recoil from both the shock and pain, however, the same hand retracted itself, and Kuzon twisted his body to give him a kick with his Marite legs.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!~

    The hit sent Legris flying back instantly, his body bing nothing short of a ragdoll.

    In just two swift strikes, Legris found himself at the mercy of the supposed handicap and weakling of the bunch.

    "E-eh¡­?"

    It was unbelievable!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Seems like the team has found a way to counterattack. I just hope we get to see some kind of jumping or reverse jumping.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1219 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1219 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 2]

    Legris was invincible.

    As long as he had his ck energy, it was impossible for any Magic attack to reach him. He absorbed the Aether, broke it down, and took it within himself.

    As a result of this strange ability that ensured he would always be protected by his darkness, he was confident of his victory.

    Until¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!~

    His body helplessly flew far from Kuzon as thetternded a powerful kick on him. The impact caused shockwaves to reverberate across the empty space, and the power ced behind the strike caused Legris to recoil in pain.

    ''H-how?!'' He thought to himself, swiftly regaining hisposure.

    He was now a far distance from Kuzon, thanks to the force, and he could feel remnants of the pain he recieved from the attack, but none of that mattered at the moment.

    There was only thing that upied his thoughts.

    ''How was he able to injure me?!''

    Legris'' mind instantly went into overdrive while ring at Kuzon, whose Marite hand and leg was now being corrupted by his darkness.

    He watched as Kuzon detatched the thread-like substance that had been affected by the dark energy, while recing them with more of his Marite Strings.

    That meant he could replicate his attack without a care in the world, since he could always rece the unusable portions of his prosthetic limbs with new material.

    ''I thought having a false arm and leg would prove disadvantageous, but I was wrong¡­'' Legris'' thoughts trailed.

    It was the opposite!

    Thanks to this new form of Kuzon, he could directly fight Legris without needing to keep his distance or hold back.

    ''And I think I now know how he was able to hit me.''

    It was an oversight on his part, but Legris had only ignored it for this long because no one had ever been able to bypass it until now.

    ''Well, to be fair I haven''t used it in properbat until now, but¡­''

    All forms of matter and energy broke down when they made contact with his power. That was why Magic, no matter how sophisticated it was, would still be ineffective against him.

    However, there was one key factor that seemed to be an exception.

    ''... Martial Arts.''

    Legris recalled how he was pushed away by Edward''s strike and concluded that Kuzon must have gotten inspiration from that moment to test out his suspicion.

    ''And now that he knows, he is sure to capitalize on it.'' Legris thought to himself, clicking his tongue in mild annoyance.

    Unlike Magic that relied on Aether or Nether to generate results, Martial Arts was all aout using power, or force tomit an action.

    A punch from a Martial Artist was far more than simple ENERGY. They utilized force, and sometimes even used the power of their adversaries against them.

    ''When he hit me, even though the energy in his hand and legs were being devoured, he was still able to geenrate enough force to affect me.''

    Plus, Kuzon must have also made both his hand and leg incredibly dense with his Aether so that it wouldn''t break down too quickly.

    Everything was nned from the start, and now that Legris thought about it¡­ he could only smile at his own hubris.

    ''I overestimated by abilities and underestimated theirs¡­'' A thin line formed on his face as he generated a wide grin.

    ''But no matter¡­''

    Slowly, a thin shadow began to manifest beside Legris, and from the ck silhoutte emerged something ominous¡ªor rather, someone.

    Another Legris.

    Two Legrises now stood side by side, their gaze focused on Kuzon as they smiled in anticipation.

    ''It''ll be tooplicated to try to avoid getting hit by him, so by multiplying his target, his current strategy falls t.''

    He only had one Marite hand and one Marite leg, after all.

    Unless Kuzon was willing to say goodbye to his other limbs, he wouldn''t risk hitting him with his other limbs.

    ''Two against one. Let''s see how you handle this!''

    ~WHOOOOOSHHH!~

    The two Legrises lunged at Kuzon with full speed, the entire space around them being devoured by the dark energy they were coated in.

    In no time at all, they both appeared beside Kuzon, one taking a vantage position to his right, while the other appeared on his left side.

    Since they both did this simultaneously, there wouldn''t enough time for Kuzon to protect himself from his two targets with his limited supply of limbs at the same time.

    No form of defense would be sufficient, and they had the upper hand in terms of advantages.

    ''In the end¡­'' One of the Legrises thought to himself as he reached out to grab Kuzon.

    ''... Victory is mi¡ª''

    Before the second Legrispleted his thought, Kuzon swiftly dodged both of their strikes, thetter''s eyes focusing on their second hands and legs also reaching out for him.

    In the end, he couldn''t properly defend himself.

    ¡­ Or so they thought.

    ~WHAM!~

    Kuzon raised both hands to block their kicks, an act that shocked Legris¡ªthe both of himself.

    "I''ve got you now."

    Kuzon''s whisper echoed in Legris'' ears, but before he could even act on it, the young Midas grabbed both their legs with his hands, instantly crushing his bones with the powerful pressure he generated.

    "G-guark!"

    "G-gugh!"

    Once their bones were broken, Kuzon still didn''t let go. Instead, he used his brute strength to swing them around, iling them about as if they were nothing but helpless dolls who had no choice but to do his bidding.

    "W-what? How?!"

    "Y-your hand will¡ª"

    Before any of the Legrises couldpletelyprehend the current situation, Kuzon directed blows to their faces, sending them flying away once more.

    "Well, thank you for your worry¡­" Kuzon smiled,pletely ignoring the darkness that was eating through both hands.

    For his Marite hand, it got reced by new threads, and as for his normal hand¡­ the most surprising thing happened.

    Like a shell, or an extrayer of skin, the darkenedponents began to peel off from Kuzon''s hand, revealing fresh ones underneath.

    Just as a snake would shed its skin, it seemed Kuzon had just shed his,pletely evading Legris'' surefire corruption.

    Watching Legris'' shocked face only made the grin on the Young Midas'' face widen.

    "... I''m perfectly fine."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Looks like we''re about to see some good stuff.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1220 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1220 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 3]

    "Haa¡­"

    Kuzon heaved a sigh of both relief and mild excitement as he nced at both his limbs, realizing that his n of coating them in an extra denseyer of Aether was working well to his advantage.

    Not only could he manage to take on two Legrises at once, but if he yed his card right, he could even have the upper hand.

    ''I''m faster than Legris is, and if we consider our abilities, I''m a step above him.''

    The major challenge was his problematic ability.

    ''But now that I can bypass it, I have to capitalize on my superior skills and go all-in for close-quartersbat.''

    Of course, Kuzon wasn''t much of an expert on Martial Arts, but he was more than skilled enough to hold his own in a direct battle.

    ''I know I should be worrying about my own battle, but¡­'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed as he nced behind him, noticing the battle urring a far distance from him.

    The fight between Legris and Edward.

    ''... I wonder how he''s faring.''

    Kuzon knew it was hubris to take his focus from an enemy that had cost him two limbs, so he swiftly returned his focus to the two recoiling Legrises before him.

    ''Just because I''ve found an avenue for attack doesn''t mean I should get any less careful.''

    He had been slowly recovering his Aether, so Kuzon reckoned he had enough to handle a proper fistfight.

    ''Let''s do this!'' Narrowing his eyes and strengthening his body with Aether, heunched himself towards Legris, generating shockwaves in his wake.

    ''I trust you, Edward!''

    *******

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­"

    Three versions of Legris were heaving heavily as they stared at an indomitable figure who stood before them.

    This man, with long white hair and bushy beards, was none other than Edward Karl Leon, and despite having no armor or piece of clothing save for his tight shorts, he felt imposingly taller than all three Legrisesbined.

    Right now, he was merely standing still, staring coldly at them with his azure and amber eyes, energy climbing from his perfect body.

    The air around him seemed to undte, and a certain pressure filled his immediate vicinity, preventing any of the three Legrises from venturing in¡ªat least, not without expecting the consequences that would follow. n)/0????????1n

    Edward had a glowing de on his hand, and the power that emanated from it seemed to radiate nothing but sheer force.

    "Come on, you three¡­" His voice resounded like thunder, and the Legrises who watched him maintained their distance, res fixated on him.

    Their number was initially two, but after being overwhelmed by Edward, one more member was necessary. Even with three of them, the chances of victory did not seem to increase in the slightest.

    No, with Edward currently in Martial State, it seemed to have shrunk even more.

    "... Try me."

    The trio nced at each other and nodded, determination sparking in their eyes. Sure, Edward had them far outssed in terms of power, but he was still limited by his current form and senses.

    They were three in number, so if they coordinated their attacks well, it would eventually lead to his ruin.

    Once the Legrises understood this, two of them vanished from their position, leaving one standing there. The remaining two took on different positions at behind Edward, one at his right nk, and the other at his left.

    Legris was utilizing the triangle formation, and Edward was stuck in the middle. By attacking him all at once, with their most potent attacks, surely they would be able to bring down the monolith that was this young man.

    "Haha! That''s more like it!" Edward yelled, tightly gripping his de as he awaited theirbined assault.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSHHH!!!~

    The world shook as the three versions of Legris began their attack in threefold. The darkness surrounding them increased in might, and their rush towards Edward ate up all the Aether that surrounded him.

    They would have taken the chance to devour any of the external Aether he was supposed to leak out in the Martial State, but none of that was present.

    All the Aether was being held in by Edward, everything flowing within his body and through his veins.

    The result was not only a vast increase in the power behind every blow given, but a sheer resistance to the darkness that tried to eat through his body.

    ~BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    The first noise that reverberated in the vast world was Edward''s leg crushing the skull of one of the Legrises.

    It was a merciless stomp that instantly shattered the head of his adversary, killing it instantly, like a weakened animal.

    ~CRUNCH!~

    With one Legris down for the count, the other two were next¡­ and they were already too close to Edward to pull back now.

    Would he use his sword to cut them down? Thinking logically about it, a de had better reach, and it was also a better way to fight Legris, who could use his dark powers to corrupt Edward if he got too close.

    However¡­

    "You aren''t worthy¡­ to be cut down by this de."

    This whisper from Edward was followed by the disappearance of his de, and the formation of his two unupied hands into fists.

    ~WHOOOSSSSHHH!!!~

    In two consecutive thrusts, Edward extended his fist to pummel Legris'' face.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    The shockwaves that sparked from the impact were enough to silence the sounds of bones being crushed, but that did not in any way reduce the severity of the attack.

    Both of the Legrises, though still alive, had disfigured faces thanks to Edward''s attempt at a bloody makeover. Their jaws were now loose, broken thanks to the fist sd they had just gotten from their adversary.

    ck blood decorated their face, and their mashed-up flesh felt like a disgusting vat of swirling pudding.

    In simple terms, they were in a state where they should have wished they were killed off easily.

    Before any of them could react in pain or otherwise, Edward grabbed both of the Legrises by their throats, his grip an inescapable prison.

    "Is this¡­ all you have?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    I suppose Edward is actually Legris'' natural enemy thanks to his Martial Arts and application of Aether in hisbat.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1221 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 4]

    Chapter 1221 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 4]

    Edward''s Martial State elevated his status as a Martial Artist by several bounds, allowing him to break past the limits he currently possessed.

    As someone who was able to deal with two Legrises without resorting to this form, facing three of them in Martial State felt like nothing short of child''s y.

    They were, at best, ragdolls that were being flung at him without an iota of consequences attached to them.

    The only major problem was¡­ the ck energy.

    ''I see. So this is what Kuzon meant.'' Edward''s thoughts trailed as he noticed the corrosive effects the darkness had on him.

    Or rather, his Aether.

    Edward''s body was coated in incredibly dense Aether, and he kept supplying is defenses while getting rid of the corrupt one at a lightning fast rate¡ªmuch faster than it was taking for Legris to destroy his Aether.

    In essence, he had the advantage when it came to his defenses. However, that came at a steep cost.

    ''It''s taking up too much Aether. I''ve already lost ten percent, and it has only been a minute or so¡­''

    Legris'' rate of absorption, and his rate of supply topensate for his diminishing defenses had created a vicious cycle that made it possible for him to lose a battle of attrition.

    ''But¡­''

    ~CRUNCH!~

    Edward crushed the necks¡ªand by extension, the entire spine¡ªof the two Legrises, killing them instantly.

    With all three of his opponents dead, he took a slight breather and let go of their corpses, realizing that fifteen percent of his strength had already been diminished thanks to the scuffle.

    ''Is Kuzon having better luck¡­?'' His spatial sensory abilities were currently unstable due to the interference of so much of Legris'' ck energy.

    Its influence ate up so much Aether and spatial connections around that the entire expanse that they were fighting in felt like a mess.

    Plus, Edward was avoiding leaking out his energy, instead focusing on heightening his physical senses so he wouldn''t be surprised by any of Legris'' sudden attacks.

    He couldn''t make the same mistakes as Kuzon, after all.

    ''He proposed this strategy, after all. I''m sure he''s fine.'' Edward thought to himself.

    It was thanks to Kuzon''s observations that they were able to fight Legris on such equal, if not superior, footing.

    Utilizing Martial Arts was the key¡ªthe simpler, the better.

    What mattered most was speed and power.

    ''Right now, we are in the first phase¡­ seeing just how far we can push Legris¡­'' Edward''s eyes darted around him, his senses as sharp as ever.

    He knew the battle was far from over.

    Legris had taken such a bold move, invading the Constetion Realm. There was no way he would just give up due to interference from just him and Kuzon.

    He was a very persistent bastard, a trait that made him a pain to deal with even now.

    ''I can''t let my guard down for even a second.''

    What made the matter more precarious was how limited they were in their options. Edward couldn''t use Martial Zone, and his connection with Aries was so weak that he could hardly tap into his Constetion''s Representation.

    ''I''m on my own, and so is Kuzon for the most part. But¡­'' There was something else that troubled Edward.

    It bothered him even more than the Constetion issue.

    ''What about the others? What''s happening with everyone?''

    Kuzon also had no idea, and Edward was feeling his concerns growing by the second.

    Sure, they were expecting more backup to arrive the longer they dragged out this confrontation, but what was taking the rest to long?

    ''I came to Kuzon''s aid because of what Aries told me. I can''t imagine it''s the same for everyone else¡­''

    Thinking logically about this, not everyone had a Constetion to inform them of the current situation, so it stood to reason that some of their allies wouldn''t be aware of the ensuing conflict.

    ''No¡­ most of them won''t kow!''

    The only one who could possibly have a clue was Maria, and given the natire of the fight, someone like her would be more of a liability than an asset due to her overreliance on Magic rather than Martial Arts.

    ''Right now we have to fight like there''s no backuping.''

    Once more, he realized Kuzon must have also thought about this since his n involved settling things decisively.

    ''We just have to wait for Legris'' next y.''

    "Edward." A sudden voice caused him to snap out of his thoughts and instantly focus in the direction it came from.

    Much to his relief, it was Kuzon.

    "I''ve gotten rid of the Legrises on my end." He muttered, his eyes glowing golden as he looked around while floating in Edward''s direction.

    Kuzon''s golden hand, which was a substitute for the one he lost when fighting Legris, and his simr-looking leg, warbled, as he drew closer.

    Both allies stood side by side, their demeanors shifting from caution to mild relief.

    Both of them had managed to defeat Legris, and it worked well for their ns¡­ right?

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Edward''s fist moved faster than light itself as it rushed to Kuzon''s face. It seemed Kuzon had sensed something approaching him, so in reflex, he managed to raise both his hands to defend himself.

    Unfortunately, that did very little to stop the overpowering blow that headed in his direction.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The impact that radiated from Edward''s blow shattered a huge chunk of the dimensionalyers that isted the ruined world they currently upied.

    Everything trembled violently, and Edward''s sudden blow instantly tore Kuzon''s face apart.

    "You''re not Kuzon, poser." Edward smiled, his fist sizzling with dark energy as he shrugged it off casually.

    The battered face of Kuzon erupted into puddles of darkness, and his body broke down that very instant.

    "Haha¡­ how did you know?" A voice echoed in the vast expanse.

    It surrounded Edward, seemingly traping him in a cage of sound. However, the young Martial Artist was hardly deterred by this.

    He knew all along that this was a trick.

    After all¡­ Kuzon''s ns had also ounted for something like this.

    ''I would have fallen for that otherwise.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thank you all for reading!

    Looks like this battle won''t be as easy as we all thought. Well, I doubt anyone thought it would be easy, to begin with.

    Still¡­ let''s see where this goes.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1222 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 5]

    Chapter 1222 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 5]

    [Moments Earlier]

    ''Ohh? So that''s the n?''

    Edward didn''t know precisely what to say in response to Kuzon''s strategy, one he made by deducing and calcting certain events and consequences.

    The Young Midas wasn''t particrly known for his brilliant battle tactics, so seeing him spew out such a n, as well as how he arrived at it, made Edward pleasantly surprised.

    ''Got it!'' His mind echoed in response.

    ~One more thing¡­ it''s about Legris.~

    The way Kuzon''s tone sounded grave made Edward feel the pressure and instantly nodded slowly in caution.

    ~He absorbed a lot of my energy earlier, and it''s possible he can replicate it as well. We won''t be in contact with each other due to our distance and Legris'' energy obstructingmunication, so I have to warn you¡­~

    It was at this point that Kuzon told Edward what would eventually save him in theing conflict.

    ~Beware of Legris and his tricks. He could do anything to win¡ªeven shapeshift into me, or try to turn us against each other. That only proves that he is getting desperate. Keep pushing on your end, and I''ll do the same. Once it''s time to rendezvous, I''ll give you the signal.~

    Edward absorbed this information, just as he did the others.

    Needless to say, he eventually had to recall Kuzon''sst warning when Legris became the imposter in their game.

    ********

    ''Thanks, Kuzon. If I had let my guard down at that point¡­ things could have gotten ugly.''

    Even though Edward was having such grateful thoughts, his demeanor showed nothing but sheer focus on the echoing voices that radiated around him.

    He clenched his fist and focused his senses, ready to attack at any given moment.

    "I realize now¡­" Legris suddenly appeared at a distance, both hands in his dark trenchcoat''s pockets as he smiled cooly at Edward.

    A wave of ckness surrounded him as he uttered those words.

    "...Fighting you in closebat¡­" Yet another Legris appeared beside the one who was just speaking.

    They had the same demeanor, and it was beginning to get frightening.

    "... Is disadvantageous for me."

    Right now there were three Legrises, each one side by side, grinning cooly as they stared down on Edward.

    The young Martial Artist was undeterred. His long white hair and beard danced on his face as he red at them with expectations.

    He was ready!

    "Well then¡­ haha¡­"

    ¡­ Or rather, he thought that he was.

    "Hahahaha¡­"

    "HAHAHAHHA¡­"

    "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA¡­ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

    "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!!!!!"

    Right before Edward''s eyes, like a parasite that continued to fester and procreate, the number of Legrises began to increase.

    His condescending gaze multiplied, and the forbidden power that clung to his body intensified.

    Soon, there weren''t just three or four Legrises.

    ¡­ There were ten of them!

    All ten of this single entity stared down at Edward as they maintained their distance from him. They encircled him, nothing in their gaze hinting of fear or worry.

    Instead, a certain thrill could be found on their faces.

    It seemed they posed an unspoken question to Edward¡ªwhether he would be able to handle all ten of them at once, or if they were finally going to overwhelm him.

    It was a tough query to answer.

    Not only did the power they radiated seem to have increased over time, but their numbers would prove even more problematic for one person to handle alone.

    And to cap it all off¡­ the most worrisome aspect of all was Legris'' decision to keep his distance from Edward.

    It had already been established that Legris'' weakness was Martial Arts, but the most effective way to dispatch him¡ªeven with Martial Arts¡ªwas tond a direct blow on him.

    Any less than the risk of absorption or evasion.

    In the end, the enemies of Legris could only trust their fists in the ensuing conflict.

    ''If he keeps his distance and attacks with all ten, it''s going to be far more difficult than before¡­'' Edward''s thoughts stated the obvious.

    However, even at that¡­

    "Hehehe!"

    ¡­ He did not once falter in his response to the unspoken question he was given.

    He already knew the answer to the challenge before him.

    ~WHUUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Edward''s de materialized in his sturdy grip, and it radiated so much power that his confident smile only grew wider as he felt its electrifying presence by just wielding it.

    This was not the time for half-assed answers, or to second guess.

    There was only one thing that was expected of him now, and Edward knew the answer too well.

    It was time to fight!

    "Bring it on!" Edward yelled at the very top of his lungs, taking his Martial Stance as he prepared to face the horde.

    "I''ll take you all on!"

    *******

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    Kuzon swept across the vast expanse that separated him from the two Legrises that nked him at both left and right.

    He decided to go after the one to his left first, knowing fully well that the other one would charge straight at him as he did so.

    Space itself parted, torn to shreds, as Kuzon raced towards his target and arrived in no time at all.

    ~WHOOOSHH!~

    As if already expecting him, Legris gathered a dense amount of darkness in his fist,unching it toward Kuzon as the ckness swirled all around his fist.

    Like a torrent threatening to break down and utterly swallow Kuzon alongside the Aether he had left, the roaring dark inferno charged forth.

    However¡­

    "Hmph!"

    ¡­ Kuzon swiftly twisted his body, bending his back and rapidly moving his feet to glide past the charging hook.

    He bent over, sessfully evading the strike, while also using his leg to hit Legris in the position left unguarded by his darkness.

    Every step was calcted, and every attack flowed the way Kuzon designed, his muscles guided by his golden strings as he poured his strength towards his target location.

    Legris'' torso!

    ~BOOOOOOOOOM!~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me, and this book as well!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1223 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 6]

    Chapter 1223 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 6]

    ~BOOOOOOOM!~

    The heavy impact of Kuzon''s strike dealt a massive shockwave to the entire area, causing Legris to spit out blood, and all his internal organs to instantly shatter from the blow.

    However, this was not to be celebrated as the second Legris was already breathing down his neck as he appeared right behind him.

    His fingers were glued together as if forming some sort of de, and the dark energy around it generated a saw-like projection as it proceeded towards Kuzon in a clean arc.

    ~WHISH!~

    Slicing through the air, and most definitely hoping to slice through Kuzon as well, Legris sent his arm flying in the former''s direction.

    However, once again, Kuzon was too fast to be hit.

    ~WHUUM!~

    Deftly raising his unupied fist, he struck Legris'' elbow joint, instantly dislocating it in a sh. With his arm now iling uncontrobly, like a mash of stirred pudding, Kuzon proceeded to dash behind him before he could even let out a scream.

    Forming a palm with his hand, and concentrating a phenomenal amount ofAether into it, Kuzon sent his Core into overdrive and unleashed a devastating blow in a concentrated region.

    ~SNAP!~

    The moment Kuzon''s attack hit Legris, his entire spine shattered, causing him to be paralyzed instantly.

    With one Legris having his internal organs redesigned by Kuzon''s heavy strike, and the other being absolutely helpless thanks to his counter, the oue was already decided.

    Midair, Kuzon twisted his body once more, sending kicks flying towards both Legrises as he sent their heads spiraling out of control until they popped out of their respective bodies.

    Juicy ck blood gushed out, leaving traces of Legris'' spewed essence all over the distorted space, almost like molten tar was sprayed across the vicinity.

    With the two Legrises already dispatched, Kuzon remained on his guard, his eyes darting in multiple directions as he stabilized his breathing.

    ''What will you do now, Legris¡­?'' He found his thoughts trailing.

    The ideal thing to do was to capture Legris¡ªat least, that was what he thought initially. However, after being caught off-guard a few times, before being aided by Edward, Kuzon no longer had that sentiment.

    ''Legris wants to be here as much as we want him not to. Even if we do wound up killing him, there''s a possibility he will reappear.''

    That was why there was no use pulling his punches.

    ''We should dispatch all the Legrises, make him get desperate until he uses most¡ªif not all of his cards. Once he''s done, we eliminate all the variants and capture thest one standing.''

    Of course, there was also the possibility of killing all of the Legrises, and in the past, Kuzon might have avoided that, but now¡­

    ''I guess I''m desperate too.''

    If Legris was going to be too difficult to capture, killing all of his variants, and leaving no room for a prisoner, was also a valid option.

    After all, the primary assignment was to defend the Constetion Realm and prevent Legris from getting what he wanted in the fist ce.

    ''Jared already has a valid n to stop him. Killing and not capturing him might just be postponing the inevitable, but we will still win in the long run.''

    There was no need to be fixated on capturing Legris.

    ¡­ At least, not anymore.

    "You''re quite formidable. Hehe¡­" Kuzon heard a voice echo throughout the nk abyss, instantly recognizing the owner.

    "Where are you hiding, Legris? Come out and y." Kuzon smirked as he spoke.

    Even though he knew how he sounded, Kuzon was not conceited at all. Caution lurked within his heart as he weighed his options.

    "What does it matter? You can''t beat me, Kuzon¡­ none of you can."

    Legris appeared a short distance from Kuzon, floating above him while smiling with a curled up evil grin.

    "No matter what you do, you can''t¡ª"

    "Kill you? I doubt it." Kuzon''s sharp response and confident smile caused Legris'' mask of malevolence to falter a little.

    He raised a brow as he stared curiously at Kuzon.

    "Hm? What do you mean?"

    "Exactly what I said, Legris. I''ve realized your trick now¡­" Kuzon''s smile was growing at a faster rate.

    "I''m afraid I am not following¡­"

    "Oh, you should be afraid. After all, I know your little secret."

    Kuzon knew it was unwise to dispense information, but now wasn''t the time to consider hiding it either. After all, to make Legris as desperate as possible, it was strategically positive to rile him up as much as he could.

    "The reason you keep appearing despite how many times I kill you is simple. You are alive somewhere."

    For a moment, silence pervaded the expanse. And then¡­

    "What?"

    Legris'' face morphed into that f confusion, but anyone with enough insight could already see this as a facade to hide a growing insecurity.

    "All those times you were killed in the past, you never reappeared in the same location. That was because your tether to reality was cut off. You would appear in another ce at a different time. Yet, you keep spawning here despite how many times you are killed, and that''s because at least one version of you still lives."

    That version served as his tether!

    "How do I know this? Well, I have a Marite Butterfly clinging onto Edward, and my threads are directly connected to it, so I have full control over its actions¡­ as well as its senses." Kuzon began exining.

    "Even after I kill all your versions here, at least one would keep its distance from Edward until you respawn. Rather than diving headfirst into danger, like you should since you have seemingly unlimited lives, you exercise caution on one end when the other end has eliminated all your versions."

    After observing all of that, the conclusion Kuzon made was quite simple.

    "If we kill all your variants at once¡­ you will cease to exist in this realm!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1224 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 7]

    Chapter 1224 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 7]

    Kuzon''s smile in the dreary silence of the wide expanse seemed to do the trick.

    He could see the mask of bravado that his adversary donned begin to crumble slowly. However, it still wasn''t enough.

    "That''s a nice theory you have there, Kuzon. Still, do you really think I¡ª"

    "Wouldn''t have countermeasures for that? I thought so as well. That''s why I had to use my [Marite Flies] to scour the entire dimension to see if there were any more versions of you hiding around."

    With Legris'' strange energy, it wouldn''t be difficult to locate him, since his presence in itself was a distortion of reality.

    However, even though Kuzon''s constructs scoured all through the crumbling dimension¡­

    "... They found nothing. In essence, the versions of you that are fighting against Edward and I are the only versions of you that exist here."

    It made sense too, considering how formidable Edward and Kuzon were. He needed all hands on deck to be able to defeat them, and he probably couldn''t spare having an extra lying around doing nothing.

    ''In essence, my point still stands.'' Kuzon''s smile grew wider.

    Killing all the Legrises at once would be the best way to resolve the situation. If there was even one more left, then Legris could respawn.

    ''Looks like capturing him is out of the window.'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed.

    These were desperate times, and they had to resort to the most desperate measures. Right now, he and Edward understood that.

    And so did Legris.

    "I¡­ see¡­" He whispered, the darkness that clung to his body flickering with every word he uttered.

    Something about his tone rang ominous, and Kuzon prepared himself for the eventual consequence of his goading.

    "I guess it can''t be helped then¡­"

    Legris was no longer grinning. His deep scowl rang of malevolence, and the deep seated darkness in his eyes oozed only animousity.

    He was no longer joking around.

    ''As expected.'' Kuzon braced himself, already feeling theshes of dark energy dancing around as the strange ck power seemed to be consuming more of the space around it.

    "I have to go all-out."

    ~VWUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    Right before Kuzon, ten Legrises manifested, their numbers a staggering promotionpared to what he had to deal with just earlier.

    The re that Legris gave was proof of his absolute desire to win and eliminate those who stood in his path. It forced Kuzon to swallow his saliva and brace himself for the challenge.

    ''He just manifested ten against Edward too, so does that mean his limits are twenty in total?''

    If they defeated all twenty at once, would that finally get rid of Legris?

    ''I can''t jump into assumptions. I''ll have to test out my theory. Once I can do that, then I''ll work with Edward to finish off all twenty of them at the same time.''

    The problem here was how to destroy them all at once¡ªat least, before the respawn began.

    The speed and power they would need to pull that off was extraordinary.

    ''Right now, the limit I can handle at once is five Legrises, and that''s not even ounting for the fact that he''s now more serious than ever.''

    While he suspected that Edward could indeed take on ten Legrises, Kuzon also doubted that he could finish off ten at the same time.

    ''We need to sync our attacks together, and ensure we eliminate everyone at once.''

    That meant regrouping. However¡­

    The ten Legrises currently encircled Kuzon, their determined gazes and flickering dark auras a perfect representation of a cage meant to hold him in.

    ''It seems Legris already understands what I''m about to do.''

    Right now, his focus had to be getting to Edward and restrategizing a way to defeat all the Legrises.

    ''Fortunately, I''ve gathered enough power now¡­'' Kuzon''s nervous sweat slowly dried out as golden energy began to surge from his body.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!~

    "[Absolute Emperor''s Transfiguration]."

    In this form, at the very least, he now had heightened speed and strength. If he used his threads and dense Aether, concentrating them in areas where he desired tond his attacks, then he would be able to fight with no consequence.

    "Let''s begin."

    ~WHOOOOSHH!~

    All ten Legrises lunged at Kuzon, their bodies bing a myriad of blurs as they hungrily sought to devour their sole target.

    ''My Martial Art skills aren''t too advanced, but¡­''

    Kuzon wrapped himself in sufficient threads, while also spreading the same around him, allowing for better mobility, sensory awareness, and reactive capabilities.

    ''... I''ll do my best!''

    ~WHAM!~

    The first hit was swiftly sent to Legris, the first one to appear in front of him. The blow was enough to shatter his skull and rip his head into pieces, but not before he reached out both of his hands to touch Kuzon.

    Fortunately, Kuzon was well protected by his denseyer of Aether.

    Unfortunately, before he could even rece the corruptedponents that had begun to seep through, the nine other Legrises, plus a respawning one,pletely overwhelmed him.

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    Kuzon swiftlyunched himself above the herd, blowing all of them away by the sheer pressure he emitted. He gazed down on them as they looked up to him, their determined gazes unable to let go of his sole form.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSSHHHH!~

    In their horde, they rushed at him, but Kuzon was too quick for them.

    He vanished from his position and appeared at a rtively closer point, thanks to the distortion of space all around him.

    Surprisingly, however, there was a Legris who was waiting for him there already.

    "Predi¡ª"

    "..ctable? No¡­ I expected this!" Kuzon grinned, twisting his body to give the Legris behind him a roundhouse kick, while using his devastated body as a propeller topletely sever the heads of two other Legrises that were approaching him.

    So far, he had eliminated four Legrises, all within the span of barely three seconds.

    However¡­

    ''They''re already respawning.'' Kuzon''s thoughts trailed as he watched Legrises replece the ones he had already killed.

    ''Looks like this will be quite difficult¡­''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1225 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 8]

    Chapter 1225 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 8]

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    After yet another devastating blow that rendered three Legrises instantly pulverized, Kuzon swiftly teleported to a safe distance, where he was met by two Legris who attempted to take advantage of him.

    Used to the dance already, he swiftly eliminated them, deftly moving to higher and further ground to escape the iing horde that desired to consume him.

    Once he managed to escape their grasps, Kuzon keenly observed them, his golden eyes shining ever so brightly.

    "Haaa¡­ again, huh?"

    In no time at all, the legion of Legrises wasplete.

    Kuzon had been ying this game for only about a minute now, but he was already tired of it. Fortunately, he was able to obtain more information¡ªor rather, a confirmation of his current knowledge¡ª

    concerning Legris'' abilities.

    ''It seems twenty is his limit. That means if we can deal with all twenty of them, we should be good.''

    Once he had confirmed all of this, the next thing he had to do was meet up with Edward.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    Instantly, he took flight, his speed turning him into nothing but a blur of golden light.

    Space parted, torn asunder by the tides that Kuzon made with his fluid, but firm motion. Behind him, he could see all the Legrises trying to catch up to him, but failing miserably.

    He was still much faster than them, and space was currently too unstable for them to teleport to his position haphazardly.

    ''Plus, even if they ddi, I''d be able to sense the spatial distortions before they appear and deal with them ordingly.''

    Kuzon already knew that this was how Legris always knew where he would be when he teleoirted, so it felt good that he could also use the same tactic against him.

    In any case, they wouldn''t be catching up to him anytime soon, and as a result of that, he pushed himself a notch further.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!~

    *******

    "Keuk!"

    "Guarhk!"

    "Heughhh!"

    The sounds of broken bones and devastated cries echoed from Edward''s position as he decimated his adversaries with his de, fist, feet¡­ heck, even his headbutt was painfully destructive to those who were unfortunate to receive them.

    At the moment, Edward was constantly surrounded by the group of ten Legris Damiens, all of whom desired their pound of flesh.

    Even in his Martial State, wielding his de of unfathomable power, he could not get rid of them as easily as he wished.

    At most, he could take down five in one strike, but that wouldn''t solve the problem, just as Kuzon had told him.

    ''NO!'' Kuzon swiftly shook his head as he brandished his de, readying himself for the next volley of attacks.

    Right now, he didn''t need to worry about theplexities of the n, nor the effectiveness of his own attacks.

    ''Right now, I just need to stand my ground and have faith in Kuzon!''

    With that single thought, his de shone brighter, and his muscles swelled in power. He could feel his Aether climbing as he watched his adversaries get closer.

    As they did, Edward wondered what Martial Arts Technique he would utilize in such a scenario.

    He had already tried so many variants of the [Path Of The Martial God King].

    From the Art of Severance, to the Art of Transcendence, and even several other techniques, but none couldpletely get rid of the opponents¡ªat least, not all at once.

    One would think this was bound to make Edward despair¡­

    ''Not a chance!'' He grinned.

    "[Path Of The Martial God King: Art Of Desecration]!"

    Kuzon''s de moved in an irregr pattern, striking all ten points around him as if all at once. He moved with the flow of the world, his body ignoring the stings of ck energy trying to seep through his defenses.

    And then¡ª

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

    M!!!~

    None of the Legrises around him stood a chance.

    They were all torn to shreds as a result of the pressure, leaving only the one of them that chose to keep his distance from the rest who inevitably died.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­" Edward leaked out slightly heavy breaths as he red at the lone Legris, who seemed to be multiplying already.

    ''I shouldn''t lose focus. Even if I managed to destroy all of them, as long as Kuzon isn''t done on his end, they''ll keeping.''

    He was avoiding the use of techniques that would put a heavy strain on his body, but considering how they had almost gotten him just now, Edward knew he had no choice but to use something big.

    Unfortunately, it didn''t do him much good.

    In just a few seconds, the nine Legrises he managed to kill were back.

    ''At least I was able to rece all my defenses within that time. I should celebrate that much, at least.'' Edward smiled to himself, once again raising his de.

    ''How much longer until Kuzon¡ª''

    "EDWAAAAAARRRRRD!!!" The very second that Edward thought of Kuzon, he heard a screaming voice belonging to the same person.

    It caused him to break into a smile, though relief was still far from him.

    "About time¡­" He whispered.

    The ten Legrises focused their attention on Kuzon, all of them rushing in his direction as if they were wild animals with only the desire to sip him to shreds.

    Edward, who already knew how ferocious they could be, forgot hisposure for a second and yelled.

    "Kuzon, watch ou¡ª"

    "Rx, big man. I''m fine." Kuzon''s voice manifested right beside him as he touched his shoulder.

    For a second, Edward was too stunned to move.

    After being frozen, still within that second, he finally blinked and looked at Kuzon''s smiling face with only one thing to say.

    "E-eh?"

    "I reced myself with the [Marite Butterfly] I kept on you."

    Since space was currently messed up, Edward hadn''t expected teleportation to be a viable option. However, it seemed Kuzon bypassed that process by directly tapping into the position of his own construct, who was connected to him through a [Marite] String.

    In essence¡­

    "They only caught themselves a butterfly¡­ not a Midas."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1226 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 9]

    Chapter 1226 Legris Vs Edward And Kuzon [Pt 9]

    Right now the two were reunited¡ªEdward and Kuzon.

    Despite the unease that shrouded them, they still had smiles on their faces.

    Why was that?

    It could be because it was an innate trait that humans generally shared to desirepany in the face of adversity.

    Just as Legris was in thepany of¡­ himself¡­ Kuzon and Edward shared their current precarious situation together.

    That alone was enough to make them smile.

    "Why do you rejoice?" Legris'' voice suddenly echoed, causing both Kuzon and Edward to stiffen slightly.

    The sound did note from the current ten that were long done with Kuzon''s Marite Butterfly, but from a further distance.

    "Damn. Thet''re here already¡­" Kuzon murmured, and in just a second, it became clear what he was referring to.

    The ten Legrises that were hot on his tail finally made their appearances, all of them now joining forces with the ones who had already surrounded Edward and Kuzon.

    "And then there were twenty." Kuzon''s mutter felt more sarcastic than anything else, and while his eyes darted across the entire expanse to observe all twenty opponents, something about his gaze seemed distracted.

    ''Seems they areplete¡­'' Kuzon''s thoughts echoed.

    Plus, his [Marite Flies] had confirmed he same thing. He had nothing to fear, and this time he couldn''t get it wrong.

    "One question, Legris." Edward''s voice suddenly exploded, breaking Kuzon out of his mental calctions.

    "What?"

    "A question?"

    "Really?"

    "..."

    The twenty surrounding Legrises seemed puzzled by Edward''s sudden approach, and so was Kuzon.

    Stalling for time wouldn''t help the situation. Edward should have known that. In fact, Kuzon felt a sense of urgency toplete the mission now more than ever.

    Even though it was just a gut feeling, and it could have been a result of his overexposure to Legris'' unnatural power, Kuzon was in a hurry.

    Sure, he had taken the appropriate steps, but¡­ he genuinely wanted this to be over already.

    ''So why are you asking a question now, Edward?'' His mind screamed.

    "All these versions of yourself¡­ do they have their respective consciousness, or is it only one Legris with multiple bodies. I''m sorry, but¡­ I can''t seem to figure out the answer to that."

    Upon hearing the question, Kuzon had to admit that he too was curious.

    However, he couldn''t allow the temptation of curiosity to overshadow the pertinence of their mission.

    Still, Kuzon reckoned that it wouldn''t hurt to at least get the answer before proceeding with their current objective.

    ''It''s for information. Yes¡­ that''s right!''

    "Hmm?"

    "No one has ever asked me that before¡­"

    "I don''t know how to answer it."

    "Well¡­"

    "Let''s just say¡­"

    "... THEY''RE ALL ME."

    Following this statement was abined grin from the twenty, so wide that it clearly mirrored their malevolence.

    In that instant, they all dived straight towards Kuzon and Edward, who were now exchanging nces.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    Space shattered even further, and in just a tiny fraction of a moment, the twenty wouldpletely swallow them.

    What were they going to do about it?!

    ''Are you ready, Edward?'' Kuzon swiftly sent his message to Edward as he tightly grabbed the nes that heavily rested on him.

    ~I am!~

    Once their agreement was firmly established, the twobined their energies together and activated their trump cards.

    The cards they had kept hidden just for this very moment!

    "[Martial Zone]!"

    "[Emperor''s Domain]!"

    Instantly, an inconceivably phenomenal surge of Aether rushed forth, all stemming from the respective domains they controlled.

    The joint sh of the spatial pressure and intense energy from the two territories caused a Mana Shock event, one that caused the entire dimension to shatter, leaving not even a speck of Aether stabilized.

    However, this was precisely what they desired.

    The destabilization of everything within their dimension caused all twenty Legrises to be overwhelmed by the surge of so much power from all directions, leaving them with only one option to survive.

    Absorbing the Aether!

    And, just as was predicted, the twenty Legrises proceeded to absorb the immense rush of Aether that charged at them from everywhere, finding themselves unable to even move a single muscle due to the absence of any space to do so.

    The only ones who could move at this moment were those who weren''t restricted by theck of space-time caused by their very own domains.

    In essence¡­

    ¡­ Kuzon and Edward!

    "[Path Of The Martial God King: Art Of Demolition]"

    "[Marite Chains]!"

    The immense power that surged from Edward as he unleashed the single strike of his de that was bound to eviscerate all things in his path was only matched by the phenomenally dense Aether that was concentrated in Kuzon''s chains¡ªformed from the nes that once adorned his neck.

    Theirbined might served only one purpose.

    ¡­ DESTROYING LEGRIS DAMIEN!

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Like fireworks painting the night sky, the sheer might of both Kuzon and Edward''s attacks caused the nk dimension to surge with color and power, rapidly showering all the stunned Legrises with forces enough to rip them to shreds.

    And they did!

    One after the other, the Legrises began to disintegrate, none of them capable of withstanding thebination of sheer power.

    All of this happened within the fraction of a second, so there was no time to even regenerate or respawn.

    They were all dying¡­ all at once!

    Until¡­

    "N-no!"

    "H-how?!"

    One of the Legrises, who was shrouded inplete darkness¡ªlike a cocoon¡ªmanifested right above them, surrounded by the very Aether they were using against him.

    He must have already coated his territory with Aether, and possessed just enough space trapped within his darkness to be able to freely move in a world that denied everyone else that.

    His wide grin showed both Edward and Kuzon the intentions he had.

    Contrary to their expectarions, one of the Legrises had survived their assualt, and that meant only one thing for them.

    "They''ll respawn¡­ AGAIN¡­?!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

 Chapter 1227 Light In The Dark

    Chapter 1227 Light In The Dark

    Despair began to creep in.

    Even as the bright light of Aether burned brightly, eliminating every ounce of darkness in the void¡­ the escape of a single blot caused what should have been a sound of triumph to turn into gasps of despair.

    Kuzon and Edward looked above them, their eyes widening in shock as they watched Legris Damien slowly, but inevitably recover his past strength.

    There was one¡­and then three.

    The number was bound to keep increasing, and neither Kuzon nor Edward could stop it¡ªnot after reaching this treshold.

    Using theirbined domains wouldn''t work this time since they had lost the element of surprise.

    Doing so would only give Legris more Aether to devour.

    And what of swiftly jumping in themselves? Killing the limited amounts of Legrises before he could grow even more in number?

    Two things prevented them from taking this route.

    For one, they had just concluded a series of devastating attacks, and thus their bodies were in a current state of recoil. All of this only ured in a few seconds, but that felt like an eternity when against someone like Legris.

    However, even if their recovery¡ªboth from expending so much energy at once and physically exerting themselves¡ªwould be faster than Legris, there was stil the second issue.

    That would be threshold that stood between them and their target.

    Thanks to their previous move, all of space within their dimension was destroyed. If they wanted to exert any form of mobility, they had to utilize the Aether derived from their respective domains to do so.

    The problem lied in the fact that Legris could now cut off the connection of Aether that existed between themselves and him with him with his dark power.

    Not only that, but if they were to force their way through, they would require more Aether. When coupled with their currently recoiling state, it seemed impossible a task to perform at the moment.

    In conclusion, the two of them realized how screwed over they were.

    ''We won''t be able to replicate the n anymore!'' Kuzon''s thoughts echoed as his eyes widened, his frustration palpable.

    Everything was hinging on this strategy, and it had flopped!

    Edward''s face told the same story. Despite his strong will, he too wasn''t blind to the fact that this missed opportunity was going to cost them.

    And so, as the gap between Legris and the duo grew wider, Kuzon bit his lip in an overwhelming scream of desperation

    ''What now?!''

    It came from his very depths, and while he understood there was no point in this¡ªthat he could do nothing but watch in downright terror as their opponent reached the heights of his power¡ªthere was nothing else he could think.

    ''What should we do no¡ª?''

    Before Kuzon could finalize his thoughts, or before anyone could conclude any of their current actions¡­ all of the ''Light'' in the shattered dimension vanished.

    Color was siphoned away, and the world was transformed into a monochromic canvas that grew dark within a sh.

    And within this lightless world, an entity emerged.

    The entity move faster than anyone could percieve¡ªfaster than the eye could ever dream of processing.

    However, with the absence of light, not even the eyes could see this person who appeared.

    In the entire world of darkness¡­ this being was the only one who shone so brightly, that everything around seemed vile inparison.

    And within a sh¡­ it was all finished.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    Brightness returned, and Kuzon was able to percieve reality once more. The same applied to Edward.

    What they saw at that moment was a miracle in the form of a person.

    All the Legrises that had begun to manifest were as good as nonexistent, and thest of them was hanging on the glowing hand of the intruder, his lifeless body dangling like a puppet without strings.

    Without any moment toprehend the event, it was already over.

    "Are the both if you okay?" The voice of the one who had just arrived rattled both Kuzon and Edward to their bones.

    It was sweet-sounding, a feminine voice that felt like the call of an angel. It forced the two boys to peer into the dimming light and see the smile of their savior.

    It was none other than one of their very allies¡­

    "M-Miss Aloe?"

    ¡­ Aloe Vida.

    "I''m sorry I arrivedte. Once I felt the dimensional barrier to my world shattered, I knew something was up, so I arrived as quickly as I could."

    It was unbelievable how swift she was.

    Kuzon and Edward had just recently shattered the dimensional barrier that insted this world when they used their trump cards on Legris.

    This most likely affected the surrounding dimensions¡ªAloe Vida''s world being one of them.

    It was amazing how¡ªin just the few seconds that had psed¡ªshe was able to travel a universe''s length of speed, and defeat the five or six Legrises that were forming.

    "H-how did you do it?" Kuzon muttered, unable to understand or ept such a conclusion.

    He was d to be saved, but¡­ something about this situaton felt so underwhelmingly frustrating that he had to clench his fist to hide the burning rage he had towards himself.

    "Pardon?" Aloe''s voice was gentle, as always, but Kuzon could not help his climbing emtional state.

    "How were you able to beat them so easily?!"

    "Ahh¡­ I see¡­" Aloe''s gaze rested on Kuzon as she spoke. "That''s how it seemed, isn''t it?"

    "What are you talking about?"

    "I mean, it appeared as if I ended it in just a split-second, right? Well, I can understand that. But¡­ it took me at least an hour to fully grasp the properties of the ck energy around Legris, as well as a way to bypass it."

    "H-huh¡­?" Both Edward and Kuzon both let out in surprise.

    "What seemed like a mere fraction of a second to you two¡­ was a very long time for me." Aloe''s words echoed in their ears, causing their eyes to widen even further.

    "That is the nature of myplete Original Magic, [Aurora Vidalis: Lightless World]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

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 Chapter 1228 The Present Darkness

    Chapter 1228 The Present Darkness

    Aurora Vidalis.

    That was the name of Aloe''s Original Magic, and it involved taking in the light from her immediate vicinity to increase her speed and power while decreasing the speed and power of her targets.

    It was a simple, but vastly efficient technique¡ªone that fulfiled all the major aspects of any powerful Original Magic.

    However, it was iplete.

    [Aurora Vidalis] was yet to be perfected due to one major reason, and that was the instability of the Magic.

    It was due to this very instability that Aloe required a secondary Core to store the Light and Energy she absorbed, and why she could notpletely rid the world around her of light.

    The range was also very limited as well.

    However, thanks to the tribtions she experienced while undergoing the trials given by the Constetions, Aloe Vida was finally able toplete this technique.

    "[Aurora Vidalis: Lightless World]"

    This new and improved Original Magic covered all the shorings of her iplete ability, allowing motion or any ounce of kic energy to shut down the moment it was activated.

    Time and space would still exist, but they would be irrelevant to her solely based on the speed she attained using her Original Magic.

    A single second could seem like hours to her, and while time would continue to proceed with or without her influence, she would be much faster than conventional time.

    The result of this made Aloe an absolute moster¡ªinvincible in a world without light.

    A world where only she could shine.

    *******

    "I won''t pretend like I understand that. I''m just d that the threat has been neutralized¡­"

    Edward was itching his head as he spoke, a hot sigh of relief proceeding from his lips. He was genuinely d that they had managed to eliminate Legris once and for all.

    Of course, everyone else was. However, Kuzon still had a troubled expression on his face.

    His thoughts could be anyone''s guess.

    ''She has reached such a level already? Unbelievable!''

    Kuzon was recoiling from Aloe''s short exnation, and he found it unbelievably absurd.

    ''Without Leo''s help¡­ would I even stand a chance?'' It seemed petty, selfish, and even downright despicable, that Kuzon was having these thoughts¡­ but he could not help it!

    He felt left behind!

    Especially now that he was severely handicapped, with no seeming prospect of recovery.

    Beads of sweat appeared on his face, and he forced his lips not to curl downwards. Sure, he was d to have survived Legris, and he was happy that they had won.

    But¡­ recing all the fear from before was disappointment in himself.

    Kuzon, in all his life, had never felt so weak.

    ''After everything¡­ is this really it?''

    Unlike most people, he already had a head start in life. He had the perfect Magic Items, he had a superior bloodline, and he was trained in advance Magic since he was very little.

    Everything felt so easy for him, and there was no one who stood even close to be his match.

    However, the certainty of time began to set in, and he slowly found himself stagnating.

    No, that wasn''t quite right.

    He was indeed growing stronger than he was before. However¡­ everyone else was growing more.

    That was the problem.

    His head start no longer mattered. His superior bloodline, or knowledge, or Items¡­ none of those mattered in the grand scheme of things.

    Among his allies and peers¡­ he was just one other person.

    And nothing made him feel less significant.

    "Haa¡­" Kuzon leaked out a sigh as his lips organically curled upward.

    He looked at both Edward and Aloe, noticing how they stared at him with slight confusion. After all, he was smiling as broadly as he could while tears fell from his eyes.

    Even he could not exin his current emotional state.

    However, if there was something that was certain from all that swirled within him, it was this conviction¡ª

    "I will not lose again."

    And upon hearing these words he uttered, whether they understood what he meant or not, Edward and Aloe both smiled and nodded.

    "Me neither."

    "Right back at you."

    As the voices of all three of them echoed within the void¡­ something else oozed into it.

    "Haha¡­ how quaint."

    The instant the voice sounded, the trio swiftly turned in the direction of the voice of malevolence, and their eyes were greeted with a sight that should have been impossible.

    Wrapped in darkness, almost as if donning it like a robe, was the man they had just defeated.

    "L-Legris Damien?!"

    There was only one of him, and he was standing so confidently still, making himself an obvious target for anyone to eliminate.

    However, Kuzon and his allies knew better than to fall for that.

    "A little victory celebration after defeating the big bad¡­ or so it was supposed to be. Well, what now?" Legris'' smile curled to form a crooked toothy grin that showed nothing but pure wickedness.

    "The big bad isn''t dead yet."

    "How is this possible? We definitely eliminated all variants you had! You shouldn''t be able to respawn! Or¡­ was my theory wrong?!" Kuzon blurted out swiftly, almost as if talking to himself rather than Legris.

    "No. Your theory was on the mark. It was so urate that you surprised me a lot, Kuzon. It seems I didn''t give you enough credit." Legris chuckled softly.

    "Kill all my variants, and I cease to exist temporarily, and then I respawn randomly, usually a considerable distance away from myst location."

    In essence, he should have been gone from the Constetion Realm.

    So why was he here?!

    "You only made one slight miscalction, Kuzon. And now, it''s going to cost you everything."

    "What miscalction?" Kuzon yelled, veins already appearing on his forehead. "I made sure to check everywhere in the dimension to see if you had any other variants. You didn''t!"

    He had exercised all due diligence. By all calctions, Legris should have been defeated already!

    So why¡­?!

    "Ah, I suppose you are right. However, even your diligent n had a particr w, an oversight stemming from an assumption that has gued you since our first encounter."

    Kuzon narrowed his gaze as he struggled to understand Legris'' words, all to no avail.

    What was he missing? What sort of mistake could he have made? What chink in his absolute n was left unchecked?

    He didn''t know! He genuinely couldn''t figure it out.

    "It''s quite simple, Kuzon. Your calctions of my limitations¡ªthe number of variants I can manifest at a time, and the elimination of all my variants leading to my demise¡­ you were on the mark there, but not really."

    "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN?!" Kuzon''s voice echoed out loud as he clenched his fist in sheer annoyance.

    What in the world could he have missed?

    "Just because I appeared in this dimension¡­ doesn''t mean I am restricted to it."

    The moment Legris said this, Kuzon''s eyes bulged.

    At that point¡­ it all clicked.

    "It seems you have finally realized it, Young Midas." Legris'' dangerous smile, and his amused words further established the conclusion.

    "From the very begining¡­ I was already in other dimensions."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

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 Chapter 1229 The One Who Wins

    Chapter 1229 The One Who Wins

    Once he heard Legris'' words, Kuzon finally recognized his mistake.

    No¡­ was it truly fair to call it one?

    Kuzon had thought that Legris had only appeared in Z''ark''s training dimension, killing the Dragon King in the process.

    His entire n had relied on that as its foundation.

    He used his [Marite Flies] to scour the single dimension, and everything he considered was confined to that single location.

    And that happened to be why his n failed.

    "In the end, you did what I wanted you to do. You exerted yourselves while expending so much time chasing after silhouttes." Legris smiled at all three of them.

    No matter how they sliced it, all they had done thus far had been a waste of time.

    They weren''t containing Legris'' attacks in the slightest. If he was right, then the chances of him atttacking other areas, and even absorbing the Aether there was high.

    If that was the case, then¡­

    "Hahaha! I like this. The expressions on your faces when you realize the despair that awaits¡­ the futility of your efforts."

    Legris opened up his arms, as if weing an embrace. His carefree attitude could only stem from justified confidence, and the trio knew this too.

    Even if they killed the Legris before, he could respawn endlessly.

    They were still trapped!

    "I suppose it''s time to end this charade." Legris'' lips widened.

    Suddenly, his eyes ckened, and his entire skin followed suit. Everything about him turnedpletely dark, giving him an entirely different look.

    Before long, he was a walking blot of darkness in the nk ne that seemed to stretched indefinitely.

    "Right now, I intend to absorb all of you in one fell swoop. Struggle all you want, but¡­"

    The broadened smile of Legris revealed his ck teeth, his darkened gums, and his entire insides already upied with it.

    Everything filled with pith ck darkness.

    Aloe realized instantly that her Original Magic was never going to work on him. Plus, Edward and Kuzon were smart enough to know they were outssed.

    Now that things hade to this, the best thing to do was escape.

    "... It is toote for anything else."

    As Legris'' voice rang with finality, an ominous warble echoed around the space, and dark particles filled the air almost instantly.

    "I win."

    As he said that, Legris exploded, releasing his darkness throughout the entire space.

    ~BWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The speed, power¡­ the overall veracity of the ck explosion submerged everything in its darkness like a flood that had cut loose.

    Nothing was spared.

    ¡­ Not even the trio who stood frozen amidst the deep murk.

    Edward, Kuzon, and Aloe instantly knew it within themselves¡­ that they were not going to survive!

    *********

    [Moments Earlier]

    It was freezing.

    The unforgiving and harsh weather of this world¡­ this entire ne of existence¡­ was brutally cold.

    The chill filled literally everything that existed¡ªeven the invisible particles in air, down to their smallest levels.

    ciers danced all around, and the world was painted in a hue of white and fluid colors of blue decorated the tips and the deeper frozenyers.

    Snow and ice decorated thendscape, and it was practically all anyone could see for as long as this world stretched.

    However, despite the state of this ce¡ªas well as the cool colors that pervaded it¡ªthere was one exception.

    In a world of absolute frost, the flickering mes of someone shone brightly. Warm colors danced around the crimson-haired woman as she sat in meditation.

    She sat at the peak of the highest mountain, her legs crossed in a form of meditation while her two palms were tly joined together.

    Her mes were by no means massive, and they hardly covered her immediate vicinity. Instead, the crimson fires were centered around her body, protecting her from the harsh reality that awaited her if she let up for even a second.

    Any slight miscalction on her part would lead to her instant petrification.

    As a result, Serah Crimson maintained her steady mes, unfazed by the storm that surrounded her.

    Until¡­

    "What are you doing here¡­" Serah''s lips parted, releasing a deep fog of steam as words filled the air.

    She slowly opened her eyes, shifting it to her far left.

    Behind her, there was someone present, and while he was by no means too close to her, he wasn''t too far off either.

    "... Legris Damien?"

    The embers of darkness that clung to his cloak felt like flickering mes of their own, though not as bright as Serah''s burning ones, it seemed they protected him enough from the unforgiving world around him.

    As his dark brown hair fluttered with the harsh winds, he too opened his lips to speak.

    "As expected. You spotted me in no time."

    "You could have tried to take me out by surprise¡­ instead of simply standing there."

    Legris shrugged at Serah''s words, both his handsfortably embedded in the pockets of his dark trenchcoat.

    "Ambush was never going to work on you. Even I know that."

    The corners of his lips widened even further as he stared at her back. Her hair, unlike his, remained stable. Nothing about the violent winds, or the terrible frost seemed to affect her in any way.

    Like a single candle stuck in a never-ending blizzard, yet unbothered by the storm, so was Serah Crimson in her meditative state.

    "There''s simply no surprising you, after a¡ª"

    "I am surprised." Serah interrupted Legris, her voice so firm that they could almost make anyone jump in fright.

    "I am surprised that you were able to make it here, the Realm of the Constetions." As she said this, Serah ceased her meditation, finally moving her body.

    "If you are here, it means something has gone wrong and the Constetions are unable to interfere."

    She slowly rose to her feet, her expression calmer than ever.

    "I suppose it then falls on me toplete the task¡­" As Serah turned to Legris, watching him make the same calm smile he always gave, she did not falter in the slightest.

    No. Nothing but resolve oozed from her depths.

    "... And eradicate you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

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 Chapter 1230 Discussion Amidst Choas [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1230 Discussion Amidst Choas [Pt 1]

    The frosty air was heavy with tension.

    Anyone present in this realm was bound to have racing hearts and itchy throats¡­ that is if they weren''t already dead thanks to the overwhelming chill.

    Unaffected by such environmental factors were Serah and Legris, who simply faced each other with their respective expressions.

    Almost the way crimson mes were wrapped around the former, darkness clung to thetter''s clothing. They both ignored everything else around them, only staring at each other with eyes that showed no fear or difort.

    Simply resolve.

    "Rx, Serah. Rx. I just want to talk for a bit." Legris finally broke the silence, a brief chuckle escaping his lips.

    "What?"

    Before Serah could say any more, he plopped to the frosty mountain''s surface, sittingfortably while still looking at her.

    "See? I just want to talk."

    Even though he said this, Serah remained immensely wary, her brows furrowing slightly as he tried to solidify his harmless persona.

    "Come on, Serah. For old time''s sake?" His smiling lips and smooth words tugged at her, but her resolute expression remained the same.

    "I do not remember the old times that you mention."

    With a response as swift as that, she cemented her own position. The moment those words traveled to Legris, a slight frown tugged at his lips.

    "Tch. I see. So Neron told you nothing, huh? Typical of him, wouldn''t you say?"

    If Legris had expected some sort of reaction from Serah after he mentioned the name of her husband, then he was only met with nothing but disappointment.

    Serah''s expression remained unchanged despite what he said.

    "It seems you have also learned his habit, Serah. Hiding things from your allies and closest friends." Legris'' smile deepened as he raised his brows knowingly.

    "Like the fact that you are pregnant."

    ~WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    The moment Legris uttered those words, Serah''s mes grew higher in ferocity. Their intensity spread beyond her immediate surroundings, burning all the ice that decoarated the world around her.

    Her face also underwent quite a bit of development, as a deep frown now reced the stoic expression he had just moments before.

    "Haha! You''re probably wondering how I know that, but¡­ let''s just say you can''t fool me." Legris continued to be calm despite the intense pressure that was building up in front of him.

    "What do you know?"

    Serah''s voice was low, but the weight behind it was so threatening that not even the flippant Legris could ignore her.

    "I know Neron is the father. I also know you''ve been hiding it for years now¡­ most likely ever since you noticed the signs of your pregnancyafter his disappearance."

    "You mean after you sent him to a different world." Serah growled almost as soon as he concluded his statement.

    "Ah, so it''s true. You aren''t denying it, after all."

    Legris gave a wry smile and shrugged, almost as if he was nonchnt about the entire thing.

    "If I had to guess, I''d say you enlisted the help of the Elves¡­ no, probably just Aurora, the Elf Queen. She taught you the method female Elves use to manipte their bodies and the bodies of their offsprings."

    Elves naturally had special bodies, and they could perform wonders with it. Even though Legris was being so vague and unspecific, it seemed he was hitting the spot due to how Serah''s face twitched.

    "So, for all these years¡­ you''ve hid your child in your womb, most likely keeping it in suspended animation. That''s quite a feat, if I do say so myself."

    "How do you know all these things?"

    "A child born from Neron, the Singrity, and Serah Crimson, the strongest Grand Mage¡­ just what kind of beast will the two of you birth?"

    "I asked you how¡ª"

    "And then the fact that you''ve kept the child in stasis, basically bathing it with so much Aether¡­ I can only imagine how powerful it is now, after marinating in power for ten years."

    "LEGRIS, I ASKED YOU A QUESTION!"

    The roar Serah made caused the blizzard aroun to instantly depart. Everything parted ways for her voice, and even the mountain they both stood on shivered in response.

    "A-ah, I apologize. It seemed I got carried away by the prospects¡­" Legris chuckled nervously, both his arms raised up as if in surrender.

    Serah''s frown showed how unamused she was by his theatrics, forcing him to drop them instantly.

    "What did you ask me again? Ah¡­ how I know about all this¡­" He murmured, rubbing his chin with one hand.

    "I guess I can see your child, or rather¡­ I can sense it. It is an ''entity'', so I can notice it. As for the other things I said, they were my best guesses based on your personality and circumstances. And it seems I was on the mark."

    Serah didn''t say anything after this. Perhaps she was having an internal debate on whether to believe Legris or not.

    However, just as she remained in her mncholy, his words appeared once more.

    "I still do not understand why you chose Neron."

    His words were fleeting, but something about them seemed to hint at disappointment¡­ or was it sadness?

    It was difficult tot tell.

    "He is a selfish man who is obsessed with his goals. Even back then, you¡­ ah, forgive me. You do not know of the times that no longer exist." Legris smiled, almost as if he felt pity for Serah.

    Perhaps he did. Or¡­ maybe this was all another ruse.

    "Despite ignoring you, avoiding you, and belittling your feelings for him for so long¡­ he finally epted your love, and suddenly that makes it all okay."

    A short sigh escaped Legris'' lips as he looked at Serah with what could only be described as sincere eyes¡ªat least, the closest someone like him could get to it.

    "Serah¡­ Neron isn''t a good person to you. And you know it."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

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 Chapter 1231 Discussion Amidst Chaos [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1231 Discussion Amidst Chaos [Pt 2]

    Within the vast, nigh infinite branches of an entire tree of existence¡­ a single existence was honored as the chosen one.

    Neron Kaelid.

    He was special from birth, the one whom Aether herself blessed with glory.

    He possessed immense power, excelling at Magic and so many other aspects that required even geniuses to offer a bulk oftheir dedication to.

    His Original Magic made him even more invincible. He was favored by the Constetions, and that made him the single most important existence within the tree.

    Yet¡­ yet¡­

    "He neglects you, someone who should be his lover." Legris elucidated, his tone as sullen as it was derogatory.

    "He has the ability to see the future, yet he decided to abandon you for ten years. Even after all that, he refused to see you, instead letting Jared and his allies return without him."

    Serah was silent throughout all of this. She wouldn''t¡ªor perhaps couldn''t¡ªgive any words of defence for her husband.

    "He should know you have a child. He can see the future, after all." Legris shrugged once more. "And yet, he still does nothing about it."

    Slowly, the blizzard returned, carrying Legris'' hair as they howled in thend of eternal frost.

    "None of you truly understand¡­ not you, not Jared, not any of you. You have no idea what Neron is and what he is truly capable of."

    Frost began to manifest in the air, filling everything with their indiscriminate chills.

    "You constantly make excuses for him. Even now, you probably are. However, a man like Neron¡­ one who knows all, and also possesses power beyond the level of abundance¡­ requires no excuse." Legris muttered, his eyes falling a little.

    "Neron is not good¡­ and my very existence is proof of that."

    As the final words proceeded from his lips, Legris returned his gaze to Serah, his face now stoic. Expectations filled his eyes, but his pale face hardly showed anything of the sort.

    He just sat there in silence¡­ watching her.

    "I see. Is that all you have to say?" The response he got from Serah was not the one he expected.

    That exined his fallen countenance as he heard her speak.

    "I have lived without him for ten years. I already learned about most of what happened from Jared. I know¡­ Legris." Her voice still did not falter despite the kind of words she was uttering.

    "Still¡ª!"

    "Neron is not a good man? Neron is a terrible lover? Neron is a selfish being who chases after his own ambition? How wrong you are, Legris¡­"

    "What?" Serah''s confident smile, one that remained unfazed by the harsh realities he had just revealed to her, shook Legris.

    His clenched teeth showed that clearly.

    "The mere fact that you are still alive is not proof of his malevolence. At the very least, I do not think so."

    "Then what is it, then? Why would Neron let me live despite the chaos and carnage that will be wrought by my existence? Is it because he can not destroy me? Then what is the use of all this farce? Where is he now? At your darkest hour¡­ the point where you need him most¡­ where is your saviour?!"

    At this point, Legris was fuming. He had slowly lost all hisposure, and it seemed he quickly realized this.

    "I''m sorry for raising my¡ª"

    "I only have two things to say to you concerning what you just said." Serah cut him short, her smile even more solid then it was a few seconds ago.

    "It seems you have an unhealthy fixation on my husband. This obsession of yours¡­ is puzzling."

    For a moment, silence enveloped the area.

    And then¡­

    "What? I only told you¡ª"

    "The second thing I''ll say is this. I do not understand why Neron does what he does, and I will not pretend like I do. I am unsure of why he allows you to perpertrate such evil despite his knowledge and power. I¡­ am sadly too limited to see the end like he can."

    Once more, there was silence.

    "However, I do know this, Legris. You will lose." Serah''s lips curled up wider then ever, her crimson eyes shining brighter than ever.

    "Oh? And how are you so certain?"

    "Neron''s very existence is proof of your defeat. At least, that is what I believe."

    "Well, your belief is bullshit." Legris responded bitterly, his brows furrowing in repressed annoyance.

    "Perhaps. Or¡­ perhaps at the very end of all this, you will fall at Neron''s hands¡­ just as you were supposed to from the start."

    "SHUT UP!"

    This time, it was Legris'' roar that banished the blizzard. A deep frown was well outlined on his face as he rose to his feet, his dark eyes gleaming with disdain.

    "I WILL NOT FALL BY ANYONE''S HANDS! NOT NERON''S, NOT JARED''S¡­ AND MOST CERTAINLY NOT YOURS!"

    His raging voice echoed for a long distance, and the darkness that clung to him began to react erratically.

    "We shall see about that, won''t we?" Serah responded calmly.

    "YOU ALWAYS¡­ haa¡­ you always get under my skin, you know that? I know you do not understand anything, so this was pointless from the start, but¡­ ahh¡­ you are just so annoying! So pathetic!"

    Legris ced a palm on his face, almost as if trying to hide the expression he had on his face at the moment.

    "I told you everything! I told you Neron isn''t a good guy. He doesn''t deserve you¡­ your devotion. And yet, you keep¡­ you just never learn! It''s beyond puzzling and illogical. It''s downright idiotic."

    "Well maybe¡ª"

    "Neron isn''t right for you¡­ or anyone for that matter. He isn''t this perfect man, yet everyone seems to desire him. Aether, the Constetions¡­ you¡­ it makes no sense! He is a selfish, egotistical, and miserable being. He has been, and always will be!"

    After Legris'' long-winded rant, he breathed heavily, his deep re sharply piercing Serah. However, in sharp contrast to all that he represented, Serah was still with her smile.

    "Still¡­" Her soft voice, coupled with the light shades of pink on her face, brightly shone through whatever gloomy darkness Legris had painted.

    At that point, everything faded away.

    "... He is the one I love."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

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 Chapter 1232 Discussion Amidst Chaos [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1232 Discussion Amidst Chaos [Pt 3]

    The silence that followed Serah''s words was deafening.

    The blizzard had long been banished thanks to Legris, and it showed no sign of returning. The frost remained, however, but none of the two parties seemed to notice.

    They only stared at each other in this newfound decorum.

    "Is that so¡­?"

    The smirk on Legris'' face as he asked this was distant, almost distracted. At this point, there was no emotion or emphasis left for him to show.

    His tired eyes only had one thing left to give.

    "I guess I''ll just have to destroy yo¡ª"

    ~WHOOOSSSHH!!!~

    Before Legris concluded his words, Serah swiftly appeared before him, almost like an apparition of sheer horror.

    Her breathtaking speed overwhelmed him, much so that he could not even change his expression in time for her first strike to connect with his body.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    With a powerful blow reverberating throughout the silent world, Serah sent the entire body of Legris bursting with so much pressure and force that it instantly perished, both internally and externally.

    The heat consumed him whole, while his entire body shattered from the inside out.

    ¡­ All in a single moment.

    "About time." Serah grinned widely, her armpletely coated in immensely dense Aether.

    ''Ah¡­ what''s this? Something is eating through my energy¡­?'' Serah swiftly cut off the energy that had been corrupted, preserving the remaining parts, as well as her limb from inevitable corruption.

    ''Is that his power? That ck stuff around him? I''ll have to be careful about how and when I hit him, then¡­''

    Even though Serah had just finished Legris off, her instincts screamed at her that the battle was far from over. As a result, she took a defensive stance and readied herself for Legris'' reappearance.

    There was no way she would be cut off guard.

    "As expected, your battle instincts are still impressive." Legris'' voice suddenly echoed in the vast expanse.

    "But¡­ I wonder¡­"

    "Would that be enough for you this tim¡­?"

    Serah''s brows twitched as her eyes slowly widened as the voices around her began to echo. The smile tugging at her lips widened, but it wasn''t a positive response in the slightest.

    She could feel it¡­ the immense pressure closing in on her.

    A bead of sweat trickled down her face as she finally began to notice dark blots appearing in the sky. They resembled murky ck spheres, but upon closer look, these multiple clusters were birthing people.

    And these people all had the same appearance.

    "Oi¡­ you''ve got to be kidding me." Serah''s grin intensified, and she felt her heart racing uncontrobly.

    Right before her eyes, she saw multiple versions of Legris manifesting.

    They all donned the same thing¡ªthe dark trenchcoat, with their brown hair iling around, and the darkness sticking close to their outfits.

    They numbered at least fifteen, and their numbers seemed to be growing even more.

    ''They''re now neen. What in the world¡­?'' Serah had never heard of Legris being able to bring forth multiple versions of himself.

    Not from Neron, or anyone else for that matter.

    Seeing such a huge number surround her from above caused her racing heart to pick up the pace. The situation had just gotten much deadlier than she had anticipated.

    "I thought about it for a while, and decided¡­" Legris'' voice traveled to Serah''s ears as the horde prepared their assault.

    "¡­ I won''t be going easy on you."

    "I won''t y with you."

    "There''s no point."

    "It''s better I just end this¡­ and you¡­ as quickly as I can."

    Serah found herself chuckling, even while knowing how dangerous her current position was.

    "Oh? Why? What''s with the special treatment?" She responded, also preparing herself for whatever would follow Legris'' response.

    "¡­" For a moment, Legris did not say anything.

    All the versions of him simply looked down on Serah with the same empty eyes.

    And then¡­

    "Who knows? Maybe because you belong to Neron now."

    "Again with Neron. Why are you so obsessed with my husband?" Serah heaved a heavy sigh, one of her brows raised as nonchntly as possible.

    It almost felt like she wasn''t even taking the situation seriously.

    "C-could it be that you¡­ like Neron¡­ that wa¡ª?"

    "WHAT? W-what are you even talking about? When have I ever given that impression?" Legris swiftly burst out.

    Even though he tried to hide it, his pale face exposed the light hues of red that appeared on his cheeks.

    "Pfft! Come on, you don''t have to hide it."

    "No! You''ve got it all wrong. I''m not in love with Neron, or anyone in fact." Legris made his protest, swiftly returning his face to normal.

    "I mean, I can''t me you. Neron is quite the charmer, so I can see why even you might¡­"

    "I told you, you are mistaken!"

    "Still¡­ you have to move on. Neron is mine, and you are mine to kill¡­ at least right now."

    "¡­"

    At this point, Legris said nothing at all. He simply covered his face with his palm, as ifpletely dumbfounded by Serah''s assertion.

    "You never change, huh? Well¡­ I suppose it is indeed meant to be this way." His whisper leaked out, causing Serah''s face to warp slightly in confusion.

    "It is better this way too¡­"

    All of Legris'' variants removed their palms from their faces, their gaze returning to the same stoic kind that he preferred to have.

    "Killing you will hurt Neron. So¡­ I will."

    Wide smiles formed on their faces, and the darkness around them intensified in power. Despite the facade, it was clear that he was being absolutely serious.

    Serah knew this as well, so she gathered all the Aether she could muster and prepared forbat.

    "[Original Magic: Invincible]"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Can Legris get past these Gay Allegations? Haha...

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

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    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1233 Serah Vs Legris [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1233 Serah Vs Legris [Pt 1]

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Brilliant bursts of crimson energy surged from Serah''s position, her body now coated in Aether so dense that it broke the surface tension around her.

    Everything surrounding her warbled and bended, and space copsed the instant it came into contact with her immediate vicinity.

    And the cold? The overflowing cold ceased to exist around her, as everything began to melt, turning into hot steam that filled the area in a fog of white.

    All due to Serah''s Original Magic.

    "It''s been a while I''ve seen that form." Legrismented, his tone showing not even an ounce of intimidation from her transformed state.

    "It won''t do you any good."

    "Not against my power¡­"

    "... Or my overwhelming number."

    It was currently neen against one. The match was not even, to begin with.

    "Hahaha!" The response Serah gave was a loudugh, one that caused the pressure around her to travel even further beyond.

    "Enough talk, Legris. Let''s begin already!"

    ~WHUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    As with the nature of her Original Magic, her Aether climbed to an even higher ce, towering anything that could be considered her limits.

    She was more than ready for the challenge.

    "As you wish."

    ~WHOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    The legion of Legrises charged towards Serah, bing swift blurs as they dived downwards.

    "Now that''s more like it!" Cackling like one afflicted with insanity, Serah began the race¡­ one that was bound to leave everything in utter destruction.

    ''Let''s go!''

    ~WHOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    Sparks of mes burst forth as Serah vanished from her position, her legs dancing at a speed that exceeded the limits of sight.

    Every step she took destroyed the surface which she treaded on, causing the entire mountain to shatter apart in just a few light steps.

    Realizing this, Serah decided to leap to the skies, at least to meet up with her fast approaching adversaries.

    "Hup!"

    As soon as she took off, her crimson legs kicked the air benath her, propelling her upward even further. As space bended at her feet, so did the power that boosted her increase, creating an explosion that sent her flying upward like a reverse meteorite.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    A multitude of Legrises swarmed all around her as soon as she drew close to them, all of them coating their hands with darkness, ready to decimate her with their numbers.

    However¡­

    "Too slow!"

    Twisting her body midair, Serah, twirled around, creating a force that pushed everything and everyone around her away.

    The darkness relentlessly reached out for her, but it only caught her afterimage.

    With only a burst of power, she closed in on one of the scattered Legrises, who was still recoiling from her almighty push.

    No second was wasted on hesitation. Serah sent a straight thrust flying to his head, causing it to shatter to pieces, and by extension, melting everything within and without.

    The result?

    Absolutebustion!

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!~

    In a sh, Serah appeared before her next prey and dealt another blow, but this time with an upper kick right on his jaw.

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    The same spontaneousbustion took ce, killing off the second Legris in a brilliant explosion.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Traversing the already fickle space, Serah easily dodged the charging limbs and dark constructs that Legris directed at her.

    She was just too fast!

    She kicked the air around her, while using [Flight] Magic and an [Anti-Friction] Spell to further improve her speed.

    Compared to her, Legris was sitting ducks.

    Serah evaded thebined assaults of the multiple foes, once again only leaving her afterimage to be dealt with before proceeding to kill the several enemies in her path.

    ''There''s still quite a few more¡­'' Serah thought, looking around her to see so many Legrises, almost as if their numbers had barely decreased since she started the fight.

    She considered using Magic, but after recollecting how the ck energy ate through her Aether, Serah decided against it.

    ''Even now, every time I hit him, a chunk of my Aether is corrupted and needs to be reced.'' He thoughts trailed.

    She was only fortunate that she had so much energyyered and condensed around her, thus guaranteeing her safety.

    ''If physical attacks like this work, then I shouldn''t risk using Magic and wasting energy¡­''

    However, that was when it struck Serah.

    Why was she being so cautious about wasting energy? Why was she so concerned about the corruption that was eating through her Aether?

    She was currently using [Invincible].

    ''My Aether only keeps rising, and my entire output is in overdrive.''

    As long as she kept up her Original Magic, she had more than enough energy to spare!

    "[Invincible Magic: Vermillion Shower]!"

    The moment she activated this Spell, she ascended far above the Legrises that sought to overwhelm her.

    And then the skies darkened.

    The multitude of variant raised their heads, lifting their eyes to the sky to see what was clouded the light. It was only then that they realized the terror that was descending upon them.

    Meteors¡ªall coated in vermillion energy¡ªfilled the vast sky.

    Each meteor had to be the size of a, and there were multiple of them descending upon the vastndscape.

    The frost that covered thend was no more. Instead, burning heat and smokey mist pervaded everything.

    Above all of these things was Serah in her shining form, arms folded as she caused her massive creations to descend.

    "Let''s see how you handle these¡­"

    The meteors quickened their pace, their impact imminent. It was certain that everything would change the moment theynded, and Serah looked forward to it.

    A Spell of this magnitude, one that could eviscerate sr systems and gxies if they went out of hand, was bound to leave severe impact on Serah''s Aether pool.

    However¡­ she hardly felt a thing.

    As a result of her Original Magic, her pool and the energy within it only expanded further, granting her even more power than she previously had.

    In essence¡­

    "I can do this all day!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1234 Serah Vs Legris [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1234 Serah Vs Legris [Pt 2]

    The falling meteors charged at theplete variants of Legris, and all of them equally expressed shock.

    Perhaps it stemmed from a ce of surprise, as none of them expected their target to be so powerful. It could have also been due to joy, considering the amount of Aether they would be able to consume if they absorbed the Spell in its entirety.

    However¡­

    ''It''s too big!'' Legris found all versions of himself panicking.

    The sizes of the meteors were toorge. Plus, while they were created by Magic, their force was definitely real.

    In essence, absorbing all of them would be a tedius use of time¡ªespecially since it wasn''t made up of the purest form of Aether, but instead¡­ it was Serah''s fiery one.

    "I''ll go on the defensive, then."

    Whispering silently to themselves, all neen variants shrouded themselves in their respective cocoons of darkness,pletely cut off from the imminent destruction that was bound to take ce.

    And then¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    ¡­ The DESTRUCTION began.

    Everything in thendscape was wallowed by the plumes of fiery judgment,pletely eviscerating alll that was in the path.

    Thest bit of cold vanished from the world, turning it into aplete hellscape.

    Smoke, crimson embers, and remnants of fire danced in the air as the earth sizzled with destruction.

    Within this devastating canvas of chaos, however, the foes who were engaged in battle remained intact.

    On one end were the group of Legrises who were unaffected by the explosion, all thanks to their formidable defenses. And on the other?

    Well, high above, amidst the clear skies that toppled the smokey world beneath, was Serah Crimson.

    Her arms were folded as she watched the destruction beneath her. Dissatisfaction was etched on her lips, a sigh escaping them.

    "Hmmm¡­" Serah murmured, her gaze flickering. "It seems that wasn''t enough."

    She recognized that Legris remained unaffected thanks to his dark cocoon, a new technique she was just witnessing for the first time.

    It troubled her greatly.

    ''So he can defend himself against Magic Attacks, huh? Even something of this scale¡­'' That was enough to soldify her rationale.

    ''I can use Spells for diversions, maybe. But¡­ I guess that settles it.''

    The only thing she needed to use in order to win was her body. Once Serah realized this, a fearless smile took over and she stared down at the cloud of chaos beneath her.

    ''It''s so quiet here¡­''

    However, the silence was just about to be interrupted. After all,the fight was far from over.

    ~WHUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    All of a sudden, several hands of darkness broke through the smoke and lunged at Serah. They were massive hands, allpletely ckened.

    ''That''s¡­ the same kind of energy Legris oozes out!''Serah''s senses instantly sent her body into overdrive, igniting her motion.

    Fiery mes burst forth from her already crimson form, propelling her even higher above.

    The dark arms wriggled in the air, all chasing after her relentlessly. Their long reaches, along with their flexibility and numbers, made them difficult to evade, but Serah was superior in speed, thus giving her the edge.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    She glided through the air, twisting her body to the sides, and even curling it up at times in other to cleanly avoid even the slightest scratch from the darkness.

    Ascending even further, she could feel something¡­ a barrier that began to slow her down.

    ''Ahh¡­'' Serah smiled in realization. ''I''m reaching the edge of this dimension.''

    She pushed past the surface tension that tried to stop her, charging straight for the barrier itself. Unsurprisingly, the hands did the same, all of them fast approaching her.

    Still ascending at a fast pace, Serah rolled in the air, evading the assault of multiple attacks at once. As she concluded this, she finally found the sole of her feet reaching the barrier that separated her dimension from the others.

    In that split second, she had two options.

    One was to escape using this pathway and meet up with another ally. Combining their abilities, there was a good chance that they could defeat the enemy together.

    It was a viable n, but there was a fatal w associated with it.

    ''I don''t know who I''ll meet on the other side. If it''s someone weaker than me, then they''d only hold me back.''

    In such a situation, her ally would be a liability rather than an asset.

    Since there was no way for her to know for sure, it was going to be random. Serah instantly realized that she could not afford that.

    That left the second option.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Using the barrier as a propeller, and the surface tension as a boost, Serah allowed herself to descend from her heights at unfathomable speeds.

    ''I just have to toughen this out and beat him myself.''

    None of the dark hands even stood a chance to catch up to her, so she kept falling in a straight line. Everything became a blur, and for a moment, time seemed to be nothing but a lie.

    Once she plunged into the smoke, she used the pressure of her Aether to clear it all out since it obscured her view.

    ''You''re in the way!''

    ~WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Once she did this, however¡­ she was met with the most unexpected sight.

    ''What?!''

    Of course, she met neen Legrises, all of whom were still controlling the dark hands that were still high up in the air. However, besides them, the sight of something else shocked her to her core.

    ''A-another group?!''

    There was a second group of Legrises, about ten, who seemed to be waiting for her in the darkness.

    "Time to die, Serah!" The Legris variants smiled, stretching their hands towards her.

    The darkness around them red up, and it all charged at her with the same ferocity she had as she descended.

    The collision was inevitable, and that meant one thing.

    Serah''s defeat was assured.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1235 A Helping Wish

    Chapter 1235 A Helping Wish

    There was no escape.

    Serah''s speed as she descended was well matched with the encroaching darkness that was closing in on her.

    She couldn''t turn back as well, since the neen hands from above were rapidly descending to catch up to her as well.

    The way it looked, her forefront and behind were already danger zones.

    ''What about my nks?!''

    Those were not even options at this point. All neen variants of Legris had specifically divied themselves into two groups, upying her lef and right nks. Not only that, but they also had one hand free, and those hands were pointing at her.

    Darkness flickered on them, and it was clear that any move in their direction would lead to injury.

    Any position she decided to go to would result in damage, so Serah found herself with only one solution.

    ¡­ Choosing the direction that dealt the least harm.

    So far, she knew the darkness ate through her Aether at a remarkable pace, and that it corrupted her energy beyond recovery, unless she got rid of the corrupted version quickly. If all neen hands got a hold of her, they would corrupt her faster than she could ger rid of them.

    That was an automatic loss.

    The darkness that would soon explode from the ten Legrises beneath her also had the same level of danger.

    If such a concentrated st was able to connect, she was most likely going to die.

    ''That leaves my nks¡­''

    The problem with either option was that she had no idea what they had in store for her. They also seemed like the most obvious options, but her instincts kept ringing danger anytime she considered them as alternatives.

    Once again, Serah realized how trapped she was.

    ''Damnit! If I knew this would happen I would have properly learned teleportation.''

    As the attacks closed in on her, and with her unable to make a choice, Serah decided to brace the storm as it approached her.

    "[Vermillion Shell]!"

    A projectedyer of pure vermillion suddenly covered her in an arc, almost like an umbre. It shielded her face and most of her upper body from the st that was approaching.

    Whether it would be enough to brace the darkness while she tried her best to evade the rest of it was up for debate.

    She could only take her chances.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!~

    The darkness erupted, instantly closing the gap between Serah and the ten Legrises. It ate through all things in its path, including the highly condensed barrier that Serah just generated.

    Everything was taken in, and Serah was next.

    However¡­

    ~WHISH!~

    ¡­ She suddenly vanished.

    For a moment, there was silence, and all ten Legrises looked at each other in surprise¡ªsame as the neen who had the same expression.

    They had designed the perfect trap, only for their prey to vanish right when she was about to be destroyed.

    This confusion, however, onlysted for a second. As soon as they recovered from it, all the variants gazed above them, and in a far corner in the sky two people stood.

    Among these two was Serah Crimson, perfectly safe, expressing both relief and surprise.

    Who could me her?

    Even the Legrises were surprised by the current situation¡ªor more specifically, the presence of the second person in the sky.

    She had shiny silver hair, with glowing blue eyes and an stoic face. Her apparel was a pure white gown, with hints of blue frolicking around.

    She was currently in an embrace with Serah, and while the both of them were currently stagnant in the air, Legris remained hesitant to attack.

    At least¡­ not yet.

    "Maria Helmsworth, huh? Seems like another yer has arrived." He murmured to himself.

    "What to do now¡­ ?"

    ******

    Serah''s widened eyes were wellplemented by her slightly gaping lips.

    "I-I''m alive¡­?"

    Surprised couldn''t begin to exin how she was currently feeling. Not only was she saved from immediate death, but her protege¡ªMaria Helmsworth¡ªwas the one who saved her.

    It was a shocking thing to experience all at once.

    "That was a close one! I''m so happy I arrived in time." Maria''s booming voice betrayed her stoic face, but Serah was able to get the idea instantly.

    "H-how¡­?"

    "Wish! I desperately wished for it! I was afraid my Constetion abilities wouldn''t work because of the interference I started experiencing, but it worked well enough for you."

    Once again, despite being very thrilled by the results, Maria remained lull in her expression. It almost felt like she was a doll.

    "A-ah, I see."

    "O-oh¡­ sorry for my expression, Master Serah. I haven''t moved any of my facial muscles in so long. It''ll take some time to adjust¡­"

    Serah didn''t think Maria couldpletely me that on herck of emotional disy. Still, she was able to nod in acknowledgment.

    "Well, thanks. I would have been toast if it hadn''t been for you."

    "Don''t be so modest. I''m sure you would have done fine without me." Maria''s words made Serah''s heart sting a little.

    ''Well¡­ I would have lost an arm and a considerable part of my body, but¡­ yeah, I could probably have survived it.''

    Still, what would have happened after that? Facing twenty-nine enemies by herself while handicapped was suicide.

    She was more than happy to have Maria with her.

    ''She''s not a burden.''

    Even though Serah didn''t mention it, she could tell just by staring at her protege.

    ''She''s strong!''

    Most likely even stronger than she was!

    ''Her training with her Constetion must have paid off.'' Serah smiled, finally dislodging from Maria''s embrace.

    Thetter seemed a little hesitant to let her go, but she did so without much resistance. It was awkward at first, but once the two women dislodged from each other, their eyes met, and they swiftly arrived at an understanding.

    "We can catch upter." Serah muttered.

    "Yeah. We need to take care of Legris first, right?"

    Serah nodded, truly impressed that Maria could suppress her curiousity and other emotions she had to be feeling for the sake of the mission.

    After all, even though she had beenposed throughout her entire exchange with Legris, she was also in the dark about his sudden arrival in the Constetion Realm.

    There was a time and ce for everything, though.

    And now¡­ now was the time for action.

    "I''ll follow your lead, Master Serah." Maria''s words echoed with determination, and that caused a surge of pride within Serah.

    "Those ck things around him consume any Aether in their path. Magic doesn''t work on him, so¡­ ah¡­ hold on¡­"

    It was at this point that Serah realized a fatal truth that she hadn''t taken into consideration since she saw Maria.

    "You¡­ your forte is Magic, right?"

    "Yes. Why¡­ ah¡­"

    Maria also realized it the moment she remembered Serah''s earlier statement.

    Legris was the very antithesis to Spells and Magic-Based attacks. In essence, Maria''s presence here was the very thing Serah feared from the start.

    She was dead weight.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1236 Mariaâ€™s Chance

    Chapter 1236 Maria¡¯s Chance

    "Ahh¡­"

    Maria felt her heart sink the moment all the pieces beganing together.

    She had gotten the major gist of the situation from Virgo, her Constetion, but that didn''t mean shepletely understood Legris and his abilities.

    It also didn''t help that her connection with Virgo was on the fritz, so she couldn''t properly utilize her Constetion''s powers, or evenmunicate with her smoothly.

    She only happened to arrive in Serah''s dimension because she desperately wished for it. When she did, and saw that Serah was in danger, she also instantly wished for her salvation.

    These two consecutive wishes¡ªone which transcended the barriers of dimensions, and the other that forcefully saved Serah from certain doom¡ªwere very intense uses of her abilities, especially given the current situation.

    She couldn''t always rely on that ability, which meant she had to suppliment it with her own capabiltiies.

    Unfortunately¡­

    "Magic doesn''t work on Legris¡­"

    Those words echoed in Maria''s mind as she considered the situation.

    She was no good at Martial Arts, so Magic was all she had going for her. Close quarters Magic Combat was also out of it since she was more effective in long-range battles.

    In conclusion, she had be a liability on the battlefield.

    "I know what you''re thinking. Don''t you dare think that way, you hear me?" Maria''s eyes widened as Serah''s words sharply woke her from her thoughts.

    "We don''t have the luxury of doubting your abilities right now."

    Serah''s face disyed utter seriousness as she spoke. Her gaze was fixed on the Legrises beneath them, but it was clear that her focus was on Maria.

    "It can''t  be helped that your abilities follow a particr path. However, that should not lead to despair. Instead, find a route in which your abilities can be useful in this situation."

    Serah was well versed in offensive Magic, but she knew her limits inmonce or more versatile Spells.

    That was why she embraced her destructive nature and dealt the most damage in fights that required it. However, having been in situations where brute strength wasn''t enough to win, she had also used her intelligence to be more versatile in her approach.

    That was what she needed from Maria at this moment.

    A way to use Magic against an opponent whose darkness prevented him from being damaged with Magic.

    "Can you do that?"

    As the question echoed in Maria''s head, her brain instantly went into overdrive.

    All the doubts that had begun to umte dispersed, leaving room for her thoughts to freely manifest.

    The conclusion was simple.

    With a broad smile on her face, Maria gazed hard at the dozens of foes that stood before her and her mentor, having only one thing to say.

    "I can!"

    ******

    ''Surely they''ve realized they''re at a disadvantage now¡­''

    Legris silently watched the two women who seemed to be getting ready forbat.

    He reckoned they would be using Telepathic Magic tomunicate with each other, or perhaps [Resonance], but that didn''t make their plight any less predictable.

    ''Maria is the weak link among the two of them. Her over reliance on Magic makes her the perfect prey.''

    The problem was Serah.

    She was still too fast for him to properly intercept, and Legris knew it was impossible for him to seed in using the same trap from earlier.

    He had to think of something else.

    ''But, if Maria ends up rescuing her likest time, it''ll end up being another frustrating bust.''

    That meant the most optimal method he could use in order to defeat his enemies was by first taking out Maria, while keeping Serah upied.

    With Maria eliminated, he could use Serah''s shock and grief to his advantage and catch her off guard.

    Even in a situation where Serah wasn''t distracted by Maria''s elimination, Legris reckoned he would be able to overwhelm her with his numbers if he positioned himself well.

    ''I just need to cage her in, and then¡ª''

    ~WHUSH!~

    The next thing Legris was was Serah''s face directly in front of his.

    Her brilliant crimson eyes shone like rubies, and her wild smile was enough to drive anyone crazy.

    The fact that she had suddenly appeared in front of him with no signs of spatial distortions or even distance closure from her part made Legris flustered beyond words.

    His thoughts came to a halt, and his body jerked backwards.

    "W-what the¡ª?!"

    ~BOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    That variant of Legris instantly exploded violently, it''s bones and flesh eviscerated by her powerful blow.

    Before any of the twenty-eight could even move in response to Serah''s sudden appearance, she vanished from her position and appeared before the next Legris.

    "W-wai¡ª!"

    ~BOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    He too erupted without being able toplete his words.

    ~FWISH~

    Serah vanished once again, soon appearing right behind another random Legris.

    He could not see her blood bing as his skull was crushed by her powerful downward chop.

    The only sound that proceeded from his position was that of his body being torn apart by the pressure of r powerful attack.

    ~WHISH!~

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    ~WHOOSH~

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    ~FWISH!~

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    Like whispers lost to the wind, followed by deafening roars of demolition, Serah kept up her consistent but random path of carnage.

    None of the Legrises knew what was happening, and her overwhelming speed was too much to keep up with at this point.

    Being ughtered mercilessly pushed them to a point of desperation, and that was when they stared above them.

    ''It''s her¡­ she''s the one behind this!'' They all looked at Maria Helmsworth.

    She appeared to be concentrating her energy, and Legris instantly linked it to Serah''s teleportation.

    "Serah can''t use spatial Magic, and since Maria was able to teleport her to safety earlier it only makes sense that she''s the culprit.''

    Legris still found it strange that there was no sign of spatial interference before and after each teleportation, but he chalked it down to her Constetion''s ability and decided to cease their teamwork.

    ''I have to kill her¡­ and fast!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1237 Dark Curtainâ€™s Fall

    Chapter 1237 Dark Curtain¡¯s Fall

    ~BOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    The deafening st caused by Serah killing yet another variant seemed to be the signal for Legris.

    At least a dozen versions of himself abandoned all concerns with Serah, taking only one entity as a priority at the moment.

    ''Maria Helmsworth!'' Legris screamed internally.

    The several variants stretched out their darkened hands at Maria, lunging them in her direction without a moment''s notice.

    They shrouded themselves in darkness, thus improving their speed and defenses, just in case any of them were attacked by Serah.

    ''Still¡­ Serah is busy with the others. I only have one shot at this!''

    Maria seemed to be in deep concentration since she was behind Serah''s spontaneous teleportation.

    Theck of focus made her a perfect target.

    ''There might be some measure of defense erected to protect her, but that won''t stop me.''

    The several darkened hands charged at Maria, all of them targeting various parts of her body in order to swiftly corrupt and end her as swiftly as possible.

    And then¡­

    ''Haha!''

    ¡­ They met their target.

    The hands grabbed Maria and apparently even ripped into pieces.

    She turned into nothing but darkness¡ªdust that had no form or meaning.

    Legris had taken in whatever Aether she had to offer, rendering her nonexistent in the world as a consequence.

    However¡­

    ''Hold on. Something is off. Why isn''t there¡ª?''

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    The sound of the distant explosions getting closer suddenly caught Legris'' attention, and before any of his variants realized it, all the several other versions keeping Serah busy were already destroyed.

    In a sh, she appeared in their midst, still using the same teleportation they were supposed to have gotten rid of.

    ''A-ahh¡­!''

    At this point, it dawned on Legris that he had been fooled.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    He hadn''t taken in or eliminated Maria, but a mere duplicate at best.

    It was no wonder that he couldn''t obtain any Constetion Essence from her when he devoured the body.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    Instead, he had been intentionally lured to target Maria, while reducing his focus and defenses against Serah, allowing her to eliminate more of his variants than she would have normally been able to.

    Now that she had cleared over twenty of his variants within a second, it seemed barely possible for him topete with her attack speed and veracity.

    ''Especially when I do not know where that brat is!'' Legris gritted his teeth and looked around him.

    For some reason, he was unable to detect her.

    ''Did she use some sort of Magic to do so? Maybe something about her Constetion''s Representation?'' It irked Legris, but in the end he had to chalk it up to that.

    And if he was to settle for said conclusion, it would be a waste of time and resources to chase after Maria¡ªespecially when Serah was gaining on him.

    ''Serah was my original target. Aided by Maria or not, I should still be able to kill her if I try.''

    And so¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    ¡­ As thest explosion echoed in Legris'' ears, signaling the death of his twenty-fifth variant, he clenched his teeth and decided to kick things up a notch.

    "[F niatruC kraD]"

    Instantly, the entire domain that seemed to be simmering in Serah''s heat became enveloped in darkness.

    It felt like someone had cast a thick nket on the sky, blocking all forms of light and radiation in the world.

    ''This consumes a lot, but I suppose it''ll take this much to finally eliminate you¡­''

    The dark barrier that now seemed to pervade the entire world oozed malevolent energy that only Legris could provide.

    It suddenly felt like the ck energy that coursed through Legris now filled the world around him.

    "Haha¡­ what now?"

    "Serah Crimson."

    "Maria Helmsworth."

    "How long will youst?"

    "Will you survive?"

    "I wonder¡­?"

    Suddenly, more Legrises seemed to pop out of nowhere, leading up to a total of twenty.

    It was a smaller number than before, but considering the corrosive effects of the darkness that now filled the realm, it was overkill.

    Multiple Legrises had appeared in a world dominated by them.

    At this point, even the spontaneous Serah stopped her vanishing act and conserved her Aether by shrouding herself in dense Aether.

    Her Invincible Form seemed to be holding up quite well, but was it not a matter of time to decipher how long she wouldst before his darkness seeped in?

    Right beside Serah was Maria, who seemed to be within a bubble that also seemed to be fighting the ck corruption, but even that was slowly being affected.

    "It''s only a matter of time¡­" He dered with a devilish grin.

    Even though this was terribly draining, he found the results to be perfect.

    In the end, it would be his victory.

    "Is that really what you think?" Serah''s voice suddenly echoed in the darkness, her crimson form piercing the darkness in all its glory.

    "What?"

    Legris'' brows perked up as he expressed surprise by the sheer amount of arrogance Serah disyed¡ªboth in her speech and her wild smile.

    It bothered him to no end.

    "It seems you do not know the true nature of my Original Magic."

    The brilliant ambers she emitted grew brighter as she slowly moved towards Legris.

    "If my Aether is corrupted, I only need to release it and rece it with a new supply. Anyone doing that will naturally run out of Aether, but¡­" Her fiery grin only became wider as she spoke.

    "¡­ I only grow stronger the more I use Aether. That is the power of my [Invincible]."

    In essence, this was never a battle of attrition for Serah.

    It was always a ''Winner takes All.''

    "Now, then Legris¡­" Fiery energy surrounded Serah, almost as if she was at the center of a violent storm.

    The darkness quaked in her presence, and her power only seemed to rise as she shook of her corrupted chrysalis.

    "¡­ Shall we continue?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1238 Crimson Frenzy

    Chapter 1238 Crimson Frenzy

    ''Master Serah¡­''

    Maria silently watched as her mentor squared off against the viin of this entire event.

    Her fist was clenched, and her lips tightened, but there was nothing she could do but remain in her bubble as she watched the whole thing.

    Thus far, she had been useful by utilizing her Constetion''s Representation, [Wish], to change the tide of battle.

    She would cause Serah to disappear and appear in whatever location she desired, while doing so within the fraction of a moment.

    She also rendered herself invisible while using a clone to upy her previous position.

    All of these things were the methods she cooked up so she would be useful to Serah in their conflict with Legris.

    After all, even if Magic did not affect him, it affected other people and things.

    By using her Magic on herself and Serah, rather than directly on Legris, she was going to assist her mentor in emerging the victor.

    However¡­

    ''This Spell ruined it all¡­''

    Maria looked around her and her chest tightened in frustration. Everything was going so well that they thought the fight would finally end.

    Who would have thought their opponent had more cards up his sleeve?

    ''The battle is now a lot more lopsided than we ever ounted for. At least, for me¡­''

    Unlike Serah, she did not have any Magic that could recover her Aether at such a quick pace.

    Especially not while she was protecting herself from rapid corrosion.

    ''Right now, the best I can do is defend myself from whatever Spell he has activated.'' Maria looked at her shield and noticed how fast it was deteriorating.

    The rate was getting faster by the second.

    ''I won''t be able to maintain this forever¡­''

    As much as she hated to admit it, she was going to be a major hindrance to Serah. After all, thetter was perfectly fine with the current situation and would never lose a battle of attrition.

    The problem here was how long Maria couldst.

    ''I''ll do my best to hold on, Master Serah!'' She clenched her teeth in determination, watching the rest of the fight unfold from within her bubble.

    ''Please win!''

    *******

    ~WHOOOSSHHH!!!~

    The darkness parted as Serah sped towards the swarm of Legris that gathered together.

    Her sharp gaze shone with nothing but resolve, and her body brimmed with unrelenting energy.

    As she appeared within their midst, the entire area instantly broke into distortion thanks to her breakneck speed.

    "Get her!"

    "Die!"

    "It''s over!"

    The various variants of Legris uttered their nonsense, but none of their words shook Serah in the slightest.

    She simply focused on her task at the moment.

    ¡­ To fight!

    ~WHOOOMMM!~

    Bing a blur, she twisted her body and kicked her first victim, instantly dislocating his neck with her strike.

    The instant she did this, three more opponents closed in on her, their dark fists ready to eviscerate her.

    However, she was too fast.

    Swiftly moving her head, she dodged their fatal blow, bending downward to evade the next barrage of assault that sharply lunged at her.

    With the thrust of her adversaries entirely evaded, Serah bounced back, head-butting one Legris, instantly shattering his skull, while sending her two fists flying towards the necks of the two others.

    With one chop sharply dished to the respective two, they fell to their knees.

    Serah ignored how they grabbed their necks, making choking sounds. Instead, she kicked them as if they were mere balls on the field, sending their flesh bursting as a result of the pressure.

    More Legrises swarmed around her,unching dark arms towards her, but at this point, she was able to dodge their assaults with ease, even predicting where the next would arrive from.

    Rushing towards her next foe, she evaded his dark attack at point nk range, turning slightly so only fragments of her ming hair was grazed.

    Once she closed the distance, Serah clenched her fist and delivered an almighty punch of justice.

    He instantly exploded, sending his mangled flesh and darkened blood spurting around the darkened space.

    With her eyes darting up and about the rest of thendscape, Serah became a blur once more, charging towards her next target.

    Several Legrises charged at her, hoping to overwhelm her in a melee, but even that proved ineffective.

    As theyunched hands at her, she easily caught and deflected them, twisting her body and shifting her head for moves she couldn''t catch.

    Hands danced around in a blur, and she even supplemented her defenses by raising one or two of her legs to stop attacks that she could not ignore or evade.

    In the end, even a group brawl could not take her down.

    And the best part?

    "Hahahaha! Is that the best you can do?"

    ¡­ She was still growing stronger!

    Serah''s aura burned brighter than ever, and all the Legrises around her could only watch in obvious frustration as they threw themselves back into the wringer, only to experience the same results.

    Serah simply dominated the fight.

    Suddenly, however, about half of the Legrises abandoned Serah and rushed at the stationary Maria, clearly targeting her since she was vulnerable.

    Stuck in yet another melee, Serah witnessed this and instantly got agitated.

    "No!"

    In a blur of crimson, she swiftly abandoned her victims and lunged at the other group.

    Unfortunately, that was a move they already predicted.

    "G-gugh!"

    Serah felt something cold course through her legs, and upon looking¡­ she found a bunch of Legrises tightly gripping them.

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    The Legrises grinned manically, refusing to let go.

    "Where do you think you''re going?"

    "Let''s keep fighting!"

    "We were having such fun!"

    "Come back here!"

    "Hehehehe!"

    His disgusting voice echoed in her ears as the corruption seeped in.

    Until¡­ it finally tore through her Aether and reached her skin.

    "Arghhh!!"

    Serah screamed, forcefully pushing back the group that tightly gripped her legs.

    The pain that coursed through her was unbearable, but even at that Serah ignored it andunched herself in the direction of her protege.

    All the Legrises were already closing in on her, and she felt like a bird in a cage, surrounding by a swarm of bloodthirsty predators

    Whether or not her injury was deadly, Serah instinctively knew her first priority was Maria.

    ''As long as I breathe¡­ I will not let any harm fall upon thag child!''

    She bridged the gap between the both of them in no time, pushing her body even higher than before.

    Once she did, Serah twirled in space, sending a flurry of fatal hits towards the horde.

    The ones who noticed her attacks in time tried to block or dodge, but it was of no use.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    She eliminated all of them nearly instantly.

    But¡­

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    ¡­ Even that victory came at a cost.

    "M-Master Serah!" Maria''s voice echoed out, her tear-filled eyes focused on the bottom half of the woman she loved and respected.

    "Y-your legs¡­"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1239 Dimensional Breach [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1239 Dimensional Breach [Pt 1]

    Tension filled the air.

    The bittersweet smell of tears oozed into the darkness as another pungent odor tickled the nostrils.

    It was the stench of blood.

    "Are you alright¡­ Maria?" Serah asked, a warm smile on her glowing face.

    Her eyes felt weary, but she felt a genuine sense of happiness and fulfillment since she had just protected her protege from certain death.

    But, at what cost?

    "M-Master Serah¡­ your legs!"

    The protege she saved had her eyes widened as if they would pop out, with tears gushing out like a river. Her eyes were fixated on Serah''s two legs which seemed to have been reduced to half their former size.

    "Ah¡­ these old things. They aren''t important right now."

    "N-no¡­ for me, you¡­ it''s because of me¡­" Maria''s sobs were stifled, but even she could not suppress the emotions she was experiencing at the moment.

    After all, even though the whole thing had happened faster than she could perceive, she understood everything that led up to this present.

    Serah was corrupted by Legris after being distracted by Maria''s plight, and she had to amputate her legs before the corruption progressed any further.

    As a result, everything from Sarah''s knees and below were cut off.

    "This isn''t the time to whine, Maria. I could recover themter. Right now we have to focus on the present situation."

    Serah was no expert at Healing Magic, but she had at least stopped the bleeding and sealed the wound. Even though she was currently at a disadvantage, it wasn''t like hope was lost entirely.

    Being distracted by grief would only further weaken them.

    "You''re right. I-I''m sorry I¡ª"

    "It''s fine. You were shaken. It happens¡­" Serah murmured, her gaze now focusing on Legris.

    "Still twenty of them, huh? It feels like I didn''t even do anything¡­"

    Even though Legris'' variants remained the same number, Serah suddenly began to feel like they were one too many for her to handle by herself,

    Her entire mode ofbat relied on all parts of her body to secure the perfect coordination. With two legs gone, most of herbos and fight patterns would be out of sync,

    Plus, she had lost two means in which she could attack, decreasing her effective offensive capabilities by half. Last but not least, the reach of her legs had also been reduced considerably, which meant her speed was alsopromised.

    Then, there was thetent fear that her hands could be next. It wasn''t something Serah could control as it was purely instinctive.

    That primal fear of losing¡­ it was slowly creeping in on her.

    Fortunately, her resolve to win still kept her afloat.

    ''I also have to protect Maria no matter what, and¡­ ah, hold on¡­''

    Serah realized something at that moment.

    ''Why did I risk my legs for her? Even if she died, could she not have been revivedter on? She''s currently a liability anyway, so would it not be best if she was taken off the board quicker?''

    Logically speaking, there was no need to have lost her legs for such a situation.

    But¡­!

    ''All of my instincts screamed at me to save her. Almost as if I would never see her again.''

    It was an odd feeling, especially considering how Serah prided herself on being decisive in battle.

    ''I suppose the bond we share can''t be underestimated.''

    Emotions would always be an integral part of living beings. While it could serve as a person''s greatest strength, it was also a weakness that could devolve into apse in judgment.

    Serah suspected she must have fallen into the trap of thetter.

    ''I can''t dwell on that now, though. Right now, we can only weather the storm.''

    Serah red at all twenty Legrises, bracing herself in the dark world that seemed to be closing in on her.

    "Haha! ssic Serah move."

    "You''ve always been soft despite trying so hard not to be."

    "This is only the star¡­ argh¡­"

    The Legrises could notplete their taunting messages as they suddenly began to spasm, a strange sight for even Serah.

    Slowly, the dark curtains that covered the world began to lift.

    The swift corrosion that filled the entirendscape returned to its source, the Legris variants.

    As soon as Serah took all of this in, she looked above her and a brief glimmer of hope reflected in her eyes.

    "Now''s our chance! Ascend upwards, Maria!"

    "H-huh? Okay!"

    While the variants seemed disoriented, absorbing the darkness that now appeared to stabilize them, Serah and Maria shot upwards, increasing their momentum with every second that passed.

    Until finally¡­

    "Can you feel it? The dimensional barrier?"

    "Y-yes!"

    Serah smiled, charging up her energy while nodding at Maria to do the same.

    "We are going to break through it and enter another dimension!"

    "Really?!" Maria''s eyes widened as she heard Serah''s solution.

    "We can''t handle him on our own. Not in our current state. It''s best we gather more allies and fight him together."

    It was the most logical approach Serah could think of at the moment.

    And since they had been presented with a golden opportunity, one where Legris was too distracted to get in their way, this was most likely going to be their only chance.

    "Understood!"

    Maria gathered her Aether, creating a dense covering for herself so she could fight the tide of the surface tension that seemed to propel her back.

    The fiery Aether around Serah burned brighter too, and she was able to swim against the dimensional tides that desired to keep them in the dimension.

    "On the count of three, Maria!"

    "Yes Master!"

    The two women pushed past the stubborn forces around them, their eyes the epitome of determination.

    "One¡­"

    The barrier that seemed irond began to crack.

    "Two¡­"

    Massive breaks spread through its invisible surface.

    "Three¡­!"

    ~CRAACCCKKK!!!~

    Like ss, the cracks spread to the far reaches of the space around them until it finally reached its limits.

    ~WHUUSSHHH!!!~

    The dimension shattered, leading the two victorious women into a new world that was devoid of Legris Damien.

    A world another ally upied!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1240 Dimensional Breach [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1240 Dimensional Breach [Pt 2]

    [A Few Moments Earlier]

    Beast King Gerard was currently having a break in an open building.

    A tent hovered above his head, shielding him from the hot sun, while there were sturdy fences by his sides to prevent the terrible winds and sands from invading his sanctuary.

    "Haaa¡­" Smacking his lips as he downed the cocktail he had in his hand, Gerard smiled softly and looked beyond his camp.

    He was surrounded by a harsh, unforgiving desert.

    The golden sands constantly felt like they would drown him. The burning sun constantly burned him, leaving him extremely dehydrated.

    He could hardly resort to flying due to the intense winds that upied the area, and even his defenses could only mitigate the effects of this world, not eliminate them entirely.

    Bottom line¡­ he was being tortured here.

    However, the only silver lining to all of this was that he had break periods.

    After reaching a certain threshold, he would be allowed to rest for an hour within a haven with shade and refreshments.

    He had no idea how long he had been at this whole thing, but this was the fourth time he had experienced the sanctuary, and every time he could not getpletely used to it.

    It was heaven incarnate, especially after being drowned in hell.

    "Haha¡­ hehe¡­ haaaa¡­"

    Taking another sip made him chuckle slightly, allowing him to indulge in his more base thoughts since he wasfortable.

    ''I wonder how Serah is doing?''

    The only reason he had agreed to stop Legris with everyone else was to grab her attention. With Neron''s disappearance, the thought it could finally be his time to step up.

    ''I still can''t believe that Neron bastard ditched her.'' Gerard grumbled to himself.

    If Serah was his woman, there was no way he would treat her that way. Gerard was so sure of that fact that he nodded to himself in agreement.

    ''The only reason I have made it this far is because of you, Serah¡­''

    He only wished the Constetion had made their trials a joint activity so she could watch as he dominated his own trial.

    If she saw how far he was willing to go for her, she was bound to be impressed by his chivalry and growth.

    That was obviously going to score him points with her, and eventually¡­

    "Hehehe¡­ that''s right!"

    Still, since he could not help the way things had been arranged, Gerard decided the next best thing he could do was to excel so much in his trials that he attracted the attention of a lot of Constetions.

    That way, Serah would be so impressed by his power that she was finally going to take him seriously.

    ''My trial is to travel from one point to the final point in this desert. Under these harsh conditions and with only a small period of break. I doubt many have it as bad as I do. If Iplete my own challenge before everyone else, that would make me very impressive, I''m sure!''

    While Gerard had no idea how delusional he sounded, he drowned in his imagination and found himself sipping more of his cocktail.

    "Cheers to our eventual union, Sera¡ª"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    A sudden quake pushed Gerard off hisfy couch, forcing him tond on the soft ground.

    His cocktail ss flew off his hands, thanks to him holding it so flippantly, and its contents spilled on Gerard''s head.

    "What the¡­ hell¡­?"

    He had never experienced such a violent quake since he arrived in this world, and its effects seemed to traverse as far as Gerard could detect.

    It made Gerard both curious and worried.

    What in the world could have happened? And why did it have to ur during his resting period?!

    Gerard angrily left his sanctuary and narrowed the scope of his vision to the source location of themotion.

    He also spread out his senses to properly detect the cause.

    That was when he saw her.

    "A-ahh¡­?"

    Emerging from what appeared to be a breach in dimensions, spilling all over his own world like shattered ss, was the woman he had just been thinking of.

    "S-Serah¡­ is that you?"

    A minuscule distance behind her was a silver haired girl, but Gerard didn''t care much for her.

    His thoughts only focused on Serah''s entry.

    He didn''t even realize it when he took to his heels and rushed towards the gaping breach that spat out the woman of his dreams.

    "You came for me, Serah! You cameeee!"

    ******

    Serah and Maria heaved a sigh as they arrived in the new world.

    It was a desert region, and while it''s climate seemed extreme, the two women felt they could handle it pretty well.

    "Who upies this territory?" Maria was the first to break the silence.

    Her tone contained apprehension and worry, especially since she kept staring at the gaping hole they had made thanks to their forceful entry into this ce.

    Her question did not remain unanswered for long, though.

    "It''s Gerard." Serah muttered, almost tiredly.

    "R-really? How did you know? As expected of Master Serah!"

    Maria''s star-filled gaze greeted Serah, who totally seemed to be out of it.

    She only sighed further.

    "N-no, it''s not that. I mean, look over there. He''sing straight for us."

    Maria turned in the direction that Serah pointed at, and sure enough there was Gerard running towards them with unbelievable speed.

    Normally, she would have been happy to see an ally rushing at them, but this man had a wide smile and a perverted look on his face that put Maria off.

    She looked at Serah and found a simr expression of disgust on her face.

    Even though it was never explicitly said, both women were clearly disappointed that they ended up in Gerard''s dimension.

    "Ahh¡­ he''s waving at us now."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1241 Dimensional Breach [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1241 Dimensional Breach [Pt 3]

    It took no time at all for Gerard to close the distance between himself and the two women who were now staring at him.

    He noticed that their expressions were a little off¡ªone could even say unhappy¡ªbut he chalked it up to their tiredness.

    The overwhelming atmosphere also had to be a contributing factor to their irritation. Unlike him, they hadn''t gotten used to its harshness.

    Still, he had faith that Serah could weather the storm at the very least.

    Speaking of which¡­

    "A-ahh¡­ y-your legs?!" Those were the first words Gerard uttered the moment he approached the supposed woman of his dreams.

    His face paled almost instantly as he saw how nothing but her thighs and barely her knees remained.

    Everything else had been cut off.

    "H-how did it ha¡ª?!"

    "You idiot. Is that really the first thing you''re going to ask?" Serah sighed, her eyes giving him a deep re.

    The moment he witnessed her disapproval, Gerard froze mid-sentence, and his brain went into instant overdrive.

    ''I-I shouldn''t make a big deal about all of this. She probably lost it due to a trial or something. She can always heal afterwards¡­''

    Once he had his thoughts settled in his mind, Gerard nodded internally and smiled broadly at Serah, stillpletely ignoring Maria.

    ''I have to y it cool!'' He decided, now leaking out a calm smile.

    "So¡­ what brings you here?"

    "Haa! You fool. Now isn''t the time for theatrics. We''re in trouble and we need your help!" Serah''s words, despite being harsh, made him feel strangely good.

    As the Beast King, he was not used to being talked down on. In fact, he detested it.

    He was the strongest, so no one could look down on him.

    However, all of that changed when Serah appeared into his life. She was a breath of fresh air, a ray of light that he never thought he needed.

    The only woman who had ever conquered him.

    "It pleases me that you need my assistance, but the Constetions were specific about our trials being individual. Wouldn''t it be cheating if I helped you out?"

    "No! That''s not it at al¡ª!"

    "I mean, if you insist, I would be willing to defy their instructions and assist, but¡­ they can see all things here, so it''s sort of pointless to¡ª"

    ~WHAP!~

    A p from Serah swiftlynded on Gerard''s cheek, causing a hot sensation to permeate his face¡ªfar hotter than the scorching desert sun.

    He couldn''t even react to the speed of her hand, or the sting of the p, until it was toote.

    ''W-wow¡­''

    Gerard was once again reminded of the gap between their physical abilities at this moment, and he found himself caressing his slightly swollen cheek.

    "Will you shut up and listen?!"

    "Yes ma''am." He obediently muttered.

    Serah and Maria were both seated on the sandy ground, so he copsed on it too,pletely in submission to the former''s words.

    "The trial is on hold for now. Something unexpected has urred, and even the Constetions don''t seem to be able to do anything about it."

    "Ohhh?" Gerard''s face formed genuine surprise.

    This was unexpected news.

    But, as one would expect, he needed more information.

    "What unexpected thing?"

    Both Maria and Serah opened their lips to speak, but before they could let word out, everyone who sat felt an ominous presence.

    It emerged from the shattered dimensional barrier, and while its advance seemed slow, none of the three could deny the weight it had.

    ck mist danced as a single individual floated into the desert world from whatever dimension he wasing from.

    His dark float fluttered with the wind, and his dark brown hair seemed to follow the same rhythm. The weight behind his appearance shook all three who slowly raised their head to stare at him.

    "The unexpected thing¡­ is me." He spoke, looking down on the gawking trio.

    A small smile formed on his pale force, further adding to the internal tremor that crept through their bodies.

    "L-Legris Damien? What''s he doing here?!" Gerard raised his voice as he jumped to his feet, swiftly taking a defensive stance.

    Maria and Serah followed suit, though the letter was floating in the air.

    "It''s been a while, Beast King¡­ um¡­ what''s your name again?" Legris spoke cooly, almost dismissively, as he stared at Gerard''s intense re.

    "It''s Gerard! What the hell are you doing here?!" He pointed at Legris, still feeling apprehensive, but also strangely enraged.

    All his instincts told him to flee, but Gerard knew he could not obey them.

    Not this time.

    ''Serah is right beside me. Ahh¡­ I see. Was he the one who injured her like that? As a man¡­ as one who desires her as my woman¡­ I can no longer let this slide!''

    "You have all my assistance, Serah. I will aid you in defeating that monster." Gerard grinned, ignoring the beads of sweat that were slowly gathering on his face.

    Now wasn''t the time to overthink things. Serah needed him, so he would help her.

    It was as simple as that.

    "No, Gerard. The situation has changed. The amount of power I''m sensing from him right now¡­ it''s different from before." Serah''s sudden voice broke Gerard from his thoughts.

    "E-eh¡­?"

    "It''s better we retreat and seek out even more help. I doubt we can take him on our own."

    Gerard felt a slight pang of pain in his heart. Apparently she did not have enough confidence in his strength to think he would be able to make up for the difference that existed between them and Legris.

    Gerard did not feel insulted or betrayed. No¡­ he was just disappointed.

    "You don''t need to worry, Serah. We can take him!"

    He had to ovee this disappointment and show just how much he had grown.

    ''After this fight, I''ll propose to her again.''

    And somehow¡­ Gerard knew within himself that she was going to tell him "Yes."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1242 Beast Kingâ€™s Grand Phase

    Chapter 1242 Beast King¡¯s Grand Phase

    This was it.

    This was the moment of truth¡ªthe decisive point that would determine his victory in making Serah his woman.

    Gerard could feel it in his very soul.

    "I''ve gotten much stronger than before. I''m sure we''ll be able to take him down if we work together."

    Despite his reassurance, Serah seemed to have a doubtful look on her face. Maria had a simr expression, but Gerard never cared for her, so he didn''t pay it any heed.

    "Magic doesn''t work on him." Serah objected.

    "That''s perfect. I mostly utilize Martial Arts."

    "He might be too much for us to handle." She added

    "If that''s the case, then I doubt he''ll allow us to seek out reinforcements."

    It didn''t matter the excuse she threw at him, Gerard countered with an equally, if not more, reasonable response.

    In the end, both Serah and Maria had to admit that he was spot on.

    Legris was a predator. There was no way he would let them escape, especially now that he had somehow gotten much stronger.

    "Are you done squabbling? Shall we begin?" Legris'' voice echoed in the wide space as he looked down on him from his lofty position.

    The three, who had now arbitrarily concluded that there was no other viable alternative but a confrontation, decided to finally heed Gerard''s suggestion.

    They had to fight and win against Legris!

    "I''m surprised you''re being such a gentleman. Isn''t this the point where you bring out your variants and surround us?" Serah jested, at least that was what it seemed like on the surface.

    In reality, though, she had been out of her [Invincible] ever since she appeared in this desert world, and it was going to take a little while before she could use it again.

    Buying time was the only method she knew was safe enough for her to regain her optimal state for Original Magic.

    "My variants, huh¡­? Ah, I see." Legris smiled, rubbing his chin as he looked at Serah specifically.

    The way he smiled felt so piercing, as if he knew exactly what she was trying to do.

    However, instead of taking advantage of the moment and attacking, he proceeded to answer her question.

    "I have no need for them now. I am more than enough to eliminate you."

    His words were condescending, but there was no hubris in his tone. Everything he said felt genuine, as if he was merely stating a fact.

    "You bastard! Don''t get cocky!" Gerard yelled. Veins were all over his face as he roared in fury.

    He slowly turned to the stunned Serah and Maria, his face instantly shifting to that ofpassionate understanding.

    "I''ll buy time for you two. Don''t worry, I''ll be careful."

    Serah''s widened eyes took in the image of Gerard smiling at her, while also giving a thumbs up, and something glistened within it.

    She didn''t know why, but she was moved to nearly shedding tears.

    "Thank you." Serah muttered.

    Those words were more than enough to energize Gerard. He felt his heart racing and every aspect of his body heating up.

    This was it!

    "Yeah!"

    He stepped forward, his eyes slowly leaving Serah as he now turned to Legris.

    "I''ll be your opponent."

    "Is that so?" Legris'' words were like cold water to Gerard''s burning mes.

    Still, nothing he said was able to quell the raging inferno that kept rising within Gerard''s soul. He felt it¡­ the power of his peak.

    "[Ultimate Transformation: Grand Final Phase]"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    The entire dimension trembled as a pir of light surged from Gerard''s location.

    It ascended far into the heavens, causing even the howling winds to cease their activity. The sands parted, everything banished to the very edges of the world.

    The only thing left around Gerard was a scorched ground and the two women who stared at him in shock.

    The fiery energy that ascended high finally returned to him, all of itpressing into his bulky frame.

    Until finally, Beast King Gerard could be seen in his majesty.

    "Haaa¡­"

    With misty breath, he heaved a sigh and slowly flexed his muscles.

    Now standing at least fifteen meters, Gerard''s Grand Final Phase emanated nothing short of glory.

    His flesh felt like burning metal, with several markings imprinted on his skin, like tattoos of various creatures of legend.

    He had huge dragon wings that magnificently pped behind him, andrge horns that bent slightly as they pointed upward.

    Long hair, almost as if it was a mane, graced his head, and his nine eyes glowed with power.

    His jaws possessed sharp teeth, and his immensely muscr body had a total of six arms. A tail danced behind him, and his two legs were bulky enough, yet slender as well, to ensure he could handle all his weight while moving faster than ever.

    Everything about him was reminiscent of the perfect beast toned to perfection.

    "Now then¡­ shall we begin?" Gerard grinned, his warbling gaze on Legris Damien.

    Determination fueled his heart, and his thoughts were filled with nothing short of victory.

    He had a woman to impress and a world to save.

    There was no need to hesitate.

    No reason to fear.

    No time to stop.

    He simply had to move forward!

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHH!!!~

    Defying any speed that Serah and Maria could have ever been able to perceive in their current states, Gerard leaped to the sky.

    His wings took him straight towards Legris, and his hulky body was prepared for the most heated exchange he would ever experience.

    ''I know it won''t be easy. I know I have to push myself! But¡­ I willplete my mission!''

    Gerard roared as he finally closed the distance between him and Legris, finally ready to give the first strike.

    However¡­

    ~SQUELCH!~

    ¡­ All of that seemed to be in vain.

    Gerard''s invincible body was ripped apart almost instantly, as all six arms, two legs, two wings, and one tail, were severed from his body.

    All of it¡­ in just that single moment.

    Legris grabbed Gerard by the throat, his gaze still the same cold and disconcerted kind as before.

    He opened his lips to speak to the currently agonizing Gerard, his smile growing a little wider than before.

    "What a joke."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1243 Sacrifice

    Chapter 1243 Sacrifice

    ''H-huh¡­?''

    Gerard found himself in a daze.

    ''What is¡­ happening right now?''

    His blurry vision could hardly make out anything that was happening, and the pain he was experiencing was too much for him to feel anything else.

    He could no longer move his hands, legs, tail, or wings.

    Why?

    Could it be because he was still in a haze? Or¡­ could it be that they were no longer attached to his body?

    He saw several limbs that resembled his own falling from the height he was currently stuck in. He saw a pair of wings and a tail too.

    He could have sworn they were his.

    But¡­ what were they doing away from his body? Why was he currently suspended in the air while they lifelessly fell.

    It made no sense! Gerard tried to understand it, but he could not reconcile his expectations of how the fight was supposed to go with the fact that he was currently limbless and defeated.

    It wasn''t even up to a second.

    Even now, he still did not know when and how it happened.

    One moment he was going to strike Legris from multiple sides to attract his attention, and the next thing he noticed was his current predicament.

    "E-eee¡­" He couldn''t even form words from his lips since he felt his throat clogged by the tight grip of his supposed adversary.

    Right now, he could not scream in response to the pain, even though he desperately wanted to.

    He could not il around, since his body was nothing but a limbless vegetable that dangled ording to the wishes of the one who defeated him.

    He felt like nothing but a ragdoll.

    ¡­ A useless lump of meat.

    "What a joke." As Legris uttered those words, Gerard broke down into tears.

    "Real men never cry!" He was always fond of saying, yet the flood of bitter liquid that descended from his lips was frightening.

    A meaningless, limbless, pathetic man.

    That was what Gerard was at the moment, and he knew it fully well.

    "Looks like he couldn''t buy you any time." Legris now began to talk to Serah.

    This caused Gerard''s heart to tighten greatly. Serah,.. he had promised her to buy time, yet he failed so horribly.

    He tried telling his body to regenerate, but nothing was happening.

    Never in his life had he felt this pathetic.

    "See for yourself¡­"

    Legris swiftly shifted Gerard''s body so he would face Serah, now holding him from the back of his neck.

    ''No¡­!'' Gerard''s thoughts screamed.

    "Look at the people you tried to help."

    ''Please NO!'' He begged, but no one could hear him.

    With tears in his eyes, he was forced to look at Serah in his pathetic state.

    What he saw¡­

    ''NOOOOOOO!!!''

    ¡­ Was the look of pity.

    Serah Crimson, the woman he had done all he could to impress, now pitied him.

    It hurt him so much that he felt like ripping his heart out and dying at that very moment. Her eyes showed so muchpassion, and that was precisely what he wanted to avoid.

    Where was the expression of admiration that he desired? Where was the countenance of devotion he had imagined?

    None of those were present now.

    He didn''t want to look weak in front of her, but in the end¡­ that was precisely what he was.

    WEAK!

    "What will you do now? If you make any unnecessary moves, I''ll kill him off, and not in a pretty way." Legris spoke, causing Gerard''s heart to tighten once more

    Not only was hepletely useless, but he had now be a liability in the fight.

    He was a hostage!

    ''No¡­ not that! Anything but that!''

    Gerard had always despised relying on others for strength, but the thing he hated most was being a burden.

    And right now, that was precisely what he was.

    As Gerard looked at Serah, and then Maria, and slowly tilted his head to look at Legris, he instantly realized the truth.

    From the very beginning, he was the burden.

    ''But¡­ I won''t let that happen to me! Not anymore!''

    ~WHUUUUSSSHHH!!!~

    Power burst from within his multiple Cores, and he overloaded them with energy that they began to shatter and leak out.

    ''There''s still something I can do! I won''t be a burden to anyone!'' His thoughts echoed as he embraced the pain.

    What he was doing was simple.

    Initiating his own Mana Burst Sequence, where he would overload his body with energy and explode his Core from within.

    Why¡­ why would he do something like this?

    ''I would rather die than be a burden to anyone!''

    There was only one way to buy some more time, while also preventing a hostage situation.

    That was to take himself off the equation entirely.

    And so, Gerard decided to kill himself.

    ~BOOOOO¡ª~

    Right as the explosion was about to ur, however, Gerard felt a hand dig into his chest.

    ~SQUELCH!~

    Blood spurted out, and so did an immense amount of energy.

    "Trying to cause an energy overload so you can kill yourself and damage me in the process, huh? Did you think I wouldn''t notice?" Legris asked, his gaze as cold as ever.

    His hand reached out for Gerard''s heart and crushed it in an instant.

    ''Guark!''

    Gerard felt unimaginable pain as his heart was destroyed. His body throbbed in response to the agony he faced

    However, despite all of that¡­ he could not help but smile.

    ''Of course¡­ I knew you would notice. But so what?''

    The energy in his cores finally broke forth, surrounding Gerard, and by extension, Legris.

    ''You can''t stop what''s about to happen!''

    There was something Legris did not know, which Gerard capitalized on even though he was on the verge of death.

    ''I have a second heart¡­ idiot!''

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    As the final explosion devoured Gerard, he stole a final nce at Serah and found her smiling.

    It was strange, but he felt satisfied to see her this way in hisst moments.

    ''Thank you, Serah. I¡­ will¡­ always¡­ love you.''

    And with thosest thoughts, Gerard sank into the abyss.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

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 Chapter 1244 Sacrilege

    1244 Sacrilege

    A moment of silence is usually given for the dead, but the explosion that erupted in the skypletely erased such expectations.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The eruption roared, swallowing a huge chunk of the vast sky.

    However¡­ it didn''tst for long.

    ~WHUUUUSSSSHHHH!~

    Darkness slowly began to surface around the edges of the plumes of fiery energy until it consumed everything.

    The ck matter closed in on the rest of the st, until it converged at the center of the explosion.

    Once the smoke dissipated and the dust settled, only one man was left floating in the air, and he had a casual smile on his face as he watched the two who stood beneath him.

    "In the end¡­ he still couldn''t buy you any time." Legris snickered, exhaling gently.

    His darkened gaze focused on the expressions that the two women had, and much to his chagrin¡­ they had absolutely resolute expressions.

    "Even after the death of yourrade, it seems not much has changed." Legris uttered, now rubbing his chin ever so slightly.

    "We''ll have to change that."

    *******

    Serah felt a pang of pain as she stared at Legris.

    The way he had easily subdued Gerard made her heart ache even further, though it was the way he made light of their ally''s sacrifice that pissed her off the most.

    ''Gerard knew he would be a burden to us, so he removed himself from the equation. That''s brave and honorable.''

    If things had devolved into a hostage situation, the situation might have gotten a little dicey, though she somehow had the feeling that the oue would have been the same.

    ''I would have killed him myself if that was the case.''

    Death, at this point, was only a temporary state of being, after all.

    The goal was to stop Legris from doing whatever he came to the Constetion Realm for.

    "I can see that fiery look in your eyes. You''re thinking of how to stop me, aren''t you?" Legris'' voice interrupted Serah''s thoughts, causing her to grit her teeth.

    Still, rather than get worked up, she focused her attention on recovering her energy.

    "Not even taking some time to mourn the death of your ally¡­ you''re so heartless, Serah. You too, Maria. I thought you were both better than that."

    "You''re doing a nice job projecting your own inner state." Maria responded, her brows furrowed in disapproval.

    Serah remained silent, and she had thought Maria would follow suit. However, it seemed like Gerard''s death struck more than just a nerve for her.

    "Say what you wish, but Jared is going to resurrect Gerard. There''s no need to waste our time mourning him. We only have to¡ª"

    "Hold on¡­ what?" Legris interrupted Maria''s deration with words of his own.

    His expression oozed genuine surprise, and his hand slowly made its way to his mouth, covering his lips as if experiencing a downright shocking event.

    "Don''t tell me¡­ you guys haven''t figured it out by now." He mumbled more words.

    The path his tone was taking began to trouble both Serah and Maria.

    The mockery within it¡­ the ecstasy¡­ it felt too surreal.

    "Hehe¡­ hehehehe¡­ hehehehehehehehehehe¡­"

    Before Serah and Maria realized it, Legris went from silent chuckles to loud bursts ofughter.

    "H-hey¡­"

    "Hahahahahaha¡­"

    "Hey! What''s so funny?"

    "HAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!"

    "I asked¡­ WHAT IS SO FUNNY TO YOU?!!"

    ~VWUUUUUSSSHHHH!!!~

    An overwhelming surge of energy suddenly swept through the area, everything emanating from Serah''s position.

    Right now she was even more troubled than Maria. Perhaps it was because she had been getting a creeping suspicion within herself.

    One that she desperately wished Legris would not confirm.

    "Everyone and everything I consume ceases to exist. They be a part of me¡­ a personification of what should not exist."

    "N-no¡­ what are you saying? You''re spouting nonsense!" Serah let out.

    All the reserves of anger, sorrow and pain that she had kept hidden within her due to the hope of an eventual resurrection slowly began to surface.

    "The same applies to your lost limbs, Serah. They won''t being back. Once I have devoured something, that thing is gone forever."

    "S-shut up! You''re lying!" She gritted her teeth, even though her deep-seated suspicions were being confirmed.

    Somewhere within her, she had suspected such an oue.

    But¡­ but¡­

    "Right as Gerard exploded himself, I absorbed him. He is now a part of me, Serah."

    "You''re bluffing! You have no basis! Jared, no¡­ the Constetions will bring him back!"

    "I apologize that you thought otherwise, but¡­ none of your dead allies are returning. Not Gerard, not Z''ark, and by the time I''m finished¡­ not even you."

    As she heard another familiar name, Serah paused for a second, her eyes wide open.

    ''Z''ark is dead too¡­?!''

    Z''ark was in a different dimension, so if Legris had killed, that meant he was in more dimensions than what he let on.

    Since Serah now knew of his ability to generate variants, it all connected very quickly in her head.

    ''How many of our allies has he already¡­''

    Everything began to converge to form a chaotic mess in Serah''s head, and she began to breathe heavily.

    "That''s right, Serah. Keep guessing. You already know that both Z''ark and Gerard no longer exist. How many more could be in that equation? There''s no way for you to find out, is there?"

    Rage. Unbridled rage swirled from within her.

    Somehow, she could not doubt his assertions. Even though there was no definite proof backing his ims, Legris'' words rang true within her.

    And it was frightening!

    "Once I leave this Constetion reality, the effects of their nonexistence will bleed into the world, and all worlds within the Aether Branch. Thus, all their descendants and the effects of their existence will cease to be."

    Serah found it unbelievable. There was no way someone like Legris had that much power.

    Yet, the ease at which he spouted those grandiose statements made her believe him.

    "When you were chasing after me, you saw all those worlds that got destroyed, didn''t you? Well¡­ not all of them were my doing. Sometimes, the ripple effects of the nonexistence of one or two individuals can lead to an entire reality unraveling."

    A society without its ruler was bound to fail. A generation without its patriarch would never exist. A world without its Hero was bound to fall.

    Such was the nature of causality.

    "You must have realized it now, right? What you have to do in order to prevent more chaos in the world." Legris grinned wickedly, raising both hands as if prepared for an embrace.

    "You need to prevent me from leaving this Constetion Realm."

    As a ce outside the time and space of the regr world, it was a separate realm entirely.

    As long as Legris remained, the ripples would not be able to spread.

    "If I leave this ce, the nonexistence of your allies will be cemented into reality."

    Thus, it would be an irreversible event!

    "So, I hope you¡ª"

    "LEGRIIIIIIISSSSS!!!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

 Chapter 1245 Alliesâ€™ Interception

    1245 Allies¡¯ Interception

    ~VWWWUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    A burst of crimson power rose from Serah, and all the overflowing Aether shrouded her body once again.

    She reced her lost legs with energy-based limbs, and her entire form was shrouded in fiery crimson mes.

    Once more, she was using [Invincible].

    "Yikes! Looks like someone is mad." Legris chuckled, his body recoiling from the powerful force that Serah caused to manifest around her.

    "SHUT UP!"

    Her deep re made it clear just how grieved she was by Legris'' revtion.

    Tears fell from her eyes, and they instantly evaporated the moment they left her hate-filled eyes.

    "There''s no need for you to say any more¡­" At this point, Serah signaled Maria to stand back, her energy pulsating with unforgiving fervor.

    The young woman understood what Serah meant instantly.

    ''Legris is mine!''

    With each step she took, the earth beneath her melted, and the air sizzled with inexplicable heat.

    Space contorted around her, unable to stand the immense energy that was condensed within her frame.

    "I''ll kill you! I''ll utterly destroy you!" She roared, her voice echoing throughout the trembling world.

    "Ah? Is that so? Well,e on then." Legris flexed his hand, inviting her closer as he gave a mocking gaze.

    "Give it your best shot."

    That was more than enough to push Serah beyond the breaking point.

    She suddenly lost her rational thought, failing to imagine that this could all be a trap, or that she could also lose her life¡ªpermanently too¡ªif she was being too hasty.

    None of those mattered to her.

    She only wanted to utterly destroy him.

    "GRRRRRRRRR!!!"

    Serah arched her entire body, positioning it to give her the best mileage in the air as she charged at Legris.

    ''One hit! I only need one hit!''

    With that single thought continuously echoing in her thoughts, she clenched her fist, gritted her teeth, and initiated her ascent.

    ~WHOOOOOOO¡ª!!!~

    "SERAH STOP!" A mix of oddly familiar voices suddenly reverberated through the air.

    At that moment, three figures rushed towards her, catching up thanks to their voice stunning her.

    Despite Serah''s overflowing rage and unbridled determination, the sounds she heard were enough to cause her to hesitate in her reckless reverie.

    09:26

    "Y-you guys¡­?" Her head creaked silently as she looked beside and behind her, watching the three who tightly held her.

    To her left was Beruel, and to her right was Aurora. Hugging her from behind was Ana.

    All three of them were tightly holding her, their facial expressions depicting enough of their desperation.

    "Let go¡­" Her bulging eyes remained unblinking as she uttered those words.

    "Let go of me this instant."

    She did not know how or when they had arrived, and frankly she didn''t care.

    Not at this point.

    The only thing she desired was killing Legris Damien in the cruelest way possible.

    "If you attack him now, he''ll absorb you in one fell swoop!" Aurora yelled at Serah, beads of sweat falling from her face.

    "YOU DON''T KNOW THAT!" She yelled.

    "We do! We''ve been studying his wavelength for some time now. Right now, he''s building up energy to use for arge-scale attack. If you''re reckless, he''ll absorb you too." This time it was Ana who spoke.

    Her small body struggled totch onto Serah, but it was bing increasingly difficult thanks to the sheer power that thetter had.

    "Calm yourself, Serah. Nothing will be solved from going on a fit of rage." Beruel''s calm voice echoed.

    "If you truly desire to defeat him, please reconsider."

    In the end, all three of them recognized that they could not stop her. If she truly desired Legris'' immediate destruction, none of them could hold her back frompleting the task.

    The only thing they could rely on at this point was reason.

    "And how do you know that? How can you be sure?" Serah''s voice began in a soft whisper.

    However, slowly, it regained its tempo.

    "EVEN IF IT COSTS ME MY LIFE, I WILL DESTROY HI¡ª!" She yelled.

    "Please reconsider. You''re not just responsible for your life. You know that!"

    As soon as Serah heard Aurora''s words, she remembered the living being that dwelled within her.

    That was more than enough to finally satiate her rage.

    "Haaa¡­"

    Serah slowly regained her senses, and the three were finally able to let go of her simmering hot form.

    "¡­ I understand."

    ******

    ''Phew! We''ve finally been able to calm her.''

    Ana felt the most relief of the group that surrounded Serah.

    After all, she had been the one studying Legris'' wavelength, so she was the one who truly knew how dangerous the man was.

    ''First things first, though¡­'' Ana swiftly tapped a device on her wrist.

    ~WHUUSH!~

    In a sh, Serah, Aurora, Ana and Beruel vanished rom their position and reappeared beside a dazed Maria.

    She wiped off the beads of sweat that had gathered on her face, and she could see the other two doing the same.

    ''Thankfully we intervened when we did. If things had escted beyond that, then¡­''

    Ana gulped, and then sighed.

    "Sorry for losing it. I was just¡­" Serah could not say any more.

    Her face was now downcast, though her body brimmed with more than enough [Invincible] Energy.

    "It''s fine, Miss Serah. More importantly, I''m d to see you and Maria in good hea¡­lth."

    The reason for Ana''s hesitation was due to her suddenly looking at Serah''s severed legs.

    ''Well, she''s alive. That''s what matters most at this point.''

    With all five of them in a close cluster, Ana felt morefortable, and a bit of her unease left.

    Though, the imposing figure of Legris above them still gave her the chills.

    "When did you all arrive here? I didn''t even detect anything." Maria asked, and from Serah''s expression, it was obvious that she was just as curious.

    "Well¡­"

    Both Beruel and Aurora took their gazes to Ana, who was in the process of sighing.

    "¡­ I can exin."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

    I have opened a Ko-fi ount, in case there are some among you that wish to support me.

    Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

    Also, please remember to vote for your favorite characters in Fandom. That goes a long way for me and this book as well!

 Chapter 1246 Dark Nature

    Chapter 1246 Dark Nature

    [A While Earlier]

    A world filled with endless horrors and monsters of varying sizes and abilities¡ªthat was the realm that a little Mage upied.

    The darkened clouds added an eerie atmosphere to the world around, and the deserted wastnd only had a couple of massive boulders, withered nts, and mountains that peaked to the ends of the sky.

    Thisndscape filled with the stuff of nightmares stretched for a distance that even she could not properly ount for, though she was still in the process of gathering more data.

    At the moment, however, she was just doing her best to survive.

    "Let''s see¡­ if Ibine the additional effects of this technique, and I ount for its adverse effects on this kind of situation, then¡­"

    Anabelle Frederick sat behind a massive boulder, hitting a few keys on a gauntlet that had manifested from her bracelet.

    The gauntlet had nine buttons, all with their unique functions and attributes.

    By using permutations andbinations, she could achieve effects that weren''t restricted to the nine base attributes she had registered within it.

    "Alright! Let''s go with this." She smiled, tilting her big sses.

    Slowly lifting herself from the dirty ground, she deftly left her position behind the barrier and attracted the attention of the closest monster that crept around.

    "Hey! Over here!"

    The creature resembled a cockroach, though its body glistened like metal and its multiple eyes glowed with a simr hue as Ana''s luminescent sses.

    ~WHOOOOSSSH!!!~

    The horrifying creature rushed towards her, slicing through the air as it loosened its jaw in order to have its fill of a young and attractive human.

    Unfortunately for the beast, she was faster.

    Swiftly tapping a few buttons on her gauntlet, a brilliant echo of light manifested,pletely shrouding her environs in its power.

    The cockroach-like monster was bathed in the energy Ana released, and it stopped right before it touched her.

    Once the light subsided, Ana gave the monster a careful look.

    Just as she expected, it was kneeling in front of her.

    "Looks like it worked, after all. I can use this to control them."

    She slowly approached the cockroach, touching its silvery-like exoskeleton.

    "I thought it would be gross, but it''s actually really pretty. The advantages this presents is also considerable."

    Without wasting much time, Ana mounted the creature and rested her t buttocks on her new minion''s back.

    "It''s not veryfortable, but it beats traveling on foot for too long." She muttered to herself, looking up at the darkened skies.

    "Predators lurk above. If I carelessly fly, they''ll all gather. I don''t want to waste my energy fighting droves of creatures without a purpose."

    In the end, she had to look for the most efficient way to fulfill her trial.

    "Hey, you¡­" She returned her gaze to the creature who twitched as soon as it heard the voice of its master.

    "Take me to your nest."

    *****

    [Several Moments Later]

    "Entry log: It has been three days, nine hours, and twenty five minutes since I began my approach of conquest on these monsters."

    Ana was all alone in her primitive, but spacious abode. She was speaking directly to the gauntlet, which also served as her journal.

    "I''ve taken over the entire southernnds, and I am considering expanding my base even further. Unfortunately, based on the information Anabelle has beenpiling for me, it seems the task won''t be as simple as I anticipated."

    These words were followed by a sigh.

    "After considering my options, I have decided to finally confront the predators of the sky. If I can control them, my chances of victory will increase, and I will possess sufficient force to progress."

    Of course, ns never ran smoothly all the time¡ªespecially in an unpredictable ce like this. Ana recognized this fact well enough.

    However, since it was her careful nning that got her to this level, she felt it was pertinent to continue the streak.

    "¡­ End of Log."

    After deciding on a matter, it was better to get right on it.

    Following this philosophy, Ana jumped to her feet and decided to initiate her mission.

    However¡­

    ~DING!~

    ~DING!~

    "Hm? What''s this?"

    Ana''s eyes widened once she realized the cause for one of her rms to ring out.

    "The proximity tracker I kept on both Maria and Serah is being activated? How is that possible?"

    Since they were teammates for years, Ana designed specific Magic Technology unique to the both of them, allowing her to detect their proximity to her and themselves, as well as track them once the need arrived.

    However, this was only scratching the surface of what her technology could do.

    "We all have respective dimensions allocated to us, though. Why would they be together? Hmm¡­ [Activate Auditory and Visual Projection]."

    Once Ana did this, she was able to see and hear what both Maria and Serah perceived.

    That was how she found out that Legris Damien had invaded the Constetion Realm!

    The moment she realized the current situation, she abandoned her current mission and decided to rush to their aid.

    *******

    [The Present]

    "I found Aurora and Beruel on my way. Since I knew I would require backup, I enlisted their help and we all rushed after you."

    Once Ana exined her side of things to Maria and Serah, the two instantly grasped the reason behind their sudden appearance.

    "On our way here, I used the devices within you to analyze the energy wavelength of Legris. I wasn''t able to do so since it didn''t seem like he was using energy at all." She further stated.

    "Not using energy? How is that possible?"

    Serah was confused, and rightly so! She had witnessed Legris'' dark energy firsthand, and so had Maria.

    Even now, he had the ck power clinging to his body.

    Wasn''t that energy?

    "I understand your confusion, but make no mistake. That isn''t energy. I don''t know what it is, but if I am to guess¡­ it''s the opposite."

    "The opposite?"

    "I told you I wasn''t able to analyze his wavelength, right? Well, I decided to do an inverse analysis and backtrace. That was when it clicked."

    There wasn''t enough time for Ana to go into details, but her point remained.

    "He''s using some sort of Anti-Energy. Or is it Anti-Matter? I''m not sure, but that is what is shrouding him." Ana concluded, narrowing her gaze on Legris.

    "I''m guessing you aren''t able to use Magic on him because he breaks it down, right? And even his mysterious ability of Existence Erasure probably stems from that as well."

    Everything Ana said hit hard, but she did not allow it to distract her from the major problem.

    "At this point, I do not think we are properly equipped to handle something like this. Weck both the knowledge and ability to properly go against him."

    As much as it pained her to do it, Ana had to give everyone a reality check.

    "We can''t win."

    As one would expect, Serah''s re deepened, and the mood fell instantly.

    Ana understood the frustration her Allie''s were experiencing¡ª

    especially Serah and Maria.

    They had given it their all, fighting an opponent they didn''t have a chance against.

    Aftering this far, the temptation ofpleting the mission existed.

    However, Ana knew they had to ignore those burning sensations within if they desired to survive.

    "I¡­ am sad to see Gerard gone. I wish I acted sooner, so I could save him." Aurora said, cing her hand on Serah.

    Though, she quickly took it off thanks to the burning surface that was now Serah''s skin.

    "You would have died if you acted. We all would." Beruel sighed.

    Even though his gaze appeared disconcerted, his clenched fist was more than enough proof that he was not immune to the tempest of emotions among everyone.

    "None of you knew he wouldn''t return. It''s not your fault." Ana''s voice calmly echoed within the storm.

    "Besides, we are yet to confirm if his assertions are valid or not. I am not saying this to give you all unfounded hope, but to ensure you''re not distracted or confounded by his words."

    Hesitation meant death on the battlefield. If they continued down this emotional downward spiral, as Legris intended for them to, it could mean their demise.

    Ana recognized that.

    "You''re an impressive one. You''ve really grown from the bratty, ipetent child that I knew back at Ainrk." Legris suddenly spoke, causing the skins of everyone present to nearly jump.

    "I was twelve then. How about you? What''s your excuse for being bested by a twelve-year-old despite your age and experience?"

    Legris'' smile at Ana''s words were chilling, but his gaze showed a hint of annoyance.

    "Touch¨¦. Looks like you have a sharp tongue to go along with your mind."

    "Well¡­ I am a genius. I can''t say the same about you." Ana smirked in defiance.

    For a moment, there were no more words exchanged.

    Only silence pervaded the world as both sides stared down each other in silence.

    But then¡­

    "No arguments here. Your ''genius'' allowed you to notice my umtion of power, allowing yourselves to evade certain death."

    ¡­ Legris'' grin began to curl up even more.

    "It''s a shame that the others didn''t pick this up on time¡­"

    The moment Legris said this, Ana''s eyes widened, and so did Serah''s.

    After all, the both of them understood the implications of his statement.

    "Our allies might be in trouble!"

    Unfortunately for them, this hesitation was going to cost them.

    "It''s toote for them. Just as it''s toote for you."

    Darkness surged from Legris and covered everything in the space around him.

    This was the Dark Curtain.

    However, it only served as the beginning.

    ''Damnit! I was too naive! Not only has he been nning on absorbing all of us from the start, but he''s also doing the same for the others!'' Ana''s thoughts echoed.

    Unfortunately, she could not use Teleportation or any other form of Magic thanks to the interference of the darkness that filled everywhere.

    "It''s all over." Legris'' voice was thest sound that echoed in everyone''s ears.

    Before finally¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1247 Purgatory [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1247 Purgatory [Pt 1]

    [Moments Earlier]

    "You¡­?"

    In a graveyard that extended for miles,cking even a modicum of an end in sight, two people stood opposite each other.

    The dreary sky that painted the image of an eternal night, and the several tombstones that had intelligible epitaphs engraved upon them¡­ all of them constructed an ambiance of dread.

    However, despite such darkness and eeriness that thendscape offered, the true architect of fear was one of the two who faced each other.

    The man stood imposingly tall, his hands in his trench coat as he stared down at his prey.

    His eyes were a ssy reflection of emptiness, and his callous smile showed no mercy. Nothing but ack of empathy oozed from his cold gaze.

    And that was more than enough to frighten the young man who faced him.

    "Why are you here¡­ Legris Damien?" He muttered, still stuck between disbelief and caution.

    This graveyard served as his trial, and he had been facing several opponents¡ªall of which were undead.

    The undead had various types, so he had to utilize varying methods to defeat them, but even after facing so many foes, he wasn''t expecting this.

    ''He just came out of nowhere. Is he also one of my challenges?'' The young man asked as his auburn hair danced with the cold night wind.

    ''But¡­ this feels different. It feels¡­ dangerous. Too dangerous!''

    He felt like he would die if he took even a single step forward. That was what the cold re and imposing aura of Legris was telling him.

    ''T-then¡­ could he be the real deal?!''

    But even that felt more improbable. How could it be possible for Legris to invade the Constetion Realm?

    As this young man wrestled with his thoughts, beads of sweat fell from his face as flickers of mes danced around his body.

    In this deep, dark graveyard, he was the only major source of illumination.

    "Well, that''s a good question. Why am I here¡­?" Legris suddenly spoke, causing all the bones in his body to shudder.

    As Legris took a step forward, he subconsciously stepped back.

    Was it caution? Was it fear? Perhaps it was both.

    "I came here to eliminate and absorb you. You''re the weakest of your teammates, so I figured you''d be an easy target." Legris smiled broadly, causing all the hair on his body to rise.

    "That''s right, Jerry. I''m the real deal."

    At this point, Jerry knew he could not afford to dwell in doubt any longer.

    He was standing right in front of the man they had traveled so far to defeat¡ªthe one responsible for the destruction of worlds.

    ''He wants to kill me! I¡­ I have to stop him!''

    Right now, Jerry had two options.

    One was to retreat and wait for help, and the second was to stand his ground and fight.

    The first option seemed like the safest, but he had no idea if there would be anyoneing to his rescue. As for the second, he wasn''t sure if he could evennd a hit on Legris.

    ''Still¡­'' Jerry gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

    Both options seemed like dead ends, but Jerry preferred the second one by a wide margin.

    ''I might not be able to win, but if I can y my part and damage him a little, then it should be well worth it.''

    Resolving within himself to fight, and to do so without holding back, Jerry knew he had to give it his all from the very start.

    And that meant¡­ using his newly developed Original Magic!

    Gathering all his Aether together, and then releasing everything to his immediate surrounding, Jerry widened his glowing eyes and roared from deep within his soul.

    "[Original Magic: Purgatory]!"

    ~VWUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

    Instantly, the entire graveyard, at least what surrounded him for at least a few miles, was engulfed in mes.

    The fire burned fervently, dying the cold night with brimming illumination. The searing heat banished the cool atmosphere, and standing at the center of it all was Jerry.

    However, this was only the beginning.

    "I''m not done yet!" He roared.

    ~RUMBLE!~

    As soon as the hellish domain was erected, the earth began to tremble.

    ~RUMBLE!~

    "What are you up to now?" Legris smirked, using his hands to fan himself a little.

    Beads of sweat could be seen on his pale face, but that was all there was to it. None of the mes had managed to consume him.

    At least, not yet.

    "You''ll see¡­" Jerry whispered.

    ~RUMBLE!~

    And then, from the depths of the earth rose the ones who were meant to be resting.

    The skeletons that belonged to the dead¡­ they all rose to the surface, their bony bodies now covered in intense mes.

    From mere skeletons, to ghouls, to zombies, to death knights¡­ they all arose from their graves and climbed to the surface.

    Despite the raging inferno that consumed their entire bodies, they weren''t burning up.

    In fact, they seemed even more intimidating.

    "Not yet¡­!"

    ~BOOOOOOMMM!!!~

    As if thendscape hadn''t changed enough, volcanic eruptions rose from the four corners of his territory, sending molten magma to consume the world hemanded.

    A sea of mes andva eroded any semnce of the previousndscape.

    Only those coated by his mes were safe.

    At this point, even Legris had taken to the air, avoiding the brewing danger that awaited him below.

    "It is done. And now, for the final touch¡­" Jerry grinned, his body suddenly getting engulfed in purple mes.

    This was a step up from his [Grand me Admiral], considering it was his entire body that was now covered in purple mes, and not just his de.

    His purplish crimson orb floated right above him and everything else, like an all-seeing eye that would oversee the entire fight.

    He tightly gripped his ming de, resolve sparkling in his eyes as he uttered the words that reflected his current form.

    "[Grand me Emperor]"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1248 Purgatory [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1248 Purgatory [Pt 2]

    As Jerry presented himself in his full strength, he stared at Legris, with only one thought in mind.

    "I don''t care if I''m the weakest or not. But¡­ thinking I''m easy prey was your biggest mistake!"

    Jerry did not know how long had passed since he began his trial, but he was not messing around during that period.

    He had honed all the powers he could and applied them in every conceivable way.

    His [Original Magic: Purgatory] was the peak of his aplishments, and he was also able to improve his most powerful form.

    All he had done in this ce was grow.

    This was the result of all that¡ªthe culmination of his efforts.

    "There''s no way I''m going out without a fight!"

    ******

    ''It seems I underestimated him.'' Legris thought to himself as he stared at Jerry.

    As he floated about the sea ofva, watching the pirs of molten magma constantly erupt from all four corners of the domain he was in, and witnessing the innumerable minions Jerry had umted with his power, Legris found himself being impressed.

    ''So, he found a way to use his pyrokic abilities to manipte other targets. Those subordinates of his are being controlled by his mes, which are being controlled by him. Interesting¡­''

    However, that was just scratching the surface of the power that Jerry was disying.

    ''Does that mean he''ll be able to control his opponent if he manages to drown them in his mes? I wonder¡­''

    The fact that the entire area around Jerry made it easier for sessfulbustion lended credence to Legris'' theory, but he couldn''t draw his conclusions just yet.

    After all, despite how impressive the aforementioned abilities were, they weren''t the real threat to Legris at the moment.

    ''The real problem is the domain itself.''

    Legris had sensed it earlier, which was why he chose to float above the sea of mes and magma. If he had stayed in his position, he would have taken damage, even if he used his ck ability.

    And that was due to one major factor.

    "He''s using real mes¡­ not Magic."

    Or, at the very least, he was mixing both of them in his domain.

    ''I found it surprising that someone like him was able to generate Magic of this scale, but once I take this majorponent into ount it makes a lot more sense.''

    Jerry''s pool of energy was extremely limited, and toplement hiscking abilities, he must have found ways to ignite the oxygen in the air and burn carbon for real mes to manifest.

    ''That''s just my theory, though. I''m not sure how far he nned this, or how intentional his actions were, but¡­''

    This ced Legris at a disadvantage.

    "My ability devours existence¡ªAether and Nether respectively, it does not discriminate."

    When it came to Magic and Spells, it had the same effect.

    The problem was, however, that his power was limited within certain boundaries.

    Legris still had to breathe, and he still had to regte his temperature, or feel stimulus.

    As a result, not everything could be erased by the darkness that surrounded him.

    That included the heat and burning abilities of Jerry''s real mes.

    ''I can handle the minions since they''re made of Aether. Jerry''s body is coated in dense Aether, but it''s not a problem if I am able to catch him.''

    The real challenge remained theva and mes that pervaded the area.

    ''Whatever. They won''t matter if I distance myself from them.''

    In the end, this was still Jerry. It wasn''t like he could manage this level of Magic for very long.

    ''Sooner orter, he''ll reach his limits. I doubt he''ll be able to survive that long, though.''

    With a wide, almost maniacal grin, Legris prepared for his first assault, readying his body for departure.

    ''Let''s see you handle this¡­ hm?!''

    Legris instantly widened his eyes, and in that split second, he ceased his ns to attack. Instead, he focused all his strength and speed into tilting his body at least a meter away from his position.

    And just in time too.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    An immensely concentrated burst of energy sped through the air and passed through the very location that Legris had previously upied.

    The st resembled light in both its speed and appearance, though Legris could only catch a glimpse of it.

    In the end, the missed shot ended up being buried under the rising sea ofva.

    ''That was close! If I didn''t move, it would have overfeed my head.''

    That meant instant death.

    Of course, the death only applied to one variant, but Legris found it absurd that he would require more than one version of himself to deal with someone like Jerry.

    It wasn''t due to pride or anything like that, but simple logic.

    If he used more than one version of himself, it meant Legris was implying that Jerry was stronger than him.

    That was just wrong.

    ''In any case, how was he able to target me so urately, and at such a point nk range?'' Legris gazed to the sky, where he first noticed the umtion of energy.

    ''Ahh¡­ it''s that orb of his. He ns on using that for long-range assault. If Ie closer, he''ll use his de for mid-range and close-rangebat, all while the environment deals constant damage to me.''

    Legris had to admit¡­ that was brilliant.

    Still, he couldn''t help but suspect that he was giving Jerry too much credit. Perhaps he was simply reading meaning into a majority of his attacks and patterns.

    ''That doesn''t stop them from existing, though. Alright, then. Now that I know all the elements involved, I should begin myeback.''

    With a smile on his face, Legris prepared himself for his own counterattack.

    ''Let''s see how you do in a real fight!''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1249 Purgatory [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1249 Purgatory [Pt 3]

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHH!!!~

    Legris lunged at Jerry, bing a jet ck blur as he blended with the distorted space riddled with heat.

    Several sts were shot at him from the orb high above, but he expertly dodged them all as he closed the distance between him and his adversary.

    Despite the certainty of his victory, Legris was curious¡­

    ''What more tricks do you have up your sleeve?''

    After dodging the attacks a few more times, finally reaching Jerry, Legris teleported right behind him.

    ''If he expects me to attack him in a certain direction, his guard will be lowered in the opposite one.''

    Legris grinned as he saw Jerry''s glowing back, reaching out to it.

    ''I''ll rip out your heart and that''ll be the end of it.''

    Just as he was about to touch him, though, the strangest thing urred.

    ''H-huh?!''

    Several arms made of ming bones held onto Legris'' legs.

    They belonged to Jerry''s undead minions, and the way they tightly gripped Legris reeked of desperation.

    ''Ah! Did he prepare a defense just in case I strike from behind?'' We''re his initial thought.

    However¡­

    "H-huh?!"

    ¡­ The ming undead began to drag him down, specifically towards the rising sea of mes.

    That was when Legris realized it.

    ''They''re not for defense, but rather offense!''

    In the first ce, Jerry had been awfully closer to the sea of mes than Legris. He was probably seeking a chance for thetter to draw closer so he could drown him in theva.

    ''He didn''t react to my teleportation at all. It''s just that his ns directly interfere with mine.''

    Legris found himself gritting his teeth as he easily knocked away the bones that held onto him, shattering them instantly.

    The annoying beam of energy from earlier rained down on him, but he was too annoyed to dodge this time.

    Instead, he used his darkness to consume the st.

    ''I''m killing him now!''

    Refusing to budge from his original n, Legris reached out to Jerry, his hand already dyed in darkness,

    This was the end!

    ~SQUELCH!~

    The sensation felt a little off, but Legris seeded in his action.

    He grinned victoriously, crushing the heart he gripped tightly, while ensuring his corruption spread through the entirety of Jerry''s body.

    However, the moment he did that, Legris quickly realized¡­

    ''Something is off!''

    Before he couldpletely wrap his head around it, the ''Jerry'' he had pierced suddenly began to leak out a dangerously strong surge of energy.

    Any second now and it would¡ª

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM

    MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!~

    The eruption pervaded the immediate area, mimicking a st of sheer destruction.

    As if that wasn''t enough, another beam descended from above¡ªthis time more powerful than anything that had descended before.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Another round of disastrous explosions rang out, parting the burning sea of chaos.

    However¡­

    ~SHUUUUUUUUU~

    ¡­ Once the smoke and dust settled, Legris stood at the center of the st,pletely unscathed by the explosion.

    His dark cocoon slowly dissipated, returning to his attire as if they were dark mes licking his body.

    "I see. So he tricked me." Legris murmured, sighing at himself.

    ''What did he do? Most likely a mirage? Since his heat grossly distorts space, he probably used it to distort the imagery around him to make it seem like he was the one present, but it was a cebo.''

    Legris felt embarrassed to have fallen for something like that, but it couldn''t be helped, especially given the nature of the situation.

    ''He probably did it when I wasn''t really paying attention. Either when he activated his Original Magic or shot that st from above.''

    Those two moments stood out to Legris, since he had been paying rapt attention to Jerry during the other opportunities he could have had.

    ''Well, there''s no use dwelling on the past. Right now, I have to find him. Where is he¡­ I wonder.''

    Even though Legris told himself that, he still felt plenty upset about how the situation had turned out.

    Sure, he wasn''t physically injured by the trap Jerry had set for him, but he felt immensely bruised¡ªat least, his ego did.

    ''I even went through the trouble of evading those annoying beams of his, rather than simply absorbing them, so he would think they could be effective on me¡­''

    The only time he decided to quit the charade was when he was about to eliminate Jerry. He let go of his cover since there was no need for him to do so any longer, but that revealed a fatal w that he had been trying to hide.

    A fatal w that he had no idea Jerry had also noticed.

    "I''ve got you now." A voice suddenly echoed from underneath Legris, causing his eyes to bulge in shock.

    Emerging from the depths of the ming sea was Jerry.

    His ming hands tightly gripped Legris, and his grinning face was covered in the same properties. His entire body oozed with both natural and magical mes, and to an overwhelming degree.

    As Jerry gripped Legris, so did several other ming hands that belonged to a myriad of subordinates.

    That all rose from theva and mes, gripping Legris wherever they could.

    They grabbed his coat, his other leg, and everything they couldy their hands on.

    "Tch! You¡­!" Legris gritted his teeth as he red at the smiling Jerry.

    "I noticed it from the very start, but¡­ your recent actions just convinced me."

    Legris instantly realized what Jerry was referring to. The fact that Legris avoided the sea of mes andva, showing those to be undesirable dangers.

    ''I tried to hide that by evading the sts from above, but since I was able to absorb the st, and I remain unscathed by his explosion, he must have realized that my real weakness is his sea of mes.''

    Everything that had happened thus far had culminated into this very moment.

    ''He yed me!''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1250 Dangerous Pressure

    Chapter 1250 Dangerous Pressure

    ~WHUUUUUSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The beam from above descended on Legris as he struggled to fight back the overpowering pull that he suffered from Jerry and his minions.

    Once again, he was able to defend himself from the st.

    However, this momentous distraction on Legris'' part gave Jerry all the advantage.

    ~WHUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!~

    Legris was pulled into the ming depths of purgatory, feeling his blood boil and his flesh and bones melt the instant he was dipped inside.

    "ARRRGHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Theva seeped into his eyeballs, invading his throat as it burned down his windpipes and lungs when he struggled to breathe.

    This indescribable agony swallowed Legris whole as he descended deep into the abyss.

    Fortunately for him, the pain did notst very long.

    After all, he died within a few seconds.

    ********

    "Haaa¡­ Haaa¡­"

    Jerry was now breathing heavily as his simmering mes began to die out, and theva that fueled the area hardened.

    The magma cooled down within moments, and Jerry''s me-coated body dissipated.

    "Looks like I ran out of Aether. Just in time too¡­"

    Any secondter, and it could have meant bad news for him.

    ''I actually did it! I won against him!''

    It felt like a dream, an actual miracle, rather than something that just happened a minute ago.

    Jerry smiled at himself and his aplishments as hey t on the obsidian surface of the hardened ground.

    The bones and other forms of undead that he controlled with his Original Magic had all been buried under the magma, so he did not concern himself with cleaning up or anything like that.

    ''Isted a lot longer than thest time. That''s good! I can grow even stronger!''

    Jerry knew within himself that he had reached the limits of his power.

    He most likely wouldn''t be able to evolve any more than his current state. However, if he could master his current abilities and cause them tost longer, he was sure he could be more useful to the rest of the team.

    ''I''ll be able to protect Ciara too¡­'' His smile broadened even more as he closed his eyes.

    Sure, he wasn''t like the others who could destroys or shake gxies. At most, his power could destroy an entire nation, but what of it?

    As long as he tempered his power to its fullest, then anything or anyone that ventured into his domain was going to lose.

    And in the end, wasn''t that that mattered most?

    "Haha¡­ this is crazy." He muttered to himself.

    "I shouldn''t bezing around. I better inform everyone of Legris'' arrival."

    Jerry still didn''t understand how the Constetions could have missed the invasion, but he knew he couldn''t justy on the ground and expect answers toe.

    That was why, even though he was beyond exhausted, Legris willed himself to move.

    "I wonder how Legris was able to appear here though. That''s just¡ª"

    "Absurd? Yeah¡­ that''s what I think too."

    Right as Jerry was about to rise from his position, he heard Legris'' voice in the most bitter tone possible.

    "H-huh?"

    Before he could even react to what he was hearing, or even process how the Legris he defeated was responding to his words, Jerry found Legris standing right beside him.

    "It''s absurd that you actually won against me. I knowpatibility and chance had a lot to do with it, but those are all excuses¡­"

    ''H-how¡­? How is he still here?!'' Jerry''s thoughts screamed as he helplessly watched Legris.

    The sheer bloodlust that filled the area, evident by the deep re on Legris'' face was enough to paralyze Jerry.

    It was¡­ OVERWHELMING.

    "It doesn''t change the fact that I lost to SOMEONE LIKE YOU."

    Once again, Jerry felt his body powerless before the crushing presence he was experiencing.

    Legris slowly lifted his leg and ced it on Jerry. The weight behind his feet slowly descended, crushing him as he remained on the ground.

    "A-agh¡­ ARGGHHHHHH!!!" Jerry''s screams filled the deste area, but there was no one present to hear his cries.

    He screamed and howled in agony as Legris crushed his rib cage, shattering his bones.

    "No pain I inflict on you will be enough. In fact, this is all pointless¡­"

    Suddenly, the pain stopped, and Legris sighed, almost in reflection of his actions.

    "What am I doing? This is just petty."

    He stared at Jerry with eyes now colder than the chill running down Jerry''s spine.

    "I should just end this¡­" Legris smiled, his hand now coursing with the dark power he had.

    "¡­ Right here¡­"

    He drew closer to Jerry, his palm wide open as he reached for his face.

    "¡­ Right now."

    The powerlessness Jerry felt at that moment told him there was nothing he could do. Despair held him in a tight grip, and his body remained still.

    Death was approaching, and he could only stare it in the face as it neared.

    ''Is this¡­ the end?'' Jerry asked himself as he thought of all his allies.

    Soon, though, those images were reced by the one girl he wished he could see most.

    ''Ciara¡­ I''m sorry¡­''

    Tears fell from his eyes as thest embers of his energy left him.

    ''¡­ I''m sorry I couldn''t keep my promise.''

    It burned him from within, but Jerry gave his final farewell as he cried.

    His blurred vision remained on Legris, though, and despite his thoughts being clouded by memories of him and his lover, he refused to look away from his imminent demise.

    His eyes were wide open, his heart was wide open, and he was prepared for what woulde next.

    ¡­ Or so he thought.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHH!!!~

    Like a sh of lightning, with the sound of Thunder, a blur suddenly pushed Legris away, knocking him off Jerry.

    The instant the impact hit, Legris'' entire body became mangled, ripped apart by an invisible force.

    All of this urred within a moment, as the next thing that appeared before Jerry right as he blinked was the very girl he thought of.

    The one that filled his mind right as he was about to die.

    "C-Ciara¡­?" Jerry whispered as he noticed the fierce-looking girl that stood beside him.

    Her brown hair fluttered as her eyes shone purple. Energy danced around her as she looked in his direction.

    "You have some exining to do, Jerry¡­" She whispered.

    At that moment, Jerry felt a strong sense of danger¡ªeven exceeding the overwhelming bloodlust Legris had given off.

    He didn''t know whether to be relieved for salvation, or frightful for annihtion.

    Right now, thetter seemed more appealing.

    "Who gave you the permission to die without me?"

    As her voice echoed, so did the energy within her flicker and rise.

    "I-I''m sorry¡­?" He managed to mutter.

    Whether that would be enough or not was up to her.

    He was still recoiling in shock as to how she was able toe into his dimension and one-shot Legris when he needed her the most.

    "Much better. You''re never leaving me, just as I''m never leaving you." Ciara''s voice sent shivers down his spine, but strangely enough¡­ It also made him happy.

    Happy enough to forget the pain that currently coursed through his body.

    A smile formed on her face as her eyes sparkled when they locked gazes.

    At that point, everything else seemed to fade into obscurity.

    "Next time¡­ I won''t forgive you, okay?"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1251 Babe To The Rescue

    Chapter 1251 Babe To The Rescue

    "This is surprising¡­"

    The deep voice of Legris Damien suddenly echoed across the vast space, instantly putting an end to the moment Ciara and Jerry shared.

    Thetter fidgeted, rightly expressing anxiety as he heard the voice. As for the former, a deep frown formed on her face.

    She was probably incredibly upset that Legris had interrupted her magical moment with Jerry.

    "To think you would arrive at precisely the right moment¡­"

    A dark hole, like a stain in reality, began to spread in the sky. Legris appeared from within it, his eyes looking down on the two.

    Jerry was stillying on the floor, since he was exhausted, but Ciara was standing upright by his side.

    "How did you know that he was in danger? No, that isn''t the right question." He sighed.

    Darkness slowly began to manifest on his body, the ck mes licking his outfit with their forbidden power.

    "How were you able to locate us?"

    "Hmph! You know nothing!" Ciara responded, giving an antagonistic smile.

    Her lips were curled up, but the deep re she had on her face was yet to fade away.

    "Even if my Jerry is universes away, I can still detect him and know his exact coordinates!

    A small "E-eh?" leaked out of Jerry''s lips as soon as he heard that, and even Legris had a bead of sweat fall from his face.

    "I see. So you''ve honed your abilities to such an extent. Sensing someone so far away¡­ that''s an incredible feat." Legris chuckled slightly, though hints of nervousness could be detected in his tone.

    What Ciara had just said so casually was too heavy for him to ignore.

    Even Jerry, as he helplesslyy on the ground, could not help but stare at Ciara with absolute wonder.

    ''She has improved that much? How¡­?'' He gawked silently.

    Jerry knew she was a genius, but wasn''t this just absurd? Thest time they saw she was barely able to detect people on aary level.

    ''Now she can detect people even if they are universes away? T-that''s beyond amazing!''

    And all of this was even without considering the dimensional barriers ying a huge factor.

    "Huh? What the hell are you talking about? When did I say I could do that for just anyone?"

    Ciara broke the silence of awe, causing both of the men around her to stare in sheer confusion.

    "I only said it applies to my Jerry. How would I be able to detect anyone who is universes away? That''s insane!"

    Once she uttered those words, Jerry and Legris became momentarily allies in their journey to enlightenment.

    Whether Ciara''s abilities improved or not was still up to scrutiny. However, it seemed she only cultivated her sensory prowess with one person in mind.

    Jerry Keller.

    "A-ah, I see. So you only know of Jerry''s situation, which is why you came here and saved him right as he was about to perish."

    "Yeah, that''s about urate." Ciara responded to Legris'' statement with an air of nonchnce.

    It was almost as if this wasn''t a tense moment in the slightest.

    "I see¡­"

    "By the way, I should be asking you how you''re not gone yet. I''m sure I destroyed your body, and there also weren''t any other bodies of yours around, so howe you''re still here?" Ciara asked, both arms folded.

    Jerry''s jaw dropped as soon as he heard the absurd question.

    Did she really ask such a man to exin the secrets behind his one advantage? There was no way in hell Legris would divulge how he was able to¡ª

    "Ah, that. As long as variants of mine exist in the same ne of existence as me, I can always respawn."

    ''WHAT?! He told her?!'' Jerry couldn''t believe what he was seeing and hearing.

    Legris and Ciara were having such an honest discourse that it was difficult to picture them as enemies.

    "I see. So other variants of yours are with the others? That sounds bad¡­" Ciara mumbled, rubbing her chin as she spoke.

    "Yeah. Everyone is having trouble dealing with me right now. Well, you''re about to experience the same as well." Legris responded with a grin.

    "Is that so?"

    The conversation felt soid back that Jerry thought he was the crazy one.

    ''Is she controlling his mind? Is that what''s going on right now?''

    Legris didn''t seem like he was being controlled, though. He appeared perfectly normal, and his animosity had not diminished in the slightest.

    Yet¡­ he was being so genuine.

    "It''s strange that I can''t read your mind or affect you with my [Phantom Link], though. That would have made things much easier¡­" Ciara sighed, now tearing both hands as if getting ready for a fist fight.

    "Well, you can say I''m built different." Legris responded with a shrug.

    "What the hell does that even mean?"

    "It means I exist in a different ne than you do, so it''ll be difficult

    ¡ªif not downright impossible for you to do so."

    "Tch. I see. That''s regrettable then."

    "I suppose. I''m curious to see what you''ll offer against me, though."

    As Jerry watched them converse more, they seemed like old acquaintances rather than enemies. However, at this point, he had grown desensitized to it.

    Rather than try to understand what was going on with Ciara and Legris, he pondered more about his own situation.

    ''Ciara is saving me again, huh? Even though I wanted to¡­ I promised that¡­ damnit¡­''

    It was a relief to see her, though that didn''t stop the pain in his heart from reminding him of his weakness.

    He felt horrible.

    ''This time¡­ this time I failed.''

    However, Jerry''s lit aze once more. He gritted his teeth as he gathered the strength to ncy both of his fists.

    ''Next time¡­ next time¡­ NEXT TIME I won''t fail!''

    It was arrogant of him, but Jerry felt it at the core of his soul.

    ''I''ll keep my promise to you!''

    However, since that next time was still a distance off, he could do nothing but spectate the imminent fight that would go down between Ciara and Legris.

    ''A-ah! I should warn her about him¡­ about his abilities and¡ª''

    ~Don''t worry about me, Jerry. I already have all the information I need.~

    Once he heard Ciara''s voice in his head, Jerry immediately understood.

    ''You''ve gone through my memories?''

    ~Just a little peek at the recent ones. Don''t be mad, I couldn''t help myself.~

    ''Haha¡­ I understand. It''s fine.''

    Since it was all for the sake of defeating this absolute monster, Jerry genuinely did not think he could even get upset at her for taking the initiative.

    ~Yayy! Now watch me carefully as I kick his butt for hurting you.~

    ''Thanks, babe. I''m counting on you!''

    Whether it was because he called her babe, or that he said he was counting on her, the effects of Jerry''s words caused Ciara''s entire face to turn beet red.

    ~KYUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!~

    Her internal squeal nearly deafened Jerry, but he managed to survive.

    ~Just you watch me, babe!~

    With her eyes glowing purple, and Aether dancing all around her, Ciara took a step forward and gave the most confident smile ever.

    ~I''ll make you proud!~

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1252 Ciara And Legris [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1252 Ciara And Legris [Pt 1]

    Tension was palpable.

    The entire graveyard was eerily silent, as one would expect from such an establishment.

    None of the three who upied this domain spoke. They all simply looked at each other in a three way deadlock.

    Legris remained in the sky, his gaze focused on Ciara and her alone.

    Ciara had a simr gaze on Legris, though her mind constantly remained with the man behind her.

    As for Jerry, he alternated his gaze, his heart racing in anticipation of an inevitable conflict.

    One would think this silence was doomed tost forever. Until...

    "[Superior Mage Mode]."

    As soon as Ciara uttered those words, her brown hair suddenly began to change tone. ckness spread all across it, instantly transforming everything into dark hair.

    Her entire outfit also changed, with a dark Mage Robe shrouding her body, with purple designs intricately knitted in with the ck.

    Her inner wear was a body-hugging tank top and simr-looking shorts.

    Seated lightly atop her head was a Mage hat, and it also took on the ck color, with designs of purple spread across it.

    A staff clung to her right hand, and a grimoire floated on her left¡ª

    both resonating with the rest of her apparel.

    The entire transformation barely took a second, and the moment it was done, it seemed she was apletely different person.

    Both Legris and Jerry looked downright shocked at the sight.

    "How do I look, Jerry? Do you like it?" Ciara swiftly turned to him for attention, her bright smile brimming with energy as she awaited his response.

    "Erm¡­ well¡­"

    What was he to say? She certainly looked amazing in this new form, but Jerry personally thought her current apparel didn''t resemble something built for seriousbat.

    The oversized Mage Coat and the tight but skimpy undergarments made it so that she had an infinitely higher sex appeal, but the practicability was lost to him.

    Perhaps he was just being an idiot who couldn''t see the true advantages of her new form.

    Perhaps¡­

    "Well, I''d say¡­" As Jerry''s voice trailed, a sudden rush of wind in the vast space caught his attention.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Legris had abandoned his position in the sky, all to close the distance between himself and Ciara while she was distracted.

    He was already right behind her by the time Jerry noticed it, and his eyes widened as soon as he saw his darkened hand reach out to touch Ciara.

    "Ciara watch ou¡ª!"

    ~BZZZTTZZZ~

    A sudden buzz reverberated as an invisible wall repelled Legris'' hand when he attempted to touch Ciara, causing him to recoil.

    At that moment, Ciara stamped her staff on the ground, sending another sound echoing across the dead calm.

    ~WHUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The moment her staff touched the ground, Legris'' entire body was ripped to shreds, almost as if he was torn apart by several invisible des.

    "¡ªt." By the time Jerrypleted his words, Legris was already dead.

    At least, that variant of him was.

    "H-huh?" Jerry had to blink multiple times to ensure he wasn''t hallucinating. "What just happened?"

    One moment Legris was right there, and the next he was reduced to mincemeat.

    ''It happened so fast that I¡ª''

    "So¡­ Jerry? What do you think?" Ciara''s voice interrupted Jerry from his thoughts, causing his face to slowly return to her outfit.

    Her face at that moment felt a little dull, and her eyes seemed to stare at him like the abyss looking down on its next victim.

    The urgency hit him instantly.

    He felt a certain chill spread throughout his body, and that only meant one thing.

    "It''s¡­ amazing."

    "Really? You really think so? Yayyy!" Ciara''s sweet smile reced whatever one could call her previous expression.

    It made Jerry''s heart lighten in relief.

    Both for her¡­ and for himself.

    "That''s one impressive outfit." Once again, just like clockwork, Legris'' voice echoed throughout the space around him.

    He then appeared from the stain in reality before the ck gate closed.

    "Wel, I didn''t ask you. Who cares what you think?" Ciara responded as icily as anyone could imagine.

    "Haha! Don''t be like that. You''ll hurt my feelings."

    "Oh? I didn''t think you had feelings."

    "Ahh, fair point."

    Once again, Ciara and Legris began to speak as if nothing had just transpired between them.

    As if he hadn''t just tried to kill her, and she too hadn''t returned the favor by utterly decimating him.

    "I''m just genuinely surprised. You shouldn''t have been able to block or repel me with Aether, and I''m sure you know that. Plus, what was that invisible attack? I''m sure I coated myself, so it should have been absorbed."

    Legris seemed equally thrilled and bothered by what he was describing.

    "Unfortunately, it was all too fast for me to properly register and analyze." He sighed.

    Jerry was happy to hear this. It seemed Ciara had a secret weapon she could use against Legris. If she formted a strategy revolving around this mystery, she could get the upper hand!

    "I didn''t use Aether. All of that was immensely concentrated wind and spatial pressure." Ciara responded very calmly.

    ''WHAT?! WHY WOULD YOU TELL HIM THAT?!'' Jerry''s thoughts screamed.

    That could have totally been a hidden card that she could utilize to her advantage.

    Why was she just revealing her cards to her adversary?!

    ''Back when I fought him, I ensured to hide my skills and trick him in order to gain the best chances of sess!''

    Ciara was much stronger than him, so Jerry knew that if she was to employ such a strategy, her chances of victory would be even higher.

    So why¡­?

    "Why are you telling him everything?!" Before he realized it, Jerry yelled out his thoughts.

    "Eh?"

    "Hm?"

    Ciara and Legris respectively stared at him, almost in joint surprise at his words.

    The way they looked at him made it seem like he was out of his mind.

    And their joint response? It sent him to the very edge of insanity.

    "Why not?"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1253 Ciara And Legris [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1253 Ciara And Legris [Pt 2]

    "W-why¡­ not¡­?"

    Jerry repeated the words he heard both Ciara and Legris say to him, and he felt an immense wave of confusion.

    "I-is it not trite to hide your advantages and utilize them to the most optimal degree?" Jerry stuttered in his speech, but he thought his question was valid.

    Or was he the one being crazy?

    "You shouldn''t have told her about how your ability works!" Jerry yelled at Ciara, and then he turned his gaze to Legris.

    "And you¡­ I''m surprised you told her all about why you aren''t disappearing. You even answered all her questions honestly."

    It felt like he wasn''t even witnessing a fight between enemies.

    "What in the world is going on here?!"

    At this point, Jerry knew he had to let out his inner frustrations.

    Watching these two fight made him feel like everything he did to stop Legris and achieve victory was unnecessary.

    "Ahh¡­ I didn''t think of it that way." Ciara spoke, her honesty oozing from the words she uttered.

    "Me neither. But, I can see where you''reing from."

    Even Legris seemed totally calm in the matter. The same Legris that was considered an unpredictable mastermind by even Jared!

    "Y-you can''t be serious! In fights, you''re meant to¡ª"

    "And how did that work out for you?" Legris'' sudden words caused Jerry to pause.

    He could not say anything.

    "Hiding your abilities and doing your best to win¡­ how exactly did that work out for you?"

    In the end, even though he won the fight, he lost the battle. He actually stood no chance, to begin with.

    Especially if one considered the bigger picture.

    The silence that followed Legris'' question forced Jerry to think back on all he did, and just how futile it all ended up for him

    "Hey! Don''t bring that up and bully Jerry!" Ciara yelled, suddenly drawing him out of his slump.

    "Ah! My apologies¡­" Legris replied, once again causing Jerry to suspect that something was definitely off with the way these two interacted.

    He wasn''t being crazy at all.

    "Jerry, I think you misunderstand what''s going on here." Ciara finally turned to Jerry, giving him a warm smile that instantly healed whatever doubts or emotional anguish he was experiencing.

    "I understand your points, and in a normal fight¡­ you''d be correct. But, this isn''t a normal duel, which is why I haven''t taken that route yet."

    Jerry still didn''t understand, and thankfully Ciara noticed that.

    "To be honest, we are at a stalemate. I can''t really defeat him, and he can''t defeat me either. We both recognize this, so there''s really no point trying to one-up the other."

    "H-huh¡­?" Jerry found himself even more confounded than he was before.

    "It''s simple, Jerry. She''s much stronger than I am currently, which means I can''t harm her. But even if she tries to harm and kill me, it''s of no use."

    The way Legris put it made it simpler for him to digest, but that didn''t make the situation any easier for him to ept.

    "So¡­ you''ll just continue to drag this out?" Jerry asked.

    "Pretty much. I don''t see the problem with that. Legris here is clearly stalling for time, but so am I."

    "Ah! So you noticed that already, huh?" Legris responded to Ciara''s observation, chuckling a little under his breath.

    "Yeah. It was obvious. You clearly have an agenda that is beyond just eliminating us, and you''re stalling for it."

    "If you know that much, why are you allowing him to keep it up?" Jerry asked, his face depicting obvious disapproval.

    To that, Ciara sighed softly.

    "I can''t do anything about his ns. Even if he was to tell me right now, I have no means of stopping it, especially since the Constetions are not intervening as well."

    "Correct." Legris smiled.

    "Plus, I''m also stalling for time. I''m hoping Jared, or someone else who is smarter or stronger than I am, figures this stuff out before Legris seeds."

    "That is highly unlikely." Legris added once more.

    "Maybe even the Constetions¡­ argh! I don''t know, honestly. Right now, Legris won''t let us leave this ce, and since I have to protect you and myself, it''s much safer to simply fill up time by engaging in this form ofbat."

    Jerry couldn''t believe it. All along, this was a battle without stakes.

    "To be honest, I would have just been content waiting things out. But, when I discovered that he hurt you, and he probably hurt some of our friends, I decided to keep beating him up. It''s pointless, but that''s the best I can do."

    Jerry perfectly understood where Ciara wasing from.

    He couldn''t fault her line of reasoning.

    "So you''re saying¡­ whether we ultimately win or we lose¡­ isn''t up to us? We can only wait for external factors to decide?"

    "Yes! Precisely! You get it." Ciara beamed happily.

    "Yeah, I get it¡­"

    "Then, you don''t mind if we¡ª"

    "¡­ But that doesn''t mean I ept it!" Jerry''s voice resonated throughout the area, causing both Legris and Ciara to recoil in shock.

    Surely, they had presented the situation in the most logical and reasonable manner. Jerry even said he understood what was going on.

    Yet¡­ the expression on his face as he abjectly disagreed with their position was enough to send shivers down anyone''s spine.

    "I know it''s pathetic for me to say this, despite my current situation. I know Ick the strength to back up my words. But¡­ this is all bullshit!" Jerry roared.

    "There''s nothing you can do? Who decided that?! Wait for external factors to decide¡­ why does it have to be that way?!"

    He was breathing heavily now, ignoring the pain he felt as a result of straining himself so much, but Jerry did not care.

    From the depths of his heart, he truly believed in what he was saying.

    "Ipletely get why you would arrive at your conclusion¡­ but I do not support it!"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1254 The Boundless World

    Chapter 1254 The Boundless World

    Logically speaking, Ciara and Legris were right.

    Jerry wasn''t stupid, so he understood the current situation. They were much stronger and smarter than he was, so he was confident that the two of them had considered things even more than he had, so they were justified in their conclusion.

    Still¡­ still¡­

    ''No! This isn''t right!''

    If everyone was to live life using their logic, then what was the purpose of existence? Pretty much everything that urred happened by chance and was constantly influenced by external factors.

    However, what it meant to be truly alive and not just existing was the drive to swim against the tides of chance and strive for whatever goal was desired.

    No one who truly lived would wait for everything to be decided by the world or others.

    If you strongly desired something, you would work hard¡­ strive to your utmost¡­ to achieve it!

    That was what living was all about!

    "It''s too early to give up! I know you haven''t truly tried, Ciara! If you really really really try¡­ you can find a way to turn this entire situation around and ultimately stop him!" Jerry yelled at the very top of his lungs.

    "Don''t give up! I know you can do it!"

    It was at times like this, when despair crept up on a living being, that something else began to spring forth within them.

    A small beam of light called hope.

    The desire for something different¡ªan oue that was not decided on by anyone else but yourself!

    That was what Jerry was currently appealing to.

    "There''s a chance that¡ª!"

    "Would you be quiet? Urgh¡­ people like you disgust me the most." Legris sighed, his eyes radiating nothing short of contempt.

    "Weaklings like you who know nothing¡­ dregs who have only their ideals to go by¡­ uttering words thatck substance."

    The mes of suppressed rage and downright annoyance in Legris'' eyes was enough to send someone into the crevices of insanity.

    "Ideals without results. Desires without ability. Nobodies like you only exist to spout out nonsense while the true victors trample upon your precious dreams."

    The words were seething as he kept going, depicting so much anger that seemed unimaginable.

    Jerry felt overwhelmed by the rage he was experiencing. Yet¡­ strangely, he felt like the mes that burned in those eyes weren''t for him.

    It was for someone¡­ something else.

    "Haa¡­ why don''t you just leave this to the ones who can actually do

    ¡ª"

    "Oi¡­" The voice of a certain girl interrupted Legris before he could say any more.

    "Ah, did I offend you again? If so, I¡ª"

    "¡­ You crossed a line." Ciara spoke with a deep undertone, one that caused the entire world around her to tremble.

    The entire dimension actually shook in response to her call.

    "I warned you not to, but it seems you aren''t the type to listen."

    Her closed eyes slowly opened, revealing how the whites in her eyes had turned ck, and how her purple irises were glowing even brighter than ever.

    "Jerry¡­ I don''t really understand what you''re saying. But, I agree with you." She whispered, stealing a nce at the boy behind her.

    At this point, something about Ciara seemed to have snapped.

    "This imbecile needs to be stopped, and I won''t know if I can''t do it unless I really try."

    She took a step forward, and everything within the dimension faded into dust, leaving an entirely nk realm.

    Only Legris and Jerry remained intact.

    "[Original Magic¡­]"

    "Are you being serious right now? You know that won''t work on me, right? We already established that." Even with Legris'' words reverberating in Ciara''s ears, she was no longer listening.

    "[¡­True Link]"

    Something changed at that very moment.

    No one but Ciara knew this, but her initial [Original Magic: Phantom Link], which affected the mind of her target, had been evolving ever since she confessed to Jerry.

    Thanks to this new bond she shared with him, it grew from a hollow representation of her ability to something genuine and true.

    ''That''s why I am connected to Jerry irrespective of distance or barriers.''

    It was a ''Connection'' that transcended limits.

    And now¡­

    ''If I harness that power, and make it so that another is my target¡­'' Ciara''s thoughts flowed as she stared at Legris.

    ''¡­ Then¡­''

    Her entire world instantly changed, and suddenly, it seemed like she had be one with everything around her.

    Her mind expanded, far beyond anything she ever thought possible.

    Theyers of the world¡ªpast, present, and future, was now bare.

    And at the far recesses¡­ at a depth she could not tread¡­ was the darkness that was Legris Damien.

    It was at that point that she truly realized the depths of his existence¡ªperhaps even the opposite.

    ''It''s as I suspected. I really can''t stop him¡­''

    The darkness was too deep for her to reach. Even if she attempted to do anything, it would consume her whole.

    It was something beyond her current state.

    However¡­

    ~Who''s there? Is someone there?~ A voice suddenly reached out to her.

    ''What? What is this¡­?''

    Ciara was sure she had passed the threshold ofmunication. No one was supposed to be able tomunicate with her at this point.

    Yet, she was hearing a voice.

    ~You¡­ I recognize you! You''re that human! Ciara Epilson!~

    Hearing the voice that reached out to her, Ciara felt a strange form of recognition.

    It came to her instantly.

    ''You''re¡­ that Constetion!'' Was her response to the clearly regal tone that reached out to her.

    ~Y-yes. I am Aquarius!~

    Hearing the name made Ciara remember their first encounter¡ªhow Aquarius had made her friends kneel.

    ~This is surprising! No, it''s unbelievable! How were you able to resonate into my wavelength?~

    Ciara did not understand what the Constetion was implying.

    ''Um¡­ this is my frequency. You''re the intruding on my wavelength.''

    For a moment, there was silence between the Mortal and Constetion.

    Both were assured that the other was the intruder, but both were so connected that they knew how genuine their positions were.

    After no moment of consideration, they had to arrive at the only conclusion.

    ''We¡­''

    ~¡­ Share the same wavelength.~

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1255 Primeval Connection

    Chapter 1255 Primeval Connection

    ''This human¡­''

    Aquarius could not help but focus on Ciara as she had these thoughts.

    She recollected what happened prior to this sudden encounter, and it only made the situation even more bizarre.

    Even though she was trapped, just like the other Constetions, Aquarius was different from them in one aspect.

    Her Representation of Freedom that allowed her to traverse beyond the bounds of anything and everything that existed.

    As such, even though her body and most of her power was trapped within the barrier that Legris had surrounded them with, her mind was still able to epass the entire Constetion Realm.

    Everything was a part of her, like a boundless body of water that rushed into rivers,kes, and streams.

    As such, Aquarius found herself seeking out any alternative¡ªany in the slightest¡ªto help the little ones that suffered under Legris.

    ''I¡­ I made a promise to Jared!'' Her thoughts echoed as she clenched her liquid fist.

    ''I have to protect his friends!''

    A promise made by Constetions was one not taken lightly. All of her siblings were also panicking because of this very reason, but she was worse.

    She was desperate.

    Even though it was illogical to expect any form of intervention or intrusion from an external source, Aquarius kept expanding her mind and observing the battles that urred, trying to reach at least one person.

    Unfortunately, no one could tap into her frequency.

    Until¡­

    ''We both share the same wavelength? How is that possible?'' Aquarius'' thoughts were in a bit of a bind, but she knew it was the truth.

    ~How would I know?~

    She truly despised Ciara''sx response to her. Itcked any form of reverence or urgency.

    It annoyed her to no end.

    ''But¡­ now is not the time to be caught up with sentiment.''

    At this moment, Jared''s allies needed assistance, and she had to help. Even if that meant swallowing her pride for the impudent human before her¡­ Aquarius knew it was inevitable.

    ''It seems you are yet to know, but it seems your Original Magic is using [Connection] to function.'' Aquarius finally revealed.

    ~[Connection]? What''s that?~

    ''An ability that allows anyone to connect with the other without respect for boundaries. It has less to do with the mind and more with the Soul, but¡­ it reaches the same result.''

    ~Ahh¡­ that was what I desired for Jerry and I. To be connected without any barrier between us. I guess I sort of made that happen with my Original Magic.~

    Upon hearing Ciara''s words, Aquarius was further intrigued by the girl''s power.

    Of course, she still heavily despised Ciara.

    ''Do not treat your power with levity. [Connection] borders on the very essence of energy, and its bond is not to be underestimated.''

    ~Haaa¡­ I see.~

    Aquarius didn''t want to tell Ciara this, but her so-called Original Magic was already bordering into the Primeval territory.

    ''And, strangely enough, it strongly resonates with my Representation.''

    The absurdity of it made Aquarius pause in awe, and a proper exnation for something as grand as this eluded her.

    ''How did she nurture it to this extent¡­?'' She found her thoughts trailing.

    Rather unfortunately, her thoughts would only leak out to Ciara since they shared the same wavelength.

    ~I decided to apply the same level of my Original Magic to Legris in order to stop him. It became a [True Link], and it caused me to expand my mind to a point where we were eventually able tomunicate.~

    For the first time, Aquarius felt like she got a proper answer from Ciara.

    Her tone also seemed less flippantpared to before.

    It pleased her.

    ''In any case, the fact that we canmunicate like this means hope is not lost yet. We can save everyone!''

    ~Eh? What do you mean?~

    Aquarius cringed a little with the response she received, but she quickly limated to it.

    ''I need¡­ Haa¡­ I require your assistance since I am currently trapped here with the rest of the Constetions. By enlisting your ability, it is possible to save you and the rest of your friends.''

    ~For real?!~

    ''Yes. My Representation allows me to be connected to everyone and everything. Unfortunately, I am currently restricted, and you''re the only one I can form a two-way connection with.''

    It sounded simplistic, but Aquarius had to break it down so that the human girl would understand.

    ''As such, I propose a temporary alliance between the two of us.''

    ~What kind of Alliance will that be?~

    If Aquarius had teeth, she would have gritted them with the way Ciara constantly annoyed her.

    There was a reason she had been skirting around the issue and not directly saying it as it was.

    It could have been because of her pride, but also the hesitation that came with her inexperience in doing it before.

    ''A¡­ Bond. The one that exists between Familiar and Host.''

    ~Ahh¡­ that.~

    Aquarius thought Ciara''s tone felt a bit underwhelming, and that bugged her.

    Was she disappointed? Was she expecting something else? These thoughts nearly drove Aquarius mad.

    ''It''s only going to be a temporary one! I''m not doing this because I want to or anything, but it''s the only way! I hope you understand!''

    ~Oh, yeah. Yeah¡­ I totally get it!~

    Aquarius could still feel some hesitation on Ciara''s end, and it hurt her pride a lot.

    She was the most revered and powerful Constetion ever. Plus, this was her first time.

    She had expected it to be a lot more special than this, yet¡­ yet¡­ Aquarius was throwing all of it away to save some humans.

    ''This is all because of you, Jared!'' She cursed under her breath.

    ~What does Jared have to do with this?~

    ''Arghhh! That isn''t relevant! Just forget I said anything about him! Like¡­ anything at all!''

    ~Okay then¡­~

    The way Ciara''s thoughts trailed made Aquarius very doubtful that the girl was trustworthy, but this wasn''t the time and ce for such.

    ''Alright! We will form a Bond, and I will be your temporary Familiar. Just listen to my instructions and do what I tell you.''

    Aquarius expected some form of resistance from Ciara, but much to her surprise, she was docile.

    ~Fine! I''ll do anything to save my friends! Let''s do this!~

    While this was admirable, Aquarius did not like the way it sounded.

    It was almost like this was just a chore for Ciara, and that she had no choice but to do this with Aquarius, to begin with.

    ''Whatever! I don''t even care anymore!''

    Aquarius let go of her ego and pride, and finally settled upon her pact with Ciara.

    Right now, the most important thing was the salvation of the inevitably doomed mortals.

    And so, the energies of the two began to collide and connect.

    Constetion Energy began to seep into Ciara, crystallizing within her as her Core expanded beyond anything she had ever experienced.

    As power flowed deep within her, Aquarius'' voice echoed deep in her thoughts.

    ¡­ Almost as if they had be one.

    ''Let us begin.''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1256 To Save Everyone

    Chapter 1256 To Save Everyone

    ''This¡­ this feels¡­''

    Ciara felt a bliss unlike any other.

    It felt like she was surrounded by cool waters, washing her from within and without.

    Her entire self was submerged in primeval seas of endless abundance. It poured everywhere, permeating through every fabric of her existence.

    Until finally¡­

    "I see it. I see everything!"

    ¡­ She was able to reach the precipice.

    Ciara was able to perceive everything within the Constetion Realm¡ªthe worlds within, and those who upied it.

    She watched as her friends struggled against an adversary they could never defeat.

    She observed the imminent danger they all experienced.

    Watching all of this, Ciara had only one thought.

    ''I have to save them!''

    But how?

    It was too early for Ciara to use Primeval Magic, but she had long passed the territory of her Original Technique.

    As a result, she found a ce at the center.

    And she spoke.

    "[Pseudo-Primeval Magic: Aegir]"

    Once she uttered those words, a tidal wave of energy flowed from within her, like a bottomless sea that consumed all.

    It flowed past the dimensional barriers without any resistance in the slightest, rushing forth through the worlds that she desired.

    These waves were invisible currents of Aether, merely rushing forth as she willed¡­ a representation of her all-epassing nature.

    Finally, after drowning the worlds in her deep waters, Ciara only had to make the thought.

    ''Come to me¡­''

    And ''they'' obeyed.

    ~VWUUUUUUSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    ********

    "H-huh? Where am I? Where are we?"

    "I could have sworn we were about to be consumed by that st!"

    "How did this happen?"

    "Everyone else¡­ is here¡­?!"

    "What''s up with you guys? You look awful!"

    "H-how did you all arrive?!"

    Themotion was vivid, and thebined tension emanating from the various people in the room was palpable.

    Right now, all the surviving members of the team found themselves in a separate, nk dimension

    Kuzon, Edward, and Aloe stared at themselves in shock.

    They already knew of their fates, yet surprisingly¡­ they weren''t dead yet.

    Serah, Maria, Aurora, Beruel, and Ana also have one another equally stunned reactions.

    They too should have died, yet here they were¡­

    Jerry watched the appearance of all of these people, as well as his sudden disappearance from the realm he and Ciara previously upied and his reappearance into this new one.

    ¡­ A dimension without Legris.

    Then, there was one more person.

    "What''s going on here? You all looked so worn out and beat up?" Lemi asked in genuine confusion.

    Unlike everyone else, she had not witnessed or experienced Legris'' invasion and what transpired as a result.

    Of course, she would be surprised.

    All her friends and acquaintances looked immensely anxious or exhausted.

    Some of them even had lost limbs.

    Amidst all this chaos, only one possibility manifested in Lemi''s innocent mind.

    "Were the trials that difficult?"

    No one answered her, though a few stole her short nces. They were all trying to figure out the same thing:

    How they had suddenly been transported to safety¡­ and whether Legris was anywhere in proximity!

    Then¡­.

    ~WHUUUSH!~

    ¡­ Thest of them showed up, her skin pale as she freefalled from a terrifying height.

    Her brte hair danced with the invisible winds as her usually open eyes were closed. Her body had lost all sense of coordination, and it was clear that she was unconscious.

    "C-Ciara!" Jerry screamed, his eyes instantly recognizing the falling girl.

    "I got her!" Lemi yelled, swiftly making her way to the sky in a single stride.

    Teleporting back and forth took only a second, and she returned to the surface with Ciara''s body resting on her two arms.

    "She''s unconscious." Lemi whispered. "She also seems really drained. It doesn''t seem like she''s in any fatal danger, though."

    The reason she knew so much in such a short period was due to her [Original Technique: Absolute Domain], Spellcraft in disguise.

    Of course, Lemi did not know of thetter.

    At least¡­ not yet.

    "I-I see. This is all because of me. Because I encouraged her so much¡­" Jerry muttered to himself as Ciara was ced right beside his ownid down body.

    He still had not recovered, so he maintained his mostly paralyzed state.

    "I must have pushed herself so much¡­ to save everyone."

    Even though most of the people present were confused about what happened, Jerry knew it within himself.

    It was Ciara who saved everyone!

    "Looking at everyone, they''re in pretty bad shape. I don''t know exactly what happened, but you shouldn''t me yourself too much." Lemi smiled at Jerry, patting his head a little.

    Even though Lemi looked about his age, or even younger, she was still hundreds of years old.

    "Your friend will be fine. You will too. Just rest a little, okay?"

    Jerry didn''t know what caused Lemi to suddenly change her personality, but her soothing words caused him to leak out a small smile amidst his pain and guilt.

    "T-thank y¡ª"

    "But you have to tell me about what happened here! I''m dying of curiosity. Is this really about the Trials? Everyone seems so distraught!"

    Jerry found his smile quickly fading away.

    Of course, Lemi wouldn''t change! There was no way she was being so nice and considerate just for the sake of it.

    "W-well, it''s a long story, but¡­ we actually¡ª"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUM~

    Before Jerry couldplete his sentence, something suddenly manifested in the nk realm.

    ¡­ Something ominous.

    Like a ck stain on a pure white surface, dying the world in darkness, a cluster of space appeared.

    And from within that space emerged the malefactor that everyone feared.

    "Hi, everyone. Did you really think you could escape me?"

    Legris Damien stood before all of them with a smile so broad that it extended dangerously close to his eyes.

    Before anyone could even say anything or offer any form of resistance, several ck stains manifested around them, specifically above.

    "You can try to run."

    "Try to hide."

    "But in the end¡­"

    "¡­ I will always win."

    Now a multitude above the helpless ones, towering them in both numbers and height, Legris looked down on everyone.

    A grim reality faced them, inescapable¡­ downright inevitable.

    "Shall we continue from where we left off?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1257 The Invasion Concludes

    Chapter 1257 The Invasion Concludes

    "Shall we continue from where we left off?"

    A multitude of Legrises, at least a hundred, encircled the allies.

    Some of them¡ªlike Ana, Beruel, and Aurora¡ªwere capable of fighting, but most of the rest were already spent.

    Serah and Kuzon had severed limbs, and their Aether levels were considerably low.

    Edward, Aloe, and Maria were perhaps somewhere in the middle. They had exhausted a great deal of their energy, but they weren''t in a spot that was too dangerous.

    Jerry was down for the count, and even if he wasn''t, there was no way he could handle a threat this massive.

    Especially when he had barely been able to defeat just one!

    Ciara was unconscious,pletely out ofmission.

    All of them trembled at the overwhelming presence thag Legris posed, already aware of the kind of scary existence he was.

    Well, ALMOST all of them.

    "What in the world?! Is that Legris? What is he doing here? How did he¡­ hold on, none of you are surprised? Don''t tell me¡­ he''s the reason you''re all like this?!"

    While everyone was on their guard, sweat dripping down their faces, Lemi waspletely bewildered by what she was seeing.

    ''He can make more than one version of himself appear in reality? That''s different from what we know of him! How was he able to infiltrate this ce? What are the Constetions doing? Or¡­ has he found a way to block them out?!''

    Lemi''s mind was going into instant overdrive as she tried her best to fit in all the missing pieces of the puzzle so she wasn''t lost in the context.

    By the time she was able to ovee her initial shock and understand at least the rudimentaries, a few seconds had already psed.

    ''Hold on¡­ he was able to put Serah and Kuzon into such states?'' Lemi looked at Serah''s severed legs and Luzon''s severed hand and leg.

    She couldn''t help but gulp heavily.

    ''Look at how everyone is looking at him. He''s clearly very dangerous! Damn¡­ this is bad!''

    If all of these people, some of which were definitely stronger than she was, could arrive at their conclusion, who was she to dissent?

    Before she realized it, beads of sweat were already forming on her face as she joined the others to look above them at the myriad of Legrises that they would soon face.

    "Hahaha! This is fun!"

    "Entertaining!"

    "Amusing!"

    "Watching all of you like this¡­"

    "Without Jared or Neron to save you!"

    "It''s perfe¡ª!"

    "Shut up, coward. So you finally admit that either of those two would mop the floor with you, huh?" Kuzon yelled, a defiant smile forming on his face.

    Legris'' gaze tightened a little, but his smile did not vanish.

    "I can''t imagine that was easy for you to say. Hope your ego wasn''t too bruised when you let that out." Legris responded.

    "Try to distract from the point all you like, Legris. It doesn''t matter."

    This time, it was Serah who spoke, her voice reverberating in defiance.

    The fact that it was the two most injured people that stood up to Legris first caused even the rest to step forward in resistance.

    One by one, they tightened their fists and narrowed their gazes.

    It was so contagious that even the frightened Lemi gave Legris a nasty re despite how her heart pounded uncontrobly.

    "Despair? Hopelessness? There''s no such thing here¡­" Kuzon took a step forward.

    His arrogant smile oozed nothing but sheer determination.

    "Bring it on!"

    The instant Kuzon made this challenge, silence erupted.

    No one said anything. There was just a silent wave of approval from his allies, and the quiet surprise that Legris gave.

    Rather unfortunately, this decorum did notst long.

    "I see¡­" A Legris spoke, a small sigh escaping his lips.

    "It seems I''ve been too lenient on you." Another uttered.

    Slowly, the legion began to close in on Kuzon and the rest. Darkness creeped in, dimming the light.

    Even with their bold words, it was clear how little their chances of victory were.

    With Legris fast approaching, so was their demise.

    "This time, I''ll show you all¡­ the true meaning of¡ª"

    Suddenly, all the Legrises stopped in their tracks.

    They all nced at each other, as if confirming something. And then after a second, the horde seemed to have a consensus.

    "Let''s end this here for today. I''ll be retreating now¡­"

    Shock filled the faces of the clearly disadvantaged lot.

    Why would Legris choose to leave now, especially when he had just expressed confidence over eliminating them all just earlier?

    It meant only one thing!

    "Looks like I''ll soon havepany." He whispered.

    Dark holes manifested in reality, and the Legris variants began to slip back inside.

    No one dared to interrupt this process.

    Not only did theyck the proper means to eliminate all the Legrises, but doing so would yield no concrete results.

    Legris could not be killed.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    As if piercing the darkness with their overwhelming light, the twelve Constetions suddenly appeared amidst the retreat.

    Time seemed to pause the moment they arrived, and all things in the realm stopped moving.

    "You won''t be leaving this ce. None of you." Aquarius dered, stretching her hand towards the lot of them.

    A few more Constetions budged a little as well, and Legris gave a resigned smile, as if already knowing what was going to happen next.

    "Looks like I was toote, huh? I wasted too much ti¡ª"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    In a mere sh, all the Legrises exploded, transforming into pure light.

    Just like that, all the variants were eliminated.

    The ones within that dimension¡­ the ones that remained hidden in the other dimensions¡­ so long as they existed in the Constetion Realm, they were all eradicated.

    "Begone¡­ tainted one." Aquarius whispered, almost in passing.

    Silence filled the dimension after that, and the massive Constetions slowly turned to the battered group beneath them.

    There was a lot to say, and a myriad of things to discuss.

    They all understood that.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    This ends the invasion. Damn¡­ this could have been an entire Arc, considering how long it spanned for.

    I hope you all enjoyed it, though I know it felt dragged out at some point.

    Looking forward to the next one!

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 Chapter 1258 Aftermath Of The Invasion [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1258 Aftermath Of The Invasion [Pt 1]

    "First of all¡­" Aquarius spoke, her attention turning in the direction of the two most injured persons in the group.

    "¡­ Perhaps we should start with restitution?"

    There was silence in the white hall as the Constetions all looked at each other.

    They nodded, and all of them sent a flourish that spread throughout the entire dimension.

    Glitter-like energy that consisted of many colors floated all about, settling on the injured and tired ones.

    As a result, the exhausted members of the team regained their strength, and even the slightly paralyzed Jerry waspletely healed.

    It felt like he was brand new, and while he was still recoiling in relief, the first thing he did was rush to Ciara and pull her into his arms.

    Apparently, even though Ciara was also healed, she needed time unconscious.

    The power she used to help everyone was that intense.

    With everyone healed up and restored to their prime conditions, two remained the obscure ones.

    Serah Crimson and Kuzon Midas.

    "Legris said I wouldn''t be able to recover my legs anymore. I''m guessing the same applies to his arm and leg. How true is that?" Serah asked the twelve towering beings before her.

    Her expression was a simple scowl, and it was clear that she wanted them to be straight with her.

    Would she be disabled forever? Or¡­?

    "He is correct. You won''t be able to recover your limbs any longer. If it was possible, you would have recovered them already."

    Once Aquarius told them of the need, Serah but her lip slightly, while Kuzon clicked his tongue and clenched his fist.

    "I had a feeling that would be the case¡­ damnit!"

    The others watched them, unsure of what to say. In such a situation, both of them had lost vital parts of their bodies.

    Was there really any word of condolence that could be considered appropriate here?

    "Do not despair, you two. Just because the both of you can not recover them doesn''t mean we will allow you to remain cripple."

    Once Aquarius said this, surprise formed on Kuzon and Serah''s faces.

    It was clear that they were hesitant to fullymit to the hope that they would be whole again, but neither could resist the temptation.

    "I thought you said¡ª"

    "Yes. Rather than regenerate what can no longer exist, we will be remaking new limbs for you."

    In essence, the Constetions would make organic parts for the both of them, independent of their bodies, and then graft the limbs to make them whole.

    "That will¡­ work?"

    "Indeed." Aquarius nodded, and then turned to her side to speak to one of her siblings.

    "Cancer can do that."

    At that point, the crab-like entity stepped forth, his body radiating starlight. His legs moved slowly, and every one of his giant steps seemed heavy and imposing.

    He left the ranks of the Constetions, who were all surrounding the now-recovered group, and approached Kuzon and Serah.

    "Here we go¡­" He whispered, stretching out his pincers.

    The moment he did so, the glowing start light that decorated his body began to glow brighter, and some of them bled out of his exoskeleton.

    Suddenly, four items began to appear before him.

    Three of them were legs¡ªtwo looking feminine¡ªand one was a hand.

    Once the limbs were created, he sent them towards their respective owners, properly grafting them into their missing areas until they connected seamlessly with them.

    "You''re up, Capricorn." Aquarius said, turning towards the other Constetion who had been waiting for their turn.

    "Sure thing!"

    Capricorn''s eyes glowed from where they stood, and the points where the newly made arm and legs connected to the old flesh began to glow, and by extension all of the body parts belonging to the te targets

    Once Capricorn was done, Cancer was already back in his position, and everyone was whole.

    "Cancer deals with Creation. Capricorn deals with Constance." Aquarius addressed the two who still seemed to be recoiling in surprise.

    They moved their limbs as if they were little children, happiness oozing from their smiling faces.

    "While Cancer created your new body parts, Capricorn ensured they were permanent changes onto reality. As such, you can be assured that they won''t disappear or fall off one day."

    "E-excuse me, great Constetion¡­" a certain voice pierced the air.

    It belonged to Aurora, the Elf Queen. She had a solemn expression on her face, and she was even bowing¡­ a position unfit for a ruler.

    "No need to be overly formal, little one. I am listening." Even though Aquarius said that, it was clear that she was satisfied with Aurora''s show of respect.

    It was far better than the impudence of certain humans.

    "Can you bring back our lostrades?" She asked straightforwardly.

    "Ahh¡­"

    For a while, there was dead silence.

    "Gerard died in front of me, but I also can''t see Z''ark here, so I have to assume he''s also gone. Could you¡­ bring them back?"

    No one spoke. Deep within their hearts, they were all asking the same questions.

    And that was whether or not the Constetions could save the fallen.

    The answer, however, was one they were expecting to an extent, yet still shocked to hear.

    "We cannot. The fallen kings¡­ can never return."

    The crestfallen faces of everyone present told of their true emotions regarding the despairing answer they received.

    "M-may I ask why?" Aurora uttered, her tone breaking at this point.

    "I suppose it''s time we have our long overdue conversation¡­" The Constetions slightly fidgeted as Aquarius said this.

    It was clear that this was just as difficult for them as it was for the mortals.

    "We need to discuss Legris¡­ and the implication he has on our reality."

    Another moment of silence rang through the nk space, with the only thing audible being Aquarius'' sigh.

    This was by no means something easy to say, but she had to utter it anyway.

    "Legris Damien¡­ does not exist.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    It''s about time to dive deep into the mysteries here, and finally get closer to the climax.

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 Chapter 1259 Aftermath Of The Invasion [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1259 Aftermath Of The Invasion [Pt 2]

    The Constetions had just said something unbelievable.

    It was so absurd that everyone who heard them took a while to fully absorb their words, and the consequences that came with them.

    "Legris Damien does not exist? That makes no sense! He clearly does."

    Kuzon was the one who spoke up, revealing what everyone else thought in their mind.

    He tightly gripped his new hand as he spoke, recollecting how he had lost his limbs and almost his life to the fiend.

    How could the Constetions say something so absurd now¡ªespecially after all they had just experienced?!

    "Ahh, perhaps I used the wrong word there. It''s more akin to the fact that he does not exist the same way everything else exists."

    That didn''t do much to exin what Aquarius meant, so confused faces greeted her still.

    "Everything that exists in this Treees from the Root. The same applies to the Nether Tree. There are only two of those trees in existence, a duality that maintains an intricate bnce¡­"

    "I thought Legris was from the Nether Realm." Serah said, her brows raised slightly.

    "He¡­ isn''t. At least, that doesn''t seem to be the case. He does not exist within any of the Trees, and so he is not connected to any Root. Legris has no ties with the only sources of existence, which is why I said he doesn''t not exist."

    Once Aquarius exined it like that, a majority instantly understood what she said.

    Still, that raised even more questions.

    "Before we delve more into the topic, we would like to render our utmost apologies to you all." Aquarius stated to all herrades, and much to the surprise of the mortals, all the Constetions slightly bowed their heads.

    An apology from twelve boundless entities¡­ it was overwhelming for the ones who watched them do so.

    "N-no, it''s fine!"

    "Really¡­!"

    "It couldn''t be helped!"

    They instantly recoiled, muttering their respective excuses as to why the Constetions didn''t need to lower themselves so much.

    "To be honest, we are still surprised that he could invade our domain. If he is capable of such, it simply means that nowhere is safe from his influence."

    The Constetions raised their heads, making the atmosphere more bearable.

    Though, the tension remained.

    "How long had he been nning this? How was he able to execute his invasion so seamlessly? There remain questions we do not know¡­"

    It was rare to see boundless entities utter words like "We do not know," yet it seemed like that was the case at this point.

    "We are well aware that we have notpletely gotten rid of him, even with the destruction of his hundred variants. And that is because his very existence rejects our power."

    Once again, Aquarius was met with curious stares, but she ignored them.

    "The endgame of his invasion eludes me. He didn''t seem to have an endgame in mind, but¡­ that is extremely unlikely."

    "Ciara said he was stalling for time. Maybe that has something to do with it!" Jerry spoke up impulsively, quickly realizing the weight of his actions.

    He shrunk back the moment attention was pushed in his direction.

    "I see¡­" Was all Aquarius gave as a response to the observation.

    In the end, that still gave them no headway into figuring out his true motives.

    He was stalling for time? Why?

    The question remained unanswered.

    "You still haven''t told us why you can''t resurrect our fallen Gerard and Z''ark. I''m personally curious about your reasons." Ana suddenly spoke up, flexing her sses as she stared at the twelve.

    "I have my suspicions as to why, but you should know more than I do."

    The Constetions all looked at Aquarius, who had been their mouthpiece thus far, and she nodded while giving a momentary sigh.

    It was finally time to divulge the truth.

    "Anything Legris affects loses their connection to the Root and takes on his qualities . As a result¡­ they cease to exist."

    The ck stuff that Legris used was the architect behind this phenomenon.

    "Legris mentions how the effects of their nonexistence will spread throughout the Tree if he leaves. How true is that?" Serah asked.

    "He isn''t incorrect. Even now, the effect of Z''ark and Gerard''s nonexistence will affect the history of your world, especially in events that they previously participated in, or indirectly influenced."

    An example Aquarius gave was the Demonic Incursion, as well as the Nether Wars.

    Without Gerard and Z''ark leading their respective squads, even more casualties would have urred, and by extension, more damage would have been wrought.

    "That sounds terrible!" Aurora gasped.

    "Indeed. Fortunately, we managed to contain the ripple effects of their nonexistence¡­ at least for now. That is the best we can do, given the situation."

    "In essence, the good news is that our reality will be safe from Z''ark and Gerard''s existential erasure, but the bad news is that they''re gone forever." Ana asked, her tone as grim as it was inquisitive.

    "I suppose you could put it that way."

    "I see. I see."

    An awkward tension hung in the air. The people did not know whether to grieve for the permanent loss of their allies, or to brace themselves for what woulde next.

    "Legris is an extremely dangerous¡ª"

    "Did Jared know about this?" Kuzon interrupted Aquarius with a question.

    His tone was borderline disrespectful, but the suppressed annoyance within his voice was not for the Constetions.

    It was directed at someone else.

    "That is not in our ce to say." Aquarius responded.

    "Don''t mess with us! It''s a straightforward question, isn''t it?" Kuzon suddenly yelled, his annoyance evident on his face.

    However, once Ana ced her hand on his shoulders and slightly shook her head in disapproval, he slowly began to calm himself.

    "I apologize for raising my voice. However, do you want to know what I think" He still had a frown on his face as he spoke.

    No one said anything. Perhaps they already knew what Kuzon was driving at before he said anything.

    ¡­ The fact that Jared knew this truth all along

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

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 Chapter 1260 Aftermath Of The Invasion [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1260 Aftermath Of The Invasion [Pt 3]

    "I always found it strange that Jared didn''t bother resurrecting the dead ones in that world where we found Legris, even though he should have been able to. We would have gotten more information from them, and if that Hero was strong enough, he could have been an ally. The possibilities were endless, yet he didn''t even try."

    Kuzon began, his tone growing harsher with every odd he uttered.

    "And it wasn''t just that world. Every world we passed through, we saw civilizations that had crumbled and loves that were destroyed. Jared would only mourn them and increase his rage towards Legris. Yet, not once did he try to save or resurrect them¡­"

    The more he said, the more the people around him realized where Kuzon was headed.

    "I always assumed it was because we were in a hurry, but it''s uncharacteristic of Jared not to even try saving those he can. With what happened in thatst world¡­ I chalked it down to his rage and all the frustration he had culminating in a single point, but now¡­ now it all makes sense."

    Kuzon stared at the Constetions¡ªespecially Aquarius¡ªwith resolve in his eyes.

    "Jared knew all along. He knew those worlds were doomed already. A world without a Hero existing¡­ civilizations without certain people¡­ they were lost causes. That was why he didn''t even try."

    The moment Kuzon said this, his tone became softer.

    "That idiot¡­ he knew all along and decided not to let us in on it. He shouldered all that alone¡­ burdening himself with theplete erasure of those realities!"

    Even though no one said it directly, they realized that the vigers that were saved would soon amount to nothing.

    ording to that world''s history, their Hero saved them from the Demons.

    Without Zephyr, none of them would even exist.

    In essence, they were all probably dead.

    No, not probably.

    "All those people¡­ they''re all dead. He knew that all along. That was why he was so upset. That was why he despised Legris so much¡­"

    Tears fell from the young Midas'' eyes as he remembered all the moments throughout their journey that Jared led the charge, not even saying a word about the ruined worlds they passed through.

    Back then, he thought Jared was focusing solely on the mission and cold heartedly ignoring the casualties he could have saved.

    Now¡­ now he realized how wrong he was!

    Kuzon wasn''t ming Jared¡ªfar from it.

    Instead, he empathized with his best friend. He closed his eyes and felt his heart racing uncontrobly.

    ''I''m sorry, Jared! All those people¡­''

    Everyone felt the solemn atmosphere press in on them, and the Constetions knew better than to say anything to interrupt the moment.

    However, amidst this emotional crescendo, a soft voice echoed through.

    "Where is Jared?"

    Everyone looked in the direction where the mild and calm voice came from, and they found their eyes on Maria.

    Her pale face and expressionless demeanor made her appear to be the only calm person in the room.

    Her eyes, however, disyed a sadness that was impossible to ignore. Her lips moved once again and she asked the same question.

    "Where is Jared?"

    Determination was etched in her gaze, and so, even when she did not receive an immediate response, she opened her quivering lips once more to ask:

    "W-where is Ja¡ª?"

    "He''s in secluded training. He left the realm a while back, and it''s unclear when he''ll return." Virgo answered.

    Aquarius instantly turned towards her, but Virgo shrugged it all off.

    "It''s no big deal. It''s not like he told us to keep his whereabouts a secret."

    There was no arguing that.

    "Besides, she''s his lover. I think she deserved to know."

    Aquarius sighed and waved dismissively.

    "It''s fine. What is done is done. It is true that Jared is currently not present, but that is merely a tangent, since his return is beyond our control."

    Aquarius'' point was simple.

    They could not rely on Jared at the moment, hence they had to focus on the more important and controble parts of the situation.

    And that led them to the next issue.

    "What to do with the rest of you¡­"

    It was clear that everyone present had grown considerably since they first arrived in the Constetion Realm, but as proven by their just-concluded battle with Legris¡­ they were still no match for him.

    When considering the situation, their surprise andck of understanding of Legris'' abilities yed huge roles in their defeat, but even looking at the grander image, it was difficult to imagine them achieving overwhelming victory if Legris had decided to definitively eliminate them.

    "He was buying time. He wasn''t going all-out."

    If he was¡­ how exactly would the situation have ended? That was left to anyone''s guess.

    "U-urgh¡­ what''s going on here? So¡­ loud¡­"

    Ciara''s groggy voice suddenly pierced the air, and everyone''s attention instantly fell on her.

    They watched as shepletely regained consciousness. As she rubbed her eyes, yawning and stretching, silence took charge.

    ¡­ Until Aquarius spoke.

    "You did well, Ciara. I acknowledge that. Without your assistance, all the mortals in this room would be dead."

    It was very difficult to imagine how just one girl had altered their fates, especially since she still had a small amount of drool on her face.

    However, it was the truth.

    "While I am a bit hesitant to admit this, we make a pretty good team, Ciara. If you desire¡ª"

    "JERRRYYYYYYYY!!!"

    The moment Ciara fully realized what was happening, she turned her entire attention to Jerry, hugging him tightly as he cried out loud.

    "I''m so d you''re okay! You''re all healed up too! Ahh! Hope you aren''t feeling any residual pain anywhere!"

    Jerry, whose only pain stemmed from how tightly Ciara was hugging him, knew there was only one answer he could give her.

    "I-I''m perfectly fine!"

    Fortunately, his muffled speech was more than enough tofort her.

    "I''m so happy! You''re alive! You''re alright!"

    Apparently, she either didn''t hear Aquarius or chose to ignore her.

    Because¡­ she never acknowledged the Constetion''s words or existence.

    ¡­ Ever!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    ssic Ciara¡­ hahaha!

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 Chapter 1261 Taking The Initiative

    Chapter 1261 Taking The Initiative

    "On this day, we mourn the death of two allies. Two friends."

    Serah spoke up, her voice ounting for everyone present.

    Even the Constetions who did not possess mortal thoughts or emotions could feel the solemn mood resonate within them.

    They gave a moment of silence for the grief to set in.

    No one uttered a single word, not until the minute mark had psed, and everyone could finally sort out the deaths within their minds.

    Of course, the deaths affected some more than others.

    However, the general consensus on the matter was that this was a tragedy.

    One that could not happen again.

    "What should we do next?" Kuzon asked, his attention on the Constetions, but his question was also directed at his fellows.

    "The effects of Gerard and Z''ark''s existence erasure have been slowed down, but it''ll eventually catch up to reality. Before that happens, we''ll have to stop Legris¡­ permanently." Serah responded to Kuzon, equally shouldering the resolve he had burning in his eyes.

    A couple nces at the faces of everyone present showed they were mostly on the same page.

    "Stopping Legris won''t automatically make it so that the existence erasure would be halted. It''s simply to prevent any further loss." Ana added, flexing her sses once more.

    Everyone stared at her at this point, and she decided to borate her point.

    "Aether receives the souls of the dead and uses those to recreate new life. That''s what Jared exined to me. Legris keeps killing people and causing them to cease existing. Without those souls returning to Aether, the bnce of life and energy will be affected."

    At this point, Aquarius broke the silence of the Constetions with a sigh.

    "You are right. The Aether Tree is dying, and without the souls sustaining life¡­ reality could copse."

    The grim possibility resonated deeply with everyone who heard it.

    A couple of them even gulped.

    "That is still a possibility of the far future. We must act to ensure that never happens." Pisces echoed out, swimming in its massive bubble of water.

    "We just have to be precise."

    The unfortunate matter with the Constetions was that they were bound by the Unwritten Laws, and as such, could not reject adherence to thews of the world and their existence.

    And so, they couldn''t stop the existence erasure, even if they wanted to.

    "How can we be more precise? What else can we do?" Kuzon suddenly burst out, his fists clenched in repressed frustration.

    "We were doing our best to train, to prepare for the inevitable battle ahead, and he suddenly showed up¡­"

    Everyone''s face darkened the moment Kuzon mentioned that.

    "Legris came here and almost killed all of us. You also  said it yourself¡­ nowhere is safe from that madman."

    "So what do you suggest?" Aquarius asked.

    "The only thing we can do at this point. Strike back at Legris, and doing it on our own terms!"

    Once Kuzon said this, murmurs began to echo within the nk ne.

    Mortals spoke in hushed tones, and a few Constetions whispered to one another.

    "Your proposal is reckless, to put it lightly." Aquarius spoke out.

    "But it''s efficient. If we aren''t proactive, then we lose this battle!"

    Even Kuzon knew how absurd it was for him to suggest going after Legris after all they had just experienced, but he had his reasons for doing so.

    "Legris took the risk to invade this ce. We still do not know his true reasons, but he ignored the risks and dived head-on to the conflict to achieve his goal."

    Sure, they weren''t immortal like Legris, and perhaps they weren''t as strategic as he was.

    However¡­!

    "If we do not take the initiative now, then we run the risk of either being attacked, or Legris progressing even further with his ns."

    If they were caught by surprise again, it would spell doom for them.

    Their powers would fail them, and they would be sitting ducks.

    "The best way to win is to attack. And we have to attack now! That''s what I think."

    Once Kuzon finally settled down, he looked around him and was met with mixed reactions.

    "Are you sure this isn''t just your frustration speaking?" Aloe, who had been silent for a while, asked.

    "Perhaps I speak from frustration. But that doesn''t change the validity of my words." Kuzon sharply responded.

    "I agree with Kuzon."

    This time, it was Edward who spoke.

    "Every time, Legris has always had the upper hand. That''s because he is more proactive and we are reactive. If we do not actively hunt him down, then wouldn''t that repeat the same cycle?"

    "What if this is exactly what he wants? What if he wants to goad us into attacking him?" Lemi spoke up, her voice low, but not inaudible.

    "Every second Legris is out there, potential lives are being lost, and it will cause a ripple effect to the lives that should be born in the future. If we do not act quickly, we''d be risking all of those lives!" Aurora sharply responded.

    "But if this is what he wants, wouldn''t that mean we are ying into his hands? I do not want to seem heartless here, but if we are being pragmatic, our lives need to be safeguarded since we are the ones Jared entrusted to bond with the Constetions and defeat Legris."

    Everyone turned to Beruel, who had uttered those words. While it seemed very cold, it was rooted in logic.

    However, logic was not the only driving force for action.

    "So what are you suggesting?" Serah asked, stepping forward as she folded her arms.

    "We should defeat Legris, but only after millions, if not billions more potential lives are lost?"

    No one responded to Serah. Not even Beruel, who had a reasonably logical position.

    "There shouldn''t be a debate on this. I don''t understand why we are arguing about this when the answer is obvious." She stepped forward, looking at the Constetions.

    Aloe, Lemi, Beruel, and whoever else was on the opposing side, only sighed in resignation as Serah took charge.

    "We are going after Legris. That''s the only way forward."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Whose side are you on?

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 Chapter 1262 The Work Must Be Done

    Chapter 1262 The Work Must Be Done

    Silent agreement echoed in the nk hall once Serah made her deration.

    Even those who had taken the logical or opposing side knew that deep down they also desired to stop Legris as swiftly as possible.

    "If we are smart about it, we should be able to stop him from whatever he is nning." Serah added, turning to Kuzon, and then to Ana and Lemi.

    "We have strategists among us. Plus, we have the infinite wisdom of the Constetions. All we need is appropriate power and the path we need to take¡­ and we will charge into battle."

    The Constetions instantly knew what Serah was trying to say.

    "You want us to select our Hosts now?"

    "That''s right. The Trials were meant to be used by you all as metrics to see if we qualified for your power. I don''t know about the others, but I have proven my worth already." She responded, now staring at each and every one of herrades.

    "While the Trial was ongoing, none of us called it quits, and even when Legris attacked, we braved the storm of his unpredictable invasion¡­"

    Serah smiled at this point, her brows narrowing to show serious resolve.

    "I''d say we are more than ready!"

    The faces of everyone brightened up at that moment¡ªwith the only exception being Lemi.

    Rather than smile and nod like the rest, she had a guilty expression on her face.

    Perhaps that was because she knew howzy she was during the trials, and how she didn''t even face Legris throughout his invasion.

    Out of everyone present, wasn''t she already disqualified?

    "We also need to strategize on his to track him down, and what to do when we find him." Kuzon added, taking a step forward as well.

    "To be able to do that properly¡ªespecially thetter¡ªwe all need to be fully aware of our abilities."

    In essence, for the sake of the mission''s sess and the overall efficiency of their task, the Constetions had to choose their Hosts quickly.

    "I see. We will need to discuss among ourselves before reaching a final consensus." Aquarius said.

    "Is there anything else?"

    "Shouldn''t we wait for Jared?" Maria''s voice suddenly echoed in the hall.

    Her question was perhaps the most pertinent, considering how almost everyone in the room had the same thoughts tucked at the corner of their mind.

    It was a question that caused everyone to fall silent the instant they heard it.

    "Jared came up with this whole method to stop Legris. Shouldn''t he be here while we make such a monumental decision?" Maria further asked.

    If it was Jared, surely he would be able to give a more urate analysis of the situation and even profer a more advantageous strategy.

    "I think we should wai¡ª"

    "No. We can''t." Kuzon interrupted Maria with his words.

    "Why not?"

    "Were you not listening thus far? There''s no time. The very reason we decided to be proactive was so we wouldn''t just sit around and give Legris the advantage once again."

    Kuzon felt his tone was a little harsh, but those words had to be said.

    "Besides, we don''t know when Jared is going to arrive. Rather than doom the world while waiting for his arrival, it''s better we are proactive." Ana added in a sigh.

    "Even you, Ana? You really think Jared would dy that long, even with all that is at stake?" Maria asked in slight disappointment.

    "I believe Jared knows how severe the situation is, and he''s working on a solution on his end. We just have to wait and¡ª!"

    "Wait and what? Let Jared handle everything, as usual? Don''t you think we''ve burdened Jared enough? All this time¡­ he makes the ns and shoulders the burdens¡­ every time¡­ all the time¡­"

    Kuzon''s brow was furrowed in slight rage. His words did note from a ce of envy or inferiority.

    No, it was consideration.

    "I''m tired of leaving it all to him. Even if it''s just a little, I want to ease his burdens. That should apply to everyone here."

    Kuzon looked around him, and he smiled a little.

    "Isn''t that why he assembled us as a team? So we could do things that he couldn''t? So that we would be able to contribute when he wasn''t around?"

    It was a bitter pill to swallow, but everyone present knew they were inferior to Jared in both intellect and power.

    But¡­

    "We are still his allies, and we are still his friends! We need to act like it!"

    Despite everything that Kuzon said, Maria was not satisfied with their current position.

    She turned to Serah, almost as if begging for her intervention.

    However, even Serah would not take her side.

    "Jared did not wait for Neron before chasing after Legris, did he?"

    The moment Serah said those words, something within Maria ached.

    "Even though Neron is reasonably strong, and this mission would be much easier if he was participating¡­ Jared understood that we couldn''t just wait around while Legris was causing so much havoc."

    "Neron left behind a message! He clearly intended for Jared to go on without hi¡ª!" Maria tried to offer a rebuttal.

    "But what if he didn''t? What if Neron said nothing? Would Jared have made a different choice?"

    Maria fell silent, unable to respond to that query.

    "I have asked myself that question for a while now, and there is only one answer thates to mind¡­" Serah said in a whisper.

    "No. He wouldn''t have made a different choice. Jared would keep moving forward."

    Considering how much Jared respected Neron, and how close the two were, he was still willing to take action without Neron.

    It was all for the sake of the world.

    "We should follow Jared''s example." Serah finally posited.

    She walked closer to Maria, cing her hand on the young girl''s shoulder. A softened expression was on her face, and it was clear that Serah wasn''t saying this easily.

    "I''m sorry, Maria¡­ but we need to get rid of Legris once and for all."

    If Jared was present, it would certainly be much easier. But right now, he wasn''t.

    And everyone had to ept it.

    "The work must be done¡­" Serah smiled softly.

    Her crimson eyes met Maria''s azure ones, and they both nodded in understanding.

    "¡­ Even if they have to do it without Jared."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Do you think they made the right choice? I wonder¡­

    Also, next chapter we get to see something nice.

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 Chapter 1263 Prelude To Amalgamation [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1263 Prelude To Amalgamation [Pt 1]

    In a dark world, devoid of life and hope, a man sat on a chair.

    The chair was mangled and twisted, like a cluster of tree branches sewn together to form an ugly chair.

    Not only did it look ufortable to sit in, but it was immensely unattractive and wretched as well.

    Still, this man that sat had a smile on his face as he remained on this throne of his, obscured by the darkness that surrounded him.

    Then¡­

    "You''re back."

    ¡­ He finally spoke.

    He lifted his gaze to the two people that now approached him.

    One was a young man who had long dark hair, while the other was a beautiful maiden with pure white hair¡ªboth existing as sharp contrasts of each other.

    "Yeah. We are."

    "And we brought the goods."

    As Stefan Netherlore and Ciel spoke respectively, they carefully stared at the countenance of the man they were reporting to.

    The wide grin on his face made him resemble a fiend rather than a man.

    "Um, Legris¡­ that''s quite a scary smile you have on your face." Stefan made this observation public, and Ciel nodded in agreement.

    "Ahh¡­ my apologies."

    Legris rose from his twisted throne, and the moment he did so, the twisted thing faded away into obscurity.

    "I still don''t know why you sit on that thing. It looks so ufortable." Ciel murmured, and then sighed.

    "Oh, it is. It''s very ufortable. But I suppose that''s why I like it so much." Legris smiled, his dark coat clinging tightly to his body.

    "That difort¡­ It reminds me of why I can''t getcent. You could say it keeps me on my toes."

    This response of his was followed by a p on the face by Ciel, and an emotionless reaction from Stefan.

    "Ahh, you wouldn''t get it. Anyway, let''s return to the main topic." Legris shrugged slightly.

    The crux of the matter¡­

    "Just so you know¡­ we were barely able to meet the quota."

    "It was especially difficult when you began rushing us towards the end."

    As Ciel and Stefan kept up their excuses, Legris dismissed them with a slight wave.

    "I also used more power than I predicted, so I can''t me you all. Everyone has really be stronger thanst time. It''s quite scary, to be honest."

    "How many were you able to eliminate?" Ciel swiftly asked, not even allowing Legris to breathe before showering him with curiosity.

    "Just two. The remaining run amok." Legris sighed, watching as Ciel''s facial reaction slowly devolved into one of disappointment.

    She even booed him and pouted, causing him to grasp his chest a little as he feigned being hurt by her reaction.

    "I worked hard, you know¡­?" He murmured.

    Doubtful stares greeted him, causing him to sigh this time.

    "Let''s just get to the point, shall we? Let me see the goods."

    As if materializing it out of thin air, Ciel brought out a multicolored orb. Stefan followed suit and brought out his own as well.

    The orb seemed like a ball made of ss, with energy of varying colors shing and merging within it.

    They stretched their respective orbs toward Legris, and he took them both for observation.

    Once more, the wide and twisted smile on his face made them shiver slightly.

    However, none of themmented on it this time.

    What would be the point?

    "Haaa¡­ this is it! This is what it''s all about." Legris spoke to himself, caressing the orbs with so much satisfaction that he seemed to be drooling.

    Engrossed in the beauty and pristine nature of the orbs, but more importantly, the energy that was trapped within them, Legris'' wide eyes reflected their bright colors.

    It was no surprise or mystery; he was pleased.

    "By the way¡­ how was Maria?"

    "Huh? Did you say something?" Legris snapped out of his trance as he stared at Stefan.

    "You mentioned how you fought everyone. That means you met and battled Maria as well, right?"

    "Yeah¡­?"

    "So I was asking how she was. How was Maria?" Stefan asked once again.

    "If you''re asking about how strong she has be, then she''s quite impressive now. But I think you''re currently stron¡ª"

    "I don''t care about that. I don''t really want to know how strong she has be. I just want to know how she is doing¡­"

    For a moment, silence reigned in the dark realm.

    It was an awkward moment, with Legris confused on what to say and Ciel being absolutely disinterested in the topic.

    "I-I see¡­" Was all Legris could mutter.

    "Never mind. It was just a fleeting thought. Pay it no mind." Stefan shrugged.

    This was the first time in a while that Stefan had shown such emotion, but it was soon clouded over by his usual cold and aloof expression.

    The conflicted expression on Legris'' face made it clear that he was considering addressing Stefan''s question, or at least further understanding what he meant.

    However¡­

    "So what now, Legris? You have all this energy¡­ what next?"

    Legris smiled the moment he heard that, snapping out of the brief moment of consideration he had towards Stefan.

    "It''s finally time to begin the [Amalgamation]." He responded, drawing both orbs that were in his respective hands close to each other.

    The balls of energy began to react as they neared each other, disying sparks of immensely concentrated power.

    As soon as they touched each other, both orbs began to absorb the other until the two became one.

    A single orb, slightly bigger than both energies, but far more powerful than the sum of their parts, now rested in Legris'' right hand.

    He stared at it with deep hunger, and then uttered more words.

    "Now that the two of you have stolen enough Aether for me, I can supply the deficit with the Nether in my collection."

    Chuckling lightly, Legris gave his twisted grin and nodded at his conspirators.

    "With the both of them at my disposal, I should have more than enough energy to begin."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    We are now drawing closer and closer to Legris'' endgame.

    Though, you have to wonder how these two were able to steal all that Aether for him.

    I''m sure you already have your theories.

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 Chapter 1264 Prelude To Amalgamation [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1264 Prelude To Amalgamation [Pt 2]

    This had always been the n from the start.

    While Legris was distracting everyone, he would sneak in his two allies into the Constetion Realm and make them steal the energy for him.

    ''I had to blend them in with their surroundings, so I mimicked the effects of [The Tower] Arcana and tweaked some aspects of it to make the Spell [Nowhere].'' Legris smiled to himself.

    Using that, he was able to mask the presence of his T?? allies, making it so that they would gorgely unnoticed.

    However, it was still possible for them to be detected¡ªespecially by troublesome Constetions like Aquarius.

    That was where he came in.

    By causing so much chaos that could not go unnoticed, he diverted all attention to him, and all the panicking Constetions were too bothered about trying to stop him and protecting their wards that they failed to notice Stefan and Ciel.

    As a result, they were able to obtain as much energy as he wanted them to.

    All without any interference.

    ''And now, with both of them farming enough energy for me, I can finally begin [Amalgamation].''

    Having allies made all of this possible, and he could now see the appeal of strong individuals like Neron and Jared sharing bonds with those much weaker than them.

    ''I couldn''t have pulled this off without them.''

    Then, there was one final thing that tugged at him at the edge of his mind.

    Something he would have left there if not for Ciel opening her lips to ask him.

    "What of Jared Leonard? Was he among the ones you were able to kill?"

    That name made him twitch a little, but Legris only chuckled in response to the silly question he was asked.

    "Of course not. I was only able to kill fodder. I didn''t even encounter Jared¡­ thankfully."

    With how much trouble everyone gave him, he could only guess how far Jared would have pushed him if he was present.

    "Oh? Where was he?" Ciel asked.

    "He probably went into seclusion. Knowing his personality, he''s currently developing a method to eliminate me for good. That was both the worst case and best case scenario."

    "What do you mean by that?" This time, it was Stefan who spoke.

    "If we hadn''t taken the risk that we had, then Jared''s decision to go into seclusion would have been the worst case scenario. He would have probably been able to seed and corner us before we gathered sufficient energy, thus ending this whole thing in his victory."

    That was checkmate.

    Fortunately, he and his allies decided to take the far riskier option.

    "Now that we have all we need, and Jared is still working with the previous time frame in mind, we have the advantage. In essence, while he is stuck training, we can advance our agenda." Legris smiled.

    "Hence¡­ the best case scenario."

    It was almost hrious how their chances of sess or failure hinged on a 50-50 possibility.

    "Fortunately, we are on the winning end."

    Ciel gave a wide grin, while Stefan''s expression remained constant.

    "So, what do we have to while youmence this [Amalgamtion]?" The white maiden asked in excitement.

    Out of the trio, she seemed to be the most energetic.

    Her desires would soon be fulfilled, after all.

    "Ahh, yes! This is the most sensitive part of the n, so we have to be the most cautious and proactive at this juncture."

    The smile on Legris'' face soon faded away, reced by an expression of sheer seriousness.

    "[Amalgamation] has to ur in some form of reality, which means I can''t do it here, where it''s safe."

    The reasons were difficult to exin to his allies, but Legris understood his powers and the process more than anyone else.

    ''Everything here will be absorbed, so it''s impossible for me to begin it in this ce.''

    "I''ll be at my most vulnerable once [Amalgamation]mendes, and since I''ll be in reality, it means I can be attacked by Jared''s allies." He said in a sigh.

    This was perhaps the weakest link in his n.

    ''Being in a state where I am unable to act is certainly the worst. However¡­''

    "You''ll have to defend my chrysalis while I am undergoing my evolution." Legris stared at the two before him.

    This was the part where they shined the brightest.

    ''There''s no escaping or circumventing this process. This is the major reason why I needed powerful allies, to begin with.''

    Without them, everything he had built this far would fall apart.

    "Understood." Stefan nodded firmly.

    "Can we take them all, though? You said they''ve all gotten stronger." Ciel asked.

    As her valid question reverberated across the dark world, Legris gave a small smile.

    "It won''t be easy. But, don''t worry. You''ll have help."

    As Legris said this, silhouettes began to emerge from the pitch ck ground behind Ciel and Stefan.

    This caused the two to swiftly react and face the apparitions that suddenly manifested.

    "These will be your colleagues¡­" Legris'' voice echoed as the two witnessed the entities born from darkness, and how they slowly approached.

    They were all familiar faces.

    "Gerard. Z''ark. Hero Zephyr¡­ and the other strong foes we have encountered during our journey together." Legris dered.

    These beings barely resembled their previous forms. They were all corrupted by darkness, pale and ckened by Legris'' dark power.

    "All nine of them will support you. That makes ten who will serve as my guards while I undergo [Amalgamation]."

    Something about the math didn''t add up, so Stefan brought it up almost instantly.

    "Shouldn''t that be eleven?"

    "No. A total of ten is fine. I have a different task for you, Stefan." Legris smiled at the young man before him.

    "Do you not trust me to guard you?" Stefan asked, narrowing his gaze slightly.

    "That''s not it. Haha!"

    As Legris chuckled at Stefan''s question, tense silence filled the room.

    "Your task is just as important. Think of it as coteral¡­ a contingency, if you will."

    After a brief period of saying nothing, Stefan finally nodded in agreement.

    "Okay."

    "Perfect!" Legris beamed in relief and satisfaction.

    With all his cards present, and his n aligning to the perfect point, it was finally time to initiate his final phase.

    "Let it begin."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

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    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1265 When Darkness Surfaces

    Chapter 1265 When Darkness Surfaces

    I could see nothing.

    I knew nothing.

    Everything came and went, like a blur, washing over me as I remained in the dark.

    Within my chrysalis, I held my breath and awaited my rebirth.

    Still, I had onesting thought that endured despite my submersion into power.

    ''Everyone¡­ I''ming soon!''

    ********

    Within the Constetion Realm, the surviving eleven members of the team were surrounded by the 12 Constetions.

    Like small entities before massive pirs of power, so was the sight that yed out.

    At this point, they were mostly done contemting, or rather deciding, on the path to take on the issue of their target.

    However, before anyone could reach a solid conclusion, something happened.

    Something¡­ ominous.

    "W-what is this?!"

    The first to detect anything was Aquarius.

    Her eyes would have widened if she had any, but her voice depicted the precipice of shock.

    Not long after she sensed the ominous urrence, the other Constetions began to realize what was happening as well.

    "T-this is¡­ no¡­ already?!"

    The mortals were surprised by their actions, but not for long.

    ~BEEP!~

    ~BEEP!~

    ~BEEP!~

    A ring rm rang from Ana''s watch, causing her to swiftly take note of its cause.

    The moment she looked at it, her eyes widened as she loosened her jaw in shock.

    "Is this what I think it is?" She gasped, her brows creasing in worry.

    "What''s the matter? What''s going on?" Kuzon asked, his face resonating with the worry that Ana was experiencing.

    Serah and the others also had simr reactions.

    The fact that the Constetions had been able to sense something that made them so stunned, and Ana was also able to detect something that drove her to worry, meant that it was a serious event.

    But what was it?!

    "You were right, Kuzon. We need to act fast." Ana murmured, her eyes still fixated on her watch.

    Before she could utter the reason why she thought so, Aquarius decided to speak.

    "Legris has appeared in reality once more, and this time he seems to be within a cluster of power. Power I have never once experienced gathered in any ce but one."

    Silence greeted Aquarius'' words, until Serah interrupted with her words.

    "Where?"

    For a moment, it seemed the Constetion would not answer, but after a brief moment of decorum, he responded.

    "The Root."

    Surprises filled everyone''s faces instantly. How could Legris appear in a cluster of power that rivaled the Root itself?!

    "He also seems to have allies with him. He''s currently within the cluster of power¡­ like a cocoon." Aquarius added.

    No matter how anyone sliced it, the situation was already looking grim.

    "It''s his endgame. I was wondering why he attacked alone, but isn''t there a possibility he was using his allies to absorb energy undetected while he distracted all of us?"

    Lemi''s words resonated with everyone, and it was at this point that they realized just how much they had been yed.

    "That means he''s in the final phase of his n, right? We have to stop him or else¡ª!"

    "Calm yourself, Edward. We need to know what we''re dealing with first. We need a proper strategy too, or else it''s just going to go likest time." Serah swiftly interrupted.

    Everyone within the nk realm recognized how skilled Legris was at strategizing. There was no way he didn''t foresee their interference with his endgame.

    "I really don''t want him to achieve whatever goal he has if it involves powerparable to the Root."

    Kuzon''s words resonated with those who heard him, and they all nodded in agreement.

    "In the end, what we have to do hasn''t changed. We need your help, Constetions. Is it possible for you to get rid of Legris before hepletes whatever process he is undergoing?" Kuzon asked, now turning to Aquarius.

    She shook her head gently.

    "No. We cannot do anything. I have already tried, but the ''nothingness'' he has shrouded himself with makes him immune to our interference."

    Once more, everyone was reminded of the limitations that encumbered the Constetions.

    "If you can''t interfere with him, how can we hope to stop him?" Aloe asked, her face depicting a tad more worry than the others in the room.

    At this moment, the Constetions were their strongest Allies. If they couldn''t do anything¡­ then who could?

    "Martial Arts seem to work on Legris for some reason, right? Perhaps it''s the same in this situation." Lemi swiftly spoke up, gathering more and more from what she had listened to thus far.

    "Why else would he put guards to protect him if he wasn''t vulnerable? If we employ our most powerful Martial Artists to strike him directly while the rest of us deal with the guards, we might stand a chance."

    Her suggestion made a lot of sense, and it caused most to bob their heads in approval.

    Eyes fell on Edward, and partially Kuzon. Serah also sighed, raising her hand to show she was interested in joining.

    If three of them would go on the straight offensive to Legris and whatever he shrouded himself with, then they stood a chance against the full manifestations of his ns.

    "How many guards did he employ?" Lemi asked Aquarius.

    "I am unsure. His powers are affecting my ability to properly detect their numbers."

    The moment Aquarius said this, Lemi clicked her tongue in annoyance.

    ''Useless¡­'' Her thoughts trailed.

    "What was that?" Aquarius asked, her tone instantly showing how she had most likely heard what the Half Elf had said deep within her mind.

    "A-ah¡­ nothing! I apologize!" Lemi swiftly yelled,ughing awkwardly.

    "Hmph!"

    With Aquarius thankfully overlooking Lemi''s blunder, thetter clutched her chest and sighed in relief.

    "We are still yet to discuss or undertake the most important element we require for this n to work." Kuzon dered, staring at the Constetions that surrounded the eleven.

    "Kuzon''s right." Serah stepped forward, her brows furrowed in sheer seriousness.

    "You all need to choose your Hosts now."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    The final conflict draws nearer, so buckle down and be prepared.

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    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1266 The Host Selection [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1266 The Host Selection [Pt 1]

    Silence filled the nk room as Serah made her deration.

    She spoke with a firm tone, one which many would consider disrespectful.

    However, it was only a testament of her resolve.

    There was no time to squander, and she was going to be risking her life to protect existence from whatever Legris wanted to do.

    There was no way she could tolerate any hesitation on the part of the Constetions.

    She wanted decisive action from them too, and she wasn''t alone in this desire.

    One after the other, the other members of the team stepped forward and joined her in this deration. Their faces reflected equal resolve, and while a few were nervous, they stood their ground.

    ''This is no time to show weakness. We''ve been training for this moment!''

    Serah did not know about anyone else, but she was more than ready for the power they would bestow on her.

    ''And if it will bring me one step closer to stopping that monster¡­ then I won''t ept NO for an answer.''

    Aquarius fidgeted slightly once she noticed the thoughts and gazes of the mortals on her and the rest of her siblings.

    She recognized precisely what drove the mortals to behave in such a brave manner, and she realized she could no longer deny them the rewards for their struggle any longer.

    Besides, they truly needed all the help they could get.

    "Very well. But we still need to deliberate on¡ª"

    "Is there really any need for that?" Virgo interrupted Serah with a sigh.

    It caused the head Constetion to look at her with what could only be recognized as a frown.

    "Virgo has a point, though. We could all just make our picks. It''s not like it really changes much." Gemini responded.

    "Yeah. We all have our varying tastes, so there''s hardly going to be a conflict of interest." Pisces added.

    In the end, Aquarius'' desire for a bureaucracy was not necessary.

    "Haaa¡­ fine! Make your pick." Aquarius sighed, waving her hand in resignation.

    "You should pick first, Aquarius. You''re the oldest and strongest, anyway." Virgo swiftly added once more.

    "W-what?!"

    "I agree!"

    "Me too!"

    "The honor should go to you!"

    Several, if not all, of the Constetions made it so that she had to choose her Host first.

    "Of course, if you don''t want to pick anyone¡­ you can always waive your right." Virgo''s sly smile radiated across her pure face.

    "What''s your concern anyway, Virgo? You already have a Host, don''t you? Stay out of this!" Aquarius spoke in mock annoyance.

    "Sure¡­ sure¡­"

    The rest of the Constetions backed off as well, leaving Aquarius alone with her thoughts.

    It was finally time for her to decide.

    No one could see her expression, so it was difficult to understand her thoughts on the issue.

    The only one who knew what was on Aquarius'' mind¡­

    ''Haa¡­''

    ¡­ was Aquarius HERSELF.

    ''¡­ What should I do now?!'' Her thoughts echoed in a panic.

    Currently, the Head of the Constetions was in a dilemma.

    For eons, since her birth, she had never fully settled on a Host¡ªtemporary or permanent.

    However, all of that changed during the Legris invasion.

    Due to the circumstances, she had to create a temporary Bond with a certain human¡­ and thatpletely altered her position in the entire concept.

    As someone who had kept her streak for so long¡­ finally losing it in such a way felt a little unfulfilling.

    The tension had worn off, and an emotion simr to regret began to kick in.

    But¡­ other than that feeling¡­ something else manifested.

    It rose from Aquarius'' very depths, an overwhelming sensation she could not ignore.

    ¡­ A longing for more.

    ''I want to feel that again. Bing one with someone¡­''

    It was almost like she was addicted to it, despite only getting a taste.

    ''Now I know why everyone keeps having Hosts despite the repercussions.''

    It was an euphoric feeling with an irresistible allure.

    Aquarius understood all of that now. As such, her desire for a Host was at its strongest at the current moment.

    However, this presented the major issue she had.

    ''None of them arepatible with me!''

    The kind Aloe, the mature Beruel, the strong Serah, the gentle Maria, the pragmatic Kuzon¡­ heck, even the immensely intelligent Ana and Lemi.

    None of them were her type.

    None except someone¡­ the one she had bonded with the first time.

    ''No! Anyone but her!'' Aquarius nearly cried internally¡ªthough that wasn''t even possible¡ªas she stole a nce at Ciara Epilson.

    Even at the moment, she was distracted by the Jerry boy beside her.

    Aquarius held no strong opinions on Jerry. In fact, she thought he was weak. Yet, Ciara kept clinging to him¡­ and it was puzzling.

    She couldn''t understand the girl at all.

    ''She doesn''t respect me. She has no regard for anyone but that man, and¡­ and¡­''

    Before Aquarius could go any further in belittling Ciara, she remembered their encounter.

    The memory shed in her mind almost instantly.

    ~Fine! I''ll do anything to save my friends! Let''s do this!~

    Those were the words Ciara uttered when push came to shove.

    ''She was also able to be calm under pressure, and she recognized the situation almost as soon as she was shown.''

    Before Aquarius realized it, she began to notice Ciara''s positives. And then, slowly, she became enamored by the youngdy.

    She no longer stared at her with a look of disgust or annoyance, but that of curiosity.

    Almost like a man would look at a wild rabbit and desire to understand why they acted in such savage manners despite having endearing qualities as well.

    ''I can''t deny it any longer¡­'' Aquarius sighed to herself.

    "¡­ I want her."

    As soon as Aquarius pointed at Ciara, the entire room descended into silence, and the hosts of Constetions let out joint gasps.

    This was a miracle! It was something unprecedented under the heavens.

    Aquarius¡­ THE Aquarius¡­ had finally chosen a true Host?

    And it happened to be with the girl she seemed to detest most of all?!

    "N-NO WAY!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Looks like Ciara and Aquarius have some sort of cool bond that we get to explore more.

    I like this¡­

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 Chapter 1267 The Host Selection [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1267 The Host Selection [Pt 2]

    "N-no way!"

    "N-Nani?!"

    "She really chose someone?!"

    "Impossible!"

    "M-masaka!"

    "Unbelievable! I can''t believe this!"

    One after the other, the Constetions spouted words of shock that stunned everyone present.

    This was a momentous asion, one that deserved to be recognized through all of reality.

    However¡­

    "We are currently facing a massive threat to the world. Can we all focus, please?"

    The moment Aquarius said this, the noises caused by her surprised siblings slowly went into a lull.

    She sighed in relief, happy that her embarrassment could finally be diminished.

    However¡­

    "I knew you would get addicted after one try, Aquarius. Congrats, big sis."

    ¡­ Virgo was not done yet.

    Her sly smile once again betrayed the purity she was meant to disy. The way she winked so sensually made Aquarius nearly give out.

    The humiliation she was experiencing was too much to bear.

    However, as someone who had been present since everything began, Aquarius tapped into the deep recesses of her patience and endured.

    "Let us proceed." Aquarius managed to croak, taking her eyes off her naughty little sister.

    "Ciara Epilson, you have the right to ept or reject my offer. What do you say?"

    Even though Aquarius said this calmly, she was panicking within.

    Thest time she had tried suggesting something, Ciarapletely ignored her and focused on Jerry.

    What if something simr happened again? What if Ciara didn''t want to be her Host?

    What would she do then?!

    ''No one else ispatible with me here! I don''t want to have to settle. No¡­ I won''t settle no matter what!''

    If Ciara didn''t ept her, then she would have to¡ª

    ''Should I force her? Ah¡­ no, I can''t¡­''

    In the end, she had to make her own choice.

    That was the right thing to do.

    "You''re the strongest Constetion, right? I have no reason to refuse!" Ciara''s response was genuine, but it also stung Aquarius a little.

    If she wasn''t the strongest, would Ciara''s answer have been different? She couldn''t help but think down that line.

    "Besides¡­ we made a pretty good teamst time. It would be cool having you as my Familiar."

    Upon hearing this, Aquarius'' heart leaped a little.

    Just a little.

    "A-ahem! Likewise. I look forward to working with you."

    Ciara broadened her smile, and even though Aquarius had no such facial features¡­ she would be smiling if she had one.

    For a few moments, there was silence. No one uttered a word¡ªalmost as if waiting for Aquarius and Ciara to be done with their staring contest.

    "Alright, alright! We can initiate the Bonding Process once we all choose our respective Hosts." Libra spoke, stepping forward.

    "It''ll be annoying if we do this in order of strongest or weakest since that line is pretty much blurred with the rest of us." They added.

    Unlike in Aquarius'' case, where everyone recognized her as the most powerful, the rest of the Constetions existed on a simr level.

    They had differing areas of jurisdiction, but their levels remained on the same tier.

    "If no one objects, I''ll choose my Host now." Libra raised one of their six hands and pointed it in the direction of one.

    "Aloe Vida. I choose you."

    For a moment, no one spoke. Aloe''s face was etched with some measure of shock, but she controlled herself.

    Then¡­

    "Libra, you cheat! You knew I was going for her!"

    "No wonder you quickly wanted to pick!"

    "I should have known!"

    A few Constetionsined, but Libra shrugged and looked at Aloe with a smile.

    "So¡­ what do you say?"

    Aloe remained quiet for a while, and then she nodded slowly.

    "I would be honored."

    Her response caused Libra to smile and nod as well.

    "Same as me."

    Libra walked away after their brief exchange, looking at the few Constetions who were stillining.

    "You can also choose her. There''s no rule against someone having more than one Constetion as a Familiar, you know?"

    This was only a joke, though.

    Every Constetion knew how immensely possessive they were.

    They would never choose to share a Host with another Constetion, talkless or more than one.

    The only exception to this was Neron.

    He had three Constetions as his Familiars, a feat no one else had achieved in the entire Aether Tree.

    But, that was only possible because of who he was¡ªa Singrity

    The most special being in all of existence.

    Having three Constetions at his side was only to be expected.

    Compared to Neron, Aloe did notpare at all. As a result, the other Constetions instantly backed away.

    "My turn! My turn!" The next to step forward was Taurus.

    His usual rowdy personality instantly caused him to steal the spotlight, which allowed the other Constetions to back off.

    This too was an unspoken rule amongst them.

    The courtesy of Constetions.

    "I choose you, Serah Crimson." Taurus pointed at the redhead with pride.

    Contrary to what he expected, though, she had the same expression on her face.

    "I see. Thank you." Was her response.

    "E-eh¡­?" Taurus was conflicted. He had never gotten such a response before.

    Anyone would jump at the opportunity to be his Host, yet what was with herckadaisical attitude.

    "I also choose you, Serah Crimson!" Another Constetion took advantage of the current situation, most likely hoping Serah would choose them instead.

    It was none other than Scorpio!

    "Scorpio, don''t you have any shame? I already chose her!"

    "Shame? What''s that? Can I eat it?" Scorpio chuckled to himself.

    "You snooze, you lose! She clearly doesn''t think you''re her type."

    "W-what?! That''s not true!" Taurus protested, and then a bead of sweat formed on his face.

    The possibility that maybe, just maybe, Scorpio was right began to seep into his thoughts.

    "T-that''s not true¡­ right?!"

    "Of course, it''s not true." Serah spoke up, causing Taurus'' paling fade to gain a bit of color.

    "You''re exactly my type." Her deration caused Taurus to grin.

    "See, Scorpio? Turns out I¡ª!"

    "You''re also my type, Scorpio. I choose the both of you." Serah dered, arms folded.

    The instant she said that, both Constetions paused and stared at each other in surprise.

    "E-eh?"

    There was definitely something wrong with this arrangement, and they could see it instantly.

    "Um¡­ Serah Crimson¡­ we''re the ones meant to do the choosing. Not you." Scorpio spoke out.

    "Ah¡­ is that so? Then I ept your choosing me. The both of you."

    Once again, her brazen words struck them.

    "Is that fine now?"

    The way Serah''s crimson eyes focused on the both of them, unmoving and unyielding, and the unfathomable depths of her resolve, won them over.

    The two Constetions stared at each other for a moment, and then shrugged slightly.

    "Fine. The two of us, then¡­"

    This was a surprise amongst those who witnessed the event. Even if Scorpio was to agree, no one expected the meathead Taurus to do the same.

    That went to show just how valuable Serah was to him.

    The only thing Taurus valued was strength, and the fact that he desired Serah to such an extent only proved one thing.

    Serah Crimson was immensely strong.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    The rest are yet to get Familiars, but do you think there''ll be anyone left out of the equation?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1268 The Host Selection [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1268 The Host Selection [Pt 3]

    "I choose you."

    The next to speak was Pisces.

    The fish-looking Constetion remained in their glossy bubble as they picked their candidate by staring right in their direction.

    This time, the one chosen was Beruel.

    "I am honored." The Fairy bowed his head slightly and spoke courteously.

    He had not expected himself to be chosen at all by a Constetion, and so early too. He always thought he would be among the leftovers, considering hiscking abilities.

    But now¡­ having being noticed and selected by a boundless entity, he felt genuine relief and satisfaction.

    Pisces said no further, stepping back until the next Constetion took their ce.

    Thus far, eight out of the twelve Constetions already had their Hosts¡ªor potential Hosts¡ªchosen.

    The ones who remained were Ana, Lemi, Aurora, and Jerry.

    As the four of them stood, waiting to be epted or rejected by another Constetion, the next voice emerged.

    "I choose you." This time, the one pointed at was Aurora Vindiel, the Elf Queen.

    She too followed Beruel''s previous example and bowed slightly in response to being chosen.

    A warm smile coursed through her face, and the relief within her washed away any of the anxiety she had felt prior to that point.

    "I am honored."

    Capricorn wasn''t the Constetion she personally desired, but they were still a Constetion.

    That had to count for something.

    Once Capricorn was done choosing their Hosts, the remaining three stepped forward, almost simultaneously.

    There remained three people left, and three Constetions, and while the simple solution would be to assign each individual to a Constetion, reality was far from that.

    Just as Serah had proven, it was possible for two Constetions to choose just one Host.

    It was also possible for them to choose none.

    In essence, the three who remained were equally under the risk of rejection.

    "Anabelle¡­ I choose you."

    Cancer''s deration finally eliminated the silence in the room.

    The crab-like Constetion''s expression couldn''t be properly deciphered, but something about their tone echoed with amusement.

    It seemed they were enjoying the situation.

    "Thanks. You won''t regret it!" Ana grinned in response to her Constetion''s decision.

    "Oh? Bold words."

    Ana smiled, nodding excessively as she stared at him.

    "I''ll back them up soon!"

    Something akin to a chuckle escaped Canced''s lips as he nodded slightly.

    "Then I will be looking forward to that."

    Afterwards, he strolled back to his position, leaving the remaining two Constetions.

    Tension sifted through the air as both leftover individuals stared at one another, and had the same expression on their faces.

    They were sure they wouldn''t get chosen.

    For Jerry, the reason behind his thoughts was simple.

    He was too weak.

    The Constetions had made it abundantly clear that they valued the capabilities of those who desired to be their Hosts.

    He just didn''t reach that threshold.

    ''I tried my best, and I''ve grown stronger¡­'' His thoughts trailed.

    ''Even if I do not get any Constetion as my backer, I won''t give in! I will keep growing stronger!'' His eyes burned with resolve

    As such, despite the tense situation he found himself in, Jerry still maintained his smile¡­ a feat that could not be said about the other one.

    Lemi was trembling profusely, trying her best to hide the sweat that dripped down her skin as her face tried to conceal the immense anxiety that coursed through her.

    She knew within herself how disqualified she was.

    Not only did she breeze through the Trials, but since Legris never assaulted her throughout his invasion, she was never able to disy her true power.

    In essence, she was even worse than Jerry!

    As the both of them watched the Constetions, each convinced of their inadequacies, a Constetion spoke.

    "Jerry¡­ I choose you."

    Sagittarius was the one who uttered those words, and the authority with which he said them made the room tremble.

    It also caused Jerry''s face to warp into that of downright shock.

    He genuinely was not expecting this!

    "Do not look so surprised. Your ideals and passion resonate well with me. For what is power without the ideal to back it up. I shall grant you power, so show me how you will fulfill those ideals."

    Upon hearing the message given by the Constetion, Jerry began to tear up.

    His vision became blurry as he felt a wave of uncontroble emotions wash through him.

    He had always felt inadequate, but now¡­ with a boundless entity admonishing him so much¡­ how could he not smile?

    "T-thank you! I am honored, Lord Sagittarius!" He yelled, bowing as low as he possibly could.

    "I will not disappoint you."

    Sagittarius'' chuckle echoed within the realm. However, it wasn''t one of mockery or contempt.

    It was one of pride.

    "I am sure you won''t."

    This exchange between both Constetion and man was awe-inspiring to say the least. Everyone present who watched them could testify to that.

    Some smiled in relief for Jerry, while some were simply stunned by how beautiful it was.

    But there was one who felt even worse after experiencing this.

    ''I-is this the end? Even Jerry managed to get a Constetion despite me hoping we would berades.''

    Lemi knew she was supposed to be happy for Jerry, but she just couldn''t be genuinely d he got a Constetion and she was left behind.

    No one liked being the odd one out, and she certainly wasn''t an exception.

    "Why do you look so worried? It''s hrious." Hearing the voice of thest Constetion who hadn''t yet chosen spiked Lemi''s senses, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.

    "Eeep!"

    "Haha! You''re amusing." The Constetion then said, chucking to themselves.

    Lemi''s nervous gaze fell on Gemini, the twins who were conjoined as one, as they looked at her with contrasting expressions.

    One wasughing at her, while the other seemed more calm.

    "W-well¡­" Lemi stuttered.

    Not only was she not going to be chosen, but even now a Constetion was picking on her.

    She could feel herself sinking into new lows.

    "I like you, Lemi." Gemini responded¡ªthe yful one, of course.

    "Eh?"

    Lemi was still stunned by this statement, but the next one shocked her even more.

    "I choose you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    d to see everyone got Familiars¡­ right?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1269 The Task Begins

    Gemini had always been the most entric of the 12 Constetions.

    Unlike each who had a set personality, they had two.

    Gemini was Duality.

    Hot and Cold. Light and Dark. Good and Evil. They bordered on prizing concepts and personalities.

    And so, it only made sense that they would choose someone who embodied that very concept.

    "I don''t particrly like you, but¡­ you are certainly appealing."

    "Haha! Don''t be so mean! You''re gonna scare her!"

    The two sides of the Gemini Constetion conversed, oneughing and one simply maintaining an unamused expression.

    It felt odd that they were one and the same, but who could everprehend matters that rted to the Boundless ones?

    "I-I see. Thank you for the honor¡­" Even Lemi, despite being relieved that she was also chosen, felt a little awkward addressing the two personalities.

    Which of the two was she supposed to look at first? How was she meant to address them? It felt too weird for her, but she did her best not to say anything about that.

    She simply bowed and smiled respectfully, hoping that would be enough.

    Thankfully, it was.

    The Gemini Constetion soon began to argue between themselves, causing them topletely ignore her at that point.

    ''I don''t even know if I should be happy or not¡­'' Her thoughts trailed.

    ''At the very least, I managed tond one. That''s what matters! There''s no way he''ll think I cked off now!''

    Even at this moment, Lemi couldn''t help but think about Jared and how he would be pretty impressed by her achievement.

    ''I didn''t fall behind my peers! That''s what matters most.''

    And even now, with the mission about to begin, she was determined to give it her all.

    ********

    After the Selection Process was finalized, the Constetions began their Bonding with the respective Hosts they chose.

    As a result, the Constetion Realm experienced a surge of interlocking energies.

    The mortals became a part of the Constetions, and vice versa¡ªinitiating a link that transcended the bounds of concepts.

    All of this, within a single moment.

    "It is done." Aquarius dered, standing ahead of the rest of her siblings to represent them.

    Before her, and the other Constetions, we''re the eleven who would now represent them in order to defeat their world''s ultimate evil.

    "Serah Crimson. Kuzon Midas. Edward Karl Leon. Aloe Vida. Lemi Vindiel. Jerry Keller. Beruel. Aurora Vindiel. Maria Helmsworth. Anabelle Frederick. And¡­ Ciara Epilson¡­" She began, her voice echoing with authority and admonition.

    "¡­ Existence is relying on you."

    It was still unknown what Legris'' endgame was, but the nature of his power and non-existence made him a threat to anything that existed.

    He could not be allowed to remain.

    "We wish you all good fortune."

    As the group of eleven bowed before the Constetions, they all had the same burning expressions in their eyes.

    The look of resolve.

    On this very day¡­ at this very moment¡­ the final battle to determine the fate of everything was to be held.

    Who would win? Who would lose?

    No one knew for sure.

    However¡­

    "We will win." Said Kuzon as he looked at the rest of his allies.

    Everyone nodded in confirmation.

    Whether or not they believed in the certainty of Kuzon''s words was one thing, but they all shared one thing that drove them forward.

    The one thing that made them move forward despite the deaths of theirrades and the despair that was most likely waiting for them.

    ¡­ A fear of what would happen if they lost.

    And so, like a chorus¡ªan exaltation of the soul¡ªeveryone repeated the same thoughts deep in their hearts.

    "We have to win."

    *********

    The cocoon of darkness upied an entire universe.

    It was a mass of nothingness.

    The ckness was tightly knitted together, leaving no space exposed.

    Unlike the Nether Hive, it was iparable in size or density.

    But, most importantly, it did not leak out any remnant energy¡ªor the inverse.

    Instead, like a solid block of darkness, it sat within a universe, its massive frame taking in everything.

    "It''s huge." Kuzonmented as he watched it from afar.

    Everyone else stood behind him, except for Serah and Edward who were in his unit.

    "No. It''s beyond huge. This is phenomenal."

    Ana was currently wearing her goggles, and they were glowing as intensely as she was ring at the sphere.

    "The good news is that it doesn''t seem to be leaking any of that Inverse Energy that Legris has, so it should be safe to approach it." She added, flexing her sses a little.

    "Everything seems to be concentrated on the interior. The external walls just serve as a shell. That means we should be able to destroy it with enough force, right?" Lemi added, to which Ana nodded slightly.

    Despite the good news, her worried expression remained.

    "The problem has to do with whates next. If we break the shell, we have to think about the contents that will spill out."

    In essence, all of the Inverse Energy being stored within the massive cocoon.

    "I can''t help but think of this like a bomb. One of this size should be able to consume tons of universes if its contents leak out." Ana muttered to herself.

    If they were to break the shell and interrupt Legris'' n, then they risked the very worlds they were trying to protect.

    "Not necessarily." Lemi spoke up, her tone slightly more optimistic than the situation at hand demanded.

    As expected, all eyes instantly shifted to her.

    "We could ask the Constetions to cut off this Universe from every other Branch. By isting it, even if the bomb goes off, it has no other universe to infect."

    A small smile formed on Ana''s face as she heard Lemi''s suggestion.

    "Pruning it off, eh? That''s a solid n."

    All that was left was confirmation from the Constetions that they could indeed do that.

    ~Leave that to us, then. Once you destroy the shell, we''ll prune out the universe.~

    Once everyone collectively heard Aquarius'' voice, they nodded in optimism.

    "It''s going to be especially dangerous for the team responsible for destroying the cocoon." Ana shifted her gaze to Kuzon, Serah, and Edward.

    "You three should immediately teleport the moment yound the dealing strike."

    ~There''s no need. I''ll personally draw them out once they''re done with the task. All you need to do is focus all your energy on the objective.~

    Once again, Aquarius'' voice rang out.

    "Well, that makes this so much easier." Edward grinned, though nervousness tugged at a corner of his mind.

    "We just have to give it everything we have." Serah smiled.

    "So the n has been established. We advance to destroy the cocoon. The rest of you hold back Ciel and Stefan, or whatever other challenge Legris has put in ce to stall us. And once the job is done, we all get teleported away by the Constetions while the affected area quickly gets pruned."

    After saying all that, Kuzon smirked.

    "Pretty straightforward, right?"

    As simple as all of that sounded, everyone recognized how immensely difficult it was going to be.

    Nothing ever really went ording to n, and there was no guarantee that this would be an exception.

    "Now then¡­" Kuzon, as well as everyone else, turned to face their objective with pure focus.

    "¡­ Let us begin!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    The final showdown is about tomence. This should be fun!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: /magecrafter

 Chapter 1270 The Clairvoyant Laughs

    Chapter 1270 The irvoyant Laughs

    "Wee¡­"

    The voice was strangely calm. Its eerie softness echoed in the vacuum of space.

    As the soft lips opened up to utter more words, the speaker''s golden eyes radiated such warmth that it became scary.

    "¡­ I''ve been expecting you."

    Right now, Ciel was floating a distance from the dark cocoon, her eyes fixated on the approaching group.

    She had a pleasant smile on her face, and even though she was meant to be intimidated by the crowd that neared, nothing about her pleasant demeanor was tainted.

    Her white attire remained stagnant as she stood still, waiting for the group to draw even nearer¡ªuntil they stood a short distance from her.

    "Only eight of you? I thought there would be more." Ciel smiled as she looked at the team.

    She could see Maria Helmsworth, Anabelle Frederick, Beruel, Aurora Vindiel, Lemi Vindiel, Jerry Keller, Ciara Epilson, and of course Aloe Vida.

    The gang was all present¡ªor, almost.

    "I see what you''re trying to do. You want to distract me, or overwhelm me, with this first unit¡­ while your specialized unit would go ahead to destroy the Cocoon." Ciel smiled, her eyes glowing even brighter.

    "Am I right?"

    As her question echoed in the void, a series of ps suddenly manifested.

    "As expected. It seems that was a bust." Kuzon appeared, and so did manifested.

    "As expected. It seems that was a bust." Kuzon appeared, and so did Serah and Edward.

    All three of them stood right in front of the other eight, their demeanors unchanged from before.

    "Nothing escapes my eyes." Ciel responded. "Besides, Legris already informed me of your number and details. There''s no way I could forget it if you were a few members short."

    This, right here, was the weak link in their n.

    Even if they wanted to sneak past Ciel, it was impossible for two reasons.

    "Your irvoyance and your caution¡­" Kuzon murmured as he sighed.

    Ciel''s Original Magic was [Eye Of The Wise], and it allowed her to see all things present.

    In essence, perfect irvoyance.

    "I could see all of you from when you were a distance away. There''s no way I would allow any of you to sneak past me."

    This was where caution yed a big part in.

    As long as Ciel knew the group was iplete, she would never allow herself to be distracted or overwhelmed by the rest of the team''s onught.

    If push came to shove, she would move to the defensive and try to buy time.

    In essence, trying to be sneaky wasn''t going to work on Ciel.

    07:31

    "Where''s Stefan? I find it unbelievable that you''ll be alone." Serah finally broke the silence.

    The question caused Ciel to leak out a small chuckle.

    "What''s that supposed to mean? That I can''t take you on myself?"

    Her question was met with silence.

    "Thest time we fought, I was in a very pathetic state. I was drained, and in that state of weakness¡­ I struggled quite a bit against you all." Ciel smiled, almost as if forgiving them for her disgrace.

    "I admit that you''ve all grown stronger. You can all use Aether now, and I can sense Constetion Shards within every single one of you¡­"

    Despite knowing all that, Ciel still had a confident demeanor.

    "Still, I''m curious about how far I can go against you all¡­" She murmured.

    Despite her ramblings, no one responded to her.

    Everyone in the group already knew how pointless it would be to try to converse with someone as insane as Ciel.

    Not only could they not reason with her regarding Legris'' shady intentions, and how it would be detrimental to everyone, but they had learned from experience that Ciel was most likely on board with whatever twisted ideal Legris had.

    This was the same woman who paved the way for the Nether''s return.

    She was just as evil as Legris.

    "We don''t have time for this. We''re forcing our way through." Serah said.

    It was clear that Ciel was trying to buy as much time as possible.

    Stalling was not beyond her capabilities.

    "Well, you''re going to find that a little difficu¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Before Ciel could conclude her words, Maria and Ana rushed towards her, their bodies glowing with pure Aether as they struck.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    As soon as the explosion reverberated across the vast space, Serah, Kuzon, and Edward rushed forward, their goal standing right in front of them.

    As they did so, the rest of the team charged towards Ciel, surrounding her from all angles to prevent her from even trying to prevent the advance of their assault unit.

    The n had still not changed!

    "We''ll hold her off! Hurry and do the needful!" Ana yelled at the trio who were now racing towards the dark ball before them.

    It would take theirbined strength to generate enough power to take down something of such magnitude in one charge, so they had to sync their attacks.

    Kuzon nced to his left and right, properly absorbing the determined expressions of Serah and Edward, as he too strengthened his resolve.

    While his teammates were doing their best in their mission, he would try his best too.

    Nothing else mattered at this point.

    Nothing but the mission!

    "Absolute Emperor¡ª!"

    Right as Kuzon was about to transform, same as the other two with him, the most unexpected rush of power interrupted them.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Shadows rushed forth, as if emerging from the ck cocoon itself.

    They lined up right in front of the trio, barricading their advance.

    Normally, the three would have tried to force their way through.

    Unfortunately¡­ they could not try something that risky.

    Not this time.

    "Hahaha! It seems you''ve figured it out."

    As Ciel''s voice echoed all across the stifled space, she suddenly appeared behind the lined-up adversaries that stood between the team and their target.

    Her grin widened, forming a wicked smile, as she took in their reaction to what they were seeing.

    "T-this is¡­?!"

    "No¡­ no way¡­"

    "He¡­ didn''t¡­!"

    Right in front of Kuzon, Serah, and Edward, were apparitions that resembled their friends.

    "Gerard! Z''ark!" Serah yelled out, calling for two of the nine shadowy existences that stood in their way.

    At this point, their bodies were pale¡ªgrayed out by the corruption they had been submerged in.

    Darkness clung tightly to their bodies, and they had lifeless expressions on their faces.

    Clearly, these weren''t the people they once were.

    And what of the other seven?

    Each of them had distinct looks¡ªfour women, and three men¡ªwith simr nk expressions written on their faces.

    Their identical aesthetic oozed despair, and the slumpy way they acted made it certain what these were.

    "Corpses. They''re already dead." Aloe murmured, half in disgust with the other part holding in her annoyance.

    At this point, the second group had rendezvoused with Kuzon''s unit since Ciel vanished behind the undead battalion.

    All nine of the current adversaries were clearly dead, yet thanks to whatever Magic was being utilized on them¡­ they were alive.

    "They have the same Inverse Energy as Legris. This won''t be easy." Ana murmured.

    "Why don''t we y a little game?" Ciel announced, her grin only widening even further.

    "Take your pick! Choose your adversaries, and fight to the death!"

    Silence followed her words, as the group was still contemting what to do.

    "Defeat your adversaries and advance to your goal¡­ is that not fair?" She asked, her eyes bulging with excitement.

    No one spoke still.

    "Very well. If you won''t pick¡­" Her tone had a deadly undertone, enough to alert everyone who watched and waited.

    "¡­ I''ll choose for you!"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1271 Game Initiated

    Chapter 1271 Game Initiated

    Silence.

    Perhaps this was the best answer to give in a situation where no one knew precisely what to say.

    Ciara had just proposed an interesting game, but no one dared to take the bait.

    That was because they knew of its callous nature.

    ''If we decide to y the game, it''s going to draw this confrontation out for even longer, which means more time on her end¡­'' Kuzon thought to himself as he analyzed the situation.

    ''Unfortunately, it doesn''t seem like she''s giving us much of a choice here¡­''

    As long as they had Inverse Energy on their side, Ciel could ensure they dragged out the fight for longer than necessary.

    ''If we pick them off one by one, we have a better chance of swiftly eliminating them and proceeding to the target.''

    Right now, Ciel was in control. She could see everyone and everything around her, and there was no way they could pull of a universe-destroying attack without her notice.

    In the end, they had to take her¡ªor at least, most of the adversaries

    ¡ªout before proceeding with the crux of their objective.

    ''The ideal situation is for Serah, Edward, and I to quickly eliminate our adversaries and reach the goal.''

    Fighting Ciel could also be the most optimal strategy, but knowing her, it was a risky venture to attempt.

    Since they were the key yers¡ªthe arrowhead of their mission¡ª

    Kuzon knew it would be ill advised to tackle Ciel.

    ''We can have the other strong or intelligent members of our team handle her. As for the three of us, it''s best we handle the weaker ones so we can swiftly end it and move to the real thing."

    Conserving energy was something that crossed his mind, but since they had the full backing of the Constetions this time, he didn''t think it would be a problem.

    ''Right now we need to be decisive. There''s no room to hesitate any longer.''

    Kuzon didn''t care if he was ying Ciel''s game or not.

    What mattered was that they beat her at it.

    ''Ana and Maria, you handle Ciel. The rest of you¡­ pick your opponents!'' Kuzon sent his mental message to everyone in the team.

    ''Serah and Edward, make sure you pick weaker opponents so it''s easier to defeat them and advance!''

    Right now, efficiency was what mattered most.

    ~UNDERSTOOD!~

    The response of the majority echoed in Kuzon''s mind, though one person was yet to respond.

    ~I''m taking Gerard.~

    Serah''s response to Kuzon''s instruction made him sharply turn to her.

    ''Are you being personal right now?''

    ~Don''t worry, it won''t jeopardize the mission. After all¡­ ~

    Serah smiled, her eyes seeming more distant than usual.

    ~¡­ He''s weaker than I am.~

    Once she established this, exuding all the confidence one would expect from someone of her caliber, Kuzon sighed and nodded in agreement.

    ''Very well. Let us begin.''

    Right as Kuzon concluded his thought, Ciel was just finishing her second suggestion.

    "¡­ I''ll choose for you!"

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    At that split moment, Maria and Ana rushed towards Ciel as the rest of the group charged at whoever they chose as their targets.

    In no time, the once well-orchestrated confrontation¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    ¡­ Devolved into an all-out war.

    ********

    "Hahahahahahahahaha!!!"

    Ciel''s maniacalughter echoed as she freely dived into the vacuum of space.

    She was being chased by Maria and Ana, and based on the expression they both had, they were deathly serious about eliminating her.

    "To think you would choose two children to fight me¡­" She chuckled to herself.

    Her words rang dripped with both malice and amusement as she turned to stare at the two women who actively chased her.

    Maria was currently in her Archangel Drive, and from what it seemed like, she also had her Original Magic activated.

    As for Ana, she was currently shrouded in energy, but her body was covered in machinery that boosted her speed¡ªenough so she could barely keep up with Maria''s speed.

    "The both of you are too slow, you know?" Cielughed as she freely flew further away from the cocoon.

    "Is that so?" Ana smiled, her tone much calmer than one would expect, given the situation.

    The chase continued, until the cocoon was already far from sight.

    "Why are you drifting further from the cocoon? Isn''t that detrimental for you?" Ana asked.

    "Not really. I can still pretty much see all that is happening there right now. Besides, it won''t be easy for any of your friends to defeat their adversaries."

    Ciel''s response caused Ana''s smile to fade away, and even the emotionless Maria deepened her re.

    "As for you two¡­ I could say the same."

    Ciel finally stopped her free dive, ascending high above Maria and Ana.

    The two also stopped shy of catching up with Ciel, and though they kept a short distance from her, they elevated themselves to the same height she upied.

    "I think this is far enough. We can have an honest fight here." Ciel muttered.

    It would be no exaggeration to say that her words shocked Ana and Maria.

    "An honest fight? Surely you jest." Ana chuckled slightly.

    There was nothing about Ciel''s personality that indicated anything honest.

    She was a liar, a maniptor, and a downright psychopath that would do anything to achieve her goals.

    That was why, even now, Ana and Maria were still on their toes with her.

    "I know the two of you simply want to keep me upied. You''ll try to turn this into a battle of attrition, doing your best to ensure I am incapable of interfering with your buddies when they are ready to destroy the cocoon." Ciel said.

    "Wow. To think our n was so obvious¡­" Ana''s sarcastic response echoed in the vastness of the space they upied.

    It rang hollow, however, as the tension got deeper.

    "There''s no need to feign bravado. I should probably tell you this, but I n on killing the two of you." Despite uttering such bone-chilling words, Ciel maintained her smile.

    "If you do not take this fight seriously, you''ll die. That''s probably the best alternative, but¡­ you know¡­"

    Pink hues began to appear on Ciel''s face as she tightly held her cheeks with both her hands.

    "¡­ I want you to struggle so much¡­"

    Steam proceeded from her lips as she obsessively stared at Maria and Ana, her tongue dripping with saliva.

    "Agonize. Suffer. Cry. Plead. Despair."

    Every syble she let out carried a heavy weight of purpose.

    And the more she spoke, the more power within her swelled.

    "In the end¡­ I want to watch all of you suffer demise in the most excruciating way possible!"

    Ciel licked her lips, and before long, her expression returned to the way it was before.

    The calm, unassuming smile.

    "So, yes¡­ an honest fight."

    Maria and Ana were already revolted by Ciel''s disy, to the point where they had both takenbative stances.

    "You''re sick." Ana said in disgust.

    "I get that a lot." Ciel shrugged. "Thanks for thepliment."

    At this point, the exchange of words was meaningless.

    Ana and Maria nced at each other and nodded in agreement.

    This was no longer the time to be holding back.

    They had to use everything at their disposal!

    "True Fusion¡­" They both whispered.

    "¡­ [Constetion Regalia]!"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1272 Constellation Regalia

    Chapter 1272 Constetion Regalia

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

    The world responded to Ana and Maria''s call with a deafening roar of erupting energy.

    Aether gathered around the two women respectively, transforming their bodies into something else.

    ¡­ Something more.

    Maria''s body was now covered in clear white armor, glistening like a gem polished to the limits of purity.

    Fine linen-like fabrics¡ªalmost transparent, also covered her body, like the robe of an empress. They seemed so soft, yet the Aether they emitted was phenomenal.

    Her helmet-crown changed its shape, now having a more slender build, and her Halo glowed ever so brighter as it floated above her head.

    The wings behind her now seemed to be of pure energy, radiating the same pure white that her armor was made of.

    As her long hair danced behind her, the essories on and above it gleaned with grand magnitude.

    Nine Gems decorated the crown she wore, and her eyes shone with multicolored light.

    "[True Light]."

    The nine varying swords of different colors manifested around her, all of them creating an ethereal light that she bathed in.

    Utilizing both her Original Magic and Fusion State, Maria stood majestically before Ciel.

    As for Ana, she wasn''t too far off either.

    Her entire body was covered in what could only be described as a tech-suit.

    From top to bottom, Ana donned a hard exoskeleton that had an obsidian ck and glowing yellow Aesthetic.

    Star-like formations and patterns decorated the armor, and every single aspect of the hardened tes was honed to perfection.

    Perhaps the most important thing to note was Ana''s new size thanks to the aid of the armor.

    Thanks to its severalyers of both defensive and offensive capabilities, and the overall state of the armor, it made her appear almost twice her size.

    Her new height, and overall size, made her even taller than Maria by a small margin.

    Her helmet had glowing eyes, and everything seemed to be perfectly shut in¡ªthe perfect armor anyone could possess.

    "It''s still a shame that I don''t have an Original Magic, but I guess I''llpensate with this¡­" Ana smiled as she spoke to herself.

    Whatever she waspensating herself with¡ªwhether it was the overwhelming power of a Constetion, or something else¡ªremained a mystery.

    In conclusion, both women were done with their transformation, all within the fraction of a moment, and they were more than ready to face their adversary.

    "It''s still surprising that little ones like you could gain the favor of Constetions. Even though their powers will be limited through your usage, they still possess an immense threat to someone like me."

    When facing the overwhelming might of a Constetion''s Representation, not even the seemingly all-powerful Arcanas at her disposal was going to do her any good.

    Her [Eye Of The Wise] was already pretty upied with observing the oue of all the fights, and so it would be tasking to utilize it to its full potential when fighting the twodies.

    Even at its full potential, it was still only nonbative Magic¡ªnowhere near enough to give her an edge here.

    The most she could do was flee, and even then it wasn''t assured that she would be able to escape two Constetion Hosts.

    But that wasn''t enough for Ciel.

    Her goal was already established¡ªthe elimination of her enemies by all means necessary.

    That left her with only one option.

    "Hehehehehehehehehehe¡­"

    Her Trump Card.

    "[Original Magic: Forge Of Creation]."

    The moment she said that, reality around everyone and everything seemed to warp¡ªalmost as if the world had turned to ss.

    Light rose from Ciel, to the point where it could be mistaken for a star, and golden-white radiation drowned the surroundings.

    "Begone." Maria muttered,pletely unbothered by the explosion of illumination.

    The instant she said so, the lights vanished.

    Her Constetion''s Authority, [Wish], allowed such a thing to be possible with mere utterance.

    "Did the radiation affect you in any way?" She turned to ask the armored Ana, who was still after the entire st.

    "No. This armor is pretty much impervious to anything¡ªit didn''t affect me in the slightest."

    "Of course, it didn''t!" Ciel''s voice interrupted the two of them, her eyes nearly bloodshot as a result of how excited she was looking.

    "That was only the preparation phase¡­ and now it''splete!"

    Something about Ciel''s tone seemed ominous¡ªand so was the energy that was clustering in front of her.

    Right beside each other, two separate formations of energy rapidly gathered at an astronomical rate.

    They assembled so quickly that it felt too dangerous to let them continue.

    "Dissipate." Maria spoke the instant she noticed the formation was nearingpletion.

    However¡­

    ~ZZZTTTTZZZZZ~

    ¡­ It didn''t work!

    "W-what?! How is that possible?!" Maria''s eyes widened in shock.

    Her usually emotionless expression broke down for the first time since her transformation.

    "Perhaps you didn''t use enough Aether?" Ana asked.

    "No. It''s not that¡­"

    Maria was certain she had utilized enough Aether. Besides, her [Wish] automatically allocated the right amount of energy to consume when she dealt with a phenomenon.

    However, this was different.

    It felt like her [Wish] could not apply to the two clusters of energy that were forming.

    But¡­ that was impossible!

    "Let''s do it the old fashioned way, then!" Ana yelled, instantly creating a de from seemingly nowhere.

    Her sword was obsidian ck, and it radiated with phenomenal energy that felt overpowered.

    Maria nodded and swiftly grabbed her ''ck'' de.

    The de that only had one purpose.

    Reducing all it touched into dust¡ªthe power of sheer disintegration!

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Both women charged at Ciel''s energy clusters, their speed impossible to keep up with as they brandished their de and lunged it at their target.

    Ana took the one closest to her, while Maria took the other one.

    ~VWUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!~

    The des descended.

    ~CLANG!~

    ~CLANG!~

    They were both stopped¡ªone parried, while the other was blocked against.

    This was yet another impossible urrence.

    At this point, both Maria and Ana had nearly bloodshot eyes as they stared at the entities that had now emerged from the clusters of energy.

    They were none other than themselves!

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1273 Forge Of Creation

    Chapter 1273 Forge Of Creation

    "This is¡­?!"

    "H-how¡­?"

    The two women were undoubtedly stunned by the two existences they were confronted with.

    It all happened so fast¡ªthe instant their des were about to touch the clusters of energy and eviscerate them.

    From the depth of the energy emerged creatures that resembled themselves¡ªor rather, their counterparts.

    Maria''s ''ck'' was currently being shielded by a shield made by this ''thing'' that looked like an armored Ana.

    As for Ana, her de was parried by a ''ck'' de simr to the one that Maria was currently wielding¡­ by another Maria.

    The two women were facing versions of their counterparts.

    "Hahaha! You should see the looks on your faces! Such fools!" Ciel cackled in amusement as she stared at the two.

    At that instant, the doppelg?ngers made to attack both Ana and Maria, but the two instantly detected this and leaped back.

    The short window between their retreat and the actions of the doppelg?ngers was so minuscule that even a brief moment of hesitation would have proven to be fatal.

    "Haaa¡­" As the two leaped away, Ana heaved a sigh in sheer disbelief.

    "They have our reaction time too? That''s insane¡­"

    However, the moment she uttered this, Ana realized this wasn''t the most impressive thing about the two expressionless marites in front of them.

    "They also mimic our Representations. It''s no wonder your [Wish] didn''t work¡­"

    It was trite among Constetions that each one had a particr role to y in existence.

    As such, no Representation could override another.

    "When you told the clusters to dissipate, they didn''t respond because that is contrary to the trite¡­"

    Of course, this revtion would only be more worrying for them the more they realized its implications.

    "That''s right! I have duplicated your abilities with these doppelg?ngers! Since my Arcanas won''t do any good, I thought it was best to fight fire with fire!" Ciel grinned with excitement.

    It appeared as though she was a child telling friends about her new toys.

    "That should be impossible. You shouldn''t have enough energy." Ana murmured.

    "Haha! Is that so? Well¡­ I''ll leave it to your imagination."

    The moment Ciel said that, Ana felt stupid for her earlier insinuation.

    ''Of course! It was obvious from the start!''

    She would have pped her face if the situation wasn''t so dire.

    "The energy you stole from the Constetion Realm. You took some for yourself, right?"

    "Ding! Ding! Correct! What a sharp girl!" Ciel''s broad smile betrayed her childish reaction.

    It strangely felt like two different personalities speaking.

    "Did Legris approve of that too?" Ana asked, almost flippantly.

    "Legris doesn''t need to know about all my actions. It''s the same way I don''t need to know about his. As long as we both fulfill our roles and get the job done, there''s no problem."

    Ciel''s straightforward answer pretty much established the rtionship she had with Legris.

    However, Ana wasn''t done yet.

    ''I need to stall¡­'' Her thoughts trailed as she leaked out another smile behind her mask.

    "You were able to achieve this thanks to that light from earlier, right?" Maria''s voice suddenly echoed amidst the tension.

    "I didn''t know the power of Constetions was that easy to replicate."

    This was a valid conundrum to have, and since it bought time, Ana considered it perfect timing that Maria had spoken when she did.

    "I''ve been dealing with Constetion Shards alongside Legris and Stefan for a long time now. It would be strange if I wasn''t familiar with the way they function."

    Ciel''s straightforward answer shocked the girls, yet they could not deny how it made sense.

    "My second Original Magic [Forge Of Creation] allows me to make anything as long as I have enough information on the properties that constitute it. I used it to replicate the Arcanas, and now I can use it to replicate the Representation of the Constetions whose properties have been thoroughly examined by me." Ciel raised both her hands, cing them on the respective shoulders of the doppelg?ngers.

    "That burst of light was just for scanning your individual abilities and respectivepatibility with the Representations you''ve Bonded with. As a result, I was able to make perfect two Hosts to house the power of their most suitable Constetions."

    In essence, Maria and Ana''s doubles were merely props¡ªvessels used to carry power.

    "Once I''m done with you two, I''ll do the same with the others and make perfect Hosts for all the Constetion Representations I have in my arsenal."

    It was at this moment that Ana and Maria realized just how dire the situation was.

    Ciel was the one who had the advantage all along¡­ they just hadn''t realized it until now.

    "All that''s left for you two is death. However, I''m in a bit of a pickle here¡­" She muttered, looking at both Ana and Maria, then alternating stares with the lifeless copies she stood behind.

    "Should I let you fight your respective doppelg?ngers, or should I switch things up a little?"

    As the question echoed in the air, Ciel made up her mind at that very moment.

    "Switching things up seems more fun. Yes¡­ Maria should fight Ana, and Ana should fight Maria." Her golden eyes glowed even brighter as she cackled in amusement.

    "Let''s see how you do, little children¡­"

    Ciel gilded backwards, making enough space between herself and her creation.

    "Begi¡ª!"

    Before Ciel could announce anything, her eyes suddenly bulged in an unexpected realization.

    It was a realization that eluded both Maria and Ana, but she could detect it thanks to her first Original Magic.

    ''No way¡­''

    At that moment, one of the nine spawns of Legris had been vanquished.

    ''¡­ Already?!''

    It hadn''t even been very long, and yet one was already down? It wasn''t even because the spawns were weak, since Ciel knew of their abilities well.

    It only meant one thing.

    The opponent was just that much stronger.

    ''This is unexpe¡ª"

    Right as she was muttering those words, yet another spawn was defeated.

    ''What in the world?!''

    Before she was able to recoil from the shock, the third elimination urred.

    ''T-three?! In a span of how long?!''

    Ciel, who had the upper hand in her own fight, leaked out a sweat for the first time.

    ''This is bad¡­''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1274 Stand Proud, You Were Strong

    Chapter 1274 Stand Proud, You Were Strong

    [Moments Earlier]

    Serah watched in silence as the ckened form of Gerard stood right in front of her.

    The once-proud Beast King had now been reduced to nothing more than a mindless marite who served only to eliminate Legris'' enemies.

    Her crimson eyes took in his pathetic form¡ªhis pale body, the darkness that danced around his body, and the lifeless eyes that red at her.

    She knew by instinct that any move she made would be followed by instant retaliation, so she took her time to observe him.

    ''The rest have departed with their opponents, and even I had to lead him away from the cocoon.''

    At this point, Serah knew the best thing to do was fight Gerard and rush to destroy Legris'' cocoon, so she decided to pull herself from the remnant sentiments that gued her.

    "You''re no longer Gerard, so I don''t know why I feel this way. This immense guilt in my heart¡­ I can''t properly convey it to him." She murmured.

    Even though it was pointless, Serah still felt the need to pour out her heart.

    "I don''t know if you''re there or not. You''re probably not, but¡­" A small smile formed on her face.

    "Thank you for everything, Gerard. For protecting me. For loving me. For sacrificing yourself for me. For us."

    Her eyes were glowing now, and the Aether within her was rising.

    "I don''t care what anyone else says or thinks of you."

    Gerard grunted slightly, most likely due to sensing the dangerous amount of power Serah was building up.

    "You''re a decent guy. You were able to stick to your ideals to the end and protect what you cared about. That''s neat as hell."

    Serah sniffed a little as she concluded herst words.

    And what was his response?

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!~

    Gerard''s body instantly morphed into his [Ultimate Transformation: Grand Final Phase].

    Unlike in the past, however, the inverse energy that now shrouded him encircled his body like torrents of power.

    He waspletely bathed in that power, serving as both a defensive barrier, and also an offensive tool.

    No one could even get close to him, else they would be consumed into nothingness.

    "Grrrrrr¡­" His grotesque form leaked out deep growls of malice as he red at Serah.

    His intentions were clear¡ªdestroy her at all costs.

    In response to this transformation, and the feral state that Gerard was currently in, Serah calmly let go of her smile.

    She sighed silently, preparing herself for what was toe.

    "[Grand Fusion: Dual Constetion Regalia]"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    An overwhelming surge of power radiated from Serah, painting the world around her in both ck and red power.

    Her body was now shrouded in a ck armor, lined with crimson power that seemed like it would explode at any given moment.

    Like abination of ck magma andva, her body was decorated in a seemingly unbreakable armor and shimmering red energy.

    The whites of her eyes were now ck, while her risks were red.

    Her arms and legs wore ckness like gloves, while her shoulder, breasts, and certain other regions had simr armor tes.

    The rest were simply pure energy.

    Her long hair shone crimson, and she had tworge ck horns protrude from her forehead.

    Wing the wings of a demon, and the tail of a devil, she magnificently stared at her target.

    "The power of Destruction and Corruption¡­" Serah murmured as she stared at her clenched fist.

    Her power of Destruction came from Taurus, while the Representation of Corruption belonged to Scorpio.

    With both of them as her backers, the power that swirled within and without her defied imagination.

    "Shall we begin?" She whispered, watching as Gerard took his pose, preparing to charge.

    A sad gaze traveled from her to the primal creature¡ªalmost as if she did not see him as an adversary, but a pitiful dog needed to be put out of its misery.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Space shattered as Gerardunched himself towards Serah, his darkness consuming everything in his path.

    With a roar of rage, and power that defied imagination, he charged at the motionless Serah.

    And then¡ª

    ~WHUUUUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    He suddenly stopped, unable to take another step forward.

    Why?!

    "You poor thing."

    Serah''s hand was firmly on his throat, and all the umted dark energy that had run rabid on his body were banished.

    ¡­ Almost like a me being put out by a rush of wind.

    "G-gurgh! Rughh!!!" Gerard struggled to set himself free, tightly gripping Serah''s firm fingers as he desperately attempted to pull them away from their lock.

    Unfortunately for him, it was impossible.

    "R-ROOOOAAARRRGGGHH!!!"

    Gerard roared. He screamed desperately, banging his massive arms all over Serah, but none of his limbs even reached her.

    Not without beingpletely eviscerated by an invisible force.

    "Destruction. Corruption." Serah whispered as she looked at Gerard''s beastly state.

    "I could say it''s the same as your inverse energy."

    Nothing Gerard did was working. He simply kept squirming helplessly in the presence of Serah''s overwhelming power.

    His body was already being covered in ckness¡ªone that was different from what he had before.

    This wasn''t inverse energy; It was an overflow of Serah''s energy in the form of Corruption.

    Against this, not even Gerard could resist.

    "We would simply cancel each other out. Except for one variable¡­" Serah tightened her grip on Gerard''s neck, instantly crushing everything there.

    It caused the deceased Beast King to vomit blood, but Serah cared for none of that.

    Her unupied fist was already preparing her final strike.

    "I''m just stronger."

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    The strike defied space itself, destroying and corrupting all that it met until it reached Gerard itself.

    That was the finishing blow.

    The only one that mattered.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    At that moment, Gerard turned into dust, and even his dust became utterly eviscerated as a result of Serah''s Destruction.

    Nothing was left of Gerard¡ªnothing but the fond memory she had left of him.

    ''Wherever you are now¡­'' Serah turned to the cocoon, only smiling faintly as she floated towards it.

    "Stand proud, Gerard. You were strong."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1275 The Task At Hand

    Chapter 1275 The Task At Hand

    ''Now¡­ for the mission!''

    Serah rushed to the site of the cocoon, reaching there almost in an instant thanks to her new form.

    As soon as she arrived right in front of the massive orb, though, she was met with a voice.

    "I''ve been expecting you."

    Her body fidgeted in shock for a moment, considering how she hadn''t sensed any presence until the words were spoken.

    Swiftly turning her attention to her side, she saw Kuzon floating calmly.

    ''How long has he been waiting? He was here first?'' Serah asked herself.

    She was certain that she had swiftly ended her battle with Gerard, so it came as a surprise that Kuzon was already done with his task.

    "I know what you''re wondering, but don''t think too much of it. My opponent was probably just weaker." Kuzon shrugged.

    His expression remained the same¡ªserious and unperturbed¡ªas he locked his sight on the ck chrysalis they had to destroy.

    "Didn''t your opponent have a Constetion Shard, though? That means they were strong."

    Unlike Gerard, whose power was only amplified by his new state, Kuzon had faced a previous Constetion Host.

    It was already clear who would be stronger.

    "That doesn''t matter. In the end, the mission is¡ª"

    Before Kuzon said anything else, he paused and looked behind him, casting his gaze from the ck cocoon for the first time.

    "Looks like Edward is done as well. Perfect."

    As soon as he uttered those words, Edward appeared right beside Serah and Kuzon, a smile coursing through his face.

    "Sorry for beingte! Looks like I was thest to arrive."

    Kuzon shrugged and returned his gaze to his front. As for Serah, she returned Edward''s smile and nodded.

    "Since we''re all here, we can begin." Kuzon concluded, his eyes now ame with golden energy.

    ~VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH!~

    Kuzon''s entire body transformed at that point.

    He became the personification of golden energy, and his hair grew far longer than before, reaching his very toes.

    His eyes glowed with white radiation, and his crown floated regally on his head.

    A flowing emperor''s robe decorated his body, and he had a golden scepter in his hand.

    His body was adorned in earrings, chains, bracelets, and rings, all of them pulsating with power¡ªboundless power.

    "[Constetion Emperor''s Transfiguration]." He whispered calmly.

    With the current power he had, he was iparable to the previous transformation he had in the past.

    "I suppose I should get to full form as well¡­" Edward smiled, his body instantly undergoing transformation.

    "[Supreme Martial State: Aries]."

    His hair became shimmering white, and then silvery glows began to appear all about it.

    Golden tattoos began to manifest on his bare body, and firm golden horns protruded from his forehead.

    A gold-like gem became engraved in his forehead, and more tattoos decorated its surroundings.

    All of his hair became cloud-like, and his beard turned into fluff.

    ¡­ Almost like wool.

    His muscles bulged with greater power than ever, and pure white and golden energy surged within him, as well as manifested around him in the form of rabid lightning.

    Thebination of his hybrid azure and amber Aether Core, and the Constetion''s power within him, had birthed something new.

    A power that was boundless in its own right.

    "We''re all set."

    As Kuzon, Edward, and Serah stood before the ck cocoon in their peak forms, they nodded at one another and began to prepare their respective attacks.

    It would be based on brute strength, reinforced by all the energy they could muster in a single shot.

    And, once they were done¡­

    ~You''ll be teleported away from there!~

    Once again reassured by Aquarius'' words, they began to initiate theirbined attack.

    "Grand¡ª!"

    "Supreme¡ª!"

    "Ultimate¡ª!"

    "NOT SO FAST!" A voice sharply interrupted them from continuing their attacks.

    It belonged to none other than Ciel.

    ~WHUUUUSH!~

    She appeared right in front of them, just a few meters away from the cocoon''s surface.

    "Well, this is unexpected. To think you three would already be done¡­" She muttered, a strained smile on her face.

    "We won''t fall for any more dys." Kuzon spoke in fullposure.

    His fixation on the task was absolute, and he was about to resume generating his attacks when Ciel snapped her fingers in a jiffy.

    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you! Not unless you want these two to die!"

    "T-those are¡ª?!"

    "Maria¡­?! Ana?!"

    Both Edward and Serah both generated surprised reactions to seeing the hostages at Ciel''s mercy.

    Right in Ciel''s grasp were Maria and Ana, and she dly presented them to the trio in amusement.

    They were both unconscious, but there was no mistaking the two of them.

    Everything about them was the same as the Maria and Ana they knew and loved.

    "Death, huh? We were already resolved for that when we came here." Kuzon responded coldheartedly.

    His response came as a surprise to both Edward and Serah, considering his lover was also among the hostages.

    Even then, Kuzon did not bat an eye.

    "I know you''re bluffing. Those two aren''t Ana and Maria. I don''t know how you were able to mimic them so perfectly, but Ana and Maria are currently fighting their doppelg?ngers in the distance." Kuzon pointed behind him, though he still refused to take his eyes off Ciel, and ultimately the cocoon.

    "W-what?! How did you¡ª?!"

    "I don''t need to exin myself to you. We only need to fulfill the task." Kuzon responded sinctly once again.

    "The both of you, do not be distracted by her. Let''s finish this once and for a¡ª"

    "Attack them, you two!" Cielmanded, instantly releasing the previous hostages, who swiftly shifted gears in an instant.

    Maria transformed into her Constetion Regalia and even activated her Original Magic, while Ana shrouded herself in her Constetion regalia, and had now created multiple weapons to attack.

    They all approached Kuzon and his allies in a sh, hoping to take them by surprise.

    "Pointless¡­" Kuzon whispered.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSHHH!!~

    One invisible flex of energy was more than enough for him as a sigh escaped his lips.

    What happened next stunned everyone.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    OP! Kuzon is OP!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1276 All That Matters

    Chapter 1276 All That Matters

    ~CRACK!~

    The ultimate armor that Ana''s doppelg?nger wore shattered to pieces, and Maria''s armor and entire attire experienced the same fate.

    It was almost as if they were fragile as ss, broken off their skin in no time at all.

    Once that happened, their demise soon followed.

    ~VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The both of them were consumed by golden energy, burned to cinders before they even realized it.

    Afterwards, silence erupted.

    "We''re done here." Kuzon broke the decorum with his tone of resolve.

    His gaze narrowed as it pierced through Ciel''s facade.

    "Now let us proceed."

    "H-how did you¡­?" Ciel already knew Kuzon was not going to exin his actions to her.

    Based on his expression, she could already sense his disinterest in her and the obsession he had towards the mission.

    ''I need to stop them no matter what!'' Her thoughts echoed.

    That meant utilizing her Trump Card once again.

    ''It''s going to be quite draining, especially considering how I just used it to create two more doppelg?ngers for those two¡ªall in vain¡ªbut the returns should be worth it!''

    If she could perfectly replicate Kuzon, then she would have ess to all the powers he possessed.

    That would even the ying field considerably.

    ''The other two also seem incredibly powerful! They''re far stronger than I expected!''

    That meant she couldn''t hold back any longer.

    ''[Original Magic: Forge Of Creation]''

    The world suddenly took on a ss-like form, almost as if space had be mirror-like

    This surface tension was followed by a sh of bright white light, with golden undertones buried underneath.

    ''Hahaha!'' Cielughed to herself.

    Now that the light had covered everyone and everything in the vicinity, she had all she required to mimic their power.

    ''Now¡­ for the perfect duplicates!'' She grinned.

    The bright light faded, and three clusters of energy manifested in front of her.

    ''Hehehe¡­ hehehe¡­!''

    Everything was working ording to her n! All the procedures had beenpleted, and how there was no stopping her!

    ''Let''s see how you handle dealing with versions of yoursel¡ª!"

    ~ZZZTTTTTZZZZZ~

    Right before her eyes, Ciel watched the three clusters of energy buzz and dissipate in failure.

    None of them sessfully birthed the duplicates that were promised.

    "E-eh¡­?" Ciel''s brows twitched as she watched the impossible unfold.

    ''How is this possible? How did this happen?''

    She somehow had a lingering suspicion, and it caused her to raise her eyes to watch Kuzon.

    His glowing eyes stared at her condescendingly¡ªalmost as if he could not be bothered by the shameful failure of her Magic.

    "W-what¡­ what in the world¡­ WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY MAGIC, YOU FILTHY CHILD!"

    Ciel''s breathing became heavy following her scream. She had used too much Aether and fortitude in activating her Original Magic.

    Exhaustion tugged at her now, but she could not afford to show any weakness.

    Not while the situation was this dire.

    "You two¡­ let us proceed." Kuzon ignored Ciel''s voice, instead facing Serah and Edward.

    Even though they nodded at him, they were just as confused and bbergasted as Ciel.

    The both of them seemed to want to know what the fuss was all about, and what Kuzon had actually done.

    However, even to his teammates, Kuzon had no interest in exining.

    ''The moment I detected her Magic, I used my Authority to override it before it wasplete. Since I possess greater authority¡ªon par with the Constetions¡ªin this form, she never stood a chance¡­'' His thoughts trailed.

    It didn''t matter what was thrown at him. As long as he had more authority than that very thing, he could override it entirely.

    That was why Kuzon felt this entire exchange was pointless.

    ¡­ Why he only cared about the mission.

    "Answer me, you insole¡ª!"

    ~VWUUUUUSSSSHHHH!~

    Before Ciel concluded her hysterical shriek, she was suddenly engulfed in golden mes.

    Her body burned to its very marrow, and within that same moment, nothing was left of her.

    "Bothersome¡­" Kuzon murmured.

    Edward and Serah exchanged nces, both unsure of what to feel about Kuzon''s string of behaviors.

    Surely, it was the most efficient route, so why were they a little anxious about it.

    "How dare you interrupt me? Have you no respect? You insolent fool!"

    The silence was once again interrupted by Ciel and her resumed bickering.

    "As expected. You''ve replicated yourself as well. This is why I didn''t want to engage you, to begin with¡­" Kuzon groaned.

    Initially, he was disappointed in both Maria and Ana, considering he had given them the task of keeping Ciel busy, yet here she was.

    However, the more he thought of it, the more he realized there was no reason for that.

    ''Ciel probably has a duplicate facing Maria and Ana right now. Or maybe that is the original, and this here is the duplicate¡­''

    No matter how he sliced it, Maria and Ana were never going to be able topletely hold her back.

    ''So she copied Legris and his annoying duplication, huh? How bothersome.''

    Kuzon''s increasing irritation stemmed from the anxiety that kept tugging at his heart.

    Any moment now, and that cocoon could birth the new Legris¡ªor whatever n he had.

    Every second counted, and it felt like he was the only one who recognized that.

    ''We don''t have time for conversations or pointless battles.''

    Which meant there was only one solution¡ªone way out from his current dilemma.

    "We''re going tomence our attacks. Whether she''s in the way or not¡­ it doesn''t matter." Kuzon dered.

    He was tired of Ciel, and if they could just ignore her and continue their task, that would be for the best.

    "Are you sure?"

    "Shouldn''t we be more cautious?"

    Edward and Serah respectively asked, and to that, he clenched his fist in mild annoyance.

    "We didn''te here to be cautious of Ciel! We have to destroy that cocoon before time runs out!"

    He knew his tone was harsh, but Kuzon didn''t care at the moment.

    What was at stake far outweighed any consideration he could have for anyone else.

    "We destroy the cocoon, and it''s missionplete!"

    That was all that mattered.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Do you agree with Kuzon? Let''s hear your thoughts.

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    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1277 The Losers

    Chapter 1277 The Losers

    "Fine. Let''s end things already."

    Serah''s response to Kuzon''s words were met with a nod from Edward.

    All three of them seemed to be in agreement as they looked at Ciel, and beyond at the cocoon.

    "Perfect! Let''s begin."

    As already established by their past encounter, raw power mixed with the sheer energy they possessed was the best way to ruin the cocoon.

    Unlike using regr Spells, this was much more difficult to do¡ªespecially considering the size of the cocoon was as big as a universe itself.

    This was precisely why all three of them had decided to time their blows in order to achieve consecutive strikes.

    And now, that time hade.

    The scepter on Kuzon''s hand slowly turned liquid. It wrapped itself around Kuzon''s fist, causing it to shimmer even more than the rest of his body¡ªif that was even possible.

    Serah''s dominant fist was now ckened intensely, with ck and red energy dancing around it like a rabid storm.

    Edward''s muscles bulged intensely, with glowing veins pulsating underneath his skin.

    Clearly, they were prepared.

    "Let''s go!"

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!~

    They lunged forth, instantly tearing through whatever fabric of reality that stood in their way.

    Space shattered, and everyw of the world was broken around them as they neared the ck sphere.

    Until finally¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    ¡­ Theynded their hit.

    Kuzon used his immensely glowing hand tond his most powerful strike, while Serah used her devastating strike to pound the cocoon.

    Edward sped both hands together and crushed the cocoon''s surface.

    All of this happened simultaneously, in different areas.

    The darkness shattered like ss, unable to handle thebined strength of the three of them.

    And just as expected¡­ it exploded into sheer oblivion.

    ~WHUUUUUSSSSHHHH!~

    Kuzon, Edward, and Serah were instantly teleported to the border of the neighboring universe, all ording to the n.

    The universe which housed the cocoon was also pruned, leaving setting it apart from the rest of the Aether Tree.

    All of this happened in an instant, leaving no time to fully bask in the sess of the mission.

    "Haaa¡­" Kuzon heaved a sigh of relief, almost as if a heavy burden had been removed from his shoulders.

    As he stared at the drifting universe, cut off from the rest of reality, his smile widened.

    "That was easier than I thought."

    Somehow, he had been worried that the n wouldn''t go ordingly, and they would somehow be toote.

    Fortunately, that wasn''t the case.

    "We seeded? We really did it¡­?" Even though Serah''s words seemed more like questions than actual derations, she had a relieved smile on as well.

    As far as their knowledge served, no one else had to die, and there were no hidden surprises they could not handle.

    In the end, they won.

    "We should probably go and assist the o¡ª"

    "Shouldn''t that universe have exploded by now?" Edward''s question caused Kuzon to cease his own suggestion.

    "What?"

    "I mean, with the cocoon being destroyed, shouldn''t it''s contents spill into the universe and consume it?" Edward added.

    Right now, they stood at the edge of the Aether Tree, watching as a universe got pruned from the collection of nigh infinite branches.

    Surely, the universe in question had to be destroyed¡­ right?

    "You''re right. It should be destroyed at this point." Serah murmured, turning her gaze to Kuzon.

    He gave her a confused expression, almost as if dread was slowly catching up to him.

    "What''s going on Aquarius? Why isn''t the universe being destroyed?" Kuzon yelled, his voice traveling into the abyss.

    For a moment, there was silence.

    And then, a voice emerged.

    ~The universe has been pruned. We no longer hold any influence over it, neither can we sense what goes on within it.~

    The moment Aquarius said that, something tightened in Kuzon''s chest.

    "N-no¡­"

    He instantly realized the truth.

    "We''ve been yed."

    Right now, the pruned universe was separate from their reality¡ªstopping them from properly interfering with it.

    "That means we can no longer return there¡­" Kuzon whispered, staring at the world from a distance.

    "¡­ Even if the Cocoon was never destroyed."

    "What are you talking about? We destroyed the cocoon!" Serah swiftly objected, a frown instantly appearing on her face.

    "Did we? Or did we destroy a cocoon?"

    Once Kuzon said this, Serah''s eyes twitched, and she too began to realize what the situation was.

    "You were right. I should have been more cautious about Ciel. Her Original Magic could perfectly replicate anything, so it''s possible that she could have replicated the cocoon."

    "What''s going on? I don''t understand what you mean." Edward was the only one still left out of the loop.

    Even though he was the first to notice something was off, he still did not understand the severity of their blunder.

    "A cocoon as massive as a universe would be more effective in drawing our attention¡ªenough for us to neglect the real one." Kuzon sighed, holding his head in disappointment.

    "Where could it have been? Behind? At the side? Or¡­ don''t tell me¡­!"

    With widened eyes, Kuzon finally understood.

    "Inside. The Cocoon was inside all along!"

    "Inside what?" Edward asked, still slightly confused.

    "Inside the massive cocoon. The real cocoon was most likely being protected by the massive one. So, when we destroyed the massive cocoon, the real one was still safe!"

    It was just a theory, but Kuzon''s gut feeling told him that was indeed the case.

    "We got yed. This was their n all along!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes nearly producing liquid to show just how pained he was.

    "It''s our loss."

    Ciel''s acting had convinced them that she was desperate, but it was all to manipte them and lower their guard of her.

    They were so sure of their strategy that they fell for the grander scheme Legris cooked up.

    "What now? Now that it has been separated from us, there''s no way to reach the real cocoon." Serah groaned, also feeling the weight of disappointment on her.

    It was at this point that the reality finally settled on the three of them.

    "There''s really¡­ nothing we can do."

    It was game over¡ªand they were the losers.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1278 Fight Against The Doppelg?ngers

    <h4>Chapter 1278 Fight Against The Doppelg?ngers</h4>

    [Meanwhile]

    ''Damnit¡­ this is much more difficult than I thought!''

    Ana''s thoughts echoed as she red at Maria''s doppelg?nger, the one she had been struggling to fight with for some time now.

    The expressionless doppelg?nger merely stared at her calmly, as if looking down on her in pity.

    ''It''ll attack me soon. I have to think of something.''

    The problem with Maria''s doppelg?nger was that it countered her own abilities.

    ''Cancer''s Representation allows me to create anything of choice. It can take on the properties I ascribe to it as well. But¡­'' Gritting her teeth, she red at the doppelg?nger.

    ''¡­ None of that matters when facing this one.''

    Maria''s doppelg?nger had all the abilities Maria possessed¡ªincluding the [Wish] Representation, which could simply counter her own power.

    ''When two equally powerful Representations sh, a null effect is established.''

    That meant she couldn''t get the copy with her Representation, but it also meant it couldn''t affect her with [Wish].

    ''Thankfully that''s the case¡­''

    Unfortunately, it didn''t change much in their sh¡ªespecially since there were other factors besides Constetion Representation.

    ''Maria still had her Original Magic, and I''m left sitting ducks!''

    The only reason she had managed to survive this far was due to her strategy and superior battle prowess.

    ''Ciel didn''t mimic our personalities, so that''s a relief.''

    Still, she was in a pickle.

    ''My offensive measures are countered, and my defense can be broken down if I''m hit since a sh with her Representation will nullify my armor''s effects, leaving me vulnerable for her to strike.''

    As a bead of sweat dripped down her face, she resolved to keep going.

    ''Just a little more¡­''

    Maria was currently fighting her doppelg?nger, and Ciel was watching them with a big smile on her face.

    ''Even if I manage to defeat the doppelg?nger, there''s still Ciel to worry about. I have to be careful about this¡­''

    If her Representation wouldn''t work, and conventional Magic was insufficient to take down her target, then Ana figured she had to think outside the box.

    ''Since I''m out of options, I might as well try that out on her as well¡­''

    It would take some time, but Ana was confident she could continue evading attacks for a while longer.

    ''A-ah! Here shees again! She''s using Purple this time!'' Ana''s thoughts echoed as she stared at Maria''s doppelg?nger grabbing the purple de from her floating arsenal.

    She had memorized all the colors and their effects, and Purple was rted to poison.

    ''She wants to slow me down or wear me out slowly, huh? Seems she wants to y the long game too.''

    At this point, it was still uncertain who would emerge the victor.

    However, one thing was for sure.

    ''I''m not going to lose to you!''

    ************

    ~SWOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!~

    Maria rushed at Ana''s doppelg?nger, two des in hand as she sliced through the air.

    Within the fraction of a moment, she had closed the gap that the doppelg?nger had created just earlier.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    The ck de on her right hand descended, its dark streak trailing down in a perfect arch.

    Ana''s doppelg?nger, now cornered with no other path of escape, offered the only resistance she could give.

    Generating her own de, she shed forward, hoping to counter Maria''s ck de.

    Unfortunately for the doppelg?nger, her tricks weren''t going to work this time.

    ''[Wish]''

    Maria''s utilization of Virgo''s Wish¡ªwhich was topletely eradicate the sword of her adversary¡ªallowed her to at least nullify whatever effects it had.

    As a result¡­

    ~CLANG!~

    ¡­ The moment their des collided, the sword of her adversary shattered into obscurity.

    With her ck representing disintegration, everything that it touched would suffer the same fate.

    With the sword out of the way, Maria pressed on, further strengthening her muscles as she brought the de down with unyielding fervor.

    ~SWOOOOOSHHH!!~

    The glorious strike sliced through the dense armor that the adversary wore, ripping apart most of her arm¡ªalmost past the shoulder.

    "G-gurk!" The doppelg?nger groaned, now shifting back in recoil.

    "You won''t escape!" Maria yelled, now brandishing the second de in her grasp.

    It was White.

    ''I''ll perfectly freeze her, and then hack her down with ck.''

    It was the perfect way to ensure the adversary wouldn''t squirm.

    As the white de shone in majesty, ready to send forth a burst of icy fog that would freeze anything in its path, Ana''s doppelg?nger did the impossible.

    ~SQUELCH!~

    She sliced through her own body with a de she summoned, and thrust herself away in order not to be caught in the ice st.

    "W-what?!"

    While Maria was still recoiling from this, the doppelg?nger remade her entire body¡ªeven the parts that Maria had disintegrated¡ªthanks to her Representation of Creation.

    ''I was careless!'' Her eyes widened in surprise as she observed the good-as-new opponent she now had to face.

    ''It''s like what Cancer did for Master Serah and Kuzon.''

    If she wasn''t decisive enough, it would continue wasting her time like this.

    ''I was conserving my energy for after the fight, since I still have to deal with Ciel, but I can''t keep going around in circles.''

    The sooner she dealt with this doppelg?nger, the better.

    ''Which is why¡­''

    She released the two des that were in her grip, allowing them to return to their spinning position around her.

    With nine swords of different colors. She had a vast arsenal to choose from¡ªor even all of them.

    "[True Light: Final Array]."

    The spinning des around her suddenly vanished, now appearing around Ana''s doppelg?nger.

    "¡­?!"

    Even though the doppelg?nger''s face was well covered behind her helmet, Maria could tell that she was flustered.

    "There''s no escape!"

    The spinning des, now permanently encircled around Ana''s doppelg?nger, all shimmered in their respective colors.

    "Burst." Maria dered.

    And so, thebined effects of ice, fire, poison, disintegration, and all the other colors, merged into one glorious explosion.

    ¡­ An eruption of true fireworks.

    ~KAAABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The sparks that radiated all over the area were devastating, and the colors they disyed lit up the darkness of space.

    Within seconds, the one known as Ana''s doppelganger had ceased to exist.

    "Haaa¡­ all done!" Maria sighed, though her gaze made it clear she wasn''t done yet.

    ''Next is Ciel! Or should I first go and back up Ana?''

    Right as she was having these thoughts, she noticed something in the distance.

    Three silhouettes slowly approached her, floating in a straight line as they neared her.

    ''I-is that¡­?!''

    Right there were Ana, Ciel, and Maria''s doppelganger!

    ''Were they able to defeat Ana? No¡­ that can''t be!'' Maria''s thoughts echoed.

    It was probably another doppelganger.

    But that didn''t make matters any better, did it? That meant the challenge was about to get more intense.

    As Maria still deliberated on this, the three finally closed the gap, with only a small distance of a couple dozen meters.

    "Stand back! I''ll¡ª!"

    "Don''t be so tense, Maria! It''s me! I was able to beat Ciel and your doppelg?nger!" Ana''s response oozed with excitement as she yelled out everything.

    "E-eh?"

    Maria was confused, and rightfully so.

    How was Ana able to defeat her doppelganger and Ciel in such a brief period? It made more sense to think this was a trick.

    However, it wasn''t!

    The Ana who was speaking was genuinely the real deal, and thanks to her n¡­ she had won wlessly.

    "Hehehe! Want to hear all about it?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    I still wonder who would win in an all-out fight.

    Ana or Maria

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    Ko-Fi Link: /magecrafter

 Chapter 1279 Absolute Hijack

    Chapter 1279 Absolute Hijack

    It was a precarious moment.

    Ana was in quite the pickle¡ªfighting a more powerful adversary who was a terrible match-up for her, while also being concerned about the battle''s aftermath.

    There was no guarantee that Ciel couldn''t make another duplicate, and even if she didn''t, there was still a lot she didn''t know about the crazy woman''s abilities.

    Ana had to find a way to win on both ends, despite how impossible it seemed.

    ''Alright then¡­!''

    Fortunately, her strongest suit wasn''t her Magic or Combat prowess¡­ but her intellect.

    And even in such a dangerous situation, all her gears were turning.

    She knew exactly what to do.

    "It''s time." Ana smiled at her opponent once the fight had reached a crescendo.

    At this point, she had run out of cards to y and escape points to utilize.

    Ana''s doppelganger was about to use all her des in her Final Array, and Ana knew even she couldn''t survive that.

    However¡­

    "Anabelle, initiate [Absolute Hijack] on the target."

    Maria''s doppelganger instantly froze up, her expressionless face bing even more robotic.

    This was just the beginning, though.

    "Absolute Hijackplete. Anabelle is now in full control of this body." The doppelganger spoke.

    It was her voice, and it was her body. However, it was clear that someone else had taken charge.

    "Good job, Anabelle." Ana smiled as she drew close to the doppelganger, who had already disabled the des.

    "Up top!"

    Both Ana and the doppelganger exchanged a high five, their palms pping against each other in satisfaction.

    ¡­ All of this to Ciel''s disapproval.

    "What''s going on here? What are you doing?" Ciel''s fierce words echoed.

    She drew closer, her re so deep that it leaked out pure bloodlust.

    "What did you do to my creation?"

    Ana remained calm despite the heavy pressure that Ciel leaked out, and Maria''s doppelganger swiftly stepped to her front in order to defend her.

    "Stay behind me, Master. I will protect you, no matter what!"

    "Pfft!" Ana almost choked on her ownugh thanks to hearing those words from someone with both Maria''s body and voice.

    It felt hrious to her.

    "You areughing? I asked a question and you are¡ª!"

    "Anabelle, initiate [Absolute Hijack] on the target." Ana interrupted Ciel, her voice as calm as ever.

    And just like that, Ciel froze up and her expression turned robotic¡ªsame as the doppelganger.

    She was no longer in control.

    "Looks like the n worked. How many percent is your bodily integrity now?" Ana smiled as she looked at her two new puppets.

    "ounting for the nano parts that are busy scouting the area, and the ones that have pervaded the bodies of both targets that have been hijacked, a total of 30 percent is left." A voice echoed from above.

    "Undo [Perfect Unknowable] Cloaking and return."

    Obeying Ana''s instructions, a white sphere with two dots serving as eyes descended from above.

    This was Anabelle, Ana''s perfect Automaton.

    "Excellent work, Anabelle. Looks like we were able to perfectly integrate your parts with respective targets, resulting inplete control."

    It was no easy feat, but thanks to trial and error, they had reached this point.

    "What are the chances of the Hijack being interrupted?" Ana asked.

    "2.9 percent." Anabelle responded almost instantly, her tone being an almost perfect replication of her master''s.

    "Alright then. I suppose the breakdown of the chances consist mostly of external factors."

    "Correct." Anabelle responded sinctly.

    "Then there''s nothing wrong with the Hijack. That''s good to know."

    It was a close one, and Ana knew fully well that she could have lost if a few more seconds were granted to the other party.

    Thankfully, she was able to calcte all of these scenarios before they yed out, finding out the estimated time needed for everything to take full effect.

    "A time deficit of 2 seconds. Looks like I made a slight error. Thankfully, it was inconsequential." She sighed in relief.

    ''Next time, I have to calcte the exact time frame.''

    With her thoughts settled and her opponents defeated, Ana thought it would be nice to surprise Maria since she figured thetter would be done with her opponent already.

    "Alright, Anabelle! Let''s go!"

    ************

    "And that''s how it happened." Ana concluded her exnation to Maria.

    Throughout the whole thing, Maria had maintained her calm expression, though another thing was going on within her.

    ''This is insane. She did all that despite the conditions?!''

    Her [Absolute Hijack] would not have worked if her targets knew of the nano parts that were being sneaked into them through respiration and other areas, since they could have destroyed them.

    Ana, however, ensured they were undetectable and also durable enough to spread through every organ, blood vessel, and cell, until they were everywhere.

    Once the nano parts became integrated with the neural links and the relevant parts of the body, all Ana needed was to give them the signal, and they would take over.

    Which was exactly what she did.

    "So¡­ what now?" Maria asked.

    They had fulfilled their task, and even managed to defeat Ciel. Practically speaking, their job was done.

    "Wel, the enemy is under my control now. I thought it would be safer to cause them to self-destruct, but since they can still be useful, I decided to keep them alive for now."

    They were still unsure of the grand scale of things, so the best thing to do was have insurance.

    "Let''s rendezvous with Kuzon and the rest." Ana suggested.

    "Shouldn''t we help our other allies?" Maria asked in puzzlement.

    "I don''t think so. The main goal is to deal with the cocoon, so we have to confirm if the mission is going ording to n before resorting to anything else."

    "Ah, I see¡­" Maria muttered.

    "Besides, I have faith in everyone else."

    Ana''s bright smile radiated genuineness, her blue irises shimmering with pride.

    "Don''t you?"

    After a brief moment of silence, Maria finally broke into a small smile and nodded.

    "I suppose I do as well."

    "Perfect! Now let''s go meet up with the main team!"

    "Are you sure it''s not just because you want to see Kuzon?"

    "W-what?! Of course not!" Ana''s red cheeks told of a different story, even though she vehemently denied it.

    "Sure¡­"

    As bothdies joked and made their way to the trio who were meant to be their arrowhead, they were yet to know of the grim truth.

    That they had already failed.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Just hang in there a bit more. The climax ising soon.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1280 Anaâ€™s Theory

    Chapter 1280 Ana¡¯s Theory

    "W-what did you just say¡­?"

    Ana and Maria were now standing in front of Kuzon, Edward, and Serah¡ªwith Ciel and Maria''s clone trailing behind the former group.

    Ana''s eyes were currently twitching in surprise as she heard the exnation Kuzon and Serah gave about how they messed up the n.

    "So everything was for nothing¡­?"

    Ana felt her heart racing as she stared at Kuzon''s downtrodden expression.

    She could tell that no one among them felt worse than he did. Even though no one officially acknowledged it, he had taken the role of their unofficial leader.

    And yet¡­ despite all of the things at stake, he messed up.

    "We were tricked by Legris. It must have been his n from the start, so there''s no need to beat yourself up about it too much." Ana stated, causing Kuzon''s body to tremble slightly.

    Sure, she was trying to make him feel better, but Ana considered her words mostly stating facts.

    Moping around and feeling self-pity wasn''t going to miraculously change the situation.

    "Yeah. Yeah, you''re right." Kuzon sighed, covering a portion of his face with his hand.

    "But we''ve tried everything. Before the two of you arrived, we tried all we could¡­ but nothing worked. We can''t ess the world that has been pruned."

    It was out of the reach of even Constetions.

    "I see¡­" Ana muttered, rubbing her chin.

    "We also tried to reach that point on our own, but stepping outside the Aether Realm means we are stripped of any form of protection. We would die before even getting anywhere close to the target."

    Serah''s words caused all attention to turn to her at this point. Even though she was sighing, it was clear that she was still trying to find alternatives.

    Nothing just seemed to click.

    "I understand the situation now. But I don''t think it''ll be a problem." Ana mumbled, rubbing her small chin as she spoke.

    "You have a solution?!"

    The entirety of the trio asked the question at the same time, and for a moment there was a spike in adrenaline.

    Their desperation reached its peak as they all stared intensely at Ana.

    "Somewhat. The n is going to involve her, though." Ana pointed towards the docile Ciel who stood behind her.

    "¡­"

    For a moment, there was silence in the group.

    Even though Ana had briefly exined that Ciel and Maria''s doppelganger were under her control, it wasn''t like she went into details.

    It was unnecessary to do so, even at this point, but she could at least understand why they were giving such skeptical and unsure expressions.

    "Rx. She''s under myplete control. Besides, I don''t see any other way to go about this."

    If they wanted to win, they had to use their only cards avable.

    "How exactly do you want to use her to reach Legris'' real cocoon?"

    Ana smiled a little as she heard Edward''s question.

    "I often specte on this theory, but after all that has happened¡ªespecially my talk with the Constetions¡ªI could finally confirm it¡­" She began, folding her arms.

    "¡­ The nature of the Aether and Nether Trees."

    Ana went on to exin what she meant.

    "Both trees exist distinct from each other, and they do not exist in the same location. Hence, there has to be some distance between them, considering their different positions."

    Since this was established, she went on.

    "Using [The World] Arcana, it''s possible to travel to one Realm from another. Traveling a certain distance through a gap that exists somewhere."

    "What exactly are you driving at?" Serah asked impatiently,

    Time was flying and she didn''t want to drive around in circles.

    "If the Nether Tree and Aether Tree are what make up all of existence, then what is that distance that needs to be traveled before we can reach either of them?" Ana asked, her smile broadening.

    No one said anything for a while. Until¡­

    "Nonexistence. The distance doesn''t exist, but that in itself is a concept." Kuzon spoke.

    His response elucidated a nod from Ana. However, he too wasn''t done with his analysis.

    "Nonexistence¡­ that''s the same thing as Legris, isn''t it? He exists somewhere within that distance between the Aether and Nether Tree¡­"

    "Precisely! Though it''s useless to try to pinpoint his position at this point, we can specte that this nonexistence as a concept is something that ''is'', and if that''s the case¡­ then we can travel through it as well."

    Even though her theory seemed to be oundish, Ana felt very confident in it.

    "In simple terms, just as we can use [The World] to travel through nonexistence and reach another Tree, we can use it to traverse what doesn''t exist between us and the pruned world."

    That was her n dumbed down to its most basic form.

    "But we don''t have the Arcana¡­ ahh¡­" Edward stopped himself from saying any more.

    "Precisely." Ana chucked a little, seeing that even Edward was already beginning to understand.

    "That''s where Cieles in. With her [Forge Of Creation], she can reproduce the Arcanas¡ªincluding [The World]."

    With that Arcana, they stood a chance of reaching Legris before it was toote, and ultimately defeat him.

    "There''s a possibility that Legris nned for this too." Kuzon murmured in hesitation.

    However, he quickly pulled himself back up before anyone could respond to his despairing statement.

    "If we operate under that assumption, we''ll never get anything done. We just have to try our best no matter what."

    Everyone nodded as soon as Kuzon uttered those words, and he turned to Ana to give her the most cheerful smile ever.

    "Thank you, Ana."

    "You can thank meter. Right now, let''s try this out and hope it works." She smiled.

    Kuzon''s grin grew broader, and for a moment, the both of them were locked in a lover''s daze.

    Until¡ª

    "Need some help with that?" A voice echoed from far behind the group, causing everyone to look in the direction.

    "You guys¡­!" Edward beamed with both surprise and relief as he watched the rest of their allies approach.

    All of them were in perfect shape, and they were all smiling in resolution.

    Jerry, Ciara, Beruel, Lemi, Aurora, and Aloe all stood before the rest of the group with resolute expressions decorating their features.

    No doubt, they already knew about the failed n.

    But, no one spoke about that.

    Everyone, as if speaking in unison, only had one thing to say.

    "What can we do to help?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    It wouldn''t be fair if I ignore the fights of these characters, so I''d like to take some time in exposing just how they managed to win.

    Should only take a few chapters max.

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    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1281 Purgatory Paradise

    Chapter 1281 Purgatory Paradise

    [Moments Earlier]

    "Haa¡­"

    With a heavy sigh, Jerry made sure to carefully analyze his target.

    The man before him had ashen white hair, with dull-colored skin, and darkness upying the whites of his eyes.

    His eyes glowed yellow, however, with sparks of blue and yellow buzzing around him.

    He had an armor on, and dense energy seemed to wrap itself around his body as he kept his gaze glued on Jerry.

    ~His name was Zephyr. He was a Hero of his world, right before Legris eliminated him.~

    Hearing Sagittarius take his time to exin the identity of this target, and hearing the name, already made Jerry recognize him.

    "He was a Host of yours, wasn''t he?" Jerry asked, almost solemnly.

    ~Indeed.~

    "Haaa¡­" Jerry heaved yet another sigh as he focused his gaze on the adversary.

    "A Hero, huh? He must be really strong, then. Do you think I can win?"

    A moment of silence followed Jerry''s question. It almost felt like  Sagittarius was contemting on how to answer it.

    ~Does that matter to you?~

    Once he heard this question, Jerry leaked out a smile.

    "Nope!"

    Whether or not his adversary was stronger, he wasn''t going to give up.

    He wasn''t going to lose¡ªnever again.

    ~You just received my power, so you haven''t fully limated to it. Still, I''d like to see what you do with it.~

    His opponent was a far more experienced user of Sagittarius'' Representation. Plus, he now had Legris'' inverse energy around him.

    It was a risky battle.

    ''But so what?!''

    He had alreadye this far with everyone, and he was now entrusted with a duty that only he could perform at this point in time

    "I will win! Watch me, Sagittarius, and grant me your strength!"

    ~Umu! Show me your dedication!~

    Jerry''s heart was instantly set aze upon hearing that.

    At that point, he activated his first move.

    "[Constetion Chamber: Prometheus]."

    His body instantly burst into mes¡ªthis time burning fervently and fiercely golden.

    Jerry felt his body covered in armor, te after te decorating his body in their powerful defenses.

    His body had be the very personification of gold fire, with his armor glowing blue. His arm bracelets, ne, breastte, boots, and armor on several other parts of his body only served to increase the intense pressure around him.

    His eyes glowed both blue and golden yellow, and heavy mist proceeded from his burning lips.

    Still, he wasn''t done.

    A ming sword appeared in his grasp, and two orbs stood beside him¡ªlike stars that guided his path.

    All of them were consumed by the same mes that shrouded him.

    That wasn''t all.

    A crown of glory sat heavily on his head, and it was lit aze the moment it did so.

    With Jerry being the very personification of mes, he stood in the presence of his opponent¡ªwho had also transformed into a full-armored form.

    Zephyr''s darkness now shrouded his body like dark mes, and his corrupted armor eerily rang of danger.

    However, Jerry did not let that deter him.

    "Let''s see who wins¡ªme or you!"

    Yelling in deration, he rushed to Zephyr as Zephyr rushed to him as well.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    As one would expect, their sh caused everything around them to tremble.

    The very space bended and shivered in response to the conflict, with shockwaves reaching far recesses of the world they upied.

    ~CLANG!~

    ~CLANG!~

    ~CLANG!~

    As the two exchanged blows, the des made from their projection came to life and also began to attack on another.

    Jerry summoned des from his imagination¡ªthe ability granted to him by Sagittarius¡ªbut his opponent did the same.

    As such, even as they both engaged in meleebat, their long-range projectiles canceled one another out.

    ''He has a limited amount of Sagittarius'' Representation present within him. By default, my projections should be stronger. But¡­''

    Jerry narrowed his gaze and instantly noticed the challenge.

    ''The inverse energy he has buffs every attack he makes, dulling out my des so that his projections can sh with mine on equal footing.''

    And then there was the issue ofbat.

    ''He''s strong!''

    Zephyr was very proficient in using the bare especially, almost to the point where Jerry felt he could barely keep up.

    ''In terms of raw skill and swordsmanship, he''s superior!''

    The only reason Jerry was holding on was, much to his surprise, because he was faster and also stronger.

    ''A Hero who won the war against Demons almost single-handedly¡­ what did I expect?''

    However, Jerry realized that the more he was in awe of Zephyr, the more he was being pushed back.

    Not just him, but his projectile suffered as well.

    ''No. I can''t let myself be caught up in that. I can''t be distracted!''

    At this point, rather than admiring Zephyr for his intense abilities, Jerry realized he had to search deep and improve.

    ''Right here¡­ right now¡­ I''ll surpass my limits!''

    With that single thought echoing in his mind, he roared in sheer determination.

    ~WHHUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The power coursing  through his body felt unreal. Right now, it felt like his mind was expanded and he could see the world in a far different light.

    ~Remember, Jerry. My Representation is [Imagination]. You only need to reach deep within yourself and ess the recesses of your boundless mind...~

    Hearing those words from Sagittarius, Jerry felt his heart slowly begin to race.

    ~Show them what you can do¡­ what you can conceive!~

    Jerry smiled, his brimming irises burning brighter than ever.

    It was at this point that he attained the enlightenment he had sought all his life.

    The world¡­ everything within it¡­ everything beyond it¡­ there was no limit.

    All he had to do was imagine.

    "[Primeval Magic: Purgatory Paradise]"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    In an instant, both Jerry and his target were transported to another world¡ªone made by the boy''s own mind.

    The Lake of Fire.

    It was a hellishndscape that seemingly never ended, fueled with fire and brimstone and burning with sulfur.

    A ce for horrors and gnashing of teeth.

    The mes that emerged from the seemingly uncountable volcanos, the molten magma that served as an endless sea ofnd, the darkened sky that rained nothing but burning acid¡­ this endless nightmarish realm that never seemed to stop.

    This was paradise.

    "Your inverse energy will resist, and you''ll try to nullify the effect of this power." Jerry smiled as he watched Zephyr struggle in his world.

    Several skeletal hands tightly held the fallen Hero from

    All parts of his body, dragging him into the bubbling pot of crimson despair.

    From the air being inhaled, to what upied every sense, it led to the same result.

    Torture and death.

    "But with my imagination, it doesn''t matter how many times you resist and nullify. It''ll keeping. Overflowing¡­" Jerry''s gaze remained unchanged.

    "Which one do you think will give out first? Your inferior power¡­ or my imagination?"

    In Jerry''s mind, it was already settled.

    He was going to win.

    As a result, despite how long and how badly Zephyr mindlessly resisted the power that overwhelmed him, even trying to create constructs that were instantly burned away the moment they were made, Jerry was ultimately going to serve as the victor.

    The heaps of undead hands dragged Zephyr down, sinking him into the sea of horrors.

    "In the end¡­ no one can defeat me here."

    That was Jerry''s answer.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Well¡­ that was one HELL of a ride.

    Haha!

    Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1282 The Lights Of Beruel

    Chapter 1282 The Lights Of Beruel

    [Meanwhile]

    "I should resolve this as quickly as possible, so I can assist the others."

    Beruel loftily floated while examining the opponent.

    Pale face, long hair, and ckened eyes, with darkness shrouding the woman that had was his opponent¡ªBeruel''s observation ran deeper than that.

    ''Her Constetion was Taurus. In essence¡­ she has immense destructive capabilities.''

    Beruel felt a short sigh escape his nostrils and lips.

    ''My forte doesn''t lie in heavy-hitting attacks. It seems she has the advantage here.''

    As his fairy wings pped, and his heightened senses took in more information, his thoughts processed more about the situation.

    ~Do you have a n on how to win?~

    Upon hearing the voice of his Constetion¡ªPisces¡ªBeruel leaked out a sly grin and nodded gently.

    ''Of course.''

    Even though immensely destructivebat wasn''t his forte, it didn''t change too much of the expected oue.

    ''It''s the opposite actually. This makes things much easier, doesn''t it?''

    In a battle of brute strength, the strongest was always going to emerge victorious.

    But such conditions did not exist where the conflicting parties had various and diverse skill sets.

    ''Oh well, let us begin.''

    With a soft smile on his face, Beruel initiated things on his end.

    "[True Original Magic: Orion Illumina]"

    Several balls of light¡ªlike little fireflies¡ªbegan to manifest all around Beruel.

    They seemed to have a mind of their own, and they multiplied so rapidly that they soon became innumerable dots of golden radiation.

    This was a simple, yet perfect representation of Beruel''s Original Magic¡ªLight.

    Unlike Aloe Vida, who took Light from everything around in order to make herself stronger, Beruel forcefully transformed particles around him into Light.

    Once the properties of those particles¡ªno matter how small or insignificant they were¡ªturned into light, he could control them as he wished.

    They were all a part of him, and he was a part of them.

    For example¡­

    "Go."

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Like unstoppable bullets, the light fragments rushed towards his opponent, donning on the speed of what they were made out of.

    In very little time, they arrived at their target.

    ~PEW!~

    ~PEW!~

    ~PEW!~

    Several of them drilled holes into the flesh of the rendering, decimating their bones, organs, and everything within them.

    ck blood radiated fourth as more brilliant lights pierced the woman.

    ''Light isn''t merely Magic. My Original Magic created and condenses actual light, so it should have the same effect as Martial Arts.''

    His target needed to physically interact with things, which was why Martial Arts was so effective. It was the same way they needed their sight, as well as their implementation of power, which gave room for the weakness to light.

    So long as the opponent had to rely on a particr function, said function could be weaponized against them.

    Since Beruel understood this foundational principle, he already knew his volley of light would affect her.

    ''It seems she couldn''t react fast enough. She''s not as fast as light, huh?''

    As Beruel witnessed the barely passable remnant of his opponent''s body, he was tempted to call the fight his victory.

    But¡­ a lingering feeling told him he could be wrong.

    Thankfully, he listened.

    "Hm¡­?"

    Right before Beruel''s eyes, he witnessed the woman heal herself, almost in a sh.

    Her bones were restructured and her flesh returned, returning her to her previous state.

    Well, almost.

    The woman''s muscle mass had increased drastically, and the amount of power that Beruel sensed from her was iparably stronger than in the past.

    ''Shepletely regenerated, and now she''s even more powerful? What''s going o¡ª?''

    ~WHOOOOSSHHHH!!!~

    Before Beruel could conclude his thoughts, she vanished from her position and closed the distance between them.

    ''She''s much faster now! Almost as fast as¡ª!''

    Her body burst into darkened red mes, showing the unholy mix of her inverse energy and Taurus'' Representation.

    The amount of power within her blow was not to be trifled with, and Beruel knew that if he got caught in it, it would mean his demise.

    However¡­

    ~PEW!~

    ~PEW!~

    ~PEW!~

    ¡­ His Light Bullets were still faster, and they riddled holes within her in no time.

    This time, he ensured he sent such a barrage of highly concentrated light that it fried her entire body and rendered it to nothing.

    Not even a trade remained.

    ''Will that be enough? Or¡­?''

    Just as Beruel feared, it still wasn''t over.

    The woman''s body was reconstructed, and in a moment she was back to her previous state.

    And just like before, she grew remarkably stronger than before.

    ''I see now. That''s probably her Original Magic.''

    A power that allowed her to possess such an unreal rate of regeneration, as well as evolving to be more powerful with every strike obtained¡­

    ''That''s very impressive.''

    Beruel could only imagine what kind of nuisance the woman would be if he kept up his current pace.

    ''A decisive blow to end things¡­ I can manage that.''

    As he had this thought, he noticed the woman had powered up even more and was getting ready to charge at him.

    ''Her speed should be at my level, if not faster. I can''t afford to dawdle.''

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The woman''s advancement caused immense shockwaves to travel so far away from her as she charged towards Beruel.

    Her wild eyes demanded chaos, and her salivating mouth craved destruction.

    Her long hair was now wavy,pletely dyed red¡ªjust like the rest of her body.

    It was brimming with unstoppable energy of destruction.

    ''There''s only one thing that can stop destruction¡­'' Beruel smiled as he watched the woman approach him.

    She was indeed faster than he currently was.

    But that was no problem.

    She easily destroyed all the light bullets that lunged at her with only the energy around her, and closed the distance between them in a blur.

    Then¡­

    ~SQUELCH!!~

    Her blow instantly cut through all Beruel''s defenses, her palm reaching for his heart¡ªwith the energy she released going after his soul.

    This was the end.

    For her.

    "¡­ Death."

    With those final words, Beruel raised his hand and touched the woman''s chest.

    A small smile spread over his face as he activated his Constetion''s Representation.

    Pisces had two aspects to their Representation¡ªlike two sides of a coin.

    Life and Death.

    And for this round, he chose thetter.

    "Goodbye."

    In an instant, he rendered the highest concept of death onto his target.

    A death that not even she could heal from despite her Original Magic.

    Absolute Death.

    The result was her fading away, turning into dust and then into nothing as the final embers of her mes danced in the void.

    Unfortunately for Beruel, he had also suffered irreversible injuries to his Soul and body.

    ¡­ Or so it seemed.

    "Well, that ended well."

    The injured body of Beruel also faded away like dust, and one of the light fragments around him slowly began to transform into Beruel himself.

    Just like that, he had returned.

    "This Representation of Life really is useful. I would be toast without it." He heaved a sigh of relief.

    ~Your Original Magic is impressive too. Thanks to being one with your Lights, you could transfer your ''Life'' to an extension of yourself.~

    In essence, ''Beruel'' never really died.

    "Since it''s over now, I think I''ll go and support the rest." He said, half to himself.

    ~Why? You don''t think they can handle the challenge on their own?~

    "No. That''s not it at all. It''s just¡­"

    Beruel smiled, realizing just how far he hade from the way he was in the past.

    His current philosophy made him a different person entirely.

    "¡­ It''s the responsible thing to do."

    He was the oldest in the group, after all.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    I can''t help but imagine how OP that woman would be if she kept getting stronger.

    Beruel''s broken, though.

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    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1283 Light Vs Dark

    Chapter 1283 Light Vs Dark

    "Looks like this''ll be a bit troublesome¡­"

    Aloe Vida leaked out a small smile as a bead of sweat dropped from her forehead down her face.

    Her brimming eyes showed nothing but glowing light as she analyzed the target, and she instantly realized she would be in for a challenge.

    Her opponent¡ªpreviously a sickly-looking old man who was pale from top to bottom¡ªhad now taken on a different form.

    Right before her eyes, he now assumed a misty state of darkness.

    ck energy swirled around him, with slivers of purple radiation shimmering forth from his fog-like state.

    It felt like he was the very personification of darkness, and the fact that he was now incorporeal made it even more difficult for her.

    ''My Original Magic won''t affect him¡­'' Her thoughts echoed.

    She assumed that his current state was his Original Magic, and it directly canceled hers out.

    ''Who is his Constetion backer?'' Aloe asked deep within her thoughts.

    She wasn''t talking to herself, though.

    ~Pisces. That makes this a very tricky opponent to deal with.~

    Pisces had the Representation of Life and Death. A serious strike from this target could kill her¡ªpermanently¡ªand he was virtually immortal as long as he had the Representative of Life active.

    ~Fortunately, as a limitation, a Host can''t use both at the same time.~

    That meant the dark mist, as Aloe now dubbed the enemy, could only use one at a time.

    ''That''s a relief.''

    That didn''t make her situation any better, though.

    She was currently facing an incorporeal embodiment of darkness; making itck any physical attribute to affect.

    ''[Aurora Vidalis: Lightless World] allows me so much speed and invincibility in a world shrouded in darkness. But¡­'' She took a nce at her opponent.

    ''If my opponent is already darkness personified, not only would my Magic not work on him, it would be pointless as well.''

    Darkness existed in a space without light.

    By ridding the world of light, Vida had a sneaking suspicion that her opponent''s advantage would go up.

    ''With the Representation of Death on his side, it''ll be game over if he gets too close to me.''

    Activating Original Magic would ensure he had more reach than ever.

    ''Guess I have no choice, then¡­'' Vida''s thoughts trailed.

    ~Ready to go?~

    As Libra''s question echoed in her mind, Vida found her smile widening a little more.

    ''Well, I''ve reached a deadlock here, so it would be best to¡ª"

    ~ZUUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

    Before she could conclude her words, the dark mist lunged at Aloe.

    The space around vibrated as the darkness warbled with every distance it covered.

    It felt almost instant with the way it was able to reach Vida; its dark hands now reaching for her, threatening to swallow her whole.

    "I don''t think so." Vida''s voice echoed right after she made her move.

    ~FWISH!~

    She vanished from her previous vicinity, shes of light trailing behind her as an afterimage.

    The moment this happened, however, the dark trail continued, moving to her new location within a moment.

    Aloe moved once more, her speed resembling a disappearing act¡ªthough the enemy was keeping up with it.

    They both raced across the worlds that surrounded them, almost in seconds,shing out through space as everything around them shook as a result of the mere pressure they exerted.

    It felt like a devastating cosmic storm was brewing in the vastness of space¡ªall due to their speeding momentum.

    ''Hold on, Libra¡­ I want to try something first.'' Aloe smiled, ncing behind her to see the embodiment of darkness closing in.

    Not only was it right behind her, it happened to split and reappear in front of her and by her two sides as well.

    With her nks, rear and frontal region all shrouded by darkness, the creature of the dark aimed at swallowing her whole.

    Once he did so, that would mark her end.

    ¡­ Or so it would seem.

    "[Inverse Original Magic: Vidalis Aurora]"

    With this, everything changed.

    ~WHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    Searing brightness, enough to dwarf even the brightest star¡ªsurged forth from Aloe.

    It filled the space around her, instantly vaporizing everything in her vicinity with the sudden exposure to such a sheer amount of power.

    Thanks to the speed by which it was moving, the light''s effects were almost instantaneous to its immediate vicinity¡ªincluding the darkness that had surrounded it.

    At that single moment, everything except Aloe was covered in bright light.

    The result was as one would expect.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    The annihtion of the darkness that surrounded her¡ªup to its most minute fragment.

    As soon as this was done, the intense light slowly dulled and everything returned to its source.

    The world slowly darkened, and Aloe stood at the center of everything with a faint glow of light coursing through her.

    "Haaa¡­"

    Opening her eyes, she could see that her opponent had been extinguished.

    Not a trace of the dark fiend could be found. It was absolutely extinguished.

    However, that wasn''t enough.

    ~SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU~

    Somehow, its soul survived, finding the present darkness totch onto.

    With [Vidalis Aurora] gone, the dark embrace of space served as the perfect breeding ground for the enemy to regenerate.

    "Looks like I can''t kill it on my own. I''ll need your assistance now, Libra." Aloe murmured, watching as the darkness reformed at a rapid pace.

    It slowly took on the form of a massive giant.

    Aloe found her head rising more and more as she tried toprehend its new height.

    ~Very well.~

    With the arrangement already solidified, Aloe stretched forth her hand, pointing a finger towards the giant darkness.

    "Representation of Death and Life, huh? I wonder¡­"

    Suddenly, a beam of energy seeped out of her finger and darted in the direction of the massive figure of darkness.

    ~WHUUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!~

    Right before Aloe''s eyes, it instantly transformed.

    The dark entity suddenly turned into a being made of pure light¡ªcourtesy of Libra''s [Bnce] Representation.

    ''Now then, let''s begin the finishing blow!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Crazy to think that this was once that insignificant staff in Ainrk, right?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1284 Glorius Heritage

    Chapter 1284 Glorius Heritage

    ~What do you n on doing now? Its new form doesn''t change the Representation''s effects.~

    Libra''s tone indicated both curiosity and skepticism¡ªthetter vividly more dominant with how she asked the question.

    In response, Aloe only smiled.

    "Just watch." A twinkle shone forth within her eyes.

    And then her lips parted.

    "Original Magic¡­"

    The being of pure light roared as it rushed towards Aloe, sheer bloodlust radiating all around it.

    "¡­ [Aurora Vidalis: Lightless World]."

    ~VWWWUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    At that very moment, all the light in the vicinity fell under Aloe''smand and were instantly absorbed by her.

    The enemy was no exception.

    In a sh, it became one with the several other fragments of light in the entire world they stood in, and everything became one with Aloe.

    As a result, she glowed ever so bright in the vastness of darkness around her.

    "Missionplete." Her words echoed out.

    ~Ahh, I see now. Brilliantly done, Aloe.~

    Libra''s words stemmed from a ce that very few Constetions would even consider.

    She was impressed.

    ~You turned the darkness into pure light so you could absorb it all¡ªRepresentation included.~

    "Precisely. And thanks to that decision, I can''t ever run out of Light."

    The Representation of her enemy was now a part of her.

    Life and Death.

    "I can infuse my Light with both qualities now. Isn''t that cool?" Aloe grinned.

    ~So you basically have two Representations now. Is that even allowed?~

    "Haha! Come on! Isn''t this just a spoil of war? Don''t tell me you''ll be leaving just because of this." Aloe smiled further.

    ~You already know I can''t cancel our contract. Itsts until your demise.~

    For a moment, silence existed between the two.

    ~Besides, even if I could¡­ I wouldn''t.~

    This made the young bastion of brightness chuckle lightly.

    "And why is that?"

    ~Let''s just say I quite like your style. Aloe Vida¡­ you''re certainly a special entity.~

    "Well, I wasn''t always like this. It''s thanks to Jared for resurrecting me and¡ª"

    ~No. It''s not Jared that made you this way. You''ve been special since birth. Your premature death just activated the recessive gene you have always had.~

    Upon hearing that, Aloe froze. She had already suspected that there was more to her ability and growing talent that met the eye, but she always attributed all of that to Jared''s intervention during the Demonic Disturbance at Ainrk.

    What Libra was telling her felt like abrupt news to the ears.

    "What are you saying?"

    ~I can see it already. The reason you were able to respond so positively to Magic, and why you were a somewhat suitable host for Kazen¡­~

    Libra''s riddle-like words puzzled Aloe even more.

    Just what was she saying?

    ~You''re a descendant of the first Singrity. You''re Merlin''s seed.~

    Upon hearing such a profound, unexpected revtion, Aloe''s eyes bulged in absolute shock.

    She wasn''t expecting this.

    No one could have predicted it at all.

    "W-what?!"

    ~Indeed. Your bloodline is incredibly potent. You''re a genius.~

    The truth was heavy, and the same applied to Aloe.

    This new revtion changed everything.

    Both in this world, and in the one that once was.

    Deep within Libra''s mind, however, where Aloe was unable to hear her, the Constetion had a few more thoughts as she looked at her Host.

    ~I suppose that''s why he chose you¡­~

    It was subtle¡ªalmost bittersweet¡ªbut Libra felt something at her very core.

    ~¡­ Hero of the forgotten world.~

    ********

    [Moments Earlier]

    The enemy in front of Ciara was a massive hulk of an entity.

    It had seemingly innumerable limbs, with a height that defied logic. Its entire body seemed to be made of an impossibly tough exoskeleton, and it had eyes that decorated its body.

    Each of its innumerable limbs took on varying shapes and sizes, their properties containing various attributes.

    In simple terms, it appeared to be a cosmic octopus¡ªthough it had a crustacean-like skin.

    The numerous eyes all over its body glowed, and its imposingly massive form appeared to be growing evenrger by the second.

    "An Original Magic that allows instant transformation, huh? To think we would be facing a shapeshifter, and it instantly resorts to its strongest form." Ciara whispered.

    She wasn''t talking to herself, though.

    Her partner was right with her, hearing every single word she uttered.

    ~It is unwise to underestimate your opponent. Your enemy realizes that.~

    "It has no mind to realize anything. It''s essentially a survival response to the amount of power it senses from me. Like instinct."

    ~Still¡­ you shouldn''t be sox about your opponent.~

    Once Aquarius said those words, Ciara fell into a deep hush.

    She said nothing.

    It made Aquarius a little puzzled¡ªeven slightly worried that her words could have caused her Host some distress.

    As a Constetion who had never bonded with a Host before, she didn''t know how exactly to address one, or where to draw the line.

    As a result, a slight feeling tugged at her that maybe she had misspoke.

    That wasn''t the case, though.

    "You''re right. I shouldn''t bex!" Ciara beamed with a smile.

    This raised Aquarius'' spirits almost instantly.

    ~Y-yeah! Exactly!~

    "I should finish this as swiftly and efficiently as possible! That way, I can go and check on Jerry!"

    ~Y-yeah¡­?~

    Ciara''s interpretation wasn''t exactly what Aquarius was going for, but she couldn''t take back her words at this point.

    She could only exercise due caution.

    ~Don''t be too impulsive, though.~

    "You don''t need to worry, Aquarius!" Somehow, Ciara''s words caused the Constetion''s worry to slowly dissipate.

    Perhaps it was due to their strong connection, but she could see that Ciara was absolutely confident of her victory.

    This didn''te out of a ce of pride or carelessness.

    No, it was the opposite.

    "I''ll win."

    Aquarius found herself nodding, while her inner self raced in anticipation as she awaited what her Host would do.

    She already knew, though.

    "[Pseudo-Primeval Magic: Aegir]"

    The hulking beast roared as it charged at Ciara, probably sensing something off the instant she uttered those words.

    Unfortunately for the poor thing, it was already toote.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!~

    At that moment, the cosmic crustacean octopus found itself in a halt, and then slowly¡­ its form began to shrink.

    It was a forceful, painful process; the massive creature sinking into itself like quicksand.

    In a sh, it was fully immersed within itself, imploding at an elerated pace.

    ~BWUUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

    A soundless explosion sent shockwaves teetering to the very edges of space-time, with not even a shred of the creature''s mass remaining.

    [Aegir] hadpletely eradicated it.

    "We''re done here." Ciara smiled at the empty space in front of her.

    It felt nice not having to see a disgusting monster in front of her.

    ~You used Aegir to control that thing, despite it having no real mind or soul. Impressive.~

    Despite hearing Aquarius'' praises, Ciara only shrugged.

    "As long as it exists, it has awork of causes behind it. Its instinct also serves as a mechanism of its existence and actions. Using Connection to take control of that Instinct, I forcefully induced a self-destruct sequence into it.~

    Taking this directive from Ciara as its new instinctive imperative, the enemy self-destructed in an implosion.

    ~Well posited.~

    "Now that we''re done here, I''m off to see Jerry!" Ciara beamed, instantly locating her lover amidst the vastness of a high infinite space.

    Surprisingly, Aquarius did not protest against this.

    Now that she and Ciara shared a special Connection, she could see why the girl was so infatuated with the boy.

    ~Alright. Let''s go.~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Did the revtion shock you, or you always suspected Aloe was a bit special?

    Which is it?

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1285 White Adversary

    Chapter 1285 White Adversary

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHH!!~

    Aurora sped through the vast embrace of space, her body constantly a blur as she moved in response to mostly her instinct.

    Her entire form was shrouded in multicolored light, with a crown sitting on her glistening hair.

    Her adversary was racing right in front of her, gliding through the darkness as well.

    Unlike Aurora, who was a bastion of glorious lights of various colors, the adversary had only one.

    Pure white.

    Thanks to having the Representation of Sagittarius on her side, this enemy had shrouded herself in a projection of light, allowing her to be just as fast as Aurora¡ªif not faster.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    They sped through space constantly, ying a game of tag on a universal scale.

    Once Aurora finally managed to get close, she stretched out both her hands.

    She let out several tendrils from her limbs, and as if made out of jelly, they appeared all at once.

    ~VWUUUUUMMMMMM!!!~

    The sharp tendrils lunged at the target, almost like ropes, dancing around the ckness of space to reach.

    Unfortunately, the enemy had more tricks up her sleeve.

    ~FSHUUUUU!!!~

    White projections suddenly manifested near the tendrils, forming energy fields that served as barriers to protect the runaway opponent.

    As a result of the inevitable impact from both sides, an explosion sent the two opponents flying in opposite directions.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    This created even more distance between them, causing Aurora to click her tongue.

    In a swift response to this, she discharged several tentacles from behind her.

    Like gooey lumps of energy, the tentacles stretched almost indefinitely, aiming towards the recoiling opponent.

    Once again, however, several projections appeared to defend her.

    "Gotcha!" Aurora grinned.

    At that moment, her tentacles transformed into several hands, each one grabbing onto the barrier tes that would have otherwise repelled them.

    With all her tentacles doing this, there was no longer an impact, but rather¡­ a foothold.

    ''Let''s go!''

    Aurora used the new tforms she had to catapult herself right towards her target, building up the momentum to vastly increase her speed.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    Her body became at least twice as fast as before, swiftly moving past the barriers that would have pushed her back, straight for the enemy.

    Thetter had already recovered from her recoil and was now resuming her race, but Aurora''s speed already made it obvious that her retreat was futile.

    As a result, the white-d adversary turned her full attention towards Aurora, creating several projections in the form of a meaty insurmountable amount of projectiles.

    ded arrows and beams of destructive energy rained down at Aurora as she tried closing the distance between the two of them.

    It was clear that the white foe was getting desperate.

    Fighting from a distance washer style, after all.

    ''I excel at close quartersbat. After our first round, she realized that and she''s been on the run ever since¡­''

    Rather unfortunately for the poor soul, Aurora wasn''t particrly weak at long-range either.

    "[Absolute Rupture]!"

    Multicolored light formed a drill that was thrust forward by Aurora.

    This was a far more advanced form of [Harbinger Of Rupture], a Magic that was only possible due to her current state.

    Unlike the former, which increased in destructive mass the more it spun, [Absolute Rupture] already had more than enough power for its instant spin.

    Its base power also exceeded that of the Harbinger almost a thousand-fold.

    The multicolored light that danced around the drilling beam of energy roared as Aurora sent it towards the several projectiles that came her way.

    The result was as one would expect.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    A glorious explosion!

    Like fireworks dancing in the sky, the contrasting energies expanded into several pieces, shattering and forming tiny explosions in the expanse around.

    Aurora didn''t allow herself to get distracted by all of this, though.

    She followed up her attack with a second Spell.

    "[Inverse Rupture]."

    This time, the drill that manifested was spinning in the opposite direction.

    Rather than a pointed edge, it had a suction at its top, like a blinding vortex that seemed to swallow anything in its path.

    Its power wasparable to a ck hole, and Aurora instantlyunched it towards the fireworks and her adversary that stood behind them.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    In mere instants, the remnant energies from the explosion found themselves sucked into the vortex caused by the Inverse Rupture.

    The multicolored mechanism of energy only ate more energy as it swiftly tore through space and made its way towards the enemy.

    Even if she were to run away now, it would be pointless.

    "Light. Energy. Mass. It takes it all in." Aurora proudly smiled as she watched her opponent struggle to escape the vortex.

    "It''s over for yo¡ª"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Before Aurora could conclude her words, the entire drill shattered apart.

    Even an inversion of space was not sufficient for the kind of power that was being emitted by the enemy this time.

    "Ahh¡­ this pesky Representation." Aloe murmured as she red at the enemy.

    Bright white light surrounded her, and the lift had now formed a massive construct that was by farrger than anything the Inverse Rupture could swallow in its state at the time.

    It was no wonder it got destroyed.

    "My goodness¡­" What Aurora was staring at was the very pinnacle of projection.

    A massive energy-based structure of her adversary stood, at least asrge as a star.

    It was so massive that Aurora felt insignificant in its presence.

    It was at this point that she realized that her power would be insufficient for this opponent.

    "I can''t beat her alone." Aurora sighed. "Looks like this is the worst case scenario."

    ~Indeed. You''ve exercised due diligence and patience. There''s no other choice.~

    Once Aurora heard this, a smile formed on her face.

    ~You may use my power.~

    Her smile grew wider.

    "Finally! [Representation: Constance]."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Get yourselves ready for the power of Capricorn!

    I should be ending the fight of the extras in the next chapter.

    I hope you had fun with it, though.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1286 Constance

    Chapter 1286 Constance

    The reason Aurora had held off on using the Representation for so long was due to the nature of her Constetion''s power.

    [Constance] belonged to Capricorn, and it had the ability to make permanent changes to reality.

    Anything she did with that Representation would create asting effect on the world¡ªno, even the Aether Tree.

    That was why it was only to be used as ast resort.

    Thus far, Capricorn had provided her with Aether which noticeably boosted her abilities.

    However, in a fight against a Representation¡­ it was only trite to use another Representation.

    This time, to ovee the power of [Imagination], Aurora was going to use [Constance].

    "My power is absolute. I therefore decree it to be true." Aurora spoke, her palm stretched at the massive figure before her.

    "From simple colors, to ideas, to damage. There is nothing I can not insert into reality."

    The only exception to [Constance] was its need for consistency. Aurora could not defy what had already urred or been manifested in the bid for consistency.

    That also meant that whatever she manifested could be changed again.

    "But that''s fine¡­" Aurora smiled.

    The massive thing already raised its hand, ready to crush Aurora under its might.

    "There is a new color that I have made. It exists in the spectrum of red and purple, with tints that would conform to 60 percent red and 40 percent purple, having dashes of blue and yellow as a base in lining¡­"

    Being very specific was key in using [Constance].

    There was no room for error.

    "After a trillionth of a second, the color suddenly fades away into obscurity, as if it never existed to begin with."

    The fist drew closer.

    "The color''s name is Auroradi. You are made of that color."

    In an instant, the massive being of white took on a different color.

    It was now made up of Aurorandi¡ªthe new color that had been birthed into existence by [Constance].

    Unfortunately, as was the fate of Aurorandi, it was a fleeting color.

    One that was inevitably going to vanish almost as soon as it was birthed.

    As a result¡­

    ~FSHUUUUUUUUUUUU~

    ¡­ Before the fist even reached Aurora¡­

    "Goodbye."

    ¡­ It disappeared¡ªforever lost to obscurity.

    Aurora stood, floating in the darkness of space with a smile on her face.

    Everything could have been this simple, but if she could easily use her abilities, it would lead to some very devastating effects¡ªat least, ording to Capricorn.

    ''I''m quite responsible, though¡­'' Her thoughts trailed as she sighed slightly.

    ~Good job. Looks like we''re done here.~

    Once Capricorn spoke, Aurora straightened herself and nodded stiffly.

    "Indeed. Should we go and assist the rest?"

    ~It would be preferable to rendezvous with the spearhead team. The missiones first, after all.~

    Upon hearing this, Aurora nodded and prepared for interster flight.

    Out of everyone who was fighting, there was one particr person whom she was worried for.

    The most unserious of the group.

    ''Lemi, you better not y around this time.''

    With that thought, Aurora sped off.

    ********

    [Moments Earlier]

    There once existed a Constetion Host who was chosen by the great Scorpio.

    He was meant to be the Hero of his world¡ªsaving everyone from the great evil that pervaded thend and ensuring the world was at peace.

    He did all of that.

    However¡­ soon after, he became the great evil.

    Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

    The one who was once called a Hero soon grew to be a tyrannical leader in his world as he ruled his people with an iron fist.

    With the power of a Constetion, no one could stand up to him.

    No one could stop him.

    ¡­ Until someone finally appeared.

    Legris Damien stripped him of all his power and killed him. The overwhelming disgrace he suffered was still etched in his lifeless body, even now that he was a mere pawn.

    The once great Conqueror was now reduced to a pawn.

    A pawn who was matched against a girl who seemed young enough to be his daughter.

    She had pointy ears, and her ck and white hair instantly stood out as she fsddd him.

    Despite the supposed tension of battle, she had a smile on her face.

    Why?

    Why would she be so optimistic in such a dreaded scenario? She was currently facing the very embodiment of death and despair¡ªat least that was what he was in the past.

    Right now, this fallen Hero, and dead Conqueror, had no will of his own. He had no mind to reason, or memory to draw from.

    He was no longer himself.

    However, his body remembered details from his time as an invincible warrior.

    The mere fact that he was donning his armor, and held his long, lean de put him in the mood¡ªshowcasing his battle instincts.

    Muscle memory and sheer bodily instincts gave him a persona.

    Slowly, he raised his hand and pointed his de at the smiling girl before him.

    She was an impudent one that he would have to put in her ce.

    "You''ll die."

    For a moment, there was silence. Even after making his deration, there was no motion from either of them.

    The girl was frozen in motion, almost as if shocked by his deration.

    Yes, this was it.

    She was probably experiencing absolute despair. It pleased the shell of the man greatly.

    However, his suspicions could not be further from reality.

    "W-what! You can speak? That''s crazy!"

    From a look of shock, the girl''s expression graduated into further excitement.

    She seemed to have stars in her eyes as she gushed over the armored devil.

    It confused even his sharp senses.

    At this point, he could not converse any longer. His instincts were sending him into overdrive, and there was only one thing he could do now.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!~

    Energy surged from his body in the form of blood-red light, with hints of ckness swirling around him.

    His armor glowed, his de gleamed sharper, and everything around him became warped under hismand.

    He had been asleep long enough.

    It was finally time for the Tyrannical Devil to emerge.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Constance is really powerful, isn''t it? With great poweres great responsibility, though.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1287 The Corrupted One

    Chapter 1287 The Corrupted One

    The time hade¡­ for carnage!

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Following pure instincts, the Tyrannical Devil zoomed towards the pointy-eared girl.

    A trail of crimson and ck energyshed around as he paved the way for his destination.

    Space trembled, and the world seemed to pause as he approached her with magnificent speed and power.

    His armor emanated immeasurable heat, and his de was beginning to simmer as it was coated in the energyshing around him.

    His form was perfect too.

    As he approached her, the man raised his de and prepared himself for his first strike.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    The de easily sliced through the air, cutting through whatever modicum of atoms were in the area in a sh.

    The trajectory of the weapon, coupled with his speed, ensured he would never miss his mark.

    As a result, the target had to have been destroyed as well.

    ¡­ Right?!

    "You''re quick. But that won''t be enough."

    Apparently, the man was wrong.

    Not only was the target living and breathing, but she was right behind him¡ªalmost as if she had teleported there the instant his de nearly hit her.

    That was impossible.

    ~VWUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    In response to this utter disrespect, the man increased the output of his energy multiple fold.

    Dark shes of lightning radiated from his body, and the bloody power that seeped from his body and stained everything around him increased in quality.

    The pressure he exerted was enough to make everything around him tremble.

    But, he still wasn''t done.

    "[Representation: Corruption]." He whispered.

    Suddenly, the armor he wore turned ck, and the same appeared to his silvery weapon.

    More ck energy began to rise from him,plementing the red power that flowed through him.

    The result was a fine blend of darkness and red, both radiating a dangerous aura of power.

    "You spoke again! What''s your name? My name is Lemi!"

    Despite this power-up he just had, the girl before him showed no fear at all.

    Lemi, as she called herself, only seemed more excited the more time passed.

    Why?

    Was he not scary? Was he not powerful? Was he not dreadful?

    Why was she not quaking in fear, or at least taking him seriously?

    "Impudent. You die."

    The power he wielded belonged to Scorpio, and it was that of Corruption.

    Anything and everything he influenced with his energy would instantly experience degradation down to the lowest level.

    He could also apply the inverse effect and cause regeneration.

    As a result, he would apply the inverse to his body, granting himself the ability of Regeneration, while his opponent would experience grand degradation the moment he hit her.

    With this ability, he had conquered his world, and he would do the same to the girl in front of him.

    He would destroy her!

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    In a st, he rushed towards her, his speed iparable to his previous state.

    Everything at a distances, moons, asteroids, or even mere atoms¡ªinstantly degenerated the moment he sped past them.

    "Oh crap!" He heard her say, and she instantly began to flee.

    Lemi raced away from him the moment he initiated the chase, and that caused him to lick his lips in excitement.

    This was it! She was already beginning to experience the fear that he craved from her.

    Unfortunately, there was nowhere she could run to.

    ~WHISH!~

    ~SWISH!~

    He sliced through the air with his dark de, instantly generating two shes that had concentrated attributes of corruption within them.

    The shes flowed in the direction of his prey, and in no time, it would meet up with her.

    However, the moment it nearlynded, she vanished from her position.

    "Tch!"

    Lemi reappeared a few hundred meters away from her initial position, and the devilish conqueror instantly changed his trajectory and raced after her.

    His corruption easily devastated anything in his path as he slowly gained on her.

    Until¡­

    "Alright. This ce should cut it."

    ¡­ Lemi suddenly stopped running.

    Was she finally tired of escaping the inevitable? Would she stand still and ept her fate?

    He wanted so badly to slice her up with his de, but he exercised a warrior''s restraint and took some time to observe the situation.

    "Your Corruption Representation is quite formidable. All the Aether I stockpiled around you were so easily degenerated. If I had gotten hit with any of your attacks, I would have experienced the same."

    His absent mind could not reallyprehendplex things such asnguages, but he gushed her expression and noticed she was still smiling.

    Apparently, she hadn''t experienced enough despair.

    Not yet.

    "I thought I would die for a second there, but¡­ fortunately I did not."

    The fiend tightly gripped his de, prepared to run it through her this time.

    There was no room for error.

    One hit! He only needed a single hit to finish the job.

    "I''m not the strongest out there. I don''t have an Original Magic, or Mage Mode, or anything like that. I only have my technique¡­ and my Constetion."

    More ck flowed through the warrior. The remaining red energy sumbed to the darkness, leaving him with purely ck swarming him.

    Both the ck from his Inverse Energy and from his Corruption.

    Both sides carried weight¡ªand both led to the same end.

    Unrecoverable death.

    "[Ultimate Technique: wless Absolute Domain]."

    The moment Lemi uttered those words, however, a cosmic storm seemed to suddenly manifest.

    A wave of seemingly immeasurable energy descended upon the duo, filling everything around them in such dense and powerful Aether that it flowed.

    That portion of space was pure white, a sharp contrast to the ckness of space around.

    Like and of eternal ice¡ªfilled with ciers and snowy wonder¡ª

    except everything was condensed Aether.

    The fiend tried to break free from this domain, but quickly realized an unexpected truth.

    "Don''t bother. I''ve analyzed the attributes of your corruption, and by using my Representation, you won''t be able to Corrupt my Aether."

    He didn''t know how this Lemi girl was able to do it, but right now¡­ the Aether that surrounded him overwhelmed his Corruption.

    Not because they were denser than his inverse energy¡ªthough that was also the case¡ªbut because they had taken on the second attribute of his power.

    Regeneration!

    Every single piece of Aether was regenerating faster than he could degenerate them.

    The result was a stalemate that would never be resolved.

    "My will is absolute in my Domain. It''s wless because it can''t be destroyed, and it exists as an extension of myself."

    He could sense pride in the girl''s voice.

    It was unpleasant.

    "There''s no escape. There''s no weakness. There''s only the inevitable conclusion."

    At this point, she was already transforming.

    The Tyrannical Devil watched as she swiftly changed appearances from the ordinary-looking pointy-eared girl to something else.

    Something far more divine.

    Her hair was still white and ck, but it was now much longer than before.

    Golden armaments decorated her right side, and silver decorated her left side.

    She had a beautifully adorned white gown which flowed down her right side, but her left side showed only a dark gown of the same proportion.

    She stretched out her hand, and on the right was light. The left side was the opposite¡ªdarkness.

    Amidst this fusion of opposites and dual natures, Lemi stood majestically and smiled at the gawking tyrant.

    And then, her irresistible words surged forth.

    "[Representation: Duality]."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1288 A Constellationâ€™s Duality

    Chapter 1288 A Constetion¡¯s Duality

    The tyrant trembled.

    This too was an instinctive reaction.

    His body remembered thest time he trembled like this. That was when he fought and pitifully lost to Legris Damien.

    It was the most shameful thing he had ever experienced, and the mere fact that his body was reacting like this meant one thing.

    He was about to experience the same again!

    "N-no¡­ NO MORE!"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!~

    Screaming, the overall output of his power reached new heights.

    The darkness that clung to his body rose past its threshold, ascending far above him as it tried to expand.

    "It''s useless. In fact¡­" Lemi stretched out her hand and pinched her fingers slightly.

    Suddenly, the rabid darkness that seemed to be spiraling out of control shrunk in mass and strength.

    From a swirling storm to barely embers, the power the tyrant boasted of began to dissipate before his eyes.

    "Countering your Corruption with its Inverse ensures they cancel each other out. The one with the greater control, quality and quantity will inevitably gain the upper hand."

    He could not understand Lemi''s words, but upon seeing that the power he had so much pride in went so easily, the fiend began to grow insane.

    "RAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    His screams echoed in the vast world of white, and Lemi only stared at him curiously.

    "It''s impressive you were able to do so much andmunicate so well despitecking a mind or a proper ego. I expected a greater challenge since that was the case, but I suppose the cause isn''t rooted in your strength. Perhaps a deep sense of pride¡­ or trauma?"

    As Lemi analyzed him, she rubbed her chin. This action irritated the fiend so much that he roared in unbridled rage once more.

    "ROAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

    He sharply lunged at her, his bloodshot eyes ready to rip her apart, even if he had to use his teeth.

    "No. Stay."

    The moment she said those words, he was pushed back by an invisible wall, and his two legs were crushed by an undetectable force.

    "I''m still observing you, so stay still."

    None of those words could be processed by his hollow brain, but the fiend noticed something thatpletely changed his perception on both the situation and his adversary.

    He stared at Lemi''s eyes.

    Her cold, calcting eyes.

    She was clearly looking down on him, but there was something else within it.

    What he saw was absolute confidence¡ªa certainty thatpletely ounted for everything.

    He once had those eyes, especially when he faced foes whom he knew had absolutely no chance of even touching him, talkless of winning against him.

    That was what he now saw in this little girl.

    She knew deep down that he could not harm her. He could only struggle and try, but just as a mere ant could not do much to a human¡­ he had the same fate.

    No¡­ even worse.

    "N-no¡­ no¡­ no¡­"

    His empty mind could not ept it.

    His fate all along was to be prey to this overwhelming predator¡­ there was no way he could ept it.

    And yet, his body instinctively knew he could not take down such an adversary.

    Ironically, the one who used to inflict despair began to feel the same emotion swirl within him.

    Sinking in pure despondency, the fiend could only do one thing.

    "ARRRRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!!"

    Scream.

    "U-UWAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

    Cry.

    "G-GUARRRGHHHHH!!!"

    Struggle.

    The once-fearsome fiend now ran for his dear life, swimming pointlessly in the vast white world that enveloped him.

    He wed his way to a nonexistent exit.

    He crawled pointlessly, hoping to see an escape from the inescapable domain.

    He showed his back to his enemy, already giving up on any honor or will that a warrior ought to have.

    At this point, he was broken.

    "This is just sad. I should end this, then." Lemi''s voice echoed behind him, but he didn''t hear anything.

    He only focused on his pointless emancipation.

    "The nature of my Representation allows me to summon whatever element I desire, so far I have an appropriate understanding of it. However, in exchange, the opposite element will also manifest."

    Hence, Duality.

    Hot and Cold. Light and Dark. Good and Evil. Gemini manifested pr opposite concepts to existence and controlled them to do her bidding.

    "I infused all the Aether here with Inverse Corruption¡ªthat is regeneration. With so much of it used, you can expect whates next, don''t you?"

    Right at the darkened part of Lemi''s body, floating on her hand, was an orb of darkness so deep that it served as a blot to the pure white world around.

    "Corruption. A lot of it."

    Lemi''s eyes continued to look at the tyrant as if he was nothing but a piece for inspection; a tool for her pleasure.

    And then¡­

    "This is the end."

    ~WHUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    The ball of darkness descended, and like a massive boulder, it neared its massive shadow epassing its target even before impact.

    As for the Tyrannical Devil, he was still busy crawling and digging pointlessly.

    Even until the very end.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    At that moment, the fiend was destroyed, and Lemi emerged the victor.

    An inevitable conclusion from the start.

    *********

    ~Well, that was fun.~

    Gemini''s yful voice echoed within Lemi as she under her [wless Absolute Domain].

    "I know, right? It''s a shame it ended so quickly." Lemi responded, a bright smile on her face.

    ~There are more important things to do. We should get to it.~

    The moment the other side of Gemini spoke, Lemi pouted instantly.

    "I know. I know."

    Dealing with the Constetion Gemini was a bit tricky due to their bipr nature.

    Fortunately, Lemi was slowly getting used to it.

    "We should probably all rendezvous with the main group. I''d assume the rest wouldn''t take too long with their opponents as well." Lemi murmured.

    ~Who knows? You could be thete one. How would it feel if you were thest to finish?~

    As Lemi heard the teasing giggle that Gemini gave her, she realized how right she was.

    "I don''t want to hold anyone back! I better hurry back."

    ~That''s more like it.~

    In both a panic and sheer resolve not to be left behind, Lemi rushed towards the main group.

    Unknown to her, almost everyone else would meet up with her on her way to the trio, and they would all arrive at the same time.

    In time for the bad news too.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1289 Contigency Plan

    Chapter 1289 Contigency n

    "We''re all here. Perfect!"

    Everyone was now present, which meant all the adversaries had been dealt with.

    Of course, there was no way of knowing if there were even more waiting for them in the pruned world, but they could only find out once they got there.

    "It takes a vast amount of energy to create the Arcanas. I expected Ciel to have more energy since she had the intention of duplicating more of us along with our Constetions. But looking at her reserves now, it''s mostly empty." Ana murmured as she looked at the doll-like Ciel.

    The human puppet was standing right beside the equally marite-like Maria.

    "Since you mentioned encountering Ciel, this one must be a duplicate too. It has all the abilities the original Ciel has, but not enough energy topensate for it."

    "Energy isn''t an issue. You can use mine." Kuzon suggested, and Ana nodded instantly.

    "I figured."

    In the end, energy wasn''t an issue for the group.

    Before long, Kuzon was able to provide the required amount of Aether, and once Ana converted it into the kind that Ciel required to utilize her Original Magic [Forge Of Creation], the n was already in motion.

    The relevant Arcana¡ª[The World]¡ªwas generated.

    Since it required the abilities of all the other Arcanas to be properly formed, Kuzon had to grant enough Aether to produce them all and merge everything to create [The World].

    "Feel drained?"

    "No. I''m fine." Kuzon replied, his gaze focusing on the sole Arcana that now floated in the air.

    The only ticket they had to stop Ciel.

    "This had better work¡­" Ana said to herself, a deep sigh escaping her lips.

    "It''s going to work. You postted it, after all."

    Upon hearing Kuzon''s encouraging words, and seeing the rest of her friends nod in agreement, Ana''s smile widened.

    Her confidence soared, causing her to bob her head with resolve.

    "Alright! I''ll try my best to openly navigate this thing!" Ana smiled, her blue eyes gleaming.

    "Here goes nothing!"

    ********

    Ciel sat in silence as she looked at the vastness of emptiness.

    Right beside her was a pitch ck cocoon¡ªalmost twice asrge as an adult male.

    This incredibly small and dense sphere contained her partner, Legris, and it was her duty to guard it until his [Amalgamation] wasplete.

    "The n worked, and we''re now separate from a reality that they can interfere in. I guess it''s time to wait things out."

    Ciel felt a tinge of relief course through her, and for good reason.

    Initially, she had wondered what it would be like to take everyone on. However, after facing only a few of their adversaries, she now realized how suicidal that was.

    "I can''t take all of them on my own."

    It was obvious at this point.

    ''I''ve also lost a decent amount of the Aether I stole from the Constetion Realm. Trying to duplicate that Midas took a major chunk of everything."

    And the worst part about that entire venture was that it failed.

    It was frustrating, but Ciel endured regardless.

    ''Looks like thest contingency that Legris nned was unnecessary¡­'' Ciel smiled, the image of Stefan popping into her mind.

    ''Well, his mission is important regardless. It''s best to eliminate anything that could be a threat before they fully mature.''

    As Ciel closed her eyes, a smile formed on her face.

    It wouldn''t be long now¡­

    "We''ll finally be reunited." Whispering to herself, she enjoyed the moment of bliss and silence that was now made free for her.

    Until¡­

    ~ZZTTTZZZZZZZ~

    ¡­ She sensed something off.

    "What in the¡­?" As she opened her eyes, Ciel found all the relief that had umted within her disappear at once.

    Swirling in the air above her was a multicolored portal. It distorted space and caused everything around it to warp and warble.

    She would have instantly tried to close the gate at once, considering the implications, but by the time she had opened her eyes it was toote.

    There were already people floating in front of the gateway¡ªall eleven of them.

    "Hello, Ciel. Did you miss us?" Upon hearing the voice of the Midas in their midst, her heart thumped slightly.

    She noticed the smiling faces and healthy bodies of every single member of the team.

    Not even a single one was fatally injured or dead. They were all standing in front of her¡­ all of them?!

    "This is insane." She murmured to herself.

    "No. You''re insane." Kuzon responded, his eyes now glowing with an overwhelming shade of golden light.

    Once again, she felt intimidated to her core.

    Her eyes quickly darted away from him and to the two girls she thought would have at least sustained serious injuries.

    She had perfectly duplicated them, yet it seemed like they had ovee the challenge.

    It felt absurd, but the reality of what happened was evident with the both of them being present.

    "How were you able to¡ª?"

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Before she was able to say anything more, Kuzon rushed towards her and grabbed her throat.

    "Gurk!"

    He raised her upward, his eyes burning with a resolute desire to swiftly obtain what he wanted.

    "That''s not your concern. I have scanned this entire ns, and it seems no duplicate of yours exists here. It''s just you and this cocoon."

    Kuzon wasn''t wrong.

    Ciel had not even considered the possibility that they would be able to reach this ce despite how impossible it would be.

    She was also trying to conserve energy since she had lost so much.

    ''I made a mistake! Damnit¡­''

    Right now she was at his mercy, and even though she was desperately trying to activate her power, she couldn''t.

    It felt like he was shutting her outpletely.

    "This is the end of the line, Ciel." Kuzon smiled at her, his condescending gaze radiating nothing but certain victory.

    The expressions of everyone else also seemed to show the same sentiment.

    As it seemed, Ciel was currently out of cards and the grand n was ruined.

    ¡­ Or was it?

    "Hehehe¡­ is that what you think?" Ciel suddenly chuckled, croaking as Kuzon''s right grip choked her slightly.

    Those words were enough to unnerve the group.

    Even the confident Kuzon instantly realized that something was wrong.

    He tightened his grip as he furrowed his brows. Drawing his face closer to hers, he asked the most pertinent question at this point.

    "What¡­ what have you done?"

    "Hahaha! Why should I¡­ gurk!" Kuzon''s grip grew stronger, and so did the burning power in his gaze.

    "I wasn''t giving you a choice."

    The pressure from Kuzon suddenly shrouded Ciel, forcing her to open her lips and divulge the information she was trying to hoard for a few seconds longer.

    She was eventually going to say it, since it was essential to the n, but Kuzon''s overwhelming authority forced her to open her lips.

    "S-Stefan¡­ he is currently going through the contingency n."

    "Where is he? What is this contingency n?"

    The force propelled Ciel to speak despite her strong desire to stall.

    "He¡­ is going to eliminate all of your friends and families¡­ everyone you care about."

    "What?!" Kuzon''s eyes widened instantly.

    "Everyone and everything you care about¡­ will be gone!

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1290 The Choice That Canâ€™t Be Made

    Chapter 1290 The Choice That Can¡¯t Be Made

    The n was a simple, but calcted move.

    After making a conscious effort to search for Jared''s home world among the vast worlds that existed in the Aether Tree, and having no luck locating it, Legris came to a conclusion.

    Neron, or someone stronger than him, was currently ensuring that the world remained undetected.

    While it was vexing, Legris couldn''t do anything about it¡ªat least, not yet.

    However, the moment he arrived in the Constetion Realm, he was able to use the heightened realm as a temte to search for Jared and Neron''s homeworld.

    Sure enough, he found it.

    Once he was about to navigate his way to the ce, he figured it would be a useful card to exploit, so he did what any sensible strategist would resort to.

    "Stefan, you''ll go take that hostage. Kill anyone who stands in your way, and ensure no one leaves that world."

    If push came to shove, he could use their world as coteral¡ªor even bait¡ªin order to steer them away from his ns.

    Considering that their families were present there, it only made sense that they would have more of an emotional attachment there over anywhere else.

    And, in the case that they didn''t take the bait, then¡­ there was the second option.

    "Kill everyone there if a certain time pses without any external intervention.".

    That was the n.

    It was a cruel, but satisfying thing for Legris to do for the home base of his adversaries.

    Either way¡­ he would win.

    *********

    "Y-you¡­"

    Kuzon felt his body tremble only slightly, but his face was warped with unbridled rage as he red at Ciel.

    She had a satisfied smile on her face, and even though it was clear she was powerless before the group, she enjoyed watching them suffer.

    "S-so¡­ what will it be? Will you try to protect your home? Will you stick to the mission? I¡­ wonder." She cackled, her voice croaking out despite being choked.

    ~VWUUUUMMMM!!!~

    Kuzon growled, and a powerful surge of energy overwhelmed Ciel.

    It caused her to scream as golden lightning coursed through her. The wild smile on her face swiftly faded away, reced by the agonizing expression of someone being tortured.

    Despite her noise, Kuzon paid her no mind. Instead, he turned to hisrades.

    As one would expect, they all had troubled faces and for good reason.

    The enemy had just said something devastating, and it weighed heavily on the mind.

    Their home world was in danger.

    "What do you think?" Kuzon asked, not throwing the question to anyone in particr, though his gaze was specifically on Ana.

    Ana''s countenance immediately fell. It was as if she was struggling to remain rational despite her emotions rising.

    "We can stop the cocoon and save ourrades! We can do both, right?" The one who brought this up was Lemi.

    "Let''s just use the same strategy asst time. Kuzon, Edward, and Serah should stay here while everyone else goes back."

    Lemi''s voice seemed to garner the consensus of almost everyone present. However, those in the know knew how imusible her words were.

    "We can''t." Ana sighed, her small hand covering her face as she spoke.

    Out of everyone present, she was one of the people who had a lot to lose. Her two parents were still alive, and she had lots of older siblings she looked up to back home.

    However, she could not deny how ill-favored the situation made them.

    "We need to use [The World] to get to our home world. But, it is currently being used to keep the gateway open from the Aether Tree to this ce." Ana exined.

    "If we were to use it for any other purpose, it would leave the three here stranded with no other way of escape."

    Once they destroyed the Cocoon, the resulting explosion of inverse energy would definitely kill them if they didn''t escape using [The World] as quickly as possible.

    As it currently stood, this mission was already a big risk.

    "None of us are skilled enough at Inter-dimensional Magic. That means Ciel has to be the one to wield the Magic. I doubt she can open two distinct wormholes through worlds at the same time."

    Even if someone else could utilize [The World] as efficiently as Ciel, there was another issue.

    "She can''t use [Forge Of Creation] while using [The World], so she can''t create another Arcana for us to use." With that, Ana concluded her statement.

    There was no way she could find a way back to their home.

    "Why don''t we use this Ciel? She has the same abilities, doesn''t she? You can just control her like you controlled the clone." Maria quickly posited.

    Her parents¡ªno, her friends and family¡ªwere in her home world.

    She was growing increasingly tense that she eventually had to blurt out what had been on her mind for a while now.

    "Anabelle isn''t with me. I''m currently using my Automaton to remotely control Ciel and make sure she keeps up the portal leading back to the Tree."

    There was a very small possibility of external factors interfering with the [Absolute Hijack], and if that happened, they would all be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

    That was why Anabelle had to stay behind.

    "You don''t need Anabelle. I can use my Authority to control Ciel to create another [The World] and take us to our home world."

    "Kekeke¡­ kekekeke¡­" Ciel chuckled, now regaining her ability to speak after so long.

    "What [Authority]? Have you not realized it already? You can''t use your Representations here. This isn''t the Aether Tree, and the Constetions have no authority in this ce!"

    The only reason Kuzon had managed to make Ciel spit out so much information was due to the remnant Authority he had, as well as the sheer volume of his Aether.

    However, now that they had spent enough time away from their Constetions, they couldn''t rely on their help any longer.

    They were quite literally on their own.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1291 Stefanâ€™s Entry

    <h4>Chapter 1291 Stefan¡¯s Entry</h4>

    "I don''t need [Authority]."

    Kuzon frowned as he squeezed Ciel''s throat even harder.

    ''I can just use [Marite Worms].''

    Either way, he would do anything he could to ensure they had what they wanted.

    "Haha! Go ahead then! It''s not like that would do you any good, though!"

    "Why is that?" Kuzon narrowed his eyes the moment he still saw Ciel smile despite her situation.

    It made no sense¡­ or did it?

    "Do you know the coordinates of your home world? You don''t, am I right?"

    As her words echoed in their ears, Kuzon''s eyes widened at the realization.

    Ana sighed, pressing her palm on her face. She had also considered that aspect, which was why she had given up pretty early.

    "I can just force you to¡ª!"

    "Bummer! I don''t know either! Legris didn''t tell m-m-m¡­"

    "Don''t you dare lie to me!" Kuzon shouted, his thunderous voice causing everywhere to tremble.

    Sparks of lightning flew all over him as his rapidly frustration climbed.

    "She''s not lying." Ciara said, her voice as solemn as it could be.

    "I can tell. She''s not lying."

    "T-that¡­! What options do we have then? What can we do?!"

    It would be impossible to scour the Aether Tree, even with [The World], when searching for a world that Neron had expertly hidden in the first ce.

    Even Legris tried several times and failed.

    "T-there''s nothing you can do, huh?" Ciel grinned as she felt her consciousness fade.

    "Then suffer in despair¡­ as your world turns to dust¡­"

    "Shut up! We have powerful people back in our home world anyway! It''s not like Stefan can take all of them on!" Edward swiftly raised his voice and responded.

    There were reliable people back in their home world. They weren''t pushovers.

    "Haha! You fools. You still do not understand the current extent of Stefan''s power."

    Ciel''s chuckle came to a halt as she stared at them with the most serious gaze she had ever given.

    "He''s just as strong as I am¡ªif not stronger."

    Her eyes were narrowed, and hints of fear and respect were hidden somewhere deep within them.

    All towards Stefan.

    "That child¡­ has be a monster."

    ********

    [Meanwhile]

    The world was littered in nothing short of death and despair.

    The fallen bodies of several hundred¡ªif not thousands¡ªof brave and powerful ones now decorated thendscape as a single entity looked down on them.

    The young man had long ck hair, and his outfit consisted of a dark trench coat and a hooded robe beneath.

    His dead, uninterested eyes scoured the world that existed beneath him, looking at the many that had suffered grievous injuries or death¡­ all for defying him.

    As per his orders, he would reward defiance with the sweet, but cold embrace of death.

    And it seemed like this world had no shortage of those who were willing to defy.

    Stefan didn''t particrly feel anything for them, but he considered it tragic that they were fighting a battle they had no chance of winning.

    "Why don''t you stop now?"

    One might wonder who he was speaking to. Well, other than the hundreds and thousands of supposedly powerful enemies that he hadid waste to, there remained a few others that still desired to defy him.

    "There''s still some time left until I am mandated to kill everyone here. If you choose to wait till then, I am not obligated to harm you right now."

    His cold words, his empty eyes, and his stoic demeanor¡­ everything was perceived by his current challengers.

    Ivan Smith. Elrich Lendertwale. Automaton Gawain. Advanced Golem Hugo 2.0, piloted by Maro and Freya¡­

    ¡­ And finally, leading the charge was Kazen¡ªApostle of Aether.

    All six of them were what remained of the resistance.

    "You can''t defeat me." Stefan spoke as if he was uttering a fact.

    And perhaps he was.

    In his eyes, just as water making things wet was a fact, so also was his superiority whenpared to the likes of his current foes.

    They stood no chance at all.

    Even looking at them now, they seemed plenty exhausted. Gawain was currently going through self-repair, and Hugo 2.0 had lost an arm, while also having chinks in many areas.

    The people present had also suffered considerable damage, but thanks to Recovery Magic, they seemed to be capable of pushing themselves even further.

    Their disheveled state already made it clear how little of a chance they had to make aeback, though.

    Compared to them, Stefan was in a very pristine state. He hadn''t been damaged even once, and he didn''t even seem to be trying.

    He was just waiting for the time when he had to eradicate the.

    ''Or, if the opposition arrives before that period, I''ll have to face them.''

    In a way, he was even holding back immensely. Every ounce of energy counted, and he had to conserve all that for a probable fight against anyone who would being to protect this world.

    Either way, he would perform his task to the utmost.

    "Why are you doing this, Stefan? I don''t understand! It doesn''t even seem like you''re interested in harming us."

    "Hm?" Stefan''s gaze shifted from the mass to the one who asked the question.

    It was Ivan Smith, and he seemed to be the most disheveled of the group.

    "Y-you¡­ you don''t even seem interested in us. You don''t want revenge. You have no reason to attack us. Why are you doing this?"

    "Ah, that¡­" Stefan''s voice trailed.

    He was only doing this for one reason.

    "Legris told me to. It''s important for his n."

    That was all there was to it.

    "Y-you¡­ caused all this destruction¡­ just because someone told you to?" Ivan''s voice echoed in disbelief.

    "Yes." Stefan responded stoically.

    "Why¡­? I don''t understand. Why would you go this far for Legris? He''s the bad guy, you know? Why would you do all this because of him? Why would you join his side and go against us?"

    No response was given.

    "ANSWER ME, STEFAN!!!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Stefan really grew strong, didn''t he? Yayy!!!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: /magecrafter

 Chapter 1292 Power Of Purpose

    <h4>Chapter 1292 Power Of Purpose</h4>

    "ANSWER ME, STEFAN!!!"

    Despite screaming with such gall, Ivan''s loud voice echoed more helplessness than authority.

    He was so puzzled and broken by the heartwrenching sight that he couldn''t barely hide his feelings.

    "You don''t need to shout." Stefan answered with a small sigh.

    A brief moment of silence echoed amidst the two sides, and Stefan raised his gaze to the distant sky above him¡ªprobably staring at the far reaches of space.

    "Purpose. I have none any longer." He mumbled.

    For a moment, no one said anything. Perhaps they misheard him, or couldn''t understand what he was saying.

    "In the past, I desired to be strong. Stronger than Maria, stronger than Jared. I just didn''t want to be inferior to anyone¡­"

    His cold gaze flickered with a bit of light before fading away very swiftly.

    "But after suffering defeat at the hands of Maria, I had an epiphany. It''s all pointless. In the end¡­ I am inferior. Attaining more power through whatever means doesn''t change the fact that she was born better. It just means I did more to attain the power she got so easily."

    No one spoke. They couldn''t interrupt.

    "And no matter how much power I obtained¡­ it was always possible for her to gain even more. The same applied to Jared¡­ and to even you, Ivan. Power can be given, and power can be taken. In the end, it has no meaning of its own." Stefan sighed.

    "It''s useless without purpose."

    "So¡­ you joined Legris because it gives you purpose?" Kazen asked, her eyes narrowed.

    "Precisely. After being in the emptiness¡­ the void of a purposeless life¡­ he offered to grant me what I desired." He cast his gaze back down to the group that stared at him.

    Their expressions ranged from confusion to downright anger.

    He knew they wouldn''t be able to understand his plight. After all, he was causing so much pain all for his selfish desire.

    But that didn''t matter to him. He didn''t care what anyone thought of him¡ªnot anymore.

    "I will assist Legris in his n and see its fruition with my very eyes. That is my new purpose."

    "A purpose that is bathed in the blood of innocents?"

    Stefan''s gaze focused on Kazen, and rather than respond to her question, he decided to shrug it off.

    "What I am currently doing is something only I can do." He spoke softly.

    "Ciel has her goals and purpose. So does Legris. It is necessary that I am here. He needs me to be here. The very thought of that grants me enough satisfaction to outweigh the desecration of lives that hold no meaning to me."

    Right here and now¡ªat this very moment¡ªhe felt alive.

    "Since this validates my existence, I will not stop. I will continue doing this, no matter the consequence."

    It was a far better fate than remaining a hollow shell of an existence.

    "If you want to stop me¡­ if that validates your existence and gives you purpose, then go ahead." Stefan''s voice trailed.

    "I don''t mind."

    He had gone on and on concerning his reasons, but in the end, the fight was what mattered.

    The battle to preserve their lives was of utmost pertinence to them.

    ''I understand. Try your best to defeat me, then.''

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    Kazen suddenly appeared in front of Stefan, a bright glow of white electricity covering her fist.

    "It''s point¡ª"

    ~VWUUUMMMM!!!~

    Before he could conclude his words, she sent her fist flying towards him.

    As he expected, however, his automatic barrier blocked off the attack.

    ''Her soul and energy are in a fragmented state, so I''m guessing her prime is stronger than this. Still, this is pretty weak.'' Stefan''s thoughts trailed.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!~

    Suddenly, the surge of electricity expanded,pletely shrouding Stefan''s surroundings in a storm of white lightning.

    Still, nothing reached him.

    "Tch. It''s as I suspected. You''re surrounded by an invisible force." Kazen smiled, still pouring electricity through her hand.

    "You catch on slowly."

    "Don''t mind me. I must be getting on in years." She responded, now using her second hand topliment the currently explosive electricity.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    The explosion caused an explosive spark in the sky, filling everything for miles.

    Even the shockwave caused the distant group to be pushed away as a result of its intensity.

    ~WHUSH!~

    Kazen teleported back to herrades, her eyes narrowing as she stared at the rampaging explosion she caused.

    "Did that work?" Elrich asked, a tired smile spreading across his weary face.

    "No. It didn''t touch him at all."

    "Argh¡­ damnit." He mumbled under his breath.

    He must have hoped that if anyone was to catch Stefan by surprise andnd a solid hit, it would be an Apostle of Aether.

    Unfortunately, he was wrong.

    Not even Kazen could damage him.

    "Even in my prime, I don''t think I would be able to win against him. The barrier around him isn''t simply made of Aether." She sighed, half talking to herself and also speaking to Elrich.

    "Correct."

    Stefan''s voice suddenly reverberated from the devastation above.

    He emerged from the chaospletely unscathed, a lethargic expression still on his face.

    "It''s a mix of Aether and Nether that creates a spatial singrity around me that prevents anything from reaching me."

    "Anti-Magic?" Elrich gawked, almost shocked by the impossibility of what he was hearing.

    "It''s not Anti-Magic. Maybe something simr to Anti-Matter? It simply reverses causality thanks to the opposing nature of the two opposite properties meeting each other at the same time." Stefan exined.

    Rather unfortunately, most of what he said couldn''t beprehended by those beneath him.

    "As you can see, I have ess to both Aether and Nether. I could kill you all very easily if I wanted to. For example¡­"

    Right there and then, time seemed to stop for Stefan.

    No one could move, and it was simply because he was moving much faster than they couldprehend.

    ''Where do I start?''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    In case you guys don''t remember, Kazen was at Neron''s wedding, and she''s still around.

    Hope you liked the read.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: /magecrafter

 Chapter 1293 Time Is Up

    <h4>Chapter 1293 Time Is Up</h4>

    ''Where do I start?''

    Stefan looked around him, searching for the most optimal option.

    It didn''t take him very long to find one.

    He left his height and glided through space and touched the bulky Hugo 2.0.

    In an instant, the entire thing turned to dust, leaving its two pilots intact.

    Once he was done, Stefan returned to his initial position.

    And then time resumed.

    "¡­ I could destroy you the same way I destroyed that Golem."

    It took a while for everyone to process what just happened, but the moment they did, their senses shot up in danger.

    It was too slow for Stefan''s tastes, but he saw them react to Hugo''s disappearance and the defenseless states of Freya and Maro.

    It proved his point perfectly well.

    "I could easily¡ª"

    "Then why don''t you do it? Why don''t you kill us all off that easily" Ivan defiantly responded.

    "¡­"

    In response to his challenge, Stefan said nothing.

    "Come on! Do it!" Ivan raised both hands, stretching them out as if he was expecting his end.

    "You have all the power in the world now. We get it! You see us as mere insects now, right? We''re so pathetically weak that it''s no challenge for you, isn''t that so? Then why don''t you make your job easier? Kill us all with that awesome power of yours!"

    It might have seemed like Ivan was crazy due to his rant, but he was driving at a point.

    A point he had been trying to make since the try of the battle.

    "See? You can''t do it, can you, Stefan? Or rather¡­ you don''t want to."

    And for Ivan, he already knew the reason why.

    "You don''t want us to die."

    "¡­"

    Stefan said nothing still. He watched with his apathetic gaze as Ivan made his im.

    "You say Legris told you to end us, and that it''s your purpose or whatever, but I''m sure you understand how wrong this is! You recognize what you''re doing is evil, and you don''t want to eliminate us!" At this point, Ivan was already shouting violently.

    "That''s why you''re going easy on us! That''s why you keep telling us to back off! That''s why you¡ª!"

    "Be silent."

    Stefan''s gentle voice suddenly echoed, and for some reason it contained more volume and depth than Ivan''s tantrums.

    "I won''t! You know I''m right that¡ª!"

    ~PEW!~

    A beam of immensely concentrated light¡ªmuch faster than any of them could even see¡ªinstantly tore through the air at that moment and sliced off Ivans two hands.

    All in a moment, the two hands that he had raised in defiance were utterly eviscerated.

    "G-garrghhhhhh!!!"

    Ivan''s blood curdling scream echoed out, his voice carrying pain and horrors as he let it all out.

    Kazen and Elrich swiftly reacted by erecting Magic Barriers, but Stefan only scoffed at their efforts.

    "That''s useless to me, you know?"

    That didn''t stop them from reinforcing the barrier with even more Magic.

    "Suit yourselves, I gue¡ª"

    "Y-you¡­ you didn''t kill¡­ urgh¡­ me¡­" Ivan''s voice interrupted Stefan''s low whisper.

    "I knew¡­ you wouldn''t¡­ kugh¡­ do it¡­"

    Ivan''s daring re at Stefan felt so intentional¡ªlike he could see through the young man.

    "You''re not like Legris, Stefan. You''re not a bad g¡ª!"

    "Time is up."

    Once Stefan said this, everywhere fell into a hushed silence.

    Tension seemed to take over.

    "Huh? Are you still on about that? Stefan, just admit it already! You won''t¡ª!"

    ~PEW!~

    This time, the light traveled straight towards Ivan''s head and it disintegrated in an instant.

    "I told you to be quiet." Stefan sighed, a bit of steam rising from the finger which he used to send the light st.

    The Magic Barrier that both Kazen and Elrich erected were nowhere near enough to defend the now deceased Ivan from Stefan''s attack.

    "I only spared your lives because I didn''t want to waste energy unnecessarily. There was a chance that backup could arrive, and I had to prepare." Stefan said, suddenly ascending further and further away from the group.

    "But now that time is up, I don''t have to hold back any longer. I''ll just destroy this entire at once."

    He rose even further upward, his unfeeling gaze reflecting the figures of those who were too powerless to stop him.

    Gawain tried to fly towards him, but Stefan swiftly spoke before it could think of doing anything.

    The same applied to everyone else.

    "Take a single move and I''ll cut you down where you stand. It''s that simple."

    That wasn''t much of a choice, considering how they were all going to die in a few seconds anyway.

    Still, the pressure he exerted and the threatening presence he possessed prevented any of the people from making a single action.

    Fortunately for Gawain, he wasn''t a person.

    ~WHOOOOOOOOO¡ª!~

    The moment energy within him surged and he made to leap from his position¡­

    ~BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    Light so quick that no one could perceive until it was toote pierced through Gawain''s Core, and a second volley bathed its mechanical body in sheer light.

    The inevitable result was an explosion that destroyed every fiber of its body.

    "Now where was I¡­?" Stefan mumbled to himself as he ascended even further upward.

    "Ah, yes. The elimination of this world."

    The lull in his tone disyed just how he felt about the tragedy that was about to happen¡ªthe tragedy he would initiate.

    He felt nothing.

    "Let us begi¡­ hm? What''s that?" He stopped, just as he was about to expand his energy to cover the entire world and destroy it.

    There was something he sensed in that split moment.

    "What is that? What did I just¡ª?"

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Before he couldplete his statement, a blur much faster than any light he had generated suddenly rushed towards him.

    It even caught him off guard.

    The blur pushed him out of the''s stratosphere, instantly disconnecting him from the in the fraction of an instant.

    None of the powerless ones below knew what had just happened¡­ or what was toe.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    What is the blur? Has the moment of salvation arrived?

    I wonder¡­

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: /magecrafter

 Chapter 1294 The Hooded One

    Chapter 1294 The Hooded One

    It happened too suddenly.

    Even though they were all watching as Stefan ascended, and the blur suddenly appeared, no one in the group could make sense of what they saw.

    The one with the swiftest sense only had an inkling.

    A mere glimpse.

    "It''s¡­ a hooded man." Kazen whispered, still as confounded as everyone else present.

    Who was this stranger that just appeared? What did they want? And¡­ why did they target Stefan?

    "We don''t have an ally here that''s as powerful as that. I wonder who it is." Elrich Lendertwale muttered, his face lifted to the sky.

    Stefan and the hooded being¡ªwhoever they were¡ªhad long exited the''s stratosphere.

    That meant the likes of Elrich, and even Kazen, could no longer detect them or what they were up to.

    It gave birth to worry.

    "You guys don''t need to be anxious." A sudden voice echoed in the air.

    Everyone''s eyes widened¡ªespecially Freya, who had been in a state of shock until now.

    Ivan was shot dead right in front of her, and she was still trying toprehend the situation when the blur appeared, and now this familiar voice.

    Everyone turned in the direction of the one who spoke.

    Much to their surprise, it was Jane Urs who was walking towards them.

    "The hooded one is an ally." She said with a smile of relief.

    "You know who the person is?"

    "What do you know?"

    Elrich and Kazen instantly raised their voices as they stared at her.

    Jane nodded, but before she could borate Freya took the spotlight

    "Jane, please save Ivan. S-Stefan killed him, and¡ª!"

    "I understand, Freya. Don''t worry, I''ll use my Soul Magic to preserve his soul."

    "That''s only if he didn''t destroy his Soul alongside his body." Kazen murmured.

    "KAZEN!" Almost everyone raised their voice as they red at her, to which she instantly raised her hands in defeat and took a few steps back.

    "My bad, my bad. I was merely stating a possibility."

    After witnessing how powerful and cruel Stefan was, she had to assume the worst. Sure, it seemed she was being inconsiderate, but someone had to prepare them for a likelihood that they wouldn''t get what they wanted.

    However¡­

    "My Soul Brand on him hasn''t vanished. His Soul is still intact." Jane smiled. "There''s no need to fret."

    The first to make a sigh of relief was Kazen, and a soft smile formed on her face.

    "Is that so? That''s good, then."

    Whether it was a blunder on Stefan''s part, or it was by some strange act of providence, there was still hope for Ivan''s survival.

    Jane walked over to the smoldering remains of Ivan''s barely passable corpse, her expression remaining the same as ever.

    "I''ll preserve the Soul and we''ll reconstruct a body for himter."

    Using her Magic, she was able to gather the dissipating Soul Particles and converge them into a small glowing orb.

    The orb floated on her palm, and it''s luminescent glow reflected on her sses.

    "[Soul Imprisonment]." Jane whispered.

    Instantly, a transparent cube-like projection of energy surrounded the Soul, trapping its contents within.

    "This way the Soul will be preserved for as long as possible. You don''t need to worry about your boyfriend, Freya."

    "B-boyfriend?! W-w-what are you s-saying?! He''s not my boyfriend!"

    No one knew who Freya thought she was fooling, but the fact that her face was flushed with all sorts of shades of pink, and her fidgeting body wouldn''t stop¡­ well, fidgeting¡­ it made everything obvious.

    Plus, out of everyone present, she was the only one who was crying so intensely after Ivan''s supposed demise.

    Even if they weren''t dating, there was definitely something up with their rtionship .

    "Whatever you say, Freya." Jane shrugged, though a knowing smile remained on her face.

    The poor Elf girl sighed in exasperation, but she couldn''t particrly defend herself at this point.

    "Uuuu¡­" Was all she could leak out as her voice trailed.

    "Where have you been, though? You told us to buy as much time as possible, and that you woulde up with something to defeat Stefan."

    Once more, the atmosphere took on a more serious tone as Kazen asked her question.

    Elrich nodded and also opened his lips.

    "I''m guessing the hooded guy is the solution to our dilemma. It''s a shame so many had to die before he arrived."

    Jane sighed and shrugged, a small smile etched on her face as she spoke.

    "Yeah, it took a lot more time than I thought, despite being in the final phase of development."

    No one else knew about this, but Jane had been working on this project for over ten years now.

    It was her most treasured research and experiment yet.

    "And you''re confident it will be sufficient to handle Stefan? He''s incredibly powerful, you know?"

    Upon hearing those words from Kazen, Jane merely leaked out a small chuckle.

    "It doesn''t matter how powerful the enemy is. As long as they are using Magic, they''ll lose."

    Her green broadened even further.

    "No one knows about Magic more than he does. And that''s why he will win."

    None of the people surrounding Jane understood what she meant, but she never intended on that, to begin with.

    "I ced my Soul Brand on everyone who went out to fight, so we should still be able to resurrect them if we hurry." Jane changed the topic as she stared at thendscape of corpses.

    There had to be thousands upon thousands of people dead¡ªand these were the best of the best that their world had to offer.

    None of them had even stood a chance.

    "This is going to take some time." Jane sighed, flexing her sses.

    She raised her gaze to the sky, probably looking fondly at her creation while also smiling warmly.

    Something within her heart fluttered the more she dwelled on the thought.

    "At this rate¡­ he''ll be done before us."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1295 Nothing Is Impossible

    Chapter 1295 Nothing Is Impossible

    ''Who is this person?''

    Stefan''s thoughts trailed as he stared at the person who stood in front of him, surrounded by the vacuum of space.

    They were currently a short distance from the''s stratosphere, and from their positions, the hooded man was closer to the than he was.

    Whether this was an intentional choice of his or not was left to his guess.

    ''He was fast enough to keep up¡­ no, even outpace me.''

    No one had been able to do that since he arrived here.

    ''He wasn''t able to touch me due to the anomaly that exists around me, but he was still able to push me back with enough external force¡­''

    This was clearly not an ordinary person.

    "Legris informed me that the chances of backup arriving was little, but I suppose the chance existed regardless¡­" Stefan muttered to himself.

    He slowly regained fullposure, and the lull in his eyes remained unchanged.

    "I''m guessing you''re one of Jared''s allies. Forgive me for not recognizing you, but do you mind introducing yourself?"

    For a moment, there was silence. The hooded manpletely shrouded in a long dark cloak¡ªsaid nothing.

    After waiting for a few second and not getting an answer, Stefan spoke once more.

    "I suppose you are right. This is no ce or time for introductions. Let''s get down to it shall w¡ª?"

    "Ah¡­ don''t mind me." A deep, mature voice suddenly rang out.

    It came from the man in the hood.

    His two hands slowly reached out for the veil that covered his face, and he pulled it down, revealing his handsome face.

    "I was just too captivated by everything that I was rendered speechless for a moment."

    Stefan''s eyes squinted slightly as he witnessed the countenance of the man.

    He had a big smile on his face, as if he were nothing but a child disying excitement in its purest form.

    "This is my first time leaving the, after all. I knew things had to exist out here, but I never expected it to be of this scale¡­"

    Stefan found the man''s words to be a little confusing.

    ''Jared and his allies traveled through space and time to catch up to us, yet he ims never to have been in space?''

    That struck him as odd.

    ''He doesn''t seem to be lying, but still¡­''

    The man before him seemed to be in his early thirties. He had well-trimmed ck hair and blue eyes, with an overall youthful exuberance.

    Despite all of this, though, something about his gaze seemed to connote an age that did not reflect in his manly physique.

    "It seems I got carried away." The young man answered, interrupting Stefan''s rapid thoughts on what his identity could be.

    "That''s fine. It doesn''t matter anyway¡­ since you''re going to die."

    "Is that so¡­?"

    Something about the man''s trailing voice seemed to connote some form of sadness¡ªor self-reflection.

    However, that didn''t matter to Stefan.

    "Yes."

    "Then it seems we are at an impasse. I''m afraid I can''t die¡­ not after seeing so much more that the world has to offer."

    Slowly, he began to gush.

    "Just how much is out there to learn? The secrets of the world¡­ the hidden truths of Magic¡­ how much more exists?"

    An obsessive glint manifested in his blue eyes as they glowed immensely.

    "It''s inconsequential. You''ll be dying he¡ª"

    "I''ve died once before, young man. And in my final moments, I had one major regret." As the man interrupted him, a bright smile formed on his face.

    Sparks of energy began to manifest around him.

    "Despite spending my entire lifetime studying and developing concepts on it, I could never once use it¡­ the power I have now."

    More power burst from within him as he beamed in excitement.

    "But now¡­ now I can finally use it! And it''s just as amazing as Inexpected, this amazing energy, this indescribable power¡­ the power of Magic!"

    Stefan didn''t know how to feel about the sight unfolding before him.

    This wasn''t what he was told by Legris.

    ''Did he just be a Mage? He''s inexperienced at using Magic?''

    Even though that was his initial thought, Stefan could sense such expert use and management of the power swirling around the man that he found it extremely dubious.

    ''There''s no way he just obtained Magic. Not only does he possess Aether, but he''s utilizing it like an expert."

    No novice could achieve that.

    "I should thank Jane for thister. It seems she has limated and properly integrated my body with¡­ what''s the name again? Aether?"

    The more the man bbed on, the more confused Stefan became.

    ''He doesn''t even know what Aether is? What is he on about?''

    The man before him initially seemed like a threat, but now Stefan could only consider him to be a fool.

    ''A fool with substantial power and a measure of control that I can''t ignore.''

    Whether or not the man admitted it, Stefan was certain he was incredibly strong.

    ''And that means I can''t dawdle anymore.''

    Since time was up, Stefan found it pointless to hold back any longer.

    ''I''ll just destroy him along with the andplete my mission.''

    What kind of Magic would he use? Mage Mode? Original Magic? Fusion Form?

    None of the above.

    "[Primeval Magic: The Hollow]"

    In that instant, the entire universe was transformed into a state of ck and white.

    No color existed, and no beauty wasplete.

    It all became¡­ hollow.

    However, this was merely a symptom of the disease itself.

    ''The Hollow will eat up everything¡ªfirst color, then energy, and finally matter.''

    In only a few seconds, everything within this universe would cease to exist.

    With that, he would be able toplete his mission and eradicate everything that was bound to be a threat to him.

    ¡­ At least, that was how it was supposed to be.

    ''Hmm? What''s this?'' Stefan''s eyes twitched as he noticed something peculiar.

    ''Why isn''t the energy being eaten up?''

    Normally, even if the range was as wide as a universe, everything would be consumed in a few seconds.

    Yet¡­ what was happening?!

    "It''s a relief that I can still use Spellcraft." The man before Stefan smiled, forcing thetter to stare intensely in his direction.

    ''He''s causing this¡­?!''

    Stefan couldn''t believe it! A man who imed to be inexperienced was preserving all the energy and preventing them from being consumed?!

    And on a universal scale?!

    "That''s absurd. It''s impossi¡ª!"

    "No, young man. This is Magic we are talking about." The man smiled, and with a single flourish, the colors manifested once more.

    The ck and white world that Stefan had created was no more, and the "Hollow" that he had Cast was virtually rendered null.

    Stefan found his eyes widening as he took all of this in.

    His Primeval Magic had never been countered before.

    It was impossible to do so.

    ¡­ Or was it?

    "There''s nothing impossible when ites to Magic."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1296 Magic Lesson 101

    Chapter 1296 Magic Lesson 101

    [Primeval Magic: The Hollow].

    It only had one purpose¡ªone goal.

    Consuming everything in its path, swallowing them to an empty void that led nowhere.

    By utilizing both Aether and Nether, Stefan had managed to create an anomaly around him that ensured anything that moved close to him was consumed by a milder version of The Hollow.

    On the grand scale of Primeval Magic, however, his power was absolute.

    Invincible!

    ¡­ Or so he had thought.

    "Your Magic is impressive and well-refined. But it''s too simple." The man before Stefan said.

    His voice snapped Stefan out of his shocked daze. The words he uttered made Stefan''s chest tighten, enough to cause him to frown slightly.

    "What did you just say? Simple?"

    "Indeed. You could have made it moreplex. That way, it wouldn''t have been countered so easily."

    The hubris that oozed from the words the man uttered made Stefan a tad bit upset.

    "What do you know?" He wanted to yell out, but he controlled himself.

    This was a man who had just openly admitted to being inexperienced with Magic, and also not having full knowledge of Aether.

    Who was he to lecture Stefan on Magic when thetter had ess to both Aether and Nether at this point?

    There had to be an alternate exnation to the failure of his Primeval Magic.

    It couldn''t be the work of this chatan.

    ''Or could it be? Calm yourself, Stefan. Don''t get worked up¡­''

    Once he stabilized his emotions, exhaling very deeply, he opened his lips and asked.

    "Could you borate?"

    In the past, Stefan would haveshed out and continued being in denial. However, this time he was different.

    Some would even say he had matured.

    He genuinely wanted to know what was happening¡­ and if indeed he was the one in the wrong.

    At least, when it came to his power.

    "dly." The man before him smiled gently, almost with a hint of satisfaction disyed in his eyes.

    "While I can not forgive you for what you have done, neither will I let you off for reasons you already know, discussions on Magic are always a pleasure to have¡ª

    whether with enemies or allies."

    With that, the fiery energy around the man fizzled out, and he began his exnation.

    "Your Primeval Magic, as you call it, has a fatal w. It''s not intricate enough to prevent interruption or interception."

    ''You''re saying this again, but how can that be? Who can interrupt Magic that uses both Nether and Aether to function?''

    That already made it an incrediblyplex Spell.

    "Your Magic attacks everything without discrimination, hence making it a simplistic model. If it was more specific, and you stacked theyers upon each other, it would make the Spell moreplex. Do you understand?"

    In essence; Stefan''s Magic attacked Light first¡ªwhich was why the colors vanished¡ªsince it was the fastest concept in the universe, and after that was energy, before finally settling for matter.

    It wasn''t like they were inyers. The Hollow simply consumed everything, and Light went first since it was the fastest.

    "So if I had stacked the effects, and added a few more concepts, rather than just generalizing, it would have made it moreplex and incredibly difficult to interrupt?" Stefan asked, his eyes slightly widening as he came to the realization.

    "Precisely."

    Stefan could not believe this. The man was right all along!

    His Spell was not asplex as it could have been. All this time, he had been relying on sheer, overwhelming power.

    If he had taken more care in crafting the Primeval Magic, then things would have been different.

    "That''s not all, though." The man added.

    "There''s more?"

    At this point, Stefan no longer regarded the man and his words with contempt or skepticism.

    Instead, he seemed eager to know more.

    "Your Spell relies on the fine, but incredibly delicate interaction between Aether and¡­ what''s the name of the opposite again?"

    "Nether?"

    "Ah, yes! Nether! Aether and Nether. They both interact in a delicate manner to ensure this ''Hollow'' of yours can properly manifest in its full capacity."

    Stefan nodded slowly, amazement written all over his face.

    Never before had he revealed how his Magic worked to anyone, yet this man had figured it out with only one moment of observation.

    That was incredibly impressive!

    "Well, can you see a problem with that? A way that could prove to be a weakness for your Spell?"

    Stefan found himself pausing in everything else that went through his mind and began to apply his thoughts to what he was asked.

    It took him a few seconds, but a spark finally appeared in his eyes and he responded.

    "If the Aether or Nether is affected by a sudden increase or decrease, then it could affect the Hollow''s manifestation and effects?"

    "Exactly! You''re brilliant, young man. That''s precisely the case."

    Stefan felt his heart skip a beat the moment he heard that. Somehow, he felt good hearing those words.

    Even he could not understand why.

    "That''s why I was able to halt the process of your Magic with Spellcraft. By influencing the Aether around, I negated the effects of your Hollow." The man added with a grin.

    "This Spellcraft of yours¡­ it isn''t exactlymon, though. Or is it?"

    "No, it''s not. I''m probably the only one who knows how to use it. That''s why I didn''t list this second weakness as a fatal w."

    It was now clear to Stefan what the problem was all along.

    ''It was a terrible matchup from the start.''

    The man he was facing was his natural enemy due to his immense understanding of Magic, and his ability to manipte the energy around him¡ªat least, the Aether.

    That meant if Stefan wanted to win, he had to apply all of the advice he had just received from this man¡­ plus a few more steps on his part.

    If he didn''t apply his brain ande up with a unique and unexpected way to turn around the current situation, he would lose.

    After all, there was a reason why his opponent was so confident in revealing so much.

    ''He''s confident of his victory. If I am not careful and thorough, I''ll lose.''

    With this realization, Stefan found his heart racing unexpectedly.

    "How interesting¡­" A broad smile began to spread on his face.

    His opponent was also giving him the same grin. From what it seemed like, the two of them were enjoying themselves to the fullest.

    ''I can''t make any assumptions here. My absolute defense could also bepromised, so I''ll apply the advice he gave and addyers ofplexity to prevent any easy interception.''

    Stefan also had to consider a circumstance where his defense would be breached even with all of the measures he wanted to take.

    If he didn''t n thoroughly, he was bound to regret it.

    ''Right here and now¡­ more than ever¡­ I don''t want to lose!''

    In the beginning of the fight, Stefan hadn''t even considered the possibility of losing, and he didn''t even care if he won or lost.

    He only wanted to fulfill his goal and purpose.

    But now¡­ desperation was tugging at every fiber of his being.

    ''I don''t want to disappoint him. I don''t want to lose to him. I want to be a formidable foe ande out victorious!''

    With this desire fueling him, Stefan once more ignited his energies.

    "Are you ready, young man?" The man asked him with an excited tone.

    Stefan nodded in response, a toothy grin stered on his face.

    "I''m ready!"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1297 Magic Vs Magic

    Chapter 1297 Magic Vs Magic

    Tense silence filled the vacuum of space as both parties stared at each other.

    On one end was the man with the long cloak, with his hood already taken off. He had a determined smile on his face, though glimmers of amusement still rang deep within his eyes.

    Opposite him was Stefan, now enlightened on how to improve¡ªresolved to win this very brief exchange.

    ''Everything! I must take ount of everything!''

    With that in mind, Stefan decided to properly implement everything he had been taught, but also add a few tweaks of his own.

    ''It''s going to take a while, so if I stall for¡ª!''

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    In a sh, the hooded man rushed towards Stefan, imitating the same speed he had used before.

    "Tch!"

    Stefan swiftly reacted, using a surging burst of Nether to push him away.

    ''He can control Aether, so it''s best I use Nether in this battle. At least until I''ve properly integrated the two in a moreplex fashion so he can''t separate and control the Aether aspect of it.''

    This vile pulse of negative energy radiated from Stefan like a wolf storm, and it should have pushed the man far away.

    However¡­

    ~VWUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    ¡­ He managed to break through.

    "Wondering how I did that?" The man smiled as he closed the distance he had between him and the dazed Stefan.

    He was now right in front of him, his fist clenched as his hand was raised for a blow.

    The brilliant glimmer in his eyes made all of this feel like an exciting game.

    It upset Stefan, but it also caused his heart to race.

    "How did you do tha¡ª?"

    ~WHOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    Before Stefan could conclude his words, the man sent his blow flying towards him at breakneck speed.

    So much Aether was seeping through him, all in bountiful proportions.

    The anomaly around Stefan was instantly disturbed by the man''s Spellcraft, causing a gap to appear in his absolute defense.

    As a result¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    "Gurk!" Stefan groaned as his body was sent flying further into the depths of space.

    His cheek had been punctured deep by the powerful hit he was dealt, and just as droplets of blood leaked out, a few teeth followed.

    "I used Spellcraft to create my own personal anomaly by mixing it in with the Nether pulse you made. It allowed space around me to bend, or even be nonexistent, so damage could not travel to me." The hooded man smiled, raising his bloodied fist with a wide grin.

    "That''s how I got through your pulse."

    Stefan grunted as he swiftly recoiled from the first actual damage he had taken in so long.

    "I¡­ I see."

    He held his face for a few seconds, rubbing his cheek especially.

    Pain. He had forgotten how they felt, and yet a single hit from an absolute stranger now reminded him.

    The sensation didn''tst too long, though. In no time, Stefan''s healed itself,pletely absolving him of the adverse feeling.

    "Healing, huh? I haven''t used that Magic yet, but it should work for me too¡­ in principle."

    Comments like these made Stefan further confused about the identity of the man before him, but the current situation didn''t afford him the time and opportunity to indulge in those.

    He still had his mission to fulfill, and if he wanted to beat this person, distractions were unnecessary.

    "Original Magic: Dance Of The Celestial Lights]."

    Right now, his Primeval Magic was in an iplete¡ªor rather, an unsatisfactory¡ªstate, so Stefan realized he had topensate for it.

    ''Pending the time I bring it up to speed¡­''

    Several balls of light began to appear around Stefan, all warbling with a dangerous glow.

    Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Indigo. Violet.

    All seven of these balls of light began to circle around Stefan ass would revolve around their star.

    ''It''ll take a lot to work on my Primeval Magic while also fighting him. But, if I use these, then it should work.''

    Primeval Magic was known to exist beyond theprehension or abilities of mere mortals and mages, so Original Magic was the known pinnacle.

    As a result, Stefan found his current option to still be a good card to y¡ªat least when it came to offense.

    ''Let''s begin round two!''

    "Red."

    The crimson orb that coiled around him suddenly exploded like fireworks, dividing itself into multiple pieces.

    Each of those pieces began to expand very rapidly. Soon, each sphere was asrge as a human head, but the moment they reached this mass, they went through division once more.

    Each fragment, now seemingly innumerable as a whole, was as big as a firefly.

    ''Perfect.'' Stefan raised his hand and pointed it towards the hooded man.

    His fingers formed a shooting sign, and Stefan''s grin widened instantly.

    "Bang."

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The several, uncountable beams of red light instantly flew in his direction.

    ''Red'' in his arsenal stood for destruction. Having so many balls of the same property, disguised as bullets, was to ensure they covered as much ground as possible.

    As Stefan had learned, the mass and coverage of a Spell wouldn''t do him much good.

    This time, he was focusing on speed and versatility.

    As expected, the man developed a shield to protect himself from the "Red" energy bullets that approached him at the speed of light.

    ''But that won''t work, you know?!''

    The energy bullets instantly ate through the barrier and riddled the old man with holes.

    His entire body, and also his head, were greeted with multiple holes that ate through energy and cells, breaking everything down in a searing bath of destruction.

    "Explode."

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    The eruption bathed everything around it in red light, and even Stefan had shades of the color radiating on his body despite the distance.

    "It''s very unlikely that he would have perished with that, but¡ª"

    "Please. You give me too much credit." A voice suddenly echoed in his ears, almost as if the one who spoke was right behind him.

    ''H-huh¡­?''

    Stefan''s gaze shifted in response to what he heard, and much to his shock¡­ he found the very person he had just eviscerated.

    The man was standing so casually behind him, as if nothing was wrong at all."

    "Don''t look so surprised, young man." His smile unnerved Stefan to the core.

    "We''re just getting started."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1298 Original Martial Arts

    Chapter 1298 Original Martial Arts

    ''H-how did he¡­?!''

    Stefan knew he didn''t have the luxury of time based on what had just happened now.

    It was too dangerous to be in such close proximity with the enemy. Stefan instantly realized that and did the only sensible thing he could at that moment.

    Right now, his priority was getting away from him as soon as possible.

    ''Blue!''

    Blue warped space, whether to cause teleportation or shred his targets into bits under spatial pressure.

    Stefan knew thetter wasn''t going to work on his opponent, so he opted for the former.

    First of all, his ''Blue'' established a spatial barrier between the two of them¡ªone which Stefan knew wouldn''t nearly be effective enough.

    Once the barrier was established, space around him began to shift and warp.

    All of this happened within the same moment, and Stefan vanished from where he stood almost instantly.

    ~VWUUUUSSSHH!~

    The moment after creating distance between the two of them, Stefan opted for the safest option.

    "Violet."

    Immediately, a massive pulse reverberated all over the immediate space that Stefan upied.

    The pulse began to travel even further, spreading its influence all across the expanse beyond.

    Its effects were simple.

    ''Magic Distortion.''

    The instant he did this, all the Magic around him would be distorted by an instant overload of Nether.

    If the Spell in question was made up of Aether, having an overwhelming wave of interfering Nether would make it fail.

    Conversely, having a Nether-based Spell didn''t exclude it from the effects of Violet.

    Having too much energy overloading a Spell that required a certain energy output would inevitably halt the activation of the Spell.

    In essence, Violet was Stefan''s Spell-killer.

    ''The natural enemy for someone so skilled with Magic!''

    However¡­

    ''What''s happening? Where is he?''

    Despite using his Spell-killer, Stefan still had trouble locating his opponent.

    ''If he takes me by surprise again, there''s no telling what he''ll do.''

    ~VWUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    He sent another round of ''Violet'', but there was still no effect.

    "Excellent use of your power, young man. But you made a fatal misjudgment."

    Hearing the voice of his adversary echo all around him made Stefan all the more unnerved.

    Where was he? How was this man not being affected by the power of his Original Magic? Stefan had so many questions, but he knew he had to keep his focus sharp.

    ''I even increased the range and intensity of Violet''s effects. No Spell should even be able to pass the conceptual stage before breaking down.''

    Those were the rules.

    Yet¡­ why was this happening?!

    "What the hell did I misjudge this time?!" Stefan yelled in pure desperation.

    Stefan''s roar was met with sheer silence.

    Nothing responded to him, save the echoes of his words. He heard his own voice and shrunk back, feeling disgust at the desperation he disyed in that single question.

    The weakness he sensed truly reflected his current state.

    "Well¡­" The same voice echoed once again.

    This time, Stefan did his best to pinpoint its origins.

    It ended in failure

    The sound seemed to being from everywhere and nowhere, all at once.

    "¡­ The thing is¡­"

    At this point, Stefan had given up on trying to find the source of the voice.

    Instead, he prepared himself for the slightest hint of his opponent''s position.

    The moment he found him¡­

    ''I''ll rush him and leave him with no time to react.''

    Stefan reckoned he would need to use ''Yellow'' when that time came.

    He just had to wait for¡ª

    "¡­ Spellcraft isn''t a Magic Spell!"

    The voice came from all around Stefan, but at that very moment, someone had appeared right in front of Stefan.

    His face was mere inches from Stefan''s, and his appearance was so sudden that thetter could not fullyprehend what was going on despite it being right in front of him.

    Almost as if a veil had been removed from his face¡­ like scales had just fallen out of his eyes¡­ Stefan could see the man in front of him.

    However¡­

    "E-eh?!"

    ¡­ Before he could even think of reacting¡­

    "Spellcraft is a technique."

    ¡­ The man in front of him already had a strike iing.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    Stefan felt his brain shake from its position as the blownded on his jaw.

    His perception of reality became a fog, and everything suddenly turned into a blur.

    ''W-what just happened¡­?''

    He couldn''tprehend it. He couldn''t sense it. His brain and body were still trying to limate to the current state he had been put in.

    "In my past life, I had no Magic, but I ended up creating the ultimate Magic Technique."

    Stefan could hear all those words, as if they were echoing ripples drifting through the air. However, he couldn''tpletelyprehend them.

    "I know about its principles inside and out that it''s easy to activate and deactivate its effects. Whether in cloaking, or diffusing, or interfering¡­ its uses vary exponentially."

    Stefan felt his body recovering, and his senses returning to optimal capacity.

    He had already decided; once he was back to full power, he would obliterate the man standing before him.

    "But I won''t use Spellcraft to beat you. I can''t. Instead¡­ I''ll use what I learned in my past life."

    Stefan felt his body returning to his full control, and he could see his victory in sight, all amidst his opponent''s rambling.

    "I guess I''ll have to thank Gawain and Lilith for this."

    ~VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!~

    Stefan''s body finally recovered from the initial damage dealt to him, and his power overflowed in sheer abundance.

    He had never felt so alive, and his intentions could not have been more obvious.

    ''Haaaaa!!! I''ll destroy him! Finally I can¡ª!''

    ~BAM!~

    Right as he was about toplete his thought, Stefan felt his brain jiggle once again.

    His entire senses nearly shut down, and he found himself in the same position as earlier.

    ~WHAM!~

    Another strike rendered his entire body paralyzed. He couldn''t feel any part of himself at all.

    ~BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    Thest strike was a kick that sent Stefan''s body flying backwards, but before he could move too far, he was dragged by his long hair, and another punch was sent straight to his face.

    "Guark!"

    Blood and teeth, mixed in with saliva gushed from his mouth, but Stefan could not even feel any of it.

    All his nerves seemed to be in shambles, and he could only powerlessly watch as his body was being vited through the most unexpected means.

    Martial Arts.

    "This is one of her Original Martial Arts Techniques: [Beating The Shit Out Of You]."

    Before Stefan could begin healing, or evenpletely process what the man before him was spouting, more hits hadnded all over his body.

    "You are being bombarded by kic energy that messes up with your own kic energy, causing an imbnce in motor and neurological actions."

    In simple terms¡­ Stefan couldn''t move or think properly while being inflicted with such attacks.

    "I was never able to replicate it until now because I didn''t have Magic, and I also didn''t have such a physically capable body."

    ~WHAM!~

    ~BAM!~

    ~BOOOM!~

    More hitsnded on Stefan as this man dished blows without any mercy.

    At this point¡­ Stefan began to wonder¡­

    ''Is this the end? Will I die here?''

    The answer was already pretty clear to him at this point.

    ¡ªProbably yes.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Man, this guy is really giving it to Stefan. I wonder what would happen if he met Jared and Lewis.

    Well, he is technically¡­ nah!

    Forget about it.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1299 Consumed By The Hollow

    Chapter 1299 Consumed By The Hollow

    The sh had reached a crescendo.

    The multiple hits and disruption of Kic Energy had rendered Stefanpletely invalid.

    The fight had tiltedpletely in his opponent''s favor.

    All seemed to be concluded.

    Until¡­

    ~ZZZTTTTTTZZZZZ~

    ¡­ A spark ignited within Stefan.

    ''Haaaa¡­''

    Despite his body being disconnected from his neuralwork, Stefan found himself smiling.

    ''¡­ It''s finally ready.''

    The Spell he had been working on in the background¡ªhis Primeval Magic.

    Normally, he would need to cast it, the same way any other Magic was utilized.

    In his current state, that would prove impossible.

    However, Stefan had already designed his Primeval Magic prior to being bombarded with the impossible volleys that were being thrown at him.

    The Spell was given only one directive.

    ''Once it isplete¡­ activate.''

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    At that moment, [Hollow] returned to the world.

    All color vanished from the universe''s existence, and the result was the dissipation of every ounce of energy around.

    The resultant anomaly¡ªnow divided into multiple stratas ofyers now in a flux¡ªcaused Stefan to be untouchable.

    As a result, the hooded man was repelled by the incrediblyplex field.

    "Haaa¡­ this is much better." Stefan smiled, rubbing his chin as he smiled.

    The sudden burst of energy from him had repaired all the damage he suffered. The neural paths of his body were restored to full capacity, and his self now operated at optimal capacity.

    "Just a few more seconds and you could have won."

    Stefan had actually feared for his loss right until thest second.

    "Unfortunately for you, I was just a little faster."

    Right now, Stefan''s absolute defense was far more formidable than before. His Primeval Magic had ovee its past weakness.

    It was now incrediblyplex, divided intoyers that were in constant flux.

    No kind of interruption or interference was possible with the current state of his power.

    "You actually pulled it off. That''s incredible." The voice of the man echoed out, but soon vanished due to sound now being erased.

    "Your biggest mistake was telling me how to improve. As much as I appreciate it, that is what will lead to you downfall." Stefan murmured.

    He didn''t know what drove this obviously intelligent man to reveal such crucial parts of his Spell to him, but it had now led to his Waterloo.

    "I won''t forget this encounter. You are going to die here, but I admit¡­ you are the most formidable foe I have ever¡­ huh?"

    Something was off.

    "Something is wrong." Stefan said to himself.

    His Primeval Magic was meant to consume the world and everything in it, but¡­ for some reason the hooded man was still perfectly fine.

    Something was definitely wrong.

    "What? What are you saying?" Stefan couldn''t hear him properly since sound had been erased in the universe.

    ¡­ Or had it?

    ~Can you hear me now? I''m connecting directly to your mind.~

    "H-huh? How is this possible?!" Stefan was shocked.

    There was no way anyone could invade the anomaly around him and reach his body talkless of his mind.

    What was going on?!

    ~You look very confused right now. I understand. Before I say anything, though, look at your hand.~

    Stefan was confused.

    His hand? What did that have to do with anything?

    Still, out of morbid curiosity, he obeyed.

    ''W-what?! This is¡­!''

    It wasn''t anything he expected at all. Stefan''s eyes were bulging as he took in the detail of what was happening to his hand.

    ''It''s fading¡­ fading away?!''

    ~Indeed. That is the effect of your Primeval Magic. The Hollow is consuming you.~

    ''No! That can''t be!''

    ~That is the truth.~

    But how?! Stefan''s puzzled face clearly expressed how he felt deep within himself.

    Hollow was meant to consume everything that existed in the universe¡ªeverything except him.

    He was within his anomaly and exempt from its effects.

    "Why am I the one vanishing and you''re perfectly fine?!"

    Stefan couldn''t hear his voice anymore.

    He could hear nothing.

    ~You were wondering why I was exining so much to you. The reason is simple. I was buying time.~

    ''T-time¡­?!''

    ~Yes. I had to figure out the full principles behind your anomaly, up to being able to replicate its effects.~

    Stefan''s eyes widened even further at this point.

    ''N-no¡­ no you didn''t!''

    ~I did. I was able to understand its principles, especially thanks to interacting with you on multiple asions.~

    Stefan was shaking at this point.

    The Hollow''s effects were increasing very rapidly, and he could do nothing to stop it.

    ~Theck of color. Theck of energy. Everything you think is happening¡­ it isn''t really happening.~

    ''What?!''

    ~It never happened to this universe. It''s only happening to you.~

    The moment Stefan activated his Primeval Magic, only his surrounding anomaly was affected, and nothing beyond.

    In essence, his absolute defense had be a cage.

    ''N-no! If that''s the case, then I can just cancel¡ª!'' Stefan''s thoughts desperately screamed.

    ~You can not. Due to howplex your Spell is, even you won''t be able to bypass all theyers and fluxes that you''ve put on it. Not in time anyway¡­~

    Stefan''s bloodshot eyes screamed of both confusion and rage at this point.

    ''You¡­ you tricked me?!''

    ~I did. We are enemies, remember? I told you that I was not going to forgive you for what you did. You''ve done so many heinous things. This is your penance.~

    Stefan didn''t know what to say.

    This man had guided him down a rencmplex path of Magic, helped him to improve, and now used his own power against him.

    From the very start, he had it all under his control.

    "Haha¡­ I see now¡­" Despite being unable to hear himself, Stefan mumbled to himself.

    More than half of his body had been swallowed by his own Hollow, and the rate only kept increasing.

    In no time at all, he would bepletely devoured.

    ''Who¡­ who are you?'' Stefan asked with his fleeting thoughts.

    The man in front of him smiled, just as Stefan''s vision blurred and he lost his sight.

    Now buried in darkness, he heard the name of the man imprinted in his thoughts.

    ~I am the Great Sage of Magic. My name is Lewis Griffith.~

    Stefan was still stunned by what he heard when he received Lewis'' final words to him.

    ~You did well, kid.~

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    Well, this was satisfying to write for me.

    Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

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 Chapter 1300 Last Moments

    Chapter 1300 Last Moments

    Darkness.

    A ce of no light, no sound, no life.

    Only fleeting thoughts flowed in the transient stream of sentience, teetering on the edge of existence and nonexistence.

    ''So I lost¡­ huh?''

    Stefan could feel nothing any longer. It felt like he no longer had a body.

    It was only a matter of time before his mind was gone too.

    ''I guess this is the end.''

    In one''sst moments, they tend to remember their regrets while going over their life.

    That wasn''t the case for Stefan.

    He didn''t seem to have any regrets or care for the life he once led. He had lost despite giving it his all.

    The smile he received right before he lost his sight, and the final words he got to hear right after his demise.

    Those were the things that clung to his mind.

    ''I was able to choose a path for myself, right until the very end. That alone makes me happy¡­''

    He wasn''t even upset that he lost, or that he ended up being weaker or less intelligent than his adversary.

    He didn''t care that he couldn''t fulfill his mission.

    ''I did what I wanted to do.''

    To Stefan, that was his catharsis.

    He went down on his own terms¡ªa free man.

    ''Ciel, Legris¡­ I guess the rest is up to you now.''

    Now that he was consumed by the Hollow, he would pretty much cease to exist.

    He wasn''t going to see the fruition of Legris'' desires, or the fulfillment of Ciel''s wish.

    But this too was fine.

    ''Still¡­''

    Stefan didn''t know why he was having this thought. Perhaps it was due to this being the final strands of sentience he would have before being nonexistent.

    ''¡­ I really want you two to lose. Lose to Jared, Maria, and the rest of my friends¡­''

    Memories of Ivan, Kuzon, Ana, Edward, and everyone else began to ovep in his head.

    ''I wonder what kind of face I''m making right now¡­'' Stefan''s thoughts began to fade as he gave his final whisper of reason.

    ''¡­ It''s probably a smile.''

    As soon as his mind echoed those words out, the final aspects of Stefan were devoured by his own Magic, and the anomaly it was all trapped in copsed on itself.

    This implosion caused the Hollow to eat itself out of existence, finally ending everything.

    ¡­ Including Stefan.

    "Looks like it''s finally over." Lewis mumbled as he stared at the empty space in front of him.

    He had waited till the very end to see if his opponent would pull out any unexpected card.

    Thankfully, he did not.

    ''If he did, that would be bad. Despite my excess Aether reserve, I barely have anything left.'' His thoughts trailed.

    Without a considerable amount of energy, he could not draw a substantial amount from around him to handle the kind of threat Stefan would be if he avoided being devoured by the Hollow.

    Fortunately, things did not get to that extent.

    ''To think my first Magic Battle would be with someone like that. I was so nervous.''

    If it hadn''t been for the additional information that Jane had imprinted into him, and the quality of the body he got from her, he would have lost for sure.

    ''Just how many years have passed since my death? How much has Magic improved since then? This is all so crazy.''

    He cast his gaze to the universe that surrounded him, and his grin wouldn''t stop growing.

    ''There''s so much to explore!''

    *********

    [Meanwhile]

    "This is a waste of time."

    Kuzon, who was still gripping Ciel very harshly, began to speak with urgency.

    "We just have to destroy the Cocoon. Afterwards, we can worry about everything else."

    It sounded cold hearted, but considering how they couldn''t do anything at the given moment, it was best to simply focus on what they could aplish.

    "Once we leave this ce, I''m sure the Constetions will take us to our home world and we can defend it." Kuzon added.

    "We can even employ Time Magic to¡ª"

    "Time won''t work when dealing with Stefan''s Hollow. You''re all¡ª!"

    "Shut up! No one asked you." Kuzon gripped Ciel so hard that no voice could be squeezed out of her lips any longer.

    It was an incredibly tense moment, one where the group had to make a choice.

    "Kuzon is right. As much as I hate to admit it, we need to focus on the task at hand and leave afterwards."

    Ana''s words surprised a majority of the people who were present.

    Her friends and family were still in her homeworld, yet she agreed with Kuzon''s cement of priorities.

    "I also agree." Serah said, her brows creased together.

    As a Grand Mage, she had sworn to defend the Kingdom no matter what.

    That meant she was meant to abandon all else to protect their home world.

    However¡­

    "What''s happening right now is bigger than all of us. We need to act fast."

    It was a bitter pill to swallow, but this was what needed to be done.

    "Very well."

    "Y-you''re right¡­"

    "Let''s hurry!"

    One after the other, the team voiced out words of agreement.

    The nature of their mission remained unchanged.

    "Everyone else should stay back. Be as close to the portal as possible. Serah, Edward and I will destroy the Cocoon."

    As the strongest and fastest, they still took it upon themselves to deal the final blow.

    This way, escaping would be much easier since it wouldn''t be everyone rushing to the portal at the same time.

    "In addition to our speed, use your Magic to pull us towards you so we can escape this ce as soon as possible." Kuzon added.

    "Understood!" Ana and the rest of her allies responded.

    With that settled, the supporting group took their ce a mere inch short of the portal''s absorbing field, while the trio charged up their energy.

    "The time is now. Pour all your energy into this."

    No one could mess up now.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    If they seed, all of reality is saved! Let''s all root for the team!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1301 The Furnace

    Chapter 1301 The Furnace

    "Let''s go!"

    Power surged from all three of them¡ªKuzon, Serah, and Edward.

    Fragments of light and clusters of Aether danced around them, zing and roaring with such intensity that the entire world within nowhere began to tremble.

    The exalted force that theirbined strength generated was beyond frightening.

    It was definitely more than enough to copse their target.

    ''N-no¡­ no don''t¡­!'' Ciel begged, seeing so much power that she could notprehend.

    She knew that this time, for sure, they would achieve their goals.

    ''Please don''t!'' She pleaded profusely.

    Her thoughts went unanswered since she was unable to turn them into words.

    ~VWUUUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!~

    The power limated to new heights, reaching the precipice of unimaginable pressure.

    ''DON''T DO IT!!!''

    And then¡­

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    The eruption finally manifested, rupturing any significant fragment of anything that upied the target area.

    shes and echoes rose to an unfathomable degree, and then everything shattered, all in the span of an immeasurable fragment of a second.

    The explosion radiated far beyond the reaches of the universe, now consumed by the sheer radiant power and force of the trio.

    The instant theypleted their tasks and witnessed the cocoon shatter before their very eyes, Kuzon, Serah and Edward ascended to meet the rest of their allies.

    It was only at this moment that Kuzon let go of Ciel, throwing her into the broken furnace that was now reminiscent of her shattered dreams.

    The trio reunited with the rest of theirrades within a moment, and together, they made to retreat from the doomed world.

    ~VWUUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!~

    As they escaped through the portal, watching it close on itself as thest member of the team ventured within, they were able to steal a nce at the ensuing aftermath of their purposeful chaos.

    Destruction. Terror. Nothingness.

    Ciel was being consumed by the immense pressure of the st, doomed to death, while the cocoon was as good as vanquished.

    A fine conclusion to their task.

    The mission¡­ wasplete.

    **********

    "Haaa¡­ haaa¡­"

    Heavy breaths leaked from the lips of  the exhausted members of the team.

    "T-that¡­ that was a close one¡­" Ana mumbled, and the rest who listened to her could not agree more.

    The speed at which they had to travel in order to escape the resultant explosion was by no means achievable by regr standards.

    Only with thebined power of their Aether were they able to barely reach the required level of speed needed, and even then it was a close call.

    "We would have been consumed if we hadn''t retreated at the exact moment we did."

    The ones who seemed most exhausted were obviously the trio who dealt the finishing blow.

    Not only did they have considerably more distance to cover than the rest, but they had just expended a beyond phenomenal amount of energy.

    That definitely took its toll.

    "Everyone is¡­ haa¡­ present and ounted for¡­ haa¡­ and we were able toplete¡­ haaa¡­ the mission¡­"

    Kuzon''s breathing was uneven, but he had the brightest smile among everyone present.

    This was something he had been extremely anxious about all this time, and right now he felt relieved from it all.

    As he closed his eyes, the image of a certain yellow-haired blond boy appeared in his mind.

    ''Looks like we didn''t need the backup, after all.''

    As everyone around Kuzonughed and chuckled, so did the Constetions who now echoed their thoughts in the minds of their Hosts.

    Everyone was relieved.

    The worst was over, and the best was yet toe.

    ¡­ Or was it?

    ********

    Nothing.

    Outside the bounds of existence exists a concept called Nothing.

    Not darkness. Not light. Not anything else. Something that defied proper description because it did not dwell in the realm of attribution.

    Nothing was just as it sounded.

    "That final blow was intense¡­" A voice emerged from the deep.

    To say it sounded a certain way would contradict its nature.

    "¡­ Just what I required."

    Only when heated in the best of furnaces could the perfect entity be forged.

    The cocoon was merely a shell¡ªan ingot that contained the potential to harness all of nothing.

    It required the heat of perdition to coalesce into its purposed form.

    And it now stood at the center of the chaos¡ªLegris Damien.

    "Haa¡­ this feels much better."

    The final embers of the destructive mes had died out, leaving seemingly just him in the high infinite expanse of nothing that dwelled around him.

    His entire body was coated in an indescribable aura.

    No¡­ that wasn''t quite right.

    He wasn''t coated in it. He was it. Every fiber of his being had now taken on the mantle of the nothingness that filled the world around him.

    ¡­ His domain.

    "Ciel must have died protecting me till the very end. That''s sad, I suppose."

    Legris'' eyes flickered for a brief moment before he continued speaking.

    "Stefan is also gone, I see. They''re both a part of me now¡­ a part of the nothingness that is my nonexistence."

    As the only one who was left of his teammates, he now had to lead a lonely path to his goals.

    ''I would have loved for them to see the end with me. But I suppose I''ll have to do this alone.''

    At the very least, he had to carry on their desires.

    ''I''ll be sure to reunite you with the Nether, Ciel. When he bes a part of me, he''ll be a part of you too¡­"

    Once he concluded his train of thoughts, Legris heaved a shallow sigh.

    "The [Amalgamation] isplete. All the final pieces have converged at longst."

    A single step forward caused the eternal nothingness around him to tremble at hismand.

    Just like Aether ruled the Aether Tree, and the Nether governed his territory¡­ he now had his own realm.

    This hollownd that was not part of existence¡­

    ¡­ It was now his domain.

    At longst, his [Original Magic: Who Am I?] had evolved from his restricted domain of limbo to epass all else.

    It had transcended the pinnacle.

    "[Primeval Magic: The End]." Legris whispered.

    With this, he could finally achieve his goals.

    "But first, I should tie up the loose ends."

    There were still a few nuisances that existed beyond his domain. Legris knew he could choose to ignore most of them.

    But why would he choose to do that?

    "This should be fun."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    The final phase of the novel has finally arrived!

    Hang on tight!

    Discord Link: https://discord.gg/yMPNRURZJh

    Ko-Fi Link: https://ko-fi/magecrafter

 Chapter 1302 The One From Nothing

    Chapter 1302 The One From Nothing

    Celebration was imminent.

    The potential greatest threat that the Aether Tree had ever encountered had been squashed.

    The home world that they feared for had been protected in their absence by the unyielding resistance of the ones they left behind.

    Everyone they loved was safe.

    Both the mortals and Constetions were incredibly joyous.

    However, this happiness was cut short almost as soon as they gave their sighs of relief and congratted one another.

    After all, the darkness¡­ the abomination¡­ the end¡­

    ¡­ It wasing.

    ~VWUUUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    A stain in reality suddenly manifested.

    It had no shape or form, almost like fluid that was in constant motion.

    At first, no one noticed anything.

    Their senses had not advanced to the point of detecting absolutely nothing.

    They continued their celebration at the edge of existence, relieved by the destruction they could perceive from their safe distance.

    Kuzon, Edward, Aloe, Ciara, Serah, Maria, Ana, Aurora, Lemi, Jerry, and Beruel.

    The twelve Constetions too.

    Their rounds of tiredughter and relieved words echoed in the vastness of space.

    Until¡­

    "This is strange."

    ¡­ A voice emerged from the deep.

    One after the other, they turned to look in the direction of the one who spoke.

    As they saw him, their eyes widened. Their jubtion fizzled out, and the relief vanished.

    All in an instant.

    "You all seem really happy. Mind if I join you?"

    The one who was meant to have been destroyed¡ªLegris Damien¡ªnow stood in front of them.

    He had something strange covering his entire body. It seemed ck and oily, but not quite.

    It seemed like his entire body and outfit was made up of the unknown properties that oozed from him, but no one could properly decipher it.

    They could only gawk in shock at his revtion.

    "L-Legri¡ª?!"

    The fastest among them, Kuzon, tried to back away while uttering Legris'' name, but he was nowhere near fast enough.

    Not even close.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The brilliance of destruction spread from Legris, much faster than any of their minds could process.

    Death and the erasure of the tiniest fragment of their existence approached without any respect for time and space.

    It was quite literally the end.

    However¡­.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHHH!!!~

    A bright beam of light interrupted the process, instantly causing the eleven to suddenly vanish from where they would have died.

    In their ce were twelve celestial figures that seemed to radiate nothing but pure power¡ªthe Constetions.

    In that split-moment, where time and space was irrelevant, they had made their entry.

    "Ahh¡­ the Constetions." Legris smiled as he watched them manifest before him.

    "I see what you did. You sent them to your domain, didn''t you? Isn''t that interesting¡­?"

    Despite being in the presence of such overwhelming power, Legris disyed no fear or caution.

    In fact, he had the opposite expression stered on his face.

    The man¡ªif he could even be called that anymore¡ªseemed to be enjoying himself.

    "Once I am done with you twelve, I should pay your home a visit. Your Hosts won''t be safe for lon¡ª"

    ~WHOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    Interrupting Legris'' incredibly confident words, abined beam of what seemed to be pure Aether emanating from all of them rained towards him.

    The Aether defied space and time as well, and even broke everything down to the conceptual level as it reached Legris.

    However, with a mere sleight of his hand¡­

    "Weak."

    ¡­ All of that energy turned into nothing.

    Legris still stood before them, unharmed. The defiant smile on his face remained too.

    "Is this the best you can do? I expected more, considering you can attack me now."

    As a being that was nowpletely disconnected from reality¡ªboth the Nether and Aether Tree¡ªLegris had be exempt from the Unwritten Laws.

    They did not apply to him, therefore he was a perfect target.

    The Constetions took this as an instant opportunity to eliminate him themselves.

    Not only were their Hosts too weakened to put up a proper fight, but even at full strength, they stood no chance.

    Legris had far surpassed the level that mortals could ever hope to reach.

    He was beyond that now. He was Boundless¡­ just like the Constetions.

    "Your powers operate on the scale of reality. You are only as powerful as you are allowed to influence¡­" Legris smiled at the twelve before him.

    They all had determined demeanors which told him they had every intention to eliminate him right there and then.

    Could they, though?

    "I am exempt from every concept in your existence. As a being above that strata, none of your Representations affect me." He smiled at them.

    Authority. Life. Death. Creation. Destruction. Bnce. Corruption.

    ¡­ And so on.

    None of them would serve to be useful to an entity such as him.

    "The authority I possess is no less than yours. No¡­ in fact it is much higher."

    Right now, the Constetions were Boundless entities who still had invisible chains tied to them.

    But he was truly free.

    "You tried so hard to stop my ascension without properly understanding what it entails. Do you even know what [Amalgamation] means?"

    The Constetions were silent. Whether they were conversing in order to strategize on how to win, or they were running through a series of information in their mind, it was impossible to tell.

    "I am now one with the nigh infinite versions of myself. All of those variants¡­ they are now me." He raised both hands, spreading them out as if expecting an embrace.

    The look of ecstasy in his eyes as he made his deration was glorious.

    "I was iplete, but now I am whole. I was lost, but now I am found. I was weak¡­ but now I am strong."

    His gaze settled on the Constetions, who now seemed to be shining brighter than ever with pure Aether.

    It seemed that the only strategy they coulde up with after considering the situation was one.

    To simply overwhelm their opponent with Aether.

    However, even in the face of this, Legris wss unfazed.

    Why?

    "I am now perfect."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New novel alert: An Extra''s POV

    If you love novels on characters in the background who end up being overpowered, then you''ll enjoy this.

    Link:

    https://.webnovel/book/an-extra''s-pov_28157900908731405

 Chapter 1303 The Grand Eruption

    Chapter 1303 The Grand Eruption

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    The massive surge of Aether roared as it once again broke down concepts and charged towards Legris.

    This time, however, the rain of energy was far stronger than the one from earlier.

    Not only did it contained the sheer might of all twelve Constetions, but its bountiful output was nearly triple the initial st.

    The result was a gaping explosive re of power that could devastate universes upon mere collision.

    Still¡­

    ~WHISH!~

    ¡­ Even that was insufficient.

    "My, my, what a conundrum you''re in." Legris beamed at the sheer uselessness of their efforts.

    "No matter how much power you pour into your attacks, it will still be worthless."

    In order for an opposing element to take out its rival, the former had to be stronger than thetter.

    The more bountiful element would consume the less.

    This principle applied to water and fire. In a scenario where a massive wave of water washed upon a mere flicker of mes, thetter wouldn''t stand a chance.

    It would also be the same if a raging storm of mes was met with a ssh of water.

    Light and darkness. Push and Pull. Good and Evil.

    This principle pervaded everything.

    "So why would this situation be an exception? You have hope that yourbined powers will be able to overwhelm and destroy me." Legris smiled at the group.

    "You are wrong."

    No matter the quantity and quality of Aether that the Constetions possessed, it was nowhere close to the power that Legris finally possessed.

    "You twelve are Constetions in only one Tree of existence. Your power, albeit immensely bountiful¡ªalmost to the point of being considered infinite¡ªis not enough."

    After all, just as there existed two Trees of Existence¡ªAether and Nether¡ªthere was one other that remained unounted for.

    The one that Legris now governed as its monarch.

    "I am the very personification of nonexistence. A being on the same level as Aether and Nether who are primordial representations of their own realities." His confident smile began to gain substance.

    "Who are you, mere fragments of existence, to challenge me?"

    Once Legris properly revealed his superiority, he could see the shaken expressions of the Constetions.

    Yet¡­ they would not yield.

    "No matter what, it is our duty to protect existence from your reach. It is our responsibility to eliminate you as a threat. And¡­" Aquarius spoke on behalf of all the Constetions who were with her.

    "¡­ We made a promise to him. A promise we will honor no matter what!"

    "A promise? To who? Neron? I see that bastard is still making deals and¡ª"

    "No. Not Neron." Aquarius interrupted Legris, who was chuckling at this point.

    He stopped the moment he heard that his guess was wrong.

    "The pact with Neron has been fulfilled. Our promise with Jared remains."

    "I see¡­ Jared, huh?" Legris smiled, taking a good look around him.

    "Nowhere to be found too. How strange is it that the ones you rely on are not present when you need them most?"

    Despite his taunts, the Constetions kept up their determination.

    "Even if they show up now, nothing will change."

    Even a Singrity like Neron could not possibly have enough power to match him now.

    And if Neron couldn''t stop him, neither could Jared.

    "Welp, let''s get this over with, shall we?"

    A dark firmament suddenly settled above Legris, almost like a ckening cloud above his head.

    It rang ominous, and the Constetions realized they had to act fast or else¡­

    "You''re considering the length at which to unleash your powers considering how it might affect the denizens of your tree, aren''t you?"

    Legris'' wicked smile pierced through them, confirming that his words were indeed true.

    "Haha! It''s so obvious. Even though we currently stand at the edge, utilizing too much Aether might create a shockwave that decimates reality."

    Even if they established a barrier, the sheer might of their power would still be more than enough to shatter said barrier.

    "What now, Constetions? You can''t afford to hold back with me, you know? And if you fail to stop me, I''ll make sure that all the ones you worry about saving all meet brutal ends."

    The only way out was to use theirbined powers and end the lives of billions of existences¡ªif not more¡ªfor the sake of stopping Legris.

    "Choose now. If not, I''ll choose for you!" He yelled out in an enthusiastic grin.

    "Very well¡­" Aquarius whispered. "We will challenge you with our full powers."

    The fact that she spoke for all of them made it clear that all the Constetions were in agreement.

    Their desperation had reached this point.

    "¡­ But not here."

    ~BWUUUUUUUSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    The reality around all the members present suddenly warped into a multicolored space that stretched further than one could possibly measure.

    "You dragged me into your domain, huh? I was going toe here of my own volition anyway, but thanks for making the journey quicker."

    The Constetions ignored him and ignored theirbined Aether.

    Since they were now here, in their domain, there was no risk of killing anyone with the sheer magnitude of their strength.

    They could go all out.

    "Die, Legris Damien."

    And so, as everything around then undted and tore to shreds, the Constetions sent out their final card.

    Energy equivalent to a multiversal Big Bang.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    All the color and everything else that existed in the entire Constetion Realm vanished.

    Every ounce and fragment of Aether within it exploded, creating a raging storm that defied storms.

    An absolute destruction that transcended description.

    And after running its course for an eternity encapsted in a single second, the Grand Eruption finally ceased.

    The only ones who remained were the Constetions¡­

    "That was impressive."

    ¡­ And Legris Damien.

    "But I already said this to you¡­" The unscathed Legris smiled as he watched the powerless Constetions.

    "¡­ You''re all worthless."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Nice Legris flex.

    New novel alert: An Extra''s POV

    If you love novels on characters in the background who end up being overpowered, then you''ll enjoy this.

    Link:

    https://.webnovel/book/an-extra''s-pov_28157900908731405

 Chapter 1304 Seed Of The End

    Chapter 1304 Seed Of The End

    The Constetions were powerless.

    It was a strange, unforeseeable turn of events for them, considering how they were regarded as the strongest beings in the entire Aether Tree just moments earlier.

    And now, with theing of the end, they had be nothing more than oversized representations of impotence.

    They could do nothing to the entity before them.

    "I suppose it''s my turn."

    They could only despair.

    "[End Magic: Hollow Field]."

    Bypassing thews of time and space, a vast field of darkness suddenly expanded from himself as the source.

    It covered the entire region he upied, and beyond. The Constetions that stood in front of him were also caught in the field¡ªunable to resist or even detect what he had just done.

    And so, the moment they got caught in it¡­

    ~FWUUUUUSSSSHHHH!!!~

    ¡­ They werepletely consumed.

    The field of darkness, like a sphere of darkness,pletely ate everything within its territory.

    The Constetions were no exceptions.

    "With that, I''ve taken care of the biggest pests in the Aether Tree. I still have to ount for the most troublesome of all, but not now¡­"

    Right now, Legris had a different thing in mind.

    "Now that I''m once again in the Constetion Realm, I can ess every world within the Tree much easier and faster."

    A wide grin upied his face the moment he made this statement.

    "This has no direct bearing or consequence whatsoever. But¡­ I''m quite a petty man."

    He could see all the nigh infinite branches within the Aether Tree, meaning he could interact with them as well.

    He was now boundless, after all.

    "Might as well destroy as many of them as possible."

    He stretched out his hand, a small ball of darkness began to manifest around it.

    "Spreading [Nothingness] throughout existence¡­ I wonder just how far it will go."

    Right now, the Constetions did not stand in his way. He was the only absolute entity within the Realm where he stood.

    ¡­ Or so he thought.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!~

    A powerful Spell rushed towards him, but an invisibleyer of nothingness instantly blocked all of it.

    Not even a tiny ember of the multicolored mes touched him.

    "You guys are still here? That''s interesting¡­" Legris turned to his back and his eyes caught the group that stood before him.

    The eleven who were chosen by their precious Constetions.

    "You realize I just defeated your benefactors, right? You don''t stand a chance." Legris smiled at the group.

    To him, they were nothing more than fodder¡ªno, even less than that.

    "Is that so? Well we aren''t going to watch you go in with your ns."

    "Such hubris. It''s the very height of foolishness to think you are ''allowing'' me to do anything." Legris shook his head and sighed.

    Kuzon''s objection to him felt like the incoherent babbling of a child.

    It made no sense.

    "What exactly are you after? Why are you doing all of this? What did you¡ª?!"

    "It''s toote for curiosity, Serah. I find it amusing that you''re interested in talking to me now. Why? Am I now worthy of your attention?"

    The yful grin on Legris'' face made it difficult to determine if he had any kind of seriousness attached to his words.

    "You know what? Since you''re all here¡­ it''s perfect!" He beamed.

    "I can just make you watch your worlds die. Unable to do anything, unable to stop it, unable to act¡­ you will see everything and everyone you know or would ever know die."

    He was still smiling flippantly.

    "I mean¡­ even the end of the worlds needs an audience."

    The disgusted and shocked expressions of the eleven did not faze him in the slightest.

    Instead, they seemed to encourage him even more.

    "See this ck stuff on my hand? If it falls¡­ it will spread to the branches of the Aether Tree. It will begin to cause an ''End'' to all of them."

    In essence, Legris was telling them the source and cause of the threat.

    "I call it [Seed Of The End]. If you can stop it¡­ congrattions. If you can''t¡­ it''s all over for everyone."

    Everything seemed like a game to him.

    And finally, almost like a ball being dropped off the palm of a careless yer, the ck sphere left Legris'' palm.

    "Oops."

    "NOOOOOOOO!!!" Everyone rushed forward, trying their hardest to stop the imminent threat that was about to consume everything.

    However¡­

    "I didn''t say I would allow you, though."

    With a mere wave of his hand, Legris forcefully pushed everyone back.

    As a result, none of them could reach the ck orb in time.

    ¡­ Until it fell and touched the surface of the Realm.

    "It''s toote." Legris grinned.

    "It has already begun¡ªthe extinction of life." Legrisughed in glee.

    Just as he said, the ck orb spread itself around the branches like dirty water infiltrating a pure reserve.

    The darkness deeper in, slowly integrating itself with everyone and everyone that existed.

    The result of it all would mean nothing but death.

    "What do you think? Pretty crazy, right?!" Legris smiled as his opponentsy on the ground shivering.

    His terrifying strike was enough to paralyze their bodies and disrupt their flow of energy.

    All of them were helpless.

    "Let''s watch it to the end together!"

    Right as he said this, however, a particr glow emanated from one of the ones whoy.

    It was Aloe.

    "[O-Original Magic¡­ Aurora Vidalis: Lightless World]."

    At that instant, the brightness of the entire Constetion Realm dimmed.

    All of that light converged on Aloe and her Allie''s, allowing them to fight against the sickness that was draining them immensely.

    "There''s no time¡­" Aloe wheezed as she whispered.

    "We need¡­ we need to stop it before it reaches everyone and everything."

    Her weak voice was properlyplemented by her tired face.

    "But how?" Kuzon gritted his teeth in both confusion and powerlessness.

    Of all his abilities, none could save them in this case.

    "Leave it to me." A voice suddenly emerged from the eleven.

    It was a sonorous voice that had lost its previous bright allure.

    This time, it was darker than ever.

    "I''ll stop this." Ciara stepped forward, her re so deep that it caused her face to be a mask of rage.

    "Even if I die!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New novel alert: An Extra''s POV

    If you love novels on characters in the background who end up being overpowered, then you''ll enjoy this.

    Link:

    https://.webnovel/book/an-extra''s-pov_28157900908731405

 Chapter 1305 Grand Primeval Magic

    Chapter 1305 Grand Primeval Magic

    [A Brief Moment Earlier]

    ~Ciara¡­ can you hear me?~

    Ciara and her friends powerlesslyy on the ground, all of them rendered immobile by a mere sleight of Legris'' hand.

    In the face of such a powerful adversary, they stood no chance.

    ''H-how can I still hear your thoughts? Legris said he eliminated you.'' Ciara''s thoughts trailed.

    Her mind was a mess, same as her body, but she struggled to maintain her connection with the voice in her head.

    The voice of her Constetion.

    "Legris knows a lot, but he does not know everything. Constetions can not die as long as their Tree exist. What he destroyed were our physical embodiments¡­ our avatars."

    As long as an Aether Tree remained, the Constetions could not perish.

    ''T-then you can return to stop him¡­ right?!'' Ciara''s thoughts beamed.

    ~Unfortunately, we can not. Our physical forms have been permanently erased from this reality. We can only interfere in ways like this¡­ as invisible forces.~

    And the best way to do so was through their Hosts.

    ''What now, then? The branches¡­ everything is being destroyed¡­''

    There was nothing they could do about it.

    ~You have to stop him, Ciara. You have to stand and do something!~

    Ciara knew all that was at stake.

    She knew fully well that everything would cease to exist if she remained down.

    But what exactly could she do? She couldn''t rise, and even if she did, it wouldn''t be enough to change all that Legris was about to do.

    As she was having these thoughts, her eyes went to Jerry and his paralyzed form.

    His eyes were also looking at her.

    They seemed empty and hollow, but Ciara could see that they were trying to tell her something.

    They were telling her "I believe in you!"

    And that was all the motivation she needed.

    ''I have to try!''

    Using her Original Magic, she connected to Aloe''s mind and enabled her to use her own Original Magic to empower everyone.

    Once that was settled, and she was once again brimming with energy, she found her resolve to do the impossible.

    Amidst the confusion and desperation of everyone, she stepped forward.

    "I''ll stop this¡­ even if I die!"

    Of course, she did not want to die. However, the resolve to achieve this even if it cost her everything was what she needed to achieve this.

    "[Primeval Magic: Gran Aegis Brahma]"

    In that instant, all of reality halted.

    The [Connection] Ciara shared with Aquarius, and the [Connection] that Aquarius shared with the entirety of reality fully merged.

    The result was profound.

    ''I am¡­ connected to everything¡­'' Ciara''s thoughts echoed as she viewed the world from the lens of every living and entity.

    It was too much¡­ it was impossible¡­ but she did so anyway!

    ''I¡­ I am everything!''

    And so, as the End began, Ciara found herself connected to every single thing that would experience sheer extinction.

    She could feel them all. Speak to them all. Control them all.

    "Magic¡­ all your Magic¡­!" She yelled.

    Instantly, every single entity who could and could not use Magic awakened at that very moment.

    The Inepts found the connection between the power within their Souls and their ordinary bodies.

    The little ones Awakened on the spot, and the elderly were invigorated in their bodies.

    Every single entity within the branches¡ªso long as they possessed a mind¡ªwere connected to her.

    "Grand Primeval Magic¡­" Ciara collected all their power.

    All their energy converged into one.

    And she uttered the words that shattered thest of the barriers that existed between the individual branches, practically merging them into one.

    One Magic.

    "[¡­ Call Of Aether]"

    The wave of concentrated Mana, Miasma, Chi, Ki, and all other kinds of energy gathered and charged at the [Seed Of The End].

    Thebined power they shared was akin to Aether herself acting.

    And the result was as expected.

    ~VWWUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The seed was demolished¡ªabsolutely consumed by the sheer amount of Aether that washed through it.

    It was no longer the End.

    It never was.

    *********

    "Amazing¡­ simply fascinating!" Legris pped his hand as he witnessed all of this happen within the fraction of a moment.

    The darkness that filled the Constetion Realm remained, and only the deep glow of his malevolent eyes served as light for him.

    As for Ciara and herrades, they glowed with Aether.

    "You actually reached out to all of them¡­ impressive."

    Of course, Legris understood that this was only possible because they were in the Constetion Realm, and Ciara had used Aquarius'' power for the most part to achieve this result.

    "You were also powered by thebined energy of yourrades."

    All of that culminated into her sess.

    "Even at that, it''s still impressive you pulled it off." Legrismented, genuinely impressed.

    "You were always a talented one. Whether it''s under Neron''s tutge or mine, or none of us¡­ you would have always ended up a force to be reckoned with."

    However, that was as far as his praise went.

    "Aloe Vida used her Magic to absorb so much light that it slowed down the time within the Aether Tree itself. Your allies provided you with so much power necessary for the destruction of the seed¡­"

    As he broke it down, Legris already noticed Ciara''s pale expression.

    "I''m surprised you can still use the powers of your Constetion despite their absence. I guess those shards within you aren''t for decoration."

    Legris took a step forward, the entire realm trembling under his presence.

    "But¡­ all of that aside¡­"

    His grin widened more than ever as he took her another step.

    "¡­ You seem tired. All of you."

    True to his words, they were all exhausted. They had all used their abilities to the max in stopping just one of Legris'' attacks.

    "I doubt you''d be able to stop a second round." Legris raised his hand slowly.

    His malevolent smile caused everyone to shiver.

    For them, it had taken almost everything to ensure he could not destroy their worlds.

    However, for Legris, it didn''t take him any effort to try again.

    "What will you do now?"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1306 Majestic Granduer

    Chapter 1306 Majestic Granduer

    ''What can we do now?''

    A certain Midas had a particr thought as he looked at the enemy in front of him.

    His vision was blurry, but he could clearly see all that was happening.

    Ciara had fainted due to the heavy strain of her Magic on her. Aloe was also out ofmission. Edward and everyone else was drained of their energy.

    One after the other, they were copsing and losing consciousness.

    It was clear that they could do nothing.

    ''Then¡­ what can I do?''

    He knew it already¡ªthat he was currently the strongest among everyone present.

    He currently had the most amount of Aether, even after giving up most of it to assist Ciara in her Magic.

    Still¡­ would it be enough?

    Would it evene close? He knew the answer already.

    ''It''s not enough. My power¡­ the power of my people¡­ it''s not enough.''

    Against Legris, he too was powerless.

    ~So what now? Will you give up and let everything die?~

    As soon as he heard Leo''s voice within him, his heart thumped slowly.

    ~I can give you Aether, but what really matters is how you use it. What you can do with it.~

    His heart raced even more.

    ~So what will it be, Kuzon? What is your answer?~

    Silence pervaded the conversation between the two as Kuzon''s vision began to return to him.

    He could see the threat in front of him, and he perfectly understood the mission.

    What more did he need?

    "Haha¡­ hahaha¡­ haaaa¡­" Chuckling at himself, he slowly rose to his feet.

    Everyone else had fallen, so only he stood among their powerless bodies.

    "There''s no need to ask me. As long as the mission remains¡­ I won''t stop."

    A wide grin was on his face despite the obvious despair that Legris represented.

    None of that seemed to matter anymore.

    Kuzon only cared about one thing¡ªthe mission!

    "Seems you''ve got a screw loose. You want to stand against me?" Legris asked, one brow raised in confusion.

    After he had just defeated a Constetion, effortlessly beaten all the Hosts, and nearly began consuming the entire Aether Tree, Legris thought that everyone would have understood their ce.

    But it seemed one Midas had yet to fullyprehend the difference between them.

    "What will you do? Mage Mode? Your Emperor''s Transfiguration? Original Magic?" Legris taunted.

    No matter what was done, the results would remain unchanged.

    It was this absolute confidence that caused Legris to wait and see what would happen.

    "Come on, Midas boy! Show me what¡ª!"

    "Primeval Magic¡­" Kuzon whispered as he slowly raised his head and stared at Legris with his golden eyes.

    Everything around Kuzon began to turn golden, and his body was no exception.

    His hair rose upward, and lines that appeared to be cracks appeared around his eyes as the rest of his body took on the purest form of gold imaginable.

    No, even beyond imagination.

    Was this his Primeval Magic? No¡­ not yet.

    "¡­ [Majestic Grandeur]."

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!~

    In that very instant, a burst of golden light radiated throughout the Constetion Realm.

    Power unlike anything Kuzon had ever unleashed burst out at once, shaking everything within the realm.

    And once the cackles of rabid energies came to rest, the grand sight became clear.

    Kuzon''s Golden Pce has now manifested in reality¡ªa domain that was now existent in the Constetion Realm.

    It meant only one thing.

    "This entire ce¡­ the Constetion Realm¡­ has be my domain."

    If the various universes of the Aether Tree were branches, and the Root was where Aether resided, then the Constetion Realm could be considered to be the trunk.

    The trunk was connected to all the branches.

    ¡­ And Kuzon now controlled all of it.

    "Impressive. But so what? Nothing much has changed, has it?" Legris chuckled to himself.

    Even the Constetions controlled this domain, and they ultimately lost.

    The same could apply to the lone Midas.

    "You don''t seem to understand¡­" Kuzon smiled as he stared at Legris with his glowing eyes.

    lights¦­¦Ïvel "This is my reality. It is mine to weave¡­ like a thread." Kuzon raised his hand, and suddenly the very concept of distance vanished, making Kuzon appear right in front of Legris.

    "Hehehe! You¡ª!"

    Just as Legris was about to hit Kuzon due to his superior speed, the concept of rtive speed began to crumble.

    It was all rewritten by Kuzon.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The one who gave the hit was Kuzon, sending Legris flying for a supposed infinite distance thanks to how much he had warped reality.

    "The only one I can not influence is you." Kuzon rushed towards Legris in a sh.

    Almost like teleportation, he was right behind the recoiling opponent.

    "Everything else is under mymand."

    ~WHOOOOOOSH!!~

    Legris tried tounch his blow towards Kuzon again, but the concept of direction was changed, and he ended up diverting the force of space to its inverse.

    In essence¡­

    ~BOOOOOOM!!~

    ¡­ Legris hit himself!

    "Tch. I don''t have to take this."

    Legris opened up his palm and a ck orb formed on top of it nearly instantly.

    It was another [Seed of the End].

    "Let''s see how you handle this." Legris smiled,unching the dark sphere towards Kuzon like a bullet.

    However¡­

    ~WHOOOOOMM!!~

    It appeared in the opposite direction and hit Legris from behind.

    "O-ow!" Legris yelled, feeling the sharp sting behind him.

    Of course, since he was currently made of the same properties as the Seed, he wasn''t going to be destroyed, but that also meant he could be affected by it.

    "Your ''Nothing'' affects you. As long as I exist in this domain, I can control the flow of this reality."

    Hence, it left Legris trapped in a precarious situation.

    "Use your power, and they will only serve to hurt you. Don''t use them, and I will act."

    In the depths of despot, Kuzon had managed to flip the tables.

    He was winning.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1307 Brilliance In Despondency

    Chapter 1307 Brilliance In Despondency

    ?

    ''This is¡­!''

    Legris was trapped.

    He was constantly being barraged by Kuzon''s endless offensive maneuvers, and anytime he tried to strike back, he would be countered very efficiently.

    ''He''s strong. He''s a bigger pain than those Constetions.''

    Perhaps it was due to their inability to grow, but the Constetions were very poor atbat.

    They didn''t have the tenacity that mortals possessed, and theycked a wealth of experience that apanied battle.

    As a result, not only were their moves predictable, but when they were pushed to their limits, they could only resort to their excess Aether.

    ''But he''s different.'' Legris looked at Kuzon in wonder.

    ''He''s carefully weaving that excess Aether to defy thews of reality and bend them to his will.''

    This caused Legris to leak out a wide smile.

    ''Isn''t that the true essence of Magic?!''

    It amused Legris so much, and yet he found it endlessly infuriating.

    ''I can''t let this drag on forever, can I?'' He mused internally.

    Sure, Legris was trapped, but he wasn''t particrly suffering any kind of damage from Kuzon''s volley of attacks.

    ''He doesn''t have sufficient power to hurt me.''

    The only damage he had suffered was from his own attacks, and he knew better than to try it again.

    ''Should I try escaping this domain? Yeah¡­ let''s do that!''

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    Legris began to break down the space around him with his End Magic.

    This would tear a hole in the fabric of space itself, allowing him to leave Kuzon and the influence of his Primeval Magic.

    However¡­

    ''H-huh? What''s going on? It isn''t working?'' Legris gave a confused expression as he noticed no hole was forming.

    ''No, that''s not it! Ahh¡­ I see now! So that''s what he did!''

    Turning to face Kuzon, he noticed the majestic figure of the golden entity floating a distance away.

    ''He could close that distance in no time and stretch it on for nigh infinity.''

    Legris could tell what he was doing as a result of that.

    ''He''s stretching the space to infinity so that it can''t be broken downpletely. I keep breaking it down but it''ll keep stretching on and on, rendering the process futile.''

    He could try to fly off, but that would also be foolish.

    ''He''ll also stretch out the space, or ensure there isn''t even any space to traverse.''

    Right now, it seemed Kuzon held all the cards.

    "I was wrong about you, Kuzon." Legris admitted as he stared at his adversary.

    "You''re as smart as you are strong."

    "Your ttery mean nothing to me." Kuzon responded almost instantly.

    "Oh,e on. It''s apliment, not ttery."

    Kuzon did not respond this time. Instead, he kept hovering as he stared at Legris.

    ''He must have figured out that he can''t harm me in any way, so he''s waiting for me to make a move so he can use that to hurt me.''

    If none of them did anything, it would end in a stalemate.

    "But you know¡­ I like situations like this." Legris widened his grin.

    "Anytime I am at a disadvantage, my mind seeks to find a way out. It makes me stronger¡­ smarter¡­ better."

    Whether it was his old life and this new one, nothing about his nature had changed.

    "Your Primeval Magic is pretty good. I can barely sense any weakness in it¡ªnothing I could exploit."

    But so what?

    "It is as close to perfect as it can possibly be."

    Even then¡­

    "It won''t be enough, though." Legris smiled, stretching both hands.

    His words were met with narrowed eyes from Kuzon.

    "You don''t believe me? Why don''t I show you?"

    They all seemed like empty words that one would use to stall. However, based on experience Kuzon had learned not to underestimate Legris.

    He was prepared to do anything to counter whatever Legris would throw at him.

    "[End Magic: Dark Horizon]."

    Instantly, darkness rushed from Legris and swirled around him, threatening to consume everything that existed within the Constetion Domain.

    "I don''t think so!" Kuzon stated, stretching a single hand towards Legris.

    Once again, reality was altered, and the darkness began to consume Legris.

    "Hahaha! It hurts, you know? It really hurts!" Legris yelled as the power he released swallowed him whole.

    "But you know¡­ I can take it. Even this much¡­ won''t destroy me!"

    The burst of darkness rose to an astronomical degree, and while the brunt of the force was directed at Legris, the surrounding areas began to be eaten up by the power.

    "I can''t say the same about your domain." Legris echoed in excitement.

    "Let''s see who gives out first! Me or you!"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    More of Legris'' energy shot up and about, creating a swirling maelstrom that began to spiral out of control.

    Even though Kuzon was doing his best to contain it and direct everything at Legris, the quantity and quality of the power kept rising.

    "Guh!" Kuzon used both hands and all his focus, trying his best toyer his reality and ensure that everything could only be brought to Legris.

    But that was impossible.

    Kuzon could not control Legris or his energy the way he controlled his domain.

    In essence, the more of Legris'' energy existed, the higher the chances of it eventually bleeding into everything else.

    No matter how much he tried to stretch out space or close the distance of all the darkness.

    In the end¡­

    "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!"

    ¡­ Kuzon could not stop it all.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The eruption of Legris'' power eventually roared and consumed the entire Constetion Realm, just as it was intended to.

    The result was the destruction of everything¡ªfrom the Golden Pce to every other construct Kuzon had designed.

    Everything was gone in the blink of an eye.

    "Not bad¡­" Legris was now the one floating above the debris of everything that once existed in majesty.

    He looked terrible, with a majority of his body covered in burns and marks.

    However, almost as soon as he appeared, all the severe wounds began to heal.

    The same could not be said about the opposing party.

    "Haaa¡­ haaa¡­"

    Kuzon was currently on the ground, paralyzed and in his natural state.

    His friends were behind him, all of them barely scathed by the explosion that had just urred.

    "I see. You protected them with your Golden Pce, and all thoseyered constructs. It was barely enough, but it seems you seeded in keeping everyone alive." Legris mused.

    However, this was truly the end of the line.

    "Your powers have been extinguished, and you''re in no shape to continue our exchange."

    Even if he managed to try again, Legris already knew how to break out of his Primeval Magic.

    "The only thing you can do now¡­ is perish." Legris raised his hand just as thest of his injuries healed.

    A dark sphere, almost five times asrge as the initial seed manifested.

    In the face of such despair, one would expect Kuzon, who was already losing consciousness, to shudder.

    However, that was not the case.

    "Haha¡­ Haaa¡­" he chuckled as he gave a sigh, almost in reality.

    A smile formed on his face as his lips brought forth words.

    "Mission¡­ Complete."

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    A bright light of multicoloredyers suddenly appeared, illuminating the darkness and sending a fresh wave of energy coursing through the barren word.

    From within the brilliant kaleidoscope, a man appeared.

    He had long yellow hair, with bright eyes that seemed to hold worlds within them.

    He had a long cloak that was reminiscent of a Mage, or perhaps a Sage.

    "Thank you, Kuzon." The man from what depths of light said with a smile.

    He nodded at the weakened Midas withpassion.

    "You can rest now."

    Upon hearing this, Kuzon returned the smile before finally giving in to his exhaustion and falling unconscious.

    Before everything went dark, however, he had a single thought flowing in his mind.

    "Go get him¡­ Jared!''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1308 The New Jared

    Chapter 1308 The New Jared

    ''Is that¡­ Jared?''

    Legris was silent¡ªno, not just him.

    Everything was quiet, in an absolute lull, as the being that emerged from multicolored light manifested himself in glory.

    The one cloaked in indescribable darkness felt perplexed as he stared at the neer.

    He had long, blond hair. Based on his appearance, he looked to be in his mid-twenties, and his regal appearance caused him to appear majestic.

    His pure eyes had a charm to it that made it impossible to look away, almost as if hidden within was a depth that couldn''t be fathomed.

    Legris did not understand this person.

    He couldn''t.

    "Are you¡­ Jared Leonard?" He asked, his brows raised in both suspicion and caution.

    Something about thed''s appearance made him ufortable.

    Even after the question, the man in front of him did not respond.

    It seemed like his eyes were staring at something else¡ª

    something far more distant.

    "You''ve changed a lot. What have you be?" Legris something far more distant.

    "You''ve changed a lot. What have you be?" Legris spoke once again, hoping to get a response this time.

    Once again, the man refused to speak.

    "I don''t like being ignored. But if it''s going to be like this, then¡­" Legris shifted his attention to the sphere that hovered above his palm.

    It had more than enough ''Nothingness'' to finish everyone off.

    "¡­ Enjoy."

    He thrust the swirling orb towards the regal man, a wide grin on his crooked face.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The darkness approached him at a fast rate, expanding at an astronomical rate.

    Like a balloon, it seemed to cover more ground¡­ all within a tiny fraction of a single moment.

    This Seed Of The End had enough properties to consume everything in this Realm, and it wasn''t even a contention.

    Legrisfortably watched as his power would destroy everything and cause thest of his opponents to cease existing.

    However, it didn''t end up as easy as he thought.

    ''Huh? It stopped?''

    The Seed Of The End was suspended, as if stuck in one frame of time, unable to jump to the next.

    ~FSSSSHHHIIIIIIII!!!~

    The inted orb suddenly began to dete as soon as it stopped, rapidly reducing in its hollow mass.

    Right before Legris'' eyes, it became as little as a tiny speck.

    Until¡­ it vanishedpletely.

    ''No. Not quite. It''s shrinking infinitely.'' Legris noticed as his widened eyes perceived all that was urring.

    It had just reduced beyond the point of perception.

    "How did you¡ª?"

    Before Legris couldplete his question, the man before him moved his body for the first time since Legris addressed him.

    He ced his hand on his chin, almost as if contemting something.

    "Your question¡­ it should be the other way around."

    His eyes slowly shifted to Legris'' stunned demeanor, and they made eye contact.

    "You''ve changed a lot, Legris¡­" There was no smile on the young man''s face.

    Instead, he had a slight frown as he stared at Legris.

    It felt like he was gazing upon an abomination¡ªan anomaly that wasn''t supposed to be.

    "¡­ What have you be?"

    For the first time since his rebirth, Legris was met with condescension.

    There was no fear, concern, or worry in the eyes of the man who stared at him.

    There was only disgust.

    "I have be perfect." Legris responded with a smile on his face.

    "I see. You merged all properties of your fragmented selves to oneponent. Completion by Amalgamation. It seems I missed a lot."

    The words of the man echoed in the vastness of the Constetion Realm.

    However, Legris only chuckled.

    "Indeed. Seems like you have a lot of catching up to do¡ª!"

    "One moment¡­" Raising his hand, the man spoke gently.

    He closed his eyes for a moment and flicked it open in no time at all. His flowing hair seemingly danced with the wind, and he heaved a sigh.

    "I''m all caught up."

    "I see. You sent your mind back in time to observe all that happened leading up to this point, didn''t you?" Legris answered with a cackle.

    "Every single frame."

    "Oh¡­?"

    Legris had only meant that as a joke, but to think his opponent was really serious about it.

    He could only imagine the kind of properties he had to be made of to allow for such processing power.

    "You killed Z''ark and Gerard. Stefan and Ciel are also gone, it seems¡­"

    If Legris was doubting his words, this person had just confirmed he spoke the truth.

    He said everything as it happened.

    "You''re Jared, aren''t you? You seem different, but¡­"

    A brief moment of silence enveloped the two of them, and no one said anything for a moment.

    The unconscious ones made no sound, and the nk reality was hollow.

    Nothing and no one moved, talkless of spoke.

    Until¡­

    "Yes. I am Jared." The blond one responded.

    He still had a serious expression on his face, not borne from caution or worry, but of something deeper.

    "You''ve caused a lot of pain and suffering, Legris. My friends and allies did their best to stop you, but¡­ apparently it wasn''t enough."

    "And? What about it?"

    Legris gave a mocking grin as he stared at Jared.

    "What else is new?"

    This was his nature, after all. Ever since he was exposed as an antagonist¡ªno, even far before that¡ªhe hadmitted horrors that transcended human malice.

    Nothing much had changed.

    "You can''t go back to change it. You can''t alter anything. So I ask you, Jared¡­" Wagging his tongue, Legris taunted in absolute confidence.

    "¡­ What are you going to do about it?"

    Upon hearing his question, Jared narrowed his gaze and creased his brows slightly.

    Silent tension danced around him as he seemed to be in contemtion of the question he was asked.

    However, his silence wasn''t permanent.

    After a few seconds, he opened his lips to respond.

    "I suppose you''re about to find out."

    That was the only answer he could give.

    After spending an eternity preparing for this moment, Jared had no intention of losing.

    ''Everything ends now.''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1309 Within The Chrysalis

    Chapter 1309 Within The Chrysalis

    It was dark.

    I was alone¡ªscared.

    I had tried a lot of things in my life, but nothing came close to this.

    I had brought people back from the dead. I had toppled an entire army. I had fought a primordial entity.

    ¡­ I had destroyed an entire race.

    Still, none of those thingspared to my current undertaking.

    "Haaa¡­ shall we begin?"

    I was in a chrysalis, hence the darkness. I could not escape until the process was done.

    What was about to happen now was simple.

    The ''me'' that currently existed as Jared Leonard the mortal was about to cease existing.

    Instead, I would be someone else.

    Something else.

    ''A Boundless Entity: the thirteenth Constetion.''

    It was for this reason alone that I had chosen to face the 12 Constetions in their realm.

    I knew there was no way to win. Instead, I utilized my Original Magic to perfectly analyze the Representations they used against me during the course of our exchange.

    Original Magic to perfectly analyze the Representations they used against me during the course of our exchange.

    I tried my best to drag out the fight since my n would have a higher chance of sess the more information I was able to collect.

    If the Constetion knew of my n, I highly doubted they would allow me to go along with it.

    Why?

    ''This has long passed the domain of contemporary Magic. What I am attempting to do is impossible¡ªat least, in theory.''

    Just as there were Unwritten Laws about the Constetions, I reckoned the same applies to us mortals.

    We had finite abilities, finite lifespans, and finite potential.

    Everything about us was finite.

    But¡­ I was about to change all of that.

    By fully analyzing and breaking down the Representations of all 12 Constetion within my Great Sage''s Archives, and running it through countless permutations and the inexhaustible array of Spells and Magics that already existed in this domain, I could refine them and make them mine.

    Thebined power of all 12 Constetions in my grasp¡­ that was my goal.

    ''Am I being greedy?'' I asked myself multiple times

    Every time, I arrived at the same answer.

    ''No!''

    What I required now, more than anything else, was power.

    The power to protect everyone and everything I loved.

    The Constetions could not be relied on, and while it brought me no satisfaction to admit this, my allies were in the same boat.

    ''They''re strong. But¡­ not enough.''

    None of it was enough.

    That was why I had to take matters into my own hands.

    ''For the sake of all of those who have perished because of Legris, and those who are yet to.''

    I felt heat rising in my chest.

    More than anything, I wanted to break out of my chrysalis and seek Legris out, wherever he was.

    But what good would that do?

    He would just squirm away, the way he always did.

    To really stop him, I had to be decisive.

    I had to be stronger.

    ~VWUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH!!!~

    The process began.

    Theplex procedure of dissecting the Representations, breaking down theirponents into smaller bits, was carried out by the Archives.

    I had already imbued it with a more sophisticated andplicated mechanismpared to the Great Sage''s Memoir.

    As such, I was confident of its ability to decipher the powers that would be mine.

    It was only a matter of time.

    **********

    ''How long has passed now?''

    I had no idea.

    Locked in an endless space within my shell, awaiting rebirth, I could only await the process to beplete.

    To while away time, Ibined my intellect with the Archives to break down the Representations.

    They were allplex, intertwined in a seemingly endless loop that felt impossible to unravel.

    But I wasn''t ready to give up.

    ''Time is all I have. I won''t stop until I get what I want.''

    *******

    More time passed, and I had long reached and surpassed my intellectual limits.

    While I rested in the chrysalis, the Archives continued its analysis.

    I was certain years had passed at this point.

    I just wasn''t sure how many.

    Once I was well-rested, I was ready to resume my task of breaking down the Representations.

    That was when it happened.

    ~INITIATING ASCENSION~

    ''I-it worked? It finally¡ª!''

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

    At that moment, I lost all rational thought.

    My entire self was shattered by the inrush of information and power that I was unable to bear for even a second.

    The true power of the Constetions, even though it was fed to me in small quantities, was enough topletely overwhelm me.

    I wasn''t arrogant or anything, but over the course of my life as Jared, I had be ridiculously powerful.

    However, this kind of power was far more superior to the meager kind I had massed over my life.

    It was too much.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!~

    The process continued even after my body and mind had turned into mush.

    Inside the chrysalis, I waspletely torn apart and broken down to allow for proper integration.

    I had no idea how long this took.

    All I knew was the first time I regained consciousness afterwards.

    And¡­ that was long, long, long after it began.

    Eons long.

    **********

    "Haaa¡­"

    Misty breath escaped my lips as I felt my new body wake. My hand stretched upward, and I felt something rip around me.

    "Did it work?"

    I opened my new eyes for the first time, witnessing the Great Sage''s Archives.

    It had expanded far beyond what existed in my previous memory.

    Worlds upon worlds, andyers uponyers.

    This vast reality had billions of worlds within it, and the rate kept climbing exponentially.

    The most surprising part was that I couldprehend all of it.

    "So this is what it feels like to be Boundless?"

    Reality felt different from before.

    In the past, I had to use Spells and constant Magic to harness those powers, but now they felt like a part of me.

    Time. Space. Reality. Life. Death. Energy. Matter.

    Existence itself.

    It felt like I had be a personification of all those things.

    I just knew it.

    "I have be a Constetion. No¡­ a Grand Constetion."

    With that statement made, there was only one thing left to do.

    "Time to kill Legris."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1310 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1310 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 1]

    "I suppose you''re about to find out."

    As I uttered those words to Legris, I felt a slight tingle within me.

    I knew my wordscked proper substance.

    "I''m about to find out, huh? Humor me, then!" Legris chuckled.

    "You should already know this, but I''m far more powerful than you are."

    I did not say a word.

    After all, Legris wasn''t wrong about that.

    ''I nned on stopping him by bing a Grand Constetion, but I didn''t ount for this.'' I thought while looking at him.

    The current Legris had far exceeded my expectations in every aspect.

    "You can''t stop me, Jared. None of you can."

    A small smile formed on my face as he said this.

    This was where he was wrong.

    "You''re smiling. You must be pretty confident. I''m pretty excited to see what you can do now."

    Legris was confident, but he wasn''t stupid. I knew for sure that even though he was being pretty arrogant in his speech, he was exercising caution.

    I wasn''t going to catch him off guard by using petty tricks, or hoping to get the upper hand through underhanded means.

    Legris had tricked and fooled me multiple times in the past.

    There was nothing stopping that from happening again.

    However¡­

    "I''ll try."

    ¡­ I no longer had any room for hesitation within me.

    "You''ll need to do more than tha¡ª!"

    Before Legris couldplete his statement, I whispered words from my lips.

    "Grand Constetion Form."

    ~WHUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    An instant explosion, one of multiple colors and overwhelming intensity, rushed from me.

    The powers of the Aether Tree connected to me in that moment, and my entire form changed.

    My entire apparel was now coated in stars and gxies, with a crown of immense glory seated atop my head.

    At the center of the crown was an orb, and it gleamed with seemingly infinite depths.

    My eyes mirrored the Aether Tree, and my skin reflected nothing short of the celestial beauties.

    In this form, I was currently standing at the epitome of the Constetions.

    There existed none greater within the Aether Tree than I.

    "That''s a pretty neat transformation." Legris admitted with a wide grin.

    In contrast to my magnificent form, his entire form was shrouded in a murky dark color thatcked description.

    His long coat and shabby hair was the antithesis of mor, yet he seemed to revel in it.

    I could see the reason why.

    ''He''s strong.''

    I wasn''t surprised that he had managed to defeat all the Constetions and every single one of my friends.

    Even with all the abilities of the Constetions, defeating him didn''t seem like a straightforward answer.

    But¡­

    "Are you nervous? Already doubting your abilit¡ª?"

    "Nah, I''d win." I responded with a smile.

    I had no choice but to win.

    ~WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    The moment I closed the distance between me and Legris, he widened the distance.

    As a result, it seemed like we didn''t move an inch when we had nearly traversed countless distances that seemed to drag on forever.

    ''I see he learned a new trick from Kuzon.''

    I was able to see Kuzon''s Primeval Magic, and it was impressive by all degrees.

    He had managed to exceed my expectations with such aplex and wless Spell.

    However, truly Boundless entities wouldn''t be held back by such a Spell¡ªespecially when they ruled the domain being controlled.

    As such, it was foolish to try to manipte a reality that was under the purview of a Grand Constetion like me.

    ~WHOOOOSSSSSHHH!!!~

    As if time itself reversed, Legris returned to his position, which I now upied, and I clenched my fist for the first blow.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    I sent my fist flying towards him, coated in several fragments of multifarious lights.

    "Hahaha! Seriously? Resorting to your fist?!" Legrisughed as he generated a dark curtain between me and him.

    It served as a shield that protected him while also serving as a means of destroying me should Ie into contact with it.

    However, despite seeing the barrier, I didn''t care for it and kept my up charge.

    "You fool! You''ll¡ª!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The moment my fist was about to hit the dark curtain, I controlled thews of space-time and bent reality to my will.

    My hand suddenly wasn''t there any longer.

    It was imnted at the very center of Legris'' face,nding right on the bridge of his nose.

    "Guark!" I heard him yell out as his face recoiled backwards.

    "Not yet¡­"

    My second hand held his face from behind and pushed it forward where my fist was fast approaching with a second strike.

    ~POW!~

    And another.

    ~WHAM!~

    Yet another one.

    ~BOOOOOOM!~

    Legris suffered multiple hits from me within the fragment of a moment, and while this was ongoing, I noticed a few things.

    ''I see. The damage amounts to nothing since the quality of Aether is insufficient to damage his current state.''

    I was but a stifling wind trying to tear down a monolith.

    It was never going to happen.

    ¡­ Or was it?

    ''Spellcraft¡­''

    All the energy that I had drawn from the world around me gathered in a single finger¡ªmy index¡ªand I thrust it faster than any other blow Inhad delivered thus far.

    "H-hold o¡ª!"

    Before Legris could fullyprehend what I had just done, my finger pierced his left eye and drilled itself through it.

    "G-guarhh!!!"

    Legris swiftly vanished from his position using the darkness tosh around, forcing me to retreat as well.

    As our distance widened slightly, I stared at my sizzling finger and smiled.

    Dark oozes of blood were stuck on it, but they soon dissipated thanks to my excess energy burning through everyst drop.

    I turned to see Legris, who was now clutching his eye and ring at me.

    "You actually¡­ damaged me?"

    I didn''t require his energy to do so, and while the area of damage was minimal, the pain Legris suffered as a result was very real.

    "Of course." I responded, raising my index finger to my lip and blowing off the smoke on it.

    It felt a little overly dramatic, but I indulged in it.

    Legris red at this action of mine, and suddenly it seemed like our roles were reversed.

    I took a step forward, my gaze resting entirely on him.

    ''I currently have all the powers of the Constetions with none of their limitations¡­''

    As I pressed further, my smile widened.

    ''That ought to count for something.''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1311 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1311 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 2]

    The Unwritten Laws were absolute.

    Both Mortals and Boundless entities were subservient to this inevitable force.

    As a Mortal, I was bound by the Unwritten Laws.

    The Constetions, whom I relied on, were also shackled by it.

    However, more than anything, I desired to be free.

    As a result, I decided to change myself.

    Right now, I wasn''t particrly a Constetion. I wasn''t born as one, and I never existed as one.

    I was merely an entity that possessed their abilities and Representations.

    At the same time, I was no longer a Mortal since I had entered the realm of the Boundless.

    In essence, a question had to be posed.

    Who was I?

    ''A Grand Constetion is what would best describe my current state.''

    It didn''t simply mean I was more powerful than the Constetions, but that I was not subject to the Laws that bound them despite my power.

    As a result, I could operate the way I used to¡­ but on a much higher level.

    ''Spellcraft¡­ Unknowable¡­ everything I possessed has now evolved with me to this point.''

    Right now, they were my greatest weapons.

    ''And I n on using them.''

    "That was a lucky shot." Legris'' voice interrupted my thoughts, but they did not catch me off guard.

    My focus was constantly on him, so nothing he did caught me off guard.

    "Was it really?" I responded with a taunt.

    "It was. You¡­ you became like a Constetion, didn''t you? I can tell that you''re stronger, but still¡­ you fall under their category."

    Legris was exceptionally brilliant, so I knew he would be able to tell if given enough time.

    "What of it?" I asked nonchntly.

    The oue remained unchanged.

    "Then you should know we are in different tiers. Constetions are still inferior to Primordial Entities like the Aether and Nether."

    ''How brazen¡­'' I thought to myself.

    Legris was practically equating himself to the first beings that existed in this reality.

    The hubris was startling.

    ''He''s not entirely wrong. But he''s not right either.''

    Currently, Legris possessed equal authority and power to them, and just like me, he wasn''t bound by the Unwritren Laws that restricted Aether.

    He represented Nonexistence, and the Unwritten Laws only affected those who existed.

    In a sense, he was Primordial of Nothingness.

    ''But¡­ Aether and Nether have something he doesn''t. Or rather, they lead to a source he does not possess, but wishes to.''

    I could tell that he desperately sought that.

    "I know you''re thinking I possess hubris, but you should first look in the mirror, Jared."

    Once again, Legris interrupted my thoughts.

    "You''re challenging me despite the odds of winning. I''m way above your league, yet you still believe you have a chance."

    The wound I had inflicted on him had long healed. Even though I managed to damage him by utilizing Spellcraft and concentrating an absurd amount of energy in a single point, he was able to recover very quickly.

    The bounds of his power was unknown even to me.

    However¡­

    "Of course. I never denied it¡­ my hubris."

    To be a Mage meant to possess an absurd sense of entitlement and pride.

    Who were we, as mortals, to seek to understand thews of the world and control them?

    Why did we desire to harness the power of nature for ourselves?

    Who gave us the right to search for the very depths of Magic and seek out the heights of its power?

    The answer stemmed from our hubris.

    "There''s nothing Impossible with Magic." I told Legris, stretching one hand to him.

    "You and I are Mages, and it was our belief in that concept that brought us this far."

    We tried everything as Mages, and that led us to this particr moment.

    "I see. So you won''t stop, even with the odds."

    "Would you?" I asked him.

    A wide smile formed on his face as my questionnded.

    "I wouldn''t."

    Legris was being as honest as he could ever be, and it was a reflection of the heart any true Mage shared.

    That was where our connection ended, though.

    "Watch me as I defy your flimsy odds." I told him, once again prepared tounch myself into the depths of battle.

    "Oh, really?" Legris grinned as he watched me with narrowed eyes.

    It seemed he was up to something.

    ''Hold on¡­ could it be¡ª!''

    Right as I figured his trick out, a thick veil of darkness covered me.

    "You shouldn''t have ced too much attention on me."

    Those were thest words I heard from Legris before the wave of nothingnesspletely shrouded my body and the deep force of Nothingness filled me up from the inside out.

    Legris poured an immense amount of his power into the strike¡ªenough to epass the body I currently possessed.

    The result was certain.

    ¡­ The End.

    ********

    "You''ve shared the same fate as your dear Constetions." Legris grinned as he watched the darknesses dissipate.

    As he expected, nothing remained of his adversary.

    "I win, Jared. That was a pretty quick fight."

    In the end, Jared''s caution had gotten the best of him, and it cost him everything.

    "Still¡­ what was with that power?" Legris whispered to himself.

    He clutched the eye that Jared affected and squinted a little.

    He no longer felt any pain there, and his wound had healedpletely. However, something about the damage he had received made him uneasy.

    It felt irritating to him.

    That he would feel pain from something other than himself¡­

    "I really should¡­ h-huh..?!"

    Right as Legris was about to move, he noticed something stir beside him.

    It was a fist.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    A powerful blownded on his cheek, dislocating the hand he had used to cover his eye.

    "Keuk!"

    However, even as he recoiled from this pain, a kicknded right on top of his head, sending sparks flying in his head as his sensespletely got messed up.

    ''W-what in the¡­?!''

    Before he was sent flying downward, another kicknded in his crotch,pletely messing up his groin.

    "UOOOOOGGHHHH!!!"

    Legris sent his two hands flying to his affected gonads, a disgusting screech pouring from his lips.

    A strike was sent to his throat, silencing him instantly.

    "K-kurgh¡­"

    His eyes nearly watered as his hands now moved to his throat.

    A confused and absolutely dibobted expression pervaded his face, ruining the confidence he once had.

    What in the world was going on?

    ''H-how¡­?!'' His thoughts trailed as he choked.

    His blurry vision caught the figure, and finally the face of the one responsible for his pain and misfortune.

    "J-Jared¡­ Leonard?!"

    But that was impossible! He had just been killed¡ªno,pletely erased from existence.

    There was no way he could still be alive.

    "You idiot. Still haven''t figured it out yet?" Jared grabbed Legris by his cor and brought him closer, preparing another blow to be sent to him.

    "I can''t die. Not as long as this Aether Tree exists."

    That was what it meant to be a Constetion.

    And unlike Constetions who could not recover their avatars once they were destroyed, Jared was a Grand Constetion.

    Those principles did not apply to him.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1312 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1312 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 3]

    I stood before Legris with yet another smile on my face.

    Beneath my facade was the rage that I had suppressed for the sake of my task, but that didn''t mean I didn''t enjoy¡ªalbeit slightly¡ªseeing Legris make certain expressions.

    Right now, he had a conflicted reaction to my resurgence.

    And it was pleasant to see.

    ''The Constetions lost so easily because they do not have any realbat experience, but also because they were unwilling and unable to take major risks in fighting.''

    However, I wasn''t like that.

    ''The only way to really win is through close-upbat.''

    I would have to gather dense amounts of Aether¡ªboth from myself and throughout the Aether Tree¡ªusing Spellcraft to damage Legris.

    But that couldn''t be all.

    ''His regeneration is insanely quick, so I have to take ount of that as well.''

    That meant I had to pummel him as many times as necessary so as to damage him more than he could recover.

    ''The solution seems pretty simple, at least in theory.''

    The problem was how to trante it into practical context.

    Legris was stronger and faster than I was.

    His reserves of power far outweighed mine too. I was practically running on fumes at this point, and the only reason I could damage him even the slightest bit was Spellcraft.

    ''I''m basically sucking Aether from the Aether Tree while also using my Boundless Aether at the same time, and it''s barely making a dent.''

    How long could I keep this up? I could only try and find out.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHH!!~

    In a swift blur that defied the logic of space-time, I rushed towards Legris, who was now waving a dense surge of his weird powers toward me.

    I knew he was trying to ward me away, but this ''End'' Magic of his was not going to stop me.

    I disced my position with the tiny fragment of energy that I positioned close to him during our just concluded scuffle.

    ~POW!~

    A strike of minended on his face, causing him to falter back in response.

    I doubled down on this and sent my knee straight towards his face.

    He tried to back away, but my hands appeared behind him before he could even think of escaping my clutches.

    The results were simple.

    ~SQUELCH!~

    And painful.

    ~BOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    "Keuk!" I could see spurts of dark liquid rush from his face as he once again created a massive wave of darkness to surround himself and ward me away.

    If he was sessful, he would eliminate all forms of Aether¡ªor anything else¡ª around himself.

    It was practically the ultimate defense, and using it would prevent me from getting close to me.

    ¡­ At least, that was what I presumed to be his rationale.

    ''But, you made a fatal error¡­''

    ~WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    I coated my body with phenomenally bountiful Aether and traversed the barrier.

    The moment we came into contact, I felt my shell of Aether instantly get ripped away from my body, and the darkness creeping into every crevice of my being.

    I was going to cease existing pretty soon.

    ''So why not make it count!'' I grinned, clenching my fist as I filled it with Magic.

    ''[Grand Spell: Universal Push]''

    Using Martial Arts in conjunction with Magic¡ªthat is, utilizing my force, and also a Spell, to achieve my objective, Iunched my fist at him.

    "How are you even¡ª?!"

    Before he could conclude his speech, my blownded on him, causing him to instantly break out of his ownyer of darkness.

    Of course, my body disintegrated soon after, but so what?

    I made a new one entirely independent of thest one and appeared behind the groaning Legris.

    He was still struggling to regain his senses when I pped his face with a whish generated from my kick.

    "Gurgh!" He groaned, flying away from me thanks to the impact.

    Unfortunately for him, another projection¡ªor avatar, as I could call it¡ªof mine was right behind him.

    ~POW!~

    Yet another strike of minended on him, and I felt the impact on my skin.

    Legris swiftly recovered after the second hit, just as my two selves closed in on him at the same time.

    "Tch!" He took a stance and red at both representations of myself.

    I figured he had given up on his initial tactic of getting rid of me through erasing me from existence since he was getting ready to throw hands with me.

    ''Interesting¡­'' I grinned within myself.

    I had always wondered how a Martial Arts fight between the two of us would go.

    ''Let''s find out!''

    I rushed at him¡ªboth representations of myself¡ªhaving ferocity and the force of worlds behind me.

    ~WHOOOOMMM!~

    Legris raised his fist at at me, coiling his body as he dodged my initial strike.

    Space trembled, and even shattered, as my blow missed its mark, and his attack also missed.

    The second me charged forth, but Legris was much faster and twisted his body to dodge the attack while using his power to erase me from existence.

    As soon as he did that, a third fist came from beneath him, nearly hitting his jaw, but he swiftly stepped back and evaded the assault, head-butting me at that very instant.

    Another me approached him from behind, and also from the side, but she swirled in midair and kicked both versions in the blink of an eye.

    Finally, we all rushed at him, but by rapidly moving his fist and turning his body in rapid session, he was able to avoid all our attacks while dealing counters.

    ''At this rate, he''ll have me on a tightrope.'' I thought, rushing forward once again.

    "It''s pointless¡ª!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    An invisible blow hit him, causing him to stumble backwards.

    He tried to lunge his hand towards me to halt my approach, but the same invisible blow sent that hand flying, allowing me to near him.

    He sent his second hand, flooding it with ''End'' properties, but I already predicted he would do that, so I evaded his attacks pretty easily.

    As I did so, I noticed his knee nearing my face.

    It seemed he predicted I would take the course of action that I did.

    Unfortunately for Legris, though¡­

    ~BOOOOOMM!!!~

    ¡­ I predicted his moves a long time ago.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New novel alert: An Extra''s POV

    If you love novels on characters in the background who end up being overpowered, then you''ll enjoy this.

    Link:

    https://.webnovel/book/an-extra''s-pov_28157900908731405

 Chapter 1313 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 4]

    <h4>Chapter 1313 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 4]</h4>

    Legris was annoyed beyond description.

    Veins appeared on his face as he red at Jared from his position.

    Right now, they were engaged in a Martial Arts battle, but Jared kept sending invisible waves that disrupted his moves.

    He could read the flow of Jared''s attacks, since he was much faster and had better senses, but the invisible waves constantly annoyed him.

    Was it Magic? Was it Martial Arts?

    Legris didn''t know any longer.

    He just wanted to crush Jared for good!

    ~WHOOOSH!!!~

    He brought his knee close to Jared''s face, while noticing that two more versions of Jared were approaching him from different directions.

    ''What an eyesore!'' He thought to himself, sending waves of his ''End'' dancing around him.

    The power disrupted everything that existed, ensuring the duplicates of Jared would vanish instantly.

    ''If he spreads himself this thin, there''s no way he can maintain a quality of Aether that gets past my defense!''

    As a result, the multiple duplicates of Jared vanished in an explosion, while the Jared right in front of him was struck by an attack from his knee.

    In the end, all of his foes came crumbling down at the exact same moment.

    "Just to be safe, Legris erected a safe wall, also invisible, around himself, that prevented any assault from reaching him.

    Even if one was to break past the defense, he would know already.

    ''In the meantime, I should figure out how to¡­ huh¡­?''

    Legris felt something strange tugging at him from his knee.

    "What is tha¡ª?''

    Before he could respond, he felt his bones shatter throughout his legs, his knee being the point of contact.

    Yet another invisible force!

    It had just struck again.

    ''What''s this? Why is this happening?!''

    Legris strengthened his senses and focused strongly on the energies around him in an attempt to figure out what was happening.

    Unfortunately, he sensed nothing.

    There was no external energy that was messing up his attacks or body.

    ''Unless¡­!'' Legris'' eyes widened and he focused on the knee itself.

    That was when he figured out what was happening.

    "Haha! You finally noticed me, huh?"

    Legris furrowed his brow as he made the discovery.

    There was no invisible force or Magic that prevented him fromnding those hits.

    That was far from it.

    "Y-you¡­!"

    Clinging to Legris'' fractured, but rapidly healing knee was a small Jared¡ªso tiny he could be deemed insignificant.

    "I never told you I couldn''t appear in multiple forms, did I?" Little Jared grinned mischievously as he made to strike Legris once more.

    "Enough!" Legris created a much bigger pulse, surrounding himself with his invincible power.

    Every Aether around him was bound to get destroyed tk the smallest and most insignificant level.

    "You''re so annoying!"

    Legris had thought fighting with Jared would be a fun way to engage in an interesting fight, but it felt like a never-ending game.

    He was definitely superior to Jared, but thetter kept using tricks that made him annoying to deal with.

    ''If I attempt to destroy the Aether Tree again, he will just stop it likest time.''

    That meant the best way to defeat him was to ensure he was incapable of doing anything while he destroyed the world.

    ''I''ll use Magic to render him invalid.'' Legris decided, awaiting Jared''s next appearance.

    "Here I am!"

    Following Jared''s announcement, the young manunched himself at Legris.

    Of course, Legris could see everything happening, so he made to counter him.

    ''All I have to do is touch his head and connect to his neurons. No matter if this is a projection or not, it should be connected to Jared''s mind.''

    If he could hack into the mind of the central figure through one of the avatars, he would win.

    As Legris'' hand neared Jared''s, a sudden blow reached Legris from the side, and Jared''s physical form vanished.

    "W-what?!"

    It felt like Jared had be a cloud of dust, thus escaping Legris'' touch.

    The physical blow from Legris'' side came from another Jared, who was most likely using [Perfect Unknowable] to mask his presence.

    ''I guess this is what I get for fixating too much on one Jared.''

    Legris spread out his senses so he wouldn''t get caught in such a senseless trap again, but at that point it was toote.

    ~WHOOOOSH!~

    Two Jareds approached him, ready to strike.

    ''I''ve got this!''

    Legris surmised that he only had to overpower them the same way he did before.

    When it came to Martial Arts, he was superior as well.

    ¡­ Or so he thought.

    ~POW!~

    ~WHAM!~

    Both Jareds evaded Legris and dealt him joint strikes on both cheeks at the same time.

    ''H-huh?'' Legris'' thoughts echoed in confusion.

    How were they able to keep up with his speed!

    How were they able to bypass his defenses so easily?

    How¡­?!

    The two didn''t give him any chance to think, as they once again thrust their fists tond another hit on him.

    Legris leaned away from one of the Jareds and decided to focus on the other.

    However, as soon as he leaned in, a kick from Jared sent him flying back to the one he was avoiding.

    The blow Legris thought he had escaped forcefully pressed upon his face as he let out a tiny shriek, before his back was hit with a follow-up strike from behind.

    "Gah¡ª!"

    Another hitnded on his face, causing him to twirl, while a strike stopped him in motion almost instantly.

    He tried to find his right footing to counter, but a simple downward kick caused him to lose his bnce, and an uppercut sent his upper body shaking.

    His body iled back and forth like a ragdoll as born Jared''s kept granting him multiple strikes, passing him to each other as if they were ying a game.

    "Keuk!"

    "Oof!"

    "Ack!"

    Legris kept suffering blow after blow, blindsided on all ends as the hits kept arriving one after the other.

    The moment he finally blocked one, a second hit would arrive, causing his initial grip to lose power and the hit he had blocked woulde biting him back.

    After lots of rinse and repeat, Legris found himself battered and bruised, with his healing barely able to keep up with the damage being inflicted on him.

    Jared, whatever he was doing, was working well against him on all ends.

    ''This¡­ this is¡­!''

    Legris was bbergasted.

    He had yet to suffer such a humiliating round ofbat from anyone in this lifetime.

    Even now that he had be a Primordial, how was he losing to Jared?!

    ''Jared of all peop¡ª!''

    "Puack!" A hit to the stomach forced his thoughts to reset, and he recoiled thanks to the damage.

    ''That''s enough! I''ve had enough!''

    Legris began to charge up his power, ready to destroy everything and swallow it all into the ''End''.

    He didn''t care anymore.

    The pain and overwhelming confusion that constantly enveloped him was too much to bear.

    Legris just wanted it all to END.

    ''[End Magic: Diminishing Return]''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Damn! Our boy Jared really knows how to throw hands.

    At this point, I don''t even know who to root for.

    New novel alert: An Extra''s POV

    If you love novels on characters in the background who end up being overpowered, then you''ll enjoy this.

    Link:

    /book/an-extra''s-pov_28157900908731405

 Chapter 1314 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 5]

    <h4>Chapter 1314 Jared Vs Legris [Pt 5]</h4>

    "[End Magic: Diminishing Return]."

    Using this Magic was a form ofst resort for Legris.

    It had a simple purpose, though it wasyered in so manyplex strata that it made it difficult to stop, even with all the time in the world.

    The Spell would consume everything from the inside out¡ªlike an implosion.

    The difference between this and other Magics was that its effects had an instantaneous effect on a wide range.

    In just one moment, everything would diminish and return to Legris.

    ''I didn''t want to resort to this because of how much power it requires, but¡­''

    At this point, Legris wanted to get the fight over with.

    He didn''t like that Jared had pushed him to such an extent, but with this, the winner was inevitable.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    The entire realm he upied was consumed by the [Diminishing Return], and everything was swallowed into him.

    It was all over.

    ''That was pretty easy.'' Legris thought to himself, now floating in an endless void.

    There was no Jared, no Kuzon, no other member of the annoying team that kept getting in his way.

    He had sessfully gotten rid of them all.

    "Hehehe¡­ hahaha¡­ hahahahahaha!!!"

    Legris gave a heartyughter in the void, his face contorting in a mix of pleasure and malevolence.

    ''Is there a chance they could have survived, though¡­?''

    Once again, he had a look around him and noticed that nothing existed around.

    ¡­ Nothing in the Constetion Realm.

    ''All the Branches will start getting affected, and it''s only a matter of time before they''re all gone.''

    Of course, Legris knew this couldn''t be the end.

    No. It was just the beginning.

    ''Since I''ve gotten rid of them, I should proceed to the next phase of my n.''

    Legris sped both of his hands together and mumbled a few things.

    Even though this ce was now like this, it was once a mighty trunk that led straight down to the source of the Tree.

    The ROOT!

    "Now, to open a path¡­"

    Legris spread out his two hands, and ckish fluids began to manifest around him.

    They swirled, contorting the world around them as they ate through space-time and reality.

    In no time, a swirling portal had formed right in front of Legris.

    "Perfect." He whispered in satisfaction as he neared the portal.

    He gave one final nce to the ruined world around him, his warped smile remaining on his malevolent face.

    ''You gave me more of a challenge than expected, Jared¡­ but it was all for nothing.''

    Inevitably, it was all going to lead to this result.

    ''And now, preparations for my next opponent¡­'' Legris immersed himself in the darkness, ready to soon see light.

    ''¡­ Aether herself.''

    ***********

    "Looks like Legris has proceeded to the ROOT."

    I sat, now appearing in my new and improved base form. My eyes were on the eleven people who were now standing in front of me.

    My allies¡­ my friends.

    "Every signature of him in this reality has been eradicated." I added, a small sigh escaping my lips.

    The group sent themselves peculiar stares, and also looked at me with confused faces.

    "Shouldn''t we go after him? I mean¡­ can we just let him go and¡ª?!" Kuzon protested, but I quickly raised my hand to stop him.

    "¡­ And how do you propose we do that"

    Once I asked the question, silence fell in the room.

    ''I''m not trying to be a dick or anything, but there''s the fact that none of them can beat him. Even me¡­''

    The only reason we were all alive right now was due to the precaution I had taken in my fight with Legris earlier.

    ¡­ Way before he used that final Spell he utilized.

    ''I separated a portion of the Constetion Realm from the rest of reality and stretched it to the nigh infinity so it seemed like we were still in the same Constetion Realm.''

    Most of our fight took ce in that new realm.

    ''The moment he used that End Magic of his, everything there was consumed. My avatar was also destroyed.''

    Fortunately, I wasn''t limited to that form, else I would be a goner. If I didn''t take that precaution early on, everyone here would be dead too.

    That told me one thing.

    ''We need to be more tactful in our approach to Legris.''

    "I have no idea how to stop him¡­" Kuzon admitted, once again drawing my attention to him.

    Surprisingly, he had no pained or sad reaction on his face. Instead, I found a smile spreading.

    "¡­ But I know you know, Jared."

    The moment I heard this, I was forced to smile as well.

    "You spent so long away from us. The least you could have done in that time is figure out how to win, right?"

    I was amazed, but also amused, by the kind of confidence that Kuzon was disying.

    He seemed so sure that I had it all figured out.

    ''Well¡­ he''s not wrong.''

    "You''re right. I do have a n." I nodded, closing my eyes a little.

    Everyone was staring at me with varying expressions. There was a lot to talk about, but seemingly no time to say anything due to the current situation.

    I found that to be wrong.

    "Before anything, I want tomend you all. This entire situation escted beyond my expectations, and you all did well to control it until I arrived."

    Everyone had grown far beyond my expectations.

    It was absurd.

    "Of course, I know it''s not all good news. I am well aware of the deaths of Gawain and Z''ark."

    Once I said the, the faces in the crowd grew mellow

    Who could me them? I certainly couldn''t.

    "When I first appeared in this reality, I noticed the Constetions set up a temporary measure to make sure the effects of their nonexistence don''t bleed into all of reality." I added, deciding not to address their deep-seated sorrow.

    "I have fixed it permanently. Nothing in our reality or outside it will be altered due to their demise."

    It was a veryplex process, since I had to alter a lot about their existence and past contributions, but I was able to do it thanks to being boundless.

    ''And as a Grand Constetion that isn''t bound by the Unwritten Laws, it was possible.''

    That was the good news¡ªthat we didn''t have to worry about reality unraveling because of the demise of ourrades.

    Now, it was time for the bad news.

    "The threat that Legris poses to us is nothing to scoff at. It''s the real deal."

    It was pointless saying this to everyone, since they already knew the full extent of his power.

    However, they didn''t fullyprehend what he was nning to do.

    I did.

    "It might seem like I''m beingckadaisical about things, but even right now my mind is calcting a lot of variables." I told them, slowly rising to my feet.

    "If we fail to stop Legris¡­ all of existence¡ªboth Aether and Nether Trees¡ªwill cease to exist."

    Everything we knew to be reality would end.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    New novel alert: An Extra''s POV

    If you love novels on characters in the background who end up being overpowered, then you''ll enjoy this.

    Link:

    /book/an-extra''s-pov_28157900908731405

 Chapter 1315 Origin And All Things

    Chapter 1315 Origin And All Things

    "After fighting Jared, I expected more of a challenge from you¡­"

    Legris was smiling as he stared down at the shimmering being before him.

    She had a glorious white form, with golden designs around her. Her body radiated purity, and her long hair matched her flowing white gown.

    Usually, she would be able to manifest her full glory. However, right now that wasn''t possible.

    She was currently being held by countless chains that seared through her the more she struggled to break free.

    These chains were made with End Magic, and the Spell was one that Legris had designed specifically for this moment.

    Everything had been nned¡­ all for her defeat.

    "¡­ But to think it would be this simple."

    With a sneer, Legris narrowed his eyes on Aether.

    He knew fully well why Jared had fared better than Aether in their brief exchange.

    ''She has no battle prowess.''

    It was the same with the Constetions, but at the very least, Constetions had numerous Hosts, and they often interacted with reality in some kind of indirect way.

    They had witnessed and even partaken in several conflicts, aiding their Hosts in more ways than one.

    But for Aether, there was no such thing.

    She existed outside the bounds of everything that existed, within the ROOT of her Tree, monitoring it all and serving as the ceremonial head to a functioning world.

    In essence, despite having so much power, she could not use it.

    "Truly pathetic. What a pathetic existence you are." Legris smiled at her.

    It was funny how oddly distinct they were.

    "Life is hrious, isn''t it? I was born without power, yet developed ways on how to use it. You were born with all the power in the world, and you can not apply it."

    Legris could not help but conclude that this world was intentionally designed this way.

    Perhaps it was to keep the bnce, or to regte existence, or whatever else it was.

    He didn''t care anymore.

    "Everything is going to end, anyway." He took a few steps closer to the constrained Aether, who was staring at him with an expressionless face.

    "I have the coordinates of the Aether Root, and I was able to obtain the Nether Root coordinates earlier, meaning I have both in my grasp now¡­" He murmured, ignoring the gaze of the Primordial Entity on him.

    "Once I''m done absorbing you, I''ll also absorb the Nether and finally possess your abilities as well. With enough of that power, I should have more than enough to withstand it."

    Finally, now face to face with Aether, he opened his lips and uttered the words.

    "[All Things]."

    The moment he uttered those words, Aether narrowed her eyes.

    "So you know¡­ about [All Things]. It all makes sense now." Aether whispered as she stared at him.

    "Yes. Right at the brink of my demise, I had an epiphany. I saw it¡­ well, not really. Just knew it existed as the source of all that existed, while I was banished to the world of nonexistence."

    Legris had no idea why he was exining so much to his prey, but he thought he might as well.

    He had eliminated Jared and his friends, and even if Neron were to arrive, there was nothing he could do to stop him.

    "The moment I realized what the source of existence was, and that I was no longer within the bounds of it, I knew¡­"

    He knew he had to gather all the Arcanas to be able to use [The World] and travel through Trees.

    After he was able to gather the Arcanas in the Nether Tree, he was able to do the same in the Aether Tree, and finally obtained ess to the ROOTs of both.

    Now that he had reached this point, he could ess Aether¡ªwho was still in her ROOT, and the Nether, who was now floating outside of existence.

    Within ORIGIN itself.

    Once both of them were his, the next step would be a cakewalk.

    All preparations wereplete.

    "I will reach ORIGIN and gain my ultimate prize¡­ [All Things]!"

    Silence greeted this deration of his, and Legris was perfectly fine with that.

    He didn''t expect anyone to understand his ambitions.

    "What do you desire to do with it? With [All Things]." Aether''s voice suddenly radiated.

    Legris smiled as Aether gave him the most serious re he had ever seen her make.

    She knew full well what kind of power existed within ORIGIN.

    ORIGIN was essentially the starting point of all existence¡ªthe Root of the ROOT.

    [All Things] was the culmination of everything required to create and destroy everything that existed, or that would exist.

    It contained all the powers, all the matter, all the possibilities¡­ all of everything.

    It wasn''t just power; it was also knowledge.

    Of all that existed, was existing, and would exist.

    True infinite knowledge.

    "[All Things] is not a means to an end for me. It is the end." Legris responded.

    "What are you¡ª?"

    "Just watch from within me. Of course, you won''t be able to, but¡­ I don''t care."

    Legris ced his hand on Aether, and he began the absorption process.

    "I''ve alreadye this far, after spending an eternity in that darkness¡­" Whispering to himself, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.

    Soon¡­ very soon¡­ he would have it all.

    "And no one can stop me."

    ********

    Once Legris was done with Aether, he closed his eyes for a moment and smiled in relief.

    The process was longer than he thought, but it was worth it.

    Aether had now been eliminated, and it remained the other one.

    ''Neron banished him outside the creation of his Nether Tree, which means he is in ORIGIN.''

    Since Legris was currently on his way there, he felt it was sort of like killing two birds with one stone.

    "Perfect! Let''s go!"

    He opened up a gate from the Aether ROOT, while using the coordinates of the Nether ROOT to cross reference.

    They intersected at a particr point, which seemed to be where the longest Root strand was located.

    ''Both of them started off there¡­'' Legris smiled, proceeding to delve into the world that awaited him.

    ''I''ve found ORIGIN.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    We''re in the endgame now.

    How will Legris be stopped? How can he even lose?

    Let''s find out!

    New novel alert: An Extra''s POV

    If you love novels on characters in the background who end up being overpowered, then you''ll enjoy this.

    Link:

    https://.webnovel/book/an-extra''s-pov_28157900908731405

 Chapter 1316 Where It All Began

    <h4>Chapter 1316 Where It All Began</h4>

    Before the concept of life, there was ORIGIN.

    A ce that defied what a ce meant.

    Space. Time. Matter. Energy. Reality, etc.

    Every preconceived notion about reality started from this ce, and yet it did not possess any of those things.

    It was, quite literally, an empty canvas that brought about the greatest painting of reality.

    As such, before even the concept of concepts, ORIGIN was¡­

    ¡­ And still is.

    At the very center of the nk world of ORIGIN¡­ there it was¡ª

    [All Things]

    It existed in a constant flux, as if not fully formed, and it radiated a color that could not be defined in a spectrum.

    This incorporeal, infinitely abstract matrix was what held the entirety of existence together.

    And soon, it would fall into the hands of a desperate man.

    *******

    ~VWUUUUSSSSHHH~

    Legris appeared in Origin, swiftly closing the space behind him as if he was in a hurry.

    ''I''m sure I eliminated them, but since Neron is still unounted for, and there''s at least some chance that Jared could have survived¡­ I better take precautions.''

    He doubted they would pose a threat to him, but Legris could not ignore these sorts of things.

    Especially when he could easily prevent them.

    He stretched out a hand towards the remnant of the portal he had opened, and a dark material seeped in.

    ''I''ll just lock the ROOT from this point. If I seal it from ess to ORIGIN, no one should be able to get in here¡­''

    He was about to undergo a delicate process, and interruptions at this point would irritate him the most.

    However, Legris had no worry.

    "There''s just one problem, though¡­" Once he was done sealing the entry into ORIGIN, he turned to his back.

    "¡­ Where is The Nether?"

    At first nce, one would think he was talking to himself. However, that was far from it.

    There were three entities within ORIGIN that he wasn''t expecting.

    A man with dark hair, a subus with crimson skin, and an automaton who had the form of a Fairy.

    Of course, he remained calm despite the surprise, but he had a lot to say about the crowd of people that now appeared before him.

    "Lewis Griffith¡­ Magic Schr. Karlia¡­ the Subus. And you, you''re an Automaton made to model Jane Urs¡­" He mumbled.

    Now that he had absorbed all of Aether, he knew enough about these individuals¡ªat least, the first two.

    The second didn''t exist in the Aether Tree, but he recognized who she was modeled after.

    ''I know Karlia from our Nether Cult days, but she seems a lot different.''

    Legris could tell.

    ''She''s strong!''

    The three of them stood side by side, almost as if they had made a line barricading him from moving any further.

    "The Nether, huh? I killed him." Karlia answered with a slight frown on her face.

    "You? You killed him?" Legris took another nce at her and realized he had been wrong to underestimate her.

    She indeed had enough power to achieve such a feat.

    ''The most surprising thing is that she was able to kill a Primordial entity, but I guess the Nether''s authority doesn''t work here in ORIGIN.''

    As a result, he could be killed.

    "Why did you do it? I wanted to absorb him, you know?" Legris pped his hand on his face.

    It was disappointing that he couldn''t fulfill his promise to Ciel.

    ''I thought I would be able to do at least that.''

    "Why? For even more power?" Karlia asked him with a deeper frown on her face.

    The moment he heard that, Legris shrugged slightly.

    "Not really."

    He wasn''t interested in the power that the Nether would provide.

    After all, once he obtained [All Things], he would have pretty much every power in existence¡ªas well as the infinite knowledge of how to use them.

    That was his goal.

    "In any case, why are you three here? Didn''t Lewis reincarnate as Jared? You''re not the Lewis that Jane resurrected too. So which one are you?" Lewis asked, now staring at the Lewis Griffith in the group.

    No one said anything.

    "And you, midget. You never existed in the Aether Tree. I''m guessing that means youe from the Nether Realm. Hmm¡­ I see what happened now."

    Lewis rubbed his chin as he contemted things for a moment.

    "You three came here through the Nether ROOT, right? If I remember correctly, The Nether developed an interest in you and sent you to his domain¡­"

    It all began to click for Legris.

    "Now I understand why you killed him. I can only imagine what he put you through¡­"

    Legris understood the basics of Karlia''s Immortality.

    She grew more powerful after each supposed death, and her body limated to whatever pain or harm was inflicted on her.

    ''The fact that she was able to beat The Nether and kill him means she must have suffered gruesomely for an eternity.'' Legris'' eyes widened as he imagined it.

    "That''s crazy¡­"

    As for how there was a Lewis Griffith despite him now knowing full well that Jared was the reincarnation of the famed Magic Schr, Legris came up with a theory.

    "Did Jared send a version of himself to rescue you? I guess if you use the Arcanas, it''s possible¡­"

    Legris always found it strange that there was no mention of Karlia or any action to recover her.

    Now he knew why.

    "Jared, that sly bastard. So he was actually doing something about it. And as for the Automaton, it wouldn''t be beyond you to create one, so I''m not surprised¡­"

    Everything fell into ce for him now.

    All except one thing.

    "So why are you three here? To kill me?" Legris asked, an amused smile forming on his face.

    He hadn''t expected another resistance to be awaiting him after making it this far, but Legris decided he would just eliminate them and proceed.

    "No. That''s not the reason." Lewis'' voice suddenly echoed forth.

    Legris was surprised to hear the man talk, so he raised his brow a little in curiousity.

    "What the¡ª?"

    "I came here to talk to you, Legris." Lewis said, interrupting the question that was about to be asked.

    He had a serious expression on his face as he took a small step forward.

    "I know what you''re about to do. Please stop this."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Looks like talk-no-jutsu is at y here.

    Could this be how it ends?

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

 Chapter 1317 Legrisâ€™ Dream

    <h4>Chapter 1317 Legris¡¯ Dream</h4>

    Lewis had a conflicting thought within him.

    He had been burdened by it ever since he knew the truth about Legris and the kind of existence he was.

    Of course, he had the resolve to stop him¡ªno matter what.

    However, he first wanted to talk.

    To do his best to stop this madman from doing what he nned.

    "One Schr to another¡­ please cease all of this." Lewis asked, his expression as serious as possible as he gazed into Legris'' empty ones.

    They were both within ORIGIN, and while no time or moment truly passed, it felt like they stared at each other for an eternity.

    However, eventually¡­ someone had to speak.

    "I absorbed Aether earlier, so I know everything about you, Lewis." Legris spoke.

    His smile had vanished, and he had just as serious an expression as Lewis.

    "I know you led a simr life to me. I know you see yourself in me, and you empathize with my position¡­"

    Lewis'' eyes lit up the moment he heard those things.

    He had feared that Legris could not be reasoned with, but this was a relief.

    "If you do, then¡ª!"

    "But I do not feel the same when I look at you." Legris concluded his words, interrupting Lewis in the process.

    "W-what?!"

    Lewis'' widened eyes disyed just how shocking it was to hear his interlocutor''s conclusion.

    He should have expected this, yet hope had blinded him.

    "When I look at you, I see weakness. You led a pretty pathetic life. If you had just chased after Magic, instead of letting yourself get distracted by momentary pleasures¡­ perhaps you could have avoided a lot of your life''s misfortunes."

    Those words hit Lewis deep, but Legris was not done.

    "Instead, you settled for the happiness you could gather, and the small power you could muster, and you decided that was enough for you. You remained pathetic and weak until the very end."

    Legris was now frowning. He was staring at Lewis with pure disgust.

    "Unlike you, my hunger knew no limit. I did everything! EVERYTHING! All to get to this point!" A fiery rage burned within his eyes.

    "I pushed aside all distractions. Sure, I was miserable for a moment, but look at the fruits of it."

    Lewis opened his mouth to speak, but words could note out.

    What exactly was he supposed to say to this man?

    "Do you not remember our dream? Did you forget? Because I didn''t!" Gritting his teeth, Legris growled with every word he uttered.

    "We made a promise! That we would dedicate ourselves to Magic! That we would understand all of it! That no one would know Magic more than us!"

    It was clear that Legris was as passionate about the subject just as he had a burning hatred for the one who chose a different path.

    "Do notpare me to you. We''re not the same at all." Legris sneered.

    "I continued down the path¡­ and I still am. But you¡­ you decided to throw it away for this¡­ THIS?!" He pointed at Karlia, and iled his arm around.

    "All of this will fade away! Generations upon generations¡­ up till infinity¡­ wille after us. Once we are gone and forgotten, Magic will keep advancing. More will be unraveled, until even our current concept of reality is surpassed to an unimaginable degree."

    As Legris kept ranting, Lewis felt a slight pain within himself.

    Everything Legris said tugged at him deep within his soul.

    He had also had these thoughts.

    "Are you not curious? Are you not hungry? Does it not drive you crazy that there is tons more Magic¡ªinfinitely bountiful¡ªthat you will never study or even know of?!"

    Legris'' bulging eyes glowed as he spoke.

    "Well, it drives me insane! I can not bear to live knowing that there is some method I am unaware of¡­ or some means that I do not understand! It threatens to consume me from within!"

    That was why he was doing all of this.

    "I can''t stand it!"

    "So what? You want to destroy all of it? Is that really the solution?!" Lewis yelled, finally finding his voice.

    It wasn''t like he didn''t understand the implications of everything Legris was talking about. He had also thought of it countless times.

    But it was truly impossible to know all the Magic.

    "As time passes, life will evolve. We grow¡­ we learn¡­ it will happen forever and ever, until life ceases to exist." Lewis said in his own form of passion.

    "And as long as that is the case, there will always be Magic that exceeds the present. We will always have new knowledge that exceeds our current understanding. Life is progressive, and so is Magic. As long as existence remains, the possibility of a gap in our knowledge will always be the case."

    "EXACTLY! As long as that is the case, it will always be impossible to keep my dream."

    Lewis'' heart ached even more as he heard these things.

    It felt like he was bleeding within.

    "For you, this realization made you give up on that promise, but for me¡­ it only strengthened my resolve to do what needs to be done."

    Legris grinned, stretching his hand outward as he opened his lips.

    "I will obtain [All Things], and I will possess all the knowledge and power that exists and will ever exist."

    However, that wasn''t all.

    "And after that¡­ I will end all of it!"

    That was his goal.

    "[All Things] is in constant flux because there will always be more. It is infinity pressing upon infinity. It never ends." Legris exined.

    In order to get rid of that paradox, only one path existed.

    "I will eliminate the potential of more. The unknown variable of continuous existence¡­ I will consume all of it."

    In the end, there would only be one.

    "The one who possesses [All Things]." Legrisughed in both madness and utter seriousness.

    "ME!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    What do you think of Legris'' n?

    I mean, it''s a selfish move and all¡­ but this is it.

    What he wants¡­

 Chapter 1318 Battle Within ORIGIN [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1318 Battle Within ORIGIN [Pt 1]

    Silence pervaded ORIGIN after Legris words.

    Lewis and Karlia, as well their little Automaton, did not say anything to him.

    However, that didn''t mean they weren''tmunicating.

    ~You''ve spoken to him. Are you satisfied now?~

    Karlia''s thoughts oozed into Lewis, and he had no choice but to nod despite a sad expression still remaining on his face.

    ''Yeah. Seems we''ll have to do it your way.''

    Right now, stopping Legris was the top priority, and it seemed they were thest line of defense for the entirety of existence.

    "The both of you could have easily stopped me by getting [All Things] for yourselves. It seemed you arrived here before me, and the prize is in sight. Yet¡­ why do you not reach for it?" Legris'' voice echoed into the deep, nk void.

    The question he asked was most likely a rhetorical one.

    After all, he already knew the answer.

    "You can''t, can you? You possess primarily Nether, and not enough of the two primordial elements. Even though you were able to chart a course for this ce, you can only remain at the surface and not delve any deeper."

    The closer one got to [All Things], the more it demanded certain qualities from the one who neared it.

    "From the memories I absorbed from Aether, apparently an entity beyond this world and its concepts¡ªthe one who designed everything¡ªwas the one who conceived [All Things] and left it here¡­ in Origin."

    Legris smiled even broader as he said the name.

    "The Crafter. He made all things. And now, I will have that same power."

    "Not if we can help it!" Karlia''s response was swift, and from her stance alone it was obvious she was preparing herself for a fight.

    "You really think you can win?" Legris asked in a nearly disconcerted tone.

    However, even though he said this, caution remained in his heart.

    ''They''re both weaker than me, but that doesn''t matter in this ce.''

    Useless things like ''Authorities'' or ''Concepts'' were broken down in ORIGIN.

    Plus, the nature of theirbination made it a little problematic for Legris.

    ''I should assume that Lewis is as intelligent as Jared, and Karlia was strong enough to defeat The Nether.''

    They both had a keen sense of battle, and their synergy together was also something he could not underestimate.

    ''There''s also thest card that I''m unaware of¡­''

    He was referring to The Urs with that.

    All three of them wanted to stop him from achieving his goals, and while they had all the time in the world, he was getting a little impatient.

    ''No time for fun and games.''

    He was so close!

    He could feel his hunger¡­ he was already salivating.

    Legris could no longer bear the call that constantly rang in his head, and the allure of unlimited power and knowledge.

    That was why¡­

    "I''ll end this as swiftly as possible."

    ¡­ He gazed mercilessly upon the trio before him.

    Death was their only destination.

    ********

    ''We have to be cautious. As nned, we''ll attack as a team.''

    ~Understood!~

    Both Lewis and Karlia exchanged nces, nodding at each other in the process.

    ~I''ll support you two. Good luck!~

    This time, The Urs spoke to the two of them, and they smiled¡ªalbeit nervously.

    Their current tactic was simple but effective.

    Karlia and Lewis would alternate between heavy hitting, while doing their best to ensure he didn''t break past their formation.

    The Urs would observe the match from a distance ande to their aid if they were ever to make an error, or if Legris managed to get the upper hand.

    Once all three had agreed on the n, their resolved faces signaled the start of the mission.

    ''Let''s go!''

    ~BZZZTTTTZZZZ!!!~

    Lewis instantly summoned a tentacle-like staff, while his entire body transformed into his Grand Mage Mode.

    Energy burst from him, and his entire capabilities improved radically.

    Of course, he could not manipte concepts or even affect anything within ORIGIN, but as long as he was personally stronger, he could stand a higher chance of fighting.

    The Kraken''s essence had coalesced into a staff for him to utilize and manipte at will, so that added a lot of variety to his arsenal.

    As for Karlia, her body was shrouded in pure crimson energy, with ck shes dancing around her form.

    Oozing pure destructive energy, she was taking the first step to approach Legris.

    ~WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHH!!!~

    Karlia was right before Legris in no time, her fist tight in his face as she made topletely shatter his face.

    However¡­

    "Puack!"

    His hand had reached her stomach first, sending a devastatingly painful blow deep into her muscr body.

    Pressure radiated through her, and she was sent flying instantly.

    However, Lewis swiftly extended his staff and caught her as she flew away. She tightly grabbed onto the staff and twisted it with her own strength, sending Lewis flying towards Legris.

    She followed him from behind, thrusting the staff forward so as to improve the speed at which Lewis traveled.

    "It''s useless." Legris whispered as he watched Lewis approach.

    He covered his hand in darkness, desiring to eradicate Lewis first.

    However¡­.

    ~FWIIIISSSHHH!!!~

    In what seemed like a vanishing act, Lewis appeared behind Legris the moment he was about to touch him.

    It almost felt he had passed through him.

    "I may not be able to use conventional Magic, but I can at least alter my form!"

    That meant he could turn intangible.

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHH!!!~

    Another Lewis rushed to Legris from in front, causing Legris to flick his finger, sending a small portion of darkness flying and instantly prating the skull of his opponent.

    The duplicate died quickly, but it proved Lewis'' point.

    He could also duplicate himself.

    Still, that was all pointless to Legris.

    Lewis swung his staff from behind to hit Legris, but Legris altered his body''s structure to match the former.

    He then grabbed the staff and filled it with the ''End'' properties that overflowed through him.

    The result was an instant end.

    Lewis had to quickly let go of his staff¡ªthe very essence of his Familiar¡ªelse he too would be corrupted.

    It was a difficult choice, but he made it too.

    "Your staff is gone¡­" Legris smiled, swiftly vanishing from his position.

    He appeared right in front of Lewis, a wicked smile on his face.

    "You''re next."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Really d you''ve made it this far.

 Chapter 1319 Battle Within ORIGIN [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1319 Battle Within ORIGIN [Pt 2]

    "LEWWIIIIIISSSSS!!!"

    Karlia''s voice reverberated through the nk canvas of ORIGIN as she lunged towards the two.

    Legris was right in front of Lewis, smiling evily as he brought his hand closer to thetter.

    If he managed to touch Lewis, that was the end.

    The fact that Legris could match Lewis by transforming his body into an incorporeal state meant that Lewis could not evade the assault.

    He could not defend against it either.

    ''It''s over!'' Legrisunched his hand to obliterate his foe.

    Unfortunately for him, he underestimated the speed of Lewis'' partner.

    Not Karlia¡­ but the Automaton.

    ~Matter Amplification~

    Instantly, nano portions of The Urs burst forth, creating a wall between Lewis and Legris, while alternating their mass and density so that Legris couldn''t easily phase through them.

    Of course, Legris could easily destroy them¡ªwhich he proceeded to do¡ªbut that gave more than enough time for Karlia to close the phantom gap that existed between her and the two.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

    The moment Legris destroyed the severalyers of Urs''s mechanical barrier, Karlia was already far above him.

    "Hup!"

    She sent her right leg crashing upon Legris, the full force of her strength reinforcing the attack.

    Normally, the world around them would shatter as a result of the shockwave, but ORIGIN did not.

    As the firmest foundation that held the entirety of existence together, it was built tost.

    If it could withstand the continuously growing power of [All Things], surely, it could withstand the sh of two Primordial entities.

    "Haha¡­ nice one." Legris muttered, though he remained unaffected by her strike.

    The moment she struck, he had raised his hand to block the strike.

    "Hmph!"

    ~VWUUUMMM!!~

    An instant repulsing effect pushed Karlia back, causing her to be temporarily suspended right above Legris.

    He took this chance to reach out for her, a sickening smile on his face.

    ''Immortality or not, if I absorb you, it''s all over!''

    Karlia was suddenly pulled back, however, by The Urs.

    She used a certain frequency that was exclusive to the two of them, independent of the presence of other concepts, to draw Karlia to her.

    As a result, Karlia was barely able to escape Legris and his attempt to destroy her.

    "Tch."

    Lewis reappeared behind Legris, his fist hardened by an armament that was made from immensely condensed Nether.

    Of course, Legris knew such things were incapable of harming him in the slightest, but he felt it would be insulting if he let such an attack hit him.

    He swiftly dodged Lewis'' first strike, which was followed up by flurries of various techniques generated through Martial Arts.

    Legris noticed the kic energy movement and flow of Lewis was in a constant state of flux, moving in the offensive, and he could guess what would happen if he was hit.

    ''There''s no point if he is unable tond an attack, though.''

    As long as Legris was superior to Lewis, and the entire concepts that they based their knowledge and skill of Magic on didn''t exist in this ne, all of thetter''s efforts were useless.

    ''I can just destroy him. Unlike Karlia, he isn''t immortal.''

    Legris strengthened his fist and decided to go for a powerful blow rather than his ssic ''existence erasure.''

    ~VWUUUUUMMMM!!!~

    The power that rose from him was enough to attack Lewis'' body towards him¡ªlike objects that were naturally pulled to a ck hole.

    "Die."

    Despite the defense of Lewis'' Grand Mage Mode, and the several enhancements he had on, he knew full well that he could not survive a single blow from Legris.

    The only reason he had been able to keep up this far was due to Karlia sharing her power with him through [Connection].

    He was not Boundless, and neither was he a Primordial.

    He was a mortal.

    And death¡­ death was certain.

    ''The Urs won''t be able to generate a defense for this in time, and Karlia won''t make it in time¡­''

    Was this the end for him?

    ~VWUUUUUUUUMMMMMM!!!~

    Much to Lewis'' surprise, a crimson blur rushed past him as he felt power drain from him.

    The crimson blur was none other than Karlia, and he felt his [Connection] with her end.

    That meant only one thing.

    ''She increased her power''s efficiency and utility by removing my ess to it!''

    As a result, Legris'' powerful strike hit Karlia, turning her body into several chunks of mincemeat.

    She took his ce and died.

    ¡­ At least temporarily.

    ~VWUUUUMMM!!~

    Lewis was dragged towards The Urs, and not too long after, Karlia''s body reformed right beside him.

    Both of them appeared unscathed, but they were both shaken by how close they had been to losing.

    This was an extremely close fight, and it was also too one sided.

    Any single mistake would code them everything.

    As for Legris, he was watching them from a distance, a deep frown on his face.

    His arms were folded, and he was ring at them in silence.

    ''This tricky trio¡­ they''re annoying to deal with.''

    In this ce where concepts were broken down until they were rendered nonexistent, the use of Magic was pretty much impossible.

    All conventional Spells required some kind of concept to operate.

    The only exception here was the individual.

    ''I can use Magic to affect myself and others, but nothing native to ORIGIN.''

    And the same applied to them.

    ''That''s why Karlia still has her immortality. This is troublesome.''

    What made it most annoying was her ability to evolve to be even more powerful after every fatality she received.

    ''That hit she received just now¡­ she''s gotten more powerful after it.''

    The only way to eliminate her was by erasing her existence.

    However, that required physical contact.

    ''The Automaton is equally problematic. I''m sure they''ve developed a countermeasure to prevent me from destroying it.''

    As all these factors yed over in Legris'' mind, he smiled broadly and showed his sharpened teeth.

    ''There''s no need for me to continue this farce.''

    It was about time to end it.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1320 Last Stand

    Chapter 1320 Last Stand

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHH!!!~

    Legris lunged downward, his trajectory seemingly pointing at the couple who were prepared for his onught.

    However, they were wrong.

    He sharply turned, swiftly heading for the morphing Core of ORIGIN that promised infinite power¡­

    ¡­ [All Things].

    With a brilliant smile on his face, he rushed for his prize.

    ''They won''t be able to get too close to [All Things], so I only have to advance closer to it.''

    That was the most efficient way to get rid of them.

    Lewis and Karlia appeared flustered by Legris'' sudden move, and considering how much faster he was, there was very little they could do to stop him.

    However, their determination ran deep.

    As such, the two desperately swam against the tides of the overflowing power of [All Things].

    ~Wait! The two of you can''t¡ª!!~

    The voice of The Urs couldn''t reach any further thanks to the overwhelming interference of the deeper strata of ORIGIN.

    Lewis and Karlia were, quite literally, on their own.

    Their bodies could barely handle being inside ORIGIN, but the closer they came to the brimming and infinite cluster of power that was [All Things], the further they broke down.

    "I¡­ I don''t think I can make it any further!" Lewis yelled out, his body already being pushed back.

    Karlia was already way ahead of him, but he could no longer keep up.

    "Go ahea¡ª!" Before Lewis couldplete his sentence, the strangest thing happened.

    Lewis appeared right in front of him.

    "H-huh¡­?!"

    He could not even move, talkless of properly reacting to the sudden manifestation of Legris.

    He had been distracted, and the current state of his body made it impossible for him to do anything but widen his eyes.

    "You''re too far in for your Automaton to save you now¡­" Legris smiled, grabbing Lewis by the throat.

    The man could not resist.

    He barely struggled as he choked, and Legris watched every process in stark enjoyment.

    "LEWWWWIIIIIISSSSSS!!!" Karlia''s voice rushed forth.

    The desperation contained in her tone reverberated in the nk space, but Legris paid her no mind.

    She wouldn''t be able to make it in time anyway.

    ~WHOOOOOSSSHHHH!!!~

    She rushed towards the two, her frightening speed exceeding her previous limits.

    Her body was brimming with heat, and the cackles of energy from her was unreal.

    With desperate eyes, she stretched out her hand to reach her one and true lover.

    However¡­

    ~FSHIIIIIII¡­~

    Right in front of her eyes, he turned into dust.

    Legrispletely erased him, leaving dissipating particles that soon vanished.

    "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Karlia screamed.

    Tears flowed from her eyes as she helplessly watched Lewis vanish in horror.

    However, this pain and sorrow that overwhelmed her heart was not allowed to remain for very long.

    "Your turn." Legris took advantage of her grief and appeared right behind her.

    "Euk!"

    Before Karlia could even react, or transform her bereavement into rage, Legris had already ced his hand on her head.

    It was toote.

    "This has been a long timeing¡­" He whispered.

    Right there and then, Karlia''s body began to turn into the same ck substance that her man had be.

    "L-Le¡­ wis¡­"

    After uttering that final word, Legris fully destroyed her body.

    There was no need to absorb them, especially since he was about to receive all of the power in the world.

    ~SHUUUUUUU~

    Once the hissing sound of death and nonexistence died out, Legris looked around and found thest one on his bucket list.

    The Urs.

    "You must be surprised, little machine¡­" Legris floated from his depths and approached the stunned Automaton.

    "The rational choice would be for me to ignore my adversaries and go after my objective. They wouldn''t have been able to stop me anyway."

    Once he reached a certain threshold, they could only watch him from a distance.

    He knew that fully well.

    "But you see¡­ I''m very petty. I actively dislike it when someone gets in my way." Legris smiled, his gaze fixating on The Urs.

    "That''s why I returned¡­ to finish the job. That''s why I can never be stopped."

    It didn''t matter what happened¡ªhe would always win.

    "And now, it''s your turn¡­" Legris now stood in front of The Urs.

    There was nothing she could do.

    Not only was she not verybat-oriented, but Legris exceeded her in every capacity.

    There was no version of this confrontation where she could win.

    As a result, The Urs closed her eyes and epted her fate.

    ~Forgive me for my ipetence¡­~

    If she could cry, she would.

    The sadness within her, despite being synthetic, was as real as it could possibly be.

    The same applied to her regret.

    Deep within herself, this Automaton remembered her selfish desire¡ªthe only one she really had.

    ''I was never able to understand love, after all¡­''

    Right as Legris was about to touch her, a bright light shone from the Automaton.

    And then¡ª

    ~FWUSH!~

    Itpletely vanished.

    "This is surprising. A safety protocol, maybe?" Legris murmured to himself.

    It was probably her creator, Lewis, that imnted such a bothersome thing within her.

    ''I''m surprised she could escape ORIGIN, though. Maybe she''s in a special dimension. Well, whatever¡­" Legris didn''t mind all of this now.

    It was all inconsequential at this point.

    "Once I have [All Things], I''ll just get rid of her alongside everything and everyone else."

    With that in mind, Legris returned to his initial n and allowed himself to descend.

    Now so close to his goal, with everything already set, Legris approached All Things at the center of ORIGIN.

    His eyes sparkled with each distance that was covered, and he stretched out his hand in pure desire.

    All knowledge, power, and everything with no limits¡ªthey were now within reach.

    He had fought everyone, faced everything, just to reach this point.

    Nothing could stop him now.

    Not anymore.

    "H-huh¡­?"

    Legris was stopped in his tracks as he noticed someone waiting for him right in front of his grand prize.

    "You¡­?"

    To say he was surprised would be an immense understatement.

    His bulging eyes turned bloodshot as he took in theplete form of this person, unable to believe what he was seeing.

    "You can''t¡­ you shouldn''t be here!" Legris spouted, his voice turning hoarse with every syble he spat out.

    "And yet¡­ here I am."

    The young man before him spread his arms and smiled.

    As his blond yellow hair floated and his golden eyes shimmered in glee, he opened his moist lips and spoke.

    "Tell me, Legris¡­ did you also see thising?"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1321 Endgame

    Chapter 1321 Endgame

    "Tell me, Legris¡­ did you also see thising?"

    As I uttered those words, I could clearly see the confused expression of the enemy.

    Legris Damien was stunned beyond words as he saw me stand right in front of his grand prize.

    "H-how did you¡­?"

    "I''m smarter than you give me credit for. The same applies to any of my variants." I broadened my smile.

    "W-what are you¡­?"

    "Did you really think Lewis and Karlia were fighting you in vain? They already knew they stood no chance in their fight with you, but they fought you anyway." I added, raising my index finger.

    "Why do you think that is?"

    For a moment, there was silence.

    It took forever for Legris to process my question, but I waited patiently for him.

    We had time.

    His eyes slowly widened, much wider than they already were. It seemed he already understood.

    "That''s right, Legris. They were stalling for time."

    Afterpleting my transformation into a Grand Constetion, I finally remembered everything¡ªincluding my arrangement with Lewis.

    Of course, that meant I remembered Karlia too, but at this point it was all inconsequential.

    All that mattered was the mission.

    "Lewis'' objective was to intercept you and stall for as long as possible, pending the time I intervened in some capacity. In essence, the sacrifice of those two allowed me to be here."

    Every second Legris wasted. Every minute he threw away. Every hour he squandered.

    All of them brought me closer to my goal.

    "I know perfectly well what kind of person you are, Legris¡­ how petty you are."

    I had experienced it firsthand.

    "I counted on those attributes of yours to lead us to this very moment."

    And, thankfully, they did exactly that.

    "You¡­ nned all of this? But¡­ that''s impossible." Legris murmured.

    I could understand his confusion.

    "I destroyed you. All of you. I sealed the entrance. There was no way you could havee in!"

    Legris'' irrationality usually surfaced during moments like this¡ªwhen he was truly cornered.

    I had kept my guard up, expecting some other hidden card he had, but this solidified it for me.

    Legris was out of cards.

    This was it¡ªhis endgame¡ªand I beat him to it.

    "I could have used the Nether ROOT to arrive here, you know? That''s how Lewis and Karlia got here."

    Once I said this, I saw Legris'' eyes flicker a little.

    He had probably neglected that channel, but now realized it could be a usible exnation.

    "N-no! That can''t be! I definitely searched for any signature here! I didn''t sense you! You didn''te from the Nether Root!" Legris responded in his desperation.

    He wasn''t wrong, though.

    "I suspected you would probably do that, so I didn''t use that method. Even if I did, it would probably be toote anyway¡­"

    Traveling to the Nether Tree and going further down the Nether Root, all to reach [All Things] was a hassle that would probably lead me nowhere.

    Legris would havepleted his mission before I could conclude mine.

    Not to mention, I was a Grand Constetion of Aether, and I could not properly utilize Nether.

    It would be increasingly difficult for me to survive and prosper in the Nether Realm.

    Finally, I would have to find the Arcanas of the Nether Realm, and that would be yet another process that would not be worth the trouble¡ªespecially when considering the time constraint.

    With all these factors put together, it was impossible to think I got here through such means.

    "How did you do it? Tell me!"

    Legris disyed his irrationality once again, but I didn''t mind.

    I wanted to tell him.

    ''But first¡­'' My thoughts trailed in amusement.

    "It was really fun watching you struggle and get all the way here¡­ only for your face to turn out like this."

    "Jared, you¡­!"

    "How does it feel to go through all that trouble, just go find someone waiting for you at your grand prize?"

    I hadn''t forgotten what Legris did to me¡ªright after I ended the Demon Incursion.

    He had yed me, ending up with the Arcana that I desired.

    He manipted the events and ended up being the winner, making me out to be a fool.

    ''Consider this payback.'' I smiled internally.

    "You shouldn''t be here! There''s no way! I made sure of it! I took all precautions!" Legris barked, waking me from my thoughts.

    "All your means were exhausted! You¡­ you CAN''T be here now!"

    Once again, Legris wasn''t wrong.

    Technically, I had exhausted all my means. There had been no present alternatives for me to exploit¡ªat least, none that I could think of.

    For every option, there was a caveat.

    For every solution, there was an underlying problem.

    Having simted all the possible oues, I found none that would satisfactorily end things for good.

    "Which is why I gave up on that and went back."

    "Went¡­ back¡­?!" Legris'' face looked boggled by what I just said.

    I knew why.

    "Yes. I went back in time and used my Grand Constetion ess to defy the Unwritten Laws and reach the points beyond time¡ªphysically and not just Astrally."

    In essence, I did exactly what Legris did to The Nether, but used it on myself.

    "Karlia and Legris, along with The Urs, defeated The Nether, but I absorbed him afterwards. As such, being blessed by Aether and possessing Nether, I am allowed to have ess to the inner recesses of Origin."

    That was essentially how I arrived here.

    "That''s why [All Things] isn''t rejecting you¡­?!" Legris mumbled.

    "You catch on quick." I responded, still maintaining my smile.

    I realized that no amount ofbat would grant me an upper edge against Legris.

    He had already be too powerful, and his ns were in their final phase.

    However, power usually came at the steep cost of hubris.

    If I could find just one chunk in his monolithic agenda¡ªone oversight to exploit¡­

    ¡­ I knew I could win.

    "So¡­ you let Lewis and Karlia cease existing¡­ just for your goals?" Legris muttered, staring at me in disbelief.

    What was with that expression? Why was he acting as if he wouldn''t do the same?

    "No, you''re wrong." I shrugged slightly.

    "They''re still alive. I copied their Souls into [All Things] before you erased their existence."

    As long as they were a part of the matrix of existence, they weren''t gone.

    "I can bring them back."

    "I won''t let you." Legris growled, his re deepening as he clenched his teeth.

    It was at this point that I was reminded of the words he told me back then.

    "Oi, Legris¡­ don''t be a sore loser."

    Once he heard this, his bulging eyes stretched to their limits and he growled.

    ~WHOOOOSSSHHH!~

    He rushed towards me, now the very incarnation of pure rage and desperation.

    Everything he had nned and worked for¡­ I knew he didn''t want to lose it.

    And that was exactly why I waited here for him.

    ''You are a very petty man, Legris. But, it seems you didn''t know this about me¡­"

    My outstretched hand was already right next to [All Things], just waiting for a slight push from me.

    As I watched him reach for his goal, struggling to make it to [All Things] before me, I merely stretched my smile to the limits.

    I must have looked like a malevolent representation, but I did not care.

    I was enjoying myself to the maximum.

    ''¡­ I''m very petty too.''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    We''re really approaching the end of his book, and I can''t help but get emotional.

    We actually made it this far!

    See you in the next one!

 Chapter 1322 Final Showdown

    Chapter 1322 Final Showdown

    ~TSSS~

    As the tip of my finger touched [All Things], I felt everything around me stop.

    Legris. Existence. Everything.

    My eyes closed, and new ones opened entirely.

    Right there and then. I had an epiphany thatpletely changed me forever.

    I felt my entire self connect to every single thing in existence.

    From the Roots of both Trees, to the Trunks, to the Branches, to the Leaves, to even the tiniest of particles.

    I was connected to everyone and everything that ever existed, that was currently existing, and that would exist.

    It felt like I lived all their lives, felt all they felt¡­ knew all they knew.

    All of that knowledge, spread across infinite realities, became mine.

    Compared to being a Grand Constetion, my current state felt infinitely more powerful.

    I was beyond Boundless.

    I was beyond Primordial.

    I was¡­ beyond everything.

    I had be Infinite.

    *******

    "Ack!"

    Legris Damien was pushed back by the sudden rush of power that surrounded Jared.

    He had been just a few inches further than Jared, but it was toote for him.

    Jared now had all of the power and knowledge he sought.

    "No¡­ this wasn''t how it was supposed to go!" Legris growled at Jared, his hatred simmering out of his ckened form.

    He immersed himself in the darkness that he was, allowing the concept of Nonexistence topletely envelope his body.

    "I don''t care what you think you are, or what you have be!" Legris yelled, his ckened eyes widening in desperate fury.

    "You''re in my way! I''ll destro¡ª!"

    "That''s enough, Legris." Jared''s voice suddenly echoed in the vastness of ORIGIN.

    It felt like a multitude of people were speaking at the same time.

    No, not just a multitude.

    More like all of creation was speaking as Jared uttered the words that he did.

    It was overwhelming.

    "No¡­ this isn''t how it''s meant to go! That power is mine! MINE!" Legris yelled.

    "The one who should have it is ME!"

    "It''s over." Jared responded, his body now a cluster of indescribable light.

    He had be a kaleidoscope of radiance, unable to be seen or perceived by anyone beneath him.

    Not even Legris could properly decipher him.

    He had transcended everything that could be said to exist or not exist.

    "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Legris yelled, his enigmatic presence overflowing from within him.

    "IT''S NOT OVER! NOT UNTIL I GET WHAT I WANT!" Legris roared as he charged at Jared.

    All the force of nonexistence flowed with him as he charged at the one he detested beyond anything else.

    The one who had taken what was rightfully his.

    "IT''S NOT OVER UNTIL I WIN!"

    As he neared All Things Jared, however, he could feel his presence fading away.

    ''What''s this? An attack?!''

    No¡­ it wasn''t an attack at all.

    All Things Jared had not moved a single bit from his position, and he had done nothing but warn Legris.

    What was happening was simple¡ªbut it was too much for Legris toprehend.

    Jared''s presence was enough to extinguish Legris, who was actively using all of his power.

    It was not even apetition.

    Jared slowly raised his hand as he stared at Legris.

    "This is goodbye, Legris."

    As Legris broke down even further, he cursed with all of his strength.

    He wed his way forward, desperately seeking even one tiny fraction of the power he was seeing another possess.

    His body shattered, but he kept approaching Jared.

    It was a pitiful disy devoid of any pride or dignity.

    He did so until he was face to face with the very personification of [All Things].

    And then¡­

    Jared''s outstretched handnded on his shoulder, and he once again opened his lips to speak.

    "Farewell."

    Before Legris could touch Jared, thest embers of his nonexistence were consumed.

    His nonexistence was transformed into existence, and every form of his anomaly was unraveled.

    All the nigh infiniteyers that guarded his mortality were bypassed, and he was inevitably overwhelmed by the very power he craved.

    "M-Magic¡­ A-All Things¡­ My D-Dream¡­"

    Those words vanished the moment he tried to say them.

    It was toote, and too early at the same time.

    All of it came to an end at that point, thus starting a new beginning.

    And so, Legris Damien ceased to be.

    *******

    There once was a boy.

    He loved Magic to the point of obsession.

    However, he was inept.

    He was unable to have what he desired no matter how hard he tried.

    He did his best to reach the verh precipice he was disqualified from, but it was all for naught.

    Desperation pushed him to the forbidden.

    He decided to defy thews of nature, and the result ended with him in a strange space between existence and nonexistence.

    A Limbo.

    This was the start of Legris, and his Original Magic that no one else possessed.

    [Who Am I?]

    All variants¡ªall versions of himself¡ªhad been affected by the sole decision of one.

    They were all connected in the darkness.

    They were one mind, with nigh infinite bodies¡ªhis own.

    All of them were Legris, and Legris was all of them.

    But they were all gone now.

    They merged into one, and that one sought even more¡ªhe wanted everything.

    It was a grand goal, but he could achieve it.

    If he, as an Inept, could finally use Magic, then what was stopping him from achieving even more?

    He failed the first time, thanks to Neron.

    However, thanks to Neron''s ''correction'' of the forgotten timeline, he had his chance once again.

    This time, he decided to be more subtle, to be more careful.

    He would be perfect!

    But in the end¡­ he was defeated by the one he had deemed to be most irrelevant.

    Legris had thought that if anyone could stand a chance at stopping him, it would be the one who did it the first time.

    But he was wrong.

    Jared, the talentless son of the Leonard Household, was the one to do it.

    The conclusion was so absurd that it could make anyoneugh.

    However, Legris was notughing, even until his final moments.

    He was empty.

    He¡­ had always been empty.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Much appreciation to you all.

    In five or so chapters, the story should conclude.

    Thanks for being with me on this journey, and please stick around for some news!

 Chapter 1323 Curtains Fall

    Chapter 1323 Curtains Fall

    Finally, I had it all.

    All I ever wanted¡ªMagic¡ªwas in my grasp.

    I could understand even the concepts that were difficult for me to grasp. I couldprehend the infinite possibilities of a single Spell.

    Everything that was, is, and would be were all swirling within my being.

    I had be one with it all.

    "I nowpletely understand Magic in its entirety. More Magic will be developed too, and at a particr point, they''ll surpass my current state."

    As I said this to myself, I reflected on what Legris had said.

    He wasn''t wrong about the inevitable vanity of the entire pursuit of Magic.

    In the end¡­ it was always never enough.

    "You were right, Lilith¡­ Solomon¡­ I finally understand all of it now."

    The end was not usually the most satisfactory, but the road by which one got there.

    Magic was the way it was because of it''s never-endingplexities and potential.

    The same could be said about life¡ªor anything that hadsting meaning.

    At the very end of the journey, what was next?

    Nothing.

    That was what Legris desired, but it was wrong. Magic, Life, Existence¡­ so long as it continued, it would eventually spiral out of the very cage of infinity that shackled it.

    "But this is fine¡­" I whispered to myself.

    For the first time in forever, I felt content.

    Truly content.

    "I think it''s finally time I explored something I wasn''t able to properly do in my past life."

    Now that I had reached the epitome of Magic, there was one thing that came next.

    "¡­Love."

    As I said those words, a strange sensation swirled within my very depths.

    The time had finallye to hang my hat and focus on yet another journey that I could never exhaust.

    And just realizing that¡­ put a smile on my face.

    ******

    "Let''s begin."

    I revived Karlia and Lewis, both of whom expressed shock to see that they were good as new¡ªalmost as if they had always existed, to begin with.

    Within ORIGIN, the three of us stood face to face with each other, and I stared at them with a smile.

    ''I''m happy for you¡­ ''Me''¡­ it seems you and Karlia ended up in love, after all.''

    Karlia deserved a version of me that would wholeheartedly choose and love her.

    And as long as she was happy¡­ I was d.

    ~Well, this is kind of awkward¡­~

    I heard Lewis'' voice, or rather, his thoughts.

    However, they weren''t directed at me.

    ~I''m not sure he still remembers you, Karlia. He wiped his memory so the n would work.~

    I did my best to hide that I could hear all that went on in his mind. I was connected to everyone and everything, so it was only natural that I could perceive all thoughts.

    ~Really? What does he think I am, then?~

    This time, it was Karlia that responded to him.

    They both maintained a smile, but I found it amusing that they were having such thoughts.

    ~Maybe he thinks I fell in love with you in the Nether Root. Just y it cool¡­~

    ~Well, I guess that''s fine too. I think it''s better he doesn''t remember me.~

    She wasn''t wrong.

    Right now¡­ this arrangement was the best.

    "Where''s Urs?" Lewis finally spoke, bringing up apletely different topic from what he was just thinking about.

    "I made sure she was able to escape to a safe ce¡ªmy Great Sage''s Archives." I responded naturally.

    It was best to go with the flow.

    "Someone there should be keeping herpany, so there''s no need to be overly concerned."

    I hadn''t forgotten about Lewis'' Familiar, so I also forged it from the information within [All Things], returning the Kraken back into him.

    "Thank you, Jared." Lewis smiled at me with a nod.

    I returned the gesture with equal veracity.

    "Thank you as well."

    Without their efforts, the n would not have flowed so seamlessly.

    In a way, I owed it to them¡ªno, not just them. Everyone who had actively participated in this grand conclusion.

    It was all of them that ensured that the final showdown could be possible.

    "Everyone is waiting for us in the ROOT." I exined, now changing the topic.

    It was about time we left ORIGIN¡­ and also for me to leave [All Things].

    It was a power worth coveting, but not one that was required for my next objective.

    Right now, I was Jared Leonard¡­ seeker of Love.

    "Ah, right!"

    "We should leave now."

    The two of them behaved so cutely that I was reminded of Maria.

    I suddenly felt the need to tease her.

    ''When we return maybe¡­ hehehe¡­''

    Once the three of us decided to leave, I unbounded with [All Things].

    I could feel the Infinite nature of my existence dissipate, and I no longer had ess to everything in Existence.

    ''It''s definitely for the best.''

    During my time with [All Things], I began to appreciate the existence of the Unwritten Laws.

    If they didn''t exist, the chaos that would befall existence would be infinitely greater.

    Such power that existed in this world had to be regted.

    "Let''s go." I smiled, leaving the morphing orb of multifarious kinds of colors and properties.

    "Yeah."

    "Let''s go."

    The three of us left ORIGIN and ascended to the ROOT, where our friends and family awaited us.

    ''At longst¡­ it''s over.''

    *******

    "It''s not over!"

    A voice cackled from the depths of darkness.

    The one who had the voice sat on a gnarled and crooked throne. It was as if the throne was designed to be ufortable for any who sat on it.

    The apanying darkness reflected the hollow state of the man, and he was the only one within the vast and empty dark expanse.

    "Haa¡­ it''s not over! Not by a long shot!"

    The voice was strained and filled with indescribable malice.

    It belonged to thest of the one who had been defeated.

    ''Thankfully, I left a variant out of the [Amalgamation] process, so even though my perfect form is no more¡­ I have this!''

    The man on the throne was Legris.

    Yes, he appeared crooked and worn-out, with his long brown hair covering most of his face. His emancipated form revealed his bones and dry skin, and he looked downright miserable.

    His rage-filled face added to the sinister ugliness that he represented, and every word he uttered was coated in bitterness.

    "I won''t stop¡­ not until I win!"

    All he had to do was simple¡ªrestart his n and take ount for everything that happened to him thus far.

    Mistakes were inevitable when it came to achieving great things, after all.

    He had lost once before, and now he lost again.

    So what?

    As long as he was still alive, he could always try again.

    Again and again and again and again and AGAIN!

    Until he won!

    "Knowing Jared, once he obtains [All Things], he''ll abandon it. As long as it is not in his possession, I should be able to obtain it for myself!"

    As Legris growled, he began to hear something.

    It sounded faint, but he could make it out quickly. What echoed within the vast darkness that surrounded him¡­ was a chuckle.

    "Haha¡­ I guess you know him more than I gave you credit for."

    The voice that filled the world of Limbo instantly shook Legris.

    He recognized it instantly.

    "It seems my dear protege defeated you, and you won''t just stay down like the loser you are¡­"

    "Y-YOU¡­!" Legris'' bloodshot eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets as they gazed upon the one that slowly approached his throne.

    He had pure white hair, bright blue eyes, and a radiant form that oozed pure Magic.

    "¡­ NERON!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Now this is quite a development.

    I guess we all know where our dear Neron has been all this while.

    Time for a nice conclusion to their story.

 Chapter 1324 Goodbye

    Chapter 1324 Goodbye

    "How long¡­?"

    These words reverberated in the deep.

    "How long have you been waiting here?" As these words escaped Legris'' charred lips, he gazed at the one before him.

    "Answer me¡­ Neron."

    Neron stood before Legris, both of them in the dark.

    As Legris sat on this gnarled throne, he trembled. His eyes flickered, and his teeth were clenched.

    This was perhaps due to his rage¡­ or fear¡ªperhaps both.

    "Time doesn''t particrly exist here. It''s a concept foreign to your Limbo¡­"

    Neron wasn''t wrong.

    This was precisely why Legris had managed to evade Neron and his seemingly invincible power throughout their conflict with each other.

    Neron could not truly kill Legris¡­ at least, not until he finally found this ce.

    "I''m not afraid of you." Legris spoke up, but his expression betrayed those words.

    Being in the presence of the Singrity, despite being in his domain, made Legris lose any semnce of confidence.

    His dropping shoulders and twitching eyes made that perfectly evident.

    "I don''t believe you."

    As Neron said those words, he took another step forward.

    "After going through all we have¡ªlying, betraying, and killing so many times¡ªhere we are once again." As he said this, Neron had a genuinely sad expression on his face.

    The way he gazed upon Legris almost seemed distant¡ªas if he was looking at something long gone.

    "In the end, you couldn''t do it. You couldn''t obtain the ultimate power and knowledge that you sought. You couldn''t fulfill your dream."

    These words echoed in the void, and Legris clenched his teeth even tighter.

    "So what? What now? Is that why you''re here? To mock me all day long?"

    "No. I suppose I just wanted to have one final conversation with you¡­ before it''s all over."

    Neron''s tone was calm, but embers of emotion could be seen from within it.

    "We go a long way back, don''t we? From the forgotten wo¡ª"

    "Don''t talk to me about that! You won back then! Is that what you want to hear? You denied me my right! And even now¡­ now youe back to haunt me!"

    Legris was shouting now, but Neron kept up his calm gaze.

    "You''re wrong, Legris. Back then¡­ I lost too. I lost everything." As Neron fell into mncholy, he stared at his old friend, turned enemy.

    So much had changed between them.

    "That''s why I had to start all over."

    "Hehe¡­ so that''s what this is? The fruits of yourbor are finally manifesting, huh?" Legris muttered in bitterness.

    "All of this¡­ Jared, my defeat¡­ it was all part of your master n, huh?"

    As Legris said this, he chuckled even more¡ªhis bitterness oozing through every sound he made.

    He had always wondered where Neron was throughout the entire conflict, but he now understood everything perfectly.

    While everyone was moving ording to his grand n, Neron was busy locating his Limbo.

    And now¡­ the jig was up.

    "You yed me, just like you yed everyone. It was your n all alo¡ª"

    "No, you''re wrong." Neron interrupted Legris, causing the wretched one to recoil in surprise.

    "I indeed reset the timeline and made some alterations that made your defeat optimal. However¡­ I wasn''t in control of most of the events that happened."

    Legris'' eyes slowly began to widen further, almost causing his eyeballs to leave their sockets.

    "Ciara''s cement¡­ Aloe''s identity¡­ all of those things¡­ I set them in motion."

    "T-then¡ª!"

    "But there''s only so much I can do. There''s only so far I can go¡­" A tinge of sadness echoed through Neron''s words as he let them out.

    "In the end, I had to trust others. I had to rely on my allies¡­ my friends¡­ to win."

    Legris could not believe his ears.

    "I trusted Jared¡­ and he delivered. That is why you lost."

    "Liar!" Legris yelled in denial.

    "I''m not lying. It''s all true."

    "I don''t believe you!" Once again shouting at the top of his lungs, Legris finally jumped from his throne.

    He stood upright, his gaze filled with unparalleled rage and immense bitterness.

    "Don''t look at me like that, Legris. You''re the viin here. You''re the one who threw everyone and everything aside for your ambitions."

    Neron stepped forward, and before long, the both of them were opposite each other¡ªmere inches apart.

    "You deserve this."

    Compared to the tall and perfect persona that Neron exuded, Legris had the opposite build.

    His scrawny form seemed patheticpared to Neron, and he recognized it full well.

    He was short, weak, lean beyond measure; and most of all¡­

    ¡­ He was weak.

    "Goodbye."

    Legris felt something pierce through his pathetic form, and it was none other than Neron''s hand.

    He could do nothing more than gasp, and then, right as he was about to breathe hisst, he smiled.

    A small, crooked smile that did not connote sadness for the first time.

    "Serah was right¡­" Legris whispered.

    Neron''s expression did not change, though his blue eyes shone a bit brighter once he heard the name of his wife.

    "I guess I could never win against you."

    As he said those words, Legris copsed upon his crooked throne, his smile fading as his lips fell and his eyes shut.

    He uttered hisst words, as the final thing he saw was the blurred image of his old friend.

    "Goodbye¡­"

    **********

    "Huu¡­ it''s finally done."

    As Neron said this, he sat beside the gnarled throne of his old friend, Legris nowhere to be seen at all.

    He was gone now¡ªforever.

    "With this, I can fulfill my end of the deal with that Old Man." Neron chuckled, remembering a certain variant of his.

    The task of extracting the Essence of Limbo and providing it to Crazy Neron as the finalponent he desired for his own goals¡­

    "And now, my mission can also be achieved."

    Neron''s smile grew wider as he began to collect every aspect of the Limbo he currently upied.

    Bit by bit, the domain shrunk in size, bing a tiny sphere that formed above Neron''s palm.

    "I have sessfully assimted myself with Aether, Nether, and now¡­ I have theponent of Limbo."

    Existence and Nonexistence now hovered at hismand.

    "I can finally fulfill my destiny and conclude my story." Once he was done, even the gnarled throne of his old friend was gone.

    Neron simply stood in a nk vacuum.

    ¡­ Just as he desired from the start.

    "I will fix this world."

    *

    *

    *

    ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

    I will be releasing a Spellcraft prequel that centers around Neron''s story.

    It''ll contain details of the forgotten world and show Neron as the protagonist, concluding everything you know and don''t know about him.

    Please check the book out when ites out!

    For now, let''s move on to the final parts of Jared''s story.

 Chapter 1325 Jaredâ€™s Wedding

    Chapter 1325 Jared¡¯s Wedding

    [Several Months Later]

    Today¡­ is my birthday.

    However, more than that, it''s something else.

    It is my wedding.

    "Do you, Jared Leonard Alphonse Sereth, take this woman to be yourwfully wedded wife? Till death do you part and all that?"

    I currently stand in front of the woman of my dreams. Her silvery white hair perfectly matches her wedding dress, and I can''t help but smile as her blue eyes look at me with such amazing wonder.

    As Neron asks me this question, serving as the priest that''ll join us together, I feel ted.

    Right here and now, I get to say the two words I''ve wanted to utter for what has felt like an eternity.

    "I do."

    The moment I say this, I hear stifled cheers from the crowd.

    Everyone sitting in the pews are staring at me¡ªat us¡ªwith excitement. They all appear to be impatient, but they have to hold all of it in for now.

    It isn''t time for the big celebration¡ªnot until the bride says the same.

    "And do you, Maria Helmsworth, take this man to be yourwfully wedded husband? Till death do you¡ª?"

    "I do!" I can see her excited smile burst through as she replies so loudly.

    ''It seems I miscalcted¡­'' My thoughts trail as I gaze deep into her.

    ''Maria ended up being the most excited and impatient.''

    That was perfectly fine, though.

    This is one mistake I am d to have made.

    "I see. I hereby deem you husband and wife¡­ for all eternity."

    When Neron¡ªthe best in Time Magic¡ªsays something like that, it carries so much weight.

    My heart races as I hear the word ''eternity'' ring over and over in my mind.

    But I am not scared.

    Not at all.

    I feel ecstatic. This¡­ this is the best birthday present ever!

    "Well, you know what next to do. You may kiss to seal the deal."

    As Neron says this, I can see his proud smile. He winks at me and nods with full approval.

    I can tell that he''s thinking ''THAT''S MY PROTEGE!'' in his mind.

    It feels silly, really, but I feel really good.

    Is this how all couples getting married feel like? I can''t help but disagree.

    What I''m feeling right now is exclusive to this moment!

    No one is happier than I am!

    "So, are you going to kiss me or what?" I hear Maria ask me.

    "Well¡­" I draw her closer to me with my arm arched right behind her.

    "¡­ What do you think?"

    We both giggle sheepishly, almost as if we are kids.

    This isn''t the first time we''re kissing, but why does it feel so different?

    Well¡­ who knows?

    All I know is that I love this woman, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

    We kiss, and the roars of celebration kick off.

    The entire Aether Tree trembles in joy as we lock lips, and even the Nether Tree has slight tremors.

    Maria''s lips taste sweet, and she feels even sweeter.

    She dislodges her lips from mine, the both of us moaning gently.

    I can see her smile clearly¡ªthe smile of a goddess.

    She pulls her face closer to mine and reaches for my ear where she whispers certain¡­ things to me.

    My eyes light up and I can''t wait until we are all alone in the night.

    "You better make good on that promise." I smile broadly.

    "Just kiss me, Jared." She giggled, and out lips crash upon each other again.

    With a lofty heart filled with nothing but joy and gratitude, I take all of these sensations in.

    This truly is the best day of my life.

    **********

    "Congrattions, Jared." Neron shakes me first, being the closest to the both of us.

    I smile in appreciation, but before I can say another word, Serah appears seemingly out of nowhere.

    "When will you throw the Magic Missle?"

    I''m not startled by her appearance, but it seems she shocked Maria a little.

    The two of them exchange pleasantries as Serah congrattes my wife. I can spot her baby bump already, and I look at Neron, who is also looking at the same ce.

    In no time, he''ll have his kid.

    ''I''ll rmend naming him Jared Junior¡­'' My thoughts trail in amusement.

    "Don''t even think about it." Neron''s words interrupt my thought, causing me to grin even further.

    Before long, we burst intoughter.

    Soon after, it''s finally time for us tounch the Magic Missle to see who should be the next lucky person to get married.

    As Maria prepares to cast the simple, harmless Spell, I can''t help but ount for probability.

    ''If I calcte strings of events following up this moment and utilize usibility to determine the respective oues, it is actually possible to¡ª''

    I can see Maria smiling at me as I make these thoughts, so I just stop and decide to enjoy the moment.

    At times like this, perhaps ignorance is truly bliss.

    ~BOOOM!~

    The Magic Missileunches, and the entire audience waits for who it will hit.

    I take this moment to recognize the numerous people in attendance, and I couldn''t be more proud.

    I can see my parents upying the front seats, their bright smiles like gems.

    Maria''s parents are right beside them, and I think¡­ I think they''re actually smiling at us.

    It''s unbelievable!

    Nothing really is impossible.

    Alphonse, the Court Mage, the Royal Family, the Elf Queen, her consorts, and pretty much all the important figures in this world.

    I saw Jane also show up, but it seems she''s disappeared all of a sudden.

    I know why, and I''m happy for her.

    Lewis and Karia showed up. Kuzon, Ana, Edward, Aloe, Ciara, Lemi, Jerry, Beruel, and all my friends are also here.

    Maro is here with his wife, and all the people I care about¡ªall the friends I made in this new life¡ªcan be seen in the crowd.

    It''s so amazing.

    Even the Constetions are watching from their Realm, upying their new Avatars, and enjoying the wedding that has long been awaited.

    What more could a guy ask for?

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This is so beautiful! At longst, it''s finally a thing!

    I''m so d!

    One or Two more chapters, and it''s a wrap!

    Thank you everyone for following the story this far!

    It is much appreciated.

 Chapter 1326 Happy Ending

    Chapter 1326 Happy Ending

    "They look happy."

    The one who spoke was Jane Urs, and while she was a considerable distance from the wedding, she could see everything that went on in it.

    She had dropped by just earlier, and even dropped a present for Jared, but she knew when to leave.

    Once she concluded her sentence, she turned to a figure that was standing beside her.

    He wore a hood that concealed his face, but she could see him clearly.

    His long ck hair and blue eyes, with his perfect body made him as endearing to be with as always.

    "You''re not saying anything." Jane nudged him, as he was still looking at the wedding in silence.

    "Don''t tell me you also want to get married."

    Even though Jane said this in a yful tone, there was a hint of seriousness in her voice.

    "Na! I''m just looking at the Jared fellow. I still can''t believe we''re the same person."

    "Well¡­ you''re not exactly the same." Jane corrected

    "Yeah, I know. He has two lives worth of memories and all. Plus, he has a different disposition from me."

    "Exactly! That''s why I brought you back."

    The hooded man beside her, the Lewis Griffith she remembered from the past, leaked out a smile.

    He turned to her and nudged her back.

    "Thanks for that, by the way."

    "You''re wee, old friend." Jane chuckled.

    "Thanks to you, I can finally practice Magic properly and explore all the things I was unable to in the past."

    "Hey! What do you mean ''I''?!" Jane responded with a slight frown on her face.

    It was cute having a fairy with a round face as hers frown, so Lewis chuckled at the sight.

    "Sorry. I meant WE. We''re going to explore and achieve great things together, Jane."

    The Fairy smiled in agreement, bobbing her head furiously.

    "That''s more like it!"

    They bothughed, enjoying the moment they spent with each other.

    Even when they weren''t engaged in deep Magic Research and discussions, it was clear that they still enjoyed each other''spany.

    Afterughing for a while, though, there was silence between the two.

    "You know, there''s apparently infinite realities out there. If you want, we can find one where Emilia is¡ª"

    "Nah! She wouldn''t be the same." Lewis swiftly responded.

    However, he wasn''t frowning or looking sad.

    "Jared was able to move on and find Maria, while the other Lewis got together with Karlia. It''s time I also moved forward with my life."

    This version of Lewis Griffith¡ªLewis Prime¡ªknew exactly what he wanted to pursue and who he wanted to do it with.

    "I want to explore Magic to the end¡­ with you."

    Jane Urs''s smile had never been brighter as she held his outstretched hand.

    "Me too."

    They both stared at each other with lovestruck eyes, their very depths brimming with passion.

    Silently, they both had an understanding.

    The overflowing love they had within them was not directed at the other, neither was it meant for someone else.

    These two¡ªthe Great Sage and Mad Witch¡ªknew what held their full devotion.

    MAGIC!

    "Let''s begin now!" Lewis Prime said in excitement.

    "You read my mind!" Jane responded with equal exuberance.

    In that instant, a multicolored portal appeared in front of them and they walked in.

    ¡­ Hands held the entire time.

    *******

    The events that happened after the wedding were the culmination of years in the making.

    Once the biggest threat was vanquished, the only expected conclusion was for a happy ending to take ce.

    And this applied to everyone.

    "We''re going to explore this universe and far beyond. There''s a lot of life and cultures, and a lot we have missed out on so far¡­ and we want to see them."

    These were Kuzon and Ana''s parting words as they left their homeworld to explore the stars.

    Apparently, alien civilization seemed appealing to them for both Ana''s research and Kuzon''s broader understanding of society.

    One of the most surprising developments was between The Urs and Gawain¡ªthe two Ultimate Automatons.

    "He was the one who kept mepany in the Great Sage''s Archives, and we just kind of clicked." Were the words that The Urs told her creator when she was asked about the Automaton who now followed her around.

    "I desire to understand and explore the meaning of love, and Gawain has offered to assist in that endeavor."

    Words could not properly convey the expressions that Lewis and Karlia gave to the Automaton that had be like their child.

    In the end, they could only give their blessings.

    After all, how could they fault Urs for her decision when their wedding was alsoing up.

    "You''re invited, Jared. You and your friends." Lewis and Karlia announced to the newly-wed groom.

    However, there was a slight issue that was pointed out.

    "What about the Constetions in the Nether Realm? I don''t think they would approve of so many Aether beings crossing over."

    In response to this concern, however, Lewis and Karlia merelyughed and shrugged it off.

    "Don''t worry. We already reached an agreement. They''re going to be in attendance as well, so it should be a fun experience."

    Fun was rtive, but Jared didn''t bother to rify what the two meant by it.

    "Heyo, Jared! Savior of all existence¡­ we meet at longst!"

    Thest person anyone expected to show up for an event like a wedding actually made an appearance.

    He had long and unkempt hair, with a mage''s hat, and a long robe that resembled a traditional Mage''s outfit.

    His feet did not touch the ground, and while he seemed to be nothing but a senile old man with a few screws loose in his head, no one could deny his power.

    ¡­ The power that defied the world.

    "You''re¡­ Crazy Neron, right?"

    "Crazy? Who''s crazy? Me? You? We''re all crazy! Hahaha!"

    Of course, Crazy Neron would speak gibberish as he addressed Jared and his lovely wife.

    He truly knew no restraint.

    "Hey! Stop describing me that way! Oh, I''m not talking about you, Jared. I''m talking about that silly¡­ hey! I said stop doing that!"

    Everyone around Crazy Neron thought he was crazy for sure, and he grumbled in frustration.

    As long as he remained within this reality¡ªthis existence¡ªhe would have to endure it.

    "Damn Crafter¡­" He mumbled, but decided to let it go quite quickly.

    There was no longer any need to let these sort of things get to him.

    "I''m leaving this ce now. Have fun in your life, Jared."

    "Oh? You''re returning to your homeworld?"

    "What? Hell no! I''m ditching this entire string of existence! I''m making my own and living out the rest of my life there!"

    "O-ohhh¡­ well, good luck."

    "Pfft! Luck? I don''t need luck! I have all I need now! Just decided to show up cus apparently¡­ well, never mind that."

    Crazy Neron eventually ditched the party after taking in as much booze as he could fill into his belly, and vanished from the world.

    ¡­ The whole world.

    "Damn¡­ Kuzon was right. That guy is a nut job." Jared mumbled under his breath.

    Those were thest words recorded that referred to the Crazy Old Man in any way.

    In conclusion, though, everyone had a happy ending.

    The kind they desired and deserved.

    But¡­ how long would thisst?

    Perhaps they could find out after some time had passed.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    One more chapter!

    Finally! Finally! The Epilogue is heeeerrreeeeeee!!!

    Who else is excited?

    I sure am.

 Chapter 1327 The Reunion

    Chapter 1327 The Reunion

    "¡­ And we lived happily ever after." A child''s voice rang out.

    It was a male''s voice, but the childish tone almost made him sound like a girl.

    "The end." This time, a girl spoke.

    Her voice was a little more mature than the boy''s. Perhaps because she was three years older than him.

    Still, they were only five and eight years old respectively.

    In their hand was a storybook they were reading. It was apparently a novel that had been written by their father, and it was called "Reincarnation Of A Magic Schr."

    This book had easily be their favorite over the years, and they couldn''t count how many times they had read it already.

    Their father was good at many things, and writing a very interesting book was one of those things.

    "Should we read it again?" The boy turned to his sister with a bright smile.

    His pure white hair gently swayed as his golden eyes gleamed with excitement.

    "Sadly, we can''t. We have to prepare¡­"

    The girl had blonde yellow hair and blue eyes that shone like gems.

    Both of these kids were incredibly adorable, and the fact that they perfectly understood each other made them get along a little too well.

    "Yeah¡­ you''re right. Guess we''ll do itter."

    As the boy finished his sentence, the door to the massive parlor flung open, and two people entered the house.

    Their parents!

    "Mum! Dad!" The two children jumped from their position and flung away the book they were just reading as if it was garbage.

    The couple who stood close to their home''s entrance smiled as they watched their adorable kids run towards them.

    Though¡­ the expression of the father seemed a bit distraught as he looked at the book he spent so much time writing.

    "Nero. Emilia. You two should take it easy!" The mother shouted lovingly as her two kids giggled and embraced her.

    They didn''t take long before jumping on the exit father and climbing his body like the little critters they are.

    "Maria, help! Get them off me! Arghh!" Jared yelled as his son jumped on his face and began to yank his hair.

    His beautiful yellow blond hair.

    "Haha! I''m sorry, but I don''t know what you''re talking about¡­ Jared."

    Maria gazed lovingly as her husband was being tortured by their two wonderful children.

    It was a warm scene for her.

    *********

    "Seth, Aria, and Marie areing over soon, so you guys can have as much fun with them as possible."

    Once Jared said this to his kids, they were finally able to leave him alone and jump around in excitement instead.

    He could finally heave a sigh of relief.

    "I can''t believe it takes Kuzon''s kids for you two to behave¡­"

    Kuzon and Ana had a son and two twin daughters, and at times like this they were his lifesavers.

    "Uncle Kuzon and Aunty Ana are gonna bring some alien delicacy again, aren''t they?" Nero was especially excited about the food.

    "Of course¡­ yes. Yes, they will."

    Jared and Maria exchanged frantic expressions, but they couldn''t share their concerns in front of the kids.

    What was so wrong with their regr delicacies?

    Jared didn''t want to start this conversation again, so he decided to simply let it go.

    "A-anyway, all our friends¡­ Edward, Aloe, Lemi, and everyone who saved the world with us are alsoing for the reunion."

    "Yayy! Aunty Lemi is fun! Aunty Aloe is so cool! I want to see them!"

    "Uncle Edward is so strong and huge! I can''t wait to see him!"

    These kids were so hyperactive that it scared their parents sometimes.

    However, beyond that, Jared and Maria were happy that the two children got along really well with their friends.

    However, of all the people Jared and Maria mentioned, they were missing one person.

    The kids did not forget, though.

    "What about¡­"

    "You didn''t mention¡­"

    They both looked at each other, as if conspiring to say his name at the same time.

    "UNCLE NERON!"

    Yep! That''s right!

    These kids were most excited to see their godfather Neron and his awesome wife.

    Their daughter was three years older than Emilia, but the two girls were practically best friends.

    "Well¡­ let''s prepare to receive our guests, shall we?" Jared rose to his feet as he addressed his family with a big smile on his face.

    Eleven years had passed since his big wedding, and it only seemed like yesterday.

    "This should be fun."

    ********

    "The world has changed so much! You know the Skarlor''s continent is finally developing after so long?"

    "You don''t say. I thought it was a dark zone."

    "Well, Ana developed a new fuel that fertilized the entire area."

    "Hehehe! Damn straight!"

    Right now, the gang was engaged in multifarious discussions about various things.

    However, as usual, Kuzon was bragging about his wife''s achievements.

    Everyone had been up to a lot of things in the 11 years since this annual reunion was developed, and every year, the group would share their exploits.

    And they did just that.

    Everyone mentioned what they had been up to, and it was an overall fun experience.

    For example, Aloe and Asa were now a couple. They finally came together just a year ago, after Aloe got her fill of traveling the world alone.

    "Being King of the Beastfolk and having only one mate¡­ isn''t it rough?" Despite constantly being asked this question, Asa always said the same thing.

    "My dear Aloe Vida is worth more than a million mates."

    It was the perfect answer he could give¡ªboth as a man, and as a King

    "The most surprising one is still Ivan. Can''t believe you got together with Freya, my man!"

    Ivan and Jerry gave each other a high-five andughed like the bearded men that they were.

    Freya had be the Elf Queen just a few years ago, and everyone here had also been present for her coronation.

    Aurora finally decided to join her sister, and there was an borate sendoff for her.

    "My regards to Freya. Ivan."

    "Send mine too."

    "Here as well."

    Freya wasn''t present for the reunion, since she was too busy being Queen and raising the many kids that she and Ivan had.

    One would think they were rabbits with the way they reproduced.

    "How about you, Beruel? How''s the Fairy Republic going?" The topic was soon shifted to the sole Fairy in the group.

    After Jane left, the Fairies unanimously chose Beruel as their ruler, and he had since been leading them.

    Not as a tyrannical king, but as their faithful leader.

    "It''s fine. We''re developing well with the technology that''s being produced thanks to the alliance between us and the Dwarves."

    "Didn''t Maro and his wife relocate there a few years back?"

    "Yeah. Apparently he''s now the Head Of Forgery and Production over there."

    The groupughed, and they once again enjoyed one another''spany.

    "If you need some otherworldly Tech to up your game a little, just say the word." Ana smirked.

    "No need. We''re going to catch up to you guys with our own two hands."

    Beruel and Ana shed apetitive re to each other, but it all soon broke down into the same burst ofughter.

    And everyone joined them.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    The Epilogue was longer than I expected, so I split it into two parts.

    Thanks for reading the first part.

    Now on to the second!

 Chapter 1328 Conclusion

    Chapter 1328 Conclusion

    Lemi and Edward were officially together, and they had be tourists and nomads who visiteds and worlds for fun.

    Lemi personally explored various things¡ªmostly the natural minerals and materials of the other world.

    She was slowly developing an interest in universal ecology, and was hoping to soon branch out to the interdimensional level.

    Edward on the other hand spent a lot of his time in the world he was stranded in; observing their culture and introducing new facets to their entire civilization.

    He only ever interfered on rare asions, though.

    "We''ll, the two of you are cute together. I think I''m finally ready to ept that." Jared smiled.

    Gasps of shock spread among the group as they all stared at him.

    "It was a difficult journey, but I can finally understand my daughter getting with my friend."

    Before long, ps began to echo among the squad. They were truly proud of the growth and maturity that Jared had developed over the years.

    It was by no means an easy feat, but here he was.

    "How''s ambassador work going for you two, by the way?"

    Jared was smiling as he changed topics and turned to Ana and Kuzon.

    The two of them were ambassadors of their, and they were responsible for a lot of diplomatic actions between the United Alliance that Jared developed and the representatives of the other worlds.

    Since their world now has interactions with alien worlds, peace treaties and regtions weremonce.

    "A lot is going on in the international and inteary scene, to be honest." Kuzon responded with a smirk.

    "I still wonder why you don''t participate in any of it."

    Once again, all the attention went to Jared.

    For a moment, there was silence.

    "Aren''t things too boring for you as they are right now?" Kuzon added, breaking the silence.

    "Na¡­ Haha! Not at all!"

    Jared and Maria exchanged knowing gazes and chuckled even more.

    No one could understand the meaning behind their nces¡ªnone but them.

    "I just want to enjoy life with my family and those I love. I''m content with that, at least for now." He answered with a calm tone.

    "It''s never a dull moment; especially with the kids. Those two are a handful."

    Right now, all the children were busy ying in the house while Jared and the group were enjoying the vast outdoors.

    "The fact that we can meet like this once a year, and you can all regale me with your oundish tales¡­ that is enough for me."

    Jared had never looked happier and more satisfied.

    Everyone instantly believed him.

    "It is as Jared says, to be honest." Neron''s voice instantly got everyone''s attention.

    Everyone knew he and Sarah were pretty much retired, like Jared, and they could both testify that it was nice to have nothing but peace in the world.

    "The only trouble these days are the adventures we have with our kid."

    Neron and Karlia only had one child, Neia, and even she was sometimes too much to handle.

    "You know, I noticed something weird." Jared smiled, his voice as soothing as ever.

    "Ever since our altercation with Legris, and its conclusion, there has been no conflict at all."

    Everyone nodded in agreement.

    "I noticed that too."

    "It''s all just woven out very nicely."

    "To be honest, you''re right!"

    Of course, he was right! He was Jared, after all!

    "We''ll, what can I say?" Jared gulped down a bit of the drink he had in his hand.

    "Can''tin about¡ª"

    ~VWUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHH!!!~

    Before he could say another word, a massive portal suddenly appeared a dozen or so meters from where the group were hanging out.

    A single man jumped out of the swirling wormhole,nding on the ground in a heavy thud.

    "G-guh¡­"

    The man who appeared from the portal had auburn hair, with long and shaggy beards.

    One of his eyes was blue and the other was amber. He was dressed in tattered clothing, and his body was smeared in dirt.

    He raised his head and stared at the group who were all staring at him in casual silence.

    This wasn''t¡­ quite what he was expecting.

    "Edward? Edward Alter? What are you doing here?" Jared asked with a creased brow.

    Edward Alter was among the people Jared had stayed with when he was stranded in the first alternate world he went to.

    There, he helped defeat an evil version of himself and even liberated the world from the tyranny that Evil Jared caused.

    That was perhaps why he was shocked to see someone he hadpletely forgotten about suddenly appear before him in the state that he did.

    "J-Jared¡­ I need your help!" Edward Alter gasped as he rose to his feet.

    "We all¡­ we all need your help!"

    From his desperate expression, anyone could tell it was serious.

    "Rx. I understand the situation. It''s about Neron, isn''t it?"

    Of course, Jared wasn''t talking about the Neron who was currently eating thest slice of a meal called Pizza.

    He was referring to the Neron of the alternate world that Edward Alter belonged to.

    Neron Alter.

    "Y-yes! He''s changed, Jared! He has developed a n to wipe out Magic from all existence, and he started with our world!"

    The pain that radiated from Edward Alter as he exined was palpable.

    "Everyone bought me time so I could travel to this ce and reach you. You have no idea how arduous my journey has been¡­ how much we need you!"

    Edward Alter derived no pleasure in groveling like this. He still had his pride as a Martial Artist and a man with him.

    However, the situation was currently too dire for him to consider any of those things.

    As it stood right now¡­ he was desperate.

    Jared listened intently to everything, nodding slowly as he internalized all the information.

    "Looks like you were wrong about conflict, Jared." Neron smiled, swallowing the pizza he thoroughly enjoyed.

    "Nice point." Jared raised his hand, sighing as he now shook his head.

    "That guy really went and did this¡­"

    Jared stood from his seat and approached Edward Alter, having a sympathetic look on his face.

    "Don''t worry, I understand your situation."

    "So¡­ you''ll help?" Edward Alter asked with a relieved smile on his face.

    "Well, I can''t just let Magic be removed from the world, can I? Not if I can help it."

    Worry still tugged at Edward Alter''s heart, but having Jared utter those words gave him reassurance.

    Jared turned back, his gazending on his wife¡ªMaria¡ªand his friends.

    He smiled at them and gave a wink.

    "Need some assistance, Jared?" Kuzon asked, his voice connoting nothing more than sarcasm.

    Everyone burst outughing, and even Jared leaked out a slight chuckle.

    "Nah! I think I''m good."

    Jared covered the bottle he was drinking from and tossed it towards Kuzon.

    "Hold my beer."

    Everyone who sat knew he meant it.

    "Guess it''s finally time for you to get some action."

    "Tell us all about it when you return."

    "Get back before the rest of the food gets cold."

    As all these words echoed in the air, Jared smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

    "Hey, Nero! Emilia! Want to see your father in action?"

    ~VWUUUSH!~

    In a sh, the two kids appeared from portals that even exceeded the energy density that Edward Alter''s portal possessed.

    "Yeahhh!"

    "Finally! Will you use Spellcraft?!"

    As Jared listened to his kids and gazed upon their excited faces, he began to feel fired up.

    He couldn''t disappoint them now.

    "Hey, Edward¡­"

    Edward Alter had been so immersed in his confusion, seeing how casual everyone was reacting despite the severity of the situation that he didn''t hear Jared.

    He couldn''t believe that these people were behaving this way when an entire world was in danger.

    When the entirety of Magic was at risk.

    "Edward! Edward, listen to me!"

    Edward Alter was finally brought out of his trance by Jared''s words, and he stared deeply into Jared''s bright eyes.

    It was radiating a multitude of colors¡ªmany of which defied definition.

    "It''ll be fine. Trust me."

    Somehow, Edward Alter''s heart calmed down after hearing Jared''s words and seeing his face.

    "O-okay¡­"

    Jared''s smile broadened and he nodded.

    "Now lead the way."

    Edward Alter obeyed, tapping his device. This caused a massive portal¡ªlike the one from earlier¡ªto open up.

    "We have to hurry. The spatial pressure is copsing, so the portal can''t be maintained for too¡ª!"

    "Rx. It''ll remain for as long as I want it to." Jared smiled as looked at the wormhole, as well as everything beyond it.

    "Now let''s go."

    Edward Alter was the first to enter the portal, and the two kids followed right after.

    Jared stole one final nce behind him, staring straight into the hearts of everyone who saw him¡ªwho had been seeing him throughout his journey, up till this point.

    He smiled at all of them.

    ¡­ All of you.

    "I''ll be right back." Jared whispered, before also venturing into the portal of light.

    Once again, the world of Magic called him.

    And he answered.

    *

    *

    *

    [The End Of Part 1]

    [Note: There''s going to be a final chapter for my address concerning this story and the oneing after, so I encourage all readers to check it out.

    Please stick around to read it.

    Thanks!]

 Chapter 1329 End Of Part 1

    Chapter 1329 End Of Part 1

    Hello!

    Author here.

    This is the end of a very special journey for me.

    Honestly, I never knew Spellcraft would be a book read by thousands of people, and I''m so happy I was able to share this novel with the world.

    Now, of course I know it wasn''t perfect.

    No work of art really is, but Spellcraft took strange turns in certain moments and I admit that.

    I was either sick, busy with school, or even facing some physical challenges, and so I sometimes messed up in my update schedule or affected the quality of the novel.

    I apologize for that.

    There''s also no getting around the fact that the earlier parts of the story clearly reflected my inexperience in writing, so I made a lot of mistakes there too.

    Yet, you guys kept going.

    I know there have been a lot of ups and downs in this book, but to those who have sessfully made it to the end¡­ I only have sweet words to render to you all.

    A Profound thanks to all my readers.

    You all have made the nearly two years of me writing this novel worth it.

    Several times, I have felt discouraged and wanted to stop, but you kept me going.

    Y''all are really the best!

    Thank you to my Top Readers:

    Darkstar333

    TN03121990

    nairasecf

    BLMoore

    Daoist8yc36o

    Dalton_Hunkler

    Samuel_Vasquez_7955

    TonySwag0

    Dennis_Veremiy

    Alex_E_1137

    ¡­ And so many others.

    I would have added more names, but typing out all of them is so hectic.

    I''m sorry, but my fingers hurt already.

    A special "Thank You" to Ojus and Fraudryn, my topmenting readers. You''ve really supported me for arge chunk of this book''s duration.

    You all have made me a much better person and writer.

    Once again¡­ THANK YOU EVERYONE!

    Now, on to the other important matters¡­

    Firstly, as you can tell already, Spellcraft is getting a Part 2, which is essentially a prequel.

    It''s going to be Neron''s story, and the it is going to reveal a bunch of things you never knew, while borating so much more about what you already do.

    Have you ever wondered what the Characters were in the Forgotten Timeline? Or the details of what happened in the first run of the timeline?

    I''m sure you''ve at least thought of it!

    A world where Jared was never the main character; how would it be like?

    Come and read to find out!

    I want to expand more on the worldbuilding of Spellcraft and properly dissect a lot about the current world that you know of.

    The Adventurers¡­ the other cities¡­ even others and races.

    It''s going to be a whole lot.

    Let''s also talk about characters who will finally be explored in this new series.

    Merlin and the Apostles of Aether will finally be properly exhibited.

    Solomon and Lilith will also gain their own spotlight.

    Let''s not forget about the Great Sage''s Past [Pt 2] which will take ce in this new series.

    If you wish to know more about Lewis and what he was up to in his life, you should check out the Part 2.

    The current characters you know of will also be very different, and a lot about them will be revealed in the new Part.

    Characters like Ciara, Aloe, Anabelle (Jared''s mom), Damien Lawcroft, and so many other characters¡­ they''ll be explored further.

    You''ll be surprised by what you''ll learn and enjoy as you read on.

    Even the main antagonist of the series, Legris Damien, will have so many sides of himself revealed in this new installment.

    And just in case you all think the book will be boring since you already know how it ends¡­ I have one word for you.

    You''re wrong!

    If you think you know how it ends, I''ll be the one to tell you now¡­ you really don''t.

    And that is the exciting part!

    Nothing about the Part 2 will in any way ruin your experience with the just concluded Part.

    In fact, it will make so much more sense to you once you delve into it.

    I just really want to explore Neron as a character and show more of this world of Spellcraft.

    Speaking of Neron, there''s still so much you don''t know about him and his origins, and it''ll be really cool seeing him grow as a character.

    He''s not just some OP guy, you know?

    Also, since I started writing Part 2 after the end of Part 1, be assured that the writing quality will be much better than Part 1.

    I n on learning from my mistakes and doing better in this new story.

    I just hope you''re willing toe with me on this journey.

    This is also a good time to add that I have a bunch of other novels that you might enjoy besides Spellcraft. Checking them out and seeing which ones you might enjoy would really mean a lot to me.

    Who knows¡­ you could end up liking another book of mine better than Spellcraft.

    I have a recent book called "An Extra''s POV", and since it''s still in its early stages, I decided to just shamelessly ask you to check it out.

    I know I''ve done this during the course of this novel''s runtime.

    I can''t count how many of my other novels I''ve advertised.

    For those who checked them out¡­ thank you.

    For those who didn''t¡­ it''s not toote!

    I did promise to upload illustrations here, and I n to make good on that promise.

    I''ll also be uploading the images of the 12 Constetions, as well as Jared and Legris'' respective final forms in the Discord Server very soon.

    Now would be a good time to join my discord server so that you can check them out.

    You can even make requests for illustrations or interact with me on the server.

    I''ll do my best to respond.

    [PS: Spent a bit of money making them, so I hope you enjoy the illustrations]

    Check the synopsis for Discord Link

    Once again, thank you all for reading the First Part with me to the end.

    I hope to see you all in the next one.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1330 The Boy Who Hated Magic

    Chapter 1330 The Boy Who Hated Magic

    "I-is this the end¡­?"

    The world felt blurry as a sea of blood ruined the atmosphere.

    The musky stench of death overwhelmed the senses, fueling the embers of despair that choked the young man who managed to leak out his thoughts.

    At this point, to his left and to his right, the marred bodies of hisrades decorated the devastatedndscape.

    Everyone was dead.

    Even if they were alive, he had no way of telling.

    "Haaa¡­ haaaa¡­"

    Heavy breaths now escaped his lungs as he removed his eyes from the gaping mouths and bloodshot eyeballs of the mangled corpses all around him.

    Right now, something else demanded his attention.

    And it stood right in front of him.

    "Huff¡­ huff¡­"

    A monolith of utter destruction¡ªa creature unlike anything he had ever seen before.

    This beast had been the one who hadid waste to all hisrades, destroyed everything in sight, and now had its eyes set on him.

    It snarled, almost in satisfaction as it gazed upon the young man.

    Its eyes brimmed with a primal desire for carnage.

    Its towering height told of an overwhelming power that could not be stopped.

    Something about this creature¡ªthis thing of absolute destruction¡ªseemed inevitable.

    ¡­ Unstoppable.

    "Y-you did this¡­"

    The hollow voice of the young man rang out as he rose to his feet.

    The injuries he had soon began to fade as some sort of power swelled within him.

    His jet ck hair turned white, and his dark irises saw the light.

    At that moment, the world began to tremble.

    "You made me do this¡­"

    Every fiber of energy within the vastndscape of chaos shook in the presence of the magnificent power being birthed.

    No¡­ not the power of the beast.

    The beast was strong, but not to this magnitude.

    This was¡­ something else.

    "I didn''t want this."

    The young man''s body was fully healed now, and the entirety of the fragments that ran amok slowly gathered around him.

    Everything was his.

    "I didn''t want to use this¡­"

    His white hair broke through the darkness, and all of a sudden everything seemed to stop.

    ¡­ As if time itself went still.

    He inhaled.

    And then, he spoke.

    "¡­ Original Magic."

    After those mere words, the world was soon bathed in light, forever changed by the power of a single man.

    No one knows what happened after that.

    No one but him.

    ******

    [Several Years Earlier]

    There was a boy who never liked Magic.

    For as long as he could remember, he always heard people utter the wonders of Magic to him. They painted a grandiose image of the art, and always beamed in wonder when talking about the miracle of Mana.

    In all honesty, he could never understand them.

    ''What makes Magic so special?'' He often asked. ''Why are people so amazed by it?''

    Perhaps it was inevitable that he would never understand how everyone around him felt. After all, it was also for as long as he could remember that he could see the floating sparks of energy that danced in the air.

    Mana!

    The ''concept'' that astounded everybody had always been a part of his reality¡ªalmost to the point that it bored him.

    The floating fragments of energy constantly pervaded everything he saw and observed. If he focused long enough, they would even start drawing closer to him and multiply without end.

    They eventually became a bother.

    This boy lived in the slums¡ªthe ghettos, segregated from the more luxurious portion of the piece ofnd owned by some countryside noble.

    Apparently, the guy was so obsessed with ss that the hierarchy he established was airtight.

    Those deemed worthless andmon had no choice but to live in the slums. As for those who had either wealth or ability, they were promoted to a higher estate.

    The young boy thought it was silly, really, but it didn''t matter to him.

    To be honest, nothing really mattered much to him.

    He heard his father was a good-for-nothing who fled after hearing his mother was pregnant, and his mother died after birthing him¡ªnothing too unexpected, considering how very terrible life in the slums was.

    Before she died, though, she gave him the name he began to bear.

    Neron.

    The folks around told him it meant ''strength'' and ''virility'', which was pretty much what was confirmed, considering howpletely healthy Neron looked at birth.

    In contrast, his sickly mother passed away a few hours after giving birth to him.

    She left him with very little to survive on, and with no one to care for him, Neron was left to die¡­ an abandoned child.

    Yet, he didn''t sumb to it.

    He lived.

    He kept surviving, and even till the earliest point where he could remember his childhood, he kept surviving on his own.

    Perhaps, in a way, that was Magical.

    ''Well, whatever¡­'' Neron''s thoughts would still echo every day.

    Left with nothing but indifference, he lived his life in hismunity, eventually attracting his own little group of friends and immediate acquaintances.

    It was convenient to have people to talk to, so he allowed himself to get familiar with them.

    Fun, as they often called it, was a good way to while away time, so Neron engaged in it. He had nothing better to do, so he thought it was pretty much a decent venture.

    Yet, it seemed despite his stoicism and lethargy toward everything, this topic of ''Magic'', and ''Mana'' and ''Spells'' always disturbed Neron.

    ''Why is this so amazing? It''s literally everywhere.'' He often pondered to himself, hearing the words of his friends and fellow denizens who lived with him in the slums.

    They often regaled him with tales of people called ''Mages'', who could harness this so-called special power and utilize Spells to form Magic.

    They made it seem so unique, yet for as long as he could remember, he could draw the Mana Fragments close to him and manipte them however he wished.

    After hearing all about the legends of Mages, he decided to see just how difficult the task of Magic was.

    Perhaps it was going to prove too much for him.

    ¡­ He was wrong.

    Magic was easy!

    All he had to do was think up whatever, and the Mana around him would respond, draw near to him, and create the effect.

    It was the simplest thing to do!

    ''Is this really that amazing?'' Neron wondered to himself.

    He could make water appear, or generate fire, or move the earth. He could do pretty much anything with the power of Magic.

    Well¡­ almost anything.

    "I can''t make food with it. I keep starving every day. If Magic is so awesome, why can''t it make food out of thin air?" He would often ask.

    As someone who never formally studied the craft, he could only make guesses.

    ''Perhaps if I knew the right Spell, or whatever, I could do it.''

    But, he had to wonder if something that convenient even existed.

    He could make fire, or water, but wasn''t it because it was naturally possible to transform the moisture around to liquid, or to ignite the oxygen in the air?

    Neron didn''t need to think too hard to figure that much out.

    ''In the end, Magic still needs to transform something into something else. It''s not special.''

    Yet, everyone kept praising and glorifying it.

    Some mentioned how they would do anything to have the power to use Magic. Those who could use it were pretty much living in the better parts of the territory, leaving him surrounded with Inepts.

    ''I could have probably relocated to the more civilized parts of the city, but I didn''t want to surround myself with people who actually devoted their lives to learning and practicing the stuff.''

    Having that thought, Neron remained in the slums.

    Slowly, his indifference towards Magic transformed into distaste, and then finally¡­ it became a strong sense of annoyance.

    He really didn''t like Magic.

    Little did Neron know, however, that he would eventually need to rely on the very gift he chose to regret.

    Maybe¡­ just maybe¡­ Magic could be a tiny bit more interesting than he initially thought.

    And Neron was about to find out.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1331 Life In The Slums

    Chapter 1331 Life In The Slums

    Neron had five friends, and their group of six were pretty average kids in the slums.

    In such a hellhole, having allies was necessary¡ªeven five-year-olds like them understood that.

    "Hey, Neron! You''rete!"

    As he approached his smiling friends, Neron took his time to note their faces.

    Dan, Ral, Kid, Legris, and the only girl in the group, Yera. As always, he was thest to arrive, and they were all waiting for him.

    "Sorry. I guess waking up took longer than expected."

    Neron knew his excuses were poor, but even his facial expression made it evident that he didn''t care enough toe up with anything better.

    "Yeah, yeah!"

    "Let''s just get started already!"

    "You could at least try to sound sorry one of these days."

    "Welp, you know the rules."

    "Hehe!"

    Now that they had all gathered in their usual spot, an open area with dpidated structures and rubble strewn around, they were ready to do what little kids did best.

    Have fun!

    And what better way to do that than y games?

    Their usual game was simple, a makeshift variant of tag. Each of them would take turns trying to outrun the ''chaser.''

    The ''chaser'' was to be selected at random, but since Neron always camete, it was trite for him to take on the role.

    ''This is tedious¡­'' Neron thought as he maintained his stoic gaze.

    ''What can I do, though? Everyone seems to enjoy it¡ª

    especially when they believe they can outpace me.''

    In the end, he had to just go along with it.

    ********

    "Try to catch me, Neron!" Ral taunted, darting off like a rabbit. Hisughter echoed in the otherwise deste area of the slums.

    "You''re too slow, Neron!" Yera chimed in, her voice full of yful defiance as she dashed away.

    To them, this was all exhrating.

    However, for the chaser, Neron, it was just running¡ªa thing he did with natural ease.

    As usual, he ended the game quickly, catching each one of them with barely an effort.

    "Why are you always the one to catch us?" Once again, theyined to him while panting heavily.

    He was used to hearing these words by now.

    "You''re too talented, Neron."

    "Yeah, it''s not fair. You''re always winning!"

    "How do you do it?"

    Neron could only shrug, hiding the fact that it was too easy.

    ******

    As night fell, the group of friends gathered around for dinner¡ªscraps salvaged from the nearby dump.

    The food was sour and slightly off-putting, but everyone here had grown ustomed to it.

    ''It''s not likeining will do any good¡­'' Neron''s thoughts trailed as he took a good look at his mold-covered bread.

    He took his eyes off it, almost hoping that him not seeing what he ate would somehow make it taste better.

    He was wrong.

    ''Disgusting¡­ as always.''

    Neron noticed that all the boys were taking it like champs, but he found Yera trying to hide her grimace as she swallowed a particrly sour morsel.

    ''She used to be prettyfortable until a year ago when her parents died¡­''

    Now even Yera had to struggle in the harsh world of the slums.

    Everyone here had their stories¡ªsome more pleasant than others.

    In the end, though, they were brought together by their shared suffering.

    "We should try to get something better next time." Neron suggested, breaking the silence.

    Everyone stared at him and nodded. Of course, this wouldn''t be the first time someone would say something like this.

    These were merely words.

    Nothing more¡­ nothing less.

    Under the open sky, on a makeshift bed of worn-out clothes and cardboard, Nerony with his friends, staring at the stars.

    It was a peaceful, if somewhat mncholic, routine.

    No one said anything.

    The slum was an ugly ce, but at the very least the stars high up in the sky shone a little bit of beauty to its denizens.

    Even as little children, Neron and his friends could appreciate the beauty that stared down at them.

    "Hey, what would you guys wish for if you could wish for anything?" A voice suddenly echoed.

    It belonged to Legris, Neron''s first friend and the one who took on the role ofedian in their group.

    He was usually known for acting goofy and never taking anything serious. However, this time his tone was sullen.

    He sounded so serious.

    "Where''s the shooting star, Legris? Wishes don''t work without one." Kid responded.

    Everyone burst outughing instantly.

    Even he¡ªthe stoic Neron¡ªlet out a little chuckle.

    "Shut up, Kid," Legris said good-naturedly.

    And then a small smile formed on his face; almost like he was sad about something.

    "Just make a wish. Who knows if someone is listening out there."

    There was a pause before he continued.

    "I''d wish for Magic," he admitted.

    Normally, this would but time he would let out a bigugh and crack a joke, but Legris did not.

    His voice had lost all of its yful edge.

    "With Magic, we could change everything. Eat good food, drink clean water... help everyone here. Maybe even get rid of that nasty noble. But most importantly¡­" he added with a smirk, staring at his closest friend.

    "¡­ I would finally beat Neron in our game."

    The othersughed at thest part, but everyone was nodding in agreement to the rest of his words.

    Neron was the only one who remained silent.

    ''Could Magic really do all of that?'' He gazed at the night sky.

    He turned to his friends, their faces illuminated by the glow of the moon, all of them dreaming of a better life.

    A life touched by Magic.

    ''I don''t think it can¡­''

    But there was no way he could tell his friends that.

    In the end, Neron remained silent and instead Dan ruined the moment by letting out his weirdugh.

    "You''re too greedy, Legris! That''s more than one wish."

    Everyoneughed after that, and all the seriousness dissipated into the night.

    In no time at all, they returned to being dumb little kids.

    Neron joined in the chuckles, but his mind was pretty far from his friends.

    He couldn''t help but continuously mull over the words of his friend.

    ''I¡­ I wonder¡­''

    Neron drifted off to sleep, unable to properly address the questions within his heart.

    He just hoped they would go away when he woke up the next day.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1332 Conflict Among Friends

    Chapter 1332 Conflict Among Friends

    "Hey, Neron! Want toe with us? We''re going to Mr. Duffy''s house today!"

    Neron raised his brows at the question as he stared at all five of his friends.

    They all seemed pretty excited, and he knew why.

    Mr. Duffy was an elderly man¡ªat least on his sixties¡ªwho lived in the outskirts of the slums.

    His house was perched on top of a hill, close to the end of the territory of the Lord of thend, and by the standards of all slum dwellers, it was pretty luxurious.

    However, none of these were reasons why the kids wanted to visit his ce.

    "Why are you asking me? You already know my answer." Neron frowned slightly as he looked at the one who asked the question.

    It was none other than Legris.

    "Come on, Neron! When will you get over your hatred for Magic?"

    Neron''s gaze narrowed as he red at his friend.

    "I already told you¡­ I don''t hate it. I''m just not interested."

    Mr. Duffy was the only one close to the Slums who knew details about Magic.

    He was a Magic Schr, and while he didn''t really have enough Mana to practice Magic, he had studied it for most of his life.

    Neron personally thought it was foolish, which was why he didn''t look up to the old man the same way his friends did.

    "He said he''s going to teach us about the various Levels of Spell and the Tiers under them!"

    "He even told me that I might have an aptitude for Magic, and he has a device that could help me find out!"

    "Come on¡­ it''ll be fun!"

    No matter what his friends said, they only served to make Neron more furious.

    ''Why? Why are these people so obsessed with this stuff?!''

    Initially, he had told himself to ignore it, however this nonsense was getting out of hand.

    Before he realized it, Neron echoed out his thoughts to his friends.

    "Magic is stupid! And you''re all stupid for liking it so much!"

    The moment he blurted out those words, Neron realized just what he had said.

    He could see the faces of his friends¡ªenveloped in both surprise and disappointment.

    It even seemed like Yera would cry.

    "I-I didn''t¡ª" Before Neron could take back his words, Legris stepped forward until he was mere inches away from Neron.

    "What did you just say?"

    He shoved Neron with his little hands, causing thetter to stumble backwards.

    "Did you just call Magic stupid? Did you just call us stupid?"

    He kept shoving Neron, who was shocked to see his friend acting this way.

    The others were also standing still; all of them shocked to see Legris disy such a level of anger.

    "Answer me, Neron!" At this point, Legris was bing very violent with his shoves.

    He eventually raised his hand, and from its trajectory, he was about to hit Neron.

    "STOP! Stop it Legris!" Yera''s voice surged through the air as she quickly ran to defend Neron.

    She boldly stood in front of the dazed Neron, stretching out her hands to protect him.

    Everyone was surprised to see this level of assertiveness from the usually timid girl.

    "Stay out of this, Yera!" Legris yelled.

    "N-no! Neron is our friend! I won''t let you hit him!"

    Her voice was so loud that everyone felt their skins tremble. Despite her stutters, her resolute face made it clear that she wasn''t going to budge.

    Legris had two choices at this point¡ªcontinue with his actions and risk hitting Yera, or backing off.

    Of course, he chose thetter.

    "Tch! Must be nice, huh¡­?" Legris spat as he red at Neron who had hardly moved an inch since Yera protected him.

    "Having Yera protect you. Having all that talent¡­"

    Legris'' face was red already. It was clear that he was doing his best to suppress his rage.

    "Whatever¡­"

    Legris walked away, turning his back on Neron as he departed.

    "Come on, guys! Let''s go!"

    The rest of the boys trailed after Legris, but not before shooting Neron sympathetic looks.

    Inasmuch as they cared for their friend, they still couldn''t forget that he had just called them stupid.

    Besides, they really wanted to visit Mr. Duffy.

    "Are youing or not, Yera?" Legris stopped after walking for a while, refusing to even look her in the eyes.

    "I''ll catch up with you soon."

    Legris fidgeted a little upon hearing her response. He must have really wanted to leave with her, but she had chosen to stay with Neron instead.

    "I¡­ I see¡­" He mumbled.

    Not long after he uttered those words, Legris resumed walking, and his friends joined him.

    None of them spared Neron and Yera a second nce.

    *******

    "You should have gone with them. I''m fi¡ª"

    ~WHAP!~

    Before Neron couldplete his sentence, a loud noise rang in both his ears as he felt sharp stings on his two cheeks.

    Yera''s tiny hands were on his cheeks, and the ps she had just given him immensely.

    "O-ow! What was that for?!"

    Neron tried to get away from her, but she wouldn''t let go of his cheeks.

    They both stumbled and fell on the ground, with Yera right on top of him.

    This was the first time Yera had ever been so violent and assertive, so Neron was pretty freaked out by it.

    His widened eyes watched as she gave him a very resolute expression.

    Her stubbornness made him realize that all attempts to resist were futile.

    "I¡­ I''m sorry¡­" He mumbled, finally giving up.

    "Much better."

    Yera''s voice was apanied by a smile.

    Neron had never seen her smile that way before. He felt a burning sensation on his two cheeks, and it wasn''t just due to the ps he had just received.

    "A-ah¡­ sorry!" Yera realized herpromising position and awkwardly took her ce beside him.

    The two were silent for a while until Neron spoke.

    "I went too far, didn''t I? I shouldn''t have called it stupid. I shouldn''t have called you all stupid¡­"

    He knew, deep down, how much Magic meant to his friends.

    He had crossed a line.

    "To be honest, Neron¡­ I¡­ I don''t know what to say." Yera''s tone suddenly went soft.

    It felt like she was apletely different personpared to earlier.

    "You''re so smart. So athletic. So talented. So¡­ handsome¡­

    I-I mean, handy. It just seems like you''re so good at everything, everything just seems so easy to you¡­"

    This was the first time Neron was hearing Yera say so many words at once.

    Still, he couldn''t stop looking at her face as she said them.

    "The rest of us¡­ sometimes we feel inadequate, you know? We aren''t as talented or strong as you, Neron. Maybe you''re right. Maybe that''s why we need Magic¡­ because we''re inadequate."

    Was this really how she felt? Was this how the rest of his friends felt?

    Neron had so many thoughts rushing through his mind as he heard Yera''s words.

    ''I¡­ I never thought of it that way before¡­''

    A lot of times, his friends had said simr things in passing, but he never paid then much mind.

    They always told him how great he was, but he never really thought very deeply about it.

    Not until now.

    "I don''t know¡­ I don''t have any answers. I''m not that smart. I''m not strong¡­ and I always think about my parents. If¡­ if I had enough Magic, I''m sure I could bring them back¡­ and¡­"

    At this point, Yera was sobbing.

    She was always a crybaby, and seeing her break down like this made Neron''s chest hurt deeply.

    He hugged her, and she embraced him back. She cried on his shoulders, and he allowed it.

    Once she was done, he even helped wipe away her tears.

    "Legris didn''t mean to shove you, you know? He just loves Magic so much¡­ probably more than the rest of us."

    The only thing was¡­ no one knew why.

    Yera had lost her parents fairly recently. Kid had epileptic episodes and healthplications. Dan liked to eat a lot. Ral envied the lives of the rich.

    They all had distinct reasons why they desired Magic, but Legris never said anything really personal.

    ¡­ Or did he?

    "He wants to be like you, Neron. To be able to see the world the way you do¡­"

    Neron''s heart grew sullen after hearing that.

    He had never really considered himself as anything special, just the same way he didn''t think of Magic as extraordinary.

    It was all the same to him.

    But now, with Yera saying all of these things to him, Neron finally realized it.

    ''I¡­ I''m not like the rest of them.''

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1333 That House Atop The Hill

    Chapter 1333 That House Atop The Hill

    "Well, I''m going now. Are you sure you don''t want toe?"

    After spending a lot of time with Neron, Yera finally decided to rendezvous with her friends in Mr. Duffy''s ce.

    She had been as considerate as possible, but Yera couldn''t deny that she was also very curious about what the rest of her friends were up to.

    Besides, she still had to talk to Legris.

    "No. I think I''ll stay here." Neron muttered, his eyes almost vacant.

    "There''s a lot I need to think about."

    Once Yera heard this, her heart fell a little. She had hoped Neron woulde with her and make up with Legris once they arrived at Mr. Duffy''s.

    They could then sit and enjoy the old man''s stories, and Neron would end up falling in love with Magic.

    It would have been perfect.

    "O-okay! I understand¡­" She strained a smile and stole one final nce at the boy.

    He wasn''t even looking at her.

    ''I guess he really has a lot to think about.''

    Many times, she had wondered what went on in the mind of the little boy called Neron.

    But she was never able to figure him out. Even now¡­ he felt like an enigma.

    "Apologize to Legris when we get back, okay?" Yera yelled.

    "Yes ma''am." Neron raised his head and gave her a smile.

    That smile of his made it all worth it.

    "B-bye then! See youter!"

    Yera hid her flushed cheeks and rushed away from Neron, her twin pigtails flying as she ran towards the hillside where Mr. Duffy lived.

    ''I just want you to be happy, Neron. You, me, Legris, and everyone!''

    They were all friends, after all.

    **********

    As Neron sat by himself, he began to feel a certain dread within.

    "Maybe I should have gone with her¡­" He muttered.

    It had been quite a few hours since Yera left, and it was already getting dark.

    None of his friends had returned, and Neron was already feeling lonely.

    He had never been without his friends for this long, so he didn''t know what to do.

    Neron couldn''t y their usual games by himself, and he soon found himself missing the very activities he had mocked.

    ''At this point, I would dly be the catcher¡­''

    He sighed and rose to his feet.

    There was no use wasting time thinking about thoughts like this.

    ''I''ll just go and check the geezer''s house.''

    He still didn''t like the idea of going to the house of a Magic Schr, but he already missed his friends.

    ''Could this be an borate scheme they cooked up just to make mee over?'' Neron found himself thinking.

    ''Or are they enjoying the Magic ss so much that they''ve lost track of time?''

    Either way, Neron didn''t n on staying very long in the old man''s ce.

    He just wanted to see his friends and convince them toe back.

    He didn''t even mind apologizing at this point.

    ''It''s all just petty anyway¡­''

    *******

    It took Neron a lot longer than he thought to get to the hill where Mr. Duffy''s house was situated.

    He began to feel a little guilty that he had let Yera walk by herself.

    ''If I knew it was this far, I would have offered to escort her¡­''

    It wasn''t like he had anything better to do.

    Once he climbed the hill and neared the house¡ªa two-storey building with a simplistic design.

    It had an overly long chimney, with fumes proceeding out of it.

    At least that meant the old man was at home.

    ''Whew! It would suck if that wasn''t the case!''

    The old building''s paint was already peeling, and while this house would be considered extravagant for those who dwelled in the slums, it wasn''t particrly fancy.

    ''Still, I bet many of those hoodlums would kill to live here.''

    The only reason they hadn''t tried to rob Mr. Duffy, or even taking over his house, was due to their fear of Magic.

    Everyone knew how dangerous that kind of power could be, and Mr. Duffy was rumored to possess certain Magic Items that could be considered extremely dangerous to themon man.

    As a result, he had both the prestige and reverence that came with being associated with Magic.

    Neron neared the house''s entrance and knocked gently.

    "Hello, Mr. Duffy. I''m here for my friends." Neron said aloud, though he couldn''t be bothered enough to put energy into it.

    There was no response.

    ''What''s going on? He''s definitely home, isn''t he?''

    Neron sighed heavily. He didn''t like situations like this.

    "Mr. Duffy! I''m a friend of Legris! I''m here for my friends!" At this point, his voice was a little louder, and so was his knock.

    Still¡­ there was no response.

    "Mr. Duffy¡­ haaa¡­ okay, fine. Legris, it''s me. I''m sorry for what I said earlier. Let''s just talk it out."

    Neron felt a burden leave his chest as he said those words.

    He knew Legris could be petty enough to make sure no one answered the door.

    But now that he had apologized, all would be well.

    Right?

    ¡­ There was no response.

    ''What is going on? Why isn''t anyone responding?''

    Neron didn''t know why, but he felt something was off.

    "Mr. Duffy, I''ming in!" Neron tried to open the door, but it wouldn''t budge.

    He pressed his little weight on the wooden barrier, but nothing was forting.

    With no response, and no way to get in, he let out a frustrating groan.

    ''I really don''t want to walk back alone!''

    Was this really Legris'' doing? Was he so petty that he could do such a thing?

    ''No! Legris isn''t like that!''

    Sure, Legris had surprised him with how upset he was earlier in the day, but this wasn''t the first time they had gotten into disagreements.

    Legris was petty, but not that petty.

    ''Besides¡­ Yera and the others should be inside as well.''

    There was no way they would ignore him for this long.

    That meant one thing.

    ''Something is wrong!''

    Well, they could all be sleeping¡ªso it was technically two things¡ªbut Neron didn''t know why the first thought he had seemed like the most usible.

    He could feel it deep within him.

    ''I need to get in!''

    Neron didn''t want to have to do this, but he didn''t think he had any other choice.

    ''I have to use Magic!''

    *

    *

 Chapter 1334 What Awaits In The Dark

    Chapter 1334 What Awaits In The Dark

    Neron had no formal education when it came to Magic.

    He didn''t even understand what Spells really were, or how to ssify them.

    He knew that they were separated into Levels based on their intensity,plexity, and how much Mana was needed to utilize them.

    He also knew that a lot of individuals dedicated their entire lifetime to advance existing Spells and also develop new ones.

    It was insanity to Neron, but that was how the practice of Magic was.

    And he was no expert in any of that.

    ''All I know is¡­ if I can concentrate on what I want, then¡­''

    As Neron closed his eyes, he began to sense the floating balls of energy around him.

    They were Mana¡ªinvisible to the normal eyes, but perceived by him.

    ''That''s strange. Why does the Mana vanish the moment they touch the house?''

    Usually, Mana would either bounce off a surface or resonate with it.

    Why would it suddenly vanish?

    ''Let''s try this out¡­'' Neron began to feel the cirction of his own Mana.

    It was sparkling white, with bluish sparks popping out at intervals.

    Before long, the energy manifested on the palm of his hand, shimmering like a star in the night sky.

    "Huu¡­ it''s been a while since I did this."

    Using Mana wasn''t particrly difficult, but Neron always felt something stirring within him anytime he tried it.

    It was a fuzzy feeling he couldn''t quite exin.

    Ignoring the sensation within, he pressed his hand on the door, and all of s sudden felt a strange urrence hit him.

    ~FSHIII!~

    His Mana was absorbed by the door''s surface, causing him to jerk backwards in surprise.

    Never before had this happened to him.

    Fortunately for Neron, though, the door began to tremble in response to the Mana it had just received.

    A clicking sound echoed from within, and the door slowly creaked open.

    ''A-ah¡­ so it requires Mana to open.''

    A bead of sweat fell from Neron''s face as he stared at the gaping entrance.

    Despite all of his bravado, he was still only five years old.

    ''The Mana disappears when it enters inside. Is there something up with this house?'' Neron thought.

    He gulped and approached the eerie darkness that invited him inside.

    "Mr. Duffy¡­ I''ming in¡­"

    Neron took brave steps and ventured into the darkness.

    The moment he did so, an odd sensation consumed his body.

    "H-huh¡­?"

    He could feel it happen subtly¡ªvery gradually¡ªbut the Mana that was leaking out of his body was being drawn away.

    It wasn''t just his Mana, but every Mana fragment that followed him inside.

    But where was everything going?

    Neron''s eyes glowed, and he realized they were ascending

    ¡ªgoing to the first floor above.

    ''Are they doing some kind of experiment?'' Neron thought within himself.

    His inner recesses tried to warn him of something much grimmer, but his five-year-old mind could notprehend it.

    Instead, he ventured even further into Mr. Duffy''s house.

    The first floor looked pretty mundane. It had a firece, chairs and tables¡­ the usual setting for an average old man.

    The furniture seemed old, though, and so did the paint that covered the walls.

    Neron wondered how long Mr. Duffy had been living in this ce.

    ''He''s been around before I was even born.''

    He noticed a dusty portrait on the wall. It contained the painting of an youthful man who wore a bright grin.

    Underneath it was a name.

    "Lewis Griffith, huh? Who''s that?"

    Neron didn''t have time to think about it, though, as he once again felt his energy being seeped away from his body.

    ''I better hurry!''

    Neron quickly found the stairs that led upstairs, and he rushed with all the strength he could muster .

    For a kid, he was quite agile. Within seconds, he was already upstairs, right in front of a door that seemed to radiate nothing but gloom.

    ''Why? Why do I have this uneasy feeling?''

    As Neron took one more step forward, the door creaked open and a man emerged from within it.

    He had very dry wrinkly skin that resembled scales, with a very lean stature to match.

    His sunken eyes existed behind his spectacles, and his flowing white beards told well of his age.

    He had a walking stick in his hand, and a long ck gown that covered his body.

    "Heyyyy, Neron. What are you doing here?" Mr. Duffy gave a wide grin, disying the few teeth he had remaining.

    His bald head glowed as his shrinking eyes narrowed even further.

    "How did you get in?"

    "I am looking for my friends, Mr. Duffy. They came here. Where are they?"

    Neron didn''t bother greeting the old man.

    Something about him seemed sinister¡ªunlikeable. He genuinely didn''t know why everyone liked him so much.

    He just wanted to get his friends and leave.

    "Ohh? But they left already. They left a while back."

    Neron''s eyes twitched the moment he heard that.

    "Are you sure about that, Mr. Duffy?"

    Not only did he not want to walk all that distance back by himself, but there was something else¡­

    "Yes. I''m quite sure. I''m currently in the process of some Magic Research. Want to join me?"

    "Nah! I''ll pass¡­" Neron''s brows furrowed.

    "I see. Such a shame¡­"

    "I guess I''ll be on my way back, then."

    As Neron turned his back and made to descend the stairs, he suddenly froze.

    ''Hold on¡­''

    There was something within him. It resonated with something that existed beyond the door.

    ''This feeling¡­ Yera''s Mana¡­?!''

    He had no doubt in his mind.

    He slowly turned back and stared at the old man who stood before the door, as if waiting to see Neron leave.

    ''Why did he lie when I can clearly sense her behind him?''

    Neron didn''t know how Yera now had Mana. His friends did mention something about an ''Awakening'' that they would do here to see if they could be Mages.

    Perhaps Yera seeded.

    But¡­ if that was the case¡­

    "¡­ Why did you lie to me?" Neron asked with a clear frown on his face.

    "W-what did you sa¡ª?"

    Before Mr. Duffy could conclude his words, Neron leaped from his position, the Mana in his legs propelling him forward to a supernatural degree.

    ~WHOOSH!~

    His body sliced through the air and he soon appeared right beside the old man in no time.

    "W-what are you doing, Neron? I just told you¡ª!"

    "Hey¡­" Neron turned to re at the old man, his eyes burning bright with blue flickers of light.

    "Stay out of my way!"

    Neron then pushed the door open, barely even touching its surface thanks to the force of Mana that coursed through his hands.

    ~CREAK~

    The door slowly paved the way for the horrors that were held beyond it.

    This time, there was no darkness.

    There was blood.

    "A-ahhh¡­?"

    Neron''s voice could not properly form as he struggled to understand what he was seeing.

    All five of his friends were on the floor, surrounded by a Magic Circle¡­ their heads separate from their bodies.

    All their blood was rising above to a ruby-red gem that seemed to be the thing that was sucking all the Mana around.

    Neron''s Mana was quickly being taken by this stone, but at this point he didn''t notice.

    Not while his friends were corpses right before his eyes.

    "Y-you guys¡­" He whispered.

    Ast flicker of light came from Yera before it was swept into the stone.

    At that moment, Neron could no longer sense her.

    That meant she was dead.

    They were all dead.

    "It seemed like the Mana of that girl was what gave it away. Out of all of them, she had such a bountiful load¡­"

    A voice came from behind Neron.

    Despite hearing it, he did not look back. Perhaps he feared that if he took his face away from the emaciated corpses of his friends, they would disappear forever.

    "This is surprising, though. I never expected you to be the golden goose of the group."

    The voice clearly belonged to Mr. Duffy, but something about it felt different.

    ¡­ Felt more malevolent.

    "Even now Blood Stone is heavily draining your Mana, you can still stand upright. Your friends gave out in just a few seconds."

    Mr. Duffy''s hand touched Neron''s shoulder, and Neron felt his entire body get paralyzed.

    He crumbled to his knees and felt disconnected from every part of himself.

    Completely rendered powerless, he was forced to watch the old man walk past him.

    "For years now¡­ decades¡­ I have done this to those who stepped into this ce. All those crooked criminals who desired my wealth¡­ all the innocents who were enamored by my knowledge¡­"

    With Mr. Duffy now right in front of Neron, the boy could see him clearly for who he was.

    "¡­ All of them ended up here, sharing the same fate."

    Mr. Duffy''s lips spread to the far edges of his cheeks, disying the most crooked smile imaginable.

    This was no longer a human.

    "And now, my dear boy, it''s your turn."

    Neron shivered at the thought of dying¡ªperishing just like everyone else in this room.

    His friends were gone forever now.

    Perhaps it would be nice to join them. Perhaps they could y ''tag'' in the afterlife.

    ''NO!'' Neron''s thoughts screamed as he red at the grinning old man.

    ''I REFUSE IT!''

    From the very depths of his soul, his desire sprang forth.

    ''I REFUSE TO DIE!''

 Chapter 1335 Impossibleâ€¦ Or Not

    <h4>Chapter 1335 Impossible¡­ Or Not</h4>

    "You should have just gone home when you had the chance¡­"

    Neron was on his knees as he heard the footsteps of the old man draw closer to him.

    The eerie silence in the room gave weight to every echo of his words.

    Mr. Duffy had just taken the blood-red gem that floated above the inscribed Magic Circle on the ground.

    The Circle was no longer glowing, and it seemed the stone was done absorbing all the energy and blood from its victims.

    Right in front of his eyes, Neron had to watch his friends be nothing but dried sacs of flesh and bones.

    All while kneeling¡­ waiting¡­

    "Do you know how Blood Stones are formed? Every human has a Soul, and the Soul is simply a cluster of Energy that is Mana¡­" As Mr. Duffy said this, he fixed the gem on the staff he usually used for walking.

    "Throughout the course of a person''s life, the energy from the Soul leaks to the body and flows through the blood as Mana Fragments or Particles."

    As he kept speaking, the light of the so-called Blood Stone''s began to flicker.

    "By extracting the blood of countless individuals and concentrating it in a single location, condensing it to the utmost limit¡­ a Blood Stone is born."

    Mr. Duffy''s wide smile showed just how excited he was.

    He didn''t even mind that he was exining all of this to a powerless child who would soon meet his end.

    "For years now, I have been slowly collecting the Mana from various people¡­ trying my best to charge up the Blood Stone. It was never enough. Not enough toplete it¡­"

    However, based on the maniacal grin that the old man was disying, it seemed all of that had now changed.

    "Finally¡­ it is done! My several decades of dedication to the cause has finally paid off! It''s just as Lewis Griffith, The Great Sage, mentioned. Nothing is impossible with Magic!"

    Old Man Duffy began tough maniacally, greedily licking his lips as he eyed his prized possession.

    After so long, he finally had the power he sought!

    "I wasn''t nning on absorbing your Mana, but it''ll be a waste not to do so at this point. It seems you have quite arge pool of it." More cackles ofughter escaped his lips.

    "I suppose I''ll just consider this a bonus for m¡ª!"

    "Is that all¡­?"

    Neron''s sudden voice shook Mr. Duffy¡ªenough to cause him to fall silent instantly.

    He didn''t evenplete his statement, and hisughter immediately ceased.

    "Just¡­ just because of Magic¡­ you did this¡­?"

    Mr. Duffy was speechless.

    "How are you speaking? I definitely used a Magic Item to paralyze you."

    There was no way a five-year-old could lift such an overpowering Magic effect.

    Even though Neron wasn''t moving his whole body, the mere fact that he could speak caused Mr. Duffy''s fade to squeeze in difort.

    "I better start the process. It''s risky to leave you be like this¡­"

    Within moments, Mr. Duffy was right in front of Neron.

    He held the tip of his staff where the Blood Stone was directly ced, while pointing the other end towards Neron.

    "It''s nothing personal, little one. It''s just that, with this much power, I can finally be able to use as much Magic as I want."

    Mr. Duffy''s hands trembled as the staff''s tip approached Neron.

    It wasn''t due to fear or guilt, but simply due to the overwhelming excitement that threatened to consume him.

    "I just might¡­ surpass the Great Sage himself!"

    As the de''s tip touched Neron''s head, it began to siphon the young boy''s Mana at an astronomical rate.

    Within a few seconds, he would copse, and within a few more, he would bepletely drained.

    Mr. Duffy had done this countless times, and he had researched so much into the Blood Stone that he knew the precise duration for everything involving it.

    A few seconds passed.

    "Hmmm?"

    A few more seconds psed.

    "Oho? This is surprising! You have a lot more Mana than I realized.

    About a minute progressed.

    "T-this is¡­?! What''s going on? How is this even possible?"

    At this point, Mr. Duffy was beyond shocked.

    Never before had he seen anyone resist the Blood Stone for up to a minute.

    Perhaps seasoned Mages could, but definitely not a brat like the one before him.

    It didn''t matter how talented he was, there was only a limited amount of Mana a five-year-old could amass at such a young age.

    What was currently happening defied logic¡ªthe very basis of his practice.

    "I-impossible!" Mr. Duffy almost screamed, but he controlled himself.

    However, just as he struggled to stifle his words, he heard a strange chuckle.

    It came from the lips of the kid.

    "Impossible? I thought you said nothing was Impossible with Magic."

    Mr. Duffy was speechless.

    How was this boy still able to chuckle? How could he speak?

    Why wasn''t he unconscious¡ªno, dead?!

    "Haha¡­ you hypocrite¡­" Neron slowly began to move one of his hands.

    Mr. Duffy''s shrunken eyes began to widen in disbelief.

    "If that''s the case, then I suppose it''s not impossible¡­ for me to do this¡­"

    Neron''s hand touched the tip of the staff. Before long, he tightly held it.

    "U-urgh! W-what are you¡­ what are you doing?!"

    Neron''s grip on the staff was so strong that it began to crack.

    Despite how much of his Mana was being absorbed, it didn''t seem to make a difference.

    Blue sparks of Energy began to glow from Neron, continuously climbing to a higher degree.

    ~BZZTZZ~

    "I won''t let it end like this¡­" Neron huffed as he raised his head. "I won''t let you kill me."

    His trembling legs began to rise, and before long, Neron was right on his feet.

    "W-what?! T-this¡­ this can''t be!"

    Mr. Duffy was too bbergasted to form more coherent words after that.

    Just who was this kid? How was he doing these things?!

    "The one who''s going to die is you. And I''m going to be the one that kills you!"

    ~VWUUUUSHHH!~

    Power swelled from Neron, causing his entire body to be enveloped in the blue aura.

    The floor beneath his feet cracked, and the air around him trembled.

    Everything in the room shook, preparing for the glorious eruption that Neron was generating.

    "W-what are you doing?! Are you trying to¡ª?!"

    Mr. Duffy''s words were cut short as he watched Neron give his own wide grin.

    The boy''s smile was wide and horrific¡ªthe definition of someone who could not care less about anything and its consequences.

    "Go to hell¡­ you stupid man!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    The entire house exploded into mes, causing debris to fly all around.

    The pieces of the house that weren''t consumed in the eruption of raw energy were scattered in numerous locations.

    Everything belonging to Mr. Duffy was turned into ash and debris.

    ¡­ All thanks to a single boy''s immensely bountiful Mana.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading, everyone!

    I appreciate it.

 Chapter 1336 Crashing Down

    <h4>Chapter 1336 Crashing Down</h4>

    Elias Martins Duffy was a man who loved Magic since he was a little boy.

    He was so enamored by the concept of bending thews of the world and achieving supernatural effects through the wondrous energy of Mana.

    He patiently waited for the day he would turn five years old so he could finally Awaken and be a proper Mage.

    Unfortunately¡­ he could not.

    It was only until he became nine years old that he could finally do so, and even then it was barely.

    Apparently, he had a very poor aptitude for Magic.

    The Mana Fragments in his body were in very small quantities, and the rate of production was also incredibly slow.

    He was never going to be the kind of Mage he desired; forever doomed to not being enough.

    Did he give up, though?

    No!

    The major source of motivation for him was Lewis Griffith, the man who revolutionized Magic despite being inept.

    Unlike Lewis Griffith, who had been born Inept, he still had some measure of Mana.

    As such, he was determined to learn as much as he could about Magic and contribute to themunity as much as he could.

    Elias Martins Duffy tried to enroll in the great Ainrk Magic Academy, but after failing the exams countless times, he settled for being the apprentice for a local Mage he found around.

    The Mage taught him everything he knew, but it still wasn''t enough.

    Not only was he incredibly average, but he wasn''t very powerful either.

    This Mage was never going to help him achieve his dream of contributing to the world of Magic.

    Elias knew he needed more!

    As a result of his impatience, he went behind his master''s back and studied the materials that were kept off-limits to him.

    That was when he found out the secrets of the Blood Stone.

    ording to the books, this was forbidden Magic¡ªnever to be used due to its immense danger, incredible potential, and moral hazard.

    The threat such Magic could pose on the world was astronomically high if allowed to be mainstream.

    Elias did not know how his master had such materials with him, but he chose to use them for himself.

    He initially felt guilty about it, but soon after he numbed himself and ignored his inner conscience.

    It was only afterpleting the preparations necessary for the Blood Stone creation, and sacrificing his Master in his sleep, that Elias made a rather shocking discovery.

    His Master¡ªthe Mage whom he had learned under for so many years¡ªhad also been nning on using him to make a Blood Stone.

    The Mage had been suffering from an obsessive sense of inadequacy and desire to push his Magic to the next level.

    Apparently, some group gave him the resources needed to research the Blood Stone and make one.

    Elias was only able to find this out by chance, and not only did he feel betrayed by the actions of his master, but he also felt justified in his actions.

    He had been right all along!

    After this experience, he fled to the Slums of a rather corrupt Lord.

    By paying a fair sum of money that he obtained from his Master, he was able to secure somend at the edge of the territory and start his new life there.

    Of course, moving in wasn''t easy.

    Living among the lowlives of society had its downsides, but Elias quickly found a way to turn it into something of benefit.

    ''No one cares about some countryside slums!'' He had thought. ''I should be able to use them toplete the Blood Stone!''

    And so, he began to rid the world of the scum and lowlives that upied it.

    One after the other¡ªdozens after dozens¡ªfor several decades.

    The long wait was unavoidable since the ones gifted with Mana lives better lives in the better parts of the Lord''s territory.

    It was unfortunate that themoners in the slumscked the quality needed to quickly form a Blood Stone, so the process took very long toplete.

    Since Elias did not want to draw any attention to himself, he patiently amassed the lives and Mana he had taken¡ªwaiting for the time when his Blood Stone would be perfected.

    And finally¡­ after waiting for so long¡­ that time was finally here!

    However¡­

    "Haa¡­ Haaa¡­"

    Mr. Duffy, as he was known by the public, was currently kneeling on the ground.

    He still tightly clung to his broken staff, almost as if his life depended on it.

    Blood dripped from his ragged lips as he struggled to breathe.

    "H-how¡­ how did it end up like this?"

    He was currently standing at the center of the debris that was once his home.

    Remnant embers of energy danced around, and destruction surrounded him. However, none of those things were the focus of this old man''s attention.

    Instead, he was staring at a single person.

    The boy that stood in front of him.

    "Your Blood Stone is ruined now. All those lives you extinguished¡­ all for nothing."

    As Neron said this, Mr. Duffy''s eyes trailed to the top of his staff where his blood-red gem was supposed to be located.

    What he found there was a mere fragment that had a dull scarlet color.

    It had no glow or luster, only resembling a cheap jewel.

    All of Mr. Duffy''s hard work and years¡­ everything he had ced his dreams on¡­ it had all disintegrated in the blink of an eye.

    "How¡­ how did you do it? I don''t understand¡­"

    A five-year-old brat destroying a Blood Stone? How absurd was that?

    "I don''t know¡­"

    "Eh?" Mr. Duffy''s eyes popped wide open the moment he heard that answer.

    He didn''t expect a kid to have all the answers as to theplicated process of what had just urred right now.

    However, he also wasn''t expecting something as mundane as ignorance.

    "It doesn''t matter now, does it?"

    Despite how much he wanted to disagree with the kid, Mr. Duffy could not.

    He only hung his head and muttered in agreement.

    "I¡­ I guess so."

    For a moment, there was silence between the two of them.

    Despite the fact that the two were meant to be seething in rage and hate for each other, there was a surprise calm.

    The tension in the air was palpable, but the two soaked it all in.

    Until finally¡­

    "Is Magic really all that great?"

    ¡­ Neron spoke.

    "You did all of this for Magic. Is it really that amazing?"

    All of his friends were gone now. He would never see their smiling faces or their frowning demeanors.

    He could never y with them. They were lost to him forever.

    All because of a man''s desire for Magic.

    "Was it worth it? All of those lives¡­ even yours! Everything for the sake of something like that!"

    Yera''s words yed in Neron''s mind, but he shut it out almost instantly.

    He already knew he was different, but still¡­

    "Just because you don''t have what I have¡­ does that mean you can do something like this?! I¡­ I just¡­ I don''t understand¡­"

    Neron truly could not understand.

    As he stared at Mr. Duffy''s downcast face, he expected an answer that could perhaps illuminate his understanding.

    "I¡­ I don''t know."

    That was the only answer Neron got.

    "What?" He asked, slowly feeling something rise within his chest.

    It was rage.

    "I just¡­ I just wanted to use Magic. I wanted to be like the Great Sage. I wanted to¡­ h-help people, and¡­ and¡­"

    The more Mr. Duffy spoke, the more his eyes widened at the realization of the sheer horrors he had wrought.

    The true nature of his actions slowly began to reveal itself to his old and rotting mind.

    He was never correct.

    All this time¡­ he had lost sight of what he truly wanted as Elias Martins Duffy.

    That boy had grown to be this bitter old excuse for a mass murderer.

    But the question remained¡­ if he could go back in time¡­ would he do it again?

    Mr. Duffy already knew the answer to that.

    "I¡­ I just wanted to use Magic. It''s not¡­ it''s not my fault that I wasn''t born with enough talent!"

    That''s right! If he could, he would do the same thing again.

    "I-I was just ridding the world of the hoodlums that no one cared about! Sure, they died, but their sacrifice was supposed to birth something glorious! I could have used this power to help the world! To cure people, to save lives, to heal¡­ I could have¡­"

    As Neron heard all of these being spouted by the man before him, he narrowed his eyes and creased his brows.

    Disgust filled his eyes, and a burning distaste for the man soon extended to the thing he worshiped.

    MAGIC!

    "You shouldn''t exist¡­"

    It was impossible to know if he was talking about the man before him, or the very concept of Magic.

    One thing was for sure, though.

    "Die."

    As Neron raised his hand and stared down at the babbling man, he desired to end his life.

    Blue sparks of Mana gathered around Neron''s hand, and its bright embers lit up the grim night.

    ~SWISH!~

    In one swift motion, Neron beheaded the man, remembering how the heads of his friends were also deprived of their bodies.

    "Haaa¡­" As Neron watched the head of the man roll, he felt hollow within.

    How did things turn out this way? What was he supposed to do now?

    As these questions swirled in his mind, he heard footsteps approaching.

    "Stay back." He muttered, his voice audible enough for the one behind him to hear.

    While Neron did not know who it was, he could decipher he was an adult man.

    He was also incredibly strong.

    "Hey, kid¡­ calm down." As the man''s deep voice reverberated in the air, Neron felt a tightening in his chest.

    After that, his consciousness got blurry.

    ''W-what¡­?!''

    "My name is Mordred Kaelid. I''m a Grand Mage of the Kingdom."

    Neron could hardly register those words as he fell to his knees.

    All his senses were fading¡ªand fast. Within a few more seconds, he was going to faint.

    "Do not fret. I won''t harm you."

    As he heard these words, Neron''s eyes fel shut and he copsed.

    Not on the cold, hard ground, but on the soft cost of the man who held him tightly.

    "I won''t let anyone harm you."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    The chapter was cathartic, wasn''t it? This seven-chapter stretch is pretty much the prologue of Neron''s story.

    The real deal happens after this.

 Chapter 1337 Grand Mage Of The Kingdom

    <h4>Chapter 1337 Grand Mage Of The Kingdom</h4>

    "U-urgh¡­"

    Neron slowly groaned as he opened his eyes.

    He was currently lying atop a bed, and based on his brief notice of his surroundings, he was in a cool and dark room.

    ''T-this is¡­?''

    The bed heid on felt warm and soft. This was the first time he was experiencing a proper bed, so the sensation was foreign to him.

    Other than that, though, he felt rxed¡ªsafe¡ªas the foamy mattress sucked him in.

    ''Where is this ce? What''s going on?'' Neron''s thoughts trailed.

    Right as he was having these thoughts, he heard a freaking sound from the far end of the room.

    A door was being opened, and someone wasing in.

    "Arh!" Streaks of light found their way inside, causing Neron to wince at the sight.

    As he covered his face with his hands, he heard a voice reverberate across the room.

    "Sorry about that. I guess I should have knocked first."

    The deep, yet soothing voice felt familiar.

    Neron was sure that he had heard it before.

    "I thought you were still asleep, so I just weed myself in¡­"

    The man who said these things grabbed a chair that was located at a far corner of the room and brought it closer to the bed.

    Neron watched all of this silently, his eyes slowly limating to the darkness.

    Before long, he could properly see.

    The stranger appeared to be in his early thirties, and while he had no beards, streaks of gray seemed to decorate his brown hair.

    He was dressed in a in white shirt and some casual trousers¡ªafortable wear for someone who was in their home.

    "This is your house?" Neron blurted out.

    The man nodded as he sat on the chair.

    "Correct." He said with a sigh. "Sharpd."

    Despite the small chuckles the man gave, Neron was not amused.

    His vacant eyes stared at his benefactor as his mind traveled to the past.

    "I see. So it wasn''t just a dream. My friends, they''re all dead, aren''t they?"

    As Neron muttered those words, the man fell silent.

    "Yera, Legris, Kid¡­ all of them¡­ they''re all gone now."

    Being a five-year-old boy, it was perfectly understandable for him to weep for his dead friends.

    No one in the room would judge, and he had every right to.

    But Neron did not shed a single tear.

    In fact, his voice was terribly calm as he mentioned those things¡ªalmost as if he was just stating facts.

    This emotionless tone disturbed the man who watched him.

    "I don''t know who your friends are¡­ but when I found you, you were the sole survivor of that explosion."

    Neron remembered now. This was the man who appeared behind him right after he executed Me. Duffy.

    "Who are you?" He asked.

    "My name is¡ª"

    "Mordred Kaelid; Grand Mage of the Kingdom¡­" Neron whispered, interrupting the man before he could say another word.

    For a moment, the two only stared at each other in silence.

    "That''s what you said before I passed out."

    Grand Mage Mordred Kaelid¡ªor Mordred for short¡ªnodded slowly as he smiled at the young boy.

    "You really are a sharpd."

    "My name is Neron." He responded calmly. "It''s only right you know my name as well."

    Mordred had never seen a five-year-old child act like this before.

    He had a strange sense of maturity to him that felt unnatural. Still, Mordred pressed on.

    "So, Neron¡­ I brought you here after what happened because I feared you might have been injured."

    "And?"

    "You weren''t. It doesn''t seem like you suffered any injuries. Though, your Mana Core was almost emptied out."

    "Mana¡­ Core¡­?" Neron whispered, raising his brow.

    "It''s essentially the storehouse of your Mana. Once you Awaken, you form a proper Mana Core. I thought you would know that since you possess one already."

    Neron raised his brow slightly, revealing he had no knowledge of such details.

    "You really don''t know¡­?"

    Despite Mordred''s inquisitive gaze on him, Neron shrugged slightly and cast his eyes towards the empty darkness before him.

    "My Mana Core, as you call it, was probably drained because of the Blood Stone that Mr. Duffy wielded."

    For a moment, there was silence.

    "My friends, as well as several others, were used as a sacrifice for it. To give him power."

    Neron''s eyes, previously unperturbed, began to narrow in an expression of rage.

    "All because of Magic."

    After he said this, Neron fell silent.

    Only the breathing of both parties could be heard for a while, as if one was waiting for the other to speak first.

    "I see¡­" Mordred finally broke the silence. "Sounds like you''ve been through a lot."

    "I live in the slums. What do you think?"

    Despite Neron''s very blunt reply, Mordred could not help but admire the child even more.

    Something about him drew the older man closer.

    "Do you want to go back?" He asked.

    Neron turned to Mordred, his eyes now back to their stoic state.

    "Do I have a choice?"

    "Yes. You can stay here with me. Or¡­ you can go back."

    After giving him those two options, Mordred smiled and asked;

    "What will it be, Neron?"

    The boy contemted for a moment and returned the question with another.

    "Is it better here?"

    Mordred could only smile, a twinkle appearing in his eyes.

    "Of course."

    "Then I would like to stay here."

    There was no hesitation or fear in Neron''s voice. It was almost as if he had already made his choice very long ago.

    "Do you miss them? Your friends?"

    "A little." Neron answered truthfully. "The more I let it settle in, the less it hurts. I think I should be fine after a few days."

    Mordred was once again surprised by what he was hearing from this child.

    "If this is your house, and I''m staying here with you, does that make you my adopted father or something?"

    Mordred couldn''t believe how forthright this child was being with him.

    "Do you want to be my adopted child?"

    "You said you''re a Grand Mage. That sounds like an important title. If you''re my father, doesn''t that mean more benefits for me?"

    At this point, it felt like Neron was the one in control of the conversation.

    "A-actually, I''m just about to retire. I was on my way to the Royal Pce to announce my resignation when I spotted you and the explosion."

    "I see¡­" Neron muttered.

    "Are you disappointed?"

    "A little."

    "You don''t want to be my adopted son any longer?"

    Neron narrowed his eyes as he stared at the older man.

    "A retired Grand Mage can still offer a lot of benefits as a father. It''s not a bad deal."

    For a moment, there was silence.

    And then¡­

    "Hahahahahahahahahahaha!"

    Modred burst outughing, unable to control the amusement that Neron was causing him.

    "Never¡­ never before have I met a kid like you! Hahahahaha!"

    Neron watched in silence as the old manughed his heart out. Once Mordred was done, he cleared his throat while keeping a smile on.

    "And what''s in it for me? If I offer you so many benefits, how''s it a good deal for me?"

    "I''m very talented in Magic. I''m sure you''d want a very capable heir as a son. Well, with enough formal education, I''m sure I can do that for you."

    "And who says I don''t have one already?"

    "You said it yourself. You''ve never met a kid like me." Neron said, his facepletely stoic.

    He was perfectly serious.

    ''This kid¡­'' Mordred couldn''t help but tremble within for the slightest bit.

    He didn''t know if Neron was speaking merely from a child''s sense of immaturity and entitlement¡­ or if this was just the result of absolute confidence.

    However, there was one thing that bothered him.

    "I was of the impression that you didn''t like Magic."

    "What gave you that impression?" Was Neron''s reply.

    Mordred let out a slight chuckle.

    He could see how the boy frowned when he mentioned Magic. Neron probably med the death of his friends on Magic, this despising the practice.

    "You''re not wrong. I don''t like Magic."

    If that was the case, then why would he want to be the child of a Grand Mage? Mordred wanted to know.

    "You could say I have gotten curious. I genuinely want to know¡­ what could push a man to go to such extreme lengths for such power? Why do the eyes of people glow so much when talking about Magic? What makes it so special?"

    Neron seemed to be in contemtion as he uttered these words. Something else remained, but it seemed stuck in his throat somehow.

    After a few seconds of silence, he finally said it.

    "It''s also¡­ what my friends wanted. I want to do it for their sake. To fulfill their dreams, and to understand why they had it, to begin with."

    Right now, Neron felt empty and purposeless.

    The only reason he kept living was because of theck of the very thing that everyone who had died possessed.

    "This concept called Magic¡­ I want to understand it."

    Once he did, Neron thought he would perhaps be able to answer the question Mr. Duffy was unable to answer.

    Mordred took his time to study Neron¡ªespecially looking at his eyes.

    He could tell the boy was serious.

    "I see. Very well."

    The Grand Mage¡ªsoon to be retired¡ªced his hand on Neron''s shoulder and smiled.

    "Let''s do that, then. Be my son, Neron."

    Neron didn''t smile back.

    Perhaps it was because he was too tired, or he just didn''t feel the need to.

    His expression was simply nk.

    Mordred didn''t mind, though. These sorts of things took time, and they had enough of it.

    ''I just need toplete some paperwork, and it should be done¡­''

    He was already getting pretty excited about the whole thing¡ªperhaps even more than the boy who proposed the whole thing.

    "From now on, you''ll be called Neron Kaelid."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    And so, the tale of Neron Kaelid begins!

    I hope you enjoy the story!

 Chapter 1338 Discourse Among Mages

    <h4>Chapter 1338 Discourse Among Mages</h4>

    [1 Week Later]

    "So¡­ were you able to find anything more?"

    Mordred was currently seated in a luxurious room, with two Mages bowing their heads before him.

    The chandeliers and fine carpets, along with the spacious surroundings and luxurious decor, showed the level of wealth that went into the room''s construction and design.

    "No, Lord Mordred."

    "That is all we were able to find."

    These two Mages who were bowing appeared elderly¡ªeven more so than Mordred, and yet they addressed him with reverence.

    "I see. So it seems we are yet to fully know of the Blood Stone''s origins, or how it was able to surface in the Kingdom once again¡­"

    Mordred''s eyes narrowed as he stroked his bald chin.

    He could feel something was off, but without enough evidence to go on, the investigation had reached a dead end.

    "To think this is how things would end. It''s a shame. I was really hoping to solve this mystery before my tenure as Grand Mage was over." He murmured.

    "Lord Mordred, if I may, you can still remain a Grand Mage if you choose to."

    "Someone of your caliber¡­ it will not be easy recing you among the triumvirate."

    Within the Kingdom, there existed three Grand Mages.

    There was the Royal Court Mage, the Headmaster of Ainrk Academy, and the Supreme Battle Mage.

    These three positions were upied by the strongest of Magic-Users within the Eastern Kingdom.

    Mordred upied thetter position, and he had served under it for only five years when he suddenly decided that it was time for him to retire.

    His decision made sense to no one¡ªnot even to his closest disciples¡ªthe two Archmages that now bowed their heads in his presence.

    "Na. It''s all good. I might have reconsidered it if this was a week ago, but now¡­ nothing is going to change my mind.

    The two Archmages nced at each other and wondered what could have happened within this one week that caused their Master to be set in his decision.

    If they had to guess, it would be the one major change that had happened in his life within that period.

    "Is it because of the boy you just adopted?"

    Mordred smiled the moment he heard this from one of the men.

    "You mean my son? Well¡­ sort of."

    The Archmages exchanged nces once again.

    They had both decided to dedicate their lives to Magic, so neither of them had a wife or child. As such, they could not properly rte to the words of their Master.

    "I genuinely thought I would be doing this Magic stuff until the day I died, but¡­ right now, I think I''d rather just raise that child."

    Mordred''s smile widened once more as he pictured the face of his son.

    After leaving him in the house, Mordred had traveled to the capital and registered him as his legal child.

    He had also tendered his resignation to the Royal Court, and thest few days he had spent in this ce was to finalize his investigation on the Blood Stones that were now resurfacing in the Eastern Kingdom.

    "Mr. Duffy was thest of the trail, but we''ve already apprehended eleven of such practitioners." Mordred addressed the Archmages.

    With no further thread to follow-up the investigation, they had to suspend everything for now.

    "Kieran, Landon¡­ I suppose this will be thest time we will be seeing each other for a while."

    Mordred was hardly one to get emotional. As the Supreme Battle Mage of the Kingdom, he was known by many to be invincible.

    He had that image to maintain regardless of the asion.

    "Your youngest brother¡­ I heard he just recently gave birth." Mordred nced at Kieran.

    He was the younger-looking of the two Archmages, and he was the most gifted. This was simply because he belonged to a superior bloodline.

    The Alphonse Household¡ªone of the top Mage Families in the Kingdom.

    Apparently, the youngest¡ªGerald Alphonse¡ªhad a pre-marital affair with ady, so he had no choice but to marry her.

    They had just recently birthed a girl.

    "A-ah¡­ that was about three years ago, Lord Modred." Kieran chuckled.

    All the men in the roomughed instantly, quickly remembering how dull the retired Grand Mage''s memory was when it came to things other than Magic.

    It made one wonder how he would fare in raising a kid.

    "Oho! What''s her name, then?"

    "Her name is Anabelle. She''s apparently a very wild and rebellious child. But at least she has been shown to have some aptitude for Magic."

    "I see. I see¡­" Mordred smiled, now turning to his second disciple.

    "And how about you, Landon? Have you gotten into contact with your family yet?"

    The Archmages shook his head to the question.

    "I see. Well, I won''t force you to do what you do not want to. But¡­ you know, time is short."

    The two Archmages did not know why their Master was being so sentimental, but they bowed their heads regardless.

    "I''ll be leaving for home tomorrow." Mordred grinned.

    Not this luxurious Estate he had to himself in the capital, but the house he nned on staying after his retirement.

    A ce that existed in a remote countryside where he could live in peace with his son.

    "I n on living out the rest of my days there."

    Kieran and Landon respected their Master''s wish, and he was d to have them as his disciples.

    ''But, even with all your talent and knowledge¡­ you still do notpare to him.''

    The person in Mordred''s mind was none other than his only son¡ªNeron.

    ''That boy is a genius beyond anything I have ever seen.''

    Mordred was more than determined to pass on his legacy to the boy.

    ''I want him to have it all. If it''s him¡­ I should be able to teach him everything I know.''

    That thought alone was enough to put a smile on his face.

    "I truly can not wait¡­"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    This chapter doesn''t show the MC at all, but I hope it helps youprehend the novel''s world a little more.

 Chapter 1339 The Blank Space

    Chapter 1339 The nk Space

    Neron woke up very early in the morning, just as his schedule told him to.

    The two maids responsible for him swiftly removed into his luxurious room, their steps as light as their movements were graceful.

    They were both dressed in maid outfits, and despite being the least important members of the Kaelid Household, they were both prettier than any of the people Neron had ever seen in the slums.

    ording to protocol, they both took him to the bathroom and stripped him of his pajamas.

    Neron naturally epted all of this without even flinching.

    The first week had been challenging, but now that he was already used to this treatment, he behaved.

    Once they were done freshening him up, they would dress him up in a fine robe.

    The quality of his clothing waspletely different from what he had known in the past. Not only did they not itch and smell, but the material was soft on his skin andfortable to move in.

    His unruly ck hair had already been trimmed and thoroughly washed, so he appeared noble.

    Neron smelled good and looked even better.

    He had a handsomely cute face, and nothing about his constantly bored demeanor changed that.

    "You look great, Young Master."

    "Lord Mordred will be so pleased with you, Young Master."

    His two maids were both beaming as they stared at him intently.

    Neron stared at his reflection in the mirror and couldn''t help but agree with them.

    ''I look like apletely different person.''

    He could only imagine what his friends would say if they saw him now.

    ''Just watch over me from wherever you are, everyone!''

    *******

    Neron was escorted to what was referred to as the ''Sanctuary''; a ce that was off-limits to everyone except the Head of the Kaelid Household himself.

    No one but Lord Mordred Kaelid could enter this sacred ce.

    At least, until now.

    "You must be excited to see Lord Mordred after being apart for so long." The butler, Aldred, said with a smile as he walked in front of Neron.

    No one else was apanying him.

    "It''s only been a week, Aldred¡­" Neron responded with a calm tone.

    After their conversation in the room, Neron hadn''tid eyes on Mordred again.

    He did send letters, but other than that, there had been nomunication between them.

    "But you''re right. I am excited to see Father."

    Aldred''s grin grew broader upon hearing his Master''s only child say such words.

    Adopted or not, he was now part of the family.

    As they continued their journey down the empty passage, only their footsteps made sounds.

    Until finally, they arrived at the entrance of the sanctuary.

    "I shall take my leave now, Young Master."

    Aldred took a bow and soon departed from Neron, who simply watched the massive double door before him.

    It was ck in color, lined in glowing gold. Neron could not sense anything beyond if, and even when he touched it, he was met with a cold and hard resistance.

    ''This is¡­ amazing.''

    Never before had he met something he could not quiteprehend. Whatever metal was being used here, it was beyond his knowledge.

    ~VWUUM~

    Suddenly, a deep hum resonated from within the door, and Neron took a few steps back in surprise and caution.

    The double doors were opening, as if sensing his presence, but Neron refused to take a step forward.

    That is, until he heard a familiar voice.

    "Come in, Neron."

    "Father¡­" As he muttered this, Neron discarded his hesitation and walked forward.

    The Double Doors had opened wide enough for him to pass through, and he did so with ease.

    A bright light weed him, and he squinted his eyes so he wouldn''t be blinded by its intensity.

    A few more steps, and he was fully inside the ''Sanctuary.''

    The doors behind him closed, leaving Neron alone in the room.

    "What¡­ is this¡­?"

    Despite being inside, Neron could not quite understand it.

    The entire room was nk.

    Like a pure white canvas rendered into a three-dimensional structure; so was the inner sanctum of the Kaelid''s most holy ce.

    Nothing and no one could be seen for miles, and as far as Neron could see¡­ the boundaries of this room seemed to be nonexistent.

    Even the door that Neron had passed through could no longer be seen.

    This ce, wherever it was, was pure white.

    "It''s good to see you again, Neron." The voice of his father suddenly echoed from behind him.

    Mordred''s hand fell on Neron''s shoulder, causing him to swiftly turn to face the sudden apparition of his father.

    "Look at you, being all sharp." Mordred chuckled at his son''s rapid movement.

    "You look different. Better. Everyone must have taken care of you well, huh?"

    Neron, who had finally gotten over his earlier shock, stared hard at his father''s face as he smiled.

    "What''s the matter? Not going to greet your father? Seems you aren''t very happy to see me."

    Mordred burst out into moreughter, though this was soon interrupted by a loud cough.

    "Sorry¡­ haaa¡­ guess Iughed too hard."

    Neron remained silent.

    However, this didn''tst for very long.

    "It''s nice to see you again, father. You look good as well." While his tone was monotonous, his facial reaction was not.

    His lips slightly curled upward, and a small smile formed on his face.

    The sight even surprised Mordred.

    "This is the first time I''ve seen you smile. Guess you must have missed me that much"

    "I guess I did."

    Mordred chuckled, and Neron settled for a slightly broader smile.

    As the both of them stared at each other in silence, Neron broke it with a question.

    "What is this ce? It''s overflowing with so much Mana."

    "Oho? So you can see it? The Mana?" Mordred asked, a sparkle of amazement in his eyes.

    "Yes."

    "For how long now?"

    "As long as I can remember."

    For a moment, Mordred only stared at Neron in silence, unable to utter a single word in response.

    Neron didn''t understand it yet, but what he had just described was impossible.

    Even for Mages, they could only detect the Mana around them by actively utilizing their Mana and concentrating it in their eyes or other senses.

    Yet, Neron had been able to do that without any effort.

    "Interesting¡­" Mordred whispered with a wide grin.

    "You look creepy, Father. Hope all is well."

    "A-ah! Don''t mind me¡­ haha!"

    Mordred chuckled a little more, but at this point, Neron''s smile had long faded.

    "Well, this is a special ce that I made with my Magic."

    "Y-your Magic made this¡­?"

    The nk space around seemed to stretch forever, yet Mordred was iming all of this was achieved with his power alone.

    Neron had never seen or heard of that kind of Magic before.

    "This entire room was constructed using a special Mineral Compound called Adachalcum¡ªa mix of Adamantite and Orichalcum."

    Adamantite was known to be the strongest mineral to exist, and Orichalcum was known for its incredible Mana Repulsion and Non-Conductivity.

    "It surrounds this area like a box, preventing my Magic from escaping to the outside world. After brewing and expanding here for a while, it has created a vast space within such a small container."

    Neron''s brow was raised, showing how little he understood of what he was being told.

    "I know this might be a bit confusing for you to understand right now, but I promise you, it''ll make sense the more you understand Magic."

    Neron nodded slowly as he grasped at his father''s assurance.

    ''I was the one who asked, to begin with. I can''tin about my inability to understand¡­'' His thoughts trailed.

    "In conclusion, though, this entire space is a canvas that is controlled by me. Since it was made by my Magic, and my Mana is basically filling the entire expanse, I can control it however I wish. In essence¡­"

    With a snap of Mordred''s fingers, the white all around them disappeared, and solid ground appeared underneath their feet.

    Grass covered thendscape, and a clear blue sky painted the space above them.

    Even a sun was shining down on them.

    "I can create whatever I want inside this ce since I control it all."

    Neron was astounded¡ªtoo astounded to form coherent words for a while.

    "What¡­ what kind of Magic is this" He asked in sheer wonder.

    Mordred saw this question as an opportunity to enlighten Neron.

    "It is the highest level a Mage can achieve in the study and practice of Magic."

    Neron paid rapt attention as his father, and soon to be master, divulged the truth to him.

    "Original Magic."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1340 Mordredâ€™s Lesson [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1340 Mordred¡¯s Lesson [Pt 1]

    "Magic can be ssified into various stages known as Levels."

    Neron stared silently as his father¡ªnow master at this time¡ªexined the fundamentals of what he desired to learn.

    They were still within Mordred''s special space, but since the expanse had now been transformed into a more familiar scenery, it no longer felt strange to Neron.

    As a result, he found it easier not to get distracted by his surroundings.

    Instead, he paid rapt attention to what he was hearing.

    "There is the Basic, The Intermediate, The Advanced , The Peak, and the Transcendent Level." His voice continued as he uttered his words calmly and gracefully.

    "Magic bes more difficult andplicated the further up you go. It also requires more Mana, so many Mages find their limits before eventually reaching the Peak Level or going past it and reaching the Transcendent."

    Neron slowly raised his hand, interrupting Mordred''s speech.

    "You want to ask what Level I''m currently in, right?"

    In response to the question of the smiling man, Neron nodded.

    "The Peak. There is no Mage that I know of who has exceeded that level. I''ve heard that in the past there used to be such individuals¡ªlike the founder of Magic himself¡ª

    but at this point it could as well be a thing of legend."

    The Transcendent Level was a realm that Mages dreamed of reaching, but never got to.

    An unattainable goal¡ªthe very ideal of the pursuit of Magic.

    "Back to what I was saying¡­" Mordred shrugged off the earlier topic and raised a finger.

    "Magic requires two things toe into effect."

    Sparks began to dance around the finger that pointed upward.

    "First is Mana¡­"

    The glorious bursts of energy that were spiraling around Mordred''s hand were clusters of Mana. They swirled beautifully around his finger as he weaved them together with his mind.

    "The second is a Spell." As Mordred was speaking, Neron raised a brow.

    "A Spell?"

    "Yes. Essentially a mechanism used to direct the flow of Mana in order toplete the process and cause an action."

    Mana was the fuel source.

    Spells served as the engine/mechanism.

    Magic was the end result.

    "That is the fundamental principle of Magic. Pretty simple, right?"

    Neron had to admit¡­ it all sounded very easy.

    Perhaps it was just the way he was being taught, or maybe Mordred was just that good a tutor, but Neron had expected this concept to be moreplex.

    He couldn''t settle for such simple answers.

    "If Magic was that easy, then you wouldn''t still be at the Peak Stage, would you?"

    In response to Neron''s skeptical tone, Mordred couldn''t help but widen his smile.

    "Precisely. But what do you mean ''still at the Peak Stage?'' I''m pretty strong, you know?"

    Practically speaking, the Peak Stage was the limit of Mages.

    No one had broken past that ceiling in centuries¡ªif not more.

    "Each Level of Magic has sub-divisions known as Tiers. There''s the Lower, Low, Mid, High, and Higher Tier. Once you cross the boundary of the Higher Tier, you advance to the next Level."

    Neron absorbed all the information he received very quickly as he watched the Mana on his father''s hand continuously dance.

    "Perhaps a demonstration would do!"

    Mordred must have noticed Neron''s fixation on his fingers since he now followed up his teaching with a practical example.

    "[FireBall]"

    In an instant, the revolving Mana coalesced and transformed in colors

    From the white, nearly transparent glow that they gave off, thebined Mana particles became crimson yellow, flickering like the mes that they had be.

    The mes swiftly spun, condensing to form a sphere above Mordred''s raised finger.

    "Do you understand now?"

    Neron only took a second before responding.

    "I do."

    "Think you can replicate that?" Mordred asked with a slight chuckle.

    "I can try."

    "Please do."

    Neron took a deep breath after he was told to replicate a Spell he had seen just once.

    [Fireball] was on the Basic Level, and based on the intensity of the Mana applied, or the variant used, it could fall within the range of any of the five Tiers.

    In essence, it was one of the easiest and most versatile Spells that existed.

    That didn''t make it easy, though.

    ''Newbies make the mistake of underestimating the Spell, but it''s a lot moreplex than it seems.''

    Magic was the act of causing supernatural events to ur. In essence, affecting the world and bending its essence to one''s will.

    To create fire using Magic, one had to have sufficient Mana¡ªobviously¡ªand also construct a three-stage Spell.

    The first Stage was to coagte the oxygen within the surrounding into a central area of focus.

    The second Stage was to ignite that oxygen.

    The third Stage was topress the ignited oxygen¡ªnow mes¡ªso it formed apact sphere.

    Once these three processes wereplete, [Fireball] was born.

    ''Spells are meant to act as forms to direct these procedures, but without proper Mana Control, it''s impossible to use.''

    As a result, most neers had to first learn how to properly control their Mana, and then learn how to l expertly utilize Spells.

    ''The faster you can achieve the results, the better you are as a Mage.''

    Mordred knew he was skipping these fundamentals with Neron, but it was all intentional.

    ''He''s very gifted, but it''s important to know his limits before proceeding any further.''

    Not only was it relevant for him¡ªNeron''s teacher¡ªto see his current capabilities and limitations, but the boy also had to understand for himself.

    That way, there would be no room for hubris.

    ''Best to nip it in the bud as soon as¡ª''

    ~WHUSH!~

    In a burst of mes, mes appeared atop Neron''s open palm, and they soon condensed to form the a ball of mes very simr to the one that floated on Mordred''s finger.

    ''E-eh¡­?! He did it already?''

    It hadn''t even been ten seconds, and Mordred didn''t see him struggle once in the Spell casting.

    ''How did he get it so easily? I didn''t even exin theplex procedures to him.''

    "Are you sure you haven''t cast this Spell before?" Mordred found himself asking.

    No matter how much of a genius someone was, they still had to fumble for a while in the beginning stage.

    All of them¡ªwithout exception!

    "You''ve¡­ You have cast a Spell before, haven''t you?"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1341 Mordredâ€™s Lesson [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1341 Mordred¡¯s Lesson [Pt 2]

    Neron was caught in a dilemma.

    He didn''t know how to properly answer the question that his father/master posed.

    ''Have I really used a Spell before?''

    If he meant Magic, then yes. Neron had tried using Magic when he was much younger, and he found it to be quite easy.

    Of course, he had only tried basic things like conjuring mes or creating small wind torrents.

    ¡­ Nothing too crazy.

    ''But a Spell like [Fireball]? No way¡­''

    [Fireball] was so specific¡­ too precise¡ªsomething that his previous experience with Magked.

    Compared to his vague attempts of the past, this felt way more authentic and natural.

    The Mana wasn''t erratic, and it wasn''t in a constant state of flux.

    It was difficult to exin, but Neron knew it was different.

    "Come on, answer me! You''ve performed a Spell before, right?"

    "Sorta¡­"

    Neron felt like that was the best answer he could possibly give.

    "Sorta? What does that even mean?!"

    As a child, Neron couldn''t possibly understand the frustration that Mordred was experiencing.

    For a Mage, precision was everything!

    They had to be very precise in their use of Mana and Spells. Every word they uttered had to be specific, while also being concise.

    Operating in such an adept manner, it was naturally expected for Mages tomunicate in the most explicit way possible¡ªconveying the most information in the shortest length of time.

    Yet¡­ YET¡­!!!

    ''Why isn''t he saying any more?'' Mordred wondered internally.

    He was too inexperienced to understand the rigors of fatherhood that awaited him.

    As the new dad of a five-year-old child, his journey was also only just beginning.

    ********

    It took a few more hours for the two of them to arrive at an understanding, though it felt like an eternity.

    Mordred finally understood more about Neron''s backstory and his experiences with Magic, while Neron was able to understand what Mordred expected of him in terms ofmunication¡ªamong other things¡ªin the future.

    Once it was all over, the two of them were plenty exhausted.

    "I think we should stop here for today."

    "I can still keep going, though." Neron replied stubbornly.

    "A-ahh¡­ I don''t think I can. Haha! Besides, I should probably say this now, but our time training together will be quite brief. Perhaps just three hours a day."

    "Just three?!"

    At this point, Neron was shocked.

    He had expected the retired Grand Mage to have more passion for Magic than what he was disying.

    Right now it even seemed like Neron was the one who loved Magic more.

    "I have my reasons. If you want more time, then study hard and practice on your own. If I see major improvements, I''ll extend our time together."

    Most students would try to find ways to ditch ss and get more breaks, but the opposite seemed to be the case for Neron.

    His reward was more work.

    "Alright! I understand. I''ll do my best!"

    The cool fire burning in Neron''s pitch ck eyes flickered for a moment before dissipating.

    "Perfect! I''ll have Aldred bring some books to you so you can study on your own."

    "Aldred? He''s a Mage too, right?"

    "Yep! He may not look it, but he was an Adventurer when he was much younger."

    Neron pictured the graceful face of their family butler, and he truly didn''t resemble what an Adventurer would look like.

    Adventurers were essentially mercenaries who hunted monsters and raided Dungeons¡ªstuff like that.

    Neron didn''t know too much about them, but he certainly knew they were reputed to be a rowdy bunch.

    Aldred didn''t seem like the type to associate with those kinds of people, talkless of being one himself.

    "You''d do well not to judge a book by its cover. I mean, look at you for example. You looked so¡­ well¡­"

    "Unsightly?"

    "¡­Yeah, unsightly. You looked unsightly when I first found you, and now look at you my son. You look like a handsome young prince!"

    Neron felt heat rising in his five-year-old cheeks.

    The words of his adopted father had affected him way more than he would have expected.

    "Maybe ask Aldred to tell you some Adventurer tales when you guys speak. He''ll be supervising your training and studying when I''m not around." Mordred added.

    Neron felt a little confused at this point.

    "I thought you were retired. Don''t you have all day to yourself now? Why can''t you spend more time with me?"

    It didn''t make sense that Mordred would be so busy since he currently had nothing upying him.

    So why¡­?

    "I''ve been working my butt off for so many years, Neron. A man needs his rest!"

    To Neron, that loosely tranted to one thing.

    "So you want to ck off?"

    "Precisely! I guess that''s one way of putting it¡­" Mordred winked at Neron.

    The boy appeared a little downcast by the answer he received, but Mordred''s adult hands soonnded on his head and roughed his dark hair a little.

    "H-hey!" Neron tried to struggle, but it was useless.

    "Haha! Looks like my dear son wants to hang out with his old man that much."

    "W-well, yeah. You''re the only family I have left¡­"

    Neron''s trembling tone made it appear like he was going to cry.

    However, he didn''t.

    In response to this sudden outburst, Mordred went to his knees and made sure he was as close to Neron''s height as he possible could.

    "Hey¡­ don''t sweat it, kid. You should consider everyone in this Household as a part of your family."

    Mordred rubbed Neron''s head a little more and chuckled a little.

    "My adorable little boy¡­" There was a certain hint of fondness mixed with sadness in his tone.

    "Don''t worry. I''m not going anywhere¡­"

    His smile widened more.

    "You know that¡­ right?"

    Neron nodded slowly at the words of his father.

    "Good. Now why don''t we end this ss today, and tomorrow we''ll pick up from where we left off?"

    "Okay!"

    Neron seemed to be in a much better mood now, and that made all the difference to Mordred.

    "Okay." Mordred responded with a toothy grin.

    All the words that needed to be said had been uttered.

    Nothing more¡­ nothing less.

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1342 A Fatherâ€™s Secrets

    Chapter 1342 A Father¡¯s Secrets

    "KURGH!"

    Mordred copsed to the floor the moment he entered his room and shut his door.

    "Argh! Koff! Urgh!"

    As he coughed, Mordred felt hot all over. He was in deep agony, and he was paralyzed throughout most parts of his body.

    As his entire form hugged the cold, hard floor of his living quarters, he helplessly spasmed as he tried to get himself under control.

    It was useless, though.

    Anytime he had these episodes, he was utterly powerless.

    "M-Master! Lord Mordred!"

    The voice of a certain reliable butler¡ªnone other than Aldred''s¡ªechoed within the room.

    ~WHUSH!~

    Within seconds, a spatial distortion appeared in the air and Aldred appeared instantly.

    Aldred swiftly rushed to the ground where his Lord was coughing and groaning profusely.

    A small pool of blood mixed with drool had already formed on the ground, and Mordred''s face was helplessly drowning in it.

    It was both a pathetic and dangerous sight.

    No one would ever expect the strongest Grand Mage of the Kingdom¡ªeven though he was now retired¡ªto be in such a state.

    Aldred ignored all of these things, as he was already used to seeing them, and turned his Lord''s body so that his chest faced the ceiling and his back tlyy on the floor.

    "Please hang in there, Lord Mordred!"

    Aldred gathered his Mana into his two palms and pressed them both on his Lord''s chest.

    ~FWUUSH!~

    A bright light covered the room as Aldred began the only procedure that could help Mordred whenever he was in this state.

    Mana Correction!

    By inserting one''s Mana into the body of another, one could achieve numerous things.

    One of those was Mana Correction.

    Simply put, it involved forcibly causing the target''s Mana to flow a certain way by infusing your Mana and allowing it to serve as a guide.

    However, only the most skilled users of Mana could properly use techniques that involved controlling their Mana once it was outside their bodies.

    Aldred was one of those skilled few.

    ''His overwhelming Mana is rampaging his body faster than normal. It''s too agitated!''

    Aldred was incredibly skilled, but he fell considerably short to his Lord when it came to Mana¡ªboth in quality and quantity.

    ''I¡­ I''m not sure I can correct this!''

    However, he couldn''t give up. Not without trying to his utmost limits.

    Depending the opposition faced by the target, Mana Correction could be incredibly tasking on the user''s body.

    Sometimes, it was even impossible.

    ''No¡­ not yet! I''m not giving up on you yet, Lord Mordred!'' Aldred desperately poured in more Mana as he tried his hardest to save the dying man''s life.

    ''So don''t you give up on us!''

    *******

    "Haaaa¡­ haaa¡­"

    Aldred was breathing heavily as hey beside the stabilized body of his Lord.

    It had taken everything out of him to stabilize Mordred¡ª

    up to the point where he didn''t even have enough energy to do anything besides breathe.

    "Haa¡­"

    Mordred was also breathing heavily. His entire body ached him like crazy, but at least he was still alive.

    If Aldred had lingered a little longer or made the slightest bit of error, he would have died.

    "Thank you, Aldred¡­ haa¡­ haa¡­"

    "What are¡­ haa¡­ what are you talking about, my Lord? Haaa¡­ this is only natural."

    "Aldred, old friend, please¡­ just call.. haa¡­ address me normally¡­"

    "N-n-never!"

    Despite their exhaustion, both men quipped and tiredly chuckled like the old friends that they were.

    However, this moment didn''tst too long.

    "Keuk!" Mordred felt a slight spasm in his chest, which abruptly put an end to his light chuckles.

    "Sorry. Haa¡­ seems the aftereffects aren''t fully gone yet."

    "Yeah¡­ it seems so¡­"

    For a while, neither spoke a word.

    It was as if they were waiting for the other to address the issue first before they would respond.

    After thissted for a second, Aldred finally spoke.

    "Lord Mordred¡­ I could barely stop it this time. If it happens again next time, I''m not sure if you''ll be able to make it."

    Mordred gave a tired smile and heaved a sigh of the same proportions.

    "I figured¡­"

    "It''s getting worse, isn''t it? At this rate, it''ll might be less than a year before¡ª!"

    "Naa¡­ I don''t n on dying anytime soon." Mordred interrupted Aldred''s words with a light chuckle.

    This wasn''t the time for jokes, and Aldred knew Mordred should very well know that.

    Yet, his Lord was busy making light of the situation.

    "I finally got to retire. You think I won''t spend more time enjoying this newfound freedom?"

    At this point, Aldred could not take it anymore¡ªboth as a friend and a servant.

    "My Lord! Please seriously consider this matter! You should take this as seriously as¡ª!"

    "But I am, Aldred¡­"

    Once again, Mordred''s words interrupted the flustered butler''s concerns.

    "A week ago, I would have had no problem with how things were going. Sure, I still had regrets then as I do now, but I was prepared to ept the inevitable."

    But¡­ it seemed that wasn''t the case anymore.

    "Ever since I met him¡­ I just can''t shake off this feeling, you know?"

    "Him? You mean Neron?"

    "Yes. He''s a special boy, Aldred. More special than anyone I''ve ever seen¡­"

    Mordred''s dry lips formed a wide smile as he remembered their time together.

    "I really wish I could spend more time with him, but there''s only so much stress this body can take."

    Mordred slowly turned to Aldred, his eyes glittering with something akin to wonder¡ªno, more like hope.

    "I''ll leave him in your capable hands in the meantime. Please nurture him well."

    "I''m sure you are doing a pretty good job already, My Lord." Aldred responded with a smile.

    "Well, I''m sure you''re more qualified as a father than I am." As Mordred said this, the butler gave a soft and sad smile.

    It felt like the smile was for someone a distance away.

    An invisible memory, perhaps.

    "I understand. But you have to be present in that child''s growth too."

    Mordred nodded vehemently, groaning as he struggled to rise on his feet.

    "I don''t n to die anytime soon. Not until I''ve raised him right. I want to see it with my own two eyes¡­ what that boy will be."

    Mordred coughed a little more, but that didn''t deter him.

    He rose to his feet and even assisted Aldred to stand as well.

    Both men groaned as they stood opposite each other.

    "I''ve decided to live, Aldred. For my family."

    The butler smiled and nodded.

    Both of them ced their hands on the other''s shoulder and embraced silently.

    "Until the time is right¡­ I will endure it all."

    It would be hell, but Mordred was determined to see all of this through to the end.

    ''¡­ All for you, Neron!''

 Chapter 1343 First Magic Combat

    Chapter 1343 First Magic Combat

    [A Few Months Later]

    "Huu¡­"

    Neron felt his muscles tense up as his gaze focused on the only thing standing in his line of sight¡ªthe only thing that currently mattered to him.

    About a dozen meters from him was a Golem. It didn''t look particrly fancy or anything, but Neron knew full well that it was capable.

    The Golem was made out of Earth, but even that was constructed with none other than Mordred''s Magic within the space they were in.

    In essence, the Golem was simply an extension of that Magic.

    "Tell me when you''re ready." A voice echoed from behind Neron¡ªone he knew belonged to his father.

    Right now, Mordred was watching him¡­ waiting to see the result of his few months of training.

    Neron could feel saliva form at the back of his throat. Over the weeks¡ªwhich soon became months¡ªhe had learned a lot from this man.

    Slowly, a certain desire had formed within him.

    ''I don''t want to let him down!''

    Neron, above all else, desired to prove his strength to his father/master.

    ''If I do that, we''ll have to spend more time together!''

    A small grin appeared on his face as he felt his heart race in excitement.

    The tension within his body was soon gone, reced by a simmering heat that rose from the depths of his Mana Core.

    "I''m ready." Neron finally spoke out.

    He didn''t know what face Mordred was making behind him, but Neron thought he heard a slight chuckle.

    "Very well¡­"

    The moment he said this, the Earth Golem whirred to life.

    Its earthen body was about two meters tall¡ªslightly bigger than a full-grown adult.

    For the six-year-old Neron, though, it might have as well been a giant.

    "¡­ Begin!"

    ~BOOOM!~

    The moment Mordred said this, the earth beneath the Golem cracked as it swiftlyunched itself at Neron.

    It sliced through the wind like an unstoppable projectile, and within the blink of an eye, its massive arm attempted to crush Neron where he stood.

    Fortunately, the kid was nimbler.

    ~WHOOSH!~

    Neron was able to dodge the devastating blow of the Golem by shrouding himself in Mana.

    Thanks to that, he avoided the earth-shattering strike that his foe now dealt to the ground.

    Neron felt his body shake as the earth trembled, doing best to maintain equilibrium despite the immense pressure he was experiencing.

    ''Calm yourself¡­''

    This was Neron''s first spar since he started learning Magic some months ago.

    So much had changed about him¡ªespecially his approach to the utilization of Mana.

    For one, he was able to properly infuse his body with Mana at a fast rate, which was what allowed him to evade his opponent''s assault so quickly.

    His entire body was pulsating with Mana, and that included all his senses.

    His eyes glowed blue as his sight became extraordinarily sharp. Not only could he see the flow of Mana¡ªas per usual¡ªbut every detail of the world around him became much clearer.

    He could properly discern the next action of the Golem based on its body movements, and he could also analyze the flow of its internal Mana to predict what attack it would use.

    For example¡­

    ''It''s about to generate a Spell from its hand!''

    Neron, upon realizing this, was swift to prepare a countermeasure.

    "[Ground Shift]!"

    He pressed his hand on the floor the instant the Earth Golem pointed its bulky hand at him.

    The ground beneath the Golem shifted, causing the bulky thing to stumble violently mid-attack.

    ~PEW!~

    ~PEW!~

    ~PEW!~

    Several bullets made of Earth scattered from the Golem''s outstretched hands, but none were able to reach Neron thanks to its bubbling state.

    All the bullets flew into the air, causing Neron''s eyes to narrow in satisfaction.

    ''I can detect the area where a Spell is about to be used, but not the Spell itself.''

    Since the Golem he was facing was Earth-based, it''s offensive power had to be especially impressive.

    The fact that it had shattered the earth upon impact proved that.

    ''Instead of expending my Mana creating a shield that I''m not certain can block its attack, it''s better to disrupt its aim so I''m not affected.''

    Neron wasn''t sure the Golem''s attack didn''t have a homing function, which was why he didn''t try dodging.

    He also knew that he had enough Mana to create a sturdy enough barrier to defend himself from whatever the Golem could dish out, but that would take time.

    Complicated Spells¡ªlike those belonging to the stronger Tiers or Levels¡ªrequired more time, alongside Mana, to Cast.

    He had considered all of these factors before deciding to go with the most optimal solution.

    Thankfully, it worked.

    ''Now that it''s stunned, this is my chance!''

    Neron''s body glowed with even brighter hues of blue as he sprinted towards the recoiling Golem.

    Earth Golems had vast arrays of abilities, but none of those mattered if they couldn''t hit.

    Besides, even if it had a homing attack, with Neron already closing the distance between them, he wasn''t too worried.

    Most importantly, he had a split-second window to counterattack.

    ''I''d be a fool if I didn''t utilize it well!''

    Neron''s lips murmured a Spell as he approached the Earth Golem, who was already preparing another attack.

    There were quite a few Spells Neron could cast on the fly like this; especially considering theirpatibility with the kind of opponent he was facing.

    However, since he had already disyed his tactical abilities, Neron decided to forego all the ''smart'' options.

    Instead, he would simply utilize brute force.

    "[Fireball:Burst]"

    Fire Spells were every effective on Earth-Based Golems, and Neron knew that very well.

    However, he cast the Spell for one reason and one reason alone.

    ''Hope you''re watching, old man!'' Neron grinned internally.

    The burst of mes appeared right in front of Neron, swiftly conversing to form a massive ball.

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    In an explosive rush, it darted towards the Earth Golem before the thing couldplete its follow-up attack.

    As earlier iterated, Fire Spells weren''t advisable against Earth Golems. Earth was a naturally strong element, and it required an equally strong¡ªblunt or piercing¡ªattack to properly do damage.

    Lightning would have been a nice choice¡ªor even Earth Magic as well.

    But¡­ when it came to overwhelming power, no one cared about which waspatible with what.

    The only thing that mattered was results.

    In essence¡­ which one was stronger.

    ~BOOOOOOOMMM!~

    The intense explosion that swallowed the Earth Golem, sending its multiple body parts into several corners of the field, was enough to give the answer.

    "I win." Neron smiled as he watched his mes engulf everything that surrounded his foe.

    In the end, things likepatibility or tactics didn''t matter to someone like Neron.

    He was just naturally stronger.

 Chapter 1344 A Certain Letter

    Chapter 1344 A Certain Letter

    "Well done, Neron¡­ though you didn''t have to go that far."

    As Mordred approached his smiling son, he cast a concerned gaze on the mes that still licked the grass around.

    With a single thought, he extinguished it and restored the burned grass to their prime state.

    The same restoration applied to the shattered earth that disfigured the perfectndscape

    It was almost as if no fight had happened just moments earlier.

    "Did I hurt your pride?" Neron smiled as he looked at thest of the Golem''s parts turning into nothing but Mana Particles.

    "Did you, now?"

    Once he heard the amused words of his father, Neron turned to see Mordred smiling at him.

    "So, what do you think?" Neron asked with bright eyes¡ªdespite his pure dark irises containing no light.

    Somehow, he had grown attached to his father''s opinions.

    Mordred had proved immensely knowledgeable andpetent in so many fields that it was impossible for Neron to resist his charm.

    He never had a role model growing up, so the man before him was the closest thing he had to one.

    It was thanks to him that he hade this far.

    And even now¡­ he sought his approval.

    "Splendid, as always." Mordred beamed, patting Neron on his head.

    It had taken some getting used to, but Neron no longer squirmed when his father did this.

    In fact, he sometimes liked it.

    "Hehe! Any pointers? Don''t worry, I can handle criticisms."

    Mordred rubbed his chin as he looked at Neron as if in deep thought. As his brown hair fluttered with the wind, he made a small smile.

    Only after that did he give his answer.

    "None that matter."

    ********

    "So, I won the bet, right? You''ll spend more time training and studying with me, right?"

    As both Neron and Mordred exited the ''Sanctuary'', they found Aldred waiting for them.

    The old man stood with poise and unparalleled dignity¡ªalmost like a statue.

    Neither Neron or his father flinched at this considering the fact that they were already used to it.

    "A letter has arrived for you, Lord Mordred."

    "Oh? From who?" Mordred quickly responded.

    Aldred brought out a sealed envelope, and from its look alone, it was clear that it was sent from a prestigious noble household.

    "Oh¡­?"

    Mordred was currently in a casual outfit, but even now he looked incredibly noble.

    While he didn''t currently have a title, I would be foolish for anyone to assume hecked influence.

    "It''s from the Crimson Family."

    Modred could already tell that was the case by looking at the emblem on the envelope, as well as it''s grandiose seal, but he didn''t bother voicing that out.

    "The Crimson Family, huh? Could it finally be that time¡­?"

    Neron watched this whole exchange, a little puzzled by what was going on.

    Other than learning about Magic, he was also being taught general knowledge.

    He had only recently gotten the hang of how to read and write, and while he wasn''t as ignorant as he had been in the past, there was still a lot he had to learn.

    A lot of things were beyond his current knowledge, and his few months of learning was nowhere near enough to catch up to them yet. were a

    Matters pertaining to the Nobility was one such topic.

    "You go on ahead, Neron. I have some important business to attend to."

    When Mordred spoke like this, Neron had learned to listen.

    "Okay. But don''t forget our deal!"

    Once Neron said this, he scurried off, leaving Mordred and Aldred alone in the massive hallway.

    "This kid¡­"

    Mordred felt tempted to tell Neron that he never specified a specific time or condition necessary for what the boy wanted.

    In the end, it was his choice¡ªwhich meant he could conjure whatever requirements and use them as excuses.

    But after witnessing the youngd brilliantly excel in his first proper Magic Duel, Mordred didn''t have the heart to say that to his son.

    "How did the Young Master do?"

    "wlessly. You should ask him for the detailster. I''m sure he''d be happy to regale you with everything."

    Aldred smirked as his Lord said this.

    Of course, he was going to ask Neronter. It was only natural.

    "Is that jealousy I sense in your voice, Lord Mordred?"

    "Jealousy? Whatever could you mean?" Even though he tried to hide it, Mordred''s facial expression was enough to give it away.

    Aldred couldn''t help but chuckle slightly.

    "Maybe the fact that the Young Master and I have gotten very close these past few months¡­?"

    "I have no idea what you''re talking about."

    "Mhm¡­ is that so?"

    Both men knew precisely what was going on.

    Aldred was in charge of Neron''s study, so it only made sense that he would spend more time with the youngd.

    However, what made their dynamic a lot more than just Teacher and Student was Neron''s growing interest in Aldred''s past as an Adventurer.

    It initially started as in curiosity, but Neron was currently very enamored with the stories that Aldred told him.

    Almost to the point that it was beginning to overshadow his interest in Magic.

    "All I know is that he''ll have to go to the Academy and properly study Magic first before he tries out the Adventurer life."

    Aldred couldn''t help but smile at his Lord.

    Who would have thought the Great Mordred Kaelid would be such a doting father?

    "In any case, if this letter is what I think it is, then I need to prepare for the ceremony." Mordred eventually broke the mood with the more serious topic at hand.

    "Indeed."

    The Crimson Family was one of the Eastern Kingdom''s Four Ducal Households.

    They were one of the major pirs that held the Kingdom together, wielding so much influence and power¡ªespecially the Magical kind.

    The Patriarch of the family also happened to be Mordred''s dear friend.

    "I hear the youngdy has grown fairer these past few years. It would be nice if the Young Master could make a friend¡­"

    The moment he heard this subtle suggestion from Aldred, Mordred raised his brow.

    "You think I should take him?"

    "It is your choice, my Lord. But¡­ if I may speak freely, then yes. I would advise you to do so."

    Aldred was very big in formality, but he was also very honest with his words.

    In essence, he expressed his true thoughts despite all the flowery attachments his speech contained.

    "Your reason?" Mordred inquired further.

    "The Young Master has no friends his age. He''s been cooped here for the past few months and hasn''t stepped foot outside the Manor since he arrived."

    All of these were facts that Mordred hadn''t properly considered due to his inexperience as a parent, and also other distractions.

    "The Young Lady of the Crimson Family just turned five, so this should be a good way for him to be friends with someone his age."

    Since Mordred was a good friend of the Crimson Family''s current Head, then it made sense that their children would also get along.

    "You''re right! That would indeed be optimal." Mordred smiled while rubbing his bald chin.

    His lips curled up to form a wide grin.

    "Break the news to Neron and prepare him for the ceremony." Mordred began to walk in hastened steps.

    "And where will you be headed, my Lord?"

    Mordred didn''t stop walking, but made a quick nce at his butler while waving casually.

    "Well, I have to write a responseter, don''t I?" His brown eyes were beaming brightly.

    Mordred could not hide his excitement no matter how hard he tried.

    "It''s probably better to inform him that my son and I will be attending his daughter''s birthday celebration."

 Chapter 1345 The Young Lady Of Crimson

    Chapter 1345 The Young Lady Of Crimson

    [1 Week Later]

    It was a grand asion in the Great Crimson Family''s Estate.

    Several guests entered the vast territory of the Crimson Family, parking their carriages in the appropriate locations within the massivepound prepared for matters of the sort.

    Hundreds¡ªif not thousands of acres¡ªwere consumed by the Estate''spound alone.

    The many towering buildings, as well as other glorious monuments, only spoke volumes of the kind of influence this family wielded.

    Of all the four Ducal Households¡ªthe most influential noble families in the Kingdom¡ªthey possessed the greatest number of powerful Mages.

    One could call them the powerhouse of the Kingdom.

    And right on this very day, the daughter of Lord Philius Crimson¡ªthe Crimson FamilyHead¡ªwas celebrating her fifth birthday.

    Normally, ording to Noble Tradition, a naming ceremony was held a week after a child was born.

    This was to grant the newborn their name and also to openly affirm if a child had prospects as a Magic User, hence bing an important asset to the Kingdom and strengthening the Household''s standing.

    That said, there were other birthday celebrations that were treated with simr levels of importance.

    The Coming-Of-Age ceremony was an example of a celebration that dwarfed the Naming Ceremony in terms of grandeur.

    Since it marked a child''s inevitable departure to the Eastern Kingdom''s great institute of Magic¡ªAinrk Academy¡ªNobles often threwvish parties and invited tons of guests.

    This wasn''t such a party, though.

    The five-year-old birthday party of the only child of the Crimson Family Head was being celebrated in such a grand fashion because of one reason only.

    The Young Lady¡ªSerah Crimson¡ªhad recently awakened and formed her Mana Core, and it was the legendary Special Grade Core.

    That meant she was an iparable genius with limitless possibilities awaiting her as a Mage.

    There was no way the Crimson Family wouldn''t hold such a celebration to show off their priceless treasure.

    ¡­ Even if the celebrant herself didn''t want it.

    *********

    "This is stupid¡­"

    As Serah Crimson watched the events of the party, she couldn''t help but whisper in disdain.

    She could see so many people grovel shamelessly in the presence of her parents, and a lot of them had tried to be friendly with her.

    Of course, she couldn''t care less, and she made it clear in how she addressed anyone who spoke to her.

    Even if she said the most disrespectful things to them, they would take it very calmly and even apologize to her.

    That was the level of their inferiority.

    ''Hmph! They don''t want to get on my family''s bad side. Plus, I''m an unparalleled genius. No one will want to mess with me.''

    Serah unted her crimson hair as she proudly stayed close to her mother while her father went around talking to the more important guests in the party.

    Her ruby-like eyes scanned the room, but she found no one who was worthy of her attention.

    They were all just greedy-eyed idiots who came here for mere appearances or because they wanted something from her family.

    It was disgusting, and she hated the hypocrisy.

    ''I can''t wait for this party to end so I can just go back to my room.''

    Right as Serah had this thought, a teenager¡ªone who looked to be barely an adult¡ªapproached her and her mother.

    "Greetings Lady Arisa Crimson. Greetings, Young Lady Serah Crimson."

    This young man had blond yellow hair, with very charming amber eyes.

    He looked incredibly handsome, and his exquisite wear was immacte. He wasn''t like many of the Nobles who were trying very hard to impress.

    Serah could tell¡­ he had true wealth.

    "Ohh! Young Master Damien Leonard. It''s a pleasure to meet you after so long. Thest time we saw was so many years ago."

    "Indeed. It is a pleasure."

    "And how are your parents? Are they still bedridden? Hope they get better."

    "I hope so as well. Your concern is much appreciated."

    "Please send my regards."

    "I shall¡­"

    As Serah observed the exchange between her mother and this stranger, she was able to pick up on a few things.

    ''Leonard? He''s from a Ducal Household like us¡­''

    However, that was where the respect she had towards this young man ended.

    Even though her parents had tried to hide it from her, the same way they did to most Nobles and members of the public, she knew the truth.

    ''This guy''s parents are already dead. They died months ago¡­''

    Damien Leonard had been orphaned at a very young age, before he could properly be an adult.

    The only reason this was being kept a secret was to ensure there wasn''t any unrest or disputes within the Leonard Household, as well as the other Noble Factions.

    Damien was still fifteen, and until he was sixteen, he couldn''t im session.

    If the current power vacuum was left unaddressed, it would lead to political instability in the Kingdom, as rival families within the massive Leonard Umbre, as well as outside it, would fight endlessly to get a slice of the Ducal cake.

    They couldn''t have that.

    As such, it was agreed by the Crimson Family and the Helmsworth Household that the entire affair would be kept a secret.

    Serah knew this entire exchange between her mother and this Damien fellow was only for appearances so that people wouldn''t suspect the truth.

    The story was that the Duke and Duchess had sumbed to a strange illness, so they were currently bedridden.

    Of course, Medicinal Experts were attending to them, and the best of Magic Experts had tried to figure out a solution, all to no avail.

    This would be the way the situation was supposed to go until Damien became an adult and took the throne of the Leonard Household.

    ''Hmph! What an overlyplicated n.''

    Serah didn''t like it one bit.

    Perhaps it was because she didn''t like lies, or because she knew the true reason why her parents were rendering so much unnecessary support towards the Leonards.

    ''The previous family head was my father''s protege. Dad is just trying his best to look out for his prot¨¦g¨¦''s son¡­''

    All under the excuse of maintaining order.

    Serah was too young to understand this, but if instability was allowed to seep into the Leonard Family in its current state, it could destroy the great pir.

    ''I even heard they are a bunch of Inepts. Pathetic¡­''

    As Damien Leonard respectfully stretched out his hand and wished Serah a happy birthday, she scoffed at him and rolled her eyes.

    "Don''t speak to me, you inferior Inept."

    As soon as she blurted this out, attention from the many Nobles intensified.

    They had all been passively paying attention to her, since she was the star of the asion, but after she said those words, it was impossible to be subtle.

    Gasps echoed from Nobles, and several of them began to look at Damien Leonard to see how he would react.

    The stigma associated with being an Inept had long gone out of fashion thanks to the Greatest Magic Schr¡ªLewis Griffith¡ªbut that didn''t mean it had beenpletely snuffed out.

    Among Nobles especially, having Magic¡­ at least to a functional extent¡­ was a sign of status.

    However, even though most of these Nobles shared the prejudice that currently threatened the status of the Leonard Household, they could not expressly disy it.

    One of the reasons was simply due to the Leonard Family''s current influence.

    It was still one of the Four Ducal Households.

    The second reason, however, was one that currently held far more weight.

    "Hey, Serah!"

    Serah Crimson found herself trembling at the firm voice of her father.

    Her eyes instantly spotted him. He was ring at her very intensely from where he stood, and she could tell she was in serious trouble.

    In order to avoid his disappointed and angry state, she tried to avert her gaze, but she was only able to tilt it to the two who were closest to him.

    It seemed her father was speaking to them before she had spoken so brashly.

    One of the two was a man who had a simr height as her father. He had slightly long brown hair, a handsome face despite looking aged, and his outfit was oddly simple despite looking regal.

    Then, there was the second person.

    He appeared much younger than the first man.

    No¡­ that was an understatement.

    The boy was nothing more than a child. Serah estimated him to be about her age.

    He had a bored look that made it seem like he didn''t want to be in the party, the same kind of expression Serah had also donned until recently.

    As her gaze flickered under the heavy pressure being exerted by her father, the boy''s pitch-ck eyes met hers.

    The moment they did, she found herself unable to look away.

    His lips slowly curled into a smile¡ªno, more like a wicked grin¡ªalmost as if he was enjoying the moment.

    From a look of sheer lethargy and boredom to one of amusement; the boy''s audacity knew no bounds.

    As fiery rage filled her chest, causing her to momentarily forget the fear her father was inflicting, she watched his moist lips mouth some words.

    Serah''s eyes widened as she heard the words trante in her mind.

    "Serves. You. Right."

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1346 First Time Meeting

    <h4>Chapter 1346 First Time Meeting </h4>

    ?1346 First Time Meeting

    The celebratory mood of Serah Crimson''s birthday party was ruined by her very own hands¡ªor rather, her careless words

    Needless to say, what happened next wasn''t too pleasant.

    She was publicly chastised by her father, and she had to apologize to the young Leonard for her derogatory remarks towards him.

    He was charming and gentle, epting her apology with an understanding smile on his face.

    That didn''t make Serah feel any better though.

    ''Damnit!''

    She had thought that she could get away with anything¡ªthat her level of importance would allow her to say whatever she wanted to anyone¡­

    But she was wrong!

    After being utterly humiliated by her father, Serah felt a burning sensation within her that would not die down no matter how hard she tried to ignore it.

    The scowl on her face for the remainder of her time with her mother clearly showed her dissatisfaction.

    Unfortunately for her, she couldn''t speak out.

    Any more from her, and it could mean more trouble¡ªnot only for herself, but for the Crimson Family as well.

    "Why don''t you stay here, Serah? I need to personally go greet some of the guests." Her mother finally said, breaking the tense silence between them.

    Serah knew she was ruining the mood with everyone who approached them, and her mother was unable to properly grant her guests the maximum courtesy she could give thanks to her presence.

    As a result, she probably intended to apologize to those people for her daughter''s behavior and also casually discuss with her friends.

    Serah knew she had to be understanding.

    "Sure." Her response was curt and distant.

    Lady Arisa left her daughter, who didn''t seem to be intent on socializing at all, and attended to her guests just as she intended.

    Serah watched from a distance, her scowl continuously deepening.

    ''When will this stupid thing end already?!'' She growled within herself.

    She wasn''t having any fun at all despite the fact that this party was being held for her sake.

    As she cast her gaze around and took a disconcerted nce at the wide doors that led to the outdoors, her eyes spotted someone.

    ''T-that boy¡­!''

    She couldn''t forget him even if she tried. He was the one who was secretly making fun of her when her father chewed her out.

    He had pure ck hair, and his small stature made it clear that she was taller than him.

    ''Who the hell does he think he is?!''

    The boy was dressed handsomely, and his face was very attractive too, butpared to her he wasn''t special at all.

    She was the superstar here!

    "Where is he going?" Serah whispered in a low growl.

    It seemed like he was sneaking out of the party¡­ and he had a ss of wine in his hand as he inconspicuously took one of the side exits.

    ''That brat¡­ he actually had the gall to steal alcohol from MY party?!''

    Serah was seething with rage, but she also considered this to be an opportunity.

    If she caught him sipping the wine red-handed and reported him, he was sure to get into trouble.

    ''Hehehe!'' Grinning for the first time since the party started, she slipped from her stagnant position and followed the boy outside.

    ''I''ll make sure you get into trouble too!''

    It was petty, but what did she care?

    She was Serah Crimson¡ªshe always got whatever she wanted.

    *******

    "You there, halt!"

    Serah''s voice reverberated as she watched the boy take sip from the wine ss he immactely held in his hand.

    He had a soft expression as he downed the red liquid, and he winced a bit, almost as if the taste was a little too strong for him.

    Serah felt the back of her throat itch as a certain curiosity about how it tasted echoed at the back of her mind.

    Her father never let her taste alcohol, saying stuff like, "You''re too young", or, "It''s udylike¡­"

    It was so tiring, so Serah gave up on it.

    Alcohol was one of the very few things that had been denied her, so it pissed her off that someone like this nobody was taking it so freely.

    "You look younger than me, so what gives you the right to drink alcohol?!" She yelled.

    The boy stopped drinking and slowly nced at her. His nk face expressed a bit of surprise as he raised an eyebrow.

    "Excuse me?" He asked, and for the first time she heard his voice.

    It was a lot calmer and mature than Serah expected.

    However, she didn''t let that deter her.

    "You heard me! Why the hell are you¡ª?!"

    "Are you talking to me? Do we know each other or something¡­?"

    Serah was dumbstruck as she heard what this boy was telling her.

    ''I-is he stupid or something? I''m Serah Crimson, the celebrant of today''s event! He can''t talk like this to me!''

    Her pride was hurt, but rather than backing off, she took a step forward and doubled down.

    "Don''t y dumb! You''re a child, aren''t you? Why are you drinking alcohol? Do you want to cause a scene and disgrace your Family Name?"

    The moment Serah said this, the countenance of the boy took a slight change.

    ''Hehe! Looks like I finally struck a nerve.'' She reveled in her victory as she red at him.

    "You mean the way you disgraced yours not too long ago?"

    "W-what?!"

    Serah was puzzled¡ªno, bamboozled.

    No one had ever spoken to her like this before.

    NO ONE!

    Even her father hardly used harsh words on her, and he would alwayse back and apologize to her afterward.

    "Y-you¡­ you dare¡­?!"

    Serah could feel hotness rising from her eyes as she red at the calm boy.

    It seemed nothing about her presence fazed him at all.

    "By the way, this isn''t alcohol. Father purified it for me before giving it to me because I said I was curious about the taste. It''s not bad, but I prefer the juice at home better¡­"

    The boy shook his ss slightly, causing the liquid within it to slip around.

    "W-what did you just¡­?"

    Serah was stunned about two major things she had just heard from the boy.

    One was the fact that she was wrong about her suspicion of him.

    He wasn''t taking alcohol, after all.

    That realization embarrassed her so much that her cheeks began to flush with bright colors of red.

    However, what got to her the most was the second thing.

    "¡­ Did you just call our wine inferior to yours?"

    The Crimson Household was regarded as one of the most elite within the Kingdom, yet this nobody had just said the juice from his unknown family tasted better than their finest wine!

    "Unforgivable¡­" Serah was no longer embarrassed or flustered.

    She was just angry.

    "I''ll teach you a lesson, you fool."

    ~WHUUUUSSHH!~

    The wind howled as Mana surged from Serah''s body. The energy clung tightly to her skin as she stared at the one who wronged her.

    ¡­ Who didn''t know his ce.

    The boy raised his brow as she said this, and a sudden spark in his eyes revealed he made a realization.

    ''Do you see now? Can you understand who you''re dealing with? Well it''s toote for y¡ª!"

    "One sec."

    The boy swiftly returned the ss of wine to his lips and quickly gulped down its contents before Serah''s very eyes.

    ''E-eh¡­?!''

    "Alright¡­ I''m all done." He tossed the ss bottle aside and stared straight at the shocked Serah.

    Nothing about his countenance had changed.

    "Come at me."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Our boy, Neron is cold asf

 Chapter 1347 Weakness And Strength

    <h4>Chapter 1347 Weakness And Strength </h4>

    ?1347 Weakness And Strength

    Serah was enraged.

    ''Is he looking down on me? Does he really know who he''s talking to, or is he just ying dumb?!''

    She didn''t think anyone could be so stupid as not to recognize the kind of trouble they would be in for messing with her.

    ''I''m an unparalleled genius! I am the child of the greatest family in the Kingdom!''

    She was Serah freakin'' Crimson for crying out loud!

    The boy clearly didn''t know his ce.

    "You really are an idiot¡­" Serah mumbled, her eyes now glowing brightly in the dark.

    Night had fallen on the Crimson Estate, so the bright crimson Mana that currently covered her body illuminated her immediate surroundings.

    Of course, since the two kids were not too far from the Manor where the party was taking ce, the bright lights from inside bled to the gardens andwn outside.

    However, the intensity of Serah''s Mana was enough to overshadow the dull lights that radiated upon them.

    "You''re the idiot. Why would you pick on someone just because he''s Inept?"

    "What?"

    "You heard me. Why me someone for something he had no control over?"

    Serah didn''t understand what this little boy was trying to imply, but there was one simple reason why she held nothing but contempt for the likes of Damien Leonard.

    "Because he''s weak! Weak people don''t deserve anything. They should be content with w in hat they''re given!"

    That was a major philosophy of the Crimson Household¡ªone that she personally subscribed to.

    Weakness was a sin in her family, and she felt the same had to apply for those who upied positions of Nobility.

    "How can you call yourself a Duke and be Inept? Makes no sense to me!" She dered.

    Power was all that mattered.

    "I see¡­" Mumbling, almost as if talking to himself, the boy ced his hand on his chin.

    It made him seem more mature for some reason, and they really pissed Serah off.

    "Even if you''re correct, what gives you the right to treat the weak however you please?"

    The question was so stupid to Serah that she was further convinced that this boy was an idiot.

    "Because I''m strong! I''m the strongest person my age, and I''m definitely stronger than that sorry excuse for a teenager."

    That was more than enough to grant her every right to look down on those weaker than her.

    "The strongmand the weak. That''s how it should be. Those who are lesser have no choice but to look up to their superiors and trail behind them."

    The only reason she feared her father, and also respected him, was because he was much stronger than her.

    If he wasn''t¡­ she wouldn''t give two hoots about his opinion of her.

    The reason she valued her Household was because it was the strongest around.

    That''s all there was to it.

    "That strikes me as strange¡­" Once again, the boy couldn''t grasp the simple things Serah was uttering.

    He truly was an imbecile.

    "Why do you have so much pride in a power you had no hand in? Why do you fault people for the weakness that they have no control over?" He asked.

    "W-what?!"

    The boy sighed, almost as if he was exasperated.

    "Even if you are strong, is it truly something to be proud of? You were just lucky to be born with this kind of power, and with your talent. You had no hand in it, so it isn''t really yours to im. You were just given it on a golden tter."

    Serah didn''t know why, but she was getting increasingly upset by all that the kid was saying.

    "All of your power, wealth, influence¡­ everything isn''t because of YOU. It''s because of forces outside your control."

    In a way, that stripped her of the agency that allowed her to im her straight for herself.

    Serah truly hated how the boy was weaving his words.

    "And as for the Inept ones¡­ is it really fair to judge them or call them weak? Just as you had no say in your strength, they have no say in their weakness¡­"

    Serah scoffed at all she was hearing.

    "Sounds like a coping mechanism to me. That''s something only the weak would say."

    The boy was trying to justify weakness, but Serah was having none of it.

    "You''ve really gotten on my nerves more than once or twice this night¡­" As veins appeared on her forehead, so did a big and wide smile form on her face.

    "Even if you apologize now, it''ll be toote for you."

    ~VWUSH!~

    The crimson aura around her exploded, creating an intense pressure that filled her immediate surrounding.

    Suddenly, the area around her began to get hot, and all her bodily functions became far stronger than normal.

    By activating spreading Mana through her body with her Mana Core, every single part of her abilities had risen to a heightened degree.

    She felt like she could crush the boy in front of her without even trying.

    ''Maybe just one hit¡­ or should I go for two?''

    Serah was a little scared that if she started, she wouldn''t be able to stop beating him to a pulp.

    That was how mad she was at him

    But¡­

    ''We have healers, don''t we? And I heard that Resurrection Magic is possible if it is cast very early after the death of the target.''

    Her family produced Mages of the highest caliber, so she wasn''t doubtful that they could resuscitate the boy no matter what injuries he sustained.

    Of course, Serah knew she would get in trouble for what she did

    ¡ªbut so what?

    The only one who could punish her was her father, and no matter how harsh it was, it wouldn''t be very severe.

    No one else would cross her, since that would mean they would be opposing the Crimson Family.

    Perhaps three Households¡ªno, removing the Leonard''s, just two¡ªwould be willing to oppose the Crimsons.

    ''But he''s not a member of any of the four Ducal Households. There''s nothing he, or his family, can do to me.''

    With that in mind, Serah clenched her fist and prepared to give her opponent a big ol'' punch.

    ''I''ll target that face of his. I have to make sure itnds on those lips of his!''

    That way, anytime he opened them he would remember the grave mistake he made this fateful night.

    "I''ll make it so that you''ll never dare say a word to me ever again."

    ~WHOOSH!~

    Serah darted from her position, gliding through the air as she tightened her little muscles and concentrated a considerable amount of energy on her fist.

    The air around it vibrated, and the crimson aura shrouding it was intense.

    Anyone¡ªor anything, really¡ªthat was hit with this powerful blow was bound to be knocked out for good.

    "Dieeeee!"

    As Serahunched her fist towards him, she made a remarkable discovery.

    ''E-eh¡­?''

    The boy wasn''t there.

    "How pathetic¡­" She suddenly heard a voice from behind her.

    "After hearing you ramble on about strength, I expected you to be a lot more powerful."

    Serah couldn''t believe this!

    Her entire body trembled as she listened to the bored monotone that wafted through the air.

    "But¡­ you''re pretty weak."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Damn¡­ emotional damage! Sorry if this is all going so slow.

    I''ll try to speed things up!

 Chapter 1348 Defeat Of A Genius

    <h4>Chapter 1348 Defeat Of A Genius </h4>

    ?1348 Defeat Of A Genius

    "¡­ You''re pretty weak."

    Serah had never heard those words being directed at her before.

    Not even once.

    She was either the one who thought or said that about others.

    Ever since she was a kid, she had been praised for her overall Magical Prowess. She was a genius that came only once in a generation.

    No, she even exceeded that!

    So why¡­?

    Why was she being called weak?

    "THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Serah''s voice reached a climax the instant she was able to process the words uttered to her.

    ~BOOOM!~

    The ground beneath her shattered, and everything else for a small distance trembled.

    Her eyes were burning with rage, and pure embers of Mana caused her irises to glow even brighter than before.

    Her crimson hair rose, as if they were being pulled by someone above her, and several more veins appeared on her face.

    "ME? WEAK?!"

    She swiftly turned tosh at the boy behind her, but he had quickly moved out of the way and created some distance between them.

    "Come back here!" Growling while ring intently at him, she began her charge.

    ~BOOOM!~

    The earth she trampled on as she advanced to her target broke apart as the sizzling heat in the air caused an illusion of space warping.

    In no time at all, she was right in front of the boy.

    "You can''t call me that!"

    ~WHOOM!~

    Her first strike was expertly dodged by the boy, as he simply moved his head from the blow''s trajectory.

    He seemed perfectly unfazed by the force behind her strike.

    "No one calls me that"

    Serah quickly followed-up with the next strike, holding far more ferocity than the first.

    The des of grass underneath the two of them violently danced as she brought this next strike towards him.

    ~WHAM!~

    They made contact¡­ but with the boy''s hand.

    "W-what?!"

    Serah''s brain could not properly process the information that her widened eyes were rting to her.

    The guy she thought she would pummel to death had just casually caught her punch.

    Blue energy flickered around his hand as he slowly twisted his rust in response to her vibrating hand. It seemed he was just as calm as she was mad.

    "Your hand is soft. It''s clear you''ve not worked hard for a single day of your life."

    Serah hated how that sounded like an insult when she had previously taken pride in it.

    Her privileged upbringing allowed her to enjoy the best of life without having to struggle for it, and her immense talent meant everything came easy for her.

    It was always something to be proud about.

    But¡­

    "You really have no right to boast."

    ¡­ This boy''s words had just shattered her reality.

    "SHUT UP! SHUT UP, YOU FOO¡ª!"

    ~WHOOSH!~

    Before Serah could properlyplete her sentence or send another strike, she felt something hot and hard press against her stomach.

    It was a fist, and its overwhelming force was enough to cause all her senses to turn blurry the moment she felt the impact.

    ''H-huh¡­?''

    Serah''s body grew numb, and she could see herself trembling.

    Before she realized it, she had copsed on the floor,pletely paralyzed.

    ''What is happening to me¡­?''

    It couldn''t have been because of that single hit, right? Just one blow couldn''t have caused her¡ªthe mighty Serah Crimson¡ªto fall so shamefully¡­

    ¡­ Right?!

    "You shouldn''t call me a fool. I have a name, you know?" She heard the boy''s voice echo in her ear as she struggled to breathe.

    Her vision was blurry, so she couldn''t clearly see his face.

    Serah was certain the boy was smiling triumphantly as he stared down at her pathetic state.

    She was wrong, though.

    The boy simply stared at her the same way he had always done

    ¡ªwith an aloof, uncaring attitude.

    He really couldn''t have cared less.

    "Happy birthday, Serah Crimson. That''s your name, right?"

    Hearing him say her name caused her chest to tighten.

    She wanted to protest¡ªto tell him never to utter her name ever again.

    But¡­ she couldn''t.

    Not only because she could barely breathe, talkless of speaking, but also because of the underlying principle that she had lived by all these years.

    ¡­ The weak controls the strong!

    "By your logic, that means I can basically tell you what to do, right?"

    Serah could not argue with the boy.

    He was stronger than her in every conceivable way, which meant one thing.

    He was right!

    The boy slowly squatted, bringing himself closer to her helpless form as he could.

    He ced his hand on her face and tilted her head by raising her chin.

    His small fingers were heavily pasted on her puffy cheeks as her face was forced to mirror his.

    ''W-what is he about to do? Don''t tell me¡­?!'' Serah''s eyes bulged even more than they already had.

    She could only think of one reason why a boy would be doing this to her¡ªa girl.

    ''C-could it be¡­?!''

    As the thought echoed in Serah''s head, she could feel her cheeks bing hot and her emotions in a strange dance.

    She didn''t know how to feel amidst her frustration and excitement. She could only stare at the blurry face of the one who defeated her.

    "Call me by my name. Neron. Neron Kaelid."

    "E-eh¡­?"

    Serah thought she didn''t hear him quite well.

    "No more of this ''Fool'' business. I''m Neron, just as you''re Serah."

    Serah couldn''t believe that this was all he was saying¡ªor doing

    ¡ªeven with this opportunity that he had.

    "W-why¡­?" She murmured.

    Did he find her unappealing? Was she really so worthless that she couldn''t even be considered at all?

    This very night, her pride had been so badly hurt.

    She couldn''t stand it anymore.

    Serah desperately needed a win!

    "Neron, you¡­" In response to her words, the boy called Neron drew his face closer to her.

    Unfortunately for him, he never sawing what she did next.

    "Mmmphhh!!"

    Serah locked her lips with his and forced the both of them to share a kiss.

    It didntst for very long, and it was as awkward as it was disgusting.

    But Serah didn''t mind.

    ''Neron¡­ Neron Kaelid¡­''

    As he struggled to dislodge himself from the kids, finally seeding in pushing her away, Sereh had one burning thought within her.

    ''¡­ I won''t lose next time!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Looks like this is when Serah''s habit of assaulting Neron with kisses began.

    Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

 Chapter 1349 Forging Ties

    <h4>Chapter 1349 Forging Ties </h4>

    ?1349 Forging Ties

    "I''m so terribly sorry for my daughter''s behavior, Mordred. She can be a handful at times!"

    It was no surprise that themotion that Serah created¡ªno matter how brief¡ªwould garner the attention of the grownups.

    The party was out on instant hold as the respective parents of Serah and Neron rushed to the scene.

    They saw potholes and debris around, but none of them were surprised by the sight. The ruined garden that marred the pristine beauty of the estate was of no concern to them.

    What was most important were their kids.

    "Why weren''t you with her, woman? You know full well how Serah can be!"

    Despite Duke Philius'' intense tone, his face did not contain worry, but rather a strange form of tenderness.

    "This girl¡­ haaa¡­ I apologize."

    The small crowd of nobles that had gathered were quickly shooed away by themanding deration of Duke Philius Crimson himself.

    "Party''s over. Those who have a long way off, we have enough space to lodge you for the night. I wish those who are leaving this very night safe travels."

    Regr Nobles would try to save face, or follow proper etiquette to the letter, but the Crimson Household didn''t need any of that.

    They were plenty strong in their own right, so they made up the rules in their Estate.

    Once the guests had dispersed, and the ones who desired to stay, lodged in the exquisite suites that had been prepared for them, the two families had a meeting with their children.

    *******

    "Alright. Let''s hear it¡­"

    The parties involved now upied a lounge meant for only the most respected guests.

    The beautiful chandeliers that hung in the ceilings, the pristinely woven carpets and expensive curtains¡ªtalkless of the paintings that hung on the luxuriously painted walls¡ªgave off an aura of wealth.

    Even within the Crimson Family Estate, this ce was especially astounding.

    Lord Mordred sat with his son on a sofa, and opposite him was the Crimson Family head himself¡ªDuke Philius.

    His wife sat beside him¡ªto the right¡ªand his daughter was on the left.

    "What exactly went down?"

    All the parents saw were craters and the two kids dispersing their Mana.

    No one really knew what happened.

    "Father, she''s weird. She kissed me without permission." Neron swiftly pointed at Serah without hesitation.

    He had the same calm expression on his face, so it was difficult to tell how he felt about her action.

    Was he upset about the kiss¡­ or did he enjoy it?

    "S-shut up! Father, mother, he hit me on my stomach and caused my face to eat dirt."

    "You attacked me first!"

    "You should never strike a maiden¡ªespecially not in such a crude way!"

    "Maiden? You? You''re a¡ª!"

    The kids would have kept going without any intervention, so both Lord Philius and Lord Modred stopped their children with knocks on their heads.

    "O-ow¡­"

    "Why¡­?"

    As the kids rubbed their heads, the adults sighed in exasperation.

    This wasn''t how things were supposed to go.

    The n was for Serah and Neron to be friends, just as their parents were.

    Mordred had even been exchanging letters to Philius all week about the arrangement, and they were both pretty excited about it.

    That was because, just like Mordred, Serah had no friends.

    Her terrible personality and dominating aura scared off the boys and intimidated the girls.

    No one wanted to hang out with her, and she frankly didn''t seem to care about making any friends.

    She only did whatever pleased her.

    "I remember us arguing about who would win if they fought in one of our letters. I never expected the kids to duke it out behind our backs¡­" Philius muttered tiredly.

    "Looks like my kid is stronger, though."

    Mordred''s wide smile made Philius give a tired one in response.

    "I guess he is. What is his Mana Core Grade now?"

    A Mage''s Mana Core was what held their Mana and determined their capacity for generating and controlling the supernatural energy necessary for Magic.

    ssified into Grades, the color of a Particr Mana Core showed how strong a Mage was.

    ¡­ Or how talented they were.

    "Blue." Mordred said with a wider grin.

    "Blue? That''s amazing!"

    A Blue Core was the third stage after White and Yellow, and even the most talented of Mages didn''t reach a Blue Core Grade until they were twelve years old and above.

    Yet, Neron had done it at just five years old!

    "What''s more amazing is that he only started training in Mana a few months ago." Mordred added, as if he hadn''t mentioned this to his friend a million times already.

    "Wow. What a monster. You have a monster as a son, you know that right?"

    "Hey! I''m not a monster. Your daughter is the mons¡­ ouch!"

    Another knock on Neron''s head caused him to cease his words and leak out a tiny bead of tears.

    He looked betrayed, but he swallowed any other word he would have uttered.

    "Haha! Your son has quite the sharp tongue¡­ just like Serah!"

    Neron and Serah red at each other the moment they werepared to each other.

    They both really despised each other.

    "Hahaha! They get along well, don''t they?"

    "Indeed, they do."

    It almost seemed like both parents were trying their hardest to convince themselves that their children had a future as friends.

    Despite the children barking words of annoyance at each other, the adults keptughing and calling their squabbles cute.

    It was indeed cute, but to the children it wasn''t.

    Without the overseeing gaze of their parents, it was clear that Neron and Serah would have torn each other to pieces.

    ********

    [Moments Later]

    "Father, who is that man?"

    Once Mordred and Neron had taken their leave from the lounge, following the Duchess to the special room prepared for them, Serah was left all alone with her father.

    "You treated him like an equal. I''ve never seen you act that way with anyone before."

    In response to his daughter''s naive curiosity, the Duke chuckled loudly.

    "Haha! An equal? Is that what it looked like to you?"

    Serah was still too young, so she didn''t understand. She couldn''t see the reverence Philius gave Mordred in their entire time together.

    "You know that other than the Four Great Noble Households that hold the Kingdom together, there are three individuals who possess equal¡ªif not superior authority to us."

    "The Grand Mages?"

    "That''s right. That man¡­ Lord Mordred Kaelid¡­ was the strongest of them. The Supreme Battle Mage of the Eastern Kingdom."

    The moment Serah heard this, her eyes nearly popped out of her sockets.

    "N-no way! That was him?!"

    Appearances could be deceiving. She thought Grand Mages dressed in traditional Mage Outfits, with all sorts of Magic Items dangling from them.

    But Lord Mordred wasn''t like that at all.

    "Indeed. He''s a Mage that is a lot stronger than your father."

    Serah''s ears couldn''t believe it¡ªher father was admitting his inferiority to someone.

    "I suppose it makes sense that his son would be stronger than my daughter." This time, Duke Philius smiled a little nostalgically.

    "Father¡­"

    Serah wanted toin, but she knew she didn''t have any right to.

    Her father was right, after all.

    She truly was weak.

    "Hey, Serah¡­ would you like to be friends with that boy? With Neron?"

    Duke Philius had initially agreed to the whole arrangement because he wanted his daughter to forge genuine connections with others and have allies outside the Crimson Household.

    None of that had changed, but something else was added to the father''s mind.

    ''A child like that¡­ he possesses immense potential. His talent is something I haven''t seen before¡­'' Philius rubbed his chin as he grinned widely.

    ''If he could join the Crimson Family, just how much stronger will we be? And if he were to join hands with my daughter¡­''

    He nced at Serah''s pure and innocent face.

    ''¡­ Just how powerful will their seed be?''

    Philius could only imagine it, but that was enough to make him chuckle to himself.

    ''Mordred is powerful, and he is highly respectable, but the Kaelid doesn''t really have any influence¡­''

    Compared to the Crimson Household, they were a small Noble Family.

    ''Perhaps it''s time to merge our Families together. I don''t mind adding Kaelid to our great Crimson name if it means producing a superior breed of Mages in the next generation¡­''

    He could see that the Helmsworth and Netherlores were already catching up to the Crimson Family in terms of power, and Philius did not want that.

    He wanted his Household to remain the supreme force among Nobles within the Kingdom.

    ''And I''ll do whatever it takes to maintain that.''

    His only worry was that his daughter would refuse to associate herself with Neron.

    Fortunately for him, he was worried for nothing.

    "Neron, huh? I suppose it wouldn''t be bad being his friend."

    The moment Philius heard this, he smiled deeply.

    "That''s a good girl. Make sure you get very close to him, okay?"

    Serah nodded vehemently.

    on doing that.

    Even if her father didn''t say anything, she was already nning "That boy is mine!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    A longer chapter than usual, but I hope you enjoyed it. Another time skip ising soon¡­

 Chapter 1350 An Odd Relationship Begins

    <h4>Chapter 1350 An Odd Rtionship Begins </h4>

    ?1350 An Odd Rtionship Begins

    "So¡­ what do you think about Lady Ser¡ª?"

    "I don''t like her." Neron answered his father tly.

    It was very rare for this boy to interrupt the only man he ever truly respected, but he couldn''t help it in this instance.

    Serah Crimson genuinely got on his nerves.

    "Why don''t you like her?" Mordred asked calmly.

    It felt like a trick question.

    ''Why would I like her?'' He wanted to yell in response, but he maintained his cool facade.

    "She literally picked a fight with me out of nowhere. That''s enough to give me a terrible first impression of her."

    No¡­ that wasn''t quite urate.

    The terrible first impression he had of her had solidified long before they fought.

    "You saw how she treated that Inept guy. She has a terrible attitude, a foul mouth, a prideful heart, and¡­ she''s just annoying!"

    If Neron had to pick his ideal representation of a girl, he would go for Yera.

    She was someone kind, considerate, and most often that not¡­ silent.

    Her shy and timid nature was endearing, and Neron felt like girls ought to be that way.

    ''Not like that¡­ that savage!''

    Serah was the pr opposite of Yera¡ªhis perfect archetype of a woman¡ªso it was no mystery that Neron woulde to reset her.

    "And we''ve not even gotten to the part where she forced a kiss on me. That girl¡­ she stole my first kiss."

    To be honest, Neron felt strange calling Serah Crimson a girl since she didn''t really fit that category.

    However, he also couldn''t call her a guy since that would be an insult to his gender.

    ''P-plus, I can''t don''t want it to seem like I kissed a guy¡­'' He tightly shut his eyes in embarrassment.

    The more Neron thought of it, the more this awkward mix of frustration and inescapable fixation arose.

    Neron always tended to ignore the things he didn''t like. He had done that for Magic for years, and not once did he feel like he was missing out.

    However, something about this girl made it impossible for him to ignore her.

    It pained him beyond words.

    "Well, I''m thinking of having her visit our Estate often. You can alsoe here regrly. We should set up an entire arrangement about that."

    "W-what?! No way!"

    Mordred smiled as his son protested, but he wasn''t about to budge on this issue.

    "My mind is made up, Neron. You might dislike her now, but no one knows the future."

    "I would never like her in a million years." Neron retorted, fully certain of his position.

    "You sure about that? I heard the girls in the Crimson Family grow up to be very very attractive. You mighte to regret what you said just now¡­"

    "W-what does that have to do with anything!"

    At this point, Neron was getting agitated. He didn''t know why the thought of getting along with this girl made him so distressed.

    He hated feeling this way.

    "Hahaha! Look at my cute boy. Don''t worry about it. Just give it time and see¡­"

    Neron sighed in powerlessness.

    He knew his father had already made up his mind, so there was nothing he could do about it.

    "There''s a good boy!" Mordred patted Neron''s head, and that seemed to cheer him up a little.

    ¡­ Just a little.

    Both of them were currently in the special guest room¡ªan incredibly spacious ce for just two people.

    The furniture and overall design of the ce made it clear that this wasn''t a ce for just anyone¡ªeven among nobility.

    "Why don''t you rest? You''ve had a pretty long night."

    "Yeah¡­ I think I will¡­"

    As Neron left for his own private quarters, Mordred watched from behind.

    His bright smile was stered on his face, and it was only until Neron left the room that he let out the huge cough he had been holding in for over a minute.

    "Urgh! Kpleugh!"

    He could taste blood in his mouth with each violent huff that proceeded from his mouth.

    However, after a few seconds, his condition stabilized.

    "Haaa¡­ haaa¡­"

    He felt his chest burning, but a few deep breaths made the pain slowly recede.

    ''I almost messed up just now. That was a close one¡­'' Mordred''s wry smile reced his previous expression.

    His eyes stared into the distance as he plunged deeper into his thoughts.

    ''I won''t be around forever. It''s better for Neron if he can find a friend and a second family¡­ so he won''t be alone when I pass on.''

    More than anything, Mordred didn''t want his son to be alone once again.

    ''I know Philius will take good care of him. Now that he knows how valuable Neron is, and he has seen his capabilities with his own hands, he''ll probably want Neron for himself¡ªor rather, for the Crimson Family.''

    Mordred didn''t particrly mind his friend''s intentions since that meant Neron would be protected by the Head of the Crimson Household.

    ''The closer you get to them, the more indispensable they''ll be as your allies¡­''

    In essence, this was all for his son''s good.

    Mordred took in another deep breath as he copsed on the big bed that he currently sat on.

    ''I just want to see you grow up a little more¡­''

    *********

    [Nearly Seven Years Later]

    "Come out here, Neron!" The voice of a certain girl pierced the air.

    As much as the tone was melodious, it also had a crude andmanding vibe about it.

    A crimson-haired girl in expensive clothes was currently scouring therge Kaelid Family Manor, her eyes peeled open for the sight of a single boy.

    Her eleven-year old body was slowly approaching the ripe age of 12, so she had already begun to develop moredy-like features.

    Compared to the brat she was seven years ago, Serah Crimson was almost a different person now.

    As her ruby-like eyes sauntered back and forth, she kept shouting the boy''s name.

    "Neron! Neron!! NEROOOON!!!"

    "Urgh! I''m here, so enough already." A voice suddenly manifested behind Serah, with the speaker''s lips very close to her ear.

    "Kyaa!" She screamed, startled.

    That was the most feminine reaction she could ever make in situations like this.

    Perhaps that was why Neron liked torturing her like this.

    "N-Neron! What do you think you''re doing?!" She yelled, her eyes narrowing on the one responsible for her nearly tripping over.

    She had already turned to face him, taking abative stance.

    "Would you rx? I just responded ''cus you wouldn''t stop calling for me."

    Neron Kaelid''s face was the epitome of handsomeness as he flexed his dark hair with one hand.

    His pure ck irises gleamed with delight as he gave a very condescending smirk.

    It seemed to piss Serah off¡ªas always.

    "I only did that because you didn''t answer the first time!"

    "And what rule says I''m supposed to answer?" Neron lifted his hand and began looking at his hand in a self-important fashion.

    He was clearly doing this to get on her nerves.

    "I came all the way here to see you, you know? The least you could do is respond when I call you!"

    "Ahh¡­ is that so?" Neron raises a brow, almost as if he couldn''t care less.

    "Y-you¡­! I don''t do this for anyone else, you know? And yet you''d treat me like this?!"

    Neron shrugged slightly.

    He wanted to tell her that he was the only friend she had, so it was only natural that he would be the only person she acted like this for.

    ''But nah¡­ it''s too easy.'' Heughed internally.

    "That''s it! Get over here¡­ I''ll teach you a lesson!"

    Serah lifted her sleeves as she sped her hands together.

    "Oooh! I''m so scared!" Neron responded with extreme sarcasm.

    This wouldn''t be the first time that Serah wanted to teach him a ''lesson.''

    But they both knew how it always ended.

    "Hmph! Be arrogant all you want, Neron! But it''ll be different this time!"

    This too was something that Serah was fond of saying.

    Honestly, they had done this so many times that Neron felt like he was stuck in a time-loop.

    "Pfft! Is that so? Then let''s hope you can catch me this time!"

    As always, they were starting their time together with a little game called ''Catcher!''

    ~WHOOOOSH!~

    Neron instantly coated himself in blue energy and rushed out of the building, destroying the thick walls that separated the manor''s interior from the outside.

    "Y-you! Wait for me!" Serah''s body glowed red that instant and she also rushed after Neron.

    ~BOOOM!~

    Instead of using the same hole that Neron had destroyed on his way out, Serah made her own and flew out.

    One could only feel pity for the ones who were responsible for fixing stuff like this.

    However, it was probably too early to feel bad for them.

    After all¡­

    ~BOOOOOM!~

    "Get back here, Neron!"

    ~KABOOOOOOOOM!~

    "Haha! Neveeerrrr!"

    ~VWOOOOOOMMMM!~

    "Y-YOUUUUUU!!!"

    ¡­ The destruction was only just beginning.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Does this scene remind you of a particr chapter in Arc 3?

    I can picture it already, lol.

 Chapter 1351 Aâ€¦ Unique Friendship

    <h4>Chapter 1351 A¡­ Unique Friendship</h4>

    ?1351 A¡­ Unique Friendship

    "So¡­ are you excited?"

    The two kids¡ªSerah and Neron¡ªwereying on a vast field within the Kaelid Estate.

    Surrounding them were rubbles and debris from various parts of the manor, but they both ignored them and focused on the conversation at hand.

    "Excited? For what?" Neron turned to look beside him, seeing Serah''s cute face.

    For some reason, she was smiling at him.

    "You know¡­ the examsing up in a few months."

    Both of them would be turning 12 very soon, which meant they had to prepare for the Ainrk Academy Entrance Exams.

    Every child of a Noble or revered Mage household had to attend the Academy, considering its prestige in all of the Eastern Kingdom.

    Neron sighed the moment he heard this, almost as if he was tired of the question.

    The truth is¡­ this wasn''t the first time she had asked him.

    It wasn''t even the second one.

    Every time they hung out, she had to bring up the whole Ainrk thing at least once.

    "I mean¡­ I know I''ll get in, so there''s no need to get excited about the Exams." Neron shrugged.

    This was the answer he always gave.

    "Tch! Always so cocky, aren''t you?" Serah grumbled under her breath as she looked away from him.

    Slight shades of pink appeared on her cheeks while she faced the opposite side.

    "I mean¡­ I don''t doubt you''d win, but¡­"

    Neron raised an eyebrow as he stared at her, but he decided not to pursue the issue and simply look above him.

    The clear evening sky greeted his eyes.

    Somehow, Neron couldn''t help but remember his first meeting with the girl beside him, and the subsequent consequences of their interaction.

    For one, since both of their families wanted them to be friends, they sort of arranged weekly meetings to ensure that he and Serah met frequently.

    The venue was rotated every week, which ensured that he would visit her once in a week, and she would do the same the next week.

    It also wasn''t something he had a choice in.

    This arrangement went on for almost seven years¡ªfrom when they were five till now that they were nearly twelve years old.

    What was initially two people who hardly interacted and hated one another to the extreme ended up slowly evolving into this current stage.

    An awkward representation of friendship.

    Serah would say they were friends at this point; all things considered.

    However, Neron remained aloof about the whole thing.

    He didn''t want to say or show anything that would imply he was very invested in their rtionship, but he couldn''t deny the bond they had.

    Other than Serah, Neron had no one his age he could connect with.

    He had gone for other Noble Parties and attended several events¡ªwith and without Serah.

    All of them made it painfully clear that he was stuck with the girl.

    "I''m guessing you''re excited. I don''t think you''re going to lose or anything, though¡­"

    As Neron said this, Serah jumped to her feet, her face red like a tomato.

    "What did you just say?! Of course I won''t lose!" Once she fumed, Neron sighed once again.

    "If you know you will win¡­ why are you so excited?"

    As she heard the question, Serah didn''t know how to properly respond.

    What was she supposed to say?

    "W-well¡­ maybe I just want to kick some ass and¡ª!"

    "Language, Serah." Neron mumbled, closing his eyes as he crossed his leg while rxing on the vast field.

    This caused the youngdy to pout even more.

    "Hmph! What''s your deal? It''s not like any of the adults can hear us, right? Besides¡­ Mr. Mordred isn''t even around."

    With Serah folding her arms and dering such with confidence, Neron couldn''t help but think she had missed the pointpletely.

    ''Even if he isn''t here, it''s not befitting for ady to¡­ ahh, never mind.''

    If there was anything about Serah, it was the fact that she was very udylike.

    It made him sometimes question her true identity.

    However, every time he stared at her pretty face and slightly plump chest, he had to admit¡­

    ¡­ She was indeed a girl.

    ''But she''s right about dad not being here. If he was, she would have behaved.''

    Neron''s father¡ªMordred Kaelid¡ªhad gone to the Capital on some business.

    The boy didn''t know the details, but he knew it was an important meeting he had to attend.

    As a result, he left the two of them in the hands of the Butler¡ª

    Aldred¡ªand the staff of the Estate.

    Fortunately, they were all pretty skilled at Magic, so they could take care of the mess he and Serah made without too much work.

    ''Let''s hope dades back soon¡­'' Neron smiled as he looked at Serah''s face.

    "What? Why are you smiling at me like that? It''s creepy!"

    Once Neron heard this, he smiled even more.

    "Is there something on my face? Come on! Say something!"

    Neron decided to give Serah the silent treatment until she learned her lesson aboutnguage¡ªat least, that was what he told himself.

    In actuality, he just wanted to see how far he could push her.

    *********

    [Later That Night]

    ~KOK~

    ~KOK~

    Neron heard a faint noiseing from his door, which woke him from his slumber.

    He had always been a light sleeper thanks to being very sensitive to his surroundings.

    That was why it only took the first knock to alert him, and the second one to wake himpletely.

    "Urhh¡­ who''s that?" He spoke groggily, a frown etched on his sleepy face.

    "It''s me¡­ Serah!"

    Once Neron heard this, he found sleep slowly vanishing from his eyes.

    "What do you want?"

    "S-so mean. You can''t even tell me toe in first?"

    Neron felt the irony of her words. Serah was known to be very unconventional in everything.

    Shecked proper etiquette and was constantly vulgar in her words.

    Yet¡­ refusing to enter Neron''s room seemed to be where she crossed the line.

    He chuckled a little under his breath.

    "I''m going back to sleep." Neron spoke out with a smile on his face.

    Something about the twinkle in his blue eyes made it clear he was absolutely enjoying the situation.

    "F-fine! The thing is¡­ I can''t sleep."

    "Hm?"

    Neron was surprised. This had never happened before¡ªnot even once.

    Serah was often energetic in the morning, but at night she clocked out faster than anyone.

    Some even went as far as saying that she probably got all her energy from the sun.

    And yet, here she was talking about not being sleepy.

    Neron found it strange, but also curious. He couldn''t go back to sleep because he had somehow lost all his earlier drowsiness.

    Since he now had no option but to entertain her, he made the only choice he could.

    "Come in, then."

    *******

    The two kids ended up talking through the night.

    Neron didn''t expect it to be so engaging, but he and Serah didn''t stop chatting.

    She had said she couldn''t sleep due to feeling uneasy, but the girl on his bed was just as energetic as she would be in the morning.

    ''Dad is gonna skin me alive if he finds out I''m not sleeping at this hour!'' Neron found his thoughts trailing.

    Still, he couldn''t resist talking to his only friend.

    Unknown to the both of them¡­ all the excitement that coursed through their veins would soon transform into something else.

    ¡ªSomething darker.

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Hope you enjoyed the chapter. It was wholesome and all, but it''s about time to get into the meat of the situation.

 Chapter 1352 Dark Reminder

    <h4>Chapter 1352 Dark Reminder </h4>

    ?1352 Dark Reminder

    "D-did you feel that?"

    Neron''s ears suddenly perked up as he felt a sudden change in the atmosphere,

    It was ominous¡ªhaving a certain feel of darkness that made his skin tingle.

    He didn''t like the sensation as it made him feel fear; an emotion he had grown numb to over the years.

    Serah kept talking like all was well, so he wanted to know if she could hear¡ªor perceive¡ªwhat he could.

    Her response was a confused stare.

    "Feel what?"

    The moment she said this, Neron realized what was going on.

    ''A disturbance in Mana! Something is going on!''

    He didn''t know what in particr it was, but he knew it within himself¡ªand from experience interacting with Mana¡ªthat something was wrong.

    He had to know what it was.

    "Let''s stop talking, Serah. I feel something is happening."

    The moment he said this, Serah fell silent.

    Over the years, these two had grown ustomed to each other. They probably understood each other more than their parents could evere close to.

    That was why, the moment she saw the look in Neron''s eyes, Serah fell quiet and nodded.

    She knew he was being dead serious.

    "What do you think it is?" She whispered, staring intently at him with her ruby-like eyes.

    "I don''t know. Maybe investigate?"

    The best course of action would be to call upon the Butler, but Neron wasn''t sure if the situation was as intense as that.

    As he struggled to pick an option, he felt yet another intense wave of Mana.

    But this feeling¡­ it felt oddly familiar, but strangely darker.

    Far more perverse than the Mana he was used to.

    ''I''ve felt this somewhere before. Where¡­?''

    Neron didn''t know.

    He couldn''t remember¡ªalmost as if a fog covered his mind¡ªbut it felt so close.

    ''I have to know what it is!'' He could feel his heart racing as he felt strangely agitated.

    As Neron clutched his chest, feeling his pounding internal organ beat faster and faster, his eyes widened.

    "¡­ Ron¡­"

    He could hear a faint feminine voice, but he was too stuck in his reverie to fully grasp it.

    "¡­ NERON!"

    A hot sensation spread throughout his cheek as the sound of a hot p echoed across the room.

    Neron''s hand reflexively went to his cheek as his widened eyes looked at the girl who sat opposite him.

    She looked worried for some reason.

    "Se¡­rah? Why did you hit me?"

    "You were behaving weird. You spaced and out didn''t answer me when I called you. I had to do something!"

    Once he heard this, he slowly snapped to reality.

    "How long was I out for?"

    "U-um¡­ maybe a minute or two?"

    Neron couldn''t believe he had zoned out for that long when it felt like just a few seconds to him.

    "I¡­ see. Thanks for bringing me back."

    The faint Mana he had sensed earlier was now more intense than ever, and it seemed to have surrounded the entirepound.

    At this point, Neron knew it was serious.

    "We need to wake Aldred." Neron decided, not feeling the usual confidence that often remained with him no matter what.

    Something about the situation felt too scary to confront alone

    ¡ªeven if he had Serah by his side.

    "O-okay!"

    Both kids left the bed, and Serah rushed to the door while Neron struggled to find his footing.

    The moment she twisted the doorknob, Neron felt something rush into him.

    His senses screamed at him as an ominous energy converged behind the door.

    "Serah, no¡ª!"

    Before he could reach out and stop her, she sessfully opened the door, revealing the source of the darkness.

    It was a man.

    "Oho¡­!"

    The man appeared pale, with a cleanly shaven head and bulging eyes that seemed like they would drop out of their sockets at any time.

    He was dressed in a hooded ck gown, though the hood rested on his back.

    "¡­ Looks like the kids were awake."

    His broad grin felt inhuman¡ªmonstrous even. Both Neron and Serah felt paralyzed from their waist down.

    They could only watch in fear and shock as the man took a step forward, barely a few inches from Serah, and a couple more steps from Neron who stood behind her.

    He had a crimson orb on his wrinkled old hand, which pulsated as if it had life.

    While Serah was scared to death by the appearance of the stranger, Neron''s eyes were only focused on the red orb.

    The moment he saw it¡ªand felt its perverse Mana¡ªhe remembered the horrors that were buried deep in his mind.

    This orb bore an uncanny resemnce to the one that killed his friends.

    "A Blood Stone!" Neron grunted, his vacant eyes showing nothing but sheer malice.

    "Ohhh! You know about the Bloo¡ª?"

    Before the man couldplete his words, he felt himself unable to speak again.

    ''E-eh¡­?'' His face seemed to disy as his bulging eyeballs looked around while his vision blurred.

    He could feel his head falling from where his body was, with sshes of blood decorating his line of sight.

    ''What just¡­ happen¡­ed¡­''

    The man''s head rolled on the floor and his body soon followed.

    Red liquid stained the area of impact around his corpse, and blood sprayed all over the area.

    "AHHHHHHHH!" Serah screamed, now drenched in the blood of the man as his bodyy lifeless beside her.

    She had never seen anything like this before.

    It frightened her beyond what mere words could describe.

    However, perhaps what scared her the most was the boy who now stood beside her, holding the very orb the man had held a second earlier.

    His previously ck eyes now glowed bright blue as he stood imposingly above the corpse.

    No one needed to tell Serah who had just killed the scary man just now.

    The cold gaze he had, and the entire demeanor he exuded was nothing like the Neron she knew.

    This boy had be something else.

    "I can''t believe I have to deal with this again¡­" Neron''s whisper rang hollow as he looked at the red pulsating orb in his hand.

    The stone got crushed in an instant, its crimson particles crashing on the ground as if they were nothing but ss.

    And then, his eyes flickered with brighter blue.

    "Where''s the next one?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Yeah¡­ looks like Neron snapped; and I''m loving it.

 Chapter 1353 Invasion On The Estate

    <h4>Chapter 1353 Invasion On The Estate</h4>

    ?1353 Invasion On The Estate

    [Moments Earlier]

    "My brethren¡­ the time hase."

    The darkness covered the sky like a ck nket, having only the full moon wash upon the clearing with full brightness.

    In this clearing, a congregation of shadows could be seen.

    Fifty-one, to be exact.

    Standing before the cult-like group of men who had dark robes and crimson orbs in their hands was a hooded man with long white hair.

    His wrinkled face told of his advanced age, and his eyes werepletely filled with ckness¡ªsave for the orange glows that served as his irises.

    He had a crimson gem on his forehead, and a ne whose central crystal also glowed with the same color.

    Finally, he had a staff on one hand¡ªone designed like the gnarled branch of an ancient tree.

    The wooden object had arge crimson crystal at its top, and it exuded forbidden, malevolent power.

    One could only imagine how many lives had to be taken in order to make such a potent Blood Stone.

    Compared to the crimson orbs that the rest of the fifty or so men wielded, his was of far better quality.

    "Once the Magic Barrier around the Estate is disabled, it''ll alert the Family Butler¡ªAldred. That is the one we have to watch out for the most."

    ording to the intel they had, Aldred was a 7-Star Adventurer in his prime.

    That meant he was rather skilled and powerful.

    "He''s aged now, but he should not be underestimated. As nned, we will be using ''that'' against him."

    The men who stood before the hooded man nodded, their eyes showing a mix of excitement and savagery.

    "As for the main mission, five of you will sneak into the mansion and search for those two children."

    Their mission was to retrieve Neron Kaelid and Serah Crimson; two geniuses who were currently dwelling in the mansion.

    Since their real target was the owner of the house¡ªMordred Kaelid¡ªhaving his child and the daughter of his close friend would be more than enough to create a hostage situation.

    They chose this exact moment because their intel told them he wouldn''t be around.

    No¡­ that wasn''t quite urate.

    They HAD made sure he wouldn''t be around at this particr moment.

    "They should be in different rooms, so you''ll have to spread out and search for them."

    The big problem would be if Aldred was to interfere with their ns of kidnapping the two children.

    ''That''s why we have to make a big ruckus and draw his attention here¡­'' The white-haired man grinned maliciously.

    It was a cool night, and the breeze felt absolutely pleasant to everyone present.

    "Kill anyone who stands in your way. We only need the kids." The order was given.

    All the men nodded, instantly understanding what was going on.

    "Then¡­ let us begin."

    ********

    [Moments Later]

    As his minions¡ªforty-five of them now¡ªtrailed behind Kissel, he took in the night breeze.

    The five who were meant to invade the mansion had gone ahead, so it was his duty to eliminate the only challenge to their mission at the moment.

    The Butler Aldred.

    "I''ll make sure he isn''t able to ignore us. Though, I doubt he hasn''t already sensed the barrier being partially broken through¡­"

    If they could lure him to them, then it was to their advantage. They could set their trap and utilize their trump card to win.

    "All of you, begin with the preparations, while I¡ª"

    Before Kissel could say any more, he felt a disturbance that caused him to take a few steps back, as if nearly stumbling.

    "H-huh¡­?" He muttered in surprise as his long white hair danced underneath his hood.

    His darkened eyes widened as he twitched.

    "Looks like Kain is dead. That was¡­ fast."

    It had barely been a minute since the entire operation started, and one of their men was already eliminated.

    ''Could it be a trap? There''s no intel about that, though¡­''

    The only rational conclusion that Kissel could get to was that Aldred had begun to make his move already.

    ''We ensured they wore cloaking Items before venturing in. How could he sense them even at that?''

    Before Kissel could conclude his train of thoughts, two more deaths followed consecutively.

    ''E-eh¡­?''

    He couldn''t detect how they died or what killed them, but he could feel the numbers of the five dropping.

    There were only two now.

    "Looks like I''ll have to check things for myself¡­" Kissel turned to the forty-five, who had already formed a circle and were initiating the ''process.''

    ''I''ll leave them to this. It wouldn''t do any good if our numbers drop any further.''

    Their entire Coven of Blood Mages had converged for the sess of this mission.

    Failure wasn''t even an option.

    ~VWUUUSSH~

    Distortions in space appeared around Kissel, and he slowly vanished from sight as ckness shrouded his entire body.

    "It seems I''ll have to personally capture them." A bitter smile yed on his wrinkled face.

    "Shouldn''t be too hard."

    ********

    "Where''s the next one¡­?" Neron''s cold voice echoed within the room.

    He was staring nkly into the air as his blue eyes warbled with intense bloodlust.

    It caused Serah to tremble in fear.

    "N-Neron¡­?" She whispered his name, even though she was well aware that the boy in front of her was nothing like the one she knew.

    "Neron!" Serah yelled, sweeping her hand through the air to hit his face again.

    She hoped very deeply that it would wake him from his scary state.

    However¡ª

    "What do you think you''re doing?"

    ¡ªHe easily caught her hand and held it tightly.

    Serah trembled as she felt chills down her spine while he stared down at her as a predator would look down on its prey.

    "Why are you attacking me? Are you being controlled by them? Is this an illusion? Could it be¡­?"

    Serah squeaked in fear as Neron began to walk closer to her, his gaze growing more intense as she powerlessly looked on.

    "¡­ Are you my enemy too?"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter, even though it was purely info dumps and all.

    Haha¡­

 Chapter 1354 Escaping To Sanctuary

    Chapter 1354 Escaping To Sanctuary

    ??1354  Escaping To Sanctuary

    "Eeek¡­"

    For a moment, Serah''s existence shed before her eyes and she was certain that her life was over.

    If Neron was to do anything at that moment¡­ she was not going to survive.

    Then¡ª

    "Serah! Neron!" A loud voice pulled the both of them from the intense moment that drowned them.

    It was a familiar, elderly tone that they both recognized.

    "A-Aldred¡­?" Serah nearly burst out crying as she saw the older man rush into the room.

    He had beads of sweat on his face, with his lean body equipping nothing but his pajamas and a sword.

    It seemed whatever happened had also taken him by surprise.

    "Are you two okay? Is that¡­?" Aldred looked at the ground and saw shards of Blood Stones, as well as the decapitated corpse of an enemy.

    "¡­ I see."

    He removed his gaze from the gory sight and returned his attention to Neron and Serah.

    Serah''s teary eyes and trembling body told him she was frightened, and as for Neron¡­ he had a dark expression on his face as he tightly held Serah''s hand.

    They both had faces that little ones shouldn''t have.

    "Neron, let go of Serah''s hand. You''re hurting her." Was the first thing he said.

    He didn''t need to ask what happened since he could already tell.

    It was obvious that Neron dispatched the Blood Mage and Sarah was shaken by the whole thing.

    She probably hadn''t killed anyone or seen anyone being killed before¡ªa natural position for a child her age.

    "A-ah¡­ sorry." Neron loosened his grip as his intense expression broke into hesitation.

    Serah finally got her hand back, and the both of them subconsciously took a few steps away from each other.

    Aldred didn''t know what just happened, but he could tell that tensions were high in the room.

    Still¡­ there was no time to explore that.

    "We''re being invaded by Mages. They were able to break through the barrier and infiltrate the mansion, so I suspect they''re very strong and skilled."

    Aldred also recognized the fact that they could have just had information about the Kaelid Estate, but he couldn''t possibly think of anyone in the entire Manor who would betray them.

    They were all like family¡ªdown to the very core.

    "We''ll need to leave here and hide somewhere safe."

    Aldred gestured for them to get a move on.

    "The nk Room?" Neron finally spoke, his voice hoarse as he asked the question.

    "Yes. Now let''s go."

    Neron nodded and reached out to grab Serah''s hand, however, the moment he saw the expression on her face, he hesitated.

    A conflicted expression yed on his face, but upon hearing Aldred''smands once more, Neron grabbed her hand¡ªa little softer this time¡ªand they ran out of the room.

    ********

    ~WHOOSH!~

    The three sped across the hallway, making their way upstairs.

    As they did so, Aldred''s mind was racing and piecing together countless possibilities.

    ''Why are they here now that Lord Mordred isn''t present? Could it be a coincidence? Was it nned from the start?''

    As he thought this, he saw two silhouettes rushing towards him and the two kids behind him.

    "Stand back!" Hemanded, swiftly brandishing the ordinary de he wielded.

    ~VWUUUMMM!~

    Crackles of whitish-blue energy radiated from his body that very instant, and he sped across the distance separating the trio from the duo in a moment.

    In a sh of light, he tended the Blood Stone Mages before they could even do anything.

    Their lips were still casting spells when their headspletely dislodged from their necks.

    ~SPLOOSH!~

    Blood spurted out of the gaping necks of the viins, and Aldred didn''t hesitate to kick the corpses out of the way as the kids ran past them.

    Serah''s terrified face couldn''t go unnoticed, and her trembling body showed just how terrified she was of the current scene.

    However, Neron didn''t let go of her hand and kept running ahead, dragging her so she could follow him.

    This dynamic ensured that the kids kept moving.

    "Haaa¡­" Aldred let out misty breaths as he sshed off the blood on his de and kept his pace with the kids.

    ''Whatever the situation is, I''ll deal with thatter.''

    Right now, the important thing was taking care of the children in his care.

    As long as he was alive, he wouldn''t let any harm befall any of them.

    They finally navigated their way further upstairs and rushed through the passageway that led to the massive double-door.

    Beyond this double-door was their sanctuary.

    ''The Sanctuary is the safest ce in the entire Estate. Once I ensure both their safety, I''ll have to save as many people as I can and figure out what''s going on.''

    Most of the residents of the Kaelid Estate were nonbative staff.

    Sure, some of them knew Magic, and a few could utilize Martial Arts, but it wasn''t at a professional level.

    They would be helpless in the face of the Mages that were currently attacking.

    ''I just hope I''m not toote!''

    He still didn''t know who the mole was¡ªor if there even was one, to begin with¡ªbut Aldred was sure of what Modred would do if he was present.

    He would try to save as many members of his family as possible.

    That was what he would do as well.

    ''He saved my life back then. I''ll make sure to defend his legacy at all costs!''

    Gritting his teeth, the old man ignored his aching body and neared the Sanctuary with the kids.

    But¡­

    ~WHUUUSHH!~

    ¡­ A sudden apparition¡ªa grand st of destruction¡ªstopped them in their tracks.

    ''W-what?!''

    Shock was written on the faces of all three as they weren''t expecting any opposition at this point.

    Aldred noticed the ray of crimson darkness a little toote, but he swiftly put his body to action.

    ''[Grand Imperial Martial Arts Technique]!''

    Tightly clenching his de, he sent the roaring Mana within him soaring into the air.

    With a powerful vertical sh, he practically cut through the intense st¡ªparting what would have been their doom at that moment.

    ~BOOOOM!~

    The parted rays of destruction were sent to their left and right, but nothing affected them at all.

    All thanks to the monolith of a man at the center.

    *

    *

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    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Aldred is a beast in his own right. Let''s hope they survive¡­

 Chapter 1355 Aldredâ€™s Martial State

    Chapter 1355 Aldred¡¯s Martial State

    ??1355  Aldred¡¯s Martial State

    "Huu¡­"

    Aldred''s white breath escaped his trembling lips as his narrower gaze shot straight ahead.

    There was a ckish distortion there that oozed nothing short of danger. He furrowed his brow as he kept his focus on the distortion while spreading his senses all around him.

    The kids behind him were safe, for now, and their goal was right in front of them¡ªpast the distortion.

    But Aldred knew better than to be optimistic.

    ¡­ Especially since his warrior instincts were telling him that the one within the distortion was dangerous.

    Far more dangerous than the other small fry he had so easily eliminated.

    "You really live up to the intel. I should have expected you to stop that attack."

    As a deep, sinister tone echoed within the passageway, a man began to appear from the darkness.

    He had a raven ck cloak, with a staff on his hand, and crimson energies gleaming from several parts of his body.

    His body was lean and pale, and while most of his face was hidden underneath his hood, his wiry smile could not be concealed.

    "But, that was only a warning shot. Nothing like the real deal¡­" The man continued speaking, his legs not even touching the ground that everyone else stood on.

    Smoke rose from the Blood Stone that was tightly lodged into the gnarled staff he wielded, and he pointed it towards Aldred in a firm swing.

    "Why don''t we try that again?"

    No one needed to tell Aldred that the malefactor behind this entire invasion was standing right in front of him.

    Killing him as fast as possible was preferable.

    ''I have a lot of questions, but now is not the time!''

    Aldred had a mission, and so he recognized nothing was as important as that.

    "Haaa¡­" He brandished his de and took his stance as the Mage before him cackled inughter.

    "Both of you, stay behind me, okay? It''ll be alright¡­" He whispered, addressing the two adolescents who shouldn''t have experienced the horrors that they did.

    "I''ll end this quickly."

    His eyes were now sharp as a hawk, and his body became overwhelmed with power.

    It had been so long since hest did this, so he could feel the burden so much energy ced on his aging body.

    Still, Aldred clenched his teeth and continued

    "Martial State!"

    ~BOOOOOOMMM!~

    Blue energy exploded around him as he uttered those words, with power piercing through the ceiling of the passageway, as it made its way into the sky above.

    "That''s so much power. Are you sure you can maintain it for very long." The Mage taunted.

    Aldred did not let himself get moved by the words of the man before him.

    He only had one goal¡ª

    "Let''s find out."

    ¡ªProtecting the family he loved and cared about.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!~

    The crimson-colored beam of darkness was once again fired at Aldred, but he easily shed forward, the wave of his attack enough to redirect the entire st high up into the sky.

    The ceiling was crumbling already, but that wasn''t the only thing.

    Aldred''s de was pretty much shattered at this point¡ªunable to take any more of the energy he currently exuded.

    However, that was no problem for the man.

    ~FSHUUUU!~

    Energy gathered around his hand to form a de, and he wielded the whitish-blue sword with all his might.

    ''Here I go!'' Power burst from his legs as he dashed forward, shattering the surface he stood on just moments ago.

    In a second, he was already right in front of the Mage, ready to slice off his head.

    Ending this March quickly was his priority, considering the safety of the children behind him, as well as his own deteriorating state.

    ''This Mage is right. I can''tst very long in this current state. I don''t know how much he knows about me, but I have to end things now.''

    A straight strike to the neck was predictable, but by moving so fast, Aldred intended to slice off the enemy''s head before he could even do anything about it.

    His de moved.

    The world supposedly came to a halt, and everything held its breath as he made topletely eliminate his target.

    However, the closer he got, and the more his sword moved towards the neck of his adversary, the bigger the feeling of unease within Aldred became.

    He looked at the Mage''s face and saw a wide grin on his face.

    At that moment, he realized something was off.

    Before he could react to it, or even try to investigate what the issue was, a loud crashing noise echoed from right beside him, and the walls of the passageway shattered apart to reveal a beast that was lunging straight towards him.

    ''W-what¡ª?!''

    It was toote at that point.

    Alfred could not jump out of harm''s way, as he was in midair. He could not escape the wide area that had been covered by the giant monster''s massive jaw.

    He couldn''t even touch the distortion of darkness that the Mage he wanted to kill had be.

    He could only ept his fate and be devoured by the beast¡­

    ''No.''

    ¡­ OR HE COULD FIGHT!

    "URAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

    Aldred twisted his body in midair and used his sword made purely out of Mana to serve as a barrier to shield him from the ferocious jaw of the beast he still hadn''t fully grasped.

    The creature could not devour him, but instead resided him up to the ceiling as they both crashed beyond eh passageway and into the night sky.

    "Guh!" Aldred felt his body recoil as he used all of his strength to push himself from the monster.

    ~WHOOSH!~

    The night winds echoed as he sessfully pulled back, now able to see the monster before him in all of its glory.

    The moment he did so, Aldred''s eyes widened and his body shook a little.

    ''T-this¡­?!''

    The creature was nothing more than bones, but it had a cloak of Mana that made it appear to be so much more.

    It had wings that were purely constructed from energy, save for the skeletal structure that held it together, and its bony tail swirled about.

    Bright red light shone from its empty eye sockets, and fiery red

    ¡ªme-like energy¡ªrose from all parts of its bony body.

    A bright red orb was transfixed on its chest as it majestically stood¡ªor rather, flew¡ªin front of Aldred.

    This was the first time he was seeing one as big and powerful as this, but Aldred could easily recognize the creature based on his knowledge and experience as an Adventurer.

    This was an ultimate monster of the dead.

    An Undead Dragon.

    ''Damnit¡­ how did they get their hands on one of these? And they tamed it too?!''

    No, that wasn''t even the main issue at the moment.

    Aldred stared down and realized he had been pushed a long way into the sky, and he was now far away from the Mansion.

    If not for his current Martial State, he would have fallen to his death due to his inability to fly.

    Even now, being able to float in the air, he had a lot of worries that upied his thoughts.

    ''I''ve been intentionally separated from the kids.''

    This had to be the intention of the enemy all along¡ªseparating him from Neron and Serah.

    ''And I fell for it!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Things have escted quite a bit, haven''t they?

 Chapter 1356 Unavoidable Situation

    Chapter 1356 Unavoidable Situation

    ??1356  Unavoidable Situation

    ''Could it be that they''re the targets? I see¡­ perhaps a hostage situation?''

    If that was the case, then Aldred realized he had to hurry back down and help the kids who were stranded without him.

    The only problem was how exactly he was supposed to do that.

    ''An Undead Dragon is a problem, even for a Seven-Star Adventurer.''

    That wasn''t even the only issue.

    "There''s no point in cloaking yourselves. I can clearly sense you." Aldred whispered as he looked around him.

    True to his words, and his senses, men began to show themselves, having him clearly surrounded.

    They were twenty in number, and their abilities¡ªwhile vastly inferior to his own¡ªwould be very problematic when taking the Undead Dragon and their formation around him into ount.

    Aldred had to admit it.

    ''I''m trapped. I can''t help Neron and Serah until I''m done here.''

    If he tried to divide his attention, he would only endanger his life

    ¡ªand theirs by extension.

    That would only lead to a more despairing situation.

    ''I can''t afford to be distracted right now. I''ll have to take it one step at a time.''

    Brandishing his de and taking in a deep breath, Aldred prepared himself for the battle toe.

    The Mages all held their Blood Stones and prepared to cast their Spells, and the Undead Dragon looked like it was about to cast a Fiery Breath.

    All sides were concentrating their energy on him, and him alone.

    Beads of sweat fell from Aldred''s aged fade as he swallowed his saliva and held onto his resolve.

    "Bring it on!"

    ********

    "Looks like the nuisance is finally upied."

    The ck distortion slowly began to manifest into a man once more, and Kissel emerged from its embrace.

    What he just utilized was his Original Magic [Dark Ripple].

    With it, he could turn intangible and invisible at will, thus protecting himself from any harm or proper detection.

    He had used this power to position himself in front of the Sanctuary¡ªwhere he already knew the group of three would try to run to.

    If he hadn''t fired his earlier shot, they probably wouldn''t have noticed his presence at all.

    "The Summoning was a sess, just as nned." Kissel whispered, his eyes gazing up as he saw silhouettes in the sky through the holes in the ceiling.

    ''Half of the Mages with me, and the Undead Dragon, should be more than enough to take him down.''

    There was no way Aldred could survive at this point.

    "Hehe¡­ I can finally deal with you two." He grinned with satisfaction as his small eyes rested on the two young ones in front of him.

    Neron Kaelid and Serah Crimson.

    Just by looking at them, he could tell that they were prodigies.

    Their Mana was pure, and they also had perfect flows around them.

    ''Unlike me, who had to w my way to achieve this power, they were just given so much power at birth.''

    It was frustrating for Kissel, but he was old enough to control his emotions, so it hardly showed.

    He already knew that life was unfair.

    ''That''s why the Blood Stones are so revolutionary. By using it, even the weakest can end up possessing great power.''

    It was Kissel''s dream to share this amazing gift to more people, but his goals were being held back by the conservative Mages that made up the bulk of the Magic Community.

    They believed that the use of Blood Stones was hical, and Mages like Mordred even went as far as hunting down practitioners who utilized it.

    All of these infuriated Kissel.

    ''They can''t understand because they don''t know how it feels¡­''

    The Blood Stone gave hope to a lot of Mages. It helped them reach their full potential.

    Yet, it was being demonized.

    ''If they''re so bothered about innocent lives suffering because of it, why can''t they just let Criminals be used as materials for its creation? This phenomenon should spread to a global scale!''

    But no¡­ the current Mages were too scared.

    ''They''re scared of the power we can possess¡ªwe, who they deemed to be inferior.''

    The elite didn''t want the status quo to change. They wanted their talented and powerful bloodline to keep ruling the Magic world while leaving the dregs behind.

    "But now¡­ all of that changes." Kissel leaked out his thoughts as he stepped forward.

    "By capturing you two and taking down Mordred Kaelid, we''ll show the world that even we can do great things!"

    His voice grew louder, more ominous.

    "This first strike will shake the current Magic Society to its core and make those bastards tremble from the high ce that they sit. Our revolution won''t stop. No¡­ this is only the beginning."

    Right here and now, they would deal their first big blow.

    "And there''ll be no stopping u¡ª!"

    "Hey¡­" The voice of a child suddenly echoed in Kissel''s ears, causing him to half his advance.

    It was too chilling to belong to a mere kid, but the older man looked and saw Neron staring at him.

    His gaze was filled with nothing short of malice.

    "¡­ Don''t you dare take another step."

    Kissel was conflicted when he heard that.

    It wasn''t strange to hear a rich brat telling him that, especially considering how scared the boy would be after everything that had happened.

    But Neron''s gaze and his tone didn''t seem as if he was merely speaking these words out of fear.

    No¡­ it seemed like he was making a threat.

    "Ohh? Are you talking to me like that?" Kissel''s lips curled up to form a twisted grin.

    The boy''s hubris was both amusing and infuriating.

    ''The butler was stronger than I expected¡ªespecially in his Martial State. I was told he had grown rusty, but just by observing him, I''m not confident I could take him down.''

    That was why the Undead Dragon was their Trump Card.

    However,pared to Aldred, a mere kid wasn''t going to be an issue.

    The girl was already shaking, so he knew the boy was probably putting on a false act of bravery.

    Nothing but empty bravado.

    "How amusing¡­" Kissel stepped forward.

    ~WHOOOOSH!~

    A sharp blur moved, slicing through the air in an instant.

    The old man swiftly tilted his head, barely dodging the invisible sh that managed to imprint a small cut on his cheek.

    ''H-huh¡­?''

    At this point, Kissel realized that he was mistaken.

    He touched his cheek and felt warm blood trickling out of the small tear.

    His eyes focused on the boy, whose hand was stretched forward, and winds danced around him as though he was the center of a brewing storm.

    His eyes glowed blue, and the Mana around him seemed to multiply astronomically.

    ''This kid¡­''

    Kissel''ste realization had caused him to get a bruise on his cheek¡ªone he easily healed with Magic a secondter.

    He narrowed his eyes even more and gritted his teeth.

    Neron was frowning at him, and his entire being was exuding such intense bloodlust that made even Kissel shake a little.

    He could tell that this was no ordinary prodigy.

    He had definitely killed before!

    And now, his eyes were resting on Kissel like he was a predator and thetter was prey.

    In a mix of both frustration and sheer fury, Kissel''s thoughts raged.

    ''¡­ He''s serious?!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Neron versus Kissel¡­ who do you think will win?

 Chapter 1357 Neron Vs Kissel [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1357 Neron Vs Kissel [Pt 1]

    ??''He''s on another levelpared to Mr. Duffy.''

    Those were Neron''s thoughts as he observed the Mage in front of him.

    He also recognized that the old man was a lot faster than the Blood Mage he killed not too long ago.

    ''He was able to dodge my fastest ranged attack¡­ even when I had the element of surprise.''

    Neron already knew the opponent before him was far stronger than him.

    But¡­

    ''That doesn''t matter!''

    Neron''s blue eyes glowed even brighter, and sparks of energy began to dance around him.

    Like bolts of lightning, they flickered and illuminated the dark space all over.

    "N-Neron¡­?" Serah''s nearly silent whisper caught his attention, but Neron didn''t look back.

    Instead, he responded to her without staring at her face.

    "Stay here, Serah. I''ll take care of this."

    He couldn''t see her face, but Neron could tell that her eyes flickered in surprise.

    She wasn''t the only one, though.

    "Kid¡­ you have a terrible sense of humor." The Mage before him spoke with a deep tone.

    He took off his hood, revealing his long white hair and pale, aging skin.

    He had a crimson gem fixed on his forehead, and his eyes were covered in ckness. His wrinkled face made him appear even more malevolent than ever.

    "You told a terrible joke just now." The gem on his forehead glowed, followed by the one that was dangled around his neck in the form of a ne.

    Therge stone on his staff also did the same, all three warbling and resonating with one another,

    The synergy created a crimson pulse that radiated around the Blood Stone Mage.

    "My name is Kissel. Vice Grandmaster of the Coven Of Blood Mages."

    He slowly raised his staff and hit it on the surface of the ground where he stood.

    Instantly, forbidden power rushed throughout the nearby area.

    Even Neron could feel an overwhelming pressure weighing heavily on him.

    Serah was already on the ground, more tears falling from her eyes as she shook with nothing short of despair.

    "I have studied Magic all my life, and with the Blood Stone, I am more than superior to a brat like you¡ªno matter how talented you are."

    Kissel''s furrowed brow and frowning expression made it certain that he intended on attacking Neron.

    "I don''t have time to thoroughly beat this fact into you, considering that it wouldn''t do us any good for this to be dyed any longer."

    The moment Neron heard this, he narrowed his eyes.

    "So you''re in a hurry, and your target is indeed Serah and I. That''s too bad." As he spoke, he heard the old man flinch a little.

    Despite being barely twelve years old, Neron was far more observant than anyone his age.

    And as for Magic, well¡­

    "I learned under the best Mage in the kingdom. I don''t care if you have one or a billion Blood Stones¡­" Kuzon took his position and prepared himself forbat.

    "¡­ There''s no way I will lose to you!"

    Just as the Blood Stone Mage activated his crimson barrier around him, Neron did the same.

    Blue Mana warbled and glowed around him, and his glowing blue eyes shone brightly.

    Everything around the two was vibrating, as if the world was waiting in anticipation for the fight.

    Then¡ª

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    Vice Grandmaster Kissel suddenly rushed forward in a streak of darkness and crimson.

    His staff was thrust forward, and the lethal Magic that streamed through could have easily blown anyone to bits.

    ''He must have noticed my barrier, so he''s using heavy force. He can also use Healing Magic, so he''s confident that he won''t kill me¡­'' With these thoughts flowing in Neron''s head, he decided to make a counter.

    Utilizing Wind Magic, he raised himself and Serah, allowing them to float in the air and away from the imminent attack.

    The result was a close call, but Neron managed to dodge them.

    "[Crimson Restraints]"

    The Spell caused invisible chains made of blood-colored dense materials to appear.

    They wrapped themselves around Neron and Serah, but before they could properly tighten up and forcibly trap the two of them, Neron caused a surge of Mana to burn through them.

    ~BOOOOOOOM!~

    The look on Kissel''s face as he witnessed such purity of Mana was that of annoyance and also awe.

    "Tch! Stubborn brat. Don''t me me for going hard on you."

    Kissel generated multiple styers around him, sending crimson energies¡ªeach with enough destructive force as the one he used against Aldred.

    No matter how evasive Neron was, there was no way he could avoid all of them.

    His defenses weren''t going to be enough either.

    "Haha! What will you do now?"

    It was a rhetorical question. Kissel didn''t expect Neron to respond, or to have any solution in mind.

    This was quite literally the end.

    Except¡­ he didn''t ount for one major thing.

    "[Fortress]."

    As Neron said this, a dense shield of Mana covered both him and Serah.

    Then the sts arrived.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The entire floor copsed at that point, with clouds of dust and smoke rising in every area.

    It pervaded the area and barely anything could be seen, except for the glowing blue and crimson energies that radiated all around.

    "[Whispering Winds]."

    Kissel''s Spell instantly caused all the smoke and dust to vanish, once again revealing the people who remained on the battlefield.

    The floor was done for, but the Mages on both sides floated.

    Two of them were suspended opposite each other, staring intensely at their target.

    Until¡­

    "Hm? Where''s the girl?" Kissel''s brows were raised in surprise.

    The moment he asked this question, Neron''s lips began to form a wide grin.

    "About time you noticed."

    "H-huh¡­?"

    Kissel appeared like a stupid old man, and it made Neron want to burst out intoughter.

    "She''s safe inside Sanctuary now." Neron was right in front of the Sanctuary Gates, yet Kissel never realized that until now.

    "I-Illusion Magic¡­?" He asked himself.

    "I could have also escaped with her, but do you know why I chose not to?"

    As the boy''s questions still echoed in the ruined hall, he chose to answer his own question.

    "Because I want to KILL you!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Now that Serah is out of the way, Neron can finally go all out.

    Good!

 Chapter 1358 Neron Vs Kissel [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1358 Neron Vs Kissel [Pt 2]

    Neron was weaker than Kissel.

    He knew that very well.

    The man had three Blood Stones, and his knowledge in Magic was most definitely higher than a mere twelve-year-old.

    However, the reason Neron had chosen not to escape wasn''t merely due to blind rage or an irrational desire to fight.

    ''It''s because I know I can win.'' He shed a fearless smile as a brilliant glint appeared in his eyes.

    "I don''t know what you''re up to, but you''re going to regret not escaping when you had the chance.

    ~VWUUUUUSSSHHH!~

    A powerful vortex swirled around Kissel, and brilliant red energy began to get mixed in with the win.

    They felt like tiny gems¡ªraindrops of blood¡ªsuspended in the air all around him.

    "There''s not much time left, so I''ll have to get a lot tougher.

    ~PSHU!~

    Several of the crimson drops charged at Neron at that very instant, like bullets that could rip through anything they touched.

    Neron wasn''t nearly fast enough to dodge them, so he opted for a shield instead.

    However, the moment he erected his shield, Kissel lunged at him with a trail of darkness behind him.

    In no time at all, the old man appeared in front of him, and then did the unbelievable.

    "Useless!" In a single breath, he passed through Neron''s barrier and appeared behind him.N?v(el)B\\jnn

    "W-wha¡ª?!"

    Before Neron could even recoil in shock, sharp spikes from the ground rose and pierced him in multiple areas of his body.

    "Gahh!" He yelled, fueled by both pain and rage.

    As Kissel drew closer to cast a Restraining Spell on Neron, a sudden burst of pure Mana rushed through the boy. N?v¦ÅlB?n: A Haven for Bookworms and Dreamers.

    An explosion erupted instantly.

    ~BOOOOOM!~

    The spikes that had pierced Neron were destroyed by the st, allowing the boy a chance to rush away from his position.

    He darted towards the open field, away from the mansion''s building, and Kissel noticed it almost instantly.

    "Tch!" The old man clicked his tongue and charged straight towards Neron¡ªboth in midair.

    The boy sent volleys of mes charging at the man, but he easily got rid of them with a his barrier.

    "I told you¡­ it''s useless!" Kissel sent a wave of dark mes charging at Neron as a counterattack, but the boy instantly twisted his body and boosted himself away from the area of impact very quickly.

    ~BOOOOOM!~

    As the explosion made arge crater on the ground, Neronnded on the ground not too far from it, while Kissel stood at the other side of the hole in the ground.

    "You''re annoying." Kissel growled, preparing yet another Spell to use as an attack.

    The numerous crimson bullets began appearing once again.

    "[me Pir]!" Neron yelled, cing both his hands on the ground as a torrent of blue fire rose from underneath Kissel.

    At that instant, the man became a swirling distortion of darkness,pletely intangible.

    Neron used this chance to create even more attacks and sent it flying towards Kissel, but it was of no use.

    In his current state, he was impervious to pretty much all kinds of damage.

    Neron quickly observed this and stopped.

    "Haaa¡­ Haaa¡­" Leaking out heavy breaths, he noticed the distortion nearing him.

    ''I can''t see anything, but I can sense him.''

    Neron huffed even more as he narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

    He ignored the pain he received from the spikes, using Magic to ensure his wounds remained closed.

    ''Thankfully he didn''t go for any of my vitals¡­''

    So far, Neron hadn''t been able tond a solid hit on the old man. Kissel seemed invincible, with offensive abilities and defensive abilities outssing his own.

    However¡­ he wasn''t invincible!

    ''I''ve been observing him, and I''ve noticed two things.'' Neron smiled as he sensed the man drawing even closer to him.

    ''One¡­ he won''t kill me no matter what.''

    They needed Neron as bait to draw in Mordred, but he could as well be dead bait.

    The reason he wasn''t being killed despite that being a much easier solution was something Neron was her to figure out.

    But he was sure they needed him.

    ''Secondly, he can''t cast a Spell while he''s in that form. If he does, he''ll be visible.''

    Neron also noticed that if he was in the process of casting and Spell, the entire thing would deactivate the moment he turned visible.

    ''That must be his Original Magic. It''s weak and limited, but it''s pretty effective.''

    By turning intangible, Kissel could go through whatever defense Neron could conjure up, essentially making him unavoidable.

    He was also too fast for Neron to catch unawares by surprise attack.

    ''He''s a slippery opponent for sure. That''s why¡­'' Neron smirked as soon as he felt Kissel right behind him.

    The moment the man turned visible and reached for him, Neron sent a wave of Mana flying from his body.

    "Guh!" As expected, Kissel was thrust back by the attack.

    ''It takes time for Magic to be activated, and he''s faster than me in that regard.''

    To solve the problem, Neron got rid of the Spellcasting process and simply decided to rely on his intuitive utilization of Mana.

    ''I can see all the Mana everywhere. I can sense it as well.''

    As a result, he could see Kissel wherever he went.

    ''All I have to do now is to use the Mana within me and attack his Mana wherever I sense it.''

    Sure, he would be intangible and invisible, but he was still operating with Mana as the principle.

    ''That means he can be affected by Mana!''

    Kissel groaned as he brushed aside the wave of Mana that Neron sent towards him.

    Veins appeared all over his face as a clear sign that he was upset.

    No¡­ beyond upset.

    "I''ve had enough, kid!"

    Kissel raised his staff, and a massive wave of dark mes began to gather to form an orb of mes.

    "[Grand FireBall]!" He yelled while grinning like a madman.

    "Let''s see how you survive that!" Kissel grinned wildly.

    Rather than appear worried, however, Neron only smiled.

    "I''d be more concerned with myself if I were you."

    As his azure eyes became much brighter, a phenomenal amount of Mana surged from Neron''s body as he shot it throughout the area.

    "The one who won''t survive will be you!"

    *

    *

 Chapter 1359 Neron Vs Kissel [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1359 Neron Vs Kissel [Pt 3]

    ~VWUUUUSSSHHH!!!~

    Heat seared through the atmosphere as the dark mes converged together.

    As Kissel prepared the Grand Fireball, he rose high into the air and looked down on the young boy that stood beneath him.

    ''This kid¡­'' His thoughts trailed as he narrowed his eyes.

    Neron''s confident demeanor somewhat unnerved Kissel, causing the old man to feel a little hesitation coiling within his heart.

    He couldn''t help but wonder if the boy had some sort of way to escape his current predicament.

    ''No. I should stop thinking useless thoughts.''

    Time was running out, and while their leader had made it clear that he would ensure the retired Grand Mage wouldn''t be avable for a certain period of time, it was still better toplete the task quickly.

    There was no room for ying around.

    ''He''s survived all my attacks this far. He''ll survive this one too¡­''

    Kisselunched the Grand Fireball towards Neron, a wide grin appearing on his face.

    Then¡ª

    "H-huh¡­?"

    Kissel felt something pulling him close.

    It felt like an irresistible force that he could not perceive or understand.

    Before he even realized it, his body was yanked from the air and dragged near the ground.

    ¡­ Towards Neron!

    ''W-what did he just¡ª?!''

    The Fireball was already fast approaching Neron, yet the boy wasn''t moving from his position.

    Instead, he stood his ground and stared straight at Kissel, who was quickly nearing him.

    ''Is he trying to make me collide with the Fireball? In that case¡ª!'' Kissel activated [Dark Ripple] and transformed into his Misty state.

    That was his big mistake.

    ~VWUUSH!~

    Kissel suddenly found himself unable to control his intangible body at all.

    Instead, he felt an insurmountable pressure weigh in on him¡ªlike a restraint that he could not shake off.

    ''T-this is¡­ Mana?!''

    Lots of Mana¡ªso dense that it felt unreal¡ªsurrounded Kissel and held his body together.

    He was sent straight for the very Fireball he tried to avoid so desperately.

    ''Hmph! That won''t work! I''ll just pass through it!'' Kissel grinned internally as he watched the brat.

    He still wasn''t sure how such a kid could control Mana to such an extent¡ªbending so many rules in conventional Magic¡ªbut his efforts were all in vain.

    He still wouldn''t be able to get him with this much.

    "It''s over." Neron''s soft voice reached his ears, causing his eyes to turn bloodshot.

    He took a good look at Neron''s eyes and found something locked inside.

    ¡ªCold confidence.

    It seemed as though the boy was already guaranteed of his victory.

    ''B-but why?! The fireball won''t hit me! I''m invincible . I am¡ª!''

    Suddenly, Kissel began to feel something strange ur.

    ''What''s happening¡­ to me..?!''

    The Mana that had surrounded him was now seeping into his Misty form, bing one with it.

    If that was all, then perhaps it could have been ignored.

    But the Mana was fighting him.

    ''He''s using raw Mana to attack?! And I can''t do anything to stop it!''

    Kissel felt sweat all over his body despite his inability to produce any in his current form.

    ''I-if this keeps up¡­ I''ll die!''

    As the fiery heat approached him in all its intensity, burning through everything in its destructive descent, the old man realized the ugly truth.

    He had been yed all along!

    ''If I undo my Magic, the mes will hit me, but if I remain in this state, his Mana will consume me, and it''ll be the end of me.''

    Both options seemed lethal, but it was clear to Kissel which portion was more preferable.

    "Damn youuuu!!!" He deactivated his Original Magic and created a massive barrier to protect himself from the ball of mes that copsed on him.

    "Guh!"

    It was difficult, especially considering how much power he put into it, but Kissel endured.

    Heforted himself with the thought of torturing the boy who had subjected him to this humiliation once the time was right.

    ''I''ll make you beg for dea¡ª!''

    ~SQUELCH!~

    Before Kissel could conclude his thought, he felt a de pierce through his chest from behind him.

    ''E-eh¡­?!''

    The de was made from Mana¡ªthe boy''s Mana.

    Kissel mechanically turned his face to look down at the boy who had both his hands stretched upward.

    He couldn''t believe it.

    ''H-he''s remotely controlling his Mana?!''

    Before Kissel could have another thought, he felt something vibrating in his hand.

    It was his staff¡ªor rather, the crimson stone that sat on top of it.

    It was trembling violently, almost as if it was about to burst.

    ''N-no! The Blood Stone! What is he doing to the Blood Stone!''

    Kissel must have known what was happening deep down, but he didn''t want to ept it.

    He couldn''t!

    How was he supposed to believe that a mere child could overload his ultimate Blood Stone with his Mana alone?

    That was impossible!

    "IT''S IMPOSSI¡ª!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    *********

    An eruption painted the sky in a mix of red and ck, both explosions shing with each other as they made fireworks up ahead.

    Kissel''s body waspletely obliterated by the intense mes, and his death arrived before he could think or say anything else.

    The explosion of the Blood Stone, along with the chaos of the fireball, sent a shockwave speeding across the entire estate.

    The result was a devastation that sent even Neron crashing on the ground.

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    Breathing heavily, nearly wheezing, Neron recoiled from the pain he was feeling.

    Since he couldn''t use healing Magic, and he also needed a lot of Mana to interfere with Kissel''s Magic and overall remotely control his Mana, he feltpletely drained.

    The wounds he sustained were currently closed thanks to his Mana, but Neron could only wonder how much longer that wouldst.

    ''At the very least¡­ I won.''

    He gave a slight chuckle and his blurry eyes darted to the mansion. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    ''I need to go back¡­ to the Sanctuary!''

    Before he could rise and take a single step, however, multiple presences suddenly surrounded him.

    ''H-huh¡­? What is this?!''

    They numbered about twenty, and the intense pressure they exuded made his entire body grow weak and numb.

    It was at this moment that Neron realized his own predicament.

    ''I can''t move!''

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

 Chapter 1360 Leader Of The Coven

    1360 Leader Of The Coven

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    Neron panted heavily as he struggled to take a good look around him.

    His blurry vision could barely piece together the silhouettes that slithered in the darkness, and the pain all over his body did not help matters.

    ''I can sense about twenty of them. They all have Blood Stones¡­''

    He didn''t have enough Mana to generate any attack, and his body was in too bad a condition to run.

    For the first time in his life, Neron felt truly helpless.

    "T-this kid¡­ don''t tell me he killed Lord Kissel."

    "How is that even possible?"

    "Are we even a match for him? Can we capture him without Lord Kissel?"

    "You fool! He''s all beat up! Of course we can."

    As the words of the respective Mages of the Coven whispered words to themselves, they advanced closer to Neron.

    ''N-no! Stay back! Stay back!'' His thoughts screamed.

    Unfortunately, they didn''t even hear him, talkless of paying him any heed.

    ''I have to try something. Even if I have to squeeze out thest ounce of Mana from my body¡­ I have to¡ª!''

    ~VWUUUUUUMMM!~

    Before he could conclude his thoughts, a sudden pressure covered his body.

    While he couldn''t properly move before, he couldn''t even feel any part of his body at this point.

    It felt like he was being crushed by something heavy.

    ''W-what is this¡­?!'' His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as he felt a powerful presence appear.

    "This is quite the surprise."

    As the voice echoed in the night, Neron saw the approaching silhouettes cease their movements and fall to their knees.

    "Here I was, wondering what was causing the dy. I never expected such an oue¡­"

    The voice sounded oddly familiar to Neron, but he couldn''t quite ce it.

    "He actually managed to defeat Kissel and dy the n for so long. It''s a good thing I came when I did."

    Neron felt a rattling under his skin.

    This man was on apletely different levelpared to Kissel.

    Neron struggled to raise his head despite the pressure, fighting to see the man whose presence caused such a stir among everyone around him.

    "Interesting. You are even resisting my Mana Pressure. You''ve grown since Ist saw you¡­ Neron."

    As soon as Neron heard him call his name, a face instantly manifested in his mind.

    ''Y-you are¡­!''

    His eyes became clear thanks to the Mana he infused within it and he managed to raise his head to look upon the man who caused all of this.

    Just as Neron thought, the looming figure that floated about him was someone he knew quite well.

    ''Father had two apprentices. He was the less talented one¡­ an Archmage of the Eastern Kingdom.''

    ¡ªLord Landon!

    "It seems you recognize me well." The elderly man smiled as he looked down on the boy.

    As he descended, his wrinkled gaze made Neron chilly inside.

    "I know you must be confused. Someone like you wouldn''t understand. I won''t bother trying to exin¡ªneither to you nor your father."

    Neron already understood without needing any further exnation

    "You''re their leader¡­ aren''t you?" He managed to croak out.

    "Isn''t that obvious? I''m the Coven Leader of the Blood Mages."

    Lord Landon now stood before Neron, partially squatting as he looked at the boy who was now gritting his teeth.

    "And you¡­ are my prize."

    With a snap of his fingers, Neron was utterly paralyzed, unable to control even a single Mana Particle.

    All his senses were suspended, and he felt like he was plunged into a world of darkness. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    Like a vegetable, his face became nk, and everything around him ceased to make any modicum of sense.

    This truly was the end for him.

    "Sleep tight, kid."

    Thus, everything went nk.

    *******

    "Haaa¡­ what a mess."

    Landon sighed as he had Neron float above him.

    His Original Magic, [Dark Cocoon], served many purposes.

    However, its most notable function was to separate anything within the Cocoon from the effects of reality.

    18:44

    As such, It served as the ultimate cage for a captive, as well as the ultimate defense for himself.

    Landon looked at his subordinates, the twenty Blood Mages who had been so hesitant to capture a wounded boy.

    "You wasted too much time." He red at them. "Let''s get going now."

    As Landon floated in the air, he expected his subordinates to activate their Magic Item to do the same, but some of them hesitated.

    "W-what about the others?" One of the Blood Mages dared to ask.

    "They went to dy the Butler. Now that we''ve captured the target, we can still go and rescue the¡ª"

    "Don''t bother. They''re already dead." Landon responded, his eyes narrowed on his subordinates.

    "I no longer detect their presence nor the power of the Blood Stones."

    He frowned slightly as he ascended further into the sky.

    "Damn that Aldred. Even with the Trump Card I prepared for them, he still managed to eliminate them."

    No¡­ it wasn''t Aldred that got on his nerves the most.

    It was the boy he currently had in custody.

    ''Someone like him, defeating a well-aplished Mage¡­ how absurd.''

    Kissel was a man who had developed his Original Magic. He wasn''t very strong, yes, but his utilization of Magic was excellent.

    Yet, a single brat did him in? It was preposterous!

    Neron couldn''t be said to be a genius any longer. He was something beyond that.

    ''They''ve wasted too much time, but fortunately, we have gotten our prize.''

    All of Landon''s subordinates rose with him, and they began to depart from the estate.

    However¡­

    ~VWOOOOOOOOMMMM!~

    A sudden white veil instantly spread over the sky and covered the entirendscape.

    The ground soon became white, and everything around immediately suffered the same fate.

    There was nothing in sight except nkness.

    "No¡­" Landon whispered to himself as his eyes slowly bulged.

    He recognized this power. It was impossible for him not to know who it belonged to.

    His body trembled as he looked behind him, only to see the very person he went to great lengths to avoid.

    "Lord Mordred!"

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Thanks for reading!

    Looks like they''re pretty much royally screwed.

    Unless they have some sort of way out of this¡­

 Chapter 1361 To Infinity And Beyond

    Chapter 1361 To Infinity And Beyond

    "Haa¡­ haaa¡­"

    Neron panted heavily as he struggled to take a good look around him.

    His blurry vision could barely piece together the silhouettes that slithered in the darkness, and the pain all over his body did not help matters.

    ''I can sense about twenty of them. They all have Blood Stones¡­''

    He didn''t have enough Mana to generate any attack, and his body was in too bad a condition to run.

    For the first time in his life, Neron felt truly helpless.

    "T-this kid¡­ don''t tell me he killed Lord Kissel."

    "How is that even possible?"

    "Are we even a match for him? Can we capture him without Lord Kissel?"

    "You fool! He''s all beat up! Of course we can."

    As the words of the respective Mages of the Coven whispered words to themselves, they advanced closer to Neron.

    ''N-no! Stay back! Stay back!'' His thoughts screamed.

    Unfortunately, they didn''t even hear him, talkless of paying him any heed.

    ''I have to try something. Even if I have to squeeze out thest ounce of Mana from my body¡­ I have to¡ª!''

    ~VWUUUUUUMMM!~

    Before he could conclude his thoughts, a sudden pressure covered his body.

    While he couldn''t properly move before, he couldn''t even feel any part of his body at this point.

    It felt like he was being crushed by something heavy.

    ''W-what is this¡­?!'' His eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as he felt a powerful presence appear.

    "This is quite the surprise."

    As the voice echoed in the night, Neron saw the approaching silhouettes cease their movements and fall to their knees.

    "Here I was, wondering what was causing the dy. I never expected such an oue¡­"

    The voice sounded oddly familiar to Neron, but he couldn''t quite ce it.

    "He actually managed to defeat Kissel and dy the n for so long. It''s a good thing I came when I did."

    Neron felt a rattling under his skin.

    This man was on apletely different levelpared to Kissel.

    Neron struggled to raise his head despite the pressure, fighting to see the man whose presence caused such a stir among everyone around him.

    "Interesting. You are even resisting my Mana Pressure. You''ve grown since Ist saw you¡­ Neron."

    As soon as Neron heard him call his name, a face instantly manifested in his mind.

    ''Y-you are¡­!''

    His eyes became clear thanks to the Mana he infused within it and he managed to raise his head to look upon the man who caused all of this.

    Just as Neron thought, the looming figure that floated about him was someone he knew quite well.

    ''Father had two apprentices. He was the less talented one¡­ an Archmage of the Eastern Kingdom.''

    ¡ªLord Landon!

    "It seems you recognize me well." The elderly man smiled as he looked down on the boy.

    As he descended, his wrinkled gaze made Neron chilly inside.

    "I know you must be confused. Someone like you wouldn''t understand. I won''t bother trying to exin¡ªneither to you nor your father."

    Neron already understood without needing any further exnation

    "You''re their leader¡­ aren''t you?" He managed to croak out.

    "Isn''t that obvious? I''m the Coven Leader of the Blood Mages."

    Lord Landon now stood before Neron, partially squatting as he looked at the boy who was now gritting his teeth.

    "And you¡­ are my prize."

    With a snap of his fingers, Neron was utterly paralyzed, unable to control even a single Mana Particle.

    All his senses were suspended, and he felt like he was plunged into a world of darkness.

    Like a vegetable, his face became nk, and everything around him ceased to make any modicum of sense.

    This truly was the end for him.

    "Sleep tight, kid."

    Thus, everything went nk.

    *******

    "Haaa¡­ what a mess."

    Landon sighed as he had Neron float above him.

    His Original Magic, [Dark Cocoon], served many purposes.

    However, its most notable function was to separate anything within the Cocoon from the effects of reality.

    As such, It served as the ultimate cage for a captive, as well as the ultimate defense for himself.

    Landon looked at his subordinates, the twenty Blood Mages who had been so hesitant to capture a wounded boy.

    "You wasted too much time." He red at them. "Let''s get going now."

    As Landon floated in the air, he expected his subordinates to activate their Magic Item to do the same, but some of them hesitated.

    "W-what about the others?" One of the Blood Mages dared to ask.

    "They went to dy the Butler. Now that we''ve captured the target, we can still go and rescue the¡ª"

    "Don''t bother. They''re already dead." Landon responded, his eyes narrowed on his subordinates.

    "I no longer detect their presence nor the power of the Blood Stones."

    He frowned slightly as he ascended further into the sky.

    "Damn that Aldred. Even with the Trump Card I prepared for them, he still managed to eliminate them."

    No¡­ it wasn''t Aldred that got on his nerves the most.

    It was the boy he currently had in custody.

    ''Someone like him, defeating a well-aplished Mage¡­ how absurd.''

    Kissel was a man who had developed his Original Magic. He wasn''t very strong, yes, but his utilization of Magic was excellent.

    Yet, a single brat did him in? It was preposterous!

    Neron couldn''t be said to be a genius any longer. He was something beyond that.

    ''They''ve wasted too much time, but fortunately, we have gotten our prize.''

    All of Landon''s subordinates rose with him, and they began to depart from the estate.

    However¡­

    ~VWOOOOOOOOMMMM!~

    A sudden white veil instantly spread over the sky and covered the entirendscape.

    The ground soon became white, and everything around immediately suffered the same fate.

    There was nothing in sight except nkness.

    "No¡­" Landon whispered to himself as his eyes slowly bulged.

    He recognized this power. It was impossible for him not to know who it belonged to. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    His body trembled as he looked behind him, only to see the very person he went to great lengths to avoid.

    "Lord Mordred!"

 Chapter 1362 Master And Disciple

    Chapter 1362 Master And Disciple

    {Note: The clone chapter issue in the previous chapter has been rectified, for those who already checked it out. So read that before reading this. I apologize for my mistake.}

    "[Original Magic: To Infinity And Beyond]."

    Its purpose was quite simple.

    Mordred wouldy out a domain in which he controlled everthing that happened within it.

    Some called it reality maniption, but he personally prefered referring to this power as simple architecture.

    The world made by this Magic was his to build. He could create anything within it, and he could just as well destroy.

    It was a power that made Mordred invincible¡ªworthy enough to bebelled as the strongest Grand Mage of the Kingdom.

    And now, as Mordred activated his Original Magic, this invincible power was unleashed once more. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    In a single instant, a flood of power swept through the nk space, and the entire world became plunged in hell. Yes, a literal hell.

    The furnace instantly burned away all the Blood Mages, irrespective of whatever defense they tried to procure. Everything failed in the presence of Mordred''s power.

    By the time the furnace ceased, and the world turned nk once again, only three people existed in the space.

    Mordred.

    Landon.

    Neron.

    Neron and Landon were within the manifestation of Landon''s Original Magic [Cocoon Of Darkness].

    "It seems you''ve forgotten the effects of my Original Magic, Lord Mordred! It separates everything inside from reality." Landon said with a big smile on his face.

    A moment earlier, he was panicking because he didn''t think he could make it in time. But now that he was in his haven, exempt from Mordred''s power, his confidence quickly returned.

    "I have not forgotten¡­" Mordred narrowed his eyes as he looked at Landon.

    Thetter was grinning widely as he held the unconscious Neron''s neck.

    "If you don''t want your child to die, then you''ll let me go. I''ll kill him right here and now if you don''t release your Spell!" Landon spat out loud.

    It was a ssic hostage situation. If Mordred valued Neron''s life, he would back off. However, that in itself was a foolish move only founded on immediate emotion.

    "You''re going to kill him anyway. The action that has the most utility is to capture you now and forfeit the life of my child." Mordred responded calmly.

    "Hahaha! How heartless! But I know you won''t do it!"

    "You think I''m too soft to do what is necessary?" The Gradn Mage responded, his tone carrying far more weight than before.

    "Not at all. As your disciple, I know how ruthless you can be." Landonughed hysterically, his eyes wide and bloodshot.

    "Then¡ª"

    "But I also know how valuable this kid is. He was able to defeat a skilled Mage on his own. A Mage with an Original Magic was beaten by this twelve year old!"

    Mordred''s eyes spasmed for a bit. He seemed surprised to hear that, but he did his best to maintain his calm front.

    "I know he''s immensely talented, and you''ve invested too much in him to see him die. In fact, ensuring his safety probably has more utility than defending your Kingdom. Isn''t that why you retired?" Landon''sugh upied the entire space.

    He waited patiently for Mordred to make his choice, already knowing the oue.

    In response to this, Mordred leaked out a small smile.

    "You know me well, Landon." That was a perk of being one of the only two official disciples of the Grand Mage Mordred Kaelid.

    "You knew me well enough to set up a fake official meeting in the Capital concerning the Blood Mages, providing false information as to their whereabouts and where they would strike next¡­"

    By doing that, Mordred would be so busy on a wild goose chase that he wouldn''t arrive early enough to save Mordred or protect his Estate.

    "I''m surprised you arrived this early. I was sure I took care of anything that could alert you of anything happening in your house." Landon answered.

    "You did. But, I am connected to my Original Magic''s space." Mordred''s smile broadened as he narrowed his brows even more intensely.

    "The moment Serah Crimson entered my domain, I noticed. It was at that instant that the suspicions started. After that, I critically examined all the circumstantial evidence brought about the Blood Mages, tracing everything to you."

    "That couldn''t have been enough." Landon said with one raised brow.

    "Of course. But, once I brought your mysterious yet suspicous family into the picture, and analyzed the kind of personality you have¡­ I figured it out instantly."

    Landon''s lost family was none other than the Coven of Blood Mages.

    He always made it seem like he was on his own and was no longer in any contact with his family, all in order to avoid any investigations on his part.

    That was why Landon was the greatest suspect on Mordred''s mind.

    "I won''t ask for your motivations or whatever reason you have for doing this, Landon." Mordred began drawing his two palms to each other.

    "Hahaha! I figured." Landon said with a broad grin. "Whatever you''re doing won''t work on me. My Original Magic¡ª"

    "I know. It separates you from reality, right? It seems you''ve forgotten one thing, Landon¡­" Mordred''s eyes glowed brightly as he spoke, causing the entire nk space to tremble as a result.

    "Just as you know me well¡­ As your Master, I know you too."

    Sparks of ck electricity began to spark from Mordred as he red at Landon, who was already beginning to shiver.

    "S-stop at once! I''m going to kill the kid!" Landon yelled.

    Mordred only shrugged as he heard this.

    "I don''t think he''ll allow you, though." As soon as Landon heard this, he looked at the boy he was holding.

    Neron¡­ was already awake!

    ~VWUUUSHHH!~

    As Neron shot out a wide burst of Mana from within the ck Cocoon, Mordred''s his two palms finally touched, causing a sh of darkness to spread across the entire space.

    "[Original Magic Inverse: Beyond Infinity]"

    The entire nk space was plunged into darkness, leaving only one space white.

    ¡ªThe Cocoon itself!

 Chapter 1363 Downfall From Obsession

    Chapter 1363 Downfall From Obsession

    Landon was born into a family of ruined, with a lineage stretching back generations. While their family had fallen and were now nothing but an impoverished bunch, there was a time when they were revered and powerful.

    Unfortunately, their inability to adapt to the times caused them to fall into ruin. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    From a young age, Landon showed promise in the Magic Arts, disying a natural affinity for magic that set him apart from his peers. His parents saw his potential and nurtured his talents, enrolling him in the prestigious academy of magic at a tender age.

    He was so exceptional that he outshone those from the other prestigious families and even managed to catch the attention of the Grand Mage of the Kingdom. the a

    Under the tutge of the Grand Mage, Mordred, Landon flourished, soaking up knowledge like a sponge and mastering spells with ease. He rose through the ranks swiftly, earning the respect and admiration of his teachers and peers alike. It seemed as though his destiny was written in the stars, destined for greatness as one of the most powerful mages in the Kingdom.

    But despite his prowess and dedication, Landon could never quite break through his limitations. Try as he might, there was always a barrier, a ceiling beyond which he could not ascend. Frustration gnawed at him, driving him to push himself harder and harder, desperate to reach the heights of power he so coveted.

    Perhaps it was a desperation that was imbued into him by his family, but the constant fear of falling off lingered in his heart.

    If he didn''t continue to make progress, perhaps one day he would end up like them.

    Landon didn''t want that!

    He wanted to ascend! His position of Archmage soon became nothing but a hollow title, and he desired a much higher position.

    Unfortunately, his power and talent could only take him so far.

    He had reached his limits.

    It was during this time of uncertainty and doubt that his family approached him with an offer too tempting to resist. They had been contacted by someone who showed them a deep and powerful secret, making them wielders of a ''different'' kind of Magic.

    With this power, their fallen lineage could once again rise to the top¡­ and Landon could achieve his dreams of growing stronger. He didn''t want to yield to the temptation, but the voices in his head urged him to.

    They promised Landon that with their help, he could surpass his limits and be stronger than he had ever dreamed possible.

    The obsession he had soon made him spiral out of control.

    Tempted by the allure of power, Landon reluctantly agreed to join his family''s ranks, bing their leader and embracing the forbidden magic they offered. And, even right until this moment, it seemed as though his decision had paid off, as his abilities grew exponentially with each passing day. He reveled in his newfound strength, believing himself to slowly be approaching the realm he coveted.

    But now¡­ he realized the folly of his ambition.

    ********

    "A-ahh¡­"

    Landon''s body was pierced from every single angle as he remained paralyzed in the sheer white space that immediately surrounded him.

    The space beyond his immediate domain was ckened, and only what surrounded him had the nk canvas.

    ''How did he do it¡­?'' Landon thought to himself as dark blood spurted out of his body.

    He thought he had the perfect counter for Mordred, but it seemed the Grand Mage had yet another trick to show.

    ''N-no¡­ is this something he just came up with? Specifically to deal with me?''

    It was amazing, just how talented and skilled his Master was. Mordred was the true prodigy, achieving a level that not even Landon could think of reaching.

    The power he possessed¡ªeven with the aid of the Blood Stone¡ªcould not match true genius, it seemed.

    ''I wanted to share this power with the world. To grow strong and prove that there is indeed another way¡­''

    Of course, he didn''t desire to hurt Neron, his Master, or any of the other people he threatened or even killed.

    But¡­ it had to be done.

    It was all for the sake of the advancement of Magic.

    ''No¡­ it was all for myself.'' Landon realized as his blurry vision picked up Mordred floating in front of him.

    It seemed the obsession that his family had ended up being passed on to him, despite how much he desired not to be affected by it.

    By escaping to the Academy, making new friends, and even studying under Mordred, he thought he could escape that influence.

    By rising above anyone in the history of his family, he thought he had broken that chain.

    ¡­ He was wrong.

    ''In the end, I was just like them¡­'' Landon coughed out blood as he felt his consciousness fade away.

    ''I''m sorry Master. Sorry, Neron¡­'' His eyes slowly closed and he began to draw hisst breath.

    ''... This is the end for me.''

    Even at the final juncture of his life, he ended up learning the same lesson.

    People like Mordred and Neron¡­ they weren''t to bepared to. Their talent and power far exceeded anything he could ever aplish.

    He was nothing but a speck of dust, and as he finally died, he knew he had fallen into obscurity.

    Forever lost in the echoes of time.

    *************

    Mordred heaved a sigh as he watched his disciple die.

    There was no room in his heart to feel a shred of pity or pain for him; not after the cmity he had wrought and the casualty that had ensued due to his actions.

    The only thing Mordred cared about was Neron, and in one swift sleight of hand, the boy was safe in his arms.

    ''Thankfully, I was able to activate the technique I''ve been theorizing for so long.''

    It was the first ever time he tried using Inverse Original Magic; essentially flipping his Magic into itself, almost in an attempt to unravel it.

    The result was the switching of position between his area of influence and that of the enemy''s.

    ''It worked. And now¡­'' Mordred brought Neron close to his arms, and they embraced like father and son.

    ''... You''re finally safe!''

    *

    *

 Chapter 1364 Edge Of Death

    Chapter 1364 Edge Of Death

    [Moments Later]

    "You did well¡­ protecting Serah. And you too, Serah¡­ good job being brave."

    Despite the devastation and corpses thaty around, thepound was soon sprawling with some life after the backup guards¡ªboth warriors and mages, who were previously out on patrol or were warded off by the barrier of the Blood Mages¡ªarrived on the scene.

    They were clearing away the debris, and trying their best to ount for all kinds of coteral.

    Still under the canopy of darkness, a distance from the rest of the workers was Mordred, as well as the two kids who stood before him. Neron and Serah had somewhat shaken expressions on their faces, and for good reason.

    The invasion hade as a shock to all of them, and since they were kids, it only made sense that they would be most affected by it.

    For Serah, she still had some vestiges of fright disyed on her face, but Neron''s demeanor waspletely different. He looked upset.

    Very¡­ very upset.

    ''Damnit! They killed Aldred¡­ those bastards!''

    He gritted his teeth,pletely zoning out of every word that Aldred uttered. Instead, his mind pictured the fight he had with the Blood Mages.

    Frustration boiled within him as he regretted not being able to do more¡ªkill more.

    ''Those monsters¡­'' They reminded Neron about the aspects of Magic that he despised. ''... Why did they have to go so far?''

    His friends all died because of a greedy Magic Schr, and now rogue Mages ended up ruining his home; nearly killing himself and his friend.

    ''Still¡­ father saved me with Magic.''

    No matter how he felt about it, Magic still had its ce in the world. As much as it could be used as a force for evil, it could also be a useful tool for good.

    That was what Neron desired to focus on.

    "Thanks, father. Why are you praising Serah, though? She didn''t even do anything¡­" Neron shrugged, smiling cheekily at the girl beside him.

    "H-hey¡ª!"

    As she pouted at him, he shrugged even more and acted nonchnt.

    It was clear that he was trying to lighten the atmosphere and quell the very tense mood in his own way. When Mordred saw this, he smiled and nodded knowingly.

    His son had more tact than he let on, after all.

    "Well, it''s still prettyte, so what do you say I get you back t-to¡­ to your¡­ your¡ª"

    Mordred''s eyes suddenly widened as he felt a sharp sensation surge through his body. It paralyzed him, sending his entire self into an overwhelming state of pain.

    ''GAAAH! No¡­ not now!''

    His condition was striking once again¡ªright at such a critical juncture.

    ''No¡­ not now!'' "Are you okay? Father? Father¡­?" Neron looked at Mordred with confusion, followed by anxiety¡­ then deep-seated fear.

    Serah didn''t understand what was happening, and her child-like brain could not process anything beyond her means. However, based on the remnant tension in the air, and her just concluded experience, she felt like crying.

    Their reaction to the older man suddenly copsing on the ground was perfectly normal, and their noise soon caught the attention of the busy personnel nearby.

    "FATHER!"

    ''N-Neron¡­ I''m sorry¡­'' n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Mordred felt his consciousness slipping away as the pain became overbearing. His body convulsed violently, and he felt every organ of his body scream out in pain.

    He didn''t think he was going to make it this time.

    Aldred was gone now, and there really wasn''t anyone around who could manipte Mana the way he could. ''N-no¡­ even if Aldred was here¡­''

    His old friend was already having trouble keeping up with his condition. He feared the next time he had an episode, he wouldn''t be enough to stop it.

    And¡­ for years now, Mordred had managed to go without a single one.

    ''I used too much Mana. It must have triggered something dormant!'' He gritted his teeth as his bloodshot eyes leaked out tears.

    It was all to save Neron and everyone, but it seemed he was going to lose his life now.

    Without help, there was no chance of survival.

    "FATHER WAKE UP!"

    ''I''m sorry, Neron¡­ I''m so sorry!'' Slipping into deep darkness with pain searing through every facet of his being, Mordred closed his eyes.

    He had promised himself to see it all through¡ªuntil Neron at least entered into the Academy and made enough connections to thrive on his own.

    Right now the boy only had Serah and the Crimson Family to support him.

    "D-dad¡­?"

    ''I thought I could do more for you¡­'' As he plunged into unconsciousness, Mordred had strings of regret filling him up.

    "D-dad¡­ please wake up¡­"

    ''... If only I had more time.''

    *************

    [Several Days Later]

    "U-urgh¡­?"

    Mordred awoke to a surreal scene, finding himself lying in afortable bed in the center of a stark white room. His senses slowly returning to him, he felt a strange, soothing warmth enveloping his body, emanating from the luminescent barrier that surrounded the bed. It was as if the light itself held healing properties, gently easing the aches and pains that had gued him.

    ''How am I still alive?'' He wondered, slowly lifting his gaze.

    Realization dawned on Mordred as he surveyed his surroundings. He recognized the room; it was a part of his manor, after all.

    ''It''s the recovery chamber. But still¡­ I don''t think that would have saved my life. No¡­ it couldn''t have.'' As Mordred thought this, his mind raced to piece together the events that had led him here. Memories of battle and pain shed through his mind, followed by a sense of relief knowing that he was now in a ce of safety and recovery.

    He didn''t die, after all.

    ''But, if I''m here, then what about everyone? What about Nero¡ª?''

    As hey there, still processing the situation, the door to the chamber slid open with a soft hiss, admitting a figure into the room. Mordred''s heart skipped a beat as he recognized the familiar face of his son standing in the doorway, concern and shock etched into his features.

    "Neron¡­?"

    Tears fell from the eyes of the son and father as they stared at each other in perfect warmth.

    "Dad¡­!"

    *

    *

    *

 Chapter 1365 Mana Burst Syndrome

    Chapter 1365 Mana Burst Syndrome

    "I see. So you''re the one who saved me¡­"

    "Yeah."

    Mordred was once again blown away by Neron''s genius and brilliance. His affinity for Magic was too unreal to simply be called talent. He was just an otherworldly entity¡ªalmost as if Mana itself blessed him.

    ''How could he have brought me back when he has no advanced experience dealing with the Mana Cirction of another person?''

    Not only would he have to know the details of Mana Cirction and the pathways in the body, he would have also needed to have proper understanding of Mordred''s body to be able to control the dispersion and flow of Mana in a safe manner.

    Too fast, too slow, too strong, too weak: any of these would have meant instant death on his part.

    Yet¡­ Neron did it.

    ''My boy¡­'' Mordred looked at his twelve year old son, who looked at him with glistening eyes of both worry and relief.

    Neron currently sat beside Mordred, and in order to match him, Mordred was seated upright on his bed.

    Thankfully, there were no tears, and neither was the moment as intense as he feared. Clearly, there was some invisible wave of tense silence, but not enough that it made Mordred dread even breathing.

    In all honesty, the man was quite inexperienced when handling emotional moments like this, and from the looks of things, Neron was simr.

    For the most part, they both remained silent and stared at each other.

    Until¡ª

    "Dad¡­ what exactly happened to you? I want to know."

    ''He called me dad again. That makes me happy¡­'' Mordred smiled, realizing he was focusing on the wrong thing at the moment.

    In the past, Neron only referred formally to Mordred as ''Father'', but never as ''Dad''. They both shared a unique bond, but there was always this barrier that was yet to be crossed.

    But now¡­ things were different.

    "Dad, are you listening? Tell me what happened to you!"

    Mordred sighed as he smiled at Neron. He never wanted his son to find out this way, but he didn''t think of anything else he could say but the truth.

    ''He treated me, so he must have some idea about what''s going on in my body. Lying to him would be foolish.''

    Besides, now that Neron had just torn down such a barrier between them, Mordred felt more motivated to share his deepest secret.

    "Well¡­ where do I begin?"

    "Anywhere."

    Neron''s glistening ck eyes showed he was impatiently waiting for an exnation, and Mordred had to deliver. The overenthusiasm of the kid scared him a little, but he decided to let it all out anyway.

    After bracing himself for a moment, he finally spoke.

    "It''s called Mana Burst Syndrome," Mordred exined, his voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and sadness. "I was born with it. Whenever I use magic, it puts a strain on my body, and it gets worse with every spell cast."

    Neron listened intently, absorbing every word as Mordred continued to exin how his thirst for magic had led him to push himself beyond his limits, despite the toll it took on his health.

    "I didn''t really notice it at the early stages. Not until I reached a certain peak of Magic where my Mana was beginning to overflow from my Mana Core."

    Doing so meant he couldn''t stir his Mana too much, since the energy would pour out and run wild within his body.

    "I reached a point where I was too strong for my body to handle," Mordred admitted, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice. "Every time I cast a spell, it was like I was slowly killing myself."

    Neron''s expression shifted from concern to confusion as he processed the information. "But why did you teach me magic if it was killing you?" Sure, a lot of things were beginning to make sense to Neron. There were times when Mordred would prematurely stop their lessons together, and other moments when he refused to further his Magic Training despite the progress he was making.

    All of that was due to the Mana Burst Syndrome. It reached a point when Mordred stopped using Magic or training Neron for a long period, which meant he mostly practiced with Aldred.

    Back then, Neron felt it was unfair, and he desired¡ªmore than anything¡ªto keep having fun using Magic with his father by his side. But now, it all made sense.

    Still¡­

    "You still taught me Magic for a long period, and you indulged me at certain moments, even though your life was in danger." Neron''s voice trembled a little, but he did his best to appear calm.

    "Why¡­?"

    Mordred met Neron''s gaze, a wistful smile ying at the corners of his lips. "Because I wanted you to see how beautiful magic can be," he replied softly. "I wanted you to experience the wonder and the power of it, to understand itsplexities and its potential."

    Neron was very averse to Magic when they first met. The death of his friends at the hands of a Mage was more than enough to cause that.

    For any normal person, Mordred would have left them alone. But¡­

    ''You''re special, Neron. I could see it back then, and soon everyone will see it too.''

    Even if he had to risk his life and worsen his health, he wanted the boy to grow in the art and see the amazing sides of it.

    That way, perhaps Neron could do it¡­ break through the very limits of Magic.

    Mordred paused, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of memories. "And besides," he added with a chuckle, "we had a lot of fun, didn''t we? I wouldn''t trade those moments for anything."

    As Neron let Mordred''s words sink in, a sense of understanding washed over him. Despite the pain he must have suffered through, Mordred had wanted to share his love of magic with him, to impart his knowledge and his passion for the arts. And though the truth was bittersweet, Neron couldn''t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for the lessons his adopted father had taught him, both in magic and in life.

    "Thank you, Dad." Soon, the look of worry on his face transformed into that of optimism.

    "Don''t worry! You''ll never have to suffer like that again. I''ll make sure of it.!"N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 1366 One Last Lesson [Pt 1]

    Chapter 1366 One Last Lesson [Pt 1]

    The soft glow of the healing chamber enveloped Mordred and Neron as they sat facing each other, the air thick with tension and emotion. "Neron¡­ it''s toote for me, you know?"

    "W-what are you saying¡­? Neron''s brow furrowed with worry as he gazed at Mordred, who managed a weak smile despite the gravity of their conversation.

    "Neron," The older man continued, his voice gentle yet tinged with resignation, "you need to understand that my condition isn''t something that can be cured. It''s a part of me, and it''s not going away."

    As the Grand Mage of the Kingdom, he had tried all the means possible¡ªeverything at his disposal¡ªbut none of it worked.

    He couldn''t be cured, neither could the damage done to his body be reversed. His condition would only worsen, until finally¡­

    "With Magic, I''m sure we can find a way to do something about this!" Neron yelled out, finally disying his childish self in the conversation. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    But, the grim reality had to be uttered by his dying father.

    "Even Magic¡­ has its limitations."

    Neron''s eyes brimmed with tears as he shook his head defiantly. "No, I refuse to ept that," he insisted, his voice trembling with emotion. "You''re strong, dad. You''ve fought battles that most people couldn''t even imagine. You can beat this."

    The boy was yet to forget his Mordred''s disy of overwhelming power when he unleashed his Original Magic. Even he had shivered once he turned things over using ''Inverse''.

    His father was the Supreme Battle Mage, the strongest human Mage in the world.

    "There''s no way¡­ no way you can''t beat this too!"

    Mordred''s smile softened at Neron''s unwavering determination, but there was a sadness in his eyes that couldn''t be ignored. "Son, I appreciate your optimism, I really do," he said gently, "but you have to be realistic. My body can''t handle the strain of magic anymore. It''s only a matter of time before..."

    He trailed off, unable to bring himself to say the words aloud. The thought of his own mortality weighed heavily on him, but he knew that he had to face it, for Neron''s sake if nothing else.

    ''I, more than anyone else should know.'' The only thing Mordred could do for his son now was to find a way for the kid to live without him.

    ''I''m sure you''ll make lots of friends in the Academy, and I''m sure the Crimsons will take very good care of you.''

    And once Neron was of age, he would finally be able to inherit the legacy of the Kaelid household and take his rightful ce as a Grand Mage of the Kingdom.

    All of these were Mordred''s expectations for his son.

    But Neron refused to ept defeat, his voice rising with fervor as he pleaded with Mordred to keep fighting. "No, dad, you can''t give up," he implored, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I''ll find a way to help you. We''ll find a cure, or... or something. I won''t let you die."

    Mordred reached out and gently took Neron''s hand in his own, his touch afort amidst the storm of emotions that raged within them both. "Neron," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, " I need you to be strong, for both of us."

    "N-no¡­"

    And that was pretty much how the conversation continued between the two of them¡ªwith one side imploring the other of the possibility of his demise, while thetter refused to ept it.

    Soon after, Mordred returned to sleep, while Neron watched him keenly.

    He was determined to look after his father so he would be present in case of another episode. ''I won''t let you die, dad¡­'' He thought to himself and nodded. ''I won''t let anyone I care about die!''

    Not anymore¡­ ***********

    The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the open field where Mordred and Neron stood, the grass swaying gently in the breeze. It had been weeks since the incident that had nearly cost Mordred his life, and now, fully recovered, he had decided to give Neron one final magic lesson.

    "You ready, kid?"

    Neron''s brow furrowed with concern as he watched Mordred prepare for the lesson, a mixture of anticipation and apprehension swirling in his chest.

    "Are you sure you''re up for this, Dad?" he asked, his voiceced with worry. "You just recovered from a near-death experience. Maybe we should take it easy for a while."

    Based on what they knew about the Mana Burst Syndrome, if Mordred overdid it, things could get really bad.

    It was from this knowledge that Neron disyed concern.

    Mordred chuckled, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes as he turned to face Neron. "Come now, boy, where''s your sense of adventure?" he teased, his voice light but tinged with a hint of challenge. "I''m fully recovered now, and I won''t let a little setback stop me from teaching you one more time."

    Neron bit his lip, torn between his concern for Mordred''s well-being and his desire to learn from him. It was tempting, in all honesty.

    "I know you''re strong, Dad," he admitted, his voice soft with sincerity, "but I don''t want to see you push yourself too hard. You''ve already been through so much¡­"

    Despite saying this, Neron was smiling and taking his stance.

    Mordred''s smile softened at Neron''s words, a flicker of warmth and gratitude shining in his eyes. "I appreciate your concern, kid," he said earnestly, "but I assure you, I won''t overdo it. Besides, you''ve gotten pretty arrogant, haven''t you?"

    The Grand Mage''s lips curled up as he disyed his teeth with absolute confidence.

    "Do you really think you could ever push me to that point?

    Neron''s gaze hardened with determination as he met Mordred''s eyes. "Let''s see, shall we?" he replied firmly, his voice resolute. "I can always bring you back anyway."

    With a nod of understanding, Mordred gestured for Neron to join him in the center of the field, where they would begin their final lesson together. As they stood opposite each other, their hearts filled with anticipation for an obvious reason.

    They both wanted to see what the other could do!

 Chapter 1367 One Last Lesson [Pt 2]

    Chapter 1367 One Last Lesson [Pt 2]

    The glowing sun hung high above the field clearing, casting a bright glow over the sparse trees and the two figures facing each other.

    Any who witnessed this confrontation would think it was unfair.

    Mordred was practically the best Mage in the Kingdom. His darkened hair fluttered as he maintained a stern demeanor.

    He stood tall and confident, his deep blue cloak swirling slightly in the cold air.

    Across from him was Neron, a twelve-year-old boy.

    The result of the battle was already decided just based on the matchup.

    But¡­ these two knew better than to judge their fight based on such factors

    Neron red at Mordred with intense focus. His ck eyes zed with determination and curiosity, his hands crackling with barely restrained power.

    "Remember, Neron," Mordred called out for thest time, his voice steady. "This isn''t just a duel¡ªit''s a lesson. Use everything you''ve learned from me, but think for yourself. Show me your ingenuity."

    Neron nodded, his expression serious, his fingers twitching with anticipation.

    The magic crackled in the air around them, waiting to be unleashed. The boy''s dark robe fluttered as he began to move in a circle, assessing his father''s stance.

    Mordred mirrored his movements, keeping a cautious distance.

    In an instant, Neron lunged forward, his hands shooting out as he conjured a ball of zing fire and hurled it toward Mordred. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    With Neron already mastering Chantless Spells, this was no surprise at all.

    ~WHOOSH!~

    Mordred quickly responded, raising a barrier of water that doused the mes in a sizzling cloud of steam. The elder mage smiled faintly at his son''s aggressive start, nodding approvingly.

    "Good!" Mordred called, his eyes fixed on his son. "But don''t just attack recklessly!"

    Neron absorbed his father''s words but did not pause.

    Instead, he summoned a swirling tornado of wind, sending it roaring toward Mordred. Mordred reacted swiftly, conjuring a wall of earth that rose from the ground to block the powerful gusts.

    ~FSHUUUUU!~

    The wind howled around the barrier, but Mordred stood firm.

    Neron did not waste any time admiring his father''s skill. Instead, he let the tornado build and then shifted its direction, causing it to arc around the barrier and attack Mordred from the other side.

    Mordred barely had time to react before the wind knocked him off his feet. He quickly recovered, lifting his hands and casting a chain of lightning at Neron.

    ~ZZZTTTZZZ!~

    Neron dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the electric assault. His heart raced as he recognized his father''s tactical prowess.

    He couldn''t rely solely on one type of magic¡ªhe had to adapt. Neron countered the lightning with a st of ice, freezing the air around him and creating a shield. The lightning struck the ice, shattering it but losing its potency.

    With his path clear, Neron pressed on, summoning sharp shards of ice andunching them at Mordred in a rapid barrage.

    Mordred weaved through the projectiles, using bursts of air to alter their trajectories and deflect them harmlessly away.

    The two mages moved fluidly, each testing the other''s defenses while maintaining their own.

    Before they knew it, the two were smiling wildly as they resumed their assault and defense.

    "Hahaha!"

    "Haahahahaha!"

    The expression on their faces depicted the pure emotions that were being felt in that moment.

    They were both having so much fun.

    ~ZZUUUU~

    Neron decided to change tactics again. He conjured a wall of thick fog, enveloping the clearing in a dense, eerie mist.

    Mordred''s sharp vision was obscured, and he frowned as he tried to locate his son.

    The dense Mana in the air, coupled with several mirages, made Neron practically invisible.

    He took advantage of the situation, sneaking up on his father with the precision of an assassin.

    As Mordred scanned the fog, Neron unleashed a barrage of earth spikes from the ground, aiming to trip his father and gain the upper hand.

    Mordred intuitively sensed the attack and nimbly jumped over the spikes, but one caught his cloak and tore it slightly.

    Neron used the distraction to close in, his hands glowing with magical energy.

    Mordred grinned, impressed by Neron''s quick thinking. He unleashed a burst of wind, scattering the fog and revealing Neron''s position. Neron swiftly adjusted, shifting his stance andunching a wave of fire towards his father.

    Mordred countered by conjuring a massive wall of earth that absorbed the mes.

    As the fires licked the rocks, heat began to spread all around the area.

    And, with that heat came the climax the boy had been waiting for.

    "Huuu¡­" Now with a clearer field of vision, Neron decided it was time tobine his spells.

    He summoned a hurricane of wind and directed it toward Mordred. As the elder mage tried to stabilize himself, Neron quickly followed up by raining down bolts of lightning into the storm.

    Mordred raised a barrier of water, absorbing the lightning and grounding it safely. He then gathered the swirling wind, forming it into a powerful whip of air that heshed at Neron.

    The young mage dodged the attack, but the whip grazed his shoulder, knocking him off bnce.

    "Gahh¡­"

    "Come on, Neron. That can''t be all you have for me." Mordred grinned as he taunted his son with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

    Of course, before starting the fight they had already established some ground rules¡ªsuch as the absence of Original Magic or any Spell beyond the Intermediate Level.

    Of course, even in the Intermediate Stage, there were multiple Tiers associated with it, so it wasn''t a straightforward fight either.

    Besides, even though he could cast even more potent Magic, it was much safer for Neron to use lower Tier Spells against Mordred so the older man wouldn''t respond with more brutal attacks.

    If he upped the stakes, Mordred would be forced to do the same.

    However, there was only so far such a safe tactic could take you.

    Realizing he needed a strong move to turn the tide, Neron decided to take a risk.

    It was time to kick things up a notch.

    "Here goes¡­" He concentrated, channeling all his elemental magic into one powerful spell.

    He thrust his hands forward, and an enormous vortex ofbined fire, wind, and lightning formed, hurtling toward Mordred.

    Mordred sensed the gravity of the spell and reacted quickly. He summoned a massive wall of stone to shield himself, but the vortex shattered the rock into dust.

    As the dust cleared, Neron found his father standing firm, though visibly surprised by the intensity of the attack.

    With the battle reaching a fever pitch, Neron drew on his reserves of power. He channeled magic into his hands and thrust them forward, creating a radiant barrier around his father.

    The barrier was an amalgamation of the elements, glowing with intense energy.

    Mordred''s eyes widened slightly at his son''s advanced control over elemental magic. Trapped within the barrier, he struggled to break free, but Neron''s grip was strong.

    ''I see. So he made sure the barrier is currently fluctuating in Mana distribution and elemental allocation.'' The old mage had to smile to himself.

    ''That way, it''ll be difficult to dispel it with a Spell of equal magnitude within the same Level.''

    "Well done, Neron," Mordred called out, a hint of pride in his voice.

    "But the fight isn''t over yet!"

 Chapter 1368 One Last Lesson [Pt 3]

    Chapter 1368 One Last Lesson [Pt 3]

    ~WHUM~

    Neron tightened his grip on the barrier, knowing he had the upper hand. He prepared a final spell to finish the duel and prove his prowess to his father.

    "Just for a hood measure¡­"

    The air around him crackled with anticipation as he prepared tounch the finishing blow.

    Neron''s focus was unbreakable as he held his father, Mordred, captive within the radiant barrier.

    The elemental energies he had summoned swirled and danced around his hands, ready tounch a devastating attack.

    His young face was a mask of concentration, his breathing deep and controlled.

    Mordred, however, was far from defeated. He had seen Neron''s potential and knew his son''s capability well.

    But he also knew that he had to push the boy even harder to reach his full potential.

    ''Now, what shall I do? A direct approach of brute force won''t help if I want to adhere to the rules¡­'' Mordred didn''t fret, though. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Instead, he grinned widely.

    ''Well then¡­''

    With a firm grip on his magical knowledge and experience, Mordred began to counter Neron''s spell.

    Inside the barrier, Mordred closed his eyes, focusing his own magic. He summoned the power of the earth beneath him, causing the ground to tremble and shift.

    A mighty tremor surged upward, cracking the earth and breaking the barrier''s grip on Mordred. The barrier shattered like ss, releasing the elemental energy into the night air.

    "What? How?" Neron''s eyes widened in surprise as his father broke free.

    "Barrier overload. Using earth to create more external pressure and internal pressure, the Mana in the barrier gets confused on what to restrain, and it eventually wears thin until it dissipates."

    This was the first time Neron was hearing this, so he clicked his tongue and frowned deeply.

    "What now, kid?"

    Neron quickly shifted his strategy, gathering the dissipating elemental energy andbining it into a sharp, whirling gale.

    He aimed the gale directly at his father, but Mordred reacted swiftly, creating a vortex of his own to counter it.

    ~BWUUUUUUUSSSHH!~

    The two winds shed with a deafening roar, creating a shockwave that shook the area around them.

    Mordred took the opportunity to attack, sending a barrage of boulders hurtling toward his son.

    Neron deftly dodged the onught, using sts of air to deflect the rocks away from him. He retaliated with abination of lightning and fire, sending bolts arcing through the air as streams of mes followed in their wake.

    Mordred expertly shielded himself from the attack with a wall of water, absorbing the fire and grounding the lightning.

    He then directed the water into a massive wave, which he sent crashing toward Neron.

    The young mage met the wave head-on, freezing it into a wall of ice and then shattering it with a powerful punch.

    ~BOOOOOOM!~

    The duel intensified as both mages continued their onught.

    Neronunched bursts of fire and wind, while Mordred countered with earth and water. The clearing became a battlefield of elemental forces, with the ground trembling, the air sizzling, and the night sky shing with magic.

    There were a few non-elemental attacks used here and there, but since elemental attributes were an easier, more potent means of offense and defense, it became the highlight of the match.

    Even then¡­

    ''Damnit!''

    Neron''s young mind raced as he tried to anticipate his father''s next move.

    It always seemed like Neron was steps ahead of him.

    Whenever he conjured a whirlwind, sending it toward Mordred, thetter would respond by summoning a colossal wall of earth.

    Even when Neron manipted the whirlwind, splitting it in two and sending it to attack from different angles, there would always be something else that served as a hard counter.

    It was an impossible battle.

    "Haaa¡­ has¡­" Neron began to breathe heavily after fighting for a while.

    His exhaustion was more mental than physical¡ªthough thetter was also present.

    "You can''t get distracted now." Mordred yelled as he raised his hands, summoning an electric storm above the clearing.

    ~BZZZZTTTZZZ!~

    Lightning struck down, aiming for Neron as he dodged the attack. Neron used the lightning to his advantage, directing it toward Mordred with a swipe of his hands.

    Mordred quickly raised another barrier, but the lightning struck the ground near him, creating a temporary distraction.

    Seizing the opportunity, Neronunched a powerful beam of concentrated energy at his father. Mordred narrowly evaded the attack and quickly retaliated with a burst of mes that engulfed the ground around Neron.

    The young mage countered with a surge of water, quenching the mes and creating a steamy cloud.

    As the steam cleared, Mordred could see the determination in Neron''s eyes.

    ''That''s it, Neron! You''re growing so much!''

    The young mage seemed to grow stronger with each moment, adapting to the ever-changing battle. Mordred realized he needed to use his experience and knowledge to outmaneuver his son.

    "[Intermediate Magic: Nature Emergence]"

    Sprouts of trees burst forth from the ground, almost encapsting the bare field with multiple tall constructs brought forth by Magic.

    "H-hold on! Isn''t this an Advanced Spell? That''s cheating!" Neron yelled, his eyes widening at the scale of the Magic.

    There was no way this was an Intermediate Spell.

    "But it is Intermediate."

    "Lies!"

    "For real! For one, there are were already seedlings in the earth, so it''s not like I''m bringing the trees from nothing. Also, Nature Emergence is an Intermediate that focuses on causing a seedling to sprout very rapidly. I simply used this individual spell multiple times¡ªinstead of a Mass Spell that would be ssified as Advanced."

    "Y-you¡­ how?!"

    "It''s Magic, kid. Deal with it."

    While Neron was worried about his father pushing himself to the limits that his health would allow, the boy wanted more than anything to win.

    "W-whatever!" He charged ahead.

    Mordred easily evaded the Spell that his son sent, darting backwards into a particr cluster of trees

    Neron followed, his mind focused on the fight, but he didn''t notice his father subtly guiding him toward a specific area of the forest.

    He wouldn''t notice this until it was toote.

 Chapter 1369 Lessonâ€™s Conclusion

    Chapter 1369 Lesson¡¯s Conclusion

    ~BOOOOM!~

    ~WHUUUSH!~

    ~FSHIIII!~

    Mordred continued his barrage of spells, keeping Neron on his toes.

    As they fought deeper into the thicker and denser unnatural woods, Neron found himself at a disadvantage.

    The thick trees restricted his movement, forcing him to adjust his tactics.

    Mordred, on the other hand, used the forest to his advantage, maneuvering effortlessly between the trees andunching precise attacks.

    ''Damnit! His experience in fights is beginning to show.''

    Neron gritted his teeth as he struggled to keep up, dodging and countering as best he could.

    He attempted to trap Mordred in another barrier, but the elder mage anticipated the move and slipped away, using a gust of wind to knock Neron off bnce.

    Finally, Mordred saw his chance.

    He led Neron to a specific area where he had prepared a magical trap. As Neron lunged forward with a spell, Mordred stepped aside, causing the young mage to stumble into the trap. The ground beneath Neron gave way, revealing a magical pit surrounded by thick, pulsating roots.

    "Gahhh!"

    The roots wrapped around Neron, holding him tight and suppressing his magic.

    "Nngh!" He struggled against the trap, but the roots were strong and unyielding.

    Mordred stood at the edge of the pit, his expression calm but firm.

    He had led Neron into this trap not just to win the duel, but to teach his son a valuable lesson about strategy and awareness. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    "Remember, Neron," He said, his voice echoing slightly in the night. "Power is one thing, but knowing how to use it wisely is another. Letting your opponent dictate the pace can lead you into dangerous situations."

    He gestured around the pit, emphasizing the trap Neron had fallen into.

    ''How could I have been so¡­ ahh¡­'' Neron''s now blue eyes zed with frustration, but he did notsh out in anger.

    Instead, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and think clearly.

    He knew his father was right¡ªhe had allowed himself to be drawn into this position.

    Mordred watched his son intently, waiting to see how he would respond.

    The boy''s magical abilities were remarkable, and Mordred wanted to see him use his intelligence and resourcefulness to ovee this challenge.

    Neron closed his eyes, feeling the roots constricting around him, but he didn''t panic. He took control of his emotions and focused his magic on the roots.

    Slowly but surely, he began to manipte the elements, loosening the roots'' grip with small bursts of fire and ice. It was a delicate bnce of using just enough power without causing harm to himself.

    Mordred nodded in approval, seeing his son''s determination and adaptability.

    Neron''s approach to the situation wasmendable, showing he had absorbed the lesson well.

    After several tense moments, Neron finally freed himself from the roots'' grasp.

    Hended gracefully on the ground, taking a moment to catch his breath.

    "Huu¡­"

    His gaze met Mordred''s, and thetter could see the fire of determination still burning within his son.

    "Good work," Mordred said, a hint of pride in his voice.

    "Now, let''s see how you recover from this setback."

    Neron nodded, grateful for the acknowledgment from his father. He was ready to continue the duel, but he knew he needed to be more cautious and strategic.

    "I won''t make the same mistake twice."

    "That''s the spirit!"

    The two mages squared off once more, their eyes locked in a battle of wills.

    Neron took the initiative, summoning a series of ice spikes from the ground andunching them at his father.

    Mordred countered with a wall of slime, blocking the attack with ease.

    The ice dissolved in the corrosive jelly-like substance, and once the stuff was sent back to Neron, thed had already prepared a barrier to defend himself from its attack.

    With that, he was safe.

    As the battle raged on, the two mages exchanged spell after spell, testing each other''s defenses and responses.

    Neron''s control over the elements was precise, and he used his knowledge of his father''s tactics to stay one step ahead.

    Mordred, however, was a seasoned Mage, and he anticipated Neron''s moves with skill and experience.

    He used quick bursts of wind to redirect Neron''s attacks, forcing the young mage to adjust his strategy on the fly.

    The duel reached its peak as the two mages exchanged their most powerful Intermediate spells.

    Neron summoned a massive tempest,bining wind, lightning, and fire into a single destructive force.

    Mordred countered with a surge of earth and water, causing the ground to rumble and a wall of mud to rise in defense.

    The sh of their elemental powers sent shockwaves through the forest, and the ground shook with the intensity of their battle.

    The trees fell, one after the other, all unable to withstand the shockwave that was sent forth by the sh.

    It was a powerful exchange, one that caused everything to rumble and quake.

    But in the end, Mordred''s experience allowed him to gain the upper hand.

    He deftly maneuvered Neron into a position where he couldunch a precise counterattack.

    Mordred created a sudden surge of water that caught Neron off guard, washing him off his feet and into a muddy embankment.

    Neron quickly tried to recover, but Mordred seized the opportunity and cast a spell that bound Neron''s hands and feet in a web of roots.

    The kid struggled against the magical restraints, but they held firm.

    "You''re out of Mana."

    That statement caught Neron off guard, but it was true.

    Thatst spell had drained him of so much Mana, but he thought he would have a bit more time to recover.

    Unfortunately for him, Mordred noticed this¡ªor rather, had been waiting for it¡ªso he seized the opportunity to attack.

    He now stood over his son, his expression a perfect mix of satisfaction and pride

    "You''ve done well, Neron," he said, his tone gentle. "Way better than I thought you would."

    Mordred was not one to mince words or give needlesspliments.

    This was simply how he felt.

    "Thanks¡­" Neron nodded, absorbing his father''s words.

    Though he had lost the duel, he had gained invaluable experience and knowledge. Mordred offered his hand to his son, helping him to his feet.

    "Come," Mordred said, cing a hand on Neron''s shoulder.

    "Let''s go back. The way you are now, I''m sure you''ll get distinctions in the Academy. For now, though¡­ freshening up is top priority."

    For a moment, no one said anything to each other.

    Then, the two burst outughing.

    "HAHAHAHAHA!"

    They continued this until they left the damaged yard and went into the manor.

    The workers of the Kaelid Household would have to take care of the mess; as per usual.

    As they stepped into their mansion, Neron turned to his father and smiled.

    He was beyond grateful for his father''s guidance, but more than that¡­ he felt happy and fulfilled.

    As they climbed the stairs and went to their respective rooms, recognizing they would see each other pretty soon after freshening up, Neron couldn''t help but feel a sense of pride in having fought his father so closely.

    Yes, his father held back from using more advanced kinds of Magic, but still¡­

    ''This is pretty exciting. Give me a few more years, and I''ll challenge you again.''

    His ck irises gleamed with anticipation as he gave a bright smile.

    ''Next time¡­ I won''t lose!''

 Chapter 1370 Departure For The Exams

    Chapter 1370 Departure For The Exams

    [Months Later]

    "Huu¡­"

    The morning sun painted the sky in hues of pink and gold as Neron stood at the entrance of Kaelid Manor, his heart pounding with excitement and nerves. Beside him stood his father, Mordred, the manor staff and workers forming a sea of faces behind them. The air was alive with anticipation and well wishes, the energy crackling with so much energy and anticipation.

    Everyone already knew what day this was.

    Neron adjusted the strap of his satchel, feeling the weight of his future resting on his shoulders. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life¡ªthe day he would leave thefort of his home to embark on his journey to Ainrk Academy. He had spent months preparing for this moment, studying tirelessly under his father''s guidance, honing his magical skills and sharpening his mind.

    As the carriage pulled up to the manor, Neron couldn''t help but feel a surge of excitement mixed with apprehension. This was it¡ªthe moment he had been waiting for. He turned to his father, his ck eyes shining with determination.

    "I''m ready, Dad," Neron said, his voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in his stomach. "I''ll make you proud."

    Mordred smiled, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pride and affection. "I have no doubt that you will, Neron," he said, cing a reassuring hand on his son''s shoulder. "Just remember everything I''ve taught you, and trust in your abilities. You have the potential to achieve greatness."

    "I know."

    Neron''s confident reply did not shock anyone, neither was it out of a ce of pride. Every single resident of the manor knew this to be pure fact.

    "I''ll get a perfect score for sure." He grinned widely.

    "The exams aren''t that easy, you know?" Mordred said with a twinkle in his eyes, though he by no means berated the boy''s ambitions.

    Perhaps, deep down, he expected it.

    "Sure, sure¡­" Neron nodded, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He nced back at the crowd gathered behind them, seeing the familiar faces of the manor staff who had be like family to him over the years. Their cheers and well wishes filled him with a sense of warmth and gratitude.

    "Thank you, everyone," Neron said, his voice ringing out over the crowd. "I''ll make sure to return victorious, and when I do, I''ll make sure to share my sess with all of you."

    The crowd erupted into cheers and apuse, their voices echoing in the crisp morning air. Neron felt a surge of determination coursing through his veins, driving him forward toward his dreams¡ªor rather, his father''s. In all honesty, he personally saw no need to go to the Academy.

    He had heard people discuss the ce, and he also read on it. He had even visited once or twice whenever he went on excursions with Serah''s family. There was no particr thrill it gave him.

    ''Dad says education in the Academy is necessary, though. I''ll just take his word for it and attend. It''ll only take three years anyway, and after that is the Apprenticeship, which I''ll spend with him.''

    He doubted anyone wouldin about that.

    ''Once I be a fully fledged Mage, I''ll make a name for myself. Maybe even be an Adventurer like Uncle Aldred¡­'' He could already envision his future as he stood there.

    ''Welp! First things first!''

    With a final wave to the crowd, he climbed into the carriage. His father saw him enter, and continued giving him the brightest smile ever.

    "I''m proud to have you as my son." He said with the most emotional tone ever, tears falling down from his eyes as he kept grinning.

    "Save the tears of joy until I return with news of my perfect score!" Neronughed the emotion off as the driver began gearing the horses to life.

    Almost as if ignoring those words, Mordred jumped right as the carriage door was about to close and hugged Neron tightly.

    "I love you, son."

    ''Why is he being so emotional? And in front of so many people too¡­'' Frankly Neron felt a little embarrassed, which was probably why it took him more than a few seconds to finally respond to Mordred.

    "I love you too, dad."

    ********

    As the carriage rolled away from Kaelid Manor, Neron couldn''t help but feel a pang of sadness at leaving behind the home he had known for so long.

    But it was quickly reced by a sense of excitement as he thought about the adventures thaty ahead.

    ''If I pass, I''ll have to stay there for a while before returning. Well, I''ll try to ask for permission to leave so I can at least give him the news myself.''

    The road to Ainrk Academy stretched out before them, winding through lush green countryside and rolling hills. Thendscape seemed to blur past as the carriage picked up speed, the rhythmic clip-clop of the horses'' hooves providing a soothing backdrop to Neron''s thoughts.

    Inside the carriage, his mind wandered as he thought about the challenges that awaited him at the academy. He knew that the exams would be rtively, so he thought of the other challenges that he could possibly encounter.

    Making friends would be a little difficult for him, but he really didn''t need any. Serah was good enough for him, and if anyone else was to enter the picture, they would have to desire his own friendship. N?v(el)B\\jnn

    ''Hehehe¡­!'' Rather than having friends, he hoped to gather the attention of as many people as possible.

    Mages¡ªto be precise.

    ''They''ll all understand how great I am, and how awesome Dad is as my teacher!''

    As the carriage continued on its journey, Neron felt the excitement in him begin to grow for some reason.

    ''Serah¡­ everyone else whose names I don''t know yet¡­ wait for me!''

    And so, with his head held high and his heart full of determination, Neron set off toward his academic destiny¡ªso to speak¡ªready to carve his own path in the world of magic.

 Chapter 1371 A Genius Experience\

    Chapter 1371 A Genius'' Experience

    The Ainrk Academy Exams buzzed with anticipation as aspiring students from all corners of the Eastern Kingdom gathered in the grand hall. The air was thick with excitement and nerves, the scent of parchment and ink mingling with the crackle of magical energy. Neron stood at the threshold of the examination hall, his heart pounding with a contradicting mixture of anticipation and apathy.

    On one end, he was pretty unimpressed by the quality of candidates that showed up to take the exams. Other than a few people who seemed somewhat decent, the rest were fodder that he considered too weak by his own standards.

    There was only one exception among the students, and it was the girl that remained by his side through most of the event.

    ¡ªSerah Crimson.

    She was not only incredibly talented, but she was also very skilled in Magic¡ªmore than what he could say for even the decent ones among the crowd.

    Even without her Magic prowess, he found it difficult to ignore her since she constantly screamed in his ears if he didn''t pay her the right amount of attention.

    Fortunately, the exams started pretty quickly and they were eventually silenced by the proctor who conducted the exams for thousands of candidates.

    Everyone was taken to a veryrge hall that amodated their numbers.

    Inside the hall, rows of desks stretched out before him, each one upied by a student bent over their parchment, scribbling furiously. The atmosphere was tense, the only sound the scratching of quills against paper and the asional muttered curse.

    Hardly anyone was calm after seeing the exams, but¡­ of course Serah was an exception.

    She actually kept shut and concentrated on each question, seriously engaging her paper. It seemed, given the right circumstances, she could actually be sensible.

    ''I guess I should begin¡­''

    Neron took a deep breath, readying himself for the written portion of the exams. He scanned the questions before him, his mind already racing with the right answers.

    ''As I expected¡­'' Raising his pen as he put it to paper. ''It''s easy!''

    As the minutes ticked by, Neron''s quill flew across the parchment, his hand barely keeping up with the flood of ideas pouring from his mind. He drew upon the lessons he had learned from his Mordred and Aldred, as well as the countless hours spent poring over ancient books and materials in the Kaelid Manor library.

    Time seemed to blur as Neron lost himself in the intricacies of magical theory. He tackled each question with precision and insight, weaving togetherplex theories and practical applications with ease. He noticed a few people staring at him¡ªstudents and staff alike.

    The examiners watched in awe as Neron''s answers flowed effortlessly from his pen, his knowledge shining through in every word.

    ''I guess they can see what I''m writing. With Magic, most likely. That''s how they''re able to check for malpractices too¡­''

    Unsurprisingly, some idiots ended up getting caught cheating and they were immediately disqualified. It was foolish to even attempt something like that in a Magic Academy, and Neron wondered why the cheaters hadn''t thought of that.

    ''Besides, even if they cheat and manage to enter, isn''t that even worse?'' The most difficult parts were yet toe, after all. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

    If aspirants had to cheat to enter the Academy, they wouldn''t be able tost within its walls. Didn''t they recognize that?

    ''Well, whatever. It''s not my business anyway.''

    Finally, thest question was answered, and Neron set down his quill with a sense of satisfaction. He nced around the hall, seeing the exhaustion and relief etched on the faces of his fellow students. But there was no time to rest, for the practical portion of the exams awaited.

    ************

    The practical examination took ce in the academy''s grand auditorium, where a stage had been set up for the students to showcase their magical abilities. The hall was filled to bursting with eager spectators, the air alive with anticipation.

    Neron stood backstage, his heart calm with ease as he awaited his turn to perform. While had little expectations regarding the disy of the other students around, he still managed to be disappointed by theirckluster performance.

    It was almost unbelievable how bad they were.

    ''Some of them cast Basic Spells and they still fail in its activation. That''s just¡­ how?''

    Yes, Neron knew very well that he was privileged to have been taught by a verypetent Mage, and that he had talent in Magic. But, he thought any aspiring student in this ce had to have some measure of talent and skill.

    It, however, seemed his standard for that was too high.

    Once again, only Serah managed to make him leak out a smile from the bottom of his heart.

    She cast a Basic ss Spell at the highest Tier, making a big uproar among the students and proctors who watched with amazement.

    Still¡­ it was nothingpared to what he had in mind.

    As the previous student finished their disy and stepped off the stage, Neron stepped forward, his head held high and his gaze steady. He could feel the eyes of the audience upon him, their whispers of anticipation echoing in his ears.

    Perhaps some had heard rumors about him, while others thought he was acting snobbish by not interacting with anyone. They could have also been jealous about his rtionship with Serah¡ªwishing they were in his shoes¡ªeven though he wasn''t particrly hogging her to himself.

    He shrugged all those thoughts aside and simply focused on the task at hand.

    Taking a deep breath, Neron raised his hands, summoning a swirling vortex of elemental energy. The air crackled with electricity as he wove together strands of fire, water, earth, and air, creating a dazzling disy of magic that danced and sparkled before the enraptured audience.

    With a flick of his wrist, Neron sent the elemental vortex soaring into the air, where it exploded into a spectacr disy of light and color. The audience gasped in awe as the magic unfolded before them, their apuse ringing out like thunder.

    ''That''s Magic of the Intermediate ss. With this, I''m bound to get a perfect score¡­'' Looking at the faces of the Proctor, he already knew that would be the case.

    Everyone was simply stunned and amazed by him.

    As thest embers of his magic faded away, Neron stepped off the stage to thunderous apuse. The examiners watched in silence as he bowed gracefully, his eyes shining with pride and satisfaction.

    ''Well¡­ now all I have to do is wait for the results.''

    ***********

    When the results were announced, there was no doubt in anyone''s mind that Neron had passed with flying colors. Still, no one could have guessed that he would get a perfect score.

    Well, no one but him.

    His perfect score¡ª100 full marks¡ªwas a testament to his skill and dedication, earning him the respect and admiration of his peers and teachers alike.

    ''I guess I''ve broken a record. No aspiring student has ever achieved this high.'' Yet he broke it very easily.

    This already seemed like a strong sign of how boring life in the Academy would be.

    ''But, well¡­ I''m here already, right?'' He told himself.

    ''Might as well make the best of it.''

 Chapter 1372 Escape Plan

    Chapter 1372 Escape n

    "This is where you''ll be staying during your first year in the Academy."

    Neron entered into his room and looked around in silence. The official who was in charge of directing him there had a rather timid smile on his face as he observed Neron''s emotionless demeanor as he stepped in.

    Perhaps he was waiting for the boy to say something, or express some kind of emotion, but his face was mostly stoic and his lips were tightly glued together.

    His mind, however, was filled with several trains of thought.

    "It''s been a week since I passed my exams. I didn''t expect us to be taken straight for Orientation after the results were announced, and now that it''s over, I''ve been thrust into my permanent residence already.''

    Apparently, he wouldn''t even be able to return home until he was done with his first semester. That would take at least a few months.

    ''That sly old man! He intentionally left this out of everything, didn''t he?'' Neron gritted his teeth while also clenching his fist. How in the world was he supposed to aid Mordred if he had another episode if they weren''t closeby. Sure, his father would need to overexert himself for such a thing to happen, and he had already promised he would never do such a thing again.

    Still¡­ Neron couldn''t help but be worried.

    ''I''ll run out of my mind like this if I don''t see him and give him a piece of my mind!'' "Would you like anything else? Perhaps a special order or delivery, or¡ª?"

    "No. I''m fine." Neron turned to his attendant and gave him a cold, insincere smile.

    As soon as the man saw this, he gulped and nodded.

    "U-understood!" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    As the one who scored the highest in the exams, and also broke the record of a perfect score, Neron was pretty much treated like a god in his short time here. Ainrk Academy was a merit-based institution, so for someone like him¡­ he was instantly thrust to the top of the food chain.

    ''It has its perks, but I''m not interested in that at the moment.''

    Neron sat on his massive bed, ignoring all the borate furniture within his room, as well as its pristine decor. The space and disyed wealth still didn''tpare to his home, so he didn''t particrly care.

    The door shut tight, signaling the exit of his attendant, but Neron paid him no heed at all.

    What was on his mind far trumped any action by such an insignificant staff.

    ''I need to find a way to return home! To do that¡­ I''ll need to break out.'' Grinning widely as he began concocting a n that would allow him to achieve these goals, he went over the process of entry into Ainrk, realizing just how difficult it would be for him to achieve by himself.

    ''Good thing I won''t be alone.'' There was only one person on his mind as he thought of the most suitable partner for his n.

    She was currently in her Girls Only dormitory, but he reckoned that if he wanted to break out of the Academy, breaking into her dorm was a good way to practice.

    ''Hehehe! Alright then!'' Jumping to his feet as he stretched his body, he began to get himself fired up for the adventure.

    ''First, I''ll get Serah on board. Then¡­ I''ll leave this ce.''

    There were two major ws associated with Neron''s n, but he considered them to be minutepared to the benefits.

    ''First is the fact that Serah is still salty that she lost to me by such a wide margin. I don''t think that''ll stop her from helping me, especially if I rile her up well.''

    The second issue was the most problematic.

    ''Returning home will take a few days at the very least. There''s no way the people in the Academy won''t know of my escape.''

    Still, Neron didn''t think that would put him in too big of trouble.

    ''I''m the top student in the Academy. I doubt they''ll expel me for leaving for just a few days. If they do, then it''s even better for me, since I''ll be able to return permanently to the Kaelid Estate with no further need to study here.''

    He doubted they would be that extreme, though, since news of it would travel far and wide.

    ''I don''t think the Academy would want people knowing that a 12 year old was able to get past their security and escape the fortified walls of the Academy.'' Licking his lips and rubbing his hands, he smiled mischievously.

    No matter how he sliced it, he was going to be the victor in the end.

    ''I just have to wait until it''s dark before I make my move.'' Neron had to be honest with himself; that this was the most excitement he felt since he entered into the Academy. Strange as it was, he felt more anticipation to break out than to get in.

    ''I could perhaps file for a leave of absence, but I have no idea how long that''ll take. Plus, it''s really not fun.''

    He also knew there was a high possibility that Mordred would be made aware of his departure if he went by the official route, and Neron wanted to surprise him.

    ''That means I''ll have to move fast after my escape too.'' He returned to his bed and began to piece together the n in his head, smiling broadly throughout the process.

    **********

    [Later That Night]

    "Looks like it''s the prime time already¡­" Neron and Serah were huddled together in her room as he whispered those words to her.

    "I still can''t believe you''re doing this!" Serah nearly raised her voice, but she settled for hisses as she looked at her partner with a flushed face.

    "Aren''t you meant to be the rebellious type? When did you start bing so mellow and sensible?" "S-shut up! Daddy says I''m growing up to be a dignified youngdy, so I should start acting my age!"

    "Pfft!"

    "Also¡­ I''m always sensi¡ª!"

    "Now! Let''s go!" Neron dragged Serah by her waist and flew out of her window, their bodies in a tight embrace as their silhouettes flickered in the moonlight.

    "Ueeeehhh!"

 Chapter 1373 Partners In The Dark

    Chapter 1373 Partners In The Dark

    The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the sprawling grounds of Ainrk Academy. Neron''s heart raced as he nced nervously at Serah, her eyes gleaming with determination in the dim light. They stood at the edge of the dorm grounds, hidden in the shadows of towering trees, their breaths shallow with anticipation.

    Neron clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the n pressing down on him. This was his chance to escape, and to actually see if he could do it.

    ''If I fail, I doubt the consequences will be that severe, but still¡­'' He dragged Serah into it, so the least he could do was win.

    But that wouldn''t be easy. Ainrk Academy was heavily guarded, its defenses formidable even under the cover of darkness.

    ''I''m sure they''re using Observation Magic to check on everything and everyone. That''s precisely why I''m currently casting Jamming Magic, alongside a Cloaking Spell to remain hidden.''

    Since doing that constantly ate at his Mana, however, it wasn''t sustainable.

    "We have to move quickly," Neron whispered, his voice barely audible above the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. "The longer we wait, the greater the risk."

    Serah nodded, her eyes shing with determination. She trusted Neron implicitly, knew that he had a n to navigate through thebyrinth of magic rms and traps that littered the academy grounds. Together, they would find a way to escape, no matter the obstacles they faced.

    With a silent nod, Neron took the lead, his steps light as he slipped through the shadows like a wraith. Serah followed close behind, her senses sharp as she scanned their surroundings for any sign of danger. They moved nimbly, weaving through the maze of buildings and courtyards with practiced ease.

    "Reminds you of something?" Neron shed a smile at her as they continued.

    "Back when we tried ying tag with Aldred, maybe? Or hide and seek?"

    "He would always win, though¡­"

    "Yeah! Hahaha!"

    They were having so much fun, like silly little kids, despite the tension of the moment.

    Suddenly, a sharp beep cut through the silence, causing Neron to freeze in his tracks. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized they had triggered a magic rm. They were running out of time.

    "Keep moving," Neron urged, his voice urgent as he pressed forward, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of the academy''s guards.

    As they neared the outer perimeter of the academy grounds, Neron spotted a group of guards patrolling the area, their footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone paths. He cursed under his breath, knowing they would need to find a way to evade them if they had any hope of escaping unnoticed.

    With a quick nce at Serah, Neron gestured towards a nearby cluster of bushes, silently signaling for her to hide while he distracted the guards. Serah nodded, her eyes filled with silent understanding as she melted into the shadows.

    ''Okay¡­ time to use some of that privilege of yours.'' He told himself.

    Since it was inevitable that they would eventually find out of his desertion, there was no harm in appearing suspicious now. He just had to ensure Serah wasn''t implicated.

    Taking a deep breath, Neron stepped out from the cover of the trees, his movements cautious as he approached the guards. He forced himself to adopt a casual demeanor, praying that they wouldn''t see through his facade.

    "Good evening, gentlemen," Neron said, his voice steady despite the hammering of his heart. "Lovely night for a stroll, isn''t it?"

    The guards eyed him suspiciously, though they also couldn''t help but offer him the respect that he deserved. Neron could feel their gaze boring into him, searching for any sign of deception.

    "What are you doing out here at this hour?" one of the guards demanded, his voice sharp with suspicion.

    ''You say that, yet I can see your lips trembling.''

    Many of the guards were jobbers. Neron knew he could even beat them if he wanted, but that would onlypound the issue. Harming an Academy official or destroying Academy properties would attract severe punishments, and even if they would be mitigated for his sake, he didn''t want to handle such consequences.

    Neron forced a smile, his mind racing as he struggled toe up with a convincing lie. "Just taking a walk, enjoying the fresh air. As long as I don''t pass the bounds, I haven''t broken any rules, right?" he replied smoothly. "Is there a problem?"

    The guards exchanged a wary nce before shaking their heads, apparently satisfied with his answer. With a curt nod, they turned and continued their patrol, their footsteps fading into the night.

    Neron let out a sigh of relief as he watched them disappear into the darkness.

    ''There is indeed a Curfew, but it hasn''t been ced into full effect yet. Not until sses resume tomorrow.'' n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    That was one of the reasons he had to make his escape now! "Alright¡­" He had managed to buy them some time, but they couldn''t afford to linger. They needed to press on, to put as much distance between themselves and the academy as possible.

    Turning back towards the bushes, Neron called out to Serah, his voice low but urgent. "It''s clear. We need to keep moving."

    Serah emerged from the shadows, her eyes shining with gratitude as she fell into step beside him. Together, they pushed forward, their footsteps light as they skirted around the edges of the academy grounds, careful to avoid any further detection.

    Of course, Neron kept using Magic to avoid detection and also sense any nearby interference, while he made Serah disarm the rms as he detected them.

    All of that was too much for him to handle at once, especially if he wanted a swift escape, which was why he employed her help.

    But their luck couldn''t hold out forever. As they reached the outer perimeter of the grounds, they triggered another magic rm, setting off a series of traps that blocked their path. "Damnit!" Neron cursed under his breath as he surveyed the scene before them, his mind racing as he searched for a way to bypass the obstacles in their way.

    "Sorry. I thought I¡ª!"

    "I know. It''s most likely a doubleyered trap. Dad told me about them." He sighed, looking at the blocked path before them.

    "We can''t go through," Serah murmured, her voice tense with frustration. "We''ll have to find another way around."

    Neron nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of a hidden passage or alternate route. And then he saw it - a narrow gap between two towering walls, barely wide enough for them to squeeze through.

    "Follow me," Neron said, his voice determined as he led Serah towards the gap. "We''ll have to be quick."

    Together, they slipped through the narrow opening, their hearts pounding with anticipation as they emerged on the other side. They were free, finally!

    "The Academic City is just up ahead, and I''m sure there are some external patrols, but I''m sure I can handle them myself." Neron smiled as he looked at Serah.

    They both knew that he couldn''t take her with him, so there was no need for further words.

    Still¡­ Neron found himself lingering behind a little.

    "Be a good girl, okay? And¡­ thanks for this."

    Serah nodded, her eyes filled with aplicated disy as she reached out to grasp his hand. "You''re wee," she said softly. "Just promise me you''ll be back soon."

    Neron squeezed her hand tightly and nodded with a bright smile.

    "I promise!"

    Then, he drew her close into an embrace before kissing her on her forehead. "You better not get into any trouble for me."

    "I-idiot! I won''t¡­"

    Soon, they detached from each other, both their cheeks red, but covered in the shade of darkness.

    "Bye!"

    With a final, lingering nce, Neron turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Serah alone in the darkness. She watched him go, her heart racing heavily as she mimicked his word.

    "Bye¡­"

 Chapter 1374 Echoes From Within

    1374 Echoes From Within

    All through his journey back, Neron had multiple thoughts in his head.

    He thought of the expression his father would have when he saw him in the house rather than the Academy. He knew there would probably be some letter sent to his dorm for him, but he wanted to hear his congrattions from his old man¡ªface to face.

    He also wanted to rub it all in.

    ''The exams were so easy! I can''t wait till I tell him all about it!''

    All of this anticipation and buildup¡ªthe culmination of emotions that kept climbing over the course of days¡ªdissipated the moment he got to the front gate.

    As he approached the familiar wrought iron gates, Neron''s heart clenched with a mixture of relief, but suddenly began to feel dread. He had longed to return home, but now, as he stood before the imposing facade of the manor, he couldn''t shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him from within.

    It almost felt¡­ horrible.

    Taking a deep breath, Neron pushed open the heavy gates and stepped into the courtyard beyond. The air was heavy with the scent of jasmine and roses, mingling with the musty scent of ancient stone. Memories flooded back to him, ofzy summer days spent exploring the gardens with his father, ofughter and warmth that seemed like a lifetime ago.

    He didn''t even know why he was having those thoughts now.

    He previously thought about sneaking into thepound, but after experiencing how silent and oddly abandoned it seemed¡­ he gave up on that venture.

    ''I must be overthinking it. What could possibly be wrong?'' Despite the vibe of the ce being wrong, Neron tried his best to convince himself that there was nothing wrong.

    His instincts were lying to him.

    But as Neron crossed the threshold into the manor, his heart sank like a stone. The once grand halls were silent and still, the air thick with a sense of foreboding that sent shivers down his spine. He called out for his father, his voice echoing through the empty corridors, but there was no reply.

    Fearing the worst, Neron hurried through thebyrinthine halls of the manor, his footsteps echoing in the silence as he searched for any sign of life. And then, he found it - a door at the end of a long hallway, closed and forbidding, as if it held the weight of the world within its confines.

    With trembling hands, Neron pushed open the door and stepped into the room beyond. And there, lying on a bed draped in white, was his father, his once vibrant eyes now closed in eternal slumber. "...." Neron''s heart stopped as he took in the sight before him, the weight of grief crashing down upon him like a tidal wave.

    "Dad¡­" He whispered, his voice choked with emotion as he rushed to his father''s side. He reached out to touch him, to shake him awake from the cruel grasp of death, but his hand fell limply against the cold, lifeless flesh.

    Tears welled in Neron''s eyes as he knelt beside his father''s bed, his mind reeling with disbelief. How could this have happened? How could his father, the strongest man he had ever known, be taken from him so suddenly?

    ''Where the hell is everyone? What happened here? I-I don''t understand¡­!''

    His father was very lively when he left the house.

    Everyone seemed happy. They all wished him farewell, and there was not at all anything wrong with anyone or anything.

    So why? How¡­? Neron didn''t and could not understand.

    "He¡­ wasn''t supposed to die¡­"

    Memories flooded back to him - of his father''sughter, his unwavering love and support, the way he had always been there for him, no matter what. And now, he was gone, leaving Neron alone in a world that suddenly seemed darker and colder than he had ever known.

    "Why did you leave me, Dad?" Neron whispered, his voice breaking with sorrow as he reached out to brush a lock of hair from his father''s face. "I need you. I don''t know how to go on without you."

    But there was no reply, noforting hand to wipe away his tears or soothe his aching heart. His father was gone, lost to him forever in a cruel twist of fate that Neron couldn''t begin toprehend.

    ''Was it that bad? Were you so sick beyond help?'' Neron remembered Mordred telling him all those things, but he chose not to take them serious.

    Mordred had told him he would be gone soon, but Neron didn''t believe him.

    He thought he could save him.

    He thought¡­ his Magic could help.

    ''I was wrong.''

    And so, Neron did the only thing he could¡ªhe allowed himself to grieve, to let the pain wash over him like a storm as he mourned the loss of the man who had meant everything to him. "Uwaaaahhhhhh!!!" He cried until there were no tears left to shed, until the ache in his heart became a dull, throbbing pain that would never truly fade.

    But even as he mourned, Neron''s pain and sorrow began to be filled up with something else.

    ''I was wrong about it¡­'' Something akin to guilt¡ªor perhaps the need to me¡ªarose within him.

    ''You were also wrong about it¡­''

    Looking at his father''s body, and how saturated it was with Mana, Neron could already tell how he died.

    It was his illness that caused it.

    ''You were going to die with or without my help anyway. All we did was prolong the inevitable¡­''

    This was perhaps the necessary mental gymnastics a child needed to cope with the death of his father, but for Neron¡­ it was more than that.

    This was something that had also been building up for as long as he could remember.

    ¡ªHis distaste for Magic.

    "In the end, it solves nothing¡­"

    Magic was wonderful and beautiful¡­ but it was even more destructive. It was useless in times like this; when it counted most.

    And Neron could see all of that now.

    ".I hate it! I hate Magic!"

    *

    *

    *

    [End Of Part 2, Arc 1: The Origins Arc]

    This Arc was short, yet it felt so long for some reason. I certainly hope you stick around for the more interesting bits of the story. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Next Arcing up¡­ The Kingdom''s Adventurer Arc

    Hope you enjoy!

 Chapter 1375 Nero

    1375 Nero

    The Adventurers Guild Building.

    Even from the exterior, one could see that it was a grand structure, a testament to the bravery and endeavors of those who walked its halls. The facade was constructed of weathered stone, and the entrance was framed by intricately carved wooden doors. As the morning sun filtered through the stained ss windows, the interior was bathed in a myriad of colors, casting a warm, inviting glow over the guild hall.

    Inside, the guild was a hive of activity. Adventurers of all kinds upied the space, each engaged in their own pursuits. To the left of the entrance, a group of seasoned warriors huddled around arge wooden table, their faces lit by the flickering light of a nearby hearth. They spoke in hushed tones, their conversation punctuated by the asional burst ofughter or the clinking of tankards. The scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread wafted from the nearby kitchen, where the guild''s cook, a burly man with a perpetual scowl, worked tirelessly to feed the hungry masses.

    Larion, they called him¡ªHaunted Face Larion.

    In the center of the hall stood a massive bulletin board, covered in parchments of varying sizes and conditions. Each parchment represented a quest or a bounty, offering rewards for those brave enough to take them on. A group of younger adventurers, likely on their first forays into the world, crowded around the board, their eyes wide with excitement and trepidation.

    To the right, a small bar was tended by a sprightlydy with silver hair and a mischievous grin. She moved with a grace that belied her quickness, effortlessly managing the constant flow of patrons seeking a drink or a friendly conversation. Above the bar, a shelf lined with bottles of various shapes and colors caught the light, creating a dazzling disy that drew the eye.

    The walls of the guild were adorned with trophies and relics from countless adventures: a dragon''s skull here, a tapestry depicting a great battle there. Each item told a story, a piece of history preserved within the guild''s stone walls. Arge firece dominated the far end of the hall, its roaring fire providing warmth andfort to those gathered around it. Plush chairs and sofas were arranged in cozy clusters, inviting adventurers to sit and share their stories.

    This all seemed like one big family¡ªor a den of ruffians.

    Either way, they all seemed very used to it. At the very least, there were no words ofint.

    Amidst these activities¡­

    ¡­ The heavy wooden doors of the guild suddenly swung open with a resounding creak. A hush fell over the hall as all eyes turned towards the entrance. Standing in the doorway, framed by the bright sunlight outside, was a young person. Their figure was slender and slightly hunched, as if burdened by an invisible weight. They wore a long, dark cloak that obscured much of their form, the hood pulled up to shadow their face. Most striking of all was the mask they wore, a simple yet elegant piece of craftsmanship that covered the upper half of their face. The mask was white, adorned with intricate silver filigree that caught the light and shimmered subtly.

    The young person took a hesitant step forward, their boots barely making a sound on the wooden floor. The silence in the guild hall was almost palpable, the air thick with curiosity and a hint of tension. Who was this masked figure, and what business did they have at the guild?

    The woman behind the bar was the first to break the silence, her voice carrying a note of wee and intrigue. "Well now, who do we have here?" she called out, her silver eyes gleaming with interest.

    The young person paused, their head turning slightly as if to take in the entire hall in one sweep. After a moment, they lowered their hood, revealing hair as dark as midnight, falling in loose waves around their shoulders. They took another step forward, and the crowd began to stir, whispers rippling through the assembly like the wind through a field of grass.

    No one had ever seen this person before, and in a ce such as this¡ªwhere it was important to know one''s coworkers in order to differentiate friends from allies¡ªseeing a newbie, especially one as young as this person seemed, was rare.

    It almost never happened.

    The young person approached the bulletin board, their gaze fixed on the array of quests and bounties. They moved with a quiet grace, each step deliberate and measured. As they reached the board, they extended a hand from within the folds of their cloak. The hand was slender and pale, the fingers long and elegant. They selected a parchment from the board, examining it with a keen eye.

    A burly man with a bushy beard, who had been watching the neer with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, finally spoke up. "What''s your name, stranger? And what brings you to our guild?"

    The young person turned to face the dwarf, their eyes hidden behind the mask but their expression inscrutable. They spoke in a voice that was soft yet clear, carrying an undertone of resolve. "Call me Nero" they said. "Ie seeking a quest."

    The simplicity of the statement hung in the air, as the guild members exchanged nces. A quest, in itself, was not unusual, but there was something about Nero''s demeanor and words that made people roll their eyes or nce at each other with certain looks.

    The bushy bearded man narrowed his eyes, studying Nero intently. "A quest, eh? And what makes you think you''re up to the challenge? We''ve seen many a brave soule through those doors, and not all of them return."

    Nero met the dwarf''s gaze steadily, unflinching. "I understand the risks," they replied. "But I have my reasons, and I am prepared to face whatever challenges lie ahead."

    The voice proceeding from his lips was clearly masculine, but there was a certain child-like tone to it that made it seemingly androgynous.

    Before the man could say any more, Nero left the ce and approached the receptionist at the far corner of the room.

    "Fair enough, boy. Just remember, the guild is here to support its members. You don''t have to face your battles alone."

    A mere inclination of the head was given in acknowledgment, a hint of gratitude in the gesture, as Nero went on to face his business.

    He went to the nearest desk and ced the parchment that he chose on the table, something of a powerful glint hidden in his exposed eyes as he uttered words that showed nothing short of total resolve.

    "I desire to take on the Adventurers Test."

    The receptionist looked down at him, not intentionally of course. The boy was simply quite short¡ªat leastpared to most of the people that upied the building. Even the counter seemed a bit too high for him.

    Still, none of it seemed intimidating for him.

    He simply stood there and waited for the response of the receptionist, who looked at him for a few seconds and asked the same question the bearded man asked him.

    "What is your name, young man?"

    And, just like before¡­ he gave the name he went by.

    "Nero."

    * n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    *

    *

    [Wee To The Kingdom''s Adventurer Arc]

    {I n to release at least one chapter per day this month¡­ and I hope I''m consistent in it. Thanks for reading, and I appreciate your support!}

 Chapter 1376 The Subtle Art Of Grief

    1376 The Subtle Art Of Grief

    "Nero..." The receptionist repeated after him, the name lingering on her lips as she gave him a cursory look.

    After a while she nodded and scribbled something onto a piece of parchment.

    Neron heaved a sigh of relief as she did so.

    For a moment, he thought that she had seen through his facade and knew who he was.

    He chided himself for overthinking it. After all, the chances of him being recognized was improbable.

    "Very well, Nero. The Adventurers Test is not to be taken lightly. Prepare yourself and return in three days. Only then will you face the challenges we''ve set for new recruits."

    Her smile was toothy and for some reason, he found her tone mildly patronizing.

    He didn''t mind it as there were more pressing issues for him to worry about.

    He inclined his head once more in a brief acknowledgment before turning and heading back through the bustling hall.

    The eyes of the guild members followed him as he left, curiosity and skepticism lingering in their gazes.

    Naturally, he became the next subject of discussion amongst them as they debated the identity of the weird stranger and his abilities.

    By then Neron was already out of earshot.

    The streets outside the guild were busy, filled with people going about their daily lives.

    He swiftly made his way through the crowd, his mind already turning to the next steps.

    As he walked, the people around him gave him a wide berth.

    Despite his stature and physique, there was something in his gait that made them aware that this was not someone to be trifled with.

    He was rather oblivious to the whole thing as his mind was focused on lodgings.

    He needed a ce to stay, somewhere to gather his thoughts and prepare for the test.

    After a few inquiries, he found an inn not far from the guild.

    It was a modest establishment, its sign creaking in the breeze, but it offered the warmth and quiet he needed.

    There were some shady characters loitering about but he paid them no mind.

    He knew that they wouldn''t bother him and even if they did, he could handle them easily.

    22:25

    Thievery and violence was only to be expected in shabby and poor areas like this one.

    Inside, the inn was cozy, with a crackling fire in the hearth and the smell of hearty stew wafting from the kitchen.

    As the scent reached him, he felt a stab in his heart as it reminded him of the meals he relished growing up in the manor.

    The broth he perceived had been his favorite and Mordred had always teased him about it.

    "Hi there. Do you want a room?"

    The innkeeper, a stout woman with kind eyes, asked warmly, breaking him out of his momentary daze.

    "Yes. How much is it?" n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om

    After he paid the money, she showed him to a small room on the upper floor. It wasn''t much but it was enough.

    "I can make you some tea now if you want. There''s no dinner but tomorrow, be sure toe down for breakfast, ites with the room."

    "Don''t worry about the tea, I''m fine," He said, declining her offer as he didn''t want to be disturbed again once he was inside the room.

    As the innkeeper left him alone, he took a moment to survey where he was.

    The room was small, with a single bed, a worn but sturdy desk, and a small window overlooking the bustling street below.

    It was modest but reasonable for its fee. The best part was that it provided the privacy and solitude he needed.

    He sat on the edge of the bed, removing his cloak and cing it neatly over the back of the sole chair in the room.

    The mask he wore was next, revealing his face and he sighed softly as he felt a rush of cool air. He had truly missed the feeling.

    He ran a hand through his dark hair, letting out a slow breath as he allowed himself to rx for the first time in days.

    As heid on the bed which creaked under his weight, his mind drifted to the events of the past days.

    He found himself reflecting on the reasons that brought him to where he was and it was all he could do not to break down.

    The grief of losing Mordred took a toll on his mind much more than he was letting on.

    What pained him the most was that he had allowed himself to forget his initial hatred of magic because of the influence of Mordred and Serah.

    If only he hadn''t been that trusting of a power that was useless when you needed it the most. In the end, it was just tricks for showing off.

    His new decision to abandon magic was solidified in his mind as he vowed to walk his path without using magic.

    There was a time when magic had been his refuge, a means to protect and create, but that time had passed.

    The realization that his magic, despite his best intentions, brought more harm than good had driven him to the brink.

    He could no longer bear the burden of those memories or the fear of repeating the same mistakes.

    Bing an adventurer offered a chance for redemption.

    It was a way to find a new purpose, to protect others without the risk of his magic causing unintended harm.

    The guild''s camaraderie and shared goals gave him hope, but he knew he had to keep his distance.

    He was restless so he stood up from the bed and went over to the chair.

    He sat by the window, looking out at the bustling street below.

    "How ignorant but happy they look," He whispered to himself as he observed how they all went about their business.

    He clenched his fists, a determined look settling on his face.

    He had three days to prepare, three days to prove to himself that he could walk this new path and maybe find some purpose in it.

    No one around him would get hurt if he kept his distance, if he didn''t allow anyone in.

    Allowing others into his life had only led to pain, and he couldn''t afford that again.

 Chapter 1377 The Adventurers Examination

    1377 The Adventurers Examination

    Finally, the day of the Adventurers Test arrived. Neron woke up early, the first light of dawn creeping through his small window and reflecting on his face.

    He had had problems sleeping the night before as he had been up overthinking his predicament which was very much unlike him.

    His eyes were bloodshot from being sleep deprived and there was a wild gleam in his eyes as he looked around the room.

    He stretched his limbs and threw the windows open for venttion.

    From the high level of the room, he looked over the city and took the time to watch the people in the street starting their day.

    It was his favorite pastime during the past couple days but he knew that he couldn''t spend the morning doing that even though he found it therapeutic.

    The streets were generally quieter at this hour and the city not yet fully awake.

    He enjoyed it though as it gave him rity about life though he would be thest person to admit it.

    The three days had passed in a blur and it had all led to this day. He didn''t feel nervous at all about the exams as he knew that he would do well.

    He was rather unsure about what the future now held for him as itid spread out in all directions.

    All he had to do was choose one out of the multiple paths avable to him.

    For the umpteenth time, he thought of what Modred would say if he saw him currently and yet again he pushed the image from his mind.

    "I have to stop thinking of what Modred will say. He''s gone," He muttered grimly to himself as he took a quick shower.

    He dressed quickly, donning his cloak and mask once more as he made his way outside.

    Despite his objections, he was escorted out of the inn by the innkeeper who showered him with praises after he gave her a generous tip.

    He quickly found his way back to the Adventurers guild building which was already crowded with a mix of adventurers and the average townsfolk.

    The adventurers amongst them could be easily identified by the weapons they carried and their general demeanor.

    They all looked alert and brimming with energy unlike the others who still looked sleepy eyed.

    As usual, Neron caused a stir as he made his way through the crowd but he paid them no heed, walking swiftly to the door of the establishment instead.

    The interior was more packed than when he had first visited and he made straight for the counter.

    "Ha, you''re back. If I can remember it correctly, your name is Nero. I didn''t think you would actuallye back here. Anyway, sign right here," She said pointing at a register on her desk.

    He took a quill from her and quickly signed his name in the register.

    "Go round to the back, you will see the others there," The bartender announced as soon as he was done writing.

    He followed her outstretched finger to a doorway behind her which looked rather dark and forbidding.

    There was a musty smell around the ce and it looked like it was a trap to lure him in.

    He looked back to see the bartender disying a mischievous grin as she looked him over once again. She appeared to be enjoying herself.

    He knew that she expected him to fail rather spectacrly so she could gloat and he wondered abstractly why she was that invested in his business or if it was out of pure spite.

    He followed her directions and came out to an open spacious courtyard.

    As he looked around, he noticed that he had been misled by the Guild building to think that the ce was small.

    It was anything other than that.

    At the entrance to the field, there was arge stone archway engraved with the Guild''s emblem.

    It announced itself rather proudly for all to see with its bold colours of maroon and white.

    Just beyond the arch, a cobblestone path led to a registration area featuring a series of wooden booths where candidates check in and receive their examination numbers.

    From where he stood, he saw that the booths were equipped with all necessary supplies and staffed by experienced Guild clerks.

    From the setup, he figured that they took things rather seriously around the ce.

    In the center of the field, there was an elevated observation tform made of reinforced timber with a stone foundation.

    This tform was essible by a set of wooden stairs and offered a panoramic view of the entire examination area.

    Guild Masters and senior adventurers stood there using it as a vantage point to oversee the proceedings, make announcements, and assess participants'' performances.

    At the guild increased, a group of hopeful recruits had already gathered.

    They were a mix of seasoned adventurers seeking a higher rank and neers like Neron.

    The air was thick with anticipation and nervous energy. Neron stood apart from the others, his mind focused on the task ahead. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    An instructor soon arrived, a stern-looking woman with amanding presence.

    She wore a suit of polished armor and carried a sword at her side.

    Her sharp eyes swept over the group, assessing each one with a practiced gaze.

    She went straight to the point without buttering them up first.

    "Wee to the Adventurers Test," she began, her voice carrying authority. "I am Instructor Elda, and I will be overseeing your evaluation today. You will be entering a mock dungeon, designed to test your abilities and teamwork. Your performance will determine your rank within the guild."

    She gestured to arge, reinforced door at the far end of the hall. "Beyond that door lies the dungeon. Your task is simple: eliminate as many monsters as you can. Work together if you wish, or go solo. Your actions and decisions will be closely monitored. Any questions?"

    The group remained silent, their focus on the challenge ahead. Elda nodded, satisfied.

    "Very well. When you are ready, step through the door. Your time begins the moment you enter."

 Chapter 1378 Eschewing Magic

    1378 Eschewing Magic

    "Very well. When you are ready, step through the door. Your time begins the moment you enter."

    Instructor Elda''s words made the Adventurers perk up as they realised that they had topete with and surpass theirrade.

    Without realising it, they slowly edged away from each other as their sights were fixed on the dungeon and they flexed their muscles in anticipation ready to get into action.

    Neron was only one person who appeared unbothered by what he heard.

    He stood at the edge of the group and his eyes narrowed as he took in the details of the mock dungeon.

    The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and tension, and he could feel the murmurs of the other hopefuls.

    As they waited for their turn to enter, a young boy that appeared no older than Neron got close to him.

    Neron was surprised by the boy''s boldness as he wondered what quality in his person gave off the impression that he was approachable.

    His bright eyes and eager smile contrasted sharply with Neron''s grim demeanor.

    "Hi, I''m Legris," the boy said, extending a hand. "I saw youe in and thought we could team up. Two heads are better than one, right?"

    Neron nced at the boy''s hand but didn''t take it. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the door of the dungeon.

    "I''m better off alone," he replied curtly. "You will only slow me down."

    Legris'' smile faltered slightly, but he nodded. "Alright, good luck then."

    Ignoring the boy''s attempt at camaraderie, Neron focused on the task ahead.

    He didn''te to the guild to make friends and the nature of the test wasn''t a team targeted one either as they would be scored individually.

    His eyes scanned the ce for the weapons section and he went over to the man in charge of them as soon as he spotted it.

    "I need a sword please," He said to the man who appeared to be dozing off.

    "Ahem¡­Why do you need a sword? Aren''t you a magic user?"

    Neron repeated his request ignoring the man''s question.

    The man looked him over then finally shrugged as if to say it wasn''t his business.

    "Anyone here that catches your fancy?"

    Neron went closer and then selected a in looking sword in the corner.

    The man shook his head in protest as he was surprised by Neron''s inexperienced choice.

    "If you''ll allow me to rmend something¡­" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

    Unfortunately, Neron was already out of earshot before he couldplete his sentence.

    Neron swung the light de testing it as he rejoined the group.

    He had had his reasons for selecting the weapon. He chose swiftness over efficiency as he wanted to be done with the exams in a short time.

    Besides that, it didn''t really matter either way if it was a cheap sword or a sturdy one.

    A weapon was only as powerful as the person wielding it especially when it came to weaker opponents.

    It was one of the first lessons that Mordred had taught him.

    When Instructor Elda signaled the start, he was one of the first to step through the reinforced door.

    "Let''s go," He muttered to himself and sprung forward.

    The dungeon was dark and damp, the air thick with the smell of mold and earth.

    Torches flickered on the walls, casting eerie shadows that danced and twisted in the corners.

    He didn''t have problems seeing though and he walked swiftly ready for action.

    The sound of distant growls and shuffling echoed through the stone corridors.

    Neron drew his sword, the familiar weight and bnce of the weapon giving him a sense of calm.

    He moved swiftly and silently, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of movement.

    The first monster he encountered was a goblin, its beady eyes glinting with malice as it lunged at him with a rusty dagger.

    ~WHOOSHHHHH!!!~

    Neron sidestepped the attack and, with a fluid motion, sliced through the goblin''s neck.

    The creature crumpled to the ground, lifeless before it knew it.

    He flicked the blood off his de and pressed on.

    "First kill," He said with a smile as he sped on ready to take on more of them.

    He met other goblins in twos and threes and quickly dispatched them.

    In no time he was done with the first floor.

    ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

    A group of goblins charged at him with a battle cry as soon as he got to the second floor.

    They were over a hundred and each of them had weapons ranging from daggers to short clubs.

    They had nned an ambush on him after hearing the death of theirrades on the first floor.

    ~SLICEEE!~

    ~SLICEEE!!~

    ~SLICEEE!!!~

    GUARKK!

    ARGH!!!

    The goblins cries for help went unanswered as they were cut down swiftly.

    Neron''s swordsmanship was impable, each strike precise and lethal as he ran through them without receiving injuries himself.

    He relied solely on his physical skills as he abandoned the use of magic entirely.

    It was the reason he had chosen to bring a sword with him.

    Time seemed to blur as he continued his relentless assault, his focus unbroken.

    He lost count of the number of monsters he had in, his only goal to eliminate as many as possible.

    Eventually, he found himself back at the entrance, breathing heavily but otherwise unharmed.

    "Well that was quick, this can''t be the whole examination," He said not quite believing it.

    He concluded that the standard was low if it was all he had to do.

    He wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it, his eyes cold and hard.

    He wasn''t sure he had spent up to thirty minutes in the dungeon.

    He stepped out to the surprised faces of the examiners gathered.

    He was the first to finish and he went over to a corner as he awaited the results.

    Legris emerged shortly after, his face streaked with dirt and sweat.

    Despite his disheveled appearance, there was a triumphant gleam in his eyes. He had fared well, it seemed.

    His eyes went over the examiners until he spotted Neron and then he waved in surprise.

    He thought that he had been the first to finish until he saw the cold boy he had tried to befriend earlier.

    If Neron saw the gesture, he didn''t return it so Legris turned back and waited for the others too.

    Twenty minutester, the rest of the candidates poured in and soon everyone was ounted for.

    "That concludes the end of the examination," Instructor Elda said stepping forward.

 Chapter 1379: A New Friend

    Instructor Elda called the group to gather once more as she began her address.

    She stood on the observation tform, her stern gaze sweeping over the recruits.

    "Well done, all of you," she said. "You have all shown courage and skill today as expected of future Adventurers."

    Neron leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest as he listened to her halfheartedly.

    He couldn''t shake the thought that had been nagging at him since he exited the dungeon.

    "I could have done more," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as he reyed the scenes in his mind.

    He had chosen to rely solely on his swordsmanship, intentionally avoiding the use of magic.

    While he had done well enough in the exams, he knew that he might get ked for it since he didn''t use magic.

    While Martial arts was efficient in its own right, it didn''tmand the same respect as magic in the world.

    "...I am pleased to announce that two of you have earned a Three Star License."

    Neron''s ears perked up as soon as he heard Elda''sst words and he wasn''t the only one.

    A wave of anticipation spread across everyone gathered.

    A Three Star License was rarely given to new candidates as it was only granted to those that did exceptionally well after a unanimous vote by the examiners.

    Wherever it was presented, the bearer was sure to get VIP treatment and advance quickly in the ranks of the Guildmunity.

    Elda paused in her speech as her eyes locked onto Neron.

    "Nero, you scored the highest with 90 points. Your performance was exceptional. Your swordsmanship is truly remarkable."

    There was a smattering of apuse from the examiners and less from the other candidates.

    They had diverse reactions ranging from disbelief to envy. They weren''t sure they heard Elda correctly.

    She was praising Neron for his swordsmanship and not magic.

    Neron nodded, epting the praise with a stoic expression and not giving ear to his disgruntledrades.

    "And Legris," Elda continued, turning to the boy. "With 85 points, you have also earned a Three Star License. Your magic resourcefulness and teamwork weremendable."

    There was another round of apuse from the crowd.

    Legris'' face lit up with a mix of surprise and pride. He nced at Neron, who gave him a curt nod of acknowledgment.

    Neron knew that if he had used magic, he could have wiped out the goblins and other creatures in mere moments, potentially earning even higher marks.

    The thought of tapping into that power again churned his stomach, a reminder of the very thing he had vowed to avoid.

    Neron clenched his fists. "Never again," he whispered to himself. Magic was a tool, but in his hands, it was a curse¡ªa reminder of everything he had lost and everything he had be.

    He was pulled from his thoughts as Instructor Elda stepped down from the stage.

    Her authoritative voice was now closer to them.

    "That concludes the end of the examination," she announced, her gaze sweeping over the candidates. "You have all demonstrated your skills, and the results will be posted shortly for the rest of you to see. Well done to those who pushed themselves to the limit."

    Neron''s eyes flickered over to Legris, who was standing a short distance away.

    The boy was still catching his breath, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

    Neron noticed the faint residue of magic around him, a clear indication that Legris had relied on his magical abilities during the test.

    Legris caught Neron''s gaze and hesitated for a moment before approaching him. The boy''s earlier enthusiasm was now tempered by a hint of caution, but he seemed determined to try again.

    "Hey," Legris began, his tone softer this time, less brash. "You were really fast in there. I barely saw anyone else until I ran into the others near the end. I guess you didn''t need any help after all."

    Neron regarded Legris for a long moment. His first instinct was to brush the boy off again, to dismiss him as just another overly eager adventurer looking to make friends.

    But something in the back of his mind¡ªsomething Aldred had drilled into him¡ªmade him pause.

    "Aldred always said, ''Good rtionships with yourrades are as valuable as the de at your side.'' Especially in this line of work."

    Aldred''s words echoed in his mind, and for the first time, Neron found himself questioning his usual solitary approach.

    Legris had been persistent, and there was no denying the boy had talent, even if he was overly optimistic. Perhaps it wouldn''t hurt to be a little more open¡ªif only just a bit.

    Neron straightened up, uncrossing his arms. "You did well too," he said, his voice less cold than before. "You seem to know how to handle yourself in a fight."

    Legris blinked in surprise at thepliment, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Thanks! I, uh, try my best. Maybe we could spar together sometime? Learn from each other?"

    Neron almost declined, but instead, he found himself nodding slightly. "Maybe. We''ll see."

    It wasn''t exactly a warm eptance, but it was far from the outright rejection he had been ready to deliver.

    Legris seemed satisfied with that and nodded enthusiastically.

    The boy nced at the notice board where the results were being posted. "By the way, I have a question if you don''t mind."

    Neron could guess what he wanted to ask but wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

    "Ask away."

    "So why didn''t you use magic back there? If you''re this impressive with a sword, I''m curious to see your¡­"

    "You can ask anything other than that" Neron said, cutting him off before he was done.

    "Alright, it''s your choice then. I won''t force you to say anything you don''t want to say."

    Neron was tempted to ask if if he could even if he wanted to force him but he decided against it.

    It wasn''t in him to be tantly rude without a justifiable cause. The boy was just making conversation after all.

    "Alright Nero, it was nice meeting you. I guess I will see you around."

    Neron simply nodded, his mind already shifting to the next challenge as he shook Legris hand.

    As he watched him walk away, he couldn''t help but feel a grudging respect for the boy he had ignored.

 Chapter 1380: The Cave of the Wyrms [Pt 1]

    By the following week, the reality of his new situation began to set in on Neron.

    He was officially a Three Star Adventurer now, and that came with expectations. Expectations he was determined to meet without relying on magic.

    After collecting his Three Star badge the previous week, he had been approached by different recruiting agents who wanted him in their guilds.

    He had turned down each and everyone of their requests as he thought it was too early to make amitment and he wasn''t sure of what exactly he wanted to do with his new status.

    For some reason, this only increased his appeal to the guilds as they made their offers more juicy to entice him.

    They refused to understand and understand his refusal.

    He understood that most of his appeal was due to his mysterious persona. No one knew who he was behind the mask.

    The news of how he had been the top scorer without using magic too had spread like wildfire and there were different theories about how strong he was.

    Instructor Elda''s words echoed in his mind as he made his way through the bustling training grounds of the guild he had taken his exams in.

    For some reasons, he had a degree of loyalty to the guild which might have influenced his decision not to join a more prominent one.

    He regarded it as a temporary affiliation though as he knew that he had to be unattached to build a reputation amongst themunity.

    The afternoon sun cast long shadows, but Nero''s thoughts were focused inward, on the challenge ahead.

    It wasn''t long before he found himself standing before the quest board, arge wooden structure stered with various missions, each one promising rewards and dangers in equal measure.

    ording to several Adventurers, the recent quest had been dangerous, but that was why the rewards were high.

    As he scanned the notices, one quest caught his eye: Cave of the Wyrms - Exterminate the Monster Infestation."

    The description was brief, but it didn''t need to be borate.

    The cave was notorious for being infested with a variety of monsters, many of which had driven out the previous adventurers who had dared to venture in.

    There was a small map on the paper on the back of the paper on how to reach the cave and he knew the directions.

    Nero''s hand hovered over the paper for a moment before he grabbed it, crumpling it slightly in his grip.

    This would be his first official mission as an Adventurer. It wasn''t going to be easy, but that was precisely why he chose it.

    As he turned to leave, a voice called out to him. "Hey, wait up!" It was the bartender, once again studying him closely. "You heading out already?"

    "Got a job," Nero replied simply, holding up the quest paper.

    Her eyes widened slightly as she read the details. "The Cave of the Wyrms? That''s a tough one. You sure you don''t want some backup? I heard that the people that took it solo all died."

    Nero shook his head. "I''ll manage on my own. Thanks."

    She hesitated, but then nodded. "Alright, but be careful in there. Those creatures aren''t just your average beasts. Anyway I don''t know why I''m telling you, I don''t even like the look of you anyway."

    "I know," Nero said, turning away. He didn''t need the reminder; he didn''t like her too but in the grand scheme of things, it didn''t matter.

    The journey to the cave wasn''t a short one. It was located deep in the mountains, far from the safety of the city''s walls.

    Nero made his way through the winding paths, the forest gradually giving way to rocky terrain.

    He enjoyed the quiet walk as it gave him time to think about his life which was something he found himself doing more often the past days.

    The air grew colder as he ascended, the silence only broken by the asional rustle of leaves or distant call of a bird.

    Before long, he reached the cave

    As he approached the cave entrance, the shadows seemed to stretch out toward him, as if the darkness within was alive and hungry.

    Nero paused, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

    As he stood there, he couldn''t help but feel the familiar tug of magic within him, the power he had sworn not to use.

    It whispered to him, promising an easy victory if he would just let it out.

    "No," he muttered, clenching his fist. "Not this time."

    With a deep breath, Nero stepped into the cave. The darkness enveloped him immediately, the air thick with the scent of damp earth.

    As soon as he entered, he could hear the faint skittering of ws on stone and the low growl of a creature hidden in the shadows.

    His eyes adjusted quickly, and he moved forward with silent precision, his sword drawn and ready.

    ~WHOOSHHHH!!!~

    The first creature that lunged at him was fast, a blur of scales and teeth. But Nero was faster.

    He sidestepped the attack, his de shing in the dim light as it sliced through the creature''s side.

    GUARKK!!!

    It let out a shriek before copsing to the ground and he could see that it was an ogre.

    Nero didn''t stop to examine his work. There were more creatures deeper in the cave, and they would be drawn to the scent of blood.

    The further he went, the more the cave seemed toe alive as he was attacked by creatures of all shapes and sizes.

    He could now understand why the cave held that much of a reputation among the Adventurers.

    It wasn''t the strength of the monsters as much as their numbers. They were so much that he felt himself getting fatigued after a while.

    He was almost tempted to use magic to quickly end it all.

    Nero gritted his teeth, ignoring the pull, focusing only on the task at hand.

    As he walked to the following floor, the ground beneath him suddenly gave way and he found himself falling.

    He twisted himself in midair just in time tond upright as debris rained on him.

    He dusted himself then looked around to see where he was.

    "Shit?" He muttered feeling something akin to fear for the first time since he entered the cave.

 Chapter 1381: The Cave of the Wyrms [Pt 2]

    Neron felt beads of sweat roll down his face as he saw where he was.

    He had just fallen into air of Wyrms so his fears were amply justified.

    He knew just how formidable of an opponent they were, especially in a group.

    At the moment, they were lying in wait beneath the surface of the cave''s floors while some of them were coiled around stctites.

    There was a faint, sulfuric odor that clung to the air around them and they appeared to have just woken up from sleeping no doubt from the noise of his fall.

    At the moment, they were startled to see him but he knew the element of surprise would be lost soon when they got over it.

    In the low light, he could see that they were serpentine in shape, resembling massive, elongated dragons without wings.

    Their bodies were covered in thick, armored scales that shimmered with an oily sheen and their earthy brown scales blended seamlessly with the cave''s natural shadows.

    Their heads were crowned with sharp, bony ridges, and their mouths lined with rows of dagger-like teeth.

    What he found striking especially were their eyes especially as they were all focused on him.

    Red intelligent glowing orbs was the best name he coulde up with for them.

    Like many people, he had read about them in books but this was his first time encountering them.

    ROARRRRRRRRR!!!

    A low, rumbling growl reverberated through the air and it echoed ominously off the cave walls.

    By his count, they were around six of them though their size made it seem like it was a lot.

    Two of them stood up and advanced towards him.

    Despite theirck of limbs, they moved quite quickly, their muscr bodies sliding smoothly as they rushed him.

    He stood his ground as he looked for every potential weakness he could exploit but the Wyrms were closing in fast, their speed belying their massive size.

    ~VWUUUSHHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    With a swift motion, Neron dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the first Wyrm''s lunge.

    Its massive jaws snapped shut with a resounding p sound where he had been standing just a moment before, the force of the bite sending a shockwave through the ground.

    The second Wyrm slithered around, its body coiling and uncoiling with terrifying speed as it tried to encircle him.

    Neron''s instincts took over. He darted between the stgmites, using the natural formations of the cave to his advantage, making it difficult for the Wyrms to trap him in their deadly grip.

    The confined space was both a curse and a blessing¡ªit limited his movement but also restricted the Wyrms'' ability to maneuver freely.

    His sword shed in the dim light as he struck out at the nearest Wyrm. The de nced off its armored scales, barely leaving a scratch.

    "Damn!"

    Neron cursed under his breath, realizing that his usual tactics weren''t going to work.

    He needed to find a way to pierce through those scales, or he wouldn''t stand a chance.

    They were magical creatures after all and there was only so much you could do with a sword.

    Magic needed to bebated with magic.

    He could feel the sweat dripping down his face, stinging his eyes, but he couldn''t afford to blink, not even for a second.

    Desperation wed at Neron''s thoughts. There had to be a way out¡ªsome weakness he could exploit, something he hadn''t considered yet.

    He knew that they were intelligent, cunning creatures that relied on their brute strength, but he had noticed when fighting them that they were also wary of threats to their eyes.

    He figured that it was their most vulnerable spot.

    Neron took a deep breath, steadying himself. He had to be precise as he knew he couldn''t afford to miss.

    The first Wyrm lunged at him again, its jaws wide open, ready to crush him in a single bite. But this time, Neron didn''t dodge.

    Instead, he charged forward, meeting the creature head-on.

    At thest possible moment, he slid under the Wyrm''s body, his sword angled upward.

    He drove the de into the soft flesh just beneath the Wyrm''s jaw, the one ce where the scales were thinnest.

    ROARGHHH!!!

    The Wyrm let out a deafening roar, thrashing wildly as it tried to dislodge the de.

    But Neron held on, twisting the sword deeper, aiming for the creature''s eye.

    SPLAT!

    With a final, desperate thrust, he pierced through the Wyrm''s eye, the de sinking deep into its skull.

    The creature convulsed violently before copsing, its body going limp.

    Neron barely had time to catch his breath before the second Wyrm was upon him. But this time, he had a n.

    Using the fallen Wyrm''s body as cover, he rolled to the side, keeping low to the ground.

    The second Wyrm hesitated, confused by the sudden loss of itspanion. Neron seized the opportunity, leaping onto the creature''s back.

    His feet found purchase on its rough scales, and he scrambled up to its head.

    The Wyrm roared in fury, trying to shake him off, but Neron was determined.

    He gripped his sword tightly and drove it into the Wyrm''s other eye with all the strength he could muster.

    The creature let out a final, anguished cry before copsing beside its fallen kin.

    Neron jumped clear,nding hard on the cave floor, his breathing in ragged gasps.

    He could feel the strain in his muscles, the exhaustion from the relentless fight, but he couldn''t afford to rest yet.

    There were still four more Wyrms, and they were far from finished with him.

    The remaining Wyrms, now fully aware of the threat he posed, began to encircle him, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light.

    "Come on," He said with a smile as they closed in on him.

    He didn''t wait for them to reach him before he took off in the air and raised his sword above his head.

    ~SPLAT!~

    ROARRRRRRRRR!!!

    ~SPLAT!!~

    ROARRRRRRRRR!!!

    ~SPLAT!!!~

    His sword danced as he reveled in the chaos he created as the creatures thrashed around before dropping dead.

    "Magic is overrated!"

    He screamed out just as thest Wyrm fell.

 Chapter 1382: The One-eyed Lady

    Neron stood amidst the fallen Wyrms, his breath heavy as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

    The cave was eerily silent now, the only sound being the faint drip of water from the stctites above.

    DRIP!

    DRIP!

    DRIP!

    He matched the pace of his breathing to the sound as he surveyed the carnage around him, the bodies of the massive creatures lying still, their once glowing eyes now lifeless.

    He took a moment to catch his breath as he felt the adrenaline in his system slowly ebb away.

    His muscles ached, but he couldn''t help the satisfaction that welled within him.

    The Wyrms were dead and he hadn''t even used magic at all.

    "Magic is overrated," he muttered to himself, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

    He sheathed his sword and ran a hand across his hair as he began to make his way out of the cave.

    He could see that the exit was not far, a small opening that led back to the outside world.

    As he got closer to the entrance, the faint light of day filtered through which was a wee sight after the darkness of the cave.

    He started toward it, his steps steady despite the exhaustion that weighed on him.

    Just as he was about to step into the light, a figure appeared at the entrance, silhouetted against the brightness.

    A youngdy.

    He was startled though he didn''t show it but she appeared to be more startled than him.

    It was clear that she wasn''t expecting to meet anyone in the cave and she instinctively reached for her sword, but stopped when he stepped forward, revealing itself.

    "Who are you?" He asked after a brief moment of silence between them.

    She had long, white hair that flowed down her back, contrasting starkly against the ck clothing she wore.

    She had a stunning figure and ample racks that were pleasant to look at.

    An eyepatch covered her left eye, adding to her enigmatic appearance.

    She didn''t seem to be a threat, but he knew better than to let his guard down.

    The woman''s gaze swept over the cave before settling on him. A faint smile yed on her lips, one that didn''t quite reach her eyes.

    "Well done," she said, her voice smooth andced with amusement. "But you''re no Martial Artist."

    Neron''s brow furrowed at her words. "What do you mean?" he asked, trying to keep his tone even.

    She stepped closer, her movements graceful and deliberate. "You may carry a sword, but you fight like a Mage," she continued, her smile widening as she watched his reaction. "Deny it all you want, but I can see it in the way you move, the way you think."

    Neron''s grip on his sword tightened. "I''m no Mage," he replied, his voice firm. He wasn''t sure why he felt the need to deny it, but something about the way she spoke unnerved him.

    The woman chuckled softly, as if his denial only amused her further. "Is that so?" she said, tilting her head slightly as she regarded him.

    "Why deny what you are? It''s not something you can escape from, no matter how hard you try."

    Neron stared at her, unsure of what to say. Her words struck a chord, one that he didn''t want to acknowledge.

    "Who are you?" he asked, finally breaking the silence.

    The woman''s smile faded slightly, her expression bing more serious.

    "That''s not important," she said, turning to leave. "What''s important is that you figure out who you are, before it''s toote."

    With that, she walked past him and he watched her ass sway as she catwalked.

    He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He couldn''t dwell on that now.

    He hadpleted his quest, and it was time to return to the guild to im his reward.

    The road was long, but the thrill of his victory and the reward kept him energized.

    As much as he tried to ignore the strangedy''s observation, a small part of him wondered if she was right.

    As he walked, he tried to focus on the reward waiting for him at the guild. It wasn''t just about the money¡ªthough that would certainly help¡ªbut also the recognition.

    It waste afternoon by the time he arrived at the outskirts of the town.

    The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets.

    Neron passed by the familiar sights¡ªmarket stalls, smithies, and inns bustling with activity as townsfolk and adventurers went about their business.

    He could already see the guildhall in the distance, its tall wooden doors a weing sight.

    With that, Neron pushed open the doors to the guildhall and stepped inside.

    The familiar scent of wood and ale greeted him, along with the murmur of voices and the clinking of mugs.

    The hall was busy, adventurers of all kinds milling about¡ªsome celebrating victories, others nning their next quests.

    Neron made his way to the front desk, where the guild''s receptionist sat behind a tall counter.

    She looked up as he approached, her expression professional but with a hint of surprise.

    "Back already?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

    Neron nodded, pulling out the proof of his kill¡ªthe Wyrm''s scales, heavy and thick.

    He ced them on the counter, and her eyes widened slightly as she examined them.

    "Y-you killed them," she stuttered out.

    He nodded once to signify that he did.

    "Well, well," she said, her tone impressed. "You''ve outdone yourself this time. A nest of Wyrms? That''s quite the aplishment."

    Neron shrugged, trying to downy the whole thing. "Just another job," he said, though he couldn''t keep the satisfaction out of his voice.

    She chuckled as she recorded the details in her ledger. "Don''t sell yourself short¡ªthis will get you some serious recognition. And a hefty reward, too."

    She handed him a heavy pouch of coins, and Neron epted it with a nod of thanks.

    As he turned to leave, he spotted a familiar face watching him from across the room.

    "Well done Nero," Legris said standing up to meet him.

 Chapter 1383: Soaring reputation

    Neron was surprised to see the familiar face of Legris as it had been a while since he had seen the boy.

    "I didn''t know you were still around here," He said casually to Legris who was grinning from ear to ear as though he had seen his best friend or something.

    "Of course I am still around. You never just looked for me. Don''t tell me you took on the Wyrm cave solo and finished it? There were rumours of a certain masked man taking on the job so I figured it must be you."

    Neron shrugged like he had done nothing special, confirming Legris'' question.

    "Whew, that''s great, you''re one brave guy. I can tell you that."

    He acknowledged his praise with a nod. "Thanks. Just doing what needs to be done," he said, keeping his tone casual.

    "Who are your friends?" Neron said, his eyes lingering on some group of well dressed Adventurers seated to the far right end of the hall.

    He had noticed them from the moment he had first walked in and noticed that they were a bit different from the regr Adventurers there.

    Apart from the fact that they were better dressed, they also appeared to be seasoned Adventurers.

    It didn''t make them stiff and uptight as one would expect rather it was the opposite.

    They were a lively bunch and racousughter and banter punctuated their conversations.

    Though Legris hade from a different part of the hall, Neron noticed how their attention had been drawn when the boy had walked over to meet him.

    They weren''t hostile or curious looks but he glimpsed an air of familiarity from them towards Legris.

    Since then, there had been stylish and furtive nces in their direction the longer he and Legris talked.

    "You have an eye for detail" Legris said, clearly impressed by his observation.

    "Shouldn''t we all have it in this line of business?"

    "I figure. Anyway, they are my party members. We are about to go on a particrly dangerous dungeon expedition east from here. Have you heard of Scythe guild?" Legris asked and tutted when Neron said that he had not. "Well that''s the Guild I''m now partnered with. They''re one of the strongest in the entire kingdom with a high sess rate.

    They asked me to join them a day after the exams."

    The name sounded familiar to Neron and he was sure that they were one of the numerous guilds that had approached him too seeking to recruit him.

    "Good luck with that. It''s nice to see that you''re in safe hands after all. Your chances of sess are high. We''ll see some other time."

    "Where are you going to? Whates next after this?"

    "Nice question," He mused internally stopping in his tracks as he yed with the idea in his head. "I don''t know, myself."

    With a final nod to Legris, Neron turned and left the guildhall, fingering the gold pouch in his hands as he walked.

    As he stepped out into the evening air, he couldn''t help but wonder how functioning in a group permanently would feel like.

    He hated to admit it but being a lone ranger had a lot of cons as opposed to its pros.

    *

    *

    *

    A few months passed, and Neron''s reputation as Nero grew.

    He became known as a skilled and reliable adventurer, one who could be counted on to get the job done without fail.

    Though he asionally teamed up with others for specific tasks, he never fullymitted to joining a party or forming anysting alliances.

    His preference for working alone earned him a reputation as something of a lone wolf, though no one could deny his effectiveness.

    One evening, as he returned to the central guild hall after another sessful mission, he overheard a conversation that piqued his interest.

    A group of adventurers was huddled together, speaking in hushed tones about an uing expedition.

    "Did you hear?" one of them whispered. "Lord Alistair is organizing a dungeon expedition. They say he discovered a new dungeon in his territory, and is offering a huge reward to Adventurers willing to brave it."

    "Pfttt. You must be kidding. Sure you haven''t had too much to drink?" The man nearest to him said, dismissing what he said.

    Another adventurer nodded eagerly in support of the first man.

    "Yeah, he isn''t lying. I heard he''s paying top coin for anyone willing to brave the depths. It''s a newly discovered dungeon¡ªno one knows what''s in there, but there are rumors that the treasures are worthwhile."

    Neron listened closely, his curiosity growing.

    A noble organizing an expedition to a newly discovered dungeon?

    It was too tempting to ignore and he stood quietly, mulling over the conversation he had just overheard.

    The prospect of venturing into an uncharted dungeon, particrly one under the patronage of a noble, intrigued him.

    But there was an underlying tension that apanied the idea¡ªsomething that gnawed at the back of his mind.

    He stepped away from the huddled group of adventurers, finding a quiet corner of the guildhall where he could think.

    The thought of returning to a noble''s court, even for a mission as dangerous as this, brought a strange mix of emotions and he didn''t know if he could face that part of his past again

    His mind drifted to Serah, the one person he had left behind without exnation. She had been his closest confidante and he knew how hurt she would be.

    The thought of possibly encountering someone from his past, or worse, Serah herself, made him hesitate. What if they recognized and exposed him?

    The very idea sent a chill down his spine as he had worked hard to build his new identity.

    He figured that if he wanted to sever his past, he would have to confront it so he looked at the bright side.

    It was certain that he would advance to four stars if he went along with them though he knew that it would bring a lot of attention to him.

    Pushing himself off the wall, Neron headed back toward the group of adventurers who were still discussing the details of the expedition.

    "Count me in," he said, his voice firm with resolve.

 Chapter 1384: First Academy Break

    A carriage rumbled along a dusty cobblestone road, the wheels ttering rhythmically against the stones as it carried a young girl through the countryside.

    It was arge, ornate vehicle, its dark wooden panels adorned with gold trim, and the curtains in the windows were a deep burgundy, pulled back slightly to let in the warm afternoon sunlight.

    It was bespoke judging from the proud crest emzoned on the carriage doors.

    Serah Crimson, the girl inside was perched on a cushioned seat, her posture straight and elegant, though her gaze was enquiring and thoughtful in turns.

    "Can''t it go any faster," She yelled out to the driver who pretended not to hear her.

    He was frankly exasperated by the continuous yells from her every five minutes or so.

    "Hey, you''re not deaf, are you?" She said poking her head out the door this time, her red hair flying with the sudden wind that swirled around her.

    "S...sorry Miss, wh..at did youuuu say?" He said in breaks jostled by the movements of the horses who chose that moment to make a sharp turn.

    "GO FASTER!"

    He wanted to say that they were already going at a reasonable safe speed but knew how irrational she could be when angry.

    "Alright, I will."

    "You had better," She said, smacking her lips in distaste as she retreated back to her seat.

    She let out a sigh for the umpteenth time, tapping her foot in impatience as she began worrying.

    It was the first school break and she couldn''t wait to get home so she could find out clues of Neron''s whereabouts.

    Along with everyone at school, she had heard the rumours that Mordred Kaelid was dead.

    It had been a shock coupled with the disappearance of his son from school.

    Naturally, people that knew how close she was with Neron turned their attention to her and she had to feign ignorance about what was happening.

    She liked attention but not the kind that was now directed at her.

    She saw the suspicious nces and heard the whispers of students whenever she walked past them and it got on her nerves.

    Of course, nobody could say anything to her face because of her status but they didn''t hide what they thought about her.

    Not that she helped matters given how she snapped amgrily at the slightest provocation but in each case, she had thought her reaction justified.

    She was Serah Crimson after all.

    She had thought though that Neron woulde back for her after some time had passed and she has stayed up each night for the first few weeks after that only to be disappointed.

    She knew how hard the discovery of his father''s death must have affected him which was why she needed to be by his side.

    "I would give him a piece of my mind when I see him," she thought with a frown.

    She didn''t have any fear about his safety though as her rationale was summed up in four simple words.

    "Neron is the strongest."

    She was confident that he could protect himself if he was in a dangerous situation.

    The carriage slowed as it approached the edge of the woods, and Eveline caught a glimpse of her family estate in the distance.

    "About time."

    The carriage finally turned onto the gravel drive leading up to the estate grounds and she leaped out while it was still on the move.

    "I still have it," she muttered as she swayed slightly from the impact of her jump.

    It was something she always did which her parents told her off for as it was udylike.

    It only meant that she kept doing it though in their absence.

    She was relieved that she was finally home.

    Thete afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured gardens, and the smell of blooming roses filled the air.

    The manor''s familiar grandeur was a wee sight after her first term at the Academy.

    As she walked up the steps, the grand double doors swung open, revealing the manor''s staff lined up to greet her.

    As usual, her eyes roamed over them to see if they were looking less than perfect but they were all dressed immactely which impressed her.

    Regardless of whether they were staff or family, she expected perfection from people around the Crimson family.

    The head maid, Beatrice, curtsied deeply, her warm smile mirrored by the other servants.

    "Wee home, Lady Serah," Beatrice said, her voice full of genuine warmth.

    "It''s good to be back, Beatrice," Serah replied cooly. "Is Father in?"

    The head maid exchanged a brief nce with the butler, a tall man named Reginald who had served the family for as long as Serah could remember.

    He stepped forward, his expression polite but tinged with a hint of concern.

    "Your father is currently upied, Lady Serah," Reginald said with a bow. "He is in his study, attending to urgent business regarding the approval of a newly discovered dungeon on one of your rtives'' estates."

    Serah''s interest was piqued immediately. "A new dungeon? Where?"

    "In Lord Alistair''snds, mydy," Reginald answered. "The discovery is quite recent, and the dungeon is said to be rather unique. Your father has been in meetings all day with various officials, debating the approval process for exploration rights."

    Serah''s curiosity grew as she listened.

    The approval of such a site was no small matter, and the idea that this was happening so close to home filled her with a sense of anticipation.

    "Does Father have any reports on it yet?" Serah asked, leaning in slightly. "What''s so unique about this dungeon?"

    "I''m afraid the details are still under wraps, mydy," Reginald said, maintaining his professional demeanor. "However, your father will know more once the final reportse in."

    Serah''s mind raced with possibilities. This was far more interesting than anything she had encountered at the Academy and she had to know more at least to keep herself upied.

    "I''d like to see him anyway," Serah said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

    Reginald nodded knowing her well. "Very well, Lady Serah. I shall inform your father of your arrival and request an audience with him."

    As the butler departed to deliver the message, Serah turned back to Beatrice. "What do you make of all this, Bea? Have you heard anything?"

    Beatrice shook her head gently. "Only rumors, mydy. But knowing your father, he''ll have the situation well in hand. I''m sure he''ll fill you in on the details soon enough."

    "Tell me everything you know. Rumours and all."

 Chapter 1385: One Last Mission

    As the day of the expedition drew closer, the adventurers of the city buzzed with anticipation.

    Many had already packed their gear and left for the noble''s estate, eager to be among the first to explore  the new dungeon.

    Despite people urging him to hurry there, Neron, however, wasn''t quite ready to leave yet.

    He knew that it didn''t matter if he went there early or not. What mattered at the end was the result in the dungeon so there was no need to go early to make a good first impression.

    The main reason he stayed back though was because he  wanted toplete one more mission before he set off.

    He was out to make more money as his finance had dwindled.

    His only hope was the Guild''s money as usual which was where he was heading to.

    The morning air was chill as he made his way down the empty streets that was just starting to rise.

    As he approached the central Guild hall, he could see that the ce was quiet than usual with only few people around.

    He wasn''t surprised as that had been the case for some time and Adventurers were getting more scarce around.

    Neron considered it a wee development to the racous atmosphere that usually permeated the ce.

    Stepping into the guildhall, Neron scanned the mission board. Most of the quests left were low-level jobs, hardly worth his time with miserly pay.

    He needed something substantial enough that involved risk with a fair pay.

    "Nero, still not gone yet?"

    Without turning around, he could tell that it was the receptionist.

    "Yes, I want to do one more job," He said in exasperation as she made it her point of duty whenever he came in to remind him that he should already be in the new dungeon with the rest of the adventurers.

    "You know they could really use your help there now," she said not giving up as she dusted a set of cups.

    "I know, I will go there soon."

    "You been saying that for a while now."

    He didn''t respond to her but instead focused back on the mission board.

    Neron''s eyes scanned the mission board again, finallynding on a quest that caught his interest: a mission involving a group of dangerous monsters terrorizing a nearby vige.

    The reward was significant, but the task required a party. The notice was clear: *"Solo adventurers not rmended."*

    Neron frowned, tapping his finger against the board. He was confident in his abilities, but even he knew there were limits to what he could handle alone.

    These monsters were not something to be taken lightly. The mission would require coordination and teamwork¡ªsomething he usually avoided.

    Still, the reward was tempting, and he briefly considered taking it on despite the risks.

    As he deliberated, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

    "Thinking about taking that one on by yourself, Nero?" Legris asked with a grin, approaching with two of his party members in tow.

    As usual, hispanions looked like seasoned adventurers, their well-worn armor and confident postures marking them as experienced.

    Neron turned to face them, his expression neutral. "I was considering it. The reward''s worth the risk."

    One of Legris''panions, a tall woman with a scar running down her cheek, chuckled. "Soloing that job? You''ve got guts, I''ll give you that. But even the most skilled adventurers need backup against those beasts."

    Neron nodded, acknowledging the truth in her words. "I know. But I''m not exactly the ''teamwork'' type."

    Legrisughed, pping him on the shoulder. "That''s what we''re here for! Why not join us for this one? We could use someone with your skills, and it''ll give you a chance to warm up before the big expedition."

    Neron hesitated as he nced at Legris and hispanions, weighing the offer.

    Their party seemed capable, and with some of their members already gone ahead to the dungeon site, it made sense that they''d be looking for additional help.

    Still, the idea of relying on others didn''t sit well with him. He had built his reputation on being self-sufficient, handling things his way.

    But this wasn''t the time to let pride get in the way of practicality.

    Legris, noticing his hesitation, spoke up again. "I know you prefer working solo, but trust me¡ªthese beasts are no joke. The more experienced hands we have, the better our chances."

    The tall woman with the scar nodded. "It''s not just about survival, either. If we pull this off, it''ll be a good payday. And you can head to the dungeon with some extra coin in your pocket."

    Neron looked at the mission details once more. The vige was desperate for help, and the monsters'' growing numbers made them a significant threat.

    This wasn''t just about earning money anymore; it was about proving that he could handle a real challenge, even if it meant temporarily teaming up with others.

    "What''s your n?" Neron asked, his tone signaling that he was considering their offer seriously.

    Legris smiled, clearly pleased that Neron wasing around. "We''ll head out tomorrow at first light. The vige is about half a day''s travel from here. We''ve already scouted the area, and we know the beasts'' general location. They''ve made a den near the edge of the forest, close to where the vigers used to gather firewood. We''ll lure them out into the open and take them down one by one.

    With your skills, we should be able to handle them before they get too close."

    The archer, who had remained silent until now, chimed in. "We''ve got ranged attacks covered, and Lira here can handle defense. But we could use someone on the frontlines¡ªsomeone who can go toe-to-toe with these monsters without flinching."

    Neron considered their n. It was solid, and with the right coordination, they could minimize the risks. He could see himself fitting into their strategy, using his swordsmanship to draw the monsters'' attention while the others supported him from a distance.

    "Alright," Neron finally said. "I''m in. But let''s be clear¡ªthis is temporary. Once this mission is done, I''m heading to the dungeon on my own."

    Legris grinned, extending his hand. "Deal. We''re d to have you with us, even if it''s just for this job."

    Neron shook his hand, sealing the agreement. As they discussed the final details and prepared for the mission, he couldn''t help but feel a slight shift in his usual approach.

    They will face the monsters together. And after that, the dungeon awaited.

 Chapter 1386: Den Of Wolves

    As the group finalized their ns, Legris introduced hispanions more formally.

    "This is Lira," he said, nodding toward the tall woman with the scar. "She''s our frontline defender, best at blocking attacks and holding the line."

    Lira gave Neron a curt nod, her sharp eyes assessing him with the gaze of a seasoned warrior.

    "And this is Aldric," Legris continued, gesturing to the archer. Aldric was a lean man with sharp features, his bow slung casually over his shoulder.

    He gave Neron a half-smile. "I''m the one who''ll be keeping the monsters at bay from a distance. Good to have you on board."

    Neron returned their nods, keeping his expression neutral. He appreciated their skills, but he wasn''t here to make friends. This was a job, nothing more.

    Legris seemed to pick up on Neron''s cold demeanor but didn''t let it deter him. "Don''t worry," he said with a grin, "I vouched for you. They trust my judgment."

    Neron simply shrugged. "Let''s just get this over with."

    Legris chuckled, sensing Neron''s desire to keep things professional. "Fair enough. We''ll meet at the gates at dawn. Get some rest tonight. We''ll need our wits about us."

    The next morning, the group gathered at the city gates as nned. The air was crisp, the sun barely peeking over the horizon as they set off toward the vige. The journey was mostly quiet, each of them focused on the task ahead.

    By midday, they reached the outskirts of the vige. It was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of daily life absent as the vigers had taken shelter, fearing another attack from the monsters.

    "Thank you foring!"

    A couple of them shouted from the safety of their homes as they spotted the Adventurers that hade to help them.

    The group waved back at them as they quickly moved into the forest where Legris led them toward the creatures'' den.

    As they neared their, Neron noted the signs of destruction¡ªthe broken branches, the deep w marks on the trees.

    These weren''t ordinary monsters; they were vicious, territorial beasts that had made this ce their own.

    "What do you reckon the beasts to be?" Legris asked Neron as they studied the scene.

    "Couldn''t guess if my life depended on it. It could be a number of things so I''m reluctant to say. We should just keep an open mind, I think."

    "Sounds fair enough."

    "Alright," Legris said, his voice low as they stopped just outside the clearing. "We''ll move in slowly and take up our positions. Neron, you''ll be up front with Lira. Aldric and I will cover from the back."

    Neron nodded, drawing his sword. He could feel the weight of the de in his hand, the familiar sense of focus settling over him.

    This was where he thrived and felt alive¡ªin the heat of battle, where every move counted.

    They moved into position, silently surrounding the den. The beasts were inside, unaware of their presence¡ªfor now.

    FWEEP!

    Legris gave a shrill whistle with his lips which was the signal for them tounch their ambush.

    ~VWUSHHHHHHH!!!~

    Neron charged forward, his sword shing as he dived into the dark den.

    Despite the low lighting, he could see quite well and he struck the first beast that lunged at him.

    ~SLICEEEE~

    It was a massive, wolf-like creature with razor-sharp fangs, but Neron met it head-on, his de cutting through its hide with precision.

    If fell heavily to the ground with a loud thud as its tongue lolled out signifying that it had met his end.

    Lira was beside him, her shield raised to block another creature''s attack.

    It was unlike the dungeons that they previously fought in that it wasn''t spacious making it a tight squeeze to fight in.

    They had to be careful because of the possibility of knocking themselves out on the walls of the den.

    Though it wasn''t high, the den was quite long getting more narrow the further it went in so they stayed by the entrance awaiting the various monsters that came at them.

    ~FWOOSHHHHHH!!!~

    Aldric''s arrows flew past them, finding their marks in the beasts'' vulnerable spots.

    Under the assault that rained down on them, the monsters quickly learned their lesson and attacked cautiously.

    The fight was intense but in the long run, their coordination paid off.

    The number of the monsters dwindled down giving them time to rest in between.

    Lira''s shield held firm, deflecting the monsters'' attacks long enough for Neron to counterstrike.

    Legris and Aldric picked off the ones that tried to nk them, theirbined power keeping the situation under control.

    It wasn''t long before thest of the creatures fell, its body copsing in a heap at Neron''s feet.

    He stood there for a moment, catching his breath, his sword still in hand.

    The clearing was silent now, the only sound was the distant rustling of leaves.

    "Well done," Legris said, pping Neron on the back. "That was smooth¡ªno casualties, no close calls. Just how I like it."

    Lira nodded in agreement, though her expression remained serious. "You handled yourself well, Neron. We make a pretty good team, don''t you think?"

    Neron sheathed his sword, his face still set in its usual calm, detached expression. "It was a good n," he replied simply. "But like I said, this was a one-time thing."

    Legrisughed, clearly unfazed by Neron''s cool demeanor. "No worries. But if you ever change your mind about working solo, you know where to find us."

    Neron just gave a small nod, his mind already shifting to the next challenge¡ªthe dungeon.

    Legris had a habit of showing up at opportune times so he was sure he would find him if it ever came to that.

    This mission had been a sess, but the real test awaited him. He''d gotten what he needed¡ªa solid payday and a reminder of what it took to survive in this line of work.

    "Let''s go receive our payment, don''t you think? I need to be on my way already," He said to the rest of them.

    "As do the rest of us too. Lead the way," Lira said, making way for him.

    They filed out of the den to the praises of the vigers who took Neron for the team leader.

    "Damnit¡­" He muttered as he began to protest.

 Chapter 1387: Boss of the Wolves

    "Damnit¡­" Neron hissed, slightly irritated at the fuss the vigers were making.

    He was ustomed to slipping away unnoticed after a job.

    It was annoying especially as he wasn''t the leader they thought he was¡ªjust a man trying to survive.

    "We''ll collect the payment, and then part ways," Neron said, turning to Legris and the others.

    His voice carried a finality that left no room for argument.

    Legris nodded, but there was a gleam in his eye as if he wasn''t quite ready to let Neron slip away just yet.

    "Sure thing. But first, let''s harvest some parts. These beasts'' hides and ws will fetch a good price on the market."

    "Pfttt, alright let''s be fast about it," Neron said, sounding impatient but secretly liking the idea.

    He couldn''t afford to turn down the chance of making more money given his financial predicament.

    While he was upied with estimating the profits from the parts, he missed the knowing look Legris exchanged with the rest of his team as they moved back into the den.

    It was a calcted move on Legris part.

    He knew that he had to appeal to Neron''s self interest rather than his mercy if he wanted him to stay longer.

    "I think we should break up into pairs and go to different parts of the cave to harvest these parts," He said to his mates as they surveyed the carnage they had caused.

    "Aldric,e with me. We will take the left part of the cave," Lira said taking the hint as she dragged off her partner who was looking lost.

    She knew fully well that Legris had an interest in Nero and wanted privacy to talk with him better.

    She didn''t mind since she didn''t want to be stuck with a brooding Adventurer no matter how skilled he was.

    She knew Aldric was rather dense in sensitive matters like that which was why she dragged him off before he prolonged the issue or said the wrong thing.

    Legris and Neron watched them until they were out of earshot.

    "Those two. I guess that leaves me with you. We will start up here."

    Without answering, Neron lowered himself to a squat and carefully started extracting the valuableponents from the fallen creatures.

    The atmosphere was calm and he enjoyed the routine as his hands moved quickly with efficiency.

    Besides him, Legris was distracted as he was wondering how to open up the conversation.

    After several minutes of silence, he decided to cut straight to the matter.

    "You''re really something, you know that? Don''t think I''ve ever seen anyone handle a sword like you do."

    Neron didn''t look up as he was upied with removing the fangs from one of the beasts. "We are not going down this route again, are we? I''m not interested in small talk, Legris."

    Legris chuckled softly, not deterred by the cold reply. "I''m just saying, you''ve got a lot of skill. It''s a shame you prefer to work alone."

    Neron stopped what he was doing and finally met Legris''s gaze, his eyes hard through the mask. "I work alone for a reason."

    Legris raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what''s that? We made a good team today. There''s strength in numbers, you know."

    "Numbers don''t mean anything if the people around you end up dead," Neron said, his voice cold. "Everyone who gets close to me¡ªends up dead or worse. I''m not dragging anyone else down with me."

    Legris opened his mouth to respond, but Neron cut him off before he could go on. "Stay away from me, Legris. Whatever you think you saw today, it doesn''t change anything. I don''t want friends. I don''t need them."

    Legris frowned, his usual easygoing  face reced by something more serious. "Look, Neron, whatever happened in your past¡ªit wasn''t your fault. We all have things we''ve lost but that doesn''t mean we have to shut ourselves off from everyone. Besides, I''m fully capable of taking care of myself. You''ve seen me fight so you know I''m not dead weight."

    Neron turned away, his expression unreadable. "I''ve survived this long on my own, and I n to keep it that way. Besides, you don''t know anything about me."

    Before Legris could respond, a low, rumbling growl echoed through the cave.

    Both men froze, their instincts kicking in immediately as their hands immediately went to their weapons.

    "Did you hear that?" Legris asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

    Neron nodded, his eyes scanning the direction he had heard it from which was the opposite path of where the others had gone. "We''re not alone."

    "I thought we finished them all."

    "Now it''s clear that we didn''t. I knew it was suspicious back then when we didn''t encounter the boss of the dungeon. As a principle, every dungeon has one."

    "Of course I knew that. What do you think? You want to go and check it out?" Legris asked, slightly pissed at the condescending tone Nero used talking to him.

    "What of Lira and Aldric?"

    "They are too far away to help. It''s just you and me. We will be back before they notice."

    Legris didn''t miss the fact that Nero was concerned about the welfare of the others even though he was capable of handling it on his own but he chose to let the detail slide.

    "If you say so," Nero said, getting to his feet as they both headed in the direction of the beast.

    The cave smelt awful and the lighting grew poorer the further they went in.

    They could hear the beast thrashing about though which gave them a fair knowledge of how close they were to it.

    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH~

    Without warning, something big lunged at them out of the darkness.

    Neron pushed Legris to the side and it flew past both of them, missing them by an inch.

    It is very fast. its eyes glowing with a predatory hunger.

    Legris was still at a loss as to what had happened.

    He turned quickly when he heard an angry growl behind him and made out the form of a beast.

    It wasrger than the other wolves they had faced¡ªeasily thrice the size¡ªwith thick, matted fur and a set of jaws that could crush steel.

    He suddenly realized that the noise earlier had been a feint to deceive them on its location.

    The beast was actually very fast and would have had him if Neron hadn''t heard iting before he did.

    "Boss Monster," Neron hissed, drawing his sword. "Get ready."

    Legris quickly drew his own weapon, his earlier conversation with Neron forgotten in the face of the immediate danger.

 Chapter 1388: Breaking Away

    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH~

    The Boss lunged at them once more, its massive ws slicing the air with deadly speed.

    ~CLANGGGG!!!~

    Neron met the attack head-on, his sword shing with the creature''s ws in a shower of sparks.

    They held the position for some time with no one conceding.

    Seeing the opportunity, Legris rushed forward for a sneak attack, seizing the chance to inflict damage while it was locked with Neron.

    ~POWWWWWWWW~

    "Oof¡­" Legris gasped as he was sent flying by a powerful kick from the Boss'' rear leg.

    His flight was halted by the cave wall and he crashed down heavily on his side.

    In the meantime, Neron saw an opening as the Boss had faltered when he kicked Legris.

    ~SWISHHHHHHHH!!!~

    His sword sliced upwards at the Boss neck which was its weakest spot.

    GUARKKK!!!

    It let out with an angry bellow as it spurted blood.

    It quickly backed away from Neron and was now wary of him.

    Neron stood still as the beast circled him, waiting for it to strike. Knowing the weak spot hadnt been difficult for him since he could see mana.

    He had noticed that the flow of mana was weakest at the neck region.

    The beast hide was mana coated which made it stronger than the other wolves in addition to its size and speed.

    Though it was an intelligent creature, it didn''t mean it could control the mana it possessed, the mana was just an instion against attacks.

    "You''re alright?" Neron asked Legris who picked himself from where he was and came to his side.

    "Yeah. I just got the wind knocked out of me but I''m fine. I see you did some damage already."

    "Don''t be obliged not to use magic because I don''t use it," Neron ordered, tightening his grip on his sword. "This thing won''t go down easily so give it your best."

    Legris nodded, adjusting his stance as he prepared for the attack. Despite the tension between them, he trusted Neron''s instincts.

    Neron moved first, his sword shing in the dim light as he shed at the creature''s side.

    The beast howled in pain but twisted mid-air, swiping at Neron with its massive ws.

    He dodged, rolling to the side, but the force of the swipe still sent him skidding across the rough cave floor.

    For the second time, Legris tried to seize the opportunity to strike at the beast''s exposed side.

    This time his de connected but unfortunately bounced off the fur.

    It barely slowed the creature down and it now turned on him, jaws snapping to rip Legris.

    "Move!" Neron shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

    Legris barely managed to duck as the creature''s jaws closed where his head had been a second earlier.

    He retaliated with a quick sh, but the beast was already moving again, faster than he anticipated.

    "The fur is tougher than it looks!" Legris called out, trying to draw the monster''s attention away from Neron.

    "Legris!" Neron barked, an idea forming in his mind. "When ites at you again, fall back, but leave an opening!"

    "What? Are you crazy?" Legris shouted back, narrowly avoiding another swipe of the beast''s ws.

    "Just do it!" Neron insisted, already positioning himself for the next attack.

    Legris hesitated for a fraction of a second, but he trusted Neron''s instincts more than his own doubts.

    As the beast charged at him once more, he feigned a retreat, deliberately slowing his movements.

    The beast, sensing weakness, lunged for the kill.

    In that moment, Neron moved with blinding speed. He closed the distance between himself and the creature in an instant, his sword shing as he aimed for the beast''s exposed throat.

    The de found its mark and sliced through the flesh and bone with a sickening crunch.

    GUARKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

    The creature''s momentum carried it forward, crashing to the ground with a final, desperate howl.

    It twitched once, theny still, blood pooling around its massive form.

    Legris, breathing heavily, stared at the fallen beast in disbelief. "We¡­ we did it."

    Neron didn''t respond immediately, his eyes still locked on the creature, his chest heaving with exertion.

    "Yeah," Neron said quietly. "If you say so."

    Legris, oblivious to Neron''s inner turmoil, smiled faintly. "I told you we make a good team."

    Neron''s jaw tightened, his earlier resolve hardening into cold steel. "This is exactly why I work alone, you came close to dying more than once," he muttered, more to himself than to Legris.

    Before Legris could say anything more, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the cave heading in their direction.

    Lira and Aldric emerged from the opening, their eyes widening as they took in the scene before them¡ªthe massive beast lying dead at Neron''s feet.

    "What the hell happened here?" Lira asked, her voice a small whisper as she approached cautiously.

    Neron sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "Boss Monster. We took care of it."

    Aldric knelt beside the beast, inspecting the kill with a low whistle. "Damn, this''ll fetch a good price. The core alone is worth a fortune."

    Lira nodded in agreement, her gaze flicking to Neron with respect. "You saved our hides again, Neron. We owe you."

    Neron shook his head, dismissing the gratitude with a wave of his hand. "Just take what you need and let''s get out of here. I have somewherw else to be."

    "Legris, are you alright? You''ve been awfully quiet since we arrived," Lira asked, turning to him.

    "Yes I am. Just a slight headache. Are you done harvesting the wolves parts?"

    "Yes we finished a while back. We waited for you two till we heard themotion so we came to check it out."

    Neron stepped back from the group as they chattered, his mind already far from what he had done.

    He watched them for a moment, a mixture of relief and regret swirling in his chest.

    This was exactly what he feared¡ªgetting too close and too involved with people. One misstep, and it could all end in tragedy.

    The sooner they  were back on the road, the better.

    He was already distancing himself, preparing to leave them as soon as they returned to the Guild.

 Chapter 1389: Painful Parting

    It waste in the evening by the time Neron and the others arrived at the Guild.

    He had kept his distance on the road while Legris and the other two talked andughed nonstop.

    They were a curious bunch indeed as they had sung some bawdy songs lousily while urging Neron to join them.

    He had told them off for drawing attention to the group but they were having none of it and instead raised their voices the more.

    He thought that the weight of their spoils which they evenly carried was enough to keep them quiet but he was wrong.

    It was clear that the thrill of victory was still coursing through their veins, but Neron felt none of it.

    He wondered how any of them could still manage to be light hearted.

    He heaved a deep sigh of relief when he finally spotted the Guild''s building.

    He quickened his pace, eager to leave the noise of the road behind him.

    He couldn''t admit it to the rest of them but he was actually tired¡ªnot just physically, but mentally.

    The mission had drained him more than he cared to admit.

    A wave of warmth washed over Neron as he stepped inside the Guild building. Surprisingly, he felt at home whenever he was around the ce.

    As he and hispanions entered, a few heads turned, but most of the people paid them little mind.

    There were few people seated as many of the Adventurers were away on the special  dungeon quest.

    As usual, the receptionist beamed immediately as she saw Nero and the others.

    "Nero," She said in a singsong falsetto voice drawn out for their benefit. "I take it your mission was sessful?"

    "You could say that," He said with a sigh as he dropped the spoils in front of her. "I don''t know about the rest of them but I''m parched right now, I could really do with a drink."

    The receptionist''s eyes widened as she opened the bag and saw the contents.

    Besides him, the rest of the group also dropped their bags in front of her.

    The receptionist was momentarily stunned and was just staring at the bags as she whistled in surprise.

    Nero rapped his knuckles against the counter to grab her attention once more.

    "Alright sure, I''m getting the drinks right away. You guys really went all out to get these, I can''t wait to hear your stories," She said, holding up the Boss Monster''s core and petting it lovingly across her bosom.

    "We will regale you with thoseter but first, make those four sses. The rest of us could do with your famous ale too," Legris said plopping down beside Neron.

    "Sure thing," She replied with a beam as she began pouring the drinks.

    They made small talk and drank while she calcted the profits.

    She made it clear to them that it was a rare find and gave them a hefty sum. The group divided the earnings, but Neron barely looked at his share.

    "Well, that''s a good day''s work," Aldric said with a grin, patting Legris on the back. "We should celebrate tonight!"

    "Definitely," Lira agreed. "But first, Neron, we need to talk."

    Neron''s gaze flickered to her, his expression guarded. "About what?"

    Lira hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "We want you to join us. On a more permanent basis."

    Aldric nodded, his expression serious now. "We''ve got a big expeditioning up¡ªa Dungeon that no one''s been able to clear yet. We need someone like you on our team, Neron. You''re the best fighter we''ve ever worked with, and with you, we can actually do this."

    Legris, who had been quiet since the fight, finally spoke up. "We''ll split the rewards fairly, and we''ll watch each other''s backs. You saw how well we worked together back there. Imagine what we could achieve if we weren''t just a temporary team."

    Neron felt the weight of their words, but his decision had already been made. He shook his head slowly. "I appreciate the offer, but I can''t."

    "Can''t or won''t?" Lira asked, a hint of frustration in her voice. "You''re always like this, Neron. You push people away, even when it''s clear we''d all be better off together."

    Neron''s gaze hardened. "I work alone for a reason. Today proved it¡ªLegris almost died because he was trying to keep up with me. That''s on me."

    "Or maybe it shows that we can survive anything if we work together," Legris countered. "You saved me, Neron. We saved each other."

    Neron looked at each of them in turn, seeing the sincerity in their eyes. But the fear of losing them, of failing them when they needed him most, gnawed at him.

    "I''m leaving the city today," he said quietly. "There are things I need to do, and they don''t involve anyone else. You''re good people, but this is where we part ways."

    Lira stepped forward, her eyes pleading. "Neron, you don''t have to do this alone. Whatever it is you''re after, let us help."

    But Neron had already turned away, his mind made up. "Take care of yourselves. The road ahead is dangerous."

    Without another word, he walked out of the Guild, leaving the stunned group behind.

    As he stepped onto the streets of the city, the sun was already setting, casting long shadows across the city.

    Neron didn''t look back, even as he heard Lira''s voice calling out to him onest time.

    It was a painful thing even for him to do but it reminded him of someone he would rather forget.

    The world outside the city walls beckoned, a vast and unforgiving expanse that mirrored the emptiness he felt inside.

    He had a mission, one that only he couldplete, and no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn''t afford to let anyone else get involved.

    As he passed through the city gates and into the wilderness beyond, Neron felt the familiar weight of solitude settle over him.

    "With time I will be fine on my own," He whispered to himself but even he had to admit that it sounded hollow.

 Chapter 1390: A Familiar Figure

    A few days had passed since Neron left the Guild and hispanions behind.

    He had been staying at a cheap inn during those days while waiting for the day of the expedition.

    He had picked the closest inn he could find around the vicinity of the dungeon so he wouldn''t bete on the day.

    As he walked down to the spot, he appreciated the smart decision on his part by picking a close ce to stay.

    Although it was cold and drizzling, it didn''t stop the Adventurers from showing up.

    He could see a whole throng of them gathered around the entrance.

    There were so many of them that he estimated that there were at least 400 people present.

    Even as he approached, he could see the size swelling rapidly by the minute.

    "Pfttt. A lot of them are sure to die here," He muttered to himself, surprised at how many people wanted a piece of the pie the dungeon promised to offer, not caring if they werepetent enough.

    He couldn''t even see the entrance due to the people obstructing his view but he knew that it was currently locked until the time set by the officials.

    They were currently waiting on the grounds of a spacious vi. The beautiful scenery around the ce bellied the grim and dark mission that they were on.

    His arrival went unnoticed by most as he was just another warrior among many of them. But he preferred it that way.

    If he had a choice, he would have done away with the mask altogether. It was the only thing drawing people''s attention to him especially as they were all without masks.

    He stood out as a sore thumb and he heard the whispers around him.

    The mask added to his appeal and mystery. For some reason, even the people that didn''t know him immediately thought he was powerful.

    They associated mystery with power and gave him his due respect.

    After a while to the relief of Nero, they turned their attention to something else.

    Some of them were sharpening their weapons while others were casting protective spells, a few of them exchangedst-minute strategies with themselves.

    It was a noisy environment that grew worse as time went.

    Tired of waiting in the back, he pushed through the crowd, his eyes not making contact with any of the faces around him.

    These were seasoned fighters, skilled mages, and cunning rogues¡ªeach one hoping to be the first to conquer the Dungeon and im the treasures hidden within.

    As he neared the entrance, a sh of movement from someone at his right caught his eye.

    A figure in a hooded cloak was making their way toward the Dungeon door.

    From the slim and busty figure, it was ady.

    Something about her seemed familiar, and he struggled to get a better look at her.

    She stumbled at the gate and then her hood slipped back slightly, revealing a cascade of fiery red hair.

    Neron''s heart skipped a beat. That hair¡ª it was burned into his mind. It couldn''t be her¡­ could it?

    The girl disappeared through the gate as the guards ushered her in before Neron could call out to her.

    He stood frozen for a moment, the image of her vivid red hair stuck in his head.

    The murmurs of the crowd faded into the background as his thoughts consumed him.

    He couldn''t bring himself to admit that it was her after all, he reasoned that she wasn''t the only redhead in the kingdom.

    Neron shook his head, forcing himself to focus as he couldn''t afford distractions when he was close to beginning a mission in the dungeon.

    At the same time he knew that he wouldn''t rest until he was absolutely sure that if wasn''t her.

    He just had to know for the sake of knowing and his peace of mind.

    He decided that it was time to use the trump card he had over the rest of theothers.

    The knowledge of the vi.

    He couldn''t remember the name of the owners but he recognised the fact that he wasn''t seeing it for the first time.

    He had infact visited the ce back when he was much younger and with no other person than Serah.

    They had explored and yed on the grounds then.

    He faintly remembered there being another entrance into the ce at the other side of the vi.

    He turned backed and pushed his way to the back of the crowd.

    He made sure attention wasn''t on him before he slipped around the ce.

    The sounds of the rowdy Adventurers faded away, reced by the natural sounds of nature as the ce was grassy.

    Neron moved with caution as for some reasons he felt that he had been followed despite his precautions.

    His senses was alert to every sound he heard around him as there was little he could do until whoever it was showed themselves.

    The path ahead forked into three different directions. Neron paused, considering his options.

    He couldn''t remember which was which and decided to go with his instincts.

    The left tunnel was narrow and steep, descending into the earth.

    The middle one was wider but sloped upward, with a faint draft indicating an exit of some sort.

    The right tunnel was the darkest, with the sound of rushing water echoing from its depths.

    Neron chose the right path just because it felt right.

    He moved carefully, the sound of water growing louder with each step.

    The tunnel opened up into a cavern, a massive undergroundke stretching out before him.

    The water was ck as ink, its surface broken only by jagged rocks jutting out.

    As he stood on the edge of the cavern, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up once more. He wasn''t alone.

    A soft footfall echoed behind him, and Neron whirled around, sword drawn. But there was no one there.

    He exhaled slowly, lowering his weapon. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the feeling of being watched was hard to shake.

    He hated feeling jumpy.

    He turned back to theke, scanning its surface for any signs of movement. The cavern was still, the only sound the gentlepping of water against the rocks.

    BONG!

    BONGG!!

    BONGGG!!!

    The sudden noise startled him as it seemed toe from all around the ce.

    "Shit¡­" He muttered as he recovered himself and suddenly realized what it meant.

    It was the sound of the gong and he turned back to join the crowd.

    It was time for the Dungeon exploration.

 Chapter 1391: The Nobles Representative

    Neron hurried back through the tunnel, his boots sshing lightly in the puddles of water that had collected on the dirty ground.

    The gong''s echoes still rang in his ears, urging him to pick up his pace.

    His journey to the tunnel had been fruitless¡ªhe couldn''t find a way in and there was no sign of Serah either.

    He was just left with the unsettling feeling of being watched and he hoped that he hadn''t missed any important thing happening at the entrance.

    As he came out of the tunnel and made his way back to the entrance, he was relieved to see the mass of Adventurers still gathered outside.

    They had organized themselves into two queues as they prepared to file into the vi.

    It was a rowdy spectacle though as the Adventurers didn''t take kindly to the guards trying to organize them and there were ripples of murmurs spreading across the crowd.

    He thought he spotted Legris and his team ahead of him and he ducked his head out of sight quickly out of reflex.

    He didn''t want to see them if he could help it.

    Leaving them was already awkward enough and he didn''t want to have to make it up to them by allowing them tag along with him in the dungeon.

    To be on the safe side though, he took some steps back skirting around the edges of the group till he was at the front of the queue far from them.

    He tried to blend into his new environment as much as his masked appearance allowed.

    As a result, he was one of the first people to go through the entrance.

    As he got in, he found himself in the inner garden of the vi where the dungeon had spawned.

    There wasn''t much time for sightseeing before he was quickly ushered in by the numerous guards on standby.

    As he stepped through the threshold, he was immediately struck by how the temperature rose¡ªit suddenly became hotter and the air much denser to breathe in.

    It was a sharp contrast to the cool morning air outside but it was to be expected as it was a dungeon.

    He didn''t spend long in it before he concluded that the Dungeon paths were designed to disorient and confuse.

    He could already see some of the other Adventurers struggling to choose which way to go.

    On his part, he noticed arrows on the floor that indicated the directions to take.

    It was with the help of the ming torches on the wall that he saw them and he called back some of the Adventurers who had branched off to other paths out of confusion.

    The passageway finally opened up into a massive chamber¡ªthe Ground Floor of the Dungeon.

    "Finally," someone said from the crowd and the rest of them also heaved a sigh of relief happy that they had finally arrived.

    They were already people waiting for them prior to their arrival.

    While they were still talking, one of the men among them stepped forward, drawing everyone''s attention.

    He was tall and imposing and dressed in an expensive looking robe that marked him as someone of high status.

    His presencemanded respect, and even those who didn''t know him recognized the power he wielded even before he opened his mouth.

    He was the Noble''s representative, the one ced in charge of them to oversee their expedition.

    "Adventurers!" the man''s voice boomed across the gathering. "You stand on the threshold of a great opportunity.

    His voice was rich and sonorous for his age and it stirred the hearts of the Adventurers that heard him.

    Within this Dungeon lies treasure beyond your wildest dreams, but make no mistake¡ªdanger lurks in every shadow. Only the strong and the clever will survive."

    The crowd murmured in response, a mix of excitement and apprehension rippling through them.

    Neron let out a yawn as the man continued talking. He wasn''t moved by him at all as he found the words clich¨¦d and artificial.

    "As you know," the representative continued, "the Noble''s Estate has a vested interest in this Dungeon. You are free to im whatever riches you find along the way, but the ultimate treasure at the Dungeon''s depths belongs to the Estate. That is non-negotiable."

    Neron could feel the tension in the air. No one dared to challenge the nobleman''s decree, but he knew there were many among the crowd who were already scheming and thinking of ways to keep the most valuable treasure for themselves.

    He knew though that there had to be a countermeasure in ce for that and the Adventurer would be busted and stripped of his rank if caught.

    The Dungeon''s dangers were one thing, but the greed and selfishness of the Adventurers around him could prove just as deadly.

    "This barrier will remain in ce until everyone is inside. Once it drops, the Dungeon will seal itself, and there will be no turning back. You have onest chance to back out until you''re done. Those who enter must be prepared for anything."

    Neron nced around, noting the determined expressions on the faces of those around him.

    No one seemed to be backing out¡ªif anything, they were more eager than ever.

    He took a deep breath, his thoughts briefly shing back to thedy with red hair he had seen earlier.

    If it was her, and if she was somewhere in the Dungeon already, he had to find out why.

    The barrier flickered, then vanished, and the massive gate fully opened.

    The Noble''s representative gave his parting shot and Nero had to hold his tongue back from saying something scathing.

    He honestly thought that the old man just liked hearing the sound of his voice.

    "This is where your journey begins," he said, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "From this point forward, you will encounter challenges designed to test your skills. Stay safe. The deeper you go, the closer youe to the prize."

    He paused, letting his words sink in. "When you are ready, go in. The Dungeon will be conquered by those who are worthy."

 Chapter 1392: Confronting the Fairy

    "When you are ready, go in. The Dungeon will be conquered by those who are worthy."

    "What a load of bollocks," Neron said to himself at the man''s parting words which he still found cringe.

    The atmosphere of the ce was charged though as the Adventurers were impatient to get on with it.

    Inadvertently, the Noble had given them the finders keepers mindset so they were anxious to go further into the Dungeon.

    They shifted from each other as everyone wanted to go about it on their own so they wouldn''t have to worry about dividing the spoils.

    Just as the batch in front pressed forward, a high-pitched, melodic voice rang through the walls, halting them in their tracks.

    "Hold, trespassers!"

    The voice echoed from above, though nobody saw where it came from.

    Confusion swept through the crowd and some of the Adventurers stretched their necks to see better while others automatically tightened their grips on their weapons.

    Neron''s attention was caught too but his eyes were sharper than the rest of the Adventurers.

    He spotted the faint shimmer of wings descending from the ceiling before anyone else did.

    The figure finally revealed itself¡ªa small creature norger than a man''s head hovering above the heads of the Adventurers.

    He had a child-like face which made him seem delicate and cute.

    His clothes was a custom made ck suit and his delicate wings, fluttered rapidly, leaving a faint trail of glittering dust in the air.

    His skin shimmered like polished emerald, and its eyes were unnaturallyrge, glowing a pale blue.

    It was a Fairy.

    The Fairy floated forward, crossing its arms with an air of authority while ring at the gathered Adventurers.

    "This Dungeon is no longer free for your plundering," He announced in a sharp voice. "It is now under my supervision so you will turn back now, or face the consequences."

    The Adventurers looked at each other then jointly burst out into fits ofughter.

    They found it odd that a tiny creature was threatening all of them so it was hard for them to take him seriously.

    Neron tried to make the people around him stopughing but he wasn''t heard over the din.

    He knew that it was the wrong thing to do as fairies were sensitive creatures but there was little he could do.

    He was just one person among the rest of them that wereughing.

    He saw the fairy cheeks grow red as a beet and he knew that they had seeded in annoying him.

    An average fairy any day was sensitive. This fairy was obviously someone of importance so he expected his temper to have the inconsistency of a child''s mood.

    "You dareugh in my face. It seems I will have to teach you all some manners."

    The fairy who addressed them was now so mad that his chest heaved from the feelings he was holding back.

    "Get out of the way or we will have to get past you. We are in a hurry," A burly man said amongst them edging his way to to the front of the crowd.

    Neron''s face tightened, his eyes still fixed on the fairy, whose expression had shifted from irritation to something far more dangerous.

    The burly man who had spoken earlier cracked his knuckles, stepping forward as though the fairy was nothing more than a housefly in his path.

    Neron was now curious to see how everything was going to y out.

    "I''ll give you onest chance," the fairy''s voice rang out, sharp as ss, cutting through the noise.

    He just wanted to follow protocol by giving them enough warnings so he would be justified in the next action he was going to take.

    The fairy''s glowing eyes narrowed as he raised a hand, delicate fingers poised like he was ready to snap them. "Turn back now, or face the consequences."

    The Adventurers were too confident in their numbers and abilities to heed the warning.

    Theirughter continued, even as some of them shifted impatiently, eager to press forward and explore the Dungeon''s depths.

    The burly man sneered. "I said, get out of the way, you little pest!"

    The fairy''s mouth curled into a smile as he snapped his fingers, and in that instant, reality seemed to twist.

    The air rippled as if it had been struck by an invisible force, and the space around them opened up.

    Neron''s instincts red in the brief moment before chaos finally unfolded.

    A blinding sh of light erupted from the fairy''s fingertips, engulfing the entire room.

    Neron winced, throwing an arm over his eyes, but it did nothing to shield him from the overwhelming brilliance.

    When he felt that it was safe to open his eyes, he found out that the Dungeon''s familiar walls were gone.

    He blinked several times then wiped his eyes with his hands just to be sure of what he was seeing.

    He was in apletely different ce and he wasn''t alone.

    A lone familiar figure stood a few feet away from him.

    He could swear that his senses had be sharper because it was the faint rustle of her fabric that had drawn his attention.

    His heart skipped a bit as he saw who it was.

    It was the redhead girl in the hood, the one he had seen briefly outside the gate before all the chaos had begun.

    He didn''t know that she had also joined them too as he hadn''t noticed her at the ground floor.

    It was now obvious to him that she had been there though he wondered why the others weren''t also around.

    The whole thing was too much of a stretch to be coincidental.

    She hadn''t noticed him yet, or if she had, she gave no sign.

    She stood still, her face obscured by the deep shadow of her hood, staring at something in the distance.

    Neron took a cautious step forward, his mind racing. How had they ended up here? Was this part of the Dungeon, or some other ce entirely?

    Before he could ask the girl any questions, she spoke up in  a soft voice.

    "You saw him before anyone else did, didn''t you? The fairy."

 Chapter 1393: Triggering Golems [Pt 1]

    Neron hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "Yeah, I did. But that doesn''t exin where we are now."

    She smiled a wry smile at his words with her back still turned to him.

    "Wait, how did you know about that?" He asked, looking suspiciously at her.

    She pretended not to hear the question at all which irked him.

    After some minutes of silence, she turned her head slightly, just enough for him to catch a glimpse of her pale skin and the edge of her lips as she spoke again.

    "This is the fairy''s realm. He cast a spatial spell. We''re not in the Dungeon anymore. We''re somewhere... between."

    "Between?" Neron repeated, the word feeling heavy in his mouth. He didn''t like the sound of it.

    She nodded, her posture calm despite the odd situation. "A ce outside of normal space. The fairy wasn''t bluffing. He has more power than any of those idiots realized."

    Neron''s gaze shifted around them, scanning the horizon for any clues. The pirs stretched as far as the eye could see, but there was no sign of an exit, no indication of whaty beyond.

    It was as if they were trapped in a vast, unending garden, with nondmarks to guide them.

    "We need to get out of here," he said, the urgency creeping into his voice.

    The girl finally turned to face him fully, and for the first time, Neron could see her eyes¡ªsharp, intelligent, and above all familiar.

    Neron inhaled sharply as he took some steps closer and peered into her face.

    "Is everything okay with you? You are looking at me strangely."

    "I know you¡­" His voice trailed off as he looked her over, still unsure about her identity.

    "I don''t think so, you must have me mistaken with someone else,"

    "I am Nero," He said, extending his right hand to her.

    She epted his hand with one of her dainty hands too and he felt it a bit, marveling at the softness.

    "I am Lily," She responded in return.

    "Hmm. Nice name," He said, still regarding her carefully.

    "You are still holding my hand," She pointed out to him.

    "Sorry about that," He said, hastily withdrawing his hand suddenly realising that he was behaving weirdly towards her.

    "It''s fine," She said, waving the issue away.

    "There''s no rush," she said calmly. " I think we are still in the dungeon, just that we are all separated from each other. The fairy''s magic was designed to separate us, to test us."

    "Test us? For what?"

    "To see if we''re worthy," He tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a small, enigmatic smile.

    "I will knock the teeth out of that fairy the next time that I see him."

    He met her gaze, his eyes flickering with amusement. "You are making the same mistake that Adventurer made earlier on. We don''t win by force. Fairies don''t y by our rules. If we want to leave this ce, we''ll have to y smart and work together."

    "Work together?"

    "I''m not big on that myself but I don''t see how else we areing out of this."

    Lily''s lips curved into a smirk as she noticed Neron''s hesitation. "What''s with the look?" she asked, her tone dripping with the same proud confidence he found irritating.

    Neron couldn''t help but think that she was acting like someone else he knew.

    The name floated through his mind, but he quickly dismissed the idea.

    Serah was still busy at the Academy. She wouldn''t have time to be here, ying games in a dungeon.

    "Nothing," he muttered, shaking his head. "Just... thought of someone else."

    Lily raised an eyebrow but didn''t push it. Instead, she crossed her arms, looking at him expectantly.

    "So, what''s the n? Or are we going to stand here until the fairy gets bored?"

    Neron let out a long sigh, realizing he had little choice but to cooperate.

    She seemed too young and cocky to be of much use¡ªlikely just another immature girl who''d be an Adventurer too soon.

    "Fine," he said, his voice t. "We stick together, at least until we find a way out."

    Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she gave him a mocking salute. "Aye aye, captain."

    Neron rolled his eyes and walked ahead, scanning the room for any signs of a passage.

    There was nothing to give them direction and it all felt wrong, like a trap waiting to spring on them.

    Just as they reached the far side, Lily stepped forward without warning. "Look!" she said, pointing to a carved symbol on the floor.

    Before Neron could stop her, her foot pressed onto the symbol with a faint click.

    "Lily, wait¡ª!"

    The ground beneath them rumbled as stone bs shifted. From the shadows of the pirs, hulking shapes emerged.

    Golems¡ªtwo, maybe three of them¡ªcharged toward them with terrifying speed.

    "Seriously?" Neron grunted, pulling out his de as he backed away from the oing threats. "You couldn''t keep your hands to yourself for one second?"

    Lily looked sheepish for only a moment before her grin returned. "Oops. Guess I triggered something."

    "No kidding," Neron muttered, positioning himself defensively.

    The Golems were enormous, easily twice their height, and their stone bodies nked as they sped towards them.

    One Golem swung its arm down with brutal force, aiming directly at Neron. He dodged, just barely, feeling the ground quake beneath him as the fist struck where he''d stood.

    Lily, meanwhile, danced backward with surprising agility, her eyes glinting with excitement.

    "You''re crazy if you think we can fight them head-on," Neron snapped, scanning their surroundings for any advantage as he whipped out his sword.

    "Then what''s your brilliant idea, smart guy?" Lily shot back, narrowly avoiding another crushing blow as one of the Golems chased after her.

    "Their cores!" he shouted, pointing at the symbols. "We hit them there!"

    Lily nced at the runes on the Golem in front of her and grinned. "Now you''re talking."

    Neron didn''t have time to admire her skill. The second Golem was closing in on him, its steps shaking the ground.

    With a swift roll to the side, he dodged another heavy swing and shed at the rune on its chest with his sword.

    The de connected, and the rune shattered, causing the Golem to freeze and crumble.

    Neron turned to see Lily standing over the remains of her own Golem, looking far too pleased with herself.

    "See? We make a good team," she said with a wink.

 Chapter 1394: Triggering Golems [Pt 2]

    Neron wiped the sweat from his brow, casting a nce at Lily who was looking quite smug.

    The satisfaction in her eyes was undeniable, though he hated to admit that she''d handled herself well.

    Too well in fact that he was inclined to think that she had been doing it a while.

    They stood amidst the crumbled remains of the Golems, their towering stone bodies now just heaps of rubble.

    "Not bad," he said with reluctance. "But don''t get cocky. They weren''t much in the first ce."

    Lily tossed her hair over her shoulder, her grin widening. "Oh, I''m not cocky. Just confident. I could do this all day."

    "How long have you been doing this for?"

    "Not long, I just joined the Guild a few weeks ago. Needed some extra money," she replied with a shrug.

    "I see," Neron said cryptically nodding his head.

    She waited for him to say something in addition to what he said but he kept mute.

    "I wonder if he believes me or he''s doubting everything I said," She thought to herself thrown off a bit by his silence.

    Neron couldn''t help but feel a flicker of irritation. There was something off about her¡ªthe way she moved, her reactions.

    He wasn''tfortable with pairing up with her if not that he didn''t have much of a choice in the first ce.

    He hated how she was already getting under his skin in the short time they had been together and he couldn''t wait to get out of the ce.

    He wanted to know more about her background though but he knew it wasn''t the time or ce to question her.

    They still had no idea where they were, and the threat of the fairy still loomed over them like a dark cloud.

    "We need to keep moving," Neron said, sheathing his sword back into his scabbard as he turned toward the rows of stone pirs.

    Lily didn''t say anything in response but meekly fell in step beside him.

    For a moment, there was a silence between them, broken only by the soft echo of their footsteps.

    "You''re holding back," She said suddenly, her voice casual butced with curiosity as if she was trying to figure out something.

    Neron stopped in his tracks, his expression cid. "What are you talking about?"

    She smirked, her gaze flicking to his sword. "I saw the way you moved. You didn''t need to put that much effort into taking down those Golems. You could''ve done it faster. You were just putting on a show."

    Neron''s jaw clenched at her words. "You don''t know anything about me."

    "Maybe not," she admitted. "But I can tell when someone''s hiding their strength. You''re aplex person. For one, I haven''t yet asked why you hide behind a mask"

    He turned to her, his eyes narrowing. "And what about you, Lily? You haven''t been exactly honest so far. I don''t believe you just joined few weeks back. You fought like you''ve been doing this for years. How old are you even?"

    She met his gaze evenly, her expression unreadable.

    "How frustrating not to see his whole face so I can have an idea about what he''s thinking," She fumed within herself.

    "Its up to you whether you believe me it not. Age doesn''t matter when you''ve trained as hard as I have," She shot at him.

    Her cryptic answer only deepened his suspicion. The way she spoke, the way she fought¡ªthere was something hauntingly familiar about it.

    But it couldn''t be Serah. Could it?

    Before he could press her further, his instincts red, and he grabbed her arm, pulling her back just as a huge hand shot out from behind them, striking the ground where they had stood moments before.

    Lily''s eyes widened in shock, but Neron had already recovered quickly and seen what had attacked them.

    "More golems, protect yourself!" He shouted, pulling Lily with him as they dodged the beams.

    There were six golems that hade out of thin air and had surrounded them quickly.

    Neron cursed under his breath as he didn''t like his they were cornered into a small space without much room to maneuver.

    "Looks like we''re in for another round," Lily said with a wide grin, her hand already on her dagger.

    Neron looked at her as though she was crazy. He couldn''t understand how someone could relish fighting to the point where they were happy at the idea.

    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH!!!~

    Heunched himself at the nearest golem, his sword slicing through the air swiftly.

    The golem swung a massive fist at him, but Neron ducked under it, his de striking at the creature''s leg.

    ~BOOMMMMMM!!!~

    Sparks flew as the sword made contact and the enchanted stone crumbled as it was unable to handle the attack.

    Lily, in the meantime had darted toward the second golem, her smaller frame allowing her to move quickly and avoid its slower strikes.

    She took note of how Nero had quickly handled his own golem.

    "How did you manage to take it out in just one strike?" She shouted out as she danced around her own golem, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

    Neron shrugged in response as he watched how she was going to handle her own golem.

    He hadn''t been fully paying attention the other time so he wanted to be sure that he captured everything.

    Her daggers were small and he saw that she was aiming for the joints, where the stone was thinnest.

    He approved of her thinking and within a short time she was done with her own end.

    His suspicion about her skills was further confirmed. She had dealt with five golems in a short time and her sword movements were too fluid for a novice.

    She smiled at him when she caught him looking at her.

    As she stepped closer to meet him, a sense of dread washed over him.

    It wasn''t because of her but something he couldn''t put a finger on.

    Lily seemed to feel it too. "Something feels... wrong," she murmured, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.

    Neron nodded and pulled her to his side, his hand tightening on his sword. "It''s another test. It has to be."

 Chapter 1395: Number 11

    Somewhere far from the wide expanse of stone pirs and crumbled golems in an undisclosed location, a small figure floatedzily.

    His wings shimmered in the dim light of the chamber he was in as he rubbed his tiny dainty hands in satisfaction.

    The Fairy, with his sharp eyes and mischievous grin, watched the chaos below with a faint sense of amusement.

    He had been keeping a close eye on the adventurers ever since they entered his domain, scattering them to random floors and sections.

    It was all part of his grand game. A twisted treasure hunt, where none of them even realized they were all ying into his ns.

    "They''re doing better than I expected though," the Fairy mused aloud, swirling his finger in the air.

    A flicker of light manifested before him, revealing several small shimmering screens that disyed different parts of the sections.

    On each screen, adventurers battled, struggled, or fell for traps, all of them unaware that they were being closely observed.

    Nothing that was happening was coincidental. The disrespect to his person by the burly Adventurer was actually intentional.

    He had banked on the rudeness of humans at the beginning and they hadn''t disappointed him.

    One of the screens showed Neron and Lily as they dispatched thest of the golems. The Fairy''s eyes gleamed with interest as he zoomed in on the two.

    "Ah, the masked one and his little partner," he chuckled. "Quite the pair. I wonder how long it''ll take them to figure out that this isn''t a test of strength... but a search."

    He actually had no interest in the physical prowess of the humans as he was after something far more valuable.

    Somewhere deep within the dungeon, hidden among the ruins, was the treasure he sought¡ªan artifact of great power that even he, with all his magic, couldn''t locate.

    That''s where the adventurers came in. They would do the dirty work, defeating guardians until ultimately one of them stumbled upon the prize.

    It was guaranteed to work and when it did, he nned to swoop in and im it for himself.

    "Smart n, right?" the Fairy whispered to himself with a grin. "I do all the thinking, and they do all the heavy lifting. Oh, this is going to be fun."

    His amusement was interrupted by a soft chime, a ripple of magic that echoed through the chamber.

    His yful expression vanished instantly, reced by a look of sudden panic.

    He knew who it was and he wasn''t having a good feeling about talking with him at the moment.

    His wings twitched slightly out of panic and a flicker of nervousness passed over his face.

    He inhaled sharply and kept his posture rigid as he sped his hands behind his back as the orb pulsed softly.

    Then a voice boomed out from within the orb, shattering the silence.

    "Number 11."

    The Fairy stiffened, recognizing the voice immediately. He bowed his head slightly and lowered his wings in a gesture of respect.

    "My King¡ª" he began, but the voice cut him off.

    "Number 11, remember our rules. While on missions for the Cult, you will address me by my rank, not my title."

    The Fairy hesitated only a moment, his wings fluttering in a brief disy of irritation before he caught himself.

    "Yes, Number 3," he corrected, his tone more subdued. "Forgive me."

    There was a pause as there was crackling through the orb, and then the deep voice of Number 3 continued, its tone sharper now. "Report. Have you found the Arcana?"

    The Fairy, now referred to as Number 11, nced around the darkened ruins that surrounded him.

    "Not yet, Number 3. The site is vast, and there areplications... but I am close. The Arcana is here. I can feel it."

    "Complications?" The voice from the orb sounded displeased. "You were given this mission because you were supposed to handleplications. What exactly is the problem?"

    Number 11 took a steadying breath. He did not want to seem incapable. "Just that it seems to be well hidden even more than we expected but I''ll take care of it soon enough. There won''t be an issue."

    The orb crackled again, and this time, there was a hint of amusement in Number 3''s voice. "Hmm, is that all? You''ve trained a certain ''dog'' to handle such nuisances, haven''t you? Or was I misinformed?"

    Number 11 cheeks reddened, though his eyes remained wary. He remembered saying something to that effect thest time that they had spoken.

    "You were not misinformed, Number 3. I''ve been training a creature, a... tool, to deal with such distractions. When the timees, I''ll unleash it. The humans won''t stand a chance."

    "Good," the voice replied, though its tone was not entirely approving. "But remember, Number 11, the Arcana is the priority. If you waste time on these distractions, the Head will not be pleased. And neither will I."

    Number 11''s wings red slightly at the mention of the Head. Even through theyers of magic and distance between them, the weight of that name hung heavy in the air. "Understood. The Arcana will be in my hands soon."

    "See that it is." The orb pulsed once, brighter than before, and the voice of Number 3 lowered to a more dangerous tone. "And when you find it, you will inform me first, not the Head. Do I make myself clear?"

    The tension in the air thickened as Number 11 straightened, his face betraying only a flicker of difort. "Of course, Number 3. You will be the first to know."

    "Good." The orb pulsed again, a sign that the conversation wasing to a close. "I expect results soon. If you run into trouble, do not hesitate to ask for backup. Though I trust your... dog will suffice, we cannot afford to lose this opportunity. If you fail¡ª"

    "I won''t fail," Number 11 interrupted, a bit too quickly. He felt a cold sweat forming on his brow despite the bravado in his voice. "The Arcana will be ours."

    "Very well," the voice of Number 3 responded, colder now. "Do not disappoint me. You know what''s at stake."

    Before he could reply, the connection was cut and Number 11 let out a sigh he didn''t know that he was holding.

 Chapter 1396: Temporary Bandwagon

    As the light from the orb dimmed, Number 11 exhaled slowly, finally allowing the tension to leave his body.

    His wings fluttered nervously as he drifted back toward the screens where he was watching the humans.

    "Always watching¡­ always waiting to pounce," he muttered, his expression sour.

    "Number 3 acts like a king, but he''ll never be the true ruler. Only one has that right."

    His mind wandered to thoughts of the Fairy King, Beruel, a name spoken with reverence and fear among the fae.

    Beruel had been one of the few to rise in power, securing influence not only within the fairy courts but also within the darker forces of the Nether Cult.

    Beruel''s strength was legendary, his ambition boundless¡ªand it was for him that Number 11 worked tirelessly, hoping to prove his worth.

    "I must seed for the King," he whispered, his sharp eyes glinting with determination.

    "If I fail this mission, Number 3 will use it to discredit me, and the King''s favor will slip through my fingers."

    He knew that Number 3 just wanted to steal the glory from him which was why he had told him to report to him first.

    Of course he had no intention of doing it but he didn''t have the guts to refuse him outrightly.

    He just hoped that the goodwill and eventual promotion from King Beruel would be enough to shield him from the anger of Number 3.

    Failure was not an option. The Arcana¡ªthe ancient artifact hidden within thebyrinth¡ªwould secure not only his ce but also help the Nether Cult grow in power, a vital step in Beruel''s ns.

    If he failed¡­ well, he didn''t want to think about what the Head of the Cult would do, let alone the consequences from his own kind.

    Still, there was time. The adventurers were doing most of the work. He could afford a little more patience.

    Turning his attention back to the shimmering screens, Number 11 began watching the Adventurers with renewed interest.

    *

    *

    *

    Meanwhile, back in the dungeon, Neron and Lily pressed forward through the dark corridor, each of their step filled with caution.

    After defeating the previous group of golems, the air had grown heavy with tension, as if something was watching them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

    "I don''t like this ce," Lily muttered, her usual confidence momentarily wavering.

    Her hand remained tight around her dagger as she nced around the shadowed pirs that lined the path ahead. "Feels like we''re walking into a trap."

    "You''ve noticed too," Neron replied, his voice low and calm, though his eyes were alert.

    His masked face betrayed nothing, but his grip on his sword had tightened. "It''s been quiet for too long. Anyway this whole ce is a trap."

    "Stay sharp," Neron said quietly, his eyes scanning the environment for any sign of movement.

    Lily wiped sweat from her brow and nced at Neron with a grin. "You know, for someone who keeps saying this isn''t about strength, you sure like showing off."

    Neron ignored herment, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the now silent corridor.

    Something still felt off, but before he could voice his concerns, the sound of footsteps echoed from further ahead¡ªnot the heavy stomping of golems, but the lighter, more deliberate steps of human feet.

    "Someone''sing," Neron said, raising his sword defensively as he took a step forward, positioning himself between Lily and the approaching figures.

    From the shadows, a group of adventurers emerged, their weapons drawn but their expressions wary rather than hostile.

    At their head was a tall man with dark hair and sharp eyes, his armor scratched and battered from battle. He raised a hand, signaling for his group to halt as they came into view.

    "Well, well," the man said, his voice low and amused. "Didn''t expect to find others down here. Thought we were the only unlucky souls left."

    Neron didn''t rx, his eyes assessing the neers with suspicion. "Who are you?"

    The man smirked. "Davis. And these are myrades. Looks like we''re all stuck in this mess together."

    Lily stepped forward, her expression guarded but curious. "You''re adventurers too?"

    Davis nodded. "Like you, we were separated from the original group when we entered this cursed ce. Been fighting golems and dodging traps ever since. But no matter where we go, there''s no clear way out."

    Neron remained silent for a moment, weighing his options. The reality of them being stuck in the maze with no clear escape route wasn''t ideal.

    Teaming up¡ªat least temporarily¡ªmight give them a better chance of survival.

    "We''re heading deeper into thebyrinth," Neron said after a moment. "You can join us, but we''re not here to babysit. Stay out of our way, and we''ll stay out of yours."

    From the corner of his eyes, he saw Lily nce sharply at him trying to catch his attention but he didn''t look at her.

    Davis chuckled, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Fair enough. We''re all here for the same reason anyway."

    Lily shot Neron a nce, but he gave her a slight nod, signaling that it was better to work together for now.

    Lily shifted uneasily, still not entirely convinced about teaming up with the neers as she wanted them to be alone.

    "Let''s not waste time," she muttered, sheathing her dagger.

    They moved in silence, each step echoing through the dark stone halls.

    Davis, walking beside Neron, nced at him from the corner of his eye. "You seem calm for someone in a ce like this. Most adventurers would''ve lost their nerve by now."

    Neron didn''t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the surroundings.

    Finally, he muttered, "Fear clouds judgment. That''s when mistakes happen."

    Davis raised an eyebrow but didn''t push the conversation further. He noticed that the masked guy wasn''t big on small talks.

    There was something unsettling about him and he couldn''t wait to see him in action.

    As they pressed on, the corridor began to widen, revealing an expansive chamber with towering pirs stretching into the shadows above.

    Davis nodded. "Let''s hope it''s not another trap."

    Neron''s eyes darkened. "It''s always a trap. Question is¡ªare we ready for it?"

 Chapter 1397: Bottom of the Dungeon

    As Neron predicted, it was a trap.

    Immediately they advanced deeper into the corridor, a huge swooped down to entrap them.

    Fortunately, Neron had been on the lookout for something like that and he sliced the with his sword immediately it came near them.

    "Look out!" He shouted out, warning the others.

    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH!~

    ~SLICEEEE!~

    ~RIPPPPP~

    Mores shot from the ceiling, springing to life as if triggered by their presence.

    Thick ropes twisted through the air, falling fast towards them.

    Lily darted forward, her daggers shing as she shed through the nearest. "They really don''t want us going any further!" she muttered, her voice tight with frustration.

    Davis cursed as he narrowly avoided one of the traps, rolling out of the way before slicing through the ropes.

    The rest of his team struggled, several getting caught as thes tightened around their limbs, dragging them back toward the walls.

    "Help them!" Neron barked, his attention split between cutting through another wave of ropes and keeping an eye on their surroundings.

    Lily darted toward one of the fallen adventurers, freeing him with a quick flick of her wrist.

    "This is ridiculous!" she spat, her eyes scanning the area for where the next trap was going toe from.

    "We''re almost through!" Neron shouted as he spotted the faint outline of a doorway ahead of them.

    With one final swing, he cut through thest blocking their path. "Move! Before more traps spring!"

    They all ran towards the doorway barely making it through before the area waspletely encircled with traps.

    "Is that everyone?" Lily asked Davis looking at his people to be sure that they all got through.

    "Uhmm¡­" Davis muttered as he did a quick headcount. "Yes, that''s all of them."

    "Your people are dead weight, they can''t handle themselves," Neron spat out.

    "Why do you say that?" Davis asked, feeling offended by his words.

    "If it wasn''t for the rest of us, they would have been dead. You know it."

    "I wonder if they''ll fight now," Lily wondered, looking between the two of them.

    She was curious to see how he would handle it though her money was on Neron to win.

    "Yeah I suppose. Good thing nobody was killed though," Davis said, throwing his hands up in the air in defeat.

    "Yeah. I suppose," Neron said with a shrug.

    "Huh! No fighting, how boring," Lily said, shocked at how the situation had quickly diffused without any incident.

    As they caught their breath, the tension slowly eased, but Lily''s curiosity remained piqued.

    "So, you''ve been here longer than us. Seen anything strange?"

    Davis shook his head. "No monsters, no creatures. Just traps and more traps. It''s like someone cleared this ce out before we got here."

    Neron narrowed his eyes. "That doesn''t make sense. Dungeons like this are supposed to be crawling with creatures."

    "It''s too clean," Lily agreed, ncing around. "Feels like someone¡ªor something¡ªis controlling this ce."

    Davis nodded. "We''ve only encountered golems and corpses. No sign of any living adventurers since the first floor."

    Neron frowned. "No monsters, just golems and traps¡­ almost like someone wants us to keep going deeper."

    Lily shifted uneasily. "But why? What''s waiting for us at the bottom?"

    "Whatever it is," Neron said, eyes darkening, "it''s no ident. We''re being led somewhere."

    Davis and his group exchanged wary nces, the eerie silence settling around them once more.

    "Well, there''s no turning back now," Davis muttered. "We keep moving. But stay sharp."

    They moved cautiously after that, descending the dungeon''s floors in silence.

    The deeper they went, the darker and colder the air became, as if the very walls were closing in on them.

    No monsters had emerged since the traps¡ªonly the unsettling presence of death surrounded them now.

    As they got to lower floors, the area had a new addition to thendscape.

    Bodies of fallen adventurers littered their path.

    Some were sprawled in grotesque positions, others slumped against the stone walls with weapons still in hand.

    Their faces were all frozen in terror, as if they had been scared out of their wits right before they died.

    Lily stopped to examine one of the corpses, kneeling down to inspect the tattered gear.

    "Its surprisingly looking old," she muttered, running her hand across the adventurer''s broken chest te. "Maybe a week, give or take. But that''s impossible right? We only just got here and this is a new dungeon."

    Davis sighed, ncing around uneasily. "I don''t even know what to think but we are not in the dungeon anymore. We don''t know enough about this ce to draw conclusions. Looks like nobody''s made it out of here in a long time."

    Neron said nothing, his focus on the path ahead. The deeper they went, the more corpses they found, each one a reminder of the dungeon''s dangers but like Davis said, he didn''t want to draw conclusions just yet.

    Something didn''t sit right with him. The bodies seemed too... random.

    No signs of what had killed them, no monsters, only traps¡ªand now death. It felt deliberate, as if they were being herded.

    "Let''s keep moving," Neron ordered, his tone sharper than before. "There''s something wrong with this ce."

    As they stepped through another archway, they found themselves in a massive chamber.

    Yet again, stone pirs lined the walls, towering high into the shadows above.

    The air felt heavier here, thick with an unnatural stillness that made every breath feelbored.

    "Is this it?" Lily asked, her voice barely a whisper as she nced around the vast room.

    They were situated in thest floor of the ce.

    "I don''t like this," Davis muttered. "Feels so familiar like we''re walking right into another trap."

    "We''ve had that feeling ever since we found ourselves in this ce. It''s nothing new¡ª"

    Before he could finish, the ground beneath them trembled and a low rumble echoed through the chamber, followed by the sound of stone grinding against stone.

    The faint light of their torches flickered as the room seemed to shift.

    "Get ready," Neron warned, drawing his sword.

    "We''re not leaving until we get through it."

 Chapter 1398: The Statues

    What happened next was unlike what they had been expecting in that nothing happened.

    Absolutely nothing.

    No golems or traps sprung out to attack them.

    The only difference was that there was now a new chamber that had appeared suddenly.

    As with the rest of the chambers they had seen, it had poor lighting and they could barely make out anything.

    "This ce is massive," Lily whispered, her voice barely audible in the stillness. "But why does it¡­?"

    Neron''s eyes narrowed as he scanned the room. His grip tightened on his sword. "Stay alert."

    They didn''t move at first because the ce was misty but fortunately it dissipated as they waited.

    "Do you see that?" Davis asked right when the mist hadpletely disappeared.

    At the far end of the chamber stood two colossal statues.

    One depicted an angel, wings outstretched, eyes cold and judgmental, holding a gleaming sword pointed down to the earth.

    The other was a demon, crouched low, with bat-like wings and jagged horns, its fanged mouth twisted in a snarl.

    The Adventurers looked at each other then slowly advanced towards the statues.

    Neron was the first person to see the third statue and he drew the attention of the others to it immediately.

    It was situated between the other two and was high above them.

    They hadn''t seen it at first because it was well hidden in the shadows.

    It looked older and more worn than the others. It was a robed figure, faceless and hunched, its hands sped over a staff.

    Davis squinted at the statues, unease etched on his face. "Those statues¡­ they seem almost too lifelike, don''t they?"

    Lily nodded, eyes flicking between the angel and demon. "Yeah, and I don''t think they''re just decoration."

    Before anyone could respond, another deep rumbling filled the chamber.

    ~BOOMMMMMMM!!!~

    The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the massive stone doors at the entrance mmed shut with a deafening crash.

    Then the third statue spoke, its voice low and gravelly, like the sound of mountains shifting. "You seek treasure that no longer resides here."

    The group instinctively stepped back caught off guard by the statue talking.

    Davis swallowed hard, his voice barely steady. "What¡­ what are you?"

    The statue''s head turned slowly toward him, its featureless face locking onto Davis.

    "I am the Keeper of this ce. A guardian of ancient secrets long buried and forgotten."

    Neron''s eyes narrowed. "The treasure has already been taken?"

    The statue let out a low, rumblingugh. "Indeed. Another hase before you, one with knowledge of these paths."

    Lily''s brow furrowed, her voiceced with frustration. "So we''vee all this way for nothing?"

    The statue''s gaze shifted toward her, its voice echoing through the chamber. "Not for nothing. There are always lessons to be learned from failure¡­ and fate has brought you here for a reason beyond mere greed."

    Neron kept his de raised, watching the statue warily as he didn''t trust it one bit. "Who took the treasure?"

    The statue paused, as if considering the question. Its faceless head tilted slightly, and then, in a voice quieter but more focused, it said, "One whose power you have yet toprehend. But that is not the question you should be asking, Neron."

    At the sound of his name, Neron stiffened. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, and he exchanged a brief nce with Lily and Davis, both of whom looked equally surprised.

    He hoped that they hadn''t caught the fact that the statue had called him Neron and not Nero.

    "How do you know my name?" Neron asked, his voice low.

    The statue moved again, this time leaning forward slightly, as if scrutinizing him more closely.

    "You are not a stranger to these halls. There is a familiarity about you¡­ though you yourself may not remember."

    Neron''s eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? I''ve never seen you before. I would certainly remember if I have."

    The old man''s massive form began to descend, its enormous stone limbs creaking as it bent closer, lowering itself until it was nearly level with the group.

    Meanwhile, the angel and demon statues remained still, their eyes fixed forward, unmoving.

    The old man brought his face close to Neron''s and peered into his eyes.

    "You do not remember," the Keeper rumbled, "but you have walked these paths before. Long ago, in a time that even you may not recall. Your presence¡­ it stirs old memories."

    Lily shifted ufortably, her gaze darting between Neron and the statue. "What does that mean?"

    The Keeper ignored her, its focus solely on Neron. "I see shadows in you, echoes of something lost. You bear the mark of an ancient promise."

    Neron shook his head, his voice firm. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. I came here like any other adventurer."

    The Keeper''sughter rumbled through the chamber again, a sound deep and filled with knowing.

    "Perhaps¡­ but you are more than you appear. You carry a weight, a burden that has been with you long before this dungeon called to you. I''m interested to see how this will turn out for you."

    Davis frowned, stepping forward. "Enough with the riddles. We''re not here for some cryptic nonsense. If the treasure''s gone, just tell us who took it and let us leave."

    The statue''s faceless head turned toward Davis briefly, before returning to Neron. "The one who took the treasure has already moved beyond your reach. But your journey here is far from over. Fate has brought you to this ce for a reason, Neron"

    Lily nced at Neron, her brow furrowed. "What does it mean? Any idea on what he''s talking about?"

    "I''m just as clueless as you are. You should know creatures like these enjoy dishing out riddles."

    "When you say¡­" The old man started talking. He suddenly paused his speech and cocked his head to the side as if he was listening out for something.

    "Are you alright? You were saying something just now." Lily asked him wondering if he had gone back to being a statue.

    "Is this all of you?"

    "Yes, why?"

    "Well, someone else ising towards us."

 Chapter 1399: The Fairy Vs The Celestials

    "Well, someone else ising towards us."

    At the old man''s words, like choreography, they all turned back at once to see who it was.

    There was no one there so they turned back to the statue with varying looks on their faces.

    He noticed their expression and sighed quite loudly.

    "Surely you all don''t think I was stringing you along."

    "What do you think? We can''tpletely trust you yet, can we?" One of Davis men said, speaking up for the first time.

    Before anything else could be said, a soft flutter of wings filled the chamber, growing louder with each passing second.

    The air shimmered, and a burst of radiant light materialized near the ceiling.

    From it emerged a small figure, delicate and glowing, with bright wings¡ª a fairy.

    They saw that it was the very same one they had met before.

    Its presence felt both out of ce and unnerving as they realized just how much power he possessed.

    "Well, well, well," the fairy chimed, its voice sickly sweet andced with mockery. "Look what we have here! A band of adventurers stumbling into things far beyond their understanding."

    He hovered in mid-air, casting an amused nce over the group. "Congrattions on finding this room, though. Quite the aplishment for such¡­ ordinary souls."

    Neron raised his sword instinctively, eyes narrowing. "Where did you send us to?"

    The fairy waved a tiny hand dismissively. "That hardly matters. What does matter is that you''ve led me to where I wanted so there''s no need for you all anymore." He giggled, the sound echoing eerily. "But don''t worry, I won''t harm you. At least, not yet"

    Before any of them could react, a surge of shimmering light erupted from the fairy''s fingertips, spiraling toward the adventurers.

    The force struck them with the power of a gale, sending Neron, Lily, Davis and the rest of the team flying backward as if they were nothing more than leaves caught in a storm.

    Just like before, within the twinkle od an eye, they disappeared into a portal he created.

    "Now, now, now" the fairy muttered to himself as he dusted his hands. "Now that I have taken care of those bothersome humans, I have plenty of time to attend to this business."

    The fairy turned toward the Keeper, hovering just above the ground between the angel and demon statues.

    Its glowing eyes, once yful, darkened with intensity.

    "I''vee for the Arcana," it said coldly, all traces of humor gone from its voice. "Hand it over."

    The massive figure of the Keeper remained motionless for a long moment, as if weighing its response.

    Finally, its gravelly voice rumbled through the chamber. "The Arcana is no longer here."

    The fairy''s wings twitched, and its eyes narrowed. "I don''t have time for your riddles, old stone. Give me what I came for, or I''ll reduce this entire chamber to rubble."

    The Keeper''s head turned slightly, regarding the fairy with what could only be described as faint disdain. "The treasure you seek has been taken by one more powerful than you. And if it is the Arcana that you desire with this attitude of yours, then I know your intentions are dark."

    The fairy''s glow brightened, its wings fluttering faster in frustration. "You don''t understand the stakes here, old man. I don''t intend leaving here without the Arcana. I won''t be denied."

    The Keeper''s voice was calm, unyielding. "You are an enemy to this ce and I can see you want to usurp the bnce. The Arcana is beyond your reach, and your present arrogance will lead you to ruin."

    For a brief moment, silence hung in the air, the tension thick and palpable. Then the fairy''sughter broke it, high and sharp, like ss shattering.

    "Ruin? Oh, you ancient relics always love your prophecies of doom. Fine. If you won''t give me the Arcana willingly, I''ll simply take it from you dead. And believe me, old stone, you are no match for me."

    "Big words. Let''s see how you turn out in an actual fight," The old man said in a cool tone, still reclining at ease in his chair.

    ~CREAKKK!!!~

    The fairy''sughter still echoed through the chamber when the sound of grinding stone filled the air.

    Slowly, the massive angel and demon statues nking the Keeper began to stir.

    Their lifeless eyes glowed suddenly and their stony limbs creaked like old hinges as they moved.

    The angel statue raised its colossal sword, a de as wide as a man and made a show of showing how sharp it was.

    Meanwhile the demon flexed its taloned fingers, a low growl emanating from deep within its chest.

    ROARRRRRRRRR!!!

    GUARKKKKKKK!!!

    Both figures stepped forward, their movements slow but unstoppable, like mountains shifting.

    The fairy''s mocking smile faltered, his wings fluttering faster.

    "Ah, so the old relics do have some life in them after all," he sneered. "No matter. You think these lumbering brutes can stop me?"

    Without hesitation, the angel swung its sword, the massive de cleaving through the air with the force of a hurricane.

    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH!!!~

    The fairy dodged effortlessly, darting up and out of reach,ughing as he did. "I''m shaking in my boots right now. You''ll have to do better than that!"

    The demon seemed to be particrly pissed with the snidements and he followed up with a vicious swipe, its ws aiming to tear the fairy from the air.

    ~SWOSHHHHHHHHH!!!~

    But once again, the fairy was too fast, zipping between its fingers in a sh of light.

    From above, the fairy raised his hands, magic swirling around them like a vortex. "I could dance around you two all day, but let''s make this quick, shall we?"

    With a burst of power, he unleashed a barrage of searing energy bolts.

    ~BOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    They struck the statues with blinding force, causing chunks of stone to explode from their bodies.

    Yet, despite the damage, the statues kept advancing towards him as though they hadn''t been injured.

    "It seems you guys are formidable after all. I''m going to enjoy killing the both of you," The fairy said with a wide smile.

 Chapter 1400: Decapacitation

    "It seems you guys are formidable after all. I''m going to enjoy killing the both of you," The fairy said with a wide smile as he pointed at the angel and the demon in turn.

    He made a show of demonstrating how they were going to meet their end by running a hand across his neck.

    Seated quietly and observing the spectacle, the old man appeared bored with what he saw.

    "More proud words that you are yet to prove. It won''t be long before you meet your end here."

    Hehehehehe!!!

    The fairy threw his head back andughed at what he considered impossible.

    "My end? Your confidence in your minions is truly admirable to be honest but I fear it''s greatly misced. You all are going to die here," The fairy said to the old man with a sneer on his face.

    "Surely, you must be tired of bragging by now."

    "Bold of you to assu-"

    ~BOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    The fairy''s words were cut short by the crushing blow aimed at him by the angel and demon at the same time.

    Their perfect synchronicity made it seem like one was the shadow version of the other and the impact made the attack seem fatal.

    The reverberation raised the dust around as debris flew everywhere and as the dust settled, the fairy was nowhere to be seen.

    The old man stood up slightly and surveyed the area to be sure that he hadn''t survived the attack.

    There was a huge crater where the blow hadnded and because of his height, the old man could see the interior despite his position.

    It was also empty and he heaved a sigh of contentment.

    There was no doubt that the fairy had beenpletely crushed into the ground and was lost amongst the rubbles.

    It had all gone ording to how he had predicted and he shook his head in amusement as he recollected the boastful words of the fairy.

    He had really thought that he would put up a better performance to match his words and in a way, he was slightly disappointed.

    "You two did a good job. That was well executed," He said to the angel and demon who were returning back to their station.

    "Splendid! One would think they really did a good job." An unfamiliar voice said in a toneced with mockery.

    The strange voice came from behind the old man and he whipped his head backwards in surprise so suddenly that his body took time to follow.

    "You. How¡­" He said with a stutter as his eyes met that of the fairy who was grinning at him and appeared to be very much unhurt.

    "From the look on your face, you expected me to be dead. Sorry to disappoint you but I don''t go down that easily."

    The old man didn''t reply him but his face morphed into anger.

    Besides the old man, the angel and demon were taking turns staring at him and each other in surprise.

    The fairy grinned at them. He was truly enjoying their reaction to his presence.

    His mocking grin lingered as the angel and demon exchanged tense nces, their shock quickly giving way to determination.

    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH!!!~

    Without a word, they leaped into action once more, their synchronized attack even faster this time, determined not to repeat the same mistake.

    The angel''s luminous wings glowed with a radiant light as he darted forward, sword drawn, while the demon summoned a torrent of ck mes from the depths of his being.

    They both ganged on the fairy, one attacking from above and the other from below him as he fluttered in the air.

    But the fairy was ready.

    With a snap of his fingers, an invisible force field surrounded him, absorbing the blows as if they were nothing more than gusts of wind.

    The angel''s sword nged harmlessly against the barrier, and the demon''s mes fizzled out as they made contact.

    "Is that all you''ve got?" the fairy taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

    In a sh, he counterattacked. His body blurred, bing a streak of motion as he moved between them.

    The angel was the first to fall, mmed into the ground with a crushing force that left him reeling, gasping for breath.

    The demon, despite his aggressiveness, was next. The fairy grabbed him by the throat and tossed him aside like a ragdoll, sending him crashing into a nearby pir that shattered on impact.

    The old man, now on his feet, watched in disbelief as the fairy dusted his hands off, his eyes gleaming with malicious amusement.

    "You must be feeling pretty helpless right about now," the fairy said, turning his attention back to the old man. "Your prized minions... worthless."

    The old man remained silent, his hands clenched tightly behind his back.

    The angel struggled to stand, his wings trembling, while the demon coughed up blood, barely able to move.

    They had given it their all, but it wasn''t enough.

    Satisfied that they wouldn''t be able to interfere in the meantime, the fairy flew confidently toward the old man.

    He ced his hand on it, his fingers running over the ancient, worn surface.

    "Now," he said, his voice turning cold. "Give me the Arcana."

    There was no response. The old man remained still and unmoving, as if mocking the fairy''s demand.

    His brow furrowed in irritation. He clenched his hand, and the stone cracked beneath his grip.

    "I said¡­" His voice was a growl now, low and dangerous. "Give. Me. The. Arcana."

    Nothing.

    The fairy''s patience snapped. With a furious shout, he mmed his fist into the old man, shattering him into pieces.

    ~BOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Stone fragments flew everywhere, and the room echoed with the sound of destruction.

    Dust settled around his feet as he looked down at the broken remains of the statue, his chest rising and falling with rage.

    "Useless relic," he spat, before turning his gaze to the angel and demon. "Guess there''s no point in keeping you two alive."

    "Pathetic," He said as he watched them try to crawl away from him.

    With a flick of his wrist, he sent their heads rolling away from their body amidst a steady stream of blood.

 Chapter 1401: A Pet Project

    "What a waste of time!" The fairy said, very much besides himself as he hovered over the area where he had in the three statues.

    As he looked over the holographic screens that showed different parts of his domain, his face twisted with fury as he realized that the Adventurers he had sent away were still alive.

    His eyes narrowed, and with a growl that shook the very air, he extended his hand toward the ground.

    "I''ll show them what suffering really is. Such a shame I won''t be around to watch their end," he hissed, voice thick with malice. "I''ll end this once and for all."

    He whispered something under his breath and with a flourish, pointed his index finger to the earth.

    From the ground below, the earth trembled violently as cracks spread in jagged lines.

    Dark smoke rose up from the crevices on the ground and filled the air with thick, acrid miasma.

    The fairy''s lips curled into a wicked smile as the shape of a creature emerged from the ck mist.

    The beast was massive, standing on four legs, its body covered in rotting, jagged scales that gave off a disgusting stench.

    "My very own specimen," The fairy beamed as he stroked him. It was the dog he had been telling Number 3 about. His pet project.

    The demonic creature let out a bone-chilling roar in response to the caresses of its master.

    The fairy brought his attention to the screen showing the Adventurers.

    It lowered its head, growling low in its throat, its red eyes locked onto Neron and hispanions.

    "Kill them first," the fairymanded, his voice venomous. "And once you''ve done with them, ughter every adventurer in this wretched dungeon. Make me proud."

    With that, the fairy vanished in an instant, leaving the monstrous beast to do his bidding.

    The creature lunged forward without hesitation and ran off to look for them.

    Unfortunately, Neron''s group barely had time to react since they hadn''t gotten far from the scene.

    Davis was the first person to see the creature and he created a mana shield instinctively. "Get ready!" He yelled, alerting the others.

    ~CRACKKKK!!!~

    The creature easily bypassed the shield and went straight for Harun; one of Davis'' men who was closest to him.

    Seeing this, Harun quickly countered with his spear aiming straight for the creature''s head.

    His eyes widened in shock, but before he could retreat, the beast swung its massive w, catching him across the chest.

    ~VWUSHHHHHH!!!~

    ~CRACKKKKKK!!!~

    Harun''s body flew through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into a nearby boulder with a sickening thud.

    Blood sprayed from the gashes in his torso, and his spear ttered to the ground, useless.

    "Harun!" Davis screamed, his voice breaking, but he knew that there was no time to mourn.

    He had to honor Harun''s memory by avenging him.

    He hadn''t known him long but in the little time he had known him, he was a respectful chap.

    "Hey you!"

    The beast was not paying attention to him but had turned its attention to Aric, another person in his team.

    "I''ll show you that I''m not easily ignored," Davis said, running towards the creature as he mmed his shield into the ground, summoning a protective barrier of light around them.

    For the second time, the beast was relentless.

    It smashed into the barrier with its full weight, the impact causing the ground to tremble beneath their feet.

    The barrier cracked, and Davis'' face contorted with strain.

    "I can''t hold it much longer!" he shouted, his voice tight with pain.

    "Keep it up just a little more!" Lisa urged, her spell finally ready. She thrust her hands forward, sending a st of fiery magic at the beast.

    The mes licked at the creature''s body, but instead of burning it, they were absorbed into its miasma, fueling its dark energy.

    Lisa''s eyes widened in horror. "No..."

    The beast roared, using the mes as a conduit to release an even deadlier surge of miasma.

    The corrosive fog spread rapidly, creeping toward them like a living thing.

    "Fall back!" Neron ordered, but it was toote for Aric. The barrier shattered, and the beast was on him in a sh.

    With one swift motion, the creature''s jaws snapped shut around Aric''s torso, crushing him with a sickening crunch.

    His shield fell from his grasp, ttering uselessly to the ground as the light faded from his eyes.

    "Damn it!" Neron cursed, his blood boiling. He couldn''t let this thing take any more of them.

    He charged forward, his sword gleaming with deadly intent. With a swift sh, he aimed for the creature''s exposed nk, but the beast was faster than it looked.

    It dodged the strike with unnatural agility and retaliated with a swipe of its ws.

    Neron barely managed to dodge, feeling the air ripple as the ws missed his throat by mere inches.

    Lisa, meanwhile, had taken up a position on the beast''s other side, her daggers ready.

    She darted in and out, looking for weak spots, but each strike she attempted was met with the same imprable miasma.

    "We need to break through that miasma!" she called out, frustration thick in her voice.

    "I''m working on it!" Mira replied, her voice strained as she began preparing another spell, this time focusing on a pure burst of energy rather than elemental magic.

    The beast, sensing the threat, let out another deafening roar. It lunged at Mira, its eyes glowing with murderous intent.

    But before it could reach her, Lyra stepped in its path, her twin des gleaming as she crossed them in front of her.

    ~CLANG!~

    The impact sent a shockwave through her arms, but she held her ground, gritting her teeth against the pain. "You''re not getting past me!" she growled.

    The beast snarled, pushing harder, but Neron seized the opportunity.

    He darted forward, sword aimed at the beast''s neck, hoping to sever its head.

    But as his de neared, the miasma thickened, repelling his sword once again.

    The creature''s eyes gleamed with malice as it reared back and swung its massive tail.

    ~WHAM!~

    The tail connected with Neron''s side, sending him sprawling across the ground.

    Pain shot through his ribs, but he forced himself to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.

    "Neron!"

 Chapter 1402: Miasma Poisoning

    "Neron!"

    Lily shouted out as he got to his feet and fell down again.

    She rushed quickly to his side and held him while he coughed out blood.

    It was clear that she was distressed over his condition as she threw caution to the wind not caring that she was in the midst of a battle.

    "Are you okay? How''s your breathing? How many fingers am I holding up," She inquired as she looked him over.

    Neron didn''t know which of the questions to reply to as he found her reaction to be over the top.

    Even though he was hurt, he wasn''t at the point of death or anything to warrant the care she was showing.

    He appreciated her concern but he wanted to tell her to concentrate on fighting but he couldn''t bring himself to form the words.

    As she busied herself with inspecting him, the scarf on her head came undone and her red hair flowed freely.

    Below her, Neron gasped in surprise as he saw her face clearly for the first time.

    She quickly grabbed the scarf back and put it on but the secret was already out.

    It was really Serah just as he had suspected.

    He couldn''t describe his emotions urately but he felt a warmth inside just by looking at her.

    He had a lot of questions but he knew that it wasn''t the time or ce to address them.

    He couldn''t tell if she knew who he was. He wasn''t too sure about it but he suspected that she did.

    Why else would she be so caring to a random Adventurer? It was especially suspicious as he knew that Serah wasn''t the nicest of people to begin with.

    "Are you alright back there?" Davis yelled at him.

    "Yes I am, I''ming."

    He got to his feet, steadying himself against the wall of the ruined temple as Serah¡ªLily¡ª turned back toward the fight.

    He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand tall despite the sharp pain stabbing through his chest with each breath.

    The Beast ahead of them let out a low growl as it faced off the Adventurers without showing signs of stopping.

    Davis was still holding his own, his twin des shing in the dim light, but even he looked like he was nearing exhaustion.

    "You stay behind me," Neron said, stepping in front of Serah, his voice low but firm.

    She opened her mouth to protest, but the determined look in his eyes silenced her.

    Despite the confusion swirling inside him, one thing was clear to him¡ªhe needed to protect her.

    Drawing his sword, Neron took a deep breath andunched himself toward the Beast.

    His vision blurred as the pain in his ribs intensified, but he pushed it aside.

    Each swing of his de was met with the creature''s hard, scaled hide, his strikes barely leaving a mark.

    The Beast roared, swiping a massive w toward him, and Neron barely dodged in time, feeling the wind of its strike brush past his face.

    Serah, refusing to stay idle, cast a burst of mes at the Beast, the blue mes licking at its legs.

    The Beast staggered back, momentarily distracted, and Neron seized the opportunity to drive his sword into its side.

    The de sunk in, but not deep enough. The Beast let out an ear-splitting roar and twisted, sending Neron flying backward.

    He hit the ground hard, pain ring through his body. His vision darkened for a moment, but he forced himself up again, his grip tightening on his sword.

    He had to keep going. Serah was right behind him, and there was no way he was letting that thing get to her.

    But the Beast was too strong.

    Even with Davis fighting beside him and Serah''s magic ring, they were barely holding it off.

    Blood dripped from Neron''s wounds and his strength was fading faster than he wanted to admit.

    As Neron staggered to his feet, a sickening sensation crept through his veins.

    It wasn''t just the pain anymore. The air was thick with the Beast''s miasma¡ªpoisonous and suffocating.

    Every breath burned his lungs, and the world around him seemed to darken at the edges.

    He nced back at Serah, who was coughing, her hand over her mouth, her magic flickering weakly in her palm.

    "We''re not going tost much longer," Davis growled, his voice strained.

    His face was pale, his movements sluggish. The poison was affecting everyone, slowing them down.

    "Neron, Serah, Davis¡ªget out of here!" one of the older Adventurers shouted, parrying a blow from the Beast that sent sparks flying. "We''ll hold it off! Go!"

    But Neron knew they were already too weak. The Adventurers could barely stand, let alone fight the creature for much longer.

    He watched in horror as the Beast''s massive w came down, cleaving through one of them.

    A cry of anguish filled the air, followed by the sickening thud of bodies hitting the ground.

    "Run!" Davis yelled, blood dripping down his forehead as he faced the Beast head-on, his des trembling in his hands.

    He was trying to buy them time¡ªtime they didn''t have.

    Neron''s legs wobbled, his vision blurred again, but he couldn''t move.

    The miasma was thickening, choking him. Beside him, Serah reached out, her hand shaking as she tried to cast another spell, but the magic fizzled, her strength fading.

    "No¡­ not like this¡­" Neron whispered, his voice barely audible. He couldn''t abandon them, couldn''t leave the others to die.

    But as the Beast roared and turned its attention to them again, he knew that they were running out of choices.

    As he ran to assist the others, his legs suddenly gave way and he crashed to the ground.

    Despite several attempts to stand up, he couldn''t bring himself to and he realized how serious the matter was as he saw the creature advancing towards him.

    Unfortunately for him, he was weaker than he was at the time Serah assisted him.

    What was more damning was that she wasn''t anywhere around either.

 Chapter 1403: A Reawakening

    Neron gasped in pain as he wed at the ground in an attempt to stand up.

    His strength was fading as the miasma''s poison coursed through him.

    The more he tried to stand up, the more his legs gave way and after a few futile attempts, he gave up entirely.

    Each breath was a battle and each slight movement he took tormented him.

    The Beast circled him drawing closer as though it was ying with a meal.

    Its eyes were glowing with malice and it was buoyed by its victory over the numerous in Adventurers.

    Neron knew that he couldn''t fight anymore in his present condition¡ªfor one his body refused to obey him, and his vision swam in and out of focus.

    "Nero!"

    A feminine voice cut through the haze, panicked but resolute.

    His ears quickly picked up the voice and his heart grew warm as he recognised Serah.

    He had been worried about her as he feared that she was one of the many Adventurers that littered the ground.

    She stumbled toward him, coughing violently, her hands glowing faintly with thest remnants of her magic.

    She was pushing herself far past her limits, the same poison draining her life as quickly as it was his.

    Neron wasn''t sure if he was hallucinating or not but he was sure that he saw Legris fighting besides her.

    He was actually holding his own against the beast and even appeared to have an edge in the fight.

    Looking around him, he saw that other Adventurers had joined them.

    They were the ones that had been separated from the others by the fairy and it felt good to see them converge once more especially as it was to fight amon enemy.

    Some of them were even familiar faces. People he had known in the short time that he had spent at the guild.

    "At least we now stand a chance," He said weakly, smiling to himself despite the pain he was in.

    As he watched the fight take ce, his expression gradually changed till his mouth was agape.

    Despite the number that amounted in the hundreds, the beast quickly made short work of them and reduced their number to half within a few minutes.

    He saw Legris and Serah both running towards him.

    Legris armor was scorched and dented and his blood was running down his side, but he gritted his teeth, determined to help.

    "We have to get him out of here," he rasped, kneeling beside Neron.

    Serah nodded, though her face was pale, her eyes unfocused.

    She reached out to touch Neron''s arm, her fingers trembling as she attempted to summon a barrier spell.

    But the magic fizzled, sputtering out in a weak flicker of light.

    The Beast let out a deep growl, its massive ws scraping the stone floor as it stalked toward them.

    They didn''t have time. Legris gripped his sword with both hands, pushing himself to his feet with sheer willpower.

    "Stay behind me," hemanded, his voice hoarse. "I''ll hold it off as long as I can."

    Serah shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "You can''t¡­ you''re too weak¡­"

    But Legris had already moved, stepping between them and the Beast. He swung his sword with everything he had left, meeting the creature''s ws in a violent sh of metal and bone.

    The force of the impact sent Legris flying back, his body crashing into the temple wall.

    Blood sprayed from his wounds as he hit the ground, motionless.

    "Legris!" Serah screamed, her voice breaking.

    The Beast reared back, preparing to strike again, and Neron forced himself to sit up, gripping his sword with numb fingers.

    He wouldn''t let it end like this¡ªnot without a fight.

    But as the Beast lunged, darkness closed in, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

    "I-is this the end¡­?"

    The world felt blurry as a sea of blood ruined the atmosphere.

    The musky stench of death overwhelmed the senses, fueling the embers of despair that choked the young man who managed to leak out his thoughts.

    At this point, to his left and to his right, the marred bodies of hisrades decorated the devastatedndscape.

    Everyone was dead.

    Even if they were alive, he had no way of telling.

    "Haaa¡­ haaaa¡­"

    Heavy breaths now escaped his lungs as he removed his eyes from the gaping mouths and bloodshot eyeballs of the mangled corpses all around him.

    Right now, something else demanded his attention.

    And it stood right in front of him.

    "Huff¡­ huff¡­"

    A monolith of utter destruction¡ªa creature unlike anything he had ever seen before.

    This beast had been the one who hadid waste to all hisrades, destroyed everything in sight, and now had its eyes set on him.

    It snarled, almost in satisfaction as it gazed upon the young man.

    Its eyes brimmed with a primal desire for carnage.

    Its towering height told of an overwhelming power that could not be stopped.

    Something about this creature¡ªthis thing of absolute destruction¡ªseemed inevitable.

    ¡­ Unstoppable.

    "Y-you did this¡­"

    The hollow voice of the young man rang out as he rose to his feet.

    The injuries he had soon began to fade as some sort of power swelled within him.

    His jet ck hair turned white, and his dark irises saw the light.

    At that moment, the world began to tremble.

    "You made me do this¡­"

    Every fiber of energy within the vastndscape of chaos shook in the presence of the magnificent power being birthed.

    No¡­ not the power of the beast.

    The beast was strong, but not to this magnitude.

    This was¡­ something else.

    "I didn''t want this."

    The young man''s body was fully healed now, and the entirety of the fragments that ran amok slowly gathered around him.

    Everything was his.

    "I didn''t want to use this¡­" action

    His white hair broke through the darkness, and all of a sudden everything seemed to stop.

    ¡­ As if time itself went still.

    He inhaled.

    And then, he spoke.

    "¡­ Original Magic."

    After those mere words, the world was soon bathed in light, forever changed by the power of a single man.

 Chapter 1404: A Domain Epiphany

    "¡­ Original Magic."

    ~BOOMMMM~

    As the world was bathed in light, Neron suddenly realized what had felt missing in his life all this while.

    There was a new sense of excitement he was feeling and he knew that it was as a result of the mana particles he now felt from his fingertips to the rest of his body.

    He had missed the feeling and now feltplete as it washed over him and the surrounding.

    Added to the fact that he was now floating in the air, he felt unstoppable as he gazed down on the area.

    The monster that had seemed fierce before now looked small and weak from where he was.

    As he hovered in the air, his senses heightened as he felt the raw energy coursing through him and he wondered how to go about eliminating the creature.

    There were different ways to go about it, naturally he had to go for the most efficient one.

    He felt connected to everything as he saw the mana particles all around him.

    The sensation wasn''t just exhrating; it was empowering and he embraced it.

    His thoughts turned to Mordred, his father and he wondered whimsically if he could replicate his original magic.

    After all, he had admired and envied him for his domain. It was only natural he thought about it at the moment.

    Mordred wouldy out a domain in which he controlled everything that happened within it.

    Some called it reality maniption, but the Grand Mage personally preferred referring to this power as simple architecture.

    The world made by this Magic was his to build. He could create anything within it, and he could just as well destroy.

    It was a power that made him invincible¡ªworthy enough to bebeled as the strongest Grand Mage of the Kingdom.

    Neron knew all this which was why he chose to channel his magic. What worried him slightly was theplexity as he was unsure if he could do the same thing.

    He closed his eyes and focused, letting the mana guide him and feeling it dance around his fingertips, just as he had seen his father do so many times before.

    Slowly, a shape began to form¡ªa shimmering sphere of light.

    "Let''s see if I can match you, Father," he whispered.

    With a flick of his wrist, he released the magic.

    It spread out into the form of a domain but as quickly as it came, it went out.

    "Must have gotten it wrong," He said to himself as he felt the power fizzle out but he attributed the failure to a fluke.

    Neron steadied himself, determined not to falter again. He felt the raw energy still pulsing through him, a reminder of the power he now held.

    "Focus," he whispered, pushing aside the doubt. He visualized the domain once more, this time concentrating on the intricacies of control and creation. Mana swirled around him, forming a luminous barrier.

    Slowly but surely, the sphere expanded, shimmering with a bright neon light. Neron smiled, a glint of pride shing in his eyes. It wasn''t perfect yet, but it was something. "I''m getting closer Father," he muttered, ready to wield his growing power with brute force if necessary.

    Just like before, the sphere shrinked in size and before his eyes, it died down.

    He was about toin to himself but something suddenly struck him and he paused as he ruminated on the idea.

    "Oh, that''s it," He said, grinning to himself as he suddenly felt rejuvenated. Before the sphere fizzled out, he got an epiphany on what the problem was.

    He twisted himself in midair and expelled all the mana he could muster out of his body as he floated around.

    He felt everything around him slow down till it finally paused. He wasn''t sure if it was in his head and he looked around in wonderment to discover that he was indeed the only person that could move. Everything else was at a standstill.

    He couldn''t believe his eyes as he studied his environment. He had created his own domain and a powerful one at that.

    He quickly came up with a name for his Original Magic; All The Time In The World.

    From observing it, he could see that it had many functions. One was the reversal of the physical state of something¡ªeven down to the energy expended. Another was merging both past, present, and future events and tying them to form a loop.

    ¡ªA Time Loop.

    Other applications of his Magic existed¡ªsuch as ensuring all things invading his immediate area were instantly paused, or even cing his body under a loop so he never aged.

    Even in the extremely unlikely event that he received damage, his body would rey the loop and he would bepletely restored.

    It was strange that the ability to do something like that would fall into the hands of Neron who didn''t care much about power.

    Maintaining the domain alone took so much mana but then the amount of Mana within him was stupendously bountiful which made Neron an ideal candidate for it.

    He floated in his domain, everything around him frozen in a perpetual loop. The monster below, once terrifying, now seemed utterly insignificant. He could see every detail of its form, every twitch and movement locked in ce, powerless to break free.

    He grinned, the sheer magnitude of what he had just aplished dawning on him. "All the time in the world," he murmured, the name of his Original Magic rolling off his tongue like an old secret finally remembered.

    With a simple thought, he summoned a concentrated ball of mana in his palm. The light grew brighter and hotter as he infused it with his energy.

    He aimed it at the beast below, knowing its regeneration would be useless in the frozen state he had trapped it in.

    "Let''s finish this," Neron whispered.

    He released the energy.

    ~BOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM~

    A huge explosion engulfed the monster, vaporizing it in an instant. The air shimmered with heat as the dust settled, but the creature¡ªno, the threat¡ªwas gone. Reduced to nothing.

    Neron descended slowly, releasing the domain as time resumed its natural flow. He smiled, feeling a deep satisfaction. "Guess I matched you after all, Father."

 Chapter 1405: Feelings of Guilt

    The ground beneath Neron trembled as the shockwave from his mana expansion rocked the ce.

    The monster waspletely vapourized, making the dungeon that was once noisy with growls and battle cries now silent.

    ~FWOOSHHHHHHH~

    Neron floated down gently, his feet touching the stone floor as he surveyed the scene. His Original Magic had worked¡ªperhaps even more effectively than he had anticipated.

    But there was no time to relish the victory as his thoughts went to hisrades.

    He went over to Serah and Legris who were both unconscious from their earlier battle. He could still feel the mana coursing through his veins which made him feel invincible, but the sight of their battered bodies brought him back to the reality of the situation.

    They were both alive, but barely. He could see their chests heaving slightly as he studied it.

    Guilt gnawed at him. He really hadn''t meant for it to go this far. Even though they hadn''t trusted him with their lives, he felt somewhat responsible for what they had gone through.

    Without another word, Neron extended his hand toward them. His fingers crackled with mana as he focused on healing their injuries. A soft glow enveloped Serah and Legris, their wounds knitting together as the restorative magic did its work.

    He could feel the mana leaving him, but it hardly made a dent in the well of power that now surged within him.

    It wasn''t enough to ease his conscience, though. Nothing would be.

    "They''ll live," he muttered to himself, feeling the weight of his own decisions pressing down on him. His eyes flicked to the dungeon''s ceiling far above. This ce was copsing.

    The creature''s destruction had triggered something deep within the structure, and Neron could feel the dungeon crumbling around them.

    He had no time to waste.

    With a swift motion, Neron scooped Serah and Legris into his arms. Their unconscious bodies were light, fragile,pared to the raw power he nowmanded.

    He lifted his eyes, and in a single burst of mana, he propelled himself upwards.

    The ceiling of the dungeon shattered as Neron went through it at a great speed, an explosion of stone and dust marking his ascent. He didn''t slow down, moving with such speed that each floor''s ceiling caved beneath him as he tore through the structure, leaving destruction in his wake.

    The dungeon had been designed as abyrinth to confuse them which made running out of the ce not easy.

    ~CRACKK!~

    ~CRACKKKKKK!!~

    ~BOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Floor after floor crumbled beneath him, the force of his flight causing debris to rain down like a storm. But Neron didn''t stop. He couldn''t afford to.

    He was moving faster than he had ever thought possible, the wind howling past him as he ascended through the dungeon''syers, his mind focused on a single goal: getting Serah and Legris to safety.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Neron burst through the final barrier, the dungeon''s entrance looming before him.

    The cool air of the outside world washed over him, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon. He touched down softly,ying Serah and Legris on the ground just outside the entrance.

    He knelt beside them, his hands lingering as he finished thest touches of healing magic.

    He wasn''t an expert but he knew that they would be fine for the moment, physically at least.

    Their injuries were gone, and they were breathing steadily now. But as he looked at their faces, peaceful in their unconscious state, the guilt hit him once more.

    He had used magic.

    He had broken his own code.

    For years, he had sworn never to wield the same power his father had embraced. The memory of Mordred''s domain haunted him still¡ªan all-consuming force that controlled everything within its bounds.

    Neron had feared bing like him, feared what that kind of power would do to him. And yet, here he was, using the very magic he had sworn to avoid.

    "All the time in the world," he whispered, the name of his Original Magic ringing hollow in his ears now. It wasn''t just the monster he had destroyed. It was the trust of those who had fought beside him. They had no idea what he had be, and maybe that was for the best.

    Standing up, Neron looked down at Serah and Legris onest time. The Adventurers Guild had been a home of sorts for him¡ªa ce where he could pretend to be normal, where he could ignore the legacy of his father.

    But that illusion was gone now, shattered like the ceilings of the dungeon. He couldn''t stay. Not after this.

    The weight of his decision settled on his shoulders, heavy but inevitable.

    "I''m sorry," he whispered, though the words were more for himself than for them. They wouldn''t understand, even if they were awake to hear him. How could they? He didn''t understand all of it himself. The power he had unleashed wasn''t just overwhelming¡ªit was dangerous. Not just to his enemies, but to everything around him.

    Without another nce, Neron turned away. His footsteps were silent as he walked away from the unconscious figures of hisrades, away from the dungeon, away from the life he had known.

    He didn''t look back. He couldn''t.

    As he left the entrance behind, he felt mana still buzzing through him, the unfathomable well inside him wasn''t satisfied with the short disy he had had with the monster.

    As he reached outside, the world outside the dungeon seemed too bright, too open and he squinted his eyes as the rays of sunlight hit him.

    His heart felt heavy, even as his body hummed with the thrill of hisst battle.

    He didn''t know where he was going, but one thing was certain¡ªhe couldn''t go back to the Guild for now. Not ever too.

    "I''ll miss this ce for sure. What a crazy turn of events I''ve had down here," He said, taking onest look at the ce as he smiled wryly.

    He had tried to run away from his past but it had strangely caught up with him even down in a dungeon far away from where he usually frequented.

 Chapter 1406: Saved in the Desert

    The sun beat down on a lone figure as he trekked through the vast expanse of a desert.

    The plentiful mana within him had dulled down to the point where he could no longer feel it as he appeared to have used up a great part of his reserve.

    The intoxicating surge he''d felt while fighting during the dungeon battle now seemed like a distant memory.

    He had been traveling for weeks, though he had long since lost track of time. His mind was focused on survival now¡ªsomething as mundane and exhausting as putting one foot in front of the other.

    The sand stretched endlessly in every direction he could see and sometimes it shimmered in the midday heat. His throat was dry and parched beyond what healing magic could fix.

    He hadn''t eaten in days, and though he''d managed to conjure small amounts of water using his abilities, it wasn''t enough to keep his strength up.

    His legs felt like they were made of lead and it was with an effort that he dragged it through the dunes.

    With each step, his body protested more and his muscles screamed for rest, but his mind pushed him forward.

    "I have to keep moving," He said weakly as he knew that to stop meant to die, and after everything¡ªSerah, Legris, the Guild¡ªhe wasn''t ready for that. Not yet.

    But eventually, even his will wasn''t enough.

    ~PLOPP!~

    The moment came without warning. One second he was moving, and the next, his legs gave out beneath him.

    The scorching heat of the sand pressed against his skin as he fell face-first into the dunes.

    His breaths came in shallow gasps as the air was heavy with dust and heat.

    This is it, he thought bitterly. After everything I''ve been through, I''m going to die in the middle of nowhere.

    He closed his eyes as he was too exhausted to care anymore. He felt the world around him begin to fade, the oppressive heat fading into a numb cold.

    His mind drifted in and out of consciousness, and somewhere in the distance, a voice called out to him. It was faint at first but it grew clearer as it neared.

    "Well, well, well. What have we here?"

    The voice was familiar, irritatingly so, but Neron''s mind couldn''t ce it for the life of him.

    He felt himself being lifted, though it felt like his body was floating rather than being carried. The sensation was strangeforting, almost.

    Then darkness imed him entirely.

    *

    *

    *

    Neron awoke in a bed, a soft pillow beneath his head and warm nkets draped over his body. His eyes fluttered open and he blinked quickly against the dim light that filled the room.

    His mind was still groggy as he tried to piece together everything that had happened. He should have been dead, but instead, he felt¡­good. Too good, actually.

    His body was in perfect health and he no longer felt hungry or thirsty. He sat up slowly and the cool sheets slipped from his chest as he took in his surroundings.

    The room was elegant, though not extravagant¡ªfurnished with arge wooden desk, a chair, and shelves lined with books.

    "Where am I?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

    Thest thing he remembered was copsing in the desert. But this ce was far from the barren wastnd he had been wandering.

    As if in response to his question, the door to the room creaked open.

    Neron turned his gaze toward the entrance just as a figure stepped through the doorway.

    The woman who entered was tall, with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. She wore dark, form-fitting clothes that entuated her lean, muscr build.

    Her striking features were framed by messy white hair, but it was the eyepatch covering her left eye that immediately drew Neron''s attention.

    His eyes lit up in recognition.

    "You," he said, sitting up straighter.

    The woman with the eyepatch smiled, a smirk that radiated amusement. "Me," she responded casually, closing the door behind her. "It''s been a while, hasn''t it?"

    Neron didn''t respond immediately as his mind was racing. He had met her before, briefly, during one of his earlier quests.

    "How did you¡­?" he began, but she held up a hand, cutting him off.

    "You passed out in the desert. Quite dramatically, I might add," she said, her voiceced with amusement. She crossed the room and took a seat in the chair by the window, loungingfortably as if she owned the ce. "Lucky for you, I was passing by. Again."

    Neron narrowed his eyes, suspicion creeping into his thoughts. "You were just passing by? In the middle of a desert?"

    She shrugged. "Coincidence, fate, who knows? Either way, here we are."

    He didn''t believe her, but something about her presence, her confidence, her knowing smile made it hard to question her outright. Instead, he focused on something else.

    "You¡­healed me?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

    She tilted her head, considering him. "In a way. Let''s just say I''m good at taking care of things like that." Her smile widened, revealing a hint of something more predatory. "You''re wee, by the way."

    Neron clenched his fists beneath the nket, trying to keep his emotions in check. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice sharper than he intended.

    The woman''s expression didn''t falter. If anything, her amusement deepened.

    "Oh, I don''t want anything," she said, leaning forward slightly. "I just find you¡­interesting. You have power¡ªmore than most people Ie across. But there''s something else, something different about you."

    Neron felt a chill run down his spine despite the warmth of the room. She wasn''t just talking about his mana. Somehow, she knew more than she was letting on.

    The woman stood, moving toward the door. "Get some rest," she said, ncing over her shoulder with that same knowing smile. "We''ll talk more when you''re ready."

    Before he could respond, she left, the door closing softly behind her.

    Neron stared at the door for a long moment, his mind racing as he thought about who she was.

    As he tried to dwell on it, he felt himself get drowsy and he copsed back on the bed.

 Chapter 1407: Memories With A Stranger

    "Feeling better now?"

    Thedy who had saved Neron asked him as she entered the room but got no response in return.

    "Neron?"

    Silence.

    "You can stop pretending now. I know you''re awake," She said looking at his still form.

    "How did you figure that out?" Neron asked, opening his eyes.

    "Pftttt. I just can. It''s not hard," She said with a shrug as she settled down beside him on the bed.

    He felt crowded by the sudden closeness so he slightly shifted back as he didn''t know why she was acting all chummy with him when they barely knew each other.

    "You can rx. I''m not trying to harm you or anything. If I was, I could have easily done that all the time you were out."

    It was his turn to scoff as he hated the fact that he had been vulnerable in front of her and she could easily have harmed him if she intended to do so.

    "I''ll like to see you try," He shot back even though he knew that it was a bluff.

    She smiled back without saying a word which only served to infuriate him further.

    "How is your head now? Still feeling lightheaded?"

    "I''m fine, thank you," Neron said, waving her concern away. "I noticed you haven''t yet introduced yourself. I don''t see why I should trust you to begin with."

    She leaned back slightly, giving him space. "The name''s Lilith," she said, her voice calm but with a hint of amusement. "You don''t have to trust me, but I''m the one who dragged you out of the mess that would have killed you. That''s worth something, don''t you think?"

    Neron eyed her warily. He knew that she was right but wasn''t about to give her the satisfaction of gratitude. "Be as it may, I''m sure I would have handled it."

    "Right," Lilith replied, her smile now sarcastic. "You were doing such a fantastic job bleeding out and barely conscious. Sure looked like you had it under control."

    He clenched his jaw as he was irritated by her flippant tone though the truth was that he was furious with himself for getting to that point."What do you want from me?"

    "Nothing." She shrugged again. "I''m just curious. Why does someone with so much potential throw himself into reckless situations? You''ve got more talent than most people I''ve seen. Yet here you are, constantly holding yourself back, ready to throw it all away. Why?"

    Neron turned his gaze to the ceiling, avoiding her eyes. Her question hit a nerve but there was a more pressing question on his mind.

    "How do you know all this, how long have you been studying me?"

    "Studying you. Pfttt, you wish," She replied, folding her hands.

    "I''m serious. You talk as though you know me."

    She met his gaze head on without backing down and he knew after some seconds that he wasn''t going to get an answer to his question.

    She wanted an answer to what she had asked and he ruminated on it.

    "You''re not going to take me seriously even if I tell you."

    Lilith tilted her head. "Try me."

    He exhaled slowly as he felt the weight of guilt pressing down on him the more he remembered everything that had led to the moment he was now in.

    "I''ve made mistakes. Ones I can''t take back." His voice was low, almost a whisper. "People got hurt because of me. Maybe it''s better if I don''t get involved anymore in their affair. That way, I can''t hurt them."

    For a moment, Lilith said nothing. Then she shook her head, adopting a sage-like demeanor all of a sudden.

    "So you''re punishing yourself because of that. That''s your n? Wasting everything you''ve got because of a few mistakes?"

    Neron didn''t respond as he took it as a rhetorical question, the tension in her shoulders told him that she wasn''t happy with what he had said.

    Lilith leaned closer, her voice soft but firm. "You don''t get to decide who''s beyond redemption, Neron. Least of all yourself."

    He opened his mouth to answer her but couldn''t bring himself to form the words.

    She suddenly moved away from him, breaking the moment and the heavy silence.

    "You remind me of someone," she said, her tone light but with a touch of nostalgia.

    "A Magic Schr I met a few hundred years ago. Same guilt, same desire to punish himself for something he couldn''t change."

    Neron blinked, his eyes snapping back to hers. "A few hundred years? You''re that old?" He struggled to keep the disbelief out of his voice.

    She shrugged as if it were no big deal. "Give or take. I''ve seen my share of troubled souls, trust me. But enough about me. I''m more interested in your story."

    "My story?" Neron frowned, still caught off guard by the revtion. "You expect me to believe you''ve lived that long?"

    "Believe it or don''t. Doesn''t matter to me," Lilith said casually, leaning back against the wall. "What does matter is why you''re letting the past keep you chained. You don''t owe me anything, but if it helps to get it off your chest, I''ll hear you out. No judgment."

    Neron hesitated at her words. He wasn''t used to sharing things about himself, especially to someone he was just meeting for the first time, not after everything he''d been through.

    Still, there was something about Lilith''s nonchnt demeanor, her age, her confidence¡ªit made him think maybe she really had seen it all. She gave him a sage vibe which made him think that she wouldn''t judge him the way others had.

    "You really want to know?" he asked, his voice softer now.

    Lilith nodded, her gaze steady. "I do. Start from the beginning, Neron. Tell me everything. And I''ll listen."

    For a long moment, he just stared at her. Then, with a quiet sigh, he began to speak. "It all started when I made a choice¡­ a choice that changed everything..."

 Chapter 1408: Lilith

    "... And that''s what happened."

    Silence wafted in the air as the two figures who sat opposite each other in the exquisite room stared at each other.

    One was a young boy¡ªa teenager with pure ck hair, wellplemented by his irises that bore the same color. The woman who sat opposite him had glimmering white hair, with a ck eyepatch covering one of her eyes, while her other eye glowed with crimson luster. She seemed to be in herte twenties or early thirties, but there was something¡­ aged about how she smiled.

    ¡ªAlmost as if she was older.

    Much older.

    "I see. It appears you''ve had quite the rough life, Neron." She spoke after letting the silence fester for too long.

    Despite the words that she uttered, her tone wasn''tced with an ounce of empathy. In fact, she was smiling for the most part, and practically unbothered for the rest. It didn''t seem like the teenager''s tragic life had moved her in the slightest.

    "Yeah¡­" Neron responded. "Though it doesn''t seem like you care that much, Miss Lilith."

    "Pfft! Just call me Lilith." Sheughed almost immediately after he called her out on her nonchnce andckadaisical attitude towards the story of his life.

    His closest friends died when he was just a little kid, his teacher and adopted father died as a result of an incurable illness, though it was his fault that the sickness worsened to the point that the man died. His colleagues died, and he nearly lost the one person he cared for the most in the world¡­ Serah.

    It seemed as though his life wasden with misfortune.

    Anything and everything that he touched¡­ simply seemed to die¡ªperish before his very eyes.

    "No more¡­" He whispered, his head cast down. "I don''t think I can take it anymore."

    Another round of silence enveloped the room.

    Then, he raised his head and looked squarely into the eyes of the smiling woman.

    "I''m grateful that you saved my life, but I don''t think you should have¡­" Neron''s face was serious, his tired eyes reflecting nothing but despair.

    "There''s no point in carrying on like¡ª"

    "How fascinating¡­" Lilith interrupted him, quite rudely as well, with an amusing grin and a lighthearted tone.

    It definitely didn''t fit into the current mood, but she didn''t seem to care.

    "I thought you reminded me about Lewis, but even he wasn''t this much of a killjoy." She shrugged lightly, raising her hands.

    "H-hey¡ª!"

    "If I''m to make a more aptparison¡­ I''d say you remind me more about myself."

    "What?" At this point, Neron was slowly getting exasperated.

    "Yup! It''s like looking into a mirror."

    "H-how¡­?!" Neron mouthed, wondering what this crazydy was on about. "We are nothing alike!"

    For one, she didn''t even seem to rte to any of the things he was saying. He vibe waspletely different from his, and while he still didn''t know that much about her, it seemed like she was doing pretty well for herself.

    They were nothing alike at all.

    "You can''t see it, so I won''t bother exining¡­" She waved off his protests like they meant nothing to her. "But, I am curious about you, Neron."

    "Curious?"

    "Yes¡­ curious." She smiled. "It still sort of feels like I know you somehow¡­ somewhere. I''d like to study you for a while¡­"

    "What? Like an experiment?"

    "Don''t put it like that! This will be beneficial for you too. At the very least, it''ll ensure your potential doesn''t go to waste."

    "I don''t¡­ I don''t think I care that much about my potential right now." Neron was forlorn at this point, teetering at the edge of despair.

    It wouldn''t even be a stretch to say that he was feeling suicidal.

    "Ahh,e on! You can''t get too beat up about life like this! You''re still so young. There are still tons of tragedy awaiting you in the future."

    "W-what? What are you even¡­?"

    Neron was in disbelief as he looked at the shameless woman in front of him.

    Wasn''t she supposed tofort him, or at least try to have a bit of tact when it came to his situation? But, it seemed like she just said whatever came to her mind.

    It reminded him of a certain red-haired girl, but at least she had some kindness in her.

    Lilith seemed to be all out of that, though.

    "Look, Neron¡­ if youe with me¡­ you''ll be able to learn more about yourself and figure out what you want to do about all these things."

    "...."

    "In the end, talking about it is only meant for your self reflection and my entertainment. I never had the intention offorting you, to begin with."

    "You''re mean!" Neron couldn''t hide his feelings anymore, no longer letting his feelings of gratitude stop him from saying the words that the woman before him deserved to hear.

    "Are you even human?"

    "Nope¡­"

    "E-eh?" He had only asked the question sarcastically, so he never expected a response like that.

    "I''m not human, but this isn''t about me." She smirked. "What do you think about my proposal?"

    Once again, Neron sighed in hesitation.

    As much as he dreaded being alone at this point in his life, and sought something to fill the void within him¡­ he also couldn''t shake off the fear that his trauma brought upon him.

    "You know what happens to anyone who gets close to me¡­ yet you still want me to stay with you?" He asked, his brows raised.

    Personally, Neron couldn''t care less if this woman died. She had saved his life, but he didn''t think he would miss her too much if she suddenly disappeared.

    "Pfft! There''s no way that would ever happen."

    As she said this, she ced a hand on her chest and made a confident deration that he had never heard in all his life.

    "I am actually immortal."

    "What?"

    "Yeah! I''m an immortal non-human!" She responded with a straight face.

    This was the biggest bunch of nonsense Neron had ever heard, but for some reason¡­ he believed her. Not only was she very blunt with him, but she had no real reason to lie to him.

    Besides, it wasn''t like he would really care if she died anyway.

    He didn''t really care about much at this point.

    "Fine¡­" He mumbled while shrugging. "I guess learning more about my power and what makes me special would be something worthwhile."

    "Perfect!" Lilith jumped on her feet.

    "Let us begin."

    *

    *

    *

    [Wee to Part 2, Arc 3¡­ The Vagabond Arc]

    It''s good to be back after so long, and I hope this will be an interesting journey¡ªboth for me, as the author, and you¡­ the reader.

    Enjoy!

 Chapter 1409: Weakness

    The golden sands of the desert stretched endlessly before them, the only sign of life being the faint shimmer in the air as the heat warped the horizon.

    Behind them, the magnificent castle Lilith had built, conjured by her unearthly magic, slowly began to crumble. The energy of her spell reverberated in the air as the once-immense structure folded into itself like a building on the verge of copse.

    Neron didn''t have to turn around to know what was happening. The castle was vanishing¡ªdissolving into dust¡ªleaving nothing but the barren desert behind.

    "Are you sure about this?" Neron asked, squinting against the harsh sun as he nced at Lilith.

    She was walking a few steps ahead, her long white hair swaying in the wind, her ck eyepatch covering one of her eyes. Despite the oppressive heat, she seemedpletely unfazed. Her confidence radiated like an aura.

    Lilith shrugged, a mischievous glint in her glowing crimson eye. "Not really, no. But I''ve got a feeling about you, Neron." She nced over her shoulder, her smile never faltering. "Besides, thest thing I need is to keep living in that crumbling thing. It''s time to make things interesting, don''t you think?"

    Neron frowned, not entirely convinced. He wasn''t used to this kind of uncertainty. "And where exactly are we headed?"

    "I don''t know yet. But that''s half the fun, isn''t it? We''ll find something. A ce, a challenge, an opportunity¡­" She gave a dramatic pause. "We''ll see."

    He sighed, letting the desert wind catch his hair. He wasn''t used to being directionless. He preferred knowing where he was going, having a n. But then again, Lilith wasn''t someone who lived by ns.

    Hours passed as they walked under the relentless sun, the horizon slowly shifting as the day bled into evening. The desert was eerily silent, with nothing but the sand stretching out in all directions. No life. No civilization. Just endless stretches of sand and the asional dust devil swirling in the distance.

    Eventually, Lilith stopped in her tracks, and Neron nearly bumped into her.

    "This looks good," she said, pointing ahead to a massive, jagged structure jutting from the ground. It looked like a strangebination of rocks and organic matter, as if something had built itself into thendscape rather than having been constructed by human hands.

    Neron followed her gaze.

    The ce wasn''t exactly a pce. It resembled more of a hive, a den. It was alive in its own way, but that wasn''t the thing that caught his attention. It was the dense, heavy air around it that spoke of danger¡ªmonsters, lurking. There were faint sounds, low growls and the scraping of ws, echoing from inside.

    "What is this ce?" Neron asked, his voice hushed by the unsettling atmosphere.

    "A Monster Den," Lilith answered simply, as if it were amon urrence. "It''s filled with all sorts of creatures¡ªvicious ones, too."

    Neron couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow. "And you want me to¡­?"

    "Clear it." She finished the sentence for him, grinning. "I''ve been wanting to test you, Neron. Your power, your skill. And this seems like a good ce to start."

    He frowned, feeling a tight knot form in his stomach. "What do you mean, ''test me''? You didn''t even tell me what you expect from me."

    Lilith gave him an almost apologetic look, though it didn''t seem genuine. "Don''t be so dramatic. Just take care of the monsters inside. Show me what you''ve got."

    "I thought you wanted to see what I could do with my [Original Magic]," he said, feeling his patience starting to wear thin. "You''re telling me to kill these things like some sort of test."

    "Exactly." She smiled, her eyes glinting. "And yes, I want to see how you handle yourself. What use is all that potential if you''re not going to use it?"

    Neron''s hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword. Even though he didn''t care for this woman''s flippant attitude, there was no denying that she had a point. She had saved his life, and whatever else was going on, he was still stuck with her.

    So if she wanted him to clear out a Monster Den to prove something, then so be it.

    He stepped forward, his boots crunching on the sand beneath him as he approached the entrance of the den. It was dark, the shadows stretching like ws into the opening. The faintest growl reverberated from within, sending a chill down his spine.

    "Remember," Lilith called from behind, her tone teasing. "I''m not going to hold your hand. This is your show. Show me what you can do."

    He took a deep breath and stepped inside, the air thick with the stench of decay and wild creatures. His senses were on high alert as he moved deeper into the den.

    The first monster appeared before him within moments¡ªa hulking beast covered in spiny armor, with two massive pincers and glowing red eyes. It let out a guttural roar, charging toward him with startling speed.

    He drew his sword, a natural motion now, and prepared to fight. But as the monster neared, he didn''t engage immediately. Instead, he focused, reaching deep within himself.

    "[Original Magic]..."

    Time bent around him, the world grinding to a halt as he focused on the beast''s movements.

    He watched as its charge slowed, its limbs barely moving in real-time. The beast was frozen in ce, and he could almost hear the screeching of time itself. His Original Magic, the ability to stop or slow down time around his target, was always a force he tried to use sparingly.

    But here, in this den of monsters, it was perfect.

    He didn''t waste time. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, shing his sword cleanly through the beast''s thick hide. The monster fell with a heavy thud, dead before it even knew what hit it. He turned his attention back to Lilith, who had been watching silently from the entrance.

    Her face was unreadable as he walked back toward her, wiping the de clean.

    "Well, that wasn''t too bad," she said, though her tone didn''t reflect the slightest hint of approval.

    He raised an eyebrow. "Is that it? Just keep fighting?"

    She chuckled, the sound light but hollow. "For now, yes. Keep going. Let''s see how much more you can do."

    He nodded, stepping deeper into the den.

    More monsters appeared, different ones this time¡ªsmaller, faster. They were no less dangerous. He used his abilities again, slowing their movements to a crawl, carving through them with a fluid grace he hadn''t realized he had. He was in the zone, using his magic and his swordsmanship in harmony.

    But as he finished off another group of monsters, he heard Lilith''s voice behind him,ced with something close to disappointment.

    "That''s enough."

    He stopped, his heart sinking as he turned to face her. She was still standing in the same spot, arms crossed over her chest.

    "What do you mean, ''that''s enough''?" he asked, panting slightly from the fight. "I''m clearing the ce out, aren''t I?"

    "You are," she said, her voice cool. "But that''s not the problem."

    He frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

    Lilith took a few steps toward him, her expression sharp now, like a teacher about to correct a student. "You''re so weak, Neron. You''ve got all this power, all this potential, and yet you barely scratch the surface of it. You can slow down time, but look at you¡ªyour skill, your experience. You should be much further along. Your techniques are rough, your instincts sluggish. You''ve been wasting time."

    His fists clenched, but he couldn''t find the words to argue.

    "Where do I even begin with you?."

 Chapter 1410: Stark Difference

    [A Few Days Later]

    "Alright, Neron!"

    Lilith spoke, her tone light and airy, as if she were exining the simplest of lessons.

    "Today, we''re going to see just how far you''vee. Magic, martial arts, and your ability tobine them... Let''s see what you''ve got."

    The desert winds whipped against Neron''s face, his dark hair sticking to his sweaty forehead as he watched Lilith, standing across from him with azy smile. Her pale skin seemed untouched by the sun, her white hair shimmering like a halo around her face as she casually adjusted the ck eyepatch over her right eye.

    Despite the oppressive heat and the desertndscape surrounding them, the woman appeared as if she were in apletely different world¡ªa world where nothing could harm her.

    Neron clenched his fists at his sides, taking a deep breath. He had spent the past few days trying to master what she had taught him¡ªcasting spells, training in hand-to-handbat, and attempting to merge them into a fluid form.

    She had concentrated her attempts in refining everything he already knew, and since he was a fast learner, things were moving at a productive pace.

    Still¡­ the results so far were far from spectacr. His powers, though formidable in their own right, had proven insufficient when pitted against Lilith''s overwhelming skill and ability to manipte magic at will.

    Lilith raised her hand, and with a snap of her fingers, a gust of wind stirred around them, causing the sand to swirl at her feet.

    "Come at me whenever you''re ready."

    Neron felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He could feel the weight of her gaze, calcting, assessing. He wasn''t sure whether she was bored or simply enjoying the spectacle of his struggle. Either way, this time, he wouldn''t hold back.

    ~FSHUUUUU!~

    He drew upon his Original Magic, his fingers twitching with anticipation.

    He could feel the familiar pulse of energy coursing through him, the rush of power as he prepared to slow down time for his target. His first attempt had been somewhat crude, the time maniption a bit jagged and unreliable.

    But today, he was going to make it work.

    He concentrated hard, pushing his will into the spell. Time began to bend, the world around him slowing down. The wind faltered mid-air, and the grains of sand seemed to hang suspended in the atmosphere, as if frozen in time.

    Neron sprinted forward, his body a blur of motion, faster than ever before.

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    He made it within striking distance in mere seconds, ready tond a decisive blow. His fist was aimed at Lilith''s face¡ªsurely, with the time distortion in his favor, he''d have the upper hand.

    But as his fist shot toward her, Lilith''s hand moved with a fluid grace.

    She caught his fist effortlessly, her fingers tightening around his knuckles with almost no effort. There was no strain in her expression¡ªno sign that she had even exerted any energy. Instead, her lips curled into a yful smile.

    "Time maniption? How quaint," she murmured, her voice soft as she twisted his wrist, forcing him to his knees. "But if that''s the best you''ve got, you''ll need more than just time to defeat me."

    Neron gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling up inside him. He wasn''t used to being overpowered so easily. She made it look so simple, her movements so fluid, like she was always one step ahead.

    With a growl of determination, he pulled back and attempted another move, drawing from his arsenal of spells.

    His hands moved rapidly, weaving together an array of incantations. Fire. Ice. Lightning. He sent them all her way, hoping to overwhelm her with the sheer volume of magic.

    ~WHOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    But Lilith onlyughed. Her voice was light, almost mocking, as she raised a single finger to the sky.

    "You think I don''t know how to deal with a few spells?"

    In an instant, a wall of pure force shot up from the ground, a shimmering barrier that blocked every spell Neron had thrown at her. The fire sputtered and died, the ice shattered, and the lightning fizzled out before it could even reach her.

    She stood there, untouched, as the magic dissipated harmlessly into the air.

    "Is that really all you''ve learned?" Lilith asked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "You rely too much on raw power. Your tactics are predictable, and your spells are easy to read. Magic alone won''t save you. Magicbined with skill, however¡­ Now that''s something worth learning."

    "Haaa¡­" Neron took a step back, breathing heavily.

    He wasn''t sure what else to try.

    Every move, every tactic he had used, had been countered effortlessly by Lilith. She was untouchable¡ªimpossible to defeat with his current level of power. Her mastery over magic and martial arts was unparalleled, and every time he attempted something, she saw through it with startling precision.

    "Come on," Lilith urged, her tone unbothered as she shifted her weight. "You can''t expect to win by simply iling around. You''re a smart boy, Neron. Think about it. What''s your next move?"

    Neron clenched his jaw, sweat trickling down his face.

    He hated this.

    Hated how easily she had torn apart his efforts.

    But this wasn''t about pride anymore.

    He had to learn.

    He had to understand how she was able to do this¡ªto move like water, to wield magic as if it were a natural extension of herself.

    With a deep breath, he calmed his racing thoughts. He would stop trying to overpower her. Instead, he needed to use his brain, to strategize, to think outside the box. This was no longer a battle of strength or sheer willpower.

    This was a battle of wits.

    Neron took another step forward, but this time, he didn''t rush. He moved carefully, watching Lilith closely, searching for any hint of weakness, any small opening in her defenses. He could see the way she tilted her head slightly, as if she were waiting for him to make the first move.

    He decided to make a feint, pretending to strike low with his right fist while his left hand prepared a spell. The moment she shifted her attention to the right, he would strike with a quick burst of magic from the left.

    But just as he was about to execute the n, Lilith''s eyes shed with an almost predatory sharpness. She knew exactly what he was thinking. With a mere flick of her wrist, she redirected the force of his strike, sending his arm spinning out of control.

    At the same time, her foot swept out to catch his ankle, and in an instant, he was on the ground, pinned beneath her.

    "Better, but still not enough," she said, her voice calm and measured. "You thought you could catch me off guard, but I''ve already anticipated your every move."

    Neron''s mind raced as he struggled beneath her, but she wasn''t even exerting herself. She was ying with him, guiding him, as if she were teaching a child how to hold a weapon. Every move he made was countered effortlessly.

    His magic fizzled before it could even get close, and his martial arts strikes were rendered useless by her superior technique and agility.

    "Listen," she said, leaning down so that her face was mere inches from his. "I''ve been watching you, Neron. You have potential. But potential means nothing if you don''t know how to use it. I know what you''re thinking¡­ I''m too strong, right? Right? Wrong!"

    Neron shook his head and sighed.

    "You''re the one who is weak. You can''t evennd a single hit on me. You''ve got raw power, but it''s useless if you don''t know how to wield it."

    The boy''s heart sank as he heard the truth in her words.

    He had known all along that he was inferior to her, but hearing it from her directly made it feel all the more real. The frustration he had been suppressing finally bubbled to the surface, and for a moment, he wanted tosh out, to scream at her for being so dismissive.

    But then he remembered something. Lilith was not his enemy. She was his teacher, and her harsh words were meant to push him, to force him to be better.

    Neron closed his eyes, his breathing in shallow gasps. He had no choice but to ept the truth. He was weak¡ªfar weaker than he had imagined. But that didn''t mean he couldn''t grow stronger.

    He would learn.

    He had to learn.

    "Fine," Neron muttered, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Teach me. Show me how to do this."

    Lilith''s lips curled into a smile. "That''s the spirit. But know this, Neron¡ªthere''s no easy way out of this. I''m going to break you down and rebuild you from the ground up. And only then will you be able to face the real challenges ahead."

    She stood up, offering him a hand. Neron took it, feeling the coolness of her touch as she pulled him to his feet.

    "Now," she said, her smile widening. "Let''s begin your real training."

 Chapter 1411: Magic Beast Society

    [A Few Weeks Later]

    "Haaa¡­ at longst!"

    The two finally left the desert region, constantly training and moving every single day. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached civilization.

    However, it wasn''t anything like what Neron expected.

    "What is this ce¡­?" Confusion was evident on his face as he looked at the bustling civilization that littered the valley from a cliff that he upied alongside Lilith.

    The woman merely smiled and casually revealed something he never knew.

    "This is a Magic Beast Society." Her smile broadened. "There are lots of them scattered around, unlike the centralized system that humans operate in."

    "F-for real? Magic Beasts have a society?"

    "Yup! We''re here because I need to stock up on some ingredients that are already running low, and I can only get them here."

    "Ingredients¡­?"

    "Mainly spices." She retorted dismissively. "Nothing that important."

    "...."

    Neron remained silent as he took one final nce at the city from above.

    "Welp! Let''s go."

    ***********

    The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the bustling streets of the Magic Beast society. The town was unlike anything Neron had ever seen¡ªa blend of the fantastical and the functional.

    Buildings made of stone and wood were interwoven with glowing vines and enchanted crystals that pulsed faintly with energy. The air buzzed with a mix ofughter, shouts, and the asional growl or snarl.

    It was lively, chaotic, and altogether overwhelming.

    Lilith walked ahead, her pace brisk as she led Neron through the vibrant streets. Magic Beasts of various shapes and sizes roamed freely. Centaurs pulled carts filled with exotic fruits, minotaurs towered over vendor stalls, and feline-like beings with sleek fur darted through the crowd.

    Despite their differences, they all had an air of intelligence and purpose that set them apart from the mindless monsters Neron had fought.

    "This ce is incredible¡­" Neron muttered, his eyes darting around to take everything in.

    "Impressive, isn''t it?" Lilith replied, a rare hint of genuine amusement in her voice. "Magic Beast societies are far more advanced than human settlements in certain aspects. They''ve been around longer, after all."

    "Why don''t humans trade with them more often?" he asked, dodging a barrel being rolled by a particrly burly lizardman.

    Lilith chuckled softly. "Because humans are arrogant and afraid of what they don''t understand. Magic Beasts aren''t fond of humans either. You''re only here because you''re with me."

    Neron nced at her, noting the ease with which she moved through the crowd. She seemedpletely at home, as if the chaos surrounding them was second nature to her.

    They stopped in front of arge, intricately designed shop with a glowing blue door. Lilith turned to him, her crimson eye glinting mischievously.

    "I need to visit an old friend. Shouldn''t take long. You''ll stay here and explore the market."

    "What? Alone?"

    "You''ll be fine," she said, waving dismissively. "This is the perfect opportunity for you to get used to dealing with different kinds of people¡ªor creatures, in this case."

    "But¡ª"

    "No buts," Lilith interrupted, smirking. "Consider it part of your training. Try not to cause too much trouble."

    Before he could protest further, she disappeared through the glowing door, leaving him standing amidst the bustling crowd.

    Neron sighed, ncing around. He didn''t even know where to start. The market was a sensory overload¡ªbright colors, strange smells, and the constant chatter of creatures he''d only read about in fairy tales.

    As he walked through the maze of stalls, he tried to focus on the goods being sold. There were shimmering fabrics that seemed to change color in the light, potions bubbling in ss vials, and weapons forged from materials he couldn''t even name.

    "Hey, human!" a vendor called out, a reptilian face grinning at him from behind a stall. "Looking for something special? Maybe a charm to keep you safe?"

    Neron shook his head politely and kept moving. Despite Lilith''s reassurance, he couldn''t shake the feeling that he didn''t belong here. The asional suspicious nce from passersby only reinforced that.

    He turned a corner and found himself in a quieter section of the market. The stalls here were less shy but still brimming with fascinating wares. As he scanned the area, something caught his eye¡ªa small figurine carved from dark stone. It was simple but intricately detailed, depicting a creature with wings and horns.

    Before he could take a closer look, someone bumped into him, hard enough to make him stumble.

    "Watch where you''re going!" A sharp, feminine voice snapped.

    Neron turned to see the source of the voice¡ªa girl around his age with crimson eyes that burned with irritation. She had small, curved horns protruding from her head and a tail that flicked behind her, betraying her agitation. Her appearance was striking, otherworldly, and, judging by the attention they were suddenly receiving, important.

    "I¡ªuh, sorry," Neron stammered, raising his hands in a cating gesture.

    "Sorry?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

    The crowd around them began to murmur, creatures of all kinds stopping to watch the unfolding scene. Neron felt the weight of their stares and the growing tension in the air.

    "I didn''t mean to¡ª"

    "Silence!" the girl snapped, cutting him off. Her tailshed behind her like an angry whip. "You dare to touch me and think a simple ''sorry'' is enough?"

    "It was an ident," he tried to exin, his tone firm despite the growing unease in his chest.

    "An ident?" She stepped closer, her crimson eyes narrowing. "How typical of a human to think they can do as they please without consequence."

    Neron clenched his jaw, his own irritation beginning to rise. "Look, I already apologized. What more do you want?"

    The girl''s expression darkened, and the crowd around them seemed to hold its collective breath. Then, without warning, she raised her hand and pped him across the face.

    The force of the blow was startling, not just because of its strength but because of the sheer audacity of it. Neron staggered slightly, his cheek stinging as he stared at her in disbelief.

    "Kneel," shemanded, her voice cold and imperious. "Kneel and apologize properly."

    The crowd erupted in whispers, some amused, others shocked. Neron''s hands curled into fists at his sides as he met her gaze, anger ring in his chest.

    But as he stared at her, he noticed something beneath her fiery demeanor¡ªa flicker of something deeper, though he couldn''t quite ce it.

    Still, he couldn''t ignore the sting of his pride. His lips pressed into a thin line as he weighed his options, the girl''smand hanging heavy in the air.

    Then, he finally responded.

    "No."

 Chapter 1412: A Bit Of Trouble

    You dare defy me?"

    The girl hissed, her tail snapping sharply behind her like an agitated serpent.

    Neron could feel the weight of the crowd''s eyes on him, their collective anticipation pressing down like a heavy nket. Though his instincts screamed at him to diffuse the situation, his pride wouldn''t let him back downpletely.

    "I already said it was an ident," Neron replied evenly, his tone firm but not disrespectful. "I don''t think kneeling is necessary."

    Upon saying this, he made to leave the area andpletely ignore the girl. Unfortunately for him, it wasn''t over yet.

    "Hey, human!" The sharp,manding voice froze him in ce.

    Turning slowly, he saw the same horned girl from earlier standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and her tail flicking sharply behind her. Her crimson eyes bore into him, and a small entourage of guards nked her, each one carrying an air of menace.

    "You still haven''t knelt," she said coldly, her voice cutting through the noise of the market like a de.

    Neron sighed, feeling his patience wearing thin. "Look, I already apologized. It was an ident. What more do you want from me?"

    "Respect," she replied, stepping closer. The crowd began to gather again, their murmurs swelling as they realized the confrontation wasn''t over.

    Neron clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "Respect is earned, not demanded."

    The girl''s eyes narrowed, and her tailshed once more. "You''ve got a sharp tongue for someone so insignificant."

    "Maybe I do," Neron shot back, his irritation bubbling over. "But I''m not about to grovel for something so petty."

    The tension between them crackled like lightning. A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers as the girl''s expression darkened. Without warning, she lunged forward, her wed hand swiping at him with surprising speed.

    Neron reacted instinctively, ducking low and sidestepping her attack. "Hey! What''s your problem?"

    "You insult me, refuse to kneel, and now you''re dodging?" she snarled, her tail whipping dangerously close to him.

    "I''m dodging because you''re trying to w my face off!"

    The guards surrounding her tensed, ready to intervene, but the girl raised a hand to stop them. "Stay back. I''ll handle this myself."

    Neron didn''t have much of a chance to protest as she lunged again, her movements fluid and precise. He blocked her next strike with his forearm, the impact sending a jolt up his arm. She was stronger than she looked, and it took everything he had to hold his ground.

    "I don''t want to fight you!" he said through gritted teeth, deflecting another swipe.

    "Too bad," she hissed, her crimson eyes zing with fury. "You should have thought of that before insulting me."

    Neron tried to create some distance between them, but the girl was relentless. Her strikes were quick and deliberate, each one forcing him to stay on the defensive. He could feel the crowd''s eyes on him, their whispers growing louder with each passing second.

    "This is ridiculous," he muttered, narrowly avoiding a strike aimed at his ribs.

    Finally, one of the guards stepped forward, his voice booming. "Enough, Lady Celis. The market isn''t the ce for this."

    The girl¡ªCelis¡ªhalted mid-strike, her gaze flicking to the guard. Her tailshed behind her, but she didn''t argue. With a sharp nod, she stepped back, though her re remained fixed on Neron.

    "Arrest him," she ordered, her tone cold and imperious.

    "What?" Neron eximed, his eyes widening.

    "You dared to strike a member of the royal family and resisted hermands. That''s treason," one of the guards exined, stepping toward him with a pair of glowing restraints.

    "I didn''t strike anyone!" Neron protested, though he didn''t resist as the guard secured his wrists.

    "You resisted her authority. That''s enough," the guard replied, his tone clipped.

    Neron bit back another retort, knowing it would only make things worse. As the guards led him away, he caught a glimpse of Celis smirking, her satisfaction evident.

    "This day just keeps getting better," he muttered under his breath.

    *********

    The dungeon was cold and damp, the stone walls covered in patches of moss. Neron sat on a hard bench, his arms crossed as he stared at the faintly glowing restraints around his wrists. He could have fought back. He could have escaped. But he knew that would only escte things further, and thest thing he needed was to make Lilith''s life moreplicated.

    The sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor, drawing his attention. Momentster, Lilith appeared, her expression unreadable as she approached the cell.

    "You''ve been busy," she remarked, her crimson eye glinting with amusement.

    "Lilith," Neron started, standing up. "I can exin¡ª"

    "Save it," she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "I already know what happened."

    "How?"

    Lilith smirked. "Let''s just say my friend has ears everywhere."

    Before he could ask what she meant, the guards unlocked the cell and removed his restraints. Neron rubbed his wrists, shooting Lilith a questioning look.

    "They''re letting me go?"

    "Yes," she replied simply, turning on her heel and motioning for him to follow.

    Neron hurried after her, his confusion evident. "Why? I thought Imitted treason or something."

    "You did," Lilith said casually. "But my friend is quite influential. They pulled a few strings."

    "Your friend¡­" Neron trailed off, his curiosity piqued. "Who exactly are they?"

    "You''ll find out soon enough," Lilith replied cryptically, her smirk widening.

    They left the dungeon and stepped into the sunlight, the warmth a stark contrast to the cold, dark cell. A carriage awaited them, its intricate design indicating it was no ordinary mode of transport.

    "Get in," Lilith said, climbing inside.

    Neron followed, still trying to process everything that had happened. The ride to their destination was short, and when they arrived, Neron''s jaw nearly dropped.

    The Royal Pce of F''ederan was a marvel of architecture, its towering spires adorned with glowing crystals that cast a soft light over the surrounding gardens.

    "We''re staying here?" Neron asked, his disbelief evident.

    "For now," Lilith replied, stepping out of the carriage. "They''ve offered us amodations during our stay."

    Their assigned quarters were spacious and luxurious,plete with a bathing area and a balcony overlooking the pce gardens.

    "Freshen up," Lilith instructed, gesturing toward the bathing area. "We''ll talk after."

    Neron nodded, grateful for the chance to wash off the grime from his time in the dungeon. The warm water was a wee relief, and by the time he emerged, he felt like a new person.

    Lilith was waiting for him in the sitting area, a ss of wine in hand.

    "Alright," she said, gesturing for him to sit. "Tell me everything."

    Neron recounted the events of the day, from his initial encounter with Celis to the scuffle in the marketce. Lilith listened intently, her expression unreadable as he spoke.

    "She pped you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

    "Yes," Neron replied, his tone exasperated. "And then she tried to w my face off."

    Lilith chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Sounds like her, all right."

    "You know her?"

    "Not personally," Lilith admitted. "But I know her father. He''s an old acquaintance of mine."

    As if on cue, the door to their quarters opened, and amanding presence filled the room.

    "Speak of the devil," Lilith said, rising to her feet.

    Neron turned to see who had entered, his breath catching in his throat. Standing in the doorway was a towering figure, his horns curling elegantly and his eyes gleaming with authority.

    "You shoulde and say hello, Neron.," Lilith turned to him with a smile."This guy is the king of F''ederan."

    "W-what?!" Neron swiftly jumped to his feet.

    "Yup! His name is Rhogar¡­ and I can already guess why he''s here."

 Chapter 1413: Royal Request

    The tension in the room was thick as Neron stood frozen, staring at the imposing figure seated in their guest quarters¡ªthe King of F''ederan¡­ Rhogar Luceron

    His regal aura was undeniable, a blend of aged maturity and raw power. The King''s leonine features weremanding, with a flowing mane of silver and golden eyes that seemed to pierce through any facade. He was adorned in a mantle made of shimmering scales, a blend of blues and greens that reflected the room''s light like a living waterfall.

    Neron''s heart raced. The King of an entire nation was sitting just a few feet away, speaking as if they were equals.

    "Lilith," King Rhogar began, his deep voice carrying an air of authority, "It''s been far too long. I was beginning to think you''d forgotten us."

    "Forgotten you?" Lilith leaned backzily in her chair, crossing her legs as if she were speaking to an old drinking buddy. "Please, Rhogar, you''re too dramatic for your own good. You know I always pop by when I''m around."

    Neron''s jaw nearly dropped at the casual way she addressed him.

    ''Rhogar?''

    The King of the Magic Beasts had a name, of course, but to hear it used so informally...

    "Lilith," Neron whispered harshly, his voice barely audible. "He''s the King!"

    "So?" Lilith replied without even ncing at him. "He knows that."

    The King let out a low chuckle, a sound that was both warm andmanding. "You''ve never changed, Lilith. It''s a relief to know some things stay the same, even in these uncertain times."

    "What uncertain times?" she asked, tilting her head.

    Rhogar''s expression darkened slightly, and the lighthearted atmosphere shifted. "Our nation is in danger. The Dragons are preparing for war."

    "Dragons?" Neron couldn''t stop himself from blurting out.

    "Yes," the King confirmed, his gaze now falling on Neron. "Our scouts have reported increasing hostility from the Dragon ns. They''ve grown more aggressive, and their demands for territory have be unreasonable. If they attack, F''ederan will struggle to defend itself."

    Lilith''s eyes narrowed, though her posture remained rxed. "And you want my help."

    Luceron nodded solemnly. "You''ve alwayse to our aid in the past. You understand our people better than anyone, and your strength is unparalleled."

    Lilith let out a sigh, waving a hand dismissively. "You''reying it on pretty thick, Luceron. I don''t remember signing up to be your kingdom''s personal savior."

    "Lilith..." The King''s voice softened, a pleading tone seeping into his words. "You know what''s at stake. My people need you."

    For a moment, silence hung in the air. Neron watched Lilith closely, trying to gauge her reaction. Her crimson eye glinted as she stared at the King, her expression unreadable.

    Finally, she smirked. "I don''t know. Sounds like a lot of work."

    Neron''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Lilith, you can''t be serious!"

    "Quiet," she said, waving him off. "This isn''t your decision."

    Luceron, however, seemed unfazed by her reluctance. "You''ve said that before, yet every time, you''vee through for us. You''re not as indifferent as you like to pretend."

    Lilith groaned, slumping back in her chair. "You really know how to guilt-trip someone, don''t you?"

    "I only speak the truth," the King replied with a knowing smile.

    Lilith''s gaze flickered to Neron, her smirk turning sly.

    "Fine. I''ll help."

    King Rhogar Luceron''s shoulders rxed visibly, and he inclined his head in gratitude. "You have my deepest thanks, Lilith. As always, your assistance is invaluable."

    "But," she added, raising a finger, "I''m not doing this out of the kindness of my heart. Consider it... an opportunity for someone here to learn a thing or two."

    Neron blinked. "Wait, what?"

    "You''ll see," Lilith said cryptically, standing up and stretching as if the entire conversation had been a minor inconvenience.

    The King rose as well, his towering form casting a shadow over the room. "Whatever your reasons, we are grateful. F''ederan owes you more than we can ever repay."

    "Yeah, yeah," Lilith muttered, brushing off his gratitude with a wave of her hand. "You''re wee, or whatever."

    Luceron chuckled again, shaking his head. "You truly are one of a kind, Lilith."

    With a final nod to Neron, the King turned and left the room, his regal presence lingering even after the door closed behind him.

    Neron let out a breath he hadn''t realized he''d been holding. "He''s the King of an entire nation, and you just... talk to him like that?"

    Lilith shrugged. "Why not? We go way back."

    "Still, it''s... incredible. He''s the King!"

    "And I''m Lilith," she replied nonchntly, flopping back onto a couch. "Trust me, I''m the bigger deal."

    Neron didn''t know how to respond to that. Instead, he focused on the matter at hand. "So, what''s the n? How are we going to help them with the Dragons?"

    Lilith smirked, her crimson eye gleaming with mischief. "Oh, I have an idea."

    "Which is...?"

    "You''ll figure it out."

    Neron''s brow furrowed. "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    Before he could press her further, Lilith raised a hand and began chanting under her breath. A strange sensation washed over him, like a wave of energy enveloping his entire body.

    "What are you doing?" he asked, panic creeping into his voice.

    "Just a little makeover," she replied with a grin.

    Neron''s skin tingled, and when he looked down, he realized his hands were changing. Scales began to form, shimmering in hues of deep red and gold. His nails grew into ws, and when he reached up to touch his face, he felt the distinct shape of horns protruding from his forehead.

    "Lilith! What is this?!" he eximed, his voice carrying a strange, guttural undertone.

    "Rx," she said,ughing. "You''ll get used to it."

    "Used to¡ªwait, are you making me look like a Dragon?!"

    "Bingo."

    "Why?!"

    "You''ll see soon enough."

    Before he could protest further, Lilith snapped her fingers, and the room around them dissolved into a swirl of light and shadow.

    Thest thing Neron saw was her mischievous grin as they vanished into the unknown.

    ~VWUSH!~

 Chapter 1414: Liliths Plan

    ~VWUUUM!~

    The blinding swirl of light and shadow dissipated, and Neron stumbled slightly as solid ground materialized beneath his feet.

    "H-huh¡­?"

    He blinked rapidly, adjusting to the harsh sunlight that bore down on the destendscape around him. The air was dry, carrying the faint tang of sulfur, and the ground beneath him was a cracked expanse of ckened rock and ash.

    "What... Where are we?" Neron asked, his voice edged with confusion and frustration.

    Lilith stood a few paces ahead, her back turned to him as her crimson eye surveyed the barrennd. She seemed unbothered by the oppressive heat or the eerie stillness that surrounded them.

    "We''re at the outskirts of the Dragon territory," she said casually, as if she''d transported them to a quiet park instead of hostile territory.

    Neron''s heart skipped a beat. "What?! Why would you bring us here?"

    Lilith turned to face him, her expression one of mischievous amusement. "You wanted to know how we''re going to help the Magic Beast Nation, right? Well, this is step one."

    "Step one?" Neron echoed incredulously. "You''ve got to be kidding me! This is dangerous! They could kill us on sight!"

    Lilith shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Rx. You''ll figure it out."

    Neron''s irritation red. "Can you stop being cryptic for one second and just exin¡ª"

    Before he could finish, Lilith suddenly lunged at him. Her speed was blinding, and he barely had time to react as her fist, crackling with dark energy, shot toward his face.

    "What the hell?!" Neron shouted, throwing up his arms to block. The impact sent him skidding backward across the rough terrain, his boots scraping against the charred ground.

    Lilith didn''t give him a moment to recover. She was on him again in an instant, her movements fluid and precise. Her attacks came in a relentless flurry¡ªpunches, kicks, and bursts of magic energy that left scorch marks wherever theynded.

    "Defend yourself, Neron!" she barked, her voice sharp andmanding.

    "I''m trying!" he shot back, narrowly dodging a sweeping kick that sent a wave of ash into the air.

    Neron gritted his teeth and summoned his own magic, channeling it into his hands. A surge of energy crackled to life, forming twin des of ethereal light. He swung them in an arc, forcing Lilith to back off momentarily.

    "Why are you attacking me?!" he demanded, his voiceced with both anger and confusion.

    Lilith smirked, her crimson eye gleaming with challenge. "Because you need to learn how to fight under pressure. And because it''s fun."

    "Fun?!" Neron growled, his grip tightening on his weapons. "This is insane!"

    "Wee to my world," Lilith replied, darting forward again.

    Their sh intensified, a chaotic dance of des and magic that lit up the barrenndscape. Neron found himself on the defensive, struggling to keep up with Lilith''s sheer speed and skill. She fought with a precision that was both brutal and elegant, her attacks leaving no room for error.

    But as the fight dragged on, Neron began to adapt. His movements grew sharper, his counters more calcted. He parried a strike aimed at his side and retaliated with a st of energy that forced Lilith to leap back.

    "Not bad," she remarked, her tone almost approving. "You''re learning."

    "Stop toying with me!" Neron snapped, surging forward with a flurry of strikes.

    Their sh sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the sound of their battle echoing across the barrennd. Themotion drew attention from the surrounding area, though neither of them seemed to notice at first.

    It wasn''t until Lilith abruptly stopped mid-attack, her gaze shifting to the horizon, that Neron realized something was wrong.

    "They''re here," she murmured, a sly smile ying on her lips.

    "Who''s here?" Neron asked, his breathing in heavy pants.

    Lilith didn''t answer. Instead, she stepped back, lowering her guard as the distant sound of wings beating against the air grew louder.

    Neron followed her gaze and saw them¡ªfigures emerging from the sky, their forms silhouetted against the sun. As they drew closer, he could make out their draconic features: massive wings, scales that shimmered like gemstones, and eyes that burned with an otherworldly glow.

    "Dragons," Neron whispered, his stomach sinking.

    Lilith leaned in close, her voice low and teasing. "Looks like your next lesson just arrived. Good luck, Neron."

    "What are you¡ª"

    Before he could finish, she vanished, her body dissolving into a swirl of shadowy mist.

    "Lilith!" he shouted, but she was gone.

    The Dragonsnded with a thunderous impact, their sheer size and presence overwhelming. Most of them remained in their natural forms, towering over Neron, while a few shifted into humanoid shapes, their features retaining hints of their draconic heritage.

    One of them, a tall Dragonkin with gleaming emerald scales and piercing golden eyes, stepped forward. His gaze swept over Neron, his expression unreadable.

    "You," the Dragonkin said, his voice deep andmanding. "What is your name?"

    Neron hesitated, his mind racing.

    Lilith''s parting words echoed in his head: ''Figure it out.''

    "My name is... Neron," he said finally, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest.

    The Dragonkin''s eyes narrowed slightly. "You''re not from around here. Are you one of the new cadets?"

    "Cadets?" Neron repeated, then quickly nodded. "Yes, I am."

    The Dragonkin studied him for a moment before nodding. "That would exin your strength. Few can stand against an opponent like the one you just fought and survive. You show promise."

    The other Dragons murmured in agreement, their expressions ranging from curiosity to respect.

    "You wille with us," the Dragonkin said. "The Cadet Camp is not far from here. You''ll be safer there."

    Neron didn''t dare argue. "Lead the way."

    The Dragons formed a loose formation around him, their wings creating gusts of wind that stirred the ash and dust as they took off. Neron followed, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and questions.

    ''Lilith¡­ you better have a good reason for this.''

    The Cadet Camp came into view, a sprawlingplex nestled within a massive crater surrounded by towering cliffs. Dragons of all shapes and sizes moved about, their scales glinting in the sunlight as they trained and sparred.

    Neron took it all in, his awe tempered by a lingering sense of unease. Whatever Lilith''s n was, he was now in the heart of enemy territory.

    And there was no turning back.

 Chapter 1415: Cadet Camp

    The sprawling expanse of the Cadet Camp was unlike anything Neron had ever seen.

    Nestled within a wide, rocky valley nked by jagged mountains, the camp was alive with activity. Dragons in their humanoid forms moved about, their draconic features¡ªhorns, tails, and sharp, angr eyes¡ªmaking them seem creepy.

    Tents and training arenas were scattered around the area, with some cadets sparring in the open and others tending to weapons that glowed faintly with magical energy.

    Neron walked between the towering figures, his mind racing.

    ''What am I doing here?'' He still didn''t fully grasp the details of Lilith''s n.

    The transport spell had dumped him straight into unfamiliar territory, and now, surrounded by beings that could end him if they saw through his disguise, he feltpletely out of his depth.

    "This is insane¡­" he muttered under his breath.

    His escorts¡ªa pair of dragons in their humanoid forms¡ªled him to a central tent. Both had scales peeking through their skin, their golden eyes scrutinizing him every so often.

    "You''re awfully quiet," one of them remarked, his tone sharp. "Most recruits would be groveling by now, hoping to make a good first impression."

    Neron forced a chuckle, his nerves hidden behind a facade of calm. "Guess I''m just not like most recruits."

    The dragons exchanged nces but said nothing more.

    Inside the tent, the Cadet Camp''s overseer, a broad-shouldered dragon with silver horns, eyed Neron with suspicion. "You say you''re one of the new cadets?"

    "Yes," Neron replied confidently, meeting the overseer''s gaze.

    "Hmph." The overseer''s eyes narrowed as if trying to see through him. "You''ve got the power, I''ll give you that. But you''re scrawny for a dragon, and your scent¡­ it''s different."

    Neron tensed but masked his unease. "I''ve been training in istion. My master preferred it that way."

    The overseer grunted, seemingly satisfied. "We''ll see if you''re worth anything. Join the others and don''t embarrass yourself¡ªor me."

    Neron nodded and was dismissed to the general training grounds, where he was thrown headfirst into the chaotic world of cadet dynamics.

    ***********

    The camp''s hierarchy became clear within hours.

    The younger cadets, eager and brimming with potential, kept to themselves, practicing drills and techniques with fervor. The mid-tier cadets were more rxed, exuding confidence as they sparred in small groups.

    But it was the seniors who ruled the camp.

    They walked with an air of dominance, their powerful auras palpable even from a distance.

    Neron''s arrival didn''t go unnoticed. Whispers followed him everywhere, and curious nces were cast his way.

    "Who''s the new guy?"

    "Never seen him before. Think he''s any good?"

    "He better be, or the seniors will tear him apart."

    By the end of his first day, Neron had already made enemies. A senior cadet¡ªa towering figure with crimson scales and a jagged tail¡ªcornered him near the mess area.

    "You''ve been walking around like you own the ce," the senior sneered, his voice dripping with menace. "Think you''re special?"

    Neron nced around. A small crowd had gathered, eager to see how the neer would handle the confrontation.

    "I''m just here to train," Neron replied evenly, keeping his tone neutral.

    The senior didn''t like that. He stepped closer, his ws scraping against the ground. "Training doesn''t mean disrespecting your betters. Kneel and apologize."

    The crowd murmured, their excitement palpable. This was the kind of drama they lived for.

    Neron''s jaw tightened. He had no intention of kneeling to anyone. "I don''t kneel," he said firmly, his eyes meeting the senior''s without flinching.

    The atmosphere shifted. The senior growled, his body radiating heat. "You''ve got guts, I''ll give you that. But you''re about to regret it."

    ***********

    "WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!"

    The sparring arena was packed. Word had spread quickly, and now cadets of all ranks had gathered to watch the fight.

    Neron stood at one end, his fists clenched and his heart pounding. Across from him, the crimson-scaled senior flexed his ws, his grin wicked.

    ''How did things get to this point¡­?'' He thought to himself with a sigh. ''This is annoying!''

    "Ready to be humiliated?" the senior taunted.

    Neron said nothing, focusing instead on steadying his breathing.

    ''I can''t lose here.''

    The fight began with a deafening roar from the senior, who charged forward with blinding speed. Neron barely dodged the initial strike, the ws slicing through the air where his head had been moments before.

    He retaliated with a quick punch, but the senior blocked it effortlessly, countering with a swipe that grazed Neron''s arm.

    The crowd cheered, their excitement building with every exchange.

    The fight escted quickly. The senior unleashed a barrage of attacks, each one faster and more powerful than thest. Neron ducked, dodged, and blocked as best he could, but it was clear he was outmatched in raw strength.

    But strength wasn''t everything.

    As the senior lunged again, Neron sidestepped and delivered a powerful kick to his ribs. The impact sent the senior stumbling, and the crowd gasped.

    "Not bad," the senior admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth. "But you''ll have to do better than that."

    He transformed partially, his arms elongating and bing covered in thick scales. His ws grew sharper, and his eyes glowed with a fiery intensity.

    Neron knew he couldn''t hold back¡ªat least not too much.

    Drawing on a bit of the power imbued in him, he summoned a surge of energy and charged forward, meeting the senior head-on. Their sh was explosive, sending shockwaves through the arena and silencing the crowd.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~

    The fight became a blur of motion¡ªpunches, kicks, and magic colliding in a disy of raw power and skill. Despite his smaller frame, Neron''s speed and strategy allowed him to keep up, exploiting the senior''s overconfidence and heavier movements.

    Finally, Neron saw his opening.

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    As the senior prepared for a devastating attack, Neron ducked low, swept his legs out from under him, and delivered a crushing blow to his chest.

    The senior copsed, gasping for air, and the arena fell silent.

    *********

    "Alright, you all¡­"

    The overseer stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

    "That''s enough!" He dered, his voice cutting through the tension.

    He nced at Neron, then at the fallen senior. "You''ve proven yourself. From this day forward, you''re the leader of the cadets."

    The announcement sent ripples through the crowd. Some cheered, others murmured in disbelief, but no one dared challenge the decision.

    As the cadets dispersed, Neron stood in the center of the arena, his body aching but his spirit soaring.

    "I can do this¡­" he whispered to himself, clenching his fists. A determined smile crossed his face.

    "I canplete this mission!"

 Chapter 1416: Bold Challenge

    The air was thick with tension in the Dragon Cadet Camp.

    Rumors had spread like wildfire¡ªthere was to be an official campaign against the Magic Beasts of F''ederan. Every cadet, from the youngest novice to the seasoned seniors, was abuzz with talk of the uing war.

    Weapons were sharpened, strategies discussed, and alliances solidified.

    Neron sat in the corner of the mess hall, his gaze fixed on the briefing tent where the seniormanders had gathered. Despite days of integrating into the camp and earning his ce as its leader, he still felt a gnawing unease.

    "Why now?" he muttered, swirling a bowl of steaming stew without taking a bite.

    "Leader, the briefing is about to begin."

    A junior cadet''s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He nodded and stood, his movements deliberate. His time among the Dragons had taught him much¡ªnot just aboutbat, but about their pride, their culture, and their unwavering sense of hierarchy.

    But something didn''t sit right with him. The Dragons were powerful, far more so than the Magic Beasts of F''ederan. A full-blown war seemed unnecessary. Lilith''s cryptic instructions echoed in his mind¡ª

    ''Figure it out yourself.''

    ***********

    Inside the grand briefing tent, arge map of the continent sprawled across the central table.

    The Dragon King himself stood at its head, his towering frame radiating authority. His crimson scales shimmered in the torchlight, and his golden eyes surveyed the gathering with a mix of pride and expectation.

    Neron took his ce among the other leaders, his sharp ears catching snippets of their conversation.

    "¡­ A decisive strike at their northern borders."

    "They''ll never expect us to take the hignds route¡­"

    "Their defenses are weak; it''s only a matter of time."

    The Dragon King raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. His voice boomed,manding immediate attention.

    "Brave Dragons of my Nation, our time hase. The Magic Beasts of F''ederan have grown bold, encroaching upon our sacrednds. They dare to challenge the might of our people, refusing to be our loyal vassals. We will show them the folly of their arrogance."

    A roar of approval erupted from the gathered leaders. Neron remained silent, his mind racing.

    ''How am I supposed to stop this?''

    The King continued, outlining their strategy. It was a meticulously nned assault, utilizing the Dragons'' overwhelming power and aerial advantage to crush the Magic Beasts swiftly.

    Neron''s chest tightened as the realization dawned on him.

    This wasn''t just a battle¡ªit was a ughter waiting to happen.

    *********

    Over the following weeks, Neron threw himself into training with the cadets.

    His reputation had soared after his fight with the senior, and now, as their leader, he was both respected and feared.

    He sparred relentlessly, his skills sharpening with each passing day. The cadets marveled at his speed and ingenuity, often likening him to a young Dragon King in the making.

    "Leader, your technique is wless," one cadet remarked after a particrly grueling session.

    Neron smiled faintly but said nothing. His mind remained on the impending war. Every day brought him closer to a moment he wasn''t sure he was ready for.

    He spent nights poring over the maps he''d seen during the briefing, analyzing the terrain and considering every possible angle. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t see a way to stop the Dragons without exposing himself¡ªand by extension, Lilith''s n.

    *********

    The day of the march arrived far sooner than Neron had hoped.

    The camp was alive with activity as Dragons prepared for battle. Some transformed into their full draconic forms, their massive wings casting shadows over the valley. Others remained in their humanoid shapes, wielding enchanted weapons that pulsed withtent energy.

    Neron stood near his tent, watching as the cadets assembled. He could feel their excitement, their hunger for glory. They were ready to prove themselves, to fight for their King and theirnd.

    He felt a pang of guilt. They didn''t know the truth¡ªthat this war wasn''t just unnecessary but a potential disaster for both sides.

    The sound of horns echoed through the valley, signaling the start of the march.

    The Dragon King stood at the forefront, his majestic form gleaming in the morning light. His voice carried across the camp, inspiring all who heard it.

    "Today, we reim our honor. Today, we remind the Magic Beasts who truly rules thisnd!"

    The Dragons roared in response, a deafening sound that shook the ground. The march began, their disciplined ranks moving with precision and purpose.

    Neron''s heart pounded as he watched the tide of power and pride surge forward. He couldn''t wait any longer.

    ~WHOOOSH!~

    He ran to the front of the formation, his voice cutting through the immense noise of the crowd..

    "Wait!"

    The Dragons nearest to him faltered, their eyes narrowing in confusion. The King turned, his expression a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

    "Neron," the King said, his voice measured. "What is the meaning of this?"

    Neron took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand tall despite the overwhelming presence of the Dragon King.

    "I challenge you," he said, his voice steady despite the murmurs spreading through the ranks like wildfire.

    The King''s golden eyes locked onto Neron, studying him intently.

    "You¡­ challenge me?"

    "Yes," Neron replied, his fists clenched. "If I win, you call off this war."

    The Dragons erupted intoughter, their voices echoing across the valley.

    "Does he think he can beat the King?"

    "This is madness!"

    "He''ll be crushed in seconds."

    The King raised a hand, silencing the crowd. His gaze never left Neron. "You are bold, I''ll give you that. But do you understand what you''re asking? A challenge against me is not something to take lightly."

    "I understand perfectly," Neron said, his voice unwavering. "But I can''t let this war happen without doing everything in my power to stop it."

    The King''s expression softened, if only for a moment. "Very well. I admire your courage, even if it borders on foolishness."

    The murmurs grew louder, disbelief spreading through the ranks.

    Neron stepped forward, his eyes zing with determination. "So¡­"

    "... Do you ept my challenge?!"

 Chapter 1417: Boy Versus King

    "WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!"

    The air grew thick with tension as the dragons encircling the makeshift arena cheered very loudly¡ªtheir eyes on the two challengers. Their battle cries caused the ground to rumble, and their excitement sent shockwaves dancing in the air.

    Then, all of a sudden¡­ all of them fell silent.

    And they quietly watched.

    The boy¡­ versus the KING.

    "Haa¡­ huuu¡­"

    Neron stood at the center, his fiery determination matched only by the colossal figure of Z''ark, the Dragon King.

    The ruler of the Dragon Nation towered above Neron in his miniature form, his golden scales glimmering under the faint light that pierced the cloudy skies. His horns curved elegantly, framing his stern face, and his sheer presence was enough to make the ground quake.

    Neron''s voice rang loud and clear as he reiterated the stakes of the duel.

    "If I defeat you, Z''ark, this war ends here. No blood will be shed, and your forces will not march against the Magic Beast Nation."

    Z''ark''s lips curled into a confident smirk, his deep voice resonating like rolling thunder. "Bold words, little one. But the throne of the Dragon King is not so easily imed. You''ve shown potential, yet you still seem foolish enough to think you can defeat me."

    The surrounding cadets murmured, their whispers filled with a mix of skepticism and intrigue.

    Z''ark raised a hand to silence them, his sharp eyes locking onto Neron.

    "Very well," he dered, his tone heavy with authority. "I ept your challenge. Prepare yourself, for I will not hold back."

    The crowd erupted into cheers and roars as Z''ark stepped forward, his aura radiating raw, unbridled power. Neron tensed, his body readying for the impending sh.

    He knew he could be outmatched in sheer strength, but he couldn''t falter now.

    The battle began with a sudden rush of movement.

    ~WHOOOOOSH!~

    Z''ark charged with blinding speed, his golden fists swinging with enough force to shatter mountains.

    "Ah!"

    Neron barely dodged, the sheer wind pressure from the strike sending him skidding backward.

    "You''re quick, I''ll give you that," Z''ark remarked, his smirk widening.

    Neron didn''t respond.

    Instead, he conjured twin des of pure energy, their brilliant light contrasting against the Dragon King''s dark, menacing aura. He dashed forward, his movements fluid and precise, aiming for Z''ark''s exposed nk.

    But as the des neared their target, they slowed unnaturally, as though weighed down by an invisible force. Z''ark''s smirk deepened.

    "Did you think I''d let you hit me so easily? My Original Magic alters the mass of anything within my domain. Your attacks are mere insects under my control."

    Neron gritted his teeth as his des dissipated under the pressure.

    He leaped back, narrowly avoiding a massive stomp that left a crater in the ground.

    The realization of Z''ark''s ability set in¡ªit wasn''t just his body that was dangerous, but his ability to manipte the weight of the battlefield itself.

    As Z''ark advanced, the ground beneath Neron''s feet seemed to grow heavier. His movements slowed, each step requiring immense effort.

    "Your arrogance led you here," Z''ark bellowed, raising his arm. "Now, feel the consequence of your failure!"

    With a swift motion, Z''ark thrust his hand forward, and the air around Neron seemed to copse inward. The immense gravitational force crushed the earth around him, leaving him trapped in a sinking pit.

    Neron clenched his fists, refusing to let despair take hold.

    "I''m not done yet!" he shouted, summoning a barrier of energy to shield himself from the crushing force.

    Z''ark''sughter echoed. "You''re persistent. I''ll give you that."

    Realizing he needed to counter Z''ark''s overwhelming advantage, Neron calmed his breathing, his mind racing for a solution.

    He couldn''t overpower Z''ark in strength, nor could he oust the relentless gravitational pressure. But he had something that Z''ark didn''t expect: his own Original Magic.

    Time seemed to pause as Neron whispered the incantation.

    His eyes glowed with an ethereal light, and the world around him came to a standstill.

    He activated his ability.

    "[All The Time In The World]."

    The oppressive weight vanished, and silence filled the arena.

    Z''ark was frozen mid-attack, his expression one of smug confidence.

    Neron stepped forward, his movements now unhindered, and studied his opponent carefully.

    "Let''s see how you handle this," he muttered.

    He gathered his energy, channeling it into a single, devastating spell. As time resumed, Z''ark barely had a moment to react before a surge of energy erupted toward him. The Dragon King roared, raising his hands to shield himself, but the sheer force of the attack sent him hurtling backward, crashing into the arena''s edge.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~

    The ground trembled as Z''ark rose to his feet, his expression a mix of anger and admiration.

    "Impressive," he admitted, brushing dust off his golden scales. "But you''ll need more than parlor tricks to bring me down."

    Their sh continued, each exchange growing more intense.

    Neron weaved through Z''ark''s attacks, exploiting openings and countering with precision. The Dragon King''s mass-altering magic forced Neron to adapt constantly, but he pushed forward, his determination unwavering.

    The turning point came when Neronbined his Original Magic with an advanced spell he had been saving. He leaped high into the air, his hands glowing with a brilliant light. The gathered energy formed into a colossal spear, crackling with power.

    ~ZZTTTZZZZZ!!!~

    "Let''s end this!" Neron roared, hurling the spear downward.

    Z''ark tried to counter, increasing the mass of the spell to slow it, but Neron had anticipated this.

    With a final burst of magic, he negated the gravitational pull, allowing the spear to pierce through Z''ark''s defenses.

    The explosion rocked the battlefield, a shockwave of energy forcing the spectators to shield their eyes.

    ~VWUUUUUSSSHHHH!!!~

    When the dust settled, Z''arky sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving from exertion.

    "U-urghh¡­"

    Neron hovered above him, his form illuminated by the fading remnants of his spell.

    The audience¡ªall of the Dragons¡ªwitnessed this impossible sight as their Goliath of a King fell at the hands of a no-name Cadet who was barely old enough to be considered an adult.

    For a moment, there was silence.

    Then, with a deep voice that caused all who witnessed it to quake, Neron spoke.

    "I win."

 Chapter 1418: Farewell To The Nation

    The dragons roared with thunderous apuse as Z''ark knelt before Neron, his massive form dwarfed by the magnitude of his defeat.

    The once-proud gleam of his golden scales had dimmed, a shadow of the might he once radiated. Around them, the Dragon Nation''s elders stepped forward, their ancient eyes heavy with the weight of tradition and expectation.

    "By right ofbat," one of the elders dered, his voice as deep and powerful as a rumbling storm, "you are now the King of Dragons."

    The promation was met with another roar from the gathered dragons, a myriad of wings and cheers that filled the sky.

    "Haa¡­ haa¡­ whoa!"

    Neron stood still, his heart pounding in his chest as the reality of his new position sank in. He hade here with a simple goal: stop the dragons'' march and prevent war. Now, not only had he seeded, but he had also been thrust into a role far beyond anything he would have normally desired.

    "Retreat," Neronmanded, his voice steady despite his racing thoughts. "The war is over. We will not march on the Magic Beast Nation."

    The dragons obeyed without hesitation, a collective nod of their heads signaling their eptance of his authority.

    Even Z''ark, still kneeling, bowed his head in deference.

    The trust ced in him was as heavy as the air around him. He watched as the massive creatures took to the skies, their powerful wings creating gusts that shook the ground.

    Then, without a word, he followed, his mind still awash with disbelief.

    ************

    The Dragon Nation was a breathtaking realm, an awe-inspiring blend of nature and architecture. Towering spires carved from mountains pierced the heavens, while rivers of molten gold and veins of obsidian crisscrossed a sprawling city that glowed like a living jewel.

    As the dragons descended, Neron was escorted to the grand pce at the heart of their kingdom. Its entrance was nked by intricate carvings of past kings, each face etched with a timeless sense of duty and pride.

    Inside the pce, Neron was met by the Dragon Queen, Althea. Her presence was asmanding as it was graceful. Crimson scales adorned her lithe frame, and her piercing emerald eyes regarded him with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

    "It is tradition," she said, her voice smooth and melodic, "for the new king to consummate his rule with the queen."

    Neron froze.

    His pulse quickened as he fumbled for words, his mind spiraling into panic.

    "I¡­ uh¡­ that''s not¡­ I mean¡­"

    Before he could embarrass himself further, a knock at the door interrupted. One of the elders stepped inside, bowing deeply.

    "Your Majesty, the coronation ceremony is prepared."

    Relief flooded Neron, and he hurriedly excused himself, avoiding Althea''s knowing smirk as he practically fled from the chamber.

    *************

    The coronation was a spectacle of ancient rites and solemn oaths.

    The throne room was a cavernous space, its walls shimmering with veins of raw gold that reflected the flickering light of ceremonial torches. A crown, crafted from the purest gold and iid with gemstones that seemed to burn like dragon fire, was ced upon Neron''s head. As he sat on the ornate throne, the weight of his new position pressed down on him.

    He had achieved peace, but at what cost?

    The cheers of the dragons were deafening, a sea of wings and voices united in celebration. Yet, amidst the revelry, Neron felt a growing unease.

    This was not his ce, not his life.

    Late that night, Neron found himself perched on a high cliff overlooking the kingdom.

    The city below sparkled like a constetion fallen to earth, its rivers ofva carving glowing paths through the darkness. The stars above mirrored the fiery rivers, their cold light a stark contrast to the heat of the Dragon Nation.

    For the first time since his arrival, Neron allowed himself a moment of silence. The enormity of what he had done¡ªand what was expected of him¡ªsettled heavily in his chest.

    "Enjoying the view?"

    Neron didn''t even flinch as Lilith''s voice broke the quiet. She stepped out of the shadows, her crimson hair catching the faint starlight. She approached with her usual casual confidence, her sharp eyes studying him.

    "You did well," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "A king at your age? Not bad."

    Neron scoffed, leaning back against the rock. "Yeah, well, it wasn''t exactly on my bucket list."

    Lilith chuckled, the sound light and teasing.

    "And yet, here you are. Though, I have to ask¡­" She tilted her head, her expression turning mischievous. "Why didn''t you take the chance to, you know,

    seal the deal

    with the queen?"

    Neron''s face flushed. "Lilith, seriously?"

    "What?" she replied, her tone feigning innocence. "It''s tradition, isn''t it? You''re not scared of a little dragon fire, are you?"

    He groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Can we not talk about this?"

    Herughter rang out, rich and genuine. She reached out to ruffle his hair like he was a kid who had just survived his first big adventure.

    "Rx, Neron. I''m just teasing you. Honestly, though¡­ I''m proud of you."

    Her sincerity caught him off guard. He looked up, meeting her gaze, and found no trace of mockery there. Just warmth.

    "Thanks," he murmured, unsure of what else to say.

    Lilith straightened, brushing off her coat as if preparing for the next chapter of their journey.

    "Well, your royal highness, it''s time to go. We''ve got more work to do."

    "Go?" Neron blinked, confused. "Just like that? Shouldn''t we let the Magic Beast King know? Or at least say goodbye to the dragons?"

    Lilith waved a hand dismissively. "Too much hassle. They''ll figure it out."

    Her nonchnt attitude irked him, but he stayed silent. This was who she was¡ªdetached, always moving forward without looking back.

    It was both frustrating and oddly admirable.

    ~FSHUUUU!~

    The portal shimmered before them, its swirling light casting long shadows across the ground. Neron hesitated, turning back for onest look at the Dragon Nation. The kingdom stretched out before him, beautiful and untamed, a testament to the strength and pride of its people.

    A pang of guilt stabbed at him for leaving so abruptly, but deep down, he understood.

    This was Lilith''s way, and now, it was his path too.

    Lilith stepped through the portal without a backward nce, her figure vanishing into the light. Neron lingered for a moment longer, the weight of his journey pressing on him.

    ''I guess this is what it means to be a vagabond¡­"

    With a deep sigh, he turned toward the portal, leaving the dragons and their kingdom behind, and ready to face whatever awaited the two of them next.

 Chapter 1419: Stark Improvement

    [A Few Weeks Later]

    The wastnd stretched endlessly in all directions, a deste expanse of cracked earth and jagged rocks under an oppressive sky.

    Neron stood at its center, his robes fluttering lightly in the arid wind, his breathing steady. Across from him, Lilith stood rxed, her confident smirk unwavering as she surveyed him.

    "You ready, King of Dragons?" she teased, her crimson eyes glinting with mischief.

    Neron rolled his shoulders, gripping his staff tightly. He could feel the hum of power coursing through him, the culmination of weeks of relentless training.

    "Don''t go easy on me this time," he replied, a determined edge in his voice.

    Lilithughed, a sound both amused and slightly mocking. "Oh, I wasn''t going easy before. You were just

    that bad.

    But sure, I''ll crank it up a notch. Try not to embarrass yourself."

    With a flick of her wrist, a circle of glowing runes ignited around her, the air crackling with raw energy. Neron braced himself as the ground beneath him trembled, signaling the start of their duel.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~

    The fight began in a sh, Lilith disappearing from sight only to reappear behind Neron.

    A sharp wave of energyshed out toward him, slicing through the air. Neron ducked instinctively, pivoting on his heel to counter with a st of temporal magic.

    His [Original Magic: All the Time in the World] created shimmering distortions in the air, pockets where time warped and bent.

    Lilith dodged effortlessly, leaping high into the air as the distortion rippled below her.

    She retaliated with a barrage of crimson fireballs, each one streaking toward Neron like falling stars. Neron raised his staff, muttering an incantation. A translucent barrier formed around him, the fireballs exploding harmlessly against it.

    "Not bad," Lilith remarked,nding gracefully. "But blocking won''t win you this."

    "Who said I was just blocking?" Neron shot back.

    The barrier shattered outward, fragments of glowing energy shooting toward Lilith like shards of ss. She swirled her hand, summoning a vortex of wind that deflected the attack. But Neron was already moving, using the distraction to cast another spell.

    The ground beneath her feet erupted, jagged spikes of stone shooting upward in a chaotic burst.

    ~BWUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!~

    Lilith jumped back, her eyes narrowing as she muttered, "Clever."

    The wastnd became a battlefield of chaos and destruction.

    Lilith''s long-range spells painted the horizon in streaks of fire and lightning, her movements fluid and precise.

    Neron countered with a mix of temporal magic and elemental maniption, each spell crafted with careful strategy. Time slowed in pockets around them, allowing Neron tond strikes that would have otherwise missed.

    His mastery over timing and cement kept Lilith on her toes, forcing her to adjust her attacks.

    But despite his improvement, Lilith''s experience and raw power shone through.

    When Neron conjured a field of dense mist to obscure her vision, she dispersed it with a single sweep of her arm, the air clearing instantly. When he manipted time to create a momentary duplicate of himself to attack her from two directions, she saw through the trick and sted both away with an explosion of energy.

    "Getting cocky, are we?" she taunted, her grin widening as she summoned a massive wave of fire that surged toward him.

    Neron nted his staff firmly in the ground, chanting quickly. The fire split apart just before reaching him, diverted by a rift in time he had created. The mes scorched the surrounding ground, but Neron remained unscathed.

    "Not cocky," he replied, his voice calm but strained. "Just better."

    **********

    The battle raged on, neither holding back. Lilith''s attacks grew more ferocious, her movements faster and sharper. Neron adapted, his strategic mind analyzing her patterns and exploiting small openings.

    His use of [

    All the Time in the World]

    became more seamless, each temporal distortion perfectly timed to offset her attacks or enhance his own.

    At one point, he managed to catch her off guard, encasing her in a bubble of slowed time. For a brief moment, she was frozen mid-attack, her fireball hovering inches from her palm.

    Neron lunged forward, casting a spell that sent a shockwave directly at her.

    But Lilith shattered the bubble with sheer force, the shockwave dissipating harmlessly. She appeared in front of him in an instant, her hand glowing with energy as she struck him in the chest.

    The impact sent him flying, skidding across the cracked earth.

    ~BAM!~

    "Nice try," she said, dusting her hands. "But you''re still not there yet."

    Neron groaned, pushing himself up. His robes were singed, and his body ached, but his eyes burned with determination. "I''m not done."

    Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Still got some fight left in you? Alright, then. Let''s finish this."

    The final exchange was a spectacle of raw power and skill.

    Lilith summoned a massive storm of fire and lightning, her magic filling the sky with roiling clouds and crackling energy.

    Neron responded with a spell that warped thendscape itself, creating a maze of jagged rocks and swirling temporal distortions. The wastnd trembled under the weight of their sh, the ground cracking and splitting as their magic collided.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!~

    Neron pushed himself to his limit,bining his mastery of spells with his strategic mind.

    He used the environment to his advantage, luring Lilith into traps and countering her attacks with precise timing.

    For a moment, it seemed like he might actually gain the upper hand.

    But Lilith was not to be outdone. With a final surge of power, she broke through his defenses, her attacknding squarely on his chest.

    Neron copsed to the ground, exhausted and defeated.

    "Urghh¡­"

    As the dust settled, Lilith approached him, her expression one of approval rather than mockery.

    "You''ve gotten better," she said, offering him a hand. "Much better."

    Neron took her hand, pulling himself up with a weary smile. "Not good enough, though."

    "Not yet," she admitted. "But you''re getting there. And I wasn''t even going all out."

    He chuckled, shaking his head.

    "Of course you weren''t."

    Lilith studied him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "You''re ready for the next step."

    Neron''s eyes lit up with curiosity. "Next step?"

    She smiled, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "We''re going to search for the Great Sage, Lewis Griffith''s treasures¡­ also known as

    The Arcanas.

    "

    Neron stared at her, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. The name stirred something deep within him¡ªsomething he couldn''t quite exin.

    "What''s that?" He asked.

    "Let''s get moving," Lilith said, turning toward the horizon.

    "I''ll tell you on the road."

 Chapter 1420: Journey To The Arcanas

    "Haaa¡­ it''s so hot!"

    The sun zed down on the endless wastnd, its scorching heat only adding to the heaviness of the silence as Neron and Lilith began their journey.

    "You could use Magic to solve that, you know?" Lilith responded, not even sparing the boy a nce.

    "True¡­" Neron sighed, walking slightly behind her, his steps slower than usual after their exhausting battle.

    Despite his fatigue, his mind churned with questions about their new destination.

    Lilith walked with a confident stride, seemingly unaffected by the duel that had left the wastnd in ruins. Her long, white hair swayed with each step, and her aura of calm dominance remained unshaken. She didn''t bother looking back as she spoke, her voice cutting through the still air.

    "You''ve got questions?" She said simply, as though reading his thoughts.

    Neron nodded, quickening his pace to walk beside her. "Yeah, plenty. For starters, who exactly is this Lewis Griffith? And what are these Arcanas?"

    Lilith smirked, ncing at him from the corner of her eye. "Figured you''d ask eventually. Lewis Griffith was... well, you''d probably call him a legend. Back in his time, he was known as the Great Sage. A genius unlike any other, someone who understood the very fabric of the world and how to manipte it."

    "Ohh?"

    "What''s amazing is the fact that he couldn''t use Magic¡­ sort of like the opposite of you, actually."

    "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    "I mean, despite not having Magic himself, he had an amazing mind. He could understand Magic more than anyone else, and he ended up advancing the craft beyond what many thought was possible¡­" She smiled softly. "I even learned a thing or two from him."

    Neron furrowed his brow. "You speak like you knew him."

    Her smirk widened.

    "Because I did. Lewis and I were... friends. If you can call it that. We traveled together for a while. He was always looking for answers, pushing the boundaries of what was possible. The man was brilliant, no doubt about it, but also reckless. Too curious for his own good."

    Neron absorbed this information, his curiosity only growing. "And the Arcanas?"

    Lilith stopped walking, turning to face him fully. Her crimson eyes bore into his as she answered, her tone serious. "The Arcanas aren''t just items, Neron. They''re artifacts of unimaginable power. Each one contains the highest form of Magic, the kind that can bend, twist, and even rewrite thews of the world itself. With an Arcana, you don''t just wield magic¡ªyoumand reality."

    Neron stared at her, his mind racing.

    "And Lewis had them? That means he must have been invincible!"

    She shook her head. "No, he only found a few. The Arcanas are scattered across the world, hidden in ces most people wouldn''t dare to tread. Even Lewis, with all his knowledge and power, couldn''t find them all. But the ones he did find¡­ well, let''s just say they''re not something you take lightly."

    He frowned, the weight of her words sinking in. "If they''re so dangerous, why are we going after them?"

    Lilith''s expression softened slightly, though her gaze remained firm. "Because you need them. Your powers are immense, but they''re raw, unrefined. The Arcanas will help you understand more about yourself and what you''re capable of. If you want to stand a chance against what''sing, you''ll need every advantage you can get."

    "Oh¡­ okay."

    They continued walking, the barren wastnd gradually giving way to a rougher, more mountainous terrain. As they climbed a narrow path nked by steep cliffs, Neron couldn''t help but voice another concern.

    "Do you really know where we''re going? Or is this one of those ''we''ll find it when we get there'' situations?"

    Lilith chuckled, herughter echoing off the cliffs. "Rx. I know exactly where it is. I''ve known for years."

    That admission stopped Neron in his tracks. He stared at her, incredulous. "You''ve known? Then why didn''t you go after it before?"

    Lilith paused as well, turning to face him with a shrug. "Because I didn''t need it."

    "Really?"

    At this point, Neron raised his brow in disbelief.

    "The Arcanas are a tool, Neron. Powerful, yes, but only necessary for those whock something. I''ve always had what I needed. You, on the other hand¡­" She gestured vaguely at him. "You''re a work in progress."

    Neron rolled his eyes but couldn''t suppress a small smile. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

    "Anytime," she quipped, turning back and resuming their trek.

    The air grew colder as they ascended, the terrain bing increasingly treacherous.

    Neron used his staff to steady himself on the uneven ground, his mind wandering to the journey ahead. He couldn''t shake the feeling that this search for the Arcanas would change everything.

    The idea of wielding power capable of altering reality both thrilled and terrified him.

    Lilith, on the other hand, seemed entirely at ease, her movements fluid despite the difficult climb. She led the way with the confidence of someone who had traversed such paths countless times before. Neron couldn''t help but admire her resilience, even if her nonchnt attitude often grated on his nerves.

    ''Just how strong is she?'' He couldn''t help but wonder. ''If powers that can alter reality aren''t tempting enough for her¡­ just how powerful could she be?''

    Throughout their duels, there wasn''t even one time where she appeared to be struggling.

    Whether it was Martial Arts or Magic, Lilith was a monster.

    Neron couldn''t help but wonder:

    ''When we find the Arcanas¡­ will I be a Monster like that too?''

    ***********

    "Hmmm¡­"

    Unbeknownst to the two who were advancing to their goal, a figure watched from afar, hidden among the shadows cast by the rocky cliffs.

    Cloaked from head to toe, the figure remained perfectly still, their presence masked by a power that couldn''t easily be defined as Magic. They had been following the pair for some time, their gaze fixed on Lilith with an intensity that bordered on obsession.

    As Neron and Lilith disappeared around a bend in the path, the figure finally moved, stepping into the faint light of the setting sun. Their voice was low and filled with an ominous weight as they muttered to themselves.

    "At longst... I''ve found you, Lilith."

 Chapter 1421: The Hideout

    The hideout was hidden deep within a deste canyon, its entrance concealed behind a cascading waterfall that shimmered faintly in the twilight.

    Neron marveled at how well-hidden the ce was as he and Lilith stepped inside.

    The air was cooler here, and faint echoes of dripping water filled the cavernous space. After walking down a narrow corridor, they arrived in arge, dimly lit chamber lined with towering shelves that seemed to stretch endlessly.

    Ancient tomes, scrolls, and relics of all shapes and sizes filled the room, each exuding an aura of mystery and power.

    "This," Lilith said, her voice low with reverence, "is thest repository of the Great Sage''s work."

    Neron''s breath caught as his eyes darted from one artifact to another. His fingers twitched with the urge to reach out and explore, but he refrained, sensing the weight of history pressing down on him.

    "Lewis Griffith¡­" Neron murmured. "He really left all this behind?"

    Lilith gave a small smile, running her fingers along a dusty spine of a book. "Lewis wasn''t just a Sage. He was a pioneer¡ªa man who reshaped what it meant to wield magic. And now, all of this knowledge belongs to you."

    Her words sent a jolt through Neron. "Belongs to me? Why? What am I supposed to do with all of this?"

    Lilith turned to him, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and seriousness. "Because the world needs someone who can handle what''sing. And Lewis always believed his knowledge should serve a purpose beyond himself."

    Lilith guided him to the center of the chamber, where a single ornate box rested on a pedestal. The box was ckened with age, its surface engraved with intricate symbols and glowing faintly with arcane energy.

    "This is what we came for," she said, cing a hand on the lid. "The Arcanas."

    With a slow, deliberate motion, she opened the box. Four cards floated out, their surfaces shimmering with power. Each card was intricately detailed:

    [The Tower]

    , symbolizing space.

    [The Hermit]

    , representing time.

    [The Sun]

    , embodying energy

    [The Hanged Man]

    , a paradox of life and death.

    Neron stared at the cards, their ethereal glow reflected in his wide eyes. He could feel their power emanating outward, resonating with something deep inside him.

    "These are the Arcanas," Lilith said softly. "Each one holds a fragment of the highest form of magic. They can twist thews of reality itself if wielded properly."

    Neron''s hand hovered near them, but he hesitated. "They''re... overwhelming."

    "They should be," Lilith said with a smirk. "They''re not toys. Even Lewis never fully understood all their mysteries."

    "You really knew him, didn''t you?" Neron asked suddenly, his curiosity piqued. "Lewis Griffith. What was he like?"

    Lilith''s smirk softened into a wistful smile. "He was¡­ brilliant. A genius like no other. But also a bit of an oddball. He didn''t care about fame or recognition. All he wanted was to understand the world and protect it."

    She paused for a moment before continuing.

    "Over a century ago, he and his party stood against the Demons during the war that nearly ended this world."

    Neron frowned. "I''ve never heard of a war with the Demons in history books."

    "Of course you wouldn''t¡­" Lilith replied calmly. She gestured for him to follow her toward arge table in the center of the room, where several worn tomes and a gilded chest rested.

    Neron frowned, piecing together the fragments of history he''d been given.

    "What''s that supposed to mean? Why doesn''t anyone remember anything you''re saying? Or the war you mentioned?"

    Lilith''s expression darkened.

    "Because they erased it. After the war against the demons ended, Lewis and hispanions¡ªFord Zesshi, Jane Urs, Gawain Lenard, Raphael Noel, and Dom¡ªdecided the world wasn''t ready to know what had happened. They used powerful magic to wipe the memories of everyone involved, save for a select few."

    Neron''s jaw tightened. "That''s¡­ insane. How could they make that choice for everyone?"

    "It wasn''t a choice made lightly," Lilith said. "But the alternative was worse. Fear of the demons would have fractured the world even further. They believed ignorance was a mercy."

    Neron fell silent, his mind racing with questions and conflicting emotions. He nced back at the Arcanas, their glow almost hypnotic. "And now you want me to use these? To do what exactly?"

    Lilith chuckled. "First, you need to understand them. That''s why we''re staying here for the next few weeks. I''m going to teach you the basics, but after that, it''s up to you to master them."

    "Why?" Neron asked, his gaze piercing. "Why are you helping me like this? Why now?"

    Lilith''s smile turned wry. "Trust me, Neron. That''s all I ask."

    Despite his lingering doubts, Neron nodded.

    "Alright. Let''s do this."

    "Don''t be too excited, kid." Lilith''s grin widened even more. "This is gonna be hellish training."

    ************

    True to her word, Lilith put Neron through an unforgiving regimen.

    Days turned into weeks as she pushed him to his limits, teaching him the unique properties of each Arcana.

    The training was grueling, and there were moments when Neron felt like giving up. But Lilith''s unwavering confidence in him drove him forward. By the end of their time in the hideout, he could feel the difference. His connection to the Arcanas was still in its infancy, but the potential was undeniable.

    "You''ve done well," Lilith said one evening, her tone unusually warm. "You''re ready to take the next steps."

    Neron wiped sweat from his brow, exhaustion written across his face. "If I''m ready, why can''t you just teach me the rest? Why stop now?"

    Before Lilith could answer, the ground trembled violently. A deafening explosion echoed from outside, and the chamber was bathed in a crimson glow.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~

    Neron sprang to his feet, his heart pounding. "What was that?"

    A booming voice reverberated through the cavern, shaking the very walls.

    "I HAVE COME FOR YOU, LILITH! I CAN NO LONGER WAIT, SO COME OUT NOW¡­ OR I WILL MAKE YOU!"

    Lilith''s eyes narrowed, and for the first time in weeks, Neron saw something like genuine concern flicker across her face.

    She turned to him, her expression hardening.

    "Stay here," shemanded, her voice cold and sharp. "No matter what happens, do not interfere." Readtest chapters at m_v-l''e-NovelBin

    But Neron''s jaw tightened, determination ring in his eyes. "Like hell I''m staying behind. Who is that?"

    Lilith didn''t answer. Instead, she marched toward the exit, her movements calm but deliberate. The air around her seemed to ripple with an invisible force, her usual smirk reced with a steely resolve.

    Neron followed her with his gaze, his fists clenched tightly. The ominous voice echoed again, sending chills down his spine.

    Whoever was waiting for Lilith outside wasn''t just powerful¡ªthey were something else entirely.

 Chapter 1422: Return Of The Martial Blade God

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    The tremors shook the cavern violently, dislodging ancient dust from the ceilings and sending scrolls tumbling from their precarious perches.

    Neron steadied himself against the pedestal, his mind racing.

    The booming voice outside rang in his ears, its authority undeniable, and it stirred a sense of foreboding deep in his gut.

    Lilith, standing by the entrance to the hideout, exuded a calm that belied the chaos outside.

    Her back was to him, her posture rigid and purposeful.

    "I told you to stay here," she said firmly, her voice cutting through the tension like a de.

    Neron clenched his fists. "And I told you, I''m not just going to sit here while someone''s clearly targeting you¡ªand possibly me. You''ve trained me for weeks now. I can hold my own."

    Her gaze flicked over her shoulder, her crimson eyes sharp and unyielding. "This isn''t a training exercise, Neron. It''s a battle. And you''re not ready."

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    Another explosion echoed outside, louder this time, as if punctuating her words.

    The ground trembled again, cracks forming along the stone walls.

    "Lilith," Neron began, his tone pleading, "I can''t just let you face whatever that is alone. I''m part of this now. If someone''sing after you¡ªor me¡ªthen I need to know why. I have a right to stand beside you."

    Lilith sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose.

    For all his inexperience, his determination was unshakable, and she knew arguing further would only waste precious time.

    "Fine," she said finally, her toneced with exasperation. "But if you so much as flinch in the wrong direction, I''ll knock you out myself and drag you back here."

    Neron gave a small nod, suppressing the spark of relief that threatened to show on his face. The gravity of the situation wasn''t lost on him.

    "Let''s go," she said, turning toward the exit.

    Her footsteps were steady, almost casual, as if she were heading to a routine errand rather than a confrontation with an unknown force.

    Neron followed, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread.

    ''I can already feel a suffocating pressure from this point¡­'' He thought to himself. ''And Lilith is acting a little different from usual¡­''

    The cause of her change in behaviortely had to be attributed to whatever man was waiting for them.

    Neron gulped and steeled himself as he walked forward.

    The hideout''s entrance opened into the vast wastnd, a sea of cracked earth stretching to the horizon under a crimson sky. The figure causing the disturbance stood some distance away, his presence undeniable even at a nce.

    He was tall and broad, his silhouette radiating raw, unrelenting power. His attire was simple yet striking: loose blue robes that fluttered in the arid breeze, and a long, curved de strapped across his back.

    His brownish hair gleamed in the dim light, and his piercing golden eyes locked onto Lilith the moment she emerged.

    "Lilith," the man said, his voice deep and resonant. "It''s been far too long."

    Lilith crossed her arms, her expression t. "Martial de God. I was wondering when you''de looking for trouble again."

    Neron''s eyes widened.

    Martial de God?

    The name itself carried weight, and the aura emanating from the man made it clear he wasn''t someone to take lightly.

    He had never heard of such a man before, though.

    "I see you''re still as dismissive as ever," the Martial de God said with a chuckle. "But you know why I''m here."

    Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess: another pointless rematch? Honestly, don''t you have anything better to do?"

    His grin widened, a mixture of amusement and challenge in his gaze. "You know better than anyone that ourst battle was iplete. I''ve spent years sharpening my skills, Lilith. This time, you''ll take me seriously."

    Neron stepped forward, his voice cutting in.

    ''Wait. He came here just to fight her? He''s not after the Arcanas?'' He wondered deep in thought.

    Unfortunately for him, that was a mistake.

    The Martial de God nced at Neron, his expression shifting to one of mild curiosity.

    "The Arcanas?" He let out a lowugh. "I see¡­ so you have them as well. I''ll be taking those too, I suppose."

    Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e-NovelBin

    "Why? Lilith asked with a smile. "It''s not like you really need them."

    "I don''t. But¡­ let''s just say I know someone who does."

    "I see¡­"

    "My primary goal right now is singr: to fight you again, Lilith¡­ and win this time."

    The Martial de God''s gaze darkened, his amusement fading.

    "Ah, and as for you¡­ the Singrity." His eyes narrowed on Neron. "We''ve been searching for you, and it seems I''m in luck. That stupid colleague of mine let you slip out of his grasp back then in search of an Arcana, but I won''t make the same mistake."

    Neron felt a chill crawl up his spine. "Singrity? What are you talking about?"

    Lilith stepped between them, her stance protective.

    "That''s enough," she said, her voice sharp. "If you''re here for me, leave him out of it."

    The Martial de God''s grin returned, though it held a predatory edge.

    "You misunderstand, Lilith. The Cult''s orders are clear. The Singrity must be eliminated. If he''s with you, then he''s part of this fight."

    Lilith''s eyes narrowed dangerously.

    "You want a fight? Fine. But here''s the deal: you leave him alone. I''ll give you a battle that satisfies you, and in return, you walk away without touching him."

    He tilted his head, considering her words. "And if you fail to satisfy me?"

    "You won''t," she said simply, her confidence absolute.

    The Martial de Godughed again, the sound echoing across the barrenndscape. "Very well. A worthy battle it is. But don''t expect me to hold back, Lilith. I''ve surpassed every limit since ourst encounter."

    Lilith turned her head slightly, addressing Neron without looking at him.

    "Stay back. No matter what happens, you don''t interfere."

    Neron''s jaw tightened, but he nodded reluctantly.

    The twobatants began to close the distance between them, their movements deliberate and measured. The air between them seemed to hum with tension, the very ground beneath their feet cracking from the weight of their auras.

    Lilith muttered under her breath, her voice so low that only she could hear it.

    "Let''s get this over with."

 Chapter 1423: Lilith Vs Martial Blade God [Pt 1]

    "Are you ready, Lilith?"

    The Martial de God''s voice boomed, his hand reaching for the hilt of his de. "This time, I''ll surpass you!"

    Lilith gave a faint smirk, her crimson eye gleaming with confidence.

    "You''ve been saying that for centuries, but you never seem to learn. Let''s see if this time will be any different."

    As if on cue, the Martial de God unsheathed his weapon¡ªa long, gleaming de that shimmered unnaturally under the crimson sky.

    The very act of drawing it caused the ground beneath him to fracture, the shockwave rippling outward in a violent burst of force.

    Lilith raised her hand, summoning a barrier around Neron. Her voice was calm butmanding.

    "Stay behind this. You''re not ready for what''s about to happen."

    Neron opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw the look in her eyes¡ªa mixture of determination and warning. He clenched his fists and nodded, retreating to the edge of the barrier.

    "Let''s begin," Lilith said, raising her hands.

    ~BOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    A swirling vortex of magic erupted around her, her figure bathed in an ethereal glow as the ground cracked and floated under the force of her power.

    The Martial de God didn''t wait.

    With a roar, he charged forward, his de cutting through the air with such speed that it seemed to blur. Lilith''s hand shot up, a massive shield of dark energy forming before her.

    The de struck it with an earth-shattering impact, the resulting shockwave sending debris flying in all directions.

    A storm was unleashed instantly.

    The Martial de God pressed his assault, his de shing in a series of precise, lightning-fast strikes.

    ~SWISH!~

    ~SWOOSH!~

    Each swing carried an overwhelming force, splitting the ground and sending fissures racing across thendscape.

    Lilith met his onught with equal ferocity.

    Stay connected through m-v l|e''-NovelBin

    Her movements were fluid, her hands weaving intricate patterns as she summoned barriers, redirected his attacks, and countered with bursts of raw magic. A torrent of fire erupted from her palm, forcing him to leap back.

    "Still relying on those cheap tricks?" he taunted, spinning his de in a defensive arc.

    "And you''re still swinging that sword like a brute," Lilith retorted, her tone biting.

    She raised her hands, and the ground beneath him erupted in jagged spikes of obsidian, forcing him to dart sideways.

    He smirked, the gleam in his eyes showing he relished the challenge.

    "You haven''t seen anything yet."

    With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, his de glowing with a blinding golden light.

    "

    Martial God de Technique: Heaven''s Divide!

    "

    The strike came down like a meteor, the force of it obliterating the ground in a massive crater.

    Lilith barely evaded, a shimmering barrier forming just in time to absorb the shockwave. She retaliated instantly, her hand glowing as she unleashed a barrage of energy sts.

    "

    Ster Tempest!

    "

    The energy rained down like a storm, each impact detonating with deafening explosions that rocked the entirendscape.

    The Martial de God wove through the sts with impossible agility, his de deflecting those he couldn''t avoid.

    ~VWUUUUUUUUSSHHHH!!!~

    The wastnd transformed into a chaotic battlefield.

    The ground was littered with craters, fissures snaked across the earth, and the sky above swirled with ominous clouds summoned by their shing energies.

    Neron watched in awe and terror, his hands gripping the edge of the barrier Lilith had created. He had never witnessed such raw power.

    ''This¡­ this is what it means to be at their level?''

    The Martial de God skidded to a halt, his breath visible in the charged air.

    "You''re as good as ever, Lilith. But it''s time I showed you the result of my years of training!"

    He closed his eyes, his aura ring to impossible heights. His auburn hair began to change, strands turning a stark white as his body emitted an overwhelming energy.

    His voice resonated like thunder.

    "

    Martial State!

    "

    The transformation was instantaneous.

    The sheer power radiating from him made the air itself heavy, and the ground beneath him disintegrated into dust. His eyes glowed with a cold, silvery light, and his de pulsed with an energy that seemed to bend reality itself.

    Lilith''s expression didn''t waver, though her eyes narrowed slightly.

    "So you''re finally taking this seriously. About time."

    ~WHUUUUM!!!~

    The Martial de God moved faster than Neron''s eyes could follow, appearing before Lilith in an instant.

    His de descended in a sweeping arc, splitting the air with a deafening roar. Lilith raised both hands, summoning a massive shield of light to intercept the attack.

    The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, leveling the already-ruined terrain. Neron stumbled backward despite the barrier protecting him, his ears ringing from the sheer force.

    Lilith countered with a surge of energy that spiraled toward her opponent. He sliced through it effortlessly, closing the gap once more.

    Their sh intensified, each strike and counterstrike sending ripples through the fabric of reality itself.

    The battle ascended into the sky, their movements so fast and destructive that they seemed more like forces of nature than individuals.

    Lightning crackled through the storm clouds above as the twobatants exchanged blow after blow, neither yielding an inch.

    "You can''t keep this up forever!" the Martial de God shouted, his de spinning in a deadly flourish.

    "You''d be surprised," Lilith replied, her voice steady despite the chaos.

    With a wave of her hand, she summoned a swarm of ethereal chains that snaked toward him, glowing with arcane power.

    He shed through them, his movements a blur.

    "Is that the best you''ve got?"

    Her lips curled into a smirk. "Not even close."

    She raised her hands to the heavens, and the clouds above swirled violently. A massive beam of energy descended, its light illuminating the entire battlefield.

    The Martial de God met it head-on, his de glowing brighter than ever as he cleaved through the attack.

    ~VWUUUUUMMM!~

    As the dust settled, the two hovered high above the ruinedndscape, their auras zing like twin suns.

    "Haaa¡­"

    The Martial de God grinned, his eyes gleaming with unbridled excitement.

    "You''ve gotten stronger, Lilith. But now, I''ll be going all out."

    Lilith''s expression remained calm, though her gaze sharpened.

    "Good. I''d hate for this to be over too quickly."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Hello Readers!

    I have started a new book¡­ possibly my best one yet, and it''s called Extra Of The Magus Academy.

    You could check it out and see if you like it.

    I''m sure you''d have a good time.

 Chapter 1424: Lilith Vs Martial Blade God [Pt 2]

    ~DUUUUUMMMM!~ Find your next adventure on m_v l|e-NovelBin

    The air trembled as the Martial de God hovered midair, his aura surging to unimaginable heights.

    A faint, multicoloured glow enveloped his body, pulsing with raw energy that seemed to warp reality itself.

    His voice rang out like thunder, echoing across the ruined wastnd.

    "

    Martial Peak!

    "

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~

    In an instant, his energy exploded outward, taking the form of a colossal construct that dwarfed even the tallest mountains.

    The manifestation was a towering figure, hundreds of feet tall, mimicking his form in intricate detail. The construct radiated a blinding golden light, its edges rippling with the force of his overwhelming power.

    Inside its chest, the Martial de God stood, suspended like the heart of a divine machine.

    His eyes glowed with the intensity of a star, his hands gripping the hilt of his de as if it were an extension of the construct''s immense arms.

    Lilith, still floating in the air, narrowed her eyes.

    Sweat glistened on her brow, and for the first time in centuries, she felt the weight of true danger pressing against her.

    "You always had a ir for the dramatic," she said, though her voice betrayed a hint of strain.

    "This isn''t drama, Lilith," he replied, his voice amplified by the construct, rumbling like an earthquake.

    "This is power¡ªabsolute and unrelenting. You''ve held your own until now, but let''s see how long you canst against this!"

    ~WHUUSH~

    The construct moved with surprising speed for its size, its massive de slicing through the air with a force that split the heavens.

    The swing alone created a shockwave so powerful that it ttened the few remnants of the battlefield still standing, sending boulders and debris flying for miles.

    Lilith raised her hand, summoning a translucent shield of violet energy that barely absorbed the blow.

    The impact reverberated through her body, her teeth gritting against the strain.

    "Not bad," she muttered, her voiceced with defiance. "But two can y at this game."

    She thrust her arms outward, and the ground beneath her erupted in a cascade of light.

    Magic coalesced around her, forming a massive construct of her own.

    It was a towering figure of pure energy, shimmering with hues of silver and crimson, its lines intricate and elegantpared to the raw brutality of the Martial de God''s creation.

    Inside her construct''s head, Lilith stood, her hands glowing as she guided its movements.

    The two titans collided, their sh shaking the earth and sky.

    Each strike of their des sent shockwaves rippling outward, leveling entire mountain ranges and creating craters that stretched for miles.

    ~ZTTTTZZZZ!!!~

    Lightning crackled through the darkened sky, summoned by the sheer force of their conflict.

    Inside his construct, the Martial de God grinned. His hands moved with precision, guiding the giant de in relentless, devastating arcs.

    "You''re struggling, Lilith," he taunted. "Admit it¡ªthis is beyond you!"

    Lilith''s construct parried another devastating blow, her eyes narrowing.

    "You''re mistaking effort for struggle. Don''t get cocky just because you''ve managed to turn this into a spectacle."

    Her construct lunged forward, its hand glowing with concentrated magic. The punch connected with the Martial de God''s construct, sending it skidding back and creating a canyon beneath its feet.

    "You''ve improved," he admitted, his tone grudgingly respectful. "But it won''t be enough."

    He swung his de in a wide arc, the energy trailing from it cutting through the ground like a hot knife through butter.

    The attack struck Lilith''s construct, shattering its left arm into fragments of light.

    Inside her construct, Lilith winced, the feedback from the damage resonating through her body. She forced herself to focus, her hands weaving intricate patterns to repair the damage.

    "HAAAAAAA!!!!"

    The Martial de God pressed his advantage, his attacks growing faster and more ferocious.

    Each swing of his de unleashed waves of energy that devastated thend for hundreds of miles, turning forests into ash and rivers into steam.

    Neron, still protected by Lilith''s barrier, watched in horror as thendscape was transformed into a hellscape.

    He clenched his fists, frustration and helplessness gnawing at him.

    ''I''m useless here¡­

    he thought bitterly.

    She''s fighting with everything she has, and I can''t do a thing to help.''

    Inside her construct, Lilith felt the pressure mounting. She knew she couldn''t keep up with the Martial de God''s relentless assault for much longer.

    Her constructs were powerful, but his Martial State made him nearly invincible, his defenses imprable and his attacks overwhelming.

    She drew a deep breath, her voice calm despite the chaos around her.

    "If I can''t oust you, then I''ll outthink you."

    Her construct suddenly shifted, moving with an agility that belied its size.

    She dodged a downward swing from the Martial de God''s de, countering with a burst of concentrated magic that struck his construct''s shoulder.

    The explosion tore through the massive arm, but the damage was superficial at best.

    "You''ll need more than that!" he roared, his de glowing as he channeled all his energy into a single, devastating attack.

    ~FSHUUUU!~

    Lilith''s construct raised its remaining arm, summoning a shield of pure energy to intercept the attack.

    The Martial de God''s de struck the shield, and for a moment, it seemed as though she might hold him back.

    But his power was too great. The shield shattered, and his de cut through her construct''s chest, slicing it in half.

    Lilith''s eyes widened as the feedback hit her like a physical blow, knocking the wind from her lungs.

    Inside his construct, the Martial de God smirked.

    "It''s over, Lilith."

    He concentrated all his energy into his de, the weapon glowing with an intense golden light.

    With a final, earth-shattering swing, he brought the de down.

    Lilith''s construct disintegrated under the force of the attack, and bothbatants plummeted to the ground.

    ~BOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~

    The impact of their fall created a massive crater, sending shockwaves rippling outward. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the scene.

    As the dust settled, Neron''s heart sank at the sight before him.

    Lilithy sprawled on the ground, her body battered and bloodied. The Martial de God stood over her, his de embedded in her side, its glow dimming as he withdrew it.

    He looked down at her, his expression triumphant but not without respect.

    "This is my victory, Lilith."

    *

    *

    *

    [A/N]

    Hello Readers!

    I have started a new book¡­ possibly my best one yet, and it''s called Extra Of The Magus Academy.

    You could check it out and see if you like it.

    I''m sure you''d have a good time.

 Chapter 1425: No More Weakness

    The battlefield was a sea of ruin.

    The air buzzed with the residual energy of the Martial de God''s immense power, and the ground was nothing but a charred wastnd stretching to the horizon. Craters marked every sh, every blow exchanged in the titanic struggle between him and Lilith.

    Now, there was nothing left but silence, broken only by the soft breeze that carried the acrid scent of destruction.

    "It''s over¡­"

    Lilithy on the ground, her body lifeless, her once-wless form marred by the final strike of the Martial de God.

    His de, still glowing faintly with remnants of his power, remained embedded in her chest. Her crimson eyes, once filled with cunning and humor, were now empty, devoid of their usual spark.

    The sight sent a chill through Neron''s veins, even as his legs locked in ce, refusing to move.

    The Martial de God stood tall, his baster hair flowing in the wind as he gazed down at Lilith''s still form.

    There was no triumph in his eyes, only disappointment.

    "She held back," he muttered, almost to himself. "Even at the end, she refused to give me the fight I wanted."

    His voice carried a detached bitterness that grated against Neron''s soul.

    The Martial de God turned his attention to Neron, his sharp eyes narrowing.

    "The deal is void," he said coldly, beginning to walk toward the trembling figure of the boy. "She promised me a fight worthy of my de, and yet she held back for your sake. Uneptable."

    Neron''s breathing quickened.

    His mind screamed at him to run, to escape the overwhelming presence now bearing down on him. But his feet remained rooted, his body paralyzed by the weight of his grief and fear.

    "And now," the Martial de God continued, "I must deal with you, Singrity. You are a threat to the Cult''s ns, a loose end that cannot be allowed to exist. Besides¡­"

    He tilted his head, his gaze flicking briefly toward Neron''s satchel, where the Arcanas rested.

    "You have something I require."

    Neron''s hand instinctively tightened around the satchel''s strap, though he knew it was futile. The Martial de God was a monster¡ªa force of nature.

    There was no way he could fight him.

    Not now.

    As the de wielder approached, a sudden pulse emanated from Neron''s satchel.

    ~VWUUUUSH!~

    The air shifted, vibrating with an ancient energy that made even the Martial de God pause.

    A brilliant light erupted from within the bag, and before Neron could react, the world around him twisted and folded, swallowing him whole.

    ~WUUUUUUM!~

    When Neron opened his eyes, he was no longer in the deste battlefield.

    Instead, he stood in a grand hall filled with vibrant colors and intricate carvings. Massive stone pirs, each adorned with depictions of legendary beasts, stretched toward a ceiling that seemed to glow with its own light.

    The scent of wildflowers and fresh rain filled the air, a stark contrast to the ashen stench of the wastnd he had just left.

    "Wee back, young one," a deep, resonant voice called out.

    Neron turned to see a figure seated upon a throne made of intertwining roots and gemstones.

    The Magic Beast King¡ªRhogar Luceron.

    His presence was regal yet approachable, his golden fur shimmering like sunlight and his piercing eyes rested on Neron.

    Neron didn''t know whether or not to feel relieved upon seeing the King.

    However, before his mind could fully process what was happening, his body moved and he pleaded with the King with a desperate tone. Find more chapters on m_v l|e-NovelBin

    "King Rhogar¡ª!"

    Before he could speak, the King raised his hand and stopped Neron.

    "I understand why you are here¡­" He said, rising to his feet. "Lilith told me everything through her message. You are safe here, don''t worry."

    "But what about her? She''s still¡ª!"

    "Dead? Yeah, I know¡­"

    "No! I meant she''s still out there! There''s no way she''s dead! She told me she''s immortal!"

    "Haa¡­ youngd¡­" The King sighed and looked at him with what resembled pity. "I would forget all about those words if I were you."

    The King''s words crashed upon Neron like heavy wave.

    "Lilith is dead¡­ please ept that."

    Neron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. Instead, he simply nodded, his throat constricted by the weight of his emotions.

    "I¡­ understand."

    The King''s gaze softened. "You are wee to stay here as long as you wish. My people will see to your every need."

    Neron nodded again, his movements stiff and mechanical. The King inclined his head, signaling the end of their conversation, and Neron was led away to a room prepared for him.

    **************

    The room wasvish, more luxurious than anything Neron had ever experienced.

    Soft furs lined the floor, and the bed was enormous, piled high with cushions and nkets. A small table held a tray of fruits and a steaming cup of herbal tea, its aroma meant tofort and rx.

    But Neron felt none of it.

    He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall as the events of the day reyed in his mind. Lilith''sughter.

    Her sly smirks.

    Her teasing words.

    All of it had been silenced in an instant.

    "You lied to me¡­" he whispered, his voice barely audible in the stillness. "You said you were immortal¡­"

    His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms. The pressure in his chest grew unbearable, and before he knew it, tears streamed down his face. He clutched his head, his shoulders shaking as he sobbed uncontrobly.

    "Why did you have to die?" he cried, his voice breaking. "You¡­ you said you couldn''t die¡­ you promised¡­"

    The memories came in a flood: her guiding him, training him, pushing him to be stronger. The way she protected him, always with that infuriating smirk that told him she knew exactly what she was doing.

    He had trusted her, depended on her. And now she was gone.

    "Why¡­?" he choked out, his voice muffled by his hands. "Why did you leave me too¡­?"

    He felt an overwhelming sense of loss, not just for Lilith but for the growing number of people he had cared about who had been taken from him. The pain was suffocating, a crushing weight that made it hard to breathe.

    For hours, he cried, the sound of his anguish filling the room.

    It was raw and unfiltered, the kind of sorrow that left scars on the soul. When his tears finally subsided, hey back on the bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling.

    "I hate you for this¡­" he muttered, his voice hoarse. "But I¡­ I miss you¡­"

    His eyes grew heavy, the exhaustion of the day catching up to him. As he drifted into an uneasy sleep, one thought lingered in his mind.

    ¡ªThe overhelming power that both Lilith and the Martial de God disyed.

    He wanted that power for himself.

    Power so strong that no one would be able to stop him, and no one would be able to hurt anyone he cared about.

    If he was strong enough, everyone he had ever lost would be alive.

    ''No more weakness¡­'' He told himself in resolute silence. ''I promise you, Lilith¡­ I won''t be the weakling you remember anymore.''

 Chapter 1426: A Drifting Dream

    "Hmm¡­"

    The faint touch against his cheek was feather-light, but it stirred Neron from his restless sleep.

    He blinked against the dim glow of the room, his mind still fogged with exhaustion and grief.

    For a moment, he thought he had imagined it¡ªa dream, a trick of his sorrow-addled mind.

    But then he saw her.

    "A-ahh¡­ y-you¡­!"

    Lilith stood at the edge of his bed, her crimson eye glowing faintly in the half-light, hiding the ck eyepatch that covered her other eye.

    She looked serene, her usual mischievous smirk absent, reced by an expression that was strangely tender.

    Neron shot upright, his heart pounding.

    "L-Lilith?" he stammered, his voice cracking with disbelief. "How¡­? You¡­ you died. I saw¡­" Experience new tales on m v|l e''-NovelBin

    Her smile softened, and she raised a hand to silence him.

    "Rx, Neron. I''m here. But keep your voice down, or you''ll wake the entire pce."

    He stared at her, his mind racing to make sense of what he was seeing.

    "But how? The Martial de God¡­ his sword¡­ I saw you¡­"

    "I know," she said, her voice calm butced with a hint of guilt. "I know what you saw, Neron. But it wasn''t real. Not entirely."

    "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice rising despite her earlier warning. "I watched him kill you! I saw you lying there, lifeless! How could that not be real?"

    Lilith sighed, taking a seat on the edge of his bed. Her presence felt so normal, so familiar, that for a moment, Neron almost forgot the chaos of the past day.

    "It was a trick," she admitted, her gaze meeting his. "A very convincing one. I needed him to believe he had won, Neron. If he thought I was still alive, he''d keeping after me. He''s been obsessed with fighting me ever since I beat him the first time. And if I kept defeating him, he''d never stop."

    Neron''s fists clenched, his confusion giving way to anger. "So you let him think he killed you? You let me believe you were dead?"

    "I didn''t have a choice!" she snapped, though her voice quickly softened. "Do you think I wanted to put you through that? Do you think it was easy for me to watch your face as I ''died''? But it was the only way, Neron. He needed to think he''d won. Otherwise, he''d never stop hunting me, and you''d be caught in the crossfire."

    Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Neron''s anger wavered, reced by a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

    Relief, frustration, betrayal, and gratitude all vied for dominance in his heart.

    "You could''ve told me," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "You didn''t have to make me think you were gone."

    "I couldn''t risk it," she said gently. "The Martial de God is persistent, but he''s not a fool. If he even suspected I was alive, everything would have been for nothing. And¡­"

    She hesitated, her gaze falling to her hands.

    "And¡­ I also needed you to move on."

    Neron frowned. "Move on? What are you talking about?"

    Lilith looked up, her eyes shining with an emotion Neron couldn''t quite ce.

    "You''ve spent so much of your life running, Neron. Running from the past, from your pain, from your own potential. I wanted you to have a chance to stop. To forge a life that suits you, not one defined by your circumstances."

    He shook his head, the weight of her words pressing down on him. "And you thought pretending to die would help with that? How does that make any sense?"

    "You''ll understand eventually," she said, her tone cryptic yet resolute. "You can''t avoid forming bonds with people forever, Neron. No matter how much you try to keep your distance, life has a way of pulling you back in. You''ll see."

    He opened his mouth to argue, but the look in her eyes stopped him. There was no malice, no maniption¡ªonly a quiet certainty that left him at a loss for words.

    "I don''t get it," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "But¡­ I trust you."

    Lilith smiled, the expression tinged with a sadness that made Neron''s chest ache.

    "Thank you," she said softly.

    She reached out, her fingers brushing against his forehead.

    "You''ll be fine, Neron. You''re stronger than you think. But for now¡­ I need you to forget this conversation."

    "What?" His eyes widened, panic ring in his chest. "No, wait¡ª"

    ~FSHUUUUU!~

    Her magic surged before he could protest further, a gentle yet irresistible force that wrapped around his mind like a warm nket.

    His eyelids grew heavy, his thoughts growing sluggish as the spell took hold.

    "Why¡­?" he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

    "Because you deserve a clean te," she whispered, her voice filled with an uncharacteristic tenderness. "And because I care about you more than you realize. That''s why I have to leave."

    Her smile was sad, something akin to tears glistened in her glowing eye as his confused face reflected in it.

    As Neron''s consciousness faded, he thought he saw a tear descend down her pale face.

    "Goodbye, kid."

    ***************

    When Neron woke again, the room was filled with the soft light of dawn.

    He blinked, the remnants of a strange dream lingering at the edges of his mind.

    Lilith''s face, her voice, her touch¡ªit all felt so vivid, yet so distant.

    "Hmmm¡­"

    He sat up, rubbing his eyes as he tried to piece together the fragments of his memory. There was something important, something just out of reach¡­ but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t grasp it.

    "Just a dream, I guess¡­" He muttered, though the words felt hollow.

    And yet, as he rose from the bed and prepared to face the day, he realized something had changed.

    The crushing weight of grief that had pressed on him so heavily the night before was gone. In its ce was a quiet resolve, a sense of peace he couldn''t quite exin.

    He didn''t understand it, but for the first time in what felt like forever, he didn''t feel alone.

 Chapter 1427: Perfect Mastery

    The sun hung low in the sky, its golden rays filtering through the dense canopy of the Magic Beast Kingdom''s vast forests.

    The air shimmered with energy, a testament to the ancient power that coursed through thisnd.

    At the heart of a secluded clearing, Neron stood, his body drenched in sweat, his chest rising and falling withbored breaths.

    "Haaa¡­ haaaa¡­"

    He adjusted his grip on the shimmering card in his hands¡ª[

    The Tower],

    one of his Arcanas.

    Its weight was no longer a challenge, its intricacies no longer a mystery. Over the years, he had forged an unbreakable bond with it, mastering its every nuance until it felt like an extension of his very soul.

    He had also mastered the rest¡ª[The Sun], [The Hanged Man], and his personal favorite¡­ [The Hermit].

    His Original Magic perfectly synchronised with the power of [The Hermit], allowing him to perfect its power.

    "Hehe¡­"

    A slight smile tugged at his lips as he surveyed the aftermath of his training.

    Craters marred the once-pristine clearing, trees were felled in every direction, and the air was thick with the remnants of his immense Mana.

    "Not bad," he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with satisfaction.

    "Not bad at all."

    He recalled the first time he had wielded the Arcanas.

    Back then, they had felt like an insurmountable challenge, their power far beyond his ability to control.

    But now, after years of relentless effort, he had not only mastered them¡ªhe had made it his own.

    In a sense, they were all various kinds of Original Magic to him.

    All of this meant one thing to him.

    "I''ve gotten stronger."

    As he walked back toward the grand pce of the Magic Beast King, his thoughts drifted.

    The kingdom had be his sanctuary, a ce where he could train without interruption or distraction. The Magic Beast King had taken him in without hesitation, offering both guidance and protection.

    Yet, despite the few years he had spent here, a part of him remained tethered to the Eastern Kingdom.

    ''I''m 17 now¡­'' He thought to himself. ''Isn''t it about time I returned?

    He remembered the day he had asked the King to send spies to monitor the Eastern Kingdom.

    At the time, he couldn''t bring himself to return.

    The memories of his past life there, the people he had once cared about¡ªit was all too much.

    "I''m not ready," he had told the King, his voice heavy with regret. "Not yet."

    The Magic Beast King had understood, his wise eyes conveying a depth of empathy that Neron hadn''t expected.

    Without question, the King had sent his most trusted scouts to gather information.

    Now, as Neron approached his quarters, he wondered if it was finally time to face what he had left behind.

    He had grown stronger¡ªstrong enough to face the challenges that awaited him.

    Or so he hoped.

    The pce was a marvel of nature and craftsmanship, its walls formed from living trees and glowing crystals.

    Neron stepped inside his room, a modest butfortable space that he hade to think of as home.

    He sank into a chair, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him.

    He hadn''t heard much from the spiestely, but the fragments of information they had brought back painted a grim picture.

    Political unrest, escting tensions between races, and whispers of an emerging Demon threat.

    "A world on the brink of war," he murmured, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns on his furniture

    .

    A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

    "Enter," he called, straightening in his chair.

    The door opened to reveal the towering figure of the Magic Beast King. His presence wasmanding, his golden mane shimmering like sunlight.

    Despite his imposing stature, his eyes were kind, filled with a wisdom that spoke of countless lifetimes.

    "Neron," the King said, his voice deep and resonant. "May I sit?"

    "Of course, Your Majesty."

    The King took a seat across from him, his expression uncharacteristically somber.

    "I bring news," he began, his tone grave. "The situation in the Eastern Kingdom has worsened. The spies you requested have reported back with troubling information."

    Neron''s heart skipped a beat. "What kind of information?"

    "The tensions between the major races have reached a boiling point. Humans, Elves, Fairies, Beastfolk, Dwarves, and even the surprising return of the Demons¡ªeach faction is preparing for war. The scale of this conflict¡­ it''s unlike anything the world has seen in centuries."

    The room seemed to grow colder as the King spoke.

    Neron felt a knot form in his stomach, his mind racing toprehend the enormity of what he was hearing.

    "A World War," he said softly, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.

    The King nodded.

    "Indeed. And it will be devastating. Entire kingdoms could be wiped out, countless lives lost. If ites to that, the world may never recover."

    Neron leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. He had trained tirelessly for years, honing his strength and mastering his Arcana. But was he truly ready for something of this magnitude?

    "I know what you''re thinking," the King said, his voice cutting through Neron''s thoughts. "And I won''t pretend to understand the weight you carry. But you are stronger now than you have ever been. If anyone can make a difference, it''s you."

    Neron met the King''s gaze, his resolve hardening.

    "I can''t stay here," he said. "Not while the Eastern Kingdom is on the brink of destruction. It''s time for me to return."

    The King''s expression softened, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes. "I knew you would say that. And I will support you in any way I can."

    "Thank you," Neron said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

    "We n on remaining neutral in his war and keeping our identity hidden¡­ but we will be here if you need us."

    "Thanks."

    "Don''t mention it." The King nodded. "It''s the least we could do after all that Lilith and even you have done for us."

    A small smile formed on Neron''s face.

    The Magic Beast Kingdom was now allied with the Dragons and the other neighboring Kingdoms.

    Their prosperity was unlike anything in times past.

    All thanks to Neron.

    The King rose, cing a hand on Neron''s shoulder. "Remember, Neron: the strength you''ve gained here is not just for yourself. It''s for the world. Use it wisely."

    Neron nodded, his determination burning brighter than ever.

    As the King left the room, he turned his attention to

    his Arcanas as they shimmered with a faint light.

    "Time to go home," he whispered, his voice resolute.

    "I hope everyone is well¡­"

    *

    *

    *

    [End Of The Vagabond Arc]

    ~We have finally reached the final stop of Part 2, which is Arc 4¡­ or Volume 12 of Spellcraft.

    Prepare for The Final Spell Arc.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1428: Silent Wish

    ~FSHUUUU~

    The battlefield stretched as far as the eye could see, a wastnd of shattered earth and crimson-stained soil.

    The air hung heavy with the stench of blood and ash, the silence of death deafening in its finality.

    Corpses of demons, humans, elves, and countless other races littered the ground, their lifeless bodies serving as grim markers of a war that had consumed the world for months.

    Above it all, the sky was an angry shade of gray, as if mourning the lives lost in the senseless conflict.

    At the center of this destion stood Neron, his body drenched in blood and soot.

    His once-pristine clothes were torn, his hands trembling as he gripped the hilt of his sword, its de dull with the blood of those he had in.

    "Huu¡­ haaa¡­"

    His chest heaved with exhaustion, his breaths shallow andbored.

    Yet, despite the physical toll, it was the weight on his soul that threatened to crush him entirely.

    The Demons were gone.

    Not just defeated, but eradicated.

    Everyst one of them wiped out from existence, their strongholds reduced to rubble, their people burned to ash.

    They had been the instigators of the World War, but now, there was no one left to answer for their crimes.

    Neron had made sure of that.

    His gaze swept over the battlefield, lingering on the faces of the fallen.

    A young demon girl clutched a broken doll in her lifeless arms, her wide eyes frozen in terror.

    Nearby, a human soldiery sprawled beside his in enemy, their hands inadvertently touching in death.

    Neron''s stomach churned at the sight.

    These weren''t just soldiers. They were people. Fathers, mothers, children¡ªeach with lives and dreams extinguished in a conflict they had no control over.

    His knees buckled, and he copsed to the ground, his sword ttering beside him. He buried his face in his bloodied hands, his shoulders shaking as silent tears streamed down his cheeks.

    ''This isn''t victory,'' he thought bitterly. ''This is annihtion.''

    Memories of the war shed before his eyes like a cruel montage.

    He remembered the desperate cries of hisrades in the Eastern Empire, their pleas for him to save them.

    He remembered the faces of his friends¡ªthose he fought to protect¡ªcheering him on, believing in him, depending on him.

    And then, he remembered the Demons.

    The fear in their eyes when they realized the extent of his power.

    The mothers shielding their children.

    The desperate, futile attempts to surrender, to reason with him.

    He had ignored it all.

    Blinded by his desire to end the war, to protect those he cared about, he had unleashed the full might of his Magic and the Arcanas.

    His power, the very thing that had once filled him with awe and purpose, had be a weapon of genocide.

    "I had to do it," he whispered to himself, his voice cracking. "If I didn''t¡­ they would''ve destroyed us. They would''ve killed everyone I cared about."

    But even as the words left his mouth, they felt hollow. No justification could erase the blood on his hands.

    The weight of the Arcanas in his pouch felt heavier than ever.

    These artifacts, symbols of unimaginable power, had been his greatest tools in the war. The Tower, The Hermit, The Sun, and The Hanged Man¡ªall had yed a role in the destruction he wrought.

    They had made him unstoppable, untouchable, a force of nature.

    But now, they felt like curses rather than blessings.

    He pulled out The Tower Arcana and stared at its intricate design, the depiction of a tall spire surrounded by chaos.

    It was fitting, he thought grimly.

    That was all he brought¡ªchaos and ruin.

    "Did you envision this too, Lilith?" he muttered under his breath.

    Your next journey awaits at m v|l-e''-NovelBin

    The memory of her face, her knowing smile, surfaced unbidden. She had entrusted him with these Arcanas, had trained him, prepared him.

    But for what? For this?

    He clenched his fist around the card, his knuckles turning white.

    "You said I''d find my path, that I''d understand my purpose. Well, here I am, standing amidst the ashes of an entire race. Is this what you wanted me to be?"

    The card didn''t answer, of course.

    But he could feel the power within it hum softly, as if mocking him.

    Hours passed, though it felt like an eternity.

    Neron remained on his knees, lost in his thoughts. The battlefield had grown colder, the wind carrying the faint whispers of the dead.

    He stared nkly ahead, his mind reying the final moments of the war.

    He had stood at the gates of the Demons''st stronghold, their King kneeling before him, battered and defeated.

    The King had begged for mercy¡ªnot for himself, but for his people. His voice, hoarse and broken, had echoed in Neron''s ears even as he raised his hand to deliver the final blow.

    "Please¡­" the King had whispered. "We have children too¡­"

    Neron had hesitated, just for a moment. But then he had thought of his friends, hisrades, the countless lives lost to the Demons'' initial onught. He had steeled himself and unleashed a surge of power that obliterated the stronghold and everyone within it.

    Now, as he sat amidst the aftermath, he couldn''t stop hearing that broken whisper.

    The sound of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts.

    A lone survivor¡ªa young soldier from the Eastern Empire¡ªapproached cautiously, his armor dented and smeared with blood.

    He stopped a few feet away, his face pale and his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear.

    "Sir Neron," the soldier stammered. "The war¡­ it''s over. You''ve¡­ you''ve saved us."

    Saved us.

    The words hit Neron like a punch to the gut. He didn''t respond, didn''t even look up. The soldier, after a moment of hesitation, saluted and walked away, leaving Neron alone once more.

    "Saved you?" he muttered bitterly. "At what cost?"

    He stared at his bloodied hands, flexing his fingers as if trying to scrub away the stains.

    The power coursing through him felt like a curse, a burden he never wanted. He thought of the people he had fought to protect, the friends he had fought alongside, and the innocent lives he had taken.

    "What''s the point of this power if all it brings is pain?" he murmured. His voice trembled, barely audible over the howling wind. "What kind of monster have I be?"

    A surge of anger bubbled within him, directed not at anyone else but at himself. He mmed his fist into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.

    "Why does Magic even exist? Why do I exist?"

    The wind picked up, swirling ash and debris around him. He looked up at the bleak, lifeless sky, his heart heavy with despair.

    "I wish¡­" he began, his voice raw with emotion.

    "I wish Magic had never existed."

    *

    *

    *

    [Wee To The Final Spell Arc]

    ~This will conclude the story of Spellcraft, so be prepared!~

    Enjoy thesest moments.

    Cheers!

 Chapter 1429: Crushing Solitude

    The halls of the imperial pce gleamed with opulence.

    Golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over the gathering of nobles, generals, and dignitaries who filled the grand ballroom. Their voices rose in excitement, the air alive with admiration and gratitude.

    At the center of it all stood Neron, d in the finest ceremonial robes, a medal of honor freshly pinned to his chest.

    Cheers erupted as the Emperor himself stepped forward, raising a goblet in celebration.

    "To Neron, the Hero of the Eastern Empire! The man who ended the war and secured peace for generations toe!"

    The crowd erupted in apuse. Neron stood motionless, his face an unreadable mask. He nced at the sea of faces around him¡ªsmiling,ughing, full of hope.

    This was what they had fought for.

    This was what so many had died for.

    Yet, as the cheers washed over him, he felt none of the pride or satisfaction they expected.

    It all felt empty to him.

    *********

    Hourster, Neron stood alone in his new quarters, far removed from the bustling celebration.

    The chamber was enormous, adorned with the most expensive designs¡ªmost of which he found to be excessive.

    A firece crackled softly, its warmth doing little tofort him.

    On the table before himy a document bearing the Emperor''s seal: his official appointment as one of the three Grand Mages of the Empire.

    ''I''ve reached the same level of influence as the Court Mage and the Head of Ainrk Academy¡­ probably even higher.'' He thought to himself with a wry smile.

    Alongside the official document was a pouch overflowing with gold, jewels, and the deeds to several estates gifted to him in gratitude.

    He hadn''t even nced at them.

    He sank into a chair, rubbing his temples. The echoes of the apuse from earlier still rang in his ears, mingling with the cries of the fallen that haunted his memories.

    "Grand Mage," he muttered bitterly, staring at the title on the parchment. "What an honor."

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    His gaze shifted to the window, where the moon hung low in the night sky.

    The world outside seemed peaceful, oblivious to the horrors that had brought it to this moment.

    But for Neron, peace was a distant dream.

    His nights were gued with nightmares, his days consumed by a gnawing emptiness he couldn''t shake.

    *********

    Weeks passed, and Neron''s fame grew.

    Songs were written about his heroics; statues were erected in his honor. Yet, he remained confined to his abode, avoiding the world and its praises.

    Servants came and went, delivering meals he barely touched.

    Letters and invitations piled up on his desk, unopened. The bustling city beyond his walls felt like a foreignnd, its joy and vibrancy a stark contrast to the shadows that clung to him.

    He spent his days in silence, staring at the mes in the hearth or wandering aimlessly through the corridors of his grand home.

    The weight of his new title, of his actions during the war, pressed down on him like an iron shroud.

    It wasn''t just the demons he had killed. It was their families, their culture, their very existence.

    He had snuffed it out, erased an entire race from the world in the name of peace.

    And while the world celebrated him as a savior, he felt like a monster.

    Besides¡­ what was he to do now?

    The war was over, so there was no use for him at this point. He felt the crushing feeling of uselessness.

    Even with his strength, he was powerless.

    *********

    One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in hues of orange and purple, there came a knock at his door.

    Neron ignored it at first, assuming it was another messenger or servant.

    But the knock came again, firmer this time.

    "Neron," a familiar voice called. "It''s me, Serah. And Legris is here too. Let us in."

    He hesitated, his hand pausing mid-reach for his ss of wine.

    Serah and Legris.

    The two people who were his closest friends in the entire Empire.

    Serah was his childhood friend, and someone he held more than mere feelings of friendship for.

    As for Legris, he had known him since they were both Adventurers, and upon reuniting in the war, they became much closer than ever before.

    It wasn''t long until the three of them became incredibly good friends.

    Inseparable too.

    ''I haven''t spoken them in months¡­'' Neron thought to himself. ''Not since the war''s aftermath.''

    Part of him wanted to ignore them, to stay hidden in his solitude. But another part¡ªa smaller, quieter part¡ªlonged for their presence.

    "Neron," Legris added, his deep voice carrying a note of concern.

    "We''re not leaving until you open this door."

    With a resigned sigh, Neron rose from his chair and walked to the door. He hesitated for a moment before unlocking it and pulling it open.

    Serah and Legris stood there, their expressions a mix of relief and worry.

    Serah was the first to speak, her tone light butced with concern. "You look terrible. When was thest time you slept?"

    Legris gave a small, humorless chuckle.

    "Or ate, for that matter. You''ve been avoiding everyone, haven''t you?"

    Neron stepped aside, letting them in without a word. They entered, their presence filling the room with an air of familiarity he hadn''t realized he missed.

    Serah plopped onto the couch, crossing her arms.

    "All right, spill. What''s going on with you? And don''t give us that ''I''m fine'' nonsense. We''ve known you too long for that."

    Legris nodded, leaning against the wall. "We''re worried about you, Neron. You''ve been through hell, and now you''re shutting everyone out. That''s not like you."

    Neron sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I¡­ don''t even know where to begin."

    "Start from the beginning," Serah said gently, her eyes meeting his. "We''re here for you. No matter what."

    Neron opened his mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again. He sank back into his chair, the weight of his thoughts threatening to overwhelm him.

    "The beginning, huh?" he murmured, staring at the floor.

    He wasn''t sure about opening old wounds, but for the sake of closure¡­ perhaps this was what he needed.

    "Okay¡­ I''ll tell you."

 Chapter 1430: Eliminating Magic

    The crackling of the firece filled the silence that lingered after Neron finished speaking.

    His words hung heavy in the air, a painful confession of the burdens he carried. Serah and Legris sat across from him, their faces etched with a mix of sympathy and sorrow.

    "I never wanted any of this," Neron said softly, his voice almost a whisper.

    He stared at his hands, the faint glow of magical energy lingering around his fingertips.

    "The power, the fame, the blood on my hands¡­ I only wanted to protect the people I cared about. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of what that meant."

    Serah ced her hand gently over his, her touch warm and grounding. She leaned closer, her blue eyes shimmering with emotion as she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

    "You''ve carried so much, Neron," she said, her voice steady but tender. "You did what you had to do to save lives. No one mes you for that."

    Her words offered a flicker offort, but Neron shook his head.

    "Maybe no one mes me, but I me myself. I ended an entire race, Serah. The demons¡­ they had homes, families, children. And I destroyed them all. How can I evere back from that?"

    Legris, who had been silent until now, spoke up. His tone was grave, his gaze fixed on the dancing mes.

    "I''ve been thinking about that too. About everything we saw during the war."

    He paused, his jaw tightening.

    "The destruction, the bloodshed¡­ all because of Magic. It''s a force too powerful for anyone to wield responsibly. And the more I think about it, the more I wonder if the world would be better off without it."

    Neron nced at him, his brow furrowing.

    "You''re not wrong," he admitted, his voice low. "Magic has caused more pain than I can count. But as much as I wish for a world without it, I don''t know how to make that happen."

    Serah looked between them, her expression conflicted.

    "But¡­ Magic isn''t all bad," she argued, though her voicecked its usual conviction. "Think about all the good it''s done. The lives it''s saved, the advancements it''s brought. Can you really say the world would be better off without it?"

    Legris turned to her, his eyes hard. "And what about the lives it''s destroyed? The wars it''s fueled? Magic is a double-edged sword, Serah, and its price is always paid in blood."

    Serah opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss. The weight of their arguments,bined with her own memories of the war, left her silent.

    Her hand fell from Neron''s as she looked down, a troubled expression on her face.

    Neron leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the set of Arcana cards resting on the table before him.

    Each one pulsed faintly with its own unique energy, a testament to the immense power they held. His mind raced with possibilities, and then a thought struck him¡ªa wild, impossible idea that refused to let go.

    "What if," he began, his voice hesitant but growing firmer, "we could make everyone forget about Magic? The way the Great Sage and hisrades made the world forget about the demons over a century ago."

    Legris''s eyes widened, and he leaned forward.

    "Is it what you told us about? The one thatdy Lilith told you they used?"

    "That''s right."

    "But it could be anywhere, right? I mean¡­ all the Arcanas are scattered across the world, so it should be impossible to find."

    "Not necessarily."

    Legris looked curiously at his friend.

    Neron smiled. "If I could gather them, I might be able to use theirbined power to erase Magic from existence. It wouldn''t be easy, and I''d need to find a way to ensure the change is permanent. But it''s a start."

    Serah looked at him, her conflict in on her face.

    "You''re serious about this? About erasing Magic entirely?"

    "I am," Neron said firmly. He looked into her eyes, his own filled with a mix of determination and sorrow. "I know it won''t bring back the lives Magic has taken, but it might stop more from being lost. If we can do this, Serah, we could create a world where people don''t have to live in fear of its power."

    Serah was silent for a long moment, her hands sped tightly in herp. Finally, she sighed, her voice quiet.

    "I¡­ I don''t know if I agree with you. But I can''t deny the truth of what you''ve said. Magic has caused so much pain. If this is the path you want to take, I''ll stand by you¡ªfor now."

    Legris ced a hand on Neron''s shoulder, a rare smile breaking through his usual stoicism.

    "You''re not doing this alone. I''ll help you, no matter what it takes."

    Neron gave a faint smile in return, though it didn''t reach his eyes.

    "Thank you. Both of you." He stood, his gaze turning toward the window and the sprawling city beyond. "This won''t be easy. But I think I know where to start."

    Legris raised an eyebrow. "Where''s that?"

    Neron turned back to them, a flicker of determination lighting his expression.

    "I found all of these Arcanas in the hideout created by The Great Sage over a century ago. I was able to read some of the things he wrote, and they contain a history of his past with his friends¡­"

    "So, you think a hint of this missing Arcana will be there?" Legris asked, causing Neron to nod.

    "It''s worth a shot, right?"

    They all nodded in agreement.

    "If we''re going to do this, no one can know about our n¡­ Okay?"

    The three of them exchanged nods, the weight of their decision settling over them.

    Serah still seemed unsure about their actions, but Neron already appeared determined and she didn''t want to lose him by refusing to help.

    As a result, she chose to believe in him and apany him on his journey for the moment.

    Legris, on the other hand, was all for the n.

    It was evident in his expression.

    "Okay, you guys! Let''s do this!"

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 1431: Reunion With An Old Enemy

    ~VWUUUUSH!~

    The shimmering portal of violet energy copsed behind them as Neron, Serah, and Legrisnded on the craggy surface of a deste mountaintop.

    The air was cold and thin, the wind carrying a faint metallic tang of decay and disuse.

    Before them stood the remnants of what was once the legendary hideout of the Great Sage Lewis Griffith¡ªa forgotten relic of a bygone era.

    The stone structure was in shambles.

    Walls that had once been indomitable nowy in jagged heaps, and the mighty tower at its center leaned precariously, a skeleton of its former grandeur. Charred marks streaked across the rubble, and the faint glow of residual energy pulsed weakly, a remnant of whatever violent means was used to bring the ce to ruin.

    Legris let out a bitter sigh, breaking the uneasy silence.

    "So this is it," he said, his voiceced with frustration.

    He kicked a loose rock, sending it skittering down the slope.

    "The Great Sage''s hideout¡­ or what''s left of it. Whoever did this made sure nothing useful was left behind."

    Serah stepped forward, crouching beside a pile of shattered stone inscribed with faint runes. Her fingers brushed against the weathered markings.

    "It looks like this ce has been destroyed for quite some time," she murmured. "Whatever secrets it held are probably lost forever."

    Neron, however, remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ruins.

    His mind raced, dissecting the scene with a detached intensity. The destruction was deliberate, that much was clear, but there was something else¡ªan anomaly in the very fabric of the area.

    He could feel it, subtle but persistent, like the vibrations of a taut string.

    "Not necessarily," he finally said, stepping forward. His tone carried a quiet confidence that drew hispanions'' attention. "There might still be a way to uncover what happened here."

    Legris turned to him, a skeptical eyebrow raised. "And how exactly do you n to do that? This ce is a graveyard."

    Neron didn''t respond immediately.

    Instead, he reached into his coat and withdrew [The Hermit], the Arcana card glowing faintly in his grasp. Its power radiated through him, and he felt its familiar call: the ability to delve into the past, present and future¡ªto unravel the threads of time and restore what was once lost.

    "I''ll reverse the time of this ce," Neron exined, his voice calm but resolute. "If I can rewind the flow of time here, we can see this hideout as it once was¡ªbefore it was destroyed. Maybe then we''ll find what we need."

    Legris folded his arms, watching as Neron closed his eyes and began to channel the Arcana''s power.

    "You better hope this works," he muttered. "We don''t have time for dead ends."

    Serah shot him a reproachful look but said nothing, her attention fixed on Neron.

    ~VWUUM!~

    The glow of [The Hermit] intensified, bathing the ruins in a pale light that shimmered like water. Neron concentrated, extending the Arcana''s influence outward, seeking to rewind the events imprinted on the very stones.

    He could feel the echoes of the past, faint but present¡ªa tapestry of moments waiting to be unfurled.

    But then, something pushed back.

    The light faltered, flickering as though caught in a strong wind.

    A wave of energy, alien and chaotic, surged through the ruins, disrupting the Arcana''s flow.

    "Hmm?!"

    Neron''s brow furrowed in concentration as he pushed harder, but the interference only grew stronger, resisting his efforts like a tangled knot of threads.

    "What''s happening?" Serah asked, her voice tense.

    Neron opened his eyes, his face pale with strain.

    "There''s interference," he said, his toneced with frustration. "Something¡ªor someone¡ªhas tangled space-time here. It''s like the past has been¡­ locked away."

    Legris stepped forward, his expression grim. "Locked away? By what?"

    Neron shook his head.

    "I don''t know. But whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªit is, they''re strong. Strong enough to block the Arcana''s power."

    Before he could delve further, a deep, resonant voice cut through the air behind them, carrying a weight that sent chills down their spines.

    "Well, well. Look what the wind dragged in. I had a feeling you''de back here for whatever reason, and it seems my patient approach paid off¡­"

    Neron''s blood ran cold.

    He turned slowly, his heart pounding as the voice struck a chord deep within him¡ªone he had hoped to never hear again.

    Standing a short distance away, amidst the rubble and shadows, was a figure cloaked in an aura of serene menace. His tall, imposing frame was unmistakable, his every movement exuding control and precision.

    His sharp eyes, like molten gold, bore into Neron with a piercing intensity that seemed to strip him bare. He wore a blue robe, like a kimono, and his long auburn hair danced with the wind.

    A de hung at his side, simple yet radiating an aura of unmatched lethality.

    It was him.

    The Martial de God.

    The man who had killed Lilith.

    Neron''s fists clenched at his sides, his body tensing instinctively.

    His breath came short, and his mind raced, a storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Anger, fear, grief¡ªthey all surged to the surface, battling for dominance.

    "Martial de God," Neron said, his voice low and steady, though it carried a tremor of suppressed rage. "What are you doing here?"

    The Martial de God tilted his head, a faint smirk ying on his lips.

    "What am I doing here? That''s an interesting question, considering you''re the one trespassing on sacred ground."

    Legris stepped forward, his hand on his weapon.

    "Who the hell are you?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

    The man didn''t even nce at him.

    His attention remained fixed on Neron.

    "Yourpanion has quite the temper," he said mildly. "But I suppose introductions are in order. I am regarded as the Martial de God, but Neron here knows me as the man who killed his dear friend and Master, Lilith."

    Legris froze, his eyes widening as the weight of the man''s words sank in.

    "Isn''t that right¡­ boy?"

    Serah gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth as she looked at Neron.

    The boy was enraged.

 Chapter 1432: Neron Vs Martial Blade God (Pt 1]

    Neron''s jaw tightened, his magic ring faintly around him as his emotions threatened to boil over.

    "Why?" he demanded, his voice barely above a whisper.

    "Why did you kill her?"

    The Martial de God''s expression didn''t change, but there was a flicker of something¡ªregret? amusement?¡ªin his eyes.

    "Why does anyone do anything in this world?" he replied cryptically. "You''ll find your answers soon enough. That is, if you''re strong enough to im them."

    "I''m going to kill you¡­"

    Neron growled as he stepped forward, looking at the man with hatred in his eyes.

    Despite the intensity of his re, the Martial de God''s expression was perfectly calm and serene.

    He eventually broke into a calm smile and nodded, gesturing for Neron toe at him with everything he had.

    "Then¡­ let us begin."

    ~VWUUUMMM!!!~

    The air vibrated with an overwhelmingly thick tension as Neron''s magic red wildly, the shimmering glow of his Arcanas illuminating the deste mountaintop.

    His heart thundered in his chest, his mind racing with a storm of emotions.

    Rage. Grief. Determination.

    The man standing before him wasn''t just an enemy¡ªhe was a symbol of everything Neron hated, everything he wanted to ovee.

    And yet, the Martial de God stood unfazed.

    His calm, almost serene expression was like a dagger twisting in Neron''s chest.

    "Come," the man said, his voice steady, his golden eyes sharp.

    Neron didn''t hesitate.

    VWUUUUSH!

    With a sh of violet energy, [The Tower] activated. Space warped, and Neron disappeared, reappearing above the Martial de God in an instant.

    His hand was already crackling with energy from [The Sun], a zing sphere of condensed magic aimed to obliterate.

    "Take this!"

    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

    The sphere detonated with a thunderous roar, an eruption of fire and light swallowing the battlefield.

    The force of the st shattered the remaining ruins, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

    Rocks and debris rained down, and for a moment, it seemed as though Neron''s power was unmatched.

    But then, the smoke cleared.

    The Martial de God stood in the epicenter, untouched.

    With a flick of his wrist, he sheathed his de, the faint hum of energy around him dissipating as if it had been an afterthought.

    "You''ll need more than shy tricks," he said, his tone almost bored.

    "Mage Mode!" Neron growled, his fists tightening.

    His Mage Mode red, his body surrounded by a swirling aura of raw mana. His outfit also changed into a strong Mage Cloak made entirely out of powerful Mana.

    Lines of glowing energy etched themselves across his skin like molten veins, and his power surged exponentially.

    "I''ll show you what I''ve got," Neron hissed.

    In an instant, he was gone again, teleporting with [The Tower]. This time, he aimed for a pincer attack, reappearing behind the Martial de God while conjuring a barrage of high-speed magic bolts.

    The projectiles screamed through the air, each charged with explosive energy.

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

    The ground shook as the attacksnded, carving craters into the terrain.

    But the Martial de God moved like water, flowing between the attacks with an effortless grace.

    He didn''t even draw his de, his hands guiding the air currents to deflect the bolts.

    "You''re trying too hard," he said, sidestepping another explosion. "Your magic is powerful, but it''s unfocused. Emotional."

    "You talk too much!" Neron roared.

    Activating [The Hermit], Neron froze the flow of time around him.

    Everything slowed¡ªthe swirling dust, the flickering mes, even the subtle shifting of the Martial de God''s stance.

    In this frozen moment, Neronunched his attack, his fists infused with the radiant energy of [The Sun].

    He struck with precision, aiming for vital points.

    But as his fist closed in on the man''s chest, time snapped back to normal.

    The Martial de God caught Neron''s fist mid-strike.

    "W-what?!"

    The force of the impact sent tremors through the mountain, but the man didn''t flinch. His hand tightened around Neron''s wrist, his golden eyes locking onto the younger man with a piercing gaze.

    "Time maniption?" he said, his tone curious. "Impressive. But iplete."

    With a twist of his arm, he threw Neron across the battlefield.

    "Gahhh!"

    Neron twisted mid-air,nding in a crouch as the ground cracked beneath him.

    "Damn it¡­" He muttered, wiping blood from his lip.

    The Martial de God finally fully unsheathed his de.

    The sound was subtle, almost melodic, but the pressure that followed was anything but. The air grew heavy, the weight of the man''s presence suffocating.

    He held his sword with one hand, the de gleaming with an ominous light.

    "This has been quite boring, wouldn''t you say?" he said, his voice calm but firm. "Will you give up now?"

    Neron''s body trembled, but not with fear.

    "Martial State!"

    He activated his Martial State, his aura shifting from radiant energy to a darker, more primal force.

    His muscles tensed, his senses sharpening to an almost painful degree.

    This transformation was Lilith''s legacy, a gift she had entrusted to him.

    ''She taught me both Mage Mode and Martial State¡­ but incredibly powerful transformations that I can stack up like this.''

    Usually, a person could only use one of them¡­ and even then it would be difficult.

    However, Neron could use both.

    And he wouldn''t waste it.

    VWUUM!

    The mountain shook as Neronunched himself forward, his speed blinding.

    He swung with all his might,bining the destructive force of [The Sun] and the quickened rate of his body as a result of [The Hermit] with the precision of his Martial State.

    His strikes were relentless, each one tearing through the air with enough force to shatter stone.

    For the first time, the Martial de God moved with intent.

    His de met Neron''s attacks with perfect timing, deflecting each strike with minimal effort.

    ~CLANG!~

    Sparks flew as their energies collided, the sound of shing power echoing across the battlefield.

    "Good," the man said, his voice tinged with approval. "You''re improving."

    "Shut up!"

    Neron yelled, teleporting behind him with [The Tower] and unleashing a torrent of energy sts.

    The Martial de God turned, cutting through the sts with a single swing of his de.

    The motion was so fluid, so precise, that it seemed almost choreographed.

    In the end, he remained unscathed.

 Chapter 1433: Neron Vs Martial Blade God [Pt 2]

    "Haaa¡­"

    Neron pushed harder, pouring everything he had into the fight.

    "Haaa¡­ haaa¡­"

    His movements became more desperate, his attacks more vtile.

    The ground cracked and splintered under their feet, the mountain itself beginning to crumble under the weight of their battle.

    But no matter how much power Neron unleashed, the Martial de God remained calm. He deflected, countered, and evaded with an almost effortless grace, as though the fight were a mere exercise to him.

    Finally, Neron staggered back, his chest heaving.

    His Mage Mode flickered, his reserves of mana running dangerously low. Despite his best efforts, the Martial de God hadn''t even broken a sweat.

    "You''ve got heart, boy," the man said, lowering his de. "But heart alone won''t win this fight."

    Neron''s fists trembled at his sides, his anger boiling over.

    "You haven''t seen anything¡­" he growled, his voice hoarse.

    The Martial de God smirked, his golden eyes gleaming.

    "I''m waiting."

    And with that, he sheathed his de and raised his hands, prepared for yet another attack as the swirling dust of the battlefield danced around him.

    Neron fell to his knees, his body shaking with exhaustion and frustration.

    Serah and Legris rushed to his side, their faces pale with worry.

    "Neron¡­ are you okay?" Serah asked, her voice trembling.

    He didn''t answer.

    His gaze remained fixed on the spot where the Martial de God was standing  his mind reying the fight over and over.

    He had given everything he had¡ªand it still wasn''t enough.

    "I''ll beat him," Neron whispered, his voice barely audible.

    "No matter what it takes."

    He rose to his feet and squeezed out every bit of Mana he had, and as he did so¡­ all of the energy around him began to gather.

    They all became his energy, coalescing towards him like iron would be drawn towards a Ma.

    In an instant, his energy reserves skyrocketed.

    That allowed him to pull up hisst trump card.

    "[Original Magic¡­"

    VWUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!

    The air around Neron distorted, vibrating under the sheer magnitude of power emanating from him.

    His eyes glowed with a fierce blue hue snd his hair turned sparkling white as he activated his trump card.

    "... All The Time In The World]."

    He whispered, his voice resonating with unyielding determination.

    The world froze.

    The swirling dust, the faint flicker of the Martial de God''s serene expression, even the trembling rocks mid-fall¡ªall stopped as though bound by invisible chains.

    Neron felt the shift instantly.

    Time itself was his tomand, its currents bending and twisting at his will.

    His chest rose and fell as he took a moment to steady his breathing, his injuries knitting themselves together in reverse. Blood seeped back into his veins, bruises faded, and exhaustion retreated.

    ''This is it,'' he thought, clenching his fists as renewed power surged through his body. ''If I''m going to defeat him, it has to be now!''

    With a thought, he took Serah and Legris far from the battlefield, ensuring their safety.

    He couldn''t afford distractions, not with an opponent like this.

    When time resumed, Neron moved.

    BOOOOOM!!!

    The ground shattered beneath his feet as he shot forward, faster than ever before.

    [The Tower] enhanced his movement, warping space to allow him to strike from angles impossible to predict.

    His fist, burning with the relentless energy of [The Sun], collided with the Martial de God''s de.

    ~BOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    Sparks ignited like fireworks, the shockwave from their sh splitting the earth beneath them.

    The Martial de God''s golden eyes widened slightly¡ªa flicker of acknowledgment.

    "So you''ve finally decided to fight seriously," he said, deflecting another blow with a fluid swing of his de.

    Neron didn''t respond.

    He didn''t have time for words.

    Each strike he delivered carried the weight of his desperation, amplified by the warped time surrounding him.

    He struck vital points with precision, his attacks chaining together in a seamless dance of destruction.

    The Martial de God''s de moved to block each one, but for the first time, the younger man''s strikes were connecting.

    CRACK!

    The Martial de God''s sleeve tore as Neron''s punchnded, drawing blood.

    "Not bad," the man said, wiping the blood from his arm.

    His calm demeanor remained intact, but there was a glimmer of something new in his eyes¡ªinterest.

    Neron didn''t let up.

    He pushed forward, using [The Hermit] to elerate his movements, increasing the effectiveness of his Original Magic, and [The Sun] to infuse every strike with explosive power.

    The mountaintop became a battlefield of chaos, the very air trembling under the weight of their battle.

    BOOOOOM! BOOOOOOOOOM!!!

    Every collision of their power sent shockwaves rippling outward, uprooting trees and splitting the earth.

    The mountains groaned under the strain, their peak crumbling into a cascade of rubble.

    "Raaagh!" Neron roared, teleporting above his opponent and delivering a devastating downward strike.

    THUUUUMMM!!!

    The Martial de God raised his de to meet the attack, the force of the collision sending cracks racing across the ground like spiderwebs.

    "You''ve grown stronger," the man admitted, his voice calm despite the chaos.

    "And you''re about to lose!"

    Neron spat back, pouring more energy into his strikes.

    But his body protested. The toll of maintaining [All The Time In The World] was immense, his mana reserves dwindling rapidly despite his ability to absorb energy from the environment.

    Each second felt like an eternity, his very essence straining under the weight of his power.

    Still, he refused to falter.

    VWUUUUUMMMMM!!!

    Neron gathered every ounce of mana he could muster, his aura ring like a supernova.

    His energy coated the battlefield in a golden hue, illuminating the devastation around them.

    "This ends now!" he shouted, raising both hands.

    The energy around him coalesced into a massive, radiant sphere¡ªa final attack meant to obliterate everything in its path.

    The Martial de God watched, his glowing eyes unblinking as the sphere grewrger, its destructive potential undeniable.

    Neron threw the sphere with everything he had, the force of its release shaking the very foundation of the mountain.

    KRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKK!!!

    The radiant sphere hurtled toward the Martial de God, its brilliance rivaling the sun.

    The air screamed under its weight, the battlefield consumed by its overwhelming light.

    And then¡­

    The Martial de God smiled.

    "Enough ying around," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos like a de.

    "Let me get a little serious too."

 Chapter 1434: Neron Vs Martial Blade God [Pt 3]

    The Martial de God''s smile deepened as Neron unleashed his final attack.

    The radiant sphere, a culmination of his power and desperation, roared toward its target like a vengeful sun. Yet, in the face of such overwhelming might, the Martial de God remained unshaken.

    "Martial Realm," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the chaotic din.

    CRACK!

    Reality itself fractured like ss, and the battlefield dissolved in an instant.

    Neron felt the ground beneath him vanish, reced by an endless void of white. There was no sky, no earth, no horizon¡ªonly a nk canvas that stretched infinitely in every direction.

    "What¡ª?!" Neron staggered, his senses reeling.

    His aura flickered uncertainly as his surroundings defiedprehension.

    "This is my domain," the Martial de God''s voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere, calm andmanding.

    Neron turned, his gaze locking onto the man who now seemed more formidable than ever. The Martial de God stood at the center of this surreal expanse, his presence imposing as his golden eyes gleamed with quiet authority.

    "In the Martial Realm," he continued, "I am the world. My will shapes its very fabric."

    SNAP!

    With a casual flick of his fingers, a gleaming de materialized in his hand. Another appeared beside him, then another, until a dozen swords floated in the air around him like an painting of death.

    "Your Arcanas," he said, his tone almost pitying, "are bound by the rules of your world. But this is not that world. Here, they are meaningless."

    Neron''s eyes narrowed as he tried summoning [The Sun], but the familiar warmth and energy did not respond. [The Tower] was equally inert, and no amount of will could draw upon the power he relied on.

    ''Damn it...!'' Panic crept into his thoughts as he clenched his fists.

    Without his Arcanas, his options were severely limited.

    "Come, Neron," the Martial de God beckoned, his calm smile unwavering. "Let us see what you can do with only your own strength."

    Neron grit his teeth and surged forward, relying on raw physical ability to close the gap between them. His fist, infused with every ounce of his remaining power, hurtled toward the Martial de God.

    CLANG!

    The de intercepted effortlessly, the sound of metal meeting fleshless air ringing out in the void.

    "Predictable," the Martial de God remarked, sidestepping Neron''s follow-up attack. With a single motion, he swung one of his conjured swords, forcing Neron to dodge.

    The battle began in earnest, but it quickly became clear that Neron was outmatched.

    SWISH!

    A de streaked past his face, narrowly missing him. Another shed toward his legs, forcing him to leap back. Every step he took, every strike he attempted, was met with an overwhelming counter.

    The Martial de God moved with unerring precision, each swing of his des a masterss in efficiency and control. It was as though he anticipated Neron''s every move before it happened.

    "You''re relying on instinct," the Martial de God observed as he deflected another desperate punch. "But instinct alone won''t save you here."

    "Shut up!" Neron roared, summoning every ounce of strength to deliver a spinning kick aimed at his opponent''s temple.

    The Martial de God caught his leg effortlessly, twisting it just enough to send Neron sprawling to the ground.

    THUD!

    Neron rolled to his feet, breathing heavily. His body ached, his movements growing sluggish as the toll of the battle mounted.

    ''He''s not even trying,'' Neron realized, a cold dread settling over him. ''He''s toying with me.''

    The Martial de God''s expression confirmed his thoughts. Despite the intensity of the fight, he showed no signs of exertion, his breathing steady and his gaze calm.

    "You''ve done well toe this far," he said, his tone almost gentle. "But this is the end."

    Neron''s aura flickered weakly as his Original Magic strained to keep him in Mage Mode and Martial State. His mana reserves were nearly depleted, and the physical toll was bing unbearable.

    CRACKLE!

    The golden glow around him shattered like ss, signaling the copse of his enhanced states. His body sagged under the weight of exhaustion, and he fell to one knee, gasping for air.

    ''No¡­ not like this,'' he thought, clenching his fists even as they trembled.

    The Martial de God stepped forward, his movements measured and deliberate. With a wave of his hand, a single de materialized¡ªa simple, unadorned sword that exuded quiet menace.

    "This is your limit," he said, his voice devoid of malice. "There''s no shame in that."

    He pointed the de at Neron, its tip hovering inches from his throat.

    "It''s over."

    The cold de lingered near Neron''s throat, but the Martial de God didn''t press further.

    His golden eyes met Neron''s, calm yet unyielding.

    Exhaustion clouded Neron''s mind as he struggled to push past the haze of his defeat.

    "What now?" Neron asked through gritted teeth, refusing to show weakness despite his kneeling position.

    "Will you kill me... the same way you killed Lilith?"

    At the mention of her name, something flickered in the Martial de God''s gaze¡ªa brief glimmer of emotion that was difficult to discern.

    Then, to Neron''s surprise, he smiled.

    "If I wanted to kill you, boy," he said, lowering the de, "you would already be dead."

    The certainty in his tone was unnerving, spoken as though it were an unchangeable truth.

    "Then what do you want?" Neron demanded, forcing himself to stand despite the trembling in his legs. "To mock me? To shove your power in my face and remind me of how weak I am? Congrattions¡­ you seeded."

    The Martial de God chuckled softly, his amusement clear.

    "What I want," he said, "are the Arcanas."

    The revtion hit Neron like a thunderbolt.

    His fists clenched, anger simmering beneath the surface.

    "The Arcanas? Why? You don''t need them. With your strength, what could they possibly offer you?"

    "It''s not for me," the Martial de God replied, his tone unhurried. "The Arcanas are needed for a greater purpose¡ªone that serves my organization, the Nether Cult."

    "Nether Cult?"

    The name was unfamiliar, but the weight with which it was spoken carried an undeniable foreboding.

 Chapter 1435: Irresistible Offer

    "We are always searching for exceptional individuals to join our ranks," the Martial de God continued.

    "And you, Neron, would be a perfect fit. This fight¡ª" he gestured to the expanse of his Martial Realm, "¡ªwas merely a test to see if you were worthy."

    Neron froze, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of the revtion.

    All of this¡ªthe relentless battle, the overwhelming pressure¡ªwas nothing more than a twisted recruitment drive.

    "You want me to join you?" he asked, disbeliefcing his voice. "Why the hell would you think I''d agree to that?"

    The Martial de God''s smile widened ever so slightly, as if he had been waiting for that exact reaction.

    "Your potential is undeniable. With proper guidance, you could achieve far more than you''ve ever imagined. And while you may despise me now, hatred is often born from misunderstanding."

    "Misunderstanding?" Neron snapped, his voice rising. "You killed Lilith! Why would I ever side with someone who murdered her?"

    At that, the Martial de God''s expression shifted¡ªstill calm, but now tinged with something deeper, almost nostalgic.

    "Tell me, Neron," he said, his voice softening, "how do you think I got to know Lilith?"

    Neron frowned, thrown off by the sudden change in demeanor.

    "What are you talking about?"

    "We were once partners," the Martial de God said, his gaze distant, as though recalling a long-lost memory. "Lilith and I served the Nether Cult together. She was one of our finest... until she decided to leave."

    "Leave?" Neron echoed, stunned.

    "Yes," the Martial de God continued. "She abandoned us, despite everything we had built together. I tried to stop her, but..."

    He paused, a wry smile ying on his lips.

    "She defeated me. Easily, I might add. But she spared my life and walked away."

    The revtion hit Neron hard.

    Lilith, a member of the Nether Cult? It didn''t make sense. The Lilith he knew would never align herself with such an organization.

    "Even if that''s true," Neron said, his voice trembling with anger, "it doesn''t justify what you did. Her past with you gave you no reason to end her life."

    The Martial de God tilted his head, his smile returning.

    "Who said anything about ending her life?"

    Neron froze, the words striking him like a physical blow. "What are you saying?"

    "Lilith," the Martial de God said, his tone almost yful, "isn''t dead."

    The world around Neron seemed to spin as the Martial de God''s words sank in.

    "Impossible," Neron muttered, shaking his head. "You''re lying."

    But the smile on the Martial de God''s face said otherwise.

    "Am I?"

    The Martial de God''s smile deepened as he stepped back, letting his words sink into Neron''s mind.

    "I''ll admit, there was a sense of dissatisfaction when I struck her down. Something felt... off."

    Neron''s fists clenched as the Martial de God spoke.

    The calm tone in his voice felt like a mockery, stirring anger in Neron''s chest.

    "Dissatisfaction?" he growled. "You killed her. How could you feel anything less than victorious?"

    The Martial de God shook his head slowly, the nostalgic look returning to his golden eyes.

    "That''s the thing," he said. "Even in her final moments, something wasn''t right. It was only after the battle¡ªafter I analyzed her energy and studied the remains¡ªthat I realized the truth."

    Neron''s breath hitched, his anger wavering as he caught the edge of something he couldn''t fullyprehend.

    "It wasn''t her," the Martial de God continued. "The Lilith I fought was nothing more than a clone."

    The words struck Neron like a thunderp.

    His mind reeled, searching for any indication that the Martial de God could be lying.

    "That''s impossible," he said firmly, though his voice carried an undercurrent of doubt.

    "Believe what you will," the Martial de God said with a shrug, his tone almost dismissive. But then his gaze sharpened, and he studied Neron intently.

    "Though I must admit... there''s something peculiar about you."

    Neron tensed under the weight of his scrutiny.

    "What do you mean?"

    The Martial de God tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as if peering beyond the surface.

    "There''s an imprint on you," he said quietly. "Something left behind by Lilith. I can sense it even now."

    "W-what¡­?"

    "Did she do what I think she did? I guess she couldn''t resist seeing you one more time, huh?"

    "What are you¡ª?"

    Before Neron could react, the Martial de God reached out, his hand hovering over Neron''s forehead.

    "Let''s see what she left behind, shall we?"

    "Wait¡ª" Neron tried to step back, but the Martial de God''s fingers grazed his skin, and a surge of energy flooded his mind.

    Memories buried deep within him unraveled in an instant.

    He saw Lilith¡ªher face, her voice, her presence¡ªas clear as if she were standing before him.

    "I''m sorry, Neron," her voice echoed in his mind, tinged with regret. "I care about you too much. I can''t let myself get in the way of your journey. You need to move forward, reunite with your friends, and find your path... without me."

    The memory faded, leaving Neron gasping for breath.

    He staggered, the weight of the revtion crushing him.

    Lilith hadn''t abandoned him out of malice or betrayal.

    She had done it for his sake.

    "So," the Martial de God said, pulling his hand back, "she''s alive. And now you understand why."

    Neron couldn''t bring himself to speak.

    He exhaled sharply, his anger reced by a hollow ache.

    The Martial de God deactivated his Martial Realm with a casual wave of his hand, and the ruined battlefield came back into view. The devastation around them was a testament to the ferocity of their fight, yet the Martial de God stood unbothered, as if none of it had affected him.

    "Now," he said, his voice cutting through the silence, "let''s return to the matter at hand. Will you ept my invitation?"

    Neron''s head snapped up, his resolve returning. "And if I don''t?"

    The Martial de God''s smile turned cold.

    "Then I''ll have to kill you, take the Arcanas, and deal with your friends. Witnesses are a problem I can''t afford."

 Chapter 1436: Inevitable Choice

    Neron''s heart sank. "You don''t know where they are."

    "Oh, but I do," the Martial de God replied smoothly. "The only reason you were able to teleport them is because I allowed you to, and I was also able to discern exactly where you took them to."

    "N-no¡­"

    " They''re even rushing to this location as we speak."

    Panic red in Neron''s chest, but the Martial de God raised a hand, as if to calm him.

    "There''s no need to be hasty. Join us, Neron, and none of this wille to pass. In fact," he added with a sly grin, "there are benefits to joining the Nether Cult."

    "Benefits?" Neron asked, his voiceced with skepticism.

    "The Arcanas we''ve gathered are more than mere trinkets," the Martial de God exined. "Our goal is tobine them and forge a new Arcana¡ªone capable of granting the wishes of every Cult member."

    The words hit Neron like a physical blow.

    "Granting a wish¡­ really?"

    His eyes widened as the implications unfolded in his mind. A single Arcana capable of fulfilling his deepest desire¡­

    ''An end to Magic¡­'' His thoughts whispered, the potential of his wish surfacing before he could stop it.

    His eyes began to leak out a certain gleam.

    The Martial de God''s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with understanding.

    "Ah," he said softly. "Now you''re beginning to see the possibilities."

    *********

    [Moments Later]

    A few momentster, the faint sound of rushing footsteps broke through the silence of the battlefield. Neron turned his head just as Serah and Legris emerged from the chaos, their eyes widening at the sight before them.

    "Neron?" Serah called out, her voice tinged with disbelief.

    Her gaze shifted from him to the Martial de God, who stood opposite him, his posture rxed and his expression calm.

    What stunned her most, however, was the sight of Neron shaking hands with the very enemy they had fought so hard to evade.

    "What is going on here?" Legris demanded, his voice a mix of confusion and shock.

    Before Neron could respond, Serah''s expression hardened.

    Her hands lit up with crimson energy as she lunged toward the Martial de God, her instincts screaming to attack.

    "Serah, wait!" Neron shouted, moving quickly to intercept her.

    In a sh, he stood between her and the Martial de God, grabbing her arm mid-strike.

    Her energy dissipated, and she red at him in anger.

    "What are you doing?" she hissed, struggling against his grip.

    Neron''s voice was calm but firm as he said,

    "Serah, stop. I''ve made my decision."

    "What decision?" Legris asked, though the unease in his voice suggested he already knew the answer.

    "I''ve decided to join him¡­ and the Nether Cult," Neron said, his tone heavy with finality.

    Both Serah and Legris froze, the weight of his words sinking in. Serah''s expression shifted from anger to shock.

    "You what?"

    The Martial de God let out a low chuckle, stepping back. "I''ll leave you all to discuss this among yourselves," he said smoothly.

    "Take your time."

    With that, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving the trio alone amidst the ruins.

    Serah rounded on Neron the moment the Martial de God was gone.

    "What do you mean you''re joining him, or them?" she demanded. "How can you even consider this?"

    Neron sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It''s not a decision I made lightly, Serah. But it''s the only way."

    "The only way for what?" Legris asked, stepping closer, his tone calmer but still wary.

    "To end Magic," Neron said. "For good."

    His words hung in the air, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

    Serah frowned deeply. "What are you talking about?"

    Neron began to exin, his voice steady but filled with a grim determination. "The Nether Cult isn''t just gathering the Arcanas for power. They''re trying tobine them into a single Arcana, one that can grant any wish. If I join them and help, I can use that Arcana to wish for a world without Magic."

    "But¡ª" Serah began, but Neron held up a hand to stop her.

    "The Great Sage and his friends tried something simr," he continued. "They used an Arcana to wipe the memory of Demons from everyone''s minds. But it wasn''t enough. People rediscovered them once they surfaced once more. Even if I use that lost Arcana to erase everyone''s mind, they''ll just rediscover it. They always do. The only way to truly end Magic is to erase it entirely from existence."

    Legris''s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he listened.

    "That''s... a lot to take in," he admitted. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he added,

    "But I understand."

    Serah turned to him, shocked. "Legris, you can''t be serious!"

    Legris met her gaze with a calm determination. "I am. Neron''s right. If this is the only way to end Magic, then I''ll stand by him. I''ll join the Nether Cult too."

    Neron blinked in surprise.

    "Legris, I appreciate your support, but I don''t know if the Martial de God will even ept you."

    "Then I''ll prove myself," Legris said firmly. "Whatever it takes."

    Neron smiled faintly, grateful for his friend''s loyalty.

    "Thank you," he said quietly.

    Serah, however, was far from convinced.

    "This is insane," she said, shaking her head. "You''re both walking into a trap. This Nether Cult group has to be shady, and you know they can''t be trusted. We should take our chances and escape."

    "Serah, we can''t escape," Neron said, his voice rising slightly. "The Martial de God won''t let us. If I refuse their offer, we all die. You, me, ams Legris."

    "There has to be another way!" she insisted.

    "There isn''t!" Neron''s voice was sharp, cutting through her protests. "This is the only option we have left."

    Serah''s shoulders slumped, her expression one of frustration and helplessness. After a long silence, she finally spoke.

    "Fine. If that''s the only way, then I''ll join too."

    The silence following her deration was deafening as both Neron and Legris stared at her in surprise.

    However, unlike with Neron, their gaze showed something different.

    Utter disapproval.

 Chapter 1437: Welcome To The Cult

    "No, Serah. I can''t let you do that."

    Neron shook his head as he looked into Serah''s crimson eyes.

    "What?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly. "Why not?"

    "Because I don''t want you to get hurt," Neron said softly.

    "Legris and I can handle this, but you... you deserve better."

    "I can handle myself," she argued, her voice rising again.

    "No," Legris said, stepping in. "You shouldn''t have to. This isn''t your fight."

    Serah''s frustration boiled over, and she let out a scream of anger. "You''re both being ridiculous! You think I''ll just stand by and let you do this alone?"

    "I''m sorry, Serah," Neron said quietly. "But this is how it has to be."

    Before she could respond, Neron raised his hand, a soft glow emanating from his fingers. Serah''s eyes widened in realization, but before she could move, the Magic took hold.

    Her body went limp, and Neron caught her as she fell. He sighed heavily, his expression filled with regret.

    "Forgive me, Serah," he murmured. "I''lle back for you. I promise."

    With a wave of his hand, a teleportation circle appeared beneath her. In an instant, she vanished, sent back to the safety of the Eastern Empire.

    Neron straightened, exhaling slowly as he turned to Legris.

    "Thanks for staying with me," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his eyes.

    Legris nodded, and ced his hand on his shoulder while smiling emphatically.

    "Of course¡­ We''re friends, after all."

    Neron straightened his posture, his eyes narrowing with resolve as he called out,

    "Martial de God! Come back."

    The air seemed to ripple as the Martial de God reappeared, stepping out of the shadows as if he had never left.

    His gaze swept over Neron before settling on Legris with a flicker of disapproval.

    "What is it now?" he asked, his tone edged with impatience.

    Neron met his gaze firmly.

    "Legris ising with me."

    The Martial de God raised an eyebrow, his arms crossing. "I don''t recall extending the invitation to your friend here. Why should I ept him?"

    "Because we''re a package deal," Neron said inly. "If you want me, you have to take him too."

    Legris stepped forward, his tone steady as he added, "I''ll pull my own weight. Whatever trials you throw at me, I''ll prove myself."

    For a moment, the Martial de God was silent, his eyes narrowing as if weighing the sincerity of Legris''s words.

    Finally, he let out a soft chuckle.

    "Bold words," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Fine. I''ll allow it. But make no mistake¡ªyour survival is your own responsibility. I won''t tolerate dead weight."

    Legris nodded resolutely. "I understand."

    The Martial de God''s gaze shifted back to Neron, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Then let''s see if the two of you can keep up."

    Before either of them could respond, he vanished in a blur of motion, his speed leaving a faint gust of wind in his wake.

    "Looks like we''re already being tested," Neron muttered, ncing at Legris.

    "Then let''s not fail," Legris replied, determination shing in his eyes.

    With that, the twounched into a sprint, chasing after the faint trail of energy the Martial de God left behind.

    *********

    Hours passed as they raced across varied terrains¡ªvast ins, dense forests, and rocky mountains that seemed insurmountable.

    The Martial de God never slowed, his pace relentless as if designed to break their spirits.

    Yet Neron and Legris pressed on, their stamina and willpower keeping them moving despite the strain on their bodies.

    Eventually, thendscape began to change. The air grew colder, and the sky darkened, a heavy mist settling over the horizon.

    Ahead of them, the faint glimmer of an ocean came into view, its dark waters churning ominously.

    "There!" Legris shouted, pointing toward the distance.

    Through the mist, they spotted the Martial de God standing at the edge of a cliff, waiting for them. As they approached, he didn''t turn, instead gesturing to the sea ahead.

    "This way," he said, his voice carrying over the crashing waves.

    Without hesitation, he leaped forward, skimming across the water''s surface as if it were solid ground.

    Neron and Legris exchanged a nce before following, their feet barely touching the waves as they pushed themselves to their limits to keep pace.

    After what felt like an eternity, the mist began to clear, revealing a massive ind rising from the sea.

    Its shores were unlike anything they had seen before¡ªpure white, as though carved from baster, glowing faintly in the dim light.

    They slowed as they reached the shore, their breaths heavy from the journey. Ahead of them, towering structures stretched into the sky, their intricate designs speaking of a power and grandeur far beyond human craftsmanship.

    The Martial de God turned to face them, his expression calm but with a hint of satisfaction.

    "Wee to the Cult," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the still air.

    Neron and Legris stood silently, their eyes taking in the surrealndscape before them.

    They both knew that they had crossed a threshold, leaving their old lives behind. Whatever awaited them here would test not only their strength but their very resolve.

    The Martial de God smirked.

    "This is just the beginning."

    ********

    [Months Later]

    It was time for the meeting tomence.

    The grand hall of the Nether Cult''s sanctuary was dimly lit, the air charged with tension and authority.

    The heavy doors creaked open, and a young boy stepped inside, his auramanding immediate respect despite his youthful appearance.

    His strikingly calm demeanor and piercing gaze made it clear that this was no ordinary child¡ªit was the leader of the Nether Cult.

    Behind him followed a veileddy dressed in pure white, her presence serene yet unnervingly mysterious.

    The boy approached the long table in the center of the room, nked by five chairs on each side, all upied by the most powerful members of the Nether Cult.

    Taking his seat at the head of the table, he nced around the room and spoke in a tone that was soft yet authoritative.

    "It is time to begin the meeting."

 Chapter 1438: The Cult Meeting

    As the Cult Leader''s voice echoed, the identities of the seated individuals became apparent.

    Their power and rank within the Cult instantly became clearly defined.

    At number 1¡­ it was still none other than The Martial de God.

    He was a legendary swordsman and the Cult''s mightiest warrior, as well as its first ever member, known for his unyielding strength and mastery over the Martial Arts.

    His sheer presence radiated dominance as he sat confidently at the leader''s right hand.

    Then, there was Number 2¡ªNeron.

    The former Grand Mage of the Eastern Empire and one of the most powerful entities alive, now a dedicated member of the Cult.

    His intellect and unmatched magical prowess had earned him a ce near the very top.

    Some said it was only a matter of time before he became Number 1.

    At number three¡­ was Karlia the Subus.

    A creature of beauty and terror, Karlia exuded charm and malice.

    She had crimson skin and horns, clearly a Demon¡ªone of thest of her kind.

    Her incredible wit and charm were rivaled only by her rawbat ability, making her one of the Cult''s deadliest assets.

    Before Neron''s arrival, she was Number 2 and also one of the Cult''s earliest members.

    At number four was a Fairy who wore a crown and had a constant frown even as the meeting was about to begin¡ªFairy King Beruel.

    The fallen ruler of the Fairy Kingdom, and also regarded by nearly all hisrades as the most insufferable.

    At number 5 was Reed Sterling ¨C The former Headmaster of Ainrk Academy and one of the Eastern Empire''s only three Grand Mages.

    His intellect and experience solidified his ce among the Cult''s elite.

    He also had the oldest physical appearance of everyone present.

    Number 6 belonged to Potipha ¨C the right hand of the Fairy King himself.

    Potipha was a being of immense strength and unwavering loyalty. His ferocity in battle had earned him quite the reputation within the room.

    At number 7 was Zed ¨C Also a Crimson Demon like Karlia, but one who focused more on brawn than anything else.

    Zed''s fiery temper and devastating destructive abilities made him a force to be reckoned with.

    After the role he yed in the World War, he was rewarded with his position, and his loyalty to the Cult was as fierce as his mes.

    Number 8 was Jericho ¨C A giant Titan of immeasurable strength.

    His kind was rare, nearly extinct, and he was the strongest of them.

    Jericho towered over the others, quite literally.

    Number 9 was Frankfurt Lawcroft, an Archmage and noble of the Eastern Empire,

    His Netherlore Family always had deep ties to the Cult, and it was his duty yo carry on that obligation.

    Then, thest member of the group was none other than Number 10¡ªLegris Damien.

    He and Beron were the Cult''s newest addition, but the difference between them was like Heaven and Earth.

    Still, Legris was Neron''s partner in the Cult.

    Though he was the lowest-ranked member, his cunning and determination to prove himself hinted at untapped potential.

    The leader surveyed them all, his expression betraying no emotion.

    "We have much to discuss," he said, his gaze lingering momentarily on Neron.

    The room grew silent, the gravity of the meeting settling over them like a heavy cloak.

    The Nether Cult''s ns were in motion, and each of these individuals held a critical role in their execution

    "Let''s start, shall we?"

    ********

    The meeting progressed with a variety of topics, the most pressing being the current status of the Arcana.

    Discussions flowed methodically, the air tense with strategy as the members delved into their progress.

    The Cult Leader leaned back in his seat, his gaze unwavering as he addressed the group.

    "Thus far, we have obtained 13 out of the 22 Arcanas." His voice carried weight, each word underlining the progress they had made. "This puts us more than halfway to our ultimate goal."

    A murmur of quiet approval passed through the members, but the leader continued.

    "Out of those 13, Neron has contributed four Arcanas, which is a significant feat. His strength alone is impressive, but his contribution has solidified his position within the Cult."

    The announcement drew some looks of admiration, but also respect. Neron''s face was calm, his mind working through the weight of his own achievement.

    His presence alone brought him power, but these discoveries made it even clearer why he had earned his promotion to Number 2.

    The leader cleared his throat, shifting the attention back onto the matter at hand. "We''ve discovered the location of two more Arcanas, and I''ll be dispatching teams to investigate these areas immediately. Furthermore, there is another location that is suspected to hold an Arcana, but uncertainty remains due to a very strong magical barrier. This barrier is preventing us from confirming its presence there."

    The room fell quiet at his words. A strong magical barrier meant risks and challenges¡ªuncertainties that could quickly spiral into a battle.

    "To that end," the Cult Leader continued, "I''ll be sending a team to investigate this third location while others will explore the two confirmed ones. The assignments are as follows:"

    His voice grew sharper now as heid out the strategy.

    "For the two certain locations, I will be sending Fairy King Beruel and his two subordinates. They''ve been eager for action for some time now, and this is the perfect opportunity to put their strength to use."

    The mention of the Fairy King brought some small smiles to the group. His subordinates, loyal and powerful, were always a force to be reckoned with. They were ready to march into the unknown with confidence.

    "Additionally," he said, his gaze shifting to the group once more, "Neron and Karlia the Subus will head to the other confirmed location due to the dangerous nature of the region. Their skill sets and expertise are well suited for the mission, and theirbined strength will ensure they can tackle the challenges ahead."

    The moment Neron heard this, he frowned.

    Something was wrong!

 Chapter 1439: Farewell

    "Wait, hold on.

    Neron began to protest, his brow furrowed.

    "I was supposed to be partnered with Legris. Why am I not paired with him on this mission?" His voice was sharp, filled with both frustration and confusion.

    The Cult Leader gave a calm, but firm, nce in his direction. "The partnership will be suspended temporarily until Legris can prove himself. The next mission is his chance to demonstrate his abilities and hismitment to the Nether Cult."

    Neron didn''t back down even when he heard that. He wanted to go against the Leader''s words.

    But then¡ª

    Legris immediately raised his hand in protest.

    "Hold on, Neron. Stop," he said, his tone steady and resolute.

    "I will be fine. I need this opportunity. I need to achieve something to truly solidify my ce in the Cult."

    His words cut through the tension, leaving Neron momentarily speechless. Legris'' confidence, though not as developed as his partner''s, resonated with purpose.

    Neron sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

    "Fine," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

    Karlia nudged him with a sly smile and leaned in closer, her voice low but teasing.

    "Don''t worry, Neron. I''m your new partner now, and I look forward to working with you." Her grin was sharp, teasing, but her voice carried no mockery.

    There was confidence in her words, and it gave Neron a small measure of reassurance.

    The Cult Leader rose from his seat, signaling the meeting wasing to an end. His voice was calm, steady as stone as he addressed them one final time.

    "I will provide all the mission details to each of youter. Prepare your teams, gather supplies, and ensure that you''re ready for the assignments ahead. The goal is clear¡ªfind the Arcana, secure it, and ensure that none of our enemies have the opportunity to interfere."

    He paused, letting his words sink into the air.

    "Dismissed."

    With that, the meeting came to an end, and the members began to leave the room, each stepping into their own thoughts. Neron, Karlia, and Legris exchanged looks as they made their way out, the weight of the uing mission hanging heavy in the air.

    But within their group, there was resolve.

    This was the path they had chosen.

    Whether through strength, cunning, or strategy, the next mission would determine not only their survival but the future of the Nether Cult itself.

    **********

    The hallways of the Nether Cult''s headquarters were eerily silent, the only sound being the faint hum of magical energy coursing through the walls.

    Neron and Legris walked side by side, the tension between them evident but unspoken.

    Both were acutely aware of the looming missions that awaited them, each fraught with challenges and dangers that could very well be theirst.

    The two men stopped in a dimly lit alcove, far from prying eyes and ears. Neron leaned against the cold, smooth wall, arms crossed over his chest. His usually calm demeanor was marred by a slight furrow in his brow, an indication of his internal conflict.

    Legris, standing a few steps away, broke the silence first. "So, this is it, huh?" he said, his voice carrying a mix of nervousness and determination. "Our first real test since joining the Cult."

    Neron exhaled, his gaze shifting to his friend. "Yeah. And if we pull this off, it''ll be one step closer to the end of all this madness."

    Legris chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You always make it sound so simple. Gather all the Arcanas, fulfill the Cult''s ultimate n, and then we get our wish. Just like that." He snapped his fingers for emphasis, but there was no bitterness in his tone¡ªonly a quiet eptance of the reality they faced.

    "It is that simple," Neron replied, his voice steady. "We just have to stay focused, y our roles, and see it through to the end. No distractions, no second-guessing."

    Legris gave him a sidelong nce, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "That''s easy for you to say. You''re already Number Two in the Cult. Meanwhile, I''m stuck proving myself over and over again."

    Neron''s expression softened. "You''ll get there, Legris. This mission is your chance to show everyone what you''re capable of. I have no doubt you''ll seed."

    Legris hesitated, his smirk fading as he looked away. "And what about you? Heading off with Karlia instead of me... that''s new."

    Neron sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don''t like it either. But the Cult Leader made the call, and I''m not in a position to argue. Besides," he added with a faint smile, "Karlia''s... capable. Annoying, but capable."

    Legrisughed, the sound easing some of the tension in the air. "You''ve got that right. Just don''t let her talk you into anything crazy, okay?"

    "Don''t worry about me," Neron replied, his tone light but firm. "You focus on your mission. Show Frankfurt and Reed what you can do."

    There was a brief silence as the two men stood there, the gravity of their situation sinking in. Finally, Legris spoke again, his voice quieter this time. "Do you ever think about what happens after this? When it''s all over?" Chapter Read:

    "All the time," Neron admitted, his gaze distant. "When we''ve gathered all the Arcanas and made our wish, everything will go back to the way it was. No more Cult, no more fighting. Just... normal lives."

    Legris nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "And magic? You really think we can get rid of it for good?"

    "If we gather all the Arcanas, yes," Neron said firmly. "That''s the whole point. To make sure no one ever has to suffer because of magic again."

    Legris didn''t respond immediately. He stared at the floor, his thoughts a whirlwind of doubts and hopes. Finally, he looked up, meeting Neron''s eyes. "You really believe in this, don''t you?"

    "I do," Neron replied without hesitation. "And you should too. We''re doing this for a reason, Legris. A reason worth fighting for."

    Legris smiled faintly, a flicker of confidence returning to his eyes.

    "Yeah. You''re right."

 Chapter 1440: Cost Of Strength

    The two men stood in silence for a moment longer before Neron straightened, pushing off the wall.

    "We should get going. Missions won''t wait for us."

    Legris nodded, stepping forward and extending a hand. "Good luck out there, Neron. Make sure youe back in one piece."

    Neron sped his hand firmly, a rare smile crossing his face. "You too, Legris. Don''t do anything reckless."

    They released their grip, stepping back from each other.

    "See you on the other side," Legris said as he turned to walk away, his steps confident and purposeful.

    "See you," Neron replied, watching his friend disappear down the hallway.

    As Neron turned to leave, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The path ahead was dangerous, but he knew they both had what it took to see it through.

    For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself a moment of hope.

    *********

    ~BOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

    The chamber rumbled, the sound of crumbling stone echoing as thest of the massive Golems and Puppets fell to pieces.

    Shards of enchanted metal and glowing runes scattered across the floor, their faint glow fading into darkness.

    Neron wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his breathing steady despite the sheer intensity of the battle.

    "You''ve got to admit," Karlia said, flipping her long hair back and smirking as she surveyed the destruction, "they really don''t hold back with these trials. That was a good workout."

    Neron cast her a sidelong nce.

    "Good workout? You nearly brought the entire room down with thatst spell. We''re lucky the Arcana wasn''t damaged."

    Karlia chuckled, shrugging nonchntly.

    "What can I say? Destruction is one of my specialties." She gestured toward the floating card at the center of the room, its ethereal glow casting soft rays of light across the rubble.

    "But I think it''s safe to say we''ve earned our prize."

    The card hovered in ce, untouched by the chaos surrounding it.

    Its surface shimmered with shifting patterns of gold and crimson, radiating an almost tangible aura of power.

    Neron could feel its energy from where he stood¡ªa steady, overwhelming pulse that seemed to resonate with his very soul.

    Together, they approached the Arcana, their footsteps echoing in the now-silent chamber.

    "[Strength]," Neron murmured, his eyes fixed on the card. "It''s... incredible."

    Karlia stopped beside him, her arms crossed as she studied the glowing relic.

    "No kidding. This one feels... different. Evenpared to the other Arcanas we''ve retrieved."

    Neron nodded, his gaze never leaving the card. "It''s probably one of the primary Arcanas, which makes its power is leagues above most of the others."

    Karlia nudged him with her elbow, breaking his reverie.

    "Well, don''t just stand there gawking. You did most of the work this time. Go ahead¡ªim it."

    He hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, his hand outstretched.

    Chapter Explore:

    The closer he got, the more the card''s energy seemed to envelop him, wrapping around his body like a warm, invisible current.

    "You sure about this?" he asked, ncing back at Karlia.

    "Of course," she said with a grin. "Besides, I''m curious to see what happens when someone like you touches it. Go on, Neron. Do the honors."

    He turned back to the card, taking a deep breath. With a steady hand, he reached out and grasped it.

    The moment his fingers made contact with the surface of the card, a surge of energy shot through him, so powerful it nearly brought him to his knees.

    His vision blurred, colors and shapes blending together in a kaleidoscope of light and shadow.

    "Neron?" Karlia''s voice sounded distant, like it wasing from the end of a long tunnel.

    He couldn''t respond.

    His body felt weightless, his mind consumed by the overwhelming force coursing through him.

    Images shed before his eyes¡ªscenes of ancient battles, towering figures d in golden armor, and the unyielding strength of a dark entity that defied the heavens.

    The energy intensified, filling every corner of his being.

    He felt as though he were on the verge of breaking, yet at the same time, an undeniable sense of power began to take root within him.

    And then, everything went silent.

    Darkness. Light. A single heartbeat, resonating with the force of a thousand storms.

    Neron stood frozen, the Arcana still clutched in his hand, his expression nk as he stared into the void.

    "H-huh?"

    He had no idea what had just happened, but the fact that he was holding the Arcana meant that everything had worked out.

    The card had epted him.

    And in that moment, nothing else mattered.

    ******

    The corridors of the Nether Cult''s stronghold were eerily silent as Neron and Karlia made their way toward the central chamber.

    The Arcana of Strength rested securely in a reinforced containment sphere in Neron''s hands, its potent energy still faintly pulsing through his fingers.

    He kept his expressionposed, though his thoughts churned with the memory of the trial they had ovee.

    Karlia walked beside him, her usual smirk softened into something less teasing.

    "You handled that well," she said after a long stretch of silence.

    "Handled what?" Neron replied without breaking stride.

    "The Arcana''s power," she rified, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "Most people would have passed out¡ªor worse¡ªafter touching it. But you just... took it in stride."

    "I didn''t feel like I had much of a choice," Neron said tly.

    "Failing wasn''t an option."

    They entered the grand chamber where the Cult Leader and several other high-ranking members awaited.

    The veileddy in white stood silently behind the young-looking leader, her presence radiating an unspoken authority.

    "Ah, Neron. Karlia." The Cult Leader''s voice was soft, almost melodic, but it carried an undeniable weight.

    "Wee back."

    Neron stepped forward and knelt, offering the containment sphere.

    "The Arcana [Strength] is yours, Leader."

    The young man leaned forward in his ornate chair, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.

    "Well done. I knew you would not disappoint." He gestured for the attendant in white to retrieve the sphere.

    "With this, we grow ever closer to our goal."

    Karlia spoke up, her voice carrying a faint edge of pride. "The trial was tough, but we managed. Though I''d say Neron deserves most of the credit."

    The Cult Leader''s gaze shifted to her, his smile widening slightly. "I''m aware of your capabilities, Karlia. And I trust they were instrumental in this sess."

    She chuckled, waving a hand. "tter me all you want, but we both know Neron''s the golden boy."

    Ignoring herment, Neron cleared his throat.

    "You mentioned before that another team had been sent on a mission. Has there been any news?"

    The Cult Leader leaned back in his chair, folding his hands as his smile faded.

    "Ah, yes. The Fairy King returned not long ago. He was sessful in retrieving an Arcana as well, though at a cost. One of his subordinates... perished during the mission."

    Karlia''s yful demeanor vanished, her expression darkening.

    "A loss like that isn''t easy. Even for him."

    Neron nodded solemnly. "And what of the team sent to investigate the uncertain location?"

    His voice was calm, but a faint tension underlined his words.

    The room grew heavy with an unspoken gravity. The Cult Leader''s expression turned grim, and the veileddy''s gaze dropped slightly.

    "They are dead."

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 Chapter 1441 Rueful Resolve

    Neron''s breath caught, his usuallyposed demeanor cracking as his eyes widened.

    "What?"

    The Cult Leader''s voice remained steady. "Legris Damien, Reed Sterling, and Frankfurt Lawcroft... they were all killed during the mission. The barrier concealed more than we anticipated. What they encountered was beyond their capacity to handle."

    The words hit Neron like a physical blow. He closed his eyes, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.

    "Legris..." His voice was barely above a whisper.

    Karlia ced a hand on his shoulder, her grip firm but not unkind.

    "I''m sorry, Neron."

    The Cult Leader rose from his seat, his presencemanding. "Their sacrifice will not be in vain. We are closer than ever to realizing our goal, but we must remain vignt. The path ahead will only grow more treacherous."

    Neron didn''t respond.

    His mind was elsewhere, reying memories of hisst conversation with Legris. The confidence in his friend''s voice, the determination in his eyes¡ªit was hard to believe he was truly gone.

    "I''ll need time," Neron finally said, his voice steady but cold.

    The Cult Leader nodded. "Of course. Take what you need."

    Neron turned on his heel, his cloak billowing as he exited the chamber. Karlia followed silently, her usual chatter absent as they walked down the dark corridors.

    For the first time in a long while, Neron felt the weight of their mission press heavily on his shoulders.

    And for the first time, he wondered if the price they were paying was too high.

    *********

    The days after learning of Legris'' death passed in a blur.

    Time had little meaning in the wake of such a loss. The Nether Cult''s stronghold felt like an endless abyss, every hallway a reminder of the life Neron once knew before he had be part of this dark and unforgiving world.

    His every thought was consumed by the image of Legris¡ªhis partner, his best friend¡ªlost in the void, never to return.

    Neron walked aimlessly through the darkened corridors, his boots echoing off the stone walls. His hands were clenched into fists so tightly his knuckles ached.

    The ache wasn''t enough topare to the hollow pit inside his chest, but it was something he could focus on.

    Something tangible.

    Grief and anger coursed through him, and he didn''t know where one emotion ended and the other began. He thought back to thest conversation he''d had with Legris before their separation, his voice still fresh in Neron''s memory.

    "This is my chance, Neron. I''ll prove myself. This will be the one thing that makes me worthy of this ce."

    Legris had wanted to earn his ce in the Cult, to be something more than the weak link, to finally stand beside Neron as a true partner.

    And now, he was gone.

    Killed on a mission for a cause neither of them had ever fully understood.

    The rage began to bubble in Neron''s chest, growing with each passing hour, each step in the dark hallways.

    It wasn''t enough to mourn anymore.

    No.

    It wasn''t right to mourn without action.

    He would do what Legris could not. He would finish the mission and find the people responsible for his death.

    He stormed through the Cult''s halls, his footsteps echoing with the fury that filled him.

    He didn''t care about the guards, the whispers of the other members. He didn''t care about anything except getting to the Cult Leader.

    Bursting into the leader''s chamber, Neron''s eyes burned with the kind of intensity that could set the world alight. The Cult Leader, young and seemingly unperturbed, nced up at him as Neron mmed the door shut behind him.

    "Neron," the Cult Leader began, his voice neutral, though his gaze held a hint of knowing.

    "What is it that you need?"

    Neron''s voice was raw with fury. "I want to go to the site. The ce where Legris died. I''m going to finish what he started."

    The Cult Leader''s expression remained unchanging, but the veiled woman standing behind him seemed to stiffen.

    "Neron," the Cult Leader said slowly, his voice measured. "I advise against this. The mission you would be walking into is far more dangerous than you realize. We do not yet fully understand the nature of the threat. You will be walking into certain death if you are not careful."

    "I don''t care." Neron''s voice was low, menacing. "I will finish this for Legris. And if you stand in my way, I will leave the Cult. I''ll find another way to do it, but I will make them pay."

    The words hung in the air between them, thick with defiance and unspoken consequences. The Cult Leader''s gaze hardened, his lips pulling into a thin line. He leaned forward in his chair, folding his hands together.

    "You would leave?" The Cult Leader''s voice was almost a whisper, a quiet menace beneath the calm exterior. "You do realize the gravity of your words, don''t you? If you leave, I will have no choice but to have you killed¡­ to preserve our secrets."

    Neron''s eyes shed, but his resolve did not waver.

    "I would rather die on my own terms than live under the shadow of this ce. You don''t get it, do you?" He stepped closer, his voice rising. "Legris gave everything for this. And you just let him die for a cause none of us fully understand. So if you truly want me to stay... you''ll send me to finish what he started."

    The Cult Leader''s eyes narrowed, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of his chair. For a moment, silence reigned.

    Then, the leader''s lips parted, his wordsced with dark finality.

    "You think you can challenge me?" he asked, his voice sharp. "You think that by making threats you can bend the world to your will?"

    Neron didn''t flinch. He stared the Cult Leader down, his entire being radiating an undeniable confidence.

    "I don''t care what happens. I''m going. If you stop me, you''ll regret it. If you want me to stay, you''ll send me. And I''ll get it done, no matter what."

    The Cult Leader''s eyes gleamed with something cold, something dangerous.

    "You speak as if your life is yours to throw away. Very well." He stood, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. "Go. But understand this: if you fail, you will note back. You will be lost, just like your friend. I will not be responsible for your actions if you proceed."

    "I don''t need your protection." Neron''s voice was a promise, a vow. "I''ll finish it. I willplete the mission and bring the one responsible for Legris'' death to justice."

    The Cult Leader stared at him, his gaze piercing.

    Then, slowly, he nodded. "You may go. But do not expect us to intervene. This is your choice, Neron. And the consequences are yours alone."

    Neron''s eyes burned with unshakable determination. "I''ll get what I want... no matter what."

    With those final words, he turned and left the room, his steps resolute. The door mmed behind him, echoing through the halls. The Cult Leader watched him go, his face unreadable. The veiled woman''s gaze lingered on the door for a moment longer before she spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

    "Do you think he can truly survive this?"

    The Cult Leader''s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a faint smile.

    "I don''t know, Mother. But only time will tell."

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